Tricounty DFA-Linkup Meeting Reminder & More!
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:


1. Glens Falls DFA Link-up Meeting Wednesday
2. Neighborhood Network
3. "Joementum" Out The Door In Connecticut
4. Gillibrand Phone Banking
5. House Parties Hosts Needed
6. Independent Petitioners For Tim Merrick Needed
7. DFA Night School
8. Friday Rockhill Film Fest
9. Val Keehn Speaks August 9th
10. Governor Dean Rips Katherine Harris And More
11. David Sirota On Tom Friedman Of The NY TImes


1. Glens Falls DFA Link-up Meeting Wednesday

Greater Glens Falls Democracy For America will be holding its August Link-up or "meetup" this Wednesday, August 2nd at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe In downtown Glens Falls.

Note: the Cafe is air conditioned! Now that we've got that out of the way, we'll be talking about and planning action for the Fall campaign season. If you want to help or have ideas, this is the meeting to attend.

For directions go to: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Exchange%20Street++Glens%20Falls+NY+12801&hl=en

2. Neighborhood Network

Specifically, one of the things we will be discussing is the Neighborhood Network, a special initiative of the State Democratic Party, and a key part of Governor Dean's 50 State Strategy.

As I noted before, the idea is very similar to our DFA concept-- community development for political development. Basically, as a group and individually we take responsibility on a neighbor to neighbor basis for a certain number of voters between now and the General Election. But it also has aspects of an Amway pyramid; ideally each network member can become an organizer, too, in recruiting others to join and grow the Neighborhood Network, so that the outreach goes way beyond our own efforts.

Both long and short term, this is the best approach to supporting all our candidates.

And since we are on the subject of networking, if you are receiving this email and haven't signed up with DFA-Link, DFA's own communications system, it's time to do so now! DFA-Link has many powerful tools we can use to strengthen DFA, it's a both an online community and a communications tool we all can use! Just go to: http://www.dfalink.com/register_friend.php?id=5514310d77911611
Create and account and password and sign up for our local group, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area.

http://www.dfalink.com/register_friend.php?id=5514310d77911611

3. "Joementum" Out The Door In Connecticut

If you have been following DFA National's Blog For America, you will know that DFA has endorsed Ned Lamont For U.S. Senate in Connecticut. DFA members in Connecticut did that because Ned Lamont represents the kind of Democratic Party we want to have in the future.

I read over the weekend that the Connecticut primary is a battle for the soul of the Democratic Party. I actually don't think that's accurate-- it's really a battle over whether it will have a soul at all, or merely die a slow death as a shill for a different set of corporate interests and a hard shelled, self-serving party elite that loses election after election, but refuses to release their death grip on the Democratic Party and our country's future.

A victory in Connecticut for the "Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party" may actually be a bigger step in Taking Back America than anything that happens in November. If you know anyone in Connecticut, I urge you to call them to urge them to vote for Ned Lamont.

The New York Times endorsed Lamont Sunday in a stunning editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/opinion/30sun1.html
There's also a great piece on what this all means at Mydd.com: http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/7/30/21501/0854
Or go to http://www.nedlamont.com/

4. Gillibrand Phone Banking

The Gillibrand campaign will be organizing phone banking at 470 Glen Street in Glens Falls every Tuesday and Thursday, at about 5pm, and possibly Sundays as well at a different location. There are only three phone lines in the office, so if you have a cell, please bring it. If you can make it, let me know or call Patrick Layden at (518) 796-0109

5. House Parties Hosts Needed

We are still looking for additional House Party Hosts, now towards the fall. The closer we get to the election season in the fall, the more interest people will have in attending House Parties to meet and learn about our candidates: Kirsten Gillibrand and Tim Merrick. It's easy to do: invite a few people you know from your network of friends, relatives and co-workers who you think might be interested. A dozen will do. You can serve a few simple refreshments, if you like, and others can bring things, too. The meeting itself is only about an hour.

If that sounds like something you could do-- please let us know. It's a great way to really make a difference, and it's fun! Email me at ldudley@larrydudley.com if you are interested.

6. Independent Petitioners For Tim Merrick Needed

Our endorsed State Senate candidate Tim Merrick is trying to get an independent ballot line for himself. Anyone can carry around an Independent petition, and unlike party petitions, anyone can sign them. It seems pretty easy, and it is, but there is one catch: if you have signed a Democratic or Republican petitions, you cannot carry or circulate a petition.

Tim is asking a favor of anyone out there who did not sign a petition as a Democrat in June and July: would you circulate an petition for Tim Merrick for State Senate as an Independent? This is a great way to help the Merrick campaign.

If you can, contact me at ldudley@larrydudley.com address or votemerrick@charter.net

I have independent petitions if anyone wants them-- remember, it's actually easier than regular petitions because anyone sign them.

7. DFA Night School

On Tuesday, August 1st at 8:30pm, don't miss the next installment of DFA-Night School.

The night school is an hour long conference call with an online slide show. You dial in, listen, view the materials and ask questions. This week's topic will be Leveraging Online Media. Those who attended our DFA Training Day in February will remember how terrific Arshad Hasan's classes were, and this promises to be equally enlightening. To RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=9771

If you haven't registered with DFA-Link, you'll need to first:
http://www.dfalink.com/register_friend.php?id=5514310d77911611

8. Friday Rockhill Film Fest

On Friday, August 4th at 8pm, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls continues the Progressive Film Festival continues with, DENIAL STOPS HERE: From 9-11 to Peak Oil and Beyond
Mike Ruppert, founder of fromthewilderness.com, a groundbreaking independent media organization, discusses the 9-11 cover-up, Peak Oil, the War in Iraq, economic turmoil and accountability, world events relating to oil, and sustainability and the importance of community reliance. This film captures the essence of Michael C Ruppert’s most recent lectures from various parts of the country, including stops in California, Washington, Montana and Oregon. Two hours of solid information that is necessary to understand what’s going on in the world today and what we all need to do for tomorrow. Original music composed by David Baerwald. Director: Ken Levine Running time: 120 min.

9. Val Keehn Speaks August 9th

On August 9th from 11am to 1:30pm at the Inn at Saratoga Saratoga Springs, Democratic Mayor Valerie Keehn will speak on Women, Business, and Politics. Sponsored by the Capital Region Chapter of eWomenNetwork. Cost is $35 members, $45 for non-members. Contact Merci Miglino, at mercimiglino@ewomenentwork.com or 518-229-4403 to make reservations.

10. Governor Dean Rips Katherine Harris And More

Governor Dean has been touring the hustings lately. In Florida he was in fine form, ripping into Florida's favorite vote stealer, Katherine Harris, who looks bound for almost certain defeat in the Senate race there.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/nation/epaper/2006/07/27/a4a_dean_0727.html
Dean also attacked the Republicans for creating a political culture of divisiveness in their rule-or-ruin efforts hold onto power. Particularly important, he noted that:
"Democrats need to improve grass-roots campaigning and pay more attention to local races to develop future leaders. We have not tended to our farm team. We need to get a good bench," said Dean.

Amen! There's more at http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Howard-Dean-Democrats.html

11. David Sirota On Tom Friedman Of The NY TImes

Finally, author David Sirota has "busted" New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, one of the leading advocates of globalization and outsourcing American jobs abroad in the name of "free trade." According to Sirota;

"I have repeatedly documented how New York Times columnist Tom Friedman parrots the propaganda of Big Money... But I never had any idea how dead on I was ..."

"As the July edition of the Washingtonian Magazine notes in a fawning profile, Friedman lives in "a palatial 11,400-square-foot house, now valued at $9.3 million, on a 7½-acre parcel just blocks from I-495 and Bethesda Country Club." He "married into one of the 100 richest families in the country" - the Bucksbaums, whose real-estate Empire is valued at $2.7 billion. "

"...this does potentially explain an ENORMOUS amount about Friedman's perspective. Far from the objective, regular-guy interpreter of globalization that the D.C. media portrays him to be, Friedman is a member of the elite of the economic elite on the planet Earth. "
For more: http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=C0EB620B-E0C3-F084-DFE28A740D37E6E2

I always thought he was an unctuous, even smary creep, but I had no idea he was quite such a superrich unctuous, smary creep.


Thanks Everyone! See you Wednesday at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe! Again, if you haven't registered with DFA-Link, now is a great time to do it so we can get ready for the fall elections:
http://www.dfalink.com/register_friend.php?id=5514310d77911611

My best,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:25 AM