Progressive Democrat Issue 152

History WILL be made.

Whatever happens, it is almost certain that 2008 will be remembered as the historic year when a major American political party for the first time EVER nominates a woman or a black. We will be remembered for this.

That became clear this week as John Edwards honorably bowed out. Rudy Giuliani also bowed out, but it was more a slinking off because no one wanted to play with him. Edwards had at least gathered some delegates and came in 2nd or 3rd in most races. Giuliani had banked it all on Florida and came in a distant third...and had been a nobody all the way along. Even Ron Paul had collected more delegates.

Now the Democrats will nominate a capable, intelligent woman or a capable, intelligent black. This means several things. It means a maturity reached by America (or at least Democrats) where we can finally stop assuming we are too immature to accept someone who isn't a white male Protestant as President. It means that we have made history this year, achieving some very real progress. Finally, it means that we better be prepared for one of the nastiest, most shocking Republican smear campaigns we have ever seen, because sexism or racism WILL, in a thinly veiled form, be a major part of their strategy.

Are we prepared for the nasty smears they WILL throw at us? I will say that ANY Democrat, whether a candidate, a campaign manager or an activist, who has not yet read Drew Westen's book, The Political Brain, had better get it now and read it fast. Because it deals very effectively not only with how voters in general think when they vote, AND also with Republican sexism and racism and how Democrats do not generally fight it as strongly as they should. THIS YEAR we have to fight against the typical racist and sexist Republican tactics tooth and nail or WE WILL LOSE. Let me be clear. They will pull off a win if we a.) fail to ensure verified voting and b.) fail to fight aggressively against ANY racist or sexist attack. We all have some responsibility in this. We all need to be fighting for verified voting and against Republican smear attacks.

Are you ready? Be ready to write every news outlet you can whenever there is the SLIGHTEST question of voter fraud or whenever you see Republicans invoke sexism or racism as a strategy. Look into what they did to Harold Ford, jr. A VERY subtle but very effective racist attack of the worst kind. Again, it is covered in some detail in Drew Westen's book.

On another note, I found out this week that my coverage of Homeland Security's fight with NASA scientists over privacy has gotten some interesting attention. A friend who is in her second year of law school is taking a class on information and privacy, and this case is one of the ones they are discussing. And my coverage of the issue is part of what they are studying! You can read my coverage here: Part I (Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12); Part II (the "suitability matrix"); Part III (the Resignation Letter). The latest is that an appeals court has sent the JPL lawsuit back to the lower court.

Here is this week's newsletter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

DRUM MAJOR INSTITUTE'S ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF THE UNION

THE REAL McCAIN: Buck Turgedson Returns?

IMPEACHMENT, IRAQ, AND ELECTIONS: Progressives Getting Tough

ILLINOIS FOCUS: Mark Pera for Congress, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Darwin Day, Groups and Events

TEXAS FOCUS: Rick Noriega for Senate, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

FLORIDA FOCUS: Christine Jennings for Congress, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Charlie Brown for Congress, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

ARIZONA FOCUS: Darwin Day, Groups and Events

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Bye Bye Bush Bash, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Blue Jersey Radio, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Impeachment, Darwin Day, Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Darwin Day, Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Darwin Day, Groups and Events

IOWA FOCUS: Alternative Energy, Darwin Day, Groups and Events