Democrats Abroad Munich - U.S. politics

You are a closet Democrat aren't you moran? I love how you post stuff that makes fun of Republicans. That is pure class and funny as hell. So, when will you be showing up at our meetings? Should I put you down for the Richard Clarke event? We got front row seats you know. After a few meetings with us, your IQ will go from moran to genias.

A well attended event. It was a lot of fun, interesting and a bit scary.

Hi Eurovol,

I'd be interested in joining, but how / where do you sign-up? What are the +s of being a member, and are there some meetings in Munich?

Pls let me know, cuz I'd be interested in attending some events (if work schedule permits).

Thanks,
Chris

Go here: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Democrats_Abroad

The next newsletter will come out soon and that will inform you of all the happenings. We are expanding our range of offerings and so I am sure there will be something of interest for everyone.

BTW, we don't overload you with emails.

1. March Meeting Notes
2. International Meeting Heidelberg Report
3. Richard Clarke Event Notes
4. April Meeting (11th)– Let’s Make a Difference!
5. Member submitted material of interest

1. March Meeting Notes

We had the pleasure of listening to Heather Wokusch speak on the ills of the Bush/Cheney administration. There is more wrong than we suspect. Heather was an engaging informative and insightful speaker who brought a whole new layer of information to the sinister Bush administrations doings. Her talk moved from deep background to the grassroots mantra, “how can you work to change things.� She was able to not only personalize the speech but she brought valid facts
to every idea and could (almost at the top of her head) provide a reference. She was personable, friendly and able to explain complicated points in a clear and understandable fashion. For those that missed the talk, Heather has her own channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/heatherwokusch

DA Munich collected €120 for the wounded soldiers in Landstuhl, Germany. This money was given to Anna Marie Mattson of DAF Paris to buy comfort items and deliver them to the soldiers with the message from us that we care. Thanks to all who donated and Anna Marie is now looking for volunteers that could possibly visit the soldiers on a more regular basis. If interested, contact me and I will put you in touch with her. Alternatively, they would also be more than happy to have old VHS movies, games, books and magazines. The soldiers and we really appreciate Anna Marie’s efforts.

The questionnaire responses have now been analyzed and here are the results.

Wednesday won out overwhelmingly followed by Thursdays. The meetings will remain on Wednesdays.

7pm won out over 7:30pm by one vote. That means we will continue to meet at 7pm and start late as usual.

The issues topping the list were (in no particular order): GOTV, Iraq and the Middle East, Environment, Presidential Candidates, Actions to make a difference, Impeaching Bush, Getting Congress to do the right thing and getting informed and learning. Our agenda over the coming year will focus on these things.

I want to thank everyone that participated in the survey

2. International Meeting Heidelberg Report

Around a hundred and thirty dedicated and engaged Democrats met in Heidelberg from March 15th to the 18th. Poised to take back the White House and increase the Democratic majority in Congress, our international meeting of Democrats Abroad leaders was about building infrastructure, raising funds and thinking outside the box. Business included internal elections, committee reports, resolutions, training, volunteer of the year awards, regional and global meetings, and the delegate selection plan.

Resolutions were passed concerning the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, restoring the writ of habeas corpus, Iran, climate change, and the timing of our annual meetings. They should all be posted on the Democrats Abroad website shortly http://www.democratsabroad.org. Additionally, the new executive committee is discussing a resolution concerning military health care. Download resolutions passed here: http://www.box.net/shared/u26sknv8ng

Officer elections were held and the current slate are International Chair – Christine Schon Marques; International Vice Chair – Toby Condliffe; International Secretary – Robert Checkoway; International Treasurer – Stanley Grossman; International Counsel – Joseph Smallhoover; Regional Vice Chair Americas – Leo Perez Minaya; Regional Vice Chair Asia/Pacific – Gary Suwannarat; Regional Vice Chair Europe/Middle East/Africa – Meredith Gowan Le Goff.

Lindsey Reynolds, our new Executive Director, is an integral and effective part of our team. She brings a lot to the table. The funding for the ED position through the DNC’s State Partnership Program makes it possible for us to commit resources to a number of projects, and is a major benefit.

On the fun side, DA Germany’s own John McQueen of Wednesday Wire fame held a special live edition of WW. Yours truly, that’s me, got to play the part of Bush (no one else would do it). If you haven’t subscribe to the WW, I highly recommend that you check it out: http://www.wednesdaywire.com/

3. Richard A. Clarke Event Notes

We had an excellent turnout for this. We got reserved seats in the first two rows and it was very informative and a little scary. We all got our books signed by the author and I can’t wait to start reading mine. Of note: Richard Clarke said that he would start withdrawing troops NOW! You know he couldn’t get away without someone asking him that question.

4. April Meeting (11th)– Let’s Make a Difference!

This meeting is about putting your answers to the questionnaire into action. The communications and press people will work on getting the resolutions that passed in Heidelberg out to the local presses. Topping this should be the resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Iran and climate change. This can be tied in with the Letter Writing efforts to get Congress to do the right thing. The Outreach and GOTV people will get started on producing a DA Munich Welcome Wagon package that we can distribute to new arrivals from American.

Supplies we need brought to the April meeting: information that you think would be of interest to a newcomer and old name tag badges. AND remember to bring a friend.

5. Member submitted links and material of interest

Thanks for the Memories: http://www.ericblumrich.com/thanks.html
PoliticsTV: http://www.politicstv.com
Party Builder: http://www.democrats.org/page/content/pb_presidential/

If you have something of interest to share, then please send it to me.

You can also join the DA listserv and discuss issues with Dems around the world: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DemsAbroad/

Randy Caldwell
Chapter Chair - Democrats Abroad Munich
Questions or comments are appreciated.
DA-Munich@dems-abroad.com

Meeting is tonight. All are welcome and especially Americans!

Next meeting:

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 at 7pm.
Eine Welt Haus - Schwanthalerstr 80
Take U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese - one stop beyond the Hauptbahnhof.

The "Press" and moving forward!

We will watch the Bill Moyer's PBS documentary "Buying the War". This documentary focuses on the roll of the main stream press in selling the Iraq war to the public. Following the presentation, there will be time for a discussion.

There will also be a letter praising the DNC Chair Dr. Howard Dean for his State Partnership plan that has done so much to empower the State Parties of which we are one that can be signed by any attendees if they so wish.

We will also work further on the "Welcome Wagon" project. Everyone attending should bring ideas and ways to make this project a reality. This will be the focal point of our local outreach and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) activities heading into 2008. This project may be duplicated many times around Germany and the world. We will need all the help we can get on this one.

For the May meeting: remember to bring old name tags, "Welcome Wagon" ideas and two friends!

Please RSVP to: DA-Munich@dems-abroad.com

Wow, is that the best you can do? A two year old pic? Pathetic.

Anyway, anyone who wants to join us tonight to watch the Bill Moyer's Buying the War PBS piece is welcome to join in. All meetings are open to the public and even BadBob can attend.

The particulars:
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 at 7pm.
Eine Welt Haus - Schwanthalerstr 80
Take U4 or U5 to Theresienwiese - one stop beyond the Hauptbahnhof.

If you care, then see you there.

euro:

What the hell is this all about? Is Pelosi losing her mind? I think that she lost it a long time ago.

Would be great to see BadBob attend.
The Dems Abroad and the Rep. abroad organization in London had (have?) regular pub meetings together once a month (last I heard) where everyone would get together once a month and 1 - celebrate being american and political and 2 - defend each others right to their opinion.
Unfortunately fanatical knee-jerk reactionism leads to polarity dividing the masses in munich (or on tt?).

DD, there really is no such thing as Republicans Abroad. If anything, they are 527's which means that we can not sponsor anything together per US law. I don't like this part of the law, but I have to play by the rules. As far as DA Munich is concerned, we are open to the public per the rules. So if the Bad boy himself wants to attend and gain a little perspective, then he is more than welcome. In politics, you defeat the enemy by showing them the light and not by beating them over the head with a stick. Sometimes the stick might be more fun, but that too is part of the law that I have to follow. In other words, I can carry a big stick, but I can't really use it.

Lame.
I'll save everyone the trouble of pressing play, because it's not even worth that much effort. It's a cheerleader spelling out 'loser' and some chicken noises. Apparently a dig at democrats.
Pretty clever, if you're 2.

Yawn.

@Eurovol - I just signed up on the Dems Abroad website... When exactly is the next meeting? With my tight schedule, I need to know well in advance if possible. Thanks in advance.

June 13th and it will be one not to miss. It will feature a Negotiations in Politics and Diplomacy short course. More info to come soon.

"Dingy Harry" surrenders to Bush.


Well, what did you expect? Lame Duck my ass!

There's such a thing as Republicans Abroad?

Lame Duck is getting you into this mess to begin with.

No win situation for the Democrats.. thats the trouble when you have a nutcase for a President who uses his power for whatever he see's fit without any regard for the publics opinion which was shown when the Republicans got their ass kicked in the last elections..

Next meeting Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 at 7pm.

Negotiations in Politics and Diplomacy

This looks to be one of the most fun and informative events yet. We have the good fortune to have Patrick Ott of Globe Business College Munich give us a short course in the fine art of negotiations. Patrick O. Ott is a highly accomplished professional with a degree from the Harvard Law School in International Taxation, as well as, a Master’s of Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School.

What are the goals of this short course: a) to introduce the idea that negotiation is an art AND a science and that everybody can improve his or her negotiation skills by learning scientifically proven methods and using special strategies and tools in negotiation. b) to introduce the concept of differentiating between position and interest in each negotiation and the importance of this concept to create win-win-situations c) to understand that many factors influence negotiations and how to deal with them d) to understand why negotiations for which we all believe to have simple solutions from the outside can still flounder because of intrinsic and hidden factors (interests). At the end of the short course participants should be aware that there is a lot they do not know about negotiations and that bargaining and negotiating are two totally different ball games. They should become aware that there are a number of tools and strategies out there which can help one to become a better negotiator.

This is one meeting not to be missed and is part of DAG Munich Chapter’s preparations for the 2008 election season. Please RSVP to confirm your spot as I will need to make the appropriate reservations for rooms. There is no cost to attend.

Meeting held 7pm Wednesday, June 13th at EineWeltHaus, Schwanthalerstraße 80.
Due to the nature of this offering, please be EARLY! More info to come in the “Reminder� email.

Please RSVP to:
Randy Caldwell
Chair Munich Chapter
Democrats Abroad Germany
DA-Munich@dems-abroad.com

Sign up now! This is next week folks and it costs nothing to attend!

Bump the Republicans out of office.

Next event is the 4th of July party. Everyone is welcome to join us as we will be joining the AGBC at the WaWi on the 8th of July. Mark your calendars now.

If you wanna get a "Draft Al" thing going, count me in. Not gonna vote for the poseurs the Dems have now.

1. June Meeting Notes

As expected, this was a very exciting and informative meeting. We would like to thank Patrick Ott and Globe Business College Munich for making this evening such a success. The background information on the art of negotiations and the practical exercise dealing with water issues in the West Bank was the perfect combination to peak the interest of the attendees and help us prepare for the upcoming election season. Comments from those in attendance ranged from "What a wonderful idea" to "I would like to learn more". Well, whether you attended or not you can learn more. A two day Strategic Negotiation course is being given this coming weekend (30Jun-1Jul). Contact Nora Ott at GBCM (www.globe-college.com) n.ott@globe-college.com.

Our July meeting will take place on Wednesday the 11th of July at 7pm at EineWeltHaus. The theme of the meeting will be open discussion and future planning.

2. Summer Social Events Calendar

8th of July: 4th of July Party at Waldwirtschaft. http://www.waldwirtschaft.de/

14th of July: Chili cook-off and cookie bake-off at The Zar Bar. http://www.chilicookoff.de

22nd July: Bike trip along the Isar

11th August: Hiking for the whole family

Late August: DAG Munich Chapter day at the flea market to benefit our Get Out The Vote effort. Join us to sell some of your unwanted items, make some money and then donate any or all of your proceeds to our GOTV effort.

Contact me if you would like to take part in any of the above events.

Due to limited interest, the rafting event has been taken off the agenda. A fund raising BBQ is tentatively planned for late September.

3. Committee Planning Meeting Notes

We had a lovely day and discussion. The take home notes are as follows:

The Welcome Wagon Outreach/GOTV project: We set a target of putting together 500 packets. Items sought will be information, maps, coupons, the envelopes and anything else that would benefit a new arrival. This will feed into our GOTV activities starting this fall. Time frame to have the first packets ready for distribution will be September/October.

Press: An info and press release sheet will be ready for the 4th of July party. A feature article in a local magazine is being prepared for fall publication. Any and all press contacts need to be fostered as things will start to heat up rather quickly starting now.

Social Functions: In addition to the above Summer happenings, a wine tasting event is in the cards for the Fall as well as our annual Happy Holidays party.

Future: In 2008, we are looking to set up booths at the Newcomer's Fest and similar events. We are also thinking about putting together another 4th of July event in the vein of what we had at the Amerika Haus two years ago. That event broke all the records and it would be nice to repeat that in the middle of the campaign season. Volunteers are needed now! Contact me if you would like to take part in helping to organize an event or join a committee.

4. Donations

Folks, Democrats Abroad Germany have an ambitious agenda to publicize our Vote From Abroad website (http://www.votefromabroad.org) as well as the Global Primary that Democrats Abroad will be holding in February. We need to get the word out and that costs money. Your donations will help us advertise in Munich, in Bavaria, in all of Germany and increase our voting numbers from Americans Abroad in Germany and everywhere. Any contribution great or small will go a long way to helping us to Get Out The Vote! Contact me directly or go to the secure website https://secure.democratsabroad.org/contribute/sustaining.php to make your contribution count.

Randy Caldwell
Munich Chapter Chair - Democrats Abroad Germany
Questions or comments are appreciated.
DA-Munich <at> dems-abroad DOT com

Why is the approval-ratings for the Democratically-controlled Congress even lower than Bush's? I just seen a report that says the Dem's approval ratings are at 14%! That really sucks.

Dear Democrats Around the World,

This is Wednesday Wire No. 103, 27 June 2007

There will be no Wednesday Wire next week, No. 104 will appear 11 July

Topics This Week:

1. It’s time to select the site for the 2008 DA Global Caucus.

2. The Republicans are in deep trouble – a potpourri of calamities

3. Rudy, Mitt, and John – The Top Tier is sinking fast

4. Three Supreme Court Decisions and what they portend for the Roberts Court

5. State By State

6. Reading Recommendations

And Finally…

1. It’s time to select the site for the 2008 DA Global Caucus. With the Delegate Selection Plan on its way to the DNC for review and approval, the next step for overseas Democrats is the selection of the site for the Global (and possibly one or more regional) caucuses. The deadline for expressing your favorites was 3 pm today and the choices were (alphabetically): Bali, Brussels, Malta, Montreal, Stockholm, Vancouver, Warsaw, Other. The winner is…no, you have to wait for Christine to announce it.

2. The Republicans are in deep trouble – a potpourri of calamities. In the past two weeks, the number of Republican calamities, bad press, loony occurrences have been phenomenal. A few examples:

a. Bush invites the 100+ winners of the Presidential Scholars Program to the White House and 50 signed a hand-written letter asking the president to end the torture of American prisoners. The President read the letter immediately and then announced that the US does not torture anyone. The kids see right through this guy.

b. Dick Cheney announces that he is not part of the Executive Branch and gets the triple whammy – harsh and sarcastic treatment from Oberman, Stewart and Colbert. The White House deputy press secretary calls the whole issue “a serious constitutional question’ while most commentators call the assertion ‘absurd’ and ‘silly.’ All this to avoid having to follow the President’s Executive Order on the handling and destruction of classified materials.

c. The next day, President Bush announces that he doesn’t have to follow his own Executive Orders either, but doesn’t claim that he is not a part of the branch of government he heads. The Executive Order specifically applies to every part of the Executive branch that has classified materials – no exceptions listed.

d. Sally Quinn of the Washington Post claims that Republican Senators, led by John Warner of Virginia, will ask Cheney to step down for health reasons and then push to have Bush name Fred Thompson Vice President. Cheney will have his pacemakere replaced this summer. It would be hard to imagine that the House and Senate, would agree to vote for Thompson, since he would instantly become the nominee-designee for the GOP.

e. Richard Lugar announces on the Senate floor that he no longer supports the ‘surge’ in Iraq and Senator Voinovich of Ohio follows suit. The trickle of Republicans breaking ranks with Bush may become a flood. House conservatives, angry with the president over the immigration bill, are suggesting that they might not support Bush on Iraq anymore either if the immigration bill passes.

f. J. Steven Griles, former No. 2 in the Interior Dept was sentenced to 10 months in prison for lying to Congress about his relationship to Abramoff. Meanwhile Congressman John Doolittle of CA is getting closer to being indicted for his.

g. Latest polling shows Bush approval between 26 and 32%, lows in every poll; support for the was at 30-67 in CNN/Gallop poll (which notoriously shows higher for Republicans and Bush than other polls) and that young Americans identity themselves more and more as Democrats and liberal on the issues. For the first time, a majority of Americans believe the Iraq war to be morally wrong 54-42. But 41%, an increase of 5% since 2005, believe Saddam Hussein masterminded 9/11. Go figure. Meanwhile, Republicans account for 25% of the electorate, Independents 34 and Democrats 35.

It goes on and on…including the fact that SMU, my alma mater, will host the Bush library. Although no formal announcement has been made, architectural bid proposals (only for SMU) have been requested from 11 firms; decision by 30 July.

3. Rudy, Mitt, and John – The Top Tier is sinking fast. It’s not looking much better for the Republican big three:

a. Rudy really had a bad week:

(1) . His South Carolina campaign manager was indicted of federal charges of cocaine distribution. Tom was replaced by his father, former congressman Arthur Ravenel, who once called the NAACP the “National Association of Retarded People� and then apologized to mentally handicapped support groups for comparing them to African Americans. The mainstream press is picking up this story; this may be a “Mocaca� moment for Giuliani unless he quickly fires Ravenel, who was heading up the whole southern operation for Rudy.

(2) Giuliani, it was revealed this week, refused to attend meetings of the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group last autumn, of which he was a member and later replaced for his lack of interest.

(3) New York Mayor, Mike Bloomberg, whom Rudy supported in Bloomberg’s bids for election, resigned from the Republican Party this week to possibly make an independent bid for President.

(4) A close Giuliani friend, former Monsignor and Catholic priest Alan Placa is working for Guiliani’s security consulting firm. Child advocates are demanding he be fired by Rudy since Placa was defrocked by the church for sexual misconduct with children.

(5) Christine Todd Whitman, former NJ Governor and EPA chief, told Congress this week that she had demanded that Giuliani instruct emergency cleanup workers at the World Trade Center to wear protective masks and clothing, which Rudy refused to do, according to her testimony. (It’s hard to know the truth here, Whitman was earlier quoted to the effect that there was no danger at the Trade Center; hundreds of former rescue workers have suffered crippling lung injuries from working there, many have died.)

b. Mitt Romney is having problems of his own. He raised $21 million in the first quarter, has reduced the expected figure for Q2 to $14 and admitted to the press that some of it will be his own money; how much we will know next week. In January he told reporters that having to give to his own campaign would be a “nightmare’ for his chances. In the meantime, conservative religious leaders are continuing to say that they will not support a Mormon for president. Mitt has been pushing hard for fundamentalist support as the ‘conservative’ challenger to Giuliani and McCain.

c. Big John is in deep trouble. His support in Iowa and Nevada has slipped into the single digits, not that far ahead of Mike Huckabee. He continues to downplay his fundraising problems (he might not make $10 million this quarter) and newspapers are reporting that he may drop out by the fall. Some sites are asking readers to name the first drop out in the GOP field and McCain is getting a lot of mention. The two “I’s� Iraq and Immigration are killing his chances.

Meanwhile Fred Thompson sits in the wings, but some are questioning whether he has the fire in the belly to make the race. All of this is making Gingrich’s playbook look good, unless Huckabee or Brownback become major candidates.

4. Three Supreme Court Decisions and what they portend for the Roberts Court. A new 5-4 split has emerged on the court and the bad guys are winning every time. This week there were three decisions that suggest we may be faced with a right leaning court for some time:

a. In FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, the court struck down the donor provisions of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law regarding corporate, union and interest group funding of political ads before an election. So long as the ad does not advocate the election of a person, the ad cannot be stopped from appearing 30 days before a primary or 60 days before an election as the law had required. The ads can be against a candidate by name. Thomas and Alioto opined that they would have voted to overturn McCain-Feingold in its entirety. The decision is seen as a huge victory for corporations. Expect a lot more TV advertising next year.

b. In a case involving the first amendment speech rights of high school students, the court rules that those rights take second place to the school’s right to stop speech that might favor illegal drug use. Thomas and Scalia opined that they did not think students had any free speech rights in the school to begin with.

c. In a third case, the court overturned the legal exception for citizens to file lawsuits against government agencies spending practices that applied to religious issues. The net effect of the decision is that Bush’s Faith-based initiatives are protected from citizen legal challenges under the provisions of the constitutional mandates regarding the separation of church and state.

Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alioto and Kennedy are coming together to form a conservative block that may overturn many liberalizing decisions made by the courts over the past 50 years. The most reluctant member of the group is Kennedy, who in the student free speech case was influenced by the fact that illegal drug use might have been the motive for the student sign display as the Olympic torch passed through Juneau, Alaska. Scalia, Thomas and Alioto are hard-core; Roberts slightly less so.

5. State By State.

CALIFORNIA. The state Republican Party is being run by Illegal Aliens!! It is (was) true. The Political Director was a Canadian who had no previous experience, but who was hired under a special provision of the immigration laws that gave temporary work authorizations to those who have special skills (H-1B visa). The Chief Operations Office for the party was an Australian who was ordered to be deported in 2001, served a month in prison before filing a wrongful arrest suit. This may not be too surprising, remember that the Republican governor is a former Austrian, who illegally owned and operated a construction business before become a famous body builder, actor and Kennedy in-law.

NORTH CAROLINA. Last fall, Larry Kissel came within 329 votes of defeating right wing screwball Robin Hayes in NC-08. Larry managed to do this without help from the DCCC, who were not impressed with Larry’s money raising abilities. But his ‘on the ground’ activist campaign attracted a lot hard working folks and this time around the DCCC has announced that it will fully fund Kissel’s rematch with Hayes, touting a new approach that takes account of ‘movement’ as well as money. This may be good news for activists all across the country. In the meantime some bad news, NC-13 Congressman Brad Miller has announced that he will not challenge Elizabeth Dole in the Senate race next year. Miller is the fourth major NC Dem not to take on the very vulnerable Dole. Unless a solid, experienced candidate can be found, Dole will win reelection.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. Among the Senate races that are of great interest to Democrats is that held by John Sununu. Katrina Swett is running for the seat. Her claim to fame is her chairing of the 2004 Joe Lieberman for President campaign and her assertion that being anti-war was a “sin� when she supported Joe against Ned Lamont last year. After Joe held a fundraiser for Republican Senator Susan Collins, Katrina saw her chance to distance herself from her “good friend� Joe and contribute to Representative Tom Allen’s campaign in neighboring Maine. Swett is seen by the liberal blogosphere as a disaster in the making if she wins the nomination and the news that Jeanne Shaheen is seriously considering a rematch with Sununu has the state party and activists buzzing.

VIRGINIA. Speculation is growing that Republican Senator John Warner will not run for re-election, but will wait to announce that fact so that VA-11 Republican congressman Tom Davis can set himself up as the prohibitive favorite for the GOP nomination. George “Mocaca� Allen has already announced that he will not run, but former Gov Gilmore (once he drops out of the presidential race) and other Republicans are interested, so expect a primary battle. If John does drop out, Mark Warner, for former popular Governor and one-time top tier Democratic presidential candidate, will make the race for us.

WYOMING. Dem Gov. Dave Freudenthal, as expected, did not challenge the constitutionality of the state law that required him to appoint the Republican Party choice to replace the late Craig Thomas. Freudenthal chose state Senator John Barrasso to fill the remaining term and Barrasso immediately announced that he would run to fill out the four remaining years of Thomas’ term in 2008. That makes two Senatorial election in Wyoming next year, but we will be pressed to win one of them. Barrasso is totally conservative, – anti government tax cutter, anti gay, anti abortion, anti-environment, thinks talk of global warming is ‘Gore rhetoric� a NRA “A list� gun enthusiast.

6. Reading Recommendations. Recommendations 5-8 below are the four part series that appeared in the Washington Post from Sunday to today on Dick Cheney. A major breakthrough for the corporate press and particularly for the Washington Post.

a. “A 10-Step Plan for Antiwar Activists� by Bruce K. Gagnon at

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17880.htm

b. “Hamas May Find It Needs Its Enemy� by Craig S. Smith and Greg Myre at

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/weekinre...agewanted=print

c. “ Justices Loosen Ad Restrictions in Campaign Law “ by Linda Greenhouse and David Kirkpatrick at

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/washingt...agewanted=print

d. “The Progressive Case Against the Immigration Bill� by Trapper John at

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/25/73229/6647 . Bush has been complimented by Democrats for his push for immigration reform that includes steps to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Here’s another look at other aspects of the proposed new law that might not be so good. Germany has had problems for many years with groups who can’t become citizens for one reason or another; perhaps a lesson to be learned.

e. 'A Different Understanding With the President' by Barton Gellman and Jo Becker at http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chapters/chapter_1/ Read e through h in sequence.

f. “Pushing the Envelope on Presidential Power� by Barton Gellman and Jo Becker at http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chap...elope_on_presi/

g. “A Strong Push From Backstage� by Jo Becker and Barton Gellman at

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chap...rom_back_stage/

h. “Leaving No Tracks� by Jo Becker and Barton Gellman at http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chap...ving_no_tracks/

And Finally…

Some other Republican Senators have indicated they no longer support the president on Iraq, but Lugar holds the unchallenged position as Republican guru on foreign policy matters. His defection, which does not yet include withdrawal deadlines, is significant.

"In my judgment, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved," Lugar, R-Ind., said in a Senate floor speech. "Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."

Best regards,

John McQueen

Heidelberg, Germany

www.wednesdaywire.com

Did you really think I wouldn’t push the Sustaining Donor program this week? Only 17 months to Election Day, only 7 months to the DA party-run primary. Start your sustaining contribution now if you haven’t already done so. Time is getting short and the work we need to do, which takes money to do, starts now.

https://secure.democratsabroad.org/contribute/sustaining.php

So why are the polls of the Democratic-Congress so low? Their approval ratings suck. 14% given an error margin of 4 percent, only 10% of the American people think the Dem are doing ok! 90% think they suck! Of course Harry "Loser" Reid has to be a big cause. The Dems haven't done squat! Face it, Americans, at least the good majority of 'em, can't stand the liberal agenda.

Jackie Broyles '08!

What time does the party start at the Wawi? Are kids welcome?

From the AGBC site: https://www.jambit.com/agbc/index.jsp

Algore blasts Bush for ignoring Iraq's ties to terrorists and disregarding Iraq's attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

I agree BadBob, once I take a position, I hold onto it no matter what intervening information has appeared.

It is a little bit late for these Dems to be trying to take the moral highground against the President, don't you think? You don't get "do-overs."

Algore III just got busted for drugs.

Get the fuck off this thread BadBob!

For those that asked:
It starts at 12 and yes kids are welcome. They have a pretty cool playground and a mini-golf course next door.
-Randy

Truth hurts doesn't it?

You gotta alot of balls telling someone where they can post or not.

Is it too late to register for the 4th of july party tomorrow? I would still love to come!!!

No, it is never too late. See you tomorrow at the WaWi.

Bush and Cheney should resign.

Oh! So that's how the Democrats operate.
We used to say things like that at primary school
As my dear departed motherwouldsay: "Up the Republicans every time!"

An Inconvenient Truth is on ProSieben in German right now.

Democrats don't like being challenged by the Republicans or by anyone else for that matter. If too many questions are asked then you start to see that the Democrats really have no clue what they want apart from "not being a Republican".. I am so looking forward to the elections in 2008. Let's see if the Democrats can, once again, snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It will mean 4 more years of those damn Republicans but, to be honest, I do not know what would be worse.

Beautiful day for a 4th of July party at the WaWi. See you there.

11th July: monthly meeting at 7pm at EineWeltHaus

22nd July: Bike trip along the Isar

8th August: monthly meeting at 7pm at EineWeltHaus

11th August: Hiking for the whole family

Late August: DAG Munich Chapter day at the flea market to benefit our Get Out The Vote effort. Join us to sell some of your unwanted items, make some money and then donate any or all of your proceeds to our GOTV effort.

Contact me if you would like to take part in any of the above events.

Upcoming Meetings at EineWeltHaus

08Aug07, 7pm: Working meeting specifically dealing with the “Welcome Wagon� project and our fall GOTV kickoff.

12Sep07, 7pm: The start of the primary season will feature prominently. If you would like to speak for a Democratic candidate of your choice at one of our fall meetings, then contact me ASAP.

Please RSVP for the August meeting to DA-Munich@dems-abroad.com

Summer Social Events Calendar

22nd July: The bike trip along the Isar has been replaced by a day of American football. Join us at Dante Stadium to watch the Munich Cowboys play the Wiesbaden Phantoms at 2:30. The cost of the game is 7 Euros and after the game we will either celebrate in the stadium or go to a nearby beer garden.

11th August: Hiking for the whole family.

Late August: DAG Munich Chapter day at the flea market to benefit our GOTV effort. You can join us or donate directly.

RSVP to DA-Munich@dems-abroad.com if you plan to take part in any of these activities.

Upcoming Events

July 23 CNN/YouTube/Google debate from Charleston, South Carolina.
This will be shown live online and you can submit a question!

The deadline for submitting your question via YouTube is July 22nd (and the sooner the better). This is a great opportunity for us -- please remember to say that you are a member of Democrats Abroad when mentioning your name and hometown. To submit your question, go to www.democrats.org/a/2007/06/ask_the_candida.php.

Please let us know if you have sent in a question and if you hear whether it will be used or not.

Upcoming schedules debates:
• August 19, 2007: ABC in Des Moines, IA
• September 26, 2007: NBC News/MSNBC in Hannover, NH
• October 30, 2007: NBC News/MSNBC in Philadelphia, PA
• November 15, 2007: CNN in Las Vegas, NV
• December 10, 2007: CBS in Los Angeles, CA