Friday: Last Chance to Stop Paulson's Plunder

Friday: Last Chance to Stop Paulson's Plunder

(1) Call your Representative at 800-473-6711 or 800-828-0498 or 202-224-3121 and say "No Bailout!"
(2) Find or Organize a "No Bailout" protest near you:
http://bailoutmainstreet.com/
(3) Visit your Representative's local office

The Senate's 74-25 vote for Paulson's Plunder came as no surprise, since the Senate is run by and for millionaires. So now it's back to the House of Representatives, where we shocked those millionaires on Monday by defeating their bailout bill by 228-205.

A terrified army of corporate lobbyists is working around the clock to switch 13 votes, but only 7 have switched so far - Jim Ramstad (R-MN), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Zach Wamp (R-TN), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and John Lewis (D- GA). Other possible switches include Pat Tiberi (R-OH), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), John Yarmouth (D-KY), Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Lee Terry (R-NE), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Tim Murphy (R-PA), Jason Altmire (D-PA), and Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). But others may switch from Yes to No, including Ed Markey (D-MA), Charlie Melancon (D-LA), and Spencer Bachus (R-AL).

Bush's first Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neill, called Paulson's plan "crazy" and "lunacy" with potentially "awful" consequences for the world's largest economy. Many of the best economists agree with O'Neill. Paulson's strongest supporters - including panicked CNBC hosts - now admit it will not raise stock prices or boost the economy as it falls into recession. Then why on earth should we give $700 $850 billion of our tax dollars to Wall Street??? Joe Lieberman gave away the real game when he told FOX " it will be good for John McCain."

With so much at stake, Congress should stay in session for another week (or two) to pass a much better (and cheaper!) plan proposed by Pete DeFazio (D-OR). But Congress desperately wants to go home so Friday may be our last chance to stop this $850 billion disaster .

(1) Call your Representative today!
First check how your Representative voted on Monday (and note switches above):
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll674.xml
If (s)he voted NO, say "Thank you for helping stop the Bailout on Monday. Don't betray us now by voting YES on Friday, or I will vote NO against you on Election Day."
If (s)he voted YES, say "I'm outraged that you supported the Bailout on Monday, and I will remember on Election Day. If you want my vote on Election Day, you must vote NO on Friday."

(2) Join or organize a street protest against the bailout:
http://bailoutmainstreet.com/

(3) We're also partnering with Progressive Democrats of America and USAction/TrueMajority to schedule local meetings with our Representatives to demand a Fair Deal for Main St . If you'd like to help,

• Print this letter and fax it to your Representative's district office - use the phone book or search here . On your cover sheet, request a meeting for group of activists as soon as possible.
• Better yet, visit your Representative's district office and follow these instructions .
• Report scheduled meetings to bailout@democrats.com

For inspiration, watch this great video from Agit-Pop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTkcLvm4ZYE

Find more information and comment here:
http://www.democrats.com/friday-last-chance-to-stop-paulsons-plunder

Thanks for all you do!

________________

Republicans Blame OBAMA for Wall Street Meltdown - Help Us Fight Back!

Even before the House voted on Monday, the Republican National Committee broadcast an outrageous TV ad blaming Barack Obama for the Wall Street Meltdown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9j_epTmr2c

Our friends at Agit-Pop produced a rapid response 30-second ad that places blame for the meltdown exactly where it belongs, namely Bush-McCain economics :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6uS0Eb2JDY

We don't have Wall Street millions to put this ad on the air, but we have you so please forward this 30-second ad to everyone you know!

Find more info and comment here:
http://www.democrats.com/gop-blames-obama-for-paulson-plunder

________________

Election Day Countdown: 39 Days

If you want a real scare, watch this video nightmare about Election Night 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzuIHjQYW2c

If you don't want that nightmare to come true, visit:
http://www.voteforchange.com/

1. Register to vote
2. Request to vote absentee
3. Find your polling location

Republicans are working quietly to steal another election by disenfranchising Democratic voters, just as they did in 2000 and 2004. So please make sure your vote counts!

Palin: Bailout is about healthcare!

Economic fears give Obama a clear lead in poll

Economic fears give Obama a clear lead in poll
Survey gives Democrat a 9-point edge over McCain among likely voters
By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen - Washington Post

Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll.

Just 9 percent of those surveyed rated the economy as good or excellent, the first time that number has been in single digits since the days just before the 1992 election. Just 14 percent said the country is heading in the right direction, equaling the record low on that question in polls dating back to 1973.

More voters trust Obama to deal with the economy, and he currently has a big edge as the candidate who is more in tune with the economic problems Americans now face. He also has a double-digit advantage on handling the current problems on Wall Street, and as a result, there has been a rise in his overall support. The poll found that, among likely voters, Obama now leads McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, in the days immediately following the Republican National Convention, the race was essentially even, with McCain at 49 percent and Obama at 47 percent.

Read the rest of the story:
Economic fears give Obama a clear lead in poll

5 days to first debate, Obama climbs in polls

5 days to first debate, Obama climbs in polls
His rise comes amid a $700 billion bailout plan to save the U.S. economy
Associated Press - September 20, 2008

WASHINGTON - Five days from their first presidential debate, Democrat Barack Obama has climbed in the polls as Republican John McCain fumbled his response to a looming U.S. economic cataclysm — one that threatened to match the financial catastrophe of the 1930s Great Depression.

The U.S. Congress and the administration of President George W. Bush were grappling with a proposed $700 billion bailout plan to save the U.S. economy from full collapse, feeding anxiety among voters who already were far more concerned about their financial futures than any other issue in the 2008 presidential campaign — including the intractable U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After withholding his response while the Bush administration put together its program, Obama on Sunday placed seven conditions on the rescue proposal which he said came with a "staggering price tag" but no plan to guarantee the "basic principles of transparency, fairness, and reform" to taxpayers who will pay for the huge bailout.

Read the rest of the story:
5 days to first debate, Obama climbs in polls

Bush says he’s worried about financial crisis

Bush says he’s worried about financial crisis
President cancels fundraising trips to focus on continuing market meltdown
September 18, 2008

WASHINGTON - Eager to show that he feels people’s pain, President Bush scuttled a political fundraising trip Thursday to tell the country his administration is working feverishly to calm turmoil in the financial markets.

Bush was supposed to spend the day in Alabama and Florida raising money for Republicans and talking energy policy. He canceled his trip and sent Vice President Dick Cheney to sub for him at the fundraisers to focus on the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.

“The American people are concerned about the situation in our financial markets and our economy,” Bush said. “And I share their concerns.”

Read the rest of the story:
Bush says he’s worried about financial crisis