by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I'll be checking in periodically (Wi-Fi permitted) from UCLA at the Empower Change Summit, an event sponsored by the American Democracy Institute, a new-ish organization dedicated to youth engagement.  We know that the youth vote turned out in record numbers in the past two elections, and their activism and empowerment is crucial to creating a truly progressive society.  Today's event includes a bunch of workshops and speakers, including a keynote from former President Bill Clinton.  I'm in as media, so hopefully I can realize my dream of yelling out at the press conference "Mr. President, Mr. President!" and being called on, and continuing to yell "Mr. President, Mr. President!"

Anyway, both Dante (hekebolos) and I will be there, so we'll let you know what's going on.

by Charles Chamberlain, DFA Field Director [courtesy of Blog for America]

Congratulations to President Bush!

Three days of testimony from General Petreaus and Ambassador Crocker have made it crystal clear that he was right all along. Mission Accomplished!

I bet you never thought you would hear me say that! But, I’ve been thinking. We all know that George Bush and Dick Cheney will never admit they were wrong about Iraq. Never. And we know they won’t bring our troops home unless it can be called a success.

So, let’s call it a success! Great job, Mr. President! Victory in Iraq!

Now, he can start bringing our troops home right away. Why wait until June 2008, like we hear he’ll announce tonight. We’ve been so successful already, we can bring America’s brave men and women home ahead of schedule.

Start withdrawal right away. Bring a significant number of troops home by Thanksgiving. Even more by Christmas. And the last of them by the end of the year. A bold leader could do it, that’s why we know he’ll make it happen.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

...who just signed on to a letter to the President vowing not to appropriate any more money to the Iraq debacle for anything other than a fully funded withdrawal.  Kudos to these 12:

Lynn Woolsey
Barbara Lee
Maxine Waters
Ellen Tauscher
Diane Watson
Bob Filner
Hilda Solis
Grace Napolitano
Linda Sanchez
Mike Honda
Pete Stark
Lois Capps

Reward good behavior.  Letter on the flip.

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

From: Greg Palast
Date: Jun 7, 2007 5:12 PM
Subject: DFA Note

My extreme and most sincere regrets that I won't be able to attend the DFA book blog tonight.  Let's reschedule for next week - I promise.  Watch my site and DFA for a note on this, currently we are working on a time and date.

Just got off the plane from Switzerland and London filming for BBC when I get a call - that I need to attend an event where the Clintons (Mr. President and Mrs. Senator) are.  That's the job and that's life.  I'd postpone until later this evening, but I have to meet a more auspicious couple:  my twins.  Mom's out of town so I can't get home late.

In the meantime, I've met with Congressman Conyers (keep that to yourself) regarding the disturbing emails from Rove's brain, Mr. Griffin.  In the meantime, try to read or listen to the excerpts on our site from the new chapters of Armed Madhouse (the paperback one NOT the hardbound) because I'd like to talk about the chapters, "The Theft of '08" and "Busted:  the untold story of drowning of New Orleans."

It's been a busy week but that just means that we will have all the more things to talk about next week...keep checking we are rescheduling as I write this.

In solidarity,
Greg Palast, reporting to DFA Book Club soon...

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

As a state political blog, writing at a state party convention, it always underwhelms me at how little thought Presidential candidates often put into the concerns of the nation's most powerful economic engine. There was no exception to this experience at a presser today following John Edwards' speech to the assembled delegates.

When asked at a post-speech presser what he would do for California if elected, Edwards stated we were ahead of the curve in terms of our raising of the minimum wage and environmental protection, and would extend these sorts of progressive policies to the rest of the union.

That's real great, John. But uh . . . what are you going to do for *us*?