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"Citizen Journalism 101" Workshop Teaches Tennessee Progressives How to Find - and Raise - Their Voices!
Linked to groups: Democracy For Tri-Cities
The cold and snow of northeast Tennessee didn't stop close to two dozen people from attending Democracy for Tennessee's first Citizen Journalism 101 workshop. The place was the Democratic Resource Center in Johnson City and the plan was to educate and inspire regular progressive activists to understand journalism, framing, and the tools available to get a progressive message out to a conservative community.
Jim Grinstead, Democracy for Tennessee's executive director, kicked off Citizen Journalism 101 with some great war stories from his years as a professional journalist and a newspaper publisher. After covering the basics on information-gathering, research, and getting the whole story, Jim then got into the finer points of news vs. opinion and how the two should - or should not - mix.
One way to make sure that the progressive message is clearly understood is to make sure that our issues are framed properly. Using the tools of the legendary George Lakoff, the group learned how to express themselves better in clear, concise ways that draw a clear distinction between liberal and conservative viewpoints.
Mark Harmon, a communications professor at UT Knoxville, shared his knowledge of radio, television, and writing op-ed columns with the group. His experience as one of the new Knox County Commissioners also provided some invaluable advice on how a progressive candidate with the right message can win - even in a conservative district like Mark's. Mark was supported by Democracy for Tennessee and thinks the DFA strategy of building a new farm team of progressive candidates "down ballot" is yet another way that liberal ideas can reach people right where they live.
Mark Naccarato then introduced the group to what would be called "new media" outlets like websites, the internet, YouTube, and especially blogs. Mark demonstrated the Democracy for Tri-Cities Blog and, along with Jim, made the case to use the blog as a way to grow and unite the progressive community in northeast Tennessee, to serve as a watchdog for local elected officials, and as a microphone to broadcast more progressive voices.
"One person really can make a difference," said Frank Hillman of Kingsport. "I've made a difference on several important local issues just by letting people know about them. Sometimes just bringing things to people's attention can make a huge impact".
Thanks to organizers Jeff Adams and Lisa Archer for making it all happen, Janet Meek for arranging the venue, to the trainers who came in from Nashville and Knoxville, and, of course, to the new "Citizen Journalism Corps" of northeast Tennessee!
The Citizen Journalism 101 workshop will also be presented during the Democracy for Tennessee Convention in Nashville on April 7. For more information on that event, visit www.DFTConvention.com.
And why do innocent people always get killed, while these people on their Religious Missions continue their path of destruction?
In a crowded field of Democratic Presidential hopefuls in Carson City, Nevada, only one candidate was able to claim he has never been fooled by President Bush and has no ties to the corporate health care giants, who continue to profit while tens of millions of Americans suffer from a failed health care system.
the power of one person to want to make a difference...
... long lines queueing up already for voters in Sierra Leone to register to vote come this July:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070226/wl_africa_afp/sierraleonepolitics_070226181430
Sierra Leone launches voter listing for July polls
AFP
Mon Feb 26, 1:14 PM ET
FREETOWN (AFP) - Sierra Leone began voter registration Monday for July presidential and general elections expected to serve as a crucial test of the country's post-war democratic credentials, electoral officials said.
Chief electoral commissioner Christiana Thorpe said the registration exercise "is a clear indication that we are on a democratic track."
The vote, due on July 28, should also help establish whether the west African state, ravaged by a 10-year brutal civil war that ended in 2001, is on the road to full recovery.
Only Sierra Leone nationals aged over 18 among a population of five million people will be registered during the three-week long exercise. Thousands turned up at registration centres on day one to add their names to the new voters roll.
In Kono, 125 kilometres (200 miles) east of the capital, long lines of people queued up hours before the centres opened, an independent radio journalist Henry Coker said.
"People are just enthusiastic about the event," he told AFP by phone.
In the eastern town of Kenema, crowds including "miners clutching shovels and pick-axes were at the various centres under the tropical sun waiting for hours to register their names", according to registration clerk Brima Sandi.
...
Thousands of Sierra Leoneans lost limbs to hacking by fighters during the savage war that ended in 2001.
Electoral commission spokeswoman Miatta French said amputees without hands would, if possible, "mark their ballot papers with their toes."
...
Why Would Al Gore Run For President?
With all the shameful, empty bantering in Congress about who is patriotic and courageous, there is among potential Presidential candidates one who truly would be both were he to throw his hat in the ring. That person is Al Gore.
This is a leader whose entrance into the Presidential race would raise the tenor of Democratic Party presidential politics, as he is both mature and centered. He is his own person more than any current candidate. He could do for the Democratic Party what Norman Lear suggested be done for the country -- bring it out of intensive care.
But why would he do this? He stands to lose so much. His current popularity, earned largely by commitment to environmentalism, would be threatened. As a candidate, he'd be required to take stands on issues he's been able to leave behind. The world would lose the focused commitment of a dedicated environmentalist, as he'd be enmeshed in extricating the U.S. from Iraq, perhaps from Iran if all goes in George Bush's favor, and also from Afghanistan and Pakistan where there is now a dangerous resurgence of the Taliban. According to Frank Rich this last problem makes the entire debate about the Iraq surge "as much a sideshow as Britney's scalp."
But it would take a true patriot to do this - not the kind we hear so much about who vote for more war. He would give up more than most -- in fame, success and fun -- and likely do so more for others than for himself. He'd show more backbone than can be found in all of Congress. And this is a lot to ask.
Once too practiced in his responses, his current public demeanor suggests he'd likely be far less so this time. From him we'd likely get the truth. That would be a breath of fresh air in these times of constant maneuvering. Even if he entered the race to advance environmental concerns, that would do just fine. We need him there. We need someone driven not by what sells but by what matters.
Leonardo DiCaprio (though he didn't win a Best Actor award at the Oscars on Sun for starring in "Blood Diamond" the movie about the 10 year civil war in Sierra Leone that involved diamonds [ie. conflict diamonds, bolld diamonds] being used by rebels to buy weapons, IMO he's one of the brightest and most enlightened stars in Hollywood):
http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=143419&c=1055
Stars Model Diamond Teardrop PinsFeb 26, 2007 - World Entertainment News NetworkOscar nominees Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Ryan Gosling were among the stars making a subtle diamond trade protest at the Academy Awards last night.
The three actors wore red teardrop pins after agreeing to model the Amnesty International symbols aimed at raising awareness about diamonds mined in war zones.
DiCaprio and Hounsou were both nominated for their roles in Blood Diamond, which further highlights the issue of gem-mining in global trouble spots.
Meanwhile, Gosling plans to auction off his pin to raise cash for a Ugandan burns victim he recently met.
...
A Far Too Convenient $mear: Part One
Did you honestly think that the Right Wing $mear machine was going to let Al Gore stand up with the terrific team who created and direct the movie and receive an Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth?"
Did you really believe they would stand by and watch a Democratic leader validated for his life's work?
No chance in hell. As we have said here before, They destroy our leaders. Note to Senator Obama: spare us the hope and bi-partisanship talk and help us fight back.
Here's what we know, what we think, what we're trying to find out and how you can help.
Last night, Al Gore got very favorable national press and worldwide television exposure.
This afternoon, a group calling itself "The Tennessee Center For Policy Research" sent out a press release denouncing Vice President Gore for the size of his household electrical bills.
Let's start right there. How did they get the utility bills? They also didn't have the courtesy to ask Vice President Gore about them (despite their hollow claim of being non-partisan.) And why would a "think tank" possibly care about what Al Gore spends on gas?
Actually, let's start with a more basic question. Who are these people? Well , a quick check of Alexa reveals their web site gets no traffic. Are they legitimate? Well, again, they claim to be non-partisan but only link to far-right and conservative groups so regardless of what their status is with the IRS, this is a conservative, strongly-leaning Republican organization.
New Survey Shows U.S. Jewelry Retailers Are Not Doing Enough to Combat Blood Diamonds, Say Amnesty International USA and Global Witness
Thu Feb 22, 1:45 PM ET
Contact: Suzanne Trimel of Amnesty International, +1-212-633-4150; or Corinna Gilfillan of Global Witness, +1-202-721-5670
NEW YORK, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the Oscar night ceremony drawing renewed attention to blood diamonds, a new survey by Amnesty International USA and Global Witness shows the $33 billion-a-year American jewelry retail industry is failing to take adequate measures to help consumers avoid conflict diamonds. The Oscar-nominated movie "Blood Diamond" whose stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou are best actor contenders, illustrates the horrors of a brutal civil war in Sierra Leone funded by the trade in diamonds.
In a survey conducted between December 2006 and February 2007, the human rights groups surveyed the 37 jewelry retailers listed by National Jeweler magazine as the $100 Million Supersellers. The main findings include the following:
-- Half of these leading American jewelry retailers failed to respond to the requests to provide information about their policies on blood diamonds. -- Fifty six percent of those who did respond reported having no auditing procedures in place to combat blood diamonds, despite the recommendation to do so by the trade association Jewelers of America. -- Fifty seven percent of the top jewelers do not have any public information posted on their websites about their policies on blood diamonds.The survey also noted that a few industry leaders such as Helzberg Diamond Shops, Sterling (Signet) and Tiffany & Co. have taken stronger measures to combat conflict diamonds, including third-party auditing.
The survey is being released amid new reports of diamond smuggling and as blood diamonds from West Africa are reaching the international diamond marketplace. On February 4, 2007, two men in Tucson, Arizona, were arrested for smuggling 11,000 carats of diamonds from Africa in violation of the U.S. Clean Diamond Trade Act. These and other reports of illegal diamond trafficking from Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and Ivory Coast clearly highlight the loopholes in the Kimberley Process, the government-run diamond certification scheme designed to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds. Blood diamonds have fuelled conflict in Angola, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Liberia, leading to millions of deaths and egregious human rights abuses.
...
and, btw GOOOO Tennessee!
Such great Progressive opportunities, and DFA TN continues their work.
I think we have a pretty good field right now but if by late summer it looks like we need Gore we need to jump on it then.
He hurts his current cause if he announces before the concerts.
he is saving 50 million on name recognition spending, money won't be a problem
we will know the likely Republican nominee after the August cattle call in Iowa
we can see if we match up better one way or another
a Cheney Rice switch with bushco trying to extend their rule will meet with a blowup though
WAPO'S CRUSH ON RIGHT-WING BLOGGERS
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200702270003
The Post's soft spot for conservative media players is well-known. Last year the paper lovingly profiled Fox News' openly partisan anchor Brit Hume and announced, "He speaks deliberately, unhurriedly, making his points with logic rather than passion." And in 2005 the paper equated factually challenged talker Rush Limbaugh with award-winning late-night satirist Jon Stewart.
But I think it's time to acknowledge what has blossomed into one of the Beltway's most dysfunctional media liaisons: the love-hate relationship between The Washington Post and right-wing bloggers. The Post loves the bloggers, but the bloggers hate the Post.
I don't know if the Post's cozying up is part of an overt effort to shed the "liberal media bias" charge, or if Post news execs actually believe the online GOP bomb-throwers represent an interesting and important piece of today's political dialogue. But for whatever reason, the Post has gotten into bed with the right-wing bloggers again and again. It's time the Post ended this ill-conceived romance. It's also time for the Post to show influential liberal bloggers a little love.
This is not a new problem at the Post. The news organization's warped mind-set regarding GOP bloggers was advertised last year when washigntonpost.com inexplicably hired Ben Domenech to be a columnist. The move was supposed to give the site more political "balance," with Domenech hired to counter the washingtonpost.com writing of columnist Dan Froomkin, a veteran journalist who writes insightfully, and often critically, about the Bush White House.
Domenech is not a serious writer and doesn't really pretend to be anything more than a name-calling partisan. (The twentysomething bragged about the fact that he wasn't a journalist.) He'd labeled Coretta Scott King a "communist," and attacked Teresa Heinz Kerry as an "oddly shaped egotistical ketchup-colored muppet." The hiring quickly imploded when it became apparent Domenech had a plagiarism problem.
Huron, it is truly amazing that "TCPR" would really try to go there. They are probably hooked up with the Coal Industry and right wingers that did their smear job on the "Ozone Man" and "tree hugger" back in 2000.
Time for
a Cool
Change.
Al Gore
Linda -
Indeed, his story in being covered tonight on ABC at 10 pm EDT. (This is a back-to-back second night coverage for ABC specials; last night the story at same time slot was about Oprah Winfrey donating millions to build a state-of-the-art school in South Africa to help 152 disadvantaged students get a fighting chance to succeed)
Civilian Journalism 101 is a much needed course for Dems.
Several years ago, spouse and I attended on-the-ground meetings with Move-On in Orlando who had a wonderful session with journalism. We had had many letters printed in newspapers, but what we learned was there was so much we didn't know and it was valuable.
Move-On's on-the-ground meetings in Tampa and Orlando were trials. The participation was not as great as they wanted so they didn't continue with them. DFAs around the country taking up the slack with classes like this will be a tremendous help to all liberals.
Tennessee Rocks ----AGAIN!
They covered the story.
"As the spokesman of choice for the global warming movement, Al Gore has to be willing to walk (the) walk, not just talk the talk, when it comes to home energy use," said Drew Johnson, president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, identified as a free-market think tank.
Gore's power bill shows, however, that the former vice president may be doing just that.
Gore purchased 108 blocks of "green power" for each of the past three months, according to a summary of the bills.
That's a total of $432 a month Gore paid extra for solar or other renewable energy sources.
The green power Gore purchased in those three months is equivalent to recycling 2.48 million aluminum cans or 286,092 pounds of newspaper, according to comparison figures on NES' Web site.
NES joined the TVA program in 2000 to give power customers a way to support environmentally sound sources of electricity. The Tennessean could not determine when Gore signed up for green power.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...
I haven't been here for awhile -- in the midst of moving about 15 minutes away (I won't be "Martha in Poway" any more, but "Martha in Del Mar", but ALWAYS a big job, no matter what.
ANYway, it was a great treat to see D for TN featured this a.m., with a very worthy training topic in Johnson City, Upper East TN, where a lot of my mom's family is centered (Greeneville, Kingsport as well). Very heartening!
Watched GMA and saw Bob Woodruff... amazing he survived!
Washington Post on Al Gore's "Second Act":
Now, somebody ought to make a movie about Al Gore. I would call it "An Uncomplaining Life."
The movie would be about a man who did not quit, who came off the canvas after a painfully close election -- he won the popular vote, after all -- who accepted defeat graciously and tried to unite the nation, who returned to the consuming passion of his earlier days, the environment.... This may or may not be a stepping stone to the presidency, but Gore gives us all a lesson on how to live one's life....
Gore would not have taken the United States to war in Iraq. He would have finished the job in Afghanistan -- it was al-Qaeda and its Taliban enablers who were responsible for the attacks on us on Sept. 11, 2001, not Saddam Hussein, no matter how vile he might have been. Gore would not have dealt with the Iranians and the North Koreans in such a juvenile fashion -- axis of evil, after all -- and all over the world, wherever you and I went, we would not detect such anger toward America....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...
btw, how fitting for DFA TN and finding their voices, this was my response to the Tennessean:
"Thank you for covering the attack from TCPR on Al Gore. I am surprised they would attempt such an obvious smear attempt, but appreciate you covering both sides, their claim and then the Gore facts.
Now they can't claim Al Gore doesn't use renewable and/or alternative sources of energy, so the only left argument for them to attack is that he uses a certain amount of energy? Odd, did they bother to find out how much he could have been using if he didn't take the steps he currently is? Surely they don't mean to be arguing that the Gore family not even use energy. That would be a fantasy land that we'd all like to buy a ticket for.
Now we just need the will of our elected officials to make the changes that need to be made in our laws and policies to start tackling this serious problem of Global Warming."
Alot of chatter here on Al Gore running for the Presidency.........look folks, it aint goinna happen, Im sorry...........I compare Gore not bothering to waste his time running(who needs that lousy job anyways?) to the clamouring for The Beatles to get back together(before Lennons untimely assasination)...............
Sadly..........we, and the world lost out on both dreams.
Michael Ellis
Tue, 02/27/07
10:32 am
For everyone's sake, I hope you're right Michael.(See 9 above, swiftboating of an "inconvenient truth").
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/NEWS07/702230353
ANALYSIS
Oscar could cement Gore as activist
His influence has grown without elective politics
February 23, 2007
BY CHUCK RAASCH
GANNETT NEW SERVICE
WASHINGTON -- Marla Romash remembers nearly 20 years ago when reporters would chortle as Al Gore hauled out his global warming slide shows and flip charts.
"Those people are not laughing now because, guess what? He was right," said Romash, a longtime Gore adviser who, like her ex-boss, has moved away from elective politics.
...
"I do truly believe he is at a place where this issue is bigger than anything else, and bigger than a political campaign," Romash said.
Part of a supergroup
An Oscar would solidify Gore as the newest member of a small realm of global super-activists, players who have broken past their primary identities in politics, business or entertainment. Consider the circle including:
• Rock star Bono
• Virgin Airways philanthropist Richard Branson
• Microsoft billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates
• Ex-President Jimmy Carter
...
it takes many hands (the cause is joined):
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070226/sc_nm/climate_polar_dc
New study of polar secrets in global warming fight
By Jeremy Lovell Mon Feb 26, 9:27 AM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Thousands of scientists from across the world join forces this week to investigate the effects of global warming on the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets.
The ice in both polar regions is melting more rapidly than anywhere else, leading to rises in sea levels and possibly to dramatic changes in ocean currents and food chains.
International Polar Year, which will run to 2009, will involve 50,000 people from 63 nations in 228 projects looking at and under the ice, in the sea and in the atmosphere in the biggest coordinated polar study for half a century.
"The reality is we know so little. The difference is that we know how important it is," Martin Siegert of Edinburgh University said at the London launch, one of several around the world before the main event in Paris on Thursday.
...
Mike 24.
Thank goodness fans of the Police didn't give up when Sting said "no chance" on reuniting. They're joining the Live Earth, Concert on Climate Crisis while on their new tour. :)
26.
John~ the rethugs are certainly running scared because they know if Al Gore runs, no one stands a snowball's chance in hell against him.
Unfortunately folks, ANY one who ends up being the Democratic Nominee is going to have smears and attacks against.
They have just showed they will (attack, smear, swift boat) even if your aren't a candidate, just fighting for important issues.
Heck, John Lennon was how close to be labeled wrongly and being deported just for being opposed to the war.
I don't wish for anyone to receive the right wing attacks, but it is clear you won't stop them as long as they feel threatened in some form.
Let's hope if attacks are going to happen, they at least don't come from our own party, as has already shown an inclination of doing. I'd really like to not see a repeat of the 04 Dean smear.
Linda*in*SFNM
Tue, 02/27/07
10:43 am
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Linda,
Im a big fan of Sting and the Police............but they are not even in the same league as The Beatles were.........
Al Gore can best serve this country and humanity in general by doing what he is doing.......id like to see him follow in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter and I believe he will in places like palestine even.............much can be achieved without the title of President, which IMO since 1980 has the label of bombastic comedian more or less to it........
Bush is Funding al-Qaeda, Making Him an Unlawful Combatant
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-02-27 01:27. Media
By Dave Lindorff,
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net
It was always clear that the $21 billion in Iraq reconstruction funds, most
of which disappeared into Iraq (much of it was in the form of bales of $100
bills), didn't just vanish.
Given the number of veterans of the Iran-Contra scandal operating in the
Bush White House and Pentagon--many of them convicted felons or unindicted
co-conspirators in that baroque criminal scandal from the Reagan
presidency--it seemed obvious that such easy cash would end up being
funnelled into secret wars and secret military projects, as well as other
nefarious activities.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/1...
Oscar could cement Gore as activist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(as opposed to candidate)
an Obama supporter whistling past the grave yard?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
a Nobel prize would cement him as a World Leader
Mike, LOL, no the Police are not even close to the Beatles....in OUR EYES :) but that doesn't change the fact about getting back together.
I appreciate the adoration of Al Gore and not wanting to subject him to the attacks-I'm there. But I just disagree with your reasoning.
I don't believe he can do more outside the White House, even Jimmy Carter says THAT. He can do more to raise awareness now, as he's been doing, but who is going to make the policies? I definitely have more faith in a Gore Administration not coming up with a "Clear Skies Initiative", or the "Energy Policy" that gave us Enron and the likes.
Al Gore always wanted to be President, because he knew what he could do from the oval office. He grew up in a family of Public Service. His father was quite a man, but so too was his mother. If he chooses not to run, I won't be happy, but I'll understand, but if he runs, it will be because he has the passion to and I will embrace that. Of course, I'm hoping he will.
of course, this is just MO.
so we are preparing to attack Iran because markings on ordnance; if every country that lost lives to arms made in America attacked us. we would be bombed once a week for three years
since we had backed Saddam earlier and some of our troops have beeen lost to arms made in America does that mean we have to bomb ourselves?
36.
Phil Specht
Absolutely. All's fair in greed and business. Thank goodness for our free trade agreements. Wooo. Poor Cheney's Halliburton was breaking laws when he was doing business with Iran through a cover company in Europe.
And all those bombs dropped in Lebanon with our name on it.
And breaking news, the US opposes a ban on Cluster Bombs. NO-you say. YES.
And Jihad Joe LIEberman was pushing for this Iran war and that is why he wants the escalation in troops. After all he apparently couldn't wait to send out this letter to start the propaganda.
Dear ???:
Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. military operations in Iraq. I continue to receive many letters offering suggestions as to how the United States should proceed, and I certainly appreciate hearing your thoughts.
In 2003, I supported the use of force in Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power because I believed that he was a grave threat to our country, his people, and the world; and I continue to believe that decision was right. Since then, I have often disagreed with how the war has been run. And I have not hesitated to speak out about the mistakes the Bush Administration has made, mistakes that have made this war more costly than it should have been. But I have worked hard to stay away from partisan political attacks because that is unacceptable when our nation is at war. And I continue to believe that how we end our involvement in Iraq will have a significant effect on our security for a long time to come.
The Administration was wrong for not: (1) securing the support of enough of our allies in the run-up to the war; (2) having enough troops on the ground; (3) having a sensible plan to win the peace and establish stability in Iraq after Saddam fell; and (4) sooner putting the Iraqis in charge of their government and their economy, including their oil supply.
Despite these serious handicaps, we have made some hard-won progress. We have helped the Iraqis to write a constitution, hold three historic democratic elections, form a government, and build an Iraqi army. But the past year since the February 2006 terrorist bombing of the Shiite Mosque in Samara by Al-Qaeda has been painfully disappointing.
The one question that really matters right now is how to move forward and provide a better future for the Iraqi people and more security for the American people. And, in my view, that question is not just about when we get our troops home, but also how we get our troops home and what they leave behind. I believe it is every bit as much of a mistake to stay in Iraq indefinitely, both for the Iraqis and for us; and I have consistently opposed an open-ended commitment of American troops.
I believe the U.S. mission in Iraq is critical to America's national security, and we must do everything possible to try to succeed. America's commitment of military and non-military personnel and other resources must be in response to conditions on the ground as determined by our military commanders, rather than by adherence to arbitrary deadlines.
In December of 2006, I spent ten days traveling in the Middle East and speaking to leaders there, all of which has made one thing clearer to me than ever: while we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is underway. On one side are extremists and terrorists led and sponsored by Iran and Al-Qaeda. On the other are moderates and democrats supported by the United States. Iraq is the central battlefield on which that conflict is being fought today. How we end the struggle there will affect not only the region but our worldwide war against the extremists who attacked us on September 11, 2001.
Because of the bravery of many Iraqi and coalition military personnel and the recent coming together of moderate political forces in Baghdad, I believe the war is still winnable. The American people are justifiably frustrated by the lack of progress, and the price paid by our heroic troops and their families has been heavy. But what is needed now, especially in Washington and Baghdad, is not despair but decisive action -- and soon. I have confidence in the ability of the U.S. military to get the job done.
To get this right, we have to put aside our partisan differences; talk to each other with respect; and have an honest, direct discussion about how to go forward now and end this conflict in America's interests. I want to get past the false and empty choice between continuing to do just what we are doing and just giving up and pulling out, both of which are recipes for more failure and less security.
I believe the President's proposal to surge more troops there now is a new approach that can succeed. After speaking with our military commanders and soldiers, I strongly believe that additional U.S. troops must be deployed to Baghdad and Anbar province -- an increase that will at last allow the coalition troops and the Iraqi army to establish security throughout the Iraqi capital, hold critical central neighborhoods in the city, clamp down on the insurgency, and defeat Al-Qaeda in that province. We should put a priority on building logistics capabilities in Iraqi units and increasing the strength of the Iraqi security forces. We must ensure that they are supplied with the essentials to sustain the fight against the insurgency, including better equipment and weaponry. Then we must focus more resources on the creation of jobs and the provision of basic services in the greater Baghdad area. Also, I am glad that the President has moved to form a bipartisan working group on the war on terrorism in this new session of Congress, as he mentioned in his State of the Union address.
We must also get tougher with the Iraqi political leadership. They must do a better job of cracking down on the militias; beefing up the reconstruction efforts; and building a genuine, well-functioning unity government. Success in Iraq can best be built from the center out. Once we prevail in Baghdad, the task of making progress throughout the country will be much more achievable. Success will require more than action in Iraq; it will require supportive action here in Congress.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I am closely following the situation in Iraq. I appreciate your taking the time to write me with your thoughts. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as we move forward.
My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.
Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.
Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR
Sorry folks, I'll leave you a lone for a while. But before going, this is just another great article I had to share.
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...
Linda*in*SFNM
Tue, 02/27/07
11:13 am
__________________________________________________________________________
Hi Linda,
I know, I know..........I became an Al Gore fan in 1988 in the primaries......when, one of my personal role models, Armand Hammer voiced his support for the little known Senator from Tennessee......Al Gore.
Hammer was a philth, philanthro.......philanthro..............good deed doer who dared to sit with the Russian leaders when it was unpopular to do so in this country.......and discussed business, economics, food production etc I am certain.................Hammer may have been a role model for Gore and this could be where he is venturing...........
Completely off topic but thought it would be interesting to share since we seem to be in an environmentally aware state of mind these days. . . . .
Environmental activists encourage the use of free cellphone ringtones to make an instant statement.
BY SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Amid the cacophony of cellphone ringtones these days, add these -- the clickety-click-click of a rare Central American poison arrow dart frog, the howl of a Mexican gray wolf and the bellows of an Arctic beluga whale.An environmental group hopes the more people hear these sounds from threatened animals, the more they'll wonder where they came from -- and question the fate of the animals and birds that make them.
''The point here is education and inspiration,'' said Michael Robinson, a conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity's office in Pinos Altos, N.M.
More... Here is the link to the Center's website for the ringtones. http://rareearthtones.com/ringtones/
Call me and make the orca sing!
OK, ONE MORE THING.
The 3rd and Final Hearing for the Impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney is tentatively scheduled for this Friday. They have hundreds of Bills to hear, so it can get bumped, but hoping not.
Here come all of the articles about how better off Al Gore is to remain an activist instead of attempting another run for the Presidency.
This is a calculted move on the part of the powers that be. Most of this stuff will probably emanate from the MSM, pick up steam among the talking heads to a critical mass where the American public will truly believe that Gore has more power as an outsider than as President.
What utter nonsense! As President he can set the tone of environmental policy. Under the last two Adminstrations, the position of POTUS has become very strong, almost dictatorial. And while it has been a bad thing under both Presidents Bush and Clinton, I have to ponder the philosopher kings of Plato (while I certainly would never endorse this concept) and whether to a degree is this not what we want out of the leader of the free world.
Al Gore could most definitely achieve a more as President and not just on issues that affect the environment. The choice is his, he can continue a fight against the entrenched lawmakers for the next 10-15 years in hopes of securing positive change or he can submit himself to another round of humiliations and lies while becoming the 44th President of the United States and have the power. The choice is hard, but it is supposed to be. We are only talking about the most powerful elected official in the world.
But first we must counter the media campaign. If your newpaper publishes one of these types of articles an LTE is in order. Call-in show hosts that discuss and further the relevance of this suppostion must be challenged. If you here someone at work or in a restaurant talk about this, reason with them. If the American public buys into this gibberish, then a Gore Presidency is dead before it even begins.
Thanks, Lynn!
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By Huron John on Feb 27, 2007 9:14 AM ESTDeans, progressives, and peace seekers like Cindy Sheehan and Dennis Kucinicn are first