Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

March 13, 2012

Following up on the first anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, congressional candidate Norman Solomon on Tuesday [March 13] renewed his call for closing California’s two nuclear power plants as part of a “swift and urgently needed” transition to an energy policy focused on “clean and green” renewable sources and conservation.

“The Diablo Canyon plant near San Luis Obispo and the San Onofre plant on the southern California coast are vulnerable to meltdowns from earthquakes and threaten both residents and the environment,” said Solomon, who has been a leading critic of the nuclear industry for more than 30 years.

Read the full story here

Dan Hamburg/For the Times-Standard
January 28, 2012

Since 2001, Humboldt County has contributed roughly $350 million to fighting the nation’s wars (costofwar.com). I’m supporting Norman Solomon because this expenditure represents a catastrophic misuse of public funds and because Norman, among a group of strong candidates, is uniquely qualified to help stop the bleeding.

When I finally met Norman last year, after decades of reading his work, I wondered why such a smart and accomplished activist would think the U.S. House was the best place to work for progressive political change.

Read the full article here

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

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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.

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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

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.

Doors open at 7:30 pm.

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.

Location

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.”

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

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

By Norman Solomon
San Francisco Bay Guardian
July 5, 2011

We have to hold the North Bay congressional seat for the values that Lynn Woolsey has represented

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Marin, Sonoma counties) is a rarity on Capitol Hill. She’s a lawmaker with guts who speaks from the heart.

Whether focusing on children and seniors at home or the victims of war far away, Woolsey insists on advocating for humane priorities. Several hundred times, she has gone to the House floor to speak out against war. She stands for peace, social justice, human rights, a green future, and so much more.

Last week, after more than 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Woolsey announced that she will not run for reelection next year.

She has set a high bar for representing the region in Congress. It’s a high bar that I intend to clear.

Read the Rest Here

Don’t miss this important discussion on the national budget. The expert panel will address war funding and austerity, threats to retirement benefits, media disinformation, and attacks on workers’ rights. The panel includes Norman Solomon, author, columnist and media critic, Joshua Holland, senior editor at AlterNet who wrote “The 15 Biggest Lies about the Economy,” and Lisa Maldonado, Executive Director of the North Bay Labor Council, AFL- CIO. Co-sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Marin, Democracy For America-Marin, the Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, The Social Justice Center of Marin and The Peoples’ Budget.

For more information: Dan Monte, danmonte33@gmail.com or 707-393-1948.

Location

In the Tank? Jobs, the Economy, and Our Future

Thursday, June 30, 6:30 – 9:30 PM
San Rafael City Council Chambers
1400 – 5th Ave., San Rafael

Don’t miss this important discussion on the national budget. The expert panel will address war funding and austerity, threats to retirement benefits, media disinformation, and attacks on workers’ rights. The panel includes Norman Solomon, author, columnist and media critic, Joshua Holland, senior editor at AlterNet who wrote “The 15 Biggest Lies about the Economy,” and Lisa Maldonado, Executive Director of the North Bay Labor Council, AFL- CIO. Co-sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Marin, Democracy For America-Marin, the Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, The Social Justice Center of Marin and The Peoples’ Budget.

For more information: Dan Monte, danmonte33@gmail.com or 707-393-1948.

Norman Soloman – Donna Smith – and Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America join Thom Hartmann. The “Healthcare not Warfare” campaign is raising awareness about our deteriorating healthcare system that’s bankrupting millions of Americans and leaving them sick with nowhere to go. And while this is going on – our nation is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on endless wars in the Middle East. So the choice is simple – do we keep funding “black hole” wars – or start making Americans healthy again? Please sign “Healthcare not Warfare” petition at http://bit.ly/jZlPGZ

with NORMAN SOLOMON

Thursday, July 14, 7:00pm
Peace & Justice center of Sonoma County
467 Sebastopol Avenue
Santa Rosa

Norman Solomon is a national columnist and award-winning author of a dozen books – including War Made Easy, which was turned into a powerful documentary film. He played a prominent role in the movement to prevent the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He has led fact-finding missions to Iraq and Afghanistan and has appeared regularly on TV and radio, from CNN and MSNBC to PBS’s NewsHour and NPR’s All Things Considered. His columns have run in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, as well as CommonDreams, Truthout and AlterNet.

Seating is limited so come early. For more information, 707-575-8902
This event is Co-sponsored by the Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County

Flyer attached

CONGRESSWOMAN LYNN WOOLSEY
INVITES THE NORTH BAY

TO A FORUM ON ENDING PERMANENT US WARFARE

Saturday, June 18th

1:00pm – 2:30pm

San Rafael City Plaza
4th Street & Court in
Downtown San Rafael, CA

SPONSORED BY
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey

GUEST SPEAKERS: Veterans for Peace * CODEPINK * Iraq Veterans Against the War * State and Local Officials * David Harris * Roni Krouzman *
Norman Solomon * Dolores Huerta (invited) * Daniel Ellsberg (invited)

Music by Barry “The Fish” Melton Band and the Gentry Bronson Band

415.507.9554 for more information *** event flyer attached

CommonDreams.org
by Norman Solomon

The facts all point to this “inconvenient truth” — the time has come to shut down California’s two nuclear power plants as part of a swift transition to an energy policy focused on clean and green renewable sources and conservation.

The Diablo Canyon plant near San Luis Obispo and the San Onofre plant on the southern California coast are vulnerable to meltdowns from earthquakes and threaten both residents and the environment.

Reactor safety is just one of the concerns. Each nuclear power plant creates radioactive waste that will remain deadly for thousands of years. This is not the kind of legacy that we should leave for future generations.

Read the Rest Here