Progressive Democrat Issue 147

Just to let everyone know, I will skip next week. So this is the last issue of 2007.

Looking back over 2007 the most interesting thing about this newsletter is that readership has shifted a bit. At the beginning of the year readership was growing in the Midwest. Now Midwest readership has largely disappeared while I am getting increasing readership in Georgia, Texas and Virginia. So you might notice a bit more of a focus on these states. New York is still where I have the most readers, followed by Califonia.

Most people I know feel a sense of disappointment about the Democrats this year. The big wins of 2006 gave us so much hope that didn't really materialize in 2007. I share this disappointment, but I am not surprised about it. If there is one thing I have learned progress is very slow in politics. The Democrats DID keep their main promises in the first 100 days...but they never addressed some of the major issues facing us: the Iraq quagmire, impeachment, voting integrity, energy independence, global warming and the practice of torture by America. These are HUGE issues and little progress has been made.

But some progress has been made. Never forget that the vast majority of Democrats vote well on these issues while the vast majority of Republicans do not. All of these issues are now part of our national dialogue where a year ago the Republican led Congress never let them even be discussed. Energy issues in particular have gotten some nice boosts thanks to the Democrats, both nationally and on the state levels. Now that energy independence and global warming are part of our national dialogue since the Democratic takeover of Congress, even some Republicans are taking up the cause. Progress has been painfully slow...but there has been progress.

The main lesson is we can't just fight to elect Democrats. We also have to keep pressure on our own Party to keep the issues that matter to us at the forefront of the nation's agenda. Staying involved within your Party means being VOCAL within your Party, not merely a silent, complacent supporter. Not that you guys need me to tell you that!

Here is this week's newsletter, closing out 2007.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:


BOOK REVIEW: Global Warming: The Last Chance for Change by Paul Brown

A LASTING REFUGE FOR ABUSED WOMEN: Still Working on Saving Pretty Bird Woman House

ANTI-SEMITISM IN AMERICA: Hassan Askari, A hero in New York

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Joy and I are co-hosting three fundraisers in January

GEORGIA FOCUS: Groups and Events

TEXAS FOCUS: Groups, Events and Rick Noriega for Senate

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Impeachment, Groups and Events

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Groups and Events

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Phonebanking, Groups and Events

Book Review: Global Warming: The Last Chance for Change

"The last 50 years stick out like a sore thumb... The temperature's gone up and up and up. It bears the imprint of human activity."

--Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, Princeton University

"It's not something we can adapt to...we can't let it go another 10 years like this."

--Dr. James Hansen, Director NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, member National Academy of Sciences

"The weight of evidence for climate change is very strong indeed, and it has gotten stronger over the years...The rate of warming is now greater than it has been for 10,000 years; that means the rate of climate change is greater than it has been for 10,000 years."

--Sir John Houghton, Professor in atmospheric physics, University of Oxford, recipient of Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal, Honorary Member American Meteorological Society

"This is the biggest challenge our civilization has ever had consciously to face. If this goes on, we will lose ice cover on our planet. The process will cause such rapid transformation we will have enormous trouble adapting."

--Sir David King, Professor of Physical Chemistry at Cambridge, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government

[All of above quotes from Paul Brown's Global Warming: The Last Chance for Change]

When prominent scientists make statements like these, it is foolish to ignore them. But that is exactly what we have been doing. The top scientific minds from all over the world in near unanimity have looked at the scientific evidence and given a collective "Holy shit! We're in deep trouble if we don't do something." And by and large the world has been ignoring them. Slowly that has been changing as more and more books expose people to the truth about Global Warming. The latest such book is Global Warming: The Last Chance for Change, by Paul Brown.

My first impression of Paul Brown's book was that it was a glorified version of Al Gore's book on the same subject, An Inconvenient Truth. I figured it would be much the same as what I had read before. In some ways this is true. I did already know much of what is presented in Brown's book. But, in another sense I was very wrong. I wound up far more impressed than I had expected. I can safely say that this is the most comprehensive book on Global Warming to date, covering a huge amount of ground in a very concise but accurate manner. Al Gore's book was an excellent and clear Powerpoint presentation on the subject. This book has the same quality, but interwoven with text that is densely packed with facts. For this very reason it is not as good a basic introduction as An Inconvenient Truth, but it can be viewed as more definitive, the place to go after finishing An Inconvenient Truth. I consider this book a must read for just about anyone. Even Global Warming skeptics should read this book because if they can't address the points made in this book in detail, then they have no business calling themselves skeptics.

Paul Brown is a long time journalist for The Guardian. He is not a scientist, but it is clear to me he either understands the science very well or has people working for him who do. There were few places where I would consider the science anything but solid in what he says. He goes a tad beyond what most scientists would in a few places, for example, when he pretty directly attributes the disaster of Hurricane Katrina to Global warming. But when he does so, he still argues from a point of very solid science and makes a convincing argument. (More on that later)

The photos are often spectacular...stunning, in fact. At first I found the mix of photos and text to be confusing. Perhaps it could be organized better. But I got used to the mix within a couple of chapters. Initially I found myself neglecting the text in favor of the photos. The photos kept drawing me in while the text seemed to cover ground I was already familiar with. In the first couple of chapters, the photos were a dramatic montage of what I already knew. By the end of the book I found I was focusing far more on the text than the photos as the facts drew me in more. In some way there are three threads that flow through the book: the illustration of Global warming as told in dramatic photos, the facts and figures densely presented in the text, and the excellent sound bytes given in the accompanying quotes, like the ones I quote above. Together it is a powerful combination if, at times, overwhelming.

One thing brought up in the book that many ignore: the basic theory of a greenhouse effect is nothing new. It is, in fact, quite old. It was first proposed in 1827 by the famous scientist and mathematician Jean Baptiste Fourier (after whom the Fourier Transformation is named). He observed that certain gasses trap heat and suggested that the composition of the atmosphere would affect the earth's temperature. John Tyndall refined this theory in 1860, measuring the absorption of heat by carbon dioxide and by water vapor and correctly hypothesized that the cooling during the ice ages was due in part to a reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In 1896, Svante Arrhhenius (another very famous scientist) first hypothesized the opposite: that increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase temperature. We are right now proving his hypothesis by our own actions. The first person to raise the alarm that human activity was already leading to a warming of the earth was G.S. Callender (presumably no relation to Marie Callender...) in 1938. The temperature rise he was seeing was tiny compared to what we are experiencing now, yet it was something that still caught his attention. Finally, the modern theory of man-made global warming was put forward by Hans Seuss (no relation to Theodore Geisel even though they both lived in San Diego...) and Roger Reville in 1957.

The science is not new. It has been based on detailed observations here on earth since the 19th century and explains the details of the climates on Venus, Earth and Mars. The predictions made in the 1970's and 1980's based on this theory have largely been coming to pass already. There really is nothing controversial about the basic theory of man-made global warming. Some of the details remain controversial (such as whether changes in ocean currents will lead to a North Atlantic cooling effect within global warming) and Paul Brown honestly recognizes many of these controversies. But the basic science of what is happening is solid. Global warming deniers have about as much validity as creationists: none.

Let me insert one point of my own here. Some try to pooh-pooh the science by claiming that scientists in the 1970's were claiming that we were entering a new ice age. This claim is false. There never was a clear scientific consensus that a new ice age was beginning. The claim is based on a single scientist's statement in a non-scientific context that he later withdrew. But the truth is that if we naturally were entering a new ice age, yet we suddenly start getting an unprecedented pace of cooling, that only makes the case of man-made global warming that much more dramatic. But I think the bottom line is, there has been a steady increase of scientific consensus that we are causing global warming staring from around 1938.

At times Brown focuses on aspects of Global warming that have been neglected. Most of us already know that sea level rise is already in progress and that many small island nations are threatened. But most of us think of the problem as one of migrating within a nation, with coastal flooding driving the population inland. Here in America, many people will have to move from the Gulf Coast and Florida and much of Manhattan to more inland areas. But we all remain Americans. Brown discusses the depressing and rapidly approaching problem of entire island nations, like Mauritius, that will disappear in their entirety. The people who live there will have to somehow find a nation to accept them as foreign immigrants or they will die. The complete submersion of entire nations, something already in progress, is something hard to imagine. Yet we will have to imagine it very soon. This is why some of the nations most interested in implementing global warming solutions are an alliance of threatened island nations. Imagine the view of right wing Americans if entire nations suddenly wanted to move to America because they were about to be underwater. Compassionate conservative? Yeah...right.

But it isn't just small island nations. Among the cities that are threatened that have no current plan to deal with sea level change are cities like New York City, Hong Kong and Chittagong. These three cities alone would represent 30 million refugees as sea levels rise. London and Amsterdam are examples of cities that currently have plans in place to deal with sea level rise...but are having to continually upgrade them because sea level increases are outpacing what was planned for.

And then there are hurricanes. Global warming is something that COULD increase hurricane strength. This remains somewhat controversial, but Paul Brown really puts it into perspective. To quote Brown:

There is a point that needs to be made here about the responsibility of all of us, including scientists. Several times in researching this book I was told by some scientists that they could not be sure Hurricane Katrina or the melting ice caps was related to man-made climate change. It is what the computer models predict would happen and the sort of events they would expect, but they cannot as yet be certain any one event is caused by the man-made greenhouse effect...

This is true, of course, but examine the evidence of all the remarkable weather events that occurred around the world in 2005, 2004 and the decade before, and it seems to be overwhelmingly obvious that something extraordinary was happening--in fact, that man-made climate change was here--a fact finally confirmed by scientists in the three 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports.

There is a key SCIENTIFIC point to be made here. Certain predictions were made by scientists as long as 20 plus years ago as to what to look for if the man-made Global Warming hypothesis was correct. These predictions HAVE COME TO PASS. That is a key test of any theory: can you make predictions that are true. The predictions made about global warming HAVE largely come true. Incidents like Katrina are in essence evidence for global warming because the global warming hypothesis predict more such events will happen...and more such events ARE HAPPENING.

Looking at Hurricane Katrina, it is true that any single event cannot be strictly attributed to global warming. But...hurricane Katrina does serve as a case study for global warming's effects on hurricanes. Warm water is one contributing factor to the strength of a hurricane. At the moment that hurricane Katrina crossed the Gulf of Mexico, the water of the Gulf was the warmest ever recorded. That warming of the water is perfectly in line with global warming predictions. Katrina was category 1 when it hit this pool of record-breaking warm water. By the time it had crossed the Gulf it had gained strength to category 5. It is hard not to see a chain of causation from global warming to warmest water in recorded history in the Gulf to a hurricane strengthening according to predictions from category 1 to 5 before slamming into America's Gulf coast. This is precisely the behavior scientists would predict based on the global warming hypothesis. In science, when data fits one's model so closely, it is considered robust support of one's hypothesis. This cannot be ignored. The evidence for the man-made Global Warming hypothesis is strong and becoming stronger each year.

The book manages to be amazingly up to date, even addressing the opening of the Northwest and Northeast passages in the Arctic, something that happened for the first time after the book was written. It also manages to include the depressing 2007 IPCC report concluding that global warming is accelerating at a rate previously unexpected. The fact it is so up to date at times means it is pretty discouraging since 2007 was the year of bad news for climate. It was the year we realized the previous predictions that we only had 10 years to deal with global warming are almost certainly way too optimistic and 5 years may be more realistic. It also presented a few predictions (still speculative, but probable) that I had not been aware of. Everyone who pays attention is now aware that the Sahara is expanding Southward into previously fertile regions. What I had not previously been aware of is that the Sahara is threatening to jump the Mediterranean and engulf parts of Southern Europe...dramatic photos included!

There is a great deal of depressing material. He goes into great detail about the entirety of the problems that are already arising from global warming, and is brutal about describing the scale of the problems our children and grandchildren will face...and how hard it might be to deal with the problems. At times it started getting me pretty pessimistic. But by the end, he focused on solutions already in hand which rekindled hope.

Brown specifically refers to a book I have often mentioned as something we all should be paying attention to: Jared Diamond's book Collapse. Diamond discusses how civilizations historically CHOOSE to survive crises...or not. His book is among the most important books I have read. It discusses historically how civilizations have survived or collapsed under stress and what choices they made or didn't make to face that stress. He then faces up to the stresses our own civilization is facing and discusses how we are...and most often are NOT choosing to deal with it. Brown specifically refers to Diamond's book and suggests we have the same kind of choice past civilizations had. I kept remembering the image from Jared Diamond's book of the Easter Islanders seemingly stupidly cutting down the very last tree on their island and creating their own downfall. It is easy to look at that Easter Islander cutting down that last tree and condemning them to failure and think they were stupid. But then I look at our own civilization and see us in essence doing the exact same thing: facing KNOWN collapse and doing everything we can to AVOID dealing with it. This is what the past 7 years has been: the insane and stupid equivalent of that Easter Islander cutting down that last tree and condemning an entire civilization to collapse. That's us, folks.

Throughout the past 10,000 years (since the origin of agriculture and the entirety of human civilization) there has been 280 ppm. In 2007 the levels of CO2 reached 383 ppm. Human civilization has NEVER faced these levels before, with the consequent warming. Same trend for methane, which, though at lower levels, is a STRONGER greenhouse gases. All of these gasses are not only at record levels, but are increasing in the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate...and that rate is accelerating! This is a triple threat. Highest levels faced by human civilization, increasing at the fastest pace ever in human history, AND that pace is accelerating.

Also unprecedented in the history of our civilization is the thawing of the tundra...which could bring on one of the so-called "tipping points" beyond which our civilization cannot deal as huge quantities of methane (as much as 70 billion tons, all of which is more than 20 times more powerful a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide). What had not sunk in for me before is that there has never been any thawing of the permafrost during the entire history of human civilization. Not one year has the permafrost thawed since we started building towns or cultivating crops. Similarly, sea level has been amazingly constant throughout civilization. The rise we are now experiencing is almost completely new in its scale to human civilization. Small tribes of hunter gatherers may have experienced this kind of change at a much slower pace tens of thousands of years ago. But since we started living in settled towns with highly organized societies we have never experienced anything like this. And we have NEVER experienced it at this pace. In essence, this is all new...all unknown.

We know we already are outside any safety zone...and we are falling further and further outside any safety zone at an accelerating rate. That is what the scientists are telling us almost unanimously...and we have not really been listening. That is suicide. We are CHOOSING to collapse as surely as the Easter Islanders did.

But there is hope. Nation after nation is deciding the time has come to make the change from stupidity to care. Denmark and Germany are singled out for their alternative energy programs. Even as conservative nation as Switzerland is singled out for notice as being on the front line of global warming. Brown is very willing to give due credit to Republican politicians like Arnold Schwarzenegger for doing as much as any politician about Global warming. And he mentions early interest in the dangers of global warming from none other than Margaret Thatcher. But fools like Bush are singled out for brutal condemnation for their stupid refusal to face the facts and deal with a very real crisis.

Brown outlines the extensive options that already exist for cutting carbon dioxide output. He points out that much of the technology we need existed decades ago. If only we had started applying them decades ago! But now we are technologically better able to change our habits. Using current solar technology, it would take 1% of the world's desert area covered with today's solar technology to power the entire earth's electrical demand. This technology can be combined with production of hydrogen as an energy storage technique (other ways can store the energy for when the sun is down) which then produces water as a byproduct for use as drinking and irrigation water. And this is using just ONE alternative technology. Supplemented with wind (currently economically competitive with clean coal and requiring far less subsidizing than nuclear), geothermal (Japan's geothermal potential could supply one-third of their current electrical demand), small scale hydroelectric and methane production from waste all are current technologies that combined could supply our energy needs while creating local jobs, cutting down on wasted energy due to distribution problems and giving us cleaner air. Add in the newest technologies (tidal and related ocean-based technologies) which are up and coming, and all it takes is the political will to accomplish. Fortunately some nations HAVE the political will. Unfortunately, American does not yet.

By contrast, Brown goes a long way to debunking the myth that nuclear energy is our savior. We may need to keep active the current nuclear power plants, but building new ones will do us no good, as I discussed in an earlier diary.

Energy efficiency, alternative energy, economic shifts...all are current technology that would, far from creating economic stagnation, create vast economic opportunities. In many cases it already IS creating massive economic opportunities. Brown ends with one of the more extensive list of suggestions for how individuals and local communities can be and already are part of the solution.

Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth did more than any book to bring the basic facts of global warming to a wide audience, but lacked details and skimmed over some controversies. Jared Diamond's Collapse discussed in great detail the sociology of how nations collapse or succeed, with considerable applicability to our current situation. John and Teresa Heinz Kerrys' book This Moment on Earth focuses on the power of individuals to be a part of environmental solutions rather than simply accepting the problems. Paul Brown's Global Warming: The Last Chance for Change is the most comprehensive of global warming related books I have read to date. I figure it is probably must reading for anyone who wants to understand all that we are facing and how we can face it.

I end with a quote Brown uses in his final chapter:

It is our task in our time and in our generation to hand down, undiminished to those who come after us, as weas handed down to us by those who went before, the natural wealth and beauty which is ours.

--President John F. Kennedy

A Lasting Refuge for Abused Women: Saving Pretty Bird Woman House

Been focusing on this for a while now, but it really is such a critical issue and such an opportunity to make a difference. This week I will mostly use other people's words rather than my own.

This week was a big push to try and save Pretty Bird Woman House, a women's shelter on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. I have brought up the Pretty Bird Woman House Woman's Shelter before when I discussed the horrific Amnesty International report on the high incidence of rapes of Native American women by outsiders who seldom get procecuted. This shelter's sad story has continued. It was vandalized and is not being sold off. This will leave many women on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation with no support system. On Daily Kos a fundraiser is ongoing to raise enough money to buy the property and set it up to be a safe and secure women's shelter again.

I am asking you to help out. I donated $100. Some are donating as much as $500. This is pure, old fashioned good works in keeping with the holiday season.

Bottom line is, this shelter has in essence been shut down by lack of funds and vandalism. But the netroots are on the verge of saving it by helping buy it outright. The shelter has been recently awarded a Federal grant which can keep it going...but only if it has a place and it won't have a place if we don't help them buy the property.

Here is the background and scoop sent to me by a fellow blogger working on this:

About Pretty Bird Woman House

The shelter was founded in memory of Ivy Archambault, whose Lakota name translates to Pretty Bird Woman. In 2001, Pretty Bird Woman was kidnapped, raped and beaten to death. Her sister, Jackie Brown Otter, decided that something had to be done for other victims, to put an end to this nightmare.

As things stand now, the situation for women on the Standing Rock Reservation is a nightmare. Amnesty International documented it better than I ever could:

High levels of sexual violence on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation take place in a context of high rates of poverty and crime... The unemployment rate on the Reservation is 71 per cent. Crime rates on the Reservation often exceed those of its surrounding areas. According to FBI figures, in 2005 South Dakota had the fourth highest rate of "forcible rapes" of women of any US state.

Amnesty International was told of five rapes which took place over one week in September 2005. Many survivors reported that they had experienced sexual violence several times in their lives and by different perpetrators. There were also several reports of gang rapes... A common response to such crimes is blame, but directed at the survivor rather than the perpetrator.

When Native American victims of rape report the crime, things only get worse for them:

Tribal and federal authorities have concurrent jurisdiction on all Standing Rock Sioux Reservation lands over crimes where the suspected perpetrator is American Indian. In instances in which the suspected perpetrator is non-Indian, federal officials have exclusive jurisdiction. Neither North nor South Dakota state police have jurisdiction over sexual violence against Native American women on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. State police do, however, have jurisdiction over crimes of sexual violence committed on tribal land in instances where the victim and the perpetrator are both non-Indian.

What does this mean? From the Amnesty report:

"[N]on-Native perpetrators often seek out a reservation place because they know they can inflict violence without much happening to them."

Andrea Smith, Assistant Professor of Native Studies, University of Michigan

Wecome to the world of Rape Tourism.

Georgia Little Shield gives us one example of what victims face in the courtroom:

I recently attended a court sentencing of a man that pled guilty to a charge of sexual assault against a Native American Woman and the Mayor of his town testified that he was an upstanding community member and that the community would accept him back with open arms and to just give him probation.

The First Netroots Miracle

Pretty Bird Woman House represents the first time women on Standing Rock have had a support system in place to tackle these injustices. However, it has been a struggle for Pretty Bird Woman House to survive. It took three years to get off the ground. Finally a grant from the South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence hired Georgia Little Shield and things started happening. But in May of 2007 the grant ran out and with no funding, Pretty Bird Woman House looked like it would close its doors. Raising the necessary money on Standing Rock seemed an impossibility. Tribal government remained supportive of the shelter but had no financial resources to share

And where hope appeared to end, that’s where the magic started:

At this time this situation came to the attention of Daily Kos user Norman Bier and he created a chip in page for the effort and followed up with a series of diaries trying to raise funds. And then a miracle happened. Other Daily Kos members diaried about this: flautist, sarac, njgoldfinch and frontpager Devilstower jumped in. From Daily Kos the news spread virally and Christy Hardin-Smith at Firedoglake, mole333 at Culture Kitchen, DB at Queen of Pentacles, William Neuheisel at Creative Evolution.... and many more I have missed kept the torch lit.

The result? Over 680 strangers donated $27,500...


Norman Bier's thank you post at the completion of the first successful fundraising drive

This money was the operating funds for the shelter from May through September of 2007. The Progressive Netroots paid for crisis phone lines, Georgia Little Shield's salary, court costs, operating expenses, food, clothing, toiletries and other incidental expenses. This money literally saved the lives of women on the Standing Rock shelter:

I just got off the phone with Georgia Little Shield... Over the weekend, the shelter received a call from a woman who needed to be evacuated. If this had happened on Thursday, the shelter would not have been able to do much more than take the call. But because of your efforts, Georgia was able to tell this woman: "Don't worry about the money--we have money coming. Just get out and come in."

In late September 2007 a Federal grant was awarded, paying the salaries for Georgia Little Shield and two more full time shelter staff/advocates. The future of Pretty Bird Woman House seemed assured. With the support of the Tribal Government, which donated a building to house women in danger and the federal grant, the pieces had finally come together.

Until vandals, thieves and arsonists destroyed the house.

Losing The House

The first signs of danger came when Pretty Bird Woman House offered shelter to a woman whose batterer had a record of extreme violence. Fearing for her safety, they transferred her to a shelter off of the reservation. The next day someone cut the shelter's phone lines. After this, unknown men kicked and tore a hole through the drywall wide enough to walk through and looted the shelter of anything they could carry: televisions, computers, clothing, toiletries (all donated or purchased with donations) - literally anything that could be carried. This happened in broad daylight while the shelter was empty - the staff were all absent transporting women to court or other shelters. Clearly the perpetrators watched for such an opportunity.

Local government and Pretty Bird Woman House realized that the shelter could not function safely. The staff moved out into unheated donated office space. The day after they moved out the crisis line got a telephone call:

Lady, your shelter is on fire, they are burning down your shelter.

Arsonists had thrown some kind of molotov cocktail through a basement window, setting fire to the building.

This blow dealt a terrible setback to Pretty Bird Woman House. The grants they depend on require that they have a building. All the advantages they gained - not having to make three and four hour trips transporting women to neighboring shelters (assuming those shelters had room), having a stable base of operations - vanished.

It seemed like the five years of work that had gone into creating the shelter, all the efforts of the progressive blogosphere and the donations of the tribal council… all of that was for nothing.

The Second Netroots Miracle Begins

Then, in late October this year, Betsy Campisi, a PhD student and a volunteer from the previous fundraising effort for Pretty Bird Woman House called shelter director Georgia Little Shield to see how the things were going. Betsy was completely unaware of the problems facing the shelter. When the thieves stole the computers they also stole all of the email addresses of the people who had put together the first fundraising drive. Georgia had no idea how to get in touch with her internet friends who had helped out last time

Betsy immediately put up a Chip-In page and she and Georgia decided to shoot for the moon ‐ $70,000. On the Standing Rock reservation, that will buy you a house and a $10,000 security system.

Betsy and Winter Rabbit began to diary about Pretty Bird Woman House on Daily Kos, Docudharma, Culture Kitchen, Street Prophets and other venues… and money trickled in. Then Devilstower agreed to front page a diary of mine on Daily Kos and that got a lot of attention ‐ and then a commenter posted a challenge: if we could reach $10,000 by 9pm, he would give whatever it took to bring the total to $15,000. Kossacks like a challenge! People donated like mad, everything from $5.00 donations to $1,500 donations came in! It was amazing as people challenged each other, left and right. When Georgia Little Shield woke up the next morning, Pretty Bird Woman House had $15,000 in the bank.

Since then the netroots has not slowed its generousity or creativity. It’s like riding a tiger ‐ before you can internalize what is happening, something even newer and better is taking place.


Photo Credit: Matthew Bowden, www.digitallyrefreshing.com

And people have noticed:

I think this is, what we say in Lakota country, Ata Kili, Lela Waste.... in other words "Cool beyond words, and really good". I'm from the neighboring resevation and understand how important it is for woman and children to have a safe and warm place to escape to. I was one of those women, years ago, with two babies, that had to run in the extreme cold to escape an abuser.

Each and every one of you who have donated are indeed helping to create a save haven for women and children. And although they may not get to thank you in person, each one is silently thanking you as they will finally be able to crawl into a safe and warm bed and sleep safely…

thank you for being dedicated to PBWH and creating this blog.... Zintkala Waste Wiyan (Pretty Bird Woman) is smiling and thanking you from the heavens…

From Shirley Erhart, Member of the Board of Directors PBWH:

I just feel as if we, as a B.O.D, have been so remiss in not expressing our wonder and awe at what the good folks out there have done and are doing for Pretty Bird Woman House… I think one of the biggest problems is that there are not words to truly convey how we feel… Our vision, our dreams for the women of Standing Rock....it's happening and it is happening because of folks the likes of yourself, Norman, your colleagues, and all of the caring folks out there who believe and want to make a difference in the world…

What I'm saying is the actions of all of you… tells women and their children...."we believe you and you don't have to live that way. You have a right to be safe and we're going to help you be safe."

And from Georgia Little Shield:

It just seems that we can not tell you in words how much your group of humans have done for us and to thank you all for your support … My feelings of how much you mean to me and our group here in McLaughlin can not be told in words that we are so proud to have been introduced to so many understanding men and women. Thank you from the bottom of my heart…

BUT WE ARE NOT DONE YET!

As it stands, we have just over $50,000. Enough that Pretty Bird Woman House is putting in a bid on a house across the street from the police station. We are almost there, just a mere $20,000 short. I told you that the ending had not been written for this Christmas story; now is the time we write that ending. Will the expectant mother find a sanctuary or not?

Now is your chance to write that ending. Now is your chance to give sanctuary, not just to this one hypothetical woman, but to thousands of women, throughout the years that Pretty Bird Woman House will serve this community. Let’s make this ending a happy one.

So, please, if you can DONATE.

Pretty Bird Woman House is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.

Don’t do it if you can’t afford it ‐ only if you can. There are other ways you can help, if you can’t donate or if you want to do more.

You can blog about it and spread the word. Feel free to take any material from this diary or the Pretty Bird Woman House Blog that you need.

Install our Facebook Application ‐ that earns money for the shelter.

We have a team working on an application for Extreme Home Makeover (please don't bombard them with requests to do PBWH - trust us, we have a way to approach them that offers a lot of promise).

Another team is approaching Oprah.

We are signed up for igive which gives a percentage of your online shopping to PBWH ‐ please do this, it cost free and a percentage of all of your online purchases go to Pretty Bird Woman House.

What are we failing to do? Join our Yahoo Group and tell us!

Finally, for those of you who need more info, here are Links:

Pretty Bird Woman House Blog - many more resources and links here!!

Amnesty International Report-Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect Indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA

Why traditional fundraising avenues are closed to Pretty Bird Woman House

One important final note: men are also victims of domestic violence. Since we are discussing a women’s shelter, the examples I have given are of men abusing women. I don’t want to detract from male victims; they too deserve recognition and support. This isn’t about hating men; it’s about helping people.

Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness this holiday season. Blessings to you and yours.



Join me in helping this wonderful project. The netroots can really make this a permanent shelter. And for those who want to do yet more, this problem isn't just happening on the Standing Rock reservation. To learn of some other shelters and organizations working on this issue, please go here. I am hoping that once we have saved Pretty Bird Woman House and made it a lasting place of refuge, we can do the same for the Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center on the Yankton Sioux Reservation

A New York Hero: Hassan Askari

This event from a couple of weeks ago is an example of both disgusting bigotry and genuine heroism.

The odds were 10:3. A mob, one of whom had been involved with racist attacks on blacks in the past, attacked three Jews for having the NERVE to wish them "Happy Hanukkah" in response to "Merry Christmas." This occurred on the NYC subway, well within a part of the world considered more or less free of such stupid bigotry. But the ten bigots who mobbed the Jews for wishing them "Happy Hanukkah" included a woman who was the perfect illustration of the sheer stupidity of such bigots when she referred to Hanukkah as the day Jews celebrate the killing of Christ.

Hanukkah, of course, pre-dated the birth of Christ by some 200 years, and represented the success of Jewish rebellion against the Syrian Greeks.

When the odds are 10:3, a hero jumps in to defend the 3. That is what Hassan Askari did. Hassan Askari was a gentleman from a Bangladeshi family who jumped in to defend the three Jews against the ten ignorant bigots who attacked them. He received a possible broken nose in the process, but is also being honored by New York City as a genuine good Samaritan.

Hassan Askari shows us all the right thing to do. I believe many of use would do the same if we were there and our reaction time quick enough. But he DID it, without thinking, and in turn bore the brunt of the anger of the bigots. For that he represents the heroic side of all of us, and I join in the many people who are embarassing him with the title of "hero."

Bigotry transcends racial, ethnic and religious boundaries. But heroism transcends the same boundaries. That is the most important lesson of this event. The bigots should be left to well-deserved obscurity. They are nobodies. They are fools. They are the scum of NYC. But Hassan Askari is the hero we should remember.

New York State Focus: I am co-hosting THREE Fundraisers in January

Joy and I are going to be helping fundraise for three New York State candidates who are really good people. And I want to spend some time introducing/re-introducing each of them.

39th City Council District, Brooklyn: Josh Skaller

First, let me introduce a good friend of ours who I have not highlighted before: Josh Skaller. Josh is running for New York City Council (39th district in Brooklyn, replacing Bill deBlasio). Josh is a really good friend and is one of the most honest, upstanding people I have ever met...certainly well above the average for Brooklyn politics. A progressive and a reform minded Democrat, Josh is a real grassroots candidate.

Josh Skaller is President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), a club my wife is on the board of. He also serves as a board member and Field Director of Democracy for New York City (DFNYC), part of Howard Dean's grassroots legacy. It was through these two organizations that I first got to know Josh, though we have since become buddies apart from politics.

Unlike most City Council candidates, Josh stands outside a political system that rewards predatory developers who buy their way into the hearts of our elected officials. Josh believes that unchecked development threatens the beauty and integrity of our neighborhoods, overtaxes public services from transportation to schools and health care, and places an incalculable burden on our fragile ecology. Josh believes that we must never again be caught off-guard by developers who work in secret to draft grandiose projects that are dropped without warning on an unprepared public. Working with other progressive legislators, he is drafting a comprehensive plan with strict guidelines for developers. The guidelines will explicitly ban such covert tricks as eminent domain abuse and “blight analysis,” and the use of tax-exempt bonds to benefit for-profit companies.

Joy and I will be hosting a fundraiser for Josh Skaller on Thursday, January 10th, 6-9 PM. This will be a chance to meet and talk with Josh in a small group. We would appreciate a $25 contribution to Josh's campaign, but the main thing is to give you a chance to meet Josh. The event will be at our apartment, 195 Garfield Place, bell #11, Park Slope, Brooklyn. You can email me at mole333_at_gmail_dot_com for more info and to RSVP.


New York City Public Advocate: Norm Siegel

Marjorie Gersten, Joy and I will be hosting a fundraiser for former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (195-2000), Norman Siegel, who is running for NYC Public Advocate. I can think of no one better suited to be our Public Advocate than Norm Siegel. Essentially, Norm has already been New York's unelected Public Advocate for years, standing up for the protesters against the Republican Convention and standing up for the rights of all New Yorkers when no one else seems willing. Norm Siegel's credentials go WAY back. He even spearheaded the NY State campaign for to impeach Richard Nixon!

We will host a fundraiser for Norm on Sunday, January 6th, 4:00 to 6:00pm at Marjorie's house, 50 Willow St, in Brooklyn Heights. For those who don't know her, Marjorie is a nationally recognized advocate for verified voting and a long-time grassroots advocate. Suggested Contribution: $25, though again, the main point is to have a chance to meet Norm. Drinks & Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Theresa at 212-448-6271 or NYCNormanSiegel@aol.com

You can read more about my impressions of Norm Siegel here and here.


3rd State Senate District (Suffolk County): Jimmy Dahroug

Jimmy came within a hair's breadth of winning this State Senate seat in 2006 with very little money or support from the state party. This time around he is raising money like crazy and his chances of winning are high. In 2006 Jimmy Dahroug's race was one of the two closest State Senate races in the state...which means if we want to win those two seats that keep Joe Bruno able to block real governing of New York Jimmy's race is one of the ones we have to win. The NY-13 Congressional Seat and the SD-3 State Senate seats are likely to be two heavily targeted races in 2008, if all goes well.

The time I met Jimmy Dahroug was at a fundraiser where Jim Dean himself (Howard Dean's brother and head of Democracy for America) introduced Jimmy. You can read about my first meeting with Jim Dean and Jimmy Dahroug here.

I have agreed to join the host committee for a fundraiser for Jimmy Dahroug on Wed. Jan 9th (yes, one day before Josh Skaller's fundraiser on the 10th!) at the home of Bonnie Maslin in Manhattan. More info will be forthcoming, but if you are interested in coming, you can email me at mole333_at_gmail_dot_com or contact the Dahroug campaign at 631-434-5623. Tell them Mole333 sent you!

I hope to see you all at one or more of these events!

GEORGIA FOCUS: Groups and Events

As my readership, somewhat unexpectedly, grows in Georgia, I am now highlighting groups and events in Georgia.

Veterans for Peace, Atlanta has several vigils and rallies around Atlanta. Here is their weekly schedule. I urge you to join them if you can to show your support:

Tuesdays

12:45-1 pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at Emory University , in front of Woodruff Library. For more information e-mail: thee.smith@emory. edu.

Thursdays

5:00-6:00pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at CNN, Marietta and Centennial Olympic Park. For more information e-mail John.Zientowski@ turner.com

Fridays

12:00-1:00 pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at Colony Square , corner of Peachtree and 14th Street . For more information, e-mail bobbiepaul@rp.cbeyond.com

12:00-1:00 pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at Marietta Square ( Cobb Court House). For more information e-mail cobbpeace@comcast.net

Saturdays

12:00-1:00

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at Dekalb Farmers Market At 3000 Ponce de Leon Avenue , Decatur For more information, Fro more information e-mail John.Zientowski@ turner.com

Sundays

12:15-1:00 pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at the corner of MLK Drive and Washington Street (across from the state capitol). For more information, e-mail elogan@gsu.edu or peggyhendrix2000@yahoo.com.

12:00-12:30 pm

Weekly "Stand for Peace" vigil at 910 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ,Open Door Community. For more information contact Lauren Cogswell at lauren_cogswell@yahoo.com, 404-874-9652


Drinking Liberally is a grassroots social organizations for people who like to meet fellow liberals over a good beer. Here are the Drinking Liberally chapters in Georgia:

Atlanta, Georgia
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* Thinking Man's Tavern, 537 W Howard Ave, Decatur
* Hosted by Erin Abrahams, atlanta (at) drinkingliberally.org

Dunwoody
* First and third Wednesday of each month (next meeting January 2), 7:00 pm onward
* Ye Olde Dunwoody Tavern, 5488 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd (map)
* Hosted by Hillary Meister, dunwoody (at) drinkingliberally.org

Augusta, Georgia
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Helga's Lounge, 2015 Central Ave
* Hosted by Margie Hobbins, augusta (at) drinkingliberally.org

Savannah, Georgia
* First and third Thursday of each month, 7:30 pm onward
* Crystal Beer Parlor, 301 W Jones St (corner of west jones and jefferson)
* lots of parking
* Hosted by John Mattingly, Victor Fishman and McKay Schwalbach, savannah (at) drinkingliberally.org

TEXAS FOCUS: Groups, Events and Rick Noriega for Senate

Readership in Texas seems to be growing, and there is an important Senate race in Texas in 2008. So, here are some resources for Texas activists and some chances to meet Rick Noriega, candidate for Senate from Texas.

From Rick Noriega's website:

Here are some chances to hear and/or meet Rick Noriega:

Rick Noriega speaking to Central Texas Democratic Forum
Thursday, January 10, 11:45am
Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 700, Asutin, TX


Rick Noriega speaking to Central Texas Central Labor Committee
January 7, Monday, 7:30pm
710 Franklin, Waco, TX


Here are some alternative energy related events coming up in Texas:

AWEA Wind Power Project Siting Workshop
02/14/2008 thru 02/15/2008
Early Registration Deadline: 01/24/2008
Late Registration Deadline: 01/24/2008
Event Contact: conference@awea.org
The Hilton Austin
500 East 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701

This regionally-focused program will include presentations on emerging issues of project siting, such as bat interactions and wildlife research, wildlife survey techniques and radar concerns, and updates on siting processes. For more info go here.

Wind Energy Institute 2008
Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:30 AM - Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:00 PM
Presented by The University of Texas School of Law and The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

Austin Convention Center

Standard Registration - $495 | $545 after Feb. 8, 2008
State Employees - $325 | $375 after Feb. 8, 2008

Exhibitor Space Available!
For more information call 512-475-6700.


Here are the Texas Drinking Liberally groups for those who like to socialize with fellow Liberals:

Austin, Texas
* Every Tuesday, 6:30 pm onward
* The Dog and Duck Pub, 406 W 17th St (at Guadalupe)
* Hosted by Ben Andrews, austin (at) drinkingliberally.org

Corpus Christi, Texas
* Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Cassidy's Irish Pub, 601 N Water St
* Hosted by Teresa Klein and Jim Klein, corpuschristi (at) drinkingliberally.org


Dallas
* Second Friday of each month, 6:00 pm onward
* The Stoneleigh P, 2926 Maple Ave (at Wolf across from the historic Stoneleigh Hotel)
* Check out our blog for announcements of Eating Liberally, Screening Liberally, Drinking Coffee Liberally and other nonsmoker-friendly gatherings. Also, please "friend" us at MySpace.com/DallasDrinkingLiberally.
* Hosted by Melissa Morgan, dallas (at) drinkingliberally.org


Addison
* Third Thursday of each month, 6pm until 8pm
* The Quarter, 15201 Addison Rd (next to Sambuca)
* http://www.myspace.com/addisondl
* There is road construction! However, Addison Rd is now re-opened in both directions for the time being.
* Hosted by John McClelland and Erica Stockbridge, addison (at) drinkingliberally.org


Mid-Cities
* First and third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm onward
* Esparza's Tequila Factory and Grill, 3314 Harwood Rd, Bedford
* Hosted by Kathleen Thompson and Todd Hill, midcities (at) drinkingliberally.org


El Paso, Texas
* Third Tuesday of each month, 6:00 pm to 8:00pm
* Hemmingways, 214 Cincinnati Ave
* Hosted by Michael Apodaca and Lily Ruiz, elpaso (at) drinkingliberally.org


Houston, Texas
* First Thursday of each month, 7 PM onward
* Dog House Tavern, 2517 Bagby St
* TRYING SOMETHING NEW. GOING TO MEET 1ST THURS FOR A FEW MONTHS.
* Visit or post on the Houston forum: http://drinkingliberally.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=6
* Hosted by David Robertson, houston (at) drinkingliberally.org



New Braunfels, Texas
* Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The Black Whale, On the Plaza in Downtown New Braunfels
* Hosted by Steve Woolbert and Greg Woodall, newbraunfels (at) drinkingliberally.org

San Antonio, Texas
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm onward
* The Cove, 606 W Cypress St (The Cove is located just west of San Pedro, where Cypress runs into Fredericksburg.)
* Hosted by Bill Livermore, Livi Bogrand and Ned Allen, sanantonio (at) drinkingliberally.org


Waxahachie, Texas
* Every Thursday, 6:30 pm
* Library Lounge, downstairs in the Rogers Hotel, 100 E Main St (Take the elevator or stairs from lobby)
* Location changes from time to time. Be on the email for updates!
* Food available; no smoking. Conversation-friendly environment!
* Hosted by Nathalie Guyol, waxahachie (at) drinkingliberally.org

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Impeachment, Groups and Events

Virginia is still one of the states where I have the most readers. So perhaps it is time to remind people of the local opportunities you have to be involved with your local community. My wife and I have made many friends and met many elected officials (and told them our opinions!) through joining local groups and attending local meetings like this. It is probably the most effective way you have available to you to change things.

First, how about a weekly impeachment related events:

Honk to Impeach Bush and Cheney to End the War Every Friday at noon in front of Rep. Bobby Scott's office building at the corner of E. Clay Street and N. 2nd Street-
Address:
501 N. 2nd Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1321
Come by and HONK LOUDLY!!!
http://www.myspace.com/rva4peace


Now some other groups and events:

Fauquier Democrats Monthly Meeting
Third Tuesday of Each Month, 7:30 pm

Warren Green Building
10 Hotel Street
Old Town, Warrenton

Blue Mondays With the Stafford County Democrats
Every Monday evening at 5 PM
King Street Blues Restaurant
Casual get-together of like minded Democratic Activist
For more info contact: jac_at_j2power.com


Democracy for Virginia:
Here are the local Democracy for America chapters in Virginia. Click on the link for more info:

* Arlington for Democracy (may be dormant...you can go here to contact the organizers and get more up to date info)

* Roanoke DFA

* Tidewater for Democracy

* Virginia Grassroots Coalition (may be dormant...you can contact them here for more info: info@vagrassroots.org)


Drinking Liberally:
For the more social and fun-oriented (and booze oriented), there's Drinking Liberally. Here are the Virginia Drinking Liberally Chapters:

Alexandria/Springfield, Virginia
* Second Thursday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
* King Street Blues, 5810 Kingstowne Center Drive, Alexandria (Corner of Kingstowne Blvd and Van Dorn Street)
* Hosted by Brian Murray and Mike Sizemore, alexandria (at) drinkingliberally.org

Arlington, Virginia
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
* Capitol City Brewing Company, 2700 S Quincy St
* We're usually in the back room at Cap City; check with the host station if you don't see us there!
* "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world" - Margaret Mead
* Hosted by David Swim, Quinn Jones, Michelle Elliott and Bev Wright, arlington (at) drinkingliberally.org

Charlottesville, Virginia
* Every Thursday, 6:00 pm onward
* South Street Brewery, 106 W South St
* Hosted by Chris Dumler and Clare Wuerker, charlottesville (at) drinkingliberally.org

Lorton, Virginia
* First and third Friday of each month, 6pm to 8 or 9
* Glory Days Grill, 9459 Lorton Market St
* First hour of the gathering is part of happy hour
* Hosted by Alan Salisbury and Chris Ambrose, lorton (at) drinkingliberally.org

Norfolk, Virginia
* Third Thursday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm
* The New Belmont, 2117 Colonial Ave (upstairs at the bar)
* Hosted by Tom Mitchell and Vivian Paige, norfolk (at) drinkingliberally.org

Richmond, Virginia
* Every other Wednesday, 7:00 pm onward
* Chiocca's Downstairs, 425 N Belmont Ave (Museum District - corner of Kensington & Belmont)
* Come join us for brews & news!
* Hosted by Morgan Bailey and John Manall, richmond (at) drinkingliberally.org

Virginia Beach, Virginia
* First Friday of each month, 7:00 PM
* Studio For The Healing Arts, 1611 Colley Ave # D, Norfolk, VA, Norfolk (One block from the Naro theater)
* Zeitgeist the Movie, DVD Door Prize
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Virginia9-11Truth/ http://vbdems.org
* One block from the Naro theater in Ghent
* Hosted by Chris Jaramillo and Eileen Levandoski, vabeach (at) drinkingliberally.org

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Groups and Events

California is another state where I have lots of readers. So I want to remind people of the resources they have for getting involved and affecting their community.

Please Join Congressman Jerry McNerney for a New Year's get together:
McNerney New Years Family Celebration
Saturday, January 5, 2008, 4pm - 6pm

Valley Brewery
157 West Adams Street, Stockton
$15 per person | $25 per family (suggested...donation not required to attend)


And for those in the 4th Congressional District of California (Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada and Placer Counties), here are some chances to meet Congressional Candidate Lt. Col. Charlie Brown:

Roseville House Party
Saturday January 5, 2008 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Sun City Roseville House Party
Thursday January 10, 2008 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Auburn House Party
Sunday January 20, 2008 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Grass Valley House Party
Saturday January 26, 2008 | 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Auburn House Party
Sunday February 24, 2008 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Rocklin Fundraiser
Sunday March 16, 2008 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

To RSVP, or for more information abuot any of these events, call (916) 782-7696 or e-mail info@charliebrownforcongress.org


Here are organizations for Californians:

California for Democracy:
Here are some local Democracy for America groups (click on the link for more info)

DFA Marin

Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley

Democratic Club of Coarsegold

DFA - Central Coast

DFA-CFD of Fresno & Madera Counties

DFA-CFD of Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties

Democracy for Monterey County

DFA-Orange County

East Bay for Democracy

Sacramento for Democracy

San Diego for Democracy

(San Fernando) Valley Grassroots for Democracy

San Francisco for Democracy

San Mateo County Democracy for America

Santa Barbara Progressive Coalition

Sonoma County DFA


Democratic Club of LA HABRA: Since La Habra is one of my current top spots for readership, here is a Democratic Club I tracked down just for you:

Democrats of North Orange County
Bill Daly, President
714-990-6767
Bruce Sandercock, Vice-President
714-871-5244
P. O. Box 6597
Fullerton, CA 92834
Monthly meeting: First Thursday, Sizzler Restaurant,
1401 N. Harbor, Fullerton; 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting


And Since San Jose was one of my top readershop spots for a few weeks, here is info on a local San Jose Democratic Club:

Santa Clara County (San Jose) Democratic Party November Meetup

We meet at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Dem Party Office, 2102 Almaden Road, Suite 114, San Jose, 95125. Feel free to bring snacks to share.

Brought to you by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party (http://www.sccdp.org).... Please join us to learn ways to help elect Democrats in Santa Clara County and beyond.

~~Together, America Can Do Better!~~

On Almaden ROAD (not Expwy), between Curtner and Canoas Garden. It's OK to park in the big lot, despite posted warnings.

Internet directions usually suggest taking Almaden Expressway, which is sometimes backed up. A lower stress route is to take Bird Avenue west from 280 and follow it all the way until it dead-ends at Malone. Left on Malone, Right on Almaden Road and 2102 is on the first corner on your left.

We meet in Suite 114, first door on your left as you enter the glass doors marked Main Entrance.


Drinking Liberally:

For those who like a more social, and beer focused, environment, there's Drinking Liberally. Here are the Drinking Liberally groups in California:

Let me highlight San Jose...because for some reason San Jose is where most of my California readership is located!

San Jose
* Second Thursday of each month, 6:30 and on
* Trials Pub in downtown San Jose, 265 N 1st St (main cross streets: W St James and W Julian)
* September is our first meeting with our new host! I'm looking for a co-host, so let me know if you are interested
* Hosted by Mia White, sanjose (at) drinkingliberally.org


And here are the other California groups:

Downtown Los Angeles
* Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm
* The Edison, 108 West 2nd St
* We'll be in the area past the bar, known as the "Generator Lounge" (the entrance to the bar is through the alley off of 2nd street)
* Hosted by Vincent Jones, Cecilia Cabello, Becca Doten, Roxi Reeves and Jim Kennedy, downtownla (at) drinkingliberally.org

Hollywood
* Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 PM
* Molly Malone's Irish Pub, 575 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles 90036 (near corner of 6th avenue)
* http://www.mollymalonesla.com/
* Hosted by Vincent Jones, Jim Kennedy and Mary Jack, la (at) drinkingliberally.org

Pasadena
* Every Tuesday, 7:30-10:00 pm
* Madeleine's Wine Bistro, 1030 E Green St (between Wilson and Catalina)
* We'll start out in the wine bar, then move out to the front patio.
* Hosted by Asa Hopkins, pasadena (at) drinkingliberally.org

San Fernando Valley
* First and third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The White Harte Pub, 22456 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills (Two blocks west of Shoup Ave.)
* Hosted by Andy Beaton and Jon Hytowitz, sfv (at) drinkingliberally.org

Westside
* Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
* Cock and Bull Pub, 2947 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
* Hosted by Vincent Jones, Mary Jack, Robert Coyner, Gisele Perez, Jeremy Bloom, Tami Reiss, Marc Saltzberg and Jim Kennedy, westsidela (at) drinkingliberally.org

Monterey, California
* First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm onward
* Ol' Factory Cafe, 1725 Contra Costa St (In Sand City, off of Del Monte Blvd)
* http://www.olfactorycafe.com/
* Please note that The Ol' Factory Cafe currently only takes cash and local checks.
* Hosted by Annie Ho, monterey (at) drinkingliberally.org

Santa Ana
* Every Thursday, 8:30 pm onward
* Memphis Bar, 201 N Broadway (Artists Village)
* Hosted by Mike Lawson, orangecounty (at) drinkingliberally.org

Rancho Santa Margarita
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward
* Canyon Fireside Grille, 22312 El Paseo
* Hosted by Gary Kephart, rsm (at) drinkingliberally.org

Huntington Beach
* First and third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Co. - Out Back On The Patio, 19461 Main St
* Next Meeting will be on Thursday November 15th
* Hosted by Scott McKown and Louise Stewardson, huntingtonbeach (at) drinkingliberally.org

Sacramento, California
* Second Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* BJs Restaurant and Brewery, 3531 N Freeway Blvd (Natomas)
* Come check out our new venue and meet some new people!
* Hosted by Leslie Simmons, sacramento (at) drinkingliberally.org

San Diego, California
* Every other Tuesday, 7:30 pm onward
* Nunu's Cocktail Lounge, 3537 5th Ave (Between Brookes and Ivy Ln)
* We will also be meeting periodically at Firehouse in Pacific Beach for special editions of Drinking Liberally. 722 Grand Avenue Pacific Beach, CA 92109
* Hosted by Jesse Rubin and Jason Miller, sandiego (at) drinkingliberally.org

San Francisco
* Every Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm
* Nickie's, 466 Haight Street (between Fillmore & Webster) (Look for our red, white and blue striped bottle!)
* Hosted by Susan Harrison, sf (at) drinkingliberally.org

Oakland
* Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
* Luka's Taproom & Lounge, 2221 Broadway
* Join us for the Eating Liberally Oakland Brunch at Luka's
* Hosted by Cyril Allen and Philip Combs, oakland (at) drinkingliberally.org

Napa
* First and third Monday of each month, 5:00-6:30 pm
* Compadre's, 505 Lincoln Ave
* Hosted by Mick Winter and Lauren Coodley, napa (at) drinkingliberally.org


San Luis Obispo, California
* First and third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The Graduate, 990 Industrial Way
* Hosted by Lorrie Toles and Sergio Monge, slo (at) drinkingliberally.org

Santa Barbara, California
* Every Wednesday, 8 pm - 10 pm
* Elsie's Bar, 117 W de la Guerra St (behind Paseo Nuveo Mall)
* Elsie's is 21+ and cash only
* Hosted by Daryl Chrisman and Bart Woolery, santabarbara (at) drinkingliberally.org

Santa Clarita, California
* Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Mulligans, 25848 Tournament Rd (Near Cal Arts)
* Hosted by Michael Cruz, Bill Bailey and Minerva Williams, santaclarita (at) drinkingliberally.org

Santa Cruz, California
* First Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Cafe Pergolesi, 418 Cedar St (In the orange room to the right and back)
* Hosted by Brandon Smith and Natalie Rojas, santacruz (at) drinkingliberally.org

Stockton, California
* Third Friday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Stockton Grand Hotel, 2323 Grand Canal Blvd (Front of Bar)
* Grand Hotel tel. 209-957-9090
* Joel's Cell: 209-351-3397
* Hosted by Joel Carignan, stockton (at) drinkingliberally.org

Ventura, California
* Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 8:00 pm
* JJ Brewsky's, now and forever, 2344 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo (in the heart of Old Town Camarillo)
* Join us every second and fourth Wednesdays at 8:00 PM for a pint and some politics!
* Heather, Marie, Mark and Brian
* Hosted by Heather Schmidt, Marie Davis, Mark Eggertsen and Brian Mack, ventura (at) drinkingliberally.org

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Events and Groups

New Jersey remains one of the places outside NYC where I have the most readers. So perhaps it is time to remind people of the local opportunities you have to be involved with your local community. My wife and I have made many friends and met many elected officials (and told them our opinions!) through joining local groups and attending local meetings like this. It is probably the most effective way you have available to you to change things.


Every Saturday Morning: Blue Jersey Radio
Saturdays 10:30 - 11:00

Listen Live every Saturday morning from 10:30a-11:00a - or download the podcast anytime to listen to the latest hot topics, gossip and opinion on New Jersey politics with hosts Jeff Gardner and Jay Lassiter.

Click here to listen!


Here are a few upcoming events in New Jersey:

Central Jersey: DFA/PDA MOVIE NIGHT: 'The War Tapes' documentary
Friday FEB 16th at7:00 pm
RSVP here
Location: Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), Route 28 & Lamington Road, North Branch NJ 08876

SOUTH JERSEY: MONTHLY ACTIVISM ORGANIZING MEETING
Tuesday FEB 27th at 7:30 pm. Joint Event/Meeting with Progressive Democrats of South Jersey and Democracy For America
Location: Hadden Twnshp Branch Library. 15 MacArthur Blvd, Westmonth, NJ 08108.

South Jersey: CITIZENS EMPOWERMENT TRAINING
Saturday March 10th from 10:30 - 12:30. FREE.
Learn how to run for a local committee seat to represent your neighborhood!
Please RSVP here or email : roses4joanne_at_snip.net


New Jersey for Democracy:

Here are the local Democracy for America groups in New Jersey:

North Jersey -

Bergen County
Ethical Culture Society
687 Larch Ave
Teaneck, NJ 07666
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/bergen

Essex County
Cryan's Beef & Ale House
24 First Street
South Orange, NJ 07079
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/essex

Hudson County
The Hard Grove Cafe
319 Grove St.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-451-1853
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/hudson
(First Wednesday of the Month, 7:30pm)

Morris County
Morris County Democratic Headquarters
11 Washington St
Morristown, NJ 07960
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/morris

Passaic County
Puzo's Restaurant (Upstairs)
4 Garfield Ave.
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/passaic
(First Thursday of the Month)

Union County
Rockin Joe Cafe
20 Prospect Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
908-232-1660
RSVP at Union Meetup

Warren County
MS Health Software Corp
605 Grand Ave.
Hackettstown, NJ
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/nwnj

Central Jersey -

Hunterdon County
Friendly Grounds Coffee
36 Mine St.
Flemington, NJ
908-788-8983
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/hunterdon

Mercer County
Carl A Fields Center
86 Olden Street
(Corner of Olden St and Prospect Ave on Princeton Univ campus)
Princeton, NJ
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/mercercounty
(please check DFA-Link for schedule)

Middlesex County
Panera Bread
1551 Route 1 South
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 516-1611
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/middlesexNJ

Monmouth County
Racioppi's Kitchen
107 Oakland St. (at the train station at Bridge Ave.)
Red Bank, NJ
(917) 863-2408
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/monmouth

Somerset County
Somerset County Complex
40 North Bridge St. (off of High)
Somerville, NJ
RSVP at Somerset Meetup
(Second or Third Tuesday of the Month)

South Jersey -

Camden County
Haddon Township Library
15 MacArthur Blvd
Westmont, NJ 08108
856-854-2752
RSVP at Progressive Democracy South Jersey
4th Tues. of month

Gloucester County
RSVP at Democracy for Gloucester County
(Please check DFA-Link for date & location)

Ocean County
Joshua Huddy Brew Pub and Grill
1250 Hooper Ave.
Toms River
RSVP at www.dfalink.com/oceancounty
(First Tuesday of the Month)


Drinking Liberally:

For the more social and fun-oriented (and booze oriented), there's Drinking Liberally. Here are the New Jersey Drinking Liberally Chapters:

Hillsborough, New Jersey
* Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Petrock's Bar and Grill, 419 Amwell Rd (at Amwell and 206)
* Hosted by Matthew Dawson, hillsborough (at) drinkingliberally.org

Montclair, New Jersey
* Second Thursday of each month, 7:30 pm onward
* Just Jake's, 30 Park Street (b/t Bloomfield & Claremont)
* We meet in the REAR DINING ROOM. Turn left after entering, go past the juke box, bar and W.C.
* Ample parking in municipal lot next to Just Jake's (free after 7 pm)
* ** Mtclair DL ON THE ROAD, TUES, NOV 13, from 8PM at PAUL'S BAR & BOWLING, 377 CROOKS AVE, PATERSON, NJ (973) 278-1982 http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=10780514 **THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL MEETING, WE STILL HAVE OUR USUAL 2nd THURSDAY
* Hosted by Kevin Kelly and Dan Evans Farkas, montclair (at) drinkingliberally.org

Morristown
* Third Thursday of each month, 8:00 pm onwards
* Hennessey's Tavern, 140 Morris St (Corner of Elm & Morris, next to the train station)
* There's plenty of public parking behind train station or on Elm Street.
* Come on by & raise a pint with other fun loving local progressive's! Hope to see you there...
* Hosted by Jim Long, Chip Robinson, David Cochran and Linda Humphries, morristown (at) drinkingliberally.org


Dover
* First Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The Hop, 14 N Morris St
* Hosted by Jim Long, Chip Robinson, Dave Cochran and Linda Humphries, dovernj (at) drinkingliberally.org

New Brunswick, New Jersey
* Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Doll's Place, 101 Paterson St (corner of Paterson & Joyce Kilmer)
* Hosted by Bob Scardapane and Chris Swasey, newbrunswick (at) drinkingliberally.org

Pennsauken, New Jersey
* First and third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* Kings Row Sports Bar and Billiards, 6030 S Crescent Blvd (Route 130 N)
* Hosted by Art Williams and Denise Williams, pennsauken (at) drinkingliberally.org

Toms River, New Jersey
* First Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Joshua Huddy Brew Pub, 1250 Hooper Ave (across from Ocean County Mall)
* Hosted by Robin Kinlin and Ian Valentine, tomsriver (at) drinkingliberally.org


Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women Meeting
Sam DiVico Senior Center
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Join the Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women to discuss important local, state and federal issues. All are encouraged to join!

2nd Thursday of every month.
7:00pm
Sam DiVico Senior Center
Romney Place
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

For more information, please contact:
Virginia Hesel
609-884-5848

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Phonebanks, Groups and Events

Here are some important progressive events in Pennsylvania:

First there are some important phone banking events that can really help some good Democrats win:

Phone bank for Bensalem & County candidates
Organized by: Diane Marseglia and Steve Santarsiero for County Commissioner
Event Date: Monday, December 24th 2007
Event Time: 5:30 PM
Venue Name: Phone banking for Bensalem & County candidates
City: Trevose
State: PA
Zip Code: 19053
Phone Number: 267-255-5030
e-mail: cbs58@earthlink.net


Peace Vigil Every Saturday, 10:30 AM

Intersection of Lincoln Hgwy & Oxford Valley Roads
Business Route 1 & Oxford Valley Road at the Closed Transmission Station
Langhorne, PA

Organized by Lower Bucks for Democracy


Next, here are some Drinking Liberally chapters in Pennsylvania:

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
* Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The Orchards Restaurant, 1580 Orchard Dr
* Ask for the Drinking Liberally group and you'll find us.
* Hosted by Alice Elia, chambersburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
* Second Thursday of each month (next meeting December 13), 6:00 pm onward
* O'Rorke's Eatery & Spirits, 44 Steinwehr Avenue (second floor)
* New Location
* additional parking in National Park Service Visitor Center lot behind restaurant
* Hosted by Eileen H. Potemra, gettysburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
* Every Tuesday, 7:30 pm onward
* Lancaster Brewing Company, 302 N Plum St (corner of Walnut and Plum)
* Hosted by Jeff Fulmer, Monz Wenner and Cher Rineer, lancaster (at) drinkingliberally.org

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Center City
* Every Tuesday, 6:00-9:00 pm
* Tangier, 1801 Lombard St (at 18th St)
* Hosted by Brendan Skwire, philadelphia (at) drinkingliberally.org

Mount Airy
* Every Thursday, 6:30-9:00 pm
* Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown Ave
* Hosted by Adam Zion, mtairy (at) drinkingliberally.org


Reading, Pennsylvania
* Second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6pm onward
* Canal Street Restaurant & Pub, 535 Canal St (a few blocks past RACC along the riverfront)
* NEW LOCATION!!! Great local beer from Legacy Brewing Co. & a large selection of wines by the glass.
* NO Thanksgiving meeting, obviously. Enjoy your holiday and all those awkward political conversations with ornery family members!
* Hosted by Kim Stahler and Dan Sauder, reading (at) drinkingliberally.org

State College, Pennsylvania
* First and third Tuesday of each month, 5:30 pm onward
* Hi-Way Pizza, 428 Westerly Pky
* Hosted by Nancy Crane, statecollege (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Chester, Pennsylvania
* First Thursday of each month, 8:00 pm onward
* Ryan's Pub, 124 W Gay St (On Gay St. between Church & Darlington)
* We are still on the once a month format and we have changed the venue to Ryan's. We'll be meeting up on the 2nd floor near the bar.
* Remember, no need to feed the meters in town after 5pm- save that cash for drinks!
* Hosted by Jonathan Long, Daniel Tyman and Jamie Manos, westchester (at) drinkingliberally.org

York, Pennsylvania
* Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* The First Capital Dispensing Company, 57 N Pershing Ave (We usually secure a large table or two in the back room.)
* Hosted by Phyllis Wise, Roland Rode and Craig Thomas, york (at) drinkingliberally.org