Progressive Action Spot

"Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, Judges, and Governors, shall all become wolves." Thomas Jefferson

Friday, February 06, 2009

To Hope or Not to Hope

The Progressive villagers are getting restless.

I get it. It is incredibly frustrating. I want Progressive Change and I want it now. (Stamps feet, grabs the gum and turns into a purple human blueberry…) Seriously. I am with all of you.

I, however, am not willing to throw in the towel [yet] and say that they are all the same. (All of these politicians. spppltt!)

The thing is, what makes these assholes “all the same,” is also what makes them different.

These bastards, Left, Right and Center, all have one thing in common; they want to keep their jobs. They have also woken up to the fact that we the people are paying attention. And, we the people, can get mobilized and kick the bums out.

The last two elections are still fresh in their minds. The Right has watched their buddies be replaced by Democrats and the Democrats have watched – in awe – as the people got together and went to the polls. The Democrats also know (as do the Republicans) that the more people who vote, the more that Democrats get elected. This is just a simple, unarguable, fact, and it is also why the Pukes do everything that they can to suppress the vote.

Knowing this little tidbit, that the bastards all want to keep their jobs, is what makes them different. It is also what makes this particular period of time so amazing. What is so amazing right now, so fascinating, is that the GOP still thinks that their only problem was that they did not move far enough to the Right! This is excellent. Let them move farther…they are going to move so far to the Right that they will join the death-knell of the Wigs. Dumb asses.

While the Republican dumb asses move farther to the Right and continue to play their games, the Dems are being “cooperative” and “accommodating” and “bi-Partisan” and the public is eating that shit up. Seriously. The majority of the Country are not Partisans like we are…but they are starting to pay attention in ways that they never have before.

What Obama has done, not because he is so great or so cool or whatever, is that he has communicated in such a way that the people want to pay attention. This is not all Obama’s doing, we also have GW Bush to thank for this.

Bush fucked this country so hard and for so long that the people are all watching with keen interest; we have become a Nation of observers just like a rape victim watching the trial of her attacker – every word said, every piece of evidence presented, every witness who speaks – the people are watching and this bodes well for Democrats. The Democratic Ideas work; the Republican ideas are like being raped all over again. The people know this intuitively, even if they do not understand all of the intricacies of the plans.

Obama needs us in a way that no other President since FDR has needed the people. He needs a movement. No matter how many times that I say it, I do not feel that I can say it enough. He needs us to educate our neighbors. He needs us to call our Representatives and Senators. He needs us to write LTEs. Without us he will not be able to do this. He just won’t.

Here is a start:

Hold an economic recovery house party. Educate your friends and neighbors. Obama needs a movement and we need to give it to him. Real change will happen if the people demand it. These Representatives and Senators want to keep their jobs.

Tell your Senators to support the National Parks in the stimulus.

Call your Senators and support the stimulus package.

Demand accountability for the Bush Administration.

Stand with Al Gore and Repower America. Demand that your legislators support climate change legislation. I watched Vice President Gore’s testimony this weekend and it is terrifying. Why every single student in this Country - college and HS and Jr. High and elementary – are not required to watch this is beyond me.

Demand that family planning money be put back in the stimulus. It is so common friggin sense – offer people assistance with their health care costs and they will spend that money elsewhere in the economy. In addition, if you want to help people to be lifted out of poverty, help them to prevent pregnancies. Could people be any more stoopid?!

Remove Republican tax cuts from the stimulus; they do not do shit to help the economy. We need targeted cuts to the lower and middle income people. This petition and letter writing campaign calls for eliminating all of them, and I would honestly rather see all of them gone, than any corporate ones.

Hillary’s online community, No Limits. From what I can tell it is a forum dedicated to fixing this fucking Country.

Find your local District Attorney and ask them to file charges against Bush.

Vote on FDLs priorities.

Demand that Holder appoint a Special Prosecutor.

Hold a repower America house party this weekend.


Dictionary defines the antonym of “hope” as “despair.” I agree, and I agree that one of the greatest contributors to despair is powerlessness. The more involved that I am, the less powerless that I feel. Call it delusional or airy fairy or naïve or whatever. Personally I don’t care, I only know that the alternative leads to days on the couch and inability to function and I can’t do that today. It is difficult enough to move as it is; I will not add the kind of pessimism that I am used to experiencing to it. I may get screwed in the end and highly disappointed, but at least I can say I tried to change it.

PS: I started this post a few days ago so I hope that all of the links still work. Here a couple of add-ons that I also felt were worth the time to share.

Obama’s op-ed selling the plan; well worth the read.

Olbermann’s special comment last night was excellent. He made a couple of verbal flubs so read the thing too. How I wish that I could say the same to Dick – to his face.

Cross-posted at L&L Pt 2.

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Petitions and Such

A long time ago, when I first started this blog, my intent was to use it as a clearing house for petitions and other action items that were found in my inbox.

This was at a time before the 2006 elections when we all felt absolutely powerless and we were watching our entire country go down the tubes. We were angry, frustrated and terrified.

My contention was that even doing a little action – taking that anger and turning it into something productive – would help us to feel as though we were doing something, anything, to save our country.

The situation is different now. We are at the helm and we are driving this ship. Why worry about petitions and crap right now?

For one thing, we still have 58 long days of watching helplessly as this Administration pushes through last minute “fuck you” rules and regulations (or removes rules and regulations.) Right now it is imperative that we are paying attention. It is imperative that we are making noise.

Take, for instance Senator Feingold’s call for all of us to come forward and speak out now against possible Presidential pardons. Possible bullshit blanket Presidential pardons. We have to make noise now.

However, we also have to make noise once Obama and the Democratic Congress take office. Obama needs a movement. It will be impossible for him to implement Progressive change unless he has a movement behind him, unless the people back him, unless our Representatives hear from us – demanding what we want. It is more important now, than ever, to “sing louder.”

Click “read more” for a list of petitions to sign and action items that require our assistance.

Petitions and Active Campaigns

(Note: Many of these orgs have several active petition campaigns; I have linked to their petition pages rather than linking to individual petitions.)

Support Representative Nadler’s bill, HR 1531, against Bush pardons.

Democrats dot com list of petitions and active campaigns.

Sign up to make calls to GOTV for Georgia’s special election.

Courage Campaign’s active campaigns

Tell President-Elect Obama to “go for it” and shoot big!

Vote on how CREDO will spend their money! (This one is too fun.)

CREDO Campaigns

True Majority Campaigns

Save America’s Wolves

Use this easy form to submit letters to the editor against Bush pardons for himself and his criminal Administration and for Impeachment.

California residents – please write letters to the editor against your GOP legislature’s severe budget cuts.

Impeach Bush to stop pardons.

Choose Obama’s top priorities.

Support the Apollo Alliance.


Donations Requested:

I know that most people are financially fucked (it is true in my neck of the woods) and I know that we all contributed massively to the recent elections. Unfortunately, because the economy is so bad, the orgs most hurt are those organizations who do good works in our communities. It is a catch 22 – they are needed most right now to feed our hungry and house our homeless and they are normally the first to suffer from the belt tightening that is being done everywhere.

A couple of things to consider:
a) Most of the below requests for donation are tax deductible and it is almost year-end.
b) Why not give donations for Holiday presents or request that donations are given in your name for Holiday gifts that you receive? Or, give gift subscriptions to Progressive publications as presents?

Truthout has been sending out a desperate call for donations.

Franken needs donations for the recount. (Remember, Romney is paying Coleman’s fees.)

Hillary is still trying to pay off her campaign debt. (DNC is offering a DVD of Hillary’s Denver speech for a donation of $50.)

The Progressive needs donations. (Or, better yet, subscribe!)

Courage Campaign needs funds to Repeal Prop 8

Shop the Free Press store (Again, gift time is coming!)

Join the Progressive Book Club

Wildlife Adoption and Gift Center

True Majority gift center (Get your free pie lapel pin, too.)

Support NARAL; support Martin

Cross posted at Low and Left Part Deux.

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Friday, October 31, 2008

Election Protection Information

With the election around the corner and early voting well under way, it is past time to post information about Election Protection. There are a ton of resources out there and it is up to us to make sure that every voter has the information that will protect them and their vote. Please add any election protection websites or phone numbers that you come across.

The main phone number to remember is 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

Obama has two websites devoted to reporting voting problems:

Under the Radar Excellent flash map of dirty tricks Nationwide

Truth: Vote for Change Clearinghouse for voting problems

On the Web:

American Bar Association Election Protection Site

National Campaign for Fair Elections

NCFFE State Pages

The Democracy Campaign

Election Protection Wiki Clearinghouse to report problems at the polls.

866OURVOTE dot org Another way to get to the National Campaign for Fair Elections

Election Strike Force In partnership with Brad Blog

NAACP Vote Hard Bus Tour

Standing for Voters

Vote 411 dot org A project of The League of Women Voters, everything that you need to know about voting.

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights

Alternet Online Voting Guide. Excellent resource with every link that you can imagine.

PFAW know your voting rights page.

Voters Unite

Voters Unite Links to State SOS Pages

Democracy Dispatch Election Resources

Network of Citizens

Center for Media and Democracy Election Watch

State Resources:

Election reform CA

Fair Elections Georgia

California Election Protection Network

North Carolina Democratic Party Election Protection

Ohio Election Fraud

NAACP Maryland

California Election Protection

Florida Election Protection

Report:

Excellent report on the 2006 election and disenfranchisement of voters. PDF

A few articles on problems with machines and disenfranchisement, already, in 2008:

Watching the Polls

Where Are the Election Protection Attorneys?

Election Protection in Sante Fe

Some Small Wins for Voters

Voters in 31 States Screwed

Election Protection by Amy Goodman

The Free Press Election News

Scoop.Co.Nz “USA Coup” Articles about the theft of the 2008 Election

Mark Crispin Miller Author of “Fooled Again”

Please note: I cannot vouch for all of these sites; I am only offering information and resources. Cross posted at Low and Left Part Deux

UPDATE: Links that I forgot:

Verified Voting

Steal Back Your Vote

Stealing America

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

To: Supers From: Dean

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Context Matters or For Those Who Base Opinions on More than Just Soundbites

'Cause Someone Reminded Me to Remember Laughter

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Petitions and Such

This blog was originally started as a clearing house for petitions and other information as found in my inbox. Thought I might get down to original business and post some of that.

Support the Foreclosure Prevention Act

Reject Anti-Choice Judge Honaker

Attend the free movie and support separation of Church and State

Sign the Petition to Protect Separation of Church and State

Resources for lower income people regarding the economic stimulus refunds.

NOW Petitions

Vote on who Progressive Patriots Fund should throw their support to.

Going to Memphis in April, check out the Green Dream Reborn Conference.

Tell China not to walk away from Darfur.

Still trying to save the Internet.

5 Years Too Many

Iraq Moratorium dot org

Amnesty USA is in need of funds.

The Nation needs donations

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Friday, March 21, 2008

I'm A Typical White Person

You know it's bad when Chris Wallace defends Obama.

The great irony of this new raging debate is that everyone is focusing on the distraction, just as Obama spoke of in his speech.

We can focus on the distractions in the race debates or we can focus on the real issues.

Guess what?! As a typical white person, I too am afraid when a black man passes me by on the street. I am ashamed of this. I do not like this about myself. But when I am alone and I am walking down the street I am more afraid of a black man approaching than a white man. I will instinctively hold on tighter to my bag when it is a black man than a white man.

This is what the discussion needs to be about, not whether or not the word "typical" was used.

We have in our country an almost inbred, instinctive, fear of the "other". It is rare that we have real opportunities to come together as one people and not be divided by our races, genders, religions or politics...even among the so-called Progressives, we are deeply divided between Obama and Hillary.

So, let's get over it already. Can we please stop perusing every transcript for false evidence of supposed racism or sexism and get down to the business of getting together and taking to task the real problems that face us?

This is just one more typical white person attempting to remind us all to quit being so fucking hyper-sensitive about the distractions and get on with the realities.

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