ME1

ME, Portland: Rally for Democracy

Chip — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:39:07 -0500

Start: 11/06/2009 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

THE TIME IS NOW! RALLY FOR PEACE! RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY!

Where: Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101

When: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5 PM

Portland will be the site of a major Rally featuring David Swanson on Friday, November 6 at 5:00 PM. Swanson, a nationally recognized activist and author, is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

His new book Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union is an assessment of how Bush/Cheney fundamentally altered the way our government works, inflated the powers of the executive, and deteriorated the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Only through the active efforts of citizens, Swanson argues, can we restore our rights, and expand our conception of political rights to meet new challenges. Daybreak offers a shocking and inspirational breakdown of all that we have lost, and all that we have to gain.

Also speaking at the Rally are:

Dud Hendrick, President of Maine Veterans for Peace, Chapter #001; Lisa Savage, CODE PINK MAINE local coordinator; and Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Herb Hoffman, Vice President of Maine Veterans for Peace, Chapter #001 and former candidate for the United States Senate, is the Master of Ceremony.
Dud Hendrick will address issues concerning how the American public has been numbed by militarism and the implications for US policies, both foreign and domestic.
Lisa Savage will represent the CODE PINK platform calling for the cessation of funding wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq while recognizing that military force does nothing to prevent terrorism. CODE PINK advocates for funding human needs not wars.
Bruce Gagnon, recently returned from South Korea, will connect his experiences in Korea and issues here in Maine, including Bath Iron Works, low flying F-15s in Western Maine and the proposed DRONE testing site at the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
Hana Maris, singer/songwriter, peace activist along with Joan Fox, vocalist, and Kim Hoffman, violinist, will share their music to inspire and motivate those in attendance.

The Rally is being co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace - Chapter #001, Code Pink of Maine, Peace Action Maine, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice, and the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine.

All Troops Home from Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iraq - NOW!
Jobs and Health Care, Not War and WMDs!
Bring Maine National Guard Home - NOW!
No DRONES in Maine.

All are urged to come to the Rally and demonstrate their concern and commitment.

Immediately following the conclusion of the Rally at 6 PM, David Swanson will go to the Longfellow Bookstore, just a few yards away, and do a Book Signing of his recently published work, DAYBREAK: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union. David will speak about his book and be available for a Q & A. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that the people of Maine are not going to quietly accept the direction in which our country is headed.

ME, Portland: Daybreak Book Signing & Discussion With Author David Swanson

Chip — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:54:20 -0400

Start: 11/06/2009 - 6:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

David Swanson discussing and signing his new book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union."

A LEADING PROGRESSIVE VOICE AND COFOUNDER OF THE ANTIWAR AFTER DOWNING STREET COALITION, BLOGGER AND ACTIVIST DAVID SWANSON FOCUSES his tireless efforts to unveil the wrongs of the past eight years in this citizen’s guide to removing power from the hands of one person, placing it in a body of representatives, and (here’s the hard part) making that body truly representative of the American people. Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union makes clear that the imperial presidency, which advanced so dramatically during the Bush-Cheney era, will not be stopped merely by electing better presidents. Major structural changes are needed to rein in runaway executive power and make America a true leader in democratic principles.

Only through the active efforts of citizens, Swanson argues, can we restore our rights, and expand our conception of political rights to meet new challenges. Daybreak offers a shocking and inspirational breakdown of all that we have lost, and all that we have to gain.

November 6, 2009

6:00 p.m. at Longfellow Bookstore
1 Monument Way
Portland, Maine
207-775-4045

Contact the organizers:

Jamilla El-Shafei
jamillaelshafei at gmail dot com

Herb Hoffman
pala at maine.rr dot com

Bruce Gagnon
globalnet at mindspring dot com

Mark Lawrence Campaigns for the Constitution in ME-01

Bob Fertik — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:09:59 -0400

The very first act of any new Member of Congress is taking the Oath of Office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Incredibly, of the 535 Members who took that oath in January 2007, only 22 have actually upheld their oath by co-sponsoring H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Cheney.

Mark Lawrence would like to join them. He's running for the open seat in ME-01 that is being vacated by Tom Allen (D), who is running for Senate against Susan Collins.

Lawrence is the elected District Attorney for Maine Prosecutorial District One which covers York County, home to one out of every seven Mainers.

A native of Kittery, Lawrence was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1988 becoming only the second Democrat elected from Kittery since the Civil War. In 1992, he won a seat in the Maine Senate from another overwhelmingly Republican district.

Elected Democratic leader after just one term, Lawrence helped Senate Democrats secure a majority in 1996. Lawrence was then twice unanimously selected by his colleagues to serve as Senate President.

Lawrence recently wrote an op ed on impeachment for the Portland Press Herald:

To fail to take action will pose a grave danger to our Constitution through Congress' implicit compliance with the president's assumption of any unconstitutional powers that will serve as a precedent for future presidents, Republicans or Democrats...

I disagree with those who suggest that there are more important priorities; who fear that impeachment proceedings would be perceived as either a distraction or as political retribution.

As public officials, we hold no higher imperative than to uphold the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded.

And as history teaches us, justice delayed is justice denied.

I couldn't agree more. To learn more about Mark, visit http://www.marklawrence.org

IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE FOR MAINE'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Michael Cutting — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 10:29:49 -0500

Don't you agree that it is time to remove the Bush Administration from office for committing a variety of high crimes and misdemeanors? Meet at the southern end of the Casco Bay Bridge from noon-one on December 10th to organize. Bring signs and enthusiasm!

Can we continue to condone:

1. Widespread surveillance without cause or warrant
2. Elimination of habeas corpus protections
3. The illegal, immoral pre-emptive invasion of Iraq, and the apparent planned illegal, immoral pre-emptive invasion of Iran
4. The deaths of 100's of thousands of civilians. When deaths occur as the result of illegal actions they are murders.
5. Widespread kidnapping at will around the globe
6. "Extraordinary renditions"
7. The abuse and torture of detainees, which although has been denied has also now been retro-actively "pardoned" by the Military Commissions Act.
8. Making false and misleading statements to Congress and the Nation
9. The widespread corruption/graft/war-profiteering by Administration cronies.

Contact Congressman Tom Allen and insist that he honor his oath of office at:

Web Site: tomallen.house.gov
E-mail: Contact Via 'Web Form.'

Washington Office:
1127 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1901
Phone: (202) 225-6116
Fax: (202) 225-5590

Maine District Office:
57 Exchange St.
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 774-5019
Fax: (207) 871-0720