Progressive Democrat Issue 160

This last week I think marks when Iraq is finally sinking into genuine civil war. And our troops are caught right in the middle with no loyal allies, no goal, no exit strategy. I'd say there's a 50/50 shot it will calm down again, but if so it will be on Sadr's terms. Like last time. It could also spiral into even worse chaos and the Republicans have no idea what to do. I fear for our troops and I fear for the civillians of Iraq. 50/50 it calms down if Sadr wants it to...50/50 it will get really ugly.

And then there is the economy. Let's remember that the economy has NEVER been good under Bush. Not for one single day has the economy been anything remotely like the boom of the Clinton years. It has ranged from abyssmal to mediocre...and it is collapsing now. I see another 50/50...we can either limp along without an actual depression, merely a recession (and yes...we ARE in one, Republican denial not withstanding) and when a Democrat takes over I think things WILL improve just like they did under Bill Clinton. But also 50/50 I think we will see a much more serious collapse. Our government is already deep in debt. DEEP in debt, thanks to Bush mismanagement. So how many bailouts can we afford? Not many, I suspect.

Global warming took another lurch forward as yet another big chunk of the Antarctic ice shelf broke up. This is not as dramatic as the last time this happened, and keep in mind that the break up of ice shelves is not as serious as the melting of ice sheets on land. But it is yet another clear indication that something unprecedented is already in progress and we had better face up to it if we want our economy to survive the changes.

It has been a week where the chickens have been coming home to roost from 7 years of complete incompetance under the Republicans. We are facing the consequences. Greed and mismanagement are no way to run a government, but that is what we have had under the Republicans. We can...and WILL...do better. We have to win the Senate and the White House. After that, we can begin to fix this mess the Republicans have made.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

REPUBLICANS AND HALLIBURTON: Literally Killing our Troops

THE McCAIN MYTH EXPOSED

MISSING PERSONS: A Website That Needs Some Help

SOME PRAISE FOR A REPUBLICAN: Chuck Hegel

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Alternative Energy, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

ARIZONA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Steve Harrison, Peace Vigils, Urban Development, Groups and Events

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Impeachment, Groups and Events

OREGON FOCUS: Global Warming, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Groups and Events

GEORGIA FOCUS: Samaritan House, Groups and Events

IOWA FOCUS: Sustainable Agriculture, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Blue Jersey Radio, Peace Vigils, Impeachment, Groups and Events

FLORIDA FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

ALASKA FOCUS: Groups and Events

ILLINOIS FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Sustainable Living, Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Groups and Events