Progressive Democrat Newsletter 301

It has been 10 years since the 9/11 attacks. One thing that will ALWAYS stick with me is the fact that Bill Clinton WARNED Bush about al-Qaeda, and Bush refused to listen. The Republicans said Clinton was "obsessed with al-Qaeda." Well, there was a REASON he was obsessed with them. They were ready to attack us. I wish the Republicans had listened to Bill Clinton.

Nothing was ever accomplished under Bush. In fact, al-Qaeda grew stronger under Bush. But Obama has slowly been destroying al-Qaeda, killing or capturing all their top personnel, including Osama bin Laden. This 9/11 anniversary is the FIRST ONE where I feel we are finally winning against al-Qaeda.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

ARTICLES:

Ten Years Later: 9/11

Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult

BOOK REVIEW: This Moment on Earth

This has been getting lots of hits recently: Liberal Shopping/Consumer Guide


IMPORTANT LINKS:

Big oil companies make huge profits with taxpayer support but cut jobs anyway...Oil companies keep screwing us!...for some ideas of the best places to gas up, click here.

Some of Current TV's top documentaries (hosted by Morgan Spurlock) of all time:

'Food, Inc' exposes the truth behind what Americans eat:



'Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room' tells a personal story of ambition and corruption:



Interesting twist on human evolution: African fossils put new spin on human origins story...I should note that the details about human evolution remain sketchy even if the basic outlines are clear. Many of the species identified are based on only a handful of fossils, so more research is needed to fill in the gaps.

Unions vow to work for passage of Obama jobs plan


MUSICAL SELECTIONS:

Once a favorite song of both my son and myself:



For more on this wonderful artist, click here.

A very thoughtful and unusual piece on the Middle East (no one comes off well, from someone who almost never gets political)



Another, more visual, version derived from Tom Waits' version (with due honor to Waits):



Want to support peace in Israel/Palestine while also getting some really excellent food? Click here...my own local food co-op carries these delicious and peace-inspiring products.

And an important/unusual monologue from a former singer for Black Flag...also a cousin of mine (literally...we both came from the Luban family in Rezekne, Lavia...):




STATE AND LOCAL PAGES:

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

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

NEW YORK FOCUS

CRITICAL RACE: Teachers, Firefighters and Police Endorse David Weprin for Congress (NY-9) (Sept. 13th election endorsement)

CRITICAL RACE: Support the Judge Who Gay Married my Friends

Things to do in NYC: Brooklyn Heights Cinema

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Michigan Focus: George Brown for Jackson City Council - Ward 4 (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 Endorsement)

Michigan Focus: Kyle DuBuc for Royal Oak City Commissioner (Progressive Majority Endorsement, Peace Corps volunteer) (2011 endorsement)

Michigan Focus: Mamie Moore for Highland Park City Council (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

Michigan Focus: Zack Stanton for New Baltimore City Council (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

ILLINOIS FOCUS

Illinois Focus: Ilya Sheyman for Congress (IL-10) (Democracy for America Endorsement)...more here (2012 endorsement)

Illinois Focus: Bill Foster for Congress (IL-11) (2012 endorsement)

FLORIDA FOCUS

Florida Focus: Alan Grayson for Congress (2012 endorsement)



VIRGINIA FOCUS

Virginia Focus: David Bernard for State Senate - District 10 (Progressive Majority Endorsement, EMT) (2011 endorsement)

Virginia Focus: E. Wayne Powell for Congress (2011 endorsement)

To help elect Progressive Democrats in Virginia, here are some local Dem organizations worth checking out if you live nearby:

Hanover County Democratic Committee:
Meet Second Saturday of every month
9:00am - 10:30am
Location: Ashland Coffee and Tea
Address: PO Box 22
Ashland, VA 23005

E-mail: info@hvadems.com

Louisa County Democratic Committee
Meetings Third Wednesday of every month
6 pm at Roma's in Louisa
For more info contact: (540) 967-5302

Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee
The Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Salem Church Library, 2607 Salem Church Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
(540) 785-9267

Albemarle County Democratic Committee
300 Preston Avenue, Suite 308
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.264.6872

Monthly Meeting of the Albemarle Democratic Committee is the third Monday of every month, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Albemarle County Office Building, room 235, 401 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville

Franklin Democratic Committee
540-483-0636
Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at 4:15 PM at the Franklin County Library (355 Franklin St, Rocky Mount VA).


COLORADO FOCUS

Colorado Focus: Alfonso Nunez for Aurora City Council - Ward 5 (Progressive Majority Endorsement, Firefighter) (2011 Endorsement)

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: Jason Salus for Montgomery County Treasurer (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 Endorsement)

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

LET'S KEEP THE FIGHT GOING IN WISCONSIN: Below are some local Dem organizations in Wisconsin. Help them out!



Democratic Party of Milwaukee County:

Our general membership meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of most months. Check our calendar for exact dates. We meet in the Hall of Fame Room of the Pettit National Ice Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, 500 S. 84th Street. We look forward to seeing you there.

Oconomowoc Dems Breakfast
First Saturday of each month, 10am – 11am
The Depot/Maxims Restaurant, Hwy 67 and Main St., Oconomowoc



Winnebago Dems Monthly Meeting
Second Wednesday of every month, August 10, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Delta Restaurant - 515 N Sawyer St, Oshkosh, WI

Winnebago County Democratic Party Unity Breakfast
Last Friday of Each Month, 7:00am – 8:30am
B J Clancy's Restaurant - 3341 S Oneida St - Appleton, WI 54915

Click here to find out more about the Winnebego County, Wisconsin Democratic Party

Waukesha County Democratic Party

Monthly meetings held every 3rd Thursday of the month, except in July
Waukesha Labor Temple.
Contact us at websupport@waukeshadems.org



Ozaukee County Democrats
The Ozaukee County Democrats will be holding monthly meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7pm on the lower level of the the Cedarburg City Hall.

WASHINGTON STATE FOCUS

Washington State Focus: Green Tags for Renewable Energy

Washington State Focus: Richard Mitchell for King County Council. (Progressive Majority and Sierra Club Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Ryan Mello for Tacoma City Council, Pos. 8 At-large (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Joe McDermott for King County Council - District 8 (Progressive Majority, Washington Conservation Voters, NARAL, Teamsters and SEIU Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Cathy Lehman for Bellingham City Council - Ward 3 (Progressive Majority and Sierra Club Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Stephanie Wright for Snohomish County Council - District 3 (Progressive Majority, Deputy Sheriff's Association, Sierra Club and AFL-CIO Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Rob Gelder for Kitsap County Commissioner - District 1 (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Richard Rush for Spokane City Council - District 2 (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)



Washington State Focus: Ben Stuckart for Spokane City Council President (Progressive Majority, Spokane Regional Labor Council, NARAL, and Spokane Firefighters Local 29 Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: David Stalheim Whatcom for County Executive (Progressive Majority, Teamsters, Planned Parenthood and Sierra Club Endorsements) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Othman Heibe SeaTac City Council - Position 3 (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

Washington State Focus: Joy Jones for Spokane City Council - District 3, Position 1 (Progressive Majority, Spokane Regional Labor Council, and Spokane Fire Fighters Local 29 Endorsements, CRITICAL RACE) (2011 endorsement)...this race is critical for achieving a Democratic and progressive majority in the Spokane city council

Washington State Focus: Christina Maginnis for Whatcom County Council - District 2, Position B (Progressive Majority, Sierra Club and Democracy for America Endorsements, CRITICAL RACE) (2011 endorsement)...this race is critical for pushing back against Teabagger gains in Whatcom county. A true progressive vs teabagger race!

Washington State Focus: Mia Gregerson for SeaTac City Council - Position 7 (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

ILLINOIS FOCUS

MINNESOTA FOCUS

Minnesota Focus: Joe Tatalovich for St. Louis Park School Board (Progressive Majority Endorsement, CRITICAL RACE) (2011 endorsement)...I feel all judicial and school board races are critical but too often ignored, and we need more progressives elected to these positions.

GEORGIA FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS

ARIZONA FOCUS

Arizona Focus: Jonathan Rothschild for Tuscon Mayor (Progressive Majority Endorsement) (2011 endorsement)

IOWA FOCUS

Des Moines Food Co-op Now Open

Iowa Focus: Sustainable Agriculture Events

TENNESSEE FOCUS

NEVADA FOCUS

KANSAS FOCUS