WHAT IS IN ROSSIS MAIL

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Cheney: U.S. Not Aiming To Close Guantanamo

Vice President Cheney said yesterday that the administration has no plans to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as some prominent Democrats have recommended, but other Republicans said that reports of mistreatment of prisoners there have made the prison a growing global liability.



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In the opinion, Souter noted that black jurors were questioned more aggressively about the death penalty, and the pool was "shuffled" at least twice by prosecutors, apparently to increase the chances whites would be selected.



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As progressives breathe a shallow sigh of relief over the "nuclear option" compromise, floundering GOP social security plans, and chatter of George Bush's "lame duck" presidency, a new team of Republican extremists are stepping up. Just as you thought Republicans in Washington were hearing voices of moderation, think again.

Remember Katherine Harris of Florida in 2000? Now, imagine Senator Katherine Harris?
Harris, now a congresswoman, who as Secretary of State of Florida in 2000 became a best friend of the Bush family, has set her eyes on the Senate.

But it's not fair to only point out Harris. All across the battleground states right wing contenders for office at all levels are making their intentions -- and their policy stances -- crystal clear. Look no further than Ohio where another Secretary of State, Ken Blackwell, who played the "Katherine Harris" role in last year's election, has his eyes set on the governorship.

Extremism takes root down-ballot and has matured within the Republican party for many years -- from candidates to operatives, financial contributors to policy analysts. While voices of moderation do remain, power rests in the base. Harris, Blackwell, Ralph Reed running for Lt. Governor in Georgia, Jerry Kilgore for Governor in Virginia, the list goes on and on.

ACT is on the ground in the battleground states today, analyzing the results from 2004, monitoring the current political climate, conducting polling and building carefully-targeted voter contact campaigns to test our strategies in '05 races -- at all levels -- to prepare for major races of 2006 and 2008. Our work isn't splashy or high-profile, especially in this off-year, but it is critically important to keep our work going year-round.

In the coming days we'll be rolling out our Democracy At Your Doorstep program. ACT State Directors will be posting weekly political reports from our targeted states and offering volunteers across the country the chance to respond to these reports and engage with battleground state voters on the issues that are most important to them. Our first outreach will be to new voters in Ohio, the tens of thousands of first-time voters who turned out in 2004 to make a difference. We need to keep these voters engaged and informed. And for that, we need you.

Together, we empowered millions of new and infrequent Democratic voters in 2004. These voters -- and many more communities outside of the GOP base -- are the keys to fighting extremism and changing our country. Now is the time to reach them.

So, as the days of summer come upon us and your attention turns away from politics, stay tuned to http://activist.acthere.com/page/m/xa4prsdynur/yLllNk for information, conversation and opportunities to play a role in fighting extremism where it starts -- on the ground.

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The Scourge of Militarism
By Chalmers Johnson

COMMENTARY: Imperial dreams are undermining our political institutions. Is America going the way of the Roman Republic?