Democracy for New Hampshire - Privacy

Political comedian/musician ROY ZIMMERMAN in NH!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:35:38 -0400

The Northwood Theater Workshop announces the next installment of its ongoing concert series.

Tuesday, July 29, at 7pm, acclaimed liberal singer/songwriter/comedian Roy Zimmerman will be appearing at the theater for the New Hampshire stop of his "Thanks For The Support" 50 state summer tour. Zimmerman, from San Francisco, writes and performs comedic songs about "ignorance, war, and greed".

Examples of his work can be found on his YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/royzimmerman

Zimmerman has shared the stage with the likes of George Carlin, Bill Maher, Kate Clinton, Dennis Miller, Sandra Tsing Loh, kd lang, Andy Borowitz and Paul Krassner, and played a series of shows swapping songs with The Pixies' Frank Black. In the 90's he founded, performed with, and wrote all the material for the folk quartet "The Foremen" who were signed with the major record label Warner Bros/Reprise.

"Roy's lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection." -Joni Mitchell

Air Force--A Service in Search of a Mission?

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:32:06 -0400

It was a rather peculiar diatribe by the Secretary of Defense, especially considering that, oh so many ages ago, he'd been a member of the Air Force himself. Even more puzzling, considering that the Air Force is running at least four mega bases in Iraq, including the Balad Air Field, which rivals O'Hare in traffic, was Robert Gates' assertion that the Air Force is not pulling its weight in the Iraq and Afghanistan endeavors.

What was he thinking?

Would this be an appropriate act of NH civil disobedience?

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:33:30 -0400

Over at NHFree.com we have been kicking around various ideas for civil disobedience. I'm kind of a perfectionist about CD and think it should be done mostly when it's something average people could support. So I'd like to know what you progressive NH folks think, before I decide whether to do this. Right now I'd say there's a 10% chance I will.

Considering how many people have been harmed by the TSA, how expensive it has gotten, how ineffective it is generally acknowledged to be... how it even endangers people...perhaps *something* harmless needs to be done to show them that at least some folks have had enough. The images of despondent, shuffling, compliant humanity in those lines...do not remind me much of the America I read about in history books.

What if I were to touch base with all the authorities at Manch airport and inform them I and others will be appearing at a given time near the security checkpoint. I'd be wearing a shirt that reads something like: "Report TSA abuses here." I'd want to stay out of the way. If people approach me with complaints about the authorities, I give out phone numbers they can call. Maybe I bring a camera and interview passengers who come up to me, air their stories, let them use my phone, provide some other form of humanitarian assistance. Probably I do not try to videotape the checkpoint itself unless something controversial happens there. I broadcast live on Porcupine 411. Media gets invited.

FCC Hearing on Broadband Internet--02/26/08

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:52:05 -0500

The Commission will hear from expert panelists regarding broadband. The hearing is open to the public.

The public may file comments or other documents with the Commission and should reference docket number 07-52 and 08-7 when filing by paper or submit your filing electronically by going to http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.cgi and enter proceeding numbers 07-52 and 08-7. Filing instructions are provided at http://www.fcc.gov/ownership/comments.html

Sign language interpreters and open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation needed, and include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0

Friends of Patrick Arnold Launches New DFA Website

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:15:04 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MANCHESTER – The Friends of Patrick Arnold PAC has launched a campaign website at Democracy for America’s DFA-Link.

Patrick Arnold, a resident of Manchester’s Ward 12, is running for State Representative to represent citizens of Manchester’s west side (Hillsborough Co., Dist. 17) in the State Legislature.

NO IMMUNITY TO THE TELECOMS!

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:59:04 -0500

SEN CLINTON AND SEN OBAMA

PLEASE STEP UP AND LEAD!

To All House And Senate Members

NO RETROACTIVE IMMUNITY FOR THE TELECOM GIANTS!

Thank You Sen. Dodd for heading back to Washington and taking your stand on this all important issue. Thank you for upholding your sworn oath to defend our Constitution. Most Constitutional Law Scholars believe the NSA warrant less spying program violated the Fourth Amendment of The Bill Of Rights concerning Unreasonable Search and Seizure. In no way, should any Bill be passed giving retroactive immunity to the phone companies. They were accomplices to law breaking.

We need to send a clear message to future Commanders in Chief that if you engage Corporations into becoming accomplices in law breaking, there will be a price to pay, for both the President, and the guilty Corporations. I only wish more of the Presidential candidates would have left Iowa for one day, and stood with you. You Sen. Dodd, Sen Feingold, and Rep. Kucinich seem to be of the very few in Washington who have the courage to take the correct stand for "We The People." The FISA courts were set up in 1978, necessary, due to the Nixon administration and it's abuse of Executive Branch Power.

Reid and Company Target the True Enemy: ‘Dodd and His Allies’

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:19:12 -0500

SOURCE: SALON.COM

by Glenn Greenwald

During yesterday’s chat with Washington Post Congressional reporter Paul Kane, this extremely revealing exchange occurred, regarding the view of Harry Reid and other anonymous Democrats of Chris Dodd’s actions this week, whereby Dodd disrupted their collective desire for quick, smooth, trouble-free passage of Bush’s surveillance and immunity bill:

NH Common Sense Issues Report Card, Launches 'Decrim' Petition

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:27:49 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NH Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy
1 603-391-7450
info@nhcommonsense.org
www.nhcommonsense.org
12/14/2007

The New Hampshire Coalition for Common Sense Marijuana Policy today announced the launch of its online petition to support a marijuana decriminalization measure in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The bill would reduce penalties for possession of less than 1.25 ounces of marijuana from a misdemeanor to a "civil violation" offense punishable only by a fine.

Executive Director Matt Simon said the measure that will be considered is a far cry from legalization. "This bill will simply reduce the penalties for marijuana possession and acknowledge an obvious fact: that marijuana is far less harmful than some other currently illegal drugs," he said.

Supporters note that similar 'decrim' measures have been in effect since the 1970's in other states, including Maine. "We're just trying to minimize the harms done by Marijuana Prohibition," Simon explained.

ACLU coordinator wrongly held, jury rules

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:21 -0500

SOURCE: Boston Globe

By David Abel
Globe Staff / December 10, 2007

A federal jury ruled last week that State Police troopers at Logan International Airport unlawfully detained the coordinator of the American Civil Liberties Union's Campaign Against Racial Profiling while he was passing through the airport in the fall of 2003, attorneys on both sides said yesterday.
King Downing sued the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs the airport, and State Police, alleging the troopers violated his constitutional rights by unreasonably stopping, questioning, and asking him for identification after he left the gate area. He had arrived in Boston to attend a meeting on racial profiling.

Here Come the Thought Police

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:02:08 -0500

SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

by Ralph E. Shaffer and R. William Robinson

With overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Jane Harman’s “Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act” passed the House 404-6 late last month and now rests in Sen. Joe Lieberman’s Homeland Security Committee. Swift Senate passage appears certain.

Not since the “Patriot Act” of 2001 has any bill so threatened our constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Immunity FROM the rule of law

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:02:34 -0500

If you didn't get around to watching the most recent Democratic presidential candidates sounding off in Las Vegas, you didn't miss much. As usual, a couple of candidates got to monopolize the time and the really important issue of the week, immunity for the telephone companies who've been helping our security agencies spy on the American people, got short shrift.

"don't speak; don't write" is not a solution.

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:50:14 -0500

Cross-posted at the Dodd Blog.

An anonymous poster on the Dodd Blog, presumably in an effort to be reassuring, provides this helpful perspective:

Telecom snitches and Blackwater goons

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:32:37 -0400

That's what it boils down to. Our national security interests depend on the telecom corporations snitching on the customers they're supposed to serve, while "private security guards" make an example in Iraq of what happens to people who don't behave.

While the electronic home invasions by the telecommunications industry on behalf of the federal government has finally gotten the people to sit up and take notice (everybody knows that people don't need immunity from prosecution, if they've done nothing wrong), it almost looks like Senator Chris Dodd holds the key in his hand to a much bigger story.

Dodd--Not As Clear as I'd Like

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:35:33 -0400

The campaign of Presidential candidate Senator Chris Dodd issued a statement yesterday.

"Today's report that Verizon provided the Bush Administration with personal information of American citizens absent judicial authorization is deeply troubling. We must be told the full extent of Verizon's activities and what other private information they have provided to the Bush Administration.

"More troubling still is that the United States Senate would sanction those telecommunications companies that have violated the law and the privacy of our citizenry, enabling this Administration's assault on the Constitution."

While I certainly share the sentiment and appreciate that Senator Dodd is paying close attention to the duties of his current position in the Congress, the statement could have been much clearer. Still, as it is, I think the statement provides an opportunity to consider some really important matters and offer the following critique in hopes of spurring that on.

No Eavesdropping--so far

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:00:21 -0400

Source: New York Times

House Panels Reject Appeal on Eavesdropping

By STEPHEN LABATON
Published: October 10, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — Two Congressional panels today rejected President Bush’s request to renew without added restrictions his administration’s broad eavesdropping authority, and instead adopted a measure that gives federal judges greater oversight authority over foreign electronic surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency.

The bill approved by the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees was along straight party lines, just as they split to defeat the administration’s proposal. The legislation, sponsored by Representative John Conyers of Michigan and Representative Silvestre Reyes of Texas, the chairmen of the Judiciary and Intelligence committees, respectively, conspicuously did not contain two provisions demanded by the White House. One would have provided retroactive legal immunity to telecommunications companies that had helped the N.SA. to conduct eavesdropping without warrants. A second would have made the surveillance program permanent — instead, the legislation expires in two years.