Log Cabin, Moderate Republicans Gird For GOP Convention Battle
365Gay.com
(Washington ) A coalition of moderate GOP groups including Log Cabin
Republicans are preparing for a battle on the floor of the convention
to halt a complete takeover of the party by the far right.
Other members of the coalition include Republicans for Choice, and the Republican Youth Majority.
The three groups Monday called on the Republican Party to adopt a "Party Unity" plank in the GOP platform.
...The coalition said it will take the fight to the platform committee
and, if necessary, is not ruling out taking it to the convention floor.
(more)
Anarchy at the RNC
AlterNet.org
Protestors at the Republican National Convention may be trading black masks for tech-savvy tools
...This
leaderlessness – "uncoordinated actions toward a coordinated goal," as
Siva Vaidhyanathan puts it in his book The Anarchist in the Library –
is what links these new-school approaches:
Flash
radiojacking: Jeremijenko and the Bureau of Inverse Technology (BIT),
will use a special transmitter to break into radio frequencies reserved
for corporate stations, giving bursts of information so brief that the
FCC can't lock onto their transmission location. During the World
Economic Forum demonstrations, BIT called attention to the Bush
administration's bogus claims about the safety of the air after 9/11.
Each time New York's airborne pollution surpassed the "safe" level, a
warning bleep interrupted broadcasts of the local NPR affiliate.
(more)
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Tuesday, August 17
Log Cabin, Moderate Republicans Gird For GOP Convention Battle
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 17 Aug 2004 04:06 PM CDT
Report to Show State Loopholes for Supposedly "Accidental" Air Pollution Pushing Carcinogens Well Over U.S. Legal Limits
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 17 Aug 2004 09:51 AM CDT
Report to Show State Loopholes for Supposedly "Accidental" Air Pollution Pushing Carcinogens Well Over U.S. Legal Limits
Over Half of States Permit Illegal "Upsets," Only Handful Track Pollution WASHINGTON, D.C. - Millions of Americans are exposed today to supposedly "accidental" industrial site air pollution incidents that include cancer-causing pollutants far in excess of the limits set out under federal law, according to a report to be released nationally on August 18, 2004 by the nonprofit and nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project (EIP). The report will show that, in addition to lax EPA oversight, the major culprits behind the so-called "upsets" pollution are laws in over half of all states that permit the supposedly "accidental" emissions to take place in violation of federal law. Additionally, only a small handful of states actually track these "upsets" and then take appropriate action. Though the EIP report is national in scope, it looks in detail at the situations in CA, OH, LA, PA, GA and TX to illustrate the "upset" issue. Among the excess pollution emissions involved in "upset" incidents are benzene and butadiene -- two major carcinogens. In order to document the hidden "upsets" pollution problem, citizens living nearby industrial/commercial sites -- including refineries and chemical plants -- have produced videotape records of the "accidental" emissions. The videotape will be available online and in hard-copy form on August 18, 2004. Founded by Eric Schaeffer, the Environmental Integrity Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in March of 2002 to advocate for more effective enforcement of environmental laws. Schaeffer directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Regulatory Enforcement until 2002, when he resigned after publicly expressing his frustration with efforts of the Bush Administration to weaken enforcement of the Clean Air Act and other laws. TO PARTICIPATE: A live, two-way phone-based news event will take place at 12:30 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 1-(800) 860-2442. CAN'T PARTICIPATE?: A streaming audio recording of the news event will be available on the Web as of 4 p.m. on August 18, 2004 here. http://www.environmentalintegrity.org
Paul Johnson: Latham Using Taxpayer Funds to Disseminate Propaganda
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 17 Aug 2004 04:51 AM CDT
Paul Johnson: Latham Using Taxpayer Funds to Disseminate Propaganda
In these shocking reports, the Paul Johnson for U.S. Congress campaign and the Iowa Democratic Party detail the alleged spending privilege abuses of U.S. Rep. Tom Latham. "Franking", the privilege allowing members of Congress to mail constituents information using their signature rather than paying postage, started in 1775. But a sampling of Latham's recent mailings shows rather than providing solid facts and information that could benefit his constituents, he frequently uses his franking privilege to distribute generalized statements painting a rosy picture of his achievements and the legislation he supports. "Not only do unsuspecting Iowan's pay for Mr. Latham to disseminate "puff" propaganda from his office budget, but the materials contain faulty and inaccurate generalizations often targeted to seniors," says Johnson. As an example, Johnson cites a recent Latham brochure targeted to seniors that states prescription drug prices have decreased 20 to 60 percent using Medicare's prescription drug card. The Associated Press in an April 30, 2004, article stated that prices of Lipitor, Celebrex and other popular brand-name medicines are no lower using the drug discount card, than when purchased without discounts through online pharmacies. Additionally, the best prices for Celebrex, Fosamax and Lipitor, (drugs used for arthritis, osteoporosis and cholesterol levels), were at least a third higher with the best Medicare mail order prices, than from the three Canadian pharmacies listed on the state of Wisconsin's online prescription drug resource center. "I have yet to find a resident in District 4 who has experienced the savings Mr. Latham touts. Perhaps his ideas are being swayed by prescription drug manufacturers who have lavishly donated to his campaign," says Johnson. "At a time when seniors have been hit by escalating prices and the new Medicare prescription drug card has 70 confusing options, Iowans don't need hype, but facts and information that will help them assess their situation." Federal records show medical and pharmaceutical interests contributed $46,500 during Latham's 2002 campaign and his current campaign has already received $30,000 from those same sectors. Records show two-thirds of Latham's campaign is financed by Political Action funds. On the other hand, Johnson's campaign is financed primarily by citizen donors. "A candidate who markets himself at taxpayer expense is not a steward of the resources of his office. I believe it's time for a change, and that's why I want to represent Iowa's 4th Congressional District," emphasizes Johnson. Latham's mailings all bear the required notation, "This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense" in small print beneath the return address. The use of franking is federally prohibited 90 days before elections in an effort to limit campaign use. Latham's most recent mailing, a four-page color brochure, arrived in Decorah households Monday, August 9, just 85 days before the Nov. 2 general election. To learn more about Paul Johnson or to contribute to his campaign, go here. LATHAM SPENDING TAX-PAYER DOLLARS TO CAMPAIGN Iowa Democratic Party A four-page color glossy campaign mailing sent by Congressman Tom Latham to voters in the 4th District is a gross abuse of congressional franking privileges, according to Iowa Democratic Party Chair Gordon Fischer. “Members of Congress are only allowed to use taxpayer money to keep their constituents informed of official Congressional business,” Fischer said. “Tom Latham is using tax dollars to campaign for re-election.” To read more of IDP chair Gordon Fischer's comments, go here. |
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