Organizing Locally

On October 4-12, 2008 we will again be organizing Keep Space for Peace Week which is an international week of local protest events to stop the weaponization of space.

Use this link to view the poster: http://mpjen.org/uploads/docs/keepspaceforpeace2008poster1.pdf

and, this link to see the flyer: http://www.space4peace.org/actions/GN%20Flyer%20KS4Peace%20Week%202008%2...

This year the week is being co-sponsored by Europe for Peace and the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom.

We ask local groups to hold an event anytime during that week and to let us know what is planned so we can keep an updated list of events around the world which we will share with the media.

Ticketed McCain protester pleads not guilty

By Felisa Cardona | The Denver Post

Carol Kreck, who was cited for trespassing while holding a sign outside Sen. John McCain's town-hall meeting in Denver on July 7, pleaded not guilty today in Denver County Court.

The librarian and former Denver Post reporter was removed from the galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex while holding a sign handed to her by a protest group that read "McCain = Bush."

The area that Kreck was standing in is not a public space and that is why she was cited for trespassing.

A videotape of the incident shows a security guard telling Kreck to leave and saying that the U.S. Secret Service had asked him to remove her.

Later, a spokeswoman for the complex said the security guard was mistaken, that the Secret Service had nothing to do with it; McCain's campaign staff had asked that people holding signs be removed from the galleria.

McCain's campaign spokesman, Tom Kise, has said that is not true, that the senator has a track record of allowing opposing views at his public events and that the campaign only asked people inside the town-hall meeting not to hold signs of any kind.

Kise said the campaign never asked that people not be allowed to hold signs outside the venue and said it was the complex's own policy that was being enforced.

Kreck said she is surprised by the attention her case has received, but she wants her day in court to find out who wanted her removed.

by Linda Milazzo

Those familiar with cable news television understand that several programs - even entire networks - broadcast from a particular bias. Keith Olbermann's COUNTDOWN on MSNBC is left leaning, as is Dan Abrams' VERDICT. Olbermann has become famous for his highly crafted "Special Comments" which take aim at conservatives from George W. Bush to Rudolf Giuliani. CNN has Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs - both of whom use vitriol to attack various factions of the political world. Beck goes after so-called liberals. Dobbs is an equal opportunity attacker who assaults the Bush administration, members of Congress and ethnic groups from his prejudiced perspective. FOX has an entire network, with anchors like Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, who routinely lambaste the left. Each of these pundits, or performers, are known for their ideological leanings. Those who watch their programs do so presupposing the bias they will see.

Until recently, it had seemed that most of the clearly biased shows on cable news television had been publicly outed as leaning left or leaning right. But on Friday, viewers learned there was yet another conservative Republican show, as vitriolic as FOX, airing nightly on CNN. That show is Election Center, hosted by former NBC performer, Campbell Brown. Election Center, which began airing last January with original anchor John Roberts, is billed as "the network's daily examination of news from the campaign trail that combines CNN's unrivaled field reporting and analysis with state-of-the-art broadcasting technology." It might be that providing "unrivaled reporting and analysis" on a daily basis was the original intent of CNN when Election Center first aired with John Roberts. Roberts doesn't conflate reporting with agenda. However, CNN chose a less balanced and more ideological path for the show when it brought on conservative Bush supporter, Campbell Brown, as Election Center's new anchor. If Brown's conservative leanings weren't all that obvious in the beginning, that all changed on Friday when Brown and CNN Headline News anchor, Erica Hill, virulently mocked the House Judiciary Committee for holding a hearing on impeachment. After Brown and Hill's searing attack on the Democrats, any sense of legitimacy Brown had tried to muster instantly fell away. Because of Brown and Hill's over-the-top trashing of the Congressional impeachment hearing, CNN's Election Center has devolved into the lowest form of "spin." It's lost all credibility. Witness for yourselves (in video and text) the slanted performance by CNN anchors, Brown and Hill, on a show that advertises its "unrivaled field reporting and analysis."

Proposed George W. Bush Sewage Plant makes ballot

A measure seeking to commemorate President Bush's years in office by slapping his name on a San Francisco sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot.

The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.

Supporters say the idea is to commemorate the mess they claim Bush has left behind by actions such as the war in Iraq.

Local Republicans say the plan stinks and they will oppose it.

Late Monday night, the City of Bellingham became the first city in Washington to take an official stance against US military intervention in Iran. The council’s unanimous 7-0 vote received a standing ovation from a crowd of supporters.

Bellingham is now the thirteenth city in the nation to have approved a resolution regarding opposition to war with Iran.

“We are thrilled tonight,” stated Marie Marchand, executive director of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center. “It is not often that my elected officials represent my viewpoint, especially given the abdication of power on the part of our national leaders. However, it’s different at the local level. The Bellingham City Council has, once again, stepped up to do their job and represent the people.”

Mock Trial of Karl Rove to be held at Virginia Beach Town Center Fountain

When: Friday, July 18, 2008, from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM

Where: Fountains at Town Center / Va Beach (In front of Ruth Crist's & Funny Bone; across from CA Pizza Kitchen), Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Karl Rove is at the center of nearly every Bush Administration scandal: Arrest Karl Rove

Now, on to The Script of the (Mock) Trial of Karl Rove:

Bailiff: Here ye! Here ye! Here ye! The commencement of this court of Concern Citizens for Humanity, Truth and Reconciliation, shall now begin.

Judge enters court from chambers

Bailiff: The judge of the court of Concern Citizens for Humanity, Truth and Reconciliation. All Rise.

Judge: Be seated, Ladies and gentlemen of jury have you reached a Verdict?

Juror: Yes, your honor, we have reach a Verdict.

Build a career in progressive politics

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Progressive Future is seeking a dedicated and experienced senior leadership team to help manage the organization and drive our campaign for progressive reform. Click here to see more about our openings for experienced candidates.

You can learn more about this exciting program at the 2008 Patriot Corps web page.

Please consider supporting this exciting program.

Tell a Friend.

When: Tuesday, July 8, 3 PM

Where: San Francisco Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Ave (near civic center BART) Map
San Francisco, CA 94102

Why:

Did you know Iran claims to have the third largest oil reserves in the world? Think that makes them a target for Bush-Cheney military intervention?

While the speeches of the Presidential candidates received most of the media attention at this year's AIPAC Policy Conference, the focus was mostly on "taking action on Iran". When AIPAC urges action, that usually means military action. So it is not surprising that it is urging the President to effectively place a naval embargo on Iran. An act of war. A crime against peace.

Excerpt from Resolution supported by AIPAC:

...demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran...

PROTEST SENATOR KYL
the Arizona Chairman of John McCain 2008 as he officiates at the

GRAND OPENING OF THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS of JOHN McCain

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO SAID:
"It’s “not too important” when American troops start to return home from Iraq"

and

100 YEARS IN IRAQ "would be fine with me"

This Friday, June 27th
between 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
at 5353 N. 16th Street
(corner of E. Missouri on N. 16th Street)

Join us at a rally where we anticipate a disconcerting sight:
McCain in Bed with Kyl and Bush!

Chicago City Council Considers Resolution Opposing War on Iran

Leading Experts to Testify Against Military Action as Tensions Rise

WHAT: Press Conference & Committee Hearings on Iran Resolution
WHEN: Tuesday May 13 — Press Conference 10:30 AM, Hearings 11:30 AM
WHERE: City Hall — Second Floor Council Lobby & Council Chambers
WHO: Scott Ritter, John Mearsheimer, Stephen Kinzer, Doug Cassel

With the prospect of a U.S. military strike on Iran looming, America's third largest city will decide next week whether to take a stand on this volatile international situation.

Accountability & Reconciliation Commission Recommended by NH Dem Party Resolutions Committee
Thanks to Deb Gibbons for this submission

Concord, NH - In a crowded standing-room-only meeting at the NH Democratic Party Headquarters Tuesday evening, May 6, the Resolutions Committee of the NH State Party Convention recommended a split decision on two similar resolutions.

Among the 19 resolutions put before the committee, two resolutions were submitted which were of a like nature. One from members of the Newbury, NH Democratic Party resolved to bring to the US Congress an assessment of current imbalances in the Bush/Cheney administration; identify recent wrong doings and failures; appoint and administer a Commission of Accountability and Reconciliation; indict and prosecute the guilty; and hear and address the rightful grievances of those wronged. It was voted unanimously 3-0 by the committee. There were no supporters present to speak on behalf of the Newbury Resolution.

World Can't Wait-Philadelphia has started a campaign to collect signatures on a petition asking for a City Council resolution urging for the impeachment or indictment of Bush and Cheney.

Following the example of other big cities like Detroit and San Francisco, World Can't Wait - Philadelphia organizers undertook a similar project in Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania as well as the sixth largest in the nation.

As such, organizers think that Congress would not be able to ignore such a resolution.

Local activists collected signatures on the street at Obama campaign rallies and events. Philadelphia residents (only Philly residents, please!) may also sign the petition at www.petitiononline.com/215crime . The petition will be presented to Philadelphia's council members.

Much of the petition's text was modeled after text from the AfterDowningStreet.org's impeachment resource center.

For my entire life - years before Hurricane Katrina - I've fantasized about New Orleans. I dreamed of being decadent in the French Quarter in clubs where my music heroes played. I dreamed of tasting the food, studying the architecture, hearing the accents, and being cradled in the arms of the city – in the cream, black, brown and white blended arms of the city. I wanted to earn my beads at Mardi Gras, search the bayous for magic, and be transformed beyond the boundaries of my physical world. But the rigors of my life quashed my momentum and I didn’t visit the one American city I'd always longed to see -- until just last weekend -- nearly three years AFTER Katrina.

By Dave Lindorff

During my six-year sojourn in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, one of the things I came away with was a sense of how generally un-nationalistic and non-patriotic the Chinese people were.

Caught up in the struggle first to simply survive and then, in the mid-90s, to try and grab onto the moving train that was China’s new Great Leap into Capitalism, average mainland Chinese, whether out in the remote farmlands of western Anhui Province or in the rundown house lining the hutongs of Shanghai or Beijing, had no time for patriotic displays or nationalistic concerns.

When Chinese Communist Party leaders in Beijing would beat the drum of nationalism over Taiwanese independence efforts in the 1990s, it evoked mostly yawns among average Chinese people, and in fact, to Beijing’s embarrassment, a popular computer game featured a war-game in which Taiwan defeated the People’s Liberation Army.

January 28 - Monday
RALLY FOR LYNNE STEWART ON THE EVE OF ORAL ARGUMENT ON APPEAL

Discussion and analysis of the last 6 years since Lynne's arrest:
The Impact of the USA Patriot Act and Its Progeny

St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street
New York, NY 10027
MONDAY, January 28, 2008
7 p.m.

Join Lynne Stewart, Pam Africa, Ward Churchill, Sara Flounders, Clark Kissinger, Jeff Mackler, Cynthia McKinney, Danny Meyers, Ralph Schoenman, Michael Smith, The Raging Grannies, Juanita Young and others

The Doo Dah Parade

Three weeks ago, on January 1, 2008, the White Rose Coalition (WRC), a diverse consortium of pro-peace/pro-impeachment patriots, challenged the simplistic Happy New Year message of the 119th Pasadena Rose Parade by penetrating the festivities and infusing it with critical issues of war, war criminals, and Constitutional accountability. Three to four hundred patriots brazenly appeared on the scene to infiltrate one of Southern California's most conservative communities for one of America's most conservative events. The WRC wore Revolutionary era clothing, displayed signs reading "Impeach Bush & Cheney," and held as prisoners bobbleheaded semblances of war criminals George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice and Donald Rumsfeld, dressed in prison stripes with requisite balls and chains.

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 21st, instead of going shopping, we'll be at the Bethesda headquarters of war profiteer Lockheed Martin, and we invite you to join us, the peacemakers of PeaceAction Montgomery.

A couple of days ago, the Washington Post reported that Lockheed's shares rose more than 14 percent in 2007. The defense budget for fiscal 2008, which began Oct. 1, is $471.2 billion, or 12 percent more than 2007 -- excluding the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Post story stated that the new spending planned for next year by the Bush Administration may boost the value of Lockheed shares by 12 percent. Dealing in death appears quite profitable for Lockheed, but what is it doing to our country and the world?

In my article on New Years Eve (http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29684), the night before the Pasadena Rose Parade and our White Rose Coalition's (WRC) unauthorized PEOPLE'S PARADE FOR DEMOCRACY, I questioned whether media would step up patriotically to broadcast our message to IMPEACH Bush & Cheney and END THE WAR. We were well aware that media would already be present in huge numbers, since it capitalizes handsomely on Rose Parade revenues every year. But we also knew, through previous disappointments, the difficulty in getting corporate press to broadcast negative public sentiment toward Bush, Cheney, and War.

With our Democracy in decline, an immoral war raging on, criminals and cowards controlling our government, and H.R. 1955 and S. 1959 threatening our First Amendment freedoms, our White Rose Coalition believed it had a duty to begin 2008 with the clarion call to Americans that this is the year to RISE UP. After weeks of strategizing under the inspired and frenetic leadership of Los Angeles National Impeachment Center (LANIC) Director, Peter Thottam, we ventured forward with our action. With visuals in tow, our group of 350 to 400 patriots from a dozen pro-peace/pro-impeachment organizations, embarked on our mission to usher in 2008 with THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHING.

Much to the delight of our 2008 White Rose Coalition, a substantial number of media actually did turn out. While the coverage was no where near what we would have liked, it exceeded our expectations.

Here's the follow-up report to my article: "Will Media Broadcast THE PEOPLE'S PARADE At The Rose Parade New Year's Day?":

Here's a little puzzle to ponder. Consider these two American institutions... then guess which institutions they are??

One institution is over 200 years old and the product of passion, commitment, creativity and pain-staking labor. It is present every New Years Day in Pasadena, California, but it is NEVER seen.

The second institution is a spectacular floral extravaganza, over 100 years of age. It is also the product of passion, commitment, creativity and pain-staking labor. It, too, is present every New Years Day in Pasadena, but it is ALWAYS seen. The vision of the second displays its majesty. The majesty of the first displays its vision.

The first, much older UNSEEN institution allows the second institution to be seen. Without the presence of the first and older institution, the younger institution might not be.

Can you guess which institutions these are? Allow me fill you in.

230+ Attend Olympia's Impeachment Party
by Mollie | www.portlandimc.org

It was party time in Olympia on Friday, December 28th. Over 230 people kindred spirits who believe in our Constitution gathered to enjoy great food and music. It was also a time to recognize the courageous work of Washington State Senators Karen Fraser and Eric Oemig in supporting impeachment.

But the best news: they will put impeachment of Dick Cheney on the Washington Legislature's table in 2008!

"There are times in history that a President and Vice President so abuse their powers—and sadly, this is such a time—that we have to remove them from office," said Washington Senator Eric Oemig. He had sponsored a resolution (SJN 8016) calling for the impeachment of Bush/Cheney in the last legislative session. While a hearing was held, it proved impossible to bring to the floor for a vote because of a technicality.

Oemig pointed out that the challenge of impeachment is that there are so many violations of law that is overwhelming. That list continued to grow over the past year as more information has come out over the last year about torture, the extent of the illegal spying and even lying about outing a CIA operative. What is worse is that the President and Vice President continue to run the same plays. For example, the President and Vice President ignore the NIE reports that state Iran has no nuclear weapons program and go around scaring the American people with the terror of mushroom clouds. The President and the Vice President threaten war, with all options on the table, despite the fact there is no evidence that Iran poses a menace.

Peace Activists To March Before Rose Parade

PASADENA, Calif. (CBS) ― Peace activists said they intend to march down Colorado Boulevard two hours before the Rose Parade begins, calling for an end to the Iraq war and for the impeachment of the President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

A group calling itself the White Rose Coalition said its members intend to march past the TV camera platforms at the Norton Simon Museum at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day.

Pasadena police said they had just learned of the protest and are checking on the legality of the march. An official said the police department would make an announcement on how the protest would be handled later on Sunday.

On December 13th, Debbie and Barb lobbied Congress in festive holiday attire. As Chesapeake Carolers, they had so much fun! They even made new friends on the steps of the Capitol Building! They hope you like the pictures! And wait till you see their music videos!

Barb and Debbie take their Suburban Mom
Merry Christmas Message to Capitol Hill

MWArt.com

With our beloved Constitution under attack, and new legislation (H.R. 1955 and S. 1959) that will further usurp our freedoms, Americans are reaching back into history for the familiarity of their Revolutionary past. American freedom fighters, determined to reNEW their democracy, are digging into the fashion of their Founders, donning tricorn hats, and preparing to reNEW their Constitution.

The New American Revolutionaries are here!

By Dave Lindorff

Now even the New York Times is saying it. In an editorial on Oct. 20, the Times wrote, “Every now and then, we are tempted to double-check that the Democrats actually won control of Congress last year.” Noting how the Democratic House and Senate had rolled over and given the president permission to massively spy on Americans without showing any probable cause, the Times concluded, “It was bad enough having a one-party government when Republicans controlled the White House and both houses of Congress. But the Democrats took over, and still the one-party system continues.”

Was it retaliation by the the Democratic Leadership that exempted Dennis Kucinich from appearing with fellow Presidential candidates at Friday's Jefferson Jackson Day fundraiser in Iowa?

Was it Speaker Pelosi's vindictive payback to Kucinich for his impudent dismissal of her "impeachment is off the table" dictum that kept Kucinich out of the Jefferson Jackson Day party? After all, hadn't Kucinich introduced HRes 333 on the House Floor just that week, calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney, in defiance of the prescripted cowardice in Pelosi's House of Wacks? (http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/int2.pdf)

After six years of America's mainstream media bowing to its corporate mandate to ignore all opposition to George W. Bush, a media miracle has happened. Thanks to the great camera work of AP photographer, Charles Dharapak, the American anti-war movement has been revealed to the world. In one flash of a magical millisecond, photographer Dharapak captured CODEPINK peacemaker Desiree Fairooz confronting George Bush warmaker Condoleeza Rice. It was the shot SEEN 'round the world:

A huge thank you to photographer Charles Dharapak and to the Associated Press for letting the truth be told - for passing the message to the world that within the boundaries of imperial America thrives a valiant peace movement that opposes George W. Bush, and works hard to overthrow him.

Every American who opposes the immoral wars on Afghanistan and Iraq, and fears an encore on Iran, owes a heart-felt thanks to Desiree Fairooz for placing herself in the cross hairs for peace. The responses to Fairooz' patriotism, and to the brazen women of CODEPINK, have been astounding. Across the nation, on blogs, on television, and on radio, there has been a steady stream of support. Fairooz has shown that the opposition to Bush from inside America equals the opposition of the outside world.

The media is focused on the peace movement after Desiree Fairooz of CODEPINK confronted Condoleeza Rice in the Senate on Wednesday. Desiree, her hands stained red with faux "blood," accused Rice of having the blood of thousands of Iraqis on her hands.

The Bush administration has murdered and maimed hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our name. We've all been bloodied by it!!

Tomorrow, on October 27th, I'm marching for peace with red "blood-stained" hands. Until this war is over and these murders are stopped, I, as an American, am culpable, too.

By BILL SIZEMORE, Virginian-Pilot

MOYOCK, N.C. -- Seven people were arrested Saturday at Blackwater Worldwide’s front entrance after protesters re-enacted the Sept. 16 shooting incident in Baghdad involving Blackwater contractors in which 17 Iraqis died.

It was the first protest at the 10-year-old private military company’s headquarters, a reflection of its heightened profile since the Baghdad shootings stirred Iraqi anger and created a diplomatic crisis for Blackwater’s client, the U.S. State Department.

An article by Dave Lindorff in today's buzzflash.com