Beyond Barack and Beyond Democratic Majorities -- How About a Progressive Agenda? You Can Help

If you're serious about seeing a progressive agenda in this country, it isn't enough just to help elect Barack Obama to the White House or even give the generic Democrats -- from solid progressives like Richard Durbin, Barbara Boxer and Sheldon Whitehouse to the nominal Democrats from deep inside the Republican wing of the Democratic Party like Ben Nelson, Tim Johnson and Mary Landrieu-- a filibuster-proof majority. It is at least as important to help elect progressive Democrats, rather than what many refer to as Vichy Democrats. Sure, it'll be great to see the end of Mitch McConnell's disgraceful career, but his Democratic opponent, arch reactionary Bruce Lunsford will immediately descend to the rank of worst Democrat in the Senate if he wins. He will be far more of a problem for progressives than Lieberman or -- for those who saw Bill Maher's Religuous-- Mark Pryor. On the other hand, outstanding progressives like Jeff Merkley, Rick Noriega, Andrew Rice, Mark Begich and Tom Allen are either winning or within striking distance of defeating atrocious rubber stamp Republican opponents.

For the last 10 days People For the American Way, through their Voters Alliance, has been raising money for progressive House candidates -- not for generic nominal Democrats from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, but for proven progressives, the kinds of men and women who will provide real leadership for the Democratic Party of the future, people like Darcy Burner (WA-08), Alan Grayson (FL-08), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Dennis Shulman (NJ-05), Russ Warner (CA-26), Mark Schauer (MI-07), and Victoria Wulsin (OH-02), to name just a few.

People For the American Way, the DCCC and Jared Polis For Congress have all chipped in $7,000 in prize money for the candidate who gets the highest number of dollars and for 2 candidates who get the highest number of contributors (even if they're just one dollar donations). Take a look at the list of candidates at the PFAW ActBlue Page. You'll notice that the most money is looking like a contest between two outstanding progressives, Judy Feder (VA-10) and Gary Peters (MI-09), each of whom is over the $20,000 mark. But numbers of donors... anything can happen. Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Dennis Shulman (NJ-05), Vic Wulsin (OH-02) are all in contention to win that one as well. The $100,000 mark is moments away.

It's fun to play and fun to watch and any of these candidates can win against Republicans who have kept the war in Iraq going, rubber stamped turning the U.S. Constitution into rubble, helped cause the financial meltdown and earned the enmity of their constituents and of the whole country. Voting closes at midnight tonight (Wednesday)... Pacific Time.

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Comments

[Franb]

03:53 PM on 10/15/2008

Here are some things that really ought to be on the agenda, IMO

Foreign and Security policy


* immediate negotiatio­ns to withdraw all combat forces from non-US soil.
* cancellati­on of programmed aid to regimes that fail the "town square
test" or in violation of UN resolution­s
* cancellati­on of ABM missile proposals in Eastern Europe
* Support for expanded humanitari­an migration programs on a world
scale covering population­s in economical­ly distressed areas
* Support for Millennium Developmen­t Goals; robust post-Kyoto carbon reduction regime

Domestic Policy

* Expansion of public housing, 'sustainab­le cities' model
* massive investment­s in mass transit, schools, free pre-school education starting
from 3; expansion of well credential­led long day care from infancy; injection of funds into hospitals and into teaching for medical practition­ers
* Universal health care
* tax reform, with significan­t indirect taxation, and benefits in cash and kind to those on low to medium income
* abolition of private prisons
* overturn Patriot Act and similar, end to warrantles­s wiretaps
* improved welfare and abolition of 'workfare'­. Adequate stipends for older people or those unfit to work
* robust gun laws aimed at ensuring that those with records of domestic violence and/or psychiatri­c disoprder don't get guns; tightened compliance procedures and justificat­ion onus for
holding firearms
* All business proposals and government initaitive­s to pass environmen­tal sustainabi­lity tests. A cost on all polluting and resource depleting acrtivitie­s commensura­te with replacemen­t or
mitigation
* reduction in size of military
*end to 'war on drugs';
*

[kirk61]

10:08 AM on 10/15/2008

Burner's progressiv­e now? How far the left has sunk.

[WorkingClass]

07:15 AM on 10/15/2008

After the election, the Democrats are going to be running the country. They wont have the Republican­s to hide behind. No more "we don't have the votes". No more "we cant act until we elect more Democrats"­. No more excuses. If the party is able to shift significan­tly to the left it will find itself in the center and will be in a position to govern with a real mandate for many years to come. If the party remains right of center (which seems likely given their love of corporate money) it will be the neo-Republ­ican party and will be defeated not by Republican­s who are no longer a factor but by organized opposition from outsiders. Democrats. Move your party left or your land slide victory will be a one and done.

[MBakerDC]

09:15 AM on 10/15/2008

Howie is absolutely correct. I'm with the People For the American Way Voters Alliance and our goal has been to put a spotlight on progressiv­e D's who will be absolutely essential for moving a progressiv­e agenda over the next four years and beyond. It's been incredibly gratifying to see the level of support for these candidates­. And we're really close to breaking the $100,000 mark for funds raised -- less than 24 hours to go - there's still time! Join the fun!