Today is Election Day

By Sam Garchik

Don't
forget to vote today. Candidates for for Iowa Fovernor, U.S. Congress,
Iowa House, other state offices and local county boards will be chosen.
Blog for Iowa will have an update later this PM with the statewide and
federal results.

Meanwhile, think about this while you go to the polls:

by Michelina at DC for Democracy

Subject: Call for debate on Iraq NOW!

DC for Democracy, Others Establish National Call-In Day June 7

Call your Representative: 202-224-3121

An open debate on Iraq is OVERDUE!

After more
than three years, $300 billion and the death of over one hundred
thousand Iraqis and nearly 2,500 American soldiers, Congress still
refuses to debate real alternatives to [Bush's] stay-the-course policy.
It is a policy that over 80% of Iraqis, more than 70% of U.S. soldiers
stationed in Iraq, and a majority of Americans say is not only a
failure but fails to stop terrorism and creates more hatred towards our
troops in Iraq, putting them in harm's way.

This week
on June 7, DC for Democracy and several other progressive organizations
are creating a unique opportunity – a National Call-In Day — to demand
that Congress stop passing the buck. So far, 122 members of the House
of Representatives have signed a 'discharge petition' calling for
immediate debate and vote on ALL alternatives to the policy of
open-ended occupation of Iraq – all due to constituent pressure. 
All we need is 96 more members to sign the petition for debate to
begin. We need your help!

Call your
U.S. Representative on June 7th. Ask your Representative to sign H.Res.
543 OR thank them if they have already signed and ask them to ask a
colleague to sign H.Res. 543. The switchboard # is 202/224-3121.

Here are lists of those who have and have not signed!

The
pressure we are applying is already having an impact. There have been
news reports that some members of Congress, hoping to dodge a real
discussion about Iraq, will offer a tightly-controlled debate framed by
supporters of the war.  This alternative is clearly an
election-year effort to sell the war to the public, rather than address
the failed policy. This alternative won't allow members who oppose the
war to offer plans to bring the occupation to an end.

Tell your
Congress Member that you demand to see a debate with an “open rule,”
meaning that ANY and ALL amendments can be introduced, debated, and
voted on. The surest route to that debate is for them to sign the
discharge petition and ask their colleagues to do the same.

Call
202-224-3121, give the operator your Representative's name or go to
power search on Congress for the local district office. 
 
Message for NON-signers of H.Res.543 Message for signers of H.Res. 543
  
As
your constituent, I ask you to sign onto H.Res. 543, a “discharge
petition” that calls for open and honest debate on Iraq and
consideration of ALL alternatives to the policy of open ended
occupation of Iraq. I will not be satisfied with a limited debate that
prohibits the introduction of real alternatives to the President's
failed policy in Iraq. It is time to show strong leadership to bring
peace in the region.  As your constituent, I want to thank you for
signing H.Res. 543. So important is 17 hours of full and honest debate
and consideration of ALL alternatives to the policy of open ended
occupation of Iraq that I ask you to ask one of your NON-signing
colleagues to sign H.Res. 543.  This is one important step in
building peace in Iraq and throughout the region.
 
Help
change the course in Iraq. It is an historic opportunity for member of
Congress to offer alternatives to WAR WITHOUT END in Iraq.  
See Open Iraq Debate for more information about H.Res. 543.  You
can check the House Clerk's site daily for new signatures.

Peace,

AfterDowningStreet.org
American Friends Service Committee
Code Pink
DC for Democracy
Democracy Rising
Democrats.com
Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Peace Action
Progressive Democrats of America
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United for Peace and Justice