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Thursday, September 30
Prevent Rethugs from Stealing Another Debate
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 30 Sep 2004 04:37 PM CDT
 Prevent Rethugs from Stealing Another Debate
Democratic National Committee (cough)
Well, it's nice to see the party joining in with the activists for a change!
Debate Starts at 8pm Central Time Tonight
Tonight, don't let George Bush's henchmen steal another victory. We need your online help immediately after the debate.
We all
know what happened in 2000. Al Gore won the first debate on the issues,
but Republicans stole the post-debate spin. We are not going to let
that happen again, and you will play a big role.
Immediately after the debate, we need you to do three things: vote in online polls, write a letter to the editor, and call in to talk radio programs. Your 10 minutes of activism following the debate can make the difference.
Vote
National
and local news organizations will be conducting online polls during and
after the debate asking for readers' opinions. Look for online polls at
these national news websites, and make sure to vote in every one of
them:
(Please forgive me for linking to Faux News. Ick, ick, ick.)
ABC News: http://www.abcnews.com/
CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/
CNN: http://www.cnn.com/
Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/
MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.com/
USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/
And
be sure to check the websites of your local newspapers and TV stations
for online polls. It is crucial that you do this in the minutes
immediately following the debate.
Write
Immediately
after the debate, go online and write a letter to the editor of your
local paper. If you feel John Kerry commanded the debate and had a
clear plan for fixing the mess in Iraq, put it in your letter. If you
feel George Bush dodged tough questions on Iraq and didn't level with
voters, put it in your letter.
With just a few clicks, you can write your letter at our online media center:
http://www.democrats.org/media/
Call
Do you
listen to national or local call-in shows on the radio? How about on
TV? Call them and let them know what you thought of John Kerry's plan
to keep America secure and George Bush's continuing refusal to admit
the truth about his record.
Here are some national shows to get you started.
(All times are Iowa time - what else is there?)
Air America (all day): 646-274-2346
Alan Colmes (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.): 212-301-5900
Ed Shultz (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.): 701-232-1525
Bev Smith (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.): 412-325-4197
Doug Stephen (4 a.m. 9 a.m.): 1-800-510-8255
Find shows in your area on our media website:
http://www.democrats.org/media/find.html
Your actions immediately after the debate tonight can help John Kerry win on November 2. Make your voice heard!
Don't
forget to visit our 2004 Debate Center before, during, and after the
debate for important information, including questions Bush must answer,
a Bush/Kerry contrast on keeping America safe, and Bush Debate Bingo, a
game you can play with friends during the debate.
http://www.democrats.org/debates/
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Democratic National Committee
DNC Motto: Because we aren't REALLY the incompetent jerks everyone thinks we are!
The Future of Family Farms: Oct. 3 at 9am
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 30 Sep 2004 11:28 AM CDT
 The Future of Family Farms: Oct. 3 at 9am
Ethical Perspective on the News is on KCRG channel 9 Cedar Rapids, Sunday Oct. 3rd at 9:00am (MORNING).
The topic is "The Future of Family Farms"
Moderator: Karen Brown Professor Philosphy, Cornell College.
Panel members: Kurt
Kelsey, President of Iowa CCI, Chris Peterson, President of Iowa
Farmers Union, and Larry Kallem Retired CEO of Iowa Institute for
Cooperatives and co-founder of Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Tim
Niess, Director of Coalition to Support Iowa"s Farmers (a
Farm Bureau front) was supposed to be on, but backed out at the last
minute.
Kelsey and Peterson are members of the Dean community.
Bush's Hometown Newspaper Endorses Kerry
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 30 Sep 2004 08:40 AM CDT
 Bush's Hometown Newspaper Endorses Kerry
Capitol Hill Blue
Well, THIS would be good for a laugh if the reasons weren't so scary.
The
newspaper in George W. Bush's adopted hometown of Crawford threw its
support on Tuesday behind Bush's Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry.
The
weekly Lone Star Iconoclast criticized Bush's handling of the war in
Iraq and for turning budget surpluses into record deficits. The
editorial also criticized Bush's proposals on Social Security and
Medicare.
"The
publishers of The Iconoclast endorsed Bush four years ago, based on the
things he promised, not on this smoke-screened agenda," the newspaper
said in its editorial. "Today, we are endorsing his opponent, John
Kerry."
It urged
"Texans not to rate the candidate by his hometown or even his political
party, but instead by where he intends to take the country."
(Click here to read the entire article.)
Click here to read the op/ed in the paper itself. They provide some really great arguments as to why and how Bush is so dangerous.
Bush Is Going To Lie Tonight
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 30 Sep 2004 04:27 AM CDT
 Bush Is Going To Lie Tonight
ACT
He has done it before. He will do it again.
George W. Bush is going to tell a couple of whoppers at tonight's debate and we can't let him get away with it!
Join ACT's fight for the truth today.
When
George Bush and John Kerry take the stage for the first presidential
debate, Americans everywhere will be watching. Millions of voters
will decide who to support on Thursday night.
ACT is
sponsoring a "Truth Canvass" to pre-empt and respond to Bush's lies
head-on. Thousands of canvassers and volunteers in battleground
states will go door-to-door to talk to voters about the debate.
On
Saturday, please join the entire ACT team and thousands of volunteers
as we knock on the doors of over 60,000 battleground state
voters. Help take the truth about Bush's record to the voters'
doorsteps.
There are three easy things you can do right now to help the truth win round one of the presidential debates:
1) Download and print "Truth Canvass" fact sheets to post in your office, on campus or any place it will be seen.
2) Spread the word by
telling your friends and family about ACT's work. Encourage them
to watch the debate and learn learn a more about the facts.
3) Sign-up to talk to voters in a swing state about Bush's lies this Saturday, October 2.
Although
John Kerry will be standing across the stage, George Bush will really
be debating the truth at Thursday night's debate on foreign policy.
When it
comes to Iraq, Bush has misled us time and time again. He led us
into Iraq under the guise of fighting terror, though the war in Iraq
has made us less safe and has taken resources away from pursuing Osama
bin Laden. He has told us that the situation in Iraq is getting
better, while the US casualty rate has doubled and the CIA's own
forecast is for things to get worse. And we'd all like to know
what happened to the weapons of mass destruction that Bush said were
the primary reason for going to war. Even Republicans and members
his own administration disagree with the Bush's assessment of the war
and reconstruction in Iraq.
Don't wait. Help the truth prevail by taking ACTion now.
No one said this would be easy. But if we all ACT together, the truth will prevail.
With great appreciation,
Steve Rosenthal
CEO
America Coming Together
PS.
There are hundreds of events across the country on Saturday. Find
a local event today and invite your friends: www.act04.org/canvass
Wednesday, September 29
Ohio SOS Caves In To Pressure from Voting-rights Groups
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 29 Sep 2004 03:37 PM CDT
 Ohio SOS Caves In To Pressure from Voting-rights Groups
The Columbus Dispatch
Blackwell ends paper chase
Some could be unable to vote because of flap over registration forms
Under
fire from voting-rights advocates, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth
Blackwell retreated yesterday from a directive that critics said would
slow voter-registration efforts and even block some people from casting
a ballot Nov. 2.
At issue
is a reminder Blackwell issued this month to county boards of election
that voter-registration forms must be printed on "white, uncoated paper
of not less than 80-pound text weight," a heavy, cardlike stock.
...Jocelyn
Travis, Ohio coordinator for the Election Protection coalition and
People for the American Way Foundation, said, "We can’t let a piece of
paper stand between people and their right to register and vote."
The
national coalition of more than 60 civil-rights organizations has been
assisting voters and has trained 25,000 poll monitors to assist voters
in black and Latino precincts in Ohio and 16 other states.
Last
night, a spokesman for Blackwell denied that the GOP officeholder was
trying to prevent people from voting and said county boards should
accept voter registration forms on paper of any weight as long as they
are otherwise valid.
(Click here to read the complete story.)
My hat is off to
the progressive activists who wrote letters, signed petitions, and
generally caused a big stink as the GOP tried to disenfranchise
Democratic voters in Ohio. Well done!
OPENING OCTOBER 1st AT THE FLEUR CINEMA & CAFE in Des Moines
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 29 Sep 2004 12:41 PM CDT
 OPENING OCTOBER 1st AT THE FLEUR CINEMA & CAFE in Des Moines
GOING UP RIVER
A
documentary on Senator John Kerry's Navy tour of duty in Vietnam, his
contributions to the peace movement that followed, and the ultimate
shape of his future political career.
Fri-Sun 1:30 4:35 7:20 9:20
Mon-Thurs 4:35 7:20 9:20
******************
THE CORPORATION
Since
the late 18th Century American legal decision that the business
corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a
dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This
film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization
model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that
in the behavior, this type of "person" typically acts like a
dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we
see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our
future, but also what the people with courage, intelligence and
determination can do to stop it.
Fri-Sun 1:00 4:20 7:05 9:45
Mon- Thurs 4:20 7:05 9:45
*******************
Kucinich: It's Time to Close Ranks
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 29 Sep 2004 10:01 AM CDT
 Kucinich: It's Time to Close Ranks
by Dennis Kucinich
There are
a lot of people throwing up their hands right now and saying, "Well, the
campaign isn't strong enough...the candidate this...the candidate
that...." Know what? The time's over for those discussions. We have to
close ranks. We have to get out there - knock on doors, put up signs,
and make phone calls, and rally people because there is a profound
difference between John Kerry and George Bush.
...Now's
the time we need to come together. This isn't even a close question.
This is not the time for temporizing about, you know, "What should we
do?", "What can we do?", "Can we win?" Of course, we can win!
Let
me give you an example. In Ohio, four years ago, I was contacted by the
Presidential campaign of our candidate then who told me they were
pulling out of Ohio because they had a poll that showed them 14 points
down. Said they couldn't win. You know what? We said, "We have to stay
in this anyway because of what we believe in. We're gonna keep
pushing." And we persisted. And you know what happened? A 14 point gap
closed to within three points in Ohio. We could've won Ohio if only
we'd had a campaign that would've stayed with us. John Kerry's staying
with us in Ohio, and we're staying with him. And we're going to help
him win Ohio, and you can help him win not only Ohio, but every state
that's represented right now.
(Click here to read the entire article or to view the video online.)
Tonight in Mason City: Stop Outsourcing Our Future Comes to Town
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 29 Sep 2004 07:46 AM CDT
 Tonight in Mason City: "Stop Outsourcing Our Future" Comes to Town
A Town Hall Meeting for people concerned about good jobs, the environment, and a healthy future for their community
Wednesday, Sept. 29
7:00-8:30 PM
Mason City Public Library
225 2nd St. SE, Mason City
Join
your friends and neighbors to learn about global trade agreements now
being negotiated by the Bush administration, their implications for
good jobs, a clean environment, and healthy communities, and the choice
that voters have in the Presidential election on the issue of
outsourcing our future.
Panelists
*Amanda Ragan, Iowa State Senator, District 7
*Chris Petersen, President, Iowa Farmers Union
*Niel Ritchie, Executive Director, League of Rural Voters
*Sandra Sanchez, American Friends Service Committee
*Alan Anderson, President, United Steel Workers Local 9310
*Janice Grandstaff, Iowa Workforce Development
Sponsors
*Iowa Farmers Union
*PACE Local 7-0604
*Iowa Conference United Methodist Church
*League of Rural Voters
*Iowa Fair Trade Campaign
*American Federation of Teachers Local 716
*National Catholic Rural Life Conference
*Americans for Democratic Action
*Iowa Citizen Action Network
*SEIU Local 199
*AFSCME Council 61
*Women, Food, and Agriculture Network
*Iowa Sierra ClubAmerican Federation of Teachers Local 716
*United Steel Workers of America District 11
For more information on the Iowa Fair Trade Campaign, click here.
Other Town Hall Meetings in Iowa
Muscatine, Oct. 2, Muscatine Commuity College, 10:30am-Noon
CHANGE OF VENUE!
Keokuk, Oct. 4, Keokuk City Council Chambers, 6:30-8:00 pm
Ottumwa, Oct. 11, Ottumwa Public Library, 7:00-8:30pm
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