HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS ... THE DUCHESS IS BACK IN THE 'HOOD!! That's right all you lovely, groovin, political and intellectually savvy folk. I'm back from having a good time and visiting with our freedom loving friends in the northern terrain. Ohhhhh Canada! Wah Hoo! More on the trip later this week. First things first ... its time to catch up on lots of news that's been shaken NYC and America over last 1 1/2 weeks. So strap on your seat belt and let’s go.

NEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS AT "Impeach Bush" ... VoteToImpeach Activists at the RNC demonstration. As hundreds of thousands of people marched Sunday, August 29th, past Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention, the chant "Impeach Bush" and "Bush Lied, Thousands Died" echoed through midtown Manhattan. On August 29th the people spoke. There were military veterans, soldiers, family members of soldiers in Iraq, trade unionists, students, the elderly, women's organizations, every antiwar and peace group and others who stood united in their opposition to the criminal policies and acts of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and other high officials. Some of those marching today may have believed Bush at the start of the Iraq war, but they don't anymore. They know now that they have been lied to and they are angry and frustrated and they want action taken. VoteToImpeach/ImpeachBush.org literature and signs were eagerly grabbed as people entered the 14th Street area from subways, buses and cars. Many members of the impeachment movement from different parts of the country, wearing the distinctive black and yellow Impeach Bush t-shirts, met each other for the first time. It was a great day! People were energized and motivated.

But we can't let up for a moment. Everyone should feel proud of their contribution to building this movement. All over the country people have embraced the grassroots organizing campaign and the newspaper ad campaign because they are convinced that when the politicians fail to act, which is commonplace, the people themselves must provide the leadership. A quick look at the history of this country proves that meaningful change comes from the bottom up. Let everyone pledge to get the word out to our neighbors, friends and families. George W. Bush is guilty of high crimes. He and his top aides must be held accountable. Please consider making a contribution to help keep the "Impeach Bush" campaignmoving forward full steam during this critical period. Visit:

http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=btCOrfkdD7u72suC2Mm5YQ

BE PATRIOTIC ... VOTE BUSH OUT!!!!!

PUBLIC THUNDER
Dan Frosch, AlterNet
August 29th protesters in Manhattan went shoulder-to-shoulder in a free-speech free for all.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19712/

BUSH AGENDA IS AWOL
Michael Cudahy, AlterNet
A former staffer for Bush I says that the RNC isn't the best place to look for a clear sense of the GOP's agenda.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19698/

FIVE REASONS GIULIANI'S NO HERO
Jonathan Greenberg, AlterNet
The GOP hopes that Giuliani's post-9/11 glow will impress the public, but there's a lot about his past that isn't so heroic.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19673/

DESERTER'S DELIGHT
Michael Moore, AlterNet
Dear Mr. Bush: It takes real courage to desert your post and then attack awounded vet.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19702/

WELCOME TO BUSHVILLE, USA
Rachel Neumann, AlterNet
At the March for Our Lives, a thousand people attempt to move a mountain.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19726/

THE BANNER SEEN 'ROUND THE WORLD
Don Hazen, AlterNet
It was a banner day for a few hearty activists who happen to be crack climbers.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19715/

TERRORISM AS A CONVENTION PROP
Roberto Lovato, Pacific News Service
Terrorists who live and work among Americans with impunity aren't the ones the GOP is warning about.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19725/

EVEN THE MEDIA HATES THE MEDIA
Joshuah Bearman, LA Weekly
The underbelly of American media was exposed at the Time Warner media party in New York.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19722/

QUOTE OF THE WEEK ... O, it is excellent, to have a giant's strength! But it is tyrannous to use it like a giant. William Shakespeare

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM ROBERT JERESKI & HIS CAMPAIGN IN NYC's 14TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, PLUS THE CONTINUOUS ONSLAUGHT FROM DIRTY PLAYING DEMOCRAT PHONEY MALONEY. I've been out on the streets, demonstrating against the Bush Agenda, with many of you. Click here:

http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/100825

to read an INDYPENDENT article about our campaign and about my longtime involvement as an activist. We are now reaching the time when we will no longer be able to file a complaint in Federal Court to regain a position on the ballot for the September 14th Democratic Party Primary Election. If we are to continue our campaign against the Bush Agenda at the electoral level this election season, we need a lawyer now. Please forward this to ALL your contacts and add a personal note to ask them to consider the corruption and irregularities we've experienced trying to offer voters a common sense alternative to the incumbent Democrat and her enabling of the Bush Agenda. Despite those obstacles we are within 4 invalidated signatures of being put back on the ballot.

Dozens of signatures were improperly invalidated by the Deputy Chief Clerk who both reviewed the incumbent Maloney's objectors' challenges to our nominating petitions while also having circulated petitions for Maloney! Ask your contacts to offer PRO BONO legal services to file a federal court ballot access case and get us back on the ballot. Because of the recent flood of response to our plea for financial support, we do have money to offer a competent lawyer. Thanks for all your strong efforts to date. We have had and will continue to have a meaningful impact and influence on the positions and votes of whoever wins the Congressional seat.

KERRY WAS FRAMED
George Lakoff, AlterNet
Last Wednesday's Republican convention speeches framed John Kerry using deceptive and dishonest language.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19768/

THE GOP HIJACKS 9/11
The Editors, The Nation
The Republicans have exploited 9/11 with the hope that voters will abandon rational thought and rally around a "war president."
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19772/

A PARTY FOR SOME
Joshuah Bearman, LA Weekly
If the GOP has such a big tent, how come so many groups can't go inside?
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19771/

LIBERATION AND LABOR DAY
James M. Lawson, Jr., AlterNet
We are a nation dependent on services provided by immigrants, women, and people of color. Yet their employers refuse to accord them the respect, the dignity and the reward they deserve.
http://www.alternet.org/story/19769/

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S SPIN
Ben Fritz, Bryan Keefer, Brendan Nyhan, AlterNet
An excerpt from the new book that studies the way the Bush administration is transforming the press from a watchdog to a mouthpiece for its spin.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/19770/

KERRY FIRES BACK
Ian Williams, AlterNet
John Kerry responded with strong words to the attacks from the RNC podium last week. But was anyone listening?
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19797/

A SOCIETY OF OWERS
Robert B. Reich, TomPaine.com
The Republicans are selling their vision of an "Ownership Society" to a nation of debtors.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19784/

FREEDOM, LIBERTY, FREEDOM
George Lakoff, AlterNet
George W. Bush yet again used the crutches of "liberty" and "freedom" to frame his candidacy.
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19783/

FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE PROTESTERS
Rachel Neumann, AlterNet
The demonstrations in New York offer lessons on future strategies to get protesters' messages across to the public.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/19779/