Friday 2/25 Election Fraud, Reform, & Updates Thread

[MelissaB]

In order to organize and document I thought it would be a good idea to have a daily thread to place items related to reform, fraud, protests, and other items. This also make it easier to "catch up" when we are away from the computer for a while.

Please help us. If you see something that isn't here post it with a link to the thread and a thanks to the author. Thanks to everyone who is helping with this project.


Link to the thread from yesterday: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x333304

[MelissaB]

1. Email from Kathay Feng, Common Cause California: Undo the Backroom Dealing

From: "Kathay Feng, Common Cause California"
Sent: Feb 24, 2005 3:13 PM
To: XXXXX XXXXX
Subject: Undo the Backroom Dealings in Sacramento


Dear XXXXX,

I am Kathay Feng, the incoming Executive Director of California Common Cause. I start officially on April 4th, but as you can tell from the recent buzz on redistricting reform we generated in California last week, time (and political reform) waits for no one. I want to let you know that we are moving forward quickly in the next two weeks to reform our state's redistricting process. Let me share with you what is happening.

We now have a genuine opportunity to undo all the backroom dealings on redistricting from the past. The door is open for us to reclaim power for the voters. But we must act now. We can reclaim our power by supporting legislation that would make an independent redistricting commission a reality. Call the following key leaders in Sacramento today and urge them to hold public hearings, and to take concrete steps to enact responsible, open, and fair redistricting reform:

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles): [phone]
Senate President Pro-tem Don Perata (D-Oakland): [phone]
Asm. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield): [phone]
Senator Dick Ackerman (R-Tustin): [phone]

For the first time, we are seeing real movement on both sides of the aisle to support an independent redistricting commission.

California Common Cause has endorsed both SCA 3 (Lowenthal, D) and ACAX1 3 (McCarthy, R) as two bills that take the power to redraw congressional and legislative districts out of the hands of the legislature and put it into the hands of a truly independent commission.

Both bills meet important Common Cause redistricting principles, including:

*Fair criteria for drawing congressional and legislative
districts
*Public participation and transparency

Our allies, like the League of Women Voters of California and Asian Pacific American Legal Center agree with our principles on redistricting. There is still room for improvements to both bills, like strengthening provisions for diversity on the commission, and taking out mid-decade redistricting from ACAX1 3. The key is that our elected leaders should be talking.

Let us know how your calls went by posting on our blog. We will keep you updated as further developments unfold in our redistricting campaign.

Thank you again for all you do for Common Cause in California.

Sincerely,

Kathay Feng
Executive Director, Common Cause California

Support Common Cause California:
www.commoncause.org/supportyourstate

[MelissaB]

2. Conyer's Blog

2/24/05 9:00 PM

GOP Threats Against Legslative Opponents Getting More Brazen

I suppose its no surprise that the Republicans treat their enemies poorly , but their recent actions -- and threats -- have been particularly brazen.

Last week we learned that Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) was going after two national groups who had spoken out against Bush's so-called "Clear Skies" initiative by seeking their financial and tax records for the last six years, as this piece in the Nation points out. I am not aware that any group which has spoken in favor of the initiative has received anything other than legislative preferences.

This week, the misnamed "United Seniors Association" began its attack on AARP for raising doubts about Bush's plan to end Social Security as we know it. The group began their assault wtih an internet advertisement claiming AARP opposes the troops (when they don't) and linking them to same sex marriage (which they have no position on) -- see Maureen Dowd's excellent op-ed .

Yet just as President Bush could not find it in himself to condemn the ill-named "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" for lying about Senator Kerry's record, neither he nor his subordinates have uttered a word about the tactics of the United Seniors group. The United Seniors are using the same M.O. and many of the same attack dogs as the Swift Boat group, and is headed up by a Republican who worked in both the Reagan and Bush Sr. Administrations. Senator Corzine has a great letter to Bush asking him to do just that, which I applaud and suport.

The essence of democracy is free speech. Unfortunately, these actions by Republicans and Republican operatives -- and the president's failure to condemn them -- call that principle into question and sends a dangerous signal to all those who are willing to speak out in our society. More evidence of the dangers of one party rule in Washington.

-- J.C.

Link: http://www.johnconyers.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={B166974A-C132-4EC3-9682-FE6E08C1A584}

[MelissaB]

3. Calif. Voters Would Back Schwarzenegger Again - Poll

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A majority of California voters would be inclined to vote for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over potential Democratic rivals if he runs for a second term next year, according to a leading statewide poll released on Friday.

The Republican governor has not committed to seeking re-election, but if he did, 56 percent of registered voters say they would tend to support him against 42 percent who say they would not, the Field Poll found.

When possible Democratic candidates are paired against Schwarzenegger, he is favored in each case by margins ranging from 15 to 19 percentage points, according to the Field Poll.
...
Director and actor Rob Reiner would get support from 37 percent of registered voters and State Treasurer Phil Angelides would receive 35 percent, the poll found.
Attorney General Bill Lockyer would get 34 percent and state Controller Steve Westly 33 percent.


More: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/02/25/calif_voters_would_back_schwarzenegger_again___poll/


Thanks to Rose Siding here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1265098

[dzika]

4. Video - PBS News Hour Novak outs Plame source; also Gannon - 2/24

(re-post)

Video - PBS News Hour Novak outs Plame source; also Gannon - 2/24

Leher reports that Novak has given up his source for CIA operative, Valerie Plame, to Federal Prosecutors. They suggest that a defense for the source will be that the source did not know that Plame was currently or had been an operative. Under the law, a person must know that the person being exposed has been an operative in the last 5 1/2 years. The source will claim that they did not know that Plame had been an operative thus getting off the hook for committing this crime.

The Federal prosecutors are still pursuing the sources of other journalists from Time and The New York Times. The court has ruled that these journalist will go to jail if they do not reveal their sources. It is reported that the Federal prosecutor wants the sources of other "leakers" to try to establish a pattern of behavior within the White House.



Video in Real Media format (7 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/newshour_plame_novak_gannon_050224-01.rm

[Tigress DEM]

30. Yeah, a pattern of telling the truth when it was expressly forbidden.

[dzika]

5. Video - Hardball with new Gannon interview and Sharpton - 2/24

Video - Hardball with new Gannon interview and Sharpton comments - 2/24



Video in Real Media format (6 minutes):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/hardball_gannon_050224-01.rm

[dzika]

6. Video - Countdown/Olbermann broadcast more of new Gannon interview - 2/24

Video - Countdown/Olbermann broadcast more of new Gannon interview - 2/24



Video in Real Media format (7 minutes)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon_050224-01.rm

[dzika]

7. Election Reform: Unresolved Issues

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Election Reform: Unresolved Issues

Key issues related to voting rights remain on the front burner for some legislators and activists.

Bob Kibrick, a legislative analyst with Verified Voting, said today: "Multiple election reform bills have been submitted to Congress during the past month. The issues addressed in those bills include uneven and excessively-long wait times for voting, inconsistent treatment of provisional ballots from state to state, the purging of voter registration lists, and restoration of voting rights for ex-felons. ... The overlapping and sometimes conflicting provisions of these bills pose a challenge for those interested in election reform because several of these bills contain excellent provisions to address some issues while offering faulty provisions for others. ... Election reform certainly remains an urgent issue: roughly 30 percent of the votes cast in the November presidential election produced no paper record that voters or anyone else could use to verify the results."
www.verifiedvoting.org,
www.wellstoneclub.org/involve/teachin.htm

---

Linda Byrket and Sheri Leigh Myers, Byrket is a filmmaker from Columbus, Ohio, who volunteered with the Election Protection Coalition to video the voting process in Ohio on Election Day. The resulting documentary, "Video the Vote," has been entered into the Congressional Record, along with "Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio," a 102-page report by the House Judiciary Committee's Democratic staff. She said today: "This footage shows thousands of Ohio voters forced to wait in line for hours in the rain and the cold -- and how they were turned away, given provisional ballots, or had to leave and could not vote at all. ... My experience was that there was great interest in the footage until John Kerry conceded, and only grassroots interest afterwards. However, the problems documented in this documentary did not disappear." Myers said today: "Once you watch this footage you cannot unwatch it. You know something is wrong with our election system." Myers is the co-founder of "Citizens Act."
www.oriondems.com/images/footage.mov

---

Zack Kaldveer, is the communications director for the Citizens Alliance for Secure Elections. He said today: "Civil rights groups, peace organizations, and electoral reform leaders will be gathering in Santa Monica, California, on February 26 and 27 for a two-day symposium to share mounting evidence of election fraud, discuss strategies and the next steps necessary to reform America's broken electoral system, and educate the press, public, and elected officials regarding the myriad of pitfalls a privatized, corporate controlled, electronic vote counting system poses to America's democracy. ... Filmmakers Linda Byrket, Penny Little, Russell Michaels and Robert Cohen will discuss their groundbreaking documentary films and video footage of November's Election Day crisis." ( http://www.infozine.com/exit.php?url=http://www.citizensact.org/images/WhoGotGlitchedFinal.pdf">PDF )

source: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/6130/

[dzika]

8. Gibbons apologizes on camera for aired 'communist' remark

February 24, 2005

Gibbons apologizes on camera for aired 'communist' remark

By Steve Kanigher



Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., stared straight into a television camera Wednesday and apologized for referring to opponents of corporate-funded presidential inauguration parties as communists, a remark that was aired nationally last month by NBC.

In an interview on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston," which was broadcast on Las Vegas ONE Cox Cable channel 19, Gibbons said he shouldn't have made the remark that aired Jan. 19 on NBC's "Nightly News With Brian Williams."

NBC reported on critics who have said that corporate donations for inaugurations represent a way to buy influence with President Bush and the Republican Party. On the subject of corporate donations for inaugural parties, Gibbons told NBC reporter Lisa Myers: "Anybody who is against that obviously must be a communist."

At the time critics blasted the remark, with one calling it "absurd" and "ridiculous."


more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/feb/24/518346204.html

[dzika]

9. Gov. says redistricting needed; Democrat calls plan 'power grab'

Friday, February 25, 2005

Gov. says redistricting needed; Democrat calls plan 'power grab'

By STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is at odds with Democrats over his push to redraw legislative and congressional districts, with the governor saying it would break the hold of the political elite while a key lawmaker labeled it a Republican power grab.
...
Assemblyman Tom Umberg, the chairman of the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee, agreed some districts were drawn "a bit uniquely," but he suggested the governor's plan was "sour grapes" because he wasn't able to defeat Democrats he campaigned against in the last election.

Umberg, D-Anaheim, said Democrats would oppose turning redistricting over to a panel of "retired judges appointed mostly by Republican governors" but that they might be open to some other kind of redistricting commission.

"I am interested in having a serious conversation about how we do (redistricting) in California," Umberg said. "Doing a mid-decade (redistricting) in order to create a partisan power grab is not the way to begin the discussion."


more: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/02/25/state/n001101S61.DTL

[dzika]

10. BRIAN DICKERSON: New attack ads don't look so swift

February 25, 2005

BRIAN DICKERSON: New attack ads don't look so swift

BY BRIAN DICKERSON


If you hoped the end of last year's presidential sludge-fest would buy us a few months of peace from political attack ads, think again.

Slime is now a year-round industry, and two well-financed trade groups have just launched new advertising campaigns against an unlikely pair of targets: AARP and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Think I'm making this up? Then steer your Internet browser to usanext.org or maddatgm.com and get a load of what's in store for activists who've opposed President George W. Bush's private investment accounts initiative or championed tougher blood-alcohol limits for drunken driving.

The creative muscle being mustered to discredit AARP includes some of the same advertising geniuses who orchestrated last year's successful Swift boat veterans' attack on Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's war record. USA Next, a lobbying group that has spent tens of millions of dollars supporting conservative Bush administration initiatives, targeted the AARP after the retirees' lobby decided to oppose the president's proposal to divert some Social Security contributions to private investment accounts.

One ad already tested on the Internet paints the AARP (on the basis of no particular evidence) as an advocate for gay marriage.


more: http://www.freep.com/news/metro/dickerson25e_20050225.htm

[dzika]

11. High-tech voting too costly for Ohio County

From IndeOnline.com:
Friday, February 25, 2005

High-tech voting too costly for Ohio County

By DOUG STALEY


Optical scan voting machines won’t be making their debut this year.

Jeff Matthews, director of the county’s Board of Elections, told board members Thursday the county should delay implementation of the new equipment until 2006.
...
Stark and Ohio’s 87 other counties were directed last month to purchase the optical scan machines by Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. The optical scan technology is similar to what is used for standardized tests. Voters fill in the space or oval next to their candidate of choice with a pencil.
...
A number of counties, including Stark, had been considering electronic touch screen machines. That was before concerns arose over the equipment’s inability to produce a voter-verified paper trail.
...
Stark’s Board of Elections has picked Diebold, the only federally-certified vendor, to supply their optical scan equipment.


more: http://www.indeonline.com/left.php?ID=1947&r=1

[dzika]

12. Video - CNN reports Talon News Offline due to Gannon - 2/25

Video - CNN reports Talon News Offline due to Gannon - 2/25

"Talon News has lost its' grip on the internet for now.

"According to a publicist, Talon's founder pulled the plug because of the negative fallout caused by James Guckert (a.k.a. Jeff Gannon)"



Video in Real Media format (30 seconds):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_lt_gannon_talon_offline_050225-01.rm

[dzika]

13. Agents get papers, interviews in Ohio statehouse probe

Friday, February 25, 2005

Agents get papers, interviews in Ohio statehouse probe

by Sandy Theis and Ted Wendling


Columbus -- A federal grand jury subpoenaed payroll records, expense accounts and computer hard drives from the Ohio House of Representatives as part of a widening campaign-spending investigation of ex-House Speaker Larry Householder and his top political aides.

Dated Feb. 1, the subpoena requests only records involving Householder and former Chief of Staff Brett Buerck. Newly elected Speaker Jon Husted, a Dayton-area Republican, has urged House employees to cooperate with the probe.

"We fully complied with the request and turned over documents that same week," said Jack Christopher, legal counsel for the House Republican caucus.
...
Among the damaging information made public was a 109-page memo that laid out a plan to ruin the career of Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, a fellow Republican and political rival.


more: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/110932760172432.xml

[dzika]

14. On Election Day, pay your money, take your chances

Published February 25, 2005

On Election Day, pay your money, take your chances

by John Kass


Two of my favorite political philosophers--the reportedly new moderate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-Ill., Ark., N.Y.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Ketchup)--have come up with a brilliant idea:

A national holiday from work to be called Election Day.

For years Americans have worked and voted on the same day. But such draconian multitasking is obviously too strenuous for us modern folk.

Even so, I support the Clinton-Kerry plan. In fact, I support them so much that I've added my own amendment. And I plead with you to help me and Kerry and Clinton in this struggle.

Anything that gets Americans to vote is something that all of us should support without reservation. Yes, it could be a scheme to help one side defeat the other in presidential and congressional campaigns. But in the name of unity, drop your selfish partisanship and unbridled cynicism for once, OK?


more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0502250199feb25,1,5569325.column?coll=chi-news-nav

[dzika]

15. Election reform a crucial step in addressing democracy's ills

Fri, Feb. 25, 2005

Election reform a crucial step in addressing democracy's ills

BY JANE EISNER
Knight Ridder Newspapers



(KRT) - There's no right to vote enshrined in the Constitution, but it's certainly enshrined in the national psyche. We moan when voter turnout declines, and exult when other nations - most recently Iraq - use the ballot box to shape their political destinies.
...
Though barriers of race, gender, education and age are gone, this is not a fully enfranchised nation. The record turnout last year belies an uncomfortable fact: More eligible voters didn't vote than voted for either Bush or Kerry.
...
Legislation introduced in the Senate last week goes a long way to reform the system and expand the electorate. But because its sponsors include names like Clinton and Kerry, its worthy journey into law may stop at the partisan aisle.

Viewing the "Count Every Vote Act" as a Democratic ploy to bulk up the rolls before the next election is understandable, since the bill was introduced by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and co-sponsored by Sen. John Kerry. Understandable and shortsighted.

Whatever you think of the senators' motives, this bill has many of the elements that bipartisan election reformers have long requested: Paper records of electronic voting. Election-day registration. Election Day as a national holiday. Restoration of voting rights for former felons.


more: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/10989554.htm

[dzika]

16. Liberal groups watching Dean

Friday, February 25, 2005

Liberal groups watching Dean

Howard Dean speaks Thursday at
Washburn University in Topeka,
Kansas.


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A year ago, an activist group from the Seattle area gave Howard Dean a thin, golden statue of a backbone.
...
Bill Moyer, executive director of the Backbone Campaign, said he hopes Dean will continue to be a leader among liberal Democrats and that his chairmanship will mark a turning point for the party.
...
The latest recipient of the golden backbone was Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, who challenged Ohio's electoral college results from last November's election in Congress, forcing a rare debate in the House and Senate.

Tubbs Jones said having a backbone, for Dean, may mean bringing liberal Democrats to the table with the rest of the party.

"There are some that worry that he will move the party too far to the left, but I'm not worried about that," she said. "I think he will give definition to the party and allow Democrats to define the party instead of allowing Republicans to define us."


more: http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/25/dean.democrats.ap/index.html

[dzika]

17. Coulter lied and distorted to defend "Gannon," falsely attack Democrats an

Friday February 25, 2005 at 11:04 AM EST

Coulter lied and distorted to defend "Gannon," falsely attack Democrats and "liberal" media

Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter presented a raft of lies and distortions to defend former Talon News Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent Jeff Gannon (aka James D. Guckert) from Democrats and the "liberal media." Among the accusations in Coulter's February 24 nationally syndicated column were that the "liberal media" resorted to probing Gannon's private life after failing to "get Gannon for incompetence on the job"; that former Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart, former President Bill Clinton, and Senator John Kerry all ran for office under "invented names"; and that New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd "openly lied" when writing about Gannon's White House press passes.

"Liberals keep rolling out a series of attacks on Gannon for their Two Minutes of Hate, but all their other charges against him fall apart after three seconds of scrutiny. Gannon's only offense is that he may be gay," Coulter wrote.

In a broadside against the "liberal media," Coulter falsely claimed that "they can't even get Gannon for incompetence on the job":

Liberals keep telling us the media isn't liberal, but in order to retaliate for the decimation of major news organizations like the New York Times, CBS News and CNN, all they can do is produce the scalp of an obscure writer for an unknown conservative Web page. And unlike (former New York Times executive editor Howell) Raines, (CBS News anchor Dan) Rather and (former CNN chief news executive Eason) Jordan, they can't even get Gannon for incompetence on the job.

In fact, Media Matters for America has documented numerous instances of Gannon's incompetence: He lifted large portions of White House and Republican materials verbatim for his "news reports"; he reported a baseless, thoroughly disproven rumor of an extramarital affair between Kerry and an unnamed woman; and he used a fabricated quotation attributed to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to ask a softball question of George W. Bush.

Coulter proceeded to attack congressional Democrats for "demand(ing) that an independent prosecutor investigate how Gannon got into the White House under an invented name" and conflated Guckert/Gannon's use of a pseudonym to the "invented names" of various Democratic presidential candidates, asking: "How did Gary Hartpence, Billy Blythe and John Kohn (Gary Hart, Bill Clinton and John Kerry) run for president under invented names?" The truth is that neither Hart nor Clinton "invented" their names, and Kerry's name was never Kohn.

Hart's parents changed the family's last name from Hartpence to Hart in the late 1950s because, Hart said, it had been their original family name. Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV after his deceased father, but in high school he assumed the last name of his stepfather, Roger Clinton, who had married his mother when Bill Clinton was 4 years old. The Associated Press reported on March 10, 1992, that Clinton's mother said that Roger Clinton loved Bill like a son. Kerry was born "John Forbes Kerry" and has never held the surname Kohn; his grandfather changed his name from Fritz Kohn to Frederick Kerry in 1901.

By contrast, James D. Guckert's name appears as such on his driver's license. He claims he uses "Jeff Gannon" because it is easier to spell and pronounce. He has provided no other reason for adopting the pseudonym.

Coulter also claimed that Dowd lied when the latter wrote in her February 17 column that "I was rejected for a White House press pass at the start of the Bush administration, but someone with an alias, a tax evasion problem and Internet pictures where he posed like the 'Barberini Faun' is credentialed to cover a White House that won a second term by mining homophobia and preaching family values?" Coulter insisted that Dowd "openly lied" by "talking about two different press passes without telling her readers." But regardless of what kind of pass Gannon used, the fact remains, as Dowd noted, that "in an era when security concerns are paramount," Gannon "could saunter into the West Wing every day under an assumed name while he was doing full-frontal advertising for stud services for $1,200 a weekend."


Contacts:

Ann Coulter
[e-mail]

Townhall.com
214 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-608-6099

Universal Press Syndicate
4520 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
[phone]


source: http://mediamatters.org/items/200502250002

[dzika]

18. An Active Duty Military Person's take on Limbaugh In Afghanistan

An Active Duty Military Person's take on Limbaugh In Afghanistan

Limbaugh is broadcast on Armed Forces Radio which is supported by American tax dollars

I am so sorry to keep beating a "dead horse". I have posted so many times about the absolute outrage of having this drug addled hate- monger spewing his swill on Armed Forces Radio.

As you may know. I HAVE EXTREMELY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS.

It was bad enough when you simply had to hear his one sided 3 hour hate fest coming from someone's radio in the office.

Now, he has the sanction, and obviously, the official endorsement of the United States of America. How else can you describe it? He has now become officially licensed and sanctioned by the government.

And all I can do is complain until I am blue in the face, because our reps and Senators won't do a damn thing about it.

You want to talk about tax dollars?? You are aware that his show is broadcast everyday (at least 1 hour of it) on the Armed Forces Radio Service? You do know that yours and my tax money pay for Armed Forces Radio, right?

Let me ask you how you think I feel? I'm a 21 year Navy man. I am a proud "bleeding heart liberal". I am a proud Democrat! My money is being spent so that a man who would not serve when his country called, can tell my Shipmates, my family, my friends, my fellow American military members that...

- "I" support the terrorist!
- "I" hate the military!
- "I" hope more troops get killed!
- "I" am unAmerican!
- "I" have no morals!
- "I" blame America first!

etc........

I've gone so far as to write recently to my two Republican Senators Voinovich and Dewine (OH), stating that I obviously am not needed in the military anymore, or wanted, and that I plan to resign my commission. Sent copies of those e-mails to the Columbus Dispatch, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The silence back from two people that are supposed to represent me has been deafening!

This is an outrage that should cause almost "revolutionary" action. I would hope that the Dems would shut down the Senate until action is taken to get this fat pig off AFRTS.

Playing nice has not worked.

Discuss on this DU Thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3176725

[dzika]

19. Voting in America

From Liberal and patriot blog:
Thursday, February 24, 2005

Voting in America

In 2000 we said "NEVER AGAIN" but in 2004 we learned that words mean nothing, and the next election was even worse.

Voting Irregularities, Misvotes, recounts, revote, all these new words that represent the confusion and disorder of our last presidential election.

In the State of Washington, Republicans are screaming and threatening to break off into a new state because of some misvotes, while the deeper more serious problems; the misvotes that we cannot even recount... because of paperless voting... Would you complacently make a deposit into an ATM machine without a paper receipt? I Think not.

SO let's read about Washington... Snohomish County voting irregularities this link takes you to a summary, but if you actually read the report, there are many interesting oddities, like a voting machine in Concrete that consistently voted for bush no matter who the voter voted for the rest of the ticket.

But don't stop there in Washington, There is plenty to read about Ohio.
Read the Vanity Fair article Ohio's odd numbers
What about Florida? Did we already forget about the 50,000 absentee ballots that "disappeared"???? Here's an article about Florida.


There are many websites that have sprung up just to address this stuff.
Here's VotersUnite.Org
and This one

And what do people we trust have to say about this?
Like Jimmy Carter?

and what about my new hero, Barbara Boxer?

I like what William Pitt has to say too.


Although Bev Harris of Blackboxvoting.org is a rather controversial figure, she managed to act as a lightning rod for so many of us others, and has been interviewed by people like Governor Howard Dean, who seemed to think she had a case for her concerns.
(see this commondreams article)

source: http://mimitabby.blogspot.com/2005/02/voting-in-america-in-2000-we-said.html

[dzika]

20. Idea of the Week: Election Reform

February 25, 2005

Idea of the Week: Election Reform

Last fall, the United States narrowly missed enduring a second straight presidential election decided by judges rather than voters. Many of the problems that plagued the 2000 elections returned in abundance, including wildly varying state and local rules for registration, early and absentee voting, and balloting machinery; questionable voter roll purges; incidents of voter intimidation and other dirty tricks; and last-minute changes in polling places. In addition, far more than in 2000, polling places were often unprepared for a high-turnout election, with long and discouraging lines common in many urban areas around the country.

The Help America Vote Act of 2003 was supposed to make the situation better, but largely failed, in part because of inadequate federal support for state and local voting infrastructure improvements, and in part because its major innovation, letting voters whose eligibility was in question cast "provisional ballots," was handled in completely different ways in different jurisdictions, often by elected officials with strong partisan loyalties.

It's time to insist on election reform to fix our system for federal elections once and for all. It's a fundamental matter of providing a level playing field for democracy's most basic civic ritual, and of restoring public confidence that the outcome is determined by the popular will, not the relative ability of candidates and political parties to exploit incompetence or partisan malice in the administration of the ballot box. Fortunately, before memories of the irregularities marring the last two presidential elections fade, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is offering legislation to make future federal elections simpler, fairer, more accountable, and more voter-friendly.

Her Count Every Vote bill (cosponsored by Sens. Kerry, Boxer, Lautenberg, and Mikulski; Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) plans to introduce a House counterpart) would provide a series of reforms designed to provide a minimal level of interstate and intrastate uniformity in voting procedures, while encouraging greater voter participation in general. It would:

• Create uniform rules for the handling of "provisional" ballots;
  
  
• Require generous and adequately staffed early voting opportunities;
  
  
• Boost training for poll workers;
  
  
• Require paper receipts to ensure accountability in the use of electronic voting machines;
  
  
• Adopt the Texas standard for restoration of voting rights for ex-felons;
  
  
• Make Election Day a federal holiday to facilitate voting;
  
  
• Provide new federal funding to ensure full implementation of the reforms.

more here: http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=207&contentid=253194

[dzika]

21. Video - DemocracyNow: Rep. Hinchey (D-NY) says Rove planted CBS docs - 2/2

Video - DemocracyNow: Rep. Hinchey says Rove planted CBS docs - 2/25

Rep. Hinchey said that he believes that the fake documents that were given to CBS were planted by Rove. The effect of these documents were to discredit CBS and to end the discussion of Bush being AWOL from the National Guard.



Video in Real Media format (35 seconds):
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/dn_hinchey_rove_cbs_050225-01.rm

[dzika]

22. Republican party lacking in open-minds

From Ohio University's The Post Online:
Feb. 25, 2005

Republican party lacking in open-minds

by The Post Editorial Board



First, to address the issue of gay marriage, I have to challenge the medium on which the Republicans are trying to "protect marriage." Blizzard writes, "people should have equal opportunities, regardless of their sexual orientation." Yet, according to the Human Rights Campaign, because gay people cannot get married, they do not have access to more than 1,000 federal benefits.
...
Well, don't look forward to such an alternative in Ohio any time in the near future because Ohio Issue 1, endorsed by Ohio's Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell -among other Republicans -outlaws civil unions. In addition, public institutions, including Ohio University, might no longer be permitted to offer same-sex benefits. Perhaps Republicans disagree, but Democrats see that as a situation demonstrating an inequality in our society.

I am also amused by the fact that Blizzard, along with many Republicans in this country, continue to call themselves "conservatives" when they are anything but. By definition, a conservative is a person who wants to keep the status quo and rejects major change. The Bush presidency has been anything but conservative. For example, at the national level, Bush continues to promote radical legislation, such as the complete overhaul of social security and the "marriage protection amendment," which both Democrats and Republicans have opposed for being too drastic.
...
Republicans enjoy claiming on a daily basis that Democrats are "crazy" and their policies are "far out in left field," or "disagree with mainstream morality." Yet, more than 48 percent of Americans seemed to disagree this past November and we are prepared to continue the fight for the next four years.


http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/E.php?article=E4&date=022505

[Wilms]

23. Sarasota Herald Tribune: DRE voting machines costly to use

DRE voting machines costly to use

Rosemarie F. Myerson
Charles Edwards

February 25, 2005

Upon the recommendation of the Sarasota County supervisor of elections, the County Commission spent $4.7 million for direct-recording electronic voting machines in November 2001. The DREs were supposed to be less expensive to use than other machines.

-snip-

It is obvious from the data that there was an increase of a million dollars per year in average annual expenses of the Sarasota County elections office in changing from punch cards to the DREs. Also, it has cost Sarasota County, on average, an extra $1.2 million each year to maintain and operate the DREs vs. Manatee County's adjusted average annual cost for using optical scanners.

Clearly, using DREs is significantly more expensive than using the punch cards we had before 2002 or optical scanners. There would have been real savings if the Sarasota County Commission had discarded the DREs in April 2004 and spent $600,000 to buy optical scanners, as a citizens' group had suggested to the commissioners. The supervisor of elections said that paper ballots were expensive. Manatee bought its paper ballots for 20 cents each. For 100,000 voters, this amounts to $20,000, a trivial sum compared with the above-mentioned $1.2 million.

-snip/more-

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050225/OPINION/502250391/1029

[dzika]

24. Videos - News from today.

CNN: Swifties target AARP with Ad that implies they have Gay agenda - 2/25



Video (2 minutes)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_ip_ss_dirty_tricks_050225-01.rm

---

CNN: Schwarzenegger begins coast-to-coast fundraising for Gov.



Video (35 seconds)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_ip_arnold_fundraiser_0501025-01.rm

---

CNN: Blogs report on Gannon, Talon News & Condi's boots



Video (2 minutes)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/cnn_ip_gannon_blogs_050225-01.rm

---

News Hour: Columnist says that Kerry campaign influenced Bush overseas meetings



Video (2 minutes)
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/newshour_bush_overseas_analysis_050225-01.rm

[MelissaB]

25. Dzika, thank you so much

for doing this. I would never get to see all of this if you didn't post it for us. Thank you!

:yourock:

[Wilms]

26. Iowa Daily Nonpareil: Auditors' votes on new machines mixed

Daily Nonpareil

Auditors' votes on new machines mixed

TOM MCMAHON
Staff Writer
02/25/2005

-snip-

He said at a cost of $4,000 to $6,000 per DRE, that could cost the county as much as $102,000 for machines that may get little use.

According to HAVA regulations, DRE's can be used by all voters, but if that option is chosen, Iowa law requires one machine must be provided for every 350 registered voters. Industry standards suggest one for every 200 voters to avoid long lines.

Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter said she does not want to rely strictly on DREs.

-snip-

He said they can buy precinct-count optical scan units - machines located at each precinct that spit out incorrectly marked ballots so voters can correct them.

-snip-

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14035917&BRD=2554&PAG=461&dept_id=507134&rfi=6

[dzika]

27. FOX promoting pro-Bush seniors group USA Next

Friday February 25, 2005 at 2:38 PM EST

FOX promoting pro-Bush seniors group USA Next

FOX News has repeatedly hosted representatives of USA Next, a conservative lobbying group formerly known as the United Seniors Association (USA), who have come on the network to attack the AARP, a chief opponent of President Bush's plans to privatize Social Security. Among USA Next's claims articulated on FOX are that the AARP is "the world's largest left, liberal lobbying organization in the world" that is "definitely against traditional values." USA Next's chairman and chief executive, Charles W. Jarvis, and its national chairman, entertainer Art Linkletter, have appeared on FOX News three times in the past ten days. But despite the fact that the group has spent millions of dollars to support Republican candidates and policies, was founded and is currently led by prominent Republicans, and is advised by Republican consultants, FOX News did not identify USA Next as Republican -- or even conservative -- in any appearance by Jarvis or Linkletter.

Founded by conservative activist Richard Viguerie, USA was among several advocacy groups he set up to "bombard() the elderly with tens of millions of solicitations, generating millions of dollars in fees for his private companies," according to a November 12, 1992, New York Times report. USA's "board and executives consist entirely of direct-mail experts and people active in conservative causes," the Times reported, and noted that the organization had been criticized by members of both parties for "preying on vulnerable old people with statements that distort the problems facing Social Security and Medicare, especially by exaggerating the threat to current retirees."

In 1995, USA worked with discredited Republican pollster Frank Luntz to craft a controversial memo on Medicare that referred to older Americans as "pack-oriented" and "susceptible to following one very dominant person's lead," according to a July 13, 1995, Washington Post article, which called USA "an organization that is more sympathetic to the Republican plans than most others."

The Center for Responsive Politics describes USA as an organization that "has ties to the Republican party. Its president and CEO, Charles Jarvis, once worked for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Other staff and board members worked as lobbyists for the Republican Party, are former GOP congressmen, or worked for conservative organizations such as Focus on the Family."

In its guise as a seniors' organization, USA has lent support to a multitude of Republican initiatives. According to a March 16, 2001, Dallas Morning News report, USA launched a $2 million radio ad campaign in support of President Bush's tax cuts. An April 19, 2002, USA press release titled "Seniors Deplore Senate Loss of ANWR Vote" expressed the group's "disappointment and dismay at the Senate's vote against" drilling for oil in Alaska. A June 4, 2003, USA press release "urged House Democrats and Republicans to join together to pass H.R. 760, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban of 2003." USA has also consistently made pointed political attacks on Democrats; its press releases (which are no longer available on USA's website) have such titles as "Seniors See Senator Daschle as Roadblock to Economic Recovery," "Democrats Doom Prescription Drugs for Seniors," "Senate Democrats Still Putting Politics Over People," and "Estrada Vote a Sign of the Great Liberal Deathwish?"

USA's current incarnation, USA Next, has maintained its Republican ties. As Media Matters for America has noted, the New York Times reported on February 21 that USA Next hired consultants who previously worked with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (now Swift Vets and POWs for Truth) to "orchestrate attacks" as part of USA Next's $10 million campaign against the AARP. According to the Times, one consultant is Chris LaCivita, who earned more than $30,000 advising the Swift Boat Veterans' media campaign attacking Senator John Kerry. Media Matters has previously detailed how Tom Synhorst, chairman of the political strategy firm DCI Group, for which LaCivita has worked, was connected to a smear campaign against Senator John McCain (R-AZ) during the 2000 South Carolina Republican presidential primary. The Times article also reported that USA Next "has turned to Creative Response Concepts, a Virginia firm that represented both Swift Vets -- the company was paid more than $165,000 -- and Regnery Publishing," publisher of the anti-Kerry book Unfit for Command, co-authored by Swift Boat Veterans co-founder John E. O'Neill. The group is "seeking to hire" Rick Reed, a partner at a firm paid more than $276,000 to do media production for Swift Boat Veterans, according to the Times article.

Additionally, a May 2004 Washington Monthly article identified USA as "a soft-money slush fund for a single GOP-friendly industry: pharmaceuticals," noting that, "during the 2002 elections, with an 'unrestricted educational grant' from the drug industry burning a hole in its pocket, the group spent roughly $14 million -- the lion's share of its budget -- on ads defending Republican members of Congress for their votes on a Medicare prescription-drug bill." Other estimates vary, but all suggest that USA spent significant amounts on targeted advertising in support of Republicans during the 2002 congressional elections. A June 5, 2003, Associated Press article reported that USA "was the nation's biggest spender on political TV ads, paying nearly $9 million for ads mainly supporting Republican candidates," and the Center for Responsive Politics noted in December 2003: "Last year, the group reportedly spent $17 million to run political ads in tight congressional races." The Center for Responsive Politics also noted that USA "made $66,000 in PAC contributions during the 2002 election cycle, all to Republicans."

On February 23, journalist and blogger Joshua Micah Marshall also pointed out that BBB Wise Giving Alliance, an information bureau for nonprofit organizations, noted that USA is affiliated with the O'Neill Marketing Company (OMC). Marshall noted: "Apparently, it's a very tight affiliation," since the address of both is 3900 Jermantown Road in Fairfax, Virginia. According to OMC's website, its other clients include the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Republican Governors Association, and the Republican National Committee. On the February 23 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, Jarvis claimed USA Next has "no connection at all now" to OMC; a statement on the OMC website, posted in response to "recent press coverage of United Seniors Association, (now USANext)," claims that OMC "has no relationship with USANext, does not provide list-marketing services to them and has not done so for many months."

On February 16, Jarvis appeared on FOX News' The O'Reilly Factor, where host Bill O'Reilly introduced the organization as "an alternative senior group to the AARP." Jarvis attacked the AARP, stating: "The problem is, there's never been a tax increase they didn't love, there's never been a tax cut they didn't hate, and they are definitely against traditional values." Asked if his organization is conservative, Jarvis denied it:

JARVIS: No, we are basically a free-market alternative to AARP. Whereas we're the healthy, wealthy and wise organization, they're the tax, tax and spend organization.

O'REILLY: All right. So you're more smaller government, self-reliant. É Well, we're glad you came in because we want the folks to have a choice. They can check you out. They know what the AARP is, and then they can make a decision, and that's -- you know, we report, you decide. That's perfect, right?

The next night, Linkletter appeared on FOX News' Hannity & Colmes, where co-host Sean Hannity introduced him as "a strong advocate for seniors, as the national chairman of the United Seniors Association." On February 18, Linkletter was a guest on FOX News' Your World with Neil Cavuto, where he was introduced as "One senior (who) says it's (President Bush's Social Security proposal) a grand idea." During the interview, Linkletter contradicted Jarvis's assertion two days earlier that USA Next is not conservative, describing the group as "very conservative." And on the February 24 edition of Special Report with Brit Hume, FOX News general assignment correspondent Major Garrett referred to USA Next as simply "a special interest group." (Linkletter was also a guest on the February 7 edition of Your World, though no transcript of his appearance is available.)

By contrast, on CNN or MSNBC, each time anchors or reporters have mentioned USA Next or interviewed Jarvis, they made the group's political affiliation clear to viewers. On February 21, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann summarized the New York Times report on USA Next's hiring of the Swift Boat Veterans' consultants and referred to the organization as "a conservative lobbying group." On February 22, CNN Inside Politics host Judy Woodruff noted a USA Next online attack ad that included a photo of a soldier with a large red X over it and a photo of two men kissing with a large green check mark, accompanied by the caption "The REAL AARP Agenda"; Woodruff described USA Next as "a conservative lobbying group formerly known as the United Seniors Association." The next day, when Jarvis appeared on Inside Politics to discuss the ad, which he claimed was intended as a test "to find out if the blogs would overreact to the ad," Woodruff identified USA Next as a "conservative lobbying group." During Jarvis's appearance on MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews introduced him as "chief executive of USA Next, a lobbying group that supports President Bush's Social Security plan."


Contacts:

FOX News Channel
1-888-369-4762
[e-mail]
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036



source: http://mediamatters.org/items/200502250004

[dzika]

28. Phillips estimates that Kerry won Ohio

February 25, 2005

Phillips estimates that Kerry won Ohio

Dr. Richard Hayes Phillips estimates that Kerry won Ohio:


Microsoft Word Document:
http://ohioelection2004.com/WordHost/phillipsestimate.doc


For body of Phillips's work on the Ohio 2004 election see:
http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/02/summary-and-list-of-richard-hayes.html


source: http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/2005/02/phillips-estimates-that-kerry-won-ohio.html

[dzika]

29. WTF???: AARP hates troops; loves gay weddings

Feb. 25, 2005

WTF???: AARP hates troops; loves gay weddings

In which same-sex marriage becomes - of all things - an argument for privatizing Social Security.


Right-wing pundits will tell you that the 2004 election was won on the strength of the "War on Terror" and "Traditional Family Values". They point to John Kerry's vote against the $87 billion funding package for Iraq. They point to the (faulty) exit poll in which the plurality who chose "Moral Values" as their primary issue went 80% for President Bush. They point to the successful ballot initiatives to ban gay marriage in 11 states—above all the particularly draconian one in Ohio which, they say, energized the evangelical base enough to swing the state narrowly to Bush.

Clearly these lessons were not lost on the fine people at USA Next, a hitherto obscure lobbying group that claims to speak for senior citizens (the "USA" is for "United Seniors Association") and is pushing hard for President Bush's Social Security "reform" plan. USA Next is fighting an uphill battle for hearts and minds against the mighty AARP, which has come firmly down on the opposing side. So what's a tiny group like this to do? Muster arguments and statistics showing why the AARP is wrong? Present a reasoned case for the benefits of the Bush privatization plan?

Sadly, no. The obvious course was to attack the AARP where it's most vulnerable: that is, its vocal stands against our troops and in favor of gay marriage. What's that, you say? You didn't know that the AARP took such stands? Well, neither did the AARP. But there it was in living color: an advertisement on the American Spectator's web site showing American troops marked with a big red X, two tuxedoed men kissing under a big green check mark, and the caption "The REAL AARP Agenda". In what might be called a sign of intelligence, the ad was soon removed, but it can still be seen http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/21/164929/948">here.
...
Despite the ad's withdrawal, USA Next is unchastened. This was just a test, they say, and they plan to continue attacking the AARP over the gay marriage issue. The real question is why they think this will give them traction in the Social Security debate. Yes, gay marriage obviously makes a lot of people nervous. But will they buy the idea that the AARP has such a position, and that—assuming it did—support for gay marriage would automatically invalidate the organization's position on the very different issue of Social Security privatization?

Well, maybe. USA Next has hired the supporting cast of last summer's Swift Boat Vets innuendo festival. These are people who managed to hijack the national news media for an entire month with allegations about John Kerry's wartime service that are unsupported by the documentary evidence and denied by practically everyone who was actually present. They may feel they can sell anything.


more: http://web.morons.org/article.jsp?sectionid=10&id=6011

[dzika]

31. Update on Ohio From National Voting Rights Institute

Email From National Voting Rights Institute:
Feb. 25, 2005

Update on Ohio From National Voting Rights Institute

The National Voting Rights Institute
Protecting the Right to Vote for All Americans

NVRI E-News Update - February 25, 2005

The Ohio Recount -- The Saga Continues -- New Filings From The Kerry-Edwards Campaign Support NVRI's Claim That The Recount Was Simply Not Done Right NVRI continues to press the state of Ohio to do the right thing, and conduct a consistent and fair recount. The announced winner of the campaign is obviously not an issue. But the justness of American democracy has still not been shown. Earlier this week, the Kerry-Edwards Campaign filed documents with the federal district court in Ohio, supporting NVRI's motion to have a hearing on the inconsistent standards used in the recount.

The Kerry Edwards filing is mentioned below, and here are the most recent developments in this case.


On February 11, 2005, on behalf of our clients David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, NVRI filed a motion for a hearing before the Federal District Court on previously filed claims regarding inconsistent and inequitable recount procedures. The earlier filings had claimed that the recount of the 2004 presidential vote had been conducted with inconsistent standards throughout the state, in violation of the equal protection and due process guarantees under the US Constitution.


On February 14, Judge Sargus issued an order granting our motion to dismiss the Delaware County Board of Elections' complaint (which had sought to prevent the recount in that county) and asking for briefing in 15 days on the question of whether the case should be transferred to Judge Carr in Toledo (for the Northern District of Ohio) where a prior case seeking to expedite the recount had been filed in November 2004.

On February 23, NVRI filed the attached statement on the transfer question ( http://www.nvri.org/updates/cobb_badnarik_transfer_statement_022305.pdf ).

And on February 24, the Kerry-Edwards Campaign filed a document in support of that statement. Most significant, the Kerry-Edwards Campaign also filed a separate document in support of our motion for hearing with two critical attachments: 1) a declaration from Kerry-Edwards attorney Don McTigue ( http://www.nvri.org/updates/kerry_edwards_mctigue_decl_022405.pdf ) regarding a survey he conducted of Kerry-Edwards county recount coordinators; 2) a summary chart of the results of that survey ( http://www.nvri.org/updates/kerry_edwards_summary_chart_022405.pdf ), which highlight the inconsistent standards applied during the recount.

Attached are these two critical Kerry-Edwards filings.

Once again, thanks for all of your support. Our work continues. All Americans should be concerned about the unconstitutional manner this recount was conducted.



National Voting Rights Institute
27 School Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02186
Phone: [phone] ¤ Fax: [phone]
http://www.nvri.org ¤ [e-mail]

[Wilms]

32. kick n/t

[Iceburg]

33. Wanted: precinct level election data for comparison studies

I am looking for datasets from the periods 1996 to 2004 that meet the following criteria:

Source: from official published canvas data, any state, any county (except Cuyahoga, Ohio ... I have that one and it is my reference point of comparison)

Granularity:precinct level

Voting method: paper, punched card, or other (must be known)

Ballot order arrangement: prefer datasets where the ballot order is known (may be fixed or rotating, if rotating I will require the specific ballot orders for each precinct)

Contests: must include presidential contest and at least one other party-based contest such as US senator

Importability: easily imported in db format

Variables Required:
Must have as a minimum:
- candidate data
- spoiled (under votes, overvotes)
- number of registered voters
- voting method
- ballot order (see requirement above)

Nice to Have:
Number of voting machines deployed at each precinct
----------------------------------------------------------
Any assistance in finding such datasets would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

[Liberty Belle]

34. Action Alerts: Election Reform & More

ACTION ALERTS:

Feb. 26, 2005- New Alerts


URGENT! ASK CONGRESS TO SUPPORT ELECTION REFORM BILLS—BEFORE STATES BUY MORE BAD VOTING MACHINES

From MoveOn.org:
Several great bills have just been introduced in Congress to repair the embarrassing flaws in our election system -- from electronic voting machines to long lines to partisan election officials. Everyone's waiting to see if this new legislation will pick up speed or fall victim to partisan bickering. If we act right now, we can give these bills the early momentum they need.
There's no time to lose: In the coming months, states are poised to buy a billion dollars worth of unreliable electronic voting machines without paper trails.
Can you speed election repairs by signing this new petition?
http://www.moveonpac.org/repairthevote /
CALL YOUR SENATOR TO STOP RESOLUTION H.R. 418, WHICH COULD ALLOW CONSTRUCTION OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THE U.S.
This dangerous measure authorizes waiver of “all laws” for projects related to construction of roads or barriers. In Nazi Germany, Hitler used road-building as a pretext to bypass laws, seal off the borders and build concentration camps. This measure has passed Congress and is now before the Senate. While there is no way to know if the administration has any intention of doing this here, we must demand that this measure be stopped or amended to protect our freedom—and our lives.
Find contact info for your Senator at: www.congress.gov

PREVENT TAX DOLLARS FROM FUNDING RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
When you pay your taxes, you should feel confident that your dollars will not be used for religious discrimination. But that might change unless you take action: proposed legislation would allow organizations that receive taxpayer funds to discriminate against employees on the basis of their religion. This proposal will be voted on next week and your Representative needs to hear from you.

Take action! Urge Congress to oppose religious discrimination with taxpayer funds!
http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLiberty.c...

ASK AUTOMATORS TO SUPPORT CLEAN AIR STANDARDS IN CA
California for Democracy is partnering with environmental groups on a massive letter-writing campaign to encourage automakers to "innovate, don't litigate" when it comes to California's anti-emissions laws.
California is America's largest automobile market and the one that sets automotive trends for the entire world. California also has a history of leading the nation in creating sensible air pollution standards - that often become Federal law. Three years ago, 80 percent of Californians backed the world's first standard for automotive global warming emissions. Now, Automakers are going to court to try and stop the implementation of these new standards (set to take effect in 2009 - leaving them plenty of time to solve the problem).
Find a sample letter and the addresses of major automakers to whom you should write at the California for Democracy website. http://www.californiafordemocracy.com/?q=globalwarming

STOP DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE
The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is under attack -- a sneak attack. We need your help right now to stop oil drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge before it's too late.

In the next two weeks, President Bush and his pro-drilling allies in Congress may try a sneaky backdoor trick to pass their controversial proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by inserting it in the must-pass federal budget bill.
In March, some members of Congress will try to approve Arctic drilling by hiding their proposal in the federal budget bills -- the only bills that are exempt from filibuster or extended debate. This sneaky attempt not only defies the democratic process, but it reveals the fundamental weakness of the push for drilling: proponents of drilling know they cannot pass this through the normal legislative process, so they are resorting to a procedural tactic to prohibit an open and honest debate.

A lot is riding on this decision. This incomparable wilderness is home to more than 250 animal species, including wolves, grizzlies, caribou, and millions of migrating birds. Unfortunately, it is also the target of an intense, relentless lobbying campaign by the oil industry.
Click here now to stop the oil industry from destroying the Arctic Refuge - send a message to your members of Congress demanding that they do everything in their power to keep drilling revenues out of the budget bill. http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step...
STOP THE SWIFT-BOAT CAMPAIGN TO SMEAR AARP IN A “SNEAK ATTACK” ON SOCIAL SECURITY
The right-wing fringe has declared war on Social Security -- and this week they launched their newest attack.
The ridiculous image you see to the right is the latest from USA Next, a front group for radical conservatives who want to dismantle Social Security.
You won't be surprised to hear who they hired to publicize their efforts: the same team of hatchet men that ran the swift boat smear campaign against John Kerry. Now they are targeting the AARP, a group that millions of seniors rely on to defend their interests.
To see just how low the Swift Boat group will go, check out this ad: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/StopUSANextSign this petition to asking TV stations not to air these dishonest, bigoted attacks:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/StopUSANext



DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION OF GANNON/GUCKERT

The People's Email Network ACTION Newsletter asks:

How is it that someone with no journalistic credentials was promoted to ask propaganda questions at White House press conferences? The issue is not whether Mr. Guckert (Jeff Gannon) might have moonlighted as a prostitute. The real question is whether the press itself, in the exercise of its professionalism, should have more control over the process. Is it time for Congress to get involved to make sure the tough questions are allowed to be asked? What do you think we should do?

http://www.usalone.com/press.htm


SEND THE MEDIA THESE LINKS TO EXPOSE THE TRUTH ON THE HOOKER/FAKE JOURNALIST IN THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS:

All videos are in Real Media format.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann on "Gannon-Gate" - 2/9 @ 8:00 PM
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon...

Olbermann interviews NPR reporter about "Gannon" - 2/10 @ 8:15 PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon...

Hardball reports on "Gannon" scandal - 2/17 @ 7:45 PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/hardball_gannon_...

MSNBC Countdown reports on "Gannon" scandal - 2/17 @ 8:00 PM
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon...

Countdown links "insider" Gannon to Daschle Senate loss - 2/18 @ 8:00PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon...
1.ram

Olbermann reports that Gannon threatens to sue - 2/21 @ 8:00PM ET
http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/olbermann_gannon...
-01.rm

TELL ARNOLD TO MAKE POLLUTERS CLEAN UP ROCKET FUEL-CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER

Last month, thousands of you wrote Gov. Schwarzenegger calling for the state to force polluters to clean up the rocket fuel contamination of our drinking water.

On Tuesday, February 22, a new university study discovered rocket fuel contamination in the breast milk of nursing mothers across the country at levels that can threaten babies. Now, we need your help to make sure the governor acts to protect California's babies by getting rocket fuel out of our water.

If you have a baby in your family or you are pregnant, send a picture of you and/or your baby to the governor, along with a note asking that the governor set a strong cleanup standard of one part per billion that will force polluters to clean up rocket fuel in our drinking water now. Read below for specific talking points for your note.

You can send your note and picture to the Governor by email, fax or snail mail.

E-mail the governor at: [e-mail] and cc: Dr. Alan Lloyd, Secretary of CalEPA at [e-mail] (NOTE: your picture must be pasted into the email, not attached. The governor doesn't open attachments.)

Fax the governor at: 916-445-4633

Mail the governor at:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Then let us know that you sent your picture, so we can keep track of how many the governor receives. To tell us you contacted the governor, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:
http://environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalif.asp?id=691...

------------------------------------------------------

LAST WEEK'S ACTION ALERTS (still time to act!)

IMPEACH BUSH!

Ramsey Clark has almost half a million signatures.
Please sign and forward this link to others:
http://www.votetoimpeach.org /

More on how you can help persuade Congress to impeach Bush:

http://www.impeach-bush-now.org /





HELP SAVE THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR: 2 CAMPAIGNS
Don Cheadle, nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Hotel Rwanda, and Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager Cheadle portrayed in the film, recently returned from Darfur. They are helping us promote the Hotel Darfur campaign, in which volunteers engage moviegoers to learn about and act to end the violence in Darfur. Learn more at www.savedarfur.org/HotelDarfur.


Join with groups across the U.S. and Canada learning about the issues and standing together against the violence in Darfur. We are urging people in every district to call upon their elected leaders to take the actions necessary to provide security for the people of Darfur. Please help create a program in your community for March 17, 18, 19, or 20. Complete details, including everything you need to prepare, can be found at www.savedarfur.org/100Hours.



STOP MCDONALD’S FROM OUTSOURCING JOBS -- AT DRIVE-UP WINDOWS

McDonald's restaurants in Oregon and southeastern Washington are outsourcing their drive-up window order-taking to a call center 1,300 miles away, in Grand Forks, N.D. There the minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, compared with Oregon's $7.25. For what you can do go to:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Stop_Mcdonalds

OPPOSE OFFSHORING OF HIGH-TECH AND PROFESSIONAL JOBS
From the National Writers Union (NWU):

The goal of this campaign is to mobilize NWU members and other writers to help win passage of legislation that regulates the offshoring of high-tech and professional jobs. As the first step it targets legislation that
· Curtails the use of public monies to promote offshoring of U.S. jobs. See Government Offshoring.
· Protects personal privacy by restricting or prohibiting the offshoring of personal financial and medical data.
Sign the petition: http://www.nwu-oppose-offshoring.org/offshoring-campaig...

ASK CONGRESS TO COMMIT TO FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PLANET--& OPPOSE “CLEAR SKIES”
On Wednesday, the world will begin to breathe a littler easier…(no thanks to the U.S.…)President Bush raised a global stink by pulling our nation out of a multi-nation agreement that would limit the production of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Known as the Kyoto Protocol, this United Nations pact goes into force tomorrow with the remaining 136 nations stepping up, while the U.S. ignores its responsibility, even though the U.S. is among the world’s biggest polluters.
As Faithful Americans, we believe the earth is God’s gift and that we are called to be stewards of that gift. Today we’re running an ad in Roll Call, the official publication for members of Congress and their staffs, reminding them of our commitment to faithful stewardship of our planet – our only home.

Additionally, we need you to WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS…
Next week the Senate begins debate on the administration’s so-called “clear skies” initiative and you can be sure there is nothing clear about it. If passed, it will weaken existing air quality requirements, ignore carbon dioxide, and actually work against the Kyoto Protocol our world neighbors have pledged to uphold. We need you to ad your voice to the Roll Call ad.

CLICK HERE TO WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT AND YOUR SENATORS
http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=j...

TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE “NO” ON INCREASING AIR POLLUTION
The "Clear Skies" initiative is a legislative attempt to gut the Clean Air Act that has protected the air we breathe for more than 30 years. It repeals protections for our national parks, delays deadlines to meet the Act's health standards, relaxes pollution reduction requirements for power plants and other major pollution sources, and ignores global warming.

If this pollution plan passes, it will mean a huge step backward in reducing the amount of pollution in our air and in our lungs. This pollution plan was rejected by Congress in both 2002 and 2003. But now proponents of this plan are hoping they have the political support to hand over a Sweetheart Deal to major polluters just in time for Valentine's Day.
Please don't delay! The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to vote on the bill this week. Click here to tell your Senators that you oppose the "Clear Skies" initiative.
http://www.savethecleanairact.org /

SUPPORT HOWARD DEAN’S PLAN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
Your representatives in the DNC mandated bottom-up reform -- growing the Democratic Party in your neighborhood and every other community in America. They voted to compete in every state for every level of office. And they demanded a Democratic Party that stands up for itself and for an agenda that reflects our values.
Please read our plan -- and commit to making it a reality:
http://www.democrats.org/plan

PUT FAMILIES FIRST: STOP HEALTH CARE CUTS
Health care is quickly being priced out of reach for millions of Americans. But instead of making health care more affordable, President Bush is making the problem worse by proposing $60 billion in health care cuts that put our families at risk.
You can help by telling your members of Congress and your Governor to oppose these devastating cuts.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/pff_healthcare/6x3es...

TELL CHARLES SCHWAB: STOP SUPPORTING SOCIAL SECURITY PRIVATIZATION!
Charles Schwab is a member of the AWRS and of the Financial Services Roundtable. These and other front groups are raising millions for ad campaigns to sell Social Security privatization to the American public. Charles Schwab's corporate philosophy description says the company's goal is to offer individual investors "useful, ethical services at a fair price." The most ethical service Schwab could provide for working families is to withdraw from the front groups trying to privatize Social Security.
You convinced Edward Jones to leave the main Social Security front group. Now convince Charles Schwab to do the same. Click here:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/schwab

SUPPORT ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL
Sign our petition to organizations of the anti-choice movement, asking them to join a new campaign to reduce the need for abortion. Senator Harry Reid - who opposes a woman's right to choose - has offered a common-sense bill called the Prevention First Act that would help reduce unintended pregnancies through better access to birth control.
Help us urge our opponents to work with us to pass this bill, and make it the first step in a dialogue about preventing unintended pregnancies.

http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/open_letter/3k5dbn4...

URGE CONGRESS TO OPPOSE BUSH’S HEARTLESS BUDGET
Our government's budget should represent our national priorities. But
Mr. Bush's priorities are in the wrong place and the consequence will
be suffering for our most vulnerable neighbors. Please urge your
members of Congress to reject this heartless expression of our
collective goals, and vote instead to extend a helping hand to the
least among us.

Click here to take action!
http://act.actforchange.com/cgi-bin7/DM/y/edxY0IEmbg0OH...
IMPEACH BUSH!

Ramsey Clark has almost half a million signatures.
Please sign and forward this link to others:
http://www.votetoimpeach.org /

More on how you can help persuade Congress to impeach Bush:
http://www.impeach-bush-now.org /
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PREVIOUS ALERTS (posted 2/10/05)

SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA FOR THE 109Th CONGRESS!

A Future of Security, Opportunity and Responsibility

http://democrats.senate.gov/cosponsor-form.html


SUPPORT SENATOR KERRY’S “KIDS COME FIRST” BILL TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE FOR OUR CHILDREN

“We have over 400, 000 co-sponsors through the Internet who want to fight for this, and we are going to fight for it." – John Kerry

http://www.johnkerry.com/KidsFirst


REFUSE TO SURRENDER YOUR FREEDOM.

Join the over 70,000 signatures/pledges and over 400,000 ACLU members in fighting for freedoms and defending our American Values:

reserve the separation of church and state • Amend the Patriot Act to keep us safe and free • Defend the right to dissent • Safeguard a woman's right to choose • Advocate for the full equality of LGBT people • Protect privacy in all aspects of our lives

http://www.aclu.org/refusetosurrender/?orgid=n&MX=1827& ...


TELL PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE RNC: DISAVOW VOTER SUPRESSION

For years, Republicans have used voter intimidation, misinformation, and other tactics to undermine the votes of blacks and other minorities. It's racist, undemocratic, and fundamentally un-American.

We're joining Julian Bond, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., Representatives Maxine Waters and Jesse Jackson, Jr. and others to demand that it stop. Please join us by signing below. " I urge you to publicly disavow all forms of voter suppression and to publicly condemn voter suppression activity by your staff and volunteers. " To learn more specific incidents of voter suppression and the tactics used, read this illuminating report by the People for the American Way Foundation and the NAACP, Sign the petition here..

http://www.moveonpac.org/suppression /

TERMINATE THE TERMINATOR (MONSANTO’S GENE TO KILL OFF GLOBAL CROPS)
Sign Petition to United Nations

Consumer, farmer, and environmental organizations across the globe are mobilizing to stop the legalization and commercialization of the controversial Terminator Gene Technology, whereby seeds are genetically engineered to become sterile or commit suicide after one growing season. The Monsanto corporation and the biotech industry support the Terminator Technology, because it will force many of the 1.4 billion farmers around the world to stop saving their seeds and instead to purchase patented seed varieties from the Gene Giants.
In addition, scientists are concerned that genetic pollution from Terminator crops will lead to killing off a wide range of crops and plants, as Terminator pollen and seeds are spread by the wind, insect pollinators, and commercial seed co-mingling and transportation. After a massive international campaign in 1998, Monsanto Corporation announced they were shelving plans to commercialize the Terminator, while the United Nations (UN) called for a global ban. But on 2/11/2005 renewed efforts to overturn the worldwide ban were launched at a UN conference in Bangkok.
http://organicconsumers.org/un.htm






SUPPORT U.S. ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING

Today, the historic Climate Stewardship Act (CSA) was reintroduced in the 109th Congress with the promise of firm cuts in heat-trapping gases that contribute to global warming. For several years momentum has been building for the CSA’s market-based approach, which supports clean alternatives to our nation’s transportation and energy needs. Thus far, UCS activists have played a vital role in supporting the bill, sending more than 115,000 messages to their legislators. Now that the CSA has been reintroduced, please contact your members of Congress and tell them to support this crucial measure for the health of our environment.
http://www.ucsaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2...



BECOME A CITIZEN COSPONSOR OF HILARY CLINTON’S COUNT EVERY VOTE ACT

I am asking you to sign on now as a citizen co-sponsor of vitally important election reform legislation. Next week, I will introduce the Count Every Vote Act of 2005, co-sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer. This comprehensive election reform bill will:
· Provide a verified paper ballot for every vote cast in electronic voting machines.
· Set a uniform standard for provisional ballots, so that every qualified voter within the state will know their votes are treated equally and will be counted.
· Require the Federal Election Assistance Commission to issue standards that ensure uniform access to voting machines and election personnel in every community. It's outrageous that some people in predominantly minority communities had to wait up to 10 hours to vote, while people in other communities often voted in minutes!

http://www.friendsofhillary.com/CountEveryVote


STOP BUSH’S BUDGET CUTS—2 ACTION ALERTS:

From the Democratic Party: Tell Bush to Take His Budget Back to the Drawing Board!
The proposed 2006 federal budget President Bush released yesterday would drive America deeper into debt while making cuts that will hurt veterans, farmers, and other working Americans..
Sign our petition today … America needs a responsible budget that meets our priorities while making serious reductions in the deficit.
http://www.democrats.org/action

From Campaign for America’s Future: Tell Congress to Reject the Bush budget!

Tell Congress to reject Bush’s indecent budget proposal! Tell them that you don’t want your government to undercut schools in need, eliminate childcare assistance, keep college out of reach for qualified students, cut Medicaid and foodstamps, and more than double veterans’ co-pays for prescription drugs—all while giving tax cuts to millionaires and hiking the federal deficit to $1.4 trillion!
Please contact your representatives today and demand that they reject the Bush budget and realign America’s spending priorities to serve us all not just a privileged few.
http://www.ourfuture.org/reject_bush_budget.cfm

DEFEND HARRY REID FROM GOP SMEAR MACHINE!
Republicans are again playing their tired old game of trying to demonize--in their words "Daschle-ize"--anyone who disagrees with them. This time they are calling newly elected Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid names just for taking principled stands against the administration's most extreme positions.
It's not going to work and a big reason for that is you. We need you and every American tired of the hypocrisy emanating from George Bush and his cronies at the RNC to stand with Harry by signing our new petition.
http://action.dscc.org/campaign/reid


PREVENT FORCED DRUGGING OF OUR KIDS:
SAY NO TO THE NEW FREEDOM COMMISSION!

Bush wants to make testing our children for mental illness mandatory. Parental consent is not required. This could lead to forced drugging of your kids. Please sign this petition:

http://www.thelibertycommittee.org/pcapetition.htm


DEMAND A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR! HOW DID A FAKE JOURNALIST FROM A GOP FRONT GROUP GET A WHITE HOUSE PRESS PASS?

Sign a petition demanding appointment of a special prosecutor to look into how Jeff Gannon of Talon News managed to get a White House press pass—despite the fact that he used a fake name, holds no bona fide jorurnalism degree, works for a GOP-front group and is the alleged operator of several gay escort service websites!
http://democrats.com/gannon


TELL YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL & CONTRACEPTION:
While Republican leaders are fast-tracking a bill that would endanger young women’s health, familiy-planning supporters are promoting policies that will actually help women by preventing unintended pregnancy and reducing the need for abortion.
Urge your senators to focus on the issues on which we share common ground and become a cosponsor of the Prevention First Act today!
http://prochoiceaction.org/campaign/sen_reidprevention_...


STOP ROLLBACKS OF OVERFISHING PROTECTION

One quarter of commercial fish in U.S. waters are overfished or in danger of being overfished. Populations of tuna, cod, skate and grouper are much smaller than decades ago. But the Bush Administration has proposed weakening standards that protect fisheries from overfishing - standards that are starting to help some fish make a comeback. With the seafood industry generating over 250,000 jobs and contributing billions to our nation's economy, healthy fisheries mean a healthy economy. Tell the U.S. government's lead fisheries official keep overfishing protections.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/overfish/8k73se42j855...
“CLEAR SKIES” UP FOR VOTE NEXT WEEK: URGE CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THIS SMOKESCREEN
Dirty Secrets Behind the Misnamed "Clear Skies" Bill
Over 30,000 Environmental Defense activists have spoken out against the misnamed "Clear Skies" bill - an unprecedented rollback to our nation's clean air laws. Reintroduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the bill would make lasting, damaging changes to the Clean Air Act. A Senate Committee will consider "Clear Skies" next week - tell your senators and President Bush to support healthier air, not a smokescreen.
http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/clearskies/8k73se42j8...

SUPPORT THE VOTER ACT: HR 533 (CONYERS & TUBBS-JONES)
Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) was proud to join in the challenge of Ohio's electors and to protest the numerous voting irregularities which shamed our country in the 2004 presidential election. Now is the time to pass legislation to make certain such abuses do not happen and every vote is counted in future elections. Election outcomes must be determined by voters, not politicians.

To achieve this goal, we call on every PDA activist to lobby their Congressional Representatives to support and/or cosponsor the VOTER Act (H.R. 533), introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. Send a letter to your representatives now by clicking here

http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/mail/oneclick_compose/?aler...
STOP WAL-MART’S WAR ON WORKERS!
From Union Voice:
Together, as consumers and as activists, we have the power to stop Wal-Mart's attack on workers—and to hold corporations accountable for Wal-Marting jobs. This is a battle about the kind of society we want to live in and the kinds of jobs we want our children to have. You can make a difference.
Click here to sign the petition to Wal-Mart's CEO:
www.unionvoice.org/campaign/walmart_accountable

SAVE CONSUMERS’ RIGHT TO SUE CORPORATE LOOTERS & POLLUTERS


The Senate just approved a bill to restrict class action lawsuits to clogged federal courts, even where existing state remedies might be more effective. Unless you raise your voice now, we will lose our protection against corporations that put greed above public safety. Urge Congress to vote “NO” on this bad measure!
http://www.usalone.com/class_action.htm


PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE U.S. SENATE: SAVE THE FILIBUSTER

From Common Cause: The filibuster has a long history in the Senate of fending off actions supported by a bare majority, but deeply offensive to the minority. If an individual senator were to abuse the privilege of the filibuster, he or she could be over overridden by a super majority of 60 votes.

To remove a long-standing parliamentary maneuver to serve immediate partisan goals violates core democratic values and is an anathema to the Senate's long standing commitment to consensus and a bipartisan deliberative process... It is an abuse of power to strip the Senate minority of a tool designed to protect its rights – rights both parties have vociferously defended throughout the Senate’s history

We the undersigned call on the United States Senators not to support changing of long standing Senate filibuster rules to blatantly advance one party’s goals.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.as...

PROTEST SCHWARZENEGGER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR CALIFORNIA

Send a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger regarding his budget. Tell the Governor you do not want him piling debt onto our grandchildren just so he can pursue the Bush/Rove/Norquist extremist agenda.Click here to Speak Out! http://ga4.org/campaign/Budget05
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM IRAQ:
Senator Kennedy says “It’s time to take the target off our troops.” Sign the petition calling for American troops to come home by the end of 2006.
http://action.democraticmajority.com/petition /

STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY:

• Email your Members of Congress and ask them to strengthen Social Security, not weaken it with private accounts - go to: http://capwiz.com/aarp/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=5...

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to explain why George Bush's plan to cut promised Social Security benefits is wrong. The DNC has made it really easy to do, just go to http://www.democrats.org/action/200501050001.html

• Join AARP's fight to keep Social Security strong at http://www.aarp.org/tools/partner?url=http://capwiz.com...

SAVE OUR NATIONAL FORESTS

If influential leaders like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stand by silently, President Bush will eliminate the Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects unspoiled national forest lands from coast to coast. Tell Gov. Schwarzenegger to stand up for California's and all of America's national forests. For what you can do go to http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction.asp



SAVE CONSUMERS’ RIGHT TO SUE CORPORATE LOOTERS & POLLUTERS


The Senate has approved restriction of class action lawsuits to federal court, even where existing state remedies might be more effective. It will be voted on in the House any day now. Urge your Congressional representative to Vote NO!

http://www.usalone.com/class_action.htm


PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE U.S. SENATE: SAVE THE FILIBUSTER

From Common Cause: The filibuster has a long history in the Senate of fending off actions supported by a bare majority, but deeply offensive to the minority. If an individual senator were to abuse the privilege of the filibuster, he or she could be over overridden by a super majority of 60 votes.

To remove a long-standing parliamentary maneuver to serve immediate partisan goals violates core democratic values and is an anathema to the Senate's long standing commitment to consensus and a bipartisan deliberative process.

It is wrong to jettison a longtime Senate procedure simply because it is inconvenient to one party’s goals. It is an abuse of power to strip the Senate minority of a tool designed to protect its rights – rights both parties have vociferously defended throughout the Senate’s history

We the undersigned call on the United States Senators not to support changing of long standing Senate filibuster rules to blatantly advance one party’s goals.

http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/ka/ct/contactus.as...

PROTEST SCHWARZENEGGER’S BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR CALIFORNIA
Send a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger regarding his budget. Tell the Governor you do not want him piling debt onto our grandchildren just so he can pursue the Bush/Rove/Norquist extremist agenda.Click here to Speak Out! http://ga4.org/campaign/Budget05
BRING OUR TROOPS HOME FROM IRAQ:
Senator Kennedy says “It’s time to take the target off our troops.” Sign the petition calling for American troops to come home by the end of 2006.
http://action.democraticmajority.com/petition /

STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY:

• Email your Members of Congress and ask them to strengthen Social Security, not weaken it with private accounts - go to: http://capwiz.com/aarp/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=5...


Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to explain why George Bush's plan to cut promised Social Security benefits is wrong. The DNC has made it really easy to do, just go to http://www.democrats.org/action/200501050001.html

• Join AARP's fight to keep Social Security strong at http://www.aarp.org/tools/partner?url=http://capwiz.com...


SAVE OUR NATIONAL FORESTS

If influential leaders like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stand by silently, President Bush will eliminate the Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects unspoiled national forest lands from coast to coast. Tell Gov. Schwarzenegger to stand up for California's and all of America's national forests. For what you can do go to http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction.asp


ASK CONGRESS FOR REAL SECURITY REFORMS—NOT A WAR ON IMMIGRANTS

From the ACLU: The United States is a nation of immigrants with a long, proud history of granting asylum to those fleeing from religious or political persecution. But "security reform" legislation introduced in Congress makes a mockery of that tradition with an outrageous requirement that would force many asylum seekers to get supporting evidence from the very governments they are fleeing. House Judiciary Committee Chairman, James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), has proposed a bill . This bill would allow officials to require people seeking asylum to get supporting evidence from the very governments they are fleeing. It would also impose federal control over the issuance of state drivers licenses, even if this violation of their own policies. Further, it would expand the PATRIOT Act to allow deportations of lawful permanent residents for providing non-violent, humanitarian support to organizations later labeled as "terrorist" by the government, even where such support was completely legal at the time it was provided.
Tell Congess to oppose H.R. 418, the REAL ID ACT of 2005:

http://www.aclu.org/ImmigrantsRights/ImmigrantsRights.c...

[understandinglife]

35. Please support VR's "Divestiture for Democracy" program.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=335076#335137

To get started, just click on this link:

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/mailing.php?Mailing=05FC507D500021102290C

And, MelissaB, thank you for all you are doing.

Peace.


PROVE MY VOTE COUNTS