Progressive Democrat Newsletter 296

I am going to start returning to my earlier format with more info on particular states. Hopefully this will be more helpful to my readers. I noticed about a 50% reduction in readership when I went to my shorter format, and I want to recapture my usual readership or more. But I also have to balance my politics with my family and work efforts.

I may (not sure if I can keep this up) include some music selections that are inspiring me while I write the newsletter...this comes from the fact that on Daily Kos I have gotten a kind of random reputation for posting some good musical diaries. People seem to like the music I focus on for its political and musical qualities. So I will see about starting a music selection segment. This week I focus on three particularly powerful vocalists: Paul Robeson, Nina Simone and Kan Mikami.

This comes from the North Carolina AFL-CIO website. Robert Reich: “It’s Time to Invest in America”

America used to invest a big portion of our economy in the future prosperity of all Americans. Some say we can no longer afford to make these investments because we have to cut public budgets and give tax breaks to the rich. The truth is the reverse.

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Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

KEY ARTICLES/VIDEOS:

Economy and Jobs Press Conference: Long but a key video to watch:



The U.S. Chamber Does NOT Speak For Me

Will Rupert Murdoch's corporate scandal resonate here?+

IMPORTANT LINKS:

Thank you Republicans, for trying to ruin America's credit rating: Moody's to review US debt rating...I mean SERIOUSLY! The Republican Party is the ultimate in fiscal IRRESPONSIBILITY!

BIG NEWS: Rockefeller, Lautenberg and 9/11 families call for Murdoch phone hacking investigation...Fox News may be on the rocks due to their fraudulent and sleazy practices...More on the Fall of Fox: Rupert Murdoch's News Corps: "Illegal and Unconscionable Actions"

JPMorgan Chase Caught Stealing...Bank of America Seems to Like Pissing of Americans...I seriously urge all my readers to change their banking, credit cards and mortgages from the big bad banks like JP Morgan/Chase, Bank of America, Citibank and Wells Fargo to more responsible banks like TD Bank, USAA< local banks and credit unions. More here: Better Banking and Better Credit Cards

MUSICAL SELECTIONS:

Paul Robeson - Wanderer:(an amazing voice and far, FAR more leftist than I)




Nina Simone "Black Is the Color": (another voice that is amazing!)




And here is someone I am pretty sure most of you have never heard of...a Japanese folk singer heavily influenced by American Blues: Kan Mikami (in Japanese, combining, from what I can tell, traditional Japanese Enka with American Blues)




STATE AND LOCAL PAGES:

NEW YORK FOCUS

New York Focus: 49 Groups Call on Cuomo to Ban Fracking...add your voice by clicking here.

New York Focus: David Weprin for Congress (NY-9)

JESUS GONZALEZ FOR ASSEMBLY: This is a strange race where the Democratic party has sadly sided with the Republicans and Conservative Party to back a horrible anti-choice, anti-gay candidate. This time around the usually corrupt Working Families Party has chosen to side with the good guy, Jesus Gonzalez. I for one hope this is a new trend with the WFP...to actually back the guy who is fighting for the working class rather than the corrupt local machine and developers.





New York Focus: NEW YORK'S SOLAR IVY...innovation, entrepreneurship, and energy independence all in one.

New York Focus: Lawsuits predicted as New York towns ponder whether to block fracking

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: A gas station we like where Green and Cheap combine

California Focus: Building for Equality California:



California Focus: Republicans Raise Taxes in California

California Focus: Misleading Signature Gathering Being Used to Push Anti-Union Measure in San Diego

California Focus: Janice Hahn Cruises to a 9 Point Victory

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Wisconsin Focus: Help Win Back Wisconsin for the Working and Middle Class!

Wisconsin Focus: Milwaukee's Long-Awaited Downtown Streetcar System Picking Up Fresh Speed

Wisconsin Focus: Scott Walker donor breaks campaign finance laws

Wisconsin Focus: Waukesha County Clerk Nicholaus under investigation for misconduct.

ILLINOIS FOCUS

Illinois Focus: Bill Foster for Congress!

Illinois Focus: VoteVets supports Tammy Duckworth

Illinois Focus: VIDEO: How to Fool the Unions and Bribe Politicians - Aspen Institute Bragging Session

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

New Jersey Focus: Republican Christie’s Cuts in Aid Imperil Moody’s Ratings for Six Cities

Noew Jersey Focus: 1 in 6 New Jerseyans hit By Governor’s vetoes

New Jersey Focus: Democrat Rush Holt: New Evidence Could Shape The Health Care Debate

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Virginia Focus: Republican Eric Cantor Hit For Potentially Profiting From U.S. Default...More on Eric Cantor's anti-American politics: Is Eric Cantor Willing to Destroy the Nation's Economy in His Quest for Power?

FLORIDA FOCUS

FLORIDA ACTION ALERT: Reproductive Freedom is Under Attack

TEXAS FOCUS

Texas Focus: Zero Waste and How to Get There

Texas Focus: On Winning the Energy Crisis

Texas Focus: Air Pollution Violations Caused by TXU-Luminant Coal Plants

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Michigan Focus: The Latest Republican Insanity: In Michigan: 48 Month Cap on Being Poor Made Retroactive to 2006

Michigan Focus: Scott Walker on the ropes?

Michigan Focus: Republican Snyder Opposes Job Creation

COLORADO FOCUS

Colorado Focus: If You Want to Change the Direction, Get Involved

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: What Republican Cuts to Medicaid Could Mean For You, Your Family, Your Job

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

This is worrisome, but I bet will pass reasonably quickly: Radiation Detected in Rainwater in Northwest US 130 Times Level Held To Be Safe in Drinking Water

MINNESOTA FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

North Carolina Focus: Path to New Skills is through NC Community Colleges

For North Carolina GOP legislators: The people of North Carolina think you suck

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS

South Carolina Focus: Republican Nikki Haley Lives It Up in New York, Leaves Work To S.C. Legislature

IOWA FOCUS

Iowa Focus: Dubuque setting the standard for Iowa "green" cities

Iowa Focus: Planned Parenthood PAC rates Iowa lawmakers, praises Petersen and Wessel-Kroeschell

NEVADA FOCUS

Nevada Focus: Nevada Redistricting: 4D to 0R

Nevada Focus: Kate Marshall for Nevada

GEORGIA FOCUS

TENNESSEE FOCUS

Tennessee Focus: Nashville Councilman Hollin Goes Viral Blasting Homophobic State Rep. Gotto

KANSAS FOCUS

Kansas Focus: Is Global Warming real?

Kansas Focus: The Future of Water in Kansas