MESSAGE FROM MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
As many of you know, I'm Chairman of the Board of The Peace Alliance http://www.ThePeaceAlliance.org, a grass roots campaign supporting the legislative effort to establish a United States Department of Peace. As I travel around the country, I notice a "politics fatigue" -- an attitude much like, "Why diet? It never works." Yet this pervasive sense of "Whatever I do doesn't make a difference anyway," is an insidious threat to our collective well-being. If early American revolutionaries, abolitionists, women suffragettes and civil rights workers had succumbed to it, then there would be very few liberties left for us to protect.

Though people have valid concerns about our electoral process, still the biggest secret in our midst is not how much of our power is seeping away. Rather, it's how much power we still have but we're not using. America needs a pro-democracy movement of our own. Many of us don't remember the civics we learned in the seventh grade; we don't even know who our Congressional representatives are, how to contact them or that it makes so much difference when we do. An overwhelmed generation wants easy steps, and here they are:

1) To use our new Congressional contact system mail or call your member of the House of Representatives (we'll try for Senate support a bit later), and urge them to support the Dept. of Peace legislation that is being re-introduced this September. Click here: http://mariannewilliamson.c.topica.com/maadH63abiD9icimQKLeafpOmF/ If even ten people in your Congressional district call your Congressman asking for his or her support, that will put the legislation on their radar. Congresspeople react to their constituents when their constituents make themselves heard.

2) If at all possible, come to Washington DC for the Department of Peace Conference (click here: http://mariannewilliamson.c.topica.com/maadH63abiD9jcimQKLeafpOmF/ ) which takes place from September 10-14 and urge others to come as well. People from all over the United States will be there lobbying Congress to pass the bill. What walking through the streets was to the Sixties, walking through the halls of Congress is today. Just as important, just as exciting, and just as powerful.

The Department of Peace will be part of the executive branch of the U.S. government, articulating and facilitating nonviolent solutions to domestic and international conflict. It will house a Peace Academy to augment the work of the Military Academy, turning conflict-resolution, nonviolent communication and humanitarian concern into serious political tools. It will provide our leaders with broader problem-solving options than the mere application of brute force. It will create an institutionalized voice for the interests of peace within the workings of the United States government, making the effort to wage peace as serious a political conversation as the effort to wage war.

This legislation will not pass easily or quickly. It is a very serious cause and it necessitates a very serious effort. Yet it's an idea whose time has come, and we are the ones it has come to. Let's do this for our children, and for theirs.

MESSAGE FROM TOM McMAHON OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- Republicans and Independents Speak Out on Rove
So far, thousands upon thousands of you have told the White House that our national security has no place in partisan politics. Perhaps most impressive, the response has come from all walks of life. It's not just Democrats who are outraged at Karl Rove revealing classified information as part of a partisan smear campaign and President Bush's failure to take action. Independents and Republicans have joined the chorus expressing outrage at this administration. They join Republicans like "former" President Bush, who called those who leak classified information the "most insidious of traitors" and former Republican Party chairman Ed Gillespie, who agreed that this leak was "worse than Watergate." I'd like to share some of the responses we've received from a few of these folks. Please read them below. And if you haven't yet added your name to the bipartisan call for the White House to come clean, do it now: http://www.democrats.org/comeclean

And please reach out to everyone you know -- regardless of their political affiliation -- by forwarding this message. This issue is much bigger than politics, and the cover-up needs to stop. President Bush's credibility and our national security are on the line.

[Duchess Note -- Just like the important "Downing Street Memo", this "Rove Scandal" is an incredibly serious matter and should not be ignored nor swept under the carpet. What this regime has done since stealing the presidency in 2000 AND 2004 is totally horrendous. Peoples lives [here & abroad] and national security are threatened. And this regime does not give a damn! I get so tired of some narrow-minded, up-tight Republican whining "but Clinton oh my gosh". Wake up you dumb sheep! Clintons fling with some ditzy broad, plus little white lie, didn't effect national security nor get thousands upon thousands of lives killed & maimed. These are not the Republicans of your Gran-daddies era ... these are demented thugs and criminals. So, instead of keeping your heads in the sand, help other Americans and our members of congress in ousting this inmoral, corrupt, insane regime. Please ... help bring true democracy back to American. Peace & Solidarity!]

THE RESPONSES

"I switched to Republican over 30 years ago, but now feel increasingly betrayed by and ashamed of the power-crazy dishonesty and the distorted values of the current leadership of the GOP. Tom DeLay does not speak or stand for most American Republicans. Neither does Karl Rove, who should be fired and severely punished if indications are correct. Can we trust you, Mr. President? Please give us the real, open truth." - Jeb E., Palo Alto, CA

"I am a registered and disappointed Republican. Don't make this situation worse - 'fess up and fix the problem." Karen H., Fort Collins, CO

"I am a registered Republican and want this current administration to admit the fault and fire Rove now! Decent Americans lose their jobs over less." Alice C., Wilmington, DE

"I vote for whoever I think will do the best job -- Democrat, Republican, Independent -- and this is the time for elected officials to do their best job: honor their word, honor their country, and honor those they govern by upholding not only the law but what is moral and right. In this case, it is to remove whoever is responsible for leaking the CIA agent's identity." Nancy O., Van Buren, AR

"As a registered Republican, I join with those that say enough is enough! Time to clean house!" Tim M., Milan, OH

"I am registered Republican. However, the behavior of this administration isn't part of my Republican Party. Start by taking responsibility for both the good and the bad decisions of the administration. Mr. Rove has now stepped over the line. President Bush, like his father, needs to request Mr. Rove's resignation." Ed S., Newport Beach, CA

"As a registered Republican, the recent revelations regarding Karl Rove's role in the leak of a CIA operative's identity has me greatly concerned. I am sure that a great majority of Americans would agree that now is not the time for silence and evasive actions on the part of the administration. Please address this issue immediately so that our country can move forward, united in the truth, and so that we can move on to focusing on the many challenges and opportunities of our times. Thank you." Diane W., Ephrata, CA

"I was a good Republican for all my life, but can no longer stomach the people that excuse the behavior of those who squelch any and all who question and think for themselves. Please stand up and do what is right."Lana H., Fort Worth. TX

"Truth is an awesome thing. As an American whose husband and son have served in our military I wonder if you could possibly condone a leak of information which jeopardizes our national security. I would like to see the Republican Party speak honestly as they used to speak when I was a registered Republican. We seem to be emulating the Nixon era ... I can no longer support the Republican party." MaryKay D., Columbus, OH

"As a registered Republican I am concerned about the failure of the Bush administration to follow through with its promise with anyone who comprises the security of a CIA agent and our country. Karl Rove has gone too far and must resign or be dismissed." Jan O., Yorba Linda, CA

"As a Republican ... I have to insist that the president and my party affiliates in Washington tend to the accountability of Karl Rove or face yourselves the possibility of being called part of a cover-up conspiracy. You are ELECTED officials entrusted to the security of all Americans. For God's sake get responsible." Marilynne R., Glendale, AZ

"As a lifelong Republican, who has been voting and supporting this great country for close to 50 years, I am outraged that a member of your administration would damage this nation's interests for petty, partisan, political reasons. Mr. Rove and anyone else involved in this despicable act should be fired ..." Donald E., Pittsfield, MA

"As a registered Republican, I'm shocked that Karl Rove would sink so low as to reveal our CIA agents. It is really time to ask Karl Rove to resign to spare this president further embarrassment." Charles B., Sarasota, FL