iampunha already did a wonderful diary on this heartbreaking anniversary, but it has slipped from the front page and I don't see another.  I simply cannot allow this to be in a progressive community.  

So I am posting a diary to ask that you go back and read and recommend that wonderful diary.  Since it is too late to get that one back up and on the Rec list, I will ask you to recommend this one, just so the day does not pass without our acknowledgment of this piece of our history.

       

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is launching a national "Healthcare Not Warfare" campaign to move ahead with a grassroots opportunity to turn from warfare to healthcare for all.

Details below.

No open thread since the one at 1:00 central time and no doubt there are others like myself with wee bits of news that want some place to share - put them.  Since I have a huge surplus of unused diaries I figured I could volunteer one of mine.

Chat away and share the mojo.

Call Congress Today for Impeachment

Just in from AfterDowningStreet's "Impeach Cheney Now!"

We've reached the impeachment moment for Vice President Dick Cheney. We've pushed the cosponsor list for H. Res. 333 up to 14. Chairman John Conyers says that if we get 3 more he'll begin the impeachment proceedings.

SiCKO is opening in 49 more theatres this Saturday! Be there!

Michael Moore’s office informed Healthcare Now!  that SiCKO will be premiered in 49 cities THIS SATURDAY.  It is critical that we get this information out because the distribution of the film next Friday will depend on the numbers they see on Saturday.  I have included the link to the web site and a listing of the theaters below.  Can you help us get the word out and pack each theater NATIONALLY?  

ACTION NEEDED - we need to make sure the Distributor sees that there is nationwide interest in this film.  If you are near any of these theaters or know people who are - please go or get them to go.

Theaters listed below.

Meet Heather Moriah, proud member of South Dakota's West River Sierra Club.   An environmentalist, Heather drives a silver Prius.  She bought the 2005 Prius late last summer and ordered personalized plates.  Her partner, Curt Finnegan, has a 2004 Prius that also has personalized plates that compliment Heathers.

More below....

Welcome, New Users, to The Daily Kos. This Diary is part of a series, generally hosted by ek hornbeck, who is far wittier than I. The series is intended to help you orient yourself to the site and ask questions about how to use it.

In the Body this week you will find some tips for Creating Good Tags for Your Diaries and attempt to enlist the aid of some TUs with tag spring cleaning. Also in the Body you will find some links intended to get you participating more effectively.

After that you can ask any question you want.

No permission slips needed, join us at the deep end of the pool for adult swim.

April 2007 Is National Martin Luther King, Jr.Healthcare Month

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane."   -Martin Luther King, Jr.

UPDATE: We have had many diaries wherein Kossacks tell horrible stories about personal healthcare experiences.  Today, is a day for action - to do something other than talk about how bad it is.

Please call 1-866-338-1015 and ask your Congressional representative to co-sponsor H.R. 676!  To find your representative click www.congressmerge.com

Once you have called, please click and sign the petition linked at the bottom.

April 9, 2007 is the deadline to submit letters OBJECTING to the proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to divest its easement interests in the Bear Butte Lake National Wildlife Refuge, turning the management of the Refuge entirely over to the State of SD, the Bureau of Land Management and private landowners.

This alert is asking citizens, tribal nations, organizations and allies concerned about the protection of Bear Butte and adjacent Bear Butte Lake to OBJECT to this plan by the APRIL 9TH DEADLINE.

This Alert contains:

1. THE ISSUE

2. PROPOSAL TO DIVEST THEMSELVES OF THE REFUGE

3. HOW TO COMMENT

4. SAMPLE LETTER

5. HOW TO GET THE EA DOCUMENT

6. BACKGROUND DATA ON BEAR BUTTE LAKE NWR

Peace Activists are probably aware that Sunanda Gandhi passed away on February 21st.  Sunanda was the wife of Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

I received an email from Arun and thought that some of you in the Rochester, New York area might want to knows that there will be a memorial service at the Interfaith Chapel on the University of Rochester campus on Saturday, March 17 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m

I will share Arun’s email below.

The following comes from an email from Health Care Now.

This is your chance to help make history!  What you do right now will make a huge difference? How can we really get to a quality national healthcare system now, this time around?  

H.R. 676, introduced by Representative John Conyers covers our medical needs without continuing to support insurance companies. H.R. 676, Improved and enhanced Medicare for All, will save about one third of every dollar we have been spending while providing real health care, not simply health insurance.

more below

This comes from a Dec. 15th article at Political Affairs but a search for "Conyers" for the 15th through today didn't bring it up here.  So here goes.

Appearing at a town hall meeting in Detroit, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) called for a "new American agenda" for the next session Congress. Conyers discussed a wide range of issues from the war in Iraq to the economy, health care, and the impeachment of President Bush. He declared the new session of Congress, set to begin on January 4, 2007, a "brand new start after 12 years" of disastrous rule by the Republican Party.

"You are now being addressed by Chairman John Conyers of the House Judiciary Committee," Conyers told an overflowing audience at the University of Detroit Mercy.

More below..

Scout Finch posted a note about this and asked someone to put up a diary...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. The F-B-I is investigating the discovery of four listening devices found in the Shelby County Homeland Security office.

Officials asked the F-B-I to "sweep" the office after W-H-B-Q T-V reported it had "damaging and embarrassing" audio recordings that were secretly made and given to the station.

more below

Running out of Dems to attack, it seems the GOP has turned on Dennis Kucinich of all people.

The GOP is running one of Voinovich's staffers against Dennis. They pulled tricks by running a faux Dem against him in the primary, too and had the Plain Dealer endorse her. Voinovich and the Plain Dealer hate Dennis with a burning passion.  Guess they are getting their share of the GOP support now.  

Letter from Jimmy DiMora Chairman, Cuyahoga Democratic Party below.

Zarqaw gets blown up and the Bush Administration and media cover the story full blast because it was such a blow for freedom. Such a positive for the fight to taking down the insurgency. Only it wasn’t. And they knew it.

Both of these stories got diaried over the weekend and holiday, but since a lot of folks were off having a well deserved holiday, I thought I would repeat for today. I’ve listed some of the previous diaries below, giving credit where due.

More below.

676 --HEALTHCARE-NOW ACTION WEEK -- JUNE 7, 2006

From Heath Care Now!:

On June 7th, events across the country will celebrate the fact that we have a bill in Congress, H.R. 676 that will deal equitably with the healthcare crisis for all of us. We are encouraging everyone to join us in these events by organizing one or joining one already organized in your city or area.

ORGANIZE AN EVENT --So, on June 7th, we are encouraging all healthcare activists to organize an event: a press conference; a demonstration in front of an insurance company; a screening of our new animated film "Don't Be a Chicken" explaining the issue in an entertaining way; distribution of information at a local ball game (the people in Seattle plan to leaflet the Mariners' game together with the Raging Grannies); the display of 676 national healthcare banners along highways and bridges ; invitation to speakers and organizing of Learn-ins about the healthcare crisis and how it can be solved; holding a concert, or a Citizen/Congressional Hearing where people can talk to their members of Congress.

More ideas and info below....

AlterNet carries two stories on Progressive Media and Media Reform on their site today.  Our own Markos is quoted in the first with kudos to the on-line progressive community for the quick take down of Ben Domenech.

I don't have a lot of time, so I'll just give you some quick quotes from both and the links so you can check them out below the fold.

I know there are not a lot of us here - there are not many of us in the state...  but on the chance that there are SD Kossacks who are not aware of this.....

SAVE OUR VOTE. It's now or never!

Please help circulate the SAVE OUR VOTE Initiative petition. If we don't hustle signatures by the end of April to qualify for the November ballot (25,000 is the safe number), we have effectivly lost our county referendum right. Don't let the light go out on your watch.

Initiative: the people can propose a new law or amend an existing law

Referendum: the people can prevent legislation from going into effect (people's veto)

more below...