]> Progressive Populist Caucus - TexasPPC Discussion List http://www.texaspopulists.org/taxonomy/term/84/0 This is a general Texas PPC discussion list that takes the place of the Yahoo Group texasppc. The TexasPPC discussion group allows our members and supporters to provide feedback and guidance to the Progressive Populist Caucus Steering Committee. It also exists for members and supporters to receive information on actions and votes taken by the Steering Committee on issues related to our work in Reform of the Democratic Party of Texas. This tends to be a high volume list and joining is open to anyone. You may <a href="http://texaspopulists.com/mailman/listinfo/texasppc_texaspopulists.com">subscribe / unsubscribe</a> here. To send email to this list, send email to <script> <!-- escramble('texasppc', 'texaspopulists.com'); --> </script> en [Texas PPC Discussion] The Island Is Floating Again http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1991 <p><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><br /> <HTML><HEAD><br /> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"><br /> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16608" name=GENERATOR></HEAD></p> TexasPPC Discussion List Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:00:18 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] PPC Annual Meeting: February 23rd 12pm - 3pm http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1982 <p><html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">All - please join us for the&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1952">PPC Annual Meeting 2008:&nbsp;Texas In Play</a>&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">&nbsp;</span></b></div><div><b><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></b></div><div><b>Keynote Speaker:&nbsp;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span></b>James K. GALBRAITH is the author of Unbearable Cost:&nbsp;Bush, Greenspan and the Economics of Empire.&nbsp;</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Professor Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in&nbsp;Government/Business Relations at the LBJ School.&nbsp;</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>He serves as a policy&nbsp;advisor to the OBAMA campaign, having previously served in that capacity for&nbsp;the&nbsp;</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>EDWARDS campaign.&nbsp;</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><b>When:&nbsp;</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#BE052D"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">February 23rd from&nbsp;</font>12-3pm</b></font><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><b><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></b></div><div><b>Where:&nbsp;</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; ">&nbsp;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>808 Nile Street</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Austin, TX, 78702</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><a href="http://maps.google.com/?q=808+Nile+Street%252C+Austin%252C+TX%252C+78702%252C+us"><b>Map to Location</b></a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Phone: 512-478-7695</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>All Democrats Welcome (Caucus Membership/Renewal Solicited)</div></div></div><div>we hope to see you there!&nbsp;</div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#BE052D">We appreciate the heads up on the incorrect time of the meeting posted on the Travis County Party calendar and will do our best to have the information updated.&nbsp;</font></div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>thank you!&nbsp;</div> TexasPPC Discussion List Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:00:34 -0500 [Texas PPC Discussion] Time confusion http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1981 <div>The Travis County Democratic Party calendar has the Feb 23 PPCD event starting at 1:00p.m.&nbsp; If this is wrong, see below.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><A href="http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/fullstory.php?artid=2914&amp;db=calendar">http://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/fullstory.php?artid=2914&amp;db=calendar</A></div><p>&#32;</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:00:30 -0500 [Texas PPC Discussion] IMPORTANT TEXAS PRIMARY/CONVENTION NEWS -- Corrected http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1980 <p><html></p> <p><head><br /> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><br /> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered)"></p> <style> TexasPPC Discussion List Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:00:31 -0500 [Texas PPC Discussion] IMPORTANT TEXAS PRIMARY/CONVENTION NEWS http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1978 <p><html></p> <p><head><br /> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><br /> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered)"></p> <style> TexasPPC Discussion List Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:00:16 -0500 [Texas PPC Discussion] Today-UT Daily Texan http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1964 <p>Forwarded on behalf of Sheril Smith</p> <p>>> From University of Texas Daily Texan:<br /> ><br /> > Home > Opinion<br /> > 1/17/08<br /> > Texas Democratic Party shames itself again<br /> ><br /> > By Hooman Hedayati<br /> > PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 Texas Democratic Party shames </p> TexasPPC Discussion List Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:00:15 -0500 [Texas PPC Discussion] Fwd: Support Peace http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1889 <p><FONT face="times new roman" color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT face=arial size=1>Please consider attending this worthwhile event and/or forward this notice to your contacts.</FONT></I></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT face=arial size=1></FONT></I>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=1><FONT face=arial>Thank You!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></DIV></SPAN></FONT> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></B>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT<br /> face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">***************************************************************************************</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Dear Friends,</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></B>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">The Veterans for Peace (VFP) of Chapter 12, Houston will be marching in the Veteran’s Day Parade through downtown Houston on Sunday, November 11. The parade will last from<br /> approximately 12:30 PM until 1:30 PM. VFP would like a strong turnout behind our flag and banner to show the citizens of <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1193940733_0 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Houston</SPAN> that we are pro peace in an unprecedented time of war and turmoil. </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=red><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Please support our cause with a pledge to join us in this effort by <U>replying</U> to this e-mail as soon as possible.</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=black><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"> &nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans<br /> MS'"></SPAN></FONT></B>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">PARADE DETAILS:</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Assembly Time: Between 11:00AM to 12:00PM</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Assembly Place: Corner of Prairie and <SPAN class=yshortcuts id=lw_1193940733_1 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed">Louisiana</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Entry Name: Veterans for Peace</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"<br /> size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Entry Number: 120</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Complimentary Parking; In any of the Theatre District Garages</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></SPAN></FONT></B>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Thank you,</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Ron Graham</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:<br /> 'Comic Sans MS'">Treasurer, VFP Chapter 12</SPAN></FONT></B></DIV><p>&#32;__________________________________________________</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:00:33 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] How secure is your right to vote? http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1752 <p>Airdate: Friday, July 27, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on PBS.<br /> (Check local listings at <a href="http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html">http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html</a></p> <p> Was there a White House plot to illegally suppress votes in 2004? Is there a similar plan for the upcoming elections? On Friday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m., NOW examines documents and evidence pointing to a Republican Party plan designed to keep Democrats from voting, by targeting people based on their race and ethnicity. Congress is investigating, and so are we. NOW speaks with David Iglesias, one of eight fired US attorneys, who says he lost his job because he refused to go along with the White House plan to suppress votes.</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:00:07 -0400 How secure is your right to vote? http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1751 <p >Airdate: Friday, July 27, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on PBS.<br > (Check local listings at <a href="http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html">http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html</a></p> <p > Was there a White House plot to illegally suppress votes in 2004? Is there a similar plan for the upcoming elections? On Friday, July 27, at 7:30 p.m., NOW examines documents and evidence pointing to a Republican Party plan designed to keep Democrats from voting, by targeting people based on their race and ethnicity. Congress is investigating, and so are we. NOW speaks with David Iglesias, one of eight fired US attorneys, who says he lost his job because he refused to go along with the White House plan to suppress votes.</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:37:51 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] House Votes to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1750 <p><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><br /> <HTML><HEAD><br /> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"><br /> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1561" name=GENERATOR></HEAD></p> TexasPPC Discussion List Wed, 25 Jul 2007 21:00:25 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] Kickoff Fundraiser -- Mike Engelhart for Judge http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1699 <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="gmail_quote"></span><font style="text-decoration: underline;" size="6"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mike&#39;s First Fundraiser!!!</span></font><br clear="all"></div> TexasPPC Discussion List Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:00:44 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] Please vote in this poll about impeachment NOW! http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1620 <p><DIV><STRONG><FONT face="comic sans ms">Hey everyone,</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="comic sans ms"></FONT></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="comic sans ms">I had no idea MoveOn was conducting a poll about impeachment.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="comic sans ms">We must persuade MoveOn to pursue impeachment. If they get on our bandwagon, imagine the even greater&nbsp;momentum the impeachment movement. MoveOn is a HUGE organization and we need them to join the impeachment movement. Please vote in this poll.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><FONT size=5>THIS MAY BE THE CHANCE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR: MOVE-ON TO DO THE RIGHT THING.&nbsp; IT IS NOT ON THEIR HOME PAGE, BUT&nbsp;IT IS ON THE A28 PAGE AND IS A LEGITIMATE MOVEON POLL, JUST NOT WIDELY DISSEMINATED. &nbsp; PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL LISTS IMMEDIATELY.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=7></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><FONT size=7><U><EM>FILL THIS OUT<br /> NOW</EM></U></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=7></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://pol.moveon.org/bushsurvey/a.html?id=10229-4599041-uA6iZW&amp;t=1" target=_blank rel=nofollow><SPAN id=lw_1178229271_0><FONT color=#003399><SPAN id=lw_1178284943_0>Click Here: Check out "MoveOn.org Political Action: Dealing with the Administration"</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></A><FONT face=Geneva size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><A href="http://pol.moveon.org/bushsurvey/a.html?id=10229-4599041-uA6iZW&amp;t=1" target=_blank rel=nofollow><SPAN id=lw_1178229271_1><FONT color=#003399><SPAN id=lw_1178284943_1 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%">http://pol.moveon. org/bushsurvey/ a.html?id= 10229-4599041- uA6iZW&amp;t=1</SPAN></FONT></A></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><BR><BR><STRONG>URGENT that MoveOn hears our progressive voice!!&nbsp;<br /> DISTRIBUTE WIDELY</STRONG></FONT></DIV><p>&#32;</p> <p><hr size=1><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=49938/*http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/">Never miss an email again!</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Fri, 04 May 2007 10:03:04 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] Olberman's "We Have Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself" (video and transcript) http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1617 <p><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><br /> <HTML><HEAD><br /> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"><br /> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1561" name=GENERATOR></HEAD></p> TexasPPC Discussion List Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:00:46 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] Another Path to Peace (very insightful) http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1606 <p><H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Another Path to Peace: The Case for Kucinich<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></H1> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">By David Swanson, AfterDowningStreet.org</SPAN></I></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN></I>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The Democratic leadership in Congress wants the war to be around in 2008 so that a Democrat can win the White House by "opposing" the war. Congressman Rahm Emanuel has explained this to the Washington Post. The ONLY way to convince the top Democrats that this calculation is<br /> wrong is to promote in the presidential primary the only candidate who is trying in every way possible to end the war now. If we do that, the Democrats will understand that they cannot wait until after November of 2008 to end the war.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">We've tried Congressional elections. We won a huge mandate for peace and resistance to Bush-Cheney. Then the White House escalated the war, and Congress played along. We've tried marching. On January 27th a half a million people encircled the U.S. Capitol demanding peace. We've tried lobbying, public forums, protests, sit-ins, counter-recruitment, and refusal to serve. We've tried media activism and exposure of the lies and the crimes that make up the war. We could always do more, and we should do more of all of these things. And what we have done has<br /> prevented worse horrors and won minor victories and grounds for hope. There is always hope. But we have not yet tried using a presidential election to achieve peace.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The media claims that it is now election season. Coverage of the November 2008 presidential election gives the impression that the day of the vote is almost upon us. This cheap journalism is a massive drain on citizen participation in our democracy, most of which should have nothing to do with elections. But what the media says in this matter goes, and it is therefore undeniably election season. And yet, we have not been informed and never will be informed what the candidates in this election would do if elected. The media stories are all about money, polls, and fluff.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR:<br /> black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">But that fact actually makes things easier for us. We don't have to leave our homes to have a major impact on the movement for peace. If the 500,000 people who marched, in D.C. alone, in January were to each give (or in the case of children ask their parents to give) $50 to the presidential campaign of the only candidate who voted against the war, has voted against funding it, favors ending it immediately, and opposes an attack on Iran, that $25 million (in unprecedented and unimaginable small donations) would be the top news story for months. And whether or not it determined the Democratic nominee, and whether or not we even want it to do so, it would have a decisive impact on the positions of all the candidates, not to mention members of Congress. They ALL speak the language of the dollar.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt;<br /> COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Do you think John Edwards is handsome and wish he'd oppose an attack on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> and be willing to join the majority of Americans on more issues? Then back Kucinich now. Do you think Barack Obama makes an attractive blank slate and wish he'd stop voting to fund the war, support ending it, and take a nuclear attack on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> off the table? Get behind Kucinich right away. Are you impressed by Hillary Clinton and wish she'd admit she voted wrong, stop funding the war, support ending it, and oppose a new aggressive war on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>? You<br /> get the idea. Do it with a $100 donation here:<BR><A href="http://www.kucinich.us/"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>http://www.kucinich.us</FONT></B></A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The money will drive the polls, which will drive the debate in Congress and force real action.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Dennis Kucinich is very far behind the first few candidates at this ridiculously early stage in both fundraising and in polls, including the polls done by the corporate media and the unscientific polls done by liberal websites tied to the Democratic Party. DailyKos has John Edwards at 42%, Barack Obama at 25%, Bill Richardson 13%, Hillary Clinton 3%, and Kucinich 2%. MyDD has<br /> similar results: Edwards 43%, Obama 34%, Richardson 8%, Clinton 4%, and 1% each for Kucinich, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd. I suspect that the voters on these sites dislike <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Clinton</st1:place></st1:City> for all the right reasons, and above all for her support of the war. But I'm certain they oppose Kucinich for all of the wrong reasons (the media doesn't cover him, he's short, he agrees with us TOO much). But the media covers money, so we know how to handle that. And while Kucinich's positions haven't changed much in four years, Americans' opinions have changed by moving in his direction on the war, on health care, and on trade. Kucinich's height may be hard to change, but he doesn't fall off everything he rides, give inappropriate shoulder massages, or shoot his buddies in the face.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt;<br /> COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Democracy for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a grassroots group closely tied to the Democratic Party and born out of Howard Dean's presidential campaign, many of the supporters of which favored positions like those of Kucinich. In DFA's poll results, Kucinich comes in third with 10%, behind Obama's 28% and Edwards' 24%. Democrats.com is an activist group that more often challenges the positions of the Democratic leadership, and more often tells people what progressive Congress Members like Kucinich are doing. Democrats.com has been fully engaged in the peace movement. In its poll Kucinich comes in second with 24% behind Edwards' 41%.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Moveon.org has done a poll as well. And it polled its members<br /> immediately after posting audio and transcripts of each of the candidates answering questions about the Iraq War. Kucinich finished third with 17% behind Obama's 28% and Edwards' 25%. Polling only people who attended a house party to listen to the interviews, the result didn't change much for Kucinich, 16%, or Edwards, 25%. But Obama dropped to 18% and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Richardson</st1:place></st1:City> jumped into the mix at 21%.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">From these unscientific polls, we can draw the following tentative conclusions:<BR>1.-The race is still wide open.<BR>2.-The indisputable fact one week is overturned the next and forgotten<BR>3.-Kucinich does better when <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> is the topic or the peace movement is the audience (and <st1:country-region<br /> w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> will be the topic, and the peace movement is now a majority of Americans)<BR>4.-Obama loses some of his glow when he tries to answer a few serious questions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">If you don't know Dennis Kucinich, watch him in this recent interview on CNN: <A href="http://kucinich.us/node/4300/play"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>http://kucinich.us/node/4300/play</FONT></B></A></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Kucinich argued against the war prior to the vote to authorize it, published his case against it, helped persuade his colleagues to vote No, voted No, and sued the President to try to prevent the war. He proposed a detailed plan to end the war over three years ago, a plan that is largely still<br /> right and embodied in his bill, HR 1234. He has voted against every new funding bill for the war, including the recent Supplemental. He supports using the power of the purse to end the war. He opposes any attack on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> and proposes formally forswearing the use of so-called preventive war. He has proposed the creation of a Department of Peace to address international and domestic violence. He would ban the weaponization of space and work for nuclear disarmament. His chief tool would be diplomacy, not death. We might persuade one of the other candidates to move toward one or more of these anti-war positions, but their change of heart will not be based in the deep understanding of peace and violence that drives Dennis Kucinich. And we will almost certainly never persuade any of them to take Kucinich's position in favor of slashing wasteful Pentagon spending in order to fund useful<br /> non-military projects. Only Kucinich would move us toward an economy not driven by war. And, ultimately, that is the only way we'll prevent future wars.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Wow. Wonderful. But is that how to win the swing voters?</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Well, did you ever wonder why the Republicans seem so much less obsessed with swing voters? Chris Bowers has presented a strong case that these mythical creatures do not actually exist. [ <A href="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/50646"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/50646</FONT></B></A> ] Only 4.7% of voters changed their mind during the last election from Bush to Kerry or Kerry to<br /> Bush. Kerry may have been swiftboated, but hardly anyone changed their mind from backing Kerry to backing Bush. What did happen, of course, is that millions of supporters of Kerry (and of Bush too) didn't bother to vote or to register to vote. What would it take for the Democrats to register and turn out likely Democratic voters in sufficient numbers to beat election fraud? It would take a candidate who wasn't for the war before he was against it. The mushy middle turns potential voters away.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">There are peace activists who favor the creation of a third party, and who argue against backing Kucinich because they think he'll lose and then endorse a less desirable candidate. But Kucinich is less likely to lose if those who agree with him support him. Supporting him now will serve primarily to<br /> help end the war prior to the election. And supporting Kucinich will not make the task of building a third party any more or less daunting. A third-party peace candidate would need everything Kucinich has and much more in qualifications, and much, much more in money in order to have a chance.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">And here's something interesting about Kucinich. He supports all the reforms to our election and campaign finance systems that would make it possible for third parties to compete, and he does not go back on his word after he wins elections. When Kucinich was elected mayor of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:place></st1:City> at the age of 31 on a promise not to privatize the city's electricity, he stuck to his word in the face of an all-out assault from the city's media and corporate<br /> rulers. When his decision was vindicated years later by the fortune he'd saved the city, he re-entered politics. When the Democratic leadership pulled out every trick to pressure congress members to vote for the Supplemental spending bill that now sits in conference committee, Kucinich voted no. Efforts to build decent third parties like the Green Party are to be applauded, but backing Kucinich is one way to do that. Check out Kucinich's substantive and specific positions on a hundred and one issues facing this country: <A href="http://kucinich.us/issues"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>http://kucinich.us/issues</FONT></B></A></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Let's try a new approach to peace. Go here <A href="http://www.kucinich.us/"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>http://www.kucinich.us</FONT></B></A> and click on the left side of the website to<br /> make a contribution. It's the easiest and the most effective step for peace any of us can take right now.</SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">_____________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">David Swanson is the Washington Director of Democrats.com and co-founder of the AfterDowningStreet.org coalition, a board member of Progressive Democrats of America, and of the Backbone Campaign. He serves on a working group of United for Peace and Justice. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and as a communications director. In April 2007, Swanson began consulting part-time for Kucinich for President 2008. His website is <A href="http://www.davidswanson.org/"><B><FONT color=#3399cc>www.davidswanson.org</FONT></B></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV><p>&#32;</p> <p> <hr size=1>Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:01:34 -0400 [Texas PPC Discussion] Food for thought from David Sirota http://www.texaspopulists.org/node/1603 <p><DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><FONT size=5><STRONG>Edwards' New Announcement Drives Populist Wedge Between Dem Opponents &amp; K Street<BR></STRONG></FONT><BR><EM>By David Sirota</EM><BR><BR>I just received this Edwards press release (excerpts here):</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Courier New" color=#ff0000 size=3><BR>On Saturday, April 21st, 2007, Senator John Edwards will deliver the keynote address at the <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_1 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Michigan</SPAN> Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner and will announce his opposition to the South Korea trade deal. The Bush administration is finalizing details of the agreement and is expected to submit it to Congress for approval later this spring...[Edwards said trade deals] "must include strong labor and environmental standards and lift up workers in both countries...Congress should make it clear to the President that it will override any<br /> agreement that does not protect American jobs and American interests."<BR></FONT></STRONG></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=3>Big question: Will the other Democratic candidates join Edwards' call, or will they stay silent in deference to K Street and <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_2 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Wall Street</SPAN>?<BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>I ask this question honestly, and it is one Edwards is certainly going to start pressing. He knows that, for instance, <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_3 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Hillary Clinton</SPAN> and <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_4 style="BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Barack Obama</SPAN> are surrounding themselves with and </FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3>relying on <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_5<br /> style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Citigroup</SPAN> executive Bob Rubin's <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_6 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Wall Street</SPAN> machine</FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3> - a machine that exchanges massive amounts of campaign cash for candidates' complicity in a trade policy that includes stringent protections for corporate profits, but no protections for human rights, labor rights or the environment. Edwards knows, in other words, that the trade issue is going to be a major point of contrast for him in the Democratic primary - not unlike it was for <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_7 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Dick Gephardt</SPAN> when he pulled off his <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_8 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Iowa</SPAN> primary upset in 1988.<BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><BR>And so the question is whether when<br /> faced with Edwards courageous populist stand, the other candidates in the race will bow down to their <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_9 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Wall Street</SPAN> masters, or move towards a middle-class agenda? Edwards is, in short, driving a wedge between K Street/Wall Street-backed candidates and K Street and <SPAN id=lw_1177420681_10 style="CURSOR: hand; BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; HEIGHT: 1em">Wall Street</SPAN> itself. It is not only a gutsy move, but a politically brilliant one - and it will be interesting to see what happens.</FONT></DIV><p>&#32;</p> <p> <hr size=1>Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?</p> TexasPPC Discussion List Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:00:58 -0400