It is commonplace for lawmakers to solicit campaign donations from lobbyists, who routinely offer them in hopes of gaining advantage. Yet Mr. Abramoff also went far beyond routine practice by furnishing lawmakers with lavish trips, free meals and entertainment as well.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Abramoff_says_he_could_implicate_60_0104.html


From Information Clearing House

New York Times reporter James Risen first broke the story two weeks ago that the National Security Agency began spying on domestic communications soon after 9/11. In a new book out Tuesday, "State of War," he says it was a lot bigger than that.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/did-bush-wiretap-cnns-christiane.html


From Information Clearing House

Local organizations have planned over 130 Out of Iraq events around the country on or about January 7th. Most of the events are town hall forums, and several will feature members of Congress, including Bobby Scott, Diane Watson, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith, Bob Filner, Martin Sabo, Jim Moran, Marty Meehan, and John Murtha.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6393


From Information Clearing House

--------

Out of Iraq Events Planned for Saturday in 136 Cities

Sign up for an event near you:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

Series of events kicked off Thursday evening:

A town hall forum hosted by Congressman Jim Moran and featuring Congressman Jack Murtha packed a large room in Arlington, Va., Thursday evening, and filled an overflow room, and had to turn away another 500 people. The media was well represented.

Both Moran and Murtha spoke strongly in support of ending the war as quickly as possible and pulling all U.S. troops out of Iraq. Murtha complained repeatedly that the Bush Administration contributes only "rhetoric" and no "substance" to this debate.

"Sixty to eighty percent of Iraqis want us out," Murtha said. "And 45 pecent say it's justified to kill Americans. The State Department's own polls say the same thing. It's time to let Iraqis take over this effort. Let them solve their own problems, as we did in the revolutionary war."

"A number of senators running for president called me," Murtha added. "I told them there were two policies. One is redeployment. The other is the President's 'stay the course.' And they're in between. I told them they're missing an opportunity to show leadership. They're so hesitant to take a position."

Report, Audio, and Photos:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6431

Sign up for an event near you:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

NEW RESOURCES FOR YOUR EVENTS:

Here's a national press advisory. Local groups can modify it and use it locally. http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6252

Here's an important flyer to hand out at events to help organize people for further action.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/flyerforevents.pdf

Here are scorecards for citizens to use in scoring congressmembers. (Provided by the Backbone Campaign)
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/scorecard.pdf

Make Impeachment signs to post everywhere on Jan 8th.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6368

Make Call to Conscience flyers.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6375

There are lots more resources here:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/526

Sign up for an event near you:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

National Call-In Day on Accountability Planned for January 9th

Tens of thousands of members of Progressive Democrats of America and other organizational members of the After Downing Street Coalition will phone Members of Congress in their district offices on January 9, urging them to cosponsor three bills: H.Res.635 to create a select committee to investigate and to make recommendations on grounds for impeachment, H.Res.636 to censure Bush, and H.Res.637 to censure Cheney. http://tinyurl.com/dus2q

FORWARD THIS INFORMATION

By Manuel Valenzuela

One day, in the not too distant future, in the middle of the night, a knock will come at their door, it being not a dream nor a fantasy, its noise an ominous reminder of the police state now upon America, coming to serve power on those who thought they had nothing to fear by sacrificing liberty and freedom for so-called security.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11460.htm

Peter Rousmaniere says that it has become easier for employers to cut corners on their legal obligations. If Congress succeeds in criminalizing undocumented worker status, it will become even easier.

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/010506LB.shtml

A federal judge rejected the US Defense Department's argument for not disclosing the names of detainees at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, but stopped short of ordering that the names be released. Judge Jed S. Rakoff's order on Wednesday was a victory for the Associated Press, which sued the Pentagon in April 2005, seeking the names of detainees and transcripts of US military hearings meant to determine whether the detainees were properly classified as enemy combatants.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010506S.shtml

Democrats haven't completely given up the notion of filibustering Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court, though they're certainly not talking about it before his confirmation hearings. A slip of the tongue, an intractable attitude or a dramatic revelation next week could still bring another Senate showdown.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/010506Q.shtml