Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil, Walmart Breaks Election Law, Irony, more
Hello Everyone;

First, on behalf of everyone, I would like to express our condolences to the family of Glens Falls Mayor Leroy Akins, who died this week. Roy was a gentle man, who relished being mayor because of the many new friends he could make, who now mourn him.

In this update for Thursday, August 14th, 2008:

1. VIgil Saturday, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls
2. Investigate Walmart
3. Summer Must Reads
4. Word Irony Removed From Dictionary
5. Bush Crimes
6. Muller Endorsed
7. Rockhill Friday Night Film Festival


1. VIgil Saturday, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, August 15th, at 11am at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls. Please come, bring a sign and a friend. (I may not be able to make it personally this time, but I will be there in spirit!)

2. Investigate Walmart

Walmart has been caught telling its employees not to vote for Democratic candidates, because a Democratic victory in November would be bad for the company, specifically, a new Democratic administration might enforce the basic human right to unionize. This is illegal electioneering by a corporation. Walmart Watch is asking for people to sign a petition calling on the FEC to investigate. http://action.walmartwatch.com/fec


3. Summer Must Reads

With the Olympics on, the country is at a bit of a political pause. Fortunately, there's a couple of things really worth reading that have appeared this week.

First, Michael Moore is back with a great piece in Rolling Stone with Six Things The Democrats Can Do To Blow The Election in November. It's great and they are: 1. Keep saying nice things about McCain. 2. Pick a running mate who is a conservative white guy or a general or a Republican. 3. Keep writing speeches for Obama that make him sound like a hawk. 4. Forget that this was a historic year for women. 5. Show up to a gunfight with a peashooter. 6. Denounce me! (Michael Moore) It's hilarious and dead on. The big message? Don't blow off progressives or take them for granted: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/22249602/how_the_democrats_can_blow_it_in_six_easy_steps/print

Second, there's a pair of great pieces by former Army colonel Andrew Bracevich on the illusions of military power under Bush, and the need to get back to the concept of citizen's armies staffed by citizen soldiers. http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/08/15/victory/print.html
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174965/andrew_bacevich_the_lessons_of_endless_war


4. Word Irony Removed From Dictionary

Also, today the word "irony" was officially removed from dictionaries. The word was deemed to no longer have any meaning after George Bush accused Russia of "bullying and intimidation" for following his example in Iraq by attacking Georgia. http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080815/D92INPPO1.html


5. Bush Crimes

Also very interesting, SLATE has created an interactive guide: WHO IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION BROKE THE LAW, AND WHO COULD BE PROSECUTED? http://www.slate.com/id/2195533/


6. Muller Endorsed

The Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties Central Trades and Labor Council endorsed Robert Muller for Supreme Court Justice in the 4th Judicial District. We endorsed Bob at our June meeting. He is the only Democrat out of four candidates running for the seat. Yo can catch up on his campaign at http://www.bobmuller2008.com



7. Rockhill Friday Night Film Festival


FRI AUG 15 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST (Oft-overlooked free family movies all summer long)
RING OF BRIGHT WATER (1969) Jack Couffer 103 min. RT Rating = 100 %
A jaded Londoner's life is transformed by a domesticated otter he purchases from a pet store. When the hustle of the city proves too much for the pair, they relocate to the bucolic Scottish highlands, where the man falls in love with a rural physician and the otter sires a family in the wild. Based on the eponymous memoirs of Gavin Maxwell.

Labels: 4th Judicial District, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq War, New York Supreme Court, Robert Muller, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:45 AM