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Democracy For The Southern Adirondack/Tricounty Area
Friday, January 09, 2009
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Report, Bob Muller Thanks, More
Hello Everyone!

In this update for January 8, 2009:

1. Meeting Report: Bob Muller Extends His Thanks
2. Jim Dean: Save The 50 State Program
3. Governor Dean Celebrated But Passed Over?
4. Middle Class Incomes The Real Issue
5. You're Invited: Bush's Last Dance Party
6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest



1. Meeting Report: Bob Muller Extends His Thanks

We were pleased and privileged at last night's meeting when his Honor, newly elected Supreme Court Judge Robert Muller, returned to say thanks to all of us at DFA for our support. Bob was fairly early in his campaign when he visited us last June, and we were pleased to endorse him. We could not have known he would do as well as he did-- coming in second in a four candidate field. He visited with us for some time, regaling everyone with tales from the campaign trail. It was clear one of the reasons Bob was so successful was because he was a happy warrior.


Contrary to the naysayers, Bob proved it could be done. Democrats can win judicial seats in upstate districts, we especially do not have to cross-endorse Republicans. He has broken the trail for many more candidates to come.

Unfortunately, rules of judicial political neutrality will prevent Bob from returning to our meeting again. But he extends his thanks to everyone who couldn't make it last night.

2. Jim Dean: Save The 50 State Program

While we were meeting DFA Chair Jim Dean sent out an urgent request asking everyone to sign a petition to save Howard Dean's 50-State Program. As we know, the 50-State Program reversed the fortunes of the Democratic Party, but, astonishingly, the newly selected DNC Chair, Governor Tim Kaine, does not seem to have any clear commitment to continuing it. The last thing Democrats need is to go back to the bad old days before Dean turned the Democratic party around, where we don't compete everywhere, and instead try to “cherrypick” a handful of winners. Bob Muller's victory here-- a victory of not being afraid to compete everywhere-- proves the point, yet again. Please sign the petition today: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/119



3. Governor Dean Celebrated But Passed Over?

Dick passes this along: Chris Matthews interviewed Governor Dean on Hardball yesterday, and gave credit where credit is due: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpGE8i4liJ0

However, some people are concerned that credit has not been given where credit is due. There is no doubt that politics has become an increasingly rough business, with very little of the loyalty that used to be considered essential for political life:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/07/howard-dean-left-out-of-o_n_156116.html


4. Middle Class Incomes The Real Issue

I want to pass on the best article I've seen lately, which is by Jonathan Tasini on the Huffington Post. Tasini points out that the real, underlying economic issue is the war waged on middle class incomes since the beginning of the Reagan era. For instance, that decline is why so many people cannot afford health insurance anymore. There has been an enormous increase in wealth and productivity in America but none of that new wealth has been shared with average Americans. If the minimum wage had tracked productivity the way it did from WWII to Reagan, the minimum wage would now be $19 an hour. Do not miss: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-tasini/conspiracy-of-silence-wag_b_155531.html


4. You're Invited: Bush's Last Dance Party
From Naomi Marsh at the Washington Co. Democrats:
“Bush's Last Day Dance Party: We will also be celebrating the beginning of the Obama presidency!!!!
Jermain Hall in White Creek
Saturday, January 17th
Starting at 7:30 pm

Live music by ATHENA and ZUELA with special guests

Price of admission: Cash or a check in any amount which will be donated in its entirety to local food pantries. Food items are also welcome. Please come and bring your friends. If you wish, bring food and/or beverage to share at the party, pot-luck style.

Directions: Jermain Hall is on Niles Road in White Creek.
From NY locations: Get on County Route 68 (the White Creek Road) which heads east off of Route 22 halfway between Cambridge and North Hoosick. Follow CR 68 about five miles to White Creek. Take a left on Niles Road at the big corner, go one block, and turn right at the stop sign. (Still on Niles Road.) Jermaine Hall is on your left in about a quarter of a mile.
From VT locations: Take the White Creek Road out of North Bennington. This becomes County Road 68 at the NY border. Just after the big corner, as you come into White Creek, turn right on Niles Road. Then go one block, and turn right at the stop sign. (Still on Niles Road.) Jermaine Hall is on your left in about a quarter of a mile.

6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest

Finally, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Saturday Night Film Fest has returned for another year with:

SAT JAN 10, 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGs Free.
THE HOBART SHAKESPEAREANS (2005) Mel Stuart 68 min. RT Rating = 89 %
Rafe Esquith is a teacher who really did make a difference. Teaching in a decrepit Los Angeles neighborhood, Esquith took it upon himself to impart the works of Shakespeare to the kids who patrol the streets by night and reluctantly turn up... Rafe Esquith is a teacher who really did make a difference. Teaching in a decrepit Los Angeles neighborhood, Esquith took it upon himself to impart the works of Shakespeare to the kids who patrol the streets by night and reluctantly turn up to school by day. As this film shows, the results were remarkable, with the majority of the kids taking to the Bard like a duck to water, largely thanks to Esquith's innovative teaching methods.


Thanks everyone, and a Happy New Year Again!

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:21 AM 0 comments
Friday, November 07, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Post Election Edition!
Hello Everyone;

First, before I start this update, I want to thank everyone who has participated in this group over the last five and a half years, since we first formed for Howard Dean. It took a bit longer than we expected to take back the White House. But you and people like all of you, all across the country, made this week of miracles happen. It has been a unique and single honor to be associated with you, and to become your friend.

In this update for November 7th, 2008:


1. One Picture Says It All
2. Meeting Report
3. I Voted For Obama Bumper Sticker
4. Thank Howard
5. Thanks From Bob Muller
6. Vigil Pictures
7. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. One Picture Says It All

I am certain we all saw President Elect Obama's electrifying acceptance speech Tuesday night. However, not everyone may have seen this picture today:. It's what it really was all about, and it needs to be savored: Office Of The President Elect. http://apnews.excite.com/image/20081107/Obama.sff_ILDA127_20081107162405.html?date=20081108&docid=D94AG51O0


2. Meeting Report

We had a terrific monthly meeting Wednesday night, that culminated with a live conference call with DFA Chair Jim Dean and DFA staff. It was a pretty mellow event, as you might imagine, quite a contrast to the day after the election four years ago. We did discuss, some, the upcoming year ( local elections are coming up! ) but mostly it was a night to celebrate and reflect. We'll get serious about next year's agenda at our next meeting.

In reference to that, Dick sends along this link, about the role of progressives in the future-- making sure Democrats don't lose sight of why they won: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/amazing-grace-hallelujah_b_141054.html


3. I Voted For Obama Bumper Sticker

DFA National is sending out free "I Voted For Obama" bumper stickers. We handed out a few Wednesday, but everyone should go online and get one to show their support for our President-Elect: http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/113


4. Thank Howard

We also handed out post cards Wednesday night to thank Howard Dean, for starting this movement, for breaking trail for Barack Obama, for the 50 State Program, and for standing up at one of the most perilous moments in American history, to Take Back America. Without Howard Dean, the great change coming would never have happened. http://democracyforamerica.com/activities/112


5. Thanks From Bob Muller

A Thank You From Bob Muller, the first Democrat to win a seat on the State Supreme Court in decades:

"Good Morning:

"While this is a busy day for some it is simply one of anticipation for me. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your efforts on my behalf. I think it will be an historic evening across the North County and beyond and each of you have played an important role in the result. I started my campaign with the best of intentions and present myself this Election Day in the same posture. On to a resounding victory!

"Many, many thanks,
"Bob Muller"

6. Vigil Pictures


After a nearly six year run, the last vigil downtown for Peace and to Bring Our Troops Home was held last Saturday. Many thanks again to those who started them, and for everyone who helped keep them going. Kate Austin, now of the Chronicle, came by and took pictures of the last day, and posted them online.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeph/2992907107/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeph/2992907177/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeph/2993753486/


7. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Progressive Film Fest continues this Saturday. WIth the election now over, the press of news will abate, and so, like Cincinattus, I will be returning to my plow and only doing these updates no more than twice a month. So I am including two weeks worth of films at the Cafe. I strongly suggest we all sign up for Matt's updates directly.

SAT NOV 8 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
51 BIRCH STREET (2005) Doug Block 88 min. RT Rating = 95 %
Documentary filmmaker Doug Block had every reason to believe his parent’s 54-year marriage was a good one. So he isn’t prepared when, just a few months after his mothers’ unexpected death, his 83-year old father, Mike, phones to announce that he’s moving to Florida to live with "Kitty", his secretary from 40 years before. Always close to his mother and equally distant from his father, he’s stunned and suspicious. When Mike and Kitty marry and sell the longtime family home, Doug returns to suburban Long Island with camera in hand for one last visit. And there, among the lifetime of memories being packed away forever, he discovers 3 large boxes filled with his moms’ daily diaries going back 35 years. Realizing he has only a few short weeks before the movers come and his dad will be gone for good, the veteran documentarian sticks around, determined to investigate the mystery of his parents’ marriage. What begins as his own intimate, autobiographical story, soon evolves into a broader meditation on the universal themes of love, marriage, fidelity and the mystery of family. 51 Birch Street spans 60 years and 3 generations, and weaves together hundreds of faded snapshots, 8mm home movies and two decades of verit? footage. The result is a timeless tale of what can happen when our most fundamental assumptions about family are suddenly called into question.

SAT NOV 15 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN (2007) John Peterson & Greg Snyder 82 min. RT Rating = 88 %
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a personal documentary about John Peterson, a farmer, artist, and eccentric/innovative thinker cast in rural Illinois. Filmmaker Taggart Siegel has documented John's struggle to redefine his family farm for over twenty years, witnessing the colorful drama of John's life. With the death of his father during the late 60's John turns his traditional family farm into an experiment of art and culture, making it a haven for hippies, radicals and artists. The Real Dirt on Farmer John charts the end of this idealistic era as the farm debt crisis of the 1980s brings about the tragic collapse of the farm. As the intricate weave of rural America unravels, vicious local rumors turn John into a scapegoat, condemning him as a Satan-worshipping drug-dealer. Threatened with murder, his home burned to the ground, John defies all odds to transform his land into a revolutionary farming community. At the film's close, the Peterson family farm is one of the largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in the United States. Out of the ruins of single-crop agriculture, John creates an extended farm village where people and art can thrive alongside agriculture.


Thanks everyone! My very, very best to all of you,

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:46 PM 0 comments
Sunday, November 02, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Election Update: Meeting Wednesday, Election Reminders
Hello Everyone;

In This Update For November 2nd, 2008;


1. Meeting Wednesday, Conference Call With Jim Dean
2. Glens Falls Mayor's Race: Look For Jack Diamond
3. Supreme Court: Vote Only Once For Bob Muller
4. Crandall LIbrary Vote
5. Russo On YouTube
6. Thanks


1. Meeting Wednesday, Conference Call With Jim Dean

We will be having our monthly DFA meeting this Wednesday, November 5th, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls.

Come on down and celebrate (or commiserate) with us!

There will be a big conference call with DFA Chair Jim Dean. It's been a long time since we have had one of these, so that will be fun.

We will be planning the next couple of years, which will depend on the outcome.

The cafe is located at the corners of Elm and Exchange Streets, one block west of the Roundabout.

2. Glens Falls Mayor's Race: Look For Jack Diamond

An election reminder: since the withdrawal of Judy Villa-White, there is only one Democratic candidate for Mayor in Glens Falls-- Jack Diamond. However, remember, he is not on the Democratic line! Look down the machine for his independent line or vote for him on the Conservative Party line.

3. Supreme Court: Vote Only Once For Bob Muller

Also, remember, Bob Muller is the only Democrat running in a four way race for three seats on the State Supreme Court. It's like a game of musical chairs-- the top three get elected. So it is very important to only vote once-- for the sole Democrat, Robert Muller. You can vote for three, but if you do, mathematically you dilute your own vote for Bob. Give all your support to Bob Muller.

4. Crandall LIbrary Vote

Also on the ballot locally, but likely to be missed with all the other races, is the Crandall Library Budget. We have a magnificent new library! But now we need to staff it. Look up to the top of the machine for the propositions and vote for the Crandall Library. Sarah Palin will NOT thank you!

5. Russo On YouTube

Saratoga Springs DFA member and videographer Roger Wyatt has put up a YouTube video of State Senate candidate Mike Russo on YouTube, who is running in the 43rd SD. Mike is having a hard time getting his message out there, and this is a great way to do it. If you know anyone in the 43rd, which is Saratoga and Rensellear Counties, please forward it to them right away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS-DHRyE7Ng

6. Thanks

And a special thanks is due today. We held our last vigil for peace and to bring our troops home on Saturday. Special tribute is due to those who got them started, helped us keep them going and braved freezing cold and boiling heat for the last six years. It has been a privilege to be out there will you all.

See you all soon! Have a great day Election Day!

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:22 PM 0 comments
Friday, October 24, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Pre-Election Update
Hello Everyone;

In This Update For October 24, 2008:


1. Vigil Saturday 11am
2. 538 & Obama
3. Obama Actions
4. Major Endorsement For Bob Muller
5. Walmart & Queensbury
6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Vigil Saturday 11am

We will be holding our penultimate Vigil For Peace and To Bring Our Troops home this Saturday, October 25th from 11am until Noon at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls. Please come and bring a sign and a friend as this effort, which has now been going on off and on for six years, begins to wind down-- those doing this have decided it would not be appropriate after Election Day, as we expect our new Administration will be bringing the war eventually to a close. Help us make these final vigils good ones!

2. 538 & Obama

The best online site for watching polls of the Presidential race is Five Thirty Eight, which is the total number of electoral votes. 538.com tracks and evaluates almost all the polls. Today they are now calling for 52% of the popular vote for Obama and 354 electoral votes. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

3. Obama Actions

No time to be complacent, though! You can still call for Obama from home. By registering with the campaign, you are given instructions and an interactive list of names to call out of state-- the website is terrific, very easy to use, you go down a list of names, and click off the response:

http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php

Needless to say, the Obama campaign is still trying to raise money. This need is actually intensified by the fact Obama-Biden are competitive in more states. For instance, Obama is now competitive in North Carolina, and just opened 40 local offices. This extra effort costs a lot of money!

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/standardmagnetalt?source=mainnav_bt_nsu_dg

There are also local Moveon calling parties this weekend: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?submit=1&search_distance=30&search_zip=12801&action_id=147


4. Major Endorsement For Bob Muller

State Supreme Court candidate Robert Muller, who is running for one of three seats in the 4th Judicial District, received a major endorsement today-- the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Police (the Troopers). This is a very big deal because the Troopers have mainly endorsed Republicans in the past.

The 4th District race is a round robbin between Bob and three Republicans, with the three candidates with the most votes getting elected. However, it's important for every Democrat voting not to dilute their vote or cancel it out by voting for more than one candidate, even though they can. By voting once-- for Robert Muller-- we assure he rises to the top.


5. Walmart & Queensbury

There was consternation locally this week when the Town Of Queensbury approved a second Walmart store a very short distance down Quaker Road from the existing store. I have received a number of messages about this. Clearly, Walmart is one of the worse, companies in America, anti-union, paying low wages with few or no benefits. Walmart is the company that kills local communities. It has also helped kill the American economy by forcing American companies to outsource to places like China.

Let me know if how you feel about this. For some reference, here's a great link to a Halloween video about Walmart from Walmart Watch.com: http://www.waldemartwatch.com


6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

SAT OCT 25 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS ** ELECTION SPECIAL ** Free.
AN UNREASONABLE MAN (2007) Henriette Mantel & Steve Skrovan 123 min. RT Rating = 92 %
As quietly provocative as its thoughtful protagonist, Steve Skrovan and Henriette Mantel's galvanizing documentary, AN UNREASONABLE MAN, examines how one of the 20th century's most admired and indefatigable social activists, Ralph Nader, became a pariah among the same progressive circles he helped champion. Utilizing the standard documentary formula of archival footage, talking-head interviews, and the occasional computer-animated graphic, the film deftly traces Nader's life and career with a robust, lively pace.


Thanks everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:16 PM 0 comments
Thursday, September 25, 2008
 
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.

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:47 AM 0 comments
Friday, September 12, 2008
 
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

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:38 AM 0 comments
Monday, September 01, 2008
 
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

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:33 PM 0 comments
Thursday, August 28, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Saturday, Meeting Next Week-- Fall Action Planning
Hello Everyone;

In This Update For August 28th, 2008:


1. It's Official! Obama-Biden
2. Vigil Saturday 11am Downtown Glens Falls
3. Meeting Next Week
4. Liberals Preferred-- Democratic WIng Of the Democratic Party
5. Solar Power
6. Friday Night Film Fest


1. It's Official! Obama-Biden

With Hilary Clinton's extremely gracious floor motion yesterday to make the nomination of Barack Obama unanimous, Obama-Biden is now the official national ticket of the Democratic Party. Tonight, there will be a special video tribute to DNC Chair and DFA founder Governor Howard Dean, followed by an address by Governor Dean. Vice President, and President-Actually-Elected Al Gore will later make a speech introducing Sen. Obama. None are to be missed, just like Sen. John Kerry's and President Bill Clinton's yesterday.

For all of this, including the clockwork management of an often unruly Democratic National Convention, great credit must be given to DFA's founder, Governor Howard Dean. As Katie Couric noted on CBS News, Gov. Dean put on this great show, the man who behind the scenes is rebuilding the Democratic Party.


2. Vigil Saturday 11am Downtown Glens Falls

We'll be having another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, August 30th, from 11am unitl Noon at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. Please come and bring a friend and a sign!


3. Meeting Next Week

After taking a break in August, 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. Sen. Biden today said today that Democrats cannot take back the White House without taking Pennsylvania, that it is a must win: http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/08/28/D92RCVB80_cvn_biden/index.html?source=refresh

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. Because there can't be a primary (it's too late), there looks to be several Democrats running, either as endorsed candidates, or as independent Democrats. So we will be discussing holding candidate forums.


4. Liberals Preferred-- Democratic WIng Of the Democratic Party

Governor Dean rose to national prominence by advancing the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," a phrase first coined by Paul Wellstone. Chucl Schumer now agrees that liberal and progressive positions are now ascendent, bringing the party back on track again. David Sirota also thinks there's hope, but believes we must guard against those who would push Obama off track. The must reads for the week:

http://www.truthout.org/article/liberal-positions-gaining-popularity
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2008083528/rise-democratic-wing-democratic-party


5. Solar Power

One of the things we are going to be hearing about from Obama-Biden this year is an emphasis on alternative energy, including wind and solar. We can't put windmills on our houses, but solar panels are a real possibility. But where to get the information?

Roof Ray has created one of the coolest Internet widgets I have seen in a long time. You enter your address, and a Google satellite photo of your house is called up. You can then "draw" a solar array on your roof. The website then gives you all the specifications, including power output and cost. Take a look at http://www.roofray.com/calculators

Unfortunately, in this area at present prices, the payoff point is distant. That shows the importance of bring the cost of solar cells down.
http://www.roofray.com/calculators

6. Friday Night Film Fest

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

FRI AUG 29 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST (Oft-overlooked free family movies all summer long)
THE BEST OF VICTOR BORGE (1990) Victor Borge 90 min. RT Rating = NA
The master classical music funnyman is shown performing his most beloved routines in this live concert. Among the bits are the Mozart salute "My Favorite Barber," the aria from "Rigor Mortis," "The Timid Page Turner," "Inflationary Language," and "Danish Lullaby." There are very few videos in my own collection that I've coerced my children into watching that they will also admit to appreciating. This is one that required much convincing but they have asked to watch it numerous times since. I got them to watch it under the guise that it was something completely different and they fell right into it and loved it in spite of their aversion to pianos, tuxedos, senior citizens and all things classical and operatic. If you've never treated your kids (or yourself) to Victor Borge, you may find that you've never really laughed yet. Much like Bill Cosby's performance in "Himself", Borge is extremely gifted and hilarious and completely accessible to anyone of almost any age. You'll be glad you pushed your kids to see it (and so will they).

Thanks, everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:28 PM 0 comments
Friday, August 15, 2008
 
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.

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:45 AM 0 comments
Friday, July 25, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Saturday 11am, Other Events, Gore & Pickens, more
Hello Everyone;

In this update for July 23rd, 2008;


1. Vigil Saturday
2. Fact Check On The Surge & The Reduction of VIolence
3. Push Back On Iran Working
4. Events: Yepsen, Muller, Dems For Change & Thompson
5. Gore & PIckens
6. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Vigil Saturday

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, July 26th at 11am at the corner of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. Bring a sign and a friend. If there is a coin drop again, we'll just move to the roundabout.

2. Fact Check On The Surge & The Reduction of VIolence

A Special Note: There has been some confusion generated by the right wing as to what is happening in Iraq: it is alleged that violence is down and that the surge has succeeded. This is not true.

The first thing that has happened is that ethnic cleansing has driven millions of Iraqis from their homes, often into exile abroad, or killed thousands of others. If this is peace, it is the peace of a graveyard.

It is interesting that ethic cleaning is bad in the Balkans or Africa, but when it occurs in Iraq under US military occupation, it somehow is okay-- it's "peace."

Secondly, the US military has bribed large numbers of Iraqi resistance fighters: this bribery is the basis of the so-called awakening councils. But bribing your enemies, what used to be called tribute, or appeasement, is not a strategy. It is the complete absence of a strategy. We went to War with Tripoli in 1805 because we refused to pay tribute to the Barbary Pirates. We learned way back then paying tribute only made things worse later.

Third, other Iraqi forces, for instance Al-Sadr's, have called a ceasefire. And why not? They knew the escalation of US forces in Iraq was unsustainable. So they just decided to wait us out.

The purpose of the surge was to produce a political settlement. But there is no settlement in sight. Indeed, the US occupation is the principal obstacle to a settlement, because it leads present Iraqi leaders to conclude they never have to come to a political settlement and share power as long as US troops have their back.

This week what passes for the leadership of Iraq effectively endorsed Obama's plan to withdraw US forces over a 16 month period. They realize he is going to win. And so they are finally moving. The rather vague promise of an eventual withdrawal by Obama was enough to produce the only real movement so far by the Iraqi leaders. Imagine what an actual withdrawal could accomplish!


3. Push Back On Iran Working

According to Alternet, the left's push back on Congressional efforts to authorize a naval blockade of Iran, an act of war, seems to be succeeding, with members of the House taking their names off HR 362. http://www.alternet.org/story/92395/

If you haven't contacted your members of Congress, it might be worth considering, because this may be working.


4. Events: Yepsen, Muller, Dems For Change

Yepsen

Saratoga Supervisor and State Senate Candidate Joanne Yepsen will be holding her annual race track Opening Day Open House on Saturday, July 26, from 6-9pm.

The location this year is the Prime Restaurant at the Saratoga National Golf Club, 258 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Suggested donations are $50, food and beverages will be served.

Please R.S.V.P. by Sunday, July 20th, to Citizens For Yepsen, c/o John Foster, P.O. Box 1042, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or 583-8817. Please make checks out to Citizens For Yepsen.

Muller

There will be a Meet The Candidate Reception to Support Bob Muller, Supreme Court Candidate for the 4th Judicial District, at Dango’s Dugout, 43 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY. The date is Wednesday, July 30, 2008 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Donation: $35.00 per person

Delicious hors d’oeuvres, Open Bar 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Cash Bar 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. R.S.V.P: Appreciated but not required. Please contact Tom McDonough 792-0915, Den Tarantino 792-6516, Dan Mannix 793-2535.

Learn more about Bob Muller at www.bobmuller2008.com


Dems For Change

This in today from the Spa City: These are the real Democrats, not what you might call Bruno Democrats.

"You’re invited to a Fundraiser for Democrats for Change, also benefitting Shawn Thompson for NY State Committee:
"Thursday, August 7, 6 - 8 pm at the home of Nancy and George Cain 6 Roundtable Rd., Saratoga Springs.
"Suggested contribution $25"

"Can’t make it? Send a check to: Democrats for Change, c/o Thilo Ullmann, 244 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Please RSVP to Mary at 366-8582 or email, mmzlotnick@aol.com

"Democrats for Change is a new group of Saratoga Springs Democrats who have come together to change our local party and Democratic Committee for the better. We include committed Democrats from across our City who are running to serve on the Committee. Our numbers are growing daily, and we invite you to join and support us. "

"Shawn Thompson is a member of Democrats for Change who is running for re-election to represent Saratoga Springs, Ballston, Milton, Greenfield, Charlton and Galway on the NYS Democratic Committee. Shawn’s combination of experience in government and his relationships in Albany and statewide make him the ideal state committee person for us. Shawn was Chair of the Saratoga Springs City Democratic Committee when it swept the 2005 election with 7 for 7 Democratic wins. "

find out more:
http://www.SaratogaDemsForChange.com


5. Gore & PIckens

However, the most important thing that happened for the future last week-- and quite a few of you sent this to me-- was Al Gore's plan to turn America's energy crisis around AND fight Global Climate Change at the same time. This is the kind of leadership people are really looking for: we can get all our electricity from clean, renewable sources in ten years. Check out Gore's message at his new organization, http://www.wecansolveit.org/

Moveon also has a petition supporting Gore's plan: http://pol.moveon.org/gorechallenge/?r_by=13302-3466257-uZTBlmx&rc=comment_paste

Several of you also sent me T. Boone Picken's plan, which certainly deserves a high honorable mention, although Picken's is mainly concerned about energy independence and the economy, not Climate Change, which is the big issue of the next century. Check that out at: http://www.pickensplan.org/


6. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

Fri Jul 25 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST (Oft-overlooked free family movies all summer long)
LOCAL HERO (1983) Bill Forsyth 111 min. RT Rating = 100 %
A Texas oil company attempts to buy out a Scottish fishing village for a refinery, and the result is utter confusion. One of the town's least prominent citizens owns a strategic piece of property which he refuses to sell. A warm, well-acclaimed comedy with Peter Riegart and Burt Lancaster.

Also, Bert sends along this interview with Dennis Kucinich about impeachment. The odds are long, but one can dream...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv478I8p3e8



Thanks, Everyone!

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:11 AM 0 comments
Thursday, July 17, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil, Picnics, War With Iran? More
Hello Everyone;

In this update for July 17, 2008:

1. Vigil Saturday For Peace & To Bring Troops Home, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls
2. Washington County Picnic, Yepsen Open House
3. Is War With Iran Coming?
4. Rockhill Friday Night Film Festival


1. Vigil Saturday For Peace & To Bring Troops Home, 11am, Downtown Glens Falls

There will be another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday from 11am until Noon. The location will be the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls. Please come and bring a friend and a sign.

Last week there was a charity coin drop downtown -- in the event something like that happens again, we will again just move down Glen Street to the Roundabout.


2. Washington County Picnic, Yepsen Open House


The Washington County Democrats Annual Picnic will be held this weekend, and you are invited.
Where: Roger’s Island, just outside Fort Edward

When: July 19 from noon—6:00pm.

Confirmed guests include Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Ian McGaughey, Assembly candidate for the 112th District, and Bob Muller, candidate for Supreme Court Justice, Fourth District.

The Committee will provide barbecue meats; everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.


Feel free to bring any non-alcoholic beverages.
Beer and wine will be sold by the Idle Hour Club for $2.00 each.
Note: No alcohol can be brought into the park
Cost is $18 per individual; $35 per couple
For tickets contact your local town chair or Judy Doonan: 692-7215


Saratoga Supervisor and State Senate Candidate Joanne Yepsen will be holding her annual race track Opening Day Open House on Saturday, July 26, from 6-9pm.

The location this year is the Prime Restaurant at the Saratoga National Golf Club, 258 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Suggested donations are $50, food and beverages will be served.

Please R.S.V.P. by Sunday, July 20th, to Citizens For Yepsen, c/o John Foster, P.O. Box 1042, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or 583-8817. Please make checks out to Citizens For Yepsen.

3. Is War With Iran Coming?

Very mixed signals are coming out of Washington today about the danger of a Bush administration attack on Iran. At the same time, the US appears to be talking to Iran.

But the concern is great enough that True Majority today sent out an online petition calling on Congress to vote against Hr. 362, which it says is essentially a declaration of war against Iran. http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/7002/iranblockade?campaign_KEY=1537

Right now it is in committee and it is unclear if it will get out of committee before the Congress recesses. It could be posturing by politicians trying to look tough. But it is a recklessly dangerous game, if so. Bush has grossly abused and overextended vague Congressional resolutions before.

Is he crazy enough to drag the US into a third mideast war, one that could crash the entire world economy? Who knows? But what if he does? Will Congress stop him? The record there isn't encouraging, if it happens. That's why this is so dangerous.

Bert sends these links along, one to a disturbing piece by former weapons inspector Scott Ritter. http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0716-05.htm http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/14/10337/


4. Rockhill Friday Night Film Festival

Fri Jul 18 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST (Oft-overlooked free family movies all summer long)
BEING THERE (1979) Hal Ashby 130 min. RT Rating = 97 %
Based on Jerzy Kosinski's short comic novel about a simpleton, Chance (Peter Sellers), raised in isolation whose only education came from watching TV. When he's forced out of the house where he worked as a gardener by the death of the wealthy recluse who raised him from infancy, he's fortuitously struck by a limousine carrying Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine), the wife of a wealthy industrialist. He's mistaken, because of his well-tailored suits, for a man of means and taken to dinner with her husband, Ben Rand (Melvyn Douglas). There, as Chauncy Gardner, his blank affect is taken for seriousness and his literal pronouncements about gardening for metaphoric economic predictions. Soon he's meeting the president (Jack Warden) and becoming a star on TV--where he's a natural. Kosinski was well known to be personally fascinated by the power of television. In BEING THERE, which he adapted for the screen himself, he presents a comic fable about a man whose entire sense of reality came from watching television. Sellers is marvelous as the always-deadpan cipher in whom everyone he meets sees whatever it is they need to see. Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden, and Melvyn Douglas give outstanding performances in this biting satire directed by Hal Ashby.

Thanks everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:06 AM 0 comments
Friday, June 06, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Reminder, Muller Endorsement, Dean To Stay At DNC!
Hello Everyone;

In this update for June 6th 2008:

1. Vigil Saturday Downtown Glens Falls, 11am
2. Meeting Endorses Bob Muller For Supreme Court
3. Obama Endorsed
4. Clinton To Endorse Obama
5. Obama Asks Dean To Stay At DNC: Victory For $100 Revolution & 50 State Strategy
6. End Of Globalization?


1. Vigil Saturday Downtown Glens Falls, 11am

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 7th we will have another vigil for peace and to bring our troops home at 11am downtown at the corner of Glen, Bay and South Streets, in front of the Civil War monument. Come and bring a friend and a sign, although we have a few signs. The vigil will last one hour, as usual.

2. Meeting Endorses Bob Muller For Supreme Court

At our meeting we listened to a presentation and then had a lengthly Q&A with attorney Bob Muller, Democratic candidate for State Supreme Court, 4th Judicial District. It was an impressive presentation, especially on the importance of these judicial races, which are often overlooked.

Bob noted:
*the need for judges who are politically independent and review cases on their merits,
*are not creatures of political machines
*his 30 years of local experience as an attorney
*his experience as a trial lawyer and former prosecutor

In support, Dick Dudley also spoke at length from his experience in office of how we often do not have politically independent judges, and the dangers that represents.

Bob also noted the 4th District, which sweeps north from southern Washington, Saratoga, Schenectady and Montgomery Counties all the way to Canada, is the biggest in New York State in area and holds about a million people.

He also noted that Supreme Court terms are 14 years long, and that he can and is committed to serving out his full 14 year term: other candidates presently running are much older and probably will not be able to complete their terms.

There are three open seats, with four candidates, but only one Democrat, Bob Muller. If every Democrat in the district (and there are many of them) voted for Muller alone, without diluting their votes by also voting for one of the Republicans, he would probably get the votes needed for election. (This is known as bullet voting.)

At the end the group unanimously endorsed Muller. Seven of the Democratic Committees in the 4th District have endorsed Muller for this office. Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area is the first DFA Network group to do so.

Anyone wishing to learn more about Bob Muller and his race can go to his website for more information: http://www.bobmuller2008.com/index.html


3. Obama Endorsed

After Muller's presentation, the group also discussed the completion of the presidential primary season, and then formally endorsed Barack Obama for President, which it had not done before.


4. Clinton To Endorse Obama

News comes tonight that Hillary Clinton will formally concede victory to Barack Obama tomorrow at a rally in Washington, D.C. and endorse him as well. Her speech will be carried live on the web for those wishing to see if, and if it is not on cable or S-Span: website tomorrow


5. Obama Asks Dean To Stay At DNC: Victory For $100 Revolution & 50 State Strategy

There were a pair of news stories out of Washington this week that in long term importance are as important as Obama cinching the nomination.

Dick sent this along from TPM:

Breaking: Howard Dean To Stay As Chair Of The DNC

"Senator Obama appreciates the hard work that Chairman Dean has done to grow our party at the grassroots level and looks forward to working with him as the chairman of the Democratic Party as we go forward."

"Historically, a DNC chair's tenure is uncertain once a nominee is chosen, since said nominee might want to install his own guy there, but as Ben Smith notes, Dean has a power base built up among state party chairs across the country who love his 50-state strategy of investing in them."

"The DNC earlier today confirmed that Obama had installed his man Paul Tewes to serve as his eyes and ears at the organization, a sign that Obama is moving quickly to re-shape the party in his own image. Obama's party, it turns out, will include Dean at the top of the DNC."

Then Governor Dean himself sent this out:

"As we move toward the general election, the Democratic Party has to be the Party of ordinary Americans, not Washington lobbyists and special interests. So, as of this morning, if you're a federal lobbyist, or if you control political action committee donations, we won't be accepting your contribution.

"This is an unprecedented move for a political party to make -- one that has sent shockwaves through Washington and has turned the debate on clean campaigns upside down. We've unilaterally agreed to shut lobbyists out of the process, and are we're relying on people just like you."

http://www.democrats.org/nonlobbyists "


Yes, Obama did win, but Howard Dean won, too: his 50 state strategy and the $100 Revolution he started five years ago are now the established policy of the Democratic Party, and are restoring our democracy. Together they constitute a revolution in political affairs: by getting big money out of politics, and continuing his grassroots efforts, the Great American Restoration Dean talked about four and five years ago will come to pass, transforming and ending a long, benighted period in our country's history.

Certainly, Barack Obama seems well suited to carry on, as his reappointment of Dean to remain DNC chair shows.

What the Dean movement started five years ago has now come to pass. It is a very historic moment, indeed, and one to savor!


6. End Of Globalization?

There's another story that's worth checking out too: it seems high energy prices means the end of the era of Globalization.
http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2008/06/06/reverse_globalization/index.html

The idea of outsouring manufacturing from country to country, was premised on the idea of very cheap energy to move goods around the world. That was another one of the terrible ideas that came out of the 1980s and 1990s, along with the idea it made sense to drive a Hummer to the grocery for a quart of milk or building a 10,000 square foot "McMansion" miles from anywhere.

If it is now going to be too expensive to move things from China, we should see a revival of domestic manufacturing, and the jobs that went with it.

Thanks everyone! See you at the vigil (hopefully).

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:14 PM 0 comments
Monday, June 02, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Wednesday Reminder, Trust, Vigils
Hello Everyone;

In this update for June 2nd, 2008:

1. Greater Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday With Special Guest Robert Muller
2. Primaries Ending & Trust
3. Vigil Saturday
4. All Seeing Eye? By Naomi Klein
5. Water & Privatization
6. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival



1. Greater Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday With Special Guest Robert Muller

We will be having our Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area Link-up or "meetup" Wednesday, June 4th, at 7pm, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. The Cafe is located on the corners of Exchange and Elm Streets and Hudson Avenue, just west of the Roundabout.

We will be hosting a special guest: Attorney Robert Muller, who is running as a Democrat for New York State Supreme Court, 4th Judicial District. Bob is presently Queensbury Town Justice, and has been a well known area attorney for nearly 30 years. He will be talking about his race and his extensive qualifications for the bench.


2. Primaries Ending & Trust

By the time we will be meeting, the primary season will be over (hopefully). We may know by then what prospect Democrats will have of retaking the White House in the Fall. I am sure many will want to discuss that as well, as well as whether or not Congress is going to fund the war for another entire year.

If the Clinton campaign is to continue, it can only do so by soliciting pledged delegates for Obama to switch to Clinton. Legally, they can do this. But to do so would be an unprecedented breach of faith with the people who elected those delegates.

That means the big issue now is trust. All political parties, campaigns and movements are, on a fundamental level, about trust. If the people in them violate each other's trust, then those parties, movements, campaigns will simply fly apart. Trust is the glue of politics, it makes political life possible.

Let's hope our political fabric is not further sundered by any candidate's rationale for the violation of trust, which is what asking a pledged delegate to vote for someone other than they are pledged to would do: shatter the trust that holds our party together.


3. Vigil Saturday

There will be another weekly vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, June 7th at 11am at the corner of Glen, Bay and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. The vigil will last one hour. Please come and bring a sign and a friend, although we have some signs if you can't get one.


4. All Seeing Eye? By Naomi Klein

Frank Grassia sends along this remarkable piece in Rolling Stone by one of the great writers of the hour, Naomi Klein of Shock Capitalism fame. U.S. high tech firms are helping create what's been called "police state 2.0" and Market Stalinism in China. Klein argues a new type of high-tech police state is being created there, and that the technology could be exported back to the United States and other democracies. This is a truly frightening "must read." http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20797485/chinas_allseeing_eye


5. Water & Privatization

On a local level, water issues seem to be cropping up in our area with some regularity, of late in the City of Glens Falls. Wenonah Hauter writes in The American Prospect on how schemes, and that's they are, schemes to privatize water systems and resources around the world are not only a potential violation of basic human rights, but virtually always backfire in practical terms, never, ever delivering on their promises. For some reason it's a lesson that seems to need relearning again and again, but one we need to remember as the area confronts its complex water problems. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_perils_of_privatization


6. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival

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

Fri Jun 6 7:30 pm Progressive Film Forum
PROMISES (2001) Justine Shapiro & B.Z. Goldberg 106 min. RT Rating = 96 %
Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in Promises offer a compelling human portrait of the Israeli & Palestinian conflict. The film draws viewers into the hearts and minds of Jerusalem’s children by giving voice to those captured by the region's hatreds as well as those able to transcend them. These seven children are between the ages of 9-13, an age group that rarely has the opportunity to speak for itself. They are less self-conscious and polite than teenagers and adults. They speak directly and without self-censorship and are both true mirrors of their cultures and spokespeople for future generations of Israelis and Palestinians.

Thanks, everyone! See you Wednesday (and Saturday)

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:24 PM 0 comments
Thursday, May 29, 2008
 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Saturday, 11am, Meeting Next Wednesday With Special Guest Robert Muller
Hello Everyone;

In this update for May 29, 2008;


1. Vigil Saturday 11am For Peace & To Bring Troops Home
2. Monthly DFA Meeting Next Wednesday, June 4th With Special Guest Bob Muller
3. War Issue Comes To A New Head
4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. Vigil Saturday 11am For Peace & To Bring Troops Home

There will be another weekly vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, May 31st at 11am at the corner of Glen, Bay and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. The vigil will last one hour. Please come and bring a sign and a friend, although we have some signs if you can't get one. Given the revelations in the news today, this may be a particularly good time to come!


2. Monthly DFA Meeting Next Wednesday, June 4th With Special Guest Bob Muller

We will be having our usual Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area Link-up or "meetup" next Wednesday, June 4th, at 7pm, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. The Cafe is located on the corners of Exchange and Elm Streets and Hudson Avenue, just west of the Roundabout.

We will be hosting a special guest: Attorney Robert Muller, who is running as a Democrat for New York State Supreme Court, 4th Judicial District. Bob is presently Queensbury Town Justice, and has been a well known area attorney for nearly 30 years. He will be talking about his race and his extensive qualifications for the bench.

These are very important Judicial seats. What is interesting about this race is that there are three seats being contested for by four candidates (at present). Three of the candidates are Republicans, with Muller the only Democrat. Voters can chose three candidates out of the four. However, you do not have to vote for three. You can vote for only one. So-- although it is true that Democrats are outnumbered in the district, if all the Democrats here were to vote for only one candidate-- Muller-- their votes would not be diluted, which would give him a huge head start.

Also, the Presidential primary season effectively ends on Tuesday, so that should lead to some interesting discussion, especially given recent events (noted next).

3. War Issue Comes To A New Head

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan today confirmed what many have know for a long time: the Iraq War was based on lies, that the real reasons for the war were not the ones that were offered. That is the definition of conspiracy. McClellan effectively indicted Bush & Co. for war crimes-- specifically, conspiracy to wage aggressive war and waging aggressive war, what are known as Class A War Crimes under the Nuremberg war tribunals standard.

These semi-revelations come at the moment when Congress is again considering funding the war for another full year. True Majority.com and Democrats.com are on the job, calling on Americans to contact Congress and demand timelines for withdrawal be established and war funding drawn down.

If you share these concerns, here's what they are proposing:

From True Majority: ""I am calling to urge the Representative to put the timetable and troop readiness restrictions back into the Iraq funding legislation. I oppose any Iraq funding which gives the President another blank check for war." http://www.truemajority.org/warfunding/index.php?district=NY20

From Democrats.com:

"...The House will vote again next week. And if the House stands firm by voting no, Bush will have to bring our troops safely home.

"We need 69 more no votes on top of May's 149 no votes to reach a decisive majority of 218."

"Sign our new petition and send it to as many friends as you possibly can:
http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/136

"Congress is home this week, so call the local district office of your Representative

http://www.democrats.com/house-phones

"Please report the results of your calls here:
http://www.democrats.com/69-more-to-end-the-war


4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival

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

Friday May 30 7:30 pm Progressive Film Forum
THE GLEANERS AND I (2001) Agnes Varda 82 min. RT Rating = 91 %
Veteran French filmmaker Agnes Varda ads a triumphant and ultra-contemporary chapter to her life's work of cinematic investigations into the lives of characters relegated to society's margins (usually women) with the graceful and compelling documentary, THE GLEANERS AND I. Departing from Jean-Francois Millet's celebrated 1867 portrait of women picking through a harvested wheat field entitled "Les Glaneuses," Varda constructs a modest and compassionate visual essay on the concept and lifestyle of "gleaning" or scavenging, once ubiquitous in rural 19th Century France. With digital camera in hand, Varda vagabonds around France in search of the 21st Century's incarnation of the gleaners. From potato fields in central France, to abandoned vineyards in Burgundy, to supermarket dumpsters in Paris, Varda's film portrays a completely surprising and ultimately complex populace, who subsist off of the waste of others. The film's casual style allows the intelligence, dignity, and honesty of the subjects to shine through as Varda herself pieces together a modern aesthetic and ideology of gleaning. With affectionate humor and searching intelligence, Varda points the camera at herself, marveling at her own process of aging and the gleaning that lies at the center of her own art and life.


Thanks Everyone! See you all Saturday and Wednesday.

Larry

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- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:12 AM 0 comments

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