MESSAGE FROM PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA [PDA] REGARDING – Downing Street Minutes Next Steps - Resolution of Inquiry
Thanks in part to an overwhelming show of public outrage over the implications of the Downing Street Minutes; the light of inquiry is finally shining into the darkest corners of these administrations shady dealings. Suddenly, things are moving very quickly. On July 17, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) - along with 34 co-sponsors - introduced a Resolution of Inquiry in the House of Representatives. If it passes, the White House and the State Department will be required to "transmit all information relating to communication with officials of the United Kingdom between January 1, 2002, and October 16, 2002, relating to the policy of the United States with respect to Iraq."

This potentially paradigm-shifting resolution must be voted on in committee within fourteen legislative days of its introduction. The resolution will almost certainly be voted on in committee between September 6 and 16, because if it is not, Lee can demand a vote of the full House. If left standing, however, the resolution must be taken up again by September 16. Here’s where your help is needed: the more Congress Members in the full House who co-sponsor the resolution, the more likely it is to be approved by members of the committee. Now is the time to bring full pressure to bear on those representatives who remain uncommitted and to do all we can to get as many members as possible to sponsor this resolution.

When writing your representatives, tell them that information in the Downing Street Minutes strongly suggests that President Bush intentionally deceived Congress about the reasons for going to war. Tell them that if such is not the case, the administration should be eager to release the information contained in the additional official documents and see the President vindicated. Either way, Congress or the American people deserve to know the truth. Full disclosure is essential. No one is above the law. We will not stand for secrecy in our White House.

We have only a few days in which to urge our representatives to keep this pivotal resolution alive. Demand that committee members not only vote for it, but vow to discuss it at length and engage in substantive debate when the committee meets, forcing opposing members to go on record with their reasons for voting it down. The future of our country hangs in the balance. And, as always, PDA is here. Progressive representatives are working alongside the citizenry, pushing for truth and justice. Your participation and support are making this all possible. Thank you for all you're doing. TAKE ACTION HERE: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/bills/?bill=7877436

QUOTE OF THE DAY - The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Abigail Adams, Paris 1787

MESSAGE FROM MARTY WALSH AT TEDKENNEDY.COM - Ignoring Reality
The White House needs a plan for success in Iraq. And over the past few weeks, more than 27,000 of you sent that message straight to the White House. It amazed me to watch the numbers grow -- first as a trickle, and then skyrocketing by the thousands. That outpouring from our growing online community demonstrates how Americans across Massachusetts and the country want to unite around what matters to us. The folks who delivered the petition have a post on our website's journal: http://www.tedkennedy.com/whdelivery

As out of touch as this President can seem, he can't ignore the growing skepticism about our progress in Iraq. And it's not partisan opposition -- its fundamental discontent seen in our returning soldiers, in congressional testimony, and among friends in the international community. While our soldiers fight overseas, the White House ignores its responsibility to offer a strategy for success. Granted, they have a host of questions to answer these days in Washington -- but some of them speak directly to the importance of this critical task. The sacrifices made in Iraq by our soldiers in Iraq -- brave Americans fighting for a country they value above of their own lives -- merit more than press conferences and photo-ops. Our troops deserve the hope that only a real plan for success can give them.

Ultimately, we the voters must hold this President and our leaders in Congress accountable -- and elect leaders who represent our values in Washington. That's why we need, more than ever, to stand together and stand with Senator Kennedy. I look forward to working with you over the next few months. Together, we will continue to give the Senator the support and energy he needs to keep standing up for our values.

[Duchess Note ... Some of what Mr. Walsh says on behalf of the Senator I don't believe in. Progress in Iraq? I don't think so. Be that as it may, I feel the general facts and message need to be broadcast far and wide. This Bush Regime needs to be held accountable for their numerous lies and deceptions.]

MESSAGE FROM THE FOLK AT ImpeachBush@VoteToImpeach.org -- Majority Believes Bush Misled the People

STEPS FORWARD FOR THE IMPEACHMENT MOVEMENT MAJORITY OF U.S. PUBLIC BELIEVES BUSH MISLED THE PEOPLE BUSES COMING FROM ALL OVER THE U.S. FOR SEPTEMBER 24

Haunted by the threat of impeachment, Bush has received the news that he dreaded most. A majority of the U.S. public doubts the United States will win in Iraq and believes Bush intentionally misled the country about Iraq's weapons capabilities, according to a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll. Previous Gallop polls have asked the same questions, but this was the first time that over half of those polled - 51 per cent - believed Bush deliberately misled the people when he asserted Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, USA Today said. As we reported two weeks ago, more than "two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq," according to a recent Zogby Poll.

The war in Iraq is one of the greatest atrocities in recent times. The Bush Administration's combination of arrogance with an utter disregard for the law requires Congress to immediately proceed with filing Articles of Impeachment. Tens of millions of people know with certainty that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and other leading officials lied to them. That is why the impeachment movement has developed as a nationwide grassroots political phenomenon. On September 24, hundreds of thousands of people will be in the streets for major antiwar demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The impeachment movement is organizing a major contingent for September 24 at the White House.

ImpeachBush.org/VoteToImpeach.org signs and banners will be everywhere that day. Thanks to the support of so many people, the publicity and outreach campaign is in full gear and will get stronger in the weeks ahead. Supporting this campaign makes all the difference. Listed below are some of the cities that we know are already mobilizing buses and car caravans to come to the September 24 demonstration at the White House. It is already an incredible list that will surely double in size as we intensify our work, getting out leaflets, posters, stickers as well as the phone banking and national outreach efforts. This is a huge, national effort and the expenses are great. Every day volunteers sacrifice their time and energy. But we can only succeed with the donations and contributions of people who believe that nothing is more important than holding Bush and other high officials accountable for their criminal conduct. Please make a contribution and tell a friend and family member to so as well. To make a contribution on our secure server, where you can also obtain information to write a check, click here: http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=nIjaaNDKxF0lmpjyhwuhog

Cities already organizing transportation to the White House on September 24 include:

Albuquerque, NM
Ann Arbor, MI
Baltimore, MD
Bangor, ME
Berkeley Springs, WV
Birmingham, AL
Boston, MA
Buffalo, NY
Cape May, NJ
Charlotte, NC
Chattanooga, TN
Cleveland, OH
Chicago, IL
Cobleskill, NY
Dallas, TX
Detroit, MI
Dubuque, IA
Evansville, IN
Fayetteville, NC
Gainesville, FL
Geneseo, NY
Gulfport, MS
Hackensack, NJ
Harrisburg, PA
Harrisonburg, VA
Hattiesburg, MS
Jacksonville, FL
Kingston, NY
Lancaster, PA
Lafayette, LA
Linwood, NJ
Louisville, KY
Luck, WI
Macon, GA
Memphis, TN
Meridian, MS
Burlington, VT
Montpelier, VT
New Brunswick, NJ
New Paltz, NY
New York City, NY
Newark, DE
Newark, NJ
Pleasantville, NJ
Poughkeepsie, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Reno, NV
Richmond, VA
Rochester, NY
Sarasota, FL
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Schenectady, NY
St. Petersburg, FL
Tuscaloosa, AL
West Chester, PA
[Duchess highlighted the cities near where I live in Brooklyn, NY]