Progressive Democrat Newsletter Issue 293

I have been continuing a slower pace with the newsletter. My real job continues to take more of my time.

The biggest news coming up are the election April 5th in Wisconsin and the recall effort. One of the Republican state senators who illegally passed the union-busting bill is being recalled. Almost twice the required number of signatures have been filed and so a special election will be called. Hopefully they will successfully recall several more and hopefully we can win the special elections that result. April 5th comes first with some critical local and judicial elections. Then come as many recalls as we can.

And we can't forget the longer term picture. We desperately need to build up the funds to fight back against the Billionaire Koch Brothers and the fossil fuel industry, and we need to do it not just in Wisconsin but in as many states as possible. I want to keep pushing my Union Solidarity Across FOUR States Act Blue Page, keeping the focus on Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana where the battle between pro-Billionaire Republicans and pro-union Democrats are going on right now.

And for a more long-term strategy, check out my Liberals Strike Back 2012 Act Blue Page, which widens the focus beyond these key three states to other states that are crucial for taking back Congress in 2012.

And finally, let me suggest a donation to Heartland Revolution...you get a T-shirt if you donate $50:



Heartland Revolution PAC is a committee set up to target progressive candidates who support our ideals. This PAC is restricted to giving limits of $5,000 per year per individual and cannot receive money from corporations.

The jobs report continues to be good.



Again notice the massive job loss under Bush and the slow, but steady recovery under Obama. This is just the latest in a pretty much constant pattern that job growth is always better under Democrats.



Democrats and unions are good for America and good for the economy. Republicans are bad for the economy. Looking at average Growth in GDP, again Democrats match or beat all Republicans: (not updated for Obama)



In this issue I extensively cover local Solidarity events for April 4th and after in the local focus pages.

Also in the news is Libya. Libya is a controversial subject, but I have to say that SO FAR I have supported what we have done. First, we are intervening not in a situation where we aren't really wanted (like Bush's coup in Haiti that few people talk about), but rather to support a popular rebellion against a dictator. We are actually being cheered, even in Tripoli. Second, we are working as part of a broad international coalition, similar to what we did in Bosnia and Kosovo, rather than unilaterally the way Bush did. Third, we are playing a support role rather than acting as boots on the ground. Fourth, our main role is to hit the planes and heavy weapons that the dictator's army had that unbalanced the fight, and not broader targets that include inevitable civilian casualties. All put together, it strikes me as an appropriate use of our military, something that has been very rare. However, given our recent record, it is hard not to be apprehensive each time we use military force.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

March 25th, 1911: A Turning Point in the American Labor Movement

Surge in Green Energy Support and Investment

An article the whole nation should read, from California Progress Report: Remembering Cesar Chavez

Big news from Daily Kos: Fed Judge: State Legislatures Don't Have Authority To Limit Collective Bargaining Rights

New York Focus: Green Power Switch

Manhattan, NY Focus

Brooklyn, NY Focus

Bronx, NY Focus

Queens, 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

California Focus: Green Power Switch

California Focus: Debra Bowen for Congress (CA-36)

Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley/San Gabriel Valley, CA Focus

San Diego, CA Focus

Orange County, CA Focus

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

Northern California Focus: TAKE BACK RED CALIFORNIA

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

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

Wisconsin Focus: Green Power Switch

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Endorsement Roundup for CRITICAL April 5th Eleection in Wisconsin

Madison, WI Focus

Milwaukee, WI Focus

Monroe County, WI Focus

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Dallas County, TX Focus

Austin/Travis County, TX Focus

Houston/Harris 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

Illinois Focus: Green Power Switch

ILLINOIS FOCUS: APRIL 5th ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS

Chicago/Cook County, IL Focus

McHenry County, IL Focus

ILLINOIS FOCUS

New Jersey Focus: Green Power Switch

New Jersey Focus: Jeff Gardner for State Senate

Jersey City/Hudson County, NJ Focus

Warren County, NJ Focus

Passaic County, NJ Focus

Sussex County, NJ Focus

New Jersey 7th Congressional District Focus: Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union Counties

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: Green Power Switch

Philadelphia, PA Focus

Lancaster Co. PA Focus

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

North Carolina Focus: Green Power Switch

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

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

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

Virginia Focus: Green Power Switch

Charlottesville/Albemarle County, VA Focus

Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania County, VA Focus

Hanover County, VA Focus

Stafford County, VA Focus

Roanoke County, VA Focus

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Georgia Focus: Green Power Switch

Atlanta, GA Focus

Coweta County, GA Focus

Fayette County, GA Focus

GEORGIA FOCUS

Florida Focus: Green Power Switch

Tampa/Hillsborough County, FL Focus

Orlando/Orange County, FL Focus

Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County, FL Focus

St. Petersburg/Pinellas County, FL Focus

FLORIDA FOCUS

Michigan Focus: Green Power Switch

Detroit, MI Focus

Oakland County, MI Focus

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Colorado Focus: Green Power Switch

Denver, CO Focus

Boulder County, CO Focus

Douglas County, CO Focus

Larimer County, CO Focus

COLORADO FOCUS

Washington State Focus: Green Power Switch

Seattle/King County, WA Focus

Olympia/Thurston County, WA Focus

Spokane County, WA Focus

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

Arizona Focus: Green Power Switch

Phoenix/Maricopa County, AZ Focus

ARIZONA FOCUS

Minnesota Focus: Green Power Switch

Olmsted County, MN Focus

Minneapolis, MN Focus

MINNESOTA FOCUS

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS

Wichita, KS Focus

KANSAS FOCUS

Nevada Focus: Green Power Switch

Las Vegas, NV Focus

NEVADA FOCUS

Tennessee Focus: Green Power Switch

TENNESSEE FOCUS

Arkansas 1st Congressional District Focus

Arkansas 3rd Congressional District Focus

Iowa Focus: Green Power Switch

Davenport/Scott County, IA Focus

IOWA FOCUS