"The action I am taking is no more than a radical measure to hasten the explosion of truth and justice. I have but one passion: to enlighten those who have been kept in the dark, in the name of humanity which has suffered so much and is entitled to happiness. My fiery protest is simply the cry of my very soul. Let them dare, then, to bring me before a court of law and let the enquiry take place in broad daylight!" - Emile Zola, J'accuse! (1898) -

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Matters Of Impeachment, War and Politics As We March On Denver To The Drum Beat Of The Spirit Of “76”.

How To Start Violence In One Easy Lesson!

http://www.worldcantwait.org

http://worldcantwait.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=94&Itemid=265

DENVER Protest News: A U.S. District Court judge ruled last week in Denver that, even though protesters' free speech rights will be damaged, "national security" justifies the government's plan to restrict parade permits to end 3 hours before the Democratic Party convention begins. Thousands of police and 400 national guard will be on duty, in a city where, four years ago, activists exposed and fought a widespread, illegal, program of local police surveillance on political activists.

Further, protesters will be kept away from the convention center, allowed only into chain link fenced cages 700 feet from the center's door. Reportedly, the cages won't be wrapped over the top with barbed wire, as they were at the last DNC in Boston. The "freedom cages" will be ringed by police and concrete barriers, and, as of today, huge media tents are being erected between the cages and the convention. Some comments on recent blog posts about the suppression of protest:

"Watch them almost break all of the rules, and get down and dirty! Order now and get your free AT&T/telecom immunity tote bag!"

"'Protest Zones?' I'm an unabashed Obama supporter, but as much as I like him, I like the rights to free speech and free association even more. The Dems should've rejected the idea of free speech zones outright, as a symbol of the Constitution-hating Bush."

"What about the 'security concerns' of the protesters? They want to secure the bill of rights, they want to secure peace and an end to foreign occupations, they want to secure themselves from arrest for bullsh*t crimes...I guess these are the rare cases where the freedom to tyranize trumps 'security'."

We have all watched George Bush express indignance about the suppression of protest in China, while justifying increasing repression in the "land of the free". Now we have the Democrats attempting to hold a political convention with dissenting opinions blocked by barricades.

World Can't Wait will be joining thousands of people in the Denver protests who want to send a different message to the world. Bring the whole Bush program of lying to start illegitimate wars, and threatening other countries, spying on citizens, justifying torture -- to a HALT!

Come On Up To Denver

Recreate “68” Press Release

http://www.firejohnyoo.org

The Issue Is Extremists….and Revolt!

Time Is Running Out!

The Denver Reconnaissance Map

The Build Up Is Coming

Militants Prepared To Seize The High Ground In Denver

A Nation On A Knife’s Edge

Re-Create “68” http://recreate68.com

Unconventional Denver

Unconventional Action

DNC Disruption 08

MyPopuli 08

Dear EmailNation Subscriber,



If you'll be in Denver during the week of the Democratic National Convention, please come to our free daily Nation conversations featuring some of the country's most prominent progressive legislators paired with the most incisive Nation writers.



If you won't be in Denver during the week of August 25th, TheNation.com will be featuring podcasts of each event below by 5:00pm each day thanks to the Center for Emerging Media as well as daily video and live blogging from Katrina vanden Heuvel, John Nichols, Patricia J. Williams, Ari Berman, Christopher Hayes, Eric Alterman, Richard Kim, Bob Moser, Laura Flanders, Victor Navasky and Ari Melber.


Nation Conversations in Denver
August 25th to 28th
11:00am to 12:30 daily



Central Presbyterian Church
1660 Sherman Street, Downtown Denver



Co-sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America



Monday, August 26, 11:00 to 12:30
Moderator, John Nichols-Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. John Conyers and Richard Kim on health care, AIDS, and Africa.


Tuesday, August 27, 11:00 to 12:30
Moderator, John Nichols-Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Rep. Maxine Waters and Tom Hayden on getting out of Iraq.



Wednesday, August 28, 11:00 to 12:30
Moderator, John Nichols-Rep. Jim McGovern, Rep. Hilda Solis and Bob Moser on immigration reform and economic justice.



Thursday, August 29, 11:00 to 12:30
Moderator, John Nichols-Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Robert Wexler and Victor Navasky on restoring and maintaining our Constitutional rights.



Watch TheNation.com for daily podcasts.



Check PDAmerica.org for info on afternoon panels during the week of August 25th featuring Laura Flanders, Jeff Cohen, Chris Raab, Lennox Yearwod, Mimi Kennedy, Jim Hightower, Medea Benjamin, Majora Carter and many others.


There are also two Nation-sponsored events happening on Sunday, August 24th in Denver on the cusp of the start of the DNC --


Outside of Convention, From Fannie Lou Hamer to Barack Obama, How the Civil Rights Movement Changed American Politics
Presented by The Denver Public Library, The Nation and Rocky Mountain PBS
Sunday, August 24 from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the Four Seasons Ball Room at the Colorado Convention Center.



This event will feature the Honorable John Conyers, House Judiciary Chair, US Representative from Detroit, Michigan, and the longest-serving African-American Congressman; composer, conductor and musician David Amram and the David Amram Trio; The Nation's John Nichols and the Colorado Children's Chorale. It will be suitable for all ages and musical and political tastes. Free tickets for Outside of Convention will be available at the Central Library, Blair-Caldwell and select Branch Libraries starting Friday, August 15 and anyone can pick them up at the Central Public Library until 3pm Sunday, August 24.



Progressive Welcome to Denver
Presented by the Progressive Democrats of America
Sunday, August 24, 8:00 to 10:00 PM at the Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Denver.

Hosted by Mimi Kennedy, PDA Advisory Board Chair, the event features Rep. Barbara Lee (CA), Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and PDA Advisory Board member; Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor, The Nation; Tom Hayden, author, activist; Jim Zogby, Arab American Institute and DNC member; Jim Hightower, journalist and PDA Advisory Board member. Music by Dan Reed. Suggested donation: $15.00



Finally, please visit The Nation online for the latest campaign coverage, to read new Nation blogs, to view newsfeed links updated each day, to see when Nation writers are appearing on TV and radio, to get info on nationwide activist campaigns, and to read exclusive online reports and special weekly selections from The Nation magazine!



Best Regards,
Peter Rothberg
The Nation

http://www.demconvention.com

Kicking off a week-long Convention programming roll-out, yesterday the DNCC and Obama for America announced this year’s headline speakers. Michelle Obama will lead off on Monday night, followed by Senator Hillary Clinton on Tuesday and Barack Obama’s vice presidential nominee on Wednesday. Read more about the headline speakers here.



In a show of hometown support, several newspapers highlighted their local DNCC YouTube contest finalist, urging readers to vote at www.youtube.com/demconvention. The Temple Daily Telegram featured Cathrin Winsor’s entry. In the video, Cathrin focuses on a young boy to emphasize issues important to young people -- "the failing economy, foreclosures and the war (in Iraq)." The Iowa City Press-Citizen featured Rich Peters’ submission. In his video, Rich argues that "Millions of us have stood up across America with a unified voice demanding one thing: change. I'm a Democrat because like so many of you, I love America. I want my county back."



In Pittsburgh this weekend, Democrats agreed on a party platform to present at the Democratic National Convention. Reflecting the vision of Barack Obama, the 51-page document includes Obama’s “call to draw down American forces in Iraq over 16 months” as well as an “energy plan that emphasizes less oil and more renewable energy sources.” The platform also “calls for a major change in direction for the government.” Read more about the party’s position on the issues here.


Dedicated DNCC receptionist Katie Lewallen is featured on the Huffington Post, providing a look at the hectic pace inside Convention headquarters. Click here to watch Katie in action.



The level of excitement surrounding Barack Obama’s acceptance speech on the last night of the Convention has been through the roof. Eager to attend this historic event, over 80,000 Colorado residents have requested community credentials -- click here to learn more.

Nader Super Rallies Set for Denver, Minneapolis 08/11/08 | More Nader

How to blow it | Michael Moore

Michael Moore | The Guardian, | Saturday August 9 2008

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/09/michael.moore.us.elections.barack.obama

It's the most winnable presidential election in American history - but the Democrats are old hands at losing. Michael Moore offers some helpful hints on how they might gift it all to the Republicans.

"Let's snatch defeat from the jaws of victory."
"We never met an election we'd like to win."
"Why get elected when you can be defeated!"

These have been the mantras of the Democratic Party. Beginning with their stunning inability to defeat the most detested politician in American history, Richard Nixon, and continuing through their stunning inability to defeat the most detested politician in the world, George II, the Democrats are the masters of blowing it. And they don't just simply "blow it" - they blow it especially when the electorate seems desperate to give it to them.

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