Archive: Michael Munk's Regional
(Oregon & Washington) Messages:

92 House members for 676--none from OR or WA by Michael Munk Fri, Aug 15, 2008

Rep Carson Andre (D-IN) recentl; became the 91st co-sponsor of HR 676, the Conyers single payer healthcare legislation. Supporting 676 are 446 union organizations in 48 states including 112 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 35 state AFL-CIO's--including Oregon and Washington, but still not a single Oregon or Washington Democrat has signed on. (Note that both Obama and Clinton plans protect the for profit health insurance industry and oppose single payer. NW labor supporting 676 includes: Oregon AFL-CIO, Salem, OR Branch 82, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Portland, OR Oregon and locals of the United Steelworkers (USW) Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice, Ashland, OR Portland Community College Faculty Federation, AFT Local 2277, Portland, OR Local 5 International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Portland, OR Oregon Area District Council, ILWU, Portland, OR Portland Jobs with Justice, Portland, OR Southern Oregon Central Labor Council, Central Point, OR Southern Oregon Area Local, American Postal Workers Union (APWU), Medford, OR Washington State Labor Council, Seattle, WA Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 37083, Seattle, WA Washington Chapter 10, The Retired Public Employees' Council of Washington, AFSCME Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans Washington State Machinist Council, International Association of Machinists District #160 (IAM),Seattle, WA International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 17, Seattle, WA Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, Olympia, WA Pierce County Central Labor Council, Tacoma, WA Washington locals of the United Steelworkers (USW) United Association Local 699, Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices, Seattle, WA AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789, Seattle, WA For further information: Kay Tillow All Unions Committee for Single Payer Health Care-HR 676 c/o Nurses Professional Organization 1169 Eastern Parkway, #2218 Louisville, KY 40217 Phone (502) 636-1551 nursenpo@aol.com visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Progressive Dems of Oregon by Michael Munk Wed, Aug 13, 2008

This is the group that's challenging MoveOn on its intent to support the private health insurance industry rather than single payer HR 676. Progressive Democrats of America Caucus and Chapters in Oregon PDA State Coordinators For support in organizing in Oregon, contact: John-Mark Gilhousen jmg@pdgorge.org 541-296-6126 Martha Perez martha.perez@yahoo.com Moses Ross publicoutreach@pdoregon.org Chapters Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties Progressive Democrats of Central Oregon Ray Duray ray@pdoregon.org 541-318-8169 http://centraloregon.pdoregon.org Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman & Wasco Counties Gorge Progressive Democrats Chris, , co-chair (Hood) Burgess cmb@pdgorge.org 541-354-3432 http://pdgorge.org Greg, co-chair (The Dalles) Keller ggk@pdgorge.org 541-296-5560 Linn and Benton Counties, Oregon Midvalley Progressive Democrats Willa Kenoyer wmk@pdoregon.org 541-758-2182 Midvalley.pdoregon.org Portland Portland Metro Progressive Democrats Moses Ross publicoutreach@pdoregon.org 503-309-7985 State Caucus The Oregon State Caucus needs your help in forming. Please contact State Coordinators listed above visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

MoveOn. against single payer? by Michael Munk Wed, Aug 13, 2008

Oregon poll: Obama, Smith ahead by Michael Munk Mon, Aug 11, 2008

Oregon Not a Swing State, Obama Up By 10 August 11, 2008 Oregon shows no indication of becoming a swing state in the race for the White House this year. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Oregon voters shows Barack Obama leads John McCain by 10 percentage points, 47% to 37%. That's virtually identical to last month's results when Obama led 46% to 37%. When "leaners" are included, it's Obama 52% to 42%. This is the sixth Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Oregon for Election 2008, and the Republican has never been closer than six points behind. Four times, Obama has enjoyed an eight-to-10 point lead, and once he was up by 14. Oregon has gone for the Democratic candidate in the last five presidential contests. Rasmussen Markets data gives the Democrats a % chance of carrying Oregon once again this fall. At the time this poll was released, Oregon is a "Likely Democratic" state in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. NOTE: Factors other than the latest Rasmussen Reports poll impact the Balance of Power ratings. The current status is indicated on the table in the upper right hand corner of this article. Obama is viewed favorably by 56% of Oregon voters, down six points from a month ago. McCain earns favorable reviews from 54%, down a single point. Forty-eight percent (48%) of voters say the United States and its allies are winning the War on Terror while 21% say the terrorists are winning. That assessment is similar to the national average. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say it is more important to find new sources of energy than to reduce the amount of energy Americans consume. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree and say reducing consumption is more important. Those figures, too, are similar to the national average. Forty-six percent (46%) say that most reporters are trying to help Obama win the election while only 14% think they are trying to help McCain. Just 24% think reporters try to offer unbiased coverage. Nationally, 49% believe that reporters are trying to help Obama. A separate national survey found that most voters believe media bias is a bigger problem than big campaign donors. Just 30% of Oregon voter say that President Bush is doing a good or excellent job, up a point from last month. However, 54% say he is doing a poor job, also up a point since July. Oregon Senate: Incumbent Smith Regains Lead, Still Receives Under 50% Support August 07, 2008 Republican Senator Gordon Smith has regained the lead over challenger Jeff Merkley in Oregon's U.S. Senate race, but still receives under 50% support from voters. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds Smith on top 47% to 39% this month. When "leaners" are included, the incumbent leads 50% to 44%. In July, Merkley enjoyed a statistically insignificant two-percentage point lead. In the month prior, Smith led by nine percentage points. Still, any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered vulnerable. The incumbent, who is currently seeking his third term, is supported by 80% of Republicans while Merkley attracts 69% of Democrats and 8% of Republicans. Among unaffiliated voters, Smith leads 44% to 38%. Smith leads by eleven among men in Oregon and by five among women. Favorability ratings for the incumbent have changed little since July. Smith is viewed favorably by 55% and unfavorably by 38%. By contrast, Merkley's ratings have worsened over the past month. The challenger is viewed favorably by 42%, down from 51% last month, while 45% view him unfavorably, up from 34% last month. Smith is far from the only GOP senator at risk in the upcoming election. Many Republican Senate seats are potentially in play for Democrats including seats in Alaska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, and Virginia. As a result, Democrats are expected to add several seats to their Senate majority this November. It is worth noting, however, that the number of Republican seats at risk has declined somewhat over the past month or so. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) earns good or excellent ratings from 42% of voters, while 31% say he is doing a poor job. visit mmy website www.michaelmunk.com

Times finally calls Croatian bomber a terrorist by Michael Munk Sun, Aug 10, 2008

Oregonians note: Busic's father in law , whoi is in touch with the Busics in Croatia, lives in Portland and Busic's lawyer is Marc D. Blackman of Portland. I sent a rant to the NYTimes complaining about their July 19 description of Zvonko Busic, leader of Croatian fascist hijackers whose bomb killed a New York City police officer in 1976. Busic was paroled from prison a few weeks ago and now is free in Croatia, which has rehabilitated mamy of its fascists after the fragmentation of Yugoslavia. I protested that the Times called the terrorists "Croatian independence fighters." Also referring to Cuban emigres who blew up a civilain aircreft killing over a hundred people, I wrote "evidently, you call terrorists "terrorists" only if their cause resists US actions or policies. So the released Croatian terrorist wasn't a terrorist leader because he killed to oppose a "Communist regime." On the other hand, that's how you routinely call Lebanese, Palestinian, Iraqi and Afgan resistance righters. Well, perhaps the Times got the message: It ran a full page hede (although back on A26) reading "Terrorist's Release Reopens Wound of Unsolved Bombing" and correctly referred to it among "chapters of American terrorism." But it tuirns out that federal agents stopped the New York police from fully investigating whether Busic and his terrorist gang also bombed La Guradia airport 10 months before the bombing they were convcited of. That killed 11 people and wounded 75. The article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/10laguardia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Medford nurses Vote UNION! by Michael Munk Sun, Aug 10, 2008

Oregon war casualties rise to 629. by Michael Munk Fri, Aug 8, 2008

Oregon poll: Obama up 48-45 by Michael Munk Wed, Aug 6, 2008

This poll had the identical numbers im June, although other surveys had Obama with a wider lead. For details go to http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=be47b9e3-bdae-4acd-ba37-0bd196006c9b In Battleground Oregon, 3 Months Out, Obama 3 Atop McCain: In an election for President of the United States in Oregon today, 08/06/08, three months till votes are counted, Barack Obama edges John McCain 48% to 45%, within the survey's 4.0 percentage point margin of sampling error, according to this SurveyUSA pre-election poll conducted exclusively for KATU-TV Portland. Obama leads by 13 points in greater Portland; McCain leads by 14 in the rest of the state. Among voters younger than Obama, Obama leads by 15 points. Among voters older than McCain, Obama leads by 9. Among voters who are inbetween the ages of the two candidates, McCain leads by 9. McCain holds 82% of the GOP base. Obama holds 80% of the Democrat base. Independents split. McCain is backed by 80% of conservatives. Obama is backed by 83% of liberals. Moderates break 5:3 for Obama. McCain leads 2:1 among those who attend religious services regularly. Obama leads 2:1 among those who almost never attend religious services. Among men, McCain leads by 5 points. Among women, Obama leads by 13. Filtering: SurveyUSA interviewed 900 Oregon adults 08/02/08 through 08/04/08. Of them, 809 were registered to vote. Of the registered voters, 629 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely voters in the 11/04/08 general election. Oregon has 7 Electoral College votes. John Kerry carried Oregon by 4 points in 2004; Al Gore carried Oregon by four-tenths of a point in 2000. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Smith has big lead over Merkley by Michael Munk Wed, Aug 6, 2008

The last survey gave Merkley a slight lead. Details on this poll at http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=bae17f79-860b-4401-a25b-bf872ed6db69 3 Months to Election, Incumbent Smith 12 Atop Merkley in Bid to Hold US Senate Seat for GOP: In an election for United States Senator in Oregon today, 08/05/08, incumbent Republican Gordon Smith retains his seat, fighting off Democrat Jeff Merkley, the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, 49% to 37%, according to this KATU-TV news poll conducted by SurveyUSA. Constitution Party candidate Dave Brownlow takes 8% of the vote. Smith, considered by some to be vulnerable among the Republicans who must defend US Senate seats in 2008, leads today among both men and women, leads among the rich and poor, leads among the more educated and less uneducated, and leads in both the Portland area and the rest of the state. 9% of Republicans cross-over and vote Democrat. 3 times as many Demorats, 28%, cross-over and vote Republican. Independents split. Smith, first elected in 1996, is seeking his third term in the U.S. Senate. Merkley was first elected to the state House in 1998. Filtering: SurveyUSA interviewed 900 Oregon adults 08/02/08 through 08/04/08. Of them, 809 were registered to vote. Of the registered voters, 629 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely voters in the 11/04/08 general election. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

A Union Man on TV in Southern Oregon by Michael Munk Tue, Aug 5, 2008

"A Union Man: The Life and Work of Julius Margolin"=20 http://rogueimc.org/en/2008/08/13690.shtml On RVTV 6:00 p.m., Aug. 6, 13 & 20=20 Cable channel #15=20 Jackson and Josephine counties - Available to everyone subscribed to = cable TV in both counties.=20 Southern Oregonians Steve Ryan and Wes Brain are part of the documentary = team.=20 Produced and Directed by George Mann=20 Edited by Steve Ryan and dennydaniel.com=20 Principle videography by Wes Brain, Renee Russell and Steve Ryan.=20 Julius Margolin, 92 on August 16th, is a living legend in the New York = City labor movement. He's been active since the 1930s in the CIO, the = National Maritime Union and Local 52 of the International Alliance of = Theatrical and Stage Employees, which he has represented in the NYC = Central Labor Council for 34 years. A tireless fighter for justice, = equality, and against war, Julius embarked on a new career in 1999, = making music and CDs with George Mann while still hitting picket lines = and organizing workers in New York and around the United States.=20 "A Union Man" is the story of his life through his eyes as well as those = he's met along the way. Featuring guest appearances by Utah Phillips, = Faith Petric and former NMU Vice President Joe Stack, as well as concert = performances, it's an affectionate portrait of a rank-and-file activist = still fighting for justice in his tenth decade on this planet. =20 - - Julius Margolin - - =20 George Mann & Julius Margolin "A Union Man:=20 The Life and Work of Julius Margolin"=20 TRAILER FOR FILM HERE=20 http://rogueimc.org/media/2005/09/5340.mov=20 "I hope 'A Union Man' shows, among other things, the degree of love and = admiration that so many people, of all ages, feel for this man. I want = the film to make it into libraries and the classroom, to inspire people = to learn more, work harder for justice, and love everyone around them = just a little more," says George Mann, film director and Julius's = musical partner since 1998.=20 DIRECTOR/PRODUCER STATEMENT=20 I met Julius Margolin in 1996 at the Great Labor Arts Exchange, an = annual gathering and sharing of cultural work among union organizers, = activists, musicians and artists that has been going on since the early = 1980s. His gentle, unassuming manner belied a fierce and seasoned = agitator and a passionate advocate for equality, unconditionally, for = all people and races. And at 79 years old, he was just beginning to = write songs and poems for the working class!=20 As we got to be friends over the next two years and he continued writing = songs, I took notice of this diamond in the rough. He recruited me for = the New York City Labor Chorus, which we both sang in for many years, = and I got him to come to my jam parties, where we would trade songs and = do group singalongs, a bunch of hip 30-something union activists and = this 80-something veteran fighter.=20 When the time was right (as Julius was recovering from a blood clot and = other maladies that almost killed him in 1998), I sprung the idea of = playing music together and recording folk and labor CDs on him. I must = have caught him at a weak moment because, while initially shy of his = abilities, he agreed, and "Young and Younger, " both the name we billed = ourselves as and the title of our first CD, was born.=20 Ten years, seven CDs and thousands of miles later, Julius is 91 years = old and the years, and cancer, are beginning to slow him down. But it is = only his body that is failing him. His mind remains determined to make a = difference, always interested in learning new things and never afraid of = what's ahead. Do not doubt that he has the same fire in his being, and = whenever possible, he is out there on picket lines, attending rallies = and marches, and singing for unions, veterans' and nursing homes, and = anti-war groups and gatherings.=20 We've had many great roadtrips and played and recorded some great music. = But I know that nothing lasts forever, and there will come a time when = Julius is no longer able to give us his measured wisdom, share = experiences of the Great Depression, World War II and the blacklist, and = inspire us by the simple presence of a 91-year-old radical whom, every = time you see him, you just want to hug to pieces.=20 I made "A Union Man" in order to leave a reminder of this passion for = activists, and especially those hardworking but rarely honored = rank-and-filers, worn down by the sheer mass of the deck that is stacked = against us. To remind people that you can hate the bosses and the system = while still holding so much love for the working class and the struggle = itself. And to keep Julius's voice and presence around long after he has = left this life and the imperfect world he worked so hard to make a = better place.=20 There is so little labor history taught in our schools, of the = countless, often brutal struggles of working people to shake a fair = wage, decent and safe working conditions, and security from the = capitalist system and the government that promotes and protects it. = Julius has always shown special interest in young workers, students and = activists, educating and encouraging them to learn more about our = history and the battles that have been fought. I'll never forget that = the first gift he gave me, just a month after I met him, was a copy of = the great history book "Labor's Untold Story." Turns out he had bought a = bunch in bulk and was giving them to young people he deemed open and = interested in learning more about labor history. I am thrilled that he = deemed me worthy of receiving one.=20 Julius hopes that this film will be used at educational retreats, for = relief from the occasional tedium at days-long conferences, for social = gatherings or "film nights" among progressive organizations. And I want = the film to make it into libraries and the classroom, to inspire people = to learn more, work harder for justice, and love everyone around them = just a little more. I hope "A Union Man" shows, among other things, the = degree of love and admiration that so many people, of all ages, feel for = this man. We made it short (56 minutes) and snappy for a reason. We want = you to want more. And we want you to go out and live with that same = energy, and anger, that Julius has lived with....--George Mann=20 "Julius Margolin is one of the most inspiring people for all generations = to learn from and appreciate. This film is a valuable journey through = history" -- Douglas Calvin, http://www.worldyouth.org=20 _______________________________________________________________=20 - - - - - - - ABOUT PRODUCER/DIRECTOR GEORGE MANN - - - - - - -=20 A union organizer and activist for the past 15 years, George grew up = playing in rock and roll bands on Long Island and in New York City. He = has previously recorded four albums of his songs and performs for many = unions and organizations. In the fall of 1997, Julius recruited him for = the New York City Labor Chorus, and as the two got to know each other = better, the idea of working with Julius to bring labor and folk music to = the public was born. He is a producer of labor music and has a new solo = CD, "Into the Fire," coming out in early 2008. GEORGE MANN'S WEBSITE: http://georgemann.home.att.net

July 8- 9: Labor/Civil Rights events in Portkland & Salem by Michael Munk Mon, Aug 4, 2008

=20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 = -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ---------------------------------------- and a twofer: To the Editor, The Oregonian: All references to Jim Adkinsson in your July 30 letters, are to a = "killer"=20 or a "shooter. Adkinsson executed an armed suicide attack on members = of a=20 church, murdered two members of the congregation and seriously = wounded=20 five others with a shotgun. He killed them because of his = ideological=20 hatred of liberals --echoed in his favorite reading matter by = lberal-haters Michael=20 Savage, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Radio station WNOW-FM in = Knoxville=20 broadcasts Limbaugh, Hannity and other shock jocks every weekday. So why are we so reluctant to call him what he is--a classical = terrorist?=20 Only heroic action by the congregation disarmed him before he = expected to=20 die after killing many more Americans--which he hoped would bring = his=20 total of victims to Iraqi or Palestinian levels. Michael Munk =20

Big O: Oregonians should question Guard deployment by Michael Munk Sun, Aug 3, 2008

DEPLOYMENT OF OREGON SOLDIERS The plan to deploy 3,500 Oregon National Guard to provide security for convoys in Iraq next year should have Oregonians asking questions The Oregonian, August 3, 2008 http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar/2008/08/the_deployment_from_hell.html By Mike Francis, Associate Editor O n the record, the men and women of the Oregon National Guard salute and say they are ready to do their duty when the 41st Brigade Combat Team is summoned to Iraq next year. They are soldiers, they understand the chain of command and they know the "Big Army" doesn't care much what they think anyway. But here's what they can't say, at least publicly: This is a mission from hell. This mission, to provide security for convoys carrying fuel, food, medical supplies and other items from base to base, means that the soldiers of the 41st Brigade are scheduled to spend a year scattered around a shooting gallery, with no ability to control events by participating in neighborhood meetings, training police or raiding houses -- all things that Oregon soldiers have done in previous deployments. They will be, one officer said, "IED magnets." As such, they are less likely to fire their weapons than to be fired at. And when they see one of their colleagues killed by an improvised explosive device, they will inevitably ask themselves if it was worth the life of a friend to escort a load of lettuce, diesel fuel and toilet paper from one military base to another. Oregonians generally don't realize the implications of next year's deployment, which will be the largest from Oregon in 60 years. It will gather about 3,500 soldiers -- people from every community in the state -- and send them in the middle of summer to Iraq, where they will endure 10 or so months of duty escorting people and goods from one military base to another. Meanwhile, the Guard's strength in Oregon will be cut almost in half, raising questions about the state's ability to respond quickly and effectively to disasters like the Vernonia floods or widespread forest fires. Of course, a lot can change between now and next May, when the brigade is scheduled to mobilize, first for 60 days of training in Georgia, then for 10 months of duty in Iraq. For one thing, the new U.S. president may decide not to send the brigade overseas at all. Or he may elect instead to send it to Afghanistan, or give it a different mission in Iraq or elsewhere. There are no guarantees at this stage about how the mission will play out. But brigade commanders and soldiers must operate on the best information they have today, which is that the Oregon brigade will be broken down into smaller units, scattered around southern and western Iraq, and be given jobs that most soldiers would prefer not to do. "I think it's a very dangerous mission," Gov. Ted Kulongoski said in a telephone interview. "There are things the active-duty Army doesn't want to do, and I'm very offended by it." Kulongoski sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on July 10 expressing disappointment in the role the Pentagon is asking the 41st Brigade to play. "Using (the National Guard brigades) in ad hoc organizations structured specifically for the mission is seen by our soldiers as making them 'fillers' rather than trained, cohesive units," Kulongoski wrote. "It sends the signal to them that they are second-rate soldiers and units." Col. Daniel Hokanson, who commands the 41st Brigade, is preparing as if the brigade will be given the mission that the Defense Department described to it this winter. But he hopes to find a way to at least hold the brigade together in a single chain of command, rather than breaking it into 26 separate security companies that are attached to active-army units. He is talking with the commander of the Arkansas brigade who has the job now, and with the commander of the Texas brigade that will replace it, in an effort to reconfigure the command- and-control aspect of the deployment. But that effort relies on the willingness of active-duty commanders and others higher in the military hierarchy. "Ideally, the brigade will have the opportunity to shape that," Hokanson said. "It's not the ideal mission. It's not what the brigade has trained to do. But the brigade is the best thing the Army has" to provide force security in Baghdad and south and west of the city. The mission is going to startle some of the soldiers, predicted one. "It's going to be much harder on the young guys who have no idea what they'll be going into," said a noncommissioned officer who has deployed previously. "They're not going to be doing anything they were trained to do. They'll be sitting in their vehicles feeling like 'I'm being wasted. I'm not facing the enemy.' " Nobody has done a precise count yet, but Hokanson thinks about half of the soldiers of the 41st have deployed once already, with the largest chunk going to Afghanistan at a time when that country was relatively peaceful. About 30 percent of the previously deployed have gone twice, estimates Maj. Arnold Strong, the brigade's public affairs officer. This suggests the challenges associated with the other end of the mission: when the soldiers return home. Already, the state is grappling with a wave of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses, traumatic brain injuries, divorces and even some suicides. Families in every corner of the state have been touched by the war. Employers are struggling to abide by the law that requires them to hold jobs open for deployed soldiers, despite the difficulties it poses for them. How much more of this will wash over Oregon in the months and years after the brigade comes home in 2010? "We will see a continued rising number of marriage and family casualties of the war," said Dr. Jim Sardo, program manager for the PTSD clinical team and substance program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Portland. Further, he noted, this deployment will dramatically increase the number of veterans who have deployed more than once. And that, he said, "increases the likelihood of long-term mental-health consequences." For the roughly half of the brigade that has never deployed, the planned mission in Iraq will come like a blast from a furnace. They will fly from Georgia to a desert where temperatures routinely top 120 degrees, they will be saddled with heavy armored vests and told to ride down roads where other soldiers have been killed, and not to fire their weapons unless they determine they are in imminent danger of attack. They won't be in the fight unless fired upon. They won't interact deeply with Iraqi civilians. But they will be targets for anybody who aims to disrupt military operations -- and plenty of such people remain in Iraq. Attacks and casualties are indeed down sharply in Iraq -- a benefit from the adoption of Gen. David Petraeus's counterinsurgency tactics, as well as by the quiescence of the Sadrists, the shifting attitudes of the Sunni Arabs and the routing of many elements of al-Qaida in Iraq. Yet U.S. soldiers are still being killed by explosions in the country. In July, at this writing, the Pentagon has announced the deaths by hostile action of two Marines and three or possibly four soldiers in Iraq -- including at least three who were killed when their vehicles were attacked. It's highly likely that some members of the 41st Brigade won't come home alive. That should cause Oregonians to think deeply about what their fellow citizens are being asked to do. "I think everybody is worried about the continual deployment of the Guard," said Kulongoski. "I think sometimes we're asking too much of these kids and their families." Associate editor Mike Francis has covered military issues since first embedding with Oregon National Guard troops in Iraq in 2004. Read his Oregon at War blog at http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonatwar. He can be reached at 503-412-7014 or mikefrancis@news.oregonian.com.

Willamette Reds newsletter by Michael Munk Thu, Jul 31, 2008

Vancouver's addiction to (Big)Oil by Michael Munk Wed, Jul 30, 2008

To the editor, The Oregonian: What is it with Vancouver residents' addiction to (big) oil? On Sunday, the Oregonian published three letters from Vancouver residents. Mr. McKlenson whined about mass transit, Mr. Patten demanded we spent billions to ensure his "freedom to work where [he}wish[es]." and Mr. Siebert defended the obscene profits of Big Oil companies. I guess this helps explain why Clark County voted down Mr.McKlenson's despised light rail and, with higher gas prices feeding Mr. Siebert's oil companies, now wants to be bailed out with Mr. Patten's $4.2 billion bridge. For his information, he has the freedom to live in Vancouver and drive to Portland to avoid the sales tax. But like other freedoms, its enjoyment often imposes a cost. His may be a long commute by expensive private transportation. Michael Munk visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Obama's Mom in Seattle by Michael Munk Tue, Jul 29, 2008

Obama's mother's life & times in Seattle Stanley Ann Dunham, Barack Obama's mother, in the 1959 Mercer Island = High School yearbook.=20 =20 Madelyn and Stanley Dunham (O's mother's parents) moved from Kansas to Seattle in 1955 , living in an apartment in the Columbia City neighborhood where Stanley Ann (O's mother) attended the 8th grade at Eckstein Middle School.The next year the family moved to Mercer Island (that ferry commuters' island directly accross the Sound from downtown Seattle). Stanley Anne = went all=20 4 years to Mercer Island High, graduating in'60. And as the single mother of Barack Obama, Jr., returned to Seattle two years later and enrolled at UW for one quarter. =20 This from the Chicago Tribune today: full story at = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0703270151mar27,0,589824,= full.story>>combined with exceprts from an earlier Seattle Times = articlehttp://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004334057_obama08m= .html =20 "Consistent with the 1950s, there were undercurrents of turmoil. In = 1955, the chairman of the Mercer Island school board, JohnStenhouse, = testified before the House Un-American Activities Subcommitteethat he = had been a member of the Communist Party. At Mercer High School, two = teachers -- Val Foubert and Jim Wichterman --generated regular parental = thunderstorms by teaching their students tochallenge societal norms and = question all manner of authority. Foubert, whodied recently, taught = English. His texts were cutting edge: "AtlasShrugged," "The = Organization Man," "The Hidden Persuaders," "1984" Margaret Mead and = the acerbic writings of H.L. Mencken. Wichterman taught philosophy. The hallway between the two classes = wasknown as "anarchy alley," and students pondered the challenging = notions of Wichterman's teachings, including such philosophers as = Sartre and Kierkegaard. He also touched the societal third rail of the = 1950s: He questioned the existence of God. And he didn't stop there."I = had them read Karl Marx's 'The Communist Manifesto,' and the parentswent = nuts," said Wichterman, adding that parents also didn't want = anydiscussions about "anything to do with sex," religion and theology. = Theparental protests were known as "mothers' marches."=20 "The kids startedquestioning things that their folks thought shouldn't = be questioned --religion, politics, parental authority," said John = Hunt, a classmate. "And a lot of parents didn't like that, and they = tried to get them [Wichterman and Foubert] fired." Wichterman = recalled that Stanley "As much as a high-school studentcan, she'd = question anything: What's so good about democracy?What's so good about = capitalism? What's wrong with communism?What's good about communism? She = had what I call an inquiring mind." The Dunhams did not join the uproar. They shed their Methodist and = Baptist upbringing and began attending Sunday services at the EastShore = Unitarian Church in nearby Bellevue. "In the 1950s, this was sometimes = known as 'the little Red church on thehill,' " said Peter Luton, the = church's senior minister, referring to the effects of McCarthyism. = Skepticism, the kind that Stanley embraced andpassed on to his = daughter, was welcomed here. For Stanley Ann, the teachings of Foubert and Wichterman provided = anintellectual stimulant and an affirmation that there indeed was = aninteresting life beyond high school dances, football games and = all-nightslumber party chatter. Their high school class was an = in-between generation. The Beat generation had passed, and the 1960s era = of protest was yet to begin.Classmates of Dunham felt they were on the = cusp of societal change, the distant early warning of the '60s = struggles over civil rights, women's rights and war."She had a really = ironic sense of humor, sort of downbeat and she wasa great observer," = said Iona Stenhouse, of Seattle, a former classmate. "There was an = arched eyebrow, or a smile on her face about the immaturityof us all. I = felt at times that Stanley thought we were a bit of a provincial group. "The diversions for Dunham and her class were solidly 1950s vintage:sock = hops and sleepovers and the song "Rockin' Robin." Dunham's fatherd rove = her and friends to boys basketball games, and would embarrass = hisdaughter with his noisy cheering. But Stanley didn't have a regular = boy friendin high school.She gravitated toward an intellectual clique. = According to former classmateChip Wall, she caught foreign films at = Seattle's only art-house theater, theRidgemont,and trekked to University = District coffee shops like the Encore to talkabout jazz,the value of = learning from other cultures and the "very dull Eisenhower-nessof our = parents."One classmate, Jill Burton-Dascher, said Stanley Ann "was = intellectually way more mature than we were and a little bit ahead = ofher time, in an off-center way." She showed her politics, wearing a = campaign button for Adlai Stevenson in 1956." We were critiquing America in those days in the same way we are today: = The press is dumbed down, education is dumbed down, people don't know = anything aboutgeography or the rest of the world," said Wall, who later = taught at MercerI sland High and is now retired in Seattle. "If you were = concerned about something going wrong in the world, Stanley would know = about it first," Wall continued, describing her as "a fellow traveler. . = . . We were liberals before we knew what liberals were.">> Susan Blake = said Stanley's father was "always looking for a rise out ofpeople," = Blake said. "It seemed like every time her father opened hismouth, she = would roll her eyes." When the Mercer Island High School yearbooks began circulating in the = spring of 1960, Stanley Ann's senior year, classmates scribbled best = wishesto friends and remembered slumber parties, one mother's = exceptionally goodchocolate cake and thoughts on some goofy = boys."Stanley had hoped to join many of her classmates at the University = ofWashington, and was also accepted to the University of Chicago, = according to Obama's memoir, the best-selling "Dreams from My = Father.">>But after graduation, the family moved to Hawaii where Stanley = attended the University Hawaii . Maxine Box, her best friend in high = school and otherclassmates were stunned when Stanley Ann wrote them = she'd married theUniversity's first African student, a Kenyan named = Barack Obama.=20 She gave birth to Barack Obama Jr. in August 1961."We could see Stanley, = with her good grades and intelligence, going to college,but not marrying = and having a baby right away," said MaxineBox, her best friend at the = time and now a retired teacher in Bellevue.I can't think of anything she = said or did that would lead to such a radical thing. At that time, you = practically crossed the street if you saw a black man and a white woman. = Black and white didn't go together at that time. Stanley Ann "always said [Mercer Island] was a great place to grow up," = said Soetoro-Ng, who now teaches at the University of Hawaii. "She found = it a nice mix between civilization and the rural expression and = nature."Perhaps that's why she returned at least twice shortly after she = left. Classmate Susan Blake said that, during a brief visit in 1961, = Dunham was excited abouther husband's plans to return to Kenya."We all = had June Cleaver as our role models, and she was blazing new trails for = herself," said Blake, a former Mercer Island city councilwoman.And in = 1962, Dunham had returned to Seattle as a single mother, enrolling at UW = for spring quarter and living in an apartment on Capitol Hill. But = friends said she got overwhelmed and returned to her family in Hawaii, = where she divorced Obama Sr. in 1964.=20 visit my website www.michaelmunk.com>>

Willy Week picks Ooligan Press by Michael Munk Wed, Jul 23, 2008

Oregon Poll: Obama, Merkley ahead by Michael Munk Wed, Jul 16, 2008

Where are NE Dems on health care? by Michael Munk Mon, Jul 14, 2008

Americans United for Human Rights petition by Michael Munk Mon, Jul 14, 2008

=20 =20 Oregon Democrats must challenge AIPAC's promotion of War and = Occupation =20 View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition=20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- To: Oregon Democratic Party and Leadership=20 To Oregon Democrats and Democratic Politicians, especially Oregon = Governor Ted Kulongoski, Oregon State House Speaker Jeff Merkley = (D-Portland), Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem), Sen. = Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo), Rep. Mitch = Greenlick (D-Portland), and Rep. Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie).=20 Dear Oregon Democrats:=20 On May 21st, 2008, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee = (AIPAC) held a "community dinner" in Portland at the Oregon Convention = Center. According to our sources, the Democratic leaders listed above = attended that event.=20 We are Oregonians who are opposed to the current aggressive and = militarized U.S. policies in the Middle East and concerned that yet = another war, this time against Iran, is being promoted by right wingers = such as were present at this event. As a result, we are very concerned = by your attendance.=20 The keynote speaker, AIPAC member and Fox News analyst Marc Ginsberg = clearly is promoting military action with Iran. He also was imploring = his audience, which includes you, to help convince the American people = of the necessity of the use of military force.=20 We are also concerned by the complete mischaracterization of the views = of such Americans as former President Jimmy Carter as presented by AIPAC = officer Brandt. We believe President Carter and others are absolutely = correct in their criticism of Israel's ongoing policies of occupation = and oppression of the Palestinians, and the ongoing theft and = colonization of Palestinian lands. We believe that President Carter is = correct in his characterization of Israel's domination of Palestinians = as the creation of a system of Apartheid. Brandt is simply incorrect as = characterizing Carter's motivation as one simply of not believing in = America's relationship with Israel as Brandt suggested. Instead, Carter = is acting out of sincere concern for the human rights of Palestinians = and the prospect for peace for both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. = President Carter is the man who brought peace between Egypt and Israel = and has worked tirelessly to foster democratic institutions around the = world (without, like Bush, using violence and force). It should be noted = that Egypt recently brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This = would not have been possible without President Jimmy Carter's earlier = peace making.=20 Israel already gets over $3 billion in U.S. military assistance each = year, much of which is used to support the illegal occupation and = colonization of Palestinian lands. We are further concerned that, at a = time when we believe Israel needs to be held to account for its policies = against the Palestinians, Oregon Democrats are seeking to enhance = economic ties to the state of Israel. Governor Kulongoski obviously is = trying to make these ties a reality with his recent trade mission to = Israel and we question the morality of these ties given the oppression = experienced by the Palestinians at the hands of Israel. We are not = opposed to economic ties to Israel that also helps the Palestinian = economy or when relations between Israel and her neighbors are = normalized in accordance with human rights and international law.=20 We would like an opportunity for representatives of AUPHR (Americans = United for Palestinian Human Rights) and members of the Oregon Peace and = Justice community meet with you to discuss our views on these critical = issues. We do not want the Democratic Party to be leading the charge for = yet another war against people in the Middle East. Nor do we want Oregon = Democrats to implicate our great state with Israel's Apartheid policies = while they continue to illegally take more Palestinian lands. We are = concerned that the Democratic Party's enmeshment with AIPAC raises these = very dangers.=20 Sincerely,=20 The Undersigned=20 =20 View Current Signatures=20 =20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- The Oregon Democrats must challenge AIPAC's promotion of War and = Occupation Petition to Oregon Democratic Party and Leadership was = created by members of Americans United for Human Rights (AUPHR) and = written by Peter Miller (peteskitoo@gmail.com). This petition is hosted = here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no = endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or = our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help = form.=20 visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Who is offended by Obama's vote for spying? by Michael Munk Mon, Jul 14, 2008

Check out Salem socialist website by Michael Munk Fri, Jul 11, 2008

Salem, Oregon Socialists=20 People and Nature Before Profits! We are in the Willamette Valley, = Oregon, and welcome anyone whose politics come in shades of red. We're a = working collective of socialists, Communists and independent leftists. = We are also known as Willamette Reds. And no, we don't sell red wine. We = do drink red wine. http://willamettereds.blogspot.com/ August 8, 2008 - Portland Oregon We are excited to announce this upcoming event - an evening for = reflection on the civil rights struggle of the 1960s. Please mark your = calendars and join us - everyone welcome! "A Hard Rain Fell: Struggles for Civil Rights in the 60's and their = Meaning Today." Speakers: * Ann Montague, union activist; on Bayard Rustin & gay liberation. * Bob Novick, union organizer; on the legacy of the 60's. * Jarvis Tyner, civil rights & progressive leader; on connecting the = 60's to now. There will be plenty of time for Q & A. Location: 6401 SE Foster Rd, Portland, Oregon (SEIU Hall). More info: Call Bob Rossi, 581-1505, X 141. Sponsored by SEIU Local 503's Civil & Human Rights Committee. Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Capital=20 When I was a kid there was a popular Italian expression: "Not even in = the third book of Capital!" someone would exclaim in surprise or in = order to emphasize how obscure a point was. The reference was to Marx's = classic Capital, although I bet that many people who used the expression = didn't know that. Capital is one of those fundamental books we should read but we never = get around to. It's basic to Marxism. There are shortcuts, and no one = gets docked for not reading it, but life is so much better if you try. = And even better if you succeed. Now you can study Capital in the privacy of your own cyberspace. Go to = http://davidharvey.org/ and check out what's there. This is a great resource!=20 Posted by ethnicguy at 6:46 PM 0 comments Links to this post =20 Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Rush Limbaugh And I Drive To Corvallis=20 Rush Limbaugh, well-known right-wing fanatic, recently signed a $400 = million deal with Clear Channel's Premier Radio Networks. This includes = a $100 million signing bonus and meets and surpasses what Howard Stern, = another right wing fanatic, took home from Sirius Satellite Radio in = 2004. The two nutjobs have more in common than their artificially high = salaries, of course, but that's a good place to start. Limbaugh's prized commodities are hate speech and himself, though not = necessarily in that order. We get a Limbaugh morning show, the Limbaugh = Letter, a broadcast website and a subscription service all featuring the = man for that $400 million. Premier Radio underwrites it all and will do = so for many years to come. It's stunning to think that anyone in the world can get that kind of = money or that anyone thinks that a fanatic deserves that kind of = funding. One of the claims made by Limbaugh & Co. is that he is the only = conservative voice on the radio, or the main conservative voice on the = radio. I tested that proposition today as I drove from Salem to = Corvallis by way of Monmouth. On FM radio I heard four or five decidedly conservative radio stations = and two or three stations that might be considered liberal or left. I'm = counting the conservative religious stations which run people like Dr. = Laura and James Dobson, Limbaugh competitors. Several of these stations = appear two or three times on the dial, so the number is really more like = four or six. I'm also counting as liberal the two OPB stations I picked = up because today there was an OPB program with John Edwards on. They = seem rather conservative to me, however, and they are definitely giving = McCain a pass. KBOO is proudly on the left, of course, and carries that = by itself. On AM radio I picked up fifteen conservative talk radio stations, again = including the religious stations, Dr. Laura and people like Sean = Hannity. I also picked up two OPB stations, KPOJ and KBOO as I got = closer to Corvallis. I don't know why people call Dr. Laura and expect anything other than = humiliation. Besides her advice, which is almost always disempowering = and focused on blaming victims, her style of communicating is inherently = oppressive. Hannity uses the same tricks over and over again: tell the = audience you're on their side and against the bullies who want to keep = them ignorant, keep creating a "them," bait and humiliate the folks who = disagree with you and then cut them off and go quickly to the = advertising. It's a simple formula used by Mussolini and Hitler. The = religious stations do a slightly milder version of this. We get Dobson, = Falwell wannabees and the most conservative of theologies without debate = or discussion. Have you ever heard a station give you Rev. Jeremiah = Wright, Fr. Michael Pfleger or liberation theology without censorship? Country stations hit patriotism, sexism and lily-white = nostalgia--sometimes all in one song. Rap and rock stations recycle = hopelessness and sexism. All of them are reaching for the advertising = dollars which is, after all, the real point. There's nothing liberal or = left there. Can you get Al-Jazeera, BBC or CBC for different perspectives? Without = differing perspectives, how do you form your opinions? If Rush & Co. don't consider the religious stations conservative, their = problem is more with religion than with liberals or the left. If Dr. = Laura, Michael Savage and Sean Hannity are competitors on the low road = created by Rush, he can't blame liberals or the left if his voice gets = lost in the mob. So Rush is simply dishonest when he claims to be in a minority and a = lone conservative voice saving us from liberal and left ideas. Parts of = America hear his voice and tune in because he and so many others like = him dominate the airwaves--and not because he's popular or because he = has a particular message, but because he has the money behind him and = there is nothing much left to listen to.=20 Posted by ethnicguy at 6:36 PM 0 comments Links to this post =20 Friday, July 04, 2008 Obama And The Left--Part Three=20 The ultra-left, the Socialists and the Greens are instinctively correct = in pointing out the shortcomings of Obama's program, his backtracking on = key political questions and the failures and inherent conservatism of = the Democrats. Their philosophical and practical errors, however, do not = allow them to go further than focusing on the negatives and imposing = upon themselves a critical distance and isolation from workers and key = social movements. This becomes for them an essentially moralistic = refusal and inability to grasp the dynamics of the present political = moment, negotiate and lead and, ultimately, to take power on any level. = This may prove true even for those Greens who hold political office but = who do not advance a pragmatic radical political program in cooperation = with contending social forces like labor. The idea that the main area of debate or struggle now exists between = center forces represented by Obama and the left is flawed in both its = theory and its application, despite the good work done by the left and = social and political movements over the last eight years and the natural = and justifiable suspicion workers feel towards both the Democrats and = the Republicans. Against all of this good work and working class realism = or pessimism, after all, is a world capitalist system sliding into = chaos, a self-contained capitalist-monopoly elite which is reaching = beyond its historic role and position, several major wars taking place, = continuing and deepening environmental crises, extreme barbarism being = inflicted upon the Third World and the global south while racism asserts = itself in new ways in the developed countries and in the global north, = an absence of working-class self-organization and leading political = alternatives and a disappointing lack of unity at the working class base = which limits our ability to struggle and win against the monopolies and = for democratic rights. Under such circumstances we cannot expect people = to go "from zero to sixty" and intervening with a political agenda which = calls on them to do so is only a step backwards. The pragmatic left understands the forces and world events at work very = well and knows from its own valuable historic experience that working = class pessimism cannot be relied upon to build something positive and = enduring. There is a special understanding of how destructive racism is = and how so much of this election is really about racism, imperialism and = war. We also understand better than the ultra-left, the Socialists and = the Greens the weaknesses of class-consciousness and workers' = organizations today. We understand why and how people, and especially = workers, are looking for incremental change now and how fragile and = contradictory these hopes are. The left-wing response to the ultra-left and to the Obama candidacy has = been to only see the positive sides of Obama's program, to ignore or = defend his backward steps, to hope that Obama and the political center = can be moved to the left later, to work exclusively at the grassroots as = foot-soldiers for the Democrats and (mirroring the ultra-left) to refuse = taking principled and critical leadership in situations which might make = obvious our disagreements with some of Obama's thinking. This response = is understandable and comes with gains and losses for the left, with = opportunities and with dead-ends. The left will gain by learning again how to talk to and organize with = people in our neighborhoods and workplaces. This new emphasis in working = primarily at the grassroots can give to the left a new base and a needed = decentralization. The challenges we face as Obama moves to the right = help us to rethink our assumptions and arguments and can force us to = improve left-wing media. To the extent that we openly identify ourselves = as socialists and communists, we can help people get over remaining cold = war prejudices and acquaint them with truly left-wing programs which = speak to their needs. The Obama campaign forces us to confront racism = within others and in ourselves. Each day that we work with the center = political forces is a test for us, individually and collectively, and = these tests should teach us how to negotiate, lead and take power. These = tests are necessary because they are precisely where we win or lose the = right to lead others. Many of these positive advancements are put at risk or deprived of their = meaning when we overlook the political and strategic shortcomings of the = Obama campaign and the political center and when we are silent before = them. Seeing only the positives here mirrors the philosophical errors = and poverty of the ultra-left and can lead, through a much different = route, to the same sort of isolation and irrelevancy the ultra-left, = Socialists and Greens are choosing for themselves. Obama moved to the left in order to influence or capture some of the = core forces which might either have gone to Clinton or sat the election = out. It was an easy move for him given his base and his charisma. Now, = closer to the election and with the core social forces either supporting = him or with nowhere else to turn, Obama can move more safely (for him) = to the right and encourage a cult of personality around him. If this is = not inevitable, it at least appears to be unavoidable given the peculiar = structuring of American electoral politics. This takes place as Karl = Rove's forces are taking over the McCain campaign and centralizing their = power and their forces. Their attack against Obama once this = centralization is complete will be racist and under-handed and will have = the cooperation of the Bush-Cheney administration. Whatever distance = Obama travels to the right will be more than matched by the right's = march towards barbarism. Our main hope now in preventing a further slide to the right by the = center, including Obama, is in building for a landslide win by the = Democrats in November and doing so in such a way that we also win power = and influence for the independent forces like the labor and peace = movements. Actively encouraging the nomination of a progressive = Vice-Presidential candidate and focusing on all of McCain's many faults = and the right-wing danger he represents is key. These efforts require a = base at the grassroots which works for a win every day, but it also = requires that that base be built upon our left-wing principles and a = willingness to explain these principles to the people we work with and = then negotiate with them. The willingness of the center to move to right before November can be = read as an inability to fight or as an unwillingness to fight and win. = This is the critical and repetitive failing of the Democrats and it does = not win them elections. Once surrendered, the ground lost by the = Democrats seems nearly impossible to recover and the task of recovering = lost ground seems to have fallen largely on the shoulders of = African-Americans, labor, immigrant workers, women and the peace = movement. A reliance by the center and parts of the left upon a = charismatic leader to the practical exclusion or diminishing of an = activist and critically-thinking base makes organizing, fighting and = winning more difficult and makes recovering lost ground in the absence = of that leader much more difficult. The left needs to recover its = history quickly and its ability to teach others how to fight. Win or lose in November, we need to prepare now for a national = conference to be held in the Spring of 2009. That conference should = unite the left which worked for Democratic victories with the best = forces in the labor, civil rights, immigrant, peace, womens', gay, and = youth movements under a shared and fully accountable grassroots = leadership. If Obama wins, the focus should be on an aggressive plan to = hold him to his early and progressive promises and to guide the US = through the likely traumas that withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan = and confronting racism here will bring during a time of economic crises. = If McCain wins, the focus will need to be on key mass protests, = protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population and civil = liberties from further attack and labor and community organizing. We need that national conference and we need unity.=20 Posted by ethnicguy at 12:10 PM 3 comments Links to this post =20 Older Posts=20 Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)=20 =20 =E2=80=98Yes, we did=E2=80=99: Obama hits delegate milestone as = primaries near end PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon and Kentucky primary voters May 20 gave Barack = Obama the majority of elected delegates to the 2008 Democratic National = Convention, virtually assuring his nomination as that party=E2=80=99s = candidate for the presidency. Even before the votes were all counted = that night he declared in a victory speech in Iowa that McCain is now = the focus of the campaign. He dismissed the Republican as a clone of = President Bush on tax cuts, Iraq and health care. Read the rest of this article by Tim Wheeler, People's Weekly World, = here. =20 People's Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo Website Live Newly redesigned website for the People's Weekly World / Nuestro Mundo = newspaper features daily online articles, multimedia, and even a blog! = Comment on blog articles, and even become a contributor (email blog *at* = pww d0t org) =20 NEW CPUSA Videos History's Challenge - a 30-minute documentary on the Communist Party = USA! Elena Mora duking it out with a right-wing hack from the Heritage = Foundation live on national cable TV! New Yorkers fed up - Public Housing and Sean Bell! =20 Video: Salem Oregon May Day March for Immigrant Rights featuring singer = Chris Meza =20 Photos from Salem Oregon May 1 Rally and March=20 =20 Photos from the April 12, 2008 drive to promote Latino voter = registration! CHAVISTA CARAVAN PHOTOS =20 CPUSA: End the Iraq war =20 Weathering the Storm: Sam Webb, CPUSA, on the economic recession =20 Contact Willamette Reds Email us here =20 Blog Archive a.. =E2=96=BC 2008 (96)=20 a.. =E2=96=BC July 2008 (6)=20 a.. Capital=20 b.. Rush Limbaugh And I Drive To Corvallis=20 c.. Obama And The Left--Part Three=20 d.. Obama And The Left--Part Two=20 e.. Obama And The Left--Part One=20 f.. Capitalism, Imperialism & Socialism: The Basics=20 a.. =E2=96=BA June 2008 (17)=20 a.. Ida B. Wells-Barnett=20 b.. Pacific Northwest Takes Some Hits This Week=20 c.. And It's Only Tuesday...=20 d.. NPR Does (at least) Two Stupid Stories=20 e.. Palestinian non-violent resistance=20 f.. You can't have Alex=20 g.. (Gay) Marriage=20 h.. Portland Gay Pride=20 i.. Jobs (not) in Oregon=20 j.. Capitalism doesn't work--#5. Wage Inequality.=20 k.. Oregon workers sucker-punched: if your boss doesn'...=20 l.. Oregon Democrats Select Delegates--The Scene At CD...=20 m.. James Bond Is Dead=20 n.. Capitalism doesn't work---#4 Manufacturing imperia...=20 o.. Capitalism doesn't work---#3. Housing in Oregon.=20 p.. Capitalism doesn't work---#2=20 q.. Capitalism doesn't work--#1 (A short series examin...=20 a.. =E2=96=BA May 2008 (11)=20 a.. A Victory At Burger King!=20 b.. Oregon State University Hits Another Low Point=20 c.. Intimate Politics by Bettina F. Apthek...=20 d.. Our Tito: May 25, 1892--May 4, 1980=20 e.. Bruce "Utah" Phillips Passes=20 f.. Oregon's Primaries--A Left Perspective=20 g.. Moving Through Oregon's Primary=20 h.. Hazel Dickens=20 i.. Move On: Iraq and Recession Salem OR=20 j.. Book Review: Red Chicago=20 k.. 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Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights=20 e.. ANERA=20 f.. Anglo-Catholic Socialism=20 g.. Blue Collar Review=20 h.. BroadLeft=20 i.. Carol P. Araullo=20 j.. Catholic Worker=20 k.. Color of Change=20 l.. Communist Party of Ireland=20 m.. Communist Party USA=20 n.. Communist Party--Labor Commission=20 o.. Comrade Zero=20 p.. Early American Marxism=20 q.. Fruits Of Our Labour=20 r.. Gus Hall Action Club=20 s.. Hands Off Venezuela=20 t.. Haymarket Books=20 u.. Hunter Bear=20 v.. International Publishers=20 w.. International Viewpoint=20 x.. L'Humanite in English=20 y.. Labor Notes=20 z.. Labor Party USA=20 aa.. Le Revue Gauche=20 ab.. Mansoor Hekmat=20 ac.. Marxism-Leninism Today=20 ad.. Monthly Review=20 ae.. News from Cuba=20 af.. Orbis Books=20 ag.. Oregon New Sanctuary Movement=20 ah.. Oregon Peaceworks=20 ai.. Palestine Childrens Welfare Fund=20 aj.. Palestinian news=20 ak.. Pan African News=20 al.. Partido della Rifondazione Comunista - Italy=20 am.. PCUN=20 an.. 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Dems for spying: the names of shame by Michael Munk Fri, Jul 11, 2008

Only 28 Dems against spying by Michael Munk Wed, Jul 9, 2008

Saturday July 5: Bloody Thursday at Oaks Park by Michael Munk Thu, Jul 3, 2008

If you've seen the reference to Portland's commemoration of the great 1934 west coast longshoremens' strike in my Red Guide (pp 99-100), you already know that Columbia River ILWU locals will meet at Oaks Park after 10AM Saturday. That will be the 74th anniversary of the killing of two strikers in San Francisco (also my own 74th anniversary) on July 5, 1934 known ever since as "Bloody Thurday" and a holdiay on west coast docks. Marvin Ricks, the last surviving veteran of the '34 strike in Portland will be there as well as other speakers. A memorial wreath is usually placed in the Willamette, commemorative T-shirts will be available and a picnic lunch is provided. Hope to see you there! visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Naming the Dems who cave by Michael Munk Mon, Jun 30, 2008

forward from Credo, aliberal long distance phone company by Michael Munk Sat, Jun 28, 2008

I-5 boondoggle denounced by Michael Munk Sat, Jun 28, 2008

To the editor, The Oregonian Re: "Task force favors new I-5 bridge, light rail," (A1 June 26): I was astounded to read that this "task force" wants to spend $4.2 billion to cut exactly one hour from the current six hours of daily vehicle congestion that commuters suffer on the existing bridge. I understand it speculates the congestion will increase in the future, but who knows how much tolls, $5 gas and other rising costs and time wasted in commuting will cause folks in Washington (who voted against light rail) to move closer to work or find other ways than cars to get there? I also wonder who's on that "task force" and how they got there. The only member you name (Portland lawyer Henry Hewitt) surely wasn't elected. Michael Munk visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Portland's orture taxi connection back in the news by Michael Munk Thu, Jun 26, 2008

Oregon war casualties rise to 621 by Michael Munk Tue, Jun 24, 2008

OR-WA senators sign on to attack Iran by Michael Munk Mon, Jun 23, 2008

Oregon poll: Obama 48%, McCain 45% by Michael Munk Mon, Jun 23, 2008

Pete Seeger at Wappinger Falls, NY by Michael Munk Sun, Jun 22, 2008

MoveOn to Obama: Fight, don't capitulate on FISA by Michael Munk Sun, Jun 22, 2008

Future of US Occupation at stake by Michael Munk Sat, Jun 21, 2008

OR Dems vote against spying bill by Michael Munk Fri, Jun 20, 2008

On the vote passing the FISA spying bill, all Oregon Dems (Blumenauer, Hooley, DeFazio and Wu) were among 128 Dems voting against, while the insufferable Baird joined 105 Dems (and 188 Reps)to support it. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Confirmned: Iraq is all about Oil by Michael Munk Thu, Jun 19, 2008

Poll shows Clinton gaining in Oregon by Michael Munk Fri, May 16, 2008

Good ridance to Hooley! by Michael Munk Thu, May 15, 2008

Blumenauer, DeFazio and Wu voted with the 147 Dems (and two Reps, Duncan and Ron Paul) against funding Bush's wars. Hooley was among the 85 Dems who voted for it (most Reps voted "present" in protest). see the roll call at http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll328.xml visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

527 spending for Clinton in Oregon? by Michael Munk Wed, May 14, 2008

Public Power Coalition backs Vicki Walker by Michael Munk Tue, May 13, 2008

Oregonians for Obama; Kulongoski for McCain? by Michael Munk Tue, May 13, 2008

Clintonite Kulongoski welcomes MCain by Michael Munk Mon, May 12, 2008

Correction: Bradbury still on sideline by Michael Munk Sun, May 11, 2008

I made a mistake in my recent post about Oregon's superdelegates. Bradbury has NOT declared (I thought he declared some ago for Clinton) and therefore two elected supers--Bradbury and Wyden--remain on the sidelines. The rest are four Dem party functionaries and an OEA leader.Lineup remains: Clinton Kulongoski and Hooley; Obama: Blumenauer, Wu and DeFazio. One more will be selected by the Dems after the primary. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Gordon looks vulnerable by Michael Munk Sat, May 10, 2008

Rasmussen: Oregon GOP Senator Only Narrowly Ahead Of Two Dems By Eric Kleefeld - May 10, 2008 http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/rasmussen_oregon_gop_senator_o.php A new poll shows another Republican senator just slightly ahead of the opposition, another sign that the Senate GOP will have to seriously play on defense this year. The new Rasmussen poll of Oregon has two-term Sen. Gordon Smith below 50% against state House Speaker Jeff Merkley and Democratic activist Steve Novick: Smith (R) 45%, Merkley (D) 42% Smith (R) 47%, Novick (D) 41% Smith is a relative GOP moderate who has turned against the Bush Administration on many Iraq-related votes. However, this remains a state that is likely to go Democratic in the Fall, so he'll need quite a few ticket-splitters to get across the finish line. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

DeFazio: better late than never by Michael Munk Fri, May 9, 2008

DeFazio has changed his mind. Until today, he said he would wait until May 20. Now Wyden, whose chief of staff directs the Clinton campaign in Oregon, is the only holdout among the elected supers. The other supers are the Dem party leaders, who promised not to declare until after May 20. However, none of them has promised to back the choice of party members. Party Chair Meredith Smith now wants to wait until after June 3. Democrats ought to demand their party functionaries stand up now--or at least pledge to follow their state's choice in the primary. What are they waiting for? Supers talley: Kolangoski, Bradbury, and Hooley for Clinton. Blumenauer, Wu and DeFazio for Obama. Rep. Peter DeFazio endorses Barack Obama by Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian May 9, 2008 Rep. Peter DeFazioRep. Peter DeFazio is Oregon's third Democratic congressman to endorse Sen.Barack Obama, putting the Illinois politician one delegate closer to the presidential nomination. DeFazio told the Oregonian Thursday evening that Obama, who will begin a two-day campaign trip to the state Friday morning, "represents our best chance of winning in November." "We must not allow Senator McCain to continue the failures of the Bush foreign policy, war in Iraq and disastrous economic policies," DeFazio added. Sen. Ron Wyden is the last Democrat in the delegation to remain neutral. He has said he won't take sides until after Oregon's May 20 primary, although his chief of staff, Josh Kardon, is heading Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign in Oregon. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and David Wu had earlier endorsed Obama while Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Rep. Darlene Hooley had endorsed Clinton. All these elected officials are superdelegates who automatically attend the Democratic convention and can vote for whomever they want. Because of the closeness of the race, the superdelegates hold the balance of power in deciding the nomination. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Oregon war casualties rise to 611 by Michael Munk Wed, May 7, 2008

Where is DeFazio? by Michael Munk Tue, May 6, 2008

Obama ahead in Oregon by Michael Munk Sat, May 3, 2008

Impeach Team Scoring Points in Oregon Congressional Primaries by Michael Munk Sat, May 3, 2008

Big O fails ILWU war protest by Michael Munk Fri, May 2, 2008

The ILWU May Day shutdown of west coast ports to protest the Iraq war is = a major challenge to the trade union movement to stand up against the = occupation. The Big O's coverage illustrates the disasterous results of = inexperienced reporters and editors trying to construct a phoney = "balanced" narrative in a story that can't be "balanced" by straight = reporting. They ended up buying into the spin from the PMA and Port of = Portland and preventing their readers from understanding how labor could = actually shut down the war machine. Read it and weep. Longshoremen defy work order, stay off the job on May Day=20 Effect on Port of Portland is scant, while dockworkers in the midst of = contract talks protest the war in Iraq May 2, 2008 The Oregonian By AMY HSUAN =20 For about eight hours Thursday, up and down the West Coast, shipyards = stood quiet, rail cars stopped and trucks scheduled for deliveries and = pickups were turned back at the port gates.=20 Ten thousand dockworkers -- including about 200 in the Portland area -- = took May Day off in defiance of labor contracts, bringing 29 ports from = San Diego to Seattle to a standstill. Union leaders said they wanted to = stage a protest against U.S. involvement in the Iraq war, but port = operators speculated that a big reason for the walkout is to demonstrate = union solidarity in the midst of labor negotiations.=20 Operations at the Port of Portland, Oregon's largest port, were = minimally affected since no cargo ships arrived Thursday.=20 The show of force by the longshoremen's union comes despite an = independent arbitrator's ruling Wednesday in California that the workers = had a contractual obligation "to report to work as they normally do."=20 The 25,000-member International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the = Pacific Maritime Association, representing port operators and large = shippers, are just two months away from the expiration of their labor = contract.=20 Union leaders say the decision to ditch work Thursday wasn't meant to be = a negotiating tactic, but a show of support for an end to the Iraq war = on a day that's historically represented solidarity in organized labor.=20 In Portland, chants of "No peace, no work," echoed from the Eastbank = Esplanade around noon, where 70 dockworkers set 800 carnations afloat in = the Willamette River, commemorating the deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. = soldiers who have died.=20 "A lot of longshore workers are veterans and have family and friends in = the war, and they're fed up," said Jennifer Sargent, a local union = spokeswoman. "They're taking a patriotic stand here."=20 But representatives of the Pacific Maritime Association, whose members = include 72 shipping companies, say that the message union leaders are = sending is not entirely about the war.=20 "Is this a voluntary war protest or a strike aimed at leveraging labor = negotiations? We're not sure," said Steve Getzug, spokesman for the = employer group based in Los Angeles.=20 In January, 100 elected union leaders representing West Coast workers = passed a resolution to take a stand on the Iraq war, which was disputed = by the Pacific Maritime Association.=20 John Kagel, the coast arbitrator, listened to both sides in a meeting = last week and in two telephone calls Wednesday. Kagel ultimately ruled = that the workers had to show up to work.=20 "When an arbitrator makes a decision, that decision is final and = binding," Kagel said.=20 Union leaders took a different view. "We respect the arbitration = process, but the union also recognizes the rights of our members to = exercise their right to free speech," said John Showalter, spokesman for = the ILWU in San Francisco. "This is completely independent of contract = negotiations. The members are not being paid today. The negotiations = today are going well and we hope they continue going smoothly."=20 At the Port of Portland's terminals, the absence of workers Thursday was = a minor hiccup in the daily flow of goods from dock to door.=20 No container ships or barges were scheduled to arrive in the Port on = Thursday, said Joshua Thomas, Port spokesman. Most of the activity in = the shipping yards or on the docks occurs when a ship arrives bearing = goods. That ship is unloaded and then immediately loaded up with Oregon = exports by dockworkers.=20 "Without container ships, that work would have been minimal or none," = Thomas said. The Port opened the docks and yard at 7 a.m. Thursday and = closed them shortly after when it became clear the dockworkers weren't = going to show.=20 But in larger ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach in California, = where 15 ships were due to dock, the lull could amount to millions of = extra dollars and a logistical nightmare, said John Martin, a maritime = economist.=20 "Essentially, any type of dislocation like this in the supply chain is = significant," Martin said. "There are ships that cost between $100,000 = to $150,000 a day at hold. They're on a strict sailing schedule. = Truckers are waiting. There's an impact on the rails. There are a lot of = people who aren't going to be paid today."=20 In 2002, contract negotiations between the longshoremen's union and the = association resulted in a 10-day shut down at 29 West Coast ports.=20 Every day, about $5.5 billion worth of goods move in and out of U.S. = ports. About half move through West Coast ports, which support 7.1 = million jobs each year and account for $1.2 trillion, or about 10 = percent of the entire gross domestic product in the United States, = according to the American Association of Port Authorities.=20 Aaron Ellis, spokesman for the association, said when dockworkers don't = show, it sends an uncertain message to major trading partners overseas = who are already uneasy about the U.S. economy.=20 "Ports always want to work toward a stable and reliable work force," = Ellis said. "Things like this make the whole nation less attractive for = international markets."=20 The union's defiance of the arbitrator's order could have far-reaching = implications in its contract negotiations, said Portland attorney Chrys = A. Martin, who specializes in labor law and is a shareholder of = Bullivant, Houser and Bailey.=20 The association now has the right to file a complaint with the National = Labor Relations Board, which can enforce monetary sanctions against the = union.=20 "They know they're not supposed to do this," Martin said. "They've been = told not to do this by an arbitrator. It's a clear violation. At the = same time, it's hard to make people come to work."=20 Stuart Tomlinson contributed to this story. Amy Hsuan: 503-294-5137 = amyhsuan@news.oregonian.com=20 visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Portland Red Guide wins two design awards by Michael Munk Wed, Apr 30, 2008

Oregonians in the Lincoln Brigade by Michael Munk Mon, Apr 28, 2008

To the Oregonian editor: RE: "Memorial honors U.S. vets of Spanish Civil War" (A4, April 27). The new San Francisco memorial honors the "premature" anti fascist vets of the Lincoln Brigade. If the US had not appeased Hitler long before Munich and instead responded to pleas for help from democratic Spain against Franco's fascist invasion, the Nazis might have been stopped and world War II avoided. Instead, the West abandoned Spain and left it to volunteers from around the world organzied mainly by Communist parties to challenge Germany and Italy and prevent them from practicing their "blitzkrieg" against a civilian population.. The San Francisco memorial, however, is not the first to honor those vets in their homeland; several years ago a monument to local vets was erected at the University of Washington in Seattle. News of the new memorial also reminds us that at least eleven Oregonians fought against fascism in Spain. One of them, 25 year old William Newton Miller, who grew up on a farm near Dayton, was killed in one of the last battles of the Lincoln brigade. Among the others were a seaman, Astoria Finns, a labor leader from Klamath Falls, a youth organizer from Irrigon and two Reed College students. Virginia Malbin, who went to Spain as a social worker, moved to Portland afterwards and still lives here. The Lincoln vets,one and all, they deserve our honor and respect. You can look them up in my Portland Red Guide (pp110-111). Michael Munk visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

Thursday: an active May Day in Portland by Michael Munk Sun, Apr 27, 2008

Noon: ILWU war protest back on! Noon, east end of the Burnside bridge: Flowers in the River by ILWU = Local 8 Rank and File Stop the War! Bring the troops home now! May first is International Workers Day, celebrated the world over to = remember the fight for the eight hour day in the United States. Local 8 = rank and file have long opposed the War on Iraq . We are lifting our = voices once again against this war that should never have begun in the = first place and continues as a means to secure oil from the East to feed = the power-hungry West. More than 4,000 U.S. Soldiers and at least = 100,000 Iraqi citizens have died.=20 In protest of this terrible carnage.this year Local 8 rank and file = will place 800 flowers in the Willamette River, each one representing 5 = U.S. soldiers dead. We would like to remember also the Iraqi dead, but = flowers to represent them would fill the river.=20 This Flowers in the River event will take place on the floating dock = just North of the Burnside Bridge. There is a stairway from the Burnside = Bridge going down to the Esplanade on the South side of the bridge above = the east bank. There is also access at the East end of the Morrison = Bridge. ILWU Local 8 Rank and File are also co-sponsoring the 4pm Rally and = March for Immigrants Rights and Workers' Rights. All are welcome.Please contact Peter Parks for further information: = 503-896-0508, peterparks@speakeasy.net. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= -------------------------------------------------------------------------= --------------------------- May Day March 4:00 PM (Rally and March) South Park Blocks SW Park and Salmon A day of solidarity for workers' rights and immigrants' rights The annual march to support workers and immigrants, sponsored by the = Portland=20 Immigrant Rights Coalition. Stop the war on working people at home and = abroad!=20 Rally starts at 4 pm, march starts at 5 pm. Contact: Marco Mejia of the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (503) = 780-3672=20 for more information. Groups involved in planning include American Friends Service Committee, = Voz,=20 and Portland Jobs with Justice. With national and local candidates jockeying to prove who is most=20 anti-immigrant, the demand to find a solution to the 12 million = undocumented=20 migrant workers and their families living in the shadows has been = buried. We=20 renew our call for just reform, and a stop to the war on immigrants and = wars=20 abroad. We further call on elected leaders to: * Restore Oregon Driving Privileges to Undocumented Immigrants * Stop Workplace Raids and Deportations * Give legalization to all immigrant workers * Oppose Anti-immigrant Ordinances and Legislation * Stop the militarization of U.S. borders * Protect Immigrant and Worker Rights We call on ALL immigrant rights, labor and peace advocates to join us = this May=20 Day (Thursday, May 1st , 2008) to continue efforts to build solidarity = between=20 three powerful, interconnected movements: the immigrants' rights = movement, the=20 peace movement, and the workers' rights movement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------= -------------------------------------------------------- and after the march: May Day at the Box Springbox Gallery May 1, 6-9PM 2376 NW Thurman, Portland 97210 503.228.1600 contact "Midnight at the White Eagle Cafe" by Mitchell Freifeld, oil on canvas=20 Opening reception for Mitchell Freifeld's new works inspired by Michael = Munk's book, "The Portland Red Guide: Sites & Stories from Our Radical = Past" (Ooligan Press) Mike and his book will be here. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

I hear Oregon is nice this time of year by Michael Munk Sat, Apr 26, 2008

To the editor by Michael Munk Sat, Apr 26, 2008

Note that the Oregonian failed to report that Wu's endorsed Obama mainly because "He and I both had the judgment to oppose the Iraq war from the very begining." To the editor, The Oregonian Michael Taylor's "outrage" (letter,"Superdelegates should wait," April 26) against Superdelegate David Wu for endorsing Obama would be taken more seriously had he already denounced superdelegates Ted Kulongoski and Darlene Hooley for endorsing Clinton. Michael Munk 3808 SW Mt Adams Dr Portland, OR 97239 503.227.3334

Is any candidate committed to progressive reform of Oregon's income tax? by Michael Munk Sat, Apr 26, 2008

Oregon State and Local Taxes Hit Poor and Middle Class Harder Than Rich, Study Finds (Silverton) - Oregon state and local taxes take a bigger bite out of the pocketbooks of poor and middle-class families than those of wealthy families, according to a new analysis released today by the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP). The figures were compiled for OCPP by the Washington, DC-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. OCPP is presenting the information today to a state task force examining how to restructure Oregon's tax system. "Oregon's tax system is upside down," said OCPP policy analyst Michael Leachman. "A tax system promotes opportunity when it is based on ability to pay. But in Oregon, those who can afford to pay more wind up paying the smallest share of their income." Adding up all state and local taxes, Oregon's low-income families had an effective tax rate of 9.2 percent, compared to an effective rate of 7.8 percent paid by Oregon's wealthiest 1 percent of families. The effective tax rate paid by Oregon's wealthiest families falls further, to 6.7 percent, when federal deductions for state income and property taxes are taken into account. Though faring better than the poorest families, middle-income families in Oregon are also paying a larger share of their income than the wealthiest families. Families in the middle had an effective tax rate of 8.4 percent before federal tax offsets and 7.9 percent when factoring in the federal deductions. According to Leachman, the bigger impact on poor and middle-class incomes is due to the income tax system going easy on the wealthy and to state and local property taxes and excise taxes, such as gasoline and cigarette taxes, eating up a larger share of the income of families in the middle and bottom than of those at the top. Oregon's wealthy don't pay significantly more in income taxes because Oregon's income tax brackets and rates are flat compared to the federal system and the wealthy can fully use Oregon's subtraction for federal income taxes paid when calculating taxable income, said Leachman. Even though the wealthy tend to own more valuable homes, the wealthiest 1 percent of Oregon families paid only 1.2 percent of their income in property taxes, compared to 2.6 percent for middle-income families and 4.6 percent for the poorest families. The analysis comes as a task force created by the state legislature and appointed by the governor is reviewing Oregon's tax system. The Revenue Restructuring Task Force, which includes as one of its members OCPP executive director Chuck Sheketoff, is expected to issue its recommendations this November for the 2009 legislature. Among the key changes recommended by OCPP is making our tax system more fair by expanding the Earned Income Credit, a tax credit that's targeted at boosting the income of low-income working families. "The task force has a great opportunity to respond to the imbalance in our tax system and foster opportunity for low-income working Oregonians," said Sheketoff. The Oregon Center for Public Policy is a non-partisan research institute that does in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. The Center's goal is to improve decision making and generate more opportunities for all Oregonians. visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

May 1: Freifeld's Red Guide paintings opens by Michael Munk Fri, Apr 25, 2008

"Midnight at the White Eagle Cafe" by Mitchell Freifeld, oil on canvas=20 May Day at the Box Springbox Gallery May 1, 6-9PM 2376 NW Thurman, Portland 97210 503.228.1600 contact Mitchell Freifeld's new works inspired by Michael Munk's book, "The = Portland Red Guide: Sites & Stories from Our Radical Past" (Ooligan = Press) Mike and his book will be here. and sculptor, R.J. Travis Pond, unveils his 3/4 ton steel wolf...=20 visit my website www.michaelmunk.com

outrage against US checks domestic ferry passengers by Michael Munk Tue, Apr 22, 2008

A misguided comment on Hitler's birthday by Michael Munk Sun, Apr 20, 2008

Bad news: Local 8 pulls out by Michael Munk Sat, Apr 19, 2008

EPIC Alert: Oregon citizen surveillance center by Michael Munk Fri, Apr 18, 2008

Munk One explains... by Michael Munk Fri, Apr 18, 2008

Here's Munk One's explanation of why he (Jose A. Mercado, an LA artist) = chose that name. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: MUNK ONE / munkone.com=20 To: Michael Munk=20 Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 11:19 AM Subject: Re: Why? Hey Mike, Thanks for the email. I honestly just liked the way it sounded as I = wasn't to fond of my real name for Art purposes. Sorry there isn't more = to it. Great work by the way, I found your site very interesting.=20 Be well. -M1 MUNK ONE Fine Art . Illustration . Tattoos Website - www.MUNKONE.com=20 Myspace - www.myspace.com/munkone Mobile - (626) 433-3442 AIM - munkone

MoveOn Petition: The ABC debate travesty by Michael Munk Thu, Apr 17, 2008

Shame on ABC! by Michael Munk Thu, Apr 17, 2008

An Open Letter to Charlie Gibson and George Stephanapoulos By Will Bunch The Philadelphia Daily News Thursday 17 April 2008 Dear Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, It's hard to know where to begin with this, less than an hour after you signed off from your Democratic presidential debate here in my hometown of Philadelphia, a televised train wreck that my friend and colleague Greg Mitchell has already called, quite accurately, "a shameful night for the U.S. media." It's hard because - like many other Americans - I am still angry at what I just witnesses, so angry that it's hard to even type accurately because my hands are shaking. Look, I know that "media criticism" - especially when it's one journalist speaking to another - tends to be a genteel, colleagial thing, but there's no genteel way to say this. With your performance tonight - your focus on issues that were at best trivial wastes of valuable airtime and at worst restatements of right-wing falsehoods, punctuated by inane "issue" questions that in no way resembled the real world concerns of American voters - you disgraced my profession of journalism, and, by association, me and a lot of hard-working colleagues who do still try to ferret out the truth, rather than worry about who can give us the best deal on our capital gains taxes. But it's even worse than that. By so badly botching arguably the most critical debate of such an important election, in a time of both war and economic misery, you disgraced the American voters, and in fact even disgraced democracy itself. Indeed, if I were a citizen of one of those nations where America is seeking to "export democracy," and I had watched the debate, I probably would have said, "no thank you." Because that was no way to promote democracy. You implied throughout the broadcast that you wanted to reflect the concerns of voters in Pennsylvania. Well, I'm a Pennsylvanian voter, and so are my neighbors and most of my friends and co-workers. You asked virtually nothing that reflected our everyday issues - trying to fill our gas tanks and save for college at the same time, our crumbling bridges and inadequate mass transit, or the root causes of crime here in Philadelphia. In fact, there almost isn't enough space - a