| July 2004 |
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
31
|
|
Wednesday, July 28
Christina Reports In: GLBT Caucus & Meeting Dean
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 28 Jul 2004 04:14 PM CDT
Christina Reports In:
GLBT Caucus & Meeting Dean
Boston during the convention
© 2004 Christina Butts. All rights reserved.
***TUESDAY***
I first went to the African Am caucus at the Sheraton Hotel around 10am where an African Am female senator from the state of Massachusetts legislature said it was so great to see so many African Am faces at this political gathering. Then Ill senator candidate Barack Obama spoke and pumped up the room about making a difference. Willie Gary talked about how the need to reach back and bring people up from the community even after making it in the world, bring other people from the community up because the struggle still continues.
Al Sharpton spoke to a warm reception. There’s a love for his ability to boldly tell the truth. Whether he’s elected or not, he said Republican hostilities dismiss blacks and negative treatment of blacks & minorities. If the Democratic party delivers to blacks & minorities, we could deliver back to the party. People enthusiastically clapped and yelled in approval and “Amen” shouts of agreement. All minority groups must continue to keep the minorities issues of disenfranchisement and discrimination in front of the public and shouldn’t be buried and forgotten until nice aphorisms and polite sentiment. But push for real action and support.
Many other important African American political officials talked to the caucus which energized the crowd to feel empowered.
Next was the GLBT caucus, where Senator Barbara Boxer spoke about her support for GLBT issues. I got to know a reporter of the religion section from a local GLBT newspaper called " In Newsweekly". www.innewsweekly.com
She spoke of the historic importance of this election, how true laws & values behind them are being corroded to endanger all of our freedoms. That GLBT shouldn’t be made into scapegoats for the troubles of this administration. (IMHO, this includes all other minority beings.)
more »
Monday, July 26
Report From The LGBT Caucus
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 26 Jul 2004 04:05 PM CDT
Report From The LGBT Caucus
Monica Severson and Linda Langston
from Cedar Rapids, both of whom
are supporters of the LGBT cause
© 2004 Democracy for Iowa. All rights reserved.
Yep, that's Carole King!
© 2004 Democracy for Iowa. All rights reserved.
Darrell
Lewis reports in from the LGBT caucus this morning. Singer Carole
King, pictured above, gave a great speech, and Senator Barbara Boxer,
D-CA, addressed the caucus, too.
Says Lewis, “The LGBT did get a little vocal. This convention is very
scripted and in the name of security, signs are not allowed to be taken
in. The Kerry campaign is making the decision whether or not "gay"
signs will be provided. In years past, there has always been a large
gay sign presence. Didn't really get a straight answer.
No gay marriage signs allowed. There are many people who are really
annoyed in the LGBT caucus that we are being minimized. I had to leave
the caucus early, but it was getting kind of heated when I left.
There were huge, huge numbers of Dean supporters among the 250 gay and
lesbian delegates (largest group ever). Iowa got a huge cheer when the
four of us stood when they did the state roll call.”
Gov. Vilsack Sends His Regards
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 26 Jul 2004 01:51 PM CDT
Gov. Vilsack Sends His Regards
Iowa's Gov. Tom Vilsack (right) sends his regards
from Boston to readers of Blog for Iowa
this morning. With him is Dave Leshtz of Iowa City,
one of our hard-working Dean Delegates.
© 2004 Democracy for Iowa. All rights reserved.
And here are our Iowa delegate/bloggers,
Darrell Lewis (left), a Dean/Kerry delegate
from Clear Lake, and Christina Butts,
an LGBT at-large delegate from Des Moines.
© 2004 Democracy for Iowa. All rights reserved.
Report from Christina Butts
***MONDAY***
8:45AM
-- Had a great breakfast with the Governor, his wife, Secretary Chet
Culver, his father, Senator Harkin, and their spouses. Governor from
New Mexico Bill Richardson & Terry McAuliffe talked to us at the
end, thanking Iowans for showing the nation who the leading candidate
for the Democratic ticket would be. I whispered to Sally that even
though Senators Kerry and Edwards are the heads of the Democratic
coalition, it was Dean who provided the body and soul of this year's
Democratic Party's fire, inspiration and energy.
Have
to get my two disposable cameras processed and Darrell Lewis promised
to scan them for me so I can get them uploaded by tomorrow or tonight.
Keep the home DFIA fires burning!!! Will post more this evening after
the Convention and caucuses.
Iowa Bloggers Report In
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 26 Jul 2004 04:19 AM CDT
Iowa Bloggers Report In
This is Denise (from Illinois), Dean blogger extraordinaire.
She's the one who provided the excellent reportage from
Gov. Dean's speech at DemFest yesterday.
You can read convention reports from Iowa bloggers below. Click.
1) Darrell Lewis
2) Christina Butts
See some photos here.
And this report came in from Darrell, too!
Hello bloggers........I just got to Boston in the last hour after a GREAT DemocracyFest weekend....
and I am on one of those DEAN highs.......what a way to start the big convention.
I got to
Pittsfield last Thursday evening and got everything set up in a local
campground and got an early start Friday morning. Joined in the
planning meeting with Jessica and all the hotel folks and other
organizers. Don't know that I added a lot but was there to give moral
support.
All
through the weekend I made and sold buttons and t-shirts and the
profits went to DemFest to help reduce their expenses. Adding that to
what we made on the the bloggers' breakfast resulted in a check to
DemFest in the area of $1,500...thanks to all of you who supported our
efforts to raise some bucks to help out. Alta Price's son, Alex,
helped all weekend in our booth selling buttons and shirts....I would
have been totally lost without his help. Thanks, Alex!!!
Blogger's
Breakfast was, of course, a blast for me just like last year's....and
again I was so busy doing the "organizing thing"...I didn't get to
spend much time chatting or even listening to everyone introduce
themselves. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves...I did, and that's what
counts.
DEAN WAS
AWESOME today...I had a chance to give him the sweatshirt that was
signed on the front at the original bloggers' breakfast in Des Moines
and on the back at BB 2.0 today. Our 250 bloggers names signed to
it...he seemed to really like.
Well,
more later...and boy do I have some stories to tell........here's just
one hint....guess which two bloggers knocked on my tent door (so to
speak) at around 1:30am waking me up to sit around the bonfire (which
by then was mostly red hot coals) to have a few beers....here's a hint
one - of them has the initials CG and was a speaker at DemFest and the
other always has a video camera in her hands....but then again maybe I
can't tell that whole story here...LOL.
The answer is, Yes, I did get up and sit with them around the hot coals and have a libation.
Here's more from Denise - the Q&A Session with Howard yesterday after his speech at DemFest.
Q. How do we get a more progressive media to hear us and our message?
A. "We
don't depend on the press. The internet and our one-on-one
communications are the best ways. I don't worry anymore what the press
has to say. They're like the Senate - always the last to know. If
you're doing something right, it will become known."
Q. What is Kerry doing about the voter fraud issues?
A.
"Kerry is aware and has a private team of lawyers on this. They are
keeping an eye on Florida." He gave kudos to California and Ohio for
not allowing any touch screen voting in these states.
Q. What can we do about the Nader factor?
A. Nader
has "done a lot for this country, but he is in deep, deep trouble. He's
behaving worse than any Democrat did in the primaries." He mentioned
the GOP group "Oregon Family Council" that is helping to get him on the
ballot there, as well as groups in Michigan and Arizona.
"Ralph NEVER compromises. We need to call out Nader for what he is."
He urged
us to "send people to swing states, like the people in Southern
California who sent folks to AZ and New Mexico, and in Northern
California who are sending people to Nevada and Oregon."
Again, he urged us, almost pleaded with us, to work hard for local candidates. "That is the key to winning back our country."
Q. What role do you see yourself playing after Nov. 2?
A.
Whatever John Kerry wants me to do. If he gives me a position, great;
if not, then I'll keep on with DFA. You're doing important work here."
[I suppose, then, that we should consider this fair warning that Howard may abandon DFA after the election.]
Q. Should John Kerry take public financing?
A. "I
talk to John at least once a week, either in person or by phone. I've
been giving him private advice on this matter, so I really can't
divulge anything that is private between him and me."
Q. When
Kerry wins, it will be because our army put him there. Will we be able
to influence his agenda? It doesn't seem like he is speaking out on the
issues that are important to us.
A.
"Actually, Kerry's message IS getting out. I was just with him in
Oregon and it's the local press that is doing most of the coverage that
you think is not being put out there. We know we can't rely on Fox
being fair and balanced (at this point he plugged "Oufoxed", calling it
"phenomenal!")
"There
are about 100 reporters following John around and in the national press
they can't write about the same thing 30 days in a row. You need to go
on the Net and find out all of the good things he is saying locally.
The national press just isn't going to cover it every day."
Q. Should we do DemocracyFest every year, and will you come?
A. "Yes,
we definitely should continue to do events like these. Maybe the next
one should be in Crawford, TX", he joked, "but in December. It's too
hot there in the summer. We need to bring in all of the other
progressive groups out there and work with them."
He
closed with his traditional YOU HAVE THE POWER!! He spent about a half
hour signing autographs and posing for photos. We also presented the
quilt to him and Listener will be bringing it to the Burlington HQ for
him to pick up when he returns from the convention, where he is now in
Boston.
I'm sure
I speak for everyone that we are so grateful that Howard took the time
to come to our gathering. He really emphasized how important the work
we are doing truly is - and he urged us to get everyone we know
involved. We truly do make a difference.
Here's a sampling of delegates' blogs. I'm not going to highlight the links here - too time consuming. Just copy and paste into a second browser window.
http://www.musselmanforamerica.com
http://www.cateread.com
http://www.democraticgirl.com
http://virtuallythere2004.org
http://kcdems.blogspot.com
Thanks to DeanRulz for posting these links.
Friday, July 23
Iowa in the News: Nader, Outsourcing, GLBT, Health Care, & Tax Cuts
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 23 Jul 2004 05:11 AM CDT
Iowa in the News: Nader, Outsourcing, GLBT, Health Care, & Tax Cuts
Bush backers helping Nader to get on Iowa ballot
Quad-City Times
DES
MOINES (AP) — President Bush’s backers are gathering signatures on
petitions to put maverick candidate Ralph Nader’s name on the ballot in
Iowa.
With
most polls showing the race between Bush and presumptive Democratic
nominee John Kerry a virtual tie, Nader’s presence on the ballot could
be crucial in deciding where the state’s seven electoral votes land.
As they
left a Bush campaign rally in Cedar Rapids Tuesday, activists were
greeted by volunteers seeking help with “a project to help the
president.”
The
volunteers were seeking signatures on petitions to get Nader’s name on
the ballot, carefully explaining that Nader’s presence would be helpful
to Bush because the former consumer activist would drain votes from
Kerry.
(more)
Report: Iowa gives little business to outsourcing firms
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
DES
MOINES (AP) -- Almost all 50 states are giving contracts to companies
that send the work overseas, but agencies in Iowa have done little
business with such outsourcing companies, a new report said.
Iowa has
not awarded contracts to any of the 18 companies identified in the
report as performing state government contracts with cheap overseas
labor, according to the report.
The
report was prepared by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit research center,
for a union representing white collar workers that has fought
outsourcing.
(more)
Schools: Gay rights covered in policies
The Hawk Eye Newspaper, Burlington, Iowa
Southeast Iowa districts don't specify sexual orientation in anti–discrimination guidelines
While
Burlington officials wrestle with whether to include a reference to
sexual orientation in the city's anti–discrimination ordinance,
southeast Iowa school district officials say even without that language
in current harassment policies, homosexual students and staff are
protected.
Only a
handful of Iowa districts have specific language on the subject, and
Burlington Superintendent Mike Book said he is surprised, given the
sheer number of districts in the state, that more do not.
(more)
Iowa Paraplegic Fights For Support
KWWL.com
The
freedom of living at home is something most all of us take for
granted. However, for one 20-year old Iowa man, that freedom may
soon be in jeopardy. Tony Ramos of Oelwein is a paraplegic.
Ramos was injured in a car-bicycle accident in the mid-90's.
Most
people look forward to turning 21-years old. Ramos however is dreading
his 21st birthday in September because that's when the state will
recognize him as an adult. That means he'll lose thousands of
dollars in state grants, which enable him to live at home. He says, "I
think its terrible. I don't want to go to a nursing home, that's for
older folks. I still want to live life. I want to go to college and I
want to make something of my life."
(more)
Report says Iowa tops in cutting taxes
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
DES
MOINES (AP) --- A new report says Iowa cut taxes by more than 1 percent
of its expected revenue in the current budget year, the only state in
the nation to do so.
. . .
But Rep. Ed Fallon, a Des Moines Democrat, said Iowa cannot afford to
continue cutting taxes and slashing the state's ability to provide
basic services.
"We're,
in fact, out of step with what legislatures across the country are
doing," said Fallon, who earlier this year proposed repealing tax cuts
to help pay for education. "The tax cuts are a big reason why our
budget is having trouble."
"This
report confirms what we've been saying all along, and that is Iowa
doesn't need any more tax cuts," said Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, a
spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association, which represents
about 32,000 teachers.
(more)
Monday, July 19
What We're Up Against: The Militant Evangelical Movement
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 19 Jul 2004 04:27 PM CDT
What We're Up Against: The Militant Evangelical Movement
The Lack of a 'Vision Thing'
AlterNet.org
Liberals and progressives don't know what they're up against with the militant evangelical movement
. . .
The militancy and timing of the evangelical message has spilled into
America's military conflicts. The perpetual wars that began with
operation "Infinite Justice" (later changed to "Operation Enduring
Freedom") fit perfectly with the millennial pursuit of "everlasting
life" that informs sermons, pamphlets, and religious media. The daily
newscasts about Iraq and the Middle East have, for millions of
God-fearing Americans, become visual reminders of their role as a
voting bloc in the war of the apocalypse. They believe themselves to be
supporters of providentially sanctioned war – and warrior presidents.
To their
– and progressives' – detriment, and despite good intentions, neither
media genius Michael Moore nor the flaccid fighters of the Democratic
Party have articulated a competitive historically-rooted vision of the
future that can negate this religious militancy. The urgency of the
evangelist message behind and beyond the pulpit is anchored by a
scorched earth approach to changing the world. It has no equivalent or
competing force among those opposing the Bush agenda. At a time when
global and local politics are again being defined by powerful
extremists of various faiths – including a fervent Christianity – bent
on rapturous redemption through war, the lack of a long-term vision
uniting those in opposition to the evangelical Bush supporters leaves
them, and the country, extremely vulnerable.
A
powerful long-term unifying alternative vision or, God forbid, an
ideology, which influences and interprets struggles of daily life as
much as it aligns electorates in the short-term and policy in the long
term, is absent....
(more)
Saturday, July 17
Iowa School Settles Gay Discrimination Suit
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 17 Jul 2004 05:49 PM CDT
Iowa School Settles Gay Discrimination Suit
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
(Des
Moines, Iowa) A former high school student who was subjected to
physical and verbal abuse over three grueling years has been awarded
more than $27,000 to settle a discrimination suit.
Tyler Rothmeyer, 18, claimed he was discriminated against because he is gay.
In a
federal lawsuit filed in March he accused the Perry School District,
the Perry Police Department, and the City of Perry of willfully
allowing him to be abused for more than three years. (story)
The suit outlined hundreds of incidents of verbal and physical abuse by more than three dozen students.
(more)
Thursday, July 15
Ban on Gay Marriage Fails!
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 15 Jul 2004 05:56 PM CDT
Ban on Gay Marriage Fails!
Washington Post
The
Republican-controlled Senate yesterday blocked a proposed
constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage, effectively killing
the White House-backed measure for the rest of this year and handing
[pseudo-]pResident Bush a big election-year defeat.
The vote
was 48 to 50 against bringing the initiative to a vote, 12 short of the
60 needed to limit debate and move toward final action on the
amendment. [Kerry and Edwards did not vote.]
Bush had
pushed hard for the amendment, but, with six Republicans joining nearly
all Democrats in blocking the initiative, the vote appeared to cast
doubt over how well the marriage issue is likely to play in the
pResident's [election] campaign and many of the closest congressional
races.
(more) [Free registration required]
Well, if the delightful defeat of Ken Veenstra
in Iowa's recent Republican primary is any indication of how blatant
anti-GLBT activity is going to play in this year's elections, I'd say
the Republicans ought to be glad the amendment is temporarily off the
table.
|
|
