Today there will be a lot of looking back at the life of Senator Kennedy. There is a lot to look back upon there can be no doubt. Sen. Kennedy was a human, just like all of us, he had his faults, and he had his high points. What made him special is the time he put in for public service. It was the true idea of Noblesse Oblige. He came from power and wealth. He could have chosen a path where all he did was increase that wealth and live a fat, happy life. Instead he chose public service. He not only chose to serve but put as his guiding principal the idea someone had to stand up for the little man, the working folks of this nation who did not have the same benefits of wealth and family power.
I believe in equality for all. I defend a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. I fight for a child's right to be protected, educated, nurtured and loved. I fight for a man's right to be home with his children after their birth, and to take time off work for his kids to raise them, if he wants to do that. I fight for each family to form itself based on love and commitment.
Hey there peeps. That was a nice unplanned blog-cation. Once the session ended, I guess I just didn't really have much to say. Besides, some of you know I've got other priorities than ranting and raving on the internets for free. Anyway, I got to wondering what we could be doing next. The netroots seem to be in a weird place right now. Since their birth oh so many years ago (about 5 now), the progressive netroots have been fighting insane conservatives bent on making government completely ineffective. They made Reagan's puppet master's idea that government is the problem a self fulfilling prophecy. We blogged to inform others what wasn't being reported or what was but too quietly, to push for more investigation, and get better coverage of scandals. That fight was often fueled by anger and outrage. I know that was true for me as at a certain point two years ago it felt like my outrage meter was pegged and I just had to walk away for a bit.
For so long we've been on defense, do we even know what offense feels like?
Democrats are now in the majority all over the place, yet it still feels like we're on D. Does it have to do with the letter D? Should we maybe come up with a new party name using the letter O? Maybe that would help.
I guess I'm wondering when we're going to start passing some bills that help every day people; bills that don't benefit huge corporations like banks, insurance companies, etc. I realize Obama has only been in office for a little over 100 days, and there are huge problems in the way of being able to pass good legislation, but what if we look at a local level? In this last legislative session, there were some good bills that never seemed to have a chance. Despite people calling, writing, and smoke signaling their intentions until their fingers bled, a lot of that probably didn't matter.
The following is my press release announcing my 2009 campaign for Aurora City Council At-Large.
This race is important for Aurora and the Denver Metro Region because of the influence the second largest city in the region has on jobs, recreation and legislation.
Aurora has eight House Districts, whole or partial, and five Senate districts, whole or partial in it. That is 13% of the General Assembly seats.
Aurora is home to one of the top 10 healthcare cities in the U.S. The former Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center is now home to Children's Hospital and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. The Veterans Administration is soon be be building the newest VA hospital here too. Aurora is home to tens of thousands of healthcare jobs, with more to arrive in the near future.
Aurora has golf courses and bike/hike trails that other cities can only dream about. Aurora's Sports complex is home to national competition in several sports.
What price power? For new guys, Bennet and Udall, the seduction of power is evident in their joining the "moderate" Democrats in the Senate to thwart the will of the American people who want to keep their jobs and their homes. Those so-called "moderate" Democrats have not one iota of understanding that Republicans are dishonest players when it comes to "bipartisanship" and "compromise" in executing effective legislation that will improve America.
I concur with this assessment by David Waldman, CongressMatters.com, writes:
The compromise has already been hammered out in the House. The banks got the fairest deal they could get without gutting the bill entirely. But because Evan Bayh's become intoxicated by the attention he garnered from having obstructed a few bills earlier, he now obstructs each new one as a matter of policy.
Evan Bayh is using you for cover, and now he's using your proxy to drown homeowners who'll have to wait even longer for help -- if there's any help forthcoming at all.
There's nothing "moderate" about demanding ransom on every bill. There should at least be some "moderation" in how many you allow Bayh to hijack in your name.
So to obstruct the needs of the American people by working against the economic plans by President Obama is being moderate?
Tell me how it is to actually write bills that do nothing to help people who own homes but will help the banks that can give millions of dollars to lobbyists and campaign contributions to moderate Democrats like Senators Bayh?
Protests are starting up against bank bailouts and for bank nationalization at A New Way Forward, April 11. Rallies have already gotten started, but we need more and bigger! Progressives have a chance at changing the corrupt system that got us into this mess. Everyone needs to get on this -- progressives need to own this.
I would like to share our new website and blog in the southeast metro Denver area, which links to Square State. Please check us out: http://pineycreekprogressives....
Blogger, columnist, and author David Sirota stopped by Tattered Cover Colfax on his long book tour for The Uprising. He spoke to a packed crowd downstairs at the same store where he actually penned much of the book, answered question, and signed books before dropping by the local Drinking Liberally chapter for a pint or two.
One of his central points is the difference between the electoral system and actual social movements. If you couldn't be there, take a look and listen as he talks about our focus on electoral politics anger in the nation.
And FYI, I shot this piece on a lower end, direct to MP4 camcorder, and edited it in Quicktime Pro. I was a little disappointed with the audio, and it's hard to tell where I made cuts, but for those of you who've been holding back on putting up material like this, please get in touch. I promise you don't need to even learn what MP4 means.
David Sirota is hosting a discussion on his book The Uprising at TPM Cafe this week. His first post is now up.
UPDATE 07-10-08
Here are links to this continuing on-line review:
What Is The Uprising? by David in which David offers a summary of the phenomenon of our grass roots approaches to regaining a progressive country from the cons.
David reminds us that our country was founded partly on "the right of the people to alter or abolish" destructive government. I'm in the "alter" camp, and I'd like to hear someone with David's insights and movement experience hold forth on what it's going to take to get there. What steps ought we be taking now that will ultimately give progressive uprisings a public conduit through which their goals can be achieved?
My critique of the system now is not merely that elites aren't sufficiently paying attention to the will of the people, but that too many elites aren't paying sufficient attention to the best interests of the people either. Our current government is neither progressive nor populist. Not only are our betters not of the people, nor are they for the people. Either might be better. Both might be necessary.
The fact that virtually the entire progressive movement has become almost exclusively involved in electoral politics is a function of the terrible damage Bush and neocons have done to our country. But with the clear end of this era, we need to be thinking about the day after the presidential election.
What and how will progressives operate in a non Bush world.
And that means some damn hard questions about power, issues, the role of politicians, and the role of social movements.
And, Jonathan Taplin notes that "real change starts at the state and city level..." pointing out that state and local initiatives are offsetting the centralized conservative attempt to push their agenda down on all.
It seems to me to be a discussion well worth reading.
We've started a new progressive organization to take our country in a new direction. Progressive Future is tackling core progressive issues such as health care, education, global warming, and the war in Iraq. We are working to make sure these issues are addressed by candidates running for elected office and we will continue to hold leaders accountable once they are in office.
We need a dedicated and experienced senior leadership team to help manage the project and drive our campaign for progressive reform. Progressive Future is currently hiring for the positions of:
1.) Executive Director
2.) Recruitment Director
3.) Development Coordinator
The Second RootsCamp is Coming to the Rocky Mountains...
Any Progressive who's anybody will be there...
Hang out with progressives from across the state...
...no set agenda; just connect with other progressives. ...talk about what you want; from new tech for organizing to grassroots lobbying ...lead your own discussion group or wander in and out of someone else's. ...it's free for everyone plus a special statewide Drinking Liberally Happy Hour and dinner by Illegal Pete's!
(Interesting stuff going on at ColoradoPols, see the comments within. - promoted by johne)
I always hoped that I would gain a large following to my incisive compelling posts on national issues. Alas, to date my blog would get 10 - 20 readers on a good day. In fact, my programming blog would get more visitors on average.
But by luck I fell into my forte. Local politics where there is a complete lack of consistent blogging. For those of you looking for your niche, this could be it.
Ken Salazar and the DLC Dick Cheney Democrats have thrown the troops under the bush.
Everybody is now screaming bloody murder about it, pointing fingers, and saying everybody else should do XYZ. Even poor Jay Marvin, the progressive talker on Denver-Boulder's AM 760, is being savaged by overly-passionate progressives.
May I suggest that everybody please take a deep breath.
There is no reason to treat Ken Salazar or any other person with disrespect.
In politics, we don't yell. We get even!
1) When Salazar runs for re-election, do not vote for him under any circumstance. Even if it means losing the seat, don't vote for him. It's the political version of the death penalty for a politician. Make him irrelevant. This sends more than a message... it delivers a result.
2) Dig out your Mike Miles buttons and T-shirts, and wear them to every Dem event you attend.
Here's a suggestion for a six week protest.
1) Go to your county clerk's office tomorrow, in honor of Memorial Day, and re-register as Unaffiliated.
2) On July 3, register back.
3) Send a letter to Pat Waak, your county Democratic Party chair, and all of our elected Dems in Washington and locally, and tell them you've done this and why. Tell them you will no longer vote for a person just because there is a "D" after their name on a ballot. Tell them they must earn your volunteer time, campaign contributions, and votes. And then stick to your guns!
This is just the beginning. We must organize against the DLC Dick Cheney Democrats and kick their collective political butts. They are in charge in Washington. Next year, we must remove them-- even if it means losing both houses of Congress. The truth is, we don't hold them now anyway.
The truth was and is there isn't a dime's worth of difference between Ken Salazar and Pete Coors. The truth was a vote for Salazar was a vote for the neo-con agenda. The truth is, we only move the agenda in a positive direction by electing liberals.
The First Freedom First Campaign needs your help to acquire 290 Colorado signatures by midnight, November 26th.
Democracy Not Theocracy
End of Life Care
To Worship, Or Not
Reproductive Health
No Religious Discrimination
Sound Science
Academic Integrity
Respect All Families
(Last time the House changed hands, Tom Delay got this job - promoted by Luis)
Roll Call just broke the story that Diana DeGette will run for House Majority Whip. With her generous financial support (encouraged by us, the netroots), she's got a damn good chance of getting it. Not bad for the most progressive member of the Colorado delegation! (Apologies to the ANONYMOUS individual who seems to bear a serious grudge against DeGette)
Democracy for Colorado & Democracy for America are hosting Winning Strategies for Progressives—a hands-on, action-packed training program for grassroots activists on June 10-11, 2006 in Denver.
Yeah, I know it's the same time as YearlyKos but not everybody here is going to Vegas. The DFC/DFA training provides critical precinct organizing skills that we need to counterbalance the Fundie Mega Church frenzie that is likely to turn out in November.
Plus, you won't have to put up with the insufferable Armando if you skip YK to meet with other cool progressives in Denver.
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