I've signed up for the We Campaign because I believe that by working together, we can solve the climate crisis. Will you join me? Just click on the link below to sign up and add your voice to the million-plus call for an end to global warming

www.wecansolveit.org/join

The We Campaign is an effort launched by Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to promote solutions to the climate crisis. It's an urgent issue, but the climate crisis is also solvable if we work together and unite our leaders around solutions like renewable power and enhanced energy efficiency. We can leave the next generation a healthy climate. Please add your voice by joining the We Campaign today:

www.wecansolveit.org/join

My name is Asher Heimermann and I am the host of a live internet radio broadcast show called "Asher Speaks Live". My show brings; authors, elected officials, candidates, and local celebrities "on air" as special guests to talk about their life and current events.

Asher Speaks Live attracts about 200 and 300 listeners each month. We discuss the latest national and political news as well as topics such as; news, sports, weather, and much more. Asher Speaks Live is a new innovative approach.

Noted guests on Asher Speaks Live include Larry Nelson, George Phillies, Kat Swift, and Judy Stock, just to name a few.

Archives of Asher Speaks Live can also be heard on my official website that is located at www.asherheimermann.com as well as my profile on MySpace, which can be found at www.myspace.com/aheimermann.

Please feel free to contact me for more information or to inquire about booking to be a special guest on the Asher Speaks Live radio program. You are welcome to visit my website to learn more about me and my radio show.


Mr. Asher Heimermann
asher@asherheimermann.com
http://www.asherheimermann.com
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/asher

I have officially endorsed Senator Barack Obama. I have posted my endorsement on my blog, which is is located at www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com and click on Blog.

Please feel free to comment on the endorsement and to vote for the Senator in the 2008 Presidential Poll that is on the right side of the blog.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me at asher@asherheimermann.com. Comments should be left on the blog.

Tonight, check with ASHERHEIMERMANN.com for the fastest results and the latest breaking developments for the Iowa Caucuses. The arcane rules governing Thursday's Iowa Democratic caucuses will test even the most organized campaign, but mastery of the process could launch a candidate on a path to the White House.

The Iowa Caucuses start at 8pm ET / 7pm CT and the Presidential Candidates have to show up at caucus sites to vote. Also, the Presidential Candidates must have at lease 15 percent of the voters to be "viable".

Please go to www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog to vote for your favorite candidate in the 2008 Presidential Poll.

Below are the final results of the two polls that were located at www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog.

As for the 2008 Presidential Poll:

- Joe Biden had 1%
- Chris Dodd had 0%
- Mike Gravel had 11%
- Hillary Clinton had 2%
- John Edwards had 11%
- Barack Obama had 53%
- Bill Richardson had 2%
- Dennis Kucinich has 19%

As for the Person of the Year:

- Al Gore had 89 votes
- Wolf Blitzer had 6 votes
- Barack Obama had 125 votes
- Fred Thompson had 10 votes
- Dennis Kucinich had 86 votes
- Ellen DeGeneres had 7 votes
- Anderson Cooper had 15 votes
- Asher Heimermann had 12 votes

We have three new polls that you can vote in until Wednesday, January 30th, 2008. Just go to www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog to start voting!

You have just hours left to vote for your favorite candidate in the 2008 Presidential Poll that is located at www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog before the final results are read live on New Years Eve!

- Joe Biden has 1%
- Chris Dodd has 0%
- Mike Gravel has 11%
- Hillary Clinton has 2%
- John Edwards has 11%
- Barack Obama has 54%
- Bill Richardson has 2%
- Dennis Kucinich has 19%

The final results of this poll will be read on Asher Speaks Live which airs live on Monday, December 31st at 12:30am ET / 11:30pm CT. You can listen to the show live by going to www.BlogTalkRadio.com/asher/.

We've launched another new edition of www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com! We have added more resources and action items on the website. We have also set-up a few groups that you can join to show your support and interest.

We have even added the Asher Speaks Live Schedule so you will know the dates and times of the show! We are still adding a few more pages to the website. We will not have the Issues page up until the third week of January, 2008.

Please feel free to e-mail your comments to asher@asherheimermann.com. These comments will be helpful in making this website better to use and access. Many more cool features will be added in the upcoming months.

I hope that you are enjoying your holiday season so far. It's time to update you on my youth activism campaign.

You can now take a look at some of the videos that I've been uploading to the internet! I've created a profile and a group on YouTube.com so that you are able to see short videos that I have made and will be making. You are welcome to rate the videos as well as comment on them. Feel free to add me as a friend!

As a reminder, I also have a profile and a group on MySpace.com! Click Here to view the profile and Click Here to view the group. We are always looking for new people to add me as a friend on MySpace and join the group. I have been posting upcoming events on MySpace so you can RVSP.

Starting in January 2008, Asher Speaks Live will have all new episodes. We will be adding more interviews and music. We will also be giving away free stuff! We are still having our New Years Eve Special on Monday, December 31st at 11:30pm CT. If you don't have nothing to do, ring in the New Year with me! We will review all of the major news and events of 2007.

As the countdown to 2008 begins, I welcome you to e-mail me your feedback and ideas on how to make my radio show, Asher Speaks Live and my website, ASHERHEIMERMANN.com better. You have gotten my emails and updates and now I'm asking that you take a minute to email me with your feedback.

The next e-mail you will get from me will be on Monday, January 7th. Until then, please check in with my blog that is located at www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog. The is the best place to go for daily updates. Please have a safe and happy New Years and I look forward to a great 2008!

I've been posting a few of my videos on YouTube! I welcome you to check them out! Feel free to rate and comment on them.

http://www.YouTube.com/Asher4President

You are also welcome to add me as a friend and sur to my channel. I will be uploading my video endorsements soon so stay tune and watch for updates here and on ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog!

The editorial boards of the Des Moines Register and the Boston Globe - two of the most influential papers for voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to weigh in at the polls - both gave their endorsement to John McCain in the Republican presidential race, but parted ways over their choice in the Democratic contest.

To read the rest of this blog post, please go to http://www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com/blog where you can voice your opinion and vote in the presidential poll.

Starting in January 2008, Asher Speaks Live will have guidelines for callers and special guests. The guidelines will be created over the next two weeks. If you have feedback or an idea, please e-mail asher@asherheimermann.com. The guidelines will be posted as soon as they are created and ready for public release. Thank you and keep on listening to Asher Speaks Live!

On Thursday, December 6th, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow join us for CNN's live global telecast honoring ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Find out which of the heroes you nominated have been chosen by CNN's Blue Ribbon Panel. Hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour. This event will air on all CNN Networks as well as ASHERHEIMERMANN.com at 9pm EDT / 8pm CDT.

On Friday, December 7th, you are invited to attend a free conference call that will take place at 5:00pm EDT / 4:00pm CDT. This conference call will provide a quick overview of my youth activism campaign. You will also be able to ask me questions. Below is information for Friday's call!

Phone Number: (605) 475-4333
Participant Access Code: 86328

If you didn't see "The Penguin" rising above the law on Larry King's "Heart-to-Heart" from The Bunker this week, then you missed quite a revealing interview. We had it wrong all along... and The Dick is still right! Not only has he not made any mistakes, but he's do it all over again!

My favorite part was when he straightened up that penguin neck, attempted to pull the wedgie out of his crack, and sheepishly confided in Larry about the nightmare he had the night before Dubya had his pooper scooped.

The Dick's eyes glazed over as he recalled that Friday night when a wet dream became a horrific nightmare. In case you haven't ordered your copy of the transcript text-messaged directly to your cell phone... one sentence at a time... (I so wish LK hadn't discovered text messaging and ring tones... Now he's pimping it every chance... Must be over his Medicare max for his upcoming 14th bypass surgery...)   Read More »

Tonight, you must make it a point to tune into MSNBC's Keith Obermann as he does a "special comment", (as only Keith-O can do), into the emerging story about the multi-layer cover-up in the tragic death of Pat Tillman.

Most of us know the story of how this NFL star passed on a multi-million dollar contract to play for the Phoenix Cardinals in favor of joining the Army Airborne Rangers and volunteering to go fight in Dubya's War for Oil… eeerrrr… fight the Taliban in the "war on terror" in Afghanistan. Tillman's death was first reported by the Army as "killed in action". Later… MUCH later… a new report concluded that his death was due to "friendly fire". It took the Tillman family a year, working tirelessly in search of the "real" story behind their hero's death, that the truth slowly started to emerge… after the Army and the Bush Administration had milked this tragedy for all it was worth as a recruiting tool to beef up the sagging numbers in all branches of the military. Were it not for the three courageous Airborne Rangers that went public on committed abuses they witnessed, we might still believe Pat's death was just another "unavoidable and unfortunate case of being accidentally killed" by his own teammates.

On C-SPAN this morning, I watched them drag The Rummy out of mothballs to testify along with former Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers, former U.S. Central Command commander Gen. John Abizaid, and former U.S. Special Operations Commander Gen. Bryan Douglas Brown… that there was "absolutely no cover-up by the Army, the Pentagon, or the Administration" about the cause of Tillman's death, I couldn't help but reflect back on a similar story that has become such an integral part of my like as a songwriter and journalist: The "alleged" suicide of one Colonel Ted Westhusing.

I don't want to steal any of Keith Obermann's thunder, (not that I could…He's the Grand Rant-Master, in my opinion). So I won't go into my diatribe on the Pat Tillman case in today's Daily Rant. I will let you sit back tonight and listen to Keith fill you in.… but I will ask you to keep in mind the eerie similarity to a story I have been researching since November, 2005.   Read More »

Gun ControlMy party have become a bunch of pussies on gun control. The fear of the NRA appears to be greater than any fear of the party's traditional base, the unions. That's sad.I am not anti-gun; I'm anti-easy-ownership.
Yesterday's shooting rampage at a mall in Kansas City was, like VA Tech, not preventable, but certainly could have been lessened if the Assault Weapons Ban had still been in place. At VA Tech, Cho used 30 round clips. Anything over 9 rounds was illegal for sale or purchase under the ban. In Kansas City, the weapon itself was illegal for sale or purchase under the ban. And let's please be clear, such weapons and the 30 round magazines have no purpose what-so-ever other than to kill a lot of people very quickly. There is no rationale that even justifies such weapons or magazines for self-defense purposes.
Advocates of the mental health community say that reporting the names and information of those who have been involuntarily committed should not be reported to the FBI system for gun background checks because it will stigmatize them and could lead to the information being released (that is, privacy concerns). Sorry guys, I sympathize with the mental health community and believe that there should be parity for patients in their treatment, BUT... 1) they would only be stigmatized on an individual basis when one attempts to purchase a gun and is denied, and 2) the idea of a privacy concern is absurd since the courts are the ones with the power to involuntarily commit an individual.
CIA/George Tenet/TortureFormer CIA director George Tenet says in his interview with 60 Minutes that the CIA does not torture. They did use "expanded interrogation techniques." But Tenet says those aren't torture. Sorry, George, I do believe you became the fall guy, the scapegoat, for the Administration for going to war, but I think you are wrong on this. Waterboarding is torture, plain and simple.
Want to use "expanded interrogation techniques"? Here's one that I guarantee will work better than anything you've tried that actually physically hurt these guys - put them in a nice, warm room with a bunch of ice cold water bottles. Spread microphones around the room, and then force each of them to take 3 ecstasy pills. You'll learn all you need to learn after about 45 minutes.
Iraq/War FundingThe president will veto the war funding bill this week because it not only includes deadlines but also because it establishes, under the law, benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet. This last part contradicts the president's own position on making the Iraqis meet benchmarks. I guess he doesn't want the force of law behind it because there's little wiggle room at that point.
John Edwards, over the weekend, said the president will veto the war funding bill and that Congress should "send him another one" with timelines, "and when he vetoes that one, they should send him another one" with timelines. This, and with last week's debate, I'm liking Edwards more and more.
When the president vetoes the war funding bill, everyone should remember, this also happens to be the 4th anniversary of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Hey everyone, a short message to say hi!

Don Iarussi (ME) received his MFA in directing from Brooklyn College At Brooklyn College; He worked as an Assistant for two years under the direction of Academy Award Winning Actor F. Murray Abraham. (Amadeus) and NYC Casting Director Stuart Howard.


Directed an acting for the camera video with Mr. Abraham and actor Joe Zaloom. Iarussi has worked on over 100 video productions.
I have won numerous video awards including best PSA/Promo at the Hometown Video festival, Best Music Video, National Broadcasting Society, Best drama, NBA, Best PSA/Promo, NBS, and numerous others. I recently completed a book titled "How to find a low priced apartment in NYC" It is available on the web as an e-book for only $11.99. You can find it on Cafe Press I also just completed "101 Recipes for a Leftover Camel"

I have been a publicist for many talents including Grammy Winning Musician Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Lynne Arriale Trio, Author Gerald Grimmett, etc. He spent two years in Kalamazoo working on a script titled "The Ferry Woman" and is directing film shorts for submission to film festivals. Also co-hosted "The Bob and Don show". The motion picture, television and commercial production industries require skilled, experienced, well-trained and talented performers to support continued high levels of local production.


It is important the actor be familiar with those specific skills associated with working in front of the camera to take advantage of available opportunities.
The film sector has been one of our fastest growing industries over the past ten years.

Who I'd like to meet:
To Meet? Hmmm people who love the arts and love to act, direct, produce, need a publicist, love vegetable chow fun, Ann Coulter, Wo Hops, Kam Loc, The Jupiter Symphony, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Herrod, Caesar, Pope Pius, Winston Churchill, Socrates, Homer, Jethro? lol, Marilyn Monroe, Ingrid Bergman, Kim Novak, Tuesday Weld, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Vincent Van Gogh, Franz Liszt, Muddy Waters, Woody Allen, Harry Chapin, Moses, I would love to meet Dante and tell him to "lighten up" He had to have been a liberal. He is always whining! Judge Judy? actually met her, no biggie....lol Hillary Clinton. Never knew anyone so tight with Satan, except maybe Ted Kennedy...   Read More »

I want to take this opportunity to wish Al Franken well in his run for Senate, and I will say I have been waiting for him to do so since he first started floating the idea.

Now I want to turn to a talk I recently heard at a local Brooklyn Democratic Club. I have been for impeachment ever since it became clear to me that we were being "led" by a "president" who was corrupt, a criminal, lying to get us into wars, violating the Constitution, etc. But for various reasons I wasn't relly anxious to see impeachment attempted. It seemed too hard to achieve, too divisive when I wanted to see Democrats seen as the reasonable, uniting force in America, and I wanted to see Democrats get some things accomplished rather than be seen as obstructionist.

Several things have largely changed my mind. What crystalized it was meeting former Congresswoman from Brooklyn, Liz Holtzman, at my local Democratic Club last week. You see, Liz Holtzman was a member of the House of Representatives in the early '70's and was one of the people who constructed the Articles of Impeachment against Richard Nixon. She has written a book on the topic called "The Impeachment of George W. Bush" and her top arguement for impeachment is based on an exact precedent from 1974. In other words, Bush has committed one act for which there already is an article of impeachment constructed, written and voted on in Congress. All that needs to be done is for the current Congress to apply the 1974 precedent to our current President.

I am a pragmatist. I believe in getting things done and if something isn't going to work you don't put a lot of time into it. So, I have been reluctant to support impeachment even though I feel the grounds are certainly there. When people talk impeachment I am tentatively interested, but I have tended to want to focus more on exposing Republican corruption to dispel the myth of the "moral" party, build the Democrats as the reasonable, effecitve, fiscally responsible and reformist party, and win some seats in Congress. Impeachment seemed like an impossible dream that could become a very damaging nightmare.

Well, we won some seats in Congress. And that changed one major thing: Impeachment could now be debated by Congress if they wanted to. BUT...I still wasn't ready. I felt it was more important to show America that we could get something done. Let's be the economic populist party, the progressive party, and work on things like the minimum wage, election reform, health care, stem cell research, education, etc. Only after we get some real concrete things done can we start battling over Iraq and impeachment, or so I thought.

Well, we have already been getting things done. The Democrats are leading the most productive Congress I can imagine. We need to keep it up for a bit, but I think we already are proving our worth to America. I hope the momentum keeps up for awhile, but clearly Iraq should be on the table and we have accomplished a great deal just by forcing debate on it. America likes what the Democrats are doing so far.

And what about impeachment? We have the House majority, and we have started to show we are an effective party that keeps its campaign promises and can get things done. The Republicans are coming off as obstructionist and petty. Do we have the credibility to raise the issue of impeachment?

Yes...and no. I want to explain why I now say yes, and ask your help to turn the little bit of "no" into a yes.

During a Democratic Primary for Congress in my neighborhood, I backed a candidate named Chris Owens. This Congressional primary got very little attention on dKos, but was extremely hotly contested, turning out to be one of the most expensive and divisive primiaries in history. And, in many ways, it was illustrative of the deep divides within the Democratic party: racial/ethnic divides, class divides, and ideological divides. One of the reasons I liked Chris Owens over the other candidates was he was, in my mind, a preacher for progressives. He was an articulate voice for progressive Democrats and I felt we desperately needed that. Sadly Chris lost. The failure of the national grassroots to come to our aid and the backing of big money and big unions pushed him aside.

One of the things Chris was a strong progressive preacher for was impeachment. He said clearly and publically that although there are many possible grounds for impeachment, we have one absolutely solid one: illegal wiretapping. I really wanted someone who could articulately voice that belief to go to Congress even if I wasn't quite ready to see it happen. You have to have your preachers in place before you get your converts. But I found that this message didn't attract local wealthy "progressives" in my neighborhood. They didn't want to hear "impeachment" and another of the candidates appealled more to them as the moderate candidate. He openly denigrated the idea of impeachment as getting in the way of accomplishing anything. His supporters told me to my face we didn't want another impeachment circus like the impeachment of Clinton. This further convinced me that we weren't ready to talk impeachment.

Then I heard Liz Holtzman, who has been through it before. If ANYONE can be called an expert on impeaching a President, it's Congresswoman Holtzman. With my mind already sympathetic to impeachment, and already feeling like Democrats are finally in charge and showing they are the party responsive to the people, hearing Conrgesswoman Holtzman finally convinced me that now is indeed the time to be working towards impeachment.

First off, what about the Clinton impeachment comparison? Are we just sinking to their level of partisan politics? The aswer is clearly "no." The people who look to the Clinton impeachment and reject the whole idea of impeachment are looking to the wrong precedent. The basis of impeachment of George Bush would be based on the Nixon impeachment, as I will outline below. The impeachment of Nixon was based on a bipartisan investigation by Congress uncovering clear Constitutional violations. The ultimate articles of impeachment were passed with BIPARTISAN support and widespread popular support among voters. By contrast, the impeachment of Clinton was based on his lying about a blow job and was a partisan witch hunt by right wing extremists. The final vote was along partisan lines and had little popular support.

Our model will be the Nixon impeachment. As such, the fundamental issues will be at the foundation of our democracy. Nixon's crimes were direct violations of the Constitution. As such, it is critical to impeach because otherwise the precedent is set for presidents to break the law. So, if the basis of impeachment for Bush is similar to that of Nixon, it is imperative we impeach. I know, I am behind the curve on this one, but it really only recently came home to me how clear this is.

So, what is the basis for impeachment of Bush? Just like Chris Owens advocated, illegal wiretapping. There are other bases for impeachment: lying about Iraq to get us into a war, failures surrounding Katrina, etc. They are outlined in Holtzman's book, The Impeachment of George W. Bush. All of those reasons are important and SHOULD be investigated. But, illegal wire tapping should be the starting point and is the basis for impeachment with the strongest precedent. Why? Because we already have the article of impeachment written up and have proven that it can get bipartisan support.

George W. Bush pesonally authorized about 45 wiretaps without court approval. He has also publically admitted that he has done this.

This is precisely what is covered in Article 2 of the articles of impeachment of Richard Nixon adopted by a bipartisan vote in Congress. Bush is guilty of a crime that was part of the Nixon impeachment. No new case has to be built from scratch. The framework for impeachment based on illegal wiretapping already exists from 1974.

Here it is:

Article 2
Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.

This conduct has included one or more of the following:

1. He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.

2. He misused the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secret Service, and other executive personnel, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, by directing or authorizing such agencies or personnel to conduct or continue electronic surveillance or other investigations for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; he did direct, authorize, or permit the use of information obtained thereby for purposes unrelated to national security, the enforcement of laws, or any other lawful function of his office; and he did direct the concealment of certain records made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of electronic surveillance.

3. He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, in violation or disregard of the constitutional rights of citizens, authorized and permitted to be maintained a secret investigative unit within the office of the President, financed in part with money derived from campaign contributions, which unlawfully utilized the resources of the Central Intelligence Agency, engaged in covert and unlawful activities, and attempted to prejudice the constitutional right of an accused to a fair trial.

4. He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.

5. In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

In all of this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial, and removal from office.


Adopted 28-10 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.

The 28 who voted for Article 2 included 6 Republicans. It's all there ready for us to use. Bush signed his name to the illegal wiretaps and has publically admitted it.

Liz Holtzman also noted that Bush really didn't need to resort to illegal means if he really needed to wiretap. In response to Watergate, Congress in 1978 set up a judicial mechanism by which the President can more easily get permission to wiretap through a court. That court has, since 1978, received some 19,000 requests from Presidents to wiretap. Out of those 19,000 requests only 5 have been denied. Why couldn't Bush go through this existing, Constitutionally approved method of wiretapping? He chose to break the law instead. Why? What was he doing that he felt he had less than a 5/19,000 chance of the court approving?

So there it is. I know many out there came to these conclusions earlier than I did. Sometimes it just takes a concatenation of events to drive a point home. Since November 2006 brought us into a majority in Congress, since we have established our credentials of getting things done and keeping promises, and since realizing the extent to which the illegal wiretapping violation of the Constitution is based on solid precedent, I now believe the time has come to push for impeachment. Or, the way I am thinking of it, there is clear probable cause to initiate impeachment based on Article 2 of Nixon's impeachment. There is possible cause for other articles of impeachment, but they can be added later once an investigation uncovers more facts. But an investigation must be initiated.

Now, here's where I need your help. I love our Democratic majority Congress. They are kicking ass, in my opinion. But, as in the impeachment of Nixon, widespread public support (or at least interest) must be demonstrated. It also would be very helpful if at least one Republican showed an interest. The pressure has to come from the public. Write your Representative and write the media urging impeachment of George W. Bush based on Article 2 of the impeachment of Richard Nixon. If they don't hear it from you they may not hear it from anyone and the meme may remain in the background. I don't expect action to be taken right away. After all, Congress really is getting things done. But a build up of support starting now (or for some of you starting MONTHS ago...thats for your efforts!) will make it happen.

Here's this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

INCOMPETENCE REWARDED BY BUSH ADMINISTRATION


REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION IN NEVADA

BUSH AND THE MINIMUM WAGE (humor)

ALEX SINK: FLORIDA'S FUTURE GOVERNOR?

THE FUTURE OF NYC

NYC GROUPS AND EVENTS

NEW JERSEY GROUPS AND EVENTS

VIRGINIA FOCUS

DC FOCUS

VIRGINIA AND DC GROUPS AND EVENTS

IOWA FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS


MIDWEST GROUPS AND EVENTS

CALIFORNIA FOCUS


CALIFORNIA GROUPS AND EVENTS

Busy week! I continue to be impressed with the pace and quality of legislation by Democrats in the House. The Senate is lagging a bit, but that is partly because the Democratic majority in the Senate is razor thin...and it includes Lieberman who, though a solid Democrat on many issues, is too close to Bush on other issues and seems to be making his career on enabling some of Bush's worst ideas. The plan for escalation in Iraq can be considered a McCain/Bush/Lieberman collaboration and the consequences in money and lives lost will be on their heads.

I also should add that Presidential hopefuls Vilsack, Edwards, Obama, and Richardson are all calling for withdrawal from Iraq and urging Congress to act decisively. Sounds good! I think Democrats have finally regrown their backbone and, more importantly, enough of them are showing it that it is far harder for the media to ignore.

Here in NY State we had a wonderful special election for the 7th State Senate district where the nastiest possible dirty tricks by the anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-stem cell research Republican candidate failed...the Democrat won, flipping a seat from Republican to Democrat. The netroots and progressive grassroots played a large role in this win, making it a continuation of the excellent progressive/grassroots-moderate/mainstream coalition that won so big in November. I should note that some long time readers of this newsletter were in the thick of things! The newly elected State Senator, Craig Johnson, graciously thanked the netroots for all the help. And you can read about what it felt like to be in the room with Craig Johnson and his campaign on the night of victory. Apparantly it really kicked ass.

Here is this week's issue:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

BRING THE TROOPS HOME

THE EXXON/MOBIL-REPUBLICAN AXIS OF EVIL

FLORIDA THROWING AWAY THEIR DRE MACHINES

JUMPSTARTING THE SOUTH

BLACK HERITAGE ENDANGERED

NYC FOCUS: Fighting Wal-Mart

NYC GROUPS AND EVENTS

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Running for Delegate

VIRGINIA GROUPS AND EVENTS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

MIDWEST GROUPS AND EVENTS

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Jobs and Internships

NEW JERSEY GROUPS AND EVENTS

CALIFORNIA DARWIN DAY EVENTS

CALIFORNIA GROUPS AND EVENTS

2 Men Held on Bond; Boston Officials Seek Restitution for Ploy That Sparked Terrorism Fears

BOSTON -- A judge ordered two men held on bond Thursday for allegedly placing electronic advertising devices around the city in a publicity stunt that went awry and stirred fears of terrorism, shutting down parts of Boston.

Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, were held on $2,500 cash bond each after they pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct for a device found Wednesday at a subway station.

Officials found 38 blinking electronic signs promoting the Cartoon Network TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" on bridges and other high-profile spots across the city Wednesday, prompting the closing of a highway and the deployment of bomb squads. The surreal series is about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. The network is a division of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc.

"It's clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location," Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said at their arraignment.

The 1-foot tall signs, which were lit up at night, resembled a circuit board, with protruding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy, cartoon character giving passersby the finger _ a more obvious sight when darkness fell.

The men did not speak or enter their own pleas, but they appeared amused and smiled as the prosecutor talked about the device found at Sullivan Station underneath Interstate 93, looking like it had C-4 explosive.

"The appearance of this device and its location are crucial," Grossman said. "This device looks like a bomb."

Some in the gallery snickered.

Outside the courthouse, Michael Rich, a lawyer for both of the men, said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device.

"If somebody had left a VCR on the ground it would have been a device with wires, electronic components and a power source," he said.

Boston officials were livid when the devices were discovered.

"It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme," Mayor Thomas Menino said Wednesday. "I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today's incidents."

Berdovsky, an artist, told The Boston Globe he was hired by a marketing company and said he was "kind of freaked out" by the furor.

"I find it kind of ridiculous that they're making these statements on TV that we must not be safe from terrorism, because they were up there for three weeks and no one noticed. It's pretty commonsensical to look at them and say this is a piece of art and installation," he said.

Fans of the show mocked authorities for what they called an overreaction.

About a dozen fans gathered outside Charlestown District Court on Thursday morning with signs saying "1-31-07 Never Forget" and "Free Peter."

"We're the laughing stock," said Tracy O'Connor, 34.

"It's almost too easy to be a terrorist these days," said Jennifer Mason, 26. "You stick a box on a corner and you can shut down a city."

Authorities vowed to hold Turner accountable for what Menino said was "corporate greed," that led to at least $750,000 in police costs.

As soon as Turner realized the Boston problem around 5 p.m., it said, law enforcement officials were told of their locations in 10 cities where it said the devices had been placed for two to three weeks: Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Austin, Texas, San Francisco and Philadelphia.

"We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger," said Phil Kent, chairman of Turner, a division of Time Warner Inc.

Kent said the marketing company that placed the signs, Interference Inc., was ordered to remove them immediately.

Interference had no comment. A woman who answered the phone at the New York-based firm's offices Wednesday afternoon said the firm's CEO was out of town and would not be able to comment until Thursday.

Messages seeking additional comment from the Atlanta-based Cartoon Network were left with several publicists.

Authorities are investigating whether Turner or other companies should be criminally charged, Attorney General Martha Coakley said. "We're not going to let this go without looking at the further roots of how this happened to cause the panic in this city," Coakley said.

In Seattle and several suburbs, the removal of the signs was low-key. "We haven't had any calls to 911 regarding this," Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said Wednesday.

Police in Philadelphia said they believed their city had 56 devices.

The New York Police Department removed 41 of the devices _ 38 in Manhattan and three in Brooklyn, according to spokesman Paul Browne. The NYPD had not received any complaints. But when it became aware of the situation, it contacted Cartoon Network, which provided the locations so the devices could be removed.

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is a cartoon with a cultish following that airs as part of a block of programs for adults on the Cartoon Network. A feature length film based on the show is slated for release March 23.


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Is this what it's come to? We jump at shadows? An advertising campaign that had been established for WEEKS, and they arrest two men involved? What a pathetic state we are in right now. A box can shut down a city, as that young lady said. Does this mean al qaeda can get a "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner now, since apparently we are scared shitless, or TERRIFIED, if you will? Nobody with an ounce of decency should hold these two poor guys in a contemptable light. They were doing a job, and the ever vigilant boston municipality didn't even fucking notice for three weeks. Who's REALLY looking bad in this?

Times Square must be the terror capitol of the universe.

I fully appreciate the concern of many people with
the issues of Gay Rights and Abortion Rights.
I do not, however, see either as posing any threat
to the quality of our Air or Water. The latter should
at least lay claim to a secondary concern. But their
voices are muted, if not silent, in these areas.
When the "Rights" of the Quality of our Air and
Water are fouled, the "Rights" to all else will matter
not at all
Tom Nass
5th marine Division - WWII

This issue is dedicated to one more round of celebration over our big win this month, discussing some of the ideas and goals of the Democratic Party nationally and in various states. Anytime you hear someone say the Democrats have no ideas, remember the ideas and goals outlined here. I also have my usual discussion of America's creation myth, the myth of Thanksgiving.

Hope everyone is having a nice rest and has enjoyed a solid gloating about the election. For those who want some extra gloating, I recommend reading about a major Arab conference giving the elder Bush grief about his less-than appreciated son.

Table of Contents:

THANKSGIVING

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR AMERICA

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR NEW YORK STATE

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR BROOKLYN

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR IOWA

A DEMOCRATIC PLAN FOR WISCONSIN