Blue Hearts

Hey All,

Happy back-to-school and end-of-summer and all that. It's time to buckle down and get back to it. So, here I am!!!! I hope you all had a chance to get away and have some fun. We had many family visitors with a few trips thrown in. It's great to reconnect with family and friends we don't get to see often.

And, lucky for me, virtually ALL my family on both sides are of the Blue-Heart persuasion. It's kind of like being at one of our meetings! Speaking of which, I need to get one on the books. I'll keep you posted on that.

But, for now, here's the blog:

HUMOR
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Very insightful! K

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3934788900154749704

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President George W. Bush was scheduled to visit the Episcopal Church outside Washington as part of his campaign to restore his poll standings.

Bush's campaign manager made a visit to the Bishop, and said to him "We've been getting a lot of bad publicity because of the president's position on stem cell research, the Iraq war, Katrina, and the like. We'd gladly make a contribution to the church of $100,000 if during your sermon you'd say the President is a saint."

The Bishop thought it over for a few moments and finally said, "The Church is in desperate need of funds and I will agree to do it." Bush showed up for the sermon and the Bishop began:

"I'd like to speak to you all this morning about our President. George Bush is a liar, a cheat, and a low-intelligence weasel. He took the tragedy of September 11 and used it to frighten and manipulate the American people. He lied about weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq for oil and money, causing the deaths of tens of thousands and making the United States the most hated country on earth.

He appointed cronies to positions of power and influence, leading to widespread death and destruction during Hurricane Katrina. He awarded contracts and tax cuts to his rich friends so that we now have more poverty in this country, and a greater gap between rich and poor, than we've had since the Depression. He instituted illegal wiretaps when getting a warrant from a secret court would have been a mere administrative detail, had his henchmen lie to Congress about it, then claimed he is above the law.

He has headed the most corrupt, bribe-inducing political party since Teapot Dome. The national surplus has turned into a staggering national debt of 7.6 Trillion, gas prices are up 85%, and vital research into global warming and stem cells is stopped cold because he's afraid to lose votes from some religious kooks.

He is the worst example of a true Christian I've ever known. But compared to Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, George Bush is a saint."

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Women Who Read

While on a family outing at the lake, the husband returned to the camp site after several hours of fishing and told his wife that he needed to take a short nap. The fishing made him tired.

With the kids away hiking, the wife was bored just sitting around their campsite, so she decided to take the boat out to get some sun. She motored out a short distance, anchored, and laid back to read a book.

Before long, the game warden came by in his boat and pulled it along side the woman's boat. "Good afternoon, Ma'am," he said. "What are you doing?"

The woman felt that it was obvious what she was doing. Nevertheless she responded to the question. "Reading a book."

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area, Ma'am," the game warden informed her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," the woman said.

The game warden scratched his head. "But I haven't touched you."

"That's true, but you have all the equipment, and for all I know you could start at any moment."

The game warden spit in the water, started his boat's motor, and eased it into reverse. "Have a nice day ma'am," he smiled. "Enjoy your book."


MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.


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I need a bigger car!!!!! K

These bumper stickers were compiled by Jerry Paull, a former Methodist minister in Lakeside, Ohio, who writes: The following actual bumper stickers are now on cars. I didn't write any of them. I'm only the messenger. If they make you laugh, good. If they make you cry, good. If they make you angry, that's good too.


BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM


IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION


IF YOU SUPPORTED BUSH, A YELLOW RIBBON WON'T MAKE UP FOR IT


POVERTY, HEALTH CARE & HOMELESSNESS ARE MORAL ISSUES


OF COURSE IT HURTS. YOU'RE GETTING SCREWED BY AN ELEPHANT


BUSH LIED, AND YOU KNOW IT


RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A THREAT ABROAD, A THREAT AT HOME


GOD BLESS EVERYONE
(No exceptions)


BUSH SPENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ON HIS WAR


FEEL SAFER NOW?


I'D RATHER HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SCREWED HIS INTERN THAN ONE WHO SCREWED HIS COUNTRY


IS IT 2008 YET?


DISSENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM -- Thomas Jefferson


DON'T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST BUSH -- TWICE!


ANNOY A CONSERVATIVE; THINK FOR YOURSELF


VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT


HEY BUSH! WHERE'S BIN LADEN?


STOP MAD COWBOY DISEASE


GEORGE W. BUSH: MAKING TERRORISTS FASTER THAN HE CAN KILL THEM


DEMOCRATS ARE SEXY. WHOEVER HEARD OF A GOOD PIECE OF ELEPHANT?


CORPORATE MEDIA: WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION


DON'T CONFUSE DYING FOR OIL WITH FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM


STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PRO LIFE


HATE, GREED, IGNORANCE: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION


HONOR OUR TROOPS; DEMAND THE TRUTH


REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?


FACT: BUSH OIL
1999 - $19 BARREL
2006 - $70 BARREL


THE LAST TIME RELIGION CONTROLLED POLITICS, PEOPLE GOT BURNED AT THE STAKE


SUPPORT OUR TROOPS; IMPEACH BUSH


HOW ON EARTH CAN 59,411,287 PEOPLE BE SO DUMB?

(This is just a good quote to throw on with the lot. K)
"Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." -- James Baldwin

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THIS IS A NONPARTISAN JOKE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY BOTH PARTIES!

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do w ith you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises... The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted."
------------------------------


Dear Abby:
I am a crack dealer in New Jersey who has recently been diagnosed as a carrier of the HIV virus. My parents live in a suburb of Philadelphia and one of my sisters, who lives in Bensenville, is married to a transvestite. My father and mother have recently been arrested for growing and selling marijuana and are currently dependent on my other two sisters who are prostitutes in Jersey City.

I have two brothers. One is currently serving a non-parole life sentence in Attica for murder of a teenage boy in 1994. The other brother is currently being held in the Wellington Remand Center on charges of neglecting his three children.

I have recently become engaged to marry a former Thai prostitute who lives in the Bronx and, indeed, is still a part-time "working girl" in a brothel.

My problem is this: I love my fiancé and look forward to bringing her into the family and of course I want to be totally honest with her.

Should I tell her about my uncle who voted for Bush?

Signed,
Worried About My Reputation

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FAA Bans People From Flights 'Zero Tolerance for People,' Chertoff Says

In a move aimed at further tightening airport security, the Federal Aviation Administration announced today that it would ban all people from flights leaving or entering the United States, effective immediately.

The FAA, which has in the past banned such objects as toenail clippers and hair gel, took the extraordinary step of banning people after the Department of Homeland Security conducted a thorough investigation of previous terror plots.

"We looked at terror plots of the past, and in each and every case, people were involved," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at a Washington press briefing. "These new rules send the strong message that the FAA has zero tolerance for people."

Mr. Chertoff said that while banning liquids from flights was a constructive step, the only true solution was to ban people altogether.

"Let's face it, hair gel doesn't kill people," he said. "People kill people."

The Homeland Security Secretary acknowledged that the new rules would curtail Americans' ability to travel, but added, "On the plus side, that will make them easier for us to spy on."

The FAA's ban on people onboard flights raised questions for the nation's airlines, which must now ponder what, if anything, their airplanes will be carrying.

But Davis Logsdon, who studies the airline industry at the University of Minnesota, said that the FAA's crackdown on people could be a "win-win" for the airlines: "Maybe if the airlines don't have people to worry about, they can finally concentrate on getting our luggage to the right destination."

Elsewhere, al-Qaeda disavowed responsibility for a terror plot to make Americans' laptops burst into flames, blaming it instead on Dell.

=================================

General Interest
---------------

President on Another Planet
By Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, August 22, 2006; A15


For a moment there, I was almost encouraged. George W. Bush, the most resolutely incurious and inflexible of presidents, was reported last week to have been surprised at seeing Iraqi citizens -- who ought to be grateful beneficiaries of the American occupation, I mean "liberation" -- demonstrating in support of Hezbollah and against Israel.

Surprise would be a start, since it would mean the Decider was admitting novel facts to his settled base of knowledge and reacting to them. Alas, it seems the door to the presidential mind is still locked tight. "I don't remember being surprised," he said at his news conference yesterday. "I'm not sure what they mean by that."

I'm guessing "they" might mean that when you try to impose your simplistic, black-and-white template on a kaleidoscopic world, and you end up setting the Middle East on fire, either you're surprised or you're not paying attention. But that's just me.

As for George Bush, what on earth is on his mind?

Even conservatives have begun openly assessing the president's intellect, especially its impermeability to new information. Cable television pundit Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, devoted a segment of his MSNBC show to "George Bush's mental weakness," with a legend at the bottom of the screen that impertinently asked: "IS BUSH AN 'IDIOT'?"

It's tempting to go there, but I'm not sure we'd get very far. While we have the president on the couch, I'm more interested in trying to understand his emotional response -- or lack of response -- to the chaos he has spawned.

According to the Iraqi government, 3,438 civilians were killed in July, making it the bloodiest month since the invasion. The president was asked yesterday whether the failure of the U.S.-backed "unity" government to stem the orgy of sectarian carnage disappoints him, and he said that no, it didn't. How, I wonder, is that possible? Does he believe it would be a sign of weakness to admit that the flowering of democracy in Iraq isn't going exactly as planned? Does he believe saying everything's just fine will make it so? Is he in denial? Or do 3,438 deaths really just roll off his back after he's had his workout and a nice bike ride?

"I hear a lot of talk about civil war" in Iraq, he allowed -- much of it apparently from his own generals, who have been increasingly bold in using the once-forbidden phrase -- but all that talk doesn't seem to penetrate very far. To the president, is all the bad news from Iraq just "talk" without objective reality?

Here's another line from the president's news conference: "What's very interesting about the violence in Lebanon and the violence in Iraq and the violence in Gaza is this: These are all groups of terrorists who are trying to stop the advance of democracy."

Now, whatever you think about George Bush's intellect, he knows full well that the Hamas government in Gaza was democratically elected. He also knows full well that Hezbollah participates in the democratically elected government of Lebanon, or what's left of Lebanon. And so he has to know full well that U.S.-backed Israeli assaults on Gaza and Lebanon -- even if you believe they were justified -- had the impact of crippling, if not crushing, two nascent democracies of the kind the Bush administration wants to cultivate throughout the Middle East.

He also knows that the Iraqi government has real sovereignty over only the Green Zone in Baghdad -- a fortress made secure by the presence of U.S. troops -- and assorted other enclaves where American and British troops enforce the peace. He has heard the leader of that nominal government praise Hezbollah and denounce Israel.

So when the president lauds democracy as the magic elixir that will cure the scourge of terrorism, is he really putting faith in his favorite mantra rather than his lying eyes? Is his view of the world so unchangeable that he dismisses actual events the way he dismisses mere "talk''?

Or is he just trying to hold on until January 2009, when all this will become somebody else's problem?

In his news conference, the Decider did make a couple of nods to objective reality. He admitted in plain language that Iraq had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 attacks and possessed no weapons of mass destruction -- in other words, that his rationale for this elective, preemptive war had no substance. And he acknowledged a certain occasional exasperation.

"Frustrated? Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised," the president said. "Sometimes I'm happy. This is -- but war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times."

No, they're not.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company


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RESUME
GEORGE W. BUSH
Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20520

LAW & ORDER
I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been "lost" and is not available.

MILITARY
I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the Texas Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in Vietnam.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE/COLLEGE
I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a cheerleader.

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE
I ran for U.S. Congress and lost. I began my career in the oil business in Midland, Texas, in 1975. I bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas. The company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.

I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money. With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry, including Enron CEO Ken Lay, I was elected governor of Texas.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making Texas the most polluted state in the Union. During my tenure, Houston replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in America. I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in borrowed money. I set the record for the most executions by any governor in American history. With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida, and my father's appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President after losing by over 500,000 votes.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT
I am the first President in US. history to enter office with a criminal record. I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week. I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury. I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history. I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period. I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period. I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.

In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost their jobs and that trend continues every month.

I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza Rice, had a Chevron oil tanker named after her. I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President. I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations. My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S. History, Enron.

My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election decision. I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating the Clinton-Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest corporate rip-offs in history.

I presided over the biggest energy crisis in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving the oil industry was revealed. I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history. I changed the U.S. policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts. I appointed more convicted criminals to administration than any President in U.S. history. I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States government.

I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S. history. I am the first President in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission. I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law. I refused to allow inspectors access to U.S. "prisoners of war" detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention. I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 U.S. election). I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President since the advent of television. I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year period. After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history. I garnered the most sympathy for the U.S. after the World Trade Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history.

I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people), shattering the record for protests against any person in the history of mankind.

I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked, pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. citizens, and the world community. I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty benefits for active duty troops and their families-in-wartime. In my State of the Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends. I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security. I am supporting development of a nuclear "Tactical Bunker Buster," a WMD. I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES
All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's library, sealed and unavailable for public view. All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading and my bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view. All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.

PLEASE CONSIDER MY EXPERIENCE WHEN VOTING IN THE 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

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Here are a couple from NRDC. First is meaningful... as a Star Trek IV: Voyage Home fan. Good stuff for our environmentalists in the bunch!! K

AN IMPORTANT VICTORY FOR WHALES

Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006

Dear NRDC BioGems Defender,

I'm writing to report a big stride in our campaign to protect whales and other marine mammals from mid-frequency naval sonar.

Two weeks ago, NRDC attorneys raced to court to block the U.S. Navy from unleashing a barrage of ear-splitting sonar into the waters off Hawaii as part of a massive military training exercise. Whales exposed to mid-frequency sonar have repeatedly stranded and died on beaches around the world -- but the Navy refused to adopt even common-sense measures during peacetime exercises to help protect marine life from this deadly threat.

In an infuriating attempt to avoid our lawsuit, the Navy took the unprecedented step -- on the eve of the Fourth of July weekend -- of declaring itself exempt from the primary U.S. law that requires measures to protect marine mammals. But the court sided with us and found that the Navy's planned sonar use violated a second key environmental law as well, noting that
NRDC had submitted "considerable convincing scientific evidence" of the dangers of sonar to marine life.

In the settlement... the Navy will be required to create a sonar-free buffer zone around the newly established Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, as well as significantly improve its monitoring of marine mammals during sonar drills and implement other important safeguards.

This is an important victory, but much more needs to be done... As our campaign moves forward, we will continue to depend on your generous support and activism to compel the Navy to limit its use of harmful mid-frequency sonar. I hope you'll go to https://www.savebiogems.org/whales/donate.asp right now and make a contribution to support our ongoing legal efforts.

On behalf of our entire legal team, I want to thank you for coming to the defense of marine mammals around the world.

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

AND


From: "Robert Redford, NRDC Action Fund"
Subject: Bringing the Arctic Refuge into homes across America
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:21:00 -0400 (EDT)

Dear NRDC BioGems Defender,

With the U.S. Senate heading for a showdown vote on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, I wish I could sit down with you and other supporters to explain the enormous challenge we face over the next six weeks.

Since I can't do that, I've done the next best thing and recorded a short video message about the critical situation at hand. I hope you'll watch this two- minute video right away.

Then I need you to take an extra step to save the Arctic Refuge by passing this video on to your friends and colleagues. They need to know that drilling theArctic -- and destroying our natural heritage -- will not save us money at the pump or make us more secure.

Our goal: to reach into homes across America over the next two weeks, so that when the make-or-break vote comes after Labor Day, we can spring into action one million strong and defeat Big Oil's agenda.

Click here to view the video and pass it on to others: http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/tellafriend.asp

We've got no time to lose.

The House recently passed the so-called "American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act" (H.R. 5429), which would stuff the oil companies' already bloated coffers with billions more in profits.

And it would destroy the Arctic Refuge for the sake of oil that won't make a dent in gas prices or wean us off Persian Gulf oil.

A version of this Arctic wildlife destruction bill is now headed for a vote in the U.S. Senate sometime in September. Please help us mobilize one millionAmericans to stop this bill in its tracks.

I know how many times you've helped us block President Bush's relentless drive to destroy the Arctic Refuge.

But the political reality is this: the White House can afford to lose this fight repeatedly. But we cannot afford to lose once -- or else the greatestliving reminder of our natural heritage will die forever.

Please help us prevent this disaster from coming to pass by helping us build anationwide army of opposition.

http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/tellafriend.asp

And thank you for fighting to keep the Arctic wild and free.

Sincerely,

Robert Redford
NRDC Action Fund

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If you have Satellite Radio, this is for you. K


From: "Human Rights Campaign"
Subject: HRC news and entertainment exclusively on XM Satellite radio!
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 22:07:31 GMT


Tired of Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter? Wondering why Rush Limbaugh has a radio show and we don't? Well, now we do. The
Human Rights Campaign and XM Satellite Radio are launching The Agenda with Joe Solmonese and it's premiering in one week exclusively on XM. Get it today!

Why The Agenda? Because the truth is we do have an agenda. It's about living our lives openly and honestly and in a world where all people are full citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Agenda will take on the key issues of the day. We will be provocative, controversial and in touch with the GLBT news of
the day. But you know what? We'll also be fun and silly and reflect the diversity in our culture as well as our lives. So,
you'll probably get a dose of gay bowling along with gay fashion, a gay icon like Cyndi Lauper as well as a hero like Ted
Kennedy.

Best of all, we get to talk with you. This is live, talk radio and the phones will be open. The Agenda will happen every Monday
night from 6 to 8 p.m. Eastern, starting on July 17, when we open up the call lines to you and to America.

To participate in The Agenda, you need to subscribe to XM Satellite Radio- the country's number one satellite radio
provider. Sure, you get us, but you also get more than 170 digital channels with the most commercial-free music in
satellite radio, live concerts, the biggest names in news, talk and entertainment and the most sports play-by-play. Better yet,
the Human Rights Campaign benefits from your radio subscriptionsto XM. Visit this website for special savings on XM Satellite Radio. http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/wdq1yuS1pmON/

At the Human Rights Campaign, we're going where you are - in your communities, in your workplace and in your places of
worship. Now we're coming into your home and your car with The Agenda only on XM Satellite Radio. I hope you'll join us.

Warmly,

Joe

p.s. The Agenda with Joe Solmonese is only available on XM
Satellite Radio so go to
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/ct/s1q1yuS1pmOs/ to sign-up and
get special savings.
--------------------------------------------------

Although Claire McCaskill is local, she is also important nationally and PAC knows it. After all, the Senate is a national body. K


Who should the PAC for a Change community help next?
Final Results

Claire McCaskill (MO)
24%

Bob Casey (PA)
23%

Sherrod Brown (OH)
12%

Amy Klobuchar (MN)
11%

Barbara Ann Radnofsky (TX)
11%

Pete Ashdown (UT)
7%

Jim Webb (VA)
6%

Erik Fleming (MS)
3%

Congratulations to Claire McCaskill (MO) -- the winner of our online vote to determine which Democratic Senate challenger our PAC for a Change community would support next!

Even after more than 63,000 votes, the final results literally came down to the wire.  McCaskill supporters made a huge "get out the vote" push in the final days and narrowly overtook Bob Casey on the last day of voting.  Congratulations also go out to Bob Casey for his very strong 2nd place showing. 

We'll be sending a fundraising email on Claire's behalf to our entire PAC for a Change list in the coming weeks.

Thanks again for voting and for supporting all of our terrific Democratic Senate challengers!

--------------------------------------------------

Here are two letters from another group who write me. Believe it or not, I edit down for you so you don't have to go through everything. But I thought these were particularly important. K

Dear MomsRising Member -

There are those moments in time when you realize you are, or could be, one of those devastating statistics. A year ago, while researching and writing The Motherhood Manifesto with Joan Blades, I was sitting at my dining room table, which was covered with healthcare research papers at the time. My husband and I were talking about his plans to take a new job while I was taking a break.

After learning from the research that healthcare issues are a top cause of bankruptcy, that many critically ill people are falling through cracks in coverage, and that healthcare costs are skyrocketing for individuals and businesses, my biggest concern about his job change was whether or not he would get healthcare coverage for our family. We could be one of those statistics.

It was at that moment that I truly realized just how bad our healthcare system was for American children, mothers, and families--and just how good it could be if we had comprehensive coverage much like most other industrialized nations already have for their citizens.

TAKE ACTION: Join us as we call on Congress and the President to improve healthcare for children by signing the petition at: http://www.momsrising.org/node/351 We have to fix our failing healthcare system. This is one of the reasons why MomsRising is working with more than forty other organizations right now on the Campaign for Children's Health Care.

Tell the President and Congress it's not acceptable to have 9 million kids without healthcare coverage; and millions more with inadequate coverage. It's not okay to have 46 million Americans without healthcare at all. And, in our country, healthcare issues shouldn't be a leading cause of bankruptcy.

Linked to our lack of general healthcare coverage is the fact that childhood mortality rates in the U.S. rank in at a pathetic 37th of all nations, according to the World Health Organization. This is simply not acceptable.

GAINING MOMENTUM BY WORKING TOGETHER:The Campaign for Children's Health Care is a national public education campaign, formed to help spread the word about children without healthcare coverage. Your petition signature will be shared with Families USA, a non-profit organization that is a lead organization for the Campaign for Children's Health Care. They are collecting petition signatures from multiple organizations to deliver to the President and Congress in the spring of 2007.
Sign the petition to make sure our elected leaders know Americans want all children to have healthcare in our country.

To sign on just go to: http://www.momsrising.org/node/351

Best - Kristin (not Amend) and the MomsRising Team
-------------------------
AND
Dear MomsRising Member -

For the past couple of weeks we've been e-mailing you about the current state of healthcare in America. Now we're highlighting a specific bill in Congress, The National Health Insurance Act, which is a single-payer national health plan. This bill needs the support of citizens like you in order to gain momentum.

Frankly, real healthcare solutions have been in gridlock for far too long. This bill, for example, was first introduced in 2003, and while it has 75 co-sponsors, there is not nearly enough momentum yet for passage.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Let your U.S. Representative know you support HR 676, The National Health Insurance Act--and that it's time for a real healthcare solution, not just another band-aid fix. Congressional leaders have to be able to overcome the demands of the powerful insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and to do this they must know citizens stand behind them.

HOW TO CALL: To contact your U.S. Representative, just call the main U.S. Congress switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be transferred to the appropriate office. If you're not sure who's representing you now, go to: www.house.gov to find out.

*Want to know if your Representative is signed on to the bill as a co-sponsor? Go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00676:@@@P. If your leader has signed on, then please thank them and let them know you'll be behind them all the way. If your leader hasn't yet signed on, then let them know universal healthcare coverage is a priority for you and your family.

TALKING POINTS: You can tell your U.S. Representative-

1. I support HR 676, The National Health Insurance Act, a single-payer national health plan. This Act provides full coverage for every American for ALL medically necessary services: doctor, hospital, long-term care, mental health, dental, vision, prescription drugs and medical supplies. With passage of this Act there wouldn't be anymore insurance premiums, deductibles, or co-pays.

2- The United States spends more on healthcare per person than any other nation in the world, yet ranks in at a low 37th of all nations in childhood mortality of children to age five. We aren't getting much for the money we spend. It's time for a change.

3- It's unconscionable that 46 million Americans are without health coverage, and many are dying from treatable diseases.

4- Many businesses are relocating to Canada or other countries with universal coverage to avoid the high costs of healthcare here.

ABOUT THE LEGISLATION: This plan provides full coverage for all medically necessary services, and also gives everyone full choice of doctor and hospital because it isn't managed by the insurance companies. This single-payer national health insurance plan would recover the one-third of our health care dollars currently wasted on the paperwork generated by our private insurance system, and save money currently spent on high executive salaries. A single-payer national health insurance program, such as the one outlined in HR 676, puts the coverage and control back in the hands of citizens.

Let's get to work and fix our failing healthcare system. And, please tell your friends about MomsRising, so they too can join us supporting action on these issues.

Best - The MomsRising Team

p.s. Read a recent San Diego Union-Tribune Op-Ed piece about the single-payer health care system: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060721/news_lz1e21duerks.html .

p.p.s. HR 676 is adapted from a plan written by doctors from the group Physicians for a National Health Program. For more information on a single-payer plan, or to request a speaker for your group, visit www.pnhp.org or e-mail info@pnhp.org.

-----------------------------------------------

Camus Comes to Crawford
By: MAUREEN DOWD
Published: August 16, 2006

Strangely enough, we find two famous men reading Albert Camus’s “The Stranger” this summer. One is Jean Girard, the villainous gay French race car driver hilariously played by Sacha Baron Cohen (a k a Ali G and Borat) — the sinuous rival to Will Ferrell’s stocky Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights.”

Girard, a jazz-loving, white-silk-scarf-wearing, America-disdaining Formula Un driver sponsored by Perrier, is so smooth he can sip macchiato from a china cup, smoke Gitanes and read “L’Etranger” behind the wheel and still lead the Nascar pack.

Frenchie contemptuously informs “cowboy” Bobby that America merely gave the world George Bush, Cheerios and the ThighMaster while France invented democracy, existentialism and the ménage à trois.

The other guy kindling to Camus is none other than the aforementioned George Bush, who read “The Stranger” in English on his Crawford vacation and, Tony Snow told me, “liked it.” Name-dropping existentialists is good for picking up girls, as Woody Allen’s schlemiels found, or getting through the clove-cigarette fog of Humanities 101. But it does seem odd that W., who once mocked NBC’s David Gregory as “intercontinental” for posing a question in French to the French president in France, would choose Camus over Grisham.

Camus is not beach reading — or brush reading. How on earth did this book make it into the hands of our proudly anti-intellectual president?

“I don’t know how ‘L’Etranger’ made it onto his list,” Mr. Snow said. “I must confess, I read ‘L’Etranger’ 25 years ago.” The rest of W.’s reading list was presidentially correct: two books on Lincoln and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Polio: An American Story,” by David Oshinsky. (Not a word by Merleau-Ponty.)

Debunking the theory that W. had a sports section or Mad magazine’s “Spy vs. Spy” tucked inside the 1946 classic of angst, Mr. Snow noted that he and the president had “a brief conversation on the origins of French existentialism, Camus and Sartre.” Pressed for more details by an astonished columnist having trouble envisioning Waco as the Left Bank, the press secretary laughed. “Confidential conversation,” he said, extending the administration’s lack of transparency to literature.

He brushed off suggestions that the supremely unself-reflective W. was going through a Carteresque malaise-in-the-gorge moment: “He doesn’t feel like an existentialist trapped in Algeria during the unpleasantness.”

It takes a while to adjust to the idea of W., who has created chaos trying to impose moral order on the globe, perusing Camus, who wrote about the eternal frustration of moral order in human affairs. What does W., the archenemy of absurdity as a view of life, kindle to in C., the apostle of absurdity as a view of life? What can W., the born-again monogamist, spark to in C., the amorous atheist? In some ways, Mr. Bush is supremely not a Camus man. Camus hated the blindness caused by ideology, and Mr. Bush wallows in it. Camus celebrated lucidity while the president keeps seeing only what he wants to see.

Mr. Bush’s life has been premised on his confidence that he will always be insulated from the consequences and the cruelties of existence, unlike Meursault. W. or his people always work to change fate, whether it’s an election or the Middle East.

If you think about it long enough, though, it begins to make a sort of wacky sense.
“The Stranger” is about the emotionally detached Meursault, who makes a lot of bad decisions and pre-emptively kills an Arab in the sand. Get it? Camus’s protagonist moves through an opaque, obscure and violent world that is indifferent to his beliefs and desires. Get it?

If there was ever a moment when this president could regard the unanticipated consequences of his actions, behold the world littered with the very opposite of what he intended for it and appreciate the gritty stoicism of the philosophy of absurdism, this is it. Iraq in civil war. Al Qaeda metastasizing and plotting. Hezbollah, Iran and Syria knitting closer, celebrating a “victory” in standing up to Israel, the U.S. and Britain, and mocking W.’s plan for a “new Middle East.” The North Koreans luxuriating in their nuclear capability. Chávez becoming the new Castro on a global scale.

Maybe next the president should pick up Camus’s other classic, “The Myth of Sisyphus.” Was there ever a national enterprise more Sisyphean than the war in Iraq?

If there was ever a confirmation of Camus’s sense of the absurdity of life, it’s that the president is reading him.

-------------------------------------------------
Honestly, here's a chance to do something. K

Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:05:54 -0500

Dear Kristin,

An important fact has to be remembered as we recall the victims of last year's devastating storms:

Almost half of all children in New Orleans lived in poverty -- before Hurricane Katrina.

The callous and inept federal response to Hurricane Katrina revealed that, when faced with a crisis that experts had actually predicted, the Republican administration was utterly unprepared and unresponsive.

Meanwhile, the shameful foot-dragging since the storm on reconstruction and help to families shows the same lack of interest in solving real problems and saving lives. So far, the administration has gotten around to spending barely half of what Congress authorized.

The Republican administration's failures before and after the storms are linked by a common approach to the solemn responsibilities of government. Simply put: they aren't interested.

This Republican leadership's philosophy means that our government simply will not meet the needs of our people. Not because it's impossible -- but because they don't believe it should. And so we are left with each American having to do what he or she can to help.

There is too much to be done for individuals acting alone to fix everything, but until we achieve a change in leadership we all must step up to the plate. One way to do that is by donating new or used books to the Children's Defense Fund, an organization that's working to make sure that school libraries in Gulf Coast are well-stocked for returning students.

Only 18% of New Orleans children had returned by the end of the last school year, according to the New York Times. More children will return this year, but the conditions they will return to can be terrible.

I want to ask that you participate in a book drive for the children of the Gulf Coast. It's important, and it's a tangible way for you to make a difference:

http://www.democrats.org/bookdrive

While we all take time to reflect and do our small part to help, one thing is clear: Democrats offer a new direction.

We believe in a government that takes its obligations to the American people seriously, one that is always improving the services and protections it provides -- a government that becomes more efficient as it meets challenges and takes on new challenges with serious commitment.

And we believe passionately in the responsibility of public service -- doing the hard, unglamorous work that comes with solving real problems that impact people's lives.

With that sense of responsibility missing in our leaders today, we find ourselves in deep trouble.

A fifth grader interviewed by the New York Times recently -- one of the few who have made it back -- told the reporter that his father, who is in the National Guard, has been sent to the Middle East. Meanwhile, back on the home front, their house has been burglarized.

The boy summed up what people on the Gulf Coast -- and people all across the country -- are feeling right now:

"We deserve better."

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. -- We've set up a resource center to help people learn more a year after Katrina. From the promises made and subsequently broken, to a look back at the failure of leadership on the levees in New Orleans, take a minute to explore just where we are one year later:

http://www.democrats.org/katrinaanniversary

====================================

LOCAL (KC) ITEMS:

Attention all java junkies~

PPKM has been chosen as one of ten charities being highlighted this quarter by The Ten-Cup Coffee Shop. The Ten Cup's motto is:

Changing the world one cup at a time by donating 10% of our profits to 10 charities in the greater Kansas City Metropolitan area.

It is a neat place - and a neat idea! So please spread the word that there is a great neighborhood coffee shop that is supportive of PPKM. The more business they get - the higher the donation will be that PPKM receives. It is perfect for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dessert - meetings, get-togethers. If you are looking for a place to plan a small offsite meeting - consider doing it at The Ten Cup. They have meeting tables and comfortable couches and chairs.

Many thanks to Peggy Bonas for doing a great job putting together PPKM's application and for all others that contributed to the application process. Not only will we receive a donation from them - it is also a fantastic (and free) PR and outreach opportunity. The Ten Cup will place PPKM's name and mission in their menu for the next 3 months and feature our brochures and information throughout their establishment.

Info about The Ten Cup:

651 E. 59th Street (59th & Holmes - in the Morningside Shops), Kansas City, MO (866) 745-6362
Hours: M-F 7am–4pm; Saturday 8am–4pm; Sunday 9am–3pm

The Ten Cup, in the heart of Brookside, is an upscale version of today’s popular coffee house. Morning menu items include a fruit-and-yogurt parfait and fresh scones. Gourmet lunch items change seasonally, but always feature a delicious soup and creative salads, in addition to fabulous sandwiches. Leave room for our wildly popular handcrafted cupcakes, cookies or other treats from our in-house bakery.

http://www.ten-cup.com/index.html

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Please join us in celebrating our friend's birthday!
Cathy Jolly
A Fundraiser for Cathy's Campaign for City Council.

Thursday, September 7
5:30 -7:30

Uptown Theater
3700 Broadway
Kansas City, MO

Committee to Elect Cathy Jolly
632 E. 108th St. Kansas City, MO 64131

Hosts:
Vince Accurso Garry Kemp
Mike Burke Tim Kristl
Cynthia Cannady Chris Lewellen
Enrique & Teresa Chaurand Kelley Martin
John "Coach" Comstock Pat McInerney
Lali Garcia Dutch Newman
Charles Garney James B. Nutter, Sr.
Jim Giles Woody Overton
Gerald & Anita Gorman Susan Schmelzer
Beth Gottstein Kelvin Simmons
Jim Heeter Bridgette Williams
AnnMarie Jackson Dale Youngs

Paid for by Committee to Elect Cathy Jolly, Harry Groff Treasurer

---------------------------------------------------
Re-Elect Beth Low

You are cordially invited to the home of Joanie Shoemaker & Jo-Lynne Worley 215 W. 53rd St. to support the Honorable Beth Low in her bid for re-election to the 39th District of the Missouri House of Representatives.

Sponsored by SMART White House The event will be held Thursday, September 7 From 5:30 to 7:30PM. Please RSVP to rsvp@SmartWhiteHouse.org

$25, $50, $75, $100
Contribution Limit - $325

For more information: http://www.smartwhitehouse.org/?p=297

----------------------------------------------------
This is from Vicki Walker, a past speaker to Blue Hearts. K

I am writing you all because you have access to groups. I am starting a public speaking business called Progressively Speaking and would love it if you all would pass my name around as a possible speaker at an event. I also am the membership vice president for the Women's Council at UMKC. To that end, I would love to come and speak your group about joining the Women's Council, which offers the best bang for you buck of any organization.

We have one of the largest Graduate Assistance Funds in the area - we have given more than $1 million in scholarships to women at UMKC over the years. The Women's Council is about and for women. We screen over a 100 applications every year for these scholarships and we pride ourselves in making sure we do scholarships that are DIFFERENT - for instance, money for a trip to present a paper; money to attend a conference; money for a baby sitter for a single mom to be able to study for the bar! (yes, we did).

Anyway, the cost is only $20 a year - two meetings a year plus a luncheon for the graduate awardees. It is a worthwhile organization and I think the women that belong to your organizations would respond well to this call.

Let me know. Hope you all are doing great!
Vicki
816-289-5932

--------------------------------------
This is incredibly long and from Ira Harritt, another former speaker to Blue Hearts. Please note "A Cure For War" at the beginning of this section. K

Pres. Bush is coming to town

Tell him to
Stop the War in Iraq -
Stop the War at Home
-against the poor, our civil liberties and the environment!

Friday, September 8th
3:00PM
at 55th Street
and Ward Parkway, KCMO
(Park on nearby streets or at Loose Park, 51 St. & Wornall and get a ride to the demonstration site.)


KC AFSC Peace and Justice Alerts

We need your support to keep our peacemaking work alive. Contribute. Volunteer. Spread the word! Contact us and mail your tax deductible contribution to: American Friends Service Committee, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO 64110, (816) 931-5256

You have the power. – You can make the difference

A cure for War?

Furiously spending the same daily amount of money toward making friends. Being an indispensable source of food, shelter,
peace, and cultural support dedicatedly spending 9 billion dollars a month on helping people would be a formidable enemy of evil.
-Vanna Bonta
*************

Dear Supporters of Peace and Justice,

Thank you for your support of Peace and Social Justice and thanks to the stalwart s We can create a more secure and just future than one based upon never-ending war and an economy built upon military might and stolen oil.

The tide is turning. Recent polls of U.S. citizens reveal that
- 66% “disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq” (CBS)
- 59% feel that “war with Iraq was not worth fighting” (ABC / Wash Post)
- 64% think the “Bush Administration does or does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq” (ABC / Wash Post)
- 57% think the “U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawal” (CNN)

Below are upcoming events and campaigns. We need your help to shift U.S. policy away from war and domination and to policies that create real democracy, real security and the betterment of humanity.

Peace,
Ira Harritt
******
Come to the next meeting of the KC Iraq Task Force is on Monday, September 25th at 6:30pm at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO.

Help will plan:
- weekly visits to the offices of area senators and congresspersons;
- Missouri and Kansas Eyes Wide Open State Exhibits;
- “Let There Be Peace On Earth” Quilt Project
- and other actions.

******
Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities

September 2,Saturday : SCIENCE APPLIED To The World Trade Center Collapses, talk by Jim Hoffman, The Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, Kansas City, MO, 1:00-2:30 pm AND 7-9 pm Donation of $8.00 at door (no one will be turned away for lack of funds)

September 3, Sunday, 6:00p.m. Labor Day Interfaith Gathering at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 2310 E. Linwood, Kansas City, Missouri

September 8, Friday, 3:00PM Demonstration to tell Pres. Bush to Stop the War in Iraq and the War at Home at 55th Street and Ward Parkway, KCMO

September 17th at 4.45p.m., nice bombs: My Journey Back To Iraq by Usama Alshaibi, at the Kansas CIty International Film Festivalis, the Glenwoods Art Theatre, 9575 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS

September 24, Declaration of Peace March, Vigil and Rally, 47 & Main / Plaza Art Fair, 3PM to 5:30PM --150 Volunteers Needed – You are Needed!!! (more info below)

September 25, Monday, at 6:30pm, KC Iraq Task Force Monthly Planning Meeting, at the AFSC office, 4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO

October 4, 7:30pm, Iraq: How We Got In: How We Get Out--Former CIA Analyst, Ray McGovern- Shows in the Show-Me State. Wednesday, - Park University, McCoy Meeting House, 8700 NW River Park Dr., Parkville, MO

EVERY Sunday: Iraq Peace Vigil, 4pm, JC Nichols Fountain, 47th & Main, Streets, Kansas City, MO http://www.kciraqtaskforce.org/

EVERY TUESDAY: Join this Peace Demonstration Every Tuesday between 5PM - 6 PM in the median strip on the south corner of the intersection at 63rd & Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. For more information email '63rd Street Patriots' - Bob Rowe (exgman47@yahoo.com) or Carol (schwartzkatz@mail.carrollsweb.com).

YOU CAN HELP CREATE THE KS & MO - EYES WIDE OPEN EXHIBITS!
We need used children’s’ men’s’ and women’s’ shoes to represent Iraqi civilians who have died.
Bring pairs of shoes to donate to the exhibit to AFSC / KC Iraq Task Force Events or call 816 931-5256 for information.

*****
Labor Day ‘Executive Excess’ report:
Oil and Defense CEOs Pocket the Spoils
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE: Executive Excess 2006 (PDF, 1 Mb)

CEOs in the defense and oil industries have been able to translate war and rising oil prices into personal jackpots, according to a new report from the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy, Executive Excess 2006.
OIL BARONS: With Americans now paying over $3 per gallon, petroleum profiteers are raking in nearly three times the pay of CEOs in comparably sized businesses. In 2005, the top 15 U.S. oil CEOs got a 50% raise since 2004. They now average $32.7 million, compared with $11.6 million for all CEOs of large U.S. firms.
Executive pay at U.S.-based oil companies also far outpaced pay at oil companies based outside the United States. BP and Royal Dutch Shell paid their CEOs only one-eighth what their U.S. counterparts collected — just $5.6 and $4.1 million in 2005, respectively — even though both companies operate in the same global marketplace as their U.S.-based competitors.
CEO William Greehey of Valero Energy took home the oil industry’s biggest executive pay rewards in 2005, pocketing $95.2 million. The average construction worker at an energy company would have to work 4,279 years to equal what Greehey collected last year.
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS: Since the “War on Terror” began, CEOs at the top 34 military contractors have enjoyed average paychecks that are double the compensation they received in the four years leading up to 9/11.
The new Executive Excess report surveys all publicly held U.S. corporations among the top 100 defense contractors that had at least 10 percent of revenues in defense. These 34 CEOs combined have pocketed almost a billion dollars since 9/11 — enough to employ more than a million Iraqis for a year to rebuild their country.
In 2005, defense industry CEOs walked off with 44 times more pay than military generals with 20 years experience, and 308 times more than Army privates.
(More > http://www.faireconomy.org/press/2006/ee06_ceos_pocket_the_spoils_preview.html )

-----------------------------------------------------------
Declaration of Peace Campaign
The Declaration of Peace, a nationwide campaign of coordinated activities calls for a responsible and concrete plan for the removal of US troops from Iraq by September 21 – International Peace Day. The campaign has steps and stages and is envisioned to last until March. We need your support.

The goal of the Declaration is to establish and complete a comprehensive plan to end the US war in Iraq.

The Declaration of Peace is a commitment to take nonviolent steps for a comprehensive, concrete and rapid end to the US war in Iraq, including:

· Withdrawal of US troops and all coalition forces
· Closure of US military bases
· Support for an Iraqi-led peace process, including a peace conference to shape a post-occupation transition and an international peacekeeping presence if mandated by this peace process
· Return of Iraqi control over its oil resources and the political and economic life of the nation
· Reparations and reconstruction to address the destruction caused by the US war and thirteen years of sanctions
· Establish a “peace dividend” for job creation, health care, education, housing, and other vital social needs
· Increased support for US veterans of the Iraq war, and
· No so-called “preemptive” war against Iran or any other nation

Get Involved in planning for the Declaration of Peace Campaign in Kansas City – Call 816 931-5256

*****

The Declaration of Peace web page is a great resource http://declarationofpeace.org. You will find a list of local organizers and information on how to contact them, action plan models from communities around the country, resources for congressional visits and ways to get training for nonviolent direct action around the country.

Some Things You Can Do

Read the Congressional Declaration of Peace Pledge
http://declarationofpeace.org/files/Congress_Pledge.pdf

Encourage others to endorse the campaign – there are currently 225 endorsing organizations http://declarationofpeace.org/endorsements

Sign the Declaration of Peace: http://declarationofpeace.org/

Review Nonviolence Guidelines: http://declarationofpeace.org/nonviolence-guidelines

********

Encourage Congress to Sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace

The Declaration of Peace calls on local organizers to schedule meetings to invite your Congressional members to demonstrate their commitment to peace through signing the Congressional Pledge.

The pledge allows members of congress to support three bills in the house McGovern, Lee and Thompson and the Harkin bill in the Senate that is a companion to the Thompson bill. The pledge. http://declarationofpeace.org/files/Congress_Pledge.pdf

Get Involved in planning for the Declaration of Peace Campaign in Kansas City – Call 816 931-5256


*****

COMING THIS FALL

EYES WIDE OPEN: Kansas / Missouri

Eyes Wide Open (EWO) is a national multi-media exhibit that provides a moving view of the costs of war. AFSC staff and KC Iraq Task Force volunteers are currently creating
an EWO exhibit for Kansas and Missouri.

Eyes Wide Open: Kansas and Missouri localizes the national exhibit with a focus on the human and economic impact of the war and occupation on Missourians and Kansans. The exhibit includes one pair of boots for each Missouri and Kansas soldier killed in Iraq; 50 pairs of civilian shoes representing Iraqis killed in the war and occupation; a display depicting the cost of the war to KS and MO taxpayers; and pictures of Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers.

We need used children’s, men’s, and women’s shoes to represent Iraqi civilians who have died. Bring shoes to AFSC/KC Iraq Task Force Events or call 816 931-5256 for information.

Help Bring Our Message Of Peace and
the Folly of War to the Plaza Art Fair!
We are organizing a
March around the Plaza Art Fair on
Sunday, September 24,
from 3:00 to 4:00pm
Meet at the J.C. Nichols Fountain at 2:45pm
(preceding the 4th Sunday Vigil and Rally).

This event will be a part of the local Declaration of Peace Campaign and a display of the KS & MO Eyes Wide Open Exhibits.

We need you to attend and help by carrying
- a pair of combat boots representing one of the 27 soldiers from Kansas or 43 soldiers from Missouri killed in Iraq or
- one of the 50 pairs of civilian shoes representing the Iraqi civilians killed (50 times the number of U.S. troops) or
- a flag draped coffin, stretcher or sign.

We need approximately 150 individuals who believe we can end this war—we must reject war!

Sign up to volunteer by emailing us at iharritt@afsc.org or by calling (816) 931-5256 or go to www.kciraqtaskforce.org.


You can also help create the coffins and stretchers for this demonstration. Help find materials (heavy cardboard, canvas, stretcher poles) to make coffins and stretchers and / or volunteering to make them.
Call (816) 931-5256

YOU CAN HELP!
We need used children’s’ men’s’ and women’s’ shoes to represent Iraqi civilians who have died.
Bring pairs of shoes to donate to the exhibit to AFSC / Iraq Task Force Events or call 816 931-5256 for information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KC’S UPTOWN Theater Boldly Hosts
Noted Research Scientist and Author:
“SCIENCE APPLIED To The World Trade Center Collapses”

Jim Hoffman, acclaimed 9/11 Researcher and author,
at KC'S Uptown Theater,
Sat. Sept. 2: 1 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Admission: $8.00 donation (no one will be turned away for lack of funds).

With the anniversary of September 11th rapidly approaching, Jim Hoffman acclaimed 9/11 researcher and scientist promises to shed light on a diffe rent perspective regarding the physical evidence and investigations into the WTC tower's collapse. Come hear Jim Hoffman, who is widely referred to as the best independent 9-11 research analyst,present his independent analysis of the WTC tower's collapse and provide Q&A discussion to the audience.

Powerful corporate media mechanisms to remind Americans of our shock, fear and outrage will be on full gear as we approach the anniversary. As many are painfully aware, despite the wishes of groups such as clergy and Peaceful Tomorrows, the official response to "bin Laden's attacks" cast our nation into war, curtailed civil liberties, systemized racism towards Arabs and Muslims, and sent us spiraling into a permanent war economy.

Attend Saturday's event to hear this science based 9/11 skeptic to learn more.
No matter our own individual and diverse opinions, a speaker who presents independent and credible research related to the deaths of 2,980 fellow American citizens is worthy of consideration. This event is geared towards those specifically interested in the physical science of the towers collapse, a significant and previously untapped audience.

Hoffman's work is cited repeatedly by popular authors such as Professor David Ray Griffin and physicist Steven E. Jones. Hoffman's most visited website, 9-11 Research, is averaging 14,371 visitors daily in August. Hoffman is a research scientist, mathematician, author and inventor. His work has been featured in articles in Science News, Scientific American, and Nature, and he has co-authored papers in Science and Macromolecules.

Publicity resources, flyers, and more information are available here:
http://www.digitalstyledesigns.com/pages/event.htm

Jan Hoyer
9-11 Research Media Coordinator
816-517-5271 (cell)
************
See nice bombs: My Journey Back To Iraq
by Usama Alshaibi

Showing at the the Kansas CIty International Film Festivalis at the Glenwoods Art Theatre on Sunday, September 17th at 4.45p.m.

http://www.kansasfilm.com/

In Nice Bombs filmmaker Usama Alshaibi returns to Baghdad to reunite with his family after nearly 24 years. This documentary navigates through his unique relationship to an Iraq that is much different than the country of his childhood.

Usama captures the conflicting reactions to the conditions of life in Baghdad. Through a wide range of opinions and experiences he provides a broad panorama of voices long neglected under Saddam’s regime.

His cousin Tareef enters the room upon hearing an explosion. “It’s a bomb. A Nice Bomb,” he explains. The phrase is indicative of his family’s nonchalance about their situation. As one young boy put it, “We’re Iraqis. It’s normal.”

With humor and resilience Nice Bombs explores Usama’s dual role as both Iraqi and American.
*************
September --2006 – September

PEACE & JUSTICE TEACH-INS

**New Day: 3rd and 4th Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Where? Westport Coffee House,
4010 Pennsylvania, KCMO, First floor meeting room


September 20 & 27 – Topics and speakers to be announced

Peace and Justice Teach-Ins are supported by: the Alliance for Democracy, American Friends Service Committee, Greens of Greater Kansas City, Holy Family Catholic Worker House ... and others. This support does not necessarily imply endorsement of the views of any speaker or presentation.

Peace and Justice Teach-Ins are meant to be a free speech forum for progressive thought. "Peace and Justice Teach-Ins" neither advocates nor endorses violent or illegal acts. For more information or to make corrections, or to suggest speakers, call (816) 931-5256 .

Web spot -- http://peaceandjusticecoffeehouse.blogspot.com
***************

Coming October 4th to Kansas City

Iraq: How We Got In:
How We Get Out--
Former CIA Analyst
Ray McGovern
Shows in the Show-Me State.

October 4th – Wednesday, 7:30PM
Park University, McCoy Meeting House
8700 NW River Park Dr., Parkville, MO

Ray McGovern, a retired CIA analyst whose career spanned 27 years—from the administrations of John F. Kennedy to that of George H. W. Bush.

In January 2003, after it had become clear that intelligence analysis was being corrupted by political pressure to “justify” an unprovoked attack on Iraq, a handful of intelligence community alumnae, including McGovern, created Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). VIPS now includes 55 former professionals from the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Army Intelligence, the FBI, the National Security Agency, and other US and Allied intelligence agencies.

McGovern will be in Kansas City on Wednesday, October 4 and will be available to speak on area radio and TV news and talk shows and other events as his schedule permits.

Contact us at 816 931-5256 or go to www.kciraqtaskforce.org to find out more information or to help organize these events.

The event is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Kansas City Iraq Task Force and Park University, Department of Social Sciences
********
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice

Ira Harritt
Kansas City Program
American Friends Service Committee
4405 Gillham Rd., KCMO 64110
(816) 931-5256
Fax (816) 561-5033
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This is from Dana Byron, the woman we worked with last time we worked on the all-woman build for Habitat. Please contact her if you are interested in being on their Women Build Planning Committee! K


Hello Women Build Volunteers,

Your are receiving this email because you have either shown an interest in women build, or you participated in our last women build effort.

We are gearing up for another women build. We had hoped to do a women build this year, but the date has been pushed back to around Mother's day of 2007. We already have our first sponsor, and also a possible second sponsor. Lowe's will be our main sponsor on this women build. We need to raise $45,000 before Mother's Day of next year.

We are looking for women to serve on the Women Build Planning Committee. This committee will plan the upcoming women build, and events to kick off the project. The committee will also assist in fundraising, etc.

The next women build will be a very exciting project. Lowe's will be assisting with classes for any women who want to learn some skills ahead of time. They are also providing t-shirts and volunteers. We have other organizations who have signed up to volunteer on this upcoming project. This project will be a green build, and also built using universal design (wheelchair accessible). We plan to use as much recycled material as possible.

Please let me know if you would like to serve on the women build planning committee, or if you would like to volunteer on this project. If you are a good fundraiser, we need your help.

I look forward to hearing from everyone, and also look forward to another exciting women build project! Please forward to everyone in your groups.

Many thanks,
Dana

Dana Byron
Volunteer Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity Kansas City
1423 E. Linwood Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64109
816.924.1096 x 101
www.habitatkc.org

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Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures

August 16, 2006
Coalition Update
SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR AMENDMENT 2: THE STEM CELL INITIATIVE

Hundreds of patients, patient advocates and other members of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures came together Monday in Jefferson City to officially kick off our fall campaign to support a YES vote on the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative.  

The kick-off rally featured a number of prominent Missourians speaking out in favor of the Initiative, which has been certified as Amendment 2 on the November 7 statewide ballot.

One of the many notable speakers at the event was former Sen. John C. Danforth, a co-chair of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. “I support the Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative because it will save lives,” Sen. Danforth told the crowd. “Passage of Amendment 2 will be a victory for all Missourians who believe that they should have access to lifesaving medical cures that are available to all other Americans.”

A moving highlight of the day was provided by Renee Austin and her 10 year-old son, Austin Dorrell, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age four. Renee, Board Member of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Austin gave a live performance of their song about juvenile diabetes, “A Mother's Wish.” You can listen to this heartfelt song online by visiting Renee and Austin’s personal website at www.motherswish.org.

Other speakers at the rally included:

Donn Rubin , Chairman, Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures
Dr. William B. Neaves, President and Chief Executive Officer, Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City
The Rev. B.T. Rice, Senior Pastor, New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church in St. Louis
Frances Dobelman, patient advocate, Springfield
Dr. F. Sessions Cole, Vice Chairman, Pediatrics and Director of Newborn Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine/St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Lee Fetter, President, St. Louis Children’s Hospital

The press release issued by our Coalition and one of the many good articles about Monday's rally  is posted on our website at www.MissouriCures.com. 

VISIT THE YES ON 2 BOOTH AT FAIRS AND EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER

Please come see us at the following community events. Our Coalition volunteers will be at the YES on 2 booth to talk with visitors about the Stem Cell Initiative. More information on these events – and how you can volunteer to help staff our booth – is posted in the "Events of Interest" section of our website at www.MissouriCures.com.

Sept. 1 - 4, Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Independence
Sept. 9 - 16, Southeast Missouri District Fair, Cape Girardeau
Sept. 16, Tour of the Ozarks, Diabetes Education Fund, Rolla
Sept. 16 - 17, Fiesta Hispania, Kansas City
Sept. 23, America's Walk for Diabetes, Corporate Woods, Kansas City
Sept. 23, America's Walk for Diabetes, Rothwell Park, Moberly
Sept. 24, America's Walk for Diabetes, Cosmopolitan Park, Columbia

We’'ll send you another Coalition Update in a few weeks. In the meantime, read the latest news and information about the YES on 2 campaign on our website at www.MissouriCures.com.

Thank you for your continuing support!

This voter information authorized and paid for by Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, Sandra Aust, Treasurer

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This is going to be a great opportunity put on by our friends at True Blue Women. K

Special Guest Speakers Governor Sebelius and Paul Morrison
Thursday, October 19th 6:00 at Asbury UMC

Mark your calendars and plan to spend an evening with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General candidate Paul Morrison

Just weeks before the November 2nd election Governor Sebelius and Paul Morrison will speak to TBW. Bring a friend and hear what the candidates have to say. You won't want to miss this special event!

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This is long, but it's a good way to make a difference in MO. K

Subject: Missouri Women's Leadership Coalition
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006

Progressive Missouri Women's Marching Manual E-news from Missouri Women's Leadership Coalition
July Issue 2006

Training progressive Missouri women to run and win at all levels of government especially the Missouri State Legislature.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this issue

* Be the SOMEBODY Who Changes the Missouri State Legislature
* Nancy Hagan - House District 135
* Genevieve (Gen) Frank - House District 93
* Rebecca McClanahan - House District 2
* Help Increase the Number of Women in Government
* Help Spread the Word
* I Wish I'd Said That
* Rescuing the word "Feminist"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be the SOMEBODY Who Changes the Missouri State Legislature

This spring you read about the Missouri State Legislature introducing bills that echo the South Dakota anti-abortion bill with no provision for rape, incest or women's health, and passing a voter suppression bill that requires all voters to have a
state-issued picture I.D. Never mind old or disabled people and others who don't own cars. And you think, "Somebody's got to do something!" Then you remember, "I'm somebody."

Following is something everybody can do about the Missouri legislature. Change it! Support good candidates who understand human rights and common-sense legislation. Following are four candidates, all women you'd like to know. They are excellent, progressive State Legislative candidates endorsed and targeted by MWLC and the ERA PAC for November 2006.

Click on the candidates WEBsites, and donate or mail them a check. If a candidate lives anywhere near you, have fun. Sign
onto her campaign. Remember the Rule of "W" (not THAT "W"): When Women Run, Women Win, With Women's (and Men's) Help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nancy Hagan - House District 135

Nancy Hagan, candidate for House District #135 is a dream candidate, one of those who hits the ground running. She is a retired vocal music teacher who has lived and raised a beautiful family in her district for more than three decades.

She is one of the moderate Democratic candidates who, like Sara Lampe, is an ideal representative for her Springfield district. Nancy is running against incumbent Charlie Denison, who has opposition in his Republican primary. Teachers make wonderful state representatives. They can organize, speak on their feet, study what they need to know, and provide leadership.

MWLC board members met Nancy in May at the Emily’s List training in Columbia, MO and were impressed. Money is essential for first-time candidates who have the courage to take on an incumbent -- no matter how flawed he or she may be. Contact anyone you know in the Springfield area and invite them to join her campaign.

Committee to Elect Nancy Hagan, 2260 East Briar, Springfield, MO 65804, 417.887.2075, www.electhagan.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genevieve (Gen) Frank - House District 93

Genevieve (Gen) Frank is running again for House District 93. This has been a Republican District, but Gen Frank lost by only 175 votes in a special election in April for this House Seat.

Gen is Managing Attorney of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s Volunteer Lawyer Program (VLP) and General/Elderly Intake Unit. She is a public service attorney with the training, intelligence, energy and charisma to run for higher office. Pro-Vote is working in her camp. She supports women'’s rights and is a moderate who would represent her district well. She ran an outstanding grassroots issue-oriented, voter-centered campaign this spring and intends to build on what they started and
win in November.

If you have friends in her district or if you live nearby, this is a great campaign to join.


Friends of Genevieve Frank, 418 Summer Top Lane, Fenton, MO 63026, 636-305-6470, http://www.genfrank.com
E-mail: gen@genfrank.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebecca McClanahan - House District 2

Rebecca McClanahan, House District 2 in the Kirksville area, is in a race with NO incumbent. She will run against Nancy Summers, conservative Republican, in the general election.

Rebecca is a Registered Nurse, a former nurse educator for over 30 years at Truman State University, and currently works as a professional consultant. Health care is a top issue with this dynamic and professional woman. She is vice president of the Missouri Nurses Association and has obvious leadership qualities. Rebecca really cares about her district and has multi-generational roots in the area.

Committee to Elect Rebecca McClanahan, PO Box 634, Kirksville, MO 63501, 660.216.4005,www.Rebeccaforhouse.org
E-mail - rmc@rebeccaforhouse.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help Increase the Number of Women in Government

Votes for these women will be surely also votes for Claire McCaskill, one of the best chances women in this country have of increasing their power in the U.S. Senate.

Remember women are still just 14% of the US Senate and 15% of the House of Representatives. (That's NOTrepresentative.) The US of A is tied at 59th Place (among 120 world nations) with Angola and Israel for the number of women in its national legislature (Congress and the Senate). 59th!!

Women are 21.3% of the Missouri Legislature. DOWN from 23.4% in 2001.

Be SOMEBODY who changes these statistics.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help Spread The Word

MWLC and the ERA PAC are working to find, educate and elect progressive pro-choice women across the
state of Missouri. If you know someone who should receive the Missouri Women's Marching e-Manual,
click on "Click here to forward this newsletter to a friend" at the bottom of the newsletter. Remember Women Win When Women Work Together!

Click here to make a donation. - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=7kfpqwbab.0.fde8dxbab.d9xk4obab.221&ts=S0194&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erapac.org%2Findex.php%3Fpage%3Ddonate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Wish I'd Said That

“I really think that he shatters the myth of white supremacy, once and for all.” Representative Charles Rangel, Democrat
of New York, talking about President Bush.

We think he also shatters the myth of male supremacy. Women can obviously do a better job. Support women candidates at all levels of government.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rescuing the word "Feminist"

About three years ago Phyllis Schlafly, the self-serving Conservative organizer, stated in a newspaper interview that one of her proudest accomplishments was destroying (or a word to that effect) the word "feminist."

Phyllis, you will remember, is a woman who can also brag about providing state legislators a skirt to hide behind when they voted against ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. Just as the first woman Senator in Missouri, Mary Gant, provided feminine cover for Missouri Senators in our state who voted NO to Equal Rights for women.

Phyllis had some help with her attack on the word "feminist" from Right Wing pundits who still toss around the variation FemiNazi. What fun. They can denigrate women and trivialize the deaths of 6 million Jews with one word.

Fortunately, words are resilient. They move in and out of popularity. There’s hope for "feminist" yet. Phyllis may lose out to Webster or even Wickipedia.

According to a CBS poll taken a year ago in May “an overwhelming majority of women say their opportunities to succeed in life are better than the opportunities their mothers had -- and most credit the women’s movement.” Following are the CBS poll results on the word "feminist."

Do you consider yourself to be a feminist ... (among women)

In 2005

YES 24%
NO 70%

In 1999

YES 20%
NO 74%

HOWEVER, when a dictionary definition of the word "feminist" is included in the poll question - see below - MOST women say they consider themselves a feminist.

"A feminist is someone who believes in social, political, and economic equality of the sexes." Do you think of yourself as a feminist or not?

In 2005

YES 65%
NO 32%

Sorry, Phyllis, but we wish your daughters well.