From Gov. Howard Dean: Your Turn

It's time to get down to work.

The Democratic majority here in Washington is busy cleaning up six years of failed leadership by the Bush Administration -- from hearings on the U.S. Attorney firing scandal, to finalizing an Iraq War supplemental funding bill with real accountability.

We're doing the work the American people demanded when they showed up to the polls last November. Now we need your help.

Sign up to attend a canvassing event on April 28th to help get the word out:
http://www.democrats.org/50StateCanvass

We have a lot to be proud of in the first four months of the new Congress. The American people are beginning to see what a government that puts their concerns first -- not those of special interests or corporate elite -- can do.

That message has taken center stage in Washington as the Democratic Congress faces a showdown with President Bush to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. As Senator Reid explains:

Congress will send President Bush a bill that gives our troops the resources they need and a strategy in Iraq worthy of their sacrifices. If the President vetoes this bill he will have delayed funding for troops and kept in place a strategy that neither our troops nor the American people can afford any longer.

This is the job that we were elected to do, and it's the job that a Democratic president will continue after 2008. By knocking on doors in your community next week, you can make sure that happens.

Visit the Democratic Party's website, and find a 50-State Canvass event in your hometown:

http://www.democrats.org/50StateCanvass

Thousands of Democrats participated in our first 50-State Canvass. As one organizer in Pennsylvania reported:

Everyone was excited that the Democrats have a plan to take back our neighborhoods. Many came back after a canvass to get more doorhangers. It was a great day for Democrats.
More from New Hampshire:

What we learned is that we can do this! The people we talked to were glad to see us, and to know that we are active in the community, working for them. We will be encouraging everyone to visit their neighbors and let them know that we would love to have them join us!

Now it's your turn. Take a moment to look for one in your area or set up a new one and spread the word.

http://www.democrats.org/50StateCanvass

Sincerely,

Gov. Howard Dean

Virginia Tech - Prayers From Lake Havasu City, AZ

President Bush's remarks Tuesday in Blacksburg, Va., as transcribed by the White House:

"Governor, thank you. President Steger, thank you very much. Students, and faculty, and staff, and grieving family members, and members of this really extraordinary place.

Laura and I have come to Blacksburg today with hearts full of sorrow. This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community — and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation. We've come to express our sympathy. In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking about you, and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected.

Yesterday began like any other day. Students woke up, and they grabbed their backpacks and they headed for class. And soon the day took a dark turn, with students and faculty barricading themselves in classrooms and dormitories — confused, terrified, and deeply worried. By the end of the morning, it was the worst day of violence on a college campus in American history — and for many of you here today, it was the worst day of your lives.

It's impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering. Those whose lives were taken did nothing to deserve their fate. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now they're gone — and they leave behind grieving families, and grieving classmates, and a grieving nation.

In such times as this, we look for sources of strength to sustain us. And in this moment of loss, you're finding these sources everywhere around you. These sources of strength are in this community, this college community. You have a compassionate and resilient community here at Virginia Tech. Even as yesterday's events were still unfolding, members of this community found each other; you came together in dorm rooms and dining halls and on blogs. One recent graduate wrote this: "I don't know most of you guys, but we're all Hokies, which means we're family. To all of you who are okay, I'm happy for that. For those of you who are in pain or have lost someone close to you, I'm sure you can call on any one of us and have help any time you need it."

These sources of strength are with your loved ones. For many of you, your first instinct was to call home and let your moms and dads know that you were okay. Others took on the terrible duty of calling the relatives of a classmate or a colleague who had been wounded or lost. I know many of you feel awfully far away from people you lean on and people you count on during difficult times. But as a dad, I can assure you, a parent's love is never far from their child's heart. And as you draw closer to your own families in the coming days, I ask you to reach out to those who ache for sons and daughters who will never come home.

These sources of strength are also in the faith that sustains so many of us. Across the town of Blacksburg and in towns all across America, houses of worship from every faith have opened their doors and have lifted you up in prayer. People who have never met you are praying for you; they're praying for your friends who have fallen and who are injured. There's a power in these prayers, real power. In times like this, we can find comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God. As the Scriptures tell us, "Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

And on this terrible day of mourning, it's hard to imagine that a time will come when life at Virginia Tech will return to normal. But such a day will come. And when it does, you will always remember the friends and teachers who were lost yesterday, and the time you shared with them, and the lives they hoped to lead. May God bless you. May God bless and keep the souls of the lost. And may His love touch all those who suffer and grieve."

5 Million Emails Deleted? Subpoena Karl Rove!

How many crimes does the White House have to do for justice to kick in? 9/11, Katrina response, lies to go to war, outting a CIA agent, trashing the Bill of Rights, etc., there is no shortage of situations they need to answer for in a court of law.

What were they trying to hide?

From Democrats.com (To subscribe, create a free Democrats.com account here)

"On Thursday, (April 12, 2007) the White House said it simply "lost" 5 million emails from 2003 to 2005, plus "thousands" more from RNC accounts.

You don't believe it? Neither does Senator Pat Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Watch his astonished and angry reaction:http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041207A.shtml

Let's hope Leahy is right - that the "deleted" emails can be retrieved.

But in the meantime, it's time to demand full accountability from the person who is clearly responsible both for the illegal use of RNC email accounts and for the illegal deletion of emails: Karl Rove.

Karl Rove has been in charge of everything political in the Bush White House since he stole the 2000 election in Florida.

So when the White House asked the RNC to create email accounts for key White House political operatives, who approved that decision? Karl Rove.

And when the White House deleted 5 million emails, who approved that decision? Karl Rove.
And when all of Karl Rove's emails before 2005 disappeared, who hit the delete key? Karl Rove.
It's time for Congress to subpoena Karl Rove - along with every email he ever wrote or received, either using his White House account or RNC accounts or personal accounts.
Sign our petition to Congress:http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/106

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April 28th Is Growing Fast

Check out the A28 website for the rapidly expanding list of impeachment activities all over the country on April 28th. Are thousands of people planning to spell IMPEACH with their bodies on a beach or field near you? Or with boats on a lake or pizzas on a boardwalk? Have you seen the creative plans for Saturday the 28th from all corners of this former republic? Do you have ideas of your own? There's plenty of time to sign up for an event or create a new one athttp://www.a28.org

When you join together with people on April 28, please plan to have with you stack of impeachment petitions, some pens, and some clipboards. Collect people's names and contact info on the petitions. Then use that list to organize future activist efforts locally, and also add the names to the national list. You can get the petitions and everything you need athttp://www.afterdowningstreet.org/petition

Please remember to wear your Impeach Bush and Cheney shirts in the week leading up to the 28th.

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Join in All the Impeach07.org Initiatives:
March 19-April 21 A Make Hip-Hop Not War bus tour promoting peace and impeachment.

April 15-22 We Are Not Buying It, a boycott of major corporations that are profiting from the Bush administration's policies and making a killing off of killing.

April 23-27 Show It Off, Wear your politics on your sleeve.

April 28 A NATIONWIDE DAY OF PROTEST DEMANDING IMPEACHMENT AND LAUNCHING IMPEACHMENT SUMMER

June 21-September 21 March from Chicago to Washington, D.C.

Ongoing National, state, and local impeachment hearings, resolutions, town meetings, and debates, ongoing since the publication of the Downing Street Memos in May 2005
For Detailed Calendar of Events (and you can add yours!) CLICK HERE.

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Score the Candidates on Iraq

There are a lot of Democrats running for president, and they've each uttered a lot of words on Iraq. How can we keep it all straight?

Here is a clear chart laying out their specific stances:http://www.democrats.com/democrats-iraq-scorecard

And here are the results of the Moveon straw poll that followed Tuesday's house parties grilling the leading Democratic candidates on Iraq:Obama: 28%Edwards: 25%Kucinich: 17%Richardson: 12%Clinton: 11%Biden: 6%Dodd: 1%

If you haven't voted in the April Presidential straw poll at Democrats.com, now is your chance:http://www.democrats.com/presidential-primary-poll-3

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Forward this message to everyone you know!
To subscribe, create a free Democrats.com account here: http://www.democrats.com/user/register

McCain's Night In Baghdad - No Oyster

From Howard Dean:

"After a week of trying to control the damage from his trip to Baghdad, John McCain admits that he "disagree[s] with the majority of the American people." He claims that "we are making progress" in Iraq.

He's not the only one. Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain, the GOP 2008 presidential frontrunners, all stand behind the actions of an administration incapable of admitting its failures and changing course in Iraq.

Last week we asked you to become a spokesperson for the Democratic Party and respond to the Republicans' ridiculous claims about the war. You came through, spoke out, and we created our first ad of the 2008 presidential race -- starring you.

Take a look, and help us fund more ads starring people just like you:
http://www.democrats.org/IraqAd

The Iraq War won't end because of Washington D.C. consultants' 30-second sound bites; it will end because of the strength and determination of the American people.

You made that point last fall when you voted the Republican Congress out of office -- and you're making that point now. Tens of thousands of Americans let us know just how fed up they are with an administration that ignores their concerns just to advance a political agenda.

Here's what Edwin had to say in his comments to us:

"The issue of the Iraq war goes way beyond partisan politics. The Republican Party has lost touch with the will of the American people. The time has come for a change. The people spoke during the mid-term elections, and I know we will make a positive change for the coming presidential election."

I couldn't have said it better myself. That's why we need more opportunities for people like you to speak out for our party, and let the voices of our members speak for the Democratic majority.
You can make that happen. By making an investment in the Democratic Party, you can help us fund future ads like this one, and other projects that put political power in the hands of the American people.

Watch our newest ad, and make a contribution now:

http://www.democrats.org/IraqAd

We'll continue hold the Republican 2008 candidates accountable for everything they say on the campaign trail. This is just the first way that you can be a part of the action.

Sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D."