On Tuesday, April 19, people will gather in living rooms, libraries, community centers and coffee shops around the United States to discuss values-based messaging and Social Security. Make your voice heard by joining the conversation to help "frame" the truth about Social Security according to honest core values and genuine facts. The National Civic Dialogue on Social Security is a grassroots effort sponsored by Wellstone Action to encourage and empower people to discuss the issues.
The Door County Compass is sponsoring a meeting in Fish Creek at 7 PM. We have room for 35 people to attend at our home base, the Compass Coffeehouse.
Click to register... But, I encourage all of our readers to host a meeting on that night in your own local community. Click here to learn more about facilitating a discussion. Need some time to set up a meeting? You can host a meeting later this month!
Monday, April 18, 2005
Monday, April 04, 2005
Catholics against the Death Penalty
As a former Catholic I am pleased to discover the Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty. On March 21, the Campaign was formally launched at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The site provides a link to state-by-state information including “Capital Punishment in Wisconsin: A Statement from the State’s Roman Catholic Bishops,” June 1995 which contains the following:
In March of 1995, Pope John Paul II further proscribed the use of the death penalty in his encyclical letter on The Gospel of Life. The Holy Father acknowledged that references to capital punishment can be found in selected passages of the Old Testament. However, as the Pope clarifies, these references must be read in the context of the New Testament: "But the overall message, which the New Testament will bring to perfection, is a forceful appeal for respect for the inviolability of physical life and the integrity of the person. It culminates in the positive commandment which obliges us to be responsible for our neighbor as for ouuselves: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Lev 19:18)."
In applying this overall message to the situation facing us today, the Pope dealt with -- and rejected -- the argument that the death penalty may be appropriate to protect society from those who commit heinous crimes.
"Today," the Pope concluded, "as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.
In March of 1995, Pope John Paul II further proscribed the use of the death penalty in his encyclical letter on The Gospel of Life. The Holy Father acknowledged that references to capital punishment can be found in selected passages of the Old Testament. However, as the Pope clarifies, these references must be read in the context of the New Testament: "But the overall message, which the New Testament will bring to perfection, is a forceful appeal for respect for the inviolability of physical life and the integrity of the person. It culminates in the positive commandment which obliges us to be responsible for our neighbor as for ouuselves: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Lev 19:18)."
In applying this overall message to the situation facing us today, the Pope dealt with -- and rejected -- the argument that the death penalty may be appropriate to protect society from those who commit heinous crimes.
"Today," the Pope concluded, "as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Why America Must Stop John Bolton...
In November, 2004 the UN Commission on Disarament, essentially the General Assembly, voted 147 to 1 to endorse a treaty to ban the production of fissionable materials. Do I need to tell you who that one country was that voted against the ban? It's the same one that is now considering whether to be represented there by John Bolton. On Tuesday, March 22 Noam Chomsky lectured on the subject at the University of Edinburgh...
On April 7th members of the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the appointment of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN. As you probably know, Bolton has been one of the most strident opponents of U.S. multilateralism and diplomacy. He has made repeated comments that indicate that he doesn't even believe in the UN!
For excellent background on Bolton's appointment, go to www.stopbolton.org
Democratic members of the Foreign Relations Committee include:
Biden of Delaware (202) 224-5042
Dodd of Connecticut (202) 224-2823
Kerry of Massachusetts (202) 224-2742
Feingold of Wisconsin (202) 224-5323
Boxer of California (202) 224-3553
Nelson of Florida (202) 224-5274
Obama of Illinois (202) 224-2854
We need to encourage all of them to oppose this nomination.
On March 7th, President Bush nominated John Bolton, who’s dedicated his life to undermining the United Nations, to be our UN Ambassador. John Bolton is a disastrous choice. Right now, the U.S. needs to work through the UN more than ever to make the world a safer place for Americans.
Bolton, however, has made a career out of belittling and dismissing the UN, suggesting at one point that “if the UN secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference.” He advocates a go-it-alone foreign policy that alienates our allies and strengthens our enemies. He has a history of rash behavior. And he has consistently put his own priorities over those of his country by refusing to obey orders.
On April 7th members of the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the appointment of John Bolton to be US Ambassador to the UN. As you probably know, Bolton has been one of the most strident opponents of U.S. multilateralism and diplomacy. He has made repeated comments that indicate that he doesn't even believe in the UN!
For excellent background on Bolton's appointment, go to www.stopbolton.org
Democratic members of the Foreign Relations Committee include:
Biden of Delaware (202) 224-5042
Dodd of Connecticut (202) 224-2823
Kerry of Massachusetts (202) 224-2742
Feingold of Wisconsin (202) 224-5323
Boxer of California (202) 224-3553
Nelson of Florida (202) 224-5274
Obama of Illinois (202) 224-2854
We need to encourage all of them to oppose this nomination.
On March 7th, President Bush nominated John Bolton, who’s dedicated his life to undermining the United Nations, to be our UN Ambassador. John Bolton is a disastrous choice. Right now, the U.S. needs to work through the UN more than ever to make the world a safer place for Americans.
Bolton, however, has made a career out of belittling and dismissing the UN, suggesting at one point that “if the UN secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference.” He advocates a go-it-alone foreign policy that alienates our allies and strengthens our enemies. He has a history of rash behavior. And he has consistently put his own priorities over those of his country by refusing to obey orders.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Fair Trade vs Free Trade...
Sweatshop sportswear at UW Madison
Fed up with what they called a series of insults from the UW-Madison chancellor's office, four members of the UW Labor Licensing Committee tendered their resignations Monday. University officials, however, are calling the dispute a "disagreement over policy options."
At odds are the University's reaction to a proposal from the advisory committee that would have required the university to track when companies make moves to abandon any facilities in which workers are organizing and move their production somewhere else.
"It has become clear at this point that Chancellor Wiley is not listening to students or faculty and this committee is a total sham," said former committee member and UW-Madison sophomore Joel Feingold. "[The committee is] a front for the university to make it look good, to make it look like it cares about sweatshop issues where, as far as we can tell ... [Wiley] doesn't care."
The proposal would allow the University to track whether the companies were no longer in compliance with UW-Madison's Code of Conduct for licensees, according to Feingold.
On March 22, 2005 Jeffrey Sachs spoke to the World Bank in Washington DC. He advised the delegates to read the Monteray Consensus... and to ask any nominee for the role of World Bank President if they subscribe to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Described therein are a collection of basic human rights including the right for all global citizens to health, sanitation, water, education... "The eradication of extreme poverty is not only a moral imperitive but is in the best interests of all nations," says Sachs.
The US contribution to end global poverty is at 0.15% of GNP - the lowest donor nation of all nations in the world. The UN goal is to generate 0.7% in assistance by the year 2015.
Fed up with what they called a series of insults from the UW-Madison chancellor's office, four members of the UW Labor Licensing Committee tendered their resignations Monday. University officials, however, are calling the dispute a "disagreement over policy options."
At odds are the University's reaction to a proposal from the advisory committee that would have required the university to track when companies make moves to abandon any facilities in which workers are organizing and move their production somewhere else.
"It has become clear at this point that Chancellor Wiley is not listening to students or faculty and this committee is a total sham," said former committee member and UW-Madison sophomore Joel Feingold. "[The committee is] a front for the university to make it look good, to make it look like it cares about sweatshop issues where, as far as we can tell ... [Wiley] doesn't care."
The proposal would allow the University to track whether the companies were no longer in compliance with UW-Madison's Code of Conduct for licensees, according to Feingold.
On March 22, 2005 Jeffrey Sachs spoke to the World Bank in Washington DC. He advised the delegates to read the Monteray Consensus... and to ask any nominee for the role of World Bank President if they subscribe to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Described therein are a collection of basic human rights including the right for all global citizens to health, sanitation, water, education... "The eradication of extreme poverty is not only a moral imperitive but is in the best interests of all nations," says Sachs.
The US contribution to end global poverty is at 0.15% of GNP - the lowest donor nation of all nations in the world. The UN goal is to generate 0.7% in assistance by the year 2015.
Check your calendar...
The Green Bay Chronicle reports Rep. Frank Lasee is planning on introducing a version of the right-wing Taxpayer Bill of Rights (or TABOR) “on a symbolic day - April 15, the deadline to file income taxes.”
Jon at Think Progress.org says, "Clever symbolism indeed, but given TABOR’s actual affect on the state of Colorado - the only place such legislation has been enacted (and where it is now being repealed) - a few other dates might be even more appropriate."
Jon at Think Progress.org says, "Clever symbolism indeed, but given TABOR’s actual affect on the state of Colorado - the only place such legislation has been enacted (and where it is now being repealed) - a few other dates might be even more appropriate."
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Russ poppin up all over...
Attack of the Political Cartoonists Insights and Assaults from Today's Editorial Cartoonists Edited by J.P. Trostle, with a Foreword by Senator Russ Feingold. Profiles of 150 members of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, whose work has appeared in every major newspaper in North America and beyond. The cartoonists collected here have won hundreds of journalism awards, including over dozen Pulitzer Prizes. A hugely important release any year, but a timely one this election year! (160 pages, $15.99)
russforpresident.com
draftruss.com
foxforfeingold.org
Feingold for Illinois
You are encouraged to discuss State of Wisconsin Issues and a variety of other topics with the Progressive Messengers, active in promoting and working for a just, fair and equitable society. They too encourage maintaing a sense of humor... from the joke bin portion of their discussion board:
DEAR ABBY,
My husband has a long record of money problems. He runs up huge credit card bills and at the end of the month, if I try to pay them off, he shouts at me, saying I am stealing his money. He says pay the minimum and let our kids worry about the rest, but already we can hardly keep up with the interest.
Also he has been so arrogant and abusive toward our neighbors that most of them no longer speak to us. The few that do are an odd bunch, to whom he has been giving a lot of expensive gifts, running up our bills even more. Also, he has gotten religious in a big way, although I don't quite understand it. One week he hangs out with Catholics and the next with people who say the Pope is the Anti-Christ. And now he has been going to the gym an awful lot and is into wearing uniforms and cowboy outfits, and I hate to think what that means. Finally, the last straw. He's demanding that before anyone can be in the same room with him, they must sign a loyalty oath. It's just so horribly creepy!
Can you help?
Signed, Lost in DC
Dear Lost:
Stop whining, Laura. You can divorce the jerk any time you want. The rest of us are stuck with the asshole for four more years Confused
russforpresident.com
draftruss.com
foxforfeingold.org
Feingold for Illinois
You are encouraged to discuss State of Wisconsin Issues and a variety of other topics with the Progressive Messengers, active in promoting and working for a just, fair and equitable society. They too encourage maintaing a sense of humor... from the joke bin portion of their discussion board:
DEAR ABBY,
My husband has a long record of money problems. He runs up huge credit card bills and at the end of the month, if I try to pay them off, he shouts at me, saying I am stealing his money. He says pay the minimum and let our kids worry about the rest, but already we can hardly keep up with the interest.
Also he has been so arrogant and abusive toward our neighbors that most of them no longer speak to us. The few that do are an odd bunch, to whom he has been giving a lot of expensive gifts, running up our bills even more. Also, he has gotten religious in a big way, although I don't quite understand it. One week he hangs out with Catholics and the next with people who say the Pope is the Anti-Christ. And now he has been going to the gym an awful lot and is into wearing uniforms and cowboy outfits, and I hate to think what that means. Finally, the last straw. He's demanding that before anyone can be in the same room with him, they must sign a loyalty oath. It's just so horribly creepy!
Can you help?
Signed, Lost in DC
Dear Lost:
Stop whining, Laura. You can divorce the jerk any time you want. The rest of us are stuck with the asshole for four more years Confused
Monday, March 21, 2005
Stop the denial, it's WW IV
Eliot Cohen wrote: "Political people often dislike calling things by their names. Truth, particularly in wartime, is so unpleasant that we drape it in a veil of evasions, and the right naming of things is far from a simple task." Like the Global War on Terror or GWOT...
Back in November, 2001 Cohen introduced the idea of 'fessing up in World War IV - Let's call this conflict what it is.
Somehow I also failed to note a conference which took place September 29, 2004 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. "World War IV: Why We Fight, Whom We Fight, How We Fight," sponsored by the Committee on the Present Danger and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies was promoted in an announcement which read:
"The Cold War is now being called by some "World War III" because it was global, had an ideological basis, involved both military and non-military actions, required skill and the mobilization of extensive resources and lasted for years. Today's "war on terrorism" has the same elements, hence a broader name, "World War IV." Our speakers will explore its antecedents, its methods and its possible outcome."
Those speakers included Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Senator Joseph Lieberman (honorary co-chair of the Committee on the Present Danger) among others.
But today I discovered an extensive recent work entitled, Which War Is This Anyway? Are We in World War IV? in which Tom Engelhardt notes, "With its Cold War overtones of nuclear annihilation, World War IV implies that our very existence as a nation is in immediate danger and will be for years, decades, perhaps a century or more to come; and yet it is also a familiar, even reassuring image - another global war in the triumphant tradition of the three that preceded it."
Tom Engelhardt, who runs the Nation Institute's Tomdispatch.com ("a regular antidote to the mainstream media"), is the co-founder of the American Empire Project and the author of The End of Victory Culture, a history of American triumphalism in the Cold War.
Reviewer, Daniel J. Hamlow says, "This book came out in 1995, and early on in the book, Engelhardt makes a well-worn but important point: 'with the end of the Cold War and the loss of the enemy, American culture has entered a period of crisis that raises profound questions about national purpose and identity.' Ponder that passage, and what's going on today in the world."
"The main thing to ask today is, do we really need to have an enemy and a war to unite the people together? Peace and harmony can do the same thing. We do not need victory-for-one-side culture anymore. What we need is victory-for-all culture."
Back in November, 2001 Cohen introduced the idea of 'fessing up in World War IV - Let's call this conflict what it is.
Somehow I also failed to note a conference which took place September 29, 2004 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. "World War IV: Why We Fight, Whom We Fight, How We Fight," sponsored by the Committee on the Present Danger and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies was promoted in an announcement which read:
"The Cold War is now being called by some "World War III" because it was global, had an ideological basis, involved both military and non-military actions, required skill and the mobilization of extensive resources and lasted for years. Today's "war on terrorism" has the same elements, hence a broader name, "World War IV." Our speakers will explore its antecedents, its methods and its possible outcome."
Those speakers included Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and Senator Joseph Lieberman (honorary co-chair of the Committee on the Present Danger) among others.
But today I discovered an extensive recent work entitled, Which War Is This Anyway? Are We in World War IV? in which Tom Engelhardt notes, "With its Cold War overtones of nuclear annihilation, World War IV implies that our very existence as a nation is in immediate danger and will be for years, decades, perhaps a century or more to come; and yet it is also a familiar, even reassuring image - another global war in the triumphant tradition of the three that preceded it."
Tom Engelhardt, who runs the Nation Institute's Tomdispatch.com ("a regular antidote to the mainstream media"), is the co-founder of the American Empire Project and the author of The End of Victory Culture, a history of American triumphalism in the Cold War.
Reviewer, Daniel J. Hamlow says, "This book came out in 1995, and early on in the book, Engelhardt makes a well-worn but important point: 'with the end of the Cold War and the loss of the enemy, American culture has entered a period of crisis that raises profound questions about national purpose and identity.' Ponder that passage, and what's going on today in the world."
"The main thing to ask today is, do we really need to have an enemy and a war to unite the people together? Peace and harmony can do the same thing. We do not need victory-for-one-side culture anymore. What we need is victory-for-all culture."
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Jumpstart Ford...
Adopt a Ford Dealer on April 1st
The Sierra Club's latest campaign will ask people around the country to ‘adopt’ a Ford dealer in their community and schedule a meeting with the dealership. At the meeting you are instructed to encourage the dealer to sign a letter to Bill Ford, Jr. urging him to raise the fuel economy of his company’s vehicles.
"One of the most effective ways that we can influence Ford Motor Company to make the right decisions is to let them know that dealerships around the country want to sell cars, trucks, and SUVs that go farther on a gallon of gas," say organizers.
Driving Up the Heat (Sierra Club PDF)
Putting the Pressure on Ford Motor Company to Build Clean Cars
POLL - Americans See Fuel Efficient Cars as "Patriotic"
Petropulse is a daily weblog that documents the major and minor news stories published around the world concerning the influence of oil. Whether it is a story about gasoline prices, environmental policy, oil politics or global conflict; if oil influences the news, you'll find the story here.
The Sierra Club's latest campaign will ask people around the country to ‘adopt’ a Ford dealer in their community and schedule a meeting with the dealership. At the meeting you are instructed to encourage the dealer to sign a letter to Bill Ford, Jr. urging him to raise the fuel economy of his company’s vehicles.
"One of the most effective ways that we can influence Ford Motor Company to make the right decisions is to let them know that dealerships around the country want to sell cars, trucks, and SUVs that go farther on a gallon of gas," say organizers.
Driving Up the Heat (Sierra Club PDF)
Putting the Pressure on Ford Motor Company to Build Clean Cars
POLL - Americans See Fuel Efficient Cars as "Patriotic"
Petropulse is a daily weblog that documents the major and minor news stories published around the world concerning the influence of oil. Whether it is a story about gasoline prices, environmental policy, oil politics or global conflict; if oil influences the news, you'll find the story here.
Friday, March 18, 2005
worldbankpresident.org is about...
the World Bank President. Worldbankpresident.org editors Alex Wilks and David Steven shine a spotlight on the intrigues surrounding the selection process and examine the likely candidates and their track records. They also pass on as much speculation and gossip as they can their hands on, including the fact that World Bank staff "feel like (they're) at a funeral". They comment, "the mood here in the bank in the last 2 days is one of shock and disgust."
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Hawaii & Louisiana Dems sink ANWR...
Following is the 51 to 49 roll call vote by which the Senate moved to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling:
Supporters of drilling voted Against removing a section of the budget resolution anticipating revenue from ANWR drilling.
Opponents of drilling voted For removing it from the budget.
Democrats Against (3):
Akaka and Inouye (Hawaii); Landrieu (La.)
Republicans Against (48):
Alexander (Tenn.); Allard (Colo.); Allen (Va.); Bennett (Utah); Bond (Mo.); Brownback (Kan.); Bunning (Ky.); Burns (Mont.); Burr (N.C.); Chambliss (Ga.); Coburn (Okla.); Cochran (Miss.); Cornyn (Tex.); Craig (Idaho); Crapo (Idaho); DeMint (S.C.); Dole (N.C.); Domenici (N.M.); Ensign (Nev.); Enzi (Wyo.); Frist (Tenn.); Graham (S.C.); Grassley (Iowa); Gregg (N.H.); Hagel (Neb.); Hatch (Utah); Hutchison (Tex.); Inhofe (Okla.); Isakson (Ga.); Kyl (Ariz.); Lott (Miss.); Lugar (Ind.); Martinez (Fla.); McConnell (Ky.); Murkowski (Alaska); Roberts (Kan.); Santorum (Pa.); Sessions (Ala.); Shelby (Ala.); Specter (Pa.); Stevens (Alaska); Sununu (N.H.); Talent (Mo.); Thomas (Wyo.); Thune (S.D.); Vitter (La.); Voinovich (Ohio); Warner (Va.).
Democrats For (41):
Baucus (Mont.); Bayh (Ind.); Biden (Del.); Bingaman (N.M.); Boxer (Calif.); Byrd (W.Va.); Cantwell (Wash.); Carper (Del.); Clinton (N.Y.); Conrad (N.D.); Corzine (N.J.); Dayton (Minn.); Dodd (Conn.); Dorgan (N.D.); Durbin (Ill.); Feingold (Wis.); Feinstein (Calif.); Harkin (Iowa); Johnson (S.D.); Kennedy (Mass.); Kerry (Mass.); Kohl (Wis.); Lautenberg (N.J.); Leahy (Vt.); Levin (Mich.); Lieberman (Conn.); Lincoln (Ark.); Mikulski (Md.); Murray (Wash.); Nelson (Fla.); Nelson (Neb.); Obama (Ill.); Pryor (Ark.); Reed (R.I.); Reid (Nev.); Rockefeller (W.Va.); Salazar (Colo.); Sarbanes (Md.); Schumer (N.Y.); Stabenow (Mich.); Wyden (Ore.).
Republicans For (7):
Chafee (R.I.); Coleman (Minn.); Collins (Maine); DeWine (Ohio); McCain (Ariz.); Smith (Ore.); Snowe (Maine).
Independent For:
Jeffords (Vt.)
The fight to save the Arctic Refuge is far from over. Arctic drilling may yet be prevented by voting against passage of the entire budget, of which Arctic drilling is a part. Please, thank Senators Feingold and Kohl for helping lead the charge to stop drilling for oil. Then boycott the companies that want to drill there:
Boycott these corporations and refuse to buy their gas until they promise not to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.
ExxonMobil: 972.444.1000 - Kwik Trip buys gas from Exxon Mobil, call them and let them know what you think 608.781.8988.
ChevronTexaco: 925.842.1000
Support these corporations that refuse to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge:
BP: 281.366.5174 and 202.457.6603
ConocoPhillips: 303.649.4065
CITGO which gets nearly all its gas from Venezuela and the government of Victor Chavez. President Bush is once again doing everything he can to overturn the 3 times Democratically elected government in Venezuela.
Supporters of drilling voted Against removing a section of the budget resolution anticipating revenue from ANWR drilling.
Opponents of drilling voted For removing it from the budget.
Democrats Against (3):
Akaka and Inouye (Hawaii); Landrieu (La.)
Republicans Against (48):
Alexander (Tenn.); Allard (Colo.); Allen (Va.); Bennett (Utah); Bond (Mo.); Brownback (Kan.); Bunning (Ky.); Burns (Mont.); Burr (N.C.); Chambliss (Ga.); Coburn (Okla.); Cochran (Miss.); Cornyn (Tex.); Craig (Idaho); Crapo (Idaho); DeMint (S.C.); Dole (N.C.); Domenici (N.M.); Ensign (Nev.); Enzi (Wyo.); Frist (Tenn.); Graham (S.C.); Grassley (Iowa); Gregg (N.H.); Hagel (Neb.); Hatch (Utah); Hutchison (Tex.); Inhofe (Okla.); Isakson (Ga.); Kyl (Ariz.); Lott (Miss.); Lugar (Ind.); Martinez (Fla.); McConnell (Ky.); Murkowski (Alaska); Roberts (Kan.); Santorum (Pa.); Sessions (Ala.); Shelby (Ala.); Specter (Pa.); Stevens (Alaska); Sununu (N.H.); Talent (Mo.); Thomas (Wyo.); Thune (S.D.); Vitter (La.); Voinovich (Ohio); Warner (Va.).
Democrats For (41):
Baucus (Mont.); Bayh (Ind.); Biden (Del.); Bingaman (N.M.); Boxer (Calif.); Byrd (W.Va.); Cantwell (Wash.); Carper (Del.); Clinton (N.Y.); Conrad (N.D.); Corzine (N.J.); Dayton (Minn.); Dodd (Conn.); Dorgan (N.D.); Durbin (Ill.); Feingold (Wis.); Feinstein (Calif.); Harkin (Iowa); Johnson (S.D.); Kennedy (Mass.); Kerry (Mass.); Kohl (Wis.); Lautenberg (N.J.); Leahy (Vt.); Levin (Mich.); Lieberman (Conn.); Lincoln (Ark.); Mikulski (Md.); Murray (Wash.); Nelson (Fla.); Nelson (Neb.); Obama (Ill.); Pryor (Ark.); Reed (R.I.); Reid (Nev.); Rockefeller (W.Va.); Salazar (Colo.); Sarbanes (Md.); Schumer (N.Y.); Stabenow (Mich.); Wyden (Ore.).
Republicans For (7):
Chafee (R.I.); Coleman (Minn.); Collins (Maine); DeWine (Ohio); McCain (Ariz.); Smith (Ore.); Snowe (Maine).
Independent For:
Jeffords (Vt.)
The fight to save the Arctic Refuge is far from over. Arctic drilling may yet be prevented by voting against passage of the entire budget, of which Arctic drilling is a part. Please, thank Senators Feingold and Kohl for helping lead the charge to stop drilling for oil. Then boycott the companies that want to drill there:
Boycott these corporations and refuse to buy their gas until they promise not to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.
ExxonMobil: 972.444.1000 - Kwik Trip buys gas from Exxon Mobil, call them and let them know what you think 608.781.8988.
ChevronTexaco: 925.842.1000
Support these corporations that refuse to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge:
BP: 281.366.5174 and 202.457.6603
ConocoPhillips: 303.649.4065
CITGO which gets nearly all its gas from Venezuela and the government of Victor Chavez. President Bush is once again doing everything he can to overturn the 3 times Democratically elected government in Venezuela.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Wisconsin enlistment plummets
Cap Times says, "The Army signed up 27 percent fewer recruits in Wisconsin last month than expected, putting it behind schedule for reaching its full-year recruiting goal, officials said Thursday. This was the first time it had fallen short of a target since May 2000. The defense department said recruiting has become more difficult for a variety of reasons, including concern that once in uniform a soldier will be sent to fight in Iraq."
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Pol-site competition/collaboration...
The White House announced Friday that the Treasury Department is spending more tax dollars on spin doctors called in to perform CPR on the Bush plan to privatize Social Security with new a Web site, strengtheningsocialsecurity.gov but, I suggest you visit this one instead: strengtheningsocialsecurity.com.
"Geometries of Power," is a techno-art collaborative that resulted from Fusion02. On December 6, 2002 students and faculty of the Bauhaus-University/Weimar and the University of California/Los Angeles (UCLA) met online for a collaborative event creating images that use the interactive characteristics of space, geometry and sound to question concepts of power and control. It looks kinda cool but there is a browser extension required to really make the 3-D work and I have yet to fine tune it...
"Geometries of Power," is a techno-art collaborative that resulted from Fusion02. On December 6, 2002 students and faculty of the Bauhaus-University/Weimar and the University of California/Los Angeles (UCLA) met online for a collaborative event creating images that use the interactive characteristics of space, geometry and sound to question concepts of power and control. It looks kinda cool but there is a browser extension required to really make the 3-D work and I have yet to fine tune it...
Sunday, March 13, 2005
I will evolve...
A lab owned by California-based Genetic Savings and Clone is under construction in Waunakee, Wisconsin. It's set to open in late March. And wouldn't you know it? They're having a sale!
"After years of research and development, February 1, 2004 saw the launch of GSC's "Nine Lives Extravaganza," our initial cat cloning service. We began delivering clones to clients before the end of 2004, and are continuing to produce and deliver clones for clients, now at a new price of $32,000."
As the corporate media spins Pet Cloning Lab Set to Open; Residents Debate Ethics, what's missing is any discussion of wacko-American consumerism.
How appropriate that today's New-Found-Blog is entitled, "deconsumption The party's over. Turn out the lights...." On that note, don't miss iWillEvolve.org.
Meanwhile, my favorite big-blonde-conspiracy-theorist tells me that Neocon enslaved scientists working in a Guantanamo lab have been forced to undertake gene-blending projects in search of the master leader for the master race. She sends the following proof:
"After years of research and development, February 1, 2004 saw the launch of GSC's "Nine Lives Extravaganza," our initial cat cloning service. We began delivering clones to clients before the end of 2004, and are continuing to produce and deliver clones for clients, now at a new price of $32,000."
As the corporate media spins Pet Cloning Lab Set to Open; Residents Debate Ethics, what's missing is any discussion of wacko-American consumerism.
How appropriate that today's New-Found-Blog is entitled, "deconsumption The party's over. Turn out the lights...." On that note, don't miss iWillEvolve.org.
Meanwhile, my favorite big-blonde-conspiracy-theorist tells me that Neocon enslaved scientists working in a Guantanamo lab have been forced to undertake gene-blending projects in search of the master leader for the master race. She sends the following proof:
Friday, March 11, 2005
Feingold on blogging...
"We must let this town square, which has added a significant dimension to our political process, continue to flourish," says Sen. Russ Feingold in his first ever, extensive blog post.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Bird Lovers plead: Kill the Cats...
John S. Coleman. wildlife ecologist with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and Stanley A. Temple, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say, "Our research in Wisconsin suggests that free-ranging rural cats may be killing up to 219 million birds in the state. Many are native songbirds whose populations are already stressed by a host of factors including development, habitat destruction and pesticide pollution. Many of these birds are ground-nesting grassland birds, like meadowlarks and sparrows, or birds that often feed on the ground, like robins."
Each year the Wisconsin DNR meets with the public for the Annual Conservation Congress where a series of Executive Council Advisory Questions are put forth for review. Every county in the state holds a meeting on April 11, 2005 at 7 PM. Participants at the spring hearings will be asked the following...
Question 62 - Feral Cats
Studies have been done in Wisconsin concerning effects of free roaming feral domestic cats. These studies showed free roaming feral domestic cats killed millions of small mammals, song and game birds. Estimates range from a minimum of 47 million up to 139 million songbirds are killed each year. Free roaming feral domestic cats are not a native species in Wisconsin. The above mentioned cats do however kill native species therefore reducing native species.
At present free roaming feral domestic cats are not defined as a protected or unprotected species. Thus Wisconsin should move to define free roaming feral domestic cats, as any domestic type cat which is not under the owner's direct control, or whose owner has not placed a collar on such cat showing it to be their property. All such defined free roaming feral domestic cats shall be listed as an unprotected species. In so doing Wisconsin would be defining and listing free roaming feral domestic cats.
62. Do you favor the DNR take steps to define free roaming feral domestic cats by the previously mentioned definition and list free roaming domestic feral cats as an unprotected species?
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Cat Action Team has sprung forth with a Don’t Shoot The Cat Campaign. Thanks to these cat lovers I get a rare chance to feel what it must be like to be a truly conservative Republican... and recommend that kat killers shop for something more effective than a .22 'cause cats are hard to kill.
Cat-hunt plan has promoter in cross hairs
Friends of felines are outraged at notion of killing feral animals
Each year the Wisconsin DNR meets with the public for the Annual Conservation Congress where a series of Executive Council Advisory Questions are put forth for review. Every county in the state holds a meeting on April 11, 2005 at 7 PM. Participants at the spring hearings will be asked the following...
Question 62 - Feral Cats
Studies have been done in Wisconsin concerning effects of free roaming feral domestic cats. These studies showed free roaming feral domestic cats killed millions of small mammals, song and game birds. Estimates range from a minimum of 47 million up to 139 million songbirds are killed each year. Free roaming feral domestic cats are not a native species in Wisconsin. The above mentioned cats do however kill native species therefore reducing native species.
At present free roaming feral domestic cats are not defined as a protected or unprotected species. Thus Wisconsin should move to define free roaming feral domestic cats, as any domestic type cat which is not under the owner's direct control, or whose owner has not placed a collar on such cat showing it to be their property. All such defined free roaming feral domestic cats shall be listed as an unprotected species. In so doing Wisconsin would be defining and listing free roaming feral domestic cats.
62. Do you favor the DNR take steps to define free roaming feral domestic cats by the previously mentioned definition and list free roaming domestic feral cats as an unprotected species?
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Cat Action Team has sprung forth with a Don’t Shoot The Cat Campaign. Thanks to these cat lovers I get a rare chance to feel what it must be like to be a truly conservative Republican... and recommend that kat killers shop for something more effective than a .22 'cause cats are hard to kill.
Cat-hunt plan has promoter in cross hairs
Friends of felines are outraged at notion of killing feral animals
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
DemsTV.com debut
Each Tuesday, beginning today, DemsTV.com, "will feature 20 minutes or so of talking-head chatter from a rotating cast of young Democratic operatives," says Brian Faler in the Washington Post. However, the traffic must be taking a toll on the server(s) because I have yet to see it pop on-line. Go there now it is a stitch! Fresh, fun and a treat!
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Portrait of a Textile Worker
In 1990 Milwaukee artist Terese Agnew began making art quilts in addition to sculpture. Her quilts are intricately detailed and intensely embroidered using a process that she describes as “drawing with thread.”
Two years ago she began to create a portrait entirely out of clothing labels, based on a photograph by Charles Kernaghan that depicts a textile worker. When completed it will be approximately 8 feet high and 9 feet wide. The National Labor Committee and the Coalition to Abolish Sweatshops will be given posters and prints of the quilt to help with their work to improve sweatshop conditions.
Terese says, "I need thousands more labels to complete the image. That’s where you come in. If you send me labels cut from your clothes, I’ll include them in the quilt and your name in the list of contributors. You will be helping the effort to give a face and a name to the all-too-frequently anonymous textile worker."
Mail labels to:
Terese Agnew
P.O. Box 11093
Shorewood, WI 53211
Portrait of a Textile Worker
Two years ago she began to create a portrait entirely out of clothing labels, based on a photograph by Charles Kernaghan that depicts a textile worker. When completed it will be approximately 8 feet high and 9 feet wide. The National Labor Committee and the Coalition to Abolish Sweatshops will be given posters and prints of the quilt to help with their work to improve sweatshop conditions.
Terese says, "I need thousands more labels to complete the image. That’s where you come in. If you send me labels cut from your clothes, I’ll include them in the quilt and your name in the list of contributors. You will be helping the effort to give a face and a name to the all-too-frequently anonymous textile worker."
Mail labels to:
Terese Agnew
P.O. Box 11093
Shorewood, WI 53211
Portrait of a Textile Worker
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Spank the little millionaire...
For decades Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief has provided family and societal stability by offering individuals who can't pay their debts an opportunity to give up nonessential assets in exchange for a fresh start. But, credit card companies, who should be far more responsible about how they hawk those lending cards, have been pressing to undermine it.
"After nearly eight years of trying, proponents of legislation to make it harder to erase consumer debts believe it finally will pass Congress," says Washington Post Reporter Marcy Gordon.
The Credit Card Company Empowerment Bill (search "bankruptcy abuse" or S.256) approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-5 vote on Feb. 17, "...will come out more on the side of the creditors in terms of harassing these extraordinary individuals rather than recognizing that these are hard working people," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that (it) is not passed in the United States Senate the way that it is."
Please explain why three of the committee's eight Democrats: Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Dianne Feinstein of California and our own Herb Kohl of Wisconsin - voted to further empower the Republican majority, voting with them to approve this bill!
Kennedy was speaking after a discussion in Boston on veterans who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan saying he is concerned about soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves whose businesses fail after they are called up to serve.
LA Times reporter Peter G. Gosselin says, "A stream of court cases involving credit card companies has produced public outrage in various parts of the country. In Cleveland, a municipal court judge tossed out a case that Discover Bank brought against one of its cardholders after examining the woman's credit card bill. According to court papers, Ruth M. Owens, a 53-year-old disabled woman, paid the company $3,492 over six years on a $1,963 debt only to find that late fees and finance charges had more than doubled the size of her remaining balance to $5,564."
When the firm took her to court to collect, she wrote the judge a note saying, "I would like to inform you that I have no money to make payments. I am on Social Security Disability. If my situation was different I would pay. I just don't have it. I'm sorry."
Judge Robert Triozzi ruled that Owens didn't have to pay, saying she had "clearly been the victim of [Discover's] unreasonable, unconscionable and unjust business practices."
Meanwhile... "Consumer bankruptcy filings during January fell to their lowest level in four years, reflecting a 13% decline in year-ago levels," say reporters at CardWeb.com. "Over the past year, bankruptcy is tracking nearly 4% below 2003 levels, ironically at a time when bankruptcy reforms may finally pass Congress."
"After nearly eight years of trying, proponents of legislation to make it harder to erase consumer debts believe it finally will pass Congress," says Washington Post Reporter Marcy Gordon.
The Credit Card Company Empowerment Bill (search "bankruptcy abuse" or S.256) approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-5 vote on Feb. 17, "...will come out more on the side of the creditors in terms of harassing these extraordinary individuals rather than recognizing that these are hard working people," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that (it) is not passed in the United States Senate the way that it is."
Please explain why three of the committee's eight Democrats: Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Dianne Feinstein of California and our own Herb Kohl of Wisconsin - voted to further empower the Republican majority, voting with them to approve this bill!
Kennedy was speaking after a discussion in Boston on veterans who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan saying he is concerned about soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves whose businesses fail after they are called up to serve.
LA Times reporter Peter G. Gosselin says, "A stream of court cases involving credit card companies has produced public outrage in various parts of the country. In Cleveland, a municipal court judge tossed out a case that Discover Bank brought against one of its cardholders after examining the woman's credit card bill. According to court papers, Ruth M. Owens, a 53-year-old disabled woman, paid the company $3,492 over six years on a $1,963 debt only to find that late fees and finance charges had more than doubled the size of her remaining balance to $5,564."
When the firm took her to court to collect, she wrote the judge a note saying, "I would like to inform you that I have no money to make payments. I am on Social Security Disability. If my situation was different I would pay. I just don't have it. I'm sorry."
Judge Robert Triozzi ruled that Owens didn't have to pay, saying she had "clearly been the victim of [Discover's] unreasonable, unconscionable and unjust business practices."
Meanwhile... "Consumer bankruptcy filings during January fell to their lowest level in four years, reflecting a 13% decline in year-ago levels," say reporters at CardWeb.com. "Over the past year, bankruptcy is tracking nearly 4% below 2003 levels, ironically at a time when bankruptcy reforms may finally pass Congress."
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Why not in Wisconsin...
"Vermont has a rich history of using town meetings as a venue to make its people's views known to the nation. In 1974, five towns voted to urge congressional leaders to seek the impeachment of President Nixon. Recent years have seen efforts to stamp out nuclear weapons, abortion restrictions, and the USA Patriot Act," says Sarah Schweitzer.
Ben Scotch, of Montpelier, VT was among a handful of Vermonters who mounted a statewide effort to obtain the signatures necessary to place a resolution on Vermont's annual town meeting ballots that calls upon President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq and urges the state's elected leaders to reconsider the use of Vermont's National Guard in the war. They succeeded in 52 towns. Yesterday's vote saw 49 towns endorse that resolution.
Sara B. Miller, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor reports In Vermont, a Town-Meeting revolt over Iraq war.
The Vermont Network on Iraq War Resolutions Web site was originally designed to provide all of the documents and information needed to bring a resolution on the war in Iraq to Vermont towns or cities - but everything is still relevant to mobilizing similar campaigns in all 50 states.
United for Peace and Justice agrees that states should refuse to fund that portion of their National Guard that is deployed to fight the war in Iraq, when they should be at home protecting the Nation. They plan to campaign on a state-by-state local level organizing to oppose the deployment of the National Guard to Iraq.
Cities for Peace began a nationwide pre-Iraq War movement that enlisted scores of municipalities in over 30 states to pass resolutions to oppose a preemptive/unilateral War in Iraq. Now they are working to encouraging towns, cities, and county councils and related groups to pass a new resolution to Bring the Troops Home by demanding that the U.S. end the occupation of Iraq and internationalize the peace process. "As States and municipalities face the worst fiscal crisis in over half a century, citizens and local elected officials are deeply skeptical of an emerging "perpetual-war economy" and its devastating effects on state and local budgets, on America's role in the international community and on a sustainable future for our children."
They encourage and seek to empower, "Cities and towns (to) call for a reordering of national priorities such that diplomacy and international law will sustain peace and foster prosperity in the world, in our nation and in our struggling states and localities."
Municipalities that have passed resolutions and examples of those resolutions can be found at www.citiesforpeace.org.
Ben Scotch, of Montpelier, VT was among a handful of Vermonters who mounted a statewide effort to obtain the signatures necessary to place a resolution on Vermont's annual town meeting ballots that calls upon President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq and urges the state's elected leaders to reconsider the use of Vermont's National Guard in the war. They succeeded in 52 towns. Yesterday's vote saw 49 towns endorse that resolution.
Sara B. Miller, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor reports In Vermont, a Town-Meeting revolt over Iraq war.
The Vermont Network on Iraq War Resolutions Web site was originally designed to provide all of the documents and information needed to bring a resolution on the war in Iraq to Vermont towns or cities - but everything is still relevant to mobilizing similar campaigns in all 50 states.
United for Peace and Justice agrees that states should refuse to fund that portion of their National Guard that is deployed to fight the war in Iraq, when they should be at home protecting the Nation. They plan to campaign on a state-by-state local level organizing to oppose the deployment of the National Guard to Iraq.
Cities for Peace began a nationwide pre-Iraq War movement that enlisted scores of municipalities in over 30 states to pass resolutions to oppose a preemptive/unilateral War in Iraq. Now they are working to encouraging towns, cities, and county councils and related groups to pass a new resolution to Bring the Troops Home by demanding that the U.S. end the occupation of Iraq and internationalize the peace process. "As States and municipalities face the worst fiscal crisis in over half a century, citizens and local elected officials are deeply skeptical of an emerging "perpetual-war economy" and its devastating effects on state and local budgets, on America's role in the international community and on a sustainable future for our children."
They encourage and seek to empower, "Cities and towns (to) call for a reordering of national priorities such that diplomacy and international law will sustain peace and foster prosperity in the world, in our nation and in our struggling states and localities."
Municipalities that have passed resolutions and examples of those resolutions can be found at www.citiesforpeace.org.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Ward Churchill in context...
When taken out of context, Ward Churchil's comments regarding the victims-as-perpetrators on 9/11 seem to be flagrantly harsh. When those comments are placed back within the document from which they were extracted it's another story indeed. Read "Some People Push Back" On the Justice of Roosting Chickens by Ward Churchill if you want to be fully informed.
Churchill opens with, "When queried by reporters concerning his views on the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 1963, Malcolm X famously – and quite charitably, all things considered – replied that it was merely a case of "chickens coming home to roost."
"On the morning of September 11, 2001, a few more chickens – along with some half-million dead Iraqi children – came home to roost in a very big way at the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. Well, actually, a few of them seem to have nestled in at the Pentagon as well."
FightingBob.com has also posted an article Ward Churchill and UW-Whitewater: free speech principles vs. politics, Oxen and bulls by Donald Downs, a professor of political science, law and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of several books, including “Nazis in Skokie” and the recently released “Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus.”
Churchill opens with, "When queried by reporters concerning his views on the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 1963, Malcolm X famously – and quite charitably, all things considered – replied that it was merely a case of "chickens coming home to roost."
"On the morning of September 11, 2001, a few more chickens – along with some half-million dead Iraqi children – came home to roost in a very big way at the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center. Well, actually, a few of them seem to have nestled in at the Pentagon as well."
FightingBob.com has also posted an article Ward Churchill and UW-Whitewater: free speech principles vs. politics, Oxen and bulls by Donald Downs, a professor of political science, law and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of several books, including “Nazis in Skokie” and the recently released “Restoring Free Speech and Liberty on Campus.”
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