Monthly Archives: June 2008

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::EMERGENCY ACTION NEEDED!::::::Friends, ::::::We had another message planned for this morning, but now we need URGENT ACTION on another issue. A vote is about to happen on a so-called FISA and telecom immunity compromise. The news is not good for the Fourth Amendment. ::::::Oh, if only we had the “Read the Bills Act.” We haven’t seen the compromise bill yet (it was just filed and we just learned about it at 11:45 AM Eastern — while I’m writing this message). So I can’t give you the details of this bill because it could be rushed to a vote by tomorrow (not the seven days Congress should wait after reading a bill). ::::::We don’t even have a bill number yet. But here’s why we must act now. If this compromise bill . . .

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Quote of the Day:
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:::”George W. Bush brought death and chaos to Iraq on the basis of lies. Now, as he staggers through the last months of his failed presidency, he is trying one more bit of trickery — forcing the Nuri Al-Maliki government to legitimize a long-term military occupation of Iraq in a treaty, which will make that sovereign country an American colony.”
:::– from an editorial in the “Arab News,” June 8, 2008
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:::Subject: A Golden Rule Foreign Policy
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:::We advocate a “Golden Rule” foreign policy. We want our government to treat other people as we would want to be treated. Our politicians have not done this. Instead, they’ve used wrongs committed by others to justify wrongs of their own. 
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:::It doesn’t matter that our government’s policies may have done some good, or that our politicians may have intended to do only good. What matters is that they’ve done too many things to other people that those people didn’t want.
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:::The above quote of the day reflects widespread Arab and Muslim reaction to the Bush administration’s proposed “treaty of permanent occupation” with Iraq. We believe the Golden Rule requires us to give these reactions respectful consideration. Would we accept what we’re asking the Iraqi people to accept? The proposed treaty requires that Iraq . . .
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Is the “Read the Bills Act” Practical?

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::Quotes of the Day:::::::“The test for determining the scope of this [habeas corpus] provision must not be subject to manipulation by those whose power it is designed to restrain.”:::– from the Supreme Court’s decision restoring the writ of habeas corpus::::::“Ours is not a system designed to unleash the power of the government. It’s a system designed to control it.”:::– Steve Chapman::::::Subject: Good news sparks more fear mongering::::::On Thursday, June 12, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling restoring the writ of habeas corpus. Those being held as suspected terrorists should now be able to challenge their detentions in a court of law, as our Constitution requires.::::::This is good news! The Judicial Branch has moved to block the overreaching power of the Executive Branch. This means America’s system of “checks and balances” still has some life! But more must be done to restore and preserve the rule of law.::::::We must . . .

::::::This means . . .

The World’s Largest Boondoggle?

You are part of a growing Downsize DC Army. It hasn’t been built in a day. It’s been built methodically, soldier-by-soldier.
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:::Each month your voice grows stronger. We now have 23,100+ subscribers to the Downsizer-Dispatch — and that’s a hard-core, intense, and effective force. How intense?
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:::* Your army of DC Downsizers averaged 46,233 messages to Congress/per month for the first five months of this year (more than two messages per subscriber).
:::* In February you set a record with 51,390 messages to Congress.
:::* And here in June, you’re on track to break that record. This morning we’re already at 23,964 messages (and phone calls beside).  
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:::Congress is hearing Downsize DC! And your efforts are creating buzz. This week, I’ve done four radio interviews promoting DownsizeDC.org and I’ll do my fifth this afternoon on Jerry Hughes (details below my signature) — double what I usually do in a week.
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:::But we stepped out on a limb, of late. Our opposition to the tax and spend, cap and trade bill cost us some subscribers. So too did our involvement in a national call-in day for dialogue with Iran and our new campaign for a national referendum about continuing U.S. troop presence in Iraq (we got the usual venomous messages about “cutting and running”).
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:::Frankly, I don’t understand people leaving the Downsize DC Army because they disagree with ONE of our campaigns. No one is required to send messages when they disagree with a given campaign. We must build a united force, and to do so, we must occasionally put aside differences yet continue work in those areas where we agree.
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:::Even still, being principled comes with a price. But I’m pleased to announce that we still grew despite these losses!
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:::And last month, we processed a record level of re-ocurring monthly pledges – $8,097. But even here, we cannot rest on our laurels . . .

DownsizeDC.org is part of a diverse coalition of 27 groups opposing Sen. Kit Bond’s proposed amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The amendments, falsely advertised as a compromise between House and Senate bills, would “curtail judicial review” and “fails to include other reasonable civil liberties protections” provided in the House version. It would also “use the secret FISA court to rubber-stamp a grant of immunity to telecommunications companies that assisted with unlawful warrantless surveillance.”::::::The coalition has sent a letter to all members of Congress detailing our objections. You can read the letter by clicking the attachment below.::::::

Let’s ask the Iraqis how the feel . . .

Ron Paul will be calling — you could too

Tell Congress You Want Direct Dialogue — Not War With Iran