Say hello to the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network, a non-profit formed by local business executives to counter the radical right. It launched Tuesday to some major press in the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post and Denver Business journal.

The "Rocky Mountain Progressive Network" was formed to combat the state's "radical right," according to Michael Huttner, director of the group and a local lawyer. He said policies of Gov. Bill Owens and other Republicans have "bankrupted the state," which has a "devastating impact on children, seniors, and those least able to help themselves," Huttner said in a statement.

"....Political fundraiser Donna Good is heading the efforts of the 501c3 nonprofit organization. "The RMPN will be both proactive and reactive and has a Web site, www.rmpn.org, as a clearinghouse for information to hold our elected officials accountable," Huttner said in a statement."

The site's webblog is excellent, From its first post, by J.B. Holston:

We've launched the Network because the radical right-wing running our state.... is ruining our future. While Colorado "went from among the nation's best economies in the 1990s to ranking last for job creation and personal income growth in 2002", our ambitious Governor and his radical cronies in the Legislature sought to change the subject, by making Colorado ground zero for radical Beltway interests test-driving their social engineering agendas.

We're tired of it, and we're not going to take it any more. And we need your help....You've come to the right place. Please join the Network now. Get regular e-mail updates as illustrious folks from all over the region offer solid, middle-of-the-road solutions. Sign on as a voice for the network. Drop us a 'hot tip', and we'll get on it right away.

The blog has been very flattering to TalkLeft. In linking to our post today on Ashcroft and the death of TIA, they call TalkLeft "Colorado's Very Own Premiere Internationally Branded Blogger." On the home page today they refer to us as "Colorado's inestimable blogger."

If you're in Colorado, join today. Even if you're not, we hope you will give them a donation. We are very excited about this group-- and proud they launched in Colorado.

First comes Joe Biden's 2002 Rave Act. It's defeated. He gives it a fancy new name, the Illicit Anti-Drug Proliferation Act, and through a stealth attack, inserts it into the Amber Alert bill. It passes in April, 2003. Critics are charging the law amounts to musical profiling.

Although he reworked, renamed and reintroduced the legislation this year, its intent remained basically the same. He removed the mention of glow sticks, water bottles and other accouterments in the law that passed, but in arguing for the measure on the Senate floor, he again termed the items telltale signs of drug use. This time the legislation passed, incorporated into the Controlled Substance Act.

Passed in April, the law makes it possible for a promoter or building owner to be charged with a felony if anyone at an event uses or sells drugs. Politicians and federal law enforcers say it's the kind of hard-line approach needed to keep young people away from drugs.

Critics are organizing and protesting.

....The law has spurred electronic music devotees to get organized. A group called Ravers Against Opposition to Raves (ROAR) spearheaded a Sept. 6 protest on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. It attracted more than 2,000, including celebrity DJ Junior Vasquez. “We’re being vilified by people who don’t understand electronic music,” said Legba Carrefour, director of ROAR.

The law is being enforced around the country.

The law has gotten ample use .... Its first application on May 31 chilled the nightlife in Billings, Mont. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) had organized a fundraiser at a Billings Eagles Lodge. Before rock bands kicked off the event, a DEA agent presented the bar owner with a copy of the law and informed him that he could be fined $250,000 and face jail if anyone on the premises was caught with so much as a joint. The event was canceled and promoters lost money.

Busts have occurred in Missouri, Louisiana, Wisconsin and North Florida. Those raids unleashed a string of legal counterattacks by the American Civil Liberties Union.

We've been opposed to this bill since its inception. You can access all of our coverage here.

There were two wins Wednesday in the War on Terror: A Senate subcommittee killed the Total Information Awareness Program (TIA) and Attorney General John Ashcroft reversed himself and agreed to release data on searches of library records.

It's a nice start, but we won't be satisfied until Ashcroft agrees to release the data on the FBI and Justice Department's use of FISA search and electronic surveillance warrants. So far it has only released the number of warrants sought and obtained. We have no indication of whether the warrants were needed or useful. That's something Congress needs to know in order to determine whether to continue the broad expanse of Patriot Act powers.

The Houston Chronicle reports that American Lori Berenson, serving a 20 year terrorism sentence in a Peruvian jail is in love--with a Peruvian law student and they want to marry.

While Peruvian inmates are generally allowed to marry while in jail, it's uncertain if Ms. Berenson will be accorded that privilege. Let's hope so.

A new report by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, titled “Assessing the New Normal,” examines changes to U.S. law and security policy since September 11, 2001 in five areas: government openness; personal privacy; immigration; security-related detention; and the effect of U.S. actions on international human rights standards.

The report concludes that while certain changes in law and policy have been sensible and constructive, many others threaten basic rights and freedoms, and taken together reflect a significant departure from rule of law principles. The report highlights how what it terms the “new normal” has meant a diminution of legal safeguards, a breakdown of the system of checks and balances (in particular, judicial oversight of executive branch decisions), and a reduction in government openness and accountability.

Each chapter contains a set of policy recommendations—including calls for increased congressional oversight, rolling back certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, and close scrutiny of additional measures being proposed by the President and Attorney General John Ashcroft. [Thanks to Patriot Watch for the link]

General Wesley Clark's campaign website is Americans For Clark. It's up and running.

Voters in Seattle today approved a measure strongly opposed by Drug Czar John Walters. It directs police and prosecutors to make marijuana arrests and prosecutions their lowest priority. Walters personally campaigned against the measure in Seattle on September 10.

Hesiod at Counterspin says the radical right's smear campaign against General Wesley Clark is underway. Clark joined the Presidential race today. Scoobie Davis has the details and says Hesiod is right on the money. Read both.

The state court judge presiding over the trial of sniper suspect John Malvo who was 17 at the time of the alleged crime has ruled that he can be executed.

International laws and treaties do not prohibit Virginia from executing juveniles, a judge ruled Wednesday in the case against teenage sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo.

Defense lawyers had argued that an overwhelming consensus of foreign nations and certain international treaties combined to bar the execution of people under 18 at the time of their crime.

"The world has spoken. This isn't a close call. This is the world against us," said defense lawyer Craig Cooley. "Some things are so absolutely abhorrent to humanity that it is simply unacceptable. We are at that point when we talk about the execution of children."

The defense team argued that international consensus is a factor in U.S. law. The U.S. Supreme Court evaluates society's "evolving standards of decency" when considering whether a punishment is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual.

Last month the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the death penalty uncontsititutional for juvenile offenders. Here are the current statistics on executing juvenile offenders, from the National Coalition Against the Death Penalty ( NCADP):

Daily Kos provides his take on the Wesley Clark campaign team. Some members he likes, some he doesn't. He thinks Chris Lehane, who recently departed the Kerry campaign, will be jumping on board. Kos predicts a Dean/Clark battle right up until the very end.

Say hello to the DNC's new blog, Kicking Ass. This entry from yesterday is on Ashcroft's assault on librarians. [link via Atrios.]

And to The Drug War Rant, where you can stay up to date on the Government's latest follies in the War on Drugs.

The morality police are out in full force in L.A. The Los Angeles City Council has banned lap dancing at strip clubs.

The City Council has voted to ban lap dances and all other physical contact between entertainers and customers at strip clubs, bikini bars and adult bookstores. A "no-touch" rule would require dancers to remain at least six feet from customers even when dancers are tipped. The council also voted Tuesday to outlaw "VIP rooms," where nude dancers perform privately.

....Supporters of the law argued that strip clubs contribute to prostitution, drug use and violence.

At least one attorney, Roger Diamond, is challenging the law. Many dancers are opposed to the law because it threatens their liveihoods.