Puget Sound Liberals Weekly Newsletter #131

Enhancing Freedom, Opportunity and Cooperation in Puget Sound and Beyond

Through informing and networking Liberals and Liberal Organizations.

Our vision is hundreds of thousands of well-informed Puget Sound Liberals working together.

2300 members July 18, 2008

Our Website Our Editor To Unsubscribe

Table of Contents *Featured Articles

About Puget Sound Liberals

Communication, opportunities and Petitions

Commentaries from Our Members

Larry Kalb on Obama Voting Like a Republican

Jack Smith: Lessons to Be Learned

Greg Gille: Facts about McCain

Dick McManus: Running on Empty Caucus

Dave Thomas on Sound Transit’s Eastside Proposal

Chris Smith Defends Barack Obama

Marcee Stone Promotes Public Campaign Financing

Liberals and Democrats Links to the Beef

Obama Watch: Perfection or Progress*

New Politics vs. Old Politics*

Obama’s Approach to Creating a Fair Economy

Liberals Who Think They Are Conservatives

Nelson Mandela’s Principles of Leadership*

State and Local Links to the Beef

Washington State’s Political Landscape*

Instead of States, Metros Drive Our Economy*

Washington Sales, Property and Excise Taxes

Nation and World Links to the Beef

Pre 9/11 and Post 9/11 Thinking*

Pre Peak Paradigm vs. Post Peak Paradigm*

Housing Loan Regulation Is Missing in Action

Make Elections More Inviting

Torture is a crime against humanity.

Our Liberal Spirit

My First Answer Is Always “Yes”.*

Recommended Books

Our Political Values

Our Political Priorities

· Fair Clean Elections and Open Government

· Fair Taxes and Competent Spending

· Investment for Productivity

· Quality Health, Education, Jobs, Income and Retirement

· Environmental Protection and Energy Independence

· Security and Equal Rights

· Justice and Peace Everywhere

· International Cooperation and Leadership

Conservatives oppose all of these

Let’s End Our National Nightmare

Let’s Restore Our American Dream

More on Conservative opposition to our American Dream

Washington State’s 4 Major Needs

· Federal Funding for Health and Education

· A Progressive Income Tax

· Public Campaign Financing

· Replacing Republican Legislators

Quotes of the Week

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old, I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:18-19

Calendar of Events

King County Democrats - LD Meetings Some 2008 Legislature Lobby Days

Thurston County Progressive Net Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation

Alliance for Democracy Democratic Underground.Com

Town Hall Seattle Calendar Sierra Club Cascade Chapter Calendar

Washington Public Campaigns Calendar Conversation Cafe Drinking Liberally

Washington State Labor Council Whatcom County Peace and Justice Calendar

Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice – Friday Night Movies Liberal films on PBS

Calendar of Events

July 18, 19 and 20 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (44048 Delridge Way SW, Seattle) – Edge Theatre Ensemble presents Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and her Children. For tickets.

Friday, July 25 at 7 PM at Gibson Hall (105 Newport Way, Issaquah) – American Democracy Movie Night. This timely feature examines how corporate globalization of food threatens small farmers in developing countries and the U.S. and contributes to worldwide hunger despite an overabundance of food.. Hosted by 5^th Legislative District Democrats.

Friday, July 25 at 6:30 PM at Rick Hegdahl’s home (104 - 165th Avenue NE) – Lake Hills Liberals Salon, including Light Buffet and discussion of Old and New Politics. Bring beverage, fruit, cheese, crackers, etc

Tuesday, July 29 at 6:30 PM at 1^st Presbyterian Church (318 South Cedars Street, Spokane) – Washington Health Care Caucus, presented by The Healthy Washington Coalition.

Wednesday, July 30 at 6 PM at Gibson Hall in the Kiwanis Building (105 Newport Way, Issaquah) – Salad Potluck and Meeting of East King County Democratic Women. See their website.

Thursday, July 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sammamish Public Library (825 - 228th Avenue NE, Sammamish) – Dinner and ISSUES IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY" Discussion Group with presentation by Darcy Burner Campaign representative. Hosted by 5th District Democrats and Democrats of Inglewood Neighborhood.

Sunday, August 3 at 1 PM at Green Lake Park (look for earth flag near 4^th & East Green Lake Drive, ) – Potluck Picnic and Dialogue with E.P. Menon on the State of the World.

Monday, August 4 at 1 PM at home of Beth Brunton (dead end at 29^th and Holgate) - Potluck Picnic and Dialogue with E.P. Menon on the State of the World, sponsored by Rainier Valley Neighbors for Peace and Justice.

Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 PM at Temple B’nai Torah (15727 NE 4^th Street, Bellevue) – Washington Health Care Caucus, presented by The Healthy Washington Coalition.

Barbara Rader of Black Widow Web Development created our Puget Sound Liberals Website, to which I can easily add, modify and remove files. Learn more about this unique company, which offers a 50% discount for organizations that promote social justice and environmental stewardship. Dave Thomas

Communication, Opportunities and Petitions

Communication

My thanks to Barbara Rader for creating our website, to which I can easily upload webpages. Thanks to Forest Gower for creating the MS Access programming which enables the mailing of our weekly newsletter message separately to each of our 2300 members. Forest Gower has also helped us with our Lake Hills Voters Database which now has 1720 likely Democratic voters (in 12 precincts). Thanks to Jesse Crowther for restoring my computer settings when they somehow stray.

Opportunities

See What the Iraq Occupation has cost us to this minute.

How Would You Spend $3 Trillion instead of Iraq?

Try MoveOn’s new game: What’s the difference between President Bush and Senator John McCain?

Wellstone Action provides organizing tools online.

See Paul Loeb’s organizing tools: one, two, three.

Wellstone Action canvassing instructions

Take a quiz concerning how green is your vacation.

See the Story of Stuff (video).

Barack Obama invites you to join in writing our Democratic Party’s platform.

Do you want a job with Russ Feingold’s 2008 Patriot Corps?

Sign up for Democracy for America Night School featuring George Lakoff.

See Barack Obama’s speech on national security and the war in Iraq (video).