CONTENTS:
PHILLY & PA ACTION:

PhilaHealthia's progress will be described by Paul Glover
Local Plant Walks
WHYY program on greening in Philadelphia
The Keystone Research Center 10th Anniversary Conference with Paul Krugman
Attend PUP's - PHILADELPHIA UNEMPOYMENT PROJECT - 2006 Fund raiser:
CODEPINK, PHILLY  next meeting
Rally & Lobby Day in Harrisburg to raise PA's minimum wage to $7.15 per hour (has not been raised in 9 years)
Support breastfeeding moms
WEEKLY EVENTS
-------------
NATIONAL ACTION:
National Day of Out(R)age against the telecom giants/Wednesday, May 24th 2006
Impeach Team Action: Tell Congress The Wiretap General MUST Be Opposed For CIA Director
TAKE ACTION: Thank Reps. Opposed to Anti-Palest. Legislation
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation TAKE ACTION: AIPAC Banned by Rep. McCollum (MN-4)
A call for stories for a book on the Palestinian People
New Healthcare Film
Scriptwriting Contest: Growing up in the age of AIDS (Jun 13)
--------------
COMMENTARY:
* Arundhati Roy on India, Iraq, U.S. Empire and Dissent *
* "U.S. military gets old-school. In your kids' schools."
* Jimmy Carter:Israel's new plan: A land grab
* Ari Berman and Sam Graham-Felsen | Students, Teachers Turn Their Backs on McCain
* Confessions Of An Iraqi War Veteran "What we are doing over there is wrong"
* The beasts who would destroy us By Sheila Samples
* Update On Rove Indictment? By Marc Ash (...and more)
==================
PHILLY & PA ACTION:


PhilaHealthia's progress will be described by Paul Glover
at
Infusion Coffee and Tea Gallery, 7133 Germantown Ave, on  Thursday, May 25 at 7 pm.

PhilaHealthia <http://www.healthdemocracy.org> is a co-op
health plan based on the Ithaca Health Alliance
<http://www.ithacahealth.org>.  Members pay $100/YEAR to be
covered for an ever-expanding range of medical emergencies, and
to own free clinics offering preventive and holistic care.
        Philadelphia MEDICASH will also be introduced.
Glover is also author of "Health Democracy" http://www.healthdemocracy.org/book.html
Suggestions for additional speaking locations and occasions are welcome.
        Paul Glover, 215-805-8330 -  paul5glover@yahoo.com  http://www.paulglover.org
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Local Plant Walks in Mt Airy

Medicinal Uses of Backyard Weeds
-  Thursday May 25th
We will begin with an herb walk in Dr. Price's beautiful Mt. Airy property, followed by a discussion of the uses and preparations of those plants we meet. 
Location:  Dr. Price's office, 514 E. Sedgwick St.   - Time:  6:30-8:00pm - Cost:  $10

Local Plant Walks- Sundays May 28th & June 11th
Meet with and learn from your local green community growing along the sidewalks and in the woods.
Location:  Meet at Weaver's Way Coop, on the corner of Greene St and Carpenter Lane
Time:  10:00-11:00am (approx)- Cost:  Free
 To register call or email Dorene Nolan at 215.205.6250 or dorene@mtairyherbalstudies.com
 www.AsarumBotanicals.com
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WHYY program on greening in Philadelphia (May 25) You have permission to stay up late on Thursday, May 25th!

At 10pm on May 25th, WHYY Channel 12 will broadcast Philadelphia, The Holy Experiment. This one-hour PBS program is part of the national TV series Edens Lost & Found. It features the amazing spirit, courage, and ingenuity of people and organizations in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Using greening and gardening, these groups have developed practical and creative ways to improve the quality of life for current residents and future generations.
        For a national broadcast listing and information, please go to Edens Lost and Found.
        To learn more about the work of Philadelphia Green and how you can become involved,
                                go to The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
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The Keystone Research Center 10th Anniversary Conference June 1-2 in Harrisburg featuring New York Times columnist and economist Paul Krugman is coming up fast

Download the conference brochure and register online at www.keystoneresearch.org
In addition to Krugman, the conference will have a dynamite line-up of workshops.  Anyone in in non-Harrisburg metro areas (starting with Philly and Pittsburgh) who has wondered whether a KRC-like think tank would help progressive advocacy in their area will never get a better chance to assess what a PA think tank can do and how it works with a wide range of partners.

Here are some of the exciting workshops.
-- On the Restaurant Opportunity Center in New York and whether Philadelphia/PA can use worker centers to protect immigrant workers and promote the high road in the restaurant industry and agriculture?
-- On the child-care organizing that began in Philadelphia and now has major SEIU and AFSCME campaigns taking place in 15 states...
-- On Community Benefits Agreements that require subsidies and tax breaks for businesses to go along with decent jobs, low-income housing and other community benefits (this will be part of a workshop on the overall need to push wages up at the bottom)
-- On the potential of a coalition to achieve business subsidy accountability on all of Pennsylvania economic development programs
-- On Pennsylvania's cutting-edge workforce development strategy, built on a foundation of over 60 industry partnerships that now identify and meet workforce needs in the state's targeted industry clusters...
-- On how PA can reinvent its economic development programs to support good jobs in key industries instead of wasting resources through ad-hoc smokestack chasing...
-- On PA's fledgling democracy movement, sparked by the pay-raise issue, and how progressives can capitalize on this opportunity...
-- On how to frame and move innovative state tax proposals that can make the state's tax system less regressive while achieving revenue adequate to meet social and educational needs...
________________________________________________________________


Attend PUP's - PHILADELPHIA UNEMPOYMENT PROJECT - 2006 Fund raiser: 

Jump Into Summer Jazz Jam Featuring the Bayard Lancaster Quartet
with Singer Micha'l Beckam
        Friday June 2,  6 to 10 PM
        1199C 1319 Locust St. Philadelphia PA
All you can eat soul food buffet Tickets $25- $40 per couple
        Support PUP's work to organize and protect the unemployed and working poor of Philadelphia.
        Call 215-557-0822 for tickets or email to JDoddsPUP@aol.com. - (See you there..Marlene)
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CODEPINK, PHILLY  next meeting-  Saturday June 3, 2006 ,  Noon

        American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)- 1501 Cherry Street   Room 21
The program sponsoring us is the Economic Justice program, so please write that in the book, rather than Code Pink.
          In the meantime, please think about the idea hatched at our last meeting about a public event on Flag Day that is focussed around the idea of "washing the flag."    Think about what you want to be washed away from our nation (torture, spying, poverty, empire, pollution, etc.) and what scenario you envision for putting the idea across. Send an email to me and I'll forward it to the Code Pink Philly elist. 
                                              Z -  Deborah Zubow -  215-563-5848 X17 (voice) -  dzubow@pccy .org
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Rally & Lobby Day in Harrisburg to raise PA's minimum wage to $7.15 per hour (has not been raised in 9 years).

  Monday, June 5, 2006.  Free buses leaving from 16th Street & JFK Blvd, at 7:30 AM.  Bring lunch.  Phone 215-557-0822 to reserve a seat.  For more information: Raise the Minimum Wage Coalition, 215-557-0822, www.Philaup.org.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________


Support breastfeeding moms

State Senator Connie Williams is collecting signatures on a petition to  raise awareness and support of breastfeeding, especially in public  places.   She had a rally last Friday with a hundred people in  attendance!
Go to her website to sign. http://www.senatorconniewilliams.com/
________________________________________________________________


WEEKLY EVENTS:

Thursday

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.   Talk Radio Program with Sandra Dungee Glenn (Member, School Reform
Commission)   On WURD 900 AM--call in number is 215-426-1310.

6:00-8:00 p.m.   Workshop: "Build Your Own Computer"   Nonprofit Technology Resources,
 1524 Brandywine St., Philadelphia, Pa   $25 per session   To register, call 215-564-6686.

7:00-9:00 p.m.   International Concerned Friends & Family of Mumia Weekly Meeting
4601 Market St., 5th floor, Philadelphia, PA   For info, call 215-476-5416.

Friday
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.. Vigil Against the Occupation in Palestinse
15th Street between Walnut & Locust

4:30 p.m.   Anti-war leafleting and picket
Market & 11th Sts., Philadelphia, PA   For info, email pawf@critpath.org

5:00 p.m.   Vigil--Women in Black
Swarthmore Train Station, Park Ave. & Chester Rd., Swarthmore, PA   For info, email wibswarthmore@hotmail.com.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. to noon
"Talking Union" weekly call-in radio show, 1340 AM

noon-1:00 p.m.   Peace Vigil   Rte. 38 & Cherry Hill Mall Dr., Cherry Hill, NJ
For info, email greatercamdenunitycoalition@yahoo.com

1:00-2:00 p.m.   Protest at Ferber Furs
1708 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA   For info, email phillyar@yahoogroups.com.

Monday
5:00-7:00 p.m.   Radio Show: "Labor to Neighbor" with hosts Janet Ryder, Pat Eiding &
Pete Matthews   900 AM WURD--215-634-8065.

Tuesday
7:30 p.m.   Books Through Bars Packing Cafe   The A Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia, PA
Help pack books to send to prisoners.   Email info@booksthroughbars.org

Wednesday

4:30-5:30 p.m. Peace Vigil Federal Building, 601 Market St., Philadelphia, PA
Sponsored by House of Grace Catholic Worker For info, email brandywine@juno.com .

5:00 p.m. Vigil for Peace
Outside Unitarian Society of Germantown, 6511 Lincoln Dr., Phila For info, see www.northwestpeacecoalition.org.

7:00 p.m. Peace Vigil
Germantown Ave. & Bethlehem Pike, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA For info, see www.northwestpeacecoalition.org.

7:30 p.m. International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement Weekly Meeting
Uhuru House, 1021 S. 49th St., Philadelphia, Pa   For info, see www.inpdum.org.

================

NATIONAL ACTION:

  National Day of Out(R)age against the telecom giants
/Wednesday, May 24th 2006
                Wherever you are: see http://saveaccess.org/cando

On Wednesday, May 24th, thousands of people in cities across the country
will protest the Telephone Companies AT&T, Bell South and Verizon,
expressing outrage at the tactics of the major telephone companies
(AT&T, Bell South, Verizon and Qwest) to pass National Video Franchising
legislation in Congress. The Telcos are spending one million dollars a
week to buy the votes of members of Congress for their legislation
(House Bill 5252 and Senate Bill 2686), and on advertising to influence
public opinion, using 'astroturf' groups to distort the issues. The
proposed legislation will curb local control over video franchises,
negatively impact thousands of local Public, Educational and
Governmental Access channels, allow red-lining in low-income and rural
communities and jeopardize the openness of the internet by removing 'net
neutrality' provisions designed to promote competition.
        .. For more information, and to get involved, see http://saveaccess.org
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TAKE ACTION: Thank Reps. Opposed to Anti-Palest. Legislation

With 295 co-sponsors, it comes as no surprise that the House of Representatives passed today HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006.  The vote count was 361 yeas, 37 nays, 9 presents (abstentions), and 25 not voting
(Roll Call Vote No. 181).

TAKE ACTION: Send a message of thanks to all 46 Representatives who voted nay or present by clicking here: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/uscampaign/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3920

        Although the bill passed, our tremendous grassroots opposition to it prevented the bill's supporters from rushing it through for a quick vote with no debate.  We succeeded in delaying the bill for months, helped to get it watered down at the committee level, and forced AIPAC to expend enormous amounts of political capital to pass it. 
        In fact, our opposition helped generate something last night on the floor of the House of Representatives that has not occurred in a long time: the House held an open and honest debate about US policy toward Israel/Palestine for nearly three hours.  This afforded many Members of Congress an opportunity to speak out in forceful terms against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act (Congressional Record, H2990-H3012).  Extracts of the debate are included below.

        Even though the House has passed the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, it is still a long way from becoming law.  The Senate has yet to take up its less draconian version of the bill (S2370) and even if the Senate passes this bill, it will need to be reconciled by both houses in committee and signed by the President before becoming law.  In other words, we still have many opportunities to continue to mobilize opposition to sanctioning the Palestinian people for exercising their right to vote.
        The US Campaign urges its supporters to take one additional, extremely important action on HR4681.  Please contact the Representatives who voted against or abstained on HR4681 and/or who spoke against the resolution last night.  It is especially important if you and your organizations reside in the district of a Representative who took one or more of these steps against the resolution.  It is critically important for Representatives to receive support when they act or vote courageously.
        .... You can also call the Capitol switchboard at 1-888-355-3588 and ask to be transferred....
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 Impeach Team Action: Tell Congress The Wiretap General MUST Be Opposed For CIA Director

How outrageous is it that the NSA head who implemented the wiretap crimes of the Bush administration should now be considered for head of the CIA?  All the members of the Impeach Team are strongly opposed to this nomination. While they are calling for impeachment, they are at the same time also opposing putting accessories to the high crimes of the president and president in positions of high public trust and responsibility.
        It not just that they've been secretly monitoring without warrant virtually every domestic phone call in the US.  Now we find they've been expressly targeting journalists for spying.  Pretty slick system, isn't it?  They make all evidence of their malfeasance classified information, and then they threaten to prosecute anyone who would dare expose them in the media.
                                STOP HAYDEN ACTION PAGE: http://www.usalone.com/impeachteam/pnum295.php
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US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation TAKE ACTION: AIPAC Banned by Rep. McCollum (MN-4)

TAKE ACTION:  Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) has banned the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) from her office until she receives a formal, written apology from AIPAC for equating her vote in the House International Relations Committee against HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, with "support for terrorists".     
        Please take a moment to thank Rep. McCollum for her stance against HR4681 and for her courage to stand up to AIPAC's mischaracterization of her.  You can call her office directly at 202-225-6631 or the Capitol switchboard toll-free at 1-888-355-3588 and ask to be transferred to her office.
        If no one is able to take your call, please leave a brief message of thanks along with your name and address so that Rep. McCollum can get in touch with you.  Please call today!!
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A call for stories for a book on the Palestinian People

I am putting out this call for your stories. You are aware from going to Palestine that the one thing we are all, almost universally, asked is to "tell the world our story".   In an effort to honor this request, I am in the process of assembling a book.  But a book that is a little different. This is not a book on the history, or the politics, or the tragedy of the current situation. All of these have been told and been told well.   Instead, this is a book of stories whose purpose is to show the world the dignity and love and resistance and valor and perseverance and hope that is the Palestinian people.
        It is vital to convey these stories to America, to dispel the myths that plague our people. It is important also to assemble these for Palestinians, to provide (I hope) a much needed source of encouragement and hope. I do not have enough stories to do this alone. So, if you have any stories that show the strength and dignity and hope of Palestinian people, please allow me to include them in the telling of this tale.
        Include as many details as you can, so it reads well. You may or may not choose to change names. And, it is important to remember that the power of these stories is not in how they end (for all too many do not end well), but in the actions and character of its people. I would hate for this project to fail because people didn't take the time to write down a story. It is my hope-with your help-to do this service and to do it well.
                                        Thank you, Jeff Abood, @ jabood@neo.rr.com
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New Healthcare Film

June 7th is coming up.  You can help publicize national healthcare and H.R. 676 on 6/7/6  all over the country.  This is a great time to do a film showing  and a "learn-in" or another action.  See www.healthcare-NOW for ideas and reports on how others are building consciousness of H.R. 676, the national healthcare bill. 

HERE IS THE LINK: http://finisproductions.com/dbac/trailer_web.html  -  just send $10.

       The good news is that the movement for a national healthcare system is growing.  Primary elections are happening around the country.  In Kentucky, the single payer candidate won.  Let us know what is happening in your district.  Will we have the votes to get the debate started for single payer in Congress in 2007?  It's up to you.  Now is the time to take action.  Invite your candidates to come see "Don't Be a Chicken."
       Call us if you need more information, materials, speakers, or contacts at Healthcare-NOW, info@healthcare-now.org or
800-452-1305, www.healthcare-now.org.    Marilyn Clement, National Coordinator
_________________________________________________________________________________________


Scriptwriting Contest: Growing up in the age of AIDS (Jun 13)

"What's the REAL DEAL on Growing Up in the Age of AIDS?" Story and Scriptwriting Contest. This SCENARIOS USA / RAP IT UP contest is open to all young people, ages 13-18. The winning story will be made into a film that will premiere on BET. The competition offers the first generation born in the AIDS era an opportunity to provide perspective and make a statement about the epidemic. Educators and facilitators can use the contest as a chance to get young people thinking about their choices, while meeting educational goals. Go to http://www.ScenariosUSA.org/contest/ for more details. Please contact Sonya at sonya@scenariosusa.org with questions. Deadline: June 13th, 2006. The winning story will be announced by August 18th, 2006 on BET.com and SCENARIOSUSA.org.
===========

COMMENTARY:

* Arundhati Roy on India, Iraq, U.S. Empire and Dissent

Today we spend the hour with acclaimed Indian author and activist Arundhati
Roy. Her first novel, "The God of Small Things," was awarded the Booker
Prize in 1997. It has sold over six millions copies and has been translated
into over 20 languages worldwide.
        Since then, Arundhati Roy has devoted herself to political writing and
activism. In India, she¹s involved in the movement opposing hydroelectric
dam projects that have displaced thousands of people. In 2002, she was
convicted of contempt of court in New Delhi for accusing the court of
attempting to silence protests against the Narmada Dam project. She received
a symbolic one-day prison sentence. She has also been a vocal opponent of
the Indian government¹s nuclear weapons program as she is of all nuclear programs worldwide.
- Listen/Watch/Read  http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/23/1358250

* "U.S. military gets old-school. In your kids' schools." Cover Story: Young Guns by J.F. Pirro, Photos By Mike M. Koehler
http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2006-05-18/cover.shtml
    As a freshman, Roxborough High's Denisha Williams wore a green uniform,
shiny black shoes and an Army-issued hat every Thursday. Now a senior, she
says the "academic credit" is what attracted her to the school's Junior
Reserve Officers' Training Corps course. Then she realized she was too "peaceful a person."
    "I was only in JROTC for one year, and in that one year I only went to
class when I felt like it," Roxborough's Williams says. "After seeing my
stats in class and looking at the time period I stayed in JROTC, they should
have known I wasn't into it. The way the war is today, no wonder they're
having a hard time recruiting people."

* Jimmy Carter:Israel's new plan: A land grab
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-05-15-carter-israel-edit_x.htm
New Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced that Israel will take
unilateral steps to establish its own geographical boundaries during
the next four years of his administration. His plan, as described
during the recent Israeli election and the formation of a new
governing coalition, would take about half of the Palestinian West
Bank and encapsulate the urban areas within a huge concrete wall and
the more rural parts of Palestine within a high fence. The barrier is
not located on the internationally recognized boundary between Israel
and Palestine, but entirely within and deeply penetrating the occupied territories.
        The only division of territory between Israel and the Palestinians
that is recognized by the United States or the international
community awarded 77% of the land to the nation of Israel and the
other small portion divided between the West Bank and Gaza. Only
about twice the size of Washington, D.C., Gaza is now a politically
and economically non-viable region, almost completely isolated from
the West Bank, Israel and the outside world.

*  Ari Berman and Sam Graham-Felsen | Students, Teachers Turn Their Backs on McCain
                        http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/052006I.shtml
"What began as mild rumblings of disapproval before McCain's speech soon exploded into boos, catcalls and turned backs." According to Ari Berman and Sam Graham-Felsen, "Scores of New School students held orange signs and a few banners reading 'McCain Does Not Speak For Me,' and 'Our Commencement Is Not Your Platform.'"

* Confessions Of An Iraqi War Veteran "What we are doing over there is wrong"
Jessie Macbeth -Former Army Ranger and Iraq War Veteran, Tell it like it is  "She was begging me, begging me to save her and to save her kids, but, I didn't you know. I wanted to be , ah, I killed them. You know?
This 20 minute video will change your life. Click here to watch http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13140.htm

* "Come Out of the White House with Your Hands Up!"  By William Blum
The United States has been pushing the UN Security Council to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter against Iran because of its nuclear research. Chapter VII ("Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression") can be used to impose sanctions and take military action against a country deemed guilty of such violations (except of course if the country holds a veto power in the Security Council). http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13150.htm

* The beasts who would destroy us By Sheila Samples
We are a confused nation, beset on all sides by fear and paranoia. After the orchestrated 9-11 attack on New York City and Washington D.C., and its follow-up anthrax attack on Democratic legislators, Americans of all stripes rushed en masse to George Bush's Fools' Gate to trade their morality and compassion for empty promises of security.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13148.htm

* Update On Rove Indictment? By Marc Ash
  "What We Believe" - Rove may be turning state's evidence. We suspect that the scope of Fitzgerald's investigation may have broadened - clearly to Cheney  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13142.htm

* Fruit of the Poison Tree  By Charles Sullivan
Every aspect of American politics is enacted within the shell of Plutocratic corporate rule. Therefore, the Plutocratic tree will continue to bear the fruit of Plutocracy, regardless of which party is in power. During the past fifty years of the American experiment the difference between Democrat and Republican has become increasingly subtle. In essence there is only one party-that of wealth and privilege.  http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13135.htm

* Army suicides up since Iraq war :
The number of U.S. Army soldiers who took their own lives increased last year to the highest total since 1993, despite a growing effort by the Army to detect problems and prevent suicides. http://tinyurl.com/p7h2j

* Israeli Plan Divides U.S. Conservatives
Jewish organizations and leaders in the U.S. are divided over Israel's plan to redraw the country's borders on its own if it cannot quickly negotiate peace with the Palestinians, and are giving the White House conflicting advice about whether to support or fund the effort.   http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060520/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_israel_3

* Olmert snubs Palestinian talks ahead of US visit :
Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, resisted fresh calls yesterday for early and substantive negotiations to end the conflict with the Palestinians with a declaration that their President, Mahmoud Abbas, was "powerless" to speak for his people.  http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article549813.ece

* The incredible shrinking Palestine:
Israel is whittling away at Palestinians' land again, but it needs the U.S. to sharpen the knife.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13151.htm

* Chris Floyd: Gates of Eden: A Nation in Chains :
The International Centre for Prison Studies at King's College London released its annual World Prison Population List. And there, standing proudly at the head of the line, towering far above all others, is that shining city on the hill, the United States of America 2.2 million now in prisons, jails:   http://tinyurl.com/ogbmt

* AL GORE'S ASSAULT ON GLOBAL WARMING, Amanda Griscom Little, Grist Magazine
Gore is launching a book, a movie, and a new environmental group with one mission: convincing Americans that climate
change is real. http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/36565/

** New in VIDEO: Frank Rich: The Greatest Story Ever Sold
New York Times columnist Frank Rich was on Book TV last weekend discussing his new book about Bush propaganda tactics.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#36559