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Monday, January 31
Dean Wins Backing of State Dem Chairs
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 31 Jan 2005 04:14 PM CST
 Dean Wins Backing of State Dem Chairs
Detroit Free Press
Howard Dean won the backing of state Democratic Party leaders Monday, putting him in a strong position to win the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee.
"If
all of our members vote for him, that will be half of what he needs to
win the chairman's job," said Mark Brewer, chairman of the Association
of State Democratic Chairs.
The
party's presidential front-runner in 2003 won 56 votes from the state
chairs and Democratic activist Donnie Fowler -- who led Sen. John
Kerry's successful Michigan caucus campaign -- won 21 during a national
conference call. The state chairs ignored a recommendation made Sunday
by the executive committee to back Fowler. Other candidates' support
Monday was in single digits.
"We're
asking all of our state chairs and vice chairs to follow our
endorsements," Brewer said, noting that would bring 112 votes. "And we
think they will."
...Dean
already had about 50 endorsements of DNC members, including five
chairs. He needs a majority of the 447 members to win the post. The
election is scheduled Feb. 12.
Some in
the party have worried aloud about Dean, saying he may be too outspoken
and too blunt on occasion to provide effective leadership. But as
Dean's campaign gained ground, Democratic resistance has seemed to
fade....
(Click here to read the complete article.)
And this is just in . . .
Webb Drops Out of Race for DNC Chairmanship
DenverPost.com
Former Denver Mayor Backs Dean
Wellington
Webb dropped out of the race to chair the Democratic National Committee
today and endorsed former Vermont governor Howard Dean for the job.
Webb, a
former three-term Denver mayor, pulled out of contention immediately
after an influential group of state Democratic Party chairpeople
overwhelming supported Dean, a 2004 presidential candidate who promises
to rally the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."
Also today, Colorado Democratic Chairman Chris Gates backed Dean after stumping for Webb for more than a month.
(Click here to read the complete article.)
Corporations Biggest Filers of Frivolous Suits
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 31 Jan 2005 10:48 AM CST
 Corporations Biggest Filers of Frivolous Suits
MinutemanMedia.org
by Jim Hightower
Look for a big push by Bush this year to restrict your right to sue corporations that harm or cheat you.
George
claims that you unruly citizens are treating big corporations unfairly,
constantly filing "frivolous lawsuits" against them. So, to protect the
poor corporations, Bush says he must limit your access to America's
courts.
But
here's a dirty little secret that Bush doesn't mention: By far the
biggest filers of frivolous lawsuits are not We the People – but
corporations! The consumer group, Public Citizen, has done a survey of
cases in Arkansas, Mississippi, Chicago and Philadelphia – four places
alleged to be hotbeds of what Bush and his corporate backers like to
call "lawsuit abuse" by us little folks.
The
cases reveal that, contrary to the propaganda, American businesses file
about four times as many lawsuits as do individuals – even though there
are 40 times more individuals in America than businesses. Also, the
survey finds that corporations and their legal beagles file frivolous
lawsuits 69 percent more often than individuals do.
Big
companies keep a bevy of attorneys on staff or on retainer, and they
routinely unleash them on their customers, competitors, suppliers,
workers, and anyone else standing between them and another dollar bill.
Regular
folks, however, count on a system of trial lawyers to help us when
we've been wronged. These lawyers pay for all of the up front costs of
us going to trial, and they only get paid if we win. This democratic,
entrepreneurial system gives poor and middle-class families access to
the judicial system – not just the rich.
It's
this access that Bush & Company want to take away. Yet, the
corporations pushing Bush's hokey "reform" – the very corporations that
are so quick to run to the courthouse with frivolous suits – are
demanding that they be exempted from the law to shut off access to the
system.
To get Public Citizen's report [Frequent Filers:
Corporate Hypocrisy in Accessing the Courts] and fight for your rights, call 202-454-5104.
Jim
Hightower is the best-selling author of Thieves In High Places:
They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time To Take It Back, on sale now
from Viking Press. He can also be found at MinutemanMedia.org.
 Click here to sign up for action alerts
from RapidResponse - Iowa.
SUPPORT VIVA 2005: For Voter Verified Paper Ballots
by
Linda Thieman
on Mon 31 Jan 2005 05:46 AM CST
 SUPPORT VIVA 2005: For Voter Verified Paper Ballots
From: the National Ballot Integrity Project
Action Alert Day One
January 31, 2005
Voter Verified Paper Ballots
are the essential first step towards a trustworthy election. VIVA 2005
makes Voter Verified Paper Ballots mandatory for federal elections.
Senator Ensign (R-NV)
will introduce VIVA 2005 if other Republican Senators will cosponsor
this worthy bill. Joan Krawitz, Andy Stephensen, Warren Stewart, and
Cheryl Lilienstein, of the National Ballot Integrity Project, will be
in Washington DC urging Republican Senators to cosponsor VIVA 2005,
this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Please help us by making the phones of Republican Senators ring. Urge them to cosponsor VIVA 2005.
You will be making history again.
Here’s our request:
If you
live in a state with a Republican Senator or two, just call them, and
ask them to cosponsor VIVA 2005. I would give you the toll free number
for the US Capitol Switchboard, but they just disconnected it...I guess
this means they got too many calls? So, use your cell phone.
US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Monday-Friday 9 AM to 5 PM.
(Ask for Sen. Chuck Grassley)
For more information, legislation text, rationale, and a direct phone line, go here:
http://www.ballotintegrity.org/action.html
And please, forward this request to your lists: VIVA 2005 is the first step in election justice.
With gratitude,
Joan Krawitz
Co-founder, National Ballot Integrity Project
http://www.ballotintegrity.org
Sunday, January 30
LOOPHOLES IN IOWA POLLUTION LAWS by Molly Regan
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 30 Jan 2005 12:24 PM CST
 LOOPHOLES IN IOWA POLLUTION LAWS
by Molly Regan
Loopholes…Loopholes…Loopholes. Bad little areas of the law that just happen to allow all kinds of things to slip through. ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT
released a report saying: “At least 29 states have loopholes in
their laws that allow “accidental” pollution emissions to exceed
federal CLEAN AIR ACT limits, while many other states simply choose not
to take enforcement against industrial facilities for such emissions”
that include BENZENE, BUTADIENE and other CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS.
IOWA is one of those 29 states.
OIL
REFINERIES are some of the culprits. Is there a refinery near
you? Do you drive by one on the way to work? One woman who
lives in Ohio close to one stated for the ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY
PROJECT: “I used to work across the street from a Sunoco
refinery. I now have HEART ARRHYTHMIA and CHEMICAL
SENSITIVITY. We found nine people in a two-block area around the
refinery with MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Something is obviously
wrong. We know emissions from the refinery are affecting our
health, but we can’t even get basic information from the state about
what is being emitted. We’re at least entitled to know what we’re
breathing”.
The
great work that the ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT has taken on
was started in 2002 by Eric Schaeffer. He had previously been
with the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY as part of their OFFICE OF
REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT. “He resigned after publicly expressing his
frustration with efforts of the Bush administration to weaken
enforcement of the CLEAR AIR ACT and other laws”….KUDOS TO YOU, ERIC
SCHAEFFER!
This
non-partisan, non-profit organization’s August 2004 report goes on to
indicate that according to a woman in Texas who lives near an
industrial area: "HEART DEFECTS IN BABIES in our area occur at TWO TO
SIX TIMES THE STATE REGISTRY RATE”. Her grandbaby was born with a
heart defect, and when she sees the pollution she asks, “ How is this
affecting my family’s health? How is this affecting my
community? How sick must we be before someone pays attention?”
Another
woman in California admits: “You can sometimes smell a terrible odor
and feel a nasty taste in your mouth, but I’m just as concerned at all
the things I can’t see that I know are occurring on a daily basis!”
For further information on this report and to view their RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION, go to:
environmentalintegrity.org/pub238.cfm to see the press release from AUGUST 18, 2004.
So,
“What now?” you may ask. To be sure, the first thing that would
really show you are serious about making an impact, is to make a change
in your behavior. For example, sit down and make a list of ways
to CUT DOWN ON PETROLEUM PRODUCT USE. This may be a very long
list, because you may be unaware of the extensive use that these
products play in our lives.
That
case holding your computer innards in one place is probably plastic
(Petroleum Based), the oil keeping your vehicle lubed is Petroleum
Based, your glasses sitting on your nose may be, that new lawn set
you’ll look at in a catalogue soon, and even the little ball bearings
making your child’s newest toy so much fun may all be Petroleum Based.
So where does a person go to find products that are less dangerous to create? One place to start is www.patagonia.com to find much information about becoming a more BENEVOLENT, LESS POLLUTION-CONTRIBUTING CONSUMER.
Another
suggestion to help clean up the air, is to report any sightings of an
industry spewing colorful, toxic smelling agents into our air. We
all should seriously change how we get from place to place, too, as
well as share that new-found information with others. It could
not only save you some money and possibly make you new friends, but may
also save lungs and hearts and lives.
Let us not forget to CPR…CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
DemocracyFest 2005!
by
Trish Nelson
on Sun 30 Jan 2005 07:43 AM CST
Welcome to DemocracyFest 2005!
DemocracyforTexas.Org
Democracy Fest, a gathering of
progressives from around the country hosted by DFT and co-sponsored by
My Vote is My Voice, will be held June 17-19 in Austin.
Down in
Texas, we know a bit about politics. We’re the home of Sam Rayburn,
LBJ, Barbara Jordan, Jim Hightower, Ann Richards—and those other guys.
You may have an image in your mind of us that has something to do with
horses, oil wells, and cactus. We have a different image of ourselves—a
lot of people working really hard to come out from under the aberration
that turned our blue state temporarily red. In other words, we’re
taking our state back for the people it really belongs to—us!
And
Austin? During the redistricting mess, Tom DeLay’s boys referred to us
as “The People’s Republic of Austin.” Perhaps that was payback for
voting for Al Gore in the 2000 election. Or it could have been our lack
of reverence for the biennial meeting of the legislature in our midst.
Or maybe it was because of our history of consistently electing the
most liberal leaders in the state. You might say we’re “a little
difficult.”
But
we’re not just all about politics. We not so modestly call ourselves
“The Live Music Capital of the World.” We’re the heart of the Texas
Hill Country; the location of Town Lake, Barton Springs, and the LBJ
Presidential Library; and home to the largest urban bat colony in the
world. And when we say “Keep Austin weird,” we mean it.
In
short, we’re the perfect place for DemocracyFest. We’re working hard on
the “Democracy” part. “Fest?” We’ve got that perfected. And we're
mighty pleased to have been chosen to co-sponsor DemocracyFest 2005
with My Vote is My Voice.
Read on... and register early!
When: The weekend of June 17–19
Where: Austin, Texas
Workshop sessions on the campus of historic Huston-Tillotson College;
Saturday evening dinner/entertainment at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q.
Workshop focus: Beyond Basic Training
We
guarantee you'll learn something new. We promise you won't hear about
the same old stuff. We even promise you'll learn something you didn't
know about databases, emailing, computers, the internet, and more. Some
ideas for workshop sessions include the following. And we want to hear
yours!
•
Changing the Party from the Inside: Democracy for Texas’ political
director, former State Rep. Glen Maxey, on turning red states blue (or
at least purple).
• Changing the Party from the Outside: Anything Charlie Grapski wants to talk about.
• Balancing Activism with Family/Professional Life: You know what we mean.
•
Growing the Grassroots: Exchange of ideas/strategies from participants,
with Grassroots for America invited to lead the session.
• Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate: Inspired
by the book of the same title by famed UC Berkeley linguist and BFA
guest blogger George Lakoff, this session will address ways we as
progressives can use language more effectively to convey our positions
and vision to voters. A member of the Rockridge Institute, headed by
Dr. Lakoff, will lead the discussion.
• ¡Juntos, Sí Podemos! Learning from Latinos for America about successful outreach to minority communities.
• What Does It Mean to Be a Progressive? Historical perspectives plus open discussion.
•
Building a Community Website: Tips and tricks for making your website
all that it can be. Templates used in this session will be included on
the workshop CD.
Ticket price: $55/person. Includes:
• CD with materials from all workshop sessions
• DemocracyFest T-shirt
• Saturday morning breakfast (You’ll be craving “breakfast tacos” from now on!)
• Saturday night dinner at world-famous Stubb’s Bar-B-Q with major speakers
and musical guests. (Vegetarian dinner options available.)
(click here for more information)
(click here to register)
Click here to sign up for action alerts
from RapidResponse - Iowa.
Saturday, January 29
Cold-hearted, Divisive Iowa State Senators Introduce Gay Marriage Ban
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 29 Jan 2005 05:21 PM CST
 Cold-hearted, Divisive Iowa State Senators Introduce Gay Marriage Ban
by Christina Butts
The new
legislative session has barely started and the remnant religious
far-right in the Iowa State Senate wants to begin divisive political
tactics instead of working for the future of the state. These tactics
are keeping Iowa from becoming an economic and socially
progressive state that will attract and retain business and young
adults. This type of game and tactic in a state that was proudly one of
the main 'free' states during the Underground Railroad harkens a step
back from Quaker-based liberty and freedoms for which our state's
Constitution has always stood. This seems to be strategically done the
week before Iowa Equality Day, February 3, for educating legislators on
LGBT civil/human rights issues, which will get positive media attention
and publicity. --Christina Butts
Thursday, January 27, 2005 -- Mason City Globe Gazette
GAY MARRIAGE BAN INTRODUCED, BUT UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE
By DAN GEARINO, Globe Des Moines Bureau
DES
MOINES - A state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage was
introduced by nine Republicans Wednesday in the Iowa Senate.
The
measure faces little chance of passage in a chamber tied 25-25 between
parties. A similar resolution fell short last year, a time when
Republicans held the majority.
"I still
feel the majority of Iowans think we need to keep marriage protected,"
said one of the co-sponsors, Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, R-Waverly.
The proposal would add the following sentence to the state constitution:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in the state of Iowa."
Leaders
from both parties said before the session that hot-button social issues
would probably get little airing because of the even split between the
parties.
The
sponsors of the proposed amendment are the following Republican
senators: Jeff Angelo of Creston, Jerry Behn of Boone, Nancy Boettger
of Harlan, Brunkhorst, David Johnson of Ocheyedan, Jim Hahn of
Muscatine, Larry McKibben of Marshalltown, Paul McKinley of Chariton
and Jim Seymour of Woodbine.
Bush Propaganda Machine Could Roll to a Stop
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 29 Jan 2005 10:53 AM CST
 Bush Propaganda Machine Could Roll to a Stop
Editor and Publisher
by Brian Orloff
NEW YORK
In response to continued revelations of government-funded "journalism"
- ranging from the purported video news releases put out by the drug
czar's office and the Department of Health and Human Services, to the recently uncovered payments to columnists Armstrong
Williams and Maggie Gallagher, who flacked administration programs -
Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) will
introduce a bill, The Stop Government Propaganda Act, in the Senate
next week.
"It's
time for Congress to shut down the Administration's propaganda mill,"
Lautenberg said in a statement. The bill is co-sponsored by Sens.
Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jon Corzine (D-N.J.).
[Lautenberg’s
spokesman] said "This is not a Republican or Democratic issue.
This is an issue about an independent press, and I think that's
something that will cross party lines."
"[Bush] said that his cabinet agencies made a mistake when they paid
commentators to promote his agenda," Kennedy said in a statement. "It's
more than just a mistake, it's an abuse of taxpayer funds and an abuse
of the First Amendment and freedom of the press. ... If [Bush]
is serious about stopping these abuses, he will support this
legislation."
(click here to read the entire story)
Click here to sign up for action alerts
from RapidResponse - Iowa.
Friday, January 28
Update: Dean Bid for DNC Chair Picking Up Steam!
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 28 Jan 2005 06:14 PM CST
Update: Dean Bid for DNC Chair Picking Up Steam!
From the Politicalwire:
The New York Post (ack!) reports
on rumors "about whether Bill and Hillary Clinton will join the
stop-Dean push" as Democrats gather in New York this weekend to jockey
for party chairman.
A
spokesman for Sen. Clinton says "she 'is neutral in this campaign. She
neither supports nor opposes any individual candidate' -- but several
Democrats say Clinton allies are trying to find a Dean alternative for
the Feb. 12 vote."
The AP confirms the race for Democratic chairman has come down to Howard Dean or the "anti-Dean" candidate.
From the Vermont Guardian
Dean is
picking up allies. He has won support from several black DNC members,
and he has gained the backing of some key players from the Kerry and
Clinton camps.
But
perhaps more telling: At a recent Sacramento event, an overflow crowd
defied expectations when they jammed the hotel suite where Dean and the
other candidates for the DNC leadership were speaking. “No one is as
yet clued in enough to the grassroots to anticipate an overflow and set
up a TV monitor,” commented one observer.
Down in
the trenches, Dean still resonates. Such support, from the ground up,
is proof that he can expand the party and attract and hold the diverse
constituency Democrats need to bring this country back from the brink.
(Click here to read the complete article.)
Thanks to David Loebsack and Ellen Ballas for contributing this information.
And from Trish, this late night update!
Ex-Clinton Aide Ickes Backs Dean for DNC
By WILL LESTER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Harold Ickes, a leading Democratic activist and
former aide to President Clinton, said Friday he is backing Howard Dean
to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee - giving a powerful
boost to the front-runner.
"I think all the candidates who are running have strong attributes, but
Dean has more of the attributes than the others," said Ickes, who
considered running for chairman himself before dropping out in early
January. "Many people say Howard Dean is a northeastern liberal, he is
progressive, but his tenure as governor of Vermont was that of a real
moderate."
Ickes, who heads the political action committee of Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton, D-N.Y., said the endorsement was his alone and "does not
reflect Sen. Clinton's opinion."
While Ickes would not comment on the Clintons' preferences, he is a
close ally and would not be endorsing Dean against their strong
objections. No one was immediately available in Sen. Clinton's office
to comment.
(Source)
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