Progressive Democrat Issue 231

Last week I ended my introductory statement by saying, "It may not always seem this way, but things have been moving (slowly) in the right direction." This last week adds a great deal of emphasis to my statement. Looked at from afar, what Obama has been doing is amazing. Of course there is the Nobel Peace Prize, which I discuss in this week's newsletter. Whether or not you think Obama has earned it, it is a sincere expression of just how relieved the world is that America has a good President again and of how hopeful the world is that Obama can turn things around. But the Nobel Prize is just the most obvious expression of this. Simply put, almost every nation in the world views America better thanks to Obama. From Reuters:

The United States is the most admired country globally thanks largely to the star power of President Barack Obama and his administration, according to a new poll.

It climbed from seventh place last year, ahead of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan which completed the top five nations in the Nation Brand Index (NBI).

"What's really remarkable is that in all my years studying national reputation, I have never seen any country experience such a dramatic change in its standing as we see for the United States for 2009," said Simon Anholt, the founder of NBI, which measured the global image of 50 countries each year...

The global survey, conducted by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media, involved 20,000 people in 20 rich and developing countries around the globe. They were asked to rate 50 nations in categories such as culture, governance, people, exports, tourism, landscape and education.

What a difference a year, and a new President, makes. And it is an important measure of Obama's success. I should note that the two main groups of people who view America worse now that Obama is President are right wing Republicans and Muslim supporters of Islamic Jihad, Iran or the Taliban. I am not making that up. Having read a great deal of the comments both from right wing Republicans and Islamic fundamentalists (Shi'ite and Sunni) I am amazed at how similar are their comments about Obama and America.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Keith Olbermann on Healthcare Reform

Glenn Beck Boycott Continues...and goes international

New York City Focus: Endorsements for November's Election

Rochester, NY Focus

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

NEW YORK STATE

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Re-elect Secretary of State Debra Bowen

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

Orange County, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Arizona Focus: Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Incompetent Deputy

Arizona Focus: Support the Communities On The Front Lines at Big Mountain, Black Mesa, AZ.

ARIZONA FOCUS

Texas Focus: Bill White for US Senate

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Dallas County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris County, TX. Focus

TEXAS FOCUS

Atlanta, GA Focus

Fayette County, GA Focus

Coweta County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

Virginia Focus: Creigh Deeds' Latest Ad

Virginia Organizing Project Supports Healthcare Reform

Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA Foucus

Hanover County, VA Focus

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Sussex County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

Passaic County, NJ Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

Pennsylvania Senate: Another Reason to Support Joe Sestak for Senate

Progressive Majority Candidates in Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Injustice for Florida Lesbian and Family

FLORIDA FOCUS

Restore the Duwamish River - Tukwila, WA

Progressive Majority Candidates in Washington State

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

Colorado Senator Bennet On Healthcare Reform

COLORADO FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

Wisconsin for Healthcare Reform: Facts and Actions

WISCONSIN FOCUS

North Carolina Justice Center: Myths About Health Reform

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

Progressive Majority Canidates in Minnesota

MINNESOTA FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Illinois Focus: Melissa Bean and Bill Foster, Give Us Our Healthcare

ILLINOIS FOCUS

Nevada: Public Option Model that SAVES Money

NEVADA FOCUS