GREETINGS FELLOW DEMOCRATS!





Voter Registration tonight

Margarita Rocks -- 6:15 p.m.
Get deputized. We have 35 people and need at least 60 more. This means you!





My Plan for Iraq

By BARACK OBAMA
Op-Ed Contributor

CHICAGO — The call by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki for a timetable for the removal of American troops from Iraq presents an enormous opportunity. We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States.

The differences on Iraq in this campaign are deep. Unlike Senator John McCain, I opposed the war in Iraq before it began, and would end it as president. I believed it was a grave mistake to allow ourselves to be distracted from the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban by invading a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died and we have spent nearly $1 trillion. Our military is overstretched. Nearly every threat we face — from Afghanistan to Al Qaeda to Iran — has grown.

In the 18 months since President Bush announced the surge, our troops have performed heroically in bringing down the level of violence. New tactics have protected the Iraqi population, and the Sunni tribes have rejected Al Qaeda — greatly weakening its effectiveness.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print





Protect Our Coasts from Off-Shore Drilling

I've been working with many of you to protect our coasts for decades. Now, after today's shocking news from the White House, I'm outraged. It's time to take our fight to the next level.

Today, running contrary to every shred of common sense, President Bush lifted the presidential moratorium on drilling for oil off our precious coastline -- a moratorium his own father put in place. And now he wants Congress to lift our own moratorium as well.

It's unbelievable. In the final months of his failed presidency, George Bush wants to give the oil companies a huge gift that threatens our coasts, our economy, and our jobs -- while not doing one single thing to lower gas prices.

Tell my colleagues in Congress to stand firm: Sign my petition to the House and Senate leadership, urging them not to lift the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling!

There is absolutely no reason to lift the offshore drilling moratorium -- not one. It's just the latest example of President Bush trying to shift the blame for the 300% increase in gas prices from himself to the Congress.

You would expect such a policy to emanate from the CEO of an oil company -- not from the President of the United States.

After all, oil and gas companies already hold leases to 68 million acres of federal land, where they haven't yet even begun to produce oil. The oil companies have been derelict in drilling on the land they already have access to -- and now they just want more leases to add as assets to their corporate balance sheets.

Why do we need to open our sensitive offshore areas to drilling when the oil companies don't drill on the land they already have -- and when the impact of any new drilling won't have any effect on gas prices, while putting our coastal environment at risk? It's ridiculous -- and President Bush should be ashamed for even proposing it.

Tell my colleagues in Congress to stand firm: Sign my petition to the House and Senate leadership, urging them not to lift the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling!

The President didn't follow his father's policy on Iraq and now he's not following his father's policy on offshore oil drilling. It's time for Congress to stand firm.

It's time to protect our thriving coastal economy, worth $70 billion and almost two million jobs.

It's time for real solutions on gas prices, not political posturing and last-minute gifts for President Bush's big oil buddies.

Congress should be going after speculators, urging oil and gas companies to drill on the leases they already have, and releasing some oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve -- not lifting the offshore drilling moratorium.

Tell my colleagues in Congress to stand firm: Sign my petition to the House and Senate leadership, urging them not to lift the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling!

I really need you now. Please take the time to sign this petition and forward it to your friends, so I can share it with the House and Senate leadership in Congress.

Thanks so much for speaking out.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

P.S. After you've signed my petition to Congress, urging the House and Senate leadership to stand firm against lifting the Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling, please forward this email to everyone you know. We need to get tens of thousands of Americans on record, opposing President Bush's ridiculous proposal.

P.P.S. The other day, Senator Durbin, Senator Whitehouse, and I were talking. We came up with this appropriate equation: 8 years in office divided by 2 oil men in the White House equals $4 gas. I guess it's no surprise that George Bush is so desperately looking for a scapegoat for his failed policy.

Sign The Petition!

Paid for by Friends of Barbara Boxer.
Contributions to Friends of Barbara Boxer are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
FEC #C00279315





Democracy For Texas Training

Democracy for Texas training this weekend has just gotten even better! We're happy to announce that Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America, and State Representative Mark Strama will be joining us to share their unique perspectives on all things political.

The training is only $25 ($5 if you're attending Netroots Nation). Topics include: