Bush Coming To Westfield

[Suziq]

He will be at the armory this coming Friday spreading his usual Social Security lies. Oh joy . . . .

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1109428281224760.xml?starledger?nnj


:hippie:

[PunkPop]

1. What a waste.

Of space. Of time. Of money.

Like the visits of a snake-oil salesman in the old west.

[jfdunphy]

2. Not just a social security campaign--this is Republican re-election effort

You have to understand that this is all about politics--not just social security. The Republicans used the send off of the troops as basically a campaign rally for Republicans. The troops may not have up-armored humvees, but they certainly had to fill an auditorium to listen--with their families in the back rows--to local Republicans talk about the Republican Platform just before the national presidential election. I was an eyewitness to this use of the Defense Dept. budget for campaign purposes (It was a mandatory formation, and the soldiers were on the payroll).
This Social Security campaign is more of the same--a national issue allows the top brass in the administration the ability to go on whistle-stop tours all over the country--without dipping into their rather large campaign coffers. The aim is supposedly to show high level support for local Republicans.
But--like his father's lack of common touch--fumbling at the grocery line, W's choice of Social Security as an issue shows a bit of a political tin ear. What isn't obvious in the beltway is that as companies downsize, and torch the middle-class, people realize that they have to dip into savings to get their kids through college, and keep their parents out of a nursing home, and are finding that their pensions and social security combined can not keep up with the creativity of the medical profession in draining the bank accounts of the middle class.
Anyone who has looked seriously at the economics of paying for a nursing home has seen the future.

[cobaindrain]

3. bah gawd, didn't you hear!?!?

social security will be bankrupt by next tuesday!

[jarnocan]

4. Some info on Bush protest in Westfield, NJ Fri. AM.

415 Mountain Avenue,(North side of town-near Presbyterian Church) the train station, and the cornor of Grove and Rahway are places people will be gathering around 9-9:30 AM to walk toward the Armory at 500 Rahway Ave. I live near Grove ST.

Remind your friends in NY and elsewhere that Westfield is just a short train ride away!!

Westfield is on the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line. You can get here in 45 minutes from NY (Via Path, Northeast Corridor line, or North Jersey Coast line, connect to the Raritan Valley Line at Newark Penn Station).

--Catch the Northeast Corridor at NY Penn Sta at 8:29 AM to get to Westfield at 9:15 AM (connect to Raritan Valley Line at 8:55 AM).

-- Catch the 9:37 AM Northeast Corridor to get to Westfield at 10:26 AM.

For schedules from other stations, see NJ Transit Station to Station

The station in Westfield is a half a mile from the Armory, which is at 500 Rahway Avenue. mapquest

Driving directions from the Garden State Parkway here.

We need you to Show Up!! Bring everyone you can on Friday Morning!. For news, sign suggestions, and so on you can point people to this discussion thread. Here's the link to give out:

http://dfa.meetup.com/55 3/boards/view/viewthread?thread=1247676

NJCA will meet at the corner of Grove Street and Rahway Ave at 9:00am to rally in response to President Bush's talk. Please arrive on time as security will be tight. Parking is available on Grove Street, carpooling is encouraged.
( Grove St. will likely be fill up but there are many other streets before Rahway (you might want to puch in 500 Rahway on Mapquest and bring it with you)

[Kire]

5. next tuesday?

see you then

[Kire]

6. Change of Rally Location in Westfield

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=167x1540

[jarnocan]

7. Grove St. and Rahway

across from Edison middle school (on Rahway) . Thanks!
One thing good - we are suppose to all shovel our sidewalks. Best wishes!!!!
School is #800. Armory 500 but not that far-10min.? the Armory is across from the High School-I would not try to drive past the Armory of course- use side streets, see map quest. Not too far walk to this area from station too.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi jarnocan!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cornus]

8. Latest Change: Clark St. & North Ave.

From the latest email:

Location Update for Friday’s Bush Visit
Please note: Due to the size of the expected crowd at tomorrow’s anti-privatization rally, the location has been moved. The new location is Clark St. and North Ave in Westfield. We apologize for any inconvenience.

This location is about 1 block away from the Westfield Train Station on the Raritan Valley Line. See you tomorrow!

[name not needed]

9. Is he gone yet?

I'm sick of him stinking up my neck of the woods.

[Kire]

10. NJ Rapid Response - Bush Visits Westfield

Issue: Coverage of Bush’s Visit to Westfield to Mislead on Social Security



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(NOTE: to read or write eyewitness reports of the protest in Westfield yesterday, go to:

http://www.dumpmike.com/2005/03/open_thread_for.html



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STAR LEDGER COVERAGE:



Here’s the Ledger story about the protest, from page five.



http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1110003137304980.xml?starledger?nnj



It leads off with a self-described “soccer mom” who is against Bush’s plan for SocSec.



The lead story on the front page: President Pitches Revamp to Jerseyans is not yet available on the web so get the paper today!. The first paragraph described the audience as “friendly”, but the second noted that those chosen to actually participate were “handpicked”. The third paragraph indicated that tickets were obtained only through local Repub organizations.



Action: write the Ledger at [e-mail]

Or write other NJ papers/outlets to comment on Bush’s visit and the protest:

Links to other NJ newspapers: http://www.njdems.org/lte.php

http://www.capwiz.com/lwv/dbq/media/?command=state_search&state=nj





SUGGESTED FRAMING:



There are a number of possible LTE angles here for any paper that covered the event. Choose your own angle, or craft a letter based on the following.



First sentence says the audience was “friendly”. Well, of course they were friendly – they were all picked by the White House or local Republicans.
No wonder there was a protest by hundreds of people as this Adminstration-described “conversation” was by invitation-only. How can a leader claim to represent his nation when he won’t even allow anyone with a dissenting opinion in the room? Note appreciatively (when appropriate) if the article provided the view of people the Republicans don’t see fit to converse with in a “public forum”
Point out that even with the hand-picked audience, Bush didn’t take questions! They did quote a number of attendees who don’t buy his plan. It seems that Bush’s plan is so bad that even his hand-picked true believers can’t be trusted to ask a question!
Bush said: “I didn’t run for office to dodge problems”. Ignoring the obvious fact that Bush has created or worsened most of the problems the nation now faces, why not point out that Medicare and the budget deficit are far worse, and much more imminent, crises?
Suggest that the budget deficit and Medicare need help first: start by repealing the tax cut on the most wealthy. After that, why not consider a “wealth tax” before more regressive taxes are put in place.
Ask when is Bush going to explain how removing money from the Social Security system, and borrowing trillions, will strengthen Social Security or the economy? Suggest that perhaps Bush is more interested in ending Social Security than reforming it.
Ask when the Republicans and Bush are going to explain to foreign investors who have invested heavily in T-bills that these self-same Treasury bonds that back Social Security are “worthless IOUs’? Do we have a problem here much larger than the President is letting on?
Even supporters of the president at the event were not able to muster much enthusiasm for his plan other than saying that they support private accounts. Remind readers that private accounts exist currently for anyone who wants to invest in a ROTH IRA or Mutual Fund.
Bush spoke about Social Security as an investment plan in which you place “your money”. Correct the president: Social Security is a national insurance plan in which one generation supports the security of its elders across the board. It was never envisioned as a personal investment plan, but a safety net for all.
Pick a comment from a pro-Social Security reformer and counter it. Ammo can be found at “how to talk to a conservative about social security” article: http://www.alternet.org/story/21244/
The Courier News also covered the story extensively.



COURIER-NEWS, Bridgewater, NJ
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HEADLINE OF THIS EDITORIAL IS POORLY WRITTEN AND IS MISLEADING. THE PIECE SHOWS STRONG DOUBTS ON THE BUSH PLAN:
EDITORIAL: Half a debate is not better than none
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/OPINION01/503040365/1009
"OUR POSITION: President Bush should be doing more than promoting Social Security privatization; the costs of putting such a system in place should be at the core of the debate."

ACTION:

Send positive remarks on this editorial to: [e-mail]



Other C-N stories:
Nine arrested in Westfield as Bush touts Social Security overhaul
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS/50304004

Central Jerseyans have questions, thoughts for Bush - QUOTES FROM SEVERAL PLAINFIELD RESIDENTS
President visits Westfield today to discuss Social Security reform.
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS/503040301

President's visit a tightly orga nized, choreographed event
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS/50304002



BERGEN RECORD: Nice article with lots of citizen quotes criticizing Bush:

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http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NjYyMTE1JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==



ACTION: Thank them for printing the points of view of people not allowed to converse with the president: Author was Tom Davis at [e-mail]



TIRED YET?



Back to the Ledger: They published a fine editorial on the need to “Balance Security and Rights”

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1110003369304980.xml?starledger?oed



ACTION: write [e-mail] or [e-mail] (readerrep takes comments not intended for publication)



Thank them for understanding that one of the basic rights for which the American Revolution was fought was to protect citizens from unlawful detention. The Bush Administration cannot use 9/11 to force a de facto repeal of articles 5 and 6 of the Bill of Rights.





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