[Read more Minutes at the MoveOn Minute Taker blog!]

Let the record show that the civic fields of XXX still lay sallow, with no sign of Democracy Operations. MoveOn PAC's CALL FOR CHANGE has not called the MINUTE TAKER to enlist another faithful soldier in the cause! The MINUTE TAKER can only conclude that the MoveOn commanders have fully withdrawn from XXX, leaving us conscripts without orders or equipment or, indeed, the ability to communicate. The MINUTE TAKER has resigned to sit idly, passively, in front of the television, cursing the insanity of the modern American condition, watching the moment in which we can TAKE BACK CONGRESS grow ever closer.

And yet--the record must show--so far away.

The MINUTE TAKER wonders.
The MINUTE TAKER dreams.
And, fortunately for the sake of the record, the MINUTE TAKER is not alone in this universe!
As if plucked straight from the MINUTE TAKER's fever-dreams of the heyday of Operation Democracy, and day-dreams of the fantastic possibilities of Call for Change, the mailman has delivered the long-anticipated MoveOn Minutes Illustrated: Volume II!

[Cross-posted from the MoveOn Minute Taker blog. Check there for past Minutes!]

Let the record show that the MINUTE TAKER's participation in Operation Democracy remains suspended -- the new team appears to be inactive and Field Organizer J is out of contact. No sign of M, or S for that matter. But let the record further show that the readers of the MOVEON MINUTES have taken the matter, quite literally, into their own hands! Standing far apart and above from the volumes of reader mail that the MINUTE TAKER receives, yesterday a package arrived containing extensive illustrations of the highlights of Operation Democracy (pre-team collapse)!

Below, please behold the first issue of the MoveOn Minutes Illustrated! Loyal readers of the Minutes will recognize that this is a faithful rendering of the OIL FREE CONGRESS Media Event; let the record show that this cartoon displays both logistical AND emotional adherence to the record! Drama, surprise, a dash of eroticism, the eternal struggle of man against nature and traffic, inspiration, and tactical political maneuvering -- it's all there! Onward, Operation Democracy!

[Cross-posted from the MoveOn Minutes. Check there for past MINUTES!]

Let the record show that the MINUTE TAKER sent emails, and the MINUTE TAKER left messages. M did not respond to repeated queries; the MINUTE TAKER fears that M has been lost to the cause. Weeks went by without word from Operation Democracy of further efforts.

The MINUTE TAKER has no means to communicate with other XXX Democracy Operatives. The record must show that the Operation Democracy Action Center web site has been denying the MINUTE TAKER access to the XXX team page. Instead, upon logging in to the Action Center, the following message is displayed:

We couldn't figure out what team you were trying to work with. It's possible the team you were trying to work with no longer exists.

The team no longer exists? Let the record show surprise and alarm!

MINUTES for the MoveOn PAC Operation Democracy Oil Free Congress Media Event, 6.28.2006

Let the record show that in XXX on June 28, 2006, the skies threatened to rain all day. Let the record further show that the MINUTE TAKER was not contacted in any way by the MoveOn PAC XXX Chapter Volunteer Coordinator M about the details for the scheduled Oil Free Congress Media Event. Were the MINUTE TAKER but an ordinary volunteer, that would probably have been the end of it; yet civic determination prevailed, and an inquiry about the event's status was emailed directly to the XXX MoveOn PAC Field Organizer J.

Organizer J responded: "All events are rain or shine."

The record must show the MINUTE TAKER's disbelief in J's claim -- there can be no other explanation for how the MINUTE TAKER arrived at the pre-designated intersection, as the first drops finally came down, without an umbrella. And so it was with mixed feelings that, at 5:02pm, the MINUTE TAKER observed no signs of Operation Democracy in action -- indeed, the MINUTE TAKER could not even find the pre-designated gas station (a Texaco) amid the intersection's four gas stations (a BP, two Mobils, and a Shell).

Let the record show that it was now rush hour.

(Cross-posted from The MoveOn MinuteTaker)

At 2:45pm on Sunday, June 25 2006, forty-five minutes after the scheduled time, the Sunday potluck for the XXX chapter of MoveOn PAC's Operation Democracy convened. In attendence were fifteen MoveOn members/prospective Democracy Operatives.

Pre-convening discussion topics included: traffic, Republicans, and that new Garrison Keillor/Lindsay Lohan movie. Verdicts, respectively: bad, terrible, and nice enough.