Daybreak

By Dave Lindorff

            A tectonic shift is occurring suddenly in the debate over climate change.

By Dave Lindorff

            In a couple of days, the so-called US Justice Department will be announcing an “agreement” reached with five large banks, including two of the largest in the US -- JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup, the holding companies for Chase and Citibank -- under which these banks or bank holding companies will plead guilty to felonies involving the manipulation of international currency markets.

Shaukat Qadir

Islamabad--By now journalists everywhere (except in the US) have come to the conclusion that there is far, far more to Raymond Davis than is being revealed by the US or by Pakistani officials. That he was engaged in anti-state activities in Pakistan and that the two young men he killed were intelligence agents tailing him is virtually an accepted fact.

The US, never famous for its diplomacy (The Ugly American, which made that point more than half a century ago, became a best seller and a very successful movie, starring Marlon Brando), seems to have discovered fresh depths to its strong-arm, coercive diplomacy. The mere fact that no less a personage than the US President has asked that this low-ranked person be granted absolute immunity, is indicative of the US desperation to get him him out of Pakistan and its court system.

Undoing the Imperial Presidency: An Interview with David Swanson
By John W. Whitehead | Old Speak

David took a few minutes to sit down with OldSpeak to discuss his views on the emerging imperial presidency.

John W. Whitehead: As I look around America today, I see a government that doesn't listen to us anymore. It ignores us. On the other side of that coin, I see an apathetic populace that just lets things happen. You, on the other hand, attempt to irritate government officials and force them to respond to the citizenry. And you try to get people involved, as well.

David Swanson: Absolutely. I want to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. We all think—and we are led to think by various organizations we get involved with for noble purposes—that we have a government that more or less represents us and it is split into two teams. That's wrong. The teams are us and the government. Just recently, the White House instructed Congress to strip out of its financial regulations bill a measure that might have allowed shareholders to put some restraints on CEO salaries. That was just not permissible. In response to the Citizen's United ruling by the Supreme Court for unlimited corporate money in politics, the Democrats in Congress came back with this very, very limited tame measure, the main point of which was to allow us to know who was funding the propaganda. This is the Disclose Act. Nancy Pelosi just took that out of consideration, at least for the moment, basically at the instructions of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. So the teams are you, me and the rest of us versus elected officials. Those are the two teams. It is not Republicans versus Democrats because there is just no difference between them. Read more.

David Swanson speaking about his new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union."
http://davidswanson.org/book

St. Louis, MO
February 22, 2010
7 p.m. at
Left Bank Books
399 North Euclid at McPherson in the Central West End
St. Louis, MO 63108
Sponsored by:
Veterans for Peace
CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Charles Smith
vfpch61@riseup.net

Chicago, IL
February 23, 2010
7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Northwestern University, the Evanston Campus
The Tech Institute on 2145 Sheridan Road, First Floor, Lecture Room No. 2.
SPONSORED BY: Neighbors for Peace
CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Karen Pallist
pallist3 at gmail dot com

Boston, Massachusetts
February 27, 2010
7 p.m. at Harvard COOP.
The Harvard Coop Bookstore
1400 Massachusetts Avenue
18 Palmer Street
Cambridge, MA 02238
Store telephone: (617)499-2000
CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS:
Melida Arredondo
melida_arredondo at yahoo dot com
Elizabeth Ellis
ellisliza at hotmail dot com

Concluding a tour of over 50 U.S. cities, David Swanson has three stops left.  Please join him in St. Louis, Chicago, and Boston:

Feb. 22 St. Louis, MO

Feb. 23 Chicago, IL

Feb. 27 Boston, MA

For more information and videos from the tour, go to
http://davidswanson.org/book

David Swanson is completing a tour of over 50 cities with his new book "Daybreak: Undoing Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union"
http://davidswanson.org/book

St. Louis, February 22
Chicago, February 23
Boston, February 27

DETAILS BELOW

St. Louis, MO, February 22
7 p.m. at Left Bank Books
399 North Euclid at McPherson in the Central West End, St. Louis, MO 63108
Sponsored by: Veterans for Peace
Contact Charles Smith: vfpch61 at riseup.net

Chicago, IL, February 23
7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Northwestern University, the Evanston Campus
The Tech Institute on 2145 Sheridan Road, First Floor, Lecture Room No. 2.
Contact Karen Pallist: pallist3 at gmail dot com

Boston, Massachusetts, February 27
7 p.m. at the Harvard Coop Bookstore
1400 Massachusetts Avenue, 18 Palmer Street, Cambridge, MA 02238
Store telephone: (617) 499-2000
Contact Melida Arredondo: melida_arredondo at yahoo dot com
Elizabeth Ellis: ellisliza at hotmail dot com

David Swanson - full-length - Ventura, CA on Jan. 16, 2010 from Maverick Media on Vimeo.

West Palm Beach, FL
January 25, 2010

David Swanson will discuss and sign copies of "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union"

7:30 p.m. at
Crowne Plaza Hotel
1601 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Sponsored by:
The Palm Beach Florida Democratic Club

FREE and OPEN to the Public

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Anthony Jordan
tonyjordan57 at hotmail dot com

Go here.

West Palm Beach, FL
January 25, 2010
David Swanson will discuss and sign copies of "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union"
7:30 p.m. at
Crowne Plaza Hotel
1601 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Sponsored by:
The Palm Beach Florida Democratic Club
FREE and OPEN to the Public
CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Anthony Jordan
tonyjordan57 at hotmail dot com

Can't Have Guns and Butter Anymore - Time to Speak Out
By Bruce Gagnon | Organizing Notes

We had about 70 people join us today at the Maine state capital in Augusta for our Bring our War $$ Home campaign kick-off news conference this morning. We had some key media turn out so our message will get out there across the state.

Just as I began typing this post my radio was tuned to Maine Public Radio and I heard a news spot about our protest. They quoted Lisa Savage saying that Mainers have paid $2.5 billion toward the wars in Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan since 2001.

Each of our speakers did a fine job of talking about the serious cuts facing education, health care, social programs and infrastructure across the state. Sadly up to this point those opposing the $438 million in education and social spending cuts in Maine's budget have called for tax increases to make up the difference. But the Democrat Governor John Baldacci has vowed to veto any tax increases and the state legislature has virtually discounted any tax increases. Thus no one across Maine has been talking about the real "elephant" in the middle of the room which is Pentagon spending and endless war. Today we broke that silence in our state.

Following our news conference a large group of us went to a legislative hearing room for a combined meeting of the state House and Senate Appropriations and Education Committees which are overseeing a massive slashing of programs. After a series of agency directors stood up and spelled out the cutbacks in their programs the floor was opened for public comments. At that point five of us from across the state got up one after the other and talked about the creation of our Bring Our War $$ Home campaign before the overflowing committee hearing room. Click "Read more" for more and photos.

Play mp3.
From Willard Van De Bogart

Jan. 13 Santa Rosa, CA

Jan. 14, 15 San Diego, CA

Jan. 16 Van Nuys and Ventura, CA

January 17, 2010

David Swanson will discuss and sign copies of "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union"

2-4 p.m.

3731 East Redfield Road
Gilbert AZ

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:

Dan O'Neal
dan@pdamerica dot org
480-650-0746

By John Starkey, Host of "Voices and Vision"

On "Voices and Vision" at 6 pm Tuesday, Jan. 12, KOWS 107.3 FM, I will be talking with David Swanson, about his exciting new book, Daybreak, and his appearance in Santa Rosa Wednesday, described below. At about 7pm I'll be joined by KOWS' favorite singer-songwriter, Teresa Tudury to discuss her life in music and her hot new CD, "Such Fine Things." Teresa is West County's witty, articulate host of "Live form the Doublewide," Tuesdays at 8 pm on KOWS. Teresa usually spotlights her many musician friends, and does her own bright form of commentary and interview. Now it's her turn.

Tune in for a stimulating and entertaining two hours. You're invited to participate in the program by calling during the show: (707) 874-1073.

People have started using Facebook to organize real-world discussion groups to read the book: go here.

If you have trouble loading this video, be patient and refresh the page. I received 3 error messages, and reloaded each time before I could play it. ~Chip :)

Podcast.

Dear Friends,

I am hugely excited for 2010! Last week we launched our Coal Free Zone delivering 500 stockings with candy coal and an informative flier about how folks in my Northwest community of Vashon Island are - despite our best intentions and misconceptions - "Coal Consumers." (36% of Puget Sound Energy's power portfolio is coal-fired.) People were surprised, but received our "Naughty or Nice?" message with good humor.

I'm ecstatic that local conversations about energy and stewardship have served as a catalyst for another transformative project - a Vashon Community Credit Union, currently being spearheaded by the un-stoppable Rex Stratton. And there's a growing buzz about alternative currency, community solar, electric car manufacturing and more. It's a thrilling time to take ownership of change we want rather than waiting for it from Washington, Copenhagen or anywhere else.

As I saw dozens of requests for funding come through over the last few days, I didn't want to add to the onslaught. The generosity of Backbone's network of friends has kept us afloat through hard times, and now we are seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel of scarcity. A recent anonymous grant is going to allow us to rebuild our part-time office staff. The Nathan Cummings grant is a mandate for an amazing project opportunities for skill sharing, image creation and trainings across the country.

I'm honored that our first event of 2010 is to welcome the Seattle area to hear the progressive populist, indefatigable, prolific genius activist and Backbone Campaign advisory board member David Swanson, Tuesday, January 5, 7:30 - 9pm downstairs at Town Hall in Seattle. (Enter on Seneca Street.) See below or online here.

So - whether you want to make that last minute end of year contribution HERE, or just want to look forward to collaboration and sharing inspiration in the new year - here's my end of year email and sincere wishes of gratitude for my great Board, collaborators, volunteers, and supportive family. And deepest wishes for a joyful and transformative New Decade! I'm honored and grateful to be facing it with all of you.

Bill Moyer
Backbone Campaign
206-408-8058

Start off your New Year with a celebration of Democracy and your role in it. Hear author, activist, and Backbone Campaign advisor David Swanson speak about how We the People can take the reigns of our democracy and transform this country.

"Daybreak offers a powerful and compelling picture of what real change in America could look like. The world needs more true advocates of democracy like David Swanson!" -- Thom Hartmann

Impeachment: Congress must use this tool to keep high officials in check
By David Swanson, Seattle Times

FOR 220 years, power has moved from Congress, courts, states and the people to the presidency, a trend that has taken giant steps during the Bush and Obama years. Presidents rewrite laws with signing statements or create them with executive orders. They make treaties with occupied governments and no Senate consent. They spend money in secret. They launch and escalate military actions at will. They spy without warrants and imprison without charges. They grant immunity for criminal offenses.

The height of congressional push-back came in 2007-2008, when Congress was Democratic and the president Republican. And by "height" I mean to suggest more of a molehill than a mountain. During that two-year period, dozens of top officials who refused to comply were subpoenaed by congressional committees.

READ THE REST AND POST COMMENTS AT SEATTLE TIMES.

Now you can listen to David Swanson's best-selling "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union" for $7.49 if you sign up for audio books or for full price of $22.95:
http://tinyurl.com/daybreakaudio

And now you can read "Daybreak" on your kindle reader for $9.99:
http://tinyurl.com/daybreakkindle

And you can pick up copies of the old-fashioned paperback book for as low as $11.47 new or $9.94 used:
http://tinyurl.com/daybreakbook

Have fun listening and reading!

West Palm Beach, FL
January 25, 2010

David Swanson will discuss and sign copies of "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union"

7:30 p.m. at
Crowne Plaza Hotel
1601 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Sponsored by:
The Palm Beach Florida Democratic Club

FREE and OPEN to the Public

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Anthony Jordan
tonyjordan57 at hotmail dot com

Jan. 13 Santa Rosa, CA
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-13

Jan. 14, 15 San Diego, CA
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-15

Jan. 16 Van Nuys and Ventura, CA
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-16

Jan. 17 Phoenix, AZ
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-17

Jan. 5 Seattle, WA
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-5

Jan. 6 Portland, OR
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-6

Jan. 7 Newport, OR
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-7

Jan. 8 Corvallis, OR
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-1-8