** Everyone - Our work starts NOW!

[Poiuyt]

We made some valuable progress this past week, but we can't let the momentum run out. All the hard work that we've done so far will go for naught if we let the Downing Street Memo story fade away. Unless Congress and the media know how strongly we feel about the the subject, nothing will happen and the Bush administration will continue their with lies and their killing and their corruption.

Politely, let the media (local and national) know that you are still interested in the DSM story. Ask that they cover different aspects of the different memos. It will be up to us to come up with different angles for them to cover since they seem to be incapable of doing their own job. But the press will cover what is really going on in Iraq if we let them know that it is important to us. I don't believe that it is necessary to write long winded letters to the media. A simple, but heart-felt message in your own words can be just as powerful.

And keep writing to your elected officials and DEMAND that they investigate what was behind Bush's rush to war. Visit with them when they come back from Washington and let them know how you feel. Remember, they work for you! They are not doing you a favor by reading your letters. You are doing them a favor by letting them represent YOU. Let them know what is important to you.

My personal tactic is to play innocent with the media and ask them what the DSM story means and what its implications are to America. That will make them feel like they would be doing their duty to inform us. When writing to my Congressman and Senators, I am more forceful and I let them know that what is going on is contrary to the Constitution of the United States and to American values. It's hard to argue against that.

Time to roll up our sleeves, people. The hard work is just beginning.

[H2O Man]

1. Sounds good.

We were just warming up, doing a little shadow-boxing in the dressing room. It's time to take that walk to the ring.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. There was another DU thread that contain many, many media sources

which could be used for emailing purposes.

:kick:

[EFerrari]

3. I call the newsdesk and ask about srories they haven't covered

Not often, but I do. On the other end of the phone, there's just a person and they usually listen.

[LightningFlash]

4. Here, write to them all..

http://www.usalone.com/downingstreet_np.htm

Tell them to specifically start covering the allegations as outlined here http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/muriel/path_of_war_timeline_613.htm

Which show a succint and non-removable timeline. Let them try to get interviews with various officials about the different periods in the downing street meetings.

Then tell them to cover the serious issue of http://rawstory.com/news/2005/A_complete_list_123_House_members_in_Downing_pus_0617.html

Which shows the complete amount of Congressional represenatives, all 122 plus members of Congress demanding immediate answers from the White House regarding the unfortunate truth of these meetings.

Then they must cover more of the Conyers hearing, and specifically start talking about the letter Conyers wrote to Washington Post's Dana Millbank, regarding his "cover-up" coverage of the hearing

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Congressman_Conyers_hammers_the_Washington_Posts_D_0617.html

That is especially vital to demonstrate the point that, all corporate media outlets need to do their job. They need to be hounding this to bits since its so popular, and show it for what it is related to cronies like Millbank getting allowed with such hate speech in a nationwide newspaper. The whole world needs to see it.

[Carolab]

5. Afterdowningstreet.org has lots of good links for action

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org

[DemonFighterLives]

6. Great idea to be inquisitive with the media

I heard DSM- what does it mean and how does it affect me?
I think that I may even play dumb - it won't be that hard. :silly:

[WFF]

7. This is no time for us to be apathetic

What's that quote about all it taking for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing? Something like that.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. Don't know how to link threads...

So I'm going to cut and paste from a post I did a couple of days back -- handy information on using the DU Media Blaster.

While channel-surfing this evening, I came across three channels that were discussing the Downing Street Minutes. Simultaneously. In Prime Time. This story officially has legs, and I'd like to encourage all 70,000+ DU'ers to help keep it moving.

Step One. Go the DU Media Blaster. It's located at here. Enter the information that's appropriate for where you live and follow the directions.

Step Two. Compose a brief letter to the editor. It should be 150-250 words (200 words or less is better). DO NOT USE PROFANITY and avoid name-calling and "wild accusations." Simply demand that with 1,700 combat deaths and climbing, the Bush Administration owes the American people a full accounting of how we came to be at war in Iraq.

Step Three. If your congressional representative is a Democrat or a comparatively sane Republican (especially one who may be facing a tough re-election campaign next year), compose a brief e-mail message that says you demand an accounting for why the United States finds itself at war in Iraq. If you don't have your representative's e-mail, you can find it here.

Step Four. If your newspaper doesn't print your letter -- or any other letters demanding an explanation -- Repeat Step Two. If you still don't see anything, call the newspaper's ombudsman or circulation desk and complain. Let the media know that we demand answers.

Step Five. If your representative doesn't respond to your letter, Repeat Step Three. If you still don't hear anything, call his/her local office and state your opinion directly.

[Poiuyt]

9. Media Blaster

Here's the link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=blaster

[Poiuyt]

10. When writing to 60 Minutes, do it by regular mail

I sent 60 Minutes an email suggestion regarding the DSM and they sent this back to me:


If you wish to bring a matter to the attention of 60 MINUTES, it must be done in writing via postal mail. Please write to:

Story Editor
60 MINUTES
CBS News
524 West 57 Street
New York, NY 10019

60 MINUTES requests that all story suggestions be submitted in concise, written form. Please do not send any additional materials that might have to be returned until you are specifically requested to do so by the 60 MINUTES staff. We receive a large number of story suggestions each week and cannot rule out the possibility that tapes or documents might be misplaced.