by stacy shelton [courtesy of Blog for America]

After reading the NYT editorial on Sunday ("Abdicate and Capitulate"), I realized I am less concerned with democrats "being made to look weak on terrorism" than with them failing to protect our constitution. In addition, one would think that the concern about our country engaging in torture would transcend party lines. As Benjamin Franklin stated, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."

It is easy to blame the democratic leadership for the confirmation of Mukasey, and the failure of Congress to reign in this administration's use of torture as a "technique." The real problem is us. If we keep writing checks to charlatans who have no principles or spine, we ultimately are to blame.

We must take a stand, and pledge to give not a cent to those who will not unequivocably oppose the use of torture by the United States. This holds true for those in office, and for the hopefuls running.

Not a cent. This is why www.notacent.com was formed. You can't get any more grassroots, and notacent is putting its money where its mouth is.

by Bob Brigham [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The chooser:

For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they "strongly disapprove" of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.

Not Alberto Gonzalez:

Asked whether they think waterboarding is a form of torture, more than two-thirds of respondents, or 69 percent, said yes; 29 percent said no.

I'd like to see a poll on whether people think Democrats should save the Constitution or save their powder...

by Ilya Sheyman [courtesy of Blog for America]

(Note: This post reflects my own views and not an official DFA position)

Lately, there's been a lot of buzz about a candidate picking up steam on the Republican side. A candidate marginalized by the mainstream media and raising large sums on the internet. Some have gone so far as to write him in as an "other" choice in the DFA pulse poll.

Now, DFA prides itself on having no litmus test for candidates running for office. And, Ron Paul has said a lot of the right things about the War in Iraq, federal spending, and protecting the constitution. And, we should work with people in any political party when there is common ground- particularly when our own party is sometimes loathe to take on the conventional wisdom and stand up for the views of the grassroots.

All that being said, just wanted to highlight some of the more radically non-progressive views Ron Paul also holds:

On Social Security:

As for Social Security, "we didn't have it until 1935," Paul says. "I mean, do you read stories about how many people were laying in the streets and dying and didn't have medical treatment? . . . Prices were low and the country was productive and families took care of themselves and churches built hospitals and there was no starvation."

read more »

by Mark Leno [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

This is one straight out of Karl Rove's political playbook. A group of Republican political operatives and their powerful special interests have hatched a desperate scheme to rig California's electoral process to their advantage. They're proposing a statewide ballot initiative to change how California casts its electoral votes for President. They've cleverly labeled it the "Presidential Election Reform Act," which would sound credible if it weren't so cynical.

But make no mistake, this wolf-in-sheep's-clothing has nothing to do with reform or protecting voters' interests or preserving the integrity of our Constitution. It's an audacious power grab by the GOP as it spirals into irrelevance leading up to the 2008 Presidential race.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Mark Leno
Member, California State Assembly

This is one straight out of Karl Rove's political playbook. A group of Republican political operatives and their powerful special interests have hatched a desperate scheme to rig California's electoral process to their advantage. They're proposing a statewide ballot initiative to change how California casts its electoral votes for President. They've cleverly labeled it the "Presidential Election Reform Act," which would sound credible if it weren't so cynical.

But make no mistake, this wolf-in-sheep's-clothing has nothing to do with reform or protecting voters' interests or preserving the integrity of our Constitution. It's an audacious power grab by the GOP as it spirals into irrelevance leading up to the 2008 Presidential race.

The Republican Party is in complete disarray. Wracked by scandal and corruption, the GOP has apparently concluded that it has little chance of appealing to voters on the merits. President Bush's poll numbers are melting faster than an Alaskan glacier and a recent nationwide poll showed that two-thirds of young voters surveyed believe that Democrats do a better job than Republicans of representing their interests.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Fabian Nunez
Speaker of the California Assembly

Last night through good-faith bipartisan negotiation, the Assembly passed a budget that while far from perfect, is perfectly responsible given the realities of the situation.

Crafting a state budget in California is a difficult endeavor in large part because the 2/3 vote requirement in the constitution makes it difficult for anyone, even the majority party, to achieve everything they would like. Add to that the fact that the legislature is controlled by Democrats and the governor is a Republican quite unlike many of the Republicans in the legislature, and you have a recipe for stalemate.

We threw out that recipe.

The balanced budget passed by the Assembly contains no new taxes, creates no new programs, pays down debt and has the largest reserve in history – all while doing our duty toward schools, the elderly, blind and disabled and other vulnerable Californians like foster kids and the mentally ill. We’re being responsible fiscally and morally.

The budget conference committee chaired by Assemblymember John Laird, one of the most conscientious members of the legislature, drastically improved on the Governor’s May budget proposal by rejecting the most draconian cuts and shoring up the state’s underlying fiscal condition.

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

Yesterday, Senator Patrick Leahy called Bush's refusal to release White House documents, "Nixonian stonewalling." Leahy added, "In America, no one is above law."1

When Bush refused to comply with Congressional subpoenas regarding the U.S. Attorneys firing scandal he was really flaunting his disdain for the Constitution.

This standoff will likely lead to the Supreme Court. But we know that the Court is stacked in Bush's favor.

There is another way to hold the Bush administration accountable. Besides Bush and Cheney there has been one figure at the center of the warrantless wiretapping program, the torture of America's prisoners, the suspension of Habeas Corpus, and the U.S. Attorneys firings. That man is Alberto Gonzales.

Democracy for America is pushing for the removal of Gonzales because impeachment is one avenue towards accountability that even the Supreme Court can't stop.

Keep the pressure building with an end of quarter contribution of $15!

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/gonzo