LIBERTAS - In the Name of Liberty

According to the score card published by the Center for Constitutional Rights, the first 100 Days of the Obama Administration have fallen far short of the Change We Need.

I can't begin to express my disappointment with the situation. It seems like we hired a hero, and got someone who plans on saving only those wealthy enough to pay for the change they want. I'm sick to my stomach.

Here is a quick Review:

• Prosecutions and Accountability - Incomplete


• Ending Torture - Unfinished Promise


• Ending Unlawful Detention and Extraordinary Rendition - Early Hopes Fading Fast


• Abolishing Preventive Detention - Dangerous Silence


• Protecting Dissent - Action Needed


• Reigning in Presidential War Powers - War Machine Rolls On


• Ending Abuse of the State Secrets Privilege - Continuing Bush's Path


• Stopping Warrantless Wiretapping - Impunity Immunity


• Rolling Back Executive Power - Imperial Presidency

Dear CCR Supporter,

March 2009 marked the 6th anniversary of the illegal war and occupation of Iraq, resulting in the occupation, devastation, destruction and the loss of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, American and other human lives. An end to the senseless war and occupation of Iraq is long overdue.

As part of its 100 Days campaign, CCR has released "Amend the War Powers Resolution," a white paper addressing the problem of presidential war-making at its core. The paper provides an overview of executive abuse of war-making power and calls for the restoration of checks and balances. It also calls for a revision of the War Powers Resolution to prohibit all executive acts of war without Congressional authorization and an end to the illegal wars launched by the Bush administration. Click here to download the new paper from CCR's website.

Six years is far too long for any war, much less an illegal one. Read the white paper, send it to legislators and use it in your work to achieve justice.

Ending the abuse of executive war-making is a critical step towards restoring the constitution and the rule of law. Congressional repeal of the Authorization of Use of Military Force in Iraq is also critical to the future of Iraq. Write today and ask Congress to repeal the AUMF for Iraq and rein in executive war-making power by amending the War Powers Resolution.

Join us as we fight to restore our democratic system of checks and balances and prevent future illegal wars.

Sincerely,

Vincent Warren

If Obama will not defend the US Constitution, and enforce the law, then who will? Without independent oversight from the courts we have no rights. The only recourse is vigilante justice and ultimately rebellion.

Dear Friends,

For the past eight years, Karl Rove blurred the lines of legality again and again - putting his own priorities above the law, and even above the lives and safety of Americans.

In addition to being one of the chief architects behind the war in Iraq, Rove was also allegedly involved in in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, in the harassment and prosecution of Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, and in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys for political reasons.

Congress has subpoenaed Rove to testify about these matters again and again, but until recently, he's refused to testify. Rove's agreement to meet with the House Judiciary Committee is a step in the right direction, but it is nowhere near enough.

I just took action to tell President Obama to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Rove and -- pending the outcome of that investigation -- to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/investigate_rove/?r_by=3416-1818183-bj_Nmtx&rc=paste

Thanks!

In the national discussion about closing Guantanamo, the voices of those most directly affected - the men held in Guantanamo - are often lost or obscured. Join CCR Executive Director Vincent Warren on Monday, April 13, 2009 in Ventura, CA for an evening of "Poems from Guantanamo" and a discussion of the first 100 Days of the Obama administration, evaluating what must be done going forward to close Guantanamo, end torture, and secure justice for its victims.

Vincent Warren will also discuss CCR's 100 Days campaign, which calls for ending torture, rendition, and illegal detention, protecting dissent, abolishing preventive detention, limiting the state secrets privilege, reining in presidential war powers, stopping warrantless wiretapping and rolling back executive power.

WHAT: "Poems from Guantanamo" Readings and Discussion
WHO: Vincent Warren, CCR Executive Director
WHEN: Monday, April 13, 2009, 7:00 pm
WHERE: A Place of Peace, 896 E. Main St. Ventura, CA
ADMISSION: $10 donation, no one turned away for lack of funds

"Poems from Guantanamo" is a collection of poems by Guantánamo detainees and arranged by habeas lawyer Marc Falkoff. The poems will be read and performed by a number of Ventura area poets and community members. This event is sponsored by Veterans for Peace, the Peace Poets Ensemble, A Place of Peace and the Center for Constitutional Rights.

We look forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Annette Dickerson
Director of Education and Outreach

Poems from Guantanamo

We have very important news. Yesterday, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced their groundbreaking bill to replace special-interest-funded elections with citizen-funded elections for Congress.

This bill is the centerpiece of the "donor strike" we've been organizing for months -- and now is the time that other lawmakers can formally add their names as supporters.

We urgently need your help to pressure Congress to support reform. Our new online "whip count" tool makes it easy for you to call your representatives and ask them to support this bill.

Can you take 1 minute to contact Congress today? Just click here to get started.

Some current and former Google employees have been volunteering with Change Congress to help design this new tool replicating the "whip count" process congressional leaders use to count votes. Now that power is in your hands. It's pretty neat.

It shows co-sponsors of the Durbin-Specter bill, and how much money each non-sponsor is losing because of our donor strike. If your representative is not a co-sponsor, click the "Whip" link beside their name to contact their office and report back the results. You can also thank supporters.

We provide some talking points you can use during your call, but feel free to also speak from the heart about why you support reform.

This is a team effort. By crowd-sourcing the "whipping" of votes, we can quickly move lawmakers to our side. Can you take a minute to help whip the vote?

Just click here to begin.

Thank you for making such a big difference in this fight.

-- Lawrence Lessig

P.S. A special thanks to Anne Halsall and a Google employee who wishes to remain anonymous for their great work on this new tool that will empower so many people to take action.