Puget Sound Liberals Weekly Newsletter #145

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.

 

   2500 members                                                               October 24, 2008                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

                                                     

Our Website                                   Our  Editor                  To Unsubscribe

 

                        Table of Contents  *Featured Articles

 

About Puget Sound Liberals

Opportunities, Petitions and Feedback

 

Don’t Forget to Vote.

 

Commentaries from Our Members

David Spring: My Campaign for 5th LD Representative*

Roger Yockey on the Importance of Unions

Juanita Doyon: Terry Bergeson Refuses to Cooperate

Craig Salins: An Example of Special-Interest Influence

 

Liberals and Democrats Links to the Beef

John McCain Has No Good Cards Left*

Obama’s End Game Advantage: Grass Roots Organizing

Female Voters Outnumber Male Voters

Drama-Seeking Media Downplay Obama’s Lead.  Good.

 

State and Local  Links to the Beef

Dick Burkhart on Light Rail from Renton to Bothell

A Reconsideration of Proposition 1*

King County Budget: Stable Revenue Sources Needed*

Our Congress Members Fail to Express Values or Vision

 

Nation and World  Links to the Beef

White Men Began and End Our Conservative Era*

Another Stimulus Package? *

Should We Eliminate 401(k) Retirement Plans? *

What Is Patriotism?

 

Our Liberal Spirit

Living an Unfair Life

 

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

·       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

 

Quote of the Week

 

Life is Unfair.  Most of Us Are Better Off this Way.  Dave Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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                          

 

Sierra Club Cascade Chapter Calendar           Cool State Washington

       

Washington Public Campaigns Calendar          Town Hall Seattle Calendar

 

Washington State Labor Council                    Whatcom County Peace and Justice Calendar 

 

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

Conversation Cafe      Drinking Liberally          Seattle NOW         Progressive Voters Guide       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Calendar of Events

Friday, October 24 at 7 PM at Keystone Congregational United Church of Christ (5019 Keystone Place North, Seattle) – View film (The Visitor) about undocumented workers followed by Panel Discussion.  Sponsored by Washington CAN!, One America, Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice, National Immigrant Justice Center, Detention Watch Network, Participant Media and Active Voice.

Saturday, October 25 at 6:30 at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church (225 North 70th Street, Seattle) – Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation Fundraising Auction.  Snack. Visit and bid.

Sunday, October 26 at 12:30 PM at Bellevue Community College parking lots 10 and 12 – Rally and Canvassing kickoff, with Chris Gregoire, Darcy Burner, Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, Arizona Governor Napolitano ad Kansas Governor Sebelius. 

Monday October 27 at 5:30 (registration and cocktails), 6:30 (dinner) at the Westin (1900 Fifth Avenue, Seattle) – 15th Annual Warren G. Magnuson Awards Dinner & Awards Ceremony with special guest speaker Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's brother.  Sponsored by Washington State Democrats.  $100.  $75 for someŕ For more information.

Thursday, October 30 at 6 PM at Reuben and Arlene Powell’ home (21656 -284th Avenue SE, Maple Valley) – Meet Darcy Burner and John Ladenburg.  Bring an undecided guest.  Food and drinks provided.  RSVP.

Friday, November 7 at 10:30 AM at Bellevue City Hall (450 – 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue) – Free Training about Immigrant Rights by Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition (ERIC).  You may bring your lunch.  RSVP.

Saturday, November 8 at 6:30PM at Bill Bradburd’s home (1640 S Lane Street, Seattle) inSpire Potluck, Presentation and DiscussionPalestine for Beginners, led by Edward Mast.

 

Opportunities, Petitions and Feedback

 

Communication with Our Members and Feedback

 

I have compiled all of my commentaries on our economy into one document which is posted on our website.  I believe one hour spent reading them will make you better informed than the vast majority of Americans, including many of our congress members.  Without understanding our economic crises, their causes and needed solutions, you are unable to act responsibly to correct the situation which affects all of us.  Dave Thomas

Take a crash course (2˝ hours) about our American economy (video).

 

Opportunities

Useful Websites: contacts, maps, community organizing tools, and more.

Access to jillions of political cartoons.

Download Michael Moore’s latest movie ‘Slacker Uprising’ for free.

Sign up for a free Brave New Films subscription to inform more people about the Real John McCain.

Download Sightline Institute’s climate policy primer ‘Cap and Trade 101’.  About Sightline.

 

Petitions and Donations

Tell our presidential candidates to address economic security, health care and social security.

Sign a petition supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.

Tell president Bush to protect to marine reserves.

 

Commentaries From Our Members

 

 

David Spring: My Campaign Efforts Are Very Productive

 

It has been a very exhausting but productive week for all of us. With the help of several volunteers, we have now placed over 1,0000 yard signs throughout the 5th District. That is about 500 more than any other candidate and at least 700 more than my opponent Glenn Anderson. So we have won the sign war. This should help greatly in winning the votes of thousands of casual voters who select candidates based on name recognition.

 

Prior to that, with the help of several volunteers, we were able to pass out over 2,000 campaign flyers at the Salmon Days parade and event on Saturday and Sunday. This was by far the biggest direct voter contact weekend of the entire campaign.

 

Also, I have been getting very good press with articles in several papers. Every major paper has now ran a story about me and Glenn and I have been treated well in nearly all of them. In addition, Glenn and I will be appearing on KUOW public radio from about 9:30 am to 10 am this coming Monday morning. I hope you get the chance to listen and call in asking Glenn to explain why raising the levy lid from 24% to 30% is not a property tax increase because it sure looks like a property tax increase to you.

 

In addition, I have now been endorsed by NARAL, Planned Parenthood, the Washington Education Association (WEA), the Sierra Club, the Cascade Bicycle Club, the Children’s Alliance, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington State Young Democrats and numerous other groups. These endorsements are important because each of these groups sends out voting recommendation emails to thousands of voters here in the 5th District.

 

Also on the plus side, because of the huge turn out at the Beaver Creek Lodge Event a couple of weeks ago, the State Democratic party will be doing three mailings for me in the coming week at a total cost of just under $100,000. There will be a “comparison” mailer sent by my campaign but paid for by the HDCC, a “hit mailer” against Glenn Anderson sent out by an independent group, and a Get out the Vote mailer sent to nearly everyone in the 5th LD promoting me, Governor Gregoire, and Peter Goldmark for Lands Commissioner. Do not ask me why Darcy Burner’s name was not included in this mailer, because I do not know. Perhaps they felt Darcy had enough money to promote her own race. I think the comparison mailer alone will get me thousands of extra voters among those independent swing voters who actual research and compare the candidates.

 

The only negative news is I did not receive the Seattle Times endorsement. But then neither did our Governor Chris Gregoire. In hindsight, I would not want the endorsement of any group that would endorse Dino Rossi. But it was an outrage that the Times would endorse a candidate (Glenn Anderson) who had blatantly lied to them about several issues and was unable to answer any of their questions. The Times claimed that Anderson was “well respected” by Democrats and Republicans. This too is a lie. Glenn has failed to receive the support of any Democrats for any of his major bills during the past 8 years. To the contrary, most Democratic Legislators believe Glenn is the worst and least effective legislator in Olympia.

 

This election between Glenn and I promises to be very close. So any votes any of you can get for me during the next few days may be the ones that make the difference!! I understand several of you will be out canvassing your precincts this weekend. Be sure to mention that Glenn wants to raise property taxes and I want to roll them back. The difference between us is about $1,000