Tricounty DFA Update: Healthcare actions, PHARMA Flyer, More

Hello Everyone;

In this update for September 16th, 2009:

1. Deceptive PHARMA Flyer & Rep. Scott Murphy

2. Gov. Dean Says Public Option Still Possible

3. Exactly What Is Going On?

4. Rock Hill Progressive Film Fest: SiCKO!

1. Deceptive PHARMA Flyer & Rep. Scott Murphy

Some of us received a mailing from PHARMA, the pharmaceutical industry group fighting healthcare, about Rep. Scott Murphy. I've been told by Murphy's office he was not aware of the PHARMA brochure before it was sent, did not authorize it and has put no money into it. They were very concerned that people would get the wrong idea from the brochure, which they feel gives an inaccurate impression of where he stands.

However, as the brochure says, Murphy is a co-sponsor of HR 1548, which is an "important bipartisan bill to encourage innovation for biologics and is good for small biotech firms and universities." I would note that Gov. Dean was apparently for 1548, too.

2. Gov. Dean Says Public Option Still Possible

Senator Baucus today unveiled the Blue Dog version of healthcare reform. It does not contain a public option, or many other essential featuresorm. Wendell Potter, the former Cigna executive exposing the health insurance industry says the Baucus bill is an "absolute gift" to the insurance industry: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/wendell-potter-public-opt_n_287733.html

However, there are powerful forces in favor of it.

According to Governor Dean, real healthcare reform is still possible, and spoke about it Tuesday on Rachel Maddow and last weekend. Says Dean, "This is about the health insurance industry versus the American people. Seventy-two percent of the American people want a public option. We want them to be able to make these choices." http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/28/758865/-Dean-on-the-Baucus-Plan

According to Dean, there are 51 or more votes and that is all that is required to pass a real bill using the reconciliation process. Schumer is said to be leaning that way.

Therefore, it's important for people to call and urge our Senators and Reps. to hang tough on real reform and a public option, even though they have expressed support before, which we greatly appreciate! That means:

*No trigger to start the public option (that is, it starts without waiting for insurance companies to reform themselves. They won't.)

*Open to all- ( Everyone should be able to chose the plan they want as a basic right, not locked in or out. What's choice without choice?)

*The best way to do this is to allow people to buy into Medicare so the system starts right away

*Keep the Kucinich Amendment in the bill as a fall back option. (the Kucinich amendment preserves the rights of states to create a single-payer system.)

The numbers are:

Sen. Schumer: 1-202-224-6542

Sen. Gillibrand: 1-202-224-4451

Rep. Scott Murphy: 1-202-225-5614

3. Exactly What Is Going On?

I talk to a lot of people and everyone is expressing the same frustration at the Obama administration's clear efforts to dump the public option while at the same time saying they are for it.

Certainly, this White House is far closer to high finance than anyone expected. Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake writes on the gap between action and rhetoric, and it is so illuminating I will also paste the entire Hamsher piece at the bottom: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/obamas-speech-trapped-in_b_282377.html

Note in particular her comments on Rahm Emmanuel and hit the link to read about the "liberal "veal pen" institutions ."

There is another great piece by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone on the whole awful picture. Both are must reads.:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/29988909/sick_and_wrong/print

4. Rock Hill Progressive Film Fest: SiCKO!

The Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe's Progressive Film Fest continues this week with the best possible film for this season: SiCKO. If you haven't seen it, you must go.

FRI SEP 18 7:00 pm Progressive Film Forum Documentary and Independent Films Free.

SICKO Michael Moore (2007) 113 min

America's most incendiary filmmaker, Michael Moore, returned in 2007 with this health-care-industry exposé. SICKO tackles material as controversial as the topics explored in Moore's other films, yet does so in a way that places the 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. Of course, SICKO isn't a PBS documentary, it's a Michael Moore movie, and his fingerprints are all over it. 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.

THU SEP 24 7:00 pm OPEN MIC NIGHT hosted by our very own Cory Avon. Sing, play, read or just watch and listen. Free.

FRI SEP 25 7:00 pm Progressive Film Forum Documentary and Independent Films Free.

LOOSE CHANGE: FINAL CUT Dylan Avery (2008) 90 min

Using witness testimony, expert analysis, news footage, and corroborating evidence this explosive and important film tells us that the official story of 9/11 is false. Starring George W. Bush, Condoleeza Rice, Dick Cheney, Philip Zelikow, Dan Rather, the late Peter Jennings, contributors from Fox News, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, firefighters, first responders and 9/11 victims, the film exposes the inconsistencies and lies put forward by our government about 9/11, the crime of the century. This movie is sure to spark tough questions from its viewers. Regardless of your political stance, this movie is sure to keep you awake for weeks. You will probably never look at your government and media the same way again.

TUE SEP 29 6:00 pm BANNED BOOKS READ-IN

Every year, to honor those authors whose works have been either banned or blacklisted, Red Fox Books and Rock Hill Cafe celebrate our freedom of speech by spending a few hours reading aloud passages from our favorite banned works. Everyone of all ages is welcome to come and read (some of the most ridiculous bannings have been childrens' books) but you are also welcome to just come and listen. You may bring your own material to read but, rest assured, Naftali and Susan will be bringing extras. See you then!

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Obama's Speech: Trapped In the Gap Between Action and Rhetoric

Jane Hamsher

Founder, FireDogLake.com

Posted: September 10, 2009 02:38 PM

The President did a great job last night making the case to the nation of the need for health care reform. He made the moral case, and every metric indicates that people were overwhelmingly moved to support his plan. That's the good news for the White House.

The not so good news: the White House has been trying to get out from under the burden of supporting the public option for weeks. The trouble is, every time they try to do it, the President's poll numbers take a huge hit. And so last night he came out and indicated that a public plan would be a part of his reform package. Today on the White House website, under "The Obama Plan," it says:

"If You Don't Have Insurance

"Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can't find affordable coverage with a real choice."

The website is not so quick to commemorate the qualifiers regarding this public plan from last night's speech:

• "The public option is only a means to that end - and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal." (expendable)
• "For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies." (triggers)
• "Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring." (co-ops)

The administration's inability to close the gap between expectations and reality is a boon for progressives members of Congress trying to maintain the 40 vote firewall necessary to keep any health care bill from passing that does not have a public public option. So far they are holding steady at 66 votes with no support from the party, the White House, Congressional leadership or the liberal "veal pen" institutions.

Earlier this week, the co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus -- Raul Grijalva and Lynn Woolsey -- wrote a letter urging the President to mention the public option in his speech. I spoke with Rep. Grijalva yesterday, and he reiterated how important it was to their efforts that the President do so. As long as the President keeps expressing his support for a public option, they -- and we -- can quite rightly say that we're only insisting on something Obama himself endorses, something he campaigned on.

Interview with Rep. Grijalva -- Pt. II

Of course, the actions of the White House betray quite a different intent. The deals they have negotiated with health care industry stakeholders do not include a public plan, and they don't believe they can back out of them without triggering a rush of lobbyist money to GOP coffers.

At some point there will be a day of reckoning when the public understands that the public option is gone. But getting there will be tricky, and in the mean time White House wants to stop their opponents -- and let's face it, progressives who are insisting on the inclusion of a public plan are at this point their opponents -- from being able to exploit that gap. Because with every day that goes by, the base gets more and more wedded to the promise of a public plan, encouraged by the positive rhetoric of the President himself. It becomes that much harder for the White House to extract itself from the enthusiasm they assist in fostering without paying a huge political price.

One day the 11 dimensional chess set is going to have to come to terms with the fact that Rahm Emanuel worked with Max Baucus to cut deals that they force into the House through the Blue Dogs, and that the goals of the White House are not at odds with those of the Blue Dogs. Which is why Emanuel protects them so fiercely. And why we keep hearing things like this:

Remember back on Friday, President Obama discussed the public option on a conference call with House liberals?... Well that meeting never happened. [I]t doesn't seem to suggest that House liberals are being roped in to the health care negotiations between the House and the Senate.

Meanwhile, the President meets with the Blue Dogs this morning.

NBC's First Read indicates that the President's speech "will be a failure if progressives...are still obsessing over the public option a week from now." But recent Rasmussen polling found that 44% of Democrats "strongly support" health care reform if it includes a public option. "Without the public option, just 12% of Democrats Strongly support it," they note.

It's going to take more than just one speech to move those numbers significantly.

It's hard to believe the administration thought they could ditch the public plan without completely demoralizing the base and potentially suppressing 2010 turnout to 1994 levels, just as the passage of NAFTA did in 1993. Let's not forget, that was also Rahm Emanuel's handiwork and it resulted in a 54 seat swing that gave the GOP control of the House. Those Democrats who feel the need to "pass anything" and sacrifice the heart of health care reform just to build Republican support should also consider the potential nationwide downticket disaster that dropping a public plan could portend.

In the mean time, as long as the White House is consumed with the task of gaming out how they're going to break the bad news to the public and hoping they can somehow pass off the blame to the GOP, House progressives will exploit the double the administration has created to consolidate their block.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/obamas-speech-trapped-in_b_282377.html?view=print

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, healthcare reform, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, Scott Murphy, SiCKO

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:38 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: 5th Anniversary Meeting Wednesday! Dean Speaks & More
Hello Everyone!

This is a very special week for our local DFA group: Our Fifth Anniversary.

In This Update:

1. 5th Anniversary Meeting
2. Governor Dean On Democrat's Crisis
3. Collapse Of The Surge
4. Language Rot Behind War
5. Gore's New Green Initiative
6. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


1. 5th Anniversary Meeting

April 2nd will be the first Wednesday in April, and the Fifth Anniversary of our Greater Glens Falls DFA Meetup or Link-up!

Five years ago this Wednesday, April 2nd, a group of us were first united by the candidacy of Howard Dean for President. With only two missed dates due to venue problems, we have been meeting continuously on the first Wednesday of the month ever since then.

We have moved on from Dean For America to Democracy For America, welcomed our progressive friends from the Kucinich, Clark, Kerry and Edwards campaigns, helped elect Governor Dean Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and made many new friends. Above all, we are still fighting to carry on the principles of the Dean campaign of resisting right wing extremism, supporting progressive policies and candidates, and building a new American community.

If you haven't been in a while, come on down at 7pm to where we began, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe on Exchange and Elm Streets in downtown Glens Falls.

There's been a lot going on politically that I know everyone will want to discuss-- we've had great discussions all season long, and we'll be planning some future actions. We'll also get to those extra clips of Michael Moore's Sicko that we never got to show: they're great. If you have a suggestion for something special you would like to see us do or discuss Wednesday, let me know.

For old times's sake, I'll be unfurling our big Dean For America banner in celebration-- and if you have a Kucinich, Clark or Kerry poster, bring that along, too!


2. Governor Dean On Democrat's Crisis

The man who brought us together hasn't been heard as much as we would like since becoming Chair of the DNC. But Governor Dean gave a major and lengthy press interview last week on the burgeoning crisis in the Presidential primary, which many fear is devolving into a demolition derby that may damage Democrats' chances in November.

"WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Party chief Howard Dean says Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and their supporters should beware of tearing each other down, demoralizing the base and damaging the party's chances of winning the White House in November."

For More: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20080328/D8VMDSJG0.html

How well the Governor's advice will be taken is unknown. Notably, Senator Clinton told the Washington Post today that she is determined to stay in the race until the convention, no matter what, and would take the fight over Florida and Michigan to the Credentials Committee: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/29/AR2008032901909.html?hpid=topnews


3. Collapse Of The Surge

Governor Dean's famous speech to the DNC Winter Convention in February 2003 brought many of us into the original DFA:

"What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic party leadership is supporting the president's unilateral attack on Iraq."

The "What I Want To Know Speech" is one of the great turning points in America history because is the moment when Democrats, liberals and progressives rallied to begin turning back the conservative's 30 year counter revolution. (Read it at: http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/dnc0203/dean022103spt.html )

It's as fresh as if it were written yesterday. And yet the war continues. And Democrats allow it. This is despite the fact the so-called Surge has now collapsed after the Iraqi government's failed attack on Shiite militias in Basra. For details we aren't seeing in the US press: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/30/iraq

According to major media news reports the Iraqi Army "turned in their weapons." In the middle of a firefight? They "turned in their weapons?" What an interesting phrase. Let' translate that into English: They surrendered or ran away. And the U.S. Army and Marines are now picking up the slack, and the casualties.

This happened before, in Vietnam. Peasants were driven off their land by the war and joined the South Vietnamese Army to feed their families. But they weren't there to die for their country: they were there to feed those families, and if they got killed, they couldn't do that (obviously) and so they ran away at the first sign of trouble and left US forces holding the bag.

Our invasion destroyed the Iraqi economy and now Iraqi men enlist to get money to feed their families. And like the Viets, they won't risk their lives lest their families literally starve.

This proves no progress has been made and we are no closer to "victory" than we were five years and 4,007+ dead GIs ago.

Here's another critical fact that's not getting into U.S. papers-- the "Surge" was supposed to create conditions for a political settlement, but the Iraqi Parliament cannot even muster a quorum and rarely meets. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/24/news/web.0124noshow.php

If the Parliament never meets there never will be a political resolution and the war will continue forever.

When will we get serious about removing our forces from this mess? Kathy notes Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Carter's National Security advisor, makes a strong case for the speedy removal of US troops in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032702405.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

There is also a solid new plan organized by a group of 30 Congressional candidates, including NY's Eric Massa-- "A Responsible Plan To End The War." http://www.responsibleplan.com/home
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/closing-the-message-gap-o_b_94074.html


4. Language Rot Behind War

The greatest essay ever written on political language is George Orwell's Politics And The English Language. Orwell exposed how the misuse of language can lead to political disaster, and the abuse of language did much to get us into the Iraqi War. That makes this piece in The New York Review of Books this week's must read-- Euphemism And American Violence: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21199

"The frightening thing about such acts of renaming or euphemism, Tacitus implies, is their power to efface the memory of actual cruelties. Behind the façade of a history falsified by language, the painful particulars of war are lost. Maybe the most disturbing implication of the famous sentence "They create a desolation and call it peace" is that apologists for violence, by means of euphemism, come to believe what they hear themselves say."

A criminal act of aggression becomes "regime change." Torture becomes "enhanced interrogation." An escalation becomes a "surge." Bombing becomes "air support." And so on. As the article goes on,

"Orwell's insight was that the italicized phrases are colorless by design and not by accident. He saw a deliberate method in the imprecision of texture. The inventors of this idiom meant to suppress one kind of imagination, the kind that yields an image of things actually done or suffered..."

As Orwell himself noted; "In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of the political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism., question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness."

This is, by the way, an explanation of why Govenor Dean's What I Want To Know speech was so great: he stated it precisely in plain language-- "unilateral attack."

The lack of such clarity and precision goes far to explain why Congress is unable to act: words and phrases like stabilization process and creating space for political solutions are euphemisms akin to Lenin's phrase breaking an egg to make an omlet: all fine, of course, unless your head or the head of someone you love is the egg being broken.

At any rate, euphemisms for violence like stabilization process, surge or strategy for success are a leading reason we are now in the six year of war in Iraq-- they blind us to the concrete, blood drenched reality of violence and death.

If you want to read Orwell' famous essay, it's also online at: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm



5. Gore's New Green Initiative

Another leader who speaks clearly is Al Gore. He was on 60 Minutes last night and called the denial of Global Warming akin to saying the world is flat.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/27/60minutes/main3974389.shtml

Gore's latest initiative to save the planet is a $300 million three year promotional and educational campaign to raise public awareness of the Global Warming crisis-- it's the biggest such campaign in history and it starts next Wednesday: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/30/AR2008033001880.html?hpid=topnews


6. Friday Night Progressive Film Festival


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

Fri Apr 4 7:30 pm Adirondack Progressive Film Forum (National Holocaust Month)
PAPER CLIPS (2004) Elliot Berlin & Joe Fab 87 min. RT Rating = 71 %
The town of Whitwell is a tiny community of about two thousand people nestled in the mountains of Tennessee. Its citizens are almost exclusively white and Christian. In 1998, the children of Whitwell Middle School took on an inspiring project, launched out of their principal's desire to help her students open their eyes to the diversity of the world beyond their insulated valley. What happened would change the students, their teachers, their families and the entire town forever… and eventually open hearts and minds around the world. PAPER CLIPS tells the moving story of how these students responded to what had been to them a completely unfamiliar chapter in human history – the Holocaust – with a promise to honor every single soul lost in that horrible event by collecting paperclips to represent each individual exterminated by the nazis. Their dedication was absolute. Their plan was simple but profound. The amazing result, which stands permanently in their schoolyard, is an unforgettable lesson of how a committed group of children can change the world, one classroom at a time.

Thanks everyone! See you all Wednesday for our Fifth Anniversary! Remember to bring a friend!

My best to all of you,

Larry Dudley

Labels: Al Gore, Climate Change, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Howard Dean, Iraq War, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, SiCKO

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 11:03 PM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA: SiCKO Follow-up Info, Washington Co. Holiday Party, DFA Backs Down DiFI
Hello Everyone;

A Few Quick Things:

1. SiCKO Follow-Up: Actions
2. Washington County Holiday Party
3. DiFi Backs Down To DFA


1. SiCKO Follow-Up: Actions


There was an overflowing crowd last night at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Queensbury for the special showing of Michael Moore's new documentary SiCKO and conference call with filmmaker Moore.

First, thanks to Harvey Noordsey for hosting this event and Rev. Dean Perkins and the UUA for welcoming us and everyone in the area!

DFA suggested attendees take a specific action for healthcare rights in America and people were asking for that info-- here it is:

"Right after the movie and conference call, there's one quick action you can take that will make a tremendous difference for millions of our most vulnerable citizens. Please write a letter to a company in the insurance industry.

Scott P. Serota, President and Chief Executive Officer
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
1310 G Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005

Michael B. McCallister, President and Chief Executive
Humana, Inc.
500 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202

Ronald A. Williams, Chairman and Chief executive Officer'Aetna, INc.
151 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, CT 06156


SUGGESTED MESSAGE:

"Hi, my name is_____ and I am a concerned citizen in _________ (city) _____________ (state).

Over the past decade, your company has given millions of dollars to members of Congress to lobby for their votes on issues that you support.

Right now, health care for ten million American children is at stake because the President refuses to sign critical, potentially life saving children's health insurane legislation (SCHIP).

I am writing to ask that you contact every Congressperson you financially support and ask them to override the President's vote of SCHIP. Thank you."


2. Washington County Holiday Party

The Washington County Democratic Committee will be holding its annual Holiday Party at the Rice Mansion Inn in
Cambridge NY on, Friday, November 30, 2007 at 7:00 PM.

The cost is $30 per person (not tax deductible).

Delicious food and desserts by Spoonful Catering. Wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee included. Silent Auction, Raffle, etc.

For reservations send check made out to the Washington County Democratic Committee to:
Ed Dowling, One Highland St., Greenwich NY 12834
Note: Space is limited so please respond by 11/26/07 - questions: Judy Doonan 692-7215

www.washingtoncountydemocrats.com


3. DiFi Backs Down To DFA

Also in news tonight! DFA's push for calls to Senator Majority leader Harry Reid complaining about Sen. Diane Feinstein's support for granting immunity to telecom companies who broke the law and helped the Bush administration spy on Americas paid off. "DiFI" as she is known backed down and voted no.

This is a big victory for DFA and a real feather in the cap of the crew up in Burlington. For more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/15/20469/580
and: http://blogforamerica.com/view/22995

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Glens Falls, Jim Dean, Larry Dudley, Michael Moore, SiCKO, Unitarian Universal Church Glens Falls, UUA

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 12:23 AM 0 comments

 
Tricounty DFA Meetup Report & Reminder: SiCKO Showing Wednesday With Conference Call
Hello Everyone!

In This Update:


1. SiCKO Showing At The UU Reminder
2. GGF-DFA Meeting Report
3. Election Analysis
4. Former Congressman DWI
5. Paul Krugman To Be At Northshire
6. Torturous...
7. Friday Night FIlm Fest


1. SiCKO Showing At The UU Reminder

I would like to remind everyone that they are cordially invited to attend a screening of Michael Moore's acclaimed new film, SiCKO, at a House Party/Screening on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:15 PM! SiCKO will be followed by a live nationwide conference call with filmmaker Michael Moore himself and DFA Chairman Jim Dean.

SiCKO, which premiered in area theaters earlier this year, is a meditation on the state of healthcare in America, an expose of the failures of the American healthcare system and the brutalities it often inflicts on patients and families, a revelation on how other nations provide better quality care for their sick and injured both more humanely and at lower cost, and a challenge to a political and economic system whose goal is to keep people fearful, insecure and timid. It is also surprisingly warm, humane, and very funny, while clear in its anger at what America has come to tolerate.

There will be refreshments: Anyone who wants to help can please bring some cookies or other treats! There will be coffee courtesy of the UU and Host Harvey Noordsey.

Please RSVP now at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891

What: SiCKO House Parties
When: Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 7:15 PM
Where: UU Congregation of Glens Falls, 21 Weeks Road Queensbury NY 12804
Admission: Free!

SiCKO is not to be missed! So please attend and RSVP right away at: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891


2. Meeting Report

We had a productive November meeting at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe last week. There were three main pieces of business we agreed on:

1. We agreed to put off any endorsement of a Presidential candidate by our local group until January.

2. We agreed to investigate becoming a nexus for environmental concerns in the local area, especially land use in Queensbury and around Lake George. This would involved information coordination and sharing, where we would bring other groups together on a coalition basis, connecting them up to become a more effective whole. Pat and Drew will be reporting back to us on this at our December meeting on the 5th.

3. We also agreed to discuss in December a training program of our own centered on the DNC's new Precinct Leader System (what we called the Neighborhood Network last year) and the spectacular Voter Activation Network of the DNC, where local precinct leaders can access the DNC's national voter file, use it, and update it.
We cannot and should not try replace the committees, but we can train others-- we have the experienced people who can perform that service, which would best leverage our human resources most effectively, rather than trying to fill holes ourselves.

I have already downloaded a video of Governor Dean where he talks about the Precinct Leader System and we will be watching it next month!

3. Election Analysis

On the whole, now that we have all had a bit to think about it, last week's election day was a mixed bag. The worse defeat was Val Keehn in Saratoga Springs, but Democrats took other bitter defeats in Stillwater and elsewhere. But Democrats won in South Glens Falls and Fort Edward and Ballston Spa. Ron Vanselow, who our group knows from the previous election when we endorsed him, won in Johnsburg.

Boor and Sanford lost on the Democratic line in Queensbury, after losing the Republican Primary. I think there is an inescapable message there that if you want to be a reformer, you have to be a Democrat. You cannot do local reform from inside the Republican Party. No one is going to try that again, after what was done to Boor and Sanford. That will clarify things in the future because people who want to clean things up will naturally gravitate to the Democratic Party.

Secondly, there is another lesson-- the people who won were the people who ran modern, 21st century voter contact programs. John Strough told me a few days before the election that he had knocked over 1,500 doors in his ward. That is amazing, but voter contact, either by the candidate or the team, is how you win now. The old 20th century idea of treating politics as a form of marketing is done for. The Republicans spent thousands of dollars to beat Strough and got nowhere.

This was a shake out year. In Saratoga Springs, DPW Commission Tommy McTygue was also defeated. From that defeat a new, reformed Democratic City Committee is already beginning to emerge. That will clean up the picture. I think we will see more effective parties in the future. And that will bring the real changes.

In many local areas Democrats are slowly building to a tipping point. I think that happened in Vermont years ago, too. People made slow gains, like we are here, but the base was building, then one day... boom. And everyone will say, where the heck did that come from? But we will know. The first areas that may change are Saratoga Springs, where the Republicans may have had their last hurrah, and Queensbury, where pent up frustration is still slowly building.

I would also agree Colin Neal, of Upstate Blue also cites Washington County as one of our brighter spots, where, as we know, Sheila Comar is doing a fantastic job. Colin has interesting numbers that are really worth reviewing: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/9/20425/4890


4. Former Congressman DWI

After the last election I swore in this posting that I would never mention John Sweeney again, but news too good to resist comes that not only was former Rep. John Sweeney caught driving drunk on the Northway, but that he had a 23 year old on his lap. Where will frat boy do his community service? Inquiring minds want to know... http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=638536&category=REGION&newsdate=11/13/2007


5. Paul Krugman To Be At Northshire

Legendary New York Times columnist Paul Krugman will appear at Northshire Bookstore, Saturday, December 1 at 7 pm, to discuss his new book, Conscience Of A Liberal. In his book, Krugman challenges America to reclaim the values that made it great. Admission is free.

Krugman is a national treasure, and his columns can now be viewed online, for free, including his blog, at: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/paulkrugman/index.html

The Northshire Bookstore is at 4869 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 For more go to:
www.northshire.com


6. Torturous...

Last week brought what is indisputably the lowest point for the Democratic Party since Fugitive Slave Act, which helped bring on the Civil War. Democrats in the Senate, first of all Chuck Schumer, who voted for him, allowed the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General after he refused under oath to repudiate the use of waterboarding. That act put both Senate Democrats and the Senate's stamp of approval on a form of torture the U.S. and its allies prosecuted 60 years ago as a major Axis war crime. George Bush would have gotten no less from a Republican Senate. The Times Editorial Sunday would have to be the
"must read" of the week, the title alone says it all: Abdicate and Capitulate. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/opinion/11sun1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

That said, Drew sends along this great link to Naomi Klein, author of Shock Therapy, which explains how neoliberal economics has ruined this country's economy and much of the world. It's a bit long, but well worth it: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/10/5138/

7. Friday Night FIlm Fest


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

Friday Nov 16 7:30 pm
LENNY BRUCE: Without Tears (1992) Fred Baker 75 min.
The outrageous, groundbreaking comic whose iconoclastic material in a conservative era got him into tragic trouble is here profiled by a close friend who prefers to remember the laughs Lenny Bruce's memory evokes instead of the tears. Appearances by: Lenny Bruce, Steve Allen, Paul Krassner, Mort

Thanks everyone! See you Wednesday night at the UU for SiCKO! Remember to please RVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=24891


Larry Dudley

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For New York, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFNY, Glens Falls, Globalization, Iraq Timeline, Jim Dean, Keehn, Larry Dudley, Michael Moore, SiCKO

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 9:33 AM 0 comments