Environmentalist Groups See Trouble Ahead

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

in L.A. Times, December 1, 2004

WASHINGTON. Environmentalists see some of their worst fears playing out
as President Bush moves to cement a second-term agenda that includes
getting more timber, oil and gas from public lands and relying on the
market rather than regulation to curb pollution.

Bush's top energy priority -- opening an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil
drilling -- is shaping up as an early test of GOP gains in Congress.

High court lets gay marriage stand in Massachusetts

by Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press

from the Seattle Times, November 30, 2004

WASHINGTON «É” The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed without comment an appeal from a conservative Florida group that sought to overturn the ruling of Massachusetts' highest court that gave gays and lesbians the right to marry.

Liberty Counsel had argued the Massachusetts decision violated the provision of the U.S. Constitution that guarantees to each state "a republican form of government." They suggested this means that key decisions must be made by elected legislators rather than judges.

Our Moral Values, by George Lakoff

posted in The Nation, November 18, 2004

We came together because of our moral values: care and responsibility, fairness and equality, freedom and courage, fulfillment in life, opportunity and community, cooperation and trust, honesty and openness. We united behind political principles: equality, equity (if you work for a living, you should earn a living) and government for the people--all the people.

These are traditional American values and principles, what we are proudest of in this country. The Democrats' failure was a failure to put forth our moral vision, celebrate our values and principles, and shout them out loud.

Welcome

Hey Benton Dems and others with an interest in making our country justice and peaceful. Welcome to the new website.

Please log in and create a new account, and don't forget to bookmark this site. Soon we'll have a full-service site, with news, stories you won't find in the GT, blogs, forums, links to other sites.

And if you have anything to suggest, please send me an email at "bcdems admin@bcdems.net"

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