Tricounty DFA Update: Protest, Fundraisers, more
Hello Everyone;

In This Update For September 25th, 2008:

1. Vigil & Protest Saturday, 11am
2. Keep The Pressure On--No Bush Giveaway
3. Bob Muller Fundraiser, Friday September 26th
4. White Privilege
5. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. Vigil & Protest Saturday, 11am

We have been having a steady vigil against the war and to support our troops every Saturday at 11am in downtown Glens Falls. Given the extraordinary events of the last few days (see next item) I would like to propose that this one time we also make it a joint rally against Bush's $700 Billion going away present to his rich friends. Join us at 11am Saturday until Noon at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in front of the Civil War Monument in downtown Glens Falls. Please bring a sign against either the war or the giveaway and as many friends as you can find!


2. Keep The Pressure On--No Bush Giveaway

If you have not contacted your member of Congress from your respective area about George Bush's outrageous giveaway to his rich corporate buddies, there's no time to lose.

Evidence is growing there is no crisis at all, that it's as much a myth as Saddam's WMD's were.

You may have seen Carnegie Mellon professor Allan Meltzger on PBS's Newshour, which was superb:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/24/133422/858/388/608797

Also excellent is an op-ed in today's Post by James Galbraith: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092403033.html

A large group of leading economists have signed a petition urging Congress to slow down and deliberate: http://faculty.chicagogsb.edu/john.cochrane/research/Papers/mortgage_protest.htm

Tell members of Congress no deal unless: 1. the taxpayers get an equity stake so we get our money back and pay down the national debt, 2. controls on executive compensation and an end to abusive practices like golden parachutes, 3. relief for homeowners including mortgage renegotiation, 4. a resumption of New Deal era regulation of markets, all of which worked.

The Capitol switchboard is at (202) 224-3121 or Senator Hillary Clinton at (202) 224-4451, Senator Charles Schumer (202) 224-6542

Report your call at http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/104

3. Bob Muller Fundraiser, September 26th

There will be a fundraiser for Supreme Court Candidate Bob Muller tomorrow, Friday, September 26th at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George. The event is from 5:30 to 8:30pm, and includes complimentary hors d' oeuvres and entertainment by Susy Q, with a cash bar.

There is a contribution of $50/75 per couple. Please RSVP to 793-2535, 792-6516, or 792-0915. Or send contributions to Thomas McDonough, Campaign Treasurer, 1088 Lake George Rd., Queensbury, NY 12804.


4. White Privilege

I've received a posting from several people, including our 2004 Congressional candidate Doris Kelley, that I am copying at the bottom. It helps explain why Obama isn't farther ahead than he is-- the assumption of white privilege. It's the "must read" of the week.

White privilege includes, of course, the odious bill just passed in the House to override years of effort by Democrats to extend home rule and equality to the residents of the District of Columbia, and override the District's efforts to pass gun control legislation that meets the Supreme Court's new standard. Meddling in D.C.'s desperate attempt to control guns-- and their murder rate-- is as much an example of white privilege as anything you could ask for-- does any one really believe that reprehensible bill would even have been written if D.C. were 70% white and not 70% black? Just because you don't see any burning crosses and white hoods doesn't mean it's not racist.


5. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival

NOW ON SATURDAY SEP 27 7:00 pm Free.
EVERYTHING'S COOL (2007) Daniel B. Gold & Judith Helfland 89 min. RT Rating = 81 %
This comedic documentary tackles a very serious topic: global warming. EVERYTHING'S COOL focuses on a group eager to change Americans' attitudes about climate change. With time growing short, these people must defend the earth against people who would unwittingly destroy it. Eco-conscious celebs Salma Hayek and Jake Gyllenhaal even make an appearance to help the cause.


The most important thing in life is to see to it that you are never beaten-- Andre Malraux


We are still waiting on the delivery of signs, bumper stickers and buttons, and will have a report next week on possible out of state canvassing.

Thanks, everyone! See you all soon,

Larry



*************************


By Tim Wise
9/13/08

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.

White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging th e question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

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

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:47 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Saratoga!, Vigil, Muller Fundraiser, Appalling Palin, more
Hello Everyone:

First, major congratulations to Democrats For Change in Saratoga Springs! The Spa City's team of progressive, clean government Democrats led by former Mayor Val Keehn won a huge victory Tuesday in their quest to revitalize the Democratic Party there, including the reelection of Shawn Thompson as State Committeeman. Even former Public Works Commissioner Tommy McTygue lost his seat.

There were those who raised questions as to who really represented rank and file Democrats in Saratoga Springs, and indeed, much of our area. On one hand there were what we might call the accommodationist Bruno Democrats, on the other, the modern, progressive grassroots party that has been steadily growing for years, but especially after Gov. Dean's campaign began in 2003. I think this pretty decisively settles the issue.


In This Update For September 11th, 2008:

1. Vigil Saturday, 11am Downtown Glens Falls
2. Ian McGaughey For Assembly House Party, Saturday, September 13
3. Bob Muller Fundraiser, September 26th
4. Frightening Palin Interview & Transcript
5. Imperial Overstretch & More Lakoff On Framing The Election
6. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Vigil Saturday, 11am Downtown Glens Falls

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, September 13th, from 11am until Noon at the corners of Bay, Glens and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. Please bring a friend and a sign, if you wish, and stay tuned for weather alerts, etc.


2. Ian McGaughey For Assembly House Party, Saturday, September 13

Mary Silltch extends this invitation:

"Hi! We're having a house party so everyone can meet Ian McGaughey, our candidate for Assembly.
Do come and join us, 5 - 7 pm, Saturday, September 13, at the Silitches, 10272 Route 22,
North Granville.

RSVP to 642-9410 or silitch@erols.com


3. Bob Muller Fundraiser, September 26th

There will be a fundraiser for Supreme Court Candidate Bob Muller on September 26th at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George. The event is from 5:30 to 8:30pm, and includes complimentary hors d' oeuvres and entertainment by Susy Q, with a cash bar.

There is a contribution of $50/75 per couple. Please RSVP to 793-2535, 792-6516, or 792-0915. Or send contributions to Thomas McDonough, Campaign Treasurer, 1088 Lake George Rd., Queensbury, NY 12804.


4. Frightening Palin Interview & Transcript

Sarah Palin gave her first press interview today to Charles Gibson of ABCNEWS. It's obvious she is very bright and carries herself well. However, a partial transcript now online reveals something really startling for a candidate for national office; Palin clearly had no idea what the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war is. That's a scary view of how unprepared she is: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=5782924&page=1


5. Imperial Overstretch & More Lakoff On Framing The Election

Kevin Phillips may be our most prescient and salient commentator and historian, and he has an article out today on the consequences of America's Middle East misadventure that is one of best "must reads" in some time. Phillips says that "imperial overstretch" that destroyed previous great powers like Britain, the Netherlands and Spain is now collapsing the American economy, and we see the results everyday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-phillips/what-the-democrats-and-th_b_125756.html

Dick also spotted this piece and passes this quote along:
"...swing voters are right to see Republican John McCain as the nominee most likely to promote military and geopolitical overreach without any serious attention to its economic costs and dangers. "

Also, linguist George Lakoff has written a new article on framing the election, addressing why the Obama campaign seems to have gotten off message-- it's one of his best pieces in a long time, and relevant to almost any campaign:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/dont-think-of-a-maverick_b_125850.html


6. SATURDAY Night Progressive Film Fest

Important Note: The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe has moved its Friday Night Progressive Film Festival to Saturday. The series continues this Saturday with:

SAT SEP 13 7:30 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS
SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF GOD (2005) Marc Levin & Daphne Pinkerson 71 min. RT Rating = N/A
A rare, inside look at some of the leaders and soldiers in training of the most extreme anti-abortion group in the United States, The Army of God. This film candidly explores the reasons why these people advocate terrorist tactics, such as bombing clinics and killing doctors and looks at the chilling effect this violence has had on abortion providers.

Thanks Everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Ian McGaughey For Assembly, Iraq War, New York Supreme Court, Robert Muller, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:38 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Report-- Obama Action
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:

1. Meeting Report: Obama Agenda
2. Vigil Saturday, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls


1. Meeting Report: Obama Agenda

If you watched Sarah Palin's gleefully vituperative speech Wednesday and the yowling crowd of right wingers that greeted it, you know the conservatives are not going to roll over and play dead between now and November 4th. This is a real race. We could all lose-- just focus on one point: the next President will probably appoint three Supreme Court Judges. This election matters as few before.

Right now Obama-Biden leads McCain by 17 points in New York State. Activists like us could probably raise that to 20 points, but that will not get Obama-Biden one extra vote in the Electoral College. There is no point in running up the score. Given its urgency, it's wrong to waste our efforts.

There was agreement on this at our meeting Wednesday, and we discussed what actions we can take over the next 60 days towards the all-important goal of putting a Democrat back in the White House:

1. Out of State Canvassing.
2. House Parties
3. Phone Banking (possibly-- last resort)

1. Out of State Canvassing.

Direct voter contact in person, door to door, is the most effective strategy, proven by what is now endless research and experience.

We agreed that as a group or individually we would investigate going to do voter contact work in either Pennsylvania or New Hampshire. While we were meeting, an appeal was sent out from the Obama For Pennsylvania, which many of us may have gotten, asking for volunteers there, and I have contacted them for more information.

I hope to have more on this soon.


2. House Parties

We've had many fundraising House Parties over the years, including some very successful ones for Governor Dean when he was running. If you would like to be a host, and have an appropriate space, we can do the organizing for you, which makes it really easy for you. You provide the space. This can be a lot of fun and very productive. And, needless to say, Obama-Biden is going to need the money.

If you're interested, please get back to me ASAP.


3. Phone Banking (possibly-- last resort)

It's now universally recognized that the effectiveness of phone banking is very low, and I recognize there is little enthusiasm for it. However, there may be some phone banking we could do later on in the season, and we'll keep an eye on that.


We're also open to seeing what we can do for Supreme Court candidate Bob Muller. Check out his updated website at http://www.bobmuller2008.com


2. Vigil Saturday, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home, tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 6th from 11am until Noon at the intersections of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War monument. Please come and bring a sign and a friend.

And don't forget Murderball at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Progressive Film Festival.

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: 4th Judicial District, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Obama, Robert Muller, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 9:55 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Reminder, Biden In Delaware, Bob Muller, Palin Furor & Death Watch, more
Hello Everyone:

In this update for September 1st, 2008:


1. Wednesday Meeting Reminder
2. Biden In Delaware: Progressive Grassroots Politics
3. Bob Muller Update
4. Was Palin Vetted At All?
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. Wednesday Meeting Reminder

We will be having our usual monthly Glens Falls DFA meeting next Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe at Elm Street and Hudson Avenue in downtown Glens Falls, one block west from the roundabout.

On the agenda will be our action agenda for Obama-Biden and candidates like Bob Muller. NewYork State is certain to go heavily for Obama, so much of our activity will likely focus on calling out of state, for instance to Pennsylvania. The real battle is elsewhere.

We'll also discuss getting campaign materials like bumper stickers, pins, signs, etc.

I would note that with the sad passing of Glens Falls Mayor LeRoy Akins, there will now also be a Mayor's race in the City of Glens Falls with several Democrats running, either as endorsed candidates, or as independent Democrats. So we will be discussing holding candidate forums.


2. Biden In Delaware: Progressive Grassroots Politics

One of the things I've wondered about Joe Biden is how he got elected to the Senate at the age of 29. The answer: not big buck fundraising, not expensive media, not high priced out of town consultants, but the progressive solution, direct voter contact and building community for political action, the way the Dean campaign and then DFA has been talking about from the beginning. This is a great read about out new Vice President: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-harris-mcdowell/they-dont-know-joe-the-se_b_121786.html


3. Bob Muller Update

The Bob Muller for Supreme Court campaign has announced that all 11 county committees have now endorsed Bob for the 4th Judicial District. (We endorsed Bob back in early June.) http://www.bobmuller2008.com

As I've noted before, Bob is running for one of three seats on the bench. Since there are four candidates, it's a bit like a game of musical chairs: the fourth place finisher doesn't get a seat on the Court.

Bob's strategy is simple: if most Democrats voted only ONCE for a Supreme Court candidate, the mathematics would push Bob into the winner's circle. (This is known as a bullet vote.) You can vote for three, but he needs us all to vote only for the Democrat, Bob. In this kind of round robin election, there are no bonus points for first or second place. All you need is one single vote more than the fourth place finisher when the music stops, and you are elected.

It'd be great to see a Democrat elected, and these judicial seats really do matter.

There's also now a link to download and print a vehicle sign: http://www.bobmuller2008.com/files/Vehicle_Sign.doc


4. Was Palin Vetted At All?

The Sarah Palin story is getting wilder and wilder, and there are growing questions whether or not the McCain campaign vetted her at all, or even read her local hometown newspaper.

Among other revelations:

*Palin lied about being against the infamous "bridge to nowhere." She actually was originally for it.
*She was a member of a extremist party in Alaska that seriously wanted Alaska to succeed from the Union.
*She is under investigation for using undue influence to get her brother in law fired from the State Police as part of some kind of vendetta.
*All weekend long the blogosphere boomed with rumors about her last pregnancy and its timing that raised questions as to how that was possible, given she took an eight hour+ long plane ride back home to Alaska after breaking water, and then drove into the boondocks to a small clinic in her hometown of Wassilia. The Alaska media has apparently been full of stories as to how Palin did not look pregnant. Now she reveals her 17 year old daughter is suddenly five months pregnant and about to marry the 17th year old father. The campaigns are staying as far as possible from this last story, and they should, but, as the saying goes, stay tuned.

Will Palin survive? The McCain campaign has now dispatched a team of ten lawyers to Alaska to check all this out. Apparently they didn't do it before hand: http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/01/asked-and-not-answered/

Just when you think this year just can't possibly get any wilder, it does.

For more:

Palin Hires Lawyer In Trooper-Gate Probe
Palin: 17-Yr Old Daughter Is Pregnant
Did McCain Know Before Palin Pick?
Palin's Link To Bizarro AK Secession Party
Palin Backed Pork Bridge Project In '06


5. Friday Night Film Fest

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

MURDERBALL (2005) Dana Adam Shapiro 86 min. RT Rating = 98 %
The Game Quad rugby is played on a basketball court with four eight-minute quarters, during which players wheel nimbly, collide brutally, pass strategically, and sometimes knock each other over, chairs and all, to get the ball past the melee and into the end zone. More mobile players handle the ball, while more impaired ones can excel at defensive blocking. Each player is assigned a ranking, from .5 to 3.5, according to his upper body mobility; team mobility rankings cannot exceed a total of 8. 2002 World Championship The film begins at the 2002 World Championship in Sweden. Top-ranked Team USA has dominated the sport for 10 years, and every national team would like to push them from their pedestal. The rivalry between USA and Canada, though, is especially personal as Canada’s coach is Joe Soares, a former American all-star.

Thanks everyone! See you all Wednesday,

Larry

Labels: 4th Judicial District, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Joe Biden, New York Supreme Court, Obama, Robert Muller, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, S, Sarah Palin

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:33 PM 0 comments