Progressive Democrat Issue 57: THOUGHTS

This last week was the transit strike in NYC. Those who live in places where cars dominate cannot imagine how disruptive a transit strike can be. A transit strike in NYC basically strands 7 million people…which is roughly 1/1000 of the entire earth’s population. Kind of staggering. The strike illustrated the growing anti-labor movement in the US, even in NYC. This is a subject I hope to return to in future issues because labor has been such an important part of the progressive movement, yet progressives and labor have become estranged. I think this estrangement has been responsible for the difficulties faced by the Democratic Party as much as the loss of the Solid South has been. Labor and progressives are natural allies, but the right has successfully driven wedges between the two over the environment (the jobs vs. environment myth), development and the social wedge issues. In future issues I hope to come back to this problem because it is important.

Many argued against the NYC transit strike because it inconvenienced 7 million people. Well, I was greatly inconvenienced as well, but that does not mean I have to abandon my support of workers over a corrupt management. The MTA was responsible for the breakdown of the negotiations, not the union. And the MTA has consistently used fraudulent techniques (e.g. keeping two sets of accounting books) to justify rate hikes and job cuts even in times of a surplus. And the mayor and governor have let the MTA get away with it. So the union is dealing with a corrupt and unscrupulous management in the MTA. Inconvenience be damned! If labor is in the right then I support labor even if it means it takes me 3 hours each way to get to and from work or I can’t get into work so I have to abandon experiments. The union was right to strike and the MTA, governor and mayor were in the wrong.

Of course I am glad the strike is over! And I hope a reasonable contract is reached.

The strike has taken up so much of my attention that I kind of ignored national news. I am aware that the Democrats have successfully blocked drilling in the Arctic again, and have thrown a monkey wrench into Bush’s attempt to renew the very un-Patriotic “Patriot Act.” Make sure to write your Congress Critters and to the media supporting the Democrats in this. The tide is slowly turning but we have to continue to encourage this change to prevent the right wing from recovering.

Happy Holidays to all and thanks to all loyal readers.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: MEDIA ACTIVISM

Taking down the Treasonous Three (a partial success?)

I have previously discussed three particular right wing commentators whose actions or comments specifically make them, in my book, traitors to America. This Treasonous Three are Bill O’Reilly (advocating blowing up San Francisco), Ann Coulter (advocating beating up liberals and blowing up the NY Times building) and Bob Novak (outing a covert CIA agent, thus dealing the intelligence war against terrorism a set back). Thanks to the efforts of Media Matters and folks like you, it looks like we have finally gotten rid of one of the Treasonous Three. Bob Novak is leaving CNN. I find it interesting that he is leaving just one week after Media Matters for America delivered nearly 5,000 letters to CNN's Washington Bureau urging the network not to renew its contract with Novak. I think we may have just taken down one of the Treasonous Three! You can see more about this takedown, including a picture of the 5000 letters, on Daily Kos.

Only two more of the Treasonous Three to go! Can we take down Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly as well? I think it is imperative that we tell American media that we will not accept these right wing thugs advocating terrorism against American citizens. Let me quickly review the cases against Coulter and O'Reilly:


In his November 8th edition of "The Radio Factor", Bill O’Reilly said the following:
"And if Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead."

Bill O’Reilly advocated a terrorist attack on the United States of America. Let us continue to contact his top 4 sponsors and demand that they stop sponsoring a man who publicly has advocated for a terrorist attack on the United States.

According to his website, his corporate sponsors are:
· Equifax
· Life Quotes, Inc.
· EmigrantDirect.com
· Tempur-Pedic

Equifax is one of the "Big Three" credit reporting agencies. I sent an email to their Media Relations contact, David Rubinger .

Life Quotes, Inc. appears to be part of Quotesmith.com, Inc., which runs www.insure.com, a "comprehensive online customer insurance information service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers." The two contacts that I sent an email to are the Vice President of Sales, Brian Gibson , and the Executive Vice President and COO, William V. Thomas .

EmigrantDirect.com is a subsidiary of Emigrants Savings Bank. I could not find any contact information other than their main helpdesk

Tempur-Pedic is the miracle NASA mattress people. I sent my email to them at

Contact these advertisers and demand that they pull their sponsorship of Bill O’Reilly’s radio show. If you want a sample letter, and if you also want to find a list of radio stations that carry his show so you can complain to them as well, please refer to the Daily Kos diary on this issue.


Ann Coulter’s treasonous statement was to suggest that the Oklahoma City Bombers were only wrong in that they didn’t bomb the NY Times building. In effect, she was advocating a terrorist attack on NYC before al Qaeda actually did it. Her treason pre-dates the treason of O’Reilly and the Bob Novak. But more recently Ann Coulter may have actually incited violence and (according to the Patriot Act) a terrorist attack on Paul Mirecki, the Kansas University professor who's under fire for a verbal defense of evolution against Christian fundamentalists as I outline in previous issues. Days before the attack, this is what Ann Coulter (the same woman who said that the WTC bombers should have bombed the NY Times building) said in an interview she had with Bill O'Rilley (the terrorist advocate who called for the bombing of San Francisco): (from Media Matters)

[Coulter] complained that several conservative pundits have security details when going to speak at college campuses and stated, "No liberal has to have security. Though I'd like to change that." She also claimed, "I think what mostly encourages violence is [liberals'] incapacity to formulate an argument." As Media Matters has documented, Coulter has said, "I think a baseball bat is the most effective way these days" to talk to liberals.

Ann Coulter is advocating that people attack you and me with baseball bats. And someone seems to have taken her up on that and attacked Paul Mirecki. Ann Coulter has called for beating up liberals and for bombing the NY Times building. And yet she is still considered a major pundit by the Mainstream Media! COMPLAIN! This is a woman who advocates bombing NYC and beating up liberals and people are LISTENING to her.

Contact her employers at United Press:

Tobin Beck, Executive Editor United Press International: tbeck@upi.com
Letters to the editor: Phone: (202) 898-8000
Fax: (202) 898-8057
Address: 1510 H St NW 6th Fl Washington, DC 20005

CNN frequently picks up her columns and has her as a guest on shows. Please complain to them telling them that they are allowing this woman to advocate hate crimes and terrorism. Don't forget to also THANK THEM for dropping the treasonous Bob Novak. Tell them they also need to stop picking up Ann Coulter's columns because of her treasonous remarks.

MSNBC also brings her on a lot. Complain to them as well:
viewerservices@msnbc.com

It's time for CNN and MSNBC to stop helping Ann Coulter to spew her false and offensive bile to the American public.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: CONSUMER ACTIVISM: Protecting public health

This is from the Union of Concerned Scientists print newsletter (I don’t find it on their website yet):

Wendy’s is the nation’s third largest fast-food company. As such it is a major customer for the agricultural industry and purchaser of meat. A large part of the meat industry raises animals using antibiotic feed additives. As outlined by the Union of Concerned Scientists this misuse of antibiotics leads to an increase of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which then pose a severe health hazard for humans. Already new antibiotics like Cipro (a first line defense against anthrax, for example) are losing their effectiveness. The discovery of new antibiotics is only barely keeping pace with the loss of effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Simply put, the routine use of antibiotics in the agriculture industry is endangering our health and the health of our children.

McDonald’s has already set a good example by implementing an antibiotics policy that gives preference to meat from animals raised without routine antibiotic use. Although this isn’t perfect, it is a huge step in the right direction. The Union of Concerned Scientists is trying to get Wendy’s to follow suit. Fast food chains are among the nation’s biggest customers of agriculture, so they hold a considerable influence over agricultural practices. McDonald’s actions is already leading to some changes in the agriculture sector, encouraging a reduction in the routine use of antibiotics in animal feed. If Wendy’s also adopts a policy that favors our health and discourages the routine use of antibiotics in animal feed, there will very likely be a real shift in how many farms raise their meat.

Please write to Wendy’s encouraging them to follow the lead of McDonald’s by halting the purchase of meat produced with antibiotic additives in their feed and to establish a tracking system that will ensure Wendy’s meat suppliers comply with this policy. Send letters to:

John Schulessler
CEO Wendy’s International
c/o Union of Concerned Scientists
1707 H. St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006

Also write to/call Wendy’s directly:

Wendy's Consumer Relations
Wendy's International, Inc.
4288 W. Dublin-Granville Rd.
Dublin, OH 43017

Phone: (614) 764-3100

As a side note I want to mention that another fast food chain, Chipotle, is already trying to primarily use meat raised without antibiotics or meat by products and raised humanely. Again, from Union of Concerned Scientists:

During a January 2, 2004 National Public Radio interview, Chipotle founder and CEO Steve Ells revealed a strong desire to be able to say that all of the beef, chicken, and pork served in his restaurants are raised on vegetarian feed, without antibiotics, and produced the "old fashioned" way. Today, finding meat suppliers that meet these criteria is a challenge for socially conscious restaurants, but Ells hopes to leverage his buying power to change the way animals are raised.

Chipotle already buys its pork from Niman Ranch, a private company that raises its pigs without antibiotics, in barns and pastures with open space for the animals to roam freely. Yet Chipotle has not been able to find an adequate supply of sustainably raised poultry, including chicken produced without unnecessary antibiotics, to support the needs of its restaurants nationwide. Ells hopes that the purchasing power of the rapidly growing chain will lower the prices of antibiotic-free meat as demand rises.

Please take this into account when you choose your fast-food restaurants (if you do at all!) and please write to Chipotle and tell them you approve of what they are doing.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: NYC FOCUS

A great deal has been said by Bloomberg, Pataki and the media against the TWU’s decision to strike. Although I do not agree with everything the TWU was demanding, that is how negotiations go: both sides demand too much then find a compromise. Overall, the behavior of the MTA over the past 5 years or so has been so horrible that I start out biased against them. But it also is clear that the breakdown in negotiations was due to a sudden and last-minute change in the MTA position veering AWAY from compromise. There is room for a diversity of opinions on the strike, but I resent the fact that the media has been so anti-labor and that the mayor and governor chose to grandstand rather than either a.) holding the MTA accountable for its frequent accounting fraud or b.) acting as impartial moderators.

In the name of balance I want to point people to some pro-union information. First are my comments on Daily Kos covering the beginning of the strike.

Here is a statement from the Working Families Party on the strike.

The Drum Major Institute also has an excellent statement on the conflicts just before the strike.

And here is an excellent Daily Kos diary discussing the REAL issues behind the strike, something we all need to keep in mind.

Although the strike is over for now, negotiations continue. Our opinions on the issues surrounding the strike need to be heard.

CALL THE MTA AND PATAKI:

Please take a moment today to call the numbers below to tell the MTA and the governor that you see the strike as THEIR fault, and that you expect them to be fair to the workers.

MTA: (212) 878-7274
Governor Pataki: (518) 474-7516

And, of course, make sure you tell the media how you feel.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: BROOKLYN/QUEENS GROUPS AND EVENTS

ALL NYC:

PHONE BANKING AGAINST ALITO:

Phone banking: PFAW and ACT NY are both hosting phone banks, the former on Thursdays, the latter on Sundays.

Thursday, 6-9 PM, 149 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor. Call or email Tony Simone at 212-420-0440 x13 or tsimone@pfaw.org to volunteer.

Sunday, time and location TBA, with ACT NY. To learn more, please email actnewyork@gmail.com.



CRITCAL MASS BICYCLE MOVEMENT! Critical Mass is a bicyclist movement (NOT an organized group!) that holds weekly protests all over the world to protest pollution. Rides are the last Friday of every month starting in Union Sq. Park North, 7PM! At a DFNYC meeting attended by Norm Seigel, Norm used Critical Mass as an example of the kind of activism that NYC needs most and the way Bloomberg is trying to squelch our rights and our voices. Critical Mass deserves our help. According to Bloomberg, my inclusion of this in my newsletter is probably illegal. Well, I refuse to let Bloomberg tell me what I can and cannot write in my Newsletter.

http://www.times-up.org/cm.php


And see their NYC calendar for Bike Workshops and other rides (including ones outside Manhattan). http://www.times-up.org/calendar/calendar.php


There is more you can do to support Critical Mass. This comes from a reader in Manhattan:

To help keep people involved in Critical Mass, people who might be sacred off because of renewed aggressiveness by the police, I have started a pledge drive that sponsors arrestees. This is a great way for people to stay involved in Critical Mass, stay on top of the issue, and use the NYPD and Bloomberg's tactics to work for us not against us. I am pledging $2 per arrestee, and the money will go to the Legal Aid Society. Pledges are made on the honor system. The more bicyclists the cops arrest the more money for defending civil rights is raised.


BROOKLYN EVENTS:

Democracy for America Meetings: CLICK HERE! WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 7PM

Park Slope/Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Heights Coffee Lounge, 335 Flatbush Ave (btwn. Park Place and Prospect), with host Wole Parks and Jon Stone, guest TBD

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Royal Oak, 594 Union Avenue (@ North 11th) with host Ben Morrison

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Wycoff-Bennette Homestead, 1669 East 22nd. St. (between Quentin & Kings Highway), with hosts Annette Mott and Estelle Glasser


MARJORIE'S OZZIE’S MEETUP: I also recommend joining Marjorie's meetups and getting Marjorie’s very informative newsletter which you can get by contacting her at: johnkerry57@covad.net

Independent Neighborhood Democrats: Contact me or Devin Cohen: devincohen@msn.com if you are interested. http://www.indbrooklyn.org/

Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) (mostly covers Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Kensington. http://www.cbidems.org/


Lambda Independent Democrats (Brooklyn’s gay and lesbian organization) for meeting info contact LID@LIDBrooklyn.org.

DRINKING LIBERALLY: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Here are our local Brooklyn groups:

Park Slope: First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward, Commonwealth, 497 5th Ave (at 12th Street). Hosted by Emily Farris and Peter Wohlsen, parkslope (at) drinkingliberally.org

Williamsburg: Every Tuesday, 8:00 pm onward the Levee, 212 Berry St. (corner of N. 3rd). Hosted by Elana Levin and Michael Freedman-Schnapp, williamsburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

To find your nearest Brooklyn Democratic club, please CLICK HERE.

QUEENS:

Democracy for America Meetings: CLICK HERE! WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 7PM

Bayside, Queens, The First Edition, 41-08 Bell Blvd, right near the LIRR stop, with host Steve Behar of Democrats for New Politics


Queens Jefferson Democratic Club: Our meetings are normally held the first Thursday of every month, @ 8:00 p.m. (the doors open @ 7:30 P.M.) except for July, August, and months in which a holiday falls on the First Thursday. Meetings are held at the Auburndale American Legion Hall, 198-09 33rd Ave Flushing, New York 11358 (just off Francis Lewis Blvd. near 33rd Avenue).

Queens County Young Democrats: for information CLICK HERE.

DRINKING LIBERALLY: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Here are our local Queens groups:

ASTORIA: Third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward. Cassidy's, 34-16 Broadway (at 35th Street). Hosted by Bob Chamerda, astoria (at) drinkingliberally.org

To find your nearest Queens Democratic club, please CLICK HERE.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: MANHATTAN GROUPS AND EVENTS

PHONE BANKING AGAINST ALITO:

Phone banking: PFAW and ACT NY are both hosting phone banks, the former on Thursdays, the latter on Sundays.

Thursday, 6-9 PM, 149 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor. Call or email Tony Simone at 212-420-0440 x13 or tsimone@pfaw.org to volunteer.

Sunday, time and location TBA, with ACT NY. To learn more, please email actnewyork@gmail.com.

CRITCAL MASS BICYCLE MOVEMENT! Critical Mass is a bicyclist movement (NOT an organized group!) that holds weekly protests all over the world to protest pollution. Rides are the last Friday of every month starting in Union Sq. Park North, 7PM! At a DFNYC meeting attended by Norm Seigel, Norm used Critical Mass as an example of the kind of activism that NYC needs most and the way Bloomberg is trying to squelch our rights and our voices. Critical Mass deserves our help. According to Bloomberg, my inclusion of this in my newsletter is probably illegal. Well, I refuse to let Bloomberg tell me what I can and cannot write in my Newsletter.

http://www.times-up.org/cm.php


And see their NYC calendar for Bike Workshops and other rides (including ones outside Manhattan). http://www.times-up.org/calendar/calendar.php


There is more you can do to support Critical Mass. This comes from a reader in Manhattan:

To help keep people involved in Critical Mass, people who might be sacred off because of renewed aggressiveness by the police, I have started a pledge drive that sponsors arrestees. This is a great way for people to stay involved in Critical Mass, stay on top of the issue, and use the NYPD and Bloomberg's tactics to work for us not against us. I am pledging $2 per arrestee, and the money will go to the Legal Aid Society. Pledges are made on the honor system. The more bicyclists the cops arrest the more money for defending civil rights is raised.


Democracy for America Meetings: CLICK HERE! WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 7PM

Upper West Side, 420 Bar and Lounge, 420 Amsterdam Avenue @ 80th, featuring a forum for the 67th Assembly District special election hosts Merle McEldowney and Heather Woodfield, Please arrive on time as the forum will begin promptly at 7:00.

Upper East Side, Manhattan Lounge, 1720 2nd Ave. (btwn. 89th & 90th) with hosts Lewis Cohen and David Kogelman, guest TBD

West Village, Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St. (near 7th Ave.) with hosts Dana Northcraft and Nicole Shore, guest TBD

East Village, Raven, 194 Avenue A (@ 12th St.) with host Josh Skaller, guest TBD



DRINKING LIBERALLY: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Here are our local Manhattan groups:

Upper East Side Last Tuesday of each month, 6:30 pm onward, Doc Watson's, 1490 2nd Avenue (at 77th). In the backyard, weather permitting. Hosted by Matthew Bachiochi, ues (at) drinkingliberally.org

In Manhattan: Thursday, 7:30 pm onward, Rudy's, 627 9th Avenue (between 44th & 45th Streets). Hosted by Justin Krebs and Matthew O'Neill, nyc (at) drinkingliberally.org

Bar Hopping Manhattan: Second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-9:00 pm
A monthly Democratic drinking club at different gay bars around Manhattan. Join the mailing list to receive updates of future venues. Hosted by Dirk McCall, outnyc (at) drinkingliberally.org

East Village: Last Wednesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward, Grassroots Tavern, 20 Saint Mark's Place (between 2nd and 3rd). Hosted by Quinn Raymond, Elena Morin and Abby Cook-Mack, eastvillage (at) drinkingliberally.org

For those who prefer running to biking, you can join RUNNING FOR CHANGE: Building a progressive America through organized runs and other grassroots activities.

To find your nearest Manhattan Democratic club, please CLICK HERE.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: NEW JERSEY GROUPS AND EVENTS

Democracy for America Meetups: DFA is one of the best hopes we have of retaking America. I strongly urge you to get involved with your local group. New Jersey for Democracy Meetups take place on the first Wednesday of every month @ 7pm. There are many meetups around the state: North, Central and South Jersey.


Wal-Mart Movie and a Dinner, 12/28; We will be showing "Wal-Mart, the high cost of low price" followed by dinner at a local in eatery in the Hackettstown area. Wednesday, December 28, 2005 7:00 PM MS Health Software Bldg 605 Grand Ave Hackettstown, NJ 07840. For more info, go here.

Common Cause: Common Cause is a major force in Progressive Politics. It was founded in 1970 (by a Republican, mind you!) to counter the influence of special interests in Washington. Today they work on many of the same issues I am trying to highlight. Check out the NJ Common Cause website.

Here is how you can find your local Dem clubs. Go to HERE and click on your county.

Drinking Liberally: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Find your local drinking liberally group or start your own with a few buddies: Currently there is only one group in New Jersey:

New Brunswick, 1st/3rd Tuesday each month, 7:00 PM @ Doll's Place, 101 Paterson St. New Brunswick, NJ

Hoboken, New Jersey, Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward, Mulligan's, 159 1st Street (between Bloomfield and Garden), Hosted by David Alpert and Ali Savino, hoboken (at) drinkingliberally.org

Princeton, Every Thursday, 7:00 pm, Annex Restaurant at 128 Nassau St., Princeton. princeton@drinkingliberally.org

RUNNING FOR CHANGE: For those who prefer running to biking, you can join RUNNING FOR CHANGE: Building a progressive America through organized runs and other grassroots activities.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: VIRGINIA GROUPS AND EVENTS

Democracy for America: One of the best ways to get active! FIND YOUR LOCAL DFA MEETUP AND GET INVOLVED!

Tuesday, January 10th, 6:30 -8:30pm. Regular VGC Monthly Meetup at Capitol City Brewing, 2700 S. Quincy St (at the corner of 28th). We’ll be in the Brewer’s Room in back. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for program details. info@vagrassroots.org

January 7th, 2006, Out of Iraq Day

January 14th – 16th Washington, D.C. Politics and Spirituality: Seeking a Public Integrity at the Hyatt Capitol Hill, FEATURING: Anne Lamott, Richard Rohr, and Jim Wallis. The Politics and Spirituality conference is sponsored by Sojourners and the Center for Action and Contemplation. Registration HERE. Contact: register@cacradicalgrace.org

The Democratic Party: Here are links to some of your local Dem clubs. This is another very important way to be active.

Albemarle County Democratic Committee, Albemarle County, VA

Arlington County Democrats, Arlington VA. Contact Name: Elizabeth Weitzman mewsician1@msn.com (703) 528-8588

Arlington Young Democrats, Arlington VA. Contact Name: Jaime Mulligan publicity@arlingtonyoungdems.org 571-334-7626

Democratic Party of Fluvanna County, Virginia, Bremo Bluff, Virginia VA

Hanover Democrats, Ashland VA

Loudoun County Democratic Committee, Leesburg, VA. Contact Name: Steve Deak chairman@lcdems.com

Norfolk Democratic Party Meetup, Norfolk VA. Contact Name: Alma D. Kesling akesling@yahoo.com 757 333-8694

Rappahannock County Democrats, Rappahannock VA.

Stafford County Democrats, Fredericksburg VA:

Virginia Beach Democrats, VA

Virginia Young Democrats, Richmond, VA. Contact Name: Justin Wilson justin@justin.net


Drinking Liberally: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Find your local drinking liberally group or start your own with a few buddies. Currently there are only two Drinking Liberally groups in all of VA (see below). But it is easy to start your own!

Charlottesville, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Mellow Mushroom, 1320 West Main Street, Hosted by Jared Jenkins, charlottesville (at) drinkingliberally.org

Richmond, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Thursday, 7:30 pm onward Commercial Taphouse, 111 N Robinson St. Hosted by Scott Goode, richmond (at) drinkingliberally.org


RUNNING FOR CHANGE: And if you want a healthier alternative to Drinking Liberally (or want to do some running after your drinking), you can RUN for progressive causes. Building a progressive America through organized runs and other grassroots activities. To find your local Running for Change events, CLICK HERE.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: NATIONAL ACTION

I want to reintroduce you to a great resource for progressives. Allonovo.com is, to quote their website, “fostering cooperation in the market between supply and demand by introducing Corporate Social Responsibility as a competitive demand factor. This will cause the free market to naturally balance people, planet and profit within the supply chain.

“We accomplish our mission by providing a socio-values driven shopping portal to catalyze an informed marketforce demand. We also include Social Responsibility news aggregation, a community information exchange, subject matter expert blogging and SR-related community education.

Our vision embodies a fair, growing economy that does not conflict with all living beings' rights to clean air, fresh water and living their lives with dignity and opportunity.”

Please visit their website and make full use of their resources. It could be the beginning of a new way for progressives to use their consumer muscle.

Progressive Democrat Issue 57: GETTING LOCAL AROUND THE NATION

This is how our coalition will be built: through out local action. Our success depends on you and your activism. There are many ways you can get active. Below I try to provide a good variety of options and urge you all to find a couple that suit you. These groups below are the way we can get our country back. If we don’t get involved we won’t win in 2005, 2006 and beyond. Joy and I are currently involved in two groups plus our own organizing efforts bringing different groups together and we are finding it a good boost to our social life. We are meeting cool people and it makes us get out a couple of times a month more than we would otherwise.

Finding your local groups:

Democracy for America: Founded by Howard Dean, now run by his brother Jim Dean, this group is very effective at the local grass roots. Many think this is the future of the Democratic Party. I think this is partly true, though the neighborhood Dem party clubs will continue to be vital to our efforts as well. This is a group that you really should be active in either by joining a local meetup or starting one of your own.


Drinking Liberally: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Find your local drinking liberally group or start your own with a few buddies.


The Democratic Party: Now that Howard Dean is in the driver’s seat I am hoping the Democrats will become more effective on the local level. One of the main complaints against the DNC in the past couple of elections is that they didn’t help the local parties in most parts of the nation. If you go to the DNC website and find the “Get Local” pull down menu on the left, you can find your local Dem groups. I strongly urge you to get involved with your local Dem club since it is often these groups that actually do much of the footwork to win each district.

Critical Mass: Critical Mass is a bicyclist movement (NOT an organized group!) that holds weekly protests all over the world to protest pollution. Go here to find the closest Critical Mass action in your area (site covers ALL of North America).


Wellstone Action: Paul Wellstone started something in Minnesota and his death hasn’t stopped it. Wellstone’s family is continuing his work and expanding it throughout the nation. Wellstone Action trains activists and grassroots candidates and they did very well in the last election. I urge you to look into any nearby Wellstone Action events.


Common Cause: Common Cause is a major force in Progressive Politics. It was founded in 1970 (by a Republican, mind you!) to counter the influence of special interests in Washington. Today they work on many of the same issues I am trying to highlight. Look for your state’s Common Cause organization.

To find the League of Conservation Voters branch in your state, CLICK HERE. This is the group you should be involved with if the environment is your thing.

To find the NARAL branch in your state, CLICK HERE. This is the group you should be involved with if choice is your thing.

Finally I suggest Americans for Democratic Action. ADA is a progressive branch of the Democratic Party. Email: adaction@ix.netcom.com for info on local groups.