Wednesday - October 18, 2006
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Call for Change. By now, there's very little new we could tell you that you haven't already heard. Republicans are running this country into the ground, and it's time for a change. What are you doing to make sure our country adheres to its principles and returns to greatness? The election is less than 3 weeks away. Time to get off your duff and make a difference. Heck, you can make a difference just by sitting on your duff making phone calls. Sign up for MoveOn.org's Call for Change and get crackin'. There's no time like the present!
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Wednesday - September 06, 2006
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Breaking Blue. What's happening in your state? If you're in Florida, you should know that Democratic turnout for the primary was 15% lower that Republican turnout. In Washington state, Democratic challenger Peter Goldmark is kicking the fundraising tail of the Republican incumbant, Rep. Cathy Morris (W-05). In the House, Verified Voting is close to being a reality. Get the latest on what's happening in your state with MyDD's "Breaking Blue."
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Tuesday - July 18, 2006
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Hate Has No Place On the Airwaves. Given a national platform, many pundits feel the need to tell you exactly what's on their mind. For many, that translates to telling you how and why the opposite side is screwing up. For some, though, a national platform is an opportunity to spew hate and bile across the nation. There is little we can do about people like Pat Robertson (assassinate Hugo Chavez, anyone?), but pundits are a different slice. They exist only as a rented entity. So, when we read trash from the mouths of people like Ann Coulter, we wonder why networks and media outlets continue to give them a voice (particularly when conservatives are complaining). Sign Media Matters petition, and help get this garbage off of our airwaves! (It's important to note that this petition in no way promotes censorship. Ann Coulter is free to talk to anyone who will listen, but that doesn't mean we have to sit idly by. She has freedom of speech, but she does not necessarily have the right to a national platform).
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Thursday - June 15, 2006
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Poker Players Alliance. The evangelical Republican mindset of "our rules, our world" has led to attempted legislation on everything from stem cell research to gay marriage to bankruptcy. Now, Republicans are just going beyond absurd in their legislative attempts. Representative Robert W. Goodlatte (R-VA) has introduced a bill that would ban online gambling. Goodlatte's main complaint is that it leads to "a whole host of ills in society." Ironically, there is a strong parallel to gun control here. Republicans have long been pro-NRA, saying that "guns don't kill people; people kill people." So, Republicans are trusting enough to allow Americans to use common sense when it comes to guns, but not for online gambling? And really, how is playing online any different than going to a casino? If Goodlette wants to introduce legislation to more closely regulate online gambling sites, well, that's just fine. Beyond that, though, is the idea that poker (specifically) is a game of skill. Games like roulette, blackjack, craps - these are all games of chance which pit one person against the dealer/house. In poker, although the card deal is random, it is all about skill, because you play not against the house/dealer, but against other players. The Poker Players Alliance was formed, in part, as a response to this ridiculous piece of legislation. Visit the title link, join them today, and tell our government to stop trying to restrict our rights and focus on the actual problems of the country (like the war, high gas prices, etc.). Our thanks to Adam for the link.
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Friday - June 09, 2006
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EFF's Class-Action Lawsuit Against AT&T for Collaboration with Illegal Domestic Spying Program. Today's Activism requires you to read. Isn't it amazing how all this talk of gay marriage, immigration and Iran has dropped the illegal NSA spying program off of the front page and off of many people's radars? It's pretty disheartening to think that this administration can simply invent a "crisis" to change the subject. It's like an awkward teenage date, where Bush tries to feel up America, and when America says no, Bush starts talking about where he's going to go to college. Only, while he's talking, he's still feeling America up. Aren't you sick of this? We sure are. Check out how the Electronic Frontier Foundation is trying to bring accountability to the telecoms and the government, and, if you're so inspired, donate to them.
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Thursday - June 08, 2006
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Women are Waiting. Can you believe that the FDA has been dragging its heels on Plan B for over 5 years? It's true, and it's ridiculous. Giving in to a right-wing agenda that thrives on fear and small-mindedness is just an absurd way to run a country, and we're tired of it. Today's post is dedicated to that fear and small-mindedness, so get started against the agenda by signing NARAL's petition to support the "Maloney-Shays-Inslee-Crowley 'Plan B for Plan B Act.'"
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Wednesday - May 24, 2006
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Tell the Phone Companies to Hang Up on the NSA. We're pretty nauseated with the way phone companies have rolled over for this administration. When does "in the name of freedom" become too much of a price, particularly for an illegal program that just doesn't work (for more, see today's Blogger Commentary). Sign this petition from the ACLU, which will be delivered to AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth. It wouldn't hurt to let them know that you're considering moving to Skype or Vonage, either. Nothing makes companies stand up more than a hit to their pocketbooks and wallets.
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Saturday - May 20, 2006
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Wiki the Presidency. People for the American Way have created a new website called Wiki the Presidency. If you've used Wikipedia before, you know that it's an online encyclopedia with information provided by any and all users. Wiki the Presidency works the same way, only it was created to "establish a single place for the public to both acquire and share information about Executive Branch wrongdoings." So, what are you waiting for? Head over and post your truthful wrongdoings of this administration!
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Friday - May 19, 2006
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50 Simple Things You Can Do To Fight the Right. We got this idea from our erstwhile writer, Dave Swim. Dave is currently on a warpath of activism, and recently recommended this book. As the title implies, these items are fairly easy to do, and don't require a whole lot of time on your part. It's definitely worth your time to order and read, and who knows? You might help take back this country as a result!
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Tuesday - May 02, 2006
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Take Action: Sign This Postcard To Oppose The Federal Marriage Amendment. In June, the Congress is poised to yet again hold a vote on the infamous Federal Marriage Amendment, which would effectively establish gay couples as second-class US citizens. The Defense of Marriage Act (shamefully passed in 1996 during Clinton's administration) did a great deal of damage by making sure the federal government did not have to recognize state-declared same-sex marriages. While the intentions were "good" in that it still allowed the creation of civil unions, it served to only bring same-sex couples up to "separate but equal" status. The FMA proposal, however, could prove even more ominous to the gay population by effectively putting a bold Scarlet Letter on the Constitution itself. Use the Human Rights Campaign Action Center to send a letter to your members of Congress and affirm that you oppose discrimination being written into the Constitution.
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Monday - May 01, 2006
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Help Us Save Mammograms. The American Cancer Society has found a unique way to get their message out. Visit the above link, and send an e-Card to your Senators, asking them to vote NO on Senate Bill 1955, the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act. This bill would, among other things, allow insurance companies to end their coverage for mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies, prostate cancer screenings, and other essential preventative health care. This bill is nothing more than an attempt to put more money in the pockets of insurance companies, and any Senator who votes YES on this bill should be ashamed. So, send an e-Card to your Senators and tell them so!
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Thursday - April 27, 2006
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Take Action! Stop Fake "Clinics" from Deceiving Women. OK, this is pretty disgusting. From Planned Parenthood: "So-called 'crisis pregnancy centers' are proliferating across the nation -- a deceitful new tactic of the anti-choice movement to keep women from getting the accurate education and health services they seek." Although these clinics advertise reproductive health services, they exist only to keep women from having an abortion. Oh, and they are paid for by your tax-dollars. Repulsed yet? The House is currently debating H.R. 5052, the "Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services Act." Use Planned Parenthood's form to send an email to your Congressperson and ask that they support this bill. (More info on this legislation can be found here).
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Tuesday - April 25, 2006
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Virtual March to End the Genocide in Darfur. We've written extensively about Darfur here at Still Fighting. It's amazing to us that we can spend hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq, a catastrophe we created, yet over 400,000 lives have been taken by genocide in Darfur, and we just sit back and watch. It's completely unacceptable, and it has to end. Check out MoveOn's "virtual march" petition here, and then sign it. We've got to demand that this administration do something now.
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Friday - April 21, 2006
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Join Us to Stop Bush and Rumsfeld on Iran. You don't need us to tell you that going into Iran would be a mistake. Actually, calling it a mistake would be an insult to real mistakes, like forgetting to put on your turn signal. It's clear that this administration wants to go to war. Again. Is there anyone outside of the White House who thinks this is a good idea? Anyone? Remember, Iran has nukes. We don't know about you, but we don't like the thought of dying anytime soon. If you agree, join Firedoglake in the Roots Project. The Roots Project involves groups of concerned citizens scheduling time with Senators and Representatives to air their grievances. And believe you us, we have no greater concern right now that Iran.
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Monday - April 17, 2006
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DFA Night School. On Tuesday night (tomorrow), Democracy for America will present "DFA Night School," a chance for you to learn "strategies you can use to take back your city, your state, your country." The night school is held via free conference call, and for those of you who want to get more involved, the tactics and strategies that you learn here will be extremely beneficial in getting the message out during this campaign season. Although Republicans are floundering, we shouldn't take it for granted that Democrats will sweep in November, so let's do what we can to make 2006 the year of the donkey!
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Friday - April 07, 2006
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Goodbye, Tom DeLay. There was national rejoicing this week as Rep. Tom DeLay, stripped of Majority Leader status, and mired in the shadow of Abramoff, announced that he would not seek re-election in November, and would resign from Congress in June. Democracy For America wants to send the embattled politician a Good Bye Card, signed by you, the citizens he has outraged. Snarky? Perhaps. Deserved? Absolutely. But unlike when you have to sign the communal birthday card at the office for the co-worker you hate, feel free to let him know exactly how you feel about him.
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Monday - April 03, 2006
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Contribute to the Big Plan: New TV Ads. While MoveOn may not have the deep pockets that Republican PACs do, they do make some pointed advertising spots. This one, entitled "Caught Red-Handed," has been tailored for four corrupt Republican Representatives: Chris Chocola (IN-2), Thelma Drake (VA-2), Nancy Johnson (CT-5) and Deborah Pryce (OH-15). Each has taken money from oil and energy companies, and then, voted against bills that would help regulate those same companies. Caught Red-Handed, indeed. The ads will continue to be shown (starting today), and more will be made. But MoveOn needs your help to get them aired, by making a donation. Even $10 or $20 would help. Let's get these corrupt politicians out of office!
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Saturday - April 01, 2006
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Senate Begins Immigration Debate -- Take Action! And thus begins the next phase of the Republican rollback. We're headed for the days when rich white men hold the only power in America, and we're doing it by taking away everything else from everyone else. Gay rights, privacy rights, bankruptcy rights, tax breaks...it's all adding up. And now we're facing anti-immigration bills that would require us to have a National ID card. We've argued against this idea in the past quite a few times, but it just won't go away. We refuse to let this bill pass, and we urge you to do the same. Not only should you use the above link to email your Senators (courtesy of the ACLU), but you should also plan to call them Monday morning. This is an idea that is too unethical to pass, and too important for you to not do anything about it.
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Thursday - March 30, 2006
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Support the 50-State Canvass. Howard Dean makes a whole lot of sense. And one of the most sensible things he's said is that for Democrats to win in 50 states, they have to run in 50 states. Seems obvious, right? But until Dean was elected DNC Chair, Democrats have been ignorning solid red states, and running in only about one-third to one-half of the country's races. How silly is that? To begin the march towards fielding Democratic candidates in every race in every state, the DNC is having a 50-State Canvass on April 29th. You can give to the DNC at the link above, or you can volunteer here. When Dems run, Dems win!
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Wednesday - March 29, 2006
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Spread The Word About State Abortion Bans. On the heels of the draconian law passed in South Dakota, twelve other states have or currently are considering enacting their own abortion bans. As NARAL points out, "four of these states (Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island, and South Carolina) are considering abortion bans without any exceptions, not even to save a woman's life." While there is a glimmer of hope for South Dakota - a coalition led by State Representative Elaine Roberts has launched a petition drive to stop the ban - we need to aggressively campaign to protect reproductive rights in these other areas. Use NARALs Choice Action Center now to spread the word to friends and relatives in the affected states, and urge them to contact their state government.
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Tuesday - March 28, 2006
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Last Chance to Stop Congressional Corruption. Art Levine relays an email from Public Citizen, an important watchdog organization. You see, sometime in the immediate future, the Senate will be taking up the issue of Congressional ethics. As you're probably aware, it's a big issue. Really, the way ethics are handled by Congress nowadays is positively ludicrous: we rely on the parties to police themselves. It's like the foxes guarding the henhouse...and they're stealing all of our hens while we watch! Ethics violations and conflicts of interest abound, but the Senate has no interest in oversight. So contact Congress and tell them to support a bill which would create an independent Office of Public Integrity. Here's all the info you need: "The toll free number is 888-355-3588. If you are having trouble getting through on this line, you can also call your Senators directly at 202-224-3121." Call now!
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Sunday - March 26, 2006
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Francine Busby for Congress! Remember the "Dukestir", Representative Duke Cunningham (R-CA)? Well, meet his replacement, Francine Busby! We warned you that we'd be mentioning specific candidates explicitly as the elections drew nearer, and, well, we're good on our word. It's even more urgent that you support Busby now because the special election ro replace the Dukestir is coming up on April 11th. If might go to a runoff, which would be in June, which is all the more reason to lend Busby your support - she needs it! Of course, that seat would be up for reelection in November, but it'd be a huge edge if she had the power of incumbency behind her. Let's take back the House, one seat at a time! (And then a whole bunch at time in November...)
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Friday - March 24, 2006
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Git Yer Boots On, It's Recess Time! Firedoglake has an excellent idea. Capitol Hill is in recess (to take a break from the whole, you know, 97 days that they're in session). At any rate, Jane Hamsher suggests that now would be a good time to swing by the home offices of your Senators and ask them why they don't support Russ Feingold's motion to censure. It's an excellent idea, really. While phone calls are appreciated (and all Senators do get a daily breakdown of all calls), an in-person visit can make a world of difference. It'll only take 15 or 20 minutes of your day, and if you're successful...well, we may just see the end of a rubber-stamped Congress. OK, that may be stretching things a little, but we will see Bush put in his place for knowingly breaking the law. Hamsher even gives a link to the local addresses. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get to visiting!
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Thursday - March 23, 2006
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Make Her Spend it All. Boy, do we hate Katherine Harris. Really, really hate Katherine Harris. Hate with the intensity of 1,000 suns. Katherine Harris, you may recall, was the Secretary of State in Florida in 2000. Under Harris, thousands of votes weren't counted, and thousands more (mostly minorities) weren't allowed to vote. And now this pathetic excuse for a human wants to run for Senate? The good news is that Florida voters remember her treachery, and as a result, incumbant Democrat Bill Nelson leads in the polls by 22%. The better news? Harris, pressured by GOPers to get the job done, has announced that she will now do whatever it takes to win, including selling off her own possessions. Yes, you read that right. You know, for a state that went for Bush in 2004, Harris sure must be finding it hard to raise money, to get this desperate. At any rate, the link above will allow you to donate to Bill Nelson's campaign. Let's make Katherine Harris spend it all!
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Monday - March 20, 2006
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Support the National Guard: Stand With Democratic Governors Now. The President's proposed budget is so devoid of logic or compassion that it's tough to know where to start opposing it. That's why we're here! We can oppose it piece-by-piece, which will take a long time, but will hopefully get the message across. Let's start with a petition by the Democratic Governors (you know, of the states) that opposes Bush's proposed cuts to the National Guard. It's amazing that Bush is willing to break the bank and the Army fighting unnecessary wars, yet won't pay for the domestic defense and emergency preparedness that the Guard provides.
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Sunday - March 19, 2006
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President Bush Must be Censured for Breaking the Law. Despite the lack of support for Russ Feingold's motion to censure Bush, it's still alive, and might even be gaining momentum. We assume you've already called your Senators and asked them to support Feingold's resolution. (No? Why not? Get crackin'!) Now, MoveOn has a petition with over 400,000 signatures; they're shooting for half a million. We know the Republican leadership is completely out of touch (and uninterested) with mainstream America, but, unfortunately, so is Democratic leadership. They're all too willing to sit on their hands and let Bush drown in his ineptitude; we want them to throw him anchor. Of course, there's also the point that HE BROKE THE LAW! Sign the petition and let our leaders know that we are a nation of laws that much be respected.
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Friday - March 17, 2006
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Call for Paper Ballots. Have you noticed that, lately, we're writing a lot of Activism devoted to paper ballots? We've got an election coming up in 7 1/2 months, and we're not going to let up on this issue any time soon. We're amazed, frankly, that more Americans don't care about this issue. After all, if you don't care that your vote is recorded correctly, why bother to vote in the first place? Over 121 million people voted in the 2004 election. Make no mistake - this shouldn't be a partisan issue (although we can't tell you that we've seen any conservative groups out there advocating paper ballots). If Republicans truly believe the public supports them, why wouldn't they want to see that accurately reflected in fair elections?
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Thursday - March 16, 2006
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Letter to the Editor: Three Years Later: Pre-Emption Policy A Disaster. We have a slightly noticeable theme for SF today. What can we say? When the President has the unmitigated gall to try and cheaply distract us from the real issues and his mistakes in leading this country, we don't take it lying down. MoveOn.org knows what his real motivations are as well, and have set up a simple tool for you to let your voice be heard, and to "remind the country that the Bush pre-emption doctrine has been a disaster in Iraq--making America and the world less safe." Use MoveOn's Letter to the Editor forms to submit to the top local, regional, and national newspapers, and don't forget to claim these talking points they provide: - The Bush doctrine of pre-emptive wars has been a disaster in Iraq--making America and the world less safe.
- Instead of a public relations campaign, the president needs to come up with an exit strategy with a timeline to bring our troops home.
- Unfortunately, U.S. troop presence helps fuel the insurgency. Iraq will best be able to achieve stability when U.S. troops leave.
- Congress has an important responsibility to stand up to the president and insist on an exit strategy. Unfortunately the Republicans running Congress won't stand up to President Bush.
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Tuesday - March 14, 2006
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Tell Senator Frist to Stop Obstructing Stem Cell Research. Back in August, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist broke from the right-wing ranks when he announced his backing of government-funded stem cell research. What has happened since then? The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) tell us that "The House has already passed Representative DeGette's Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, HR 810 legislation to expand stem cell research....Months ago Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist promised to hold that vote, but continues to stall on this vital issue." Sign the DCCCs petition to finally bring this important issue to Bush's desk, and to encourage Frist to take advantage of this "rare opportunity for Congress to do something that could lead to the saving of lives and making our nation a better place."
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Monday - March 13, 2006
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5 Minutes, For Democracy's Sake. Russ Feingold for President! Ok, maybe we're jumping the gun a bit, but you gotta give the guy a lot of credit for once again taking the lead on defending our Constitutional principles. This time, Feingold has brought a motion to censure President Bush for his illegal wiretapping. If you read the linked article, you can already see Democrats hemming and hawing about supporting his motion, hanging him out to dry, and abdicating Congress's constitutionally-mandated role in overseeing the Executive Branch. That's why it's critically important for you to call your Senators NOW and demand they support Feingold's resolution. The President broke the law. That's not ok. It really is that simple.
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Saturday - March 11, 2006
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Ask Congress to Make Our Voting Machines Secure! The I Count! Lobby Days Coalition was formed by several voter advocate organizations in order to call for the support of HR 550, The Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act. This important bill, introduced by Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), "would protect the integrity of our elections by requiring a voter verified paper record of every vote, requiring mandatory random hand counted audits to verify the accuracy of electronic tallies, and prohibiting the use of secret software and wireless communication devices in voting machines." The I Count! Coalition is urging you, if possible, to attend HR 550 lobby days on April 6th and 7th and advocate the measure's merits in person on Capitol Hill. Can't make it to DC? You can still join the fight from home. Find out if your representative is one of those not co-sponsoring the bill here. Many representatives will be in their home state between April 12th and April 21st, and I Count! encourages you to take some initiative or join other concerned citizens to setup a meeting in your Congressional district.
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Thursday - March 09, 2006
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Protect Choice In Your State! The fight is on. South Dakota's governor has signed a sweeping abortion ban, done so with the full intention of enabling the serving up of Roe v. Wade to the conservative-majority Supreme Court's chopping block. The SD law does not make exceptions for rape or incest, though it is careful to make an exception for imminent risk to the life of the mother (but no exception for risks to her health). We believe forcing a woman to give birth to a child conceived due to a crime should, in fact, be a crime, instead of being endorsed by her government. We also believe that a woman has the right to decide when and if she bears children. There is no more room for "agreeing to disagree". Conservative administrations across the country need to get the message that we will not stand for the demotion of women to second-class citzens. Work to protect choice in your state by writing your governor now.
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Tuesday - March 07, 2006
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2005 Koufax Awards -- The Polls Are Open. The Koufax Awards are given to the best left-wing blogs on the net. And, like true Democrats, there's a legitimate democratic process for determining the winners. Still Fighting's not quite popular enough to be in the running, but many of the quality sites we link to are. We urge you to go to the page above and take a look at the entries in some of the categories. You can cast your vote by sending and email or adding a comment. From your votes, they'll choose semi-finalists shortly. This is a fantastic way to promote blogs that you like, so we highly urge you to participate.
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Sunday - March 05, 2006
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Stop AOL's Email Tax. Do you use the internet? We have a sneaking suspicion that you do, since you're either reading this via email, RSS, or HTML. Now, do you think the internet should remain free? We're betting you do. However, in the never-ending and oh-so-American search for more profits, service providers are beginning to realize that since they control the "pipes" that feed data to your computer, they can increase revenue by leveraging those pipes. AOL is the first service provider (well, they're really a content provider, for the most part) that's attacking the principle of a "free and open internet" in order to increase their revenue. "In February 2006, AOL announced that it would accept payment for incoming emails. For these certified emails, it would skip its usual anti-spam filters and guarantee delivery for cash." The corporatization of everything has to stop, and you can bet that if AOL goes through with it, other service providers won't be far behind. The internet is one of the last remaining purely democratic frontiers - let's keep it that way. Sign the petition at the link above.
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Friday - March 03, 2006
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Have You Checked Your Coverage Lately? Activism just doesn't get any simpler or necessary than this. Senator Michael Ezri (R-WY) has introduced legislation (S.1955 - the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005) that would allow insurance agencies to ignore state laws for prescription drugs. For example, 23 states have enacted legislation forcing insurance companies to offset the cost of birth control. Under S.1955, insurance companies would be free to ignore those laws. Huh? Apparently, for Ezri, it's OK for states to determine abortion rights, but it's not OK for states to determine their prescription medication plans? That's probably because states like his have been successful in hindering abortions. This reeks of collusion. Use Planned Parenthood's template to send a letter to your Senators, urging them to vote against this horrendous legislation.
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Thursday - March 02, 2006
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Make a FOIA Request. People For the American Way has created a new tool so that you, John Q. Citizen, can find out for yourself if the Bush administration has illegally listened in on your private conversations or has read your email. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was created so the American public could "demand transparency from the Administration," and the current government is absolutely mired in a thick, scandalous muck. While the PFAW cannot guarantee that your submission will be answered, they point out that taking this opportunity to exercise your rights and file a formal FOIA request "will send a strong signal that American citizens believe in the rule of law and aren't afraid to stand up to the President when he violates the Constitution!"
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Tuesday - February 28, 2006
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To the Editor: South Dakota Ban. Last week, the Senate in South Dakota approved a ban on the performance of almost all abortions, only allowing it in cases where the life of the mother was at stake, and takes no steps to allow it in the case of incest, rape, or risks to the health of the women seeking them. As Planned Parenthood points out, the situation for women seeking an abortion in South Dakota was "already pretty dire", given the fact that the state already has a slew of restrictions in place. This one state's action has threatened the reproductive rights of all American women. It is crystal clear the South Dakota legislation is meant to bump Roe v. Wade back to the Supreme Court, now a conservative majority thanks to the Bush administration. Planned Parenthood plans to file a lawsuit if South Dakota's governor signs the measure. Please visit the PP action center linked above, and take a few minutes to send a letter in defense of choice to the editor of your local newspapers. Also, please sign your name to the Two Million for Roe petition, and affirm "decisions about childbearing should be made by a woman, in consultation with her family and doctor, not by the government."
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Monday - February 27, 2006
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National Popular Vote. We're all very torn with regards to the Electoral College. On one hand, it's a staple of our democracy; on the other, the founding fathers could never have envisioned how technology has made the electoral college obsolete. From the website of the Federal Elections Committee: "The function of the College of Electors in choosing the president can be likened to that in the Roman Catholic Church of the College of Cardinals selecting the Pope. The original idea was for the most knowledgeable and informed individuals from each State to select the president based solely on merit and without regard to State of origin or political party." Since its inception, the Electoral College has gone through (at least) two major overhauls. Well, now, it's time for a third. We are taught in civics class that "every vote counts" and that "every vote is equal." Well, that's not entirely true. If you live in a state like Texas, your vote for president simply doesn't matter. The majority of Texans are going to vote Republican; therefore the electors of the state of Texas will give all of their electoral votes to the Republican candidate for president. Now, imagine a country where the only vote that mattered would be the popular vote - no "swing states," no candidates focused on four states for the week before an election. A popular vote election would ensure that every vote is equal, and would encourage more people to vote. That's what the folks at National Popular Vote are saying, as well. Check them out, download the book for free, and then see what you can do to get involved!
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Friday - February 24, 2006
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Why Mommy Is a Democrat. Parents, have we got an activism for you! Worried that your children might turn out to be corrupt Republicans? Concerned that your children might decide to go conservative? Well then, buy "Why Mommy Is a Democrat," a highly acclaimed children's book by Jeremy Zilber. While it may appear to just be a book targeted for children, it is most definitely not just a children's book. For example, check the sample pages. "Democrats make sure we all share our toys, just like Mommy does." Heck, none of us have children, and we've already ordered our copy! It only costs $8, and that includes shipping! Pick up yours today.
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Thursday - February 23, 2006
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Join the Progressive Legislative Action Network. We've linked to PLAN before, but that was in a very specific context. Since then, they've grown significantly. To remind you, PLAN's goal is to craft a strategy and allow progressives to fight back. Their strategy consists of four main goals: "Crafting Policy", "Writing a Strategy", "Building a Network", and "Providing Support Where It's Needed Most". There are multiple ways you can get involved: Subscribe to their statewide dispatch, or volunteer for their projects. It's going to take more than just wishful thinking to fight the conservative machine.
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Wednesday - February 22, 2006
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Design Our Anti-Pombo Billboard! Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA 11th) represents everything that is wrong with the Republican Party. He doesn't care about his constituents, he uses his office to elevate himself and his family, and he doesn't give a fig about improper use of taxpayer money. In addition to being highly corrupt, Pombo is also the chair of the House Resources Committee. In that position, he's done more harm for the environment that anyone else in recent memory. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is sponsoring a billboard design contest. The DCCC will post the winner's billboard in Pombo's home district. So break out your pencils, and get designing!
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Saturday - February 18, 2006
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Urge Congress to Shut Down Guantanamo Bay and Secret Prisons -- And Restore Rights. This week, the United Nations called for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison for its practices of torture and holding detainees indefinitely and without access to basic rights. Previously unpublished photos of the infamous atrocities at Abu Ghraib, tactics first used at Guantanamo, were initially broadcast this week on Australian television. The abuse both of prisoners and the Constitution must stop now. The ACLU has enacted a campaign to close Guantanamo and other secret US-run detention centers. "To ensure that closing these prisons does not merely result in transferring abuse elsewhere, Congress must also ensure that all prisoners get such basic protections such as humane treatment, access to a lawyer and a court, the right to know the government's charge against them and a meaningful right to prove their innocence."
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Thursday - February 16, 2006
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Bush Proposes To Sell 85,000 Acres Of Cali Public Forest. The Bush administration wants to sell up to 200,000 acres of our nation's forests, with the largest percentage being taken from California. The reasons given for this proposal seem noble - to raise money to pay for rural education and make up for losses in timber sales, which currently foot 25% of the bill to build those schools - but the enacting of this unnecessary plan would be absolutely detrimental to the nation's environment. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), as quoted in an article about the proposal by Knight Ridder, "calls the plan 'crazy,' saying: 'Here the administration wants to pass more tax cuts for the rich, and to pay the bill, they want to sell off public land - our nation's natural heritage.'" A third of the proposed sell-off lands come from the Klamath National Forest in the Pacific Northwest. KS Wild, a group formed in 1997 as federal agencies ramped up logging in that region, is ramping up a fight to protect Klamath and the rest of our forests. Join with them now and let your senators know that you think the administration is crazy, too.
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Wednesday - February 15, 2006
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Hotel Workers Rising! Ok, we'll admit it: We've got a soft spot in our hearts for blue-collar workers. You know, people that actually do, well...work. And, frankly, with record corporate problems and union membership declining, opportunities for workers to hold significant power are dwindling. The hotel industry is no different than any other: "In recent decades, the hotel industry has witnessed the rapid consolidation and expansion of international hotel corporations. The hotel industry used to be dominated by local players and local markets. But today the industry is dominated by multimillion dollar national and international corporations." What can you do about it? Well, first off, you can sign your name and lend your support to hotel workers at the link above. You can also go here to search for hotels that employ hotel worker union members.
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Tuesday - February 14, 2006
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Annual Report to the Grassroots. Today's Activism is so easy, anyone can do it. Your assignment is to read the above report. There have been some grumblings lately about Howard Dean's effectiveness as the head of the DNC, particularly when it comes to fundraising. As you'll read, "the DNC raised more than $51 million in 2005 -- a record for a non-election year and a 20% increase over the total raised in 2003." Suck on that, Ken Mehlman.
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Monday - February 13, 2006
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Take a Stand on the Constitution and Oppose Flag Amendment. Will this ever just die? With all that is going on in and outside of our country at the moment - little things like unnecessary pre-emptive wars, rampant financial corruption in our legislative and administrative branches, illegal wiretapping, mishandled disaster crises, and trigger-happy VPs - why are we wasting our time trying to outlaw what is protected by the Constitution? We call on you to encourage lawmakers to find something better to do. "Americans are an intensely patriotic people, but only because of our free heritage and the liberties embodied in the Constitution. One of these basic principles is the tolerance of dissent, even when obnoxious. This [proposed] amendment stands for the exact opposite premise: that you can put people in jail merely for being offensive."
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Sunday - February 12, 2006
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The Global Fund. We normally don't like linking to Activism choices that only ask you for money. We understand that many people are hesitant to donate to various charities because they have no guarantee that their money will be spent on what's promised. However, we do encourage you to consider donating to the Global Fund. They have a proven track record of getting the money to where it needs to go. Created to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria across the country, the Global Fund is an important foil to Bush's "abstinence only" plan. Donate today, if you can.
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Saturday - February 11, 2006
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Work for MoveOn.org Political Action. Sometimes our activism link requires only a small commitment; this one's pretty big. MoveOn.org is looking for employees! They're looking for a field director, as well as a deputy director. Hop on over to the link and see the job requirements. If you're looking to make a big life change, and want to take a job in which you can truly make a difference, this seems like a pretty good opportunity, don'tcha think? You'd be working through November 15th, and your goal as field director would be to "Help launch and run a massive phone-based volunteer GOTV & persuasion operation to win back key Congressional seats in 2006." And they'd pay you! Sounds pretty cool to us...
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Friday - February 10, 2006
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Question War. This is kind of cute. Our administration, time and time again, has made it clear to Americans that if you don't support the war, you don't support the troops. Period. As we all know, this is the biggest pile of BS to hit the pike since, well, whatever Bush said right before this. At any rate, the above website is selling "Question War" magnets for your car. Similar to the "Support our Troops" ribbons, they will let people know that you don't blindly follow King George. Get yours today!
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Thursday - February 09, 2006
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Take Action: Nuclear Posture Review. The Bush administration spends a lot of time worrying about WMDs in other countries, but what about the ones in our own backyard? What kind of example is the U.S. setting? The Federation of American Scientists (FAS), formed in 1945 by atomic scientists from the Manhattan Project, tells us "on 3 February 2006, the Pentagon released the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) -- a comprehensive examination of U.S. military forces and national defense strategy. The QDR did not present new ideas for drastically reducing the number and role nuclear weapons." In fact, FAS says that the Bush administration is instead intent on increasing its arsenal of nuclear weapons in its defense strategy as a preemptive measure. They rightly point out "planning for nuclear preemption is based on the assumption that deterrence will fail, and that nuclear weapons are just another tool to ensure destruction of a target." This isn't 1945. Please sign the FAS' petition to reduce our nuclear stockpile, which "threaten[s] American security rather than assure[s] it."
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Wednesday - February 08, 2006
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Help Women Get Birth Control at Wal-Mart's Pharmacies. "'Wal-Mart apparently thinks it is above the law,' said Sam Perkins, a lawyer for the three plaintiffs" who last week filed a suit against Wal-Mart, seeking to compel them to stock emergency contraception that is legally approved in their state. Any pharmacist's refusal to stock or fill emergency contraception prescriptions on moral grounds is reprehensible, and as the largest retail pharmacy, Wal-Mart particularly should be taken to task. Use NARAL's action center to send a message directly to the retail giant that would play judge and jury with a woman's medicine cabinet, and urge them to make the health (and rights) of their customers a priority.
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Tuesday - February 07, 2006
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NCLB: Let's Get it Right. Who says that activism has to be dry and boring? The American Federation of Teachers has created a snappy little cartoon that illustrates what's wrong with No Child Left Behind. Check it out, and then sign their petition. Education isn't a partisan issue. Since, for all intents and purposes, we're stuck with NCLB, why don't we make modifications to the law that don't screw over our children? We don't disagree with everything in NCLB: there is some good in the law. We appreciate that there should be a "bedrock national goal that all children learn and that they graduate prepared to participate in society, with skills for work and post secondary education." We agree that we should focus on the neediest of children. The goals are there, but the implementation is terrible. Let's get it right!
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Monday - February 06, 2006
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Latest on Impeachment Inquiry. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) is madder than hell, and he's going to let the president know it. In fact, he's drafted H.Res 635, whose lengthy title is "Creating a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment." Conyers currently has 16 other Democratic Representatives that have co-signed this legislation, and over 35,000 Americans who have signed the petition. So, today, we call on you, John and/or Jane Q. taxpayer, to sign the petition and contact your Representatives, in an effort to get them to co-sponsor the bill. True reform comes from the people, and the time to start is right now.
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Sunday - February 05, 2006
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Join Team Ciro! Ciro D. Rodriguez is running for the U.S. House of Representatives out of the 28th District of Texas. So what? Well, Rodriguez is running against Democratic incumbent Henry Cuellar in the primary, and Cueller's one of those "fake" Democrats who need to go. You can take a look at his record here, and see why. When Democrats vote with Republicans more than their own party, it gives the GOP cover for their dastardly deeds. And, of course, it's one more vote for the "wrong" side. If Rodriguez can win in the primary, that's one more vote for accountability and true progressive policies. So, hop on over to his site and volunteer if you can, or give money. As the elections draw nearer, we're going to be featuring more specific candidates you can support. It doesn't have to be with money - any way you can help will do, but we urge you to pick a few and fight to take back our country!
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Saturday - February 04, 2006
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Give President Bush His Grades. What did you think of Bush's State of the Union speech? How well did he address the needs and desires of the American public? The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and its Rubber Stamp project want to know what grade you would give our country's top executive. On their site they track and detail what we already know about the Republican Congress -- that they function as the biggest rubber stamp for a president in decades. "To put it plainly, the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress doesn't care about you. Their major legislation, engineered by the White House and Tom DeLay and rubber stamped by the Republican rank and file, appears to be little more than a quid pro quo with huge special interests -- with cynical indifference to the problems facing middle class Americans."
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Friday - February 03, 2006
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NARAL and Coathanger Chafee. There's really no such thing as a pro-choice Republican any more. Oh, sure, Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Arlen Specter (R-PA) claim to be pro-choice, but when the rubber hits the road, where are they? Voting along party lines, and doing very little to fight for reproductive rights. Nowhere was this more clear than the Alito nomination. Frankly, there's no excuse, political or otherwise, for anyone who was in favor of abortion rights to not have filibustered. It was clear that Alito would likely vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself. A majority of the public opposes overturning Roe v. Wade. Bush's popularity is at its lowest. So, following that line of logic, there's no way important abortion rights activists groups like NARAL should continue to support Chafree, Specter, etc. Jane Hamsher, at firedoglake, has more details, but the basic idea is as follows: "You can contact NARAL and tell them your membership is contingent on withdrawing their support for Lincoln Chafee and other Republican candidates willing to sacrifice the pro-choice cause in their loyalty to the GOP agenda." Go to her post for more details, including contact information.
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Thursday - February 02, 2006
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Stop Bush's War on People in Poverty. It's officially tax season, and if you are like many Americans, you're already planning how to spend your federal refund. If you're lucky, you will spend it on paying down some excess credit card debt, but some of you will count on that refund to cover basic expenses, such as rising heat costs. What if that refund weren't on its way? The One America Committee is outraged about the recent freeze on "more than 120,000 taxpayers' refunds on suspicion of fraud without notifying the taxpayers or giving them a chance to respond", and you should be too. These taxpayers were at the $12,000 to $14,000 level, not wealthy individuals or large corporations who have traditionally been the biggest tax evaders. Help stop the Bush administration's war on poverty by using this site to send a letter to IRS Chairman Mark W. Everson, and demand that this misplaced practice stop.
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Wednesday - February 01, 2006
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Democracy For America Training Academy. Sick of our leaders? Then why not become one! Democracy For America is a fantastic progressive organization, but one small organization alone has a tough time making a significant difference. That's why DFA is sponsoring a training academy, to help train the progressive leaders of tomorrow. "The DFA Training Academy grew out of the need to harness that grassroots power in an organized, skilled, and sustained manner. With your help, we identify key skills and strategies you can use to take back your city, your state, your country." Works for us. Long-term strategies for the Democratic party have been sorely lacking. Visit the link above and contribute if you can, or, even better, check out the schedule and attend an event!
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Tuesday - January 31, 2006
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Ned Lamont for Senate. There has been a ton of buzz about Ned Lamont, a Connecticut Democratic businessman who is planning to challenge Joe Lieberman for his Senate seat. However, he says that he won't officially enter the race until 1,000 Connecticut volunteers have signed up (that is, volunteers who live in Connecticut). Lamont is over 1/3 of the way there, and he's got many people talking about him. We've made our displeasure with Lieberman known over these last few months, so now it's time to do something about it. Don't only go to his website to sign up and volunteer, but contact anyone and everyone you know in Connecticut to do the same. Let's show Lieberman what it means to be a true Democrat!
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Monday - January 30, 2006
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Hypocrisy of the Highest Order. It's a great time to be a liberal. Honestly. While the other party is facing ethics violations, hypocrisy and legal violations so offensive that they should be grounds for impeachment, the biggest problem liberals have had over the last few weeks is getting united to stand against Alito (more on him below). So, if Republicans are in so much trouble, why are they falling back on the same tricks to try and improve their image? Did you know that Rick "I meet with Lobbyists every week" Santorum has been anointed by the GOP to head the Republican image makeover campaign ethics reform efforts? That's like putting Nero in charge of the fire department! Watch the DSCC's (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) video above, and then sign up to help get him out of office. Although Casey may lead him now, we're still 10 months away from the elections.
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Sunday - January 29, 2006
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Take Back Your Privacy! AmericaBLOG recently exposed a major invasion of privacy by purchasing General Wesley Clark's cell phone records for a whopping $89.95. After AMERICAblog informed him of the purchase details and how easy the records were to obtain, General Clark started a campaign to urge Senators to pass bill S. 2178, the Schumer/Specter "Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act" to guarantee that these records are respected by "everyone from the government to our internet and mobile phone service providers." Help stop this blatant disregard of America's privacy and restore our collective peace of mind by joining with Clark in this fight.
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Saturday - January 28, 2006
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What Constitutes Real Leadership on Reform? The answer to that question lies not in the likes of Congressmen Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boehner (R-OH) and John Shedagg (R-AZ), all men vying for the vacated House Majority seat, recently held by Tom "I felt the Hammer come down on me" DeLay. Republicans are using DeLay's departure to the surrounding ethics scandals to try and promote legislation to fix the loopholes. Conveniently enough, though, they are only proposing legislation that fixes the loopholes that they've been caught in. Having one of the above three men become House Majority Leader is just swapping out one corrupt Republican for another. Watch the videos from Public Campaign (the title link), then use their form to email your Representatives and demand that corruption be wiped out from Congress. The best way to accomplish this? "Clean Elections-style public financing of elections." Tell them to support the bill introduced by Representatives John Tierney (D-MA) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), the "Clean Money, Clean Elections Act." We're not going to stop corruption by sitting in front of our computers, reading. Take action!
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Friday - January 27, 2006
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Stop Sinclair. We don't care if you're conflicted and a fan of both the gentle 7th Heaven and the not-so-gentle Friday Night Smackdown, but we do care if you are not gravely concerned about the UPN/WB merger aiding and abetting the overtly conservative Sinclair Broadcasting Group. StopSinclair.Org and its parent, SinclairAction, were originally formed in response to the Sinclair Group's biased news coverage (like pre-empting the Nightline reading of names of the US military dead in Iraq) and blatant airing of propagranda (namely the anti-Kerry, swift-boat veteran-packed "documentary", Stolen Honor: 'Wounds That Never Heal). Sinclair currently owns or controls 24 affiliates that could be picked up by the merged network, the CW. Take a moment now to send a strong, convincing message to the CW to just say no to Sinclair and its antagonizing tactics.
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Thursday - January 26, 2006
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Help MoveOn plan their next steps. Tired of the direction of the Democratic Party? Well, we can't really help you a whole lot there, aside from urging you to call your Senators and Representatives, and maybe run for office yourself. But MoveOn.org is a progressive, political powerhouse, and they realize that interaction with their supporters is the key to success. One issue they're gearing up to tackle is fair, accurate elections. And, they want your input. Isn't this what we're all clamoring for? A political process that represents the average citizen? That citizen is you! Make your voice heard by taking the quick survey, and help MoveOn.org help us all.
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Wednesday - January 25, 2006
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Letter to the Editor: Expose Bush's Power Grab Oppose Samuel Alito. Time is running out to oppose Samuel Alito's nomination. Democrats have said that they will do everything in their power to see that he's not nominated, but will it be enough? We've already given you petitions to sign and Congressmen to call. Now, we encourage you to use MoveOn's form to write a letter to your local, regional and national newspapers. Make your voice heard, and maybe, just maybe, we can keep an extremist from being appointed to the bench.
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Tuesday - January 24, 2006
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Help Stop Bush's NSA Spying Program: Speak Out, Join Us In Our Work. On January 17th, the American Civil Liberties Union made a bold move and filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group of prominent journalists, scholars, attorneys, and national nonprofit organizations against the National Security Agency to stop its illegal domestic spying program. You can join them in their first-of-a-kind fight. Use their Action Center to send an e-mail to President Bush, and demand that he no longer abuse his office with unchecked powers. Nancy Hollander, a client of the suit and past-president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, says "if the Executive chooses to take it upon itself to ignore the Constitution and the laws Congress has passed, we have no recourse and our democracy is in peril." Peril is unfortunately not too strong of a word to describe what we face if the President is left to decide which laws he will abide by arbitrarily.
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Monday - January 23, 2006
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An Open Letter to all Senators About Judge Alito. Look, we don't want John Kerry to run for President in 2008, but the fact remains that he is a reliable, progressive Senator. Furthermore, we're running out of time to oppose Alito, but that doesn't mean all is lost. Heck, even the NY Times is publicly opposing Alito. So add your name to Kerry's petition against Alito. It's certainly possible that all Democratic Senators will vote "no" on Alito, but that's not enough - they need to filibuster. They'll only do that if they know you support them. Sign the petition, and then call your Senators!
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Saturday - January 21, 2006
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Terri PAC. The headlines about Terri Schiavo and the end-of-life debate have faded, but Michael Schiavo through his TerriPAC organization is still diligently working for the "sanctity of marriage and personal privacy the right to make lifes most personal decisions for ourselves and our families free from government interference." The Bush administration, neo-conservatives, and the religious right manipulated a family tragedy to serve their own grandiose political goals. TerriPAC wants to make sure the American public is informed of its legislative leaders opinions who "chose their own political gain over personal privacy and the rule of law." Unfortunately, their work is needed, since this sad reality has not changed since Terri's passing.
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Friday - January 20, 2006
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Honest Leadership Petition. It's time to put our own talking point to work: we must diffuse the Republican culture of corruption that has recently risen up and over the boiling point. If you are tired of government policy for sale to the highest bidder, tired of corporate welfare, and tired of a cycle of bought influence that puts the interests of greedy groups above honesty and integrity, sign the Democratic Party petition for Honest Leadership in all branches of our government. Ultimately, this is not about what political party you are a member of, or how much money you came from, this is about what is right, and what the American public deserves from its leaders.
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Thursday - January 19, 2006
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Restore the Rule of Law. Abramoff. Alito. So many petitions, so little time! This one's about asking Congress to actually do some real oversight and investigate whether or not Bush broke the law in ordering his illegal wiretaps. The Congressional Research Service says he did because he didn't inform Congress as required, but frankly, that's not good enough. It's not just a technicality - the Administration deliberately tried to skirt around a law that they found inconvenient, and refuses to cease doing so, despite mounting evidence that it's not legal. Congress must investigate this matter immediately. The branches of government are supposed to be equal - as Russ Feingold says, we have a President, not a King. Sign the petition demanding "a thorough and independent investigation of the Bush administration's allegedly illegal wiretapping activities," including appointment of an independent counsel, an open and thorough Congressional investigation, and protection for whistleblowers. Does Congress really care about the rule of law, or does that only apply to Presidents that lie about unimportant things like sex with interns?
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Wednesday - January 18, 2006
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National Election Data Archive : Take Action. The 2006 elections are looming as the best change to take the counry back, but there's a big landmine in the way. See, if we don't get serious election reform in this country, even if voters realize that the GOP needs to be booted out, and then vote that way, the final tally and therefore the results may ultimately not reflect the will of the people. That would be a travesty, and it would mean all of the work that we're going to put into the 2006 elections (you're going to put work in, right?) will be for naught. So let's get serious about election reform. The National Election Data Archive is a project of USCountVotes, which "is a scientific research project whose mission is to objectively investigate the accuracy of elections in America." You can read more about their project on the website, but, more importantly, you can read about the myriad ways available to help out. You can request paper ballots from your election officials, try to get election data, help with fundraising, or communications, just to name a few options.
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Tuesday - January 17, 2006
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Demand Body Armor For Our Troops In Iraq. All we hear is that we must do everything we can to fight the War on Terrorism, with as much of our resources as possible. Then why is the Bush administration unwilling to spend the least of those resources on the proper protection for our soldiers? The New York Times reported that "80 percent of the marines who have been killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived if they had had extra body armor." The armor they refer to, mind you, costs as little as $260 per unit, and according to analysis by the Times, possibly 300 marine deaths could have been avoided had it been worn. Please urge the Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner and member Carl Levin to call attention to and investigate this matter immediately.
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Monday - January 16, 2006
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The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy. The ACS is one of those groups that you've probably never heard of, but their importance is unquestionable. Billing themselves as "one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations," the ACS works tirelessly to ensure that your Constitutional rights are preserved. Today, we had the pleasure of watching Vice President Al Gore deliver a speech, sponsored by the ACS, about the illegalities of the Bush administration. From wire-tapping to Iraq, Bush has made usurping power from the Constitution his top priority. Join the ACS (and visit their blog) to see how you can help.
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Sunday - January 15, 2006
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Oppose Alito. Look, we all wish the Democratic Senators were more aggressive and effective in their questioning of Alito. We wish they seemed more likely to filibuster. But the committee vote isn't until this coming week at the earliest, and the floor vote might not be for a little while. It may seem unlikely, but if you really want your Senators to filibuster Alito, you've gotta let them know. The latest petition is sponsored by John Edwards's One America Foundation, and certainly couldn't hurt. After you sign it, then give your Senators a call and let them know you would support a filibuster. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, folks, but it won't even get started without you taking action.
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Saturday - January 14, 2006
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Can't Find the Remote? We've talked extensively on Still Fighting about how Congressmen, like Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), want to regulate cable and satellite televison. TV Watch was formed to "oppose government control of TV programming and promotes the use of tools like content ratings and parental controls. TV Watch educates parents about existing tools to manage their families TV viewing and gives a voice to the majority of Americans who prefer personal responsibility to government regulation." Part of the problem with cable regulation is that parents don't want to take responsibility for what their children watch. The result is parents complain about what's on television, and Congress feels the need to take drastic action. We hate to sound like a broken record, but the bottom line is that the FCC regulates network television, and we agree with that. Anyone who owns a TV can receive network channels, and those programs should be regulated (although we're not sure how Dr. Phil can get away with discussing oral sex with 45-year-old housewives at three in the afternoon). However, receiving cable and satellite television is a choice parents make. If parents don't want their children to watch these channels, they shouldn't purchase cable. And if they do, then they have the responsibility to regulate their children's viewing. The responsibility for raising children shouldn't fall to Congress. Join TV Watch, and find out how you can help keep Congress' noses out of cable.
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Friday - January 13, 2006
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Stop Corruption First. Before Congress does anything else, they should clean out the dirt collecting underneath their fingernails first. We're all tired of sitting back and watching the pile of scandal and ethics violations grow amongst the ranks. MoveOn.Org is absolutely correct: "As the first order of business Congress should pass an anti-corruption law to rein in lobbyists, toughen ethics rules, create an independent entity to enforce the rules and get serious about public financing of elections." Let's clear the air so some productive work can get done for once in Washington.
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Wednesday - January 11, 2006
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Jim Pederson for Senate in Arizona. We like Jim Pederson a lot. He's a vocal Democrat who doesn't stand for corporate backscratching. He challenges Republican Senator Jon Kyl, who has been the embodiment of what's wrong with government today. From Education to Terrorism, Kyl has consistently put his own interests in front of his constituency's, and it's time to get rid of him. Find out how you can help get Pederson elected here.
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Tuesday - January 10, 2006
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DC Activism Alert: Supremely Screwed. The District of Columbia has no representation in the U.S. Senate. While DC hosts the hearings for Alito's confirmation, they do not have a vote on whether or not he is confirmed, and have no opportunity to even question the politics and musings of the man whose future decisions would impact their lives. SupremelyScrewed.com allows District residents to submit questions regarding Alito directly to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Since Sliced Bread. SinceSlicedBread.com hosts a unique contest that put out a "call for [common-sense] ideas that will strengthen our economy and improve the day-to-day lives of working men and women and their families", and has offered a grand prize of $100,000 to the everyday American with the best idea to help fix the nation's economy. The top 21 ideas are now listed on their site and can be voted on by the public. The winning idea will also have the full support of the Service Employees International Union, the SSB sponsor, who will make a committment to seeing it come to fruition. SEIU is a health care, property, and public services union working to ensure that "workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today's global economy."
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Monday - January 09, 2006
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Tell House Republicans to Return DeLay's Dirty Money. Tom DeLay is finally out as Republican Majority Leader, but he still walks around free. Hopefully he'll get booted out of the House in 2006, but in the meantime, we're hoping he takes down with him as many corrupt GOP members as possible. And there sure are a lot of 'em! Fortunately, "House of Scandal" has provided a convenient scandal-navigation tool. For you to track all of the dirty dealings between DeLay, Abramoff, and other GOP cronies and tools. It's a little complicated, but the level of corruption is absolutely staggering. We need your help to make sure this issue doesn't fade away any time soon, despite the fervent wishes of the GOP. Sign the petition above and let Republicans know you won't forget about their ties to DeLay so quickly.
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Sunday - January 08, 2006
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Women Are Waiting. NARAL pulls no punches and tells us like it is: expert panels at the FDA and public health/medical professionals have felt since 2001 that it is urgent to offer over-the-counter emergency contraception to America's women. It is now 2006, and due to conservative political pressure, the fight unfortunately still rages on for Plan B's application. Help put an end to the stalemate by letting Congress know that you support the "Plan B for Plan B" act, which would give the FDA 30 days to say yay or nay to the application.
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Friday - January 06, 2006
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Sign the Voter Confidence Petition in Support of H.R. 550. We don't know a whole lot about Congressman Rush Holt, but we sure like his petition. You see, all of this work for 2006 and beyond won't make a lick of difference if our elections are tainted. They're kind of the foundation of this whole democracy thing. And with Bush's recent recess appointments of his cronies to the Federal Election Committee, well, let's just say we're not too confident in their ability to make sure our elections are fair. That's why H.R. 550 is so important. It will "Mandate a voter-verified paper ballot for every vote cast in every federal election, nationwide", fund that federally, as well as require random audits. Frankly, it's a no-brainer. So go and sign the petition. Verified voting is a must!
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Thursday - January 05, 2006
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Volunteer with Reclaim Democracy. Corporations have too much power in our political system. While they may play an important role in America's economic success, which is an important source of some of our freedoms, that doesn't mean they should be given unfettered rights and access. But that's exactly what corporations strive to do, in their never-ending quest for profits at the expense of everything else. One particular issue that Reclaim Democracy is involved with is combatting this notion of "corporate personhood". Corporations are not people. They should not have the same rights as people. As their website says, "Granting corporations the status of legal 'persons' effectively rewrites the Constitution to serve corporate interests as though they were human interests. Ultimately, the doctrine of granting constitutional rights to corporations gives a thing illegitimate privilege and power that undermines our freedom and authority as citizens." It's hard to argue with that. Hop on over to their website, and see the many different ways (writing, researching, distributing, translating...) in which you can volunteer to help us reclaim our democracy from corporations run amok.
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Wednesday - January 04, 2006
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Out of Iraq. AfterDowningStreet.org (the organization that actually wanted to follow up on the Downing Street Memos) is host a set of "Out of Iraq" events on January 7th. Multiple Congress members are attending some of the over 70 events taking place around the country. Multiple topics will be discussed: "While all of these events will focus on ending the war, many of them will also address Congressman John Conyers' new resolutions to censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney and to create a select committee to investigate and make recommendations on impeachment." Doesn't that sound like a fun thing to be a part of? We sure think so. Hop on over to the link and search for an event near you, or even sign up to host one.
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Tuesday - January 03, 2006
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Emergency Campaign(s) to Stop Alito! Desperate times call for desperate measures, or at the least, SF showing you three different ways to make your voice heard regarding the confirmation of Samuel Alito to fill Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court. Your choices, all complete with preformatted messages to make things even easier: click the link above to go to Planned Parenthood's 'Save Roe!' action site; sign SaveTheCourt.org's petition against Alito here; and/or petition and e-mail your senator at NARAL's 'Choose Justice' site.
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Monday - January 02, 2006
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Dump Representative Mike Ferguson (NJ). Representative Mike Ferguson (R-NJ7) is about as useless as they come. The folks over at Dump Mike recognize this, and have started a blog, in an effort to educate the voters on his ridiculous stances. For example, "We saw both challenges and incredible successes in Iraq. We had elections, and continuing terrorist activity there, and deaths and injuries to U.S. personnel. We saw a lot of successes as well and great strides forward." See what we mean? Check out the blog, which is operated by the Blue 7th PAC, and then head over to his challenger's website, Joseph Tricarico, Jr., to see how you can help dump Mike.
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Friday - December 30, 2005
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Ask your Congress Member to Support Censure of Bush and Cheney. Earlier this week, we asked you to sign Representative John Conyers' letter to the president, demanding a Congressional investigation into Bush's usurpation of power. We told you that "Although this letter alone won't spurn the president into action (really, what will?), this is an extremely good first step in showing our country that we won't stand for a president who feels that law is beneath him." Well, here's the next step. Send a letter to your Congressman urging them to not only vote for H.Res 635 (which would create a committee to investigate pre-war intelligence), but also H.Res. 636 and 637, to censure Bush and Cheney. To pull a phrase out of the Still Fighting archives, "What are you waiting for?"
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Thursday - December 29, 2005
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Tales of the Freewayblogger. Tired of standard old activism? You know, donating money, making phone calls, knocking on doors? Do you long to be a vigilante, crusading in the darkness for the rights of those who aren't heard? Well, have we got an activism for you! The Freewayblogger roves from overpass to overpass, planting signs that are seen by millions and millions each day. Signs that read "Impeach", "Bush Lied", or "2K Why?" Even if they affect just a hundredth of a percent of the people who read them, that's a lot of people. Furthermore, efforts like his cost very little money and very little time. Additionally, his site has illustrated instructions. What are you waiting for? Go take your message to the streets! At the very least, it'll make someone's commute a little more interesting.
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Wednesday - December 28, 2005
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What's The Point?
