Addendum to the last email

Written by: Anne Smith on Oct 24, 2006 4:01 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Sorry guys--The link to donate to air the ads somehow disappeared from my email. Here it is:

actblue.com/page/bucksforbowenra...

Spanish Language Ads for Debra Bowen

Written by: Anne Smith on Oct 24, 2006 3:49 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Dear Friend of Debra Bowen,

When Democrats across America succeed in ensuring that every registered voter is allowed to vote…when we ensure that every vote is counted and accurately recorded…when we succeed in wresting public control of the ballot box from private companies with a partisan agenda…America will have YOU to thank.

Why? Because you stepped up to support Debra Bowen this spring in the Primary.

Lagging in the polls just days before the June primary, Debra surged to victory, thanks in large part to contributions from you and your fellow activists. Teaming with Latinos for America, you and Valley Grassroots for Democracy funded a last-minute radio buy in L.A. and Sacramento and paid for calls to targeted voters. Without your support, Debra's victory might never have happened.

With that victory, we now have the opportunity to take back the California Secretary of State's office from GOP control. And that will enable Bowen, a champion of election integrity and an expert on electronic voting systems, to protect the vote of every Californian and take her crucial message nationwide.

What can you do - right now--to make sure Debra wins in November? Here's what:

You can support her general election victory, by making a secure online contribution by clicking here . Your contribution will help fund critical Spanish language radio and TV ad buys in key California communities.

You can volunteer for her campaign, by signing up at www.debrabowen.com...

And you can spread the word about Debra's campaign to friends and family across the country, to encourage them to support both the Bowen campaign and nationwide efforts to restore the integrity of American elections.

Thanks for stepping up once again to help protect our rights as voters - and our democracy.

Sincerely,
Agi Kessler, President, Valley Grassroots for Democracy, http://www.vgfd.net
Ralph Miller, President, Latinos for America, latinosforamerica.com/...

P.S. Please feel free to forward this to your friends and ask them to support Debra!

This message was brought to you by Valley Grassroots for Democracy. Visit our web site at www.valleygrassrootsfordemocracy.com
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Two Announcements in One

Written by: Anne Smith on Oct 19, 2006 1:10 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

1. Here's the very easiest way to help Debra Bowen: Go here:

progressivepatriotsfund.com/pick...

and vote for her so she can receive $15,000 from Russ Feingold's Progressive Patriot's Fund.

2. Howard's coming to Los Angeles next week!
Why? He's coming out to show his support for Phil Angelides with a Rally. Come get your Dean fix and shot in the arm of democratic enthusiasm, while supporting DFALA endorsed Phil Angelides.
Thursday, October 26th, 12:30-1:30
Tom Bradley International Hall
417 Circle Drive West, Los Angeles
Corner of Gayley and Strathmore on the UCLA campus
text "DEAN" to Elect (35328) or rsvp@angelides.com

Well, maybe Cruz Bustamante

Written by: Anne Smith on Oct 2, 2006 1:19 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Hi again--As democrats and progressives living in America and working for candidates, we've all had to hold our noses and vote for people we didn't like in the past. Many of us have worked on campaigns where the candidate wasn't even close to our first choice, or where we were officially choosing the lesser of two evils.

But in November, 2006, we have some of the finest people running for office I've ever seen. Phil Angelides is a brilliant, brave and honest public servant who would be the best governor of California in decades. Debra Bowen is a passionate, committed and articulate leader who will ensure the integrity of our voting systems for years to come. John Garamendi? Excellent. And there are outstanding candidates all over the state for congress, assembly and state senate. So maybe Cruz Bustamante is lame. And maybe the polls show that Angelides is behind.

But those are not good reasons to sit back and watch this election go by. We cannot count on television commercials and the press to convince the voters to vote our way, and I won't give up until I've done everything I can to show the voters what our side stands for. If you want to see change, then you have to be the change you want. On Thursday night, Susanne and I are phonebanking for our candidates. It is easy--this election we're calling democrats and reminding them to vote democratic, for incredible, wonderful democratic candidates. Please join us.

You can rsvp here:

dfalink.com/event.php?id=13610...

And when you do, please indicate which location is better for you so we have enough phones.

And if you can't come out on Thursday, I hope you'll try to help out when you can. Even if you only work GOTV weekend, that is a tremendous help. This organization exists to elect progressive candidates.

Thank you.

And next week, have some fun:

Peer-to-Peer is a very effective way to expand informed voter participation. Drinking Liberally gets the ball rolling with a social elixir. Bring anyone and everyone you know to get and share the political "know" so that we can continue mobilizing our peers to be political active on November 7th!


Drinking Liberally: The Excessive Election Extravaganza
Big Book, Sassy Comedy, and Broke Band
FREE! FREE! FREE!

Wednesday, Oct 11th

7:00pm to 11:00pm

Molly Malone's Irish Pub

575 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles 90036

www.mollymalonesla.com/...

FREE! FREE! FREE!

So RVSP to LA@DrinkingLiberally.org

The Show:

Book: Andy Stern, the head of the international union SEIU, will talk about his book A Country That Works. The book comes out this October. www.acountrythatworks.com... WE ARE HIS L.A. BOOK SIGNING TOUR STOP.

Comedy: Featuring Comics from Comedy Central... Paul Gilmartin, Jimmy Dore, Penelope Lombard, Chris McGuire. And from Comedy Central and Whose Line is it Anyway Greg Proops

Band: The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings Electric Marching Band Ensemble: myspace.com/superbroke...

LOCAL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS

Written by: Anne Smith on Sep 30, 2006 2:04 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

38 days to go, gang, and it's time to get busy with the election if you aren't already.

There are coordinated campaign headquarters all over LA county and all of them will welcome as much help as they can possibly get.

WEST LOS ANGELES
3314 Overland Avenue Los Angeles 90034, just north of Palms
310 559 3636

WEST HOLLYWOOD
9056 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 103, between Doheny and Almont
310 275 2585 or Chris Chen directly 323 712 1779

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
6741 Van Nuys Boulevard at Vanowen Van Nuys 91405
818 995-DEMS

EAST LOS ANGELES
4518 E. Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles 90022
323 262 7660

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
4137 N. Maine Ave, Baldwin Park 91706
626 960 4979

DOWNTOWN
888 S. Figueroa Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles 90017
213 239 8730

Do you want to see a great wave of change across this country? Then come out and support Phil Angelides, Debra Bowen, Jerry Brown, Dianne Feinstein, John Garamendi, Bill Lockyer and the whole Democratic ticket. Change will not come unless we work for it.

Thanks,

Anne

Why it's important to attend tomorrow's rally

Written by: Anne Smith on Sep 25, 2006 3:29 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Hello again--Most of you have received emails about the Angelides anti-war rally tomorrow in Burbank. I wanted to send out a special appeal on behalf of the campaign. Schwarzenegger has millions and millions of dollars to spend on television commercials and visibility of all kinds, including direct mail and precinct work. He also has the advantage of incredible name recognition and incumbency. Angelides has a fraction of that money and name recognition, and so he is very dependent on free earned media. Thursday's rally will absolutely have press in attendence, so the larger the crowd supporting our candidate, the better chance the event has of getting on tv and impressing voters. Moreover, the anti-war sentiments are shared by most of the voters country-wide, so if this rally gets media attention, it will help the case of all democrats who oppose our policy in the Middle East. Take a stand!

Unfortunately, I simply cannot attend myself, so I promised the campaign I would do my best to promote the event. Please please come if you can. It may seem like a hassle or a waste of time and energy, but to see Phil Angelides is to love him, so you'd not only be helping his campaign if you come, but also you'll get a little dose of inspiration--I promise.

Here are the details:

Rally Against the War
Tuesday, September 26th at 5:30 p.m.
IATSE Local #80
2520 West Olive Avenue, between Buena Vista and Olive
Burbank, CA

If you can make it, please rsvp so the campaign knows how many people to expect.

rsvp@angelides.com or Monica Henestroza at 916 448 1998

Thanks again for all your efforts.

Anne

PROTEST DISNEY'S

Written by: Anne Smith on Sep 8, 2006 2:17 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Hi--As some of you know from receiving the DNC's emails about this, ABC plans to air, "The Path to 911" this Sunday night. The "docudrama" is a slanderous attack on democrats, fraudulently presented to Americans as "based on the 911 commission report." WE HAVE THE POWER to stop them, but we have to act fast.

Please join the Courage Campaign and as many of our local grassroots friends as possible to protest Disney TODAY in Burbank.

Walt Disney Studios Lot
West Alameda Gate
Between Buena Vista and Keystone Streets
Burbank

4pm

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHO IS COMING !!!! We need a good turn out for media.
ssavage@couragecampaign.org

Bring signs!

"Facts, Not Fantasia!"

More background:

President Clinton, through his attorney, has condemned Disney as "dispicable" for "airing a fictional version of what is a serious and emotional event for our country. No reputable organization," he said, "should dramatize 911 for a profit at the expense of the truth."

The families of September 11 victims have weighed in on the controversy, telling "entertainers" not to "promote misleading or incorrect information as fact to the public."

Here are some other sign ideas, which I'm feverishly coming up with as fast as I can. I'm sure you can do better:

The Path to 9/11 is a fraud
Disney and ABC, TELL THE TRUTH about 9/11
Stop the Slander--Don't Air the Path to 9/11

Assorted Announcements

Written by: Anne Smith on Aug 10, 2006 11:56 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

First, YAY Ned Lamont! If you haven't already written your note to Joe Lieberman asking him to accept his defeat and respect the voters by not running as an independent, you can do it here:

www.nedlamont.com/respectvoters...

Second, Environment California is leading the charge in this state to establish standards to stop global warming. I received this important message from them yesterday:

Last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger said "the time for action on global warming is now." But today, cutting global warming pollution statewide remains on his "to do" list. With mounting industry opposition, we need your help to run full page ads statewide calling on the governor to keep his promise.

To do this we need to raise $20,000 over the next six days. Please help us by donating now. Then ask your friends and family to help out too by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To see the ad and make a donation, please click on the link below or paste it into your Web browser:

https://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/global-warming/donate?id4=ES

Finally, if you are a member of Meetup.com for Los Angeles (NOT West Los Angeles) please, disregard their emails asking you to step up as an organizer. Meetup.com is the grassroots organizer's ball and chain in so many ways. Michael Faulkner, who many of you will remember, set up that account three and a half years ago. When he decided to step down as a meetup host, he made Pam Griner the assistant organizer. Both Michael and Pam have been paying Meetup for our account, so they were receiving twice the money they deserved for the last year. There should have been no interruption in our membership when Michael finally terminated his. Even though Pam continues to pay a monthly fee to them, they still want more. As I've said for months now, DFALink is a far superior organizing tool and Meetup is a bloody nightmare.

If you were considering stepping up as a meetup organizer, I suggest that you instead make a monthly donation to Democracy for America, who had a huge impact on the Lamont race and who continues to fight for progressive candidates across the country and to provide its local groups with resources and support. If you are interested in being more involved with helping to organize DFALA, please contact Susanne at ssavage2k@aol.com

Thanks for reading,

Anne

WW III

Written by: Anne Smith on Jul 26, 2006 8:04 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

Hi Everyone: I'm sure you are all just as tormented by the newest war in the Middle East as I am. I'm also sure many of you are better informed about the goings-on in Congress than I am, but I just received an email from California Peace Action about Kucinich's bill to end the conflict. I'm going to copy it in here and I know that petitions are not always the most effective way to induce change, but it's something anyway, and the first thing to come across my own email account since the bombing started:

The escalating violence in Israel and Lebanon is grabbing headlines and attracting concern. Our first priority as a nation should be to help stop the violence and engage diplomatically as a peacemaker. The U.S. can help by calling all parties to immediately agree to a cease-fire and begin multi-party negotiations. All parties should commit to ending attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, which is a clear breach of international humanitarian law. The U.S. has the influence to bring everyone to the table. We have to use it.

The Bush administration is once again failing at diplomacy. The U.S. Congress must take responsibility for pushing the administration to engage responsibly and join countries around the world in calling for an end to the violence. The U.S. practice of supplying weapons to both Israel and Lebanon puts us in a unique position of accountability.
Key leaders in Congress have joined Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) in seeking an end to the conflict by supporting his bill, H.Con.Res.450, which calls upon President Bush "to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions."

To sign the petition to your representative, follow this link:

www.democracyinaction.org/dia/or...

The following members of Congress have already co-sponsored the resolution for peace. If your Representative is listed below, please click here to thank them for their efforts.

www.democracyinaction.org/dia/or...

Sponsor: Rep Kucinich, Neil [OH]

Co-Sponsors: Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] Rep Miller, George [CA-7] Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6]

Ford to Abandon Fuel Efficient Car Program

Written by: Anne Smith on Jul 14, 2006 5:53 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFALA

With "An Inconvenient Truth" and "Who Killed the Electric Car?" in theaters now, there is no more appropriate time to put some pressure on our automotive industry for positive change.

In September 2005, in response to pressure to improve the fuel economy of its fleet, Ford committed to produce 250,000 fuel-efficient vehicles.  Less than one year later, CEO Bill Ford has announced that the company will abandon this commitment.  Instead Ford proposes to adjust existing models to make them "flexible-fuel vehicles" -- cars that run on both corn-based ethanol and gasoline.
While this proposal will be useful in the long term, it does nothing to help consumers facing high fuel prices now.  Of the 17,000 gas stations across the country, only about 600 currently sell ethanol, an average of 12 per state.  In California, for example, there are only four stations that sell ethanol, and only one is a public gas station.  And while corn-based ethanol may reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a modest amount, we can't grow enough corn to feed the fuel-guzzling vehicles that Ford builds!

With the worst fleetwide fuel economy of any major automaker, Ford needs to produce cars and trucks that get more miles per gallon now - on any fuel. Please add your name to the petition that will go to Ford from Friends of the earth:

action.foe.org/petition.jsp?peti...