The highly regarded activists' group, the American Civil liberties Union reports in an e-mail, "A Stunning Blow" (2/10/09), suggesting that we all, "Send a message to support the State Secrets Protection Act." To quote:
To our surprise and disappointment, the new Justice Department urged a federal appeals court to dismiss our lawsuit charging a Boeing subsidiary with providing critical support for the CIA’s rendition program based on the same “state secrets” claim that the Bush administration had repeatedly invoked to avoid any judicial scrutiny of its actions.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- It was signed into law yesterday in Denver. It will provide an opportunity for activists to assist with its oversight. ProPublica's investigative reporter, Jennifer LaFleur asked on 2/16, whether we will be able to follow the money as it is spent from the Stimulus bill. She looks at the Recovery.gov website set up by the White House.
"Liberating a Mandate Through Citizen Lobbyists," is an interesting Democratic Strategist article for how President Obama can mobilize his supporters more effectively. Organizing for America, the Obama grassroots website plugs personal stories this week: Your stories of the economic crisis. President Obama describes the site thus,a new website where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created. We'll invite you and your neighbors to weigh in with comments and questions.
Our progress will also be measured by the tens of thousands of personal stories submitted by people who are struggling to make ends meet.
For "tracking the Stimulus from bills to building" ProPublica also introduced a new and very richly useful website, Shovel Watch.org. The ProPublica site also has a great state by state breakdown of the economic stimulus plan.
A coalition of liberal groups hopes to get a single-payer health care bill up and running soon. There is also, according to CQ Politics, a new petition effort by Democrats.com to raise awareness of the possibilities when it comes to health care reform. To quote:
The new national single payer alliance calls itself the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care. It thinks "Medicare for all" should get its own consideration.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's supporters are banding together to form a nonprofit group, NoLimits.org. CQ Politics headlined, "If you wanted Hillary for President, you'll like this group." The site's current article features "Sojourner Truth, a 19th century 'NoLimits' Abolitionist and Suffragette."
Warning: Republicans are organizing. And, just so you know what's coming, the Republicans are "preparing the portals of online organizing." To quote from CQ Politics (2/18/09):
Republicans already are gearing up to regain lost ground from the 2008 elections, with a plan to level the digital playing field and fight the Democrats precinct by precinct and byte by byte.
That was the overarching theme Feb. 6 at a hastily organized “Tech Summit” held by the Republican National Committee, which brought party activists and strategists together to present ideas on how the RNC can better use available technologies to engage voters.
See also Behind the Links, for further info on this subject.
(Cross-posted at The Reaction.)
My “creativity and dreaming” post today is at Making Good Mondays.Technorati tags: news news and politics politics economy advocacy activism obama activism
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