Today's lead editorial in the New York Times makes the same argument that Jonathan Tasini has been making: an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops is the first, necessary step towards a stable Iraq. As the Times notes:

Mr. Bush's premise that American troops should simply stay on the ground until Iraq gets things right and defeats all insurgent forces and terrorist groups, however long it takes, is flat wrong. The United States presence is dangerous — to the soldiers themselves, to American standing in the world, and most tellingly to large numbers of innocent Iraqis.

2462 U.S. troop fatalities since March 2003.(1)
37,800 – 42,200 Iraqis killed as of May 23, 2006.(1)
$284 billion American tax dollars spent to date.(2)

Every day more people sign the petition to end the war in Iraq. You can view the signatures HERE.

Jonathan is still on the road, headed to Buffalo on Sunday. It's been an incredible journey. Here he is in Ithaca.

(Marty Luster/Photo News Service)

If you haven't already, please CLICK HERE to sign the petition to end the war in Iraq.

The petition asks the State Democratic Convention to adopt a resolution to end the war. The resolution is based on legislation introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, which cuts off funding for the war except for safe withdrawal of troops, international peace-keepers, and reconstruction.

Jonathan will present these signatures to the State Democratic Convention this Tuesday. Your signature lets the delegates know that New Yorkers oppose this war and we want the issue debated on the convention floor. Please sign today and send the link to your friends.

The Downtown Independent Democrats voted last night to endorse Jonathan Tasini for U.S. Senate, one more in a steady stream of endorsements for our campaign. An especially active and astute organization, the DID is centered in lower Manhattan, the area most impacted by the attacks on the World Trade Center. Jonathan is honored to have the support of this important club.

At another meeting last night, the Three Parks Independent Democrats voted for no endorsement rather than endorse the incumbent Senator. After the first round of voting resulted in no majority, a runoff vote was taken. In that round 66% of the members voted for no endorsement over 22% who voted for the incumbent.

Did you know that Jonathan helped launch the watchdog organization Walmart Watch? Did you know that Hillary Clinton sat on the board of Walmart for six years?

This story from the SF Gate warmed our hearts:

City Council votes to seize Wal-Mart land

The Hercules City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to take the unprecedented step of using eminent domain to prevent Wal-Mart from building a big-box store on a 17-acre lot near the city's waterfront.