I've seen them in action - they recruited me last year to work on a local campaign. This year they will be putting their strategy to work to defeat Shays.



http://www.hilltopbrigade.org /




Speakers at DeLauro’s house praised the leaders of the Hilltop Brigade, Farber and Bellamy. “The brigade made the difference,” DeLauro declared. “We have a new majority that you helped to create. Let me say this to you: We have a 15-vote margin in the House of Representatives. We have a one-vote margin in the U.S.Senate.”

To the standing-room-only crowd that gathered and promised to hit the streets over the next seven months, she said: “You can be of tremendous help to us. We can expand the majority in the house by 40 seats. We can take 40 Republicans. I have that on good order. We could take 40 Republican seats,” she repeated to cheers.

“If that happens, then we will then defeat the lone Republican in New England. We will dispatch Christopher Shays and welcome him home,” she said.

Removing Shays from office won’t be easy. He has served for 20 years, is a member of key Congressional committees, he has pressed hard for good government initiatives, and he knows how to deliver funds back to the Fourth Congressional district, which includes Bridgeport and Westport. He has had two consecutive tough challenges from Democrats, and emerged victorious each time, despite popular discontent over his support for the Iraq war.

Produced by The Council for Affordable Health Insurance

"Our intent is to be thorough and accurate in compiling what they have said or indicated they want to do. As their plans take shape we intend to explain what their proposals mean for the health care system and for Americans’ ability to have access to affordable coverage. But we also plan to eliminate their spin so that the public understands not just what the candidates have said, but what they mean."


http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resource...

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A nearby municipal shelter called me about a young Peke turned in as a stray that they wanted to give to rescue because he was nippy and/or food guarding. I went there and met him and he seemed scared but who wouldn't be in that environment? They put a hold on him for me until I could find a foster home. I lined one up in MD and started working on a transport to get him there. I pulled him from the shelter Wed and took him to the Pet Center where they could groom him (did he ever stink!), neuter him and board him until Saturday when he was supposed to travel. I was unable to get a transport put together for him - it was a lot easier when gas prices were lower !

So, Louie came home with me yesterday. I was hesitant to do this because my Buster does not like other dogs . A coworker can give Louie a ride to Philly next weekend, so it would only be one week that I had to deal with whatever happened.

I borrowed a large (greyhound size) crate from a co-worker. Another co-worker suggested that I take them to a park for walk when I picked him up. I took them to the town green and walked a bit then we all stood on the corner with the anti-war protesters for a half hour. Buster was very tolerant of Louie even when they both wanted to mark the same tree. We went back to the green and met a couple who might like to adopt him.

Back home - I put him in the playpen in the basement while I set up the crate there. He spent the rest of the day down there and then the night with the radio on for company. Since the 2 of them have been OK together on walks and I haven't seen any signs of jealousy from Buster, I moved Louie to the kitchen this AM in a medium wire crate. That has gone well, so I will move the large crate upstairs today. Buster, all 20 lbs of him) can get through any baby gate or barrier I have ever set up (including moving an 80 lb TV in a carton out of a doorway), so having Louie in the crate will be the best way to keep them both safe while I am at work.

BTW - I have not seen any signs of nippy or aggressive behavior at all. When he knocked over his bowl of kibble in the smaller crate this AM, I reached in and picked it up while he was eating it and he did not react at all.

A couple of good shows scheduled on PBS this week on Channel 13 in NYC :

Tuesday, October 3 at 9pm
Frontline: "Return of the Taliban"
Frontline reports from the lawless Pakistani tribal areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and reveals how the area has fallen under the control of a resurgent Taliban militia. Repeats Friday, 6th at 9pm.
Watch Frontline episodes online


Wednesday, October 4 at 9pm
Moyers On America: "Capitol Crimes" (1 of 3)
The fall of Jack Abramoff exposed a huge web of corruption that remains vastly unreported by the broadcast media. Bill Moyers and his colleagues untangle emails, reports, interviews, and facts to reveal a coherent pattern of criminal and political chicanery.
Wednesday's prime-time schedule