[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill has a feature out today on former State Senator Jackie Speier's congressional run. It quotes yours truly praising Sen. Speier to high heaven -- but it also signals that she may have a challenge from the left.

Such a challenge would be a massive waste of resources by California progressives -- funds and enery that could be used in the neighboring district to help re-elect Jerry McNerney or on the state level to win a 2/3 legislative majority. Jackie Speier is an amazing candidate with a rich record of accomplishment on the Democratic agenda. I'm all for democratic elections, but It would be a shame if to have a slugfest in this safe Democratic district.

by [courtesy of Blog for America]

In the January 7, 2008 edition of The Nation, the editorial board encourages us to remember a very important point. The current presidential election cycle is historic and represents a tremendous opportunity for us to send a Progressive to the White House. In their inimitable style, the editors offer us many words of wisdom. Some excerpts: 

“The calamitous Administration of George W. Bush has slashed and burned its way through Iraq, our Constitution and the remnants of the social safety net. It has pursued imperial aggression, lethal incompetence and crony capitalism as if they constitute official policy, leaving the next President with a multitude of crises, from Iraq to New Orleans to Guantánamo Bay.” 

“But to take a page from the free-market gospel: where there is crisis, there is opportunity. Indeed, throughout this uncommonly long election cycle, beyond-the-Beltway progressives have driven their issues to the forefront of the Democratic agenda.”

read more »

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Rumble
President
Northeast Democratic Club of Los Angeles

On January 4, 2007, Democrats took over control of the Congress of the United States. They elected Nevada Senator Harry Reid to be Senate Majority Leader. They chose Nancy Pelosi, of San Francisco, to serve as Speaker of the House. The choice of Pelosi made history. She became the first woman, the first Californian, and the first American of Italian descent to serve as Speaker. Northeast Democrats remember with pride the festive, giddy scene on the floor of the House…Mrs. Pelosi with gavel held momentarily upward, her declaration opening the House floor to children for one day, the parade of Pelosi children and grandchildren across the Speaker’s dais. Pelosi’s opening speech articulated an ambitious Democratic agenda…a change of course in Iraq, a reform of ethics rules, and increased economic opportunity for middle-class Americans.