I have reported many times about how the Republican Parties in Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky were about the most corrupt political establishments in America. One that I have been missing is the Alaska Republican Party. I think it is time I turn northward to discuss what is going on in Alaska.

At the epicenter of Alaska corruption seems to be the Alaska oil services company Veco Corp. Veco, until its recent buyout, was an oil pipeline service and construction company. Perhaps Veco would like to be best known for the fact that it carried out a great deal of the clean up efforts after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. But this is not the only thing they were known for. They were known for illegal influence on Republican politicians.

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. After much pressure from readers, this email newsletter is now going the blog route. I update the blog once a week focusing on both national issues and issues of interest to particular regions or states. In general, NYC, California, New Jersey, Virginia and the Midwest get special attention simply because those are the areas where I seem to have the most readers. However, these days I am too busy to give each region the attention I used to. As my readership on Daily Gotham and Culture Kitchen goes up, I have to spend more time on those sites. So this newsletter is fading a bit. I hope it is still usefull to you, though.

This week I talk about corruption in government, focus on a Sierra Club action targeting Home Depot and Fox News, energy solutions and I focus on some local goings on in New York, Florida and New Jersey.

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. After much pressure from readers, this email newsletter is now going the blog route. I update the blog once a week focusing on both national issues and issues of interest to particular regions or states. In general, NYC, California, New Jersey, Virginia and the Midwest get special attention simply because those are the areas where I seem to have the most readers.

This week I discuss election fraud in Florida's 2006 election, Iowa and Michigan SLAMMING John McCain for hypocricy, corruption NYC real estate, and turning red states blue. If you visit my blog, don't forget to click on an advertiser or two. As usual I also highlight local events and organizations for several states. And, if you want more political and social discussions, please check out our offerings on Culture Kitchen.

Historian Arnold Toynbee defined the point at which any society becomes decadent.  Toynbee mentioned that this occurs when a society dwells upon its sex organs and displays no respect for the dead.

Tragically, child pornography on the Internet represents dire decadence.  Grave robbers and the Iraq War dead evidence disrespect for the dead.  This disrespect is also evident in Ann Coulter's disrespect for the widows of the 9/11 tragedies.  This fits another decadence definition.

Listening to Ann Coulter being interviewed on Fox New Sunday evening revealed her disrespect for the dead.  Her judgment of the widows of 9/11 definitely reached a decadent low, fitting uniquely in Arnold Toynbee's definition of the pivotal point at which a society is on its last legs.  

The fact that Ann Coulter's books have achieved consistent bestseller status makes one wonder exactly what kind of people would buy a book by such a brazen, heartless, ignorant individual.

"Don't blame Republicans" who voted for the Iraq War!  Don't blame Democrats for voting for the Iraq War.

Don't Blame the Bush Administration for: 1) 2,245 U.S. service personnel dead; 2) Nearly 15,000 U.S. service personnel injured; 3) As many as 100,000 Iraqis dead by some estimates.

During his State of the Union message, Bush dramatically declared his theme song since the Iraq War began, "We are bringing democracy and freedom to the people of Iraq.  This will spread to all the Middle East!"

A triumphant smile sweeps over Bush's face as he mouths this familiar mantra.  The tragic reality, however, is something quite different.  Since George Bush's leap into the Iraq War on the 100 percent false "weapons of mass destruction" propaganda, Middle East nations have rushed to hard line extremist Islamic religious views.