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COLUMBUS, OHIO -- We Believe was troubled to learn that a group is being formed known as "Clergy for Blackwell" - troubled but not surprised. Spokesclergy for the group noted repeatedly that they are speaking "as persons, as individuals," that being a minister "doesn't take away my right as a private citizen." One might well ask - if one is asserting one's individual rights, why wave the clergy flag?

We Believe that individuals do have a right to support political candidates of their choice. Yet We Believe that clergy have a higher obligation to work for the values transmitted for centuries through diverse religious traditions. One might well ask, "What Would Jesus Do? What Would Moses Do? What Would Muhammad Do?" Would they support Kenneth Blackwell? Would they endorse candidates at all? Or would they demand of all candidates that they address the issues that are critical to God's people? Issues like poverty, jobs, access to health care, living wage, adequate housing.

The destruction of the ballots from the 2004 presidential election in Ohio makes the front page of the New York Times. The Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism/Free Press investigations of the 2004 presidential election ballots makes front page news in the New York Times.

Ohio to Delay Destruction of Presidential Ballots

Click here to find out more about the Save the Ballots campaign: Save the Ballots

Call Bob Fitrakis, 614-374-2380 or Cliff Arnebeck, 614-224-8771, or Harvey Wasserman, 614-738-3646 for information about the Ohio investigations of the ballots and the pending federal lawsuit.

More information about New Press book by Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman: What Happened in Ohio? A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election

As the destruction of the ballots from the 2004 presidential campaign draws closer, the Columbus Institute for Contemporary Journalism has been sending crews of people to the county boards of elections to count ballots and study the signature books. If you are interested in helping with the investigations, contact: Bob Fitrakis - 614-374-2380 or 614-253-2571.

New Orleans -- What is the unreported cause of the majority of the 2,000 deaths that occurred after the levees broke last year on August 29?  Catch Greg Palast's investigative exposé this Monday on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! And on Tuesday, watch his one-hour Special on LinkTV. Listings at LinkTV.org.

The Year the Levees Broke

America went through a terrible year. The levees broke in New Orleans. When bodies floated in the streets, the Republican Congress saw an opportunity for more tax cuts and consolidation of the corporatopia they had created for their moneyed donors. The Democratic Party was clueless, written off, politically at death's door.

The year was 1927.

Do you remember the Fugitive Slave Act? It criminalized not only slaves who'd escaped to non-slave states, but also anyone who helped them flee. That law has troubling echoes in a new law, passed by the Republican Senate and House, that will make it illegal to transport a girl from a state requiring parental consent to get an abortion in another one.

The Fugitive Slave Act forced individuals who did not believe in slavery to collaborate in maintaining it. In states that had banned slavery, it compelled law enforcement officials to return escaped slaves to their masters, and coerced ordinary citizens into supporting this process. It isolated slaves from outside assistance, by threatening to imprison anyone who would help them escape.

This note is to ask you for your support regarding the upcoming pre-trial hearing regarding my civil suit against the Ohio Hocking County Board of Elections. Some warm bodies in the courtroom would be wonderful. The hearing is being held in Hocking County, Logan, Ohio Court House, Common Pleas Court with Judge Jeff Simmons from Vinton County seated at the helm. The day, date and time is Friday, September 8, 2006 at 9:30 AM. Please pass place, date and time on to others and inform them that this is not a partisan issue.

Remember, the Hocking County Board of Elections dismissed me with a unanimous vote. I found that exercising our First Amendment could get you fired. Of course, the BOE is in denial. Some very weak reasons for my firing are coming toward me. Randy Lambert is the attorney representing the BOE. My attorney is, the very capable, Kate Schulte. The insurance company that covers Hocking County is paying Mr. Lambert for his services to the BOE.

AUSTIN, Texas -- I know it's bad form to brag, but I am now a graduate of Texas A&M University, and you can't stop Aggie pride. I became a diplomee of the great institution in College Station after successfully completing the three-day short course in beef cattle this summer. I specialized in forage management and graduated "Quel fromage!" meaning "avec distinction."

It is also true that I was banned from the campus of Texas A&M many years ago after some students invited me to make a political speech. Also Quel Fromage! So you see how far we have all come.

The most amazing part of cow college was meeting the cow whisperer. Think of everything you know about moving cattle from one place to another -- for shots, round-up or loading into trucks for market -- just physically moving a lot of cattle. GEE, GIT ON, GO DOGIE, whistle, whip crack, move 'em out, chase 'em down. Turns out all these years we've been doing it wrong.

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple. Please tell your friends to tell their friends today! The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "feed an animal in need" for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
Animal Rescue Site
AGAIN, PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!!