Progress Now Action

This is the face of the Republican party.

This is why there should be no Republicans elected or reelected to public office.

There is a cancer on the body politic of America its name is the Republican Party.

Check out the video of the crime being committed.


The letter sent to the Times Dispatch by W. Micheal Stark:

Letter from Mike Stark
Richmond Times-Dispatch Oct 31, 2006


The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday.

My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.

I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.

George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator's constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen's campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault.

I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.

It just isn't the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now.

W. Michael Stark

Read the response by the Allen campaign. Notice the slurs and smears that the campaign writer uses to characterize Mr. Stark and DailyKos.com. Notice too that the link in the letter to this supposed rant on Dailykos.com is invalid and brings this up:

The URL http://< " target=_blank>Link contains characters that are not valid in the location they are found.
The reason for their presence may be a mistyped URL, but the URL may also be an attempt to trick you into visiting a website which you might mistakenly think is a site you trust.

Well I did find the diary post by Mr. Stark and the post is about the RNC in NYC and Bloomberg's turning his city into a police state.

There is nothing "violent" in the post except outrage at what Bloomberg did to Americans who protested and were summarily arrested in order to "please" the grand poohbahs of the RNC.

More lies and distortion by the Republicans.

Ken



Ken

Both the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post endorse John Suthers for Colorado Attorney General. The Rocky Mtn News states "John Suthers has been a first-rate attorney general"(10/11/06), and the Denver Post states "Suthers has proven a talented officeholder . . . ," and "Suthers is a first-class prosecutor." (10/18/06)

By endorsing John Suthers for Attorney General, these two major newspapers are representing to the People of Colorado, that through their investigative powers, John Suthers has been found to be an upstanding citizen, an honorable attorney, prosecutor, and law enforcement officer with a proven record of honesty and fairness. But, in fact, the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post have insider knowledge that John Suthers is a criminal who has helped defraud the People of Colorado of at least eighty million dollars, accepted bribery, and has broken numerous State, Federal, Ethical, Professional and Constitutional Laws, as well as his Oath of Office to protect People's rights.

How do they have this insider knowledge? I gave it to them. I have repeatedly asked, pleaded and begged the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post to investigate and report on the corruption and abuse of power within the Attorney General's Office as well as other State and Summit County Government. The Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post both said that the information and evidence would not benefit the General Public and declined to expose the corruption. The General Public is exactly who the Attorney General is sworn to protect, and if the Office of Attorney General is corrupt, the General Public is at risk and has a right to know. The Colorado Attorney General' Office is the Peoples highest Department of Law. It is the duty, obligation and responsibility of the Rocky Mountain News/ Denver Post to inform the People so that they can make wise choices, and to protect themselves, their families and their rights.

Obviously, the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post only values the "General Public" for the purpose of buying their newspapers, and to sway their votes into a choice for public office that they know is involved in corruption. These two major newspapers are ensuring that the White Collar Crime continues within Colorado's Government for the benefit of some wealthy and connected elites, as well as to cover-up their criminal deeds. The Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post are informed accomplices and enables Colorado's government corruption.

May this letter serve as a warning to everyone for the next four years. Watch your property rights and ownership. Especially your water rights. Sincerely, Halena Lewis, 303-433-3573.

"For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market, is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK.

Take a gander at what is competitive in CO.

Is it any wonder that Marilyn Muskrat and the RNCC and their 527 allies are saturating the airwaves with lies and fabrications, if they didn't think that Angie Piccione is a real threat?

What we may be seeing is the backlash against Muskrat's negative campaign advertising and utter shameless, and probably illegal use of his military picture, of a disabled veteran of Bush's Iraq war to mouth the slander of "cut and run".

Chris Bowers, of MyDD.com, has the numbers and analysis- the polls from over fifty House races are currently showing campaigns within the single digits. Here they are (and yes, it really is this many)":

Republican held seats
AZ-01, AZ-05, CA-04, CA-11, CA-50, CO-04, CO-05, CO-07, CT-02, CT-04, CT-05, FL-13, FL-16, FL-22, ID-01, IN-02, IN-09, IL-06, IL-10, IA-01, IA-02, KS-02, KY-03, KY-04, MN-01, MN-02, MN-06, NV-02, NV-03, NH-02, NJ-07, NM-01, NY-03, NY-19, NY-20, NY-24, NY-25, NY-26, NY-29, NC-08, NC-11, OH-01, OH-02, OH-15, OH-18, PA-04, PA-06, PA-07, PA-08, VA-02, VA-10, WA-08, WI-08, WY-AL

Democratic Held Seats
GA-12, IN-07, IA-03, IL-08, VT-AL, WV-01

Chris has these suggestions for action:

Here are some other good actions you can take: Google Bomb the Elections--It isn't too late to join in.
Do More Than Vote--Take action no matter where you are.
Call for change--Participate in the most sophisticated and effective progressive voter contact program.
Google Bomb the Elections--It isn't too late to join in.
Do More Than Vote--Take action no matter where you are.
Call for change--Participate in the most sophisticated and effective progressive voter contact program.
Let's make these next nine days something we will never forget.

Can the Republicans stand scrutiny for the Medicare drug prescription Plan D "doughnut hole"?

Steve Gilliard of "THE NEWS BLOG" finds this out via the AFL/CIO action:

Granny Get Your Gun…Oops, Make That Donuts

by James Parks, Oct 27, 2006

Seems like in Allison Park, Pa., near Pittsburgh, the biggest threat to public security is 40 senior citizens carrying donuts. Yesterday, staff at Rep. Melissa Hart's (R-Pa.) district office called for three armed police from nearby Hampton Township to disperse the group of seniors, all members of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans (PARA), who sought to deliver donuts to Hart's office to protest the new Medicare law.

The AFL-CIO is urging members to call Hart's office and tell her: Shame on you for treating your own constituents like criminals simply because they wanted to express their opinion. You can call Hart at her Allison Park office at 412-492-0161 or at her Ellwood City office at 724-752-0490....

Join our call for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to immediately intervene in the investigation as to whether Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez's campaign broke federal or state laws by illegally accessing the highly restricted National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.  

Over the weekend Republican Governor Bill Owens made a request to investigate Beauprez’s campaign through his own Department of Public Safety.

Yet for the reasons cited below, Owens' request regarding Beauprez is compromised due to major conflicts of interests.

Background:

Beauprez's campaign has used information in an advertisement against his opponent with records on a "Carlos Estrada Medina." (Rocky Mountain News, 10/11/2006)

Last Wednesday, October 11, 2006, Beauprez's campaign told a 9News reporter that they found the records on Medina "in federal criminal databases, the guy's information matches up." (RMN, 10/14/2006)

But on Friday, October 13, 2006, Beauprez's campaign backed off from that statement claiming that they "deduced" the records from campaign researchers using a criminal database. (RMN, 10/14/2006)

Now Beauprez's campaign claims that the records used in the ad on Medina "are out in the public domain." (Denver Post, 10/15/2006)

Beauprez's campaign, however, has not yet shown where one can find the cases "in the public domain."

Beauprez's campaign, while admitting the Medina documents had an FBI number printed on the file, refuse to disclose the source. (DP, 10/15/2006)

Extensive research by both the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post has been unable to independently verify that the California case exists or whether Medina's aliases match the cases alluded to in the ad. (DP, 10/15/2006)

Owens has asked a division of the State Department of Public Safety to investigate whether Beauprez's campaign illegally accessed the NCIC. (DP, 10/15/2006)   Yesterday Owens’ office claimed that the Department of Public Safety is “nonpartisan” and that a request for the FBI to intervene is “ludicrous.” (RMN, 10/16/2006)

Clear conflict of interest with Owens' request:

* Owens directly oversees the Department of Public Safety in which the investigation is being requested. Joe Morales is the head of the Department of Public Safety and is an Owens cabinet member appointed by Owens. (RMN, 11/18/2003)

* Owens is the co-founder of the "Trailhead Group" a 527 political committee which has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking Beauprez's opponent. (DP, 8/25/2006)

* Owens also has been actively publicly campaigning for Beauprez across Colorado. (Pueblo Chieftain, 10/10/2006)

* Morales has given $1,000 to the Beauprez campaign, the maximum donation allowed by law.  (www.FollowtheMoney.org)

* We learned this morning that the Deputy Director of Public Safety, Mike Acree, is also a Beauprez supporter, and gave the maximum of $1,000 to the Beauprez campaign in this election cycle.(www.FollowtheMoney.org) Acree also serves on the Executive Committee of the Douglas County Republican Party and allegedly is the Beauprez Douglas County Coordinator. (www.dcgop.org )

Click here to add your name to the call for the FBI to intervene in the Beauprez investigation:

Link

Criminal Penalties:

An improper use of the NCIC database is subject a number of violations at both the federal and state level. (RMN, 10/15/2006) These include:

Federal statutes:

* It's a crime to intentionally access a federal computer without authorization or to exceed authorized access. Penalty: First offenses are punishable by one year in prison and fines.

* Knowingly conveying or receiving federal records. Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison and fines.

* Conspiracy to defraud the United States. Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison.

State statutes:

* Public officials can be charged with official misconduct for using their authority to maliciously harm someone or violate state law. Penalty: 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

* Embezzlement of government property by public servant. Penalty: Three years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Join our call for the FBI to intervene in the investigation as to whether Beauprez’s campaign violated one or more of these laws:

Link

Representative Matt Knoedler (R-Lakewood) continues to put special interest lobbying ahead of Colorado's families.

Why?

Because Knoedler's other job is "Public Policy and Lobbying" for one of the highest priced law/lobbying firms in the country.

Instead of recusing himself on key votes, he has made a number of votes placing other interests over that of his constituents including:

--Voting against school based health centers for kids. (HB06-1396)
--Voting against K-12 schools, including preschool, kindergarten classrooms and teaching of history, culture and civil government. (SB05-200)
--Voting against stopping price gouging at the pumps during an emergency. (HB06-1251)

Click the petition below and join me in calling on Knoedler to discontinue his "Public Policy and Lobbying" practice if he wishes to represent his constituents:

Link

As you may have read in Sunday's Denver Post, State Representative Bill Berens (R) recently accepted a check for $20,000 from the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. [Denver Post, 10/8/06]

The Oil and Gas Association is one of the largest lobbying groups in Colorado, spending huge amounts of money trying to influence our legislators. [Colorado Common Cause]

It's unclear whether or not this cash gift to Berens violates existing Colorado law. But it's certainly inappropriate for him to take such an enormous amount of cash from an industry group with millions of dollars of business potentially riding on his decisions as a legislator.

Click on the link below and demand that Berens to do the right thing and return this check or donate it to charity:

Link

Why is Lamborn silent?

Call for Lamborn to stand up

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
CONTACT: Bobby Clark
(303) 991-1900

Denver: ProgressNowAction called for Doug Lamborn to ask Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to step down from House leadership. The group launched a petition to thousands of people in the Colorado Spring's area days after Hastert campaigned with Lamborn in that area.

"That Hastert protected Foley and left children to fend for themselves is so outrageous even national conservatives are calling on Hastert to resign as Speaker," stated Bobby Clark, Deputy Director of ProgressNowAction. "Lamborn should be calling on Hastert to step down from House leadership."

This past Saturday, September 30th, House Speaker Dennis Hastert visited Colorado Springs to campaign with Lamborn and raise money for his race. That's the same day that the Washington Post reported that Hastert had admitted knowing a year ago about inappropriate contact between Republican Congressman Mark Foley and a young boy serving as a page for the House.

Reports that Speaker Hastert knew about Foley's predatory actions, yet covered it up and left children to fend for themselves, has led even many national conservatives to call for Hastert's immediate resignation.

"So far Lamborn, who was campaigning with Hastert as this story was exploding, has said nothing," noted Clark.

The petition, Link , asks Lamborn to return the money he raised from Hastert's visit and request that Speaker Hastert immediately resign from leadership in Congress.

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Call for Musgrave to ask for Hastert's Resignation:

Call follows Speaker's visit to her district

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
CONTACT: Michael Huttner
(303) 931-4547

Denver: ProgressNowAction called for Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave to ask Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to step down from House leadership. The group launched a petition to thousands of people in Musgrave's district days after Hastert campaign with Musgrave in her district.

"That Hastert protected Foley and left children to fend for themselves is so outrageous even national conservatives are calling on Hastert to resign as Speaker," stated Michael Huttner, Executive Director of ProgressNowAction. "Musgrave needs to defend American values and ask Hastert to step down."

Just over a week ago Marilyn Musgrave campaigned with Hastert in her district and touted her record of "defending American values." But so far, Musgrave has been silent about Hastert's scandalous cover-up and failure to stand up for children.

This past weekend the Washington Post reported what Congressional Republican leaders apparently already knew--that House Speaker Dennis Hastert has covered up inapprorpriate sexual conduct involving Republican Congressman Mark Foley and young boys serving as House pages.

The petition, Link , asks Musgrave to call for Hastert's immediate resignation from leadership and return the money she raised from his visit.

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