SAVE THE DATE!
Mark the 29th of January on your calendar and plan to attend an important Marin County Democratic Retreat. This meeting will provide everyone with the opportunity to share ideas, voice concerns, and decide on the actions we as Democrats can take to win back Congress and the Presidency. Some featured small group workshop topics will include "Working Within the Party to Effect Change". "What about Red States and Counties?", "Voting Reform", "Media Reform", "Messaging" and more. For more information, please contact Co-Chairs Kathleen Russell: kcr@kathleenrussell.com; Margot Biehle: mbiehle@comcast; Dolly Verrue: dolly_verrue@yahoo.com. Save the date and start thinking about your suggestions for boosting the Democratic Party with a winning and progressive platform!

JOIN DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
If you're looking for a good place to put your political energy, Democracy for America is alive and well in Marin County and they are gearing up to take action. Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics. DFA has a long-term goal to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up. For more information visit, http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
On December 1st, the post-election DFA Meet-Up at Ted’s in San Anselmo attracted nearly 200 people and featured Lynn Woolsey speaking about the challenges facing Democrats in Congress. Facilitated by Leland Bond-Upson, the meeting was jammed with eager attendees who want to stay involved in politics. Lee outlined the successes DFA has achieved including helping to elect 34 progressive candidates, and attracting 2 million more young voters. He also called for Democrats to seek new leadership, to take a pro-active stand and to put our core values out to the public. A series of speakers followed that included John Alden who talked about Democratic successes in Marin County with the election of Charles McGlashan as 3rd District supervisor, Faye D’Opal to the Superior Court, as well as passage of Measure B. Ralph Miller called for Marin to be a model for the rest of the country in our organization and energy. David Matthieson spoke about the ideas and programs of the Voting Integrity Project www.usvip.org Sherry Reson represented the Ruth Group www.ruthgroup.org,and Mainstreet Moms Oppose Bush told of new grassroots efforts to reach out to red states reflected in their name change to Mainstreet Moms Operation Blue. Visit http://www.themmob.com/. Gina Farr briefly discussed framing our message, Pat Kunstenaar passed out questionnaires to help determine the interests of members and put forth a detailed plan of action for Democracy for America. Rene Rushin introduced a plan from Progressive Democrats of America to organize Progressive Democrats across the country in each of the 435 congressional districts and Mayme Hubert announced the meeting of 6th district to elect representatives for the state convention. It's very clear that Marin Democrats are not going to just sit back and take defeat; they're fighting back.
The Next DFA Meet Up is Scheduled for Wednesday, January 5th. Watch for time and location.

HELP FORM A PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
Green Dog Dems throughout California and workers in the Kucinich and Dean campaigns want to be more than an "interest group" or label within the Party, but a real force for change within and without the Party.
They want to be an Action Caucus, to promote and even initiate progressive legislation, education and communication.
They are planning to become a vehicle for progressive action. What should the Caucus be called? They are seeking a name for the new caucus. Should it remain the Progressive Caucus? The Progressive Action Caucus? Agenda for Progressive Action. How about ProACTIVE: Progressive Action Caucus for Initiative, Voices and Education? What do you all like? As for initiatives, how about promoting universal health care, working with colleagues in the Assembly and State Senate for starters?
Now is the time to Join the Caucus, suggest a name, offer an idea for an initiative, and perhaps win a prize!
For more information and to read the Resolution Establishing a Progressive Caucus within the California Democratic Party, please visit http://www.greendogdemocrat.blogspot.com/ or contact Dotty LeMieux at 415-383-3715.

GET INVOLVED IN THE VOTING INTEGRITY PROJECT
Election reform is for after January 6. Right now we need to defend the 2004 election, and raise awareness of the vote fraud and voter disenfranchisement in Ohio and elsewhere. If you want to help defend our democracy for THIS election, please visit www.usvip.org and find out how you can help. The spin on our election is that everything went smoothly and Bush won. The press repeated that he won. The TV repeated that he won. The public - until now - was persuaded that he won. But the sanctity of our vote has been violated. This election is a moral outrage! No matter what, this election must be challenged. America requires your attention. Please participate!

FIND OUT ABOUT PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA
Progressive Democrats of America grew from a desire to focus energy on pressuring the Democratic Party to adopt and advance a more explicitly progressive agenda.There is great deal of movement at the grassroots level, and a shift at the national level is possible. A variety of events are necessary to create this shift, including the election of a progressive DNC Chair, voting progressives into local office in large numbers, and working strategically toward the election of a progressive President in 2008. The latter two goals can be obtained by citizen activism, hard work and a fair citizen vote. The first objective can only be achieved if our Democratic Chair Committee members break free from the "politics as usual" method they have been employing. Instead, they must make a decision based on what is best for our party, best for our country, and true to American ideals. A Progressive Democratic Summit is being organized for January 21-23, 2005 in Washington, D.C. Four days of inspiration, planning and problem-solving. Helping to shape the future of the Democratic Party, and the direction of our country, with progressive
speakers, discussions and workshops. There is an online registration on the PDA site and an incredible response is expected. Seats for this summit are limited, so please make sure you register as soon as possible and take advantage of the early-bird registration discount, and to assure yourself a seat in this historic event. For more information about the please visit http://www.pdamerica.org/

CONTEST THE VOTE
Questions are swirling around whether the election was conducted honestly or not. We need to know -- was it or wasn't it?
When Congress reconvenes in January, at least 14 members of the House of Representatives will challenge the validity of the 2004 election. They will request an immediate investigation into many problems and irregularities encountered in the election.
According to the Electoral Count Act of 1887, one senator and one House Representative are required to contest an election prior to inauguration. We have the representatives; we still need a senator. Please let Senator Barbara Boxer know that we want her to be that senator. The signed petitions will be delivered to her in person by a coalition of representatives from a variety of concerned organizations and individuals. Join us in encouraging Senator Boxer : www.ContestTheVote.org

REFORM THE MEDIA, ONE CONSUMER AT A TIME
Led by Media Matters for America and supported by Working Assets/ActForChange, MoveOn, MediaChannel.org, Free Press, Robert Greenwald (Director, Outfoxed), AlterNet and The Institute for America's Future, a campaign has been launched to protest Sinclair Broadcast Group's continued misuse of public airwaves. The campaign aims to spur action against the company's use of 62 television stations to "systematically promote partisan political interests," especially on a nightly "news and commentary" segment, entitled, "The Point," in which Sinclair vice president Mark Hyman "espouses one-sided, conservative rhetoric without any counterpoint." In a letter to Sinclair chairman David D. Smith, the coalition asks the station to present a counterpoint to Hyman's conservative views. In a separate letter, the coalition asks advertisers to encourage Sinclair to balance the content of its news programming, by offering equal air time for a counterpoint. You can help by contacting Sinclair's advertisers here. For more background on Sinclair, check out http://www.sinclairaction.com/ Contact Sinclair and advertisers and tell them — "The Point" Needs a Counterpoint. The fairest way to remedy the situation is for Sinclair to provide a meaningful opportunity for those with an opposing point of view to respond to editions of "The Point." With your help, we can hold Sinclair accountable for its slanted news programming and demand that it become a responsible steward of the airwaves to which it has been granted access on behalf of the American people. Encourage advertisers to pressure Sinclair for a balance in the content of their news programming by offering equal air time for a counterpoint.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR VOTE IS: BUY BLUE
Find out which businesses have been naughty... and which have been nice. Shop accordingly!
You may have voted progressive, but were you aware that every day, you unknowingly help dump millions of dollars into the conservative warchest? Simply by buying products and services from companies which donate heavily to Republicans, we have been defeating our own interests as liberals and progressives on a daily basis. Visit http://www.buyblue.org/ and find out which companies are with us and those we don't want to patronize.

DEMONSTRATE YOUR DISPLEASURE ON INAUGURATION DAY
What Are You Doing on January 20, 2005, Inauguration Day? Here's an idea: On the night of the inauguration, let’s hold the biggest MeetUp we've ever had, nationwide, worldwide – as many people as we can rally, gathering at house parties, in school auditoriums, in meeting places all over the country! Let’s outshine and outnumber the scene in DC! There are other movements in the works: the wear-black, turn-your-back, throw eggs, and create civil disobedience movements, but our progressive thought is the opposite. We will have had a couple months and the holidays to distract us, but then it's January, a new beginning, a time to come back together. Let’s cast off our mourning, wear something colorful, and gather with like-minded patriots who are committed to the Democratic ideals on which our nation was founded. Let's honor the hard work we did before the election: we got SO many people to the MeetUps, SO many people to the polls, SO many people involved in the political process – that's something to celebrate!
So let’s keep the momentum going … if we can get enough people together, we can make the news and steal some inaugural thunder. Because the truth is, they don't have a mandate … they barely squeaked by (and if they hadn't obstructed the election, if those 58,000 absentee ballots in Florida hadn't been "lost in the mail," if there had been adequate, working machines in the black neighborhood precincts in Ohio, if the voting machines hadn’t been rigged – okay, you get the drift). And it’s not four more years, it’s only two years till the midterm election. We’ve got work to do, but as Molly Ivins suggests, let's have some fun with it! And what better date to kick it off than January 20, 2005? If you like the idea, make some calls today. Send emails to your network of friends and family; be proactive; be progressive -- this is what grassroots organizing is all about! But if having a big bash doesn’t appeal to you, have a tea party instead, or just invite a friend over. However you do it, just make sure to come together, discuss our current political, economic, environmental, social and global issues and begin to generate positive-growth toward changing the way in which we govern ourselves . Let’s make it happen! Visit Kate Hilsenbeck at http://www.progressforall.org/

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE 6TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Every two years--the odd numbered ones--the Assembly District Committees must meet on the second Saturday  (or Sunday) of January.  The meeting is to elect officers and twelve delegates to the state Democratic Convention. Usually, 6 men and 6 women are elected. The 6th AD seats are open to any registered Democrat living in the 6th AD. It's just a matter of getting the votes at the meeting to be elected. The meeting this year will be at Pickleweed Community Center, 50 Canal Street, San Rafael,  from 10 AM to noon on Saturday, January 8. In order to participate, dues must be paid in advance. Please send dues of $48 to Bob Larsen, Treasurer, 132 Ralston Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941.

FOLLOW THESE USEFUL LINKS
Please open the links below and add them to your favorites. These are a cross section of the many, many sites that are energizing Americans to take action and take charge of our political process. Visit our own Marin Couny sites regularly to keep up with local events. Check www.marindemocrats.org for more information and www.marinunited.com for information and interactive features. If you know of sites that will benefit Marin County Democrats, please email urls to Ina Tabibian, Newsletter Editor at fionamac@pacbell.net.

CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS http://www.americanprogress.org/site/c.biJRJ8OVF/b.8473/

BLACK BOX VOTING http://www.blackboxvoting.org/

RIVERBEND, GIRL BLOGGER FROM BAGDHAD http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/

CHOOSE THE BLUE http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

MARIN PEACE AND JUSTICE COALITION http://www.mpjc.org/#Anchor-Section-14210

OPERATION TRUTH http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm

TRUTHOUT http://www.truthout.org/

COMMON DREAMS http://www.commondreams.org/