You may have heard by now that Gov. Howard Dean is coming back to Democracy for America. Today we made the official announcement. Here’s some of what the good Doctor sent to DFA members today:
I'm returning to DFA and I have to admit, it'll be nice to work out of my old office in Burlington. I'll also be hitting the road with you, stumping for grassroots candidates and advocating for the issues that matter most to you and me. For one, I think you know that healthcare for all is an important issue to me. I look forward to working with you to pass meaningful reform that makes sure that every American has the care they need.
Help me welcome Howard back as a Strategic Advisor for DFA with a contribution today.
I just joined as a supporter for Dan based on the rumor that
he has stated full support for the completion of the Frisbee Disc Golf Course
at Leddy Park.
This course was approved by and partially completed under
the direction of the Park and Rec Commission. All funding for the purchase of
golf baskets and signage was already raised from local small donors and
businesses. Leddy Park
is a recreation park with two baseball fields, tennis courts, bike paths,
hockey stadium, and a beach. There is still plenty of room for the disc golf
course and it seems a perfect way to fill out the park to meet the needs of the
Burlington community.
Yet, a small number of residents whose property abuts the
park have managed to stop completion and throw the entire project into
question.
Can you verify that if Dan Smith is elected Mayor, that he
would fully support completion of the project?
Rubber Stamp Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl is doing everything he can to prevent a Democratic take-over of New York. Of course he's telling voters what they want to hear and ignoring the facts.
Rep. Kuhl's plan to "cut gas prices in half" has been completely debunked by economists as a sham, but that hasn't stopped him from lying about it to anyone who will listen. The experts know that Kuhl's plan to increase off-shore drilling "missed the mark" and that it at best offers "false hope".
Clearly, Rep. Kuhl thinks upstate New York wants a third term of Bush's failed energy policies rather then the change Americans needs. "RUBBER STAMP" Randy voted 94% of the time with Bush, he voted against SCHIP, voted against the Housing Rescue Bill, and voted against every bill to bring our troops home and end this war.
Kuhl's actions speak volumes and we have an opportunity to send him packing this November. Navy Commander Eric Massa is the change Americans need in Congress. With slightly more campaign cash-on-hand than his opponent, Eric is neck and neck in this typically Republican leaning district. Together, we can put Eric over the top.
Eric Massa is a retired Navy Commander. His military career was cut short when he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Fortunately, he was able to beat the cancer and returned to public service as a staff member in the House Armed Services Committee. While serving, Eric passionately argued against the invasion of Iraq -- once again serving his country with distinction.
When DFA members meet Eric out on the campaign trail, it is inspiring. He tells it like it is -- no matter who is in the room. He passionately stands up for what he believes in and it is obvious that the word "pander" is not in his vocabulary.
Eric can win this race -- but with the Republican Party pulling out all the stops to hold onto this seat -- DFA members across the country need to deliver the people-power and financial resources Eric needs to make change happen.
As many are aware, the fires ravaging Northern California have affected the lives of thousands. Yesterday, Charlie Brown headed north to Oroville to help with relief efforts for fire victims and evacuees.
Our first stop was to the Oroville Rescue Mission on Lincoln Blvd. They have been collecting goods for the fire victims since the blazes began over 3 weeks ago. They, like other collection agencies in the area, are asking for the following items:
This is what Netroots Nation's website had to say about the panel discussion:
Whose Movement?
Since its inception, one of the primary goals of the Netroots has been to examine the future of our movement.
Who are our leaders? Where should we build infrastructure?
And after last year's YearlyKos Convention, Markos went on Meet The Press to debate that very topic with Rep. Harold Ford Junior. Now, the two are meeting again at Netroots Nation for a lunchtime keynote discussion about party infrastructure.
This won't just be any keynote. This will be a chance for you to hear a casual discussion between the current chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a Netroots favorite. Then, you'll have a chance to ask questions of your own.
The noon session will be moderated by Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America.
Netroots Nation is July 17-20 in Austin, TX. You won't want to miss these four days loaded with panels, caucuses and workshops bringing together thousands of bloggers, rising Netroots stars and political leaders like Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Brad Miller, Van Jones, Lawrence Lessig, Darcy Burner, Markos Moulitsas, John Dean and many more.
If you haven't registered, you've got a few days left. Hurry so you don't miss out!
While I am absolutely not a fan of Robert Novack I sure like the sound of this article of his. I grabbed this from over at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/goodbye_joe.html You'll need to click the link to read the whole thing, but here are an excerpt:
Despite assurances to the contrary from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democratic insiders are certain Sen. Joseph Lieberman next year will be kicked out of the party's caucus and lose his Senate chairmanship if he addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., as planned.
Then the Hill has an article about Lieberman's role next year. You can read the whole thing by clicking here. This is my favorite excerpt:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday did not rule out removing Sen. Joe Lieberman from his coveted chairmanship in 2009, but he pleaded for critics to leave the Connecticut Independent alone.
Asked whether he plans to retaliate against Lieberman next year by stripping him of his chairmanship on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Reid said, “Let’s talk about this year” and stressed Lieberman’s importance to the Democrats in the 110th Congress.
Ahhhh.... Liebermann.... it will be so good to see you go. Here's to big wins in the U.S. Senate for progressives so that the Democrats can afford to kick Joe clean out.
I received an email from a DFA member in Los Angeles this morning that contained the commentary below from Progressive Democrat of Los Angeles Vice-Chair Brad Parker. On this day when so many of our senate leaders are letting us down with the wrong votes on FISA and telecom immunity, I felt Brad nailed how so many progressives feel. Take it away Brad:
Bad Mojo Rising By Brad Parker July 9, 2008
A malevolent cloud is sweeping across America tonight. It has permeated the air with betrayal and cowardice. Around the District of Columbia, our putative leaders are breathing in the foul stench of capitulation and finding it to not be as nauseating as they imagined it would be. Our fearsome and feckless Democratic Senate is poised on the precipice of utter degradation. Tomorrow, July 10, 2008, a majority of Democrats in the Senate will march in robotic step with a majority of Democrats in the House and drag our Party, the Constitution and our Republic into the gutter of craven careerism with gusto and enthusiasm. They will vote for the abridged FISA act and gut the Constitution.
Our venerable "Fourth Amendment" - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized - will be immolated on the floor of the Senate in the name of "National Security", which of course will then be impossible to preserve because our "freedom" is our "security". The stench of this massacre of reason and truth will not be cleansed from our Party for decades to come, let alone from the carpet on the Senate floor.
Oh yes, we know the exhausted elucidations of pragmatic exigency that will be paraded before us - spewing from every mass media outlet - by earnest apologists for the prevaricating "centrist" Democrats. We can see their bloviating bobble heads rising in the mojo mist of dawn even now as we drift off to dream of terrors yet to come. They'll smugly chortle, "It was the best compromise we could get" or, "Politics is the art of the possible" or perhaps, "There are Islamic Jihadists in our midst!" It will all be lies, disingenuous lies, and damnable disingenuous lies. They will all do it to save their phony baloney jobs. They don't fear any "terrorists". These recreant cardboard politicians are afraid they will loose their job and all of the bloated perks that come with it - healthcare, pensions, per diem, staff, travel, dinners, country clubs etc - all of the perks we pay for and they deny us. Therein, dear friends, lies the problem.
One last act before the curtain: will our presumptive Presidential nominee stand for us or lie prostrate before the heel of the tyrants Cheney and Bush? Which Democratic patriots among the cowering 100 will rail against this pulverizing of the, "flag for which it stands for" into nanodust suitable for sweeping under the rug or mounting on a lapel pin? Mark their names fellow Americans; those few who brave the siren call of the incumbency circus. For these are the last representatives left in D.C., from the proud liberal ideal, the New Deal, the Great Society and the Democratic Party. In the dark years to come they will need our help.
So Democrats, if you have ever questioned the need for a Progressive Movement, there will be no better demonstration of its undeniable necessity in our lifetimes than this promenade of submission. Our ancestors are rising from their graves to demand of us the strength to deny this groveling cabal their complete usurpation of our inherent rights and independence. Heed the call. Never capitulate to the clamor for silence and complicity. King George Bush has committed high crimes against America and humanity and the Democratic Congress is aiding and abetting him in this latest illegal act. Will he ever be brought to justice? Will no Democratic leader stop him?
Do not accept the specious narration being offered by Democratic Party leaders, electeds or consultants that the dying light of our Republic and our Party is actually a bright new flame of change. Resist the woeful songs of the gradualists and incrementalists, who claim they are on our side but we will have to wait. Remember July 10, 2008. There's a bad mojo rising. It not only comes from the Republican Anarchy Collective but from the heart of the Democratic Party. And that is the reason for the Progressive Swarm to renew its commitment to our cause - a Progressive Democratic Party and majority in America. Stand up for your rights. Show up and demand change in the Democratic Party. Speak up whenever and wherever possible and never let anyone shut you up!
This article was published in the June 9, 2008, edition of The New York Observer.
What to do if you’re running a group devoted to promoting progressive Democrat insurgents when most of the incumbents are progressive Democrats themselves?
That’s the dilemma faced for several years now by Democracy for New York City, the local affiliate of Democracy for America, a group that began as an offshoot of Howard Dean’s transformative 2004 presidential campaign.
“I sort of call it the establishment vs. the progressive conflict,” said Lewis Cohen, a former business reporter turned Wall Street investor who, in his spare time, acts as finance chair for the New York group. “It’s the progressive vs. establishment or institutional wing of the party, specifically on a local and state level. There’s no question about that.”
Democracy for America’s political director, Charles Chamberlain, explained it this way: “As an organization, one of the things that makes us different from the Democratic Party itself is that we can take positions in primaries, and do.”
As far as such ideas go, this may be, at least in theory, an ideal time to put it to the test in New York.
This rocks. The NYTimes editorial board gets how important this campaign is. Whether we succeed in forcing Sec. Rice out is important, but the real game changer here is to make sure she never gets an important job in American government again.
Head on over to the NYTimes and check it out. Then leave a comment so they know how important this is to you.
