Progress Now Action

All Veterans for Progress members are invited to attend the following Press Conf. today at Noon at the 3rd Floor Press Room at the State Capitol Bldg. (get there early!):

VETERANS FOR PROGRESS

Vets denounce the costs of Iraq War to Colorado:

Question McCain

For Immediate Release, Tuesday, March 18, 2008

CONTACT: Jim Hudson (720) 296-1936, hudlink@aol.com

Denver: Veterans from across Colorado joined together at the Colorado State Capitol to denounce the skyrocketing costs of the war in Iraq. The veterans also questioned lawmakers who want to stay the course including Senator John McCain.

"The eight billion Coloradans are spending each year, could have been used to provide health care for our entire state and ensure that our educational institutions were strong," stated Fran Austad Hudson, a former Captain in the Women's Army Corps from Englewood.

According to the website National Priorities Colorado taxpayers will spend 2.1 billion on Iraq in 2009, enough to have covered healthcare for over 600,000 people or 370,000 students with scholarships to college. [www.nationalpriorities.com]

"We were told that this war would be 'fairly easy' and the human costs for Colorado in five years have been tragic," said Leon Rodriguez, a Vietnam veteran and former First Sergeant from Littleton. "Hundreds of Colorado sons and daughters have been killed or injured with no end in sight."

Colorado has lost 54 soldiers and had another 488 wounded. [www.icasualties.org] Vice President Dick Cheney went on Meet the Press on March 16, 2003, and declared that US forces would be greeted as liberators. On national television Senator McCain echoed the sentiment and stated that success in Iraq would be "fairly easy." [CNN, Larry King Live, 9/24/2002. MSNBC, Hardball, March 24, 2003]

"Why does Senator McCain think it is okay if we are in Iraq for 100 years," asked Jim Hudson a combat reporter for the Green Beret Magazine in Vietnam who now lives in Aurora. "We cannot maintain the status quo."

In January 2008, McCain said the U.S. military could stay in Iraq for "a hundred years" and that "would be fine" with him. [CBS, Face the Nation, January 6, 2008] The most recent estimates show that the war could cost as much as three trillion dollars." [Blimes/Stiglitz Study, Washington Post, 3/9/2008]

Veterans for Progress is a non-partisan statewide veterans group whose members volunteer to raise public awareness about issues important to Colorado veterans.

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Dear ProgressNowAction members -

Thank you to everyone at ProgressNowAction who took the time to vote for Bill Winter in the Warner PAC contest. Thanks to you, Bill had the highest number of votes following the first round! We are now in the second round of voting and could use your help again. Please take another minute to go to the contest website to vote for Bill in this latest round and ask your friends to do the same.

HTTP://www.forwardtogetherpac.com/mapchangers

Also, please be sure to join us this weekend for the Grand Opening of the Winter for Congress headquarters. We will have food, games, and family fun. Details can be found on the website: www.winterforcongress.com.

Again, thank you for all of your help.

Lynette Mayo and Jim Hudson

Walk with your brother and sister veterans, their families and supporters in the Parker Festival Parade Sat., June 10, at 10:30 a.m. (line up at 9:30 a.m.) Meet at Parker Town Hall parking lot.

You'll find directions here: Link

In this parade, we'll be joining the Douglas County Dems and the Bill Winter for Congress Campaign (Bill will be retiring Tom 'let's Nuke the Holy Cities' Tancredo). And Tony Delcavo will bring his two Donkeys for the enjoyment of all (especially the kids).

We'll have extra Colorado Veterans for America and Bill Winter for Congress T-shirts. Wear your veterans service caps if you have 'em. And bring sunblock/screen.

The Parker Country Festival Parade travels down Mainstreet complete with floats, marching bands, horses and vintage cars. Discount carnival tickets on sale at the Chamber.

2006 Parker Country Festival

June 9 - 11, 2005 in and around O'Brien Park

The Parker Country Festival has been the premier family event in Parker for nearly 30 years. A signature event of the Parker Chamber of Commerce, the festival attracts more and more people to O'Brien Park in downtown Parker. Over 80,000 people who attend the festival weekend enjoy carnival rides and attractions, music from live bands, arts and crafts exhibitors and a food and beverage garden. Kid's Country features games, pony rides and a petting zoo for kids of all ages.