by Susan Rowe [courtesy of Blog for America]

Kicking-off his 2008 re-election campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, Progressive Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio delivered an impassioned speech on Friday, January 25, 2008 in his hometown of Cleveland.  Note: His courageous speech will make tears of great joy well up in your eyes.

Congratulations Congressman Kucinich!

www.integritynow.org

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's official: Maverick Congressman Dennis Kucinich has dropped out of the Democratic Presidential race.

Though my politics don't square with his, I've always admired Kucinich since my days working in Congress. He's a scrapper and not afraid to put new ideas on the table, no matter how unpopular. His run, in this cycle as well as the last cycle, always has been quixotic. But this year he was so AWOL from his Congressional district that he attracted some serious primary opposition. One opponent even sent a "Welcome Home" gift basket to his house after one of his campaign swings. Kucinich was not amused.

I should also note that Kucinich was the only proponent of single-payer health care in the Presidential race. So much for that becoming a reality anytime soon.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Want to help out your candidate? Find out about the local campaign? Now is the time to help out as voting by mail (VBM) has begun in California.

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (Illinois)
Committee Name: Barack Obama for America
Committee ID #C00431445
Phone: (866) 675-2008
Official Website: www.barackobama.com
California Field Offices
3333 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 950, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 383-2008
436 14th St., Suite 305, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 268-1008
560 Beech St., Basement, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 531-1108
2015 Q St., Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 400-3252
3892 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: (650) 852-9401 (opening today 1-3 p.m.0

U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (New York)
Committee Name: Hillary Clinton for President
Committee ID #C00431569
Phone: (212) 213-3717
Official Website: www.hillaryclinton.com
California Field Offices
1122 Howard Street - Top Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 255-7431
600 S. La Fayette Park Place, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Phone: (213) 908-0190

by Paul Eisenman [courtesy of Blog for America]

Bergen Grassroots elected the members of its 2008 Steering Committee at our meeting yesterday evening (Weds, Jan. 2) in the Ethical Culture Society auditorium.

With six candidates filing for six vacancies, there was no need for formal balloting. The 2008 team will comprise four members of the ’07 committee: Joey Dobbs, who volunteered to become the alternate member; Paul Eisenman, Bob Gulack and Beatrice Robbio, who switched places with Joey Dobbs to become the full member. The newcomers are David Dubin of Haworth and Allen Sklar of Paramus, both relative newcomers to Bergen Grassroots as well. Allen Sklar has an impressive record of public service in his resume: three terms as a member of the Paramus Council and one term as a Bergen County Freeholder.

* * * * * *

At the meeting, the results of the Bergen Grassroots 2008 Presidential Endorsement Poll were announced. Former Senator and 2004 vice-presidential candidate John Edwards was the clear winner, leading throughout the five elimination rounds.

by [courtesy of Blog for America]

At approximately 9:15PM Eastern time on Wednesday, December 19, the leadership of Progressive Democrats of America announced its support of Senator John Edwards for President of the United States in a national conference call for PDA members. 

While a more formal proclamation is sure to follow, now seemed the appropriate juncture to share the news with DFA given the intriguing results of our poll and the important initiative to unify the Progressive Vote. 

Since Congressman Dennis Kucinich won the non-binding and unscientific PDA straw poll a few weeks ago, you may wonder why PDA leadership has made this decision. Like many of my fellow PDA supporters, I feel a very strong affinity for Dennis. As explained on the PDA call last night, Dennis has been a steadfast supporter of Progressive goals and ideals. His unwavering support of HR676 is but one example. 

by [courtesy of Blog for America]

The reasons I support HR 676 and the creation of a single-payer, not-for-profit, universal healthcare program for the United States would run many paragraphs if I tried to list all of them. However, at the very top is the fact that our current system is killing people. Nationwide, we lose thousands of Americans and leave otherwise happy children orphans every year because what passes for a medical safety net in the United States is broken, fundamentally flawed. 

In my campaign, the need for universal healthcare trumps all others because the service-based economy of Central Florida employs tens of thousands of workers without benefits. These people keep the tourism capital of the world running like a clock but often find themselves on their own when they take ill. This is one of the reasons why the Sunshine State leads the nation in mortgage foreclosures. 

by David Reiter [courtesy of Blog for America]

Come be a part of the "Netroots, Progressives, DFA Soiree!"

Buy tickets here:
https://secure.fladems.com/page/contribute/convention

At the Florida Democratic Convention this weekend in Orlando, Florida's Netroots, the Florida Progressive Coalition, PDA, and DFA are all getting together with Congressman Dennis Kucinich and other legislators to join together in a special mixture of Progressive talent.

Buy tickets here:
https://secure.fladems.com/page/contribute/convention

After a day of events learning about how to get more net-savvy from national netroots leaders like Markos Molitsas Zuniga from Daily Kos, Matt Stoller from Open Left, and numerous leading Florida bloggers from around the state.

Click on the links above to purchase tickets (a day Pass) for the convention so you may attend all convention events along with the netroots workshop and the "Netroots, Progressives, DFA Soiree!" If you prefer to skip the Convention and protest the Iraq War instead, that is happening between 12:30 and 4...thousands are expected.

Some money is