Friday Rapid Response: Targeting the "wackos"

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Oregon Report — Friday, November 4, 2005
1. Republicans cut budget on backs of the poor, vote to drill in Arctic refuge
2. “Democrat” war inquiry/Bush disapproval at new highs
3. Speaking of DeLay…how about that “wackos” memo?
4. Bravo Patti!

1. Republicans cut budget on backs of the poor, vote to drill in Arctic refuge
"Senate votes to cut federal programs, drill in Alaska"

There does appear to be hope to head this off in the House. I will give grudging props to Smith for voting for Cantwell’s amendment to stop the drilling. Also, Wyden managed to get through an amendment to keep the oil from being exported.
Instead of cutting the tax cuts for the wealthy—the real cause of our ballooning deficits—the Republicans made a big show of cutting spending for the elderly, sick, and the poor, and then congratulate themselves for “fiscal responsibility”:
"This is a major step forward," said GOP Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. "It is a step towards fiscal responsibility and it is a reflection of the Republican Congress' commitment to pursue the path of fiscal responsibility."
Your thoughts:
info@ap.org
Contact your elected representatives
letters@news.oregonian.com
Or contact your local paper
Drop a quick line to national media

2. “Democrat” war inquiry/Majority consider Bush dishonest, untrustworthy

The O. has a tiny wire item on p. A2, “Democrat war policy inquiry push fails,” about Nancy Pelosi’s attempt (with only one D. defection!) to force a spotlight on the Republican failure to investigate the war. The SF Chronicle has a longer and better account of this story.

Side note: One might want to ask the Oregonian not to use the GOP’s favored propaganda term “Democrat” as an adjective. The correct word, of course, is “Democratic.”
Nearby is another tiny wire item on the latest polls—not only is Bush’s approval rating at its lowest ever, only 40% now consider him honest and trustworthy. Once again, the Chronicle carries a more complete story.

letters@news.oregonian.com
Contact your elected representatives
letters@news.oregonian.com
Or contact your local paper
Drop a quick line to national media

3. Speaking of DeLay…how about that “wackos” memo?

Nothing in the Oregonian yet, of course… but via DailyKos we learn of a Salon story on Wednesday’s revelations in a Congressional hearing…Abramoff/DeLay staffer memos and emails laying bare their sleazy operations.
Please ask the Oregonian and other media to cover this story. The key quote about “wackos” is on p. 119 but the whole thing is full of jaw-dropping sleaze and corruption.
Complete record of Abramoff/DeLay evidence (318 pages long!)
http://indian.senate.gov/2005hrgs/110205hrg/110205exhibits.pdf
The p. 119 money quote, via Salon:

In plain terms, Scanlon confessed the source code of recent Republican electoral victories: target religious conservatives, distract everyone else, and then railroad through complex initiatives.
"The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees," Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them."
Share your thoughts:
letters@news.oregonian.com
Contact your elected representatives
letters@news.oregonian.com
Or contact your local paper
Drop a quick line to national media

4. Bravo Patti!

RR’er Patti May has her letter, “Medicaid cuts will be lethal,” published in today’s O. Way to go!

Never give up.
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