Let the filibuster begin

Citizen "Fristbuster" filibuster event in New Orleans:

Please join us for the New Orleans Citizen Filibuster to Stop the
Right-Wing Power Grab!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT: Citizen Filibusters to Stop the Right-Wing Power Grab

WHERE: Hale Boggs Federal Building, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA

WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 2005, 12:00pm - Wednesday, May 25, 2005, 12:00pm

Concerned citizens of the United States of America will be conducting
a 24 hour 'Citizen Filibuster' beginning at noon on Tuesday, May 25th
and ending at noon on Wednesday, May 25th. We are gathering to bring
attention to the serious threat being made by Senator Frist and Vice
President Cheney to our Constitutional Republic, the United States of
America. This threat - the "nuclear option" - is an attempt to change
the 200 plus year Senate rule regarding how many votes it takes to end
a filibuster, from the current 67 votes to a simple majority of 51.

Changing the rules regarding filibusters would effectively end the
Constitutional role of the Senate to check the power of the executive
and protect the minority voice in the Senate. It is apparent to us
that radical Republicans in the Senate want absolute power over our
courts in order to nominate judges who will strike down environmental
laws, the minimum wage, even our right to privacy. We know that
absolute power corrupts and regard it our patriotic duty to resist
this attempt by Senate Republicans to pander their right-wing
religious base and big corporate special interests.

We call upon our fellow constituents to join us in urging our
Louisiana State Senators to protect our system of checks and balances
by voting against the so-called "nuclear option" - the attempt to
stack the courts with extremist judges and to overturn the US
Constitution. We must not allow Senate Republicans to eliminate the
Senate's ability to advise and consent to what the Executive does.

Please join us in front of the Hale Boggs building for 24 hours of
citizen speeches and demonstrations and help end this power grab for
one-party rule.

For additional information, please contact Freddie Monroe at
504.246.2898, email: cynfgm@bellsouth.net or Andrea Garland at
504.945.0796, email: andrea@getyouracton.com or visit
GetYourActOn.com. This event is sponsored by local citizens and MoveOn
PAC.

_____________
SIGN/BANNER MAKING PARTY:

Monday, May 23rd, 7pm - 'til
at the Get Your Act On Headquarters
4108 St. Claude Avenue
New Orleans, LA
Tel: 504-945.0796

Between Mazant and France on St. Claude Ave. - for those of you who
attended last year's Get Your Act On events at the Mazant Guesthouse,
our new location is just around the corner - continue past the
guesthouse on Mazant St. until you come to St. Claude, take a right,
we are 3 doors down. The St. Claude bus stops 3 doors past our house
at France Street.

Bring poster board and markers/paint if you can, we have some
supplies. BYOB and snacks if you like - or just bring yourself!

My letter to Senator Vitter:

Senator Vitter,

Listen well: changing the Senate rules to allow ANY majority to end debate, Republican OR Democrat, takes our democracy one step closer to presidential rule by fiat.

Is the Republican party now the whiner party? With a Republican in the White House and majorities in the House and Senate, your party is acting like a minority. The Senate has approved 95 percent of President Bush's nominees. The ones he's forcing through now (especially Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown) are too radical for lifetime appointments on the federal bench.

Republicans may control the agenda, but they can't rule like this is a one-party country. It's 50-50. There is absolutely no mandate for the kind of radical change that President Bush wants.

You're on the wrong side of this issue Mr. Vitter. "Four in five Americans want the Senate to thoroughly examine the president's nominees to be federal judges - an attitude shared by a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents," according to a Friday Associated Press-Ipsos poll.

If you support the "whiner option" you'll be on the wrong side of history as well. Check your history Mr. Vitter. That's right - it's entirely appropriate to invoke the name - Adolf Hitler used Article 48 to give himself emergency powers. That was the end of the Weimar Republic. You know the rest.

Is THAT what Republicans want? If so, you will be creating a nightmare for your children and mine if you vote with your colleagues to approve the so-called "nuclear option."

Be a patriot. Stand up for democracy. Allow floor debate on President Bush's nominees.

My letter to Senator Landrieu:

Senator Landrieu,

Let the filibuster begin! If the Republicans want a fight, let's give 'em one! This is not just about judicial nominees. It's about whether the United States of America is going to remain a democracy, or become a one-party dictatorship.

Listen well: changing the Senate rules to allow ANY majority, Republican OR Democrat, takes our democracy one step closer to presidential rule by fiat.

Is the Republican party is now the whiner party? With a Republican in the White House and majorities in the House and Senate, the Republican party is acting like a minority party. The Senate has approved 95 percent of President Bush's nominees. The ones he's forcing through now (especially Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown) are too radical for lifetime appointments on the federal bench.

Republicans may control the agenda, but they can't rule like this is a one-party country. It's 50-50. There is absolutely no mandate for the kind of radical change that President Bush wants.

"Four in five Americans want the Senate to thoroughly examine the president's nominees to be federal judges - an attitude shared by a majority of Democrats, Republicans and independents," according to a Friday Associated Press-Ipsos poll.

Be a patriot. Stand up for democracy. Force the Republicans to allow floor debate on President Bush's nominees.

Here's that AP-Ipsos poll story in the NY Times.