We Don't Go Quietly

Perfect action for my cell. In the NYT today as LTEs:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/opinion/l09bankrupt.html

Also, encouraging news on NYS election reform. Momentum to e-voting is being given a challenge by today's NYT editorial speaking praises about paper ballots and scanners. Timely because voting out of the committee is due this month. The editorial didn't qualify precinct-counted, which is key, but that can be refined and stated.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/opinion/09wed3.html?th

A couple of articles by Wallis...
WHAT JESUS WOULDN'T DO
Jim Wallis, AlterNet
In an excerpt from his book, Jim Wallis explains that much of the religious Right's agenda is in direct contradiction to Christ's own teachings -- and most devout Christians know it.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21428/
Plus, Wallis conducts a 'values audit' of the president's
2006 federal budget -- which reveals a document that is deeply un-Christian.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21426/

Kerry Fortifies War Chest, Keeps Momentum for 2008
9 March 2005

There has already been a lot of speculation for the 2008 election, which has been discussed here in recent days. There are certainly far more pressing matters to be concerned about these days, like Social Security, the Bankruptcy Bill, and regaining control of the House and Senate in 2006.

However, in my opinion John Kerry sits in a unique position these days, which places him ahead of the game with other mentioned possibilities for 2008.

There is his email list that is 3 million strong and participants on his list remain active when Kerry sends out a call to action. Then there is the fact that Kerry’s financial backers have not shied away from support of Kerry, either. Finally, Kerry has shown since getting back to work in the Senate that he’s not backing down.

He's been actively pursuing legislation that he campaigned on in 2004, such as healthcare for kids, support for Military members and their families and small business legislation that supports that true members of the small business community, not the big business community that Bush supports.

The Boston Herald reports today that Monday night John Kerry hosted an “intimate political gathering” with about 100 of his top fundraisers.

MORE - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=495

Okay, is this riduculous or what???? The bastards are still gunning for THK.
_____________________________________________
Sen. Heinz's will to be made public
Wednesday, March 09, 2005

By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A judge yesterday modified a court order that had sealed the will of the late Sen. John Heinz.

Common Pleas Judge Frank J. Lucchino ordered that the contents be made available for public scrutiny, but some personal and sensitive information contained in the documents be concealed.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05068/468420.stm

THESE SENATORS VOTED AGAINST CLOTURE: THANK THEM.
Akaka (D-HI), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Nay
Bayh (D-IN), Nay
Bingaman (D-NM), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay
Clinton (D-NY), Nay
Corzine (D-NJ), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Nay
Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Durbin (D-IL), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Jeffords (I-VT), Nay
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay
Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Nay
Levin (D-MI), Nay
Mikulski (D-MD), Nay
Murray (D-WA), Nay
Obama (D-IL), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Nay
Reid (D-NV), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Sarbanes (D-MD), Nay
Schumer (D-NY), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Nay

TSK, TSK.. . .these Dems, plus all Repubs, voted FOR cloture:
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea

This information from www.senate.gov. Since newspapers seem no longer to publish this stuff, the senate web page seems to be the only easy way to find out roll-call votes. . .

A co-worker just sent me this. Wow.....

http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/2748_0_2_0/

Covering for the Saudis
By Sherrie Gossett | March 9, 2005 The materials offer an implied death threat against tolerant Muslim imams, as well as an incitement to vigilante violence. Listen to the radio version
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Format this page for printing

You may have noticed recent stories about a groundbreaking report on how the Saudi government has been distributing propaganda in U.S. mosques advocating Nazi-like hatred of non-Muslims. But this isn't even the tip of the iceberg. It's just a piece of the tip of the iceberg. So says Yehudit Barsky, director of the Middle East and International Terrorism department of the American Jewish Committee.

The 89-page report, "Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Fill American Mosques," was released by Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom. The report is based on a year-long study of over 200 original documents, disseminated by the Saudi government and collected from 15 mosques in the United States.

The Saudi literature promotes contempt for America's un-Islamic government, and violence against apostates. Muslims are told their duty includes eliminating the state of Israel. They have a spiritual obligation to hate Christians and Jews, and the materials provide details on just how to do that. It is so extreme that Muslims who have a non-Muslim maid or cook are told to "hate her for Allah's sake."

Muslims are only to be in this country to work for jihad or to proselytize. The materials offer an implied death threat against tolerant Muslim imams, as well as an incitement to vigilante violence. Sufi and Shiite Muslims are viciously condemned by these Wahhabist texts. And what about those who convert out of Islam? They should be killed.

The dissemination of hate ideology by Saudi Arabia is known to be worldwide, but its occurrence within the United States has received little attention until now. Barksy told AIM, "I have yet to see the media lay down the gauntlet and say, 'Let's see what else is out there.'" Indeed, some of the top mainstream Jewish leaders in the U.S. have expressed deep frustration and disappointment to AIM about the media's apparent unwillingness to investigate such issues. A key neglected area is the use of Saudi textbooks in private Islamic schools in the U.S. The books, as revealed in a previous study, are rife with the same extremist ideology uncovered by the Freedom House report. That previous study, "The West, Christians, and Jews in Saudi Arabian Schoolbooks" was released in February 2003 by the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace and the American Jewish Committee.

The textbooks were of course, known about prior to this extensive study. Ironically, on the Sept 8, 2002 edition of 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl interviewed Saudi Foreign Minister Sa'ud al-Faisal on these notorious schoolbooks. Stahl said, "We didn't understand that your school children were being fed a diet of hatred about the United States." The reporter on the segment linked the issue to 9/11.

What about Islamic schools here in the U.S. that experts say are feeding kids that same "diet of hatred." Isn't that worth investigating?
_________

Benson on the seperation of Church and State.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/

Tell Us Something We Don’t Already Know: U.S. Infrastructure Gets a 'D'
9 March 2005

A report released today by the American Society of Civil Engineers cites that in the past four years the infrastructure of America has “shown little to no improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001.”

Crowded schools, traffic-choked roads and transit cutbacks are eroding the quality of American life, according to an analysis by civil engineers that gave the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of D.

“Americans are spending more time stuck in traffic and less time at home with their families,” William Henry, the group’s president, said in a statement. “We need to establish a comprehensive, long-term infrastructure plan as opposed to our current ‘patch and pray’ method to ensure a better quality of life for everyone.”

More-
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=496

FD 11:49

As in not connecting the dots when voting, all those Christians and Jews embracing Bush as good, moral, being God, and voting their interests.

This is a dangerous form of Muslim belief spreading beyond mosques and Arab communities. We have a lot of disenfranchised and angry people looking for an outlet of hate, as well as belief.

Bush to visit Tucson on March 21.
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/metro/64799
[snip]
Maybe Dems could host their own townhall afterwords?

Ask the good doctor..

Pete Newcome has asked the Democratic Party to tell you about the following action center on Democrats.org.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean Will Answer Your Questions on Friday, March 11

Submit your question below for our online chat with new DNC Chairman Howard Dean, then return to Democrats.org on Friday, March 11 to see Governor Dean's answers!

Click here to take action today!

http://www.democrats.org/action/200503070002.html?psc=taf

Pete Newcome 's comments:

Governor Dean will entertain answers to questions you have - this Friday - March 11th. Take a minute or two to direct a question to him and check back in on Friday - March 11th for his responses.

Sensing a long-elusive victory at hand, Republican backers exulted Tuesday and urged colleagues to move speedily through remaining Senate deliberations.

"The sooner we finish work in the Senate and get the bill to the House, the sooner our bankruptcy system will be focused as it should be on helping those with real need, and less vulnerable to abuse by consumers who have the ability to repay their debts," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the bill's primary author.

The bill's supporters argued that bankruptcy frequently is the last refuge of gamblers, impulsive shoppers, divorced or separated fathers avoiding child support, and multimillionaires, often celebrities, who buy mansions in states with liberal homestead exemptions to shelter assets from creditors.

Opponents, too, have a litany of stories. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, speaks of Zoraya Marrero, a single mother with three children from Woodbridge, Virginia, the eldest of whom has spina bifida. Having had to return $60,000 in state disability benefits and medical coverage for the child, and paying medical expenses, Marrero recently filed for bankruptcy.

Most applicants "did not seek bankruptcy relief willingly," Kennedy says. "Millions of ... Americans in similar situations have filed for bankruptcy only after exhausting all other options."

A recent Harvard University study found that costly illnesses led to about half of all personal bankruptcies and that most people who file for bankruptcy protection because of medical problems have health insurance.

Consumer and civil rights groups and unions say the legislation is unfair to low-income working people, single mothers, minorities and the elderly and would remove a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or face mounting medical bills. They say it would turn the bankruptcy courts into collection agencies for the credit card companies.

BB Note...
Jan was our pastor for many years, is a dear friend, and is one of the finest people on this planet.

Dear Friends of Peace,

Even though we might not all agree with Ecclesiastes that "there is a time for war and time for peace", we do agree that there is no time for torture. Disturbing news reports keep surfacing about how the American government (us) has knowingly used torture as a means to acquire intelligence information. Abu Graib is a nightmare we still need to resolve, and the possibility of using foreign governments to "assist" us in acquiring information shatters all notions of our country's greatness. Below is an announcement of one way to respond to these reports in order that truth and dignity may prevail. Whether in secret or in the open we do not want to uphold or turn our eyes from the use of torture.

Jan Olav Flaaten

Rev. Jan Olav Flaaten

Executive Director

The Arizona Ecumenical Council

4423 North 24th Street, Suite 750

Phoenix, Arizona 85016-5589

602-468-3818 - 602-468-3311 (fax)

jflaaten@aecunity.net
Our website is www.aecunity.net

Stop US Violations of international Laws Against Torture

Protest and Candlelight Vigil

Saturday, March 12, 4:30 - 7 PM

Bank One Building,

201 N. Central, Phoenix

(meet at 1st St . garage entrance)

4:30pm - 6pm presence by the parking garage entrance on sidewalk

6pm -7pm Candlelight Vigil

WE ACCUSE . . .

the Bush Administration of the deliberate use of torture around the world

WE DEMAND . . .

the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate this violation of United States and international law

WE INVITE . . .

"Distinguished Citizen" Senator Jon Kyl to sponsor legislation appointing a special prosecutor

On March 12, Senator Jon Kyl will be given the "Distinguished Citizen Award" by the University of Arizona Law School Alumni Association. Nothing would distinguish Senator Kyl more as a citizen than his opposition to the systematic use of torture by the Bush administration. Uncontradicted government documents reveal that the Bush administration has deliberately, systematically, and knowingly used torture against prisoners of war and innocent civilians around the world.

We oppose continued brutality, immorality, and inhumanity in our name. We demand an investigation of unlawful conduct by the Bush administration. We invite Senator Kyl to join us in this call.

Join us at the Bank One Building on Saturday, March 12, when we urge Senator Kyl to sponsor legislation appointing a special prosecutor to investigate these violations of national and international law.

Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research, Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Arizona Alliance for Peaceful Justice, www.azpeace.org, or call (480) 967-3880 (AIPER)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Social Security "does not face an immediate crisis," the head of the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday, but it does face a long-term financing problem "and it would be prudent to address it sooner rather than later."

David M. Walker, who heads the nonpartisan Office of Comptroller General, also criticized President Bush for undertaking an aggressive two-month tour to try to sell his plan for allowing younger workers to divert a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into private investment accounts. Walker suggested that Bush and members of Congress focus on improving financing for the program, which would not be significantly affected by establishment of personal accounts.

The testimony launched formal debate, before the House Ways and Means Committee, on Capitol Hill over Bush's plan to overhaul the federal retirement plan that began as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's post-Depression era "New Deal."

"I would have done it differently, I would have done it differently," Walker said, under aggressive questioning by Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York, the top Democrat on the panel. In his opening statement, Rangel declared, "Private accounts will not be on the table if you are looking for bipartisanship."

Hey, a question has just popped up here at work.....

Has anyone heard of a doomsday economist named Dr. Larry Bates?

What's the scoop on him. Is he in Camp ShrubCo?

Google indicates he's got a wide reach on faith-based talk radio. To quote one example that includes his bio:

-----

Dr. Larry Bates and co-host/son Chuck Bates are now airing their program "Unraveling the New World Order," on the powerful lineup of WWCR (World Wide Christian Radio). Dr. Bates and Chuck team up to offer a hot hour of live call in talk radio along with interesting interviews with newsmakers of the day. The program focuses on contemporary issues from an economic, political and religious viewpoint.

Dr. Bates, a veteran newsman, economist, and best selling author is a former Legislator, Bank CEO and is a nationally recognized authority on geopolitical systems, the economy and their impact on people's lives. Chuck Bates formerly served as an assistant to the Deputy to the President for Political Affairs in the White House.

Dr. Bates mentioned that recent response included a live phone in from a chauffeur in the JFK airport, listening to his program. Considering WWCR's coverage across North America and beyond, Dr. Bates recommends callers "keep trying" if they want to get on the air.

"Unraveling the New World Order" airs Live on WWCR, Monday-Friday at 12:00PM-Central, 1700 UTC, on 12.160 MHz.

WWCR (World Wide Christian Radio) which serves Europe, Middle East and Africa on Shortwave is the sister station to WNQM, 1300-AM, all located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Also, an excerpt from an Internet forum post that mentions him:

"Kinda like Dr. Larry Bates and Marlin Maddox on the conservative side during the whole Y2K scare. They swore up and down once Y2K came, President Clinton would declare martial law and personally welcome the Antichrist and begin rounding up all God fearing, morally upstanding conservatives and begin putting them in concentration camps, thus beginning The Rapture."

Otter

Equally as scary as Norman Bates. Related?

And if you really want to find out where this guy's head is at, read this screed by a like-minded author who proudly states that he was interviewed by Dr. Larry Bates on his radio show: http://www.worldministries.org/pastoral_articles/attack_america.pdf

In that same article, the author also explains that:

"In 2000 and 2001, besides traveling to many different countries delivering a message from God to those nations and leaders, I traveled across America with Dr. Larry Bates. Together with the team of Chuck Bates, Larry Pratt and Sid Roth, we warned the church of an economic meltdown, loss of freedom, terrorist attacks (chemical, biological, and nuclear), etc. I shared dogmatically that first thousands, then millions, would die in America as blood ran down their faces before some would turn to God and come out of mystery Babylon. I shared how there would come a catastrophic event either naturally and/or created to change the American way of life forever. I shared that World War III was coming. I shared how many politicians, as well as church leaders, were working in unity to create a One World Government. How many of our politicians, both democratic and republican, are committed to socialism and working diligently to take away our freedoms and usher the United States gradually into The New World Order."

Hmm... I think that pretty much gives us a good idea of where this Dr. Larry Bates person is coming from, don't you?

*yikes*

Special today... nutburgers with cheese, only $.99 each.

If you would like to see pitcures of the EYES WIDE SHUT exhibit, please visit www.BlogForArizona.com

sorry...EYES WIDE OPEN...not SHUT...

Gay couple suing USA Next for big bucks.......

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2005

Contact: John Aravosis
Spokesman for Richard M. Raymen and Steven P. Hansen

‘USA NEXT’ SUED FOR $25 MILLION
Couple Used in Homophobic Anti-AARP Ad Files Federal Lawsuit
http://www.americablog.org

‘USA NEXT’ SUED FOR $25 MILLION

Posted by: nancyjane at March 9, 2005 02:03 PM

How much you wanna bet USA NEXT files for bankruptcy protection first?

Marc-there's no hurry for them to file since this "moral bankrucy" legislation won't apply to them anyway. They are probably very busy hiding their money as we speak.

Who would Jesus screw?

Looks like there is some justice in this world....

Bankruptcy filing rank:

Utah 1
Tennessee 2
Georgia 3
Nevada 4
Indiana 5
Alabama 6
Arkansas 7
Ohio 8
Mississippi 9
Idaho 10

http://www.abiworld.org/statcharts/HouseRank.htm

Dear Robert,

We wanted you to be the first to know the good news - the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee rejected President Bush's so-called "Clear Skies" initiative earlier today.

This is terrific news for our air and our health! President Bush's corporate air pollution bill would have stopped the enforcement of the Clean Air Act, allowed the oldest, dirtiest power plants to increase pollution, and given power plants an extra 10 years to avoid reducing mercury pollution.

Thank you so much for contacting your Senators to let them know that you opposed this dangerous initiative. Your actions really have made a difference!

Feel free to share the good news with your friends and colleagues by forwarding them this message.

Sincerely,

Katelyn Sabochik
Online Campaign Manager
info@saveourenvironment.org

One of the more extreme aspects, other than the credit card industry getting their $30B profit cake this year, with a gift that keeps on giving, is that not enough attention is being made on the ability to access future earnings. After a medical catastrophe takes your home, whatever savings, they can now collect your future social security. As meager as it often is, and insufficient.

The Senators may say a promise is owed for campaign coffers, and they'll do better next time, this legislation is a serious underpinning.

Do like that red state tally of bankruptcies most likely to reoccur. Not wishing harm, does seem fitting.

Whoa! That's an interesting tweak -- you mean one of the back-door linkages between this bogus bankruptcy bill and the even more bogus SS-privatization deform is that your future social security funds can be garnished to pay old commerical debts, too?

Now, *that* is *truly* desh-pickable!

run all th' bastids outta offish,
Otter

For some reason, this song is in my head today...Seems appropriate for the topic today as well as being a good model for what we must do everyday with this regime...

GetUp, Stand Up
Bob Marley & Peter Tosh

Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right (3 times)
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight

Preacher man don't tell me heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know what life is really worth
Is not all that glitters in gold and
Half the story has never been told
So now you see the light, aay
Stand up for your right. Come on

Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
(Repeat)

Most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away ev'rything, and make ev'rybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You would look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your right, yeah!

Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
Get Up, Stand Up. Life is your right
So we can't give up the fight
Stand up for your right, Lord, Lord
Get Up, Stand Up. Keep on struggling on
Don't give up the fight

We're sick and tired of your ism and skism game
Die and go to heaven in Jesus' name, Lord
We know when we understand
Almighty God is a living man
You can fool some people sometimes
But you can't fool all the people all the time
So now we see the light
We gonna stand up for our right

So you'd better get up, stand up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight
Get Up, Stand Up, stand up for your right
Get Up, Stand Up, don't give up the fight.

Oh my, Senator Ben Nelson's office is getting quite an earful today it seems. They are a tad cranky at that office. If you call, do be prepared to give them name and address info.

I have noticed that more Senators are doing that today than usual. A google search of a city in the state will usually yield some acceptable address. Just sayin'...

*Surely* you are not suggesting that anyone calling in to speak to their nation's elected officials would have to use a phone-y name and address in order to be heard?

nelson swings like a pendulum do,
Otter

Otter -
Thank you sooo much for your research. He apparently will be speaking here later this month and all of his promotional materials tout him as someone who, rightly, thinks our economy is in the dumps, but I can smell a rightwing cuckoo slant a mile away. I downloaded a video of him and he sounds sane and reasonable enough in his explanation but I get the feeling he's a card carrying member of the "let's bring on the Apocalypse now" crowd. When I was talking to one of my coworkers about this she asked "Hmmm...are they trying to manipulate Jesus?" I responded, "good question."

Mary Landrieu could very well be the 50th vote to open up Anwar. We need to start calling her office and letting her know that we empathize with her being from Louisiana but how impt it is to us that she oppose that bill next week.

"In recent weeks, both sides have been girding for battle. Former President Jimmy Carter, who in 1980 signed the law setting aside Alaskan lands as a wildlife refuge, has weighed in, telephoning at least two Democratic senators who support drilling to urge them to vote against it. One, Senator Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, said she was "very honored" that Mr. Carter called but had not decided how she would vote"

This is a Values Issue for us. We should let her know that many of us stood beside her when we did not agree with her stands on abortion during her last election cycle.

Dear Senator:

I admire and respect you and have contributed to your previous campaigns. While we have not seen eye to eye on the issue of abortion, I believe we share the same values when it comes to the Environment.

Next week it is very likely that you will be the 50th vote deciding whether we should honor Jimmy Carter's 30 year old pledge to this country and to Alaska that we keep our environment prestine.

I am far from from an environmental extremist but the vote next week to open up Anwar to drilling is a vital test of who we are as acountry. No matter how many promises the RNC makes that drilling will not damage the environment or Alaska's habitat, none are credible. This is a Values Vote. Do we stand with nature and our heritage or do we stand with those who are willing to destroy it? I particpated in the first Earth Day 35 years ago that I am sure that you remember and cherish.

I along with volunteers at The Democracy Blog strongly urge You to please "Vote No to drilling in Anwar."

Please show us the strength we have counted on from you throughout your politcal career.

We understand your conflict with your local oil drillers, but as John Kerry promised, We have Your Back.

Bush Team Readying Backdoor Route to Drill Arctic Refuge

http://www.bushgreenwatch.org

Having been thwarted repeatedly in its effort to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling for oil, the Bush Administration and its Congressional leadership have come up with a plan for a sneak attack on the issue.

Rather than holding a straightforward vote on the Senate floor, where strong public opposition halted drilling in the past few years, House and Senate members are quietly planning instead to attach the drilling measure to upcoming budget legislation, where it would be all but impossible to stop (budget bills are exempt from filibuster or extended debate).

This past Tuesday, SaveOurEnvironment.org, a national coalition for the environment, said the planned maneuver demonstrates that "proponents of drilling know they cannot pass this through the normal legislative process, so they are resorting to a procedural tactic to prohibit open and honest debate."

"Not only does this type of backdoor maneuver endanger the Arctic Refuge, its wilderness and wildlife, it also poses a genuine threat to the integrity of our democratic process," said Bill Meadows, president of the Wilderness Society. The society reported that a recent bipartisan national survey found Americans oppose drilling in the refuge by a margin of 53 to 35.

The refuge's 1.5 million-acre coastal plain--where drilling would take place--is described as the "biological heart" of the refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is home to some 250 animal species, including caribou, polar bears, grizzlies, musk oxen, wolves, and millions of migratory birds.

Despite the fact that it would take up to 10 years for any ANWR oil to reach the market, the Bush Administration and its allies depict such drilling as a way to ease America's current energy crisis.

At the same time they refuse to consider such immediate answers as an increase of only one mile-per-gallon in automobile fuel efficiency standards, an easily attainable goal that would save a half-million barrels of oil per day.

Also shunned are such effective--and painless--steps as energy efficiency, energy conservation, and greatly increased support for alternatives such as wind power and solar energy.

Environmental and conservation organizations are urging the public to oppose the use of budget measures to achieve drilling in ANWR.

hope I am not speaking out of turn when I suggest that others here at the democracycellproject urge Senator Landrieu to oppose Drilling in Anwar.
We must take a stand for the environment.
It may turn on 1-2 Senators' votes and Landrieu appears to be on the fence.

Senator Mary Landrieu:

Washington, DC

724 Hart Senate Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Voice: (202)224-5824
Fax:(202) 224-9735

Email Senator Landrieu

New Orleans

Hale Boggs Federal Building
Room 1010
500 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

Voice: (504) 589-2427
Fax:(504) 589-4023

Baton Rouge

Room 326, Federal Building
707 Florida Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Voice: (225) 389-0395
Fax:(225) 389-0660

Shreveport

U.S. Courthouse
300 Fannin Street
Room 2240
Shreveport, LA 71101

Voice: (318) 676-3085
Fax:(318) 676-3100

Lake Charles

Hibernia Tower
One Lakeshore Drive
Suite 1260
Lake Charles, LA 70629

Voice: (337) 436-6650
Fax:(337) 439-3762

To those who think drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a good idea...
More than 1,000 scientists say you’re wrong.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is just that…
a wildlife refuge. Drilling there would do irreparable damage to one of our nation’s last pristine wilderness areas, not to mention to the polar bears, caribou, and millions of migratory birds to which the Refuge is home.

That’s why more than 1,000 scientists from across
the country recently wrote President Bush asking him to protect the Refuge from oil development.

Wildlife Paying the Price
In their letter, the scientists cite recent studies by the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the international Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Secretariat, which found that “if oil development proceeds, much of the wildlife, water, and cultural resources for which the Arctic Refuge was
established would be severely diminished or lost.”

Drilling is a Dirty Business
Citing a National Academy of Sciences study, the
scientists say that “the environmental effects of roads, well pads, pipelines and other infrastructure on the landscape, water systems, vegetation, and animals extend well beyond the ‘footprint’, or physical area covered.”

Energy experts agree that making cars more fuel efficient, and investing in renewable forms of energy, are the most effective things the U.S. can do right now to decrease dependence on foreign oil and increase national security.

There are simply some places that should be off
limits to industrial development, and the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge is one of them. That’s why our nation has protected the Refuge for nearly 50 years.

Let’s not turn back now.

For a copy of the letter and list of signatories, go to http://www.SaveArcticRefuge.org

Mary's Choice: I'm not as optimistic as the rest of you. Military Mary represents Louisiana which has alot of oil companies sitting out in its Gulf that she has to answer too. She's not sitting on the fence. She's keeping silent until she casts her vote.

Florida Dem:

No one is counting on her vote. She tends to do the political thing which in this situation would be to vote with her drillers. That is why we need to communicate with her office that this is a Values Vote that transcends her contributors desires. I am not ready to throw in the towel and her vote looks to be absolutely vital.

Lemme repost this again...

Rather than holding a straightforward vote on the Senate floor, where strong public opposition halted drilling in the past few years, House and Senate members are quietly planning instead to attach the drilling measure to upcoming budget legislation, where it would be all but impossible to stop (budget bills are exempt from filibuster or extended debate).

THIS NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT AS WELL!

Do NOT allow them to attach this measure to the budget. Include this in your all communication to your representatives.

Looks like Kos sought to start a thread pitting Reid against Kerry, of course making JK the bad guy. Good to see alot of the posters didn't join in. In fact, they most seem to admit they -gasp- actually agree with Kerry. Seeing this Kos decided to throw in some line about JK seeking to comprimise on SS. Again posters wondered where he got that from and pretty much felt he was misreading the entire situation. JK got much more support than I thought. Kos should leave his personal gripes off of his site and focus on the real evil at hand - ShrubCo. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/9/142359/4530

Just got back from my PT and in the waiting room a copy of Feb issue of "OUTSIDE". Nice article by JK on taking it to the GOP on ANWR.
Keep up the Grrrrrrrrrrrrreat work Ev1..it's going to pay big dividends come 06' and 08'.
Bush is doing his bidding for us and bringing hopelessness for all. We just need to keep talking about all points and possibilities.
Went to a discussion on the 'elephant' and we're on it. Bringing in lots of newbies and have organizized the youth on our community and giving out scholarships so they can afford to attend all events at state levels.
My casts are off but can't move elbows too well... yet.It's going to be some time longer than expected but I do enjoy reading everything you're doing in here. I'm working locally with all dems in our town and it's been my saving grace. I get lots of fuel in here..THANKS!!

This ADM is notorious for creating a crisis! Now that they won't release oil from the reserves to stave off the gas prices,they say get going on an energy bill that includes ANWR. People in the middle class soon will get ansy as they can't afford to even get to work..... and those are folks in red states as well as blue. That's Bush for you,we'll just make a "crisis" and the people will buy it....got a "hook" anyone?? It's only going to take 1.6 BILLION bucks to even begin to repair our infrastructure as reported on Lou Dobbs today. Dope heads for sure running this crowd!!!!

Called Chuck Schumer's office to thank him for his efforts, and get a better feel for how this Bankruptcy Bill will shake out. We still have a lot of fine print to go through. What mostly will happen is to move more people from Chapter 7 to 13, where there is mandatory repayment, but still up to a judge's discretion how much future income and garnishing of wages, social security, etc.

The lobbyists' payments have been huge for a long time. Like owing the loan shark, and time to pay up. We still need to call and hold our Senators accountable for future better judgment, at the very least. But Biden always disppoints, regardless of the reason.

This is a singularly bad and Dem defining bill, because of the repercussions with so many people on hard times not of their fault, often after catastrophic illness. The credit card and banking industries have used greedy and unwise practices creating our debt, to a record $30 billion profits, and choosing to dishonestly push this bill.

I hope all the Floridians on here will be sure to go to Bill Nelson's website and light into him. I just did. He voted for cloture on the bankruptcy issue yesterday, and I let him know I was ashamed that he was my senator. (I actually told him I'd be ashamed to be his mother today too, but that's another story.) I thought we still had at least one Democratic senator in Florida, but our ex-astronaut doesn't have the courage I thought he did. He's sold out to the credit card companies. He disgusts me. I expected as much of Joe Lieberman, but not of Bill Nelson. There's just no one left to trust anymore.

Remember last week the article that said Bill Clinton gave up the bed on the plane to the elder Bu$h and slept on the floor? I'm even more impressed now...

NEW YORK - Former President Clinton set out on a tour of tsunami-ravaged countries last month knowing he needed more surgery on his chest.

In an interview with Associated Press Television News, Clinton said he knew he would be having surgery to repair the condition before he left with former President George H.W. Bush on the tsunami visit. He scheduled the operation for later because doctors told him he would not be able to fly after the surgery.

Marjorie- it's good that you thanked Sen. Schumer- I wish he were my Senator. In fact, I wouldn't want to offend all the Kerry and Clinton supporters, but I truly wish Chuck would run for the White House 4 years from now. He has real integrity. And he's a great speaker too.

Linda...

I put the Senator in a literal Full Nelson.

Marc- good for you. That's two of us, at least. I just hope he reads his e-mails.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Social Security "does not face an immediate crisis," the head of the Government Accountability Office said Wednesday, but it does face a long-term financing problem "and it would be prudent to address it sooner rather than later."

David M. Walker, who heads the nonpartisan Office of Comptroller General, also criticized President Bush for undertaking an aggressive two-month tour to try to sell his plan for allowing younger workers to divert a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into private investment accounts.

Walker suggested that Bush and members of Congress focus on improving financing for the program, which would not be significantly affected by establishment of personal accounts.

Read more...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/09/social.security.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's request for more than $80 billion in emergency money for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan advanced, largely intact, through a House committee Tuesday.

The president would get much of what he asked for under the bill the House Appropriations Committee approved. Its overall cost is $81.2 billion, about $650 million lower than the president's proposal.

The full House is expected to vote on the bill next week. The Senate isn't expected to produce its version until April.

The House bill would dedicate $76.8 billion to war and reconstruction costs in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's $1.8 billion more than the president wanted for defense-related expenses.

The committee added a measure to the bill that would increase the one-time death benefit for survivors of troops killed while on active duty from $12,000 to $100,000 no matter where they died. The increase would be retroactive to October 7, 2001, when combat in Afghanistan began.

A provision also was added that would require the president to give Congress a report on the Palestinian Authority, specifically details on its security services and steps it has taken to dismantle terrorist networks. Also required would be an independent evaluation of the body's accounting procedures.

Republicans had slashed by about half the $4 billion the president had requested in foreign aid, mainly for Afghan reconstruction projects and State Department programs. Republicans and Democrats both said those were not urgent matters.

Democrats scored a narrow victory with approval of an amendment by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois that restored $150 million in emergency food aid for Sudan. The tally was 32 votes in favor to 31 votes against, largely along party lines.

Jackson said the money, would "stave off the devastation of 1,300 lives a day."

Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, objected, arguing there was ample food aid in other accounts.

Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin, the top Democrat on the panel, also introduced an amendment that would have required more oversight of the Pentagon's intelligence activities, but he withdrew the measure before it was voted on.

He also offered an amendment that would have investigated the awarding of defense contracts. That measure was defeated.

Posted by: Florida Dem at March 9, 2005 04:55 PM

Yes, it was good to see many people disagreeing with kos on that one. but it is also very disturbing to see both kos and mydd showing so much bad faith there. Amazing.

Whoops ! wrong name!

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans proposed a $2.57 trillion budget Wednesday that would cut a wide range of domestic programs while gradually reducing record federal deficits.

The spending plan would trim $69 billion from benefit programs over the next five years. While decisions about which specific programs will be targeted will be made in separate bills later this year, the Republican-led House is expected to cull savings from Medicaid, student loans, farm programs, veterans and perhaps welfare and unemployment insurance.

By law, benefit programs grow automatically each year to accommodate for inflation and population growth. While overall spending for these programs would continue growing under the House plan, that growth would be slowed by $69 billion over the next five years -- savings that would have to come from lower benefits, lower payments to providers or smaller numbers of recipients served.

Domestic programs, excluding benefits, would be cut by 0.8 percent. Such programs range from national parks to food safety protection, but final decisions on exactly where the cuts will fall will be made in later bills.

Defense spending would grow by 4.8 percent while spending on domestic security programs would grow by 2.3 percent. Overall, spending on security and domestic programs that Congress must approve annually would grow by 2.1 percent to $843 billion next year.

"This budget chooses, as tough as it may be, to begin dealing with this problem now," House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, said of the huge deficits.

Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, top Democrat on the budget panel, said "the budget put forth by House Republicans shares all the flaws of the president's budget. While claiming progress on the deficit, it actually worsens the problem," he said, by omitting future costs such as Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security.

The Senate Budget Committee was set to begin working later in the day on a similar package.

The House budget calls for $106 billion in tax cuts over the next five years, about the same as President Bush proposed. But only $45 billion of those cuts would be granted procedural advantages that would let them avoid Senate filibusters, procedural delays that could kill them.

7:15

Linda,

I like Chuck, also, but it's easier for him to have integrity in a bluer state. Senators, who might now regret choosing this kind of campaign financing, had to pay up a large debt, I think.

However, no more cutting this kind of slack. As Kerry said, time to be more accountable. Election 2006 will be serious business for voting reform and better candidates. We're in crisis.

Good to visit with you again.

http://www.wokr13.tv/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=422B960A-26BA-4891-9E60-21C8818788D4

Patti F

Good to see you back in action!
I still owe you dinner & drinks at Changs for not watching hardly any of the RNC convention!

If that's PF Changs (sp?), count me in. Hello from me, too, my Longwood buddy, Patti.

More Kerry on Light Up the Darkness as I have two posts responding to the recent attacks on Kerry on sites such as MyDD.There's also a post on Kerry's war chest, and (off the record) I hear one of my cowriters there may still be working on yet another Kerry post for later tonight.

I also have some comments on Dan Rather.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/

They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we
just
give them ours?

It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200
years and we're not using it anymore.

- Jay Leno

I check out some of the trash talking on various blogs & am not impressed. This is the most boring part of politics - the Dem infighting.

I hated the primaries, the speculation about who would run for VP & I hate all this crap about which direction the Dem party needs to go.

It's such a stupid oversimplification & its embarrassing. I had a personal friend say she was "aghast at my apathy" and I had to laugh.

There is surely some jockeying for power & so on but it will all fall out in the way that it needs to. There will be an equilibrium in time for 2006 because there needs to be.

Today, John Kerry held a press conference to kick off a month long campaign to push the Senate Finance Committee for hearings on the Kids First Act. After his press conference, Kerry sent out an email to his 3 million strong email list, urging his supporters to continue to press their Senators to support Kids First.

Here are some of the major points Kerry stressed in his email:

Millions of families wake up every day to the stark reality of knowing their children have no health insurance. Surely, the Senate can wake up one day this spring and devote a few hours to hearing their stories.

Our Kids First momentum is building every day. Organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes, Every Child Matters, and the AFL-CIO have endorsed our Kids First Act. And over 500,000 people have signed on as citizen co-sponsors of our bill. The best way to make Washington listen is to put that total over one million in the next 30 days.

Getting hearings scheduled is so important. Committee hearings separate proposals that have a chance of becoming law from those that aren't ever going to see the light of day. They provide an opportunity for Congress to receive expert testimony on the importance of a bill and provide an opportunity to get vital information into the public record.

Senator Charles Grassley, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has been supportive of children's initiatives in the past. We need him to act now by setting a firm date for the hearings America's children need and deserve.

There are those in Washington who want to ignore those voices and hide from the fact that children without health care translates into needless pain and suffering for millions of American families. But we won't let uninsured children be ignored any longer. We've got to put health care for our children at the top of our national agenda. It won't be easy, but we will never rest until we find a way to make sure America puts Kids First.

This month, it's all about keeping the pressure on for hearings. When members of Congress go back for visits in their home states, we need to make sure they hear a forceful demand for action on the Kids First Act - especially members of the Senate Finance Committee. Thanks for helping keep the pressure on.

You can contact your Senators through our Action Alert on our Health page and if you have a Blog or website we ask that you show your support of Kerry’s Kids First Act by joining in our “We’ve Got Your Back” campaign.

MORE - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=503

Pamela is right; it is up to all of us to keep the messages flowing into the Senate and House. As weary as we may get, as useless as it feels at times, it is still important and it still counts.

It is only through the added voices and the clear messaging that change will happen.

If you have not seen the beginning of the DCP Tool Kit on the subject of *Working from the Heart*, please do check it out:
http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=355

...and this:
http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=354

Chuck in Baku for DiAnne w/rt your post above:

"I check out some of the trash talking on various blogs & am not impressed. This is the most boring part of politics - the Dem infighting."

Boy do I second that. I just went over and read some of that -- probably much more than I should have done, which I can only ascribe to some sort of morbid fascination. Why in the world some of us concerned about the direction our nation's political system is taking seem to revel in, not just criticizing, which, if thoughtful and respectful is certainly useful, but really vilifying and insulting our own messengers and leaders is beyond my meager capacity to comprehend. I can think of no example, on the GOP side, to take one instance, where long-standing senators or ex-presidential candidates are treated with such extreme disrespect by supporters of the GOP platform. How do we expect the apathetic or poorly informed (my best-guess characterization of swing-voters or undecideds) to rally round any causes we espouse if we publicly (and even gleefully and enthusiastically) dump on our own? How do we expect even the committed to get excited about our causes when we ourselves parrot the other guys' lines about our folks and leaders? Wow. That was depressing. But I'm glad I did it. I didn't realize from over here how far out of order our own house has become. I think I have a better feel for why we are losing elections now.

Sorry to be off-topic, although it's sort of on as the blog thread I am referring to (that KOS thing) was about Reid and Kerry and the issue of consensus within, say, the camp that doesn't want to gut Social Security and how that plays out in the Senate (Democratic side only, of course).

Boy, I sure appreciate this blog after having seen what I've just seen. Here a person can actually pick up ideas on how to better articulate and otherwise further the causes we care about or how to expose fallacies and weaknesses in the other camp. Good work you guys.

Chuck in Baku (overseas too long, but not too much longer!)

Chuck,

How much longer and where do you land stateside?

It's always good to hear your perspective.

new blog with interesting points on social security

http://cunningrealist.blogspot.com/2005/03/some-opening-comments-and-bit-about.html

snip
One last point: In addition to my belief that Bush's "ownership society" is, at least in the examples of my two friends above, in many ways a program to transfer risk from the "owners" to the public, I have another misgiving about private accounts. I strongly believe that the last thing we need is for the stock market to become an even greater national priority. I believe this on a political, fiscal, monetary and spiritual level. With an even greater public focus and reliance on the stock market, the political pressure to take extraordinary, unconventional measures to boost stock prices--pressure that already exists--will be overwhelming. Contrary to what some might think, constantly rising stock prices are most certainly NOT a good thing, as we learned after the stock bubble burst in 2000. Private accounts cannot repeal the natural business cycle, which includes periodic recessions as malinvestment clears. But when voters' retirements are at stake, I don't trust politicians to let the natural business cycle play out, particularly if the bottom of a cycle inconveniently appears near an election. Stock prices are merely manifestations of an underlying business and larger economy; they are not meant to be a means to a political or fiscal end.

snip

And don't be quiet about DeLay! Make lots of noise about this with your representatives; tell them that if they let DeLay get away with this, they'll be looking for new jobs when their terms are up. Make DeLay the poster child for the Republicans!

S. Korean Group Sponsored DeLay Trip
Visits May Have Broken House Rules

A delegation of Republican House members including Majority Leader Tom DeLay accepted an expense-paid trip to South Korea in 2001 from a registered foreign agent despite House rules that bar the acceptance of travel expenses from foreign agents, according to government documents and travel reports filed by the House members.

Justice Department documents show that the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council, a business-financed entity created with help from a lobbying firm headed by DeLay's former chief of staff, registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on Aug. 22, 2001. DeLay; his wife, Christine; and two other Republican lawmakers departed on a trip financed by the group on Aug. 25 of that year.

Read more... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22067-2005Mar9.html

Chuck in Baku for Karen:

My last project in Baku is wrapped up, so I'm just waiting to finish up some personal affairs here then it's back to the old stomping grounds in Portland to take care of the other set of personal business (including taxes!), then probably off to Houston to look for work. I work in the oil patch, hence Houston, but I'm not technical so I'm also poking around in some other markets (mostly SF area, Seattle, and DC).

Thanks for the moral support!

Chuck in Baku

Chuck
Acc/Men's World mag, Seattle is healthiest, Houston is fattest. We have interesting movies, coffeehouses & bookstores & only 30 mins. away from hiking, closer than that for sailing etc.
& we need more "blue" - Portland is probably my favorite city in the US

Chuck ex-PDX for DiAnne:

No need to sell me on the Pacific Northwest! I love it there. Ranier -- most glaciers in the lower 48. Shuksan -- best looking mountain in the US (and funny thing, I see it painted here in Baku all the time). Steelhead. Sea-run cuttthroats. Wallowas. Olympics. Indian Meadows at Mount Adams in June-July. Fort Rock. Crooked River Bob. Portland (family and friends), Seattle (Boeing and MS).

Chuck (soon to be out of) Baku