Democracy For Missouri — Taking Back America... one election at a time.

Look no further for an inspiring vision in Democratic politics:

Remarks of U.S. Senator Barack Obama at the Knox College Commencement
Saturday, June 4, 2005, Galesburg, Illinois

Good morning President Taylor, the Board of Trustees, faculty, parents, family, friends, and the Class of 2005. Congratulations on your graduation, and thank you for allowing me the honor to be a part of it.

The concluding paragraphs of FDRs "4 Freedoms" speech delivered January 6, 1941 to the Joint Congress...speak to us all today. Need we look further for "Democratic Values"?

"...The mighty action that we are calling for cannot be based on a disregard of all the things worth fighting for.

The nation takes great satisfaction and much strength from the things which have been done to make its people conscious of their individual stake in the preservation of democratic life in America. Those things have toughened the fiber of our people, have renewed their faith and strengthened their devotion to the institutions we make ready to protect. Certainly this is no time for any of us to stop thinking about the social and economic problems which are the root cause of the social revolution which is today a supreme factor in the world. For there is nothing mysterious about the foundations of a healthy and strong democracy.

Here is the Wellstone action website on this great 4 day intensive training for those interested in managing campaigns in the next election cycle. December 4th thru 8th in St Paul.

Dave sends us this article from the LA Times on the state of life in Basra Iraq under "Islamic Law".
It is chilling...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-basra27jun27,0,2359714,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, where we decried and defeated this very kind of governance, the killing goes on and the new warlord run provinces are financed by the world's largest production of Opium poppies...heroin destined, no dought, for the arms of forgotten Vets of this tragedy.

This is a great article by Keith on one of our progressive allies in Missouri, the Missouri Greens. Democrats should note that many MO Greens worked hard to do whatever they could to defeat Bush in the last election , and discouraged folks from voting a spoiler candidate. We have a great deal of common ground....

Here is his article:
The Greens face new and daunting challenges in the wake of the 2004 election. Not only did George Bush secure a second term in office, but also the Republicans increased their control of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. Furthermore, Missouri Republicans reclaimed the Governors mansion and strengthened their control of the State legislature. We can expect an ugly four years ahead, combating the neo-conservatives’ destructive foreign policy agenda abroad and the theocrats' retrograde social and economic agenda at home. Republicans stand poised to take aim at gay rights, family planning, civil liberties, social security, Medicaid, mental health services, environmental protection and higher education.

DFA is partnering with Wake Up WalMart to encourage responsible corporate behavior by the Nation's largest retailer. Check out this site.

Jesse Jackson Jr was presented with a Golden Spine Award by these folks at Demfest. This is a special and all too rare award for those Democrats who demonstrate backbone in the face of the crazy right wing.
Cool idea...cool site.

Hello from Austin where folks are just now gathering for what promises to be one heck of a 3 day event dedicated to Taking our Country Back.
Day 3: The last day of the conference started with the Blogger's Breakfast and focused on an all day campaign training by some of the best in the business, including Kerry's Iowa campaign strategist.
There are 74 pics from Demfest in the image gallery.
Day 2 1/2: Just came from Stubbs with BBQ in my beard and Gov Dean's inspiring words in my heart!
What an evening! Over 2200 in attendance, wild rock and roll, soulful tejano, hip hop poetry, and incredible speeches. We are indeed taking this country back.

This just in from DFA...an opportunity for input and important info that needs to get out to the public. This illegal and rapacious war has got to end and its authors brought to justice! Bill, DfMO Admin

From Tom Hughs:
Last week, I sent you the full minutes of a July 2002 meeting where the British intelligence chief -- having just returned to London from the White House -- told Prime Minister Tony Blair that, in regards to Iraq War planning, "the intelligence and facts were being fixed" by the Bush administration.

Those minutes -- the "Downing Street Memo" -- finally made the front page of the Washington Post on Sunday (June 12th). Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) holds hearings on the matter later this week.

Governor Dean is leading a Grassroots revolution in taking back this Country from the crazy wing of the Republican Party. Howard Dean is not afraid to speak the truth, and this has ruffled feathers among some Democrats. Faux News is giddy at the prospect of a divided Democratic Party. They are doing what they can to fan flames of the slightest contention by entrapping Democratic leaders, with out of context Dean quotes.
Democrats, Gov Dean speaks for me!

It breaks my heart that not even the progressive community in the US realizes that there is a cultural genocide (1) being waged against the Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities of Sri Lanka.

Once again, news infotainment folks, in this case the Sunday Pundit shows, have taken a a partial sentence out of context to attack Gov Dean and the revolution in democracy he is leading. This time it was Senator's Biden and Edwards who took the bait of "questions" about a misquote and attacked the Governor. Thanks to Thomas,Cole County Dem Chair, for clarifying this. Lets let all involved know what we think of this.
Here is the context...you be the judge.

" You -- (applause continues) -- you know, the idea that you have to wait on line for eight hours to cast your ballot in Florida -- there's something the matter with that. You think people can work all day and then pick up their kids at child care or wherever, and get home and then have a -- still manage to sandwich in an eight-hour vote? Well, Republicans, I guess, can do that, because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives. (Light applause.) But for ordinary working people, who have to work eight hours a day, they have kids, they got to get home to those kids, the idea of making them stand for eight hours to cast their ballot for democracy is wrong. We ought to make voting easier to do. Mail -- Oregon has got it right. (Applause.) "

To Disassemble/Dissemble Language and Meaning – A Post Mortem for the Fourth Estate. June 5, 2005

Here are a couple of items of note from last week’s news

“But the thing that really bothered me the most, which the 9-11 Commission said also wasn't true, is the insinuation that the president continues to make to this day that Osama bin Laden(sic)[Saddam Hussein] had something to do with supporting terrorists that attacked the United States. That is false. The 9-11 Commission, chaired by a Republican, said it was false. Is it wrong to send people to war without telling them the truth. And the truth was Osama bin Laden (sic)[Saddam Hussein] was a very bad person who was doing terrible things, but that Iraq was never a threat to the United States. That was the truth. It was underlined by the 9-11 Commission, headed, again, by a Republican, a well-respected group of people.”

This was forwarded to me. This "issue" may be coming to Missouri. Hopefully the "Show Me State" public are smart enough that this wedge will blow back on the Republicans. Still we need to be aware of this:
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Just found out that a local Focus on the Family Chapter has arrived in
Lincoln (Nebraska Family First http://www.familyfirst.org/. They are going to participate in a panel on "Religious Expression in the Public Schools" at the Governor's Mansion this week. Focus on the Family supports a gay bashing, prayer in schools, and intelligent design agenda (along with supporting corporate judges).

I received this from one of several Email lists to which I am subscribed. The idea of impeaching Bush has been around from day one of his first election, but there is a new smoking gun, which if investigated could unravel the lies and kickbacks behind his administration's war plans. There are any number of websites dedicated to this issue on google search. John Conyers has related info:http://www.JohnConyers.com This one backed by Ramsey Clark also looks good:http://www.votetoimpeach.org/
Here is the Memorial Day message:

This from our Friends at Mid Missouri Peaceworks:
Greetings friends,
...We have numerous opportunities to reach out to our fellow citizens over the next few weeks. We are looking for your help and participation to do this. We invite you to check out the following:

A big thank you to all those who helped, contributed items and supplies, spread the word and purchased items at the DfMO Garage sales benefiting Centro Latino which were held on succesive weekends in mid May. We surpassed our goal and brought in $1220. Checks have already been cut and turned over to Centro Latino and Eduardo Crespi expresses his sincere thanks for this effort. A special thanks to Loree Monroe who initiated this and did the lions share of planning, advertising and set up and sale work.

It is sad, I know, but the Brits need Galloway even more than we do.
(see http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=2544 for background on this story...admin)
The irony of the situation is that he may not be as lilly-white as he would have us believe. It does appear that one of his major fundraisers is neck-deep in the Oil for Food scandal. I do believe Galloway was willing to take money from the Devil himself if it would alleviate the suffering our sanctions were visiting upon the dying children of Iraq. Read on...

I don't know about other people, but I'm tired of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and the other conservative blowhards polluting the radio airwaves for hours on end with their lies and distortions. It's time to get progressive voices on local talk radio. Read on