Mark you calenders

UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE FORWARD FAR & WIDE

Hold Bush & Congress Accountable for the Deaths, the Destruction,
the Lies, and the Toll on Our Communities
SEPTEMBER 24-26, 2005

END THE WAR ON IRAQ - BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Leave no bases behind - End the corporate occupation of Iraq
Stop bankrupting our communities - No military recruitment in our
schools

Sat., 9/24 - Massive March, Rally & Festival
Sun., 9/25 - Interfaith Service, Grassroots Training
Mon., 9/26 - Lobby Day, Mass Nonviolent Direct Action and Civil Disobedience

organized by United for Peace and Justice
http://www.unitedforpeace.org

More than two years after the illegal and immoral U.S. invasion of Iraq, the nightmare continues. More than 1600 U.S. soldiers have died, at least another 15,000 have been wounded; even the most conservative estimates of Iraqi deaths number in the tens of thousands. Iraq, a once sovereign nation, now lies in ruins under the military and corporate occupation of the United States; U.S. promises to rebuild have not been kept and Iraqis still lack food, water, electricity, and other basic needs.

A majority of Americans believe that this war never should have happened, but our elected representatives in Washington continue to rubber-stamp the Bush Administration's disastrous Iraq policies. They have given military recruiters nearly unrestricted access to our schools -- and the Pentagon nearly unrestricted access to our tax dollars. At a time when our vital social programs are eroding or completely decimated, an overwhelming majority in Congress recently approved Bush's request for an additional $82 billion in war funding, and there's already talk of another $50 billion appropriation this fall.

It's time to hold all pro-war politicians accountable for the deaths, the destruction, the lies, and the toll on our communities! Join United for Peace and Justice in Washington, D.C. for three massive days of action against the war: a major march, rally, and festival on Saturday, September 24; an interfaith religious service and day of grassroots trainings on Sunday, September 25; and a large-scale grassroots
lobbying day and mass nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience on Monday, September 26.

From every corner of this country, people will travel to Washington to bring our demands directly to the policymakers responsible for this unjust war. These three days of actions will send a clear message to the White House and Congress: The Iraq war must end. It's time to bring all the troops home, leaving no U.S. military bases behind, and to stop the corporate theft of Iraq's resources. Instead of draining our
national treasury for endless war, we demand that our tax dollars be used to repair the damage done to Iraq and to fund services in our communities. We call for an immediate end to our government's assault on immigrants, the unethical pressures on our young people to join the military, and the undermining of democracy through relentless attacks on everyone's basic rights.

Our mobilization will coincide with the meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, whose economic policies place corporate profits ahead of basic human needs worldwide. We will speak out against the corporate theft of Iraq's resources and the decimation of the Iraqi economy through privatization and "free trade."

Join our weekend of action to stop this war, and help prevent any new wars!

Leaflets and more information will be available soon at
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2854

In the meantime, circulate this announcement far and wide and mark your calendar for the weekend of September 24-26.

Thanks, and we'll see you in Washington!

Filibuster Frist - 20 May - 8 am - MUSC

(Click to enlarge)

Bill Frist

Dr. Frist will be at the MUSC commencement Friday 9 am, stay tuned for plans; if any.

His filibuster nuking is coming to a head this week; unless he wimps out again...
The seven wavering Republican Senators are Collins, DeWine, Hagel, Murkowski, Roberts, Specter, and Warner. We've got all D's and the I, McCain and Snow... = 47. we need 51 or the Senate president, Mr. Cheney, will break the tie. Call your senator despite their stance to go on the record. It can't hurt...

We can call toll-free at 877-762-8762 & just ask to be connected to any senator.

Sanford v Moore

I ran into a great post over at dKos re: the SC Gov election, it refered me to this article from the State and covered first by Bob Brigham at the Swing State Project.

State Sen. Tommy Moore is the “right kind” of Democrat to beat Republican Gov. Mark Sanford next year if he gets the money, experts say.

Moore certainly has the credentials — 26 years of state legislative experience, an understanding of state government and a moderate to conservative voting record.

“He is the type who can get elected statewide,” says Danielle Vinson, a political scientist at Furman University.

“This is a state election, straight out,” notes Francis Marion University analyst Neal Thigpen, a GOP activist.

Democrats tend to fare better in such elections.

“Republicans can’t tie the national party label around their neck. It won’t stick,” says College of Charleston professor Bill Moore.

Republicans are much more open to voting Democratic in state elections.

Bill Moore is a Prof. I have heard great things about while at the College of Charleston. He is well revieved by both ends of the political spectrum.

As governor, he has rubbed many the wrong way with his antics and behavior. He has failed as a negotiator.

“Obviously, there is a disconnect between the members of the General Assembly and the governor,” says professor Moore.

Sanford also is not a good stump campaigner. He doesn’t excite. [...]

But some Republicans may quietly spread the word among constituents that they could live with Moore as governor.

Contribute to the SC Dems.

'Up and down votes'

[from LTE Post and Courier 05/06/05]

Both Bob Dole and The Post and Courier know better.

The filibuster or "extended debate" has always been constitutional in the U.S. Senate. Of the 30 filibusters led against nominees -- 20 were led by Republicans (source, Congressional Research Service Report RS70801). Bob Dole was in Congress when Strom Thurmond filibustered Abe Fortas' nomination. Don't tell me Fortas wasn't filibustered. I was there.

Sen. Thurmond said this was what he was going to do and was in the process of doing it. When the champion filibusterer said this, the Fortas nomination was withdrawn. The Post and Courier praised Sen. Thurmond for blocking "an up or down vote."

Thomas Jefferson was minister to France during the Constitutional Convention. When he returned he asked Washington why they created a Senate. Washington asked Jefferson why do you pour your coffee into that saucer before you drink it. Jefferson replied, to cool it. Washington said that is why you have a Senate. "Up and down votes" in the Senate would mean two House of Representatives, eliminating "the most deliberative body."

ERNEST F. HOLLINGS

Kent State 05/04/1970

A day in our Government's history that should never be forgot.

Dems learning

The wording is everything. Something I learned form 1984. Well the Dems got the Repubs this time; if they go against it then they are against the truth and for citizen funded propaganda. So assuming it passes then we have a great result and if it is denied then the Repubs look like they are for propaganda. What am I talking about???

S.967: Truth in Broadcasting

On Thursday, 4/28/2005, Senators Lautenberg and Kerry introduced the Truth in Broadcasting Act.

From the press release found on both Senators' websites:

Today, United States Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and John F. Kerry (D-MA) introduced legislation to protect the American people from covert propaganda produced by the government. The legislation would require that "prepackaged news stories" produced by the Administration contain a disclosure of the source of the material. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has ruled that the Administration's use of "prepackaged news stories" was illegal "covert propaganda" because the government's role was not disclosed to viewers. On March 11th 2005, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Justice issued memos to all executive branch agencies ordering them to ignore the GAO ruling and gave the green light to further use of fake news stories that hide the government's role in their production.

The Lautenberg-Kerry Truth in Broadcasting Act would follow the legal ruling of the GAO and establish permanent federal law that prepackaged news stories by the government must disclose the government's role with a disclaimer. The disclaimer would run continuously throughout the "news story." Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens has committed to holding a hearing and a markup on the bill in early May. "Our government should not be in the business of fooling the public with fake news stories," said Lautenberg. "If President Bush wants to promote his views, he can do that, but he should not hide behind fake reporters to get his message out. The President already has the 'Bully Pulpit' -- he shouldn't need to use puppets pretending to be reporters."

Jim DeMint is a member of the Commerce Committee He probably deserves to be contacted. Check and see if your Senator is on the committee and make a little noise.

The up coming truth in Broadcasting Act is a necessary precaution to offset the indiscriminant use of propaganda for political gain invoked by the existing government. I expect you to support this act.

Thank You,

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