Dean Blog

Longtime members of the DFA community might bristle at the memory of "liberal hawks" and pooh-poohing of prewar concerns about Bush's [lack of a] strategy. Still, we all agree these days that Bush has monumentally screwed up in Iraq — and hasn't shown a scintilla of the sacrifice needed to turn the war around.

That makes it all the more remarkable when a onetime "liberal hawk" — unlike, say, any immediate relatives of Karl Rove — puts his life on hold, and himself on the line, to fight in this conflict. Phil Carter — a progressive writer who blogs at Intel Dump — has done just that.

On Thursday, I received orders from the Army mobilizing me for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These orders followed an earlier set, cut on Tuesday, which transferred me from the Army's individual ready reserve into the 101st Airborne Division. It's an honor and privilege to deploy with such a storied unit -- a band of warriors who have nearly all deployed at least once since 9/11. I'm scheduled to report for active duty in a little under 3 weeks to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After some period of pre-deployment training and preparation, I will deploy with my unit to Iraq.

It's difficult to describe the swirl of emotions I have now. I'm excited about this opportunity to serve, but also apprehensive about what lies ahead. I'm worried for my family and friends (this will be harder on them than me), and I will miss them terribly; but I'm also comforted by the strength they have displayed over the past few days.

Let this show just how serious progressives are about national security — even while believing, as many left-of-center Americans and a growing number of responsible conservatives do, that the Bush administration has thoroughly bungled it. Whatever your political stripe, the willingness to sacrifice — far more than blowhard attempts to claim national security as the province of radicals in a political party — stands as the truest sign of commitment to protecting the American people.

So best of luck to you, Phil Carter; you make us proud. Come home safe.

House Republicans Offer Own Social Security Plan

Republicans in the House have proposed a new Social Security plan of their own that they expect to vote on later this year. According to a summary posted on a House Committee Web site, surplus Social Security funds would be deposited annually into accounts for workers under age 55. This flow would end once Social Security is no longer running a surplus, probably around 2017. Democrats, however, believe this new proposal is worse than President Bush’s plan. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland said [the Republicans] are spending it the first time on a so-called private account and then they borrow it back and they give other bonds for government spending. So they are creating two liabilities for one.”

Frist and Reid Discuss Judicial Nominees

On Tuesday, Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist and Democratic leader Harry Reid met to discuss nominees for a possible vacancy on the Supreme Court. While Frist would not mention any names, Reid later offered the names of four Republican senators whom he believes would be excellent Supreme Court members.

Gay Marriage Legal in Spain and Canada

The Spanish Parliament approved a bill today legalizing same-sex marriage in the country. Spain is the only other nation in the world, besides Canada, to offer complete equality for both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Canada voted on Tuesday to make it legal for same-sex couples to marry.

*Note*

Comments on Blog for America will be shut down for several hours this evening as we undergo server upgrades. The comment shutoff will begin at 9:00pm EDT. —Thank you.

—Annalouise Venturella

As we reach the halfway mark of 2005, I need your help grading Democracy for America's performance. Your feedback is crucial as we chart our course and continue the fight to take our country back.

Our mission is to take our country back so that we can build healthy communities at home and project a moral foreign policy. To do this, we need an organization that only you have the power to fuel.

Below are 10 initiatives we have undertaken together over the last 6 months. Some actions had near universal participation, some we're just getting started, and some you may not want to do again. But, your feedback is important because it helps steer the course of DFA.

www.democracyforamerica.com/reportcard

1. In January and February we dedicated ourselves to electing Governor Howard Dean chair of the Democratic National Committee. And we won! Now, Dean is reforming the Party and laying the groundwork for Democrats and progressives to win in all 50 states.

2. When USA Next -- a right-wing fringe group -- launched an anti-soldier, anti-gay campaign, you responded. Over 80,000 people called on television stations to keep USA Next's hate off the air. And we haven't heard from them since.
3. Thousands of Americans submitted their personal stories about Social Security in March. In April, DFA groups partnered with True Majority Action and met with over 80 congressional offices throughout the country to deliver a simple message: "Don't Privatize It." We still have a fight on our hands -- but we have put the president on the defensive.

4. Tom DeLay's ethical lapses are well known. When DFA hosted a slogan contest, over 23,000 suggestions poured in. After a grassroots vote your billboards went up in Houston and in Tom DeLay's district. DeLay's not done—but he's become damaged goods.

5. Grassroots activist trainings -- on strategy, tactics, message and planning -- have been held in CA, NV, SC, TX, VT and VA. We'll be working in FL, IL, KS, NJ, PA, OR, and VA (again!) over the next few months.

We're driven by the grassroots. Your feedback on these initiatives is essential:

www.democracyforamerica.com/reportcard

6. 2,400 skills-building and social Meetups have taken place in 2005. We've written letters-to-the-editor, undertaken framing exercises with Prof. George Lakoff and promoted community service through DFA Corps.

7. In conjunction with Wal-Mart Watch and Wake-Up Wal-Mart, we have begun a campaign to make Wal-Mart a better company. Producer Robert Greenwald released the trailer of his new movie on Wal-Mart at the June Meetups and we're working with our brothers and sisters in organized labor to continue the fight.

8. The coalition of fiscally responsible, socially progressive grassroots organizations is growing. Statewide organizing conventions have been held in 14 states and Washington, DC, including: CT, DC, FL, KY, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NH, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, and WA. More are scheduled for: CA, FL (again), IA, LA, NC, TN and WI. Local groups like Democracy for NYC and Change for Kentucky are taking our country back!

9. The A-List of endorsed candidates is growing. The grassroots have helped select candidates for mayor in 5 cities, a county commission candidate in South Carolina, a state senator from Philadelphia and a city council candidate in Pittsburgh.

10. You've helped spread the word about the Downing Street Memos. Through tabling and the internet, tens of thousands of copies of the memos have been distributed to reporters, recruiters and Republican representatives in Congress. Front page stories on the memos are cropping up all over. You're exposing the lies that got us into Iraq—in order to speed our exit.

This is our mid-year report card. And you are the grader. Let us know how we are doing:

www.democracyforamerica.com/reportcard

Thank you for everything. Have a great Independence Day.

Tom Hughes
Executive Director

P.S. If you like what you see—and you want to help DFA even more—I hope you'll join nearly 20,000 other Americans in making a contribution today:

www.democracyforamerica.com/contribute

Most people might cringe at the idea of spending an entire weekend in a non air-conditioned building, but for over 60 DFA supporters from Vermont and other nearby states, last Saturday and Sunday were worth it, even in the heat. Those supporters participated in a two-day grassroots training activists program organized by Democracy for America and Latinos for America.

Participants are hard at work on a group assignment
during the Vermont Grassroots Activist Training
at Burlington High School.

Gathering inside Burlington High School's cafeteria for coffee and bagels, participants received their grassroots training manuals, DFA bumper stickers and schedules for the weekend's events. Trainers, who included DFA's own Tom Hughes, Arshad Hasan and Chris Warshaw, taught classes ranging from coalition building to volunteer training. Other guest speakers such as Ralph Miller, Carolyn Dwyer and Zephyr Teachout held lectures on working with the media, fundraising and online organizing.

Chris Warshaw, DFA Political Director, leads a discussion
during one of the training sessions this past weekend.

By the end of the weekend, participants left with an abundant amount of knowledge on how to effectively run a campaign and how to get the progressive message out to the public. And continuing the fight to take our country back!

—Annalouise Venturella

Remember that bat thingy?

You know what I'm thinking about: a small wooden object, stick shaped, which — when put in the hands of the Democracy for America faithful — possesses the capacity to raise enormous amounts of money. You've probably seen it around here.

Well, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) apparently wants to know how the bat works. Problem is, Republican fundraisers haven't quite mastered the secret.

See that graphic? It's the GOPSenators.com fundraising target for the month of June: $50,000. With just a day left in the month, the Republican team still has $10,000 to go. [Oooooof — might be time for a bake sale ... ]

Now, here's an amazing comparison: the last time DFA put up a bat, y'all beat a $50,000 goal in less than 24 hours.

What does that tell you? Only the key point the NRSC needs to know: the secret of the bat is that it isn't about fundraising at all. The bat represents the dedication and hard work of outstanding citizens like you, and every time you swing the bat, you show how much progressive Americans — working together — can do.

So thank you — sincerely — for all the work you do. You've built this into a beautiful, powerful community. And something tells us that — try as they might — Republican imitators are gonna have a devil of a time duplicating it.

The American people deserve an honest leader. But, as last night proved, President Bush does not plan on filling those shoes.

Last night, the president had the opportunity to address the nation with a real plan for the war in Iraq—but instead, he offered the same old rhetoric with no real solution. He continued to exploit America's sadness and outrage toward 9/11 as justification for the war claiming that waging the fight in Iraq is containing terrorist.

But, the unfortunate reality is that Osama bin Laden is still free and Iraq has now become a breeding ground for terrorist camps.

The American public deserves better, and our troops deserve better. We will only win this war on terror when our political leaders are truthful about the risks and held accountable for their mistakes.

When people ask what I'm responsible for at Democracy for America, the usual answer from nearly everyone is, "anything with a plug."

Whether you're curious about the type of mailserver DFA uses, tips on managing an email list, instructions on rewiring phone extensions, who makes those snappy bat graphics, or the pitfalls of allowing a (mostly) open online community, you're in the right place tonight.

What do you want to know?

Bush Addresses Nation on Iraq War

Last night, President Bush spoke to the American public in a nationally televised address from Fort Bragg, N.C. In his speech, Bush recognized the problems the United States is facing, but did not offer any new policies or changes in the current ones. Meanwhile public support for the war in Iraq continues to decline.

U.S. Copter Crashes in Afghanistan; Fate of Service Members Unknown

According to the U.S. military, hostile fire may have caused the crash of an American military helicopter in eastern Afghanistan today. Col. Jim Yonts, a spokesman in Kabul, said the helicopter came under fire as it was preparing to land. The military has not determined yet if hostile fire was indeed the culprit and there is still no word regarding the fate of the 17 service members on board.

Heading Back Home Nearly 4 Years Later

An unwavering group of 5,000 Sudanese refugees are making a 435-mile journey back to their homes in southern Sudan after being displaced during the civil war in October 2001. Many of the refugees include elderly or ailing individuals, children and pregnant women. On Tuesday an aid agency said they are at the halfway point in their trek after walking for two months through dense forests, swamplands and dry riverbeds.

Live Blog Discussion Tonight

Join us at 8:00pm DST tonight for a discussion of all things blog-related with DFA Technology Director, Tara Liloia.

—Annalouise Venturella

As expected, President Bush raised the specter of September 11, 2001 several times in his speech last night in order to justify the drawn-out conflict in Iraq. Despite the lack of a credible connection between the two events, Bush continues to exploit America's sadness and outrage at 9/11 as a justification for war.

...in Britain, Lynne Jones, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Tony Blair's ruling Labour Party, said any attempt to suggest that Iraq was a response to the September 11 attacks was "absolute nonsense."

"There is absolutely no connection between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda," she said.

"What they have ensured, in invading Iraq, is they have actually promoted al Qaeda's involvement in other countries, including Iraq."

The reaction to the speech in the United States was anything but unanimous support. While talking heads on both sides of the aisle today claimed that the President made his points well, most chose to ignore the fact that those points are based on fallacies. One of the biggest blunders of the night was Bush's assertion that no more troops are needed to bolster our already-strained forces in Iraq. Yet, he took the time to make his first direct pitch to young Americans, encouraging them to enlist. Furthermore, some key lawmakers disagree:

Sen. John McCain , interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show," maintained that "one of the very big mistakes early on was that he didn't have enough troops on the ground, particularly after the initial victory, and that's still the case."

Sen. John Kerry, Bush's Democratic opponent in last year's presidential election, told NBC's "Today" show that the borders of Iraq "are porous" and said "we don't have enough troops" there.

Sen. Joseph Biden Jr., appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," disputed Bush's notion that sufficient troops are in place.

"I'm going to send him the phone numbers of the very generals and flag officers that I met on Memorial Day when I was in Iraq," the Delaware Democrat said. "There's not enough force on the ground now to mount a real counterinsurgency."

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) takes on the President's deafening silence on the accountability gaps in Iraq, the "fixed" evidence that led us into war, and the recontruction efforts that have been saddled with waste and mismanagement:

"President Bush spoke tonight and his silence was deafening. If anyone was surprised... if anyone was shocked to see their Commander-In-Chief so divorced from reality, they really haven't been paying much attention. But day by day more Americans are seeing the light."

"Each day they see the news... More casualties. More wounded. Billions of dollars lost or wasted. Congress cutting off veterans benefits. New memos discovered detailing White House plans to invade Iraq using manipulated or manufactured evidence. The list goes on and on."

Rep. Slaughter is also calling on Congress to pass H.J.Res. 55—a measure that will require the President to create an exit plan from Iraq.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) somberly warned before the speech that the war will only get worse:

Even some of the hawkish members of Congress are disheartened. The President's going to say that if you don't support the war, you're against the troops. That's nothing but politics. He doesn't believe that Americans are entitled to know how we got into the war, and refuses to reveal how he plans to get out.

Holy moly — who put their Halliburton into my Gitmo?!

A Halliburton Co. unit will build a new $30 million detention facility and security fence at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the United States is holding about 520 foreign terrorism suspects, the Defense Department announced on Thursday.

The announcement comes the same week that Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defended the jail after U.S. lawmakers said it had created an image problem for the United States.

Critics have decried the indefinite detention of Guantanamo detainees, whom the United States has denied rights accorded under the Geneva Conventions to prisoners of war. The prison was called "the gulag of our times" in a recent Amnesty International report.

An air-conditioned two-story prison, known as Detention Camp #6, will be built at Guantanamo to house 220 men. It will include exercise areas, medical and dental spaces as well as a security control room, the contract announcement said.

The contract announcement did not specify whether the new prison would also hold foreign terror suspects.

Under the deal with the Norfolk, Virginia-based U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic, the work is to be wrapped up by July 2006. It is part of a larger contract that could be worth up to $500 million if all options are exercised, the Defense Department said.

Ahhhhh, yes: yet another hard-fought competitive success for Vice President Dick Cheney's favorite company. Must have been a ree-e-e-e-e-e-ally tough bidding process.

Seriously, guys — we can't make this stuff up. It's like truth has so far outpaced fiction that it's lapped it and passed it in the outside lane.

A small glimpse into the extracurriculars going on a Democracy for America headquarters.

The subject line of Pat Hanson's email was cryptic; it simply said, "Information on the Russians." But instead of top secret Cold War documents, Pat's email included a description of the five Russian exchange guests that she was hosting for the week. Pat brought the group into DFA headquarters for a visit one afternoon last week.

Russian scholars and government officials
visit DFA headquarters in Burlington, VT
Photos by Zach Manganello

The visitors' careers were generally focused on involving youth in Russia's government. Within that, each of them had a widely different focus. Victoria, (red dress), is concentrating on communications. She develops press that promotes healthy lifestyles in her community.

Dimitri, (back row, center), is working to transform his local government into a transparent entity that relies on the Internet for communication with it's citizens. And where is Dimitri attempting to create such progressive change? In rural Siberia! How's that for an ambitious goal?

And one of the young visitors, Irina, (center, holding the American flag) is the deputy mayor of her city! This is a group that has taken to heart the message that change begins with them.

As Violence Intensifies, Bush Tries to Ease War Doubts

On the first anniversary of Iraq's sovereignty, President Bush tried to alleviate Americans' growing doubts about the war. Despite the daily insurgent attacks, Bush has refused to set a timetable for troop withdrawal, even though some congressional Democrats and Republicans are calling for him to support a resolution that would bring troops home by October of next year.

Public Support for War Drops

In a related story, an ABC News/Washington Post poll published yesterday showed that a majority of Americans believed the Bush administration "intentionally misled" them about the war and also rejected Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that the insurgency is "in its last throes."

Bloggers Lobby for Protection from Government Regulations

Until recently, the Federal Election Commission sided with bloggers and other online activists who view the Internet as a way of encouraging free speech and participating in grass-roots political organizations without government regulations. However, a federal judge last year ordered the FEC to increase some campaign finance limits for political activity on the Web. Bloggers are worried new regulations could hamper their activities on the Internet. The FEC will decide sometime this summer how far the rules can go.

—Annalouise Venturella

When you first meet Terri MacMillan (known around these parts as Terri*in*Tokyo), she greets you with a warm embrace. Many of us had the pleasure of meeting Terri (for the first or the fifteenth time) at DemocracyFest this year in Austin, Texas. Terri held the honor of the DFA member who had the longest journey to DemFest—she arrived from her current home base in Tokyo, Japan.

The Japan Times is featuring a profile of Terri and her journey into politics. A disinterested citizen who had never voted, Terri found her political interest piqued by a certain governor from Vermont who jumped into the 2004 race for president:

"Looking at the U.S. presidential primaries, wanting to identify an ethical public servant with a track record of good governance, Howard Dean began to interest me."

She met up with Dean supporters in Tokyo and got sucked into the campaign. When Dean asked his supporters to help support Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 run against President George W. Bush, Terri and her Tokyo4Dean friends became determined to turn U.S. politics into "something we could love and not be ashamed of. People are dead and lives have been ruined because the radical right has taken over the government in America. But I feel strongly that the spirit of what is best in America is slowly beginning to rise."

Terri is now the co-chair of Democrats Abroad Japan, and she has decided to run for Chair again next year—quite a long way from that disinterested citizen who never voted!

Governor Dean and the team at the DNC launched their new website yesterday afternoon. It's beautiful! You have to check it out.

The reform work the Governor has been doing under-the-radar for the last few months is beginning to break out into the open. It is exciting to see the Democratic Party stand up to the Republicans. It's great to have the national chair truly dedicated to supporting state parties (I'm a former state party executive director—so I may be biased). And it is unbelievably fantastic how the Governor's commitment to grassroots fundraising is becoming evident in the new Democratic Party.

I just bought a Democracy Bond, and joined a growing community of Democrats getting serious about reforming the political process, building a sustainable Democratic Party in every state, and winning elections at every level of office.

Check out the new DNC—I think you're going to like it.

Dian Palmer is the President of SEIU District 1199W in Wisconsin.

This month, I was at the Capitol in Wisconsin at a rally to bring awareness to the negative impact Wal-Mart has been having on our society. As I listened to the speakers I was amazed at the wealth that Wal-Mart actually held.

The fact that Wal-Mart made $21,000 per minute, earned $10 billion dollars in profit in 2004 and six Wal-Mart family members were billionaires. I learned that if Wal-Mart would take a mere 1% of its profits they would be able to pay for health insurance for all of its employees.

Others told stories about the unfair working conditions and how they needed to take the state offered health insurance plan. Badger Care or Title 19 (Medicaid) programs.

What has happened to our society when we believe it is right for a wealthy profitable company to allow its employees to take government-subsidized health insurance paid by taxpayers when they can well afford to pay a mere 1% of profits to insure employees?

Americans have sure changed over the years. We use to be caring people; proud of the products we created and sold. I guess that ends when we make more money then we can spend in eight lifetimes. Right Wal-Mart?

—Dian Palmer

Hi! My name is Luigi Montanez and I'm here in Burlington as an IT (Information Technology) intern. Originally from Iselin, New Jersey, I just graduated this May from Georgia Tech in Atlanta with a B.S. in Computer Science. During my sophomore year at Tech, I founded a campus chapter of Students for Dean (later to be called GenDean) in April 2003. This past election season, I served as Vice Pesident of the GT College Democrats.

In early March of 2003, on the eve of the Iraq War, I found myself watching Meet the Press one Sunday morning. The guest was some guy named Howard Dean, and it was his first appearance on that show. I was never much interested in politics up to that point, but I knew the Iraq War was imminent and I knew that something just wasn't right about it. It was a pleasant surprise for me to see this unknown governor from a small state up North speak out forcefully and plainly against it. He questioned the Administration's motives. He wondered aloud why the Democratic leadership in Washington was rolling over for the President. I started a Students for Dean group on campus a few weeks later. After the primary season ended and the general election campaign season rolled in, I worked hard for Democrats both locally and nationally. The disappointing results from this past November only made me more energized to fight for our values and beliefs.

One day, I hope to fulfill a long-held wish to have a stint in the Peace Corps, where I can restore our nation's image abroad. But until then, I'll be here at home fighting for progressive causes and Democratic candidates. Its great to see first-hand how DFA works to cultivate an army of socially progressive, fiscally responsible Democrats who will win elections. With my background in Computer Science, I'll be working to create more innovative and efficient online tools that will help all of you organize and mobilize. We'll be introducing these tools later this summer, and I look forward to seeing them utilized in the fight to take our country back.

Thanks for reading.
—Luigi Montanez

Commandments Banned at Courthouses; Permitted on Government Land

In two separate rulings today, the Supreme Court decided that displaying the Ten Commandments will not be permitted at courthouses, stating that it violates the separation of church and state. The Ten Commandments can still, however, be displayed on government land. The high court said that each of these displays requires assessment to determine whether or not there's a violation.

No Supreme Court Retirement Announcements Yet

The Supreme Court ended its term today with no announcements of retirement from any of the justices. There is still the possibility that a retirement could come later in the form of a letter to President Bush or in a press release. Most of the retirement speculation surrounds Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 80, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 75.

Congolese Cautiously Move Toward National Election

Voting in Congo is scheduled to begin this autumn and continue through next year, but commissioners are worried with compiling lists of registered voters. Some of the obstacles the commissioners need to overcome include the lack of passable roads, displaced people from years of war, and the presence of armed militias that continue to target citizens.

—Annalouise Venturella

For those who say that "liberals" are too busy gloating about the failing war in Iraq (from which this administration has no exit strategy) to support the President or the troops, Texan Molly Ivins explains:

Thomas Friedman, columnist for the New York Times, recently wrote that "liberals" no longer want to talk about the war because we were against it to start with and probably hope it ends in disaster. Good Lord, who does he think we are? Does this man actually think we are out here cheering every time another American is killed?

Mr. Friedman, real, actual, honest-to-God American liberals are out here in the heartland, and we know the kids who are dying in Iraq. They are from our hometowns. We know their parents. That's why we hate this war. That's why we tried to tell everybody else it was a ghastly idea.

We are not sitting here gloating because it is the horrible mess we said it would be. We're in agony. There is nothing pleasurable about being a Cassandra. I have said from the beginning that if this thing worked out the way Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Cheney all said it would, I would be perfectly happy to get down on my knees and kiss George Bush's feet.

Melissa Taylor and Molly Ivins at DemocracyFest 2005
Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor

Ivins, like many of us, was shocked at the blatant attempt to mislead the American people into war that the Downing Street Memo outlined:

...when I read the first Downing Street Memo, my eyes bugged out and my jaw fell open. I could not believe what I was reading. It was news to me, and as I have tried to indicate, I'm no slouch at keeping up. Yes, it has long seemed to me the administration had been planning the war for months before it began its public relations campaign to scare a skeptical public.

That was no easy task. Public opinion was still evenly divided at the time we invaded. The administration actually said it could invade another country without even consulting Congress or the United Nations. Pretty much everything that followed was a charade.

At what point do we get fed up with the White House's excuses and incompetence?

Liz Herbert is the Editorial Director and Anne Lindsay is the National Coordinator of the Rapid Response Network. The Rapid Response Network offers guest commentary at Democracy for America every Monday.

In Emerald City, the illusion of "the Great and Powerful Oz" crumbled quickly once Toto caught on and nipped and yipped at the "Wizard's" heels. It was in the "last throes" (cough, cough) of his deception that the Wizard—in a panic—puffed out lots and lots of smoke.

As we nip at this administration's heels, they are frantically working the levers behind their curtain. One sure sign they're amping up the smoke is when they go for what Marianne Means described as "shallow symbols" such as this week's passage in the House of an amendment to the Constitution to forbid desecration of the flag.

...the White House and Congress are fond of governing by shallow symbols; it's so much easier than slogging through complicated, hard-to-explain issues. It adds to the negative picture of the opposition they are trying to paint.

While this administration seems intent on showing us how much they respect the flag, they sure seem to have few qualms about stomping all over the principles it represents. A few examples from this week alone:

President Bush preached to another pre-screened choir.

Our jaws dropped when we learned that Florida Republican Congressman Adam Putnam essentially overturned the results of a voice vote when he didn't much like the outcome.

Dick Cheney uncannily outdid himself again: "They got a brand-new facility down at Guantanamo," Cheney said. "We spent a lot of money to build it. They're very well treated down there. They're living in the tropics. They're well fed. They've got everything they could possibly want..."

Karl Rove, in the most offensive but least covered portion of his comments, cynically torqued truth-telling dissent into treason and almost half of Americans into enemies of the state.

Such increasingly sloppy hubris hints that there is frantic smoke and mirror button-pushing going on. As usual, Governor Dean nailed Rove's tactics:

Given the miserable failures of Bush's foreign policy, it's no wonder Rove would launch this desperate attempt to deflect from the real issues and distort what Democrats say rather than admit what Republicans have done.

The curtain has been pulled back, we're onto them. Yip, yip.

—Liz Herbert (FL), Anne Lindsay (NC)
Speak up. Join Rapid Response.

Jessica Falker is the Director of Democracy for Vermont.

This month, 13 people gathered in Rutland, VT to discuss the future of Democracy For Vermont. In attendance were representatives from DFA, Meetups across the state and the DFV Steering Committee.

As the DFV Director, I gave a brief history of DFV and encouraged the Meetup Organizers in attendance to join the DFV Steering Committee. Each Meetup's representative then took a turn to briefly describe what was happening with their Meetup and what each group's priorities were (individual group priorities were determined at the June meetings by the attendees). The common priorities were: Environment, Health Care, Anti-War and Election Reform. Those will be the goals that Democracy For Vermont will work on in the near future.

Arshad Hasan, DFA's Training Coordinator, joined us to describe the upcoming Grassroots Trainings. He asked for input and help with the agenda and promotion.

We also had a lively discussion about the upcoming DFV State Convention. The group came up with many suggestions for improving the event. The Convention is free and all are welcome to attend. Hope to see you there!

It was great to get together with the grassroots leadership from accross the state. Putting faces to email addresses will make a huge difference in future communications. We all agreed that we would have another Leadership Conference as soon as possible!

—Jessica Falker

Alex Young, Karen Bauer and Leslie Weise were removed from a "town hall" event in Denver, CO where President Bush appeared to discuss his Social Security privatization plan. Karen Bauer joins us today with an update on their story.

Who gave the marching orders and violated our First Amendment rights?

It's been three months since, Alex Young, Leslie Weise and I were physically removed from the Bush "town hall meeting" on privatizing Social Security in Denver on March 21, 2005. Unlike Watergate, we will not wait 30 years to find out who the mystery man is that removed us and what marching orders were given to him by the White House.

We are working with the media to bring awareness to our story and to get answers to our questions. On two occasions Scott McClellan was asked about our case. He said that the person who threw us out was a volunteer - and that was directly disputed by Secret Service and the CO Republican Party, who confirmed that it was an official staffer on the White House host committee. He still hasn't answered to that dispute. On the second occasion, he said he would check into and the tell the media about the "marching orders" given to White House event staff about how to screen and remove citizens from town hall events, but he has never made good on that promise. No media has gotten the answers to those questions. It makes me wonder, was the media been given their "marching orders"?

Eight of nine Colorado Members of Congress (half Republican) have spoken out against the White House policy of removing people from taxpayer-funded town halls based solely on viewpoint. Last week, Senator Ken Salazar, Congressman Mark Udall and Congresswoman Diana DeGette renewed their request for information pertaining to our case. "It has been reported in the Denver media that the Secret Service knows the identity of the person responsible for removing these three people from the event. The lack of information from the Secret Service and the White House and their unresponsiveness toward this matter gives the appearance of either disinterest or coverup."

On our two-month anniversary, we launched the "Don't Privatize My Freedom" campaign The campaign will increase awareness of the White House pattern of removing citizens from town hall forums based solely on viewpoint, and will demand answers from the White House about how event staff are trained. Similar viewpoint exclusion and removal tactics have been used by White House event staff at town hall forums in Colorado, North Dakota, Arizona, and New Hampshire. Our campaign has several elements:

Our website www.denverthree.org

Don't Privatize My Freedom Bumper stickers and t-shirts for purchase on our site

Town Halls. In Washington DC and/or the 4 cities where these incidents took place, the Denver Three will host a town hall forums on Social Security, where people from BOTH sides will be invited. These are the town hall meetings that George W. Bush has denied citizens where ALL viewpoints are welcome.

Free Speech events. In Denver, the Denver Three will be participating in an annual Freedom Run on July 4th, and will actually be honored with an award for our efforts.

To stay updated on our story, take a look at our Don't Privatize My Freedom bumper stickers and t-shirts, visit us at www.denverthree.org.

—Karen Bauer
Denver, CO

Meet the Press (MSNBC) - With increased questions about the length and costs of U.S. involvement in Iraq, the Bush administration is facing mounting political pressure to define the mission, as well as an exit strategy. Donald Rumsfeld joins "Meet The Press" this Sunday to address the U.S. role in Iraq. Then, an exclusive interview with Bono, the lead singer of U2, who is also a leading voice fighting poverty in Africa. Bono—the co-founder of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa)—will make his first appearance on "Meet the Press" to discuss the global fight against poverty and the July 2 "Live 8" series of concerts—which seek to encourage the G8 nations to provide the world's poorest nations with complete debt cancellation, increased aid and more trade.

This Week with George Stephanopoulos (ABC) - Deep Throat's boss breaks his silence. Former FBI Director L. Patrick Gray speaks out for the first time in 32 years in an exclusive interview with George Stephanopoulos. Gray will discuss his FBI underling, Mark Felt, who recently revealed he was "Deep Throat", the famous source for The Washington Post's Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during the Watergate scandal. Gray also talks about why he destroyed documents, and offers his candid thoughts on former President Nixon, Woodward and Bernstein. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, fresh off contentious Senate hearings, assesses the war in Iraq and responds to Sen. Edward Kennedy's (D-MA), call that he resign.

On Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer (CNN) - This week's guests include; Gen. John Abizaid, commander; U.S. Central Command, Sen. Carl Levin, (D-MI); Armed Services Committee, and President Emile Lahoud, Republic of Lebanon Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraqi Prime Minister

Face The Nation (CBS) - Host Bob Schieffer will discussing Iraq and the Supreme Court. Guests include Gen. John Abizaid, Commander, U.S. Central Command, Jan Crawford Greenburg, Chicago Tribune and Lara Logan, CBS News Correspondent.

Fox News Sunday (FOX News) - Tense exchanges percolated throughout Capitol Hill Thursday as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld fended off calls for his resignation, rejected calls for a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and urged patience in the face of continued terror attacks there. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rumsfeld and the top military brass in Iraq and at the Pentagon outlined the challenges for that country and emphasized the positive steps being made there.

Regular blogger and sometime DFA HQ volunteer, listener, gathered this account of three recent Blogger Gatherings in the Northeast: The Big Burlington Blogger Bash, the Jean Jacket Juggle and Dinner in NYC.

It all started when TigerMom (previously NM*Mom) said she would be in Vermont with her family over Memorial Day weekend, (her husband was running in the Burlington Marathon). She hoped that someone in Burlington would like to meet. We began to make plans, and a few dozen emails later, there were as many as 13 bloggers interested in the gathering—including Free Spirit who would be in Vermont that weekend—all the way from North Carolina! We made plans to gatheron May 29th for dinner at Vermont Pub and Brewery. (TigerMom is bringing her sons up as proper lads, taking them to both church and the pub.)

In the end, we were nine: TigerMom (NM), Marcia Moody (NH), sunlight (VT), Lunch Lady (VT), Anne*from*Vermont (VT), Free Spirit (NC), SylvieNYC (NY), Vermonter (VT), and listener (VT). Missing and missed were: jjem, Leslie Klisz, and Julie Ann Thayer, and Jo*in*Vermont.

Back to front, left side....right side
Anne*from*Vermont
Free Spirit...............................Lunch Lady
SylvieNYC......................................sunlight
Vermonter...............................Marcia Moody
listener........................TigerMom (formerly NM*Mom)

When we arrived at Vermont Pub & Brewery, we learned that due to Marathon Day there would be about an hour and a half wait. TigerMom and her hubby and their two young sons, friend Mike, and listener walked down to another restaurant—Burlington Bay on the waterfront—so the kids and famished marathoners wouldn't have to wait. Lunch Lady, Anne*from*Vermont, Marcia Moody, sunlight and Vermonter opted to stay at the Pub to wait for the others.

As many of you know, Marcia Moody has been putting together an awesome scrapbook of Howard Dean's political career...since at least when he was Lieutenant Governor here in VT to now. She will be presenting it to Dean at DemFest this weekend, so be sure to be on hand for the presentation. Marcia showed us her photos of each page of the book, which was over 200 pages! TigerMom and I had quite the nostalgia trip looking at the photos. We got the “What Coulda Beens” really bad.

Highlights from lunch:
— Lunch Lady is working for Bernie Sanders now (she made lunch for Dean HQ for many months, every Monday and Wednesday!)...and just got a refrigerator into Bernie's office.
— Anne*from*Vermont has been visiting veterans and is working to get them more phone cards.
— SylvieNYC was her own gracious self. I am a sucker for her eloquent accent!!...I could listen to her all night (like Free and jjem apparently did the evening before….more on that gathering in a moment).
— Marcia Moody serves in the House of Representatives in NH, and is a wonderful example of speaking truth to power! New Hampshire is well empowered with Marcia at the helm!
— sunlight was so good to see again (we first met at DemFest last year)...and I noted that he sat across from Free Spirit, so I guess they finally got in the conversation they were hoping for.
— Vermonter sails in the same bay that my hubby and I do!! We hope to sail together sometime soon.
— TigerMom was wondering about running for office...and whether one can make more of a difference that way (within the system) or by being an outside irritant. (Discuss among yourselves.)
— Free Spirit showed me her ultra-cool tattoo again (I asked), and though I was down the other end of the table, I heard something about a jean jacket mix up, but not enough to really know what happened (Click Read More to hear about the Jean Jacket Juggle and Dinner in NYC).

There's nothing so enlivening in the midst of our strong efforts to strengthen this country as gathering together, sharing our stories, and having some fun! Sooo, anybody interested in some hot apple pie with butter pecan ice cream?

—listener

See Bush administration officials butter Philip Morris up with yet more tender love and affection:

Senior Justice Department officials overrode the objections of career lawyers running the government's tobacco racketeering trial and ordered them to reduce the penalties sought at the close of the nine-month trial by $120 billion, internal documents and interviews show.

The trial team argued that the move would be seen as politically motivated and legally groundless.

"We do not want politics to be perceived as the underlying motivation, and that is certainly a risk if we make adjustments in our remedies presentation that are not based on evidence," the two top lawyers for the trial team, Sharon Y. Eubanks and Stephen D. Brody, wrote in a memorandum on May 30 to Associate Attorney General Robert D. McCallum that was reviewed by The New York Times.

The two lawyers said the lower penalty recommendation ordered by Mr. McCallum would weaken the department's position in any possible settlement with the industry and "create an incentive for defendants to engage in future misconduct by making the misconduct profitable."

At the close of a major trial that dozens of Justice Department lawyers spent more than five years preparing, the department stunned a federal courtroom last week by reducing the penalties sought against the industry, from $130 billion to $10 billion, over accusations of fraud and racketeering.

Alane Bowling is a San Francisco for Democracy founding member.

On Saturday, June 11th, San Francisco for Democracy's DeanCorps began a new volunteer effort at St. Anthony's Dining Room in The Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Twelve San Francisco for Democracy volunteers, including three teenagers, began the day at 9:00 am with an in-depth orientation by St. Anthony's staff, covering the causes and realities of poverty and homelessness, Tenderloin demographics, and the inner workings of the Dining Room.

At 10:30, we were ready to serve a hot lunch to guests in the first seating, which included seniors, families, and the disabled. St. Anthony's tends to their guests' emotional as well as physical needs. Their staff and volunteers are dedicated to treating everyone with respect and compassion. This guiding principle was evident on Saturday, reflected back to us in the form of lots of smiles, jokes, and thank yous.

At 11:30, our volunteers switched to busing tables, which is hard work but well worth the effort. Most of the folks we met really appreciated that we wanted to do a little something for them and do it with a smile and a few kind words. Around noon, we started taking our own lunch breaks, two or three at a time, going through the cafeteria line and sitting with whoever had been friendliest to us while we were working.

Most of our lunch companions wanted to know about DeanCorps and Democracy for America and had a favorable impression of Gov. Dean. After our breaks, it was back to work until 1 pm or so when we headed upstairs for a new volunteer recap. It wasn't an easy assignment, but everyone enjoyed helping some San Franciscans in need. Many thanks to all the DeanCorps volunteers and to Chris and Ilysa at St. Anthony's.

—Alane Bowling

Greetings Everyone!

My name is Rachel Sadler and I'm a Field/ Political intern at Democracy for America. Specifically I work in the training department, which organizes activist trainings in different locations around the country. What that entails is a lot of logistical stuff like placing food orders, organizing housing and travel for participants and trainers and making a lot of phone calls to get the word out. It also involves a lot of planning, since this is a relatively new program. If you've received a phone call from us in the past few days, chances are you talked to myself or one of my fellow Field/Political interns. Our upcoming training is actually happening this weekend here in Burlington, Vermont, so between last-minute planning and the recent “bat fever” it's been a busy and exciting week in this office.

I became interested in politics as I was growing up in Palm Beach, Florida. As you can imagine, that was a pretty exciting place to be during the 2000 election insanity and being there made me very aware of the complicated and volatile nature of our political system. After going through high school I was ready to be in a liberal environment so I decided to attend Vassar College, where I just finished my first year. Like a typical liberal arts student, I haven't decided what my major will be, but right now I'm leaning towards either English or (big surprise) Political Science. I decided to come to Democracy for America initially because I am a huge fan of Howard Dean (the first candidate I ever voted for). And while I expected this organization to be great, I continue to be amazed by the energy and focus of the staff here and think this may be the only place where I could love working twelve hour days.

I guess I should probably start the daily phone banking soon so we can reach all the people who haven't yet heard about this weekend... as I sign off, I'd like to ask those of you in the Vermont area to think about attending this weekend's training! It'll be a really fun and motivating two days and you'll leave with some new skills to help put your progressive ideas into action. I hope to meet some of you guys over my time here!

Bye for now,
Rachel

Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers ...

Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals.

— Karl Rove
Senior Political Advisor
Executive Office of the President
June 22

1. Does anybody particularly want an apology from Karl Rove?

2. Did anybody feel like giving Zacarias Moussaoui a Prozac and a copy of "Please Understand Me" on September 12?

3. Does anyone plan on holding her breath for a White House operative to apologize to all those liberal troops -- we have to have a few, don't you know -- for calling out their fetish for, y'know, getting terrorists on the couch for hot one-on-one Freudian analysis?

4. Does anyone else get the sense that Karl Rove's idea of a fun night out is throwing darts at a picture of Franklin Roosevelt?

Public Broadcasting Funds Restored; Concerns Remain Over New President

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to restore $100 million for public radio and television next year, thus overturning the Republicans' plan for severe spending cuts. If the vote is approved by the Senate later this summer, the main funding would stay at the current $400 million level.

In a related story, many public radio and television stations, as well as Democratic lawmakers are concerned over the new leader of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Yesterday, the CPB appointed Patricia S. Harrison, a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee, to be the corporation's new president and chief executive. Opponents fear that Harrison could bring partisanship into an organization that normally shields public broadcasting from political pressures.

Energy Bill Nears Completion

The Senate yesterday almost finished a national energy agenda that would encourage conservation and the use of environmentally-friendly fuels. However, senators did reject a last-minute proposal to significantly raise automobile fuel economy over the next 10 years. This energy bill, which awaits a final vote, next Tuesday, differs from an earlier bill that favored to oil and gas producers.

Despite Declining Support for Iraq War, No Withdraw In Sight

President Bush assured Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari that there are no timetables set for American troop withdraw and promised victory over the insurgents in Iraq. Bush said that a timetable would only encourage the insurgents to wait until American forces leave. Meanwhile an AP-Ipsos poll this week shows that more than half of the public believe going to war was a mistake.

—Annalouise Venturella

David Salie, former Director of House Party Fundraising for the Howard Dean campaign, led sessions on house party fundraising at DemocracyFest.

Hi, everyone! What a great feeling I got this past weekend, working—and playing—once more with so many people who trace their activism back to the House Party Fundraising program that we created together. I traveled from Washington DC to Austin, Texas to train dozens of activists in hosting better house parties and starting house party programs for their local, state, and national campaigns and candidates. It was wonderful to meet people like Marian from Ohio and Jamie from New Jersey—folks I only had known from email and telephone.

In my sessions, we shared strategies to ensure the success of house party hosts and program organizers. We used DFA House Party Day this Thursday evening as a way to practice our grassroots fundraising and organizing skills.

During the House Party training sessions, I reminded hosts, "Tell your personal story—and don't forget to ask!" Jay from Texas noted how important it was for hosts to follow up with each guest with a "Thank You" note, and Kim from Connecticut shared with us, "Sending emails is not enough—you really have to pick up the phone and call people to invite them and remind them to come." All true. All true. We covered a lot of ground—too many lessons and tips to list in just one blog entry. But I've posted lots of House Party resources at www.party2win.com/demfest . There are how-to tips, freebies, and a special contest for DemFest attendees and DFA friends.

House Party programs can allow many small groups to gather simultaneously and tie them together with a common element like a conference call (DFA's House Parties on Thursday night featured DFA Chair Jim Dean and Executive Director Tom Hughes). So whether they're done for fundraising, outreach or training purposes, they're an amazing way to build community both at the neighborhood level (where those personal relationships start) and at the local, state or national level (where these networks can have real impact). When done right, House Party programs can be used to train your volunteers to be grassroots leaders in your communities. They're like mini-DemocracyFests, organized whenever and wherever you want!

To learn more tips on making your House Parties a success—and to enter our contest to win a Party2Win Party Pack, go to www.party2win.com/demfest.

—David Salie

Teri Mills is a longtime Blog For America community member and participant—as well as a recent op-ed columnist for the New York Times! Her guest column on health care appears on Blog for America on Fridays and she blogs at www.nationalnurse.info.

In three days, a team of nurses will embark on Washington D.C. to lobby Congress to sponsor legislation for an Office of the National Nurse. The crux of this Office will be to establish a National Nurse Corps whose main responsibility is to design and conduct community outreach activities that best meet the needs of their citizens. By educating the public regarding healthy life-style practices and ways to prevent disease, the Nurse Corps will ultimately reduce suffering, save lives and be cost-effective.

The Corps will also promote and support legislation to improve the health of every single American. Nurses know from their formal education that we must stand up and advocate for those who are committed to their care. Nurses must take a lesson from Martin Luther King and Howard Dean, and not remain silent. We must continue to speak out on issues that impact our patients and their health. The Florence Nightingale Pledge states, "With loyalty, we are devoted to all those who are committed to our care."

Nurses are all too familiar with the ongoing Code Purple condition of the United States' health care system. Being on the front lines working directly with patients and their families, we see many preventable situations. One travesty that occurred just eighteen months ago involved 37-year-old Douglas Schmidt who died in a Portland, Oregon hospital. He was among thousands of Oregonians who lost state-paid coverage for their prescription medications. The anti-convulsant medication Schmidt was taking cost the state $13 each day. Schmidt could no longer afford to buy his meds, and when he discontinued the drug, he had a seizure, became comatose and eventually slipped away to a slow and lingering death. The cost of his hospitalization totaled nearly a million dollars.

One month ago, a nursing student came to me in tears. The patient she was taking care of could no longer afford their blood pressure medications and ended up having a stroke, eventually dying.

The prescription drug program, which was designed to help prevent horrific situations like the two above, goes into effect January 1st. Unfortunately, there are two problems with it that even President Bush is aware of. The first Bush mentioned in a speech he gave to 300-400 invited Minnesotans, telling them that persuading Americans to sign up for a new program would be difficult. The second issue is the huge gap of prescription drug coverage where no benefit is allowed between $2,250 and $5,100 of drug expenses.

Americans deserve better. We need a National Nurse to make sure we are advocating for a solution that works for all of us and that finally fixes this problem.

—Teri Mills, RN, MS, ANP
Democracy for Oregon

Ahh... the power and addictiveness of DFA juice!

My name is Aaron Voldman and I'm a Field-Political/Generation DFA Intern at DFA (Headquarters for America). I'm also conveniently from South Burlington, Vermont (only a few miles away from HQ). I just graduated from the Vermont Commons School, and will be a Freshman at Brandeis University next year. I have been involved in activism work through the founding of the Nonviolent Student Activism Coalition which works to create a culture of peace, and Youth for Democracy which works to create greater communication between youth and candidates. I have also been working on lobbying for the Department of Peace Bill and organized the South Burlington Iraq Resolution.

DFA Summer Intern, Aaron Voldman

However, my passion has always been electoral politics. I first became involved in politics when I was 15 during the 2002 mid-term elections as the youth campaign manager for one candidate, and volunteering on another's campaign. To the surprise of many of my friends now, both candidates were Republicans. During the campaigns, it was the first time I had ever gone door to door and met neighbors who had to choose between prescription drugs, heat and food.

Six months later I lost faith in trickle down economics, and remembering those I met while working for the Republicans, I joined the Dean campaign in May 2003. My experience working on two radically different sides of the political spectrum gave me an interesting perspective during the campaign. A perspective that let me back away from demonizing those who saw a different path than I did, and a perspective that allowed me to empathize with the needs expressed by all voters, whether they are voting for Democrats, Republicans, Independents, or Greens.

I am supposedly working part-time at DFA, but more and more I think the 15-20 hour workweek is eroding. Yesterday I finished my first 12-hour work day along with six other interns and three staff members, a workday many of them are used to! Last week some bloggers remarked they were becoming like "DFA bat addicts", who just needed one more fix, wanted just one more swing of the bat. There's something magical that happened during the Dean campaign, can be seen on this blog, and can be felt in the office. It's what I call the juice: the DFA juice.

So what is the chemistry of this DFA juice that motivates all of us? I missed out on Chemistry class (never took it in high school), but I think it is working for change that recognizes and celebrates the humanity within every individual. It is policy that empathizes with the needs of all Americans, but then offers a brighter, more effective path to reach those needs. It is policy that says, "I care about you not only as a number in my payroll, but as a human being." This type of policy, this type of message, is truly one of hope. And it is what gets us through the 12 hour-plus workdays, and it is what makes all of you such admirable bloggers and activists. As we continue spreading our message, and spreading our DFA juice, let us not forget its chemistry!

Keep going!

—Aaron Voldman

Until Governor Dean joins The Daily Show's Jon Stewart on the East Coast.

Join the discussion about the broadcast here!

Don't miss Gov. Dean on The Daily Show tonight at 11pm EST!

Democrats Focus on Wal-Mart for Health Care Bill

Yesterday several Democrats in Congress proposed a bill that would require states to report the names of companies that have 50 or more employees who receive government-funded health insurance. In particular, this bill would pressure Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to upgrade their employees' health care coverage. Wal-Mart provides full-time benefits to employees who work 34 hours or more a week, but employees must wait 180 days before they receive coverage.

House Endorses Ban on Flag Burning

Yesterday the House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment that would now give Congress the power to prohibit desecration of the American flag. By a vote of 286-130, House members approved the ban after debating whether or not the measure violates the Constitution's freedom of speech amendment. If the amendment passes through the Senate, it would then move on to each state for ratification.

Pentagon Creating Database of Potential Student Recruits

Yesterday the Defense Department, along with a private marketing firm, began formulating a database of high school and college students to assist the military in finding possible recruits to boost enlistment. The database will include information such as the student’s birth date, ethnicity, Social Security number and grade-point averages.

Despite Nuclear Standoff, Koreas Seek Peaceful Resolution

Both Koreas today said they would seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing standoff over North Korea's nuclear program. However, neither country set a date to continue disarmament talks. North Korea backed away from the discussions for a year stating that U.S. policies were "hostile." Though talks are scheduled to resume in July, South Korean delegation spokesman Kim Chun-shick said North Korea has not given a definite answer.

Senate Democrats Urge Consultation on Court Nominees

Senate Democrats are urging President Bush to discuss with them potential Supreme Court nominees as a way to alleviate controversy that has surrounded his lower court nominees. In a letter to Bush, signed by 43 of 44 Democrats and independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, the group stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation.

—Annalouise Venturella

There is something exciting stirring in the grassroots. People are getting together, enjoying good food, good company and good conversation with other progressives all across the country. It's party time!

More than fifty House Parties are being held around the country tonight to raise money, have fun and support Democracy for America.

There are some cool things on the agenda for the evening: We will be hosting a nationwide Conference Call with our Executive Director, Tom Hughes. There are two call sessions for East Coast and West Coast party hosts at 8:30 PM Eastern and 7:00 PM Pacific/10:00 Eastern—join the call that works best for you!

You can sign-up for a house party online at www.democracyforamerica.com/houseparties.

There is also an accompanying web presentation that can be watched online at www.democracyforamerica.com/june23.

Get excited! The party is about to start, hope you can join us tonight for the festivities.

—Matt Oliver

Scott Goldstein reports on the "What It Means to Be a Progressive" session from DemocracyFest.

As progressives, we fight everyday for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. As progressives, we fight for democracy and the rule of the people over the powerful. We fight for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We may not realize however, that history has given us the greatest mandate of all.

DemocracyFest presenter Charles Grapski brilliantly taught us this weekend what it means to be a progressive. American politics has come to be a battle of the liberals and conservatives, the left and the right. But the very idea of a "left and right" in the political spectrum was rooted in monarchy. To the right of the monarch in the parliament would sit the aristocracy, the rich, the elite. On the left side of the monarch sat the representatives of the people.

Charlie Grapski after his talk at DemFest

Being on the left represents a proud tradition of standing up for people without a voice. It represents a system in which the rulers = the ruled. We are literally in the midst of the second American revolution. Conservative policies favor those that create them, both the political and financial upper class. But progressive policies favor society, and a shared community.

As Democrats begin to use the word progressive more and more, we should be aware that this has historical precedent. The word liberal is not the opposite of the conservative, progressive is. Liberal simply means open minded. This political debate is about progressivism vs. regressivism. We want to move America forward, they want to take America back. Back before the days of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Head Start. Back before the days of the New Deal. They prefer an America of deference where the ruled defer to authority and let the Tom Delays of the world tell us what to do. But we will always stand for Democracy.

Yet even still they have made the word conservative seem "American." But it is hardly so. We led the first American revolution because conservatism and deference were oppressing us. We wanted freedom of the individual (liberalism). How dare conservatives argue they are the party of individual rights and freedom. The root of the word liberal means individual freedom! We became an independent United States of America because we were progressives...and the second American revolution will prove that we always will be.

—Scott Goldstein

The DFA headquarters office in Burlington, VT is literally bursting with people as the latest group of summer interns arrive by plane, train, bus and car. We've invited all of them to introduce themselves to you over the course of the next two weeks—though to meet most of them, you have only to pick up the phone and call HQ or open a DFA mailing.

Hi everyone! My name is Annalouise Venturella and I'm the new communications intern here at Democracy for America. I am originally from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, which is located near Hershey and Harrisburg. I graduated from Lebanon Valley College in May of 2004 with a degree in historical communications.

I really have to thank my political science professor for sparking my interest into politics. Even though I only enrolled in two of his classes, I still remained intrigued by the inner workings of government, both here and abroad. While attending LVC, I joined the College Democrats and became involved in a local campaign for another professor who was running for state representative.

When Howard Dean announced he was running for president, I was really energized by his message to "take our country back." He was the only candidate who I felt spoke to people in way that would encourage participation in politics. Around this same time, I began voicing my opinion by writing letters to my state's two Republican senators on issues that were (and still are) very important to me. I'm proud to say that I have sent numerous letters and petitions to Congress on issues regarding equal rights and civil liberties, environmental protection, judicial nominees, health care, education, jobs, Social Security, and the war in Iraq. One of my hopes for the near future is to have woman elected as president.

I am so glad to be working for DFA this summer and it has already been a wonderful learning experience. The best day, of course, was having the opportunity to meet Gov. Dean.

—Annalouise

Correction:
In Tuesday's news brief regarding the defense spending bill, the House approved another $45 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which would bring the total cost to over $300 billion.

House Debates Flag Burning Amendment

The House of Representatives is moving toward a measure today that could give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag. The debate focuses on whether or not this proposed amendment would violate the Constitution's free speech rights. The Senate plans to weigh in on the issue after the Fourth of July holiday.

U.S. Gives Food Aid to North Korea

The United States will donate 50,000 tons of food aid to North Korea based on humanitarian need. According to Adam Ereli, a spokesman from the State Department, the decision was not based on political considerations or the six-party talks regarding nuclear arms programs.

Female Deputy Chosen for South Africa

President Thabo Mbeki selected a woman to serve as the new deputy president for South Africa. Phumzile Miambo-Ngucka, former Minerals and Energy Minister, has been praised for her excellent working relationships with business leaders and for being competent and skilled.

—Annalouise Venturella

Around 10:30 on Saturday night, Glenn Maxey, one of the great statesmen of progressive politics both in and out of Texas, got up to speak to DemFest attendees at Stubb's BBQ in Austin. Glen had already spoken and moderated several seminars and forums during the previous two days of DemFest. He got up on stage and said, "I'm not going to make a speech, I want the people who made DemFest happen to come out."

About fifteen people came up on stage... Teri, Marla, Fran, Jessica and others from Democracy for Texas and My Vote Is My Voice. They paid tribute to a whole bunch of other folks who made DemFest a reality to the cheers of 2000 hot n' happy progressive activists.

Fran Vincent, Democracy for Texas
Photo by Cheryl

That DemFest was an unqualified and resounding success is hugely understated. Many will talk about the seminars, good times, learning, and sheer fun. I will as well, but I remain awed by the organization and sheer determination of those in DFT and MVIMV who undertook this two-day event on such a grand scale.

It was a party of 1000 people over two days—2000 at Stubbs by the time Howard came on to speak. Believe me, I have no words to describe any of this. It was truly a mega event. And I have no words to describe how I feel about the people who worked so hard to make DemFest the success that it was. I've simply never seen something this well organized.

I came away from this thinking I learned a lot, but really discovering how much more to there is to learn.

I came away determined to make sure that those who could not make it down to DemFest this year will somehow be able to come to next year's event.

And I came away with a slight headache, having taken a little too much of Jim Hightower's advice about using beer and barbeque to reach out in politics.

DemFest '05 was a testament to the will, entrepreneurship, and permanency of the progressive movement in our country. We are here to stay and the leadership of this country will be better off for it—even if they don’t know it yet.

To all who attended. To everyone from Democracy for Texas, My Vote is My Voice and the DemFest sponsors who gave us this gift—my thanks for one great weekend and one hell of a time!

Good afternoon from WakeUpWalMart.com, America's campaign to change Wal-Mart. Our office is humming this morning thanks to DFA and all Americans who are tired of their hard earned taxpayer dollars subsidizing a company with over $10 billion in net profits.

This afternoon at 1:45 pm on Capitol Hill, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Jon Corzine and Congressman Anthony Weiner will hold a press conference with Joe Hansen, President of the United Food & Commercial Workers, announcing the introduction of the Health Care Accountability Act (HCAA).

The Act will help determine the extent to which taxpayers are subsidizing the health care costs of our nation's largest employers. Most importantly, this legislation marks the beginning of our campaign to make Wal-Mart pay its fair share for health care.

Last Meetup, DFA partnered with WakeUpWalMart.com to highlight Wal-Mart's health care crisis. Wake-Up Wal-Mart and DFA grassroots leaders have been meeting and planning for tomorrow's house parties, as well as other actions in early July. Right now, we have combined to organize over 100 house parties in over 40 states throughout the country.

Last week, Wal-Mart announced it is hiring 14 new high-priced lobbyists to counter our efforts. But, you all know the truth. No amount of money can ever compete with the American people.

Wal-Mart's power is its profits. Our power is the American people. The American people shouldn't have to pay up to $2.5 billion a year to subsidize the largest corporation in the world. The American people shouldn't have to pay more than $200 million and counting for Wal-Mart's failure to provide health care.

Instead of being embarrassed, Wal-Mart arrogantly brags that most state public health care programs offer "a better value" than Wal-Mart's health care. What a shame. But Wal-Mart's abuse of our health care system isn't going to change unless we join together and do something about it.

You have the power to change Wal-Mart. At DFA, you have already changed Washington. Now, we need to show America we can change irresponsible corporations as well. If you have not already, please sign up 10 people today to become Citizen Co-Sponsors of our campaign to "Make Wal-Mart Care About Health Care:"

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/health-legislative.html

DFA is the best. We are excited about today's press conference, tomorrow's house parties and all of your efforts to change America.

Thank you for all you continue to do.
Jeremy Bird
Wake-Up Wal-Mart

Mark Naccarato is the Chair of Democracy for Tennessee.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity across the Volunteer State! Thanks to the hard work and determination of DFA activists, word is starting to spread that Democracy for Tennessee is shaping up to be a player in Tennessee politics.

DFT HOUSE PARTIES RAISE $5K IN DONATIONS!

After all the beans were finally counted, the House Parties for Democracy back in May ended up raising almost $5,000 in contributions! With the average donation at about $12, that's an amazing start for our new PAC!

State Senator Rosalind Kurita

Not only that, but we had some great highlights as well. State Senator Rosalind Kurita (above)—a contender for the U.S. Senate to replace Bill Frist—paid a visit to the Nashville and Clarksville House Parties. In Murfreesboro, Democracy for Rutherford County held a very successful silent auction. In Memphis, the Billionaires for Bush (and a belly dancer) made their decadent debut. In Oak Ridge and Tullahoma, local politicians made the rounds. And in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, lots of people new to DFA came to see what all the fuss was about and were excited to see all the activity happening across the state.

Thanks to all of our Party hosts for putting on wonderful events, to Tom Hughes for phoning in on our statewide conference call, and of course to all of our attendees. We hope you had a good time and will continue to support Democracy for Tennessee in our mission to take back America!

DFT CANDIDATES WIN BIG IN OAK RIDGE!

Last week, voters in Oak Ridge voted to send three candidates who were supported by Democracy for East Tennessee to the City Council!

Tom Beehan, Willie Golden, and David Mosby were three of the four candidates supported by DFET. The fourth, Ellen Smith, narrowly lost by less than 100 votes and vows to run again—crediting her tight race to "a grass-roots campaign".

Candidates Forum

DFET hosted a Candidates Forum back in April (above), which got their group on the local paper’s front page and prompted members to make phone calls, go door-to-door, host fundraisers and take out an ad in the paper to support their "ticket to progress."

Congratulations to our Oak Ridge activists for helping elect socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates to local government!

Over the next few days, we will be profiling DemocracyFest sessions. In this post, Scott Goldstein profiles a session on local organizing.

Here is the idea...if you have one hundred people, 20 groups of 5 is going to be way more effective than one group of 100. We need to empower progressives and DFA activists to take on positions of leadership and to take action in their communities. Civicactionnetwork.org was created after the 2004 election by Nathan Wilcox and others from Austin, TX to prove the Margaret Meade philosophy, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful individuals can change the world...indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Small groups can work to achieve attainable and specific goals. Within smaller groups there is better communication, better reaction time, group members get along better, and it ensures a bottom up, rather than top down governing system. Everyone is a leaders, and everyone is important. This doesn't mean we shouldn't have large groups, but picture splitting your 200 person group into lots of small 5 person groups. One group works on political campaign volunteers, one on community based action, on advocacy, fundraising committees, media observers, educational campaigns, and so on. Each group feels a sense of responsibility and each group is accountable for their piece of the puzzle.

Civic Action Networks also create groups of friends with social bonds, a democratic system with trust, creativity, flexibility, and innovation. In many areas, this might be a great way to empower your local Meetup group. Consider starting civic action networks...and check out their website at www.civicactionnetworks.org. And DO NOT miss their video, it's HILARIOUS!

—Scott Goldstein

Gov. Dean to Appear on The Daily Show

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean will be Jon Stewart's guest on The Daily Show this Thursday at 11 p.m. Be sure to watch!

$45 Billion Approved for Iraq and Afghanistan

The House of Representatives voted to increase the defense spending bill by another $45 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The total cost for U.S. military operations is now set at over $300 billion. Rep. Bill Young of Florida said the bill would provide troops with the equipment and technology needed to carry out their operations.

Car Bombing Kills Lebanese Politician

In Beirut today, George Hawi, former Lebanese Communist Party leader and anti-Syrian advocate, died when a bomb exploded in his car. This occurred a day after the anti-Syrian opposition won an eight-seat majority in the parliamentary elections. Hawi is the third supporter to be assassinated this year.

Senate Vote on Climate Change Nears

Industry and environmental lobbyists fought hard yesterday to influence lawmakers' votes as the Senate prepares to challenge President Bush's global warming policy. The Senate agreed to include tax breaks that would promote energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, alternative motor fuels and clean coal technologies.

—Annalouise Venturella

In order to get the truth out about Iraq, you and I need to keep pushing our leaders and the media to come clean. That's why we've put together a new Flash movie about the Downing Street Memo—a movie made to help you spread the word.

In just over a minute, you can show your neighbors, family, co-workers and others why President Bush owes our troops—and every American—an explanation. Watch the video, and then send it to as many people as you can:

Americans deserve to know the truth about this war. Every day innocent Iraqi civilians and brave American servicemen and women die. The more people we can reach with this movie, the closer we come to the day when we bring our troops home alive.

If your computer has a hard time handling Flash—or if you want to read the Downing Street Memo in full—you can go right to our petition to "Demand that Congress hold full hearings." Here's the link:

www.democracyforamerica.com/downingmemo

By now you may have noticed the link on the right side of this page to something called the "Democracy Directory." You may even have clicked on it. Perhaps you even listed your DFA coalition group information in the Directory. Let me tell you a little bit about what it's there for.

The Democracy Directory is an online yellow pages of grassroots organizations. The information in it is provided by you, the leaders of those local groups.

Once enough grassroots leaders find out about the Democracy Directory and list their organizations in it, we'll have a database so large and diverse that anyone, anywhere in the country, will be able to go to one location online to find all the groups in their area working on any number of specific issues. People will be able to easily contact organizers in their communities and get to work.

You'll also find "portals" into the Democracy Directory database on the blogs MyDD.com and bopnews.com. Soon we'll have portals on the websites of several other progressive organizations as well.

Please take a few minutes and post a listing for your local DFA coalition group on the Democracy Directory, so that more activists and organizers in your community can find you and help build DFA!

—Leighton Woodhouse

Hi all!

My name is Julia Silbergeld and I'm a Field-Political Intern at DFA (Headquarters for America). I am concentrating on the candidate selection process, which mainly consists of researching candidates and working with liaisons to get a feel for which candidates are exciting to our grassroots. I am starting my second week and am very enthusiastic about being here.

I just graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where I was, for some reason, a film major. I was on the Film Co-op and served on the Student Health Advisory board. I spent a semester in Kenya studying health and development. I was also part of Wes for Dean.

Julia Silbergeld

During the Summer of 2003, inspired by my older sister, I started attending Dean for America Meetups in New York City. I went on to volunteer for the Dean campaign in Connecticut and Iowa, as well and intern in the LA for Dean office during my winter break.

So far I am loving working at DFA. I am learning so much already and the staff here is unbelievably committed, hard-working, and has a great sense of humor. I also got to drive with the Governor to Boston today :)

Thanks to everyone who hit the bat. It made my first week very exciting!

Keep on it,
Julia

Bush May Sidestep Senate Block on Bolton

Both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House press secretary Scott McClellan say there's a possibility President Bush may bypass the stalled decision on John Bolton for U.N. ambassador if the Senate does not give the nominee an up-or-down vote. Democrats are seeking documents from the administration to determine whether or not Bolton wrongly used intelligence to coerce his opponents.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Visits U.S.

In hopes of strengthening economic ties with the United States, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will be meeting with President Bush on Tuesday to discuss his country's membership in the World Trade Organization. Khai is the first Vietnamese leader to visit the United States since the end of the Vietnam War.

First Female Sworn into Kuwait's Cabinet

Massouma al-Mubarak became the first female in Kuwait's history to take the oath of office in parliament yesterday amid shouts from the opposition. Muslim fundamentalist and tribal lawmakers said al-Mubarak's appointment was unconstitutional because she is not considered an eligible voter, which is a requirement for becoming a cabinet member. Al-Mubarak was unable to register as a voter in February because the suffrage bill was non-existent at the time.

Car Bombs Kill 29 in Iraq

In defiance of a U.S.-Iraqi security crack down in Iraq, insurgents across the country today set off at least eight car bombs, killing 29 people. The violence erupted as two well-known U.S. senators criticized President Bush for his handling of the war. Since the formation of the new Shi'ite government in April, attacks have increased and left more than 1,000 Iraqis and 120 U.S. soldiers dead.

—Annalouise Venturella

Ofer Inbar (aka Cos) is a DFA organizer in Massachusetts, currently working on MassForDean co-founder Jesse Gordon's campaign for Cambridge City Council.

On Wednesday morning, Massachusetts legislators will hold a public hearing on HB1881, "a Resolution Affirming the Civil Rights and Liberties of the Citizens of Massachusetts." If this resolution passes, Massachusetts will become the eighth state in the past three years to officially declare its support for civil liberties and opposition to the USA PATRIOT Act. And if it hadn't been for DFA Meetup, this might not be happening.

In April of 2004, at the first Cambridge Meetup since Democracy for America was founded, Ken Thomson presented an idea: public policy questions. He explained how, in Massachusetts, there is a mechanism for getting nonbinding questions on the ballot, district by district, much more easily than the convoluted 2-year process for a binding initiative. These questions are then regarded as instructions from the voters of a district to their legislator. He suggested that a public policy question campaign makes a great organizing tool to highlight an issue in the press, as well as turn out voters.

I had come to the Meetup with my own idea. Having participated in a successful campaign passed a resolution supporting civil liberties and opposing the Patriot Act in nearby Somerville, I wanted DFA meetups to build this growing movement by helping more cities and towns pass similar resolutions. As soon as I heard Ken's suggestion, I was excited: why not put a public policy question on the ballot in districts across Massachusetts, on this very issue? I knew that Vermont, Alaska, and Hawaii had already passed statewide resolutions, and that the ACLU of Massachusetts had been trying to introduce one here for a while. Our supporters in the legislature were skeptical about its chances of passing. They thought too many other legislators would be afraid to vote for something like this.

Ken and I brought this proposal to the ACLU of MA's civil liberties task force, and they embraced it enthusiastically. We drafted a question, got the language approved by the state house, and there followed an intense six weeks of organizing and gathering signatures. Despite the short time, we qualified for the ballot in nine districts and came close in another six. Other DFA groups participated, like Berkshires for Democratic Change in western Massachusetts, whose members coordinated a signature drive that got on the ballot in two districts.

The morning after election day, amid the gloom, we saw a ray of light. Voters approved our question by overwhelming margins, in every city and town where it was on the ballot. Now our legislators know there's no reason to be afraid. As Congress is debating reauthorizing and even expanding the Patriot Act, it's time for us to make sure Massachusetts adds its voice.

If you live in Massachusetts, please come to the hearing this Wednesday morning, June 22nd, to show your support. Enter the Gardner Auditorium from Bowdoin Street, right side of the state house. The hearing begins at 10:00am but arrive early because the lines at security may be long. Or, if you can't take the morning off, join us for a lunch time rally on the state house steps at noon. We need to fill the auditorium, and make this a big news story!

—Ofer Inbar

Liz Herbert is the Editorial Director of the Rapid Response Network. The Rapid Response Network offers guest commentary at Democracy for America every Monday.

The media events swirling around the Downing Street memos this week should hit home two lessons: We must continue to speak up and we must speak up respectfully.

We must continue to speak up as the story of the Downing Street memo would be DOA without the many average Americans faithfully writing letters to, well, just about everyone. Because of us, Americans woke up to news of the Downing Street memos in their morning paper as the Associated Press and Knight Ridder finally ran solid, substantial pieces. Thursday, the Washington Post ran three pieces on the memo (here, here, and here.)

It only took until Friday, though, to bring a hint of a second lesson. Dana Milbank, on the RR journalist heroes list (who needs a Pulitzer when you've got that) wrote a piece that left us stunned:

In the Capitol basement yesterday, long-suffering House Democrats took a trip to the land of make-believe. They pretended a small conference room was the Judiciary Committee hearing room, draping white linens over folding tables to make them look like witness tables and bringing in cardboard name tags and extra flags to make the whole thing look official. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) banged a large wooden gavel and got the other lawmakers to call him "Mr. Chairman." He liked that so much that he started calling himself "the chairman" and spouted other chairmanly phrases, such as "unanimous consent" and "without objection so ordered." The dress-up game looked realistic enough on C-SPAN, so two dozen more Democrats came downstairs to play along.

In his Sunday column, Washington Post ombudsman Michael Getler quotes Milbank, who makes it quite clear that he has felt under seige by some letter writers, making it easy to wonder if that somehow had a hand in Milbank's rant.

Leaving aside any well-deserved commentary on the head-spinning content and tone of Milbank's piece (offered authoritatively by Rep. John Conyers) much less his spring-loaded response to the Post's ombudsman (competently addressed by Democrats.com) , perhaps this is an opportunity to pause to consider if the tone of letters we write ever edges out the content we must keep trying to get across. Any of us who've read a radical right road rage letter knows that insults and hostility never have the intended effect. At RR we are in the unique position to see what produces results... letters that are measured, factual, assertive though respectful, even friendly (where possible).

Keep them coming.

—Liz Herbert

Speak up. Join Rapid Response.

The DFA headquarters office in Burlington, VT is literally bursting with people as the latest group of summer interns arrive by plane, train, bus and car. We've invited all of them to introduce themselves to you over the course of the next two weeks—though to meet most of them, you have only to pick up the phone and call HQ or open a DFA mailing.

Hey Everyone,

I'm Elliott McCurry and I'm interning for the summer in DFA's information technology department. To avoid being platitudinous, suffice to say that I'm a computer science senior at the University of Florida in Gainesville and I'm thrilled to be working with DFA.

My duties around the office consist of IT-related troubleshooting & maintenance, help with email checking and generally serving as a buffer between Tara and the unforeseen technological hiccups that can tend to occur throughout the day. I'm also working on a number of PHP/JavaScript programming projects that will hopefully find their way to the DFA website sometime in the future. For example, a tool to facilitate conducting and tabulating Instant Runoff Votes via the website, and an interface through which website visitors will be able to access our database of requirements to run for state office.

Anyhow, working with DFA has been a blast so far. The staff and interns at DFA are perhaps the most dedicated and effective group of people I've ever encountered. I may still have a lot to learn about progressive politics and grassroots activism, but I'm looking forward to contributing whatever I can in the time I have here.

Well, I guess I'll keep this short, there's a malfunctioning router and a pint of Ben and Jerry's with my name on them...

—Elliott

Early this morning, a group of bloggers from both Blog for America and Daily Kos gathered for a breakfast of eggs & salsa and biscuits & gravy in the HTU student union. The event, hosted by the Stonewall Democrats of Austin, featured Jerome Armstrong of MyDD and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga of Daily Kos. The two spoke for a few minutes, then invited an open Q & A session with the group. Some quotes from the event, as well as photos, are below:

Jerome and Markos

Jerome: Don't underestimate the number of people who are reading your blog. When I was getting 100-200 hits a day, Joe Trippi was one of them and I didn't even know it.

Markos: Republicans look at their bloggers as an extension of their message machine, and that can have a real impact on results. Our people look at blogs as a money source. They look at blogs as an effective campaign tactic to defeat the Democrats. Blogs are not an ATM machine—they're an extension of the message machine.

One attendee commented that Dems often fight back with gloves on, then he declared, "We'd better get in there and street fight, or else we lose."

Markos: Texas, obviously is a state we need to win... We at least need to make the Republicans spend a lot of money to hold the state.

Robert Andrews, Stonewall Democrats of Austin