I'm glad Ann Coulter used the word ''faggot'' the other day. It's about time we talk about this word and the power it holds over us, both young and old.

Despite Coulter's assertion that it ''has nothing to do with gays,'' trust me, it does. And ignoring it is dangerous.

My first job out of college was in the classroom. I taught junior high students, an exercise that I feel has prepared me for virtually any challenge. Day after day, my goal was to balance subject matter with socialization. I was able to successfully manage a classroom surging with hormones, nascent egos, and escalating bravado that thinly covered these kids'' fear. All teens are governed by self-doubt and vulnerability. I viewed each of my students as a child trapped in an adult body and my most important responsibility was to maintain a safe space where they could successfully grow into their new identities.

About 22 of some of Central Ohio's best election activists showed up Tuesday night, March 6, at the Free Press offices to hear Nancy Tobi of "Democracy for New Hampshire"? speak about how she has managed to develop positive relationships with her election officials and certain legislators to help work together on getting her grassroots organization's election integrity legislation passed.

For three hours she inspired us, complimented us, cajoled us, and listened to our tales of fighting corruption and incompetence in scandle-riddled Ohio. Here are some of the highpoints of her speech.

She started by speaking of "Difficult Dialogues,"? something we all encounter in this movement. She described her own concentric spheres: first herself as a Jewish woman in New Englander country. "Who am I, to presume to take on changing the institution of elections?"? "What are my shortcomings and inadequacies?"? "Why am I compelled to continue this struggle for democracy?"?

Secondly, how do we deal with our families, who want to know, "When is supper?"?

If the Republicans in the House vote against the Supplemental spending bill to throw another roughly $100 billion at this war because the bill requires that troops be trained and rested, provides for veterans health care, gives money to Katrina relief and avocado growers, and threatens to move the war to Afghanistan if Bush doesn't make various claims about "progress" in Iraq in the coming months…

And if the Progressive Democrats vote against it because it funds an illegal and aggressive war…

The bill could be defeated. Then the Democratic leadership would have to choose between the Republicans on the one hand and the Progressive Democrats and the American public on the other.

The Democrats held two press conferences Thursday morning. The first was held by the Progressive Caucus, announcing their plan to amend the Supplemental to require that every dollar go to funding a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Here's the announcement they sent out.

And a letter they sent around to their colleagues. Here's Barbara Lee's amendment.

I've spoken at impeachment forums, debates, rallies, strategy meetings, and workshops, but tonight's event in Washington, D.C., will be the first I've spoken at since the Vice President's Chief of Staff was convicted for lying to protect him.  So, I'm going in expecting fewer objections and reservations about impeachment.  Still, it's useful to yet again lay out all the familiar ones and why they are more wrong than ever.

I understand that Congressman Henry Waxman may have the prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald testify next week.  That's an excellent start.  But if Fitzgerald will not testify voluntarily, he should be subpoenaed, as should Libby, Rove, Armitage, Bartlett, Matalin, Fleischer, and Cheney.  Each of these people needs to be put under oath and on camera and questioned.

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