Activism

The Alan Grayson Moneybomb

November 7, 2011 by Kenneth

If you are reading this, there is a real good chance you’re on Alan Grayson‘s e-mail list. If so, you’ve been inundated in the last day or so with e-mails from all kinds of people asking you to give Grayson money as part of his moneybomb. I don’t if they send all of these e-mails to all of their list, since I might be getting more e-mails than others (I often end up on press lists), but I got e-mails from: Grayson himself (twice), Bill Maher, DFA’s Charles Chamberlain, Ralph Nader, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Rep. Raul Grijalva (twice), actor Esai Morales, and probably a few others that I’ve missed.

I’ve never quite seen an e-mail blitz like this one and hopefully it works and not only gets a big fund-raising bump for the moneybomb, but doesn’t tax the list and cause too many potential contributors to unsubscribe. I say this because I think Grayson’s race is not only one of the most important in the state this cycle, it’s one of the most important in the country. (So far, they’ve rasied $150k, when their goal was $100k, so it’s working so far, since it’s only 10 a.m.).

Right-Wingers Say Non-Existent ACORN is Running Occupy Orlando and Trying to Destroy America

November 3, 2011 by Kenneth

Originally posted at Crooks and Liars

The video above is being touted by right-wing bloggers as “proof” that ACORN, SEIU and other groups are a shadowy socialist conspiracy behind the Occupy Wall Street movement. They do this by putting unsourced statements in between clips of Laura Flanders talking to a Occupy organizer and by making conclusions that would get you a failing grade in even a basic class on logic.

The same right-wing bloggers behind the video are also spreading the nonsensical idea that ACORN is running Occupy Orlando. Forget for the moment that ACORN no longer exists and take a look at the horrible, horrible logic used by these conspiracy theorists:

The Latest on the Jon Ausman Saga

November 2, 2011 by Kenneth

From progressive Tallahassee Democrat, Tabitha Frazier:

The story of Jon Ausman and the Florida Democratic Party is a complex one and one that defines the sometimes unfortunate nature of our current political structure.

The political system is how things get done. As I became older, and began to really pay attention to how change and legislation affects our daily lives. I could see that change is pragmatic not automatic. And that as cynical as I may have been in my youth about the political process one has to be an informed participant in the process to the change for the better in America. To be cliche, “politics is life.” We are a Republic and those who we vote into office represent us and have the power to shape our country and future.

Entering into this process will introduce you to a wide variety of active citizens.

From the Inbox: Floridians Mobilize at 15 Awake The State Rallies One Year from Election Day 2012

November 2, 2011 by Kenneth

From Progress Florida:

Across Florida, concerned citizens gathered on November 1st, one year from Election Day 2012, to mobilize the state’s middle class to fight back against Rick Scott’s extremist anti-middle class agenda and return middle class values and priorities to our government in 2012.

“Awake the State is a movement of everyday Floridians fighting to reject devastating budget cuts, stop the assault on middle class families, and invest in Floridians again.” said Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Progress Florida. “Yesterday, thousands of Floridians occupied the streets and sidewalks of Florida. One year from now, millions will occupy the voting booth and that’s how we will take back our state.”

The message at the rallies was clear: Florida’s tax structure already forces middle class families to pay a higher tax rate than the rich and corporations. More unnecessary tax giveaways to corporations who barely pay any taxes in Florida won’t help anyone except the very wealthy.

Miami Action Against Bank of America

November 2, 2011 by Kenneth

FPC blogger Larry Thorson passes along this video of action by Awake the State Miami, Occupy Miami and others…