PDA in Cleveland for the Grassroots Leadership Conference
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PDA in Cleveland for the Grassroots Leadership Conference
7-24-2010 – 3:57 pm | Comments

We will be posting videos and some photos here throughout the rest of the conference…we will begin with a video clip of Jeff Cohen from yesterday, Friday July 23rd, during the PDA Sixth Anniversary Celebration. …

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IOT: End War and Occupations, Redirect Funding March Call

Submitted by Bryan Buchan on 3-2-2010 – 9:35 pmComments

pda_audio_icon1The EWO IOT conference call had its usual stellar lineup of guests, including last-minute guest Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

PDA Conference Call Guests:

Brown Bag Lunch Vigils (BBLV) partner David Swanson started the call off with comments on and advice for the BBLVs, to move the vigils to a higher degree of action, and he spoke about the legislation to halt Afghanistan funding.

IOT Conference Call:

A Message from Rep. Dennis Kucinich:

Then Cole Harrison of United for Peace & Justice–a BBLV partner, as well–discussed messaging for the BBLVs and bringing the Iraq War anniversary on March 20 into the March vigils. Bob Fertik from Democrats.com–a dedicated BBLV partner–expressed his support for the BBLVs and that he hopes we can expand the purpose of the vigils to include fighting the Supreme Court’s decision about corporate personhood.

Conor Boylan then discussed the progress of the BBLVs and how to keep the momentum going. Roberta McNair explained the logistics of the BBLVs and said now that we've reached 70 already, she anticipates 125 by March 17. Several BBLV organizers discussed their strategies for the vigils–going into the representative's office for a scheduled meeting, dropping into the office, or simply staying out on the street.

Representative Kucinich joined the call later than he expected, and he thanked PDA members for taking a stand for peace and economic justice. He is presenting a privileged resolution on Thursday, March 4, which will create a debate and require a vote about whether or not we should stay in Afghanistan. The legislative basis for the resolution is the War Powers Act. From the start of the Afghanistan war until now, the Congress has not had an opportunity—which is their right and their duty—to make a decision about this war. This resolution will give the members of Congress a chance to weigh in on the Afghanistan war.

Representative Kucinich has reached an agreement with other Democrats in the House to introduce the privileged resolution on March 4th—at which time it will be assigned a number—and wait through the weekend before it goes in front of the rules committee on Monday, March 8th. On Tuesday, March 9th, the resolution will come before the House. Representative Kucinich calls on PDA members to get the word out for everyone to contact their representatives and let them know the urgency of this resolution and request their support.

Passage of this resolution would have American troops begin leaving Afghanistan within 30 days of the vote, with all troops out of Afghanistan by December 31, 2010.

Representative Kucinich appreciates PDA members’ support in this effort, and he wants us to reach out to our representatives over the weekend through March 9th. Democrats in the House have registered interest in having a debate on the war. This resolution allows this finally to happen, and it gives people across the country the chance to rally for peace. We will have the long-denied chance to guide the future of our country.

Roberta McNair
PDA IOT Coordinator
BBLV Coordinator

  • rabbits
    I, too, am antiwar and a single payer health care advocate. This is a "do-nothing Congress" whose inaction has allowed and funded mindless wars, and disintegration of our social structure. We cannot depend on elected leaders to act any differently than they have been. Change will come only through grass roots movements. That means us.
  • Patralink
    At some point PDA and all progressive organizations must realize that we will never win by playing their game. Both parties are absolutely and totally corrupt. All the energy PDA leaders are spending opposing each and every unwinable thing that comes along from health care (where we never had a place at the table) to an escalation of two wars in the middle east, could instead be used to build a third party that is truly progressive. We will never make meaningful change by being yap dogs, following behind and jumping up and trying to take a bite out of their asses. There are too many issues and our energies become diluted. Instead we need to pull together, plan and organize a real strategy for change and create or join a third party. I for one am done with democrats. Does that mean I am done with politics? Time will tell.
  • tdduff
    War is a cowards excuse for avoiding peace.

    Amercicans have hidden behind the mask of their countries good intentions for so long their faces have grown into it.
  • MzAnony
    ALL OF BUSHBABY'S POLICIES ARE BEING RUBBERSTAMPED BY OBAMA, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHO THE REAL ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES IS (AND IT IS NOT THE MIDDLE EAST, PENNYANTE POTENTATES NOR GLOBAL TERRORISM). THE REAL ENEMY IS THE GLOBAL BANKING EMPIRE WHO WANT TO USE THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX TO MAINTAIN CONFLICT TO BANKRUPT OUR NATION BEFORE ALL OUR EYES, BLATENTLY. WALL STREET IS AN ILLUSION AS THIS ENTIRE FEIGNED FINANCIAL FIASCO WAS PLANNED DECADES AGO. LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE - OF WHICH EVEN OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE CLUELESS. TRUTH-IT.NET (click on Money & Banking) TO LEARN MORE. WATCH ZEITGEIST (free internet movie (parts 1, 2 and 3). IRAQ: FOR SALE (film).
  • stephenmorales
    I'm in agreement and support this movement to end the war now.
  • doowoplover534
    Sorry, I chose NOT to be fustrated any longer . Now it's health care reform and wars overseas. Whatever happened to accountablity for the criminal bush reime . I guess starting a war on,lies, outing a CIA agent ,spying on the American people , 9/11, thermite doesn't lie,violations of the FISA law and the Genvea Accords,plundering our treasury with fake bailouts,and 4 dollar a gallon ripoff gas prices aren't serious enough.Now Woo is cleared of any wrongdoing. with his phony opinions to break the law on torture.How much longer do the American people have to be abused and be made suckers by the power elite in their own country?Even Wexler and others are quitting congress,knowing there is NO place for decent people in Washington.They are building LIBRARIES for war criminals and MASS MURDERERS.WHEN THEY SHOULD BE HELD accountable.Remember that word ?The reason there is NO accountability? The democrats and republicans were COMPLICIT in the illegal policies and subsequent actions of the Bush regime.That's why!!!!Finally, the American people with their lack of choice are partly to blame for what's happening to them .Not voting for people who would bring real change such as NADER AND KUCINICH to name a few.What we need is a full scale MASS march on Washington or a revoltuion to shake the corrupt congress ./ reminding them that they are supposed to represent us ,not the corporations and insurance companies.Complacency makes these fakes stronger.Good luck!!!@
  • michaelsiebengartner
    Stop this imperialist action
  • DemocratsRprowar
    Teddy Roosevelt used to say 'speak softly, but carry a big stick'.

    Mr. Kucinich is only good at the 'speak softly' part of that. The threat of independent anti-war campaigns in the Nov elections is the big stick against the party in power. If anti-wr voters vote for these independent campaigns, they lose seats and they lose power.

    And, to paraphrase another saying, you'll get a lot more by speaking softly and carrying a big stick than you will just by speaking softly.

    This resolution is a good idea. But, if it doesn't have the big stick of independent anti-war campaigns challenging incumbents in the Nov. elections, it won't go anywhere.

    Of course, most of Mr. Kucinich's resolutions don't go anywhere. Which is exactly what you'd expect from someone who speaks softly but who always lays down the big stick of challenging the Democrats with independent candidates that can take back our votes.

    Pick up the big stick and start organizing grassroots, independent or third-party campaigns in all the CLOSE races. Base these campaigns on a twin theme of being anti-war and supporting single-payer health insurance. If you do that, then you'll have a big stick in your hands and you'll find the Democrats listen more closely the next time you speak softly.
  • Americano
    Anything to stop this dumb war - I am for!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Americano
    Anything to stop this dumb war I am for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • pamelasnyder
    Please cosponsor!!! Very important! Please withdrawl our troops!!! I agree with Representative Kucinich with this decision. We have got to stop these unnecessary wars. People are dying and its also costing the US a lot of wasted dollars on people that need to deal with their own situations. No wonder our economy has sufferd so.
  • maryellenhorton
    I want to join my voice with those who are against war anywhere. Why do we want to risk our citizens in an everending, dragged-out war that seems to have been going on for a lifetime for many of our younger citizens. Why do we not use our resouces to aid people in places like Africa or Haiti, where there is literally starvation. We don't need to kill. There must be a better way of creating a peaceful planet.
  • janethyder
    We can't afford the wars which make corporate American even richer at the taxpayers expense. We can't afford to support governments beyond our own. It's time we stopped paying to keep up other countries, especially those who mistreat their own people.
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