DemocracyFest 2009 will be held in...

Written by: Jessica Falker on Nov 14, 2008 3:59 PM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy For Vermont, Blog For America, DFA Blog Network, California for Democracy, Latinos for America, DC for Democracy, San Diego for Democracy, Blog For America, Democracy for Virginia, Netroots Activism!, Blogs United, Indiana Progressives

DemocracyFest is a political festival for liberal/progressive activists which features trainings, speakers and entertainment; teaching people how to make a difference and have fun doing it! Prior DemocracyFests have been held in Massachusetts, Texas, California, New Hampshire and Virginia. Over 4,000 activists have been trained to help on campaigns and make a difference in their communities.

The 6th Annual DemocracyFest will be held this summer in Burlington, VT !

Democracy For Vermont will be this year's Host, and we are beginning to partner with other organizations who will offer education and entertainment at DemocracyFest 2009. If you would like to recommend a particular organization for us to work with, or have other input for this summer's DemocracyFest, please contact us at info@democracyfest.net

We are also currently accepting sponsorships for the 6th Annual DemocracyFest and cordially invite liberal/progressive organizations and businesses to become sponsors of this year's event at one of the sponsorship levels which can be found on our website at http://www.DemocracyFest.net

We look forward to seeing you in Vermont this summer!

The DemocracyFest Team
David, Ellen, Jessica, Laurie and Quintus
www.DemocracyFest.net

Your Local Candidates

Written by: Travis Todd on Sep 23, 2008 4:35 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Anne Arundel, DFA/Greater Bowie DEMOCRATS, Democracy for Howard County, Baltimore for Barack, DEMOCRACY for Baltimore, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Maryland, Democracy for Virginia, Democracy for Montgomery County, DC for Democracy, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Prince George's - Democracy for America, North Baltimore County DFA, DEMOCRACY for America in Frederick, Progressive Cheverly, Health Care Maryland, Democracy for Carroll County, Marylanders for Al Gore , DFA County Committee Project, NJ-7th Congressional District - The Linda Stender Team, Hudson DFA, Essex County, NJ, DFA, Framing Committee, Morris County DFA, Bergen Grassroots, BlueWaveNJ, Hoboken Progressives, Middlesex County DFA, Hunterdon DFA, Progressive Democracy South Jersey, Union County for Democracy, Ocean County DFA/PDA, Somerset for Democracy, Passaic County DFA, Essex Freeholder Watch, Monmouth for Democracy/PDA, Mercer County Democracy for America, NJ for Obama, NWNJ for Democracy, Jersey Shore DFA, Pequannock DFA, Democracy for Gloucester County , South Jersey for Democracy, Jersey City DFA, Cumberland for Democracy, Atlantic County DFA

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Grassroots change starts at the bottom. We need ot be informed voters and make sure the candidates we're voting into local office (the offices that affect us most directly) share the progressive values we champion.

When you get to the voting booth on November 4, will you know which State Representatives, School Board Members, State Auditors, Dog-catchers shere your values. Will you even know their names?

Growvotes.org is trying to close this gap in voter ignorance through the same social networking tactics that have helped communities like DFA. Come check us out, find out who's running in your local elections and help us build a community based around the local politics that get things done close to home. Write an inactive candidate and ask them to share their views with the community. Create a ballot for election day so you know beforehand who'll you'll vote for.

We're focusing our beta efforts on New Jersey and Maryland and are looking for local associates who can help us add candidates that are not lsited yet. Espcially those at the city and county level. For more information contact us:

the_helpful_people@growvotes.org

http://www.growvotes.org

DemFest

Written by: sarah john on Aug 13, 2008 9:44 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Falls Church Area DFA Link-Up, Arlington/Alexandria Democracy for America, DC for Democracy, DFA Blog Network, Blog For America, blog for America Test and Poll Group, Blogs United, Bloggers, Netroots Activism!

DemFest!!!!!  Holiday Inn, Dulles, August 16 - 17!!  Howard Dean!  Jim Dean!!  Education by Day, Celebration by NIght! 

BE THERE!

Forgive my shouting, but this is a really exciting event and I hope that you will join a wonderful group of grassroots activists from around the country,  verily, around the world, who will be here for a wonderful weekend of training, networking, fun!

Register now at DemocracyFest.net!

Sarah

Oil Crisis: Oil Industry's method of raising prices and cutting their own taxes

Written by: James Dunn on Jul 8, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Ocean County DFA/PDA, ALBUQUERQUE NE HGTS DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA, DFA-Democracy for New Mexico - Albuquerque, Florida DFA, Democracy for Florida, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for New York, Democracy for NYC, Human Rights Campaign, "FreePress.org" OhioHonestElections, Connecticut DFA, Connecticut Greens, Democracy for America - Georgia Chapter, Democracy for America - Rhode Island, Democracy for America-South Dakota, Democracy For Arizona, Democracy for Colorado, Democracy for Hawai`i, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Louisiana, Democracy for Maryland, Democracy for Mississippi, Democracy for Montana, Democracy for New Hampshire, Democracy for North Dakota, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for Oregon Leaders, Democracy for Tennessee, Democracy for Utah, Democracy For Vermont, Democracy for Washington, DFA Oklahoma, DFIA, FairElections Oregon, Georgia Arabic DFA, Georgia Asian American DFA, Georgia for Democracy, Georgia Indian DFA, Georgia Latino DFA, Georgians for Clean Renewable Energy DFA, ImpeachThem, Michigan Democracy for America, NY Department of Peace, PA for Democracy, PA Single Payer Healthcare Action Committee, PB/OS in New York State, Progressive Healthcare Reform, South Carolina Progressive Network, State of Oklahoma DFA, The Mass Media Group, Washington Fair Elections, Wisconsin Members of DFA, American University, Babson College, Brandeis University, CU-Boulder Generation DFA, Democracy for IUB, East Carolina University/Democracy for Greenville, FIU Campus Corps, GenDFA Student Leaders, GenDFA UIUC, Generation DFA Regional Leadership, Howard University Generation DFA, NU DFA, Ocean County Young Progressives, UI-DFA, University of Oklahoma GenerationDFA, Vassar College, Youth Enlightenment and Liberation League, 46th District Progressive Caucus, 7 Mile Beach Democratic Club, Acadiana DFA, Acton Area Democracy for America, Acworth DFA, Alabama For Democracy-Montgomery, Alameda for Democracy, Albany DFA, Alpine/Tenafly Draft Al Gore Meetup, Arlington DFA, Arlington/Alexandria Democracy for America, Asheville Democracy for America, Athens - Clarke County DFA, AthensDFA, Atlanta DFA, Atlanta DFA - African American Outreach, Atlanta DFA - Fundraising & House Parties, Atlanta DFA - Latino Outreach, Atlanta DFA - Press & Media, Atlanta DFA - Voter Registration & Education, Atlanta DFA GLBT Outreach, Augusta DFA, Austell DFA, Bakersfield Democracy for America, Baltimore for Barack, Bend Redmond DFA, Benicia for Democracy , Bennington Democracy for America, Bergen Grassroots, Berks for Change, Billy Reed's Democracy for America, Birmingham DFA / PDA, Blairsville DFA, Bloomsburg Area Meetup/DFA, Blue Ridge DFA, Boise D.F.A., Boulder DFC / DFA, Brevard Workers for Democracy, Brook Park Democrats for Change, Broward County Democracy for America, Brunswick DFA-Link, Calhoun DFA, Canton DFA, Capital Area DFA (Harrisburg PA), Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , Carbondale DFA, Carnesville DFA, Carrollton DFA, Cass County Democracy for America, Cedar Rapids Democracy for America MeetUp, Cedartown DFA, Central Florida for Democracy, Central New York DFA, Central Susquehanna Citizens Coalition, Central Vermont DFA Link Up, Chamblee DFA, Change for Kentucky Hardin County, Change For Kentucky Lexington, Change for Ky. Danville, Change For Louisville, Change for Missouri, Change for Northern Kentucky, Cheyenne DFA, Chicago South Side DFA, Chicago South Suburban DFA, Chicago-Goose Island, Chicagoland Supporters of Barack Obama for President, Chittenden South DFA, Citizens Action For Southern New Hampshire, Clarkson University Democracy for America, Coastal Empire DFA, Cobb County Democracy For America, Coles County Democrats, College Park DFA, Colorado Trained Activists, Columbia Blue, Columbus GA Democracy for America MeetUp, Coos Bay DFA, Corpus Christi Texas DFA, Crawford County Meet-up For Change, Cumberland for Democracy, Dayton DFA, DC for Democracy, Decatur DFA/GfD, Democracy for America (DFA) Dallas, Democracy for America - Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Democracy for America - Kent County, Democracy For America - Metro West of Boston, Democracy for America - Orange County, Democracy for America at Quenchers, DEMOCRACY for America in Frederick, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Democracy for America Sierra Vista, Democracy For America, Columbia University, Democracia para la Frontera: Reaching across Borders , Democracy for America- Gig Harbor, Democracy for America- Tacoma, Democracy for America--Wichita, Democracy for America-Greater Milwaukee, Democracy for America-Quad Cities, Democracy for America/Gainesville, DEMOCRACY for Baltimore, Democracy for Brevard North, Democracy for Carroll County, Democracy for Chattanooga, Democracy for Chester County, Democracy for Chicago, Democracy for Cincinnati, Democracy for Clarksville, Democracy for Cookeville, Democracy for Cumberland County, Democracy For Downtown, Democracy for El Paso, Democracy For Fargo/Moorhead, Democracy for Gloucester County , Democracy for Howard County, Democracy for Knoxville, Democracy for Lake County, Democracy for Lancaster, Democracy for Lititz, Democracy for Long Island, Democracy For Memphis, Democracy for Metro Detroit, Democracy for Monroe County, Democracy for Monterey County, Democracy for Montgomery County, Democracy for Newton (MA), Democracy for Otsego and Delaware Counties, Democracy for Pittsburgh, Democracy for Riverside, Democracy For Saratoga Springs, NY, Democracy for Spokane, Democracy for SWLA, Democracy for the 14th District, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, Democracy For the Heart of America, Democracy for the Hudson Valley, Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region, Democracy for Vancouver DFALink, Democracy for West Linn & Lake Oswego, Democracy for Wisconsin - Madison, Democracy for Yolo, Democrats United for America, Des Moines DFA, DFA - Tracy, DFA Anchorage, DFA Bookclub -- Chicago, DFA Boston, DFA Central Coast, DFA Central Ohio, DFA Fort Collins, DFA Highland , DFA HQ Grassroots, DFA Indianapolis -- aka Indy for Democracy, DFA Manatee, DFA Nashville, DFA New Haven, DFA Pasadena, DFA Reno/Democracy for Nevada, DFA Santa Monica, DFA Tallahassee, DFA Tampa Bay, DfA-Bellingham, DFA-Columbia, DFA-Denver, DFA-Evanston North Shore, DFA-Honolulu, DFA-Iowa 2nd District (DFIA-2D), DFA-Link Ocala, FL, DFA-Marin, DFA-MC, DFA-Temecula Valley, CA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, DFA: Columbia County, DFALA, dfaROCHESTER, dfatucson, DuPage Democracy For Illinois, East Bay for Democracy, Eastside DFA, Emerald City DFA, Essex County, NJ, DFA, Essex Freeholder Watch, Fairfax Democracy for America, Fairfield County Democracy for America, Glendale DFA, Greater Kansas City Democracy for America, Hoboken Progressives, Hudson DFA, Illinois Sixth Progressive Dems, Lake Democracy for America, Lake Park, Lane Democracy For America, Lehigh/Northampton Progressive Alliance, LGBTKC, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens, Elmbrook Progressive Coalition, Falls Church Area DFA Link-Up, FDR Democratic Association, Findlay Democracy for America, Flagstaff DFA, Gettysburg Area DFA Meetup, Greenwich Impeachment Committee, HR 676 "SiCKO", Hunterdon DFA, Inland Empire Department of Peace & Nonviolence Alliance, Iraq Veterans for Democracy, Jersey City for Kucinich, L street Progressives, Lakeland DFA, Longwood Progressive Public Awareness, Loop DFA, Lower Merion Teens for Democracy, Manuel's Tavern - Democracy for America Meetup Group, Mason County, KY, Melrose DFA, Mercer County Democracy for America, Mercer Island DFA, Metropolitan Democratic Club, Middlesex County DFA, Minneapolis Democracy for America, Minneapolis Dulono's Meetup, Monmouth for Democracy/PDA, Montco DFA, Morris County DFA, MoveOn.org, Multnomah County Democrats, Naperville/Aurora, NE Minneapolis MNwrites, NEODFA, Netroots4PaulFeiner, Newport Democracy for America, North Baltimore County DFA, North Seattle DFA, North Shore DFA, North Tampa Bay DFA, Northeast Philadelphia for Democracy, NWNJ for Democracy, Oak Park DFA Meeting, South Side DFA Meetup, Olympia/Thurston DFA, Panhandle Democrats, Philipstown for Democracy, Pequannock DFA, Philly for Change, Pinellas Democracy For America, Portland Area Democracy for America, Prince George's - Democracy for America, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of Cambridge - DFA, Progressive Democrats of Jamaica Plain, Progressive Democrats of Somerville, Progressive Democrats of West Michigan, Raleigh DFA Group, Rhodes College, Roanoke Democracy for America, Rohnert Park for Democracy, Rolling Meadows DFA, Saginaw DFA, Saginaw Sickos, Salsa for Democracy, San Antonio Area Progressive Action Coalition (SAAPAC), San Diego DFA, San Fernando Valley Grassroots for Democracy, San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, San Francisco for Democracy, San Mateo County Democracy for America, Santa Cruz County for Democracy, Sarasota County DFA, Seattle DFA, Sonoma County DFA, South Mountain Peace Action, South of Boston DFA, South Valley Democracy For America, Southside Democracy For America, Southwestern New York for Peace, St. Paul & Mpls DFA IRV & Election Integrity Group, Stamford Impeachment Committee, Stockbridge Progressives, Stone Mountain DFA, Student Conservation Alliance, SW Portland DFA (Downtown), SWMO Democracy For America, T-Town DFA, The 99% Solution, The Original Broward County DFA- DFAB, The Pomona-Claremont Democracy for America, The Saint Paul Democracy for America Group, Tigard DFA, Topeka DFA meetup, Union County for Democracy, Upper Green Side, Upper Michigan DFA, Upper Valley DFA, UWEC College Democrats, Ventura County for Democracy, Walnut Creek DFA, Washington Public Campaigns Tacoma, Washtenaw County Democracy For America, Watertown DFA, We the People..., West Hartford Impeachment Committee, West Seattle DFA, West Virginia for Democracy (Morgantown), West Volusia Democracy from Below, Western PA-DFA, Westland DFA, Weston Impeachment Committee, Westport Impeachment Committee, Will County Young Democrats, Willamette Falls Progressives , Wyandotte Democratic Club, York County Democrats, Young Activists Group, York DFA, Downriver Young Dems, Kalamazoo for Democracy, Livingston County Dems, MidMichigan Democracy for America, Mobile DFA, Democracy for Gallup-McKinley County, Margee Grounds, QC AZ DFA, Conejo-Simi-Agoura DFA, Democracy for Sonoma County, Oakland DFA Meetup, Riverside County Young Democrats, San Bernardino DFA, Pali High DFA, What are Progressive Values? Study Group, Democracy For Daytona, Democracy for Lake Mary, Dems Do Good Deeds, DFA Charlotte County, DFA for the Florida 8th, First City DFA, Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus, Hispanic Democracy, Blog For America

Regarding opening environmentally protected areas for mining and pumping oil:

There is over 200 years of oil in the 48 contiguous States that are capped up by oil companies to monopolize world energy. There is no need to violate our environmentally protected areas, just to allow oil companies to further monopolize their strangle hold over our lives.

They are creating a media frenzy just to increase the price of oil; very successfully I might add. However, there is no immediate threat for an oil shortage !!! The oil companies have ONLY created the perception that there is a shortage !!!!

I personally believe that ALL mineral rights belong to the American People, NOT souless corporations!!!

I applaud Venezuela for nationalizing the oil assets in their country!!!!

We should be doing the same thing here in the United States !!!!

Ethically Eliminate ALL Political Corruption

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/jamesbdunn?p=57

La Lucha Continua

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on Sep 20, 2007 7:46 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

We didn't make it this Tuesday. The cloture vote on S.1257, the DC House Voting Rights Bill, the technical vote to consider the measure, failed to get the required 60 votes to survive a filibuster. A vote to give almost 600,000 people the vote is apparently not even worthy of an up or down vote.

We learned we have some new friends in the Senate: Arlen Specter (PA) and Richard Lugar (IN) came through yesterday. But Max Baucus (MT) and Robert Byrd failed us and defied their own party. And John McCain (AZ) and Thad Cochran (MS), whom we expected to back us, failed in the end. Shame on them!

We failed despite very hard work on the part of many DC for Democracy members: first and foremost, Karen Rose, our Chair of the Voting Rights & Democracy Committee, who has brought new energy to our campaign for representation this year. Karen got mention in the Hill magazine yesterday, following our Monday rally outside the Dirksen building. Check out the article here.

Read more

National Call-in Day for DC House Voting Rights Bill

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on Sep 17, 2007 9:58 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

Today is National Call-in Day for the DC House Voting Rights bill!

After a long summer wait, Majority Leader Reid has scheduled the cloture vote on S. 1257, the DC House Voting Rights Act of 2007, for Tuesday, September 18 at 2:30 PM.

For those of you who are not totally up on Hill-lingo, this is the technical vote that simply opens the door to the real bill being voted on at a later date. The Republicans like to vote against cloture on bills they don't like, to prevent those bills from coming up for a vote. So if we get the 60 votes we need for cloture on Tuesday, the real vote should be smooth sailing!

Both Sen. Lieberman and Sen. Hatch support the timing, but whether we will have the 60 votes needed to end debate on the bill remains unclear. By all accounts, it is going to be a very close vote and so, like never before, we must stand up and Demand DC Voting Rights Now!

Everyone at DFA, from Jim Dean on down, has been an outstanding supporter of the DC House Voting Rights bill, and almost 30 DFA groups have supported our efforts in the past year. So we're counting on the DFA community helping us to make today's "National Call-in Day" For DC Voting Rights a big success!

This is the first time in nearly 30 years that a DC voting rights bill will be before the Senate for a vote. We need support from every Senator to pass the DC House Voting Rights Act now!

Please call your Senator at the Capitol Hill switchboard TOLL-FREE at 1.866.346.3008 between the hours of 9:00AM - 6:00PM EDT today!

Targeted Senators include:

• Arlen Specter (R-PA)
• Richard Lugar (R-IN)
• Gordon Smith (R-OR)
• Sam Brownback (R-KS)
• John McCain (R-AZ)
• Thad Cochran (R-MS)

Please help DC get the congressional representation every United States citizen deserves! We need your help today!

New Hampshire presses for DC Voting Rights

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on Jul 17, 2007 10:00 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

When I visited Manchester, NH (for the first time) to attend DemFest last month to get help on DC Voting Rights I didn't know what kind of reception I would get. After all, DC has been trying to get congressional representation now for 200 years -- it's not exactly a sexy new issue! But with a bill to give DC a vote in the House having passed the lower chamber, and being voted out of committee in the Senate, and an expected floor vote in the Senate this month, the time was certainly ripe!

I didn't know I would meet so many great activists at DemFest who would help lead the charge for DC Voting Rights in the Granite State -- thanks to Jim Dean, who gave our campaign a huge plug in his opening address. State Legislator Andy Edwards called local newspapers and talked up DC Voting Rights on Political Chowder, the TV show on NH politics. State Legislator Jeff Fontas worked to get local media to give us some attention. Karen Liot Hill volunteered to get the Jay Buckey campaign put out a press release. And then there was Larry Drake and his wife, who moved to Portsmouth from Silver Spring, MD (a suburb of DC) a year ago.

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DC for Democracy Picnic

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on May 21, 2007 9:54 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

 

Jim Dean and Tom Hughes were our very special guests at DC for Democracy's annual Picnic in the Park.  On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, activists and friends from DC4D gathered in Washington, DC's historic Rock Creek Park (the first national park in an urban area) to enjoy gorgeous spring weather, sun, food, and friends.  What a fabulous way to raise more than $1,000 for our DFA group!

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DFA makes waves at ASDC Convention

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on May 7, 2007 9:19 AM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

Yesterday, DC for Democracy volunteers travelled to Annapolis, MD for the Association of State Democratic Chairs' (ASDC) Spring convention, to lobby for DC Voting Rights.  The brainchild of Jeff Richardson, Vice Chair of the DC Democratic State Committee, and a founding member of DC4D, our strategy was to do one-stop shopping, to get the help of the state Democratic party chiefs for our cause. 

ASDC consists of the state party chairs, vice-chairs, executive directors, and other officials.  They have gone on the record in supporting DC Voting Rights, but our hope was to nudge them to use their extensive networks in their own states to push for this bill -- both to ensure that every Democratic Senator would vote yes, and to ensure that enough Republicans at least desist from filibustering the bill.  Based on the very friendly response we got on Sunday, we are very hopeful that we have their full support.

We prepared for the convention by appealing to DFA groups around the country for letters, faxes, and endorsements to their state party officials-- and they came through!    When we met the party officials, we were able to cite their constituents' concern for DC voting rights from the following DFA partners:  John Eisenhaur of DFA-Denver; Kim Hynes of Greenwich DFA; Brenda Bayne of DFA-Gainesville; Bob Schacht of DFA-Honolulu and Dave Raatz of Democracy for Hawai'i; Alta Price of DFA Quad-Cities (IA); Eric Schmitz of Democracy for Monroe County (IN); Jim Kruer of Democracy for Metro Detroit; Scott Hilsendeger of Democracy for North Dakota; Ed Zipprich of Democracy for Monmouth County (NJ); Larry Dudley of Democracy for the Greater Glenn Falls Area (NY); Ginny Ross of Bend Redmond DFA; Sarah John of Falls Church DFA Linkup (VA); Chad Lupkes of Democracy for Washington; and Jerry McKeen of Harrison County DFA (WV).

 

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April is Green, Celebrate Spring with DFA

Written by: sarah john on Apr 3, 2007 1:11 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DC for Democracy

Join your DFA friends for ice cream and a movie at Stacy's on Thursday!

DFA Green Meetings will feature the advocacy documentary Kilowatt Ours. The film demonstrates the connections an average homeowner's energy use has on mountain top removal, coal mining, global warming, and nuclear power. A key aspect of the film is that it demonstrates actions that apartment renters, homeowners, schools, and governments can do to save energy and reduce demand for unsustainable energy.

You will walk away from this film inspired to reduce your own greenhouse gases. The film is fun, thought provoking, and filled with great ideas on how to make a difference. Your group might even be inspired to take action in the community