Hartmann: LABOR in Today's Immigration Battle

Thom Hartmann is right on again, this time in his consideration of the labor take in the current immigration battle going on primarily between corporatists and racists. My title link takes you to Thom's article at CommonDreams.org. But bottom line is that while we see the human face of the illegal immigrants, particularly in NYC, we must consider the labor ramifications: the cost to the dwindling middle class. Furthermore, Bush's guest worker program is little more than slave labor. Corporations gain in higher profits while the middle class loses as others take our jobs. As Thom says, there are few jobs Americans won't take, if they are paid enough.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Framing for victory in 2006

Dems are stepping forward with a plan -- about time, instead of just being reactive to Republican frames. To that end, I would recommend Jeffrey Feldman's Frameshop site, and you can begin with his specific five steps of framing by reading his excellent article linked to this post's title. Briefly, he says:

Framing in Five Steps:

1. Stop Repeating Their Words


2. Go to Another Frame


3. Build a New Frame


4. Break it Down


5. Repeat Our Words

But you will want to click on to the title link and explore the issue in depth and then bookmark his site.

We have lots to do, together we can. Listen to Jeffrey Feldman on Thom Hartmann's show on Wednesdays, but you should be listening to Hartmann anyway :-)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

The Gaelic Starover: Susan Sarandon on Hillary

The Gaelic Starover: Susan Sarandon on Hillary is worth a read -- and take a look at the comments. Good stuff. Much to do for peace, justice, nonviolence -- and just in every day life. Have to go to work but needed to be in touch. Hillary is OUT of touch and change is imperative. She's not listening. And she's taking the left for granted. But, don't get mad, get ACTIVE.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Jonathan Tasini for New York

Just finally put my credit card where my mouth is and donated to Jon Tasini's campaign for US Senate. Please visit his site linked above to learn more about him. I am tired of just being anti-Hillary who still is for the illegal Iraq invasion, for NAFTA, for corporations, who refuses to join Russ Feingold in censuring Bush, who is out for HERSELF and not for you and me.

~*~

I was in the Sunday mourning march with the War Resisters and others. Saw Marcy Gordon and Bryan, there with their US flag with its corporate logo stars. Saw John David Baldwin and Code Pink friend Colleen Primrose, walked with NYFOR's Sam Oast and Californian Noah Bray-Ali, was treated to a poem by James Mansfield and shared some thoughts with Jerry Moss. It was a quiet march, consisting of perhaps three hundred people -- it was supposed to be meaningful and visual: we carried pictures of the wounded, the dead, the mourners. But I heard some tacky "journalist" say, before the war there were thousands, now there are hundreds. Hey, lady, this wasn't a major march!! Ah how the rightist corporate media likes to skew things.

Tuesday my friend Gail Harper and I were a bit sad but really happy to find we couldn't get last minute tickets to the Bring 'em Home Now concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

So I'm for Jon and for peace and for real journalism, and happy to liberally bestow

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

On Tom Fox and Russ Feingold

We celebrate the life and work of Tom Fox, even as we mourn his loss. Look to the blog/website, FreetheCaptives.org to learn more of his life and to follow the status of the 3 remaining Christian Peacemakers Team. Let us keep them in our prayers and honor Tom's memory through our lives and actions. Tom was a martyr for peace, the least we can do is offer more peace to the worlds we touch.

~*~*~

And on Russ Feingold, speaking out about the illegality of the Bush administration's wiretapping and his Senate resolution to censure Bush for his unlawful action, Russ continues to stand pretty much alone. I called the offices of Senator Clinton and Senator Schumer again yesterday. I asked, "Has the Senator found the strength and courage to support Senator Russ Feingold in his censure of the President?" No decision yet, of course -- but then, have they heard from YOU?? Let's keep calling to demand that the Senate AND Congress speak up against the illegal wiretaps and abundant abuses and flagrant lawbreaking of Bush and his administration. One person said on Thom Hartmann's show yesterday that when he called he said, "I support Russ Feingold's Censure Resolution and you should, too, because you represent ME."

So much to do for peace and justice -- but remembering Tom's sacrifice, what are a few phone calls? And also we must remember to breathe, relax, center and strive to maintain our personal peace and effectiveness. "Don't get mad, get ACTIVE." Yes!! (And consider making a donation to CPT and Russ Feingold's campaign and/or write him a thank you note to Feingold Senate Committee, PO Box 620062, Middleton, WI 53562 -- think LOTS of thank yous!!)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Hurrah for Feingold and his Resolution to Censure Bush

Thank God for a few Democrats with integrity who know what Dems should be about, and especially for Russ Feingold who introduced yesterday his resolution in the Senate to censure George W. Bush:

"Mr. President, when the President of the United States breaks the law, he must be held accountable. That is why today I am introducing a resolution to censure President George W. Bush.

The President authorized an illegal program to spy on American citizens on American soil, and then misled Congress and the public about the existence and legality of that program. It is up to this body to reaffirm the rule of law by condemning the President’s actions.

All of us in this body took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and bear true allegiance to the same. Fulfilling that oath requires us to speak clearly and forcefully when the President violates the law. This resolution allows us to send a clear message that the President’s conduct was wrong.

And we must do that. The President’s actions demand a formal judgment from Congress."[more at title link]

I calmly called Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer. Their DC office numbers being busy (good sign!), I called their local numbers and told them how pleased I was with Senator Feingold's action and asked whether or not they would be joining Senator Feingold in support of censure. Neither office was ready to give a comment. My message was that they should, that the president's actions were illegal and that he should indeed be held accountable. Will Hillary go out on a limb for justice and behind a possible competitor to the 2008 presidential nomination? I am not holding my breath. Will Chuck go out on that limb without Hillary? I sadly suspect not likely, but hey, both of them voted for the misnamed rights-obstructing PATRIOT Act. What do I expect? Still, I had to tell them how I feel or they can't say no one called about censure. I certainly hope more do. Read the statement and call your Senators. Speak calmly, politely, but strongly. And let's keep speaking up until they HAVE to hear us.

Meanwhile, I have a thank you note to Senator Russ Feingold. He's got courage and vision. And along with Al Gore, he's on my list for President in 2008.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Religious/spiritual progressives are speaking up

This morning I went from reading Thom Hartman's The Prophet's Way to reading more of Renee's Religious Left blog. The title link above is to Renee's post of information on how people of faith are speaking out -- in OHIO no less -- for the real values of helping those in need, not the current greed so prevalent in Washington, DC and corporate America. Together we will and must make a difference. Echoing again, the comment said by Michael Ratner and others at the Town Hall event last week, "Don't get mad, get active." People are rising everywhere to make a difference and together we will birth a more compassionate world that serves all, not just the top 1%. But we can't just TALK about it, we got to DO it. With God's help, we will. AMEN. (Hmmm. Looks like I'm confusing my blogs here :-)

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Hurrah, Marc Maron's back -- MOST week nights

An open letter to Air America Radio's Danny G. about the return of Morning Sedition's very funny Marc Maron (link to site above), written and sent in the middle of the night, early this morning:

Dear Danny,

What, no Marc, when I can finally hear him live? I guess there is another game tonight out in LaLa Land.

Subscribed to the podcast, and Maron was a big plus in the decision to join at top dollar for WHATEVER I want -- full subscription. But oh, catching up on Marc and his funny has been a real joy. Tonight I was looking forward to meeting the cookbook folks and the sleepless trucker and sharing in on the blog humor. God knows I have been enjoying, albeit belatedly, his talks with his friends, and his wife, and their trying out jokes. Sooooo neat. But no Mark, thanks to a Clippers game, I guess. So instead I write YOU.

I miss Marc in the morning. Rachel has grown into her extra hour, but the birth was painful. She and Kent are terrific together (and it is great to hear Lawton Smalls again, too, on Marc's new show: keep Kent busy!!) I listen to Riley sometimes, he's fine, but MARC -- I'm just glad we can enjoy Marc's humor via podcast. Just want you to know that Marc is important to us peace and justice activists and other folks. He keeps us SANE as we laugh and create endorphins, a natural narcotic, to sooth us.

-- Love Hartmann for his knowledge and spirituality and Maron for his knowledge (yes!!!) and humor and Maddow for her knowledge and creativity. Laura Flanders, Ring of Fire (Bobby and Mike!) and now also Rev. G. Welton Geddy (from the Interfaith Alliance) are also important to me [See KateAnne.com's March 11th post for more on Welton.]. Thank God for podcasting and subway and walking time

Now I must bid you adieu because in New York City there is MUCH to do for peace, justice and the TRUE American away: with ideals that lead one to HELP people, not hurt them. Thanks for what YOU do for peace, justice, and liberal renewal.

Much success and happiness to Marc on his new show (thank God, and YOU, that he is available to cheer us up and refresh our spirits in these dark and dire times) and to Air America Radio, almost two years old -- I have been listening and hyping it from Day One. Now hie me to bed!

(It is awfully late and I am a MORNING person -- hope this makes sense -- but it is ALMOST morning :-)

[Marc Maron's show can be streamed at 1 AM EST -- 10 PM LaLaLand time -- when it isn't pre-empted for sport shows. Can't stay up late? Save your pennies and become an Air America Radio Premium member and let Danny Goldberg, CEO of AAR, know you love Marc by writing dannyg@airamericaradio.com.]

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

To Audient and Progressive Thinkers, "Get ACTIVE!!"

Was over to Audient's blog and posted THIS comment:

The Dems need to get back to their basic middle class values. But we also need campaign finance reform and preferential voting so that 3rd parties can have some clout and thus make Dems more accountable. Hillary Clinton SUCKS. And I called her office and basically told them so, quoting [okay, I admit, I used some of his more milder comments] Doug Thompson of CapitalHillBlue.com's post on the misnamed Patriot Act vote, Scum-sucking traitors to their country. Of Hillary, he aptly said,

"What about the leading contender for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination, the so-called "gentle lady from New York," Hillary Rodham Clinton? Oh, she let Bush and the rest of the Republican party gang bang her like frat boys in a horny drunken brawl. Too late to cry rape Hillary. You proved yourself a political slut like most of the rest of your party."

I am enclosing a copy of Doug's Rant in Hillary's postage paid PAC envelopes together with Molly Ivin's I Will Not Support Hillary Clinton for President. Al Gore has come a ways, though the rightist corporate media is trying to squelch him again like they squelched Dean. And Russ Feingold is a real possibility too. NOT Hillary. And remind people to pay attention to Howard Dean's response to Katie Couric -- perhaps I will include that in my Hillary missive, too to remind HER. When asked to describe what the Dem Party stands for in 30 seconds, Dean said:

"One: American jobs that will stay in America, using energy independence to generate those jobs. Two: a strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies. Three: Honesty and integrity to be restored to government. Four: A health care system that works for everybody just like they have in 36 other countries. Five: a strong public education system so we can optimism and opportunity back in America."

And lastly, remember Network, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore." and from last Thursday's Town Hall panel on Is There a Case for Impeachment, "Don't get mad, get ACTIVE." Thom Hartmann would have YOU taking over the Democratic party at the local level. Do it and make the future our planet needs. Good luck -- and God bless!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

UNpatriotic PATRIOT Act passes, where are the Dems?

I'm so angry -- after the Senate copout, the miss-named unpatriotic PATRIOT Act was passed in the House, "opposed by only 13 Republicans, 124 Democrats and one independent [gotta be Bernie!]". Don't know who they are yet, but kudos to them and a Bronx cheer to those who voted FOR it, including Clinton and Schumer in the Senate -- even Kennedy. [Feingold for President? Maybe I ought to google that....] My son Audient expresses feeling similar to mine. Read his blog, linked above in the title. And now I have to pay attention to the lousy H.Res. 4167, the Uniformity in Food Labeling bill which Joe Crowley has co-sponsored -- ARGH!!!! Good God, these woosy Dems!! Don't care about democracy, don't care about the common folk. Take away our civil liberties and poison us. WTF??!!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Is There a Case for Impeachment?

Obviously, most of the 1500 folks packed into NYC's Town Hall at 43rd and Sixth Avenue thought so as we listened to a panel moderated by Sam Seder consisting of Rep. John J. Conyers, Republican now Independent John Dean, former Congressmember Elizabeth Holzman, Lewis H. Lapham (Harpers Magazine editor, article link above), and Michael Ratner (Center for Constitutional Rights). Read Lewis Lapham's article, title link, and that of Liz Holtzman at the Nation Magazine.

Afterwards Gail Harper and I spoke briefly with Fooled Again author, Mark Crispin Miller. And Democrats.com 's Bob Fertik was kind enough to take this picture of me with Mark and Gail:



I told Mark I have family in Ohio and love his book. Read it and let's stop another stolen election. And investigate all of the causes then impeach Bush AND Cheney.

Peace Hugs,
Kate Anne