by Franco Caliz-Aguilar [courtesy of Blog for America]

"Left-wing birds of a feather, tax and spend together"-Congressman Diaz-Balart

These are the lows that Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, not to be confused with his brother Congressman Lincoln "Iraq made the whole WORLD safer" Diaz-Balart, stoops to when faced with an incredible candidate, who uses a grassroots campaign to change the face of our local community. Joe's responsible plan to get out of Iraq, moderation towards Cuba and his leadership on environmental problems (the 25th Congressional district includes almost all of the Everglades) are issues that Congressman M.Diaz-Balart can't compete with. So he stoops to tried and failed Republican talking points like tax and spend. 

by Mary Pallant for Congress [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Hello Calitics!  My name is David Atkins--though most of you probably know me better on the blogs as thereisnospoon.  I'm writing today on behalf of Mary Pallant, the candidate I believe is best-suited to take CA-24 by storm and turn this district a bright shade of Progressive blue!  I've had several meetings with Mary over the last few years, and she has impressed me greatly with her tough-mindedness, can-do spirit, strong knowledge of the issues, organizational prowess, and personal charisma and charm.  I believe in Mary and her ability to win this seat--and now that I live and work in Ventura County, I've signed on to be the Netroots Coordinator for her campaign.  From now until November, you'll see Mary and I posting under this account to give you updates on the progress of our campaign to get rid of Elton Gallegly, one of the worst rubber-stamp Republicans in the Congress.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Charles Chamberlain, DFA Field Director [courtesy of Blog for America]

Hey Everyone,

I asked the campaigns competing in Grassroots All-Stars to post blogs and ask for your vote. I also told them that if they sent their post to me I would post it for them. Here is the first blog I have received. Enjoy! -Charles

_______________________________________________________

First of all, thank you for promoting my post on the DFA blog!

My name is Ann Driscoll, and I wanted to share with you a song and video I made for Vic Wulsin, a progressive Democrat running again in OH-02 after almost beating Jean Schmidt in 2006. You can see the video here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3YP8iBKXM9Y

by Tom Saez [courtesy of Blog for America]

www.democracyforwestchester.net 

Sometimes too much of a good is not such good thing.

That is what occurs when democrats succeed at local level, specially when they eliminate any possibility of any one running in any other alternative ticket- read republican- to get elected (by any means). Like in the case of Westchester republicans who want to make a career in politics are giving up registering as republicans and registering in the democratic party as their ticket to get into elected office.

In some cases they are just switching party lines in the middle of their tenure.

The knowledge we are gathering is in the direction of tide has turned against republicans.  Specially those who were in the Bush line for the past two elections and in Westchester are a bunch of that kind.

The polls say if you are a republican you better run fast to change ‘your values’ or the probability of defeat is too high, for them the risk or losing the cushy seats has become too large to ignore.

This is no indication that many democrats will change their “values’ to face this new wave of competition from their comrades of the “right” so they have few alternatives, one is to run as democrats or continue to run as pseudo-democrats pleasing conservatives.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Woohoo! Jerry did it! Jerry McNerney has managed to become the most un-progressive Democrat of the entire California congressional delegation. For those keeping score at home, Jerry's 82.45 was about a half point lower than the next CA Dem, Jim Costa, that progressive stalwart, at 82.97. And for all the talk of Harman changing her ways, she's still worse than even Joe Baca, almost 7 points worse from a very safe Dem seat.

For all of you CA-45 fans, "moderate" Mary Bono came in with a stellar 4.42 Chips are Down score. So, for all the bluster of the SCHIP vote, she's still dancing the same jig as the rest of her party.

On thing must be said, the Speaker has done an excellent job at preserving unity amongst the caucus. Whether that means she's being too incremental and/or ineffective, or just laying down the law is the big question. The reason her approval rating, and the Congress in general, is down has a whole lot to do with the fact that little has changed on the Iraq front. So, would it be better to have a speaker who is more willing to take risks? Perhaps, but the impediment of the president always lingers over her head, veto pen in hand. So, whether the unity is really there, is an open question. Full data over the flip.