Just a Little Reminder...

First?

He supports torture too. Mr. Frist votes YES on GONZALEZ-BUSH and TORTURE.

Wonder how many hearts he ripped out without anesthesia!

The People's Email Network ACTION Newsletter

How would YOU like to influence a piece of congressional legislation? Doesn't
that sound like fun? That's what The People's Email Network is all about. So
let's just do it! This week the Congress will try to fast track proposals to
restrict class action lawsuits to federal court, even where existing state
remedies might be more effective. Unless you raise your voice now this thing is
going to be rammed through in a matter of days. What do you think Congress
should do?

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

Our numbers are growing. We know we have had an impact already. Someday soon
your voices will make a decisive difference in policy decisions in the Congress.
Let that day be today.

Please forward this message and post this link everywhere you can to everyone
you know.

And then there are the in vitro kitty stories...

Ah yes, the standard bearer for "Compassionate Conservatism".

This is the same guy that said,"Get more devastation in the background", when his staff was taking pictures of each other at the tsunami disaster.

Well there was a quote yesterday from Cheney involving a meat cleaver.

& for those fleeing to Canada, instead of "we are everywhere" it's turning into "they are everywhere"

U.S. groups join fight against gay unions
 
OTTAWA -- Powerful U.S. religious groups are quietly sending money and support to allies in Canada to fight same-sex marriage.

Moreover, some U.S. groups say they will spend whatever it takes to ensure same-sex marriage does not become legal north of the border.

Patrick Korten, vice-president of communications for the Knights of Columbus head office in New Haven, Conn., says no limit has been set on the help his organization is prepared to offer.

"Whatever it takes," he said. "The family is too important."

Korten said the U.S. headquarters of the Catholic men's group paid $80,782 Cdn to print two million postcards now being distributed in Catholic churches across Canada.

"It has been extremely enthusiastically received in Catholic parishes all over Canada. As a matter of fact, we may have to print some more -- there was a great deal of interest in it. It offers a quick, simple but effective way for Catholics ... to make their feelings about the same-sex marriage bill known to their MPs."

Another formidable opponent of same-sex marriage, Focus on the Family, is also sending support and services worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to its Canadian affiliate.

Under Canadian law, sending money across the border to fund allies fighting Canadian legislation is not illegal. While Canadian registered charities can spend no more than 10 per cent of their budgets on political activity, the only time interest groups are restricted in what they can spend on political lobbying is during elections and referendums.

While the $304,125 that Focus on the Family Canada received in services from its U.S. parent in 2003 (and didn't declare in its financial statement) is equivalent to only 3.1 per cent of its total revenues that year of $9.6 million, Alex Munter, national co-ordinator for Canadians for Equal Marriage, says it is several times more than the $46,000 his group has been able to raise from across Canada since the Supreme Court reference on same-sex marriage.

"In terms of scale, we're dealing with an enormous operation that has charitable status and is funded by deep pockets, including deep pockets from the United States."

Munter said his group has not received any money or services from U.S. groups supporting same-sex marriage.

James Dobson, the charismatic founder of Focus on the Family who has been described as one of the most influential Christian figures in the United States, personally waded into the debate two weeks ago in a radio show taped in Colorado Springs and transmitted as a paid broadcast to 130 radio stations in Canada.

"It is clear here in the United States that the American people do not want same-sex marriage. I would hope that Canadians who also do not want same-sex marriage would be encouraged by what has happened down here."

Dobson also attacked Prime Minister Paul Martin for refusing cabinet ministers a free vote.

"Your prime minister, Paul Martin, has recently done things to subvert the will of the people," he said.

Focus on the Family Canada pays for airtime on Canadian stations to air Dobson's broadcast, seek donations and promote the sale of its books and other materials.

Focus on the Family Canada has also put a Marriage Action Kit on its website -- a sophisticated step by step guide to lobbying.
© The Vancouver Sun 2005

There are 340,000 images of Christ on the internet & in the very first image, he's holding up Mentos candy!

Posted by: DiAnne at February 6, 2005 10:59 PM

You can always make me laugh!

MIDWESTERNERS--PROTEST BUSH!!! IT'll be worth the drive! Don't let Bush gamble with social security. Tell Bush to STOP HURTING THE LITTLE GUY. (hey--while you're there, may as well carry NO TORT REFORM FOR THE BIG CORPS EITHER signs.)

Many Washtenaw area Democrats & independents

From: Washtenaw Democrats' "Defending Social Security Committee"
(Doug Kelley, chair; Leah Gillon, secy.; Diane Giannola, treasurer)

To help roll onwards the anti-privatization MOMENTUM, please take
part in one or more of the following activities, starting
THIS TUESDAY:

1) Join folks from all over SE Michigan, carrying anti-privatization signs
outside Detroit's Cobo Center THIS TUESDAY, Feb. 8, when George W. Bush is
to speak to the Detroit Economic Club. We will carpool from Ann Arbor's
Arborland parking lot, in front of the Borders Bookstore there, LEAVING at
10 a.m. Please be there by 9:45 (look for the PT Cruiser with woody sides &
relevant stickers), and phone (734) 662-1731 in advance to say whether you
need a ride or can take riders. The gathering point in Detroit, between 11
and 11:30: on the south side of Jefferson Ave., as close to Cobo Center as
may be permitted. (IF you bring a sign, focus only on DON'T PRIVATIZE
Social Security; signs about other issues would be distractive & thus
counter-productive. We will have big-sizes anti-privatization shirts to
wear over other clothing.) It will be helpful to have people of ALL ages.
Dress WARMLY!

2) Our DEFENDING SOCIAL SECURITY COMMITTEE will meet at 6:30 p.m. (until 8
p.m.) SUNDAY, FEB. 13, in the Pittsfield Twp. Hall, just west of the corner
of Platt Rd. and Michigan Ave. Please attend and bring a friend! A Panel of
Six of our members will describe what they've been doing (and you can do)
to stop the privatization scheme and preserve Social Security. And we'll
hear a report on the Feb. 8 activity in Detroit. Anti-privatization shirts,
buttons and bumperstickers will be on sale, and literature will be
available. Plans will be made for our first very specifically-focused
letter-writing & phoning campaign.

3) An organizational meeting of hundreds of our anti-privatization
colleagues from all over SE Michigan will be held from 6 p.m. until 8,
FRIDAY, FEB. 18, in the UAW Region 1 Pavilion building, 27700 George
Merrelli Dr., Warren, MI. Speakers will include Dr. Max J. Skidmore (author
of SOCIAL SECURITY AND ITS ENEMIES) AND one or more U.S. Senators and House
members. Rally sponsor: the Michigan Alliance to Strengthen Social Security
and Medicare: 313, 935-8480; 8616 Cheyenne, Detroit, MI 48228; e-mail:

FOR A RIDE or to offer one: call 734, 662-1731.
(Directions: exit 696 at Van Dyke, go north to 1st light, Tank Rd.; turn
left/west on Tank Rd. to Merrelli.)

Some interesting stories this a.m. ....

Preview of a Dean DNC
Feb. 7, 2005 — Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has assured party leaders that if he's elected to head the Democratic National Committee next week, he will focus aggressively on raising money and winning elections, party officials and Dean advisers have told ABC News.

Dean has also said he'd allow members of Congress and Democratic governors to set the party's policy agenda, the sources said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=472594&page=1
____

Internet political wiz predicts finance reform
By jason ziven
February 7, 2005

Veteran Democratic political strategist Joe Trippi's career began with a city council race in San Jose, Calif.

Since his first endeavor, he has served in various senior roles on five presidential campaigns, including a stint as campaign manager for Howard Dean's failed bid for the White House.

Trippi reaffirmed the widespread belief that Dean will serve as chairman of the Democratic National Committee but added that he expects the former governor to leave the DNC before 2008 to run for president a second time.

In terms of explaining the current political climate, Trippi said that the Republicans are "playing a completely different level of chess."

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/07/42070d538db11
________
I hope Trippi is wrong about Dean leaving the DNC to run for prez in '08. I can't see how Dean could possibly run. There is just too much work that needs to be done for him to do that. We will be so screwed if he does. Even if we have a strong showing during the midterms, the last thing we need to do is change chairs midstream. After his term is up fine, in 2012 or 2016, he can do whatever he wants. But through 2008 he needs to only worry about being DNC chair, period. I have no reason to think Dean won't run for prez, but he appears to be so committed to bolstering the entire party and he's gotta know dipping out midway thru would be a huge blow to the organization, right? So I have to think that Joe Trippi (whom I'm not a fan of anyway) is putting this out there for possibly a malicious reason (he and Dean have issues and I thought I read he was backing Rosenberg before he dropped out) or maybe he just is an internet genious and has absolutely no common sense. Who knows? Just hope it ain't true because I'm sure some Dems who are supporting Dean are saying that they aren't signing on to a 2-year chairman.

We'll see....

Dean said at the Florida DNC debate that if he is elected to head the DNC, he would not run for President in 2008.

Rumsfeld says the troops are overstressed.
ya think?

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/02/06/troops/index.html

Posted by: sparrow at February 7, 2005 10:45 AM

Ok...well, I contradicted their instructions by adding tort reform, but a B I G S I G N that says

N O G A M B L I N G

O U R S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y

NO T O R T R E F O R M

WE say NO to BUSH. Time to stick up for the little guys!

The definition of family values chnages over time..
registration is free.

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_archives&mode=point_of_view&article=POV_050202_armour

[snip]
The religious right would have us believe that their version of Christian "family values" was ordained by God when he created Adam and Eve (not, as they point out, Adam and Steve) and has remained the same ever since. However, the version of marriage whose sanctity is supposedly threatened - a monogamous, lifetime, romantic union between one man and one woman centered around producing and caring for children - would be a foreign notion to pre-modern Christians.

Dr.Strangeglove is at it again..
New Neucs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52564-2005Jan31.html

[snip]
Opponents of the proposed new weapon have argued that sealing off underground facilities could be done as well with smart, precision-guided conventional weapons, a position supported in 2003 by Adm. James O. Ellis Jr., then head of the U.S. Strategic Command. They also have said that no casing could dig deep enough to prevent the nuclear warhead's explosion from sending tons of radioactive debris into the atmosphere.

Battlebob

The fundamentalist Christian movement is a backlash movement - they can't adapt to change.

This is their last gasp.

The conservative white male is dying out - that's why they're trying to "recruit" young people for the Republican party by indoctrinating them about "culture of life" and "personal accounts" and "ownership."

Even if they succeed, it will only be in parts of this continent & I doubt they can finance it.

Religious fanaticism peaks around each Millenium & also during wartime & the opportunity for propaganda presented by war also encourages fascist tendencies.

I was shocked reading American history yesterday & seeing the photos from the 1920s of a Ku Klux Klan rally that attracted 440,000 people to Washington DC!

I concluded that there had been a tug of war between fascism & democracy in this country for a long long time.

The other amazing statistic - 200,000 filed conscientious objector claims for the Vietnam war! There is a reason the draft hasn't been reinstated - it makes people think.

Check out the graphs in this article -

There is no correlation between programs for low-income people & the deficit. Cutting the programs will not help the deficit.

http://www.cbpp.org/2-4-05bud.htm

The real motive is to reduce government & keep just corporate privilege & military might to protect corporations. That is also the definition of the F word - the one with 3 syllables.

"People in Congress on both sides of the aisle have said, 'Let's worry about the deficit.' I said 'Okay, we'll worry about it again.'"
– President Bush, 2/4/05
VERSUS
"Vice President Dick Cheney acknowledged Sunday that the federal government would need to borrow trillions of dollars...to cover the cost of the private retirement accounts at the heart of President Bush's plan to revamp Social Security."
– Washington Post, 2/7/05

Swinging the 'Meat Ax'

The conservative ideological agenda on the economy has hit full stride: aggressively slash taxes on the wealthy; run up huge budget deficits; then push for massive cuts in critical domestic spending under the guise of fiscal responsibility. 

President Bush will introduce a budget today that is so callous Vice President Cheney felt compelled yesterday to assure viewers of Fox News that "it's not something we've done with a meat ax."

Just as with its push for privatizing Social Security, the White House plans "an elaborate marketing strategy to sell the cuts to voters and lawmakers." The message: they aren't cutting government programs for the needy, they are "centralizing government services and saving tax payer money."

America doesn't need to be sold another product. America needs a responsible budget that allocates resources to where they are most needed.

(much more at American Progress)

DiAnne-
You made some excellent points...
"The conservative white male is dying out - that's why they're trying to "recruit" young people for the Republican party by indoctrinating them about "culture of life" and "personal accounts" and "ownership."

(One thing I'm worried about with Repubs targeting younger folks in my age group with this SS scare is that we Dems aren't going after the Gen Xers on this issue as well. Yes, we do have the majority of seniors on our side on this (and they are the ones who vote and actually have time to complain to their congressional reps) but we Dems also need to assure younger voters that there is no immediate crisis as well. We need to be fighting for this crowd too and not become complacent into thinking younger voters will see it our way regardless. In fact, if you ask the average young, working voter they do think SS is in crisis and that the current generation of seniors is sucking the system dry and that they are paying into the system to keep them fed but there will be nothing left for them when they are at retirement age. So we really need to target some of our messaging towards the younger crowd. Interesting the repubs are trying to make it a nonissue for current seniors by saying if you're 55 or older you're okay. That leaves them free to focus alot of their messaging towards the younger crowd.)
_____
"Religious fanaticism peaks around each Millenium"

That's true too. Actually around each turn of a century there's a spike. Unfortunately we're still living in the midst of end of the world hysteria, which 9/11 fits perfectly into place with. Couldn't have been timed any better. When JK and JE were out trying to convince people to be optimistic I knew it was an uphill battle because of this. This is the religious fanatics time to shine. It won't be long before they are fringe cuckoos again.

Posted by: DiAnne at February 7, 2005 10:22 AM

I sincerely hope the Canadians wean themselves off of the US economy and trade more with the rest of the world, so that they won't have to cower in front of barbarians like Dobson and Graham.

Posted by: florida dem at February 7, 2005 12:00 PM

Good point. Too many of us younger folks voted for Bush, even though many of us never bought into his Christian social conservatism. Why? Because of the privatization of Social Security. Why? Because most of the twentysomethings believe they will never get Social Security money as is.

If we controlled this exodus of young votes to the Republicans, we could have won the last election.

Because most of the twentysomethings believe they will never get Social Security money as is.

If we controlled this exodus of young votes to the Republicans, we could have won the last election.

Posted by: AllyMcLesbian formerly SkinnyLawyer at February 7, 2005 12:12 PM

I am flabbergasted. Are you really saying that those between the ages of 18 and 30 who voted for Bush (which is beyond my comprehension to begin with) voted for him because of his approach to Soc Security? If that's the case, we are in big, big trouble.

Certainly no 20 year olds I know did. I'm curious, did those Gen Y's who voted for him actually read what he proposes? Have they ever gotten the real facts about the true state of Soc Security? Are they reading the pieces by highly influential experts in the financial industry that lay out what is wrong and ridiculous about what Bush is saying? Are they so selfish they have no idea what a social contract is?

I'm sorry - but this I don't blame on the Dems.

Posted by: AllyMcLesbian formerly SkinnyLawyer at February 7, 2005 12:12 PM

What exodus of votes to Republicans? Can you link to that statistical finding?

JK won the youth vote overall I believe. I'm not sure why the young voters who voted for Shrub made that choice, my guess more so misinformation about 9/11 than anything, but I can't say I recall Shrub really ever harping on SS enough to make it a campaign issue. I think the Repubs purposely waited until they got back into the WH to push this one thru because he would have lost for sure if he made this privatization scam a focal point of the campaign. That said, my concern is that the Repubs are selling this to the younger crowd because they are the future voters who can change things. If their SS scam doesn't fly now, it may in the next election cycle or maybe even 10, 20 years down the road when today's youth vote becomes the more concerned middle-aged and senior vote. My point was that the Repubs are laying the seeds now for future upheaval and we need to counteract it now.

Ally McLesbian,

I know this is a personal question, but, did people compare you to Ally McBeal? If they did, I have to say that if they did, it is surely only becuase of your self descibed skinny lawyerism.

You are far more articulate than Ally EVER was, even on her good, less multiple personality disorder days.

And I don't think that Ally would blog, but I do think that Ally would fall for someone adicted to blogging and therefore have trouble communicating in relationships, and then she would go see Tracy Ullman and then...oh please God, I am going off on an Allyism. I thought I had all that licked when it went off the air...anyway, you are far more articulate and witty and focused than Ally, was my only point.

And please, fellow bloggers, lets resist the teptation I just threw out there to make this an Ally McBeal thread. I am sooo very sorry I mentioned the subject. Just trying to give our fellow blogger a small compliment. Note to self, purge brain. Next...

Remember that Ally McBeal episode where Ally has hallucinations of a CG dancing baby running around her apartment to the music of "I can't stop this feeling"? That was a great show.

Hello DCP Bloggers, just because we're 18 days into Nixon II's second administration doesn't mean our fight is over! If the gov't wants to pretend 60% of Americans support torture just because 60% of the Senate votes to confirm Alberto Gonzales, they've got another thing coming. They try to dissolve the links between Abu Ghraib, GTMO, and those infamous Gonzales memorandum but we have the truth on our side. History will be the ultimate judge of our actions today, and in time we may come to realize the folly of letting Bush pick an Attorney General that thinks the Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war are "obsolete". Have a good Monday everybody!