Feingold, Sheehan, Hightower and Van Os in Austin next week

[PDittie]

Austin is the epicenter for Democratic and progressive activists next week.



David Van Os' "Citizens' Filibuster for a Fair and Constitutional Education" begins Monday April 17 at high noon for 24 hours straight on the Capitol grounds -- the same day that the Lege goes back into session for the fifth time (or is it the sixth?) in order to solve the pressing dilemma of funding public education in Texas. Many other local and statewide political candidates will be attending and participating.

You can catch Cindy Sheehan at the UT east mall (near the statue of MLK) between 11 and 12:15 on Monday the 17th for a rally with the Cameo anti-war folks.

And Senator Russ Feingold will have a listening session with CD-21 candidate John Courage at the UT Student Union Quadrangle on Tuesday, April 18 at 12:30 pm, and a rally beginning at 7:30 pm for Courage supporters at Jovita's, 1619 S. First Street, where Jim Hightower as well as Feingold and Courage will speak.

All these are open to the public and free of charge. I'll see you at all three events next week. Stop by and say hi to me.

[acmejack]

1. I will.

I look forward to seeing you there, PD. This sounds like a killer week in Austin, I will be there looking to record the festivities for posterity's sake. So bring your smile...

[Horse with no Name]

2. Astounding.

Wish I could be there.:(

[Trevelyan]

3. K&R Feingold sounded discouraged in a letter he sent but just gave the

basic timeframe of his attempt to filibuter the Patriot Act and being foiled by a procedual manuever. Russ siad that "Althugh the reauthorization process is now complete, I will continue to work to improve the Patriot Act. I am a cosponsor of S2369, bipartisan legislation introduced on March 6, 2006, BY Senator ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA) that basically consists of the four amendments to S.2271 that I was not permitted to call up for a vote."

Color me surprised that after the Censure animousity with Specter that Arlen co-sponsored a bill with Feingold. I hope that between the two of them SOME effort will be made to preserve our civil liberties.

[Trevelyan]

4. Building Support - the Feingold way

Written by ilya S Sunday, 09 April 2006

Senator Feingold is slowly gaining allies in the effort to censure President Bush. First Sen. Boxer and Sen. Harkin signed on saying that they completely support Feingold resolution. Then, during the Judiciary Committee Hearings, Sen. Leahy of Vermont said he would be inclined to support censure. Now, it looks like John Kerry is also on board:

Former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., told CNN Thursday he's also inclined to support a censure.

"I think the hearings are appropriate, and I would be prepared to vote for it" if it's shown the president did not follow the requirements of the law," said Kerry, referring to the hearings that have been held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

And, Sen. Feingold is just getitng started. He recently told the press that:

And in the last few days, Feingold said he's heard from other Democratic senators who have told him that their constituents are asking why they haven't publicly supported a censure resolution.

This is how you pass common sense resolutions and build support. You reach out directly to the public and explain your resolution, then you let other Senators make up their minds as the legislation winds its way through the process. Remember, while Sen. Feingold was the 1st Senator to call for Iraqi withdrawal, all but four of the Dems voted for a timeframe soon thereafter. And, while Sen. Feingold was the only US Senator to vote against the Patriot Act, he was joined last December by so many Senators that they sucessfully forced changes to be made in the Patriot Act extension. There was also a time when Campaign Finance Reform wasn't popular, but then Feingold helped make it common sense legislation.

Feingold knows how to lead his fellow Democrats. Let's have him lead the country in 2008.

Please sign Censure Petition: http://www.tomharkin.com/nl/CensurePetition.htm

[PDittie]

5. And also Barack Obama on Tuesday the 18th!

Texas Young Professionals invites you to a reception for
Hopefund, Senator Barack Obama's Leadership Fund

Tuesday, April 18, 2006
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Nuevo Leon Restaurant
1501 E. 6th Street
Austin , TX 78702
Cash bar and appetizers
$500 Host
$25 Admission
Make checks payable to Hopefund
RSVP to hopefundamerica.com/austin
or [phone]

Hie thee to Austin, people...