A progressive challenge to Jane Harman
There are many reasons why progressives will mobilize behind the campaign of Marcy Winograd, who announced on Monday that she’ll challenge incumbent Congresswoman Jane Harman in the 2010 Democratic primary.
Some will speak of Harman’s pro-war record. Some will recall her support for warrantless wiretapping, followed by her irony-free indignation when it turned out that NSA snoops had taped her own phone conversations. Some will recount Harman’s long public silence after being briefed on torture by the U.S. government.
And then there’s the extensive evidence that Rep. Harman has gone over the top to do the bidding of the Israeli government and some of its most extreme supporters in the United States.
But what may be most significant about Winograd’s race to unseat Harman in 2010 is that it reflects -- and is likely to help nurture -- a growing maturity among progressives around the country who are tired of merely complaining about centrist Democrats in Congress.
Many progressives are getting a clear take-home message: Let’s stop griping about lousy members of Congress and start defeating them.
Some will speak of Harman’s pro-war record. Some will recall her support for warrantless wiretapping, followed by her irony-free indignation when it turned out that NSA snoops had taped her own phone conversations. Some will recount Harman’s long public silence after being briefed on torture by the U.S. government.
And then there’s the extensive evidence that Rep. Harman has gone over the top to do the bidding of the Israeli government and some of its most extreme supporters in the United States.
But what may be most significant about Winograd’s race to unseat Harman in 2010 is that it reflects -- and is likely to help nurture -- a growing maturity among progressives around the country who are tired of merely complaining about centrist Democrats in Congress.
Many progressives are getting a clear take-home message: Let’s stop griping about lousy members of Congress and start defeating them.
Why isn't Obama turning to the Credit Unions?
As hundreds of our hard-earned billions are being poured into corrupt, greed-driven, lethally inefficient banks, the Administration, Congress and corporate media have studiously avoided the one sector of the banking industry that actually works---the credit unions.
Throughout the United States there are hundreds of these people-powered banks that have succeeded and prospered while all around them the traditional banking has collapsed into ruin, taking our general economy with them.
Why?
Because unlike those private banks, the America's 10,000 not-for-profit credit unions are controlled by the people who deposit their money there. Loans are made only to members. The deposits are federally insured, and investments are monitored by the depositors and, allegedly, by federal regulators.
For the most part, their decisions are made democratically. Their boards of directors are elected. Increasingly those decisions have been oriented funneling resources into new green industries whose future is bright, and that actually serve that public rather than raping it.
Throughout the United States there are hundreds of these people-powered banks that have succeeded and prospered while all around them the traditional banking has collapsed into ruin, taking our general economy with them.
Why?
Because unlike those private banks, the America's 10,000 not-for-profit credit unions are controlled by the people who deposit their money there. Loans are made only to members. The deposits are federally insured, and investments are monitored by the depositors and, allegedly, by federal regulators.
For the most part, their decisions are made democratically. Their boards of directors are elected. Increasingly those decisions have been oriented funneling resources into new green industries whose future is bright, and that actually serve that public rather than raping it.
Connell's sister now doubts plane crash was accident
The sister of the Rove IT guru whose small plane crashed shortly after he became "exhibit A" in a 2004 Ohio vote-rigging lawsuit has now voiced doubts that the crash was an accident. She told a Wisconsin newspaper:
"At first, it was really hard for me to believe Mike was dead because somebody wanted him dead. But as time goes on, it's hard for me not to believe there was something deliberate about it."
Mike Connell was to be a star witness in an Ohio 2004 election lawsuit which alleges that the election was stolen from John Kerry. Audio here of an interview on Air America with Steven Spoonamore, the Republican IT expert who blew the whistle on Rove, Connell, and others. Connell was hired as one of Rove's IT wizards after the Republicans took power in 2000.
Why we risked arrest for single-payer health care
On May 5, eight health care advocates, including myself and two other physicians, stood up to Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Senate Finance Committee during a "public roundtable discussion" with a simple question: Will you allow an advocate for a single-payer national health plan to have a seat at the table?
The answer was a loud, "Get more police!" And we were arrested and hauled off to jail.
The fact that a national health insurance program is supported by the majority of the public, doctors and nurses apparently means nothing to Sen. Baucus. The fact that thousands of people in America are dying every year because they can't get health care means nothing. The fact that over 1 million Americans go into bankruptcy every year due to medical debt - even though most of them had insurance when they got sick - means nothing.
The answer was a loud, "Get more police!" And we were arrested and hauled off to jail.
The fact that a national health insurance program is supported by the majority of the public, doctors and nurses apparently means nothing to Sen. Baucus. The fact that thousands of people in America are dying every year because they can't get health care means nothing. The fact that over 1 million Americans go into bankruptcy every year due to medical debt - even though most of them had insurance when they got sick - means nothing.
Interview with Dr. Margaret Flowers, arrested Tuesday on Capitol Hill, part two
Welcome back, Dr. Flowers. In the first installment of our interview, you spoke about how you and the rest of the Baucus 8 were arrested and why single payer should be on the table while other health care alternatives are discussed.
Prior to the Senate roundtable, constituents made thousands of calls and sent emails or faxes and that didn't accomplish anything. What do you think will be effective?
It will take more direct action - meet with legislators and urge them to sign on to HR 676 or S 703, collect petition signatures and present those to your legislators with the request that they co-sponsor the legislation. If that doesn't work, then have direct actions in front of their offices, get letters in the local paper, hold health care town halls (May 30th is a National Day of Action for Single Payer - www.healthcare-now.org), knock on doors in your community and get people to sign petitions. Be creative. It will take direct pressure to have an effect. And I hope that people will come to Washington when we have rallies and marches. The next event is a march and rally on May 13th.
Prior to the Senate roundtable, constituents made thousands of calls and sent emails or faxes and that didn't accomplish anything. What do you think will be effective?
It will take more direct action - meet with legislators and urge them to sign on to HR 676 or S 703, collect petition signatures and present those to your legislators with the request that they co-sponsor the legislation. If that doesn't work, then have direct actions in front of their offices, get letters in the local paper, hold health care town halls (May 30th is a National Day of Action for Single Payer - www.healthcare-now.org), knock on doors in your community and get people to sign petitions. Be creative. It will take direct pressure to have an effect. And I hope that people will come to Washington when we have rallies and marches. The next event is a march and rally on May 13th.
Renters caught in squeeze face eviction
Where is the justice in THIS?
You rent an apartment or a house. You pay your rent on time every month. The next thing you know, there is a bailiff or a sheriff's deputy at your door serving you an eviction notice and threatening to toss you out - and toss all your worldly belongings on the street.
What's worse, it's absolutely legal.
That's what's happening all across the United States when a landlord defaults on his loan and the mortgage company moves in to reclaim the property. The unsuspecting renter, who has done absolutely nothing wrong, who has paid his rent to the landlord, is the one who suffers.
In New York state, where Deutsche Bank is the worst offender, a state assemblyman is moving to change the law to give renters who face eviction a 90 day grace period. State Sen. Jeff Klein's bill is a good one, but it doesn't go far enough.
The law must be fundamentally changed to give renters legal rights. After all, they are legally obligated to pay the landlord, not the mortgage company. And if they fulfill that legal obligation, they should be permitted to stay in the property.
You rent an apartment or a house. You pay your rent on time every month. The next thing you know, there is a bailiff or a sheriff's deputy at your door serving you an eviction notice and threatening to toss you out - and toss all your worldly belongings on the street.
What's worse, it's absolutely legal.
That's what's happening all across the United States when a landlord defaults on his loan and the mortgage company moves in to reclaim the property. The unsuspecting renter, who has done absolutely nothing wrong, who has paid his rent to the landlord, is the one who suffers.
In New York state, where Deutsche Bank is the worst offender, a state assemblyman is moving to change the law to give renters who face eviction a 90 day grace period. State Sen. Jeff Klein's bill is a good one, but it doesn't go far enough.
The law must be fundamentally changed to give renters legal rights. After all, they are legally obligated to pay the landlord, not the mortgage company. And if they fulfill that legal obligation, they should be permitted to stay in the property.
Take your torture photos to church day
If you're paying attention, you know that no more evidence is needed to prosecute and convict our top national torturers, murderers, war mongers, eavesdroppers, and election riggers. If you want to protest our nation's descent into open lawlessness, by no means delay. If you're not planning on going to church on May 31st, for godsake don't. But if you are planning to attend a church that day, and if more torture photos are finally made public on May 28th, I hope you will take some inspiration from the church blogging of Nick Mottern and bring along some new poster-sized images of what torture does to people.
Predictably, recent polling found that white evangelical Christian Americans are more likely to support torture, followed by white Catholics, other white protestants, and trailing far behind: the non-religious. I would predict the same results for supporting aggressive war, unlawful detentions, union busting, defunding education, protecting corporate power, teaching primitive myths to children, and general all-around backwardness. And Mormons, among other groups, would score high in these rankings if included.
Predictably, recent polling found that white evangelical Christian Americans are more likely to support torture, followed by white Catholics, other white protestants, and trailing far behind: the non-religious. I would predict the same results for supporting aggressive war, unlawful detentions, union busting, defunding education, protecting corporate power, teaching primitive myths to children, and general all-around backwardness. And Mormons, among other groups, would score high in these rankings if included.
Not outraged about torture?
This week was a rough one for the defenders of torture. The legacy of the Bush/Cheney administration is being pounded to dust by a flurry of new information regarding the torture policy of George W Bush and Dick Cheney. February polling indicated that 65% of the public favor torture investigations, 40% criminal prosecutions.
In 2005, George Bush uttered the famous line that "We do not torture." Now, Cheney is out claiming that torture works. More revelations are coming soon from the Justice Department, keeping the defenders of torture on the defensive. The media is energized by the discussion.
John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and thirteen of his Judiciary colleagues formally appealed to Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor. The letter to the Attorney General reads: "there can be little doubt that the public interest will be served by appointment of a special counsel. The authorization and use of interrogation techniques that likely amounted to torture has generated tremendous concern and outrage in this country, and has harmed our legal and moral standing in the world."
In 2005, George Bush uttered the famous line that "We do not torture." Now, Cheney is out claiming that torture works. More revelations are coming soon from the Justice Department, keeping the defenders of torture on the defensive. The media is energized by the discussion.
John Conyers, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and thirteen of his Judiciary colleagues formally appealed to Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor. The letter to the Attorney General reads: "there can be little doubt that the public interest will be served by appointment of a special counsel. The authorization and use of interrogation techniques that likely amounted to torture has generated tremendous concern and outrage in this country, and has harmed our legal and moral standing in the world."
It's national Nancy Off the Table Day
That's right, children, it's national Nancy Day, honoring the occasion on May 7, 2006, when Nancy Pelosi first allowed Tim Russert to badger her into agreeing that she wouldn't permit the impeachment of Saint George or Father Dick, not even if they barbequed children on the White House lawn.
The right honorable Republican National Committee had just sent out a press release reading, roughly, as follows: "Skin me, Miss Nancy, snatch out my eyeballs, t'ar out my yeras by de roots, en cut off my legs, but don't deprive me of mah rightful impeachment. Don't fling me in dat immunity-patch."
For weeks the RNC talking heads had all had the same talking points: impeachment will revive the Republican Party. Give us impeachment and we'll rally our wingers till the Fourth Reich comes hand-in-hand with Jesus to attend your waterboarding. We'll dine on roast donkey for years to come if you'll only impeach us, Miss Nancy.
The right honorable Republican National Committee had just sent out a press release reading, roughly, as follows: "Skin me, Miss Nancy, snatch out my eyeballs, t'ar out my yeras by de roots, en cut off my legs, but don't deprive me of mah rightful impeachment. Don't fling me in dat immunity-patch."
For weeks the RNC talking heads had all had the same talking points: impeachment will revive the Republican Party. Give us impeachment and we'll rally our wingers till the Fourth Reich comes hand-in-hand with Jesus to attend your waterboarding. We'll dine on roast donkey for years to come if you'll only impeach us, Miss Nancy.
Pay to play politics is unacceptable for health care reform
Yesterday morning, eight doctors, lawyers and other activists stood up for single payer health care. We stood up during a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing was only to hear from the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, HMO’s and business interests. They did not want to hear about a real national health care plan.
I was one of the eight.
We stood up to the private health insurance industry, to the corporate power in Congress and demanded a single payer national health care plan where everybody is in and nobody is out. We want a plan that ensures the peoples right to choose their own doctor, hospital and health care treatment. We want a plan that will control costs – something that cannot be done unless the insurance industry, HMO’s and pharmaceutical companies are challenged.
The Senate Finance Committee which has taken millions from the insurance industry, HMO’s, pharmaceutical industry – those that profit from health care in America only scheduled their donors to speak. It was pay to play on display in Washington, DC before the corrupt Senate Finance Committee.
I was one of the eight.
We stood up to the private health insurance industry, to the corporate power in Congress and demanded a single payer national health care plan where everybody is in and nobody is out. We want a plan that ensures the peoples right to choose their own doctor, hospital and health care treatment. We want a plan that will control costs – something that cannot be done unless the insurance industry, HMO’s and pharmaceutical companies are challenged.
The Senate Finance Committee which has taken millions from the insurance industry, HMO’s, pharmaceutical industry – those that profit from health care in America only scheduled their donors to speak. It was pay to play on display in Washington, DC before the corrupt Senate Finance Committee.