US Chamber of Commerce threatens Edwards" If populist agenda succeeds Dems will be gone for 40 years

[kelligesq]

Tom Donahue, Pres. Of the US Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 8 2007 gave a press release to the Los Angeles Times entitled “POPULISTS BEWARE”.

The US Chamber of Commerce is panicked because John Edwards has changed the issues of this election. Donahue essentially threatens: its the US Chamber of Commerce vs the United States Citizens, media, and candidates supporting “of the people, by the people, and for the people of the United States of America.

What they are doing is threatening us “Support Populism and we'll fix you.” Donahue’s exact words were: “"We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said”.

The Chamber of Commerce which has been in the forefront of outsourcing our jobs to India and China and insourcing people to take white collar and IT jobs has just woken up to the fact that John Edwards has steered all the democratic candidates toward Populism. Donahue claims they have raised $60 million dollars plus to attack any candidate supporting populism (and saving jobs in America). As of New Hampshire primary night all democrats have taken on John Edwards' message of populism. Edwards has changed the nature and issues of the campaign

"If that agenda succeeds, he (Donahue) said, Democrats "will be gone from power for at least 40 years,"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-chamber8jan08,0,4301350.story?coll=la-politics-campaign

click on "more" at the bottom of LA Times article to see who he has been paying off, and affecting elections and judiciary in every state -

My thoughts on the actions U.S. citizens should take:
Maybe WE THE PEOPLE should be picketing the Chamber of Commerce offices in all our cities - it no longer represents the small American businessman but represents the gargantuan multi-nationals. I think our purpose should be to ask small American business to resign from the Chamber of Commerce.
BUY AMERICAN and VOTE EDWARDS or BUY AMERICAN & VOTE POPULIST " should be on our picket signs ! As well as "SAVE OUR JOBS, BUY AMERICAN"

What do you think?

[Cassandra]

1. They completely prove Edwards' point.

Congrats, CofC! You've proved beyond any doubt that big business is lead mostly by greedy pigs.

[Snotcicles]

9. An Edwards supporter called in on Randi Rohdes show today and brought up

this article and Randi would not even listen to her.

[Yuugal]

10. randi is an irrelevant sellout

don't listen to her tripe. Once people become even a little famous they turn on us, always.

[Snotcicles]

12. She has been gaggin me out lately. I loved Sam Seder on her show last week

And she made some smart-ass remark dissing him today.

[Liberal In Texas]

35. I heard her dis Mark Green, you sure it wasn't that? n/t

[AX10]

170. Randi never stood for anything of much meaning.

Most of her show is her blabing on about the small things in her personal life.

[Wizard777]

208. Maybe it has something to do with her getting mugged? Maybe it was actually political retribution?

Once people get a few teeth knocked out they change their mind or position. Americans aren't trained to be martyrs.

[Triana]

55. Absolutely. And people can't "figure out" why some of us support Edwards..

....and what is at stake here.

duh.

[Two Americas]

71. is it true?

Is it true that people can't understand why we support Edwards, Triana? Or do they just pretend to not understand?

[kelligesq]

2. "If that agenda succeeds, he (Donahue) said, Democrats "will be gone from power for at least 40 year

If you click on the url for the article and click on more you find out that this sob has been affecting all congressional elections and judicial appointments with
contributions from big business for the past 10 years with major ads all over the country but wont say who is paying for the ads

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-chamber8jan08,0,4301350.story?coll=la-politics-campaign

This is the major lobbyist of those who are destroying this country - imho

and can continue to do it - he's threatening Hillary, Edwards, Obama and even
Huckabee - any senator, congressman who is talking populist.

This organization needs to be taken down.

It's time the American people speak to Donahue and the chamber by action and not just lay around like lemmings letting big business headed by this Donahue and Chamber of Commerce run this country, pay off our representatives, and outsource another 30 million more jobs!.

[caligirl]

34. this is the first repug corporate sob to stick his neck out, hope he is

insured.

[Common Sense Party]

66. Insured against what? nt

[Dawggie]

126. Thanks for posting this. I don't see the "more" button.

I'd love to see the dollar amounts these folks have spent on tryong to do away with America's middle class.

[avaistheone1]

168. I think the article says the Chamber has raised $60 million dollars to destroy us.

[AX10]

171. The Chamber of Commerce sounds more like a terrorist group.

these days.

This organization needs to be taken down.

[kelligesq]

209. kicking

:kick:

[kelligesq]

3. He's even threatening Huckabee who is sounding populist. Ha

Kick it and reccomend

[kelligesq]

4. kick it

.

[frogmarch]

5. Of course they are. This is a

natural thing for the C of C to do, now that they no longer stand strongly for the mom and pops businesses. Screw the C of C. I'm going to get the word out in my town.

[kelligesq]

6. What do you think of organizing n picketing their offices-letting

the USA know what they really are?

[Two Americas]

68. this is symptomatic, not an anomaly

This is not an isolated or unusual case, not one bad apple in the bunch, not a bad actor who is out of line. We just got a glimpse at what the true program of the opposition is, that is all.

The response is - and always has been - to recognize what we are up against and develop a powerful and effective political mopvement against it. At one time, that was the Democratic party.

[kelligesq]

142. EXCELLENT ANALYSIS TWO.

.

[elleng]

50. Good idea, frog;

big enough town to make some noise?

Tried to find donahue's wiki bio; couldn't.

[Art_from_Ark]

130. My hometown CoC has never really stood for mom-and-pop businesses

as long as I can remember.

It's always been "'progress' at any cost".

[tsuki]

148. Same here. They delight in running moms and pops out of business. nt

[AX10]

173. The C of C has always been pro-big business.

Any small business that joins them is stupid.

[kelligesq]

182. Welcome AX 10- and how are we going to get that info out to small biz's ?

:kick:

[Snotcicles]

7. Is this a terrorist group making threats or Organized Slime. nt

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

88. Keeper!!!

I'd guess this guy and his constituents are BOTH.

Oh, well. At least the schmuck is coming right out and saying it: "we HATE democracy and the populists who support it".

What a prick with a capital "P"!

[Canuckistanian]

8. What the hell is a "grass-roots business organization"?

Is he going to gather all the corporate CEO's and have a pig roast or a house party?

Maybe tell them how to write to their Congressmen?

:rofl:

[tom_paine]

13. Astroturf using Freepers with 50 email addresses each.

n/t

[Canuckistanian]

14. Yeah, you're right

Some hick in a trailer in Alabama is probably considering sending in a check for $20.

For "America".

[starroute]

19. I'm reposting what I put up on this guy a day or two ago

I've been realizing just lately that the Chamber of Commerce and its allies seem to be behind almost every bit of nastiness we've been fighting the past several years -- from deregulation, to CAFTA and the Trans-Texas Corridor, to attempts to gut Social Security and Medicare. All that appears to have begun in 1997, when Thomas J. Donahue became its president.

Here's what the CoC itself says about him -- and read the fine print closely, because it'll curl your hair):

http://www.uschamber.com/about/management/donohue.htm

Thomas J. Donohue is president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since assuming his position in 1997, Donohue has built the Chamber into a lobbying and political force with expanded influence across the globe. . . .

The Chamber’s lobbyists, policy experts, and communicators have helped secure many legislative victories, including major tax cuts, more sensible workplace and environmental regulations, and increased funding for transportation. The Chamber has advanced the business argument on outsourcing and the need for balance in applying new capital markets and accounting rules, among other issues.

On the international front, the Chamber has become a leader in knocking down trade barriers, winning new free trade agreements, and fighting protectionism both at home and abroad. Under Donohue’s leadership, the Chamber has also emerged as a major player in election politics, helping elect congressional pro-business candidates through financial support and voter activism and turnout generated through the Chamber’s grassroots organization, VoteForBusiness.com.

The National Chamber Litigation Center, the Chamber’s law firm, has become more aggressive in challenging anti-business measures in court, setting a new record for cases entered in each of the last six years and securing 48 court victories in 2006.

The Chamber of Commerce often partners in these matters with the National Association of Manufacturers -- which has had an unsavory reputation since early in the last century, when its first president was Samuel Bush, W's great-grandfather -- and the Business Roundtable. For example:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Coalition_for_the_Modernization_and_Protection_of_America's_Social_Security

The Coalition for the Modernization and Protection of America's Social Security (COMPASS) is a coalition backing President George W. Bush's plan for private Social Security accounts. The group was formed in 2002 by the Business Roundtable and the National Association of Manufacturers.

"COMPASS is acting as an umbrella group for Washington-based organizations, including the manufacturers association, the National Restaurant Association, the Business Roundtable and the Financial Services Forum, which is a group of chief executive officers of major banks, insurance companies and securities firms," Bloomberg News reported. Other members include companies such as The Boeing Co., Pfizer Inc. and Fidelity Investments.

The Washington Post reports, "The Coalition for the Modernization and Protection of America's Social Security, will conduct a nationwide television and grass-roots pressure campaign costing $15 million to $20 million. COMPASS has hired OnPoint Advocacy to conduct grass-roots lobbying and Apco Worldwide Inc. for public relations. . . .

COMPASS also sponsors Generations Together, a website created in February 2005 by Democracy Data & Communications.

The PR firm mentioned just above, Democracy Data & Communications, is particularly notable for its provision to businesses of a special type of astroturf strategy, which involves setting up websites for various industries and corporations which "guide" employees on how to vote for the benefit of the industry, provide online forms for messages to Congress members, and solicit donation to their PACs.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Democracy_Data_%26_Communications%2C_LLC_

Based on posts left on newsrack blog, Thomas Nephew reported August 22, 2006, that Democracy Data & Communications (DDC) was in the astroturfing business and had been involved "sotto voce in Bush administration P.R. campaigns for its Medicare and 'No Child Left Behind' education initiatives."

In the February 28, 2006, Daily Kos, Mark G. Levey wrote: "Democracy Data & Communcations is a big player in the astroturf community. They host the website for the Grass Roots Roundtable, and they co-chair it with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The board of directors is a regular Who's Who of American industry. They're a big player at the Public Affairs Council, and they've earned a reputation as the place to go for astroturf campaigns."

Levey first came across DD&C LLC in October 2005, "when they were putting pop-up ads against John Edwards in AOL Instant Messenger. This was for their The Truth About Trial Lawyers site for the November Fund ... a tort-reform astroturf campaign bought and paid for by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (Yes, the government was running ads against the Democrats. ...) ... A quick google on their name brought up their site, and a May 2004 post by Mark Kleiman on a very similar campaign on behalf of No Child Left Behind."

There is very nasty business afoot here. These guys are already active behind the scenes -- they may be one reason John Edwards can't get traction in the media -- and especially if the GOP loses much of its clout after the 2008 elections, they're going to emerge as the principal obstacle to genuine progressive reform. If we don't study up on them and their tactics right now, we are only asking to get blindsided when they role out the really heavy guns.

[kelligesq]

21. Starroute, you're so right ! he's a

dirty customer....and I've found out some more nasty stuff about him posted below

[elleng]

51. starroute, lots of that stuff began well before Donahue;

seems that he's gotten it into the nasty stuff.

For example, deregulation began in '70s, with demise of the CAB.

[Leopolds Ghost]

214. No, the CoC has been doing this since 1920s or earlier--engineered the Red Scare, union busting etc.

[kelligesq]

20. Guess what ? read the whole article...3 million biz members means

big dollars against US and I dont just mean the U.S. - I mean us'n

[defendandprotect]

157. Right -- this is predatory capitalism --- savage capitalism ---

[defendandprotect]

156. No -- he's going to collect a lot of corporate-r/w money to use as leverage against Edwards ----

the power of $$$ to buy government --- and the president you want --- !!!

[kineneb]

11. Local Chambers of Commerce have no affiliation w/ USCoC

Picketing a local Chamber would do no good. State Chambers, on the other hand, are just as slimy as the USCoC; they both take big money from big business and represent big business.

[kelligesq]

22. If their name is Chamber of Commerce, seems to me

they must be associated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, but we should all
look that up.

Seems to me they must be chapters of the USCC , else where would the USCC be getting all that money from? The business member chapters are contributing to ads to defeat democrats and place judges who are sympathetic to big business.

That's no joke!

[kineneb]

30. no relationship, each chamber is a separate entity

I worked as office manager for a chamber for a short time. The members were all local small businesses, none of the (few) big chains belonged. The chamber mostly functioned as a social group and a place for tourist information. This chamber was fairly poor, they could hardly afford to pay me, and offered no benefits (one of the reasons I left, another- they drove me nuts). I think we may have sent a small sum to the state chamber to get their newsletter, but that was about it. Since I wrote the checks, I know we didn't send anything to the USCoC.

As to donating to various campaigns, that is also up to each individual chamber, and their board of directors. Sometimes the leader of the campaign just gets the endorsement from a chamber (this message endorsed by...the CoCs of Blah and Blooob); sometimes they also request funds.

I think membership in the USCoC is probably listed on their website- they are all Big Corps. Believe me, the small chambers know the US and state chambers Do Not Speak for small businesses.

[kelligesq]

33. But look at the list of Board of Directors below - some chambers

individual chambers are listed so they must be connected....

[kineneb]

40. some may be, but not all

again, each chamber is an individual entity, copy-cat- if you will. They can choose to become a member or supporter of another group if they want, but are not required to do so.

USCoC is of, by, and for Big Biz.

[Common Sense Party]

93. Quite right. Our local Chamber is made up of hair stylists, insurance

salesmen, recyclers, real estate agents, antique store owners and tire repair guys. Very small businesses, for the most part. They have nothing to do with the USCoC.

[kelligesq]

120. Do they send membership dues? occasional donations asked for ?

by the main headquarters?

If so, they may not know they are supporting Donahue and the main HQ activities
which on the whole are directed at putting businesses in America OUT of business

[Common Sense Party]

137. No. I was on the board briefly of our local Chamber.

All membership dues were spent locally.

But we're a small town. I'd imagine some big city chambers pay dues to the national organization.

[defendandprotect]

158. Where are you? Right now many towns are going corporate ---

Do you have a "Downtown" org yet?

Are your state Senate and Assemblymen bought by corporations yet?

[Common Sense Party]

178. No and no. We're a small town, < 15,000 pop.

[defendandprotect]

190. We're under 30,000 now --- it was alway a well-thought of town ---

with a large middle-class population and quite a few wealthy ---

All over NJ, it is obvious that corporations have taken over our towns ---
there's a lot to feed on there!!

As the small businesses were forced out by high rents --- and many of these were businesses that had been here for a long time -- only the big corporate stores could afford to move in.

Quite some time ago they also introduced the "Downtown" organizations which "improved" those areas . . . cosmetically!!! They have a yearly budget of something close to $400,000... exactly how that is raised I'm not sure, but there is the idea around that the corps contribute to it. One way or another, I'm quite sure the taxpayer pays the bill.

Anyway, they took paint off old buildings -- painted them to look like "period pieces" of the 1930's --- raised parking fees substantially, meters and train station ---
put flower pots on the streets which are really ugly looking --- that kind of thing.

They all do a lot of "fairs" --- and "flea markets" and made up gimmicks that bring people and their kids into the town area where hopefully they will shop.

One good thing they do in the summers is Tuesday nights they have jazz bands and other
bands in town here and there --- but again . . . is it about music or shopping?

And once a year, all our state legislators go off on a train to Atlantic City -- financed by corporations and entertained by corps -- all day in the hands of corps!

Our Town Council --- and this was a rather slow-paced sleepy town until the mega-corps showed up --- tried to introduce parking decks not so long ago!!!
It was a two year battle against them -- huge retail space included and condos --- !!!
A mega, mega project --- and they spent about a million --- $1 million or more !!! ---
on studying it.

We finally defeated them thanks to many very conscientious citizens who stayed with it for two years --- and the Mayor quietly resigned after the battle. A Repug!!

We've also had great changes coming from the purchase of small houses being replaced with
big new houses!!! And land held by the town opened up to these mega-houses.

Keep an eye on it --- it happens very quickly!!!

[elleng]

52. C of C HUGE 'federation'

The United States Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest not-for-profit business federation, representing

3,000,000 businesses (via its Federation of local chambers and association members. Actual direct membership is several tens of thousands.)
2,800 state and local chambers
830 business associations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Chamber_of_Commerce

[kelligesq]

118. Then others here are right - non profit tax break shouldnt be involved in politics - can

lose their 501 C...that;s something we should look into.

[defendandprotect]

159. Also note the Business Rountable which is more than 300 corps which fight most of the

civil rights we want --- !!!

Especially women's rights --- !!

Hallmark is a member of this outfit --- !!!

[kelligesq]

196. Thanks D & F , I never heard of them before you mentioned

:kick:

[TahitiNut]

38. Wrong. They regard themselves as a "federation."

Separate incorporation is inconsequential. After all, state political parties are separately incorporated, too.

About Us

Representing your ideas—and interests—in Washington for nearly a century.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. It includes hundreds of associations, thousands of local chambers, and more than 100 American Chambers of Commerce in 91 countries.

http://www.uschamber.com/about/default

[kelligesq]

39. Great. Thanks Tahiti. So picket sign should read:Chamber Commerce UnAmerican

hee hee hee = that should really make them happy. On pink paper, the insinuation being they're even pinkos - they like advertising , we should give
them advertising!

[kineneb]

41. thing is, an individual chamber may Not be a "member"

the chamber I worked for did not pay into any national federation. Note "thousands of local chambers" isn't "all chambers"; they could be just the big ones in large cities, certainly not the ones in small towns (say, 13,000 pop).

[Dawggie]

139. Federation???? Naw... They're Ferengi

[OneGrassRoot]

15. K&R and bookmarked. Thank you. n/t

[Thickasabrick]

16. I wonder if he's related to the Donahue of the Catholic League

[musette_sf]

28. i did wonder the same

but i think the frequent BillO ranter/guest is Donahue, and Mr. Wage-Slaves-Be-Grateful is Donohue.

[fascisthunter]

17. There Ya Go! What Democrat Supports this Shit

You cower? Get OUT!!!! And Never call yourselves Democrats again.

[alstephenson]

18. Um, I thought that the Chambers were "non-profit" organizations....

With IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Political endorsements or activities are strictly forbidden. How do they get away with this? What am I missing here?

[kelligesq]

23. WOW, if you're right about the 501 C's - that's a blockbuster

could you find that out on google whether they are a non profit or not?

and let us know?

[Dawggie]

140. Good pint. They claim to be non-profit.

But how can a collective of entities whose only purpose is to make profits be a non profit?

[defendandprotect]

160. They've always been a huge rightwing influence ---

[BlackVelvet04]

24. How can this even be legal? n/t

[kelligesq]

26. You voting for anyone who has taken lobbyist money? that's how

now we know.

Get out a stick and draw a picket sign...organize against them if we really want
this election to bring a change.

Edwards is my man. And Donahue hates him.

[kelligesq]

25. C of C Donahue Campaign to Limit Consumers’ Legal Rights

WEll now this is interesting. The reason that when your kid eats the date rape drug on his toys and goes into a coma, you can't sue ....and likely the reason
why we dont have labeling on the origin of the food we're eating - like poison pet food, posison blow fish in tuna, farmed fish from Indonesia full of illegal
pharmaceuticals not allowed in this country etc etc etc... love to know which congress critters the C of C and Donahue bought off -

http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=1881
. Feb. 21, 2005

Chamber President Tom Donohue Has Vested Interest in Campaign to Limit Consumers’ Legal Rights as Steward of Two Scandal-Marred Companies
Public Citizen Report Details Donohue’s Questionable Performance on Two Corporate Boards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tom Donohue has a vested interest in the national campaign to limit corporate accountability because the U.S. Chamber of Commerce president sits on the boards of two scandal-ridden corporations, according to a Public Citizen report released today.

Though Donohue has proclaimed the importance of board members serving as watchdogs for the corporations they manage, he sits on the boards of two publicly traded companies – Qwest Communications International Inc. and Union Pacific Corp. – whose reputations have been marred by serious misdeeds that have prompted the type of civil lawsuits that Donohue is trying to limit. Between them, the two companies have engaged in a monumental deception of investors, violated federal and state regulations on a massive scale, jeopardized public safety, and perverted the American judicial system through alteration and destruction of evidence.

Under Donohue’s leadership, the Chamber has been one of the most outspoken supporters of pro-business tort law changes.

<B> It has supported anti-consumer class action legislation and spent millions of dollars in state races to defeat judicial and attorney general candidates sympathetic to consumer and investor rights.</B>

<B> Donohue has called for a massive overhaul of the tort system and reduced regulatory oversight by government agencies </B>– the same authorities that have held Qwest and Union Pacific accountable for a long string of corporate misdeeds.

<B>“Using tens of millions in corporate money, Tom Donohue is systematically trying to disarm the public institutions that hold corporate violators accountable – the liability system, the courts, state attorneys general and regulatory agencies,”</B> said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. “He sits on boards of two companies that serve as vivid examples of why we need strong law enforcement for crime in the corporate suites.”

Among Public Citizen’s findings:
Qwest has paid $250 million to settle fraud charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for overstating earnings, has paid $25 million to settle five lawsuits concerning alleged insider trading and still faces billions of dollars in potential civil litigation liabilities.
Since Donohue joined Qwest’s board, the company has been assessed more than $114 million in fines by 10 states and the Federal Communications Commission for defrauding consumers and for failing to disclose secret business dealings.
Instead of punishing Qwest’s corporate executives, Donohue and his fellow board members rewarded them with higher pay packages. Qwest’s board of directors has received dismal ratings from two independent research organizations for furnishing executives with exorbitant pay packages despite poor corporate performance. Donohue sits on the board’s compensation committee.

<B>Since Donohue joined the Union Pacific board in 1998, the company has repeatedly been found liable in accidents resulting from poor training or unsatisfactory upkeep of tracks, has pressured workers not to report accidents, and has been deemed responsible by courts for manipulating or destroying evidence:</B>

The Arkansas Supreme Court said in a 2004 decision involving a fatal accident, “the record in this case reflects the development of a corporate policy at Union Pacific that put company profits before public safety.”
A federal judge in Arkansas fined Union Pacific $168,000 in 2001 for destroying evidence in a case stemming from another railway crossing crash that left a motorist dead.

In Washington state, a federal judge sanctioned Union Pacific in February 2002 after it was revealed that a manager secretly fixed a faulty railway crossing after a motorist was killed there. The judge labeled the actions “egregious” and said “severe sanctions are appropriate” since the manager’s “actions were not that of a rogue underling.” Union Pacific had sought compensation from the estate of the driver in this case, claiming the crash had left one of its locomotives damaged.

Again, Donohue and fellow board members appear to have rewarded Union Pacific executives with ever higher pay. An independent research organization last year recommended against retaining Donohue as a board member because of his role on the compensation committee in boosting executives’ pay.
Donohue has acknowledged the responsibility of board members to make sure companies behave responsibly. In 2000, he was quoted as calling for board members to perform “due diligence” and be active in understanding the company so they can provide the best possible advice. “Save me from a bunch of people on a board who are going to tell me what I want to hear,” he said.


“The hypocrisy hits you like a train,” said Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division. “Donohue has called for board members to exercise proper oversight of companies, yet he has responded to wrongdoing in companies he oversees by hiking executive pay.

<B> Donohue’s crusade to limit the ability of consumers to hold companies accountable for wrongdoing takes on a new light when you look at his activity on these corporate boards.”</B>

Public Citizen’s report also draws attention to the Chamber president’s opposition to the SEC’s proposed shareholder access rule, which would allow shareholders holding a significant portion of a company’s shares to place nominees for the corporate board on the official company ballot. Currently there is no practical way for shareholders to elect directors not nominated by the incumbent board. Donohue has a vested interest in keeping things as they are, since his continued tenure on Qwest’s board has been challenged and some shareholders indicate they would like to challenge it again in the near future.

[defendandprotect]

161. FABULOUS info -- keep this thread moving up --- !!!

[musette_sf]

27. here's a link to their Board Member list:

http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/all.htm

i think it might be a good idea to contact any or all of these individuals, and ask them where they stand on this outrageous statement by Donohue. ask them if they agree with the basic premise set forth by their leader, that they are the Masters Of The Universe and the rest of us are simply eaters existing only by their largesse. :mad:

all of these d!cks need to go straight to Hell. fortunately if such a place exists, they're busy earning a front seat in the handcart.

[kelligesq]

32. That's some list, ATT, DOW, TV, -forget a nice letter, write

that "your organization" 300,000 strong will boycott their products and advise
any program they sponsor their programming will be boycotted if they contribute
to Donahue's program to influence elections, judges, and attorneys against
populist candidates. Furthermore such efforts as Donahue describes are anti-American and anti-patriotic" etc etc etc

For instance you can suggest to ATT you will advise your members to find another telephone company....and by the way, a letter ought to go to the Judiciary committee about these bastards also who are about to give ATT immunity.

What happened to "Govt. of the people,by the people AND FOR THE PEOPLE"?

Get a post office box, print a letter head etc etc etc

[Ninga]

29. Edwards supporters: Use this in letters to the editors...very powerful stuff.

[Gloria]

46. I think Edwards should use this!! Blatant...and proof that they want to

destroy the working man and woman....

[ileus]

31. Tom better watch out, or he'll end up on the wrong end of a law suit.

[kelligesq]

36. He's the one behind villifying class action suits -Edwards specialty

quel surpirse.

[kelligesq]

37. BTW, if the definition of Fascism

according to Mussolini, is

"The joining of the Corporations with the State" shall Donahue be called the
Chief Fascist?


:D

[kelligesq]

47. K & R

n//t

[AntiFascist]

99. I smell fascist agenda....

I know this is going to sound conspiratorial, but I would be wary of certain masonic organizations that might be trying to link local chambers into larger organizations.

[kelligesq]

101. Barking up wrong tree- most of founding fathers who wrote Constitution were Masons

our problem is not Masons, its Corporations who have taken over the "state" meaning the country under Bush.

[AntiFascist]

111. These were the good Masons, there are also some very bad ones ..

On edit: generally, I would consider exteme right-wing groups to be "bad". Keep in mind, George Washington led a revolution and could be considered extreme left-wing and radical, fighting against the tyranny of British imperialism.

[AmBlue]

42. k+r

These people think they hold the reigns of control somehow. I wonder how that is.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

43. K&R n/t

[KG]

44. isn't capitalism wonderful?

:eyes:

[AntiFascist]

100. Isn't socialism for the wealthy wonderful?

Isn't military socialism wonderful?

[kelligesq]

102. "socialism for the wealth" That's a good one - thanks

.

[Gloria]

45. You see, Obama? You're going to sit at a table and chat with them???

They've declared war on even the IDEA of having a populist having a chance....

[AzDar]

48. Vote John Edwards!

Please.

[kelligesq]

49. Edwards is the only hope to take America back because

Obama and Hillary are two sides of the same coin

K & R please,

folks need to know fully what these corporations organized under the US Chamber of Commerce are doing to us

[SammyWinstonJack]

54. ...

:thumbsup:

[kelligesq]

53. When the ESTABLISHMENT including Kerry is for Obama you know Edwards is the right one !

!!please K & R

[endarkenment]

56. Our populist agenda has already been gone for 40 years.

I'll take my chances on another 40.

[kelligesq]

57. I dont unserstand what that means - you have a candidate Edwards fighting

for the people, a populist...and you've given up....gonna be another sheeple huh?

[endarkenment]

60. Uh no, exact opposite of what I meant.

I meant I will gladly take my chances with a progressive populist like Edwards even at the risk of another 40 years of neolib/neocon idiocy.

Aside from that you are quite the piece of work if you think that you can be persuasive by insult.

[jackster]

58. Who TF does Donhue think he is?

I'm am fucking sick and tired of corporate interests coming agead of the common man.

That asshole needs to be made to hurt and bleed himself!

[formercia]

59. He reminds me of 'Whitey' Bulger

on edit;

Bulger had better manners.

[Two Americas]

74. one of our masters

He thinks he is one of our masters. He is correct.

Once Democrats see that, we can build a strong united opposition. But many Democrats do not want us to see that.

[defendandprotect]

162. A corporate owner of our government ---- !!!

[judaspriestess]

61. What an arrogant pig

"Reacting to what it sees as a potentially hostile political climate, Donohue said, the chamber will seek to punish candidates who target business interests with their rhetoric or policy proposals, including congressional and state-level candidates."

I clicked on the article to begin reading it, and this donahue prick looks like he eats babies for lunch. What an evil creepy looking guy.

Please be careful John Edwards!!

[musette_sf]

62. kick

[DCKit]

63. I missed it. When, exactly, did the RNC co-opt the U.S. CoC?

Do the Republicans even LIKE CoC?

Bwahahahahahahha!!!!!

[kelligesq]

64. RNC took over C of C when Donahue came onboard 10 yrs ago, it

stopped bing no partisan and started being GOP...

do read the whole article linked - tells all about it

[yurbud]

78. you got it backwards. GOP is the slave and CoC is the master

[Two Americas]

90. critical distinction

Thank you.

How we Democrats are expected to successfully go to battle when we do not know - or refuse to know - the identity of the enemy, the enemy's plans and goals, and the nature of the terrain is a mystery to me.

[yurbud]

91. we could be wrestling Kermit the Frog to the ground while Jim Henson is making a new muppet

to replace him

[LoZoccolo]

202. How do I nominate this post for a DUzy?

Does anyone know?

[kelligesq]

204. LoZoccolo - cool - lol- if I knew I'd tell ya, but will try to find

out how and what a duzy is... :D

:bounce:

[kelligesq]

103. Yes, now we know. Even Lou Dobbs was dancing around and didnt name C of C

these greedy people are the major destruction of jobs and factories
in this country...and the import of substandard products and poisons.

Additionally they're responsible for the insourcing of people to take white collar jobs which shortly are going to be outsourced.

And of course, they're the ones want open illegal immigration to force down
wages in the US and make citizens compete with illegals for the jobs (unsuccessfully)

[Two Americas]

119. Dobbs

Dobbs can successfully insert racist, right wing, and liberation ideas and talking points into the thinking of Democrats where Hannity and Limbaugh could not. He is no friend to working people and Democrats. As such, he is in some ways a more dangerous demagogue than the more obvious haters are.

Workers - wherever they are from - do not force down wages. Corporations force down wages, and they can force them down a lot more efficiently by paying the same person for the same work south of the border than they can here.

This has been exhaustively studied, and not only is the "drive down wages" idea not supported by any detailed and thoughtful study, the opposite seems to be true.

Racist anti-hispanic hysteria is one of the few wedge issues that the right wingers have this time around. Let's not fan those flames.

[kelligesq]

128. Sorry, I dont agree at all. It is not a racist issue although the hispanic lobby

wants to make it one...it is an issue of law, legal vs illegal and economics.

Do you think I could go to Mexico or France without papers, passport, visa and just sneak in and stay for years, and get a job without papers????

HIghly unlikely.

It is our law that a certain amount of legal immigrants are let in each year...perhpas 2 million? I dont know the exact number. But I do know they fill out papers and wait their turn.

As my grandparents did in 1890's and many other people's grandparents and great grandparents did. They were on a list and waited their turn to come to this country LEGALLY.They were anxious to assimilate and be American. They learned the language - perhaps spoken with a thick accent or broken but they made the attempt.

It is my experience that most of the laborers have no desire or intent to learn the language. (Funny when I go to another country I make the effort at least to learn enough phrases to get by) In the state I'm in we have 800,000 illegal immigrants, but it doesn't matter, they're all over the country. Entire towns have been taken over. I know a family who has had 5 children since they are here, the husband uses a phony social security number, the wife goes to Dept of children and families and receives money and food stamps, and free medical care. They have bought a house thanks to Bank of America. They live well, new clothes, car, and their daughter has been accepted on scholarship to HARVARD. She wants to be a doctor. That;s all very nice.

But hospitals are declaring bankruptcy and closing, governments are raising taxes for US citizens to pay for services for illegals.

And though they say there are 12 million illegals, its more likely 30 million.

They take unskilled jobs for lower wages and put American individuals and American small businessmen out of business because they cant compete legally and survive paying fica and social security and disabilty taxes. Ihired an American firm to re-roof. The workers who showed up spoke no English and I couldnt get through to them that they were causing a leak in the roof, although I do speak some Spanish, I could show them the water coming through - the answer was tell boss tell boss...

On top of that, from the borders to the South and NOrth there is no guard against people coming in illegally who are not coming looking for jobs...they are coming to do harm. Or those who are escaping crimes they have committed in their own country. Do you like having other countries pedaphiles and drug dealers and growers and gang members entering this country and doing their thing? Never mind terrorists that may be coming in.

This has nothing to do with racism. It's common sense and the LAW. Plus this country cannot swallow and support this many people in one fell swoop.

This is another thing that the Chamber of Commerce and big business wants - when there are fewer jobs, there's more competition for the jobs, and they can offer lower wages and longer hours. Americans who do have jobs are afraid to take vacations in case they would lose their job to the temporary placemnt/

Dont tell me Lou Dobbs with his degrees in economics or that I am racist.

I would love to move to Europe. I cant and I cant work in Europe, without papers, visas, applications, temporary work permits , the promise of a job, health insurance proof etc etc etc. Do you think the French are being racist against me?

You want to move to Panama? Then you better have a certain income and be able to prove it or they wont let you in. Gee those Panamanians are such racist sob's right?

Every country has their emigration rules, including America. But we're the only ones talking about letting 12-to 30 million illegals stay.

Check out what Tom Donahue of the C of C says about the program he's getting started to force amnesty for illegals. Somehow I dont think that's out of the goodness of his heart.

Get the picture?

[Two Americas]

133. sorry

I am on the front lines on this. 833,000 human beings have been arrested and detainned without warrants, without benefit of counsel, without probable cause, denied habeas corpus, the presumption of inocence, and the right to a hearing.

When the federal paramilitary swat teams show up, people are sorted by race. Whites are not bothered, browns are arrested.

If that isn't racism, nothing is.

[Two Americas]

134. hey kelligesq

Why don't we debate this elsewhere?

[kelligesq]

143. TWO - this is part of the political problem also - both dems and pugs want illegals

to have amnesty.

I've laid out everything I think about it so no need to go separate.

I will say, when you say only browns taken, I assume they check their papers and
social security numbers, if not that's wrong....I dont think there should be
habaeus corpus, hearings etc etc. You snuck in, cause the president of your country Calderone and Fox made maps for you to sneak in, we'll give you a ride back home. That's it. But that's not happening because your President also wants the illegals coming in, he never has seen a law that he thinks should be followed, for the cheap labor. As a matter of fact he wants to make one country out of Mexico, America, and Canada. Didn't ask the citizens of America about it though. And fortunately Canada is not crazy about fiving up their sovereignty either.

On the other hand, the POLICE (news TWO: all police are paramilitary) should also be checking the papers of people who dont look brown, there are plenty of illegal Ukranians,Russians, etc etc here...and not all Arabs,Persians, Italians , Afghanistanis are dark..there are those that are light also. Hey, if you were German or Norwegian overstaying your visa, you should be swooped up and shown the door too. You think other countries have habeus corpus and hearings for illegals? only in America.

Maybe a better idea would be to take all these people to their embassies and let their embassies take care of it. Why should American tax dollars be paid for the
transport

Sorry TWO, I have no sympathy.

I dearly would love to move out of this fascist police state country, but I follow the law (most of the time anyway) and would not sneak into s country illegally or overstay my visa, for fear of being thrown in a jail.

Apparently the people coming here from South of the Border have none of these fears because they are sent to jail, deported, many times for some, and sneak right back in again and again and again. I know a fellow who did that. I asked how he could go back and forth, he smiled but wouldnt tell me.

Funny thing about Mexico. They want an open border with the US, but not with the countries south of their border. And they dont treat those people trying to sneak into their country from their Southern Border very well at all, now do they TWO !


Nuf said.

[kelligesq]

147. TWO - one more story - I met this young Russian couple -

she's a physical therapist and he's an apartment manager. He drives a Hummer by the way. They are quite young, probably still in their 20's.

I talk to people and they like to talk to me.

She tells me that they want to leave America (I'm not sure they are citizens) because this country is not the same, it has changed so much. They're only here five years.

Isn't that an irony.

I'm reminded of the stories the refugees from Germany tell. Fascism came upon them day by day, freedoms were taken away, and it happened so quickly and yet slowly that they really didnt fully realize what was happening until it was too late.

That's the Americans. Sitting and letting it happen.

And by the time they wake up, Blackwater will be back in America... patrolling the streets. They've already made contracts with some cities. America's version of the SS, 160,000 coming back from Iraq.

[Two Americas]

172. I haven't responded yet

I understand that you laid out a case and are more than content to let it stand unchallenged. It is full of a number of unsupported and I believe unsupportable assertions. I suggested that we move the discussion so as not to hijack this thread in lieu of making my response.

[kelligesq]

179. OK TWO - you start the thread someplace and let us know where -but I'm sure

since it is such a hot issue, and you'll notice the democrats are staying away
from the subject, that it will create chaos on the thread -
Here's the rules, though...anyway swearing or out of hand is going to be reported and asked to be deleted.

I haven't been on DU for years and have noticed the level of discourse has gone into the toilette - surprised they allow 4 letter words right up front in every reply - they didnt use to.

[Two Americas]

184. lol

You won't find me swearing or making personal attacks. I was hoping that you and I could have a calm and reasoned discussion about the issue, since we are in agreement on so many other issues. Maybe in the Edwards group so it doesn't becomne a free for all? (With permission from the other Edwards supporters.)

[kelligesq]

197. Great. OK, but I dont know where the "Edwards Group" is - can

you point me there....

but know also I feel pressured to come up with something very simple and digestible to send into letters to the editors in South Carolina for Edwards, and Nevada, and Michigan, and Los Angeles and wherever in the next day or two.

There is no time before this election...it has been compressed into too short a time, to build a movement which takes months, years! Support has to be shown for him now.

I notice that this thread has many people reading, interested and replying while other threads similar do not.

Problem is I cannot put all the information I have in the header with links to a
URL in a short letter to an editor. So the explanation of what C of C is missing in the other threads and people dont get the overall tip of the iceberg that we have revealed here.!!

Drat.

[Dawggie]

141. You know, if they enforced the laws properly on the companies that hire illegals

And fined the shit out of them, there would be no jobs to attract people to cross the border. Believe me, they wouldn't come over here to simply starve at a new geographic location.

You can thank the CoC for keeping the obvious of removing the cause and punishing the symptom out of the dialog.

[kelligesq]

144. Yes, but Bush wouldn't enforce the law, so states and cities are making their own

laws and enforcing.

If Bush's policies continue, States will take back their own powers. And if I'm not mistaken some states have even thrown around the idea of seceding.

[AntiFascist]

138. I agree that Dobbs should not pander to the xenophobia crowd...

but the bottom line is that big business and wealthy individuals want there to be a dual class society in America. Allowing illegal workers provides exactly what they need: cheap labor with limited human rights! What's wrong with making these workers legal and giving them the same rights as other Americans? The problem is, it would raise labor costs and also peoples' gardening and housekeeping fees might go up.

[kelligesq]

145. We cant complain the MSM is not giving us the news, and then call it pandering

when they do.

[JDPriestly]

65. Edwards will be the best friend of the small businesses that

make up the majority of the members of the Chamber of Commerce. Who does this guy really work for? Walmart or my corner coffee shop owned by a real person?

[Two Americas]

67. why Republicans win

The Republicans know precisely where the battle lines are drawn and they never lose sight of that. That is part of the reason why they have the success that they do despite the fact that they represent the interests of only a small fraction of the population.

I cannot understand why there is such a persistent and aggressive effort by some Democrats, especially those who are the most domineering and outspoken and vigilant, to continually mislead us as to where the battle lines are. A small percentage of Democrats successfully controls and steers the discussion and writes the narrative for the party, and the one consistent theme is to prevent people from accurately seeing where the battle lines are. This cripples the party, suppresses participation, and corrupts our thinking and strictly limits the scope of the national political discussion.

[avaistheone1]

176. Very insightful.

[blackspade]

69. Is the...

US Chamber of Commerce an official government organization?

If so then they need to be investigated by Congress or better yet the US attorney's office for election violations. I know, I know, not the most effective option. Perhaps some intrepid reporter could investigate?

If they are not an official US government office, then they should not portray themselves as such. Maybe a rename to the Corporate Chamber of Commerce.

[kelligesq]

77. They're not a govt agency, but neither is the Federal Reserve= did you know that?

Federal Reserve is a group of private bankers, wall street companies that have owned this country, set our interest rates, etc etc

US chamber name is perfectly leagal and dont expect Congress to investigate them
since they buy congressman, its called "lobbying" - new name for legal bribing.

[donkeyotay]

70. Just for kicks, imagined if this was reversed and a liberal had said it

Edwards, a candidate for president of the United States, gave a press release to the Los Angeles Times entitled CAPITALISTS BEWARE.

"We plan to build a grass-roots citizens' organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," Edwards said.

The media would have gone ultrasonic. Instead the ONLY ones talking about compromise is our side. Republicans aren't offering any olive branches. They've made no concessions that any of their policies have been wrong.

No one is fighting for the middle class...except supposedly Dobbs. Why isn't he supporting Edwards? I thought he was the media outlet that cared about us.:eyes:

[kelligesq]

79. I tried emailing Dobbs but cant find the correct email, they

bounced back....why dont you e mail him the article about Donahue and what he said - that is one of Dobbs pet peeves, the outsourcing..maybe you can find the right email address

[donkeyotay]

123. I was being snarky because I sincerely doubt Dobbs would support Edwards.

I call Dobbs a faux-populist because he's up to no good with trying to capture the Independents. But Dobbs could show he actually cares about the middle class by supporting a candidate who has made that his issue...pointing out the hypocrisy. Probably should have used this. :sarcasm:

[yurbud]

72. I was struck by how openly vicious & threatening his statement was; they must be pissing themselves

[kelligesq]

80. Did you look at the companies on their board directors further up ? dont

think they're pissing....they're worth trillions

John Edwards is David and the C of C Goliath

[yurbud]

83. some others on this thread don't get that and think the GOP has somehow taken over CoC

The CoC owns at least one and a half of the two majors parties, maybe more.

[kelligesq]

86. Agreed Yurbud

.

[yurbud]

89. its like people who go to a movie and think actors make up their own lines

and don't realize they are just the visible tip of the iceberg that goes into making a movie.

Or in this case, it's like thinking the greeter at Walmart must run the whole corporation.

[yurbud]

73. we should hold a candlelight vigil outside their headquarters with signs like ...

STOP ASS-RAPING OUR DEMOCRACY

[yurbud]

75. Between THE SHOCK DOCTRINE and 1971 Powell Memo, it's clear these assholes have screwed democracy

at home and abroad to fill their pockets.

[yurbud]

76. he talks about creating jobs as if it was a charitable donation, but businesses make money paying

people LESS than their labor is worth.

So any place there isn't a strong union or 100% employment, the workers are really making a donation to the corporate assholes.

[malaise]

81. The Chambers of Commerce across the globe are among the most evil

of institutions.

[kelligesq]

85. Hey Guys, dont forget to KICK & RECOMMEND

pujhleez

[Two Americas]

92. doing their job

They are representing the interests of the wealthy and powerful. No surprise there. The question is this: whose interests do we represent?

[malaise]

94. Valid point

K & R

[kelligesq]

104. Working men and women, lower & middle class which is quickly disappearing

as the jobs disappear. We have been one of the only countries that had a middle class...America started the idea of a middle class

One of the signs of a democracy - a middle class.

India always had and still does a caste system.
China the same.
Most of the others, especially the Middle East have the few rich and the rest poor.

That is why people wanted to come to America...opportunity to work, climb the ladder into a middle class and some even the rich....but not the way they are getting rich now.

[rucky]

107. Our local one treats family-owned businesses like shit.

and kisses some big-box butt.

[kelligesq]

109. what city and state? Any friends to picket with you? I'm

serious of course.

"Chamber of Commerce outsourcing our jobs"

"Chamber of Commerce against American working men and women"

[rucky]

113. Small town north of Dayton

The Good Ol' Boys here would destroy my wife's business if we made any more waves. They Mayor is already shutting us out of federal grant money to support downtown businesses. Saving that for his buddies.

But I appreciate the gesture.

[kelligesq]

116. Is that an auto workers area? with closings/layoffs? know any of them?

you might want to email them the header of the Chamber of Commerce or explain to them how the C of C is responsible for the closings of their factories and loss of their jobs

[MrScorpio]

82. That's proof that the Chamber of Commerce is at war against the American working class

Time to play hardball

[kelligesq]

84. Okay. I agree. Your suggestions? no cadlelight please

I'm for picketing

C of C outsourcing our jobs.

We should be able to get auto workers , out of work people laid off by the thousands, once they understand who has done this to them.

Anybody involved in the unions?

[Two Americas]

97. the weathy and powerful

The wealthy and powerful few are at war against the American working class - which is all of us who have to work for a living, and which represents over 90% of the population. They have been at war against us for a while now. They have control over the Republican party and the mass media, and have just about gained complete control over the Democratic party.

We fight or we lose. Any other feel good notions of compromise and accommodation are highly dangerous - dangerous for all of us, not dangerous for our representatives and would be leaders who continually advocate that we surrender with their soothing and seductive words.

We can "heal" when the few with all of the power stop preying on us.

[kelligesq]

108. well said. n/t

.

[Blackhatjack]

87. Edwards needs to use this in TV ads and Speeches, and raise $ with it...

It literally could be the 'gift' that keeps on giving throughout this campaign.

[OneGrassRoot]

96. That's what I said as soon as I saw it.

And I know Hillary's appeal isn't strictly with women, and that Obama's isn't strictly with African-Americans and the youth, but the reality is that John's target message cuts across all gender and race lines. His message is for the VAST majority of this country: working people...of all ages, races, gender, sexual orientation, education level, region.

If people could hear his message and would listen, they would know he's speaking to them. Then it would be up to them to decide if the message is important enough to them and whether or not he can deliver.

But his message is truly for everyone. I'm not saying the other platforms aren't, but to me, his is the most universal in its scope. Empower the average person and enable them to feel they have a say and aren't serfs in a kingdom (and by the sound of many here at DU, they have little hope), and the landscape of this country will change dramatically. It will then radiate and create a New America for the world to see and embrace.

[kelligesq]

110. Yes, but it would take everyone of us on this thread to write CNN NBC

compalining they arent giving him air time for his message and that it is
a universal message.

[OneGrassRoot]

124. This is a thread from GD/P which is an action thread....

not sure if you saw it. Thought you may have an interest. :)

[kelligesq]

129. What is GD/P please ? - no link in your post n/t

.

[OneGrassRoot]

136. Goodness, I'm losing my mind. I'm sorry...

here you go. It's another forum here. We're in "General Discussion" now, but this is from "General Discussion: Politics".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4017273&mesg_id=4017273

[kelligesq]

146. Thanks, I bookmarked.

.

[Two Americas]

95. FDR undersrtood this

Do we have the courage to face the truth? Or will we settle for "hoping" for "change?"

Read his words. Compare them to where the Democratic party is today.

Excerpted from a speech by FDR from 1936:

That very word freedom, in itself and of necessity, suggests freedom from some restraining power. In 1776 we sought freedom from the tyranny of a political autocracy—from the eighteenth century royalists who held special privileges from the crown. It was to perpetuate their privilege that they governed without the consent of the governed; that they denied the right of free assembly and free speech; that they restricted the worship of God; that they put the average man's property and the average man's life in pawn to the mercenaries of dynastic power; that they regimented the people.

And so it was to win freedom from the tyranny of political autocracy that the American Revolution was fought. That victory gave the business of governing into the hands of the average man, who won the right with his neighbors to make and order his own destiny through his own Government. Political tyranny was wiped out at Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Since that struggle, however, man's inventive genius released new forces in our land which reordered the lives of our people.. The age of machinery, of railroads; of steam and electricity; the telegraph and the radio; mass production, mass distribution—all of these combined to bring forward a new civilization and with it a new problem for those who sought to remain free.

For out of this modern civilization economic royalists carved new dynasties. New kingdoms were built upon concentration of control over material things. Through new uses of corporations, banks and securities, new machinery of industry and agriculture, of labor and capital—all undreamed of by the fathers—the whole structure of modern life was impressed into this royal service.

There was no place among this royalty for our many thousands of small business men and merchants who sought to make a worthy use of the American system of initiative and profit. They were no more free than the worker or the farmer. Even honest and progressive-minded men of wealth, aware of their obligation to their generation, could never know just where they fitted into this dynastic scheme of things.

It was natural and perhaps human that the privileged princes of these new economic dynasties, thirsting for power, reached out for control over Government itself. They created a new despotism and wrapped it in the robes of legal sanction. In its service new mercenaries sought to regiment the people, their labor, and their property. And as a result the average man once more confronts the problem that faced the Minute Man.

The hours men and women worked, the wages they received, the conditions of their labor—these had passed beyond the control of the people, and were imposed by this new industrial dictatorship. The savings of the average family, the capital of the small business man, the investments set aside for old age—other people's money—these were tools which the new economic royalty used to dig itself in.

Those who tilled the soil no longer reaped the rewards which were their right. The small measure of their gains was decreed by men in distant cities.

Throughout the Nation, opportunity was limited by monopoly. Individual initiative was crushed in the cogs of a great machine. The field open for free business was more and more restricted. Private enterprise, indeed, became too private. It became privileged enterprise, not free enterprise.

An old English judge once said: "Necessitous men are not free men." Liberty requires opportunity to make a living—a living decent according to the standard of the time, a living which gives man not only enough to live by, but something to live for.

For too many of us the political equality we once had won was meaningless in the face of economic inequality. A small group had concentrated into their own hands an almost complete control over other people's property, other people's money, other people's labor—other people's lives. For too many of us life was no longer free; liberty no longer real; men could no longer follow the pursuit of happiness.

Against economic tyranny such as this, the American citizen could appeal only to the organized power of Government. The collapse of 1929 showed up the despotism for what it was. The election of 1932 was the people's mandate to end it. Under that mandate it is being ended.

The royalists of the economic order have conceded that political freedom was the business of the Government, but they have maintained that economic slavery was nobody's business. They granted that the Government could protect the citizen in his right to vote, but they denied that the Government could do anything to protect the citizen in his right to work and his right to live.

Today we stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place, he must have equal opportunity in the market place.

These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power. In vain they seek to hide behind the Flag and the Constitution. In their blindness they forget what the Flag and the Constitution stand for. Now, as always, they stand for democracy, not tyranny; for freedom, not subjection; and against a dictatorship by mob rule and the over-privileged alike.

The brave and clear platform adopted by this Convention, to which I heartily subscribe, sets forth that Government in a modern civilization has certain inescapable obligations to its citizens, among which are protection of the family and the home, the establishment of a democracy of opportunity, and aid to those overtaken by disaster.

But the resolute enemy within our gates is ever ready to beat down our words unless in greater courage we will fight for them.

Franklin D. Roosevelt
Acceptance Speech for the Renomination for the Presidency, Philadelphia, Pa.
June 27th, 1936

[kelligesq]

112. Thanks, this sentence of FDR's - seems like we havent gotten very far:

"that they denied the right of free assembly and free speech; that they restricted the worship of God; that they put the average man's property and the average man's life in pawn to the mercenaries of dynastic power; that they regimented the people."


Those freedoms guaranteed by the constitution are what Bush has undone, and Congress helped him

[donkeyotay]

121. The repos hate FDR. They don't want to give up "privileged enterprise"

Great speech. Deserves an OP for visability:

Throughout the Nation, opportunity was limited by monopoly. Individual initiative was crushed in the cogs of a great machine. The field open for free business was more and more restricted. Private enterprise, indeed, became too private. It became privileged enterprise, not free enterprise.

An old English judge once said: "Necessitous men are not free men." Liberty requires opportunity to make a living—a living decent according to the standard of the time, a living which gives man not only enough to live by, but something to live for.

For too many of us the political equality we once had won was meaningless in the face of economic inequality. A small group had concentrated into their own hands an almost complete control over other people's property, other people's money, other people's labor—other people's lives. For too many of us life was no longer free; liberty no longer real; men could no longer follow the pursuit of happiness.

Against economic tyranny such as this, the American citizen could appeal only to the organized power of Government. The collapse of 1929 showed up the despotism for what it was. The election of 1932 was the people's mandate to end it. Under that mandate it is being ended. <end>

I wonder if it's going to take another collapse, the collapse of 2008, to make the post-Reagan generations aware of how far right this country has gone.

[OzarkDem]

127. Thank you, great speech!

Takes us back to our core values as Democrats. :kick:

[AX10]

174. thanks

[AntiFascist]

98. I can't believe the US Chamber of Commerce is coming out against populism!

The Elite must be getting real nervous. True capitalists should embrace populism. These people are part of a pathocracy.

On edit: scratch that, I meant to say pathological oligarchy.

[rucky]

105. What's the opposite of Populism?

I have a feeling it's something unsavory.

[kelligesq]

114. Plutocracy? Oligarchy? Websters should help :) Land of, by, for the rich.

.

[rucky]

115. it's not Momulism?

damn you, Webster!

[MasonJar]

106. Just admire what an eloquent speaker the pres of the Chamber of

Commerce is---Winston roll over in your grave---with his threat to bite dems in the butt! WOW! Impressive? NOT

[mirrera]

117. Uh...Facism anyone? n/t

[L0oniX]

122. Vote for the others/corporate status quo or vote Edwards.

It's clear that if you don't vote for Edwards then you are voting for the enemy. Corporations have taken over our country. If you don't vote for Edwards then lets change -we the people to -we the corporations.

[halobeam]

125. K & R

[JVS]

131. The Fucking Chamber of Commerce can make such threats?!?!

What's next? When does the better business bureau get in on the act?

[Two Americas]

135. not a threat

It is a promise.

Nor is it new.

Nor is it an anomaly.

This is what we are up against. It is what we have been up against for quite a while. It is the cause of all of the social problems we are struggling to solve.

[bobbolink]

132. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you..."

"Then you win."

Well, they're NOW getting to the fighting stage, so..... clearly, Edwards is more powerful than they want us to know.

Is our country important enough to you, Dem voters????

[defendandprotect]

164. Absolutely!! And, notice he's not threating Clinton or Obama . . .

It's Edwards the corporates are after ---

that's why the MSM shut out ---

[bobbolink]

185. I've been thinking.... I want to see Edwards receive a Backbone Award!!

Can we nominate him???

Really, what he's doing takes more courage than any of the rest of them are showing.

And, we know from the past what that kind of courage and risk taking can result in.

I want him OUT of small planes!!

[defendandprotect]

189. I think he's been doing great . . . and I've tried to introduce the subject

here before of the kind of very strong support he will need if elected ---
I mean we would have to be very ready, willing and able to demonstrate ---

[bobbolink]

194. Absolutely! When/if he's in the Oval, our organizing efforts will have only begun!

As FDR said when Eleanor would bring a proposal to him, "Make me"... in other words, go back and drum up HUGE support, so that I can push it through.

That's exactly what our task will be!

We'll all be little Eleanors.

:hi:

[kelligesq]

149. I want to thank you all for this discussion of our political situation, was informative, intelligent

and for the most part serious and civil.

Don't forget to kick and recommend. The public needs to know. :)

K.

[Swamp Rat]

150. No, but it is inevitable that the members of the US Chamber of Commerce will all be dead.

And the world will be better place. :)

[kelligesq]

151. no, many members are major multinationals - they go on and on unless

they go bankrupt like Enron....they dont die....and unless we change the laws of
our supposed representatives taking lobbyist money/election money from them, we will never get their stranglehold on our government off.

It is obscene that they are spending over 100 million each on an election.
Ads on tv must be free. Those are our airwaves.

No external money can be taken. They must all take the federal money as Edwards is doing. That must be the law, so that we can stop the external lobbyist influence.

[Swamp Rat]

177. Good luck stopping the New Feudalism

I would agree with what you are saying, but that would be colluding with free, logical thinking which may lead to political change, and therefore be deemed an act of terrorism by the 'Extremist Belief Commission'. See H.R. 1955, SEC. 899A. DEFINITIONS: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955

"(4) IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence' means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual's political, religious, or social beliefs."

Since force, in this case, is NOT violence. What is it? Thought? Free speech?

Compromised elections is one of many manifestations of a much deeper, serious problem.

[kelligesq]

180. SWAMP- well then DONAHUE & C of C have threatened violence, havent they, so

Donahue and the members of Chamber of Commerce under HR 1955 should go to the detention camps.....just by the words he uttered in his statement.

But let me tell you something about the new attorney general...he's a company man.

He was as Chief Justice and I gather nothing has changed.

[starroute]

152. It would be nice to have a list of all their affiliates

The connections seem very confusing and hard to sort out. I tried checking on the international affiliations a few months ago and found that the groups called "American Chamber of Commerce" of such-and-such a country are affiliates, but ones without "American" in their names aren't. (For example, AMCHAM of Costa Rica, which was behind much of the push there for CAFTA, appears to be an affiliate.)

It would also be good to have a better understanding of domestic affiliates. For example, I noticed in reading the coverage of the Governor Siegelman case that the guy railroading him, William Canary, was the head of the Business Council of Alabama. So I looked that up, and it was described as some sort of spin-off of the Chamber of Commerce. I don't know if there's a continuing connection or not -- though, since Canary used to be with the American Trucking Associations, which Donahue headed until he joined CofC in 1997, I suspect there probably is.

The third thing I'd like to see is a list of all the lobbying efforts the Chamber of Commerce has been associated with over the last 10 years. That could be really eye-opening.

And fourth, I want to mention the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable again, because they're allied with the CofC on so many of these issues. NAM has a nasty history of connections with fascists in the 30's and Birchers in the 50's. The Roundtable is more recent -- I think it may have been founded in the 70's as a result of the Powell Memo -- but is also extremely active.

The more light we can shed on all these groups -- and the easier we make it to identify and publicize their astroturf campaigns -- the better.

[kelligesq]

153. Cut off the head of the snake or shine light on the chief cockroach

and all the other cockroaches run for cover.

Perhpas with Donahue and the US Chamber of Commerce that might be enough

But a major item is to find out if they are a non profit 401 C. Then they are

illegally lobbying for political candidates, judges, attorney generals. etc.

[kelligesq]

183. STARROUTE you have info pressrelease on NAM or Roundtable like

what Donahue and the C of C have just put out?

Short and sweet so that we can explain it in a simplified manner?

[kelligesq]

154. OH BOY OH BOY - have I found a good 1 for us, Obama & The C of C

Thanks to koko1, who doesn't know fully what he led me to:

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:QSIUlIICOBQJ:www.harpers.org/sb-a-little-bit-more-on-obama-1161881683.html+Obama+%2B+exelon&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us



"contributors to Obama include some of the best-connected lobbyists in town, including Jeffrey Peck (whose clients include MasterCard, the Business Roundtable, <b>and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) and Rich Tarplin (Chevron, the American Petroleum Institute, and the National Association of Manufacturers).</b>


oh yeah, oh yeah, Obama is going to be some populist...really making changes in the broken government, out there for the people, <b>NOT</b>

[defendandprotect]

155. This is outrageous . . . and it's the power they BUY --- really right-wing org ....

And the Chamber of Commerce is a big inroad for corporate control of our local towns!!!

[defendandprotect]

163. This is a good story for Olbermann . . . or John Stewart -- 1!!

[Rex]

165. So the wealthy pigs are getting all nervous?

Good. I hope Edwards makes them shit buckets.

[defendandprotect]

166. Let's remember the original NRA wasn't the fascist organization it is today ---

targeting candidates, etc ---

It's the NAZI way . . . you take over legitimate orgs and use them to your ends ---

[kelligesq]

198. Thank Gawd for the NRA, if

they had not been fighting to keep gun rights in the USA we would be as defenseless as those countries that have been taken over by dictators, look at
the African countries, South America, the Middle East, European countries where citizens were never allowed to have arms. I used to think negatively about it, but with 160,000 Blackwaters coming back to America with contracts already in place in some cities, junior's private SS, the fact that there are more guns in America than people may be a good thing. One thing that has been learned from Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. You can have a well equipped military but it is no match for guerrilla warfare.

Wow. Did I really say that?

Yes.

[ToeBot]

167. And if populism fails, this country will be gone in 40 years, latte anyone? nt

[BrotherBuzz]

169. When I hear US Chamber of Commerce I instructively grab my wallet

US Chamber of Commerce is not a friend of US citizens.

[AX10]

175. $60 million dollars.

Can we raise a matching fund?

[kelligesq]

181. I think we need to get this info to unions, as well as individuals

and then perhaps we could. Time is short so we would have to join with other groups to raise this kind of money. But it's not just the money, it's peo-ple and we have the people power if we can get the word out on just what this is to millions !!!

Does anyone here belong to a union, or know anybody that we can speak with?

Second: Do we organize as Move On has but with this purpose of educating the electorate of whose running this country into the ground, and whose on the take
It'a slmost too late for this election

Third, We should all start e mailing John Edwards as fast as possible with
this info

Fourth , e mail your local newspaper Letter to the Editor with this info, short and sweet in your own wording.

And Hurry up please, becaue they have shortened time of the elections, South Carolina election January 26, Florida election January 29, Nevada ????

and then 24 states on Super Tuesday Feb 5

that;s a lot of emails to get out !!!

Anybody with a direct contact to Move On - phone number...?

We can email them this, but you never know whether they read it or not.

[Two Americas]

186. good thoughts there kelligesq

One thing that I think is important. Notice how the posts fall into two categories here? Some see this as the tip of the iceberg, as an example of a systemic problem, as a glimpse into a larger and pervasive pattern. Others look at is as a bad actor, or a bad organization, or try to connect dots and find the conspiracy. The first way of looking at it is political dynamite - very powerful and potentially productive. The second leads us down a labyrinthine path of frustration and futility. The wealthy and powerful will always be able to create more conspiracies and do it faster than we can ever track them, and besides the general public can't follow that stuff - their eyes glaze over.

Let's say that we successfully exposed this one guy and this one organization in some way. The results of that would be that the wealthy and powerful corporate interests would realize that "ooops! we were a little too honest there and the public is catching on," and would go to work burying the truth and putting on a big pr scam to put people back to sleep. The corporate organization - the people behind it - would just effortlessly morph into a new form and a new image, shuffle the deck around a little and go forward as always. The activists would pat each other on the back and congratulate themselves as to how they beat down a bad guy or a bad organization. Any criticisms that this had not caused any fundamental change would be met with "well at least we are doing something!" The general public would be relieved and think that “oh good someone somewhere was handling these bad things,” that "the system works" and that there was nothing to be alarmed about.

On the other hand, if we use this as an example of a systemic and pervasive problem, there is no limit to the good that could be accomplished. We can say - "Are all corporate actors bad? Of course not, but this is an example of what can and does happen when we have completely unleashed and de-regulated free-market corporate capitalism and when we gut all of the protections for workers, consumers and the general public. Powerful cabals of entrenched wealth and power form and they corrupt and destroy our democracy, our business climate, our government and our environment. 9 out of 10 business people can be good and responsible, but it only takes one to destroy a lake, to ruin the local economy in a town, to corrupt a local government. Why do we have a system that encourages and rewards the worst elements, ensures the worst results and the most social and environmental damage, the least effective democracy, and why should 90% of the population be powerless and suffering for the sake of the selfish goals and desires of the few?"

[kelligesq]

187. TWO - Beautifully written. Now

could you compress it to one or two paragraphs in plainer vernacular for consumption by all, i.e. for those who dont read the NYT or WaPo ? You know I'm smiling but serious.

We may not agree on every facet of the poltical landscape, but what we do agree on is as you say: "political dynamite - very powerful and potentially productive"

If we present it as just the tip of the iceberg, it will be too overwhelming for most to wrap their minds around. Those that can will understand its systemic and in every little town across the country.

My focus at the moment is to present the three major bad actors and to whom they have contributed. A page from bushco. Focus attention on the corporate axis of evil. Digestible mental bites.

This is probably the most serious and critical election we have had since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We either take the country back now depending on who we elect, changing the direction of the country or its lost to "their" 50 year plan started after WW2.

From the contributors to Obama we know he's not "it." How dare he usurp Edwards' words and talk of the corruption of govt. !!!

Next we have to look at Hillary's contributors, I mean reallllllly - accepting money from Murdoch and Bill has recently met with Scaiffe - of all people. I highly doubt she's it.

Edwards has taken money that we know of from the legal lobby, but that's okay from our viewpoint because for the most part the triallawyers are fighting against the big corporations, insurance companies, and assisting consumers who are the plaintiffs. But we do need to know where his other contributions - which are not much - are coming from, to be fair.

It's incredible that 300 or 400 people can take over a country.That our own representatives turn against us. But it's not the first time in history it's happened. For a long time I think Junior and his cadre have kept a copy of "Mein Kampf" on their desks and have followed and used it as instruction on how to do it. Essentially he has decapitated-arrested Congress without arresting or disbursing them.

We are 300 million (less 30% who think he's the Messiah) And yet we politely let this happen.

[kelligesq]

188. Any research of the contributions to the 3 dem, pls post here with URL

also any research on the big three, their press releases for C of C, National Assoc. of Manufacturers, and Starroute suggests "The Roundtable" please post here with URL.

We need to keep it simple, but enraging :)

Thanks.

Let's give em hell.

[Two Americas]

191. turn the telescope around

Look at this from the opposite direction, and see if things don't fall into place more quickly.

If we present it as just the tip of the iceberg, it will be too overwhelming for most to wrap their minds around. Those that can will understand its systemic and in every little town across the country.

I find the exact opposite to be true, and I have spent the last 40 years living and working in minority communities, blue collar communities and more recently rural farming communities.

"The rich get richer and the poor get poorer."

"The wealthy and powerful control everything and we don't stand a chance against them."

"Say goodbye to the old boss, and say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss."

"Rich man's war, poor man's fight."

Can't get much more clear and simple than that. Most minority people and blue collar people are already there. That represents 60% or more of the population. As we did back in the days of the Civil Rights struggles, we just need a few upscale educated suburban whites onboard.

My focus at the moment is to present the three major bad actors and to whom they have contributed. A page from bushco. Focus attention on the corporate axis of evil. Digestible mental bites.

That approach is certain to weaken and bury the story. That approach is only seen as valuable by a relatively small number of people, educated professional white people mostly, who are politically active. It rests on premises that are not shared by the broad mass of people, and in politics the broad mass of people are what matters.

Digestible is right - and what is the eventual product of chewing over and swallowing and digesting things? Think in terms of planting seeds that will grow into a forest.

Being right about things, having it all figured out, is the consolation prize in politics, only of interest to the few for cocktail party and dorm room and Green party meeting chatter.

Let's stop settling for the consolation prize.

Next we have to look at Hillary's contributors, I mean reallllllly - accepting money from Murdoch and Bill has recently met with Scaiffe - of all people. I highly doubt she's it.

Focus on Edwards' message and how it resonates with every day people, and how it is consistent with the traditional success of the party. Trying to compare candidates on a gazillion hair-splitting things just aids our opponents in keeping Edwards message out of the mix.

People will support Edwards based on joining us - an enthusiastic, motivated and committed group of people - and based on supporting the message, not based on litmus tests or candidate qualification comparisons. All of that junk is for the policy wonks and political junkies. People in the general public hate all of that and run screaming from it.

We can spend our time writing an exciting and dramatic Hollywood screenplay about how the evil elite are conspiring to take over the world based on esoteric and arcane detective work, or we can dig in and build a mass popular working class movement based on broad universal principles and ideals of equality and justice. I do not believe that we can do both as a first priority, and I believe that the two approaches can contradict and work against each other.

[kelligesq]

200. TWO

I just found out by trying to post at Edwards Groups that I cant because I'm not a contributing member. We'll have to think of something else.

[cabraverde]

192. If the populists defeat the Optimates

will we get a ceasar, if so who will it be?

History does tend to repeat itself..........May we be on the verge of an American Empire?

[kelligesq]

195. LOLOLOLOLOL - we have been in American Empire since 1945

:nuke:

[kelligesq]

199. We have been occupying countries since WW2 though American citizens didnt

fully realize it. I think they realize more of it now. We're in something like 160 countries, so though we were founded against colonization, we have become the
colonizers. Our military makes it safe for the multi-national corporations.

[starroute]

193. I found a list of state chambers of commerce

I don't know if this is up-to-date -- it wasn't at an official CofC site -- but it should be a starting point. Note that not all of them actually have "chamber of commerce" in their name.

ALABAMA
Business Council of Alabama
E. Clark Richardson, President
468 South Perry Street
P.O. Box 76
Montgomery, AL 36101-0076
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

ALASKA
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
Sheri Schlotfeldt, President
217 2nd Street, #201
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

ARIZONA
Arizona Chamber of Commerce
Wayne C. Anderson, President/CEO
1221 East Osborn Road, #100
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

ARKANSAS
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Ron Russell, Executive Vice President
410 South Cross
P.O. Box 3645
Little Rock, AR 72203-3645
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

CALIFORNIA
California State Chamber of Commerce
Kirk West, President
1201 K Street, 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1736
Sacramento, CA 95812-1736
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

COLORADO
Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
George S. Dibble, Jr., President/CEO
1776 Lincoln Street, #1200
Denver, CO 80203-1029
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
Kenneth O. Decko, President
370 Asylum Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

DELAWARE
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
John M. Burris, President
1201 North Orange Street
P.O. Box 671
Wilmington, DE 19899
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Kwasi Holman, Executive Vice President
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW #309
Washington, DC 20004
Phone [phone]

FLORIDA
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Frank M. Ryll, Jr., President
136 South Bronough Street
P.O. Box 11309
Tallahassee, FL 32302-3309
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

GEORGIA
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
233 Peachtree Street, #200
Atlanta, GA 30303-1504
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

HAWAII
Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii
Paul R. Lister, President
1132 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

IDAHO (No State Chamber)
Boise Area Chamber of Commerce
Jay M. Clemens, President/CEO
300 N. 6th Street
P.O. Box 2368
Boise, ID 83701

ILLINOIS
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
Sally A. Jackson, President/CEO
311 South Wacker Drive, #1500
Chicago, IL 60606-6619
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

INDIANA
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Christopher Lamothe, President/CEO
One North Capitol Avenue, #200
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

IOWA
Iowa Department of Economic Development
Anita Walker, Communications Manager
200 East Grand
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

KANSAS
Kansas Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Ed Bruske, President/CEO
835 SW Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS 66612-1671
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

KENTUKY
Kentuky Chamber of Commerce
Ken Oilschlager, President
464 Chenault Road
P.O. Box 817
Frankfort, KY 40602
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Association of Business & Industry
Daniel Juneau, President
3113 Valley Creek Drive
P.O. Box 80258
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-0258
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MAINE
Maine Chamber of Commerce & Industry
John S. Dexter, Jr., President
126 Sewall Street
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MARYLAND
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Champe C. McCulloch, President
60 West Street, #100
Annapolis, MD 21401-2458
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MASSACHUSETTS
(No State Chamber)
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
William B. Coughlin, President
One Beacon Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108-3114
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MICHIGAN
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
James Barrett, President
600 South Walnut Street
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MINNESOTA
Minnesota State Chamber of Commerce
David Olson, President
30 East 7th Street, #1700
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Phone [phone]
[phone]
Fax [phone]

MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Economic Council
Bob W. Pittman, President
P.O. Box 23276
Jackson, MI 39225-3276
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MISSOURI
Missouri State Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Jo Frappier, President
428 East Capitol Avenue
P.O. Box 149
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

MONTANA
Montana Chamber of Commerce
David Owen, President
2030 11th Avenue
P.O. Box 1730
Helena, MT 59601
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEBRASKA
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Jack Swartz CCE CAE, President
P.O. Box 95128
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEVADA
Nevada State Chamber of Commerce
David Howard, Legislative Affairs Director
P.O. Box 3499
Reno, NV 89505
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire
John D. Crosier, President
122 North Main
Concord, NH 03301
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEW JERSEY
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
William F. Faherty, Jr., President
50 West State Street, #1110
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEW MEXICO
Association of Commerce & Industry of New Mexico
Jerry Walker, President
2309 Renard Place SE, #402
Albuquerque, NM 87106-4259
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NEW YORK
(No State Chamber)
New York Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Barry Sullivan, President/CEO
One Battery Park Plaza, 5th Floor
New York City, NY 10004-1405
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
Cynthia Barnett, Executive Director
P.O. Box 1001
Raleigh, NC 27602
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

NORTH DAKOTA
Greater North Dakota Association
Dale O. Anderson, President
2000 Schafer Street
P.O. Box 2639
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

OHIO
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
I. John Reimers, President
35 East Gay Street, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3181
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Richard P. Rush CCE, President/CEO
4020 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

OREGON
(No State Chamber)
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
John Irelan, Executive Vice President
220 Cottage Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry
Floyd W. Warner, President
417 Walnut Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
Rafael Rivera Rodriquez, Executive Vice President
100 Tetuan Street
P.O. Box 3789
San Juan, PR 00902
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

RHODE ISLAND
(No State Chamber)
Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
James G. Hagan, President
30 Exchange Terrace
Providence, RI 02903
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce
S. Hunter Howard, Jr., Executive Vice President
1201 Main Street, #1810
Columbia, SC 29201-3254
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

SOUTH DAKOTA
Industry & Commerce Association of South Dakota
Julie M. Johnson, President
P.O. Box 190
Pierre, SD 57501-0190
Phone [phone]

TENNESSEE
(No State Chamber)
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Michael W. Rollins CCE, President
161 Fourth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

TEXAS
Texas State Chamber of Commerce
Bruce Gibson, President
900 Congress Avenue, #501
Austin, TX 78701
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

UTAH
Utah State Chamber of Commerce Association
Floyd Fox, President
97 East St. George Blvd.
Saint George, UT 84770
Phone [phone]

VERMONT
Vermont State Chamber of Commerce
Christopher G. Barbieri, President
P.O. Box 37
Montpelier, VT 05601
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

VIRGINIA
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Hugh D. Keogh, President
9 South Fifth Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Business
Don Brunell, President
1414 South Cherry
P.O. Box 658
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Stephen Roberts, President
P.O. Box 2789
Charleston, WV 25330
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
James S. Haney, President
501 East Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 352
Madison, WI 53701-0352
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

WYOMING
(No State Chamber)
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
Larry T. Atwell, Executive Vice President/G.M.
301 West 16th
P.O. Box 1147
Cheyenne, WY 82003
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]

[kelligesq]

201. WOW good work - looks like it could be a lot of letter writing

:eyes:

wouldnt Donahue be shocked to find out all his state affiliations were receiving letters asking them to disassociate themselves from him and his threat against
the American people and their populist movement?

[starroute]

203. It needs to be checked and updated, though

For example, I know from the Siegelman stories that William Canary is now the head of the Business Council of Alabama -- which suggests to me the list may be a couple of years old and that someone needs to check each state group's website and confirm the chair's name and contact info.

The DU research forum has never really taken off as a center for this sort of activity -- but perhaps a thread there plus regular updates at General Discussion directing people to it might work.

I think that what's needed most immediately would be a solid list of organization names -- including state groups, overseas affiliates, and astroturf front groups -- plus the names of leaders and spokespeople who might show up in news stories. That plus some system of keeping track of what they're really up to and how they're spending that $60 million.

Unfortunately, I don't have the free time to do the heavy lifting on this myself. I can contribute ideas and research, but if it's going to be a serious project, somebody will have to take it on in a committed way.

[kelligesq]

205. I could envision DU members outside his DC office with signs: DONAHUE OF C OF CO UNAMERICAN OR

Wouldn't Donahue of Chamber be shocked recieving 1000's of letters from DU
members saying

" IF YOU CONTINUE YOUR ANTI AMERICAN INTERFERENCE IN THE PEOPLE'S ELECTION WE

WILL STOP BUYING PRODUCTS OF ANY MEMBER YOU HAVE ESPECIALLY THOSE ON

YOUR BOARD SUCH AS ATT, FEDEX, NIKE, VERIZON"


I could envision pickets outside Donahue DC office
"CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNAMERICAN"

[krabigirl]

206. OMG

[kelligesq]

207. CNN on Sat. just gave JRE 3 mins of airtime followed by poll not mentioning him -

we need to be calling CNN and NBC and MSNBC telling them we will complain to the
FCC and demand their license be revoked , those are public airwaves owned by us,
if they dont give equal time and mention to Edwards that they give to Obama and Clinton.
Tell em we dont like their choosing what candidates we have choice of by not giving air time to ALL candidates.

Schneider, a neocon on CNN who does the polls gave the news of Obama and Clinton...no mention of Edwards and across the country he's most electable...just mention Clinton ahead.

[Kansas Wyatt]

210. Perhaps the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is more worried about...

The Republican Party (Corporate America's darling) dying off for the next forty years, after their rape, pillage, theft, and destruction of America.

Blowback is a bitch, when burn everyone you can.

[kelligesq]

212. Fix Donahue: BUY AMERICAN - IF YOU CANT FIND IT AMERICAN - DONT BUY

That's the last thing the US Chamber of Commerce wants. For us to stop buying the sleezy crappy products formerly American companies are producing in China.

Money, money, money. Take away their money bag. US.

and for gawz sakes, cancel your ATT and Verizon accounts

Dont buy anything Nike.

Look at the list of members on the board above.

DONT BUY THEIR PRODCUTS

[liberalla]

211. kicking & bookmarking

...want to save this for address info, etc.

[kelligesq]

213. me too

:kick: