Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

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Sonoma County Democratic Party Crab Feed
February 22, 2013

Lynn Hamilton, Recipient of the Roberta Hollowell Award “In Recognition of her Dedicated Service to Issues of Importance for All Women and Democratic Party Values.”

Prepared remarks. Award presented by former Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Thank you Lynn Woolsey. I have always admired you and held you up as an example of an elected official who stuck to your values the entire time you served as our Congresswoman. I urge all of the elected officials who were endorsed by the Democratic Central Committee to follow Lynn’s example and stick to your values and the values set forth in the Democratic Party Platform even though you might be tempted to betray your principles for personal gain, power or advancement.

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Balance for Our Families and Our Economy
February 20, 2013

Dear Representative Huffman,

We are writing in support of legislation to promote economic growth, protect voting rights, end the war, and lower the deficit.

The Balancing Act (H.R. 505) proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus would provide relief to American families, and reduce the long-term Federal deficit in a fair and balanced way by balancing budget cuts and revenues—closing loopholes and making sure the Pentagon and the nation’s biggest corporations do their part—and by putting $800 in the pockets of every family this year. It would create more than 1 million jobs by investing in infrastructure, and by keeping 280,000 teachers in our classrooms.

by Norman Solomon
January 23, 2013. CommonDreams.org

With President Obama’s second term underway and huge decisions looming on Capitol Hill, consider this statement from Howard Zinn: “When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not to fall in meekly behind them.”“When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not to fall in meekly behind them.”

With so much at stake, we can’t afford to forget our role. For starters, it must include public clarity.

Read the article here

by Norman Solomon
Common Dreams. January 16, 2013

A simple twist of fate has set President Obama’s second Inaugural Address for January 21, the same day as the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.

Obama made no mention of King during the Inauguration four years ago — but since then, in word and deed, the president has done much to distinguish himself from the man who said “I have a dream.”

Read the article here

January 13, 2012

All of the candidates who ran on the Progressive Slate, www.ProgressiveSlate.org , in our local California Democratic Party AD Delegate Elections, were elected! These newly elected CDP AD Delegates will represent us on the Democratic Party State Central Committee:

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Joe Louis Wildman (E-Board)
Lasara Allen
Phil Baldwin
Caroline Banuelos
Shane Brinton
Susan Brinton
Kathryn Donahue
Phil Harlan
Kenny Jowers
Maggi Koren
Mel Kreb

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Mayme Hubert (E-Board)
Nick Carlin
Ruth Carter
Alice Chan
Jason Davies
Maureen De Nieva
Elizabeth Escalante
Paul Fenn
Blake Hooper
Ken Jones
Dan Mullen
Donna Norton

This article originally appeared in the November 26, 2012 edition of The Nation magazine.

by NORMAN SOLOMON

Millions of Americans are eager, even desperate, for a political movement that truly challenges the power of Wall Street and the Pentagon. But accommodation has been habit-forming for many left-leaning organizations, which are increasingly taking their cues from the party establishment: deferring to top Democrats in Washington, staying away from robust progressive populism, and making excuses for the Democratic embrace of corporate power and perpetual war.

It’s true that many left-of-center groups are becoming more sophisticated in their use of digital platforms for messaging, fundraising and other work. But it’s also true that President Obama’s transactional approach has had demoralizing effects on his base. Even the best resources—mobilized by unions, environmental groups, feminist organizations and the like—can do only so much when many voters and former volunteers are inclined to stay home. A month before the 2010 election, Obama strategist David Axelrod noted that “almost the entire Republican margin is based on the enthusiasm gap.” A similar gap made retaking the House a long shot this year.

DISSIDENT VOICE
November 9, 2012
by Robert Hunziker

The American public has rejected filthy rich capitalists as personified by Mitt Romney’s run for the presidency. No other candidate in modern political history has embodied the precepts of consummate, rampant capitalism like Romney; he is the classic image of Rich “Uncle” Pennybags, aka: Mr. Monopoly, doffing his black top hat to passers-by but without the funny little white mustache. Unfortunately for Mr. Romney & Co., contempt for the political dogma of filthy rich capitalism has been exposed within the dark shadows of defeat. At the same time, and paradoxically, his campaign’s billions helped progressives… immensely.

Read the Rest Here

Semi-official Election Results
California Secretary of State
General Election
November 6, 2012

Semi-official Election Results

Sonoma County – Registrar of Voters
Consolidated Primary Election
November 6, 2012

Current Election Results

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PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS SONOMA COUNTY
Candidate and California Proposition Endorsements
General Election, November 6, 2012

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CANDIDATES

CA State Assembly District 10
Michael Allen

Sonoma County Supervisor, District 1
Susan Gorin

Santa Rosa City Council
Julie Combs
Caroline Banuelos
Gary Wysocky
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A key paradox for progressives of our national political life goes something like this: everybody complains about Congress, but nobody does anything about it.

Of course, it is far from true that nobody is doing anything about Congress. Lots of people are doing something about it. But if you hold the complaints of progressives about Congress in one hand, and the level of progressive activity to change who is in Congress and what they do when they get there in the other, there is a big mismatch. The level of complaint should provoke a much higher level of activity to do something about it.

Read the Full Story Here

Founder of the media watch group FAIR, Director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College, Author of Cable News Confidential,
JEFF COHEN will speak on: U.S. News Media, the Occupy Movement and the 2012 Election. The event is sponsored by the Healdsburg High Progressive Club.

Thursday, March 15
7:30 p.m.

Healdsburg High School
Room 67
Healdsburg, CA

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

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

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

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

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 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

April 13, 2011 | By Solomon for Congress

Norman Solomon—the North Bay political activist who has been a leader of the region’s Green New Deal commission and the national Healthcare Not Warfare campaign—announced on Wednesday (April 13) that he has filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress. He said that his name will be on the June 2012 ballot if Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey decides not to seek re-election.

Read the Rest Here