Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Reminder, more
Hello Everyone;

In this update for December 1st, 2008:

1. Meeting Wednesday
2. Obama Transition Page
3. Washington County Dem Holiday Party
4. Which Direction Obama?
5. Rockhill Film Fest


1. Meeting Wednesday

Don't forget our monthly Greater Glens Falls DFA meeting this Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. Last month we mainly celebrated and savored, but need to talk a bit more seriously about the future: specifically, we may want to join in nationwide Obama house parties on the 12/12-12/13.

The Cafe is located on the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Avenue, one block east of the roundabout in downtown Glens Falls.

2. Obama Transition Page

In case you haven't seen it, President-Elect Obama has a transition team webpage up at http://change.gov/ with lots of info on new appointments and what the transition is doing.


3. Washington County Dem Holiday Party

The Washington County Democratic Holiday Party is this Thursday, December 4th, at 7:00pm at the Rice Mansion Inn, Cambridge, NY. Food and drinks are included for $30, with catering by Spoonful Catering. Please contact Judy Doonan immediately if you want to go at 692-7215 or judy@judydoonan.com so that they can order enough food and beverages!


4. Which Direction Obama?

There has been considerable discussion of what direction Obama is taking with some of the surprisingly conservative appointments he has been making: there is reason to think he "plans on using conservatives to carry out progressive policies, and cal it pragmatism." A really interesting view by Tom Edsall and worth a read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/29/battle-royale-center-righ_n_147072.html


5. Rockhill Film Fest

The Rockhill Cafe Progressive Saturday Film Fest Continues:

SAT DEC 6 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR (2004) 101 min. RT Rating = N/A
A beautiful, powerful and deeply-moving documentary about the life of Desmond T. Doss, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of incredible bravery during World War II. Although classified as a conscientious objector for his religious beliefs as a Seventh Day Adventist against carrying a weapon or working on Saturday, he wanted to be called a "conscientious cooperator," not an objector. He refused the automatic deferment available to him since he worked in a naval shipyard. Instead, he signed up to join the military and asked to be put on the frontlines to care for the wounded.

SAT DEC 13 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
KING CORN (2006) Aaron Woolf 90 min. RT Rating = 95 %
A feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat — and how we farm.


Thanks, everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:37 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Thanksgiving Holiday Edition
Hello Everyone;

First-- a happy Thanksgiving to all of you! In all these years we've been together, we've never had such reason for giving thanks as we do this year, with the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

And with the Franken and Martin campaigns in Minnesota and Georgia still in play, we may have a special holiday gift this season as well!

In This Update for November 26th, 2008:

1. December Monthly Meeting Reminder
2. Get Well Sheila!
3. A Picture Really Is Worth A 1,000 Words
4. Dean Vindicated
5. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest
6. On the Lighter Side...


1. December Monthly Meeting Reminder

We'll be having our monthly Greater Glens Falls DFA meeting next Wednesday, December 3rd, at 7pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. Last month we mainly celebrated and savored, but need to talk a bit more seriously about the future: specifically, we may want to join in nationwide Obama house parties on the 12/12-12/13.

The Cafe is located on the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Avenue, one block east of the roundabout in downtown Glens Falls.

2. Get Well Sheila!

I thought many of you would like to know that our great Washington County Democratic Chair, Sheila Comar, recently had some surgery and is now home and recovering-- so send your cards and get well wishes to Sheila Comar, 29 Depot Street, Middle Granville, NY 12849.


3. A Picture Really Is Worth A 1,000 Words

I kept trying to think of something great to say about Obama, and his taking charge this week even though he isn't in office yet (thank God) but decided that this image from the cover of Time said it all: http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20081124,00.html

"Happy Days Are Here Again..."


4. Dean Vindicated

Governor Dean is leaving as Chair of the DNC and has been prominently mentioned for Obama's cabinet. Cenk Uygur asked him yesterday about rumors of being named Education Secretary.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/howard-dean-for-education_b_146517.html

Another piece not to be missed: "Dean, The Other Winner" Clearly,without Howard Dean's contribution, the change we see coming to our nation never would have happened. In our darkest hour almost six years ago, Howard Dean saved American Democracy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/magazine/16wwln-lede.html?ref=magazine

Also, "Obama's Debt to Dean": http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/12/dean/index.html
and "Howard Dean Vindicated": http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/11/10/dean_dems/index.html


5. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

SAT NOV 29 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
GIULIANI TIME (2007) Kevin Keating 118 min. RT Rating = 85 %

SAT DEC 6 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR (2004) 101 min. RT Rating = N/A
A beautiful, powerful and deeply-moving documentary about the life of Desmond T. Doss, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for acts of incredible bravery during World War II. Although classified as a conscientious objector


6. On the Lighter Side...

Good humor isn't always in perfect taste, but it sure still can be funny. Roger sends this hilarious take on American capitalism "down in the bunker" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNmcf4Y3lGM&feature=email

And, please, please, please, let's have more of Sara Palin as the face of the Republican Party. If you have not seen her "turkey day" interview, it's best seen with Keith Olbermann: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/25/1902/1619/105/666040

Thanks everyone! Drive safe and see you next week,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:40 AM 0 comments

 
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

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, New York Supreme Court, Obama, Robert Muller, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:46 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Weekend Pre Election Flash
Hello Everyone;

In This Update for October 30th, 2008:


1. Final Vigil For Peace & Troops Home Saturday, 11am
2. Obama Actions: No Time For Complacency!
3. Yes We Carve!
4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival



1. Final Vigil For Peace & Troops Home Saturday, 11am

Six years ago, vigils against the war in Iraq started downtown, started by local peace activists, including our own Bernice Mennis. DFA did not exist then, but we kept them going. Now, with what we expect to be a new Democratic President, those doing the vigil have agreed it will no longer be appropriate to keep them going with a newly elected President committed to ending the war.

Accordingly, we will be holding the very last vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, November 1st, from 11am until Noon, at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War monument.

This has been going on for many years, and for old times sake, it would be nice to have a big crowd to show our continuing resistance to the war and those who kept it going! As always, bring a friend and a sign.


2. Obama Actions: No Time For Complacency!

Although the polls are looking good for Obama, let's remember, we've seen that before. Anyone remember how Obama was supposed to win New Hampshire?

It is no time for complacency. If you have free time in the next few days, it's very important not to waste that time-- there are still things that can be done to make sure Obama is the next president of the United States.

I am constantly hearing from people just stricken with anxiety that we will lose the White House again. The only antidote to that anxiety is effective action.


Moveon Party In Schuylerville

There will be a Moveon calling party this evening in Schuylerville at 6:30. This is a very smart, well organized effort to call people in swing states and get them to volunteer for Obama:

http://pol.moveon.org/pac/event/events/event3.html?event_id=82771

Calling

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


Donating

Needless to say, the Obama campaign is still trying to raise money.

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

3. Yes We Carve!

It's Halloween tomorrow! If you haven't carved your pumpkin yet, check out Yes We Carve, for stencils to create Obama themed Jack-O-Lanterns, featuring either the candidate himself, or the Obama sunrise logo. Some of these are great! http://yeswecarve.com/ and http://yeswecarve.com/category/stencils/ and http://yeswecarve.com/category/stencils/page/2/


4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe will continue its Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival with the very timely:

SAT NOV 1 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS ** ELECTION SPECIAL ** Free.
AMERICAN BLACKOUT (2006) Ian Inaba 86 min. RT Rating = 73 %
Ian Inaba's American Blackout is a stylish, intelligent, and provocative documentary that looks at the historic and systematic disenfranchisement of the black vote through the lens of the political career of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-Georgia). George W. Bush's narrow victory in 2000 launched an historic investigation into Florida's election process. Public focus was on dysfunctional ballots and the Supreme Court litigation, but Inaba's inquiry leads him to Congresswoman McKinney, who investigated the private company hired by the state of Florida to generate voter lists, which effectively shut out the black vote and handed Bush an unlikely victory. While tracking McKinney's career, Inaba reveals a host of ways in which black political power is systematically squelched, ranging from the slander that assailed McKinney when she stood up to the Bush administration on 9/11 and Iraq, to the political machinations that disempowered the black vote in the Georgia Democratic primaries and the Ohio presidential election in 2004. Inaba reminds us that African Americans have long fought a war inside our country for their right to vote, and unfortunately that war rages on today. American Blackout emotionally revitalizes the core of our power as American citizens – the right to vote – and effectively reveals that the fate of black voters is inextricably tied to the fate of all Americans.

Thanks everyone! There will be another pre-election update Sunday night. Have a fun Halloween.

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, elections, Iraq War, Michelle Obama, Obama, Obama Phonebanking, Obama rally, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 2:00 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Pre-election Update
Hello Everyone;

In This Update For October 16th, 2008:


1. Glens Falls Mayor's Race
2. Vigil Saturday 11am
3. Obama Actions
4. Single Payer Healthcare
5. Who Grew The Economy & War Crimes
6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest


1. Glens Falls Mayor's Race

The Glens Falls mayor's race became a confused affair when City Democrats split over who was to replace Mayor Leroy Akins when he died. In effect, we had a primary and a general election combined in one race, with two Democrats on different lines.

Now, however, with the sudden withdrawal of Councilmember Judy Villa-White, there is only one Democrat running: Acting Mayor Jack Diamond. As Councilman-At-Large, Jack has been filling in as Mayor for the better part of a year. Further, as Councilman-At-Large, he is the only candidate who has been elected city-wide. With eleven years on the Council, Jack has the most experience to bring to bear, and is most up to date on City issues and what is going on. No one should doubt that Jack has been working very hard and it should be no surprise he was the clear winner of the recent TV-8 debate.

Because this race opened up too late for a primary, we were not able to make a formal endorsement between the two Democratic candidates. However, there is no longer any issue: even though he is not actually on the Democratic line, he is THE Democratic candidate in this race, and the best hope for a progressive agenda in Glens Falls. Jack deserves a chance to show what he can do in the one year remaining in Leroy Akin's term. All Democrats need to rally around him,


2. Vigil Saturday 11am

There will be the usual rally for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, October 18, from 11am until 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 sign and a friend. If necessary, we will rally at the roundabout instead.


3. Obama Actions

With the final debate a clear win for Obama, the presidential race is in the final stretch. However, we should take nothing for granted! There are area Obama activities on tap:

Drive

If you are in a position to go out of state, the Albany For Obama group is organizing a pair of canvassing trips:

"Scranton Canvassing: October 18th-20th"

"This weekend we will be canvassing in PA to help win the Keystone state. We will be leaving early Saturday morning at 7am from HQ. As always, housing will be provided by the campaign. Sign up and details here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/driveforchange/gs5ggf

"Ohio Canvassing Trip: October 24th-26th"

"On Friday afternoon we have a bus leaving from Crossgates mall to campaign in Ohio over the weekend. We have 42 spots left to fill for campaigners who will play an integral role in winning the Buckeye State! We are asking for $50 donations to help cover the cost of the bus. Housing will be provided by volunteers in Akron. RSVP below. Or call 434-0944 to sign up today. Since volunteers are providing houses, if you sign up online please indicate if you have any allergies to pets."

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/driveforchange/gs5wbk


You can also sign up at the Obama website to go to Pennsylvania and work for change separately:

http://my.barackobama.com/cometoPA


Moveon also sent out this appeal:

"The Obama campaign particularly needs volunteers in Claremont, New Hampshire this Saturday—so if you can, please click below to sign up!"

http://pol.moveon.org/obama/teams/training.html?office_id=229&source=traveler&date=20081018&id=14365-643825-XWc4NJx&t=3

Call

If you can't travel, you can still call. By registering, 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

Donate

Needless to say, they still have 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


4. Single Payer Healthcare

Despite the election, issue advocacy continues. 68% of the American people now support a single payer healthcare system. I recently received this important request:

"HR676 ( The U.S. National Heath Insurance Act ) has more co-sponsors (supporters) than any other in the House or Senate. But because of the new house rules, six more co-sponsors are needed to to hold Congressional hearings on this legislation. Now is the time to pressure our legislators in the house that have not signed on to step up. Senator Obama has said if this legislation were to come across his desk as president, that he would sign it.

"Please contact your representative and encourage him/her to stand-up for the health of America and co-sponsor HR676. Also, encourage those running for office in your state and local community, to support HR676."

"It's Possible and It's Time, Mona Marlow FMI: www.ufhc.org

I would note that regional Democratic Representatives Hinchey, McNulty and Welch have signed.

Contact your member of Congress at: (202) 224- 3121 or http://www.house.gov


5. Who Grew The Economy & War Crimes


There are a couple of fascinating things I have to pass along:

This graphic at the NY TImes on which party caused the greatest increase in the wealth of the nation is astonishing. According to the Times,
"As of Friday, a $10,000 investment in the S.& P. stock market index* would have grown to $11,733 if invested under Republican presidents only, although that would be $51,211 if we exclude Herbert Hoover’s presidency during the Great Depression. Invested under Democratic presidents only, $10,000 would have grown to $300,671 at a compound rate of 8.9 percent over nearly 40 years." http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/14/opinion/20081014_OPCHART.html

Also, next year could be interesting-- Bush administration officials were apparently aware from the beginning they were committing war crimes, which is why they were alarmed at the prosecution of Chilean dictator Piniochet. Many current Republican office holders may never be able to leave the country without being arrested: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/16/pinochet-law


6. Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe Saturday Night Progressive Film Fest continues with the not to be missed SICKO!

SAT OCT 18 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
SICKO (2007) Michael Moore 113 min. RT Rating = 93 %
focus on ordinary Americans affected by the nation's health-care crisis. After providing some historical background on how our nation's medical care system became so ravaged and unfair, Moore interviews a series of individuals and families who have had their lives all but destroyed by the denial of care in the service of profit. While there are two sides to the gun-control debate and even a legitimate discourse for how to best wage the war on terror, it's simply impossible to justify how a baby girl can wind up dead because her mother's health insurance wasn't accepted at a nearby hospital. Moore smartly allows this and other stories to be told with little or no interference, conjuring strong feelings of empathy, rage, and deep sadness. Moore visits countries that have universal health care--spectacularly so when he takes several World Trade Center workers to Guantanamo Bay (and then to Cuba) to receive health care that they were denied in the United States--and presents a compelling argument for adopting a similar system in the States. Moore's ultimate purpose here is to compel Americans to care for one another, and it's a simple request that shockingly must be made via a major motion picture, making SICKO essential viewing.

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq, Iraq War, Joe Biden, Obama, Obama Phonebanking, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, SiCKO

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:28 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Busy Weekend of Events, Letter Request
Hello Everyone;

In this update:

1. A Weekend Of Obama Events!
2. Vigil Saturday, 11am
3. Letter Request From Bob Muller
4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. A Weekend Of Obama Events!

Rock For Barack

On Friday, October 10th at 8:00 pm there will be a Rock for Barack Fundraising concert for Obama at Jermain Hall in White Creek featuring the Prescription Band and the Rachel Cuite Trio. Bring a check for whatever you can afford, along with food and a beverage.

Directions: From Cambridge go South on Route 22 (approximately 5 miles ) and take a Left on Route 68 to White Creek.
In White Creek, past the Fire station and a few houses, the road takes a sharp right angle turn, but you turn Left onto Niles Rd.
Take your next Right after a little bridge and Jermain Hall is just up the road on your left. There will be signs.

Women For Obama Rally

On Saturday, October 11th at 10am there will be a Women for Obama Rally on the State Capitol Steps in East Capitol Park in downtown Albany. The goal is to emphasize what women would lose from a McCain Presidency and how strong Obama is on women's rights.

Speakers include Shawn Morris, Albany Common Council President, Ginny O’Brien, Minority Leader in the Rensselaer County Legislature, Joanne Yepsen, Saratoga Springs Supervisor, Corey Ellis, Albany Common Councilman and Chair of Albany for Obama, Tracey Brooks, Former aide to Senator Hillary Clinton and Former Congressional Candidate, 21st Congressional District and others. Saratoga's Joanne Yepsen is one of the organizers of this event.

Barn Party For Obama

There will be a Barn Party in support of BARACK OBAMA, Sunday, October 12, 2008 from 4-7 p.m at the Flying Pigs Farm, 246 Sutherland Road Shushan, New York.
There will be Beer and other beverages and things to grill.
Please bring: check payable to “Obama for America,” in a sealed envelope and a side dish or dessert to share.
Please R.S.V.P. with the number of adults and children attending to jen@flyingpigsfarm.com or 518.854.3844

2. Vigil Saturday, 11am

We will be holding our usual vigil for peace and to bring our troops home Saturday October 11th at 11am until 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. Letter Request From Bob Muller

Our Democratic candidate for State Supreme Court, 4th Judicial District, is asking area Democrats to write letters to the papers for him.

He just sent this message out:

"I want to thank all of you for the strong support you have shown throughout this eleven county marathon. Now that I am nearing the 10 yard line the next bit of help I could certainly use from the many of you whom I have met - is to consider a letter to the editor in the papers you are familiar with. Encouraging others who are aware of my candidacy would also be a great boost. I hope you will give serious consideration to this simple request. As always I have relied upon each of you to advance this campaign and I am comfortable knowing I have been in such good hands. "

"Kindest regards & many thanks for all you have undertaken in my behalf."

"Bob"
www.bobmuller2008.com

You can send a letter to the Post Star online at: http://www.poststar.com/contact/?form=letter
Reach other papers at the AAUB Two Minute Activist website. It's a big district, so check that out. Just enter your Zip Code: http://capwiz.com/aauw/dbq/media/

A couple of talking points:
1. It's been years since there's a Democrat on the bench- we need at least one to keep the others honest.
2. Although you can vote for three out of four candidates, Bob is the only Democrat. So you should only vote once, for Bob, the sole Democrat. Voting more than once simply dilutes your vote-- they cancel each other out. That helps Bob's competitors.
3. Get more info at Bob's website.


4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival

SAT OCT 11 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG 1968 Emile de Antonio 103 min. RT Rating = N/A
Celebrated and controversial documentary filmmaker Emile de Antonio made IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG, criticizing American involvement in the Vietnam War, during the height of its intensification in 1968. Like his other constructed documentaries, de Antonio takes newsreel and archival footage, along with existing interviews, and uses them to explore the history of Vietnam between the Second World War and the civil war that America would become involved with. Using the very words of those who escalated the conflict against them, de Antonio's film condemns the American involvement in the war by providing disturbing footage of its terrible consequences.

Thanks, everyone!

Larry

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

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:59 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: America Held Hostage, Vigil, Obama Phone Banking
Hello Everyone;

In This special election update for October 2, 2008:

1. Obama Phone Banking Sunday 2pm
2. Vigil Saturday, 11am
3. America Held Hostage
4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. Obama Phone Banking Sunday 2pm

At our meeting yesterday we agreed to hold a series of phone banking events for Obama-Biden. The first will be this Sunday, October 5th from 2pm to 4pm at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. You will need to bring a cellphone to participate in this event! ( Most cell phones have unlimited weekend minutes.)

It is very important you let me know you are coming so that I can get enough names and numbers. Please RSVP to this message by Sunday morning if you plan to come.

Because of the economic crisis, the election has opened up and become more fluid, with more states in play. We will be calling actual voters in these swing states to tell the why we support Barack Obama. We will not be calling members of our own organization, or other progressive organizations. These are voter lists generated by the campaign itself.

Because Sara Palin did not implode in tonight's debate with Joe Biden, we need to keep working!

There will be instructions, and encouragement. If you've never done this before, it's much easier in a group.

Many thanks to Matt for allowing us to call from the Cafe! (What would local progressives do without it?)


2. Vigil Saturday, 11am

We will be holding our usual vigil for peace and to bring our troops home Saturday OCtover 4th at 11am until 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. America Held Hostage

As I was preparing this update earlier tonight I was watching Rep. Kucinich, Sherman and Kaptor on C-SPAN give a series of addresses worthy of the great Congressional leaders of the past. Several key points were made:

1. There is now a liquidity crises because banks are afraid to loan to one another. The reason is that they don't know which other banks are solvent, and are afraid of losing their money if another one fails. There is a simple solution: the FDIC insures bank deposits. It can insure not some share of deposits, as is presently the case, but all deposits in all commercial banks. If the FDIC did that, no bank could possibly lose money by loaning money to another because they would be fully insured. The banks actually have plenty of cash on hand, but are holding back, not unwisely. But if all deposits were insured, they would have nothing to fear by loaning money to one another- they could not lose their money. The crisis would end almost instantly as money began to flow. This would require no tax funds, the insurance is paid by bank fees. This has been done abroad before, and it works.

2. Half the $700 billion bailout would go to foreign investors who simply made bad investments. Specifically mentioned were the Saudi royal family and China, still theoretically a communist country. Put short, their bad decisions are not the taxpayer's problem.

3. Last weekend congressional leaders were told the stock market would drop 2- 3,000 points in a single day if that did not pass the original bill. That did not happen.

4. The crisis in mainly based on fear and psychology, not actual material conditions. In fostering panic, the administration is actually making a crisis or at least making it very much worse.

Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com had a superb post on this earlier today-- especially that there are major bankers who say the bailout is unneeded, and he also exposes Treasury Secretary Paulson's motives: allowing the destruction of Lehman Bros. which competed with his firm, Goldman Sachs, or saving AIG, in which Goldman had major investments. http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/10/01/pearlstein/index.html

If you haven't contacted your member of Congress yet, there still may be time. The Capitol switchboard is (202)224-3121


4. Saturday Night Progressive Film Festival

SAT OCT 4 7:00 pm SATURDAY SCREENINGS Free.
AMARGOSA (2006) Todd Robinson 90 min. RT Rating = N/A
Death Valley Junction is only 10 people away from being completely deserted, but that doesn't stop Marta Becket from dancing at the Amargosa Opera House. This documentary traces the 76-year-old artist's creative journey, from dancing in New York City to her residence in the desert town. She spent seven years filling the formerly deserted theater with paintings of audience members. But as news of her performances spreads, the theater fills with real people. AMARGOSA is an award-winning film about the impact of creativity on the life of an artist.


And Roger sends this video along to get you started. It's entitled Don't Vote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaRXvRwhOk

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Glens Falls, Obama, Obama Phonebanking, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:32 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

 
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

Labels: 4th Judicial District, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Howard Dean, Joe Biden, New York Supreme Court, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 5:28 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Vigil Saturday, McCain's Seven Houses, Circuit Breaker
Hello Everyone;

In this update for August 21, 2008:


1. VIgil Saturday, Downtown Glens Falls, 11am
2 The House of the Seven McCains
3. Conservatives & POW's Warn Against McCain
4. WFP Appeals For Property Tax Circuit Breaker
5. Friday Night Film Fest


1. VIgil Saturday, Downtown Glens Falls, 11am

We will be holding our usual vigil for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday, August 23rd at 11am 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 sign and a friend! As usual, if there are other events downtown, we will relocate to the roundabout.


2 The House of the Seven McCains

It's been a pretty dark week for John McCain, one reminiscent of the gothic gloom of Hawthorne's House Of The Seven Gables. In McCain's case Hawthorne might be paraphrased, Gaffs Of The Seven Houses. Wednesday he was asked by the website magazine Politico how many houses he and his heiress wife Cindy owned. His answer was (and I am not making this up!) "I'm not sure... I'll have to check with my staff."

Obama promptly ridiculed his answer-- McCain wants to run for President and he has to ask his staff how many houses he owns? http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign22-2008aug22,0,751005,full.story

Filmmaker Robert Greenwald has a video out showing some of McCain's million dollar mansions: http://therealmccain.com/?utm_source=rgemail


3. Conservatives & POW's Warn Against McCain

Also, one of McCain's former POW cellmates at the so-called Hanoi Hilton prison in North Vietnam wrote a column for military.com detailing his long personal knowledge of McCain, dating back to when they were both at Annnapolis, spelling out a veteran and former POW's case why McCain should not be trusted with power: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

Roger also sends along this remarkable piece from conservative CNN columnist Jack Cafferty. "Jack Cafferty says John McCain shows virtually no intellectual curiosity, emulating President Bush" and would be just like him: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/18/cafferty.mccain/index.html


4. WFP Appeals For Property Tax Circuit Breaker

The State Assembly this week passed a property tax "circuit breaker" that would limit property taxes paid by working people by imposing a small tax increase on millionaires. This is a big breakthrough for New York that could do wonders for average working New Yorkers and help revitalize the state economy.

The WFP now has an email campaign to get the State Senate to take up and pass this important bill, which would really beneft huge numbers of people in our area. For the petition and more info: http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/t/2775/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2280

There's also a calculator to tell you how much you would save. Try it and I suspect you'll see why this really matters.

5. Friday Night Film Fest

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

FRI AUG 22 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST (Oft-overlooked free family movies all summer long)
GREGORY'S GIRL (1981) Bill Forsyth 91 min. RT Rating = 92 %
Lanky young Gregory and his schoolmates are just starting to notice the opposite sex. Lacking confidence and unsure of exactly what to do, Gregory sets out to win the heart of Dee, a classmate who unfortunately is much better at soccer than he is. Scottish director Bill Forsyth imbues this small, heartfelt, and singularly quirky tale of adolescent longing with an astoundingly generous dose of sensitivity and true-to-life heart.

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, elections, Iraq War, John McCain, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:26 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Reminder-Vigil Saturday, 11am Downtown GF, More On Surge Failure
Hello Everyone;

In this update for August 7th, 2008:


1. Vigil Downtown Glens Falls 11am Saturday
2. Democratic Strategist On Failure of Surge
3. Karl Rove In Inherent Contempt?
4. Let Obama Know!
5. Friday Night Film Fest: Dr. Strangelove



1. Vigil Downtown Glens Falls 11am Saturday

There will be another of our weekly vigils for peace and to bring our troops home this Saturday at 11am at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls, in front of the Civil War Monument. If there are other activities downtown, the vigil is held at the roundabout. Please come and bring a friend and a sign, if you have one.


2. Democratic Strategist On Failure of Surge

Since this update leads with our vigil for peace and to bring our troops home, apropos that subject, I cannot recommend this piece from the Democratic Strategist more; it punctures the naked lie increasingly being spread that the so-called surge has succeeded in any real way and that a corner has been turned in Iraq. As this article and an accompanying piece on Salon.com makes clear, the tactics used had a domestic political focus: just get the administration and conservatives (in both parties!) through the election, before the inevitable explosion, made worse by these tactics, occurs. The depth of the cynicism of this is impossible to understate.

One thing is clear: Democrats allow any slippage of the nation's focus on Iraq as the central issue at their extreme peril. As Herman Goering famously said, if you are going to tell a lie, tell a big one, it is more likely to be believed. If the new Big Lie about Iraq is accepted, that the US is "winning," Democrats, particularly liberals and progressives, and the nation as a whole, are in big trouble-- there are many people who will find the notion of "victory" irresistible, and if they fall for that, they are going to vote for McCain.

http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/_memos/mccain_iraq_memo.pdf
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/06/sons_of_iraq/

In addition the Iraqi Parliament has adjourned without setting elections. Creating a "space" for these elections was the original pretext for the escalation. Now the elections may not be held until next July, if then.
http://www.truthout.org/article/iraqi-parliament-adjourns-without-setting-elections

And of course there are the new revelations on from author Ron Susskind on how the Bush administration forged documents to justify the invasion of Iraq: http://www.salon.com/books/review/2008/08/06/suskind/ It's all quite a load this week.



3. Karl Rove In Inherent Contempt?

Will Karl Rove ever go to jail? Drew sends along this equally terrific piece by David Swanson of Democrats.com that demonstrates more than anyone should need that Congress has the power under the Constitution to jail Rove for contempt of Congress, specifically, inherent contempt, a power Congress has held and used since 1795, but seems to be no longer willing to recognize.

Here's a basic question: why should voters trust Democrat to defend their interests and their nation, when Congressional Democrats will not even defend the status of Congress as a co-equal branch of government? http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print/16346/


4. Let Obama Know!

Obama campaigned as a progressive: now we to make clear we need to him stay a progressive: the Nation magazine has a petition urging him to stay the progressive course. It intends to present it on August 25. You can read it and sign it here: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1555/t/510/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=420

People For The American Way also has a petition urging him to pick a progressive for Vice President: http://www.pfaw.org/go/VP


5. Friday Night Film Fest: Dr. Strangelove

Finally, if you haven't seen it, don't miss Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Friday Night Film Festive:

FRI AUG 8 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) Stanley Kubrick 90 min. RT Rating = 100 %
Stanley Kubrick's Cold War masterpiece.

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Big Lie, Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq, Karl Rove, lying, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:34 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: See you in September, Vigils To Continue, Veep Choices, More
Hello Everyone!

In this update for August 3rd, 2008:

1. Next Meeting In September, Not August
2. Vigil Saturday
3. Obama Veep Choices Raise Concerns
4. Whitehall Times On Iraq
5. Dems For Change In Saratoga
6. Rockhill Cafe Friday Night Progressive FIlm Festival


1. Next Meeting In September, Not August

Thanks to everyone who responded as to whether or not we should have an August meeting: there's a nearly unanimous consensus we should skip the August meeting, which has always been poorly attended, and plan for a big meeting right after Labor Day, which is very early this year.

So our next meeting will be September 3rd-- mark it on your calendar. We will be getting into swing working to elect Barack Obama!


2. Vigil Saturday

However, our Saturday vigils for peace and to bring out troops home have been well attended and we will continue them. Please join us next Saturday, August 9th, at 11am untill Noon at the corner of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls. I will send out a reminder later in the week.


3. Obama Veep Choices Raise Concerns

One of the things I am hearing is that people are getting concerned about who Sen. Obama will chose as Vice President, particularly that VIrginia Governor Tim Kaine seems to be leading the list. Kaine is a Democrat, but also a "right to lifer" and is even opposed to stem cell research. This is not the way to get disgruntled Clinton supporters back in the ranks. Another large issue is that bogus Republican claims about the surge's success seem to be hoodwinking some people.

Dick sends this suggestion along:

"Considering who is left in the race for VP, Wesley Clark, a four star general and former Supreme Commander of NATO and a strong Democrat would surely be the stronger choice to fend off attacks on our Presidential candidate from the nut-house Far Right. (like, he doesn't have enough military experience ? )

http://www.obamaclark.com/


4. Whitehall Times On Iraq

Mike sends this along, and it is remarkable. When the Whitehall Times comes out with editorials like this, you know support for the war and other right wing adventures in Upstate NY has simply imploded.

"Thought others might be interested in this Op/ed from the Whitehall Times July 31, 2008:

"A Legacy of Pain

"AP- MONDAY, JULY 28 – WASHINGTON – The next president will inherit a record budget deficit of $482 billion, according to a new Bush administration estimate.
A Bush administration official said the deficit was being driven to an all-time high by the sagging economy and the stimulus payments being made to 130 million households in an effort to keep the country from falling into a deep recession. A $482 billion deficit would easily surpass the record deficit of $413 billion set in 2004.
Government officials confirmed the $482 billion figure Monday on condition of anonymity because the new estimate had not been formally released. Administration officials were scheduled to do that at a news conference later in the day.
The new figure actually underestimates the deficit, since it leaves out about $80 billion in war costs. In a break from tradition -- and in violation of new mandates from Congress – the White House did not include its full estimate of war costs.

These four paragraphs were part of an Associated Press lead story Monday morning. Note the final sentence relating to the White House not including ($)80 billion in war costs.
The huge deficit is just one legacy President Bush will leave to his successor – and you and me – when he leaves office in January 2009.
On top of this you can tack on a legacy of violating the Geneva Convention (and endangering the lives of US soldiers, by doing so), of steamrolling our nation into a needless war in Iraq when the real war was with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan (a war that will unfortunately pick up the slack from the war in Iraq), of trying to blur the line between church and state, of denying the impact of global warming and even trying to prevent government scientists from telling the truth about it, of never instituting a sensible energy policy (especially right at 9/11 when our nation would have rallied around such an effort). The list goes on and on.
President Bush cannot leave office soon enough.
Unfortunately, this nation will be dealing with (and seeking to repair) his sad legacy for a very long time.


5. Dems For Change In Saratoga

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



6. Rockhill Cafe Friday Night Progressive FIlm Festival

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe continues its Friday Night Progressive Film Festival with one of the great classic films on war and madness, Dr. Strangelove!

Fri Aug 8 7:30 pm SUMMER FAMILY FILM FEST
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964) Stanley Kubrick 90 min. RT Rating = 100 %
Stanley Kubrick's Cold War masterpiece. Based on the novel RED ALERT by Peter George, the film is set at the height of the tensions between Russia and the United States, when all it would take to destroy the world was one push of a button. And General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) is just the man to do it. Convinced that the Russians have infiltrated America's "vital essence," the crazed Ripper gives the go code to the 843rd bomb wing to attack Russia, setting in motion a series of darkly hilarious vignettes involving gung-ho soldiers, wacky generals, spying Russians, drunken premiers, battles with soda machines, fights in the War Room, and the Russians' top-secret Doomsday Machine. Shot in black and white, the film has three main centers of action: one of the B-52 bombers, on which a group of loyal men know they are about to start World War III; Burpelson Air Force Base, where Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) is trying to convince everyone that Ripper has gone mad and the bombing must be stopped; and the War Room, where President Merkin Muffley (Sellers again) is trying to make peace with the Russians. The finale featuring Sellers as Dr. Strangelove is a comic gem. Hayden, George C. Scott, Slim Pickens, Keenan Wynn, and Sellers (in three roles) are especially terrific in what may be the funniest, most poignant black comedy ever made, a vicious satire on the farcical aspects of the military and the cold war.


Thanks everyone! I'll send out a reminder about the vigil on Wednesday or Thursday.
In the meanwhile, as that top 40 hit from the early sixties, See You In September!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq War, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:53 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Peace & Unity Vigil Saturday 11am, McClatchy Series, FISA, War Vote Alarm
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:

1. Vigil & Unity Event Saturday
2. Kudos To Post Star On McClatchy Series
3. FISA, War Funding Votes Imminent
4. Robocalling
5. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. Vigil & Unity Event Saturday

We will be holding another one hour vigil this Saturday, June 21st at 11am in front of the Civil War Monument at the corners of Bay, Glen and South Streets in downtown Glens Falls.

This will be a vigil for peace and to bring our troops home. But it will have an extra dimension this weekend. DFA National is urging us to hold unity events now that the primary process is over. Accordingly, now that Ron Paul has dropped out of the race, we would urge the community to come together and also show support for the only remaining candidate committed to ending the Iraq War and bringing our troops home, Barack Obama.

Please come at 11am and bring a sign (we have a few) and a friend.


2. Kudos To Post Star On McClatchy Series

The Post Star deserves a real salute for its recent decision to carry the McClatchy Newspapers syndicated series on the abuse and sometimes torture of prisoners in US military custody, which occurred at the order of top civilian lawyers in the administration, over the objection of military attorneys in the Judge Advocate Generals office.

McClatchy is the news service that got the facts on Iraq right, as opposed to the rest of the main stream media, and it is great to see the Post Star now carrying their distinguished coverage.

For those who missed them, here are some links to these "must read" stories:

Many at Guantanamo had no ties to terrorism.
Documents undercut Pentagon's denial of routine abuse.
Former detainees allege Quran abuse at Guantanamo.

Abuse of detainees routine at U.S. bases in Afghanistan.

Laws that led to detainee abuse hatched in secret
Guantanamo becoming recruiting ground



3. FISA, War Funding Votes Imminent

Votes in Congress are imminent on funding the war in Iraq for another year, and the FISA bill, which is basically a complete surrender that gives the Bush administration every it wants in terms of warrantless spying on Americans and letting telecom corporate criminals off the hook for helping spy illegally on Americans.

Why the Congress is even considering either measure is hard to comprehend-- for instance, these telecommunications companies have never exactly been friends of the Democratic Party, as all those messages we get from DFA Wireless/Credo Mobile like to point out. They give almost entirely to Republicans.

Democrats.com send this alert out today on the war funding bill, which betrays the commitment Democrats made to the American people before the 2006 election:

"Late Wednesday, House "Democratic" Leader Steny Hoyer announced a deal with George Bush to give him $165B more for Iraq without bringing a single soldier home. And Hoyer wants the Democratic Congress to pass the bill today (Thursday) - before the 68% of Americans who oppose the disastrous occupation get ourselves organized.

"So please pick up the phone right now and tell your House Representative to vote NO on wasting $165 billion more in Iraq.

"Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your House Representative (not Senators) by name, or find your House Representative's name and direct dial by entering your address on the right side:
http://usalone.com

If you do call, I would also suggest you bring up FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Glenn Greenwald, the constitutional law scholar and Salon columnist has been doing great work on this issue. Today he writes: "It's full-scale, unconditional amnesty with no inquiry into whether anyone broke the law. In the U.S. now, thanks to the Democratic Congress, we'll have a new law based on the premise that the President has the power to order private actors to break the law, and when he issues such an order, the private actors will be protected from liability of any kind on the ground that the Leader told them to do it -- the very theory that the Nuremberg Trial rejected." and
"Sen. Russ Feingold courteously answers the last question I just posed:

"The proposed FISA deal is not a compromise; it is a capitulation. . . . The House and Senate should not be taking up this bill, which effectively guarantees immunity for telecom companies alleged to have participated in the President's illegal program, and which fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home. "

Dick sends along this earlier Greenwald observation:

"I'm trying to get some more details about this deal -- and am also trying to minimize the less rational aspects of my reaction -- before I write about it, which I'll do tomorrow at the latest. Suffice to say, the Democrats are about to reverse the only worthwhile act they've undertaken since being handed control of the Congress 18 months ago, and will endorse and authorize yet another aspect of the Bush lawbreaking regime. I ask this literally, not rhetorically: can someone identify even one meaningful event from the past 18 months that would have been different had the GOP retained control of both houses of Congress? Just one."

So if you call, please urge our members of Congress to vote no on war funding and no on FISA.



4. Robocalling

I have been asked to pass this along about robocalls coming into the district about Rep. Gillibrand, with a press release I will paste at the bottom, and so I will.
But I don't believe I am doing her any favors in doing so, because this completely concedes Republican energy policy frames, specifically that drilling can have any impact whatsoever on our energy status, or that there is any relationship between supply and price. There is none. Demand has dropped sharply but prices continue to rise.

I would also note it is common knowledge that just because a piece of federal land has been leased, does not mean it has oil or gas on it. All the good areas were drilled many years ago. What's left, if anything at all, are resources like tar sands or oil shale, which require massive capital investment or non-existent technology, or are heavy oils that require steam injection from non existent western water resources. These companies are famous for never thinking beyond the next quarter. If they had oil they sold it as fast as they could. That's why we're running out now.

"FYI: Tomorrow, Freedoms Watch, a 527 front group for the National Republican Party, will launch robo-dials into the district saying that the Congresswoman opposes drilling for oil during record high gas prices."

"In fact: The Congresswoman supports domestic drilling on lands (off and on-shore) already permitted to be tapped today, and she sponsored legislation to fine oil companies who continue to sit on their drilling permits and do nothing."

"If you can help let the Congresswoman’s constituents know the truth via any means -- letters to the editor, word of mouth and emails to your lists, that would be great. The following press release was sent out on Father’s Day and contains good information on this issue. I am also attaching the Congresswoman’s most current letter on energy. It discusses several of the steps she has taken since she took office to address gas prices and the energy crisis. "



5. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival

Fri Jun 20 7:30 pm Progressive Film Forum
GENGHIS BLUES (1999) Roiko & Adrian Belic 90 min. RT Rating = 73 %
In 1995, blind bluesman Paul Pena, who has played with Muddy Waters, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Jerry Garcia, and Merl Saunders and wrote the Steve Miller Band hit "Jet Airliner," traveled to Tuva, a small land in Northern Mongolia, with a small film crew and radio DJ Mario Casetta. Pena had become fascinated with the Tuvan practice of harmonic throat singing, in which singers are able to make incredible, almost magical sounds flow from deep in their throats. Pena's tour of the country leads him to the 1995 Throat singing Competition and Symposium, in which he competes in the kargyaa section, and the crowd is thrilled to see an American blues musician throat singing and talking to them in the Tuvan language. Brothers Adrian and Roko Belic document the trip, alternating between scenes of Pena's experiences with the people and shots of the beautiful Tuvan landscape and culture, from lush fields, stunning mountains, and hot deserts to dancing, a form of sumo-like wrestling, and a brutal sheep slaughtering ceremony. This majestic film won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 1999 Academy Awards as well as the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The music in the film is literally incredible and it has to be seen and heard to be believed.

Thanks everyone! See you all Saturday!

Larry


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





Gillibrand Calls for Expanded Domestic Energy Production


Long-term Solutions Needed to Bring Relief to Upstate Residents

“It is time for American energy policy to be dictated by the consumers and not the oil and gas industry.” – Rep. Gillibrand



Saratoga Springs, NY – Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand called on oil companies to expand their domestic energy production on public lands already leased by the federal government. Oil and gas companies currently hold leases to 68 million acres of federal lands for energy production that are not being utilized. In testimony on Capitol Hill last month, oil executives asked Congress to open up new lands to oil production while they sit on permits for tens of millions of acres they are not using for production. The oil and gas companies have so far refused to begin production on 77% of their offshore oil leases and 73% of their onshore leases. When citing record gas prices economists have frequently cited the supply and demand equation as a driving reason for soaring prices. This bill will force the oil companies to increase supply on lands they are permitted to tap today. According to AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report the average cost for a gallon of gas in the Capitol region is $4.19.

In reaction to their continued inaction, Congresswoman Gillibrand announced that she is an original sponsor of legislation that would impose fees on the oil companies for refusing to use the permits they asked for. The Responsible Ownership of Public Lands Act imposes a $5 per acre fee on oil companies for the first three years the companies have leases but are not using for production, and increase to $25 per acre for the fourth year, and $50 per acre for subsequent years. These fees would be used to invest in alternative energy research and development and to ensure funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“We can’t drill our way out of this problem, but for the oil and gas companies to continue to make record profits while Upstate families are struggling with record prices at the pump, and not to increase production from the leases they currently have, is unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Gillibrand, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee. “It is time for American energy policy to be dictated by the consumers and not the oil and gas industry.”

Congresswoman Gillibrand has been a leader in Congress, fighting for immediate relief for the American people and our nation’s long-term energy security. The Congresswoman led the effort to call for a temporary suspension of future purchases to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to keep more oil in the market. On May 13, the Congresswoman voted in favor of legislation that made this proposal law.

“Our long-term energy security is tied to our ability to work toward achieving energy independence through investment and deployment of new renewable energy technologies. I want America, and specifically Upstate New York, to be the market leader in the development of these new technologies that will, not only bring us closer to achieving energy independence, but will create ‘green collar’ jobs and revitalize our agricultural and manufacturing bases. Our region is blessed with not just the natural resources that can create energy through solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, but we also have the creativity and innovation to lead the region in the development of non-food based biofuels, fuel cell technology and energy efficient building and product manufacturing.”

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Iraq War, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, Supplemental Bill, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 7:00 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: LARAC Instead of Vigil, Kucinich Leads, more
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:

1. Vigil Postponed Because of LARAC Festival
2. Kucinich Introduces 35 Articles of Impeachment
3. Obama Economic Choice Raises Eyebrows
4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. Vigil Postponed Because of LARAC Festival

Because of the annual LARAC arts festival, which sprawls around City Park, and also because quite a few people have told me they are going to be away for Father's Day weekend, we are going to have to postpone our weekly vigil for peace and to bring our troops home until the following weekend, June 21st.


2. Kucinich Introduces 35 Articles of Impeachment

If you caught C-SPAN on Monday night, you saw one of the greatest and most extraordinary performances in the very long and distinguished history of the United States House of Representatives. Rep. Dennis Kucinich spent most of Monday night, almost five hours, soberly, quietly and eloquently reading and introducing 35 Articles of Impeachment against George W. Bush. Each article ended with the following magisterial paragraph:

"In all of these actions and decisions, President George W. Bush has acted in a manner contrary to his
trust as President and Commander in Chief, and subversive of constitutional government, to the
prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.
Wherefore, President George W. Bush, by such conduct, is guilty of an impeachable offense warranting
removal from office."

The full transcript can be read here: http://chun.afterdowningstreet.org/amomentoftruth.pdf

The Articles of Impeachment have been referred to committee, but a growing number of members of Congress are pushing for real hearings, and Kucinich vows to introduce them again in 30 days.

Whatever happens, this is a great, and redeeming, moral victory. It is not always possible to win. But I am reminded of Camus' The Plague, in which the real achievement of those fighting the plague was not in defeating it, but in asserting human dignity and endurance.

In this one is reminded of the eerie similarities between the conference, recently reported on, in which torture techniques were casually bandied about and discussed by high administration officials, and the transcript of the Wansee Conference, wherein the Holocaust was calmly discussed and planned.

It is high patriotism and an assertion of moral dignity to say, not in my name, which is what Kucinich said Monday for all of us.

Democrats.com is calling for action, and we can join in, too, at the very least, as an assertion of our shared dignity as Americans:

"Kucinich's heroic efforts will be in vain unless we inundate Congress with emails and calls (202-224-3121) showing our full support for Rep. Kucinich's 35 Articles of Impeachment: http://www.democrats.com/35-articles-of-impeachment



3. Obama Economic Choice Raises Eyebrows


I think it is safe to say we are all Obama backers, now. But some recent choices of his are raising concerns, and we've got to find a way to let that campaign know that change means real change in the structure of economic power, not rearranging the deck chairs for corporate America. David Sirota sent this out today:

"Obama Economic Adviser Draws Fire

"ABC News, 6/12/08

"Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., underscored his affinity with Democratic centrists this week when he tapped Jason Furman, who worked closely with former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, to be his director of economic policy.

"But the selection is now drawing criticism from some on the left who are wondering if the presumptive Democratic nominee will challenge corporate power and make good on his promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

""When people see someone like Barack Obama promise change and then see that same person make their first move the hiring of a Wall Street economic team, that’s what sows disengagement and cynicism in the public,” said David Sirota"

There is more and it is worth reading:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/obama-economic.html



4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival

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

Fri Jun 13 7:30 pm Progressive Film Forum
JONESTOWN: The Life and Death of The People's temple (2006) Stanley Nelson 90 min. RT Rating = 94 %
With previously unseen footage and interviews with former members of the Peoples Church, this documentary explores the events leading up to the Jonestown Massacre in 1978. A cult which developed a large following in the 1970s, the Peoples Church was led by Jim Jones, who brought his congregation to an idyllic community in Guyana before inciting them to mass suicide.

Thanks, everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Impeachment, Iraq War, Kucinich, Obama, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, vigil

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:57 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Reminder-- Uncounted Video, Primaries, More
Hello Everyone;

In This Update:


1. Link-up Meeting Reminder: Uncounted Video
2. Primary News
3. FISA Fiasco-- The Immunity Bill That WIll Not Die
4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival
5. Delegate Counter


1. Link-up Meeting Reminder: Uncounted Video

The first Wednesday in March is tomorrow, March 5th, so we'll be holding our usual DFA-linkup at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe at 7pm. On the agenda is the rescheduled showing of the video Uncounted, an expose on election fraud,. We'll also be discussing the nation wide commemoration of the start of the Iraq War, which we decided to do at our last meeting. We'll be doing that in coordination with Moveon.org and other groups, and some local problems that have arisen.

The Cafe is located one block west of the roundabout in downtown Glens Falls.

2. Primary News

In late news tonight, Barack Obama has won a solid victory in the Vermont Primary and Hillary Clinton has won an equally solid victory in the Rhode Island primary. The popular vote has been called for Clinton in Ohio, although Obama is still running strong in the delegate count because delegates are awarded by congressional district. Texas is uncalled as I right. There are reports that some counties in Ohio won't be counted until after 4am, and because of the bizarre dual primary/caucus system in Texas, it might be sometimes tomorrow before it's clear who won what, if anything.

We'll have something else to discuss at our meeting, it seems.


3. FISA Fiasco-- The Immunity Bill That WIll Not Die


There is other important political news: FISA and Telecom immunity will not die. A few weeks ago it appeared an outrageous White House effort to give legislative immunity to telecommunications companies for illegally spying on Americans for the administration had been defeated.

However, this effort to undermine our Constitution has been revived.

Several groups are sending out emergency appeals for immediate citizen action:

From DFA National: "Republicans want to bring immunity back to life and the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX-16) said over the weekend he was ready to make the deal. We must stop him.
Call Rep. Reyes right now and demand he stands with the Democratic majority and against telecom immunity."

"Intelligence Committee Chairman,
Rep. Silvestre Reyes
(202) 225-7690"

From DFA Partner Working Assets: "Last fall, the House passed the RESTORE Act, a FISA reform bill that does what we need FISA reform legislation to do: increase oversight of domestic surveillance and deny retroactive immunity to the telecom companies. Now, because the House bill is so different from the legislation that the Senate just passed, there will be a conference between leaders of the House and the Senate...
"Unfortunately, signs coming from House leaders (most notably Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes) now indicate that they're getting ready to capitulate as well.

"The Senate legislation gives George Bush and Dick Cheney exactly what they wanted. But it will only become law if Democrats in the House roll over by giving up on the RESTORE Act and the rule of law..

http://act.credomobile.com/campaign/fisa_house?rk=R7NYc01193HLE

And From People For The American Way:

This is a last call for our emergency petition to Stop Telecom Immunity. If you are not one of the 25,000 Americans who already signed, please do so now. And then make sure to ask your friends to sign.

http://www.pfaw.org/go/StopImmunity


4. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


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

Fri Mar 7 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum

THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1984) Rob Epstein 88 min. RT = 100 %
Winner of the 1984 Academy Award for best documentary, this is the moving and ultimately life-affirming portrait of the first openly gay man elected to political office in California. Milk's tremendous courage and humanity, as he fought for the civil rights of all people, soars above the prejudices of his day. The film chronicles the successes of his life, the tragedy of his assassination, and the uproar which greeted Dan White's infamous "Twinkie Defense."


5. Delegate Counter

Drew sends along this link to a delegate counter so that you can follow how many delegate Clinton and Obama have:
http://www.slate.com/features/delegatecounter/


Thanks, everyone! See you all tomorrow at the Cafe,

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Primaries, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:46 PM 0 comments

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

In this update:

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


1. Uncounted Film Rescheduled For Next Meeting

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

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

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


2. Obama Now Eleven Straight

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

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

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


3. Clinton Campaign In Disarray?

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

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

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


4. A New Must Read: Age Of American Unreason

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

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

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

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

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

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


5. Friday Night Progressive Film Fest

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

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

And on the 29th:

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

Thanks Everyone! See you all soon,

Larry

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

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