The Pennsylvania Progressive

Upcoming BuxMont Events

CALENDAR - (Daily/Weekly Events at the end)

1. Thursday, November 1, 7:30 PM -  Montco DFA meeting at Jenkintown 
Library at 460 Old York Rd, Jenkintown. Call Kevin at 215-559-4389 for
 info. 
(1st Thurs) Due to ongoing renovations at the library, our Monthly
 Meeting will 
be held at Allyson Schwartz's Campaign Office at 201 Leedom St in
 Jenkintown 
where we'll be phonebanking for the Democratic County candidates. 

2. Friday November 2, 7 PM - First Friday Film Forum at The Peace 
Center, Maple and Bellvue Aves in Langhorne. This month we will be
 showing 
"Hacking Democracy", a HBO documentary that takes a �non-partisan
 look 
at the secrecy, cronyism, and incompetence� of elections in America
 today 
and the citizen�s movement in progress to take back elections and
 democracy 
itself. Contact Linda at [email protected] or call 215-702-8387
 for info.

3.  Saturday November 3, 1:30-4:30 PM - American Friends Service 
Committee Annual Public Gathering at PA Convention Center, 1101 Arch
 Street, 
Philadelphia, Keynote Speaker: Joan Countryman, founding headmistress
 of 
the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa. Joan has spent
 more 
than 30 years as an innovator educator in Quaker schools. Free and open
 
to the public. Reception at 3:00 p.m.

4a. Tuesday November 6 - ELECTION DAY

4b. Tuesday November 6, 7 PM- Cluster Bomb Speakers' Tour at  East
 Chestnut 
Street Mennonite Church at 432 E. Chestnut St. in Lancaster. Speakers
 from Laos 
and Lebanon will talk about how cluster bombs have affected their lives
 and provide 
information about the use of cluster bombs in their countries. For more
 info 
email [email protected] or call 717-859-1151 

5. Wednesday, November 7, 7 PM -  Philly for Change Meeting 
at Tritone at 1508 South Street, Phila. 

6a. Thursday November 8, 7 PM - Films That Make You Think at Grove
 United 
Methodist Church 490 West Boot Road, West Chester Pa. "Everyone's
 Child" 
is aboutthe millions of children orphaned in Africa by AIDS or civil
 wars. 
Susan Brodessar of HOMEAID for Africa (http://www.homeaidforafrica.org)
 
will be present to lead the discussion.For more info call Renate
 Haeckler at 
610-344-3434 or email [email protected] 

6b. Thursday November 8, 7-8:30 PM - Northwest Greens Membership 
MeetingWeaver's Way Meeting Room 610 Carpenter Lane (near Greene 
Street) in West Mount Airyin Phila. For more info call 215-843-4256 or 
email [email protected] (2nd Thurs)

6c. Thursday November 8, 6:30-9 PM  - Bucks County Sierra Club monthly 
meeting at Doylestown library (Pearl Buck Room). For more info call 
215-470-2709 or email [email protected] (2nd Thurs). 

6d. Thursday November 8, 10 AM - Bucks County Commissioners' Meeting 
at the Bucks County Courthouse Community Room (1st Floor) at 55 E.
 Court 
Street in Doylestown, PA 

6e. Thursday November 8, 9:30 AM - Montgomery County Commissioners, 
Salary Board, and Election Board Meeting in Norristown on the 8th
 Floor, 
One Montgomery Plaza. For more info go to http://www.montcopa.org

7. Friday-Sunday November 9-11  - Workshop on "Exploring the
 Possibilities 
of Peace in Our Lives" (Sun 4-9, Sat 9-7, Sun 1-6) at Friendship House
 at 
2615 N. 4th Street Phila. Register by Oct. 26 - $10. For more info call
 
Jorge at 215-421-5811 or email [email protected]

8. Saturday November 10, - Democracy for America Conference 
Paterno Library, Penn State Campus, Curtin Rd., University Park, PA
For info, see http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id-23984

9. Sunday November 11, 4:30 PM - Brandywine Peace Community Monthly 
Potluck Supper & Program at University Lutheran Church, 3637 Chestnut 
Street, Phila.  Bring main dish, salad, or dessert to share. For more
 info call 
610-544-1818 or email [email protected] or write PO Box 81,
 Swarthmore, 
PA 19081  http://www.brandywinepeace.com       (2nd Sunday)

10. Sunday November 11 -  "Stopping Nuclear Terrorism and
 Proliferation." 
Conference in Princeton NJ with world class speakers. For more info and
 to register go to
 -http://www.peacecoalition.org/action/cfpa/071111_annualconferencepeace.aspx 

11. Monday November 12, 7 PM - SPQ Progressives meeting at 
Sellersville/Perkasie Library.  Call Tom at 215-258-3894 or email 
[email protected] for more info. 

12. Tuesday November 13 - Bucks NAACP General Membership Meeting 
at Yardley Makefield Library. For more info call 215-639-2466 or email 
[email protected] and check http://www.bucksnaacp.org

13. Friday November 16, 7 PM - Third Friday Film Series at United 
Christian Church 8525 New Falls Rd., Levittown, PA. For more 
information, contact the church office at 215-946-6800 or go 
to http://www.ucclevittown.org  

14. Fri- Sun, November 16-18 - School of the Americas Protest in Fort
 Benning 
Georgia. Go to School of the Americas Watch web site 
at http://www.SOAW.org | 202-234-3440 | 

15. Sunday Nobember 18,  7 PM - Montco Progressives meeting. 
Contact Tom at 215-881-9401 for more information. (3rd Sun)

16. Monday November 19, 5:30-9 PM - World Affairs Council (Phila)
 Speakers 
Series "Iran - What Next?" with Barbara Slavin (USA Today) and Scott
 Ritter 
at Union League 140 S Broad Street Phila. (Dinner and program $65/$75 ,
 
program only $20/$25 ) For info call 215-561-4700 or email
 [email protected]

17. Tuesday November 20, 7:15 PM - Bucks County chapter of The 
NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE meets at Doylestown Friends Meetinghouse, 
95 East Oakland Avenue, Doylestown. You are heartily welcome to join
 us.  
For information call Carol Miller at 215-345-1714 or
 [email protected]. 
It is a nonpartisan unarmed peacekeeping force composed of trained 
civilians from around the world. (Third Tuesday)

18. Wednesday November 21, 10 AM -  Bucks County Commissioners' Meeting
 
at the Bucks County Courthouse Community Room (1st Floor) at 55 E.
 Court Street 
in Doylestown, PA 

19. Thursday November 22, 9:30 AM - Montgomery County Commissioners, 
Salary Board, and Election Board Meeting in Norristown on the 8th
 Floor, 
One Montgomery Plaza. For more info go to http://www.montcopa.org

20. Tuesday November 27, 6:30-9:30 PM - Peacemaker Training sponsored
 by 
Chester County Peace Movement at 2nd Presbyterian Church, 114 S. Walnut
 
Street in West Chester. Pre-register by email at
 [email protected]. 
$10 donations welcome for trainer.

21. Wednesday November 28, 8 PM - Bucks Amnesty International chapter 
meeting at Clubhouse at Country Lights (Korman), 5301 Neshaminy Blvd. 
Bensalem Pa. For Bucks info call Jacquelyn at 267-243-6595 or email 
[email protected]. New local chapter is forming in Lansdale in
 
Montco. For info email Sumita at [email protected] (4th Wed)

22. Thursday November 29, 8 PM - Robert Reich speaks about his book 
"Supercapitalism: the Transformation of Business, Democracy, and
 Everyday 
life" at the Central Library of Philadelphia at 19th and Vine Streets. 
Seating begins at 7:15. Tickets required. Call 215-567-4341 for info.

23. Sunday December 2, 7 PM - Forum on Impeachment sponsored by the 
Coalition for Peace Action. This event will be held at the Bux-Mont 
Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, at  the junction of Street Rd. and
 Rt. 611 in 
Warrington.  We have lined up two outstanding speakers-- and we expect
 another 
soon-- Rob Kall, editor of Op-Ed News (and one of our own members) and
 Dave 
Lindorff, correspondent for The Nation and co-author of a much-praised
 volume 
on impeachment.  This is not an impeachment rally, but a forum on the
 history, 
meaning, and constitutional definition of impeachment, and an
 assessment of 
whether either the President or the Vice-President has committed
 impeachable offenses.
For further info, contact the Rev. Al Krass at [email protected]
 or (215) 547-2656 

24. Tuesday December 11 - Bucks NAACP General Membership Meeting 
at Bensalem Library. For more info call 215-639-2466 or email 
[email protected] Go to http://www.bucksnaacp.org

25. March 17-19, 2008 - Take Back America Conference 2008 in 
Washington DC. Go to http://www.ourfuture.org for more info.

26. June 6-8, 2008 - National Conference for Media Reform in
 Minneapolis. 
Go to http://www.freepress.net for more info

REGULAR EVENTS (Daily/Weekly) -

1. Every Monday, 5-6 PM - Newtown Peace Vigil at the corner of the 
Newtown By-Pass, route 332, and the Newtown-Richboro Road. For 
information people can call Sister Jean at 215-968-2262. 

2. Every Other Monday 6:30-7:30 PM - NAACP Youth Council Meeting at 
No Longer Bound Recreation Center on Norton Ave. in Bristol PA. 
on Norton Ave, Bristol PA (Oct 1, 15, 29)

2. Every Mon. and Thurs. at 9 PM, and Saturday at 7 PM - TV program 
"Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman on 
WYBE (Channel 20 or 35 in some areas). It's an hour interviews 
on issues of the day that are not often heard on other programs. 
You can also listen daily online at http://www.democracynow.org/

3. Every Tuesday, 6-7 PM - Doylestown Peace Vigil at the 
intersection of State and Main in Doylestown.  All are welcome to 
join us and we have signs to use if you wish.

4. Every Wednesday, 8-9 PM - "Voices of the Voters" Radio program 
on Voting Integrity and other issues which effect our rights and 
Democracy at local "Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio Station" 
WNJC 1360AM. You can get this program online at  
http://www.wnjc1360.com/Live_Netcast/live_netcast.html. 
Prior programs are archived on the website.

5a. Every Thursday, 8-9 PM - "Speak Out America ...Live" Today's 
News - Truth and Real Facts "Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio 
Station" WNJC 1360AM. You can get this program online at  
http://www.wnjc1360.com/Live_Netcast/live_netcast.html. 

5b. Every Thursday, 6-7 PM - Levittown Vigil for Peace and 
Remembrance. Meet/park at 1631 Edgely Road in Levittown 
and walk to corner of Rt. 13 and Edgely. Sponsored by PA Action. 
Call Robin at 267-240-9819 for more information.

6a. Every Friday, 9:30 PM - Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. Veteran 
journalist Bill Moyers returns to PBS with a weekly public affairs 
series. Followed at 10:30 by NOW on PBS. You can watch any 
program later at http://www.pbs.org/Moyers 
and http://www.pbs.org/NOW

6b. Every Friday, 5-5:30 PM - Phoenixville Peace Vigil at corner 
of Bridge and Main in downtown Phoenixville.

7a. Every Saturday, 10-11 AM - Sellersville Peace Vigil at Main St. 
and Temple Ave. sponsored by Upper Bucks Coalition for Peace Action. 
Call Angela at 215-257-1300 for more info.

7b. Every Saturday, 11AM-Noon - Bryn Mawr Honk to Impeach Rally 
will be held at the Lancaster Ave and Bryn Mawr Ave.  Sponsored by 
Main Line Citizens for Impeachment. Call Jane Dugdale at 610-527-4170.

8a. Every Sunday, 12-3 PM - United for Progress radio show at 
http://www.whylradio.com on WHYL 960AM Carlisle/Harrisburg. 

8b. Every Sunday 3-5 PM - VoteRescue Radio, a new weekly two-hour 
radio show streaming live on We the People Radio Network  
(100.1 FM in the Austin area and http://www.wtprn.com  on the
 internet).

9. Every evening on MSNBC at 8-9 PM -Countdown with Keith 
Olbermann. News of the day and it is worthwhile viewing if only 
for the last 10 minutes to hear his Special Commentary. 
Finally someone speaks truth to power and stands up for the 
idea of free speech and the power of ideas.

10. Every day on your computer you can listen to Thom Hartmann 
at http://www.AirAmerica.com/listen/. A progressive voice of reason. 
Live from noon to 3 PM (EST) on Air America Talk Radio.

11. New progressive on-line monthly, the Philadelphia Jewish Voice, 
an alternative to the increasingly conservative Jewish Exponent. 
Check us out at http://www.pjvoice.com

12. To contact members of Congress 
a. Call 1-800-828-0498 or 1-866-340-9281 for anyone in Congress.
b. Use this excellent link. http://www.capwiz.com/ncec/home

Santorum Takes His Hate Campaign to Penn State

Rick Santorum took his campaign of theological hate to Penn State as part of his effort to awaken people to his fear mongering of Muslims.  Warning about a non existent term he calls "Islamic Fascism," ignorant of the fact the two words are incompatible, the infamous "Man on Dog" ex-Senator insists this is the greatest threat to America.  He took his message to penn State where he was met with organized protests and opposition.

There is no such thing as "islamo Fascism."  Fascism is the takeover of a state by businesses and corporations.  Show me one capitalist Muslim country with the capability of turning fascist.  Not a single one exists.  The fear mongering based on this is typical Santorum.  The man's brain must be the size of a pea.  Nonetheless he's making a new career of scaring people about these fictional, dangerous people.  The only thing accomplished by Islamo Fascism week was the demonization of Muslims, the continued support for the military-industrial complex and the continued division of people, turning Christians against Muslims. 

No wonder they hate us.

Congratulations to the Muslim Student Association for standing up to this war mongerer and not allowing him an open platform in a return to his alma mater.  More about the event from The Daily Collegian:

"Santorum, for his part, got basic facts wrong about Islam (incorrectly calling Muhammad the "only prophet" instead of the "final prophet," for instance). He also came under the sponsorship of the conservative Young Americans for Freedom group instead of a neutral party like the Political Science Association. That doesn't exactly send a signal that he's trying to engage in an open, educational dialogue."

Waterboard Mukasey

Maybe then he can give a more definitive opinion on the "hypothetical" use of waterboarding so he can determine if it is, indeed, torture.  Following his Senate confirmation hearings he responded to a questionaire demanding a more definitive response to the question:  do you consider waterboarding torture?

Judge Michael Mukasey has been unwilling to answer this simple question.  Is it because he will, as Attorney General, violate U.S. laws and our international treaty agreements by allowing torture, inhumane treatment of prisoners and detainees and other repugnant and unAmerican practices?  His refusal to answer this question directly means he isn't qualified to be AG.   Simply replacing Alberto Gonzales with his clone is unnecessary and insane.

Vote NO on Mukasey.

Bush Protest

This is a report from Joanna Bouldin of Penn Action on Monday's protest of President Bush in Bryn Mawr.

A bunch of great pictures are available for viewing here.

On Friday afternoon Penn Action learned that President Bush would be attending a state Republican fundraiser at the home of a wealthy ultra-conservative donor in Bryn Mawr, a Main Line suburb of Philadelphia. The host, John M. Templeton, is a major funder for the right-wing group Freedom's Watch. We had approximately 100 participants, with a great range of people including seniors, veterans, college & high school students, parents of people killed in Iraq, and even a few passersby that decided to join in!
The primary location was a major intersection (Morris Ave. and Montgomery Ave.), and all four corners were packed with people and yard signs. "Support the Troops; End the War" and SCHIP related signs were the dominant message, although there was a contingent of Impeach Bush folks there as well.
An activist named Bill K came with a guitar and a PA system, so we had music to get the crowd inspired and Jeff Garis lead everyone in chants:

Ø Fund Healthcare, Not Warfare!

Ø Bush Go Home, Bush Go Home!

Ø Heath care, YES! Warfare, NO!

Ø Support the Troops, End the War!

 

Smaller contingents of protestors lined a few residential corners very close to the house that Bush was visiting, and there were even protestors on the lawn right next door! (We found out from a police officer that the S.S. called the local police and told them to remove the protestors, but the local police lieutenant replied that they were on private property at the invitation of the owner and that they would not be removing them!

 

Although Bush's motorcade was able to avoid the larger crowd at the major intersection, they were not able to avoid the folks near the host's home. Penn Action organizer Joanna Bouldin and about 15 protestors were able to see the president, and chanted "Fund Healthcare, Not Warfare" as he drove by. Philip Galluccio, a local Vietnam veteran who vehemently opposes the war, was overjoyed that he was able to get close enough to see the Bush and hold his signs just feet away from his limo. Joanna also reported that Bush leaned forward in the limo, made eye contact with her, and waved.

 

Noteworthy anecdotes:

 

• In attendance was Michael Berg,      the father of Nick Berg, the US contractor beheaded on video in Iraq.

 

• Prior to Bush's arrival, Joanna      and other protestors encountered a woman wearing what appeared to be a      catering outfit walking down the empty cordoned off street away from the      host's house. As she passed by, she      said that she had been hired to work the event but immediately quit when      she learned what the fundraiser was for and who the guest of honor was.

 

• At the site of the main      protest, police rather abruptly barricaded the intersection, leaving      several motorists stranded. A 20-something      couple emerged from the car and asked why the street was closed; when they learned that Bush was in town,      they immediately walked over, picked up our signs, and joined the protest.     

 

• The musician who volunteered to      perform songs thankfully went beyond the usual catalog of protest songs,      including politically-revised versions of Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around      Here No More" and Twisted Sister's glam-metal classic "We're Not Gonna      Take It Anymore". At one point, an      elderly female opera singer (for real) joined him at the microphone,      harmonizing on the Twisted Sister song – priceless.

 

Boston

I finally have internet access again so I'll try and catch up amidst the moving here in Boston.  This is my first trip to Beantown and we got caught in the middle of Red Sox Nation yesterday morning on the Mass Turnpike.  It seemed like thousands of Sox fans headed the same direction we were for their victory parade.  We have everything moved now for my nephew and his wife.  Organizing and unpacking is another thing.  We head back to Pennsylvania tomorrow so I'll be on the road most of the day.

We've eaten at a few popular spots, one a good Mexican restaurant on Union Square in Somerville  and breakfast today at Sound Bites.    Casual so far because moving isn't conducive to  wearing anything but old clothes and jeans.  We'll try something nice for dinner tonight.

I hear there was a debate last night, how did it go?  The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is beginning to get much more internet savvy and they had an open thread and online poll on the website for the debate.  I couldn't get internet access to get the word out so I apologize.   Nothing like being between places to make that difficult.  There weren't any wifi hotspots close enough to tap yesterday.

What Happened to Reform?

I thought the slew of new legislators in Harrisburg promised the voters all sorts of reforms?  Running on platforms with strong reform messages, ten months into the year there's been very little action in Harrisburg.  Aside from some cosmetic actions like restricting most voting to sane hours of the day, not much has been accomplished.

Nothing has been done on either lobbying or campaign finance, the two biggest problems.  The constant flow of lobbying money ($37 million the first half of the year) and campaign cash (Bob Asher anyone?) corrupts our system completely.  Bob Asher, convicted of political corruption, gave Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews $30,000 in the space of a few days in August.

If you peruse campaign finance reports (available online at the Dept. of State website) you see single checks being written of $50,000 and up.  What's worse those aren't the only checks written by those contributors.  Pennsylvania continues to have no limits on campaign contributions.  Our reporting of lobbyist activity and expenditures is equally scandalous.

Money corrupts the political process.  We all know that and our Representatives and Senators know that but they refuse to do anything to stop the gravy train.  If these people refuse to realize who their real bosses are it's up to us, the voters, to throw them out of office once again.  What better message to send the group of new people than to toss them out next year for failing to pass these reforms.  Think that might get the message across?  If not we do it again in 2010.

This 'N That

Gov. Rendell is taking action to aid victims of the mortgage crisis.  Two to three million additional mortgages are scheduled to reset the next two years nationally.  Many homeowners were victimized by predatory lenders.  Many more will see their payments increase substantially because of rate increases and the tightening of money available for mortgages putting pressure on the economy.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency created the two programs last summer, Refinance to an Affordable Loan and Homeowner Equity Recovery Opportunity.

The State Senate passed a new statute requiring judges in capital cases to determine if a defendant is mentally retarded.  The measure passed 45-3.

Cigna has agreed to provide their customers with their doctor rankings.  One of the exasperating aspects of our broken medical care system is not having any method for knowing who is a capable, experienced and competent physician and who isn't.  The bad news is this only applies to New York.

Rendell announced an audit into the Philadelphia Parking Authority after reports of its bloated patronage system.  The state took over the agency six years ago amid promises of reform.  Instead it's become worse.

Beware of pillow talk?  A Fayette County woman apparently killed her boyfriend in a disagreement over a favorite pillow.   I'm assuming she didn't use the pillow to muffle the shots.

Blackwater Killers Offered Immunity

State Department investigators looking into the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians have offered the Blackwater mercenaries limited immunity deals.  Why investigate at all if you're going to do that?  If you're one of these murderers why do you need immunity?  They're above both U.S. and Iraqi law.  Their only legal threat  would be war crimes trials.

This, again, illustrates the fantasy that Iraq is sovereign.  The crimes happened in Iraq and the victims were Iraqi.  Why would the State Department even be involved in prosecution?

The FBI is now prevented from obtaining information from the guards because nothing they said after being given immunity can be used against them.  They cannot be tried based on that information.  Essentially, the State Department jeopardized any other investigation because they chose to protect their hired mercenaries, likely to save them further public embarrassment.  This is one more example of this Administration being more concerned with covering their butts than caring about anything else.  The overriding philosophy of this Administration is "don't get caught."

Philly Parking Authority Corrupt?

An AP story says the Philadelphia Parking Authority is a magnet for patronage.  What other breath taking news are they about to uncover?  Bears crap in the woods, the sun rises in the east and George W. Bush is a warmonger?   Next thing you know we're find out the Turnpike Commission is a mess and that health insurance companies are dumping millions of bucks in Harrisburg to lobby against health care reform!

The state took over the Parking Authority and has failed to clean up this infamous agency.  Going to Center City is a pain because parking runs you $18 regardless, it seems, if you're spending 1-2 hours somewhere or all day.  I simply make sure I have $20 set aside for the sharks in those parking booths at the garages.  It's a lot of money for parking and now we're finding out the Parking Authority has doubled its staff while its monetary contributions to the City have remained steady.  This in spite of an increase in revenue of 54% since 2001.

Obama Rally Becomes Hatefest

There's no way I'll ever support this man for president.  Barack Obama's rally in South Carolina turned into a full fledged hatefest when homophobic "ex gay" Donnie Durkin went on a rant. AmericaBlog has the story.