The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. So I have bene doing this almost exactly three years. And boy are my arms tired! (sorry!) Having organized protests against the Republican Convention, I found I had a core of activists who needed some encouragement after Bush "won" re-"election". My carefully thought out suggestions as to where we could go from that defeat led to this more-or-less weekly newsletter.

This week I discuss the corruption and pedophilia...yes, pedophilia...that is rampant in the Republican Party. I discuss why Rudy Giuliani should reject Pat Robertson's endorsement...and if he doesn't he should be held accountable for the fanatical extremism of Robertson. I also cover election results and some local events in many states. Don't forget to visit an advertiser or two and if you want more, please visit Culture Kitchen.

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Having organized protests against the Republican Convention, I found I had a core of activists who were looking to me for support after Bush "won" re-"election". My carefully thought out suggestions as to where we could go from that defeat led to this more-or-less weekly newsletter.

This week I discuss a very personal conflict with Homeland Security, which involved first bad news, then, on appeal, excellent news. Sometimes our court system works! I also cover the response our troops have for Rush Limbaugh, responses to Bush's opposition to healthcare for American children, and I discuss the situation in Burma. I also am finally getting back to some more local stuff including local events in NYC, a brilliant plan for winning in Colorado, and some local Virginia and New Jersey stuff. If you go to any of these articles, please click on some advertisements because that helps me keep doing this!

With all the hoopla about the big Democratic win, little attention has been given to the assault on direct democracy.  Sadly, Florida voters caved in and passed Amendment 3 that requires 60 percent to pass ballot initiatives instead of the present simple majority.  What should be viewed as one of the great ironies of all times is that this amendment passed by a statewide vote of 57.8 percent to 42.2 percent.  That's right; this terrible amendment would not have passed under the new rule that now has become law!  

Michael Mayo, writing in the Sun-Sentinel before the election, noted: "Florida's amendment system has its faults, but it provides a necessary and powerful counterbalance to an aloof, insulated Legislature. Raising the amendment bar would only make it harder for citizens to flex their muscle.  And that's exactly what the politicians and big businesses want. This amendment was put on the ballot by the Legislature, not a petition drive.  ... If [Amendment 3] passes, democracy in Florida loses."

Libertarian, liberal and conservative groups and the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor opposed the amendment, but were no match for corporate money.

In less than an hour, the polls will close in Colorado. The two important state-wide items are Referenda C & D. C authorizes the state to retain, for the next 5 years, the surplus usually returned to taxpayers under TABOR - the so-called Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. D, which takes effect only if C also passes, uses 10% of the retained surplus to issue bonds for various capital improvement projects.