LE FER IDEAL US depuis March 31, 2006 JOHN KERRY & Teresa Heinz Kerry, Ted Kennedy , Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Tim Kaine, Barack Obama, Edward M. Kennedy, Patrick Murphy, Vanessa Kerry. Sur une idée de C.VINCENT NGI LE SWING... "La guerre, c'est la guerre des hommes ; la paix, c'est la guerre des idées". VICTOR HUGO Petit jeux de piste: ou se trouve JOHN KERRY dans l'épisode n° 9 Des Têtes Brûlées de 1976 ..: Un drôle de cirque avec en Guest star: Robert Clarke, Dan Ferrone, Bill Fletcher, Fil Formicola, James Ingersoll, John Kerry, Dudley Knight, Stewart Moss, Richard Sarradet. "Que de remerciement pour le FER IDEAL.. Merci "

Hello Vincent, 8/05/08

One of my oldest friends in the progressive movement always had a saying to describe how he took stock of people: he said it wasn't whether you were liberal or conservative, it's whether you were a "stand-up person." He meant that it mattered what you did when the chips were down, the positions you took not when it was easy, but when it was really hard.

Now, a true stand-up guy -- my colleague Senator Frank Lautenberg -- is facing a primary challenge for re-election. Let me tell you -- I'll do everything in my power to help re-elect Frank Lautenberg because he's a true progressive who has been with us when the chips were down.

Frank Lautenberg always shows up for the fight and he speaks his mind. In 2004, when a lot of people were having a hard time separating fact from fiction about the military service of politicians, Frank stood on the floor of the Senate and said, "We know who the chicken hawks are. They talk tough on national defense and military issues and cast aspersions on others. When it was their turn to serve where were they? AWOL, that's where they were."

Well, when it's been Frank's turn to show up and fight, he's always been there -- and I mean he's been there in difficult times. Back in June of 2006, it seemed like no one wanted to come within a mile of legislation Russ Feingold and I introduced to set a deadline to bring our combat troops home from Iraq. Only eleven brave Democrats stood with us and voted for an end to the Bush Iraq policy.

Frank Lautenberg was one of them.

It's not the only time. When I led that filibuster against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Frank signed on -- and spoke out on the Senate floor.

When Ted Kennedy and I filibustered Judge Alito's nomination for the Supreme Court, Frank didn't take a pass just because Alito was from New Jersey -- he stood up to that pressure to stick with a home state nominee -- and he did what was right -- filibustering Alito.

Frank Lautenberg is, in short, one of the very best progressive Senators we have. And he needs our help. Please donate what you can to his campaign:

http://www.actblue.com/page/jkforlautenberg

Frank is locked in a primary battle and he's fighting his heart out -- fighting the only way he knows how.

Born in Paterson, NJ to parents who immigrated through Ellis Island, Frank has had to fight every step of the way -- working nights and weekends in high school to help his family make ends meet, serving our country in World War II, building a business, and coming to the Senate to be a voice for people, not the big powerful interests that already have plenty of "representation."

The Senate needs progressive warriors like Frank Lautenberg. People who show up when it counts and fight 'til the bell rings.

So please do what you can to keep him in the Senate:

http://www.actblue.com/page/jkforlautenberg

If we work hard, we can build a real working progressive majority in the Senate for 2009. But we need to keep our great progressive Senators in there in order to bring the real change we need to our country.

Thanks,
John Kerry
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Hello Vincent, 26/04/08

A heads-up as I thought you'd be interested: MoveOn.org has done something pretty innovative -- their new "Obama In 30 Seconds" contest where thousands upon thousands of activists submitted their own 30-second campaign ads for Barack Obama. Now MoveOn is looking for you to judge the best.

Click here to watch the videos.

I think it's great that MoveOn has opened the process and gotten people involved. You're no stranger to this kind of online activism - remember, last summer, for our radio ad targeting the Roadblock Republicans for blocking a new course in Iraq, rather than go to some ad agency, we asked everyone here in the johnkerry.com community for submissions. We got thousands of scripts, and ended up with a powerful ad written by one of you.

So I just wanted to drop this quick note because I thought you might be interested in this initiative.

Thanks,
John Kerry

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Hello Vincent, 25/04/08
Do you remember where you were Friday, December 3, 2004?

At 5:00 that day, in Washington State, Chris Gregoire and Democrats who refused to quit just beat the deadline to fund the recount in the all too tight Governor's race. To become Governor, Chris fought through three recounts that left her only 129 votes ahead of her opponent, one of the closest elections in history.

They couldn't have done it without you. Your contributions made that recount happen. Don't take my word for it. The State Democratic Party Chairman at the time, Paul Berendt, said, "John Kerry really came to our rescue."

Paul got it almost right: I didn't come to the rescue, every one of you did. You showed up to fight at a time when you could've given up on politics.

The question now is whether we're going to protect what we fought so hard to win. Chris Gregoire's opponents have never rested - never. The same opponent she defeated in 2004 - now aided and abetted by some big-money GOP donors across the country - is gunning for her again.

Please donate what you can to Chris Gregoire's campaign to help her beat back the GOP money machine:

Seeing what Governor Gregoire has done in Washington State, it's no surprise the national GOP donor machine wants to knock her off. She's stood up for the environment and the fight against climate change by battling the Bush Administration on car emissions; she's fought them on children's health care; she's fought the federal government to keep their promises on cleaning up nuclear waste; and she's been a leader in the fight for corporate accountability.

Her opponent? He's exactly the kind of Bush-GOP candidate that you'd expect to have run in 2004. Four years later, the GOP is on the ropes, but they are going to put everything they have into this race - they want revenge and the Washington Governor's race is one of their top targets.

Governor Gregoire was prohibited by Washington state law from fundraising during the first quarter while the state legislature was in session, but her opponent wasn't under the same restrictions - and man did he exploit that loophole. He raised over $2 million dollars while Chris did what she does best: getting results for the people of Washington State.

Let's do what we can to help Chris Gregoire keep doing that for another four years - and let's finish what you started December 2, 2004.

ChrisGregoire.com

Across this country, I can see things setting up for an historic election that could change the political face of this country. But only if you work at it.

Thank you,
John Kerry

Moments like this don’t come often.

Yesterday in Washington I took the stage with my niece Caroline and son Patrick to pledge our support for Barack Obama: a candidate who has the unique ability to transcend the politics of fear and division to bring the change in America we so desperately need.

This isn’t the first endorsement you’ve heard about – and I hope it won’t be the last. A few weeks ago, John Kerry gave his and now with the "Super Tuesday" primaries a week away, the Obama campaign needs support from everyone who will give it. That’s why I’m asking you to please join Barack Obama’s campaign for change:

http://my.barackobama.com/tedkennedy

Every time I've been asked over the past year who I would support in the Democratic Primary, my answer has always been the same: I'll support the candidate who inspires me, who inspires all of us, who can lift our vision and summon our hopes and renew our belief that our country's best days are still to come.

I've found that candidate.

We have three great candidates still in the race, and while I have a great amount of respect for both Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, I believe there is one candidate who has extraordinary gifts of leadership and character, matched to the extraordinary demands of this moment in history.

Barack Obama should be the next President of the United States. I see in him a man who can bring transformative change to our country.

There is the great intelligence of someone who could have had a glittering career in corporate law, but chose instead to serve his community and then enter public life.

There is the tireless skill of a Senator who was there in the early mornings to help us hammer out a needed compromise on immigration reform – who always saw a way to protect both national security and the dignity of people who do not have a vote. For them, he was a voice for justice.

There is the clear effectiveness of Barack Obama in fashioning legislation to put high quality teachers in our classrooms – and in pushing and prodding the Senate to pass the most far-reaching ethics reform in its history.

And on an issue very important to me, I believe that Barack Obama can bring about real change in our health care system in this country. He can break the stalemate of our politics and make health care what it should be in this country: a fundamental right for all, not just an expensive privilege for the few.

His deep commitment to health care can move us beyond the gridlock of past battles and into a new era when at last affordable, accessible health care becomes a right for all and not a privilege for the few. He's already proven his abilities, authoring a health care expansion in Illinois that brought coverage to many who didn't have any. And he's worked with me on our efforts to get the SCHIP program expanded over the veto of President Bush.

He knows from his work as a community organizer how vital it is to get all Americans the health care they deserve. His work on the issue combines a compassion for those in need with a tough-minded resolution to find solutions.

I am convinced we can reach our goals only if we are "not petty when our cause is so great" – only if we find a way past the stale ideas and stalemate of our times – only if we replace the politics of fear with the politics of hope – and only if we have the courage to choose change.

Barack Obama is the one person running for President who can bring us that change.

Now it’s your turn to join John and me and support the Obama campaign. Support the next generation of American leadership and join Barack Obama's campaign:

http://my.barackobama.com/tedkennedy

I love this country. I believe in the bright light of hope and possibility. I always have, even in the darkest hours. I know what America can achieve. I've seen it. I've lived it – and with Barack Obama, we can do it again.

Sincerely,Senator Edward M. Kennedy

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Dear Vincent, Coming out of an historic South Carolina victory, it's crunch time heading into February 5th -- and this week I'll be introducing you to some voices in the johnkerry.com community who share my commitment to electing Barack Obama President of the United States. First up: Representative Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran whom many of you supported in his first race for Congress. Thanks, John Kerry 28/01/08

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Patrick Murphy, 28/01/08

Exactly four years ago today, I returned home from Iraq. Nineteen of my fellow paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne weren’t as lucky. I witnessed George Bush’s failed strategy firsthand and was determined to do something about it and start bringing our troops home. Now, as the first and only Iraq war veteran in Congress, I take seriously my responsibility to call for a new foreign policy, and to making sure our nation fulfills its promise to my fellow veterans.

We need a President who has the vision, the judgment, and the courage to make this change become a reality. Barack Obama will be that President. From the beginning, Barack had the foresight to speak out against the war and the Bush Administration's terrible mismanagement of it.

Barack Obama will put an end to Bush’s policy blunders and bring our troops home safely and responsibly. Barack and I introduced the Iraq De-escalation Act. (You can view details of our plan at my website, www.murphy08.com.)

Our bill calls for clear benchmarks, a clear timeline for redeployment and a strategic strike force to combat al Qaeda. Most importantly, this redeployment from Iraq will give our military the personnel and equipment it needs to redouble its efforts at destroying al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. We need Senator Obama's comprehensive approach to foreign policy and we need to make sure that we are fighting on the right battlefields.

Barack Obama will bring a new approach to foreign policy, one that understands the world as it really is. He will restore our reputation around the globe and end the Bush vision of foreign policy as a political weapon. And when a Republican candidate tells us that we’ll be in Iraq for 100 years, we know that a change in foreign policy can’t wait one more day.

Barack is also committed to getting our veterans proper treatment. He is the grandson of a World War II veteran and serves on the Senate’s Veteran’s Affairs Committee, which just passed the largest increase in veterans’ benefits in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration. As President, he pledged to have a "zero tolerance" policy for homelessness among our veterans. On any given night, there are 200,000 veterans living on the streets in this country. As President, Barack will end this injustice.

But to truly change our nation's direction, we need more than just new policies. We need you. A few weeks ago, I was up in New Hampshire door-knocking and talked with a 20-year old woman named Julie. She and her brother were supporting Senator Obama. She said, "My brother is a Marine who just left for his fourth deployment in Iraq. We feel that if Obama is our next Commander-in-Chief, he won’t have to go back for a fifth deployment."

That is what this election is about. I know Senator Obama has a rare ability to lead that doesn't come along very often. We need a fundamental change both at home and abroad, and I believe Barack Obama will bring about that change if we give him a chance.

Thank you, Patrick Murphy

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Barack Obama

Hi Vincent,

Yesterday in Charleston, South Carolina, I was honored to accept John Kerry's endorsement of my campaign for President of the United States.

Senator Kerry is a man who knows how much people who love this country can change it.

He is a man of courage, a man of conviction, and a man whose life story has given him an intimate understanding of the kind of change we need right now.

Watch this video from yesterday's event, and sign up now to join our movement for change:
http://My.BarackObama.com/JohnKerry

This is a defining moment in our history.Our nation is at war. Our planet is in peril. The dream that so many generations have fought for feels as if it’s slowly slipping away.

We’ve seen the cost of Washington’s inaction and indifference.

The time has come for a President who’ll be honest about the choices and the challenges we face; who’ll listen to you and learn from you even when we disagree; who won’t just tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to know.

I’ll be a President who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American the same way I expanded health care in Illinois – by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done.

I’ll be a President who ends the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas and puts a middle-class tax cut into the pockets of the working Americans who deserve it.

I’ll be a President who harnesses the ingenuity of farmers and scientists; citizens and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil once and for all.

And when I am President, we will end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home. We will finish the job against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. We will care for our veterans. And we will restore our moral standing in the world.

Help me bring about real change that will make this country better for all Americans. Join our movement for change today:

http://My.BarackObama.com/JohnKerry

I’m running for President because I believe that the size of the challenges we face has outgrown the capacity of our broken and divided politics to solve them.

I believe Americans of every political stripe are hungry for a new kind of politics.

A politics that’s focused not just on how to win but why we should; a politics that’s focused on those values and ideals that we hold in common as Americans; a politics that favors common sense over ideology, straight talk over spin.

And I’m running because I believe the real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result.

That’s a risk we can’t take. Not this year. Not when the stakes are this high.

Our time for change has come.I hope you will join John Kerry in supporting my campaign. Sign up now to become part of our movement for change:http://My.BarackObama.com/JohnKerryFor me, change isn’t just the rhetoric of a campaign. It’s been the cause of my life.It’s what led me to leave a job on Wall Street and take one as an organizer on the streets of Chicago. It’s what led me to stand up as a civil rights lawyer for those who were denied opportunity on the job or justice at the voting booth. It’s what led me to take on lobbyists in Illinois and Washington -- and win; passing historic ethics reform that no one thought was possible.

And it’s the kind of change I will bring to this country as your next President -- not just change as a slogan, but real change; fundamental change; change we can believe in.

Thank you for your support,
Barack Obama

10/01/08 Hi Vincent,

Martin Luther King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” So I'm choosing this time to share an important decision I've made, one I believe is right for this country.

The JohnKerry.com community has been very important to me and very important to the Democratic resurgence over the last couple of years, so I wanted to let all of you know my decision before I confirm it with anyone else. I want to share with you my conviction that in a field of fine Democratic candidates, the next President of the United States can be, should be, and will be Barack Obama. Each of our candidates would make a fine President, and we are blessed with a strong field. But for this moment, at this time in our nation's history, Barack Obama is the right choice.

Please join me in supporting Barack Obama’s candidacy.

I’m proud to have helped introduce Barack to our nation when I asked him to speak to our national convention, and there Barack's words and vision burst out. On that day he reminded Americans that our “true genius is faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles.” And with his leadership we can build simple dreams, and we can turn millions of small miracles into real change for our country.

At this particular moment, with our country faced with great challenges in our economy, in our environment, and in our foreign policy, and with our politics torn by division, Barack Obama can bring transformation to our country. With Barack, we can build a new majority of Americans from all regions who can turn the page on the politics of Karl Rove and begin a new politics, one worthy of our nation's history and promise. We can bring millions of disaffected people – young and old – to the great task of governing and making a difference, child to child, community to community.

Please click here to give what you can to Barack Obama’s campaign for President and help build this future for our country.

The moment is now, and the candidate for this moment is Barack Obama. Like him, I also lived abroad as a young man, and I share with him a healthy respect for the advantage of knowing other cultures and countries, not from a book or a briefing, but by personal experience, by gut, by instinct. He knows the issues from the deep study of a legislator, and he knows them from a life lived outside of Washington. His is the wisdom of real-world experience combined with the intellect of a man who has thought deeply about the challenges we face.

History has given us this moment. But we need to decide what to do with it. I believe, with this moment, we should make Barack Obama President of the United States.

Please join me in supporting his campaign.

Thank you,
John Kerry

20/12/07

Dear Vincent,

Real short — here's what it comes down to. Yesterday I sat down with my team at johnkerry.com and we started to type up an email detailing all the ways the Roadblock Republicans have tried to block progress in the Senate — quite a list.

I fought for 13 years in the minority to stop Republicans from doing bad things, we broke the bank in 2006 here at the johnkerry.com community to win a majority so we could make good things happen, but still the Republicans are standing in the way.

You already know what's not getting done. You don't need a long explanation of the tricks the Republicans are playing to block action. I'll just tell you that yesterday the Republicans broke the record for filibusters in a Congress, in just the first year of this Congress!

And you're already feeling the impact of the good things these Republicans have stopped us from doing — on Iraq, on global climate change, on energy policy, and on children's health care.

You don't need another laundry list — you just need a roadmap to changing the Senate. And that starts by changing more Senators. Repeat what you did in 2006. Grow that majority.

It's that simple, and it's that challenging — we need to make 2008 the year we break the back of the Bush Republican Party, and give the next Democratic President in 2009 a Senate that will be an ally for change.

Where to start? Dig in to give what you can to help some great Democrats who are running to pick up Republican seats in the Senate.

Follow that link to learn more about Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire, Mark Udall in Colorado, Tom Allen in Maine, and Jeff Merkely in Oregon. They're all good, progressive voices, and if we elect them all to the Senate, we'll have gone a long way in forcing a new direction in our country.

But it won't happen just by wishing for it — we need to work as hard as we can to do it, so please give what you can.

Thanks for your help,
John Kerry

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John F. Kerry change de cap..!!

Dear Vincent, 1/12/07

I wanted to take a very quick break from my travels not to ask for money and not to talk politics, but just to pass on some thoughts about two big global challenges which need to be on our minds: HIV/AIDS and climate change.

This week, Teresa and I experienced an up close and personal reminder of how far the world has yet to travel to defeat HIV/AIDS. Talking with people in poverty stricken KwaNgcolosi near Hillcrest in Durban, South Africa, we saw both the most inspiring and the most heartbreaking realities of a global struggle to defeat a global scourge.

We met orphaned children left with no choice but to assume adult responsibilities, caring for their young brothers and sisters. We met single mothers scratching out subsistence in mud houses, their husbands lost to a horrific disease. I have to tell you, experiences like this have an impact on you.

I didn't want to wait until I got back to the United States to say something to you, because tomorrow is World AIDS Day - and it needs to be a day of action. Challenge Washington to stop blocking better educational efforts and stop putting ideology before science. Demand that American leadership help convince nations like South Africa not to repeat our shameful denial of HIV/AIDS in the 1980s - and to commit their countries to saving lives not saving face. There is no fixing a problem political leaders refuse to admit exists.

There's something else - and I'll have much more to say about this when I'm back. I'll be leading - with Senator Boxer - a Senate delegation to Bali in December to the global conference where work will start on a new international climate change treaty. We can't wait until we have a new president; we need to get moving now. The world simply can't solve these problems without American participation and leadership. Stay tuned.

Bottom line - these are the huge global issues that demand that America be America again, and that we lead by example - and that we lead now.
Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

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Courrier de Bill Clinton à nôtre rédaction. Pour info...

Il faut une serrure !!! ?We must leave no stone unturned between now and the moment the last poll closes on November 2. The Republicans are pouring millions of dollars into baseless attacks against John Kerry and the Democrats because they know that's the only way they can win. Don't let them get away with it. John Kerry, John Edwards, and other Democrats locked in tough races are pulling out all the stops. They're driving toward victory -- but they need your help. We've got two weeks to go and not a minute to waste. Your immediate contribution can help fund final media buys, voter contact, and GOTV operations. These are the efforts that are going to win this election, and we cannot do it without your support. Let's go for it. America's future is on the ballot this year. Let's use these final days of the campaign to win the victory that is within our grasp, and secure the kind of future we want for our children. I'm counting on you. Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

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Hello Vincent, 1/10/07

There's nothing I'm more proud of than the way the community here at JohnKerry.com made it a personal cause last election cycle to send to Congress the "Fighting Dems" - veterans running for Congress to provide our men and women in uniform a stronger voice in a Washington that had forgotten what it really meant to "support the troops."

You did amazing work -- raising more than $1.6 million dollars for veterans running for Congress.All of you contributed vital dollars to change the face of our party, and change the face of our Congress. Will you join the cause again in 2008?

We need more voices in Washington who understand the real costs of war, when every year away from a family is a tremendous price to pay, and every death is a tragedy. We have come a long way since the dark days of 2005 and 2006, but we still have some work to do to finish the job.

I'm glad to say that we have another crop of amazing veterans running for office as Democrats across the country, men and women who are dedicated to our country and our work to make us live up to our highest ideals.

Click here to support these fine candidates. Just look at the incredible "Fighting Dems" reporting for duty in 2008:

We have Jon Powers, an Iraq war veteran who is one of the most promising and exciting young candidates I've seen. He returned from the Iraq war and began a program to help Iraqi children. We also have Eric Massa and Charlie Brown, who are running in Republican districts against rubberstamp Republican supporters of President Bush. Both of these men ran courageous races last time and came within a hair of pulling off a victory. Another strong push can put them over the top.

And, finally, we have a man I've been privileged to serve with in Congress this year, Admiral Joe Sestak, who won his race last year with great support from all of you but who is being targeted by the Republicans next year because on military matters he speaks his mind and he speaks the truth - and that scares the hell out of the G.O.P..

Please do what you can to help them and continue our push to get this country turned around.

One of my proudest moments in politics was seeing everything this community accomplished last year and the difference you made in sending veterans with courage and character to Congress.

Let's do it again -- thank you for all of your help, and I'm more confident than ever that we can pull this off.

Sincerely,
John Kerry

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31/08/07 Hello Vincent,

You chose the winning script in our Roadblock Republican Radio Contest. Now, it's up to you to air it.

That's the bottom line: this entire campaign is run by you. The ads were written by you, the final script was chosen by you, and now you choose where we air it.

So go here to make a contribution and turn up the heat on the Roadblock Republicans.

Normally, an organization puts out a contribution page to fund the airing of a spot and then chooses where to spend the money. But since this is your project from start to finish, we set it up so you can choose where your dollars are spent. If you want to target a specific state, give to the fund for that state. If you want to target them all, just give to the general fund. You make the call.

Only you can guarantee that this heartfelt, powerful message - this script from Edwin Walker in Tennessee - gets heard by voters and gets through to the Roadblock Republicans:

"I volunteered for the Army in 1968. Now, when I'm in Washington, I go to the Wall, and look for the names of my friends, and try not to weep. Someday they will build an Iraq Wall. Some of those names will be there because Senator _______ put Party above country and wouldn't make George Bush change course. Well, I'm not willing to be a voter who sat by while the number of names on that Wall grew and grew. Ask yourself -- are you?"

This couldn't come at a more important time. Just last week we learned that a group fronted by ex-White House spokesman Ari Fleischer is raising millions of dollars from big dollar Republicans to air pro-Bush, pro-escalation ads targeting some of the very same Republicans we are targeting. They aim to spend $15 million dollars. They'll be heard - it's up to you to decide whether Edwin Walker's message breaks through their propaganda campaign.

They have their deep pocketed donors; we have you.

So do what you can to make sure our message is heard above the manufactured, ever-distorting din of the other side.

Thank you,
John Kerry

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Hello Vincent,28/08/07

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to remind you of two events:

First, tomorrow is the date for Americans Against Escalation in Iraq's Town Halls and MoveOn.org's End It in September Vigils. Those organizations are working hard to make these events as large and important as humanly possible, so if you can attend an event in your area, please do. The Republicans in the Senate have stood in the way of getting a new direction in Iraq policy long enough. Show them that we won't stand for it anymore.

Click here to find the event in your area.

Second, today is the last day to vote in the Roadblock Republicans Radio Contest. We've had many thousands of votes, and the voting has been extremely close. Only a few hundred votes separate the top 4 candidates, so vote for the ad you think is the best. Voting closes tonight at midnight.

So go here to vote.

You'll receive an email after the votes have been tabulated to let you know which script will be aired in the Roadblock Republican states.

We're going to have a busy month in September. I'll keep you up to date as everything unfolds.

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Dear Vincent,21/08/07

Republicans continue to block progress on Iraq, so let's keep the pressure up. On August 28th, there will be events around the country put on by our friends at Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and MoveOn.org.

Host an event in your area, or find an event to attend!Here's the reality this week: Karl Rove is gone but a broken Iraq policy remains.I'm not sure if I've ever seen a party cling so disastrously to a policy that is as wrong as it is unsuccessful.

The pressure for change has been building day by day since I offered legislation last year to set a deadline to redeploy American troops, and still they insist on more of the same.

So, we need to push even harder.This September we'll be attempting again to break the Republican roadblock on Iraq policy to get a new course.

All summer, our friends at Americans Against Escalation in Iraq have been organizing in swing districts and states across the country to put even more pressure on Republicans to do what is right and break with the President.

Now, next Tuesday August 28th, they and MoveOn.org will be holding events all around the United States to try to set the stage for the fights in September. These "End it in September" town halls and vigils will put even more pressure on Republicans, giving them lots to think about as they end their August recess in their home districts.

You can go here to sign up to host an event, or find out about events in your area.

It will be a big month ahead, and the chances of us getting a new direction are better than ever. A large event with lots of participation next week can set up our efforts for next month. We're getting closer; I can feel the mounting desperation in my Republican colleagues. But we have to make sure that any talk from them is backed up by real action. We won't stand for anything less than a firm deadline that will force this President to change policy.

Do what you can to turn August 28th into the largest series of events yet in the fight for a new Iraq policy.

I'll try to keep you updated when the legislation starts to move in September. It will be a busy month for the effort to get a new course in Iraq, so let's keep the pressure up on Republicans and get some movement on that.
Sincerely, John Kerry

PS: Don't forget to vote in the Roadblock Republicans radio contest. The voting is going fast and furious, and the winner gets aired in the states of the Roadblock Republicans during the height of the fight for a new course in September. So, click here to vote.

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Dear Vincent,

When we asked for scripts from all of you for an ad targeting the Roadblock Republicans, we knew we'd get some passionate, powerful writing. But we had no idea the magnitude of a response we'd get. You sent us over ten thousand scripts, ranging from personal testimonials to powerful messages to imaginative and creative concepts. And sometimes all in the same script. We were overwhelmed by the response.

Getting the huge number of scripts down to a manageable 20 for the voting round wasn't easy, but we've done it. And now, it's up to you. Which of the scripts will we air in the states of the Roadblock Republicans?

Go here to read the scripts, listen to someone reading each one, and vote for up to three of your favorites.

The top vote-getter will be chosen as the winner, and we'll produce the full spot and air it in the states of the Roadblock Republicans as we get close to the fall showdowns over changing course in Iraq.

The audio files on the voting page aren't the full spots, as you'll see. We had one of our staffers read each one, so you could choose based on the quality of the script and not the quality of the voice.

It's an important choice; we're leaving it completely up to you. Which spot do you think will be the most effective in convincing your fellow citizens that rubberstamping George Bush's Iraq policies is reason to be voted out of office? Make your choice, and we'll follow your lead.

So go here to vote.

Congratulations if you're one of our 20 finalists. All of these scripts are great, as were so many others that we got. Thanks to everyone who sent in a script. It was heartening to see so many putting such effort into getting our country on the right track.

Thank you,

John Kerry

-----

Hi Vincent,

Your ad can be the one pressuring Republican Senators in some key states. Submit your script as soon as you can write it!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Republicans are feeling the pressure for change on Iraq. But I'm not a patient person. Especially when the lives of our troops are at stake. I refuse to wait around for the Republicans to move without giving them a little more pushing.

Quite simply, we want to take an unusual step - and we want to do it early. I think we need to run radio ads in the states of the Roadblock Republicans, making it crystal clear that they don't deserve to be reelected because of their continued support for the Bush Doctrine of escalation without end. We need to turn up the heat even higher.

It's the pressure of activists and the voice of the people that have gotten us this far in the Iraq debate, not the cookie-cutter ads and thirty second soundbites of Madison Avenue media firms.

So we decided, why don't we let you speak in this radio campaign? If user generated content can change presidential debates, I know it can help change the next election on the most pivotal of issues.

That's why we're running a contest. We want you to send in a script for a 30 second radio spot (that's about 65 words long), we'll whittle it down some to the top 20, and then we'll open up the voting to everyone. The winner that's chosen by the people will be what we air in the states. And we'll fundraise for the airing of that spot, with each of you able to choose with your contribution where you think we should run the ad. No political professionals making the spot, or choosing where to run it. It's all done by you.

You can make the spot sad, or satirical, or hard-hitting. Whatever you want to do. You can make it a personal story from your life (maybe you know someone in Iraq or have a family member there or maybe you are one of the many veterans in this community), or you can make a factual case on why voters should consider someone else because of this issue, or anything else you'd like. You get it -- it's up to you. And what you do can be the ad that goes on the air targeting the Roadblock Republicans.

So click here to submit your script.

You have until midnight ET on Saturday August 11th to get your script in, so get thinking and start writing. And forward this email to everyone you think might be interested in submitting a radio spot to this contest. If you know someone who has a way with words and wants to make a difference, send this along. We'd love to get their scripts.

Thank you, and let's make sure we get a change in course in Iraq very soon.

Good luck, John Kerry

---

Vanessa Kerry 26/07/07

Dear Vincent,

I campaigned for my dad back in 2004 on a lot of campuses, and of course, one of the main subjects that many young people talked to me about was Iraq. People in college have had and continue to have friends in Iraq, or know someone who joined the Reserves to pay for college and ended up in Baghdad; I have friends who have served this way also. Knowing this, I've always been especially proud of what my dad did last year, when he stepped out ahead of his party and started demanding we set a deadline to get the troops out of Iraq.

Now his position has become the unified Democratic position, and I have noticed that a lot of reporters in the last week or so are realizing that fact: John Kerry's position is now the Democratic position. And I just wanted to share a few of those articles with you.

Over the weekend, the AP wrote an article about how nervous Republicans are getting over Iraq, and included this part about my dad, John Kerry, and his efforts last year to set a deadline to withdraw troops from Iraq:

Democratic strategists fretted about the impact on senators seeking re-election and challengers to Republicans in swing states.

The plan drew the support of 13 Democrats.

"Now it's the unified Democratic position," Kerry correctly e-mailed his supporters last week.

"In May, Republicans were dismissing even tough questions about the escalation. Now, they're falling all over themselves to distance themselves from the president"

And the Boston Globe remarked: "Another of his bold moves -- leading the filibuster against confirming Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito -- now looks very smart to liberals, after Alito provided crucial votes to eviscerate liberal positions on school desegregation, late-term abortion, and campaign finance restrictions."

And the Chicago Tribune does a good job of putting this political fight in the context of my dad's life:

Few living American politicians have had their lives so defined by war as Kerry. His wartime service and wartime protest stoked his political career in Massachusetts. His military background burnished his credentials among Democrats seeking a nominee to run against an incumbent president during wartime in 2004. And now, in a quieter time, his hair gray and reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, he finds himself again opposing his government's conflict.

"It's very dismaying to me at this stage of my life and career and being in the Senate, seeing us repeat those mistakes," said Kerry (D-Mass.). "It's very disturbing. We are owed something better than that."

This fight is far from over, of course, but people like us, who believe that we have to get a new course in Iraq, need to keep up the pressure. It will make a difference as we are beginning to see. My dad will write soon with more everyone can do to help; but I wanted to share those articles and let you know he is continuing to fight everyday and making a difference.

Thanks,

Vanessa Kerry

--

John Kerry

Hello Vincent,

Bottom line - no sugarcoating it -- I'm not happy we couldn't break the GOP filibuster on Iraq. But I'm writing just to let you know that I can feel the progress we're making.

Here's what I take away from the week that's ending. First, you've got a whole lot of Senators who voiced opposition to the current disastrous course in Iraq, but couldn't bring themselves to admit that we needed an open debate on what the new course should be. They filibustered, throwing up a roadblock to any new course. (OK, that's deeply frustrating - but then again two years ago could you imagine the day when the President would have such intense criticism from his own right flank on Iraq? The dam is breaking.)

But most importantly, we're not going to let the roadblock stand. We, and I mean all of us who have been pressing and pressing on the war, have now made it clear in both parties that this Iraq policy is beyond broken. Last year, only 13 Senators voted for the Kerry-Feingold bill to set a deadline to redeploy; now it's the unified Democratic position. In May, Republicans were dismissing even tough questions about the escalation. Now, they're falling all over themselves to distance themselves from the President.

So we're making progress. But progress doesn't mean anything to the troops in the field. We need to get results. It's just plain wrong for some people to admit that the policy is broken, but then filibuster attempts to fix it. If the policy is broken, we owe it to all Americans to hold open debate and arrive at a solution.

We'll keep slugging until we'll get there.

Thanks,
John Kerry

P.S. - You and I know damn well what happens at moments like this: the Administration attacks their opponents ruthlessly. They smear, they lie. Yesterday they went after Sen. Clinton. I stepped up to defend her. Tomorrow who knows which Democrat they'll attack. Here's what I'm asking you: I don't care if you have a horse in 2008, or who you're supporting. Anytime you see a Democrat get attacked, please step up and defend them.

---------

TIM JOHNSON 29/06/07

The GOP will try to throw everything at Tim Johnson in the next election. Please do what you can to help this courageous public servant.

Dear Friend,

One vote. I know what a difference one vote can make.

One vote. In 2001, one courageous vote from a man of conviction, Sen. Jim Jeffords, gave Democrats control of the Senate and made me Majority Leader.One vote. John Kerry and I saw too often when Vice President Dick Cheney took that drive down from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to be the deciding vote in the Senate in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy and against our environment.One vote makes all the difference in the Senate. One vote with courage makes a majority on the issues that motivate you, me, and John Kerry.And today the most critical vote is in the hands of our most courageous colleague, a man working every day to return to vote on issues of conscience and conviction, our friend Tim Johnson.

One vote. Just last week, John Kerry and other Democrats were fighting to roll back tax breaks for big oil companies and replace them with incentives for alternative energy and conservation. The GOP mounted a filibuster; the Democrats moved to break it. What stood in the way of defeating that filibuster? The vote to win that fight once and for all rests in the hands of an extraordinarily courageous man who is fighting hard and will be back soon. We will embrace America's energy future - grown right here at home - and stand up to the big special interests when Tim Johnson returns to the Senate chamber to serve the state and country he loves.

In a Senate divided as closely as it is now, every vote counts more than ever. That difficult day last December, a lesser man might have decided to leave public life behind. Not Tim Johnson. He's made of sterner stuff than that. He's a fighter. Tim has made strong progress on getting back to the Senate, and as he gets closer to that milestone, the Republicans are circling, preparing for a slugfest in the next election.

Show the Republicans that we stand by Tim Johnson with all we have.John Kerry and I have both worked with Tim for many years. We know his courage, his compassion, and his tireless work for the United States. We know that as the father of a young man who volunteered for service in our military, issues of war and peace are personal to Tim Johnson - it's sons and daughters, American lives, not slogans and soundbites, that Tim cares about on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. That's why he's so determined to return to the Senate.

Don't assume for a minute that the Republicans will give Tim Johnson a free ride. John and I know their playbook backwards and forwards. The Republicans at the NRSC believe they'll be able to overwhelm this race with money from their deep-pocketed donors and take back the Senate.We can't let them do that. Please donate today to Tim Johnson's reelection.

There's no one I care about more in the United States Senate. No one with greater character and integrity. We can't afford to give less than everything we have for Tim Johnson who is giving every ounce of energy for us and for our country on his personal journey back.

.............

Hi Vincent, 1/06/07
One of fourteen. Fourteen of us stood up in the U.S. Senate and voted "No" to a blank check for President Bush to continue his misguided policy in Iraq. We refused to give in to President Bush.

I'm proud of that vote. We stood against appeals to politics and pride and demanded a change of course in Iraq. We defied the White House tactics of fear and smear. Presidents and politicians may be concerned about losing votes or losing face or losing legacies. We told the truth because we are more concerned about young Americans losing their lives. While we lost that roll call, I guarantee we will win the judgment of history because Washington is wrong and Americans are right, and we must set a new course in Iraq.

I believe in and I am fighting for the mission I've made my cause in the Senate: a deadline for Iraq. You've joined me in fighting to give our troops a better option than to referee another country's civil war. I'm fighting to force Iraqis to stand up for Iraq. And I'm fighting to give our nation's veterans the fair shake they have been denied by this administration.

If you're impatient, fed up and want to send a message to Congress and the president that this fight won't end until our troops are no longer caught in the cross-fire in Iraq, contribute today to my re-election effort, and we'll contribute 10% of all funds raised to veteran services organizations.

President Bush considers himself "the decider". When the Democratic Congress we all worked so hard to elect sent him a bill that included a deadline for redeploying our troops from Iraq, he vetoed that budget. A coalition largely made up of Republicans has sent the president the blank check he asked for.

So what do we do now that we've hit a bump in the road? Fold up our tents? No way. I am determined to continue pressing this issue until President Bush changes course. I'm not going to ask for patience, because the truth is big policy changes like this are only achieved by impatient people -- in huge numbers.

That's where the JohnKerry.com community comes in -- you are millions of Americans who are impatient for change. Last year we played a huge role in the big Democratic wins in November and we've kept the momentum going this year. More than 32,000 of you joined my call to set a deadline in Iraq. We've raised almost $80,000 to campaign against the Roadblock Republicans. We've partnered with great progressives like MoveOn.org, Al Gore and the League of Conservation Voters to fight for a change to the disastrous course in Iraq and the disastrous energy and environmental policies that have us over a barrel of Middle East oil.

Already Roadblock Republican Mitch McConnell is signaling that even he won't be standing with Bush indefinitely. From the Associated Press:

"I think that the handwriting is on the wall that we are going in a different direction in the fall, and I expect the president to lead it," McConnell said. "In other words, I think he, himself, has certainly indicated he's not happy with where we are. And I think we are looking for a new direction in the fall."
We've got to keep fighting. This president obviously isn't going to listen to reason. Of course you're angry. Our troops are fighting and dying while the president and his allies in Congress are playing political games. It's time to regroup, reorganize and show that we're not walking away from this fight, that's why I'm running for reelection -- please contribute today.

Thank you, John Kerry

Hi Vincent, 30/05/07
The events of last week demonstrate to all of us that we still have miles to go to win the struggle to force a new direction for our policy in Iraq.

Unfortunately, at a time when direct talk is so vital, there is still an effort to marginalize those who speak out against the policy of the Bush White House and the GOP.

Join MoveOn's effort to support a brave career military man who provides one of the most credible and courageous of those voices.

A few weeks ago, the very effective grassroots veterans organization VoteVets released a series of ads featuring retired military leaders speaking out about the broken policy in Iraq. One of them, General John Batiste, spoke forcefully about Bush's "failed strategy that is breaking our great Army."

The price of speaking out? General Batiste was fired from his job at CBS.Now, there are other retired military members voicing support for the policy of George Bush, and none of them have been fired for it.

This is another in a long line of attempts to make speaking out costly to those who do it, from the Dixie Chicks being pulled from radio play lists to the savage attacks on Jack Murtha -- the smear of Matt Dowd after he spoke out against his old boss -- or the way in which retired military leaders who dared call for Don Rumsfeld's resignation were dismissed and even attacked as disloyal, painted as threats to civilian control of the armed forces. That is cheap and it is shameful.At a time when the administration cannot let go of the myths and outright lies it broadcast in the rush to war in Iraq, those who know better must speak out.

I know from experience how hard it can be to speak out against a war when there are many powerful forces trying to silence you. But I also know how important speaking out can be -- especially when it comes from those who know what it means to wear the uniform of our country. We need more truth about Iraq, not silenced voices.

So join our friends at MoveOn.org in calling for the reinstatement of General John Batiste.If we stand together and speak with many strong voices, all calling for a new direction in Iraq, we will bring change.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

Let's be really clear about the Iraq vote coming down the pike in Congress this week.
I'm voting no on this bill. I'm tired of the false choices of Republicans and all the recycled spin of old battles and the political calculations that do nothing for our troops who bear the real costs of this war. Bottom line: we support the troops by getting the policy right, and this bill doesn't do that. I've said it again and again and I'm not about to stop: we need a deadline to force Iraqis to stand up for Iraq and bring our heroes home, not watered down benchmarks and blank check waivers for this President. We support the troops by funding the right mission, not with a White House that opposes a pay raise for our brave men and women in uniform. Do we need to bring out the hand puppets and make the case again?

Thanks for all of your help so far in this fight. I'm disappointed in the compromise bill, but I'm more convinced than ever that we'll win this fight.

John Kerry

9/05/07 6h10

Dear Vincent,

A few weeks ago I read John and Teresa's book, This Moment on Earth. I found the stories within, about men and women fighting the great fight for our environment, to be a profound challenge to all of us. These activists provide valuable lessons on the power of people working for change. If we embrace their resourcefulness, determination and essential patriotism we will prevail in the fight to save our planet.Right now our nation is ready to cross the tipping point beyond which our leaders will be forced to take real action to solve the climate crisis. However, in order to cross that threshold it is going to take a sufficient expression of political will.

Most of our Representatives in Washington know there is no longer a debate about the fact that the climate crisis is real -- and they know the serious consequences our planet faces if we fail to act. Political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. We just have to communicate that forcefully to the political leaders of our country.

As John and Teresa's book demonstrates, the most powerful way to realize that change is through the activism of the American people.

That is why a few months ago I began building a movement at AlGore.com. Already we have grown to a community of more than 550,000. In order to ultimately succeed we will need to grow even bigger.

Today I want to invite you to join our movement to solve the climate crisis by visiting:

http://www.algore.com

For many years, I have worked with John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry to fight for a solution to the climate crisis -- way before it was fashionable. Indeed, they were providing outstanding and courageous leadership on these vital questions when very few people in the world were even paying attention to these challenges. This commitment continues in their important new book.

I urge you to join me in working for change. And I urge you to read John and Teresa's wonderful new book for moving and inspiring illustrations of the potential power of Americans working for a better planet. Together, we can create a better tomorrow for our Earth if we seize this vital moment.

Thank you, Al Gore

-------------

3/05/07 Hi Vincent,

When I first introduced legislation with Russ Feingold to set a deadline to end the open-ended policy of massive military presence in Iraq and bring our heroes home, I knew it would take a lot of work to get us to that point. And, as I've said to all of you before, we've made tremendous progress. Thanks to all of your work, we have a Democratic Congress that has passed legislation to challenge President Bush's failed policy in Iraq and put us on a new course.

But the Republicans are putting up a roadblock to our efforts, succumbing to White House pressure to back the President on this. And the President vetoed our efforts.

It's time for that to change. It's time to put the pressure on these Roadblock Republicans.

The Republicans are already showing signs of cracking. Many are running away from this President's disastrous policy. But that's not enough; we need to splinter the GOP on this one. To do that, we need to speak to them in a voice loud enough that they can't help but hear it, and we need to speak in the language any politician understands: grassroots pressure.

So we're launching a unique campaign to pressure the critical points in the GOP caucus. We are targeting a few key Senators for this message: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senators Sununu, Collins, and Coleman. The last three are already top races for 2008, and Senator McConnell is the bulwark of the GOP leadership on this.

So go here to contribute to a fund run by our friends at ActBlue that will go to the eventual Democratic nominee in those states and then write an email message to those Senators explaining why you did this.

This is an extraordinary campaign; to my knowledge, nothing quite like this has ever been done. But this money can make all the difference in each of these races, and these Senators will know it. Senator McConnell is secure in his belief that no one will be able to raise the money to challenge him. We can show that he's wrong. The other Senators are already top targets in 2008, but they hope the power of incumbency and fundraising can save them. We can show them that the power of Washington won't stand against the power of the people.

We can raise the stakes for them and make the pressure they feel from the people greater than the pressure they feel from the White House. And when that happens, they just might help tell this President that his policy is a disaster and we must change course.

Let's clear the way for a new direction in Iraq -- let's insist on a policy that lives up to the sacrifice of our incredible troops.

Sincerely, John Kerry
---------

Dear Vincent, 26/04/07

A quick note from me to you on this Earth Day -- a day on, not a day off as they say.

Earth Day brought me into activism in the first place -- and I still find it empowering because it's not a day for the politicians, it's a day that began to pressure the politicians -- a day that was built from the ground up. Teresa and I are in Boston and Austin today telling the stories of everyday community activists from the book we wrote -- but working for a better environment isn't just about public events or one holiday on the calendar.

Saving the environment also involves the everyday choices we all make. At the end of our new book, This Moment on Earth, Teresa and I listed some things all of us can do in our lives to help the environment, direct action that can improve the Earth's health. Here, on this Earth Day, I wanted to share these:

* Keep your car in good condition: Get your engine tuned up regularly, change the oil, and keep your tires properly inflated -- proper maintenance can increase your car's fuel efficiency by 10 percent and reduce emissions.

* Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs: Change the three bulbs you use most in your house to compact fluorescents. Each compact fluorescent will keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over its lifetime. And while they may be slightly more expensive than the incandescent bulbs you're used to using, compact fluorescents last ten times as long and can save $30 per year in electricity costs.

* Buy energy efficient products: When buying new appliances or electronics, shop for the highest energy-efficiency rating. Look for the yellow and black Energy Guide label on the product. According to the EPA, the typical American household can save about $400 per year in energy bills with products that carry the Energy Star label as the most efficient in its class.

* Turn off lights and other electrical appliances such as televisions and radios when you're not using them: This is a very simple step, but it's surprising how many times we forget. Install automatic timers for lights that people in your house frequently forget to flick off when leaving a room. Use dimmers when you can.

* Choose PVC-free building products: this can reduce the exposure of your family to toxins in your home environment. Steer clear of vinyl windows and doors and choose wood instead. Adhesives, caulk, grout, and sealants may also contain phthalates. You can check for phthalate ingredients in these products using the National Institutes of Health's Household Products Database: www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov.

* Choose toys carefully: this is another important step to reduce your children's exposure to toxins. Look for toys and feeding products for babies and young children that are labeled "PVC free."

Have a great Earth Day! Sincerely, John Kerry

------

11/10/06

Dear Vincent,

President Bush will be sneaking into St. Louis tomorrow to raise money for Republican Senator Jim Talent. If it's like most GOP fundraising featuring Bush and Cheney these days, it will be a "cut and run" affair.

Republican candidates ask high dollar supporters (tomorrow's event is at the Ritz-Carlton) to cut big checks before they run from being caught in the public eye with the President or Vice President.

We're going to greet this latest fast and furious Bush fundraising foray with a spirited, out-in-the-open grassroots campaign before midnight June 30th to support three Democrats locked in tight Senate races.

Contribute today: a Democratic Senate starts with these three races

Today, we're raising money for Claire McCaskill, who is running for the Senate in the Missouri race that President Bush will be personally trying to influence tomorrow.

An impressive campaigner who is eager to come to the Senate to fight for Missouri's families, Claire has just the right mixture of common sense and uncommon wisdom to help turn around the failed policies that Bush is hoping to disguise with his high-powered fundraising blitz.

We're also working to help leading House Democrat Sherrod Brown in his race against GOP incumbent Mike DeWine whom Karl Rove praised as "a loyal stalwart." Recently, DeWine scored a trifecta -- avoiding President Bush three times when he appeared in Ohio: skipping a health care event, a speech on Iraq, and even refusing to meet Bush at the airport when he came to Indian Hills to raise $1.1 million for DeWine's reelection campaign.

We can win this critical Ohio race if you give Sherrod Brown the immediate support he needs to press back against the GOP money machine.

Contribute today: a Democratic Senate starts with these three races

The third candidate on our list is a Senator who has stood with me to protect the environment and save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Maria Cantwell.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney have both already traveled to Washington to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Maria's opponent, Mike McGavick, and for the Washington state Republican party. Not that McGavick needs any help: he received $28 million from his former employer, Safeco Insurance Company, this year after just two months of work.

We're acting today to even the odds by lending Maria Cantwell the kind of grassroots support called for by her strong unflinching record on so many crucial issues of the day.

Contribute today: a Democratic Senate starts with these three races

The June 30th mid-year federal election reports, reflecting fundraising success to date, will be especially critical. That's why I am asking you to rush generous donations, if possible, to all three of these candidates who are in deadlocked races. Maria Cantwell and I need strong Democrats like Sherrod Brown and Claire McCaskill to join us in the Senate and replace rubber-stamp Republican incumbents Mike DeWine and Jim Talent.

Let's show people that we mean business when it comes to standing up for the candidates we believe in -- and standing up to the desperate barrage of Bush-Cheney fundraising now under way.

I urge you to act before we reach this critical deadline.

Sincerely, John Kerry

28/03/07 Dear Vincent, Yesterday morning when our new book This Moment On Earth went on sale in bookstores nationwide, it was ranked 3,398th on Amazon.Com. No wonder the skeptics thought they were winning -- one reporter even thought she had a fair point when she asked John whether Americans really cared about the environment. Well, it's only one day later -- and the book is now ranked #139 on Amazon.Com!This huge first day of sales shows that Americans really care about the environment. Please, come check it out -- write a review -- share your thoughts about environmental heroes you know -- and spread the word to your friends and neighbors. "John Kerry and Teresa Heinz have written a book that is a profound challenge to all of us but contains, in the examples of the men and women who are fighting the great fight for a better future for our environment, the clear hope that if we can embrace their resourcefulness, determination and essential patriotism we will prevail." -- Former Vice President Al Gore The book grew out of conversations that John and I had with Americans from coast to coast about the environment and the critical challenges we all face in protecting the earth for future generations. The stories inspired and moved us. John and I share the hope that they will lead all of us to question the way things are and look for small but significant ways that each of us can make a positive contribution to this new environmental movement. We hope they spark a new conversation about ways that everyday Americans from all walks of life can have an impact on the environment around them. And, since all of the proceeds of the book go to environmental causes, we hope the book makes a financial difference for some great environmental organizations, as well. Come check it out -- write a review -- and let your friends know. Sincerely, Teresa Heinz Kerry

Half the names on the Vietnam Memorial wall were added after America's leaders knew our strategy would not work. It was immoral then and it would be immoral now to engage in the same delusion. You and I have to do everything in our power to stop that from happening again.

Two weeks ago, President Bush said that the timing of complete withdrawal from Iraq "...will be decided by future presidents...."1 But this is our responsibility now, not the responsibility of future presidents or a future Congress.

I believe that American combat troops should come home from Iraq in 2006 - not the distant future as President Bush does. Furthermore, I believe we must set a May 15th deadline for the Iraqis to form an effective unity government. And, if the Iraqi politicians choose to ignore that deadline, then I believe things will only get worse and we will have no choice but to withdraw immediately.

It's not enough to express our convictions -- we need to back up our beliefs with concrete actions. Today I introduced a resolution into the Senate that will give members of both parties the chance to tell the president that our course in Iraq must change.

I am setting tough deadlines for action in Iraq, and you know as well as I do how fiercely the extreme right wing will attack us. So I'm asking you today to be a citizen co-sponsor of this important resolution. Show the White House and my Senate colleagues a groundswell of support.

Sign up today as a citizen co-sponsor of my Senate resolution

President Bush is willing to let American soldiers and their families wait endlessly, while risking life and limb, as some Iraqi politicians incite sectarianism to grow their personal power and private militias. But we are now in the third war in Iraq in as many years. The first was against Saddam Hussein and his alleged weapons of mass destruction. The second was against Jihadist terrorists who the Administration said it was better "to fight over there than here." Now we find our troops in the middle of an escalating civil war.

We will defeat Al Qaeda faster when we stop serving as their best recruitment tool. Unpinning our military from Iraq will allow us to prosecute the war against Al Qaeda more effectively -- both inside and outside Iraq. And regaining our global options will also strengthen our hand in addressing the Iranian nuclear threat.

For speaking the truth, the right wing and their surrogates will question our courage and commitment. They're going to question our patriotism.

Only one thing will overcome this onslaught and put our country on the right path: a truly massive and visible groundswell of support for this call to bring home the troops. America has prospered throughout its history because we have never allowed bad leaders to pursue bad ideas for very long. The Bush administration uses fear as a weapon against dissent. But you have the power to stand up to this new McCarthyism: show the depth and breadth of support for a timely withdrawal by co-sponsoring my Senate resolution now.

Sign up today as a citizen co-sponsor of my Senate resolution

We want democracy in Iraq, but it's now the job of Iraqis to build it. Our troops have performed gallantly and heroically. The best way to keep faith with them is to set deadlines for bringing our troops home and getting Iraq on its own two feet. That's the only way to give their sacrifice its best chance of resulting in success.

Thank you, John Kerry

P.S. It's important that we show a huge groundswell of support. Please forward this email to friends, family, and co-workers who share our belief that we must get tough with the Iraqis and get our combat troops home.

What you do in the next 12 hours could well determine whether we celebrate on November 7.

Nothing would do more to change Washington and change the direction of our country than the election of a Democratic majority in the Senate. We can get halfway there if we help elect three new Democratic Senators in Tennessee, Ohio and Minnesota. But we can't do it without your help!

Act before the deadline tonight.

Reject Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's failed leadership by replacing him with Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee. Tell Mike DeWine that Ohio deserves better than a Bush rubber stamp, and help Sherrod Brown defeat this Republican incumbent. Tell Mark Kennedy in Minnesota that voting with Bush 97% of the time is wrong, and give Amy Klobuchar the resources she needs to keep Minnesota Democratic.

Harold Ford, Sherrod Brown, and Amy Klobuchar need your immediate support. Already this week, we've raised tens of thousands of dollars for these candidates. Now, we need to finish strong, right up to the midnight deadline tonight.

Act before the deadline tonight.

Believe me, the Republicans are using these next 12 hours to shore up their candidates and to raise funds