Personal Appeal from Actor Mimi Kennedy (please forward)

[helderheid]

Dear Fellow Progressives,

They're shooting down our helicopters in Iraq.

Bush and Congress have waited so long that our troops are now imperiled in the air -- the route many of them will have to take home.

This blood-soaked stubbornness, stupidity and greed has to stop. It isn't helping Iraqis; diplomacy and honest reconstruction could help Iraqis.

We elected a Democratic Congress with the understanding that they were to stop this war. Incredibly, leadership is falling back on narcissistic habits of posturing for imaginary electoral advantage, while the troops they insist we support die in greater numbers than ever.

I'm an actor, but these words spring from the heart - in my capacity as the national chair of Progressive Democrats of America.
http://www.pdamerica.org/

PDA backed Jim McGovern's de-funding bill in the 109th Congress and backs it now as H.R. 746, http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9314036&type=CO "The Safe and Orderly Withdrawal from Iraq Act." This bill would bring about a withdrawal of our troops from Iraq over a 180-day period. Upon completion of withdrawal it would terminate funds for all military deployment in Iraq.

PDA also backs H.R. 508, http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=9264251&type=CO "The Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act" from PDA Board and Congressional Progressive Caucus members Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters. This bill would bring U.S. troops and military contractors in Iraq home in a six-month time frame as part of a fully-funded redeployment plan. It would renounce permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq and rescind the President's Iraq war authority granted him in Oct. 2002. It would help with reconstruction under Iraqi contracts. And it would fully fund mental and physical health care for our returning vets.

PDA, funded by you, did much to elect this Congress. Our creative strategies and coalitions protected the vote when Democratic leadership closed their eyes to the problem of vote fraud. Our mobilizing and delivering the progressive vote increased progressive representation. Our friends on Capitol Hill are telling us that many new House members are strongly progressive and want the strongest possible legislation to end the war. They're making the leadership anxious.

PDA is keeping up the pressure, thanks to you. Here come the presidential candidates to Hollywood, trolling for money, while the killing continues. PDA is working to save lives. Give your money to PDA and it goes to push Democrats to end this war, period. Without that, their campaign promises are blood-soaked dreams.

Peace,

Mimi Kennedy

PDA Chair

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Extend the victory of Nov. 2006 into a permanent, progressive majority. PDA's advisory board includes six members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Cindy Sheehan, Medea Benjamin and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

More info: http://pdamerica.org/.

[Greeby]

1. Why does everyone assume the Dem leadership was going to end the war?

Did they promise it? No. Did they run on it? No. Did any of the challengers who did run on ending the war win? No.

Am I missing something here? :shrug:

[Benhurst]

4. I guess because many thought they would make a good-faith

effort to represent the will of the American people, who are overwhelming against Bush's illegal and immoral war.

[porphyrian]

2. I'll kick that. - n/t

[underpants]

3. I KNEW I liked her for some reason

I could just tell.

Good for her.