On The National Front: Gore Rebukes Bush While The Bush Junta Comes Crumbling Down
"Democracy itself is in grave danger"
by Former Vice President Al Gore
Salon.com
Former
Vice President Al Gore charges that the Bush administration's use of
executive power goes beyond the pale. America's greatest challenge
today, he argues, "is not terrorism but how we react to terrorism."
June 24,
2004 | When we Americans first began, our biggest danger
was clearly in view: we knew from the bitter experience with King
George III that the most serious threat to democracy is usually the
accumulation of too much power in the hands of an executive, whether he
be a king or a president. Our ingrained American distrust of
concentrated power has very little to do with the character or persona
of the individual who wields that power. It is the power itself that
must be constrained, checked, dispersed and carefully balanced, in
order to ensure the survival of freedom. In addition, our founders
taught us that public fear is the most dangerous enemy of democracy
because under the right circumstances it can trigger the temptation of
those who govern themselves to surrender that power to someone who
promises strength and offers safety, security and freedom from fear.
(more) [One-day free pass requires you to view an ad to read this article.]
Reality is unravelling for Bush
by Sidney Blumenthal
The Guardian
Even negative attacks on Kerry no longer seem to be working
. . .
The urgency of Bush's credibility crisis surfaced in the latest
Washington Post-ABC News poll showing the collapse of Bush's standing
on terrorism, losing 13 points since April, putting Kerry even on the
issue and one point ahead in the contest. But even more worrying was
Bush's rating on trust. By a margin of 52% to 39%, Kerry is seen as
more honest and trustworthy.
Since
March 3, the Bush-Cheney campaign has spent an estimated $80m on mostly
negative advertising, to eliminate Kerry at the starting gate. The
strategy was the acceleration of the lesson of Bush's father's
victorious effort in the 1988 campaign when, 17 points behind in
mid-summer, he shattered Michael Dukakis with a withering negative
attack. . . .
(more)
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Thursday, June 24
On The National Front: Gore Rebukes Bush While The Bush Junta Comes Crumbling Down
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 24 Jun 2004 10:51 PM CDT
A Message from Democracy for America to Iowa Dean Delegates and Alternates
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 24 Jun 2004 08:10 PM CDT
A Message from Democracy for America to Iowa Dean Delegates and Alternates
Dear Iowa Deaniacs, Thank you for doing more than just voting. By going to the Iowa Democratic Convention you are doing the hard work of taking our country back. Participating in the process is the most important thing we can do to take our country back from the right-wing. Stand up for what you believe in, learn, and most importantly have fun! Sincerely, Democracy for America
DFIA Takes Pride In Gay Pride Celebrations
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 24 Jun 2004 08:55 AM CDT
DFIA Takes Pride In Gay Pride Celebrations
 Their first meeting and already, they are like two peas in a pod: DFIA Co-founder Dr. Alta Price, M.D. of Bettendorf (left) and DFIA Founding Member Darrell Lewis of Clear Lake, at the Gay Pride Celebration in Iowa City, June 19th. [Can you tell Alta is wearing her Lyre, Liar, Pants on Fire shirt? And right above the pants on fire, there is a small Blog for Iowa button.] Over recent weeks Gay Pride Celebrations have been held all across the country. This coming weekend is the biggest weekend of all commemorating the New York City Stonewall Riots that set in motion the modern day movement for non-discrimination of gays. Democracy for Iowa members (good Dean Democrats) have been volunteering with the Democratic National Committee and the Kerry Campaign to help staff booths at Gay Pride events in Iowa City, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Kansas City and Omaha for the last three weekends. Helping in Iowa City was co-founder of Democracy for Iowa, Dr. Alta Price, M.D. Helping in Des Moines was Christina Butts. Unfortunately, the names of some others who helped have been lost in booth coordinator and DFIA Founding Member Darrell Lewis' boxes of materials. Darrell will be helping again this weekend in Minneapolis and over the 4th of July will be doing outreach in Michigan to the gay community. The very large Kerry banner with the gay rainbow symbol on it that the DNC loaned us to be used in Iowa has now been donated to us to use permanently and Darrell says anyone who wants to use it in the future should contact him. Around 3,000 people were "stickered" with "out loud for Kerry" and standard Kerry stickers. Over 500 signatures were secured on the Margaret Cho petition opposing the federal gay marriage amendment. Hundreds of Kerry v. Bush brochures were distributed. Hundreds of Kerry signs were distributed. The Iowa Dean volunteers have informed the DNC/Kerry Campaigns, "we have completely run out of materials...HELP...send more." The DNC paid for the booths in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids and provided materials for all the events. Darrell provided booth space through his business in Omaha and Kansas City. The Des Moines booth was provided by Polk County Democrats. In Iowa City, congressional candidate Dave Franker spent time at the booth and DFIA members distributed literature for Dave as well. Dave Leshtz, an Iowa Dean Delegate (although he is not gay) stopped by the booth in Iowa City and chatted. Funny thing, how all these Dean Democrats seem to show up where the action is and the work needs to be done. Although Darrell and Alta have been long acquainted online and through DFA and DFIA, they had not previously met each other in person. Iowa City was their first meeting. Those two "over 50" Dean Democrats chuckle when people would talk about Dean supporters being so young, but then again, as Darrell says, Alta doesn't look her age. Darrell reports that while the gay community is almost totally behind Kerry, there still remains strong sentiments for Howard Dean. Dean was the clear favorite of the Iowa Gay and Lesbian community. Additionally, there are a significant number of persons in the gay community who indicated their support for Ralph Nader, primarily because of Kerry's support for the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment in Massachusetts. Thanks to DFIA Founding Member Darrell Lewis for providing information for this report.
Dean Delegates And Alternates To Meet Friday Evening
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 24 Jun 2004 05:09 AM CDT
Dean Delegates And Alternates To Meet Friday Evening
To All Dean Delegates and Alternates to the Iowa Democratic State Convention: Molly Regan has arranged for a strategy session tomorrow evening, Friday, June 25th, in Des Moines prior to the State Convention. If you wish to attend the Dean Caucus, please meet in the lobby of the Hotel Ft. Des Moines at 9pm. The address is 1000 Walnut, about 6 blocks from the Convention Center. The phone number there is 800-532-1466. Once everyone has congregated in the lobby, the ultimate destination will be determined depending on the size of the group. The actual meeting place will be within easy walking distance of the hotel lobby. If you arrive in the lobby after 9pm, check with the hotel desk. They will instruct you where to go. And this advice comes from Kevin Powell: **Sign Up As A Dean Supporter At Registration** It is very important that anyone who is a Dean supporter sign up as such at registration time. It doesn't matter what preference group you were in at the county or district level; at the state convention, you can be a delegate for Dean. We need to obtain the 15% level in order to be assured of getting a delegate to the national convention. If we do not get 15% on the first go around, then we have to persuade people to come to our group during the first realignment period. If we still do not get the 15% after that, then we will have to go to another preference group during the second realignment period. I hope it doesn't come to that. Encourage anyone who is an alternate to come to the state convention because they will probably be able to be seated as a delegate. I expect that there won't be a full house, if the district conventions are any indication. Hats off to Molly for coordinating all of this as well as figuring out a caucus meeting time/place. For more information on the State Convention or to contact Molly Regan, go here. |
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