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___.COMPOSITION______In This Issue_______________________________
Democrats.com Activist Alert! Defend Tom Daschle and Show your Support for a Sensible
Plan for Economic Recovery
Daschle's New Growth Agenda for the American Economy
Anti-Bush Protests
'I Wish Al Gore Were President'
Some Recent Examples That Prove The Difference Between the Two Parties
Arizona Democracy Group Launches Campaign to Help 'Take Back the State'
The Nation Readers Cite Democrats.com as a Favorite Media Source
Reflections on The First Year of Citizens for Legitimate Government
The Making of a Media Reform Movement
Peter Roff Says in The Washington (Moonie) Times That We Write 'Profanity-laced
Vitriol'
Peter Roff Responds to Buzzflash's Editorial, but Roff Has a 'Latest' Error of Fact of
his Own
An Open Letter to Peter Roff, Ace 'Moonie-Tunes' Propagandist
Hilarious! See How Difficult It Will Be for Bernard Goldberg to Promote His Book in
the 'Liberal' Media!
Buyer Beware! Goldberg's Book About the 'Liberal' Media is Published by Regnery - The
Heart of the Right Wing Propaganda Machine
John Ashcroft v. Joseph McCarthy - Take the Test!
Out of the Horror, a Test of Humanity
Somalia May be Bush's Next Target
Zambian Protesters Demand Investigation of Rigged Election
No Charges Filed Against Torricelli
'The Day Reagan Was Shot' Will Air on Showtime Monday
__Democrats.com Activist Alert! Defend Tom Daschle and Show your Support for a
Sensible Plan for Economic Recovery
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle isn't afraid of the Republican attack machine and
we shouldn't be either! Daschle gave a major speech today setting out a sensible
agenda for economic recovery. [Read the full speech or our summary.] He asked Bush and
the GOP to focus stimulus where it is needed – consumer spending, job growth and
measures to improve health and retirement security. He had hardly finished talking
before Bush mouthpiece Karen Hughes torched the olive branch Daschle offered,
demanding instead that the Democrats capitulate to the Administration's
archconservative economic agenda of tax breaks for the wealthy. In December the
Democrats successfully blocked the Bush Administration's cynical ploy to reward their
friends with money from the public treasury, an "economic stimulus package" that would
have no effect on the economy. Take action - send a letter to the media that Daschle
speaks for millions of Americans, including you!
http://www.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=5434
__Daschle's New Growth Agenda for the American Economy
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle today set out a seven point agenda to achieve
genuine economic recovery and create jobs. Before the corporate news media twists it
out of all recognizable form, here is an outline of the Daschle plan.
http://www.democrats.com/view.cfm?id=5433
__Anti-Bush Protests
On January 5, protest Bush in Ontario, California at the Ontario Convention Center.
http://www.legitgov.org/action.html
__'I Wish Al Gore Were President'
"I wish Al Gore were president. Why? Quite simply because instead of showing resolve,
imagination, leadership and creativity on the domestic front, Mr. Bush has done just
the opposite. He has tried to use the tremendous upsurge in patriotism, bipartisanship
and volunteerism triggered by the tragedy of Sept. 11 to drive a narrow, right-wing
agenda from Sept. 10 into a Sept. 12 world. It's wrong. It won't work. It sells the
country short and it will ultimately sell the Bush presidency short. I have no problem
with nation-building in Afghanistan, but what I'm really interested in is nation-
building in America - using the power of Sept. 11 to make our country stronger, safer
and a better global citizen in the world of Sept. 12, beginning with how we use
energy. But so far, all that's happening is that we've made the world safer for Saudi
Arabia and OPEC to raise oil prices again." So writes NY Times columnist Tom Friedman.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/02/opinion/02FRIE.html
__Some Recent Examples That Prove The Difference Between the Two Parties
"It was a classic stealth maneuver -- and it worked. Two days after Christmas, with
President [sic] Bush at his Texas ranch and most of official Washington on vacation,
the White House announced the rejection of regulations that would have barred
companies that repeatedly violate environmental and workplace standards from receiving
government contracts. Few in the press noticed, and those papers that printed anything
about the decision buried the stories on inside pages. But this was no trivial matter.
A congressional report had found that in one recent year, the federal government had
awarded $38 billion in contracts to at least 261 corporations operating unsafe or
unhealthy work sites. The regulations Bush killed were designed to stop that. This is
a classic example of the difference between the parties." So writes David Broder.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49723-2002Jan1.html
__Arizona Democracy Group Launches Campaign to Help 'Take Back the State'
The Arizona Democracy Group, "…for Everyone Left of the Radical Right", is a
multi-partisan group of 2,500+ members that first came together out of concern about
the process, result and aftermath of the 2000 Presidential Election. It is dedicated
to help achieve electoral reform, advocate key issues for The People, and champion
civil liberty and equal opportunity for all residents of Arizona. The AzDG intends to
be a united, active and effective force in legislative processes and in upcoming
elections of public officials. Its diverse membership collaborates with like-minded
individuals and groups so as to optimize impact and make effective use of the
resulting strength and solidarity. If you live in another state, consider using this
as a model for organizing a reform movement in your state.
http://www.arizonademocracy.com
__The Nation Readers Cite Democrats.com as a Favorite Media Source
Democrats.com was listed in The Nation's call for its readers' favorite alternative
media sources. One alert Democrats.com reader wrote that Democrats.com "is like Radio
Free Europe to those who want the real story. Its e-mails contain links to articles on
everything from voter fraud in Florida to grassroots politics." Thanks for your votes
and the honor of being on such a distinguished list!
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020107&s=letter
__Reflections on The First Year of Citizens for Legitimate Government
National pro-democracy movement leader and founder/chair of Citizens for Legitimate
Government, Michael Rectenwald, reflects on the year's accomplishments of CLG.
Citizens for Legitimate Government is the pro-democracy activist group established to
expose the Bu$h coup d'etat, and to oppose the Bu$h Occupation in all of its
manifestations. Along with Democrats.com and other key internet sites, the CLG led the
charge in fighting the Bu$h junta in 2001. http://legitgov.org/newyear.htm
__The Making of a Media Reform Movement
"When the government grants free monopoly rights to TV spectrum, for example, it is
not setting the terms of competition; it is picking the winner of the competition.
Such policies amount to an annual grant of corporate welfare that economist Dean Baker
values in the tens of billions of dollars. These decisions have been made in the
public's name, but without the public's informed consent. We must not accept such
massive subsidies for wealthy corporations, nor should we content ourselves with the
'freedom' to forge an alternative that occupies the margins. Our task is to return
'informed consent' to media policy-making and to generate a diverse media system that
serves our democratic needs. In our view, what's needed to begin the job is now
crystal clear--a national media reform coalition that can play quarterback for the
media reform movement." So write Robert Mcchesney and John Nichols in The Nation.
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020107&s=mcchesney
__Peter Roff Says in The Washington (Moonie) Times That We Write 'Profanity-laced
Vitriol'
"One only need surf over to a variety of web sites including Buzzflash, Bartcop,
Democrats.com and others of the left-of-center variety to see the often-profanity
laced vitriol, the derision with which the president and his administration are
viewed. These web sites belong to individuals and groups that are generally anonymous,
certainly not elected officials in the public eye. Perhaps they should be given some
latitude for their abrasive style of communication, as they are not accustomed to the
niceties of life and language inside the Washington Beltway." Oh, you mean like that
displayed by Rev. Moon's Washington Times and Insight Magazine that served as conduits
for illicit and destructive leaks by Ken Starr's office? You mean the disinformation
and lies that these Moonie outlets propagate? Meanwhile, the rightwing rank-and-file
are led around like good little Moonies.
http://nl12.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=500&p_text_search-0=roff&s_dispstring=roff
__Peter Roff Responds to Buzzflash's Editorial, but Roff Has a 'Latest' Error of Fact
of his Own
In a response to Roff's criticism of Democrats.com, Bartcop and Buzzflash, Buzz
featured a GOPAC training memo to show the kind of language GOPAC members have used
against their opponents. In reply, Roff wrote to Buzzflash that "the document to which
you refer was created long before I arrived at GOPAC and - until now - I do not
believe I had ever seen a copy. It certainly was not part of the training materials
provided by the group during my tenure as you suggest in your current commentary.
Please correct these latest errors of fact." But in his original article, Roff made an
"error of fact" about us. He wrote that we are among a group of "web sites [that]
belong to individuals and groups that are generally anonymous." All Roff had to do
look under our "Company" menu item to find out who owns Democrats.com - try that at
WashingtonTimes.com! Roff's own problem with facts belies his use of plausible
deniability about the GOPAC memo.
http://www.buzzflash.com/editorial/2001/12/123001_Peter_Roff_GOPAC_Memo.html
__An Open Letter to Peter Roff, Ace 'Moonie-Tunes' Propagandist
Veteran journalist Judith Haney writes, "Peter, let me ask you a question just between
us 'peers'. Why are you working for the religious cult leader, Reverend Sun Myung
Moon, who owns UPI and The Washington Times? I know of no respectable journalists who
will work for him or any of his companies and organizations. So why do you work for
him Peter?" Indeed, Roff works for the UPI, from which Helen Thomas resigned the day
after Moon took over. Check out the truly disturbing quotes by this dangerous cult
leader and rightwing benefactor. While Moon has expanded his power over the Republican
Party during the past two decades, the Media has refrained from exposing Moon, so most
Americans know nothing about his extreme views. It's up to us to tell them about Moon
and why he is such a danger to our country. A good place to start is with the links
below Haney's column. Moon has paid George and Barbara Bush up to $10 million. And he
gave $3.5 million to bail Jerry Falwell out of debt. http://www.usnewslink.com/roff.htm
__Hilarious! See How Difficult It Will Be for Bernard Goldberg to Promote His Book in
the 'Liberal' Media!
Writes Bartcop: "CBS's Bernard Goldberg has written an expose on the liberal media
entitled 'Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News' This is a good
example of smart writing and even better marketing. If Goldberg had written the truth,
that the media is nothing but right-wing pimps working for Bush, it would sell about
as many copies as Fortunate Son and be withdrawn from book stores right away. But
since he's selling the LIE that left-wingers control the media, something very
different will happen to Mr. Goldberg and his book." Predictably, Goldberg's book is
published by Regnery Press, that cranks out rightwing propaganda by the likes of Ann
Coulter, Gary Aldrich and Moonie Times hacks such as Bill Sammon and Bill Gertz. Click
below to see exactly how difficult in will be for Mr. Goldberg to promote his book in
the 'liberal media.' http://www.americanpolitics.com/20011221Bartcop.html
__Buyer Beware! Goldberg's Book About the 'Liberal' Media is Published by Regnery -
The Heart of the Right Wing Propaganda Machine
To understand more about Regnery Publishing, check out the below article plus this
excerpt from Russ Bellant's 'Old Nazis, the New Right and the Republican Party' [South
End Press, 1991; p. 31] "William Regnery, [was] an incorporator and early leader of
the [America First] Committee with Robert Wood...an organization committed to opposing
all efforts to aid Allies besieged by Nazi Germany. As national chairman, Wood made no
effort to keep out openly pro-Nazi groups known to have been supported by Germany,
such as the German-American Bund. Radio priest Father Charles Coughlin's anti-Semitic
and pro-Axis followers were also permitted by Wood to work within America First." In a
1980 interview, Henry Regnery (William's son and successor) said, "I was very much
opposed to our getting into the war; and I published this book, which was highly
critical of Roosevelt and of the whole realm of American politics involving World War
II. Very gladly, I must say." http://www.prospect.org/print/V11/5/confessore-n.html
__John Ashcroft v. Joseph McCarthy - Take the Test!
Attorney General John Ashcroft has been sounding a lot like former Senator Joseph
McCarthy, infamous for starting the "Red Scare" of the 1950's, finding communists at
every turn, especially in people who disagreed with his witch hunt. Test your
knowledge of history and the present. See if you can tell Ashcroft from McCarthy in
this "who said it" test at morons.org. http://www.morons.org/feature/whosaidit.php
__Out of the Horror, a Test of Humanity
"We who lost family members all share feelings of deep grief and loss, and are
constantly bombarded with painful reminders of that terrible day. But there are many
of us who oppose a vengeful approach to the war on terrorism. We can understand why
victims' families would look to the death penalty as a justifiable punishment for
convicted terrorists, but we feel that it is wrong to take a life. Nothing will erase
the pain and loss that we must learn to live with, and causing others pain can only
make it worse. Life without parole is a harsh sentence and protects society from
dangerous individuals. It also allows for human error in the rush to judgment. If any
good can come out of the disaster of Sept. 11, perhaps it will include examination of
how we can maintain our humanity in the face of terrorists' threats." So write Orlando
and Phyllis Rodriguez, friends of Democrats.com and the parents of 31-year-old Greg
Rodriguez, a victim of the WTC attack on 911.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/04/opinion/L04VICT.html
__Somalia May be Bush's Next Target
According to the AP, "U.S. forces are increasing reconnaissance flights over Somalia,
looking for signs that Osama bin Laden 's al-Qaida network is reforming in the lawless
African country, U.S. officials said. Dozens of al-Qaida members fleeing the fighting
in Afghanistan have arrived in Somalia, which already had a small presence of the
terrorist group, the officials said, speaking Thursday on the condition of anonymity.
Al-Qaida also has ties to a larger, native Islamic fundamentalist movement, called
al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, which aims to set up an Islamic state in Somalia. State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher acknowledged that the Bush administration is
concerned that the country could be a potential hideout. 'We are working to ensure
that Somalia is not a haven for terrorists,' Boucher said."
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20020104/wl/attacks_somalia_1.html
__Zambian Protesters Demand Investigation of Rigged Election
Thousands of Zambians took to the streets to protest a Presidential election they
considered rigged. Dozens of protesters stormed into the Supreme Court, which refused
to consider an appeal until after the inauguration of the disputed winner. "Opposition
parties had demanded an investigation into complaints of stuffed or stolen ballot
boxes and other vote tampering by the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy.
International observers from the European Union and the Carter Center say they have no
evidence of widespread electoral fraud, but they have urged officials to investigate
the reported irregularities and asked for the inauguration to be delayed if
necessary." Why is Democracy taken more seriously in Zambia - both by voters and
foreign observers - than in the USA, the "leading" democracy in the world?
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/02/international/02CND-ZAMB.html
__No Charges Filed Against Torricelli
"The federal investigation of [Democratic] New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli's
finances has ended without charges filed, prosecutors said Thursday. U.S. Attorney
Mary Jo White, who is stepping down next week, said she reached the decision after 'an
exhaustive investigation' by her office, the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the
Customs Service. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan 'has referred information
developed in the course of the investigation to the Ethics Committee of the United
States Senate,' she said in a one-page statement. In Washington, Deputy Attorney
General Larry Thompson said he was satisfied with White's decision."
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20020103/pl/torricelli_probe_4.html
__'The Day Reagan Was Shot' Will Air on Showtime Monday
"Richard Crenna and Richard Dreyfuss star in this riveting behind-the-scenes account
of the chaos following the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. When
it becomes clear that President Reagan (Crenna) has been seriously injured, the White
House is thrown into disarray, with ambitious General Alexander Haig (Dreyfuss)
assuming control. When Russia appears to be deploying nuclear missiles, Haig's grab
for power will have serious consequences." Incredibly, the Houston Post and the AP
reported at the time that Neil Bush was to have dinner with Scott Hinckley -- the
brother of shooter John Hinckley -- the night after the shooting. And Hinckley Sr was
a top campaign contributor to Bush Sr.'s 1980 campaign. (Enter 'bush hinckley' at a
search engine such as Google). Will the film even mention these facts? Airtimes:
Showtime (regular) Monday, 1/07/02 at 10 PM ET/PT and Tuesday, 1/15/02 at 12:00 AM
ET/PT. http://www.showtimeonline.com/movies/movies_product.cfm?titleid=112706
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