…
Of course when I worked in a Congressional office, it was only crazy people who scrawled such items on our mailings, but I’m sure times have changed.

Isn’t it liberating to be the “crazy” for once? Heh.

Isn’t it amazing how the Crazies in the White House have royally ruined things, but the crazy Liberals, Progressives and DFHs have been right on pretty much everything since about 1968? Ha!

She’s also asked about the prospect that Cheney will initiate war w/ Iran before leaving ofc. w/ all their looted booty. The only comment she has is that it’ll make ReThugs more “unpopular” than they already are. How cynical! Her sponsors at A*P*C (they who must not be named!) are much happier than the Demo base, that’s for sure.

Drive by, any word on “Swift Boat” Noriega?

Well, since you asked.

Many commentators and columnists like John Tierney of the New York Times choose to ridicule I. Lewis Libby’’s nick-name, ““Scooter,”” which is taken from the Yankee great, Phil Rizzuto.

During 13 seasons, Rizzuto helped the Yanks win 10 pennants and 8 World Series. A five-time All-Star with a .273 lifetime batting average, he was the American League’s MVP in 1950, when he turned in a .324 average, 200 hits and .439 slugging percentage. After his retirement, he was the beloved radio announcer of Yankee games for four decades.

Scooter Libby’s chosen namesake was a consummate team player. Forty-nine times he advanced to first base by getting hit by a pitch, which places him 358th on the all-time list. From 1946 to 1956, Rizzuto was hit by a pitch more than any other short stop. Clearly, Scooter Rizzuto wasn’t afraid to take one for the team.

If Scooter Libby hadn’t been willing to take one for the team, the nation might have been subjected to an election in which issues were debated on the facts. Indeed, his continued fearlessness may prevent us from finding out whether or not treason was countenanced at the highest levels of the White House in advance of the 2006 elections when voters will choose the next congress. What could account for Libby’s lack of concern for his own freedom? Some suspect that it is the prospect of a Presidential pardon.

Libby is facing a lengthy legal process, which he promises us will result in a trial. My prediction is that it will result in an appeal, too. The process could take a year even if we didn’t have to wait a month or so for his attorney’s to get security clearances. During this time, it appears that he will be out of custody.

When Scooter Rizzuto took one for the team, he got a free pass to first base. Will Scooter Libby get a free pass for his obstruction of justice and perjury? What we know so far is that the President won’t make a commitment not to pardon Scooter. The White House Press Secretary had this to say on the subject: “I’m not going to comment because this is in the context of an on-going investigation.”

America deserves an answer.

… tell ‘em Big Mitch sent ya!

P.S. Since I wrote that a lot has happened. For one thing, Phil Rizzuto died. Today they honored him before the game in the Bronx. Nobody referred to his nickname. Consider this another reason I consider Irv Lewis Libby a fucking bastard.

Then, too, the first few years of a club’s existence can be taken up by mundane tasks – formulating by-laws, process and procedure are required – and, given that ‘most everyone has a day job, too, are too time consuming to allow for much actual action.

My advice: if you are a leader, propose and then take the lead on the types of activities you want the club to do. You may find that they have been waiting for just such a person as you.

This is in response to the concerns that are addressed about spending state money to preserve land. NJ had a funding program that expired this year, and the Gov approved a ballot question for extending it for one year only.

Networking is a key componet in any success, and by providing an opportunity for the business people to network along with our group, we will demonstrate the viability of preserving land from ecological and economical point of view.

After all, how can the Garden State remain that with strip malls and tract housing everywhere.

Thought we could spend some time today talking about what everyone is doing with their local Dem groups, DFA crew, individual candidate action, issue activism or whatever else it is that you are working on these days to change your community and your country for the better. What are you doing to lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow?

I’m the Honolulu organizer for Democracy for America, since December 2004. A year and a half ago, a group of fellow progressives organized a local chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, formally organized as PD of Hawaii. Mostly the same people were involved, so we have been holding joint meetings for more than a year, and that has worked well. I got elected to the PDH steering committee and was then selected as Secretary. We hold monthly meetings, and have a blog.

We have a 5 plank platform, and one of those planks is Impeach Bush & Cheney. I’m coordinator of that effort. We organized a joint meeting with the local chapter of Americans for Democratic Action of about 40 people with our congressperson in April. I’m not much of an organizer for public demonstrations, but I work with the local chapter of World Can’t Wait/NION, who are great field organizers. I got an op-ed published in one of the major newspapers last week to try to stimulate public awareness of the importance and validity of impeachment.

Here the point is not about me, but about collaboration among local groups. The effectiveness of individual action is multiplied through collaboration.

Bob in HI

One for ET.

;>)

spew!!! what can I say, other than muchas gracias!