At Barbara Boxer's PAC for Change you can vote for the congressional candidate (both an incumbent and a challenger) to receive support from Boxer's PAC. I've voted for Francine Busby, naturally. If you don't know the candidates, they offer little blurbs about the candidate and the race so you can peruse the list to see if any of the races float your boat. I picked the candidate from South Dakota because they're currently in need of a pro choice candidate.

Louisiana has now joined South Dakota, Illinois and Kentucky in implementing a "trigger law" which will outlaw abortion in their states if Roe v Wade is overturned. Again, there are no exemptions for rape or incest.

Senator Nevers said that a woman who has been traumatized by rape should not have to be subjected to another brutal act like abortion. "I cannot justify that in my mind," he said.

What an ignorant thing to say. How about not subjecting her to a forced pregnancy?

I had the opportunity to hear Lech Walesa speak on Friday on the SDSU campus, and his topic was the future of democracy in a globalized world. I really enjoyed seeing him and hearing his speech. He was very dynamic and charismatic, as he spoke about the challenges of globalization. Among other things, he urged the US to reclaim their moral leadership in the world. As he said (to paraphrase), the world knows you are the economic leader and the military leader. There is no doubt. However we are starting to wonder about your moral leadership.

Yeah, me too.

The SD Trib ran a pretty good article on his visit.

One of the things he talked about was how in the right time and the right place, one person can make a difference. I like hearing that! That's been a common topic at the speeches I've attended this year. I think it's an important point to make these days. I know I have to be reminded now and then.

I just ran across this at Powell.com. You can purchase a book pledge for $8.95, and suggest a book for the New Orleans library system. It's easy. Just add one (or two or three...) to your cart. I like it. I think it's a good idea. It feels concrete and tangible, and supports something very worthwhile that's most likely not at the top of the funding priorities right now.

Hi there. Yes, I know I've been remiss in my blogging duties. I'll try to do better.

I added http://buildpeace.blogspot.com/ to the blogroll today. I was perusing some of the blogs linked from the CodePink website and I just liked this one.

Seems that Tucson has a pretty active CodePink group. I feel badly that I can't remember her name, but someone from CP Tucson marched with Fernando from SD to San Francisco in the March for Peace. I was so impressed with her decision to tackle that long march.

The RNCC is still running ads against Francine Busby that show their desperation. They're vile, imo. Here's an excerpt from an email from her campaign email list.

The NRCC and lobbyist Brian Bilbray have sunk to a new low in
their latest ad. In addition to falsely attacking Francine on
her record on education, they accuse her of sympathizing with a
teacher accused of possessing child pornography. This claim is
despicable and couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Claim 1: Francine sympathized with a teacher accused of
possessing child pornography.

The Truth: Francine and the Cardiff School Board took immediate
action and had the teacher removed from the classroom. He never
taught again - end of story.

Claim 2: Under Francine's supervision, the school district
deficit increased.

The Truth: California law requires that School Districts adopt a
balanced budget. They are also required to maintain a reserve
equivalent to 3% of total expenditures. In the time Francine
has been on the School Board, Cardiff Schools have never allowed
their reserve to dip below 5% - 2% more than is actually
required.

Claim 3: Busby voted to layoff teachers.

The Truth: Initial layoff notices are required in March, with
final notices in May. Districts must project enrollments and
determine staffing needs long before they know their final
revenues for the current year. As a result, school districts
are required to give notices as a precautionary measure even
though layoffs may never take place.

Three claims - Three shameless lies. Expect more of the same in
the next 6 weeks from these corrupt Washington insiders who want
more of the same in Washington for years to come.


Bill Boyer, one of the 16 Republican candidates running in the
Special Election on April 11th, demonstrated his integrity by
making this statement "While I do not support this ad, had
nothing to do with its creation...Ms. Busby has my apologies...I
am embarrassed to acknowledge the Republican endorsement trailer
on the ad."

terryfaceplace is now part of the Progressive Women's Blog Ring. La Di Dah!

There's a link at the bottom of this page, and you can find some interesting sites in the ring. It's a good mix. Just don't forget to come back.

The 17th annual EarthFair will be held in Balboa Park next Sunday from 10-5pm. Several of the organizations I support will have booths or tables. It's a big festival, and should be lots of fun.

Rep Dennis Kucinich sent the following letter to the White House, and it just frosts my cookies that the REST of them aren't doing the same. Isn't it their JOB? Remember that little ol' checks and balances thing? Honestly, I think there's a grand total of about four congresscritters that are doing their job w/r/t national security. The rest of them don't even have the conjones to ask legitimate questions and demand information, which is what the Kucinich letter does. I wanted to link to it, but I got it as an email attachment. I don't see it in his website press releases yet. The date on it is 4/15/06.

Anyway, here's the letter...
(edit- here's a link to the letter at the Downingstreet.com site. That's the source from my email)


Dear President Bush:

Recently, it has been reported that U.S. troops are conducting military operations in Iran. If true, it appears that you have already made the decision to commit U.S. military forces to a unilateral conflict with Iran, even before direct or indirect negotiations with the government of Iran had been attempted, without UN support and without authorization from the U.S. Congress.

The presence of U.S. troops in Iran constitutes a hostile act against that country. At a time when diplomacy is urgently needed, it escalates an international crisis. It undermines any attempt to negotiate with the government of Iran. And it will undermine U.S. diplomatic efforts at the U.N.

Furthermore, it places U.S. troops occupying neighboring Iraq in greater danger. The achievement of stability and a transition to Iraqi security control will be compromised, reversing any progress that has been cited by the Administration.

It would be hard to believe that such an imprudent decision had been taken, but for the number and variety of sources confirming it. In the last week, the national media have reported that you have in fact commenced a military operation in Iran. Today, retired Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner related on CNN that the Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA, Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, reported to him that the Iranians have captured dissident forces who have confessed to working with U.S. troops in Iran. Earlier in the week, Seymour Hersh reported that a U.S. source had told him that U.S. marines were operating in the Baluchi, Azeri and Kurdish regions of Iran.

Any military deployment to Iran would constitute an urgent matter of national significance. I urge you to report immediately to Congress on all activities involving American forces in Iran. I look forward to a prompt response.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress

I've added the Blog for America from the DFA website to the blogroll.

Democracy for America has great web site for activists and organizers. You can sign up with a local group, and they have lots of communication and organizing tools. San Diego for Democracy has space there. SDFD is the host for this year's DemocracyFest at SDSU.

Since I'm sharing pictures, this photo of Nelisse, Jeeni and some shifty looking character cracks me up.

You can buy the shirts at AfterDowningStreet.org.

No, not the striped shirt, silly! You have to EARN that one.

This is a photo from Sunday's immigrant march in San Diego. Lotsa people in the park! My friend Michael took this picture. (I "borrowed" it from his flickr acct. Thanks Michael!)

Here is Seymour Hersh's article from this weeks New Yorker about the US administrations plans for Iran. It's enough to make you ill.

There's been a lot of talk about this over the last couple weeks, and it almost seems to awful to be true. I don't have any doubts about it though.

I have a wide-eyed young nephew who signed up for the military because he believes the rot that the administration has been putting out about the "war on terror". He's been trained as a paratrooper, has been out of boot camp for months now, and hasn't been sent anywhere. My family thinks this is good news, but my thought is that the paratroopers are staying here waiting for Iran. Of course, I know nothing, but that's my gut feeling.

I've added Preemptive Karma today too, where you can find a blogger call to action originated to ask the media and the blogosphere to remind the world that Bush said he'd fire the evil leaker! Well? Get typing, kids!

I added Joe Gandelman's The Moderate Voice to the blogroll this morning.

Actually I found it (again) by way of this post about Bush's (lack of) credibility w/r/t the Plame affair.

Didn't I tell you he was involved in that leak, despite his protests that he'd fire whomever did it? huh? huh? huh? Sheesh. And my dear brother got so upset with me when I used the words Bush and liar in the same sentence.

The last two days I've seen a negative ad (same one repeatedly) against Francine Busby and I was wondering who funded them. Today I looked at her web site for a different reason, and ran across this press release.

The group was National Republican Congressional Committee. Duke Cunningham has contributed to them for years, including a gift from his remaining campaign cash that was sent right before he was shipped off to the Big House.

For some strange reason, political ads paid for by a group supported by people like Duke Cunningham and Tom DeLay aren't too believable to me.

The Ground Zero Players crash Duncan Hunter's Pancake Breakfast fundraiser.

Oh my god. That's a lot more ballsy than me. Heh.

People are certainly stepping up the direct action lately.

from the CodePink website

National Call-In Day to Demand a Debate on Iraq

Ask for a debate!

Wednesday, April 5
Call your Representative
202-224-3121 or 888-355-3588

Without even a debate:

* Congress has approved over $300 billion of taxpayer money on Iraq.
* Over 2,300 American troops have lost their lives in Iraq
* An unknown number of Iraqi civilians have been killed, estimates range from over 30,000 to over 150,000.

And yet, support for keeping the troops in Iraq has plummeted among the American public, the Iraqi people, and the American troops. Despite this, just last week, President Bush admitted that he expects troops to remain in Iraq past the end of his Presidency (January 2009).

House Resolution 543 is known as a discharge petition - it requires the signatures of half the members of the House (218 members). If we succeed in getting 218 signatores, the bill will immediately be debated and voted on in the House. That means that any member can introduce an amendment that sets out their plan for ending the war and bringing the troops home.

"Americans deserve an open and honest debate about the future of U.S. policy in Iraq by their representatives in Congress." - Reps. Jones (R-NC), Gilchrest (R-MD), Paul (R-TX), Abercrombie (D-HI), Skelton (D-MO), Meehan (D-MA)

On April 5, the campaign for a debate in the House will move into full gear under the leadership of a bi-partisan group of 6 legislators who will hold a press conference urging fellow members to sign the discharge petition.

We'll add the grassroots pressure with a national call-in day.
Please deliver this message:
Ask to speak to the Legislative Director
Identify yourself as a member of CODEPINK, and as a member of the United for Peace and Justice Coalition.

Demand that Congress show the American troops, the American people and the Iraqi people the respect they deserve. It is time for a full debate on the war in Iraq. Tell them to sign H.Res.543, the discharge petition.

Find out if your Representative has already signed the petition. If they have, thank them, and ask them to commit to persuading at least one other member to sign the petition.

Ask the legislative director if your Representative will sign the discharge petition. (Usually the staff person will not make a commitment, so ask them to please let you know what the Rep. will do - give them your email address)

Report back on your phone call to info@codepinkalert.org.

Will Iran Be the Next Iraq?

Deja Vu

On March 16th, 2006, The Bush Administration reaffirmed its 2002 National Security doctrine which allows the US to launch pre-emptive, unilateral and military strikes, if they feel that their national security is threatened by any terrorist organizations, nations that harbor terrorists, rogue states that they believe to be in possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s) or believe to be in the process of developing WMD’s.