Stand Up! Take Action! Vote!
Bill Fletcher, Jr.
July 14, 2010
PDA welcomes Bill Fletcher, Jr. to our Advisory Board
In February 2005 Danny Glover and I published an article in The Nation suggesting a particular approach to electoral politics. Entitled “Visualizing a Neo-Rainbow”, we argued that there was a need for a progressive electoral approach very much grounded in the realities of the US electoral system. This approach, which we called “neo-Rainbow” (drawing, in part, from the experience of the 1980s Jesse Jackson Presidential campaigns and the construction of the National Rainbow Coalition), involved the development of progressive, electoral projects at the local level that operated both inside and outside the Democratic Party. By “inside/outside” of the Democratic Party we meant two things. The first is that efforts needed to include running candidates within the Democratic primaries but also running independently when necessary. The second was that any electoral strategy needed to involve both mass action as well as ballot-box action.
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From David Swanson
July 5, 2010
What it means: The Peace Movement’s Progress.
How it worked: Democrats Forced to Cheat to Fund War .
What it looked like: Live Blog of the Vote .
How they voted on the Rule that allowed the war escalation funding to move forward.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Brown Bag Lunch Vigils and how WE can help to End War & Occupations by sending a consistent message to our Congressperson to stop funding wars, set firm dates for complete withdrawal, and dismantle corporate influence over our government.
CLICK HERE to Read More about the CA State Democratic Party Resolution to “End the U.S. Occupation and Air War in Afghanistan”.
Steve Cobble
June 7, 2010
Tomorrow is Today—TAKE ACTION NOW— Join the phone bank for Marcy!
Published by The Huffington Post.
Just a little over 2 days left to say yes to one of the only real progressive Democratic challengers running this year.
Just a few hours left to go to www.winograd4congress.com to make a donation, volunteer to make a few phone calls, or find out where to vote.
Norman Solomon
May 24, 2010
Visit Winograd for Congress
Many are familiar with the adage, “When the people lead, the leaders will follow.” But what happens when people enable leaders to follow the dictates of the powerful?
These days, the answers are arriving in the form of a news drumbeat that’s apt to seem like a dirge.
From Afghanistan to Wall Street to the Gulf of Mexico, policies of military action and regulatory inaction are exacting terrible costs: in human life, economic resources and irreplaceable nature. Silence and inaction enable the destructive policies to continue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2010
Local PDA Chapter Joins Nationwide Protests in Opposition to $33 Billion War Supplemental
Progressive Democrats Sonoma County, the local chapter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), to hold noon hour “Brown Bag Lunch Vigil” in front of Rep. Lynn Woolsey’s Santa Rosa office to stop the escalation and funding for war.
We thank Rep. Woolsey for signing on to support HR 2454, calling for an exit strategy from Afghanistan & HR 3699, prohibiting any increase in the number of U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
Further, we call on Rep. Woolsey to publicly commit to voting “No” on any bills that fund wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Yemen, and to publicly urge her colleagues and the House leadership to make the same commitment.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
12 PM – 1 PM
Office of Rep. Lynn Woolsey
1101 College Avenue
Santa Rosa , CA 95404
May 11, 2010
Forest conversion project threatens watershed, ecosystem
SANTA ROSA, CA – The Sonoma County Democratic Party has opposed a plan by Napa-based land development company, Premier Pacific Vineyards, LLC (d.b.a. Preservation Ranch) to convert 1,600 acres of coastal Sonoma County redwood and douglas fir forestland to vineyards and luxury estates. CalPERS, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, is a significant investor in the project.May 11, 2010
SANTA ROSA, CA – The Sonoma County Democratic Party has passed a resolution urging the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to deny approval of the proposed location of the Dutra asphalt plant at Haystack Landing on the Petaluma River, across from Shollenberger Park.If approved, the Dutra plant would be located in a designated scenic corridor, and the expected decrease in air quality and increase in noise and truck traffic would have a negative impact on the wetlands and sensitive wildlife habitat of Shollenberger Park.
Jeffrey Blankfort
May 11, 2010
Join Marcy’s virtual phone bank!
Published by CounterPunch.org
What may be the last Democratic primary race worth paying attention to is taking place in the 36th Congressional District along the Southern California coastline where incumbent Jane Harman is facing a serious challenge from Los Angeles school teacher, Marcy Winograd, with the candidates’ widely separated positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict dominating a critical section of the political landscape.
Harman is the second richest member of the House of Representatives with estimated assets between $112 and $377 million dollars. Whether it was her money or her Israeli connections that kept the Southern California Democrat from being indicted as a foreign agent five years ago or a combination of both is something the public is never likely to know.
by Stephen Gale
May 8, 2010
This election year is turning nasty. But they always do.
In partisan races, one expects to hear the Republican front-runner for Governor referred to by Democratic Party Leadership as “An empty suit,” even if the empty suit is named Meg Whitman. Unfortunately, this year the derogatory innuendo, half-truths, lies and damn lies told in negative campaign advertising is spilling over into both local non-partisan political races where all contenders are Democrats as well as the Democratic Primary races.
Why is progressive Lynn Woolsey working so hard for center-right Jane Harman?
By Norman Solomon
bohemian.com
May 5, 2010
This is a grim story about the care and feeding of a Blue Dog.
Right now, Southern California congresswoman Jane Harman is facing a serious primary challenge from a genuine progressive. Harman is a member of the center-right caucus of House Democrats known as the Blue Dog Coalition. She has chosen not to join the Progressive Caucus.
In sharp contrast, her opponent, Marcy Winograd, is calling for the government “to invest in housing, education, healthcare, transportation—not to perpetuate a war economy that is draining us, robbing us of money that we desperately need.” And Winograd adds: “I challenge my opponent to stop voting for this war machine.”
While belonging to the largest caucus on Capitol Hill (with a membership now above 80), some members of the Progressive Caucus often say that they need more colleagues who’ll be willing to vote against war and in favor of a truly progressive legislative agenda. But if Progressive Caucus members want to move the House of Representatives in a progressive direction, you’d never know it when there’s a real chance to replace a Blue Dog with a progressive.
I spent a weekend with my PDA buddies in California, as we organized around the State Democratic Party Convention in Los Angeles. It was a great weekend, full of close friends, good beer, great speeches, and feisty agitation.
And it reminded me, once again, how important an organization PDA is to progressive populism.
Candidate for Congress (CA-36) Marcy Winograd’s address to the California Democratic Party, April18, 2010, Los Angeles.
TAKE ACTION TODAY: Phone Bank for a True Progressive Candidate running against Blue Dog Jane Harman. Phone banking continues
until election day, June 8.
Phone bank from anywhere – contact bill@winogradforcongress.com
Learn more about Marcy’s campaign here: http://winogradforcongress.com/
Here’s audio of Norman Solomon’s interview Monday April 19, on KPFA Radio, assessing what just happened with the progressive challenge to state party endorsement of Rep. Jane Harman at the Democratic convention. (The interview begins 20 seconds after 01:10).
Norman Solomon
April 21, 2010
This is a grim story about the care and feeding of a Blue Dog.
Right now, Congresswoman Jane Harman is facing a serious primary challenge from a genuine progressive, Marcy Winograd, in Southern California’s 36th congressional district.
Last Saturday afternoon (April 17), I sat on stage with both candidates and other panelists at a forum during the California Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles. The room was filled with several hundred progressive delegates.
Harman has been refusing to debate her opponent, but she couldn’t stay away from the forum that afternoon. The entire convention would be voting the next day on whether to withhold endorsement of her for re-election.
Marcy will be in Sacramento and Berkeley Friday (April 9) and Saturday (April 10) for several events. Please try to attend and bring a friend.
Sacramento Evening with Marcy Winograd and her friends Norman Solomon, Barbara Lubin & Rebecca Griffin Discussing “The Path to Peace”
Co-Sponsored by Peace Action West, Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento, Progressive Democrats of America, Richard Hundrieser, and Mike Whiteside.
Friday, April 9 at 7:00 pm
Additional event details, click here.
OR contact Rich Hundrieser:
r.hundrieser@comcast.net
916.622.8683
The 2010 California Democratic Convention is almost upon us.
On April 16th Democrats from all over the state will converge at the Los Angeles Convention Center .
Mark your calendars and be there!
April 16th – 19th
The Progressive Caucus will meet on:
Saturday, April 17th
4 – 6 pm
At The JW Marriott Hotel
across the street from the Convention Center
Sonoma County PDA’ers, both Convention delegates and those who are not, will be attending the Convention. We’d love to see you there! You do not need to be a delegate in order to attend the Caucus meetings.
Dear Fellow Progressive Democrats,
We can’t describe the pride we feel for you all as we announce the news you’ve been waiting for: not only did we make the 300 count threshold for obtaining signatures for Marcy Winograd, we did so solidly! Progressive Democrats everywhere stepped up, proved their mettle, and got the job done!
From Marcy Winograd:
“Many thanks to the leadership of the Progressive Caucus, the Chairs or Co-Chairs of the Progressive, Women’s, Rural, LGBT, Irish-American, Senior’s and Veterans’ caucuses, as well as to my staff and statewide volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure debate on the Party’s endorsement in the 36th congressional district.
I am also grateful for the help and support that was given to me by leaders in the State Legislature, County Central Committees, Progressive Democrats of America, the Southern California chapter of Americans for Democratic Action, and individuals connected with wonderful progressive organizations and clubs throughout the State who happen to be fellow delegates to the DSCC.
When the California Democratic Party endorses a candidate, the endorsement is made in the name of the entire party, not just appointed delegates or elected officials guarding access to the incumbent.
Chris Hedges
April 7, 2010
Take Action: Fight corporate personhood!
Sign the motion to amend | Get involved at FreeSpeechforPeople
Published by Truthdig.
Ralph Nader’s descent from being one of the most respected and powerful men in the country to being a pariah illustrates the totality of the corporate coup. Nader’s marginalization was not accidental. It was orchestrated to thwart the legislation that Nader and his allies—who once consisted of many in the Democratic Party—enacted to prevent corporate abuse, fraud and control. He was targeted to be destroyed. And by the time he was shut out of the political process with the election of Ronald Reagan, the government was in the hands of corporations. Nader’s fate mirrors our own.
By Norman Solomon
Marin IJ
April 6, 2010
THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE is making a lot of people mad at “elites.” Populist resentments are common these days – even in affluent Marin.
When the mood turns bitter and corrosive, appeals for civility are nice. But they won’t accomplish much unless we can address some key underlying causes of distress.
Visit the CDP page of the Progressive Caucus of the CA Democratic Party:
Laura Bonham
March 17, 2010
Kucinich: “Not the Bill I Wanted to Vote for”
Today, Dennis Kucinich announced in a Washington DC press conference that he will vote YES for the healthcare bill. For weeks, Democratic leadership have been pressuring Kucinich to change his vote. Kucinich had been seeking insertion of an ERISA waiver, to begin immediately, for states pursuing Medicare-for-all plans. The waiver was stripped from the bll before it passed the House in November. Several states including California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Ohio are working to institute Medicare-for-all type healthcare plans.
No one can say the healthcare reform battle has not been an interesting one—it has definitely been a disappointing one for those of us who support the most efficient and effective option—Medicare-for-all.
By Marcy Winograd
For OpEd News
February 22, 2010
Imagine if in 2010 we did not spend one more borrowed penny to manufacture new weapons, occupy new lands, or recruit new mercenaries. Going cold turkey on military spending would wipe out nearly $1 trillion of our 1.6 trillion dollar deficit. A year and a half of war & weapons abstinence could erase our debt entirely.
We are an affiliated chapter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA)
STAY TUNED FOR PROGRAM DETAILS!
PDSonoma meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month except December.
New Members and Guests Always Welcome!
Refreshments can be ordered and enjoyed in our meeting room. Please arrive early if you wish to order refreshments.
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