I am as thrilled as anyone with the recent pickups by Democrats in solidly red districts. Winning MS-01 was really sweet. And it shows how Bush really has been the death the Republican Party. But I am also worried. There are two aspects of these recent wins that worry me (we should have more such worries!).

1.) The lie that the media used to spin the 2006 tidal wave of Democratic victories, that the new Dems are all conservatives who are more like Repubs, just may start to happen; and 2.) can we defend all these seats in red territory even as we have to win the Senate and the Presidency. Are we becoming overextended and over compromised? I don't think so, but I think the dangers should be considered.

Today's breaking news from New York that Governor Spitzer has been implicated in a Federal probe of high dollar prostitution shocked and upset me deeply. As a progressive Spitzer embodied many qualities that I had hoped to see more of in elected officials and so to see him fallen to such base behavior is not only an affront but also a grievous dilemma which demands a call for his immediate resignation and prosecution.

Yes, in honor of another stupid, counter-productive Nader ego trip I am asking everyone to donate, hopefully $25, in his honor...to effecting REAL change, not just feeding Nader's ego.

Growing up, I saw Nader as a hero. But by now I despise the man. The Greens did the right thing in 2004 by steering away from him...and they should just keep moving on away from Nader and form themeselves into something other than a Nader fan club.

But more importantly, we all have to reshape the left into something effective and a force to be reckoned with. Nader's way did nothing but further marginalize himself and the left. Below are my suggestions for donations in "honor" of Nader.

Rabbi Dennis Shulman, Demarast, New Jersey, is running for Congress in the NJ Fifth Congressional District.

http://shulmanforcongress.wordpress....

One cannot but notice that he is a rabbi. He is also a blind rabbi.

But not really so blind.

Following up yesterday's Courage Campaign mailing http://www.couragecampaign.org/...
and call for the censure of Feinstein for her betrayal of Democratic values, The California Democracy for America group that initiated this true grassroots effort, today sent out a letter that reads--

Feinstein: Three Strikes and You're Out!

Progressives need to tell the Democratic Party leadership that they no longer own our votes, and I'm betting Fox TV will help us tell them.

Many democrats think quitting the party could hurt Democratic prospects in 2008. Nothing could be further from the truth. The current Democratic strategy of minimalist politics, of continued war funding, and of keeping impeachment "off the table," risks handing the White House and Congress to Republicans next year.

Too many people don't vote in primary elections. Then they complain if the Democrats aren't representing them. The time to focus on which Democrats represent you is during a primary, for goodness sake. Don't wait for the general. And some elections go almost completely under the radar despite their importance. People complain about the judicial system, then they don't bother to vote in judicial elections.

Well, WE choose our judges and WE choose our Democratic candidates. If we vote. TUESDAY SEPT. 18th is a PRIMARY ELECTION in NYC. What follows is a rundown of the three judicial races I know about with links to more info. The expected voter turnout is abyssmal. Realize this: in such a low voter turnout election, every single vote counts. If you live in Brooklyn and are a Democrat, vote Tuesday or shut up about not liking the judicial system. Read on for more info.

Here I am in my comfy chair, indulging in my usual lazy Sunday afternoon/evening ritual - sipping my cocktail and making smart-assed comments in other people's diaries.  Could I relax and enjoy it?  Nooooooo!

I'm sick of the war between Edwards and Obama supporters.  I'm tired of the "I Hate Hillary and Will Never Vote for Her" bullshit.  In fact, I'm so sick and tired, that I felt compelled to write a diary about it.  A bitchy diary.  You've disrupted my lazy Sunday, and now you must pay.  In my best step-fatherly voice: Take a time out, think about what you've done, and meet me on the other side, pronto, if you know what's good for you!

Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Mark Lotwis and I'm the Executive Vice President of 21st Century Democrats. I share your frustration with much of the direction that the Democratic party has taken over the past several years – especially in being too cautious and proposing only incremental solutions to vast problems. But I believe that we can put our party back on track and effect real, progressive change. That's why I work with 21st Century Democrats, and that's why I'm reaching out to the progressive netroots.

April 2007 is National Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Care Month

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

On April 4, 2007, the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, please join PDA and Healthcare NOW! in honoring his life and legacy by calling your Congressional representative to sign on to the only national plan to end this injustice - H.R. 676, the "National Health Insurance Act/Expanded and Improved Medicare for All."

Sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (MI) and Rep. Denis Kucinich (OH), H.R. 676 will provide comprehensive universal coverage through a single-payer system of privately-delivered, publicly-financed healthcare - giving all Americans better healthcare at less cost. It will cover all medical expenses – doctors, nurses, hospitals, dental, optical, mental health services, prescription drugs and long-term care.

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. After much pressure from readers, this email newsletter is now going the blog route. I update the blog once a week focusing on both national issues and issues of interest to particular regions or states. In general, NYC, New Jersey (corrected!), Virginia and the Midwest get special attention simply because those are the areas where I seem to have the most readers. Get me more readers in your area (and let me know about it!) and I will focus there too.

I have started to publicize my blog more widely to increase readership, so I will be posting updates here. This week I discuss Nancy Pelosi's ideas for the opening of the next Congressional session, some paranoia on the part of the White House having to do with Elmo, and Democratic Corruption in Louisiana. I also have local stuff for people in New York, Iowa, Michigan, and California. Enjoy!

This is a bit of a reflection on being both a Democrat and a participant in various antiwar/pro-peace events. While there is often tension between a left leaning counterculture and an establishment party that often tends to move toward centrism, I believe that it is possible, and in fact, necessary, to place one foot in each camp. The trick is to keep from falling down when one's feet are pulled in different directions.

My weekly Progressive Democrat Newsletter is into it's second year with a growing readership around the nation. The Progressive Democrat grew out of the 2004 election. I began organizing a group of people to protest the Republican convention in NYC, providing information on actions covering every day of the convention and making sure no one I was leading got arrested. I found that those who I helped organize looked to me for some leadership right up to the election and then for solace after the dubious defeat of Kerry November 2004. Out of this period of writing people to cheer them up and keep them active I started the Progressive Democrat Newsletter. It was originally an email newsletter but has since become a blog. Readers range from former Congressional candidates from around the nation, some elected local politicians and even some isolated progressives in the heart of red Tennessee and Texas. My goal is to facillitate activism and to keep people inspired.

Here is this week's newsletter: (Introduction with links to the main blog)

It may make sense, tactically, to support a Democrat for House or Senate who is not part of the party's progressive wing, but it doesn't do progressive politics any favors to start pretenting every Democrat's a liberal.

The NY-11 Democratic Primary to replace retiring Congressman Major Owens has become one of the most watched and most contested races locally and even, to some degree, nationally. Working Families Party, which frequently cross endorses Democrats and gets involved in races like this, has been paralyzed by this race and ultimately failed to endorse. A local Democratic Club, Independent Neighborhood Democrats, went through a virtual civil war over this race with much drama and shouting. Trickles of the drama surrounding this race have leaked out nationally partly due to racial implications within the district. More blogging and more written articles have been generated regarding this single Congressional primary than any other NYC race this year. And more money will be spent on this one Congressional primary than any other in the nation, much of it ($1.2 million) spent by a single candidate.

My friend, Chris Owens, is running for Congress. Chris is locked in a very hotly contested primary election for Congress in the NY-11 district, and this race is the epitome of the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party. Chris is the solid progressive with the support of practically every progressive organization from Democracy for NYC and Impeach PAC to Planned Parenthood PAC and the Sierra Club.

Well Monday, August 28th, Jim Dean, head of Democracy for America, is coming to town to show his support for Chris Owens. It's only fair: Chris and his father, current Congressman Major Owens, were among the very first people to endorse Howard Dean, Jim's brother and founder of Democracy for America. Also, the two local outgrowths of Howard Dean's presidential bid, Democracy for NYC and New Democratic Majority, both have endorsed Chris Owens overwhelmingly. Those who can't please show your support from afar.

Mole333 has a diary up emphasizing the need to support candidates who have proven their dedication to the community. In it he mentions three particular candidates. I want to add my support for one of those candidates because he stands with us against a particularly corrupt and odious development project not mentioned in mole333's diary. I want to voice my support for Chris Owens because he is defending our homes.

Chris Owens is a community activist. There are too many lawyers, wonks and bureaucrats in congress, particularly in the New York delegation.