Activism

During the 2004 Presidential Race, John Kerry was called naive. I started to notice this in the emails sent over his mailing list since the election. The most glaring example has been his Fire Rove campaign. Clearly Kerry has lost his focus on the big picture, because Rove shouldn't be the only one fired. It should be Bush, Cheney, and all of their top advisers.

In 2003 Bush called for war on Iraq because Saddam Hussein was supposedly developing and/or possessed weapons of mass destruction. After toppling Saddam zero weapons of mass destruction were found, which matched up with what the United Nations' inspectors had said prior to the invasion.

FROM: Marilyn Katz, Chicagoans Against War and Injustice, 312-822-0505, mkatz@mkcpr.com

RESOLUTION TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ INTRODUCED TO CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL
Over 40 of 50 Alderman Already Supportive

Citing the failure of the Bush Administration to substantiate their basis for going to war and the rising cost of the war in Iraq in terms of both lives and dollars, Chicago Aldermen Helen Shiller, Freddrena Lyle and Gene Schulter today introduced a resolution into the ChicagoCity Council calling on the 'United States government to immediately commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq to prevent further casualties, both American and Iraqi, resulting from a misguided and unjustified war.'

By Cindy Sheehan

One very positive aspect of my public anti-war, pro-peace stance is that it has put me in contact with so many people all over the world. I believe that my willingness to share my heart and tragic story (and in the process, tell the truth) helps people open up to me in ways that they cannot do with another. In the past few days, I have been bombarded with horror stories about what our government is doing to innocent Americans.

I was driving from one event to another the other day, and I got a call from an Iranian woman who is now a citizen of the United States, and who has been in the US for 30 years, is married to an American, has a 5 year old son, and a brother who has been in prison for 9 months for wanting to serve America.

Here's a Guide to Visiting Your Congress Member

MEET WITH CONGRESSMEMBERS THIS MONTH
The Resolution of Inquiry, H. Res. 375, now has 40 co-sponsors, and we have the month of August in which to raise that total. If passed, the Resolution will require the White House and the State Department to turn over all information related to communication with officials of the UK between January and October of 2002, the period of the Downing Street documents.

Both progressives and moderates are among the 40 already co-sponsoring. Many more congress members will co-sponsor if a group of their constituents schedules a meeting with them at their district office, while they're home for the month of August, and asks them. All the information you need to do so is here.

ATTEND AUGUST 3rd MEETUPS TO PLAN
Democracy for America (DFA) has organized its members to schedule at least 67 meetings with congress members during August in at least 26 states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, VT, WI). These meetings will focus on requesting hearings on the Downing Street Memos and whether the President misled us into war. One particular request will be that each congress member co-sponsor H. Res. 375.

To get involved with one of these or to organize an additional meeting in your congressional district, attend your local DFA Meetup tomorrow evening, Wednesday, August 3.

Plan a peaceful protest:

Tuesday August 2, 2005
UPDATED* BUSH in Washington, DC - 11:25 AM: President Bush signs the CAFTA legislation. [ABCNews.com, 8/1/05]

BUSH in Crawford, TX: President and Mrs. Bush depart for their ranch. [ABCNews.com, 8/1/05]

NEW* BOLTON in New York, NY - 11:30 PM: John Bolton will go through the official UN process of presenting his credentials to the Secretary General this morning. [ABCNews.com, 8/2/05]

NEW* SNOW in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Secretary Snow will join Minister Palocci at a breakfast meeting with local business leaders in Rio de Janeiro and deliver remarks at a forum sponsored by the Council of

Progressive Maryland and Allies Protest Lt. Gov. Steele's Embrace of Karl Rove -- The Man Who Damaged Homeland Security for Domestic Partisan Advantage

Progressive Maryland and allies led 60 protesters at a July 26th Capitol Hill fundraiser – headlined by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove -- for Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s expected bid for the U.S. Senate.

Progressive Maryland demanded that Steele denounce Rove for the latter’s exposure of the identity of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame and that Steele return the money collected at the fundraiser. We based our demands on facts in the Plame Affair that are now beyond dispute:

Front door encore

If the press won't find its way to the truth, the only thing to do is bring the truth to the press. The Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War, which staged a dramatic reading from the Downing Street Memos in Highland Park this past weekend, took its show to East Brunswick and the office of the Home News Tribune, which couldn't quite stir itself to send a reporter to the Saturday event and clearly needed a bit of help. Staff writer Rick Harrison rose to the occasion with this article in today's edition.

NEW ANTI-IRAQ WAR PLAY

The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles is opening a new anti-Iraq war piece on September 11, 2005 - based on Eliot Weinberger's article, "What I Heard About Iraq."

We would like it to be part of a worldwide movement, protest.

We're making the script available to theatres, schools, religious, advocacy, and human rights organizations worldwide.

There are already plans to have it read at the Internationales LiteraturFestival Berlin (www.literaturfestival.com) and in New Haven, Connecticut by Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice and the CT Peace Coalition (skobasa@snet.net) on September 11th, as well as the New York Theatre Workshop (www.nytw.org) on September 19th, plus other organizations worldwide are in various planning stages.

Here are some powerful photos of the Eyes Wide open exhibition from July 20, 2005, in Ann Arbor, Mich., courtesy of Allan Bramson and Jill Farber-Bramson: LINK
.

By Jeff Norman, Director, U.S. Tour of Duty

As popular opinion increasingly turns against the war, Iraq veterans and military family members are criticizing the Bush administration more frankly than ever before. Their message is impossible to dismiss, because it is obviously not motivated by political bias, but by a patriotic commitment to holding our leaders accountable for illegal and immoral behavior.

At a U.S. Tour of Duty event in Venice, California last night, Iraq veteran Jeff Key explained the obligation of U.S. service members to fight "domestic enemies," and why the American masters of war should be categorized as such. Gold Star mom Nadia McCaffrey, whose son Patrick was killed in Iraq, flatly stated that President Bush does not represent her, and would turn her back to him if he were in her presence.

Plan a Peaceful Protest:

Tuesday August 2, 2005
BUSH in Crawford, TX: President and Mrs. Bush depart for their ranch.

Wednesday August 3, 2005
NEW* HUCKABEE in Little Rock, AK - 9:00 AM: Governor hosts "Ask The Governor," a monthly call-in program on the Arkansas Radio Network, ARN studios, 700 Wellington Hills Road. [www.arkansas.gov]

NEW* HUCKABEE in Conway, AK - 7:00 PM: Governor participates in "Arkansans Ask," a monthly call-in program on the Arkansas Educational Television Network, AETN studios, 350 S. Donaghey St. [www.arkansas.gov]

Thursday August 4, 2005
BUSH in Crawford, TX: President and Mrs. Bush will welcome President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia and Mrs. Uribe to their ranch in Crawford, Texas on August 4, 2005. [White House, 7/13/05]

Saturday, August 6 in Seattle

Doors at 6pm, Presentation at 6:30pm

Writer and international activist Larry Everest on the new national campaign to drive out the Bush regime

The World Can't Wait! Let's Get Organized! Mobilize for Novemember 2, 2005!

Gather to hear Larry Everest speak on how we in our millions can drive out the Bush regime. Larry just returned from testifying at the World Tribunal on Iraq in Instanbul, Turkey. He is a contributing writer to Revolution newspaper (voice of the Revolutionary Commu nist Party) and author of Oil, Power and Empire: Iraq and the U.S. Global Agenda. Join us to kick off plans and launch this historic movement in Seattle.

Wild: Hundreds of honks heard
Somerville Journal, MA
By Patricia Wild
Thursday, July 28, 2005

The day after President Bush had proclaimed John G. Roberts Jr. to be his Supreme Court nominee and NPR's "Talk of the Nation" focused on Roberts' anti-civil rights, anti-Roe versus Wade pronouncements, discouraged and weighted down with those "What's the use?" feelings prevalent among progressives these days, I held a "Honk to Impeach Bush" sign in Davis Square for a while and, in spite of the heat, my spirits lifted. Organized by Carl Martin and Joe Ramsey, key members of the Somerville-Medford Ad-Hoc Committee to End the War, similar Davis Square demonstrations are scheduled every Monday from 5 until 7 p.m. in the little park in front of J.P. Licks. Won't you join us?

TAKE PART IN DFA MEETUPS ON WED. AUGUST 3
Democracy for America is taking up the cause of promoting investigation of the Downing Street Memos. They have organized meetings all over the country on Wednesday, August 3, and you can sign up for one here: http://dfa.meetup.com/

Later in the month of August, DFA will organize meetings with Congress Members while they are home in their district offices. Sixty of these meetings have already been scheduled. At these meetings, people will ask their Congress Members to co-sponsor Rep. Lee's Resolution. To help organize these events, participate in the MeetUps on Wednesday.

Get stylish gear and support the cause!

Last Saturday's Los Angeles rally with Maxine Waters, on the third anniversary of the Downing Street Memo, was packed to beyond capacity (1000+), with hundreds turned away. Hundreds of similar events, many of which were also standing room only, took place around the country. Momentum is building...

U.S. TOUR OF DUTY proudly presents Gold Star mom NADIA McCAFFREY, the woman who defied President Bush by allowing the media to view her son's coffin, for four big events in Southern California:

Saturday, July 30 - Anaheim
Sunday, July 31 - Venice
Monday, August 1 - San Pedro
Wednesday, August 3 - West Hills

People's Weekly World Newspaper
By Rosalio Muñoz

Overflow meetings urge action on Iraq withdrawal, Bush lies

LOS ANGELES — A fiery Out of Iraq Town Hall/Teach In drew a standing-room-only, overflow crowd of 1,000 to Inglewood’s Covenant Worship Center here July 23. The multiracial crowd packing the church cheered calls for a stepped up struggle to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and bring the troops home “sooner rather than later.

MEDIA ACTIVISM NEEDED NOW
Most of the corporate media ignored the mass events on July 23rd and ignored the introduction of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's Resolution of Inquiry.

Please Contact National Media Outlets:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/1084

We have put together a tool kit for you to make it easy to work on your local media as well, with letters, phone calls, op-eds, editorial board meetings, and protests.

Get Tools to Bring Your Local Media Around:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/748

Find radio stations with call-in shows near you and call in:
http://radio-locator.com

Please politely and concisely, and IN YOUR OWN WORDS, request coverage from:

C-Span Washington Journal
Support Democrats:
(202) 737-0002
Support Republicans:
(202) 737-0001
Support Independents:
(202) 628-0205
Outside U.S.:
(202) 628-0184
Email:
journal@c-span.org

MSNBC
Phone: (201) 583-5000 or (201) 585-2622

Post your letters to the editor here.

Democrats.com
Bob Fertik's blog

Democrats.com member Richard Mathews suggested this action:

It would be a huge success for us if we got MoveOn to endorse impeachment. That would get the impeachment message to millions of people and send a strong message that the group founded to fight impeachment sees that this is a case that truly deserves it.

Now through August 2, MoveOn is asking for input on slogans to get rid of Rove. Currently, the number 8 suggestion is "Indict Rove / Impeach Bush". That represents over a thousand MoveOn members who have voted for impeachment. If we can move that up a few notches in the rankings, it will help convince MoveOn that impeachment is the right answer.

http://www.ustheband.com

to the tune of "On Broadway"

THEY KEEP THEIR MEMOS LOCKED UP TIGHT ON DOWNING
THEY PAY THE NEWS TO KEEP THEM OFF THE AIR
SO WHEN THE SCANDAL HIT THE STREET
AND I FOUND OUT THE TRUTH HAD LEAKED
I HOPED SOMEHOW THAT EVERYONE WOULD CARE (ON DOWNING)

THEY SAY THEY MADE THEIR CASE WITH LIES ON DOWNING
THE FACTS WERE FIXED AROUND THE POLICY
SO DO YOU THINK WE'D GO TO WAR
IF WE HAD KNOWN ALL THIS BEFORE
A HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS ISN'T FREE (ON DOWNING)

THEY SAY THIS NEWS WON'T LAST TOO LONG ON DOWNING
THEY'LL SPIN IT OFF AND MAKE IT GO AWAY
BUT THEY'RE DEAD WRONG I KNOW THEY ARE

10 Drowsing Street
London, UK, SW1A, 2AA

SECRET AND STRICTLY PERSONAL - US EYES ONLY

From: CENTRAL JERSEY COALITION AGAINST ENDLESS WAR

Date: 25 July 2002

ANTIWAR GROUP TO ASSIST PRESS IN REPORTING CONTENTS OF THE DOWNING STREET MEMORANDA by staging a repeat-performance of the Downing Street minutes in the parking lot at the offices of The Home News Tribune (35 Kennedy Blvd, East Brunswick, NJ) on Thursday, July 28, 2005, at 6:30 pm.

Members of the group held its original dramatic reading in Highland Park last Saturday, July 23rd as part of the National Day of Action spearheaded by Congressman John Conyers. The purpose of this event

The Media's Roving Eye
By Tom Engelhardt
LINK TO ORIGINAL

Oh what a tangled web we weave
When we first practice to deceive…

I've written regularly about the media's inability to connect the dots. The other day a reporter out in the far-flung reaches of our imperium wrote in to Tomdispatch pointing to a front-paged dot that no one -- myself included -- had bothered to pay much attention to or connect to anything at all. In the July 21st Washington Post, Walter Pincus and Jim VandeHei wrote a piece, Plame's Identity Marked as Secret, describing a memo from the State Department's intelligence experts that Secretary of State Colin Powell had with him on a 5-day trip to Africa he took with the President and his aides that began on July 7, 2003. This was only a day after former Ambassador Joseph Wilson published What I Didn't Find in Africa on the op-ed page of the New York Times, exposing the Bush administration's Niger uranium lie. ("Based on my experience with the administration in the months leading up to the war, I have little choice but to conclude that some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."); only four days before Time magazine's Matt Cooper had that conversation "on double super secret background" with Karl Rove and was told that "wilson's wife… apparently works at the agency on wmd"; only five days before CIA Director George Tenet took a provisional fall for the administration for letting those "16 words" that started the whole thing on Saddam's supposed search for African uranium for his supposed atomic program into the 2003 State of the Union Address the previous January; only seven days before Robert Novak wrote his now infamous Mission to Niger column outing Joe Wilson's wife as a CIA agent. ("Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report.")

Huffington Post
By Steve Cobble

The 3rd-year-anniversay town halls, house parties, and dramatic readings of the Downing Street Minutes on Saturday were a smashing success. From coast to coast, we had enthusiastic, overflow crowds, passionate and intelligent speakers, and committed Congresspeople. The sense that the Downing Street Minutes have struck a nerve was palpable. This story is far from over.

The public gets it. The people of this country know that a secret set of minutes from the highest levels of Bush's strongest ally in the war on Iraq is stating the truth.

By David Bacon

CHICAGO, IL (7/26/05) - On the second day of its convention in Chicago, the AFL-CIO took an historic step, calling for the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and an end to the country's occupation. Public attention has focused largely on the split in US labor, and the decision by two of the federation's largest unions to leave. Yet the impact of this call will reverberate for years, with as profound effect on the future of US workers and their unions. Brooks Sunkett, vice-president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), started a train of passionate speeches on the convention floor, saying that the government had lied to him when it sent him to war in Vietnam three decades ago. "We have to stop it from lying to a new generation now," he implored. Henry Nicholas, a hospital union leader in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, told delegates that his son, who has served four tours of duty in Iraq, is now threatened with yet another.

Chicago: In a major change of course, the AFL-CIO Convention delegates voted this afternoon in favor of a resolution calling for a "rapid" return of all U.S. troops from Iraq.

Eighteen AFL-CIO state federations, central labor councils and unions had submitted resolutions to the convention calling for an immediate or rapid end to the occupation and return of the troops. The General Executive Council, meeting on the eve of the convention, submitted a resolution that borrowed heavily from elements of those eighteen but failed to clearly call for a prompt end to the occupation.

When it came time for the convention to act on the resolution Tuesday afternoon, Fred Mason, President of the Maryland/District of Columbia AFL-CIO, offered a "friendly" amendment that clarified and strengthened opposition to continued occupation of Iraq. The amendment was accepted by the leadership and the modified resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority of delegates following a parade of delegates who spoke in favor of its adoption (none spoke in opposition).

IRVING — Jim Hightower, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and national radio commentator, will be speaking at the Veterans For Peace National Convention 2005 at the University of Dallas in Irving. This is 20th year for VFP’s annual convention as veterans from all over the nation gather to stand against war and move forward the cause of peace.

Dubbed “America’s most popular populist,

Take a look at these!
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/sites/afterdowningstreet.org/images/me...

Look at this!