My Liberal Rant

I am not a Progressive, I am a proud, card carrying, bleeding heart, tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, LIBERAL big D Democrat. You got that?

The term "progressive" is today often used in place of "liberal." Why? Because republicans made liberal a dirty word. In an effort to appease the gop Liberals decided to call themselves progressives. Unfortunately the progressive brand has been hijacked by neo-liberals and corporatist dems.

H/T to Captain Plaid for Making It Plain!

I am libeRAL as I believe humanity can advance.

o Our civil liberties must be protected. No exceptions!

o I believe in the power of law. She’s not perfect and I’ve seen injustices, often related to power and poverty frankly. I’m very concerned with the burrowed in Federalist Society sorts on benches across this land. Our Alabama Supreme Court is largely bought and paid for by the Business Council of Alabama and other Big Mules like Alfa. The Court of Criminal Appeals used to be rather hostile to defense lawyers and I know for a fact they dodged a serious question I once raised in a brief.

o Lockean libertarians who recognize the need for social insurance and regulation were once celebrated yet are now having rocks thrown at them.

o I favor same-sex marriages or at least civil unions. Discrimination can hardly be tolerated as to a person’s sexual orientation.

o I had a person once tell me liberals believe people are inherently good. I'm not sure I buy that yet I do think many are. On some of the laggards, ignorant, … I occasionally think of how I used to work with critters by making it easy for them to do the right thing. Policies to prod, channel, and the like are OK for me but then again just help and a hug work on the face to face work I try to do. I know for a fact I helped some kids I taught or have known and likely could have done more if carrying a fair work load and able to really teach and represent.

o Education is an investment. We ought to be proud to spend money for our future generations.

o Clinton’s welfare “reform” sounded perhaps good on paper and was a winner politically yet only a booming economy avoided a train wreck. The costs of having those babies being taken from their mothers so she could do some type of “make work” is hard to measure but I bet there were and are costs.

mooncat says I am not typical of any democrat she knows
What is she thinking?

I begged readers to read the History: Democrats $ Republicans On Civil Rights and Equality which let me know what kind of democrat I'm not;

Conservative Democrats left the party in opposition to civil rights and became Republicans. After the Civil Rights law was signed into law, conservative Democrats left the party. Strom Thurmond, who ran as a segregationist in 1948, became a Republican, as did Jesse Helms (who went on to filibuster against making Martin Luther King Jr. day a federal holiday).

I'm not the kind of democrat who runs away from Nancy Pelosi and President Obama in an attempt to woo so called moderates/independents and other concern trolls.

I'm not the kind of democrat who jumps in bed with the Tea Party Gang.

I'm not the kind of democrat who says support my candidate/point of view or else.

I'm not the kind of democrat who falls for the Talking TeeVee Pundit Head spin

I'm the kind of democrat who is sick and tired of being bullied by the right wing because you know what? I really don't want to hear the other side.

So There!

Saturday Must Reads

If you don't read anything else I've posted or ever will post, I am begging you to read History: Democrats & Republicans On Civil Rights and Equality. H/T Oliver Willis

There is an awful lot of misinformation and untruth out there about the legacy of the two major political parties and the civil rights movement. Conservatives often like to use slight of hand, insisting that because the early Republican party was stronger in support of civil rights, this means that conservatives have the moral high ground. This is totally untrue.

After you read the above post PLEASE read Reading Racism from Right to Left: Reflections on a Powerful Word and it's Applications. H/T Tim Wise

This is part one of a two-part series on racism on the right and left of the United States’ political/ideological spectrum. Part One provides the reader with a working definition of racism, and then explores how racism at both the ideological and institutional levels is connected to and enhanced by American conservatism. Part Two will explore the ways in which American liberal and left rhetoric and policy prescriptions can also manifest or further racism at the ideological and institutional levels.

The piece is long, and less a polemic than an analytical think piece, but hopefully folks will find it helpful in future discussions of racism with friends and adversaries alike...

Then, Imagine if the Tea Party were Black H/T Ephphatha Poety

Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.

Peaceful reading.

Redeye's Week In Review

Artur Davis, I mean Terri Sewell is the democratic congressional nominee from the 7th district. She was quoting Shirley Chisholm on Wednesday and announcing she wasn't going to be a rubber stamp for President Obama on Thursday. Now we see why Emily's list was so *ahem* invested in 7th district congressional race. If the republicans were smart, and I'm not saying they are, they would run a social liberal, fiscal conservative candidate against Sewell in the fall and take a "safe" democratic seat. But why should they bother to run a candidate when they have Artur, I mean Sewell? I wonder if Sewell is going to vote for Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the house? Naahhh. This is messed up on too many levels to enumerate. The voters in the 7th district don't deserve this. If the Alabama democratic party were courageous, and I'm not saying they are, they would run a real democrat as an independent in the fall. With democratic nominees like Sewell who needs republicans?

Speaking of Artur Davis, he's exhibiting the learned helplessness democrats are famous for in Alabama.

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, praised Robert Bentley for his victory in Tuesday's runoff election and predicted the Republican Party nominee will be tough to beat in the general election.

With democrats like Davis who needs republicans?

Republicans and *ahem* progressive cats won't have Dr. Paul Hubbert to kick around anymore since he is stepping down as the State Party Vice Chair. He is public enemy #1 because he is an effective advocate for public schools, public school students, teachers, administrators and support staff. Dr. Joe L. Reed is public enemy#2 because he is responsible for "gerrymandering" them there black voting districts thanks to that there Voting Rights Act.

Districts with huge majorities of minority voters? Not good. Those are intended to actually dilute the effect of minorities at the voting booth and shouldn't be tolerated by anyone on the progressive side of the map.

With progressives like these who needs democrats.

The political career of Bradley Byrnes is over, thanks in large part to democrats and the AEA. Yep, those so called anti corruption, anti gambling corporate candidates crashed and burned. Schnauzer I join you and Mrs. Schnauzer in your childish delight

So we hope you will excuse our childish delight at the thumping corporate candidates have taken at the election box recently in Alabama. The battle for honest governance is far from over--in Alabama and beyond. But we must admit to feeling a tiny bit of vindication today--and even a sense of "up yours" to those who have soiled our democracy.

The NAACP called on the Tea Party Gang to reject the racist elements and found themselves under attack from the mainstream media. That's right (no pun), the organization that fights racism is under attack for exposing the racist elements of the Tea Party gang at the same time the media is doing everything but ironing the white sheets, lighting torches and getting the rope for Mel Gipson. So, how come the media, which is predominately white, gets to defend the Tea Party Movement, attacking the NAACP and convicting Mel Gipson? Who made them the arbiters of racism? This is the same media who painted anti war protesters as anti American, anti military, namby, pamby, tree huggers and Cindy Sheehan as a traitor because she dared ask why her son died in Iraq.

President Obama is cautiously optimistic the oil well gusher is plugged in the Gulf of Mexico. Republicans voted lock step against extending unemployment benefits and financial reform. The Tea Party candidates crashed and burned. And republicans still think think they are going to regain control of the government in November.

Ain't that a dip?

Edit~I Told You Terri Sewell was Artur Davis in Designer Pumps

The winner of the democratic congressional primary from the one and ONLY Alabama district President Obama carried in 2008 has announced I'm not going to be a rubber stamp for Obama.

I tried to tell y'all

Terri didn't pledge to vote in the interest of the voters of the district. She round about said she would vote against Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. Why would Nancy Pelosi and President Obama introduce legislation that wouldn't be in the interest of the 7th district?

But I was accused of inventing a straw man, making sh*t up, and peddling hypocrisy (I'm looking at you mooncat, countrycat, Kathy, Kayman, et.al)

Inventing a straw man
So you can knock it down. In other words you're making shit up.

You weren't in the audience Thursday so I know you have no idea what Terri Sewell said, but you obviously feel free to twist my words. She unequivocally said her first priority would be the needs and wishes of the 7th congressional district. When pressed, she said even the President could not convince her to vote against the interest of her district. Nor could partisan politics. That's a very strong statement of loyalty to the voters who elect a representative. Under normal circumstances you would praise a representative who vowed to actually represent We the People, but for some reason you are now looking for reasons to criticize it.

I need hip boots for the hypocrisy you are peddling.

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday Terri Sewell was quoting Shirley Chisholm, today she's sounding like the rest of the Alabama Congressional Critters.

"I'll be a partner with Obama" to "By no means will I just rubber stamp any and all policies of the administration"

This is what happens when the republicans enabled by the media and neo liberal bloggers choose the democratic nominee from the 7th district.

If the Alabama democratic party was courageous, and I'm not saying they are, they would run an independent against Ms. Nine West Pumps in November. The residents of the 7th district deserve better. They are the most loyal voting block the state and national democratic party has, it's time to stop taking their loyalty for granted.

Enough!

Updated; I Weep for the Residents of Alabama's 7th Congressional district

What did the residents of the Alabama's 7th Congressional district to do deserve another wall street attorney who doesn't know their Donkey from a hole in the ground as their representative in congress? I mean really? The republicans and their neo liberal enablers just helped elect the worst democrat to congress. Don't ever let them tell you they have Alabama's best interests or the best interests of the 7th district at heart.

My worst fear has come to past. Republicans, enabled by the media (again) and the neo liberals (again) bought and paid for the only African American seat in congress (again). I'm sure they are patting themselves on the back and high fiving their "victory" this morning, but this is wrong on so many levels. For one thing it proves it's not about the people, it's about the money, the power and the influence. It's proof the residents of the 7th district didn't get to decide who represents them in congress (again).

How did the Alabama Democratic Party let this happen? Why did the Alabama Democratic party let this happen? How many members of Congress does Hoover need?

If and when Sewell has to cast votes on financial reform and job creation, will her instincts be those of Tuxedo Junction, or those of the brokers and bankers on Waterside Drive?

I am full of righteous anger this morning. As I've said before I don't live, work or vote in the 7th district, but I care about the 7th district. I care about the poverty and the despair and I care about who represents them in congress. Are they being punished for being poor? Are they being punished because they don't own flashy blogs? Are they being punished because they dared vote with HOPE for CHANGE we can believe in? What did they do to make them unworthy of effective LIBERAL representation in Congress?

Terri Sewell. I know you said:

service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth
and
When I go to Washington, we all go to Washington

But talk is cheap. I hope you live up to the words and legacy of my Sorority Sister and not the legacy of your predecessor who voted against health care reform, the hate crimes bill, resigned from the house judiciary committee to run for Governor and was an apologist for some racist actions. Shirley Chisholm was a true, proud LIBERAL who spoke truth to power, unbossed and unafraid.

As a freshman, Chisholm was assigned to the House Agricultural Committee. Given her urban district, she felt the placement was irrelevant to her constituents[2] and shocked many by asking for reassignment. She was then placed on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.[2] Soon after, she voted for Hale Boggs as House Majority Leader over John Conyers. As a reward for her support, Boggs assigned her to the much-prized Education and Labor Committee,[7] which was her preferred committee.[2] She was the third highest-ranking member of this committee when she retired from Congress.
All those Chisholm hired for her office were women, half of them black.[2] Chisholm said that during her New York legislative career, she had faced much more discrimination because she was a woman than because she was black.[2]

Terri Sewell, my big REDEYE will be trained on you like a laser beam. It's not about YOU, it's about the voters of the 7th district. I HOPE and PRAY you prove me wrong, not for MY sake, but for the sake of the the 7th district, our state and our country.

Proof Terri Sewell is not the Democratic nominee the people who live, work and vote in the 7th district want or need to deserve to represent them in Washington can be found in this thread from Left in Alabama.

We heard after the primary about how Dems rejected Davis because he didn't play to the base. Well that's all fine and good if you can win an election with just your base. Unfortunately, you can't, and I think that's where the state Dems are falling short. Until the folks on the left figure out that they're going to have to make some concessions to appeal to independents and even some (gasp!) moderate Republicans so that they can get a little bit of progressive in there, they'll get nothing accomplished. The far left liberal Dems are an endangered species in Alabama. You won't win an election on your own.

Be sure and read the comments;

I like Teri Sewell, too.
So far... Just wanted to get that out there.

See what I mean?

You like Terri Sewell and Artur Davis, but not Ron Sparks. (1.00 / 3)
Why am I not surprised? This is how the residents of the 7th district ended up with a wall street securities attorney with NO experience as the democratic nominee from the the only district President Obama carried in 2008. Republicans, enabled by the media and neo-liberals picked the Democratic nominee from the 7th district, not the people once again. That's messed up.

Jesus, save us from the conservatives/ republicans/moderates/independents/ progressive/neo-liberals. They know not what they do.

Why I weep for the people who actually live in CD 7

Better no experience in government
Than experience in government malpractice.

The voters spoke in the 7th CD runoff last week. Everyone who respects the process should accept that those voters weighed their alternatives and made the choice they deemed best for them.

And, Republicans were voting in the Republican gubernatorial runoff (along with all those Republican members of AEA) not in the Democratic runoff.