Tricounty DFA Update: Alerts, Trainings, Impeachment and More
Hello Everyone!

In this update:

1. DFA Night School Tomorrow
2. Bo Lipari Action Alert On Verified Voting
3. Citizens Action Calls On Clean Money/Clean Elections
4. Saratoga Democratic Women's Committee Luncheon
5. Delaware Co. Dems Call For Bush/Cheney Impeachment
6. DFA Training In Albany
7. War For Oil
8. Friday Night Film Fest


1. DFA Night School Tomorrow

If you want to learn more about fundraising in politics, or indeed any kind of organization, there will be another DFA Nightschool on fundraising tomorrow night at 8:30pm. These are excellent sessions, especially to start with and, best of all, free!

For more info: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=20358

2. Bo Lipari Action Alert On Verified Voting

There's an alert in tonight from Bo Lipari of New York Verified Voting.

Two years ago the state legislature passed a law requiring the computer code of electronic voting machines be placed in escrow, to be inspected in case of fraud. The companies are now trying to gut that key protection.

"Early in the week of June 18, the last week of the Legislative session, a bill will be introduced to correct "technical problems" with an earlier law changing New York's Presidential primary date. But this bill will contain a poisonous provision that effectively removes the possibility of meaningful review of electronic voting system software. In the last 2 months, Microsoft and the voting machine vendors have conducted a full court press in Albany, trying to make OUR Election Law suit THEIR interests. We can't let that happen.

Take Action Now! - It's urgent that you call your State Senator and Assembly representative this Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19, at their Albany offices, and tell them they must not weaken New York State's voting machine escrow and review requirements.
Find your Assembly member's contact information here:
http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
(Not sure who your Assembly member is? Click here to search by Zip Code)

Find your State Senator's contact information here:
http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
(Not sure who your State Senator is? Click here to search by Zip Code)

Bo Lipari
Executive Director, New Yorkers for Verified Voting


3. Citizens Action Calls On Clean Money/Clean Elections


Citizen's Action is also asking for calls before the end of the legislative session to support Clean Money/Clean Elections, the most important reform Gov. Spitzer is calling for to transform NY's corrupt politics. Clean Money/Clean Elections will get big money out of our elections and go very far to restore our Democracy. Speaker Sheldon Silver is believed to be holding up Clean Money/Clean Elections in favor of a watered down proposal that will do little.

"Please Call Speaker Silver, the leader in the New York State Assembly and let him know: "Support Clean Elections reform, New York needs FULL public financing for New York - NOT 'partial' public financing." Call him at 518-455-3791 this week!"

4. Saratoga Democratic Women's Committee Luncheon

The Saratoga County Democratic Women's Committee will be holding its luncheon on June 23 at 11am at the Gideon Putnam Hotel. The Buffet and program is $25. Special Guest Speaker is Denise King of the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Board.

Make sure to RSVP to Pat Friesen at 542-9175 or mcfriesen2@aol.com ! I hear there is a possibility of cancelation.
Please mail to checks to Pat at 36 Thoroughbred Drive, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Make them out to the Saratoga County Democratic Committee.


5. Delaware Co. Dems Vote For Bush/Cheney Impeachment

More and more people, some in surprising places, have this on their mind: From the Delaware County Democrats (thanks DIck and Kate!)

"June 15, 2007

"DELAWARE COUNTY DEMOCRATS VOTE TO IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY

"Delhi, New York -- On Tuesday, June 12, 2007, the Democratic Committee of Delaware County voted in favor of a resolution calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

"The resolution, introduced by committee member John Ryan of the Town of Meredith, passed by a two-to-one margin. In passing the measure, the committee emphasized that Bush and Cheney's actions have broken U.S. law and gone against the U.S. Constitution. Bush and Cheney, the resolution notes, have deliberately misled the nation about the threat from Iraq, have condoned the use of torture, have approved illegal electronic surveillance, and have ordered indefinite detention without legal counsel. "All of these actions undermine the very principles this nation was built on," observed Ryan. "They threaten America's way of life and make us a weaker country."

"The committee has submitted the resolution, in the form of a petition, to House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi for further action. "Fortunately, the founders of the Constitution foresaw the possibility of executive misbehavior and built in a way for this country's representatives to make sure that the president be held accountable," said committee member Dick Stinson of the Town of Kortright. "This is essential for democracy to work for the people of our country."

Trudy notes that we can all sign an online petition for impeachment of Dick Cheney: http://www.usalone.com/cheney_impeachment2.php

The full resolution is at the bottom of this post.

6. DFA Training In Albany

If you are interested in improving your political skills, don't forget that there is a two day DFA Training Academy Session at the SEIU Hall in Albany sponsored by Democracy For The Hudson Mohawk Region. The cost is $70 and includes a manual worth the price alone along with two lunches and coffee and fixin's. For more info go to: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17120

7. War For Oil

Drew sends along this piece on TomDispatch.com on how oil is now driving US Military policy. Rumsfeld's "reforms" of our military actually increased on dependency on oil-- in this Iraq War we are using four times the amount of oil used in the first Iraq War. The US military uses more oil than major countries. Given that the final peak of oil production is approaching, the Pentagon itself has concluded the Bush doctrine is unsustainable. A chilling read.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174810/michael_klare_the_pentagon_as_global_gas_guzzler

8. Friday Night Film Fest

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

June 22 I AM A PROMISE: The Children of Stanton Elementary School (1993) Alan & Susan Raymond 90 min.
The life of students who attend Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia forms the backbone of this fascinating documentary. The film offers a harrowing portrayal of life below the poverty line. Ninety percent of the students at Stanton are living well below the national average, presenting a struggle for both the students and teachers of the school. Principal Deanna Burney faces a daily struggle with budgets, staff morale, dangerous incidents, and the seemingly unsolvable--not to mention neverending--problems that rain down on her. A Best Documentary winner, "Promise" offers a brutal snapshot of the failings of the American school system.

Thanks everyone! Make sure to check out the Delaware County Dems' resolution on impeaching Bush and Cheney-- we're seeing more and more of this all the time!

Larry Dudley




PETITION

Resolution to Impeach George W. Bush & Richard B. Cheney

Whereas George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney have:

Deliberately misled the nation about the threat from Iraq in order to justify a war;
Condoned the torture of prisoners in violation of the Geneva Convention & US law;
Approved illegal electronic surveillance of American citizens without a warrant;
Ordered the indefinite detention without legal counsel, without charges and without the opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, all in violation of U.S. law and the Bill of Rights; and
Whereas these actions have undermined our constitutional system of government, damaged the reputation of America, and threatened our national security;

Whereas petitions from the country at large may be presented by the Speaker of the House according to Clause 3 of House Rule XII;

Be it resolved that George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, by such conduct, warrant impeachment and trial, and removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States;

Be it resolved further by the Democratic Committee of Delaware County, New York, that our representatives in the United States Congress are hereby requested to cause to be instituted in the Congress of the United States proper proceedings for the investigation of the activities of the President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney, to the end that they may be impeached and removed from such offices;

Be it resolved further, that the Democratic Committee of Delaware County, New York, will send to the Speaker of the House of Representatives a copy of this resolution and its adoption by the Democratic Committee of Delaware County, New York, as a petition, and request that this petition be delivered to the Office of the Clerk to be delivered to the appropriate committee.

Passed June 12, 2007.
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:13 AM