Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

People still are arguing whether we are in a recession or not...I can tell you we have been in one for awhile. America is losing jobs at a frightening rate, and this is after years of Bush's economy of no job growth. We haven't HAD any job growth under Bush, and now we are losing jobs. The economy has been bad during Bush's entire time in the White House...and it is right now reaching its worst. Poor job outlook. High prices for almost every necessary commodity from wheat to heating oil to milk. And through it all the deficit shoots up at a rate we have never, ever seen before.

The American economy is in the toilet and John McCain and the Republican Party are saying "stay the course." If we stay the course, we will be in major trouble.

On the international front, Iran-allied al-Sadr is clearly the most powerful man in Iraq. In Burma, a man who silently and calmly protested the government's oppression, committing no act of violence, was sentenced by the Burmese government to a life sentance for his silent protest. Burma is among the worst governments on earth right now...using child soldiers and oppressing their people brutally, killing even peaceful Buddhist monks who dare to stand up to the government. Meanwhile the oil company Chevron is one of the main financial supports of the brutal Burmese government. When you buy gas, keep that in mind, though really there is no "good" company to buy gas from. I think Citgo and BP are the "best," but they have problems as well. Cutting back on your gasoline use and avoiding Chevron, Shell and Exxon/Mobil really are critical things for progressives to be doing.

But Burma isn't the only nation condemning peaceful protesters. Indonesia has also sentenced a peaceful protester to a life term. By comparison China isn't so bad...China only sentenced a peaceful protester to three years in jail.

Speaking of civil liberties, America isn't doing so well...though hopefully getting better. Those who have followed the threat to my wife's privacy from Homeland Security might be interested to know that the Democratic Congress has taken up the issue and is holding hearings. For those of you who have been disappointed in the Democrats since they took over Congress, I understand your frustration, but also realize that Congress would NEVER have started to investigate the invasion of privacy that my wife may face as someone working in a government facility if the Democrats hadn't taken Congress. Sometimes change is slow. Maybe too slow. But we are seeing progress.

I want to continue to emphasise really great progressive candidates. In Wisconsin I was pushing a slate of progressive grassroots candidates endorsed by Progressive Majority. As you can read in the Wisconsin Focus section, 21 out of 41 of those candidates won. That is a good success rate for grassroots candidates! In Alaska one of my favorite candidates of this year is Diane Benson, running for the Alaska House seat, who many of you will have noticed me pushing in recent weeks. This week I also push once again for a friend running for Congress in New York (NY-13), Steve Harrison. And in my Virginia Focus section I am advocating for an excellent candidate for the VA-5 Congressional district, Tom Perriello. This guy has been involved in the reconcilliation process in places like Sierra Leone and Liberia, and has visited hot spots like Afghanistan and Darfur. This is a guy we really need in Congress! Add to these candidates my continuing push for Progressive Majority candidates in Pennsylvania, Arizona and California, and I'd say we have a great group of candidates this year.

So a lot going on. If you can give some help to people like Alaska's Diane Benson, New York's Steve Harrison, Virginia's Tom Perriello, or the Progressive Majority candidates I list in Arizona, California and Pennsylvania, it would help a lot. Your time or your money could do wonders for these great candidates.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

REPUBLICAN VALUES (IOWA): We Treat People Like Livestock!

McCAIN EMBRACES RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS

A RESPONSIBLE PLAN FOR ENDING THE IRAQ WAR

NUKING IRAN

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Alternative Energy, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

OREGON FOCUS: Neighborhood Leaders, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

NEW JERSEY FOCUS: Blue Jersey Radio, Peace Rallies, Impeachment, Groups and Events

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Tom Perriello, Impeachment, Groups and Events

FLORIDA FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Groups and Events

ARIZONA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

ALASKA FOCUS: Diane Benson, Groups and Events

TEXAS FOCUS: Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

IOWA FOCUS: Sustainable Agricultre, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

GEORGIA FOCUS: Groups and Events

ILLINOIS FOCUS: Peace Vigils, Sustainable Living, Groups and Events