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(8:00 EDT / 6:00 MDT / 5:00 PDT)

Join us as we talk about the Freedom 21 Conference, which is August 13 - 15 in Oklahoma City, with a sensational slate of speakers lined up to talk about all of the issues so important to liberty and the size and power of government today.

OkSafe’s Amanda Teegarden will join us to fill us in on the details.

Meanwhile, visit the Freedom 21 site for more information:

Click the picture to visit the Freedom 21 Website

We also hope to hear from Liberty Rider Michael Maresco to get a follow-up report on his journey across country.

Be sure to join us and we invite you to call in (646) 915-9997.

Faster than a locomotive!
Faster than a speeding bullet!
It’s a bird, it’s a train…
No, it’s….

CONGRESS!

Congress is moving through bills and hearings at the speed of light. Focusing on one issue alone is a luxury we simply cannot afford.

Things are moving too fast, bills are too long, too many traditions and even rules are not being followed, and too many diversions are being created to either expect accurate projections can be made or statements relied upon as to when any particular bill will actually come up for a vote.

Following the wisdom of “those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it”, we must learn that we should act as if these issues are imminent.

If you followed events closely leading up to the House of Represenatives’ vote on HR 2454 aka Cap & Trade, you likely noticed:

• The prevailing wisdom of pundits, think tanks, and many on Capitol Hill was “Cap & Trade is in trouble”
• Most people following issues in the Federal government and politics in general were focused on the outrageous actions of ABC News in regards to President Obama’s Health Care Town Hall when the announcement was made that Cap & Trade would be up for a vote on the House floor.
• The House voted on HR 2454 late on a Friday afternoon, the slowest news day of the week.
• The media opted to cover the death of pop star Michael Jackson rather than the passage of the Cap & Trade bill in the House.
• Over 300 pages were added in the middle of the night and no complete copy was available at the time of the vote

There are several issues that require our attention NOW and going forward until they are DEFEATED (or passed).

ACTIONS WE ALL NEED TO TAKE:

• Maintain pressure on US Senate and House representatives (contact them)
• On particular issues, contact your Governor, State legislators, county, and city representatives.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
• Forward this message to everyone in your contacts list

Tips to be most effective:

CONTACTING CONGRESS:

1. Call the office for your Senator or House reps. where your representatives are currently, right now that is D.C., but verify it on the phone call
2. Ask to speak directly with your Senator or Congressman
3. Be sure to give your zip code so they know you are a constituent
4. Be polite, but firm
5. The next best method to a phone call is a fax, the least, email

WHY CONTACT YOUR STATE & LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES?

• Several bills currently moving through Congress, if passed, seriously encroach on states’ rights, and in turn will put a lot of pressure on county and city governments.
• It is essential that our state governments assert their sovereign rights
• Although State legislatures are not currently in session this is the period during which legislators have the time to consider issues that need attention, or bills they will sponsor.

__________________________________________________________

THE ISSUES & BILLS:

S. 909 Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill

Purpose: Increases penalties for certain crimes committed against certain people, particularly based on sexual orientation

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

• Should not be snuck into a Defense spending bill
• Endangers freedom of speech and religion
• Presents problems with double jeapordy
• Violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by singling out certain groups of citizens to the exclusion of others

Status:

Included as an amendment to a Defense Spending Bill (S. 1390) late last week.

Links:

Text of the original S. 909 bill on THOMAS

Politico.com Story Regarding the Bill Nearing passage

Washington Times: F-22 Votes Stalls in Hate Crime Redux

Text of Defense Appropriations Bill S. 1391 on THOMAS

_______________________________________________________

Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court

Position: Senate member should oppose her nomination, vocally.

Reasons:

Sotomayor has made public statements and issued rulings that indicate:

• Lack of respect for the right to bear arms
• Racial and gender bias
• Lack of respect for property rights
• Has indicated “empathy” is a higher priority than following the law

Further:

• Made a statement that appellate court judges make law
• Her testimony last week has troubling contradictions in contrast to her writings and the facts of her life.
• During hear testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she showed a surprising lack of technical legal knowledge during some questioning, particularly in an interchange with Senator Hatch.
• Has had a high rate of judicial error - 40%+ (her rulings were overturned)
• Supports abortion through her statement that Roe v. Wade is settled law

Principles:

• We should oppose those who are not clearly strict constructionists
• Supporters of the Constitution in the Senate need to start showing themselves
• Members of the Senate need to put the President on notice regarding this and future nominees to the Court

Status:

Conclusion of the hearings process, no clear date available regarding full Senate floor vote

Links:

Gun Owners of America has been closely watching and researching this nominee, providing very good general information (beyond the Second Amendment) on their site.

GOA’s Executive Director Larry Pratt, was a guest on a special episode of the Blog Talk Radio show The Constitutional Liberty Coalition Gets Grizzly on Thursday, July 16 to discuss the Sotomayor nomination.  Larry gave a good deal of detailed information about Sotomayor and why her nomination should be opposed. You can listen by clicking here.

Former Supreme Court Nominee Robert Bork made statements regarding Sotomayor and recent history on the confirmation process on Newsmaxx, Tuesday.

Wall Street Journal article on how little information was gleaned from Sotomayor’s testimony.

___________________________________________________

“Health Care Reform” / Socialized Medicine

Several versions exist Was H.R. 676 now, H.R. 3200 (see summary article, linked)

Stated Purpose: To make affordable health care available to all

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

Puts government in charge of health care decisions

Will implement rationing, meaning government will ultimately decide who suffers or not, who lives or dies

Will kill private health insurance

Will drive talent and innovation out of the health care industry, leading to a reduced quality of care

Will kill small businesses, particularly if certain versions pass

Anyone who states this will not lead to a single payer only (government!) is outright lying. There is ample evidence that supporters want government to be totally in charge of health care.

Status:

Unclear at this time. There are mixed messages from the White House and Congress. The President seemed to be continuing to push Congress to pass as quickly as possible despite the recent CBO report. Again, since there has been much “ducking and weaving” that has occurred, we must not let up on our opposition.

Links:

Text of H.R. 3200 on THOMAS

Forbes: A Bad Day for Obamacare?

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Report on cost of HR 3200

Forbes: Obamacare: The Cost Cutting Delusion

Wal-Mart supports socialized medicine

White House Less Firm on Date for Health Care Bill

Many Governors Oppose Health Care Bill: Label As Unfunded Mandate

_____________________________________________________

The PASS Act H.R. 1291

Stated Purpose: To better protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable information collected by States when issuing driver’s licenses and identification documents, and for other purposes.

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

• This is yet another stealth bill, being “sold” as an improvement to “Real ID”, which has been very controversial
• Passage of this bill means a NATIONAL Identity Card
• Contains Biometric data like facial recognition technology
• Real ID has always been sold as a way to “make us safer”
• Many states have outright refused to comply, that is the reason for this latest maneuver, “to improve privacy”

Status: Currently in committee in the Senate; the next opportunity for revisions is July 29.

Links:

Text of HR 1291

Stop Real ID Coalition has a great deal of detailed information on this issue and provides frequent status reports.

OpEd News Article on HR 1291

____________________________________________________

HR 2454 (2998) American Clean Energy and Security Act - Cap & Trade

Stated purpose: Reduce carbon emissions, achieve energy independence

Position: Oppose

Reasons:

Basic premise is entirely flawed, based on faulty / controversial science

Is about control, not “protecting the environment”

Violates the Tenth and Fourth Amendments in many respects through encroachment on states’ rights and required inspections

Will devastate America’s economy through regulations and taxes imposed on businesses, causing increased costs for energy

Will touch most aspects of our daily lives from the cars we drive to the appliances in our homes

Status:

Passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009

Currently in the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW); Committee Chair Barb Boxer (D-CA) released a statement last week that this bill will not come up for a vote until after Congress’ August Recess

*Despite Sen. Boxer’s statement, it is important to stay on this issue!*

written jointly by Shelli Dawdy and Sandra Crosnoe

@Stubborn_Facts  @scrosnoe

A General Examination:

• U.S. taxpayers will be on the hook for medical care for anyone who is physically present in the United States. This bill aims to give comprehensive health insurance to every person living in or visiting the United States or its territories. (Sec. 101)

• Government will dictate to you what procedures and treatments you can and cannot have. Government bureaucrats will be in control of health care decisions. The Stimulus Bill created a new bureaucracy which included a National Health Care Coordinator which gives government the power to decide what is “cost effective and appropriate”. (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Sec. 3001). HR 676 implements what is called “global budgeting”, which will result in rationing health care (Sec. 201, 202).

• This bill takes over health care completely, practically eliminating private health insurance. It will be unlawful for private health insurers to sell health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits under this act. (Sec. 104)

• Health care will go the way of the banking and auto makers. No Institution may be a participating provider unless it is a public or not for profit institution. No investor owned facilities will be allowed. (Sec. 103)

• Government will dictate to you what is “necessary” and taxpayers pick up the tab, no bills except for your ever-increasing tax bill. All “medically necessary” services will be provided under this bill: Dental, vision, long term care, mental health, and prescriptions included too. The USNHC program will have no payments expected for any of this care. No co-payments or any bills. (Sec. 102)

• We are already on the brink of monetary disaster; we have borrowed and printed a staggering amount of money that threatens high inflation. HR 676 could push us over the edge. Funding for the USNHC program will be authorized by the Treasury. The actual sources of revenue are not quantified, but even proponents openly admit it will mean increase taxing, borrowing, and printing. (Sec.211)

An embeddable, downloadable PDF version of the summary here:

Dissecting HR 676 Overview FINAL PDF

Solution #1: A site that is run by the grassroots for the grassroots that doesn’t try to solicit for or capture the general publics’ contact information, doesn’t appeal for fund donations for no clearly stated purpose, and whose agenda is transparent.

We decided, with all of that in mind, to create Tea Party Grassroots. Because we started from scratch, we decided to strive for a listing venue that would be useful to activists for many kinds of events and activities. So in addition to a section for All Events, we have added the following categories:

• Tea Party
• Other Rallies & Protests
• Conferences & Conventions
• Media Events
• Volunteer Activities
• Liberty Rider Itinerary

Next we will be exploring creating listings by states. As time allows, we are featuring individual events as a top post on the site. Featured events are automatically propagated through a number of channels including automatic feeds on Twitter and Facebook.

We have employed a number of tools on the site that offer extendable functionality; Google Calendar and Maps. Full calendars (by category or All Events) can be copied over to people’s personal calendars using the iCal (.ics) technology and map links are embedded. When events are listed, we copy the information over to the map and use a specific pin for each category. The map is located here. Like the Calendar, the map can be copied over to a visitors’ own Google map.

In addition to the features noted above, we have a growing group on Facebook, which will be updated regularly and “bigger” events listed. For example, for July 4, a “national” Independence Tea Party Event has been created. We will list links to individual location events for that date from the primary listing site (to prevent exclusion of multiple events on same date from occurring).

In addition to the event listings, we are providing some helpful information and resources to site visitors such as signs and slogan ideas, suggestions for getting involved, and founding documents.

Factoid #2: People are looking for ways to connect with others of like mind and work on projects together.

Solution #2: Those of us who have been putting these events on and bringing people together in our local areas to have an impact on swiftly moving events have many good ideas which we can share with one another. We all need input from others, and we all need support from those who have “been there” in dealing with the many issues that arise. We need to be able to communicate with one another, so we have also created a site for organizers and activists: Tea Party Grassroots Organizers

This is the place where the listing form for submitting events is located, along with a form to offer to volunteer to help us with this project, and a form to submit a blog post. We are adding resources on a daily basis to assist organizers and activists in their efforts.

We created a blog site, Tea Blogs: Tea Party Tales, specifically for organizers to share their stories and thoughts about the movement. A blog post submission form is available on the Organizers site.

In addition to the site and blog, we created a Twitter ID and Hashtag for Tea Party Organizers, TPOrg #tporg. This is one id that has posts from the Tea Party Grassroots and Organizers sites automatically fed. We encourage organizers to use the hashtag in communications with one another, and many have already begun to do so.

If used widely, this tag could enable very fast communications among a large number of people. Not only could we all retweet events and other important information for one another, but, we could also provide quick support when help is needed.

Finally, there is further work to be done in providing the kind of communicative ability for organizers and activists we are striving for. We do have a forum, which is currently turned to private. We are currently looking at options, however, to be installed on the Organizers site, to keep communications all in one place. If you would like to help with this part of the project, let us know.

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Now you might ask who is the ‘we’ in this piece. Most of the site development was done by Shelli Dawdy, Joan Fabiano, and Sandra Crosnoe (but the three of us must admit that the genius behind these sites is Shelli, the rest of us just helped!). In a broader sense, many of the Constitutional Liberty Coalition had input and provided testing and insight all along the way. Thanks to each and everyone who helped and continues to provide guidance and share with grassroots folks everywhere.

by Shelli Dawdy, author of Facts Are Stubborn Things, coordinator Grassroots in Nebraska, Constitutional Liberty Coalition

Special thanks to Sandra Crosnoe, long-time grassroots organizer. Among many other things, Sandra is the author of Finding Gems and Sharing Them, and an admin of the R3publican blog. Sandra wrote most of the advice for #9 and #10 and contributed to several of the other concepts.

If you’re thinking about getting actively involved at the grassroots level and either have never done so before or have only had limited experience, there are a number of things to keep in mind moving forward.

Activist at a March 15, 2009 rally in Nebraska

1. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to get involved?’

Spend some time thinking about this. There are many people who are frustrated as they can be with “the state of our Union”. They intuitively feel the urge to get involved, actively.

But can you specifically state why by giving clear reasons, and state what you would like to accomplish?

If you can articulate clearly why you are doing something, you can more clearly see what it is you should be doing, and with whom you should be working.

For instance, if I know I am for restoring Constitutionally limited government, I’m going to be predisposed to the notion that top-down operations are not worth my time.

2. Learn history

“History repeats itself.”

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Cliches? Yes, but just because something is a cliche doesn’t mean it is untrue.

History lessons aren’t just classroom endeavors. Every phenomenon, person, group, etc., has a history.

Activism at the grassroots level, tethered to Constitutional principles didn’t just spring up in the last six months. It has been around for many years. Recognizing this fact leads to one simple question: if there has been truly Conservative activism for a long time, why has it failed to achieve the desired results?

“Studying” the conservative grassroots movement will reveal answers. Outside of the independent nature of liberty lovers as a common element, the same old stories seem to develop.

People lacking any other ambition than to support policies that are Constitutionally based have been repeatedly used by individuals and groups who have agendas that have little to do with accomplishing the overall goal.

The concept of restoring Constitutional principles means decentralized power. Decentralized power for everyone. So the establishment, such as the Republican Party cannot actively support this concept; it would mean a loss of power.

3. Don’t Assume Anything

One of my teachers used to drive me crazy, nearly on a daily basis with a word dissection:

“The word assume, let’s look at.” (She would draw two lines, one each before and after the “u”)  When you assume you make an ……. out of you and me.”

Although it drove me crazy as a child, I appreciate it as an adult.

Never assume just because someone has an “R” behind their name, calls themselves a “Conservative”, say they are for “x” or “y” position, means that they agree with your principles. This is true for individuals, groups, and organizations.

3. Always evaluate.

You cannot always know what someone or some group is truly about until you roll up your sleeves and work them for a while. Never stop analyzing what you see.

Can you see the forest for the trees? If you see yourself surrounded by nothing but trees, perhaps you’ve lost your way.

In other words, you should occasionally stop and ask yourself, is what I’m doing really moving towards the overall goal?

4. Know who you are dealing with.

Find out who is on the board of the organization, for example. What is the mission statement of the group? Do some research on the organization’s history, find out if they raise money, and if so, what activities do they engage in to raise it, how is the money spent?

5. If you are going to join any online group, such as on Facebook, find out who the admin is.

This goes back to knowing who you are dealing with.

6. If you are going to promote any online group, asked to be made an admin.

Besides knowing who you are dealing with, you can also learn a lot from the answer to your request. Just looking at how many admins there are, for instance, for a Facebook group with a large number of members can tell you something.

Real leaders empower others and do not thirst for it themselves.

7. If you are going to give money to any organization, make sure you know what their policies are regarding the funds’ use.

Find out what percentage of monies raised goes for administrative costs. If it is high, the organization’s activities are going to be largely focused simply on funding their own operation and not on the issue or cause they put forward they would like to impact.

8. If any of your personal efforts gain momentum or prominence, expect to be approached from many quarters. (Just ask any city’s Tea Party organizers!) Adopt a policy in advance of being approached. How will you handle it?

Clearly we are living in times where there is a culture of celebrity, a predisposition to cult of personality, and much emphasis placed on pedigrees and branding.

It is an almost Pavlovian response for too many of us to be flattered when State Coordinator, Sam Slick, for “Insert Your Most Admired Political Action Group’s Name Here” contacts you and says, “Hey, Betty Lou! We are so impressed with what you are doing! We want to work with YOU.”

After all, you’ve seen Sam Slick on the biggest regional TV news affiliate a number of times and he is so well spoken….

But then it turns out that Sam has more on his mind than “helping you”.  He basically wants to take over. His organization has been sending out thousands of emails noting themselves as the official sponsor of your event, and they’ve embedded a PayPal “Donate Now!” button in their messages. Sam didn’t discuss it with you and and you don’t see any of the money to defray expenses. You view the email in an effort to understand whether or not the organization has laid out what it will use those PayPal donations for. It just says “Support the New Patriot Movement”.

Fictional scenario? Above? Yes. Based on reality? Also, sadly, yes.

The truth is you don’t need these kinds of organizations to conduct any activity whatever. All of the tools, for instance, that were used to organize the 45+ city simultaneous Tea Parties on Feb. 27th were free of charge. (Twitter, Facebook, NING, Wordpress, Conference Call).

Can groups like this be helpful? Sure. Just set your boundaries.

9. Fund-raising

Be aware that there are laws surrounding the collecting and dispersing of money in the political arena. If you are going to engage in fund-raising, then you must make yourself aware of the rules and properly file reports to protect yourself and those you are working with.

If someone is fund-raising and wanting you to help them, it is always prudent to ask them how they are organized and who their treasurer is and for an accounting of how the money collected will be used up front before you help with anything or email on their behalf.

Beyond doing proper research to ensure you are working with people and groups of principle and that you are abiding by the law, if there is ever any real reason to secure donations, for the sake of your own credibility, you should clearly state the specifics about how the money will be spent.

It is my belief, and I have heard others state the same, you are better off if you try to conduct all of your endeavors without ever trying to raise money. It is curious how many of the best causes receive unsolicited donations. Regardless of this fact, it is always best and almost always possible to conduct activities without having to solicit funds. This is true even when convening a large event like today’s Tea Parties.

10. The keeper of the List.

If you are organizing any kind of event or activity that involves collecting contact information from participants, you are responsible for what happens to that information. You have a fiduciary responsibility to those folks who entrusted you with with their information. They’ve given their name to you because they want to hear about a next activity or event and/or get further information from you.

Lists should be kept local.

Please do not sell or give away.

If you are a real grassroots organizer, you will take care of the lists collected and keep them in trusted local hands and email about events and campaigns to them, but never, never, never send them to ‘a national effort for a good cause’. Once you have done that you will have forever diluted your local efforts because they quickly migrate without your permission and to efforts and causes that may not even be about what you think they are about.

If any group approaches you offering help, it is easy to provide them with a task. Let them know the best possible way they can help is to promote the event to their own membership.

What’s the Bottom Line?

Most of us have busy lives, we don’t have time to waste. Spend yours wisely working on projects and causes that help meet the goal or on any person or organization who either waste your time or use you for their own agenda.

To be informed is to be well-armed. Trust, but verify.

Do you have an other tips for activists that I’ve overlooked, or just have something to add?

By all means leave your comments here. I will add your suggestions with credit to the source to the text of this post periodically when I get a chance.

We’ve put all of the images here in one place so you may embed them if you wish. Be sure to include a link to the appropriate site.

If you need help writing the HTML code, see this site.

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Other graphics you might find useful:

Click on the picture to get the .PDF version

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