http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/group_rss/DenverCounty Stay connected to other progressives in Denver County. Click on the "Join Group" button near the top of the page. Neo-Nazi organizations like Aryan Nations, Hammerskins, and their fellow travelers like Jim Gilchrist's Minutemen are easily agitated and cheered on by hate spewing shock jocks of radio.  Those organizations their delusional notions of white suppression constitute a clear and present danger in this election. This first example was brought to my attention by Georgia10 writing at Dailykos.com: So the Daily Kos blogging contingent was all set to stay at a certain hotel in Denver. At the last minute --literally, the night before many of us flew out to Denver--we got word that we would be switching hotels. It turned out to be a dump, so yeah, an upgrade was in order. ... Waking up to swat teams is a surefire clue that you're not staying at a five star hotel, that's for sure, and if there was ever a sign to change hotels, a meth bust outside your hotel door is sure to be it... And today, we learn that the meth bust across the hall was just one part of a much larger and more disturbing story : DENVER (CBS4) ―  CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either drug or weapons charges. [...] GregMitch, Dailykos.com, digs deeper and writes : Following up an earlier TV report, NBC in Denver is now reporting, "Sources tell NBC the two men had tattoos and jewelry popular with white supremacists."  It also notes that an unidentified source tells NBC,  "There is no reason for someone [with a criminal record] to have rifles with scopes." My Web research has found a home address for one of the men, Tharin Gartrell, in Lakewood, Co.... Rory O'Connor, Alternet.org, writes about the continuing efforts by the hate jocks of radio to foment violence this year:  Rodriguez says she "would usually shrug this off as idiotic, but it has actually gained traction. This right-wing jerk, whose show is a constant stream of anti-immigrant, racist, and homophobic rhetoric, is leading the charge, even commenting the other day that we need 'bloodshed in the polling places.' Dave Neiwert, Orcinus blog, has written an in depth investigation into eliminationist rhetoric: This is the naked bigotry revealed by both Klein's and Borat's stunts, and it has a particular quality to it -- a theme running through it, as it were: eliminationism. White frat boys who long to enslave blacks, Texas ranchers who think hunting and shooting a Jew sounds like fun, and radio audiences who want to tattoo Muslims and lock them up in concentration camps -- they all reflect the strands of the hard-wired right-wing desire to eliminate, by violent means if necessary, anyone deemed the Other, or the Enemy. What does this mean except that there is homegrown violent organizations from the right have taken hold and have been vigorously supported by the so called shock jocks from the big boys like Micheal Savage to the pip squeaks like Arizona's "Jon Justice" which will lead to murder and assassination attempts against all who are their enemies. We can counter but a major part is to remove their broadcast cheerleaders.  Those cheerleaders for hatred and eliminationist violence should be able to speak but only on their soapbox at a street corner.  The public airwaves should not be a cesspool that will cheerlead on people who are mentally unstable, paranoid, and delusional enough to carry out murder against ethnic and racial groups.       http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7x http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7x/commentary#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:19:01 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7x Ken Ken 3 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7x/ I posted a few pics that I took on Sunday at my blog on Open.salon.com It is with Progressive Democrats of America, The Big Tent, and Amnesty International. Enjoy! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7g http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7g/commentary#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:57:29 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq7g Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7g/ What about "Smokin'" Joe Biden?   I hope he will be the attack dog for Obama because Obama is not gettin the job done on Mc$ame. Warming up by kos Sun Aug 24, 2008 at 06:22:56 PM PDT (Bumped -- kos) The more I read stuff like this (from Stephanopolous on Good Morning America Weekend Sunday), the more comfortable I am with Biden's selection. I have never seen a vice-presidential candidate, in the announcement, come out with THAT KIND of ferocity. Usually, you see it a little bit later in the campaign – not at the announcement. But Joe Biden showed one of the main reasons that Barack Obama picked him. They WANTED a scrapper out there. They WANT a fighter out there. They know Senator Biden will be able to get UNDER Senator McCain’s skin. They’ve known each other for an AWFUL long time – more than 35 years. Digby writes : Biden doesn't make me feel that way. He's a Washington insider, with all that that implies, but at least he hasn't spent his career making the social conservatives' case for them... if Biden can speak the language of the working class Dems (even if his record speaks to the typical beltway fealty to big business) then he is an asset.  However if you want a different perspective on Senator Biden I suggest that you look at what Glenn Greenwald states : The most entrenched establishment spokespeople are cheering the selection of Joe Biden because, in their minds, that selection confirms the most important fact for them: that in this election, the prevailing orthodoxies of our political system won't be meaningfully challenged. Chief Establishment Defender Fred Hiatt cheerfully announced today , also on the Editorial page of The Washington Post , that the Ways of Washington have been vindicated: Mr. Biden may share Mr. Obama's outlook, but with an idealism tempered by years in the trenches. Which points to Mr. Biden's second advantage: experience. Mr. Obama's willingness to reach out to the kind of seasoned insider that he has, at times, derided suggests a heartening recognition that time in Washington can be useful . David Brooks wrote earlier in the week that he hoped Obama chose Biden because it would advance what Brooks conceives of as "the good of the country." The political establishment's overriding preoccupation is that nothing meaningful should change how the political system works, that both parties should continue to embrace the central orthodoxies. Well there you have it!  The change is...facile or do we make the case for real change by demanding it!   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4y http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4y/commentary#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:44:23 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4y Ken Ken 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4y/ Why not this "champagne wishes and caviar dreams" to be used against Mc$ame? Would it not behoove Obama's campaign to get Robin "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" Leach to be in a national ad? Also, I would not just use the word "wealthy" to Mrs. Mc$ame but this "super wealthy".  Who can afford to spend $250,000 per year for house servants.   Pound those points all the time:  super wealthy, house servants, and lots of photos of Mc$ame's houses and condos. Anybody in the progressnowaction community up for a video challenge?  Who can make a video of 30 seconds in length about Mc$ame's super wealthy wife, $250,000 year budget for house servants, and Robin Leach's famous tag line "champagne wishes and caviar dreams"?    http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4s http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4s/commentary#comments Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:29:38 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4s Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4s/ Now is the time for change but change demands that Obama be strong and stand for the principals that form the bedrock of change that this nation's people desire.  Sure there are many who are against change and the uncertainty that change means to the "old ways".  However, change was never brought about by being meek and merely begging and changing your principals.  The easy way is not the way for a paradigm shift.  The easy way is the way for people to become discouraged about the catalyst of change. Theda Skocpal, from Talkingpointsmemo.com's Cafe, writes : The last month has been excruciating for Obama supporters, watching him and his campaign squander so many hopes and resources on an utterly wimpy campaign. For me, the last straw was yesterday -- in the VFW speech when supposedly Obama was gettting tough against McCain's character assassination strategy -- to watch him speak like a soporific college professor, repeating McCain's charges at length, flattering McCain as honorable and patriotic, and then, finally, sort of begging McCain to take it back! Josh Marshall is totally right to call Obama out on this. What are they thinking in Chicago? Why would they ever imagine that Americans will vote to make President a candidate who evades and begs... Politics is not just about issues, it is a metaphorical test of strength. If a man will not get immediately -- if quietly -- angry and fight back when his patriotism is attacked, why should we trust him to defend the country? And if he won't punch back by explaining clearly why his approach to foreign policy is actually tougher and smarter, why McCain's is thoughtless and reckless, why would we think he is better to be Commander in Chief? And on issues like oil drilling, why not recognize that McCain has adopted an ACTIVE metaphor that makes emotional sense to people? He is saying we should act to tap U.S. resources, and people are not really concerned about how many years it would take to tweak pump prices. They hear action and will and resolve -- and these are highly valued in a President! Obama can certainly get a hearing for other active steps, but he and the Dems should stop pretending that they can parry drilling with logic. This is the reason(s) why there is a seeming lack of enthusiasm and frustration with Obama and the lack of forcefulness in representing true change that America needs from the current direction of endangering America through imperialist hubris and reckless endangerment of the human species through actively trying to increase pollutants to reach the worst case scenario of global warming.   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4z http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4z/commentary#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:13:47 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4z Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4z/ There is time to right the ship but  the window is rapidly closing as to how Obama is defined in the public's mind. From John Aravosis, Americablog.com, writes : Joe and I know a lot of people in politics. A lot of them are very smart. They're not the people you hate, the Cokie Roberts' and the Mrs. Greenspan's of the world. They're the kind of people you like and you trust. And those people are now telling us that they fear we're going to lose the election... There is an incredible discontent out there with the way this campaign is being run. The fact that the discontent isn't being recognized, isn't being assuaged, is disturbing. People aren't worried about the election, they're becoming despondent about it. They're not motivated to work twice as hard, they instead feel as if they've had the wind knocked out of them. This is far beyond a healthy skepticism as to whether Obama can win. From Josh Marshall, Talkingpointsmemo.com, writes "The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable." Again, I say it is time for us, we are the agents of change and will continue to be so long after this election, to take charge and lead Obama.  Obama may be the catalyst but we have an obligation to see through this generational change for a better America.      http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq42 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq42/commentary#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:21:09 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq42 Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq42/ From Americablog.com: Join our online chat today at 3pm Eastern with Cong. Diana DeGette of Denver John Aravosis (DC) · 8/19/2008 09:00:00 AM ET · Link 2 Comments · reddit · FARK · Digg It! We'll be discussing Degette's book, "Sex, Science and Stem Cells: Inside the right wing assault on reason." But you're also free to ask her about the convention - she's the host - about her former allegiance to Hillary and now to Obama, or anything else you like. More on her book here. We'll be having the chat with the congresswoman in the comments around 3pm Eastern. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4L http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4L/commentary#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:10:46 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4L Ken Ken 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4L/ This is essential reading on the myth of "We are all Georgians" by Bush/Cheney and Mc$ame on Dailykos.com by Billmon as he writes about the past, which I wasn't aware of: In early October 1994, as Congress hurried to adjourn for the mid-term elections, something called the "NATO Participation Act" was introduced – in the House by Democrat Sam Gejdenson of Connecticut and Ben Gilman of New York; in the Senate by Alan Simpson of Wyoming and Hank Brown of Colorado (a liberal Democrat, a moderate Republican and two conservative Republicans. In the warped context of our political duopoly, you can’t get much more bipartisan that that.) The measure was quickly attached to a bill authorizing international aid for the war on drugs, unanimously passed by both houses on voice votes, and quickly signed into law by President Clinton. There was no floor debate and, as far as I can tell, virtually no press coverage. This completely non-controversial (and indeed, barely noticed) law authorized the US government to immediately begin treating "countries emerging from communist domination" – and, in particular, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – as de facto allies, even though no formal decision had been made on their applications to the NATO club. This meant the Pentagon could provide them with "surplus" stores and equipment, help upgrade their old Soviet-era military bases, and finance weapons sales under the same lenient terms extended to other US allies. It also authorized the stationing of US "trainers" (read: military advisors) on their home soil. The only thread left hanging was how the US would respond in the unlikely eventuality that our new unofficial allies were attacked. This is what Mc$ame said , on CBSnews.com, August 12: McCain told more than 2,000 voters in York that he spoke Tuesday morning with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to make sure he knows "that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with that great little nation as it struggles today" for independence. "I told him that I know I speak for every American when I said to him, today, we are all Georgians," McCain said to loud applause. He said Saakashvili asked him to express his thanks to Americans.  But rather than give a critical eye to what Mc$ame was doing this is what Billmon wonders: But I have to admit, even I was startled when the semi-official media (Washington Post, NY Times, AP, etc.) began referring to Georgia as a staunch US "ally" . Are we going backwards in time to the knowable of...wanting a new "Cold" war in which there is a "proven" enemy to win money for the military-industrial complex? Since Mc$ame wants it because he is old and that is what is familiar to his generation. But as we step into a new world for the next generation is that what will be bequeathed to us by the remnants of the old guard?  http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq43 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq43/commentary#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:37:28 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq43 Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq43/ It is time to kick John McCain's *ss because the negative campaign ads are defining Obama.  Contrary to what experts say about the effectiveness of Obama's ads, those ads are not doing the job.  I could not agree more with Big Tent Democrat's view at Talkleft.com: [McCain spokeperson] Nicolle Wallace: ""The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous." Sure it's stupid, but stupid works when you don't push back. It may be that Obama is talking at a "higher" plane and really wants to put campaigning at a different and more civilized level, but with Mc$ame's campaign being run by Karl's proteges there is a time and place for nice and for bringing out "a gun to a knife fight". If Obama doesn't like 527s he should understand that 527s will do the "dirty work" if his campaign isn't going to.  This doesn't mean taking the low road which Mc$ame has done but simply to fire back with real numbers rather than, for example, Obama's ad countering with Mc$ame's economic policies.   What should have been done is to state boldly the exact profit numbers of Exxon/Mobil for one quarter then one year with a comparison of gas prices and oil prices.  Finally hitting Mc$ame with giving oil companies even more tax breaks.  One point to make and then repeat it. Same thing with the Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans, the occupation of Iraq, and VA benefits-  hit Mc$ame with his support for the occupation and his denial of support for our veterans and the VA.  One point to make and then repeat it. I find that the ads for Obama are too soft and simply not hitting on the visceral level. Look at Mc$ame's ad strategy:  Leadership vs. "being a" Celebrity.  This strategy is the underpinning for all of his ads.  It is a consistent theme on what ever subject the ad is about.  I see that it is lacking in Obama campaign's ad team strategy.   Finally,  let the Obama campaign take the high road, but in politics, let our team fight with all the irons too.  http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4K http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4K/commentary#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:13:30 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4K Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4K/ From a story in the Economist "UNPOPULAR, isolated, and facing the humiliation of impeachment, Pervez Musharraf resigned as president of Pakistan on Monday August 18th.... they (the people)were dancing in the streets." ------------------------------------------------ We here in America can cause accountability for President Bush and Vice President Cheney, but you have to take action before the election. You the voter have the power to force our Incumbent Democratic Congressmen(and women) to honor their oath of office to protect our Constitution by calling for immediate impeachment hearings. It is not necessary that impeachment hearing be finished prior to the election, only that they are started. We the voters have the power to make this happen, but you will have to call your congressman repeatedly over the next two months. Contact information for Colorado congressmen can be found here . In addition, US House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is calling the membership of the House Judiciary Committee back from their Fall recess to investigate Ron Suskind's revelations about the forged letter that falsely said that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It has been reported that the order to the CIA to have the letter forged came on White House Stationary. On Democracy Now today Conyers said "The 110th Congress isn't over. We're starting our work, and then we're doing it in a period where the Congress is in recess. I'm calling everybody back. We've got a huge amount of work to engage in." Please contact the Judiciary Committee to urge them to impeach now: 202-225-3951 FAX: 202-225-7680 THE GRAVES OF THE 4,134 Murdered US Soldiers CRY OUT FOR IMPEACHMENT for the WMD LIES Impeachment. More important than ever. Plenty of time. Impeachment Is Coming! John H Kennedy, 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate to the Denver County Democratic Convention, and organizer of the IMPEACH COLORADO COALITION ImpeachCO.com http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4F http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4F/commentary#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:36:48 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4F John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 5 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4F/ Either we are suckers or Sen. Bayh is an idiot. From Talkingpointsmemo.com (originally from WSJ.com): "I don't remember any meetings, any conversations, any anything," Sen. Bayh said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Obviously my name was linked to it, but other than that there's nothing that can be said." Greg Sargent writes: Senator Evan Bayh's co-chairing of the neocon Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman, and why that makes him a bad Veep choice for Obama... This is deeply absurd, to put it very charitably. Join the Facebook.com group opposed to Evan Bayh being the choice by Obama.  http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4r http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4r/commentary#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:22:11 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4r Ken Ken 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4r/ US House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers is calling the membership of the Judiciary Committee back from their Fall recess to investigate Ron Suskind's revelations about the forged letter that falsely said that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It has been reported that the order to the CIA to have the letter forged came on White House Stationary. On Democracy Now today Conyers said "The 110th Congress isn't over. We're starting our work, and then we're doing it in a period where the Congress is in recess. I'm calling everybody back. We've got a huge amount of work to engage in." Here's the link to Democracy Now Please contact the Judiciary Committee to urge them to impeach now: 202-225-3951 FAX: 202-225-7680 Please help by contacting all media outlets and members of Congress . Impeachment. More important than ever. Plenty of time. Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com IMPEACHMENT IS COMING .. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4c http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4c/commentary#comments Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:46:49 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/Cq4c John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4c/ This is what McCain is jonesing about : The US is to send troops to embattled Georgia in the form of a humanitarian aid exercise, President George Bush announced today. Mr Bush said military planes would deliver supplies in a move which would put American forces in the heart of the region. This has nothing to about "humanitarian aid" but everything about oil.   If it is not an attack on Iran then it will be a "trip wire" in Georgia. The result is the same: WAR.    http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4X http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4X/commentary#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:01:29 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/Cq4X Ken Ken 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq4X/ The blockbuster claims that White House officials conspired to forge evidence linking Iraq to 9/11 plotters and ignored clear intelligence indicating Saddam Hussein's lack of WMDs may not be getting as much attention as it should in the US press, but some key lawmakers are beginning to take notice. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers says his staff will investigate these allegations and others aired in Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind's new book, The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism. "I am particularly troubled that the decision to disseminate this fabricated intelligence is alleged to have come from the highest reaches of the administration," Conyers said in a press release Tuesday evening. "The administration's attempt to challenge Mr. Suskind's reporting appears to have been effectively dismissed by the publication of the author's interview recordings and transcripts. I have instructed my staff to conduct a careful review of Mr. Suskind's allegations and the role played by senior administration officials in this matter." The announced probe garnered quick praise from Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has waged a months-long campaign to convince his colleagues and Democratic leaders in the House to impeach President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Suskind has said the allegations outlined in his book could be impeachable offenses. The rest of the story is here John H Kennedy, 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate to the Denver County Democratic Convention, and organizer of the IMPEACH COLORADO COALITION ImpeachCO.com .. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP9 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP9/commentary#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:29:16 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP9 John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqP9/ Whispers of a Watergate for Bush By Clive Crook the FT's chief Washington commentator. The response in the US to startling new allegations that the White House directed the forgery of evidence to support its case for the war in Iraq has been surprisingly muted so far. The charges may be false, of course, but if they are seriously examined and turn out to be true, this is - or ought to be - a Watergate-sized scandal. Ron Suskind is a heavyweight: a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and the author of a well-regarded book on the administration's security policies, The One Per Cent Doctrine. His new book, The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism, which was published last week, contains the extraordinary new charge. It says that late in 2003 the White House ordered the Central Intelligence Agency to forge a memo dated July 2001 from Tahir Jalil Habbush, Saddam Hussein's intelligence chief, to Saddam himself, affirming that Mohammed Atta, the September 11 2001 bomber, had contacts with the regime and that Iraq had an ongoing weapons of mass destruction programme. YOU need to read this Now! The rest of the story is here You may have to Register (for free) to read it. John H Kennedy, 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate to the Denver County Democratic Convention, and organizer of the IMPEACH COLORADO COALITION ImpeachCO.com .. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqPY http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqPY/commentary#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:21:12 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqPY John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPY/ When Democrat Mark Udall debated Republican Bob Schaffer in July, he made no effort to refute Schaffer’s distortions surrounding health care reform. In fact, he essentially short-circuited meaningful debate by adopting the nebulous right-wing description of single-payer health care as “government health care,” thus capitulating to Republican framing of the issue. Just what is government health care? Is it the more than 60 percent of all health care costs that are paid by taxpayers, including subsidies for inflated costs of private insurances? Private insurers skim the cream and game the system for profit, and count on government (taxpayers) to pick up the health care costs of all whose coverage they reject. Does government health care include the 70 percent of our legislators’ health coverage that is funded by taxpayers? Democrats who facilely echo GOP talking points grossly misrepresent single-payer health care. In fact, contrary to assertions by the right-wing “free market” chorus, only single-risk-pool insurance provides true free choice of private providers, the same as traditional Medicare before Republicans moved to privatize Medicare (at 12 percent higher cost). Private insurance plans limit choice to “in plan” doctors, often requiring change of providers when plans are changed. Only single payer is capable of providing comprehensive, continuous health care benefits and protection against medical bankruptcy. Our leaders should vigorously protest the abomination of Medicare prescription drug reform that was written by insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies with billions of dollars of taxpayer subsidies and inflated profits to benefit their bottom lines, while prohibiting negotiation of bulk drug prices. Instead of privatizing Medicare-for-profit, why not improve and expand its coverage for everyone? Traditional Medicare has lower overhead costs – less than 4 percent – whereas private insurances divert 25 percent or more to profits, lobbying, marketing, exhorbitant CEO salaries and wasteful administrative costs. Profit is a perverse incentive for health insurance, which protects its bottom line by reducing benefits and shifting ever-greater costs to consumers. The insulated political class in Washington, dependent upon corporate money and privy to 70 percent taxpayer-subsidized health coverage, seem out of touch with the U.S. people. Polls by Pew and others have revealed that increasing numbers – 54 to 65 percent – support a national single-payer health care plan. A recent study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine (3-31-08) that 59 percent of U.S. physicians “support government legislation to establish national health insurance,” an increase of 10 percent since 2002. Notably, more than 20 federal and state studies since 1990, including the 2007 Lewin Group evaluation in Colorado, have demonstrated that single-payer health insurance is the only reform model that can both save money and provide comprehensive health care benefits for all. The Colorado single-payer proposal and Rep. John Conyers’ national health care bill, HR 676, both deserve serious further study. We have everything to gain from an honest dialogue about quality-, saftey-centered universal single payer health care, in place of profiteering health insurance gatekeepers. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPs http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPs/commentary#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:50:53 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPs Michele S Michele S 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPs/ Progressive Democrats of America with The Nation magazine are setting up headquarters at Central Presbyterian Church (1660 Sherman St.), where they have scheduled issues forums over 5 days of the Democratic National Convention. Free daily panels moderated by The Nation 's John Nichols at 11 AM, are followed by additional panels covering Health Care on Monday, August 25, followed the rest of the week with forums on Media and Election Reform, Economic Justice, Global Warming and Constitutional Law. Participants include Reps. John Conyers, Barbara Lee, Robert Wexler, Keith Ellison and Lynn Woolsey; Tom Hayden, Jim Hightower and authors David Sirota and Vincent Bugliosi; various writers and publisher of The Nation ; journalist and radio host Laura Flanders; Jeff Cohen, author and founder of FAIR; and many others. For schedule and more info, check Web site http://pdamerica.org , click on "Progressive Central" in green bar at page top. Watch for posting of PDF event flyer. Also, check link to HCAC page for Democratic Convention Actions around Health Care . http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPk http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPk/commentary#comments Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:00:39 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/micheleswenson/CqPk Michele S Michele S 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPk/ Looking for an outlet to report on the National Conventions?  I caught this off the Reuters website : Reuters is looking for participants in a new mobile journalism project that will capture this year’s conventions from the ground up. We will be equipping attendees with video cameras, and helping them to shoot footage from their own perspective and upload it to Reuters.com and other sites... Even if you’re not going to Denver or St. Paul, what kind of coverage would you like to see? What questions would you like on-the-scene reporters to ask? Leave your suggestions in the comments section.   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPz http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPz/commentary#comments Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:38:53 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPz Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPz/ Is this the "smoking gun"? Will our Democratic Congressmen honor their Oath and call for Impeachment Hearings? Tape: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery. In damning transcript, ex-CIA official says Cheney likely ordered letter linking Hussein to 9/11 attacks A forged letter linking Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks was ordered on White House stationery and probably came from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a new transcript of a conversation with the Central Intelligence Agency's former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer. The transcript was posted Friday by author Ron Suskind of an interview conducted in June. It comes on the heels of denials by both the White House and Richer of a claim Suskind made in his new book, The Way of The World. The book was leaked to Politico's Mike Allen on Monday, and released Tuesday. See the rest of this story at: RawStory.com WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP BRING ACCOUNTABILITY TO BUSH & CHENEY Rep. Kucinich and five other co-sponsors of his articles of impeachment (Robert Wexler, Tammy Baldwin, Keith Ellison, Maurice Hinchey, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Hank Johnson) are calling on all Americans to contact their representatives (202-224-3121) 24 hours, seven days a weekand 365 days/year and urge them to join in co-sponsoring those articles and in calling for a formal impeachment hearing PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. You can call after normal business hours and leave a message urging your Congressman to join in co-sponsoring those articles and in calling for a formal impeachment hearing. ALSO And Very Important: PLEASE CALL ALL of Colorado's Democratic Congressmen/women and demand they immediately Call For Impeachment Hearings Prior To The Election. Contact info for Colorado's Congressmen ------------------------------------------------ And if you have time on any Saturday around Noon-1:00 pm Our group holds an Impeachment Protest at East 6th & Speer in Denver every Saturday. We have lots of Impeach Signs so just show up and help. OR JUST DRIVE BY REPEATEDLY and HONK TO IMPEACH. John H Kennedy, organizer Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com ( other groups around Colorado do similar events and are listed on our Calendar at ImpeachCO.com ) .. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP8 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP8/commentary#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:46:13 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CqP8 John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqP8/ I'm helping a local activist, Prisana, who is working on the Hmong people of Thailand.  She is an organizer and leader for these people who have been displaced by their own government and surrounding nations who are forcing them to leave their refugee camps.  These people are a shameful part of our Vietnam war history. The problem is time. She sent me this last week: ... From what I've researched, it looks like we'll need a permit. It may be too late to apply for one. Do you know of a group that already has a permit for a protest similar to our cause that we could join? She has an activist page on Facebook called One Hmong Voice Coalition: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=32233554088 What Prisana and I need is to hook up with another organization that already has a "permit" to march.  Do you know of any organizations that would match up well? Thanks.  My cell phone is 303-489-2447.  Ken http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPd http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPd/commentary#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:28:37 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CqPd Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqPd/