New Democrat or Old Democrat - Which one defines you?

The 2012 election, perhaps even more that the 2010 elections, will be a defining movement in our country’s social and political evolution. Watching the circus on the right unfold, the definite theme of defining the government’s role in our lives is becoming more and more evident. However, for Democrats this is an increasingly difficult battle to wage as, year after year, the FDR/LBJ wing of the party seems to be fading further and further into the background while the Clintonian wing takes deeper root. The once proud heritage of New Deals and Great Societies is being supplanted by centrist “3rd Wayism” or “New Democrat” language that espouses social liberalism but produces Republican-lite results. All the while, the Middle Class dwindles and the poor fall deeper and deeper into the abyss.

What is at the heart of the debate between the two factions is the notion that Democrats are inherently anti-business and weak on defense. This meme has been thrown around by the Republicans since Richard Nixon; and Ronald Reagan rang it like a bell for 8 years. Progressive Democrats have always maintained that there is a difference between “mom and pop” small business and detached; unfeeling Big Business. They have insisted that putting people before profit made the whole country stronger and promoted small business as the true engine of growth in America. Progressives have argued that diplomacy; not militarism should be our most used weapon in times of conflict while our military should always be prepared to defend our citizens and our vital resources. However, after Democrats stumbled in a couple of elections – arguably due to bad candidates/campaigns - the “New Democrat” emerged; ready to cave to the anti-business/soft on defense meme, and running as a more “business friendly” Democrat.  Since the Clinton Administration, we have seen people calling themselves Democrats voting for rules such as the so-called Bankruptcy Reform Law of 2005, that punished consumers for falling prey to the unethical business practices of the mortgage industry and the insurance industry; and standing ready to derail organized labor by signing on to a series of “Free” Trade bills that tilted the playing field against American workers and leading to a mass exodus of American manufacturing jobs to countries with lower labor costs but abysmal human rights records. These same New Democrats were happy to vote with their Republican counterparts to reduce or even eliminate necessary regulations that had held Wall Street and the banking industry in check for over 40 years. The current economic disaster we are facing today can be traced directly back in a large way to the end of the Clinton Administration and the repeal of Glass-Steagall. Just recently, one of the Democratic candidates running in the new 1st Congressional District, when asked if she would join the Congressional Progressive Caucus if elected answered:

“I would most likely not be in the Progressive Caucus. I would expect to be in the New Democrats Caucus. I think that’s a place that is fit for what I think needs to happen in terms of getting our economy moving and for breaking this idea that Democrats aren’t also supportive of business in our economy and I think that’s where the New Democrats have made a lot of progress.”

Suzan DelBene addressing the King County Democrats 01/24/2012

Look at where our country is today. We are as close to Oligarchy as we have ever been; certainly since before the Great Depression. The gap between rich and poor makes the Grand Canyon appear as a crack in the sidewalk. Unemployment and underemployment are at critical levels. Homelessness and hunger are at totally unacceptable levels.  Our vital infrastructure is crumbling at alarming rates, and our investments in education, healthcare, and the arts are in danger of totally vanishing. While it would be great if we could simply blame all of this on the Republicans (who currently only control only one half of one branch of the government); we must accept the fact the both parties played a role in placing us where we are. But we can change that. Progressives must work to change this. It is time to stop buying in to the notion that someone can’t be elected because he or she is “too liberal for this district.” We must fight to ensure a Progressive agenda gets a full hearing in every district where a Progressive candidate is willing to stand up and deliver.

Rather than continue down the road of phony compromise; with the end result being the shifting of the center further and further to the right, we must start electing Progressives wherever they run and reclaim the agenda that saw us lifted out of a Great Depression and guarantee a safety net for our elderly and the most vulnerable in our society. We need to stop running away from a platform that promotes work over “Vulture Capitalism”; that declares that our investment in education, healthcare, the arts, and other human studies should be equal to our investment in death and destruction. We need to remind our fellow Democrats that being “business friendly” does not mean that we are no longer “people friendly.” I keep hearing it said that, if we want President Obama to pursue a more Progressive agenda, we need to push him and show him we have his back. It will take a Progressive Congress to push a Progressive Obama. I will promise you that “New Democrats” will not do this.

In 2012, let’s be proud to be Old Democrats.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

The Haditha Massacre "Trial" Ends in Plea Bargain

In November, 2005 a squad of US Marines entered the Iraqi town of Haditha after a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy; killing one of their comrades and injuring two more. When they left, 24 men, women, and children (including a man in a wheel chair) had been killed in one of the most notorious massacres of civilians by American forces since Mai Lai during the Viet Nam conflict. Yesterday, the last defendant in the military’s “trial” entered into a plea bargain that could see him serve only three months in prison for his role in the event.

Marine SSGT Frank Wuterich may only serve 3 months for his role in Haditha Massacre

Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26, who led the Marine squad into Haditha, pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty; a penalty that could see a maximum sentence of three months in prison, two-thirds forfeiture of pay and a rank demotion to private. As part of the deal the court will drop the nine counts of manslaughter and assault which had been originally filed against Wuterich. Of the other seven Marines initially charged in the massacre, six have had charges dropped or dismissed (including some in exchange for testifying at the trial) and one was acquitted. The trial was delayed for years by pre-trial wrangling between the defense and prosecution.

Coming not long after the release of the photos of prisoner abuse by U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison, the killings in Haditha fueled widespread anger in Iraq and were a deciding factor behind demands by Iraqis that U.S. troops not be given immunity from their court system. The immunity issue was at the heart of the failure of the Obama Administration to extend America’s military presence in Iraq beyond the December 2011 date negotiated by George W. Bush.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/23/2012

Total Americans Killed: 1,886

Post Obama Inauguration: 1,286

http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

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

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of Little Rock, AR died Jan. 15 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained on Jan. 9 in Balkh province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, of Tulsa, OK died Jan 15 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Kenneth E. Cochran, 20, of Wilder, ID died Jan 15 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Keith D. Benson, 27, of Brockton, MA died Jan. 18, in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Phillip D. McGeath, 25, Glendale, AZ died Jan. 18 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, TX died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, NJ died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, of North Beach, MD died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*MSgt. Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, IA died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Capt. Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, IL died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, WA (48^th Washingtonian) died January 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

DFA Endorses Darcy Burner in the "New 1st" - Will you?

Darcy Burner, DFA Endorsed

A little over a week ago I wrote here about the opportunity for Progressives to help define the newly drawn 1^st Congressional District.

“I guess the thing that has sparked my interest the most is that, with an open seat, comes an opportunity for a real debate between an unabashed, unapologetic Progressive Democrat and the party’s new “moderate wing” [aka conservadems] for a spot on the general election ballot.” I define the choice this way, ” This year’s contest offers the voters a choice between a champion of Progressive values and activism in Darcy Burner (formerly of the 8th CD and currently Executive Director of ProgressiveCongress.org) and a truly unabashed moderate (founding member and leader of the centrist Roadkill Caucus in Olympia) in State Senator Steve Hobbs (D-44th LD).”

Well it would appear that one of the country’s largest progressive action organizations agrees with me. As I reported at the Examiner on Thursday, Democracy for America (DFA) has released its initial round of endorsements for the 2012 primary elections and Darcy Burner is included in that group of 5. Obviously for Darcy this means access to a large database of Progressive activists and donors from around the country but, more than what this means for the candidate is what it should be saying to Progressives in the district and in surrounding districts – there is an expectation that we will stand up for our values and do what we can to help the candidate who best personifies those values to advance in to the general election and on to Congress.

The 1^st CD is as diverse in geography and population as our state has to offer and yet there is a common thread that runs through all of the country these days; a desire for political candidates and elected representatives who are not afraid to define themselves and who are proud to stand behind their principles. Darcy Burner is such a candidate. There are those who will say that she is “too liberal” for the district. To these folks we must respond that this district has yet to cast a single vote in an election and, therefore cannot be defined as liberal or conservative. The only question we should be concerned with is: Who would best represent the interests of the people? Who will work hard to bring jobs that won’t devastate the environment or force working people to still apply for food stamps because their wages simply won’t stretch far enough to support their family? Who will continue to fight to move us closer to universal healthcare through a Medicare for All approach, rather than move us further down the dead end road of for profit healthcare? Who will fight for budgetary equality between feeding and educating our children and sending them off to war? Who will work for greater energy independence though clean energy initiatives rather than continue us down the destructive path of fossil fuel dependency? Who will fight for a 1^st rate free public education for all our children rather than gamble our hard earned tax dollars on “reform” schemes that will take those dollars away from our children’s futures? Who will lead the fight to ensure that businesses who might otherwise exploit the workers or risk the health and well being of the consumer are regulated and those regulations are enforced rather than leave the foxes in charge of the hen house?

For many Progressives, the first term of President Obama has been less than hoped for. Much of the blame may be left at the Oval Office door; and yet a large portion of the blame lies with a Democratic Party and Congress that has failed to stand up for the principles outlined above. Darcy Burner has been an advocate for these principles and more; both as a candidate for office and more importantly through her works in Washington DC with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Now is the time for Progressives in the 1^st CD and across the state to advocate for those values which we all hold dear by advocating for Darcy Burner in Washington’s new 1^st CD.

Howard Dean speaks on Darcy's behalf during her 2008 campaign in the 8th CD - Photo Credit: NPI

Find out how you can help by visiting her website and her Facebook page. (or if you would prefer to donate right now, simply click the link on the left: “The Left Shue Supports”) The Democrats have a real chance to re-claim the US House this year. Let’s make it a Progressive House.

Peace,

Chad (the Left) Shue

Keystone XL - The Temporary Cease Fire

Environmentalists and Clean Energy advocates from across the country are expressing appreciation along with a proper dose of apprehension at President Obama’s statement this week that, at least temporarily, puts the brakes on the XL Pipeline. Here is the official statement from the White House:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

January 18, 2012

Statement by the President on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Earlier today, I received the Secretary of State’s recommendation on the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.  As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment.  As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied.  And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I agree.   

This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people.  I’m disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration’s commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil.  Under my Administration, domestic oil and natural gas production is up, while imports of foreign oil are down.  In the months ahead, we will continue to look for new ways to partner with the oil and gas industry to increase our energy security –including the potential development of an oil pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico – even as we set higher efficiency standards for cars and trucks and invest in alternatives like biofuels and natural gas.  And we will do so in a way that benefits American workers and businesses without risking the health and safety of the American people and the environment.

While the president’s statement offers welcome relief for those who have been fighting tirelessly to protect our environment from the devastating effects of an almost certain “accident” and those who are standing firm in the cause of moving our country’s economy away from fossil fuel dependency; the statement stops well short of ending this “disaster in waiting.” Indeed, rather than defend the country’s environment and lead us into a clean energy future, President Obama says, “This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people.” and the goes on to say, “In the months ahead, we will continue to look for new ways to partner with the oil and gas industry to increase our energy security –including the potential development of an oil pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico…”

And so, at least through the ongoing election cycle, we can feel somewhat comforted in the “cease fire” created by an overreaching Republican Party; we must not forget that this is only that – a short respite in which the forces should be reinforcing and mobilizing for the battle ahead.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

The continuing assault on education in Washington State

As I wrote at the Examiner the other day, a “bipartisan” group of state legislators has introduced legislation in Olympia that would, once again, attempt to abdicate the state’s responsibility for ensuring a quality basic education to our children by experimenting with the “charter schools” scheme in our state. Charter schools have been three times rejected by the voters in this state. Apparently these legislators believe that they will have a better chance of pushing this agenda on us under the guise of “budget reform.”

On Thursday HB 2428 and SB 6202 were introduced in the House and Senate, respectively.

House sponsors:

Democrats: Eric Pettigrew (37th LD), Fred Finn (35^th LD), Deb Eddy (48th LD), Larry Springer (45^th LD), Larry Seaquist (25^th LD)

Republicans: Glenn Anderson (5^th LD), Cathy Dahlquist (31^st), Paul Harris (17^th LD), Bill Hinkle (13^th LD), Maureen Walsh (16^th LD), Hans Zeiger (25^th LD), Larry Haler (8^th LD), J.T. Wilcox (2^nd LD), Mark Hargrove (47^th LD), Susan Fagan (8^th LD), Cary Condotta (12^th LD)

Senate sponsors:

Democrats: Rodney Tom (48^th LD), Jim Kastama (25^th LD), Paull Shin (21^st LD), Steve Hobbs (44^th LD), Brian Hatfield (19^th LD), Tim Sheldon (35^th LD)

Republicans: Steve Litzow (41^st LD), Michael Baumgartner (6^th LD), Joe Fain (47^th LD), Doug Ericksen (42^nd LD), Andy Hill (45^th LD), Randi Becker (2^nd LD), Jerome Delvin (8^th LD), Curtis King (14^th LD), Mike Hewitt (16^th LD), Dan Swecker (20^th LD), Cheryl Pflug (5^th LD)

Coming on the heels of the recent State Supreme Court finding that the state is failing in its paramount duty to fully fund basic education in our state, this group of lawmakers (which includes noted conservadems Steve Hobbs and Brian Hatfield from the infamous Roadkill Caucus, and the state’s most prominent DINO, Tim Sheldon) believes that the answer is to gamble what funds we do have on an unproven scheme that has as much potential for harm as it may have for good.

As I noted in my piece at the Examiner, there are as many horror stories as success tales for charter schools in the various states that are already experimenting with them. From The Bronx, New York comes the headline: Bronx Charter School'sFailure Highlights Failure of Charter Schools which begins, “Despite support from Mayor Bloomberg, President Obama, and the corporate establishment, charter schools in New York City and everywhere else have yet to prove that they can solve the problem that is America’s education system. In the South Bronx, the Academic Leadership Charter School has been put on probation this week for not randomizing admissions—as charter schools are supposed to do—and possibly testing or interviewing applicants, which they are not…”

There is this from Trenton, New Jersey: Once-promisingcharter schools go off course - They're favored by reformers, but have a highrate of failure : "Three years ago, Capital Preparatory Charter High School opened to much fanfare and was hailed as a formidable challenge to standard high schools -- a taxpayer-funded college preparatory program that might teach the regular public schools something about how to educate children… Yet somehow things went terribly wrong at Capital Prep. The Grand Street school accumulated a large deficit, lacked a certified business administrator and was spending taxpayer dollars in ways that had little educational value, the DOE later found.

The school spent $10,000 on hotel fees for a staff junket to Atlantic City, $5,600 on a year-end staff party at KatManDu restaurant, and $38,000 on flower boxes and campus landscaping. Visiting DOE staff also found "a weak educational program, lacking in rigor and not meeting the goals set forth in the school's charter," a spokesman said. After a period of probation, the school was finally pressured to give up its charter in May, and the New Jersey State Police opened an investigation into school spending practices.”

And this from Miami, Florida: FCAT Results: Charter Schools Have High Failure Rate – “In his first visit to South Florida as governor, Rick Scott visited Florida International Academy, a charter school operated with public money by a private, for-profit company.  Scott – a big charter school booster – said the school in Opa Locka could serve as a model for the rest of the state. But in FCAT [Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test] grades released last week, Florida International Academy’s elementary school scored an “F.” In Miami-Dade, a greater percentage of charter schools failed than public schools. Every school that got an “F” in Broward County was a charter school.”

These articles are only a minute sampling of the failures in charter schools, and there certainly are many success stories, however the argument for our state lawmakers should not be ‘how can we experiment with the system’ but rather, ‘how can we make the existing system better?’ At a time when our students are being turned into door to door salesmen to raise funds for basic needs in the classroom and our teachers are taking money from their own pockets to buy pencils, paper, and in some cases, textbooks for the students they have been charged with educating; at time when the governor is suggesting that school become a part-time endeavor to save money; at a time when even our Supreme Court has told them that the real problem in our schools is lack of funding, these lawmakers would rather gamble with what funds we have than sit down with the very people who serve on the front lines of this issue, our public school teachers and administrators, to seek real solutions.  

In a statement from the Washington Education Association (WEA), the largest public school teachers’ organization in the state, association President, Mary Lindquist said,

“On three occasions, the people of Washington have rejected charter schools at the ballot box. That's three strikes. Charter schools are little more than an unfilled promise to our students. They simply skim off those children whose parents have the time and capability to fill out endless applications. 

As educators, WEA members are deeply committed to making sure all our students receive a quality education -- an education that both inspires them and equips them for the challenges of the 21^st Century workplace. Across the state, there are countless examples of innovative schools doing exactly that. What we're seeing in these innovative schools is a return on investment we can all get behind.

Sen. Tom and Rep. Pettigrew should be working on the full funding challenge presented to them last week by the state Supreme Court. The people of Washington are demanding full public education funding for their children and neighborhood schools. Charter schools are a distraction from the real debate and not a full funding solution."

To be sure, the lines are being drawn in the legislature over this issue. 38^th LD State Representative Mike Sells said this,

“Charter schools have been a mixed bag of success and failure--although we can never trust the results, because quite often they don't meet the same mandates to serve everyone that a public school does. You can do a Google search and see a lot of the articles. What you have read is pretty accurate.

Right now you have groups that call themselves Stand With [For] Children and the League of Education Voters; (astro-turf groups funded by corporations) buttressed by Boeing pushing Charter Schools as some sort of panacea. I guess they haven't noticed the decision this week regarding $8 billion of underfunding to schools that the Supreme Court iterated in their latest ruling. We don't have the money to let them experiment with our kids' futures, let alone the moral issue of doing that. Our kids should not be for sale.”

If you agree with Rep. Sells and support your local educators, please contact your legislators (and the list above) and let them know that now is not the time to gamble with the limited funding available to our public schools and stand up for our children and grandchildren by opposing this new assault on our public schools.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/14/2012

Total Americans Killed: 1,875

Post Obama Inauguration: 1,275

http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

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

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, 24, of Cottonwood, CA died Jan. 2 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, PA died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, MI died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, MD died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, IN died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, IN died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of Aurora, IL died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, IN died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Dustin P. Napier, 20, of London, KY died Jan. 8 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, 30, of Hopewell, VA died Jan. 10 in Parwan province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Neil I. Turner, 21, of Tacoma, WA (47^th Washingtonian) died Jan. 11, in Logar province, Afghanistan. 

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Progressives and "The New 1st"

Many of you may have noticed that I have been writing quite a bit lately about the Democratic primary contest in the 1st CD over at the Examiner.com. I guess the thing that has sparked my interest the most is that, with an open seat, comes an opportunity for a real debate between an unabashed, unapologetic Progressive Democrat and the party’s new “moderate wing” [aka conservadems] for a spot on the general election ballot. When I first started looking at the race the new lines had not been drawn so I had no idea how important this debate could be. Today the 1st CD includes twice defeated, Tea Party/Republican congressional candidate John (Freedom County) Koster who, though he will have to fend off two other Tea Party types, will most likely survive the primary process to become the Republican challenger in the General Election.

  (John Koster addresses Tea Party/Republican supporters at 2010 kick-off

     Photo Credit: Curt Eidem)                 

Before the lines were drawn this was essentially a race to see who would replace Jay Inslee in a relatively “safe” Democratic district. However, with the new lines and the addition of John Koster into the mix, this district somehow became a “swing” district at best and “leans Republican” by many other accounts. The certainty that the “New 1st” was drawn up for Koster’s benefit is so strong for some that even one of the state’s leading Liberal voices issued a knee-jerk endorsement of perhaps the leading “moderate” Democrat in the race. Well I’m not so sure; especially about Koster’s impact on the district.

It’s certainly true that the ‘conservative to the extreme’ pal of the state’s chief homophobe, Larry Stickney, has had great success in the Snohomish County Council district that he represents, and that he even managed to win more votes in Snohomish County than 2nd CD congressman, Rick Larsen in the 2010 race. However, I think the part that many are missing is the fact that, while the district has picked up the rural haven that is Koster’s playground, it has also inherited the northern portion of the old 2nd CD (Parts of Skagit and Whatcom Counties) that has voted mostly Democratic and (in what I believe will be the Koster/Stickney campaign’s undoing) added the parts of northern King County that have also voted mostly Democratic. Even in the areas that were carved out of the Republican controlled 8th CD, the folks who voted Republican there were only offered moderate choices in the late Jennifer Dunn and the current congressman, Dave Reichert. This is not to say that I don’t think Koster won’t make the top two come primary election day; I simply do not believe his hard core Tea Party conservatism will win in the more densely populated urban centers of the new 1st CD.

Which brings me back to my belief that this should be a great year and a great district for the long overdue and yet necessary debate from within the Democratic Party. For years, I and many other Progressives have argued that the reason Democrats have not been as successful as they could be in winning back the hearts and minds of the so-called Reagan Democrats and folks in the rural regions of the country is that we do not run candidates who will profess their liberal values. We continue to run more “moderate” or as some call them “Republican-lite” candidates. Yes, it has been true that these candidates do sometimes come away with a victory or two; however the old adage attributed to Harry Truman really is more true than false: “If it's a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time…” A case in point would be Snohomish County Councilman, Dave Somers from Monroe who is serving his 2nd (non-consecutive) term representing the 5th Council District - much of the same rural area that is now part of the 1st CD. Never backing away from his strong values of “people and the environment first” over the developer and concrete and pavement crowd, Dave has twice beaten “Pro Growth” Republicans and, in one instance even pushed back a challenge from the so-called centrist wing of the Democratic Party in the days when there was a party primary. And there are other examples in the district where a strong Progressive challenge has won the day.

(Darcy Burner - Progressive Champion)

 (Sen. Steve Hobbs - Unrepentent Centrist)

This year’s contest offers the voters a choice between a champion of Progressive values and activism in Darcy Burner (formerly of the 8th CD and currently Executive Director of ProgressiveCongress.org) and a truly unabashed moderate (founding member and leader of the centrist Roadkill Caucus in Olympia) in State Senator Steve Hobbs (D-44th LD). The remaining Democrats fall somewhere between these two and any one of them may become the beneficiary of an electorate that might shy away from the intraparty debate. Obviously I am not one who would be so shy and I look forward to a spirited debate. Unfortunately, I will have to wait for at least a couple of months while Sen. Hobbs is involved in the current legislative session and is not able to lend his full voice to the campaign. In the meantime, look for Darcy Burner to be showing up in a venue near you to get her name recognition up and to hear what folks in the “New 1st” are most concerned about. I will bet she has already been fighting for a lot of those concerns in DC.



Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 01/02/2012

Total Americans Killed: 1,864

Post Obama Inauguration: 1,264

http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

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

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Lance Cpl. Christopher P. J. Levy, 21, of Ramseur, N.C., died Dec. 10 of wounds sustained Dec. 7 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Christopher L. Muniz, 24, of New Cuyama, CA died Dec. 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick Jr., 30, of Blairstown, NJ died Dec. 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Jalfred D. Vaquerano, 20, of Apopka, FL died Dec. 13, in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered in Logar province, Afghanistan.

*Maj. Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, VA died Dec. 14 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Mikayla A. Bragg, 21, of Longview, WA (46^th Washingtonian) died Dec. 21 in Khowst province, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Altmann, 27, of Marshfield, WI died Dec. 25, in Kunar province Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Noah M. Korte, 29, of Lake Elsinore, CA died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Kurt W. Kern, 24, of McAllen, TX died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire, 20, of Easley, SC died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan.

*Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson, 35, of Rolling Fork, MS died July 18, in Bahrain.

*Spc. Pernell J. Herrera, 33, of Espanola, NM died Dec. 31, in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue