East Bay Kerry

Three more months! Three more months!

One more reason I love Teresa!

Tuesday, August 3, 2004; 2:02 PM

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 2 -- A week ago she told a writer from a Pittsburgh newspaper to "shove it," and on Monday night the never-bashful Teresa Heinz Kerry offered up another attention-getting line, saying four more years of the Bush presidency would be "hell" for the country.

Heinz Kerry was introducing her husband, John F. Kerry, at a huge outdoor rally here when a group of Bush supporters, armed with a megaphone, started chanting from a distance, "Four more years! Four more years!"

Without hesitating, Heinz Kerry responded, "They want four more years of hell."

The candidate threw back his head with a laugh, and the partisan, pro-Kerry crowd roared its approval, chanting, "Three more months, three more months," with Heinz Kerry joining in. When it was his turn to speak, Kerry called the Bush chanting supporters "goons" and said of his wife, "She speaks her mind, and she speaks the truth -- and she's pretty quick on her feet, too."

-- Dan Balz

Our Plan For America : The Book

You wanted talking points? You got it! "Our Plan for America: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World" is a 252 page book. It has Kerry's and Edward's goals, and their action plan to get us there.

Download "Our Plan for America" (1.53 MB)

Two parts.

The first has the plan in three sections: Security, Opportunity, Family. The second is a collection of 13 policy speeches the two gave since October 2002, including Edwards' Two Americas and Kerry's talks on foreign policy. In between: 16 pages of color photos from their campaign.

Three ways to use it:

1. Debate prep. If you're with the East Bay Kerry Speakers Bureau, it has specific bullets on many issues.
2. Letters. If you're writing letters to the editor, handy quotes from the candidates to make your point.
3. Outreach. If you're tabling, registering voters or doing other face-to-face field work, you want to be able to answer questions. Here are the specifics. Read a few pages every day and you'll be an expert before you know it.

Free to download, I'm sure it will be in print soon.

Overview (from the JK.com web site)...

Restore America's Respect in the World and Make us Independent of Mideast Oil

Today, we face four great challenges above all others - First, to win the global war against terror; Second, to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; Third, to promote democracy, freedom, and opportunity around the world, starting by winning the peace in Iraq; Fourth, end our dependence on Mideast oil. To meet these challenges, Kerry and Edwards will:

Launch and Lead A New Era Of Alliances.

The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale - to utilize every available resource to get the terrorists before they can strike us. Kerry-Edwards will lead a coalition of the able - because no force on earth is more able than the United States and its Allies.

Modernize The World's Most Powerful Military To Meet New Threats.

Kerry-Edwards will ensure that our forces are fully prepared for the dangerous and vital missions they may face, and that America's military always remains second to none. We must extend our capabilities to better face new threats of terrorism, failed states and homeland defense.

Deploy All That Is In America's Arsenal.

The war on terror cannot be won by military might alone. Kerry - Edwards will deploy all the forces in America's arsenal - our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas - to make America more secure and prevent a new generation of terrorists from emerging.

Free America From Its Dangerous Dependence On Mideast Oil.

To secure our full independence and freedom, we must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil. By tapping American ingenuity, we can achieve that goal while growing our economy and protecting our environment. Kerry-Edwards will create a new energy and conservation trust fund to accelerate the development of innovative technologies, such as more efficient cars and trucks, the development of biofuels, and creating clean, secure, hydrogen-based energy. Kerry-Edwards will also expand the supply of natural gas, assure 20% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020, and make clean coal part of our energy solution.

Create New Jobs, Strengthen the Middle Class, and Ensure Educational Opportunity

Reward Companies that Create Jobs in America.

The Kerry-Edwards plan will end tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas and use the savings to reduce the corporate tax rate by 5 percent, cutting taxes for 99 percent of corporations. The Kerry-Edwards plan also includes a New Jobs Tax Credit for new hiring in manufacturing, other businesses affected by outsourcing, and small businesses.

Strengthen the Middle Class.

As incomes decline and costs rise, families are having a hard time paying their bills, let alone saving for tomorrow. Health care costs are up by nearly 50 percent, college tuition has increased by 35 percent, and gas prices have skyrocketed. A Kerry-Edwards administration will provide relief to middle class families by cutting taxes and investing in health care and education.

Invest in the Jobs of the Future.

To keep America competitive for the future, a Kerry-Edwards administration will invest in research and technology and provide tax credits to unleash innovation in broadband, energy and small business. They will also provide a tax credit on up to $4,000 for each of four years of college tuition. And they will work for responsible immigration laws that honor America's promise and strengthen America's economy and security.

Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington.

Kerry and Edwards have a record of fiscal discipline that is absent in this administration, and they have promised to live within the budget principles that helped lead this nation to balance the budget. Their plan will cut the deficit in half in four years, increasing economic confidence and keep interest rates from rising.

Provide High-Quality Health Care, Improve Education, and Strengthen Families

Up to $1,000 of Health Care Premium Relief

The Kerry-Edwards plan will provide relief for employers who offer their employees quality health coverage by helping out with certain high cost health cases - saving families up to $1,000 per year.

A Health Plan for Every Child

The Kerry-Edwards plan will pick up the full cost of the more than 20 million children enrolled in Medicaid. In exchange, states will expand eligibility for children's health coverage and low-income adults and enroll every child automatically.

Manage Skyrocketing Health Care Costs

The Kerry-Edwards plan will improve health outcomes while reducing health care costs by cutting administrative costs, waste, fraud, and abuse; enhancing disease management efforts; and reforming malpractice insurance.

World Class Education

The Kerry-Edwards plan will support more resources and more reform in our schools. The plan will fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act so students have smaller classes and more textbooks. The plan will make reform work for our schools, supporting innovations in public schools like smaller schools, all-girls schools focused on math and science, and charter schools. And the plan will invest in afterschool programs so that 3.5 million children have a safe, quality place to go after school.

Every Classroom Has a Great Teacher

The Kerry-Edwards plan will raise teacher pay, especially in the schools and subjects where great teachers are in the shortest supply, and will improve teachers' professional development and training opportunities. At the same time, the plan will create rigorous new tests for new teachers; provide higher pay for teachers who have extra skills and excel in helping children learn; and ensure fast, fair procedures for improving or removing teachers who do not perform well on the job, while preserving protections from arbitrary dismissal.

Every Young Person Graduates

Today 3 in 10 young people do not finish high school, and half of Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans don't graduate. Kerry-Edwards will keep better track of graduation rates to hold schools accountable for raising them; will offer more tutoring and mentoring to at-risk youth; will make big high schools smaller when they are not working for their students; and will strengthen the high school curriculum so all students can graduate with a meaningful diploma.

###

Tom Daschle, Ted Kennedy, Dick Gephardt, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Ilana Wexler

Ever heard of Ilana Wexler? Don't worry, you will.

Twelve-year old Ilana is the founder of Kids for Kerry, and a resident of Oakland. On Tues., July 27 she'll address the delegates at the Democratic Convention.

In December, her parents went to see Teresa Heinz Kerry speak in Oakland about her husband's then-struggling campaign; they came home and told Ilana how impressed they'd been. Then Ilana, who by then had taken the initiative to launch Kids for Kerry, met Heinz Kerry herself during a women's event in February in San Francisco; they hit it off well.

Days later, she met John Kerry, and the candidate told her his wife had spoken highly of her. Weeks later, Kids for Kerry had become a national phenomenon.

Her passion for the campaign is all-consuming; her birthday party in March became a door-to-door fund-raising effort in which she and her friends raised thousands of dollars for Kerry.

Read the entire article from The Oakland Tribune.

Congratulations, Ilana. We'll be cheering you on.

Kerry-Edwards '04

A Vision for a New America.

Update: The AP has obtained a memo outlining Kerry's selection strategy.

Name that tune

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - "In God is our trust,"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Supremes say Bush Not Upholding Constitution

The U.S. Supreme Court slapped down the Bush administration's treatment of prisoners. [A pattern?] In one case they held Rumsfeld denied meaningful due process to prisoners. In the other that the executive branch couldn't deny judicial oversight of prisoner treatment. Justice O'Connor wrote the court "made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the president when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens."

“Equal Justice Under Law” The face of the Supreme Court building.

See other comments on: CNN, Daily Kos, The Left Coaster, USA Today

I wonder if the five justices who selected Dubya in 2000 have regrets?

Draft the Boss

DraftBruce.com: petition for a live Springsteen concert in New York on the night of the Republican nomination. Would you watch? An interview with the promoter. Talk about counter-programming.

Bush Budget Cuts to Hit California Hard - After the election

From a press release at JohnKerry.com:

BUSH’S PRE-ELECTION PROMISES vs. BUSH’S SECRET, POST-ELECTION BUDGET

How Bush’s Secret Plan Harms California – After the Election

Despite George W. Bush’s campaign promises, the Bush White House has already instructed agencies across the federal government that they should expect major spending cuts in 2006 if Bush is reelected, according to a secret memo unearthed by The Washington Post.  These cuts will in many cases reverse any election year budget increases Bush is using to help his campaign. This secret budget reveals that Bush intends to turn his back on veterans, women and children, and defending our homeland if he remains in office. 

Summary:

• $111 Million Cut for the 2,403,611 Veterans in California.

• $122 Million Cut for Homeland Security Needs. 

• $183 Million Cut for Education. 

• 2,667 Kids Cut from Head Start. 

• 31,920 Mothers Forced Out of the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program.

California impact details and sources:

GEORGE BUSH’S SECRET, POST-ELECTION PLAN FOR CALIFORNIA:

$111 Million Cut for the 2,403,611 Veterans in California. In his secret budget memo, George Bush instructed the Veterans Administration that they would need to cut over $900 million from their budget.  For the 2,403,611 veterans in California, this would mean $111 million less for vital services. [Analysis Based on Washington Post, 5/27/04]

• Bush’s Broken Promise on Veterans:  This budget is certainly inconsistent with Bush’s pledge in 2000 that: “in order to make sure our soldiers who wear the uniform today understand our government stands side-by-side with them, we must keep our commitment to the many veterans who have worn the uniform in the past. I want to thank the veterans who are here. I thank you for your service.”  [Then-Gov. Bush, remarks in St. Charles, MO, 11/2/00]

$122 Million Cut for Homeland Security Needs.  Included in Bush’s secret budget guidelines for 2006 is a proposed cut of $1 billion for homeland security.  California would receive $122 million fewer dollars to support local first responders, information sharing and terrorist threat reduction.  [Analysis Based on Washington Post, 5/27/04]

• Bush’s Broken Promise on Homeland Security:  “America’s first responders need to be well equipped, and they need to be well trained. The federal government has a responsibility to help, and we’re meeting that responsibility.” [Bush, Remarks at FBI Laboratory, Quantico VA, 9/10/03]

$183 Million Cut for Education.  George Bush has proposed in his secret budget guidelines to cut discretionary spending in the Department of Education by $1.5 billion, nearly wiping out this year’s $1.7 billion increase.  For California, this would mean $183 million less to provide for education in our already cash-strapped schools.  [Analysis Based on Washington Post, 5/27/04]

• Bush’s Broken Promise on Education “Make no mistake about it; we're increasing the budgets at the federal level…So we're raising that bar; we're providing extra money.” [Bush Remarks on Expanding Opportunities for American Students and Workers, 5/13/04]

2,667 Kids Cut from Head Start.  Under Bush’s secret OMB memo guidelines, Head Start would lose $177 million for 2006.  In California, that would mean 2,667 kids would have to be cut from the program.  [Analysis Based on Washington Post, 5/27/04]

• Bush’s Broken Promise on Head Start: “We must make sure that every child enter school ready to learn -- every child -- not just one, not just a few, but every, single child. On this issue we know what works and we know our responsibilities. And as parents, teachers and care givers, we must give our children the life-long gift of early learning.” [Bush Announces his Early Childhood Initiative, 4/2/02]

31,920 Mothers Forced Out of the Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program.  Bush’s secret budget guidelines call for a $177 million cut to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.  This cut would force 31,920 mothers out of the program in California.  [Analysis Based on Washington Post, 5/27/04]

• Bush’s Broken Promise for Children   “We've got to work with states to encourage states to develop a strategy that will help focus the time and attention and resources on the programs that will not only give children the basics for reading, but give children the essential nourishment so that they can become ready to compete in the public school system in America.” [Bush Remarks on his Early Childhood Initiative, 4/2/02]

Driving the Next First Lady

Jeffrey Veen volunteered for a cool job yesterday, and blogged it.

"You have one job," Bryan told me. "Follow the Secret Service van as close as you can all day. But, um, don't hit them."

We were on the tarmac at SFO waiting for Teresa Heinz Kerry's plane to touch down. She was attending a couple of fundraising events and Bryan was the lead advance organizer for the day (he does this occasionally, in addition to running our company, coordinating our events, and never sleeping.) He asked if I'd help out, and I jumped at the chance. Especially when I found out I'd get to be driving the staff van.

The plane rolled up to our motorcade, the candidate's wife and all her people dashed into various vehicles, and we all sped off onto the freeway.

and then...

RIP Ronald Reagan at 93, Jeremee Timms at 15

Our condolences to President Reagan's friends and family. Biography. Google News coverage. What do you remember of the man? What are his presidential and gubernatorial legacies? How did he change America and the GOP?

Our condolences also to the family of high school student Jeremee Walter Jamal Timms, 15, gunned down Wednesday a few blocks from his East Oakland home. Who might have changed America.