Another article trying to grapple with the democrats desire not to win elections. It chronicles all the times the democrats choose to lay down and be silent.

It's called "Democrats MIA"

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0325-28.htm

FEDERAL UPDATE: H.R.550 WINS THREE NEW CO-SPONSORS
Three more co-sponsors (U.S. Representatives Butterfield,Dingell, and Berry) have signed on to Rush Holt's H.R.550.The bill, entitled "Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2005" is the "gold standard" for federal verified voting legislation and now has a total of 120 co-sponsors! Take the action for the Holt and Ensign/Gibbons VVPB bills, please do so at http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=9626476&url_num=3&url=http://www.verifiedvoting.org/article.php?id=5582andhttp://www.verifiedvoting.org/article.php?id=5581
-Verified Voting.org


The New Hampshire House Finance Committee is now considering devastating and irresponsible cuts to the Governor’s budget - cuts that could prevent children from getting health insurance; make it possible for our most vulnerable citizens to get basic health care; raise college tuition costs; and undercut our efforts to protect the environment.

You have an opportunity to stand with a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans to resist these cuts and stand for a budget that reflects New Hampshire’s priorities.
Gov. Lynch proposed a lean and balanced budget. But the House has yet to accept his reasonable and responsible revenue estimates, or to pass the 28-cent increase in the tobacco tax that he requested.
Gov. Lynch’s revenue estimates reflect the fact that our economy is finally rebounding for the recession, and reflect actual results, as well as historical averages. The House is using revenue estimates that implicitly predict that revenues are going to be worse this year than last.
The House Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget and cuts (House Bill 1) on Tuesday March 29th from 1-5 pm and 7-9 pm in Representative’s Hall.
Any citizen has the right to come and be heard about their concerns for these cuts. However, if you are unable to attend - please contact Representatives on the House Finance Committee by phone, mail, or e-mail. Ask them to support the Governor's budget, revenue estimates and a modest increase in the tobacco tax. Please click here for their contact info http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/billstatus/commmail.asp?commcode=H34.
- New Hampshire Democratic Party


For over twenty years, offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration have been prohibited in sensitive areas off our nation's coasts. This bipartisan congressional ban on offshore oil and gas activities currently protects America's East and West coasts, as well as the eastern Gulf off the coast of Florida.

This federal moratorium protects our fragile oceans and coasts, as well as the abundant natural resources found there, including beaches, wetlands, barrier islands, fish and wildlife.

SB 1054 directs the Virginia Congressional Liaison Office to aggressively pursue an exemption to the federal moratorium for natural gas exploration off of Virginia's coast. The state's valuable coastline would be seriously threatened by the direct and indirect impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration, drilling and production.

This bill, if allowed to pass, would set a dangerous precedent for other states currently protected by the federal moratorium. Our nation's coastal areas are the most vulnerable to ecological damage from oil and gas exploration and production, and the harmful impacts to our oceans would be felt for generations to come.

Please take a moment to urge Governor Warner to protect Virginia's coast and veto SB 1054.
To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=791&id4=ES
- New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group [http://www.nhpirg.org/]


Ask Budget Conferees To Support Public Schools, Children and the Elderly Now that the Senate and the House of Representatives have adopted their individual budget resolutions, we must ask the Senate and House conferees who will work out the differences between the two spending plans to retain Senate provisions that help shield children, the elderly, the poor and public schools from drastic cuts in vital services. The Budget Committee members will begin their work shortly after Congress returns April 4 from its spring recess.

Act now. Send an e-mail to your Representative and Senators, asking them to support a joint budget resolution that stands up for the most vulnerable, reflects the right priorities and does not shift billions of dollars in costs to already financially strapped states and communities.
At stake in the budget drafting process are three amendments adopted in the Senate:

The first, by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), restores $14 billion in funding for Medicaid, the nation's largest health care program for children and the poor.

The second, by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), restores TRIO, GEAR UP and LEAP, college prep programs that have helped millions of low-income students enter and complete their college education. In addition, the $5.4 billion amendment raises the maximum Pell Grant to $4,500 per year and provides up to $23,000 in student loan forgiveness to new math, science, and special education teachers in high need schools.

The third, sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), increases education funding by $500 million.

Jeb Bradley (NH-1st) [house] and Judd Gregg (NH) [senate] sit on the budget committee.
Send them a message. You're going to be urging them to support a budget resolution that retains the amendments by Senators Smith, Kennedy and Specter
- National Education Association

The GOP Leadership in the Senate could go "nuclear" -- with nearly half a billion acres of public lands hanging in the balance. The nomination of former mining lobbyist and anti-environment extremist William Myers to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will not only have an impact on the vast wilderness areas in the West, but it could trigger a change in Senate rules -- what some are calling the "nuclear option" -- that would make it easier for President Bush to push through his most controversial nominees for lifetime appointments. The Myers nomination is expected to be a priority when the Senate reconvenes in early April.

Take Action Now! Write your Senators -- tell them to oppose the Myers nomination.http://capwiz.com/lcv/issues/alert/?alertid=7253116&type=CO

- League of Conservation Voters

On Sunday, Tom DeLay and Bill Frist, the Republican congressional leaders, convened an emergency meeting of Congress to pass a bill that that interferes with the Terri Schiavo tragedy. And although in five years no other issue has prompted President Bush to return to Washington during a vacation—including the tsunami—Bush flew back from his ranch in Texas to sign it.

[1]Bush, Frist, and DeLay claim that they're acting out of concern for Ms. Schiavo. But a memo intended only for Republican Senators—uncovered by ABC News—reveals Republicans' true concern: "The pro-life base will be excited...this is a great political issue...this is a tough issue for Democrats."

[2] This story also takes the heat off Tom DeLay, who is facing a number of serious ethics charges and legal scandals.

[3]Americans can have different personal opinions about what should happen to Terri Schiavo—life is precious, and this case raises some important ethical questions. But we can all agree that that's what the courts are for: to make the call in difficult circumstances. That's why Congress' interference is such an ugly and shameful incident of political grandstanding. There's no legislative purpose here, just a blatant attempt to play politics with someone's life.

We need to tell the Republican leaders in Congress that this kind of pandering and demagoguery will not stand. Will you sign our urgent petition to Congress to tell them they must stop using one person's tragedy for their own political gain, and move on to the important business facing our country?
Sign now at:http://www.moveonpac.org/grandstanding/?id=5254-5306048-D4nTlTC4KtLqVChimXUDzQ

- Moveon.org

Senator Barbara Boxer and others are organizing a consumer boycott of any oil company that drills in the Arctic Refuge. If by using our pocketbooks we can convince these companies to do the right thing, we can protect the Arctic Refuge from destruction. If you want to inform BP, ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Shell that you will boycott their gas stations unless they pledge not to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. click this link:
http://truemajority.kintera.org/anwr
- True Majority

Congress is considering proposals that would privatize the Social Security system. Social Security is one of the most successful social programs of the 20th Century. The system's financing problems are manageable and can be addressed by reasonable adjustments over time. Rushing into private accounts does not solve the so-called Social Security crisis, but rather would add to the cost of the program.
Now is the time to tell Congress not to put those who will depend upon this safety net at risk! Click here to take action now!

- League of Woman Voters

The Supreme Court is where a woman's right to choose could be saved or lost. We're on the front lines with our strategic four-year plan to defend women's lives from nominees who would trample their rights to privacy and choice.

Click here to contact your senators to oppose the "nuclear" option, or call the capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
- NARAL Pro-Choice America

For those who look to the democrats as an opposition to the ChristoFascist Theocracy on the Neo Con Death Cult of Bush Cheney... and are disappointed by the corpse-like silence and inaction here is an article to let you know you are not alone in your disgust.

You know, even when the republicans are destroying themselves, social security, Shiavo, etc. The democrats can't even muster a "here here".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61694-2005Mar23.html

Of coarse, maybe when the GOP is destroying themselves it's best not to interrupt.

This is an email I got from John Gallus about and email I sent him expressing my opposition to SB 121.

Jon,
I appreciate your input on SB 121. It will come out of committee with a recommendation of Inexpedient to legislate which should kill the bill.
Again, I thank you for your concerns and thoughts.
Sincerely
John Gallus

If we are gonna bust these guys balls lets give them some credit when they do the right thing.

For more on SB 121 check out Will's Post and My Post

Democratic lawmakers who supported the Bankruptcy Reform bill cry foul when their financial ties to the banking industry are exposed.

Read about it here: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/032305/podesta.html

This is a news item on the air america radio webpage.

This is a good article. I think it exposes a very important issue in the democratic party. A lot of grassroots and political infrastructure groups are growing up outside of the democratic party to promote progressive politicians and policies NOT necessarily JUST any old democratic party line or politician.

Yet some politicians in the party want to still be corrupt and serve business interests instead of people for cash [i.e. hurt democracy and the party] AND they EXPECT that that these progressive groups will turn a blind eye to it. Basically they want all of our political progressive political organizations to act as their republican counterparts as mere propagandists and spin doctors. It's like these democratic politicians are saying as long as there is someone worse than us then NO ONE should have any integrity.

What is also important to note in this article is that it was the "New Democrats". The DLC corporate types that cried foul. These are the pro-business "move toward the right" types that gave total credibility to nader and the "both parties are the same why bother" crowd.

The disappointing thing about the article is that you get the feeling that the Center for American Progress either apologized or placated them. Which is bad. We shouldn't let these failed DLC "New Democrats" who so slowly but surely lost everything the party once had have ANY significant influence in screwing up the new democratic reemergence.

Please consider subscribing to the Center for America Progresses Email Newsletter [FREE] "The Progress Report" or check out their BLOG. Consider sending them an email and thanking them for the "Honest and rightly Critical Email by David Sirota"

This Schiavo thing is really really backfiring on the republicans. The blogs are all alight with polls and info on the publics disapprovel of congress butting in on this case.
Some quotes from Daily Kos

"This is turning into a disaster of epic proportions for the GOP. They thought they had the Dems wedged, and instead they have wedged themselves from the American public. Congress is being exposed as the cynical, power-mad, ethics-free zone that it has become under DeLay's leadership."

"Man. This Schiavo thing is becoming even more a disaster for DeLay and company. First, Democrats got to sit back and quietly watch the GOP make asses of themselves with the public. Now, we get to watch an encore -- Republicans turning on each other. "

Check the full info out here: http://www.dailykos.com/section/Republicans

The republicans know how to be a extremely powerful minority party, but when they get their hands on the controls they are their own worse enemys.

Also check out Atrios Blog

The Senate and House are in recess until the week of April 4, 2005.

Recent Senate Votes
Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Agreed to (51-49)The Senate approved this resolution outlining $2.6 trillion in spending for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Sen. Judd Gregg voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. John Sununu voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act - Vote Passed (388-43, 3 Not Voting)The House approved this $81.4 billion supplemental spending measure funding military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and tsunami disaster relief.
Rep. Charles Bass voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

information from http://www.congress.org/congressorg/megavote/

Budget Resolution, FY2006 - Vote Passed (218-214, 3 Not Voting)The House passed $2.6 trillion resolution outlining spending priorities for the upcoming 2006 fiscal year.
Rep. Charles Bass voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

For the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo - Vote Passed (203-58, 174 Not Voting)The House gave final approval to this bill allowing the parents of a brain-damaged woman to ask a federal court to determine whether or not her feeding tube may be removed.
Rep. Charles Bass voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205B.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205H.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205Y.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205Z.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205X.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032205F.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032205LA.shtml

Two years after the invasion, American Progress takes a look at the situation in Iraq, by the numbers:
200: Lowest estimated number in billions of U.S. taxpayers dollars that have been spent on the war in Iraq
152,000 : Estimated number of troops currently deployed in Iraq
1,511: U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the invasion
11,285: Americans wounded since the invasion was launched two years ago
21,100-39,300: Estimated number of Iraqi civilians killed since the invasion by violence from war and crime
176: Non-U.S. coalition troops killed in Iraq since the invasion
339: Coalition troops killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
70: Daily average number of insurgent attacks on coalition forces in February 2005
14: Daily average number of insurgent attacks on coalition forces in February 2004
18,000: Estimated number of insurgents in Iraq today
5,000: Estimated number of insurgents in Iraq in June 2003
27/14: Countries remaining in the “coalition of the willing” versus number of former coalition members that have withdrawn all their forces or announced their intention to do so
25,000: Non-U.S. coalition troops still in Iraq
4,500: Troops that Italy and the Netherlands have pledged to withdraw before the end of the year
142,472: Iraqi security troops the Pentagon says it has trained and equipped
40,000: Iraqi troops that General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said are adequately trained and equipped to handle most threats
0: Number of active Army combat units deployed to Iraq that have received the required year-long break from active duty required by Pentagon rules
30: Percent by which the U.S. National Guard missed its recruitment targets in November and December 2004
27: Percent by which the U.S. Army missed its recruitment goals in the past month
15: Percent of military personnel, according to GAO, who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who could develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2: Estimated output of Iraqi oil industry in millions of barrels per day
2.8: Estimated output of Iraqi oil industry in millions of barrels per day before the U.S. invasion
8: Average number of hours that Iraqis have electricity per day
28-40: Estimated Iraqi unemployment rate
108: Millions of dollars in Halliburton overcharges hidden from international auditors by the Pentagon
9: Billions of dollars the Coalition Provisional Authority cannot account for of all funds dispensed for Iraq reconstruction
from the think progress blog

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032105M.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032105N.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032105WA.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032105WB.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032105LB.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032105LA.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/032105EA.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032105Z.shtml

American POWS died while in North Vietnamese custody during the entire Vietnam war? 114 From all causes.

Number of Iraqis killed in our custody 108 (so far).

http://roachblog.blogspot.com/2005_03_13_roachblog_archive.html#111111636096712011

No wonder the right accuses anyone who is critical of the government of "blaming america first" "blaming the troops" "being unamerica".

http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-17013213.apds.m0824.bc-ct-liebemar17,0,2291325.story

Don't Forget to place a pledge to get Democrat-in-name-only out http://www.timetogojoe.com

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032005D.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032005X.shtml

Last year, the proposal to allow ATVs to use Bear Brook State Park in the non-winter months was stalled when SB343 and SB349 were defeated in the Senate. SB343 and SB349 both proposed to reduce the size of the ATV-exclusion area around drinking water wells. There are several large drinking water wells in the northern section of Bear Brook State Park, which is why this proposal was important.

Unfortunately, the same legislation was reintroduced in this session as SB121. This bill proposes to reduce the size of the protection areas around drinking water wells. In addition, SB121 would take away the authority of town planning boards to approve new ATV trails in private property.

The full text of the bill is available at:http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2005/SB0121.html

If passed, SB121 would effectively shrink the radius of protection around a drinking water well from 4000 to 400 feet. This is a ten fold decrease in radius size and a 100 fold decrease in area protected. With drinking water scarcity becoming an issue throughout the state and the State filing lawsuits over groundwater contamination by MTBE (a component of gasoline), weakening protection for drinking water is not a prudent measure. A small percentage of the population rides ATVs for recreation while every person needs clean drinking water. Moreover, New Hampshire has a long history of "local control" governance. The authority to review and approve new ATV trails should remain with the town planning boards.

Please take a moment to call or write your elected representatives and urge them to oppose SB121.
You can find your representatives at: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/

You can also contact the Senators who are on the Senate Environment and Wildlife Committee:

Carl Johnson (Meredith) carljean@worldpath.net 603-279-6492
John Gallus (Berlin) john.gallus@leg.state.nh.us 603-752-1066
Jack Barnes (Raymond) jack.barnes@leg.state.nh.us 603-895-9352
Ted Gatsas (Manchester) t.gatsas@leg.state.nh.us 603-668-1233
Margaret Hassan (Exeter) maggie.hassan@leg.state.nh.us 603-772-4187

This is a post I found by Phil Trowbridge of the Allenstown Conservation Commission reposted on a PRO-ATV [and anti-SB121] forum at http://www.atvtime.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001812.html

Here is more information about issue on another Pro-ATV webpage.
http://www.nhatv.com/news/allenstown13.asp
Anybody know any Pro-Enviroment pages relating to this issue?

Senate Passes Voc Ed Bill 99-0
Congratulations to the NEA cyber-lobbyists and other education advocates for their role in convincing the Senate to part company with President Bush and reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act. President Bush eliminated the program in his budget.

Shepherded by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA), the legislation retains a separate funding stream for the Tech Prep program, thereby ensuring the program's viability and its focus on affordable and accessible programs that promote career education. The bill also provides for fair and appropriate academic accountability measures, while making sure states will not lose Perkins funds based solely on No Child Left Behind performance standards.

- National Education Association

and while I am at it, here are some... ACTION ALERTS from the NEA

In a major breakthrough on No Child Left Behind, the first Republican-initiated bill to amend the No Child Left Behind Act was introduced March 14 by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE). The State and Local Education Flexibility Act (H.R. 1177) is consistent with many of the changes NEA and others have long sought.
Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1177.

Teachers, education support professionals and other public employees unfairly denied Social Security benefits they have earned stand to get some long-overdue relief if a bipartisan bill (S. 619) introduced by Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on March 14 becomes law. The Social Security Fairness Act, a significant breakthrough, would completely repeal both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. Its companion bill in the House is H.R. 147.
Neither of our Senators are among the nine who have already signed on to S. 619. Of the 221 Members of Congress who have signed on to H.R. 147 Jeb Bradley has signed. Charlie Bass has NOT. Urge them to do so.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/031905Z.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/031905Y.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/031905EA.shtml