Progressive Democrat Newsletter 302

This month in New York City there was a special election with three local races. This election was mostly ignored but progressives and reformers. Voter turnout was abysmal. What this meant was that teabaggers won Anthony Weiner's Congressional seat and corrupt machine candidates won an Assembly seat and a judicial election. This was a big loss for the LGBT community, progressives and liberals and a big win for the right wing and for corruption.

Bottom line is, when people like you and me don't get involved, we lose and lose big. This is why I spend so much time informing people about local events, activities and organizations that they can get involved with to actually help take back our country. I also highlight local candidates who are particularly good. Please help out these candidates and get involved with the local progressive organizations I highlight. If we don't do it, no one will and the teabaggers and more corrupt politicians will always win.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

ARTICLES:

The Music of Nationalism...the Music of Immigration: Gogol Bordello's Gypsy Punk

I am seeing lots of signs of bed bug problems continuing...here is an updated version of my article on dealing with and preventing bed bugs: Preventing and Dealing With Bed Bugs

Continued from last issue because it is critical to remember: Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult


IMPORTANT LINKS:

POSSIBLY the most important discovery in a long time (though even the discoverers are skeptical for now): Cern mulls 'crazy' physics find

From Current TV:



Barely covered in the US media, but BBC has it: Wall Street fighters

Kentucky Democratic AG Conway Joins NY AG Schneiderman In Opposing Get Out Of Jail Free Foreclosure Settlement

Another reason for strong clean air standards, alternative fuels and public transportation: Car fumes 'raise heart attack risk for six-hour window'

From Current TV:




MUSICAL SELECTIONS:

In response to the Troy Davis execution, despite evidence suggesting Davis may have been innocent: (warning...disturbing images)




Gogol Bordello: Immigraniada




And more Gogol Bordello, from my cousin's show, the Henry Rollins' Show: (actually this was the first time I heard Gogol Bordello...Thanks Henry Rollins!)




STATE AND LOCAL PAGES:

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

California Focus: Safe, Affordable Water: A Right or a Privilege? What Will Your Children be Drinking Tonight?

Silicon Valley Area, CA Focus

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

VIRGINIA FOCUS

Richmond, VA 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).

NEW YORK FOCUS

Brooklyn, NY Focus

NY State Focus: Progressive Fail in NYC

Brooklyn, NY Focus: Steve Levin and Brad Lander Let Down Constituents

NY-19 Focus: Is Nan Hayworth a flip flopper or a liar?...More from Keith Olbermann:



NY State Focus: Oil Drilling Company Tries to Force Town to Allow Drilling

ILLINOIS FOCUS

Chicago/Cook County, IL 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)

MICHIGAN FOCUS

Michigan Focus: Michigan Republican took job-creation tax breaks, cut jobs

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)

FLORIDA FOCUS

Florida Focus: Teamsters Call Out Rick Scott for Paying To Play With Florida Prisons

Florida Focus: Alan Grayson for Congress (2012 endorsement)



COLORADO FOCUS

Colorado Focus: Teachers Union Makes School Board Endorsements...Please pay attention to local elections like this. They are critical!

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

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

Pennsylvania Focus: PA Groups Express Concerns over Fracking Fluids in Flood Water

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

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

New Jersey: One Million Additional Young Adults Have Health Coverage Because of the Affordable Care Act

WISCONSIN FOCUS

Wisconsin Focus: Wis State Employees Losing Their Unions Today ...Republicans succeed in screwing over firefighters, teachers and cops.

Wisconsin Focus: Republican Corruption Continues Unabated: Big Raises for Walker Appointees Up the Ante of the FBI's Wisconsin Corruption Investigation.

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: Bank of America screws Pacific Northwest customers...Fight back against the corrupt mega-banks: Better Banking and Better Credit Cards

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)

MINNESOTA FOCUS

Minnesota Focus: Speaking out for jobs conference call with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

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

Georgia Focus: On Protecting The Innocent, Or, Is There A Death Penalty Compromise?...more: Georgia Just Changed My Mind on the Death Penalty

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS

South Carolina Focus: Top Three Infrastructure Concerns For South Carolina

ARIZONA FOCUS

Arizona Focus: Learn how to run for office, run a campaign, and win elections: The Arizona Progressive Candidate Training Program

Arizona Focus: Top Arizona Republican Accused of Using Voter Database to Stalk Woman

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

Nevada Focus: Affordable Health Care Act for America is helping

Nevada Focus: Republican Dean Heller Loves Big Oil, But Not Working Class Nevadans

KANSAS FOCUS