Action Alerts

GOP Wants to Track All Internet Communications

2007-02-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

GOoPer Bill Would Require ISPs to Log All Customers' Activity
we're talkin' emails, chats, !@#$%& terabytes of data:

http://www.theseminal.com/2007/02/1...emails-ims-etc/

it would require ISPs to record all users’ surfing activity, IM conversations and email traffic indefinitely.The bill, dubbed the Safety Act by sponsor Lamar Smith, a republican congressman from Texas, would impose fines and a prison term of one year on ISPs which failed to keep full records.

the bill is HR 837:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.00837:

to quote Beck - one, two, you know what to do...please call or write your congresscritters and especially the members of the judiciary committee, where this bill is being considered.

Sunday Action: Act and Give Progressively Edition

2006-12-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

Here's your link for action!

Sunday Action: Back to the grind edition

2006-11-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

Here's your link for weekly action!

Sunday Action: Victory is Ours Edition

2006-11-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

Here's your link for action!

Sunday Action: GOTV Edition

2006-11-05T15:15:00.000-08:00

Here's your link for action!

Let's GOTV!

Sunday Afternoon Action: Phonebanking Edition

2006-10-29T15:48:00.000-08:00

Here's your link to weekly action!!

Let's work hard to GOTV!!

Sunday Action Diary: Election Prep Edition Part 2

2006-10-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Sunday Action Diary: Election Prep Edition!

2006-10-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here's your link to weekly action!

Sunday Action: Canvassing and Just Foreign Policy Edition!

2006-10-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!

Sunday Action Diary: It's October Edition!!

2006-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Sunday Action: Torture is Un-American Edition

2006-09-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Let's put a stop to this torture bill!! Every phone and fax number for every Senator is in that link! Get to work calling...let's flood their offices!!

Sunday Afternoon Action!

2006-09-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Sunday Action Diary: 9/11 Edition

2006-09-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Here's your link to take action!!

Sunday Action Diary & YKos 07 Ideas

2006-09-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for Action!! There's quite a bit of action related to the environment this week, among other things...

Sunday Action: Extremist Edition!!

2006-08-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

No, not that kind of extremists!!

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists.”

I’d like to promote a type of extremism today… Extreme Activism.

An “Extreme Activist” is my favorite kind of person. There are a lot of extreme activists here on Daily Kos, but there can always be more! So, I’m challenging everyone today to not only take action here, but to pass along some of these action items to family and friends. The more activists we have calling our Senators and House Reps, the harder it is for them to ignore us! My dream…I’d like to see Extreme Activism as part of the X Games… :-)

I’d also like to celebrate a victory for Plan B this week!! The FDA finally approved over the counter sales of Plan B to those 18 and older. The problem now is that we have to get the word out about Plan B. So, I encourage each of you to spread the word… this website is pretty informative, feel free to pass it along to everyone in your email address book!

Now, onto the action items…

Protect the Environment:

-- From The Wilderness Society:

"Over the strong objections of Native people, wildlife biologists, sportsmen’s groups, and the general public, the Bureau of Land Management remains intent on leasing one of the most remarkable wetlands complexes on the planet. The place is the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), the largest single block of wild public land left in the United States.

We need your help in urging the new Interior Secretary to postpone the oil and gas lease sale for this fragile area that is now set for late September."

-- From The Sierra Club:

"For the last six years, the Bush administration has tried to turn Giant Sequoia National Monument -- one of the world's great natural treasures -- into a tree farm. Yesterday, the trees -- with a little help from the Sierra Club -- had their day in court.

A federal judge ruled that the Bush administration's controversial plan to allow commercial logging in Giant Sequoia National Monument is illegal. "The Forest Service's interest in harvesting timber has trampled the applicable environmental laws," wrote Judge Charles R. Breyer, writing for the United States District Court for Northern California, who also ruled that the "Monument Plan is decidedly incomprehensible."

Selling off timber from Giant Sequoia National Monument is like selling the Statue of Liberty for scrap metal. The Bush administration's plan would have allowed 7.5 million board feet of timber to be removed annually from the Monument, enough to fill 1,500 logging trucks each year. This policy would have included logging of healthy trees of any species as big as 30 inches in diameter or more. Trees that size can be as much as 300 years old."

Of course, they aren't going to give up... there is even an effort in Congress to exempt some commercial logging in Giant Sequoia National Monument from environmental protections. Contact your Representatives today!

Protect Pets and Wildlife:

-- From IFAW:

Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which requires local and state disaster plans to include provisions for household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. This bill will now go back to the House for consideration and you can e-mail your Congressperson and urge them to support it here!!

-- Take a stand against the fur industry: Say NO to cruel fashion! Once you've signed the pledge, be sure to spread the word about the fur-free pledge -- you could win a trip to join Jay McCarroll in NYC at his fur-free fashion show sponsored by The HSUS.

-- From Defenders of Wildlife:

Some decent news...I know Murkowski would have been easier to beat, but this is definitely a glimmer of a silver lining.

"Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund and Defenders of Wildlife -- along with local groups like Alaskans for Wildlife -- have worked hard to oppose Murkowski’s anti-wolf agenda, along with the folks he charged with implementing it.

Earlier today, our sister organization Defenders of Wildlife filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging Alaska’s aerial wolf killing program. The lawsuit calls for science-based conservation and rejects back room decision-making on wolf management.

And that’s not all. Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund’s support for Alaskans for Wildlife is bearing fruit. Local activists are incredibly close to collecting the signatures they need to put the issue of same day aerial gunning -- also known as "land and shoot" -- back on the ballot, where Alaska voters have twice before voted to ban this reprehensible practice."

Economic Issues:

-- Stop Social Security Privatization. AGAIN.

Women's Issues:

-- From NOW: Sign this petition to the prospective 2008 presidential candidates -- urge them to make women's equality a major component of their campaigns.

-- Thank the FDA for finally doing the right thing and approving Plan B over the counter!!

New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina Issues:

-- Tell President Bush to keep his promises to Katrina and Rita survivors!!

-- Tell National TV News Anchors to Focus on Stories that Matter...like Hurricane Katrina and Iraq instead of Jon Benet Ramsey's killer 24/7.

-- Sign this petition from John Edwards' One America Committee to make sure President Bush doesn't forget the survivors of Katrina!!

-- Check out Acorn.org and find out how you can help with their Katrina Relief efforts.

Government Accountability Issues:

-- Defend the Democratic Process: Don't Let Congress Block Your Email!!

-- From Progressive Democrats of America:

"Please contact House Members - especially those on the House Armed Services Committee - in support of bipartisan strong whistleblower protections that have ALREADY CLEARED THE SENATE!" Urge Your Member of Congress to Support Whistleblower Protections!

-- From the ACLU: Say "Enough" to Illegal Spying: Tell Congress to Stand Up for Checks and Balances!! Once you’re done with that one, do the others that come up too!

-- Help Amnesty International Investigate and prosecute military contractors who torture!

Energy Issues:

-- Demand Action on Global Warming!!

-- From Union of Concerned Scientists:

"Even as gas prices and global warming are starting to change American consumers’ attitudes on fuel economy, McDonald’s “Hummer of a Summer” campaign is peddling toy versions of the iconic gas-guzzling H1, H2, and H3 SUVs. Ironically, this promotion targets kids—a group especially at risk from the myriad respiratory and heat-related illnesses caused by smog-forming and global warming pollution from autos.

In 2003, UCS activists successfully pressured McDonald’s to cut back its purchases of meat from suppliers who overuse antibiotics that are important to fighting human disease. Now tell Don Thompson, Chief Operations Officer of McDonald’s USA, to demonstrate support for children’s health and the environment by removing the Hummer toys from its Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals."

Tell McDonald's to Remove the Hummer Toys!

Human Rights Issues:

-- Tell George Bush to lead the effort to create a NATO force for Darfur NOW!!

-- From International Rescue Committee:

"For over 20 years the rebel group, Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has waged a brutal war against the Government of Uganda. The ruthless fighters in this conflict have resorted to barbaric tactics of murder, mutilation, burning of villages, sexual enslavement, and abduction of civilians – especially children – to be forced to fight.

Over 90% of the rural population of Northern Uganda has been forced into 200 squalid, crowded, and unhealthy refugee camps.

-More than 1.5 million people are currently crammed into crowded camps

-30,000 children have been abducted as sexual slaves, porters, or fighters over the past 20 years

-Each week there is an estimated excess death toll of 900 civilians due to disease and 20 people die each day due to violence

-Rape and sexual abuse are a daily occurrence in camps
We are asking you to join us and sign this petition demanding that the U.S. government intensify their political action to stop the violence in Uganda and support the current peace talks in Juba, south Sudan."

Voting Issues:

-- Tell your legislators you want to make elections about voters, not political donors!

-- Click here to learn about and participate in the "Voters First Pledge"!!

Other Issues:

-- Tell Target to Help Clean Up Dirty Gold by endorsing responsibly sourced gold.

-- From Walmart Watch:

"As you may remember, late last year Wal-Mart formed its own right-wing front group to try and defend the company. Wal-Mart called the group, Working Families for Wal-Mart, even though it had no working families, was funded directly by Wal-Mart, and is being run out of the same office as their public relations war room.
Since then, this group has recruited a cadre of some of the dirtiest and most extreme right-wing operatives with ties to Karl Rove, the New Hampshire phone jamming scandal and the Swift Boat Veterans. And, following Karl Rove’s playbook, Wal-Mart’s operatives immediately launched attacks against leading Democrats and even launched a website personally attacking WakeUpWalMart.com staff.

But, yesterday, Herman Cain, one of the steering committee members of Wal-Mart’s front group and a well-known right-wing commentator, completely crossed the line in a column he wrote by describing Democrats who are standing up, on behalf of working families, and asking Wal-Mart to be a responsible corporation as “Hezbocrats.”" Tell WalMart to apologize for their shameful and disgusting tactics!

This is Crossposted at Street Prophets, MyDD, and at Daily Kos!

Action Alerts: Attacked on all fronts edition!

2006-08-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!

There's a LOT to do this week!

ACTION ALERT: Lamont Edition!

2006-08-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

"[P]eople acting in a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could even hope to bring about." - FDR

Today's Action diary will be short because I will be getting on the phone soon to start my calls to GOTV in CT. Last time I signed up to make phone calls for a MoveOn campaign I was calling college students (mostly) in Pennsylvania to GOTV for John Kerry. Calling people was easy, and I was able to help GOTV in a swing state when I didn't live in one.

Well, I'm still living in Southern Illinois, and since school starts in a week I'm WAY to busy (and broke) with school preparations and other things to get to CT to volunteer in person. So, I'm volunteering from afar. You can do the same! Click here to sign yourself up to make calls to GOTV!!

Click here for more action items!

This is Crossposted at Street Prophets and at Daily Kos!

Stop DOPA in the Senate

2006-08-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted at ePluribus Media

Boy, this thing just flew right under the radar last week. Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick's (R, PA-08) Deleting Online Predators Act passed the House on a ridiculously lopsided 410-15-7 vote.

This bill, which would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to block public school students' access to sites like MySpace - and, due to sloppy, vague language in the bill, most blogs.

And what surprises the heck out of me is that Representatives who blog at Daily Kos such as Louise Slaughter of NY and Brad Miller of NC (what're they doing with 3 UIDs apiece, anyhow?) voted to pass this PoS.

Unbelievable. What were they thinking?

Here's a focus on the vague language in the bill, from jrm78 at Daily Kos, one of few to blog H R 5319's passage:

"In determining the definition of a social networking Web site, the Commission shall take into consideration the extent to which a Web site--

(i) is offered by a commercial entity;

(ii) permits registered users to create an online profile that includes detailed personal information;

(iii) permits registered users to create an online journal and share such a journal with other users;

(iv) elicits highly personalized information from users; and

(v) enables communication among users."

Because in this dangerous world of ours, the last thing we'd want to encourage is communication among users. Dangerous, dangerous stuff, that communication - dynamite. Can't have the young 'uns messing around with high explosives, no sirree Bob.

So say 410 members of the House of Representatives, in their supreme, inside-the-beltway ignorance - even those who are "friends" of the blogs. It's sad to see so many fail to recognize the danger of passing DOPA - such vague legislation.

It's in the Senate now, folks. And you know how those people just love to hear from their constituents.

Have at 'em.

Net Neutrality ACTION Needed Now!!

2006-08-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

URGENT ACTION: Democracy In Mortal Danger Today!

2006-07-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I first heard about something called a "Sunset Commission". I had an action item related to it in one of my action diaries, but I can't remember when it was and I can't seem to find it now through the search. Anyway, SusanHu's "Dead By Sunset: Kill it, and make it look like an accident" provides us with some background, as does jillian's, "Sunrise...SUNSET COMMISSION. Kiss Protections buhbye." With major props to SusanHu and because I simply cannot write a diary that is as good as hers, I'll excerpt a bit to remind you all of the basics.

Background:

"Buried deep in the reams of the new budget is a "sunset" provision that will permit a small commission -- it will be a commission comprised of lobbyists and corporate executives -- to kill the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, even the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The arch-assassin is Bush's longtime friend Clay Johnson, "the most influential member of Bush's inner circle whom you've never heard of," and the Director of the obscure Office of Management and Budget."

In addition to this initial diary, SusanHu also wrote another, "Rolling Stone writer answers your Q's on "Sunset Commission". The author of the Rolling Stone article, Osha Gray Davidson, actually answered some questions in that one. Very cool. You can also read the initial Rolling Stone article here.

The article lays it out for us quite nicely:

"The proposal, spelled out in three short sentences, would give the president the power to appoint an eight-member panel called the "Sunset Commission," which would systematically review federal programs every ten years and decide whether they should be eliminated. Any programs that are not "producing results," in the eyes of the commission, would "automatically terminate unless the Congress took action to continue them.""

Initially, the plan was that the President would choose the members of the Commission, but because that would violate the Separation of Powers, Republicans have decided to fix that problem by giving themselves (with their absolute devotion to dear leader) the power to appoint the Commission members.

ACTION: Stem Cell Redux and Global Warming Edition

2006-07-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

The War Prayer

2006-07-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Let's spread the word and this story...and hopefully we can help prevent World War 3 (or 4).

Stem Cell Action: Don't Assume We've Won This Vote!!

2006-07-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for Stem Cell Action Items!!

Right now YOU are a Torture Enabler

2006-07-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

...take action to stop!!

ACTION: World Cup Edition!

2006-07-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

Go France!!!

Here's your link for LOTS of action:-)

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary!

2006-06-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Net Neutrality Vote Thursday

2006-06-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, people. We need to heed Christy's words and light 'em up. It looks like the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006 (COPE Act)is due for a vote in the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday.

Who gets to decide what is or is not appropriate discourse — the free market or corporate gatekeepers? With what are you comfortable on this issue? These are the questions you ought to be asking yourself — and your elected representatives.

You can contact the members of the Senate Commerce Committee via the main switchboard toll free at: 1-888-355-3588. Or you can contact them individually at the following phone and fax numbers:

And while you're calling, also encourage them to sponsor the Dorgan-Snowe Net Neutrality.

We all know what's at stake here; I won't bore you with any details. Suffice it to say if you want to continue enjoying dailykos, you need to call. And get everybody else to call. If you need that extra incentive, Ted Stevens sits on this committee.

: p

What you may not realize (I didn't) is that America has been here before; this fight is nothing new.

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary: World Cup Edition!!

2006-06-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Here's your link to take action!

Action Diary: Yearly Kos Edition!

2006-06-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action!!

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary!

2006-06-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Here's your link!

Go take some action...biggest issue this week- slamming down the Federal Marriage Amendment! Please make your calls immediately and often!!

Action Diary: Tuesday Edition!!

2006-05-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here's your link!

Happy action!!

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary: Challenge Edition!

2006-05-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here's your link!

Take the challenge...I triple dog dare you:)

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary:Dragon-sized edition!

2006-04-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Here's your link for action today!

Lots of items today, everything from saving Darfur, to saving the Internet, to saving Democracy!!

Sunday (late) Afternoon Action Diary: Earth Day Edition

2006-04-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here's the link to this week's installment of action items! Happy action everyone!

Sunday Afternoon Action!

2006-04-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

This link will take you to this week's installment of action!

Lots of important issues this week including some energy items, protecting the Endangered Species Act, working towards a fair Immigration bill, and much more...

Happy Action!!

Sunday Afternoon Action!

2006-03-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Here's the link for action today...

There are a lot of items this week. There's Censure, lots of environmental and wildlife actions, raising the minimum wage, immigration, reproductive freedom, food safety, stem cell research, debt relief, election fairness in New Orleans, open debate on Iraq, ANWR, media fairness, and supporting the Democratic Party!!

Happy Action!!

Get Out the Louisiana Vote!

2006-03-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

Common Cause of Louisiana is seeking help finding LA voters displaced by Katrina & Rita.

"If you are a registered voter of Louisiana who has been displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita, you are eligible to vote in your home parish if you have not registered to vote in another parish or state."

- Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater

The elections start April 22nd; please visit Common Cause and see what you can do to help.

Defeat the Budget Bill to Save the Arctic Refuge

2006-03-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

Things are kinda wacky in the senate - they are currently debating the budget bill, which includes provisions for drilling in the refuge. Again. Once again, they must be stopped.

The good news is, many republicans are unhappy with the bill - let's give them more reasons to reject it. Kerry and Cantwell have withdrawn their amendment to stop the drilling and are instead trying to kill the bill outright.

Please make those phone calls!

HR 1606 - Online Freedom of Speech

2006-03-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

The vote on this bill is tomorrow - please contact your reps and tell them to support it. The FEC's decision on regulating political activism on the net will depend on what the house does. Which means it depends on us.

Moments ago, the FEC announced that it will delay its vote on the Internet rulemaking (from tomorrow, 3/16, until 3/23) so that the Commission can see what the House of Representatives does on the issue tomorrow. It's up to you to convince Congress to stand up for H.R. 1606, which is scheduled for a vote tomorrow, and prevent the FEC from voting on new regulations which may change Internet political activity forever.

Everyone here -- everyone -- needs to to pick up the phone and make a call to protect free speech online. Our opponents are ruthless, and we need to tell both Democrats and Republicans to stand up to the "reformers" and stand up for H.R. 1606.

Support Conyers' Impeachment Investigation

2006-03-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

From John Conyers, Jr.'s website:

Stand with Congressman Conyers

Demand an Investigation of Impeachable Offenses

I am taking steps against the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq War and its warrantless wiretapping. I am going to need you to stand with me in fighting for accountability.

Join me to demand the creation of a Special Committee to investigate impeaching the Bush Administration for its widespread abuses of power.

...This White House has responded to questions about its conduct with misleading statements, obfuscation, and vicious attacks against their critics. We must take the next step towards restoring accountability in our federal government. To this end I have:

• I am calling upon Congress to create a select committee similar to the Ervin Committee, which investigated President Nixon’s Watergate crimes. This select committee should investigate those offenses which appear to rise to the level of impeachment, and;

• Introduced a resolution of censure for both President Bush and Vice-President Cheney.

This administration must be held accountable for its misdeeds. We have considerable work to do and I am going to need your help to make this effort successful. Join me in sending a message to the President, the media, and the American people that we are not going to stand for an imperial presidency any longer.

sign the petition

additional action items here

A list of congressfolk to call who supported censure of Clinton - let's make sure they have their priorities straight.

Senator Byrd's investigation petition

Please also support Senator Feingold's censure resolution. Call your senators, write LTE's and all that good stuff. Crooks and Liars has a bunch of great videos of Russ.

Tags: John Conyers, Russ Feingold, Downing Street Memos, Bush, civil rights, censure, impeachment, domestic spying, investigate Bush, wiretapping

Sunday Afternoon Action!

2006-03-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Here it is, the link to this week's action diary!!

Topics this week include Global Warming, Minimum Wage, South Dakota's abortion ban, and lots more...

Happy action!!

Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

2006-03-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Please urge your representatives to support and vote for this legislation
. Otherwise, welcome to Gattica.

A bill to prevent genetic information discrimination (losing your employment or insurance because of your genetic make-up), HR 1227, is in need of your help right now. It was introduced by a Republican (Judy Biggert - IL), it passed the senate unanimously, the President has said in writing (SAP, February 2005) and in a radio address that he will sign it.

We have found that if a constituent asks a Republican representative to sign on, they usually do! So this is simple - if you live in the district of any of these representatives, please call and ask him or her to sign on to HR 1227 [93 Democrats and 73 Republicans are cosponsors currently]. Here is a call script you can use.

Once you reach them, email us and tell us that you asked them. We will follow up with a call to remind them of your request.

Knowing What You Eat

2006-03-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is sacred to the fools on the hill. This Thursday, March 8, there will be a vote on HB 4167. The proposed legislation would inhibit the ability of states to regulate food warning labels.

Such a federal law could be misleading or pose a hazard to consumers, who are now protected by the kind of individual state regulations that, in Michigan, for example, require a warning about possible allergic reactions to sulfites in bulk food. Or an Ohio regulation that forbids the use of the word "honey" on a food label unless the product actually contains honey. ...

Such labels and warnings on store shelves and in advertising would have to gain approval of federal regulators, and might be rejected, under the disingenuously titled "National Uniformity for Food Act," sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, Republican of Michigan.

...Opponents contend that the real motive behind the proposal, being pushed by the food industry, is to dilute California food-labeling regulations, which were approved by voters in a ballot initiative back in 1986 and are more stringent than federal rules.

Email your reps here, or call 888-818-6641, 888-355-3588 or 800-426-8073. Another great resource is the Organic Consumers Association. They have an action item on this as well.

Tags: food labels, HB 4167, Mike Rogers, organic standards, food safety

Save the Endangered Species Act!

2006-03-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

[UPDATE] Tomorrow has been designated call-in day. Make sure your congress people hear from you!

Even when they're on vacation, it's always something.

On December 15, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and our own Blanche Lincoln (D?-AR) introduced S. 2110, titled, with the perversity we have come to expect, the Collaboration and Recovery of Endangered Species Act. It is a companion to Richard Pombo's successful House version. If you noticed the names mentioned so far, you probably already have some idea what to expect...

Please e-mail your Senators from the CBD's S. 2110 Action Alert page. Or send a letter, fax, or phone them.

[UPDATED from 1/3/2006]: Here is a great companion piece from Tom Friedman.

Sorry, but being green, focusing the nation on greater energy efficiency and conservation, is not some girlie-man issue. It is actually the most tough-minded, geostrategic, pro-growth and patriotic thing we can do. Living green is not for sissies. Sticking with oil, and basically saying that a country that can double the speed of microchips every 18 months is somehow incapable of innovating its way to energy independence - that is for sissies, defeatists and people who are ready to see American values eroded at home and abroad.

[UPDATE #2] The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is rallying to defeat Pombo in his next election!

House Schedule For This Week

2006-03-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

With any luck, kossack DemHillStaffer will make this a regular feature:

If there's something here you have an opinion on, write your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/. Or better, make an appointment to talk to a staffer in their district office.

If you want to find the whole text of a bill, visit http://thomas.loc.gov. If you want to see what amendments are being offered, visit http://www.rules.house.gov/. Let me know if you find this useful or if you have any questions.

FLOOR SCHEDULE - WEEK OF MARCH 6, 2006:

Monday, March 6 - House is in pro forma session at 12:00 noon.

Tuesday, March 7 - House will meet at 12:30 pm for morning hour and 2:00 pm for legislative business. Votes are postponed until 6:30 pm.

Suspensions (6 bills):

H.R. 3934 - Gerard A. Fiorenza Post Office Designation Act (King {NY} - Government Reform)
H.R. 4054 - Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office Designation Act (Sullivan - Government Reform)
H.R. 4509 - Hiram L. Fong Post Office Designation Act (Abercrombie - Government Reform)
S. 2271 - USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006 (Sen. Sununu - Judiciary)
H.R. 32 - Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act (Knollenberg - Judiciary)
H.Res. 681 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, and for other purposes (Lipinski - Science)

Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday March 9, 2006
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 am for legislative business.

Suspensions (4 bills):

H.R. 1190 - San Diego Water Storage and Efficiency Act of 2005 (Hunter - Resources)
H.R. 4192 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate the President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home in Hope, Arkansas, as a National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes (Ross - Resources)
H.R. 4472 - Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2005 (Sensenbrenner - Judiciary)

Completion of H.R. 4167 - Food Labeling Act (Rogers {MI} - Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)

H.R. 2829 - Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Souder - Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)

POSSIBLE LEGISLATION:
Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2830 - Pension Act (McKeon - Education & the Workforce)

Elise's Sunday Action Diary

2006-03-05T11:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary

by Elise

Sun Mar 05, 2006 at 11:46:31 AM PDT

Welcome to this week's action diary! I thought I'd start today with some words from Buddha (I signed up to get the daily words of the Buddha...I'm not Buddhist, but I find them useful.

Daily Words of the Buddha
March 05, 2006
Slay anger and you will be happy,
slay anger and you will not sorrow.
For the slaying of anger in all its forms
with its poisoned root and sweet sting-
that is the slaying the nobles praise;
with anger slain one weeps no more.
Samyutta Nikaya I, 161

I've been angry for the last 5 going on 6 years. I'll probably be angry for a bit longer, but I decided somewhere along the way that I wasn't going to let anger or fear paralyze me. In other words, I'm not going to lie back and take it while Republicans try to stick it to my country. Taking action is my way of slaying anger. Please join me...

The funniest issue this week, click here to invite a leader of the religious "right" to see Brokeback Mountain with you! How funny is that...I just adore DEFCON!!

The most important issue of this week, click here to sign Harry Reid's petition demanding an independent Katrina Commission. And click here to stop FEMA from evicting Katrina victims from housing.

And now...for the action items:)

Human Rights Issues:

Last week, the Bush Administration submitted a supplemental budget request to Congress that includes $514 million for peacekeeping, food aid, and other vital assistance for the displaced people of Darfur. This money will help protect civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict while also ensuring they have access to critical basic services, such as clean water and blankets.

Oxfam has a letter you can send to your Congresspersons asking them to fulfill the promise to help those affected by the genocide in Darfur. Click here to send your letter!

Mercy Corps also has a letter that you can send to ask Congress to send aid to Darfur. Click here another letter!

Click here to donate to UNHCR and help them help the refugees in Darfur.

Human Rights First wants you to Tell President Bush that torture should not be tolerated and that he "should adopt a zero-tolerance approach to commanders who allow unlawful conduct to persist on their watch."

Human Rights Campaign wants you to sign the Million for Marriage petition. It doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight, if you support marriage for all people, click here

The Federal Marriage Protection Amendment is back. Frist plans on bringing it up for a vote in June! Click here to send a letter through HRC and tell your Senators that you want them to oppose this amendment which would literally write discrimination into our Constitution!

Protect Pets and Wildlife:

Each year, the Canadian government and fisheries "hunt" baby seals. Here's the info from the Humane Society of the United States:

By the end of the hunt, more than 300,000 seals are expected to be clubbed or shot to death by fishermen who hunt seals off-season to pick up extra cash by selling their skins. Almost all of their victims will be babies -- some as young as 12 days old.
During a recent hunt, veterinarians who examined dead seals concluded that 42% of the seals examined had most likely been skinned while they were alive and still conscious. Polls consistently show that most Canadians oppose the hunt, but still the Canadian government and fishing industry refuse to end it.

Sign this petition to the new Prime Minister NOW!! Save these adorable baby seals.

Defenders of Wildlife has an action page that you should all visit. Please click here and do as many items as you can!! If you click and take action, you'll be able to help save wolves, tell Exxon Mobile to stop putting corporate profits over wildlife, save the Endangered Species Act, and help save some adorable pooties!!

The WWF needs your help to protect funding for several Endangered Species. Click here to send your letter and help save Tigers, sea turtles, great apes, rhinos, and more!!

Arm yourself with knowledge about how successful the Endangered Species Act has been! Then click the above link and help protect it!!

Melvin wrote a lovely diary about the dwindling numbers of fish in our oceans. Visit his diary if you missed it and take action there too, but also click here to help save the Red Snapper, whose population in the Gulf of Mexico is down to 3% of what it should be due to mismanagement of the Gulf.

Protect the Environment:

Act now to save life on earth by asking Congress to protect funding for programs that protect wildlife and habitats around the globe. When you click on the link there are some other action items for you in the right-hand column.

The Ocean Conservancy has a number of action alert items for you. Please click here and do as many items as you can!!

You've read a lot lately about the Bush Administration trying to sell off public lands. There have been a million diaries, including this one, this one, and this one just to link a few, oh...and this one from Friday. Earthjustice has a letter you can send to your Congresspeople. Please click here and send your letter! The only way to stop the sale of our lands is to make noise!

You can sign the Sierra Club's petition to prevent public land sales too! You should also sign their petition to save the Endangered Species Act!

Environmental Action has a letter you can send to help protect public lands as well.

And finally, send another letter to your Congresspeople from The Wilderness Society.

Help Defenders of Wildlife open an office in Pombo's district and let's get him the hell out of office!!

War in Iraq:

CODEPINK needs your help! The "Women Say No to War" campaign needs 100,000 signatures by March 8th! That's only 3 days from now!! They only have 44,000 at the moment. That's not enough! You can sign your name by clicking here. They'll deliver the signatures to the White House and U.S. Embassies around the world on March 8th. Let's get to work ladies!! Sign on yourselves and then send this to every woman you know!

Sign Barbara Boxer's petition demanding that Rumsfeld develop a plan to get the troops out of Iraq.

Health Care Issues:

My little sister used to work at a dry cleaner. There are some dangerous chemicals in use at dry cleaners. One of them is Perchloroethylene. There's no need to use this chemical anymore. There are new machines now, so dry cleaners just need to update to the safer alternatives. Perchloroethylene can cause cancer, liver, and kidney damage and neurological harm, so as you can see it's a super fun on the toxic scale. To ask the EPA to phase out the use of Perc by dry cleaners, click here, enter your info, and send your letters!

Rep. Slaughter wrote a diary here this week about an attempt by Republicans and Industry types to gut our food safety laws. Here's what Consumer Action has to say:

"Congress will vote next week on a bill that would gut state food safety and labeling laws, endangering the food you eat. H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act," lowers the bar on food safety by overturning state food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law. Hundreds of state laws and regulations are at risk, including those governing the safety of milk and shellfish.
Local and state officials are now responsible for 80% of the nation's food safety enforcement. These officials regularly improve training, sanitation and labeling standards to address new food borne diseases and other dangers to our food supply whether natural or man made. H.R. 4167 puts a straitjacket on these front-line workers, who are most familiar with local needs."

Click here to send your letters to your Reps. The vote is this coming week!

Click here to send another letter on food safety standards through the Union of Concerned Scientist's website.

National Security Issues:

Have you forgotten about the NSA's illegal spying on Americans? I didn't think so. Well, Senator Ted Kennedy wants you to add your name to Senate Resolution 350, which in short says:

"Expressing the sense of the Senate that Senate Joint Resolution 23 (107th Congress), as adopted by the Senate on September 14, 2001, and subsequently enacted as the Authorization for Use of Military Force does not authorize warrantless domestic surveillance of United States citizens."

Please click here to add your support of S. Res. 350.

Women's Issues:

"In 2006, why are women still fighting for access to contraception? It's time to bring women's health care into the 21st century!
Right now, two men stand in the way.
Who are they? Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX). They have the power to bring an important bill to a vote in Congress: the Prevention First Act, which would protect all women's access to contraception and reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy."

Tell Senators Barton and Enzi to use their common sense and pass the Prevention First Act.

Apparently Wal-Mart is about to start stocking Plan B in all its pharmacies nationwide. This is a victory, but Wal-Mart still allows its pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for Plan B. So, send your letters of thanks, as well as your requests that they actually change their policy of refusal for their pharmacists.

Internet Issues:

I'm guessing some of you didn't even know we HAD internet issues, but we do. For background, read the comments and do the action items in the box below...for the more recent action, skip the box and go with the latest action item from Common Cause.

Internet Freedom is under fire! Free Press has a letter you can sign. Here's what they say:
The CEOs of the largest cable and telephone companies are hatching a scheme that would give them control over what content you can view and what services you can use on the Internet. Their plan would do away with the principle of "network neutrality" and shut down the open roadway we've come to expect on the Internet.
Sounds like a real money-maker for them! Anyway, click here to send your letter to your Congresspeople and the CEO of your internet provider.
Common Cause also has a letter you can send to all the CEOs of the telecom corporations. Tell these CEOs to stop trying to privatize the internets!
To read more about the plans to privatize the internets, read this article from The Nation! Don't stop with just sending the above letters either. Send letters to your Congresspeople as well!!

To let your Senators know how you feel about the internet and your desire to keep it neutral and free, click here and send a letter!

Kos's AOL charge post... http://www.dailykos.com/...

And last, but not least, Actfor Change has lots of action items for you. So, click and take action on a variety of issues!

Tags: Endangered Species Act, Federal Marriage Protection Amendment, Human Rights Campaign, Earthjustice, World Wildlife Fund, Common Cause, Defenders of Wildlife, Wal-Mart Watch, ACLU, NSA, Internet Privatization, Prevention First Act, Dubai World Ports, CODEPINK, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, public lands, Canadian seal hunt, The Sierra Club, DEFCON, action (all tags)

The Power of Nightmares

2006-03-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

It's a show that every American should see, but not enough will. Let's fix that - guerrilla advertising goes viral.

Share the links and stories about "The Power of Nightmares" with everyone you know. Make copies of the documentary for people and encourage them to do the same.

27 Days Left for Public Input on Public Land Sales

2006-03-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Update: Obviously, we no longer have 27 days left; comments are due by March 30th. But if I change the title now, previous hyperlinks won't work. apologies.

Let them know our natural treasures are not for sale.

We are now in the 30-day comment period for this proposal. It is essential that you take a few minutes to write your own reasons why this proposal should be scrapped. Even if it is short, your comments will be entered into the Federal record and taken seriously. Form letters are given less weight than your own carefully worded letter. Postal mail is better than e-mail.

[Comments on the proposed list must be received by March 30 and may be sent by e-mail to SRS_Land_Sales@fs.fed.us. Written comments may be sent to: USDA Forest Service, SRS Comments, Lands 4S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop 1124, Washington, DC, 20250-0003. Send faxed comments to (202) 205-1604.]

At a minimum, please send email to SRS_Land_Sales@fs.fed.us with the subject "SRS Comments". Write a few sentences asking that this entire scheme be scrapped. Include your name and address at the bottom.

The fact that Bush has limited comments to only 30 days indicates he plans to try to push this through. And I know that some in the GOP have even come out against this (good), but it is very important that we invoke a thunderstorm of comments against this... it might make them think twice the next time they attack our public lands!

Take 1 minute to write to your congressional reps to stop this nonsense.

Tell your friends! Send them a link to this page.

Tags: public lands, environment, Bush, BLM, US Forest Service

Protect Internet Activism

2006-03-01T15:08:00.000-08:00

The Federal Election Commission announced today that it will hold a final vote March 16 to determine the rules governing political communications on the Internet.

Way more information here - the bills involved, more history, etc., etc., etc.

Letters to the FEC, your congresscritters, etc.

NOLA Needs Books

2006-02-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

Please donate what you can.

The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover and paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock the shelves after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Please send your books to:

Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112

Our Public Lands Are Not For Sale!

2006-02-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

Please take action to save our national wilderness heritage.

Bush plans to privatize 800,000+ acres of public land to make ends meet. Chunks of our national treasures -- from Montana's Bitterroot National Forest to California's Sierra Mountains range -- are slated for the auction block. In my home state, Oregon, parts of the Columbia Gorge are even up for sale. Wow.

Supposedly the lands are "worthless".

Great - they're worthless! So, there's no market for selling "worthless" land, right? We've got enough money to maintain tax cuts for the rich and spend $200 billion on war, but need to sell of national treasures to fund rural schools? I don't think so.

Contact your congresscritters, write those LTE's (the first link above has a lot of great articles against the sell-off) and what the hell - call the White House, too. Light up the switchboard.

Tags: public lands, Columbia Gorge, environment, Bush, BLM, US Forest Service

Sunday Afternoon: Take Some Action! (with video)

2006-02-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

Crossposted at Daily Kos (the link below will take you there)

This week's action diary has several important items, but I thought I'd include some entertainment for you as well. Click here for a pretty funny video...Bush, Cheney and Rummy doing a Destiny's Child song:)

Click here to find out how you can help people in Third World countries start businesses! Thanks for this excellent diary, HollywoodOz!!

And Click here to go take some action!

Items this week include: Human Rights, The Endangered Species Act, Illegal NSA wiretapping, The PATRIOT Act (they'll vote Tuesday this week, we don't have a lot of time for this one!), Protecting Wildlife and the Environment, the Prevention First Act (to help prevent abortions), and much much more!

TX-28 - Elect a Real Democrat

2006-02-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

Bumping because the election is a week away! And it looks like Cuellar's already up to some dirty tricks:

An abnormally high number of voters in Webb County aged 90 years or older prompted an attorney for the Ciro Rodriguez congressional campaign to request an investigation by the Texas Secretary of State. During the first 4 days of early voting, 93 votes were cast by people 90 or over and 51 were 100 or older.

...According to the 2002 Statistical Abstract of the United States, something like 1.5 percent of the nations' population is over 85 (linked census data here). So, this does seem to be an abnormally large number, although to determine if it is out of whack, we'd need to know the total votes cast. Either way, though, it seems suspect.

Volunteer/Donate/Phone Bank

and now, back to the original post

Instead of DINO Cuellar:

For the speech Tuesday, Mr. Cuellar positioned himself along the president's route and grabbed a seat on the Republican side of the aisle. Custom dictates that the Democrats stay to the speaker's right and Republicans to the left, making it easier to gauge party-line splits on applause lines.

Cuellar's only challenger is Democratic candidate Ciro Rodriguez; there are no Republicans in this race. The winner of the primary is the winner of the seat. And Rodriguez needs all the support we can muster.

Rodriquez is running a full campaign with tremendous local support. Yet when I checked the FEC records as of 12/31/05 he has a terrible financial disadvantage.

While Cuellar, who may well jump Republican in 2006, has 279K cash on hand, Rodriquez has only 43K on hand.

The Rodriguez fundraising has been effective with a lot of funds from individuals and Union PACs. We just need to get behind this man and give him the push to beat this Repubican in disguise.

The Primary for TX-28 (click here for a map of the district) is just 34 days from now. If you are in this district, please get involved in the local campaign. If you're not, please donate or otherwise do what you can to defeat the Club for Growth-endorsed Cuellar.

Ciro Rodriquez's campaign site is here. And ActBlue has a website for him here. You can also join in on the conference call tomorrow.

And don't forget this.

Tags: Ciro Rodriquez, TX-28, ActBlue

Boycott South Dakota

2006-02-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Let them know you don't appreciate their abortion ban that doesn't even provide exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the woman.

Things from and in South Dakota to boycott:

Iam's pet foods (nutro and hund 'n flocken are excellent, better-quality alternatives)

Gateway computers

the legendary Wall Drug

citibank credit cards (get a card through a credit union and close any citibank accounts you have. Juniper bank is also good)

SD is a large beef producer - boycott all beef, but especially theirs - http://www.southdakotacertifiedbeef.com/ContactUs.asp

South Dakota trade directory (a list of SD companies) - http://www.sd-exports.org/sdibi/trade_directory/trad111000.htm

Sturgis motorcycle rally - http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/
I clicked on the rally's page and discovered that the city of sturgis has an office devoted to the rally:

The City of Sturgis
Rally Department
1147 Sherman Street Ste. #201
Sturgis, SD 57785
Phone: 605-720-0800 Fax: 605.720.0801
info@sturgismotorcyclerally.com

appeal to any bikers you know to boycott the event and contact the advertising sponsors - their participation in this is key.

In addition to boycotting companies, it might be a good idea to network with their employees - internal pressure from Microsoft's employees was invaluable in making MS support the gay rights legislation. Perhaps similar pressure can be brought on by the employees of these SD firms?

Also implore these companies to lobby the governor to veto the bill. If the state's biggest revenue streams/employers bring the pressure, the Governor might have to listen. If the companies are uninterested in petitioning the Governor, it's boycott city.

Mt. Rushmore

Badlands national park

info@southeastsouthdakota.com

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/

Department of Tourism and State Development
711 East Wells Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-3369
(605) 773-3256, fax

Economic Development
(605) 773-5032, phone
www.sdgreatprofits.com

Tourism
(605) 773-3301, phone
www.TravelSD.com

Tribal Government Relations
(605) 773-3415, phone
www.sdtribalrelations.com

South Dakota Arts Council
800 Governor's Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2294
(605) 773-3131, phone
www.state.sd.us/deca/sdarts/

State Historical Society
900 Governor's Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2217
(605) 773-3458, phone
www.sdhistory.org

If they want to live in 19th century mindsets, let them live in 19th century isolation.

Tags: South Dakota, abortion, roe v wade, Bush, civil rights, supreme court, abortion rights, theocracy, boycott South Dakota, Sturgis biker rally

Oregonians: Fight Measure 37

2006-02-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

Oregon's supreme court recently validated this craptacular law, but it's never over until the fat lady sings. July is the deadline for filing ballot initiative measures.

The Oregon Task Force on Land Use Planning, established under Senate Bill 82 (2005), has scheduled its first meeting for Friday, March 3, 2006, at 1 p.m., in Hearing Room F at the Oregon Capitol building. [Click here for Meeting Notice warning: pdf]

The first meeting will focus on the organization of the task force and providing task force members with an initial overview of SB 82, the Oregon land use program and Oregon's economy, to establish a context for their work. An agenda of the meeting will be published on this website prior to the meeting.

The meeting is open to the public:

March 3, 2006
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
State Capitol Building
900 Court St. NE
Hearing Room F
Salem, OR 97301

Please read the entry linked above and contact every public official you have - this idiot measure has the potential to completely ruin Oregon.

Tags: public lands, Columbia Gorge, environment, property rights, Tom McCall, 1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon, Washington, measure 37, land use law

Columbia Gorge In Danger

2006-02-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

They're simply shameless:

The US Forest Service is proposing to put 300,000 acres of what they call "disposable public lands" out to the highest bidder, including 730 acres in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. [...] Properties on both sides of the Columbia Gorge are named on the potential sale list. These include lands in Corbett, above Sheppard's Dell and near Cascade Locks in Oregon. On the Washington side, land near Cape Horn, Wind Mountain and above the flooded Celilo Falls would be available to the highest bidder.

You know what to do...

Tags: public lands, Columbia Gorge, environment, Bush, BLM, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon, Washington, US Forest Service, Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Nebraska Voting Reform

2006-02-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

Let's play "guess the voting tendencies!" In today's edition, we examine the Nebraska communities who are actually seeing any benefits of voting reform.

In December of 2004 the Vote Nebraska Initative released it's Final Report which included recommendations for increasing "Accessibilty to the Election System" one of these was a plan for "Satellite Voting", which means setting up small voting hubs in convenient places throughout the district, where people can come and register to vote, and vote, in the days leading up to the election.

...A trial version of Satellite Voting was started in Lancaster County, home of the capitol city, Lincoln. In October of 2005, Gale announced the first prospective Satellite Voting Sites. All three of the sites were located in areas of town where Democrats are heavily under-represented.

..."the decision regarding the locations is being made arbitrarily by the SOS and the County Elections Commissioner" said [Barry] Rubin [Executive Director, Nebraska Democratic Party].

...If you're a Nebraska Voter, Democrat or Republican, who cares about fair voting then you should write or email the Secretary of State John Gale and tell him that Accessible Voting is too important to be relegated to back-room deals, and that transparency and accountability are necessary to keep voters engaged in the democratic process.

john.gale@sos.ne.gov
John Gale, Secretary of State
Main Office, Suite 2300
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402)471-2554; Fax: (402)471-3237

At the top of the page is a link to fax via the web. I'm just sayin'...

Tags: Nebraska, Satellite Voting, election reform, John Gale, republicans

Good Friday: It's the New Black

2006-02-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars:

Somewhere near you is a
Federal Building.
If there still is a planet
at 12 noon PST (3pm Eastern)
April 14th,

Be there
Wear black.
Be Silent.

As crows on a wire.

This is organized disorganization.
We will stare silently, deliberately, intently.
We will do no harm.

Sunday Afternoon Action Diary!

2006-02-19T11:12:00.000-08:00

Folks, here is your link to this week's action diary over at DKos. I hope you all find it useful:)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/19/14052/8562

This week's topics:

Illegal NSA Wiretapping
Torture
Voting Reform
Health Care
Protect the Environment, Pets and Wildlife
Media Issues - Internet Freedom
Support Democrats

et cetera!

Tags: public lands, Pombo, environment, Bush, BLM

Keep Diebold Out of California

2006-02-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

California's Secretary of State, Bruce McPherson, has recently granted Diebold conditional certification for 2006 elections. So let's create some conditions.

Additional info here:

State Senator Debra Bowen, working feverishly on the forefront of election integrity, wrote me last night to request that we email her offices rather than call. Her words:

"Email is great because it is easy for us to log and report -- and we can actually prove how many emails we've received!"

"We are going to need an enormous amount of people power in the next couple of weeks. Together we can change this whole pathetic mess. Let's stand up for our democracy RIGHT NOW."

"Please email me in support of issuing subpoenas rather than calling -- you will save my staff a great deal of time logging calls, and you know what kind work we have
to do right now. You can always call and fax later!"

There's no good reason to certify them, especially since they've lied to California before.

2003-12-18 09:32:00.0

An audit of Diebold Election Systems voting machines in California has revealed that the company installed uncertified software in all 17 counties that use its electronic voting equipment.

...The audit uncovered discrepancies between what Diebold said was installed in counties and what auditors actually found.

...Although the last version of GEMS certified in California was 1.17.17, auditors found that no county was using it. Instead they were using later versions such as 1.17.20, 1.17.23 and 1.18.18.102. Versions 1.17.20 and 1.18.18.102 were never qualified by federal independent testing authorities.

Tags: California, Diebold, election reform, Bruce McPherson, republicans

Senator Byrd on Domestic Spying

2006-02-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

Atrios brings us these lovely excerpts from a floor speech earlier:

…We cannot continue to claim that we are a nation of laws and not of men if our laws and, indeed, even the Constitution of the United States itself, may by summarily breached because of some determination of expediency or because the President says “trust me.”

…In the name of “fighting terror” are we to sacrifice every freedom to a President’s demand? How far are we to go? Can a President order warrantless house-by-house searches of a neighborhood, where he suspects a terrorist may be hiding? Can he impose new restrictions on what can be printed, broadcast, or even uttered privately, because of some perceived threat to national security? Laughable thoughts? I think not. For this Administration has so traumatized the people of this nation -- and many in the Congress -- that some will swallow whole whatever rubbish that is spewed from this White House, as long as it is in some tenuous way connected to the so-called war on terror.

…I plead with the American public to tune-in to what is happening in this country. Please forget the political party with which you may usually be associated, and, instead, think about the right of due process, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a private life. Forget the now tired political spin that, if one does not support warrant-less spying, then one may be a bosom buddy of Osama Bin Laden.

…There is a need for a thorough investigation of all of our domestic spying programs. We have to know what is being done, by whom, and to whom. We need to know if the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act has been breached, and if the Constitutional rights of thousands of Americans have been violated without cause.

…I want to know how many Americans have been spied upon. I want to know how it is determined which individuals are monitored and who makes such determinations. I want to know if the telecommunications industry is involved in a massive screening of the domestic telephone calls of ordinary Americans. I want to know if the United States Post Office is involved. I want to know if the law has been broken and the Constitution has been breached.

Tags: Byrd, Republicans, NSA, Bush, spying

Demand a Spygate Investigation

2006-02-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

The vote on the bill to legalize the spying is tomorrow. This, of course, raises the interesting point that if they have to pass a bill to legalize it, isn't it then, by definition, an illegal program?

The White House is bringing serious pressure to bear on the Stepfor Senators - tell them to respect themselves as an independent branch of government. Demand that they provide oversight for this program.

There's still time to contact Senate Intelligence Committee members and demand an investigation. Rather than calling Democratic members who are the ones calling for an investigation, we'll be more effective acting against the WH pressure on Republican committee members. The toll-free number for the Senate switchboard is 888-355-3588.

Here is a list of the Republican members:

Pat Roberts (R-Kansas)
Phone: (202) 224-4774

Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
Phone: (202) 224-5251
Fax: (202) 224-6331

Mik DeWine (R-Ohio)
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax: (202) 224-6519

Kit Bond (R-Missouri)
Phone: (202) 224-5721

Trent Lott (R-Mississippi)
Phone: (202) 224-6253
Fax: (202) 224-2262

Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia)
Phone: 202-224-3521

Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska)
Phone: (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 224-5213

Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)
Phone: (202) 224-5344
Fax: (202) 224-1946

Particular attention should be focused on Hagel and Snowe. Remind them that even IF they buy into the President's inherent authority argument, we have absolutely no idea how the President is exercising that authority. That is why even Republican senators should support an oversight investigation.

[UPDATE] Read these diaries from Rep. Louise Slaughter and John Conyers, Jr.

Tags: DeWine, Republicans, NSA, Bush, spying

Save Our Public Lands

2006-02-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

They're trying to sell them for a song again.

Though many details of President Bush's 2007 budget are still murky, some, regrettably, are painfully clear. Amid serious cuts to public lands programs (already grossly under-funded) there now comes a blatant proposal to begin selling off our public lands themselves.

It's not a new idea. The anti-environmental right has long cherished a fevered pipedream of selling off America's public estate. The President's budget proposal is a dangerous escalation of the crusade that now shows signs of becoming a trend.

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD

Just two months ago, Rep. Richard Pombo included in a budget reconciliation bill a provision to sell off millions of acres of land to mining interests and developers. The measure passed the House. But unified opposition from western conservationists, hunters, anglers, local elected officials, businesses, governors and Democratic and Republican Senators alike forced its removal.

Similar coalitions have blocked other such extreme proposals, including one in which Pombo actually identified units of the National Park System to sell.

OVER 800,000 ACRES COULD BE LOST TO THE PUBLIC

Please visit The Wilderness Society's action page and write your own letter to protect these national treasures.

More from Knight-Ridder:

Details about what plots of land would be put up for sale are expected to be revealed at a noon press conference by Undersecretary of Agriculture Mark Rey, a former timber industry lobbyist. The Forest Service owns 193 million acres of land and plans to sell about 175,000 to 200,000 acres, according to Forest Service spokeswoman Heidi Valetkevitch.

...Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., attacked the plan as "crazy," saying: "Here the administration wants to pass more tax cuts for the rich, and to pay the bill, they want to sell off public land - our nation's natural heritage."

Tags: public lands, Pombo, environment, Bush, BLM

Little Miami Scenic River vs. Exurban Sprawl

2006-02-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

A "planned community" of 2400 homes threatens the Little Miami River of Ohio, even though it is federally-protected.

But we have until next Thursday to make our voices heard by contacting the Warren County Commission - let them know how important it is to preserve one of Ohio's few remaining wild places.

County commissioners will soon consider approval of rezoning sought by the developers of San Mar Gale, a planned community to be built over the next 30 years on 3,239 acres east of Lebanon owned by the family of the late industrialist and farmer Ralph J. Stolle.

On Tuesday, Gable and the state program's regional manager alerted commissioners that Hines-Griffin Land Development Co.'s plans apparently fail to adequately protect the Little Miami and its tributaries.

Gable's program has approval authority on public projects, but no legal power on private projects, within 1,000 feet of the state's scenic rivers. Warren County's Little Miami corridor plan, approved in 1979, recommends protections like those sought by the state. Only a few Ohio counties and communities have included river protections in local zoning codes.

...The commissioners will resume a hearing, begun in December, at 6 p.m. Jan. 26 on rezoning sought by Hines-Griffin. The county could push for the Little Miami protections as conditions included in the planned unit development or during later site review hearings.

Wildlands and rivers need to be protected against development - they cannot be replaces once they are gone. This point needs to be impressed upon the city planners - please help to do so!

[UPDATE from 1/19] We have a temporary reprieve. The next meeting will be on Feb. 23rd. Residents of Warren County - call, call, call! The link above has tons of resources and info.

Tags: Little Miami River, San Mar Gale, environment, conservation, Ohio

Cities Passing Impeachment Resolutions

2006-02-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

Will your city play along?

The past month has seen a burst of resolutions supporting impeachment in city councils, state democratic parties, and even chapters of Democrats Abroad. On January 6, the City Council of Arcata, Calif., passed a resolution demanding the impeachment or resignation of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, citing violations of international and constitutional law.

Be sure to visit the impeach bush coalition blog!

Tags: impeach, Cheney, Bush

BLM Sells off the Valle Vidal Without Public Input

2006-02-09T13:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management announced a compensatory royalty agreement with the El Paso Exploration and Production Company of Houston, Texas for the gas under New Mexico's Valle Vidal.

...We are deeply troubled that the public's resources were sold to El Paso without public notice or public input. These agreements are consistent with the 'behind closed doors' nature of this entire process. Further, this brings development right to the door of the Valle Vidal. The Valle Vidal is public land, not the Administration's little fiefdom.

...Please use this opportunity to again press Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) to support and co-sponsor Rep. Tom Udall's Valle Vidal Protection Act.

Call your own congressmembers, too. Public lands are for the entire public. Lots of contact info and other stuff here.

Tags: Valle Vidal, Heather Wilson, environment, Bush, BLM

Save the Vote!

2006-02-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

Mark Crispin Miller has tons of wonderful and amazing information on HAVA, Voting Reform and civil rights projects happening right now. I highly recommend bookmarking his blog.

Please call your members of Congress today and every day until this bill is law. Please tell your Congressperson to co-sponsor H.R. 4666. Please ask your Senator to introduce companion legislation to H.R. 4666 in the Senate.
U.S. House of Representatives contact information here.
U.S. Senate contact information here.

Please call the following members of the House Administration Committee and ask them to move H.R. 4666 through as quickly as possible since primary season is upon us

Be sure to read the one about Lynn Landes' court case as well.

Tags: voting reform, Lynn Landes, diebold, Bush

They're After PBS Again, Still Not Funding Vets

2006-02-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

The new budget includes a $157 million cut to PBS. Bastards.

poor children in this nation face school systems that have less then adequate resources, since the federal government has given them a ton of "no child left behind" mandates without funding them, and PBS represents a stop-gap for a lot of these kids in terms of early childhood learning. Since you've already cut the budget for head start, for child support payments and for medical assistance for these poor children, I'm drawing the line at Elmo.

It's time to hit the fax machines and the phone lines, gang. Contact your Representatives in Washington and tell them this is a budget cut too far. Do it for Elmo.

Do it for Elmo and others afflicted by this budget:

President Bush's budget calls for elimination of a $255 lump-sum death payment that has been part of Social Security for more than 50 years and urges Congress to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16- and 17-year-old high school dropouts...

This budget will almost uniformly hurt those who need help most and further dishonors our veterans and service members. Please contact your reps and tell them this will not be tolerated. The proposed budget is patently offensive.

Tags: budget cuts, PBS, Social Security, Bush, military

Lucky D.C. People

2006-02-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

You get to attend a rally tomorrow with Max Cleland and 40 Fightin' Dems!

Rally with Sen. Max Cleland & Forty Fighting Dem Candidates

When: 10am, Wednesday, February 8th
Where: 7th st. SW betw. Madison Dr. & Jefferson Dr., on the National Mall

As I've said before, if you're angry about the swiftboating of Rep. Murtha, the lack of body armor for our troops, cuts in veterans benefits, and the simple, undeniable fact that George Bush has made us less safe, this is your chance to help make a difference. Let's make this a major media event and make sure these issues stay on the table throughout the 2006 elections and beyond.

(P.S. Please note the location change. This rally will be held on the Mall, not at the Capitol.)

Tags: Murtha, Fighting Dems, D.C., Bush, body armor

Give NARAL a Clue

2006-02-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

They obviously need it.

Thanks to Jane Hamsher for pointing out that NARAL is asking its members to thank Joe Lieberman and 16 other Senators who helped kill the filibuster of Samuel Alito before voting against his confirmation to the Supreme Court.

...Please contact NARAL and ask them to remove the names of all Senators who voted to kill the Democratic filibuster of Samuel Alito from their list of people to thank for their vote.

Tags: Alito, NARAL, Chafee, Bush, Supreme Court

Because

2006-02-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. - Edward Abbey

Feingold + Gonzales = Perjury?

2006-02-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

It's lookin' that way...

On Monday, Senator Russ Feingold will resume his questioning of Alberto Gonzales in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Wartime Executive Power and Surveillance Authory. You may recall that Gonzales appears to have perjured himself in his responses to Feingold's previous round of questioning on the administration's warrantless wiretapping of American citizens.

This note is a call for action requesting bloggers to help shape the terms of the debate in the media both before and after the hearing by contacting editorial boards at major daily newspapers in your local community to encourage them to take a position against attempts by the Executive Branch to circumvent the law.

...Progressives have been complaining for some time that we don't have a noise machine. This is an opportunity for us to proactively shape the terms of the national debate on warrantless wiretapping rather than simply react to the news of the day.

Read the whole thing - there's lots of great info. Here is another great read about Senate Republicans expressing support for the domestic spying - please call them, especially if they're your Senators.

A little humor

Media contacts

Tags: Feingold, Gonzales, NSA, Bush, spying

Same Sex Marriage Ban in West Virginia?

2006-02-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

West Virginia recently introduced House Joint Resolution 106 - the "Marriage Protection Amendment" - to codify a ban on any formal, recognized union between same-sex couples.

Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for same-sex relationships to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities or effects of marriage.

Lots of action items at the link.

Tags: West Virginia, same sex marriage, amendment

Checkpoints On the Information Superhighway?

2006-02-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

Internet Freedom is under fire! Free Press has a letter you can sign. Here's what they say:

The CEOs of the largest cable and telephone companies are hatching a scheme that would give them control over what content you can view and what services you can use on the Internet. Their plan would do away with the principle of "network neutrality" and shut down the open roadway we've come to expect on the Internet.

Sounds like a real money-maker for them! Anyway, click here to send your letter to your Congresspeople and the CEO of your internet provider.

Common Cause also has a letter you can send to all the CEOs of the telecom corporations. Tell these CEOs to stop trying to privatize the internets!

Lots more information here, courtesy of Elise.

Tags: internet, telecommunications, Bush, cable

John Edwards on IRS's "Poverty Profiling"

2006-01-31T22:04:00.000-08:00

A mismanaged war, botched hurricane relief, illegal wiretaps, secret torture prisons, ethics violations. Just when I thought we had seen the worst from the Bush Administration, there is a new outrage that is down-right mean-spirited.

Big tax evaders -- mostly wealthy individuals and large corporations -- cost the government $300 billion each year in unpaid taxes. But in George Bush's America, these folks are getting off virtually scot-free.

The Internal Revenue Service is spending its limited enforcement resources on low-income taxpayers -- most of whom did nothing wrong. The IRS froze more than 120,000 taxpayers' refunds on suspicion of fraud without notifying the taxpayers or giving them a chance to respond. This practice must stop, and I need your help to stop it.

Sign his letter to the IRS. And contact your congress members, too. Lots more info here.

Tags: IRS, John Edwards, poverty, Bush

Sunday Action Round-Up!

2006-01-29T21:04:00.000-08:00

courtesy of Elise!

National "Bush, Step Down!" Day

2006-01-26T00:58:00.000-08:00

World Can't Wait has a petition to sign and is helping to organize demonstrations during the SOTU

Dear friends,

I write to alert you to a crucial national effort in which I am proud participant--an effort to drive out the Bush regime.

On Jan. 31, during Bush's State of the Union address, and then again on Saturday, Feb. 4, there will be mass protests nationwide, demanding that Bush step down, and take his cohorts with him.

The State of the Union will define the Bush agenda in the coming months. Will Bush be able to legitimize the rampant spying by his government, andhis unnecessary losing wars, and his malign neglect of New Orleans, and his efforts to transform the Supreme Court into a bludgeon for his own imperial authority? Will he drag this nation that much closer to the brink of fascism? Or will he be challenged and confronted hugely, and in the light of day?

It's up to us. It's up to you.

Please spread the word. Give money.
Hit the streets in your own city on Jan. 31,
and be with us in Washington on Feb. 4.

More info and the petition are also available here.

Kerry Entering Alito Opposition Into Congressional Record

2006-01-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

John Kerry has a new anti-Alito petition and will be entering the gathered signatures into the Congressional Record! Please sign it and share it far and wide.

Dear Friend,

I've studied Judge Alito's legal record. I met with him one-on-one. After all this, I am left with one simple conclusion: if Judge Alito becomes Supreme Court Justice Alito, he will move the Court backwards.

I will vote against Judge Alito's confirmation, and I hope a majority of Senators choose to join us on the Senate floor, voting and speaking out against him. I know we face tough odds, but this is an important fight.

The bottom line is Judge Alito cannot be trusted on the Supreme Court. We can't trust him to stand up to government abuse of power. We can't trust him to ensure all citizens enjoy equal protection under the law. We can't trust him to protect our right to privacy. We can't trust him to defend mainstream American values.

To muster enough Senators to defeat Judge Alito, the American people have to make it clear that they are against his nomination. That's where you come in. By speaking out, you will help us convince other Senators to join our fight.

We can do this! Be sure to also check out SusanHu's great diary about some Senators who need that extra nudge to do the right thing.

Tags: Alito, Supreme Court, John Kerry, Bush

Sunday Afternoon Action Alert: Bombard Your Senators!

2006-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

For a lot more information, stories and petitions, please visit the full-length dkos diary.

Supporting Democrats in 2006:
Also consider supporting the DNC with a Democracy Bond!
-Want to see Honest Leadership in Washington? Take the Pledge and Demand Honesty!

Protect the Environment:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized a gold mining corporation to dam and then dump millions of tons of mine tailings directly into pristine Lower Slate Lake in Alaska, killing all fish and smothering the lake under toxic sludge." Nothing like a little sludge in your lake! Click here to send a letter through Earthworks.
-Please, urge the agency to protect our treasured places like Utah's Book Cliffs and Colorado's White River from harmful oil shale development."
-Urge the Manitoba government to protect First Nations lands in the boreal. The Boreal is one of the oldest forests.

-Voting Issues:
Urge Congress to reject HR 3910 and pass HR 550 as written! The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act (HR 550) will ensure that the voter verified paper record is the official record in the event of a recount, challenge, or discrepancy in a Federal election, and that independent audits of the voter verified paper ballots are routinely performed to check the accuracy of the machines that count the vote. Click here to send your letter!

Tags: Alito, Supreme Court, Bush

ACLU on Spygate

2006-01-21T22:48:00.000-08:00

You've seen their brilliant ads, now you can sign their petition.

via Fat Cat Politics:

When President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to spy on Americans, he violated the law, the Constitution and his oath of office.

No American is beneath the law's protection. And no one -- not even a U.S. president -- is above the law's limits.

Our system of checks and balances must be maintained if American democracy is to be preserved.

Appoint a Special Counsel to Investigate Bush's NSA Order.

Tags: NSA, spying, Bush, ACLU

Keep the Pressure on WaPo

2006-01-21T15:21:00.000-08:00

The good: WaPo finally acknowledged that Ms. Ombudswha? Howell was wrong in her claim that Abramoff gave money to Democratic members of Congress as well as Republicans.

The bad: It was buried on page A8, in a story not about Abramoff, but about the WaPo blog ~~tantrum~~ brouhaha.

The ugly: It's not ugly, really, just unrelenting. Let's politely (they did post a correction, after all) keep the pressure on - we must insist that they post an updated, factually correct story on Abramoff.

And if you're in the mood, send some kind words to Wolf Blitzer - seems he actually layed a smackdown! to Mehlman!

WaPo contact page

Situation Room contact page

And be sure to give Hardball a lecturing.

[UPDATE]Well, it's not a newer, better Abramoff story, but it is a slightly better correction from Howell herself. And very amusing:

But it is profoundly distressing if political discourse has sunk to a level where abusive name-calling and the crudest of sexual language are the norm, where facts have no place in an argument. This unbounded, unreasoning rage is not going to help this newspaper, this country or democracy.

Soooo...while you're writing anyway, ask her when exactly she intends to get around to condemning comparisons between Michael Moore and Bin Laden; when she plans to rebuke Turd Blossom for saying that liberals mollycoddle terrorists. When can we expect her to reprimand Frist for gleefully chortling that Alito is a liberal's "worst nightmare"? Will she be chastising O'Reilly for encouraging the destruction of San Francisco?

We're waiting, Ms. Howell, for so very much...

Anti-Alito Action

2006-01-19T23:22:00.000-08:00

Alito's hearings start tomorrow. PFAW has issued a report on Alito. They have also established an Anti-Alito Action Headquarters!

Get involved today in the fight to Save the Court!

IN THE MEDIA
Activist Media Tips: Spread the word in the media about what's at stake on the Supreme Court

IN YOUR STATE Click on your state to see if any grassroots activity is going on nearby and to find out what you can do as an online activist.

d.c rallies, etc:

Alito Hearings Rapid Response Phonebanking
Monday, January 9 through Thursday, January 12, 9am – 9pm
Friday, January 13, 9am-6pm
Location: PFAW Action Center; 2000 M Street NW, 5th floor, Washington, DC
Contact: Caroline Stuart, volunteer@pfaw.org

YOUNG ELECTED OFFICIALS & YOUNG LEADERS PRESS CONFERENCE
Friday, January 13
YEO and Young leaders will hold a hill Press Conference, Letter Delivery and Potential Meetings with Non-Judiciary staff.
Contact: Sergio Lopez - slopez@pfaw.org
Sponsor: PFAW

Good news - a coalition of environmental groups is working to oppose the Alito nomination! And it's working - more and more Senators are reporting in with intended "no" votes.

And as always, anti-Alito petitions galore!

On the Brink of Extinction

2006-01-19T21:36:00.000-08:00

Melvin has written an astounding diary over at dailykos detailing many endangered species. The biggest thing you can do to help is to contact your Senators and tell them to stop S 2110, the Crapo/Pombo gutting of the Endangered Species Act.

Also encourage them that the U.S. should ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity as many other countries have done. Please visit his diary - there is a wealth of information listed therein, including several organizations and websites devoted to this and other ecological causes.

Speaking of other ecological causes, don't forget that the East Fork Amazon Headwaters Forest needs help!

Body Armor Investigation

2006-01-11T22:44:00.000-08:00

Wesley Clark is demanding accountability for needlessly risking our soldiers' lives.

The Bush Administration has not provided our troops with the body armor they need to protect themselves. It's been three years, and now hundreds of thousands of brave American service men and women have risked their lives in Iraq -- with many paying the ultimate price.

This is unconscionable. This is incompetent. This is neglecting our soldiers' needs in war. It is time for Congress to act.

Co-sign my letter to Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner (R-VA) and Ranking Member Carl Levin (D-MI), urging a full investigation into the welfare and safety of our troops in Iraq!

Lots more info here.

He also has a petition demanding that they get the body armor they need in the meantime.

Protect Programs for Children

2006-01-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

There's still time to stop budget cuts, but the deadline for this is January 20th - please help spread the word!

Ask your Representative to vote for legislation supportive of SJHS' priorities on children's health, nutrition and welfare. TAKE ACTION and request a budget reconciliation bill that funds programs supportive of children and their families -- health care, child support, child care, and foster care.

As a result of a procedural challenge on December 21, the House of Representatives has one more chance to vote again on the Budget bill when it returns on January 31st or possibly earlier. Contact you representative by January 20; support a budget that supports health of children and other vulnerable populations.

Signing, calling, burying in faxes...the usual!

Sign Dean's Anti-Alito Petition

2006-01-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

Spygate has brought a whole new dimension to the ways in which Alito is very double plus ungood for America - he's a staunch advocate of executive privilege.

So please sign Dean's petition and pass it on!

For lots more background and action items on Alito, read this diary.

Demand a Spygate Investigation

2006-01-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

It looks like the Criminal in Chief is trying to pressure Specter out of holding judiciary committee hearings - we can't let him.

Specter, for one, has promised hearings early in the year--a move, sources tell TIME, that the White House is hoping to head off by convincing the Senator to defer to the Intelligence Committee, whose hearings would be behind closed doors and classified. "They're going to lean on Specter very hard not to hold hearings," says a Republican official. Bush has warned that any public hearings on programs would simply tip off terrorists and invite them to adjust their tactics, and he says, "This is a war."

This is bad news, especially since it seems like the hearings won't even be held until after Alito gets his confirmation hearing. Bass ackwards.

Let the entire Judiciary Committee and your senators hear from you! And if anyone gives you any guff for not being a constituent of the Judiciary Committee's senators, just remind them you can't help the fact that your Senators don't sit on that committee. But it is the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, so it is your, and every other American's, Judiciary Committee.

Help Save Tryon Farm

2006-01-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

January 2-9th Countdown Festival at the top of our driveway! 7:30-9am and 4-6pm daily

Tryon Life Community Farm is a sustainability education center nestled into Tryon Creek State Park. Hundreds of committed volunteers have come together to serve at-risk youth and educate thousands of people about sustainable urban living.

Visit the farm any day, dawn to dusk.

With the land we rely on now at risk from the blades of bulldozers, we are raising money to purchase the land and prevent it from turning into brownstones.

With a target of 1.6 million dollars, we still need $100,000 in donations by January 10.

Has Your Rep Called For an Investigation?

2006-01-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

After Downing Street is a great resource deserving of a bookmark.

A total of eight US House members have co-sponsored Resolution 635 to create a select committee to investigate the grounds for impeaching President Bush, Atlanta Progressive News has learned.

The co-sponsors are Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (C-CA), according to the US Congressional website Thomas.loc.gov

HR 635 reads as its official title: "Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment."

The bill was initially proposed by Rep. Conyers on 12/18/2005. The 7 other co-sponsors added their names on 12/22/05.

If your reps are on that list, please let them know we've got their backs. If your reps aren't, then they should be greeted by a mountain of correspondence when they get back from their breaks!

Tell BLM "No Toxic Pesticides"

2005-12-29T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed to apply massive amounts of pesticides to public lands in 17 Western states.

The BLM claims these pesticides need to be applied to forests, rangelands and aquatic areas in order to reduce the risk of fire and slow the spread of invasive weeds. Under the proposal 932,000 acres would undergo chemical application in 17 western states, including National Monuments and National Conservation areas.

An integral part of this proposal involves aerial spraying of toxic pesticides, which increases negative impacts on non-targeted vegetation, wildlife, and people, including recreationists, tourists, and native peoples (pesticide application areas include Alaska, where native fishing and plant gathering is widespread).

The pesticides that would be used include persistent and mobile chemicals, including known developmental and reproductive toxins.

Please sign the petition and pass this on!

hat tip to booman tribune

Republican Quotes on the Rule of Law

2005-12-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

The republican party firmly believes that no man is above the law; at least they did when Clinton's impeachment was being discussed. Now it's time to hold them to their words and demand that they hold shrubya accountable. See if any of your reps or senators had some choice words on the rule of law and remind them of their sworn duty.

Campaign Donation Deadline: Dec. 31st

2005-12-29T03:20:00.000-08:00

Late notice, I know. I just found this. There is a great diary over at dkos explaining the importance of making your political donations before the new year.

While finally getting around to my stack of holiday mail, I noticed a letter from a candidate I had donated to in the past. The note was reminding me that the federal campaign reporting quarter ends on December 31st, so it is important to get the money in before then.

It also lists a bunch of candidates who need support and provides links to donation pages. So if you were going to anyway...

Impeach Bush Rallies - March, 2006

2005-12-27T17:28:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars! And visit impeachbush.org. They are coordinating impeachment rallies for the anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

So let's start spreading the word and building momentum. Be sure to check out the Guerrilla Marketing: Impeachment project, too! Lots of great ideas for swaying the apathetic. The best being that you can embed your own messages into any asphalt surface!

More impeachment resources here. To add the "Impeach Bush" banner to your website, click here.

Anti-Alito Brigade For Justice, Day 12!

2005-12-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

This is the last one in the series - print them all up to hand out as booklets if you'd like. And don't forget Senator Boxer's petition. She is asking Arlen Specter to hold hearings on spygate before addressing Alito's nomination.

Today's Alito piece is about Alito's support for broad executive branch powers. Would he have a problem with domestic spying?

If you're not sure what this Alito stuff is about, visit this diary.

Make Bush Show Us His Papers

2005-12-22T17:14:00.000-08:00

See how he likes it...

Rep. Slaughter has introduced a resolution demanding access to all the documents pertaining to spying on Americans. Urge your Congressmembers to support her.

And don't miss all the other resolutions/petitions, etc. for spygate.

Guerrilla Marketing Impeachment Campaign

2005-12-22T16:33:00.000-08:00

Turn it into stickers, posters, etc. and apply liberally! And check it out - you can embed your own messages into asphalt!

I Spy: Impeachment

2005-12-20T23:16:00.000-08:00

Even conservative scholars say so. And don't miss Rep. John Conyers' call to action, The Constitution in Crisis: Censure and Investigate Possible Impeachment.

Also, Guerrilla Marketing is good for you!

Anti-Alito Brigade For Justice, Day 9!

2005-12-20T22:01:00.000-08:00

Today's "Alito is bad for America" moment is brought to you by BostonJoe.

Dear Senator,

The United States Supreme Court has struggled through the decades to live up to the promise that America is a land where "all men are created equal." From an early history that treated African-Americans as property and later allowed for legal segregation, the Court has evolved through the Civil Rights era to support equality for all races in the eyes of the law. We have still not met the full promise of our founding fathers, but the Court has made substantial progress.

In examining the judicial record and personal history of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, I am concerned that he has expressed opinions which would set back much of the progress that has been made by the Court in assuring the equality that should be our highest ideal. My concerns are shared by the 42 House members of the Congressional Black Caucus:

"The Congressional Black Caucus, which includes 42 House members... will announce Thursday its opposition to Alito.... 'The members of the CBC are concerned about Judge Alito's opinions, many in dissent, in race cases where his decisions have disproportionately affected African-Americans,' said Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., the caucus chairman. 'We are troubled by what appears to be a very conservative judicial philosophy that seems greatly at odds with much of 20th century constitutional jurisprudence,' Watt said." - Associated Press, December 7, 2005.

There is also an excellent diary over at political cortex: Alito Gives the Congressional Black Caucus the Finger.

Contact your senators, support the CBC, and if you have the resources, please collect all 12 of these letters when they are done and share them as booklets with people.

Sign Dean's FOIA Petition

2005-12-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

He is still speaking for us!

According to reports, political appointees in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel wrote still-classified legal opinions laying out the supposed justification for this program.

Governor Howard Dean is filing a formal demand that they release these documents. You can add your name to a Freedom of Information Act request by providing the information below.

great diary at dkos, too

Calls To Investigate Spying

2005-12-20T02:16:00.000-08:00

We have several to choose from!

Senator Barbara Mikulski

Rep. Louise Slaughter

Howard Dean's FOIA petition

Act for Change has a petition to sign

Also, please sign Senator Boxer's petition. She is asking Arlen Specter to hold hearings on spygate before addressing Alito's nomination.

On the impeachment front, we've got:

Impeach - Guerrilla Marketing Movement

Senator Boxer asks four presidential historians to research if Bush is impeachable, as per John Dean.

And another petition - please share this information far and wide!