R.I.P Howard Zinn

With sincere gratitude to my friend, Cliff Wells, who introduced me to Howard Zinn and reminded us all of him and his "People's History of the United States" at every opportunity.

R.I.P HOWARD ZINN
1922 - 2010

UPDATE: 01/30/2010 - Thank you to my dear friend Rebecca Wolfe for sharing this video - Howard Zinn's wishes for how he wold like to be remembered:

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/27/2010
Americans Killed: 972
Americans Wounded: 4,434
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 342
http://icasualties.org/
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, CA died Dec. 31, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Robert Donevski, 19, of Sun City, AZ died Jan. 16 in Abad, Afghanistan.

*Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett, 29, of Knightdale, NC died Jan. 19 near Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon, 52, of Canadensis, PA died Jan. 17, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

*Capt. Paul Pena, 27, of San Marcos, TX died Jan. 19 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery, 29, of West Yellowstone, MT died Jan. 20 at Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan.

*Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi, 25, of Cordova, TN died Jan. 23 in Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Daniel M. Angus, 28, of Thonotosassa, FL died Jan. 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Poole, 22, of Bowling Green, KY died Jan. 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Zachary D. Smith, 19, of Hornell, NY died Jan. 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane, 22, of Towson, MD died Jan. 23 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

Posted using ShareThis

Snatching victory from the jaws...

I'm hoping for the best here:


By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, AP

"Chastened by the Democratic Senate loss in Massachusetts, President Barack Obama and congressional allies signaled Wednesday they may try to scale back his sweeping health care overhaul in an effort to at least keep parts of it alive."

Short of doing what Patty Murray seems to be suggesting here:

Some Democratic senators suggested it was up to the House to save the day by passing the Senate bill.

"The Senate has passed the health care bill. The House has to make a decision how they want to proceed," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a member of the leadership.

the current senate healthcare bill is dead. This gives Harry Reid an opportunity to move forward down the reconciliation path and deliver real reform for the American people.

Too much to ask?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Dean 2012

Howard Dean speaking to Rachel Maddow after Scott Brown is declared the winner of the Mass. senate seat that had been held by Ted Kennedy for 47 years:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

An opportunity to govern

With the apparent loss of Ted Kennedy's seat in the US Senate, I am reminded of Howard Dean's admonishment to the Democratic party in 2004 (paraphrased here) 'You either stand for something or you lose everything.'

Rather than throw their hands up or -worse- panic; senate Democrats have an opportunity to fall back and do what they should have done when the voters entrusted them with a super majority: stop hiding behind threats of filibusters and govern!

Without the "magic 60", there is no more reason to quiver in fear from the likes of Joe LIEberman, Ben Nelson, or any of the rest of the "I want mine or you get nothing" crowd. It is time to employ "majority rules" democracy. Grab the best parts of both the House and senate bills and, via reconciliation, pass REAL healthcare reform. If the reform needs to be broken into pieces - break it into pieces and with 51,52,53,54,55 votes make it so.

This is not the time to circle the wagons and cower in defeat. Victory is in your reach and Teddy has given you the opening to achieve it!

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Larry Kalb announces challenge to Rick Larsen

Healthcare reform activist, Larry Kalb, will challenge Rick Larsen

A second candidate has emerged to challenge incumbent Democratic congressman Rick Larsen for the 2nd Congressional District seat he has held since 2000. On Friday, Bellingham resident and progressive Democratic Party activist, Larry Kalb, issued the following press release announcing his candidacy:

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
* *
*BELLINGHAM, WA (January 15, 2010)*

Larry Kalb, a longtime resident of Bellingham, announced his candidacy for Congress today to become the representative of the 2nd Congressional District of Washington State. His decision represents a direct challenge to the incumbent Congressman.

"Our congressman has let us down!" says Kalb. "He has handed over his political authority to legislate to lobbyists for big business and then showered them with taxpayer money to boot. He's too expensive to keep in office. The pending health 'insurance' legislation, which lobbyists authored, represents the largest shifting of citizens' money to corporate interests in the history of this nation."

Kalb, 55, works in the Finance Department for Whatcom Transportation Authority and has lived in Bellingham for 16 years. He has been active in numerous community and civic issues, most recently as the President of Health Care for All Washington, a statewide organization advocating single-payer health care.

"Larsen continues to defer to corporate and monied interests and we, the constituents of the 2nd Congressional District, are paying for this transfer of power," asserts Kalb. "He's done this with the credit card companies, the first economic stimulus package, the emergency war funding and, most recently, with health care reform legislation."

Asked about health care reform specifically Kalb said: "The people of my district want to get Wall Street Medicine out of their doctor's office, but instead my congressman pledged his allegiance to the insurance companies by giving them a profit windfall worth hundreds of billions of dollars on the backs of us taxpayers and that's wrong. My motto is 'equal access, equal care - regardless of our station in life.' I believe our money should go to getting more health care services, not making middlemen richer!"

Kalb lived in Europe for 11 years before moving to Bellingham. During his residency there he had an opportunity to experience first hand the economic benefits of universal access to health care. "A whole layer of our economy is missing in comparison," says Kalb. "Other nations depend on the intellectual initiative of a healthy citizenry to create domestic economic expansion, but with our health care system it retracts. And politicians always talk about creating more jobs. That can't happen under our system of profit-based medicine."

Kalb also differs sharply with the incumbent over expenditures on wars. "We could use the $160 billion dollars my congressman slated for more war in Afghanistan to stimulate job growth or to build a light-rail system from Blaine to Seattle." Kalb pointed out. "Our roads are already congested and the erosion of transportation improvement funds promises to make our air quality worse, causing more kids to be treated for asthma. A good steward of public funds would provide child care programs for young working moms and dads who struggle to set-up a household, or enable cash-strapped high school graduates the financial means to study a skill or profession of their choice, or even help those families facing foreclosure to keep their house."

Asked about his number one goal if elected, Kalb said, "During my tenure I will work fiercely to take down every for sale sign from the halls of Congress by supporting campaign finance reform legislation that brings sovereignty in line with what matters most to us voters, namely stable homes, secure livelihoods and protection of our health."

"This is our home. We have a right to just governance."

Kalb’s announcement comes just 2 days after Republican Snohomish County Councilman, John (Freedom County) Koster, announced his plans to challenge Larsen to a re-match of their 2000 race for the seat and highlights Larsen’s uneasy relationship with the Progressive wing of his party. While there have from time to time been token challenges to Larsen from regional candidates who have listed themselves as Democrats on the ballot, Kalb is well known in the district and has been involved in Democratic Party activities for some time as a member of the state central committee and as a former Chair of the state party’s Progressive Caucus.

Larsen, who won early favor with the district’s Progressives with his 2002 vote against the resolution authorizing George W Bush to invade Iraq and with his strong progressive environmental and pro-choice votes, started alienating the left with his votes to continue funding the military action in Iraq ( and overall DoD spending), his vote on a controversial “bankruptcy reform” bill that made it harder for citizens to file for personal bankruptcy while doing nothing to hold the lending institutions accountable for their predatory lending practices, and most recently his lack of support for a “single payer” healthcare system or even the more moderated “public option” approach in the current healthcare reform debate.

Wresting the Democratic nomination from an incumbent is a difficult task in any given year. However, with changes adopted by the state’s central committee last year, Kalb’s task has been made even more daunting. For those who may not know, the state central committee is comprised of two members from each legislative district and county organization. They are elected by their respective organizations to represent them in state party dealings. Under the state’s “Top Two” primary rules candidates may label themselves as they see fit with regard to party affiliation. The top two vote getters in the August primary move on to the General Election ballot in November. As their means for establishing the “official” party endorsement, nominating conventions were established. In 2008, the conventions for nominating congressional candidates involved all of the elected and appointed PCOs from within the Congressional District (potentially hundreds of the party’s rank and file) meeting in one place on the same day to vote for the nomination of their chosen candidate(s). The winner of the nomination became eligible for financial and volunteer support from the state party and was the only person authorized to list the party’s endorsement on their campaign literature moving into the primary. Perhaps sensing a growing progressive backlash stemming from the debate over healthcare reform, the state central committee voted to change the procedure for the nominating conventions for Federal offices by restricting the voting to members of the central committee from within the congressional district. The vote of this much smaller body would then be ratified (or nullified and changed) by the entire central committee at a later meeting. Because the natural instinct of the state party is to “protect our incumbents”, any challenge from within is frowned upon. By limiting the voting members in the district and reserving the right of final approval to members from outside the district, a successful challenge would have to be viewed as nothing short of monumental.

With Koster coming from the right and Kalb from the left, it would seem that Larsen would be very comfortable being seen as the “moderate center” candidate. However, a good reading of their respective challenges will show that both men are playing to the growing populist movement in the country that simply says incumbents of both parties are out of touch with the concerns of the average voter.

For more information on Larry Kalb’s campaign:

Kalb for Congress
2nd Congressional District of WA

P.O. Box 128
Bellingham, WA 98227
Phone: (360) 927-2729

Web site: http://kalbforcongress.com
Media Contact: Larry Kalb. Email: contact@kalbforcongress.com

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/17/2010
Americans Killed: 962
Americans Wounded: 4,434
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 332
http://icasualties.org/
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama
----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. 1st Class Jason O. B. Hickman, 35, of Kingsport, TN died Jan. 7 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Mark D. Juarez, 23, of San Antonio, TX died Jan. 9 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Meinert, 20, of Fort Atkinson, WI died Jan. 10 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingham, 25, of Altoona, PA died Jan. 11 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe, 21, of Johnsonville, IL died Jan. 11 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

* Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski, 21, of Tomball, TX died Jan. 11 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw, 23, of Lowell, MI died Jan. 13 in Darya Ya, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville, IL died Jan. 13 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek, 25, of Westwood, NJ died Jan. 14 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather, 25, of Collierville TN died Jan. 13 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, SC died Jan. 13 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Larsen-Koster 2010; The rematch

As if trying out for Conan O’Brien’s soon to be vacated gig on late-night TV, the sole Republican on the Snohomish County Council, John (Freedom County) Koster announced his candidacy on Wednesday for the U.S. House seat currently being held by mostly Democrat, Rick Larsen. What put the announcement into the comedic genre was his insistence on referring to Larsen as some type of socialist dupe. Let’s be brutally honest here – many of us can’t even bring ourselves to utter the two words, ‘Progressive’ and ‘Larsen’, together in the same breath and yet, flanked by Tea Baggers and bigots John Koster is probably the only person in local politics that, by comparison, could make Rick actually appear liberal. But SOCIALIST!?!?!?! Give me a break!

Photo credit: Curt Eidem

Koster’s public day began with what to me was genuine political thing of beauty. In what now appears to have been a move calculated to solidify his support from the small but vocal (and financially appealing) gun toters community prior to his campaign announcement, he let it be known at the end of November that he was planning to introduce a motion to repeal the county’s decades-old ban of firearms in our county parks. His argument was based on the premise that, because our law was seemingly overridden by a subsequent state law, we needed to “officially” repeal our law in order to be in compliance with the state. (Imagine, if you will, this proud Libertarian/Republican suddenly wishing to accept state rule over local “home rule”) The fact that the city of Seattle is currently involved in a court case to test that very thing did not seem to matter to Mr. Koster. With a date set for action on Koster’s motion, word went out to the tea bag set and the guns and ammo crowd to come to the county council meeting at 10:30am to express their support for guns and Mr. Koster. Knowing full well that his motion was doomed from the outset from not so veiled comments from the 4 member Democratic majority on the council, yet also knowing that the cameras would be rolling, Koster made his motion and then sat and listened to the silence as he was shot down due to the lack of a 2nd. Of course Koster took the opportunity to chastise his fellow council members for “avoiding the politically dicey” while; at the same time admitting that his motion was simply window dressing for his political ambition. In his statement to the council and the public he essentially admitted that the passage of his motion would have absolutely no effect on current law; thereby conceding the point that his move was solely for the benefit of the cameras. And so it was on to his campaign announcement and rally on the plaza.

The podium and sound system having been prepared ahead of time by long time political aid and associate, Larry Stickney of the anti-gay Ref. 71 fame, Koster strode to the podium stopping to greet fellow Larsen victim Doug Roulstone (lost to Larsen in 2006 ) and members of a local Tea Party organization. He quickly went on to acknowledge the friends and family in the gathering of some 30 or 40 people before he laid out his campaign strategy of labeling the incumbent a “puppet of the Pelosi/Reid Progressive, Socialist agenda”. He complained of the previous 10 years (that would cover the Bush administration and the Republican controlled congress I believe) of massive government and runaway spending. His sole commitment to help fix the problem: “No New Taxes”. For some 20 minutes or so he ran down the list of Tea Bagging buzz words: Liberty, Freedom, Taxes, Socialist, Socialist, and (did I mention) Socialist. He put in his obligatory praise of Ronald Reagan and even seemed to channel him at one point when he said that ‘government is not our friend. In fact it is essentially a direct threat to our liberty’. Odd when you consider he was making an announcement declaring his intent to become a part of that government.

Rick Larsen (D-WA02)Socialist puppet? NOT!

And so the race has begun and one thing is certain. Considering the caliber of talent to challenge Rick Larsen since 2002, this year will at least be interesting.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Everett City Council Votes to Reduce Public Access

h/t to Valerie Steele for passing this on via email

According to a story publish in the Everett Herald today, the Everett City Council last evening voted to reverse a decision from last year that moved all of their public meetings to evening hours and will revert to their decades old tradition of holding all but one meeting per month in the morning. The decision will have the effect of denying access to the council to the thousands of citizens who work during the day.

Herald reporter, Debra Smith, writes,

"With zero notice to the public, Everett leaders decided Wednesday night to reduce night meetings to once a month, effective immediately.

Last year, the City Council decided to move all its morning meetings to the evening so more people would have a chance to sit in or speak up about city business..."

The move, led apparently by Republican council member Arlan Hatloe and his protege Shannon Affholter, would seem to be a rebuke of recent calls for greater access to the council via districting and more evening meetings. According to Smith, the motion was met with solid resistance on the part if the more Progressive members of the council and, in the end, turned on the vote of the most recent addition to the council and long-time City Hall insider, Jeff Moore.

"Before the vote, Councilwoman Brenda Stonecipher, who favors night meetings, said the last-minute timing of the resolution and lack of public input was an insult to citizens. She made a motion to table the resolution until the public had a chance to weigh in but that was voted down.

Councilmen Arlan Hatloe, Ron Gipson, Shannon Affholter and Moore voted for reducing night meetings. Stonecipher and councilmen Drew Nielsen and Paul Roberts voted against...

Council Member Affholter promised greater access in 2007


And so, even though Hatloe and Moore would appear to be safe from any type of citizen backlash for the next four years, I hope the voters will remember the promises of GREATER ACCESS made by Mr. Affholter in his 2007 campaign come 2011.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/06/2010
Americans Killed: 953
Americans Wounded: 4,434
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 323
http://icasualties.org/
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama
----------------------------


Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, PA died Dec. 20 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago, IL died Dec. 18 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, CA died Dec. 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, CA, died Dec. 25 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, NY died Dec. 26 in Arghandab, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, CT died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan.

*Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, IL died Jan. 3 near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Joshua A. Lengstorf, 24, of Yoncalla, OR died Jan. 3 in Ashoque, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Brian R. Bowman, 24, of Crawfordsville, IN died Jan. 3 in Ashoque, Afghanistan.

* Pvt. John P. Dion, 19, of Shattuck, OK died Jan. 3 in Ashoque, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Why We Fight; revisited

On Saturday I posted a short piece about the “Underpants Bomber” and United States policy in the so called War on Terror. While you won’t see many comments about that post at the source, it has attracted a pretty good conversation over on my Facebook page. One of the commenters is a very dear family friend who is active duty military and leans toward the conservative side of the political spectrum. Intelligent and well educated, he has often engaged with me in some of my more enjoyable and insightful discussions of the issues of the day. Another commenter there is one of the more vocal antiwar, anti-military voices in my local area and someone whose views and ideas I share on many fronts. In a sort of back and forth between the two commenters a statement from my family friend has set off the spark for today’s post.

“The fact remains however, someone has to protect yours and my way of thought. That will forever remain and if we believe that if we all throw down our arms and believe that all will be fine then we are all naive. I wish it were that easy but people hate and have inherent greed and justify it and kill for it that simple fact makes my ugly job necessary but don't think it is for love of killing or love of money. I do it so that you me and even my Mom can sleep at night without fear of being dragged into the street and being shot for simply speaking out or choosing their religion. ..”

I will say here again as clearly as possible, I do not accept the notion that any American service member who has given their life or limb in Afghanistan or Iraq has in any way made my life in this country any safer. In fact, I solemnly believe that the policy of this government to continue to beat the hornets’ nest in the Middle East has put this country much more at risk to attack.

It is with that opening statement that I commend to all who read here the excellent 2004 documentary, “Why We Fight”. Please note that the entire video runs over 90 minutes and requires a broadband connection for best viewing.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Hearts and Minds

"Are we creating more terrorists than we're killing?"
Donald Rumsfeld

School children killed in coalition raid in Afghanistan, UN probe finds

By Colin Perkel (CP)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A preliminary United Nations investigation has found that eight students were among 10 Afghan civilians killed in Kunar province on Sunday.

A statement Thursday by Kai Eide, special UN representative, says the deaths occurred during a raid by Afghan and international military forces in the province's Narang district.

"Based on our initial investigation, eight of those killed were students enrolled in local schools," Eide said…

Afghans burn Obama effigy over civilian deaths

By Samoon Miakhail (AFP)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — Protesters took to the streets in Afghanistan on Wednesday, burning an effigy of the US president and shouting "death to Obama" to slam civilian deaths during Western military operations.

Hundreds of university students blocked main roads in Jalalabad, capital of eastern Nangahar province, to protest the alleged deaths of 10 civilians, mostly school children, in a Western military operation on Saturday.

"The government must prevent such unilateral operations otherwise we will take guns instead of pens and fight against them (foreign forces)," students from the University of Nangahar's education faculty said in a statement.

Marching through the main street of Jalalabad, the students chanted "death to Obama" and "death to foreign forces", witnesses said.

The protesters torched a US flag and an effigy of US President Barack Obama in a public square in central Jalalabad, before dispersing…

Kinda makes you wonder which one of these kids will be setting their underpants on fire over the friendly skies next...

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

They are irrelevant to the argument; that is why.

From time to time I get questioned by friends of mine in the Democratic Party who ask why I spend so much of my time and bandwidth assailing Democrats while seemingly ignoring the Republicans; the “party of no”. The answer, especially since the 2006 and 2008 elections is as stated in the title to this piece: They are irrelevant to the argument; that is why.

The fact that the Democrats “are in charge” aside, I offer the following from my lesbian girlfriend Rachel Maddow (none do it better) to explain why the Republicans should be viewed mostly as the comic relief in American government.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It is not the Republicans that those of us on the left should be worried about. It is that fact that so many who would call themselves Democrats seem to believe they should be worried about the Republicans that should give us pause. The reason we are still engaging in Bush’s foreign policy; the reason we will not achieve universal healthcare coverage via a single payer system; the reason we are still living under policies like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the insane “War on Drugs”, has very little to do with Dr. Evil and the rest of the Republican Party and so much to do with the need for Better Democrats. And so, dear readers do not expect me any time soon to divert my gaze from the “relevant players” in this game. Moving toward the "mid-terms" this year, ask yourself, does your Democrat respresent you?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Yemen in the cross hairs?

By now everyone has heard about the “Underpants Bomber” who tried unsuccessfully to bring down an airliner over Detroit, Michigan by setting off an explosive device hidden away in his underpants. Be clear that my effort to demean the actor is in no way intended to minimize the act. To the contrary, I believe that the almost successful effort to kill so many Americans over one of our major cities only underlines the misguided efforts of both the Bush and now Obama administrations to “protect” our country and our citizens by sending hundreds of thousands of American troops to invade and occupy whole countries in the Middle East.

Almost immediately following the news of the terrorist attempt the calls for action against Al Qaida elements in the tiny country of Yemen began. After Senate Homeland Security Chairman, Joe LIEberman made some comments about pre-emptive action in that country, word started filtering out that, indeed, the United States was already active there (in “partnership” with the Yemeni government) launching attacks and bombing raids on suspected Al Qaida training sites. On his Saturday radio address, President Obama painted a detailed picture of how the Nigerian born “Underpants Bomber” had been trained and supplied in the country of Yemen and how the US would be doing more to disrupt Al Qaida there.

With this fresh focus on yet another Muslim country in our cross-hairs, and at the front end of Obama’s 30,000 troop surge in Afghanistan, I offer the following bit of video. In the video; a clip from the December 29 MSNBC program, “Morning Joe”, NBC Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel provides a pretty rational critique of this country’s policy toward Al Qaida and the so-called War on Terror. As you listen to Engel it is important to note that he makes his living observing and talking to the troops, their commanders – military and civilian – and foreign leaders. He has been covering the Middle East for NBC News since before the invasion of Afghanistan in December of 2001.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama, are you listening?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue