The Devolving Miss M, Bette Midler passes into her dotage, wishes Hitler had won

Happy Independence Day! Just think, if we hadn’t won that war, today wouldn’t be a holiday AND we’d have health care.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) July 4, 2013

In going Nancy Pelosi’s Orwellian interpretation of the Declaration of Independence one better the Devolving Miss M wishes that the American Revolution had never happened.

She seems unaware that if that had happened, the UK would be a Nazi province, America might be a German colony, and she would be a favorite Hawaiian dish, SPAM on toast.

Bette Midler (long, long ago)

Restore the 4th

I’m writing now with a brief update to share some of the top level take aways, especially for the benefit of those cc’d who were not able to attend.

• Louise from the local Restore the Fourth (RTF) network is compiling a listserve including everyone who was here last night. Please watch for her email — and if you weren’t here last night but would like to be included, please contact her at louisebrooks9@gmail.com.
• RTF is getting its ducks in a row across the country, and should have more final information about the actions they’re coordinating across the country in the next few days. Please monitor http://www.restorethefourth.net/ for updates.
• Each of your respective groups are invited to join BORDC and others in co-sponsoring the July 4 rally in DC and others around the country initiated by RTF. Contact Nathan White atnathandavidwhite@gmail.com if your org is in a position to do so. To assist your due diligence, Nathan will circulate RTF’s press materials for everyone’s reference, but I’d encourage anyone who has potential concerns to focus on whatever analysis will unite your organization since RTF is more a decentralized community united by a common set of broad principles than an organization with a specific defined platform.
• Don’t forget that there are two actions planned for Thursday, July 4 in DC, including the exciting bike bloc action starting in Anacostia.
• At the risk of self-indulgence, here’s my piece in the Progressive yesterday: http://www.progressive.org/snowden-nsa. Please also feel free to subscribe for BORDC updates, and to monitor our blog for substantive analysis beyond the headlines. For those of you new to activism, you’ll find it an invaluable substantive resource.

Finally, a brief personal reflection: I often struggle with disillusion in the face of the national security state. I’ve been working for over a decade on building resistance to the Washington alphabet soup (eg FBI, NSA, CIA, etc), and particularly for the last five years on bringing libertarians and progressives together. Needless to say, that struggle has remained unsuccessful despite a ton of passion and energy from thousands of people. Everyone’s willingness last night to set aside our respective differences and focus on our issues of common concern was not only much appreciated, but also downright inspiring. I noticed that everyone in the room last night met new allies, and I can’t wait to see where the many possibilities lead!

Have a great day, and see you on the Fourth….

Shahid

July 4th Restore the 4th Actions

I’m writing now with a brief update to share some of the top level take aways, especially for the benefit of those cc’d who were not able to attend.

• Louise from the local Restore the Fourth (RTF) network is compiling a listserve including everyone who was here last night. Please watch for her email — and if you weren’t here last night but would like to be included, please contact her at louisebrooks9@gmail.com.
• RTF is getting its ducks in a row across the country, and should have more final information about the actions they’re coordinating across the country in the next few days. Please monitor http://www.restorethefourth.net/ for updates.
• Each of your respective groups are invited to join BORDC and others in co-sponsoring the July 4 rally in DC and others around the country initiated by RTF. Contact Nathan White atnathandavidwhite@gmail.com if your org is in a position to do so. To assist your due diligence, Nathan will circulate RTF’s press materials for everyone’s reference, but I’d encourage anyone who has potential concerns to focus on whatever analysis will unite your organization since RTF is more a decentralized community united by a common set of broad principles than an organization with a specific defined platform.
• Don’t forget that there are two actions planned for Thursday, July 4 in DC, including the exciting bike bloc action starting in Anacostia.
• At the risk of self-indulgence, here’s my piece in the Progressive yesterday: http://www.progressive.org/snowden-nsa. Please also feel free to subscribe for BORDC updates, and to monitor our blog for substantive analysis beyond the headlines. For those of you new to activism, you’ll find it an invaluable substantive resource.

Finally, a brief personal reflection: I often struggle with disillusion in the face of the national security state. I’ve been working for over a decade on building resistance to the Washington alphabet soup (eg FBI, NSA, CIA, etc), and particularly for the last five years on bringing libertarians and progressives together. Needless to say, that struggle has remained unsuccessful despite a ton of passion and energy from thousands of people. Everyone’s willingness last night to set aside our respective differences and focus on our issues of common concern was not only much appreciated, but also downright inspiring. I noticed that everyone in the room last night met new allies, and I can’t wait to see where the many possibilities lead!

Have a great day, and see you on the Fourth….

Shahid