LIBERAL NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND

REMEMBERING NEW ORLEANS
Kristina Rizga, WireTap
An interview with the co-founder of the Neighborhood Story Project, looking back at what has happened since the hurricane hit, and what needs to happen next.
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/32636/

EXCERPT: THESE STREETS ARE OURS
Ebony Bolding, Ashley Nelson, WireTap
A street-level look at two New Orleans neighborhoods from teens that know then inside and out:
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/32708/

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed [and hence clamorous to be led to safety] by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, ALL of them imaginary. H.L. Mencken

ALL GOOD POLITICS ARE LOCAL
Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown
Washington may be squandering our democratic promise, but out beyond the Beltway, America's progressive grassroots are thriving.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32483/

SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY
Bill Moyers, AlterNet
The Abramoff and DeLay corruption scandals make it clear that now more than ever we need publically financed elections.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32750/
[Duchess Note: I’ve been a great admirer of Mr Moyers for years. It was a sad day when he left the PBS program “NOW” Happily he is still busy in all forms of activism. Bravo Mr Moyers Bravo!]

A FOOL'S ECONOMIC PARADISE
Stephen Pizzo, News for Real
Bushonomics has been the most destructive set of economic policies to hit Americans since Herbert Hoover. No, wait. That understates the problem.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32754/

PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S PRICEY PILLS
Kara Jesella, Nerve.com
For young women, access to low-cost birth control is more important than ever. So why's it so hard -- and expensive -- to get it from Planned Parenthood?
http://www.alternet.org/story/32759/

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ YOUR LIBERAL NEWS HERE

TO IMPEACH OR NOT TO IMPEACH
Linda Zoblotsky, Peace Journalism
http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=8017

THE MYTH OF L.A.'S RACE WAR
Maria Luisa Tucker, AlterNet
Former gang members say the violent Los Angeles jail riots aren't about race; they're about power and pain.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32674/

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws. Tacitus

OSAMA, SADDAM & THE PORTS
Paul Krugman, NY Times
So why did this latest case of sloppiness and indifference finally catch the public's attention? Because this time the adminstration has become a victim of its own campaign of fearmongering and insinuation.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/022406Z.shtml

IF IT'S SUNDAY, IT'S CONSERVATIVE
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
A new report nails down what we knew all along: if you're a guest on a TV talk show, you're probably a conservative.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32712/

SHRINE BOMBING DEEPENS DIVIDES
Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor
The attack on Iraq's Askariya shrine could lead to a civil war between religious sects.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/32706/

THE OLYMPICS WE MISSED
Dave Zirin, TheNation.com
Too bad NBC has botched the Winter Olympics, because there's been enough drama to satisfy even a nation of reality TV junkies.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32719/

IT'S THE CORPORATION, STUPID
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
The government is willing to outsource American jobs for the holy grail of free trade. Why is it surprising that national security is ditto?
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/32699/

PRESS RELEASE ON FEB 21 FROM CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH - US Should Not Export Security; Port Deal Contradicts Administration’s Fear Rhetoric
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, issued the following statement today on the deal to export America’s port security. -- “This Administration has zero credibility when it comes to securing our nation’s ports. While they have funneled billions of dollars into securing air travel, this Administration has under funded port security and failed to provide adequate technology and personnel to protect one of our nation’s most vulnerable targets. The United States government should not be in the business of exporting our nation’s security needs. This deal contradicts the rhetoric that this Administration has used, and misused, for years to strike fear in Americans. This Administration has used the threat of terror, in rhetoric and policy, for years to push a radical ideology. Our nation is only as secure as our weakest point. This Administration in the almost five years since 9/11 has virtually abandon and ignored securing our ports, making our nation more vulnerable. Can this Administration really tell the American people no United States company is capable of providing this service for our nation’s ports? Congress must hold hearings on this misguided policy.”

WORLD COMMUNITY MUST PLAY POSITIVE ROLE
Jimmy Carter / Miami Herald
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0221-30.htm
As the results of the recent Palestinian elections are implemented, it's important to understand how the transition process works and also how important to it are actions by Israel and the United States.

THE SEEKERS - The Birth & Life of the "9-11 Truth Movement"
Jarrett Murphy / The Village Voice
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0608,murphy,72254,6.html

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Can any of you seriously say the Bill of Rights could get through Congress today? It wouldn't even get out of committee. F. Lee Bailey

DON'T LET THEM TURN OUR PORT SECURITY OVER TO A TERRORIST INFILTRATED ARAB GOVERNMENT
Just when you thought homeland security couldn't get more inept and incompetent, we find out the Bush administration casually and secretly planned on approving sale of control of six of our major ports to an company controlled by The United Arab Emirates (UAE). Isn't this the same United Arab Emirates that was one of the few to recognize the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Isn't this the same United Arab Emirates that has been the transfer point for rogue nuclear weapons components, and who have harbored al Qaeda terrorists?

ACTION PAGE: http://www.nocrony.com/port_security.php

Are they completely out of their minds? Or are we for allowing the Bush administration to remain in power even one single additional day? There is already a bi-partisan coalition forming to demand that there be an immediate investigation of why such a deal was even considered, let alone waved through without a concern in the world. There are already many who believe that 9/11 attacks could not have succeeded without a deliberate stand down by our own government. Is this yet another example of that? Please take action NOW, so we can win all victories that are supposed to be ours, and forward this message to everyone else you know. If you would like to get alerts like these, you can do so at http://www.usalone.com/in.htm

Powered by The People's Email Network

TRUEMAJORITY WEBSITE ALWAYS SHEDS LIGHT AND TRUTH - The War Burns Through $100,000 Every Minute - Still No Exit Plan; Still No End in Sight
President George Bush has come to Congress - to the American people, really- to ask for another $65 billion for war in the Middle East. [Duchess Note: Which will be borrowed, like other times, from China, India, etc. The US is in debt up to its corrupt, immoral eyeballs.] It's the fourth time in three years the Administration has asked for extra, unplanned billions to be taken from other needs. What will he do with the money? We're told this $65 billion (in addition to the $241 billion spent so far) will be used to "stay the course." Problem is, no one - not Mr .Bush nor Vice President Dick Cheney nor Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld -seems to know what "the course" is. All citizens are offered is more of the same policies - the same policies which have led Iraq to the brink of civil war and bogged our troops in a hopeless quagmire. Enough is enough!

Let's tell Congress that it's time to use their Constitutional authority to protect our nation's resources. If we can collect 40,000 messages, we'll deliver them to their Washington offices before Congress votes on this $65 billion request. If you'd like to view, edit or send this letter, visitthe following website:

http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/warspending/w3dkexb415bbbkj

While the President "stays the course," the war's human and financial toll is mounting. Over 2,200 American soldiers have died and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed. The war is costing about $4.5 billion per month, or about $100,000 per minute, and the Office of Management and Budget has stated that no one knows how much it will cost this year and into the future. The President's latest $65 billion request comes on top of $50 billion already earmarked for this year, bringing the total to $120 billion and fueling deficit spending that last year totaled more than $400 billion. The tight budget in Washington, coupled with the Administration's insistence on moving forward with billions in tax cuts, is preventing our country from doing great things that could make so many dreams come true that it's just heartbreaking. For $70 billion, America could - for example- save 6 million kids who die each year of hunger-related disease in impoverished countries. And it could do this each year for 5 years! Tell your Member of Congress to vote against spending $65 billion more on the Iraq war.

http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/warspending/w3dkexb415bbbkj

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... A society that puts equality ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. Milton Friedman

SHAKE UP THE WEEKEND WITH SOME LIBERAL NEWS

BEHIND THE WHITE HOUSE'S BILLION-DOLLAR PROPAGANDA PUSH
Michelle Chen, The NewStandard
In two years, the Bush administration spent $1.6 billion to paint a prettier picture of its failing policies, even as it cut away the social safety net.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32378/

GETTING HIS WAR ON
Dean Kuipers, LA CityBeat
David Rees never wanted to be a political cartoonist, but then 9/11 revealed the ambivalent relationship to violence at the heart of American culture.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32359/

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME -- ON FOOT
Jay Walljasper, Ode
From Copenhagen to Bellevue, a movement has emerged to reclaim public spaces.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/31951/

EUREKA! AND BADA-BING!
Arianna Huffington, AlterNet
With its gunplay, good ol' boys and beer, Cheney's Armstrong Ranch is sounding more and more like a Mafia strip club.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/32411/

MORE ON BLACKS AND IMMIGRATION
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Pacific News Service
The last in a three-part series examines the roots and reasoning of some African-American communities' anti-immigration views.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/32410/

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SELF-CENSORSHIP
David Morris, AlterNet
As the violence over the cartoons expands, we are no closer to defining the boundaries of free speech in an age ofgrowing religious fundamentalism.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32202/

MESSAGE FROM SENATOR TED KENNEDY - The President Is Not Authorized
Once again, the Bush Administration has been caught abusing its power, and in doing so has undermined our ability to protect American citizens.

I take a back seat to no one when it comes to protecting our homeland and have worked to give the President the necessary tools to fight the war on terror. Yet, the Administration's reckless and irresponsible behavior weakens our national security interests, and undermines our very system of government. The President blatantly refused to work with Congress and the courts to conduct this program lawfully, even though past Presidents have worked within the law when conducting the surveillance programs necessary to protect our nation's security.

Because the President ignored the laws set by Congress to regulate domestic surveillance of US citizens, evidence collected through his warrant less wire-tapping program may not be admissible in courts, and our front-line intelligence officials have been put in serious legal jeopardy. By going it alone, the Administration has undercut our national security. Our nation must abide by the rule of law and the Constitution, and when we do not, we place our fundamental liberties and values at risk. Now we must make it clear to the President that no law supports these activities. Senator Pat Leahy and I have introduced Senate Resolution 350 to specifically address the legality of this Administration's program. Please review the language and then add your name to its supporters:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/res350

Our resolution rejects the Administration's argument that the domestic spying operation was improved implicitly in the "Authorization for Use of Military Force" that Congress passed in 2001 for the war in Afghanistan. There's no evidence that Congress implied any such thing in that resolution. Your signature will make it clear that Americans and their representatives in Congress never authorized the President to bypass our Constitution and laws:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/res350

Our national security is inextricably bound up with our constitutional rights as citizens of this country. This relationship is not a partisan question, but an American fact. Indeed, many Republicans have expressed outrage over President Bush's rejection of the need for lawful approval and oversight. You can help us correct the abusive actions of this Administration. Join us and show the President that we intend to stand strong both for our national security, for the rule of law, and for our basic constitutional rights:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/res350

No American - Republican or Democrat - can dispute the importance of protecting our nation, but we must fight for our values, too.

LIVE FROM NYC - ITS THE LIBERAL NEWS

REWRITING OUR ROTTEN HISTORY OF ELECTIONS
Matthew Wheeland, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/32262/

EXCERPT: HOW TO STEAL AN ELECTION
Andrew Gumbel, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/32084/

WILL THE WHISTLES BLOW BEFORE WE ATTACK IRAN?
Ray McGovern, AlterNet
We need a whistleblower with the courage to speak out loudly, and early enough to prevent the Bush administration from getting us into another unnecessary war.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/32251/

DICK CHENEY GOES HUNTING
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
Of course the Cheney shooting was an accident, but it still helps illustrate the Bush administration's curiously shifting history on issues of blame and responsibility.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32240/

MEDICARE PLAN BENEFITS INDUSTRY, NOT SENIORS
Erin Cassin, The NewStandard
Although the new Medicare drug plan can cut costs to beneficiaries who navigate its bureaucratic maze, critics say it's costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/32265/

MESSAGE FROM "TROOPS OUT NOW COALITION" - International Campaign to *STOP* the War on Iran before it starts!

Sign the statement .. http://stopwaroniran.org/petition.shtml

It is with grave concern that we observe the growing threat of a new U.S.war--this time against the people of Iran. The media is filled with reports of an alleged nuclear threat posed by Iran and the assumed need forthe U.S. to take military action. These reports recall the....

http://stopwaroniran.org/donate.shtml

StopWarOnIran.org, a grassroots effort, has launched a massive public education campaign to oppose the drive towards a new war against the people of Iran. As part of this effort, we need your help to place this full page ad in major newspapers across the U.S. "Weapons of Mass Destruction" stories issued in the months leading up to the war on Iraq. In the lead up to the illegal invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration asserted that Iraq possessed massive stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction and that it was capable of launching an attack - nuclear, chemical and biological - on the U.S. within 45 minutes. President Bush said that the U.S. had to attack immediately, and could not "wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun --that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud." We all know now that this propaganda campaign was a complete fabrication created to justify a war of aggression.

Now we see reports that are all too similar being made to justify military action against the people of Iran. Taking Iran to the UN Security Council is a prelude for unilateral action. Just as in the case of Iraq, none of the claims made by the U.S. government stand up to unbiased scrutiny. Iran has submitted to the most intrusive and humiliating inspections, above and beyond what is required by Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). None of the inspections have found any evidence that Iran is developing a nuclear weapons program. There is only one government that has used nuclear weapons against civilian populations, and that same nation has the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction on the planet. Most dangerous and incredible it is at this very moment developing a new generation of tactical nuclear weapons that it intends to use, not merely to threaten. That country is, of course, the United States. Shouldn't any real discussion of the dangers of nuclear weapons include the weapons stockpiled by the Pentagon and the history of U.S. aggression and interventions?

Iran has suffered greatly at the hands of the U.S. We recall the U.S. overthrew the democratically elected government of Dr. M. Mossadegh and returned the Shah to the Peacock Throne "the proudest achievement of the CIA". For 25 years the Shah ruled Iran with an iron fist for the benefit of U.S. oil corporations before the people of Iran, in the millions, overthrew his tyranny at a terrible cost in lives. For the past 27 years U.S. sanctions have impeded Iran's right to development and brought great suffering to the people. It is essential that all voices opposed to the devastation of a new war in the Middle East speak out now. We urge an immediate end to Washington's campaign of sanctions, hostility, and falsehood against the people of Iran. We oppose any new U.S. aggression against Iran. We need funds for human needs, not endless war for empire.

CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20060131_kucinich_podcast/
From Jan. 31, 2006 on Truthdig

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) blasts the president’s address in an exclusive Truthdig podcast.

Truthdig: Immediately in the wake of President Bush’s State of the Union address, Truthdig interviewed the Ohio congressman and 2004 presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich on his reaction to the speech. The first question was about the president’s call to stay the course in Iraq.

Kucinich: What the president promised was more war. And it’s disheartening to see that he hasn’t gotten the message that all his underpinnings of the war have been knocked out. They’re standing totally on lies. We really need a new policy in Iraq that enables us to get out of Iraq and bring our troops home. A majority of Americans want us to leave Iraq this year, yet what we heard tonight was a commitment to war with no end, and war we cannot win.

The president is committed to victory, but that kind of arrogance is sure to lead to catastrophe not only for the people of Iraq but for the men and women who bravely serve this country. And I want to say that withdrawal is not retreat. There is a need for a new approach, involving the international community, not the United States trying to dictate unilaterally the future of Iraq.

Truthdig: We next asked Mr. Kucinich about Bush’s call for the adoption of alternative energy sources.

Kucinich: It’s almost hilarious to see the president mixing nuclear and coal--neither of which are clean energies--you know, right now, this country is experiencing huge budget deficits, and nuclear power contains one of the biggest hidden sources of a drain on the future of this country because of the costs of storing nuclear waste. The fact that the president is still talking about coal shows that he hasn’t awakened to the fact that coal is not clean, that it still remains a source of sulfur dioxide, that it relates to global climate change, that the president would put his foot on the accelerator and his foot on the gas at the same time. That inertia only leads to more destruction of the environment.

Truthdig: Following that, we asked the congressman for his impression of Bush’s healthcare initiatives.

Kucinich: The message from the president on healthcare was very clear: “Don’t get sick.” If you happen to have money and you’re healthy, health saving accounts are a great idea. If you’re like the rest of Americans, health savings accounts don’t offer you anything and as a matter of fact they give no relief to 46 million Americans who are without health insurance. We need a universal, single-payer not-for-profit healthcare system that would help the health of this country, it would help the economy of this country, and it put American on line with all the other industrialized nations.

Truthdig: And finally, we talked about Bush’s section on Social Security.

Kucinich: I’m glad the Democrats stood up to applaud the president when he said that he wasn’t able to do what he wanted to do on Social Security. The whole thing on Social Security privatization was a scam, and we should never forget that this administration tried to privatize a system that is not broken, tried to fix it with a private solution that would have benefited Wall Street, and not the American people.

ORGANIZERS SET TO BEGIN FIRST PHASE OF MISSOULA SKATEPARK CONSTRUCTION
Joe Nickell, The Missoulian
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/02/14/news/top/news01.txt

[Missoula Skatepark Association secretary Ross Peterson and Jeff Ament [bass player with Pearl Jam] share a chuckle Monday afternoon while waiting for First Interstate Bank Vice President Sue Larew to present the bank's $5,000 donation toward the completion of the first phase of Missoula's skatepark construction.] Photo by JENNIFER MICHAELIS/Missoulian

PERSONAL NEWS #85
On January 26th, members from the NYC Dept of Peace core team [ie: Karen, Carol, Chris, Joe, Marni, Eileen, Norma & I] held an hour long conference call regarding an upcoming Marianne Williamson event in April. Much prep work to do between now and then. Main one being finding a large, affordable and suitable location. Do media advertising, fax out invitations, making connections, etc. We are hoping to get Ben Harper and Congressman Kucinich to participate in this event. Stay tuned for more news. . . . .

On Saturday, January 28th, I had a training session at the gym with Marie my personal trainer. Was feeling well enough, but not quite 100%, to tackle a one hour gym workout. Marie is fully aware of my health situation and we took it easy. During the workout I had a few coughing fits, some green hairballs and had to utilize the inhaler twice. Overall it felt good to be back at the gym. Will easy back into the routine during February with one visit a week to the gym. Then upgrade that in March and so forth.

On Wednesday, February 1st, attended 3-hour training for nonviolent communications with other NYC DoP folk. Hadn't seen many of my DoP pals since the December meeting. It was great catching up and receiving supportive hugs. This 3-hour training is called "Getting Your Point Across - When Others Don't Want to Listen". And was held at HealthyBody NYC on Broadway and hosted by Dr Dian Killian. The 3-hour training provided us tools to:

* Gain confidence in our ability to resolve conflict while maintaining integrity to your values.
* Increase our level of satisfaction and feeling of connection in all relationships.

It’s based on Gandhian principles of Nonviolence and inspired by the work of humanist psychologist Carl Rogers, Nonviolent Communication helps us to hear and express feelings and needs and make clear observations and requests. Its important training and the basics are learned in those three hours. With more training, over time, one can become more adept at proper nonviolent communication. Not only with strangers; but with co-workers, politicians, friends and family members. I also purchased two small books on the topic by Dr Marshall Rosenberg. To learn more go to ... http://www.brooklynnvc.org/

On Thursday, February 2nd, I attended our E&Y department [ie: Insurance Tax] two-hour luncheon to welcome a new employee on staff. The lunch was enjoyable and delicious ... held at a kosher restaurant in the theater district area off of Seventh Avenue [46th St]. The entry and dessert I ordered did not upset my sensitive stomach, plus I stuck with water, as wine would not have been appropriate. John, the head partner of our department, footed the bill which I'm sure was quite pricey.

Wednesday, February 8th, was an exciting day for me. The week before I learned that my districts Congresswoman, Nydia Velazquez, [Democrat] had not signed on to the third re-introduction of the US Dept of Peace bill in September 2005. This greatly disappointed me, as she had signed on the first two times, why not now. Over the weekend I composed a one page fax to my congresswoman. I faxed it out twice on the 6th and 7th. Not only to my congresswoman, but to her "chief of staff" and her "scheduler". Wednesday morning I received a phone call from Velazquez's DC office. A nice young lady named Julie asked me for some info and abit about DoP, which I graciously provided. [In all the faxes I've sent to Velazquez office since August 2005, I'm finally getting some feedback. Hurray!!] In turn I asked her for direct dial and fax numbers to Ms Howard the scheduler. Once off the phone I promptly faxed my FAX to Ms Howard. Later in the afternoon I receive an email from Carol, NYC DoPs chairperson, asking me if I was responsible for this [followed by a smiley face]. I scroll down the email and it was announced from Congressman Kucinich office and National DoP office that Nydia Velazquez has co-sponsored the bill. OMG!!!!! My fax motivated the congresswoman to contact the congressman’s office. This was big news. I was so happy, giddy and excited [bouncing out of my chair & dancing around my desk area] that my co-workers became abit alarmed. Naturally, since I'd been very ill during most of January. I explained what transpired and they were all happy for me. Anything to promote peace and not war is a damn good thing. I called Carol and we talked about it. I even emailed some friends about the news. Later on, after I calmed down abit, I called my parents to tell them the good news and they were impressed. Am hoping to score a meeting with the congresswoman to talk about DoP. Stay tuned for updates.

Friday, February 10th, I attended a special screening event with Linda at Reidy Friendship Hall on upper eastside of Manhattan. [Linda drove me home afterwards, as that was quicker than taking NYC transit.] It was to see the German film called "Sophie Scholl". [I highly recommend this film and firmly believe it’s a must see for all.] The Adult Education Committee and Peace Task Force of All Souls, in conjunction with Zeitgeist Films, presented the film for free. The film is up for an Academy Award nomination of Best Foreign Language Film of 2006. SOPHIE SCHOLL "is the true story of a young woman who did what few in Nazi Germany even dared to think." Director of the film, Marc Rothemund was present afterwards to talk about the film and answer questions from those of us in the audience. The film, SOPHIE SCHOLL, received a 20 minute standing ovation after its premier at the Berlin Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear Awards for Best Director and Best Actress. It also won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Hamptons Film Festival this past summer. For more information about the film visit www.sophieschollmovie.com As for myself; I could see small, noticeable parallels throughout the film between Nazi Germany and present day Bush Regime. The trial in the film, reminded me of what the US Supreme Court will be like from now on that Judge Alito is part of it. There are no more moderates on the US Supreme Court only ultra conservatives. This nasty cocktail spells disaster for average Americans over the next 5 to 15 years.

Blizzard of 2006 hit yesterday, February 12th, and dumped 24 inches of snow on NYC, plus the tri-state area. It’s a beautiful, pure white winter wonderland out my living room window in Brooklyn. The flurries started late yesterday afternoon and the heavy snow commenced in the wee hours when most folk are asleep. I was up at 3am to use the bathroom and looked out the window. Maybe a few inches of snow on the ground and the wind was howling furiously. When I got up a 7:30am the weather changed to a much heavier snowfall and all was quiet outside. [I love it like that ... peaceful.] Was supposed to go into Manhattan around 1pm to do some DoP work with Carol at her place. Knew it wouldn't be possible and sent her an email. We'll reschedule for another time. Some jackass [male] in an SUV was trying to drive and park at 8am in front of my apartment building. [He did hit the fire hydrant across the street.] His vehicle had NO snow tires and the idiot was flooring the gas pedal. Stupid man! At one point he gets out of his gas guzzling SUV with a small shovel to look behind his vehicle. I couldn't help it ... just made me laugh. He finally gives up and drives off sliding down the street.


As the morning progressed folk came out to shovel the sidewalk in front of their buildings or head to the grocery stores for supplies. In the early afternoon parents pulled their small children along on sleds. The snowfall stopped after 3pm and the wind caused many snow drifts. Throughout the day I caught up on things ... such as reading, baking, emails, bead jewelry earrings, telly, movie, phone calls and cleaning.

[Associated Press photo at left of upper eastside in Manhattan on Sunday, February 12th ... blizzard of 2006]



LETTER FROM RAMSEY CLARK: IMPEACHMENT MEANS THE PEOPLE STILL HAVE THEPOWER! THE NEW YORK TIMES AD WAS A GREAT SUCCESS! HELP PLACE MORE!
Impeachment is the most important issue facing Constitutional government in the United States. Impeachment will determine whether the American people will hold the Bush administration accountable for its High Crimes and Misdemeanors: the supreme international crime -- a war of aggression, rampant militarism, torture, surreptitious laws and treaties, and economic policies that steal from the poor and middle class to further enrich the rich. Impeachment is also the test that will determine whether "We The People" of the United States, still have the power to affect the conduct of our own elected officials and the will to exercise that power.

George Bush seeks $2.77 trillion for the 2007 Fiscal Year budget providing for more military aggression and less education, health care and other programs for the people. He has nearly three more years to take our country into more wars maybe in Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, or Sudan; three more years to trash the Bill of Rights at home and destroy all respect for the United States abroad; three more years to enrich the rich, impoverish the middle class and poor, undermine the U.S. economy and burden future generations of Americans with burdens they cannot bear.

Our impeachment ad in the New York Times on January 27, 2006 shows we can make a difference. It generated tens of thousands of new votes for impeachment. The New York Times carried the Impeachment message in the first section, full page, to readers of more than a million copies of the National Edition and the New York Edition of the New York Times. More newspaper ads, more votes for Impeachment, more organizing and fundraising can make Impeachment a major issue in the 2006 midterm Congressional elections. A committed effort over the next month scan move Impeachment to the forefront in the elections and to the floor of the House of Representatives which has the "sole power of Impeachment," and onto the Senate for trial.

Ads in newspapers in Congressional Districts can help activate impeachment organizing to bring the issue home to members and candidates where their election will be decided. Only Impeachment will warn the next Presidents that the American people will hold them accountable if they lawlessly lead us into wars, aggression and criminal acts to control foreign government and exploit their peoples. Only Impeachment will assure governments and peoples around the world that the American people understand what their government has done, that the American people are strong and good, and have impeached and removed their lawless leaders from office for violating all the principles America has always espoused, and that We The People of theUnited States will remain vigilant and see to it that the government of the United States will hereafter seek peace, friendship, equality of nations and peoples, and respect for the human dignity of every child, woman, and man on Earth.

I urge you to enlist now in the Impeachment Movement for the duration, to organize your community in the struggle and to raise and contribute funds essential to secure the Impeachment of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales and other civil officers found to have committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Click here to make a donation for the mass advertising campaign to place the NYT impeachment ad in other newspapers and support the campaign for impeachment: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/R?i=kCvDyuKYadGX47_kMAI-Ag

A HEALTHY DOES OF REALITY FOR MR BUSH
John Nichols, The Nation
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0209-22.htm

CARTER WAS RIGHT ON ENERGY ALL ALONG
Bill Berry, Madison Capital-Times
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0209-25.htm

ON THE PRESIDENT'S WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING PROGRAM
Commentary by Russ Feingold
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0208-34.htm

LIVE FROM NYC IT’S LIBERAL NEWS – “WE THE PEOPLE” NEED TO KEEP THE TRUTH OUT THERE – BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER HEAR TRUTH FROM KING GEORGE II, A NEOCON NOR ANY REPUBLICAN – NEVER!!

CAN BLOGS REVOLUTIONIZE PROGRESSIVE POLITICS?
Lakshmi Chaudhry, In These Times
Bloggers tout the rise of the netroots as changing how politics works, but will the internet just become a new method of conducting politics as usual?
http://www.alternet.org/story/31955/

POWER: IT'S OURS TO GIVE, NOT HIS TO TAKE
Commentary by John Atcheson
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0207-22.htm

LOSING OUR FEMINIST LEADERS
Jessica Valenti, AlterNet
Within a week, America lost three great women who worked for social change in different ways. Who will continue their work?
http://www.alternet.org/story/31954/

MINING DEATHS A WAKE-UP CALL TO PRESERVE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Commentary by Laurie Gindin Beacham
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0207-24.htm

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... There was never a good war or a bad peace. Benjamin Franklin

WE HOLD THIS TRUTHINESS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
Michael Winship, BuzzFlash
Cable hosts and politicians are increasingly making statements with no foundation in the facts. As with Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, the truth may soon catch up with them.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31945/

THOSE REPUBLICAN JOKERS
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
Apparently, the push for energy independence is just another Bush punchline.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/31950/

"DANGEROUS" ACADEMICS: RIGHT-WING DISTORTIONS ABOUT LEFTIST PROFESSORS
Commentary by Robert Jensen
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0207-26.htm

ECO-ACTIVISTS FIGHT THE *TERRORIST* LABEL
Catherine Komp, The NewStandard
By labeling animal-rights and environmental defense activists as 'eco-terrorists,' business lobbyists hope to clamp down even further on nonviolent protest.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/31933/

SPYING AND LYING
Arianna Huffington, AlterNet
Illegal wiretapping, and the administration's mendacity about it, is not only wrong on principle -- it's a perfect wedge issue for Dems.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/31944/

PERSONAL NEWS #84
December 23rd thru 26th I visited family in upstate NY for the Xmas holiday. Felt good to get away from NYC for a few days to a quieter area. Relaxed, purchased beads, hair appt, shopping w/Mom, reading, cable TV, cooking, Xmas Eve with brother & his wife and then Xmas dinner with my father’s siblings. That latter part was painful to my sensibilities. It also affected Mom and I think Dad must have been in the dark the whole time. Anyhow, it totally firmed my resolve in never associating with Dad's rude, nasty, conservative and inconsiderate siblings ever again. Hypocrites! Weekend was strolling along just fine until that dinner. BARF! Aside from that exceedingly unpleasant 2-hour incident; I received several delightful gifts from Mom, Dad, Bro, Sister-in-Law and friends. Upon arriving back into Manhattan I was delighted to see the subways still running. Amen!

December 29th thru January 2nd my Kucitizen friend Cielito stayed at my place in Brooklyn. Those who read my Blog on a regular basis will remember me mentioning Cielito staying at my place back in October. I was happy to help her out again, as that is what friends do for one another. From there she went on to stay at a friends place on Central Park West. And, as I type this, I believe she's back in other digs in Brooklyn. [Dear goddess ... I hope all is going okay during your nomad existence?]

On Saturday, December 31st, I went to a small dinner & New Years Eve party at Linda's [another Kucitizen] home in Brooklyn. The evening was spent in companionship, stimulating conversation, good food, spiked eggnog [total yummers] and watching the New Year festivities on TV. Cielito was also at the party and we drove back to my place [her car] at 2am.

On Wednesday, January 4th, I went to a "Democracy for NYC" meetup at the Royal Oak bar in Williamsburg and my first one since October. [Sadly, I also missed several LOTRs meetups.] The end of 2005 was a busy time for this gal. There were five of us [ie: two men & three women] at this meetup and the host was Ben. Topics of fascinating discussion during the 2-hour meeting were on monthly mixer, advocacy groups, City Council resolutions, verified voting and candidates running in the 2006 election. There was mention of a great website called Daily Gotham at http://www.dailygotham.com ... to learn more about DFA or DFNYC go to ... www.DemocracyforNYC.org or www.DemocracyrforAmerica.com

Friday, January 6th, I joined my friend Cielito in going to see the wonderful RUSSIA exhibit at the Guggenheim. [She had free tix!] Also joining us were her friends Maurizio and Kevin. [Nasty wind and so cold out that evening, compared to rest of an almost balmy month.] Since it was the last weekend of the exhibit and the Guggenheim is open late on Fridays, the line of New Yorkers waiting to get in was very long. It was sooo worth the wait ... 500 to 600 years of icons, paintings, sculpture and ending with modern art. The main exhibit was in the circular, multi floor part of the museum. Incredible view to behold. Afterwards Kevin took off with his Mom; which left Cielito, Maurizio and I to find a pizza place to nosh on a slice or two. We were so hungry by then, plus we talked about numerous things and I got home around 10pm.

On Saturday, January 7th, I headed up to Yonkers to do volunteer work at Joanne's ferret shelter. It was great seeing her and the wee furballs again. I missed them so much! On a sad note ... dear little Oliver passed away between my October visit and present. Apparently he had a heart condition that wasn't detected until too late. Sob & sigh! [Oliver came to the shelter in February 2002 as a 6 month old furkid. I also started volunteer work at the shelter at the same time.] Also since my October visit several furkids had been adopted into good homes. Hurray! The visit turned out very well and I got almost all my duties/chores accomplished.

One little incident ... as I pulled away a wee ferret from a tussle he was having with another he pooped on my sweater due to being scared from the tussle. Good thing I had a turtleneck top under the sweater. Had to take the sweater off, clean it as best I could and then back in Brooklyn take it to the cleaners. Oh well, these things happen when around babies and little pets. [photo at left - isn't Baxter adorable - smiling]

Tuesday, January 10th, was the monthly NYC Dept of Peace conference call at 9pm. Wish I could relate to what was discussed on the call. Since I was still very ill at that time, I unfortunately don't remember much AND didn't take notes.

Overall the month of January was NOT a good one for this gal and it started the evening of January 8th. Had doctor appointments regarding a nasty illness [ie: stomach virus, fever, bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea & acid reflux -- yep, all that at the same time] on January 11th, 18th and 25th. Mon dieu ... I haven't been this ill since the late 1990s. From January 9th thru 27th I was out of work ill on five separate dates. Through it all I lost and put back on 10 pounds. Seemed like a permanent fixture at the local pharmacy. Looked like crap and felt like I had the stuffing knocked out of me. [Also, don't want to see chicken broth or chicken noodle soup for a long time. When that’s all you can eat, after awhile you get so damn sick of it. Grant you, it helped me pull through, but enough is enough.] As I type this I'm finally done with all the meds and only have a slight cough. Amen!

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... Peace is not only better than war, but infinitely more arduous. George Bernard Shaw

FRESH LIBERAL NEWS TO WRAP UP THE WEEKEND

HAUNTED BY KATRINA
Dani McClain, WireTap
An uprooted family from the Gulf region tries to make sense of New York andcope with the emotional and psychological effects of forced migration.
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/31701/

THE CARTOONISH STATE OF THE MEDIA
Rory O'Connor, AlterNet
Banning cartoons in France? Rumsfeld propagandizing our own citizens? Worldmedia gone mad.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/31781/

MUCH MORE THAN KING'S WIFE
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Pacific News Service
The late Coretta King shared her husband's passion for justice, and workedtirelessly to improve America for all races.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/31668/

BELAFONTE ON BUSH, WAR AND WIRETAPS
Democracy Now!
Renowned musician and activist Harry Belafonte speaks up about why Bush andCo. are the world's worst terrorists -- and what we can do about it.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31575/

RESURRECTING 'MARJOE'
Sarah Kernochan, The American Prospect
A filmmaker discusses the new life of 'Marjoe,' her Oscar-winning 1972 documentary about a fraudulent evangelical preacher in the Bible Belt.
http://www.alternet.org/movies/31630/

HURRICANE KATRINA'S EMOTIONAL HANGOVER
Maria Luisa Tucker, AlterNet
Passionate opposition to New Orleans' proposed rebuilding plan has hundreds of survivors trekking to D.C. to voice their objections.
http://www.alternet.org/katrina/31637/

BUSH'S TROUBLING SOTU GUEST
Jeremy Scahill, AlterNet
Cindy Sheehan wasn't welcome -- but a Saudi accused of supporting al Qaida was. Why?
http://www.alternet.org/story/31787/

RAKING IN PROFITS AT THE WORLD'S EXPENSE
Matthew Wheeland, AlterNet
The record-breaking profits recently announced by ExxonMobil and ChevronTexaco come hand-in-glove with exceptionally -- and artifically -- high energy prices.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31789/

YEAR OF THE QUEER: HOLLYWOOD AND HOMOSEXUALITY
Larry Gross, Truthdig
How far we think we've come with movies like 'Brokeback Mountain' may well signify how far we have to go.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/31683/

MESSAGE FROM LYNN MCMULLEN AT THE PEACE ALLIANCE - Dept of Peace Campaign Update - State Coordinator Planning Retreat
This past weekend, State Coordinators from across the country met with our staff for a national strategy planning retreat. The Peace Alliance hosted this gathering -- along with The Peace Alliance Foundation -- to connect, train, inspire, and plan around our mission and work to help build a culture of peace and to establish a Department of Peace in the U.S. government. It was a highly productive and inspiring weekend marking the strategic launch of the next frontier in our campaign. With over 295 Congressional District Team Leaders now active in all 50 states, we will be working with our State Coordinators more than ever to help us further organize our network of committed activists. [Three NY DoP State Coordinators (Kevin, Liz & Carol) attended this event. Awesome!]

At the gathering, we further developed our national campaign strategy for 2006 and got right down to business organizing activities on the ground. Two of the most important areas of focus this year for our State Coordinators will be helping to organize regional weekend conferences around the country to further build and train our grassroots network. This will provide an ideal opportunity for our District Leaders to further organize, develop their skills and connect with fellow activists in their region. We also began plans for organizing Candidate Forums around the country for the upcoming congressional elections. These forums will be hosted by local Department of Peace activists, along with domestic violence shelters, prison reform groups, gang prevention groups, and the many other local efforts working to reduce and prevent violence and highlight the struggles in a community.

Our intention is to make the practical application of violence prevention and reduction, as well as the Department of Peace legislation, a part of the national dialogue this coming election season. These and other projects for 2006 will be posted on our website [http://www.dopcampaign.org] and in future e-alerts in the coming weeks and months. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. As always, we hope you will join us in moving this effort forward.

QUOTE OF THE DAY ... When women have a voice in national and international affairs, wars will cease forever. Augusta Stowe-Gullen

LIVE FROM NYC ITS LIBERAL NEWS!

DEAD MAN TALKING
Joshua Holland, AlterNet
Lowlights from the presidential address.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31639

SOTU, SLICED AND DICED
Think Progress
A guide to the truth behind the lies and fabrications in George Bush's State of the Union speech to Congress.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31640/

DEMS DON'T KNOW JACK
Greg Sargent, The American Prospect
Not so bipartisan after all: A new study reveals that Abramoff's scummy money was twice as likely to line Republicans' pockets.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31625/

LYING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE UNION
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
As Bush officials keep more and more information from us, they are less and less accountable for what they do.
http://www.alternet.org/story/31616/

THE TRUTH ABOUT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
Tyler Zimmer, Campus Progress
What's the biggest obstacle in achieving health care for all? It may just be our misplaced skepticism.
http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/31196/

MESSAGE FROM "WORKING FAMILIES E-ACTIVIST NETWORK" ON BUSH/CHENEY REGIME "STATE OF THE UNION" ADDRESS
In his State of the Union address last night, President George W. Bush announced the centerpiece of his efforts to reform health care would be tax breaks for people to pay for their own health care, including Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), in which people replace traditional insurance coverage with their own savings.

HSA-based health care would be a disaster for working families, a giant step backward that would shift costs away from employers to employees and their families and force many people to go without needed care. Here are a few things you should know about HSAs.

1] The idea behind Health Savings Accounts is that Americans have too much insurance. You read that right. Those who came up with the idea believe Americans are overinsured, something that very few working families would likely agree with.

2] Despite the rhetoric, HSAs will do nothing to control skyrocketing health care costs or reduce the number of uninsured. In fact, they will just make matters worse for those who have health coverage.

3] By shifting the costs to workers, HSAs provide cover to employers to reduce or even eliminate health benefits. It will undermine employer-based health plans, where two-thirds of Americans get their coverage.

4] HSAs will drive the wealthy and healthy away from health care insurance, driving up the costs for those who need insurance the most. Seniors and those who need health care coverage will see their premiums skyrocket.

5] HSAs are brought to you by the same people who brought you the Medicare prescription drug disaster, and it will have the same consequences. It’s a boon to the profit-driven drug companies and insurance industry. It’s complicated, fragmented and costly.

At a time when we are working hard on the state and federal level to give more working families the coverage they need, President Bush’s commitment to an idea that would reduce coverage is baffling. Like his proposal to privatize Social Security, giving more tax breaks for HSAs will go nowhere if Congress sees massive public opposition to Bush’s bad ideas. (And like Social Security privatization, the political push is being bankrolled by Big Business, including the banking and insurance industries.) That’s why we need you to take action immediately. Write your U.S. representative and senators and tell them you oppose Bush’s plan for Health Savings Accounts.