It's Time! Democrats: Just Say No on Iraq; SF 1/27 and Watada Support Committee Events

As San Francisco prepares for our January 27th United for Peace and Justice actions to end the war [see list below] and opposition grows to Bush's war escalation plans, others like the Working Families Party in NY are urging progressive democrats and all supporters of peace and social justice to step up the pressure to de-fund and end the war.
From Afterdowningstreet.org and [Progressive]Democrats.com:
It's Time for Democrats to Just Say No on Iraq

George Bush's super-hyped speech calling for escalation in Iraq was a political disaster. The American people now overwhelmingly oppose Bush's handling of the war (72%), oppose Bush's escalation plan (61%), and want to bring all our troops home in 2007 (56%).
These polls are terrifying to Republicans - their own pollster told them "if U.S. boots are still on the ground in Iraq and U.S. blood is still being spilled there at the end of the year, the GOP disaster in 2008 will eclipse 2006." Even Bob Novak predicts an
"electoral catastrophe."
Please send this message to your Representatives:
End War Funding, Begin War Investigations Send Message

Presidential Candidates Should Take the Lead
The 2008 Presidential campaign is in full swing, and the Democratic candidates want our support.
Let's tell them what they must do to earn it!
1. Deny all funds for Bush's escalation
2. Support immediate redeployment of U.S. troops, to be completed by the end of 2007 using the funds already appropriated
3. Oppose the $100 billion "Supplemental" appropriation in March and any other bills to extend the U.S. occupation of Iraq
We are keeping track of the positions of all the candidates You can click on the name of each candidate and email our three principles. They are listening to us very carefully - let's speak up! See Bob Fertik's blog for the scorecard.

From Progressive Democrats of America - Support H.R. 508!
Yesterday Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters' introduced H.R. 508 - the "Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act"

[the act] would establish a 6-month timeframe for withdrawal for all US military forces from Iraq, provide a framework for bringing stability back to Iraq, and fully fund the VA health care system. The proposal is a direct response to President Bush's challenge over the weekend for those who oppose his planed escalation to put forth a plan of their own.

Local San Francisco/Bay Area events from the Watada Support Committee:
War Resister Lt. Ehren Watada's scheduled Court Martial Hearing is 2/5 in Washington State -
*Sat. 1/27 noon Carolyn Ho speaking at Anti-War Rally & March to Pier 31/33
Rally at Powell & Market, San Francisco
contact: Grace Morizawa - 510-289-1285
*4-7pm Ground Truth film screening (voices of Iraq War veterans)
with Carolyn Ho & Marti Hiken
JCCCNC, 1840 Sutter St., SF Japantown (site to be confirmed), free event
contact: Mike Tsukahara 415-317-7706
*7pm End the War in Iraq with Rep. Dennis Kucinich & Carolyn Ho.
First Unitarian Universalist Church, 1187 Franklin (at Geary), San Francisco
$5-10 (no one turned away for lack of funds)
contact: Pete Yamamoto 415-921-5007
*7-9:30pm 7pm: Little Birds film screening (voices of Iraqi people during war)
8:30pm: panel with Carolyn Ho & Japanese filmmaker Takeharu Watai
Humanist Hall, 390-27th St. (by Broadway), Oakland; admission: $8.00/$6.00
contact: Masami Endo 408-529-3369
*Sun. 1/28 9am Carolyn Ho at Glide Memorial Church - 333 Taylor St. (by Ellis), San Francisco
*10:30am Carolyn Ho at Presbyterian Church - 925 Stockton, San Francisco
*noon-12:30 Press Conference & Community Meeting with Carolyn Ho
Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, 950 Clay St. (btw Powell & Stockton) San Francisco Chinatown
*1:15-3:30pm Reception with Carolyn Ho
Cameron House, 920 Sacramento St., San Francisco
*7-9:30pm 7pm: Little Birds film screening (voices of Iraqi people during war)
*8:30pm: panel with Carolyn Ho & Japanese filmmaker Takeharu Watai
Women's Building, 3543-18th St., San Francisco; admission: $8.00/$6.00
contact: Masami Endo 408-529-3369
*Thu. 2/1 noon-2pm Peace Vigil and Die-In
Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
contact: Grace Shimizu 510-459-7288
*Sun. 2/4 2-4pm Watada Support Rally (against the court martial)
CHANGE: Civic Center (by City Hall), Polk & McAllister, San Francisco
contact: Mike Wong 415-422-0497
*Mon. 2/5 Watada Support Vigil (against the court martial)
7-8am University Ave. Overpass, Highway 80 (near Berkeley)
5-6:30pm Powell & Market, San Francisco
7-9pm Watada Support Event (live report from the Ft. Lewis court martial)
Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Ave. (at McAllister), San Francisco
contact: Mike Tsukahara 415-317-7706 (site to be confirmed)
*Tu, 2/6 Watada Support Vigil (against the court martial)
7-8am & 5-6pm University Ave. Overpass, Highway 80 (near Berkeley)
5-7pm Powell & Market, San Francisco
*Wed, 2/7 Watada Support Vigil (against the court martial)
7-8am & 5-6pm University Ave. Overpass, Highway 80 (near Berkeley)
5-7pm Powell & Market, San Francisco