Tricounty DFA Update: The Simpsons Take On The Republicans, Godfather part IV, Murtha Gets Swiftboated
Hello Everyone:

I don't think ever done updates back to back except, perhaps, just before the elections, but I stumbled across some videos that were so great I could not resist. There's also the season's first swiftboating to take note of.

In this update:

1. "The Simpsons" Unloads On Republicans, Fox Networks
2. The Godfather, Part IV
3. Republicans Swiftboat Murtha
4. E85 Comes to Upstate NY


1. "The Simpsons" Unloads On Republicans, Fox Networks

This weekend The Simpsons, the most popular and longest running animated show on TV, ran a special 400th episode. In it they took on the Fox Network and Fox News and the Republicans. Alternet has posted excerpts and they are hysterical and not to be missed!

Parts I & II
http://alternet.org/blogs/video/52173/
http://alternet.org/blogs/video/52225/

2. The Godfather, Part IV

Also not to be missed is "The Godfather, Part IV-- Freddos Revenge."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/014248.php

I can see Karl Rove lurking around the stable with a chainsaw...

3. Republicans Swiftboat Murtha

If there is any doubt that the 2008 election season has started, a sure milestone was passed today: the first swiftboating. Vietnam Vet and war hero Rep. Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania was the victim this time when House Republicans tried to smear Murtha on a trumped up ethics charge.

Murtha, who does have a temper, was provoked by a Republican house member a few days ago. So they filed an ethics charge against him. However, instead of referring it to the Ethics Committee for a hearing, the Republicans introduced a resolution convicting him, in effect, without a trial.

The Republicans, of course, don't care much for facts, as we know. So, that they would greatly prefer the sentence before the trial.

The House tabled it (Gillibrand, Hall, McNulty along with most Dems voted in affirmative to table) and referred the complaint to the Ethics Committee.

Republicans are also trying to make an issue of the fact some Democrats abstained. However, Ethics Committee members properly withheld from voting either way on the resolution to table since they will be hearing the complaint in the future.

It is interesting that while Republicans like to crow about "supporting the troops" no veteran-- Max Cleland, John Kerry, Jack Murtha, seems worthy of respect.

For More: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-12/1179880774204540.xml&storylist=washington


4. E85 Comes to Upstate NY

Since I am at it, I have to mention this: E85 is gasoline that is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. It is environmentally friendly and domestically produced. It should be cheaper, too, since ethanol costs about $2.20 a gallon to make, which is about a buck less than we are paying now.

"General Motors has been promoting the installation of E85 fueling pumps all around the country and today they turned up for the opening of the first two ethanol pumps in New York state. Station owner Christian King installed the pumps at his stations in Albany and Warrensburg. "

If you have a fairly new car you may have one that is E85 compliant, and not know it. There is usually an E85 sticker inside the gas filler well. Now you can get E85 in nearby Warrensburg. Hopefully it will soon come to the Greater Glens Falls area.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/05/22/general-motors-pumping-for-more-e85-in-new-york-state/

Also, Moveon.org is promoting a gas price gouging petition.
http://pol.moveon.org/stoppricegouging/?rc=oil_petition&id=10387-3466257-QDWFWX&t=3

Thanks everyone!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:43 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: LWV Restarts, Assault On Reason, more
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. League Of Women Voters Restarts Tuesday
2. Al Gore's New Book "Assault On Reason" Out
3. Jim Dean Calls For Gonzales Impeachment
4. Buy One Give One
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. League Of Women Voters Restarts Tuesday

The League of Women Voters will be restarting after a hiatus of several years with an organizational meeting at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22nd at 7pm. The new group would be the League of Women Voters of Warren County.

This will be a big step forward for better government in our area. The League does great work in voter education, registering young people, supporting clean and honest government, sponsoring candidate debates and discussing public policy in a non-partisan way. DIck and my mother used to run its Observer Corps at one time, which attends and takes notes on local public meetings. For more info call 321-2695.

2. Al Gore's New Book "Assault On Reason" Out

Al Gore's new book The Assault On Reason is now out. Early reviews are glowing and it looks to be a major event. Among other things, Gore rips into the anti-scientism of the Bush Administration and the right wing, and dissects how television has corroded not just our attention span, but the quality of our public discourse, trivializing issues and inducing passivity.

There's a lengthy excerpt available, originally from Time Magazine: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051707R.shtml
ABC News calls it a "searing attack" on Bush: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=3195676&page=1
There is also more on Gore and The Assault On Reason at: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052107C.shtml

3. Jim Dean Calls For Gonzales Impeachment

DFA Chairman Jim Dean has issued a call for everyone to sign a petition calling on Congress to impeach Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:


"If George Bush won't fire U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, then Congress can.

"First, Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove worked together to fire at least seven U.S. Attorneys because they weren't "loyal Bushies" and pushed several others to resign in an unethical crusade to make the U.S. Justice Department a partisan arm of the Bush administration.

"Then they worked together to cover it up.

"Gonzales went so far as to testify to Congress that he "was not involved in seeing any memos, was not involved in any discussions going on." When White House e-mails exposed his involvement, Gonzales changed his tune in an interview with 60 Minutes then changed his tune again by hiding behind, "I don't recall" more then 60 times in his second Congressional testimony. Time's up for Alberto Gonzales!

http://www.ImpeachGonzales.org

"Democracy for America has teamed up with Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films to get the message out. Robert has created a hard hitting video short that exposes Gonzales' attempts to mislead Congress. In a few weeks, DFA members around the country will deliver your signature and thousands of others directly to your representative in Congress. Check out the great video, then sign the petition:

http://www.ImpeachGonzales.org

"Karl Rove wants this scandal over. Rove knows that an impeachment investigation of Gonzales will open the door to a lot more then just the U.S. Attorneys scandal.

"Impeachment puts everything back on the table. Illegal domestic eavesdropping, illegally deleted government e-mails, voter suppression, signing statements, torture recommendations, you name it -- if Gonzales had his finger prints on it Congress will shine the spotlight at it.

"Join thousands of Americans demanding accountability and ethical leadership in the U.S. Justice Department. Please sign the petition now:

http://www.ImpeachGonzales.org

"Thank you for moving America forward,

"Jim Dean"

4. Buy One Give One

Sometimes there are things that are just so terrific everyone should pass them along.

The NY TImes has an article on Buy One, Give One, a charity supplying solar powered flashlights in third world. It is startling to realize two billion people in the developing world live without light at night. This particularly means many children cannot study, because they work during the day on family farms, etc. The idea is you buy one solar powered flashlight for yourself, and the purchase price includes the donation of an identical solar powered flashlight to a family that is literally sitting in the darkness. They last for years and people can read by them. Literacy rates rise, CO2 emissions fall along with respiratory diseases caused by smoky lamps and fires. What can you say but what a knock out idea!

I would note, this makes a lot more sense than the program featured on 60 Minutes Sunday night to trying to give every kid a laptop computer. How does it make sense to give computers to families that have no lights in their house? Some things really are more basic, and you have to wonder just how effective giving kids laptops can be without instruction.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/world/africa/20lights.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.bogolight.com/index.php

5. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues at 7:30 with:

May 25 THE WAR TAPES (2006) Zack Bazzi, Mike Moriarty, Steve Pink 97 min.
Straight from the front lines in Iraq, THE WAR TAPES is the first war movie filmed by soldiers themselves. Funnier, spicier, and more gut wrenching than news reports, this is Operation Iraqi Freedom as filmed by Sergeant Steve Pink, Sergeant Zack Bazzi and Specialist Mike Moriarty. Steve is a wisecracking carpenter who aspires to be a writer. Zack is a Lebanese-American university student who loves to travel and is fluent in Arabic. Mike is a father who seeks honor and redemption. Each leaves a woman behind – a girlfriend, a mother and a wife. Through their candid footage, these men open their hearts and take us on an unforgettable journey, capturing camaraderie and humor along with the brutal and terrifying experiences they face. These soldi! ers got the story that 2,700 embedded reporters never could.

This is an extraordinary film if you haven't seen it!

Thanks everyone!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:16 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Saratoga DFA Endorses Val Keehn, YouTube, DFNY Conference Report,
Hello Everyone!

In this Update:


1. Democracy For Saratoga Springs Endorses Val Keehn For Reelection
2. YouTube Changing Face Of Politics
3. DFNY Albany Conference Report
4. Friday Night Film Fest

1. Democracy For Saratoga Springs Endorses Val Keehn For Reelection

Monday Night at Sally Kirouac's home in Saratoga Springs, Democracy For Saratoga Springs met for a talk with Mayor Valerie Keehn. Mayor Keehn spoke for about 45 minutes on a broad variety of issues facing the city of Saratoga Springs, including affordable housing, bring young people into city government, going green and many more. Then she answered questions from the group on an equally wide ranging series of issues. I was there and I have to say, it was a very impressive performance.

Afterwards, there was a discussion and a motion to endorse Val Keehn for a second term as Saratoga Spring's Mayor was unanimously carried.

Two years ago DF Saratoga endorsed Val, and played a major role in her victory, which got national attention from DFA and on Blog For America.

I will post the full press release about her appearance and the endorsement at the bottom.

And many thanks to Sally for picking up Pat's mantle as DFA host now that Pat is working for Kirsten Gillibrand.

2. YouTube Changing Face Of Politics

Global Warming may be changing the face of the planet, but YouTube is changing the face of politics. We all probably know how Senator George Allen of Virginia was basically brought down by a YouTube video that caught his famous "macaca" statement. But now the revolution is moving down into local politics and campaigns that have never seen video coverage before, and have the same power to expose as Allen's "macaca" video.

The Saratogian recently had an article on videos posted to YouTube by Democracy For Saratoga Springs Steering Committee Member Roger Wyatt, which illustrate a breakdown of civility in Saratoga Springs City Government. Roger's videos have been seen over 4,000 times, which is a phenomenal number in a city the size of Saratoga Springs. On a national basis, for a YouTube video to reach a comparable penetration, it would have to been seen 45 million times. That is a staggering percentage. Considering that fact, the real potential and impact of YouTube may not be in national politics, but local.

Read the Saratogian piece at: http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18298913&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=602469&rfi=15

Wyatt's videos are a form of citizen journalism. Others can be more editorial.

Former Glens Falls City Treasurer and now attorney Paul Kemnitzer has created his own video on the similarities between the Vietnam War and Iraq, focusing on US casualties wracked up after defeat in the war was recognized. It is a powerful statement.

To take a look at these YouTube videos and you will get a sense of how television is being democratized, and not a moment too soon. This is yet another revolution in political affairs:
For Roger Wyatt's: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mctygue&search=Search
For Paul Kemnitzer's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMvxTyLoUZs

3. DFNY Albany Conference Report

Last weekend was the Third Annual Democracy For New York Conference in Albany.

First, a special thanks to John McBride and all the members of Democracy For The Hudson Mohawk Region for their hard work to put this conference together, and to Andrew White for getting the SEIU Hall on Washington Avenue again!

There were many fascinating things that happened at this conference. The first day saw the opening address by Democracy For America Chair Jim Dean. Jim set what was to be the tone and theme of much of the conference; small "d" democracy. He spoke at some length on how television based campaigning is a thing of the past and the kind of grass roots, community based politics DFA exemplifies is the wave of the future.

Afterwards, I had a great talk with Jim. The first thing he asked me was what was going on in our area. I told him Saratoga was meeting Monday. He immediately demanded to know: "Is Val running again? I sure hope she is!" I assured him she was. "That's great! She went to one of our trainings! She's one of our stars!" And more. Jim was really pumped to learn Val was running again.

The rest of the morning was a program by Jessica Wisnewsky, who spoke on Clean Money Clean Elections. Clearly, New York has a huge problem with campaign financing, but governor Spitzer is moving on the issue. Alan Goldston spoke on the NY Democratic Lawyers Council and Bo Lipari (who we sponsored at the Crandall Library November 2005) followed with a presentation on the dangers of Electronic voting machines.

The afternoon featured Brian Keeler and others talking about the dysfunctionality of State Government.

Saturday night was a big highlight, with a phenomenal, rousing speech by NY-29 candidate Eric Massa, who lost last year by a mere 3,000 votes. His speech was followed by a showing of the new video Taking The Hill, about former Senator Max Cleland and the many veterans who ran for Congress the last time. Very sadly, just as some of our veterans are not getting the support they need now, many of these veterans did not get the support they needed, or even intelligent advice, as the video makes clear. Eric is running again and it's clear he will win this time!

The high point of Sunday was a presentation by Amy Little, Rep. John Hall's campaign manager in NY-19. Hall won a primary and then went on to win the general election, even though right after the primary he had only $10,000 in the bank. But he had two things that were more valuable: people and Amy Little. Little created a brilliant grassroots campaign against Republican Rep. Sue Kelly. People in his district, especially our DFA people, put their shoulders to the wheel, carried out the plan and won. Little amplified Jim Dean's point about small "d" democracy: the way to win is as a progressive.

The final highlight of Sunday was the Gore Global Warming power point presentation by Gore trained activist Patrick West. This is the full power point only shown in the movie The Inconvenient Truth. It was stunning. Global Climate Change is the issue of the century.

4. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe continues its Friday Night Progressive Film Festival at 7:30 with a double bill:

May 11 DOUBLE BILL * * Not To Be Missed * * 80 min. combined
INDEPENDENT MEDIA: IN A TIME OF WAR (2003) Democracy Now! / Hudson-Mohawk Independent Media 30 min.
"In 2003, the reality of war set in, and the roar of the mainstream media seemed to deafen our ears and stifle our voices. Hudson Mohawk Independent Media center responded by coming together to make this documentary". Part scathing critique, part call to action, this film incorporates footage of the U.S. invasion of Iraq with Democracy Now! host, Amy Goodman, arguing
that dialogue in the press and public spaces is vital to a healthy democracy. An analysis of the mainstream media's coverage of the push to war and of our attack on Iraq, comparisons of the Arab, European and American media coverage are not to be missed. Be forewarned that this film contains some graphic footage of victims of the war, many of them, children.
AND
INVESTIGATION OF A FLAME (2001) Lynne Sachs 50 min.
On May 18th, 1968, three priests, a nurse, an artist and four others walked into a Catonsville, Maryland draft board office, grabbed hundreds of selective service records and burned them with homemade napalm. Ths film is an intimate look at this unlikely band - dubbed the Catonsville Nine - who broke the law in a poetic act of civil disobedience. The publicity and news coverage from their ensuing trial helped galvanize an American public that was becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Vietnam War. "Investigations of a Flame" explores this sixties protest within the context of these extremely different times; times in which foes of Middle East peace, abortion, and technology resort to violence to access the public imagination.
Filmmaker, Lynne Sachs, has combined volatile, long-unseen, archival footage with a series of informal interviews with Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Howard Zinn, John Hogan, Tom Lewis and Marjorie and Tom Melville. The meditative result encourages viewers to ponder the contempaorary relevance of civil disobedience and the implications of personal sacrifice for the greater good.

Thanks everyone! The Val Keehn press release is below.

Larry Dudley


Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 8, 2007

DEMOCRACY FOR SARATOGA SPRINGS HOLDS TALK WITH MAYOR KEEHN, VOTES ENDORSEMENT


Monday night, May 7, 2007 Democracy For Saratoga Springs hosted a talk and question and answer session with Saratoga Mayor Valerie Keehn at the home of local host Sally Kirouac.

After an introduction, Keehn spoke first about her endorsement by Democracy For Saratoga Springs two years ago and how she had attended a Democracy For America training session in Cazenovia, NY. "It really solidified my desire to run," said Keehn, "it was run by an enthusiastic group of young people who really knew how to run a campaign."

The Mayor then spoke about her first sixteen months in office, "We've set the stage for what we want to accomplish in the next few years."

Much of her comments centered on the issues of affordable housing, touching first on senior housing, "we relaxed rules to get more senior housing that is affordable." New senior housing was being built, Keehn noted, but it was not affordable for most seniors, especially long term city residents.

Keehn also spoke with praise of the two new City committees she has started for senior citizen's issues and energy, and of appointing new people to other City committees, "we especially wanted to bring young people into City government." She was particularly pleased with a Skidmore student presently interning in City Hall, "He's working on an environmental energy plan-- where do we use energy? Looking into converting city vehicles to biodiesel. What can we do with green buildings?"

But senior citizens also responded with great enthusiasm to the Senior Citizens Committee, Keehn said, "Within a week there were fifteen to twenty people who formed the core of that committee who came in with great ideas." The Senior Citizen's Committee especially responded recently when CDTA proposed route changes: some senior housing complexes might have been stranded by the changes. "But now, thanks to them, CDTA is putting on a special bus to connect with those locations so those residents are served."

Following Keehn's talk, the members held a discussion and unanimously endorsed Keehn for a second term as Saratoga Springs Mayor.

Additional Democracy For Saratoga Springs meetings, called Link-ups, will be held in the future.

Democracy For Saratoga Springs follows Democracy For America, the nation wide activist organization founded by former Vermont Governor and Presidential candidate Howard Dean. Its goals are to empower Americans, support progressive candidates and policies, resist right wing extremism and build a new American community.

For more information on Mayor Valerie Keehn, go to her website at: http://www.mayorkeehn.com/

For more information on Democracy For Saratoga Springs, go to their webpage at: http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=467
For more information on Democracy For America: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/



-30-

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For Saratoga Springs, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Saratoga Springs, Val Keehn

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:14 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Latest On DFNY Conference, Post Star, more
Hello Everyone:

This is mainly an update about this weekend's DFNY conference;

1. Democracy For New York Conference Update: Inconvenient Truth Slideshow Presentation For Sunday
2. RSVP For Banquet With Eric Massa
3. Post Star and Blog For America
4. FDR and Howard Dean

1. Democracy For New York Conference Update: Inconvenient Truth Slideshow Presentation For Sunday

I just want to remind everyone about the Democracy For New York Conference at the SEIU Hall on Washington Avenue in Albany.

I have received an update of interest from organizer John McBride:

"Dear DFNY members,

"We have made a special addition to this weekend's 3rd Annual Democracy
for New York Conference. We will have a presentation of The
Inconvenient Truth slide show on Sunday, May 6, 2007 at 11:30 AM. You
can RSVP at:

"http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=20012

"What: Presentation of The Inconvenient Truth slide show
"When: Sunday, May 6, 2007, 11:30 AM
"Where: SEIU 1199
"155 Washington Avenue
"Albany NY 12210

"This is a unique opportunity to see the actual presentation that
V-Pres Gore makes in his Academy Award winning documentary film.

Please come spend the whole weekend with us or just the hour. If you
want more details on the full conference please look at events on the
DFA Link page for DFNY http://www.dfalink.com/group.php?id=129

2. RSVP For Banquet With Eric Massa


Also, organizer Carol Olszewski reminds anyone wishing to attend Saturday Night's banquet to please RSVP to her. Carol sends these details:

"SATURDAY EVENING a special BUFFET BANQUET at the Schuyler Inn, 575
Broadway, Menands. Just north of Albany. Cost, $15. 6PM cash bar.
6:30 dinner. 7pm Speaker and movie.
Speaker ERIC MASSA (Democratic Candidate for the NY-29 C.D.) Strong
Iraq War Critic and fiery speaker.
Followed by presentation of TAKING THE HILL, a film by Brent Renaud
and Craig Renaud about veterans campaigning to win seats in Congress.
Film has excellent reviews.
For the Banquet, please RSVP to Carol at 330-0226

3. Post Star and Blog For America

The Post Star gave our veto rally a great write up yesterday, which was later featured on Blog For America with pictures taken by Dick Dudley. Many thanks to all who came! A special thanks to Frank Grassia for his great quote and for proposing the veto rally. Check it out at: http://blogforamerica.com/view/20702

4. FDR and Howard Dean

I have to throw in at least one link, and I found this mydd.com posting about the political parallels and similarities in the political organizing theories between Howard Dean and President Franklin Roosevelt to be absolutely fascinating. In a nutshell, in the 1920s era of Republican dominance, FDR faced many of the same problems we face in politics today. FDR's answer was a grassroots party. That turned America around and created an era of Democratic Party dominance that lasted over 40 years. Well worth a read and some real reflection: http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/5/2/1924/37414

Thanks, everyone! See you all soon,

Larry Dudley

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For New York, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, DFNY, DFNY Conference, Glens Falls

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:08 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Special Update and Alert: Meeting,Veto Protest/Vigil, State Conference News
Hello Everyone;

In This Special Update:

1. Meeting/Veto Action Tomorrow, Wednesday May 2
2. Democracy For New York State Conference Saturday And Sunday!
3. SCDC Women's banquet May 11


1. Meeting/Veto Action

Given the fact Bush now seems posed to veto the Iraq War Supplemental Bill with it's timeline tomorrow, Wednesday, we are faced with a bit of a problem: this is also our monthly meeting day. We had originally assumed we would hold a rally at the intersection of Rt. Nine and Quaker Road. But basically we can't do both. Several of you have contacted me to say we should hold our meeting, so here is the solution:

We will hold a rally/vigil tomorrow, Wednesday May 2nd at 6pm at the Bandstand at City Park in downtown Glens Falls. Since the traffic is going up Maple Avenue instead of Glen Street, this will in fact get good exposure.

Please bring a sign, if you wish, or a candle, and, as always, a friend, relative, coworker or neighbor!

Then after an hour or so we will breakup and head over to the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe for a somewhat abbreviated meeting, which should be fine.

2. Democracy For New York State Conference Saturday And Sunday!

Here is the full schedule for this weekend's Democracy For New York Conference. DFA people from all over New York State will be attending at the SEUI Hall at 155 Washington Street in downtown Albany, near the state capitol building and Lark Street. This conference is FREE and open to all DFA members in the State of New York.

Everyone who has attended these conferences will know they are worth the trip to Albany! This year's conference starts out with an address by DFA Chair Jim Dean. There will also be a special evening buffet banquet with Congressional DFA-List Candidate Eric Mazza at the Schuyler Inn followed by the film Taking The Hill. This is a great opportunity to grow your activism!

For additional info and to RSVP, which we are really asking people to do, go to: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17019

Schedule:

Arrival and Registration
10 - 10:15 John McBride and Andrew White Welcome, Why are we here? Introduction
of DFA Chair Jim Dean

10:15 - 10:45 Jim Dean, DFA Chair

10:45 -11:45 Jennifer Wisnewski, Citizen Action, John Nonna, NY Democratic Lawyers Council, Bo Lipari, New Yorkers for Verified Voting

These three speakers will discuss the current status of their efforts to bring electoral reform to the state of New York. That is Clean Money Clean Elections, Election Protection, and Precinct Based Paper Ballots with Optical Scan. They will discuss what we can do to help with these issues. There will be a 30 minute open floor discussion or Q&A .


11:45 - 12:45 Patrick West, Sierra Club Global Warming. Patrick has an Al Gore trained follow up on Gore's oscar winning film An Inconvenient Truth.

12:45-2 Lunch on your own

2-3 NY Sens Schneiderman and Breslin, Assembly Member Jim Brennan. The dysfunction of the NYS Senate andAssembly and what can be done.

3 -3:30 Brian Keeler Four areas for reform. Rules reform, Election reform, Ethics reform and Budget reform.

3:30-4:30 Breakout groups We will break out into groups of about 10 to brainstorm on strategies to bring real reform to the NY State Legislature. After
20 minutes we will return with what we came up with.
Reassemble open discussion

4:30 - 6 Leadership meeting

Saturday Evening a special buffet banquet at the Schuyler Inn, 575 Broadway, Menands. Just north of Albany. Cost, $15.
Speaker Eric Massa (Democratic Candidate for the NY-29 C.D.)
Followed by presentation of Taking the Hill, a film by Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud.
For the Banquet, please RSVP to Carol Olszewski at 330-0226

Sunday May 6
9-9:30 Reconvene

9:30-10:15 Amy Little, Campaign Manager - John Hall for Congress What does it take to win an impossible race?

10:15-11:45 Take 19 All the strategies for winning important elections against entrenched incumbents

11:45 -12:30 Lunch

12:30- 1:15 Break out groups Iraq War
Green Issues
Election Reform
State Government Reform
Presidential politics
Congressional Politics
Growing the Grassroots

1:15 Reconvene full group. What should DFNY be doing in 2007? Where are we going in 2008 and beyond? Create a plan for the structure of DFNY


3. SCDC Women's banquet

Pell sends this along about the upcoming Saratoga Democratic Women's Luncheon:

"AN ORDINARY WOMAN'S JOURNEY IN POLITICAL ACTIVISM"

Join Robyn Ringler of Malta NY as she discusses her journey in activism. She is a nurse, attorney and a writer and most recently, has joined the board of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. She has published articles and has been heard on NPR's "The Health Show" &"51%" (Hear Her on "51%" - May 2).

SCDC Luncheon at Lillian's
Broadway - Saratoga Springs
Noon - Friday, May 11
$20

RSVP: Pat Friesen - 542-9157 or mcfriesen2@aol.com

Thanks everyone, see you tomorrow or Saturday!

Larry Dudley

Labels: Democracy For America, DFA, Glens Falls, Iraq Timeline, Iraq War, Larry Dudley, protest, Rally, Veto, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:45 AM 0 comments