Members of Congress are about to vote to extend the most controversial provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act for four more years, even though few of them understand how those provisions are being interpreted and applied.
As members of the Senate Intelligence Committee we have been provided with the executive branch's classified interpretation of those provisions and can tell you that we believe there is a significant discrepancy between what most people - including many Members of Congress - think the Patriot Act allows the government to do and what government officials secretly believe the Patriot Act allows them to do.
Submitted by Tjadendevries on Mon, 05/09/2011 - 7:20pm
SACRAMENTO, CA - Calling it a "state of emergency campaign," teachers from across the state gathered in Sacramento to begin a series of sit-ins at the State Capitol.
Submitted by Tjadendevries on Mon, 05/09/2011 - 5:32pm
Show your support for public education and other key public services the Week of Action, May 9 - 13. During that week, we want everyone to talk about two things: the need for the state Legislature to pass Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to extend current taxes in order to save thousands of jobs and the services they provide in schools, colleges and universities, public safety, and public health; and the need to restore fair tax policies on the richest Californians and large corporations, so that we will have the resources to invest in a bright future for our state. A recent opinion poll shows strong support for restoring fair tax policies instead of cutting education and services.
The California Democratic Party (CDP) Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) and Assembly District Executive Board representatives ("EBd Reps") are elected at Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) held in each of the 80 Assembly Districts. The CDP is convening ADEMs on January 8 and 9, 2011, where 12 people (6 men / 6 women) from each Assembly District will be elected to represent their district for both the 2011 and 2012 State Conventions.
We have a wonderful group of Progressive, Green (Environmental), LGBT, and Rank and File Union candidates this year on the Progressive Democratic Alliance slates. To find out which Assembly District (AD) you live in click here: http://www.votesmart.org/
(just enter your address in the "Find Your Candidates" box at the top of the page and then scroll down to the "State Legislative" section to see your Assembly District number)
Once you know your AD, click on the links below to see the great progressive candidates that are running. We need you there as every vote will be crucial to keep the CA Democratic Party moving in a Progressive direction!
Come vote for your Progressive Democratic Alliance slate of candidates for the state party delegate election for Assembly District 10 (AD 10)!
We have a wonderful group of Progressive, Green (Environmental), LGBT, and Rank and File Union candidates throughout the state this year.
We need your votes to continue to move the CA Democratic Party in a Progressive direction!
If you are a registered Democrat (and were registered for the November 2010 election or turned 18 after Oct. 18, 2010) and your Assembly District representative is Alyson Huber, then you live in AD 10. If you are not sure which Assembly District you live in then please read the instructions below to find your district.
AD 10 Election:
Saturday, January 8 * Registration: 10:00am - 12:00pm (noon)
Rancho Cordova City Council Chambers - 2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Map here
You do not need to stay for the entire meeting to vote. There will be a 2-hour registration period beginning at the time listed above and you may vote at any time during that period and leave if you wish. During the meeting that follows, the candidates will speak and there will be voting at the end of the speeches for those who choose to stay. The Democratic Party is asking for a $5 donation to cover the costs of the elections, but you can fill out an economic hardship form if you are unable to make a donation. We need as many votes as possible!
You can vote for up to 6 Women and 6 Men! Please vote for all 3 women and the 2 men below!! (You are not required to vote for a total of 6 men & women, you can just vote for the 5 candidates below. In fact, they will have a better chance of winning if you just vote for them.)
Come vote for your Progressive Democratic Alliance slate of candidates for the state party delegate election for Assembly District 4 (AD 4)!
We have a wonderful group of Progressive, Green (Environmental), LGBT, and Rank and File Union candidates this year.
We need your votes to continue to move the CA Democratic Party in a Progressive direction!
If you are a registered Democrat (and were registered for the November 2010 election or turned 18 after Oct. 18, 2010) and your Assembly District representative is Ted Gaines, then you live in AD 4. If you are not sure which Assembly District you live in then please read the instructions below to find your district.
AD 4 Election:
Saturday, January 8 * Registration: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Strikes Family Entertainment Center - 5681 Lonetree Blvd., Rocklin, CA 95765 Map here
You do not need to stay for the entire meeting to vote. There will be a 2-hour registration period beginning at the time listed above and you may vote at any time during that period and leave if you wish. During the meeting that follows, the candidates will speak and there will be voting at the end of the speeches for those who choose to stay. The Democratic Party is asking for a $5 donation to cover the costs of the elections, but you can fill out an economic hardship form if you are unable to make a donation. We need as many votes as possible!
You can vote for up to 6 Women and 6 Men! Please vote for all 3 women and up to 6 men below!!
Women:
Jamie Beutler
Kathleen McCoy
Arry Murphey-Frank
Men:
J. Brian Washman- * Also vote J. Brian for Executive Board Representative
Come vote for your Progressive Democratic Alliance slate of candidates for the state party delegate election for Assembly District 9 (AD 9)!
We have a wonderful group of Progressive, Green (Environmental), LGBT, and Rank and File Union candidates this year.
We need your votes to continue to move the CA Democratic Party in a Progressive direction!
If you are a registered Democrat (and were registered for the November 2010 election or turned 18 after Oct. 18, 2010) and your Assembly District representative is Roger Dickinson (it was held by Dave Jones last year), then you live in AD 9. If you are not sure which Assembly District you live in then please read the instructions below to find your district.
AD 9 Election:
Saturday, January 8 * Registration: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Belle Cooledge Library - 5600 South Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822 Map here
You do not need to stay for the entire meeting to vote. There will be a 2-hour registration period beginning at the time listed above and you may vote at any time during that period and leave if you wish. During the meeting that follows, the candidates will speak and there will be voting at the end of the speeches for those who choose to stay. The Democratic Party is asking for a $5 donation to cover the costs of the elections, but you can fill out an economic hardship form if you are unable to make a donation. We need as many votes as possible!
You can vote for up to 6 Women and 6 Men! Please vote for all 12 below!!
Women:
Joan Quinn
Anna Molander
Rachel Iskow
Randi Kay Stevens
Zoila Couture
Linda Tuttle
Men:
Dean Murakami- * Also vote Dean for Executive Board Representative
We have a wonderful group of Progressive, Green (Environmental), LGBT, and Rank and File Union candidates this year.
We need your votes to continue to move the CA Democratic Party in a Progressive direction!
If you are a registered Democrat (and were registered for the November 2010 election or turned 18 after Oct. 18, 2010) and your Assembly District representative is Richard Pan (it was held by Roger Niello last year), then you live in AD 5. If you are not sure which Assembly District you live in then please read the instructions below to find your district.
AD 5 Election:
Sunday, January 9 * Registration: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Straw Hat Pizza - 4441 East Commerce, Sacramento CA 95834 (Natomas) Map here
You do not need to stay for the entire meeting to vote. There will be a 2-hour registration period beginning at the time listed above and you may vote at any time during that period and leave if you wish. During the meeting that follows, the candidates will speak and there will be voting at the end of the speeches for those who choose to stay. The Democratic Party is asking for a $5 donation to cover the costs of the elections, but you can fill out an economic hardship form if you are unable to make a donation. We need as many votes as possible!
Please vote for all 4 women & all 6 men below!!
Women:
Tamie Dramer
Jo Souvignier
Noralee Bauthues Stewart
Gina Rowe
Men:
Basim Elkarra- * Also vote Basim for Executive Board Representative
Submitted by Tjadendevries on Thu, 12/30/2010 - 4:55pm
That graph below is accurate (click to enlarge). The only thing is, is that it only goes to 2002 -- it's much much worse now -- and this military budget is larger than any of the years during the Cold War. And while correlation doesn't always imply causation, this is pretty accurate, considering that "Defense" is by itself 58% of the federal discretionary budget. For an idea visually of how much money that they're throwing around, click here.
On December 22 both houses of the U.S. Congress unanimously passed a bill authorizing $725 billion for next year’s Defense Department budget.
The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, was approved by all 100 senators as required and by a voice vote in the House.
The House had approved the bill, now sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law, five days earlier in a 341-48 roll call, but needed to vote on it again after the Senate altered it in the interim.
The proposed figure for the Pentagon’s 2011 war chest includes, in addition to the base budget, $158.7 billion for what are now euphemistically referred to as overseas contingency operations: The military occupation of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.
Submitted by Tjadendevries on Wed, 11/24/2010 - 5:05pm
This is pathetic. What's that old saying about an iron fist inside of a velvet glove? Obama, the so-called "liberal" constitutional law prof. is driving us full speed off the cliff into full fledged fascism. I had no idea anyone could take George Bush's and Dick Cheney's ideas and policies and take them even farther than they could ever even conceive. I admit I was colossally wrong about him. I thought nobody could be more DLC than I thought Hillary was going to be. I was wrong.
Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab went through Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, which uses ICTS Security, and not only that, the shoe bomber also traveled through Schiphol. Then there’s El Al flight 1862 that took off from … (drumroll) … Schiphol
So, of course the lesson learned isn’t that we should avoid the few airports that use this security company … the lesson learned by the geniuses in DC is that we need to submit government authorized sex crimes
Let's Pass Some Laws Before the Republicans Head Into Town (after all, that's what they'd do) ...an open letter to Congressional Democrats from Michael Moore
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Dear Congressional Democrats:
Welcome back to our nation's capital for your one final session of the 111th Congress. Come January, the Republicans will take over the House while the Democrats will retain control of the Senate.
But Dems -- here's something I don't understand: Why do you look all sullen and depressed? Clearly you're not aware of one very important fact: YOU ARE STILL COMPLETELY, TOTALLY, LEGALLY IN CHARGE! When (and if, mostly if) you wake up to the reality that you can do whatever you want for the next seven weeks, you will realize that you have two clear options:
1. You can continue your "Sit Quietly and Hope No One Hits Me" strategy and thus lay the groundwork for an even bigger ass-kicking two years from now;
Or...
2. You can actually use the power you hold for the next seven weeks and have the Senate pass the legislation that the House has already passed!