Dear Friends,

Even with all the good will it seems as if the peace movement is stuck. Here’s a great new strategy that UFPJ can bring in all its members states. (See below) Congresswoman Betty Hall is working with her local citizens to have the New Hampshire state legislature call for impeachment. She says she is “ready to die for it.” As for me and Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death!” C-c-c-courage!!! Let’s work legislatively locally by getting all our state capitals to vote for impeachment, if things are so stuck in DC. And let’s study David Swanson’s proposal for what to do in Congress as Robert Jereski has urged us to do. www.downingstreet.org We should stop supporting any members of Congress—whichever party-- except the ones who won’t vote to fund the war. This has nothing to do with Democrats and Republicans. And we have to bring all the others on. This will have to be done locally by visiting our Congress critters (as Jim Hightower refers to them) at their home offices. Right now we are planning sit-ins at Jerry Nadler’s office in NY because he sits on the Judiciary Committee and has taken impeachment off the table! What a nerve he has!! Didn’t he read the Constitution lately!! He should know better, coming from the most liberal district in NY City, and being a lawyer, presumably well versed in the beauty of our laws and precious human rights. It’s impossible for us to act from Washington, given the “inside-the-beltway” culture. The lobbying must occur at home where you can collar your Congresscritter, look ‘em in the eye, and demand that they not vote funds for war and that they preserve our Civil Liberties.

Our PDA chapter for NY's CD 14 compiled this platform of questions some time ago to ascertain candidates' stances on the issues we care about. We haven't yet polled a candidate for national office to my knowledge, and some of the items already are in need of updating, but we thought we'd share it here because we're interested in hearing what other PDA members in NY think about it in relation to their own activities. So here it is . . .

1) Do you support the repeal of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the immediate restoration of habeas corpus for all people, citizens and non-citizens alike?

Sign here:
http://www.algore.com/cards.html

New York 19th Congressional District (97% of precincts)
*John Hall (PDA) 51%
Rep. Sue Kelly (R) 49%

Many people receiving the calls are complaining to the (innocent) Dem candidate.

If the message says they are calling on behalf of a Democrat, don't assume this is true. The robo-callers are often not identifying their sponsors until the end of the call. (Which is against FCC rules).
If it takes you more than ten seconds to identify who the call is from (not who the call is about), be suspicious.
If the caller ID is from out of state be suspicious.
If they call at odd hours, be supsicious.
If they call back on you after you hang up, be suspicious. This is also against the FCC rules. (The goal is to make people think they are being harassed by the Democrats, and piss them off enough to change their votes.)

On the heals of my previous post about the excitement on the the Keck for Assembly Campaign trail, it pains me to post the following.

It appears as if our Delaware County Democratic Committee will not be supporting us financially.  

From the Chair:

"Regarding a campaign contribution, you should know that the money we raise is for countywide and local races. We have never, as long as I have been involved, contributed to a statewide campaign. .... I don't think our committee should finance your publicity to any great extent when our revenues are down and we have a number of local races next year."

With all the corruption, spying, lying, disasters and all round negativity fueling our collective desire for changes in government at all levels.  I am pleased to report that this week on the Keck for Assembly Campaign Trail has been incredible. Three towns in Broome County held their annual Democratic Caucuses and it was refreshing to see how organized and energized they are. Kelly addressed each of them and the response was very positive. Though it is a long drive across the district, he is becoming a regular face down there and considering the population base, this is a very good thing. Things only got better and better from there.

On Saturday, the Broome County Democratic Committee hosted a morning workshop for all Democratic candidates that outlined their plan for getting out the vote and promoting Democrats. Cindy Lockrow, Campaign Manager, and Erwin Karl, Press Secretary, attended on behalf of the Keck campaign and learned so much that we can now finalize the development of our own strategic plan for victory based on Broome's very successful model. Thanks to Mike Najarian, Broome County Democratic Committee Chair and all of his supporters, our chances of victory just doubled!!!

This photo-op proves that at least one person affected by Katrina is satisfied with Bush's response to the disaster.
QED.

This happens to coincide with a report today from "Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 'Broken Promises: The Republican Response to Katrina,' a new report detailing the failed response in the almost one year since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast." According to the report, 1000's of families are still waiting for FEMA trailers.
Full article

Jonathan Tasini, the progressive, anti-war Democratic candidate challenging Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate, needs your help! Between now and July 6, Tasini supporters will be collecting petitions to get Jonathan on the ballot and force a September primary. We need to collect 15,000 signatures statewide including 100 each in 15 NY Congressional Districts. The only requirement to gather petitions (or to sign the petition) is that you be a registered Democrat somewhere in the state of New York. Anyone interested in petitioning, please contact russell@tasinifornewyork.org. Former president of the National Writer's Union, Jonathan has been endorsed by Howard Zinn, Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon, Medea Benjamin (Code Pink), a half a dozen NY chapters of Progressive Democrats of America, and many others.

Petition gathering begins here in New York on June 6th.

I need help from any registered Democrat in New York who is willing to carry and witness my petitions in the 20th Congressional District.

Check my web site at www.gullerforcongress.org
and is we agree on substance and point, please help me.

Thanks,

Morris Guller (D)
Lexington, New York