Obama Progressive Escrow Fund

Goal: $1,000,000

Pledged: 500: $70,781

Last week, we asked 1,000 of you to contribute $10 to raise $10,000 to help progressive Democrats like State Senator Regina Thomas defeat "Bush Democrats" like Rep. John Barrow (GA12) in upcoming primaries. Your response was amazing: over 1,300 of you contributed over $60,000!

Now we are asking you to use your money to ensure that Barack Obama lives up to his promise to deliver "change we can believe in. "

How? By creating a progressive "escrow" fund that you control.

Many progressives were shocked last week when Obama flip-flopped on wiretapping immunity for the phone companies with this simple explanation:

"My view on FISA has always been that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people."

So if a President unilaterally decides it is in the "security interests of the American people" to defy the Constitution, the Law, and Congress, (s)he can do whatever (s)he wants?

I just got off the phone State Senator Regina Thomas, and I can't tell you how excited I am!

Thomas is running against BushDemocrat John Barrow in Georgia's 12th District in a primary on July 15, just 4 weeks away. Barrow voted with George Bush on every issue we track, including Iraq, Iran, habeas corpus, and wiretapping. His district is 45% black, yet he votes like a southern rightwing Republican.

Cosponsors FL19: Robert Wexler CA06: Lynn Woolsey CA09: Barbara Lee NY22: Maurice Hinchey WI02: Tammy Baldwin CA17: Sam Farr

Candidates CA08: Cindy Sheehan (indy v. Nancy Pelosi) CA24: Mary Pallant MA01: Bob Feuer (primary John Olver) NY08: Adam Sullivan (primary Jerry Nadler) WA06: Paul Richmond (primary Norm Dicks)

Rep. Dennis Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment, H.Res. 1258, needs Cosponsors so we can pressure Speaker Pelosi and Judiciary Chairman John Conyers into starting impeachment hearings. (We will update the list on the right as we learn of new cosponsors.)

You can play a crucial role in persuading your Representative to be a cosponsor!

1. Email your Representatives to support Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment
2. Call your Rep. at 202-224-3121
3. Call your favorite talk shows and tell everyone who supports impeachment to sign the petition at Democrats.com
4. Login and click local to meet your neighbors and plan local lobbying actions:
   • organize a "Honk To Impeach" event
   • turn out and ask questions at community events your Representative will be attending
   • pass resolutions by Democratic clubs, local governments, unions, civic and veterans' groups, etc.
   • ask community leaders to speak out 

Of course most incumbent Democrats and all Republicans have turned a deaf ear to all of our lobbying. So we're also active in House races, encouraging Democratic challengers to endorse H.Res. 1258, and we are listing them above. (We also listed independent Cindy Sheehan because Speaker Pelosi abused the unique power as Speaker by declaring impeachment "off the table," even though it's not her table, but ours!)

May 1st (May Day) is shaping up to be quite a day of resistance, with strikes by the ILWU, the Teamsters, Postal Workers, plus immigrant rights rallies, and peace and impeachment activities. (More info here.)

It's Mission Accomplished Day, Downing Street Minutes Day, and May Day - the original Labor Day, which is celebrated everywhere except the country of its birth, the USA.

AfterDowningStreet.org proposed protests outside the local offices of all 435 Members of Congress at noon, and the response was enthusiastic. (It doesn't have to be noon if another time like 9am or 5pm is better for your local group.) Would you like to get involved?

Check for a MayDay Protest already being planned in your district: To do this, you must be registered and logged in. Then go to http://democrats.com/local and look for a MayDay announcement below the "Congressional District" heading. If you see one, open it and post a comment below it offering to help, or contact the organizers in whatever way they have suggested (they may have posted a phone number or email address).

Start organizing a MayDay Protest using the tools on this website: If there's nothing yet being planned in your district and you want to start talking with others about planning a possible MayDay Protest, or if you're ready to post an announcement of a MayDay Protest, please Email us at: mayday@democrats.com We will walk you through the steps involved. To get started on your own (it's really not that hard) CLICK HERE.

Brattleboro (Vt.) Reformer Kansas City Star Seattle Post-Intelligencer Tuscaloosa (Ala.) News

On 4/11/08, George Bush told ABC News he personally approved of the approval of torture - including waterboarding - by Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and George Tenet.

Bush said, "Yes, I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved."

You would think a President confessing to war crimes would be on the front pages of all the nation's newspapers, and all over their editorial pages - not just on Countdown and The Daily Show.

You'd be wrong. The only newspapers that have covered the story are in the box on the right.

Is your newspaper missing from this list? Then let's work together to do something about it.

We're calling this action our "Torture News Strike."

Call the Editor of your local newspaper and tell him/her you are suspending your subscription until they give Bush's torture confession the serious coverage it deserves either in the news or editorial section, or preferably both.

If you get home delivery, then call the circulation department and tell them to suspend delivery until further notice. (If you buy at the newsstands, read something else.)

Want to connect with other activists who read the same newspaper as you? Read more...

Co-sponsors and speakers: Progressive Democrats of America Gold Star Families for Peace Win Without War AfterDowningStreet FireDogLake Hip Hop Caucus Cities for Peace Velvet Revolution The Nation The Backbone Campaign Brad Blog Clout on Air America Willie Nelson Peace Research Voters for Peace Code Pink Democracy Cell Project Veterans for Peace Global Exchange Liberty Tree Filibuster for Peace The Young Turks on Air America United for Peace and Justice Brave New Films Declaration of Peace  Speakers: Iraq Veterans Against the War

http://iraqtownhalls.com

In April, Congress will vote to give George W. Bush and Dick Cheney another $102 billion for Iraq - unless we finally persuade our Representatives to Just Say No.

One of the best ways to persuade a Representative is to hold a town hall meeting and fill the hall with people who care and are willing to speak passionately. (Another way is to turn out a crowd for a town hall that your Representative is already scheduled to attend.)

So we're asking YOU and the 500,000 members of Democrats.com to organize Iraq Town Halls in all 435 Congressional districts on any day in April.

Check for an Iraq Town Hall already being planned in your district: To do this, you must be registered and logged in on this website. Once you are, go to http://democrats.com/local and look for an Iraq Town Hall announcement below the "Congressional District" heading. If you see one, open it and post a comment below it offering to help, or contact the organizers in whatever way they have suggested (they may have posted a phone number or Email address).

Start organizing an Iraq Town Hall using the tools on this website: If there's nothing yet being planned in your district and you want to start talking with others about planning a possible town hall, or if you're ready to post an announcement of an Iraq Town Hall, please Email us at: iraqtownhall@democrats.com We will walk you through the steps involved. To get started on your own (it's really not that hard) CLICK HERE.

For tips on how to make your Iraq Town Hall a success, READ MORE.

Planning for Iraq Town Halls is underway in these Congressional Districts - scroll down to find the actual post. Definite events are in bold.

AZ07, CA01, CA06, CA08, CA09, CA11, CA14, CA23, CA24, CA49, FL04, FL05, FL9-10-11, FL13, IA01, IL13, IL14, IN02, IN03, IN09, KS03, MA08, ME, MI02, MI12, NY14, NY20, OH13-14-17, OK01, OK02, OR03, OR04-05, PA01-02, PA10, TN02, TN05, TX06-12-26, TX18, TX25, VA04, VA08, WA03, WA07, WA09, WI02

If someone has started organizing in your CD, please add a comment below that post offering to help. If no one is organizing in your CD, please create a new post for your CD following these instructions:
http://www.democrats.com/iraq-town-halls-top

As promised, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) went to the floor of the House to demand impeachment hearings, and he set the House on fire with his passion! Watch for yourself:

You can see Wexler holding the printed signatures of nearly 200,000 activists from Democrats.com and our pro-impeachment allies. (And thanks for thanking all of us, Rep. Wexler!)

CommunityWalk Map - ImpeachMap
According to the polls, a majority of Americans support the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney. But few Americans know there is a nationwide grassroots impeachment movement because the Corporate Media refuses to report on our efforts on orders from Karl Rove.

So what can we do about it? How about making some old-fashioned noise - and breaking new ground in high-tech grassroots organizing! HonkToImpeach is simple:

1. We'll hit busy intersections with signs asking cars to Honk To Impeach Bush - that's the old-fashioned noise-making part
2. We'll also hold signs saying PASSENGERS: TEXT "IMPEACH" to 30644 - that's the new high-tech grassroots organizing, which will allow us to "sign up" all the honkers via text messaging for future organizing
3. We'll post photos and videos of our actions to inspire more activism here:
   http://www.impeachspace.com

Here are the nuts and bolts for organizers:

1. Pick a strategic location that gets a lot of cars and has a stop light - if possible, right in front of your Representative's District Office or a local TV station or newspaper
2. Pick a time that works for you and a friend or two
3. Post the time/place on our events calendar coded "Honk To Impeach"
4. Send the link to your local friends and ask them post a comment if they can join you. Also ask them to send it to their local friends.
5. Bring our two handwritten signs (or posterboard and markers to make signs)
   1. Honk to Impeach Bush!
   2. TEXT "IMPEACH" to 30644
6. Bring a camera (or video camera) to record your activities
7. You need two signs at each corner - if you have extra people and signs you can cover more than one corner
8. Have fun!!

If you're not an organizer but want to participate, visit our events page and type in your zip code to find a HonkToImpeach event near you. Then post a comment telling the organizer you'll be there.

Safety is crucial and we must not cause any accidents involving cars or pedestrians.

1. Break sunscreen and hats
2. Don't bring children or pets - they are too precious, as well as unpredictable and distracting
3. Only wave your signs at cars that are stopped at a red light - don't distract drivers who are moving - turn your signs away from moving cars - turn your signs away when the red light turns green
4. If a pro-Bush driver curses at you, don't get angry - just smile and wave or move away
5. If the police question you, tell them you're exercising your First Amendment right of free expression. If they tell you you're creating a disturbance in that location, ask them where you can stand that will not create a disturbance. You have a right to hold signs in public places so find a local lawyer who is familiar with local ordinances and ask if they will advise you for free (pro bono) if you get hassled by local police

After you're done:

1. Thank everyone who came and ask them if they would do it again, what date/time works best, and what changes to make
2. Collect everyone's email address for future events
3. Upload your photos to your favorite photo site like Flickr.com and upload your videos to Youtube.com
4. Create a new forum topic on Democrats.com to share your experience and link to your photos and videos: http://www.democrats.com/node/add/forum
   Forum: Impeachment - Activism
   Topic: HonkToImpeach
   Content Relevance: Congressional District
5. Email the forum link to everyone who came or wanted to come
6. Schedule your next outing at http://democrats.com/events

While Democrats control the House of Representatives by 231-202, they cannot pass progressive bills on health care, the environment, jobs, justice, and impeachment - or even stop horrendous Republican bills on Iraq, torture, and warrantless wiretapping - because a few dozen "Bush Democrats" usually vote with George Bush.

Help us recruit Democratic primary challengers! Use our map or list

In 2006, we elected Democratic majorities to the Senate and House for one overriding reason: to end the Iraq War.

In May 2007, both the Senate and the House voted on amendments to end the Iraq War by setting a March 2008 deadline for removing combat troops. Those amendments would have passed if all Democrats had voted to end the Iraq War - but some pro-war "Bush Democrats" voted to continue the Iraq War forever.

This week the House will hold the first real debate on the Iraq War since the Republican Congress approved Bush's Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. Democrats will let all 435 Members of Congress speak for 5 minutes.

What will your Representative say? Will your Representative actually represent you? We invite you to "Debate the Debate" at DebateTheDebate.com, a new feature of Democrats.com that gives you one-click access to news from your Congressional District. Just login to Democrats.com with your voting address and click the "local" link (http://democrats.com/local) to find it!

Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leaders in Congress say impeaching Bush is "off the table." We must change their minds!

Our plan is simple: we will form Impeachment Committees in all 435 Congressional Districts to persuade all of our Representatives to support impeachment.

Help us Impeach Bush by taking the following 4 steps:

1. Join (or create) an Impeachment Committee in your Congressional District.
2. Collect petitions and handwritten letters.
3. Build support for impeachment by holding an educational town forum, writing letters to the editor, etc.
4. Meet with your Representative, deliver the petitions and ask them to Impeach Bush.

More detailed instructions are below.

AL03, AZ01, AZ03, AZ08, CA01, CA03, CA05, CA06, CA07, CA09, CA11, CA13, CA14, CA13-14-15, CA23, CA25, CA26, CA28, CA29, CA30, CA36, CA37, CA38, CA47, CA49, CA50, CA51, CA52, CA53, CO01, CO03, CO07, CT04, CT05, DC00, DE00, FL01, FL02, FL06, FL08, FL10, FL16-19-22, FL18, FL20, FL24, GA07, HI01, HI02, IA05, IL01, IL03, IL05, IL09, IL11, IL13, IL16, IN01, IN05, IN06, IN09, KS01, KY06, LA02, MA01, MA03, MA04, MA05, MA06, MA07, MA08, MA10, MD03, MD06, ME01, MI03, MI06, MI07, MI10, MI12, MN01, MN04, MN05, MO03, MO08, MA02, MS03, NC02, NC04, NC05, NC06, NC09, NC10, NC11, NC13, ND00, NE03, NH01, NH02, NJ01, NJ12, NY05, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY18, NY19, NY20, NY21, NY22, NY23, NY24, NY28, OH11, OH18, OK01, OK05, OR01, OR02, OR03, OR04, PA06, PA07, PA08, PA11, PA13, PA15, PA17, PA18, PA19, SC03, SD00, TN05, TX07, TX18, TX24, TX25, UT01, UT02, VA02, VA03, VA06, VA07, VA08, VA11, VT00, WA01, WA02, WA03, WA06, WA07, WA08, WA09, WI02, WI03, WV01, WV02 

Don't see a committee in your district? Help us create one! http://democrats.com/cdic