Progressive Democrat Issue 169

This coming week is a big primary in California. This week I highlight some of the progressives running in that primary and I hope my California readers will consider helping them out. Focusing on these kinds of local elections is so critical, yet so neglected. In California this week we have the chance to elect the next generation of progressive politicians.

This last week was the week when John McCain's campaign took a serious blow. Bob Barr, a Republican who is about as conservative as they get but who got fed up with Bush's war and invasion of civil liberties, has been nominated as the Libertarian Candidate for President. This potentially will hurt McCain big time...but we shall see.

In Brooklyn, NY, my friend Devin Cohen's candidacy for a judicial seat heats up as he receives two local endorsements (the Independent Neighborhood Democrats and the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats). Judicial elections are also critically important yet neglected elections. Devin is receiving endorsements from local politicians as well, like Assemblywoman Joan Millman and State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and several local District Leaders. Meanwhile, I have spent some time looking into his opponent's (Roger Adler's) record and I am astonished that he seems to be a latent right winger, if his donations and actions are to believed. How can we trust a supposed Democrat whose main donations are to right wingers (Republicans and the Conservative Party) and whose legal work includes an amicus brief opposing marriage equality in NY State.

Meanwhile, coincidentally, New York's Governor Paterson has declared that NY State will revise every aspect of its laws to recognize same sex marriages from other states. Although marriage equality remains illegal in New York (thanks to the court case Roger Adler helped out with his amicus brief), New York will now accept same sex marriages from other states, a major step forward that is fully in agreement with Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, in part: "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State."

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

KATRINA...BUSH...McCAIN

THE THIRD PARTY FACTOR: Greens, Nader, Libertarians, Barr...

CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS JUNE 3rd: Progressive Candidates Running Strong

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Democracy for Wisconsin, Groups and Events

GEORGIA FOCUS: Veterans for Peace, NAACP, Groups and Events

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Judy Feder, Tom Perriello, Impeachment, Groups and Events

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Mark Schauer, Gary Peters, Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Alternative Energy, Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

OHIO FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

TEXAS FOCUS: Rick Noriega, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

ILLINOIS FOCUS: David Sirota, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Blue Jersey Radio, Groups and Events

FLORIDA FOCUS: Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Larry Kissell, Veterans for Peace, Groups and Events

ARIZONA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

OREGON FOCUS: Neighborhood Leaders, Groups and Events

IOWA FOCUS: Groups and Events

ALASKA FOCUS: Diane Benson, Mark Begich, Veterans for Peace, Groups and Events

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