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Markos (a Veteran) vs. Chickenhawk Tancredo

mole333 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:30:48 +0000

Veteran takes down a Chickenhawk:

Another Bush-Era Civil Liberties Attack Continues Under Obama

mole333 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:07:39 +0000

Some time back I wrote in depth about the implementation of something called Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12 (HSPD#12)which threatened my wife's rights as well as the rights of every Federal employee and contractor (my initial coverage was picked up by the Huffington Post). The directive per se isn't bad, merely requiring a uniform system of issuing IDs to all Federal employees and contractors across all agencies. But, under the Bush Administration, no good idea went unexploited for opportunities to deny people their basic civil liberties. The implementation of HSPD#12 became a wholesale attempt to get anyone with access to a Federal facility (including my wife who was a grad student in a NASA run building) to agree to allow the government to investigate every aspect of their lives from medical records, financial records and interviewing their neighbors. Keep in mind, this has nothing to do with top secret materials. EVERYONE from the Board of Ed to NASA etc. would have to comply. This invasion of privacy is back.

Don't get me wrong. I remain impressed that we are far better off in all ways under Obama than we were under Bush, and I have considerable confidence that even when Bush-era polcies are continued under Obama, they will be applied more intelligently. However, there are definitely many Bush-era attacks on our civil liberties that the Obama Administration wants to continue. And no matter how intelligently they apply it, it remains an attack on civil liberties. One such attack impacts my wife directly. more this way»

What can we learn from last night's electoral victories and losses?

liza — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:16:38 +0000

First of all, congratulation to John Liu for becoming the first Chinese-American to be elected to city-wide office in New York City. That's a huge slap on the face for the New York Democratic Party establishment; an establishment that's never been too keen on grassroots movements unless they can co-opt to solidify their status-quo.

The other big grassroots story of the night was Bill de Blasio. He walloped Mark Green, one of the darlings of the New York political elite, in a run-off election and breezed into the Political Advocate's office with 76.9% of the vote.

For a political establishment that doesn't support grassroots movements unless it's ready to line their pockets --remember of all the so-called grassroots progressives and Democrats defecting to the Bloomberg campaign?-- these two wins are a wake-up call for the NY Dems political establishment.

We'll have to see how these two fare for or against the status quo in the next four years.

1. Obama is not the Democratic Party.
Virginia is the best example of this phenomenon: Even though Obama carried the state, voters repudiated the slim pickings pushed on them by the local Democratic party. Creigh Deeds, the genius Democrat who lost the election, ran as an anti-Obama Democrat. In a state that Obama basically swept during the general elections.

WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY IS THAT? Oh right, the strategy of a Democrat who rightfully doesn't look at Obama as representing him.

The biggest mistake for the Democratic Party was to sucker themselves into thinking that whatever genius political strategy Plouffe and Axelrod were able to use in getting Obama elected was going to absolve them of their state and local sins of nepotism, cronyism, corruption but most importantly utter ineptitude.

Last night was a big wake-up call for Democrats who think they'll be able to coast on the coattails of Obama for the next 3-7 years.

Which takes me to the big story of the day: Bill Owens will for New York's Congressional District #23. What's the moral of that story?

2. Carpetbaggers better not fuck with upstaters.
The sleepy corner of upper New York state became an ideological battle ground for the extreme right of the Republican party with a non-Palin-looking Dede Scozzafava being muscled out of the election by the GlennBeckian non-resident of the district Doug Hoffman. Yet in the process of eating their own, out-of-state extremists revealed the awful truth about the New York State Democratic Party: They suck.

Democrats in New York state are rarely differentiated from their Republican counterparts. Abortion is not a political lightning rod for New York politicians. On the contrary, NYC boasts a rather disturbing amount of African American and Latino right-to-lifers on their Democratic Party rolls. What separates Republicans from Democrats is the amount of money they're willing to put at the feet of the political establishment in both Albany and Washington DC.

NY23 happened to be one of those districts that NY Dems didn't look as particularly profitable for them until the teabaggers came into town. And that's basically their modus operandi: Many districts in the state are marked as losses from the get go. NY23 proved what a dangerous strategy that is --especially in a year when one more Democrat in Congress could make a huge difference in Health Care and Immigration legislation.

The challenge for true progressives in New York state will be to not only get rid of anti-gay, misogynist, immigrant hating Republicans. The challenge will be to find progressives to run against Democrats with similar political views, from local all the way up to Congressional, regardless of whether it is a "red district" or not.

3. Michael Turk put it best, Can we now agree that 2008 was a referendum on Bush and GOP arrogance, and not a vote for radical liberalism?
This bears repeating over and over and over again. Obama wasn't a choice for radical liberalism. Obama wasn't even a choice for the Democratic Party. Obama didn't even win because he was a centrist. Obama won because he successfully sold himself as an outsider from the political establishment who had a vision of a United States that could be better without partisan politics.

In other words: Obama won because he was the ANTI-IDEOLOGICAL, ANTI-PARTISAN candidate. He didn't win because people believed he could change the swamp of Capitol Hill or the rats' nest of the Democratic Party. He won because he not only wasn't part of the swamp or the rats but because he aspired to transcend all of that with his presidency.

Michael Turk's comment was directed to Republicans but you might as well use it to bash into the heads of Democrats why they can't rest on Obama's laurels. 90% of the Democratic Party does not represent "Change We Can Believe In" and that's what got played out in all of lat night's electoral losses.

4. All the money int he world is not going to win you a mandate
The race was called in favor of Bloomberg when he was winning by 3%. He ended up tallying a 4.58% win. That means that the Boss Bloomberg plunked down $21,834,061.1 per each point in his margin of win. That's an obscene amount of bribe money; yet it proves that if New York City had a true political grassroots movement represented in the Democratic Party, Thompson would have squeaked in a victory.

5. New York City is ready for a grassroots renaissance
Thompson didn't win because he was one of the ultimate insiders just like his losing predecessor, Freddy Ferrer. It's not just that Freddy was Puerto Rican and Bill was black. It was really the fact that these two have been part of the political establishment of New York City for far too long. Every single Democratic mayoral loser since Dinkins has been part of the party establishment.

Yet look at the massive margins that got both de Blasio and Liu elected. If any of these two guys want to become mayor the lesson is very simple: FIGHT MICHAEL BLOOMBERG FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

You can't raise $100 million to buy yourself the local and national media? Fine. Then fight the man every single step of the way for the next 4 years. Govern like you were still campaigning. Amass grassroots support and boost the numbers of your independent allies. Most importantly though, KEEP YOUR FACE IN THE LOCAL MEDIA. That means every single week, every single month, you gotta get yourself out there in front of the cameras, on the newspapers and most importantly on the blogs to move your message over and over and over again.

Michael Bloomberg doesn't have a mandate. Liu, de Blasio and every single Democrat who wants to become the next mayor needs to keep that in mind until 2013.

Which gets me to my favorite peeve: more this way»

I voted and it wasnt for the Democrats

liza — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:14:42 +0000

It's the first time in my life straight down the WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ticket.
ACORNholios from the GOP should love me for that

Scientology: Dangerous cult targets Africa

Leo Igwe — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:42:10 +0000

“…the African tribesman, with his complete contempt for truth and his emphasis on brutality and savagery for others but not for himself, is a no-civilization”. –L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought, Bridge Publications: Los Angeles, 1997

29 October 2009 - The Church of Scientology, recently fined for fraud in France, is making inroads in Africa. It has already infiltrated South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nairobi, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and, in February this year, set up a school in Ghana.

It seems to have arrived in Africa without controversy, unlike its establishment in European countries where it has been beset by legal problems, bans and, as in France, not accepted as a genuine religion.

Scientology was established in 1953 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and later rebranded as a religion. Many define it as a money-making cult that uses hypnotic techniques to control its members. Unusually, for a religion, members have to sign lengthy contracts and waivers before joining. It also has a vast security and intelligence network which it uses to infiltrate government agencies and foreign embassies and to persecute anyone critical of its practices. more this way»

Progressive Majority Endorsed Canidates in Washington State

mole333 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:44:58 +0000

"Progressive Majority is not giving conservatives a chance to regroup. We haven't let up on recruiting and electing progressives since we opened our doors in Washington State in 2004. In 2008, Progressive Majority elected 10 progressives to local and state offices. Through their successful campaigns, our candidates are proving that progressive values are American values."

-Gloria A. Totten
President, Progressive Majority

Here are the results in Washington State:

PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES IN WASHINGTON STATE: Here are some Progressive Majority endorsed candidates in Washington State:

Jennifer Armenta
Candidate for Bothell City Council - Position 5 (Challenger)

more this way»

Progressive Majority Endorsed Canidates in Pennsylvania

mole333 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:43:13 +0000

Pennsylvania is the quintessential battleground state — it has been a swing state in every presidential election for more than 70 years. And it is a state where deep political work must be done to reverse the stranglehold conservatives have on the government, build a durable political infrastructure, and tip the state for progressives once and for all.

Pennsylvania is the slowest-growing of any major state in the nation. Since few new people move in, progressives must build lasting political relationships that address people's core needs and take into account their core values. Pennsylvania is a conflicted state — voters hold conflicting views on economic and social issues in different parts of the state. In short, a "one size fits all" political strategy will not work here.

That's why Progressive Majority's long-term, state-based approach to candidate recruitment and development is so well-suited to meet this challenge. Our work to identify community leaders and activists, authentic candidates who care about what's best for people and who will lead on a local agenda, is what's needed here.

PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES RUNNING IN PENNSYLVANIA: Here is the slate of candidates endorsed by Progressive Majority:

Rose Jacobs: Candidate for Bensalem School Board (Incumbent) more this way»

Progressive Majority Endorsed Canidates in Minnesota

mole333 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:50:50 +0000

Progressive Majority is an organization that has been winning LOCAL elections in key swing states.

Minnesota is home to many of the 20th century's most progressive leaders and most civic-minded citizens. Progressives from diverse backgrounds such as Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarty, Walter Mondale, Paul Wellstone, Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison have represented Minnesota. Yet, counter to that progressive tradition, there has been a long standing conservative movement, augmented in the last several decades by suburban population booms. In electing Rudy Boschwitz (U.S. Senate 1978-1990), Arne Carlson (Governor 1990-1998), and Jesse Ventura (Governor 1998-2002), to Norm Coleman (US Senate 2002-present) and Tim Pawlenty (Governor 2002-present), Minnesota voters demonstrated their willingness to choose conservatives when they are not given a strong progressive choice.

Recent elections have reflected a progressive trend, but a continued effort is necessary to nurture and sustain the strong and deeply-rooted progressive movement in the state. Progressive Majority is uniquely suited to the task of finding, training, and supporting progressive candidates who appeal to the state's rich progressive history. After all, we see our job to bring more "Paul Wellstones" into office.

Progressive Majority Candidates: Here are some candidates endorsed by Progressive Majority running in Minnesota.

Beth Olson: Candidate for Duluth City Council (Open Seat)

Beth Olson is a 38 year old first time candidate from Duluth, MN running for the Duluth City Council, at large. Beth is a social worker in Duluth and a community leader. She is running to build a stronger, more inclusive city. Currently, the Duluth City Council has a conservative, anti-labor majority by one vote. The election of Beth will flip the Duluth City Council to a progressive majority. Beth has been working tirelessly to reach key voters with her progressive message. Beth will be a dynamic member of the city council and help it to build a progressive vision for one of Minnesota's leading cities.

Click here to support and learn more about Beth.

Jim Llanas: Candidate for Maplewood City Council (Challenger)

Jim Llanas is a 41 year old software salesperson and candidate from Maplewood, MN running for the Maplewood City Council At Large. Building on our work in Maplewood in 2007, we have an opportunity this year to elect another progressive to the council and extend our majority. Jim is running to ''put residents first'' and he's actively working to reinstate the Maplewood Human Rights Commission, which was eliminated during the conservative majority's tenure. Jim has done an outstanding job bringing his message to the voters of Maplewood and Progressive Majority is excited to help him in his campaign. There are currently three candidates (including one incumbent) running for two at-large seats.

Click here to support and learn more about Jim.

Lonni Skrentner: Candidate for Edina School Board (Open Seat)

Lonni Skrentner is a 63 year old first time candidate from Edina, MN running for the Edina School Board At Large. Lonni is a retired teacher and a lifelong advocate for kids and schools in Edina. She is a member of Education Minnesota and is extremely well known in her community. She is running to strengthen the Edina public schools and brings with her a strong commitment to public education. Lonni's leadership and vision will prove invaluable to ensuring the long term strength of Edina's public schools.

Click here to support and learn more about Lonni.

HUMANISM AND WITCH HUNTS IN NIGERIA

Leo Igwe — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:08 +0000

A conference introductory speech presented by Leo Igwe, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Humanist Movement at the Nigerian Humanist Movement's National Conference on Witch-hunt, Christian Fundamentalism and Child Abuse
Date October 21, 2009. Venue: University of Uyo Community Centre, Uyo Akwa Ibom State

The Chair.
The Guest Speaker, Dr Nkopuduk Etuk
The Executive Secretary of NAPTIP represented by its Uyo zonal head, Mrs Elizabeth Ekaette,
Other governmental and non governmental agencies
Members of the Press
Fellow Humanists
Ladies and Gentlemen more this way»

This is what your internet services would look like without net neutrality

liza — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:57:42 +0000

And now for something completely different.

Ever wonder what the hell people are talking about when they say put "net" and "neutrality" together? Well, I think sometimes pictures can speak louder than words as is the case with this theoretical "tiered internet menu of services" put together by the good people of Gawker. Via Gizmodo's Net Neutrality Worst Case:

Now, that's just for big media company sites.

Imgine all bloggers being blackholed unless you publish with Blogger, MySpace or WordPress. Imagine RCN or Time-Warner saying that for my blogs to appear on top tier internet services I would have to par them $300/month or something ridiculous like that.

That's what the net and the web would look like without net neutrality.

Welcome to my nightmare. more this way»