A Time for Organized Activity

[H2O Man]

"Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around policy." -- Downing Street Memo

There have been a few significant threads in thge past 48 hours, concerning the call for an inquiry by the US House of Representatives into possible criminal conduct on the part of President Bush in the lead-up to the war in Iraq. As most DUers know, the Downing Street memo appears to be a "smoking gun" with implications that could shake the foundation of the current administration in a manner this country has not experienced since Watergate. There is wonderful information to be found on threads started on GD by Kevin_pdamerica, on the fantastic site Raw Story, and also on the web site for Congressman John Conyers, Jr. My goal here is not to repost the valuable information already available -- it is to suggest some options that grass-roots activists have as far as spreading the word.

We face a number of extreme difficulties today. Those of us who honor democracy can find it extremely frustrating, because the vision of a democratic state outlined in our Constitution has been blurred. The balance of federal powers that the Founding Fathers intended has been upset by corporate influences and dishonest politicians. The "free press" has been compromised to a degree that many of us feel threatens our ability to protect those other democratic safeguards promised by the Bill of Rights.

About a year ago, I posted an essay -- based largely upon information from Arthur Sclesinger, Jr's classic work "The Imperial Presidency" -- which outlined how the balance of powers, between the executive, the legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government, had been knocked out of kilter many times in our nation's history. It is almost always by a president looking to claim powers beyond those granted by the Constitution, using the "emergencies" created by "threats to national security" in times of war. This has happened with both democratic and republican presidents, and with those of good and bad intent.

My intent is to outline some historical background I believe is important, and to discuss some options we have for a grass-roots media campaign. I know there are others who have ideas that are of great value to this discussion, and I hope that they will assist in this effort.

I am not attempting to start a formal DU group, because I think it could marginalize the effort. I am hoping that we can begin an informal group to make available the tools needed to affect a media campaign. Such efforts by small groups on here has accomplished positive things in the past. The Downing Street memo and the call for a House of Representatives investigation offers us a great opportunity to take this to the next step. I believe in modest goals: I propose that we participate in an effort that leads to the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

What do you think?

[w8liftinglady]

1. Excellent idea

I think it will be critical to have as much concrete,tangible evidence-not opinion-driven,but simply the facts.I believe there are many people out there-like myself-who feel impotent,or maybe not very articulate.I would be willing to write,call,or do the footwork here in the Dallas Area,if given the right ammunition.We have a wide variety of experiences here,and we should raw upon the strengths of each other....thanks

[mzmolly]

7. Please recommend this thread and get it on the "greatest" page.

:hi:

[Tigress DEM]

25. Has everyone signed Conyers letter? http://www.johnconyers.com

http://www.johnconyers.com

[H2O Man]

2. Freedom of the Press (part 2)

"The freedom of the press is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments."
-- Thomas Jefferson; Article XIV of the Virginia Declaration of Rights

"None of the means of information are more sacred, or have been cherished with more tenderness and care by the settlers of America, than the press ... Be not intimidated, therefore, by any terrors, from publishing with the utmost freedom whatever can be warrented by the laws of your country; nor suffer yourselves to be wheeled out of your liberty by any pretenses of politeness, delicacy, or decency. These, as they are often used, are but three different names for hypocrisy, chicanery, and cowardice."
-- John Adams; Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law; "Works" (Boston, 1856) III, pg 457.

"The more I consider the independence of the press in its principal consequences, the more am I convinced that in the modern world it is the chief and so to speak, the constitutive element of liberty."
--Alexis de Tocqueville; Democracy in America; Vol i, Ch. 12.

In our nation's past, a number of presidents had bitter relationships with the press. Lincoln temporarily suppressed newspapers, and JFK pressured editors to not print information in times of crisis. But I think that there is general agreement that the current administration represents the greatest threat to a free press. In large part, that is due to the corporate nature of the large "main stream" media sources. But it is also due to an abuse of the idea of self-restraint in times of crisis, as well as the under-handed manipulation of the news.

Yet older DUers who survived the Nixon years will agree that his administration had an open war on the free press. It was at times very ugly. I searched through Schlesinger's work (The Imperial Presidency) to find examples that readers may find interesting. I think that we should keep fresh the idea that the Bush2 administration is really the darkest parts of the Nixon administration back in power.

Here are a few examples:

1- In the case of the Pentagon Papers, they tried to impose prior restraint on the publication of news. This had never been tried before.

2-Nixon ordered the phones of reporters he deemed as "enemies" to be tapped.

3- His press secretary lied to reporters for months, and when exposed as a liar, "blandly declared his deceptions 'inoperative.'" (Schlesinger; pg 230).

4- VP Agnew topured the country in what Schlesinger called a "jihad" against the press and those reporters he found dangerous.

5-The Dept of justice attempted to subpoena the records of reporters.

6- Nixon's acting head of the FBI said that news reporters were "too much a part of the culture of disparagement which threatens to destroy all respect for established institutions."

7- The White House threatened to subject networks to antitrust prosecution if they didn't feature select conservatives as representing "mainstream America." One White House official actually denounced "ideological plugola," and threatened that, "Station managers and network officials who fail to correct the imbalance or consistent bias from the networks -- or who acquiesce by silence -- can only be considered willing participants, to be held fully accountable .... at license-renewal time."

Senator Sam Ervin commented, "The Administration assaulted the very integrity of the press and called into question its right to disagree with official views."

Sounds familiar, eh? We have a lot of history to learn from -- and to teach the public -- when we examine our nation's history from George Washington, who never told a lie, to George W. Bush, who seems incapable of doing much but lying.

[H2O Man]

4. "No point is more important

than that the right of impeachment should be continued. Shall any man be above justice? Above allshall that man be above it, who can commit the most extreme injustice?"
-- George Mason at the Constitutional Convention

From the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution, it was the expressed goal of our Founding Fathers to insure a balance of powers in the government. To insure that balance, especially in times of crisis, they included the right of the congress to impeach the president (as well as the vice president and any other civil officer in the federal government).

The Founding Fathers recognized that the single greatest domestic threat to democracy would come from a strong federal government. The balance of powers was intended to include the relationship between the national and state governments. The Jeffersonian ideals found in the Articles of Confederation were to be protected by the more Hamiltonian Constitution. Yet we know from Jefferson's 3-15-1789 letter to Madison that while his immediate concern was the strength of the federal legislature, he predicted that "the tyranny of the executive power will come in its turn, but at a more distant period."

Thus, in the 65th Federalist paper, we find Hamilton calling the power to impeach "a bridle in the hands of the legislative body upon the executive." It was not intended to be a purely political tool, as it was when the republicans abused it in the Clinton years. Still, it was placed squarely with the congress and not the federal courts.

The House of Representatives, which is intended to serve as the investigative branch of congress, was given the sole power to impeach the president. The Senate was given the power to try all impeachments. There has been, over the years, some significant conflicts concerning the power of the House to investigate suspicions of "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" that could result in impeachment. This was largely as a result of two often related issues: the House's responsibility to investigate other issues, and the executive's need for secrecy in cases involving national security.

In the 1807 trial of Aaron Burr for treason, the conflict between the federal courts and the executive came to a head when Jefferson was called to provide the court with documents that he did not feel he was obligated to. He took the stance that he could not be forced to testify. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled, "That the president of the United States may be supoenaed, and examined as a witness, and required to produce any papers in his possession, is not controverted." As it turned out, Jefferson produced documents, but did not appear.

This, however, is distinct from a House investigation. Presidents have attempted to use it to avoid complying with House investigations that do not include impeachments. This is especially true in cases that they claim involve "national security." We think of the Iran-Contra hearings as a recent example of the executive branch getting away with withholding information on a massive scale.

Any investigation on impeachable offenses allow the House unrestricted access to, in the words of James K. Polk, "penetrate into the most secret recesses of the Executive departments. It could command the attendance of any or every agent of the government, and compel them to produce all papers, public or private .."

This is the significance of the call, outlined by Boston constitutional attorney John C. Bonifaz, for the House of representatives to issue a formal Resolution of Inquiry. Those who have outlined this request -- and, again, go to Raw Story and enjoy! -- know EXACTLY what they are doing. This is powerful. It is an attempt by those with an appreciation of the beauty of the Constitution demanding that the House fulfill its historic duties.

Our job is to support their effort, and to spread the word. It goes without saying that the administration will fight this effort, tooth and nail. Let's examine the best way to knock that tooth right out!

[H2O Man]

5. "If you wish to conduct offensive war

you must know the men employed by the enemy. Are they wise or stupid, clever or clumsy? Having assessed their qualities, you prepare appropriate measures."
-- Sun Tzu

This Memorial Day weekend, it is worth considering what it is that our country stands for -- the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights -- and to give thanks to those people who went to war to protect those very freedoms for our generation to enjoy. And then we need to identify who it is that poses the greatest threat to those freedoms, and to the Constitution. Who is the enemy of the Bill of Rights? I believe that by no small coincidence it is the same group that lied to the Congress and to the nation in its campaign to bring the US to war in Iraq.

I am convinced that it is our patriotic duty to work within the guidelines of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, in order to protect our democracy. I think we must dedicate ourselves to a more concentrated effort to defeat this enemy than we did to win the 2004 election. This is a call to get DUers to "report for duty," and to tell Representative John Conyers that "help is on the way."

Our focus should be in two closely related areas: {1} to petition the House of Representatives to issue the formal Resolution of Inquiry into the Downing Street memo and the issue of the president's lying to Congress and the American people; and {2} to use the "free press" to inform the country about what is really going on in the White House and in Iraq.

There will be resistence on both parts. We will need to be creative. We will need to have a focus, but to recognize that DU is a diverse community. There is a tendency at times for activists to want everyone on the same page. But it may not be possible. We may find it to our advantage to ultilize a wide range of talents, by not limiting ourselves to one page.

We have room for people who believe that 9/11 was MIHOP, LIHOP, and that it was the result of a foreign plot that the Bush administration was too lazy or too inept to prevent. We have room for atheist and theists. We have room for every type of democrat that participates on DU.

I was taught that social consciousness movements should be like a healthy forest. There is room for every type of tree. At the same time, you need to watch out for those who litter or defile the woods, and you need to watch out for loggers who would clear-cut.

In an election, it is wise to recognize there being three groups: those who support you; those who oppose you; and the undecided. It is always best in an election to focus on the third group. Therefore, in elections, one tries to produce a moderate message.

In this effort, there will be those who are moderate, and they will reach that third group. But we also need those who are a little more outspoken. They will energize the first group. That's what I mean about having room for plenty of different people.

In practical terms, this means one group of people may be lobbying congress and the media about having an investigation into the Downing Street memo. Others may speak in a louder voice that advocates impeachment. We'll use our left hand and our right hand.

Next, I will examine a couple ideas for approaching the elected officials in the House of Representatives. Then we will talk media.

[H2O Man]

12. To lobby Congress ....

We have a number of ways to get a message to Congress. These methods can be used with those we support, those who are in the margins, and those we oppose. They include:

1: e-mails
2: letters through "snail-mail"
3: phone calls
4: donations
5: publicity

With these five methods at our disposal, we need to take the most creative approaches to compete with PACs and corporations for our elected official's attention. Not an easy proposition, but it is one that we have to undertake.

Because of the high-tech era that we have entered allows for near instant communications, there are many opportunities to use e-mail to our advantage. The advantages are obvious: it's fast, and it is relatively easy to reach a wide range of people. The potential disadvantages include the idea that it is somewhat impersonal: a congressman/woman may "count" the number of e-mails on a specific issue, but not give them the same weight as a letter received through the old-fashioned "snail mail."

A written letter, especially one that requests a response, often gets a written response that is of great value in the area of future publicity. There are several options: <1> a simple letter asking the congressperson to support the request for the Resolution of Inquiry; <2> the same letter, with an additional request for the official's response to you; <3> that letter with a statement that you plan to use the response as a basis for "letters to the editor" of local newspapers; and <4> a cover-letter, and a short (8 to 10 question) survey that you request a response to, in order that you can use the results in LTTEs.

Variations include having the name of a "grass-roots" group that is: <1> looking to inform the official of public opinion; <2> looking to inform the public of official's opinions; <3> deciding what officials to fund; or <4>looking for what candidates to endorse.

These letters will almost always get more attention from the offices of elected officials, and will thuse get more of a response.

Donations: I only believe in giving funds to those who earn them. I do not believe in trying to buy politicians, and luckily, I'm poor enough that I don't need to worry too much. However, in the case of a Congressman John Conyers, I think that it is extremely important that people from the grass roots fund his efforts. There are a couple posts on GD and GD-Politics that have information on his fund drive. Not only does he benefit, but the other congressmen and women take note -- if he doesn't raise much money, they write his style off; if they see him bringing in cash, they try to get in on the act.

Publicity: We know the corporate media is not functioning as the "free press" that the Founding Father's planned for. At the same time, we can use it to our advantage, if we take the correct approach. One thing that editors do tend to print are LTTE that include comments about area elected officials. If you write a LTTE that says you support your local congressman's efforts to get a Resolution of Inquiry, it is more likely to get printed than a LTTE with a generic request for a congressional inquiry.

If you have a written response to your letter to your congressman, and include a photocopy with your letter quoting it, most editors will take it seriously.

If you have taken a survey of a dozen elected officials regarding the war in Iraq, most editors will see the benefits of printing your LTTE. If you have a citizen's group, you can get a variety of LTTE in the area newspapers.

A key to remember is that generally all the media reports something, or none of them do. So if you can get one paper to print a few letters from a citizen's group, other editors will take note. If a few papers cover something, then the local radio stations will; once they do, you reach the area television stations.

In the letters to officials, it is a good idea to give your opinion; to ask theirs; and to ask them to consider taking a step. For example, in this case, saying you favor a Resolution of Inquiry; asking for a response with their opinion; and noting that by supporting an investigation, they are not saying the president is guilty or innocent, just taking the action needed to find out.

In a survey, it is best to ask rather neutral questions: Do you support the call for a Resolution of Inquiry into the Downing Street Memo? This presents them the opportunity to answer the question in terms of the congressional role, rather than making judgements about Bush's criminal actions.

I would appreciate comments, questions, and suggestions. Thank you.

[H2O Man]

19. Media: LTTE

The corporate news media is pretty much bought and paid for, and is not likely to begin reporting things in the way that DUers would like. However, there is one area of the newspapers that we can reach: the editorial pages, and especially the "Letters to the Editor."

Much of this information is the same as presented on post #12. A LTTE is likely to be given more attention by the paper if it includes information about an elected official who lives in or serves the area the newspaper covers. For the sake of this discussion, I will use the example of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D- Pindars Corners, NY). I live near Oneonta, NY, which is but a few miles from Moynihan's famous home at the hamlet of Pinder's Corners.

In the 1980s, a few friends and I would get together every week, and compose letters to various elected officials, and to newspapers. The responses from elected officials would often be used the next week in LTTE. If we sent a LTTE of the Oneonta newspaper (The Daily Star), one that reported a response from Senator Moynihan was far more likelt to be printed -- and prominently -- than a letter with a response from Tom Harkin. A local senator is obviously going to be of more interest than someone from the mid-west.

We made up a name of a "citizen's group." Made letterhead. And we sent out letters and surveys to numerous elected officials. At that time, our country was engaged in wars in Central America. Reagan was reportedly popular, and the newspapers were generally not challenging him on his policies. So we did.

One example really stands out. I sent Moynihan a letter about El salvador. A week later, I got a response, thanking me for my letter, and then agreeing with the position opposite to what I expressed. Two days later, I got a second letter, again thanking me, and then taking the same position I had. I copied both letters, composed a short letter, and sent it to the Daily Star. They ran my letter, whichshowed that the senator felt very strongly -- both ways!

When I was younger, and in college, I always included the fact that I was a student with an interest in politics in letters to elected officials. I found this often helped when I made requests for "additional information." Many officials will, for whatever reason, cut college students interested in politics a break.

Again: in writing LTTE, if you are able to quote from a letter from an elected official, or to include an open request in you LTTE, it may get an editor to give it more serious attention. This can include both positive and negative comments from you -- "I support Senator Clinton's _____," or "I challenge the congressman to explain why he ____."

[H2O Man]

24. LTTE: a good outline

I have a few suggestions for those writing LTTEs. Many of you are already very good at it; please add any recommendations that will help others.

In general, an editor will look for a short, concise LTTE. It should be about 10 sentences long. Those 10 sentences should make three paragraphs: either 4-3-3; 3-4-3; or 3-3-4 sentences per paragraph.

The first paragraph introduces the idea; the second explains the significance; and the third gives your opinion. For example, the first paragraph in a LTTE about the call for a Resolution of Inquiry would say that a coalition is requesting the House take action; the second paragraph would detail why the House should investigate; and the third could request than Congressman ____ support the effort. This is the "moderate" letter which intends the undecided citizen as its target.

Many DUers might enjoy writing a bit more strongly worded LTTE. This type of letter is aimed at rousing the troops of leftists, so to speak. It would identify the request being made; then talk about how the media has ignored the Downing Street memo, thus letting congress avoid dealing with it; and end with a request that others contact their representatives.

An advantage to the more strongly worded letters is that usually, a republican reader will respond to it. This allows you and your friends to begin a coordinated discussion of the issues involved. It is good to get the republicans to make as emotional and insulting a response as possible.

As odd as this may sound, it is far more important at this time that DUers get LTTE to local newspapers, as opposed to the big ones. If you get a letter to your home-town or city paper, more people in your area will read it than if you have the "luck" of getting one printed in the Times.

Remember: our job at this time is to plant seeds. We need to get the ideas planted in the public mind. Get people to question what is going on, and encourage editors to focus attention onto the ideas we think are important.

Does this make sense?

[H2O Man]

30. On mail to congress .....

a year ago, when we were discussing "snail mail" to congress, and the subject of the slow delivery due to the anthrax business, one of our friends made the following suggestion: Do not send letters in an envelope; instead, make the usual three folds, use a staple or small piece of tape to seal the open end, and write the address, your return address, and post a stamp on one side of the letter. This allows those who check the congressional mail to see that there is nothing dangerous included in your mailing.

[KYDEM]

3. kick

n/t

[mzmolly]

6. I'm in H20, and I recommended your thread as well!

:toast:

[H2O Man]

8. Thank you ....

and one question: is that Guinness those smiley faces are drinking? Because you'll have me singing on this thread! My oldest son always has a supply of Guinness, and your message reminds me of it. (grin) And that will, of course, lead shortly to a discussion of how to advertise for peace .....

[mzmolly]

13. Guinness it is!

Have one on me! :beer: ;)

[Cleita]

9. Shouldn't we go after Cheney first, then Bush?

I'm all for impeaching the whole criminal administration and especially George W. Bush.

I'm thinking about Nixon. It was Spiro Agnew, the Vice President who was toppled first.

[H2O Man]

14. Great question about an important issue.

Just the reminder of Agnew being VP is important. He was a snake. His downfall was in large part due to his taking funny money as governor, before he was VP. The other part was that those looking to remove Nixon knew the congress was unlikely to go for an impeachment if they knew Agnew was going to become president.

It was a strange situation: I believe that Agnew was done in by thoseon the far right, rather than democrats. His taking bribes from contractors is an indication of his connections to what we call "organized crime." The timing of it was eye-opening, indeed.

The comparison of Cheney's funny business with Haliburton and other energy companies is on target. Yet, because the president is able claim executive privilege, and because the congress has not taken it to the most serious level of investigation possible, there is little chance of it resulting in all the documents ever becoming public ... as we have so unfortunately seen.

The Downing Street memo is a smoking gun. It is, in many ways, as much of a smoking gun as the majority of the infamous tapes made by Nixon. In and of itself, it should be enough to result in an investigation by the House. If we can accomplish that much, we are in business .... the impeachment business. And I think that it is safe to say any congressional investigation of Bush would include Cheney, as far as why we went to war with Iraq.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. Links

FreePress: http://www.freepress.net/index.php

Center for Media & Democracy: http://www.prwatch.org/

Media Matters: http://mediamatters.org/

[H2O Man]

15. Great!!

Thank you for the links.

[Robbien]

11. Tom Paine has an action plan

with links to areas of interest

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050520/winning_the_media_wars.php

such as

FCC Decision-making. The FCC must ask for and acknowledge public comment, but hardly ever hears from anyone but corporations. Recently, large numbers of citizens have begun exercising their right to be heard, and the rising chorus seems to be making a demonstrable difference in FCC deliberations. To get started, go here
http://www.freepress.net/rules/petition.php.

and many more ideas such as public radio, local media monitoring and action, etc.

[H2O Man]

16. Thanks!!

Anything else that you can share is appreciated.

[Me.]

17. Geez Oh Pete

This is fantastic!

[oxbow]

18. This WON'T work without more prominent Democrats on board

We need a spokesman to get the word out to the public. We won't be taken seriously until someone in a position of authority publicly supports this.

If you're going to organize, try finding the democratic senators most likely to talk about this, and then eveyone writes them till we get a reply. This should be the first step.

[H2O Man]

20. John Conyers.

You are correct that this type of thing requires a public person .... Conyers has been active in this effort. The article on Raw Sory and related material does a much better job than I have of explaining this. And Kevin_pdamerica has done a fantastic job in his DU threads of explaining how deep the coalition involved in the call for the Resolution of Inquiry is. I strongly recommend reading their material.

[Tigress DEM]

23. But Conyers needs everyone backing him 100%

[oxbow]

36. Who the hell is Conyers?

That's what most people will say, and that's the way the media has been treating it. Now if we could get Senator Clinton, or Boxer behind it, then they might pay more attention. It's just like with the 2000 elections, if we can't get even one senator to sign off on this, then people are going to ignore it.

[H2O Man]

37. I understand what you are saying.

However, it is people from the House, not the Senate, who need to be the targets of the message now. And they all know Conyers.

[oxbow]

38. The public is the target, not the House

If they haven't signed that letter already, what makes you think they will at a later date? I think they need some strong pressure from local constituents to hold an investigation on this. It's a roundabout way to get to the Rep's I know, but I don't see that a concerted campaign by a few thousand of us will be enough to get to Congress. We need the public behind it. To get the public, we need the media. To get the media, we need a celebrity politician. Unless you guys are going balls to the wall with this whole "be the media" plan.

[H2O Man]

41. There are many good reasons

for attempting to get someone who is in a "high profile" position to take up this cause. I urge anyone who believes it is the way to go to invest their efforts in doing that. However, at the same time, I urge those who believe that our best chance is to work at the grass roots level, to invest their efforts in that.

Although I understand what you are saying, I do not think that the "high profile" senators are of greater value to our cause. I think it is 1000 times more important for us to introduce people to the Conyers/grass roots-based theory of participatory democracy, than it is to hope for a "leader" to bring us to the promised land.

I believe in the idea expressed by Kahlil Gibran: "I came here to be for all and with all, and what I do today in my solitude will be echoed Tomorrow by the multitude. What I say now with one heart will be said Tomorrow by thousands of hearts."

That is why I am proposing that it is more important for a DUer in an isolated community to have a LTTE put in her/his hometown newspaper, than for her/him to have that same letter printed in the Sunday Times.

At the same time, I welcome the opportunity to coordinate efforts with those who believe in attempting to get a Clinton or a Boxer, or in writing that letter to the Sunday Times. I recognize that if enough people in the small, isolated places get their letters in their local newspapers, it will be but a tiny matter of time until Clinton and Boxer respond.

[w8liftinglady]

45. Agree about the grassroots aspect...

...word of mouth is a powerful thing.I have access to a plethora of rural Texas newspapers.The complexity will be framing a letter that is succinct,to the point,and objective...and maybe just inflammatory enough to get these turd-kickers thinking outside the box.If I post it here,would you guys constructively criticize it first?

[H2O Man]

46. Yes.

That is something that people might benefit from. It's up to each of us what we want to put our name to. But there are some people with lots of experience and talent on DU, who can certainly be helpful in assisting those who feel they might need it.

[w8liftinglady]

50. Ok -my rough draft-critique away

To the editor:
I am writing to express my concern over the lack of coverage by your paper on what has been coined "The Downing Street Memo".This is a group of classified documents leaked from Britain that show meetings between Tony Blair and George Bush about invading Iraq-long before this was actually done-and how the intelligence was manipulated to justify this invasion.
I could find no reference to it at all in your archives.I have provided a few links to other newspapers nationally and internationally who covered the story.These papers obviously value reporting the news over their political agenda.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/12/AR2005051201857_pf.html
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000912159
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050520/OPINION03/505200365/1110
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050523-9.html
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/20/news/weapons.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/20/politics/20weapons.html?ex=1274241600&en=2e34202da1b40215&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The people of Texas have the right to be informed of all the news,not just the news that fits your very biased agenda.Thank you for your time.

[H2O Man]

59. Good job!!

I think it is well done, just as it is. It is a very good example of a short, concise letter that identifies the issue; explains why it is important; provides access to furthr information; and has a direct comment on the lack of coverage given the issue.

This is one of the best examples of a letter that raises a question in the reader's mind: what is this memo all about? why haven't I heard about it before this LTTE? The best letters do not answer every question -- they encourage the reader to become an active participant in the discussion.

I'm guessing that you have a bit of experience in writing.

[w8liftinglady]

64. Ok...one more question

...Is it bad form to have my letter addressed to multiple e-mails?All the papers here have direct links to their LTTE.Should I make each feel "Special"?I've started distributing it to about 15 papers here in North Texas.Thanks for your kind words,and of course,anyone who wants to cut and paste it,feel free.

[H2O Man]

65. I believe in

making each one special .... if an editor who is predisposed to not covering the truth has any excuse to not print a letter, he or she will .... and so making it special is worth the extra effort.

[Tigress DEM]

22. Well, how about the sponsors of the Count Every Vote Act?

Hilary Clinton (D-NY)
Sen. Barbara Boxer
Sen. Mark Dayton
Sen. John Kerry
Sen. Frank Lautenberg
Sen. Patrick Leahy
Sen. Barbara Mikulski

[oxbow]

39. I think Boxer, Kerry or Clinton

If thousands of us wrote asking them to either speak about this or to say why they won't, do you think they would respond?

[Tigress DEM]

21. Impeach the imPoster? Why not?

Why don't we print out the call for impeachment letter and stuff copies in local newspapers? You know buy one paper, insert freebies?

MSM is much too busy with Michael Jackson and the Runaway Bride to work on serious news issues. It would be a favor.

[H2O Man]

26. I think that posters

and hand-outs are important enough to use without newspapers, too. One of the most powerful forces of enlightenment in the 1960s was art, including album covers, posters, "underground newspapers," and street theater.

I am planning to include a number of tings from one of my favorite activists from the Vietnam era, Abbie Hoffman. He was a genius with a unique ability to use the media for the advantage of the anti-war movement.

DU has some very talented artists. Sometimes when I've looked at things Mopaul has come up with, it's almost as if the wind is knocked out of me. And my face hurts from laughing at some of Swamp Rat's art. These are the type of things that should be copied on mini-posters and pasted up in high schools, colleges, in malls and on public streets.

[Tigress DEM]

27. Yeah, it might get more attention. Maybe if I had a cool border ..

of art around my facts, spice them up a little.

But to me, it has to be facts that are going to get people to come over to our side.

That and poo flags. (Don't ask.)

[H2O Man]

29. I agree.

The #1 way to make people think is to present facts. No doubt about it. And I think that we have the facts at hand that will, when rational people view them, allow people to make the correct, informed decision.

One of the most-read parts of any newspaper is the "letters to the editor" section. There can be little question that a well-written letter does more good at educating the public than almost any other article in a paper.

At the same time, it is good to be able to speak the language that other groups speak. There are plenty of people -- particularly young adults -- who are likely to get their news from other sources than the corporate media. I always liked Abbie's idea about making a public comparison between a culture of life and the culture of death. And he frequently did that in a way that resulted in the corporate media reporting a story that the anti-war forces wanted in the news.

[merh]

28. Great idea!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

31. From Rep. John Conyer's website:

The Downing Street Memo

Dear Friend:

 As many of you are aware, a classified memo was recently disclosed in Great Britain that I believe has serious ramifications for the integrity of the United States Government.  Dubbed the “Downing Street Memo,” but actually comprising the minutes of a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair and other top British government officials, the memo casts serious doubt on many of the contentions of the Bush Administration in the lead up to the Iraq war.  With over 1,600 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in Iraq, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and over $200 billion in taxpayer funds going to this war effort, we cannot afford to stand by any longer. 

 Along with 88 of my colleagues, I wrote to the President requesting answers about this grave matter.  Thus far, our search for the truth has been stonewalled and I need your help.  I believe the American people deserve answers about this matter and should demand directly that the President tell the truth about the memo.  To that end, I am asking you to sign on to a letter to the President requesting he answer the questions posed to him by 89 Members of Congress.

 I will personally insure that this letter is delivered to the White House.

 You can read the letter here and sign on to it below.  You and I know the White House is just hoping that this matter will fade away, but in a few short weeks, with our steadfastness, the memo has found its way into leading newspapers and White House press briefings.  With your help, we can hold this Administration accountable.

 Please pass on this important letter to your friends and colleagues, and ask them to sign as well.

 Thank you for your help and support.

John Conyers, Jr.
http://www.johnconyers.com/
http://www.johnconyers.campaignoffice.com/index.asp?Type=SUPERFORMS&SEC={0F1B03E0-080B-4100-B143-36A5985EF1E3}

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

I Need 100,000 Signatures on Downing Street Letter
I Will Personally Insure that It is Delivered to the White House
http://www.conyersblog.us/

I have written to you in this space on a number of occasions about my profound concern about the implications of the "Downing Street Memo," which actually consists of the minutes of a July 2002 meeting between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his top advisers. During this meeting, Blair and his advisers reveal details about conversations with their American counterparts. These details cast substantial doubt on the honesty of contemporaneous claims made by the Administration to Congress and to the American people about the Iraq war.

First, the memo appears to directly contradict the Administration's assertions to Congress and the American people that it would exhaust all options before going to war. According to the minutes, in July 2002, the Administration had already decided to go to war against Iraq.

Second, a debate has raged in the United States over the last year and one half about whether the obviously flawed intelligence that falsely stated that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction was a mere "failure" or the result of intentional manipulation to reach foreordained conclusions supporting the case for war. The memo appears to close the case on that issue stating that in the United States the intelligence and facts were being "fixed" around the decision to go to war.

These are not routine questions within a partisan give and take. Under the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8), the Congress has the sole power to declare war. If the Executive Branch deceives the Congress in this duty, it represents an attack of our democracy of the most serious nature. These Constitutional questions are not going away and must be answered forthrightly and completely by this Administration.

I and 88 of my colleagues (that number is growing - more on that soon) asked the Administration to come clean about these troubling allegations. Our inquiries have been met with silence.

The press has also been negligent in giving this matter the attention it deserves.

I am committed to seeing this through until we get the answers we deserve. But I need your help.

The conventional wisdom, which unfortunately governs Washington's political discourse, hold that the American people have long ago made peace with the mistakes or deceptions which led us into war. Help me prove them all wrong. I want to show the White House, the Press and my congressional colleagues that nothing could be further from the truth.

That is why today I am giving you the opportunity to sign on to a letter asking the same questions of the President that now nearly 100 Members of Congress have asked. If I get at least 100,000 signatures on this, I will personally deliver the letter to the White House.

If you want to sign on to this letter, go to my website (www.johnconyers.com).

I also want you to know that I am exploring many, many avenues to get to the truth about this matter.

Thank you in advance for your help and assistance

http://www.conyersblog.us/

[Dem2theMax]

32. Just a thought from a simple minded person here, which would be me, but...

I've been reading posts for months with the words 'we are the media' and 'grassroots newspapers.' So what are we waiting for?
Why can't we do just that, be the media with a grassroots newspaper?
It's one way to start getting the word out to the people who need to know the truth of what is going on in this country.

Why can't we get all the major progressive/liberal/democrat web sites involved and go from there? My idea is to simply have a site where everyone can go once a week and download a PDF file, print the 'newspaper' off on their computer, make copies and distribute them everywhere. The 'newspaper' could have the major stories of the week that need to be told and are not being covered by the MSM.
The ink and paper comes out of our own pockets - no need for ads. And since we'd distribute them, no need to pay anyone to do so.
This is a simple idea, but if put in the right hands, it could work.

[H2O Man]

33. It's a great idea !!!

We have options and opportunities that the anti-war movement in the Vietnam era never dreamed of. Your post makes a most important point: keep it simple !!! Sometimes "the answer" is staring us in the face.

[Me.]

34. I Love This Idea

Could be totally effective. If you build it they will come.

[H2O Man]

35. "Steal this book"

by Abbie Hoffman, has a chapter ("Tell It All, Brothers and Sisters") that has useful suggestions for those interested in the underground press. His ideas can be easily up-dated and improved upon, with the advent of the home computer.

[Dem2theMax]

40. How about 'someone steal my idea, please!' I don't know anything

about web sites. Maybe we don't even need a separate web site. Each progressive site could have the 'PDF of the week' on their individual site.

What would we need?

A name for the paper.
A group of people who would decide which stories to include each week.
(We would have to deal with copywrite situations.)
One or more people to put the stories in PDF form.
A whole lot of people to get the word out to other progressive sites.

Then, we print, distribute and enjoy watching the truth get out there.

Knowing me, it's probably more complicated than that, but that's what I'm coming up with off the top of my head. :)

[Me.]

42. Listen I'm In

How about the name first

Also start asking people if they'd be interested in writing articles for it and accumulate a list of contributors. I would suggest H20 would be a good one.

Also, what about a DU newspaper, an off shoot of this site. Don't know if Skinner & Earl & Elad would go for that, but it is a starting point thought.

[H2O Man]

43. Back in the "good old days,"

we had the YIPPIE!!! paper "Overthrow," a.k.a. The Underground Times. A De-Centralized Times might be good, so to speak.

[Dem2theMax]

44. We'd probably need to start a new thread to get the attention needed

to run with this idea.

Writers - great idea.

I don't know if we would be able to include stories from other media sources or not. I think it would help if we could, if only to show people that the paper is legitimately trying to get the truth out to the public. My one worry is that the people we really need to reach will refuse to give the paper a chance if they think it's coming from a 'democrat viewpoint.' A DU newspaper is a wonderful idea, but the name alone will turn some people away, the very people who NEED to read it.

Just my personal opinion, but I think the name of the paper should reflect that we are concerned about AMERICA and not just about democrat, progressive or liberal concerns.

Edited to add: I hope it didn't sound like I was implying that if we had our own writers that they wouldn't be legitimate. I'm just thinking that if we were to have some recognizable media sources as well, it would help as a start off point for the newspaper.

[Me.]

48. Other Points Of View Would Be Appreciated

As for me, I think anyone who is interested in the truth would not be turned off by labels. Obviously, freepers will not read because their world view is super-glued into who they are and is the basis of their very existence. I think what is most important is the writing. Good writing and an interesting viewpoint will draw people of all persuasions in. It is why Pat Buchanan can get a read from the people here. And I will tell you, we have some powerful writers here on DU, it's what attracted me and drew me in. The writing mixed with acute perception is extremely valuable these days.

[Dem2theMax]

52. I'm all for the best writing we can get and I agree, the writers here

at DU are fantastic.

So, where did H2O Man go? He started this. LOL. When he shows up, might we suggest he starts a new thread, maybe in the political discussion forum, about the idea of a grassroots newspaper and see what happens? I bet we could have a paper up and running within two to three weeks. We'd have to work hard to get the word out to all the progressive sites so everyone could become involved in printing and distributing the paper. Wouldn't it be nice if it got big enough for people who have huge email mailing lists to use those lists to make people aware of the paper? You know, people like Michael Moore, or organizations like MoveOn.

[H2O Man]

60. I think that there is a huge potential here.

For sake of discussion, I will suggest that we have a decentralized "paper." Here's why: if there is a 17-year old from a high school in rural New York (say, one of my boys!) he may have a different audience to aim his paper at, than the woman who works in a factory in southern California. Both might participate to some level on DU. Both might have a number of articles that overlap, and also have other distinct things they want to include to attract a readership for their version of the "free press" newspaper.

In our society, we have a tendency to view organization in hierarchical terms. Thus, for example, the news assures the American public that if only we can capture one leader in the Middle East, peace will bloom immediately. Or, if there were people looking to stop a "free press," they would try to stop it in a similar way.

By focusing on a decentralized press, with a menu that each person with a computer can select from, we encourage a distribution of the truth at the grass roots level that simply cannot be stopped. It encourages creativity and laughter and activism ..... a chicken in every pot.

Does that make sense?

Regarding another thread: I think it is a great idea. I prefer the person who had the good idea start it. To be honest, it is such a good idea that I wish I had thought of it, but I didn't. (grin) And so when that thread is started, I will absolutely participate.

[Finder]

72. I like this idea

I hope this gets going. I am in.

[halobeam]

47. I would do that in a split second.

what an excellent idea.

What about a paper that numbers EVERY page, Page One?????

Calling it Page One News wouldn't be so bad either, would it?

[Dem2theMax]

49. I LOVE that name!

But I'm only one vote. LOL.
(Now where DID I put that Diebold machine?) ;)

[Me.]

51. Second That

and my name isn't Walden O'Dell!

[H2O Man]

61. That's a great idea.

"Page One News" -- especially with every page numbered 1 -- is a way to give a clear message. It's also a form of the art, or "street theater," that we need. It's so positive that it is magic.

[FizzFuzz]

67. I often think about printing out stuff and leaving where it will get seen

Having a central place to get the info would be good.

Who will determine what gets on the site? Even more importantly, I think writing should be with an eye to simplifying and bullet points.

Look, we can't deny it, alot of people are dumbed down. Including pictures would be good. Even people with alot of brain cells on the ball can get overwhelmed by the twisted nature and how the tentacles snake into every nook and cranny of power at every level. I read here alot and I still feel way behind on alot of things.

Also, what strategies could we come up with to counteract the tendency of people to disregard anything they didn't see on TV?

Just some thoughts. Hmm, I should probably start visiting the Activism Group here...........(thinking out loud)

[H2O Man]

68. Good points ....

Human beings use their sense of vision to a large degree. While Jerry Mander's "In the Absence of the Sacred" is perhaps the single best source on the negative power of tv, I thinbk that the old saying "seeing is believing" fits.

Thus said, the idea of including pictures, cartoons, and indeed art, is extremely important. I always thought John & Yoko's idea of making their events be commercials for peace was a great idea.

What is more likely to attract people's attention: a long, in-depth article on Halliburton from a Marxist point of view, or a short, funny cartoon that includes serious information? Wasn't the mixture of humor and horror and unreal visuals what made Moore's "F 9/11" such an overwhelming film that you can watch it ten times? And always say, "Holy shit!" There are a number of documentaries that are shown on SunDance etc that have wonderful information in them, but they didn't have 1/10th the effect that Moore's did.

[FizzFuzz]

71. Neil Postman's "Amusing OUrselves to Death" describes how the rise of TV

has led to the decline of social discourse, which necessarily results in an intellectual vacuum where greed, ignorance and anger (exemplified by Capitalism gone mad, fundamentalist beliefs and superstition, and violence) have free reign to expand unchallenged.

I definitely will have to have a look at the book you recommend. I am fascinated and disgusted by media and I've always thought it has a huge impact on how we behave. We're seeing the predictions that Postman made in the early 80's come to fruition now and it ain't pretty.

It was political cartoons, and specifically Tom Tomorrow's strip that first woke me up. However, I was always of a liberal mindset; his work just started me looking to catch up on what was actually going on.

So, that begs the question, how does one market to an audience that only trusts information coming from an institution that has become corrupt (only they don't want to admit that yet.) ? Sadly, one part of the "trust" factor depends on the "slickness" of the medium. If it was produced slickly, people tend to infer that it was done by "experts".

[H2O Man]

78. TV plays a strange role

in the cases of people with certain psychotic disorders. I can remember sitting in staff meetings, discussing cases where people were convinced the tv was addressing a message to them, personally. I always wondered if some of them (not the ones who thought a specific actress was talking to them) were picking up on something that their brain was more sensitive to. I was, of course, in the minority at the clinic. I do remember my supervisor asking me what was there before tv? What did people watch and get messages from? I said I thought the fire had been the early tv, although it was and is much better for people to watch. For about the first five years we lived in this house, my family went without tv; we have three fireplaces in a central chimney, and it filled the role -- we sat as a family and talked, etc.

The book I mentioned talks a lot about what occures within the brain, in terms of brain wave activity, when people watch tv. It's a fascinating book.

[snot]

53. Terrific thread--thanks all, esp. H2Oman

I'm going to paste the main texts from it into a doc I can print for my own use, for starters.

[snot]

54. Also, opportunity for free production of a PSA, if anyone's interested

I.e., free production of a "Public Service Announcement"--but must be selected from among other applicants. See my post at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x373435 .

[H2O Man]

62. Sometimes the answers

are right in front of us. Your idea is a good example. We (or at least I) often do not see all the opportunities to do the things that need to be done ..... I assign that task to "they" .... as in "they should really..." Or to "someone," as in "someone really should..."

Years ago, I wanted to make a PSA. I think everyone that is as old and moldy as I am remembers the commercial of the Indian with the tear, sad because of the litter along life's highway and streams. It was a powerful commercial.

I remember talking to my mentor (and occassional tormentor) Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman. And he pointed out that corporations made that commercial, and that although it was good, it focused responsibility entirely on individuals, and took it off big business. He thought there should have been a factory smokestack in the background.

We wanted to do another commercial. Not to attack industry, but to make it a statement from a Native point of view. The idea was to have one of the chiefs, perhaps Paul or Oren Lyons, saying that whatever we do goes downstream. If we dump chemicals in the water at Point A, it goes downstream to Point B, and they suffer the consequences. More, it goes down the stream of time, and so what we do today will affect the next generation ....

I had a friend and neighbor who was very talented with the old news camera, but he had some serious addiction issues .... the poisons he put up his nose left him unemployed downstream, so to speak. It bugged me, because we had discussed making a short documentary to distribute to public schools on the Onondaga world-view. I was harping about it last week, and my oldest son said that with the equipment we now have, he could make as good a DVD to distribute to schools, as our ex-neighbor and long-lost friend could have done in the news room.

Funny that your message is along the same line!

[Independent_Liberal]

55. More things we can do...

Subject every Congress member to recall if they don't do their job.

www.recallthecongress.com

>>>>snip

To impeach George Bush for war crimes and covertly implementing PNAC, we have to get a handle on our congress men and women.

This website is created to organize local state efforts to petition the Secretary of State or other official of each state in which laws have been established for the recall process of public officials. There are 26 states in which such laws have been established leaving 24 states in which an effort is required to petition the state legislature for enactment of such a law or alternatively where the initiative has been made law to use that vehicle to bring each state of the nation into a parity of power of its citizens to control the Federal government.

>>>>snip

Objectives of We the People

To kick George W. Bush out of office, send him packing to Crawford Texas and to seek his future trial for war crimes in the docks of the International Court of Criminal Justice. To this add Dick Cheney and his rogue companions.
That We the People gain control over the Senate and House of Representatives whereby they are bound to perform according to their commitments to We the People or get booted out of office by state court upon complaint of We the People.
To teach the President and the Congress that We the People own America and the government and that every person in each of those entities is in our employ and subject to our termination by way of our reserved electoral right of recall.
To establish that the right of the people to recall members of the US Senate or the House of Representatives is a right not prohibited within the Constitution and is thus reserved to the electors of the States contrary to common myth.
To firmly establish the right of We the People to veto any acts of the Congress within 48 hours of passage which veto is final and cannot be overridden by the Congress.
To establish by use of the recall that We the People are the backbone of our government, not its vassals and that the government must respond to the will of We the People.
Not the last and not the least is that we must re-establish fiscal responsibility to this nation which is heading for bankruptcy under the present administration with the aid and assistance of our congressional delegates.






We the people of the United States

face the greatest challenge in the history of our country

It is greater than the Revolutionary war by which our country was given birth. It is greater than the Civil war which preserved the union.

It is greater than World War II which was waged to eliminate the evils of fascism from the earth. It is unprecedented in world history!




It is indeed a rebirth of fascism in our time in our own country by those who have hijacked the government from their seat in the Administration and by their accomplices within the Congress along with all other inept members of the Congress who have allowed this tragedy to come upon us. Most of these are descendants of fathers who fought and some who died in World War II to free the world of fascism. Don’t know what PNAC is? Most Americans don’t. Read up on it http://www.crisispapers.org/Editorials/PNAC-Primer.htm

How did it happen? By lies and deception and by placing the Nation under a state of fear. But not by accident. It was a well orchestrated event including 9/11 and all the suspicions surrounding it. For 9/11 was a needed event ( As stated by the paper itself) ( Sin of Omission) to implement the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) and first kicked into gear by the ill-informed interference of the US Supreme Court in a States Right matter of the election fraud in Florida in 2000. That interference resulted in an illegal electoral college vote for George W. Bush.

It was further encouraged in 2004 by a conspiracy of silence among members of the Congress on both sides of the aisle to not speak of fascism or PNAC during the election campaign which they knew or must have known was taking over America. Members of Congress who knew and were silent are guilty of treason and high crimes against the country. If they didn’t know they are inept and should be kicked out of their offices as quickly as possible. We don’t need a rubber stamp congress to the further the evil empire builder George W. Bush.

I won’t go into the parallels between September 11, 2001 and February 27,1933 when Germany began to lose its democracy and the Third Reich fascist government began. Thom Hartman has done an excellent job of that. Thom Hartman | When Democracy Failed - 2005: The Warnings of History http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0222-22.htm

We cannot allow George Bush and company to entrench our country any deeper into the un-godly agenda of PNAC. Every American needs to stand up, listen, read and learn what is going on then decide to do something positive about it. I have suggested an:



American Revolution 2005

It needs to be done beginning now and by our use of the powers vested in WE the People
Volunteers needed in all 50 states. If you have the spirit of America’s founders and wish to participate in a non-violent recapture of the freedoms associated with the founding of America, please step forward and make yourself known. A coordinated effort in all 50 states will put America back where it belongs as a nation in a brotherhood of nations.

Contact me for state organizational plans. [e-mail] For starters copy, paste and print the following document and send it to each member of your state congressional delegation with a request they sign it and file it with the state secretary of states office.



UNILATERAL CONGRESSIONAL CONTRACT

State of ___________________________________
To Be Filed in the State Secretary of State's Office



(SPACE RESERVED FOR FILING STAMP)




For and in consideration of continued employment of the people of the State of ________________________,the undersigned member of the United States Congress hereby pledges to the electorate of the above named state, that I will actively work and vote to promote the impeachment of George W. Bush as President of the United States, Richard Cheney, Vice President and other civil servants involved for their conduct in:

Lying to the Congress and the public in order obtain support for the illegal war against Iraq.
For implementing the white paper of a Non Government Organization Known as the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) titled “Rebuilding Americas Defenses” which calls for global military dominance of the United States with unilateral pre-emptive military strikes against any nation deemed a threat to that dominance.
For violating international law in invading Iraq and for the deaths of innocent Iraqis and resulting unnecessary deaths and maiming of our own troops.
For using fear as a mechanism to establish fascism within the government.
In making this pledge, I understand that I will not be subject to recall by my constituency. I waive constitutional rights, if any, relating to continuity of my holding office and understand that in the event of failure on my part to perform as stated within a reasonable time from date, I may be removed from office by a complaint made to a competent court of my state by 3 or more members of my constituency. My only defense being a showing of performance.

This pledge relates only to the issue of the impeachment of George W. Bush, et al. I understand that from time to time there may be other issues which will require my pledge of support.



Dated this ________Day of _________________, 2005

______________________________________
Printed Name of Signator

______________________________________

Signature

______________________________________

Office held














Witnessed by: _______________________________________

[Independent_Liberal]

56. About the right to recall Congress people...

http://www.recallthecongress.com/further_explanation_of_the_right.htm

>>>>snip

FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE RIGHT OF RECALL

( For the less legally Minded )

The only assurance to prevent the hijacking of the country in the future is for Americans to assert the power of recall of congress members who refuse to abide by the Constitution and the will of the masses of the people in their inept support of a government gone awry.

Contrary to myth, Congress people can be recalled by their constituents. Any power not enumerated in the Constitution is reserved to the people. Recall is one of those powers.

In those states where there is a law establishing procedure to invoke the recall, it is available to the people to initiate it. In those
states where it is not procedurally established by law, the local state legislatures need to establish a procedural law whereby the people_can initiate it. It has nothing to do with local legislators demanding something of D.C.

As an alternative to a recall procedure against a Congressman, any member of congress can make a private unilateral employment contract with his constituents to pledge a certain conduct with penalties ( a court ordered enforcement of the terms of the breach of contract or fired from job )

We the people can do it. You can help!

[H2O Man]

63. Just the idea

that there are alternatives to sitting back in our living rooms, watching the tv and saying, "Gosh it's awful!" would come as a shock to the majority of Americans. In a thousand ways, our culture tells us that we are mere spectators to the insanity, and that all power resides in the fools on capital hill. The American people have lost touch with the Power of Ideas. And the idea that we can indeed take actions -- from those very living rooms! -- needs to come to the attention of the public.

I've mentioned on DU before the story of the sleeping giant .... his house has caught on fire, and the town's people are desperately trying to find a way to carry the sleeping giant to safety. They see the door is too narrow for them to carry him out, and the windows are far too small .... finally, a child says, "Wake the giant up, and he'll walk out himself." And that's what we need to do -- with ideas like that which you mention here -- is to wake the giant up.

[Independent_Liberal]

57. Something I just thought of...

Nixon, his nick name was "Tricky Dick."

And now there's Bush.

Dick and Bush!

The Bush Administration is a perfect campanion piece to the "Tricky Dick" Administration.

HAHAHA!

:)

[Swamp Rat]

58. kicking this thread!!!! n/t

[FizzFuzz]

66. Let's Unify our many small actions--where do I click?

some individuals are in a position to take large action. Some of us are in a position to take small action. I fall into the latter group.

I welcome an effort to unify many small actions.

So, how will this effort be structured? I really want to know where to click to keep up with you all.

If we unite behind one goal, that could be the best defense against the Jen Sorenson "WhackAWacko" phenomenon.

So, let me know where we're meeting.

[halobeam]

69. I agree, we shouldn't lose each other, or this thread?

I've bookmarked it, to keep coming back to it, but it needs a more stable place to be. Any ideas?

[FizzFuzz]

70. pinning might work

If we can show that it is or has potential to be THE "command-central", one-stop-shopping, grassroots newsroom.

[Me.]

73. kick

[Dem2theMax]

74. Kicking because more people need to see this thread!

:kick:

[w8liftinglady]

75. something fairly easy to do

I e-mailed about 50 Texas papers with my Letter to the editor(see post #50 above).It isn't very eloquent,but I figure if I can get just a few papers to post my letter,then that will be a few more informed people around.It took me about 2 hours.

[Me.]

76. Second That n/t

[w8liftinglady]

77. kicking-now more than ever

we might actually be able to get our message out...

[JNelson6563]

79. Do your own signs too

A few pieces of posterboard, a few wooden stakes and Voila! You have a "burma shave" style billboard campaign. They are cheap and easy to do and quick to stick in the ground.

Just a thought. Where the media fails we could use rudimentary methods to get the word out.

Julie

[H2O Man]

80. Absolutely.

The truth is the mainstream, corporate media has never been particularly good at reporting the news. What we are seeing today is a bit worse than what occured in the past, but it is not unexpected. There is a tendency to look at the Watergate case, and think that it is the standard that could/should happen today. No one would be happier than me, for sure, but it happened then for reasons that I do not think are fully understood today.

However, if we look at the media per say in the 1960s and early 70s, it was not appreciably better than today. If it were, there would not have been hundreds, probably thousands, of "underground" newspapers and newsletters. In Abbie Hoffman's "Steal This Book," the chapter on a free press lists a good 150 newsletters/papers available in 1971. And there were hundreds more.

Native Americans have long known that the main stream media is not going to print articles that tell the truth about issues important to them. While every so often -- usually Columbus Day and Thanksgiving -- the media has a Noble Indian story, the important issues are only addressed in Indian newspapers. Even a book like "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" was denied to the public by a coordinated legal campaign by the government for years.

The Nation of Islam ran their own paper throughout the 60s and 70s, because they knew the corporate media lies daily. Read some of Malcolm X's comments on the press. That man knew the deal.

The internet provides us with opportunities to access accurate information that no one even dreamed of in the 1960s. It also makes it possible for us to produce underground newspapers/letters fairly easily.

A few folks have asked me to start another thread on the idea of a newspaper. Later today I will start such a thread here on GD.