(((URGENT))) request from HOWARD DEAN

[BigBearJohn]

Sometimes partisan politics gets overheated -- I know that as well as anyone. But when one party controls all three branches of government, and then seeks to change the fundamental principles and rules of our democracy, we need to talk about it soberly and seriously.

The Republican Senate leaders have decided to fundamentally alter the role of Congress -- they want to give George Bush unprecedented power to manipulate the legislative branch and the courts.

Today Harry Reid and the Democratic Senators asked us, the American people, to help them preserve the right of our elected representatives to speak their mind on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

We have to act. Sign this petition, which we will deliver to every U.S. Senator, asking them to protect the right to free speech in the Senate. If they don't, it is not only their voice that will be silenced -- it will be ours:

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

Here are the facts: George Bush has appointed judges to lifetime positions at a better rate than any president in nearly three decades. More than 95% of his nominees have been approved. Only ten nominees have been refused -- all because they are unqualified and out of the mainstream.

But that's not enough. And on this issue, as on Social Security, it is becoming more and more obvious to everyone that the Republican leadership is out of touch with reality.

More Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history. And that same day, across the country, the Democratic candidates for Senate received over 4 million more votes than Republicans.

Americans did not endorse the fringe agenda to dismantle Social Security. And they did not endorse dismantling the system of checks and balances that have served our country for over 200 years.

Please tell your Senator to stand up for free speech:

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

This is not a partisan issue -- it is an American issue. And we all must act together in order to protect our democracy.

Thank you.


Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

[yorkiemommie1]

1. done

thanks!

[babylonsister]

2. Gladly done! nt

[BigBearJohn]

3. please forward this to friends on your email lists too. It's urgent.

[cry baby]

4. Done!

[shance]

5. Thanks. Will definitely pass this on as well.

n/t

[SheepyMcSheepster]

6. Done!

:kick:

[CatWoman]

7. done!!!

[DearAbby]

8. Done! With a Healthy Dem Kick

:kick::kick::kick::kick:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. Done nt

[LittleClarkie]

10. Done and this was my comment

Surely the Republicans realize that everything they enact now to stifle the opposition will be used against them when THEY become the opposition. We've seen what their answer to this was with DeLay, which was to suddenly not care nearly as much about ethics as they did when it was Clinton who was being unethical.

Shame on those who shout so loudly to "God Bless America" and then try to destroy our democracy. Would they "destroy the village to save it"?

[liberaltrucker]

11. Done..

and passed along:kick:

[Career Prole]

12. Done! n/t

[Gloria]

13. DONE

With a comment that Congressional Dems should not undermine Dean's efforts on other matters (the Liebermans, Bidens, etc of this world)

[Guaranteed]

14. Kick nt

[BigBearJohn]

15. Now email 20 more people you know and ask them to do it too!

[cry baby]

16. kick it up!

:kick:

[Vadem]

17. Done and Gladly!!!!

[katinmn]

18. done & kicked !

:kick:

[madfloridian]

19. Done.

I like this activism a whole lot.

[Change has come]

20. Done

Thanks for the heads up!

:kick: