Activism

By Brian Bogart

Finally, after reading hundreds of your letters today, I can write one to you.

Thank you very much for writing. (You have all been put on the IntelligentFuture email list for updates.) So many nations out there! Glad to hear from you.

The Strike for Peace plan is going well, and I want to encourage you to spread word that this is all about connecting our 300-plus Pentagon-funded schools across the nation, and transferring the energy created by Cindy Sheehan's camp (and that of the national rallies planned for September 24-26) onto our campuses and into our communities on the first day of school, September 26.

By Kevin Zeese
August 19, 2005

Tom Hayden is an anti-war activist who most recently was the lead author of “The Peoples Petition for Iraqi Peace.

By Tom Hayden
Huffington Post

“So we have to go. But how to get out is the great question. Somebody should
write a book about military withdrawals because they are so much more difficult
than invasions.

crawfordpeacehouse@yahoogroups.com

Backed by Noam Chomsky and more than 100 other professors so far...a call has been put out for a student strike on Sept. 26

This will make it possible for more students to go to Washington DC that weekend for the peace demonstration and lobbying.

By Brian Bogart

A single policy decision made in secluded chambers of the White House shortly after World War II explains why our financial and intellectual creativity focuses on lethal technologies, why 51% of our taxes go to defense and less than 5% to education, why there are 6000 military bases in the United States and 1000 US bases overseas, why comprehensive agendas support war fighting and weak agendas address human services and the environment, and why our top industry since 1950 remains the manufacture and sale of weapons.

Fauquier Times Democrat (Virginia)
By Bill Day, Warrenton

There are times when an issue facing our country is so significant that writing a letter to an elected official is not sufficient.

Leaving a message with the official's staff and becoming a tick on a list of "pros" or "cons" is also inadequate. There are times when a face-to-face meeting is necessary.

On July 28, I joined a group of citizens from Virginia's 10th Congressional District to meet with Rep. Frank Wolf in his Capitol Hill office.

Congressman Wolf had been invited to come to Warrenton the previous Saturday evening to meet with a larger group of which this delegation was a part, but he had been unable to attend or to provide a statement addressing the group's concerns about information revealed in the Downing Street Minutes (see the Aug. 20 and Aug. 27 issues of the Democrat, or http://www.afterdowningstreet.org).

Contributed by the BackBoneCampaign

Local Pressure on Senators: Use This Form:

Example Legislative District Resolution to Senators to urge Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chair of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to Initiate Phase II of Promised Investigation into the use or misuse of pre-war intelligence:

WHEREAS the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on intelligence, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) determined that the investigation into pre-war intelligence would be carried out in two phases: Phase I investigating the quality of the intelligence and Phase II the use or misuse of that intelligence; and

Contributed by the BackBoneCampaign

Local Pressure on Congress Member: Use This Form:

(SAMPLE)

A Resolution by the (your legislative district or caucus)
Urging (your Congressional Representative) to Co-Sponsor H. Res. 375

WHEREAS we are concerned regarding the rationale which precipitated the extensive and ongoing injury and loss of life suffered by over eighteen hundred of our nation’s military personnel and countless thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, and

WHEREAS the information in the Downing Street Documents strongly suggests that President Bush intentionally deceived Congress about the reasons for war, and

Cindy Sheehan has riveted the nation's attention, but Bush is unlikely to reverse course. And Congress will not act unless we push them. Now is the moment to demand that every member of Congress support a Resolution of Inquiry into what the Bush Administration was saying about its justifications for war three years ago. Did Casey Sheehan die for a noble cause? Let the President show us what it was. Please read this letter from AfterDowningStreet member Mike Hersh:

______________

Rep. Barbara Lee introduced a Resolution of Inquiry [H.Res. 375] to investigate Bush Administration deceit and wrongdoing leading up to the Iraq War. The After Downing Street Coaltion (www.afterdowningstreet.org) is working with Rep. Lee's office and others implementing an ongoing strategy to gain Congressional co-sponsors for this Resolution.

August 16, 2005
http://www.pda-va.org

We are happy to announce that we will have two guest speakers at our monthly PDA Virginia meeting this Saturday:

Ven Neralla, Legislative Director for Rep. Barbara Lee of California. Lee introduced a resolution a week before the summer recess, which by law must be taken up and voted on, up or down, within 14 legislative days (meaning by Sept. 16), demanding from the Bush Administration all the documentation of interactions with the British government on matters concerning Iraq, during most of 2002, as a means of assessing the validity of the Downing Street documents. Pushing Congress members to support this Resolution of Inquiry is extremely important and should be a focus of all anti-war activities. It already has over 40 sponsors. Ven has agreed to talk to us about the state of play of this and other Congressional resolutions aimed at ending the US occupation of Iraq.

08.17.2005 Steve Cobble
Huffington Post

No wonder Rush is telling lies about Cindy--her vigil has helped drop George W. Custer's job approval ratings 5% this week!

According to Rasmussen's daily tracking poll, W's job ratings have gone from 48% approval/50% disapproval (8/10), down to 43% approval/55% disapproval (8/17).

A downward swing of 10% in one week.

At one of my favorite web sites, Chris Bowers has been analyzing the Rasmussen ratings to try to figure out if W's going to drop down below 40% pretty soon.

The oil man's numbers are pretty lame. Only 21% of adults "strongly approve" of the job he's doing; a record 55% disapprove, including 41% who "strongly disapprove" (twice the "strongly approve" number).

Use this flyer.

Help afterdowningstreet.org raise money with a song!

US-THE BAND (from the S.F. Bay Area) has written a truly great protest song for modern times. It's called "How Did This Country Get So Bad? (I 1 2 NO!)", and it will make you smile, clap your hands, and stomp your feet (unless you are a Bush supporter, of course!).

The song is available for a $1.00 download (plus a 33-cent PayPal transaction fee) at www.ustheband.com

And from now through the end of September, 100 percent of all proceeds will be donated to afterdowningstreet.org to help spread the word about this VERY important doc

BLOG | Posted 08/16/2005 @ 1:27pm
People's Petition for a Way Out of Iraq
By Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Editor of The Nation

A campaign is being launched this week by a host of groups including Progressive Democrats of America, Peace Action, CodePink, IPS and UFPJ to demand an exit strategy from Iraq. A central part of these efforts is a new petition which lays out a way to get out of Iraq and will be presented to Congress in mid-September.

This comes at what could be a tipping point moment. The country is waking up to the truth that Bush's decisions have led to the unnecessary deaths of more than 1,800 Americans, and tens of thousands of Iraqis, while making the US, the world and Iraq less secure. A majority of Americans now understand that we were deliberately misled into war; a majority recognize that the US made a mistake in sending troops to Iraq; and a majority believe that no matter how long US troops remain there, they will not be able to establish a stable, democratic government.

Democracy Now!
LINK

Anti-war groups in the United States are announcing a campaign today to build support for a peaceful exit strategy from Iraq. We speak with the primary author of the "People's Petition for an Iraq Peace Plan," longtime activist Tom Hayden.

On Monday, the Washington Post reported that the Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq. Officials are now saying the U.S. can no longer expect to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges. Many blame the continuing violence and lack of infrastructure in Iraq on the U.S. occupation itself.

NEW* ROMNEY in Little Rock, AR: Mitt Romney is scheduled to meet with
business executives and others to discuss health-care options and
policies for companies and states as part of a series of meetings under
the auspices of the Republican Governors Association. [AP, 8/15/05]

ALLEN in Norfolk, VA: Senator Allen will have a joint brief from the
Hampton Roads Maritime Association-Virginia Port Authority-Virginia
International Terminals. [http://allen.senate.gov/listeningtour.htm]

ALLEN in Norfolk, VA: Senator Allen will speak and then hear from Rotary
Club members. [http://allen.senate.gov/listeningtour.htm]

From Progressive Democrats of America

We have waited too long.
Peace talks now.
Bring them home safely and soon.

"For Mr. Bush, questions about an exit strategy in Iraq have become especially delicate as a crowd of anti-war protestors has expanded at the edge of his ranch, rallying around Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whose son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004." - New York Times, Aug. 12, 2005.

Like our friend Cindy Sheehan, we are tired of waiting for our troops to come home. Tired of the bloodshed, tired of tax dollar waste, tired of torture cover-ups, tired of contractor scandals, tired of deceit and fabrication. We are tired of elected officials with profiles in compromise rather than courage.

September 19, 2005 - Binghamton, NY Federal Court

Two days before the beginning of "Shock and Awe" four concerned
citizens went to their local military recruiting station to say no to
the war. They acted in the spirit of non-violence and civil
resistance, pouring their own blood in the lobby of the recruiting
center. They then knelt and prayed. They were later tried in
Tompkins County Court. Nine of the twelve jurors voted for
acquittal. Despite this overwhelming majority to acquit, the Federal
government has decided to bring new charges against them. If
convicted, they could face up to six years in prison, a period of

STATEWIDE PROTEST OF BLUE ANGELS AIR SHOW

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th BRUNSWICK MALL TO NASB MARCH BEGINS AT 9am

The Navy's "Blue Angels" flight team will come to Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB) to perform on the anniversary of 9-11. The event is a recruiting gimmick at a time when the military is in desperate need for more of our kids to fight in Iraq.

Maine Veterans for Peace is calling for a statewide peace march from the downtown Brunswick mall to NASB on September 10. We will begin gathering just after 8am that morning. Over 100,000 people are expected to view the expensive war promotion air show.

Progressives Get Iraq Resolutions Ratified By Young Democrats of America

PDA Champions Progressive Platform and Iraq Resolutions at Annual YDA Convention

Media Contact: Kimberly Krautter 877-368-9221 –or– kimberly@pdamerica.org

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) — Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) achieved impressive victories last weekend at the annual convention of Young Democrats of America (YDA). The official youth arm of the Democratic Party, YDA has now officially ratified a resolution in support of the Resolution of Inquiry on the Downing Street Memo introduced on June 11 to the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) as well as a resolution to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq. PDA National Political Director Kevin Spidel mobilized progressives inside the YDA convention to get these measures passed.

Friday August 12, 2005
BUSH and LAURA BUSH in Crawford, TX -1:00 PM: The annual lunch at the Bush ranch in Crawford, TX for top Republican donors. Both President and Mrs. Bush will attend the closed press RNC event at the Broken Spoke Ranch on Friday afternoon. [ABCNews.com, 8/8/05]

GINGRICH in Des Moines, IA: Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich makes a three-day visit to Iowa. On Friday Gingrich will attend a Rotary Club breakfast at the Wakonda Club, meet with former Governor Terry Branstad, participate in a Health transformation roundtable and sit for several interviews. [Des Moines Register, 8/11/05]

Thursday August 11, 2005
UPDATED* BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD and RICE in Crawford, TX: Meanwhile,
President Bush meets today in Crawford with his foreign policy team:
Dicky Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, the Defense Policy and
Program Teams and Foreign Policy Team. There will be a media
availability with Bush, Rumsfeld and Rice at 1:05 p.m. EDT. Top items
for discussion: violence in Iraq and standoffs with Iran and North Korea
over their nuclear programs. [CNN.com, 8/11/05]

ALLEN in Bristol, VA: Senator Allen will deliver remarks on issues
before the Senate and then take questions in a town hall style meeting.

Graphic by Melinda Hoehn

PDF.

Get a kit to make a sign like this one:

By Mike Hersh

ClearChannel loves to pick on people, especially women. Remember they attacked the Dixie Chicks? They even tried to get me to remove an article from my website about their efforts to backlist the Dixie Chicks by sending me an email threatening a lawsuit. Anyway, this is the latest I have on it:

On 8/10/2005 3:52:38 PM, sanjoselady@aol.com wrote:
Clear Channel will be hosting a "Pro Bush/Anti-Sheehan barbecue this
weekend, they have invited the soldiers from Ft. Hood show up and tell
Cindy how she should be ashamed:

There is a diary on this whole thing on DailyKos:

DEMAND THAT BUSH MEET WITH CINDY!

Cindy Sheehan of Gold Star Families for Peace, is waiting for George Bush to come out of his Crawford,Texas vacation home to explain what is the "noble cause" her son died for! She has been holding a vigil outside the Bush ranch since Saturday, August 6,to demand an explanation now and to insist that the only way to honor the sacrifices of the veterans is to bring the troops home NOW!

Please join the Hip Hop Caucus, partnering with Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq, Code Pink, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, UP (United Progressives) for Democracy, and other allies:

Institute for Public Accuracy

President Bush is currently on vacation in Crawford, Texas. Cindy Sheehan, co-founder of the group Gold Star Families for Peace, is the mother of Casey Sheehan, a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq. She is currently in Dallas and will be going to Crawford on Saturday morning (expected to arrive there at 11 a.m. Saturday local time). She will be joined by others, including veterans of the war in Iraq.

CINDY SHEEHAN, scindy121@aol.com
http://www.gsfp.org
Sheehan said today: "George Bush recently said, speaking about the dreadful loss of life in Iraq in August: 'We have to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by completing the mission,' and 'The families of the fallen can be assured that they died for a noble cause.' We want our loved ones' sacrifices to be honored by bringing our nation's sons and daughters home from the travesty that is the Iraq war immediately, since this war is based on horrendous lies and deceptions. Just because our children are dead, why would we want any more families to suffer the same pain and devastation that we are. ... We are determined to stay until we get answers from George Bush. We deserve and expect him to welcome us with answers as to why our loved ones are dead."

Can you spare a half an hour to meet with your congress member, together with some of your friends and allies, and ask him or her to co-sponsor the Resolution of Inquiry? Democracy for America has set up this events system to help you do so.