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