Daybreak

Author: CIA case evidence of abuse of power
By Jessica Bloch | Bangor Daily News

The news that an Italian court convicted on Wednesday a base chief for the CIA and 22 other Americans for the crime of rendition was evidence that the executive branch of the U.S. government has too much power, activist and author David Swanson told a small group of people Thursday afternoon at the University of Maine.

The crime for which the Americans were convicted surrounded the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan in 2003, according to a story Wednesday in The New York Times. The cleric was flown from an American air base in Italy to a base in Germany and then on to Egypt, where he asserts that he was tortured, the newspaper said.

“Kidnapping is still a crime in some places, but not [to U.S. government operatives]. Here it’s not a crime,” said Swanson, who spoke in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union as part of UMaine’s Socialist and Marxist Studies Series. Swanson is on tour supporting his new book, “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union.”

The incident in Italy may be one example that the executive branch of the U.S. government has too much power over other branches of the government and at times has overstepped Congress, he said. Read more.

David Swanson is a U.S. author, blogger, and activist. He is the author of "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union" and of the introduction to "The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush," by Dennis Kucinich. He co-founded AfterDowningStreet.org and is the Washington Director of Democrats.com

http://www.davidswanson.org/

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

http://www.democrats.com/

http://www.rationalradio.org/

Other Speakers at the Rational Radio Progress Forum:
Thom Hartmann
Cindy Sheehan
Jes Sprouse
Melissa Roddy
Nicole Torre
Steve Munson

and performances by

Code Red
Tunde Obazee
The Ackermans
David Rovics

Nov. 3 Philadelphia PA
Nov. 4 Newtown and Kutztown, PA
Nov. 5 Bangor, ME
Nov. 6 Portland, ME
Nov. 7 M's Vineyard, MA

8:30 a.m. PT and thereafter: HERE.

A New Day Rising:
An Interview with David Swanson

This event was pre-recorded in Miami, Fla.
Check schedule at http://www.booktv.org

Great interview of me by Basima Farhat at the People Speak Radio: Go here and click on "Listen to the Show."

Noted National Activist to Speak in Bangor & Portland
David Swanson also to Speak at Nov 6 Peace Rally in Portland

Herb Hoffman, pala at maine.rr.com

National activist, and author, David Swanson will be speaking in Bangor on November 5 and in Portland on November 6.

David Swanson is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

David Swanson, co-founder of After Downing Street Coalition and author of “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union,” will be in the Philadelphia area Tuesday and Wednesday, November 3-4, speaking about his new book. Please share this information widely. Also see www.davidswanson.org/booktour .

FIRST EVENT: Tuesday, November 3
Speaking at the University of the Arts, Terra Hall, 201 S. Broad St. (between Walnut and Locust) at the invitation of Professor Chuck Pennacchio at the following times:
11:30 – 12:50 Room 604
4:00 - 5:30 PM Room 202
This will be open to the University community, but not to the general public.

SECOND EVENT: Tuesday, November 3
Speaking at Villanova University, 19085 , St. Augustine Center, Room 300, at the invitation of Professor Joseph Betz, Department of Philosophy, at the following time:
7:30 - 9:30 PM, free and open to the public.

THIRD EVENT: Wednesday, November 4

The Daybreak book tour is rolling along and has stopped in 20 of the scheduled 48 cities already.  The Miami, Fla., stop saw a hall packed to capacity with a crowd standing in the back and unable to get in, and the evening filmed by C-Span's Book TV.  Watch for it on your television or computer in the coming weeks.

Air America host Nicole Sandler introduced the event in Miami and hosted a discussion of it last night on her show.

Please buy the book at your real-world book stores, which is what encourages them to stock greater quantities and display them more prominently.

Here's the complete tour schedule.
http://davidswanson.org/book

And below are the next several stops.  Join the tour, get a book and get it signed in Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, or California:
 

Nov. 3 Philadelphia PA
Nov. 4 Newtown and Kutztown, PA
Nov. 5 Bangor, ME
Nov. 6 Portland, ME
Nov. 7 M's Vineyard, MA
Nov. 19 Davis, CA
Nov. 20, Nevada City, CA
Nov. 21, Fresno and Fair Oaks, CA
Nov. 22, Bay Area, CA
Nov. 23, Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 24, Orange County, CA

Philadelphia, Newtown, and Kutztown:

November 3, 2009, Philadelphia, PA

David Swanson will discuss and sign his new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union."

FIRST EVENT:
Speaking at the University of the Arts at the invitation of Professor Chuck Pennacchio at the following times:
10:00 - 11:30 AM
4:00 - 5:30 PM
This will be open to the University community, but not to the general public.

SECOND EVENT:
In Villanova (western suburb of Philadelphia), speaking at Villanova University at the invitation of Professor Joseph Betz, Department of Philosophy, at the following time:
7:30 - 9:30 PM
St. Augustine Center, Room 300, public cordially invited.
Click for: Flyer in Word, and Campus Map GIF

THIRD EVENT:
On Wednesday morning, November 4, 7:30 AM, speaking on Michael Smerconish's radio talk show from Bala Cynwyd (also a western suburb of Philly).

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Jane Dugdale
tjdugdale at verizon dot net
610-527-4170

November 4, 2009, Newtown and Kutztown, PA:

FIRST EVENT:

At Bucks County Community College, sponsored in cooperation with the Buxmont Coalition for Peace, takes place in the Fireside Lounge, located in the lower level of the Rollins Student Center on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., 18940. For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Bursk at 215-968-8156. Details.

SECOND EVENT:

At the Kutztown University Campus at 7 p.m.
Boehm Lecture Hall, Room 145
Kutztown, PA 19530

On the map, it's building 12 and people can park in lots B1 or B2 to the left of the building on this map: PDF.

Kutztown is located on Route 222, halfway between Reading and Allentown. The Kutztown Exit on 222 puts you on Main Street.

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Karen Feridun
http://www.kutztowndemocrats.org
info at kutztowndemocrats dot org

Bangor, Portland, and Martha's Vineyard:

November 5, 2009, Bangor, Maine

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

12:30 p.m. Talk on "Undoing the Imperial Presidency"
Bangor Room, Memorial Union, University of Maine, Orono, Maine

4:00 p.m. informal meeting with students to discuss philosophy and activism

7:00 p.m. evening talk on "Forming a More Perfect Union: Rights We've Lost and Rights We've Never Had"
Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine
170 Park St
Bangor, ME

November 6, 2009, Portland, Maine

6:00 p.m. at Longfellow Bookstore
1 Monument Way
Portland, Maine
207-775-4045

Contact the Maine organizers:

Jamilla El-Shafei
jamillaelshafei at gmail.com

Bruce Gagnon
globalnet at mindspring.com

Michael Howard
Michael_Howard at umit.maine.edu

November 7, 2009, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Contact the Massachusetts organizer:

Bruce Nevin
bruce.nevin at gmail dot com

Davis, Nevada City, Fresno, Fair Oaks, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County:

November 19, 2009, Davis, California

David Swanson will discuss and sign his new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union."

6:30 p.m. at the Avid Reader Bookstore
617 2nd Street
Davis, CA
between "E" and "F" Streets.

Directions: Taking I 80 West, take exit 72B (Richards Blvd/Olive Drive), turn right onto Richards Blvd, turn right onto First Street, turn left onto "F" Street to Second Street.

OR, Taking I 80 East, take exit 72 (Richards Blvd) and pick up First, then "F" Streets as above.

CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS:
Mary Zhu
zbox at dcn.davis.ca.us

Nancy Price
nancytprice at juno.com

November 20, 2009, Nevada City, CA

Doors open at 6:30 pm, program at 7:00 pm, Unitarian Universalists Community of the Mountains, 246 S. Church St. Grass Valley, Nevada City, Calif.

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Margaret Joehnck
margaretjoehnck at yahoo.com

November 21, 2009, Fresno, CA

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
2672 E. Alluvial Ave, Clovis

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Dan Yaseen
danyaseen at comcast.net
559-251-3361

November 21, 2009, Fair Oaks, CA

in evening at 5:00 p.m. dinner and speaking with Peace Pyramid
6009 Kifisia Way
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER:
Tom King
tjking07 at comcast.net

November 22, 2009, Bay Area, CA

* 12:30 p.m. in downtown Walnut Creek

* 3 p.m. at DIESEL, A Bookstore in Oakland
5433 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618, (510) 653-9965

* Dinner at [time and place TBA]

* 7:30 PM in the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall
1924 Cedar at Bonita, 1 block East of MLK Jr. Way
Wheelchair accessible. Donation requested.
Co-sponsored by the BFUU Social Justice Committee
http://www.bfuu.org

CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS:
Cindy Sheehan
cindy at cindysheehanssoapbox.com

Susan Harman
susanharman1 at gmail.com

Mary Alice O'Connor
maryalice at mtdpc.org
http://www.mtdpc.org

November 23, 2009, Los Angeles, CA

At St. Bede's Church in Mar Vista at 7:30 p.m.
3590 Grand View Blvd., LA 90066 (Mar Vista)

Sponsored by:
CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Westside Progressives
Winograd for Congress

CONTACT THE EVENT ORGANIZERS:
Ilene Proctor
proctor at anet dot net

Marcy Winograd
Winograd4congress at gmail dot com

November 24, 2009, Orange County, CA

CONTACT THE ORGANIZERS:
Pat Alviso & Jeff Merrick
Military Families Speak Out
Orange County & South Bay Chapter
http://www.mfsooc.org
http://www.myspace.com/ocmfso
562-833-8035
mfso-oc at earthlink.net

The People Speak radio show
with host Basima Farhat
AIRDATE: 10/20/09 8-9 pm ET
Guest: DAVID SWANSON, activist/author
discusses Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect
Union, a #1 Bestseller on Amazon.com. Details: http://www.ThePeopleSpeakRadio.net

Visit site:
http://www.810weus.com

Listen to mp3:
Play.

From 8-9 pm PT tonight listen to David Swanson with John Ford on KAOS in Olympia, WA, or online at http://kaos.evergreen.edu

BookTV In Florida? Come watch @BookTV tape @DavidcnSwanson tonight in Coral Gables, FL at Books & Books at 8pm ET http://bit.ly/1Hqcl0

On October 13, 2009, David Swanson discussed his new book "Daybreak" and US politics and took questions from students at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. Video shot by Leonard Schmiege, candidate for St. Petersburg City Council.

More below!

10-8-09 Podcast

Thursday - October 8

5:05PM MT – David Swanson on the Peace Pentagon

5:30PM MT - Jim Hightower Common Sense Commentary

5:35PM MT - Phil Smith with the Secure World Foundation on World Space Week

5:45PM MT – Phil Smith cont.

 Standard Podcast:

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Book Review - Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union by David Swanson
By Dave Berman, OpEdNews

Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union is the first book from David Swanson, a prominent national activist organizer known for ProsecuteBushCheney.org, AfterDowningStreet.org and his work with Progressive Democrats for America and Democrats.com. Swanson's pedigree might suggest a partisan perspective but his book reveals a utopian idealist equally critical of President Obama, both parties, and the supposed two-party system. He is deeply devoted to restoring the rule of law through populist policies, wide-ranging reforms, and most demonstrably his own direct actions.

Let's Try Democracy By David Swanson, BlackCommentator.com Columnist
From BlackCommentator.com

This is the third of three excerpts from Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union (Seven Stories Press) by David Swanson published here by the kind permission of the publisher.

Click here to read any of the commentaries in this series.

Waking Up Orwell features special interviewed guest David Swanson who speaks up about his new book Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming A More Perfect Union and more: BlogTalkRadio.

New Mexico with Elliott Adams, Ray McGovern, Cindy Sheehan, David Swanson, Ann Wright

THE PENTAGON OF PEACE: “FIVE FOR TRUTH”
New Mexico Tour Presented by VETERANS FOR PEACE

Taos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque
OCTOBER 9, 10, 11

Detailed schedule here:
http://davidswanson.org/daybreak-10-9

And here:
http://www.patriotswatch.org

Daybreak in Florida with C-Span

David Swanson will discuss his book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union.

Oct. 12, 13 Tampa / St. Petersburg, FL
Oct. 14 Miami, FL (with C-Span filming)
Oct. 15 Orlando, FL

Details here: http://davidswanson.org/book

By Charlotte Dennett

If there is one sentence in David Swanson’s remarkable book that bears repeating, it is this: “The first step in closing down an empire is bringing its emperors and oligarchs under the rule of law.”

I say this with the confidence that there are millions of Americans who are alarmed by Washington’s unconstitutional support for endless wars abroad and the accompanying erosion of democracy at home. David Swanson’s book ("Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidenct and Forming a More Perfect Union") provides an insight-packed roadmap on how to “undo the imperial presidency.” I’m going to use his book in my classroom and encourage others to do the same as we try to awaken a younger generation to the need to save our country from its seemingly inexorable slide toward fascism.