Could Peace be on the Horizon?

The Air Force has too few aerial refueling tankers to support a war.

I just read that on Michelle Dunlop's Aerospace Blog at the Everett Herald.

She continues:

Air Force officials testified at hearings in Congress yesterday, saying their tanker forces could not sustain two out of three scenarios of major conflict.

This is bad because? Oh that's right, in the new 9-11 world, there's a boogey man under every bed in the Pentagon and the Whitehouse.

If this is what it takes to slow down our continuing trend toward perpetual war, I say, let's just keep those tankers grounded.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Jim Kenny for Snohomish County Prosecutor

On Saturday, May 1st, I will join with my fellow Snohomish County Democratic PCOs to vote for our choice to be the Democratic standard bearer for County Prosecutor on the August Primary ballot. Just as in the November “appointment vote”, I will cast my vote for Jim Kenny.

My overriding reason for supporting Jim in this race continues to be, ‘who do I believe better represents my Democratic values when it comes to law and order issues’. While I was disappointed when Deputy Prosecutor Mark Roe was appointed over the overwhelming voice of the county’s PCOs, it was perhaps that appointment that truly “sealed the deal” for me. Having just been appointed to the role of acting Prosecutor in December, Roe became immediately responsible for setting the tone and the agenda at the Prosecutor’s office. In February, we got our first glimpse of what we could expect from a Roe administration when, for the first time in Snohomish County since the state’s medical marijuana law had been approved by the voters in 1998, a medical marijuana patient was put on trial. According to media accounts at the time the Bothell woman, Cammie McKenzie, was charged with drug dealing even though she claimed she was only growing the plant for her own medical consumption. After three days of testimony a jury took less than three hours to reject the prosecutor’s case.

As a Democrat, I expect the Prosecutor’s office to go after violent crime and to seek appropriate punishment for those who would seek to do harm to my fellow citizens or their property. What my Democratic values do not reflect is the filing of criminal charges against people who are in need of medical treatment. And lest some think this case to be an anomaly; in her Everett Herald article at the time, reporter Diana Hefley wrote:

“King County Prosecutor Dan Satterburg in 2008 said his office would be looking “with a very lenient eye” toward medical marijuana patients, including those operating cooperative gardens and sharing with other authorized patients.


A similar directive hasn't cropped up here. Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe said that for years the office has considered small-quantity marijuana possession cases a low priority. Still, the law is the law.


“When our laws change on marijuana, our efforts to enforce them will change,” Roe said.”

For the 12 years since the voters of Snohomish County and Washington State affirmed their view that marijuana should be available to patients who have proven a need, previous Prosecutors have spent county resources on other more pressing matters. Within two months of being tasked with setting the prosecutorial agenda for the county, Mark Roe made it known where his priorities are.

Jim Kenny’s priorities are much more in line with my Democratic values. Among Jim’s priorities:

• Jail the most serious offenders while helping low and mid level offenders to address the root causes of their criminal activity.

• Address drug addiction or untreated mental health issues through problem-solving courts and alternatives to incarceration.

• Push to enact the County Human Rights Ordinance so that we have a robust Human Rights Commission.

• Lobby for decriminalizing of the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and treating people with medical marijuana authorizations compassionately as the medical patients that they are rather than prosecuting them as felons.

On Saturday, I will be voting my values for Snohomish County Prosecutor. I hope my fellow PCOs will be doing the same.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Maralyn Chase announces State Senate Run

Maralyn Chase, four term house rep. and Progressive icon has announced her intention to seek the state senate seat in the 32nd LD. The seat became open with the announcement last Thursday by current state senator Darlene Fairley that she would not be seeking re-election to the seat that she has held since 1994. Chase’s announcement last night at Jersey’s in Shoreline was greeted with great enthusiasm by the standing room only crowd of friends, colleagues, and supporters. While Chase and Fairley have had some personal differences over the years, their voting records have been quite compatible and Chase’s advancement to the senate should be seen as a win-win situation for the district and the state’s Progressive community. Chase issued the following press release immediately following her announcement:

Representative Maralyn Chase Announces Bid for State Senate
Vows to Continue As Progressive Force in Olympia

Shoreline, Wash. (April 26, 2010)- Standing in front of a packed room Monday afternoon, State Representative Maralyn Chase (D-Edmonds) announced her campaign for the State Senate. “I want to continue to be the voice of the 32nd District in Olympia,” said Representative Chase.

In her announcement, she said that the main pillars of her candidacy were attracting working class jobs, protecting the environment, and to convey the values of “fairness, justice and compassion” in the legislative process.

Representative Chase explained that the goals of supporting local businesses and creating living wage jobs do not conflict with protection of the environment. “I think she is what the district needs, and I’m sure she’ll get support from labor the environmental community,” said Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, Edmonds City Councilmember.

“We need true progressive leadership in the Senate. If we are going to move this state forward, Maralyn is the perfect person to elect,” said Rep. Marko Liias (D-Mukilteo).

Inclement weather prompted a change of venue to Jersey’s Bar & Grill, where about 50 supporters applauded Rep. Chase’s announcement, “I am running for the Senate!”

Representative Chase has represented the 32nd Legislative District since 2001. She received the 2004 WSE/AFSCME George Masten Courage Award, and was named the 2007 Legislator of the Year by the Washington State Federation of Democratic Women. She has a MA in Political Science from the University of Washington and owns a small contracting company.

Chase has earned her Progressive credentials over the years fighting for workers rights, women’s rights, education, and the environment. She is a staunch supporter of revenue reform; including a state income tax, and has been a reliable vote for election campaign reform.

I echo the sentiments of Rep. Liias and wish Maralyn Chase all the best in her race to become the next state senator from the 32nd LD.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 04/26/2010
Americans Killed: 1,050
Americans Wounded: 9,496
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 420
http://icasualties.org/
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama
----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:


*Sgt. Roberto E. Diaz Borio, 47, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, died April 8 in Mombassa, Kenya.

*Sgt. Sean M. Durkin, 24, of Aurora, CO died April 9 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, of wounds suffered near Forward Operating Base Wilson, Afghanistan, on March 27.

*Cpl. Michael D. Jankiewicz, 23, of Ramsey, NJ died April 9 in Zabul, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Joseph T. Caron, 21, of Tacoma, WA (32nd Washingtonian) died April 11 in Char Bagh, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Jonathon D. Hall, 23, of Chattanooga, TN died April 8, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered at Contingency Outpost Khayr-Kot-Castle, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Randolph A. Sigley, 28, of Richmond, KY died April 18 in Bagram, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Michael K. Ingram Jr., 23, of Monroe, MI died April 17 in Kandahar,
Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Robert J. Barrett, 20, of Fall River, MA died April 19 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

*Command Sgt. Maj. John K. Laborde, 53, of Waterloo, IA died April 22 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Ronald A. Kubik, 21, of Brielle, NJ died April 23 in Logar province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Jason A. Santora, 25, of Farmingville, NY died April 23 in Logar province, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

IWR News

Iraq Body Count: 04/22/2010
Americans Killed: 4392
Americans Wounded: 31,616
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 172
http://icasualties.org/
“…a small price…” Rep. John Boehner
----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. William C. Spencer, 40, of Tacoma, WA (90th Washingtonian) died Feb. 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained Feb. 20 at Combat Outpost Marez, Iraq.

*Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur, 25, of Lake City, SC died March 8 north of Al Kut, Iraq.

*Spc. Lakeshia M. Bailey, 23, of Columbus, GA died March 8 north of Al Kut, Iraq.

*Pfc. Erin L. McLyman, 26, of Federal Way,(91st Washingtonian) WA died March 13 in Balad, Iraq.

*Spc. Steven J. Bishop, 29, of Christiansburg, VA died March 13 in Tikrit, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. Richard J. Jordan, 29, of Tyler, TX died March 16 in Mosul, Iraq.

*Spc. *Robert M. Rieckhoff, 26, of Kenosha, WI died March 18 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb, 31, of Honolulu, HI died March 29 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Sgt. Kurt E. Kruize, 35, of Hancock, MN died April 4 in Baghdad, Iraq.

*Staff Sgt. James R. Patton, 23, of Fort Benning, GA died April 18 in Tikrit, Iraq.

*Pfc. Charlie C. Antonio, 28, of Kahului, HI died April 18 in Annassar, Iraq.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

National Day of Prayer ruled Unconstitutional

As most readers here know I also have an occasional gig writing as the Snohomish County Progressive Politics Examiner for Examiner.com. One of the benefits of that is the opportunity to be exposed to other writers who bring much to the conversation. One of those writers is Michael Stone who writes as the Portland (OR) Progressive Examiner. On Thursday morning during my usual "news surf" Michael's headline caught my attention: 'National Day of Prayer 2010 cancelled' goes viral. Sensing immediately that this was almost certainly another baseless attack on President Obama from the teabagging wingnuts, I opened the link to read:

"This morning an Internet rumor that the National Day of Prayer had been cancelled by President Obama went viral. The rumor is only partially correct, Obama has canceled the White House service recognizing the National Day of Prayer. He has not, however, cancelled the National Day of Prayer itself..."

Remembering the controversy created by Obama when he took the action last year, I have to say, I wasn't surprised that the same rants would turn up again this year. However it wasn't until later Thursday afternoon when I was checking up on "breaking" headline news from the Everett Herald that the story took on a whole new (and even more
interesting) twist:

Federal judge rules Day of Prayer unconstitutional

Associated Press


MADISON, Wis. — A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional today, saying the government cannot call for religious action.


Congress established the day in 1952 and in 1988 set the first Thursday in May as the day for presidents to issue proclamations asking Americans to pray. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison-based group of atheists and agnostics, filed a lawsuit against the federal government in 2008 arguing the day violated the separation of church and state.


President Barack Obama's administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States. Obama issued a proclamation last year but did not hold public events with religious leaders as former President George W. Bush had done.


Government involvement in prayer is constitutional only as long as it does not call for religious action, which the prayer day does, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote in her ruling.


"It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context," Crabb wrote. "In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience."...

While I'm sure the "christo-facists" totally overlooked the sentence that states: "President Barack Obama's administration has countered that the statute simply acknowledges the role of religion in the United States." I sure did not. And neither did Michael Stone who, after doing his own piece on the federal court ruling, followed up with this: Why will Obama recognize unconstitutional National Day of Prayer? Following up on Obama's false assertion that the government issuing proclamations calling the country to prayer only "acknowledges the role of religion..." he follows up with more from the judge's ruling"

"Recognizing the importance of prayer to many people does not mean that the government may enact a statute in support of it, any more than the government may encourage citizens to fast during the month of Ramadan, attend a synagogue, purify themselves in a sweat lodge or practice rune magic," she wrote. "In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray."

I guess all I would add to Michael's reporting and Judge Crabb's ruling is, Amen.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 04/10/2010
Americans Killed: 1,040
Americans Wounded: 9,496
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 410
http://icasualties.org/
“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama
----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle, 45, of Whittier, CA died March 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Rick J. Centanni, 19, of Yorba Linda, CA died March 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Ross, 19, of Gillette, WY died March 24 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Randy M. Heck, 20, of Steubenville, OH died March 28 in Djibouti, Africa.

*Pfc. James L. Miller, 21, of Yakima, WA (31st Washingtonian) died March 29 in Dashat,
Afghanistan.

*Lt. Miroslav Zilberman, 31, of Columbus, OH died after his E-2C Hawkeye crashed into the Arabian Gulf on March 31.

*Staff Sgt. Scott W. Brunkhorst, 25, Fayetteville, NC died March 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Curtis M. Swenson, 20, of Rochester, MN died April 2 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Maj. Randell D. Voas, 43, of Lakeville, MN died April 9 near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

*Senior Master Sgt. James B. Lackey, 45, of Green Clove Springs, FL died April 9 near Kandahar, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

A gift for my "conservative" friends

We all have them; know them, those friends of ours who worship at the altar of that God of Conservatism, Ronald Reagan. The other day I was listening to the Thom Hartmann program when he played the following clip from the "Great Communicator" himself.

Thought you might enjoy it:

By the way, before Hartmann played the Reagan clip, he read from the Republican Party Platform of 1956. You can go to the link to read the whole thing but I thought I would share a couple of the highlights:

"On its Centennial, the Republican Party again calls to the minds of all Americans the great truth first spoken by Abraham Lincoln: "The legitimate object of Government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do, for themselves in their separate and individual capacities..."

"We shall continue vigorously to support the United Nations."

"Workers have benefited by the progress which has been made in carrying out the programs and principles set forth in the 1952 Republican platform. All workers have gained and unions have grown in strength and responsibility, and have increased their membership by 2 millions.

Furthermore, the process of free collective bargaining has been strengthened by the insistence of this Administration that labor and management settle their differences at the bargaining table without the intervention of the Government..."

"The Eisenhower Administration will continue to fight for dynamic and progressive programs which, among other things, will:

Stimulate improved job safety of our workers, through assistance to the States, employees and employers;

Continue and further perfect its programs of assistance to the millions of workers with special employment problems, such as older workers, handicapped workers, members of minority groups, and migratory workers;

Strengthen and improve the Federal-State Employment Service and improve the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance system;

Protect by law, the assets of employee welfare and benefit plans so that workers who are the beneficiaries can be assured of their rightful benefits;

Assure equal pay for equal work regardless of Sex;..."

Wow, have times changed?!?!?!?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Please Say It Ain't So

I don't know about you but I found last night's opening segment on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" more than just a little bit disturbing:

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

"Back in Texas, we have a saying - 'Wanted, Dead or Alive'"

- GW Bush, circa 2002.

Yep, nothin wimpy about the new guy

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Elections Have Consequences...Progressives Should Know This

During my “great re-awakening”; referred to by some as the Howard Dean Campaign, I was constantly reminded of the takeover of the Democratic Party by the Bill Clinton inspired DLC and the intentional drift to the right by the once great party of the working class. The cry of the faithful (well one of the cries) became “More and Better Democrats”! Well we apparently got the “More” part down.

From “The Hill.com”:

House liberals shift climate change tactics, will not draw 'lines in the sand'

By Russell Berman - 04/07/10 06:00 AM ET

Liberal House Democrats are shifting their political tactics on climate change after failing to secure a public option in the new healthcare reform law.

The move comes in the wake of liberals having to walk back threats that they would vote against a healthcare bill without a government-run program.

“Drawing the line in the sand too quickly was part of the lesson we learned on healthcare,” the co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), told The Hill.”

Essentially confirming what I have been saying since the passage of President Obama’s Health Care “Reform” legislation, Progressives in congress are facing the reality that this administration, just as the Clinton administration before, will be less than likely to work with them in any substantive way. From Clinton’s DADT to DOMA; to Obama’s “More Nukes and Drill Baby Drill” energy announcements, his “Healthcare as a subsidy to the Insurance Industry plan, to his continuing policy of indefinite detention without charges for “enemy combatants”, and more; the continuing shift to the right is inescapable.

The words of Rep. Grijalva are telling indeed; basically admitting that there is little stomach for the fight after allowing themselves to be shouted down by a vocal group of Blue Dogs and a president whose only negotiating position is concession. As the Hill article points out:

“A group of 45 House Democrats, all members of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), sent a letter late last month to congressional leaders, urging them to retain strong caps on carbon emissions. But the missive notably did not include any threat to oppose a stripped-down bill.

The letter stated only that the coalition “feels that it is of the highest priority that any comprehensive energy legislation includes reductions in greenhouse gas emissions necessary to spur investment in American green energy technologies, and is consistent with reduction targets in the House-passed legislation.”

That stands in contrast to the language used last August in the healthcare debate, when 60 House Democrats signed a letter stating plainly that they could not vote for a bill that lacked a public option. Eight months later, every House liberal (emphasis TLS) backed the final legislation even though the public option had been discarded.”

And so what does this mean as we move forward? From my point of view it means that if we really want to see a shift back to the “true center” where Progressive values such as Universal Healthcare for All and an end to illegal and endless military interventionism are respected points of view and not something to toss under the bus at the first sign of resistance; Progressive MUST stop blindly following party dogma that preaches mindless support for incumbents based on the false memes of “risking the safe seat” or “the public is not there yet.” As anyone who watched the polling could tell you, the public was well out ahead of the politicos on the subject of the public option and they are just as far ahead on the subject of a clean environment. Also we MUST keep holding self identified Progressives accountable. The Hill closes with a statement from Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee that pretty much sums it up:

”Progressives drawing a line in the sand for the public option was not the problem. Being weak and not sticking by their line in the sand was the problem,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “Their credibility will be less than the Blue Dogs’ in every future policy battle until progressives draw a line in the sand and refuse to cave…”

Look around. There are Progressives challenging for a seat somewhere close to you. Identify them. Help them. We did “More”. It is time for “Better”.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

America's new rules of engagement?

From wikileaks.org

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue