Progressive Democrat Newsletter 281

Last week this headline was overlooked by too many people:

Auto Industry Bailout Saved 1.4 Million Jobs

Remember, Republicans OPPOSED this! Democrats passed the Auto Industry Bailout over Republican objections and THANK GOD they did because that saved 1.4 million American jobs. Now we need a Green Energy Stimulus, because that could CREATE a large number of American jobs, but of course Republicans tend to oppose ANYTHING that creates American jobs and instead support policies that help foreign oil companies, offshore banks and multi-nationals who outsource American jobs. Again, a reminder of the FACTS on job creation in America...Democrats ALWAYS are better at creating jobs than Republicans:



We must never let the voters forget this fact.

Democracy for America recently reminded me, in our of their fundraising letters, of a VERY important fact for all Democrats to keep in mind:

Looking at Congressional races in 2010, 96% of the Progressive Caucus won re-election while only 47% of the Blue Dogs won.

I happen to like some Blue Dogs, but the basic fact is that as a caucus they have made the dismal mistake of becoming too much like Republicans and when Democrats start to look too much like Republicans they eventually lose. Democrats win by clearly differentiating themselves from Republicans. Which leads me to another reminder...

For those who have read this newsletter for some time you know that I have often plugged a book that in some ways should be required reading for ANY Democrat: Drew Westen's "The Political Brain." Simply put the book analyzes how people vote and why, and shows how Democrats too often campaign in away that does not appeal to most voters even when most voters agree with the Democrats more on issues. Republicans, even though they usually take unpopular stands that hurt middle class and working class Americans, can often win the voters over because they campaign in a way that works better at getting votes. Drew Westen then outlines how Democrats can better appeal to voters while still being true to their values. For any Democrat who wants to win, read this book...now more than ever. And pass the book on to any Democrat you know of running for office or working on a campaign.

We're going to miss this guy:



Alan Grayson was one of the VERY few Congressional Representatives who really was completely up front, honest and told it like it is. He didn't hide the truth even when it made him unpopular. As I recall Harry Truman was admired for the same quality, even though it hurt him politically. I am proud that it is usually Democrats who are willing to put truth before popularity. Popularity comes and goes. But the truth is far more valuable. We need more people like Alan Grayson in Congress!

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Book Review: Dream in Color, by the Honorable Loretta and Linda Sanchez

The Great Bush Recession: Germany did it right

The Latest from VoteVets.org: Time to Repeal DADT

New York Focus: Green Power Switch

Manhattan, NY Focus

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Queens, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

Rochester, NY Focus

Suffolk County, NY Focus

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

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

California Focus: Green Power Switch

Los Angeles, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

Orange County, CA Focus

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

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

Northern California Focus: TAKE BACK RED CALIFORNIA

Southern California Grassroots Alliance

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Blogs, Stonewall Democrats, NAACP, Alternative Energy, Biodiesel, Groups and Events

Washington State Focus: Green Power Switch

Seattle/King County, WA Focus

Spokane County, WA Focus

Thurston County, WA Focus

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Native Vote, Groups and Events

New Jersey Focus: Green Power Switch

Sussex County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

Passaic County, NJ Focus

New Jersey 7th Congressional District Focus

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Blogs, Blogger Radio, Food Co-ops, NAACP, NJDC, Latino Leadership Alliance, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Pennsylvania Focus: Green Power Switch

Philadelphia, PA Focus

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, NAACP, Groups and Events

Georgia Focus: Green Power Switch

Atlanta, GA Focus

Coweta County, GA Focus

Fayette County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, NAACP, Groups and Events

Colorado Focus: Green Power Switch

Denver, CO Focus

Boulder County, CO Focus

Larimer County, CO Focus

Douglas County, CO Focus

COLORADO FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-ops, Recycling, Veterans for Peace, Native Vote, NJDC, Immigrant Rights, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Michigan Focus: Green Power Switch

Detroit, MI Focus

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-op, Native Vote, NAACP, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Virginia Focus: Green Power Switch

Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA Focus

Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County, VA Focus

Stafford County, VA Focus

Hanover County, VA Focus

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-ops, Energy and Agriculture, NAACP, Groups and Events

North Carolina Focus: Green Power Switch

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

North Carolina 11th District (Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Macon, Swain, Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Polk Counties)

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Blogs, Biodiesel, Alternative Energy, NAACP, Veterans for Peace, Groups and Events

Illinois Focus: Green Power Switch

Chicago/Cook County, IL Focus

ILLINOIS FOCUS: Blogs, Reform Illinois, Food Co-ops, Alternative Energy, NAACP, Hispanic PAC, Groups and Events

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris County, TX Focus

Dallas County, TX Focus

Texas 10th District Focus: Bastrop, Lee, Burleson, Washington, Austin, Harris, Waller Counties

Texas 15th Congressional District Focus: Hidalgo, Brooks, Duval, Live Oak, Bee, Jim Wells, Karnes, DeWitt, Goliad, San Patricio, Refugio Counties

Texas 21st District Focus: Travis, Kerr, Real, Bandera, Kendall, Comal and Blanco Counties

TEXAS FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Florida Focus: Green Power Switch

Tampa/Hillsborough County, FL Focus

Orange County, FL Focus

Broward County, FL Focus

Pinellas County, FL Focus

FLORIDA FOCUS: Blogs, Equality, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Iowa Focus: Green Power Switch

Focusing on my father's hometown: Davenport/Scott County, IA Focus

Iowa Wind Industry Nationally Recognized...yet Republicans try to destroy it.

IOWA FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-ops, NAACP, Alternative Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Groups and Events

Nevada Focus: Green Power Switch

Las Vegas, NV Focus

NEVADA FOCUS: Blogs, Progressive Majority, Food Co-op, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Arizona Focus: Green Power Switch

Phoenix/Maricopa County, AZ Focus

ARIZONA FOCUS: Blogs, Food Co-ops, Alternative Energy, Native Vote, NAACP, NJDC, Groups and Events

Minnesota Focus: Green Power Switch

Minneapolis, MN Focus

Olmsted County, MN Focus

MINNESOTA FOCUS: Blogs, The Minnesota Project, NAACP, Drinking Liberally

Wisconsin Focus: Marla Stephens announces for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Milwaukee, WI Focus

Madison, WI Focus

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Blogs, Progressive Talk Radio, Biodiesel, Native Vote, NAACP, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

Arkansas 1st Congressional District Focus

KANSAS FOCUS: Blogs, Biodiesel, NAACP, Food Co-ops, Groups and Events

TENNESSEE FOCUS: Blogs, Groups and Organizations, NAACP, Biodiesel, Food Co-ops

Oklahoma County, OK Focus

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS