Tricounty DFA Update: December Meeting Next Week, Peace Fair, More
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:


1. Glens Falls Link-Up or Meetup Next Wednesday
2. Peace Fair December 8th
3. Must Reads: NYRB & Holocaust In Iraq and DCCC
4. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Glens Falls Link-Up or Meetup Next Wednesday

We'll be having our December Greater Glens Falls DFA Link-Up or Meetup next Wednesday, December 5th, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on Hudson, Elm and Exchange Streets in downtown Glens Falls.

On the agenda from last month: We will be discussing out reach and coordination with other area groups engaged in local environmental concerns, for instance, the French Mountain/Bear Pond mess. We'll also be watching a video of Governor Dean and Democratic National Committee staff talking about the 50 State Precinct Leader Plan. As we discussed last month, our group really can't take this all on for the region, but we may be able to use our skills better in training others.

Also, DFA National in Burlington in the next few days will be unveiling a national action relating to the Iowa Caucuses, which we will also discuss at the meeting.

2. Peace Fair December 8th

The Second Annual Glens Falls Area Peace Fair will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Weeks Road in Queensbury on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 from 10am-5pm.

Admission is free, rain or shine. It will feature "A diverse gathering of peace-minded folks, hand-crafted gifts, provocative tables, vegetarian soups and desserts, live music and free child care.

For more info contact organizer Neal Herr at neahherr@verison.net


3. Must Reads: NYRB & Holocaust In Iraq and DCCC


There are some interesting "must reads":

Dick sends along this about some article in the New York Review of Books:

"The December 6, 2007 New York Review of Books has several article son politics that I would consider a must read. The NYRB is in nearly all of the chain bookstores, certainly Wilton, Saratoga, Colonie, Albany among others. Also most good libraries.

"At the top of the list is Tony Judt's review of Robert B. Reich's new book, Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life. Judt has to be one of the most thoroughly educated persons I have ever read. He is Director of the Remarque Institute at New York University. Judt goes right to the core in a very quotable incisive article. Neither Reich or the Clintons come off that well. In fact, I think you will find it very scary what they tacitly seem to support. However you like or don't like the Clintons, feel disposed or partially disposed, this fair article is a must read If you are interested in who will be our next President .

"In the same issue there is a review by David Cole, Professor of Law at Georgetown, of Jack Goldsmith's book, The Terror Presidency: Law and Judgement Inside the Bush Administration. This is about David Addington, the very bright authoritarian who operates only in the shadows and is Lord Cheney's Chief of Staff. The payoff is, this book is by a conservative who was head of Bush's Office of legal counsel but found someone far, far, far to the Right of himself.

"A third article is by environmentalist Dai Qing, now operating for her own safety and freedom out of Australia, about the Beijing Olympics and what this means environmentally on a much, much larger scale where most wealth and power in China is based on brutally raping the environment. "Thirsy Dragon at the Olympics."

The New York Review may have gone off the stands by now, so although it is really best to buy a copy, the pieces can be read online at http://www.nybooks.com/


Lisa sends along this piece by Mark Weisibrodt of the Center For Economic and Policy Research on the bloodbath provoked by the U.S.'s invasion of Iraq: http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/68568/

"Holocaust Denial, American Style.

"Institutionally unwilling to consider America's responsibility for the bloodbath, the traditional media have refused to acknowledge the massive number of Iraqis killed since the invasion.
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's flirtation with those who deny the reality of the Nazi genocide has rightly been met with disgust. But another holocaust denial is taking place with little notice: the holocaust in Iraq. The average American believes that 10,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the US invasion in March 2003. The most commonly cited figure in the media is 70,000. But the actual number of people who have been killed is most likely more than one million." http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/68568/

And Drew sends this along about a growing battle within the DCCC between progressives and corporate Democrats:

"With the GOP out of favor, reactionaries still have a potent weapon against ordinary Americans"
"How ironic that just as the popular revulsion against the Republican philosophy of governance and against Republicans themselves (corruption and bigotry) take hold in the public mind, significant numbers of Insider Democrats are trying to claim those very aspects of the GOP legacy for their own party! Rahm Emanuel and his faction seem intent on leading the Democrats down the Republican sink hole-- and, not coincidentally, right at a time when a real push for progressive values and principles (values and principles anathema to all Emanuel stands for and believes in) could have a lasting impact of American social and political development." http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2007/11/civil-war-at-dccc.html

Also a follow up on progressive candidate Robin Weirauch, who the Emanuel faction wants to stop in the Ohio primary on December 11, even though the Democracts might wind up losing the seat to a Republican: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-are-dccc-old-guard-emanuel-crew.html


4. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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


Fri Nov 30 7:30 pm ADIRONDACK PROGRESSIVE FILM FORUM
SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY (2006) Sydney Pollack 84 min. Grade = 80%
Oscar winning director Sydney Pollack takes a sharp sideways turn with SKETCHES OF FRANK GEHRY, a documentary about the noted architect. Usually known for making grandiose productions such as THE FIRM and OUT OF AFRICA, Pollock adds a genuine curio to his filmmaking resume with this movie. Although the two men have been friends for years, Pollock thankfully bypasses the opportunity to pay a fawning tribute to Gehry, instead presenting a well-balanced portrait that offers both positive and negative commentators the chance to etch their thoughts into celluloid. But it quickly becomes clear that the biggest naysayer of all is Gehry himself, who is painted as a highly self-critical man, clearly ill-at-ease with fame and his own achievements. Pollock offers some screen time to Gehry's magnificent creations, but not as much as a less experienced director might have done, instead choosing to focus on the man himself. People such as ! Gehry's therapist, Milton Wexler, and garrulous artist/director Julian Schnabel (BASQUIAT) offer their thoughts, but the real magic occurs when Pollock and Gehry are on screen together. The series of interviews between the two men have the kind of relaxed atmosphere that could only exist after years of friendship, and Gehry comes across as an astonishingly normal and likeable fellow who keeps his ego firmly in check. Shooting mostly with hand-held digital-video cameras also brings a nice intimacy to the proceedings, creating a warm testimony to a great artist who has somehow managed to keep his integrity intact despite the ruthless nature of the industry in which he works.

Thanks everyone! See you at the meeting next Wednesday!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, Dick Dudley, Glens Falls, Iraq War, Larry Dudley, Unitarian Universal Church Glens Falls

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:03 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Thanksgiving Wishes, Impeachment? Washington Co. Party,Bear Pond Destuction, More
Hello Everyone;

First, a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday to you all!

In this update:

1. Grounds For Impeachment, Finally?
2. Overton Window
3. Photographic Proof Of Bear Pond Damage On French Mountain
4. Washington County Holiday Party
5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Grounds For Impeachment, Finally?

Drew was first to send this startling piece of news along: Scott McClellan, Bush's former Press Secretary, apparently has an expose book coming out in April. Excerpts were released today that reveal McClellan knowingly lied about the exposure of CIA undercover operative Valerie Plame. What's more, McClellan reveals he knew at the time that Karl Rove, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Lewis Libby, Cheney and Bush knew it was a lie and were in on it.

There are multiple crimes here: lying to Congress, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, perjury as well as a violation of the classification laws that protect the identities of the nation's overseas covert operatives. And unlike Iran-Contra, where Admiral Poindexter took the fall for the Reagan administration's crimes, here there is a direct witness.

McClellan says: "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice-president, the president's chief of staff, and the president himself."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/19/scott-mcclellan-grabs-a-s_n_73386.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7105001.stm
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20071121/D8T1OGD81.html

The BBC quotes Valerie Plame today: "I am outraged to learn that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan confirms that he was sent out to lie to the press corps... Even more shocking, McClellan confirms that not only Karl Rove and Scooter Libby told him to lie but Vice-President Cheney, presidential Chief of Staff Andrew Card and President Bush also ordered McClellan to issue his misleading statement."

Will Congress finally act on this astonishing revelation? Will an actual eye witness account of grave, impeachable high crimes by the Bush administration provoke real investigations? Or will the Democrats in Congress continue to ignore their Oaths of Office to defend the Constitution, and refuse to flip over the rocks in our nation's capitol for fear of what they might find?


2. Overton Window

Something I've been reading about is closely connected to this issue: The Overton Window, and it helps explain why the political dialogue in this country has become so distorted that there can be, as the example above, questions as to how to respond to such news. It's clearly one of the keys to the success of the radical right. "The technique relies on people promoting ideas even less acceptable than the previous "outer fringe" ideas. That makes those old fringe ideas look less extreme, and thereby acceptable."

For instance, 60 years ago we prosecuted waterboarding as a war crime. Today we practice waterboarding. How did we make that move? Legal arguments by people like former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, or Jay S. Bybee, former head of the Office Legal Counsel, that torture simulating the agony caused by "major organ failure" was legal made "mere" waterboarding seem less extreme.

This is a huge part of why impeachment is such a hard sell. The right wing keeps moving the goal posts, which makes the nutty seem extreme, and then, gradually, in time, middle of the road, even commonsensical.

http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/perlsteins_greatest_hits_vol_1_overtons_window?tx=3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window


3. Photographic Proof Of Bear Pond Damage On French Mountain

Kathy Sonnabend sends this along about damage to Bear Pond on French Mountain. I have put the pictures up on our blog, so that everyone can see for themselves what a huge mess has been made up there, and why the pressure has to stay on! Go to: http://townmeetingday.blogspot.com/2007/11/photoraphic-proof-of-damage-to-bear.html

"Hi everyone,

"Here are just a few of the photos from yesterday morning on French Mountain, that I took from property owned by the Stranahan's and their neighbor, John Hughes. The Macchio's have lowered Bear Pond about 4 feet by damaging the beaver dam, and they have clear cutted mountain slopes and wetlands, leaving significant erosion and debry. This damage was inflicted by the Macchio's on property owned by three neighbors, the Stranahans, the Spellburgs and the Hughes. I am told that the damage on property legally owned by the Macchio's is even worse, and the Macchio's activity has continued despite the June 2006 Queensbury stop work order.

"Dan Stec must be urged to rigorously pursue the town's lawsuit and not drag his heels or settle lightly to please Michael O'Connor. O'Connor has gotten himself into trouble as the attorney involved in the illegal transfer of Stranahan property to Macchio, which was recently overturned by Judge Krogman. It was that ruling which allowed me to tour the returned Stranahan property yesterday morning with John Strough, Tony Metivier and several private citizens. Skip Stranahan is happy to take any of you on a similar tour. If you don't have four wheel drive, Doug Auer is also happy to drive anyone up there to see first hand.

"The town must deal with this decisively and harshly, to prevent this from becoming a precedent in Queensbury that will spoil our vistas and damage our environment. Otherwise, our quality of life will suffer and taxpayers will bear the financial cost of repairing washed out roads and other damage from storm water runoff.

"Kathy"

Again, see the pics at: http://townmeetingday.blogspot.com/2007/11/photoraphic-proof-of-damage-to-bear.html


4. Washington County Holiday Party

Area Democrats (and their supporters) are cordially invited to the Washington County Democratic Committee's annual Holiday Party at the Rice Mansion Inn in Cambridge NY on, Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

The cost is $30 per person (not tax deductible).

Delicious food and desserts by Spoonful Catering. Wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee included. Silent Auction, Raffle, etc.

For reservations send check made out to the Washington County Democratic Committee to:
Ed Dowling, One Highland St., Greenwich NY 12834
Note: Space is limited so please respond by 11/26/07 - questions: Judy Doonan 692-7215

www.washingtoncountydemocrats.com


5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

Fri Nov 23 7:30 pm
RUNNING ON THE SUN (2003) Mel Stuart 102 min. No Grade Available
The Badwater 135 is the most extreme foot-race on earth. The 135 mile course runs over barren desert, taking in three mountain ranges, some extremely tough terrain, and soaring temperatures of up to 130F. With the added perils of flash floods and wind storms along the way, it is a miracle that anyone is capable of finishing the gruelling course. This documentary tracks 13 of the brave, or perhaps foolhardy, runners, and runs the full gamut of human emotions with them, from joy to despair, and elation to disappointment. The pa! rticipants push the limits of human endurance beyond that of most extreme sports participants, and up the ante for enthusiasts of the genre everywhere.


Thanks everyone! Have a happy holiday and drive safely!

Larry

Labels: Bear Pond, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, French Mountain, Glens Falls, Impeachment, Larry Dudley, Queensbury

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 3:09 PM 0 comments

 
Photoraphic Proof Of Damage To Bear Pond in Queensbury, NY
These are recent images taken by Kathy Sonnabend of the damage to Bear Pond on French Mountain in Queensbury, NY.

Click thumbnail image to get larger picture in new window.

Labels: Bear Pond, French Mountain, NY, Queensbury

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 2:20 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA: SiCKO Follow-up Info, Washington Co. Holiday Party, DFA Backs Down DiFI
Hello Everyone;

A Few Quick Things:

1. SiCKO Follow-Up: Actions
2. Washington County Holiday Party
3. DiFi Backs Down To DFA


1. SiCKO Follow-Up: Actions


There was an overflowing crowd last night at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Queensbury for the special showing of Michael Moore's new documentary SiCKO and conference call with filmmaker Moore.

First, thanks to Harvey Noordsey for hosting this event and Rev. Dean Perkins and the UUA for welcoming us and everyone in the area!

DFA suggested attendees take a specific action for healthcare rights in America and people were asking for that info-- here it is:

"Right after the movie and conference call, there's one quick action you can take that will make a tremendous difference for millions of our most vulnerable citizens. Please write a letter to a company in the insurance industry.

Scott P. Serota, President and Chief Executive Officer
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
1310 G Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005

Michael B. McCallister, President and Chief Executive
Humana, Inc.
500 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202

Ronald A. Williams, Chairman and Chief executive Officer'Aetna, INc.
151 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06156


SUGGESTED MESSAGE:

"Hi, my name is_____ and I am a concerned citizen in _________ (city) _____________ (state).

Over the past decade, your company has given millions of dollars to members of Congress to lobby for their votes on issues that you support.

Right now, health care for ten million American children is at stake because the President refuses to sign critical, potentially life saving children's health insurane legislation (SCHIP).

I am writing to ask that you contact every Congressperson you financially support and ask them to override the President's vote of SCHIP. Thank you."


2. Washington County Holiday Party

The Washington County Democratic Committee will be holding its annual Holiday Party at the Rice Mansion Inn in
Cambridge NY on, Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

The cost is $30 per person (not tax deductible).

Delicious food and desserts by Spoonful Catering. Wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee included. Silent Auction, Raffle, etc.

For reservations send check made out to the Washington County Democratic Committee to:
Ed Dowling, One Highland St., Greenwich NY 12834
Note: Space is limited so please respond by 11/26/07 - questions: Judy Doonan 692-7215

www.washingtoncountydemocrats.com


3. DiFi Backs Down To DFA

Also in news tonight! DFA's push for calls to Senator Majority leader Harry Reid complaining about Sen. Diane Feinstein's support for granting immunity to telecom companies who broke the law and helped the Bush administration spy on Americas paid off. "DiFI" as she is known backed down and voted no.

This is a big victory for DFA and a real feather in the cap of the crew up in Burlington. For more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/15/20469/580
and: http://blogforamerica.com/view/22995

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Glens Falls, Jim Dean, Larry Dudley, Michael Moore, SiCKO, Unitarian Universal Church Glens Falls, UUA

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:23 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Meetup Report & Reminder: SiCKO Showing Wednesday With Conference Call
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:


1. SiCKO Showing At The UU Reminder
2. GGF-DFA Meeting Report
3. Election Analysis
4. Former Congressman DWI
5. Paul Krugman To Be At Northshire
6. Torturous...
7. Friday Night FIlm Fest


1. SiCKO Showing At The UU Reminder

I would like to remind everyone that they are cordially invited to attend a screening of Michael Moore's acclaimed new film, SiCKO, at a House Party/Screening on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:15 PM! SiCKO will be followed by a live nationwide conference call with filmmaker Michael Moore himself and DFA Chairman Jim Dean.

SiCKO, which premiered in area theaters earlier this year, is a meditation on the state of healthcare in America, an expose of the failures of the American healthcare system and the brutalities it often inflicts on patients and families, a revelation on how other nations provide better quality care for their sick and injured both more humanely and at lower cost, and a challenge to a political and economic system whose goal is to keep people fearful, insecure and timid. It is also surprisingly warm, humane, and very funny, while clear in its anger at what America has come to tolerate.

There will be refreshments: Anyone who wants to help can please bring some cookies or other treats! There will be coffee courtesy of the UU and Host Harvey Noordsey.

Please RSVP now at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891

What: SiCKO House Parties
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:15 PM
Where: UU Congregation of Glens Falls, 21 Weeks Road Queensbury NY 12804
Admission: Free!

SiCKO is not to be missed! So please attend and RSVP right away at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891


2. Meeting Report

We had a productive November meeting at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe last week. There were three main pieces of business we agreed on:

1. We agreed to put off any endorsement of a Presidential candidate by our local group until January.

2. We agreed to investigate becoming a nexus for environmental concerns in the local area, especially land use in Queensbury and around Lake George. This would involved information coordination and sharing, where we would bring other groups together on a coalition basis, connecting them up to become a more effective whole. Pat and Drew will be reporting back to us on this at our December meeting on the 5th.

3. We also agreed to discuss in December a training program of our own centered on the DNC's new Precinct Leader System (what we called the Neighborhood Network last year) and the spectacular Voter Activation Network of the DNC, where local precinct leaders can access the DNC's national voter file, use it, and update it.
We cannot and should not try replace the committees, but we can train others-- we have the experienced people who can perform that service, which would best leverage our human resources most effectively, rather than trying to fill holes ourselves.

I have already downloaded a video of Governor Dean where he talks about the Precinct Leader System and we will be watching it next month!

3. Election Analysis

On the whole, now that we have all had a bit to think about it, last week's election day was a mixed bag. The worse defeat was Val Keehn in Saratoga Springs, but Democrats took other bitter defeats in Stillwater and elsewhere. But Democrats won in South Glens Falls and Fort Edward and Ballston Spa. Ron Vanselow, who our group knows from the previous election when we endorsed him, won in Johnsburg.

Boor and Sanford lost on the Democratic line in Queensbury, after losing the Republican Primary. I think there is an inescapable message there that if you want to be a reformer, you have to be a Democrat. You cannot do local reform from inside the Republican Party. No one is going to try that again, after what was done to Boor and Sanford. That will clarify things in the future because people who want to clean things up will naturally gravitate to the Democratic Party.

Secondly, there is another lesson-- the people who won were the people who ran modern, 21st century voter contact programs. John Strough told me a few days before the election that he had knocked over 1,500 doors in his ward. That is amazing, but voter contact, either by the candidate or the team, is how you win now. The old 20th century idea of treating politics as a form of marketing is done for. The Republicans spent thousands of dollars to beat Strough and got nowhere.

This was a shake out year. In Saratoga Springs, DPW Commission Tommy McTygue was also defeated. From that defeat a new, reformed Democratic City Committee is already beginning to emerge. That will clean up the picture. I think we will see more effective parties in the future. And that will bring the real changes.

In many local areas Democrats are slowly building to a tipping point. I think that happened in Vermont years ago, too. People made slow gains, like we are here, but the base was building, then one day... boom. And everyone will say, where the heck did that come from? But we will know. The first areas that may change are Saratoga Springs, where the Republicans may have had their last hurrah, and Queensbury, where pent up frustration is still slowly building.

I would also agree Colin Neal, of Upstate Blue also cites Washington County as one of our brighter spots, where, as we know, Sheila Comar is doing a fantastic job. Colin has interesting numbers that are really worth reviewing: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/9/20425/4890


4. Former Congressman DWI

After the last election I swore in this posting that I would never mention John Sweeney again, but news too good to resist comes that not only was former Rep. John Sweeney caught driving drunk on the Northway, but that he had a 23 year old on his lap. Where will frat boy do his community service? Inquiring minds want to know... http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=638536&category=REGION&newsdate=11/13/2007


5. Paul Krugman To Be At Northshire

Legendary New York Times columnist Paul Krugman will appear at Northshire Bookstore, Saturday, December 1 at 7 pm, to discuss his new book, Conscience Of A Liberal. In his book, Krugman challenges America to reclaim the values that made it great. Admission is free.

Krugman is a national treasure, and his columns can now be viewed online, for free, including his blog, at: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/paulkrugman/index.html

The Northshire Bookstore is at 4869 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 For more go to:
www.northshire.com


6. Torturous...

Last week brought what is indisputably the lowest point for the Democratic Party since Fugitive Slave Act, which helped bring on the Civil War. Democrats in the Senate, first of all Chuck Schumer, who voted for him, allowed the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General after he refused under oath to repudiate the use of waterboarding. That act put both Senate Democrats and the Senate's stamp of approval on a form of torture the U.S. and its allies prosecuted 60 years ago as a major Axis war crime. George Bush would have gotten no less from a Republican Senate. The Times Editorial Sunday would have to be the
"must read" of the week, the title alone says it all: Abdicate and Capitulate. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/opinion/11sun1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

That said, Drew sends along this great link to Naomi Klein, author of Shock Therapy, which explains how neoliberal economics has ruined this country's economy and much of the world. It's a bit long, but well worth it: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/10/5138/

7. Friday Night FIlm Fest


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

Friday Nov 16 7:30 pm
LENNY BRUCE: Without Tears (1992) Fred Baker 75 min.
The outrageous, groundbreaking comic whose iconoclastic material in a conservative era got him into tragic trouble is here profiled by a close friend who prefers to remember the laughs Lenny Bruce's memory evokes instead of the tears. Appearances by: Lenny Bruce, Steve Allen, Paul Krassner, Mort

Thanks everyone! See you Wednesday night at the UU for SiCKO! Remember to please RVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891


Larry Dudley

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For New York, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFNY, Glens Falls, Globalization, Iraq Timeline, Jim Dean, Keehn, Larry Dudley, Michael Moore, SiCKO

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 9:33 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Special Pre-Election Update!
Hello Everyone!

In this special pre-election update:


1. Election Day Candidate Reminders & Endorsements
2. Queensbury Debates on TV-8
3. Wednesday Meeting Reminder & Endorsements
4. RSVP For SiCKO
5. Ballot Initiative Message From Tim Merrick
6. Paul Krugman Must Read
7. Candidate Match Game
8. Friday Night Film Progressive Film Fest


1. Election Day Candidate Reminders


First-- tomorrow is Election Day and there are important races in most areas but I would like to especially remind everyone to come our to support the candidates endorsed by our local DFA groups: Mayor Valerie Keehn and Commissioner Ron Kim in Saratoga Springs and Councilman John Strough in Queensbury. Special mention should also be given to Roger Boor and Richard Sanford. Although they were not formally endorsed, they are John's partners in reforming Queensbury Town government, and to support them is to support John Strough.

Mayor Keehn was also endorsed yesterday by the Saratogian, making it three major newspaper endorsments: http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18987004&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=602475&rfi=6

2. Queensbury Debates on TV-8

Kathy informs me that TV-8 in Glens Falls will be broadcasting the debates in Queensbury tonight at 8pm and 11:30pm. Apparently their may have been technical problems with the debates over the weekend.

3. Wednesday Meeting Reminder

This Wednesday we will be holding our November Greater Glens Falls Area DFA-Linkup or Meetup at our usual time and location, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on Exchange Street in downtown Glens Falls.

Obviously, we'll be discussing tomorow's General Election results, and the political year ahead, including the likely results of the DFA Pulse Poll for the Presidential nomination and the DNC's call for grassroots organizing. We'll also probably do a bit of planning for the SiCKO showing at the UU next week.


4. RSVP For SiCKO

You are invited to attend a SiCKO House Party/Screening on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:15 PM! Please RSVP at:

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891

DFA has now teamed up with Michael Moore to feature a nationwide special event: local screenings of SiCKO followed by a live nationwide conference call with filmmaker Michael Moore himself.

What: SiCKO House Parties
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:15 PM
Where: UU Congregation of Glens Falls, 21 Weeks Road Queensbury NY 12804
Admission: Free!

SiCKO is not to be missed! So please attend and RSVP right away at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891


5. Ballot Initiative Message From Tim Merrick

Tim Merrick sent out this message on tomorrow's ballot initiative:

"Dear Friends:

There has been some discussion and confusion about a ballot initiative that we will all vote on next week. Every New York State resident will be asked to vote because this issue requires an amendment to the State Constitution. An amendment is needed because the Forever Wild clause is embedded in the Constitution.

FYI, here is a section from an Adirondack Mountain Club notice:

“Since 1930, the Raquette Lake Reservoir has supplied the community with drinking water, but for the past five years, Raquette Lake has been under a ‘boil water’ order from the state Department of Health. To address the water contamination problem, the town needs wells on state Forest Preserve land adjacent to the hamlet.
“The ‘Forever Wild’ clause of the New York Constitution permits reservoirs on the Forest Preserve, but makes no provision for drinking-water wells, so a constitutional amendment is needed so the town can legally move forward with this much-needed project. The amendment was twice approved unanimously by the state Legislature, and it is now up to voters statewide to OK it.”

Constitutional amendments make people nervous, and that’s probably a good thing. I believe that these drinking water wells do not signal a danger for environmental groups and are not antagonistic to the original intent of protecting the Adirondack Forest.

I hope this information is helpful and timely.

Tim Merrick"


6. Paul Krugman Must Read


Columnist Paul Krugman of the NY Times is almost always great, but on the eve of an election, and the one year run-up to a Presidential election, today's column is particularly salient, which makes it the "must read" of the week: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/opinion/05krugman.html?ref=opinion

"I talk about the origins of the long right-wing dominance of American politics, and the reasons I believe that dominance is coming to an end. Then someone asks, “How can you be optimistic about the prospects for progressive change, when big money has so much influence on politics?”..."The public wants change. “If Americans have ever been angrier with the state of the country,” begins a new strategy memo from the polling organization Democracy Corps, “we have not witnessed it.”'

and,

"...But the Democracy Corps memo warns that “Democrats have not yet found their voice as agents of change.” Indeed. What the memo doesn’t say, but is all too obvious, is that one big reason the Democrats are having trouble finding their voice is the influence of big money."

He concludes"
"...I am worried.
One of the saddest stories I tell in my book is that of Al Smith, the great reformist governor of New York, who gradually turned into a narrow-minded economic conservative and bitter critic of F.D.R. H. L. Mencken explained it thusly: “His association with the rich has apparently wobbled him and changed him. He has become a golf player.”

"So, how wobbled are today’s Democrats? I guess we’ll find out." http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/opinion/05krugman.html?ref=opinion

7. Candidate Match Game

If you want to know if the Presidential candidates agree with you on the issues, there's a terrific interactive animation on USA Today that scores them on your response. You can also scroll colored boxes at the bottom under each candidate to learn their stance on a particular issue. Some of them are surprising.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm


8. Friday Night Film Progressive Film Fest


The Rockhill Bakehouse Progressive Film Festive continues Friday at 7:30pm with"

Friday Nov 9 7:30 pm IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE (1992) Michele Ohayon 82 min.
Michele Ohayon's award-winning documentary IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE examines the plight of America's hidden population of homeless women through the personal accounts of six individuals. Once secure in jobs and marriages, these women now live in cars or cheap motels and eke out a daily existence fraught with struggle and hardship. Underscored by somber narration from Jodie Foster and a haunting score by Melissa Etheridge, the women's powerful stories reveal the human tragedy of homelessness with fresh honesty and insight.


See you all Wednesday!

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:14 PM 0 comments

 
Trcounty DFA Update: SiCKO Showing, Meeting, Keehn Endorsements and More
Hello Everyone:

In this special pre-election update:

1. RSVP For SiCKO!
2. DFA-Linkup Meeting Wednesday
3. Times Union, Metroland Endorse Keehn
4. Mukasy Confirmation Action?
5. Queensbury Update From Kathy


1. RSVP For SiCKO!

Some of us were lucky to catch Michael Moore's phenomenal new film SiCKO when it appeared at Aimee's and the Spectrum.

DFA has now teamed up with Michael Moore to feature a nationwide special event: local screenings of SiCKO followed by a live nationwide conference call with Michael Moore himself.

Harvey Noordsey first decided to host a SiCKO house party, then secured the large main sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist meeting house in Queensbury for a local screening for our area.

So, please attend SiCKO House Party/Screening on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:15 PM! You can RSVP at:

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891

What: SiCKO House Parties
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:15 PM
Where: UU Congregation of Glens Falls, 21 Weeks Road
Queensbury NY 12804

SiCKO is not to be missed! I can attest it is a surprising, deeply moving film, a real revelation and Michael Moore's best work to date. And we will have a chance to be in on the live conference call. And it is free. What's not to like?

So please attend and RSVP right away at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891

If you intended to come, please do so right away so that we can secure our DVD! Many thanks to Harvey for setting this up!


2. DFA-Linkup Meeting Wednesday

Next Wednesday, November 8th, we will be holding our monthly Greater Glens Falls Area DFA-Linkup or Meetup at our usual time and location, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on Exchange Street in downtown Glens Falls.

Obviously, we'll be discussing Tuesday's General Election results, and the political year ahead, including the likely results of the DFA Pulse Poll for the Presidential nomination. We'll also probably do a bit of planning for the SiCKO showing at the UU the following Wednesday.


3. Times Union, Metroland Endorse Keehn

This week the Albany Times Union and Metroland Magazine endorsed Valerie Keehn for reelection.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=635196

Unfortunately, the Post Star chose to endorse Johnson. However, I am told by people in the Spa City that Keehn looks strong and is confident of victory on Tuesday and that large numbers of volunteers are pouring in to carry the day.


4. Mukasy Confirmation?

Our 2004 congressional candidate Doris Kelly sent this message out this morning regard Senator Schumer's reported willingness to vote to confirm Mukasy for Attorney General, despite the fact he has refused to declare waterboarding is torture:

"If you agree that 'no attorney general' is better than what is being offered, contact Schumer and let him know that. We had an attorney general who did not do his job, we don't need another. The Democrats must stop caving in whenever Bush wants something. They must start cutting back his usurped powers."

An article online today in the Washington Post by a former Army JAG officer makes the issue clear as can be: "Waterboarding Used To Be A Crime"

"The United States knows quite a bit about waterboarding. The U.S. government -- whether acting alone before domestic courts, commissions and courts-martial or as part of the world community -- has not only condemned the use of water torture but has severely punished those who applied it.

"After World War II, we convicted several Japanese soldiers for waterboarding American and Allied prisoners of war...

"After Japan surrendered, the United States organized and participated in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, generally called the Tokyo War Crimes Trials. Leading members of Japan's military and government elite were charged, among their many other crimes, with torturing Allied military personnel and civilians. The principal proof upon which their torture convictions were based was conduct that we would now call waterboarding."

In voting for Mukasy, the Senate will, in effect, be voting to legalize a form of torture we prosecuted as a war crime after World War Two, which is to say we will have sunk to the moral level of the Axis powers.

If you agree with Doris, you contact Schumer's office at: In Washington: 202-224-6542, In Albany: 518-431-4070

If you can't get though on the phone, please send an email: http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm



Kathy Sonnabend sent out an update on events in Queensbury, it is really detailed and if you live in Queensbury or Warren County, it's really worth a read. So I am pasting it in below.

See you all Wednesday at the Cafe!

Larry


Hi everyone,

If you missed the Oct. 25th debate for Queensbury Town Board candidates and Warren County Treasurer, and the TV 8 broadcast last night, TV 8 will be broadcasting again on the following dates:
Sat., Nov. 3 4-6 pm
Sun., Nov. 4 7-9 pm
Mon., Nov. 5 8-10 pm
The Warren County League of Women Voters was aided in getting TV 8 to tape the debates by Queensbury Ward 2 Board Member Richard Sanford, along with financial contributions from Citizens for Queensbury, and the Warren County Democratic and Republican Committees.

TV 8's Kevin McCullough did a great job as moderator. Questions asked were balanced and covered key areas, such as future town development, appropriate siting of the proposed fire training center and the meaning of "business friendly."

Unfortunately, the first two rows of the audience were filled with supporters of the Republican machine who tried to intimidate the candidates they opposed with cat calls and foul language. I don't think the moderator noticed because it was quick and he had his hands full with moderating the candidates and preparing questions. In future debates, the League of Women Voters will need to alert the moderator to watch for such behavior and shut it down.

Here are a few partisan comments of my own:

The Republican machine has been working very hard to regain control of the Queensbury Town Board since Richard Sanford's 2005 win over machine-backed candidate Ted Turner. The reason is that they have made fat profits on insurance, legal and other contracts with the town, as well as benefited from real estate development. When Stec and the machine lost control of the Town Board, these profits were threatened. Mike Grasso, current Warren County Republican Committee Chairman (hand picked by O'Connor), is a principal of Cool Insuring and not happy to lose the town's contract.

They hired Behan Communications to attend all of the Town Board meetings and workshops to develop a strategy. That strategy was to paint the independent Town Board members (Strough, Boor and Sanford, but particularly the latter two) as argumentative and uncivil, and to talk that up in the paper and in petition gathering and door to door campaigning. The truth is that when Stec and the machine controlled the Town Board, there was rarely any debate because decisions were worked out prior to the public meetings. With Sanford's election, there was real debate for the first time in a long time and it was Stec and Brewer who made it uncivil, to the point of angrily walking out of the room in the middle of debate and public comment. Anyone who has attended a meeting or watched TV 8 in the last two years has seen this and knows the truth.

The Macchio letter is another example of dirty politics, arriving in voters' mailboxes a few days before the primary. The truth is the Macchio's are subject to several lawsuits (by private and public parties) involving the property they devastated, including wetlands, on French Mountain. We should be thanking Roger Boor for taking the time to learn the truth and protect Queensbury. Instead, if the machine regains control of the Town Board, Stec is likely to settle Queensbury's suit with little positive result for the town of Queensbury. The Macchio's are too connected with the machine. O'Connor was their attorney, Behan Communications is their public relations firm, and the Macchio's have made significant contributions to NY State Senator Betty Little, $3000 this year and $500 last year.

In Ward 1 (and this affects all of Queensbury), the hot buttons are the proposed fire districts and the formation of the Village of East Lake George, both of which are bad ideas for the rest of Queensbury. Fire Districts, that have been established elsewhere in New York, generally do not have a good track record of fiscal responsibility, and once established, they can't be undone. While our volunteer fire fighters are very important to us, we can't always count on the leadership of each fire house to do a good job fiscally (the South Queensbury Fire House is a good example). Although Stec's supervision over the fire houses has been questionable, the town still has the right to audit and adjust funding to the fire operations. With Fire Districts, the Town loses that ability. With respect to the Village, a village adds a layer of bureaucracy and cost which makes their anticipated property tax savings questionable, but it would certainly increase taxes for the rest of Queensbury. Currently, sales taxes generated in Warren County are returned as revenue to all municipalities in Warren County based on property tax value, not where the sales are generated. This benefits many areas of Warren County, so it is unlikely to be changed. If the Village of East Lake George is formed (which is where most of our high value property is located), Queensbury will lose a large percentage of sales tax revenue even though most of the sales tax is generated in Queensbury, which bears the burden of the traffic and loss of green space. Metevier's family owns property on Lake George and his wife signed the Village petition - his family would clearly benefit from the formation of a village. If you live in Ward 1, vote for Boor.

In Ward 2 (and this directly affects many of us in Ward 1 also), Montessi says he is against building the Fire Tower at ACC, but his statement was weak compared with Sanford's. Sanford believes not only is ACC an inappropriate site, but ACC needs to preserve its land for academic programs and dormitories when it ultimately becomes a four year college. Bottom line, it is a County decision so it will take a vigorous effort by Town Board members to influence the County decision. Strough and Sanford have taken the lead in opposing the Fire Tower at ACC and seeking a more appropriate industrial location. Without them, the Town Board is unlikely to oppose the County. There is also property along Bay Road yet to be developed, most notably the corner of Blindrock and Bay owned by a partnership involving former Warren County Republican Committee Chairman Michael O'Connor and his sister, Betty Little. If not for Sanford, Boor and Strough, we would already be living with a 174 apartment complex at that location, which is zoned for professional offices with a residential look. If the machine regains control, you can expect a dense development to be approved for that location. Sanford has also saved his ward from projects that would have exacerbated existing flood problems. And Sanford has saved us a lot of tax dollars by spearheading the effort to put town insurance and legal contracts to bid. Montessi lost his state patronage job when Spitzer became governor. The Ward 2 job gives him benefits, and the machine gets someone to do their bidding. If you live in Ward 2, vote for Sanford.

In the Ward 3 debate, Sharon Borgos presented well, but people who know her say she is full of ideas but has no follow through. She has bounced from job to job. At one time she was Stec's administrative assistant and Grasso has said that she will do whatever the machine wants. She has been campaigning door to door with George Stec twisting the truth about Strough's record of hard work on projects that benefit all of Queensbury, especially environmental issues on Lake George and Rush Pond. Stough's teenage son's recent action was a huge error of judgement on his part, but was not initiated or condoned by his father. It simply represents extreme frustration at the dirty campaigning that has twisted the truth and smeared the reputation of a hard working public servant. In typical machine fashion, Borgos claims that the public is intimated by Strough, Boor and Sanford, but it is the machine that has the power to try to intimidate anyone that doesn't support what they want. Strough, Boor and Sanford have experienced it repeatedly and I have witnessed some of it. If you live in Ward 3, vote for Strough.

In the Ward 4 debate, Brewer continues to twist the facts. He claims he never saw any plans for a 5 story fire training center, but I have proof. I FOILed the power point presentation that was made at a Queensbury Town Board meeting, and it clearly stated 5 stories. Brewer is so connected to the machine that he has either forgotten or never paid attention. He also stated that it was important for developers' plan to be approved quickly. But the reason it takes so long in Queensbury to get approval is because the Town's Planning Department, under Stec's supervision, is not doing it's job. As Bryant (who has served on the Town's Zoning Board) pointed out, the Planning and Zoning Boards repeatedly have to send projects back because the Planning Department allows applications to be submitted without all the necessary requirements. It seems that Stec and his Planning Department want to satisfy the developers, and hope to strong arm the Zoning and Planning Boards into making all kinds of exceptions. This is how we have ended up with some significant traffic and flooding problems in Queensbury. If you live in Ward 4, vote for Bryant.

In the County Treasurer's race, it all boils down to this: Isn’t it interesting that Caimano oversaw the near depletion of a $20,000,000 surplus as a voting County Supervisor and Budget Officer, yet he thinks he can do a better job than O’Keefe as Treasurer who repeatedly warned the Board but has no vote? Caimano is very much part of the machine and is masterful in twisting the truth.

The election is Nov. 6, 2007.

Kathy
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:14 AM 0 comments