I just got this email from Chris Chandler:

Bruce U. Utah Phillips

In a matter of a few minutes Anne Feeney phoned me from an airport in Houston. Al Grierson’s “Lonely Deadhead Box-Car” was playing on Random on my iPod. After our conversation, I went to check my email. Jim Page was singing “Anna Mae.” I had an email from Jim. I have pasted it below. As I read it Utah sang “All Used Up.” As I responded to Jim’s Email Arlo Guthrie sang “Hobo’s Lullaby.”

Utah Phillips has been a great inspiration to me, an I know he will continue to be a great inspiration from wherever he’ll be singing and organizing next.

More information, including the text of one of Utah’s last letters to Nevada City community radio staion KVMR, can be found at http://www.utahphillips.org/ .

You can also find out more by going to his Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Phillips . If you haven’t heard his music and ramblings yet, now would be a good time to seek them out.

Here is a rush obituary from Sing Out! Magazine: http://singout.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/bruce-utah-phillips-passes/

I was at the Democratic State Convention as a delegate from my town on Saturday, but I couldn’t stay long, as I had to get back to Peterborough by noon for the weekly peace vigil. I voted to allow delegates unlimited time (as opposed to 3 minutes per side) in debating resolutions, but the convention voted to keep the 3-minute rule. At the very end of the day, as outlined in the following press release, the impeachment resolution came up for debate and a vote. AND IT PASSED!
__________________________________

Monday, May 19, 2008

Betty Hall Beat’em All!

Manchester, NH – At the New Hampshire Democratic Party Convention, Saturday, in spite of every possible roadblock thrown in her path by party leaders to prevent it, Rep. Betty Hall’s Resolution to Commence Impeachment Procedures was adopted.

The message sent by the people is the first step of this Constitutional Procedure – BEGIN INVESTIGATIONS NOW to determine if there is sufficient cause/evidence to hold our current elected leaders in Washington responsible.

The Governor came and went, Howard Dean came and went, the same for the Congressional candidates and state politicos during a long stint in a packed gymnasium on a glorious spring weekend day which began at 8:30 am. In the very last minutes of the convention, about 4:00 pm, the Democratic party leaders let the vote for the Hall Impeachment Resolution and the town of Newbury Accountability Resolution take place.

Representative Betty Hall gave 2 of her 3 allotted minutes to the only speaker who was merely a citizen delegate. She was the people’s one lone grassroots speaker, who was not a leadership pick or an official.

Her name is Nan; imagine her lone, quiet voice finally getting a chance to say something after all the “notables”. She spoke, and even sang her support, and the room erupted!

Betty Hall’s impeachment resolution asking for the support of the Democratic Party of NH passed. The people’s voice was finally heard!

Unlike the rest of the day, it was an unscripted, spontaneous expression of celebration, standing and cheering in support of Rep. Hall’s resolution to begin investigations and, at the very least, lay out the facts.

The delegates heard what they wanted to hear and with  their vote confirmed, they want truth and accountability from our government!

Above the heads of the speakers was a huge banner that read: HOPE  LEADERSHIP VICTORY. The peoples’ delegates proclaimed all three.

The People Get It.

–
Written by Maryellen Martin, Nashua, former Rep., 603 888-3396

Betty Hall, NH Rep from Brookline, 603 672-8712

18 Old Milford Rd
Brookline, NH 03033
603 672 8712

Sent by Deborah Gibbons 603 672 8712

Betty Hall signs Tom Hosmer’s petition for Legislative support for the Resolution to Commence Impeachment proceeding in the US Congress.

Nan Stearns of Amherst NH sings at the state Democratic Convention on behalf of a resolution to Commence Impeachment proceedings in the US Congress.