Tell Rep. Broun: Impeach the judge who authorized Bush torture.

Please consider using the link to send an email to Congressman Broun about Bush's torture judge.

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

---

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 08:22:37 -0600
From: act@credoaction.com
To:
Subject: Tell Rep. Broun: Impeach the judge who authorized Bush torture.

		The man who suborned torture should not be a federal judge. Tell Rep. Broun: Impeach Jay Bybee. Jay Bybee wrote memos giving the Bush administration legal cover to undermine the Constitution. He should not be a federal judge.   When presidents and federal judges take office, they must swear to support and defend the Constitution. But federal judge Jay Bybee worked long and hard to undermine the Bill of Rights — and to make sure that President George W. Bush could do the same. On March 2, the Justice Department released a series of legal memos, some authored by Jay Bybee, that gave the Bush Administration legal cover to wiretap Americans without court approval, to send prisoners oversees where they were likely to be tortured, to use U.S. military forces for domestic purposes, and a number of other actions that previously would have been considered unconstitutional. For his service, Bybee was rewarded by the Bush administration with a federal judgeship — a lifetime appointment. CREDO worked to oppose his nomination, but only 19 senators sided with us, and Bybee was overwhelmingly confirmed. Now that we know the extent of the crimes he authorized — the extent to which he worked against our own Constitution — Bybee must be impeached. The Bush administration didn't bother to repudiate the Bybee memos until five days before President Obama took office. While his federal judgeship is a lifetime appointment, Congress has the power to remove him from the bench. The House Judiciary Committee should begin impeachment hearings immediately to learn the full scope of Bybee's successful campaign to undermine the Constitution. Click here to tell Rep. Broun to vote to impeach Judge Bybee. Thank you for working to support and defend our Constitution. Kate Stayman-London, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets

Ask Rep. Paul Broun to impeach Judge who permitted illegal torture by US

Subject: Tell Congress: Impeach Judge Jay Bybee.

Dear Friend,

When presidents and federal judges take office, they must swear to support and defend the Constitution. But federal judge Jay Bybee worked long and hard to undermine the Bill of Rights - and to make sure that President George W. Bush could do the same.

On March 2, the Justice Department released a series of legal memos, some authored by Jay Bybee, that made a mockery of the Constitution, and gave the Bush Administration legal cover to wiretap Americans without court approval, to send prisoners oversees where they were likely to be tortured, to use U.S. military forces for domestic purposes, and a number of other actions that previously would have been considered unconstitutional.

For his service, Bybee was rewarded by the Bush administration with a federal judgeship. Working Assets (now CREDO) worked to oppose that nomination, but only 19 senators sided with us, and Bybee was overwhelmingly confirmed. Now that we know the extent of the horrors he authorized - the extent to which he worked against our own Constitution - Bybee must be impeached.

I just took action to tell my representative to impeach Judge Bybee. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/impeach_bybee/?r_by=2872-303034-r._PPYx&rc=paste

Thanks!

SAVE THESE DATES - March 27-28 film screening/public forum

Rich Rusk has worked hard for Moore's Ford Memorial Committee. Go see his movies, if you can, even though they are being shown in Monroe in Walton County.

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

---

From: richrusk@bellsouth.net
To: ;
Subject: SAVE THESE DATES - March 27-28 film screening/public forum
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:37:28 -0500

SAVE THESE DATES - MARCH 27 & 28

 

Dear folks,

   This press release for our March 28 film screening/public forum in Monroe went to local news media today.

   The Obama administration's Justice Dept. and FBI are going public with the Moore's Ford investigation.

   Open attachment for better formatting.

   Rich

 

P.S. Please do attend the March 27-28 events. On Friday, March 27, we host a "Meet and Greet" for our guests at the Monroe Community Center. Let's turn out and support this investigation. 

 

 

 

Moore's Ford Memorial Committee

480 Stanton Way, Athens, GA 30606

706-354-0321; 706-202-7802; richrusk@bellsouth.net; www.mooresford.org

 

Press Release – March 5, 2009

 

FBI, Justice Dept. Officials, Ex-Klansman Seek Public Support

in Solving Moore's Ford Lynching of 1946

Feds, Locals Head for Monroe, GA to Re-invigorate Investigation

   On Saturday, March 28, key Justice Department and FBI officials, now working for a  president elected last November 4 with the campaign slogan, "Yes we can," are headed for Monroe, GA to meet with civic leaders and local residents and build public support for a 62 year old murder investigation.

   Beginning at 2 p.m. at the historic Monroe Community Center, film maker Keith Beauchamp will screen his one hour documentary, Murders in Black and White, on the Moore's Ford Lynching of July 25, 1946. On that day, a white mob shot repeatedly two African American couples – Roger and Dorothy Malcom, George and Mae Murry Dorsey – at the Moore's Ford Bridge forty miles east of Atlanta. Already broadcast nationally on TV One, Beauchamp's film showing, which focuses on current efforts to seek justice, is the premier screening where the crime actually occurred.

   At 3:15 p.m., a public forum – "When Justice Rolls Down: Searching for Truth and Healing at the Moore's Ford Bridge" - will explore ways of enlisting public support for the investigation. In addition to Beauchamp, panelists will include Robert Howard, a local civil rights worker who has pursued the Moore's Ford killers for 41 years; Cynthia Deitle, Justice Dept's Civil Rights Unit Chief; a lead FBI investigator on the case; Andrew Sheldon, jury consultant; and Roger Malcom Hayes, son of Roger Malcom.  

    A surprise panelist is Elwin Wilson, an aging ex-Ku Klux Klansman who in 1961 severely beat civil rights icon John Lewis at a Rock Hill, South Carolina bus stop. Several weeks ago, in Lewis's D. C. office and then on CNN, Wilson apologized to the Georgia congressman – 48 years later.

   "I have been carrying an apology in my heart all those years," he said.

   "I accepted his apology," said Lewis. "Hate is too heavy a burden to bear. Maybe Mr. Wilson will inspire others to come forward. This (Elwin's confession) might really make a difference." Reportedly, Wilson will urge older residents in Oconee and Walton to lay down old prejudices and tell investigators what they know about the Moore's Ford killings.

   Bishop Clarence Harris will moderate the discussion and invite full audience participation.

   "Our last best chance to bring justice at Moore's Ford," said Howard of Wilson's pending visit, the Monroe gathering and on-going FBI efforts. He praised agents for following up leads that he provided.

   "March 28 is a great opportunity for Oconee and Walton Counties to acknowledge what happened at the bridge," said Walton County Commissioner Kirklyn Dixon. "NOW is the time. We need to write a new chapter for Moore's Ford."   

   "The FBI can't solve these cold case, civil rights murders on their own," Beauchamp said, fleshing out the call for a reinvigorated investigation. "To find justice and closure at Moore's' Ford and elsewhere, we have to overcome the fear that has silenced so many citizens." With his passion for film making and close ties with the FBI, Beauchamp urged local organizers in the Moore's Ford Memorial Committee (MFMC) to host the March 28 events.

   "Keith is behind so much of this," said MFMC secretary Rich Rusk. "His film research nearly got indictments in the 1955 Emmett Till murder. He is doing his dead level best not only to solve Moore's Ford but other historic killings." Beauchamp interviewed many local residents for his documentary.

   Difficulties inherent in a 62 year old murder case, lessons learned with "going public" in successful prosecutions, and Obama administration plans for implementing the Emmett Till Bill, creating a separate Justice Department task force on cold case, civil rights murders, are topics for discussion.

   "Now that the Till Bill has passed, we really hope that full time FBI agents will be sent to work this case," said Rusk.  

   Following the March 28 events, the Moore's Ford Memorial Committee will hold a public meeting in April to consider how best to build public support for the investigation. According to insiders, witnesses with new information were essential in recent cold case convictions in the Deep South. A multi-faith healing service, similar to the 2005 service held in Abbeville, SC where eight lynchings occurred, is being discussed.

   "It is time for our local churches to stand up for justice and healing," said local minister Bishop Harris, who is reaching out to church people for their support.

   For those wishing to meet informally with the D. C. guests, the MFMC will host a "Meet and Greet" social at 7 p.m., Friday, March 27 at the same Monroe Community Center on 602 East Church St.        

   Even though new attitudes and mixed race juries are leading to justice elsewhere, MFMC members concede that prosecuting a 62 year old killing remains extraordinarily difficult.

   "What we are asking friends and family of those responsible (for the killings) is really hard," said MFMC chairman Waymond Archie Mundy, who is African American. "If the shoe was on the other foot, how many of us would turn in our own family?"

   "We should try to understand why they (descendents) have been silent for so long," continued Mundy. "The people who done this - brothers, cousins, uncles, fathers, grandfathers, friends – were people that they loved. This is also part of our healing, to understand why this happened – both the killings and the coverup."

    "At the same time, justice must be done."

   By Rich Rusk, Secretary

   Moore's Ford Memorial Committee                          911 words

 

 

 

Great letter from Watkinsville and crazy comments

John Gauld: Broun wrong on assault weapons | Athens Banner-Herald

Banging our hearts and minds against the same wall

How do we get all the leaders, activists and concerned people of every stripe and persuasion in Oconee County, Georgia to come together for one night? That was one the main question I distilled from the latest gathering of frustration known as the Oconee County Democratic Committee this evening at the Courthouse Annex. There are a lot of creative, intelligent, amazing individuals who attend church, go to soccer games, and build things in their backyards who do not judge you based on whether you attach a D or an R on the back of their name. Civitans, Rotary, Woodmen of the World, Clarke - Oconee Cattlemen's Association, Moore's Ford Memorial Committee, the Junior League, every school's PTA, every sports league, every church group, all have one thing in common: they care about our present and future. How they go about it, how they share their viewpoints, those are the different paths, dreams and fulfillment from whence we derive our differing viewpoints.

I had just come from the dedication of the new Gymnasium of the Veterans park. They have a nice three point line on the short courts on the wooden basketball flooring. There are tons of weight machines and cardio workout machines upstairs as well.

Nothing was accomplished at this evening's meeting, except that our meeting was not announced in the calendar section of any of the papers, and that was as much our fault for not having a tag for this meeting such as "Chairman Veit teaches Oconee Democrats LaCrosse techniques while riding bikes." Liz Goodroe and Erica Ferrari talked about their meeting with the Food Bank, with the wrap up of the Transferable Development Rights Educational Summit provided by Jonathan Veit (with a dozen people and the Mayor of Watkinsville Jim Luken and no other public leaders despite being invited). Becky Vaughn will be leading an Advocacy Workshop for members of the committee at their house in Lane Creek next week after Violet Dawe does her best with the local Legislative Delegation at the charter meeting in North High Shoals at 6 pm, in which she urges all interested parties to turn out to the lovely new North High Shoals Elementary School at 6:00 pm to the State Representative Bob Smith, Senator Bill Cowsert and Ralph Hudgins know of the support for the city at the confluence of Morgan, Walton and Oconee Counties.

The next committee meeting is Tuesday, April 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Oconee County Government Annex on Hwy. 15 in Watkinsville. The Democratic Committee will be working on an event with David Poythress, a candidate for Governor, sometime in the future as well as a bicycle commuting seminar on a Sunday sometime later in the next month.

We had some vigorous, robust and dynamic debate about the length of weekly newspapers needing advance notice to be spoon fed notices about monthly meetings, why we meet on Thursdays, the political leanings of former teachers at OCHS, and just about every thing else we could possibly disagree on in a 90 minute discussion where everyone can talk about the problems, but no is really ready to step up to the plate, myself included.

Being a Democratic party member in Oconee County carries a heavy burden and quite a social stigma which prevents a lot of people from crossing the Rubicon to come to our meetings in this mass of apathetic suburban and rural dwellers. If anyone has any ideas on how we might go about changing this reddest of red counties back to being purple at least, let me know please.

Oconee Book group choice for March

So Pat has been super busy rewriting the script for the twice postponed "Dancing with the Stars, Part 2" with Courtney Gale, John Keane, and many other Athens and Oconee County dancers and non-dancers which was the victim of the recent slowly retreating snow storm. But read the book already? OK!

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

 
 The book group the Oconee Democrats sponsor is reading a wonderful book
 in March. Consider joining us!
 
 We've chosen "The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court" by
 Jeffrey Toobin. The New York Times described the book as "engaging,
 erudite, candid and accessible, often hard to put down."
 
 Toobin graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was
 editor of the Harvard Law Review (a prestigious role President Obama
 carried out later). Toobin is a staff writer for New Yorker magazine
 and senior legal analyst for CNN.
 
 "The Nine" was chosen as one of the best books of the year (2007) by
 publications as wide ranging as Fortune, Newsweek, The Economist, and
 Entertainment Weekly. In the book, Toobin provides an in-depth
 examination of events such as the Bush v. Gore case that enabled George
 W. Bush to become president despite a hotly contested recount that was
 still underway in Florida.
 
 The group will meet to discuss the book on Thursday, March 19th, at Five
 Points Deli on Epps Bridge Parkway, with the conversation getting
 underway at 6:15. We meet the third Thursday of every month to discuss
 books about politics, history, and the natural world around us. Come a
 little early to order dinner or coffee and to chat!
 
 The book is available at a 25% discount at Books Galore in Watkinsville.
 
 For more information, feel free to contact me.
 
 Back to reading!
 
 Pat Priest
 Member,
 Oconee Democrats
 
 

What the hell is this crap getting in our creek NOW?

Spill underlines sewer capacity problems | adam.thompson@onlineathens.com

Thank you to Adam Thompson of the Athens Banner-Herald for letting us know how affluent effluent is being pumped into our creek.

Blake pegs Paul as the most Conservative of all

Paul Broun! 1!!!1!1! | Blogs.OnlineAthens.com

Call Dr. Broun

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Ask your Representative to Cosponsor Tobacco Regulation Bill

March 14: AAD (Athens Area Democrats) meeting

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Karen Solheim <ksolheim@oconee.k12.ga.us>
To: ccdc@clarkedemocrats.com; ccdc-nm@clarkedemocrats.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2009 1:51:23 PM
Subject: March 14: AAD (Athens Area Democrats) meeting

Dear CCDC members and friends,

 

The next meeting of the Athens Area Democrats is Saturday, March 14, 2009, beginning at 9 a. m. at Trump's new location (Shops at South Athens, intersection of Milledge Avenue and Macon Highway).

 

The email below from Anita Brannen contains ALL the details including the program information (sounds great!), cost, and ticket purchase deadline.

 

I hope you can plan on attending.

 

Sincerely,

Karen Solheim

CCDC Vice Chair for Communications

-----------------------------------------------------

From: Anita Brannen <anitabarney@charter.net>

Date: March 1, 2009 3:38:00 PM EST

To: Undisclosed-recipients: <>;

Subject: Breakfast - 14 March

Why is it that people don't want to talk about mental disease? Is it because of that old primitive taboo that if you talk about something you invite it to manifest? As long as you deny it, or ignore it, it cannot exist? At any rate, we continually resist dealing with mental health in this country and probably in most countries of the world. Mental health, which certainly is as important as physical health and we know significantly affects physical health, is not recognized and certainly not funded in the same way. At our coming meeting we are going to face up to the threat and talk about how we are dealing with it in our community. David Jarrett and Martha DeHart have planned a program addressing the question "What type of changes in services, education, awareness and treatment would you like to see in the next four years on behalf of mental health needs?" There will be a panel discussion featuring professional practitioners from various health agencies, such as Mental Health America, Advantage Behavioral Health and Nuci's Space. Speakers will address topics including legislative issues, current organizational goals as well as hopes and dreams at both the local and state level given the new political climate. 

This meeting will be on Saturday, 14 March at 9:00 a.m. at Trumps new location at the Shops at South Athens at the intersection of Milledge Ave. and the Macon Highway. Please remember that we do need reservations and unfortunately, we must charge you if you do not show up because we guarantee the number to Trumps and we charge you only the $12 that we pay directly to them. If you cannot or prefer not to come for breakfast, you can come about 9:30 just for the program. Please e-mail or call your reservations in no later than Monday, 9 March to Denise Ricks at 706-247-3558, uselessandnogood@hotmail.com or

Anita Brannen, 706-543-1480, anitabarney@charter.net.

Hope to see you all there. Everyone seems to have a really good time visiting and socializing. Come and bring your neighbors and friends!

Oconee River Coal Plant

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

 Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 17:12:52 -0500
 From: stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org
 To: stewards@altamahariverkeeper.org; bryce.baumgartner@gmail.com
 Subject: Oconee River Coal Plant
 
 
Your help is needed this week to support the effort to stop the
 proposed Plant Washington Coal Plant near Sandersville. Join local
 residents, Altamaha Riverkeeper James Holland, and representatives from
 citizens groups in seeking information about how this proposed power
 plant will impact the Oconee River and ground water resources.
 
 Please attend the Plant Washington Q&A Session on March 5th in Sandersville.
 
 Background:
 On Thursday, March 5th, the Georgia Environmental
 Protection Division (EPD) will take questions from YOU about the Plant
 Washington proposal. By asking your question and speaking up at this
 forum, you will help ensure a clean environment now and for future
 generations.
 
 Plant Washington, an 850 megawatt coal-fired power plant proposed near
 Sandersville in the Ogeechee watershed will use up to 16 million gallons
 of water per day and contaminate the river with mercury. We have a
 chance to speak up before it is too late. Say "NO" to coal and "YES" to
 energy efficiency.
 
 Power4Georgians estimates that Plant Washington will emit 6.2 million
 tons of carbon dioxide, 122 pounds of toxic mercury, and 1,896 tons
 of sulfur dioxide into our air and water every year. In addition, a
 30-mile pipeline would devastate local water resources by taking up to
 16 million gallons of water from the Oconee River and groundwater per
 day.
 
 Please attend the meeting and bring friends.
 Wear red to show your opposition to more mercury in the Ogeechee
 and Oconee.
 
 Thursday, March 5th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
 Sandersville Technical College
 1189 Deepstep Road
 Sandersville, GA 31082
 
 Click here for directions
 <http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,3493928358299975785&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&dq=1189+Deepstep+Road+in+Sandersville&daddr=1189+Deepstep+Rd,+Sandersville,+GA+31082&geocode=13087191181567028563,32.998004,-82.835246&ei=zBOnSebtC43BtgfHioHcDw&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=directions-to>
 
 Thanks to the Ogeechee-Canochee Riverkeeper for help with this email.
 PLEASE Remember to VOTE FOR OGEECHEE-CANOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER to receive
 $10,000 from MillerCoors to test fish in the Ogeechee and coastal
 streams for mercury. Voting ends March 6th.
 http://www.rivernetwork.org/forms/vote-millercoors-grants
 
 ARK is grateful to the many groups and individuals who are working on
 this effort. The Fall Line Alliance for Clean Energy (FACE) sponsored
 an excellent information meeting last week that was informative and well
 attended. People care about this issue. Please get involved.
 
 Other resources
 Please see a new video by Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)
 about Plant Washington at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24TcimDm51w and
 view a new website by the Waterkeeper Alliance about coal at
 www.thedirtylie.com <http://www.thedirtylie.com/>.
 
 
 

Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting, 3/5/2009, 7:00 pm

Please attend if you can

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

---

From: oconee@yahoogroups.com
To: oconee@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:01:56 +0000
Subject: [oconee] Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting, 3/5/2009, 7:00 pm

oconee Yahoo! Group

Oconee Democrats Regular Monthly Meeting

Thursday March 5, 2009

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

This event repeats every month on the first Thursday.

NOTE NEW LOCATION: Oconee County Government Annex

Greensboro Highway

Watkinsville, GA

Conversation & socializing starts at 7:00 pm; the meeting begins at 7:30 pm. COMMITTEE MEMBERS: If you have to miss this meeting, let Secretary Rita Bennett (bonanzagirl@hotmail.com) know in advance so your absence can be counted as "excused."

Copyright © 2009  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

__,_._,___

Snoconee - all systems go - Clarke County - watch out for lunatics!

I stayed off the road as much as possible for our supposed six inches of snow here in Oconee County yesterdaym starting at approximately 12:44 pm Sunday at my house. I kept periodically shoveling the driveway and was damn glad I did so today. Lowell and his neighbor buddy Seth tried building a snow fort with out much success. Various dogs I had never seen before came down my street to have a sniff at and with my dog Josephine. I would periodically brush off the lights of my neighbors driving in the streets and announce amazement at their bald tires in this treacherous conditions. When the power started to flicker around 4 pm I heard tree branches cracking in the neighbors yard and told them they needed to move their minivan lest it become the latest victim of the snow fury. I heard a little thunder snow and decided I would make a run for Publix in my 4 wheel drive diesel 2500 pick up truck. It was not as nearly chaotic in the grocery store as I would have first imagined, although it was somewhat amusing to see ritzy women in full length fur coats battling the scruffy types like me to get that last loaf of bread or pair of gloves or other non-refrigerated munchies.

Sometimes it seems that snow makes people forget all forms of civility and sanity, and never was that more evident then driving around Athens on the day off. Numerous limbs limped across Milledge Avenue and everyone seemed to forget that lights out at an intersection means it becomes a four way stop. People were using the freeway over passes as their own private ski and sled runs, except that there is no parking on Milledge. Frat boys in pick up trucks, in the back of pick up trucks decided to start hurling ice balls at innocent passers by and flip the bird to my son and me. Cables and power lines were down everywhere and the by-pass was actually safer than the main thoroughfares.

Luckily it seems the temperature is not going below freezing yet, but surely it will overnight. I did not hear anything about my son's school except for one brief mention on the radio, and when I was without power, I was damn glad to have the battery powered and hand cranked weather radio. I was happy to see the roads of Oconee getting plowed by 2 pm this afternoon. Everyone stay safe and stay off the roads unless you have to be on them.