Does anyone want to meet with Dayton during the recess?

[katinmn]

We need to talk with him and encourage him to start speaking up about the DSM and support the bills calling for a timetable. I'm not aware of any other groups that are planning to do this.
I'll try to get an appointment. Anyone want to join me?

Here's a Maryland group's success story.
Lawmaker yields as antiwar group turns up heat

http://www.pww.org/article/view/7265 /
BALTIMORE – Members of Baltimore Pledge of Resistance went to the district office of Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) June 17 to demand that he speak out against the Iraq war. The group met for several hours with Cardin’s chief administrative aide Chris Lynch.

Cindy Farquhar told Lynch she was “disappointed” that Cardin did not sign on to the Woolsey Amendment, named for Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) requiring President George W. Bush to announce an “exit strategy” to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq.

“We’re long past the idea that providing a better helmet is ‘supporting the troops,’” she said. “We are also asking him to join in pursuing the investigation of the Downing Street Memo. There are 120 House members who have signed Conyers’ letter to Bush on that memo.”

Lynch asked, “What does the Conyers’ letter do?”
-snip--
A couple hours later he agreed to sign Conyer's letter, endorsed Rep. Pelosi’s timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, and said he would call for the closing of the U.S. Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay. He said he wanted to meet with the group again to discuss whether he would support future funding for the war.

[Minnesota Raindog]

1. Dayton's got nothing to lose...

...by being a point man on this issue. He should be hammering these bastards daily. A large group might convince him of that. Sign me up!

[katinmn]

2. Thanks! I think even 5 or 6 from DU would be effective

as far as having a real discussion.

I want to find out where he stands because I don't know any more.

I think we need to address the Pottery Barn analogy (you break it, you fix it) which he has been using in response to constituent letters.

I found some good resources we could use in our discussion:
"Stay the course" or get out now? from War Times
http://www.war-times.org/pdf/WT%20Iraq.pdf

Cost of War Rises for Minnesota from the National Priorities Project
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/issues/military/iraq/highcost/mn.pdf

What do you think?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. If the time is convenient, I'm interested.

:-)

[katinmn]

4. Thanks, Lydia!

I'll call his office tomorrow and see what's available.

[Demrock6]

5. I might be intersted...

I probably would not say a whole lot but it would be intersting to see how it goes down.

[katinmn]

7. Thanks, Demrock.

Just having you there would be statement enough. :)

[SupormomFreeAtLast]

6. If I can, I will.

Thanks for your efforts, Kat.

[katinmn]

8. Supormom, that would be excellent. I hope we can get some

time with him and that it works into most people's schedules.

I'll try to find out tomorrow.

[bvar22]

9. Great idea.

I would be glad to meet Mark Dayton and to deliver this message with you.

Bob

[katinmn]

10. Thank you, bvar!

:hug:

[katinmn]

11. An article that may have some bearing....

How do we approach Democrats that are unclear on Iraq? This article is about Dr. Dean but the analysis of the party's approach to the war is applicable.

http://www.alternet.org/story/22304/

Come Back To the Five & Dime, Howie Dean

By Michael Blanding, AlterNet. Posted June 27, 2005.

Sixty percent of the public now wants the troops out of Iraq, and even some traditional conservatives are calling for withdrawal. So why is the former anti-war firebrand mum on the topic?

Since he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean has made a big deal about returning the party to the grassroots. For the past few weeks, he has been barnstorming the country holding fundraisers that seem only one step removed from the populist rallies of his presidential campaign. At an event this week in Boston, for example, guests paid just $50 each to attend. Jeans and T-shirts far outnumbered suits, and hot dogs and popcorn replaced the customary canapes.

Jumping up to the podium, Dean looked tanned and relaxed, instantly swinging into a modified stump speech from his campaign. Many of his favorite lines from the presidential race were still in circulation, touching on issues like Social Security ("Enron and the boys") and universal healthcare ("even the Costa Ricans"), and adding some new lines to suit the times, like: "The Republicans' view of small government is just big enough to fit inside Terri Schiavo's hospital bed."

The one issue Dean barely mentioned, however, is the one that helped lift his presidential campaign out of obscurity: The war in Iraq.

-more-

[indigo32]

12. If I can I would be happy to

Thx

[dflprincess]

13. I'd be interested

but it will depend on the time.

[mzmolly]

14. I got an email reply from him saying he supports a DSM inquiry.

But, I no longer have the text, sorry.

[Oreo]

15. Has anyone seen Dayton make ANY kind of statement lately?

It's like he fell of the face of the earth. I fax or email him practically everyday about one issue or another and all I get are form replies.

After he said he wasn't running again I thought he'd go into full attack mode on the right. Right before then he was all over the place calling the Bush regime on issue after issue. Instead he's disappeared completely... tinfoil in me can't help but think somebody gave him a scare. :tinfoilhat:

[bvar22]

16. He seems to have gone into seclusion...

..after the he was viciously attacked by the Republican Slime Machine and the CorpoMedia for giving his DC Staff time off during the Terra Alert recess. This was one of the most pathetic Manufactured Issues the Slime Machine has created (superceded only by the Slime Boat Liars and the faux outrage over the Wellstone Memorial Service).

I can't blame him for deciding that he doesn't want to be involved in this hideously dirty Political environment. The republicans have injected so much arbitrary viciousness that it is no longer adequate, honorable, or healthy to "Just do something GOOD for the People".

This is one reason why I think this is a GREAT IDEA to visit with him if possible. I would love to tell him that we support him and believe he is an honorable man, and ask him to vocally support this issue and sign Kerry's petition.

[katinmn]

17. I agree on that approach, bvar.

His absence lately has been noticeable.

I'm going to let his scheduler know that we are supporters (well-informed ones) and that we want to have a two-way discussion on Iraq and the DSM.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get to it today. My phone was out all weekend and the repair guy didn't get here till 11 this morning and then I had a slew of work calls to make.

[cynthia]

18. let me know when your appointment is

and I would be happy to join you if my schedule permits.

[katinmn]

20. Will do. Thanks, Cynthia!

[katinmn]

19. Ted Kennedy on the DSM: Ask Your Senator to Speak Out Now

Saving this for possible discussion.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1162

[katinmn]

21. Update: I submitted a request to the scheduler

by fax and vm. Will let you know as soon as I hear something.

Thanks everyone!:)

[katinmn]

22. Update #2. His scheduler said he is really booked thru August

and that it's first come, first served. My request will be placed in a file to be reviewed by staff and we will be summoned when there is an opening.

:)

Ok. This should not be a big surprise. We will see if another opportunity presents itself.

[MinnesotaMike31]

23. Kat...will you start a new topic as soon as you hear of a date....

so that it doesnt get tucked away in this long list of responses.

Thanks!

[katinmn]

24. sure will!