http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/group_rss/ProtectOurWater This photo is runoff below the Summitville mine in Colorado. This is what open-pit cyanide gold and silver mining can do to our water. This acid runoff threatens human health and wildlife. Help protect our water. Help end open-pit cyanide mining. Click on the link above to join this group now. For several years now the evidence of the Alberto Gonzales gang's manipulation of the Federal Civil Service within the Department of Justice has been well publicized. The fact that right-wing political ideologues were being approved for career professional positions based on social issue orthodoxy, rather than competence and qualifications, is yet another blight on the scandalous legacy of the current occupant of the White House. Today's report in the Washington Post reveals that this practice of burrowing right-wing political operatives into the Civil Service is also in-place in the scientific agencies. Perhaps this is the mis-administration's strategy for making permanent the Republican obsession for combating the truth of science with their twisted political and social priorities. The Center for Public Integrity is soon to release their "Broken Government" study. The fund-raising teaser release promises 120 specific cases. This kind of investigative effort to hold the Bushies accountable as the mis-administration fades into oblivion is crucial.  Revealing and acting on the depth and breadth of this conspiracy is vital to the success of any reforms and corrects to the offenses of the past eight years. The Obama-Biden Administration will be stretched and tested to uncover and flush-out these right-wing activists who have burrowed their way into the Civil Service like so many termites. The evidence of these infestations must be met with quick action. Executive appointees selected for positions above these people must be prepared to take every possible action within the laws and regulations of the Civil Service structure to either get them dismissed, or make it too hard for them to stay and accomplish their nefarious goals. Attention to the selection of the Administrator of the Office of Personnel Management will be a key to success in this area. Various Executive agency inspectors general must be supported in investigating these political opportunists. IF they are found to be substantially unqualified for the job description that they were hired to fill, then it should be clear grounds for dismissal as an unlawful appointment. The Obama-Biden appointees who are saddled with these burdens must enforce clear, precise and enforceable performance standards. When confronted with qualitative requirements to enforce and perform based upon laws and regulations that these infiltrators are likely to hold ambitions to undermine and avoid, could more easily force them to resign. Even in its demise the minions of the current mis-administration are appearing to be increasingly unwilling to follow the current occupant of the White House and the vice out of Washington. This certainly adds to the challenge and urgency of establishing the new administration's executive leadership. Too many months and too many acting, caretaker, leaders in the executive departments will make it all the harder to untangle the tentacles of the Bush parasites. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn/commentary#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:53:14 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 425 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDn/ Bob Schaffer's out of touch, wrong on critical issues rap-sheet grows by the day. I found this latest charge in Ed Quillen's column in the Sunday Denver Post. Read the whole column online at http://www.denverpost.com/quillen/ci_10799075 or scroll down to the extended post text. The Referendum A test still carries a lot of weight with me.  Once again here's a case where Bob Schaffer sided with big-monied interests and against Colorado farmers, ranchers and communities. Hopefully, he'll be sliding into the dustbin of Colorado political history by 10:00 PM on November 4th.  Being too cozy with the "drill baby, drill" crowd of oilies is bad enough, but working on the wrong side of water policy is unforgiveable. PS - If you get a chance, drop a complimentary email to Ed (his email link at at the end of the Extended Post Text).  It is so hard to find something worthy of praise in the Denver Post these days that we should encourage Ed to continue his good work. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8p http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8p/commentary#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:59:31 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8p Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8p/ I was just listening to former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder on a radio show. He made a critical and brilliant observation about John McCain. His evaluation of the Sarah Palin selection rests on that decision as an indicator of how McSame would later decide on the people to fill the other leadership positions in a supposed McSame mis-administration. This is a powerful indictment of a candidate for president of the US when the nation so despirately needs a clear change of direction. The specter of Sarah Palin equivalent appointments throughout the US Executive Branch shows no chance of reforming, and certainly not reversing, the criminal excesses of the past seven years. There will be no resolution to the US Attorney firings, and little hope of removing the fraudulently hired radical right-wingers who have been peppered throughout the Department of Justice to undermine, rather than enforce, the law. This demonstrated decision-making pattern by John McCain is a screaming warning to America. No other fact shines so brightly than the selection of Sarah Palin to confirm that McSame is the incarnation of a third, and perhaps more devastating, term for the G.W. Bush policies. Considering everything you find important, think your retired relatives who will be hurt if McCain succeeds and leads America down the path of more for the wealthiest and less for the rest. Victory in the race for the White House is critical, but top to bottom electoral victories on the ballot is equally important for our communities and state. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9/commentary#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:22:03 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZB9/ Several email exposes regarding Sarah Palin have landed in my in-box. The most useful is the message from MoveOn.org (go to the extended Post Text). I hope my mother, my wife and my teenage daughter will excuse this one - but, my initial reaction holds that McCain is having a post midlife crisis moment here. Now he gets to spend the rest of the campaign on stage with either a blonde or a brunette former beauty queen; sometimes both. Considering the depth and experience available to him in the rest of the GOP universe I am completely baffled that there can be any other reason for this decision. I am now even more appreciative for the intelligent and practical decision by Barack Obama to grab Joe Biden as his VP running mate. The supposed VP Debate won't be. With this line-up it is clear that candidate Palin will carefuly recite radical right wing talking points fed to her by the McCain handlers. Even if Biden were allowed in the format/rules to challenge her on any issues we'll hear nothing original. Thus there could not be a more distinct choice between the two tickets. Looking at the "rap-sheet" provided by MoveOn, American voters can have no doubts of the radical and destructive policies and positions John McCain is accepting by filling the GOP ticket with Palin. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7N http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7N/commentary#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:56:44 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq7N Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq7N/ OK, so this is a copy-cat of a great idea that kicked-off in Aurora. The Colorado Confidential story http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3472  enticed me that this is a "too good to be true" idea that I don't want to see fade off as a one-time shot (pun intended). Considering the current season, I am familiar with a phenomenal indoor shooting range in Loveland.  With sufficient interest I am ready to organize and evening or Saturday Shooting Liberally event in Northern Colorado. All that I need is just a handful of ProgressNow responses.  Then, I'll kick this off and be ready to place announcements in the Loveland newspaper to generate more interest. Like the original organizers in Aurora I am encouraged that this is a program to demonstrate that Liberals and Progressives do support the Second Amendment to the US Constitution; without bowing to radical NRA proliferation of cheap handguns and automatic weapons.  I've got some ideas to roll into the agenda on environmental protection, water quality, safety and private property rights/respect. This is also a rare opportunity for "Sportsmen for Progress" to have a get-together.  An opportunity to whittle-away at the GOP's perceived exclusivity on gun rights is very valuable.  I'll even consider inviting Northern Colorado Democratic political candidates to participate. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CqDm http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CqDm/commentary#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:28:17 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CqDm Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 257 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqDm/ Admittedly, there is a certain personality type that thrives on anonimity and obscurity. I would hope that someone active on ProgressNow would not be part of that group. So it continues to perplex me when I see piles of "User from, ????" as the name on so many member profiles and blog comments. All of the Groups seem to be over-run with legions of people named "User from, ????" (Oh, and Bobby and Michael and Alan and John K are always there too.) Can it really be that hard to create a pen-name - nickname - logon name, etc? Consider that I'm so non-creative that I just use my real first name and last initial. I'm not even fun enough to be neon, or something colorful like that. Point is folks, put a little effort and fun into this. I know your parents and grandparents didn't want to you to be known as "User from." http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq3f http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq3f/commentary#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:47:13 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/Cq3f Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq3f/ 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 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/C2vS http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/C2vS/commentary#comments Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:14:58 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/C2vS John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2vS/ Senator Allard is boasting in his latests email newsletter of 16 new bills that he's introduced to start his final two-years in Congress; a wildernes designation bill for Rocky Mountian National Park is not on the list. Maybe, the good Senator is still holding his last bill that carefully avoided the provisions of the REAL 1964 Wilderness Act. There is still time to tell Senator Allard that only a wilderness bill that includes Rocky Mountain National Park in the full protection of the 1964 Wilderness Act is acceptable. Placing the fate of the park in the discretion of the Interior Secretary, as in the 2006 Allard-Musgrave bill, falls too short. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/C2WF http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/C2WF/commentary#comments Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:27:58 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/C2WF Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2WF/