Davidson writes: "We're building a left-center coalition against the war, and challenging the center in the process, not simply a left opposition..."

Saying this over and over again doesn't make it so. -- particuarly when the primary focus for the Chicago 029 rally seems to be showcasing those politicians who continue to support the war if not by word, by deed.

The abysmal vote last week by the entire Illinois congressional delegation - including those on the Oct. 27 guest list - in favor of 9 billion in additional war funding included in the stop gap appropriation bill and Durbin's inexcusable Senate vote in favor of $150 billion for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are merely the latest examples. You pay for it, you own it.

Meanwhile the latest polls show that a sizeable majority of the American people want funding for the war in Iraq cut [ www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN0135362720071002 ] And just 29 percent approve of the job Congress is doing -- a 14-point drop since Democrats took control in January. So who's out of touch with the mainstream here? But rather than taking the opportunity to publically challenge elected officials (like Ritchie Daley) to do the right thing on Oct. 27, the Chicago organizers seem intent on repackaging them as "allies" in the faint hope that down the road ( say like 2013) they might get around to doing somethng to help end the war. And this is what passes as a "breakthrough"? The only thing missing from this nuanced strategy is the chapstick.

I suspect if the proposed speakers list had actually been included in the ICPJ action proposal for a fall campaign and October 27 rally , this event would garnered less support than it now enjoys. You can read the proposal here. [ www.ilcpj.org/actions/details/ ]

Finally, folks should take a look at other how Oct 27 regional actions are shaping up around the country. The contrast in program content between cities like Boston and Chicago is pretty telling. [ www.oct27.org/sites/oct27.org/files/oct27/October_27.html ]