Tricounty DFA Update: "Yes We Can" Calling Invitation, Surge Exposed, more
Hello Everyone;

In this Update:


1. Obama Calling Invitation
2. Meeting Next Week
3. Online Action On Iraq
4. Dark Side Of The Surge
5. Friday Night Progressive FIlm Festival


1. Kate Austin would like to invite everyone to a special "Yes We Can" Party for Barack Obama, this Sunday, March 2nd, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe from 5-7pm. For info and to R.S.V.P. please go to: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=43738

"On Sunday, March 2, we're participating in MoveOn.org's biggest phone bank in presidential primary history. Folks everywhere will come to parties armed with cell phones--ready to call thousands of Texas MoveOn members whose votes could put Obama over the top on March 4. Bring your cell phone!"

Lists of Texans to call along with suggested scripts and other materials will be available, including, I think, some Obama stickers. If you would like to help Obama win in Texas on the 4th, this is your chance to do it. Again, please R.S.V.P. at http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=43738 so that Kate has enough materials for everyone. And remember to bring that cell phone! You have to bring your own cell!

And a special tip of the hat to Matt for making the Cafe available, even though he is, as we all know, very much a Nader man. If you haven't been there, the Cafe is one block west of the roundabout in Downtown Glens Falls.


2. Meeting Next Week

Next week, March 5th, we'll be meeting again at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe as usual at 7pm, and we'll be getting to that showing of Uncounted, the new video on election fraud, and discussing future action.

3. Online Action On Iraq

Senator Russ Feingold will be bringing up legislation tomorrow to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq. You can help by contacting our Senators and urging them to support Sen. Feingold's bills. http://act.truemajorityaction.org/t/50/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1521

"The first bill, S. 2633, would provide for the safe redeployment of US troops from Iraq within 120 days. And the second bill, S. 2634, would require a report on the global strategy of the US to combat and defeat al Qaeda. We need 60 votes to end debate and bring these important pieces of legislation to the Senate floor."

http://act.truemajorityaction.org/t/50/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1521


4. Dark Side Of The Surge

The importance of getting U.S. forces out of Iraq before our Army is completely broken is highlighted by an extraordinary new article in the March 6th issue of Rolling Stone, the "must read" of the week. It rips the cover off the fraud that is called the "Surge" and the mainstream media's touting of it as some kind of success for the Bush Administration. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge/print

A few quotes:

"The U.S. has not only added 30,000 more troops in Iraq — it has essentially bribed the opposition, arming the very Sunni militants who only months ago were waging deadly assaults on American forces. "

"The American forces responsible for overseeing "volunteer" militias like Osama's have no illusions about their loyalty. "The only reason anything works or anybody deals with us is because we give them money," says a young Army intelligence officer. The 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which patrols Osama's territory, is handing out $32 million to Iraqis in the district, including $6 million to build the towering walls that, in the words of one U.S. officer, serve only to "make Iraqis more divided than they already are." In districts like Dora, the strategy of the surge seems simple: to buy off every Iraqi in sight."

"We are essentially supporting a quasi-feudal devolution of authority to armed enclaves, which exist at the expense of central government authority," says Chas Freeman, who served as ambassador to Saudi Arabia under the first President Bush. "Those we are arming and training are arming and training themselves not to facilitate our objectives but to pursue their own objectives vis-a-vis other Iraqis. It means that the sectarian and ethnic conflicts that are now suppressed are likely to burst out with even greater ferocity in the future."

Of course, from a political perspective, the goal of the Bush administration is clear; by temporarily bribing and arming the opposition in Iraq, they have a chance of maintaining the pretense the Surge can succeed. The lull in violence may fool some people. But there eventually will be an even greater and more terrible explosion of violence, and the real surge-- in U.S. casualties-- but not until after the November General Election. That's the real objective, pushing the problem down the road without admitting total failure by the Bush Administration. That would greatly help Republican's electoral chances, especially getting John McCain into the White House.

Obviously, this underscores the fecklessness and spinelessness of the Democratic Congress in its failure to stick together and get our troops out promptly. If they had acted decisvely a year ago, virtually all our troops would be home by now.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge/print


5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

Fri Feb 29 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
9/11 PRESS FOR TRUTH (2006) The Disinformation Company 85 min. No RT Rating
Although independent investigations began within weeks of both pearl harbor and the Kennedy assassination, the same was not ture of the attacks of Spetember 11th. Most are unaware that formation of the 9/11 Commission was strognly opposed by many in Washington, including the Bush administration. It was only due to pressure fromt eh 9/11 families, led by a particlaur twelve calling themsevles the Family Steering Committee, that, fourteen months after the attacks, the fist hearings finally began. In "9/11 Press For Truth", five of the most prominet members fo the FSC tell their story for the first time on film, providing the most powerful argumnet yet for why 9/11 still needs investigation. Adapting Paul Thompson's definitive Complete 9/11 Timeline, the filmmakers stitch together rare, overlooked news clips, buried stories, and government press conferences, revealing a pattern of official lies, deception and spin.

Thanks Everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, DFA, Iraq, Iraq War, Obama rally, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, Uncounted Film

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

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Rescheduling "Uncounted" & more
Hello Everyone!

In this update:

1. Uncounted Film Rescheduled For Next Meeting
2. Obama Now Eleven Straight
3. Clinton Campaign In Disarray?
4. A New Must Read: Age Of American Unreason
5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Uncounted Film Rescheduled For Next Meeting

As you all know, we were forced to cancel the special showing of the new film Uncounted last week due to the unexpectedly bad weather. Our apologies and regrets to all!

Since we aren't far from our next meeting on March 5th, and since Uncounted is only 80 minutes long, the best option seems to be to show it then. Again, I am sorry for any inconvenience. There'll be more info on the showing in my next update.

Uncounted is about election fraud, so we will also have an update on what is going on with NY's selection of new voting machines.


2. Obama Now Eleven Straight

News came today that Sen. Obama won the Democrats Abroad caucuses. Seven million American citizens live overseas, and this is the first time they have had a chance to participate in picking the Democratic Party's candidate-- another reform of the Howard Dean at the DNC era-- in effect, a 50 State Plus One strategy. The party held caucuses in major cities around the world.

Obama has now won 11 straight primaries and caucuses, leads in states won, congressional districts won, delegates won and leads the popular vote by over a million.

If you haven't received the recent message from DFA Chair Jim Dean, DFA has a petition urging the Superdelegates to stick with the winner picked by the voters, I would urge you to do so now! Whoever wins, the Democratic Party needs to live up to its name, and not choose a candidate in the proverbial smoke filled room: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/votersdecide


3. Clinton Campaign In Disarray?

It's never pretty when campaigns lose, because they often start to come unhinged under the tremendous stress. Drew sends this piece from the Huffington Post along tonight, and it is quite a picture of the unraveling of the Clinton campaign in Texas.

It's also yet another vindication, in effect, of the kind of long term grassroots strategy Governor Dean has been pushing for a long time: organization takes years to build, it cannot be called up quickly. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/clintons-texas-ground-ga_b_87723.html

Another way of looking at this is that in the future successful candidates and campaigns will grow organically from the bottom up, and will be part of the people supporting them. It is clear from this year's experience that there is no future for the Clintonite/ DLC/ Corporate Democrat top down model, with its emphasis on raising truckloads of cash, mass media, message manipulation and candidates who often have no clue to the lives of their constituents, but instead really represent their funders.


4. A New Must Read: Age Of American Unreason

Last Autumn I recommended a new book by Naomi Klein-- Shock Doctrine, which received enormous attention because of its explication of how the right wing has used crises to force their agenda.

There's what I think is likely to be an equally important new book out this week: Susan Jacobi's Age Of American Unreason.

Jacobi, who also wrote the book Freethinkers four years ago, describes how knowledge and experience increasingly matter less and less in America, as a virulent new form of anti-intellectualism infiltrates our politics.

The neocons and the Bushies once made fun of their opponents by styling them as the "reality based community." Bush openly touts his ignorance. Anti-intellectualism, and devaluing knowledge and experience, was an important step, for just one example, on the road to Iraq. Historians and regional experts who understood Iraq knew the war was just crazy, but they were derided and discredited-- that had to happen, in a way, for the war to happen.

But sincerity, as Jacobi shows, is no substitute for wisdom. Here are some links to read about Age Of American Unreason.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/books/14dumb.html?adxnnl=1&ref=books&adxnnlx=1203346804-imeF3J83On9a6Q9BRrcreQ&pagewanted=all
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021502901_pf.html
http://www.salon.com/books/review/2008/02/15/susan_jacoby/print.html


5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

Fri Feb 22 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
DELIVER US FROM EVIL (2006) Amy Berg 103 min. RT = 100 %
A superb documentary and a searing look at an institution protecting its leaders at the expense of its followers. A profoundly disturbing chronicle of a wolf in sheep's clothing, the film builds a clear-eyed case against pedophile priest Oliver O'Grady, and the Catholic bureaucracy that protected him. The recollections of O’Grady's victims are nothing short of shocking and heartbreaking. Director Amy Berg helms this shocking documentary, which looks at the activities of this priest identified by the Catholic church as a pedophile but allowed to continue to work with and molest children throughout the 1970s. Berg draws on interview footage of O'Grady and his victims to tell the unsettling tale.

And on the 29th:

Fri Feb 29 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
9/11 PRESS FOR TRUTH (2006) The Disinformation Company 85 min. No RT Rating
Although independent investigations began within weeks of both pearl harbor and the Kennedy assassination, the same was not ture of the attacks of Spetember 11th. Most are unaware that formation of the 9/11 Commission was strognly opposed by many in Washington, including the Bush administration. It was only due to pressure fromt eh 9/11 families, led by a particlaur twelve calling themsevles the Family Steering Committee, that, fourteen months after the attacks, the fist hearings finally began. In "9/11 Press For Truth", five of the most prominet members fo the FSC tell their story for the first time on film, providing the most powerful argumnet yet for why 9/11 still needs investigation. Adapting Paul Thompson's definitive Complete 9/11 Timeline, the filmmakers stitch together rare, overlooked news clips, buried stories, and government press conferences, revealing a pattern of official lies, deception and spin.

Thanks Everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

Labels: Age Of American Unreason, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Howard Dean, Iraq War, Obama, Susan jacobi, Uncounted Film

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:19 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Flash: "Uncounted" Postponement
Hello Everyone;

If you haven't been out, it's really awful and certain to get really dangerous as the temperature drops, so, after checking around, we've decided to postpone tonight's showing of the film Uncounted until later: stay tuned for details.

As a consolation prize, a couple of good links:

Drew sends this along about Clinton, her corporate connections and our food supply: http://www.counterpunch.org/cole02082008.html

and check this one out about how secretive Pentagon "information warfare" programs may actually be bouncing back into the United States (which is against the law) corrupting our political discourse with fake documentation-- a likely recently example is the unsourced document claiming Al-Queda In Iraq (not really connected to Osama's Al Queda) is on the ropes. Take such claims with a large grain of salt: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/how-the-spooks-took-over-the-news-780672.html

My apologies, everyone! Drive Safe,

Larry
- posted by Larry Dudley @ 2:49 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Reminder: See Uncounted Wednesday, more
Hello Everyone:


1. Reminder -- Special Uncounted Film Presentation At Rockhill Wednesday
2. Obama Sweeping & More
3. Restore FISA and Stop Torture
4. Election Report Warning
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Reminder -- Special Uncounted Film Presentation At Rockhill Wednesday


I just want to remind all to join us and DFA groups across the nation for a special showing of Uncounted, a new film by David Earnhardt on election fraud in America. The film will be followed by a live, national wide conference call with DFA Chairman Jim Dean and filmmaker Earnhardt.

The film is tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 13th at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls, one block east of the roundabout. The showing is free and open to the public -- and you don't have to RSVP to come! Just be there. If the weather is really dangerous, we may postpone, stay tuned to this station!


2. Obama Sweeping & More

Sen. Barack Obama is sweeping the so-called Potomac primaries, winning VIrginia and Maryland over Clinton by 2-1 or better and the District of Columbia by an incredible 3-1. These much higher numbers than expected, with exit polls indicating Obama winning among virtually every group.

In addition, DFA endorsed congressional candidate Donna Edwards appears to be blowing away Blue Dog Bush supporter Al Wynn in the Democratic Primary in Maryland. This is a huge win for DFA: The Washington Post covered DFA Chair Jim Dean campaigning for Edwards in today's paper.

Dick sends along the address for the Albany Obama office, which he and Pat recently visited:

The Albany Obama office
92 Lexington Ave., Albany, 434-0994, www.albanyforobama.com

Also, for a really interesting read on Obama and why he may be doing so well at organizing in some of these states, this article in the American Prospect is a must read:

"As a community organizer for three years in Chicago in the late 1980s, Obama learned the skills of motivating and mobilizing people who had little faith in their ability to make politicians, corporations, and other powerful institutions accountable. Working with churches and neighborhood groups, Obama taught low-income people how to analyze power relations, gain confidence in their own leadership abilities, and work together to improve their housing, schools, and other basic services.
"What if a politician were to see his job as that of an organizer," he asked a local newspaper at the time, "as part teacher and part advocate, one who does not sell voters short but who educates them about the real choices before them?"

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_year_of_the_organizer


3. Restore FISA and Stop Torture

Two online actions tonight:

First, in a disgraceful vote, the Senate sided with a Bush administration plan to grant retroactive immunity for crimes committed by the telecom companies. This is a unique, new concept in American justice, one that violates centuries of tradition, a legislative "get-out-of-jail-free" card for those powerful enough to demand one.

The issue is now before the House and Drew sends along this link to urge your local member of Congress to block retroactive immunity for crimes against American's basic rights: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/petition/RestoreFISA

Also, an new intelligence bill is coming before the Senate tomorrow, with a ban on torture in it. Majority leader Reid is asking for petition signatures to the Senate to pass a ban on torture:
http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/stoptorture


4. Election Report Warning

Helenmarie Sankenberg, who was an election inspector in Washington County on Primary Day, alerts me that she discovered errors between the numbers she and her other inspectors took off their voting machines, and what were eventually reported (about a dozen votes for Obama were lost).

She urges other election inspectors who may read this to check the papers and online to see if there were other discrepancies elsewhere.



5. Friday Night Film Festival


The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues:

Fri Feb 15 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
HUEY LONG (1985) Ken Burns 88 min. No RT Rating
A fascinating documentary portrait of Louisiana politician Huey P. Long, known to many as "the Kingfish." Filmmaker Ken Burns tells the complex story of Long through the use of archival footage, insightful and often entertaining narration, and interviews with some of the people who knew the politician best. We also meet residents of the state who recall Long's many years in the public eye. The movie traces Long's life, from his middle-class childhood spent on his family's Louisiana farm, through his long career in politics which was cut short in 1935, when an assassin murdered him. Although "the Kingfish" is portrayed as a ruthless politician who often sacrificed justice to get what he wanted, the film also explores some of his many accomplishments, including his success in providing education and jobs for the poor.

Thanks everyone! See you all tomorrow at Rockhill! Keep your fingers crossed on the weather,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Dick Dudley, Glens Falls, Jim Dean, Obama, Uncounted Film, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:09 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Invitation to Uncounted Film, Election Machine Confusion & More
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:

1. Special Invitation: Join Us To See New Film On Election Fraud, Uncounted, Wednesday
2. NY Vote Machine Confusion & News
3. NY Primary Delegate Proportionment Explanation
4. Vigil For Iraq War 5th Anniversary
5. Links: Iraq About To Explode?
6. Friday Night Film Festival
7. Local Food


1. Special Invitation: Join Us To See New Film On Election Fraud, Uncounted, Wednesday

At our meeting Wednesday night we decided to join DFA groups across the nation in hosting a special showing of Uncounted, a new film by David Earnhardt on election fraud in America. The film will be followed by a live, national wide conference call with DFA Chairman Jim Dean and filmmaker Earnhardt.

The film event will be next Wednesday, Feb. 13th at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls, one block east of the roundabout. The showing is free and open to the public.

"Uncounted is an explosive film that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006 -- and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This film examines in startling terms how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity across the U.S. The film ends with a call to action to take our elections back, while offering ideas, identifying possible coalition partners, and providing the tools to get the job done. "

If you think you want to come, please RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/register.php?c=e&id=96747aa763359ba9&eid=27847&email=%%EMAIL%%


2. NY Vote Machine Confusion & News

The timing of Uncounted couldn't be more timely, because New York State is still locked in the throes of picking new election devices to replace our aging lever action machines.

As I noted in an earlier posting, the New York State Board of Elections recently rejected the use of the controversial Direct Recording Entry vote machines, or DRE's, colloquially known as touchscreens, because of their failure to meet certification standards established by the Legislature. That was a great victory.

However, in a last minute move, manufacturers of some of DRE machines went to court earlier this week and secured a restraining order against the state BOE, asking that their machines be used as ballot marking devices for the handicapped. This is widely regarded as an entering wedge to get touchscreen machines reestablished.

However, according to Bo Lipari, of New Yorkers For Verified Voting, most New York counties have already adopted safe optical scan paper ballot technology. (I am sure many of us remember Bo's great presentation at the Crandall Library two years ago, which we were privileged to sponsor.) Bo sent out a flash update tonight: check it out at http://www.nyvv.org/boblog/quick-news/


3. NY Primary Delegate Proportionment Explanation

At our meeting Wednesday, there were questions asked about how many votes the two candidates actually won in New York's Presidential Primary on Tuesday. That's actually a surprisingly difficult question to answer. However, John McBride of DFHMR and Democracy For Westchester recently, and an attorney, recently sent out an explanation of New York's incredibly Byzantine and arcane process.

"The state has 280 delegates, 232 will be pledged the rest will not be pledged. Not pledged delegates are free to vote as they choose. Pledged delegate are expected to vote in good faith for the candidate they are pledged to support. "

"151 of the pledged delegates are selected based upon the election results in each congressional district. There are 29 CDs, some districts having 5 delegates and some have 6. To get a pledged delegate a candidate has to get at least 15% of the vote in that CD. For each candidate that is over the 15%, the number of delegates is allocated according to the percentage of the vote they receive and the percentage received by other candidates above the threshold, obviously they have to round up or down to a whole number, there a no fractional delegates. "
"There are also 81 pledged delegates which are allocated based upon the statewide vote. The same method more or less is used."
"Assume that the state wide result is Clinton 55%, Obama 40% and others adding up to 5%. The others get no delegates since they did not exceed the threshold of 15%. Then the number of delegates is determined by multiplying the vote percentage by the number of delegates to be allocated. The result is 44.55 (81 * 0.55) for Hillary and 32.4 for Obama. Right of the bat, Hillary is allocated 44 and Obama gets 32. That leaves 5 more to allocate. Because Hillary has the larger fraction of a remainder (.55 compared to .4) she gets the next delegate, Obama gets the second and then back and forth until they are all used up. So in the end, Hillary has 47 to Obama’s 34 for the state wide pledged delegates."
"The same procedure is used on the CD level, based upon the number of delegates allocated to that CD and the voting results in that CD."
"Hopefully you can see that your vote matters. I would also point out that if you vote for one of the non-contenders, it is possible that your last choice will benefit from your vote. "
"John McBride"

Hopefully you can all follow that!



4. Vigil For Iraq War 5th Anniversary

Also discussed at our meeting was the upcoming fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. We decided to schedule a vigil type event for Wednesday, March 19th at 6pm. Kate Austin will be working on getting some appropriate music for this sad commemoration.

We will be discussing this more at our monthly March meeting on the 5th.

Personally, I find it just stunning that this is still going on, especially after all the efforts of so many people, both here and across the country. One just has to ask, how could this have happened?



5. Links: Iraq About To Explode?


Particularly relevant to that anniversary is this article on the situation in Iraq. We are told, falsely, that violence in Iraq has declined. Some of this has happened by simply redefining the killings that occur-- famously, in US statistics taking today, if you are shot in the back, you are the victim of terrorism, but if you are shot in the face, you are classified as the victim of a civil crime!

The other part of the decline in violence is due to a unilateral cease-fire declared at the end of August by Moqtada-El Sadr, leader of the largest and most powerful Shiia militia. If this article is correct, the lid is about to come off Iraq, which will probably result in a huge increase in violence.

Unsurprisingly, US efforts to "win" the war via the surge and the arming of the so-called awakening councils, instead of seeking a political solution, is actually increasing the danger of a major blow-up. It will not have been the first time US policy crafted by dunderhead neocons made everything worse: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5286&l=1

Also, as you problem know, Obama crushed Clinton in the primaries and caucuses yesterday. Maybe the most salient comment comes today from Frank Rick of the NY Times, who asks, how far will the Clintons go on their drive to reclaim power? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10rich.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Also, Drew sends this piece on a creepy government/industry program to create a network of corporate police type forces in the event of a declaration of martial law: http://www.alternet.org/rights/76388/?page=1



6. Friday Night Film Festival


The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Fest continues:

Fri Feb 15 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
HUEY LONG (1985) Ken Burns 88 min. No RT Rating
A fascinating documentary portrait of Louisiana politician Huey P. Long, known to many as "the Kingfish." Filmmaker Ken Burns tells the complex story of Long through the use of archival footage, insightful and often entertaining narration, and interviews with some of the people who knew the politician best. We also meet residents of the state who recall Long's many years in the public eye. The movie traces Long's life, from his middle-class childhood spent on his family's Louisiana farm, through his long career in politics which was cut short in 1935, when an assassin murdered him. Although "the Kingfish" is portrayed as a ruthless politician who often sacrificed justice to get what he wanted, the film also explores some of his many accomplishments, including his success in providing education and jobs for the poor.


7. Local Food

Ruth sends this along about local food:

On Tuesday, FEb. 12 at 6:30 local farmer Jen Ward will be at the Unitatarian Universalist Church at 21 Weeks Road to talk about membership in Our Farm during 2008. People who would like to receive fresh produce weekly during the months of June, July, August, September, and October, pay Jen at the start of the growing season. The cost for a full share is $400, for half-a-share, $200. Twenty of us received Wednesday deliveries worth $16 from the farm last year.
Anyone interested in learning more is invited to join the discussion.


Thanks everyone! See you all Wednesday at the showing of Uncounted.

Larry Dudley

Labels: Bo Lipari, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Jim Dean, local food, Obama, Uncounted Film

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 9:16 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vote! Meeting, Economics, Videos & More
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:

1. Super-Duper Tuesday: Get Out And Vote
2. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday
3. Obama and Clinton Economics
4. Videos: Extraordinary Obama Rally At UCLA, Hope & Grateful Dead Concert For Obama Online
5. Call On Telecom Immunity
6. Irish & Bags
8. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Super-Duper Tuesday: Get Out And Vote

Tomorrow is Super-Duper Tuesday, Primary Day in NY and 23 other states. I am sure everyone who reads this will get out and vote. But remember, on Primary Day the polls open at Noon, not 7am the way they do for General Elections. Plan your day accordingly!


2. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday

We'll be having our monthly Glens Falls DFA meeting this Wednesday, February 6th at 7pm at our usual location, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls, one block east of the Roundabout.

We had a great discussion about the New Hampshire Primary last month, and I am certain Super-Duper Tuesday will make for more talk and action, but we will have other things on the agenda! For instance, I was recently reminded that March will see the 5th anniversary of Bush's invasion of Iraq. Protests are scheduled for Washington, D.C. Do we want to hold another vigil on the war, here?


3. Obama and Clinton Economics

I know many progressives were having a hard time making up their minds where they stood on the historic choice in this election. There was an important article this weekend in the NY Times on Obama's economic policy, which he just rolled out. It compares Obama and Clinton's stance, and I suspect it will settle the question for many people, if they read it. Unfortunately, these proposals have not gotten the attention they deserve.

Obama clearly identified ever growing economic inequality in America as the problem with our economy, rightly pointing out that neither the Bush or Clinton administrations did a thing about this overriding crisis. The so-called "Walmarting" of America-- and let's remember Hillary Clinton was on the Walmart board of directors-- is wiping out the American middle class. This stance makes Obama's progressive credentials clear.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/us/politics/02obama.html?pagewanted=all


4. Videos: Extraordinary Obama Rally At UCLA, Hope & Grateful Dead Concert For Obama Online

For those who missed it while the Super Bowl was on, there was an extraordinary rally for Obama yesterday at UCLA. Michelle Obama-- not Barack-- gave one of the fieriest speeches since Governor Dean was campaigning. In fact, she put most of the candidates running this year to shame, except Obama himself, perhaps.

This was a superbly organized and timed event, capped by the stunning last minute appearance of Maria Shiver, the first lady of California, to join Caroline Kennedy and Ophra Winfrey in endorsing Obama. Andrew Rosenthal of the NY TImes Editorial Board called it the best rally he has seen in 20 years-- it's certainly the best since Governor Dean's Sleepless Summer Tour. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04mon4.html?ref=opinion

You can see it at http://www.c-span.org/ and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/ucla-obama-rally
or
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/3/205649/6436/321/449187
and
http://cbs2.com/local/Obama.Oprah.Shriver.2.644867.html

Lisa sends along this message:

"Remember when a presidential candidate inspired people? Senator Obama has the best policies on foreign and domestic policy. Obama's message of unifying the America people resonates across political parties. With the people on his side he'll be an unbeatable force in the general election. Watch this inspirational video http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3374
Ask yourself when was the last time you were inspired by a presidential candidate."

Finally, on the video front, the Grateful Dead are giving their first concert in four years tonight for Obama. It will be streamed live on the internet at http://www.iclips.net/


5. Call On Telecom Immunity

The issue of Telecom immunity is still hanging. This from DFA partner Working Assets:

"Late last week, Senate leaders agreed to consider a series of amendments that could improve the bad warrantless wiretapping bill reported from the Senate Intelligence Committee. While there will be a number of provisions designed to limit warrantless wiretapping and protect our civil liberties, the most important vote will be on the amendment offered by Senators Dodd and Feingold to strip retroactive immunity for telecom companies from the bill.
George Bush and Dick Cheney are pushing hard to give their cronies at Verizon and AT&T retroactive immunity. This would stop us from finding out what the Bush administration asked these companies to do and who asked them to act outside of the law.

"It would also prevent the big telecoms from ever being held accountable in a court of law for violating the privacy and rights of millions of Americans."

http://act.credomobile.com/campaign/dodd_feingold


6. Irish & Bags

Even though there's an election on, smaller, personal environmental initiatives still matter. HIlary sends along this fascinating piece from the IHT on how Ireland has gotten rid of the waste and pollution of plastic shopping bags.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/31/europe/bags.php

Remember, if you don't use a recyclable bag, you can take the plastic back for recycling.


8. Friday Night Film Fest

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

Fri Feb 8 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum
SOUND AND FURY (2000) Josh Aronson 80 min. RT = 96 %
A documentary that examines the issues surrounding the controversial cochlear implant--the medical technology that, through an operation, allows deaf people to hear. The film follows the Artinian family--adult brothers Chris (hearing) and Peter (deaf), their wives and their children--living in Glen Cove Long Island. Over a two-year period, the camera pays witness to the pain, frustration, and conflicts they encounter as these parents research the pros and cons of giving their children (5-year-old Heather, and 1 1/2-year-old Peter) the operation. At the root of the argument against the operation is the fear that the deaf culture--and American Sign Language--would be lost entirely were the Cochlear implant to become a standard procedure administered to all deaf children. Arguments in favor of the procedure argue that a child who can hear with use of the cochlear implant could participate in hearing schools where they might learn more, learn faster, and never feel that they are disabled and different from other children. This film, with its passionate but entirely objective approach to this difficult subject, will change viewers' ideas about deafness, parenting, medical advancements, and will leave them pondering these ideas for a long time to come.

Also don't miss:
Tue Feb 5 7:30 pm ** SPECIAL EVENT ** Author and journalist, PAUL HOCKENOS, will read from, discuss and sign his latest book.
JOSCHKA FISCHER AND THE MAKING OF THE BERLIN REPUBLIC: An Alternative History of Postwar Germany

Thanks everyone! See you all Wednesday,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, Michelle Obama, New York Primary, Obama, Obama rally, Super Tuesday

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:41 AM 0 comments