Solidarity: Have you been to Tsubaki?

From: "Dennis Kucinich" <reply@kucinich.us>
Date: Feb 29, 2012 6:28 PM
Subject: Solidarity: Have you been to Tsubaki?

Daniel - Next time an Ohio politician tells you they support labor, or they are for jobs, ask them one question - have you been to Tsubaki? Right now in Sandusky, workers from the U.S. Tsubaki plant are standing in the cold - locked out of the factory for over a year. A plant that some of them have worked in for 30 years or more. We feel so passionately for the plight of these courageous and resilient people that we wanted to share their story with you: A portrait of the plight of the American Worker. The story of the Tsubaki workers is the story of far too many people in our great nation. Please watch this beautiful and powerful video, share it and pledge your support of these workers at www.Kucinich.us/Solidarity People who gave 20, 30 or some even 40 years to a company and a plant are standing on the sidewalk, worried about feeding their families, wondering if they will have any security in retirement. Tsubaki locked them out, ended contract talks and chained the door, not because these workers were asking for outrageous pay or benefit increases, but because what they really want is to break the union. And if they do, worker protections in this country will fall like dominoes.Understand what is happening at the Tsubaki plant, and what's at stake here, because your workplace could be next. I'm going to do everything I can to support the Tsubaki workers and I want you to pledge your support to them as well. Today, the NLRB ruled that Tsubaki had unfairly locked out its workers and demanded that the company come to the bargaining table. And the struggle continues. There are 16 lockouts in the United States that have not been resolved, this is one of them. It is urgent that we support the just cause of workers. Helping these workers - and working people everywhere - is why I ran for Congress and why I want to stay in Congress. Knowing what's happening in Sandusky, and being part of it, should be the litmus test for people who say they are pro-labor. Watch the video, join the fight, and when a politician asks you for your vote, ask what they've done for the workers at Tsubaki. Courage, Dennis PO Box 110475 | Cleveland | OH | 44111 | 216-252-9000

Bring Murdoch to Justice

From: "Timothy Karr, FreePress.net" <info@freepress.net>
Date: Feb 29, 2012 11:25 AM
Subject: Bring Murdoch to Justice

Bring Him to Justice Enough is enough: Urge Attorney General Eric Holder to fully investigate News Corp. Dear Daniel, The net is closing around media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Investigators in London report that senior News Corp. employees authorized hundreds of bribes to police officers and other government officials.1 And just this morning his disgraced son James stepped down from his role as executive chairman of News International. But these reports of rampant criminal behavior have yet to trigger a prosecution of Murdoch here in the U.S., where executives can be held liable for systematically bribing foreign officials.2 Don't let Murdoch dodge justice. Demand a full U.S. investigation of News Corp. Murdoch's henchmen are now trying to defang the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it unlawful for a U.S. corporation to pay off a foreign official for the purpose of advancing or protecting a business interest.3 Their goal? Stopping U.S. prosecutors from reining in the culture of corruption that has overtaken News Corp. News Corp. has also sought to mute coverage of the phone-hacking and bribery scandals across its news empire. This is how Murdoch works. For years he's wielded his enormous media power to build his empire, fight the public interest and place himself and his fellow News Corp. executives above the law. By urging Attorney General Eric Holder to fully investigate News Corp., you're joining more than 200,000 people who have already rejected Rupert Murdoch's campaign to avoid justice in the U.S. We'll be delivering these messages to the Justice Department soon — please sign now. No media company, no matter how influential, should be allowed to dodge U.S. laws. Please add your name to this letter — and forward this email to all of your friends. Tim, Josh, Libby and the Free Press team www.freepress.net P.S. Like our work? The Free Press Action Fund is powered by donations from people like you. We don't take a single cent from business, government or political parties. Please keep us going strong with a gift of $10 or more. Thank you! 1. "A Fresh Blot on Murdoch's Sun," the New York Times, Feb. 27, 2012. http://act2.freepress.net/go/8846?akid=3312.9916736.rqO-jj&t=11 2. "News Corp.: Threat of U.S. Legal Action Raised in Light of 'Illegal Payment' Claim," the Guardian, Feb. 27, 2012. http://act2.freepress.net/go/8845?akid=3312.9916736.rqO-jj&t=13 3. "Long Haul Ahead Before Fallout for U.S. News Corp. Is Known," the Financial Times, Feb. 28, 2012. (behind a paywall) http://act2.freepress.net/go/8858?akid=3312.9916736.rqO-jj&t=15

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Learn more at www.freepress.net

York PC 112: A Statement On The Importance Of Education And Science - Cancer Cure?

See the video and tell me we should be demolishing education instead of protecting and improving it:





All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

Final Countdown

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Miller for Senate" <campaign@donnamillerforsenate.com>

Subject: Final Countdown
Date: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 3:51 pm

If you are having trouble viewing this message, see it in your browser.   M Lounge - Tomorrow Night As we head into the final 3 weeks/21 days, of the campaign we hope you will join us for our fundraiser tomorrow night at M Lounge!  There will be fabulous people, great jazz and a good cause!   Wednesday, February 29 6:00 – 8:00 PM M Lounge 1520 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL   Individual Suggested Contribution - $50 Sponsorship Level's Diamond: $5,000     Platinum: $2,500 Gold: $1,500     Silver: $1,000 Live Jazz beginning at 7:00 PM   You may contribute online toward the event by going to http://www.donationpages.com/directory/EventEcard/1475   We look forward to seeing you there – and if you aren't able to join us but can still make a contribution this week we are working on getting our final mailing's out the door and your contribution will help assure that we are able to do so! Thanks so much, Donna   campaign@donnamillerforsenate.com Miller for Senate 20340 Joy Lane Lynnwood, IL 60411

York Dem Upcoming Events

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Carol B Davis"

Subject: York Dem Upcoming Events
Date: Tue, Feb 28, 2012 8:47 am


Take Action with these York Democratic Events!

Monday, February 27th - First Day of Early Voting. Elmhurst City Hall is the only early voting site in York Township.

Wednesday, February 29th - Hear the Illinois Senate 23 Candidates (Kevin Allen, Greg Brownfield and Tom Cullerton) Debate the Issues - 7:30PM at the Glenside Public Library, 25 E. Fullerton in Glendale Hts.
Debate Sponsored by Bloomingdale, York, Addison, and Wayne Township Democratic Parties. No donation required

Wednesday,March 7th - York Township Democratic Organization Monthly Meeting - 7:15, the Log Cabin (16th and Main Sts) 4 Seasons Park, Lombard.

Thursday, March 8th - Congressional District 6th Debate -  League of Women Voters Glen Ellyn(LWV) with the LWV of Wheaton and the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce hosts the 6th District Candidate Forum at Glencrest Junior High School in Glen Ellyn. Doors open at 6:30pm

Saturday, March 10th - Elmhurst St Patrick's Day Parade - March with York & Addison Township Democratic Parties, County Board Member Rita Gonzalez and Democratic Candidates! 11AM line up, Willson and Spring Rds,Lombard.

Saturday, March 10th - Congressional District 8th Candidates,Tammy Duckworth and Raja Krishnamoorthi, Debate at 2:30, Jackson Middle School,301 W Jackson, Villa Park. Sponsored by York, Addison, Bloomingdale, and Wayne Township Democratic Parties.

Sunday, March 18th - Our 56th Annual St Patrick's Day Dinner with Keynote Speaker John Nichols of The Nation (yes, THE John Nichols you have seen on Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz, and the other MSNBC shows). John is speaking as part of his Chicagoland book tour introducing his new book, "Uprising: How Wisconsin Renewed the Politics of Protest, from Madison to Wall Street." Guest speakers include Tim Carpenter of PDA and Christine Cegelis of ADA.
Don't miss it!  Sunday, March 18th, 5PM to 8:30, Drury Lane Oakbrook. Includes 4 course dinner and live music! 

Re: Stealing State Parks

http://www.truth-out.org/stealing-state-parks/1330351798

----- Reply message -----
From: "Dan Stafford"

Subject: Stealing State Parks
Date: Mon, Feb 27, 2012 9:35 am





Stealing State Parks

Monday 27 February 2012

by: Jim Hightower, OtherWords | News Analysis

Top politicos in many states are closing many of their parks, slashing
hours and services at others, or simply handing over the public's asset to
profiteering corporations.

"Sorry, we're closed."

In one of the saddest signs of the times, this message is popping up all
across the country as

RV parked at Mitchell Caverns, a state park closed in 2011 that has
suffered from

governors and legislators

vandalism since being shut down. (Photo: Mollivan Jon)

are cutting off funds (and shutting off access) to one of the finest, most
popular assets owned by the people of our country: state parks.

More than 6,600 of these jewels draw some 700 million visitors a year to
their grand vistas, historic sites, wildlife, campgrounds, educational
centers, and lodges. Parks are a tangible expression of America's
democratic ideals: common ground for every man, woman, and child to enjoy
and experience. For the middle class and the poor —who can't jet off to
luxury resorts for a getaway —these spaces offer a form of real wealth,
something that each of us literally "owns," knitting us together as a
community and nation.

Yet too many spiritually shriveled, small-minded, and short-sighted state
officials are snuffing out this uniting social force, stupidly treating
parks as nothing but a budget number or —worse —a piece of the "nanny
state" to be axed in the name of ideological purity. Top politicos in many
states are closing many of their parks, slashing hours and services at
others, or simply handing over the public's asset to profiteering
corporations: Idaho's governor has proposed eliminating the entire parks
department; California shut the gates of a fourth of the state's parks last
year; officials in Arizona and Florida intend to privatize their parks;
Washington state has cut off most of its park funding; and Ohio has okayed
oil drilling in its parks to replace state financing.

As Woody Guthrie said of outlaws,"Some'll rob you with a six gun/Some with
a fountain pen." Shutting parks is theft by "in-laws." Political insiders
are stealing the people's property —stealing from America itself.

JIM HIGHTOWER

National radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the book,
Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, Jim
Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of
the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families,
environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.

Raja has a new TV commercial

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Kurt Gonska" <kurt@rajaforcongress.com>
Date: Feb 24, 2012 9:00 AM
Subject: Raja has a new TV commercial

	Dear Friends, I want you to be the first to know: Raja just released his TV commercial. Click the video below to view it and then share it with your friends: Donate $25, $50, $100 or more today to help Raja buy even more TV time. The commercial highlights Raja's "Renewing Prosperity" economic plan borne from his deep economic experience helping to create jobs for the middle class in both the public and private sectors. Raja's laser-like focus on putting people back to work has earned him the endorsements of nearly 100 local elected officials, community leaders, and organizations, chief among them Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (who enthusiastically appears with Raja in the TV commercial). Can you chip in $25, $50, $100 or more today to help Raja buy even more TV time? Thank you for all you do, Kurt Gonska Campaign Manager P.S. Please donate today before our February 29 fundraising report deadline. P.P.S. Check out Raja's interview on WTTW Chicago Tonight.

Paid for by Raja for Congress

PO Box 958033
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195

Powered by NGP VAN, Inc.

York PC 112: I Was Advised At The DPDC President's Day Gala That I Have Been Voted York Township Precinct Committeeman Of The Year...

...which is really nice and quite unexpected.

This award is from the York township Democratic Organization, and is strictly at the Township level. Nasr Jhangir was voted Precinct Committeeman of the year for all of DuPage County by the DPDC.

I think I'll be speaking a little at the York Township Saint Patrick's Day dinner on March 18th.

I'm not sure why I was nominated or voted to be awarded, but here are some of my guesses:

1. I've been doing extensive web and I.T. support for the County Party and several candidates.
2. I helped write a resolution on the Navistar deal that was adopted by several township organizations that helped bring better environmental provisions to the the final deal that was reached.
3. I've walked my precinct and done my best to support the Democratic Voters within my precinct.

Anything else, I guess they can tell me some day. :-)

Still, all that pertains to 2011. Given the importance of the coming year, this is no time to rest easy on our laurels. We need to be giving it our all-out best effort here in 2012.

We have a Primary Election here on March 20th that will allow us to chose which candidates we will have vying with Republicans next November. We had best all get out and vote, and we had best choose wisely.

I honestly don't think the country can stand another term obstructed by Republicans in the thrall of billionaires and giant corporations. We won't have a middle class or environment left if we do, and I doubt the national infrastructure can withstand another couple of years of deep neglect, nor can the economy.

Our only choice is to innovate and build our way out of this slump, and in part we need to free up the consumer demand of a strong, vibrant middle class in order to un-stick all the capital at the top and get it flowing through the general economy again.

Most people should know this down deep. If you ever played Monopoly, you know that the game stops when one person owns so much property and has so much money that there's nothing left for anyone else to trade. You can't have an economy if money isn't in motion, and if it's confined in the savings and investments of only a very few wealthy people, none of the rest of us can help drive demand for goods and services - so everything shrinks or fails except those few businesses those with money care to frequent.

There is SO much work to do! We had best get on it!

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

SPECIAL REPORT: Secret docs reveal DHS lied about tracking Americans on social media

Subject: SPECIAL REPORT: Secret docs reveal DHS lied about tracking Americans on social media
Date: Thu, Feb 23, 2012 4:51 pm


Secret documents reveal Department of Homeland Security lied about tracking Americans on social media

==============================================

One of the nation's leading electronic privacy groups claimed this week that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) misled members of Congress during a recent hearing on whether the Department is paying a defense contractor $11.4 million to keep tabs on protected free speech and dissent against government policies on the Internet.

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), which triggered the hearing by publishing a trove of secret government documents in January, told Raw Story on Thursday that a second round of documents they've obtained directly contradicts testimony given on Feb. 16, showing that the DHS instructed their analysts to do exactly what the Department denied.

"There were several exchanges that they had with members of Congress in which they sort of distanced themselves from the idea — that they weren't engaging in this monitoring of public reaction to government proposals," McCall told Raw Story. "But that's… Well, it's not true, according to the documents we obtained."

Read the rest of the story here: http://rawstory.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=80b42ecc21f29763320aceb90&id=4ed9b0e84e&e=ff76859754



All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan

UPDATE: Recall Scott Walker

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Wisconsin Dem Chair Mike Tate" <info@boldprogressives.org>
Date: Feb 23, 2012 7:01 AM
Subject: UPDATE: Recall Scott Walker

---

Defeat Scott Walker & the Koch Brothers in Wisconsin. Donate $4 to recall Governor Scott Walker!

Daniel,
This is Mike Tate, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
First, I just want to thank the thousands of PCCC members who chipped in nearly $50,000 this past week toward our goal of recalling Gov. Scott Walker. This makes a huge difference.
I also wanted to make sure you saw this quote from one of the billionaire Koch brothers, which appeared this week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"We're helping him, as we should," Koch says of Walker. "We've gotten pretty good at this over the years. We've spent a lot of money in Wisconsin. We're going to spend more."

Will you help us defeat Scott Walker and the Koch brothers in Wisconsin by making a grassroots donation of $4 to our Recall Walker campaign today?
The Koch brothers have already flooded the state with TV ads in recent weeks.
And they are planning an avalanche of dirty tricks right out of Karl Rove's playbook. In last year's recall elections, they ran fake candidates in primaries, sent mail to progressive voters with the wrong election date, and spent millions on false TV ads to try and buy the election.
Just the other day, leaked documents revealed they plan to set up "shadow blogs" to attack teachers, public schools, and grassroots activists like you.
Republicans and their billionaire funders have declared war on working families. Working with groups like the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, we are fighting back.
Please donate $4 so we can re-open all of our field offices across Wisconsin and organize over 35,000 grassroots volunteers to contact voters in their communities.
The PCCC's help in 2011 was pivotal to our efforts to successfully recall Republican senators from office. With your continued support, we'll be able to defeat Scott Walker and David Koch in Wisconsin in 2012.
Thank you,
Mike Tate
Chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin

---

Want to support our work? PCCC's Draft Warren campaign was named The Nation's "Most Valuable Campaign of 2011"! And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here.
 

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

York PC 112: #1 Progressive Radio Host Thom Hartmann Gives Keynote Address At DuPage Democrats President's Day Gala

All the best, if you work and vote for it,

Dan


Video courtesy of Richard Steelman:

York 112 PC: Technology Isn't The Problem...

...such as is suggested by this article on http://www.truthout.org : http://www.truth-out.org/works-and-days/1328637460 .

The problem is corporations adapting technology in ways that violate the basic ethics of our society and in ways that try to control nature rather than working with nature and augmenting it gently.

The system of controls we've adapted as a society have become warped. Until we recover an ethic of civil liberties with compassion and respect for people and our environment, we will continue to experience large-scale pain and suffering and strife.

If we consider all of these things in the way we organize society and industry, everyone will succeed together.

Regards,

Dan

Update on Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock

---

From: Tess Wendel, Sierra Club <tess.wendel@sierraclub.org>
Sent: February 14, 2012 5:29 PM

Subject: Update on Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock

View a web version of this email.

		Update on the Proposed Sand Mine Next to Starved Rock State Park: Challenging Permits and Looking for Systemic Reform to Protect our State Lands Illinois Canyon- Photo by Farley Andrews On January 12, the LaSalle County Board voted to approve an open pit sand mine next to Starved Rock State Park, despite strong opposition from local residents and thousands of comments against the mine from around Illinois (including more than 6000 comments from the Sierra Club's petition) and a request from the Lieutenant Governor to delay the vote. Now that the project has been given the go-ahead at the county level, Mississippi Sand LLC must have permits approved from the DNR and IEPA for mining, air pollution, and wastewater discharges. On February 6, the Illinois River Coordinating Council, composed of a diverse group of citizens, not-for-profit organizations, and state and federal agencies, chaired by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon heard pleas from the Sierra Club, Openlands, Prairie Rivers Network, SOARRING, and local residents to oppose the mine. In response, the council passed a resolution to monitor the local, state, and federal permitting process and seek public input at each level. Act now to protect Starved Rock and Illinois' State lands from harmful pollution! Mississippi Sand LLC has submited an application for an air permit to the IEPA and the Sierra Club has requested a public hearing in hopes that the public will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about air pollution. The Sierra Club is concerned about the silica dust produced from the blasting and processing of the sandstone, which has been classified as a human lung carcinogen, causing silicosis. The dust contains particles that are so small they can't be seen with the naked eye, and so light-weight they can stay in the air for a long time and travel long distances. This is a hazard not only for mine workers but could affect nearby homeowners and the millions of visitors who hike in the canyons at Starved Rock. Sign our petition to IDNR and IEPA to protect Starved Rock! Take Action Today! Mississippi Sand plans to apply for an aggregate mining permit from the DNR in the next couple weeks and will also have to apply for a wastewater discharge permit (NDPES permit) from the IEPA. Wastewater discharges will flow from a tributary on the mine site into Horseshoe Creek and through the park. If sediment-laden water comes from the mine site it can clog fish gills, smother eggs and larvae; sediments settling on the bottom of creeks disrupt the natural riffle-run-pool underwater geography that aquatic animals need. The proposed mine has also highlighted the need for systemic reform regarding protection of state-owned public lands, specifically the need to develop a process by which DNR can fulfill its role as a permiting agency for mining activities while at the same time being able to speak up as a property owner to protect state lands. Please sign this new petition we will share with IDNR and IEPA who will need to grant permits to Mississippi Sand for the sand mine to proceed. This petition also calls for regulatory reform so IDNR will stand up as the guardian of our state lands. You are receiving this message because you signed our earlier petition to the LaSalle County Board or the one we had at Bald Eagle Days.   Citizens of LaSalle County who oppose this mine should also contact their County Board members demanding that the County request DNR hold a public hearing on Mississippi Sand's permit application for aggregate mining. P.S. Share this link with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!:

Sierra Club Illinois Chapter | 70 East Lake Street, Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60601 | P: (312) 251-1680

Donate to the Illinois Chapter