NO! to Torture. NO! To Gonzales

Our own Marin County patriot, Senator Barbara Boxer, led the way in the Senate with her strong questioning and loud no vote against Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State.

Now her courage is inspiring more Democratic senators to stand up and say NO! loud and clear torture. NO to Alberto Gonzales.

Thanks Barbara. Thanks Dems. Someday you will all be hailed as patriots, heroes and fighters for justice.

Progressive values are American values; human values. Americans do not stand for torture, but for justice; not for invasion and oppression but for human rights.

An attorney general oppposed to those principles is unworthy of our country.

Oh, did I mention telling the truth?

Liar Liar pants on fire. Oh you're wearing an asbestos suit? Surprise.

Just a few words from a weary progressive Green Dog Demcorat.

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS Revisited

For all of you interested in the Progressive Caucus and the response we have been getting, here is an earlier post, plus all the comments I have received on the Blog. Other comments coming in via email. Please review and post your own. Click on green "comment" at the end, then click on "post a comment" when that pops up. You can also sign on a supporter.

It's easy.

Dotty

Hey Green Dogs,Progressive Caucus Update:

While talking with Green Dog Dems throughout the State, and meeting with my old buds from the Kucinich and Dean campaigns, we got to thinking we need to be more than an "interest group" or label within the Party, but a real force for change within and without the Party.

That is, we need to be an Action committee, to promote and even initiate progressive legislation, education and communication. We need to come up with practical initiatives that can be realized for the good of the people of the State of California and the Nation.Neither center nor left (obviously not right!), but forward we go alongside our Democratic brothers and sisters.So we are now looking to become a vehicle for progressive action.

Name that Caucus!

As we go forward, we are seeking a name for our new caucus. Should it remain the Progressive Caucus? The Progressive Action Caucus? Agenda for Progressive Action. How about ProACTIVE: Progressive Action Caucus for Initiative, Voices and Education?

OK, I like acronyms. What do you all like?As for initiatives, how about promoting universal health care, working with our colleagues in the Assembly and State Senate for starters?Join the Caucus, submit a name, suggest an initiative, win a prize!Here's the Original Caucus Resolution Language, to remind you of where we are now:

Monday, November 29, 2004

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY (for consideration)

WHEREAS Democratic progressives stand for the progressive visions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and other great Democratic leaders whose dreams for the Democratic Party and America should not be forgotten, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives who wish to have a voice within the Party on issues of concern to progressives and a place where they can air these concerns without compromise, often feel left behind by members of the Democratic leadership who (often with good reason) work to get Republican support by supporting Republican agendas as opposed to Democratic agendas, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives want to continue to work within the Democratic Party, to continue supporting the Democratic Party and to continue encouraging others to join the Democratic Party,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned call for the creation of a progressive caucus within the California Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee and for that caucus to have a voice in official California Democratic Party and national Democratic Party policy.Comment no. 1:Dotty!PROACTIVE is one of the best acronyms I have ever seen. No contest. I'd join any group with that name. LynnClick on "Comments" below for more of the same!

posted by Dotty the Green Dog Democrat @ 8:14 AM

9 Comments:
At 12:32 PM, Dotty the Green Dog Democrat said...
Comments so far:1. Great Piece, Dotty! If you don't have me signed onto your progressive caucus list, put me on, of course. And since I don't always get to going to my favorite sites, please add me to your email tree for your blog. Thanks. Am forwarding on your email to my lists.JudyPS and I like ProACTIVE but with V for Voting or even no acronym needed (but I like your creativity). I don't suppose ProACTIVE is a viagra like drug by any chance????2. Thanks, Dotty. I like PROActive. I like the aggressive tone to this. Initiatives? How about one which levels the playing field a bit with insurance companies? Given that they make the rules and are answerable to no one, wouldn't it be nice to force them to play defense for a while? Rights of injured persons? Let's face it, the insurance industry is, in California, and particularly with respect to automobile policies, essentially a legally-sanctioned extortion racket. My take on issues is to locate those areas where the vast majority would agree with us if it only knew what we know. Health care is a good area, of course, but you know how the industry responds -- we're going to run business out of the state, that sort of thing. But they can be beaten.Raz 3. Bravo on this. Your proposed trajectory sounds right on to me Mark4. At CalTrans, they gave me 4 pages of acronyms when I was a new employee...I don't like them. Bev5. Dotty:On my show last night I interviewed Dan Cantor, who heads the Working Families Party in New York State. These people seem to have clear political eyes, and in just six years they have become a political force to be reckoned with. The key, Cantor says, is fusion voting. Without it, Third Parties are doomed to defeat and self-defeat, as my friend Ralph has illustrated in such sad fashion. Maybe that should be a top priority.Jonathan
At 2:28 PM, CalifSherry said...
I'm pretty certain I'm signed onto this progressive caucus idea. I remember having som difficulty with your email link, so if I'm not already there, please sign me up.Acronyms have their advantages and I like ProACTIVE. I'm not coming up with anything better than Initiative, Voices/Votes and Education and especially want something for the T, but someone else likely will if we keep the conversation going.What do you have in mind so far as local (county or AD) oganizing of a progressive caucus goes. Could it (we) bring people together for local discussion and action?
At 4:28 PM, Anonymous said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
At 10:12 AM, Dotty the Green Dog Democrat said...
More Comments emailed to me:I like ProACTIVE. That's what we have to be. I have been to a couple of Demo Club meetings and ProACTIVE they are not. I am joining one called Valley Dems United in case I decide to run for delegate through my AD which is the 39th. I also like the updated Progressive Caucus Resolution. More later.Ken Dotty:Great site! Nice and clean! I get distracted by dark color backgrounds.The resolution looks much better. Lucy
At 11:57 AM, Anonymous said...
hi Dotty,I just was reading your site. Had to let you know that I am LOVING yourProACTIVE title for the caucus. My "day job" is as a marketing creativedirector, so I can appreciate the value of a good name.Don't even think you need it as an acronym. It has Progressive Action builtright in.best,--candace kuss
At 9:38 AM, Dotty the Green Dog Democrat said...
Two more comments on this post:Thanks…what good new!Tim Carpenter, PDAI think we need to start a new party called "Progressive" and invite all the disillusioned Democrats, Greens and Republicans. I think we'd have a majority party! There were many Republicans who switched this year. There once was a Progressive party, but I don't think it exists, as such, now. --Lucille
At 12:47 PM, BRYAN said...
If you need any help Arizona is here! Glad to hear you mention Tim Carpenter as well! PDA And AzDPC have always worked quite well together. www.azprogressive.usBryan BuchanPhoenix Regional DirectorAzDPC
At 2:12 PM, Mark Hull-RIchter said...
I like the whole idea - please keep me in the loop.mhr
At 12:30 PM, Jo Olson said...
I love the idea of a Progressive Caucus, and PROactive is great, but it is also the name of the over the counter acne system. Please keep me in the loop, I'm a new delegate to the State Central Committee in AD 42.

Progressive Agenda

Happy Inaugural Day All.

George Bush is promising us freedom and liberty at home and abroad. Hallelujah to that!

I'm not engaging in no spending day. I'm spending my lunch money at the local bistro. I'm supporting Mom and Pop stores and I'm giving to my favorite progressive causes.

Not one Dime for Corporate America.

I'd like to get started on a progressive agenda. A populist agenda. A Forefront Agenda.

I have two suggestions for our first programs:

1. Let's talk health care. How about the progressive Caucus or PROActive or whatever we are calling ourselves takes on the support of Sheila Kuehl's single payer Health Care proposal in California? She introduced this before and she's baaack. And so should we be. Read about it in the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-health20jan20,1,5731510.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true

2. How about seeking legislative support for what I'm calling "No Vote Left Behind," a modest proposal to make California keep pace with 21 other states that have a mandatory recount in races where the difference is less than a certain percentage, most often .5%.

In those states with such a provision, the State, County or local municipality pays the freight for the recount. In other states, you can have a recount, but you pay. If you end up winning, they pay you back, but still, the cost is prohibitive for most candidates.

It happened here in Marin County in the Marin Health Care District race this November. The anti-Sutter (corporate) candidate was .31% behind at the end of the day. He would have had to pay between $30,000 - $180,000 by County estimates for a hand recount. We balked. We sued. We lost.

We need legislative action. What if Christine Gregoire wasn't able to raise the $750,000 for the recount in the Washington Governor's race?

Comments on these proposals?

I have secured sample Bylaws to use for our California Democratic Progressive Caucus. These will outline the nuts and bolts of operations, and must conform to the California State Democratic Party rules, so they are pretty standard. The real work is going into a mission statement. I have some thoughts I'll be sharing soon. Let me know what you'd like to see in such a document, positions taken, issues championed, etc.

Thanks. To the Forefront!

Peace,

Dotty

Dotty Enjoying Your Posts 

ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM

Tom Gangale has an interesting spin on the Electoral College reform debate. Might we be able to change it dramatically without a Constitutional Amendment? Read on and comment!

Dotty

Electoral College Reform

by Thomas Gangale

After almost every presidential election the idea of reforming the Electoral College--or outright abolishing it--gets kicked around. These ideas go nowhere fast for the simple reason that there are more small states that are advantaged by the current system than there are large states that are disadvantaged by it. Thus, a constitutional amendment will never pass the US Senate by a two-thirds majority, and even if it did, it would never be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures (see my op-ed in the Dec. 29, 2004 Santa Rosa Press Democrat at <http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041229/NEWS/412290339/1050/OPINION03>).

Another avenue of reform that is often discussed is changing the allocation of individual states' electors by state legislation, but this presents a massive collection problem that is equally hopeless, and it still doesn't address the problem of the small states having disproportional electoral power.

The path of least resistance would be enacting reform by federal statute, which only requires a simple majority in the House and the Senate. But would such a statute be constitutional? Either I have found a loophole in the Constitution that would permit a reformulation of the Electoral College in order to bring it much closer to the principle of "one person, one vote" (see <http://www.ops-alaska.com/ps2/Electoral_College_Math_201.htm>) or my argument is based on a specious word game.

By definition, all of us on this blog are political junkies. (My name is Tom, and I'm a political junkie!) However, are there any other political scientists or some constitutional lawyers in the audience who could give this issue an authoritative critique?

Barbara Boxer - Standing Tall

I have a Barbara Boxer coffee mug, Barbara Boxer Sleep shirt and a pair of the infamous Boxer Shorts. I even have a photo of my dog wearing them, with me proudly showing our support.

(Which I would post here, if I could only figure out how to do it)

Barbara Boxer is our home town girl, home County actually, rising from the School Board, to the Board of Supervisors, then on to Congress and Senate. She rose in the ranks the classic way. She earned her Senate seat the old fashioned way, by paying dues for years, getting to know her constituents, and most important sticking to her principles, for the most part anyway.

A historic photo shows then Representative Barbara Boxer leading a charge of women up the steps of the Capitol to protest and condemn the nomination of Clarence Thomas.

We don't always agree on policy. Barbara voted for the death penalty for drug "kingpins" a shady bill that could be used against any one in the drug trafficking cycle, not necessarily the big bad guys heading up the cartels.

Yesterday, Barbara fulfilled her liberal legacy, her belief in the core values of not just the Democratic Party, but of our most basic premise of our Declaration of Independence that all people are free to seek life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If they are not free to vote, and to have that vote counted, how can any of the rest of it follow?

Barbara was the sole Senator to stand with Ohio Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones in objecting to the certifiable of the Ohio electoral vote because of evidence of massive voter fraud, mismanagement, and improprieties of all sorts, rendering thousands of votes meaningless.

She was the sole Senator after an hours' long hearing on the matter to stick to her principles and vote not to certify, in the face of calumny, name calling, sneering and snickering from the Republicans and abdication of their historic role as champion of civil and human rights of the common man on the part of many of her Democratic Colleagues.

This is why we NEED a Democratic Progressive Action caucus in our Party; we need a group of people ready to take action, champion these causes, bring them to the forefront and get in the face of timid Democrats when the need arises.

Our Party can be great. It is founded on great principles. It mouths key phrases like "every vote must count" while going on vacation when the time comes to count the votes; it agrees irregularities occurred that must never occur again, but it votes to certify a terribly flawed election.

The outcome is that we will never know whether George Bush won the election or not. We progressives have solid evidence that he did not, that not only in Ohio, but in Florida, New Mexico and other States, strange doings played havoc with the votes cast. (and the Repubs accuse the Democrats of practicing "X-files" politics!)

Barbara, you are a true American hero. Someone said it was ironic that the only one with cojones was a woman. It's not ironic, and it's not testosterone that makes someone do the right thing. It's principle that cannot be denied. Testosterone is often too busy swaggering and puffing cigars with Ahnold in the smoking tent.

Principle stands tall even when it comes in a diminutive package like one courageous Senator from California.

Thank you Barbara!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

The Green Dog has some New Year's Resolutions to share, not all her own personal ones, but as a citizen of this country, I'm making some for the nation too:

1. Get out of Iraq sooner rather than later. To that end, a committed group of California Progressive Democrats has been formulating a resolution to send to the State and National Parties with the ultimate goal to be that Congress acts to end the War. A new (but probably not final) iteration of that resolution is as follows:

WHEREAS,
The occupation of Iraq has resulted in loss of life for more than 1300 American troops and the maiming and injuring or more than 10,000 more, is draining American resources, and saddling the nation with an enormous debt that will only victimize our children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS,
The occupation of Iraq by American forces rather than making us safer, is jeopardizing the security of the United States by creating even more insurgents while stripping us of the moral high ground which further undermines our ability to defend ourselves in time of attack; and

WHEREAS,
The occupation of Iraq has resulted in untold loss of life for Iraqi civilians, destruction of infrastructure, while turning former allies against us, effectively isolating us from the protective sympathies of the rest of humankind;

Therefore, be it resolved that the (insert appropriate AD Committee or name of Club or Central Committee) _____ calls for an end to the US administered occupation of Iraq, coupled with the creation of an international body that assists the Iraqi people in freely and peacefully determining their own future.

Be it further resolved that the California Democratic Party call upon the United States Congress, which has the ultimate power to declare and end war, to immediately implement the same.

Your comments please! Change for your state!

2. Inaugurate President Kerry.

3. Exercise more and eat Blue.

4. Keep Hope alive!

5. Win back Red California

6. Get a Progressive Action Caucus going

7. Get a California Green PAC going to win initiatives for the environment and all living things.

8. Get organized (You should see my desk!)

9. Have fun with friends and family

10. Get ready for 2006. Win back the Congress!

Doin's in the Dem Party - Think Locally Act Globally (and vice versa)

Hey Green Dogs,

There's doin's since some of you suggested an anti-Iraq War/Bring our Troops Home resolution for the California State Party.

So far, East Bay, Marin, San Francisco, and North Bay have all expressed interest.

Many of us will be discussing this at the Assembly District reorganization meetings on January 8th and 9th (depending on where you live. If you don't know which one you're in go here and find out: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/defaulttext.asp). There's a lot more interest in becoming a State delegate than in any past years since I've been involved.

Here is draft resolution submitted by Mal Burnstein of Berkeley (AD 14). Tell us what you think, and consider carrying it to your Clubs, Central Committees and ADs:

Whereas the Bush Administration misled the country into an illegal, unnecessary and unwise war, against the advice of most of the world and without United Nations support, against a country that had not attacked or threatened the United States; and

Whereas that war has caused and continues to cause, in a seemingly never-ending cycle, the loss of countless American, Iraqi and other lives and maimed and injured many more, including numerous innocent civilians; and

WHEREAS the war has alienated us from most of the world, continues to deplete our economy at an alarming rate to the detriment of the American People and has destroyed Iraqi civil society and seems to be creating a civil war among Iraqi factions and religions;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 14th Assembly District Democratic Committee declares that it supports as immediate a withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq as they can be replaced by United Nations Peacekeeping forces; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 14th Assembly District Assembly Committee calls upon the California State Democratic Party to pass a similar resolution and urge the United States Congress, which has the ultimate power to declare and end war, to immediately implement the same.
......

As promised, here is the full message from Thomas Gangale on reforming the primary process:

Hi Dotty,As you know, for some time now I've been beating the drum for reforming the presidential nomination process. The opportunity has now presented itself within the Democratic Party. Terry McAuliffe empaneled a Presidential Primary Commission a week ago (see <http://www.democrats.org/news/200412140004.html>), something I suggested to him in June 2003. So, the game is afoot!Art Torres announced a few days ago that he will serve on the commission. Naturally, I'm sending him info on the California Plan.Eighteen months ago I predicted that John Kerry would be the Democratic nominee, and that Bush would win reelection. Counterintuitively, Kerry's early victory over Dean was his ultimate undoing. By the end of February, he was already the presumptive Democratic nominee. That was big news at the time, but it had no staying power. Was anything he did between then and the Democratic Convention at the end of July big news? He couldn't buy a headline! Meanwhile, his Republican opponent could fart in the Oval Office or the Rose Garden and make news. Prior to the first presidential debate in October, political pundits said that this was the first opportunity for Kerry to show the American people who he really was. This shouldn't have been his first opportunity! The people should have known Kerry well before this! And, they would have, if the Democratic nomination process had been more contentious. History shows that in the case of a largely uncontested nomination in one party, it is that nominee who wins: Nixon 1972, Reagan 1984, Clinton 1996. Since Bush was uncontested in 2004, it is unsurprising that he won. However, when the nominations in both parties were contested, it was the more contentious nomination struggle that produced the eventual winner: Carter 1976, Reagan 1980, Clinton 1992, Bush 2000. (In 1988, the nomination fights in both parties were equally contentious.) This is an unbroken rule in American politics over the past 40 years.Now, an uncontested nomination is statistically less likely than a contested one, since it presupposes a popular incumbent (at least within his own party). In 2008, however, the nominations in both parties will be open, and the Democratic Party should structure its primaries accordingly. According to my theory, the winner of the more contentious nomination process will win the White House. The problem is that the front-loaded scheduling that has been increasingly in vogue since 1998 truncates competition. If you don't win the first couple of contests (Iowa and New Hampshire), you're basically screwed. You don't live to fight another day, because the first game is "sudden death."In my view, the path to Democratic victory in 2008 is clear. The present DNC chair, Terry McAuliffe, who engineered the most front-loaded primary schedule in history in 2004, has been proven wrong. The early determination of the nominee is not advantageous to the party. We need a more, not less, competitive nomination process. The RNC's Brock Commission came to the same conclusion in 2000 at the philosophical level, although the reform plan that it recommended (the Delaware Plan) was flawed and was ultimately shot down by the Bush campaign. Now, the Democratic Party has the opportunity to seize the initiative. I believe that a protracted nomination fight in 2008 will train the Democratic nominee into fighting trim for the main event in November. A competitive primary process will vet the party's message to a finely-honed edge. If one believes in the democratic process, and in the virtues of competition, this only make sense.As much as I have been interested in politics over the years, and I'm now studying political science at SFSU in both the national and international milieux, I'm a neophyte when it comes to hands-on politics. Right now, I'm just a guy who thinks he has a pretty good idea. The California Plan has received some very favorable comments came up on a couple of blog sites. One is by Garry Young, a Poli Sci faculty member at GWU, at <http://nopanaceas.blogspot.com/2004_03_07_nopanaceas_archive.html#107894018283459882>. Another is by Chris Bowers, a Democratic Party activist in Philadelphia, at <http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/8/4/144733/9372>. And, of course, Lynn Woolsey wrote to Terry McAuliffe in support of the California Plan last year. But now it's time to pick up the pace. I need to get the word out, get more endorsements, and ultimately I need to get myself invited to present my ideas before the commission. If you have any ideas on who I should hook up with, I'd appreciate it.Best regards,Tom Gangale

Thoughts for the Solstice

Now that the longest night has passed, we can look forward to spring. Literally, and hopefully, metaphorically as well.

We must look forward, even as the country seems to be lurching backward in a Republican frenzy to unravel progressive initiatives like the Social Security, protecting the environment, human rights, free speech, and other minor advancements we've managed to craft over the last two hundred years.

....

Mark Leno, Assembly member from San Francisco is still pushing his Gay Marriage initiative in the State Legislature, but calling it something like religious freedom and non-discrimination in marriage act. Is the first page from the playbook of Karl Rove the Democrats are taking?

If so, hoorah. We have to couch things in language that will strike a chord with people, not frighten them off. Go Mark!

.....

A correspondent writes that the nomination process for the Democratic primary needs serious overhaul. The front loaded process by which Kerry was annointed as soon as he took Iowa denies us a choice, and doesn't allow for vigorous airing of the issues. He's proposing a plan whereby primaries are truly contested, predicting the more contested, the better the ultimate candidate and more chance he (or she) has of winning. I will try to post the whole story here soon.

Dotty

NEW!! Updated Progressive Caucus News

Hey Green Dogs,

Progressive Caucus Update:

While talking with Green Dog Dems throughout the State, and meeting with my old buds from the Kucinich and Dean campaigns, we got to thinking we need to be more than an "interest group" or label within the Party, but a real force for change within and without the Party.

That is, we need to be an Action committee, to promote and even initiate progressive legislation, education and communication. We need to come up with practical initiatives that can be realized for the good of the people of the State of California and the Nation.

Neither center nor left (obviously not right!), but forward we go alongside our Democratic brothers and sisters.

So we are now looking to become a vehicle for progressive action.

Name that Caucus!

As we go forward, we are seeking a name for our new caucus. Should it remain the Progressive Caucus? The Progressive Action Caucus? Agenda for Progressive Action. How about ProACTIVE: Progressive Action Caucus for Initiative, Voices and Education?

OK, I like acronyms. What do you all like?

As for initiatives, how about promoting universal health care, working with our colleagues in the Assembly and State Senate for starters?

Join the Caucus, submit a name, suggest an initiative, win a prize!

Here's the Original Caucus Resolution Language, to remind you of where we are now:

Monday, November 29, 2004


RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY (for consideration)

WHEREAS Democratic progressives stand for the progressive visions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and other great Democratic leaders whose dreams for the Democratic Party and America should not be forgotten, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives who wish to have a voice within the Party on issues of concern to progressives and a place where they can air these concerns without compromise, often feel left behind by members of the Democratic leadership who (often with good reason) work to get Republican support by supporting Republican agendas as opposed to Democratic agendas, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives want to continue to work within the Democratic Party, to continue supporting the Democratic Party and to continue encouraging others to join the Democratic Party,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned call for the creation of a progressive caucus within the California Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee and for that caucus to have a voice in official California Democratic Party and national Democratic Party policy.


Comment no. 1:

Dotty!PROACTIVE is one of the best acronyms I have ever seen. No contest. I'd join any group with that name. Lynn

Click on "Comments" below for more of the same!

THE FRAMING GAME

The Democrats are tripping over themselves in trying to spin the election, spin their issues, decide which direction to run in, backward, forward? Left, right? Or maybe dig a hole in hide in it for four more years.

Here's what Gary Locke, Governor of Washington says, in an editorial in the NYTimes on picking a new leader for the DNC:

"The Democratic Party has long been the champion of working people everywhere. We are the party that fights for economic, educational and social opportunities and fairness for everyone, whether farmers, blue-collar workers, the elderly, women or minorities. We have always embraced rural values - family, community, hard work, love of country, respect and trust."

Well, Duh.... yeah, that's what we say, but how do we get the message across to all those folks we supposedly represent, who aren't hearing it.

George Lakoff would call it framing, like the Repubs do with "Tax Relief" etc. You've heard it all, Dems have heard it all, so why aren't we doing it?

What does the word "Progressive" mean anyway? The DLC thinks they are progressive. And compared to right wing-nut whack jobs hell bent on Armageddon, I suppose that may be true.

But we need to reframe this whole discussion, or the Dems will keep slogging around looking for the mushy middle they can call their own, without ever really taking firm stands on anything.

So help me out here, how should we frame the issue? How would you explain a progressive agenda to the folks described in the paragraph above? You and I truly believe that progressive values ARE American values. But the cold hard reality is Bush got reelected. Even if the election was rigged, he's there and we're here. And a lot of folks like it that way.

So, maybe we need to take a lesson from Carl Rove as far as messaging goes. Give me your thoughts on this by clicking on the green writing below and posting a comment.

Thanks Green Dogs!

Dotty

The Desperation of Religious Fringe People

I'm really not against religion per se; I understand that some people are perfectly capable of holding a belief in a God or Supreme Being in their minds at the same time they believe in scientific facts and critical thinking, although I personally don't subscribe.

I also know that many of those who believe are good and kind and just and spend their lives fighting for equality and justice for all. I respect those people immensely. They believe in Jesus as an example for the way we should live our lives, not as some gatekeeper for the "saved."

Then there are what I call the Religious Fringe People. But according to Bill Moyers, and recent polling, they aren't so fringy anymore. These people, and there are millions of them, believe that the gates of Heaven will open for them once Armageddon comes calling on Earth.

(Read the Moyers account at http://www.alternet.org/envirohealth/20666/ and get chills)

They spend their time praying for this. They like to see ferment in the Holy Land, they support Israel, because they believe Israel's take over of the whole region will spur the second coming. Never mind that the poor Israelis they champion now will be smote down by plagues of locusts and boils if they don't convert before God calls his chosen few home.

Never mind if most of us poor suckers will be left behind in pestilence and hellfires on earth for all eternity.

Now, some of these folks are authentic right wing-nuts, who see all this as the granddaddy of all power grabs, while others are just plain old Joes and Jills of the Heartland, who have given up on a better life for themselves or their children on earth and look to the heavens for deliverance.

Who can blame them in a way? Everybody needs something to believe in. For some it's the stock index; for others it's the Rapture index, something that indicates how close we are to that moment when the saved will shed their earthly bodies (or is it just their clothes?) and ascend to the right hand of God the Almighty.

This is scary stuff. It's scary that so many believe it; it's scary that best selling novels are being written describing it (capitalism is alive and well among the religious classes, it seems); it's scary that it's fueling Presidential appointments and policies that are destroying the environment and making us enemies around the globe.

(One rapture theory, subscribed to be former Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, says that when the last tree falls, the ascension begins.)

Well, there's no more to say, except: Be afraid, be very afraid.

.......

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the day that separates World War II from this new adventure in Iraq. Follow the dots.... Read your history.

Post a comment.

Dotty still a Green Dog Democrat

CRANKY FEMINIST

Here's a girl after my own heart. Check out this blog http://crankyfeminist.blogspot.com/

Here's her list of things to do before the inauguration (or is it Coronation?)


Things to do before the Inauguration
1. Get that abortion you've always wanted.
2. Drink a nice clean glass of water.
3. Cash your social security check.
4. See a doctor of your own choosing.
5. Spend quality time with your draft age child/grandchild.
6. Visit Syria, or any foreign country for that matter.
8. Get that gas mask you've been putting off buying.
9. Hoard gasoline.
10. Jam in all the Alzheimer's stem cell research you can.
11. Stay out late before the curfews start.
12. Go see a Bruce Springsteen concert before he has his "accident."
13. Go see Mount Rushmore before the Reagan addition.
14. Use the phrase "You can't do that -- this is America."
15. Take a walk in Yosemite without being hit by a snowmobile or a base-jumper.
16. Enroll your kid in an accelerated art or music class.1
7. Pass on the secrets of evolution to future generations.
18. Learn French.
19. Visit Massachusetts while it is still a State.

And I would add - hug your gay friends while they're still roaming free!

You go Girl!

Dotty

I TOLD YOU SO

NOW it's time for my I Told You So column. During the Kerry campaign, I wrote to his assistant campaign manager, Steve Elmendorf. I also posted a version of what I wrote (with somewhat less judicious wording) at Democrats.com, the progressive Democratic Website.

I heard back, indirectly, from the Kerry campaign that I was stirring things up and causing them trouble by using phrases like "Bush lite" in describing what John Kerry should strive NOT to be.

Here's part of what I said:

"John Kerry needs the progressive vote. He needs it most in the swing states, the ones narrowly went for either Gore or Bush in 2000. Why? Because the Republicans are going after their right. They are not wringing their hands over placating the middle. They know most moderate republicans will vote for them. John Kerry should be able to similarly relax about the moderate Dems."

But the Kerry campaign did not heed these words, nor my offer of help with the progressive base. Instead, they went after the mushy middle, and got a mushy middlin' vote.

Now, pundits on the left are echoing my sentiments. Recently, Joe Trippi said "Democrats can't keep ignoring their base. Running to the middle and then asking our base at the end of the campaign to make sure and vote is not a plan. It sure hasn't worked. And to those who say talking to your base doesn't work - read the Rove 2004 playbook!"

So good Green Dog Dems, we were right and they were wrong. Too bad it doesn't feel better.

Here's a couple more websites to add to your list of must reads:

http://www.joetrippi.com/

www.ariannaonline.com/

Comments please?

Dotty

PROGRESSIVE RESOLUTION

Here is an updated version of the Progressive Resolution for the California Democratic Party. If any of you are in other states, you can adapt it to your own state.

Sign on at the bottom if you like, with name, City, State and affiliation with the Democratic Party, if any.

Thanks!

Dotty

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY (for consideration)

WHEREAS Democratic progressives stand for the progressive visions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and other great Democratic leaders whose dreams for the Democratic Party and America should not be forgotten, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives who wish to have a voice within the Party on issues of concern to progressives and a place where they can air these concerns without compromise, often feel left behind by members of the Democratic leadership who (often with good reason) work to get Republican support by supporting Republican agendas as opposed to Democratic agendas, and

WHEREAS Democratic progressives want to continue to work within the Democratic Party, to continue supporting the Democratic Party and to continue encouraging others to join the Democratic Party,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned call for the creation of a progressive caucus within the California Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee and for that caucus to have a voice in official California Democratic Party and national Democratic Party policy

Dotty LeMieux
Fairfax, California
Alternate, Democratic Central Committee Marin, 2nd District

Sign us up! (Our ranks are growing daily!)

Judy Maselli, Pacifica
Michele Barni, Marin County Central Committee
Mayme Hubert, Marin DCCM
Sherry Reson, Marin County
Yvonne Clark, Sonoma
Bobby Reich-Patri, San Francisco
Leslie Sheridan, Sonoma County

For a more complete list of names, click on the green writing below; to sign on yourself, click on "post a comment" following those names. Or email me: del@greendogdemocrats.com

Thanks!

Religious Redux

Speaking of religion as I was the other day, my sketchy knowledge of the subject was that it always had something to do with being good and just. That is, if you were a good and just person and did unto others as you would have them do unto you, and loved your neighbor as you love yourself, and give to the poor, and cast not the first stone, and looked for the sty in your own eye and told the truth, you were assured of a place in Heaven. Where ever that was, it was never clear, but somewhere over the rainbow seemed like a good guess.

I didn't find out about the being saved part until later. Then they hit us with besides being a good person, we had to accept Jesus as our personal savior, and THEN we could get into Heaven.

I think that's where they made their big mistake. That's where a certain kind of Christianity parts company from other religions or even "secular humanism." In order to accept Christ as a personal savior, you have to be willing to give up free will and independent thought. You have to believe you NEED to be saved. That you are a sinner, and if you don't accept Christ, you will be lost forever.

Then the Fundamentalist "Born Agains" got into the act, and they got heavy with the personal savior stuff, but seemed to bypass the be good to your fellow humans and don't lie stuff.

Now we have George Bush, who's motto should be "Believing in God means never having to say you're sorry." No matter what. Lie, cheat, steal, kill, Covet all you want. It's OK. God wants you to.

Correction, God wants George Bush to. Screw the other poor sinners in the world. George is on God's short list. In fact, he probably thinks he's the Third Coming.

I like to think the Midwest kids I went to Sunday School with practice a different form of Christianity. I like to think if Jesus did come back to earth, he'd give George a little of what he gave the money changers in the temple. But then, I don't believe.

I just keep my eyes open.

ELECTION FRAUD?

I was going to write my "I Told You So" column, about how I went to the Kerry campaign and explained to them how they needed to energize their base, including the progressive vote, who might be tempted to go for Nader, and they scoffed at me.

They told me to go away. They were particularly offended I suggested that Kerry was in danger of appearing like a "Bush lite" (all that "I'm tougher than you are" talk) if he didn't map out a progressive platform that would ring true with Democrats and maybe even inspire the mushy middle by showing them he stood for something.

I was going to say I told you so, because after the election pundits and Democratic leaders were falling all over themselves criticizing Kerry for not doing just that. The words "Bush lite" were even uttered post-Nov. 2.

I was going to write my "I Told You So" column. But I'm not going to. Instead, I'm going to write my "Count Every Vote" column.

After listening to Air America all week (960 on your AM dial in the San Francisco Bay region - www.airamericaradio.com if you're somewhere else) and reading emails by the score documenting voter anomolies, phantom voters, faulty polls, and so on, I've decided to join the chorus of people calling for recounts or even redos of the election, at least in Ohio and Florida.

Randi Rhodes of Air America asked U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) who is investigating the vote why they couldn't simply interview all the voters in at least some of the smaller counties where the votes were "flipped" that is you had 70% registered democrats, but 70% vote for Bush. This was repeated all over Florida. Some say Democrats in these counties always vote for Republican presidential candidates. But in exact proportion to the registration numbers, only backwards?

"Yes, Yes," I yelled at my radio, as Nadler said a cautious "well I don't know what the law is."
Never mind the law. Get the facts. Sign me up; I'll fly to Florida myself and interview voters myself. America wants to know.

That's my column. Go to www.Blackboxvoting.org to check for the latest updates.

I'll save the "I Told You So" column for after the recount.

Helpful Links

Okay Green Dogs,

By popular demand, here are some helpful links to take action, on the vote, on next steps, on taking action:

http://www.moveon.org The oh so wonderful Move On!

www.pdamerica.org Progressive Democrats of America

http://bernie.house.gov/pc/ Progressive Congressional Caucus

www.democracyforamerica.com/ Democracy for America (previously Dean - Hey, he's for us Progressive Democrats, Yay!)

http://adbusters.org Ad Busters. This is fun and really edgy

More to come.

Thanks Dogs!

Dotty

Post Election Blahs

I know we are all experiencing the post-election blahs or worse, but I am excited about the formation of Democratic Progressive Caucuses in many states and I am hopeful the investigation into the election vote grabbing machines will pay off.

even if not, we must persevere. Yesterday I had lunch with a changing group of women, meaning the group kept changing as new ones arrived and old ones left; and all the women in the group were changing before our eyes from depressed Democrats to activists seeking activation.

"Why aren't we out in the streets?" asked one. Another said, "I really need to find something to get invovled in to take back the country." We drank red wine and ate happy hour food at our favorite bar. Men who sat at the bar in groups of two or three for once weren't playing Liar's Dice but talking about the election too.

No one seemed to know quite what to do, but energy was in the air as if new activist molecules were replacing old wishful thinking molecules.

Let's sieze the moment and make sure we don't fall back into the doldrums of routine and waiting for someone to come along and save us.

......

I'm not religious, but if I were, I'd be afraid; I'd be very afraid, because my religion would be of the "liberation theology" type we saw in a few decades back, especially in Latin American countries dealing with dictators and death squads.

I'd be afraid that if Christ were to ome back today, George Bush would have him crucified all over again; after a secret tribunal at Guantanamo.

So much for moral values.

JOIN ME IN FORMING A PROGRESSIVE "GREEN DOG" CAUCUS

Hi Bloggers,

Here is a resolution I am submitting to form a Progressive Caucus in the Democratic Party in California. Thanks to the Patrick Henry Democratic Club of Orange County for their work on tis. Other states have Progressive Caucuses already. Go to: www.pdamerica.org and check it out.

Thenh sign on below to join this effort in California!

Thanks.


Resolution Calling for the Creation of a California Democratic Progressive Caucus


WHEREAS Democratic progressives stand for the progressive visions ofFranklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, MartinLuther King and other great Democratic leaders whose dreams for theDemocratic Party and America should not be forgotten, andWHEREAS Democratic progressives often feel left behind by members of the Democratic leadership who (often with good reason) work to get Republican support by supporting Republican agendas as opposed to Democratic agendas, and

WHEREAS, California progressives wish to have a voice within the Party on issues of concern to progressives, and

WHEREAS, progressive Democrats need to have a place where they can air these concerns without compromise and knowing those concerns will be heard by the Party leadership, and
WHEREAS, Democratic progressives want to continue to work within the Democratic Party, to continue supporting the Democratic Party and to continue encouraging others to join the Democratic Party, and
WHREAS, several other States now have formed or are forming progressive caucuses, including Utah, North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansa, Maine, Nevada, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF MARIN calls for the creation of a progressive caucus within the California Democratic Party and for that caucus to have the same status as other recognized caucuses within the California Democratic Party.

Yes, add my name to this effort: