Seniors Progress
Senior progressives
From David Swanson:
The peace movement has stood for peace and justice, for ending wars, preventing new ones, and building peace. Our top priority in Washington, D.C., has been ending the funding of the occupation. That work is over for the next year, because Congress has provided that funding.
We can still work against recruitment, we can still educate, we can still agitate, we can still oppose an attack on Iran. But one of our secondary priorities in Washington has been imposing a penalty for the illegal attack on Iraq in order to discourage future attacks on Iran or anywhere else.
We have pushed half-heartedly for impeachment,
with our main lobbying focus on cutting off the money.
Now, at the same time that the money is
a done deal for another year,
the possibility of impeachment is beginning to spark. After over two years of declaring impeachment "off the table," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has relented and suggested that some sort of preliminary hearing be held in the Judiciary Committee - and specifically on the impeachable offense of misleading a nation into war.
If the peace movement is not just a movement against one war or occupation, but a movement for peace, we should push with everything we've got for that (impeachment) hearing to happen, happen soon, and happen well.
We should ask everyone who cares about peace to phone Pelosi and Committee Chairman John Conyers, as well as their own representatives, whom they should ask to introduce their own articles of impeachment.
We've been on a losing streak, brothers and sisters, and the door is cracking open toward a major victory. Let's open that door fully and lead a peaceful march of millions through it.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34705
PLEASE CALL and demand that Impeachment Hearings be started
BEFORE the Election
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr.: (202) 225-5126
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-4965
And your Congressman:Contact info
Please join our weekly Impeachment Events, see our Calendar on the website ImpeachCO.com or in the Calendar here on ProgressNowAction.org
John H Kennedy, organizer
Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com
..
The peace movement has stood for peace and justice, for ending wars, preventing new ones, and building peace. Our top priority in Washington, D.C., has been ending the funding of the occupation. That work is over for the next year, because Congress has provided that funding.
We can still work against recruitment, we can still educate, we can still agitate, we can still oppose an attack on Iran. But one of our secondary priorities in Washington has been imposing a penalty for the illegal attack on Iraq in order to discourage future attacks on Iran or anywhere else.
We have pushed half-heartedly for impeachment,
with our main lobbying focus on cutting off the money.
Now, at the same time that the money is
a done deal for another year,
the possibility of impeachment is beginning to spark. After over two years of declaring impeachment "off the table," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has relented and suggested that some sort of preliminary hearing be held in the Judiciary Committee - and specifically on the impeachable offense of misleading a nation into war.
If the peace movement is not just a movement against one war or occupation, but a movement for peace, we should push with everything we've got for that (impeachment) hearing to happen, happen soon, and happen well.
We should ask everyone who cares about peace to phone Pelosi and Committee Chairman John Conyers, as well as their own representatives, whom they should ask to introduce their own articles of impeachment.
We've been on a losing streak, brothers and sisters, and the door is cracking open toward a major victory. Let's open that door fully and lead a peaceful march of millions through it.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34705
PLEASE CALL and demand that Impeachment Hearings be started
BEFORE the Election
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr.: (202) 225-5126
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-4965
And your Congressman:Contact info
Please join our weekly Impeachment Events, see our Calendar on the website ImpeachCO.com or in the Calendar here on ProgressNowAction.org
John H Kennedy, organizer
Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com
..
The Cheney Impeachment effort in the US House is moving forward.
Congresswoman Yvette Clark (D., NY) has joined Congress Members Jan Schakowsky, William Lacy Clay, Albert Wynn, and Dennis Kucinich in Co-Sponsoring Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney (H. Res. 333).
We now have 5 US Representatives backing Impeachment, Kucinich and 4 Co-Sponsors.
Kucinich will need more Co-Sponsors. If You care about the US Constitution and the US Soldiers who are dying and being maimed for Cheney's WMD lies You Should call Your Congressmen/women (at 800-828-0498) and demand that they become a Co-Sponsor on Kucinich's Impeach Cheney Bill.
Since Speaker Pelosi uttered her now infamous edict that 'impeachment is off the table' the movement toward impeaching any of the liars in the Bush Administration has grown slowly but it is growing. Recently Rep. Kucinich filed a Bill to impeach VP Cheney and it has taken off.
If Clinton can be impeached for a lie about sex, Cheney 'must be impeached' for lying about the reason for the Iraq Invasion and the 25,000 plus US Soldiers mained and the over 3,400 dead because of the lie.
None of the Colorado Democrats in Congress has offered support for impeaching Cheney.
They all deflect impeachment questions by saying things like: If we impeach Bush then Cheney will be president or we can't impeach because then Congress won't get anything else done.
Golly, if our state's representatives impeach Cheney then Cheney will never be president.
And not impeaching Bush gives them Bush to run against in Nov. '08. It is the best of all possible strategy for Democrats.
Show the international community we as a people repudiate Cheney and all he and his neocons stand for and coast into victory in '08 running
against Bush, the worst president American ever had.
Remember it is Bush's Iraq War but Cheney's manipulation of intelligence and WMD lies that gave Bush the opportunity to get Congress to vote for the invasion of Iraq.
The trial of Scooter Libby has produced overwhelming evidence that Vice President Cheney personally led the campaign to attack Joe Wilson through the media.
This "get Wilson" campaign included telling numerous reporters that Wilson was sent to Niger by his wife Valerie Plame, a CIA operative. Cheney was told by the CIA that Valerie Plame worked as a covert agent in the CIA's Nonproliferation Division, which is the critical division of the CIA responsible for stopping the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Is exposing a CIA agent a treasonable offence?
Cheney's efforts to expose Plame actually exposed her entire covert network, at tremendous cost to the CIA's secret war against terrorism. If Plame's work had been exposed by a double-agent in our government like Aldrich Ames or Robert Hanssen, that person would face prosecution for espionage and treason.
The evidence of Cheney's role is more than enough to start an impeachment investigation.
Real investigation will not start until Kucinich's Impeachment Bill is seriously considered by the House Judiciary Committee. Kucinich needs more Co-Sponsors to make that happen.
Now that Cheney's former Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby has been convicted and sentenced to 30 months in Federal Prison it is time to turn to his boss, Vice President Cheney. Is there a point where a Vice President who manipulates intelligence and facts about going to war commits treason?
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET CONGRESS TO IMPEACH CHENEY.
Call the Congressional 800 Number: 800-828-0498
Ask for Speaker Of The House Pelosi's office,
Ask for your Congressman/woman's office.
Tell the staff member who you are and where you live.
Then tell them to say to your Representative..
Impeach Cheney for lying about WMD and exposing a CIA agent.
Tell them to Co-Sponsor Kucinich's Bill to Impeach Cheney.
Call them each week.
Call as many of the US Congressmen/women as you can with the same message.
See US Rep. Kucinich's Bill here:
Link
The bill is 'H Res 333' (and not HR 333).
Plenty of info about Impeaching Cheney at: Link
The following sources were used: Link Link
..
Congresswoman Yvette Clark (D., NY) has joined Congress Members Jan Schakowsky, William Lacy Clay, Albert Wynn, and Dennis Kucinich in Co-Sponsoring Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney (H. Res. 333).
We now have 5 US Representatives backing Impeachment, Kucinich and 4 Co-Sponsors.
Kucinich will need more Co-Sponsors. If You care about the US Constitution and the US Soldiers who are dying and being maimed for Cheney's WMD lies You Should call Your Congressmen/women (at 800-828-0498) and demand that they become a Co-Sponsor on Kucinich's Impeach Cheney Bill.
Since Speaker Pelosi uttered her now infamous edict that 'impeachment is off the table' the movement toward impeaching any of the liars in the Bush Administration has grown slowly but it is growing. Recently Rep. Kucinich filed a Bill to impeach VP Cheney and it has taken off.
If Clinton can be impeached for a lie about sex, Cheney 'must be impeached' for lying about the reason for the Iraq Invasion and the 25,000 plus US Soldiers mained and the over 3,400 dead because of the lie.
None of the Colorado Democrats in Congress has offered support for impeaching Cheney.
They all deflect impeachment questions by saying things like: If we impeach Bush then Cheney will be president or we can't impeach because then Congress won't get anything else done.
Golly, if our state's representatives impeach Cheney then Cheney will never be president.
And not impeaching Bush gives them Bush to run against in Nov. '08. It is the best of all possible strategy for Democrats.
Show the international community we as a people repudiate Cheney and all he and his neocons stand for and coast into victory in '08 running
against Bush, the worst president American ever had.
Remember it is Bush's Iraq War but Cheney's manipulation of intelligence and WMD lies that gave Bush the opportunity to get Congress to vote for the invasion of Iraq.
The trial of Scooter Libby has produced overwhelming evidence that Vice President Cheney personally led the campaign to attack Joe Wilson through the media.
This "get Wilson" campaign included telling numerous reporters that Wilson was sent to Niger by his wife Valerie Plame, a CIA operative. Cheney was told by the CIA that Valerie Plame worked as a covert agent in the CIA's Nonproliferation Division, which is the critical division of the CIA responsible for stopping the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Is exposing a CIA agent a treasonable offence?
Cheney's efforts to expose Plame actually exposed her entire covert network, at tremendous cost to the CIA's secret war against terrorism. If Plame's work had been exposed by a double-agent in our government like Aldrich Ames or Robert Hanssen, that person would face prosecution for espionage and treason.
The evidence of Cheney's role is more than enough to start an impeachment investigation.
Real investigation will not start until Kucinich's Impeachment Bill is seriously considered by the House Judiciary Committee. Kucinich needs more Co-Sponsors to make that happen.
Now that Cheney's former Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby has been convicted and sentenced to 30 months in Federal Prison it is time to turn to his boss, Vice President Cheney. Is there a point where a Vice President who manipulates intelligence and facts about going to war commits treason?
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET CONGRESS TO IMPEACH CHENEY.
Call the Congressional 800 Number: 800-828-0498
Ask for Speaker Of The House Pelosi's office,
Ask for your Congressman/woman's office.
Tell the staff member who you are and where you live.
Then tell them to say to your Representative..
Impeach Cheney for lying about WMD and exposing a CIA agent.
Tell them to Co-Sponsor Kucinich's Bill to Impeach Cheney.
Call them each week.
Call as many of the US Congressmen/women as you can with the same message.
See US Rep. Kucinich's Bill here:
Link
The bill is 'H Res 333' (and not HR 333).
Plenty of info about Impeaching Cheney at: Link
The following sources were used: Link Link
..
Please join Congresswoman Diana DeGette tonight at the Windsor Gardens Auditorium as she gives her constituents a progress report from Washington.
I got this information from her Denver Congressional District Office just a few minutes ago.
Location: Windsor Gardens Auditorium 595 S. Clinton St.
Time: 7 pm Tuesday evening May 29 (TONIGHT) 1 hour only... talk fast!
Directions from Denver: East on Alameda to Clinton and then South on Clinton for 1-2 blks. The Auditoriun is attached to the clubhouse and to the rear of it.
A great time to ask about her saving 1,000 US Soldiers lives by stopping the Iraq War Now, not next year.
And oh yes there is the issue of the Cheney WMD Lies that put our soldiers in harms way in the first place.
Is DeGette going to protect Cheney from accountability for the lies and make him pay a political price for lying.. or let Cheney skate?
Will she become a Co-Sponsor on US Rep. Kucinich's Bill to Impeach Cheney?
Does she think it is important that she vote to uphold and protect the US Constitution?
Does she think someone worse than Bush will every be President?
Could it be a threat to our Constitutional Republic if that happened?
Tell her Presidents will never fear Impeachment or respect Congress if she and the others Never Impeach anyone.
How about Gonzales?
She's your Congresswoman and she works for you.
Tell her (respectfully) what you want her to do.
I got this information from her Denver Congressional District Office just a few minutes ago.
Location: Windsor Gardens Auditorium 595 S. Clinton St.
Time: 7 pm Tuesday evening May 29 (TONIGHT) 1 hour only... talk fast!
Directions from Denver: East on Alameda to Clinton and then South on Clinton for 1-2 blks. The Auditoriun is attached to the clubhouse and to the rear of it.
A great time to ask about her saving 1,000 US Soldiers lives by stopping the Iraq War Now, not next year.
And oh yes there is the issue of the Cheney WMD Lies that put our soldiers in harms way in the first place.
Is DeGette going to protect Cheney from accountability for the lies and make him pay a political price for lying.. or let Cheney skate?
Will she become a Co-Sponsor on US Rep. Kucinich's Bill to Impeach Cheney?
Does she think it is important that she vote to uphold and protect the US Constitution?
Does she think someone worse than Bush will every be President?
Could it be a threat to our Constitutional Republic if that happened?
Tell her Presidents will never fear Impeachment or respect Congress if she and the others Never Impeach anyone.
How about Gonzales?
She's your Congresswoman and she works for you.
Tell her (respectfully) what you want her to do.
The River of Light Enterprise, a local non-profit organization, invites you to celebrate
Spring in the Rockies
Bi-Annual Plant and Seed Exchange
PROCEEDS BENEFIT FOOD, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR VULNERABLE CITIZENS - HOMELESS VETERANS, DISABLED ADULTS, HIGH RISK YOUTH, FRAIL ELDERLY - IN THE METRO AREA
Bring to Exchange with Fellow Gardeners
Seeds - Starts - Shrubs - Bulbs -Tree Saplings - Vegetable seedlings
Indoor and Outdoor Plants Welcome
Bring as many plants as you wish and take home an equal amount from others' donations
If you don't have plants or seeds to share from your yard, we suggest bringing vegetable sprouts
All native plants are Welcome
Please separate and label plants individually, ready to be taken home by fellow gardeners - We suggest placing individual plants in small wax paper cups
Save $ toward your landscaping needs - Add a variety of new and interesting plants to your yard
A $10 per family donation is requested at the gate
Join us for this unique and fun family event
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JULIE AT 303-667-6032
Spring in the Rockies
Bi-Annual Plant and Seed Exchange
PROCEEDS BENEFIT FOOD, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR VULNERABLE CITIZENS - HOMELESS VETERANS, DISABLED ADULTS, HIGH RISK YOUTH, FRAIL ELDERLY - IN THE METRO AREA
Bring to Exchange with Fellow Gardeners
Seeds - Starts - Shrubs - Bulbs -Tree Saplings - Vegetable seedlings
Indoor and Outdoor Plants Welcome
Bring as many plants as you wish and take home an equal amount from others' donations
If you don't have plants or seeds to share from your yard, we suggest bringing vegetable sprouts
All native plants are Welcome
Please separate and label plants individually, ready to be taken home by fellow gardeners - We suggest placing individual plants in small wax paper cups
Save $ toward your landscaping needs - Add a variety of new and interesting plants to your yard
A $10 per family donation is requested at the gate
Join us for this unique and fun family event
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JULIE AT 303-667-6032
Senator Tupa says WE (you & me) can
Save the Colorado Anti-Iraq War Escalation Bill.
There are two versions, Senate & House. The Senate last voted to stick with their version. I'm told many House Representatives did not read the Senate version prior to voting on the House version. They will do today.
Now that it is going back to the House TODAY! there is a good chance to ask for passage of 'a bill' and/or compromise by both House and Senate Leadership to pass it TODAY or this week.
So please IMMEDIATELY.. Email the following
(or in your own words)
Subject: Please support Senate's SMJ2 or Find Compromise and Pass 'An' Anti-Escalation Bill this session.
I ask that you support the Senate Version of SMJ2 or find a Compromise position with Senator Tupa and the Senate Leadership.
Above all, Pass 'An' Anti-Escalation Memorial this Session.
Above all... support your Congressional Democrats in their struggle with Bush over ending the Iraq War.
Thank You for all your effort given this goal now and in the past.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR CITY, CO YOUR ZIP
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
Email the above letter to:
Speaker Romanoff
And a Carbon Copy ( CC ) to
Alice Madden
And the rest of the House
BE SURE To Put IN your BCC Field
( Cut & Paste the following in to the BCC Field)
debbie.benefield.house@state.co.us,
aliceb321@aol.com,
bernie@buescher.org,
morgancarroll@webaccess.net,
terrance.carroll.house@state.co.us,
mpcerbo@yahoo.com,
kathleencurry@montrose.net,
randy.fischer.house@state.co.us,
kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us,
sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us,
rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us,
michael@michaelgarcia.info,
dan.gibbs.house@state.co.us,
gwyngreen@yahoo.com,
maryhodge@aol.com,
cheri.jahn.house@state.co.us,
joeljudd@aol.com,
john.kefalas.house@state.co.us,
akerrhd26@earthlink.net,
jeanne.labuda.house@state.co.us,
claire.levy.house@state.co.us,
alice.madden.house@state.co.us,
rosemary.marshall.house@state.co.us.
buffie2006@hotmail.com.
anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us,
wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us,
michael.merrifield.house@state.co.us,
cherylin.peniston.house@state.co.us,
jack.pommer.house@state.co.us,
dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us,
joe.rice.house@state.co.us,
jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us,
romanoff@coloradohouse.org,
judy.solano.house@state.co.us,
john.soper.house@state.co.us,
nancy.todd.house@state.co.us,
reppaul@aol.com, ken@kengordon.com,
ron.tupa.senate@state.co.us,
Save the Colorado Anti-Iraq War Escalation Bill.
There are two versions, Senate & House. The Senate last voted to stick with their version. I'm told many House Representatives did not read the Senate version prior to voting on the House version. They will do today.
Now that it is going back to the House TODAY! there is a good chance to ask for passage of 'a bill' and/or compromise by both House and Senate Leadership to pass it TODAY or this week.
So please IMMEDIATELY.. Email the following
(or in your own words)
Subject: Please support Senate's SMJ2 or Find Compromise and Pass 'An' Anti-Escalation Bill this session.
I ask that you support the Senate Version of SMJ2 or find a Compromise position with Senator Tupa and the Senate Leadership.
Above all, Pass 'An' Anti-Escalation Memorial this Session.
Above all... support your Congressional Democrats in their struggle with Bush over ending the Iraq War.
Thank You for all your effort given this goal now and in the past.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR CITY, CO YOUR ZIP
YOUR PHONE NUMBER
Email the above letter to:
Speaker Romanoff
And a Carbon Copy ( CC ) to
Alice Madden
And the rest of the House
BE SURE To Put IN your BCC Field
( Cut & Paste the following in to the BCC Field)
debbie.benefield.house@state.co.us,
aliceb321@aol.com,
bernie@buescher.org,
morgancarroll@webaccess.net,
terrance.carroll.house@state.co.us,
mpcerbo@yahoo.com,
kathleencurry@montrose.net,
randy.fischer.house@state.co.us,
kjerry.frangas.house@state.co.us,
sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us,
rafael.gallegos.house@state.co.us,
michael@michaelgarcia.info,
dan.gibbs.house@state.co.us,
gwyngreen@yahoo.com,
maryhodge@aol.com,
cheri.jahn.house@state.co.us,
joeljudd@aol.com,
john.kefalas.house@state.co.us,
akerrhd26@earthlink.net,
jeanne.labuda.house@state.co.us,
claire.levy.house@state.co.us,
alice.madden.house@state.co.us,
rosemary.marshall.house@state.co.us.
buffie2006@hotmail.com.
anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us,
wes.mckinley.house@state.co.us,
michael.merrifield.house@state.co.us,
cherylin.peniston.house@state.co.us,
jack.pommer.house@state.co.us,
dianne.primavera.house@state.co.us,
joe.rice.house@state.co.us,
jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us,
romanoff@coloradohouse.org,
judy.solano.house@state.co.us,
john.soper.house@state.co.us,
nancy.todd.house@state.co.us,
reppaul@aol.com, ken@kengordon.com,
ron.tupa.senate@state.co.us,
JOIN US TODAY at NOON @ E 6th & Speer- IMPEACH CHENEY RALLY-
in Denver, CO
and CALL 800-828-0498
ASK YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO
CO-SPONSOR Rep. Kucinich's IMPEACH CHENEY BILL
Call all of Colorado's Democratic Congressmen/Women while you are at it.
It just takes a few minutes
to leave a message of support
for Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment of Cheney
Today is National Impeachment Day for Activist Groups http://www.A28.org
and we'll all be out there..
Please Join us.TODAY Link
-----------------------------------------
Two things you can do to help US Rep. Kucinich succeed
in Impeaching Cheney are:
1. Memorize this phone number... 800-828-0498 and use it often.
And then Tell all your friends that have bitched about Cheney or Bush and Tell Them to Call The Number and Support Kucinich.
(it is one of a number of toll free ways to contact
your Congressman/Senator's Office... DO IT WEEKLY
2. Call the number and ask for your Congressman
(if you don't know who that is tell them where you live
and they will connect you to the correct office.)
Tell your Congressman to become a 'Co-Sponsor' on
US Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment.
Then call all other Colorado Democratic Congressmem/women
offices to make the same request.
Then call US Rep. Kucinich's office and leave a message
thanking him for having the guts to do this.
I have used this number frequently and get through quickly.
It should take only a few minutes to say something like..
"My name is John Kennedy of Denver, Co and I support
Representative Kucinich's filing of Articles of Impeachment
against VP Cheney and I urge you to become a Co-Sponsor."
Simple, yes?
Go for it.............
========================================
PLEASE ALSO JOIN US
Every WED at The State Capital
at Lincoln & 14
Where we do a
Weekly Vigil To Impeach Link
And to Stop The War Now and Save The Lives Of the 800 US Soldiers who will die in the next year and the 7-8000 who will be seriously wounded.
========================================
Check out this great article
There's HUNGER For Impeachment. Will We Feed It?
Link
Some excerpts
we have to break the Barrier of Silence being enacted against gressroots America by the monopolized "mainstream" media. This is the FIRST step in the Impeachment of Cheney.
In EVERY neighborhood across America people are saying "they should be impeached" WITH NO CLUE THAT THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF US TRYING TO DO JUST THAT!!
They just need to Join Us at our Rallys, Vigils, Protests
One wag observed recently that if Dick Cheney were impeached, that would make George Bush president.
Who was it whose office personally orchestrated the lies passed off to us as intelligence on Iraq? Who was it who masterminded the outing of one of our best assets in preventing the proliferation of the REAL weapons of mass destruction, and all to keep the high crimes they had already committed from being exposed? Who has been the real acting president of the United States all these years?
Elections DO have consequences. Because now at least there are enough votes in Congress to call for that accountability, if only we will speak out in sufficient numbers to demand it. Constitutional crimes MUST have consequences. That is what the Constitution demands if we will honor it. Will we listen to those who have tried to take ultimate accountability off the table, or will THEY listen to us?
It's not as if those voices are not out there, to speak against a president of vice with a 9% approval rating. But it's up to us to reach out to and mobilize the remaining 91% who are not hiding from the truth, and let them know there is a way to effectively make their voices heard.
in Denver, CO
and CALL 800-828-0498
ASK YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO
CO-SPONSOR Rep. Kucinich's IMPEACH CHENEY BILL
Call all of Colorado's Democratic Congressmen/Women while you are at it.
It just takes a few minutes
to leave a message of support
for Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment of Cheney
Today is National Impeachment Day for Activist Groups http://www.A28.org
and we'll all be out there..
Please Join us.TODAY Link
-----------------------------------------
Two things you can do to help US Rep. Kucinich succeed
in Impeaching Cheney are:
1. Memorize this phone number... 800-828-0498 and use it often.
And then Tell all your friends that have bitched about Cheney or Bush and Tell Them to Call The Number and Support Kucinich.
(it is one of a number of toll free ways to contact
your Congressman/Senator's Office... DO IT WEEKLY
2. Call the number and ask for your Congressman
(if you don't know who that is tell them where you live
and they will connect you to the correct office.)
Tell your Congressman to become a 'Co-Sponsor' on
US Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment.
Then call all other Colorado Democratic Congressmem/women
offices to make the same request.
Then call US Rep. Kucinich's office and leave a message
thanking him for having the guts to do this.
I have used this number frequently and get through quickly.
It should take only a few minutes to say something like..
"My name is John Kennedy of Denver, Co and I support
Representative Kucinich's filing of Articles of Impeachment
against VP Cheney and I urge you to become a Co-Sponsor."
Simple, yes?
Go for it.............
========================================
PLEASE ALSO JOIN US
Every WED at The State Capital
at Lincoln & 14
Where we do a
Weekly Vigil To Impeach Link
And to Stop The War Now and Save The Lives Of the 800 US Soldiers who will die in the next year and the 7-8000 who will be seriously wounded.
========================================
Check out this great article
There's HUNGER For Impeachment. Will We Feed It?
Link
Some excerpts
we have to break the Barrier of Silence being enacted against gressroots America by the monopolized "mainstream" media. This is the FIRST step in the Impeachment of Cheney.
In EVERY neighborhood across America people are saying "they should be impeached" WITH NO CLUE THAT THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF US TRYING TO DO JUST THAT!!
They just need to Join Us at our Rallys, Vigils, Protests
One wag observed recently that if Dick Cheney were impeached, that would make George Bush president.
Who was it whose office personally orchestrated the lies passed off to us as intelligence on Iraq? Who was it who masterminded the outing of one of our best assets in preventing the proliferation of the REAL weapons of mass destruction, and all to keep the high crimes they had already committed from being exposed? Who has been the real acting president of the United States all these years?
Elections DO have consequences. Because now at least there are enough votes in Congress to call for that accountability, if only we will speak out in sufficient numbers to demand it. Constitutional crimes MUST have consequences. That is what the Constitution demands if we will honor it. Will we listen to those who have tried to take ultimate accountability off the table, or will THEY listen to us?
It's not as if those voices are not out there, to speak against a president of vice with a 9% approval rating. But it's up to us to reach out to and mobilize the remaining 91% who are not hiding from the truth, and let them know there is a way to effectively make their voices heard.
Two things you can do to help US Rep. Kucinich succeed
in Impeaching Cheney are:
1. Memorize this phone number... 800-828-0498 and use it often.
(it is one of a number of toll free ways to contact
your Congressman/Senator's Office)
2. Call the number and ask for your Congressman
(if you don't know who that is tell them where you live
and they will connect you to the correct office.)
Tell your Congressman to become a 'Co-Sponsor' on
US Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment.
Then call all other Colorado Democratic Congressmem/women
offices to make the same request.
Then call US Rep. Kucinich's office and leave a message
thanking him for having the guts to do this.
I have used this number frequently and get through quickly.
It should take only a few minutes to say something like..
"My name is John Kennedy of Denver, Co and I support
Representative Kucinich's filing of Articles of Impeachment
against VP Cheney and I urge you to become a Co-Sponsor."
Simple, yes?
Go for it.............
in Impeaching Cheney are:
1. Memorize this phone number... 800-828-0498 and use it often.
(it is one of a number of toll free ways to contact
your Congressman/Senator's Office)
2. Call the number and ask for your Congressman
(if you don't know who that is tell them where you live
and they will connect you to the correct office.)
Tell your Congressman to become a 'Co-Sponsor' on
US Rep. Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment.
Then call all other Colorado Democratic Congressmem/women
offices to make the same request.
Then call US Rep. Kucinich's office and leave a message
thanking him for having the guts to do this.
I have used this number frequently and get through quickly.
It should take only a few minutes to say something like..
"My name is John Kennedy of Denver, Co and I support
Representative Kucinich's filing of Articles of Impeachment
against VP Cheney and I urge you to become a Co-Sponsor."
Simple, yes?
Go for it.............
Since Jan 24 our group PNA 1stProtestInTheStreet.Org Link
has through it's project website
WeeklVigilsToImpeach.US Link
has held two weekly vigils-protests per week to
a. Stop The Iraq War ( Now! and save
the 800 US Soldiers who will be killed
and the 8000 who will be seriously wounded
prior to the
fantasy withdrawal dates that have been proposed in 2008.
b. Impeach Bush and Cheney
for lying to Congress to get an OK to go to War
( and a few other reasons of course)
Many members of ProgressNowAction.Org have emailed us
or signed up on the Calendar listings
to say they were coming to the
Stop Iraq War Now protests.
The only one who 'ever' showed up was Mike Collins last week
and we were thrilled...
Thanks Mike.
As a Vietnam Vet you know this is important
and you put your feet on the street that day to support
our effort to 'support the troops' by bringing them home.
We hope that today and each Wednesday more of you will attend and show our Colorado and Washington legislators that Stopping The War Now and Impeaching Bush/Cheney are important to you.
Todays event listing: Link
has through it's project website
WeeklVigilsToImpeach.US Link
has held two weekly vigils-protests per week to
a. Stop The Iraq War ( Now! and save
the 800 US Soldiers who will be killed
and the 8000 who will be seriously wounded
prior to the
fantasy withdrawal dates that have been proposed in 2008.
b. Impeach Bush and Cheney
for lying to Congress to get an OK to go to War
( and a few other reasons of course)
Many members of ProgressNowAction.Org have emailed us
or signed up on the Calendar listings
to say they were coming to the
Stop Iraq War Now protests.
The only one who 'ever' showed up was Mike Collins last week
and we were thrilled...
Thanks Mike.
As a Vietnam Vet you know this is important
and you put your feet on the street that day to support
our effort to 'support the troops' by bringing them home.
We hope that today and each Wednesday more of you will attend and show our Colorado and Washington legislators that Stopping The War Now and Impeaching Bush/Cheney are important to you.
Todays event listing: Link
We had a little fun with 'Foxy' the fox today... NO, not That Kind of Fun!
We heard that Frontier was doing a Campaign Interview style promo for the 'Foxy' Frontier's Favorite Animal at the Civic Center today across from the City Hall. So we thought this would be great test of our Concept of Instant Vigils.
We flew downtown and did a 'one indian' to their 'circle the wagons' maneuver. The media types applauded my arrival but grumbled later when they had trouble getting a shot without our signs in the background.
Our sign on one side said.
Call Foxy and tell her to
Stop the Iraq War
and impeach Bush
and on the other side
Call Foxy and say
Stop the War and
impeach Bush.
Amazing the amount of eyeballs these signs got.
It was Fun...
you all shoulda been there.
Maybe next time, eh! Join Us.
Impeachment can be fun.
John
WeeklyVigilsToImpeach.Us
Link
ProgressNowAction Member
Link
We heard that Frontier was doing a Campaign Interview style promo for the 'Foxy' Frontier's Favorite Animal at the Civic Center today across from the City Hall. So we thought this would be great test of our Concept of Instant Vigils.
We flew downtown and did a 'one indian' to their 'circle the wagons' maneuver. The media types applauded my arrival but grumbled later when they had trouble getting a shot without our signs in the background.
Our sign on one side said.
Call Foxy and tell her to
Stop the Iraq War
and impeach Bush
and on the other side
Call Foxy and say
Stop the War and
impeach Bush.
Amazing the amount of eyeballs these signs got.
It was Fun...
you all shoulda been there.
Maybe next time, eh! Join Us.
Impeachment can be fun.
John
WeeklyVigilsToImpeach.Us
Link
ProgressNowAction Member
Link
Weekly Vigils To Impeach & Stop The Iraq War
Will be at the State Capital at Noon at 14th & Lincoln
We will also be joining the fun at Sen. Salazar's Office at
2 pm. today.
Member of 'The Occupation' will be visiting Salazar's Office with some requests and may stay 'quite a while' I'm told.
I understand that another group will protest the Iraq War outside.
And of course our Group Weekly Vigils To Impeach...
Link
will be there
Come one, come all
Join us
Will be at the State Capital at Noon at 14th & Lincoln
We will also be joining the fun at Sen. Salazar's Office at
2 pm. today.
Member of 'The Occupation' will be visiting Salazar's Office with some requests and may stay 'quite a while' I'm told.
I understand that another group will protest the Iraq War outside.
And of course our Group Weekly Vigils To Impeach...
Link
will be there
Come one, come all
Join us
Last week at the Capital we had a good group of activists. Our efforts were rewarded by motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists with a lot of honking and waving.
The Iraq War was the central issue of the 2006 Election and the public still wants Bush and Cheney held accountable.
During World War II Franklin D. Roosevelt had four (4) Republican led investigations going against him. The last finished up after his death. They were trying to prove he knew in advance about Pearl Harbor and failed to warn the military in Hawaii. they never succeeded in making the charge stick.
If the greatest US war President of modern times can have this much oversight, why is Bush and Cheney about to get away with lying to Congress in order to get permission to invade snother country?
We wonder when the Democrats who campaigned against Bush's Iraq WMD lies and Iraq Invasion Outcome will begin to hold serious investigations, hearings and if warranted impeachment? Will it ever happen?
Our group will be there to remind them... and you are all invited to stand with us.
We'll be there...
Every Wednesday Noon at the State Capital ( Lincoln & 14th) and
Every Thursday Noon at DeGette's Office ( East 6th & Grant)
There is a proposal to move this vigil around to different US Reps offices each week day. Tell us what you think about this.
We have extra signs if you don't. If your schedule is tight, come and stay for only a few minutes. It all helps.
The Iraq War was the central issue of the 2006 Election and the public still wants Bush and Cheney held accountable.
During World War II Franklin D. Roosevelt had four (4) Republican led investigations going against him. The last finished up after his death. They were trying to prove he knew in advance about Pearl Harbor and failed to warn the military in Hawaii. they never succeeded in making the charge stick.
If the greatest US war President of modern times can have this much oversight, why is Bush and Cheney about to get away with lying to Congress in order to get permission to invade snother country?
We wonder when the Democrats who campaigned against Bush's Iraq WMD lies and Iraq Invasion Outcome will begin to hold serious investigations, hearings and if warranted impeachment? Will it ever happen?
Our group will be there to remind them... and you are all invited to stand with us.
We'll be there...
Every Wednesday Noon at the State Capital ( Lincoln & 14th) and
Every Thursday Noon at DeGette's Office ( East 6th & Grant)
There is a proposal to move this vigil around to different US Reps offices each week day. Tell us what you think about this.
We have extra signs if you don't. If your schedule is tight, come and stay for only a few minutes. It all helps.
We think the 'freezing' fog scared off the volunteers today. Actually the sun was out at DeGettes office and it was great.
It was just Ken and I today, but We got a lot of supportive honks and waves in reply to the big Impeach Signs. The people want this.
The Wednesday vigil at the State Capital this week was well attended and we really appreciate your support.
Hope we see you at
the Weekly Vigil To impeach Bush & Cheney and Stop The Iraq War,
at the State Capital on Wednesday next week at Noon....
bring your signs or use ours.
John Kennedy
It was just Ken and I today, but We got a lot of supportive honks and waves in reply to the big Impeach Signs. The people want this.
The Wednesday vigil at the State Capital this week was well attended and we really appreciate your support.
Hope we see you at
the Weekly Vigil To impeach Bush & Cheney and Stop The Iraq War,
at the State Capital on Wednesday next week at Noon....
bring your signs or use ours.
John Kennedy
Our group
Link
1stProtestinTheStreet.org
is having a MeetUp 7 pm TONIGHT at the Hooked On Colfax Coffee House (w/ Free Wifi ) at 3215 East Colfax Ave, Denver. Anyone interested in the possibility of holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their crimes is welcome to join us. We believe that we can put enough public pressure on our US Representatives we might be able to cause a Bill of impeachment. ( Yes..especially the Democrats we elected... the ones who dissed Bush/Cheney so, who now are Congressmen who have the power to Impeach).
We are doing two weekly vigils so far, one on
">Link
Wednesdays at Noon at the State Capital in Denver and on Link
Thursdays at Noon at US Rep. DeGette's Denver Office at East 6th & Grant. The purpose of the Wednesday and Thursday Vigils is to attract the attention of our State Legislature. our two Daily Newspapers, and the public. We hope that someone in the Legislature will carry a bill to ask the US House to begin proceedings on Impeachment (as New Mexico's Democrats are doing).
We hope the newpapers will consider that if Bill Clinton can be brought up on Impeachment for lying about sex... then perhaps the more serious offense of lying to Congress ( and Voters) just before a vote on War Resolution should require the same journalistic attention.
We hope the public will begin to see that this ( lying to Congress) is a more serious matter even than the Iraq War itself (if that is possible). The previous 'do nothing' Republican Congress was not much of a check on Bush's Imperial ambitions and our current Democratic Congress' Leadership would like to ignore impeachment and 'move on 'as they say, and hope it just goes away. What they are trying to ignore is the fact that all of Bush's lies and Signing Statements add up to a huge expansion of Presidential Power. We need to protect our grandchildren from the future Imperial excesses of the next President RunAmuck, regardless of which party they come from.
We need to put the Fear Of Impeachment into all future presidential candidates.
Bush doesn't think the Congress will call his bluff and impeach him, so he will push his supposed 'powers' to the limit. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are kidding themselves if they think he will back off. And even if he does, shouldn't he be held accountable for lying to Congress about a War resolution in the first place... to prevent this from recurring? And about the 700 plus Signing Statements. Saying he will ignore US Laws, after taking an Oath to Uphold them.
I'll stop now....
See you tonight at Hooked On Colfax,
and Wed. at the Capital,
and Thursday at DeGette's Office
PS... We've already started getting Push Back, from Democrats no less, about Vigiling in front of DeGette's Office. Why her they say... Well.. she is in a 'safe' seat, she now has powerful positions on very important Congressional Committees. She Can support this without endangering her re-election far more than other Democratic US Reps.
As a lifelong Democrat, I've voted for DeGette in every election and carried signs for her and probably will do so in the future. I think she is Super. However, I think she and all the other Democratic Reps will duck Impeachment if we let them. We will Vigil at other Colorado US Representative's offices as soon as we have the volunteers (all of them).
join us.
Link
1stProtestinTheStreet.org
is having a MeetUp 7 pm TONIGHT at the Hooked On Colfax Coffee House (w/ Free Wifi ) at 3215 East Colfax Ave, Denver. Anyone interested in the possibility of holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their crimes is welcome to join us. We believe that we can put enough public pressure on our US Representatives we might be able to cause a Bill of impeachment. ( Yes..especially the Democrats we elected... the ones who dissed Bush/Cheney so, who now are Congressmen who have the power to Impeach).
We are doing two weekly vigils so far, one on
">Link
Wednesdays at Noon at the State Capital in Denver and on Link
Thursdays at Noon at US Rep. DeGette's Denver Office at East 6th & Grant. The purpose of the Wednesday and Thursday Vigils is to attract the attention of our State Legislature. our two Daily Newspapers, and the public. We hope that someone in the Legislature will carry a bill to ask the US House to begin proceedings on Impeachment (as New Mexico's Democrats are doing).
We hope the newpapers will consider that if Bill Clinton can be brought up on Impeachment for lying about sex... then perhaps the more serious offense of lying to Congress ( and Voters) just before a vote on War Resolution should require the same journalistic attention.
We hope the public will begin to see that this ( lying to Congress) is a more serious matter even than the Iraq War itself (if that is possible). The previous 'do nothing' Republican Congress was not much of a check on Bush's Imperial ambitions and our current Democratic Congress' Leadership would like to ignore impeachment and 'move on 'as they say, and hope it just goes away. What they are trying to ignore is the fact that all of Bush's lies and Signing Statements add up to a huge expansion of Presidential Power. We need to protect our grandchildren from the future Imperial excesses of the next President RunAmuck, regardless of which party they come from.
We need to put the Fear Of Impeachment into all future presidential candidates.
Bush doesn't think the Congress will call his bluff and impeach him, so he will push his supposed 'powers' to the limit. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are kidding themselves if they think he will back off. And even if he does, shouldn't he be held accountable for lying to Congress about a War resolution in the first place... to prevent this from recurring? And about the 700 plus Signing Statements. Saying he will ignore US Laws, after taking an Oath to Uphold them.
I'll stop now....
See you tonight at Hooked On Colfax,
and Wed. at the Capital,
and Thursday at DeGette's Office
PS... We've already started getting Push Back, from Democrats no less, about Vigiling in front of DeGette's Office. Why her they say... Well.. she is in a 'safe' seat, she now has powerful positions on very important Congressional Committees. She Can support this without endangering her re-election far more than other Democratic US Reps.
As a lifelong Democrat, I've voted for DeGette in every election and carried signs for her and probably will do so in the future. I think she is Super. However, I think she and all the other Democratic Reps will duck Impeachment if we let them. We will Vigil at other Colorado US Representative's offices as soon as we have the volunteers (all of them).
join us.
Say out loud. We Can stop the Iraq War, We Can Impeach Bush and Cheney
(repeat often)
Yes we can... but first we have to do three things ,
a. 'always believe we can' because our 60's experience tells us we can.
b. 'believe' we can.. that if even a few of us Vigil Weekly, we bring enormous pressure on US Officials
c. 'change' the way you think, believe and behave, so join one of our vigils and make it happen
If each of the Colorado activist organizations send just a few activists to help staff our vigils and if just a few of we Progress members also attend our vigils, we can bring immense pressure on our US elected officials. Impeachment CAN happen. The Iraq War CAN be stopped.
In the 60s We did just exactly that... stopped the Vietnam War, and through the Congress We threatened to Impeach Nixon, prompting his resignation.
Are you any less gutsy than 60's Americans?
For those of you nervous about Pelosi becoming President. Consider this.
Would the present and future be different with a President Pelosi?
Different than with a President Bush or President Cheney?
A lot less lying, spying, and dying. for sure.
Perhaps not a perfect President but heaven compared to Bush, Cheney and their NeoCon handlers. ( All current Democratic contenders will diss this)
Please Join us at one of this weeks two Impeachment & Anti-Iraq War Vigils.
Wednesday @ Noon at our State Capital: see link on ProgressNowAction.org Link or See Our Website: Link
Thursday @ Noon at Degette's Office: see link on ProgressNow Action.org Link or See Our Website:
Please go to the links above on ProgressNowAction.org and sign up to attend.
We all will be one step closer to what we all want.
John Kennedy
protestinthestreet@yahoo.com
This time of year it always gives me hope when I hear all the "good will" stories of people helping other people. This year's "giving season" was kicked off in a major way by Oprah, who gave the members of her studio audience $1,000 with the condition they must give it away in "random acts of kindness" to one or more strangers. They were to record their experience with a video camera on loan to return their results on tape. People across the Country are "buzzing" about it and here in Colorado and across the country it's been a springboard for "giving back" holiday food, clothing and gift drives.
It reminds me though that Francis Moore Lappe, best selling author and founder of the Small Planet Institute said, "The problem with the phrase 'giving back' is that it denies our true nature. It presumes that we perceive ourselves as standing on the outside of community, feeling obligated to contribute because we are so privileged, instead of feeling connected and deeply entrenched in community as participants."
As I listened this week to the stories of simple acts people did for another or someone did for them that made a huge difference, it warmed my heart. It also made me a little sad because as wonderful as the stories are, I know that to really address some of our most challenging social issues in health care, housing, education and economic security, it will take more than a few random acts - it will take people like:
Chaplain Barbara McArthur with Blessing House Partners in Faith, who provides housing for 40 homeless women while working another job to pay her own bills. They may have to close the doors right after Thanksgiving because she can't continue to carry the costs for the women she's helping while they struggle to find full-time work.
Or the Hernandez family, who runs the Senior High Rise Food Bank and feeds over 400 people each month from their garage, yet are struggling and may have to close just after Christmas because they can't continue to pay for utilities, and gas to pick up food that's been donated on their retirement incomes.
Or the volunteers from the American GI Forum and Veterans for Peace who are personally struggling with their own battles with the Veterans Administration yet have come together to establish the Veterans Justice Alliance to provide support, care and comfort to the 800 homeless and disabled veterans living on the streets in the Denver area each night!
And these are just three of more than thirty social entrepreneurs ROLE is currently working with, each are committing their hands, hearts and souls - and most of their own money - to fill the gaps in our broken social safety net.
These are people who are fully entrenched in community and "walk the talk" each and every day. The River of Light Enterprise, Inc. (ROLE) - the nonprofit organization I am proud to lead - has established the Chamber of Compassion to "serve those who serve" by helping these unsung heroes get the support they need to keep many vital neighborhood-based programs alive.
Right now the people we serve who help so many others are in dire straights themselves and many may have to close their doors if the community doesn't step in and donate the cash they need to keep going. Most people think that those who serve the poor get tax money, foundation grants, or lots of donated money from the general public to support the work they do -- but the truth is…
· The Bush FY 2007 budget cuts 141 domestic programs, led by a $36-billion cut in Medicare spending for the elderly over the next five years and the complete elimination of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program that provides food assistance to low-income seniors, needy pregnant women and children.
· According to the 1998 National Congregations Study, the first comprehensive study of churches and their spending showed that less than 3% of the average congregation's total budget was spent on social services.
· According to the Independent Sector, the share of giving that goes to organizations known for helping the poor, hit a record low in 2004, accounting for less than 10% of the $248 billion donated by Americans and their philanthropic institutions.
Eliminating poverty is not a "random act" - it takes consistency, commitment, and perseverance. And it takes CASH! Cash for things like phones to coordinate donations; for gas and oil to deliver necessities to those in need and for paying utility bills at emergency housing units.
Right now, Blessing House needs $5,000, or all 10 women looking to start a new and prosperous life will be back out on the street right after Thanksgiving!
Unless we can raise $5,000 to help Senior High Rise Food Bank pay their utilities and transportation costs, people will be hungry by Christmas!
And if we don't raise another $5,000 to support the Veterans Justice Alliance through the end of the year, we will be unable to provide on-going care and support to over 20 Veterans who are struggling to keep food on their tables and a roof over their head while they are waiting for their claims to be processed.
These are OUR neighborhood resources that have been selflessly helping quietly while we are living our lives. They start their days feeding people who are hungry, searching for shelter for those who are homeless, and challenging bureaucrats to respond to people who have "fallen through the cracks" of our broken safety net. And they do it with little or no recognition or sufficient support from the community they serve.
Hubert Humphrey once said, "Government will never replace the helping hand of a neighbor". Unless we can all come together as a community and support not only the large organizations who can afford to advertise their programs on television and in large ads in the local newspapers but the small food bank or shelter right in our own neighborhoods - we may loose the only programs that are currently catching those who have already fallen through the cracks.
My prayer is that we all take Oprah's challenge and practice random acts of kindness with more focus. Better yet, I challenge you to consider making "consistent acts of kindness", and perhaps becoming a sponsoring member of the RIVER OF LIGHT ENTERPRISE. Our pledge is to use ALL of the money raised to keep Blessing House, the Senior High Rise Food Bank and the Veterans Justice Projects open and serving the most vulnerable among us. If you'd like to discuss these issues or would like more facts, I welcome your call at 303-667-6032.
Sincerely,
Julieann Murphy-Cross
Pres./CEO River of Light Enterprise
http://www/rivereoflight.org
303-667-6032
It reminds me though that Francis Moore Lappe, best selling author and founder of the Small Planet Institute said, "The problem with the phrase 'giving back' is that it denies our true nature. It presumes that we perceive ourselves as standing on the outside of community, feeling obligated to contribute because we are so privileged, instead of feeling connected and deeply entrenched in community as participants."
As I listened this week to the stories of simple acts people did for another or someone did for them that made a huge difference, it warmed my heart. It also made me a little sad because as wonderful as the stories are, I know that to really address some of our most challenging social issues in health care, housing, education and economic security, it will take more than a few random acts - it will take people like:
Chaplain Barbara McArthur with Blessing House Partners in Faith, who provides housing for 40 homeless women while working another job to pay her own bills. They may have to close the doors right after Thanksgiving because she can't continue to carry the costs for the women she's helping while they struggle to find full-time work.
Or the Hernandez family, who runs the Senior High Rise Food Bank and feeds over 400 people each month from their garage, yet are struggling and may have to close just after Christmas because they can't continue to pay for utilities, and gas to pick up food that's been donated on their retirement incomes.
Or the volunteers from the American GI Forum and Veterans for Peace who are personally struggling with their own battles with the Veterans Administration yet have come together to establish the Veterans Justice Alliance to provide support, care and comfort to the 800 homeless and disabled veterans living on the streets in the Denver area each night!
And these are just three of more than thirty social entrepreneurs ROLE is currently working with, each are committing their hands, hearts and souls - and most of their own money - to fill the gaps in our broken social safety net.
These are people who are fully entrenched in community and "walk the talk" each and every day. The River of Light Enterprise, Inc. (ROLE) - the nonprofit organization I am proud to lead - has established the Chamber of Compassion to "serve those who serve" by helping these unsung heroes get the support they need to keep many vital neighborhood-based programs alive.
Right now the people we serve who help so many others are in dire straights themselves and many may have to close their doors if the community doesn't step in and donate the cash they need to keep going. Most people think that those who serve the poor get tax money, foundation grants, or lots of donated money from the general public to support the work they do -- but the truth is…
· The Bush FY 2007 budget cuts 141 domestic programs, led by a $36-billion cut in Medicare spending for the elderly over the next five years and the complete elimination of the Commodity Supplemental Food Program that provides food assistance to low-income seniors, needy pregnant women and children.
· According to the 1998 National Congregations Study, the first comprehensive study of churches and their spending showed that less than 3% of the average congregation's total budget was spent on social services.
· According to the Independent Sector, the share of giving that goes to organizations known for helping the poor, hit a record low in 2004, accounting for less than 10% of the $248 billion donated by Americans and their philanthropic institutions.
Eliminating poverty is not a "random act" - it takes consistency, commitment, and perseverance. And it takes CASH! Cash for things like phones to coordinate donations; for gas and oil to deliver necessities to those in need and for paying utility bills at emergency housing units.
Right now, Blessing House needs $5,000, or all 10 women looking to start a new and prosperous life will be back out on the street right after Thanksgiving!
Unless we can raise $5,000 to help Senior High Rise Food Bank pay their utilities and transportation costs, people will be hungry by Christmas!
And if we don't raise another $5,000 to support the Veterans Justice Alliance through the end of the year, we will be unable to provide on-going care and support to over 20 Veterans who are struggling to keep food on their tables and a roof over their head while they are waiting for their claims to be processed.
These are OUR neighborhood resources that have been selflessly helping quietly while we are living our lives. They start their days feeding people who are hungry, searching for shelter for those who are homeless, and challenging bureaucrats to respond to people who have "fallen through the cracks" of our broken safety net. And they do it with little or no recognition or sufficient support from the community they serve.
Hubert Humphrey once said, "Government will never replace the helping hand of a neighbor". Unless we can all come together as a community and support not only the large organizations who can afford to advertise their programs on television and in large ads in the local newspapers but the small food bank or shelter right in our own neighborhoods - we may loose the only programs that are currently catching those who have already fallen through the cracks.
My prayer is that we all take Oprah's challenge and practice random acts of kindness with more focus. Better yet, I challenge you to consider making "consistent acts of kindness", and perhaps becoming a sponsoring member of the RIVER OF LIGHT ENTERPRISE. Our pledge is to use ALL of the money raised to keep Blessing House, the Senior High Rise Food Bank and the Veterans Justice Projects open and serving the most vulnerable among us. If you'd like to discuss these issues or would like more facts, I welcome your call at 303-667-6032.
Sincerely,
Julieann Murphy-Cross
Pres./CEO River of Light Enterprise
http://www/rivereoflight.org
303-667-6032
I read a short story by Ivan Moreno (Rocky Mountain News, September 27, 2006 - Veterans' plight is focus of rally) on a recent rally to raise awareness to the plight of homeless Veterans in Colorado and had two responses - the first being "duh" - it's only something Veteran Service Advocates have been saying for more than a decade! My second response was "Thank God" that someone is starting to listen!
Unfortunately, your article only touched the tip of the iceberg. Most people are unaware of the true deficit in services that exist for Veterans in our community. The general perception is that the Veterans' Administration is caring for the needs of vulnerable Veterans. Reality, however, is far from the truth. Consider the following:
Almost one-half of the 2.7 million disabled U.S. Veterans receive $337 or less a month in benefits, which comes from the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration. Less than one-10th of disabled Veterans are rated 100-per-cent disabled. To an outsider, the VA benefit formulas can seem like a riddle. If, for instance, a vet is diagnosed as 70 percent physically disabled and 30 percent disabled as a result of post-traumatic stress, the total disability does not necessarily add up to 100 percent; it could amount to 80 per cent. And that means a monthly check of $1,277; $1,500 for a family of four - poverty level!
The backlog of unprocessed claims has reached the astronomical count of 489,297, a number which is unfortunately increasing all of time. There are also currently 500,000 Compensation and Pension cases still pending. This means that close to a million Veterans and their families are at risk of financial ruin and homelessness, while the VA processes the paperwork!
More than 1 million American soldiers serve in Iraq and according to a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that 15 to 17 percent of Iraq vets meet "the screening criteria for major depression, generalized anxiety, or PTSD." Of those, only 23 to 40 percent are seeking help - in part because so many others fear the stigma of having a mental disorder. Those who do reach out often find long waiting lists for treatment within the Veterans' Service Network and a Civilian Service System that is ill-prepared to meet their needs.
Over 1.7 million Veterans do not have any health insurance nor do they have access to health care through the Veterans' Administration. Another 3.9 million Veteran households do not have health insurance nor do they have access to Veterans' health care due to ineligibility.
The Denver 2005 VA CHALENG Report acknowledges Colorado has 3,895 homeless veterans yet there are only 102 beds dedicated to meet their needs. The majority of these are operated by non-Veteran run organizations that may or may not have unique services for Veterans or even have Veterans on staff. In fact, while the growing body of research supports the fact that the most effective services for homeless Veterans are "Vet to Vet" - of the eight organizations listed by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans to be providing services in Colorado, only three are Vet run organizations. .
According to the Denver Metro Homeless Initiative Point in Time Survey conducted on January 23, 2006, 813 homeless individuals indicated they had served in the US Military yet only 110 (or 1 in 7) were collecting Veterans' Benefits. The true picture of homelessness among Veterans in Colorado cannot fully be known as the only question asked was whether the individual served in the US Military. There was no exploration as to whether Veterans are over represented among the chronically homeless, although given 85% of those identified as chronically homeless are men.
The FY 2005 CHALENG Report (the VA equivalent to the Point in Time Survey) indicated that long-term permanent housing is among the top three unmet needs and has been consistently over the past five years. As the author of the
Unfortunately, your article only touched the tip of the iceberg. Most people are unaware of the true deficit in services that exist for Veterans in our community. The general perception is that the Veterans' Administration is caring for the needs of vulnerable Veterans. Reality, however, is far from the truth. Consider the following:
Almost one-half of the 2.7 million disabled U.S. Veterans receive $337 or less a month in benefits, which comes from the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration. Less than one-10th of disabled Veterans are rated 100-per-cent disabled. To an outsider, the VA benefit formulas can seem like a riddle. If, for instance, a vet is diagnosed as 70 percent physically disabled and 30 percent disabled as a result of post-traumatic stress, the total disability does not necessarily add up to 100 percent; it could amount to 80 per cent. And that means a monthly check of $1,277; $1,500 for a family of four - poverty level!
The backlog of unprocessed claims has reached the astronomical count of 489,297, a number which is unfortunately increasing all of time. There are also currently 500,000 Compensation and Pension cases still pending. This means that close to a million Veterans and their families are at risk of financial ruin and homelessness, while the VA processes the paperwork!
More than 1 million American soldiers serve in Iraq and according to a recent study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that 15 to 17 percent of Iraq vets meet "the screening criteria for major depression, generalized anxiety, or PTSD." Of those, only 23 to 40 percent are seeking help - in part because so many others fear the stigma of having a mental disorder. Those who do reach out often find long waiting lists for treatment within the Veterans' Service Network and a Civilian Service System that is ill-prepared to meet their needs.
Over 1.7 million Veterans do not have any health insurance nor do they have access to health care through the Veterans' Administration. Another 3.9 million Veteran households do not have health insurance nor do they have access to Veterans' health care due to ineligibility.
The Denver 2005 VA CHALENG Report acknowledges Colorado has 3,895 homeless veterans yet there are only 102 beds dedicated to meet their needs. The majority of these are operated by non-Veteran run organizations that may or may not have unique services for Veterans or even have Veterans on staff. In fact, while the growing body of research supports the fact that the most effective services for homeless Veterans are "Vet to Vet" - of the eight organizations listed by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans to be providing services in Colorado, only three are Vet run organizations. .
According to the Denver Metro Homeless Initiative Point in Time Survey conducted on January 23, 2006, 813 homeless individuals indicated they had served in the US Military yet only 110 (or 1 in 7) were collecting Veterans' Benefits. The true picture of homelessness among Veterans in Colorado cannot fully be known as the only question asked was whether the individual served in the US Military. There was no exploration as to whether Veterans are over represented among the chronically homeless, although given 85% of those identified as chronically homeless are men.
The FY 2005 CHALENG Report (the VA equivalent to the Point in Time Survey) indicated that long-term permanent housing is among the top three unmet needs and has been consistently over the past five years. As the author of the