Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

Phil Donahue tells a different story about our ‘merry little wars’...

By David Templeton
Pacific Sun
January 13, 2012

“Wait a minute! Is that an egret?”

Phil Donahue, microphone in hand, is addressing about a hundred people, all gathered on the outside patio of the Apple Box Cafe in Petaluma, overlooking the Petaluma River. He is here on day two of a four-day tour to endorse congressional candidate Norman Solomon (Inverness resident and author of War Made Easy and Made Love, Got War), and to host a few screenings of the award-winning 2007 documentary he produced and co-directed, Body of War: The True Story of an Anti-War Hero. As he chats amiably with the assembled crowd, Donahue (best known for his Emmy Award-winning longtime television talk show, The Phil Donahue Show) suddenly stops and points to a white bird soaring low over the water behind the audience. After gazing in wonder for several seconds, he murmurs, “I hope you people appreciate what you’ve got here!”

Read the full story here

_____

For more information visit the Events page at www.SolomonForCongress.com

Originally published by the Press Democrat
by Norman Solomon

On a recent day in Petaluma, two very different events spotlighted grim results of upside-down priorities from the federal government.

Upwards of 600 people gathered for an early breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Hall to raise money for the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS), a nonprofit organization that last year sheltered nearly 2,000 individuals, served more than 127,000 hearty meals and distributed 800,000 pounds of food to the needy.

We heard moving stories about — and from — people whose lives have been transformed by active compassion, generosity and their own hard work. But, as speakers lamented, COTS must turn away many who need help.

Read the Full Story Here

by Donna Smith
December 22, 2011

Is freedom from war the only way to measure peace on earth? If the drones don’t fly for a day or a week and the combat isn’t waged on some distant battlefield, do we know peace has arrived if only for a brief period surrounding one religious holiday or another? Does war take a holiday for peace? How about injustice? When does it rest?

Read the Rest Here

November 16, 2011

Two of the nation’s most influential Latino leaders — Rep. Raul Grijalva, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Dolores Huerta, legendary co-founder of the United Farm Workers union — have endorsed Democratic candidate Norman Solomon for Congress.

The endorsements come in the race for an open seat in California’s new coastal district stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.

Read the full story here

Guests: Tim Carpenter, John Nichols, Jim Hightower, Ariel Dorfman
Tim Carpenter (Progressive Democrats of America National Chairman), John Nichols and Jim Hightower on the unstoppable Occupy movement; Ariel Dorfman on his new memoir, “Feeding on Dreams: Confessions of an Unrepentant Exile” — about his exiles, returns, and vanquishing silence.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA presents an evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS, Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine,

MICHAEL LIGHTY, Policy Director of the California Nurses Association,

and NORMAN SOLOMON, Co-chair of the national Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30.

WHERE: Guzman Hall, Dominican University; 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901.

Go here for a campus map

This is a rare opportunity to see these three dynamic leaders and speakers together in one room. Join us for an evening of community and celebration in support of Healthcare NOT Warfare!

No entry charge. Donations accepted. Wheel-chair accessible.

Cosponsored by the Expressions Program of the Humanities Department, Dominican University.

An Evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS
Washington correspondent for
The Nation Magazine

MICHAEL LIGHTY
Policy Director of the California
Nurses Association

and
NORMAN SOLOMON
Co-Chair of the national
Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign

September 15, 2011

Daniel Ellsberg, the renowned advocate for peace and the First Amendment who leaked the historic Pentagon Papers on the Vietnam War, endorsed congressional candidate Norman Solomon on Thursday (Sept. 15). Ellsberg will join the independent progressive Democrat on the campaign trail.

Once referred to by President Nixon’s adviser Henry Kissinger as “the most dangerous man in America,” Ellsberg is an enthusiastic supporter of Norman Solomon for Congress. The famed whistleblower will speak at a house-party fundraiser for the Solomon campaign in Marin County on Sept. 22, an event bringing together two generations of antiwar leaders.

Read the Rest Here

On September 1, 2011, at a special meeting in Sebastopol, Progressive Democrats Sonoma County voted to endorse Norman Solomon for Congress.

Solomon expressed deep gratitude for the endorsement, calling it “a big boost for our grassroots campaign to ensure that this region continues to have strong progressive representation in Congress. The Sonoma County chapter of PDA is known for its strength of commitment and depth of community roots. I feel honored by the county chapter’s support, and I look forward to working together as our campaign keeps gaining momentum.”

Dear Friends,

The United Farm Workers are now in their 8th day of their 187-mile journey from Madera to Sacramento. This march is intended to put pressure on Governor Brown to pass new legislation to protect farm workers. Since Governor Brown vetoed the Farm Worker Protection Act just two months ago, THREE farm workers have died in the fields. Sadly, this kind of information rarely makes the news cycle.

We have a wonderful opportunity to show solidarity with our farm worker brothers and sisters in Sacramento as they complete their historic march. There will be a UFW bus caravan leaving from Santa Rosa this Sunday, September 4, and arriving at Southside Park in Sacramento where we will greet the marchers. We will all take the final steps to the Capitol together and join a huge rally in support of Farm Worker Protection. After the rally, the buses return to Santa Rosa. Here are the details:

By Donna Smith, National Co-chair, Healthcare Not Warfare

In more than 60 locations from Maine to California, the 170,000 registered nurse members of National Nurses United will be hosting events aimed at healing the damage done on Main Streets all over America by Wall Street’s special interests.

Read the Full Story & Find Locations Here

by Karina Ioffee
Petaluma Patch
August 23, 2011

Oscar-winning actor and former North Bay resident Sean Penn lent the Norman Solomon campaign some star power when he made an appearance in Petaluma Tuesday to endorse Solomon in the race for the 2nd Congressional District.

Read the Full Story Here

On Tuesday August 23, at two events in the North Bay, Sean Penn will be speaking in support of Norman Solomon’s campaign for Congress.

Click Here for Details

By Norman Solomon
Guest op-ed column
Marin IJ. Augutst 15, 2011

THE NEGATIVE TRENDS in the Nation’s Capital are mostly due to extreme GOP ideologues in Congress. But they’ve been enabled by too many Democrats who keep giving ground while Republican leaders refuse to give an inch.

Read the Rest Here

By JEREMY HAY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
August 15, 2011

New political district maps approved on Monday will color the race to replace Rep. Lynn Woolsey and prompt 7th District Assemblyman Michael Allen to move to advance his political career.

The new maps certified by the state’s voter-created citizens commission stretch Woolsey’s 6th District — formerly a compact Marin-Sonoma package — to the Oregon border and rename it the 2nd District.

“One big difference is I’ll be spending a lot more time in the car,” said Norman Solomon, one of four candidates for Woolsey’s seat.

Read the Full Story Here

*******

CLICK HERE to read report

*******

CLICK HERE to read the report

A day after President Obama urged fellow Democrats to go along with “trimming benefits” for Social Security and other safety-net programs, North Bay congressional candidate Norman Solomon called for “an all-out defense of Social Security.”

Read the full press release here