Tricounty DFA: Update on the Update: Rep.-Elect Gillibrand Change
Hello Everyone;

Even later news is that there has been a change and Rep.- Elect Kirsten GIllibrand will be NOT be able to attend the Washington County Democratic Committee Holiday Fundraiser at the Rice Inn on Dec. 1-- she has to attend a training in Boston for new members of Congress.

My regrets to all for any confusion!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 9:28 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Holiday Party, Peace Day and more
Hello Everyone;

Hope you all have a grateful and restful Thanksgiving! In This Update:


1. Washington County Democratic Holiday Party & Gillibrand
2. Peace Day Event Saturday
3. DFA Link-up Meeting on 12/6
4. Tom Hayden: Administration Negotiating Return of Baathists?
5. The Nation Mag: Last Word On Effort To Depose Gov.Dean
6. Friday Progressive Film Fest



1. Washington County Democratic Committee Holiday Party

Late word is that Rep.-Elect Gillibrand is scheduled to appear at the Washington County Democrat's Holiday Party Fund Raiser.

The event is Friday, December 1st, 2006, 7 - 9 pm, Rice Mansion Inn, 16 W. Main St. Cambridge, NY

$25 per person includes Hors d’oerves and Desserts by Spoonful Catering, Wine, beer, soft drinks
Wine Basket Raffle and Silent auction. Great Holiday Gifts: art, jewelry, certificates for dining and shopping in local stores!
Cocktail Party or Holiday Attire. Newly elected Democrats plan to join us.

Make your check to WCDC (Washington County Democratic Committee) and send to Ed Dowling, 1 Highland Street, Greenwich NY 12834 or pay online at Washington County Democratic Website: http://www.washingtoncountydemocrats.com/getinvolved/contribute.html

SPACE IS LIMITED! Call Lisa (854-3388) or Sheila Comar (642-9566) for reservations


2. Peace Day Event Saturday

The Peace Center Task Force of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Glens Falls will hold a non-denominational Peace Fair from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, December 2, 2006, rain or shine.

This diverse gathering of peace-minded folk is free to the public, with gifts, booths, food, music, games, workshops and free child care. Give peace for the holidays!

About a dozen peace-oriented organizations will table, selling everything from t-shirts to books to vegetarian soup and desserts. Well-known area musicians will play, and there will be peace games and stories for young folk and face painting, bubbles and free child care for the little ones.

Workshops will be presented throughout the dayt.

The Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 21 Weeks Road off Upper Glen in Queensbury, a mile north of Quaker Road, exit 19 off I87, an hour north of Albany.

3. DFA Link-up Meeting on 12/6

We will be holding our usual monthly Greater Glens Falls DFA Meetup or Linkup on December 6th, a week from this Wednesday, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls at 7pm.

At the last meeting there was a lot of interest in the possibility of getting Al Gore's new video The Inconvenient Truth for showing. Bob Jacobs checked it and it is possible, so we will be trying to get that. Please let me know if you are interested!

For more info check out DFA-Link at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=168

4. Tom Hayden: Administration Negotiating Return of Baathists?

There was a piece on the Huffington Post this week by activist Tom Hayden that's been getting a lot of attention. Hayden reveals evidence that the US military and elements of the administration are negotiating with former generals of the Baathist regime and party. In effect, these generals have been covertly leading the resistance to the US occupation, and their return to power, at least partially, may be the only way to resolve the war in Iraq.

As we will all recall, Bush's Viceroy in Iraq, Paul Bremer, created the current situation by disbanding the old Iraqi Army, which fought off Iran for years, and banishing virtually every member of the Baath Party. That effectively disbanded the Iraqi Civil Service, because the only way to get a job under Saddam was to join the Baath Party. Since Iraq is a developing county with thin human resources, this left Iraq ungovernable, and we see the consequences now.

There have long been reports that our military has been talking to officers in the old Iraqi Army, without administration consent. This is a fascinating read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-hayden/documents-reveal-secret-t_b_34834.html

5. The Nation Mag: Last Word On Effort To Depose Gov.Dean

The Nation Magazine also had a colorful piece that's the last word on the weird effort to depose Governor Dean as DNC chair. As Donny Fowler is quoted, "Asking Dean to step down now, after last week, is equivalent to asking Eisenhower to resign after the Normandy invasion."

Given the accolades Dean received for his performance, except for connected, self-dealing media consultants who want us to believe throwing truckloads of money at TV stations is a strategy, rather than the complete absence of a strategy, Dean's grassroots, bottom up organizing tactics have more credibility nationally than even at the height of his presidential run. It's a source of real hope for the future.

I'll paste the whole article below-- and thanks to Martha for this piece!

6. Friday Progressive Film Fest


Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls continues it Friday Night Progressive Film Festival at 8pm with:

Dec 1 THE BIG ONE (1997) Michael Moore 91 min.
A film made during Michael Moore's speaking tour for his book, "Downsize This!". He exposes more than a few big businesses making record profits as they close down and flee the states for more fertile ground in Mexico abnd Asia. He gives out awards to those he feels are the greediest. The film is eminently watchable but the interview at film's end with Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike corporation, is priceless.

Thanks everyone! See you all soon,

Larry Dudley


******

The Odd Attack on Dean

[from the December 11, 2006 issue]

Amid Democratic postelection celebrating, there was a bizarre outburst: a malicious attack launched by James Carville against Howard Dean, chair of the Democratic National Committee, demanding his ouster. Carville's freakish initiative was bogus in every way. He has the same influence in party affairs as any other talking head on CNN--that is, none. In a year when the Democrats achieved their first real Congressional victory since 1992, Carville accused Dean of losing seats by not devoting more money to close House races.

The Ragin' Cajun was promptly stuffed. Don Fowler, former state party chair of South Carolina, observed: "Asking Dean to step down now, after last week, is equivalent to asking Eisenhower to resign after the Normandy invasion." Senator Harry Reid, the new majority leader, rallied to Dean too. "I didn't support his running for the chair of the DNC," Reid said. "I was wrong. He was right: I support his grassroots Democratic Party-building."

Carville's reckless foray, joined by pollster Stanley Greenberg, is worthy of comment only because the two are picking a fight that reflects the deep, potentially explosive fault-line in the party: the battle for control between old and new. Carville speaks for yesterday's failed politics--the Clinton years. Dean represents a more promising future with his aggressive efforts to rebuild a fifty-state party that grows from the grassroots up.

On the day after the election, Clintonistas-in-Waiting awoke to realize their wing of the party is not represented at the top of the party. For them, it seems, restoration of a Clinton White House--getting Senator Hillary Clinton nominated in 2008--needs inside influence. Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, despite their cultural differences, are both labor liberals. So why not take a shot at Dean and see what happens? Senator Clinton issued a limp disavowal, but if her side wants to start a fight, she can't have it both ways.

To get the hypocrisy, remember that Carville and Greenberg came to fame with Bill Clinton's 1992 "Putting People First" victory. The new President promptly turned right, and his White House eviscerated the DNC's promising coordination of state party campaigns. Clinton politics was all about him. Eight years later, Democrats had lost it all: White House, Senate, House.

In contrast, Dean got a lot of flak when he remarked that Democrats should start talking to everyone, including people in deeply red states. He made the same pitch when he ran for DNC chair in 2005 against the establishment and won.

Surprise--Dean has actually done what he promised. He gets funds to states, with the result that Democrats are speaking directly again to people in red areas, including through ads on Christian-right radio. This is politics for the long term. Nobody expects early conversion in Mississippi. But less than two years after Dean's launch, Democrats won control of the House and Senate for the first time since the Clinton team lost it in 1994.

The party does face a soul-searching reckoning, and this is a good fight to have. But it should not be determined by the typical push-and-shove of Beltway insiders arguing over tactics. The argument has to be more fundamental: Are Democrats ready to take on the big concerns they have so often finessed in this conservative era? Will they respond to the anger and discontents expressed by people in this election, or will they continue to play it safe?
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:16 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Washington County Holiday Party, Rally Pics, Election Hacking and more
Hello Everyone;

First: Happy Thanksgiving! This year we finally have something great to be thankful for.

In This Update:

1. Washington County Democratic Committee Holiday Party
2. Pics of Rally and Victory Celebration
3. Evidence Grows Election Was Hacked-- But Not Enough
4. Troublesome Reports
5. Thin Margins Create Dangers
6. Voting Technology & Agenda For New Year
7. DNC Rallies Behind Gov. Dean
9. Blue Tiger Democrats
10. Friday Film Fest


1. Washington County Democratic Committee Holiday Party

You are invited to the Washington County Democrat's 3rd Annual Holiday Party Fund Raiser!

Friday, December 1st, 2006, 7 - 9 pm, Rice Mansion Inn, 16 W. Main St. Cambridge, NY

$25 per person includes Hors d’oerves and Desserts by Spoonful Catering, Wine, beer, soft drinks
Wine Basket Raffle and Silent auction. Great Holiday Gifts: art, jewelry, certificates for dining and shopping in local stores!
Cocktail Party or Holiday Attire. Newly elected Democrats plan to join us.

RSVP and send payment by November 25th! Make your check to WCDC (Washington County Democratic Committee)
and send to Ed Dowling, 1 Highland Street, Greenwich NY 12834

SPACE IS LIMITED! Call Lisa (854-3388) or Sheila Comar (642-9566) for reservations

2. Pics of Rally and Victory Celebration

Linda Thompson took some terrific pictures of President Clinton's rally for Rep.-Elect Gillibrand at the Warren County Airport and the Victory Celebration at the Gideon Putnam: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/album?c=lindathomp2000&aid=576460762344411046&pid=&wtok=5w8xFgOHHHmSjRTs3ip9tQ--&ts=1163989173&.src=ph

3. Election Was Hacked

There were many predictions the election would again be "hacked" and stolen. Karl Rove actually came out and said he had the "real" numbers-- which many regarded as a code word for fraud. So many people were surprised when the election seemed to go smoothly.

But there is in fact a growing case the election was hacked. But something may have gone wrong for the right wingers: in order to hack the election, software to many tens of thousands of electronic voting machines has to be distributed well in advance-- it can't be done at the last minute, there are too many of them.

As a result, the right wingers may have been caught short by the sudden last minute swing of the electorate as the war began to collapse and corruption began to explode. As a result, they may have underestimated the number of votes they had to steal. The Democratic wave was just too great.

The Election Defense Alliance has produced a detailed analysis of the election that bears close inspection: http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_rob_kall_061117_clear_evidence_2006_.htm
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/19/8396/9138

Please note I do say MAY have been hacked. But there is enough here for any responsible person to be deeply worried.

4. Troublesome Reports

Part of the problem in stealing an election is that if you steal too many votes, it becomes obvious what you are doing.

Accordingly, evidence of problems or fraud often show up best in small communities because they can't be hid. These small cases are the canaries in the coal mine.

*A man in Utah discovered it's possible to vote twice on an electronic voting machine. (1)
*The wife of a mayoral candidate discovered no votes had been cast for her husband on their community's touch screen voting machine, despite the fact she knew he had already voted for himself. (2)
*In Arkansaw 199 votes were cast in a mayoral race in Gateway, which has only 122 people. In the Pea Ridge, 3,997 votes were cast in a contested mayor's race in a city of 3,344 people. (3)
*But large jurisdictions can reveal problems, if they are big enough. In Florida's 13th Congressional District 18,000 votes disappeared. This is Katherine Harris's old district! The Democrat lost by 373 votes out of 237,000 cast. Coincidence? Or did Harris and her supporters steal that the way they stole Florida in 2000? (4)
*Accusation of election fraud are flying in Florida once again over the result in FL-13. People For The American Way and Common Cause are demanding complete new revotes. (5)
*Computer scientist John Stokes has actually put up a webpage with all the details on how to steal an election, in order to alert people to the danger. It is very easy. (6)
(footnotes at bottom)

5. Thin Margins Create Dangers

There has been a lot of talk about a Democratic Wave, but in fact many races were very tight, which could have made a stolen election possible. 23 House seats were won by less then two percent. Sen. Schumer points out that a 10,000 vote shift in the right states would have put the Senate back into Republican hands.
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20061112/D8LBAOJ80.html

Democrats won in Virginia by 9,200 votes, in Montana by about 1,500. In the last race settled so far, in Connecticut, the margin of victory for Democrat U.S. Rep-elect Joe Courtney was only 91 (or 86) votes out of 242,000 cast. When it gets that incredibly tight, the danger of hacking grows very dramatically, as does the temptation.

6. Voting Technology & Agenda For New Year

Clearly, for all of DFA, voting technology is going to be a huge issue for the New Year. Here in NY, certification of new machines has been delayed. That's good. But we have to work to make sure area counties go with reliable Optical Scan/Paper Ballot machines, not touchscreen machines that can be hacked.

Those who attended the presentation we organized a year ago with Bo Lipari, or saw Bob Millman's video, will recognize Bo as the leading expert here in NY on this issue. For more go to New Yorkers For Verified Voting's website: http://www.nyvv.org

7. DNC Rallies Behind Gov. Dean

It appears that the Democratic Party has rallied decisively behind Governor Dean and the 50 State Strategy. There are many articles, this is a good one from a Western perspective: http://helenair.com/articles/2006/11/20/montana/a01112006_01.txt

Blogger Chris Bowers put the issue recently: "small donations from progressive movement activists flow to the DNC in record amounts, and most of those donations end up being spent on direct grants to state parties and in the form of state-level field organizers. This is a novel path for Democratic money to take, especially since it generally bypasses both Washington, D.C. based consultants and wealthy donors. It is also exactly why Carville's base of supporters hate Dean so much."

If you want to see the antithesis to this, read this astounding piece in the NY Times today: Senator Clinton spent $30 million dollars to win reelection over a total nobody. Quick-- can you name her opponent? See? You had to think about it. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/us/politics/21donate.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1164171600&en=1cf680b27f8bb06f&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

$30 million and we still lost every state legislative race in sight. That $30 million contributed absolutely zero to building the party here in upstate NY.

9. Blue Tiger Democrats

There's a new group being formed to promote the idea of a grassroots party, and although it's very Dean and DFA-like, it's supported by Lt. Governor-Elect and present Sen. Minority Leader David Patterson. From their website:

"Blue Tiger Democrats believe that civic engagement must be the first and foremost priority of local Democratic and Progressive organizations across the country.
We advocate channeling the massive volunteerism seen during the 2004 election and recent periods of crisis towards civic engagement just as Democrats did historically from the mid 1800s through World War II.
Far too much Progressive political giving goes to funding 30-second commercials.
Our mission is to encourage you to invest a portion of your funds in strengthening the roots of party organizations at the local level through civic engagement."
http://www.bluetigerdems.com/

They are also advocating a return to the original Democratic Symbol, the Tiger, only blue for the modern age.

It be nice if they would acknowledge their debt to Governor Dean, Dean For America and Democracy For America, but there is a lot to like here and little else to complain about: http://www.bluetigerdems.com/

10. Friday Film Fest

Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls continues its Friday Night Progressive Film Festival at 8pm with:

Nov 24 BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (1999) Wim Wenders 105 min.
Aging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro's takeover of Cuba, are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder, who travelled to Havana in order to bring the musicians together, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music, and resurrecting the musicians' careers.

Thanks everyone! See you all soon and have a great holiday! (footnotes with the sources are below.)

Larry Dudley




1.) http://kcpw.org/article/2148
2.) http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2646802&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
3.) http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/11/10/news/111106bzelectioncontinued.txt
4.) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/10/us/politics/10florida.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/15985968.htm
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2006/11/13/florida/index.html
5.) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/11/cbsnews_investigates/main2174376.shtml
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=23069
6.) http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/evoting.ars
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:48 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Congratulatory Messages, Gillibrand in DC Already, Much Furor Over Dean
Hello Everyone!

Hope you are all getting rested up for your exertions and celebrations!


In This Update:

1. A Delightful Congratulatory Message
2. Rep.-Elect Gillibrand In D.C.
3. Parker, Conason, More on Dean and Victorious 50 State Strategy
4. Dean Called To Advise Labor, Liberals
5. Dean Under Attack
6. A New Call For Letter Writing: Defend Chairman Dean
7. Friday Night Film Fest
8. Baffling Comments
9. On the lighter Side: Kang and Kodos


1. A Delightful Congratulatory Message

We've all seen the waves of congratulatory messages in the last week. This Flash animation Dick and Pat forwarded today is far and away the most charming I've seen: http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1017817064360

2. Rep.-Elect Gillibrand In D.C.

If you are wondering what Representative-Elect Gillibrand is doing, she is at the school or "boot camp" for freshman members of Congress: http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=534929&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/14/2006

3. Parker, Conason, More, on Dean and Victorious 50 State Strategy

The verdict is coming in from every corner from left to right: conservative columnist Kathleen Parker called it first and Salon's Joe Conason agrees: Governor Dean's 50 State Strategy worked, and far sooner than even Governor Dean himself expected. Parker declared Dean the big winner in the election:

"it was Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who really won Tuesday with his 50-state strategy. While others in his party wanted to spend money on candidates, Dean insisted on rebuilding the party's infrastructure... Dean spent millions paying and training staff in states where there was little or no party structure. The good doctor accurately diagnosed what ailed his party and produced the cure. He built the party, and the people came."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/orl-parker1206nov12,0,5684693.column

Salon's Joe Conason agrees: "What Dean and his organizers created, however, was an environment that allowed insurgents and outliers as well as the party's chosen challengers to ride the national wave of revulsion against conservative rule. "
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/11/10/dean_dems/

Even Senator Joe Biden has now come around to enthusiastically endorse Dean's strategy:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/10/15556/039

One of the best accounts is on Hotline: "Three years ago, Howard Dean-style politics was too outré for the Democratic Party to bear. Today, arguably, Dean Politics is Democratic politics."

and "the architecture of Dean Politics has become the de mode style for the entire party. Dean promoted a vocal, confrontational style of campaigning, one that did not cede an inch to Republicans.... He rejected the politics of inoculation, pronouncing himself proud to be the talisman of the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
More: http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/11/post_120.html#more

Scott Gallidez provides some details on Truthout .com: Dean put paid organizers into Indiana a year before candidates even appeared. The belt way types in Washington were furious. Dean was "wasting" money. Election Day, the Democrats picked up three seats in supposedly impregnable Indiana.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/111306J.shtml

( The Governor himself spoke out on the Democrat's new agenda on Fox News: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=16603 )

4. Dean Called To Advise Labor, Liberals

In fact the Dean approach to politics is so successful Britain's Labor Party and the Liberal Party in Canada are calling Governor Dean in to advise them on how he did it. That's pretty remarkable, because the Labor Party under Tony Blair has not exactly been an unsuccessful political organization. According to the Guardian:

"Labour is particularly interested in the Democrats' style of targeting grassroots voters through low-key meetings in homes. "We want to look at their experience in campaigning, getting out the vote, holding house meetings where people can come together ..."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1945409,00.html (Thanks Drew!)

The British Labor Parties and the Canadian Liberal Parties probably were looking at what happened in New Hampshire, where Carol Shea-Porter beat a Republican incumbent in what had been considered a conservative Republican bastion. It was Dean For America's house meeting system that flipped New Hampshire from red to blue, creating the the social networks and human capital that Shea-Porter was able to call to victory while spending only around $200,000 in a positive, upbeat, affirmational community based campaign. http://concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061110/REPOSITORY/611100324/1027/OPINION01

What's best, Shea-Porter, along with all the other New Hampshire Democrats, are there to stay, because it's now a good blue state with Governor's Mansion, both houses of the legislature and both house seats in the hands of Democrats.

5. Dean Under Attack

Astoundingly, the usual gang of incompetent, inside the beltway or Manhattan, big name, big buck consultant parasites are now calling for Dean's removal. The leader of this pack of losers is none other than the so-called ragin' cajun, Jim Carville, who's last real claim to fame was the Clinton War Room 14 years ago. He's sold out repeatedly since then, apparently making tons of money in Latin America propping up repressive regimes at the polls.

These people's track record is horrible. Rahm Emmanuel hand picked 22 candidates to win on his famous "red to blue" list. 13 lost, including the celebrated Tammy Duckworth, who received a fortune in party funds to primary a well established, popular grass roots progressive, Christine Cegalis, who got 44% against Henry Hyde in 2004. With a open seat, Cegalis was likely to win.

6. A New Call For Letter Writing: Defend Chairman Dean

So I was not surprised to receive this message tonight, via 20True Blue, from Denise King, the Chair of the Executive Committee of the New York State Democratic Party, who came and spoke to us last summer:

"the Washington consultant class is once again suggesting that Howard Dean should be replaced as DNC Chair. The absurdity of it astounds my fellow DNC members and we are rallying to Howard's defense. We won! The other guys lost. We keep our Chair; they send theirs packing. "

"So, if any of you incredible letter writers have at least one good letter left, please send it to any newspaper you can to stand up for Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy. The only way to build the Democratic Party is to be active and contend everywhere. "

"Let's stand by our man!!!"

"Thanks so much---for everything. "

"Denise King"

As DFA we carry on the legacy and principles of the Dean campaign, so it is up to us to write those letters:

Send a letter to the Post Star at: http://www.poststar.com/contact/form_letter.php
The Chronicle: chronicl@loneoak.com

All other area papers through the AAUW Two-Minutes activist page: http://capwiz.com/aauw/dbq/media/?azip=12801&search.x=23&search.y=12&command=zipresult

7. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 8pm with:

Nov 17 SIR! NO SIR! *PREMIERE* (2006) David Zeiger 88 min.
In the 1960’s an anti-war movement emerged that altered the course of history. This movement didn’t take place on college campuses, but in barracks and on aircraft carriers. It flourished in army stockades, navy brigs and in the dingy towns that surround military bases. It penetrated elite military colleges like West Point. And it spread throughout the battlefields of Vietnam. It was a movement no one expected, least of all those in it. Hundreds went to prison and thousands into exile. And by 1971 it had, in the words of one colonel, infested the entire armed services. Yet today few people know about the GI movement against the war in Vietnam. The Vietnam War has been the subject of hundreds of films, both fiction and non-fiction, but this story–the story of the rebellion of thousands of American soldiers against the war–has never been told in film.

8. Baffling Comments

I discovered after my last posting that more than a few of your were baffled by my comments about John Sweeney and DiCarlo's in Albany. I had assumed everyone knew about this, but apparently this was not the case. Mea culpa.

I was not indulging in a cheap shot, nor was it my intention to kick Mr. Sweeney when down. It is well known, and reported in the TImes Union, that our former Congressman frequented DiCarlo's Gentleman's Club on Central Avenue. In fact, he even had a former manager/bouncer on his staff, who he was forced to fire when his odd career path was exposed.

DiCarlo's features "lap dancing." For those who are not familiar with today's so-called "Gentlemen's Clubs" I refer all to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lap_dancing

I suppose taking shots at John Sweeney has become something of a habit. For some of us, this has been going on for a very long time. For example, in 2001, now almost six years ago, I tried to get the national media interested in the Willard Mountain incident, where then-representative Sweeney, after apparently having some drinks apres-ski, hit a power pole, stranding dozens of people on the chair lifts. No Breathalyzer was administered and the incident was covered up, only local papers carried the story. I emailed dozens of national papers and magazines trying to get someone to pay attention to the story. Only Michael Tomasky of New York Magazine responded with a small story. I think no one could see past the drinking aspect to the real issue, abuse of power. It was a very frustrating experience, as you might imagine.

That said, I expect this is the last reference to John Sweeney you will ever see in these postings, and thank God and Rep. Elect-Gillibrand! It's going to be good.

9. On the lighter Side: Kang and Kodos

On the lighter side, if you missed The Simpson's a couple of weeks ago, you missed this priceless Halloween sketch, the best part of which is now on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv885NgXCqg

Many thanks again to all of you! So many of you worked so hard!

My very best for a great week,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:59 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Post Election Update: "A Thumpin' "
Hello Everyone;

This is a very different message than the one I sent the day after the 2004 election. Then I wrote the following to you all: "Bruce Springsteen said a couple of nights ago that 'the country we carry in our hearts is waiting.' It will have to wait a bit longer."

It is waiting in our hearts no more, the America we once knew, and dreamed of for 14 long years, and really, since 1968, is returning, alive and well. Tuesday we completed the first great step we began in DFA and the Democratic Party to, as Governor Dean said almost three years ago, "Take Back America."

We took back the House of Representatives, the Senate (pending any recounts), six governor mansions, including ours in Albany, 275 legislative seats and ten state legislative chambers.

And most of all, for everyone here locally, we took our congressional seat away from Miami Mob Boss John Sweeney and placed it into the care of Kirsten Gillibrand. She is going to Congress, and he is no doubt going back to DiCarlo's Gentleman's Club for lap dances and cheap liquor. We all seek our level, I guess.

This whole turn around began when Governor Dean stood up at the annual Winter DNC meeting in February 2003 and threw down the famous challenge that electrified all of us, "What I want to know..." And picked up Paul Wellstone's mantle, the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party. Everyone and everything in DFA began at that moment. It was one of the great turning points in American History.

And as I also wrote two years ago, "To all of you, my highest regards for everything you have done: traveling, canvassing, phoning, writing, giving and giving and so much more. Your enthusiasm, intelligence and hard work has been a humbling and deeply rewarding, even transforming experience."

"Many thanks to all of you."

And my apologies for not sending this out yesterday-- I started to, but was simply too tired to do it.

In This Update:

1. "A Thumping"
2. Victory #2: Rumsfeld Resigns, Adult Supervision Restored
3. Right Wing Already Spinning
4. The Future
5. The Very Major Implications Of New Hampshire
6. Fish Heads
7. Save Signs
8. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest
9. Important Electric Car Story Likely To Be Missed


1. "A Thumping"

Like many of you I watched George Bush's Press Conference yesterday with as much amazement as satisfaction. For once, he got it right. "W" and his minions took a "thumpin'."

I am a little worried about what Joe Liebermann may do. The Republicans did not support Schlesinger in Connecticut at all. How come? Was there some sort of quid pro quo? I, for one, would not be surprised. In the last weeks of his campaign Joe sounded more like a Republican every day. If he doesn't vote with Democrats, remember, you heard it here first.

Whatever happens, we have the house, and if my instincts are right, the laser printers are already grinding out copies of subpoenas dated January 2007.

2. Victory #2: Rumsfeld Resigns, Adult Supervision Restored

One victory quickly followed another-- we will no longer have to hear Don Rumsfeld constantly answer his own questions. It's clear the grown-ups are now back in charge in the White House and the neocons and their jejune fantasies of empire are being sent packing. Daddy Bush's old hands are now surrounding junior. They may not drive the car where we want, but at least it won't be over a cliff.

Robert Gates will replace Rumsfeld. He was involved in covering up Iran-Contra, and as Dick pointed out to me today, the White House obviously wants to get this through the Senate this year before questions can be asked by the new Senate next year, which is why this happened so fast.

3. Right Wing Already Spinning

The right wing and the DLC types are already spinning this as some of conservative victory, even though we know it all started with progressives and the American people want real change. See Bill Safire's column in the Times today:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/opinion/09safire.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
or Media Matters: http://mediamatters.org/items/200611080009
Fighting this message and controlling public perception of what has happened is the next immediate challenge.

4. The Future

The next challenge after that is the races that will be coming soon enough, because some jobs weren't finished this year. I particularly want to salute our State Senate Candidate, Tim Merrick, and our 112th Assembly District Candidate, Hudson Falls Mayor Dave Carter.

One of the great things about politics is you get to meet new people and make new friends, and I think I speak for all of us when I say we made great new friends in them and their teams this year, and look forward to supporting them in the future.

These races demonstrate that in taking our region permanently from red to blue, that much remains undone. Below the marquee races, the results here were mostly grim. In fact, they could be interpreted as a bloodbath: the Republicans swept all the local state legislative seats. They took both Saratoga County Treasurer's and County Clerks races. Good candidates like Ed Burkhardt for Granville Assessor or David Strainer for Queensbury Town Supervisor were defeated, although there were isolated bright spots, like Patti Southworth, who won election to the Ballston Town Board.

These are good people, good candidates, with good ideas and important and badly needed agendas for reform, like Preston Jenkins' for the badly mismanaged Saratoga County Treasurer's office, and it's distressing to see them go down.

Looking at the election from top to bottom, it's clear that, at the foundations, this is still Republican territory. By and large, the great majority of voters here voted straight a Democratic ticket through Gillibrand, and then went up and voted a straight Republican ticket for all the rest.

So much, much work needs to be done: building our local political institutions of all kinds. Building party. Building community and new social networks. That's how we educate for change and make people feel comfortable with Democrats and progressives, how we give them a new sense of identity and belonging.

5. The Very Major Implications Of New Hampshire

There's hope for those races in the future, too. I think the most interesting thing that happened Tuesday and most relevant to us here in upstate NY is what happened in New Hampshire with the election of DFA activist Carol Shea-Porter to Congress. Even less than a month ago her chances were not taken seriously. In fact she was ridiculed by many in the media. New Hampshire had always been seen as seen a rock-ribbed Republican bastion, just like here. She had almost no money. She was essentially blown off by the Party. But she had good people, she had the grassroots, she had DFA and she is now on her way to Congress.

Beyond her, on the state level, New Hampshire is now all Democratic: Governor's mansion, both houses of the legislature. And both seats in the House. One party government for the first time since 1874 -- 132 years-- a complete wipe out for the Republicans, right down to the lowest levels.
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?
headline=ELECTION+NEWSBLOG%3a+A+historic+Democratic+triumph&articleId=22235945-2dcf-40dd-9eb8-94c1bc383830

I think it is clear that this is the long term legacy of the Dean For America campaign and the brilliant field program run by people like DFA Executive Director Tom Hughes. DFA Versions I & II flipped New Hampshire for good by "rewiring" that state's socio-political networks. In less than four years that state went from red to blue thanks to the right strategy and tactics.

Many of you have heard my analysis of how our region is in fact the West New England or West Vermont region of New York. Our area is so similar to blue states Vermont and New Hampshire it's startling, and we, too, can take our home blue as they did.

6. Fish Heads

Anyone who doubts the need for serious change at the local level need only look at the Post Star cover article today on the clear threat leveled yesterday against supporters of Charter Reform in Saratoga Springs. Fish heads wrapped in newspaper were left on their doorsteps.

This may seem funny, but it is not. It's a deeply serious matter. We need to understand the proper context: this is a clear allusion to the mafia. The mob was once very powerful and really scary in Saratoga, with gangsters like Legs Diamond and Lucky Lucianno always hanging around. In fact they simply owned Saratoga in the 30s and 40s.

That little bit of history tells you all you need to know about the character of the people who did this. In fact, it's exactly the kind of intimidation tactic John Sweeney would probably appreciate and shows there are a lot more thugs we need to worry about around than him.

That's not the kind of country we want to live in. Everyone, all of us, no matter what persuasion, should be able to express our opinions and make our political decisions without any hint of fear, intimidation, retribution or revenge.

Although this was not a DF-GGF issue (it's really a bit outside our area) if I may ask everyone's indulgence for a personal note, I would urge my good friends there not to be discouraged by Reform's defeat yesterday. With enemies like this, you must not give up, any more than we gave up to Bush, Rove and Sweeney.

They are exactly the same people. You will win, too.

7. Save Signs

I've heard from all the campaigns and they are asking everyone to save items like their lawn signs. These things are damnably expensive. A cardboard and wire lawn sign costs about $4.50 each, the ribbed plastic ones about $9 each. So please take them in, hold onto them. If you see a forlorn one by the side of the road, for God's sakes stop, get out and put it in the trunk. If you have four signs, it's like a $20 contribution.

If you have just yours, keep it. If you have a bunch, we will figure out how to get them back, but let's not let them get wasted.

8. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls continues it's Friday Night Progressive Film Festival this week at 8pm with:

Nov 10 SHADOW COMPANY *PREMIERE* (2006) Nick Bicanic & Jason Bourque 86 min.
This year thousands of private soldiers will be deployed in conflicts worldwide. These individuals, known as private security contractors, are changing the face of modern warfare.
But to those at home, their world and influence remains a mystery. Who are these security contractors ? What do they do ? Why do they do it ? Shadow Company, by Nick Bicanic and Jason Bourque, is the groundbreaking feature-length documentary that reveals the origins and destinations of these modern-day mercenaries.

9. Important Electric Car Story Likely To Be Missed

Finally, not everything that's important happens in politics, not even in an election season. GM is supposedly developing a new electric car. This is great news, for GM is coming around. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ev9nov09,0,6347599.story?coll=la-home-business

Again, many thanks to all of you! See you all soon,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:41 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Flash: Bill Clinton At GF Airport For Gillibrand, Poll Watchers needed
A quick news flash; President Bill Clinton will be at the Warren County Airport outside Glens Falls, tomorrow, Monday, Nove. 6th at approximately 1:45 for a rally for Congressional Candidate Kirsten Gillibrand.

I will have another update later tonight with, hopefully, more details.

Also, there still is a big need for poll watchers for Tuesday. If you are free for Tuesday, or part of Tuesday, please email right away or call me at 792-5444

Thanks,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 3:28 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Flash: Bill Clinton At GF Airport For Gillibrand, Poll Watchers needed
A quick news flash; President Bill Clinton will be at the Warren County Airport outside Glens Falls, tomorrow, Monday, Nov. 6th at approximately 1:45 for a rally for Congressional Candidate Kirsten Gillibrand.

I will have another update later tonight with, hopefully, more details.

Also, there still is a big need for poll watchers for Tuesday. If you are free for Tuesday, or part of Tuesday, please email right away or call me at 792-5444

Thanks,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 3:28 PM 0 comments

 
2nd Tricounty DFA Update: Post Star Withdraws Endorsement!
Hello Everyone!

Can't make this stuff up! As a former newspaper writer, I have never heard of a paper withdrawing an endorsement, but the Post Star did this evening at 8:24pm. The editorial is pasted below.

LD


EDITORIAL: Character questions continue to dog Sweeney
Our view: Post-Star withdraws endorsement in wake of latest controversy regarding domestic violence call





Friday, November 3, 2006 8:24 PM EST

There's a time when you have to say, enough.

Here is one such time.

Serious allegations of domestic violence were raised against Congressman John Sweeney earlier this week after three newspapers published police accounts of a 911 call to his home in December.

The congressman has said he wants the truth to come out. But his actions in the wake of the incident and the disclosure of the 911 call in the media indicate otherwise.

The congressman's staff first responded to the police report on Wednesday by claiming the document was "fabricated" and "concocted" by an unnamed operative in the campaign of his opponent, Kirsten Gillibrand.


On Thursday, the congressman changed his story, admitting that there had been some kind of incident at his home that night, but that it wasn't as the police report in the media said it was.

At a press conference with his wife dutifully at his side, the couple said they would give permission to police to release documents that would reveal the truth about what happened. But police informed the congressman that in order to release the documents, he and his wife would have to provide a notarized authorization.

So to help him along, the Times-Union editorial board, the New York Daily News and the Associated Press on Thursday each offered to provide notarized requests for him to prompt police to release the records. In each case, the congressman angrily refused. Why would someone who says he so interested in the truth refuse help in releasing documents that would bring out the truth?

On Friday, as the citizens waited a third day for Sweeney to finally disclose the truth, again there was nothing from the congressman to support his claims as to what really happened. Instead, the congressman had himself seen with Governor Pataki and 9/11 hero Rudy Giuliani, telling reporters who questioned him about the waiver as he walked away, "Talk to my lawyer."

Perhaps by appearing with these two political giants, Sweeney was hoping their aura would overshadow a newspaper report published Friday in which he was quoted in the Times-Union as saying he thought the whole domestic violence matter was a "non-issue."

"It is a non-issue, and only you people made it an issue because it's salacious," the congressman told Times-Union editors.

We don't think it's a non-issue. And we're sure many of our readers don't either.

In May of last year, 25 courageous victims of domestic violence came forward and told their compelling stories of abuse as part of a series in this newspaper on domestic violence. They told of violence and fear, and of the shame and humiliation they felt when they failed to remove themselves from their abusive situations.

The congressman's curt dismissal of the domestic violence incident as a "non-issue" demonstrates that he either doesn't understand the seriousness of this matter as it relates to his role as a member of Congress, or that he simply hopes to divert attention from it so he can win the election.

In our editorial endorsing the congressman for re-election last Sunday, we pointed out the many flaws in Congressman Sweeney's character, including his accompanying lobbyists to exotic locations, fabricating lies about his political opponents, and using poor judgement in attending frat parties. We said voters should take those factors into consideration, but that the congressman's record in helping secure funding for his district and voting in Republican interests overrode concerns about his unofficial conduct.

His response to this incident reflects disturbingly not only on his character, but on his credibility to serve effectively as a representative of all the people.

There are still three days left until Election Day, and we urge the congressman to release the police documentation he says will unveil the truth about what really happened at his house that night.

Given this situation and Congressman Sweeney's unacceptable response to it, we can no longer stand behind our earlier endorsement of his candidacy.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 8:49 PM 0 comments

 
DFA Update: Gillibrand At Dem HQ In Glens Falls At 9am Sat.
A Quick Flash: Congressional Candidate Kirsten Gillibrand will be at Democratic Headquarters in downtown Glens Falls at 9am, tomorrow, Saturday 11/4.

Come down and hear and show support for Kirsten as she launches a day-long bus tour of the 20th CD.

The Headquarters is in the Rogers Building across the street from the Crandall Library.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 8:00 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Linkup Report, Saturday Push, Phone Banking, More
Hello Everyone!

Last weekend before the election!

In This Update:

1. Meetup/Linkup Report
2. Big Canvass Saturday-- Also Farmer's Market
3. Phone Banking
4. Poll Watchers and Other Volunteers Needed
5. Signs
6. Dean On Kerry
7. Olbermann Special Comment Link
8. Hacking Democracy On HBO
9. Friday Night Film Fest
10. On The Lighter Side


1. Meetup/Linkup Report

We had another great DFA Meetup/Linkup at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe Wednesday. What made it particularly special was that our State Senate Candidate Tim Merrick and Campaign Manager Kimberly Kleist came down and joined us. Tim made a short speech thanking everyone in Greater Glens Falls DFA for helping in his campaign. He also announced a special Press Conference at the Democratic HQ on Bay Street for the next day, and many of those present came to that event and help make it a success.

Tim has run a great campaign, and we really appreciate his appearance! You should see an article in the Post Star on the Press Conference. It was also covered by TV-8.

Most present also took home Tim's phone banking scripts and call sheets to reach area Democrats, Blanks and Independence party members. Tim also announced he will be in Glens Falls on Saturday for the big canvass being set up (see below).

2. Big Canvass Saturday

A large neighborhood canvass is being organized for Saturday. This will be an effort to cover as much of the Glens Falls area as possible, so if you are free Saturday morning please come on down to the Democratic Headquarters in downtown Glens Falls across from the Crandall Library at about 10am.

We may also be over in the Glens Falls Farmer's Market, weather permitting. That will run only from 9am to 11am, and possibly 10am, because of the canvass.

We really need a large force to carry out this canvass! If you do come, try and bring a friend or relative to go around with you-- it's easier and you actually get more done.

Tim will be going with us through the neighborhoods. We have also received a large case of DFA GOTV Post-It Notes that we can leave on voter's doors urging them to vote, focusing on the War.

3. Phone Banking

We still need phone bankers. There are two ways now to do phone banking. Many of us Wednesday night took home call sheets and a script to call for Tim Merrick.

You can also call from Democratic Headquarters. They are using a different script focusing on statewide candidates and Kirsten Gillibrand. If you do go to call from HQ, that's great, but we would urge to please let them know you came because you are from DFA or heard about phone banking from this message. That way you can also phone bank for Tim Merrick for State Senate, which is not the case for people who just wander in off the street.

It's really important to mention Tim and all our local candidates, like Hudson Falls Mayor David Carter (if you are calling into the 112th Assembly District). By supporting our grassroots candidates we build up the Democratic Party locally-- in fact, it's the only way that happens. We don't just want to Take Back America, we want to Take Back Our Communities as well.

4. Poll Watchers and Other Volunteers Needed

There is still a need for volunteers for Election Day! Let us know if you are free to volunteer: there will be a need for callers, Poll Watchers, canvassers and just general campaign volunteers. Reply back to me or call Patrick Layden at 796-0109.

5. Signs

There are also a small number of Gillbrand signs now down in the Headquarters, along with Spitzer, Merrick, Cuomo and Clinton signs. There are also a number of large plywood Gillibrand signs. If you are on a high traffic street, you really ought to take one-- they are high visibility items.

6. Dean On Kerry

You probably heard about the John Kerry flap. Governor Dean came out with a great statement on how two faced the Republicans are in trying to exploit this issue: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110102783.html

7. Olbermann Special Comment Link

Keith Olbermann, the new Murrow of the 21st century, did another stunning indictment of the Bush administration in his latest Special Comment, harking back to the days before the Civil War, when Senator Brooks nearly beat Senator Chase of Massachusetts to death on the floor of the Senate with a cane. Bush is giving all the right wingers canes these days. Marvelous:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/11/01/olbermanns-special-comment-there-is-no-line-this-president-has-not-crossed-nor-will-not-cross-to-keep-one-political-party-in-power/

8. Hacking Democracy On HBO

Rebecca sends along that HBO has a great new 2 hour program on electronic voting in American: Hacking Democracy. It was shown for the first time tonight, and will be shown an additional 18 times on HBO before the end of November. It sounds like a must see for those of you who have HBO.

If you don't, there's a detailed and very good article in Salon magazine: http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2006/11/02/hacking/

As I noted in the last update, certification of NY;s machines has been delayed into 2007. That is very good news, for it gives the new Spitzer administration and all of use to push for Paper Ballots Optically scanned.


9. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues this week at 8pm with"

Nov 3 WINTER SOLDIER 90 min.
In February 1971, one month after the revelations of the My Lai massacre, an astonishing public inquiry into war crimes committed by American forces in Vietnam was held at a Howard Johnson motel in Detroit. The Vietnam Veterans Against the War organized this event called the Winter Soldier Investigation. More than 125 veterans spoke of atrocities they had witnessed and committed. Though the event was attended by press and television news crews, almost nothing was reported to the American public. Yet, this unprecedented forum marked a turning point in the anti-war movement. It was a pivotal moment in the lives of young vets from around the country who participated, including the young John Kerry. The Winter Soldier Investigation changed him and his comrades forever. Their courage in testifying, their desire to prevent further atrocities and to regain their own humanity, provide a dramatic intensity that makes seeing Winter Soldier an unforgettable experience.

10. On The Lighter Side

Finally, on the lighter side, because things have been getting pretty heavy lately, I saw a preview of the latest episode of The Simpsons, which appears to have a send up of a Bush-like invasion, only of Earth as a stand in for Iraq, by my favorite Simpson's characters, Kang and Kodos. Kang and Kodos sounded just George W-- "fighting for hearts and minds." See it to get the gag. It's on at 8pm Sunday.

See you all Saturday!

Many thanks,

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 1:11 AM 0 comments

 
Charter reform: info on radio & TV
Saratoga Springs residents: Do you have questions about the charter reform amendment on the ballot? Some TV programs are available on Channel 18 (public access). In addition, a live radio program on Saturday Nov. 4th 8-9 will have a panel discussion with caller questions concerning charter reform. Here are the details:

Thurs. Nov 2st , 3:00 to 3:30 pm on TimeWarner Ch 18: Good News & Real Facts on City Budgets and Charter Reform. Rick Thompson interviews former New York State budget director Mark Lawton about budget savings from Charter Reform. (Rebroadcast)

Sat. Nov. 4th, 8:00 to 9:00 am on Moon Radio, 1160 AM. Live on Saturday's radio show "The Senior Forum" we will have a panel discussion and take callers questions about the upcoming change in Saratoga's government. We will also be discussing Mike Lenz's recent flip-flop on the charter change and what his motives could have been.

Mon Nov 6th, 7:00 to 8:00 pm on TimeWarner Ch 18: Conversations on Good Government and Charter Reform. Moon Radio broadcasting personalities Rick Thompson and Lynn Goodness interview Saratoga Mayor Val Keehn, 2005 Charter Commission Member Pat Kane, and 2006 Charter Commission Member Rory O'Connor on Charter Reform.

For additional information: Move Saratoga Forward
- posted by Hilary McLellan @ 10:45 PM 0 comments