Dennis Kucinich:" Wake Up America!" 2008 Democratic Convention

Beautifully said speech and finally Dennis Kucinich has been given the platform to say it to the masses (albeit pre-national feed). (Wonder if the corporate press will report it? I wouldn't bet yes on it.) Dennis is saying what people need to hear, to be faced with the facts and the alternatives: not a call to move from right to left, he said, but "a call to go from down to UP". Do yourself a favor and listen to (or at least read) this six minute speech -- the crowd caught his energy and went wild. 

Also, there are more great Democratic convention speeches to be found at CSPANjunkie.org  (I love "Junkie" from YouTube as I still don't subscribe to cable TV -- only cable I have is on my computer :-)

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Ober for Council

Dan, Charlie, Kate Anne

Dan Jacoby held a fundraiser Tuesday night for New York City Council candidate Charles Ober in Sunnyside, Queens, at the lovely Dolce Vita at 43rd Street and 48th Avenue. Charlie is running in a special June 3rd election being held in the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood, and parts of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Forest Hills. Since opponent Elizabeth Crowley opted out of the City's matching campaign funding program, Charlie is getting a 7:1 match. He deserve this and so much more. He's a hard worker who cares. Go, Charlie, go!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Healthcare NOT Warfare

PDA -- Progressive Democrats of America -- gave me a good reason to remove my mourned John Edwards for President blog button:

Healthcare NOT Warfare -- Sign the petition! And I'm going to dig out my similar healthcare pin from Button Buddha Ruth Klein and start pushing this issue. This country can't afford both endless war and good affordable healthcare for all. Which is more humane and life-preserving? Well, dah! We know what the war machine wants, but we know what We the People want and NEED. SO......We have to push the Dems to get off their duffs and move on ending the occupation and the war on a noun (and any future illegal invasions) and choose LIFE. This petition will be presented to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNC Chair Howard Dean and our Congresscritters before the Denver convention.

Healthcare NOT Warfare, Sign the Petition

As Martin Luther King Jr. observed forty years ago, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." While the insurance and pharmaceutical industries post huge profits, the U.S. health care crisis grows steadily worse.

Today, nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance. Tens of millions of others are woefully under-insured. Meanwhile the war in Iraq drains our resources and overburdens our budget. Our government’s duty is to protect us—security begins with our health and well-being at home. In 2008, we have an historic opportunity to turn from warfare to health care for all.

We call on the Democratic Party at all levels—in party platforms and resolutions—to commit to redirecting wasteful and unnecessary military spending to meet human needs. This commitment must start with comprehensive, guaranteed health care—driven by the needs of patients and the judgment of doctors. We call on Democrats to support a plan that eliminates any financial barriers between the patient and healthcare providers, resulting in a patient not receiving medically necessary care.

We call on members of Congress to bring the troops home from Iraq and to pass H.R. 676, Rep. John Conyers' bill which guarantees comprehensive publicly-funded, privately-delivered health care for everyone in the U.S. Go to Signing Site

If you believe like I do that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, please join me in signing the petition. Thanks for whatever you can do for real peace and true justice.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne