Three Important Congressional Races in Virginia

There are three particularly important Congressional candidates in Virginia. Two are challenging particularly awful, Bush-style Republicans (VA-1 and VA-7) and one is defending one of the best, most capable people in Congress (VA-5).


Tom Perriello for Congress (VA-5)

Tom Perriello, though a Blue Dog, is one of the best Congressmen elected from either party. I was proud to endorse such an accomplished person when he first ran and I am proud to endorse him for re-election. From his website:

Fighting for Solutions in Conflict Zones

After receiving his law degree from Yale University, Tom accepted an assignment working to end atrocities in the West African countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone, which had suffered long civil wars fueled by blood diamonds. Tom’s work with child soldiers, amputees, and local pro-democracy groups in Sierra Leone played a significant role in the peace and reconciliation process that ended twelve years of violence in that country. Tom then became Special Advisor and spokesperson for the International Prosecutor during the showdown that forced Liberian dictator Charles Taylor from power without firing a shot. After this success, Tom served as a national security analyst for the Century Foundation. He has worked inside Darfur and twice in Afghanistan.

After Bush's disastrous policies, this is PRECISELY the kind of person we need in our government.

Tom Perriello on Job Creation:



Tom Perriello at the opening of his Farmville campaign office:



Meanwhile, Tom's Republican Opponent seems to be hiding from the public, hoping to buy the election, I guess:



But the Republican candidate sure isn't hiding from the lobbyists he represents:



Check out Perriello's website for more information on how you can help one of America's best Congressmen get re-elected.


Krystal Ball for Congress (VA-1)

KB from Shannon Prasad on Vimeo.

From Bloggers for Ball:

This year, Democrats will select a nominee to take on Rep. Rob Wittman, a politician who has voted 92% of the time with Eric Cantor and John Boehner, against the economic recovery act, against the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, and against strong health care reform legislation. In short, Wittman is a cookie-cutter, lockstep, knee-jerk Republican loyalist who apparently has lost the ability to think and reason for himself. Instead, Wittman just votes "no," "no," and "no" to everything, along with the rest of his party.

Obviously, it's time for a change in the 1st CD. Fortunately, there's an excellent Democrat running who will work to bring that change. Her name is Krystal Ball, the clear choice for a large number of reasons. Aside from her energy, enthusiasm, and intelligence, Krystal Ball is a strong "pro-growth progressive" who I believe is clearly "from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party." Among other things, Krystal believes in "strong environmental and financial regulation," "a robust public option," "strong unions," "government’s basic role as a social equalizer, " "civil liberties, the right to choose for ourselves in marriage, reproduction and self-defense," " full LGBT equality at every level," and "aggressive mandatory renewable energy standards for vehicles, appliances, etc."

Krystal Ball: Gen Y Does Politics:



Krystal Ball Interview on Young Turks:



Meanwhile, Krystal's Republican opponent also seems to be hiding from the voters:



Find out more about Krystal Ball at her campaign website.


Rick Waugh for Congress (VA-7):

Eric Cantor is one of the most obstructionist of the Republicans in Congress and has made the elimination of Medicare part of the Republican agenda:



Rick Waugh is challenging one of the most obstructionist of Republicans, Eric Cantor. Here is Rick Waugh's statement on running:

My name is Rick Waugh, and I’m running for Congress in the 7th Congressional District of Virginia. I am a pragmatic progresive, and I am running for one simple reason – I feel that my voice and the voices of many of my fellow citizens are not being heard in Washington. While there are once again record profits on Wall Street, Main Street has been left high and dry. Even worse, I can think of little Eric Cantor has done in his 10 years in Washington to support the regular folks of this district...

I am running for Congress because I believe the citizens of Virginia have not been getting a fair shake from Washington, D.C. I am running because of the clients whom I have seen as a counselor. I am running because I know that our education system is still leaving children behind; I am running for the citizens of our District who cannot find the work they need to support their families; and for the citizens who have gone to Eric Cantor for help only to feel ignored. I am running because I know we can do better.

I am proud to have the nomination of the Democratic party. I believe that the Democratic Party is more about solving problems than blind partisanship and ideology. The attitude I intend to bring to Washington is that of listening to the voters; not party bosses, special interests, or those who are entrenched in Washington. I will bring solutions to the daily struggles we all endure.

This campaign isn’t about me, it is about every citizen of the 7th district. We are building a movement, but we need your help. If you believe, like I do, that we need a government in Washington of, by and for the people, and not a government of, by and for the lobbyists and special interests, I need your support. I need you to sign up to volunteer with this campaign, I need to tell your friends and neighbors about what we are doing here, and I need you to write a check. Together, we can build a campaign that will make us all proud!

Meet Rick Waugh from Rick Waugh for Congress on Vimeo.

Visit Rick Waugh's website for more information.

Six Key Races in Texas

These six races are increadibly important for Texas and yet they get so little attention. Because they are so poorly covered, most people don't pay any attention to them at all. That means your efforts and your vote can go a long way in these three races. Please do what you can for these candidates.

Texas Board of Education District 3 - Dr. Michael Soto.

Michael was born in Corpus Christi and raised in McAllen and Brownsville, where he attended public schools throughout his youth. He received a B.A. degree from Stanford University and a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University. Since 1999 he has served on the faculty at Trinity University in San Antonio. The author of three books and numerous articles, his research and teaching focus on twentieth-century American literature and cultural history.





To learn more, go to Michael Soto's website.


Texas Board of Education District 10 - Dr. Judy Jennings.

Teaching Texans, Or Why I Support our State Board of Education Candidates

Dr. Judy Jennings is running for the State Board of Education, District 10, a far-reaching district spanning from Austin to the Houston suburbs.

Dr. Jennings and her husband, Hal, have two children who attended Round Rock schools and two grandsons who are currently in preschool. Her daughter is a public school teacher in Williamson County and her son just returned from teaching English in South Korea.

Dr. Jennings is currently the Director of Curriculum and Assessment at Resources for Learning, where she works to support teachers and schools. She has worked both for the Texas Education Agency and in the private sector on accountability and assessment issues.

Dr. Jennings has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and has worked in the field of education for almost 15 years.

Judy understands that Texans depend on our education system to provide students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a 21st century economy. She knows that it is the State Board of Education’s job to provide educational leadership for our schools, through strong curriculum standards and factual textbooks that are free of extremist ideology.

“As a board member, I’ll listen to parents and teachers and work with them to improve our public schools. I will serve on the board as an educator, not a partisan, because partisanship has no place in the classrooms of our neighborhood schools. I will work hard to develop a public school system worthy of our great state.”

Your donation through ActBlue. will help Judy build a strong presence on the web and reach out to like-minded friends across Texas and across the country.

Judy Jennings is an expert in education policy and assessment, has worked at the Texas Education Agency, and is committed to educating Texas students for the 21st Century.

You can contribute to Judy Jennings' campaign through ActBlue.


Texas Board of Education District 5 - Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau





Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau is an award-winning educator at Texas State University. She has always served her community, both locally and globally. She taught English and American studies in the Peace Corps and served as a French interpreter for U.S. Air Force relief flights in Chad, one of the ten poorest countries in the world. She was a Fulbright scholar and teacher in Senegal.

What better person to have on the Texas School Board?

The State Board of Education sets policy for Texas public schools. But Republican extremists, such as Ken Mercer, would rather fight culture-war battles such as undermining the teaching of evolution.

Democrat Rebecca Bell-Metereau is a professor at Texas State University, where she has been recognized for teaching excellence. She is the recipient of Fulbright, Ford Foundation and N.E.H. grants. Rebecca and her husband have two grown daughters who graduated from public schools in San Marcos, Texas. In addition to being an academic leader, Rebecca is a leader in her community, having served on the San Marcos Planning Commission.

What better person to have on the Texas School Board?

Your donation through ActBlue will help Rebecca build a strong presence on the web and reach out to like-minded friends across Texas and across the country.
Please support Dr. Rebecca Bell-Metereau for State Board of Education ... and help us get Texas public schools out of the hands of the extremists and back on track.

Republicans duck debates in the fight for our children's education: Texas State Board of Education and the Debate Debate

You can support Rebecca through ActBlue.


Bill White (TX-Gov)

Bill White has been endorsed by Democracy for America:

Bill White knows how to get stuff done. As mayor of Houston, the area led the nation in job growth -- adding more jobs than 34 states combined -- and helped thousands of New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina resettle in Houston.

George W. Bush and Rick Perry have been leading Texas to nowhere for 16 years. Texas needs a Governor who will work for Texans, a Governor who can lead the state out of the Bush-Perry recession and into the future. Bill White is the only candidate in the race with the experience and vision to do that.

Here are some videos supporting Bill White:

Texas Voices: Richard Wiles, El Paso County Sheriff:


Houstonians from across the political spectrum describe how Bill White brought people from all backgrounds together to get results as Houston's mayor -- and he'll do the same as governor:


Texas Voices: Violet on Fiscal Responsibility, Republicans for Bill White:


Texas Voices: Lucy Billingsley on Texas' $18 Billion Budget Deficit :


Here is Bill White's statement to Democracy for America:

Background:

Bill White fights for the people he represents, and brings people together to get things done. That's why as Houston's Mayor, he's been re-elected twice with margins of 86% and 91%. During his time as mayor, the Houston area led the nation's cities in job growth, adding more jobs than thirty-four states combined.
Bill White made Houston more efficient by reforming municipal pensions, reducing traffic delays, and cutting energy consumption even as the city grew. During his time as mayor, the government has provided more services -- including parks, libraries, and health clinics -- while consistently cutting the property tax rate and raising exemptions for seniors and disabled citizens.
The results of his strong leadership were noticed nationally in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Bill "mobilized more than 100,000 Houstonians in the public, private business and faith-based communities to help evacuees rebuild their lives with independence and dignity," said the John F. Kennedy Foundation in presenting him the Profiles in Courage Award, "in recognition of his political courage in leading a compassionate and effective government response to the disaster."

Goals:

I am running for Governor because I want Texas to be a great state of opportunity for all people. Public education is the primary responsibility of state government, and I will focus on improving our system to ensure that Texans are prepared with the education, skills and technology they need to compete for good jobs. I will also work for increased access to healthcare, as Texas ranks first in the percentage of uninsured residents; a diversified energy portfolio with significant investment in renewables and cleaner energy; a transportation system that helps people get to and from their homes and jobs; and more affordable homeowners' insurance and electricity rates.

Issues:

Public education
Jobs and the economy
Access to healthcare
Please see our website for details on these and other issues

Grassroots Support:

We have opened campaign offices in 10 cities because we have thousands of volunteers across the state who are supportive of our campaign, and we wanted to be able to work closely with them and provide staff support and work space.
We rely heavily on grassroots organizations around the state to help us develop our issues and get out our message.

DFA Values:

This is the core of our campaign--Bill is traveling the state, almost daily, meeting with large and small groups of people from all walks of life. Since his first campaign for Mayor of Houston, Bill has relied heavily on the voices of ordinary people, in civic clubs, issue groups, churches, etc. to shape his agenda.

Hank Gilbert, Democrat for Commissioner of Agriculture

Democracy for America has endorsed Hank Gilbert for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Here is Gilbert's statement to DFA:

Background:

Rancher and Small Businessman Hank Gilbert is a father of two with his wife of 25 years, Karla. He has spent his entire professional life in Agriculture and has fought hard to protect small farmers and ranchers from eminent domain abuse and to stop infrastructure privatization in Texas. He is a traditional grassroots candidate who is rallying Democrats all over Texas.

Goals:

Real Eminent Domain Reform and a Stop to Selling Our Roads

Protecting private property rights has always been a priority for me. We will stop eminent domain abuse with real reform and I’ll continue to lead the fight against selling our roads to the highest bidder, burdening us with toll taxes.

Real Food Safety

Do you really know where our food comes from? I’ll fight for country of origin labeling for all food products and increase the number of inspectors at TDA to ensure that the food we all consume is safe and clean.

Real Weights & Measures Oversight

The TDA controls accuracy certifications of everything in Texas that scans, measures or weighs, whether it’s checking U.P.C scanners at the grocery store or the pumps where you buy your gasoline. As your Commissioner of Agriculture, I will make sure that inspections are increased and those who would cheat Texans are prosecuted.

Real Texas Agriculture Marketing and Promotion

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas. I will fight to open new opportunities to sell Texas agriculture products in Texas, throughout the US, and internationally in markets where it makes sense. I won’t pander to the large agribusinesses as Todd Staples does, I’ll work for all Texans who want to market their agricultural products.

Working to Bring Bioenergy Jobs to Texas

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of support from the TDA for bioenergy production in this state. As Commissioner of Agriculture, I will be a tireless advocate for building a real, strong and stable bioenergy sector in this state.

Issues:

Food safety, consumer protection and leading a shift to biofuels.

Gilbert has also been endorsed by the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Houston Chronicle, Texas AFL-CIO’s COPE, the Austin Progressive Coalition, Austin Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News.

And here is a Tejanos endorsement video:



Please volunteer with Hank Gilbert's campaign. Or if you can't do that, please contribute.


Diane Trautman (TX - Harris County Tax Assessor)

Diane Trautman is also endorsed by Democracy for America:

Diane Trautman is a fighter. Nearly toppling an entrenched incumbent in 2008, she's running for office again, determined to return public trust to an office that has been plagued by scandal.

Diane is working to bring more open, honest leadership to Harris County and to protect the voting rights after thousands were dropped from voting rolls and thousands more provisional ballots weren't counted in a timely manner. Diane is the sort of reform candidate Harris County needs.

RED, WHITE & BLUE Show 914: Don Sumners & Diane Trautman:



You can help Diane win by helping phone bank. Please email here to help: kathryn.a.freeman@gmail.com

Here is her statement to Democracy for America:

Background:

I have a Bachelors degree in English and a Masters degree in Education from the University of Houston as well as a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University. I have over 30 years combined administrative and leadership experience in banking and education. Not only have I led large organizations, I teach others to do the same as a professor of education at Stephen F. Austin State University. As an active member of several chambers of commerce, community organizations, and Democratic clubs, I stay in touch with the needs of the community. I am proud to be wife to a very understanding husband, mother of three outstanding children, and grandmother of an adorable grandchild who all support me in my desire to bring ethical leadership to the Harris County Tax Office.

Goals:

In 2008, I was proud to be the Democratic nominee for Harris County Tax Assessor, proud to receive over half a million votes, and proud to be endorsed by the Houston Chronicle twice, once for the general election and once for the appointment after my opponent decided to quit 3 weeks after he was elected. The appointed interim tax assessor has had 2 lawsuits filed against him and now has a pending Department of Justice investigation on voter registration irregularities in that office.

As a result I feel that public trust in this office is at an all time low. So at the urging of family, friends, and supporters, I made the decision to run again for HCTA in 2010 to restore public trust and improve customer service in that office. As a professor of education, I teach my graduate students to be ethical leaders and the importance of earning their customers trust. I intend to do the same as Harris County Tax Assessor.

Issues:

1. Due to my 2008 opponent resigning under a shroud of suspicion and lawsuits filed against the current tax assessor,one of the biggest issues constituents face is a lack of trust in the tax office. I will address this by running a more transparent office and modeling ethical and appropriate office holder behavior.
2. Another issue for constituents is lack of customer service, specifically in the area of voter registration. Last year, thousands of voters were dropped from the rolls and thousands of provisional ballots were not counted in a timely manner. I will address this by developing a voter registration system that is fair, inclusive and works for all Harris County citizens and will promote community outreach and voter education throughout the county year round.
3. Adequate staffing and training is a big problem in the Harris County Tax office. The past two tax assessors have cut staff in vitally important parts of the office and have had several department heads who have been accused of conflict of interest by using their position to influence voters. I would do a needs assessment for staffing all parts of the office immediately upon taking office, implement employee training programs for ethical behavior, and get rid of all political appointee department heads who know nothing about running the tax office.

Grassroots Support:

1. My staff has a great number of volunteer made up of friends, family, and supporters from local Democratic clubs and neighborhood groups. We are an inclusive group where all ideas are shared and all voices are heard.
2. My staff and I reach out to voters across Harris County, the third most populous county in the nation, through a chain of "Meet and Greets" where the host puts on the coffee pot and I get to talk to people about their experiences with the tax office and how we can improve it. At each of these events, we encourage others to host a Meet and Greet in their home thereby reaching more and more people.

DFA Values:

I am a social progressive who believes in protecting the right to vote for every Harris County citizen. I believe in providing a quality customer service experience for all who visit the Harris County Tax Office and in running an efficient and transparent office. I am fiscally responsible because I believe that our political leaders must be accountable to the public especially where financial issues are concerned. Finally, I will work hard to increase the number of registered voters instead of decreasing our voter rolls through community outreach and cross training personnel to be voter registrars. By ensuring that more of our citizens are registered to vote, we can have a more effective and representative government where all of our citizens are participating and none are discriminated against.

Please support these great candidates. They will help move Texas and America into the future against those forces who want to mire us in the Bush-America past.

Minnesota Focus: Progressive Candidates in Minnesota

Here are a handful of candidates in Minnesota who deserve some serious support.


Kieth Ellison for Congress:

Ellison Forum Touts Potential for Clean Energy Jobs

Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05) SLAMS Republican Hypocrisy on Tax Cuts for the Rich:



Kieth Ellison on Social Security:

Our country created this monumental program to address the lack of basic economic security among America’s seniors. Before Social Security, they struggled to put food on the table, obtain medical care, and keep roofs over their heads.

During those desperate times, our nation stood up to care for people who needed help. Through the years, America’s commitment to our seniors has not wavered—and our country is better off for it. Social Security is the largest source of income for the majority of our seniors, lifting 13 million elderly Americans out of poverty.

As Hubert Humphrey once said, “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

Social Security embodies our ongoing commitment to care for one another, and to provide basic economic security for those who need it most. It represents our belief that everybody counts, everybody matters—regardless of age, income, or background.

Like generations of Americans before us, we must continue looking out for the well-being of our neighbors. You can help me continue standing up for America’s seniors by pledging to vote for me in the November 2 general election...

Thank you in advance for your ongoing commitment to strengthening the economic security of all Americans.

Sincerely,

Keith Ellison

Kieth Ellison has been endorsed by:

American Postal Workers Union
American Federation of Teachers
Education Minnesota
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49
Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council
Minnesota Nurses Association
Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council
Minnesota Police and Peace Officer Association
Sheet Metal Workers Local 10
Teamsters Local 120
Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE
United Auto Workers
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
Association of Flight Attendants
Communication Workers of America
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Laborers International Union of North America
National Association of Letter Carriers
National Education Association
UNITE HERE Local 17
SEIU-Minnesota State Council
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry
Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers No. 1
United Steel Workers
Planned Parenthood
Human Rights Campaign
Sierra Club
Citizens for Global Solutions
Clean Water Action
21st Century Democrats
National Stonewall Democrats
Stonewall DFL
Humane Society Legislative Fund
National Association of Social Workers

Weekly Phone Banks for Keith Ellison for Congress:

When: Every Sunday - Thursday from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Ellison Campaign Office (3017 27th Ave S, Minneapolis)

Join us for weekly phone banks at the Ellison campaign office! To sign up, please contact Susy Bates at sbates@dfl.org or call (612) 655-5926.


Mark Ritchie for Secretary of State in Minnesota

Incumbent Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was one of the main factors that allowed a fair and accurate recount of Minnesota's Senate race that allowed the real winner, Al Franken, to take office. His honesty and careful attention to accuracy means he is a major target of the right wing who are angry that they couldn't stop the recount.

Mark Ritchie has worked hard for veterans, troops:

I was really happy to hear that Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had recently visited southeast Minnesota. The work that he has done for our veterans and troops is impressive.

He's worked with the legislators to remove barriers so that there has been a 300 percent increase in military ballots cast successfully. A new military voter website implemented by Ritchie simplified the process of voting for military and overseas voters.

Because Mark Ritchie's department prioritized military ballot protection, we have twice as many military ballots being cast, with half as many being rejected as the national average. He's honored as a patriotic employer in appreciation of his support of employees' participation in the Guard and Reserve. He also has championed legislation to assist small business owners returning from active duty.

Ritchie has worked hard to clean up the election process and has launched many programs that remind people that their right to vote has been ensured thanks to the sacrifice and work of our nation's veterans.

Mark Ritchie deserves our support to re-elect him Nov. 2.

Dale Speer

The Secretary of State Project has endorsed Mark Ritchie for Minnesota Secretary of State. Here's what they have to say about Ritchie:

Mark Ritchie is a true progressive champion. In 2006, the long-time community organizer defeated Republican incumbent Mary Kiffmeyer to take the reins of the election process in Minnesota. Since taking office, Secretary Ritchie has campaigned tirelessly for instituting universal or automatic registration in his state. He has also been instrumental in the fight to expand Election Day Registration in other states, including a successful campaign in Iowa. Secretary Ritchie is perhaps best known for running a scrupulously fair and transparent election recount in the Franken/Coleman 2008 Senate race. Senator Al Franken was certified as the winner of that race by a mere 312 votes.

Mark Ritchie has also been endorsed by AFSCME Council 5, Minnesota AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education, IBEW Minnesota State Council, Minnesota Farmers Union PAC, SEIU Minnesota State Council, and Teamsters Joint Council 32.

Mark Ritchie was named Most Valuable State Official by The Nation:

When this veteran activist ran for Minnesota Secretary of State, he argued that putting honest players in charge of counting votes was necessary to restore credibility to an electoral process that had been battered by Republican gaming of the 2000 presidential vote in Florida and the 2004 vote in Ohio. Ritchie won and two years later found himself managing the recount of one of the closest and most bitter Senate contests in American history. Attacked by right-wing media and faced with massive spending by national Republicans who did not want Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nominee Al Franken seated in a Senate where he would provide a critical sixtieth vote, Ritchie kept his cool. He ran a clean recount, emphasizing transparency and accountability, and delivered a credible result that survived legal challenges and gave the seat to the candidate who actually won the most vote

Let's help Ritchie continue his excellent work keeping Minnesota's elections fair and accurate. Volunteer for Mark Ritchie's campaign.


Tarryl Clark for Congress (MN-6):



Tarryl Clark is running against right wing extremist Michelle Bachmann. Michelle Bachmann is one of the craziest members of Congress and an avowed Teabagger, while Tarryl Clark is a smart, progressive State Senator who would be an excellent addition to Congress.

Tarryl Clark has led the fight to stop unfair insurance practices against American Veterans. In return for her support for Veterans, Tarryl Clark has been endorsed by Veterans and Military Families for Progress (a national organization dedicated to protecting the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members and their families).

Tarryl Clark has also been endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association:

The MPPOA release said the group represents 8,500 police officers throughout the state:

"[Clark] is dedicated to working with and advocating for Minnesota's law enforcement officers in Congress, just as she has in the state Senate," Executive Director Dennis Flaherty said...

Clark's brother-in-law is a veteran Arizona police officer with SWAT experience, the release said.

While Clark supports our troops and our cops, Michelle Bachmann has been one of the number one defenders of BP:



You can find out more about Bachmann's craziness (often in her own words on video) from: Michelle Bachman Said What???

Here is Tarryl Clark explaining her reasons for running:



Michelle Bachmanm: crazy right wing teabagger. Tarryl Clark: supports our troops, supports our cops, and supports responsible government. I think the choice is clear. You can find out more about Tarryl Clark from her website.


Rena Moran for MN State Representative 65A

If elected in November, will be the only woman of color in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A social worker who specializes in child protection, Rena will bring an important voice to the State Legislature.
Donate to Rena Moran



Rita Moran has been endorsed by: Saint Paul Federation of Teachers, The Minnesota Sierra Club, Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, Progressive Majority, Education Minnesota and others. Find out more from Rena Moran's website.

Progressive Candidates in Arizona

Below are the endorsed candidates from two of the best progressive organizations around, Progressive Majority and the Indigenous Democratic Network.

Progressive Majority is an organization with an excellent track record of helping good, progressive candidates get elected. Here is a list of excellent candidates endorsed by Progressive Majority in Arizona:

First, here is a particularly great candidate, a brilliant astrophysicist. I find the result is often excellent when a scientist enters politics:

Angela Cotera
Candidate for State House - District 12 (Challenger)
Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Luke AFB, Youngtown and parts of Phoenix, Glendale & Surprise




Angela Cotera, an astrophysicist, garnered 47.5% of the vote in the 2008 elections. This district is in the fast growing far western portion of Maricopa County and is part of our strategic plan. She holds a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University and is a research astrophysicist for the Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute. She has volunteered in schools for years to bring her passion for astronomy to students. She and her husband have lived in Avondale since 1991. During the 2006 elections, her frustration with elected political leaders at the local, state and national levels compelled her to do whatever she could to help change the political landscape of Arizona. She is a graduate of Emerge program and has participated in the Center for Policy Alternatives training, attended the Take Back America Confernece and gotten messaging help from us.

Click here to support and learn more about Angela.

And here are some other Progressive Majority endorsed candidates in Arizona:

Andrei Cherny
Candidate for State Treasurer (Open Seat)





Andrei Cherny most recently was an Arizona Assistant Attorney General before becoming a full time candidate. He worked as a White House aide for President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, and served as the youngest Presidential speechwriter in history. He is also the author of two top selling books, The Next Deal: The Future of Public Life in the Information Age, and most recently, The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour. He is an officer in the Naval Reserve and is a member of SEIU. Andrei is already garnering national support for his election, including having Clinton host a fundraiser, and Gore writing a solicitation for his campaign.

Click here to support and learn more about Andrei.

Rae Waters
Candidate for State House - District 20 (Incumbent)
Maricopa County



Rae Waters picked up a traditionally Republican-held state House seat in District 20. Rae was a late entrant into this race because the Democratic Party's previous candidate, Corey Harris, was recalled to active duty in Iraq and cannot stand for election. District 20 is a traditionally Republican district that, due to changing registration numbers, is trending Democratic, however, Rae is the only Democrat elected in the district and is one the Republicans top targets. In 2008, Rae only won by 700 votes. Rae is running on her record fiscal responsibility, and strengthening health care and education. Professionally, most recently she served as a community columnist for the Arizona Republic. For the last 12 years, Rae has also served as an elected m ember of the Kyrene School District governing board, where she held a variety of leadership positions, including chairing the state association. She is running as a clean election candidate.

Rae Waters has also been endorsed by:

Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona

"The Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona are proud to endorse Rae Waters for the House in Arizona, legislative District 20. Rae Waters understands the need for core government services like public safety, education, and health care. She has demonstrated her ability to deal with difficult problems and arrive at the best solution possible. We need more people like Rae Waters in the Arizona State Legislature."

Arizona Education Association

"The Arizona Education Association is proud to endorse Representative Rae Waters for the House of Representatives in Legislative District 20. Rae has been a strong advocate for students, schools, and teachers. Arizona's students and families need more legislators like Rae who care about quality public education."

AZ Correctional Peace Officers Association

"Rae Waters has shown clear and consistent support for law enforcement. Her dedication to keeping our neighborhoods safe and her commitment to staying tough on crime are traits that are desperately needed in the Arizona legislature."

And:
Fraternal Order of Police
Arizona Medical Association
National Association of Social Workers

Click here to support and learn more about Rae.

Pat Fleming
Candidate for State House - District 25 (Incumbent)
Bisbee, Douglas, Gila Bend, Marana, Nogales and the Tohono O'odham Reservation



Progressive Majority fielded Pat for her in her first bid for the House in District 25 in 2006 against an entrenched incumbent. While unsuccessful, Pat ran a great race and ran again in 2008, this time successfully. In 2010, she is running for reelection and is a top target of the Republicans, as they have control of the other state house seat in this district and the district is trending Republican. District 25 is a sprawling rural district that runs along much of the Mexican border where illegal crossing is occurring. Pat is retired from the Department of the Defense, where she oversaw multi-million dollars budgets. She is a retired member of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Pat is a graduate of the Emerge program, has worked with Jennie Blackton on messaging, has attended the Take Back America conference and has worked with Progressive Majority on all aspects of her campaign.

Pat Fleming has also been endorsed by:

The Tucson Weekly
Greater Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce
Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona
Arizona Nurses Association Political Action Committee
Arizona Education Association
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association
Arizona League of Conservation Voters
Arizona Women’s Political Caucus
Las Adelitas Arizona
AFSCME Arizona
Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter
Planned Parenthood of Arizona
Arizona State Building and Construction Trades Council
Arizona AFL-CIO
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, IBEW 640

And many others

Click here to support and learn more about Pat.

Cheryl Cage
Candidate for State House - District 26 (Challenger)
Pima County





Cheryl Cage is a repeat candidate for a House seat in Legislative District 26. The seat had been held by a Democrat between 2006 and 2008; Cheryl's close loss (she garnered 49% of the vote) allowed the Republicans to win the seat. A retired member of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), Cheryl is now a consultant in the aviation industry. As a small business owner, she understands the need for fiscal responsibility, and wants to rein in the irresponsible budget practices of the Republican majority in Phoenix. Her opponent is the extreme right-wing Sen. Al Melvin, upset a popular, moderate, well-funded in Republican House member in the primary in 2008. This district has featured very close elections in recent years, but all three seats (this and the two house seats) were all captured by Republicans in 2008. Year in and year out, LD 26 has been a top-tier target for all progressive stakeholder groups and the Democratic Party. Cheryl received a significant amount of training in 2008; this year she has honed her fundraising messages with us, as she ran as a clean election candidate last time.

Click here to support and learn more about Cheryl.

Andrea Dalessandro
Candidate for State House - District 30 (Challenger)
Southern Pima County, Santa Cruz County & Cochise County

Andrea on Education from Andrea Dalessandro on Vimeo.

Andrea Dalessandro is another of our repeat candidates who ran in 2008. This year, she's running for the House of Representatives in District 30, which has two seats currently held by Republicans. Andrea garnered 47.5% of the vote in 2008. Andrea is a graduate of Emerge, our partner organization, that trains women. There is one open seat and one conservative running for reelection. This is a targeted district for taking control of the Statehouse, and a viable race due in large part to Andrea's tireless campaigning in the last year. She is a certified public accountant and a former high school math teacher. Andrea and her husband, a retired letter carrier, moved to Arizona in 2004 from New Jersey. She is a retired member of the Arizona Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association and the New Jersey Federation of Teachers. She attended numerous trainings, including Center for Policy Alternatives' values training and Progressive Majority's messaging training.

Click here to support and learn more about Andrea.


This comes from the Indigenous Democratic Network (INDN's List), an organization that helps Native American Democrats run for office:

INDN's List is proud to announce our endorsement of an unprecedented slate of highly qualified Indian candidates for office in Arizona. This election, more than any other, it is vital the Indian voice be heard in elected office in Arizona. A recent law passed this year allows police to racially profile American Indians, and others, because they "look like illegal aliens." This radical law directly impacts the Indian communities in Arizona and we need strong Indian voices to stand up for ALL of our civil rights. Luckily, we have the best slate of Indian candidates Arizona has ever seen, including the chance to elect the first Indian statewide.

We need your donation to help us fund these amazing candidates! Every contribution helps us provide the funding these American Indian candidates need to win their elections.

Secretary of State

INDN's List is so excited to join the Arizona Republic in endorsing Chris Deschene for Secretary of State. Chris Deschene attended our "From the Table to the Ticket" training in 2006 where he impressed all of our staff and as well as Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), the Vice Chair of the DNC, who is also supporting Chris. He has served in the State House with distinction and is ready to bring his experience to the Secretary of State’s office.

Chris Deschene was inspired to service by his grandfather, who served as a Navajo Codetalker during World War 2. Chris followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and dedicated his life to serving his country. He attended the US Naval Academy and served two tours of duty overseas in the Marine Corps, ultimately serving as the Executive Officer for a reconnaissance team of 160 Marines.

Upon completing his military service, Chris returned to Arizona and simultaneously earned a law degree and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in renewable and alternative energy development. He also has been a member of the United Steelworkers Union and knows the importance of standing up for working Americans.

Chris is running a hotly contested primary for Secretary of State, and, if victorious, would be the first American Indian to hold statewide office in Arizona.

Deschene has also been endorsed by:

Arizona Education Association:

"Public education has been a priority for Chris Deschene throughout his career in the state Legislature, and we in the Arizona Education Association are thrilled and proud to support him for the office of Secretary of State."

SEIU Arizona:

"SEIU Arizona is pleased to endorse Chris Deschene for Secretary of State. A tireless supporter of quality public services and the employees who deliver them, Chris is well qualified to represent the citizens of Arizona in this essential office."

Retired General John Adams:

"Chris is a proven leader with a track record of success in one of our nation's most important institutions, the United States Marine Corps, and Arizona needs his leadership. I served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army dedicated to defending the Constitution and its protections guaranteed to everyone. No one understands better the importance of these guarantees, especially as they relate to fair elections, than Represenatative Chris Deschene. He will be a great Secretary of State for all of Arizona."

Among many others.

Please visit Chris's website and learn more about his campaign.

State Senate

INDN's List is thrilled to endorse Jack Jackson, Jr. for State Senate in the Second Legislative District. Jack has spent his entire career fighting for Indian rights, including representing the Navajo Nation for 12 years in Washington, DC. He then moved on to the National Indian Education Association, where he represented the educational concerns of over 3,000 American Indian and Alaskan Native educators, school administrators, parents and students. During the Fiscal Year 1996 budget negotiations, he worked tirelessly with tribal leadership to reinstate full funding of $81 million to the Office of Indian Education in the Department of Education.

In 1997, Jack became the Director of Governmental Affairs for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest and most representative Indian advocacy organization in the nation for over 250 tribal governments. His main responsibility was overseeing legislative and appropriation measures before the United States Congress affecting Indian Country.

While at NCAI, Jack helped create a strong and credible Native influence at the national, state and local levels. He assisted in the design of a comprehensive government-to-government strategy, which resulted in three unprecedented Executive Orders issued by President Clinton and several Presidential Memorandums and Directives relevant to the needs and concerns of Indian Country. These actions protected Native American sacred sites and required appropriate consultation with tribal governments.

From 2003 to 2005, Jack served in the 46th Arizona State Legislature in the House of Representatives. In 2005, Jack was appointed by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs (ACIA). His main duty was to ensure that the Commission provided assistance to the State of Arizona in fulfilling its responsibilities to Arizona’s 22 Indian Nations and Tribes by making recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature. He conferred and coordinated with officials and agencies of other governmental units regarding Indian issues, and worked to provide improved relationships and a greater understanding between tribal governments and the State.

Please visit Jack's website to learn more about his positions and how you can help him win this vital election.

State House

INDN's List is delighted to endorse Albert Hale and Albert Tom for State House District 2. In Arizona, voters select two State House candidates to represent their district in the legislature. These two Navajo candidates have each served in the state legislature in the past with distinction and are the best choices to represent the Indian voice in the State House this next legislative cycle.

Yakoke,*
Kalyn Free
President, INDN's List

* "Thank You," in Choctaw.

Brooklyn, NY Reform Democrats Political Endorsements

Three reform/progressive Democratic clubs in Brooklyn have made their endorsements in local elections. I don't always agree with all of the endorsements these three clubs make, but generally I agree and find it well worth paying attention to their recommendations.

CENTRAL BROOKLYN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS:
(Note, my wife, Joy, is an officer of CBID)
CBID is the most progressive and reform club in Brooklyn, so their
endorsements are quite meaningful (though I don't always agree with
them 100%).

12th Congressional District:
Nydia Velazquez

10th Congressional District:
Kevin Powell

18th State Senate District:
Velmanette Montgomery

20th State Senate District
Eric Adams

44th Assembly District
James Brennan

52nd Assembly District
Joan Millman

44th AD Male District Leader
Jacob Gold

44th AD Female District Leader
Lori Knipel

52nd AD Male District Leader
Chris Owens

52nd AD Female District Leader
Jo Anne Simon


LAMBDA INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS:
Lambda is Brooklyn's most important Gay/Lesbian political organization

Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman

NY State Senate (by district):
20 – Eric Adams
18 – Velmanette Montgomery
22 – Michael DiSanto
21 – Kevin Parker
19 – no endorsement
27 – Igor Oberman
25 – Daniel Squadron
23 – Diane Savino

NY State Assembly:
44 – Jim Brennan
52 – Joan Millman
57 – Hakeem Jeffries
46 – Alec Brook-Krasny
55 – William Boyland
50 – No endorsement

District Leader/State Committee:
52M – Chris Owens
44F – Lori Citron Knipel
44M – Jacob Gold
57F – Olanike Alabi
57M – Walter Moseley
50M – Lincoln Restler
60M – Ralph Perfetto
41M – Lew Fidler


NEW KINGS DEMOCRATS:
NKD is the new kid on the block. An outgrowth of the Obama campaign in Brooklyn they are aiming to reform Brooklyn politics.

U.S. Congress- District 12: Nydia Velazquez
New York State Senate- District 25: Daniel Squadron
New York State Assembly- District 52: Joan Millman
Female State Committee District Leader- District 50: Kate Zidar
Male State Committee District Leader- District 50: Lincoln Restler
Female State Committee District Leader- District 52: Jo Anne Simon
Female State Committee District Leader- District 53: Barbara Medina
Male State Committee District Leader- District 53: Esteban Duran

Israel and the Gaza Fiasco: Brinksmanship where no one blinks

I suspect this diary will not be popular, but I didn't start blogging to avoid controversy. Here in America, sentiment on the right almost exclusively supports Israel in the boarding of the Free Gaza Movement (FGM) flotilla and the violence that followed. Sentiment on the left almost exclusively supports the FGM. I have been trying to figure out the rights and wrongs and the legalities of the incident since it happened and it seems ambiguous all around (more on that below). But the incident itself is very simple: two sides (one heavily armed) engaging in brinksmanship with neither side willing to blink. The inevitable result of such brinksmanship will be the better armed side will ultimately succeed through brutal means.

The basic series of events is simple to outline, but complex. Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza, creating tensions within Israel as the Israeli government forced the dismantling of Jewish settlements in Gaza, the right thing to do but not popular among right wingers in Israel. In the next Palestinian election Hamas, whose charter officially denies the existence of Israel and calls for its destruction, won fair and square, becoming not just a terrorist organization, but a legitimate part of the Palestinian government.

Under such circumstances, the best outcome is that the former terrorist/guerrilla organization successfully makes the transition to effective and reasonable government. Arguably the Sandinistas and ANC made similar transitions, though the parallels aren't exact. Much as I hated Hamas, I recognized the legitimacy of their election and hoped they would make a transition to a legitimate government.

This didn't happen. Hamas made a partial offer to end attacks on Israel and recognize the legitimacy of Israel (and I think it could have been the basis of genuine discussion, though Hamas would have had be willing to compromise) but the US under Bush imposed sanctions on Palestine. At the same time, Hamas and Fatah began fighting, though reached an agreement for a coalition government. However fighting between Israel and Hamas escalated (with each side blaming the other) at the same time. This led to a renewal of civil war between Hamas and Fatah which left Gaza in Hamas hands and the West Bank in Fatah hands. Israel then imposed a blockade on Hamas controlled Gaza as Hamas sanctioned rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. One of the main justifications for the blockade was to prevent supplies for the rockets from reaching Gaza. Meanwhile, Fatah controlled West Bank has been largely calm, though Israel has failed to respond to West Bank calm with something like...oh, stopping the illegal settlements. After an outright invasion of Gaza by Israel, the rocket attacks stopped but the blockade has continued.

The Free Gaza Movement (FGM) started as an attempt to break the blockade, arguing that it was inhumane and illegal. Background on FGM (mostly sympathetic) can be found in this Nation article. In general their flotillas have been quietly allowed to do their thing, though the IDF and right wingers in Israel have always wanted Israel to use force and stop them.

The issues in question are as follows:

1.) Is the blockade legal?
2.) If the blockade is legal, is it legal for Israeli forces to board a ship in international waters>
3.) Is FGM linked indirectly to arms smugglers supplying weapons to Hamas?
4.) Did either side do its best to prevent confrontation or did they both seek confrontation?
5.) Did Israel use excessive force?

International waters are notorious for ambiguous legal issues. Two things are clear: a.) Nations ARE legally allowed to blockade other nations, though the details are HUGELY ambiguous. b.) in general one nation is NOT able to board another nation's ship in international waters UNLESS arms smuggling is suspected.

Officially Hamas does not recognize Israel, though when they won the election they unofficially mitigated that stand. Israel outright refuses to recognize the legitimacy of Hamas. Both sides have exchanged fire on the other. In essence a state of war exists between Gaza and Israel. Blockades are common tactics in war, including British blockades of Germany in both World Wars.

Is the Israeli blockade legal? Was their boarding of the ship legal? Both are in the realm of the ambiguities of the high seas. Here is an article that concludes Israel probably did not act legally in boarding the ship. But Alan Dershowitz wrote an article that argues that, though ill advised, the blockade and boarding WERE solidly legal. It seems an open question to me. On the one hand, blockading an enemy in war (and Israel claims that Gaza's rocket attacks are acts of war and that Hamas is a terrorist organization, a claim supported by the EU and US) is common and accepted. On the other hand there is always argument over how a blockade applies to neutral nations. I should point out that traditionally (with the clear exception of during the Civil War) the United States government has stood up for the rights of neutrals to trade with belligerents in a war. In fact violation of the neutrality of American ships during the Napoleonic wars and WW I were major issues that contributed to the War of 1812 and America's entry into WW I.

The legality of the boarding is PARTLY dependent on the legality of the blockade, but it also is dependent on whether the FGM is linked to arms smuggling.

In general (as described in the Nation article I link to above) it is clear that the FGM, whether I agree with them or not, is a legitimate humanitarian organization founded by peace activists. However, one organization connected to FGM, the Turkish charity IHH, has been accused by Israel, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Danish Institute for International Studies of being linked to terrorist organizations and of arms smuggling (which in itself would be legal justification for Israel's boarding the ships). I am not sure how strong the evidence is. The basis for the claim seems to be the following (from a Washington Institute for Near East Policy article):

A French intelligence report concluded that in the mid-1990s, IHH president Bulent Yildrim was directly involved in "recruit[ing] veteran soldiers in anticipation of the coming holy war [jihad]. In particular, some men were sent into war zones in Muslim countries in order to acquire combat experience." Foreshadowing IHH's role in this weekend's aid flotilla to Gaza, the French report noted that IHH provided financial support "as well as caches of firearms, knives, and pre-fabricated explosives" in an effort to obtain "political support from these countries." IHH phone records in Istanbul reportedly included repeated telephone calls in 1996 to an al-Qaeda guesthouse in Italy and to North African terrorists active in Europe.

In addition, a 1996 CIA report on terrorist abuse of charities, declassified after the September 11 attacks, documented IHH as a charity with ties to "Iran and Algerian groups." According to the report, the director of the IHH office in Sarajevo "has been linked to Iranian operatives." The report described "the terrorist-related activities and linkages" of fifteen selected "Islamic NGOs," noting that "individuals connected to some of these NGOs have plotted to kidnap or kill U.S. personnel." And according to French court documents, IHH was the subject of a Turkish criminal investigation in late 1997 when sources revealed that leaders of the group were purchasing automatic weapons from other regional Islamist militant groups. Based on an analysis of seized IHH documents, Turkish authorities concluded that "detained members of IHH were going to fight in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Chechnya."

IHH is a member of the "Union of Good" (Itelaf al-Khair, also known as the "Charity Coalition"). According to Palestinian intelligence, this organization "is considered -- with regard to material support -- one of the biggest Hamas supporters." Israel outlawed the Union of Good in February 2002, and the United States named it a specially designated global terrorist entity in November 2008. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the Union of Good was created by the Hamas leadership "in order to facilitate the transfer of funds to Hamas." Intelligence underpinning the U.S. designation noted that the group "facilitates the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year to Hamas-managed associations." It also "acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations...and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza."

I should note that the Washington Institute for Near East Policy is considered biased towards Israel by most, but it has also been criticized by Zionist organizations for ties to Fatah as early as 2003.

It sounds to me like, whether it was advisable or not, as Dershowitz argues, the boarding had at least arguable legal backing based on the arms smuggling connection, though again see the Daily Kos article for a counterpoint.

Could the confrontation be avoided? The answer is clearly yes, but it is equally clear that BOTH sides wanted confrontation, though not necessarily bloodshed.

Israel has in the past handled FGM flotillas differently. From the Nation article mentioned above:

It turns out there was a robust debate within the Israeli government. The military wanted to stop the FGM by whatever means necessary. The foreign ministry argued that doing so would only play into the hands of the activists by making them martyrs and making Israel look brutal in the eyes of the world. Further, they predicted that a peaceful end to the journey would diminish interest by the international media. This judgment was partially redeemed by the almost complete lack of coverage of the trip in the US media...

I think two things led to things being handled differently this time. A more right wing government in Israel sided with the IDF, insisting on a strict enforcement of the blockade. But also, the response to the flotilla allowed through previously was not as muted as Israel had hoped. Continued from the same Nation article:

Israel's decision not to intervene surprised and shocked the FGM, making for a wild celebration as the boats docked in Gaza's tiny harbor on Saturday, August 24. With them, they brought 200 hearing aids for Gaza children and 5,000 balloons. Most Gazans were unfazed by the token humanitarian aid and focused on the symbolic significance of breaking the siege. For them, the impact of this event was akin to Hamas's breaking the international boundary separating Gaza from Egypt several months earlier. It meant breaking through a psychological as well as a physical barrier. It meant showing that a group of unarmed peace activists could successfully disrupt the Israeli occupation.

So Israel's right wing government was going to insist on strict enforcement at the risk of brinksmanship. But the FGM also passed up a way of defusing the situation that could also have brought them some great publicity. Noam Shalit, the father of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, made FGM an offer that could have put Netanyahu in a VERY difficult position, but they turned it down:

Noam Shalit, the father of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, offered what sounded like a pretty good deal for the group that calls itself the “Free Gaza Movement..."

He said he would give the convoy his stamp of approval and use his considerable moral leverage to pressure Israel to allow the convoy to continue to Gaza — if the organizers of the cruise agreed to make contact with his son:

Attorney Nick Kaufman, who approached the Free Gaza Movement on behalf of the kidnapped soldier’s family, told Ynet that he offered the flotilla’s organizers the family’s full support, provided that “in addition to their demand that Israel lift its blockade they will urge Hamas to allow the soldier to receive letters and food packages from his family and allow international organizations to visit him.”

According to Kaufman, he was referred to the movement’s legal counsel, who rejected the offer. “I thought this movement supports human rights, as it claims, but according to the reaction it seems that it is only interested in provocation and expressing support for a terror group that doesn’t really care about human rights,” said the attorney.

...Almost immediately after the Israeli media announced that [the offer] had been extended, it was refused [by FGM]

To me Israel's current government is a horrible right wing regime that really wants to use brutal methods to keep Palestinians down. They may well have the "River to the Sea" mentailty favoring Israeli takeover of all Palestinian land. It is inevitable that such a government will use violence whether or not warrented. On the other hand, Hamas is, (unlike Hezbollah who I may not like but who only target military targets) a terrorist organization that has allowed and probably supported the use of rockets and mortars against Israeli citizens. Officially, and probably genuinely, Hamas also has a "river to the sea" mentality that wants to destroy Israel.

This leads to a situation where violence and possibly war is almost inevitable. It is unclear to me if the blockade is clearly legal. I lean towards yes, but even given that it is unclear to me how neutrals, such as Turkey, should be treated regarding such a blockade. Boarding the ship is also of dubious legality, though IF there is genuine evidence that one of the charities connected with the FGM IS linked to arms smuggling (and I don't know the evidence for or against) then it could well be legal as arms smuggling is the main justification for boarding a ship in international waters. It would be VERY interesting to see what would have happend if FGM took the deal that would have gotten them support from Noam Shalit...it would be hard for the Israeli government to board them but it also would mean compromising the blockade and the arms smuggling justification. I think the FGM should have taken the deal. It would have been a huge PR coup for them and put Netanyahu in a situation he really couldn't win.

Once the confrontation was definite, due to the actions of both sides, two things were clear. a.) Israel was going to have a PR nightmare (largely of their own making) and b.) resistance by the flotilla was only going to lead to injuries and death. IDF training emphasizes minimizing casualties and the IDF went in initially with non-lethal weapons. But the IDF also has the mentality of responding to force with overwhelming (many would say excessive) force and once resistance was encountered, the order came down to use their regular armaments.

Who is right and who is wrong? I can't really justify the actions of either side since it is clear to me that both sides wanted confrontation, though NOT, I believe, deaths. I don't think either side wanted the confrontation to go so far, but it is inevitable that it would once the confrontation began.

Bottom line is I see no good guys in this, just different shades of people who blundered either blindly or intentionally into a situation where bloodshed was almost inevitable. Ultimately Hamas and the Israeli right wing are to blame, but mistakes (in my mind dumb mistakes) were made by others along the way as well.

Obama and the Stimulus has helped us Economically

Among my investments is an investment in the Eaton Vance Greater India Fund. I was lucky, or smart. Back in 2004 I saw the restoration of the Congress Party in India (over the Hindu extremist BJP party), combined with Bush's horrible economic policies, as a sign I should invest in some India mutual funds. I was convinced that India would be doing well and that Bush would ruin America's economy. So I invested in the Eaton Vance Greater India Fund.

I didn't realize it at the time, though I suspected, but I invested at EXACTLY the right time. By 2007 I had MORE than doubled my investment, so I sold enough shares to make up my initial investment and kept the rest as profits. A good chunk of what I sold for profit went to investing in Sunpower which, in turn, doubled in value, so I sold enough to make up for what I invested and still have the rest (which has gone down in value) as profit.

Bottom line is I bought and sold as the India market bottomed and peaked. The part of my India investment that I kept plummeted as the Bush recession hit full force in 2008. It has now been recovering.

What strikes me, though, is the statement made by the fund manager about what is going on. It is in direct contradiction to what right wing extremists are saying about government intervention in the economy. Basically, the recovery from 2008 (when the Bush economy dominated and markets were bottoming out) to 2009 (when the Obama economy was just beginnning) there was a real recovery in investment value. To be fair, how much of this filtered down to the working and middle class is a fair question. The stimulus helped investors...how much it helped working and middle class remains an open question. But, Republicans have claimed that the kind of government intervention that the Stimulus represents is some kind of socialism that hurts business.

I have clear evidence that this is bullshit. In the Annual Report I just received from the Eaton Vance Greater India Fund investment I have, is the following statement by the fund manager:

Equity markets the world over staged a dramatic comeback during the 12 months ending December 31, 2009 [Obama's first year in office], most clawing their way back into positive territory from the depths of a global recession that began to reach historic proportions in the second half of 2008 [the end of Bush's adminstration]. Significant infusions of government monetary and fiscal stimulus helped moderate the economic downdraft early in 2009...

In other words, that government intervention called a "stimulus" that Republicans are calling "socialist" led to a "dramatic comeback" from a global recession of "historic proportions." Those so-called "socialist" infusions of government monetary and fiscal stimulus saved the day according to this mutual fund manager.

So the Republicans are against the policies that have been responsible for the current recovery. Sure, us leftists think we need MORE of this for MORE recovery. But the Republicans currently are attacking the very policies that mutual fund managers are saying saved us from the worst of the Bush recession.

So thanks to the Stimulus. I know my job is more secure thanks to the Stimulus. And this fund manager is attributing the change from the Bush recession to the Obama recovery to the government intervention in the stimulus package. So I really think it is time to stop paying any attention to the delusional Republicans and start listening to the FDR Democrat strategy of government stimulus. THAT is what has driven the recovery so far, so why aren't we going even further along this road to recovery?