VOTE TO END THE WAR IN IRAQ
For those interested in adding their names to a list of folks who ask that the war in Iraq be ended now, there is a petition at: http://pdamerica.org/petition/iraq-exit-petition.php This petition will be delivered in mid to late May to the Democratic leadership in Congress. Please sign and forward to your lists. Thank you ... Peace ... Justice ... Solidarity

PEARL JAM PERFORMED A SHORT SET AT "EAST STREET RECORDS" IN SEATTLE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH ... The event was for the 10th Anniversary of the "Coalition of Independent Music Stores"

Setlist ... 1/2 full, Corduroy, Lukin, Amerikan in Me State, Down, Sad, Small Town, Crapshoot (new song), Spin the Black Circle, Even Flow, Save You, Bleed for Me New World and for the ENCORE: Fuckin up, Porch

[Eddie, Jeff & Matt rockin at East Street Records]

IMPORTANT BELATED MESSAGE ... Kucinich on the Prime Time News Conference"The President Must Be Held Accountable."
WASHINGTON -- April 28 -- Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement on the President's prime time press conference that was aired on Thursday. "Tonight, the President will make a rare prime time appearance before the press and the nation. With our troops caught in a quagmire in Iraq, with no exit in sight; our economy weakening; gas prices on the rise; and the President continuing to create a false crisis in Social Security, it is time to hold this President, and his Administration, accountable for their failing policies."

"Whether standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, in an auditorium in Cincinnati, before the United States Congress, or the press at the White House, the President has repeatedly used the media and prime time appearances to mislead the nation. "Now more than ever, it is urgent that the media and the public hold this Administration accountable." "For two years, the United States has been bogged down in a quagmire in Iraq. Over 1500 US soldiers have died and ten of thousands have been injured. Despite the presence of well over 100,000 US troops, Iraq has become a training ground for terrorists and chaos rules the day. Despite elections, the Iraqi people know that decisions about their future are made in Washington and not in Baghdad. Yet, this Administration has offered the American public no plan for securing Iraq, no end game, and no exit strategy. The American public deserves better, and the press and the public must hold the President accountable."

"For months, the President has traveled the country repeatedly using misinformation in an effort to sell his Social Security privatization scheme. The President has repeatedly asserted that there is 'no Social Security Trust'. Such misleading statements by the President do the debate on Social Security a real disservice. As the President is well aware, the Social Security Trust Fund is not just a filing cabinet, as he claims, but represents $1.7 trillion dollars in solemn obligations of the United States. The President is also well aware, that the Trust Fund is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States treasury. The American public deserves an honest debate about the future of Social Security, and the President must be held accountable."

"The American public deserves the truth from their government. With a large and captive television audience, it is time for the President to answer the tough questions, and explain his false and misleading statements. The media and the public must not allow this President to continue to use the power of the bully pulpit to mislead the public on the most pressing issues facing our nation today." Click on the following link to read more:
http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/news2005/0428-16.htm

Important Message From Harold Ickes And Steve Rosenthal At America Coming Together [ACT]
Last week. on Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee considered S. 271, the sham campaign finance reform bill being railroaded by the Republicans. The Republicans intent is clear. This bill is designed to cut off Democratic sources of campaign money, especially for grassroots voter registration and mobilization, while opening doors for corporate and trade association influence in our government. So brazen are their intentions, in fact, the first item of business was to vote the bill out of committee before any discussion was permitted, despite Democratic objections!

But Republicans did manage to pass an amendment offered by Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) to lift those pesky limits on corporations and trade association contributions. The bill now directly undermines the bipartisan campaign reform act of 2002, known as McCain-Feingold. But for over a week now, ACTivists around the country have made thousands of phone calls and written tens of thousands of letters urging their Democratic Senators to protect the vital role of independent organizations and voices in the political process. The impact of your hard work is clear. If you haven't taken action yet, do so now: http://activist.acthere.com/page/petition/527legislation

Democratic Senators Durbin, Dayton, Inouye, Byrd and Nelson all asked to be recorded NO on the committees procedural vote. And Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) asked that his name be removed as a co-sponsor of the bill. He also offered an amendment (which passed) to add a narrow "get out the vote" provision supporting and protecting robust citizen participation. Thanks to the organizing efforts of progressives around the country, S. 271 emerged from the Senate mark-up in an amended form that will make it more difficult for the Republican leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote. In a statement recently, Senate Democratic Leader, Harry Reid (NV) said, "The illegitimate process that brings this fatally flawed bill closer to the Senate floor should make it clear to McCain-Feingold supporters that Republicans see this bill as an opportunity to subvert that reform legislation to achieve partisan advantage, not as an opportunity to advance real reform."

The work of thousands is paying off but the fight is far from over. If you haven't already, please write your Senators now. Tell them to protect your right to ACT. Go to: http://activist.acthere.com/page/petition/527legislation And for a more detailed and technical explanation of the amendments, go to: http://www.moresoftmoneyhardlaw.com/