Monthly Archives: March 2007

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Four more websites have joined the “Read the Bills Act” Coalition. Check them out . . .

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::Today’s action item is simple but important.

Congress passed the following bills last week:::::::HOUSE::::::H.R. 902 – More Water and More Energy Act of 2007 – 7 pages::::::This authorizes a study on the feasibility of using water brought to the surface in the exploration of oil, natural gas, or some other underground energy source. I don’t know why energy companies themselves wouldn’t want to do this research for themselves.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Subject: I am running for President::::::There is more to be said and done on the REAL ID Act. We were going to do that today, but we can’t. It’s been a tough month for paying the bills, so I must focus on that again this morning. Therefore . . .::::::In order to raise a fresh influx of funds for DownsizeDC.org I hereby announce that . . .::::::I, Jim Babka, am a candidate for President of the United States of America. Prepare to open your wallets!

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch::::::We’re still making our push to raise the balance of our monthly budget. And I have progress to report on that front. But first . . .::::::I have more good news, and secret to share . . .

The brief, a project of the Downsize DC Foundation, deals with the unconstitutional nature of the electioneering communications provisions in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. We explained the need for this brief in greater detail earlier this month. ::::::We’ve attached the finished brief to this blog post (see “attachment” below) in the hopes that many will read it. It’s in pdf format. ::::::DownsizeDC.org was also a signatory. The brief was also sponsored and/or signed by these groups: Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, Gun Owners of America Inc., Gun Owners Foundation, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund, Free Speech Coalition, Inc., Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc., Lincoln Institute, and Public Advocate of the United States.::::::For those who donated in expectation of receiving their own Supreme Court-standard copy, we just received our copies and they will be in the mail to you before the week is out. Thanks for your support. ::::::Additional notes . . .

Jim Harper, of the Cato Institute, has taken a good hard look at the REAL ID Act. Here’s his conclusion: If the REAL ID Act had been in place before 9-11 the 9-11 terrorists would have had no problem acquiring REAL ID’s.
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:::This leads us to reprise the Groucho Marx quote we featured last week: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”
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:::The REAL ID Act is Exhibit A. It won’t work. It isn’t needed. It costs too much. The only people it will burden are innocent Americans.
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:::So how does Congress respond?

Rob Kampia, co-founder and Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), will be my guest for the entire hour for the Downsize DC Conference Call (radio show).
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:::MPP has focused primarily on Medical Marijuana.
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:::Right now, MPP is planning four state ballot initiatives/referendums, plus has a lobbyist based in each of four different states. Learn what states and what the likelihood of success is in each of those states. We’ll also discuss, as time permits, the Angel Raich case, and potential for successes at the federal level.
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:::Of course, we want your questions.
:::1-800-259-9231 or
:::call at downsizedc dot org
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:::This is the final episode that MPP will be sponsoring, and so, this is something of a send-off. I’m grateful for the support MPP has given this program. Now, I’m looking for a new sponsor to keep this show going.
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:::If you’re interested in learning about sponsorship, please contact me at the show email address, again – call at downsizedc dot org
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:::We’ll also do a Gun Owners of America update as well.
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:::The show broadcasts on: KLID 1340-AM, Poplar Bluff, Missouri; WBCR 1470-AM Maryville, Tennessee; and WKLP 1390-AM Keyser, West Virginia. Sometimes, it’s on Radio Free Austin.
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:::But for most of you the best way to tune in is via the web at the Genesis Communications Network website.
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:::Jim Babka
:::Host
:::Downsize DC Conference Call
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RTBA Round-up

This show is an important one. In fact, it will, almost certainly, be re-aired in the future. ::::::What matters most — the issue or strategy that is most important if we want to Downsize DC. There’s only one. Find out what it is by listening to the mp3 (attached to this blog). ::::::The original promotion (and complete show description) of this episode, is located on our blog.