Category: Politics

The candidate I’m supporting for President of the USA, Howard Dean, is trying to do something that no other presidential candidate has done before. He intends to raise 5 million dollars in 10 days from average Americans – not special interest PACs or high-roller donors. Here’s a regularly-updated view of how he’s doing:

I’ve put both my money and my time where my mouth is on this issue. I urge you do to so as well. Please consider making a donation to Dean’s campaign fund. We desperately need to get GW Bush and his cronies out of the White House in 2004.

IANAL, but this smells like an impeachable offense to me. I doubt it will happen though, since there aren’t enough Democratic votes in Congress to get articles of impeachment through.

Thanks to The Left Coaster for the following:

March 18, 2003

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

But on 9/17, Bush says that:

“There’s no question that Saddam Hussein had al-Qaida ties,” the president said. But he also said, “We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the Sept. 11” attacks.

The failure to find any imminent WMD threat has now negated Article 1 of the rationale Bush used above. Today he says he has no evidence that Saddam was involved in September 11(when on March 18 he says he did have such evidence), which then negates Article 2 of his legislatively-required justification for war as outlined under PL 107-243.

A rare Saturday off. Scott and I went to a favorite local diner for breakfast and then I headed downtown to help out the SF4Dean team. Governor Howard Dean was in SF today to address health care workers SEIU Local 250. That event was not open to the general public, but the governor was scheduled to give a brief speech afterwards to Dean enthusiasts in adjoining Yerba Buena Garden – a rare patch of green on Mission Street.

I had decided to spend the extra $ for parking and drove down. This turned out to be a good idea, as immediately I met up with Dianne, the volunteer coordinator, who had parked a few cars away from me. I helped her carry some stuff up to the meeting spot and spent the next 2 hours standing behind a makeshift Dean table, greeting volunteers and suporters, handing out stickers, clipboards and flyers, telling people what the schedule was, and generally trying to be helpful. The table migrated down the block to Yerba Buena after the SEIU speech began and again when the exact location for the speech was determined.

Around 4:00 PM, Dean made his appearance and I climbed a convenient light pole to wave an American flag a supporter had dropped off and got a nice view of Dean and the crowd. Dean gave a short version of his stump speech and the crowd was very receptive. I’m a poor judge of crowds but my guess is 150-200 people were there.

My parents were active and enthisuastic Democrats when I was a kid, and politics is something I’ve cared about and tried to stay informed on pretty much my entire life. That said, this was the first time I’ve actually been a volunteer at a political event. I hope my schedule will allow it to not be the last. I had a great time, but more important, I hope that in a small way I did some good for a candidate I want to see in the White House.

I’ve also started a Dean Team to do some fundraising for Governor Dean. Cash is tight in our house, so I can’t put my money where my mouth is the way I’d like to. You’re invited to help out.

Ah, California, land of the recall. It’s still unreal to me that only a year after we elected a governor we’re going to choose whether or not to un-elect him. Not that Grey Davis is the world’s greatest governor, but he IS the duly elected man for the job and this recall is setting a terrible precedent.

Look at the small Sonoma town of Rohnert Park It seems that the City Council there decided to work with an Indian tribe in regards to their plan to build a new casino just outside the town limits. Rohnert Park residents who don’t want to live near a casino have now launched a drive to recall the entire City Council. I suspect this is only the first in a long line of recall efforts.