The Nation Institute & New Democracy Project Are Hosting A Progressive Agenda Conference This Weekend, Here In NYC

In the past three years the US has suffered a dramatic decline in its fortunes, moving from prosperity to recession, from peace to war, from record budget surpluses to record deficits. We've seen pre-emptive strikes; destabilizing tax cuts; the rollback of protection for workers, consumers and the environment, and an assault on the rights of women and minorities. It's time to lay out a forward-looking progressive agenda to counter the rightwing. In that spirit, the Nation Institute and the New Democracy Project are hosting a sold-out conference this weekend with many of America's leading scholars, thinkers and advocates. And see the full conference schedule: http://www.newdemocracyproject.org/events/special_events/wwsf_schedule.cfm

The entire two-day event will be available for web viewing in the weeks ahead. Finally, please visit http://www.thenation.com regularly for new weblogs, exclusive online reports, info on nationwide activist campaigns, Nation History offerings, reader letters and special weekly selections from The Nation magazine.

SEAN PENN, THE ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST, CAMPAIGNS WITH KUCINICH IN OREGON

As one of Hollywood's biggest stars and this year's Best Actor Oscar Winner for his role in Mystic River, most people know Sean Penn for his on-screen acting abilities. It was Penn's off-screen opposition to the Iraq war, however, that brought him to Oregon Tuesday night to stand with Kucinich at a press conference in Portland. Like Kucinich, Penn has opposed the war from the start; he even traveled to Iraq before the war to call attention to the added suffering war would bring to Iraq. The pair called for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq and lamented the prison abuse scandal. "This is only consistent with the history of all wars," said Penn. "What is happening in all of those prisons is no surprise to those people who have paid any responsible attention to what's gone on in the history of the planet in wars. So this is something we can expect to get worse in a lot of the corners of the world." See video of press conference: http://www.kucinich.us/messages/superstarpower.php#videos

OREGON STATE REPRESENTATIVE ENCOURAGES VOTE FOR KUCINICH

Northeast Portland state representative Joe Smith asked Oregon voters to "help put Kucinich ideas on the table" in a letter to the editor printed in today's Oregonian. Representative Smith wrote: "The issues Rep. Kucinich, D-Ohio, has raised, and the goals he has urged us to look at, demand attention in the coming national debate, and we can assure that by sending a few Kucinich delegates to the Democratic National Convention who will see to it those issues and goals are clearly on the table." Read full letter: http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1084535951289780.xml

KUCINICH IS COMMITTED TO REMAINING PRIMARY SCHEDULE

After Oregon, Congressman Kucinich is still committed to campaigning in the remaining Democratic primaries and caucuses. He will be making campaign stops in Alabama, Puerto Rico, Montana, South Dakota, and New Jersey. Check the schedule (http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.php) for more details.

STAND WITH DENNIS AT CONVENTION: ORDER YOUR CONVENTION PACKAGE TODAY!

Finding accommodations in Boston during the Democratic National Convention is certain to be very difficult. Unless, of course, you are a Dennis Kucinich supporter! The Kucinich Campaign has secured nearly three thousand beds in Boston to accommodate the many supporters coming to participate in activities surrounding the Convention. Reserving your Convention Package is quick and easy with our new online reservation system. Read More: http://www.kucinich.us/convention/housing.php Make reservation: http://www.kintera.org/autogen/home/default.asp?ievent=54828