Long Line of Chickenhawks
Cindy Sheehan

An anti-war activist at a town hall meeting in Iowa recently asked Mitt Romney why not ONE of his five sons served the USA in the military. The woman’s brother had been in Iraq and she understandably would have liked to know if the Romney family was so supportive of BushCo’s war of terror why didn’t they support it with their own flesh and blood.

Mitt Romney said that his five privileged elite stockbroker/real estate boys are supporting our nation by helping get their father “elected.” We could dispute the allegation of how getting a pandering, war-mongering, born-again abortion foe elected is good for our country, but that’s not the point. The point is the ruling class elite who don’t have to worry about health-care, jobs, or how they are going to pay for their children’s college tuition send our children to fight and die in their wars that only make them richer while sending working-class families into life times of despair.

Note that 12 CA representatives have signed on to this letter: Woolsey, Lee, Waters, Tauscher, Watson, Filner, Solis, Honda, Napolitano, Sanchez, Stark & Capps. Unfortunately, Doris Matsui is not one of the co-signers. Please contact Rep. Matsui and remind her that many of her fellow representatives in CA have signed on (especially Mike Honda and Ellen Tauscher) and we would like her to sign on to this as well. While you are talking to her staff, please ask her to sign on to HR 508 (Lyn Woolsey's "The Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act") as well.

Doris Matsui (5th Congressional Dist.)
Email: http://www.house.gov/matsui/email.htm

Sacramento, CA Office
Phone: (916) 498-5600
Fax: (916) 444-6117

Washington, DC Office
Phone: (202) 225-7163
Fax: (202) 225-0566


Bi-Partisan Group of 70 House Members Put President Bush on Notice Over Upcoming Iraq Appropriations
Members pledge to use appropriations process to fully fund redeployment from Iraq

WASHINGTON - JULY 20 - As public frustration with President Bush’s failed Iraq policy continues to mount, a bi-partisan group of 70 members of Congress asserted their power to use the appropriations process to change the policy in Iraq, directly challenging the President’s claim that Congress’ only power with regard to the conflict is to fund the policy he has set.

Led by Progressive, and Out of Iraq Caucus Chairs Reps. Lynn Woolsey (CA), Barbara Lee (CA), and Maxine Waters (CA), 70 House Members today delivered a letter to President Bush putting him on notice that when the Congress takes up the FY ’08 funding for military operations in Iraq in September they will only support appropriating funding for military operations in Iraq that are used to fully fund the safe and orderly redeployment of US troops from Iraq. In their letter, the broad collection of members cited the skyrocketing human and financial costs of the President’s failed Iraq policy and warned that the occupation’s costs will be felt for generations to come:

“We are writing to inform you that we will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office […]

“We agree with a clear and growing majority of the American people who are opposed to continued, open-ended U.S. military operations in Iraq, and believe it is unwise and unacceptable for you to continue to unilaterally impose these staggering costs and the soaring debt on Americans currently and for generations to come,” they wrote.

The full text of the letter is below:

Iraqi Leader Tells Bush: Get Gen Petraeus Out
By Damien McElroy | The Telegraph UK | Saturday 28 July 2007

Relations between the top United States general in Iraq and Nouri al-Maliki, the country's prime minister, are so bad that the Iraqi leader made a direct appeal for his removal to President George W Bush.

Although the call was rejected, aides to both men admit that Mr Maliki and Gen David Petraeus engage in frequent stand-up shouting matches, differing particularly over the US general's moves to arm Sunni tribesmen to fight al-Qa'eda.

One Iraqi source said Mr Maliki used a video conference with Mr Bush to call for the general's signature strategy to be scrapped. "He told Bush that if Petraeus continues, he would arm Shia militias," said the official. "Bush told Maliki to calm down."

At another meeting with Gen Petraeus, Mr Maliki said: "I can't deal with you any more. I will ask for someone else to replace you."

Was Tillman Murdered?
The Associated Press | Thursday 26 July 2007
AP gets new documents.

San Francisco - Army medical examiners were suspicious about the close proximity of the three bullet holes in Pat Tillman's forehead and tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether the former NFL player's death amounted to a crime, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

"The medical evidence did not match up with the, with the scenario as described," a doctor who examined Tillman's body after he was killed on the battlefield in Afghanistan in 2004 told investigators.

The doctors - whose names were blacked out - said that the bullet holes were so close together that it appeared the Army Ranger was cut down by an M-16 fired from a mere 10 yards or so away.

UPDATE: Well guess what? This bill passed 399 - 24 ! Yes, you read that correct. Only 24 Repubs voted against this bill. Barbara Lee framed this bill as "taking the target off of our troops", so maybe that's what got the Repubs to go along with it. Anyway, I am completely shocked (and frankly, a bit skeptical) at the vote results. And believe it or not, both Doolittle and Lungren voted for this bill. So if your representative is Matsui, Lungren, Doolittle, or Thompson, please give them a call and thank them for their vote.

Their local and D.C. contact info is here: http://sacramentofordemocracy.org/?q=node/view/3130

Cheers,
Bill


From U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)...

The House will vote today (Wed. July 25) on bill to ban permanent bases in Iraq and to ban US control of Iraqi Oil.

Calls are needed!
Stop Empire Building! Ban Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq!
Call your Representative
202-224-3121
Tell then to vote YES on HR2929

Talking points:
* The perception in Iraq that the U.S. is planning a permanent, or decades long presence in their country has fueled the armed insurgency and been an obstacle to peace negotiations.
* The U.S. has dozens of military bases scattered across Iraq, including at least four that the Pentagon identifies as "enduring."

(from the Friends Committee on National Legislation)

Background Information and Text of bill:

Dave Dionisi is responsible for National Awareness for Teach Peace. Dave is the author of American Hiroshima, a book about how to prevent the next 9/11 attack in the United States. Prior to working in corporate America, Dave served the country as an Army Intelligence Officer. His business and military experiences over the last 24 years are complemented by an extensive background as an international volunteer worker in Asia, Central America, Europe and Africa. He lives in Davis, CA. Learn about the small country of Liberia as it encounters the US Empire.

"Liberia is a beautiful place where elephants still roam with many of the exotic animals we see on television. The people are extremely friendly and handle adversity with tremendous grace. Workers in Liberia and many other countries around the world are exploited by multi-national corporations. This exploitation is managed by secret armies and intelligence operations."

High Cost Of Low Prices by Dave Dionisi

Thanks for the plug Norman!

From the Grave, a Senator Exposes Bloody Hands on Capitol Hill
by Norman Solomon | Published on Thursday, July 19, 2007 by CommonDreams.org

It was a chilling moment on a split-screen of history. While the Senate debated the Iraq war on Tuesday night, a long-dead senator again renounced a chronic lie about congressional options and presidential power.The Senate was in the final hours of another failure to impede the momentum of war. As the New York Times was to report, President Bush “essentially won the added time he said he needed to demonstrate that his troop buildup was succeeding.”

Meanwhile, inside a movie theater on the opposite coast, the thunderous voice of Senator Wayne Morse spoke to 140 people at an event organized by the activist group Sacramento for Democracy. The extraordinary senator was speaking in May 1964 — and in July 2007.

A typical dash of media conventional wisdom had set him off. The moderator of the CBS program “Face the Nation,” journalist Peter Lisagor, told the guest: “Senator, the Constitution gives to the president of the United States the sole responsibility for the conduct of foreign policy.”

Here are some pictures from the fantastic screening and discussion of Norman Solomon's "War Made Easy" at the Crest Theatre on July 17th.

We would really like to thank everyone who helped promote this event. A big thanks to Sid & The Crest Theatre, Christine Craft and 1240 AM KSAC, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, Assemblyman Mark Leno and of course, Norman Solomon, without whom this event would have been possible.

We have a few more copies of the War Made Easy dvd available. If you'd like to purchase one for $20, please click here to send an email to sac4democracy AT hotmail dot com

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next event.

Thursday, September 20...War Made Easy, How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death
An insightful analysis of how governments bent on war-making have relied on a vast arsenal of propaganda techniques to overcome resistance at home and disapproval abroad by looking closely at the spin strategies employed by today's pundits and public officials.
Time: Thursday, September 20, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

End the Wars on Iraq & Afghanistan!
Congress can make this happen, but will they?

Join the Rest of California in Calling Congress:
July 23 – 26, 2007

All California’s Congressional districts will be calling their representatives to demand that they vote NO on any more funding to continue these wars and vote YES to bring ALL the troops & military contractors home, close all the bases, and restore the nations of Iraq and Afghanistan to their people. California is Calling to end these wars NOW!

Come to the Phone-a-thons:

Call and get the public to call Congress at the Farmers Markets:

Tues., July 24 , 11am-1pm, Fremont Park, 16th & P,
Wed., Jul 25, 11am-1pm, , 10th & J Sts, Sacramento

Ask Rep. Doris Matsui to hold a Town Hall meeting during the August 2007 recess.

Tell her to have an open public discussion with her constituents about where she stands on:

A Bloody Media Mirror
Media Beat (7/9/07) | By Norman Solomon

Many of America’s most prominent journalists want us to forget what they were saying and writing more than four years ago to boost the invasion of Iraq. Now, they tiptoe around their own roles in hyping the war and banishing dissent to the media margins.

The media watch group FAIR (where I’m an associate) has performed a public service in the latest edition of its magazine Extra. The organization’s activism director, Peter Hart, drew on FAIR’s extensive research to assemble a sample of notable quotations from media cheerleading for the Iraq invasion.

One of the earliest quotes to merit special attention came from ace New York Times reporter -- and chronic Pentagon promoter -- Michael Gordon. In a CNN appearance on March 25, 2003, just a few days into the invasion, Gordon gave his easy blessing to the invaders’ bombing of Iraqi TV.

Gordon cited “what I’ve seen of Iraqi television, with Saddam Hussein presenting propaganda to his people and showing off the Apache helicopter and claiming a farmer shot it down and trying to persuade his own public that he was really in charge, when we’re trying to send the exact opposite message” -- and so, the Times reporter went on, Iraqi TV was “an appropriate target.”

Perhaps it is time that we re-read the Declaration of Independence very carefully. As our country creeps closer towards a dictatorship and fascism, we better wake up before it's too late.

Violations of the FISA Act (illegal wiretapping / spying on Americans), Presidential signing statements ("unitary executive powers"), launching an illegal war of aggression against Iraq without cause, kidnap and torture, rendition, obstruction of justice, criminal negligence in responding to the Katrina disaster, war profiteering, over one trillion dollar cost in the occupation of Iraq, Guantanamo, etc...

We are taught in school to respect and revere our Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, under the Bush regime, if one were to write the Declaration of Independence today, they would be locked up in Guantanamo for eternity without a trial.

Quotes of particular note (emphasis is mine):

"...That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,..."

..."But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

You can substitute "present King of Great Britain" with "pResident George W. Bush".

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States."

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good."

"He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people."

"He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries."

Can you say, Unitary Executive Powers?

"For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever."

You can substitute "foreign Mercenaries" with "domestic Mercenaries".

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

NPR has an audio recording of the Declaration of Independence here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11703583

The full text is below:
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Stop the NAFTA Expansion!!

Short-Sighted Trade Deal Heads U.S. Over the Edge
Democrats pave path for Bush to pass more NAFTA expansions, fast track authority?!

This is your once-in-a-decade, unique opportunity to help change the rules of the global economy and stop the race-to-the-bottom.
TAKE ACTION NOW!

Like most Americans, you probably don’t trust this Administration to have more authority over anything! Well, here’s some good news: President Bush’s grant of Fast Track authority – the un-democratic Nixon-era law that transfers Congress' constitutionally-mandated control over U.S. trade agreements to the White House – expires June 30, 2007.

And then there is the shockingly bad news – Democratic leaders recently struck a "deal" with President Bush that could pave his was to new “Fast Track” authority – and more of his devastating trade policy.

Fast Track is how we got into devastating pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). If this new "deal" takes hold, then Fast Track will be used to further NAFTA expansion to more countries instead of the needed replacement of NAFTA itself.

Watch this brand new video to learn more!
"Fast Track to Nowhere" by the IAMAW

Zombie - by Cindy Sheehan

On the way home from Los Angeles yesterday, my daughter Carly, and I stopped in a store on the Grapevine to purchase some CDs for the longish drive (6 hours). One of the CDs we bought was a greatest hits album by The Cranberries.

It’s not me, it’s not my family. One of the songs is the above song, Zombie. The Cranberries were an Irish group that took on social issues like violence and drug addiction: serious problems in all societies, but especially their society in the 1990s. We were listening to the CD and after Zombie I looked at Carly and she was wiping tears off of her face. She said: “How can you listen to that song? You listened to it the day Casey was killed while you were cleaning the house.”

“It sure has deeper meaning to us now, doesn’t it?” I quietly replied as I started weeping.

By Dan Bacher

Two San Joaquin Valley Representatives, Dennis Cardoza of Merced and Jim Costa of Fresno, were among 42 Democrats that voted to keep the world's foremost torture school, the School of the Americas, open during a House vote on June 21. The vote was 203 yes, 214 no, 1 voting "present" and 19 not voting.

Catherine Thomasson, MD, President of Physicians for
Social Responsibility will be coming to Sacramento on
Friday, June 29, 2007!

Dr. Thomasson visited Iran in March as part of a
friendship delegation sponsored by the Fellowship of
Time: Friday, June 29, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

I urge everybody to IMMEDIATELY make a phone call or send a fax to support Representative McGovern's amendment to cut funding for the School of the Americas (SOA), an institution responsible for the murder and torture of hundreds of thousands of people throughout Latin America. Whether you've called in the past or have never called on this issue, the important thing is to call your representative RIGHT NOW and ask them to defund the SOA!

Thanks!

Dan

You can find your Representative's contact info here:
http://sacramentofordemocracy.org/?q=node/view/3130

or just call the D.C. switchboard: 202-224-3121 (Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant)

School of the Americas Watch
www.SOAW.org
Urgent Action Alert!

June 20, 2007

Congress Votes on a Funding Cut to the SOA/WHINSEC Today and We are Close to Winning!

Take Action - Call your Representative to ask her/him to Vote YES on the SOA/WHINSEC Amendment Now!

As early as this afternoon, Representatives Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and John Lewis of Georgia will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to cut funding for the School of the Americas, now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC)!

"Before He Invades" is a short, musical, sassy indictment of the Bush administration and embraces the growing movement to Impeach! The music is based on "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood and performed by my friend Craig Lehman and my two daughters, Angelina & Lacey. I (Michael Stavros) wrote the words and made the video. Check it out. You are welcome to add it to your website, my space or blog, etc. I hope you enjoy it.

Peace,
Michael

UPDATE #2: Assemblyman Mark Leno will also attend the screening and join in the discussion afterwards.

UPDATE: Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, original author of AJR 36, the bill to bring our CA National Guard home from Iraq will join Norman Solomon on the Q&A panel after the film!!

Sacramento for Democracy is proud to host a film screening of Norman Solomon's
"War Made Easy:
How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death."
Narrated by Sean Penn

July 17, 7 PM
The Crest Theatre
1013 K Street
Downtown Sacramento
Tickets $10

Please RSVP here: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=21049

Following the film, we will have a Q&A discussion with author Norman Solomon and special guests!

The evening's program will be emceed by Christine Craft (1240 Talk City)!

Those of you that attended our April meeting with Norman Solomon and Cindy Sheehan saw a rough-cut preview of the film. The response to the film was outstanding. Join us as we now get to see the finished version of the film.

War Made Easy reaches into the Orwellian memory hole to expose a 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has dragged the United States into one war after another from Vietnam to Iraq. Narrated by actor and activist Sean Penn, the film exhumes remarkable archival footage of official distortion and exaggeration from LBJ to George W. Bush, revealing in stunning detail how the American news media have uncritically disseminated the pro-war messages of one administration after another.

Click this image to watch a preview of the film:

Time: Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - 7:00pm PST

In the Year of the Pig
Friday, July 6

7:00 PM. $5.00. Fools Foundation - 1025 19th St, Sacramento. Off of K St,
between 19th & 20th next to the back end of Old Spaghetti Factory. Digital
projection on to a large screen. Seating is on folding chairs - feel free
to bring a pillow or cushion (or even your own folding chair).

Emile de Antonio's stunning Academy Award-nominated anti-war documentary
from 1968 on the US in Vietnam, filmed at the height of our involvement.
Upon initial release, reaction against it was so strong that theaters which
ran it received bomb threats and had screens painted over.
Time: Friday, July 6, 2007 - 7:00pm PST