Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Tuesday, Jim Dean Reminder, more
Hello Everyone!

It may be the summer season but things are hot politically--

In This Update:

1. Glens Falls DFA Link-up or "meetup" for Wednesday: "Taking The Hill" Video
2. Keehn and Dean For August 14th!
3. Queensbury Councilman John Strough Featured In Post Star
4. Gillibrand At Union Gables
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Glens Falls DFA Link-up or "meetup" for Wednesday: "Taking The Hill" Video

This Wednesday, August 1st, we'll be having our usual first Wednesday of the month meeting of Glens Falls and Tricounty DFA at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls at our usual time of 7pm. In July we met on the second Wednesday, because the first Wednesday was the 4th of July.

Since it's August we'll have a light schedule-- we'll talk about the major appearance in our area of Jim Dean, the Chair of Democracy For America at a fundraiser for the reelection of Val Keehn as Saratoga Spring's Mayor, what we can do to help, and a few other issues.

Then we'll watch a video recently distributed by Eric Massa, who is running for Congress in Western New York and lost in 2004 by only 3,000 votes. Eric spoke at last Spring's Democracy For New York conference, and he is sensational.

"Taking The Hill" follows a group of veterans when they try to run for Congress on the Democratic ticket, and the stumbling blocks they run into, many of which, very, very sadly, were created by certain individuals in our own party. It is a terrific video and a revelation. It's always often funny in inspirational.


2. Keehn and Dean For August 14th!

As noted above, Democracy For American Chair Jim Dean is coming to our area for a fundraiser for Val Keehn as Mayor of Saratoga Springs. Keehn was formally endorsed by Democracy For Saratoga Springs earlier this year. The event will be on Tuesday, August 14th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Inn At Saratoga, on South Broadway.

This event is open to the public and everyone in DFA, and all interested Democrats, liberals and progressives are invited to this event. Suggested contribution for entrance will be $50.

There is a strong possibility of other major guest speakers, and we will let you all know when details become available.

3. Queensbury Councilman John Strough Featured In Post Star

Queensbury Councilman John Strough was the subject of a major feature in the Sunday Post Star on his effort to save Blind Rock, which is both an historic site and artifact located in the Town of Queensbury just off Rt. 9 near Miller Hill. The rock was once the informal demarcation line between the French and British Empires in North America.

John spoke at our July meeting and recounted how an earlier effort to save Blind Rock got him involved in town politics. Now it is to become a Town Park. Strough was endorsed by Glens Falls DFA at our July meeting. For more:

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/07/28/news/local/d394fb3b52992a68852573250079cf3b.txt


4. Gillibrand At Union Gables

The Saratoga County Democrats would like to cordially invite you to a benefit reception for Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand at the Union Gables Bed and Breakfast, 55 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs on August 4th from 5:30 to 7pm. Tickets are $75 a person, $125 a couple. (Union Gables is in walking distance of the Flat Track.) Please make checks payable to Gillibrand For Congress, PO Box 15734, Washington, DC 20003. For info contact Anne Bradley at 518-751-2556 or anne@kirstengillibrand.com


5. Friday Night Film Fest


Finally the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Festival continues with:

Aug 3 BROKEN RAINBOW (1985) Maria Florio & Victoria Mudd 70 min.
This film bears witness to the machinations of the energy companies and their government proxies as they eagerly cast aside the peaceful Navajo to make way for oil, gas, uranium and coal exploration. In their own words, elders and outside experts discuss the rich culture and history of the Navajo as well as their close friends and neighbors, the Hopi. The film follows these Native Americans as they take their protest to Congress and join with the militant American Indian Movement, turning their tragedy into acts of heroic resistance. Beautifully photographed and scored, the film captures the sweeping majesty of sacred Native American lands and the people who inhabit them.

Aug 10 BEST BOY (1980) Ira Wohl 105 min.
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, Ira Wohl's BEST BOY remains one of the most beloved and critically-acclaimed docs of all time. Wohl's story centers around his 52-year-old cousin Philly, who has been mentally retarded since birth and has never lived apart from his parents, Max and Pearl Wohl. Now elderly, ailing, and concerned about Philly's future after their deaths, the Wohls are prompted by Ira to begin teaching their son self-reliance. As Philly moves from summer camp to training center and finally to an independent group home, BEST BOY becomes a stark but tender portrait of a family confronting life's impermanence and change.

I included the following week's video as an extra convenience: Due to the season I may only do an update every other week in August.

Many thanks, everyone! See you all Wednesday! Taking The Hill is worth the trip from where ever you are.

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:39 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Jim Dean Fundraiser For Keehn!
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. DFA Chair Jim Dean In Saratoga Springs For Fundraiser For Keehn
2. Michael Moore's Sicko at Amies
3. YouTube Revolution
4. Ballston Dems Picnic
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. DFA Chair Jim Dean In Saratoga Springs For Fundraiser For Keehn

There is major news out from the Mayor's race in Saratoga Springs!

Democracy For American Chair Jim Dean is going to be doing a major fundraiser for the reelection of Val Keehn as Mayor of Saratoga Springs. Keehn was formally endorsed by Democracy For Saratoga Springs earlier this year.

This news comes on top of the recent endorsement of Keehn by the Working Families Party.

The Jim Dean event will be on Tuesday, August 14th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Inn At Saratoga, which is located on South Broadway. Since becoming DFA chair, Jim Dean has become one of the most popular progressive speakers, often appearing on Air America radio.

This event is open to the public and everyone in DFA and all interested Democrats, liberals and progressives are invited to this event. Suggested contribution for entrance will be $50.

This event will be one of the highlights of this year's political season. Dean will discuss the current state of politics and answer questions from attendees.

A resident of Fairfield Connecticut, Jim Dean has raised money, given speeches, and organized for DFA in his home state of Connecticut. He was a fund raiser for his brother's previous political campaigns, and worked full-time on Howard Dean's first race, in 1986 for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Prior to his recent career in political activism, Dean worked in marketing, business development, and sales at the Yankelovich Partners and Greenfield Online.

There is a strong possibility of other major guest speakers, and we will let you all know when details become available.

So, mark it on your calenday: Jim Dean, August 14th (it's dark day at the track!) 5:30pm to 7: 30.

2. Michael Moore's Sicko at Amies

Michael Moore's lastest movie, SIcko, has arrived at Amies Dinner And A Movie in downtown Glens Falls. Hurry to see it while you can.

Many of us have been fans of Moore's previous work, like Bowling For Columbine, or Fahrenheit 9/11. I saw Sicko with Dick and Pat and it blows the others away. It is not a screed, and not even about healthcare, per se, but, rather, uses the healthcare crisis as a means to examine what has gone wrong with America. As Sicko spells out towards the end, if you want to keep people down, to keep them oppressed, you want to keep them fearful and hopeless, so that they dare not rise up in rebellion. Sicko, in that sense, answers the question so often asked: why isn't there a revolution in America, given how things have gone so wrong? Fear and hopelessness. It is moving, powerful and profound, something every American with a conscience should see at least once.

The question of what constitutes revolutionary activity in the modern age is particularly underscored by the appearance of the daughter of one of the greatest Latin Americans of the 20th century, the legendary Che Guevara. Aleida Guevara is a physician in Cuba, where Moore took rescue workers who were victims of toxic pollution on 9/11 for successful treatment.

On the subject of healtcare, Moveon has an online petition on child healthcare: "We need to fix our broken health care system and ensure quality, affordable health care for every man, woman, and child in America. Let's start with our children. There are 9 million uninsured children in America."
http://pol.moveon.org/kidshealth/?r_by=10849-643825-lOopRR&rc=comment_paste

3. YouTube Revolution

There's a general consensus on the YouTube/CNN debate of Democratic Presidential candidates this week. Instead of a panel of the usual beltway gasbags asking the usual banal boilerplate questions, average Americans posed their own questions via YouTube. It was a brilliant success. The questions were insightful, penetrating, well informed, wide ranging and often very funny.

YouTube has also been shaking things up here locally, and it is really something to watch. Saratoga Springs DFA member Roger Wyatt has been attending City Council meetings and putting extracts on YouTube, garnering thousands of viewers. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mctygue&search=

Wyatt has now put up videos of Valerie Keehn on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhkSwyFtQf0

It used to be only the biggest cities had their own TV stations. Now, with YouTube, every community, literally, every community, can have its own TV station. The revolutionary potential of this is all too obvious.


4. Ballston Dems Picnic

You are cordially invited to the Third Annual Ballston Democratic Chicken-BBQ on Saturday, July 28th from 1-4pm. The location is the Lakeside Farm Cider Mill on Round Lake Road in the town of Ballston Lake. Tickets are $35, Sponsors $50. There is a children's menu for $10. Make checks payable to the Ballston Democratic Committee. Funds raised will support local candidates. For more information or to RSVP please contact Pat Southworth by July 18th at 518-281-4718 or go to http://www.ballstondems.org

5. Friday Night Film Fest


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


July 20 BALSEROS (2003) Josep M. Domenech 120 min.
This epic documentary examines the lives of seven Cubans who came to live in the United States after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard as they attempted to paddle across the ocean from Havana to Miami on ramshackle homemade rafts. Over 50,000 Cubans attempted this feat, trying to immigrate to the United States in 1994 seeking a better life outside of Fidel Castro's communist regime. However, when it became apparent that the boats were causing more drownings and deaths than successful passages, the U.S. intervened. Those who were caught leaving Havana on homemade boats were picked up and transplanted to a refugee camp at Guantanamo Bay where they served a nine-month probation. They were allowed to sen

- FUTURE FILMS -

July 27 HIGH SCHOOL BOOT CAMP (2000) Chuck Braverman 90 min.
Director Chuck Braverman certainly got his hands dirty with this attempt to document the activities at a High School Boot Camp. Choosing the Eagle Academy in Belle Grade, Florida as his muse, Braverman follows a group of youths as they attempt to rescue their troubled lives from toppling further into a crime-strewn abyss. But to survive the rigors of the boot camp these kids will discover they have to leave their ego's at the door--a task some of them find hard to accomplish. As the tough regime kicks into action, it becomes clear exactly how harsh the training is, with Marine-style maneuvers introduced in an attempt to instill some discipline in the youthfu

Thanks Everyone!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 8:42 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA: Meetup Report, Keehn Signatures, Events, More
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:

1. Meetup report: John Strough, Endorsement, Resolutions
2 Keehn Signatures
3. Ethics Board
4. Events: Gillibrand At Fair, Yepsen Open House, Ballston Dems BBQ
5. NY Times: Warming Of the Northeast
6. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Meetup report: John Strough, Endorsement, Resolutions

We had another great DFA Link-up or "meetup" last week at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe. The highlight of the evening was a low-key candidate forum with Queensbury Councilman John Strought.

Johh, who is running for reelection this year, recounted the origins of his career in an effort to prevent the destruct of Blind Rock, an important historical relic and site from the French and Indian War. Preservation issues led him into fighting the overdevelopment of Queensbury. The town's growth has caught everyone by surprise. Queensbury's population is now reaching 29,000, a level that was not expected by the town's plan until sometime around the year 2020.

One of the little known but disturbing trends John is fighting on the Town Board is a push by wealthy home builders and developers to convert large parcels zoned light industrial and commercial to large residential lots. They then build a so-called large "MacMansion" on the property. This has at least two really negative effects. First, by taking light industrial and commercial sites, the town's tax base is reduced: those uses generate more revenue. Secondly, they rob the community of job and economic development. The only jobs that come from a MacMansion, once it's built, are gardening and maid type jobs, not good jobs.

Some of our members were so enthused by John's presentation that they attempted to take a collection as a campaign contribution for John's race. However, he turned them down. That's right-- a politician refused money. John finances all of his campaigns out of his own pocket, despite the fact the last time the Republicans spent $6,000 to knock him out, only to fail.

But he is confident of victory. Afterwards, a motion from the floor to endorse John Strough for Queensbury Town Council was carried without a dissenting vote.

After John left, we passed two resolutions, one urging Congress to speed up resolving the War In Iraq, and a seond urging the restoration of the Fairness Doctrine, providing equal time in television for all points of view.


2 Keehn Signatures

On Tuesday Mayor Valie Keehn filed a record 773 signatures to get on the ballot in Saratoga Springs. This was a huge volunteer effort, and really shows the depth of support for Keehn in the Spa City.


3. Ethics Board

On Queensbury again, Councilman John Strough reports the town is looking for new members of the Ethic's Board. This importance of this should be obvious-- John also talked about ethics during his presentation last week. It uually only meets a couple times a year and you cannot be a current member of a party political committee. If you are interested please sent a brief bio within your letter of intent to:
Leesa Stiller
742 Bay Road
Queensbury, NY

Or, pass this along on to another worthy person.


4. Events: Gillibrand At Fair, Yepsen Open House, Ballston Dems BBQ

Rep. Gillibrand will be bringing her "Congress to a Corner" outreach program to the Saratoga County Fair in Ballston Spa this Friday, July 20th at 3:00pm. She and staff members will be taking questions near Gate 2 at the Point.

Joanne Yepsen, County Supervisor for Saratoga Springs, will be hosting her traditional Open House on Opening Day of the Races Wednesday, July 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. to celebrate Open Government and Open Space! Please consider this an Open Invitation to attend the outdoor party in her yard at 91 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs (2 blocks from the race track) and enjoy a wonderful array of food and drinks on this special day!

For more info go to: www.supervisoryepsen.com or call 584-5167.

You are cordially invited to the Third Annual Ballston Democratic Chicken-BBQ on Saturday, July 28th from 1-4pm. The location is the Lakeside Farm Cider Mill on Round Lake Road in the town of Ballston Lake. Tickets are $35, Sponsors $50. There is a children's menu for $10. Make checks payable to the Ballston Democratic Committee. Funds raised will support local candidates. For more information or to RSVP please contact Pat Southworth by July 18th at 518-281-4718 or go to http://www.ballstondems.org .

5. NY Times: Warming Of the Northeast


There's been an awful lot of coverage of the war and the Senate's attempt yesterday to end it, so I will not add to the redundant reports. But this story in the NY Times may have been overlooked, and is the "must read" of the week, because it so affects us here in Upstate New York.

"By the end of this century, 100-year floods could hit New York City every 10 years, Long Island lobsters could disappear and New York apples could be hard to come by if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report released yesterday by a group of scientists and economists."

“The Northeast can anticipate substantial — and often unwelcome or dangerous — changes during the rest of this century,” concluded the report by the Union of Concerned Scientists,

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/science/12warm.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


6. Friday Night Film Fest

Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Film Festive continues at 7:30 with:


July 20 BALSEROS (2003) Josep M. Domenech 120 min.
This epic documentary examines the lives of seven Cubans who came to live in the United States after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard as they attempted to paddle across the ocean from Havana to Miami on ramshackle homemade rafts. Over 50,000 Cubans attempted this feat, trying to immigrate to the United States in 1994 seeking a better life outside of Fidel Castro's communist regime. However, when it became apparent that the boats were causing more drownings and deaths than successful passages, the U.S. intervened. Those who were caught leaving Havana on homemade boats were picked up and transplanted to a refugee camp at Guantanamo Bay where they served a nine-month probation. They were allowed to sen

July 27 HIGH SCHOOL BOOT CAMP (2000) Chuck Braverman 90 min.
Director Chuck Braverman certainly got his hands dirty with this attempt to document the activities at a High School Boot Camp. Choosing the Eagle Academy in Belle Grade, Florida as his muse, Braverman follows a group of youths as they attempt to rescue their troubled lives from toppling further into a crime-strewn abyss. But to survive the rigors of the boot camp these kids will discover they have to leave their ego's at the door--a task some of them find hard to accomplish. As the tough regime kicks into action, it becomes clear exactly how harsh the training is, with Marine-style maneuvers introduced in an attempt to instill some discipline in the youthful miscreants.

Thanks everyone!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:39 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meetup Wednesday, A Keehn Endorsement, Gore & Live Earth, Picnics and Open Houses!
Hello Everyone!

Hope you all had a great Fourth of July.

In This Update:

1. DFA Link-Up or "meetup" Wednesday
2. Val Keehn Gets WFP Endorsement
3. Live Earth
4. Reagans' NSA Chief Says Impeachment Over War May Be Necessary
5. Governor Dean: No Longer Possible To Manipulate Opinion
6. Washington County Picnic July 14th!
7. Yepsen Opening Day Open House
8. Friday NIght Film Fest
9. On The Lighter Side...


1. DFA Link-Up or "meetup" Wednesday

Since last Wednesday was the 4th, we'll be having our month DFA Link-Up or "meetup" this Wednesday, July 11th at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe at 7pm. On the agenda this month is an appearance by Queensbury Town Councilman John Strough, who is running for reelection, a resolution on the war from Democracy For New York and more discussion.

2. Val Keehn Gets WFP Endorsement

Last week the reelection campaign of Saratoga Mayor Val Keehn got a big boost when Keehn received the coveted endorsement of the Working Families Party. Keehn was formally endorsed by Democracy For Saratoga this Spring. Keehn's endorsement by the WFP is in sharp contrast to her primary opponent, Gordon Boyd, who actually sought out and accepted the endorsement of the anti-choice, pro-Bush, pro-war, Conservative Party.
For More info: http://www.mayorkeehn.com/ and http://mayorkeehn.blogspot.com/

3. Live Earth

Saturday night saw the phenomenal world wide Live Earth concerts, which President-Elected Al Gore co-founded and organized. Even though they were broadcast on network television, they were still one of the most under reported events I can remember in some time, considering two billion people probably watched or participated at some point. There was almost a total news blackout. You have to wonder exactly what news is when two billion people doing something together is not front page news.

However, Salon.com had a great piece: http://www.salon.com/ent/music/feature/2007/07/08/live_earth/

After the Oscar for the movie The Inconvenient Truth and his new book, The Assault On Reason, Gore stature continues to soar.

There is still time to participate by taking the Live Earth pledge: http://liveearthpledge.org/answer_the_call.php

It goes as follows:

I PLEDGE:
1.To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2.To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"
3.To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4.To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
5.To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6.To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
7.To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

http://liveearthpledge.org/answer_the_call.php


4. Reagans' NSA Chief Says Impeachment Over War May Be Necessary

There were a pair of remarkable, "must read" articles this week. The first was by General William Odom, Ronald Regan's chief of the National Security Agency and one of America's top intelligence experts. Gem Odom flatly stated the impeachment of the President and Vice President may be necessary to stop the war and save our country and our army, and criticizes congressional Democrats for failing to act. Says Odom,

"Every step the Democrats in Congress have taken to force the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq has failed. Time and again, President Bush beats them into submission with charges of failing to "support the troops."

"Why do the Democrats allow this to happen? Because they let the president define what "supporting the troops" means...

"No U.S. forces have ever been compelled to stay in sustained combat conditions for as long as the Army units have in Iraq. In World War II, soldiers were considered combat-exhausted after about 180 days in the line."

http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=00192

Also, there was a possibly historic NY Times editorial calling for a withdraw from Iraq. Period. It's an incredibly broad and cogent case from a paper that led the cheerleading. Will it have an effect?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/opinion/08sun1.html?pagewanted=all


5. Governor Dean: No Longer Possible To Manipulate Opinion

Gov. Dean was also recently interview by Mother Jones and, as is almost always the case, almost every paragraph was insightful and illuminating:

"The nature of Democrats has been more decentralized, more reliant on individuals to make their own decisions in their lives, much less top down. It's almost impossible to run a top-down model and succeed in the Democratic Party."

and

"The people who are going to disappear are the people who think you can manipulate public opinion. That's why the Republicans are falling on their face right now. Because their own MO is to manipulate public opinion by rephrasing things in delicate ways and not be truthful about what's really going on. It's going to be almost impossible to make public statements that are not true and not have it eaten apart in 24 hours."
http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2007/07/howard_dean.html

6. Washington County Picnic July 14th!

You are cordially invited to this year's Washington County Democratic Committee’s Seventh Annual Picnic on Hulett’s Landing on Lake George. The date is Saturday, July 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m at the Washington County Park in Hulett's Landing. Tickets are $15 ($25 for two), and $6 for children. Contact any Democratic town committee person or call 642-9566 for tickets and information.

To reach the park: Take Route 22 north to Dresden. Look for the county park sign and turn left onto County Route 6. Go up a steep grade and down to the lake (4.3 miles). Turn right onto County Route 6B and then make first left to the park and pavilion.


7. Yepsen Opening Day Open House

Joanne Yepsen, County Supervisor for Saratoga Springs, will be hosting her traditional Open House on Opening Day of the Races Wednesday, July 25 from 6 - 9 p.m. to celebrate Open Government and Open Space! Please consider this an Open Invitation to attend the outdoor party in her yard at 91 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs (2 blocks from the race track) and enjoy a wonderful array of food and drinks on this special day!

For more info go to: www.supervisoryepsen.com or call 584-5167.


8. Friday NIght Film Fest

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

July 13 BLUE VINYL (2002) Judith Helfland & Daniel B. Gold 98 min.
Curious filmmaker Judith Helfand decided to follow up some doubts she had about PVC (polyvinyl chloride) when her parents took the step of coating their house with it. Taking her camera and co-director Daniel B. Gold with her, Helfand hit the road and headed to Louisiana, which is responsible for the bulk of the PVC used in America. They also venture out to California to meet an environmentalist, and to Italy, where a groundbreaking legal battle against the makers of PVC plays out. Fascinating and highly unique in its choice of subject matter, BLUE VINYL offers plenty of food for thought which is, in turns, both shocking and revealing.

9. On The Lighter Side...


On the lighter side, Brucie sends this along in honor of Al Gore after the brilliant success of Live Earth:

Al Gore Facts
by buhdydharma

Fri Jul 06, 2007 at 06:38:39 PM PDT

Al Gore is the only man alive who can save us from Global Warming. Al Gore is that cool.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Al Gore.

Al Gore isn't running for President. Al Gore IS President.

Al Gore only let Bush serve to prove to the world that Republicanism is a totally bankrupt philosophy and practice. It worked.

After Al Gore is elected, Al Gore will turn back time and erase the last seven years.

Al Gore was waiting for America to grow up.

Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Al Gore.

Al Gore will be the first President to win three terms since Roosevelt.

Al Gore always knows the EXACT location of Carmen SanDiego.

Al Gore gave Mona Lisa that smile.

Note: some of these are blatantly stolen. Go ahead, sue me. Al Gore is my lawyer.

Al Gore does not sleep. He waits.

Republicants want to build a wall on the border. To keep Al Gore out.

Al Gore is so smart, he can divide by zero.

Al Gore doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

In 2000, Al Gore should have chosen Al Gore as his running mate.

Tipper is Al Gore's wife. But afterwards, she tips him.

Al Gore is so smart, he counted to infinity - twice.

When Al Gore falls in water, Al Gore doesn't get wet. Water gets Al Gore.

Al Gore CAN believe it's not butter.

Al Gore didn't just invent the internet. All Gore invented science. And fire.

Al Gore can touch MC Hammer.

Al Gore didn't invent color TV. But before Al Gore was born, the world was in Black and White.

It takes Al Gore 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.

Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Al Gore pajamas.

When Al Gore is elected, Al Qaeda will follow us home from Iraq. To surrender.

Al Gore can slam a revolving door.

When the election is over, Al Gore will have won more than 50 states

Al Gore IS that tall.

Al Gore just slouches to make the rest of us feel better.

Al Gore can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.

Al Gore can balance the budget. On one finger. While juggling.

Al Gore can win a game of Connect Four in only three moves.

Al Gore did in fact, build Rome in a day.

Al Gore is not running for President. He is strolling to President.



Thanks Everyone! See you all Wednesday At the Cafe.

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:03 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Impeachment? Gore & Live Earth, Val Keehn, More
Hi Everyone!

First, Happy Fourth of July! Remember because of the holiday, there will be no meeting this week.

Instead, our monthly meeting will be next week on July 11th at Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe at 7pm, as usual. We'll be joined by Queensbury Councilman John Strough, who is running for reelection this year, for a candidate forum and also we'll probably be discussing certain events in Washington.

In This Update:

1. Bush, Libby, Impeachment?
2. Don't Miss Gore and Live Earth Saturday
3. Val Keehn On Air Saturday
4. Washington County Picnic On July 14th
5. Michael Moore's Sicko Opens In Albany
6. Friday Night Film Fest

1. Bush, Libby, Impeachment?

I am sure everyone has now heard the news that White House resident George Bush has commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby. That this is an outrage goes without saying. Nonetheless, Keith Olbermann's Special Commentary tonight on MSNBC is stunning in its force. If you want fireworks for the 4th, this is it: he bluntly calls for Bush and Cheney to resign.

It's online at: http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/msnbc/fv.htm??f=00&g=8dd25465-1b2b-49e5-81ff-003005828d82&p=source_countdown&t=c1149&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19588942/&fg=

The transcript is online at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19588942/

Moveon.org has a petition to Congress to force Cheney to comply with it's subpoenas or face impeachment: http://pol.moveon.org/subpoena/?r_by=10714-643825-E7Q3Vk&rc=comment_paste

Impeachment was a major topic during Lisa Manzi's recent visit, to hear our views for Rep. Gillibrand. DFA in Burlington has already called for impeaching Attorney General Gonzales -- that's a great place to start. As the author of this dKos posting notes, "If impeachment is off the table, so it democracy." http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/29/2520/90791

The Democratic leadership in Congress say they have taken Impeachment off the table. Realistically speaking, part of the problem may be that certain cliques in our party in Washington actively do not want Bush and Cheney removed. That would make Nancy Pelosi President, and probably block the ascension of their preferred candidate to the Oval Office. I now believe at least some of these people are so devoid of scruples that they will do everything they can to prevent that from happening, even if it gives George Bush another year and a half to wreck our country and the peace of the world.

2. Don't Miss Al Gore and Live Earth Saturday

The biggest event of the summer will be Al Gore's Live Earth Concerts, which will be broadcast live on NBC and also over the internet. The goal is to raise awareness of Global Warming/Global Climate Change. http://www.liveearth.org/

Gore and Live Earth founder Kevin Wall just called for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the world's developed nations by mid-century, and a moratorium on coal burning power plants. There's a great piece on truthout.com and also more on what's being called RAG: Re-Elect Gore. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062907P.shtml

Also, Gore had a tremendous, must-read Op Ed in the Sunday NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/opinion/01gore.html?pagewanted=all

3. Mayor Val Keehn On Air Saturday

Also on Saturday, Mayor Valerie Keehn, who was recently endorsed for re-election by Democracy For Saratoga Springs, will be interviewed and taking questions this Saturday on WABY, 1160AM, from 8am-9am.

The Mayor will also be cutting the ribbon at a gala opening of the new Waterfront Access Area on Saratoga Lake in Saratoga Springs, tomorrow at 11am. This is a big deal because it has been a long time since Spa City residents have had lake access. Take Crescent Ave. out from the city center. The area is on the right just past the Kaydeross Avenue right turn.

4. Washington County Picnic On July 14th

You are cordially invited to this year's Washington County Democratic Committee’s Seventh Annual Picnic on Hulett’s Landing on Lake George. The date is Saturday, July 14, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m at the Washington County Park in Hulett's Landing. Tickets are $15 ($25 for two), and $6 for children. Contact any Democratic town committee person or call 642-9566 for tickets and information.

To reach the park: Take Route 22 north to Dresden. Look for the county park sign and turn left onto County Route 6. Go up a steep grade and down to the lake (4.3 miles). Turn right onto County Route 6B and then make first left to the park and pavilion.

5. Michael Moore's Sicko Opens In Albany

Michael Moore's latest movie, Sicko has opened in Albany at the Spectrum and at Crossgates Center, and I've been told by people who have seen it that it is even more powerful than Fahrenheit 9/1, as it builds into a powerful narrative of the problems facing a group of sick Americans who desperately need health care. DFA has a petition supporting Sicko and urging Congress to act-- you should sign it if you haven't already: http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/petition/sicko/

Unfortunately, Sicko isn't in the Glens Falls Area yet.

Moore says in a new interview: "Health care needs to be in the hands of the people, just like the fire department and the police department."
http://www.playboy.com/blog/2007/06/bad-medicine.html

It can be done: "Wisconsin Passes Universal Healthcare Plan"
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/062807HA.shtml
"A sweeping universal healthcare plan that would cover virtually every person in Wisconsin cleared the Democratic-controlled state Senate on Tuesday as part of the two-year budget," reports Scott Bauer for the Associated Press.


6. Friday Night Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive FIlm Fest continus at 7:30 with:

July 6 THIS REPORTER (1991) Susan Lacy & Mead Hunt 113 min.
The career of newscaster Edward R. Murrow falls under the microscope here, with rare clips and testimonials combining that offer an overview of his life in television. Charles Kuralt narrates in a film that features highlights from Murrow's career that include not only his McCarthy-era broadcasts but also his relaxed interviews with stars like Marilyn Monroe.

As Murrow, and now Olbermann, honoring him, would say, Good Night and Good Luck.

Have a great 4th of July!

Larry Dudley
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:53 PM 0 comments