Message from Jim Dean of @DFAaction about Ben Nelson retirement & need for progressive lawmakers

Yesterday, Senate 'Democrat' Ben Nelson announced he won't run for re-election.

I can't say I'm sad to see him go. He's played a major role in slowing down, stopping, or outright defeating some of the most important progressive reforms Democrats have tried to pass. He blocked real bank reform, stalled the fight against climate change, and killed the public option just to name a few.

Good riddance Ben Nelson. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

However, this does mean it's likely we'll get an actual Republican replacing Senator Nelson in Nebraska --- and one less 'Democrat' in the Senate makes it harder to keep the majority we need to stop a John Boehner Tea Party driven House.

It ups the ante for progressives like us to step up and make the difference by replacing other Senate Republicans with progressive fighters this year. It starts with making sure we do absolutely everything we possibly can to elect Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts. And that's exactly what Democracy for America is going to do.

Contribute $10 right now to help DFA replace bad Democrats like Senator Ben Nelson with great progressives like Elizabeth Warren.

We're not funded by corporations like Senator Ben Nelson was; we're supported by the resources provided by you. For some DFA members, that means on-the-ground action like volunteering to knock on doors to recall Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

For other DFA members, it means taking action online that gave Bernie Sanders the back-up support of over 100,000 Americans in his fight to protect Medicare and Social Security. And for still more DFA members, it also means digging deep and delivering the financial resources our staff needs to get the job done working hard for you and the progressive causes we all support.

Please contribute right now.

This is a good week to think back and be thankful for everything we did this year together.

I hope you'll also look forward to what we have left to do and help fuel our campaigns to win in 2012 with a contribution today.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America



Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.
Paid for by Democracy for America, http://www.democracyforamerica.com/?akid=1568.1371056._3QcQG&t=2 and not authorized by any candidate. Contributions to Democracy for America are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

O'odham Sacred Site of Quitovac Threatened By 'a Low Cost' Heap Leach Gold Mine

O'odham Sacred Site of Quitovac Threatened By 'a Low Cost' Heap Leach Gold Mine

Intercontinental Cry

O'odham Sacred Site of Quitovac Threatened By 'a Low Cost' Heap Leach Gold Mine
After being saved from a toxic waste dump more than three years ago, the O'odham Sacred site of Quitovac is once again facing a serious threat.[Image]In late September, the US mining company Silver Scott Mines announced that it had acquired a 12,000 hectare concession near the site of Quitovac in Sonora, Mexico.Commenting on the acquisition, John Ryan, CEO of Silver Scott, stated, “We are very pleased to have acquired this expanded land position to support what is shaping up to be a very productive and exciting gold play in Mexico. With gold at historic high metal prices, we expect Quitovac can produce as a low cost heap leach mine. Additionally, we are excited to begin detailed examination of the entire Quitovac property which will help us target our drilling which includes testing part of the gravel covered pediments."Traditional O'odham leaders officially responded to the announcement on November 7 with a resolution condemning the company's intentions, and requesting that "the Mexican Federal Government and the Government of the State of Sonora to enforce the existing cultural and environmental protections laws of Mexico, and to conduct a transparent Impact Assessment and a Cultural and Environmental Impact Study, so as to allow the community of Quitovac and its representatives to make an informed decision regarding the proposal."The Traditional O'odham Leaders further charged both governments "to honor its responsibility to facilitate open communication with the O’odham representatives in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and to support decisions in the best interest of the O’odham, the Original people of the Land."Silver Scott hasn't been wasting any time. On December 20, the company said it had obtained a 10-year extendable surface land agreement for exploration. It also says the community of Quitovac voted unanimously in favor of their mine proposal, which included a .7 per cent production royalty and a 5-year review process with the community. At the time of publication, Intercontinental Cry was unable to reach any O'odham community members for confirmation.Yesterday, December 22, the company announced that it had initiated a 6000-meter drilling program at the Quitovac gold mine site.[Image]Photo Credit: www.silverscottmines.comQuitovac is one most sacred places to the O'odham People. According to their creation story it is the site where the Elder Brother, I'itoi, spirit of goodness, first gave shape to the People. To celebrate this event, the O'odham from Arizona and Sonora gather each summer at Quitovac for a rejuvenation ceremony.


Intercontinental Cry
E: info@intercontinentalcry.org
W: intercontinentalcry.org

Intercontinental Cry - Reporting on the World's Indigenous Peoples.

#OccupySupply Help feed protestors during the holidays ~ @firedoglake

#OccupySupply:
Help Feed Protesters
During the Holidays

Ray,
This holiday season, OccupySupply is bringing dinner.
Our 106 local member liaisons have been doing an outstanding job delivering thousands of union and American-made cold-weather items to over 75 occupations across the country — items that you helped purchase. To help celebrate the holiday season, liaisons in cities from Tucson to Trenton will provide holiday meals for the occupations made from union- and locally-produced foods.
Liasions will be working with their occupations to buy union-made foods like Butterball turkeys, Hormel hams, See's candies and Mother's Kitchen pies. They will also make an effort to shop locally from union grocery stores and markets, and will be sensitive to the dietary restrictions of their local occupiers.
We need your help to feed the over 75 occupations now served by the Occupy Supply fund. Can you please donate $25 or more to help us buy union and/or locally-produced groceries for the protesters during the holidays?
Donate $25 or more to help us feed the Occupy protesters a delicious union and local meal this holiday season.
Click here to donate: https://donate.firedoglake.com/holiday-meals/contribute
It's simply not true that the 'occupation' aspect of this movement is coming to an end; all you have to do is look at the growing number of encampments that reach out for our support each day.
The last few weeks have been tough for many occupations as they’ve faced a growing number of raids and evictions. But while police can tear down tents and disperse encampments, they cannot suppress the spirit and energy that drives this movement. We hope our holiday meals will give a much-needed morale boost to the occupations during this difficult time.
Thanks to your generosity, the Occupy Supply fund has raised an unbelievable $146,096 in about 8 weeks. We've spent $143,821 -- almost all of it -- on union/American goods: from warm hats, to heavy jackets, to thermal underwear, socks and scarves. With your help, we will continue to do so throughout winter and beyond.
As always, 100% of your donations to the Occupy Supply fund will be used to purchase and distribute goods to the occupations. Our liaisons will work with the protesters to buy the groceries they want - and in some cases are even cooking for occupations lacking kitchens or any way to prepare food.
Staying well-fed is one of the most important things you can do to keep warm as the temperature drops. Occupations face a considerable challenge when it comes to food, between enduring violent police raids and assisting the swelling population of homeless, disabled and unemployed folks who have come to depend on the occupations for basic needs.
Buying the occupations a nice, union and locally-produced meal will not only be good for their health, but also a great morale boost. Please join us in giving the occupations a hot meal this holiday season.
Help us continue our efforts to support the Occupy movement with values-driven goods and donate $25 or more to buy union/local holiday groceries for the protesters.
Thank you so much for everything you've done to support this project - from helping us purchase union and American-made clothing, to helping secure shelter and now feeding the Occupiers.
Your support is a true testament to what we're capable of doing when we come together around a common cause.
In solidarity,
Jane Hamsher
Founder & Publisher,
Firedoglake.com
P.S. I apologize for the high volume of emails lately, but we've been working hard to maintain the highest levels of support for occupations across the country. I can't thank you enough for all you've done.

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Firedoglake's community of 350,000 activists is supported by small donations from people like you.
Can you chip in to keep us strong? Click here to contribute.

Alan Grayson (@AlanGrayson) presents Newt Gingrich in his own words:

As remarkable as it may seem, we can no longer exclude the possibility that the Republican Party will nominate Newt Gingrich for President. And it’s remarkable for this reason: that apart from Sarah Palin, there is no major public figure in America today with such an attenuated connection to reality.

Many people have flailed Newt for being a philanderer; a corporate shill; a crass greedhead; an egomaniac; and a cranky, crabby, crotchety, caustic, cantankerous, choleric cus. All of that may be true, but I think that it may miss the point. The point is that Newt is wrong, wrong, wrong. Consistently wrong. Shockingly wrong. Newt Gingrich is the Emily Litella of politics.
Not exactly what we are looking for in a President.
How can I put this politely? Newt is not astute. Newt’s grasp of things is minute. Newt’s credibility is in disrepute. What Newt says in not hard to refute. When it comes to understanding what goes on, Newt is not acute. When Newt is talking, the truth is often lost enroute.
In fact, if the consequences of a Presidential election were not so serious, you could say that Newt is a hoot, to boot. Unintentionally funny, but still funny. (Please note that I did not call Newt a crazy old coot, even though that rhymes.) Every once in a while, you can see Mitt Romney lapse into some artificial-vanilla-flavored, white-bread, apple-sauce lie.

Newt’s lies are totally different. Newt’s lies are psilocybin-laced, psychedelic, eighth-dimension lies. In fact, it just does not do them justice to call them lies. They’re delusions. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the first ingredient for the witches’ brew that the witches use to cast an evil spell is “eye of newt.” Today, in American politics, the first ingredient is “mouth of Newt.”

As I public service, I’m going to turn this missive over to Newt, so you can see for yourself. Here goes:
“In Washington, D.C., 800 babies are left in dumpsters a year.” Actually, there were four, during one year.
People can use food stamps "for anything," including "to go to Hawaii." Uh, no. They’re food stamps, not vacation stamps.
When the United States "first created the federal income tax, frankly, nobody below a million dollars a year paid anything." Actually, everyone who earned over $4000 paid the tax.
“We must expect the Soviet system to survive for a very long time. There will be Soviet labor camps and Soviet torture chambers well into our grandchildren’s lives.” As Rick Perry might say, “oops.”
"For four years, we balanced the budget and paid off $405 billion in debt." Actually, during Gingrich’s four years as Speaker, the federal debt grew by more than $800 billion.
“The Clintons are counterculture McGovernicks.” And Ron Paul is my Secret Santa.
“Up to 25% of the White House, when they first came in, had used drugs within the past 4 or 5 years.” Fabrication’R’Us.
“Most People don’t realize it’s illegal to pray in school, most people somehow think that’s not true.” Because it’s not true.
"We spend less on defense today as % of GDP than at any time since Pearl Harbor." Actually, defense spending in 2010 was a higher percentage of GDP than in any year since 1991. So not just wrong, but wrong for 19 years in a row.
The 2009 American Recovery Act "is anti-Christian legislation that will stop churches from using public schools for meeting on Sundays, as well as Boy Scouts and student Bible study groups." Well, it’s 2011, and that hasn’t happened yet.
The Affordable Healthcare Act creates what "would, in effect, be death panels." Oh, please. Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich – great minds think alike.
The Dodd-Frank Act “establishes a mandatory 20 percent down payment to buy a house.” Politifact: “There is no such requirement.”
“I never favored cap and trade.” Except on national TV.
“The problem isn’t too little money in political campaigns, but not enough.” In his campaign, maybe.
If Newt Gingrich does win the Republican nomination, then next year, we can choose between one candidate who has won the Nobel Prize for Peace, and another candidate who is constantly seeking the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Courage,
Alan Grayson

Paid for and Authorized by the Committee to Elect Alan Grayson

8419 Oak Park Road, Orlando, FL 32819

Memo from Green Party Pres Candidate Jill Stein (@jillstein2012) about #occupyboston

Dear friends, The word was that at midnight last night, the Boston Police were going to move in and shut down the free assembly gathered in Dewey Square, also known as Occupy Boston. That didn't happen. Instead, thousands of Bostonians put on their warmest winter clothes, and headed to Boston's financial district. They stayed there into the wee hours. Jill Stein, and many of her supporters, were among them. Read to the end to see her short report from the scene. Americans are defending our free assembly rights the best way we know how: by using them. In Wisconsin, where Governor Walker is attempting to close the State Capitol -- Fighting Bob La Follette's "Temple of Democracy" -- to public protests, the protests have stepped up.  And over 1,000 have already signed, in just the first day, the First Amendment Pledge of Non-Cooperation with Police Repression. If you haven't signed that yet, please do so now. And then, please, forward that website on to everyone you know. The First Amendment Pledge website is here: http://firstamendmentpledge.org/               In Solidarity,               Ben Manski, Campaign Manager, Jill Stein for President Following is the report Dr. Stein sent her campaign team early this morning:    "I'm just back from Occupy Boston. By 11 pm last night, Occupy Boston was overflowing into Atlantic Avenue, dancing to the drums, singing with the dixieland band, Veterans for Peace flags waving. A real celebration as democracy triumphed over police state repression.   The crowd was still surging in size as I departed at 1 am. Police were keeping a low, unthreatening profile. For the time being at least, the strength of the crowd warded off any police attack on the encampment. It was very uplifting to see people taking the defense of our imperiled freedoms so seriously.   A special thanks to the liberators of Dewey Square for courageously defending our right to a just economy, and our freedom to assemble and speak out for economic justice. Tonight showed just how powerful we the people are when we stand up for what we deserve. Here's hoping for a lot more of that to come."                                          ~ Dr. Jill Stein

Paid for by Jill Stein for President	Ben Manski PO Box 260217, Madison, WI, 53726 To donate please click here

Elizabeth Warren (@ElizabethForMa) lead in polls causing Karl Rove attack machine to go into overdrive

We've got to make it a top priority to elect Elizabeth Warren and other candidates like her who will never stop fighting for the 99%. We're ready to launch a massive campaign to help them, but we need to know if we can count on your help. Can you chip in $5 to MoveOn's effort today? Chip in $5

Dear MoveOn member,
Why are the 1% funneling big money to Karl Rove's attack ads against Elizabeth Warren? Because she scares them. Listen to her words and just imagine her in the Senate:

For years I worked to expose how Wall Street and the Big Banks are crushing middle class families. It just isn't right. I stood up to the Big Banks and their army of Washington lobbyists. I worked to hold them accountable. I led the fight for a new agency to protect consumers—and we got it. But Washington is still rigged for the big guys, and that's got to change.¹

A new poll shows Warren with a clear lead for the first time, but the big threat now is Rove's attacks—in fact Rove just launched a new $524,000 attack ad against Warren this morning.²
We've got to make it a top priority to elect Elizabeth Warren and other candidates like her who will never stop fighting for the 99%. And with the first primaries in these races less than 100 days away, we need to start immediately. 
We'll create ads and videos to educate voters about Warren's fiery populism and her opponent's corporate backers, and we'll organize actions to get those themes into the media. We'll send MoveOn members out talking to voters, and we'll bring the same approaches to other key races around the country. But we need to know whether we'll have the resources to pull it off. Please support MoveOn's effort today:

Chip in $5 to MoveOn's big plan to elect Elizabeth Warren and other true progressives.

The rise of the 99% movement—the fight-back in Wisconsin, the Occupations and actions against Wall Street, the campaigns to stop Congress from siding with the 1%—creates an important opportunity to build progressive electoral power. We need to focus on electing champions who'll fight for the 99%, rather than pouring our energy into electing marginal Democrats, so that we build power to take on economic inequality in 2012 and beyond.
We're preparing a massive campaign for 2012 to help elect Elizabeth Warren and identify hundreds of other candidates who will stand up for the 99% and help them win races up and down the ballot. We want to help ten times more candidates than we've helped in previous years. Here's some of what we'll do:

• Prioritize several key races with candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Ilya Sheyman, and Eric Griego, who stand strongly with the 99% movement and will be champions in places like Washington or Albany.
• Direct grassroots support for hundreds of candidates who commit to supporting the 99%, including mobilizing MoveOn's 5 million members to call voters, go door-to-door, and more.
• Create a progressive ballot guide that lets local progressives know who should get their vote, from school board to statewide races.

But we can't pull it off without you. We need to take on Wall Street together. Can you chip in $5 to MoveOn today so we can launch this campaign immediately?

https://pol.moveon.org/donate/warren1.html?bg_id=hpc5&id=33653-17439865-BF9GGsx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam R., Elena, Milan, Kat, and the rest of the team

Sources:
1. ElizabethWarren.com, accessed December 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268654&id=33653-17439865-BF9GGsx&t=4
2. "Poll: Elizabeth Warren soars 7 up over Scott Brown," Boston Herald, December 8, 2011 
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268652&id=33653-17439865-BF9GGsx&t=5
"Crossroads hits vulnerable Dems with $1 million in new ads," The Hill, December 8, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268658&id=33653-17439865-BF9GGsx&t=6

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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Action memo from Richard Trumka of the @AFLCIO Stand up for the nation's jobless

More than 2,000 jobless workers, activists and clergy are on Capitol Hill today. Thousands more are making their voices heard in district offices across the country. Back them up: Help flood Congress with messages. And be sure to share this on Facebook and sign our Twitter petition.     Chris from South Carolina used to work in an unemployment office. Then he was laid off. Here’s his warning: You should know that Congress has let the emergency benefits lapse several times in the past few years and always when a break is scheduled for them. It happened last Easter and last Christmas. They don’t care about the unemployed. They take their holiday break and deal with it when they return to Washington. We can’t assume Congress will renew unemployment in time for the millions who are hanging by a thread before extended benefits expire Dec. 31. That’s why we’re pulling out all the stops. More than 2,000 jobless workers, activists and clergy are on Capitol Hill, right now—demanding a clean and immediate extension of emergency unemployment benefits. Thousands more are in district offices across the country. As we gather on Capitol Hill and at district offices, activists across the country are flooding Congress with messages. Add your voice: Help make sure the voices of America’s jobless can’t be ignored by Congress. Diane from Michigan worked in the newspaper industry and is now unemployed. Here’s how she describes her situation: Every job opening has hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants. It is almost impossible to get a job—especially if you also face age discrimination. Retraining is too costly. Meanwhile, we are hanging on by a thread. No health insurance....My current unemployment benefits are the only thing saving me from the street. I have faced food insecurity for the first time. We must not let people like Diane be forgotten. Make Congress hear the stories and see the faces of jobless workers. Contact Congress now and demand an immediate, clean extension of emergency unemployment benefits. Momentum is building—but we can’t take the passage of emergency unemployment aid for granted. Obstructionists like House Speaker John Boehner—who has nearly absolute control over what comes up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives—continue to block a clean, immediate extension of emergency jobless aid. There’s no excuse for that. Especially when our economy is so bad and budget cuts in our communities are so dire. Chris, a now unemployed unemployment office worker, asks a powerful question: “Don’t they realize they work for us?” Tell Congress: “You work for us. Renew emergency unemployment aid now.” Will obstructionists like Speaker Boehner really let benefits lapse yet again, take a vacation, come back and play partisan games? Will the obstructionists let families get thrown out of their homes? Will they force kids to go hungry to extract cuts and concessions that hurt our most vulnerable people? Send a clear message now: “No help for the jobless? No vacation for Congress!” Thank you for all the work you do. In Solidarity, Richard L. Trumka President, AFL-CIO P.S. Our unemployment stories website has been covered by the media in publications lawmakers read while in Washington, D.C., including The Washington Post and The Hill—plus papers they read at home. But we need your help to make sure every lawmaker feels the heat and sees these stories. Take action now. To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at www.aflcio.org.