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50-State Blog Network

Democrat Evelyn Madrid Erhard Rallies Supporters in Quest for CD 2 Seat

October 17, 2011 by Democracy for N...

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Democracy for New Mexico

Erhard_002 Erhard_004

Contributing writer Stephen Jones checks in with more on-the-ground coverage from Southern New Mexico.

Herman "Con Man" Cain: Keeping it Simple!

October 17, 2011 by Left in Alabama

 We have all heard Herman Cain's plan to strengthen the U.S. economy if elected as president. Nine! Nine! Nine! Nine percent income tax. Nine percent corporate tax. Nine percent federal sales tax. (on top of state & local sales tax)

 It does sound simple. Doesn't it? It's almost cute. However, the reason Herman Cain would be an awful, destructive president is even more simple. He laid it all out with one simple answer to one simple question.

 From the GOP/Tea debates on September 12th:
  
What will you do to ensure that energy independence will finally become a reality?
Cain: Remove barriers by the federal government. I would start with an EPA that's gone wild.

 There you go. Herman "Con Man" Cain says the EPA has gone wild. Simply put, he's just another puppet for Big Coal & Oil.

 That brings us to our latest installment (from NOAA) of why the EPA does not have enough regulations as it is. (below the fold)


 The reports are out for September from NOAA.

On Common Ambitions, Or, Occupy Wall Street Likes Capitalism – Sort Of

October 16, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

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fake consultant
Well I’m finally back here at work after another recent series of personal adventures; in the middle of all the fun I’ve been finding time to get down to my local “Occupy” event, and for those of you who have not been keeping up I thought we’d take a moment today to compare a bit of Fox-driven perception to the reality I’ve been seeing. What I’ve been told to expect, at least in certain quarters of the public space, are dirty filthy hippies with no jobs or ambitions hoping to destroy America while having deviant public couplings fueled by the free distribution of dangerous psychotropic drugs. Sadly, I’ve found that there’s not really much truth in that description, even as tiny bits of it do ring true; but with a manifesto in hand and a few conversations under my belt we’ll see what we can do to create a picture that will surprise a lot of the 99% who already support Occupy Wall Street, even if they don’t know it yet.
Individuals or individual states may call themselves what they please: but the world, and especially the world of enemies, is not to be held in awe by the whistling of a name.

10/17: ABQ City Councilor Rey Garduño to Intro Proclamation Supporting We Are 99%-Occupy Wall Street Movement

October 16, 2011 by Democracy for N...

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Democracy for New Mexico

Albuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduño (District 6) has announced that he will be introducing a proclamation (pdf) at the Albuquerque City Council meeting that starts at 5:00 PM on Monday, October 17, at One Civic Plaza. The document states that the governing body of the City of Albuquerque recognizes "We Are The 99%," and stands with the Occupy Wall Street movement, listing the reasons why.

In the video clip above, taken at Satuday's demonstration on Central Avenue in the Nob Hill area, Councilor Garduño discusses the proclamation and his reasons for presenting it to the City Council.

From the Inbox: We Spoke, They Heard Us

October 16, 2011 by Kenneth

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Kenneth Quinnell

From Alan Grayson:

Have you noticed how all those calls to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have faded out? And did you see that President Obama’s plan to pay for the American Jobs Act did not include any benefit cuts, despite the early rumors?

As Sherlock Holmes might say, it’s the dog that didn’t bark.

Why didn’t that dog bark? Maybe it was the changing weather in Washington, DC. Or maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with this:

The fact that over 100,000 of us signed our petition at No-Cuts.com, and those petitions were delivered to the White House.

The First Amendment guarantees our right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” And that’s exactly what we did. Together.

And believe me, even in the Age of the Internet, Washington, D.C. does not see many petitions with over 100,000 names on it.

So to everyone who signed our petition, thank you. Thank you for helping to protect the lives and wellbeing of old people — and old, sick people — and poor, sick people. Thank you for being an active citizen. Thank you for caring about others.

Thank you for being a decent human being.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

From the Inbox: Take your legislative agenda and….

October 16, 2011 by Kenneth

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Kenneth Quinnell

From Florida Watch Action:

On Tuesday, Pink Slip Rick unveiled his legislative agenda for the year and it’s just more of the same job-killing, anti-middle class policies that have driven this state to ruin. Right now, our Florida is ranked FOURTH in unemployment in the country and we have Governor Rick Scott and his failed policies to thank for that.

It gets worse though. Now, Pink Slip Rick is reversing his campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs on top of the current economic recovery. He’s even denying that he even promised to create jobs in the first place. Shameful.

Pink Slip Rick’s radical agenda is just the same stuff that got us into this mess. That’s why we’re taking steps to expose it. Click here to watch our latest video exposing the truth about his job-killing agenda:

Worker Protections?

October 16, 2011 by Blue Oklahoma

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DocHoc
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Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello's use of anti-worker political rhetoric and his independent, anti-union and anti-public employee website, Parity in Oklahoma, raises the question whether an elected official can essentially work against the historical and constitutional mandates of a state office.

Costello referred to public employees as "feral hogs" in a recent speech, which has drawn widespread criticism from the Oklahoma Democratic Party, union officials, state employees and teachers. His website, which is not state funded but uses his name and title prominently, argues state and local governments should not collect union dues from paychecks and criticizes the retirement benefits of some state employees. It also supposedly points out the "perks" of public employees and criticizes state merit rules that "actually reward bad employee behavior."

Occupy Tallahassee Mission Statement

October 16, 2011 by Kenneth

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Kenneth Quinnell

This is the group’s declaration of occupation issued Friday night at the capitol:

We are the workers, students, workless and retired. We are the men, women, children and LGBT. We are the general assembly of Occupy Tallahassee. We are the 99%!

We have found ourselves in a world rife with hardship, exploitation, inequality and struggle.

Political corruption has left us disinfranchized and unrepresented.

Our voices, muted by the few, the 1%. The 1% who, little by little, have taken the rights that our predesssors fought so hard for.

Corporate greed has struck deeply into our lives, ravaging our land, air and water, while destroying vital local and global economies.

So we are for people over profit, for democracy over plutocracy, for the bright future over the dark past and for every other great feeling of justice. With compassion in our hearts, we gather here today.

We gather in liberated social space and in solidarity with the movements across the nation and around the world to declare the occupation of the city of Tallahassee.

The Bitter Fruit Of Failing To Challenge Richard Shelby

October 16, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Sen. Richard Shelby's PAC gave $25,000 to help Republicans in Wisconsin recalls

For many years the Alabama Democratic Party had no interest in recruiting or helping a strong challenger to one-time Democrat turned Republican, Richard Shelby.  In fact, it often appeared they actively discouraged Democrats from running against Shelby, as seemed to happen with Bill Barnes last year.

Here is the fruit of that wrong-headed policy:

Shelby's PAC gave $25K to fund Wisconsin Republicans in the recall elections:

"I was pleased to contribute to that victory because I viewed it as a critical battlefront for defending Republican principles."

Democrats won 5 out of the 9 Wisconsin recall elections last summer, picking up 2 Republican seats.  They were within a few thousand votes of gaining a third GOP seat and a majority in the Wisconsin Senate.  Republican PACs like Richard Shelby's Defend America poured millions into Wisconsin to help Republicans hang on to a bare majority.

President Obama's Weekly Address: Made In America

October 16, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Speaking from a GM plant in Detroit, with President Lee of South Korea at his side, Barack Obama praised the trade agreements Congress approved a few days ago and urged Congress to use the same bipartisanship to pass the American Jobs Act.

We can’t afford this lack of action.  And there is no reason for it.  Independent economists say that this jobs bill would give the economy a jumpstart and lead to nearly two million new jobs.  Every idea in that jobs bill is the kind of idea both parties have supported in the past. 

Even though Senate Republicans blocked debate on the Jobs Act last week, Obama promised that Congress would vote on other parts of the bill, especially those focused on getting people back into the workforceto "earn their piece of the American Dream."

Federal Court Blocks 2 More Provisions Of Beason-Hammon Immigration Law - Beason & Hammon Pleased

October 15, 2011 by Left in Alabama

More provisions of Alabama's immigration law were struck down yesterday.  The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked implementation of Sections 10 (which made not carrying citizenship papers a crime) and 29 (required schools to check citizenship status) of the Beason-Hammon Immigration Law (HB56).  Reactions have been mixed, to say the least. 

Scott Beason and Micky Hammon say they're pleased with the court's decision.

I remain confident that once the judicial process has run its course, even the handful of provisions that have been stayed will be enacted," House Majority Leader Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, said.

...

 "I'm still very pleased. I don't think either one of those sections is a big loss to the bill. The law is still in place,"  Beason said. 

Beason also said he was "excited."  So they're happy and excited that Alabama is being dragged through the courts and portions of their poorly written law are being struck down?  How bizarre.  I will never understand how the Republican mind works, but those don't seem like normal, healthy, reactions.

Republican-based democracy: America is a club you can't afford

October 15, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

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Man MKE

As the nutball legislation dispensed by the Republican caucus in Madison continues apace, it's good to take the 10,000-foot view and consider what the overall GOP asgenda means for average state residents. When you look over the list, one theme emerges: It's all about money.

If you don't have any money or an insufficient amount of it, you simply are not going to be able to afford the new GOP flavor of democracy. America is rapidly being transformed into an exclusive club, whose members are wealthy and whose dues are paid by the rest of us.

Here's a brief but not totally inclusive rundown exemplifying this bold new GOP world:

Injured by a corporation? Too bad, because you no longer will be able to afford the cost of suing.

Buying a product or service? Risky! You won't be able to complain if something goes wrong, unless you first sign the seller's "compulsory arbitration clause" signing away your remaining rights to sue in court. 

Get sick? You won't be guaranteed paid days off.

11/2: Fundraiser to Celebrate and Support Democracy for New Mexico Blog

October 15, 2011 by Democracy for N...

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Democracy for New Mexico

From Host Committee (In Formation):

You are invited to a fundraiser to celebrate and support 
Democracy for New Mexico (DFNM) Blog 

When 
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 
6:00 – 8:00 PM 

Where 
AFSCME 
1202 Pennsylvania Street, NE, Albuquerque, NM 

Requested Contributions 
Benefactor: $250 ♦ Host: $100
Friend: $50 ♦ Guest: $20 

Click for Flier With More Information

Lo Que Hay This Weekend en NYC : Blaktina in the Bronx y Mas

October 14, 2011 by Vivirlatino

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Please Keep Checking this Page as it will be updated throughout the weekend. -Mala Ongoing October 14-28th The Bronx Academy of Art & Dance presents its annual BlakTina Performance Series A festival celebrating works by Black, Latina/o and Blatina/o artists. This year we are using BlakTina in the festival’s title to flip the Spanish language [...]

10/15: Occupy Events in Albuquerque and Santa Fe!

October 14, 2011 by Democracy for N...

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Democracy for New Mexico


Albuquerque's Hakim Bellamy: I'm in love with a 1%er (For Occupy Wall St.) Written on Day 26 of the Occupy Wall St. protest in New York City and Day 12 of the Occupy Albuquerque protest. They're making their move on NYC and Denver. Be prepared, my people. Love.

295708_10150366536349905_806244904_7896307_910752281_nThere will be a number of events this Saturday in New Mexico in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and as part of activities in 719 cities and 71 countries being held internationally all over the globe on that day.

Winner and Loser of the Day — Occupy Tallahassee/Florida’s Environment

October 14, 2011 by Kenneth

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Kenneth Quinnell

Winner: Occupy Tallahassee — A grassroots group that is well-organized and runs an efficient ship put together a great rally before the capitol today with much more to come tomorrow.

Loser: Florida’s environment — With the loss of activist Ellen Peterson.

Post of the Day — The Progressive Professor on Occupy Wall Street

October 14, 2011 by Kenneth

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Kenneth Quinnell

From The Progressive Professor:

As the “Occupy Wall Street” and other “Occupy” movements throughout the United States take hold, we see and hear bitter denunciations by the Tea Party Movement in the most wretched and venal manner!

This Tea Party Movement, which brought guns to gatherings, spit on members of Congress, and used racist language against President Barack Obama, and has no concern about the future of millions of middle class and poor families, has the gall and nerve to set out to destroy the reputation of ordinary citizens, who are having their homes taken away from them, their jobs lost, their children’s college education debts soar beyond ability to pay, their health care being denied, and their pensions being decimated, and seem to think this should be reacted to in silence, while the top one percent control 40 percent of the income, and continue through Wall Street to victimize America daily with their greed and selfishness!

The Republican chaos engine

October 14, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

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Man MKE

The thing to keep in mind when dealing with modern Republicans is that they depend heavily on two tactics: One of those tactics can best be described as a sophisticated version of the childhood retort: "I know you are, but what am I?" That's the effective GOP response when, for example, critics accurately note that Republican administrations tend to run high deficits and enact tax giveaways for special interests that make those deficits worse.

The second tactic, which is really just a psychological means of dealing with their own hypocrisy, is when Republicans project their own behaviors and motives onto the opposition. In short, Republicans are willful dissemblers but also, deeper down, in denial of their own dysfunction and inadequacy -- and quite willing to fantasize that it's always the other guy's fault. Projection increasingly is the psycho-glue that holds their fractured party and ideology together.

Martin Heinrich Leads All in Campaign Fundraising for U.S. Senate Race in NM

October 14, 2011 by Democracy for N...

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Democracy for New Mexico

At the end of the third quarter, NM-1 Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich has an impressive lead over all other candidates in campaign fundraising for the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico. Last Wednesday, Heinrich's campaign released a statement saying that his 3Q report would show him raising more than $650,000 between July 1 and September 30, 2011, with a cash-on-hand total of more than $1.1 million. They also said then that "the impressive total was fueled by 2,596 individuals, 94 percent of whom gave $200 or less."

Today it was revealed that fellow Democratic Senate candidate, State Auditor Hector Balderas, raised about $250,000 in Q3, and has nearly $465,000 in cash on hand.

Alabama AFL-CIO Tears A Strip Off Sessions & Shelby For Killing Jobs Bill

October 14, 2011 by Left in Alabama

America Wants To WorkThe Alabama AFL-CIO slams Alabama Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby after both voted to kill, not only the American Jobs Act, but even debate on the American Jobs Act.

Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby once again decided that their own personal political gain was more important than jobs in Alabama.

By voting against the American Jobs Act this week, the two senators left tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars rotting in Washington.

Under the act, Alabama would have received:

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