Progressive Democrat Issue 129: THOUGHTS

There is some discontent among Democrats because of the FISA fiasco where some 57 Democrats sided with the Republicans against the Constitution. Disappointing! And I want to discuss that a bit with some solid suggestions on what to do about it.

Let's keep one fact firmly in mind before we discuss the Democrats: the erosion of American civil liberties, the destruction of our defining document, the Constitution, and the betrayal of our founding fathers' dream for America, has been led by Bush, the bulk of the Republican Party, and that Benidict Arnold, Joe Lieberman. Most of the blame for this crap is squarely on the Republicans.

Most...

But not all.

And therein is a massive problem for those of us who want to fight against the destruction of American democracy. We don't have too many choices in how to fight. As I recently outlined, the Republicans are actively attacking America's very foundations: the Constitution, our economy, our national security. Being an independent or Green or whatever other nobody flash in the pan is tantamount to having no role in how our nation is run whatsoever. Political insignificance, the path of the independent, the Libertarian, the Green, the apathetic...that is doing nothing but abandoning American democracy to destruction at the hands of the Republicans. Like it or not, that is what it is.

Which leaves us with the Democrats. And sadly, though, as I have proudly explained before, the Democrats CAN do great things, right now the Democrats have failed us.

But that isn't quite accurate, and it is critical to keep that in mind. It isn't the majority of Democrats who have failed us. It is some 57 SPECIFIC Democrats who failed us.

And, to quote a recent dKos diary, "Enough Already with the Pathetic Excuses!" There is NO EXCUSE for ANYONE in Congress, Democrat OR Republican, to further erode our civil liberties. Unlike some around here, I recognize getting us out of Iraq is a process and we have been moving, slowly I admit, in the right direction. Impeachment needs more work, but I expect slow progress on that. Hoping for MORE progress on that, but the impeachment of Nixon took awhile to take off, too.

But more abandonment of the Constitution? No! To the 57 Democrats who joined the Republicans in attacking America: ENOUGH WITH THE PATHETIC EXCUSES! You are NOT protecting America. Enough already. Enough. You are HURTING America. The Republicans and those 57 Democrats are SURRENDERING American democracy to Muslim extremists. Bush, the bulk of the Republican Party and those 57 Democrats are letting their fear of terrorism defeat America.

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

--Benjamin Franklin

We should tatoo that on the foreheads of every single politician who supported the Bush/Republican FISA fiasco. We should FORCE every single one of them to get that tatooed on their heads...in the name of national security, because if we lose the Constitution to fear, we lose the war against the terrorists.

But I am not one to just yell, or give up. Nor am I one who will blame all Democrats for what 57 Democrats did. Most Democrats voted against it...yet it still passed. So what do we do?

I have two suggestions.

The first suggestion I am taking from another disgruntled dKos diary:

This diary begins by saying that primary Challenges are a weak response. Although I believe a lot can be accomplished in primaries if more people paid attention, in genral I agree. Don't look to the next election to get busy. Just get busy now. The author of this diary has some excellent suggestions for those who are pissed as hell. They essentially boil down to on't get angry. Don't get even. Get busy. Here are her specific and very powerful suggestions:

What else can we do?

* Go to town halls. Make your voice heard as a constitutent
* Schedule regular constituent meetings with staff and representatives wherever you are.
* Schedule lobbying trips to DC to discuss at length the issues that matter.
* Create our own legislation, like Energize America and find sponsors.
* Create focused media events LOCALLY, addressing specific positions of your representatives, to appear in the local media.

Two examples:

In Buffalo a year or so ago, a small group of people scheduled a series of events on Net Neutrality, specifically requesting that Chuck Shumer take a position, and planned a rally and invited the media. i think they did it at his local office, or at a local event he was appearing at. At any rate, before the event happened, Shumer came out with a position, supporting the group. In the end the rally became a thank you, instead. The group gave him ample warning and made many requests. The pressure worked. Not everything will be that easy, but if we're smart and focused enough, it'll wear down, it'll work. I can tell you one thing for sure, it'll work a LOT better than ALL DEMOCRATS SUCK! I'M NOT PARTICIPATING ANY MORE. Why did this one work? It was focused, it was specific, it was local.

Also, another Buffalo group that was focusing on housing issues spray-painted a picture of Governor Pataki on all the abandoned houses in town that a company that Pataki had dealings with owned and were sitting on, letting rot and damage neighborhoods and communities. They did lots of media events, lots of lobbying and collaborating with other elected officials. They hit ALL ANGLES. And they're making progress. They got money from Pataki, thanks to all these pressure points, to start dealing with some of the housing issues. It wasn't everything they needed but it was a significant step forward that wouldn't have happened with out targeted pressure. Embarrassment can work. Also, hitting multiple angles. Focused action.

And she ends with something most of us forget...and forget at our peril, as I will highlight at the end of this diary:

Listen, this shit is hard work. I understand people's frustration, but if we really want things to change, we gotta get focused and be willing to think and change course and strategize.

That is my first suggested course of action: Get Fucking Busy and Get in Their Faces! Democrat or Republican, call them, ask for an appointment. Call every day if you have to. Meet with them. Call them again. FAX them. Get your friends and family doing the same. Call them again. Ask for another appointment. Organize a local group to keep on calling them and getting in their faces.

That is the first thing to do.

The second is to focus attention more on organizations that are pulling the Democrats back to traditional, progressive American values rather than staying focused on the Democratic Party itself.

But first let me say that some Democrats in Congress deserve, and need, our help more than ever. Recently I set up a "Freshman Allstar" list. This was a list of Democratic freshmen Congressional Reps. who are being targeted by Karl Rove who have to date shown considerable leadership on progressive issues. Let me go on record right now that every single person I chose for my Freshman Allstars list voted AGAINST the Republican led attack on our Constitution. Every one of them. This is why I still stand up for the Democrats as a whole: because in the Democratic Party there are some EXCELLENT men and women and if we attack the party as a whole, then we are abandoning our best allies.

So let me once again highlight the Freshmen Allstars, who CONTINUE to show excellent leadership on practically every issue that matters to most of us, and hence are going to be heavily targeted by Republicans in 2008. You want Democratic spine? Show your support for these men and women who genuinely SHOW spine. THESE are the people we want representing us, so let's let them know that. This can be one of the best ways to influence Congress: support those who DO vote the way you like.

But in general, I say it is time to focus less on the Democratic Party per se, and to volunteer and donate far MORE to those groups who push a true, American progressive agenda on issues like Iraq, impeachment, clean elections, minimum wage, marriage equality, environment, civil liberties...etc. Give time and money to the groups that have organized around the agendas that matter to you. This is another part of fighting hard: strengthening the infrastructure that we have really just barely gotten up and running. With this in mind, I give you a new list of mine, highlighting NOT candidates, but America's Progressive Organizations. (For those who wonder, people DO donate to my Act Blue lists. To date I have collected more than $3000 towards the 2008 elections.)

I choose organizations like Stem Cell Action and Clean Water Action that focus on issues, I choose organizations like Mainstream Moms Operation Blue and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America PAC which are spearheading the fight to get us out of Iraq, I highlight organizations like South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families that are fighting for a woman's right to choose, and I highlight Democracy for America and it's offshoots that have revitalized, to some degree, the left thanks to Howard Dean's leadership. Fed up with the slow progress in Congress? These are the organizations that have given the grassroots an infrastructure that has started to make them effective for once. Let's make them MORE effective.

Republicans remain a threat to our democracy. Political insignificance is plain dumb. Some Democrats deserve our whole hearted support because THEY are doing what we elected them for. But mostly, we need to focus on fighting harder, louder and more on message than ever. And it will take time and effort.

Here is a dKos diary describing one person who confronted one of those Democrats who voted against democracy on the FISA issue at a Town Hall meeting. THIS is what we need to be doing. The experience was frustrating for the Kossack who confronted him, but make no mistake: I guarantee that the confrontation made an impact on the audience AND on the Senator. If it is an isolated event, then it will mean little. If it happens again...and again...and again...then it will have an impact. I had a similar confrontation, in the company of a couple of dozen MoveOn.org activists, with a staff member of Chuck Schumer's over the first $87 billion Congress approved for Bush's illegal war. The confrontation we had DID make an impression. Sadly, those of us who participated allowed it to be an isolated incident. That was our mistake. And, too often, it is the mistake we ALL make. We need to make MORE phone calls and make appointments with our Congressional staff and attend town hall meetings. Confront the bastards who can't muster the spine to stand up to Bush. And confront the Republican bastards who are LEADING the attack on American democracy. Confront them ALL, Dem and Repub, on our Constitutional rights. Confront them ALL, Dem and Repub alike, about getting us out of Iraq. To quote the one, single good thing Ron Paul has said, "just bring them home now." And confront them all, Dem and Repub, on impeachment. Does American stand for the rule of law or arbitrary, authoritarian rule by the President?

Don't give up the fight. INTENSIFY the fight. That is my answer.

Remember:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

--Benjamin Franklin

And:

Listen, this shit is hard work. I understand people's frustration, but if we really want things to change, we gotta get focused and be willing to think and change course and strategize.

Let's get busy.

Here is this week's Newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

IRAQ BY THE NUMBERS

NEGLECTING AMERICA PART II

REPUBLICAN RACISM

NEW YORK FOCUS: NY-13 Congressional Race

MISSISSIPPI FOCUS: Revisiting the Insurance Issue

NEW HAMPSHIRE FOCUS: Getting rid of Bush-Booster Sununu

IRAQ BY THE NUMBERS

Sometimes you just have to look at the numbers to know what is right and what is wrong. These are the numbers that Bush tries to hide so he can try and convince us that all is well with Iraq. This is taken from Daily Kos:

Iraq by the numbers is an infuriating and ferociously saddening exercise. But let's do it anyway.

655,000: Iraqi deaths a Johns-Hopkins study attributed to the war nine months ago.

2770: Iraqi civilians killed in May 2007, according to government reports. (Actual figure unknown because the Iraqi government refuses to share its data with outside agencies that could verify totals.)

1.9 million: Estimated Iraqis displaced within the country.

2.35 million: Estimated Iraqi exiles outside the country in January 2007.

18,000: Iraqi doctors who have fled the country since March 2003.

???: Iraqis orphaned by the war – no reliable statistics.

25%: Iraqi children who are malnourished (May 2006).

130,000: U.S. troops taking part in the invasion at Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's insistence.

500,000: U.S. troops estimated to be necessary by generals who put together a prewar contingency plan.

$60-$95 billion: Total cost of Iraq war and aftermath calculated by Paul Wolfowitz in February 2003.

$600 billion: Money Congress has allocated for direct costs of the war and occupation so far.

$750 billion: Total the Cheney-Bush Administration has sought for keeping the occupation going through September 2008.

$140,000: Estimated cost per minute of the war and occupation in 2007.

$2 trillion: Total direct and indirect costs of war and occupation (through 2010) calculated by Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Blimes in January 2006.

$9 billion: Taxpayer money that disappeared in Iraq.

$549.7 million: Value of unaccounted for spare parts shipped to contractors in 2004.

$1.4 billion: Overcharges by Halliburton.

6,000-10,000: Estimated number of U.S. troops whose injuries have included brain trauma.

30%: Estimated percentage of troops who develop serious mental problems within three or four months after returning from Iraq.

14: Journalists killed by U.S. forces in Iraq.

112: Total number of journalists killed in Iraq.

1-2 a day: Hours of electricity available to the average residential household in Baghdad. (Actual figure unknown since U.S. no longer reports the electricity figures for the city.)

5000: "Diehard" insurgents the Pentagon estimated to be fighting on July 28, 2003.

20-30,000: Insurgents the Pentagon estimated in October 2006.

70,000: Insurgents the Pentagon estimated in March 2007.

69%: Iraqis who say U.S. presence worsens security situation (polled in March 2007).

71%: Iraqis who want U.S. troops out within a year (polled in September 2006).

71%: Americans who want U.S. to withdraw troops by April 2008 (polled in July 2007).

52%: U.S. Senators who have voted to withdraw most troops by April 2008.

8%: Republican Senators who have voted to withdraw most troops by April 2008.

NEGLECTING AMERICA: Republican Neglect and our Bridges

Last week I ranted about how the stated policy of the Republican Party to "drown the Federal Government in a bathtub" is directly responsible for the disasters in New Orleans, the Minnesota bridge, rising mercury levels in our fish and the Minnesota bridge disaster. The Republican policy can be called Neglecting America. Well, things may be worse than we think, at least in some states.

Daily Gotham had a depressing article, complete with map, showing county-by-county the parts of America where bridges are deficient, and so could collapse as suddenly as the bridge in Minnesota.

Here is the map (orange and red are counties that really have to worry)



I live in NY State...where every single county has structurally questionable bridges. It makes me wonder about the rest of our infrastructure as well. Maybe it's time for government to start working for the PEOPLE again, rather than for Halliburton and Exxon.

REPUBLICAN RACISM

Race is an issue that makes Americans very uncomfortable. And to be honest, as someone with skin about as pale as it gets, I feel odd bringing it up sometimes.

But I have also found that the discussions that result when I bring it up, sometimes in blog comments, sometimes privately by email, are always excellent and appreciated by people whose skin contain far more melanin than mine.

To paraphrase a well known black blogger from Brooklyn, commenting on one of my diaries, "I may not agree with everything you say, but I really thank you for bringing these issues up."

One thing that has been blatantly obvious to me at least since the Willie Horton ads, and whict will be blatantly obvious on a large scale if Barack Obama wins the primary nomination, is that the Republican Party is willing and eager to use racism as a tool to win elections. Republican racism can be seen in the fact that Republicans have resisted every effort to extend civil rights in America since the 1960's. There are certainly racist Democrats as well, but for the last 40 years every single piece of civil rights legislation was crafted and enacted by Democrats and largely opposed by Republicans.

I think a defining moment in my realization of the racial and class disparities in America was Katrina.



(Image from Dan Harlow.com)

My response to what I saw then was to focus on the need for under-represented and under served people to take a strong role in the political system, because without such a role, our society treated them like nothing.

Another defining moment in my realization of the racial and class issues in America was during a hotly contested Congressional primary in Brooklyn where race shouldn't have been an issue, but became an issue, and my family was accused of reverse racism because we supported a black candidate...who also was a friend and who was endorsed by Democracy for NYC and many other progressive organizations. This Congressional race led my wife to ask "Why are we only supposed to be color blind during an election," a statement that inspired one of my more passionate articles, I think. I should note that in this case the racism that played out in the primary election was a subtle, muted form of racism among Democrats. So I am not saying racism is uniquely Republican...but when it comes to racism, the Republicans outdo Democrats hands down.

In America, the role of racism in politics is prevalent, particularly in the Republican Party. But the Democratic Party, despite its civil rights leadership, largely allows Republicans to get away with racism. This is a point that comes up in Drew Westen's book The Political Brain, which I will soon be reviewing more generally. To quote Westen:

One of Reagan's first acts as president was to try to defy Federal Law by securing tax exempt status for Bob Jones university despite the fact it practiced racial discrimination (forbidding interracial dating). This reflected a deliberate, conscious decision...And the Supreme Court was not forgiving, ultimately rebuking Reagan in an 8-1 decision. Yet the Republicans have used the same "southern strategy" in every presidential election they have won since 1968, and Democrats have never once made them pay for it.

Reagan, of course, had also opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1965, yet many Americans STILL saw him as basically a "nice guy." Truth is, one on one, Reagan WAS a nice guy, widely recognized as one of the nicest people in California politics in terms of how he treated people right down to the lowliest campaign worker (I get this from someone who was an insider in California politics at one time). But nice guys don't withhold basic rights from entire segments of American society.

But that is exactly what the Republican Party does. They may talk "state's rights" but "state's rights" NEVER was supposed to mean the withholding of Constitutional rights from people with dark skin. What it really boils down to is the use of racism as a tool to win elections. If blacks aren't voting Republican, Republicans don't want blacks to vote. And they go way out of their way to discourage black voting.

Again, from Westen's book:

Since the mid-1960's, the party of Lincoln has desecrated his memory. Republicans have opposed every effort to extend equal rights to anyone who isn't white. They have played the race card in every presidential election they have won since 1968. As long as Democrats don't turn racism into a character issue, Republicans will continue to use it as an instrument of political persuasion.

In 2006 there are two very instructive Senate races: Virginia and Tennessee. In Virginia, the Republican incumbent used a racial slur against a dark-skinned American and it blew up in his face. He lost. Democrats hit him hard for his open racism, and we now have Senator Jim Webb of Virginia instead of the racist Republican incumbent.

In Tennessee, racist Republican candidate Corker and the Republican Party ran an ad that implied his oponent, Henry Ford, jr. (a black) was having sex with white women. In it, they use the phrase, "Harold Ford...He's just not right."

A phrase that sounds suspiciously like "Harold Ford...He's just not white." And the truth is, neurologically our brains will interpret that phrase to mean "white." The pairing of the sex with white women, and the "he's just not white" line was clearly trying to play on the racism many voters might have deep down.

This ad, by the way, was crafted by Karl Rove.

Democrats tried to ignore the racism of the Rove/Corker ads...annd Corker squeaked by to victory, leaving us with a racist representing Tennessee.

If Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee in 2008, and let me say now that he has many of the characteristics that WIN ELECTIONS, we are going to see EXACTLY these kinds of racist ads flooding the airwaves and Democrats had better be willing to stand up UNITED against them, calling them on their racism.

Now let's remember Trent Lott's glowing, gushing, loving speech about Strom Thurmond's 1948 presidential run. Remember, that Trent Lott was the LEADER of the Republican Senate, yet he said that had Strom Thurmond won the presidency in 1948, America wouldn't have the problems it has today.

What was the focus of Thurmond's run for presidency? His central platform was segregation, upholding the "right" of, in his words, "Southern People" to keep "niggers" out of "our theaters...swimming pools...homes and...churches." Trent Lott in 2002 was praising one of the most blatantly racist campaigns for president in the 20th century. (Note: remeber that Thurmond was a "Dixiecrat" who left the Democratic Party BECAUSE of the Democratic fight for Civil Rights, finding the Republican Party more accepting of his racism).

Now let's remember that in election after election, Republicans (including Bush's brother, Jeb) have led efforts to suppress the black and Hispanic votes through out the nation (see, for example, this statement from the NAACP Voter Fund regarding Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004 and this transcript of a DemocracyNow! radio program).

Racist ads, opposition to every piece of civil rights legislation in the last 40 years, use of racial slurs in public, praise of Strom Thurmond's segregationist campaign for president, and voter supprssion focused on minority districts. I mean, THIS IS RACISM folks! Plain and simple. Intentional, widespread racism by the Republican Party. I am in no way saying that every Republican is racist and no Democrats are racist, but the leadership and strategists of the Republican Party see racism as a legitimate tool for winning elections and we as Americans just should not stand for it!

Is America ready for a black (Hispanic, woman, Jewish...) president? Of course it is! But is the Democratic Party ready for the racist (or sexist, if Hillary is our nominee) attacks the Republicans will use to win? I sure as hell hope so!

NEW YORK FOCUS: Congressional Rematch

In 2006, we almost unseated one of the more corrupt Bush lap dogs in Congress, Vito Fossella (NY-13). Vito was challenged almost out of the blue by Steve Harrison, a local community leader who ran a strictly grassroots campaign and with only $100,000 raised, gave Vito Fossella a strong run for his money...and Vito had GOBS of money, outspending Harrison 10:1.

If Steve could come within 13,000 votes of defeating Fossella spending only $100,000, just think what he could do if he actually had some money to run!

Well, we may get to find out this year. Steve Harrison announced this last week that he is eager for a rematch. This time, though, Harrison is getting an earlier start and the DNC and DCCC have already started eyeing this race. Last year they largely ignored it. They don't plan on making the same mistake this year.

Vito Fossella is already running scared, coming out with Karl Rove style attacks mere days after Harrison announced.

I met Steve last year and liked him quite a bit. He had a real knack for relaxing and reaching out to people, whether they were progressives or blue collar conservatives. People LIKED him, and THAT is what can win an election.

Let me quote from the NY Times about Fossella from last year when they endorsed Steve Harrison:

Fossella [is] anything but the independent fighter for constituents that he claims to be in this campaign. He has been a real water-carrier for the Bush administration and the Republican leadership, staunchly backing the war in Iraq while at the same time denying health benefits to National Guard and Reserve members who make up much of the American force there.

The congressman...has been unsympathetic to environmental concerns and has opposed a woman’s right to choose. He does his constituents no favors by his support for privatizing Social Security. He has voted to protect gun makers and sellers. While Mr. Fossella has lately sought funding to deal with health problems related to to the attacks of Sept. 11, he has largely been missing on important local issues. His Democratic colleague, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who represents the Sixth District, has often been left to advocate Staten Island’s many transportation needs, including the North Shore rail.

Mr. Fossella has offered only lame excuses for improperly using his campaign funds for skiing holidays in Vail (including lessons and equipment), as well as vacations in Florida — transgressions first reported by the Daily News. He has received donations from a lobbying firm with ties to Jack Abramoff. Earlier this year, he was fined a reported $60,000 for misusing his taxpayer-funded official mailing privileges.

You can read more about Vito Fossella's corruption here (DCCC website)

and at my Target the Corrupt Republican website.

The NY Times gave Harrison a much more glowing description last year in their endorsement:

Mr. Harrison...is an attractive alternative to Mr. Fossella in his own right. Mr. Harrison has a presence in both sides of the district; he resides in Brooklyn, while his mother and sister live on Staten Island.

As chair of Community Board 10 in Brooklyn, he demonstrated leadership as he oversaw one of the city’s largest efforts to contain overdevelopment through rezoning. He has a good command of the issues, and a feel for the concerns of the district. Mr. Harrison surprised many with his passion and keen intelligence in a series of debates with Mr. Fossella. The distinctions could not be clearer. We endorse Mr. Harrison for Congress.

And let me end with a quote from Steve Harrison regarding the Iraq War:

What are we doing in Iraq? Saddam is dead, we found no weapons of mass destruction, and we know that Iraq didn’t attack us — we need to get out.

Help us elect Steve Harrison (running for NY-13) and other worthy Democrats to Congress from NY State. Please donate through the new, official Daily Gotham Act Blue Site.

MISSISSIPPI FOCUS: Recovering from Katrina

Ran this one a couple of weeks ago, but it really is one of the most important state-level things going on this year. So I repeat it.

When Katrina hit, we all watched the Bush Administration celebrate McCain's birthday party, Condaleeza Rice shop for shoes in NYC, and, of course, New Orleans flood in a comlpetely avoidable disaster that happened as a direct result of Republican "Drown Government in a Bathtub" policy.

But what most people missed is that Mississippi got hard hit as well. Back then, one of my coworkers had grown up in Mississippi and her family is still in rural Mississippi. She didn't talk about Katrina much, but once I asked her and the devastation to her family, financially, emotionally and psychologically, had been enormous. And the insurance companies were dicking everyone around, refusing payouts if people had gotten a single cent of help from the government.

Americans died needlessly and the survivors are now being screwed by the same right wing extremist policies that let the disaster happen in the first place.

Democracy for America, one of the more effective progressive organizations around, is eyeing the election for Mississippi Insurance Commissioner to get someone on the ground in Mississippi who might actually HELP people rather than hurt them. From DFA:

The fight to bring health care to every American is not just a national issue. It is a local one too. Governors, state legislators, and insurance commissioners are taking the lead on health care, often making a difference when no one else will.

Gary Anderson is taking the lead in his state. That's why he's our candidate for Mississippi Insurance Commissioner.

Contribute $20.07 today to put Gary over the top:

www.democracyforamerica.com/anderson

As you might imagine, insurance is a big deal in Mississippi. Almost two years after Katrina, many residents are still waiting for insurance payments to begin rebuilding their lives.

As a key member of the State Health Insurance Board and the sole insurance rate-setting authority in the state, Gary will find ways to help pay for annual physical exams, periodic screenings, and preventative education and care.

When we win, Gary will be the first African American elected to statewide office in Mississippi in over a hundred years. Gary's victory on August 7th will prove a Democrat can win in the Deep South and set the national stage for Democrats to win so-called red states across the country. Please contribute $20.07 and help Gary make history:

www.democracyforamerica.com/anderson

Democracy for America is not waiting for 2008 to make change happen. Gary's race is happening right now; victory in 2007 is ours to win!

Thank you for moving America forward.

Sincerely,

Jim Dean
Chair

Not only is this election, which is happening now, important because of the need for a fair and progressive Insurance Commissioner in Mississippi, but did you notice that part that says if Gary Anderson wins, he will be the first black to win a statewide office in Mississippi in more than 100 years...that means since Reconstruction. Well, with a good, progressive candidate running for this important office, maybe it's time for a black to be elected to a statewide office in Mississippi again.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FOCUS: John Sununu: Out of Touch With New Hampshire

Republican Senators are increasingly out of touch with America. This is clear in New Hampshire where Senator John Sununu continues to support Bush's Iraq Quagmire despite the fact that it has NOTHING to do with fighting terrorism, is nothing but a waste of taxpayer money and our soldiers' lives, and the overwhelming majority of Americans want us out of Iraq. Here is a timeline of Sununu's enabling of Bush's illegal and immoral war right down to the present (from the New Hampshire Democratic party):

Sununu Voted for Iraq War. In October 2002, Sununu voted for the authorization for the use of force against Iraq. [Vote 455, 10/10/02]

Sununu Defended Bush Against Charges that He Misled The American People. In 2005, Sununu defended George Bush against charges leveled by Senator Mark Dayton that Bush misled the American people during the run-up to the Iraq War. “Well, the United Nations, British security, French security all had the same information, the same intelligence-gathering on weapons of mass destruction and other issues. And no one is accusing Kofi Annan of being a liar or Tony Blair of being a liar,” Sununu said. [CNN, Inside Politics, 1/30/05]

Sununu votes to Protect Bush. In 2003, Sununu voted twice voted to protect the Bush administration from questions about its handling of prewar intelligence. He voted twice against creating an independent 12-member commission to investigate the role of policymakers in the development and use of intelligence leading to the Iraq war. [Vote 284, 7/16/03; Vote 395, 10/17/03]

Sununu Opposed Creation of Truman Commission to Investigate Fraud and Waste in Iraq. Sununu has voted FOUR times against establishing a commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. The special committee would consist of 7 members – four appointed by the majority party, three appointed by the minority party. The committee would hold hearings, and hold subpoena authority. [Vote 228, 9/14/05; Vote 259, 10/19/05; Vote 316, 11/10/05, Vote 176, 6/20/06]

Sununu Repeatedly Voted To Filibuster Iraq Debate, Voted Against Resolution to Change Course in Iraq. Since Bush announced his escalation plan, Sununu has repeatedly voted to block debate on Iraq, and personally attempted to avoid answering questions or stating a position on Iraq or Bush’s planned escalation. Twice in February, Sununu joined with his GOP colleagues to filibuster debate on resolutions dealing with Bush’s planned Iraq escalation. In March and April, Sununu voted four times against changing the course in Iraq by setting a timetable for redeployment of U.S. forces. [Vote 43, 2/5/07; Vote 51, 2/17/07; Vote 75, 3/15/07; Vote 116, 3/27/07; Vote 126, 3/29/07; Vote 147, 4/26/07; Washington Post, 2/6/07]

Suffolk University Poll Shows That Only 31% Of Granite Staters Want to Re-Elect Sununu. According to a Suffolk University poll issued on 6/27/07, only 31% of Granite Staters say Sununu deserves re-election, while 47% - including 25% of Republicans – say it is time for someone else. [Boston Herald, 6/28/07]

You can help defeat Out of Touch Sununu and Bush's Iraq Quagmire by donating here to support the New Hampshire Democrats in their race for the Senate.