The Voting Rights Act

Second yahoo story about Sheehan & protesters, this one from Reuters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050806/pl_nm/bush_dc_11
White House officials meet anti-war protesters

{{{ BTW, below is the caption for the photo on this story - click on photo for larger view - the Shrub looks pi$$ed!!! Good.... I felt that way when I saw the words "crowed about the strength of the U.S. economy..." CROWED?!? Lest anyone forget, service jobs in summer make the employment stats go up. It's only summer employment in tourist areas, etc., not permanent jobs with high salaries, bennies, etc. The summer jobs for students end when they go back to college and high school....

Oh, and don't forget: Mercenaries are being hired from Columbia to work in Iraq, and their salaries are considerably less than that of American mercenaries hired by Halliburton and subsidiaries like KBR & DynCorp....}}}

As Americans question his Iraq policy, President George W. Bush crowed about the strength of the U.S. economy on August 6, 2005 and credited his hotly debated tax cuts for the growth. File photo shows Bush (R) listening to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe during a joint news conference at Bush's Central Texas ranch in Crawford, Texas, August 4, 2005. Larry Downing/Reuters Photo by Larry Downing/Reuters

Great article Suz. I learned more about the VRA than I realized.

We shouldn't ever take these voting rights forgranted because as Ohio showed us, they are all too willing to suppress and tamper with the votes of blacks, poor, Hispanics, and now democrats too.

Our voting rights are too precious to have stolen and we still have lots of work to do in protecting all people.

Stirling Newberry: Trial by Constitution
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080605X.shtml
{{{ Grab a cuppa.... This is a "must read" article.... }}}

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05216/548247.stm
Editorial: The shame of Bolton / President Bush could have done better for the U.S.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

No sooner was the Senate out of town than President Bush took the opportunity to give John Bolton a recess appointment as chief U.S. representative to the United Nations.

The irony is that, absent the confirmation that the Senate denied Mr. Bolton, his appointment will last only until the end of the current Congress, which is to say, the end of 2006. President Bush's term at that point will still have two years to run, so he'll then have to find someone else to represent the country at the United Nations until he leaves office.

The pity is that Mr. Bush was not able to find someone for the task who was not so objectionable that the Senate couldn't stomach him. Mr. Bolton, the former undersecretary of state for arms control, was a controversial pick because of a reputation of mistreating subordinates, distorting intelligence and showing contempt for the United Nations. This was not a Republican-Democratic battle per se; the most eloquent opponent of all was Sen. George Voinovich, the Ohio Republican who said he opposed John Bolton in the name of his children and grandchildren.

U.N. officials such as Secretary General Kofi Annan and other countries' ambassadors will work with Mr. Bolton, because he will be the representative of the United States of America, with all that means in terms of power on the world stage.

On the other hand, Mr. Bush's imposing on the United Nations a representative whom the Congress refused to endorse is the equivalent of letting your nephew bring his incontinent dog with him when he comes to visit because he is, after all, your nephew.

Bush's "love me, love my dog" approach reflects the fact that he can under the law make recess appointments, whether anyone likes it or not. The unfortunate part is that the United States is in this case rendered less effective in international circles, and shamed to a degree, to have a rejected official as the second most important foreign affairs representative of our country in an important forum.

Nonny... a picture? I don't see a picture!

NonnyO,

Yep...tourism has given some job gains. Always a good thing if you like working in the fast food restaurants for minimum wage and no healthcare. OR you too can make 2.55 an hour as a waitress and no healthcare. Yep...you can sure count your blessings with those tips and hope everynight is a night full of big tips, otherwise, you go home with practically empty pockets.

Bob,

Hey, new here? Welcome to the DCP and thanks for the compliment.

Nonny...I'm SURE they pulled that picture!

Please explain why making those three section permanent would violate the Constitution.

I really wish we had a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing (sp?) the right to vote, but why does the above invalidate what we have?

It's hot and I'm feeling old.

Marjorie G,

This is how it was explained to me. And please bear with me because I'm not a lawyer and I'm not particularly able to put across legal type stuff in writing. But I'll try! (Brace yourself!)

Ok..you braced?

Ok..here goes...

Ok. when the Voting Rights Act was started those provisions were put in there to protect the minority--Blacks were the biggest minority at that time--and they were the ones who were routinely discriminated against.

AND as we mostly know, certain regions of the country had a higher incidence of voter suppression than other parts of the country. THOUGH, supression also occurred in the traditional "blue-belt" the other portions of the country made registering to vote almost impossible and they made ridiculous rules at the polls to prevent Blacks from voting.

HOWEVER, the WHOLE country was not guilty of these crimes, just certain regions, cities, or towns. THEREFORE, the rules were designed to be adapted to each region on an "as need" basis. Because it was individualized, it was deemed constitutional.

BUT if you make a law that encompasses EVERYONE even if they have no blacks or no hispanics (or whatever...) then you are creating a law that is imposing unreasonable burdens onto an area that had no need for that law.

Therefore, by making a blanket law, you are infact discriminating and giving unfair burdens to people who did not need it. This means that they are being treated in an unconstitutional way and thus would make the whole thing unenforcible.

Posted by: Suz at August 6, 2005 08:44 PM

I just clicked on the link. The pix is still there, but it's tiny in the upper left corner of the story. To see a larger view, you have to click on the pix itself.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050806/pl_nm/bush_dc_11

This link, suz & sparrow.... Where he's squinting unpleasantly....

Marjorie,

Maybe these links will help!

http://www.lawyerscomm.org/home.html

http://www.renewthevra.org/

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/misc/faq.htm

nonnyO

It flashes but disappears!

Will this link help?

http://www.civilrights.org/campaigns/vra/learn_more/reauthorization.html

nonnyO

Ok..I give up on the picture. Do you know how to save pictures? If so, then save it and then email it to me at my link.

I'm not sure if you have to reduce it or something.

Maybe if you don't know, then someone else will help me out here. I really want to see that picture now!!!!

Posted by: Marjorie G at August 6, 2005 08:45 PM

According to that last link, we ARE constitutionally guarenteed the right to vote but it's those three provisions that give the enforcement of the constitution.

I think that's the key idea.

What Expires in 2007?

Section 5, the federal monitor and observer provisions (Sections 6-9) and the bilingual voting material provision (Section 203) are known as the special provisions of the VRA. These special provisions have a remedial purpose and limited duration.

While the permanent provisions of the VRA do not require legislative reauthorization, the special provisions will expire at the end of the period of years specified by Congress when enacted or renewed.

The special provisions allow for significant federal oversight of state and local voting functions for jurisdictions deemed to have the worst and most persistent histories of voting functions for jurisdictions deemed to have the worst and most persistent histories of voting discrimination against their minority populations. This heightened oversight is intended to identify and prevent proposed voting changes that worsen the position of minority voters, or, just as significantly, to deter covered jurisdictions from seeking to proposing such voting changes from the outset.

The Preclearance and Bail Out Provisions of the Voting Rights Act
The Federal Examiner and Observer Provisions of the Voting Rights Act
The Language Assistance Provisions of the Voting Rights Act

and more...

Rumors have been circulating on the Internet and elsewhere that suggest that African-Americans will lose their right to vote in 2007. This is completely untrue.

In case after case, the federal courts have held that the right to vote is fundamental and therefore cannot be taken away.

The U.S. Constitution Protects the Equal Voting Rights of African-Americans

The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the equal right to vote regardless of race or color. It states that "[t]he right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." This provision has been part of our law since the end of the Civil War and cannot expire -- it is permanent.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Further Ensures Equality in the Right to Vote

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the federal law that provides a mechanism for enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment's guarantee of equality in voting.

Permanent Protection Against Discriminatory Practices
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act allows citizens to sue in federal court to challenge any voting practice that they believe is racially discriminatory. This provision, which assures that no one may be denied the right to register, vote, or participate fully in the political process because of his or her race or color, is a permanent part of federal law and does not expire.
Special Enforcement Provisions to Prevent Retrogression
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is a special enforcement provision that requires state and local governments in certain parts of the country to get federal approval (known as "preclearance") before implementing any changes to their voting procedures: anything from moving a polling place to changing district lines in the county. In order to obtain federal preclearance, a covered state, county, or local government entity must demonstrate to federal authorities that the voting change in question does "not have the purpose and will not have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color [or membership in a language minority group]." This requirement gives citizens the chance to prevent or stop discriminatory practices before they actually take place.

Unlike Section 2 of the VRA, Section 5 must be renewed periodically in order to remain in effect. When Congress amended the Voting Rights Act in 1982, it extended the requirement of preclearance for 25 more years - until 2007. So, for this enforcement mechanism to extend past 2007, Congress will have to take action.

However, even if Section 5's special enforcement provision is not renewed, voting will still be a fundamental right of all citizens, including African-Americans, the federal Constitution will continue to provide for the equal right to vote for African-Americans and other racial minorities, and the rest of the Voting Rights Act will continue to prohibit discrimination in voting.

Thus, while the need to re-authorize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is extremely important, the right of African-Americans to vote does not and will never expire.
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How and why should we have to prove that all areas do or don't have certain/the number of problems, in order to protect that some we know or in law already need it more than others. I contend with e-voting, but that's not disenfranchisement in the way currently obvious and specified. We all need protection, and equally urgently.

This like a poison pill. The GOP have always wanted to deny the vote; we to have as many as possible. They control the dialogue and power in this, and party politics should have somehow been removed from it. Darn

oh boy! Bush and fellow conmen are really worried about what Fitzgerald is finding out about their treason. They're now involved in an even bigger coverup!

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Newsweek_Leak_prosecutors_boss_likely_to_be_replaced_with_Bush_classmate_Scull_an_0806.html

Posted by: Marjorie G at August 6, 2005 09:37 PM

Marjorie,

Jessie Jackson and many want to actually use the VRA to force Republicans to take a stand FOR the renewal of it. They are not trying to make it a partison issue, but if both, and this is according to them, "the democrats and/or Republicans are NOT willing to TAKE A STAND on Protecting our right to vote, then we will see WHO truly belieives in Freedom for All and the basis of our democracy our constitution."

They seem to feel that those who do not take a stand WILL be voted out of office.

Reposting Indy's links about the protest today.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-08-06-votingrights_x.htm

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=67362

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/08/06/voting.rights.ap/

CALL OUT THE MILITIA!!!

Time for a revolution...

"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others . . .
he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

~Robert F. Kennedy (1925 - 1968)

Fitzgerald better not step down.

Posted by: Suz at August 6, 2005 09:19 PM

Suz and Nonny,

You can put your cursor right on the picture, double click with your right side of the mouse, and up will come the properties. The URL will be the direct link to the picture, (if it's still up somewhere online.)

Nonny, can you email it to me, too, please? Thanks.

Truth, the picture "FLASHES" and disappears within a second!

Posted by: Suz at August 6, 2005 09:19 PM

Email on the way to you, Suz with both of the Sheehan stories, pix, and pix caption.

I just saw your post, TSP, and will email you the same thing.....

Oh, yeah, you have to highlight the URL and cut and paste it to share it. I'm probably talking to experts and pros, but wasn't sure everybody was aware you can get the url for a picture, and have only the picture come up.

And SUZ,

I wasn't home all afternoon, and am only home for a minute now. I haven't had t.v. on, so I don't know if they covered the Sheehan meeting at Phony Acres Ranch. I hope it made the media. Cindy Sheehan, bless her heart. What agony she must be in.

Is there anywhere we can write Cindy Sheehan and thank and encourage her?

Thanks, NonnyO!

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 6, 2005 10:07 PM

Not even Austin local news covered it although the media was there...it did not erupt into violence or result in arrests so I guess it was Un-FOX-worthy!

Suz, you're brave to wade into this...

So we're for renewing VRA regardless of the vulnerability of those sections, because in court not that vulnerable?

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 6, 2005 10:09 PM

You're welcome.

I figured out how to 'right click, save as' (only one click required for me) on my PC not long after I got it.

When I want to save any of the political stories, I copy-paste the URL and the text of the article(s) into a draft email and just save it until I think I don't need it any more (I usually forget I have them until I start filing stuff). Doesn't hurt to re-read the better-written articles to remind myself about the corruption in our nation's capitol, however....

Officials Deny a Request for Roberts Documents
By Carl Hulse and Neil A. Lewis
The New York Times

Saturday 06 August 2005

Washington - The Bush administration on Friday formally rejected a Democratic request for documents from the years Judge John G. Roberts Jr. served as deputy solicitor general, setting up a potential confrontation over material Democrats say is essential to a thorough examination of Mr. Roberts's Supreme Court nomination.

In a letter to Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, the Justice Department said it would withhold information sought by Democrats related to the legal advice Mr. Roberts gave under the first President Bush, as he helped develop the government's legal position on a variety of cases from 1989 to 1993.

"It is simply contrary to the public interest for these documents to be released," said the letter signed by Rebecca Seidel, a deputy assistant attorney general, on behalf of William E. Moschella, assistant attorney general for legislative affairs.

The Justice Department letter said that such material had been protected in the past under attorney-client privilege and that releasing it would set a dangerous precedent and inhibit the agency's lawyers from frank discussions of pending cases.

"The office simply could not function effectively if its lawyers were asked to provide full and candid advice in spite of the expectation that their work product would be fair game in any subsequent Senate confirmation process," the letter said.

The decision had been foreshadowed by the administration late last month, but Democrats immediately expressed strong disappointment.

"These records are important because they are a window on Judge Roberts's approach to the constitutional rights that are the birthright of every American - rights that touch all our lives in so many ways every day," Mr. Leahy said in a statement.

He and other Democrats said the stance was typical of an administration they criticize as failing to be open with Congress. Under Mr. Bush, the refusal of the White House to hand over documents requested by Senate Democrats has prompted the Democrats to block Senate approval of some nominees, including Miguel Estrada to a judgeship on a federal appeals court and John R. Bolton as United Nations ambassador.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said that he regarded the Justice Department letter as "the opening salvo" in negotiations over the documents and that its position was wrong because similar papers had been released in the past.

"The fact that the letter is from a third-level official in the Justice Department gives me some hope that the attorney general is reserving his options, as all attorneys general before him have done," he said.

Earlier Friday, Mr. Kennedy released a letter he had written to Judge Roberts, noting that his recent responses to a committee background questionnaire played down his work in the solicitor general's office while it was highlighted on a résumé that Mr. Roberts submitted in 1991, when he was first up for a federal judgeship.

Mr. Kennedy asked that Judge Roberts "submit as promptly as possible" a supplement to his earlier responses to the committee, by providing "a full description of your activities" as a deputy solicitor general.

In a separate letter to President Bush, Mr. Kennedy complained that the administration has apparently leaked other documents to the news media in an effort to influence the public portrayal of the nominee while failing to meet Democratic requests for the same information.

The complaint about selective disclosure was prompted by the White House's release to The Washington Post on Thursday of two memorandums written by Judge Roberts when he worked as an associate White House counsel under President Ronald Reagan. The release was a partial response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

In the first memorandum, written March 1, 1985, Mr. Roberts is asked by a White House official how to respond to a request for President Reagan's help on a bill in the Kentucky Legislature that would require each public school to display a plaque saying both "In God We Trust" and another slogan giving thanks to God for the liberties Kentuckians enjoy.

Mr. Roberts told the White House official that the person making the request should be told that the proposal raises "concerns" about the Constitution's prohibition against entangling the government with religion and that "the president should not gratuitously opine on the constitutionality of this specific question."

MORE >>>

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080605Z.shtml

Posted by: sparrow at August 6, 2005 09:38 PM

Hmmmm.... WHY would pResNitwit replace Fitzgerald?!? WHY would he even consider such a thing? Because he has not leaked everything all over the press like Ken Starr did, and no one knows what's going on?!?

About the time the Grand Jury gets done, I do expect "fit to hit the shan" and some kind of smear campaign to hit the media about Fitzgerald (whose reputation is spotless, as near as I can tell???), and about the Grand Jurors themselves - all to discredit whatever findings Fitzgerald and the Grand Jury have which may reflect badly on the administration. It seems the Grand Jury and Fitzgerald are both going over every sentence of testimony by everyone, dotting i's and crossing t's, so whatever results they have should (in theory) be truthful.

Not that pResNitwith or his administration have ever listened to truth....

Corruption, Corruption, Corruption...

Shame, Shame, Shame.

Mercedes bribery claims spark US criminal inquiry

David Teather in New York
Saturday August 6, 2005
The Guardian

The United States justice department has opened a criminal investigation into allegations that DaimlerChrysler-owned Mercedes paid bribes to foreign officials.
The investigation was sparked by a former Chrysler accountant, who has alleged in a lawsuit that the German carmaker kept secret bank accounts to bribe officials in Africa and Latin America.

The American financial watchdog, the securities and exchange commission, opened a similar inquiry last year.

The former managing director of the company's plant in Nigeria, Rudi Kornmayer, killed himself in a German park on July 22. Prosecutors in Stuttgart said he left a suicide note but have not released its contents. A spokesman for DaimlerChrysler said yesterday that the company is cooperating with the investigation.

Article continues vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0%2C3604%2C1543579%2C00.html

Yes, there is Truth but I'll have to find it for you.

I copy-paste the URL and the text of the article(s) into a draft email and just save it until I think I don't need it any more......

NonnyO at

NonnyO, where do you save your draft emails? I do the same but then email them to myself.

I am teaching a computer class locally, but my
students are seniors who are scared to death of computers. We do it with CD's, and the one we have just started is "Files and Folders". This one will teach the presenter as well as the pupils.

It's probably elementary but most computer systems I used on previous jobs were the companies' own software. These classes I am taking us through are basic but a chance for me to learn too. We end up in giggles lots.

NonnyO, what would we do without you and your knowledge, and your diligence to research and share your knowledge with us? Thank you.

Posted by: Indy at August 6, 2005 10:18 PM

Indy, I have heard of celebrities "tipping off" the press ahead of time. I wonder if Cindy Sheehan thought of doing that ahead of time. I know someone told the press and media Max Cleland was on his way to Crawford.

Now I see WHY the big march the end of September is going to be in Washington D.C. Too bad people can't forget about the local protests that weekend and car pool, sleep in tents, sleep in cars, do whatever they need to to get there.
It is so very important.

Straight-shootin' George Galloway
Congrats, George; those two deserve a good lambasting.
by Mike Whitney
He fired-off another barrage, landing a direct hit on Prime Minister Milquetoast and his Texas-twin. He said, "There's far more blood on the hands of George Bush and Tony Blair than there is on the hands of the murderers who killed those people in London."
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9687.htm
{{{ Excellent!!! I make a motion we vote George Galloway an honorary American citizen so he can come here and start telling our people the truth!!!}}}

Bush and Blair’s “way of life”
Fascist dictators have generally acted under Machiavelli's principle that "if the act accuse him, the result will excuse him."
By Abid Ullah Jan
From now onwards any word of criticism of Bush and Blair’s policies would be considered extremism and all those critics will be blacklisted, because their criticism could “indirectly” lead to “terrorism.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article9684.htm

More Cindy:

YEA!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/6/22921/91827

So we're for renewing VRA regardless of the vulnerability of those sections, because in court not that vulnerable?

Posted by: Marjorie G at August 6, 2005 10:19 PM

Marjorie,

I'm trying to understand your question. I'm a little on the tired side now though.

I believe I have Barbara's information to contact her; therefore, I'll suggest this. I started a thread in the forum under "Questions about the VRA" and anyone who has a question can post there. THEN I will see if I can contact Ms. Arwine (or other civil rights lawyers) and get them answered.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=819

Truth...Go to the link and look at the bottom. That's how you can contact her.

More Cindy:

The Amazing Hypocrites
by Cindy Sheehan
by Cindy Sheehan

This past weekend was the two year anniversary of the beginning of "shock and awe" of the US Government’s aggression in Iraq. If all you did was watch CNN, FOX News, or MSNBC, you would never know.

There were protests all across our nation. CNN called the over 800 protest events "barely a ripple." I spoke at a protest in Fayetteville, North Carolina where there were right around 4000 people. 4000 people full of energy and committed to the task of peace and justice and reclaiming our country from the socio-pathic maniacs who are in power right now.

So what were the hypocrites in DC doing while much of the country was working for peace…either at rallies, marches, or candlelight vigils? They were conducting an emergency smokescreen session in Congress to draft legislation for one woman: Terry Schiavo. Terry’s story is tragic and her family has suffered unbearable pain for many years with her "persistent vegetative" state. I feel so much compassion for her mother who has had to watch her daughter slowly waste away. My heart truly breaks for everyone in Terry Schiavo’s family.

However, I have one question for Congress and for George ("When in doubt it is always better to err on the side of life" – Arizona, March 22, 2005) Bush, though: Why does Terry Schiavo deserve to live more than my son, Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan? Casey was misused and abused by his Commander-in-Chief and executive branch that boldly lied to the American public and the less gullible citizens of other countries about the reasons for the invasion of Iraq.

Casey was sent to Iraq to be killed by the same pack of cowards and murderers who so "valiantly" and tirelessly fought for the right for Ms. Schiavo to live! The green light for Casey’s murder was given by a Congress who expediently abrogated their constitutional rights to a president whose foreign policies are not based on reality or even loosely based on any kind of Christian moral values. Someone needs to give Congress basic lessons on the Constitution: Declaring War – YES; Meddling in a family's private tragedy – NO!!

As far as I am concerned, the amazing hypocrites in our Government are not making up for killing thousands of innocent Americans and Iraqis by passing emergency legislation to save one life. Every member of Bush’s executive branch (past and present) and every member of Congress who voted to give George the authority to invade Iraq have innocent blood on their hands. For the next State of the Union address, maybe the hypocrites in Congress should shamefacedly display blood soaked hands, instead of proudly wriggling fingers stained with ink to symbolize sham Iraqi elections. This shameful Congress should go back on vacation and go back to their home districts and look for people who have been devastated by the illegal occupation of Iraq.

Mr. Tom ("We should investigate every avenue before we take the life of a living human being") DeLay should be outraged for the soldiers who have been murdered for the cowardice of he and his colleagues. He should shed real tears for the soldiers’ families whose lives have been destroyed by their murders. DeLay should search for a homeless Iraq Vet and pass legislation to find him a job and an apartment. Mr. Tom (who cried over Ms. Schiavo’s hunger pains) DeLay should go to Walter Reed hospital and find one of our kids who has been horribly maimed by the betrayal of his government and pass legislation to pay for his meals. After 3 months, the wounded soldier has to pay for his meals with his own money. Maybe Mr. Tom (Crocodile Tears) DeLay should find a soldier who has returned from this abomination of a war who is suffering from PTSD and pass a law to get him the help he needs before the soldier's dad finds him hanging by a garden hose in the basement.

Maybe if Tom DeLay and the rest of the members of Congress who voted for the Terry Schiavo Emergency Relief Act and who voted to give George Bush the authority to go to war and who voted to give George Bush more money to waste in Iraq, sought out and talked to us citizens whose lives have been tragically impaired by the invasion/occupation of Iraq and could hear our stories, they might rush back to DC to vote to rip the authority out of the president’s hands and end the immoral occupation of Iraq. One thing this "Circus of Hypocrisy" has shown me is that Congress can accomplish something when it sets its mind to it. Now it is time to accomplish something important…and I am not talking about steroids use in baseball.

I have a great idea!! Although Mr. Tom (Politician Protection Act: HB 913) DeLay is not my Congressman (hmmm…don’t think he’s Terry Schiavo’s Congressman, either) maybe I should ask him to introduce the Soldiers Put in Harm’s Way for Lies and Betrayals Emergency Relief Act…and force the amazing hypocrites to bring our troops home, now!!

March 23, 2005

Cindy Sheehan [send her mail] is the mother of Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan, KIA 04/04/04 She is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/sheehan3.html

Truth...GO to that site!!!

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 6, 2005 10:58 PM

Depends on what the draft email has in it.

I copy-paste URL (first, so it goes at the top of the page), then the info I want saved. For genealogy stuff I save a copy (with appropriate name in Subject line) in the genealogy file it belongs in. With political stuff I usually save it just in the Draft section (on both PC and Mac iBook email programs), although I do have a PoliSci file in both my Documents section, and a separate PoliSci file in Internet Explorer.

When something is really important, I email it to all friends and relatives I know will be interested (which means a copy gets saved in the Sent file, too), and I also print out a copy. When I send stuff to DCP people, I copy-paste it into the email program I use for e-newsletters in that email program, then send. (I have more email programs than I know what to do with).

I don't know what email program you're working with, whether you're using text, .html, or Rich text format. That might make a difference in how things are saved. When I'm working on something where I know I have to have my spelling and grammar correct, I open a Word doc because it catches all my errors and I can correct them immediately, but they get saved in the appropriate file in the Documents section. Sometimes I save them to the Desktop until I am finished writing and editing them, and then file them in whatever folder they pertain to (and, of course, Word docs can be sent out as emails, too).

For pictures and graphics... I've been collecting them for years, have separate files for animated graphics, graphics & background graphics, and then for the graphics I make, genealogy graphics, another folder for web-sized dpi photos... and that all sounds more complicated than it is.

The subject matter of emails, graphics, pictures, etc., all determines where it gets filed and why.

If I'm not making any sense, send me an email. I'll attempt to answer your questions.... but remember, I'm not an expert. I know how to do a few things really well, but only have a little knowledge about a lot of other things.

nonnyo,
You've got mail! ;)

Night all!

Another GSFFP mom. Send this to your friends and ask them if they're willing to send their kids to die for a lie?

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050806/480/co10308061837

Suz, you're brave to wade into this...

So we're for renewing VRA regardless of the vulnerability of those sections, because in court not that vulnerable?

Posted by: Marjorie G at August 6, 2005 10:19 PM

Marjorie...

I forgot to re-mention a major piece of knowlege from the Raibow Push Conference: Jessie Jackson, in his disappointment over this past election, is strongly advocating a "third rail."

So he's not thinking what is good for the Democrat party; he's thinking that it "takes a THIRD rail to make the first two change their paths."

oh..rather to "power the first two!"

Suz,

I have been looking for a way to contact Cindy Sheehan, too.

URL for Gold Star Families for Peace:

http://www.angelfire.com/de3/4osad/osad.html

Gold Star Families for Peace can also be found at

www.gsfp.org

To send an email to Gold Star Families for Peace

contact@gsfp.org

To send Cindy comments on her thread at Daily Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/4/94551/60876#207

Well, insomomnia hits!

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/6/174227/7875

Check the latest news on Cindy there.

And truth..LOOK here:

Cindy Sheehan [send her mail] is the mother of Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan, KIA 04/04/04 She is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/sheehan3.html

Truth...GO to that site!!!

Posted by: suz at August 6, 2005 11:17 PM

Truth:

If you ever want to post on D.U. they have a 24 hour wait period before you can post.

Oh..and...LOL..I got banned there! I have no idea why but I did!

If anyone is in the Crawford area, Cindy invites you to grab lots of water, food, and a sleeping bag (tent) and join them. She fully intends to stay there until...

I would go too, but there are a few preventing factors...

Yes, thank you Suz,

This is the email address on the above site Suz directed me to. This looks like the DIRECT email address of Cindy Sheehan.

It can be found on this site Suz mentioned above:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/sheehan3.html

A GREAT post on Kos about today's march in Atlanta. I would have gone there today too...BUT ...well...those same preventing factors.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/6/211218/5673

I will repost a big portion because it's so important. But read the diary at the Kos.

Here's the Atlanta Journal Constitution story from today:

> Published on: 08/06/05

John Terrell's left leg still ached from hip replacement surgery. He wobbled on his cane and lagged behind many of those walking in Saturday's "Keep the Vote Alive" march.

Unlike many, the 53-year-old native Atlantan didn't carry a sign supporting reauthorization of the historic legislation that ensured the right to vote for many people, especially African Americans.

Instead, Terrel had memories of his childhood, when it was dangerous for young black men to demonstrate for an end to segregation and to win a guarantee that blacks could vote without being challenged.

In those marches, he had to worry about more than his grip on a walking cane.

"We have to keep this right. We have to keep this alive," Terrell said. "I was alive when we got this right, and I'm not going to let this die.
"I'm just glad the march is not long," Terrell said.

He was among the thousands of people who braved the summer heart Saturday to join the country's leading black civil rights leaders, politicians and entertainers in a march to push for the extension of key provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The one-mile march, from the Richard B. Russell federal building to Morris Brown College, was led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who said he chose Atlanta because of its long history as the epicenter of the civil rights movement.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta and the city remains the national headquarters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King and others founded in 1957.
Former SCLC president Joseph Lowery joined Jackson in kicking off the march.

"We come here today, at the end of 40 years, to complete a new journey," said Lowery, who spoke about the irony of American troops fighting in Iraq for the right of Iraqis to vote. "We come here today to ask America: Who are you? America's soul is in peril."

As the crowd walked, they filled the width of Martin Luther King Drive. Some had bullhorns and called out slogans. Others sang, "We Shall Overcome," the anthem of the 1960s marches.

"I have to participate,"said Claudia Nelson of Acworth, wearing a bright red shirt. "We've read about so many marches in history. I had to be a part of this one."

Police did not provide a crowd estimate, but organizers estimated that as many as 20,000 people participated. When the marchers got to Morris Brown's 18,000-capacity Herndon Stadium, they appeared to fill about three-quarters of the seats.

Comedian and activist Dick Gregory participated, as did celebrities such as Harry Belafonte. Civil rights veteran John Lewis, now an Atlanta congressman, used the day to make the point twice.

He was at the march, but also gave the weekly Democratic radio address on Saturday, and he used the occasion to talk about preserving the Voting Rights Act.

"Forty years later, we're still marching for the right to vote," said Lewis. "Don't give up, don't give in. Keep the faith, keep your eyes on the prize."

In addition to Lewis, other politicians at the march included Mayor Shirley Franklin, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif).

"I was out there in Washington when people were being killed to get the right to vote," said Gregory. "It is important for me to see that they did not die in vain. We were scared back then. We are not scared anymore."

Two former Atlanta mayors, Andrew Young and Bill Campbell, arrived at the march at about the same time.

"It looks like a great turnout," said Young, a former United Nations ambassador. "It looks like a broad-based coalition and very large crowd."
But Young also said, "This is not a celebration. We're talking about extending the Voting Rights Act and also wondering if that is enough."
Campbell came from Florida, where he now practices law.

"I've been part of the civil rights movement for my whole life,"he said. "I had to be here."
In the shadows of the federal courthouse building where he now faces corruption charges stemming from his tenure as mayor, Campbell was greeted by well-wishers who told him to "hang in there."
Campbell said the Voting Rights Act was important in breaking the back of segregation. "I also see this march as renewing the spirit of the civil rights movement."

Two key provisions of the Voting Rights Act are up for reauthorization The one most likely to spark controversy is Section 5. It requires nine states -- including Georgia -- and parts of seven others, each with a long history of discrimination at the ballot box before 1965, to get federal approval before enacting any changes in their electoral laws. That includes alterations in the boundaries of congressional districts and moving a polling station.
Critics of plans to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act say Section 5 was intended to be a temporary measure, and conditions have changed dramatically since 1965.

Brian Robinson, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, (R-Ga.), said recently, "The congressman feels quite strongly that Section 5 should apply to every state in the nation or it should apply to none of them."

Abigail Thernstrom, vice-chairwoman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, said voters claiming discrimination can mount their challenge in courts.

"They've got the 14th Amendment. They don't need Section 5," she told the Washington Post last week.

The other -- Section 203 -- requires election officials to assist immigrant voters who don't speak English by providing them with voting material in their native language.

Jessie Jackson did not give a lengthy speech but lead the crowd in "extend the vote" chants. Jackson said he is planning a prayer vigil at the Justice Department in Washington D.C. and a voters rights meeting in southern states.

"Today is a great historic moment in our struggle," Jackson said."We plan to keep the pressure on."

He said he also chose Atlanta because the state recently passed a law that would require voters to present a photo ID to cast their ballots. Because of the Voting Right Act, Georgia's new voter ID law must be reviewed by the federal government.

Mary Jones, 69, of Birmingham marched with her 17-year-old granddaughter and said she was pleased to see a large number of teenagers and young children participate in the march.
"It gives me hope for the future," said Jones.

SUZ,

Wouldn't it be neat if thousands of people showed up at Crawford?

If I didn't have my unusual circumstances with pressing family concerns I would ride the bus if I had to to get down there.

If we can't go to Crawford we can send money to those who can.

Cindy Sheehan: "The Secret Service is Trying to Intimidate Us"

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

Night all.

Wouldn't it be neat if thousands of people showed up at Crawford?

If I didn't have my unusual circumstances with pressing family concerns I would ride the bus if I had to to get down there.

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at August 7, 2005 12:17 AM

Yeh, Truth, that's why I wanted people to wear or tie yellow bands to represent each of us who can't go there! We're there in spirit...

BUT the other things you can do are: donate, write LTE's, send emails, umm...sh...how do I say this? highway blog...(THE DCP DOES NOT ENDORSE THIS IDEA. IT IS THE CRAZY RAMBLING OF A POMERANIAN LOVER.)

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050806/480/co10308061837

Posted by: bob at August 6, 2005 11:55 PM

P.S.

Is that you, Bob, in the picture?

Prayer is the connection we share with all of humanity.

It does not have to be religious in nature, or divine in consequence...prayer is about connection and energy.

I would ask all of you to begin this dark day in our Nation's history in your own voice……within your own creed and in your own way...to open your hearts to send blessings and compassion to our People, our Nation and indeed the World as we witness this unprecedented subjugation of our Democracy.

We are the proud children of every civilization which has risen and fallen since the dawn of time, and as such, we must have a decent respect for the opinions of mankind and for the fate of the world in which we live once again being held hostage by the unpredictable and despotic actions of the current leaders of our Government.

To the victims of homicide bombings in the Middle East, to those sold into slavery across every ocean, to the innocent victims of war throughout the world by our own hands and at the hands of the enemies of all of humanity the despots, dictators and oppressors, to our very own inner cities…the forgotten, the forsaken, the homeless, the hungry and destitute…who every day struggle for sanity, for warmth, for shelter, for sustenance, for a kind word or a shoulder to lean on for comfort…to our own brave Brethren in Arms who so valiantly and willingly give their service knowing they may be called upon to give the ultimate sacrifice…their very lives…in the belief that WE as a Nation shall eternally carry the Torch of Liberty through the ages.

May we be blessed with the foresight to forever have the wisdom to remember them…the dignity to preserve their memory and the courage to protect their heroism, for they have divinely honored us…the undeserving…by their selfless acts to secure our Freedom, even when unjustly sent to do battle with those who are not the enemies of our People by the desperate, dishonorable greed and lust for power and domination of the world and Her resources by the current and continuing Administration.

Finally…let us focus our strength, anger, dignity, honor, sorrow, pain, suffering and courage so that we may all vow to proudly stand United as Americans with infinite passion and undying hope so that one day soon We the People will once again regain control of our Heritage, our Natural Rights and our Manifest Destiny to restore our Nation to Her once proud stature as the Light of Liberty, Freedom and Justice and to set out henceforth to create a brighter future for all of mankind.

Not exactly sleep inducing bedtime stories, are they?

Cindy Sheehan believes the Secret Service is trying to intimidate her and her supporters to discourage them from staying 5 miles from Phony Acres Ranch. (5 miles is a long way from the ranch). She says they have told her it is not very safe to be along the road because Secret Service vehicles drive along that route. She also says the Secret Service vehicles have been whizzing by over the speed limit. She asks that we notify the media of this.

Please ask these media outlets to cover military families and veterans seeking to ask Bush for answers in Crawford, and tonight Cindy asks that we please also ask these media outlets to report that she and her supporters are reporting measures taken by the Secret Service to intimidate them from staying.

This site that Suz gave us has a GREAT list of contact information, including email addresses of most of the major media:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

I admit it...

those pictures and the reports of the SS (no coincidence they are called that) harrassing Cindy coupled with the report of Fitzgerald being replaced by some Bu$hco frat boy are disturbing...

Beer anyone?

Correction...whiskey?

Damn...they cannot get away with this!

What does a citizen have to do to call a special session of Congress anyway?

Just askin'...

Media Info

MODERATORS, IF THIS IS TOO LONG, PLEASE DELETE AND LEAVE THE LINK TO THE PAGE OF MEDIA INFO.

ABC NEWS
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777

World News Tonight (put show in subject line): NETAUDR@abc.com

Good Morning America (put show in subject line) NETAUDR@abc.com

World News Now: wnn@abcnews.com

Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com

This Week with George Stephanopoulos: thisweek@abc.com

Primetime: abc.news.magazines@abc.com

20/20: 2020@abc.com

World News Weekend (put show in subject line): NETAUDR@abc.com

CBS NEWS
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893

CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com

The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com

48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com

Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com

CBS News Sunday Morning: sundays@cbsnews.com

Up to the Minute: uttm@cbs.com

NBC NEWS
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: nightly@nbc.com

Today Show: today@nbc.com

Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.com

Meet the Press: MTP@NBC.com

Weekend Today: WT@nbc.com

CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906

CNN asks for emails to all shows to go through this form:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/

FOX NEWS
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229

Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com

FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com

The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com

Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com

On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.com

DaySide with Linda Vester: Dayside@foxnews.com

FOX & Friends: Friends@foxnews.com

FOX News Live (put show in subject line): Feedback@foxnews.com

Heartland w/ John Kasich: Heartland@foxnews.com

Studio B with Shepard Smith: Studiob@foxnews.com

The Big Story with John Gibson: Myword@foxnews.com

MSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5453

Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com

MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough: msnbcreports@msnbc.com

Imus in the Morning: imus@msnbc.com

MSNBC Live: Newsforce@msnbc.com

Connected Coast to Coast with Ron Reagan and Monica Crowley: Connected@msnbc.com

The Situation with Tucker Carlson: Tucker@msnbc.com

PBS
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-5000
Fax: 703-739-8458

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.org

NPR
635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753
Phone: 202-513-2000
Fax: 202-513-3329

Jeffrey Dvorkin, Ombudsman ombudsman@npr.org

All Things Considered: atc@npr.org

Morning Edition: morning@npr.org

Talk Of The Nation: totn@npr.org

LA TIMES
202 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 800-528-4637 or 213-237-5000
Fax: 213-237-4712

Readers' Representative: readers.rep@latimes.com

National News Department

NY TIMES
229 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-556-1234
Fax: 212-556-3690
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-862-0300

Byron Calame, public editor: public@nytimes.com

National Editors: national@nytimes.com

USA TODAY
7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108
Phone: 800-872-0001 or 703-854-3400
Fax: 703-854-2165

General Comment

WALL STREET JOURNAL
200 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281
Phone: 212-416-2000
Fax: 212-416-2658

Letters to the Editor: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com

General comment: wsjcontact@dowjones.com

WASHINGTON POST
1150 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20071
Phone: 202-334-6000
Fax: 202-334-5269

Ombudsman: ombudsman@washpost.com

Michael Abramowitz, national editor (be polite):
abramowitz@washpost.com

AP
Dallas Bureau
4851 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300
Dallas TX 75244-6002
(972) 991-2100 News
(972) 991-7207 Fax

____________________

Also, please Email Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC at countdown@msnbc.com

to thank them for having Cindy on, which they've already commited to doing.

TSP,

You should post that on the forum.

Great List.

I know Suz had composed a similar list but this is right to the heart of the dragon.

Great job!

Direct page on After Downing St. dot Org
with all the media info:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1202

Indy,

If you or Suz want to post it in the forum, please do. I am not in the forum much and
am not sure where to post it in there.

I will be gone most of tomorrow and won't be
able to do it until late Monday night.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT READ!!!!

First Person: Braggadocio unbound
They have not the courage to face the mistake of the Iraq war
Saturday, August 06, 2005

By Samuel Hazo

It is said that "pride goeth before a fall." The reason this platitude is disturbingly true is that pride, like all our other capital vices, blinds us to consequences. The only other force that has this power is infallibility, a presence that has made its home in the White House since 2000.

`snip`

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05218/549527.stm

_______________________________________

...also this LTE. Now, this is a religious organization that deserves a bit of attention. I intend to get in touch with them as a show of support.

Love above all
We are members of the Community House Presbyterian Church on Pittsburgh's North Side. We believe that the Rev. Janet Edwards, who recently married two women, is demonstrating what we hope will someday be the church's role in assisting all people in entering loving, committed relationships. (See Dennis Roddy's July 17 column, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Mob.") We base this belief on our understanding of Scripture, informed by the God-given gift of reflection.

Our congregation claims membership in a movement known as More Light congregations. As a More Light congregation, we stand for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in all aspects of the life of the church. This includes participation in, and administration of, the sacraments of the church.

The only criterion we recognize as a standard of the Christian life is whether one's life and actions reflect single-minded Christian commitment to love and justice. A loving relationship between two people, built on mutual respect and fidelity, should be sufficient reason for two people to expect to be married by the church. Marriage is a sacred union for people who are committed to each other without regard for gender.

We know many people see this as abandoning the responsibility of the church to establish values. What we see is the church establishing a value of acceptance of all people into full equality in the eyes of the church and into full acceptance as people made in the image of God.

CLAUDIA DETWILER
SCOTT STEGMAN
North Side

Editor's note: This letter was signed by 38 other members of the Community House Presbyterian Church.

You can use this source to find a More Light Congregation and/or organization near you. I really like that name, MORE LIGHT. It refutes the dark ages ideals of the fundementalists, doesn't it? Here again, we see people committed to real morals and real vaules, that starts out by valuing all people, and isn't that the whole idea?

http://www.mlp.org/resources/chapters.html

Extortion of Iraqis by US Troops?!?!

Is this what has become of America's military?

Military Says Troops Demanded 'Rent' From Iraqi Vendors
By Scott Gold
Los Angeles Times

Saturday 06 august 2005

California Army National Guard troops charged unauthorized, off-the-books "rent" to Iraqi-owned businesses inside Baghdad's Green Zone in Iraq to raise money for a "soldier's fund," military officials and sources within the troops' battalion said Friday.

The disclosure is the latest to emerge from a wide-ranging investigation into the conduct of the 1st Battalion of the 184th Infantry Regiment of the Guard, which is headquartered in Modesto, Calif.

Military officials had confirmed previously that the battalion's commander, Lt. Col. Patrick Frey, had been suspended and that one of the battalion's companies, based in Fullerton, Calif., had been removed from patrol duties and restricted to an Army base south of Baghdad, the capital.

According to military officials and members of the battalion, soldiers from the battalion's Bravo Company, which is based in Dublin, an East Bay suburb of San Francisco, approached several businesses earlier this year that were owned and operated by Iraqi nationals.

The businesses - a dry cleaner, a convenience store and the like - catered to US soldiers and were located on the fringe of the US military's operating base inside the Green Zone, the fortified hub of the Iraqi government, US occupation officials, embassies and contractor headquarters. The businesses were asked to pay the soldiers "rent."

Lt. Col. Cliff Kent, spokesman for the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq, confirmed Friday that two vendors agreed to pay.

The money was used to create a "soldier's fund," said one member of the battalion, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Such funds are used by troops for a wide variety of purposes, such as small loans to repay bills back home or buying commemorative so-called "challenge coins" - often specially minted to foster morale inside a unit. Kent said the fund created from the rent money also was used to buy T-shirts, patches and a safe.

Kent declined to discuss the incident further, stating in an e-mail from Iraq: "Specific details are part of the informal investigation which is administrative in nature and protected by privacy rules."

There is considerable dispute about the financial arrangement - how much money was raised, how many soldiers were involved and how important the allegations are.

Army officials say the total amount was $4,000, but troops in the battalion have said the scheme raised more than $30,000. The investigation resulted in disciplinary action against one officer from the battalion's Bravo Company. Army officials declined to disclose the officer's name, and his identity could not be confirmed independently.

Army officials say they have no evidence that anyone else was involved beyond the disciplined officer. But members of the battalion, including one who has been briefed directly on the investigation, said that at least six soldiers played some role in the arrangement.

One member of the battalion said the consensus in the ranks was that, "This is not the kind of thing that you do alone." Battalion members who discussed the matter did so on condition that their names not be used because they have been told by superiors not to talk about the subject with reporters.

Several soldiers have called the rental arrangement "extortion," but Army officials insist that the word is not an accurate description of the relationship between the soldiers and the vendors.

More vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080605A.shtml

Don't forget to post a note here:

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=818

From Kos:

Cindy's email to Celeste.

Hi Brian,

I have just had a very disturbing call from Cindy- there are ten people preparing to sleep out on the side of the road, the media and police have gone, SEVERAL secret service people have stopped by to give this message

"people drive very fast on this road, somebody could run over you and you could get killed"

Cindy was frightened by this message and asked me to ask you to post it. If this were not the government of Karl Rove you could take it lightly. But sadly, it is. I told Cindy to have people take turns keeping watch, I hope the Vets will go back to stand guard.

It is hard to believe we live in these times, hard to believe we are governed by such dangerous people, and for us at GSFP hard to comprehend why we are without our sons. Thank you to everyone for your amazing support today, plesae stay with us.

Celeste Zappala
co founder, Gold Star Families for Peace
Mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker, KIA 4/26/04-Baghdad
Sherwood was killed protecting the Iraq Survey Group as they looked for the non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction

Please Recommend.

View Comments | 128 comments

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/6/231428/2137

Firm of Bush's Envoy Nominee Is Scrutinized
Those who know Roland E. Arnall describe him as a down-to-earth billionaire, one who is as comfortable pitching in at an animal shelter as he is commanding his business empire. But the founder of Ameriquest Mortgage also faces scrutiny as 30 states investigate complaints of deceptive lending and appraisal practices at the company. By E. Scott Reckard.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-arnall7aug07,0,3440051.story
{{{ Arnall seems like such a nice fellow on the surface.... but like other Bu$hCo cronies, he has these pesky legal problems dogging him.... "You are what your friends are..." }}}

Morning NonnyO:

Visions of Cindy being threatened by the bully in chief has left me sleeplessin...

How Bush thinks: intuition over intellect
AS SOMEBODY WHO doesn't have the slightest feeling one way or another about baseball star Rafael Palmeiro, I have to say that it seems pretty clear Palmeiro has used steroids. Palmeiro recently tested positive for steroid use. And then there's former teammate Jose Canseco's allegation that he and Palmeiro both used steroids, which is impossible to verify but would seem to explain why Palmeiro's annual home run total nearly doubled after Canseco joined him on the Texas Rangers. None of this is ironclad proof, but it seems the simplest way to reconcile the available data.

President Bush, though, doesn't see it this way at all. When asked about Palmeiro's positive steroid test, Bush — who knew Palmeiro when the president owned the Rangers — replied, "Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him. He's the kind of person that's going to stand up in front of the Klieg lights and say he didn't use steroids, and I believe him."

This statement perfectly crystallizes Bush's thinking. Facts don't matter to him. What matters is how he feels about the person in question. In 2001, for instance, Bush met with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and the two hit it off. As Bush later told Peggy Noonan, Putin recounted to him a story involving a cross given to him by his mother.

"I said to him, 'You know, I found that story very interesting. You see, President Putin, I think you judge a person on something other than just politics. I think it's important for me and for you to look for the depth of a person's soul and character. I was touched by the fact your mother gave you the cross.' " Bush publicly testified of Putin, "I was able to get a sense of his soul."

Personally, I put less weight on the fact that Putin got a cross from his mother, and more on the fact that Putin has smothered Russian democracy by outlawing opposition parties, shut down any remotely skeptical media outlet and subjected his critics to political show trials. Yet this sort of evidence has had barely any effect on Bush. Two years later, he was still praising Putin's desire for "a country in which democracy and freedom and rule of law thrive."

Bush is even apt to apply this particular brand of illogic to his own character. In one of the 2000 presidential debates, Al Gore pointed out that Bush as governor of Texas opposed a measure to expand children's healthcare and instead used the money for a tax cut. The debate moderator then asked Bush, "Are those numbers correct? Are his charges correct?" To which Bush replied, "If he's trying to allege that I'm a hardhearted person and I don't care about children, he's absolutely wrong."

The style of Bush's reply is telling. Gore was trying to make a point about Bush's moral priorities by establishing a series of facts about Bush's behavior. Rather than deny having chosen tax cuts over children's healthcare, or explain his rationale for having done so, Bush changed the subject to more comfortable ground: judging people's hearts. He asked the audience to intuit, based on the way he carries himself, that he is a warmhearted person, and thus to reject out of hand any facts that might clash with this impression.

The point isn't just that Bush refuses to engage with facts he finds inconvenient. (Many fail that test.) It's that Bush rejects reason itself. Reason is a process by which we draw our broader conclusions from an accumulation of specific evidence. When the evidence changes ("Hey, this Putin guy seems to be squelching dissent"), our conclusions can also ("Perhaps he doesn't love democracy as much as he said he did!"). Bush, on the other hand, arrives at his beliefs through intuition. His supporters marvel at the unshakeable certainty of his convictions. Well, no wonder.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-chait5aug05,0,6079158.column?track=hpmostemailedlink

FAMILIES LEARN OF RECRUITERS' LISTS -- AND HOW TO OPT OUT

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-recruit7aug07,1,5560462,full.story?coll=la-headlines-california
***********************************************
As the military struggles to meet recruitment goals, activists are intensifying efforts to educate parents about how they can delete their teenagers' names from directories that schools are required to provide recruiters under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Their message is simple: All parents or students have to do is put in writing that the school may not release their contact information — name, address and phone number — to the military.

*************************************************

In Santa Ana, a group of women organized community meetings to alert parents about opting out. In Sylmar, student protesters have mobilized a delete-your-name campaign every time recruiters visit campus. And a group of Pacific Palisades activists has visited more than a dozen high schools throughout the region to distribute forms that students can use to strike their names from lists provided to the armed forces.

"We're trying to inform people of their rights," said Erika Herran, 16, a member of the Young Political Activists at Sylmar High School. "They definitely know more than before, but there's still a lot more to be done."

Under the education bill signed by President Bush in 2002, military recruiters must be granted the same access to high school facilities as colleges and prospective employers — from setting up informational booths in the lunch room to handing out T-shirts to pique students' interest. Additionally, schools must provide student contact information, unless a parent has told the school not to. A school district that fails to comply risks losing federal funding.

Recruiters use the lists to call students and visit them at home to tout the benefits of enlisting in the military. Staff Sgt. Roberto Sanchez, a Marine Corps recruiter in Los Angeles, said the lists were essential to his job.

"It saves us a lot of time in finding the individuals," he said. Without contact information, "everybody would be walking up and down the streets" trying to find possible enlistees.

But critics say that releasing such personal information violates the privacy of students and their parents — most of whom, educators and activists say, are unaware they can opt out.

"The whole purpose is to educate the parents and the students in our country about what is going on in their campuses and what options are available to protect themselves," said Deborah M. Vasquez, a member of OC Mujeres en Accion, a Santa Ana woman's social justice organization that holds community forums on what it calls the military's "predatory practices."

Military officials said they were seeing more such activism, which they call "counter-recruitment."

"We see that all the way up and down ... the Western states," said Capt. Carolyn Nelson of the 12th Marine Corps District in San Diego, which oversees West Coast recruitment efforts. "All individuals have a right to know what's out there. We don't discourage it, we don't encourage it. Everyone has freedom of speech."

The military pushed for the equal-access provision in the No Child Left Behind Act to counter a growing hostility to recruiters at some schools, especially on the coasts, and to deal with a shrinking pool of potential enlistees, as more teenagers than ever — two out of every three, according to the Department of Labor — go on to secondary education. At some schools, it has long been a tradition to provide student contact lists to colleges and, in some cases, employers.

Among the armed services, the Army is having the most difficult time meeting its recruitment goals. The Army fell more than 7,800 soldiers short of the nearly 55,000 enlistees it needed between Oct. 1 and June 30, while the Army National Guard fell more than 10,000 short of its goal of nearly 45,000 enlistees, according to the Department of Defense. The Army and Navy reserves and the Air National Guard also fell short.

The Army's shortfall is due to an improving economy and the war in Iraq — not counter-recruitment efforts, said Douglas Smith, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Ft. Knox, Ky.

"Is it hindering us? Not really," said Nelson, the Marine recruiter.

No one tracks how many students have opted out of the No Child Left Behind Act's provision. But educators report, anecdotally, that they are increasingly being asked to make an effort to inform parents and students of this right.

In March, more than two dozen teenagers at Century High School in Santa Ana formed Students for a Democratic Society, a namesake of the 1960s organization that protested the Vietnam War.

Co-founder Modesto Briseno, 18, said members were driven by frustration over weekly visits from military recruiters, who arrived on campus in sports cars and held push-up contests during lunch to attract students' attention.

The group has passed out pamphlets challenging the benefits of joining the military as well as form letters that students or parents, if the student is under 18, could use to excise their names from contact lists.

At Sylmar High, the Young Political Activists took on visiting recruiters by, among other things, making an anti-recruitment documentary that they screened at a local coffeehouse where they encouraged students to sign opt-out form letters.

"We set up booths during lunch to try to give kids information every time recruiters come with their Hummers and all," Herran, the student activist said. "Not a lot of kids know about [opt-out forms]…. We're trying to make that more widespread."

Community organizations are also trying to spread the word.

Palisadians for Peace visits a different high school every other Tuesday, distributing opt-out forms to students before classes begin.

On a recent trip to Huntington Park High School, activists talked to many parents and students who were unaware that their contact information was being given to recruiters.

"Read this. It's important," Christa Wilk, 71, told students as she handed them brochures and opt-out forms printed in Spanish and English.

Sara Torres, 16, was surprised to learn that her school could release her address and phone number without her consent. "I don't like that," said the sophomore, who said she planned to ask her parents to sign the opt-out form. "I didn't know they could do that."

But her friend Norma Toro, 15, said she planned to follow in her brother's footsteps and join the military after graduation. "It's an opportunity, something different," she said.

Orlando Terrazas, the father of a Whittier High School student, grew concerned after his son told him that a military recruiter made a lengthy presentation to his school band. Terrazas called the school, and was dismayed to learn that his son's information had been turned over to the military.

Terrazas' complaints and those of other parents prompted the school district to adopt a new policy for the coming academic year: Officials are sending letters to all students to inform them how to opt out of the lists.

"We realized that we needed to improve communication to our parents so they would know their rights [and] what they can do to exercise their rights," said Ron Carruth, an assistant superintendent in the 14,000-student Whittier Union High School District, where fewer than two dozen opted out in prior years.

The move satisfied Terrazas. "We were thrilled," he said. "Last year, it was a nondescript sentence buried in the middle of documents…. Now, it's a full-page form, and it's going to be at the front of the registration packet in color. It stands out."

Some school administrators and board members say the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act leave them walking a fine line, often proclaiming their support for the troops overseas while questioning recruiting tactics at home.

"I believe in the armed services for some kids. Some of them don't know what they want to do in life — sometimes the military can give them structure," said Denise Mansfield-Reinking, a trustee with the Anaheim Union School District, which plans to send its first opt-out form letters to parents soon.

"I am not against the armed forces in any way," she said. "But when they start calling kids in the 11th grade [without parental knowledge], I have a little bit of difficulty with that. It's such a young age."

LA. Times, Huh, aimzzz!

Something tells me these meetings are a great beginning for a democracy cell group!

Link to get Cindy Sheehan's email address.

Please send her an email to encourage her and thank her. Go into this site, and scroll down until you get to Cindy's email address.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/sheehan3.html

Also, Cindy Sheehan has asked everyone to notify the media of the secret service's attempt to intimidate her in Crawford. They have told her and her party to be careful because the social service's cars drive fast back and forth along that street. They have even said it is possible someone could get "run over" there.

I read a post on After Downing St. dot Org last night and a man said that that's how the secret service tries to discourage people, by intimidating them, and by very casually mentioning something that could be a law or a new (BRAND new, as in made while they were standing outside Crawford) law, then waiting for the protestors to break that little law and then they arrest them.

In honoring Cindy's request:

Most of major media's contact information:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/