Blogswarm - Online Political News Magazine

 

There was a time when truth was the most powerful weapon in politics. But this Administration and its Congressional allies have turned ideology into the weapon of choice. From the troubling situation in Iraq to last week's distressing jobs report, the Republicans will try to paint a very rosy picture of the world. In short, there is a massive disconnect between Republican rhetoric and the reality we face at home and abroad. Well, the Republicans can sing the calypso song, "Don't Worry, be Happy" all they want. But the only way to succeed in Iraq, or to lift an economy that has lost millions of jobs in the last four years, is to face the facts squarely. And the only way to counter the rigid ideological approach that has led to failed policies is to end the current Republican monopoly gripping our government. That's why our democracy needs Democrats. And Democratic Senate candidates across the country need your support today. We are just 2 seats away from a Democratic majority in the Senate and $2 million more online is what it will take to get us there. My Democratic Senate colleagues and I need those 2 seats in order to push through a legislative agenda that will work for ALL Americans, not just for a chosen few. That's why we're putting our money where our mouth is by matching your contribution dollar for dollar in the DSCC's Match Campaign. We're doubling your effort in order to double the impact for Democratic Senate candidates in the tightest races. Click here to contribute to the DSCC's $2 Million Match Campaign today. When Democrats regain control of the Senate and I am once again chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we will demand the truth and hold high officials accountable. When the Secretary of Defense claims we've trained 95,000 Iraqis, contrary to what the truth reveals about the inadequacy of our training programs, the American people will learn the facts and be able to judge for themselves. And as a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will be in a strong position to work with my Democratic colleagues to ensure that nominees to the Supreme Court are approved only if they pass the threshold test of superior merit and experience, not the kind of ideological criteria that has led President Bush to say that his model would be to add another Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas to the bench. It will be up to Democratic Senators like me to make sure a Kerry Administration has the full backing of Congress to support new legislation for jobs, healthcare, education and security. And when the NRSC comes out with desperate attacks against Democratic candidates over the next 2 weeks, it will be up to you and me to provide them the resources they need to fight back. The DSCC is watching every Senate race, every hour. With key races in a dead heat, we have a window of opportunity to shape our country's destiny by returning Democrats to the majority in the Senate. Click here to contribute to the DSCC's $2 Million Match Campaign now. With all the bad news we've heard over the past 4 years - failed policies, lost jobs, poorer health care, diminished respect around the world, squandered opportunities everywhere - we must seize this moment.  Together, we have the power to make a change that generations of Americans will remember. Sincerely, Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

You know that George Bush has broken his promises to America's children, and you know that John Kerry has a plan to recruit good teachers, help more students graduate, and ensure that college is universally affordable.

Now we need your help. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and spread the word that when it comes to responding to students' educational needs, John Kerry is the right choice for America.

Take Action

Send a letter to the editor of your local paper.

http://www.democrats.org/action

Tell Your Friends

Help us spread the word about the contrast between the Bush record and the Kerry plan. Click here to tell your friends to write a letter.

The differences between the Bush record of failure and Kerry's plan for a stronger America extend beyond education -- learn more about the differences in other areas by reading our issue contrasts.

BUSH MISLEADS ON OSAMA BIN LADEN

At last night's debate President Bush claimed that,
contrary to Sen. John Kerry's assertion, he never said he was "not
that concerned" about Osama Bin Laden. Bush chastised Kerry
saying, "Gosh, I don't think I ever said I'm not worried
about Osama bin Laden. That's kind of one of those
exaggerations."[1] Bush was completely wrong.

At March 13, 2002 press conference, Bush said "So I don't
know where he [Osama Bin Laden] is. You know, I just don't
spend that much time on him...I truly am not that concerned
about him."[2] Watch the video of Bush's remarks:
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2131193&l=62685

Sources:

1. "Transcript of Debate Between Bush and Kerry, With
Domestic Policy the Topic," New York Times, 10/13/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2131193&l=62686.
2. "President Bush Holds Press Conference," The White
House, 3/13/02,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2131193&l=62687.

Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush Administration
distortion.>>

You've heard us say for months that ACT is building "the largest voter mobilization effort in history" but we've kept quiet on the details... until now.

 

With Election Day just 19 days off, it's time to let you inside our strategy to elect Democrats to federal, state and local elections.

 

With your help, we've done much more than just talk about building the largest field campaign in history -- we've done it.   And now you can help unleash it on Election Day.

$1200 sponsors a GOTV staging area in the battleground states (we'll have hundreds of them.)

 

$136.68 rents a van to shuttle canvassers and voters on Election Day (we need more than 1200 vans in Florida alone!)

 

$75 pays the expenses of an Election Day canvasser (we will have 45,000!)

 

Please make your secure online contribution here. 

 

Just last week, paid ACT canvassers logged over 60,000 hours of targeted door-to-door canvassing.  And it's working!  Thanks to a recent test here in Wisconsin, we have a preview of what's to come: 

Last month, during the Wisconsin congressional primary (September 18th), ACT-WI targeted 70,000 households in a base Democratic areas near Milwaukee.  800 ACT staff and volunteers canvassed the area intensively for 36 hours, knocking on the door of each Democratic household twice. 

 

The result? Unprecedented turnout in a Wisconsin Congressional Primary! For only the second time in Milwaukee's history, African American turnout exceeded white turnout.

There's no secret here.  We're encouraging people to think about the issues and exercise their right to vote.  This is how we'll defeat George W. Bush and elect Democratic leadership in federal, state and local elections here in Wisconsin and around the country.  But it can't be done without your support.

 

Please help fund ACT's Election Day operations today.

 

There is no more effective way to contribute to Democratic victories than by giving to ACT in these final days.  Each dollar you can give will be put directly to work in the specific precincts where votes are needed most. 

 

And we need you on the ground, too.  I encourage you to come work with us in a battleground state this weekend and in the days ahead.  Join thousands who have already signed up to volunteer in a battleground state here .

 

Thank you for everything you've done and everything you will do in the days ahead.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tamara Pogue
State Director
ACT-Wisconsin

 

PS:  Read more about our plan in this week's Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101041018/nmehlman.html and help put it in action by contributing any amount you can give. 

As you know, this Friday, the Democratic Party is facing another critical fundraising deadline. I know from experience the importance of this deadline because it is when strategists need to make key decisions about battleground states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and about all our key races.

https://www.democrats.org/support/kerry.html

In 2000, my campaign had to make excruciatingly difficult decisions on allocating our resources to the most winnable states. We knew the final margin would be razor thin, but we had to pick and choose which states we could afford to saturate with TV ads during the final drive to Election Day.

We were forced by the limitations of our campaign funding to make a series of tough choices -- including a decision to go for it in Florida and scale back in Ohio. If we had been able to pay for a full TV ad campaign in all of the key battleground states, we might not have lost Ohio by a thin margin. And of course, even though I think we won Florida, well, you know what happened there.

So don't let this happen again -- contribute now.

https://www.democrats.org/support/kerry.html

In these closing weeks, let's make sure that the Democratic Party has the resources to go all out for John Kerry and the Democratic ticket in Florida and Ohio and Pennsylvania and Michigan and elsewhere. Your contribution right now will make sure the Party has the ability to compete in every single battleground state.

Right now, party strategists are making those tough, last-minute decisions about where to spend resources. With your help, this time the Supreme Court will not pick the next president, and the current president will not pick the next Supreme Court.

https://www.democrats.org/support/kerry.html

You've put George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the Republican attack machine on the run. In these final weeks, they can't win a fair fight -- and you, the members of the Democratic Party's amazing online community, have the ability to make it a fair fight. Please respond as quickly as you can.

Then on November 2, we'll be celebrating our victories up and down the ballot in Ohio and Florida and other battleground states across the nation -- and not only in the popular vote, but in the electoral college too.

On to victory,

Al Gore

Stop the draft:

Watch the new draft ad:

www.bushandthedraft.com

Last week you demanded honesty about the draft--and people heard you. Cable news channels and major newspapers have been buzzing about the draft since you signed the petition. Last night's moderator at the Presidential debate even raised this question once again.

Other organizations also heard--and are following your lead. MoveOn and a group called Win Back Respect produced a TV ad about this issue. Over a million young people will see this ad on The Daily Show, MTV, and ESPN.

You can add to this momentum even more--tell some friends about the draft petition you signed:

www.democracyforamerica.com/SpreadNoDraft

We still have work to do getting our message out. The mainstream media coverage has focused on unsubstantiated rumors of some "secret plan" for a draft. They are missing the point.

It's not about a secret plan--we are concerned about a draft because, when it comes to meeting all of the military commitments he has made, George Bush has no plan.

He says he will "stay the course". But if we stay the course with this president, he will face a choice: drastically reduce our commitments or reinstate the draft. Ask your friends to join you in asking which one he will choose:

www.democracyforamerica.com/SpreadNoDraft

We see the results of his failed leadership. He chose not to bring meaningful allied help into Iraq. He allowed al Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran to become more dangerous. And he has left our homeland unprotected by sending the National Guard to Iraq. George Bush says he has no plans to reinstate the draft--but his reckless decisions may leave no choice.

A quiet draft has already begun--and it is no secret. Active duty soldiers who finish their commitments are being forced to stay on. We have begun calling up forces like the Individual Ready Reserves, consisting of older reservists who have not been on active duty and have not trained for some time. And there's no end in sight.

Americans need the facts. Inform your friends and ask them to sign the petition so that together we can demand the honesty we deserve.

Thank you,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. Here's what some of you are saying about the draft:

"As a young American who cares deeply about my country, I deserve to know if a draft will be put into effect. If not, how do you plan to fill the troop commitments necessary for success?"
--Ajay N.

"I have heard so many things over the years from politicians that have not been true that I no longer take anything for granted. I don't see how the country can continue under the present commitments of our armed forces with a complete volunteer military. If the intention is to bring back the draft I would like to know now and not after the presidential election. An informed voter is an intelligent voter."
--Charles M.

"Staying the course means we're going to need more troops in our go-it-alone strategy. How will we get them?"
--Carl T.

"A feasible, realistic plan needs to developed, shared with the American public and put in place to bring peace in Iraq and end American occupation of the territory. Can this be done without instituting a military draft? The American people want to know before the 2004 presidential election."
--Sharon S.

"Our forces are stretched thin and the situation in Iraq is getting worse. We will no doubt be there a long time and other troubles lurk on the horizon. Be honest with America and tell us how we are going to do this without the draft."
--Phil S.

"My wife and I have deep concerns about this issue. We've been through the Vietnam years and saw how the draft split this country in half. We don't want to have to relive our worst nightmares, not with our sons."
--Lance K.

"A straight and clear answer, please."
--Janice M.

Ask someone you know to speak out: www.democracyforamerica.com/SpreadNoDraft

In July it was Michigan.
Last week it was Ohio.¹
Today it's Milwaukee!²

We must protect democracy wherever forces attempt to suppress and disenfranchise voters.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker today denied Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's request for additional ballots for use on November 2.

After receiving only 679,000 ballots -- less than the city was given in 2000 and 2002 -- Milwaukee's mayor, expecting major turnout in this election, asked the County Executive for more ballots. "No way," said the county, telling the Associated Press that election-fraud "'chaos' could occur at understaffed polling places where voters could grab ballots."

We cannot allow the County Executive to deny Milwaukee voters their right to cast a ballot on Election Day.

The stakes have never been higher and people will do almost anything to influence the outcome.

Sign the petition - insist that Walker provide the ballots Milwaukee needs to ensure a fair election!

http://www.pfaw.org/go/letmilwaukeevote

AP Story:

Bush said in the second presidential debate that there would be no revival of the military draft under any circumstances if he is re-elected. "We're not going to have a draft, period," the president said.

However, Kerry told The Des Moines Register, "With George Bush (news - web sites), the plan for Iraq is more of the same and the great potential of a draft." The interview was published Friday as Kerry was leaving for Wisconsin and a speech on the economy.

Bush said in the second presidential debate that there would be no revival of the military draft under any circumstances if he is re-elected. "We're not going to have a draft, period," the president said.

However, Kerry told The Des Moines Register, "With George Bush (news - web sites), the plan for Iraq is more of the same and the great potential of a draft." The interview was published Friday as Kerry was leaving for Wisconsin and a speech on the economy.

While everyone is gossiping about style, take a break and see where President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry stand on THE ISSUES:

Bush and Kerry on Abortion and Family Planning
Bush and Kerry on Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage
Bush and Kerry on Minimum Wage
Bush and Kerry on Stem Cell Research
Bush and Kerry on Equal Pay for Equal Work
Bush and Kerry on Jobs Plan
Bush and Kerry on Outsourcing American Jobs
Bush and Kerry on Overtime Pay
Bush and Kerry on Public Education
Bush and Kerry on Balanced budget
Bush and Kerry on AIDS
Bush and Kerry on Child Care
Bush and Kerry on Health Care
Bush and Kerry on Homeland Security
Bush and Kerry on War in Iraq
Bush and Kerry on College Tuition
Bush and Kerry on Credit Card Debt
Bush and Kerry on Energy Policy
Bush and Kerry on Environment
Bush and Kerry on Military Draft