George W. Bush's Mission Accomplished

You can easily find the first hint of George W. Bush's legacy at the gas pump. It's not hard to predict that the prices will continue to dip slightly leading up to the election as the tail wags the dog. But you can be assured that the prices will make a healthy climb again after the election and will continue to rise until Bush leaves office. At that point, George W. Bush accurately can say, "Mission Accomplished."

-- Rico Thomas Rico


Note: This has been cross posted from www.ricothomasrico.blogspot.com.

A Bumper Sticker Message for Sarah Palin

I love a good bumper sticker. I saw the one shown below driving through East Lansing, Michigan last week. It's sorta appropriate now, considering John McCain's selection of an extreme, right wing, religous zealot in Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. I should point out, further, that Palin's qualifications for the office are about as thick as a bumper sticker.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Welcome to St. Paul, You're Under Arrest

[Cross-Posted from www.ricothomasrico.blogspot.com]

St. Paul, Minnesota tags itself as the "most livable city in America." The city, at this moment, doesn't seem too inviting, especially if you are an American activist exercising -- or planning to exercise -- your free speech rights or if you are an independent American journalist exercising your free press rights.

As co-chair of the Peace Education Center of Greater Lansing, I started getting reports on Saturday, August 30, 2008, via email from people (independently of each other) reporting from St. Paul that police were conducting raids on activists and activists' homes as a lead up to the Republican National Convention. Read about it here. Now word comes today that Amy Goodman and two of her producers from the award-winning Democracy Now! news program were arrested today. See her arrest here:

Amy Goodman Arrested in St. Paul



All of this is on the heals of a Code Pink activist being viciously attacked by the Denver Police last week during the Democratic National Convention. See the attack here:

Code Pink Activist Attacked by Denver Police



This police brutality against activists and journalists will be a hot action item on the Peace Education Center's agenda at its monthly board meeting on Thursday, September 4th. In the meantime, we'll be encouraging those of us not at the convention site to call St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's office beginning Tuesday morning at 651-266-8510.

And, apparently, the City of St. Paul has a Human Rights office and its phone number is 651-266-8966. W.H. Tyrone Terrill is the Director of the Human Rights office.

Democracy Now! has called on all journalists and concerned citizens to phone Christine Rider from Mayor Coleman's office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0). The last word at this point is that Goodman has been released but two DN! producers, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, were being held for "suspicion of rioting."

As the work week starts Tuesday morning, I hope Mayor Coleman's marketing staff revamps the city's web site to read: "Welcome to St. Paul, where Free speech and Free Press are not."

Call List for Tuesday

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman
651-266-8510

W.H. Tyrone Terrill
Director, St. Paul Human Rights Dept.
651-266-8966

Christine Rider
Mayor Coleman's Staff
651-266-8535

Ramsey County Jail
651-266-9350 (press extension 0)

The Picnic Pictures, The Music Video

Here is the music video!

Hot Fun in the Summertime: DFA-Style!

It was all good summer fun for Mid-Michigan progressives last Wednesday. The "Picnic for Progressives" had a little everything: political chit-chat and cold soda pop...potato chips and two local candidates...veg dogs and Democrats...a summer cloud burst and an air of Obama optimism.

Approximately 28 people attended the August 13th picnic held by Michigan Democracy for America (DFA). The picnic was held instead of the group's regular August meeting. Still, the group managed to have fun, to have a picnic and to make two key endorsements.

Mid-Michigan DFA unanimously supported the candidacy of Judy Ford, a progressive Democrat running for the 85th State House seat. Judy brought her family and spent the evening mingling and talking with everyone. She addressed the group and received enthusiastic support.

Greg Crockett, a progressive candidate for Ingham County Probate Court, discussed a wide-range of topics as he had an extensive give-and-take with Mid-Michigan DFA members. Greg also received the group's unanimous support and endorsement.

Mid-Michigan DFA also welcomed Chad Cyrowski representing incumbent Ingham County Drain Commissioner Pat Lindemann, who was endorsed earlier this year. Chad reported on the post-primary results and, as Pat's campaign manager, he promised that Pat's campaign would not slow down.

To see all the pictures of the picnic, please click here.

Picnic Slide Show

A Picnic with Progressives - You're Invited!

Mid-Michigan
Democracy for America
invites you,
your family,
your friends

to a free picnic

with progressives

Wednesday,
August 13, 2008
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Patriarche Park

on Alton Road in
East Lansing, Michigan

Free
Hot Dogs (and Soy Dogs)
and Soda Pop
will be provided

Please bring a dish

to pass or munchies.

***

You can let's know you're coming

by sending a email message to

midmichigandfa@yahoo.com

***

We Want Obama! The Music Video

Below is the music video that I pulled together using the photos I shot at the Obama event ticket giveaway at Lansing's Gone Wired Cafe last week. Turn up volume and click play.

Greater Lansing Wants Obama!