Muslims For Kucinich

The following email was sent by the Kucinich campaign on February 14, 2004. You can sign up to receive these emails at the official campaign website

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Dearest Kucinich supporters,

First the peace train to Iowa. Now the peace train from Iowa via Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. And from Washington and Oregon, as well as from Arizona and New Mexico! California's primary is just around the corner on March 2nd, and we need and welcome your help. Perhaps your primaries and caucuses are over but you still have a bit of time and lots of energy left to continue campaigning for Dennis. Then why not head to San Francisco or LA? Some folks are already on their way or are here with us already. Step onto the peace train and take a breathtaking ride down the West Coast, or through the snow-capped Sierras, or through the beautiful desert Southwest. If you are already in California, perhaps you can either come to meet the train, or step onboard and ride along for awhile* . The camaraderie is wonderful and canvassing is relatively easy and rewarding on the train.

Here's how it works:

“Get your bags together. Go bring your good friends, too. Cause it’s getting nearer, it soon will be with you…”

Decide how much time you can afford and the dates that work best for you. A few days or two weeks, it's up to you. The main trains will be arriving into California on February 21st , but you may decide to take a different train or even to drive, fly, or take a bus on your own, on a different date.

Hook up with our California coordinators to find a place to stay while you're here. They will find home stays with local Kucinich supporters, or if you prefer, assist you in finding reasonably priced hotels and hostels:

For the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California, call Emily at (866) 388-2004

For the Greater Los Angeles Area and Southern California call Thia at (323) 655-6617

Check train fares and book directly with Amtrak at www.amtrak.com Or you may call them at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245). Pay special attention to discounts such as for AAA members, seniors and children 15 and under. Discounts for students and veterans are available with purchase of a discount rail card. Let them know that you wish to arrive on Friday, January 9th. Note: The campaign is not sponsoring or funding this trip, however the prices are very reasonable. Sleepers are more expensive, but include all meals, which are surprisingly good.

If you choose to take the train, please send us an email to peacetrain@kucinich.us and we'll connect you with your state peace train coordinator. We'll send you more information and updates about your specific trip. We will be checking peacetrain email daily to answer any questions. Please leave your phone number so your state coordinator may reach you.

Encourage others to see you off at the train station, or come to meet you at the stops along the way. Create a Media Circus! A media coordinator in your state will send out a press release alerting the media that the train is coming through. We realize this is very short notice for getting a trip together, but if you end up with a even a small size group of travelers, it may be worth a story to some media sources.

Bring lots of Kucinich window signs and enough canvassing material for the train. Let us know if you are lacking materials and we'll try our best to get it to you before you leave.

Wear your Kucinich T-shirts, hats and pins. Bring your guitar, your harmonica, or your didgeridoo! On the Iowa train, we had a number of wonderful musicians who performed not only on the train, but at the various stops (creating our own rallies) along the way. The rules say to bring only two bags per person, but we found on our trip that they didn't strictly follow this. Also, sleeping bags, we were told, wouldn't count toward the limit. Find out the specific rules for your train before you leave.

This trip is essentially self-guided. There will be no group leader on the train. Make of it what you will. If you are interested in making canvassing phone calls, while on the train, please let us know and we'll send you a script and get you some phone numbers to call.

Book return travel independently, as needed.

The train routes

The North-to-South "Coast Starlight" Schedule

Friday , February 20th: The Coast Starlight departs Seattle at 10am . Travel through Tacoma, Olympia-Lacy, Centralia, Kelso-Longview, and Vancouver, Washington. Also through Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene-Springfield, Chemult, and Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Saturday , February 21st: Stop in Dunsmuir, California at 12:35am and travel through Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, and Martinez, California. Arrive into Emeryville at 8:10am. For those going on to Los Angeles, the train departs at 8:20am and travels through Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Louis Obisbo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Glendale, arriving into Los Angeles at 9:00pm.

For the complete timetable of the Coast Starlight, see: http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/p11.pdf

The East-to-West "California Zephyr" Schedule

Thursday , February 19th: Depart Burlington, Iowa, 5:54pm . Travel through Mt. Pleasant, Ottumwa, Osceola, and Creston, Iowa. Arrive in Omaha, Nebraska at 11:07pm.

Friday , February 20th: Travel through Hastings, Holdrege, and McCook, Nebraska. Fort Morgan, Denver, Fraser-Winter Park, Granby, Glennwood Springs, and Grand Junction, Colorado. Green River, Helper, Provo, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday , February 21st: Travel through Elko, Winnemucca, Sparks, and Reno, Nevada. Also Truckee, Colfax, Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, California. Arriving into Emeryville, CA at 5:09pm.

For the complete timetable of the California Zephyr, see: http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/p5.pdf

The East-to-West "Southwest Chief" Schedule

Friday, February 20th: Departing Lamar, Colorado at 6:52am . Traveling through La Junta and Trinidad, Colorado. Also through Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy, Albequerque and Gallop, New Mexico. Then thorugh Winslow, Flagstaff, and Williams Jct, Arizona.

Saturday, February 21st: Departing Kingman, Arizona at 12:50am and traveling through Needles, Barstow, Victorville, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Fullerton, Ca. Arriving into Los Angeles at 8:15am.

For the complete timetable of the Southwest Chief, see: http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/p3.pdf

The East-to-West "Texas Eagle" Schedule

Friday, February 20th: Departing Deming, New Mexico at 4:55pm. Traveling through Lordsburg, New Mexico, Benson, Tuscon, and Maricopa, Arizona.

Saturday, February 21st: Departing Yuma, Arizona at 2:11am and traveling through Palm Springs, Ontario, and Pomona, California. Arriving into Los Angeles at 6:40am.

For the complete timetable of the Texas Eagle, see:http://www.amtrak.com/trains/timetable/p21.pdf

Sample train fares:

In some cases, taking the train may be more cost effective than driving or taking the bus. Here are some current sample fares:

$76 One way from Seattle to San Francisco/Emeryville ($68 AAA member rate)

$133 One way from Osceola, Iowa to San Francisco/Emeryville ($120 AAA member rate)

$35 One way from Reno to San Francisco/Emeryville ($32 AAA member rate)

$53 One way from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, regular adult fare. ($48 AAA member rate)

Tuscon to Los Angeles, currently sold out, but that can change as date gets closer.

(Children 15 and under travel for half fare. Some discounts available for seniors, students, and veterans.

Note: These sample fares are a survey of recent prices. As with airfares, prices can and do increase somewhat as we near departure, so please reserve as soon as possible.

For a virtual tour of the interiors of the rail coaches, sleepers, lounge cars and dining facilities, see: http://www.amtrak.com/savings/cn-tour.html

Other costs

Other costs for the trip include sharing in transportation costs once at destination, i.e. local transit and/or rental cars/vans.

You will also be responsible for all your meals and the costs for any events.

*Kucinich events and GOTV efforts in California

Dennis will be in California quite a lot in the coming weeks.The Peace Walkers will also be coming through California over the next couple of weeks. Please check out the national and California pages of kucinich.us for a current listing. Some have expressed interest in rallying outside one of the upcoming presidential debates in Los Angeles. There is opportunity to help in some of these events, but keep in mind that at this point in our California campaign we are focusing on getting out the vote and would truly appreciate your help in these areas. Ask Emily or Thia about strategically positioning you to help in these efforts, which could include canvassing, phone banking, delivering signs and materials, as well as general office needs.

Other ways to be part of the Peace Train

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

If it isn't feasible for you to travel by Air or train, don't let that stop you! Form a automobile caravan or take the bus. Meet up with us any way you can to help make Dennis shine in California!

Help us purchase materials

Can't join us this time on the train? How about helping us to purchase materials for our Get-Out-The-Vote efforts? $25, $50, $100, or $200 will make a tremendous difference to us.

Note: Any of these these donations/contributions may be sent to:

Kucinich for President, 21 Tamal Vista #175, Corte Madera, Ca. 94925. Please write Peace Train on the outside of your envelope and on your check. Credit card donations may be made by calling toll free (866) 388-2004

Sincerely,

Susan Fitzgerald and The Peace Train Team