Who's outfoxed?

Susan Gerhard's review of Outfoxed stated that "it's no surprise that the [Murdoch] empire's flagship news channel supports the Republicans who help Murdoch stay on top of the dirt pile" ["Mad TV," 8/4/04]. However, in the week after Outfoxed was released, the Kerry for President Campaign announced that News Corp. (which owns Fox) president and COO Peter Chernin had endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. One of Murdoch's top lieutenants, Chernin has also promised to raise between $50K and $100K for John Kerry.

It seems that the Democratic National Convention, which so discouraged many of the "anyone but Bush" progressives with its unflinching pro-war stance, also served to encourage those nonprogressives like Chernin who got confirmation that imperialism will continue its agenda with either a Kerry or Bush victory over the rest of us.

Doug Norberg
San Francisco

Susan Gerhard responds: For the record, the sentence highlighting Fox News's support of the Republicans was a clear reference to the news channel's programming, not its campaign contributions. But as for the campaign contribution update: seeing the November election writing on the wall, perhaps Fox News will change its slogan from "fair and balanced" to "checks and balances."

A Kerry mandate

Your superb blueprint for "regime change" correctly noted that high pro-Kerry turnout in California (as in all blue states) is crucial ["Regime Change," 8/4/04]. But you didn't fully explain why. Getting Kerry elected is only part of the reason. If 2000 taught us anything, it's that the popular vote really does matter. Kerry doesn't just need to win. He needs a mandate. Preferably, a huge one.

Jennifer Machlin
San Francisco

Three more suggestions

Regarding the 10 things you can do to defeat George W. Bush, I would like to add an 11th, 12th, and 13th:

11. East Bay for Kerry (www.eastbaykerry.com) has over four subgroups providing regular outreach to swing-state voters. Usually this means going to someone's house with your cell phone and free weekend minutes in hand and making calls to Democratic and independent voters in places like Toledo, Ohio, and Winnemucca, Nev. It's a group thing and a lot of fun. Something is scheduled every week; just RSVP and show up with your cell phone.

12. East Bay for Kerry has two different groups writing letters to the editor and monitoring newspaper coverage of the campaign. If you're a media maven, this is a great way to get involved.

13. If you'd rather talk with actual local Bay Area people in person, you could also volunteer for "tabling" or "GOTV" (get out the vote) activities, which basically means going to a busy place on a weekend, handing out flyers, and registering new voters. An experienced GOTVer would be there with you to guide you all the way. So where do you find out about GOTV opportunities? You guessed it: East Bay for Kerry!

Patrick MacKellan, Volunteer
East Bay for Kerry
Oakland

And yet another

Many thanks to the Bay Guardian for compiling a fantastic guide to (re)defeating President Bush. I would like to add another resource to your list for readers: San Francisco for Democracy (www.sf4democracy.com). This new all-volunteer group emerged out of San Francisco for Dean and has endorsed the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

San Francisco for Democracy values equal opportunity, civil rights, a healthy environment, fiscal responsibility, affordable health care, quality education, and social justice for all Americans – and peace and security achieved through international cooperation.

We seek to restore citizens' ownership of our democracy by mobilizing grassroots participation in the political process. San Francisco for Democracy supports candidates and issues through a combination of education, fundraising, community organizing, and direct action at the national, state, and local levels.

We are nonpartisan and welcome new members. Visit our calendar page (www.sf4democracy.com/calendar) for information.

Stephanie Linder,Communications director
San Francisco for Democracy
San Francisco

'Bush smart'

If indeed "this election is a referendum on Bush's war in Iraq" (Editorial, 8/4/04), the only way to vote no is to leave both the Democratic and Republican parties. If you just want a better military strategy, a vote for Kerry is in order.

You "wish Kerry were taking a tougher stand on the war." Actually, he is. Kerry would increase the active-duty Army by 40,000 soldiers. His reference to Bush's "back-door draft" is a criticism of extended tours of duty for all troops and improper deployment of the National Guard when he believes an expansion and transformation of the armed forces is in order. As Ralph Nader has stated, "Kerry is not Bush lite; he is Bush smart."

Marsha Feinland, Peace and Freedom Party candidate for U.S. Senate
Berkeley