Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

This week Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This is of course bad news, but Elizabeth Edwards wisely warns us not to be writing his obituary yet. Cancer is a disease that is more treatable now than ever, though our tools for doing so remain relatively crude. Surgery is really an ancient technique though always improving. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy both kill all rapidly dividing cells in the body. But the percentage of cancer patients who become "cancer survivors" (a term not everyone likes) increases year by year. Best of luck to Ted and the whole Kennedy family.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

WHOSE AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD McCAIN?

LOCAL BROOKLYN FOCUS: Judicial Elections

CALIFORINA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

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

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

MICHIGAN FOCUS: Mark Schauer, Gary Peters, Groups and Events

VIRGINIA FOCUS: Judy Feder, Tom Periello, Groups and Events

FLORIDA FOCUS: Wildfires, Alex Sink, Groups and Events

WISCONSIN FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

ILLINOIS FOCUS: David Sirota, Peace Vigils, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

TEXAS FOCUS: Rick Noriega, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS: Alternative Energy, Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

OHIO FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

GEORGIA FOCUS: Veterans for Peace, NAACP, Groups and Events

ARIZONA FOCUS: Progressive Candidates, Groups and Events

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS: Larry Kissell, Veterans for Peace, Groups and Events

ALASKA FOCUS: Diane Benson, Mark Begich, Groups and Events

OREGON FOCUS: Neighborhood Leaders, Groups and Events

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