Article: Harris Camp Feels 'A Stab In The Back'

Oh, the irony!

Katherine Harris (Cruella DeVille to some of you) sold out our country in 2000 in order to get George Bush elected, and now that her usefulness to the GOP is gone they get rid of her. Serves her right for selling her soul to the Wingnuts!

Harris camp feels 'a stab in the back'
By Bob Cusack

Frustrated with the White House and a key Republican, supporters of Rep. Katherine Harris' (R-Fla.) 2006 Senate campaign lashed out at the administration yesterday for seeking to convince another prominent GOP official to enter the race.

"It's unimaginable that the White House folks and the National Republican Senatorial Committee would be so disloyal to Katherine Harris, especially after all she has done for the Bush family and the Republican Party," a Florida political operative who supports Harris said. "It's unconscionable and a stab in the back."

Harris backers are irritated that State House Speaker Allan Bense met with White House chief of staff Karl Rove and NRSC Chairwoman Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) this week to discuss challenging Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) next year.

The operative added, "If it is true, they should be ashamed and embarrassed, considering she stepped aside at their request for the president and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) in 2004. It's her turn."

Commentary: Top Gun Flies Into Political Firestorm

Good morning, readers!

I wanted to share with you my latest article for Wake Up San Diego!, a blog Kenny (DeBunk on the Randi Rhodes Message Board) put together that contains the latest news and scandals in San Diego County.

With the news articles on Randy "Duke" Cunningham I read in the regional newspapers this evening, I couldn't resist doing a little Wingnut of the Week bashing before I hit the sack. I think you'll really enjoy this piece.

While you're at it, check out Kenny's blog!

Top Gun Flies Into Political Firestorm
Original commentary by Robbie Michaels

Just when you thought Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Escondido, CA) might get away with “MansionGate”, the latest in a long line of Republican scandals, two stories broke on Friday that could make life difficult for the eight-term congressman.

Federal authorities intensified their investigation into Cunningham’s relationship with defense contractor Mitchell Wade by searching his Rancho Santa Fe home, the “Duke-Stir” yacht owned by Wade, and the Washington D.C. offices of MZM, Inc. Friday. Agents from the Department of Defense and the Internal Revenue Service assisted FBI agents involved in Friday’s search to gather evidence in their ongoing investigation.

In an ironic twist, Cunningham’ lawyer called the searches, “an appalling abuse of government power.”

Cunningham is currently under investigation for the sale of his Del Mar Heights home to Wade, assisting MZM, Inc. in obtaining multi-million dollar defense contracts, and for not paying rent while living on Wade’s 42-foot yacht docked on the Potomac River. In lieu of rent, Cunningham paid dock fees and service and maintenance costs. Living on Wade’s boat without paying would violate congressional ethics rules, so it will be interesting to see how investigators will rule on this issue.

In related developments:

• It was reported in The Hill, a Washington newspaper that covers Congress, that The House Standards of Official Conduct Committee, also known as the ethics committee, is apparently ready to resume business after the August break after clearing up their staffing issues.
• Roll Call, another Capitol Hill newspaper, reported that the “Duke-Stir” yacht is for sale.
• Representative Katherine Harris (R-FL) offered to refund $50,000 in campaign contributions she received from employees of MZM, Inc. once she learned the employees may have been pressured by Mitchell Wade, the company owner, to donate to MZM, Inc.’s political action committee.

Legal Problems Mount For Cunningham

The ongoing investigation into Cunningham’s relationship with Mitchell Wade isn’t the only legal problem he’s facing this holiday weekend. Cunningham could also face federal charges for the unauthorized commercial use of the congressional seal.

Top Gun Enterprises, the company Cunningham set up in 1987 to market his book “Fox Two”, appeared to have suspended operations on Friday after news broke that a $595 Randy “Duke” Cunningham Fighter Ace Kalinga Style Buck Knife sold on the web site contained a gold imprint of the congressional seal on its blade.

Visitors trying to access the website now get a HTTP 404 – File Not Found message in their browsers.

It is against federal law to use the congressional seal for commercial purposes, and any member of Congress can be fined and imprisoned for up to six months if he or she “knowingly uses, manufactures, reproduces, sells, purchases for resale . . . any likeness of the seal of the United States Congress" without the approval of the clerk of the House.” According to an article in The North County Times, no such permission for Cunningham to use the seal can be substantiated.

Is Duke’s Legacy In Jeopardy?

Cunningham stated recently that he used “poor judgment” in selling his Del Mar Heights home, but you wonder if these recent events are a lapse in judgment, or if Cunningham is playing stupid on the advice of attorneys to look innocent. We won’t know the answer for several months, but you can bet more allegations will be made against Cunningham and others involved before this investigation concludes.

If all of these allegations are true, this scandal will forever taint the political career of one of San Diego County’s most popular and longest-serving elected officials. Cunningham, who serves California’s 50th Congressional District, was easily re-elected for his eighth term last November by a 21-point margin over Democratic opponent Francine P. Busby.

This is no way to remember one of America’s most highly decorated fighter pilots in the Vietnam War, and that is the real tragedy of this story. Until this year, Cunningham never had his name mentioned once in previous political scandals. But for all of his heroic feats in the cockpit of a Navy fighter plane, people may instead remember Randy “Duke” Cunningham for his shady dealings with Mitchell Wade. That, in the eyes of liberals and progressives, makes him just another Republican congressman who got caught flaunting ethics rules for a few extra dollars in his pocket.

For someone who excelled in all other aspects of his life, being remembered as “just another disgraced congressman” has to be the lowest blow to the legacy and integrity of Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Great American War Hero.

Call To Action: Awaken The U.S. Senate!

Hello readers!

I wasn't home for most of the day, so I apologize for not posting this message earlier. DowningStreetMemo.com has ended the Awaken The Mainstream Media campaign, and in it's place they are beginning the Awaken The U.S. Senate campaign.

Here's the first U.S. Senate targets. Although it's the weekend, you can still hit 'em on Tuesday along with the newest targets...

TARGET FOR FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2005

Today, please phone, or send brief emails to Senator Olympia Snowe, even if you've already contacted her in the past, making that request and asking for an explanation of why the hearings have not in fact been held. That question will really put her office on the spot. If you cannot get an answer, we urge you to get in touch later in the day until you do get one. It would be helpful if people would report what they've been told about the Senator's intentions. Here is the contact information:

Senator Olympia Snowe (Maine)
email: olympia@snowe.senate.gov
phone: 202-224-5344
fax: 202-224-1946

If you wish as well to contact the man who has reneged upon his promise to Senator Rockefeller, here is the contact info:

Senator Pat Roberts R-KA, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee
email: pat_roberts@roberts.senate.gov
webmail: http://roberts.senate.gov/e-mail_pat.html
phone: (202) 224-4774
fax: 202-224-3514 (Jackie Cottrell, Chief of Staff).

Article: Cunningham Questioned Over Commercial Use Of Congressional Seal

And the plot twists just keep on turning!

Randy "Duke" Cunningham, already under investigation for his home sale, is now in hot water over using a likeness of the Congressional Seal on a $595 Buck Knife.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20050701-9999-1n1duke.html

Article: Federal Agents Raid Duke Cunningham's Home

Well, it didn't take long for the latest plot twist in the Duke Cunningham soap opera, did it? Federal agents raided Duke's Rancho Santa Fe home, the Duke-Stir yacht, and the Washington D.C. offices of MZM, Inc.

Click here to read the San Diego Union-Tribune article

Call To Action: Tell Your Senator To Stand Up To Bush!

Okay, readers. With Sandra Day O'Connor's announcing her retirement this afternoon, the Bush Administration could name a successor as early as Tuesday. MoveOn.org has organized a petition, and they want to get 250,000 signatures on it before Tuesday. As of 5:34pm PST, they already have 127,000+ signatures!

Please take a minute to read this message and sign the petition!

Dear MoveOn member,

Early this morning Sandra Day O'Connor stepped down from the Supreme Court, leaving the first open seat in more than 10 years. As a moderate Justice, she helped protect our rights for decades. With Bush likely to nominate a replacement in a matter of hours or days, our most basic rights and freedoms are suddenly very much up for grabs.

This is the time to act.

Its rumored that Bush will nominate a replacement as quickly as this Tuesday. In the next few days Bush, the Senate and the media will all be will be listening very carefully—gauging the public reaction to this vacancy and deciding how far they can go.

That's why we've launched an emergency petition calling on our Senators to do what it takes in the crucial weeks ahead to protect our rights. We're aiming to deliver 250,000 signatures and comments by Tuesday. Please add your voice today:

http://www.moveonpac.org/protectourrights?id=5730-5264813-XO8TS2h_TNKgn1qZ7kX5aQ&t=3

From the Patriot Act to the Terri Schiavo tragedy, in the last four years the Republican leadership has exploited every opportunity to attack the basic American right to keep our private choices private, and to make personal decisions without government intrusion.

This vacancy could represent the biggest threat yet.

The only clear indication from Bush about who he might nominate is that he intends to follow the example of his two "model" judges—Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.1 These two have weighed in from the far-right fringe for decades, and another judge in their mold could shift the balance on the Court significantly.

Below are just a few examples of landmark cases where Scalia or Thomas voted against O'Connor to try to strike down core rights and freedoms. In many cases if they had one more vote they would have succeeded.2

Worker's Rights: Nevada Dep't of Human Resources v. Hibbs, which protected the right of workers to care for newborn children or gravely ill family members.

Women's Rights: United States v. Virginia, which allowed women to attend all publicly funded schools. (C'Connor was not on the Court at the time of Roe v. Wade, but has opposed Scalia and Thomas on reproductive freedom issues in such landmark cases as Planned Parenthood v. Casey)

Church and State: Locke v. Davey, which ensured that states could not be required to fund religious training.

Envrionmental Rights: Friends of the Earth , Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services (TOC), Inc., which protected citizens' rights under the Clean Water Act to sue against the illegal dumping of mercury and other toxins.

Civil Rights: * Dickerson v. U.S., which upheld the "Miranda" guarantee that people accused of crimes are read their rights. * United States v. Fordice, which protected the rights of those still suffering from the effects of state-enforced racial segregation. * Grutter v Bollinger, affirmed the right of state colleges and universities to use affirmative action in their admissions policies.

Civil Liberties:Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, which blocked the government from indefinitely detaining American citizens without charges, an attorney, or any basic rights.

On Capitol Hill, today's resignation unleashed a swarm of right-wing fringe groups and corporate lobbyists pushing for a nominee who will favor narrow prejudice and greed over the rights of the American people.

If we can deliver 250,000 signatrures and comments by Tuesday, we can make sure the voice of ordinary Americans can compete with this swarm and tell our senators to stand up for our rights.

Thanks for all that you do.
Ben, Joan, Justin, Eli and the MoveOn PAC Team
Friday, July 1st, 2005

P.S. As soon as we heard about the resignation, we put an ad on the air calling for Bush and the Senate to protect our rights and not nominate an extremist. You can check it out at: http://www.moveonpac.org

If you like it, help us keep it on the air by donating at: https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/donate.html?id=5730-5264813-XO8TS2h_TNKgn1qZ7kX5aQ&t=5

1 NBC's Meet the Press, November 21, 19992 Case history courtesy of People for the American Way—http://www.pfaw.org

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Call To Action: Tell Your Senator To Stand Up To Bush!

Okay, readers. With Sandra Day O'Connor's announcing her retirement this afternoon, the Bush Administration could name a successor as early as Tuesday. MoveOn.org has organized a petition, and they want to get 250,000 signatures on it before Tuesday. As of 5:34pm PST, they already have 127,000+ signatures!

Please take a minute to read this message and sign the petition!

Dear MoveOn member,

Early this morning Sandra Day O'Connor stepped down from the Supreme Court, leaving the first open seat in more than 10 years. As a moderate Justice, she helped protect our rights for decades. With Bush likely to nominate a replacement in a matter of hours or days, our most basic rights and freedoms are suddenly very much up for grabs.

This is the time to act.

Its rumored that Bush will nominate a replacement as quickly as this Tuesday. In the next few days Bush, the Senate and the media will all be will be listening very carefully—gauging the public reaction to this vacancy and deciding how far they can go.

That's why we've launched an emergency petition calling on our Senators to do what it takes in the crucial weeks ahead to protect our rights. We're aiming to deliver 250,000 signatures and comments by Tuesday. Please add your voice today:

http://www.moveonpac.org/protectourrights?id=5730-5264813-XO8TS2h_TNKgn1qZ7kX5aQ&t=3

From the Patriot Act to the Terri Schiavo tragedy, in the last four years the Republican leadership has exploited every opportunity to attack the basic American right to keep our private choices private, and to make personal decisions without government intrusion.

This vacancy could represent the biggest threat yet.

The only clear indication from Bush about who he might nominate is that he intends to follow the example of his two "model" judges—Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia.1 These two have weighed in from the far-right fringe for decades, and another judge in their mold could shift the balance on the Court significantly.

Below are just a few examples of landmark cases where Scalia or Thomas voted against O'Connor to try to strike down core rights and freedoms. In many cases if they had one more vote they would have succeeded.2

Worker's Rights: Nevada Dep't of Human Resources v. Hibbs, which protected the right of workers to care for newborn children or gravely ill family members.

Women's Rights: United States v. Virginia, which allowed women to attend all publicly funded schools. (C'Connor was not on the Court at the time of Roe v. Wade, but has opposed Scalia and Thomas on reproductive freedom issues in such landmark cases as Planned Parenthood v. Casey)

Church and State: Locke v. Davey, which ensured that states could not be required to fund religious training.

Envrionmental Rights: Friends of the Earth , Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services (TOC), Inc., which protected citizens' rights under the Clean Water Act to sue against the illegal dumping of mercury and other toxins.

Civil Rights: * Dickerson v. U.S., which upheld the "Miranda" guarantee that people accused of crimes are read their rights. * United States v. Fordice, which protected the rights of those still suffering from the effects of state-enforced racial segregation. * Grutter v Bollinger, affirmed the right of state colleges and universities to use affirmative action in their admissions policies.

Civil Liberties:Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, which blocked the government from indefinitely detaining American citizens without charges, an attorney, or any basic rights.

On Capitol Hill, today's resignation unleashed a swarm of right-wing fringe groups and corporate lobbyists pushing for a nominee who will favor narrow prejudice and greed over the rights of the American people.

If we can deliver 250,000 signatrures and comments by Tuesday, we can make sure the voice of ordinary Americans can compete with this swarm and tell our senators to stand up for our rights.

Thanks for all that you do.
Ben, Joan, Justin, Eli and the MoveOn PAC Team
Friday, July 1st, 2005

P.S. As soon as we heard about the resignation, we put an ad on the air calling for Bush and the Senate to protect our rights and not nominate an extremist. You can check it out at: http://www.moveonpac.org

If you like it, help us keep it on the air by donating at: https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/donate.html?id=5730-5264813-XO8TS2h_TNKgn1qZ7kX5aQ&t=5

1 NBC's Meet the Press, November 21, 19992 Case history courtesy of People for the American Way—http://www.pfaw.org

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Message From John Conyers

This is an email I received from John Conyers this morning...

Dear Friend:

I am writing to update you on the latest developments regarding the Downing Street Minutes and to announce the re-launch of my blog.

New Blog Format
Due to a few posters that have been writing inappropriate and offensive content on my blog, I restricted the comments feature for the past week and a half until administrative changes could be made. The new format will require a simple registration for those wishing to post comments. This will allow us to ban users who choose not to communicate responsibly in this space.

I have been eagerly looking forward to restoring the comments function. Communicating directly with visitors to my blog is one of the best ways that we can address issues of national importance together.

Come back to ConyersBlog.us and share your thoughts and concerns with me.

Downing Street Minutes Town Hall Meeting and House Parties
Some of you may have noted that the Washington Post gave the Downing Street Minutes front page coverage in its Tuesday edition. By joining 560,000 others in signing the letter to the president, you are directly responsible for helping to raise the profile of this issue and force the mainstream media to cover it. We are still collecting more signatures for a second delivery to the White House. Click here for the link to the letter.

We still have much more to do to make President Bush answer the questions raised by the Downing Street Minutes. July 23rd is the three-year anniversary of this memo. A number of my colleagues in Congress will join me on this date to host town hall meetings across the country to update our constituents on the Downing Street Minutes and what they reveal about the lead-up to war.

We will also be organizing house parties in conjunction with the events of July 23rd. For those participating, I plan to host a conference call featuring a special guest. If you are interested in hosting a house party or attending one in your area.

Recent Downing Street Minutes Media Coverage

• Washington Post Front Page DSM Article, 6/28
• Interviews I gave Wednesday on KPFK Radio, and The Tony Show
• New! The transcript of the Downing Street Minutes Hearing is now available in searchable pdf format

Visit my website at http://johnconyers.com to learn more about our work and how you can help on this issue of vital constitutional importance.

Sincerely,

Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

Movie Night To Fight The Right

I received this email from MoveOn.org regarding their Movie Night program the weekend of July 8-10...

Dear MoveOn member,

Today we're not asking you to send an email or call your legislator—we're asking you to host a party. Over the next few weeks there will be big fights over Iraq and probably the Supreme Court. To win battles like these and elect progressives in 2006, we'll need strong neighborhood networks.

That's why we created Operation Democracy—a national network of neighborhood teams working to defeat Bush's agenda and elect a progressive majority. MoveOn members on these teams work together on local efforts like a petition drive on Social Security, or calls to Congress about choosing judges.

The best way to join an Operation Democracy team is to have a party: come together with other MoveOn members near you, watch and discuss a political movie, join a local team, and when the issues heat up you'll have people to work with. The weekend of July 8-10, we're organizing "Progressive Movie Night" house parties across the country. They're easy, fun, and a great way to get started. Click here to host a party:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=763&id=5725-5264813-8vIMwdMzSuVD6bFe34rKCw&t=3

We hear from members all the time that they want to get together, but they need someone to get the ball rolling in their community. You can solve that problem by offering your home for a few hours. We've always heard great things from folks who have.

Here's how hosting works: you just need to set up a party online, and invite your friends. It only takes a minute, then we'll invite other MoveOn members to join (if you open your party to the public).

We'll recommend some progressive videos for you and your guests to watch and discuss—documentaries like "The Corporation", "OutFoxed," and "Roger & Me," as well as feature films with progressive themes, like "Wag the Dog" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Or, if you know a film that others should see, you can show that one.

These parties won't only be about watching movies, they'll also be about laying the groundwork for upcoming actions. At these parties we'll give you what you need to form a local team, so it's easy for you and your new friends to continue working together. We'll also give you materials for a simple action your group can do after the party around a likely Supreme Court vacancy. We need to be ready to act quickly to have an impact on who President Bush appoints.

Beating the Bush agenda and electing a progressive majority will take the help of everyone who agrees that the Republican leadership is out of touch with America. Help us fight the right by hosting "Progressive Movie Night".

Don't wait for someone else to take the lead. We know there are MoveOn members in your community who are looking to meet other like-minded folks and make a difference together.

There are always lots of members who are willing to help as long as someone gets things started.

Click here to host:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=763&id=5725-5264813-8vIMwdMzSuVD6bFe34rKCw&t=4

If you really can't host a party but want to attend one near you, click here:

http://www.moveonpac.org/event/movienight/?id=5725-5264813-8vIMwdMzSuVD6bFe34rKCw&t=5

Here's what other MoveOn members have said about previous movie nights:

People at the party were enthusiastic and motivated to work for change as a result of seeing the movie. Many of them said they wanted a copy for themselves to show others.—Noah, Brooklyn, NY

The best moment was hearing people cheer, laugh, hiss and growl during the movie.—Jim, MN

An exciting exchange of ideas and revelations on how to view news and television in general. What an opportunity being around open people and discussing a topic that actually means something.—David, Aberdeen, SD

It was totally fun. Nobody knew anybody and people kept arriving and we all pitched in and were unified in our mission and political outlook. We will stay in touch as a kind of political pod.—Wendy, Woodstown, NJ

Thank you very much—and stock up on popcorn!
–Adam, Rosalyn, Tanya, James and the MoveOn PAC Team
June 30th, 2005

P.S. For more information on Operation Democracy and our plans for the 2006 election, go to http://www.moveonpac.org/team/?id=5725-5264813-8vIMwdMzSuVD6bFe34rKCw&t=6

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Message From OpTruth.org

I received this email from OpTruth.org yesterday...

Dear OpTruth Supporter,

Last night, in front of the nation, President Bush continued to ignore the pressing questions that our men and women in uniform face every day. For our members of the military, there is no choice but to stay the course. We will serve when called, just as we have in Iraq for the past two years.

But that doesn't mean we don't expect straight answers. On Tuesday morning, I released a statement calling on the President to address a slate of problems faced by our troops. He failed to do so. Read our members' responses to his speech and then give us your thoughts through the comments section!

How will we sustain the all-volunteer Army, given the recent recruiting shortfalls? Will President Bush ask his staff to offer honest answers, given that Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld have offered vastly different estimates on how long things will take? What will be done to address the drastic shortfalls in funding for the Veteran's Administration? Are we making more enemies than we're killing?

And perhaps most importantly, why does the President's view of the situation in Iraq look so vastly different than the view of our men and women in uniform?

Our Troops have fulfilled their end of the bargain, now it is time for the President to provide the leadership needed to make sure this nation meets its responsibility to the Troops. In the coming weeks, Operation Truth will launch several new initiatives designed to focus the ongoing debate on the pressing issues that have thus far been ignored by the Bush Administration.

As we press on, let's demand more than just pep rallies from the Bush Administration. It is time for a serious discussion about Veterans' health care, accountability for deadly mistakes, the future of the all volunteer army, and a real plan for success in Iraq.

The first step to getting those answers is to know the real deal, and only the men and women who served can give you that. Now more than ever, it's crucial that we increase our visibility and expand our online army of supporters. So here's what you can do: Send this email to five friends, tell them to read OpTruth's questions for President Bush, and then ask that they join our email list. It's a simple step that will go a long way towards making sure that the voice of the Troops is heard.

Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff, OIF Veteran
Founder and Executive Director

We are always in need of funding. If you like what we do and our mission, please donate here!

RobbDogg's Wingnut Of The Week 7/1/05

George Bush made a fool of himself on national television Tuesday night. Donald Rumsfeld whipped out his crystal ball and predicted the quagmire in Iraq could last a dozen years. Condoleeza Rice worked the mainstream media and the world to garner support for Dubya. Dick Cheney visited the cardiac unit in a Vail, Colorado hospital.

Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice, and Cheney all did their parts to deflect attention away from The Downing Street Memo story during the past few days, but I couldn't nominate any of them for this week's award because we already know Bush is an imbecile, Rumsfeld is the harbinger of bad news, Rice is a suck-up, and Cheney has no heart. No worries, because I didn't have to look too far to find my Wingnut of the Week.

This week's winner is the leading actor in San Diego's latest soap opera, and it's sure to be a thriller while it plays itself out on the national stage. Just look at the subplots in the script:

• The sale of a local congressman's Del Mar home to the president of a defense contractor for $700,000 over current market value, and without realtor representation
• The congressman living the life of luxury aboard a yacht named after himself, rent-free, and owned by the same person who bought his Del Mar home
• The congressman's purchase of a multi-million dollar home in exclusive Rancho Santa Fe from a realtor whose family are longtime campaign contributors
• The investigation and subpoena of documents by the FBI
• The freezing of multi-million dollar defense contracts awarded to the defense contractor, leading to the announcement that the company is for sale by the owner

Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the great political thespian who finally divulged his secret to get elected six times to Congress, is RobbDogg's Wingnut Of The Week!

Article: Blair Confirms Authenticity of DSM

AfterDowningStreet.org printed an article in which British Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed the authenticity of the Downing Street Memo.

Blog: DailyKos Update on Conyers' FOIA Request

Raw Story is reporting that John Conyers, along with 51 other members, submitted a broad and comprehensive FOIA request to the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State seeking any and all documents and materials concerning the Downing Street Minutes and the lead up to the Iraq war.

DailyKos reported this on their blog, and you can read the text of the letter by clicking here.

Article: Novak: 'I Will Reveal All'

Novak: 'I will reveal all'
Thursday, June 30, 2005; Posted: 4:21 p.m. EDT (20:21 GMT)

(CNN) -- Time Inc. announced Thursday it will turn over the subpoenaed records from journalist Matt Cooper regarding the leak of a CIA operative's name, following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear an appeal in the case.

Cooper, Time's White House correspondent, and New York Times reporter Judith Miller are facing up to four months in jail for refusing to reveal their confidential sources in the matter to a grand jury.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist and CNN political analyst Bob Novak was the first to reveal the CIA employee's identity and CNN's Ed Henry spoke with Novak Wednesday about the ruling.

Thursday's DSM Media Targets

TARGETS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2005

1. Lewiston Sun-Journal, Executive Editor Rex Rhoades
email: rrhoades@sunjournal.com
phone: 207-784-5411, ext. 2104/2286

2. Portland Press Herald, Managing Editor Eric Conrad
email: econrad@pressherald.com
phone: 207-791-6317

3. (Augusta) Kennebec Journal and
(Waterville) The Morning Sentinel,
Executive Editor David B. Offer
email: offer@centralmaine.com
phone: 207-621-5630

All the newspapers today are from Maine, whose Senator Olympia Snowe serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Its stalled hearings on the manipulation of WMD intel need to be re-opened if we are to get to the bottom of the DSM story. One idea in targeting papers in Maine is to bring popular pressure to bear on Senator Snowe. It would help if your emails draw attention to how the WMD discussions in the British documents call out for investigation by the Senate.

The newpapers in Augusta and Waterville are published by the same news group. Neither of them, nor the Portland paper, has published any articles on DSM. The Lewiston Sun-Journal did publish one article way back on May 7, the excellent Knight Ridder piece by Warren Strobel.

There is another excellent article from June18 by Strobel, which you might recommend to the Lewiston paper. Anyhow it would be advisable to urge all the newspapers to print some of the AP articles that analyze the documents, and the recent op-ed by Michael Smith from the LA Times. It is the best short summary of what is at issue, by the British reporter who originally published all the leaked documents.

Latest Podcast 6/30/05

Here's my latest podcast. Today, I'll be covering the latest news on the following topics...

• The latest on the Downing Street Memo
• Veterans Getting Shafted on Health Care Funding
• More U.N. allegations against the U.S.
• Duke Cunningham’s Home Sale Scandal
• Wesley Clark defending the troops
• The World Tribunal Of Iraq
• Community radio broadcasting
• U.S. detention and torture policies
• The latest Calls to Action
• "You Break It, You Can't Leave It Behind" -- my most recent editorial.
  

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Click here to subscribe to my site feed.

Click here to download the latest iPodder software.

Commentary: You Break It, You Can't Leave It Behind

After the Downing Street Memo story started to take hold in the mainstream media, and a recent poll suggested 59% of Americans opposed the decision to invade Iraq, the Bush administration went into full damage-control mode during the past couple of days. Ranking members of Bush’s inner circle appeared on national TV and traveled across the globe in an attempt to pacify dissenting voices. This worked for a little while until the top decision makers couldn’t keep their stories straighter than those teenage kids and their parents in Aruba.

Dick Cheney made headlines last month, and again last week, during an interview with CNN’s Larry King. He announced that the insurgency in Iraq was “in the last throes”, but since then we’ve seen evidence to the contrary.

Sunday afternoon, Donald Rumsfeld shocked and awed a London audience when he announced that it could take as long as twelve years to establish security in Iraq. Rumsfeld’s disclosure contradicted the ambitious two-year timeline established by Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari Monday afternoon.

Tuesday evening, George Bush celebrated one year of Iraqi sovereignty by holding a nationally televised pep rally at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Rows of men and women in uniform served as a backdrop for his speech to rally the wingnuts around his agenda. However, poor George heard nothing but silence from the crowd in attendance except for one time midway through when his own entourage clapped in approval.

During his speech, Bush reiterated he would neither set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops nor increase the number of troops stationed in Iraq. Instead, he chose the moment to ask for patience, insisting his strategy to allow the Iraqis to build up their own security forces would allow U.S. forces to stand down and eventually withdraw from the region.
Bush also stated that the continued military operations in Iraq were “vital to the future security of our country,” and also linked the terrorist attacks on 9/11 to them.

Funny thing he milked the 9/11 terrorist attacks because half the people who responded to a recent USA Today poll said they didn’t believe there was a link between the invasion of Iraq and the war on terrorism.

Many people were critical of Bush Tuesday night for not setting a timeline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. However, I’m in the minority here because I realize the successful implementation of a timeline depends on how long it takes to adequately train Iraqi security forces as well as making further progress to establish a democracy.

Since the Bush administration hasn't disclosed the actual number of fully trained security forces in the region, and violence in Iraq has escalated since al-Jaafari took office two months ago, we're no closer to an end of the occupation of Iraq than we were two years ago. Until these events occur, establishing a timeline is pointless unless we’re going to send in the helicopters for an immediate evacuation of Iraq.

I don’t think Bush is stupid enough to believe the general public will hang onto every word of Tuesday night’s speech, but it’s safe to say his administration just doesn’t get it. One day soon, possibly as early as next month, someone in Congress will open impeachment proceedings against President Bush. When that happens, the ranking members of the Bush administration will have to stop spreading their lies in the media and be forced under oath to come forward and tell the truth about the Downing Street Memos, the invasion of Iraq, and violation of the Geneva Convention.

I can tell you that day is coming soon because both Democrats and Republicans are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the invasion of Iraq as well as the monetary and psychological costs. Not only is this military conflict taking longer than expected, but both sides also realize the only way to replenish current troop levels is by reinstituting the draft. It would not surprise me to see bipartisan support to hold hearings and possible impeachment proceedings against President Bush before a draft takes place.

The main reasons why most Americans are upset at the Bush administration are as follows:

1.) It’s been over 600 days since George Bush stood on the flight deck of the USS Lincoln and declared an end to major combat in Iraq, yet the number of casualties and car bombs are escalating.

2.) The Bush administration approached the invasion of Iraq in the same careless manner a child tries to figure out how a new toy works. They examined it, took it apart to appease their curiosity, and then once they realized they didn’t have a clue how to put it back together, they left the parts scattered all over the place for someone else to clean up after them.

3.) The Bush Administration needs to come clean and admit they are in way over theirs heads. None of the major decision makers have ever put on a uniform and served a day of active duty in their lives. If just one of them had done their military service, then they would have known firsthand from the Vietnam War that if you leave the poorly-trained natives alone to defend themselves, then the insurgents would gain the upper hand and overthrow the government.

Wingnuts, it’s time to face the facts. This invasion of Iraq was never supposed to resemble a quick trip to your local Pottery Barn. You can’t open up your wallet and make things right with the swipe of your platinum American Express card through the card reader at the register. This isn’t a piece of furniture on the showroom floor you broke. This a sovereign country you threw into chaos, and you are obligated to do the dirty work necessary to reconstruct Iraq so it resembles what it did before we invaded their soil. That means you have to create a plan: establish goals, recognize obstacles, and formulate a viable solution based on your analysis of the situation.

This is something your leader should’ve learned in the business world many years ago.

Article: Generation Chickenhawk

I found this article at The Nation this morning. Max Blumenthal exposes young chickenhawks for what they are. You'll just have to read on...

article posted June 28, 2005 (web only)

Generation Chickenhawk

Max Blumenthal

As I settled in my seat for an afternoon of speeches at the College Republican National Convention, I felt something crunch. It was an empty can of Busch Light, one of many strewn across the paisley-carpeted floor of the banquet hall in northern Virginia's Crystal City Gateway Marriott. All around me sat the Republican Party's future leaders: fresh-faced, nondescript white guys in blue suits, and slender blond girls in miniskirts and snug-fitting blazers, some with halter tops underneath. Later, these conservative cadres would vote for the next chairman of the College Republican National Committee (CRNC). It was the closest race since 1973, when a bespectacled boy genius named Karl Rove was elected.

On June 24 conventiongoers were treated to speeches from conservative stars like House majority leader Tom DeLay; antitax zealot Grover Norquist, who called Senator John McCain a "nut job" for compromising on Bush's judge picks; and black right-winger Jesse Lee Peterson, who announced that "most black people--not all, but most--can't think for themselves." The high point of the day, however, belonged to the movement's favorite red-diaper baby, David Horowitz. Horowitz reminded his fawning audience that he could "be sitting at home in the coastal mountains of California, watching horses and rabbits run across my neighbor's yard." Instead he chose to appear for free before a bunch of College Republicans because, as he told them, "The future of the free peoples of the world depends on the Republican Party--and ultimately it depends on you."

Wednesday's DSM Media Targets

Here's today's media targets. Please call, email, or fax them so they can give the Downing Street Memo story the attention and coverage it deserves...

TARGETS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2005

1. Wichita Eagle, Editor Sherry Chisenhall
email: schisenhall@wichitaeagle.com
phone 316-268-6405
fax: 316-268-6627

2. Topeka Capital-Journal, Managing Editor Wayne Stewart
email: wayne.stewart@cjonline.com
phone: 785-295-1153

3. Knoxville News Sentinel, Managing Editor Lara Edge
email: edge@knews.com
phone: 865-342-6295

All the newspapers today are from states whose Senators serve on the Intelligence Committee. The stalled Committee hearings on the manipulation of WMD intel need to be re-opened if we are to get to the bottom of the DSM story. The Committee Chairman, Pat Roberts, represents Kansas, and the Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, is from Tennessee.

It would be advisable to urge all the newspapers to print the recent op-ed by Michael Smith from the LA Times. It is the best short summary of what is at issue, by the British reporter who originally published all the leaked documents.

The Wichita Eagle has printed less on DSM than most other Knight Ridder newspapers (perhaps because it has been pursuing the local BTK killer story, now wrapped up). They’ve had four short articles (all highly abbreviated versions of wire stories) that convey only a little information about DSM (or the briefing paper--none of the six other leaked documents has been mentioned). It would be a big improvement if the Eagle were to print Warren P. Strobel’s excellent June 18th article “British Documents Portray Determined US March to War.”

The Topeka Capital has published nothing on DSM so far. The Knoxville News Sentinel has published only a single op-ed by Jay Ambrose, which trivializes the issues and ridicules those who believe DSM is an important document (he ignores all the other docs). Both papers could certainly improve their coverage of the issues by publishing a few straight news accounts, of which AP has now produced many.

If you are ambitious today, there is a fourth (somewhat small) newspaper that is well worth contacting: the Hutchinson News (in Kansas). The Editor, Jim Bloom, often takes strong stands on principle, as he did in his May 24th editorial on DSM. It seems like it would be very possible to persuade him to run a further piece or two, such as Michael Smith’s op-ed. Here’s the contact info:email: jbloom@hutchnews.comphone: 800-766-5740fax: 620-662-4186.

Article: U.S. Headed For Disaster When Efforts In Iraq Collapse

I've mentioned this before, and I'm glad someone at the Herald-Dispatch agrees with my assessment of the Iraq invasion...

U.S. headed for disaster when efforts in Iraq collapse

Red flags flapping sharply in the wind signal our country is on the verge of a major political - and economic - setback.

We may now be only weeks away from a complete collapse of the Iraqi army and the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq in the face of overwhelming public pressure on Tony Blair.

That is a realistic projection based on the reports of two Washington Post reporters, whose dispatches from inside Iraqi Army units and U.S. units assigned to train and work with the Iraqi military have just been published.

What the Post reporters found was massive disenchantment on both sides: American forces bitterly disappointed with the Iraqi government forces, and Iraqi troops harboring similar feelings toward their American counterparts. Only a small percentage of all Iraqi troops are now estimated to be adequately trained to take over the defense of their country. Desertions are widespread.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2005/June/24/OPlist3.htm

Article: Terror Policies Draw Outrage At Home And Abroad

This article appears on the commondreams.org website...

Published on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 by the Inter Press Service

Terror Policies Draw Outrage at Home and Abroad
by Haider Rizvi

UNITED NATIONS - The George W. Bush administration's policies on indefinite detention and ”extraordinary rendition” are coming under heavy fire from a number of institutions and organizations, including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and members of the U.S. Congress itself.

"Torture does not stop terror. Torture is terror." -- Amnesty International

"The prohibition of torture is non-negotiable," said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, held annually on Jun. 26.

Without naming the United States, he added: ”That includes an absolute ban on transferring anybody to another jurisdiction where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person is at risk of torture.”

Currently, the U.S. administration is pursuing a policy of what it calls ”extraordinary rendition,” which involves seizing suspects and taking them to a third country without court approval.
Human rights groups have documented a number of cases in which U.S. authorities secretly transferred individuals to countries where they were held without charge and routinely tortured.

One such case that came to the media's attention last weekend is now testing diplomatic relations between the United States and Italy, with the issuance of arrest warrants for 13 agents of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) accused of abducting an Egyptian cleric on the streets of Milan and sending him to Egypt.

Click here to read the entire article

Article: Communities Use Low Power FM To Take Back The Vermont Airwaves

This is an article that appeared in the Vermont Guardian, and it provides more information into the struggle of "pirate" radio stations in the state, including radio free brattleboro (rfb)...

Power of the people: Communities use low power FM to take back the Vermont airwaves

By Daphne Larkin
Special to the Vermont Guardian

posted on June 24, 2005

Radio pirates are walking the plank into the ocean of federal licensing now that the Federal Communications Commission has sanctioned community radio and opened the airwaves to locals broadcasting.

Transmitting at 100 watts with an average reach of about three and a half miles, low power FM (LPFM) is, by design, a perfect local media endeavor for small Vermont communities.

Community radio is supported solely by volunteers and donations, and provides an outlet for local issues, music, alternative news sources and most importantly, diverse programming.
“It’s like the difference between eating at a chain restaurant and at a local bistro,” said Deb Forrett of non-profit Vermont Earthworks, which is in the process of starting an LPFM station in Brattleboro.

In 2000 the FCC established a need for community radio and organized five-day windows in which non-profit organizations could apply for a broadcast license. Once the application was submitted, however, it took several years before folks heard if they were granted.

“Once you sent in the application we didn’t hear anything for four years and it was nearly impossible to really know what was going on with the status of your application,” Forrett said, “and never in all the times that I contacted the FCC to inquire did I ever actually talk to anyone or get any information.”

Click here to read the entire article

Article: Is This What They Call Democracy?

Here's one article from the testimony given during the World Tribunal On Iraq held in Istanbul, Turkey over the weekend. I've also included a link to the World Tribunal Of Iraq at the bottom of the post...

Is This What They Call Democracy?

By Brendan Smith and Zeynep Toufe

t r u t h o u t Report
Sunday 26 June 2005

Istanbul, Turkey - Today in Istanbul the jury was taken aback by witness testimony from Iraqi war victims and a US Air Force veteran.

"Snipers hunt people in the streets. People attempting to go to health centers are shot at," testified Eman Kmammas, an Iraqi translator. "There are many crippled children. There are thousands of widows and orphans. There are no police for security and there are no courts. Even hospitals are occupied and bombed and burned."

Former US Air Force combat veteran Tim Goodrich stunned the jury by revealing his role in the "softening up" of Iraq months before the US declaration of war. "We were dropping bombs then, and I saw bombing intensify," Goodrich explained to a hushed room. "All the documents coming out now, the Downing Street memo and others, confirm what I had witnessed in Iraq. The war had already begun while our leaders were telling us that they were going to try all diplomatic options first."

This gripping but unsettling revelation came on the second day of proceedings at the World Tribunal on Iraq, held in Istanbul, Turkey, which is collecting evidence of war crimes in Iraq.

Goodrich's testimony had just begun when a 75-foot banner prepared by the Iraqi delegation and composed of harrowing pictures of Iraqi child victims of the war was carried into the courtroom. In the presence of the father of one of the victims shown on the banner, Goodrich and others stood and a moment of silence spread through the room while the banner was carried through the hall. The teeming press contingent rushed to photograph the scene as some members of the audience cried.

Click here to read the entire article

Click here to check out the entire collection of articles from the World Tribunal Of Iraq

Article: Congressman Gets U.S. Documents Subpoena

The Guardian (UK) broke this short and sweet story on Duke Cunningham...

Congressman Gets U.S. Document Subpoena

Tuesday June 28, 2005 11:46 PM

By SETH HETTENA

Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Rep. Randy ``Duke'' Cunningham has been issued a subpoena for documents by a federal grand jury, his attorney said Tuesday.

Prosecutors are investigating the California Republican's sale of his home to a defense contractor at what may have been an inflated price. The contractor then resold the home, taking a large loss.

Click here to read the entire article

Blog: Stop Blaming The Troops - Investigate The Real Culprits Of Abuse

Wes Clark has spoken! This is his latest blog entry regarding who should be blamed in the prisoner abuse scandal...

Stop Blaming the Troops - Investigate the Real Culprits of Abuse

The time has come to investigate the Bush Administration's role in the prisoner abuse and humiliation that has motivated our enemies in the war on terror and endangers the well-being of our fighting forces.

Today, the reports of abuse and humiliation at detainment facilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Cuba are distracting the world from focusing on winning the war on terror. Although the military chain of command seems to have properly investigated the role of its personnel and held accountable those in the wrong, the civilian leadership in this country has failed to do the same.

Call on Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner to investigate the Bush Administration's role in prisoner abuse now!

Article: Firm In "Duke" Controversy To Be Sold

This article appeared in my local wingnut newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune, yesterday. Now for the latest plot twist in the Duke Cunningham Home Sale Soap Opera...

Firm in 'Duke' controversy may be sold

By Marcus Stern
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

June 28, 2005

WASHINGTON – The beleaguered defense contractor ensnared in controversy over its founder's dealings with Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham has given the company's reins to a former general whose mission is to sell it, sources said last night.

In a move that left the few employees who had learned of it in shock, MZM Inc. founder Mitchell Wade selected James King, one of his longest-serving and closest associates, to be the company's president and chief executive officer.

King, who retired from the Army as a three-star general, notified a few employees last night that his mandate was to find a buyer for the company, which has signed more than $110 million in federal contracts since 2002.

Click here to read the entire article

Article: U.S. Faces Prison Ship Allegations

This article was posted on the BBC NEWS web site...

US faces prison ship allegations

The UN wants to investigate torture allegations at the campThe United Nations says it has learned of serious allegations that the US is secretly detaining terrorism suspects, notably on American military ships.

The special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak said the accusations were rumours at this stage, but urged the US to co-operate in an investigation.

He said the UN wants lists of the places of detention and those held.

The comments come five days after the UN accused the US of stalling on their requests to visit Guantanamo Bay.

Click here to read the entire article

Blog: House Conservatives Gouge Veterans

This blog post appears on thinkprogress.org...

On Day of Iraq Speech, House Conservatives Gouge Vets

This just in from the Hill. On the same day President Bush will use the soldiers at Fort Bragg as a backdrop for his address on Iraq, conservatives in the House have voted to underfund veterans’ health care by at least $1 billion.

The backstory: Last week, the Washington Post revealed that the budget for veterans’ health care was suffering a billion dollar shortfall this year, a fact unearthed “only during lengthy questioning” of a Veterans Affairs undersecretary.

Wednesday's DSM Articles

Here's the latest links to Downing Street Memo stories on the Internet..

Great press release from Democrats.com: http://www.democrats.com/node/5191

Excerpts from Bush's speech:
http://capitolbuzz.blogspot.com/2005/06/excerpts-of-tonights-bush-speech-white.html

Wall Street Journal on the DSM: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB111990950692870845-aL_AAmPTU7wzVmAd4_nb_3MIbhc_20060628,00.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

BradBlog announces Downing Street Town Hall Meetings: http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001499.htm

AfterDowningStreet, in conjunction with the Town Hall Meetings, announces DSM Day: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/526

For anyone who's interested, I've combined everything into a single post here: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2005/06/damn.html

Also see Raw Story for an update on the Downing Street speeches, which have been moved due to the usual GOP tricks.

Call To Action: Oppose Lester Crawford's Nomination!

Readers, especially the ladies out there, do you want Lester Crawford to impose his ideology on your reproductive rights? I didn't think so.

Please read the following email I received and sign this petition to urge your senators to join Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA) in opposing Crawford's nomination as head of the Food and Drug Administration!

Hi Robbie,

Even in our deeply divided nation, one thing I think we can all agree upon is the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies and in turn reduce demand for abortion. Take action: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25389

That's why we urgently need your help. President Bush has just nominated Lester Crawford for the top job at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Given Crawford's track record of prioritizing ideology over science in decision- making at the FDA - if he's confirmed it would be a giant step backwards for women's reproductive rights.

While Crawford was acting FDA Commissioner, the agency ignored advice from its own medical experts and blocked "Plan B", which was an application to make the morning- after pill available without a prescription. But studies show that improved access to emergency contraception could reduce the number of unintended pregnancies by half. Importantly, the morning-after pill is not the same as abortion; it will not affect or harm an established pregnancy.

Urge your senators to join Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA), and oppose the Crawford nomination.

Sign the petition: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25389

Thank you for taking action today!

- Dawn S
Care2 and ThePetitionSite team

Call To Action: Urge Your Representatives To Vote No On CAFTA

Readers,

This is a reminder to please sign the existing Call To Action to urge your Representative to vote NO on CAFTA. For those of you who watch NASCAR, the Kannapolis, NC textile factory mentioned in the following email is the same one Ralph, Dale, and Kerry Earnhardt worked in to support their families before they launched their racing careers.

In addition, here's a link to a November 2004 story on the aftermath of the textile quotas ending, and how the residents of the mill town in the Carolinas are dealing with the loss of their jobs.

Dear Robbie,

On July 30, 2003, 4,300 people lost their jobs in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Increased pressure from cheap imports forced the local textile factory, which once produced 300,000 towels a day, to close. Nearly half of these workers were over 50 years old.

Unfortunately, this story is not unique. As our government negotiates new free trade agreements - specifically, the Central America Free Trade Agreement, "CAFTA" - the incentive to move plants overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor will increase, and the story of Kannapolis, North Carolina will repeat itself in towns all over the United States. But there is still time to act!

Because of problems like this, overwhelming public opposition throughout the Americas has thus far prevented the Bush Administration and Congressional leadership from bringing CAFTA to a vote.

Until now.

The Bush Administration has stepped up its campaign to get CAFTA passed, and the latest word is that the US House and Senate will try to bring it to a vote before the July 4th recess. Please take the time to ask your representatives to vote no on CAFTA.

Increased trade has the potential to reduce poverty and encourage development, but CAFTA is the wrong approach. CAFTA threatens American manufacturing jobs and the livelihoods of rural farmers in Central America who are unable to compete with the heavily subsidized United States ag-businesses. $18 billion in annual subsidies allow US farmers to export their products to foreign markets at prices that are below the cost of production. How can small rural farmers in Central America compete?

CAFTA promises to bring hardship to the working class on both sides of the border.

Please email your Representative and Senators today.

Thank you,
Jenny M.
Care2 & ThePetitionSite Team

Call To Action: Support The REAL Act For Responsible Sex Education

That's right, folks! Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill that would bring sex education programs to teens that will teach responsibility rather than abstinence. Please take a moment to read the following email and sign the petition to get your senators to support this important bill.

Hi Robbie,

For years, taxpayer dollars have flooded into unproven abstinence-only programs. And President Bush has just proposed another $38 million increase in his FY 2006 budget for such programs - while no federal program is dedicated to honest and comprehensive sex education. Take action: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25386

This huge investment in abstinence-only programs conflicts with scientific and medical research, which shows that abstinence-only programs have never been proven effective and may result in riskier behavior by teenagers.

The government's focus on abstinence-only programs also runs counter to the preferences of a vast majority of parents, who want their children to receive medically- accurate, age-appropriate sex education. According to a 2004 survey, 94% of Americans think it's appropriate to teach young people about birth control.

Let's inject some common sense into the sex-ed debate. Urge your Senators to support the REAL Act sponsored by Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) for responsible sex education: http://www.care2.com/go/z/25386

Thank you for taking action today!
- Dawn S
Care2 and ThePetitionSite team

Call To Action: Help End Worldwide Child Poverty

I received this email yesterday, and I'm also posting the petition link in the Call To Action section. Please take a moment to read this post and sign this petition. Thanks!

Hi Robbie,

Poverty kills one child every three seconds Sudanese refugee children live on half a cup of cornmeal per day, sometimes less. It seems incredible that 204,000 children die from hunger, AIDS, and other preventable causes every week. However, the future doesn't have to be this bleak for children - we can make a difference. Please take one minute to sign a petition to end child poverty around the globe.

In only a few days President Bush and other world leaders will address the issue of global poverty at the G8 summit. We need your help to keep up the positive pressure. Please urge President Bush to help poverty-stricken families worldwide by:

• Increasing US aid for health, education, clean water, and other basic needs - at a cost of just ONE percent of the federal budget;
• Canceling the poorest countries' debts and fighting corruption;
• Reforming unfair trade rules to let poor people compete on fair terms and lift themselves out of poverty.
  

Sign this petition to make your voice heard!

More than 800,000 Americans have already sent in their comments because they believe that helping poor people help themselves reflects the deeply held American values of compassion, fair play, and self-help. Join them today and urge President Bush to lead the way to making poverty history!

Thank you,
Jenny M.
Care2 & ThePetitionSite Team

PS. We can do something about extreme poverty but time is running out - so after signing this petition please forward this message to your friends, family and colleagues.

Tuesday's DSM Media Targets

I apologize for these not being posted on the blog earlier this morning, but the media targets had not been determined by the time I left for work. If you didn't contact them today, you can still do so tomorrow.


TARGETS FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2005

1. Chicago Sun Times
Contact EITHER
Managing Editor Don Hayner
email: dhayner@suntimes.com

OR
Washington Bureau Chief Lynn Sweet
email: lsweet3022@aol.com
phone: 202-662-8808
fax: 202-662-8833

2. Jacksonville Florida Times Union, Managing Editor Mike Richey
email: mike.richey@jacksonville.com
phone 904-359-4438

3. Birmingham News
Contact EITHER
Executive Editor Hunter George
email: hgeorge@bhamnews.com
phone: 205-325-2295
fax: 205-325-3278

OR
Washington Correspondent Mary Orndorff
email: mary.orndorff@newhouse.com
phone: 202-383-7837
fax: 202-296-9537

The Chicago Sun Times lags behind all the other large papers in its coverage of DSM (aside from the Wall Street Journal, which publishes its first article today). It has published only two abbreviated AP articles (on 17th and 19th), neither of them remotely the best of the AP stories on DSM. Managing Editor Don Hayner was a City Desk reporter and then Metro Editor until recently; his interests seem to be foremost in the city of Chicago. Lynn Sweet may be a good bet to interest in DSM, however. She has a high profile as an investigative journalist, and likes a challenging story. A professional journal recently described her thus: "She careens from story to story, describing her modus operandi as ‘journalistic triage.’ 'I'm always willing to stop on a dime and change what I'm doing.'" The other two papers appear not to have published anything at all on DSM to date, though it is far from clear why that should be.

Survey: MoveOn - What Should We Do About Iraq

MoveOn.org sent this email to me this morning, asking us to complete a short survey on what we should do about Iraq...

Dear MoveOn member,

Tonight, President Bush will give a speech in which, despite the chaos and car bombs and rising daily attacks by insurgents, he'll argue that everything is going well in Iraq and we should stay the course. It's clear that the president is out of touch with reality—as Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said, "It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq."

We believe that it's time to stand up to him and demand that Congress begin bringing our troops home, while doing what we can to support a stable Iraq. We got into this war the wrong way, and it's time to get out the right way.

But we want to know where you stand. Should we work together in a major campaign to get Democrats and Republicans in Congress on board with a responsible exit plan? Or should we focus on other issues, either in Iraq or here at home?

We won't move forward without a mandate from you. Vote now at:

http://moveonpac.org/iraqsurvey/resolution.html?id=5716-5264813-vjyPsCSOlRozZD8lGjfX6g&t=3

For the last few years, the American public has been split on what to do about Iraq. Some folks have argued that it's our responsibility to stay there until a democratic, stable state emerges. Others believe that our presence fuels the insurgency, and that it's our duty to our men and women in uniform and to the Iraqi people to bring our troops home.

But in recent months, a major opinion shift has occurred: now more and more Americans believe that we've done what we can in Iraq, and that it's time to begin to come home.

Two weeks ago Rep. Walter Jones, the formerly pro-war Republican representative who coined the term "Freedom Fries," joined a bi-partisan group of legislators to call for a concrete plan to bring our men and women home from Iraq. The resolution introduced by him, fellow Republican Rep. Ron Paul and Democratic Congressmen Neil Abercrombie and Dennis Kucinich would require the president to put together a plan by the end of the year for bringing home all U.S. forces from Iraq—with troop withdrawal beginning no later than October 1, 2006.

Polling shows that nearly 60% of Americans say they oppose the Iraq war—including half who say it was a mistake. At the same time, Republican critics of the war grow by the day. Democrats are beginning to speak out. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called Iraq a "grotesque mistake" and Senate Leader Harry Reid called Bush policy, "disconnected from the reality on the ground."

These changes signal that there is perhaps a unique moment to point out the problems in Iraq and end the war in a better way than we started—bringing our troops home safely and helping the Iraqis build a new post-Saddam life.

We want to know what you think. Please take a few minutes right now to let us know by completing the survey at the link below.

http://moveonpac.org/iraqsurvey/resolution.html?id=5716-5264813-vjyPsCSOlRozZD8lGjfX6g&t=4

Thanks for sharing your feedback.

–Eli Pariser
Executive Director, MoveOn PAC
Tuesday, June 28th, 2005

P.S. Here are some helpful resources about the current state of affairs in Iraq.

"Bush Shifts Focus to Iraq," Associated Press, June 16, 2005
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/16/bush.ap/

"Bush's Support on Major Issues Tumbles in Poll," The New York Times, June 17, 2005.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17poll.html

"N.C. congressmen supports timetable for withdrawal from Iraq." Associated Press, June 12, 2005.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=759

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Monday's DSM Media Targets

TARGETS FOR MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2005

1. Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star, Managing Editor Steve Thomas
email: sthomas@journalstar.com

2. Indianapolis Star
EITHER Managing Editor Pam Fine
email: pam.fine@indystar.com
phone: 317-444-6168
fax: 317-444-6565
OR
Washington Correspondent Maureen Groppe
email: mgroppe@gns.gannett.com
phone: 202-906-8118
fax: 202-906-8220

3. Lansing State Journal, Managing Editor Managing Editor Stephanie Angel
email: sangel@lsj.com
phone: 517-377-1017

Neither the Lincoln nor the Lansing papers appear to have published anything yet on DSM. The Journal Star is pretty middle of the road in terms of its politics, and Steve Thomas seems to be a no-nonsense kind of editor with little patience for spit-ball politics. The absence of coverage of DSM is somewhat surprising, given that Thomas seems to look for substance in political reporting. The Lansing and Indianapolis papers are fairly conservative; both belong to the Ganett chain.

The Indianapolis Star has published 3 news stories that mention DSM, but all were brief and unspecific. One article devotes only three sentences to the Bush/Blair denials; one focuses entirely on the briefing paper and the alleged lack of post-war planning; and one quotes a short bit of DSM while describing Conyers’ forum. Readers of the Star would have little idea about the significance of DSM from these stories, and would know nothing about any of the related documents except the July 21 briefing paper.

Editor Pam Fine, recently hired away from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (which has been in the forefront of coverage of DSM) finds herself caught in the middle of murky lawsuit at the Star, so tensions may be high there; be nice to her. DC Correspondent Maureen Groppe seems to do a lot of reporting about pharmaceutical companies, so perhaps not a strong bet to cover DSM.

Latest Podcast 6/27/05

Since I'm starting my new job today, I will have less time to update this blog. What I'm going to do for now on is create podcasts and commentary twice a week.

Look for these podcasts every Thursday and Monday morning. They will be longer in length than the daily ones I created during the past few weeks, and will contain commentary in additon to updates to the blog so you can keep current on events affecting Progressives and Liberals.

Today's podcast will include coverage of:

• News articles pertaining to the Downing Street Memo
• The secrecy behind Dick Cheney's health
• Doubting the official 9/11 report
• The possible reinstitution of the draft
• Two blogs covering the College Republicans National Convention and differences in Democrat and Republican priorities
• An update on the Iraqi invasion
• Saturday's Wingnut History Lesson
• An "inviting" mainstream media picture
• My latest Calls to Action.

In the meantime, I will continue to update the blog nightly with news articles, Calls to Action, updates on other blogs, and other stuff intended to bring out the worst in wingnuts.

However, don't be too surprised if you see a surprise commentary and podcast once in awhile in addition to the regular schedule.

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Click here to subscribe to my site feed.

Click here to download the latest iPodder software.

Latest Podcast 6/24/05

Here's the podcast that should've been out last Friday, where I defend myself from treason charges made by Bill O'Reilly and others. I also take the time to write one of my famous "open letters" to traitor baiters.

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Article: U.S. In Secret Talks With Iraqi Insurgents

I thought we didn't negotiate with terrorists? I thought we were going to fight until we surrender? What's the real story, Chickenhawks?

This article first appeared in the U.K., and here it is courtesy of MSNBC.com...

Report: U.S. in secret talks with Iraq insurgents
British newspaper says U.S. officials tried to open dialogue

Updated: 12:43 a.m. ET June 26, 2005

LONDON - U.S. officials held secret talks in Iraq with the commanders of several Iraqi insurgent groups recently in an attempt to open a dialogue with them, a British newspaper reported Sunday.

The commanders “apparently came face to face” with four American officials during meetings on June 3 and June 13 at a summer villa near Balad, about 25 miles north of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, according to The Sunday Times.

The Sunday Times said neither the Iraqi government nor U.S. officials in Baghdad would confirm its report about the talks.

Click here to read the entire article