Bloody Wonderful: Take That, Republican Butcher Boys

This from MoveOn, which does not just suggest that you write a letter to protest the Repub's gutting of NPR/PBS -- in the words of Bill Frist: "If it looks like a cat, gut it" -- nor does it merely offer to collect such letters. MoveOn makes it simple to write your email/letter and then send it to the newspaper of your choice. "Ease of usage" is a wonderful tool. Kudos to MoveOn!

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Step 1: Select a newpaper Local Papers Circulation # Sent San Francisco Chronicle 514,265 50 The San Francisco Bay Guardian 153,000 8 Alameda Times Star 67,834 2 Oakland Tribune 67,702 8 Regional Papers Circulation # Sent The Sacramento Bee 302,804 12 San Jose Mercury News 276,787 15 Contra Costa Times 187,630 8 Metro 105,000 2 National Papers Circulation # Sent USA Today 2,602,556 136 The Wall Street Journal 1,820,600 69 The New York Times 1,130,740 138 Los Angeles Times 1,014,044 102 Washington Post 796,367 71 Step 3: Enter Your Address & Send (*=required) *Name: *Email: *Phone: *Address: *City/State: *Zip:

Step 2: Write your letter Use the talking points below the composition window for ideas. View: drafting in own words Subject: Body: The idea that the Bush administration wants to cut, and ultimately terminate, funding for NPR and PBS -- two things that actually *work* -- while continuing to mindlessly pour money into the Iraq debacle is grotesque. I do not think everything I hear or see on these two entities is wise and good. But compared to mainstream radio and mainstream TV, NPR and PBS are magnificent, superior by several orders of magnitude. Michael Robertson Talking Points President Bush is pushing to slash NPR and PBS funding—and eliminate funding entirely in two years. In just a week, more than 1.5 million Americans have asked Congress to oppose this move. Under pressure, Congress restored some funding for this year, but House Republicans just voted to eliminate all funding in two years. Unbelievably, the cuts start by terminating support for commercial-free children's shows like "Sesame Street," "Clifford," and "Maya and Miguel." Americans trust public broadcasting more than any other news source. This is an ideological attack on our free press. Tips on Writing a Letter to the Editor Reference a Recent Article: If possible, it is best to include a reference to recent article that appeared in the newspaper you've selected and then write your letter as a response, building on what was printed or pointing out how your viewpoint isn't included. This greatly increases the likelihood that your letter will be printed. Include Your Contact Information: Most newspapers will only print a letter to the editor after calling the author to verify his or her identity and address. Newspapers will not give out that information and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published. Be Clear and Concise: Keep your letters brief and to the point. Newspaper editors often edit for length, so try to keep your letter to less than 200 words. The shorter it is, the more likely it will be printed. State Your Point Early: Be sure to state your main point in the subject line and in the first sentence of the letter. Keep to One Topic: Keep your letters focused on one subject.