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Have you heard of a thread that will help us get it together again? Have you heard of the thread that will stop us going wrong?

Don't forget - Zombies. Showtimes. 10pm.

For the fainthearted don't worry, it isn't really scary.

According to CNN both Luskin and Viveca Novak will be testifying next week. At issue appears to be the fact that Fitzgerald "misinterpreted" (uhh) and thought that a conversation between Luskin and Novak actually happened between Rove and Novak.


Plameologists, go...


..transcript

OB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very delicate. We're picking up that there could be two principals in this getting deposed next week giving sworn statements. Those two would include Karl Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin and Viveca Novak of "Time Magazine."

Now it really comes down to, when all is said and done, a question of who said what to whom when.

And the who is very important because we're being told by a variety of sources that the special prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, was planning to indict Karl Rove for misrepresenting during the investigation an interview comments that he had made to a reporter. However, there was a key conversation, sources say, and there may have been a misunderstanding by the special prosecutor that a conversation that he was attributing to Rove with Viveca Novak of "Time Magazine" may, in fact, have really been held by Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin.

As we've talked many times before, you and I, and just about any reporter who's been involved in this, has had conversations on the record with Luskin.

So now comes the process where Luskin is going to be testifying under oath during this deposition then Novak. Then Fitzgerald is going to have to make a decision on whether he will change his mind about indicting Rove.

It gets kind of complicated, and it gets even more complicated when you're told by the variety of sources this will not end the investigation. This is something that could go on for a while as they'll be looking for other parties who may have had a role in all of this--Wolf.

Building for a Progressive Future

This upcoming cover story in The Nation, which profiles the wealth of progressive organizing going on across the country:

"Infrastructure" is a word so resolutely unsexy it makes "think tank" sound erotic. These days, though, you can't get five minutes into a conversation with a strategist, activist or donor without the word cropping up. Since the infrastructure last year was built, like a refugee camp, for a short-term purpose, you might think that a year later the camp has been struck, with the equipment rolled up and stored away for the next election. That's partly true--America Coming Together announced this past summer that it could raise only enough money to continue as a skeletal research organization, and dozens of the grassroots groups founded last year have folded as well.

But it's striking just how much has carried over. Democracy for America meetings in cities from Austin to Cincinnati draw hundreds, and there are small, informal progressive groups meeting at this moment in some of the most conservative counties in the country. None of this existed just three years ago. Dozens if not hundreds of activists who worked on last year's election are now running for local office, and the big institutional players like the labor and environmental movements continue to build power through grassroots organizing. "It wasn't a blip," says Robert Kraig, political director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Wisconsin. "It was part of something that's seriously going on, on the left."

Jury of Your Peers?

President Bush has been called up for jury duty in Texas—he has been scheduled to appear on Monday; however, he has asked for the date to be resheduled. It looks likely that Bush will complete his duties, in an attempt to repair his crumbling public image. "I love it," said Robert Hirschhorn, a Texas-based jury consultant. "I think he should show up. It would show that no American should ever shirk their duty or responsibility to serve on a jury, even a president."

Ten Marines Killed in Falluja

The U.S. military announced today that ten U.S. Marines conducting a foot patrol outside the Iraqi city of Falluja were killed in the explosion of a homemade roadside bomb yesterday. Eleven other soldiers were also wounded in the insurgent attack.

Oops:

Third party group, Santorum campaign use same footage

KIMBERLY HEFLING

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - If the grandfather and grandson walking together in Sen. Rick Santorum's Internet ad look familiar, it could be because the same two actors are in a television ad that a third-party group is running in support of Santorum.

A spokeswoman for Santorum, R-Pa., has repeatedly denied any connection between Santorum and the group, Americans for Job Security.

The campaign for Bob Casey Jr. - the leading Democratic challenger in his 2006 Senate race - said Friday the coincidence is too much to be ignored.

"I think it raises a lot of questions," said Larry Smar, a spokesman for Casey, the Pennsylvania treasurer who is leading in polls against Santorum. "Someone isn't shooting straight."

Screenshot from Americans for Job Security ad:





Screenshot from Santorum web ad:



Same pair, same clothes... They're claiming it's just a miracle of the coincidental stock footage.

The General asks a question and gets an answer.

This is what they call democracy? Rep. Emanuel should be ashamed! Residency an issue for 6th District rivals BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Columnist Democratic congressional candidate Christine Cegelis said Thursday she did not understand why Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) recruited a rival to run against her who did not live in the district. Democratic Party of DuPage [...]

Hi everyone!

I wanted to start off with a big THANK YOU for everyone who has hit the bat in the last 24 hours. When I first heard about our vice president going to a fundraiser for Tom Delay... I was outraged. Let's show everyone that we can match Delay's giving, but we don't need to match his corruption or his ties to Cheney...

If you haven't hit the bat yet.. it's not too late. I just contributed about an hour ago (and it was fun!).

I'd be happy to answer any questions about DFA's fundraising, or more general questions about DFA or my experience here.

I started at the Dean Campaign as a volunteer in July of 2003. Soonafter, I moved to a staff position as front office manager, as the lead receptionist and supervising a fantastic group of 50 volunteers who answered the phones (8 at a time). I was part of the transition team to DFA2; and last year was Gov. Dean and Tom McMahon's assistant, and later, did Gov. Dean's and the campaign staff scheduling for the DNC Chair race.

Dina Wolkoff
DFA Finance Director

: Thanks to a massive and persistent grassroots effort, the call for reform was finally met. 

Jeremy Bird is the Field Director for WakeUpWalMart.com.

Cozy Relationships with DeLay, Cheney & the Bush Administration lead to morally bankrupt business practices

Tom Hughes' email yesterday was right on the money: "Tom DeLay and Dick Cheney need to hear that we're sick of their corrupt and shameless" policies and actions. I agree. But, it isn't just limited to corrupt politicians. We also need to hold accountable the morally corrupt businesses, like Wal-Mart, who benefit and contribute to this corruption.

Here are a few examples of Wal-Mart and right-wing Republican ties:
1. Wal-Mart and Tom DeLay. Nearly 80 % of Wal-Mart's PAC money goes to Republican candidates, most shockingly Tom DeLay... after he was indicted. That's right. Wal-Mart actually gave Tom Delay money—a $5,000 contribution—two days after he was indicted. This was not the first time the company donated to DeLay and it won't be the last time it gives money to corrupt politicians. (You can sign on to our DeLay petition here: www.wakeupwalmart.com).

2. Wal-Mart and Dick Cheney. Dick Cheney refers to Wal-Mart as one of his favorite companies, saying that Wal-Mart "exemplifies some of the very best qualities in our country." Coming from Dick and Halliburton, nothing more needs to be said.

3. Wal-Mart and George Bush. Just weeks ago, Bush's Department of Labor revealed a shocking fact. Wal-Mart actually helped write its own sweetheart deal for repeatedly breaking child labor laws. Yes, Wal-Mart lawyers actually wrote part of the settlement that gave the company a slap on the wrist for breaking child labor laws in the United States in 2005.

Why would the Bush Administration allow this to happen? These facts make it clear:

• Wal-Mart's PAC gave a higher proportion of its donations to Republicans than any of the top 25 corporate PACs during the two years preceding July 2004.
  
• Wal-Mart's top three managers donated the individual max to President Bush.
  
• Nearly 80% of Wal-Mart political action committee contributions go to Republicans (Political Money Line, 1/05).

  Corruption in Washington is a complex web where corporations fund corrupt politicians who in turn allow corporations to break the law with little recourse. Wal-Mart is fast becoming the poster child for this cycle of moral and political corruption. View WakeUpWalMart.com's shocking ad about this culture of corruption. And, please sign on to our DeLay petition.

  So, while Tom, Dick and Wal-Mart toast at their surf-and-turf dinners, let's listen to Mr. Hughes and utilize our largest asset: thousand of people who are willing to stand up to multi-billion dollar corporations and their special interest lobbyists.

  It's been a pleasure working with DFA activists on the ground, and we hope to continue to do so as we fight against this culture of corruption, greed and irresponsibility.

  —Jeremy Bird

Join Tariq Ali, Arundhati Roy, Rashid Khalidi, Cindy Sheehan and many others in calling for release of peace activists in Iraq.

[Original Post] Filed by Larisa Alexandrovna Phase II, the follow-up to the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into pre-war intelligence on Iraq, is still facing opposition from administration officials and has seen little action from the committee’s chairman, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), RAW STORY has learned. Following a surprising move early last month by Senate Minority Leader Harry [...]

[Original Post] Filed by Larisa Alexandrovna Phase II, the follow-up to the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into pre-war intelligence on Iraq, is still facing opposition from administration officials and has seen little action from the committee’s chairman, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), RAW STORY has learned. Following a surprising move early last month by Senate Minority Leader Harry [...]

Teri Mills is a longtime Democracy For America community member. Her guest column on health care appears on Blog for America on Fridays and she blogs at nationalnurse.blogspot.com.

As we pulled out eight boxes of holiday cards to address and stamp, my twin sister had a great idea. Why not celebrate Hanukah or Christmas every other year? Of course, we realize the chance of this happening is slim to none, and if our country did so, we would leave our economy in ruins. Still, the idea is most tempting.

And so the rush begins (baking, decorating, shopping, and partying) the list seems to never end. Meanwhile, the activist's attention is always on what is happening right outside our home. We await the hearings for one of the most conservative Supreme Court nominees, Sam Alito. Over 2,100 Americans and countless Iraqis are dead because of a senseless war. 30,000 GM employees will lose their jobs this month. Katrina survivors will be kicked out of their temporary housing in the next few weeks. Thousands of Pakistani women and children will die from lack of shelter and preventable disease. 47 million Americans are now without health coverage and many more are under-insured and face huge medical bills.

So where are our priorities? Last year Democracy for America encouraged our participation in a phone card drive for our veterans and troops who would not have been able to phone a loved one over the holiday. Let's put our heads and hearts together and think of a DFACorps activity for this holiday season that the grassroots can work together on to make a difference and to help alleviate some of that holiday stress. What's your idea?

—Teri Mills, RN, MS, ANP
Democracy for Oregon

World AIDS Day
On this, year's World AIDS Day, the number of people living with HIV has reached its highest level ever—40.3 million people worldwide. The UN has called for an "exceptional response" to the crisis, in the form of investments in HIV prevention. Free condom distribution and rallies marked the day's events in many countries.

Local DFAers React to Bush's Speech
President Bush's recently-unveiled "plan" in Iraq has drawn criticism as no answer to the "flawed policy wrapped in illusion." One DFA member in Delmarva, Maryland thought the plan was all PR and no substance:

"This speech, if I were writing the headline, the headline would be 'nothing new,'" said Joel Roache, part of Democracy For America.

Nagin in the Hot Seat

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin was on the receiving end of angry comments from city residents who feel that the government's response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was inadequate—and in some cases, deadly. In a town hall meeting billed as, "Bring New Orleans Back!" Nagin responded to upset comments from citizens:

"It's a hard thing to believe that the United States of America is spending nearly one billion [dollars] per week in Iraq, and here, in New Orleans, the United States, we're being neglected."

"Why do we have to beg and plead with our president, our congressmen, our elected leaders to tell them that we need help, when it's on the media every day?"

A second town hall meeting for displaced New Orleans residents is scheduled to be held next Wednesday in Memphis, Tennessee. DFA members in Memphis are encouraged to report on the meeting for the entire DFA community.

Today is a day for Americans to stand with the global community in recognizing the 18th annual World AIDS Day. It is a day for us to remember the millions of lives that this horrible pandemic has claimed, the millions more that live with it each day, and to highlight the campaigns working to control its spread.

An estimated 40 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS globally—2.2 million of which are children and more than 1 million that are American citizens. While it is important for us all to stand by those living with this disease and to renew our commitment to finding a cure—this is something we must do everyday, not just once a year.

To find a World AIDS Day event in your area and more about how you can help in the fight against HIV/AIDS visit: www.worldaidsday.org.

Over the past year, we worked together to support candidates across the country -- and we won elections up and down the ballot. We elected new Democratic governors in Virginia and New Jersey. We beat back Governor Schwarzenegger's power grab in California. And we put DFA-List candidates into office in every region.

Momentum is building for new leadership in our country. But the only way to continue the momentum is to recruit and support candidates in all fifty states in 2006. We're taking the first step by holding candidate forums across the country this winter. The forums will help identify candidates that the DFA community can support. The candidate forums will also be used to guide DFA’s national endorsement process.

You can read more and download the preliminary 2006 DFA field plan at:

www.dfalink.com/resources

I'd love to hear your ideas about we can help elect DFA-List candidates across the country next year! And don't forget to hit the bat:

www.democracyforamerica.com/29_candidates

"Our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out ... and back home a few opportunists are suggesting they were sent into battle for a lie."

That's what the Vice President says about you.

Dick Cheney has made himself the name-caller in chief, referring to critics of the forged White House case for war—people like you and me—as not only "dishonest and reprehensible," but also "corrupt and shameless." He's the perfect man to say that. He knows "corrupt and shameless" personally. And on Monday he'll prove it again ... by keynoting a gala fundraiser for indicted congressman and GOP machine boss Tom DeLay.

www.democracyforamerica.com/29_candidates

That's the same Tom DeLay who said, "I am the federal government." Unfortunately, he wasn't far from the truth. Money talks in politics, and Tom DeLay has bankrolled 29 Republican candidates in 2005 through his political action committee. Some of those Republicans are running Washington right now.

If we want a government that responds to us—a government of the people—we have to take it back. Tom DeLay and Dick Cheney need to hear that we're sick of their corrupt and shameless party in a language they understand: cold, hard cash.

Let's put our money where our mouths are. Take on Cheney and DeLay, donate to DFA today:

www.democracyforamerica.com/29_candidates

While they toast each other at their $1,000-a-plate surf-and-turf dinner on Monday, we have our own asset: thousands of us rolling up our sleeves, chipping in what we can, and putting a stop to them.

That's why we've brought back the bat.

Over the last two years DFA has supported more than 850 progressive candidates with an average contribution of $1,200. With $34,800 we can match Tom DeLay's 29 Republican candidates with contributions to 29 new leaders of our own. But we need your help to do it.

Every dollar counts—and every dollar brings us closer to breaking the reign of Cheney, DeLay and their corporate cronies in Washington.

We've got them on the run. Now, let's show DeLay and Cheney what the grassroots can do. Give now:

www.democracyforamerica.com/29_candidates

With thanks,

Tom Hughes
Democracy for America

Submitted for consideration by Sandra Spangler, and John R Brakey co-founders AUDIT AZ (Americans United for Democracy, Integrity and Transparency (Arizona) Proposed Amendments are based upon the RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY OF ARIZONA ELECTIONS TO BLOCK PURCHASE OF DRE VOTING MACHINES adopted by the Executive Committee of the Arizona Democratic Party, November 19, 2005. [...]

Linda G. Brooks is the Vice Chair of the Newport News, VA city committee, as well as a frequent contributor to the Blog for America discussion.

Creigh Deeds, Democratic candidate for Attorney General of Virginia, is challenging the vote results from November 8. This is the closest state wide election ever in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Republican challenger is Bob F. McDonnell of Virginia Beach, Va.

The last time a vote was this close and challenged was when then governor candidate Douglas Wilder ran against Marshall Coleman in 1989.

On election night, Nov. 8, 2005, the difference in votes was over 4400. Now the difference is only 323 out of 1.95 million votes cast.

The state of Virginia statute says that if the vote is less than 1% then the state will pay for a recount. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, candidate Creigh Deeds filed for a recount.

I admire Creigh for making this stand. We worked long and hard for the Democratic ticket of Kaine, Deeds, and Byrne here in Newport News and throughout the state of Virginia.

Creigh Deeds has been in the House of Delegates for 10 years. He was a commonwealth attorney before that. He established Virginia's own version of Meghan's law to make our state safe from sexual predators. I have met Creigh and worked on his campaign. He cares deeply about protecting our state from gang violence and protecting at-risk children by creating after school programs.

We will stand with Creigh as he goes through this process. If you live in Virginia and want to help with the recount you can contact the campaign at www.creighdeeds.com.

I monitored the results on election night for the state party and have volunteered to help out this time. I will keep you updated on the process. Please keep Creigh in your thoughts and if you would like to contribute, you can do so at the above website.

—Linda G. Brooks