One Voice Can Fight City Hall & Win Victory for the Bill of Rights

Written by: Denise on Jul 4, 2008 12:01 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, DFA-Link Organizers

We had a little, but not insignificant, victory play out here in Riverside, California, over the last few days.  A victory that proves you can fight City Hall and win.  A victory that proves that one voice really does matter.

Both the Bill Hedrick for Congress Campaign and local Obama volunteers had been told by the City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Department that they could not have a booth at the 4th of July festivities in Fairmont Park, nor would we be allowed to register voters in the park, nor even put up our own tents in the park with signs, literature, etc.  Some plans for visibility and voter registration efforts in the park were cancelled.

However, with a little encouragement ;->, one volunteer, our very own indomitable Alice, wrote her councilman on Wednesday afternoon and asked, Why?  Why can't we register voters in a public park?  Why can't we put up a tent, and wear our t-shirts, and talk to anyone we like about our candidates?  Why were we denied a booth?  Is there a City ordinance prohibiting these activities?  Could she have a copy?  On Thursday morning, she followed up with a phone call.

By noon, the councilman was speaking with the City Attorney.  By afternoon, Victory!  Alice received a return phone call from the councilman.  Yes, you are free to register voters in a public space.  Yes, of course, you are free to wear any t-shirt you like, and talk to anyone you like, about any candidate you like.  Yes, you are even free to have a booth at the City's festivities in Fairmont Park on the 4th.  The Parks and Recreation Department was duly chastised by City officials, and Alice soon received a call to make arrangements for a booth!  

Proof that the Bill of Rights is still alive and well in Riverside.  Proof that once voice can make a difference. Come on down and join us at Fairmont Park today in celebrating Independence Day and reveling in your rights and freedom.

Read more

Discuss

Obama Oposes Prop 8

Written by: Denise on Jul 1, 2008 9:25 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign

In a letter read to a gathering of the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club on Sunday, Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama reaffirmed his opposition to ballot measures that propose to take away the freedom to marry for lesbian and gay couples, including California's Proposition 8. This is a tremendous boost to our campaign. We applaud Barack Obama for his consistent opposition to Proposition 8, the California initiative which would mandate that lesbian and gay couples be treated differently under the California Constitution. We agree with Senator Obama that all people should be treated equally under the law. Senator Obama and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger join millions of Californians who are speaking out against Proposition 8 and standing up in favor of protecting fundamental freedoms. Please forward this message to all of your friends. Urge them to sign our pledge to Vow to Vote No on Prop 8 today! Sincerely, Dale Kelly Bankhead Campaign Manager No on 8, Equality For All

Read more

Discuss

It's all been leading up to this

Written by: Denise on Jul 1, 2008 9:12 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign

		Click here to sign up to receive updates from Wellstone Action				It's all been leading up to this... Dear Denise, Since 2003, we've been working hard together to pass legislation in my father's name that will end discrimination against people with mental illness and addiction.  Look what we've accomplished: Six rallies across the country 21,510 faxes sent to Congress Thousands of constituent calls 13 personal visits to Washington One historic vote in the House Now, the final touches are being put on a compromise between the House and Senate, and we believe that a bill could go to the President's desk next week.  But, if it doesn't happen then, it's likely we'd have to start all over again with the new Congress next year. Next Wednesday, July 9 will be the final call-in day to members of Congress.  I'll email you next week with the details, but please spread the word.  Let's pass mental health and addiction parity legislation as a fitting legacy to the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Thanks for your help, David

Discuss

Failed Conservative Values: Congresswoman Maxine Waters on Blame, Hate & Lying

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Jul 1, 2008 1:18 PM

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

Men are conservatives when they are least vigorous, or when they are most luxurious. They are conservatives after dinner."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I interviewed Congresswoman Maxine Waters and asked her about progressive and conservative values. In this section, Maxine mentions that conservatives have tricked people with the failed conservative values of  blame, hate and lying.   These values are also failing because more people are not following them anymore and in fact, people are starting to turn toward progressives values. She goes on to talk about how the occupation of Iraq is a metaphor for the failure of conservative values.

Failed Conservative Values: Congresswoman Maxine Waters on Blame, Hate & Lying

Edwin:  Do you think that conservative values have failed?

Maxine Waters:  I think that conservative values have failed.  But I’m always stunned and amazed at how the conservative message penetrates our society, and how people are tricked by it.  I think poor people are preyed upon, and I think that vulnerable people are preyed upon. 

I think that when people are feeling neglected and they are feeling isolated, they hear some of these conservative messages, they buy into them.  Because all of a sudden they’ve got somebody to blame, to hate, they’ve got somebody to point a finger at. 

Read more

Discuss

Russ on FISA - What's Next

Written by: Denise on Jul 1, 2008 10:25 AM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign

Progressive Patriots Fund Greetings, All week I've read your emails, seen your comments online, and heard your phone calls.  You don't want the flawed FISA bill to become law.  I hear you and I wanted to let you know that I'm going to do everything in my power to stop this bill. Much as I would like to I can't respond to each one of you individually so I've decided to respond online via video. I'd appreciate if you would take a moment to watch and pass it along to your friends and family or anyone you know that cares about preserving our right to privacy. See My Online Response Here  Thank you all for standing with me and speaking out about stopping the FISA bill.  It's going to be an uphill battle but your words of support are a constant reminder of why this particular battle is worth waging. Sincerely, Russ Feingold United States Senator Honorary Chair, Progressive Patriots Fund Make sure you friends and family see this important video Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.  Tell-a-friend! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Progressive Patriots Fund. This message was sent to deniseharden@earthlink.net. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from Progressive Patriots Fund, click to removeyourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove" in the subject line).

Discuss

We Have A Choice

Written by: Denise on Jun 30, 2008 9:13 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, California for Democracy, Blog For America, Courage Campaign

Dear Friends and Supporters,

For sixteen years we have been ineffectively served by our current Congressman.  Like you, I have 
had enough of representation for only a select few.  We need responsive, responsible government for 
all, and a new vision for change.  

Read more

Discuss

Deadline: Monday. Midnight.

Written by: Denise on Jun 30, 2008 12:40 AM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Monday is the deadline for the next financial reporting period.  The amount of money shown on this report is the yardstick used by the national party, state party, and other organizations to measure whether they think we can beat Mr. Calvert come November.

We need your financial support to show them, and Mr. Calvert, that they shouldn’t count us out.

Your contribution of $15 or more before midnight on Monday, June 30th tells them louder than any words that you think they should pay us some attention.

www.hedrickforcongress.com/donate

Read more

Discuss

Give Early, Given Often to Bill Hedrick's Campaign for CD 44

Written by: Denise on Jun 29, 2008 12:16 PM

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California

We have a special appeal on behalf of Congressional Candidate Bill Hedrick.  Tomorrow, Monday, June 30, is the end of the federal reporting quarter, and party officials are watching closely.  They are looking at the broadness of his donor base here in California's 44th Congressional District and the depth of his bottom line.  We can help Bill, right here, right now, boost that bottom line: 

http://www.actblue.com/page/dfr4hedrick

Donating to Bill Hedrick right now will do more than just infuse cash into his campaign, it will show Democratic party leadership that Bill's campaign is a viable, worthy investment for them to get involved in.  Please donate right now as much as you can to Bill's campaign, and if you can, sign up to give to his campaign every month between now and the election in November.  It's quick, it's easy, just click here:

http://www.actblue.com/page/dfr4hedrick

Investing generously today in Bill's campaign could make the crucial difference that brings party resources and expertise into his campaign and the 44th Congressional District.  Give now, before the reporting quarter ends tomorrow:

http://www.actblue.com/page/dfr4hedrick

Denise

Coordinator

Democracy for Riverside

Discuss

Failed Conservative Values: Gordon Wright on Psychopaths and Fear

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Jun 28, 2008 1:54 PM

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA

  “It is a characteristic of all movements and crusades that the psychopathic element rises to the top”  Robert Lindner  

Gordon Wright values freedom but was raised by a conservative, autocratic, dictatorial and bully of a father. He feels conservatives fear life's changes and it's spontaneity. An example is how all of George Bush's public events are totally choreographed and controlled events.   He also thinks that the corporate conservatives value of heartlessness and unfettered self-interest, are the same values as a psychopaths. 
 

Failed Conservative Values: Gordon Wright on Psychopaths and Fear

Gordon:   I think real and true conservative values would probably involve conservation and conserving the best in tradition – you know, the best that is part of tradition.  And I think where conservatism in this country has virtually completely failed is that I think it got paranoid with some of the changes.  It got tied up with corporate values, and The Corporation – if you have seen the movie – the corporate values are the same values as a psychopath. 

So the people with money that have taken over the Republican Party, and now the insane lunatics that are called the neocons, are the example of that.  The trouble is that I hesitate to label these people conservatives.  They are reactionary corporatists.  They are psychopathic war criminals. 

Read more

Discuss

The Failed Conservative Values of James Dobson

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Jun 26, 2008 6:12 PM

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA

Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy. They must learn to make their views known without trying to make their views the only alternatives.  Barry Goldwater

James Dobson is a major leader of the social conservatives. He is considered one of the more moderate of the 'Value Voters' leaders because he doesn't support spanking any child under the age of 18 months, while other conservative leaders do.

  
 I’m the conservative leader who can unite the party, John McCain

James Dobson  is now attacking Barrack Obama for "deliberately distorting the Bible" and "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter." Isn't it time for progressives to start unmasking how the values of  the conservative movement have failed? Isn't it time to ask them some questions about their failed values? How about asking your family,  friends, neighbors and colleges, "Have Conservative Values Failed?"

 Let's raise the question. It should be easy for anyone to answer.  It's time for progressives to take back the  values debate and promote an open and honest discussion about values.  Document what you find out and share it with the rest of us. 

Here are some progressives who have taken up the challenge.

Read more

Discuss