Alan Grayson bill to block federal funding to #highereds that boycott Israel

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Monday June 09, 2014 · 5:19 AM PDT

2014/06/09 · 05:19

RT @OrlandoCurrents: Alan Grayson bill to withhold $$ and punish #highered that boycott Israel? http://t.co/... #pfla #sayfie #edfl

Channel 9 reports on Alan Grayson's domestic abuse

NRIII

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Monday April 07, 2014 · 5:33 PM PDT

2014/04/07 · 17:33

Dear Friends,

This is no joke. Channel 9 has just reported some terrible news for my opponent.

Another of Mr. Grayson's turns?

America deserves better.

We have an excellent chance to win, as our opponent has had many public problems
and is now seen to be embattled and quite vulnerable in this race.

We ballot qualify this month and absolutely need your support to WIN this election.
Help me bring a more productive point of view to Congress.

Please pitch in what you can.

For those that are able, please consider maxing out the campaign as soon as possible.
It's imperative that we secure our position and seize this victory for us all.

Thanks again,

Nick

Help Nick Ruiz Defeat Alan Grayson in the Democratic Primary: New Deal Promise for Central Florida

NRIII

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Thursday March 20, 2014 · 5:40 PM PDT

2014/03/20 · 17:40

Dear Democrats:

My opponents are always crashing in the same car! :-)

Help me bring a fresh point of view to Congress.

Please pitch in what you can.

My campaign is focused upon the needs of the community and the express development of fair commerce, well-rounded education, and smart investment in Central Florida and the U.S., while protecting and conserving environmental treasure and public infrastructure. With hard work and the right motivation, anything is possible.

Help me to share that vision with others.

Florida District 9 was created after the 2012 redistricting process and includes Osceola, South Orange and Northeastern Polk counties. It is a diverse district, where Hispanics comprise 41.4% of the voting age population, and African-Americans comprise 12.4% of the voting age population. Subsequently, FL-9 is considered a majority-minority district, with a 53.8% minority voting age population.

UPDATE: Nick Ruiz/Alan Grayson debate

NRIII

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Wednesday March 05, 2014 · 2:47 PM PST

2014/03/05 · 14:47

ORANGE, OSCEOLA, POLK COUNTIES, Florida (March 4, 2014): Nick Ruiz (D-FL), who is in a Democratic primary election versus Alan Grayson (D-FL) on August 26, 2014, recently invited Mr. Grayson to a televised Democratic Congressional Primary debate forum in the first week of June 2014. It was tentatively suggested that the event be held at the University of Central Florida and Valencia College at the UCF/VC Osceola campus in Florida’s Congressional District 9.

After multiple attempts to reach Rep. Grayson and his staff, no response to date has been received to the debate invitation sent by the Ruiz campaign. The Grayson campaign has been unresponsive.

Dr. Ruiz said: “Rep. Grayson may find such a ruse amusing, but the people of the district find it inconsiderate. Everyone expects and deserves communicative reciprocity from an elected representative. Unsurprisingly, many expect he will hunker down behind a large pile of money, essentially hiding from the Democratic Primary challenge I bring from the people of FL-9. Alas, there will be no hiding on primary election day, August 26, 2014.”

Though the 2014 Florida primary election is in late summer, vote by mail starts earlier, in the weeks before, as early as late July 2014.

Ruiz also said: “Rep. Grayson’s attitude displays the sort of megalomania we’ve all come to despise from too many of the 535 members of this Congress; and especially Alan Grayson himself, the 21st richest member of Congress. Didn’t he express his concerns when Dan Webster refused a debate conversation with him in the 2010 election? The voters have a right to such a debate forum in every election, though Rep. Grayson here denies them that right. His colleagues, and the nation find his conduct to be a habitual disappointment, and I would have to agree.”

Nick Ruiz invites Alan Grayson to televised June debate forum at UCF & VCC

NRIII

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Sunday March 02, 2014 · 5:10 AM PST

2014/03/02 · 05:10

ORANGE, OSCEOLA, POLK COUNTIES, Florida (February 27, 2014): Nick Ruiz (D-FL), who is in a Democratic primary election versus Alan Grayson (D-FL) on August 26, 2014, today invited Mr. Grayson to a televised Democratic Congressional Primary debate forum in the first week of June 2014 hosted by the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College at the UCF/VCC Osceola campus in Florida’s Congressional District 9.

Dr. Ruiz said: “I hope that the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College will be so gracious as to help sponsor this very important public engagement for the benefit of the students, voters and the community. Like recent debate forums at St. Petersburg College for the FL-13 race, and other political debates sponsored by the League of Women Voters, or the Space Coast Tiger Bay Club, debate forums serve a vital function in the protection and promotion of democracy and good government. My campaign will make every effort to work with UCF, VCC and other parties to provide such an important public forum for the FL-9 Democratic Primary election on 8/26/14.”

Once in a Lifetime

NRIII

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Wednesday January 18, 2012 · 9:28 AM PST

2012/01/18 · 09:28

Once in a lifetime, our generation (broadly construed) thought it could stay out of politics.

Some thought they had 'arrived.' Too many were left behind. In fact, the arrival of some, was financed by the suffering of many.

The Republicans stormed the gates of American civilization - and most Democrats let them. Some even helped them.

Today? Is it the same as it ever was?

Only if you let them. Don't.

Fight back with a contribution to my progressive campaign for Congress and help me make it right.

Nicholas Ruiz III for U.S. Representative in Congress, Florida District 24

New Deal Democrats: Jump!

NRIII

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Friday September 02, 2011 · 1:33 PM PDT

2011/09/02 · 13:33

The GOP’s offensive rapture knows no bounds. And so it seems,
the Republicratic reactionary participation knows no limit.

But do progressive Democrats offer something truly different?

Yes, they do – but they need help in making progressive policy
happen. I’m determined to do something about it by becoming a
U.S. Representative for FL-24.

Progressive democratic efforts in the recent election recall success
in Wisconsin, of course should be lauded, so don’t get me wrong –
but should not be mistaken for strong progressive leadership or
policy. Why? The fact that such a recall was necessary at all,
evinces that the previous elections were mishandled and wasted. In
fact, having to recall elections is by definition, regressive – not
progressive.

More to the point, how much was invested to ‘repeat’ elections in
2011 that just occurred in 2010? $10 million? $20 million? $40
million? According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the last figure of
$40 million is close to the mark and would represent “…a difference
of $4.4 million per race in 2011 compared with $150,862 per race in
2010.” Not to mention, all of the time, people and energy required to
campaign, not once, but twice, for a ‘re-do.’ And keep in mind, these
figures are for state, not federal races. So forgive me that I’m not
totally overcome by the result that a state seat or two was
reappropriated by the Democrats. They paid for it. The big ‘winners’
in this recall are the vendors and advertisers.

And let’s ask - how many progressive candidates are languishing all
over the country, at the state and federal level, women and men who
could do so much collective good for America with the strong
national support of like-minded people – but may never come to
light in 2012 due to the money and GOTV resource vacuum possibly
created by the gigantic sum of $40 million of ‘progressive’ money
invested in WI 2011? Well, that’s $40 million that won’t be spent
somewhere else. Consider, for example, that a federal race often
costs $1 million or more – that’s 40 federal U.S. House races that
won’t receive one progressive penny.

How many progressive endorsements have been made? How many
progressives are receiving the backing they need to change Capitol
Hill for the better of America?

Actor Sean Penn is backing Norman Solomon for (CA-6).

Blue America, my personal favorite - has endorsed Alan Grayson for
(FL-26), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for Senate, Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
and others, including myself for (FL-24).

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has endorsed Eric
Griego for (NM-1).

Feingold’s Progressives United has endorsed no one. Though
according to the HuffPost, they’ve raised over $2 million this
election cycle.

Howard and Jim Dean’s Democracy for America has endorsed Ilya
Sheyman for (IL-10). Ilya used to work for Democracy for America.

Progressive Democrats of America have endorsed two people:
Norman Solomon (a current PDA board member) and Winona
Benally Baldenegro for (AZ-1).

Move On, Van Jones and the American Dream roadshow have
endorsed no one.

As for my labor friends, no organized group of people has a greater
interest in making sure progressive candidates are elected. No
corporate politician will fight for union, collective bargaining and
labor rights like a progressive. Yet sadly, most often, Big Labor
throws its collective weight behind Republicrat after Republicrat,
thus ensuring the union membership’s slow and steady demise.
Why?

I have no quarrel with unions, PACs and other organizational
brothers and sisters, but I fear that without the kind of collective,
progressively democratic solidarity that has not been seen in
America since the 1930s, America will lose itself to the corporate
vogue fascism of the black-hearted GOP. It’s fairly evident that such
a downward spiral has already begun, dragging complicit
Democrats along with the undertow. Will you help to stop it?

The Congressional Progressive Caucus of the U.S. House of
Representatives, which has eight-three members – the number one
place from which endorsements should be flying left and right for
progressive Democratic candidates – has had only one member
endorse anyone: Barney Frank (MA-4) endorsed candidate Ed
Potosnak for (NJ-7).

It’s reminiscent of an old Southern saying: “You can’t win for
losing.” As progressive efforts stand today, they resemble little
more than a fractured mirror that will be easily deflected by the
black-hearted GOP.

Progressives must come together.

Always on the defense, there is no way forward. The past thirty
years of progressive Democratic floundering have shown us this
fact. What will 2012 bring?

If Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) had his way – we wouldn’t sign so called
‘free trade’ deals, like the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, that
“…puts the rights of investors and multinational corporations over
the rights of American workers.” Progressive Caucus member
Dennis even enlisted the help of Blue Dog Caucus member Mike
Michaud (ME-2) in his imploration that the Congress reject
agreements of this kind, no matter if they are brokered by President
Obama. I support Dennis and Mike in this effort.

If Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), another Progressive Caucus member, had
it her way, Congress would pass a $250 billion short term jobs bill
that aims to put people to work right now. I support Jan in this effort,
too.

Maxine Waters (CA-35), regarding the Tea Partiers’ mad
misconception of the unemployment crisis said: “The Tea Party can
go straight to hell.” She’s tired of it. So am I. And asked about
President Obama’s bus escapades all over Middle America, while
eschewing Other America, Maxine said: “We don’t know what his
strategy is.”

Increasingly, America feels that way, too. On the recent debt –
austerity – downgrade trifecta – Jim McGovern (MA-3) said in
summary: “I didn’t run for Congress to dismantle the New Deal.”

And neither am I.

We need your help. Strong, early endorsements. Volunteers.
Contributions. Whatever you can. Wherever you are.

Put a progressive Democrat in Congress!

http://youtu.be/...

Donate here!

Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org

Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

http://twitter.com/...

Bachmann, Adams and Strawberry Milk

NRIII

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Thursday August 25, 2011 · 6:16 PM PDT

2011/08/25 · 18:16

Sandy Adams (FL-24) is a proud member of Michelle Bachmann’s
Tea Party Circus. Oops, I mean ‘Caucus.’

But Michelle Bachmann (MN-6), is the face of the Tea Party Caucus,
and rightly so. I don’t know what it is, but her face just seems to fit.
And the Newsweek cover flatters her so.

In the spirit of political satire, we may say, Michelle votes with her
looks and Sandy votes with her hooks. Michelle gives a wink, and
Sandy a nod; two tea party huckleberries, two peas in a pod. Iowa
Republicans? Well, they like what they like.

Together, Michelle and Sandy like to shake it up and make things
happen, like shutting down the reauthorization of the Federal
Aviation Administration; one part budget mugging, with a dash of
Reagan-style, union busting. All-American gothic, eh?

Michelle and Sandy like Fair Taxes, too – you know the kind of ‘fair’
taxes that let the corporate class pay less, while the middle and
lower classes pay more. Michelle and Sandy want to let loose and
quash regulations, and set the clock back to the roaring 1920s, so
we can repeat the wild excesses of the pre-Great Depression era
spectacle of the early twentieth century. Back to a time where
nothing was regulated, so charlatans could sell tapeworms for diet
pills, and arsenic for health tonic. Who needs regulation when you
have free-spirited commerce!?

To celebrate their victories, the Tea Party Caucus being so beyond
Kool-Aid, perhaps, elevates instead with the fantasy of corporate
strawberry fields (and campaign contributions from postmodern
Standard Oil barons) forever.

But people have to pick those strawberries.

And as the San Francisco Examiner recently reported, regulation is
so lax on growers to this day, that six to twelve year old children
can still be found picking strawberries in Washington and
blueberries in Michigan. What’s the Tea Party Caucus response to
that? Loosen corporate regulations even more? Reward multi-
million dollar corporate child abusers with tax cuts and a blind eye?
Got kids? Know kids? This is the reason we have strong federal
regulations. Because people cannot be trusted to police themselves
when millions of dollars in profits are at stake. That is what
government is for – not to function as a business – but to provide a
legally just and fair structure for society to safely and equitably
conduct things like business, or art, pursue a livelihood, and
flourish. To protect one another from humanity’s worst impulses.

Like their good friend, the imam of common bigotry Herman Cain (R-
GA), said Saturday morning in Iowa, “Too many people just ain’t got
no sense.”

In 2012, when I am elected U.S. Representative in FL-24, here is
what I’ll do:

I’ll start a New Deal Caucus in our U.S. House of Representatives.

The New Deal Caucus will embody every successful aspect of
FDR's New Deal, with upgrades for the 21st century circumstances
that we face, such as a new Works Progress Administration, that
puts people to work doing jobs they can do, to help our country and
to help one another to survive, prosper and move ahead in these
difficult times. We’ll implement a realistic minimum wage that will
incrementally scale up to where it should
be, year by year, until we hit baseline parity with the buying power
of the dollar during the 1950s …around $15 per hour in today’s
dollars. Yes, we’ll have to subsidize smaller businesses as we scale
this new law into effect. Then, we peg the minimum wage to the
Consumer Price Index, so it rises like a fishing bobber with the ebb
and flow of inflation. We’ll also work toward the institution of a
federal Public Trust, so Wall Street can add to the balance sheet of
Main Street. And that is just the beginning.

The Tea Party Caucus is enthralled with generic, big box retail
solutions for everything, from tax cuts for people who don’t need
them to private prison expansion that alchemizes profitability from
imprisonment - ideas I do not support in the least. In direct
opposition and contrast, the New Deal Caucus will practice a
boutique-style politics that recognizes a new tailored vision for the
problems we face as a country, rather than the one size fits all,
industrial-era Tea Party Caucus perspective that practices a
sledgehammer politics of middle and lower class destruction, with
their only aim being the status quo preservation of the corporate
class, regardless of who or what is commoditized in the process.

We must always remember the New Deal did not end with FDR – it
simply began. We have to work toward its cultivation and
completion. And clearly there are forces opposed to it – like the Tea
Party Caucus – that would destroy it in favor of feudal and Bronze
Age hypocrisies. We will not yield to their offense.

We need your help. Strong, early endorsements. Volunteers.
Contributions.

Whatever you can do to put a progressive Democrat in Congress –
thank you!

http://youtu.be/...

https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/26667

A Little Lie

NRIII

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Wednesday July 06, 2011 · 8:42 AM PDT

2011/07/06 · 08:42

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...

It is with relief and even glee that the currently debased political
establishment buried Ted Kennedy on August 25, 2009. The last
long-standing icon of liberal politics was the nail in the coffin of an
era.

Many thought that ‘Era Ends’ – like the painting by Ed Ruscha. In
some sense, this is true.

I know – Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is a liberal juggernaut – and yet, he
alone cannot be expected to carry the weight of progressive
Democratic politics as far as America needs it to go. Dennis
Kucinich (OH-10) - another progressive icon – also cannot be
expected to shepherd the entire progressive agenda by himself,
despite his unwavering resilience and liberal efforts. Alan Grayson,
former congressperson from FL-8 – God love him – lost in 2010, in
the epic sweep of the radical right. And BHO – the liberal world
knows – is in need of some serious help reorienting his legislative
priorities.

I was born in 1970 in New York City, the epicenter of American
liberalism if there ever was one. In the very same year the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was born, as was the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was also
created that year. The onset of progressive politics and commentary
wrought by FDR, reaches its terminal apex in the 70s. What would
stall FDR’s inspired progressive legacy of course, symbolically and
otherwise, is the election to the U.S. presidency of the salesman and
actor, Ronald Reagan. The irony of Reagan (and the current crop of
Reagan wannabes on the right – and even some on the left) is of
course, that Ronald Reagan – the false god of punch-drunk
conservatism - voted for FDR not once, but four times.

We should recognize that this first stage of FDR-inspired American
liberalism, the kind of liberalism that holds ideas like Social Security,
Medicare/Medicaid, financial and credit market regulation, human
rights and collective bargaining, equal opportunity and non-
discrimination, unemployment insurance, federal guarantee for
bank deposits, universal healthcare and so on, as first principles of
a democratic commonwealth and legal fairness - is now giving birth
to a second stage. Let it not be stillborn. Our second stage of
American liberalism must offer new protectors and philosophers of
democratic liberty who are committed to the expansion of American
progress and opportunity for new generations of Americans to
come. The status quo is not enough.

If the status quo fails, like they currently are failing – they will go
down in history as the last guard who stood against the second
stage of another rising current: the global fascism of corporate
wealth and privilege.

American democracy needs the support and confidence of the
American citizen-voter if it is to succeed as our model of
government. And America needs to realize that despite the self-
styled antics of media celebrity crusaders and self-absorbed group
opportunism that often passes for democratic progressivism and
liberal politics – there is only one way to enact a progressive
agenda - by the election of not one or two, but a multitude of
congresspersons to achieve any meaningful difference at the
federal level. Of course, a few strong personalities go a long way, as
with some of the people we mentioned earlier – but obviously, it
takes more than that to legislate New Deal politics. And a brave
person can do great things – as FDR has already proven.

But in the end we must understand that our political lives cannot be
left to the discretion of party careerist tropes and wealth-seeking
troubadours, ‘rising stars’ and a coterie of yes-people and such.
Theirs is an agenda of self – such is the reality of the little lie of 21st
century corporate American politics.

What we truly need is an agenda of the many. And that is what I aim
to enact.

The aristocratic and commercial interests that speak so loudly
through the conduit of their enormous wealth; who have the ears
and hands of the parties, and their fingers on the purse strings of
each party and most affiliates are not those that would best
represent the democratic majority of people of the United States.
There are obsessive interests plotting and encircling, which would
have all the world’s resources for themselves, while the people have
little and next to nothing.

The truth is, much of the political establishment has sold itself to
highest bidder – and that is not you. The highest bidder is corporate
America and the wealthiest global interests they serve. But you
already know that. No need to take my word for it. If you doubt what
I say – I ask you to look at the last thirty years or so of our so-called
‘progress.’ What do you see? Is it wide-spread prosperity and
generational success? Chances are you have seen your working
conditions deteriorate, as well as your benefits, retirement and other
things.

And yet, the political careerists would have more from you, in a
dazzling variety of shrewd and self-serving ways. They would raise
your retirement age, raise school tuition, and let inflation erode your
income and your way of life. They do not care about you, despite
what they say to your face. They care only about themselves - and
their political, ideological and legislative actions are all the proof you
may need.

The indulgent parade of Republicans and Republicrats in this 113th
Congress wants to sell you Grecian austerity with an American
veneer and fascist potential. But 13 is unlucky for a reason. The
dogs of debt scream: “Deficits!” and “Patriotism!” But all they have
to offer is fear. This current pile of politicians is truly a rancid crop of
craven individuals descending upon the American psyche like a
pack of hyenas.

I do not envy your position as citizen-voter, anymore then I sustain
my own as citizen-candidate, but I know in my soul that you and I
must make the difference here and into the future, or they will have
won. There is much work to do, and few who are truly willing to do
it, because it’s easier to go along with bad business and just get
paid. You know what I mean – and you see it all around you. You
see the results of decades of such behavior corrupting your
neighborhoods and institutions. You see America becoming
something else.

I ask you, wherever you are to demand a democratic American
difference, rather than a superfluous ‘change.’ It is the only way
forward from here.

Put a progressive Democrat in Congress.

http://www.youtube.com/...

Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org

Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

http://twitter.com/...

You are the Quarry

NRIII

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 27, 2011 · 6:16 AM PDT

2011/06/27 · 06:16

The biggest problem confronting the Democratic voter as we inch
closer to 2012 is not what you may think. No, it’s not the
Republicans, even as they seem to feel satisfyingly plump at the
prospect of having locked the Democratic Party brass (and their real
target - Democratic voters) in the narrative kingdom of mass
psychological deficit oppression and despair.

You must know there is more to the story.

First, some current events: the American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP) has rolled over on cuts to Social Security, the
centerpiece of the New Deal. Such an event is not minor, nor is it an
accident. Essentially, it opens the floor for the wrong
Democrats to do the wrong things, like negotiate the diminishment
of the New Deal program. To have done such a thing against the will
of the AARP would have been anathema. For Democrats to cut
Social Security with the AARP’s blessing makes it possible. The
conclusion is simple – the wrong Democrats negotiated the
complicity of the AARP to cut this program. The AARP would never
have volunteered such cuts to Social Security of their own accord.
As a result, the Democratic ‘negotiators’ now feel free to betray rank
and file voters – while blaming the big bad Republicans and the
grossly misguided deficit ‘patriotism’ of the AARP as they sell out
their grandchildren.

Second, Obama’s heavily anticipated troop drawdown in
Afghanistan. Its timing and heavily criticized inadequacy are hedged
alongside continued controversy regarding the legality of the
assault on Libya. Which is worse? You’ll never know – as the media
and voters are confused by the speed at which the sideshows
change and exchange their backdrops. All the while Hillary Clinton
and John Kerry install damage control with suave editorial excuses
and twisting policy positions that don’t bear grade school scrutiny.
A veritable Alice in Wonderland scenario, that is the carnival and
cannibal of and for you and I, the quarry in this hunt for votes in
2012.

I am a progressive Democrat. But I must say to you, there is no
greater imperative toward 2012 than for voters to eschew party line
posturing and voting – too much is not as it seems. Each voter in
every district must take its candidates at face value and show
ironclad support for only those congressional candidates that would
most undoubtedly fight through the flak for a clear theory of New Deal
expansion. These candidates may not even be in your district – but
remember it is a federal seat – so a progressive Democrat elected
anywhere helps preserve the New Deal legacy. Nothing else will do.
It’s obvious that Republicans will not expand the New Deal. What is
less obvious is that most Democrats will not do so either. And that
is your conundrum for where to cast your support in 2012.

Democrats have been doing things the same way for far too long.
Been on the fence and been defensive, for far too long. We must
have the will to act upon a new vision, rather than pay podunk lip
service to New Deal legacy. Most politicians are as soft as a sneaker
full of dog dung when it comes to the reality of going to the mats for
the American New Deal legacy. Americans ask: “When will the
privatizing Greed end?” I say to you: “When you end it.”

And how to end it? By supporting only those candidates that you
feel in your heart of hearts, will expand the New Deal legacy. There
aren’t many, so it means you can concentrate your resources on the
candidates that will do the job, rather than allow yourself to be
distracted by those candidates that just shamelessly pander to what
they think you want, game you and lead your ideals to slaughter.

Put a progressive candidate in Congress.

http://youtu.be/...

*********************

Please contribute what you can now to help NRIII win against Republican Sandy Adams in 2012 - and work toward keeping a truly Democratic tradition alive in America:

Contribute: http://intertheory.org/...

and please endorse, and invite as many friends as you can to endorse his campaign here:

Endorse: http://intertheory.org/...

*********************

Many thanks for your support!

Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org

Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL
USA 32170

http://twitter.com/...

Baby Britain

NRIII

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday June 15, 2011 · 9:09 AM PDT

2011/06/15 · 09:09

Oh, Democrats;

As others have sung in songs, I will say now to you:

“Nobody broke your heart – you broke your own – ‘cause you can’t finish what you start.”

It was a great pleasure to attend the annual Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Hollywood, Florida this past June 11, 2011. I have to tell you, my attendance reveals to me an astonishing challenge for our continued development of New Deal progress. The challenge presents itself as a Democratic question. Will America be good to herself, or will she be subservient to an executive royalist status quo? Will she serve her hundreds of millions of people, or will she serve the would-be new executive royalty?

There is a supermajority active constituency in America that favors an active people’s government that approaches our country’s problems with bold new solutions. You’re not going to hear about that supermajority in the executive palace, nor its associated country clubs, or media outlets.

Federal support for the arts and humanities, federal championship for a federal livable, minimum wage; active expansion of better wage and benefit agreements for all of the labor spectrum, not simply for the executive class; federal emergency support for the poor and ailing middle class, fair representation of authentic minority interests, rather than the carnival and cannibal that parrots executive interests – an activist government that truly involves stewardship of wide commonwealth interests is what the people want, because the supermajority of the people, in their heart of hearts - are liberal. That’s why we have a democracy, in case Democrats have forgotten.

The conservatives, wherever they lay, are challenging the lasting achievements of the New Deal. Rather than simply defending the dilapidated state of that old and wise bargain – the people request that we expand it.

Democrats! - yes, we started the New Deal – but we have not finished what we started – we need to multiply the only tradition that defines us. Without that commitment, we are nothing. And the people don’t care about jingles, or being ‘fired up’ – or ‘change’ or anything else – if there is no legislative truth and action to back it up. That’s what they’re ‘IN’ for – not to elect or reelect any particular representative at any given level. The people do not seek to take care of the political life of politicians – every poll tells us so. And yet, too many politicians see that as their primary job.

America senses that politicians are working against the New Deal legacy. If you do not portend to expand the New Deal legacy – you are not a Democrat. And chances are, you will not be elected or reelected in 2012. That is the writing on the wall for 2012.

Sure, party operatives and their associates are easy enough to stir into a cheerleading frenzy: they’re paid to do so. And those in attendance have virtually paid to offer the desired response – we’re ‘IN’! But not the rank and file voter. They have to be inspired. And the Democratic Party as of late has been anything but inspiring to the citizen voter. Remember 2010? Other citizen voters were inspired by their party – they’re called Republicans.

So we are left with two competing theses. The conservative thesis: we are Republicrats and ConservaDems. We pander to the radical right, and fight for a mythical center. We give executive royalists what they want most of the time – because in many cases, we consider ourselves executive royalty too, and we’ll bask in the perks, now and when we leave office. We invite conservative guest speakers who will linger for the duration upon personal gain and individual salvation, narcissism and personal profit-seeking, poorly disguised as populist good will and public service. We truly want what the corporations want, because they reward us well to tow their line. We’ll act like conservatives and they’ll vote for us. If we lose Democratic votes, it won’t matter, because we’ll get Republican votes to replace them.

The conservative thesis was tested in 2010. It failed. In fact, such a thesis seems the prevailing Democratic Party executive trademark for the past thirty years. You see where that gets us, no? Record unemployment; record hawk-driven war spending; record poverty, record civil rights erosion, etc. If Democrats continue this policy into 2012 they will lose. Obama will lose his conservative presidency to an eager, fire-breathing Republican candidate. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who came out like a real hawk at the Jefferson Jackson event, recounted tales of U.S./ Middle East military theater, and ultimately pontificated that Obama’s cardinal presidential act was the assassination of Osama bin Laden - will lose his conservative Democratic senate seat to an openly unapologetic Republican. And tragically, the Democratic Party will lose more seats nationwide – ensuring the Republican coup d’état will reach a greater ascendancy in 2012 when they control the House, the Senate and the Presidency. They are almost there.

But the conservative thesis does not have to happen. There is another path.

The alternative thesis is the one my candidacy represents: the liberal thesis. We are liberal. We seek to expand the New Deal in a 21st century way, because it’s the right thing to do, and because our country is desperately in need of such development. The New Deal did not end with FDR – it began. We are not ‘new’ Democrats – we are old school, dyed in the wool, unapologetically progressive Democrats. We represent the supermajority of American people. Every poll confirms it. Every townhall meeting confirms it. We are guided by a Democratic tradition and belief in liberty, social justice, legal fairness and the commonwealth of humanity. We represent the republic of Main Street. We see and respect Wall Street only as a partner, not a master. And we do not believe in the myth of royalty, nor the spectacle of celebrity as a governing principle.

In other words, we may only inspire our Democratic brethren and citizen voters, young and old, with the active solidarity of democratic ideas for our society based on what the people truly want to see in American life: better times for more people. If we do anything less than this, we are lost.

And there will be no Democratic grace in 2012 - without open-minded leadership and vision to take us there.

Put a progressive Democrat in Congress.

http://youtu.be/...

Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org

Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL
USA 32170

http://twitter.com/...

GOP Loser Dust

NRIII

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 04, 2011 · 6:30 AM PDT

2011/05/04 · 06:30

For the first half of 2011, the Republicans have been boasting about fantasy mandates and a glorious supermajority, some have even spoken of divine right.

I see things a little differently.

Indeed, the Republican ‘stupid’ majority, being endured by Democrats, and even some thoughtful Republicans, and even still, some Republicrats that are complicit in that ‘majority’ - is almost total in its media parade and circulation.

But peacock pomp and media hype do not constitute wisdom. Many cultural or fiscal currencies and imaginary vehicles circulate and trade, while being of unverifiable value. Just ask the credit default swap gurus who bankrupted each other, and millions of people. Or consider the overheated Aussie and Kiwi. Or the dilution of the U.S. dollar. And of course, commodity price gouging, as a result of excess money flooding into oil, gold and grain futures. And the myth of job creation wrought by excess money afforded by ever lower government tax rates and quantitative easing.

But keep in mind - it is often the unexpected and unforeseen things that are most meaningful, even essential – from politicians like FDR to artists like Dali to bands like Nirvana.

Hence, we take it on faith that Lady Justice massages the electoral scaffolding of 2012, patient and alert. And of course we’ll do our part to help her along.

In a sense, Baudrillard says it best:

“Even the most extreme, most sublime thing one can conceive of will be taken over and surpassed by some other form - perhaps even its opposite or caricature. This is how it is. This is the game. Matters are never definitively settled.”

So XYZ news hurls talking points of every stripe like a one-eyed Cyclops hurling boulders across the nation’s ear and brow, hoping medieval ideologies stick and destroy democratic sensibilities and reason – like when Paul Ryan (WI-1) lobs his swanky Richelieu budget at the heart of America with the intent of making peasants of us all, calling it a ‘path to prosperity’ – a gross caricature of Benjamin Franklin’s ‘way to wealth.’ And then the skanky Gang of Six (or Eight, incl. Corker/McCaskill’s offer) counter offers with equal feudal swagger.

The most sensible American fiscal approach offered to date, the People’s Budget by the Congressional Progressive Caucus, endorsed with a bow by Jeffrey Sachs - was voted down like the plague by the stupid majority. Kicked in the teeth and left behind in House GOP loser dust. Over one hundred Democrats voted against it. Why? Obama on the People’s Budget: enjoy the silence.

The GOP stampede drags everything along with it: Democrats, Presidents, pundits, stock markets, cheerful celebration of an enemy death…like other stampedes, non-similar flora and fauna get swept up in the dusty fray.

So on behalf of rank and file Democrats everywhere, voting Democrats, who want the real thing in 2012, who want to invest in America, not in unnecessary tax cuts; who want social justice, not social poverty; who want peace and diplomacy, before war that must always be a rare and inescapable event; who believe education extends beyond math, science and automated testing, to art, humanities and imagination; who believe that a minimum wage must move forward in terms of dollars, rather than cents; who want government that errs to side of charity, not to the cold side of indifference to its struggling people – a message for Sarah, Donald and the rest of the Republican loser dust entourage:

“We won’t call you and don’t call us.”

For now, yes, you may have our attention, but don’t get the wrong impression –
we are not in love:

http://vimeo.com/...

Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D

NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org

Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

http://twitter.com/...

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