The GOP’s offensive rapture knows no bounds. And so it seems,
the Republicratic reactionary participation knows no limit.
But do progressive Democrats offer something truly different?
Yes, they do – but they need help in making progressive policy
happen. I’m determined to do something about it by becoming a
U.S. Representative for FL-24.
Progressive democratic efforts in the recent election recall success
in Wisconsin, of course should be lauded, so don’t get me wrong –
but should not be mistaken for strong progressive leadership or
policy. Why? The fact that such a recall was necessary at all,
evinces that the previous elections were mishandled and wasted. In
fact, having to recall elections is by definition, regressive – not
progressive.
More to the point, how much was invested to ‘repeat’ elections in
2011 that just occurred in 2010? $10 million? $20 million? $40
million? According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, the last figure of
$40 million is close to the mark and would represent “…a difference
of $4.4 million per race in 2011 compared with $150,862 per race in
2010.” Not to mention, all of the time, people and energy required to
campaign, not once, but twice, for a ‘re-do.’ And keep in mind, these
figures are for state, not federal races. So forgive me that I’m not
totally overcome by the result that a state seat or two was
reappropriated by the Democrats. They paid for it. The big ‘winners’
in this recall are the vendors and advertisers.
And let’s ask - how many progressive candidates are languishing all
over the country, at the state and federal level, women and men who
could do so much collective good for America with the strong
national support of like-minded people – but may never come to
light in 2012 due to the money and GOTV resource vacuum possibly
created by the gigantic sum of $40 million of ‘progressive’ money
invested in WI 2011? Well, that’s $40 million that won’t be spent
somewhere else. Consider, for example, that a federal race often
costs $1 million or more – that’s 40 federal U.S. House races that
won’t receive one progressive penny.
How many progressive endorsements have been made? How many
progressives are receiving the backing they need to change Capitol
Hill for the better of America?
Actor Sean Penn is backing Norman Solomon for (CA-6).
Blue America, my personal favorite - has endorsed Alan Grayson for
(FL-26), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for Senate, Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
and others, including myself for (FL-24).
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has endorsed Eric
Griego for (NM-1).
Feingold’s Progressives United has endorsed no one. Though
according to the HuffPost, they’ve raised over $2 million this
election cycle.
Howard and Jim Dean’s Democracy for America has endorsed Ilya
Sheyman for (IL-10). Ilya used to work for Democracy for America.
Progressive Democrats of America have endorsed two people:
Norman Solomon (a current PDA board member) and Winona
Benally Baldenegro for (AZ-1).
Move On, Van Jones and the American Dream roadshow have
endorsed no one.
As for my labor friends, no organized group of people has a greater
interest in making sure progressive candidates are elected. No
corporate politician will fight for union, collective bargaining and
labor rights like a progressive. Yet sadly, most often, Big Labor
throws its collective weight behind Republicrat after Republicrat,
thus ensuring the union membership’s slow and steady demise.
Why?
I have no quarrel with unions, PACs and other organizational
brothers and sisters, but I fear that without the kind of collective,
progressively democratic solidarity that has not been seen in
America since the 1930s, America will lose itself to the corporate
vogue fascism of the black-hearted GOP. It’s fairly evident that such
a downward spiral has already begun, dragging complicit
Democrats along with the undertow. Will you help to stop it?
The Congressional Progressive Caucus of the U.S. House of
Representatives, which has eight-three members – the number one
place from which endorsements should be flying left and right for
progressive Democratic candidates – has had only one member
endorse anyone: Barney Frank (MA-4) endorsed candidate Ed
Potosnak for (NJ-7).
It’s reminiscent of an old Southern saying: “You can’t win for
losing.” As progressive efforts stand today, they resemble little
more than a fractured mirror that will be easily deflected by the
black-hearted GOP.
Progressives must come together.
Always on the defense, there is no way forward. The past thirty
years of progressive Democratic floundering have shown us this
fact. What will 2012 bring?
If Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) had his way – we wouldn’t sign so called
‘free trade’ deals, like the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, that
“…puts the rights of investors and multinational corporations over
the rights of American workers.” Progressive Caucus member
Dennis even enlisted the help of Blue Dog Caucus member Mike
Michaud (ME-2) in his imploration that the Congress reject
agreements of this kind, no matter if they are brokered by President
Obama. I support Dennis and Mike in this effort.
If Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), another Progressive Caucus member, had
it her way, Congress would pass a $250 billion short term jobs bill
that aims to put people to work right now. I support Jan in this effort,
too.
Maxine Waters (CA-35), regarding the Tea Partiers’ mad
misconception of the unemployment crisis said: “The Tea Party can
go straight to hell.” She’s tired of it. So am I. And asked about
President Obama’s bus escapades all over Middle America, while
eschewing Other America, Maxine said: “We don’t know what his
strategy is.”
Increasingly, America feels that way, too. On the recent debt –
austerity – downgrade trifecta – Jim McGovern (MA-3) said in
summary: “I didn’t run for Congress to dismantle the New Deal.”
And neither am I.
We need your help. Strong, early endorsements. Volunteers.
Contributions. Whatever you can. Wherever you are.
Put a progressive Democrat in Congress!
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Donate here!
Nicholas Ruiz III, Ph.D
NRIII for Congress 2012
http://intertheory.org/...
____________
Editor, Kritikos
http://intertheory.org
Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170
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