Progressive Democrat Issue 220

I am streamlining how I put this newsletter together while also expanding coverage in two states where I have lots of readers: Georgia and New Jersey. Interestingly, readership went down while I was on vacation, but immediately came back up once I started posting again. So I guess you all really do pay attention when I post.

As Sotomayor comes closer and closer to confirmation, and as we have a new Surgeon General (who ran a clinic in Louisiana that she pieced back together herself after Katrina...no thanks to Bush and the Republicans, of course) and unanimous approval by the Senate of a new head of NASA, this represents a hugely important week for America where amazingly qualified minorities are reaching all levels of the Federal government. Meanwhile, the Republican Senators have been showing off their ugliest, most racist sides during the Sotomayor confirmation hearings. Even though they know they are losing the fight, they are putting their worst foot forward and coming off looking like absolute assholes. And, in the process, Republicans are further alienating any support they may ever have had among Hispanics and women. The further loss of the Hispanic vote is covered by Daily Kos in this diary. But the real fact of the matter is Sotomayor is showing herself to be one of the best people we have had appointed for the Supreme Court. Far far better than Alito or Thomas or Bork, the fools the right wing liked.

Meanwhile, Obama was in New Jersey campaigning with Governor Corzine, and he really kicked ass. Here's some video of his speech:



And, of course, this week has been some major advances in the healthcare debate. Republicans, of course, want to fight to keep things as they are or worse. Well, as I have written before, America's healthcare is far from impressive. In fact it is among the most expensive in the world, but is about as good as the healthcare they get in Slovenia, Bosnia and Cuba. It is embarassing! The best option, pushed by Kucinich but generally not on the table and probably not possible to get through Congress, is the single-payer option (discussed in this diary, if a bit buried). But the second best option is the current bill that includes a strong public option. This is our best bet for genuine reform right here and right now. And we have to contact our Congress Critters and urge them to support a strong public option. In this week's newsletter I push three particular Congressional Reps on this issue, one of whom I know personally and all of whom I have supported strongly in the past...and all of whom I respect. I am hoping all three will come around and support a strong public option for healthcare reform. Read my messages to these Congress Critters for more info, and for ideas on what to say when contacting your Congress Critters...beacuse now is the time to fight for real healthcare reform and you, more than anyone else, can convince your Reps. to do the right thing.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Better to Invest Now than Risk Disaster Later

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez: Please Support a Strong Public Option

My Message to Linda Sanchez and Zack Space on Healthcare

Republican Senator Brownback Wasting Our Time and Money

NYC FOCUS: Beware Home Energy Scams Revisited

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

Rochester, NY Focus

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS

Orange County, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Passaic County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

Sussex County, NJ Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

Dallas County, TX Focus

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris County, TX Focus

TEXAS FOCUS

Georgia Action for Health Care

Georgia Democrats Work

Coweta County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

VIRGINIA FOCUS

COLORADO FOCUS

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Tempe, AZ Campaign Training

ARIZONA FOCUS

WASHINGTON FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Jacksonville, FL Campaign Training

FLORIDA FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

MINNESOTA FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

NEVADA FOCUS