Progressive Democrat Newsletter Issue 261

Awhile back I discussed the kidnapping of two Current TV reporters by North Korea. Thanks to the intervention of President Bill Clinton, they were released. One of the two Current TV reporters, Laura Ling, has gone public about her experiences kidnapped by North Korean soldiers, and it is chilling. Here (after a commercial or two) is the interview by her fellow Current TV staff:



One thing I should note is that I previously expressed doubt that they violated North Korean territory (which N Korea claimed they did). It seems they DID violate North Korean territory...barely. And I wonder if their carefully selected guide was in on the incident since he was the one who seems to have taken them across the border and they on their own volition turned back...but too late.

Laura Ling has also published her experiences in a book I have already ordered but not yet received or read. I expect it to be a good read.

Turning to domestic politics, the Arkansas Senate primary has gotten interesting. Bill Halter has "pulled ahead" though really it is a statistical tie. Usually in a primary when a man and woman are going head to head, polls show the woman leading among women and the man leading among men. It is reversed in this race. Bill Halter leads among women voters 51-39, while Lincoln wins among men voters 49-43. But I think Lincoln's poor performance among women voters was presaged when EMILY's List dumped her. Generally, and sometimes even illogically, EMILY's List supports women candidates over men. Not this time. Lincoln's reactionary policies soured EMILY's List and they refused to endorse her for re-election, going so far as to announce specifically that they would not endorse her for re-election. Turning to race, Halter leads heavily among blacks (58-28), Lincoln barely leads among whites (47-45).

When it comes to the general election, Lincoln vs. Boozman has Boozman winning 58-38. Lincoln almost certainly will lose, whether it is in the primary or the general is the only question. Halter vs. Boozman still leans Boozman, but Halter has a better shot than Lincoln: 42 Halter to 53 Boozman. We need Halter to win the primary to have ANY shot at winning the general is the bottom line.

Turning to Kentucky, Teabagger Rand Paul only barely leads Democrat Jack Conway. This was expected to be an easy Republican win, but only a week after Paul's big win he has been saying so many crazy things (like wanting to repeal key parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and has ties with so many unsavory racists, the race is shaping up to be a toss up. Polls currently show it 44 Paul to 40 Conway. We can win this one.

Finally, in Pennsylvania, Joe Sestak has pulled ahead of Republican Toomey in the Senate race. Sestak leads 43 to 40...not bad for a race that was considered a probable Republican pickup.

One of the big stories this week was the passage in the House of a bill repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, Bill Clinton's compromise measure when Congress derailed his attempt to allow gays openly in the military. It still has to get through the Senate, but it is huge progress for equality for gays in America. Sure, it is equality for getting oneself killed for your country, but it is still one more step towards equality. The passage has not gotten as much attention as I would have expected given how many progressives criticized Obama's slow pace in fulfilling his promise to repeal DADT, but this is what Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa had to say about it:

Last night was historic. As a co-sponsor of the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, I was proud to cast my vote in favor of ending this reprehensible policy that belies our country's founding principles of equality.

I believe my colleague from Georgia, Congressman John Lewis, put it best: "I fought too hard and for too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation."

This decision is another critical step forward as we work to end discrimination against our citizens and live up to our promise as a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Thank you for your support, and as always, take care,
signature

Dave

And, looking towards the Senate, the first step towards passage in the Senate was also taken this last week. Here's what Colorado Senator Mark Udall has to say about it:

Just a short time ago, the Senate Armed Services Committee took an historic vote to include the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the defense authorization bill. Several of my committee colleagues and I overcame fierce opposition to reach victory and enhance our national security.

This is a major step forward to repealing DADT. Thanks to thousands of members of the MarkUdall.com community for making this happen.

But this isn't the end. Now, we must make sure the amendment remains in the underlying defense authorization bill and is not stripped out by opponents on the Senate floor. We cannot afford to continue to dismiss brave patriots who wish to protect our nation merely because of their sexual orientation.

Now, as a bit of a sociological study, here is a video a Kossack made of a Teabagger get together. Personally the teabaggers seem rather pathetic to me.



And finally, as a contrast to the pathetic Teabaggers, here's Obama's weekly address:



Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Colony Collapse Disorder: The pieces are starting to fit together

Right Wing Domestic Terrorism in West Memphis

Continued from last week: Senator Al Franken: Help me help Jack and Joe

Brooklyn Focus: Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats Endorsement Meeting

Brooklyn Focus: Challenging Marty Golden (State Senate)

Brooklyn Focus: Challenging Carl Kruger (State Senate)

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Manhattan, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx Focus: Challenging Pedro Espada jr. (State Senate)

Bronx Focus: Challenging Ruben Diaz, Sr. (State Senate)

Bronx, NY Focus

Suffolk County, NY Focus

Rochester, NY Focus

New York 19th District Focus: Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS

Orange County, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

California 11th District Focus: San Joaquin, Alameda and Santa Clara Counties

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Dallas County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris County, TX Focus

Texas 10th District Focus: Turn TX-10 Blue

Texas 21st District Focus: Turn TX-21 Blue

TEXAS FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

How the Health Care Bill Helps You: Key Benefits for Virginia

Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA Foucus

Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County, VA Focus

Hanover County, VA Focus

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Sussex County, NJ Focus

Passaic County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

Progressive Candidates in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Focus: Lois Herr for Congress

Lancaster Co. PA Focus

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Progressive Candidates in Colorado

Boulder County, CO Focus

Larimer County, CO Focus

Douglas County, CO Focus

COLORADO FOCUS

Broward County, FL Focus

Orange County, FL Focus

Pinellas County, FL Focus

FLORIDA FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Progressive Candidates in Minnesota

MINNESOTA FOCUS

Atlanta, GA Focus

Fayette County, GA Focus

Coweta County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

Progressive Candidates in Michigan

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Progressive Candidates in Washington State

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

Arizona Focus: Racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio may have misused 50 MILLION Dollars

Progressive Candidates in Arizona

ARIZONA FOCUS

North Carolina Focus: Wells Fargo Preys on Mom of Scalded Baby in ICU

North Carolina Focus: NC-5 District Focus (Stokes County, Statesville, Surrey County, Iredell County, Watauga County, Yadkin County)

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

KANSAS FOCUS

Tennessee Focus: Wells Fargo's Predatory Lending Against Tennessee Family

TENNESSEE FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

Elliot Anderson for Nevada Assembly

NEVADA FOCUS