Duty to Warn
August 6th marks the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act (as amended), was called “America’s crown jewel” by President Ronald Reagan. The Act’s prohibition of discrimination and retrogression has facilitated much progress in access to the ballot box by African-Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans. With several important provisions up for reauthorization in 2007, our constant vigilance and tireless action can make universal suffrage both the law of the land and the practice in every community coast to coast.
Americans are deeply concerned about the situation in Iraq, but there is yet another crisis. This country has not been functioning as a just democracy. As we try to serve as an example to the entire world of what democracy is all about, we simply cannot afford the experiences of the past two presidential elections. Despite vigilance, persuasion, pressure, and even litigation, registration processing and election preparation anomalies persisted in 2004 and were compounded by Election Day irregularities.
Americans are deeply concerned about the situation in Iraq, but there is yet another crisis. This country has not been functioning as a just democracy. As we try to serve as an example to the entire world of what democracy is all about, we simply cannot afford the experiences of the past two presidential elections. Despite vigilance, persuasion, pressure, and even litigation, registration processing and election preparation anomalies persisted in 2004 and were compounded by Election Day irregularities.
Like wolves among sheep, America's Plutocracy preys on the weaker and less fortunate members of society. Since America's founding, they have leveraged their economic power to dominate the government and the media, the vehicles through which they advance their avaricious agenda. In early American history, they employed an imperialistic foreign policy to ensure the expansion of US boundaries and interests. Along the way, they virtually annihilated the Native American population. Once they had attained as much of the North American continent as they were able, they used “Manifest Destiny” and the “Communist threat” as rationalizations to invade other nations (i.e.The Philippines) support ruthless dictators in other nations (Augusto Pinochet in Chile) who have tortured and killed millions. Recently, legislation favoring corporations over workers and consumers has sharply diminished the power of labor unions and opportunities for small entrepreneurs, while historically, corporations have maimed and killed their employees and their customers with hazardous working conditions and unsafe products.
Last weekend, the Progressive Ohio Backbone Campaign rallied for three days before the Democratic Leadership Council, which held its annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, July 23rd-25th
-- Backboners wanted a voice in the DLC’s “National Conversation – It’s about the American Dream.”
Outgoing DLC leader, Evan Bayh (D-Ind) misread the “Got Spine?” message and won resounding applause when he promised conventioneers, “Too many of our countrymen, right here in the heartland, believe Democrats … don’t have the spine or the backbone to use force even in the face of the most compelling of circumstances. And that must change.”
Hillary Clinton echoed these sentiments when she called for a “unified coherent strategy focused on eliminating terrorists wherever we find them.” She wants the US to remain in Iraq until peace is achieved, characterizing the mission as part of the “long struggle against terrorism,” when she spoke before the think tank, the Aspen Institute, earlier this month. (AP 7/11/05)
-- Backboners wanted a voice in the DLC’s “National Conversation – It’s about the American Dream.”
Outgoing DLC leader, Evan Bayh (D-Ind) misread the “Got Spine?” message and won resounding applause when he promised conventioneers, “Too many of our countrymen, right here in the heartland, believe Democrats … don’t have the spine or the backbone to use force even in the face of the most compelling of circumstances. And that must change.”
Hillary Clinton echoed these sentiments when she called for a “unified coherent strategy focused on eliminating terrorists wherever we find them.” She wants the US to remain in Iraq until peace is achieved, characterizing the mission as part of the “long struggle against terrorism,” when she spoke before the think tank, the Aspen Institute, earlier this month. (AP 7/11/05)
President Bush has nominated Judge John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1979, Mr. Roberts was a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. He went on to serve in the Reagan administration as an assistant to Attorney General Smith and as an associate White House legal counsel. He also served as deputy solicitor general in the administration of Mr. Bush’s father. He was in private practice until 2003 when he was confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Many people hoped that Mr. Bush would appoint a moderate Republican in the mold of Justice O’Connor. Unfortunately, Judge Roberts is a solid conservative. While his legal record will be reviewed intently over the course of the next few months, his role in the following cases will likely take center stage.
Many people hoped that Mr. Bush would appoint a moderate Republican in the mold of Justice O’Connor. Unfortunately, Judge Roberts is a solid conservative. While his legal record will be reviewed intently over the course of the next few months, his role in the following cases will likely take center stage.
Robert Greenwald, who produced "Outfoxed" about Fox News, is making a new film, "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price," which is scheduled to be released this November.
"WAL-MART" promises to expose the mega-retailer in the same way that Greenwald's "Outfoxed" and "Uncovered" shed new light on Fox News and the Iraq War. Wal-Mart's practices are hurting U.S. women and our families, and the National Organization for Women believes it is critical to our future that a vigorous debate on these issues take center stage in this nation. That's why NOW is partnering with Greenwald's Brave New Films and other progressive groups to help make and promote this movie. This movie is a perfect fit with NOW's 3-year campaign to expose Wal-Mart as a "Merchant of Shame" and as a retailer whose greed for profits comes at the expense of women and people of color.
"WAL-MART" promises to expose the mega-retailer in the same way that Greenwald's "Outfoxed" and "Uncovered" shed new light on Fox News and the Iraq War. Wal-Mart's practices are hurting U.S. women and our families, and the National Organization for Women believes it is critical to our future that a vigorous debate on these issues take center stage in this nation. That's why NOW is partnering with Greenwald's Brave New Films and other progressive groups to help make and promote this movie. This movie is a perfect fit with NOW's 3-year campaign to expose Wal-Mart as a "Merchant of Shame" and as a retailer whose greed for profits comes at the expense of women and people of color.
Throughout the presidential campaign last fall, one of Mr. Bush’s favorite stump lines was “The economy has turned the corner.” Presumably, this was the best (and, no doubt, the simplest) line that Karl Rove and Karen Hughes could craft for the president to reassure the nation that our economic woes were behind us. However, various reports released recently, as well as a comprehensive survey of America’s concerns, suggests that if the economy did turn the corner, it’s made a u-turn.
On May 19, the Pew Research Center released the results of their national survey of the nation’s mood. The survey demonstrated that 65% of the country is dissatisfied with how Mr. Bush is handling the economy. Only one in three believe the national economy is in good shape. The percentage of Americans rating their own financial situation positively has declined from 51 percent, when the president was inaugurated in January, down to 44 percent. And only 18 percent of Americans believe economic conditions a year from now will be better than they are today.
On May 19, the Pew Research Center released the results of their national survey of the nation’s mood. The survey demonstrated that 65% of the country is dissatisfied with how Mr. Bush is handling the economy. Only one in three believe the national economy is in good shape. The percentage of Americans rating their own financial situation positively has declined from 51 percent, when the president was inaugurated in January, down to 44 percent. And only 18 percent of Americans believe economic conditions a year from now will be better than they are today.
The audacity inside the Bush administration never ceases to amaze.
The latest example of chutzpah from Bush and co. is the announcement that Joseph Kelliher, a former policy adviser with the Department of Energy who currently serves as a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that controls the country's natural gas industry, hydroelectric projects, electric utilities, and oil pipelines and has played a critical role in the deregulation of those industries, will be named by the White House Thursday to chair FERC.
President Bush had previously picked Rebecca Klein, the former Republican head of the Texas Public Utilities Commission and a close friend of the president, to chair FERC but red flags were raised recently during a routine FBI background check on Klein which forced the president to choose a new chairman at the last minute. The White House would not comment on the FBI's probe on Klein. Klein did not return numerous calls for comment.
The latest example of chutzpah from Bush and co. is the announcement that Joseph Kelliher, a former policy adviser with the Department of Energy who currently serves as a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that controls the country's natural gas industry, hydroelectric projects, electric utilities, and oil pipelines and has played a critical role in the deregulation of those industries, will be named by the White House Thursday to chair FERC.
President Bush had previously picked Rebecca Klein, the former Republican head of the Texas Public Utilities Commission and a close friend of the president, to chair FERC but red flags were raised recently during a routine FBI background check on Klein which forced the president to choose a new chairman at the last minute. The White House would not comment on the FBI's probe on Klein. Klein did not return numerous calls for comment.
Legislation aiming to prevent counties, towns and cities from making local decisions about our food supply is being introduced in states across the nation. Fifteen states recently have introduced legislation removing local control of plants and seeds. Eleven of these states have already passed the provisions into law.
These highly orchestrated industry actions are in response to recent local decisions to safeguard sustainable food systems. To date, initiatives in three California counties have restricted the cultivation of genetically modified crops, livestock, and other organisms and nearly 100 New England towns have passed various resolutions in support of limits on genetically engineered crops.
These highly orchestrated industry actions are in response to recent local decisions to safeguard sustainable food systems. To date, initiatives in three California counties have restricted the cultivation of genetically modified crops, livestock, and other organisms and nearly 100 New England towns have passed various resolutions in support of limits on genetically engineered crops.
The Army and National Guard have been failing to meet their recruiting goals for the last four months. Summer is typically the time they have their greatest success in recruiting and they are counting on this summer to make up for their shortcomings in the previous months. They are increasing their efforts and making more promises to get America's youth to sign up for war. As a result those of us who oppose the war need to step up our efforts in counter-recruitment as well. Below is an interview with a counter-recruitment activist from Washington State that provides directions on how to get started and documents to assist in your efforts.
Clint Coppernoll is the father of two, a son who is a lawyer and a daughter who is an activist and student in San Francisco. He is the husband of an activist organizer and midwife, Belinda Coppernoll. He has been a peace activist and organizer since 1969 and has worked with many organizations on a range of issues including immigrant and farm workers rights, prison reform, and open access to the political system for all Americans.
Clint Coppernoll is the father of two, a son who is a lawyer and a daughter who is an activist and student in San Francisco. He is the husband of an activist organizer and midwife, Belinda Coppernoll. He has been a peace activist and organizer since 1969 and has worked with many organizations on a range of issues including immigrant and farm workers rights, prison reform, and open access to the political system for all Americans.
Is there a single psychologist or phychiatrist in this country -- in any country -- who would be willing to put his or her credibility on the line and say that George W. Bush is not a bloodthirsty lunatic, a liar and a fool?
I thought not.
I am finding it more and more difficult to hear what he is saying. Each time Bush opens his mouth, he seems to be attempting to channel a loon, but unfortunately, its weird cries are all but drowned out by the maniacal barking of a hyena. That would be fine if he were out in the Texas boonies with the rest of the loons and hyenas rather than illegally occupying the chair reserved for our elected head of state -- arguably the most powerful man in the world.
How long are we going to allow this war criminal to keep killing innocent men, women and children while wiping his brow and complaining how much work -- hard work -- it is? How long, America? Until they're all dead under the weight of our liberation?
I thought not.
I am finding it more and more difficult to hear what he is saying. Each time Bush opens his mouth, he seems to be attempting to channel a loon, but unfortunately, its weird cries are all but drowned out by the maniacal barking of a hyena. That would be fine if he were out in the Texas boonies with the rest of the loons and hyenas rather than illegally occupying the chair reserved for our elected head of state -- arguably the most powerful man in the world.
How long are we going to allow this war criminal to keep killing innocent men, women and children while wiping his brow and complaining how much work -- hard work -- it is? How long, America? Until they're all dead under the weight of our liberation?