Progressive Democrat Issue 130: THOUGHTS

Seem to be getting a second wind with the newsletter, partly because I can draw on things I write elsewhere. Also I have largely abandoned the more detailed local stuff I used to write. I can offer to people that if they want to write some local stuff, with all the proper html formatting, and submit it to me, I will consider using it here with full credit. Want to get word out about your state, city, neighborhood, just contact me. But it has to be ready to be cut and pasted! If you do submit something, please put "Progressive Democrat Newsletter Submission" in the subject line. Otherwise I am likely to miss it.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

FOX ATTACKS BLOGGERS: Fight Back

NEW FEATURE: The Articles They Don't Want You to See 1

KEEPING ANTIBIOTICS EFFECTIVE: Actions that really work!

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Election Protection

NYC FOCUS: Election 2008

INDIANA FOCUS: Progressive Indiana Caucus

MISSISSIPPI FOCUS: Important!! Katrina and Insurance, Update and Action

FOX ATTACKS BLOGGERS...Bloggers Respond

This comes from Fox Attacks:



You can do something by signing up with Fox Attacks to contact and/or identify Fox News advertisers. Letting advertisers know that they are associating with extremists allows them to make their choice as to whether they want their brand name associated with hate speech and advocacy of violence.

The Articles They Don't Want You to See 1

This first post made it onto the Recommended List on Daily Kos. Wasn't expecting that! If it is interesting to dKos people, maybe I am filling a need that people want.

Being a New Yorker, I have realized that many people don't know what Rudy Giuliani is really like. It is amazing how few people realize what a dick he is and how our first responders DETEST him. So I wanted to find some articles (including my own...) that highlight how he really is.

Which then made me realize that I already have some articles on some other Republicans that should get more attention. So, here is what might be a regular thing I do: highlighting the articles that Republicans DON'T want you to see. Please feel free to add more in the comments. I may pick up on some of them for my own blogging. And feel free to spread the word on these articles.

Rudy Giuliani:
So few people realize what a self-centered control freak this guy is and how much he is despised by the REAL heroes of 9/11. So here are a few articles that highlight the side of Rudy he doesn't want you to know:

Firefighters hate Rudy Giuliani

I mean, they REALLY hateRudy Giuliani

And, it also seems like Rudy Giuliani wasn't all that great of a leader, according to his own former emergency management director, and Bush's 2002 choice to plan for preparedness for WMD attacks.

And let's not forget what a Chickenhawk he is.

Now I know many Republicans don't mind Chickenhawks, but independents might hate it and I think EVERYONE will look askance at Rudy's treatment of first responders.


John McCain:

No Republican seems to be falling faster than McCain. So I will just highlight one of my own summaries of what is wrong with John McCain. I think I cover most of his weak points in that article. One thing I will say for him, though, is at least he isn't a Chickenhawk like Rudy.

Speaking of Chickenhawks...


Mitt Romney:

Mitt just might pull off the Republican nomination. At least that is increasingly my gut feeling as McCain crashes and burns and Giuliani's own personality starts to sour voters. Romney will probably get Iowa and that will boost him in many people's eyes.

But...Mitt Romney's abortion flip flopping will please no one.

And Mitt Romney is as big a Chickenhawk as Rudy,

And Mitt Romney was an abusive, or at least criminally negligent, pet owner,


Finally, if I may indulge in highlighting a Congressional race in my area (NYC)...

Vito Fossella:

This guy is the only Republican Congressional Rep in NYC. He had a rough re-election time in 2006 when faced with a shoe-string, grassroots challenger who only had $100,000. Fossella was left in debt by that and in 2008 there will be a rematch. And his opponent, Steve Harrison, is starting earlier and the DNC and DCCC are already considering helping him. So who is this Vito Fossella?

Well, Vito Fossella is a part of the Bush/Abramoff culture of corruption,

I also discuss Vito Fossella in my Target the Corrupt Republican blog,

And here is what the NY Times had to say about Vito Fossella back in 2006.

And, for comparison, here is what the NY times says about Steve Harrison, Vito's 2006 and 2008 opponant.

That's what I have amassed over the last week in my own research. Thought people might be interested. Please add your own articles they don't want us to see in the comments. Next week I will make use of any suggestions people make and add new ones of my own.

KEEPING ANTIBIOTICS EFFECTIVE

One of the biggest health issues facing America is under-reported and
almost unrecognized by most people. The antibiotics that we use to cure
bacterial infections are increasingly ineffective because of the MISUSE
of antibiotics, particularly by the agricultural sector. Misuse of
antibiotics in animal feed leads to antibiotic resistance in the
bacteria that infect humans, particularly our children and the elderly.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has been lobbying the fast food industry to get major suppliers and purchasers of meat to switch to meat raised without antibiotics. And they have been meeting with some success.

This
comes from the
Union of Concerned Scientists:

Tyson Foods recently announced it will produce all of its fresh chicken without antibiotics—selling it in grocery stores under a "Raised Without Antibiotics" label. As the nation’s largest producer of chicken, Tyson is setting an important precedent for protecting public health.

The time has never been better to urge U.S. fast-food companies to follow Tyson's lead and establish strict antibiotic use policies with their meat suppliers.

Currently, an estimated 70 percent of antibiotics and related drugs in the United States are used in the feed and water of healthy animals—a practice with serious consequences for human health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs. When humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work.

Sign our petition to the nation's top fast-food companies urging them to help end this dangerous practice.

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Election Protection

All I can say is it is about time we start seeing this. This should have gotten going in all 50 states after the 2000 election.

From the Michigan Democratic Party:

LANSING - Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer today announced that state Democrats would participate in an unprecedented 50-state election protection program to prepare for the 2008 election. Through the Democratic National Committee’s 50 State Strategy, the DNC Voting Rights Institute and the National Lawyers Council, Democrats across America are conducting an in-depth nationwide survey to collect critical data on the often confusing and complex sets of administrative practices and decisions governing our nation’s elections. With the help of DNC-funded staffers hired through the DNC’s State Party Partnership program, Michigan Democrats will work with election officials throughout the state to help identify potential issues so they can be resolved well in advance of the 2008 election.

“As America prepares to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I am honored to announce this unparalleled effort to bring the ideals of that landmark law closer to reality,” Brewer said. “When President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, he called right to vote the ‘basic right without which all others are meaningless.’ But 42 years after the signing of this legislation, the right to vote is still under assault. Michigan Democrats will not rest until every single eligible voter can register to vote, cast their ballot without fear of intimidation or harassment, and have confidence that their vote will be counted fairly and accurately.”

While election laws are written on the federal and state level, they are administered and interpreted by local officials. This decentralized process can result in variations in how elections are administered supervised and how Americans register to vote, cast their ballots and have their votes counted. The fact that there will be at least 13,000 elections run by localities in 2008 leaves the potential for inconsistencies that could threaten voting rights. Michigan Democrats will work with local election officials to answer very specific questions about voter registration, the use of the Qualified Voter File, voting systems and absentee voting, provisional balloting, polling place procedures and Election Day preparation.

In 2004, Michigan Republicans revealed part of their Election Day strategy when then GOP State Representative John Pappageorge said that the GOP would fare poorly in this year's elections if it failed to "suppress the Detroit vote." According to the Chicago Tribune, the intimidation got so bad that the NAACP threatened to file complaints with the Justice Department after there were reports of Republican intimidation at 35 polling sites in Detroit. (Chicago Tribune, November 2, 2004).

The MDP also received reports that Michigan Attorney Mike Cox was part of Republican efforts in 2004 to intimidate minority voters by giving hands-on training to Republican challengers.

“We are preparing now to stop GOP intimidation tactics or poor election administration from disenfranchising Michigan voters in 2008,” Brewer added.

Contact the Michigan Democratic Party if you want to help.

NYC FOCUS: Presidential and Congressional Elections

Here are some Presidential Candidates and Campaigns who will be in NYC in the near future.

BILL RICHARDSON: (Meetup)

We’re looking forward to seeing you at 7:30 on Tuesday, August 21st, at The Underground, 613 Second Avenue (just south of 34th, west side of the street).
Good beer, good wine, good company, good work for Richardson. We’ll hear about the campaign and about Richardson’s positions on some key issues, and we’ll get started on the work of campaigning. We want our candidate to make a good showing in New York. (HC does not have it all wrapped up.) We’ll try to wind up before 10, but allow a little extra time for detailed planning and assignments.

If you’ve already RSVP’d on the website, great. If not, here’s the link.

The web site is www.richardsonforpresident.com

We encourage you to invite your friends to be with us on August 21st and to join the online group

See you there,
New York City Richardson MeetUp

BARACK OBAMA: (Candidate Visit)

BARACK OBAMA IN BROOKLYN AUGUST 22ND!!

Brooklyn for Barack Invites you to join Senator Barack Obama for an evening benefiting Obama for America

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

5:30pm - 7:00pm

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY

$25 general admission

Tickets must be purchased prior to the event.

Please purchase tickets here.

The small print: Obama for America does not accept contributions from currently registered federal lobbyists,
registered foreign agents, political action committees, or minors under the age of 16. Contributions or gifts to Obama for America are not tax deductible.

Federal law prohibits the acceptance of corporate contributions.

Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.

And I want to remind you that NY State has some Congressional elections coming up in 2008 as well which we have some great shots at winning. To read about Daily Gotham's efforts in the upcoming Congressional races throughout NY State, please go here. I would in particular like to highlight the NY-13 race, one where a particularly sleazy Republican is being challeneged by a particularly good, moderate Democrat (also covered above in the "Articles they don't want you to see" section). Here's a summary:

Here is a rundown from DCCC of Vito Fossella's corruption.

NY Times SLAMS Vito Fossella in 2006.

Vito Fossella: Flip Flopping on Social Security and part of the Culture of Corruption

Looking at Vito's opponant, here is a blurb from the NY Times endorsement of Steve Harrison in 2006.

My own view of Steve Harrison in 2008

INDIANA FOCUS: Progressive Indiana Caucus

Indiana Progressive Caucus at IDEA
Submitted by admin on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 10:43pm.
Start: Aug 25 2007 - 9:00am
End: Aug 25 2007 - 10:00am
Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Come to Indiana's Annual I.D.E.A. Convention and caucus with the Indiana Progressives PAC. Join in the discussion about oure exciting plans on moving IP PAC forward in 07, 08 and beyond! Discussion will include a draft of our new bylaws and upcoming election of board members and officers of Indiana Progressives.

For details about I.D.E.A. and the Belterra Casino Resort Spa where it will be held go to the Indiana Demcratic Party website at http://www.indems.org/

MISISSIPPI FOCUS: Recovering from Katrina

Bush and the current Mississippi Insurance Commissioner are trying to tell America that all is well with the victims of hurricane Katrina...our wonderful insurance companies have taken care of all that, right?

Wrong. Most victims of Katrina have still received little help and Insurance Companies are doing their best to keep from paying.

Here is a statement from Gary Anderson, the progressive candidate for Mississippi Inusrance Commissioner:

Jackson, Mississippi - Democratic Insurance Commissioner Candidate Gary Anderson responded to George Dale's lies today at the State's Capitol Building. Anderson referenced Dale's latest TV ad in which he claims that 99% of all insurance claims have been settled.

"George Dale is either lying or in denial about the percent of Katrina claims settled. Ask Mississippians in the south if 99% of lives are back to normal, ask Mississippians across the state if they feel they have been treated fairly - they will tell you they have not. Dale is making a desperate attempt to link me to different groups but the truth is he knows Gary Anderson is on the side of Mississippi's insurance ratepayers", said Anderson at the press conference.

With Election Day tomorrow, Anderson feels confident that the people of Mississippi will vote for a change in the way Mississippi deals with the insurance industry. After 32 years of Dale's cozy relationship with big insurance, Mississippians have the third highest insurance rates in the nation according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Anderson believe Mississippians deserve price relief.

Anderson said, "Mississippians can no longer afford Dale's relationship with big insurance. Rates are sky high, enough is enough. You can't protect the pocketbooks of ratepayers of you are in the back pocket of big insurance."

Anderson concluded, "For too long the fox has been guarding the hen house, as it relates to insurance companies and insurance rates in Mississippi. We cannot let this stand in Mississippi and that's why I signed a pledge not to take a single dime from insurance companies. I will be independent of political influence and I will be able to fight for families, who insurance rate increases hurt the most."

Gary Anderson has worked as a senior VP in the private banking sector and served as Mississippi's Chief Fiscal Officer where he helped cut over $200 million in government waste. Anderson grew up on his family's farm in Byhalia, Mississippi where his mother taught school and his father farmed and worked as a fireman.

You can read more about what is going on in post-Katrina Mississippi on Daily Kos here and here.

And you can help elect Gary Anderson as a pro-consumer, progressive Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi by donating here. This is probably the most important race of 2007. Many people's lives depend on it.