[Duchess Note ... The "Collision" (in pre-production!) fundraiser promises to be quite a colorful soiree of intriguing guests! Nowhere else will you have the possibility of meeting in one room a producer from the Charlie Rose show, the mother of former Lance Cpl. Steven Eagle Funk--the first conscientious objector of the Iraq War, Tribeca Film Festival-screened producers and directors, national-level political activists, music journalists, Rockefellor University neurobiologists, a spiritual psychologist, a celebrity make-up artist, a congressional candidate, one of the pioneering designers in hip-hop/urban wear, a tea-drinking buddy of Yassar Arafat, internationally renowned artists and of course many talented filmmakers! Can you imagine the conversations?!? We'll see you tonight at the 11th Street Bar at 7pm! For those of you who can't make it, we'll miss you and hope to see you at our next "Collision" event!]

Bush on National TV: Lies and More Lies ... September 24 - Impeachment Call Comes to the White House [Message From ImpeachBush Group]

There's one thing you have to give George W. Bush credit for: the man can lie, and with a straight face. The problem he faces is that fewer and fewer people in the United States believe him. One day after Donald Rumsfeld stated that the U.S. troops should be prepared to confront the Iraqi insurgency for up to the next 12 years, Bush went on national television to try to convince the American people that they must support the continuation of his war policies. If the media had any guts, they would have ripped Bush's speech apart tonight. On five separate occasions he invoked the September 11 attacks as the pretext for the war and occupation. There wasn't a single, solitary reference to Iraq's so-called weapons of mass destruction. Before the war, this was the core of the Bush/Cheney propaganda.

"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction." - Vice President Dick Cheney, speech to VFW National Convention, August 26, 2002

Bush's motivation to justify his war policies on national television was not simply a desperate act to bolster sagging public opinion. Bush is actively trying to head off the growing movement for impeachment. His pre-war lies are being exposed by the Downing Street series of memos. Lying to Congress and the people is an impeachable offense. The fact is that more than 100,000 Iraqis and more than 1,700 U.S. soldiers have died as a consequence of these lies. Bush's illegal war of aggression is also a War Crime, a Crime Against Peace, and a Crime Against Humanity. Bush says: Give me your children. Bush also took on a new role as the pitchman for war: that of "Recruiter-in-Chief." Bush, who was a gung-ho supporter of the Vietnam War - but used his wealth and power to avoid personal participation - shamelessly appealed to young people to sign up to become soldiers for his Iraq war, claiming glory and honor would await them.

Bush has again tried to turn reality on its head, but let's use one of his banal generalities as a guide to action. Bush said tonight: "We know that if evil is not confronted it gains in strength and audacity." Exactly! Unless Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are impeached, the evil they represent will gain audacity and strength. Your help is needed Tonight Bush entered our living rooms to sell us his war. On September 24, 2005, more than 100,000 people are going to his doorstep to make it clear that we aren't buying it. Thousands of people across the country are organizing to bring the call for impeachment to Washington with a massive protest at the White House. Help make this demonstration happen. We are growing stronger because of the support of so many people around the country. http://www.VoteToImpeach.org

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE MOVEON PAC TEAM

Last night, President Bush tried to rescue his failed Iraq policy in a nationally televised address by connecting the Iraq war to the war on terror. He is trying to change the subject from Iraq to terrorism and September 11—implying that Iraq attacked us in 2001. To keep Bush from changing the subject, we've started running a new TV ad about Iraq. But to keep the advertising on the air, we need to raise $250,000 today. Just $50 from 5,000 of us will make a big difference. Will you contribute to help stop Bush from changing the subject?

http://www.moveonpac.org/donate/hagel.html?id=5724-4703541-QzGNvYmbciWwB8P2Qf9hTA&t=3

Even a small contribution will keep the ads running if we all chip in. And, if we raise $500,000, we can expand the advertising into the hometowns of Republican members of Congress who will have tough elections in 2006. That will help send a signal that Congress will pay a price at the ballot box because of the Iraq failures. The president's speech provided political cover to a lot of members of Congress—letting them get away with not supporting an exit strategy—but we can help neutralize that with the ad campaign. If you don't live in one of those congressional districts, this is your chance to make a huge difference by supporting this ad.

The ad, titled "Hagel," draws a sharp contrast between President Bush's claim that we're making progress in Iraq and the words of Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who said, "The White House is completely disconnected from reality... It's like they're just making it up as they go along." Then, the ad calls for an exit strategy, saying, "It's time to come home. We went in the wrong way, let's come home the right way." An exit strategy with a timeline is supported by nearly 84% of MoveOn members according to the recent vote.

http://www.moveonpac.org/donate/hagel.html?id=5724-4703541-QzGNvYmbciWwB8P2Qf9hTA&t=4

Supporting this ad will also show that we won't run away when the Republicans attack. Over the last couple of days, the Bush White House has begun openly attacking MoveOn by name—even accusing us of siding with the terrorists and wanting to make America less safe. It started with lies in a speech by Bush spin-master Karl Rove last week but quickly followed with attacks on "The Today Show" by White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett. Then, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld took a swipe at MoveOn on Sunday talk shows.

We can't let them get away with this. It's the Iraq war that's making America less safe—not the 3.3 million of us in MoveOn. Because we're out front on Iraq, we can expect more attacks. By standing up to them, we can demonstrate to Democrats that they need not cower when Republicans slander them. But we can't keep these ads on the air without your support. Please contribute at:

http://www.moveonpac.org/donate/hagel.html?id=5724-4703541-QzGNvYmbciWwB8P2Qf9hTA&t=5

The advertising is just the first part of MoveOn's new Iraq campaign. Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be pushing for our leaders in elected office to insist that President Bush put together an exit strategy (a plan!) for Iraq. We'll ask you to get involved in lots of different ways, but right now we really need your help to keep the TV ad on the air.

P.S. Can't contribute for an ad? Write a letter to the editor about Bush's speech at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=764&zip=10036&id=5724-4703541-QzGNvYmbciWwB8P2Qf9hTA&t=6