Party for America launched its biggest program for ACT: 100,000 phone calls to under-voting Kerry supporters in central Ohio. These are folks who have voted no more than once in the past 4 years, and have already said that IF they vote, they will vote for Kerry. The election hinges on them. They are not being counted in the polls, but they have been courted by ACT for more than a year now. If they vote, we win Ohio and the election. The first volunteers stepped up to phone. Since then, 12,050 calls have been distributed, 50 at a time, to 201 volunteers. The response has been awesome - and appropriate for the awesome responsibility we all share today. I write to ask you to take your 50 calls. I know you are busy with important action, and I do not wish to distract you from your work. But I know that these three hours will be three of the most productive hours you can spend getting rid of this abomination in Washington.

Michael Lumsden writes: "By 10 o'clock, nearly 400 volunteers had filled the union hall...We'd come together to get out the vote. As we found out 4 years ago, every vote really does count. Sat and Sun I went door to door, reminding folks that the polls were already open and that they could cast their ballot early. With a list of registered voters in hand, I walked from house to house with a partner, knocking on doors. Late in the morning...a young boy answered the door and said his mom wasn't home. 'Can my dad vote?' the boy asked us. I asked the boy's father if he was a citizen. 'Yes.' I asked him if he was registered to vote. He'd registered before, but hadn't re-registered this year. Well, did you move? I asked. 'No,' he said, pulling out his wallet. He showed me his voter registration card. There it was, valid. 'Si,' I said. Of course you can vote. He was excited. My partner said, 'Partido Democratico?' 'Si,' he answered. 'Yes, for what's his name -- John Kerry.'"

Common Dreams: "The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition has announced a Realities of War Speaking Tour which kicks off Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at Cleveland State University. The tour will take place on campuses around the country this fall, gathering young people to learn about and discuss the reality of the war on Iraq and its connection to the struggles of youth and students in our high schools, colleges and communities. 'Young people have a lot invested in this war and we're being asked to sacrifice our education and even our own lives' said Ashwini Hardikar, a senior at the University of Michigan who plans to bring the speaking tour to her campus this fall. 'The Realities of War tour will give us an opportunity to talk about and learn what war and militarism really does to our generation.' "

AP: "Actress Helen Hunt, Oscar winner for "As Good As It Gets," is telling women voters it could be better - with Democratic Sen. John Kerry in the White House. Hunt makes her appeal in an ad that's part of Planned Parenthood's $1 million television ad campaign in eight competitive states. In 2000, 22 million single women didn't vote. This year, you and women like you hold the power to change the course of our country," Hunt says. "We know. We're Planned Parenthood. We've helped women make many choices. Now we're asking you to make one more." "Vote John Kerry for president," Hunt says."

Ike Leggett, Maryland Democratic Party: "Sinclair Broadcast Group has ordered its swing state broadcast stations to preempt regular programming - days before the November 2nd election - to air a film that smears John Kerry for his activism against the Vietnam War. To be clear, the film is nothing more than an hour-long viscous attack ad against John Kerry. It is a piece of political garbage [by a] discredited TV reporter [who works for] the Washington Times. The filmmaker, Carlton Sherwood, is a former TV reporter who has a history smearing veterans. He was forced to resign for falsely attacking the group that built the Vietnam Memorial.... The TV station he worked for later retracted those reports and apologized to Veterans. Sinclair is one of the nation's largest TV station owners and has a dubious history of playing ultra right-wing Republican politics ... they will give George W. Bush an illegal hour-long attack ad ... to influence elections and circumvent campaign finance laws."

Boycottsbg.com: "The Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI) will interrupt its normal schedule days before the election to air an anti-Kerry propaganda film. Truly the only way to make ourselves heard is by hitting SBG where it hurts -- in the pocketbook. [Contact] Darren Shapiro, VP Sales, 410-568-1500 and Jeff Sleete, VP Marketing, 410-568-1500. At the current time, the SBG ticker reads $7.50. Obviously, downward pressure on that number will cause the shareholders of SBG to question the actions of their company, CEO, and board of directors. The way to accomplish this is to pick out SBGs largest advertisers and boycott them as well. Throughout the next few days we will post contact information for specific advertisers. By focusing our efforts on these few, we can case a definite impact on SBG." Also, contact advertisers to complain and demand they pressure Sinclair not to air their anti-Kerry propaganda. Advertiser database: http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/

Talking Points Memo: "A stockholder in Sinclair Broadcast Group can file what's called a 'shareholder's derivative action' against the officers and directors of the corporation, which is publicly traded, to enjoin the officers and directors from using corporate resources in ways that do not benefit the shareholders. I believe Sinclair is incorporated in Maryland, and if so that's probably where the action should be brought. One stockholder has standing to sue and should request a temporary restraining order before the pseudo-documentary airs to prevent the officers and directors from misusing corporate property to benefit their political agenda ... because ordering the local stations to air the anti-Kerry propaganda will likely cause a loss of network advertising revenue, may in fact violate the stations' contracts with the networks they are affiliated with, and is almost sure to embroil the corporation in costly legal battles...." Someone can buy a share just for this purpose.

Bush Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman: "The debate tonight presents a tremendous opportunity for the campaign to attract undecided voters, but people's perceptions are shaped as much by their conversations around the water cooler as by the debates themselves.... Immediately after the debate, visit online polls, chat rooms, and discussion boards and make your voice heard.... Make sure you vote in polls on: www.MSNBC.com www.FoxNews.com www.ABCNews.com www.CNN.com and even www.CBSNews.com. [Share] your thoughts on message boards in target states: www.GeorgeWBush.com/SpeakOut. Call Talk Radio shows in your area: www.georgewbush.com/GetActive/CallTalkRadio.aspx Write letters to the editors of your local papers: www.georgewbush.com/GetActive/WriteNewspapers.aspx Visit Chat rooms on AOL, MSN (chat.msn.com), and Yahoo! (chat.yahoo.com)." Bush forces tell their supporters to flood polls, call-in shows and chat rooms with pro-Bush propaganda. Use their resources and ours to undo GOP spin efforts!

CBS: "Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe stayed on message from the time they took the stage: Vote John Kerry on Nov. 2. The rockers joined an assortment of performers across the country Friday night in beginning the 'Vote for Change' tour, a 10-day series of concerts in battleground states aimed at helping oust President Bush. Springsteen opened with a solo version of 'The Star Spangled Banner,' then a rousing rendition of his anti-war anthem 'Born in the U.S.A.' 'America is not always right - that's a fairy tale you tell your children - but America is always true, and it's in seeking this truth that we find a deeper patriotism,' Springsteen told cheering fans after endorsing Kerry, a Democrat. Springsteen and Stipe, both critics of the war in Iraq, took the stage together to introduce the first band, Bright Eyes, and to remind the crowd to vote. 'This is a very important moment for every one of us and for our country,' Stipe said."

At taxpayer expense, on INMARSAT, Shortwave, and AM and FM stations around the world, the most vicious hatred, lies, and extremist Right-Wing partisan message of Rush Limbaugh is being heard not only by our own troops, but by all within the global reach of the Armed Forces Network, from our apprehensive allies to our outright enemies. Please sign the petition TODAY to have Rush Limbaugh removed from Armed Forces Network!

Guardian: "Daniel Ellsberg [of Pentagon Papers fame] is urging government insiders to provide similar classified documents about the invasion of Iraq. Joined by other whistle-blowers and former government employees, Ellsberg said that claims of government deception and lies have 'little credibility' unless supported by documentary evidence.... In a memo to current government employees, Ellsberg and other former government officials said federal insiders owe a 'higher allegiance' to the Constitution, the public and American soldiers in Iraq than to their government bosses. 'A hundred forty-thousand Americans are risking their lives every day in Iraq for dubious purpose,' the memo said. 'Our country has urgent need of comparable moral courage from its public officials. Truth-telling is a patriotic and effective way to serve the nation. The time for speaking out is now.' "

Moveon.org reports: "With the tragic news that more than 1,000 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, we're all feeling for their families and loved ones. We're also seeing an incredible outpouring of resolve to take a few minutes tonight to remember and reflect on their lost lives. Candlelight vigils are happening everywhere at 8:00 P.M. tonight. Find one near you, sign up to come, and get materials at. Our determination to publicly recognize their deaths stands in stark contrast to the Bush administration's response -- or lack thereof. Bush has refused even to comment personally on the fact that more than 1,000 of our brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, moms, dads, sons, and daughters have been killed in his war of choice. He's also failed to attend a single funeral. "

"In the midst of anti-Republican National Convention activities, a group of local artists and actors began at sundown Monday a weeklong reading of the names of dead Iraqis and dead American soldiers. The ad hoc group, which calls itself Iraq: Naming the Dead, read the names of 15 Iraqi citizens killed in fighting in Iraq for the name of every U.S. soldier killed, signifying the 15-1 ratio of Iraqis killed to American military personnel. 'It's dangerous to democracy for American citizens not to know what is being done in their name,' said Karen Malpede, a writer and organizer of the event at the St. Marks-in-the-Bowery Church on Manhattan's Lower East Side. 'We felt Americans don't know that ratio'... Some of the dead were infants, while others were insurgents. Some were identified only by their relationships to survivors. A drummer tapped a drum once for each name read. Beside the lectern were about a dozen of the black caskets used in a protest on Sunday."

US Newswire: "The National Organization for Women's New York City chapter will host a permitted rally this evening to protest the Bush Administration's current war on women, minority groups, and civil liberties. NOW, the largest feminist organization in the country, unanimously voted at its 2004 National Conference, to formally declare an immediate state of emergency through Nov. 2 -- in a radical effort to mobilize and defeat the current administration. 'In only three and a half years, George W. Bush and the right wing leadership in Congress have undermined and eroded more than four decades of advancements for women,' said NOW President Kim Gandy." PLEASE join them today if you can - the Bush brownshirts are planning to turn out to harass them, so help make sure these cowards are intimidated by your sheer numbers!

In one of the most moving statements since 9/11, activists converged in a circle around Ground Zero, the site of the WTC protest, to honor the dead by ringing a bell in memory of each life confirmed lost that day, as well as those who have died in action in the wars launched by Bush after 9/11. While Bush uses staged photos and sound bytes to exploit the tragedy, these activists showed how meaningful a peaceful, simple act of respect can be.

Bush's henchmen may have succeeded in pulling strings and blocking citizens from gathering in Central Park for a peaceful protest. But they can't prevent citizens from going to a public park for a picnic! So, grab those sandwiches and sodas, wine and cheese, frisbees and footballs and make your way to Central Park TODAY for a PEOPLE'S PICNIC! Show the Bush Reich what it seems to have forgotten: "This land is your land, this land is my land!"

Common Dreams: "As Bush addresses the Republican National Convention on Thursday, September 2, 10,000 union members will go door-to-door to talk with a million union households about the jobs crisis, the need for affordable healthcare and a secure retirement - - and where the candidates stand on these issues. It will be the largest single-day election mobilization in the union movement's history. From Davenport, Iowa and St. Louis, Missouri to the coast of Maine and the mountains of the Northwest, nurses, cooks, steelworkers, teachers, office workers and others will fan out to conduct voter education with union members as part of the AFL-CIO's Labor 04 program." Citizen outrage at Bush's policies has spurred an unprecedented level of volunteerism and activism this year.

Boston.com: "[Boston] police officers and firefighters to trail Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg during the first two days of the Republican National ConventionHe is also picking up a police theme, attacking Republicans for playing off the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center."When those towers fell, America took a pledge: We will never forget. Were those simply words or an oath of conduct?" Nee said. "The membership of the BPPA and their families will never forget. In the wake of 9/11, the politicians took advantage of our profession. Everyone talked about the great service and sacrifice of the public safety professionals."Reworking a refrain he used repeatedly while agitating for a contract in Boston, Nee accused Republicans of having the wrong priorities."They're spending millions and millions on an event that is nothing more than a virtual infomercial," he said. 'If they can fund an event like the RNC, why can't they fund the collective bargaining agreements.""

The media wants to incite the police to brutal measures against protestors, but they may find that they are barking up the wrong tree. The nation's firefighters and police have been treated worse by the Bush regime than most groups. Now, upset by their lack of a new labor contract [due in large part to the lack of adequate funding from Washington] are planning a highly visible protest at the Republican National Convention. The two main unions representing the workers said they plan to protest not only at Madison Square Garden, but at parties and receptions when Mayor Michael Bloomberg drops in. The off-duty workers "are going to be looking at social events the mayor will be at with an eye toward going there," said Al O'Leary, a spokesman for the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association." Looks like we're all in this thing together!

This isn't your father's protest scene! With tens thousands of picture-taking cell phones, video cameras, lap-tops, the NYC protests may be the most well-organized and sophisticated events of their type yet! Spot a provacateur trying to cause trouble? Spread the word with text messaging. See a policeman going feral? Use your picture phone! Not only is technology making it easier to organize events efficiently, it will also make any future legal cases much easier, with "real time" proof. By contrast, the "Bush police state's" technology is Darth Vaderish in its almost crude brutality: tasers that cause skin to feel like its burning, and sound devices that can potentially cause permanent hearing damage. It really is good versus evil this time!

"Progressive Democrats of America and Progressive Vote have chosen to merge into one organization, henceforth to be called PDA. What makes the merged PDA and PV unique is our two fold strategy of working inside the beltway (itb) while simultaneously building a strong federation of state and congressional district based local progressive democratic caucuses and chapters. Either strategy alone is far weaker than the combination of both. A central organization without grassroots support and engagement is without power or leverage. Grassroots chapters without a unifying, central lobbying, legislative, national focus can achieve only limited local successes. But the two organizations working as one to build an unstoppable democratic coalition represent a strategy and a movement to be reckoned with."

"WHAT: Free screenings of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, followed by an opportunity to register to vote. WHEN: One week only: Friday September 24th through October 1st. Screenings will be held daily at 7:30pm. WHERE: Approximately 100 college campuses across the United States. Are you a university student looking for a way to make a difference? Do you have the time and the drive to organize and execute a screening on your campus? Would you like to work with us to bring change this November? If so, then we'd like to hear from you. Here's how it works: We provide financial and logistical support for the event... What we need from you is only your time. We need people on the ground to print and distribute promotional materials, to be there in person to monitor the screening and to manage the voter registration afterwards. If this sounds like the sort of effort you would like to be a part of, please contact us at host@fahrenheitforfree.org."

Punkvoter says it's hard to keep up with the demand for Rock against Bush CDs -- and also requests by musicians to sign onto the movement. "There were so many bands that wanted to be on these compilations we could have done ten volumes," Fat Mike (Burkett) owner of Fat Wreck Chords and founder of Punkvoter.com stated about the growing support to the Rock Against Bush movement. This new compilation includes 28 bands contributing songs (20 of these tracks are rare or unreleased). The artists on this CD range from multi-platinum punks like Green Day to Grammy award winning Foo Fighters and punk-ska superstars No Doubt. This album also includes long-revered and respected punk bands like Bad Religion, Rancid, Sleater-Kinney, Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls, and Operation Ivy." The latest CD -Vol. 2 has already hit NUMBER ONE on the independent label chart and 54 on Billboard.

Ben Rayner writes: "Provided the planet survives long enough....music historians might someday credit George W. Bush's presidency with giving rock 'n' roll activism its biggest boost since the Vietnam War. " Bruce Springsteen, who will join R.E.M., John Fogerty, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews, Death Cab for Cutie, Bonnie Raitt, Jurassic 5 and Babyface in a series of anti-Bush concerts to be held in American "swing states" this October puts it poignantly: "I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out. I felt like I couldn't have written the music I've written and been on stage singing about the things that I've sung about for the last 25 years and not taken part in this particular election."

US Newswire: "Sting has been selected by the American Screenwriters Association to receive the David Angell Humanitarian Award. The award is named for David Angell, Emmy- winning writer/producer for such loved television shows as Cheers, Wings and Frasier, who perished with his wife Lynn in the September 11 attacks. Sting's support for human rights organizations like the Rainforest Foundation, Amnesty International, Live Aid, the Juvenile Diabetes' Carousel of Hope and the Elton John AIDS Foundation mirrors his art in its universal outreach." Needless to say, the compassionate and humanitarian Sting is NOT a Bush fan. In fact, he requested that his music not be used by the Bush campaign. (see http://dir.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/09/15/music/index.html

Right after 9/11, Bruce Springsteen got caught up, like so many, in the patriotic fever inspired by the tragedy and exploited to the hilt by the Bush administration. But now it's 2004 - two wars, tens of thousands of Afghan and Iraqi lives and hundreds of US soldiers lives later, and Springsteen has helped to form the Vote for Change coalition, dedicated to making sure G. W. Bush doesn't treat America to another four years of hell. "We're trying to put forward a group of progressive ideals and change the administration in the White House," Springsteen told The Associated Press in the most overtly political statements of his 30-year career. "That's the success or failure, very clear cut and very simple."Springsteen said he didn't fear any backlash over going public with his personal politics. "It's a pretty clear-cut decision in November," said Springsteen, whose songs have provided a backdrop for some Kerry events. "We're chipping in our two cents. That's all we're trying to do."

The rock tour of the decade is getting underway to help kick off a bloodless revolt against the Bush regime - your weapons are your votes! "Vote for Change is a loose coalition of musicians brought together by a single idea â?? the need to make a change in the direction of our country. We share a belief that this is the most important election of our lifetime. We are fighting for a government that is open, rational, just, and progressive...." Members (and performers on tour) include: Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, the Dixie Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Pearl Jam, Keb Mo, Jackson Brown, James Taylor, and many more!

This media assessment from the Bushie "USA Today" tries to make the current wave of activist documentaries sound like just the latest fad, just moviemakers cashing in, "capitalizing on interest in current events." What a lie! It's the other way around! The activist moviemakers are producing their material so the public is FINALLY allowed to glimpse real current affairs - not corporate spin jobs! Among upcoming documetaries: "Bush's Brain," about chief propagandist Karl Rove, will run in New York and Austin next month. "Uncovered: The War on Iraq" will show in 200 theaters from Aug 20. "The Yes Men," a political satire about a duo who impersonate World Trade Organization officials, opens Sept. 24 in New York and Los Angeles, and United Artists/MGM is considering ratcheting up its planned release.

"The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is sponsoring a nationwide reading and discussion of George Orwell's classic novel 1984 this October. Educators and students in high schools, colleges, and universities, and citizens in libraries, community organizations, and book discussion groups are invited to read the book and discuss its prophetic nature and what it might teach us about life in the contemporary US. The '1984+20' project aims to promote awareness, discussion, and debate about the key roles of language in politics and culture. NCTE anticipates that the '1984+20' project will bring a broad range of individuals into meaningful conversation through classroom and face-to-face discussions, [the internet], student essays and projects, community events, film and video projects, and conferences. Educators, administrators, librarians, students, media, community organizations, nonprofit groups, techies, publishers, writers, artists, activists, bookstores" get involved!

The mass media tilt toward the right wing and against us. We don't have to take it any more, but media bias won't fix itself. We must fight back. Join the media watchdog team at one of three levels: * 1. Rapid Responder - Demand fair(er) media coverage. If you don't have a lot of spare time join the Rapid Response team. We'll send Action Items describing specific instances of media bias with contact information so you can call, fax, and write to demand fair(er) coverage. * 2. Media Watch Dog - Help expose and oppose media bias. If you have a few free hours a week join the Media Watch Group(s) for the outlets you know best at www.democrats.com/media * 3. Media Watch Leader - Take Charge at the highest level of Media Watch. If you have a free hour every other day you can apply to join the Leadership Team. Become a leader in the fight against media bias by moderating the groups, formulating and distributing Action Items, and more! Join the fight today.

Americans Coming Together (ACT) " is the largest and most sophisticated voter mobilization project in American history. Unprecedented in scale and strategy, ACT is laying the groundwork for Democratic victories in the 17 states that will determine Americaâ??s future in the 2004 election. With thousands of paid and volunteer canvassers, ACT is already at work empowering people to speak the truth about Republican policies by focusing on the issues that matter most in their state. Person-to-person, neighbor-to-neighbor, and friend-to-friend, ACT will help voters understand the power they have to change this nation for the better and then get them to the polls on Election Day." To undermine this courageous effort, the GOP has floated a rumor that the people from ACT going door to door are "convicted felons" - not only that, but guilty of violent crimes! See http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200406\POL20040624a.html

"The Backbone Campaign's 70 foot long puppet appearance was one of the opening presentations of the 2004 Washington State Democratic Party Convention. State Party Chair Paul Barendt invited the Backbone Campaign to take part in the opening ceremonies, and the puppet's appearance generated lots of enthusiasm in the crowd of more than 1000 delegates. Backbone Campaign Project Director Bill Moyer's speech talked about the connections of the Democratic Party's progressive wing to the future of the party, which was greeted by a standing ovation. He offered The Backbone Campaign's support for that effort. He talked about the Campaign's effort to bring the puppet and our platform to the Boston National Convention in July. The puppet was directed and conducted by Jim Farrell."

"Now is the time all right - if Betty Brightwell and Alison Acker have anything to do with it. At 78 and 75 respectively, Brightwell and Acker are both Raging Grannies, now a worldwide movement of senior women - 70 'gaggles' at last count - committed to steer the planet to safety through protest. In 1987, the Raging Grannies were only one 'gaggle' - Brightwell and seven other peace activists, furious that their efforts to dispute the presence of an American nuclear submarine in their Victoria, B.C., harbour were being dismissed as the rantings of little old ladies. 'Many of us had a lot of anger still bottled up inside, even though we had, indeed, found satisfying careers,' Brightwell and Acker write in their new book Off Our Rockers And Into Trouble: The Raging Grannies, dedicated to the grandchildren of the world."

Rob Kall writes, "You have been drafted. Fate, life, circumstances.... they have al come to a screeching halt. Look around you at your world. It is no longer the same. You can evade the draft, but it won't be due to ethical reasons of conscience. Because this is an ethical draft that is calling upon you to do more than you ever did before politically, as an activist. You don't see yourself as an activist? Neither did I a few months ago. Don't see yourself as political? Hello!! Your life, your future has already been indelibly changed by laws that the Bush cabal has passed, by radically right-wing judges who have already been approved to lifetime jobs, where they can, on a daily basis favor corporations over humans, radical right wing perspectives over what we would see as fairness. You have been drafted and you need to respond to the call."

Indymedia reports, "500 pig-snout wearing activists raised hell at Halliburton's annual shareholders meeting in Houston, Texas on May 19. Chanting 'corporate invasion is not liberation' and 'Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown and Root, Go to Iraq and Loot, Loot, Loot' they disrupted the Halliburton meeting to send a message that not all Americans support the war profiteering and corporate cronyism that Halliburton epitomizes. Halliburton is Dick Cheney's former company and has been the number one financial beneficiary of the war and occupation of Iraq with $9 billion in contracts. A 25-foot inflatable pig called 'Hallibacon' greeted shareholders as they entered the Four Seasons Hotel for the shareholders meeting, and anti-Halliburton banners were dropped all over Houston, including one from a Four Seasons Hotel window. After conducting a blockade of the driveway at the Four Seasons, activists held a die-in at Halliburton's headquarters."

"StopBushin2004.com Releases 'Get Started: How You Can Help Defeat President Bush' This 4,000 word essay includes the essential information for becoming an effective activist including information on: What to do and know before taking action, the minimum actions everyone should take, and the five most important actions. Visit the 'Get Started' page now to help defeat President Bush."

Moveon Reports: "50 Ways to Love Your Country," the recently released political activist guide compiled by Moveon.org shot to number one on the Amazon.coom top 100 bestsllers list today. This guide includes essays and tops on how to engage in political dialogue in diverse and productive ways and is filled with the inspiring stories of 50 Moveon members and introductions by Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Cail Sheehy, Moveon founders and other public figures." These sales numbers are not just a tribute to Moveon - they are a powerful indication of just how many people are ready to work together to get George Bush out of office!

US Newswire: "Two major progressive organizations merged today, creating a powerful progressive center in Washington. Institute for America's Future President Robert Borosage and TomPaine.com Publisher Ellen Miller announced the marriage of the two non-profit groups that provides new capacity to the progressive movement. 'Progressives are pulling together to counter the right-wing machine that now dominates Washington,' said Borosage. 'The right has no answers for the great challenges facing our country, but they dominate the debate by sheer institutional weight... Over the next few years, we will drive progressive issues into the national debate and help build a majority movement for progressive change in this country," Miller noted." A new website will soon provide comprehensive progressive analysis and actions on the Web. The Campaign for America's Future will convene thousands of activists in Washington for this year's 'Take Back America' conference."

"The Rock Against Bush compilation is to be released by Fat Wreck Chords on April 20th and will be the first of two volumes. The comp consists of 26 songs... from some of the most notable bands in punk and rock. There also will be political content such as trailers from political films, moveon.org TV spots, and a piece from comedian and Grammy nominee David Cross.Originally only one Rock Against Bush compilation was planned, but because of overwhelming interest from bands and the music community, it became clear that there was a need for second volume. The first edition of Rock Against Bush comes just in time for the first leg of the Punk Voter tour, which will take place on college campuses throughout the West Coast." Rock on!

Geov Parrish writes, "The March for Women's Lives is focused on reproductive rights - rights that have already steadily been lost, especially in rural areas and among the poor and uninsured, in the last quarter century. But a great deal more is still out there to be preserved. The social engineering precedent desired by anti-choice activists and their political colleagues is far broader than what has come before. It is, in essence, a vision of a theocracy, where permissible social conduct is defined by the state religion - their religion - and all who stray are deviants who will be punished accordingly, in this and future lives. Do we want another four years of a president who claims he talks to God - and whose God always seems to tell him exactly what he wants to hear? That should scare anyone - woman or man. It's a march for all our lives. Because our lives are ours to live. It's none of their business. Information on the March for Women's Lives is available at marchforwomen.org. "

Clergy Leadership Network writes, "We choose to stand for a different direction for our country, indeed dramatically different from what is currently being pursued. Further, we believe that growing numbers of clergy and religious leaders - local pastors, rabbis, imams and others, as well as those with broader leadership roles in our religious communities - share our concerns. We believe that many, some perhaps for the first time, are ready to become publicly active on behalf of resisting what is our current national direction and advocating a future that is more clearly shaped by God's will for the well-being of all. We believe that such a different direction is strongly rooted in the early vision that guided, and gave courage for, the launching in this land of a government 'of... by... and for the people,' which in our time 'must not perish from the earth.'" Attend their national gathering May 16-18 in Cleveland.

Fight Big Media MeetUp Day in 7 Days WHAT - MeetUp with other local concerned citizens to discuss ways to fight Big Media. WHO - Fight Big Media Supporters Worldwide. So far, 6,657 have signed up. WHEN - Wednesday, April 14 @ 7:00PM (2nd Wednesday of every month.) WHERE - 613 cities and counties - join or start a MeetUp in your area! Also join our own Media Watch Project: http://www.democrats.com/media/

Why go suck up the GOP's phony packaged pap with "Reggie the Rig(ged)" when you can go see a kickass, from the gut concert?! "NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Jello Biafra, and Authority Zero are set to embark on the first of many Punk Voter/Rock Against Bush Tours. It begins in Seattle on March 29th and will hit some very important swing states like Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. Aside from all the great music, there will be lots of free stickers, pins, and other shit. Most shows are only 15 bucks and free to students on campus, so come out and Rock Against Bush! For tour schedule see: http://www.punkvoter.com/shows/shows.php

From Oxfam USA: "Global food giants such as Yum Brands -- owner of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut -- use their purchasing power to squeeze growers who, in turn, cut their labor costs and offload risk onto farmworkers. Today's tomato pickers toil in often dangerous conditions for rock-bottom wages; they must pick two tons of tomatoes to earn just $50. If they were paid just one penny more per pound, they could nearly double their daily wage. Take action now. Please join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in their Living Wage Campaign. Email Yum's CEO, and tell him to change his companies' corporate practices to ensure that all workers can freely organize, receive living wages and work in decent conditions."

ABC Online: "Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators have marched through the streets of New York in the US on Saturday, as part of nationwide protests to mark the first anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. As well as New York, marches were planned for Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco... As many as 50,000 demonstrators, closely monitored by a large and visible police presence, rallied in midtown Manhattan then set off on a two-hour circular march through the centre of the city. Carrying signs that read 'End The Occupation of Iraq' and 'Bush Lies, Who Dies?' protesters chanted slogans calling for US troops to be withdrawn and replaced with a UN peacekeeping force. 'We are calling for the US occupation of Iraq to be ended immediately according to the wishes of the Iraqi people and the right of self-determination,' Sarah Sloan of ANSWER said."

Citizens For Legitimate Government Launches B.Y.O.B., Bring Your Own (paper) Ballot, Campaign for 'Election' 2004 --(press release from www.legitgov.org) CLG Founder and Honorary Chair, Michael D. Rectenwald, announced the CLG's inauguration of the B.Y.O.B., Bring Your Own (paper) Ballot, campaign. The group calls for voters in the 2004 presidential contest to print, fill-out, and notarize their own copy of the CLG paper ballot receipt, as a safeguard against known flaws and vulnerabilities of touch-screen voting and the recent history of discarding votes and overthrowing election results.

Our Media Watch project has a few dozen specific groups organizing to monitor and oppose media bias. We need more Media Watchdogs to help! Please visit the site - http://democrats.com/media - join the main group media_watch_main-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and one or two of the specific groups to help defend our democracy from media bias and abuse. If you're an experienced Yahoo group owner or moderator, please let us know that you want to help moderate one or two of the Media Watch groups. Write to: mediawatch@mikehersh.com.

"Youth is on their side-in more ways than one. Their organization, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) is but a few months old. But already, the anti-war group co-chaired by 21-year-olds Shannon Bundock and Kira Koshelanyk has organized rallies, film festivals, and informative conferences for the general public and all of their members. 'We're a coalition of more than 50 organizations,' says Bundock, listing student unions from UBC, SFU and local community colleges, along with Third World organizations and collaborating anti-war groups, such as the Korean Student Network Against War, as supporters. Since a split with former ally StopWar.ca last fall, MAWO's members have launched full-speed into a campaign to bring Canadian troops home from Afghanistan."

"About 400 protesters shouted outside the King Center in Atlanta as Bush laid a wreath at the tomb of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to commemorate the 75th birthday of slain civil rights leader Thursday. Carrying signs and chanting to rhythms pounded from conga drums, members of the crowd resisted efforts by police to move them to a designated protest area... Among the civil rights leaders angered by Bush's appearance at the King Center was the Rev. Tim McDonald, pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church. 'The thing that is most hypocritical is choosing the 75th anniversary of his birth - the man who was the epitome of peace, perhaps the most noted African-American anti-war individual,' McDonald said. 'To come on his birthday ... when this president unilaterally went to war, is still engaged in war, an illegal and unjust war.' McDonald said Bush has adversely affected minority communities through his policies on criminal justice, the elderly, Medicare, housing and unemployment."

Michael Hasty writes, "Perhaps the biggest hidden reason people don't make the paranoid shift is that knowledge brings responsibility. If we acknowledge that an inner circle of ruling elites controls the world's most powerful military and intelligence system; controls the international banking system; controls the most effective and far-reaching propaganda network in history; controls all three branches of government in the world's only superpower; and controls the technology that counts the people's votes, we might be then forced to conclude that we don't live in a particularly democratic system. And then voting and making contributions and trying to stay informed wouldn't be enough. Because then the duty of citizenship would go beyond serving as a loyal opposition, to serving as a 'loyal resistance' - like the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War, except that in this case the resistance to fascism would be on the side of the national ideals, rather than the government."

Medea Benjamin writes, "As we greet the new year, let's remember and celebrate some of our hard-fought victories in a time of adversity." 1. We organized the most massive, global protests against war the world has ever seen. 2. Mainstream Americans have been buying progressive books by the millions. 3. The fair trade movement had a stellar year. 4. The poorest country in South America, Bolivia, proved that people power is alive and well. 5. State governments are cutting prison budgets by releasing non-violent drug offenders. 6. This year witnessed a "coming out" of all types of celebrities on all manner of progressive issues. 7. Progressives now have a powerful new tool for organizing: the Internet. 8. Over 200 cities, towns, counties and states across the country have passed resolutions against the Patriot Act. 9. The corporate scandals that topped the headlines in 2002 continued in 2003. 10. Several landmark rulings we can be proud of.

Willie Nelson wrote this song on Christmas, 2003, and will perform it for the first time at the Kucinich for President fundraising concert in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 3, 2004.

There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

From Friday: "Television networks in Italy are facing a nationwide weekend walkout - not by staff, but by unhappy viewers. Instead of spending Friday, Saturday and Sunday glued to primetime TV, Italians are being urged to go out. The strike's organisers, campaign group Esterni, have arranged discounts at a range of venues for people who bring their remote controls with them. Organisers say they are expecting around 400,000 people to join the strike against what they call Trash TV. Esterni has held Viewers' Strikes in Milan for the past seven years, but this is the first national event with which they hope to show 'The power of switching off'. Television is one of the principal causes of dullness and isolation, and is a drain on precious commodity of human time, according to the Esterni website... Protesters took to the streets earlier this month after the Senate backed a bill that will essentially allow Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to strengthen his hold on the media."

"We are a group of informed Artists who are quite concerned about the situation in the world today-at the hands of aggressive, self righteous political authorities. This in conjunction with the present military industrial complex, is a formula for disaster. We cannot standby, silently, without actively opposing this madness. To that end, we present our project, and our web site to you. We can only hope for a 'regime change' here at home, before it is too late..."

A dedicated local group CAN make a difference that can serve as a model for the rest of the nation. The Maine People's Alliance, a grassroots group composed largely of Democrats and Greens got tired of waiting for a polluting corporation to address the problem of its mercury contamination of the beautiful Penobscot River. In an alliance with the National Resources Defense Council, the MPA filed suit against the HoltraChem plant. Now, after dogged persistence for two years, a judge has ordered the creation of a REAL independent panel to study to problem and map out REAL solutions. Everyday citizens CAN make a difference - maybe corporate America and their Emperor Bush can be brought to heel by a thousand "mosquito bites" by groups like MPA!

NY Times: "In an effort to counter the influence of conservative Christian organizations, a coalition of moderate and liberal religious leaders is starting a political advocacy organization to mobilize voters in opposition to administration policies. The nonprofit organization, the Clergy Leadership Network, will operate from an expressly religious, expressly partisan point of view... But the driving purpose of the organization, according to its mission statement, is to bring about 'sweeping changes - changes in our nation's political leadership and changes in failing public policies.' The Rev. Albert M. Pennybacker said: 'The Christian Right has been very articulate, but they have been exclusive and very judgmental of anyone who doesn't agree with them. People may want to label us the Christian Left. But what we really are about is mainstream issues and truth, and if that makes us left then that shines even more light on the need for a shift in our society.'"

Want the whole scoop on the Bush energy plan. On alternative energy? On air pollution in the U.S.? On the logging industry, nuclear energy, the latest bills related to anything environment? Go to the African American Environmentalist Association - it's one stop shopping for the conscientious progressive. AAEA's goals: 1.Protect the environment, 2. Promote the efficient use of natural resources, 3. Enhance human, animal and plant ecologies, 4. Increase African American participation in the environmental movement, 5. Deliver information and services directly into the black community, 6. Clean up neighborhoods by implementing toxics education, energy, water and clean air programs, 7. Include an African American point of view in environmental policy decision-making. 8. Resolve environmental racism and injustice issues through the application of practical environmental solutions. Go AAEA!!

Democracy Caravan seeks to educate, activate, and mobilize average citizens to help build a pro-democracy movement capable of protecting the basic rights and freedoms of all Americans. Democracy Caravan strives to help modernize our democratic form to foster greater participation and a more direct democracy. The following stops are planned: Nov. 5 - 15 Iowa (via Abilene & Atchison, KS; and Maryville, MO) (locations tba depending on presidential candidate activity) ... Nov. 16 - 20 Illinois (Galesburg -- Peoria -- Springfield -- Carbondale) ... Nov. 21 - 23 Kentucky (Mayfield) ... Dec. 1 - 5 Tennessee ... Dec. 6 - 10 Mississippi (Meridian) ... Dec. 11 - 13 Alabama ... Dec. 14 - 20 Florida. Request a stop near you!

Code Pink writes, "Don't wait until the election in 2004 to fire Bush. This is an opportunity for you to let him know that he is out of office. For those of you who don't know, a pink slip is what you get when your employer wants you out. As thousands of people [took] to the streets on October 25th, CODEPINK [kicked] off a campaign to 'Pink Slip Bush!' Pink Slips are a wonderful, creative way to spread the word and make a statement. Get them at your local thrift store, dye white slips, or decorate them with a colorful message to Bush! Create your own Pink Slips and display them in your community! Send personalized Pink Slips firing Bush to the Washington DC office where they will be displayed daily in front of the White House."

From True Majority: "The votes are now scheduled for Thursday in the House and Friday in the Senate (Oct. 16th and 17th) for the $87 Billion Bush requested for the Iraqi Quagmire. Please send one last message to Congress: vote no on the quagmire bill. Congress should allocate more funds only after the Resident properly involves the United Nations in rebuilding Iraq and fires the national security team that got America into this quagmire. Just fill out this form to send your free message."

"The Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) will hold its second national conference on Nov 1-2 in Chicago. This conference is a chance for students from all over the country to come together and work out the direction of the student anti-war/anti-occupation movement. The conference will include speakers and workshops, as well as discussion and voting on new points of unity, and future actions, and the election of officers. All student antiwar groups are encouraged to send delegates. Look for more details soon on the CAN website (antiwarnetwork.org). The Campus Antiwar Network is an independent, democratic, grassroots coalition... Our points of unity are: 1. We stand opposed to all unjust wars; 2. We stand opposed to the occupation of Iraq; 3. We stand opposed to racist scapegoating and all attacks on civil liberties; 4. We demand money for education, jobs and healthcare, not war. If you are a high school or college student and are interested in attending please contact mjd139@columbia.edu"

"The Progressive Government Project today announced the launch of their new Web site, www.progressivegovernment.org... [It] offers an in-depth online resource designed to educate Americans about the power and impact of presidential appointees... The Progressive Government Project's user-friendly guide to the executive branch currently provides detailed job descriptions and salaries of the top 300 presidential appointments with plans to add many hundreds more, as well as biographies of the people who currently serve in those positions. 'Very few people understand the critical decision-making role played by un-elected bureaucrats,' said founder Dal LaMagna... The Progressive Government Project is also establishing an ideal presidential Cabinet - a shadow government - composed of notable spokespeople that offer original policy viewpoints based on a fresh progressive platform." Check it out!

The UK Guardian reports: "Organisers of tomorrow's rally against the occupation of Iraq have predicted a massive turnout to embarrass Tony Blair on the eve of the Labour party conference. The Stop the War Coalition, which has organised Saturday's protest with the Muslim Association of Britain and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, estimated that at least 100,000 people inspired by the Hutton inquiry and the government's 'lies' would join the London march from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. It is the first big rally against the occupation of Iraq since Saddam Hussein's regime fell."

MoveOn.org writes, "Resident Bush demonstrated in his speech to the United Nations yesterday that he's still unwilling to admit anything's wrong in Iraq, or to seriously ask for help in rebuilding it. If Resident Bush and his administration won't face up to the egregious mistakes they've made in Iraq, it's Congress's responsibility to hold them accountable. Congress can't fire the Resident, but it can condition further funding of military occupation and reconstruction on a real plan that will get us out of this mess. That should include finding a Defense Secretary who is up to the job and willing to work with the international community. We're already at 196,000 signers -- if you sign yourself and pass this message on to friends, we can make it to 250,000 by the end of the week. Tell Congress to do its job now!"

Mother Jones reports, "When John Andrew got laid off this summer he could take solace in having plenty of company: Since George W. Bush took office, nearly 4 million Americans have lost their jobs. But the same day that this client-services director for a Minnesota software firm got his pink slip, he also heard that Bush's economic team was coming to the Midwest on a 'Jobs and Growth' tour - a three-day, six-city publicity blitz to talk up the benefits of the Bush tax cuts. 'It pissed me off,' says Andrew... 'I'm 41 years old; I got two kids,' he says, 'and I decided this would be a good time for dad to stand up and protest.' So Andrew decked out the family's blue Honda Odyssey with protest placards and hit the highway on his own 'Economic Reality' tour. He shadowed the bus carrying cabinet secretaries John Snow, Donald Evans, and Elaine Chao, to give his fellow Americans 'the real facts - that this economy stinks, and Bush's tax cuts are making it worse.'" Visit JobForJohn.com

"In just a few days, senators will vote on an issue of great importance - the funding and development of new, more 'usable' nuclear weapons.... We've been down this path before. It led to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cold War, bomb shelters, the Cuban Missile Crisis, massive instances of thyroid cancer from nuclear testing, widespread fear, and global power structures based on countries' relative ability to unleash apocalypse. At the core of it, this is an issue of survival. Early next week, the Senate will take up the issue of funding for a modified nuclear weapon, called the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, or nuclear bunker buster. Funding for a new generation of smaller, low-yield nuclear weapons intended for actual use on the battlefield will also be addressed as part of what's called 'advanced concepts.' The administration wants to build these new nukes despite the fact that our existing nuclear arsenal is capable of destroying the world a few times over."

"Broward's Democratic political activists used Bush's Fort Lauderdale visit today as a forum to criticize the war in Iraq and to organize support for Democratic presidential candidates... An estimated 400 protesters crowded 17th Street opposite the hotel, lining the sidewalk in front of a nearby Hess gas station and chanting slogans such as '1-2-3-4, Bush and Cheney out the door!' Fort Lauderdale police, including officers on horseback and in boats in nearby canals, kept a tight rein on the crowd, which grew throughout the afternoon as people finished work for the day. Beginning at about 4 p.m., the protest attracted a broad spectrum of Democrats, supporting a variety of candidates and causes. Many hearkened back to the 2000 presidential election and Florida's pivotal role in the recount with signs like 'Commander-in-Thief.' Others referenced the ongoing California recall of Gov. Gray Davis with signs like 'Recall Bush.'"

The ground swell is building! First Michael Moore proved that books blasting white corporate American ("Stupid White Men") outsell those supporting stupid white men (like Bush). Next, the Dixie Chicks discovered that speaking out against the Reich accelerated, rather than harmed, their career. Last week, after Johnny Depp likened the Bush government to a "stupid puppy," his latest flick "Pirates of the Caribbean" shot from number 9 to number 3 on the Washington Post film list in a renewed surge of popularity. Now, as of this week, American hip-hop crew Black Eyed Peas have knocked Elton John from the top of the UK singles chart with their pacifist ballad "Where Is The Love?" that examines mounting world conflict in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States. So, CNN, ya' know what you can do with your phony Bush approval polls....?

John Nichols writes, "Sally Baron grew up in a time and a place where Laurie Carlson and his comrades battled against the corporate elites and 'Tory' Republicans with a passion they traced back to the days of the American Revolution against the British royals and a feudal system that handed power from father to son. Even at 90, Laurie still waded into debates on the side of the workers against bosses, the farmers against agribusiness, and hard-knocks kids against the fair-haired sons of privilege. No wonder, then, that Sally Baron bristled at the sight of George W. Bush. The wife of a miner who was injured in a pit accident, she raised six kids in a world our inherited and selected president could never imagine. Sally Baron's kids say she did not like the way Bush smirked when he spoke. Considering that he did not even win the most votes in the 2000 election, her thinking went, he could have been more humble."

Sally Baron's obituary states, "Memorials in her honor can be made to any organization working for the removal of President Bush." According Baron's daughter, "She'd always watch CNN, C-SPAN, and you know, she'd just swear at the TV and say 'Oh, Bush, he's such a whistle ass!' She'd just get so mad." This inspired the folks at Bartcop to suggest the use of whistles at all anti-Bush protests. All in favor, blow hard!

Reviewing Dubya's new website, Ezra Klein writes, "Particularly impressive is their Action Center, which has one of the coolest, most useful tools I've ever seen: ...you can input your zip code [and] you'll be given a large list of newspapers and radio shows in your area, complete with contact information for each of them. It's mighty impressive. Well, George Bush might have some good tools, but we have the online organization - and tools mean nothing without good, motivated activists. However, we can do a lot with those tools, and we mean to. We want to get a coalition together -- every influential and non-influential lefty site with the ability to direct readers and members over to the Bush action tools. And every Friday, we want to use those tools to write letters and make calls highlighting a different part of the Bush disaster. This Friday will be fiscal irresponsibility day -- where we blanket the media with calls and letters about Bush's absurd fiscal policies."

Sally Baron "was 71 when she died Monday after struggling to recuperate from heart surgery. Her family had come to the question of what might be a fitting tribute to her. 'My uncle asked if there was a cause,' her youngest son, Pete Baron, said. Almost in unison, what her children decided to include in the obituary was this: 'Memorials in her honor can be made to any organization working for the removal of President Bush.' 'She thought he was a liar,' Baron's daughter, Maureen Bettilyon, said. 'I think his personality, just standing there with that smirk on his face, and acting like he's this holy Christian, that's what really got her.' ... 'She'd always watch CNN, C-SPAN, and you know, she'd just swear at the TV and say 'Oh, Bush, he's such a whistle ass!' She'd just get so mad,' Bettilyon said." We'd be honored to accept contributions in Sally's name! http://democrats.com/donate

"This year marks the 35th Anniversary of Martin Luther King's historic Poor People's Campaign, for which he gave his life. As our economic human rights continue to be violated, we know that the work of Martin Luther King is not finished. Through this summer's march, the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is continuing the struggle to make King's vision of true equality and peace a reality in this nation and around the world. Today, 35 years later, the situation of poor Americans has only deteriorated and it is time to march on Washington again... All we have left is our voice. Please join us this August in making it heard. We [kick-offed] the Poor People's March for Economic Human Rights on August 2, 2003 in Marks Mississippi. From there, we will march and caravan through the region until we arrive in Washington DC on August 23rd, when we hold a historic march on our nation's capital."

Houston Chronicle reports, "Protesters greeted Bush when Air Force One landed at Ellington Field before the fund-raiser, many toting signs that read 'Bush lies, GIs dies' and 'Tell us the Truth.' Meanwhile, a crowd of roughly 200 gathered across the street from the Westin Galleria to heckle Bush and those who drove up to support him. One protester's sign read, 'No one died when Clinton lied.' Members of the Houston Coalition for Justice Not War, Not in Our Name and Bush's Backyard Surprise planned the protest after learning of Bush's fund-raiser, said protest organizer Keith Koski, 45. Most were upset that weapons of mass destruction have not been found in Iraq. One man let his effigy of Bush with an elongated Pinnochio-like nose express his opinion that Bush apparently lied about Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction."

"The Bush administration has recently announced plans to gut the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of pristine national forests from most logging and road-building, and to radically change the way our national forests are currently managed by changing the National Forest Management Act. We expect Congress to vote soon on two amendments that would protect our national forests from these harmful proposals put forward by the Bush administration. Ask your U.S. Representative to stand up for our last wild forests." Send the letter!

Democrats.com will also be celebrating French independence day with a reception and dinner at the French restaurant The Chef Bistro in Knoxville, TN on Sunday July 13th at 7:00PM (Tomorrow!). We will honor the French resistance to the war in Iraq with wine and a lively discussion about Internet-enabled political action. Dinner costs just $30 per person along with one button and one bumper sticker with our smash hit slogan "Re-Defeat Bush." There will also be lawn signs available. To make your reservation for this event or to ask a question about it please send an e-mail to knoxville@democrats.com. Be sure to include the names of each of the members of your party so we can provide the restaurant with an accurate count. The restaurant is at 5003 Kingston Pike in West Knoxville. See www.democrats.com/knoxville for a map.

Democrats.com will also be celebrating French independence day in California with a reception and dinner at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville on Sunday July 13th at noon. We will honor the French resistance to the war in Iraq with champagne and have a lively discussion about Internet-enabled political action. Lunch costs just $41 per person, (tax and tip included) which includes soup, choice of entree and dessert, along with one "Re-Defeat Bush" button and one bumper sticker. There will also be lawn signs available. To make your reservation for this event or to ask a question about it, please send an e-mail to napa@democrats.com. Be sure to include the names of each of the members of your party so we can provide the restaurant with an accurate count. The restaurant is 45 miles north of San Francisco in the heart of Yountville at 6510 Washington Street, across from the Villagio Inn. A map is available at http://www.democrats.com/napa

Bernard Weiner writes: "Using fear and a permanent-war scenario, the Bush Administration has been able to manipulate the American populace into turning its spiritual button to the off position... Americans are led to wallow in the fright and negativity pushed daily by Bush&Co. and its conglomerate-owned mass media. After months and years of having this negative template laid on top of our society, it's not difficult to have one's energy sapped, to sink into a kind of fatalistic torpor, or even, because the feelings are so intense, to deny that one is having doubts at all...Friends, our beloved nation is at one of those historical crossroads that will decide our fate. We either defeat the shadow forces of greed and power-hunger -- of negativity and f ear-mongering -- and take our country once more into the aura of light and hope, or we risk losing our individual and societal soul for a long, long time, with untold damage to the nation, the world, our moral center. It's choose-up time."

If you missed the chance to create a Bastille Day celebration in your area, you can still create a great local get-together. We've created organizers' toolkits so you can get "Re-Defeat Bush" buttons, bumper stickers and lawn signs for a local gathering of Democrats. The responsibilities of local organizers are set out on our community site. Want to get a group together?

In a BuzzFlash interview, Bob Borosage declares, "'In foreign policy, fiscal policy, judicial appointments, environmental and social policy, corporate corruption, this George Bush makes Ronald Reagan look weak-kneed. The movement conservatives that drive his administration must be stopped. And it will take a unified opposition to do it... The [Take Back America] conference demonstrated that the activists of the party - the people who knock on doors, who register people to vote, who bring them to the polls, who talk to their neighbors - are largely united around a progressive 'kitchen table' economics. They don't need to take back the party, they are the party... Wes Boyd's presentation on the phenomenal growth of MoveOn.org made one dramatic point: 'When we fight, we grow and we get stronger.' This is a stark contrast with the Washington conventional wisdom that sees resources as limited and argues that you must pick your spots, keep your powder dry, and husband your energies.'"

Jeanette Wallis (thewalkfordemocracy.org) writes, "I didn't plan on arriving at the White House on Friday the 13th. Lucky coincidence, I guess. The important thing is that I have arrived. The walk is over! I wish I could say that hundreds of people walked into town with me, but it was only me and Sherpa - just as it's always been. I wish I could say that I was surrounded by well-wishers and press when I walked up to that White House security guard and announced, "Hi! I just walked here from Seattle to deliver these grievances to Mr. Bush!", but it was probably just as well that I wasn't. If others has been there, they might have been disappointed or even angered by the response - a sentiment I wouldn't have shared. But you just want to know what happened, don't you? Well, here goes..."

"The conference to Take Back America was an incredible event. You could feel the energy bristling in the crowd. Over 2000 passionate progressives showed up, all of them ready to go out and fight to win back the country from conservatives. Links to conference speeches, polling and streaming video are below, listed by speaker." Be sure to read the incredible speech by Bill Moyers, as well as all of the other great speeches.

Patrick Abegg of OpEdNews.com writes, "On June 4, 2003, progressive Americans gathered in Washington DC to begin the process to Take Back America. I attended as a rank-and-file Democratic activist, on my own, without any organizational attachment. There were many organizations that had sent people, as well as those there on our own. We were all lucky to be there, because this may be the event that progressives point to in the years to come as our moment when things began to happen." Read Patrick's excellent report!

"Tired of waiting for more Democrats to stand up? Former 1992 DNC oppo chief Dan Carol is spearheading a new effort to bring the heat to George Bush... starting right now. Here's the word from the crew assembling at www.JoinTheBushwhackers.com: 'Like any good effort to annoy and pester those incredibly arrogant Bush folks, this one will rely on a little hope and humor to counter their fear-mongering and lies. America has completely lost its way - not to mention 3.2 million jobs - under this residency. It's time to make clear that enough is enough. But we can't do it alone - so join us!' So I urge you to get connected to jointhebushwhackers.com, enter their Dubya re-naming contest to win a free t-shirt (or just buy one of em and wear it proudly!), and get ready for more fun and serious business to follow. Cuz these folks mean business. "

Please join Democrats.com for drinks, dinner and discussion at the highly praised French restaurant Lavandou, 3321 Connecticut Avenue, NW (Cleveland Park Metro) on Sunday July 13th starting at 5:00PM (That's tomorrow!). We are honoring the French for their brave resistance to the war in Iraq. The cost is $40 per person including a "Re-Defeat Bush" button and bumper sticker, or you may come for the reception only for $15. We will also have our first lawn signs with the hot new slogan. Come have some fun!

The Oakland Tribune reports: "A Berkeley-based peace group intends to place advertisements depicting U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in mass transit systems from coast to coast [and in full page ads in the NY Times and LA Times]. The photo is real -- it was taken Dec. 20, 1983, when Rumsfeld, then a special envoy for the Reagan administration, visited Saddam to discuss U.S. support for Iraq in its war with Iran. California Peace Action and its sister Peace Education Fund incorporated the photo into an ad emblazoned with the words, 'Who are we arming now? 'U.S. troops die for the failures of policy makers,' the ad says. 'The war in Iraq marked the seventh consecutive time that American troops have been sent into combat against a regime the U.S. had previously backed. We aided both Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. While American soldiers and innocent civilians paid the price, policy makers avoided accountability.'"

"I am writing to protest the nomination of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US P-resident George W. Bush for the Nobel Peace Prize, and to urge the committee not to award this prestigious recognition to them. Norwegian Member of Parliament Harald Tom Nesvik announced that he has submitted a nomination for Tony Blair and George W. Bush for 'their decisive action against terrorism, something I believe in the future will be the greatest threat to peace.' From what I understand, the provisions set by Alfred Nobel specify that the winner of the Peace Prize 'shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.' However, Tony Blair has ordered more military actions than any U.K. leader since World War II... George W. Bush has initiated a war not only against Afghanistan, but an undefined, open ended 'War on Terrorism' which administration officials threaten to expand."

"On April 2, 2003 the White House officially nominated right-wing extremist Daniel Pipes to the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), and the nomination has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions for approval. Pipes, perhaps best-known recently for launching 'Campus Watch', a surveillance network and website reminiscent of the McCarthy era, has not only been widely criticized as a racist, particularly with respect to Arabs and Muslims, but noted for advocating the use of force and fear rather than negotiation... Pipes, who has written in the National Review that 'Western...societies are unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples...maintaining different standards of hygiene'... has claimed that 'up to 15% of Muslims are 'potential killers.' 'In a recent interview on a nationally syndicated radio show he refused to condemn the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II." Sign the Letter!

Duncan Campbell writes for the UK Observer: "Anyone attending recent political rallies in LA will have noticed the most visible sign of this, a team called Radical Teen Cheer, who chant: 'We're teens, we're cute, we're radical to boot!' Instead of backing the Oakland Raiders or the LA Lakers, they chant: 'Who trained, who trained, bin Laden? Who armed, who armed, Saddam Hussein?'" Who did? Reagan, Bush and their CIA!

The Waco Tribune-Herald reports: "Authorities arrested five protesters Saturday who were among a group of about 100 in Crawford attempting to demonstrate on the road leading to the Western White House. President [sic] Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard had spent Friday and Saturday in meetings and relaxing at the ranch. The group had traveled to Central Texas in a caravan of about 30 vehicles after an Austin rally protesting the policies of the Bush administration. The group was a conglomeration of several smaller groups with disparate beefs with the federal government on issues from workers' rights to the environment. All, though, were set to protest the recent war in Iraq."

"Meanwhile, hundreds of anti-war protesters and dozens of Bush supporters were making a similar trip to the same mall. Both groups wanted to greet Resident Bush during a brief stop at defense contractor United Defense in Santa Clara. They saw convoys of black-and-white vans, but no Bush. Michael Lee, a Fremont musician, held a sign that read, 'Donors needed: Cheney needs a heart and Bush needs a brain... I think it's perfect that he's speaking at a company that has lined its pockets with defense contracts.' Squads in riot gear and horse-mounted police -- numbering about 150 -- corralled protesters like Lee, and Bush supporters like Jensen, into a small stretch of Coleman Avenue two blocks from the United Defense headquarters... Santa Clara police arrested a man and woman during the three-hour protest." United Defense is owned by the Carlyle Group, which employs BushDaddy. UDI are the contractors for the controversial Crusader program.

Bay City News reports: "Police today arrested about 25 demonstrators protesting Lockheed Martin Space Systems for its alleged creation of weapons of mass destruction. Some 150-200 activists marched to the plant about 7 a.m., formed human chains and blocked three access roads, causing a traffic jam. Sunnyvale Police Capt. Greg Kevin said the demonstrators attempted to send their own civilian weapons inspectors in to the facility to search for WMD. 'They were unable to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but we found them right here in Sunnyvale,' said protest organizer Blair Thedinger of Direct Action to Stop the War."

The Progressive Junta writes, "In a visual moment that will go down in history, a jubilant San Francisco crowd toppled a statue of George W. Bush, a symbol of the illegitimate regime that had long oppressed the American people. Emboldened by the arrival of a massive, unarmed pro-peace force, a celebrant crowd of Americans beheaded a toppled statue of George W. Bush, which towered over the Civic Center Plaza of San Francisco. 'We stood in the oppressive shadow of that monument, held fast by its cruel gaze and menacing sneer, ever since its erection earlier this morning,' reported one American brandishing a sledge hammer, 'Now the peace marchers are here, and the ones who speak English are promising us that our liberation is at hand.' A crowd of Americans dragged the statue's massive head through the city streets. 'It's ironic that we so feared this figurehead of totalitarianism,' observed one jubilant American, 'the head is completely hollow after all.'"

Now that the war is "winding down" (if you could call it that), the massive anti-war movement is expected to redirect its considerable resources. "Some groups are retooling their messages to denounce what they view as excessive American militarism and to push for U.S. nuclear disarmament, promote domestic issues like better schools and health care, and organize to expel Bush and war-backing congressmen in next year's elections. Peace Action expects to place newspaper ads this month with two other groups encouraging sympathizers to vote their convictions next year. 'It may not be 100,000 people in the streets, but it's necessary to make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen again,' said Peace Action spokesman Scott Lynch."

Bernard Weiner writes: "Depression is a sane, normal way of dealing with overwhelming grief, loss, confusion, shame...Because depression shakes us up, it provides opportunities, once we regain our energy and focus, for effective political action. All three depressions can be agents of powerful change: The economic depression that likely will follow our current economic doldrums; the society-wide depressive anxiety that keeps the citizenry from turning on the rulers responsible for the current economic/political mess we're in; the personal depression affecting so many, resulting from heightened fear and uncertainty. Add all those together and you get a populace that is in a condition of numbed stasis -- a state that suits Bush&Co. just fine. In fact, in many ways they helped engineer such a state, and are planning on its continued operation in order to run their agenda without too much opposition."

"A federal jury convicted three Roman Catholic nuns Monday of obstructing national defense and damaging government property after they cut through fences and sprayed their own blood on a Minuteman III missile silo last year," the Denver Post reports. The nuns are facing a possible THIRTY YEAR prison sentence. "The pronouncement of the guilty verdict electrified the courtroom. "This is a kangaroo court," shouted Susan Crane, a supporter of the nuns who quilted during last week's trial. "Shame on this court." Two U.S. marshals hauled her out of the courtroom on orders from the judge. Sister Gilbert shouted to the jury, "We will not be found guilty under God's law." Jury forewoman Terrah McNellis, 25, of Denver, said the six-man, six-woman jury followed the law and not its collective heart."

"I stand for peace and justice. I stand for democracy and autonomy. I don't think the U.S. or any other country should ignore the popular will and violate and weaken international law, seeking to bully and bribe votes in the Security Council. I stand for internationalism. I oppose any nation spreading an ever expanding network of military bases around the world and producing an arsenal unparalleled in the world. I stand for equity. I don't think the U.S. or any other country should seek empire. I don't think the U.S. ought to control Middle Eastern oil on behalf of U.S. corporations and as a wedge to gain political control over other countries. I stand for freedom. I oppose brutal regimes in Iraq and elsewhere but I also oppose the new doctrine of 'preventive war,' which guarantees permanent and very dangerous conflict, and is the reason why the U.S. is now regarded as the major threat to peace in much of the world..." Sign the petition!

LiberalArtist.com is "dedicated to the news and views of liberal celebrities from all platforms of art. We scan the web daily for news and articles relating to current events and political discussions regarding your favorite like-minded celebrities... You can do a quick search for your favorite celebrity or check out our Articles section to get the news and views from the some most talented, brilliant and Liberal minds in America." Check it out!

Bruce Mulkey writes, "For compassionate people who truly love their country and the soldiers who serve it, the real reason to persist in working for peace is that the slaughter of innocent men, women and children, civilians and soldiers alike, the destruction of any living species, the poisoning of the earth is no longer acceptable to us and will no longer be tolerated. The time has come to evolve beyond the antiquated urge to use force to settle our differences... The time has come to move our resources from the development of our own weapons of mass destruction toward a Marshall Plan for the impoverished and downtrodden of the earth including those right here in the USA.... The Iraqi baby whose life is cut short by our bombs may be on the other side of the world. Her family may practice a religion that many of us find unfamiliar. They may have brown skin. Yet her death affects not only this child and those immediately around her. She is a child of God, and her death affects us all."

Two years after leaving Washington state, Jeanette Wallis is in Ohio, 2/3 of the way to Washington DC. Her conversations with ordinary Americans about their grievances with our unelected government should be captured by filmmakers as a powerful statement about activism and democracy! To volunteer, e-mail grievancegirl@riseup.net

"ON LINE FOR BUSH'S BOMBS: LIFE AND DEATH AT THE DAURA REFINERY BAGHDAD (March 7th) - The sun comes up sulfur yellow over the Daura refinery here in west Baghdad. The air quality is not too hot either. Fireballs that can be seen all the way downtown erupt from the stacks and the burn-off of toxic waste sears the eyes and smothers the lungs. Last night, three U.S. citizens plus a virtual international brigade of volunteers from South Africa, Great Britain, Slovinia, Cataluna, France, Italy, Germany, and Japan slept here under the roar and whistle of the stacks, waiting for George Bush to drop his bombs on this prime target which was severely blasted in the 1991 holocaust here, knocking a key fuel source off line for a full year."

"When 18-year-old Johnny Smith registered with the Selective Service last summer, he wrote 'conscientious objector' all over the form before mailing it in. At a time when the United States is positioned for war in Iraq, Smith is laying the foundation for an exemption from military service based on moral or religious objections to war, on the remote chance a draft is reinstated. 'I believe that every war in the past some way could have been prevented,' said Smith, who attends both Port Townsend High School and Peninsula College. 'I don't think the draft is going to happen anytime soon. But I have to be prepared.'... A formal request for objector status would be made only if a draft were reinstated, said Kenneth Bing of the Selective Service's regional office in Denver." This is far more honorable than what Bush did. His daddy pulled strings to get him into a Champagne unit of the National Guard during Vietnam - then Bush deserted for up to two years! (See awolbush.com)

Portland (ME) Press-Herald reports, "Widely respected as an excellent grass-roots organizer, Tom Andrews has advocated for the disabled, gun control, opponents to nuclear-waste storage and Burma's government in exile. Along the way, he served in the Maine Legislature and U.S. Congress. But his passionate advocacy has also cost him. The former two-term congressman lost a bid for Senate that observers thought he had a chance to win - after he voted to close a local military base. The columnist Jack Anderson once called Andrews 'the most courageous member of Congress.' Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate, once called him 'the most principled politician I have ever met.' Congressional Quarterly rated him the most progressive in 1994. Now he heads a coalition of 32 groups opposing a potential U.S. attack on Iraq with a group called Win Without War. The group recently flooded the Senate and White House phone systems with calls and faxes "

Democracy Caravan writes, "We need a new instrument that can help counteract Bush's 'weapon of mass distraction.' Therefore we are looking for people who'd like to join our Democracy Caravan. We plan to travel the country carrying a message of sweeping reform and peace to plain American folks from all walks of life. Our travels will coincide with the Presidential election year, so we can visit Iowa and New Hampshire and the other early primary states. We will be in position to provide popular spectacle before the national spotlights of Big Media. Our own new mass-media network won't be like ABC or CBS but it will be able to TAP back: we will be representative of The American People. We will be spectacular, our train of fifty or one hundred cars, buses, and trucks complete with our own motorbike escort, appropriately clad in patriotic bunting."

Jennifer Lee writes, "Organizing a protest is fundamentally about logistics: where do people meet, how do they get on a bus, who will order portable toilets. Obviously, the Internet, like fax machines and copiers, has made the tasks easier. Before last weekend's protests, for example, people registered online for buses to New York. And a mass e-mail notice was sent out to New York protesters, informing them about public bathrooms in Midtown Manhattan and giving them a number to call in case of arrest. But the Internet has become more than a mere organizing tool; it has changed protests in a more fundamental way, by allowing mobilization to emerge from free-wheeling amorphous groups, rather than top-down hierarchical ones... The protests had no single identified leader and no central headquarters. Social theorists have a name for these types of decentralized networks: heterarchies." We have a much better name - DEMOCRACY! Btw, there were 10 million protesters worldwide, not 2 million.

On Sunday, 2-23-03, activists in Seattle will hold the first "mini-thunder" event, to carry on the vision and energy of the Rolling Thunder Tour. "We planned to use the same basic ideas that brought out nearly 10,000 people to the Summer Rolling Thunder event, but sized the event down to fit in an indoor venue. We also wanted to make the event small moveable and repeatable. The Mini-Thunder was born. With enough enthusiasm and support we hope to be bringing the education, the organization, the cross pollination, the sense of community and the fun of a Rolling Thunder event every other month through our Mini-Thunder Series." This is a model that grassroots groups across the country can use - complete with organizing tools like meeting minutes and budgets. Make some thunder in your town!

"Today we sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld serving notice that we will be sending an international team of weapons inspectors to Edgewood Chemical Biological Center in Maryland on Sunday, February 23, 2003 to investigate U.S. involvement in the development and storage of chemical and biological weapons. [Read the letter here]. The delegation that will be performing the inspection at Edgewood includes: Libby Davies, Member of Parliament (Canada - NDP); Alan Simpson, Member of Parliament (United Kingdom - Labour); Christy Ferguson, Organizer and Spokesperson, Rooting Out Evil... Supporters and the general public are invited to join the team at a public forum in Washington D.C. at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 22nd at the First Congregational Church, 945 G Street NW (corner at 10th and G, next to the library)."

These colors don't run the world.
One nation under surveillance.
How did our oil get under their sand?
Go Solar, not Ballistic.
Who would Jesus bomb?
Start Drafting SUV Drivers Now.
Don't blame me, I voted with the majority.
Buck Fush!
It's NUCLEAR, not NUCULAR, you idiot!
Resistance is Fertile.
Say can you see my democracy?
Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld - the Asses of Evil.
It's the oil, stupid.
War is expensive, Peace is priceless.
Read between the Pipelines
No More BUllSHit
Smart weapons, Dumb president.
The only thing we have to fear is Bush himself.
How many Lives per Gallon?
Peace Takes Brains
Anything War can do, Peace can do better.
Negotiation Not Annihilation.
Another patriot for peace.
Oh Say can You Cease? Star Spangled Bummer.
Don't Arm a Son of a Bush
Don't do it George, Dad will still love you.
Power to the Peaceful
The last time we listened to a Bush, we wandered in the desert for 40 years

"The Alliance for Democracy has launched an exciting new program to generate a progressive-populist dialogue in America. Granny D, William Rivers Pitt, Ronnie Dugger and friends are now writing one single-page, double-sided flyer each week about pressing issues of the day. We are calling ourselves the Freedom Flyer Collective. We want you to join us because of your commitment to peace, free speech, civil liberties, civil rights, justice and democracy. We have formed the Freedom Flyer Collective because we believe these standards of American life are under deadly attack. What we are asking is your help in getting this flyer out into the streets where you live. The idea is that if 100 people in 100 towns and cities do this we have the makings of a new communications system for the present crisis. Since multinational corporations control the U.S. media, citizens aren't getting the full story about anything... The Freedom Flyer can be a powerful tool for democracy with your help."

"Martin Luther King's words still hold a stunning power and grace more than 30 years after his death in Memphis on April 4, 1968. In honor of the holiday commemorating King's birthday, TIME.com presents a gallery of photographs by famed civil rights movement photographer Flip Schulke, accompanied by King's own words on nonviolence, race and his dream for the future of America."

Rally at 11 am on the West Side of the Capitol Building. March on the Washington DC Navy Yard. Joint action in San Francisco: Assemble 11 AM Market & Embarcadero, March to Civic Center.

SF Chronicle's Edward Epstein reports, "Organizers of Saturday's anti-war protest in Washington expect tens of thousands of people for a long day of marching, speeches and music near the west front of the U.S. Capitol. The lineup of speakers for the rally includes two Democratic House members, Rep. Charles Rangel of New York and Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. The two have proposed reinstating the military draft so in their words all segments of American society share in serving during any future wars. Others include rocker Patti Smith, actress Jessica Lange, Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Ron Kovic, the Vietnam veteran whose life was depicted in the movie 'Born on the Fourth of July.'" It's great to see some elected Democrats taking a stand for peace! If your Senators and Representatives aren't there, call 202-224-3121 and ask them why.

Reuters reports, "Thousands of people are expected to join the Saturday demonstrations, timed to coincide with anti-war protests in countries like France, Germany and Russia, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in the US... 'Looking at the speed at which Washington is sending weapons and troops to the Middle East, they might seem unstoppable,' said Tony Murphy, spokesman for International ANSWER. 'But we actually feel they are rushing because they are worried about the breadth and scope of the anti-war movement, and they are afraid if they wait too long that movement will catch up to them,' he said... Activists from more than 200 cities in 45 states are planning to charter buses or drive in convoys of cars to attend the twin Saturday protests... 'I'm feeling really excited and hopeful,' said United for Peace Co-Chair Andrea Buffa... 'The students are really intent to do something. The energy from that made me feel like there is going to be a strong turnout.'"

"The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition joins with people all over the world who mourn the loss of Phillip Berrigan who devoted his life to courageous opposition to militarism and war. Phil Berrigan put his body on the line in the struggle to call attention to the inherently evil nature of weapons of mass destruction produced by and for the US military industrial complex. In addition to honoring Dr. King, we intend to make the January 18 march a living tribute to Phil Berrigan's life and legacy. Elizabeth McAlister, a longtime member of the Jonah House community and Philip Berrigan's wife, will be a featured speaker on January 18. She, members of Jonah House and others from the Catholic Worker community will help to lead the march."

"Remember Inauguration Day 2001? On that day, a woman from Seattle started out on a mission to collect grievances, and this week that mission brought the woman through Beatrice. Despite her friends and family calling it a 'ridiculous idea,' Jeanette Wallis is walking across the United States, from Seattle to Washington, D.C. Wallis, a 32-year-old psychological counselor originally from Texas, said she got the idea from Doris Haddock, a 90-year-old who walked from Los Angeles to D.C. for campaign reform... 'People have lots of grievances, they're just not getting any redress,' she said. So as she walks with her dog, Sherpa, she is collecting those grievances, mostly handwritten letters, to forward on to the man in charge when she arrives at the capital. If people have a grievance and don't happen to catch her on this Nebraska leg of her trip, they can send their grievances to grievancegirl@riseup.net. Wallis also has a Web site at www.thewalkfordemocracy.org."

FAIR writes, "Police in Genoa, Italy have admitted to fabricating evidence against globalization activists in an attempt to justify police brutality during protests at the July 2001 G8 Summit... FAIR has been unable to find a single mention of this development in any major U.S. newspapers or magazines, national television news shows or wire service stories... Genoa police officer, Pietro Troiani, has admitted that police planted two Molotov cocktails in a school that was serving as a dormitory for activists from the Genoa Social Forum. The bombs were apparently planted in order to justify the police force's brutal July 22 raid on the school... Another senior officer has admitted to faking the stabbing of a police officer in order to frame protesters. These revelations have emerged over the course of a parliamentary inquiry into police conduct that was initiated by the Italian government under pressure from 'domestic and international outrage over the blood-soaked G8 summit in Genoa.'"

Reuters reports, "Taking part in protests and demonstrations can be good for your physical and mental health, a new British study suggests. Psychologists at the University of Sussex found that people who get involved in campaigns, strikes and political demonstrations experience an improvement in psychological well-being that can help them overcome stress, pain, anxiety and depression. The finding fits in with other studies suggesting that positive experiences and feeling part of a group can have beneficial effects on health. 'Collective actions, such as protests, strikes, occupations and demonstrations, are less common in the UK than they were perhaps 20 years ago,' researcher Dr. John Drury said in a statement. 'The take-home message from this research therefore might be that people should get more involved in campaigns, struggles and social movements, not only in the wider interest of social change but also for their own personal good.'" No wonder Democrats.com members are so happy!

William Rivers Pitt is well known to Democrats.com readers through his eloquent essays, and his bestselling book with Scott Ritter, "War on Iraq: What Team Bush Doesn't Want You to Know." According to the Boston Globe, "Pitt's activism was nurtured by his parents. His father, who worked on Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, was a US attorney in the Clinton administration and is now chairman of Alabama's Democratic Party. His mother is a former deputy mayor of Newton, where 31-year-old Pitt, who describes himself as 'a DNA Democrat,' was raised. 'I always trace back my personal wake-up call back to Christmas 1986, when Ronald Reagan gave an interview ... and said my generation would be the first to face the apocalypse,' said Pitt who now lives in Cambridge. 'It scared the hell out of me.'" Pitt now teaches at the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.

In the new year, Rooting Out Evil will be sending a team of volunteer weapons inspectors into that greatest of rogue nations the United States of America. We have selected the US as our first priority based on criteria provided by the Bush administration. According to those criteria, the most dangerous states are those run by leaders who: 1) have massive stockpiles of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons 2) ignore due process at the United Nations; 3) refuse to sign and honour international treaties; and 4) have come to power through iillegitimate means. The current US administration fulfills all these criteria. And so, again following Bush's guidelines, Rooting Out Evil is demanding that his administration allow immediate and unfettered access to international weapons inspectors to search out their caches of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.

"Blaine Williams hasn't stopped grinning since he arrived in Sweden two weeks ago. Several times a day he'll approach a complete stranger, offer a handshake and a smile, introduce himself as a former CIA analyst from America, and proceed to tell the bewildered Swede all the things he knows that directly contradict President George W. Bush's declarations about Saddam Hussein's intentions and capabilities. "Free at last!" Williams exclaimed to a reporter. "I was stuck in a totalitarian bureaucracy for 14 months. What a relief it is to say in public who I am and what I think." Williams is the first of dozens of former U.S. government employees expected to take refuge in Sweden over the next several months, courtesy of a bold project of the new social democratic government called the "Palme Plan." Named for former Swedish president Olaf Palme, it promotes the virtues of free and honest speech among government officials in underdeveloped democracies. " Like Bush's U.S.

"Let it not be said that people in the United States did nothing when their government declared a war without limit and instituted stark new measures of repression. The signers of this statement call on the people of the U.S. to resist the policies and overall political direction that have emerged since September 11, 2001, and which pose grave dangers to the people of the world... We believe that questioning, criticism, and dissent must be valued and protected. We understand that such rights and values are always contested and must be fought for. We believe that people of conscience must take responsibility for what their own governments do -- we must first of all oppose the injustice that is done in our own name. Thus we call on all Americans to RESIST the war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration. It is unjust, immoral, and illegitimate. We choose to make common cause with the people of the world. " - Not In Our Name

"Rooting Out Evil will be sending a team of volunteer weapons inspectors into that greatest of rogue nations, the USA. We have selected the US as our first priority based on criteria provided by the Bush administration...: 1) have massive stockpiles of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons; 2) ignore due process at the UN; 3) refuse to sign and honour international treaties; and 4) have come to power through illegitimate means. The current US administration fulfills all these criteria... Rooting Out Evil is demanding that his administration allow immediate and unfettered access to international weapons inspectors to search out their caches of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons [or] we will assemble volunteer weapons inspectors... and attempt to cross [from Canada] into the US on a mission of peace. We will be greeted on the US side by Americans who favour true global cooperation, an end to weapons of mass destruction, and a regime change in the US at the next election."

From Adbusters: "United We Spend? United Let's Don't. If enough jammers turn their disaffection into resistance for just one day, November 29 could mark the delivery of a landmark social message. More than a million people will celebrate 11 years of opposition on the unofficial 'opening day' of the Christmas frenzy. Play this one right and we will make Buy Nothing Day 2002 a global event on par with Earth Day. Previous participants have come up with the traditions: swap meets, teach-ins, concerts, street theatre, credit-card cut-ups, postering, potlucks. But hey, it's a culture jam - no one's drawing up any rules."

When Bruce Gagnon, Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, received a letter from Star Wars bully Frank Gaffney demanding the group's tax returns, Gagnon fired right back. "Our strategy, as you might have already figured out, is to reach out to the people around the world and try to change their consciousness about space. We hope that through a global education and action campaign that we will be able to create a constituency that understands the dangers of moving the arms race into space. As Cesar Chavez used to say [about] the agribusiness industry, 'Yeah they have all the money and the power in Washington. But we have the people. And if people don't buy their grapes or lettuce anymore we can win.' So we figure that if people around the world don't buy the Star Wars line, the rogue state nonsense, then in the end we can win. I don't think that public education is an illegal activity under the IRS code, at least not yet." You go, Bruce!

Join prominent women and women's organizations across the country for this historic peace vigil and rolling fast in front of the White House in Washington DC starting Sunday, November 17, 2002 in Lafayette Park, continuing through March 8, International Women's Day, and culminating in a massive women's peace march. With this vigil, we will create a space in Washington D.C. for building community, for reflection and sharing. It will also be a base from which to engage in creative actions and education for peace. Each week our actions will draw attention to the real costs of war/civilian casualties, who will be sent to fight, escalating poverty as the Pentagon budgets soar, the proliferation of violence in our society, the environmental devastation. Join the vigil in Washington, or initiate a solidarity vigil/fast in your own community.

CNN.com reports: "Tens of thousands of people took part in a march through Florence in what was promoted as the first Europe-wide anti-war rally. Up to 200,000 took part in the rally that passed off peacefully with a carnival atmosphere on Saturday. A ring of steel has been placed around the Italian city, with shops closed and the Renaissance city centre sealed off, but police on duty were in their normal uniforms rather than riot gear. The demonstration is part of the European Social Forum -- a gathering of anti-globalisation groups which is trying to decide how the movement should progress. Some 20 trains and hundreds of special buses began arriving in the early hours, bringing demonstrators from across the continent. Guy Taylor, an activist with Britain's Globalise Resistance, told Reuters: 'There's such strong underlying opposition to the war that I think we can stop it.'"

Editor & Publisher reports, "So how did it happen that The New York Times ran two radically different news accounts of the same anti-war demonstration in Washington within four days? Editors have refused to comment on the turn of events, but on Wednesday, Kathy Park, manager of public relations for the New York Times Co., e-mailed the following statement to E&P: 'We were attentive to complaints from a fair number of readers that the number of demonstrations around the country and the number of participants in Washington warranted further coverage. We also looked at what news agencies and other publications had reported, and we felt that there was more we ought to say.' On Oct. 27, the day after the march, the Times ran a relatively short piece noting that the number of protesters in Washington was 'fewer' than organizers had hoped for. Since the organizers had only taken out a permit for 20,000 - and the crowd, by police estimates, totaled 100,000 - this was, of course, quite false."

Here's a GOTV message - with a soundtrack by the Beatles.

AP reports, "Three protesters sued this city and its police chief Friday for their arrest during a demonstration against George Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush... Janis Lentz, 56, Sonja Haught, 61, and Mauricio Rosas, 38, had their free speech rights violated and were unlawfully arrested at a public Bush rally June 4, 2001... The three took signs to the event calling for an investigation of the 2000 presidential election and reading 'June is Gay Pride Month.' Police told them to put away the signs or leave. When they refused and asked the officers why people with pro-Bush signs were allowed to stay, they were handcuffed and forcefully removed from the grounds... Rosas said he was dragged down two flights of stairs and left with scars. Haught and Lentz said they were bruised. Charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing against Haught were later dismissed, as was a charge of trespassing against Lentz."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, "A man arrested during a local appearance by Bush got his protest sign back, and police got a scolding, at a hearing this morning. District Justice Shirley Rowe Trkula dismissed a disorderly conduct charge against Bill Neel, 65, of Butler, without any defense witnesses having to testify. Neel was arrested because he refused to move to a fenced-in area for protesters before Bush's Labor Day appearance at a union picnic in Neville. 'This is America,' said Trkula during the hearing at her office in Coraopolis. Allegheny County police 'went a little too far' in attempting to curb protests, she said. County police detective Thomas Ianachione testified that he arrested Neel because, even though he was polite and never used foul language, he refused to enter the fenced area where all the other protesters agreed to go."

White House Spinmeister Air Fleischer candidly admitted the Bush protests by American patriots occurring across the nation during a recent press conference. "Q: Ari, you and the President have emphatically described Islam as 'a religion of peace' -- emphatically. And in connection with that, have you heard of any public protest by any peaceful Islamic organization of what President Putin described as international Islamic terrorists...? MR. FLEISCHER: You lost me, Lester. Q: No, have you heard any protest from the peaceful Muslims that you refer to, as a religion of peace? Have you heard any protest of these atrocities? MR. FLEISCHER: Protest in which atrocities, Lester Q: All of these atrocities -- in Moscow, Bali, and elsewhere -- have you heard any protests? MR. FLEISCHER: Lester, I am not a protest tracker except for when I travel with the President. Then I look out the window."

In 1971, during another immoral war prosecuted by yet another overempowered administration running out of control, yet another brave Minnesotan risked all to take a stand and say "Enough!" Frank Kroncke and the Minnesota Eight, along with star witness Daniel Ellsberg, dared to defy Nixon and boldly speak truth to power. Though denied justice at their trial and punished for their courage with prison, the truth, of course prevailed - as it will today! Here the dramatic and extremely relevant story of the Minnesota Eight, as recounted by Cheryl Seal and Frank Kroncke himself continues....

After 16 years of right-wing Republican rule, "Progressive Wisconsin, a coalition of progressives led by labor and education leaders, was born. Their goal is to build a progressive network that would elect progressives up and down the ticket...Putting aside the usual turf battles, the group has served as a true hub to coordinate and schedule activities, exchange information and factual research, and recruit candidates who will fight for progressive issues. And this wasn't all done by people with fancy job titles - it was done with the grassroots, who have been energized for the future." This is an outstanding model for statewide progressive organizing - bring this model to YOUR State!

"This election year is pivotal for Democrats. We are in jeopardy of losing the Senate and we must do everything we can to gain seats in the House. Our candidates are working hard to get elected, but they need your help! 21st Century Democrats is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to hit the campaign trail from November 1st through November 6th. Buses will be leaving from multiple cities including: Boston Chicago Lincoln New York City Washington, DC ...and more! Volunteers will GOTV (Get Out The Vote) in these extremely competitive races by going door-to-door, phone banking, and encouraging voters to the polls on Election Day. Volunteer and celebrate a Democratic victory with one of our candidates on Tuesday, November 5th! Transportation and lodging will be provided. If interested, call Reza Breakstone at 202-626-5620, or email reza@21stdems.org. Make your mark on this election!"

People all over the world are showing their opposition to Bush's W-ar -- even in Antarctica, where 70 residents of McMurdo Station gathered in subzero temperatures to recite the Not In Our Name pledge and create the Great Antarctic Red Parka Peace Sign.

FAIR writes, "National Public Radio and the NY Times arrived at the same conclusion about the anti-war rally in Washington, DC this weekend: The turnout was 'disappointing'. But neither report matched reality. The Times account on Oct. 27 was vague, reporting that 'thousands of protesters marched through Washington's streets,' adding that 'fewer people attended than organizers had said they hoped for'... On the Oct. 26 broadcast of Weekend Edition, NPR's Nancy Marshall went even further to disparage the turnout by offering an estimate on the crowd's size: 'It was not as large as the organizers of the protest had predicted. They had said there would be 100,000 people here. I'd say there are fewer than 10,000.'" Contact NPR (ombudsman@npr.org ) and the NY Times (nytnews@nytimes.com) and ask them why they did not provide more substantive reports about the anti-war demonstrations in Washington, DC on Oct. 26. with cc: fair@fair.org

RadioLeft will provide six hours of coverage of the anti-war protests going on in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA on Oct. 26. Live coverage begins at 11 am ET with coverage from New York and continues with coverage from San Francisco at 2pm ET.

IN WASHINGTON DC:
Rally @ 11 am ET
Constitution Gardens adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, 21st St & Constitution Ave. N.W.
**March to the White House**

IN SAN FRANCISCO:
Rally @ 11 am PT (2pm ET)
Justin Herman Plaza
foot of Market St. at Embarcadero
**March to Civic Center Plaza**

To listen to history being made, simply go to http://www.RadioLeft.com and click the "On Air" icon at the top right of the RadioLeft.com homepage.

Carol Schiffler writes: "George Bush The Lesser is not the first emperor-wannabe to come down the pike. Some call themselves czars. Some call themselves kings. Today, some call themselves CEOs. Ironically, still others seem to prefer the title 'President,' (or -- 'El Presidente' depending on their relative proximity to a CIA black op), as if they were actually elected. Now aside from a decided pre-disposition toward self-aggrandizement, these aspiring petty tyrants share a few other striking characteristics. It is easy to come up with the more chilling traits. Brutality, greed, and murderous self-righteousness come readily to mind. But often overlooked in this hurtling freight train of adjectives are the very weaknesses that motivate the global bullies in the first place. The most notable of these weaknesses is an ego the size of Toledo. And what lurks beneath that ego?

David Cogswell writes, "The major media's almost total disregard for the demonstrations is an obvious strategy to help stifle any self-awareness of the nascent anti-war movement. Obviously self awareness is essential to the growth of any movement, and lack of it can nip the flower in the bud. But the blackout is not totally working. The rage is boiling over, gaining too much force to be contained... Antiwar energy is circulating like a bolt of lightning through the body politic via the macro nervous system of telecommunications and the Internet. Now people who have anguished in solitude about the hijacking of America by oil pirates are starting to meet each other on the street... The potential power latent in that vast antiwar population is enough to make any nuclear explosion seem microscopic... The Bush puppeteers are well aware of all of this, but no one, not even they can predict how this will play out. The future is being created by our actions now. So make some noise!"

"Breathtaking" describes Ani DeFranco's poem "self evident," sung at each of her concerts:
yes,
us people are just poems
we're 90% metaphor
with a leanness of meaning
approaching hyper-distillation
and once upon a time
we were moonshine
rushing down the throat of a giraffe
yes, rushing down the long hallway
despite what the p.a. announcement says
yes, rushing down the long stairs
with the whiskey of eternity
fermented and distilled
to eighteen minutes
burning down our throats
down the hall
down the stairs
in a building so tall
that it will always be there...

From CNN: "Some protesters -- including a priest and a grandmother-to-be -- were sentenced earlier this year to serve their six-month sentences alongside thieves and drug addicts behind razor wire in a rural Georgia jail. Protesters Toni Flynn and the Rev. Jerry Zawada were among a group of 28 who pleaded guilty or were convicted in July for trespassing at a Fort Benning training school. All but five went to federal institutions." This pattern of suppressing protests and then throwing the book at protestors is IDENTICAL to what happened under Nixon circa 1969-1972 as he tried to defend continued prosecution of the war in Vietnam and to keep his crimes against the nation hidden from scrutiny. Though Bush wants us all to think "JFK/Cuban Missile Crisis," his actions scream NIXON! We can't wait for Watergate Part II...

What can citizens do now that Bush has, once again, subverted the majority will? "We might start by recognizing that we've made some progress," suggests Paul Rogat Loeb. "A few weeks ago, the press reported that a mere 19 House Democrats would vote against the resolution. Only two Senators opposed the Tonkin Gulf resolution that opened the door to our full-scale war in Vietnam. Those who stood up now did so knowing they would be attacked and baited for their stands. (And Bush timed this vote to fracture and demoralize the Democratic base and drive all other issues off the table for the November elections.) Yet they found the courage to vote their conscience--and did so in part because so many citizens like us made clear their opposition to this war."

The goal of TrueMajority is to make working for justice and a sustainable world fast, free, and sometimes even fun. By compounding the power of environmentalists, child advocates, peace advocates, etc. they create a force more effective than any of those movements alone. Here is how it works: TrueMajority monitors Congress on issues of social justice and the environment. When your voice counts, they send you a short email alert that describes the pending legislation. Then, if you choose, with just one click they will send a fax to your Congressperson for you. It's free and it shouldn't take more than 2 minutes a month. Just go to www.truemajority.com and click "Register Here" at the top.

Not In Our Name reports, "After the successful events around the country on October 5, 6 and 7, the National Office of Not In Our Name is receiving hundreds and hundreds of emails of support and requests for more information. Events, protests and other actions inspired by the Not In Our Name project and where people took the Pledge of Resistance happened in DOZENS of cities around the United States on October 5, 6 and 7. We are compiling short reports to share with everyone via the website, including pictures and media accounts. Over 25 cities' reports are already up and more are being added... The website includes contact information for many local areas around the country, a history of the Not In Our Name project, organizing materials, statements sent to Oct. 6 events and many other useful items."

Chicago Media Watch is holding "an urgent city-wide conference" on war and propaganda Saturday, November 2, on the campus of Loyola University. Some of the speakers will include "David Schippers, attorney for FBI special agent and whistleblower; Robert Wright, who was stopped from speaking out about the investigation of terrorist cells in the US, under threat of termination;...Professor Nancy Snow of UCLA's Annenberg School of Communication who previously worked for US Information Service, and author of Propaganda, Inc. She will talk about government attempts to influence foreign opinion by exporting US culture and pro-US propaganda worldwide...There will also be an action panel of activists...who will spearhead a discussion on what we can do to blunt the effects of the current climate of propaganda."

"As the nation again headed toward a devastating, immoral war, this time in Iraq, I asked Frank Kroncke, the monk-turned-draft board raider who went to prison for his stand on the Vietnam war, to tell his story for the present generation. As he did, he shared revelations about the turmoil and soul-searching that led him to be willing to face prison for his beliefs, about his relationship with famed Black Panther Fred Hampton, and about his role in the legendary Beaver 55 draft board raids -- the biggest in U.S. history. Frank's story shows what real patriotism is all about -- it's not about being willing to die for your country in an unjust, unjustifiable war -- it's about being willing to sacrifice everything to uphold the ideals America is SUPPOSED to stand for." So writes Cheryl Seal.

It's a scary commentary indeed that in a city where support for Bush is very near ZERO, while the GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Ehrlich is expected to net less than 30% of the vote, that both Bush and Ehrlich are given royal treatment while local citizens protesting the war are treated like pond scum. But that's what happened last week when Bush and Ehrlich slunk in and out of a $1,250-plate GOP fundraiser in Baltimore, like rats of the underworld. Protestors were kept as far from the posh Hyatt Regency as possible for hours. Meanwhile, Ehrlich supporters were led by CITY POLICE to the rear entrance of the hotel to greet Bush. Shareese DeLeaver, a kingpin of the Ehrlich campaign, lamely denied there was a deliberate attempt to shield Bush from his critics. Of COURSE not! Tell us another one!

David Cogswell writes, "The crowd stretched as far as you could see at the East Meadow of Central Park near 97th Street and Fifth Avenue. And the feeling was tremendous. There was a sense of jubilation that so many people had come out together to speak out against the war. The day was perfect. It was warm, sunny. The city never looked better. The human heart of the city was vibrant as people from all sides gathered at Central Park... Susan Sarandon said, "I am so happy to be here, to see you all here. I was almost convinced by the mainstream media that I was going out of my mind, that no one cares about this war... We will not give our sons and daughters for a war for oil! We can imagine the people whose faces we will never see whose lives will be destroyed by this war. We do want to live in a world where countries respect each others wishes and after this war there will be no interntional law, only the rule of the stronger. Do we want to be the next Rome?"

Kevin J. Shay writes: '... call me crazy, although they usually smile when they say it and look at me with a certain amount of respect. That's what walking more than 5,000 miles for a cause like peace, human rights, and the preservation of the planet will do.... That's not to say that local demonstrations and organizing and meetings and building movements and political parties and Web sites and other such duties are not important. It's all important. Walks are one more tool at our disposal, one that the right-wing can't really grasp. I mean, have you ever heard of a cross-country walk in support of war?... People have often left their homes and risked their comfort and lives to make war; we need more people willing to do the same to make peace.... Our job is to stand up for what we think is right, to speak truth to power, to plant seeds, seeds that we may not even know we are planting. Future generations will reap the harvest."

"Be Part of History-Making - World Wide Peace Demonstration! People are invited WorldWide to Demonstrate in front of their American Embassy at noon local time October 6. The demonstration will move around the world starting with New Zealand, moving to Australia, Japan, China, India and so on with each new hour, ending in the US, Canada, Central and South America. In the US we will be demonstrating on the 6th in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in New York City. Please send our Dear Friends letter to any international peace group, or anyone outside of the US that might like to participate and encourage them to send it on, widely and quickly. See Translations for other language versions and to download pdf files."

"Not In Our Name" has organized protests around the country this weekend, mostly on Sunday afternoon. Protests are planned for New York City, Los Angeles CA, San Francisco CA, Seattle WA, Chicago IL, Corvallis OR, Chapell Hill NC, Santa Fe NM, Portland OR, Kickapoo WI, Westerly RI, Houston TX, Greenville SC, Salt Lake City UT, Bellingham WA, Atlanta GA, Fresno CA, New Haven CT, Nashville TN, Fort Wayne IN, Eugene OR, Charlottesville VA , Kansas City MO, Anchorage AK , Yellow Springs OH, Denver CO. Make your voice heard!

"The SPIN (Strategic Press Information Network) Project provides comprehensive media training, intensive media strategizing, and resources to community organizations across the country. SPIN helps grow the capacity of grassroots groups to shape public opinion and garner positive media attention. We believe there is a direct correlation between a community's improved media skills and its ability to get good press. A little training, strategizing and media planning goes a long way in changing how advocates relate to the media and the type of press they receive.... Since its inception in 1997, SPIN has traveled some 350,000 miles to serve groups in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to work with more than 150 organizations. In 2000, we've provided 40 trainings for groups in 15 states. We've augmented our assistance by offering roughly 200 strategy sessions to support organizations across the nation."

"My Dear Fellow Americans, Let me tell you what was done on Friday, September 27th. It was done in your name in your capitol city to your children. They are so young and so idealistic that they still believe in the preposterous notions we taught them in kindergarten. They still believe in peace and justice. They are so young and so energetic that they can still sing, dance, drum, march, build beautiful banners and puppets, create street theater, and yes, express rage. They were doing all this for you. They are trying to tell you that you have lost your way. To point out to you that you are actually discussing as a rational proposition that we bomb a small country as a 'preventative' measure. They want you to see that this proposition is the negation of every moral principle that stands between us and utter chaos. They spoke to you with dancing and singing and beating on drums. (So young and so beautiful!) They obeyed the orders of the policemen."

We, a group of 9/11 Ground Zero rescue workers,
Take this pledge of nonviolent resistance --
Because we feel we have a responsibility to those we could not save
And to those who call us heroes
To do everything in our power to make sure that no one, every again,
Experiences such horror, here or abroad.

The Huntsville AL Peace Coalition is a unique coalition of church groups, feminists, veterans for peace, Democrats, and assorted Bush haters, with representatives from every age group. One WWII and Korean Vet read, with disgust, a reply he had received from Bud Cramer (D-AL) about why Bud is supporting the resolution and the administration on this issue. The peaceful, pro-peace Madison County Courthouse vigils will continue as long as the threat of W-ar remains. What's happening in your area?

Despite what the U.S. media would have you believe, progressive friends, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! In fact, an international coalition does exist - but it is a coalition against Bush, not for him. On Sept 28-29, protests were held in Rome (where 100,000 turned out), Cairo, Berlin ( which combined anti-Bush war and anti-Sharon war protests), Dublin, Sydney, and, of course, the mother of all protests - the half-million-activist demonstration in London. In addition to the D.C. event, several other protests were held across the U.S. Coverage of the D.C. protests has made top news in Indymedia sites all over the world, from Sweden to Argentina. Check out the reports of all these demonstrations at the Indy site!

Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) "condemns U.S. foreign policy that uses military action to respond to world conflicts and to seize and maintain power over other people and nations. We oppose actions that disregard the dignity of people and the sovereignty of other nations, including economic exploitation, covert operations, the threat of weapons of mass destruction, transfers of arms including military aid, and the manipulation of foreign governments and factions. War serves and ensures the interests of the wealthy and powerful, both in the U.S. and abroad; does not solve underlying problems; engenders further conflicts; and diverts resources from domestic needs. We support working with the international community to resolve conflicts, including forging and honoring treaties, to create a just U.S. foreign policy that respects inviolate rights and resources of other countries, peoples, and social groups. We support the development and implementation of non-violent solutions..."

ABCNews.com's Political Unit has begun an "Election Watchdog" effort to scrutinize political claims made by "the national, state and local parties, campaigns, and stealth groups directly to kitchen tables; last-minute taped phone messages from celebrities urging targeted voters to go to the polls; live and taped phone calls, often negative and intended to suppress voting; bumper stickers that suddenly pop up at the grocery store; fliers left on windshields outside churches....What counts as 'suspect' political communication, of course, is often in the eye of the beholder, but messages that are false, logically flawed, racist or race-baiting, religion-baiting, sexist, class-warfaring, or deeply personal all certainly qualify....The most critical time for the media to monitor and report on these things comes right before election day, when the campaigns and other involved parties know that the voting might be over before any meaningful watch-dogging has taken place." To submit material to our little truth corps, just e-mail us: politicalunit@abcnews.com

Des Moines Register reports, "People at the senior-citizen complex where Libby Yapp lives laugh when she tells them about the meetings she's been going to. But she finds nothing funny about war. The prospect of another one now so sickens her that she's joined with other Des Moines-area grandmothers to spread the word about peace. Naming their effort Grandmothers' Call to End Wars, they've been meeting weekly for about three months, and are building up to a Sept. 29 rally at the Iowa Capitol. 'We watched our fathers go off to war, then it was our brothers and lovers, then our husbands and children,' Yapp said in a written message distributed by her group. 'Now the machinery of war wants our grandchildren, and we say enough.'" You go, grannies!

George Ochenski writes, "the White House will go to any lengths to manufacture a positive image for Bush, including limiting our basic rights to peaceably assemble and petition our own government. If you're for the Bush policies, step right up here in front of the cameras. If you're against the Bush policies, step over here behind these trucks, where the dogs and cops are waiting for you. The problem, however, is that the protests are waiting everywhere Bush goes these days - even at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Simply put, it's getting harder and harder to maintain the facade of broad public support for the Bush agenda in the face of mounting resistance. Ironically, while Bush unleashes much of his harshest criticism at leaders like Fidel Castro or Saddam Hussein, whom he says disdain the wishes of their people, he is hypocritically isolating himself behind a barrier of agents, soldiers, and cops from any contact with those critical of his own policies."

"Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., along with a diverse cross-section of leaders in civil rights, women's issues, immigrants' rights, and labor and workers' rights, announced The March to Justice to protest the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bush Administration's closed-door policies against these important issues... Participants will assemble in Washington, D.C., on Friday, September 13, 2002 at 11 a.m. at Freedom Plaza... 'Since President Bush took office in January, 2001, his administration, led by Attorney General John Ashcroft, has had a closed-door policy on these important issues and has not met with the leading organizations here today to discuss these important issues in detail and face-to-face; nor has he made these important issues a priority with the American people,' said Rev. Jackson. 'We will have our voices heard on September 13th in Washington, D.C. and we will have all of our votes in America counted on Tuesday, November 5th,' Jackson continued."

Oregon's Democratic Congressional Candidate for the 2nd District, Peter Buckley, personally witnessed the all-to-familiar Bush technique to suppress citizens' constitutional right of free assembly and speech. Peter writes: "I'm 45 years old, have three kids, my wife and I work full time jobs, we own our home and pay taxes... I went to Central Point, Oregon, to express my opposition to the current policies of our government. I was placed in a dirt compound behind a six foot cyclone fence and had the gate shut in my face. The occasion was a visit from George W. Bush to the district I am a candidate in. Mr. Bush was scheduled to speak to 5000 invited guests... all people in agreement with the current policies of our government. They were invited for that very reason. They were politely ushered into the arena... I have to say that I had a very hard time believing this was actually happening. This is not the America I believe in, am working for and want to leave to my sons." You go, Peter!

"Despite a 75% markdown from $1000 to $250 per seat at a Bush fundraiser for Simon, Republicans had a hard time filling seats. But outside in an exclusive area of Dana Point in Orange County, generally considered the most conservative county in California, there was no difficulty seeing well over 500 demonstrators at the peak of the event. With questions about Resident Bush's apparent insider trading while at Harken Energy, land swindling in connection with the Texas Rangers stadium and the fraud judgment against Simon's company casting a shadow on both men, the crowd was asking for real investigations into corporate fraud. The prominent chants were 'Eyeballs deep in corporate crime, Dubya should be doing time,' '1,2,3,4; Dubya is a corporate whore. 5,6,7,8; Enron is his Watergate,' and 'F-R-A-U-D Spells Bush.'" So writes Natasha, age 11.

Independent media activists in Portland OR did not rely on the corporate media to lie about their August 22 (A22) protest. Instead, they created their OWN coverage, including interviews with participants who explain why they were protesting Bush, and witnesses who saw the police attack innocent protesters, including spraying pepper spray at small children. Experience the energy and creativity of Portland's anti-Bush protesters by watching this video.

Village Voice reports: "The success of a handful of books that assail the Bush administration as hypocritical, incompetent, and corrupt has demarcated a groundswell of Americans who desire truth about their leaders amid the dearth of critical and official information that is today's mainstream media. It's a demographic large enough that any politician or pollster would identify it as pivotal in an election." Authors of these books - Michael Moore (Stupid White Men), Greg Palast (The Best Democracy Money Can Buy) and Noam Chomsky (9/11) say that the audiences at their appearances are made up of an unexpectedly broad cross-section of Americans - including a growing number of ex-Bush supporters.

Despite the recent heavy-handed efforts of police and secret service to quell any show of anger against Bush in Portland Oregon (where a report in Cursor.org now puts the numbers of anti-Bush protestors in the THOUSANDS, not hundreds), public sentiment against the (p)Resident is growing. In his current tour of the west, he has been greeted by angry Americans everywhere he goes - and we're not talking wild-eyed anarchists here - we're talking about people of all ages, veterans, union workers, and families! The groundswell is here, and Bush still appears oblivious.

"A column by Conservative San Diego columnist Joseph Perkins claims that the 'Money' Multimedia story that we recently posted here was funded by the DNC and would run in Battle Ground states during the upcoming campaign cycle. The following is the Editor of Blah3's response to Conservative Columnist Joe Perkins: Mr. Perkins, I read your column this morning with great interest. Especially how the 'money' ad was the latest thing from the DNC and it will be running in battleground states this fall. You are simply wrong on so many levels, I hardly know where to begin. First of all, the ads are not from the DNC. They were produced by private citizens on home computers, with no budget and no affiliation or incentive from any political party. Frankly, I'm surprised that you didn't contact my web site to verify anything you wrote. It would be the obvious thing to do, as the link back to my site is on every movie. No link to Terry McAuliffe or the DNC - a link to a private citizen's web site."

Kat L'Estrange offers this first-hand report: "I was present at the protest in Portland. When I arrived around 4:45 PM, the crowd was around 1,500 or so. A friend who was there earlier in the day, around 3 PM PDT, said she thought the crowd was around 3,000 plus -- many different groups were represented, environmental, union, minorities for labor, anti-globalization, etc. The pepper spray incident appeared to be unprovoked. I was standing at the barricade half a block up from 6th and Taylor approximately three to five minutes before the crowd was sprayed, and all seemed fine. One protestor was blowing soap bubbles toward the riot police in full riot gear. The crowd was laughing, chanting, and seemed to be interacting with the police asking them to lighten up. I walked away to find a way around the barricade moving pretty freely through the group of protestors. As I turned the corner away from the barricade, I heard the crowd screaming behind me..."

"The date for Caravan of Cause is August 11, to meet in Orlando at a rally scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Florida Fair Grounds. (The Caravan of Cause is fully insured, and permitted and will have the Fairground's food truck on site.) We currently have 14 volunteers for the Caravan of Cause and we need more."

Buzzflash reports, "It all started when two friends and I were arrested on June 4th, 2001 at the NY Yankees spring training field in Tampa Bay. We were arrested because we held up signs that said 'Investigate Florida Votergate.' This was at a George Bush rally where the public was invited. It was a public event at a publicly paid-for stadium... I'm a grandmother. And most of my friends who were there that day are also grandparents... We were shackled by the police right there and carted off of the field. And the police actually knocked over our 81-year-old friend, Walter, while arresting us, knocking him down to the ground, unconscious. So when that happened, we were very angry. We had news coverage all over down here in Florida. And we decided to get together and fight back. We asked, 'what can we do that would be peaceful, that would answer the frustrations of all those people who came out to the field that day, who were not allowed to hold up the signs on June 4th, 2001?'"

Grandmothers and Others writes: Republicans may have financial power but Democrats and Independents have PEOPLE power! On 8-11-02 at 2 p.m., cars, trucks, RVs, and busses will arrive in Orlando traveling at a minimum highway speed. Florida Orange is the color of the day to remind the powers that be, that the votes and voices of the people will be heard! Vehicles wearing orange show honor to the disenfranchised voters. Drive your family to the Central Florida Fair and picnic by a lake, listen to good music, and hear fine speakers. Progressive groups are invited to participate. We will send a signal to those forces that don't represent working families and populist causes, that, on November 5th - Election Day, we will make sure every vote counts and the people will be heard! That is the day our children and grandchildren's educational future will win, the environment will win, affordable and available health care will win, working families will win, and senior citizens will win.

"In a sweeping condemnation of the link between the current corporate crime wave and the political agenda of right wing conservatives, United Steelworkers of America (USWA) President Leo W. Gerard exhorted union delegates to 'seize this moment in history to challenge the corporate domination of political decision making'... Citing the loss of more than two million manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and Canada in recent years, Gerard asserted that globalization [is] 'the unconditional surrender of our jobs! It's designed to enrich the Enron capitalists and their rich and powerful financiers on Bay Street and Wall Street at the expense of our jobs, our families, our safety, our dignity -- everything that's near and dear to us... I've got news for those Gucci-shoed, coupon-clipping, cafe latte-drinking bastards,' Gerard thundered. 'We'll never stop fighting for a clean environment, for social justice, for economic fairness, and for workers' rights."

Do you intend to write to Congress more often than you actually do? Many of us find that it takes so long to research an issue, write an effective letter, print, address and send it out that it doesn't get done. That is the reason that so few people do it, but now there's an effective tool to help. Progressivesecretary.org is an E-Mail co-op that relies on volunteers to research and write effective letters. They then send them to you and you can review the letter. If you agree with the issue (all progressive issues), they will send the letters out to the congress people with your contact info placed on the letter. It is a free service that relies only on donations and volunteers. There is no advertising, no catch, and no pressure to donate or volunteer. Why not get on their mailing list today?

Here is more proof that YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! On its Moneyline website, CNN listed the names of corporations under investigation for fraud. They had conspicuously (or conveniently) omitted Halliburton. The SEC is investigating an accounting change Halliburton made during Dick Cheney's tenure as CEO that enabled the company to postpone acknowledging possible losses of hundreds of millions of dollars and did not disclose that change to its investors for more than a year. Bill Buck, a spokesman for the DNC, said, "It would seem, under Bush's proposal…Cheney should be held responsible to Halliburton stockholders." Patriot Kelley Kramer ( http://www.kelleykramer.blogspot.com/ ) led a successful email action to CNN, pointing out the omission and asking that CNN conform to the rigorous journalistic standards of impartially reporting the news…all the news. Way to go, Kelley, and to all the other activists who participated in this action, MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

The Chernobyl Children's Project is Ireland's leading charity specializing in alleviating the suffering of the victims caused by the world's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl. The CCP exists to provide humanitarian support to the victims still living the stricken regions of Belarus, Western Russia and Northern Ukraine. The child victims of Chernobyl offer living proof of the impact of such a technological disaster on human society. Their lives are a testament to its ravages, but they offer hope and inspiration that such a tragedy will not happen anywhere else on this fragile planet. Ten dollars in U.S. currency will give a child with thyroid cancer three years of life saving medicine.

Here is a great new effort to promote a broad progressive agenda. "The mission of voice4change.org is to bring a positive message to the broadest possible audience. There are many wonderful organizations doing critical work to make our world a better place. Many of these organizations have very informative web sites but do not have the time to promote them. Our role will be to promote these sites to increase their effectiveness." Spread the word!

"We believe that as people living in the US it is our responsibility to resist the injustices done by our government, in our names. Not in our name will you wage endless war; there can be no more deaths, no more transfusions of blood for oil. Not in our name will you invade countries, bomb civilians, kill more children, letting history take its course over the graves of the nameless. Not in our name will you erode the very freedoms you have claimed to fight for. Not by our hands will we supply weapons and funding for the annihilation of families on foreign soil. Not by our mouths will we let fear silence us. Not by our hearts will we allow whole peoples or countries to be deemed evil. We pledge resistance We pledge alliance with those who have come under attack for voicing opposition to the war or for their religion or ethnicity. We pledge to make common cause with the people of the world to bring about justice freedom and peace Another world is possible and we pledge to make it real."

IndyMedia.org reports, "Resistance is flaring up against George W. Bush's visit to Europe. Tens of thousands of people are planning to protest against the US government's appalling human rights record, their 'war on terror' and their disregard for international agreements. Moreover they are protesting against Bush as one of the most prominent representatives of neoliberal capitalism, which is tied to big business and is spread around the globe by violent means. In the German capital Berlin, protests started with a 70,000-strong peaceful demonstration on May 21st. More demonstrations and a large variety of autonomous actions are planned for Wednesday and Thursday. In response to dissent on the streets, Berlin is currently seeing the biggest deployment of police since World War II. Both the city council and the federal government have made clear that where the comfort of a US president [sic] is concerned, the people's civil rights come second."

Maia Cowan of Failureisimpossible.com writes: "Newspapers around the country are being deluged with Letters to the Editor in an 'Astroturf' campaign to pressure the Senate Democrats to rubberstamp Bush's cabal of extremist, unqualified judicial nominees. Often the campaigners don't even bother rewriting the GOP form letter." So Maia suggests writing your own Letter to the Editor refuting the "astroturf" form letters, and provides a wealth of tips and resources to do so! Among the resources: the text of the "astroturf campaign" letters; lists of the newspapers that have been scammed into publishing them; facts about nominees, and the pace of confirmations that people can use to write rebuttal letters. You go, Maia!

"On Thursday, June 6, people across the country will commit themselves to resisting in diverse ways the horrors the U.S. government is inflicting on millions around the world and here at home supposedly for 'our' benefit and in 'our' name. On that day they will join together and take the Not in Our Name Pledge of Resistance. 'We refuse to allow President Bush to speak for all the American people. We will not give up our right to question. We will not hand over our consciences in return for a hollow promise of safety. Together as one we say NOT IN OUR NAME.' Everyone is encouraged to organize and participate in events on June 6 that will bring together people from different backgrounds, cultures, communities, and political beliefs in a common refusal to go along with the government's war without limits, roundups and detentions of immigrants, and police state attacks on civil liberties." Help plan a local action!

The Alliance for Democracy is a Populist movement - not a political party - working to end the domination of our economy, our government, our culture, our media and the environment by large corporations. It aims to promote true democracy in our country and help achieve a just society with a sustainable, equitable economy. They work together with other organizations, both here and abroad, who share these goals. On June 7-10 in Gettysburg PA, the Alliance will hold its 5th convention on the urgent theme: "The American Emergency - Democracy or Fascism?" Speakers will include Greg Palast and Marjorie Kelly, author of The Divine Right of Capital. Click below for full program information and to register.

Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, a national public interest law firm, has just launched a newly-designed web site, featuring one-of-a-kind interactive resources for all public-interest-oriented lawyers and activists. The new site, www.tlpj.org, was unveiled on May 1 as part of TLPJ's 20th Anniversary activities. Check out their searchable, online database of more than 2,200 contacts for public interest advocates! You can search the entire U.S., your state -- or as many states as you choose -- in up to 35 different focus areas, including children and youth, civil rights, consumer protection, crime prevention, environmental protection, housing and homelessness, reproductive freedom, and workers' rights and whistleblower protection. You can also find out about cutting-edge court cases where trial lawyers are fighting to protect citizens and consumers by holding irresponsible corporations and governments accountable in court.

"More than 600 Californians came together to protest a Bush/Simon fundraiser at Century City today and let the pair know they're not welcome in our state. The crowd included kids and people of all colors and ethnic groups protesting Bush's theft of the White House, his policies and his attempt to buy the governorship for a man who is opposed to everything real Californians want. Protesters chanted: 'What do we want? Bush in jail. When do we want it? Now,' '4,3,2,1 Investigate Bush for 9-1-1,' '1,2,3,4 Recount proves that Gore got more. 5,6,7,8. Resign right now. It's not too late,' and 'Hey, hey. Ho, ho. S & L Simon has to go.' A giant banner read, 'G W BUSH, history will condemn you.'" So reports Natasha H., age 10.

Anyone who has witnessed the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy in action knows how organized the Repugs are. Alexander Bolton reports in The Hill that the Democrats are starting to fight back. "Conservatives have lambasted the effort as 'the height of hypocrisy' and 'unethical.' But Democrats say that funneling the financial resources of their base to 'alternative avenues' is perfectly legal, politically necessary in the wake of reform, and something that the right wing has been doing with success for years. [The effort] is being spearheaded by Mike Lux, a former member of the Clinton administration... Last summer, Lux organized between 150 and 200 donors into the Progressive Donor Network, groups that shares a variety of like-minded goals, the foremost being the desire to put Democrats in power. The group held its first conference two weeks ago... Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) addressed the donors at a dinner the night before conference."

It's easy to despair as we watch Smirky the dictator inspire chaos around the world and at home, but Bernard Weiner says we shouldn't lose the faith that the political pendulum will swing back in our favor. "We're living in a political world that threatens to increase our sense of despair, with more than our fair share of horrible news each day. And so we gird our loins for political battle, knowing we're going to get verbally pummeled, called names, have our patriotism questioned, maybe even face violence or official surveillance. But we also keep this long-term knowlege in our hearts: that tides do change. Keeping the faith during the bad times is so all-important, laying the foundations, the momentum building, for that inevitable pendulum-swing... Think of yourself as a Pendulum Soldier, actively working to bring peace and justice and proper balance to this country, this planet, ourselves."

"Florida Grandmas are mad as hell! We know political corruption when we see it! Yet, we've been portrayed across this nation as too stupid to vote! ENOUGH is ENOUGH! We're taking our message on the road. We will drive a slow caravan of cars, trucks, RVs, and maybe even buses through central Florida culminating at a protest destination in Orlando. We will travel at a minimum speed on I-4 no faster than 45mph to show that we not only can drive but we can vote too! Too many people in the US have had their 1st Amendment rights trampled on by the Bush Administration. Too many people have been bypassed to feed the war frenzy. Too many People Programs have been cut drastically, leaving folks to wonder about their mere survival. Corporations have devalued our very basic humanity while reaping huge profits from sales of weapons. And our unemployment rate rises daily. ENOUGH is ENOUGH!" Join the caravan across Florida on June 30!

"7 days of TV freedom can be a surprising challenge. More than a few people have reported to us that they find the weaning process torturous. We want to hear how you fare. Keep a TV Turnoff diary. Write a short story about your trials. Paint pictures. Hell, push the bounds of irony and make a documentary. However you choose to do it, chronicle your experiences outside the box. If you plan events over the week, make sure to send us pictures at campaigns@adbusters.org or at Adbusters TV Turnoff, 1243 W 7th Ave, Vancouver BC, V6H 1B7, Canada." As Howard Beale famously declared in 'Network': "Turn it off! Turn it all off!" Shut down the box with its insidious political propaganda and conformist messages that fill its news, commercials AND entertainment programs. Switch off the boob tube that tells us to dwell on shallow things, and to feel afraid, empty and wanting – to buy, buy, buy. "We're as Mad as Hell and We're Not Going to Take It Anymore!"

"The message of demonstrations in Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Seattle on April 20th was that many Americans oppose the Administration’s war on terrorism and its impact on human rights at home and abroad. 75,000 people [Counterpunch reports as many as 200,000] took to the streets of Washington, D.C. for various causes that can best be summed up as opposition to the Bush Agenda. 'I think it is a tremendous success. So many different people from all over the place stood together in solidarity,' said Roxanne Lawson, a national coordinator for United We March, one of the main organizers of the day's events. While the messages varied, one thing was clear, over 100,000 Americans were willing to take their opposition to Bush policies to the streets and express dissent." So writes Scott Galindez in Truthout.

A spokesperson for Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) spoke at the massive gathering before the White House on 4/20, echoing comments made in this March 8 letter to Bush. The letter reminds Bush that America's support on the war against terrorism "was not intended as an unending license to permit unilateral, unauthorized attacks anywhere on the globe or to drastically escalate US military spending and overseas military bases, to promote massive arms transfers, and to conduct diplomacy by threat. We are particularly disturbed by bellicose, provocative rhetoric and unilateral threats to sovereign nations, made outside the framework of international law and without the support of the international community. Such statements erode the honored place of the United States as a nation that has, at its best, not only defended freedom, but upheld human rights, international cooperation, humanitarian aid, and the rule of international law. "

D.C. Chief of Police Charles Ramsey gave not just the Capitol Police, but also the protestors and their organizers, credit for what he described as a model event. "The large number of demonstrators and the variety of causes they represented created unique challenges for police and protestors alike," Ramsey said. "That this many people could come together and peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights is a testament to the professionalism of our police officers and the commitment of the demonstrators." None of the police were decked in riot gear and Ramsey walked with the protestors for much of the day. Ramsey and the D.C. police obviously did NOT buy Ashcroft's inuendos suggesting the protestors were "potential terrorists."

The number of people attending the protests in Washington D.C. this weekend is swelling hourly and will likely hit at least one-quarter MILLION! Although dozens of separate protests are scheduled, they all have one common thread binding them in solidarity: Outrage at Bush Administration policy, from the trashing of civil rights to his endless war on terror, to his dismantling of environmental protections. These folks are united and they are angry! So how is the administration handling this amazing show of protest? The way it handles every threat: Condemn them all as "terrorists," round 'em up and arrest 'em without charge and without access to legal aid. So whatcha gonna do when the protests in the future get bigger, G.W. - from a quarter million to half a million to a million... Don't think you have that many "security forces" - on the police forces or in the media.

The Washington Post has published a map showing the locations of TEN protests this coming weekend in DC. Activists will protest Bush's plans for war against Iraq, his plans for permanent war against "terror," against the drug war in Colombia, against IMF and World Bank economic policies, etc. If you care about global issues, there's a protest for you!

Democrats.com co-founder David Lytel's presentation at the Campaign for America's Future annual gathering in Washington talked about the crucial role the Internet will have to play if we are ever to bring popular sentiment and popular government into alignment with one another again.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel reports, "About two dozen protesters assembled today near the City County Building to peacefully protest President [sic] Bush's policies. Most attention was focused on his Middle East policies and the war on terrorism, but a an array of other issues, ranging from health care and the death penalty, were also addressed. Several different organizations were represented at the protest... 'Our message today is that security cannot be built with tools of violence,' said Ralph Hutchison of the Knoxville Area Coalition for Compassion, Justice and Peace. 'The war on terrorism is in fact creating terror in the rest of the world. We are calling on President Bush to renounce violence and the tools of violence.'" In addition, several protesters challenged Bush directly inside the hall - and were promptly removed.

With all of humanity's conflicts, how do we achieve global understanding? "The Earthrise project is an effort to inspire the next generation of students all around the world to explore and share their common humanity, and to collaborate in efforts to investigate the mysteries of the universe around us. The project envisions a network of 'camp' facilities with various telescopes, which will allow on-site utilization in numerous ways, for example, overnight 'get acquainted with the sky' visits for urban students, to extended visits for more advanced students to collect data for various endeavors. Through partnering with various institutions and organizations around the world, the Earthrise Project foresees the development of an interconnected network of telescopes that will enable students to participate in collaborative observational projects with their counterparts around the country and around the world." So writes Dr. Alan Hale, Director, Southwest Institute for Space Research.

Join PoliticalAmazon.com's "protest by mail" campaign. While supplies last, Political Amazon will send you 30 Bush protest labels to adorn all your mail. Just send them a self-addressed stamp envelope. While you're at it, you might want to order some of their "Read My Lips: He Did Not Win" activist baseball cards, too!

"What is the Rolling Thunder Democracy Tour? It's a county fair with guts. A revival with a reason. A concert with consciousness. A festival with funk and function. The Rolling Thunder Down-Home Democracy Tour reawakens a great American tradition of asserting the power of regular people to fight for their rights; throws in some enlightening education, soul-stirring music, mouth-watering food and drink; tops it off with a good jolt of Jim Hightower wit and wisdom, plus invigorating insight from firebrand speakers ranging from Jesse Jackson Jr. to Barbara Ehrenreich, and shazam! It creates a thunderstorm of motivated minds and bodies demanding our democracy back from the greedheads and boneheads who have taken it hostage. Oh, and most importantly, we intend to have one hell of a good time every step of the way back to true democracy." The first stop was Austin TX on 3/23. Future stops include Atlanta GA on 5/25 and Chicago IL on 6/15. Get involved!

"Over a hundred people protested a fundraiser for Republican Senator Jim Talent at the St. Louis Convention Center on March 18. The guest of dis-honor, President George W. Bush, was met with chants of 'Jail to the Thief!' and 'Have Another Pretzel!' ... A central theme of the protest was the Enron debacle. 'These guys are stealing millions of dollars,' said Black. Between 1993 and 2001 Enron contributed $736,800 directly to George W. Bush. Enron also donated $888,265 to the RNC during the 2000 election. Four members of Bush's Administration used to work for Enron and Vice President Cheney has refused to release details of his secret meeting with Enron officials... Mark Fraley, Organizer for Missouri Pro-Vote, said 'we want to draw attention to Bushes ties to Enron. This is a political scandal, not just a business scandal. Thirty-two million in Missouri state pension funds were lost because of the Enron scandal.'" So reports the St. Louis Independent Media Center.

Agence France Presse reports, "More than 300,000 people marched through the streets of downtown Barcelona in one of the biggest demonstrations ever to coincide with a summit of European Union leaders... Marching behind a banner that declared: 'Against a Europe of capital -- another world is possible," the boisterous demonstrators trooped for almost three hours from Placa de Catalunya to the Mediterranean harborfront. They represented a host of causes -- many of them opponents of free-market globalization, but also large numbers of Catalan and Basque nationalists -- as they moved forth under a forest of banners and flags.' Get ready for massive protests on April 20 in DC and SF!

In the Talk of the Town, The New Yorker profiled determined New York activist Reba Shimansky. "Shimansky spends a couple of hours each night at the computer in her kitchen, reading articles and writing angry letters to political reporters around the country. 'I started writing letters in the early part of the Clinton Administration,' she said the other day, sitting in her living room. 'I felt there was a right-wing spin machine that protects Republicans. And I just wanted to try and correct that... They always say there's a liberal bias out there. I don't see it. I think the Democrats can be wimps. We don't have a Rush Limbaugh... You like to think that in a certain way maybe you can shape the media coverage,' Shimansky said. She noted that after frequent letters to Martin Peretz, the editor-in-chief of The New Republic, complaining about the former editor Michael Kelly and the former colum nist Andrew Sullivan, both men moved on." You go, Reba!

"Bush was greeted with catcalls, protest signs and 'carols of dissent' during his appearance at Chicago's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 16, sparking glares from political officials on the parade reviewing stand and outrage among Republican Party loyalists who had gathered to greet 'Dubya'. Saturday's anti-shrub actions included caroling by a group of activists assembled under the moniker the 'Chorus of Dissent', as well as a contingent of anti-war cyclists and pockets of protesters waving anti-administration and anti-war signs and banners along the Columbus Drive parade route... Protesters came armed with a sweeping array of banners and signs that denounced Bush's ties to the Enron debacle, called on the Bush regime to free hundreds of mostly Arab and East Asian detainees, condemned the administration's 'war on terrorism', and - in a nod to the St. Patrick's day holiday spirit - derided the Bush/Cheney/Ashcroft 'Axis o' Evil'." So reports Independent Media Center.

ABC Television put Pat Robertson's programming on its cable channel and no one objected, so now ABC is moving yet another step to the right. The station ABC owns and operates in Washington, DC is WMAL, which has fired Victoria Jones. Now that they've dispensed with any semblance of balance in their programming, which is all right-wing vitriol all the time, let them know that you're mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore.

On June 4, 2001, three citizens were arrested at a public presidential rally in Tampa, Florida for displaying negative signs. The rally was held at the Legends baseball field and was open to the general public. All three participants entered the field, signs in hand, without incident. The signs were letter size and read "BOOO," "Investigate Florida Votergate," and "June is Gay Pride Month." Once on the field some republican volunteers began to shout "Get Out of here!" "Go Home!" The police were contacted and came down into the field. The police told the participants, "Lose the signs and you can stay." When the trio refused to give up their signs they were forcibly removed and subsequently arrested. Fortunately, the entire incident was caught on video, the charges were dropped and now the trio is suing. The video is now up on the Internet for everyone to see.

Identifying sales and coupon items every week can be very time-consuming, so most shoppers don't take advantage of the savings available. Cut Out Hunger does the work of researching sales and coupon deals for shoppers, which makes it very easy save money on your own groceries and donate food to charity. Each week, Atlanta shoppers can visit this site and print out the list of "best deals" available at their favorite store. Congratulations to Stephanie Nelson and Tresa Rivers for creating a Web site that is a model for anti-hunger activists around the country.

If your Representative doesn't represent YOU, use the Internet to tell the world! That's what Quenton Galvin did with his unofficial Phil Crane site at philcraneforcongress.org. Check it out!

"After enduring a torrent of scorn from New York's corporate media and weeks of naysaying by the poobahs of the illiberal and yea, even the liberal press, thousands of global justice activists hit the streets here on Saturday and did just what they said they'd do. They showed up in huge numbers and demonstrated peacefully, despite no end of differences among them, and no end of goading by police and journalists. The crowd that marched on the World Economic Forum gathering at the Waldorf Astoria hotel this weekend was old and young, local and from out of town. Despite a literally suffocating police presence (long lines of motorcycle cops on Harleys hemmed in the marchers, belching fumes,) the festivities remained nonviolent, against all odds." So writes Laura Flanders at WorkingForChange.com.

The American Prospect writes, "The current system of campaign finance turns politicians of both parties into servants of private corporate interests. Republicans are more explicitly so than Democrats, but the New Democrats play the corporate-interest game essentially as Republicans do—leaving the Democrats' role as tribune of the people blunted and their message blurred. On the one hand, Bill Clinton could appoint and defend a genuine public-minded regulator like Arthur Levitt of the SEC. On the other, when Levitt got serious about actually regulating corporate and accounting abuses, it was not just Republicans who warned him to desist, but also New Democrats with close ties to industry, including Senators Chris Dodd, Robert Torricelli, and Joseph Lieberman (the same Joe Lieberman now leading the Senate's investigation of Enron). More than a select committee or special counsel, we need a citizens' movement for reform." OK guys - so when is the first meeting?

"There was a time, when I was a young polemicist, when I thought I should be genteel and polite and intellectual and theoretical. And then I was attacked by a GOP Thug. And that's when I realized that being genteel and polite and intellectual and theoretical is how Gore lost Florida." So writes Robert Dobbs, the Tiny Polemicist.

In Tampa on January 19, Edna "Lee, 63, was marching again on Saturday at a peace rally at MacDill Air Force Base against the war in Afghanistan.'United we stand, divided we fall,' said Lee, 63, of St. Petersburg. 'I'm for peace and justice.' About 300 people attended the march, the largest peace rally in the Tampa Bay area since the U.S. military response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Organized by the newly formed Florida Alliance of Peace and Social Justice, the enthusiastic rally drew a diverse crowd from around the state. A two-hour program of speakers at Gasden Park in South Tampa preceded the peaceful march on MacDill's main gate. 'Peace and justice, no more war!' hundreds chanted as they approached the main gate, under the scrutiny of Air Force security and three police officers." See the excellent photos from the march!

According to FAIR, "Mainstream New York City newspapers have tended to frame discussion of the demonstrations in terms of their status as a security problem. A search of the Lexis-Nexis database (12/1/01 - 1/28/02) found that most articles in the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and Newsday mentioning the WEF have focused on police preparations for the protests. As a result, the political debate over the WEF has been obscured, as have concerns about police brutality and civil liberties... One particularly vicious editorial from the New York Daily News (1/13/02), which referred to anti-WEF activists as 'legions of agitators,' 'crazies,' 'parasites' and 'kooks.' The paper threatened activists, saying 'You have a right to free speech, but try to disrupt this town, and you'll get your anti-globalization butts kicked. Capish?'" This kind of outrageous coverage just demonstrates how terrified the corporate media is of the truth.

From Seattle to Genoa, police have used unjustified and premeditated violence to suppress anti-globalization protests. As protesters gather for the World Economic Forum in NYC starting January 30, citizens of the world will be watching the behavior of the NYC police. Will they respect the rights of protesters, and preserve their proud post 9-11 image? Or will they sacrifice that image in a futile effort to intimidate protesters? Mayor Mike Bloomberg has ended Rudy Giuliani's reign of retribution by reaching out to New York's many diverse constituencies. Hey Mike, how about reaching out to those who care about human rights around the globe by defending their right to protest - and even by embracing their just cause?

The Florida Alliance for Peace and Justice will gather Saturday January 19th at 1:00PM at Gadsen Park (S. MacDill Avenue at Marcus Drive) to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and protest the war against Afghanistan and the dismantling of civil liberties in the U.S.

Republicans say Bush's poll ratings are astronomical. But all of Bush's public appearances are open only to Republicans, like his visit to Aurora MO on 1/14. Why is that? What is Bush afraid of? Why doesn't the Republican media ask him?

"Mari Anderson has been flying two large American flags upside down at her home since the November 2000 presidential election. Flying flags upside down is a traditional way of displaying the flag when the nation is in distress. Anderson said that the upside-down flags are a political statement of her feelings after George W. Bush was declared the presidential winner in Florida over Al Gore... There also are a half-dozen other signs in her yard and hanging on her house with political statements about President Bush, his brother Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and their administrations. 'The election was a crime,' Anderson said. 'I went up to Washington, D.C., to protest, something I never thought in my life I would do. I was so upset I had to do something. We have rights and freedom of speech is one of our rights. I am exercising that but I am also worried that we are losing our rights.' Anderson said she plans to continue flying the flags upside down until after the 2004 presidential election."

From StopOttoReich.net: "Call the White House Comment Line at (202) 456-1111 and tell the President that he should not make an interim appointment of Otto Reich to be Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. President Bush may take advantage of the Senate recess (until January 23rd) to make this interim one-year appointment of Reich to be the highest State Department official for Latin America...Reich is a right-wing Cuban American who was ambassador to Venezuela. As an Assistant Secretary of State, he would oversee U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America and Canada. Otto Juan Reich was the director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy (OPD) for Latin America and the Caribbean from 1983 to 1986. He was accused by Congress in 1987 of engaging in 'prohibited, covert propaganda activities' in his efforts to promote the Reagan administration's policies toward Nicaragua." How dare Bush appoint members of his Daddy's Iran-Contra enterprise!

"What do you do when you learn at the last minute that the Resident is planning to speak in at some out-of the way-place about an hour out of town? You change your plans, get your family together, and prepare to show him that his anti-American policies are unwelcome in your state. About 100 to 150 Californians who learned at the last minute that Bush was speaking in Ontario, CA did just that. The crowd included kids like my brother and myself, college students and well-educated professionals, such as attorneys, doctors and engineers." So writes Natasha H.

"Chanting slogans against President [sic] Bush, about 500 activists marched through a Portland neighborhood Saturday to protest the president's policies just before his arrival here. 'Hey George, we didn't like your dad and we don't like you,' the protesters shouted, alluding to hostile receptions that Portland activists would give Bush's father when he was president. The protesters - many of them opponents of the war in Afghanistan - had planned to march to a job training center where President George W. Bush spoke to unemployed people. But police barricades and a line of riot police prevented the marchers from getting close to the job center. As the protesters milled around the barricades a military helicopter watched them from above." So reports the AP.

Bush visited Austin for the hanging of his gubernatorial portrait. "Despite Friday's cold weather and tight security, more than two dozen protesters showed up outside the Capitol. They waved signs -- 'He's not my president,' 'Bush's sick legacy, 152 executions,' 'Protect the Constitution, Repeal the Patriot Act' -- to honks from some passing cars. Some set up an 'alternate portrait' gallery, winding chicken wire around broomsticks in sand-filled buckets to display caricatures of Bush as Rambo or Alfred E. Newman. 'Inside, it's all sweetness and light,' said Pam Thompson, nodding toward the Capitol. 'These are more realistic and in line with his policies.'" You go, Pam!

National pro-democracy movement leader and founder/chair of Citizens for Legitimate Government, Michael Rectenwald, reflects on the year's accomplishments of CLG. Citizens for Legitimate Government is the pro-democracy activist group established to expose the Bu$h coup d'etat, and to oppose the Bu$h Occupation in all of its manifestations. Along with Democrats.com and other key internet sites, the CLG led the charge in fighting the Bu$h junta in 2001.

The Arizona Democracy Group, "…for Everyone Left of the Radical Right", is a multi-partisan group of 2,500+ members that first came together out of concern about the process, result and aftermath of the 2000 Presidential Election. It is dedicated to help achieve electoral reform, advocate key issues for The People, and champion civil liberty and equal opportunity for all residents of Arizona. The AzDG intends to be a united, active and effective force in legislative processes and in upcoming elections of public officials. Its diverse membership collaborates with like-minded individuals and groups so as to optimize impact and make effective use of the resulting strength and solidarity. If you live in another state, consider using this as a model for organizing a reform movement in your state.

"Dear Representative, I urge you to reaffirm publicly your belief in and support for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, in light of the administration's recent assumption of 'dictatorial power' and 'dismaying departure from due process,' in the words of columnist William Safire. Attorney General Ashcroft's unilateral actions to curtail our traditional civil and judicial rights, and to shift the balance of power among the three branches of government, are unacceptable, especially during this time of crisis." You may also want to copy and paste the following into the field for your personal note to your Representative. "I strongly encourage you to take the initiative in enforcing Congress' oversight role of the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act. In fact, I hope that this legislation will be revisited soon, to remove the sections that unduly infringe on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties." Send the e-mail at MoveOn.org!

"Without observing the legally mandated period of public review and comment, Attorney General Ashcroft has implemented a new eavesdropping regulation that gives the government, without judicial oversight or meaningful standards, the unprecedented power to listen in on conversations between prison inmates and their attorneys. The new regulation renders the age-old tradition of attorney-client privilege worthless and essentially guts the right to counsel guaranteed by the Constitution. Furthermore, the new regulation is unnecessary since the Department of Justice already has the legal authority to record attorney-client conversations by going before a judge and obtaining a warrant. Take Action! The Bureau of Prisons is compiling public comments through December 31 and a huge public outcry could force Ashcroft to rescind the regulation. Now is the last time to speak out! You can read more and send an email to the Bureau of Prisons" from the ACLU link below!

"Al Gore will be in Miami on Wednesday evening, Dec. 12th, for a Democratic Fundraiser at the next-door (side-by-side) homes of attorney/Party Activist Chris Korge and aircraft leasing owner Stuart Kauff, in Pinecrest Lakes Estates, in Miami. Everybody, let's show Al Gore how much we support him and give him a SUPER "WELCOME" that he will never forget! Let's make Al Gore's visit back to Florida "Special". We ask everyone to be at our Florida "Welcome Back Al Gore Rally" at the corner of S.W. 104th Street and 67th Avenue (Ludlum Rd) in Miami, no later than 5:00 P.M." So writes organizer Vilma Fox.

"Never forget that it was Ashcroft, in the earliest iteration of the Anti-Terrorism bill, who advocated the suspension of habeas corpus. If there is a beating heart within the body of laws that protect our freedoms, habeas corpus is it. That alone should be enough to rouse us all. I intend to challenge, at every opportunity, the assertion by Mr. Ashcroft that dissention is equal to terrorism. I intend to continue my questioning of his contra-Constitutional program of restrictions until they are stopped. I beg you to do the same. I offer you the opportunity to add your name and voice to this fight. Send me an email here, and I will place your name on a list to appear on this website. By giving me your name, you sign a document that states your opposition to Ashcroft's Constitutional revisions while denouncing him for daring to call you a terrorist. You are an American patriot. Stand up and be counted as one." So writes William Rivers Pitt.

"The NYSPC will be holding a press conference to announce its formation and speak out on the potentially unending and certainly devastating 'war on terror' and its effects on student and youth... The Bush administration is moving quickly to limit the freedoms of Muslims, Arabs, immigrants, and anyone who appears to disagree with them... Please come out and bring your friends to join the representatives of the 16 diverse organizations of the NYSPC at their launch press event. NYSPC launch press conference, Monday December 10; 10:30 am EST (press conference will start a few miunutes later, Location: The National Japanese-American Memorial, Washington D.C. located just north of the US Capitol on a triangular plot bounded by Louisiana Avenue, New Jersey Avenue and 'D' Street, NW.

(A)Wake for Democracy is a vigil to remind the felonious five we will continue to protest the illegal action until our elected representatives put a stop to the current assault on our civil rights and the continuing infringement of the Bill of Rights. Please join us on December 12, 2001 to light a candle of hope for true Voter Reform and to remind Americans that when the Supreme Court 5 usurped our right to vote, it took the first step toward the loss of democracy. Shine the Light of Justice for American Voters. Oakland Federal Building 1301 Clay - between 13th and 14th Streets 2 blocks from the 12th Street Bart. Wednesday, December 12, 5 p.m.

"In a scene reminiscent of the first Bush presidency, an estimated 300 anti-war protesters rallied Saturday in front of former President George Bush's home. The Maine Global Action Network said they organized the rally to protest the war in Afghanistan. They displayed banners, sang and beat drums. Demonstrators opposed to the war in Afghanistan make their way along Ocean Avenue toward the Bush compound at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport on Saturday. 'This is not about giving peace a chance,' said David Kubiak, an organizer for the network. 'It's about taking on the corporate powers that built this war and are profiteering from it.'" So reports the Portland Press Herald.

In the face of Bush's high poll ratings, "too many labor, environmental and civil liberties groups since the Sept. 11 attacks have chosen the path of least resistance." But activists like Jim Hightower are urging progressives to stand up and fight." 'The American people do not confuse patriotism with conformity. Yet that's what a lot of our groups are doing,' Hightower argued, referring to reports that mainstream environmental advocacy groups and other organizations had tempered their criticism of Bush administration initiatives in order to avoid appearing to threaten national unity. 'Too many of our groups have said, 'sit down, shut up.' If the meek ever inherit the earth, these guys are going to be land barons,' Hightower said. 'For us to be quiet now, when our voices are most needed, is to reject not just our heritage but our responsibility in a democracy... We have been progressive for a long time. Now we've got to be aggressive.'" So writes John Nichols.

"A new pro-democracy movement is growing in America as a result of widespread outrage at the abuses that occurred before and during the last presidential election. In response, the Alliance for Democracy is calling on a broad range of individuals and organizations to join us for an exciting conference and TakeAction! workshops. Topics include the Florida vote failure, the Supreme Court betrayal, the corporate-owned media and abandonment of the First Amendment, corporate globalization and anti-democracy, global warming -- a case study in the failure of democracy, the history of voting in America, the best government money can buy: campaign finance and election reform, racism and voting rights, women's fight for equality, and democracy around the world." Check it out!

Michael Rectenwald of Citizens for Legitimate Government (legitgov.org) was interviewed on The Meria Heller Show at www.Meria.net (archived) at length on the state of the world, the U.S.A. and the Stolen Election. Discussed at length are the repercussions of the lax attitude by Americans to defend their democratic right during the 2000 Selection, and what is happening to our country and our rights today. Also discussed is what truly defines a real patriot, and the need to fight for freedoms. Michael's thoughts on the disparity of justice in this country, the second class treatment of the postal workers where anthrax is concerned, the lack of leadership when we need it most -- and Bob Fertik's article on how things would be if Gore was President -- make for an awesome interview.

"Berlin's march for peace was a joyous moment in tragic times. The peace movement, languishing for years, enlisted all its energy and was rewarded by a turnout of over 50,000 people in Berlin and 25,000 in southwestern Stuttgart, plus smaller gatherings in Nuremberg and other cities. The Berlin meeting started off at three assembling sites, the Friedrichstrasse station, famous Brandenburg Gate and the fanciful Neptune Fountain near City Hall." So reports Victor Grossman in Portside.

"In a dramatic departure from the anti-terrorism bill adopted by the House Judiciary Committee, Senate leaders have introduced the 'Uniting and Strengthening America (USA) Act' (S.1510), a bill that would significantly undermine many of the freedoms that Americans hold dear. It is likely that this legislation will be rushed onto the Senate floor this week without any committee review. Among the bill's most troubling provisions are measures that would give the government the authority to spy on its own people, enable the Attorney General unlimited authority to incarcerate non-citizens, and allow the government to expand its use of secret searches...[It would also] grant the FBI broad access to sensitive business records about individuals without having to show evidence of a crime. [And] lead to large-scale investigations of American citizens for 'intelligence' purposes." Click on the below ACLU link to send a FREE FAX to your Senators. Pass this on!

"'We gather as bombs are falling in Kabul,'" said the Rev. Peter Laarman, senior minister of Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village and the moderator of a series of prayers and speeches by religious leaders that led the rally. The protesters gathered in the north plaza of Union Square Park at 2:30 p.m. and then marched uptown, chanting 'peace, salaam, shalom' as they went. The crowd was seven city blocks long and ultimately swelled to close to 10,000 people, the police said. As the marchers arrived at 42nd Street and Broadway, another series of speakers, including two winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, addressed them... Speakers at the rally expressed a range of emotion about the strikes, some voicing a fierce anger at the decision for military action, while others merely expressed hopes for a peaceful end to the conflict."

"If you have ever been involved in an event reported in the mainstream media, you will realize that your experience, the essence of the event if you will, rarely matches what was reported. This phenomenon is greatly magnified by our era of sound bite journalism, where entire concepts are expressed in one or two sentences." So writes September 29 protester Scott Morschhauser in LiberalSlant.com.

Legislation has been introduced in the House to weaken essential checks and balances that have made our democracy strong. The new legislation -- the "Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act" (PATRIOT) - contains troubling provisions that would permit indefinite detention of a non-citizen in certain cases, minimize judicial supervision of electronic surveillance by law enforcement authorities and allow intelligence agencies to spy on U.S. citizens by providing enhanced access to sensitive information about them. Take Action! Security and freedom do not need to be at odds. Send a FREE FAX to your Representative!

On Sept. 29, thousands of activists marched for peace in Washington DC, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In DC, "The protests were mainly peaceful, but police in riot gear used pepper spray on demonstrators at least once during a morning march led by an anarchist group." They also locked protesters up in a pen for an hour. At an event in New York City, President Clinton defended the protesters. "This is America," Clinton said. "They are welcome to say whatever they want to say. ... If the future of the world in the Middle East is what Mr. bin Laden wants it to be, they would not be able to speak their mind."

"To Democratic Leaders: In our time of national crisis, we commend you for showing the world that America is united in the fight against terrorism. However, we are greatly disturbed by the efforts of some Republicans in the Administration and in Congress to abuse this national crisis to advance their conservative ideological agenda. In particular, we are outraged at Attorney General John Ashcroft's assault on our civil liberties, Senator James Inhofe's assault on our energy policies and the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, the House Republican assault on tax fairness, Trade Representative Robert Zoelleck's demand for "fast track," and the Republican demand for billions for a porous missile defense "shield" that should be spent instead against terrorism. Now is not the time for Republicans to launch such narrow ideological battles. We call upon you to stand up for America and oppose these divisive Republican assaults." Sign the petition!

On Friday, September 28, political activists from across Pennsylvania will meet in Philadelphia to discuss what's next for politics in the Commonwealth at Pennsylvania's Next Agenda Conference. The event will launch a new coalition of consumer, labor, religious and community groups to be known as United Pennsylvanians and it will be co-sponsored by the Washington D.C.-based Campaign for America's Future. Speakers will include U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls Bob Casey Jr. and Ed Rendell, Green Party candidate Mike Morrill, and pollster Anna Greenberg.

"Voter March will have a solidarity rally in Wash DC, at the East Front U.S. Capitol Steps, directly across from the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, September 29th. We will gather at 5pm with speakers, and as darkness comes it will become a Candlelight vigil showing solidarity with victims of the September 11th tragedy and their families and friends, and messages for peace will be spoken. Our hearts are broken, and need healing: we are American. We also stand against any actions that will create more innocent victims. We will stand strong, the soul of America is strong, we cannot be vanquished by terrorists, or used blindly by those who would oppress. God bless America and God bless righteous people around the globe."

On September 17, workers at Sam's Club 6382 (a Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) in Las Vegas, Nevada were forced by managers to remove American flag stickers from their name badges because the stickers were given to the associates by a union. Union organizers quickly launched an e-mail campaign aimed at Wal-Mart CEO Leo Scott. Four days later, Wal-Mart reversed its policy.

Across the US and the world, citizens are gathering to insist on justice for terrorists but not violence against innocent civilians. Check here for protests near you.

George W. Bush will be in New York City to address the UN on Sept. 24th. Join DemocracyMarch.org and a coalition of groups at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (1st Ave. and 47th St.), where we have a permit to protest and hold a rally against Bush's illegitimate, ultraconservative agenda that America did not vote for. The protest will be between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. However, if you only have one hour to spare please make it either 9:00 a.m.-10 a.m. or 11:30-12:30 since these are the hours that the press will either be coming or going from Bush's speech. Click below for updates on this protest, as well as any late breaking protests against Bush during his three day stay in NY (Sept 24th-27th), and how you can volunteer.

Bush can smirk but he cannot hide! On Sept. 29, over 100,000 protestors are expected to converge on Washington, D.C. As in Gothenburg and Genoa, many of them will be protesting Globalization, but nearly as many will also, or specifically, be protesting the presence of a greedy pretender in the White House. Instead of being deterred by the brutality of police in Europe, protestors appear to be energized and mobilized and are preparing for the event with a deadly seriousness. In fact, plans being mapped out by many are more reminiscent of preparations for trench warfare! Meanwhile, Bush and the D.C. police are planning to create a NINE-FOOT wall around the area of the city that contains the White House and the IMF facilities. But, in the end, there will be no way for Shrub to protect himself from world opinion.

World War II Veteran Matilda Lipscomb used to be proud of America. But now she writes, "I weep... literally... for my country. I feel very strongly that we are the victims of a genuine and extremely dangerous coup d'état!! Hundreds of thousands of wonderful people, with the help of the corporate-controlled media and the ultra religious right, have bought the BIG LIE... and are not even listening any more. There seems to be no way to reach them. Well, my friends, I cannot accept that... and I feel certain that this feeling is shared by a majority of my fellow Americans." Show your support - tie a yellow ribbon around a tree or a flag.

According to Vince Bugliosi, "Having Justice Antonin Scalia speak on ethics is like having a prostitute speak on sexual abstinence. Scalia was the leader of the five Supreme Court Justices who, on December 12, committed one of the biggest and most serious crimes in American history when they stopped the recount in Florida, took the election away from the American people, and handed it to George Bush. In a fair and just world, Scalia should only be speaking from behind prison bars, not at a distinguished American University. After he did what he did how dare he have the stratospheric audacity to speak about ethics? Scalia is a disgrace to the judiciary and to the legal profession." VoterMarch.org is organizing a protest - New Yorkers, let's turn out in force!

"Crosby, Stills and Nash and about a dozen other popular bands joined together over the summer to stir their fans to action, as Congress prepares to consider significant energy legislation this autumn…organized by the drummer Michael Diamond, or Mike D., the founder of the Beastie Boys, with the help of several major environmental groups, performers as disparate in style and following as Jackson Browne, Moby, Matchbox 20 and the Barenaked Ladies have permitted volunteers to canvass their concerts for signatures against the energy plan....Mr. Diamond, the singer Alanis Morissette and the Dave Matthews Band are sending e-mails to fans asking them to log their protests with the Senate via electronic postcards on saveourenvironment .org." REM has also spoken out against Bush's energy policies, but we need a new generation of rockers to protest the illegitimate Bush administration and their rapacious policies. Grab your Strat, your friends and three chords and get into the garage!

Maia Cowan reports from the front lines in Detroit: "Given that the regime was being typically secretive and there was no specific information until Friday, I wasn't sure just how many people would turn up for a Labor Day protest. Silly me. I'd guessed that 'the other' unions would be annoyed that the head of the Teamsters invited Bush to a Labor Day celebration. I was right about that. I hadn't, however, figured out that the annoyance would translate into hundreds of union members - many of them Teamsters - standing across from the Teamsters hall to tell Bush just how unwelcome he was. (I got estimates from several other participants as well as making my own count, and our consensus was 300 people. So don't let CNN or the Washington Post tell you otherwise.) ... Bush's show of "reaching out" to the unions was a big flat bust. It probably did some damage to James Hoffa's chances of re-election, too. All in all, therefore, we can call this protest a rousing success."

The anti-globalization movement is organizing a major protest against the IMF and World Bank and Bush's cruel policies here and abroad (see www.beatbackbush.org). The protest will feature an effort to "Surround the White House." Because police have violently attacked some anti-globalization protests, VoterMarch.org is organizing a separate but related protest at the Capitol, a mile from the White House. Democrats.com will participate in the Capitol rally, which will focus on voter rights and electoral reform, as well as impeaching the Supreme Court's Felonious Five. We hope to see you there!

About 40 protesters greeted Shrub in San Antonio on Wednesday. Local activists led by Anna Casey got lots of press attention for their Bush song, to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas." "The yellow thief in Texas, He steals from you and me. He steals the vote in Florida, So-cial Secur-ity! We used to have a Surplus, But now we have debt. The yellow thief in Texas, He thinks that we'll forget!" You go, girls!

As the school year begins anew for college students, get ready for a heartening surge of activism to sweep the country. The new crop of college students are savvy, less materialistic than their younger and older counterparts, disgusted with the current state of the nation, and not afraid to take risks. We say: Hallelujah! If ever there was a need for youthful energy, courage, and spirit, it is this hour in U.S. history. Among the causes of greatest interest to students: national forests, World Bank policies, the ANWR crisis, animal rights, and more vegan options in college dining facilities. One of the biggest spurs to student action is Bush's anti-environmentalism - which is seen by many students as most clearly embodied by ANWR. Says Oberlin College senior Dave Karpf: "If we can't stop [Bush] there, were can we stop him?"

Richard Cloward, along with his wife and collaborator Frances Fox Piven, was an inspiration to a generation of social welfare and pro-democracy activists. Cloward may be best known for his classic books, "Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare," which is required reading for students of American sociology, and "Why Americans Don't Vote," required reading for political science students. But Cloward was more than an analyst; he was also the organizer of several successful projects, including Mobilization for Youth on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and Human Serve, which campaigned successfully for passage of the Motor Voter Act, signed by President Clinton with Cloward on hand.

"The Thursday Night Bush Bash is a grassroots movement inspired by the weekly anti-government marches currently taking place in Vienna. Our idea is to give the thousands, if not millions, of New Yorkers who are outraged at what Bush is doing a chance to make a real statement by coming together. We intend to meet in Washington Square Park every Thursday at 7:00 PM until things get significantly better or Bush is gone. Too much is at stake to let Bush continue without a fight. We have not forgotten about Florida, and we want remind Bush every single week that he has no mandate... We have called this demonstration the "Bush Bash" because we liked the double meaning of "bash." The Thursday night bashes are intended to be both serious and fun. We encourage participants to dress strangely, make up funny chants, breakdance, juggle tennis balls, do cartwheels, etc." If you're in New York, join the fun! If you live elsewhere, make this a national - and international - movement!

The League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (LCVEF) is hosting an Online Animation and Video contest to give the Web community a unique opportunity to make a statement about what you really think about the president's energy plan. Jane Fonda, Ben Cohen and Woody Harrelson will choose the winning entry. The winner will receive $4,999 and get tons of exposure for his or her work.

Democrats.com has arranged with the office of former President Clinton for birthday greetings sent by e-mail to be delivered to him personally. Please join us in thanking the last legally elected President of the United States for his dedication to public service. And let's encourage him to be the most vigorous, active and influential ex-president we've ever had. His birthday is Sunday August 19th. Please send your birthday greetings to: info@clintonpresidentialcenter.com. Thank you for passing this message on to your friends. -- Democrats.com

Bush made several stops in Colorado, and was greeted by protesters every step of the way. In Denver, Bush was met by 500 lively and boisterous protesters. Way to go, Colorado!

John Fischer, creator of www.whatpresident.com, was arrested on orders from the Secret Service for wrapping himself up in his anti-Bush toilet paper during Bush's visit to Colorado. The Secret Service accused Fischer of urging protesters to throw rolls of the toilet paper at Bush's motorcade, but Fischer says these charges were fabricated and will fight the $150 fine.

"As Bush was greeted by cheering Republicans in downtown Denver, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People protested the president's presence at the Adam's Mark Hotels and Resorts hotel. The chain of hotels has been accused of racial discrimination and the target of a nationwide boycott by the NAACP... Local NAACP leaders said Bush's presence was practically an endorsement of the hotel's alleged treatment of blacks. 'His presence there is going to say that he doesn't support the concerns that have been raised,' Rev. Gill Ford, the NAACP's Midwest Region Director, said before the dinner. 'His presence there says that what has happened is OK … that that type of treatment of individuals is all right.'"

"We had a really good turnout for our 'Not our President, Not our Policies' Rally. I would estimate close to 500 people after we hit the 16th Street Mall where people leaving work were joining us. Where others have run into First Amendment Zones, we had the opportunity to chant right outside the hotel where the imposter was speaking at a fundraising dinner for Wayne Allard. Protestors were still going strong 3.5 hours after we started. All the local TV stations were there and interviewing some participants, I saw indymedia.org there as well. I know we won't get national media exposure but hopefully we'll get local exposure." So reports Mike from Denver.

Ever hear the story about the sun, the wind, and the man with the cloak? The sun and wind had a contest to see who could make the man remove his coat first. The wind blew hard as it could, buffeting the man cruelly about. However, the fellow only held his cloak more tightly about him. Then the sun simply beamed as warmly and openly as it could and within 5 minutes, the man took off his cloak. The Bush administration is like the wind, while the man is the American public. Bush's tactics, such as throwing the book at anti-Star Wars protestors, is like meaningless wind that will only strengthen our resolve to hold the line. In fact, we may well be seeing the birth of a new "resistance," similar to that in Nazi-occupied France in the early years of WWII. We Democrats hope to be like the sun - turning on the warmth and openness so no shielding "cloak" will be necessary.

Recently, Mr. Bush (who is a 58% White House resident, and 42% vacation-going fisherman, jogger and golfer) posted a challenge to reporters through his aide, Mr. McClellan, that he might allow company on one of his routine four mile runs. McCellan added "if there are a couple of reporters that think they can keep up with him." Michael Rectenwald, founder of Citizens for Legitimate Government (legitgov.org), thinks he can leave Shrub in the proverbial Texas dust. You go, Mike!

"A small but determined group of activists from Home of the Brave protested the appearance of the illegally selected 43rd president of the United States of America, George W. Bush, in Waco, Texas. The Shrub was in town to kick off a promotional tour of small, star-struck cities in the geographic center of the country (away from the liberal East and West coasts). Somehow, he will manage to squeeze in visits to five cities during his month-long vacation. This PR campaign, almost cleverly named Home to the Heartland, is supposed to boost his sagging approval ratings by showing everybody what a likable dullard he really is, instead of the callous, elitist prick he pretends to be. We think otherwise, and these are our observations..."

"We are entering into the most dangerous phase of the Bush offensive to date, as the Bushies hope to elude criticism for their draconian programs and supplant an imagined "compassionate" president for the actually tyrannical resident that we have. What the Bushies say is usually the complete opposite of what they do. We must remind the American public about what the Bushies do, and contrast that with what they say. Now is the time to remain vigilant, not to lapse into complacency." So writes Michael Rectenwald in American Politics Journal.

Outraged by an intensive campaign by Boise Cascade to trash its critics and undermine free speech, Bonnie Raitt, one of the true lady legends of R&B, took it to the streets. She and a group of distinguished authors and environmentalists protested in front of the Boise Cascade Office Products headquarters near Chicago and were arrested for "trespassing." Raitt condemned BC's vicious targeting of the Rainforest Action Network, which has vigorously opposed the company's environmentally devastating practices, including destroying huge tracts of rainforest. Famed director Oliver Stone spoke out on behalf of RAN: "Given the success of Rainforest Action Network's campaigns to save old growth forests, it's not surprising that the oil and timber industries are trying to shut them down. But undermining Americans' right to peaceful protest is a gross miscalculation on their part."

"Five British protesters who claim they were abused by the police announced they are planning legal action against the Italian government. Norman Blair, 38, claims he was 'kidnapped and tortured by the Italian state. I have contacted lawyers in Italy and I'm going to be taking legal action against the police in Italy, as is everyone else who was arrested," Mr Blair said. 'I want to see the police officers on trial and imprisoned. I also want the people who gave the orders called to account,' he said." The Italian government has launched 3 investigations, but "their findings are likely to do little to stem the growing tide of protest from home and abroad. Foreign demonstrators who were arrested and have now returned home have been giving graphic accounts of beatings, gratuitous violence, lack of access to lawyers and consulates and suspension of ordinary human rights." At least 18 protestors are still missing, and are being called the "desaparecidos."

"On Friday, July 27, Dick Cheney was in Minneapolis hawking the administration's energy policies. There was a demonstration outside, as there is most places Bush and Cheney go nowadays. I was in attendance, as well as quite a few committed sign wavers and committed people who care about where this country is headed." So writes Isaac Peterson.

"Three protesters arrested for trespassing during President Bush's speech at Legends Field last month will not be prosecuted... The trio's First Amendment rights factored into the decision not to press charges... [Also,] one of the two Republican volunteers who asked police to eject the protesters from the stadium wasn't authorized to issue a trespass warning... Mauricio Rosas, Janis Lentz and Sonja Haught were arrested June 4 after the two volunteers, Bill Bunkley and William D. Cordova, complained to police that the protesters were getting out of hand. Rosas, Lentz and Haught carried handmade signs calling the 2000 presidential election a fraud and asking Bush to proclaim June as Gay Pride Month. Police said the trio could stay if they surrendered their signs. On a videotape of the confrontation, Haught asks an officer why people bearing pro-Bush signs weren't asked to lower their signs." Congratulations to the Tampa Three - now sue Tampa for taking away your right to protest!

Now that the dust has settled in the wake of the G8 protests, video footage and first-hand accounts have revealed that protestors were threatened, taunted, beaten, arrested without cause and held under inhumane conditions for days. Police were said to single out the youngest protestors offering the least resistance (real brave cops, huh?). Complaints are flooding in from all over the world - even the citizens of Genoa say the police brutality they witnessed was far more disturbing than the mess made by some protestors. Here is the horror story of five Brits who were on the receiving end of brutality. Their story is strikingly reminiscent of the story told by Star Wars protestors arrested and held under similar conditions by feds here in the Bush land. According to a 7/27 report on National Public Radio, Germany and England are considering launching their own investigations into the episode.

Elga, who spent her childhood under the Nazis in war-ravaged Dresden, turned out on January 20 to protest the Bush inauguration. Why? "I cannot believe what is happening in America," she told writer Rita R. Dean, who also joined the protests in Dupont Circle. Elga described how Hitler came to power in her country: through press censorship, suppression of free speech, corruption of the courts, control of elections, and glorification of the military. But America was supposed to be different - a free land that cared for its people. "My family in Germany cannot believe that I do not have health insurance," she said. In press coverage, the Elgas and Ritas were not represented; instead, a character clad just in jockey shorts or a blond in a flag bikini were shown, thus trivializing the event. Hitler would have approved.

Even the "Guardian" is pandering some of the two-part political spin against the G8 protesters: 1) they are a disorganized hodgepode of groups and 2) Globalization is really a good thing. In Sunday's news an anonymous commentary states: "Bewildered politicians have noted, it is almost impossible to categorise the complaints of the protesters...While many of the protester's concerns are understandable, one of the less sustainable is the fear of globalization." They don't get it - there is no hodgepodge. The activists are ALL united against the same thing: Corporate greed and power questing.

According to Agence France-Presse, "Italian police conducted a brutal lightning raid on the press centre of the anti-globalisation movement Genoa Social Forum early Sunday, AFP journalists reported. The raid began shortly after midnight and ended just before 2 am. Yelling, the police smashed open the door and barged into the building on the via Cesare Battisti where there were around 50 people inside. As people threw themselves on the ground they were kicked and clubbed by the police. Around 40 were injured in the raid, according to the Forum, a figure that was disputed by Genoa police. Afterwards there was blood all over the place. One injured man with a huge bruise on his cheek said young policemen continued to club and kick people on the ground even when an officer shouted at them to stop. The police were looking for film and photographs in the possession of the organizers of the anti-G8 demonstrations."

Although the Italian-to-English translation of the Genoa paper by "Babel Fish" is occasionally as hard to decipher as Bushspeak, it will give you the general idea. A protestor died -- a young man of about 20, reportedly Spanish, possibly Basque. The boy was struck in the forehead by a projectile. A circle of officers created a protective circle around him while cardiac massage was administered. A short time later, he was pronounced dead and a sheet put over the body. When the body was carried away, protestors shouted "Murderers!" So far three police officers have also been injured in the escalating protests. Rocks, molotov cocktails and bottles have reportedly been hurled.

Once again, the leaders of the world's richest "democracies" have turned their host city into a police state and denied pro-environment and anti-poverty protesters the opportunity to be heard in any meaningful way. This time the setting is Genoa Italy, which was turned into a ghost town in advance of the summit, as every resident who could possibly get away did so - 80% of the population, by some estimates. Over 100,000 protesters are expected to turn out on Saturday against the 'G8' - the leaders of the world's most economically powerful countries. On Friday, protests by 5,000 activists led to violence, including the death of one protester.

In the past century, corporations have gone from being single entities created for a single purpose, like building a canal or operating a toll road to multi-tentacled monsters straddling many borders. Thanks to cash and the lobbyists that go with it, corporations now rule the world with a meaty fist. However, people ultimately still hold the power, they just choose not to exercise it, or they don't know how. We salute the people of Wayne Township in Mifflin County, PA, who have reasserted citizen control over corporations in their township. Corporations who consistently violate laws in Wayne Twp. can just clear out. Here is the citizen's story and a how-to kit for you!

Since January, every Bush protest has been met with systematic suppression by authorities. Four protestors in FLA were arrested and roughed up just for carrying signs at a rally. Yet, even though Bush's crimes against the global environment threaten the survival of all our children far more than does abortion, 1,000 angry anti-abortion protestors were given the green light and red carpet to parade through downtown Wichita. The police practically gave them an escort. Police didn't even investigate after unknown protestors left a fake bomb by a clinic. Earlier this week, armed protestors massed menacingly outside McCain's office in AZ were also ignored. This is reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, when Hitler Youth and Nazi groups were allowed to march and rant and rave unchecked, while Jewish, Social Democrat or Communist protestors were beaten, arrested, or shot.

Even though 58% of Americans are still angry about the stolen election, the corporate media adamantly refuses to acknowledge our existence. But according to AlterNet, there "are now approximately 800 sites whose mission is to analyze, attack and especially ridicule the 43rd president of the United States." According to Bob Fertik of Democrats.com, these sites are just one manifestation of the "tremendous anger and frustration felt by an enormous amount of Americans" toward the White House. Check out some of the outstanding sites mentioned here!

The Rainforest Action Network is the biggest roadblock in the way of the total destruction of rainforests in Indonesia and Latin America by corporations such as Boise Cascade. What makes RAN stand out is its ability to keep the pressure on corporations until they make constructive changes. But now with their buddy Bush in the White House, corporations see their chance to destroy their foes. To do this, they are using their favorite new tactic: hiding behind a rightwing front group. This one, called the Frontier Freedom Foundation was founded by Cheney's good friend former Sen. Malcolm Wallop and is funded by the tobacco, oil and timber business. FFF is aggressively trying to use Bush's IRS to destroy RAN. FFF says if it succeeds in the RAN case, it plans to go after others. We say, where are the activist lawyers with a countersuit against rightwing "nonprofit groups" with their conflicts of interest (e.g. using corporate money to go after corporate "enemies")?

The hit television show "West Wing" depicts the White House as the place we WISH it was, populated by the sort of people we WISHED were there. Alas, it stands in sharp and painful contrast to the present sad reality. Even the show's actors, several of whom are political activists, are doing more to further the causes of justice and the environment than their real-life counterparts. Take Brad Whitford, for example. Whitford, who plays Josh, just joined the Union of Concerned Scientists (which accepts nonscientists in its membership). The USC has been outspokenly critical of Bush's environmental and military policies. Hear "Josh's" moving statement as to why he made this decision.

"Several times during Bush's 15-minute speech, the faint chanting of protesters broke through the air. More than 70 demonstrators huddled along Sixth Street south of Market with signs and chanted: 'Not my president!' A sign read, 'George Bush Resident Thief.' Earlier in the day, Bush was met by a scattering of protesters along North Broad Street as he entered and left the block party at Greater Exodus Baptist Church [that included] supporters of death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer." Let's keep it up - we're starting to be heard!

"Whereas, George W. Bush was declared President of the United States earlier this year at a time when at least 60,000 votes were not counted in Florida due to the 5-4 Supreme Court decision...Whereas, 673 law professors from 137 law schools in the United States declare that the five justices who voted to stop the recount of votes in Florida last December intentionally acted as political proponents for candidate Bush, not as ethical judges...Whereas, by doing so, Supreme Court Justices Rehnquist, O'Connor, Thomas, Scalia and Kennedy tarnished the integrity of the U.S. Supreme Court...Be it resolved, that the legislative branch of our government shall forthwith seek diligently the true facts and move with all deliberate speed to investigate this opportunity to remove the stain on Old Glory...We, the undersigned, urge the Members of Congress to show their support for the proposed Impeachment Resolution by signing their names." Sign the petition for the impeachment of the Felonious Five!

In response to the demands of our readers and to the demands of all Americans who have sought a remedy to the outrage represented by the despotic and illegal Bush Administration, we have formulated a Renewal of the Declaration of Independence. This is NOT a petition, but an historic document which will be delivered personally to Washington. We urge you to celebrate the Fourth by Re-affirming the guarantees and promise of the original Declaration and demanding the reforms that will insure their continuance, once reaffirmed.

Democrats.com member Daniel Brown was part of a peaceful protest of Felonious Five Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in Minneapolis. According to eyewitness Lynn Olivier, Dan "was handing out Democrats.com flyers and a stocky, strawberry blond fellow in an olive green suit with a buzz cut hit his arm as he grabbed a flyer crumpled it up an threw it down. Dan's surprised reply was 'you can't do that' (meaning hit him in the arm) the guy spun around came back and punched Dan in the face knocking his glasses off while saying 'you people suck' and then walked off in the direction he was heading." Brown and fellow protester Shirliana Webb chased the assailant, got his license plate and reported him to the police, who filed a report. It's up to the City Attorney to prosecute - e-mail cityattorney@ci.minneapolis.mn.us or call 612-673-2535 and demand the prosecution of this Bush thug, case number 01 182965.

If you encounter ANY problem voting, call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Rent Fahrenheit 911 for free at your local video store.

Thanks to the strong response we are continuing to receive from you, our readers, to the chance to have your thoughts included in the site, we will make our "Busting Out 2001" letters section a regular feature. Any topics of concern, especially those aimed at helping to effect constructive change, will be welcomed. We also welcome letters from our international readers and any non-Democrat who wishes to engage in a constructive sharing of ideas.

People For The American Way has sent out this action alert: "Call your senators and urge them to OPPOSE changing the Senate rules for consideration of nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. Senate Republicans are demanding a radical change in the Senate rules -- a change that would weaken the role of the Judiciary Committee in the consideration of Supreme Court nominees. This change would allow the Bush administration to get Supreme Court nominees to the Senate floor even after a negative vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee and would encourage President Bush to select far-right nominees. Don't let the religious right short-circuit the process that has guarded your freedoms for two centuries!" The below link provides complete contact information for your Senators.

In protest of Bush's pro-oil and pro-nuke energy policies - and his contempt for conservation - there will be a voluntary rolling blackout on June 21 from 7-10 p.m. local time. It's a simple protest and a symbolic act. Turn out your lights and unplug whatever you can. Light a candle to the sun god, kiss and tell, make love, tell ghost stories, have fun in the dark!

Bush will be in New York City on Tuesday July 10, and Democrats.com will help lead the protests against him. At 1:00, we'll hold a "Memorial for Democracy" at 5th Avenue between 52-53, so wear black. Join Democrats.com and the New York Coalition Against Bush Agenda! To help, contact volunteer@altavista.com

"I am writing to urge you to oppose the nomination of Carolyn Kuhl to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. I feel that Kuhl's hostility to established reproductive rights makes her unsuited for this position. Kuhl has argued for the overturn of Roe v. Wade and supported the domestic gag rule, which prohibited clinics receiving federal funds from providing women with full information about their reproductive health options. She also supported parental notification for contraception. With a woman's right to choose in peril, we cannot afford to have another activist, anti-choice judge sitting on the federal bench. Our nation deserves a federal court pledged to upholding the hard fought constitutional rights secured through Supreme Court precedents such as Roe." Click on the below link to send the above letter to your Senator in opposition to the nomination of Carolyn Kuhl.

"The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the largest remaining temperate rainforest on earth, but logging continues to threaten the last pristine areas. Now that the Wild Forest Protection Plan is on hold, plans are moving forward to log a pristine roadless area in the heart of the Tongass. You can help by faxing or e-mailing your comments opposing the Gravina Island Timber Sale by Tuesday, June 26!" The Sierra Club has more on this action alert at the below location.

Citizens for Legitimate Government would like anyone who participated in 'Roll Your Own Blackout' to submit their personal accounts so they can share them with others on their site. Please go to the below location to report your part in last Thursday's event. (At the bottom of the page is a link to the RYOB stories already on their site).

It's hard to gauge just how strong was "Roll Your Own Blackout" participation, but the RYOB website does have some preliminary (albeit unscientific to say the least) indicators. "The only utility to report figures said that its Portland, Ore. customer base used 3% less electricity than would normally be expected. We do not know the 'significance' of this difference, i.e. how much variability would there usually be compared to that 3%. Even a fraction of this decrease being due to the RYOB would indicate a huge number of participants (have you ever heard of a political protest in the US where one household in thirty participated, or anything close to it?)." A Democrats.com writer just happens to live in the Portland area, and noted that his large apartment complex seemed unusually dark and quiet from 7 to 10pm. No correlation???

"To All Law Enforcement Agencies of the U.S.: I, the author of this petition, am a grandmother and a U.S. citizen, and I will NO LONGER be denied my right to protest. I have the right to freely and peacefully assemble with my friends. I have a right to carry protest signs, though I will remove the stakes or sticks on which they are mounted if required. I have a right to say NO when they tell me to move on. I have a right to pass on some of our founding father's words: 'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.' -Benjamin Franklin." Sign the petition!

The people of Motown (Detroit to anyone who never heard of Smokey Robinson and thus probably spent their formative years on a remote Pacific Island) were impressed by the "full moon" greeting given to Bush in Sweden. Says Detroit columnist Curt Guyette, "It was a beautiful statement: simple, direct, and unambiguous." How to follow such a poignant act is on the minds of Motown protesters as they gear up for Shrub's visit to the city on June 25 around 12:15 p.m. at the Renaissance Center, where he will address the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Want to help make this protest one to remember? Call 313-831-0750.

"When we entered the stadium, we could see around us that this was an orchestrated political event that was manipulated and controlled by the president and his staff. We could see Secret Service agents, Bush operatives and police handing out pro-Bush signs. In some instances they were replacing dissenting signs with pro-Bush signs." This was the situation described in a first-hand account of the infamous June 4 Bush "rally" in Florida by activist Maricio Rosas. Rosas was incensed by the misuse of power he observed that day. "The president cannot use the police or Secret Service to suppress political ideas."

Mauricio Rosas, Sonja Haught and Janis Lentz don't look like a security threat. But when they went to Legends Field on June 4 for President Bush's speech, hoping to express their opposition, all three were arrested and taken out of the event before the speech started. In a news conference Thursday, they charged that their free speech rights were violated by the Tampa Police Department. They demanded an investigation and vowed to sue. 'First our government is stolen, and now our Constitution is being shredded,' said Bob Kunst of Miami, head of Oral Majority, an organization that has been protesting at Bush appearances since his election. Rosas, Haught and Lentz -- all Oral Majority members -- were arrested when they refused orders from Legends Field security staff to give up small, handmade protest signs they were carrying." This is an outrage - congratulations to Oral Majority for standing up for our right to protest!

"Hundreds of people bared their buttocks in a protest aimed at sending a strong message to President Bush, and at least eight people were arrested after clashing with riot police outside a high school... The protesters included environmentalists furious at Mr Bush’s rejection of the Kyoto accords; feminists angered by his opposition to abortion; left-wing groups opposed to globalisation; death penalty opponents; trade unionists and a medley of groups opposed to Mr Bush’s policies in the Middle East, Cuba and Latin America. More than 40 groups came together under the umbrella organisation Bush Not Welcome. They converged in the city centre to perform what was hailed as the first organised “mass moon” protest. At precisely 4.08pm, amid smirks and bemused giggles from a row of watching policemen, a small brass band burst into sound and gave the signal for about 2,000 naked buttocks to be pointed in the direction of President Bush’s hotel."

"In a salute to energy conservation and the California power crisis, Jay Leno will tape his June 21 episode virtually in the dark--without studio lights, TV monitors, amplifiers or 'other power sources.' 'There will be minimal lighting, which the audience will help us out with,' says an NBC spokeswoman." Way to go, Leno!

"Police reports released this week show Republican volunteers at last week's presidential rally played a key role in the arrest of three sign-waving protesters. The reports and interviews by the St. Petersburg Times suggest it was the volunteers who first demanded the three protesters surrender their small signs, which derided George W. Bush and brought attention to Gay Pride Month. Summoned to the scene, police charged the protesters with trespassing when they refused to give up the signs or to leave... Video footage obtained by the Times appears to show the rule [against signs] was selectively enforced. Even as the disturbance unfolded, numerous crowd members were allowed to wave pro-Bush signs, some handmade, some professionally printed... Two Republican volunteers were at the center of the action: Bill Bunkley and William D. Cordova... 'What happened here in Tampa is a total travesty of justice,' said Robert Kunst, president of the Oral Majority."

"About 15,000 protesters - angry over everything from global warming and globalisation to the death penalty - demonstrated against Bush's visit to Sweden's second city amid massive police security measures, Reuters reported. Some dropped their trousers opposite Bush's hotel in what organisers billed as a 'mass mooning.' More than 200 people were arrested on Thursday night after more than 1,000 protesters faced off with police at a blockaded a school for several hours, Associated Press said."

"Velda González may be 68 years old, the vice president of the Senate in Puerto Rico and a grandmother several times over. But none of that mattered to U.S. Navy officials who treated her like trash, which is the same way they've treated so many others who have been arrested for protesting the Navy's bombing exercises on the island of Vieques... When it was Ms. González's turn to be searched, she was taken outside, and the search was conducted in public. 'They made the most indecent, disgusting, immoral search of me, out in the street, in front of a cyclone fence with 20 Navy men watching,' she said.... The rest of the search consisted of the very public rubbing, squeezing and mauling - through her clothing - of the vice president of the Puerto Rican Senate." Where is the outrage?

"People have become too dependent on electricity and are not willing to conserve. So, to encourage conservation - and to take a stand against President [sic] Bush's energy policies - environmental and political groups, including Citizens for Legitimate Government, Voter March, Clean North and Fringe Folk - [and Democrats.com!], are encouraging participation in a voluntary rolling blackout... 'I think it's a good idea because it can help make people aware that they can conserve on power, and because then they can experience conserving the energy we sometimes selfishly use,' said Anita Eppley of Lakewood."

In Madrid, "Public reaction generally ranged from tepid to scathing. El Pais, the largest Spanish daily newspaper, welcomed the president by labeling his visit 'tedious' and describing him as 'not a very pleasant man--and there are demonstrations to let him know.' For the third day, protesters from several groups demonstrated outside the U.S. Embassy to challenge an array of Bush administration policies, from the death penalty to sanctions on Iraq. As his bulletproof limousine with darkened windows drove onto the embassy grounds, which were surrounded by more than 100 riot police, about 500 protesters chanted, 'Assassin, assassin, assassin!' from across the street. One of dozens of anti-Bush banners declared: 'Bush is an imbecile. The world is not his ranch.' Another group wore stickers proclaiming, 'Bush=Taliban.'"

Citizens for Legitimate Government is looking for pro-democracy advocates to give the media a preview of the Roll Your Own Blackout event, which rolls out across the globe on June 21st. (Go to http://www.legitgov.org/graphics/blackout_flyer.pdf for the Roll Your Own Blackout flyer). While the planned Roll Out has been the subject of articles in AP, Newsweek, and a host of newspapers across the country, the Roll Out needs more advance press coverage -- and a staged event is the best way to get it. Persuade your neighbors to participate in a block party blackout for an hour one evening between Friday and Monday - just long enough for the media to show up and do a story. Citizens For Legitimate Government will organize the media coverage and provide media kits. You get to be the spokesperson when the press shows up to witness your "demo" blackout.

Last Monday, the First Amendment rights of Americans were trampled beneath the tyranny of King George in Prince Jeb's Florida. Hundreds of protesters from a variety of groups, from the Sierra Club to the Florida Consumer Action Network were herded off to remote "protest zones," while those who dared speak out at a "public" rally attended by Bush were forced into remote corners of the area, intimidated, and even roughed up by police. The St. Petersburg Times did its job, though and here is the story WITH photos!

"Can you remotely fathom Martin Luther King happily restricting himself to some obscure street corner in Montgomery, Ala. to protest segregation? And what if those opposed to the war in Vietnam had meekly agreed to conduct their demonstrations in some remote field so as not to disturb anyone? Yet today, many of those with a beef against their government are being herded off into temporary "protest zone" gulags to vent their views, carefully tucked away out of sight, out of mind, and, more importantly, out of camera range under the specious guise of maintaining "security." So writes Daniel Ruth on the outrageous treatment of protesters in last Monday's PUBLIC (supposedly) Bush event.

Bush hasn't even left for Europe, and yet "Nearly 3,000 protesters blocked the streets in the city centre, waving banners reading 'Bush Go Home' and chanting slogans, police told Reuters... The demonstrators were angry over U.S. embargoes against Cuba and Iraq, U.S. missile defence plans, the death penalty and Bush's decision to reject the Kyoto global warming pact... On Tuesday night protesters are set to hold a second demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy." Hey CNN - there have been HUNDREDS of anti-Bush protests in the US - why don't you cover them? Are you anti-American??

"What happened to protesters Monday during the visit of President Bush to Legends Field is hardly new, or unique. But it doesn't make it any less an onerous assault on the constitutional rights of citizens to peacefully, if not quietly, offer a voice of dissent... The gendarmes can issue all the cockamamie citations they want, but if any laws were broken in this incident, it was by the cops, not three citizens holding signs. And it would seem even Bush's own security detail would agree. 'Hecklers and people with signs we don't consider a security risk, so we don't remove them,' said U.S. Secret Service spokesman Jeff Gavin. It was not the Secret Service who charged the three, Gavin said. 'It was the Tampa police at the request of the GOP.' Since when did the Tampa Police Department become the bouncers for a political party?" So writes Daniel Ruth in the Tampa Tribune.

Grandmother Suni continued, "With that, all H__L broke loose. A police officer came and told us we had to leave. We said we had a right to be there. We said other people were holding signs much bigger than ours. Large poster signs flashed all around the stadium for Bush. We had a right to be there as well as anyone else. We had tickets. We didn't do anything wrong. Why were they taking us away - in handcuffs? All we did was show our small signs. I just couldn't believe it."

Once again, the media blacked out anti-Bush protests by hundreds of activists, this time in Los Angeles. But activists were out in force, and their stories will be told!

"By golly, I think Dubya and the Tampa Police Department have hit on something here; the creation of special zones wherein people can exercise a given constitutional right. It all came up earlier this week when Dubya came to talk to as large a gathering as possible of people who liked and supported him while the Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department (depending on whose version you believe) made sure that no one could assault him by pointing out that all Americans don't agree with him about all things. I agree. People with dissenting ideas should be summarily wrestled to the ground and hauled off whenever possible. Once they start thinking, who knows what they'll do next." So writes Jan Glidwell in the St. Petersburg Times.

During the Presidential campaign, Bush declared "there ought to be limits to freedom." It looks like this is one campaign promise he intends to keep! His recent appearance in Tampa was a completely PUBLIC event - but elderly members of the public were arrested for holding signs that read "Florida Votergate" and "June is Gay Pride Month." It's time for the ACLU to take the Bush administration to court for suppressing dissent in America.

"Dear Chuy's: We thank you for standing up for the rule of law in America - and for treating the Bush family like Americans, rather than the Kings and Queens that they fancy themselves to be. Your honorable actions have cost you the patronage of those demented right- wingers who believe the Bush family should be above the law. But your business can survive - indeed thrive! - without this tiny constituency. We suggest that you capitalize on your current fame by turning your restaurants into 'Bush Rooms' filled with Bush-mocking decor, such as..." Sign the petition!

At least 150 protesters greeted Bush in the Everglades. But every time protesters try to express their opposition to Bush, the Secret Service moves them far away from the President, so they cannot effectively be heard. Meanwhile, they allow Bush's SUPPORTERS to wave their signs. Using Orwellian logic, they call the distant protest pens "First Amendmentment Zones." It's time for the ACLU to challenge this blatant denial of our First Amendment right to protest - and to be heard!

"Dear George W. Bush: On May 19, I went to a protest outside your home with my mommy and daddy... There were a lot of people yelling at you. They carried signs that said you were not our president. They said you lied, stole, and cheated to win the election. There were people who had fought in wars before who said they have to fight again to save our country. They said they have to fight again to save democracy. I do not understand." So writes Preston, age 1.

In 1999, Prof. Peter J. Rubin of Georgetown Law School founded the Madison Society for Law and Policy. "The Madison society plans to emphasize legal values like compassion, equality and respect for human dignity, values that Professor Rubin said 'have largely been read out of American law through the ascendancy of various strands of legal thought over the last 20 years.'" "The Madison society's first chapter, organized in 1999 at Georgetown Law School, has 125 to 150 members, says the departing president, Anu Chaturvedi. But society organizers say chapters will open at a dozen law schools this fall, including Harvard, Columbia, New York University, the University of North Carolina, George Washington University, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California." Hey guys - don't stop there!

Bob McIntyre runs a tiny group called Citizens for Tax Justice. But according to the New York Times, "there is no doubt that Bob McIntyre, who does not lobby and would not be recognized on the street by most lawmakers, exerted more influence on the tax debate this year than any lobbyist in town... For Democrats, his work has been indispensable. 'I don't know what we'd do without Bob McIntyre,' [Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)] said. 'The agencies of government that are supposed to provide this information don't, and the only way we can get it is from Bob.'" Read how one person with a computer can make an enormous difference.

If there is any action that perfectly epitomizes American's "new regime," it is the seizure of Washington D.C.'s mall - the most sacred site in the nation for those who value freedom - for a militaristic monument that architecturally screams Albert Speer and the Third Reich. The monument, which will effectively destroy and blockade the land upon which labor unions, civil rights activists, and anti-war protestors united, is supposed to honor Word War II vets. Instead, it will pay tribute to the triumph of government over the will of the people - Congress overrode all legal action to protest the monument's construction. This is not what WWII vets fought for. Those fighting for the monument, like Bush and Cheney, wan to return to a patriarchal era of the Cold War, a time when blacks, women, and other nonwhite and/or nonmale groups had marginal to no rights. And now, such groups will have no national gathering place to voice protest when those rights are again infringed upon.

"A U.S. magistrate on Wednesday sentenced peace activists to up to six months in prison for trespassing at Fort Benning last fall to demand the closing of an Army school that trains Latin American soldiers. The 26 defendants, ranging from a 19-year-old college student to an 88-year-old Catholic nun, were among 3,400 protesters who marched into the military post Nov. 19 to protest the School of the Americas. The protesters say graduates of the school have been linked to murder, torture and other human rights abuses." Indeed, the School trained and provided torture manuals to US-backed forces -- such as the Contras, the Honduran death squads and alumnus Manuel Noriega. Said Roy Bourgeois, a founder of the group that protests the School, "This genteel Southern judge smiles and then comes the dagger. It baffles me how he can sleep at night when an 88-year-old nun is going to prison ... when assassins and soldiers who have tortured and raped get pardons. A grave injustice has been done."

There were many important and impressive speeches on May 19. Two of the best were delivered by Voter Rights March Chair Lou Posner and Alliance for Democracy founder Ronnie Dugger. These are well worth reading!

Austin protesters have filed a lawsuit charging that Austin police prevented them "from gathering at a traditional protest site near the west entrance of the Governor's Mansion during a Bush luncheon. Sonia Santana with the Democracy Coalition says it was a peaceful protest - then police stopped them without warning and charged with their horses. The former Texas governor visited Austin on April 27th to help Dedicate the new Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The lawsuit seeks $198,000 in damages."

On May 29, Bu$h is making his first visit to California since stealing the Presidency. He will stop in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Over 6 MILLION Californians voted against Bu$h, but their votes were not counted. Let's get them all out for the protests!

A crowd of more than 500 protesters turned out to make their voices heard on a variety of issues. "He's pushing faith-based charity. And workers don't want charity. They want jobs! That's what this is about," United Auto Workers member Warren Davis said. The protesters, mostly union members, stood across the street chanting, "Jobs, not charity" and "Come into our union town, you must be a clown."

"When Bush was announced, we greeted him loud and clear: '...the boos from graduating students were as loud as the cheers...' Signs came out from all around with slogans varying in issue and point. My favorite from reports was "Not My Lawyer" - a spin off of Not My President... Hahhah! People booed and jeered, many turned their backs in silence, and many heckled him for the rest of the speech. It was a great show of the people's will. We have to make our voices heard loud and clear when Washington comes to us. That's what happened at Yale University. That's what will happen every time Bush visits any state of the union, from now to the end of his dictatorship." So writes Jon Bexell, organizer of the anti-Bush protest at Yale.

"Like lightning rods, each time our energies sparked an observer’s interest, the sensation heightened and expanded. Their response did not simply buoy us, it catapulted our message beyond our physical reach. The observers connected with us and became part of the march. The marchers had physical boundaries, but the spiritual boundary expanded in all directions. There were barriers, to be sure. Walls of closed minds existed but could not stop the potent positivity created by a pro-active group projecting sentiments that struck a chord with other open minded individuals. We connected! And it was a truly groovy experience." So writes S.L. McKay in American Liberal.

Congress is now considering Bu$h's $1.35 trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the richest one percent of Americans. Bu$h's tax cut siphons money away from important initiatives such as: Fair and comprehensive prescription drug coverage for seniors, Medicare and Social Security and other vital programs. If you are in the DC area, come to the Capitol on Monday at 5pm to tell Congress not to give tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of prescription drug coverage!

"Bush's appearance at the commencement exercises at Notre Dame generated a lively protest from those who consider him wrong on a broad range of issues: wrong on the environment, wrong on labor rights, wrong on the death penalty, wrong on tax breaks for the wealthy, wrong on nuclear power and wrong on the militarization of space just for starters... Hundreds of Notre Dame faculty, staff, students and alumni objected to the Bush appearance in a petition that gathered momentum over the past three weeks. 'We referred to his huge tax refund for the rich, his reduction in programs that provide health care access for the uninsured, his abandonment of the environment to the predatory drive for corporate profits, and his revived version of the Strategic Defense Initiative,'" said government professor Peter Walshe.

"Last week a new friend of mine, a senior woman in a nearby town, wore a pin with the Dubya picture from the Time cover and the words, 'We are f---ed.' I began to think of our dilemma in the stark terms of being raped, again and again, and of Bush doing the mindless holding down so that his buddies could have their way with us and our planet. That sense of powerlessness can be hopelessly frustrating and enraging. I wondered how long I would be able to sit openly in the sun, on the green grass, on a gorgeous day, with hundreds of others listening to free, defiant, confrontational, uplifting, culture-shifting, 'will you wake, for pity sake?' speech that calls for the Second American Revolution and the overthrow of this heinously illegitimate pretense of a government, before that government carried me away." So writes Dianne L in MakeThemAccountable.com.

On May 19th, the VoterMarch to Restore Democracy Rally was held at the west Capitol steps. A companion rally was held in San Francisco. Thousands of individuals from across the nation - and the world - were in attendance to voice their demands for electoral reform and to express outrage at the disregard for voter rights 2000 Presidential Election. Congratulations to all of the tireless organizers - especially Voter March chair Lou Posner - who worked so hard to make the event a success!

300 Protesters greet Bu$h in St. Paul, "holding placards reading 'President Bush Give Us Clean Energy, Not Polluted Power,' 'Toxic Texan' and 'Good Conservatives Conserve Energy.' They were peaceful, but slightly boisterous. Protester Dan Brown of St. Paul [and a member of Democrats.com] said, 'It's outrageous to think we can consume our way to energy security.' Brown said Bush is stuck in the 1970s with outmoded energy policies and an over-dependence on fossil fuels. Dan Hanson of St. Paul said Bush got into office because of oil and gas interests and is now paying them back." Congratulations on an outstanding turnout!!

The National Strike will begin on Thursday, May 17, and continue through Monday, May 21. The weekend will land in the middle of the strike, making it, essentially, a three "working day" strike. This national strike will be called "Strike One", because it's just the start. If the first strike doesn't work, we do it again. Perhaps it will go to three strikes and Bush is out. The strike is to let our government, and all the mega corporations, who bought Bush the White House, know that Al Gore got more votes in both Florida and the USA.

Democracy Summer 2001 is the coming-out party of a diverse, multi-ethnic young people's movement to take back the reins of power over our own lives. First: a Democracy Institute June 17-23, 2001 on democratic reform and organizing skills. The Institute is at Florida A&M University right in the state capital-Ground Zero of the new movement for electoral justice. Then: Following the Institute, participants will have the opportunity to spend time working with on-the-ground projects and campaigns on electoral reform in Florida and elsewhere. If you are a young (18-29) patriot, sign up now!

We have less than a week to go until the Voter Rights March to Restore Democracy on May 19th in Washington DC and San Francisco, and the media remain placidly silent about us, the loyal-resistance-in-majority, about Voter March, and about the theft of Election 2000. It's time to take action in a big way! We ARE news, we're a big group of American citizen/patriots, and we're growing every day - it's time for us to see ourselves and the values we hold dear on the nightly news and in the newspapers across this land. Here's a sample letter/email, and a list of media addresses. End the Media Blackout - Demand Coverage of the Voter Rights March!

A small but spunky band of NYC activists protested the media's dishonest and biased coverage of the Stolen Election. We started at USA Today, which partnered with the Miami Herald and wrote the most distorted analysis. We then went to the Associated Press, whose biased story was picked up by media outlets around the world. We ended at the New York Times, which has decided that the truth about the Stolen Election of 2000 Gore is not "fit to print." Along the way, we waved our signs at tens of thousands of tourists from around the world, most of whom were completely unaware of the stolen election. And we handed out flyers for the Voter March on May 19 - we'll see you there!

"Can't make it to D.C. or Frisco on Saturday, May 19? That's no reason to do nothing. Get up, get out, and be a part of VoterMarch from sea to shining sea!" So writes Susan McKay in American Liberal.

During the protests in Quebec, a young tech worker who had just been laid off after being forced to work 70-hour weeks for two months, was inspired to compose a techno piece called "Humans versus the Corporate Machine" (now simply titled HUMANS). The piece (the composer is known as "Llamachine") evokes the image of a prowling monster - the corporate machine - as it grinds forward, is confronted by protestors, then grinds on. In the end, we are given hope in Ghandi's words: "There is an unseen power that pervades everything...I feel it though I cannot see it...it is this unseen power that makes itself felt yet defies all proof."

"Jeanette Wallis has endured rain, sleet, snow, wind, sunburn, painful callouses and a tender rash where her khaki shorts have rubbed her thighs. But Wallis, 30, still has more than 2,000 miles to go after only one month in a cross-America walk to raise the public consciousness about a political system she thinks is obtuse and self-serving." Wallis is left her home in Seattle on April 1, and is now in Hanford, WA. This brave woman deserves our support! Visit her site at thewalkfordemocracy.org

Citizens for Legitimate Government writes, "Join us in a 'Summer of Protest' at CLG! As gas prices rise astronomically, so must the enthusiasm of progressive liberal activists in opposition to Bush and his agenda to destroy our environment, our economy, and our democracy! Together, WE can make a difference and WE will as WE unite our efforts to target the biggest offender of them all--EXXON MOBIL! Exxon Mobil, the largest U.S. Oil company in the world, is a HUGE influence on Bush's anti-global-warming-belief policies and is therefore controlling world policy on the environment. Exxon Mobil was also a Bush campaign donor. For these reasons, EXXON MOBIL is our initial boycott target!" Join the boycott.

Chanting "He's not our president" and "Stop the toxic Texan now!" about 150 protesters gathered about a block from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, where President Bush spoke Friday. The demonstrators shouted into bull horns, passed out pamphlets and carried signs that read, "This is a de-mockery, not a democracy" and "Tell Bush we won't go back." The diverse group made up of young and old expressed opposition to the close presidential election, the former governor's federal environmental policy and the death penalty. "I'm here to protest Bush because basically he is against everything that I'm for," said Justin Ward of Austin. "He's such a symbol of corporate domination in our system today." Right on!

Two American journalists who risked their careers to expose the dangers of rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), a Rwandan who fought to save mountain gorillas amidst his country's genocidal wars, and a Bolivian worker who won the world's first major victory in the struggle over privatizing public water, are winners of the 12th annual Goldman Environmental Prize. The total of $750,000 is given annually to grassroots heroes from North America, Africa, South/Central America, Asia, Europe, and Island Nations. Seventy-one previous Goldman Prize winners have successfully defended the safety and health of their homelands from destructive government projects and practices, multinational corporations, corrupt leaders, international financial institutions, and even the destruction of wars. The Goldman Prize allows many to continue their work and expand public awareness of what are often life-and-death environmental crises.

Thousands of abortion rights supporters from around the country gathered in DC on Sunday to rally and march for reproductive rights and to signal their fear that an anti-choice justice may soon be appointed to the Supreme Court. The event, with 150 additional individual sponsors and organizations, kicks off a planned four-year lobbying campaign to counter the anti-choice policies of the new Bush administration, said NOW President Ireland. "We must begin now a filibuster campaign," said Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority. Smeal encouraged marchers to tell pro-choice U.S. Senators that they must filibuster the confirmation hearing of any candidate for the Supreme Court who doesn't support abortion rights. You can see some photos here: http://www.dailydubya.com/Activism/Now_Rally/now_rally.html

Public Access TV has become one of the far right's most effective tools - and we need to begin using it as well. In cooperation with VoterMarch.org and Deep Dish TV we are proud to announce a new version of the 30 minute documentary "Raining on the Parade" which you can order. The new version is a powerful documentary of the Counter-Inaugural events in January and is also an effective promotional vehicle for the May 19th Voter March demonstrations in favor of election reform. The demonstrations will be held in Washington and in San Francisco. The videotape you buy to get on local public access TV is different than the one you can order to watch on your home VCR, but if you get it on your cable system thousands more people will see it. Please help us reach out beyond the Internet activists to reach the population at large.

"The mainstream media and their poster-child, George W. Bush, would have us believe that only 'the fringe' believe that Bush is an illegitimate President. In the media's non-coverage of the inaugural protests, the plans for the May 19th Voter March, and the outrage of countless American citizens, they present us as 'the fringe', in order to marginalize us and attempt to silence us. When a piece of fabric - or a government - begins to unravel, you get fringe. When it unravels completely, you're left with nothing but fringe. We the People are 'the Fringe'. We're NOT going to go away, and we're NOT going to shut up."

In August 2000, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service published a very thorough analysis of anti-globalization protests in Seattle and elsewhere. Read their analysis for yourself.

The FTAA extends the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) to the entire hemisphere, and is to be implemented by no later than 2005. The FTAA is also an extension of the reach of capitalist globalization, aiming to submit health care, education, as well as environmental and labor standards to the so-called logic of the free-market. On April 20-22 in Quebec City, working families, students, farmers, environmentalists, people of faith, animal rights activists and many others are conducting a large-scale grassroots mobilization against the FTAA.

From clean-ups and hikes to liturgies and fairs powered by solar energy, people all over the United States will be making a difference on Earth Day 2001. While April 22 is Earth Day, there are activities all throughout the month. Check the excellent state-by-state calendar and get involved.

Greg Palast, who broke the phony felon purge story, speaks in Cleveland on April 17.

Kids see things clearly - not through the darkened glass of spin. So when six Louisiana teenagers learned that poorly manufactured items such as cribs were killing children, they did not hesitate - they acted. The boys launched a campaign to make it tougher for unsafe children's products to find their way to market or into daycare centers. Their persistence won them the support of State Rep. Michael Jackson (D), who has helped the boys initiate a bill, to be voted on soon. These boys, members of the Young Leaders Academy, would not be impressed by corporate foot dragging and demands for "better science" in safety matters: "Saving children's lives is the most important" issue, said 14-year-old Raphael Richard.

Cheryl Guttman, who is organizing the demonstration against FOX News on Friday April 6th, will appear that night on Hannity and Colmes from 9-10 p.m. EST. Bully-boy Sean Hannity won't let her speak for more than 5 seconds, but she plans to make the most of them.

Are you a person of faith who is sick and tired of the radical right distortions of religion? On the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, help reclaim his progressive prophetic message. Join Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Marian Wright Edelman, Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rev. John Buehrens, Taylor Branch, Dr. Charles G. Adams, Paul Begala, Rev. George Regas, Rev. Timothy McDonald, Rabbi David Saperstein, Sr. Maureen Fiedler, Ralph G. Neas and other progressive leaders and activists.

Fraud W Bush will go to Milwaukee Wisconsin on April 6th to throw out the fraudulent first pitch in the new Brewer's Stadium, Miller Park. Citizens for a Legitimate Government thinks Bush himself ought to be thrown out because he stole the presidency. So, they are calling on all Democrats and democracy lovers of conscience to Boo!!! the President as he throws out the "inaugural" (fraudulent) pitch at Miller Park. Let's tell the Fraud that HE ought to be thrown out!!! The main event is in Milwaukee, but we also seek volunteers to go to exhibition baseball games beginning now in Florida. Bring a hideable but readable cloth sign simply stating "Resign Mr. Bush" If you can get a seat behind home plate and get it shown on Television then even better.

Resident Shrub will visit the Boys and Girls Club in Delaware, after his budget proposes cuts in aid for protecting children from abuse and cuts in funds for helping low-income parents pay for child-care!!! Join the protest.

Many of the estimated 100,000 baseball fans visiting downtown for the Cincinnati Reds opening day saw an aerial banner with the message "BUSH STOLE YOUR VOTE" in 7-foot tall red letters, followed by "WWW.VOTERMARCH.ORG" in black letters. The message circled the Reds' stadium and downtown for 25 minutes. The crowd included Ohio Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Reds' owner Carl Lindner, a major GOP soft-money donor.

Jeanette Wallis is a former apathetic Generation Xer who loathed politics and feared the news growing up in Texas. She moved to Seattle eight years ago, and is now a staunch defender of the Bill of Rights -- thanks to being tear-gassed while walking home from the store on December 1, 1999. She's also outraged about the lack of Democracy in America, and is doing something about it. She writes, "My Mission: To walk from Seattle to Washington D.C to present our President with a list of grievances gathered from the many protests I've been part of and those I gather along the way."

"I posted the following information from www.democrats.com ['Oscar Protests Draw the Limelight,' describing Bob Kunst and the Oral Majority's exploits at the Oscars] and guess what happened? You guessed it, I was TOS'd off AOL completely with no notice, my account cancelled, my passwords deleted and it was nothing less than humiliating to have to call The AOL Tribal Council and apologize for something I was not even in violation of." So writes Belinda. If you're an AOL user whose pro-Democratic posts have been censored, join with Belinda and stand up for your rights!

Our actions will soon have to move to the next level, as the time is fast approaching when each of us will be called upon to make a stand, to take action. And there can be no better preparation for that action than reading (or re-reading) Gene Sharp's classic guide to strategy and tactics: The Politics of Non Violent Action.

Bob Kunst and the Oral Majority took fullest advantage of the Oscar media spectacle. In response to banners proclaiming "Bush Stole The Election," celebrities waved and cameras rolled. A highlight was the flight of our "Bush Stole the Election" banner plane around the Shrine prior to the stars' arrivals. Local Democrats also endorsed resolutions declaring 1) Gore Won-Bush Stole The Election, 2) Ashcroft Should Investigate Florida's Election Fraud, and 3) The Democratic leadership should stop covering up the theft of this election.

"Big Dog spoke to a sellout crowd of 3600 while our 'Witches' chanted outside (STOP THE WITCH HUNT... HEY HEY HO HO, CLINTON WITCH HUNT'S GOT TO GO!... WE LOVE YOU BILL) and got lots of publicity." So reports Dan in Salem.

Protest the continued waste of tax dollars persecuting former President Clinton. Mr. Clinton is speaking at Salem State College on Monday, March 26. Women are encouraged to dress in Witch costumes.

George W. Bush has been president a little over two months, but in that time he has made decisions that have angered many who came to see him Monday in Billings. More than 75 people gathered at noon on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn to protest Bush's environmental positions. The event, organized by the Northern Plains Resource Council and sponsored by various environmental groups, featured three speakers, a placard-waving crowd and a joke 'auction' of Montana's environmental treasures.

"Soon the shrub and his entourage came and the chants had to be heard for at least 1/2 mile. The rage felt by our fellow Michiganders could be felt in the air. Students, grandmas & grandpas, folks from every walk of life. We protested throughout his speech and chanted loudly when he left. I got to scream "You raped our democracy" again which says it all for me. Clint Turland with his truck, both sides covered with huge VoterMarch banners. We passed out hundreds of VoterMarch flyers. Folks came from all over the state, many who had driven hours to get there. It was worth it. He saw us, he heard us, and we wouldn't and won't go away." So reports Cheryl Warner from Kalamazoo.

David McTaggart, one of the founders of Greenpeace International, who piloted boats into the teeth of the French navy to disrupt nuclear testing, was killed today in a head-on car crash on a country road in central Italy. He was 68. After a successful career as a contractor and developer, in 1971 he became outraged with the French government's decision to cordon off a vast swath of international waters in the Pacific for nuclear tests. McTaggart was also a driving force behind Greenpeace campaigns to save the whales, to stop the dumping of nuclear waste in the ocean, to block the production of toxic wastes, to end nuclear testing, and to protect the Antarctic continent from oil and mineral exploitation.

Environmental leaders in Montana want answers from Bush. "During your visit to Montana in the next several days, we invite you to travel beyond the confined quarters of a civic auditorium and meet with Montanans whose health and welfare are threatened by your administration’s actions to lower water quality standards, roll back regulations on mining, and reduce or eliminate other environmental safeguards," they wrote in a letter to Bush. They also asked Bush to meet with Stephanie and Alan Shammel of Hilger, who have had their cattle operation jeopardized by water pollution from a nearby mining operation. Hey George, it's time to fulfill your campaign promise to "trust the people."

Resident Shrub will travel to Portland, Maine on Friday to address the Portland Area Chamber of Commerce at noon. Join the protests!

"The signs were great and most passing motorists honked, waved or gave a thumbs up to show their support. When Dubya's motorcade approached, the usual chants of "hail to the thief", "selected not elected" and "not my president" went out to taunt him. Incredibly, they had constructed a row of tents to allow his SUV (what energy crisis?) to drive up to the back of the city hall without exposing him to the crowd. A new chant of "back door Bush" and "face the people" signaled our disgust with this attempt to shield Dubya from facing the music. Download photographs from the protest at the Daily Dubya, since you aren't likely to see any coverage in the national media.

Governor Bush snuck in and out of Maine today, but despite his secrecy and a spring blizzard, between 150 and 200 protesters showed up to greet him. People had come from all over Maine and a few had come from Boston. Their signs represented various causes like nuclear disarmament, the environment, the stolen election, taxes, health care, the sanctions against Iraq, and many others. Many people joked that the new administration is so bad that they had trouble even deciding which terrible, destructive policy to protest!

Laura Bush's visit to California was suitably marked by protesters. "I was out there by myself by 9:30 am 'protesting' with my banner: 'Bush Stole The Election'. By noon we had 20 protesters, and some of my signs made up earlier were getting serious attention: 1. 'Rigged Blackouts-Rigged Election' 2. 'Bush Killed Democracy' 3. 'Bush Stole The Election-Economy In A Nosedive' 4. 'Gore Won-Bush Stole The Election' which I gave out to 15 folks, and I was also holding a statue of 'Oscar' and my sign: 'Bush Gets Oscar for Best Performance In A Coup D'etat'." So reports transcontinental protester Bob Kunst.

Be there when King George II is awarded Best Actor in "Stealing a Country." Oral Majority will join with Stars and Media, to protest the Grand Theft of an America Election and the ensuing Cover-up. We will demand a Federal Investigation as we, the people of Florida, Fight Back against those who try to use our state as a "scapegoat" for election fraud.

Shrub is returning to the scene of the crime - Florida. He'll be giving a speech on his "Patients' Bill of Goods" plan to the American College of Cardiology. "I guess he stuck his toe in the water and figured it wasn't so bad," said one Capitol Hill aide about Bush's pusillanimous visit to an Air Force base on the Panhandle last week. He'll need to be real careful with his toes this time, because central Florida is hopping mad over Bush's theft of the Presidency. Join the protest!

"It is always cold when he comes to town. Cold and gray as death, even in the middle of a sub-tropical spring... There are maybe fifty of us this time; not an army, but we outnumbered the 'They-Lack-Passion' freepers by about four to one." So reports Carol Schiffler from the Orlando protest.

Shrub doesn't have the guts to go to California, where anger over his theft of the Presidency is surpassed by anger over support for Enron and other Texas energy price gougers. So Shrub is hiding behind Laura's skirt and sending her first, for a heavily scripted photo op visiting students. Let's show Laura that our kids aren't stupid as Shrub - they know the difference between a winner and a thief.

The Freepers are on red alert. "Dubya in Orlando!! DEMS plan protest! Let's Outnumber Them! Calling all Florida FReepers! Just heard on the local radion that Dubya is coming to Orlando next week. They interviewed a coupla disgruntled Dems (are there any other kind?) who are planning on protesting. Let's overwhelm them with our support of W, and have a spontaneous outpouring of compassionate conservatism." Sounds to us like an excellent opportunity to hand out subpoenas to the thieves who stole the election!

It was about 15 of us meeting at the train station in Plainfield, NJ. Paulette, Maya and I came by bus. Susan from NJ led the way to the Episcopal Church. People were carrying big signs like "Gore Won", "Illegitimate", and "Tax cut for the Rich." As we approached the church we were directed on the opposite side of the street were we were delighted to see at least 50 locals, signs and all. "Where have you been?" someone greeted us. "I thought it would be just us." So reports Democrats.com member Leah Faerstein.

Bush will be in Plainfield, NJ on Wednesday. Protesters will meet at the Plainfield train station (between 2nd & 4th and Park & Watchung) at 10:30 a.m. Protest the commander-in-thief!

"One of the biggest thieves to our democracy, Justice Antonin Scalia, will speak at Marquette University Law School March 13, 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His speech, entitled, "Interpreting the Constitution" (no joke!) will be held at the Weasler Auditorium from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Those from the Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago areas please join me in expressing outrage at the stolen presidency." For more info mailto:JoshEL@aol.com

On Monday March 12, George W. Bush will make his first visit to Florida since the election. He will likely stop only in the Panhandle - where the military can protect him from the 3 million Florida voters he disenfranchised. Spontaneous demonstrations are currently expected in West Palm Beach, Jacksonville, and Orlando. Check this page for the latest info - and tell Bush he Stole the Election!

It was awfully cold, but that didn't stop North Dakota patriots. "Outside the Bison Sports Arena, some 200 demonstrators held posters accusing Bush of 'voter fraud' and chanted 'Hail to the Thief' at his arriving limousine." So says the AP.

"The Progressive Religious Partnership is a network of people and congregations working in and through communities of faith to bring about a nation and world that more reflects the 'beloved community.' We seek to articulate and pursue a prophetic vision rooted in our faith traditions and thoroughly informed by the noblest civil visions of the preambles to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. In word and practice, our movement will lift an inclusive, prophetic agenda before the people of America." Help build the Partnership by attending their conference in Washington DC on April 4-6.

ProgressiveSecretary.org is a wonderful service provided by disabled Quakers. They regularly write letters to Congress on a wide range of important issues, and let you decide whether to sign each individual letter. It's intelligent, easy and free. What more could you ask?

That's what M.I.T. graduate student Jonah Peretti requested through Nike's "Build Your Own Nike iD Products" offering, under which customers can have their Nike shoes personalized with their choice of numbers and letters. Unless, of course, those letters spell CORPORATE GREED.

Shrub's first stop on his budget sham tour is in Beaver PA, west of Pittsburgh. Citizens For Legitimate Government will be there to remind the public that Bush not only has no mandate to enact his agenda, he was not elected, and has no legitimate right to rule in a democratic nation. Be there if you can!

Shrub will be visiting North Little Rock's Lakewood Elementary School on Thursday to brainwash Americans into supporting his plan to shut down our public schools and force our kids into parochial schools. Democrats.com members will be there to remind him that he is only the "Commander in Thief." To participate, mailto:BaddogReturns@hotmail.com

"As his car passed within mere feet of me, I managed to scream at him. A hundred sleepless nights and the outrage of thousands was embodied in that one word.. Fascist. The Secret Service pointed and gestured towards us - but I didn't care. None of us did. We had the chance to speak to the man who stole the election - with our signs, our voices and our mere presence. It was a presence, no matter how small, that said: No matter where you go - we will be there. We will never let an opportunity pass to let you know that you were NOT elected, you are NOT our President; we will never forget and we will not go away. Ever. Get used to us." So writes our very own Kay. You go, girl!!!

"I spent a few hours on Sunday protesting in front of the Westwood Federal building. About fifty people showed up; probably more had planned to come but backed out when it began raining this morning (luckily, the rain stopped by the time I got there, and the weather was great all afternoon). The response from people driving by was terrific - there were times when so many cars were honking in support of us that we couldn't even hear each other." So writes Rose, one of the FringeFolk.

The Campaign for America's Future is hosting a major gathering of progressive activists in DC on Wednesday, February 28. Featured speakers include AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sen. Paul Wellstone, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Julian Bond, Patricia Ireland, and George Becker. The conference will discuss a "core progressive agenda that can help forge a new majority for significant reform." We hope to see you there!

"We are out here because the supreme injustice Scalia is speaking," said Anna Casey, organizer of the protest and member of Trust the People-Dallas. "We believe he stole democracy." Right on, Anna!

Despite scant coverage by major media outlets, a Gay Today investigation reveals a vast and growing grassroots movement of protest against the U.S. Supreme Court's appointment of George W. Bush as president, and widespread demands for civil and even criminal inquiries into irregularities in the disputed November 2000 Florida election.

Some overseas friends have created a nice website dealing with a range of global issues: rainforests, air pollution, the UN, weapons trade, and a dozen other important issues. Tell foreign leaders what you think - chances are good they are more interested in your views than the right-wing Republicans in Washington.

Yes, you read that correctly! This action can be carried out by each of you individually as well as by those who organize an event around unPresident's Day or Not-My-President's Day next weekend. In honor of President's Day, write a letter or a card to the rightfully elected President of the United States -- Al Gore -- and snail mail it to the proper residence for an elected president: the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500). Click for details.

To veteran South Florida activist Bob Kunst, George W. Bush will never be our legitimate president. He believes most of us agree with him: "The majority of the American people smell a rat. Our sacred right to vote has been trivialized."

Remember snail-mail? Protest Bush's Theft of the Presidency with every dead-tree letter you send by placing a small sticker on the front of the envelope. Choose from "Not Elected - Appointed" and "Never Again - Fight Voter Fraud - Impeach Bush". Click on the sticker, print a page full, and paste them as needed. Turn the stamp upside-down while you're at it!

"Progressive politics is successful when it is not top-down and elitist and when it respects the capacity of ordinary citizens. That is why the impetus for change must come from outside Washington. There are three crucial ingredients to democratic renewal and progressive change in America: good public policy, grassroots organizing and electoral politics. Policy provides direction and an agenda for action; grassroots organizing builds a constituency to fight for change; and electoral politics is the main way, in the absence of sweeping social movements, that we contest for power and hold decision-makers accountable for progressive public policy. These ingredients are linked like the three legs of a stool." So says U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota in advising progressive Democrats and Independents on how to advocate for their issues.

Trust The People of Dallas has some cool local actions planned. On Valentine's Day, they will be protesting a lecture by Justice Antonin Scalia, chief architect of the Federalist Society's Bush Coup D'etat. Ten days later, they will protest a gathering of the National Council for a Republican Congress Conference, featuring Charlton Heston and Dick Armey. The Republicans will have lots of events outside of Washington - let's protest the Stolen Presidency at every one!

Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott has scheduled a vote on the Ashcroft nomination for 1:00PM on Thursday February 1st. Please join us in focusing on the Senate Democrats in the south and the west who are being hammered by pro-Ashcroft forces. They need some countervailing pressure, which we can provide through demonstrations in front of their home offices.