HEAR YEA! HEAR YEA! MORE LIBERAL NEWS

THE COMING RESOURCE WARS
Michael Klare, TomPaine.com
America's closest ally has announced that climate change is about to usher in an era of violent conflict over energy, water and arable land.
http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/33243/

I AM A LIBERAL, THERE, I SAID IT!
George Clooney, Huffington Post
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0313-26.htm
This is an incredibly polarized time (wonder how that happened?). But I find that, more and more, people are trying to find things we can agree on. And, for me, one of the things we absolutely need to agree on is the idea that we're all allowed to question authority. We have to agree that it's not unpatriotic to hold our leaders accountable and to speak out. That's one of the things that drew me to making a film about Murrow. When you hear Murrow say, "We mustn't confuse dissent with disloyalty" and "We can't defend freedom at home by deserting it at home," it's like he's commenting on today's headlines.

WHAT'S THE ROOT CAUSE OF BUSH'S LOUSY POLL NUMBERS?
Muckraker Report
http://teamliberty.net/id231.html

STOP FORCE-FEEDING INMATES, DOCTORS TELL US
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0310-06.htm

WE ARE WHAT WE BUY
Marjorie Kehe, Christian Science Monitor
In the new book, 'Not Buying It,' one writer decides to forgo shopping and consumerism for a year -- and finds fulfillment in unexpected places.
http://www.alternet.org/story/33291/

CHINA'S BOOM IS KILLING SEA THAT GIVES IT LIFE, WARN SCIENTISTS
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0310-05.htm

ENOUGH OF THE D.C. DEMS
Molly Ivins
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-20.htm

OPINIONS OF A SEXPERT
Andi Zeisler, Bitch Magazine
Susie Bright, the godmother of intelligent smut, discusses sex columnists, being the mother of a teenager, and why she misses Bill Clinton.
http://www.alternet.org/story/32718/

PORT DEAL QUESTION: WHAT’S THE WHITE HOUSE STILL HIDING?
John Nichols, The Nation
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0312-31.htm

WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN (SORT OF)
Robert Jensen, AlterNetMy decision to join a church was more a political than a theological act.
http://www.alternet.org/story/33236/

THE DEMOCRATS: THEY CAN'T EVEN WIN A WAR OF WORDS
Rosa Brooks
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-21.htm

SOUTH DAKOTA: PIONEERS TO THE PAST
Susan Lenfestey
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-28.htm

BUSH: DRAWN INTO A BLUEPRINT OF BIAS
Saree Makdisi
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0310-22.htm

IMPEACHING GEORGE W. BUSH
Onnesha Roychoudhuri, AlterNet
From discussion to action -- Michael Ratner and his fellow lawyers have drafted a call to impeach President Bush.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/32977/

UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE - 3rd Anniversary of Iraq Invasion
As the third anniversary of the Iraq War approaches, Congress is considering the Bush Administration's request for an additional $72 billion in war funding. Imagine if that money were used instead to rebuild the schools, homes, hospitals, libraries and businesses that our military destroyed in Iraq. Imagine if that money were used instead to rebuild New Orleans and the rest of the devastated Gulf Coast. Imagine if that money were used to provide educational opportunities for our young people, or prescription medicines for our seniors. It isn't hard to imagine scores of ways to use our tax dollars that would be better than prolonging a war based on lies. Yet Congress keeps rubber-stamping request after request for billions more. Let's use the activities around the third anniversary to send a clear message to Congress.

STOP FUNDING THE WAR! BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

United for Peace and Justice has created a new petition to Congress calling on them to take immediate action to end the war. It is available online (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/congresspetition), and we hope you will circulate it broadly to help gather as many signatures as possible. We will deliver the signatures to Senators during the UFPJ Congressional Education Day on May 22. We have also created a hard-copy version for you to download and print out (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/Petition to Congress.doc). A petition can be a valuable tool for local organizing. Asking people to sign is a great way to open conversations, and once people do sign you have their contact information. In other words, not only do we collectively send a message to Congress, but the petition can help you build your local groups.

These petitions can help you amplify the message of your 3rd Anniversary events. After you have collected signatures, a small group can present them to your Representative and/or Senators. You still have time to make an appointment to visit your legislators on March 20 (or later in the week). Visit the UFPJ Legislative Action webpage (http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3116) for information on specific anti-war legislation to discuss with your Representative and Senators.

MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON [DGA CHAIR] - Who Guards the Guard?
When it comes to homeland security Republicans say the same thing over and over: "trust us." Yet lately they have been doing plenty to undermine America's national security. Not only did the Bush administration stand firmly behind a controversial deal to sell the operation of six U.S. ports to a foreign government (the United Arab Emirates), but the president's proposed budget would also cut the National Guard by 17,000 members. Simply put, Republican rhetoric doesn't match reality. It is not enough for them to say they will keep us safe, when they are cutting the number of people whose job it is to do so.

While many people are already looking forward to the 2008 presidential election to change the direction of this country, this year's 36 governors races provide an opportunity in 2006 to make a change. American families can't afford to wait until 2008 for a new Democratic president who will make important issues -- like the National Guard -- a priority. Tell the White House that you won't wait for 2008 to support the Guard: http://www.democraticgovernors.org/guard

Democratic governors understand how vital the National Guard is to homeland security and emergency preparedness. We respect the servicemen and women and the sacrifices they are making in the war on terror. We know we can count on the Guard whenever disaster strikes our states. And now, because of failures by the federal government to protect our borders, some governors are relying on the National Guard to prevent illegal immigration. Despite America's increased reliance on the National Guard, Republicans are actually trying to cut funding for the Guard and are planning to trim 45,000 members from it over the coming years. During our recent meeting with President Bush, Democratic governors urged him to strengthen his support for the National Guard rather than cut its funding. Only time will tell if he actually listened. For the last several months, poll after poll has shown that people believe our country is headed in the wrong direction under Republican leadership. You can turn that around, and you don't have to wait for the next presidential election to do it. Tell the White House you won't wait for 2008 to support the National Guard and strengthen homeland security. http://www.democraticgovernors.org/guard