Well, I haven't been checking my mail much lately, and it sure isn't because of the Democratic Convention. I would rather jump off a two-story building into a open train car filled with razorblades. Anyhow, I have a few minutes and some troubling thoughts occurred to me. I thought maybe someone would comment on them.

All those progressives the last time who ripped up Gore, who said he was about as bad as Bush, where are they? Harvey Wasserman, Bob Fitrakis, Jim Hightower, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn, Chomsky, etc, etc, etc.

Even the Columbus Free Press is noticeably absent from criticizing Kerry. Case in point: The Summer issue of the 2000 Free Press contained several articles supporting Nader or criticizing Bush and Gore. The Autumn issue of 2000 had Nader on the cover and contained article after article in support of Nader.

Contrast that with the July-August edition of the Free Press, 2004. The Norman Solomon of the Autumn 2000 Free Press was anti-Gore, pro-Nader, in an article entitled "Paying Homage to the two-party system." In the July-August 2004 edition of the Free Press, Solomon criticizes Nader for

I spoke with Greg Quinlan, founder of the "Pro-Family" Network yesterday when he was on "Open Line: with Fred Anderle". There is nothing "pro-family" about his views. This self-avowed "former" gay man appeals, not to the best, but the worst, in his drive to get an amendment on the ballot that would ban the legal recognition of any relationship but the marriage of a man and a woman. He and others of his ilk, appeal to the prejudices, misconceptions and fears that people have towards same-gender couples.

This amendment would exclude not only same-gender couples, but also cohabitating different gender couples. And, while it would not prohibit companies from offering benefits to domestic partners, it would cause significant hardship in court disputes arising from these benefits as it would prohibit the courts from even recognizing these relationships.

"Pro-Family"...I think not. Pro-fear, Pro-ignorance, Pro-intolerance are more appropriate to Mr. Quinlan and his merry band.

I picked up a copy of your magazine in a local coffee shop and found many of the articles to be outstanding. Keep up the good work.

However, I was more than nonplussed to see Irish Northern Aid listed in your "Organize" section, and as a PEACE GROUP nonetheless. Perhaps it is your magazine's policy to accept any listings (though I doubt you would accept a listing from a neo-nazi organization). Perhaps the editors took Irish Northern Aids claims to be a peace group at face value.

You should know that Irish Northern Aid's activities have little to do with promoting peace. The professed objective of their fundraising is to support the families of Irish Republican prisoners. This goal might legitimately be considered a "humanitarian" one, but there is plenty of evidence that over the last quarter century, Irish Northern Aid has used charitable donations to purchase weapons for the IRA. The IRA are also known as the PROVOS, and you might note that the contact email provided for your Irish Northern Aid listing is "provo@columbus.rr.com." There is little attempt to hide this.

While Greens participate in demonstrations against Kerry during the Democratic Convention in Boston, party members are organizing the August 28 event; Green presidential candidate David Cobb will be featured.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party members are organizing a major event to coincide with the Republican National Convention and anti-Bush protests in New York City.

Titled 'A Green World Is Possible: A Festival of Non-Violence, Ecology, Democracy, Social and Economic Justice,' the rally will take place in Washington Square on Saturday, August 28.

"We believe that holding our event separate from the myriad of other anti-Republican activities will enable us to keep our message positive and ensure the safety of our membership," said Charles Shaw, co-chair of the Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States. "We're committed to providing a safe environment in which our members and allies can exercise their right to speak out on important issues."

The program will feature live music and speakers, including Green presidential candidate David Cobb and running mate Pat LaMarche; New

If Kerry is a "flip-flopper" because he won't end the war (or the "Patriot Act" or NAFTA or private health insurance) even as he speaks against these horrors, what do we have to call Kucinich, who insists on ending these things even as he endorses Kerry? And what can we expect Dennis to say on Wednesday when he delivers a Kerry-approved speech to the Democratic National Convention? Will he speak against the war, as he told "Democracy Now"'s Amy Goodman he would?

I expect in fact that Dennis will not need to tie himself in knots or reverse any positions. Understanding this helps me to accomplish something I find extremely difficult – sympathizing with John Kerry.

A year ago I would not have lifted a finger to help Kerry's campaign. I did, however, quit my job to become Kucinich's press secretary, a position I quit in February. I was attracted to Kucinich's campaign by a platform that does not at first seem to have much overlap with Kerry's. Our biggest plank was a plan to end the occupation in 90 days. The two positions that Dennis stressed most frequently after that one were