Backbone Brigade captured on C-Span delivering giant spine to Congress for peace & accountability
The Backbone Campaign sent a crew of six to DC from Seattle, Tacoma, and Vashon thanks to the generosity of a couple supporters who provided the tickets and funds for tickets to transport our volunteer team. Doug Skove of Vashon leads the team, with Evan Simmons (Vashon) directing the Chain Gang, Barbara Luecke (Seattle) providing artistic direction, Nicki Vance and Charlie Bevis of SDS Tacoma directing outreach, and Tom Harrigan (Vashon) providing logistical support. These folks were met by Backbone Campaign members from Seattle to DC, Chicago to Michigan and generously hosted by Coralie Farlee and Robert Alexander.
Reports back were of enthusiastic support and an energizing day in a march much larger than the "tens of thousands" circulating in the press. On Monday Barbara, Nicki and Charlie will join up with DC area members Diane Wittner, Jay Marx, Robert Alexander and some friends from Democracy Cell Project and Liberty News TV to walk the halls of Congress as the Backbone Patrol delivering Spine Thank You cards and a couple Spineless Citations as well.
Reports back were of enthusiastic support and an energizing day in a march much larger than the "tens of thousands" circulating in the press. On Monday Barbara, Nicki and Charlie will join up with DC area members Diane Wittner, Jay Marx, Robert Alexander and some friends from Democracy Cell Project and Liberty News TV to walk the halls of Congress as the Backbone Patrol delivering Spine Thank You cards and a couple Spineless Citations as well.
Don't fear a filibuster
With the federal minimum wage now 28 percent lower, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than it was fifty years ago, Senate Republicans are nonetheless threatening to filibuster its increase. This leaves the Democrats with a choice, which will set the tone for future legislation. They can cave to Republican demands to add questionable business tax breaks, a response Montana Democrat Max Baucus embraces. Or they can use their time, while the debate goes on, to highlight the fundamental issues at stake, hammering the Republicans with their opposition to this most modest step toward helping low-income working Americans. Ted Kennedy did this when he challenged the $200 billion of amendments offered in an attempt to derail the bill, and then asked "When does the greed stop?”
We love you, Molly
Our beloved sister Molly Ivins is fighting for her life against cancer, and all we can do is try to send her even a fraction of the brillliance, joy and love she has given us for so many incomparable years.
This genius daughter of Texas turmoil has stood alone for so long as a voice of clarity, wit, common sense and plain-spoken conscience that it’s hard to know even where to start.
Perhaps most important to remember is that she has not been just a writer. From her modest but gracious home in the heart of Austin, she has done anything but sit back and snipe with that unique penetrating wit of hers. She could have done it. She could have just gone to that keyboard every day, blown them all away, and built her national reputation from the sheer genius of an insulated ivory tower.
Perhaps most important to remember is that she has not been just a writer. From her modest but gracious home in the heart of Austin, she has done anything but sit back and snipe with that unique penetrating wit of hers. She could have done it. She could have just gone to that keyboard every day, blown them all away, and built her national reputation from the sheer genius of an insulated ivory tower.
First criminal convictions from Ohio's stolen 2004 election confirm recount was rigged
The first felony convictions of two Cleveland poll workers stemming from Ohio's stolen 2004 election confirm that the official recount in that contested vote was, in the words of county prosecutors, "rigged." The question now is whether further prosecutions will reach higher up in the ranks of officials who may have been involved in illegalities throughout the rest of the state.
The convictions have come down in Cuyahoga County, where Democratic candidates traditionally run up huge majorities. Suspicious vote counts and other irregularities cut deeply into John Kerry's margins in 2004. Official vote counts gave the state---and thus the presidency---to George W. Bush by about 118,000 votes out of 5.5 million counted.
A statewide recount, paid for by the Green and Libertarian Parties, was marred in 87 of the state's 88 counties by the types of illegalities that led to this week's convictions. Only in Coshocton County was a full, manual recount performed.
The convictions have come down in Cuyahoga County, where Democratic candidates traditionally run up huge majorities. Suspicious vote counts and other irregularities cut deeply into John Kerry's margins in 2004. Official vote counts gave the state---and thus the presidency---to George W. Bush by about 118,000 votes out of 5.5 million counted.
A statewide recount, paid for by the Green and Libertarian Parties, was marred in 87 of the state's 88 counties by the types of illegalities that led to this week's convictions. Only in Coshocton County was a full, manual recount performed.
Don't let Dick Cheney get me!
This country has learned to be afraid… of Dick Cheney. The number one reason a significant minority of Americans still hesitates to get behind impeachment of Bush is fear of Dick Cheney. This will remain the case even should Cheney die, I am convinced. Certainly it remains the case no matter how many times I explain the following six reasons why it's INSANE, but I'm going to try one more time.
Peace is Possible – Peace is Imperative
January 27, 2007 – Washington, D.C.
America is a fundamentally good and great nation. As it evolves toward fulfilling its promise. It is better than our presidential leadership. The American people, nor the Congress, ever agreed to the global calamity and disaster.
Today we march for the soul of our nation, to preserve our nation’s honor. We march in protest against our government’s policy, mass action to change the course of our nation. The war in Iraq is causing a war on the poor at home. Money needed for the working poor, the aged and the young, are being sacrificed for this mis-adventure.
I was with Dr. King on his last birthday, January 15, 1968: his actions and agenda that day are instructive for us. He spent his morning sharing breakfast with his family. About 10am he came to church, dressed casually, building a multicultural coalition: Appalachian whites, Native Americans and Latinos from the Chavez group, Al Lowenstein and some Jewish allies from New York, Blacks from the Deep South and labor leaders…the focus was to end the War in Vietnam and End Poverty in America.
America is a fundamentally good and great nation. As it evolves toward fulfilling its promise. It is better than our presidential leadership. The American people, nor the Congress, ever agreed to the global calamity and disaster.
Today we march for the soul of our nation, to preserve our nation’s honor. We march in protest against our government’s policy, mass action to change the course of our nation. The war in Iraq is causing a war on the poor at home. Money needed for the working poor, the aged and the young, are being sacrificed for this mis-adventure.
I was with Dr. King on his last birthday, January 15, 1968: his actions and agenda that day are instructive for us. He spent his morning sharing breakfast with his family. About 10am he came to church, dressed casually, building a multicultural coalition: Appalachian whites, Native Americans and Latinos from the Chavez group, Al Lowenstein and some Jewish allies from New York, Blacks from the Deep South and labor leaders…the focus was to end the War in Vietnam and End Poverty in America.
Heaven waited
I'm still waiting for Art Buchwald's next column.
If I had any decent sources in heaven I'd ask them to get me an interview with him, just to check in, see how the first week went and find out when he's going to start writing again. But he was the one with all the great sources - at the White House, the CIA, the Kremlin, wherever.
The official story is that Art died on Jan. 17 at age 81, of kidney failure. The unofficial story is that he was supposed to die a year ago but didn't, and became, in his own modest estimation, "the man who wouldn't die." In early 2006 he'd had a leg amputated following serious infection, and was suffering from acute kidney disease. The doctors recommended dialysis - for the rest of his life. Art said no way and checked into a hospice instead. There, something went horribly wrong.
If I had any decent sources in heaven I'd ask them to get me an interview with him, just to check in, see how the first week went and find out when he's going to start writing again. But he was the one with all the great sources - at the White House, the CIA, the Kremlin, wherever.
The official story is that Art died on Jan. 17 at age 81, of kidney failure. The unofficial story is that he was supposed to die a year ago but didn't, and became, in his own modest estimation, "the man who wouldn't die." In early 2006 he'd had a leg amputated following serious infection, and was suffering from acute kidney disease. The doctors recommended dialysis - for the rest of his life. Art said no way and checked into a hospice instead. There, something went horribly wrong.
Bush: It's over
The Bush presidency is finished, whether or not he takes us all down with him. A State of the Union address is always a pitiless register of where exactly the White House incumbent stands, in terms of political power. As Bush plodded through a list of doomed political initiatives, the news cameras kept swiveling away from him, like people seeking escape from a bore at a cocktail party.
They peered over his shoulder at Nancy Pelosi, America's first female Speaker of the House; they swiveled up to the balcony at a haggard-looking Laura Bush; they sought out the Democratic presidential hopefuls, like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
They peered over his shoulder at Nancy Pelosi, America's first female Speaker of the House; they swiveled up to the balcony at a haggard-looking Laura Bush; they sought out the Democratic presidential hopefuls, like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.