Members Blogs

Labor: United and DividedA fractured labor movement is throwing everything into its campaign for Barack Obama.Harold Meyerson | August 28, 2008 | web only

A Candidate for Change, but not a Candidate of a Social MovementThe African World - By Bill Fletcher, Jr. - BlackCommentator.com Executive Editor

'Economics. Economics. Economics.'posted by John Nichols on 08/29/2008 @ 02:36am The Nation DENVER -- William Cobb was going to approve of Barack Obama's acceptence speech.Cobb is a working man, a union man and a proud member of the party of working men and union men: the Democrat Party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. [...]

So Many Miles From SelmaBy Eugene Robinson August 29, 2008 DENVER -- "I cried on Monday when Michelle spoke," Rep. John Lewis told me Wednesday at the Pepsi Center, "and I know that on Thursday night at the stadium I'll cry again."

Obama's Progressive, Populist Agenda: "Now Is Not the Time for Small Plans"By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet Posted on August 29, 2008, Printed on August 29, 2008 AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/story/96882/Barack Obama opened the final phase of the 2008 presidential election by unveiling an unabashedly populist, progressive agenda to renew America's promise in the 21st century. [...]

Two Announcements of events at Cooper Union, NYC1. Latin America in the 21st Century, Sept 5 2. The 2008 Election: What's Really At Stake?", Sept 13= = = = =1. Latin America in the 21st Century: New Visions New Challenges

Women Film Critics: An Endangered Species?The lack of female voices in film criticism is a manifestation of an industry that favors male-oriented movies and audiences.By Jennifer Merin, The Women's Media CenterAugust 27, 2008, Alternethttp://www.alternet.org/story/96487/>http://www.alternet.org/story/96487/

State of DenialBy Robert C. KoehlerAugust 28, 2008, Common Wondershttp://www.commonwonders.com/Talk about naive. The Union of Concerned Scientists apparently thought the Democratic and Republican national conventions would be appropriate events at which to bring up the awkwardly substantive topic of U.S. nuclear weapons stockpiles (6,000 or so) and policy (insane).

Community College Students Need Not Apply: Our Reward for Bailing Out the BanksBy Kesi FosterAugust 28, 2008, CommonDreams.orghttp://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/08/28-0The American Dream deferred - that's what national lenders announced recently when they told Americans they were significantly reducing their lending to students who attend community college. Education is the great equalizer, but there was no equality in their decision: they targeted community colleges for cuts while extending their lending programs at distinguished 4-year schools. [...]

3,000 march in largest demonstration of DNCBy Patti ThornAugust 27, 2008, Rocky Mountain News [Denver]http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/27/3000-march-largest-demonstration-dnc/Marching behind a police vehicle that flashed the words "Follow Us. Welcome to Denver." on an electronic sign, at least 3,000 Iraq war veterans and anti-war protesters made their way through downtown Denver on Wednesday during the largest demonstration of the Democratic National Convention to date. [...]

Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance Calls for SupportVivirLatinohttp://vivirlatino.com/2008/08/26/mississippi-immigrant-rights-alliance-calls-for-support.phpIn light of lack of critical connection to immigrant communities displayed by our 'leaders,' it's important that we do what we can to help out. The following was put out by MIRA! in Mississippi--an organization that was working well before the recent raids to minimize the reach of the raid in Mississippi. See after the cut for ways you can help out. [...]

The High Priests Gathered to Praise the Dems-but the Prophets Were MissingSubmitted to Portside by Rabbi Michael LernerFor all the media chatter about how far we've come since the Democratic Convention in Chicago,1968, or the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's. "I Have A Dream Speech," if you were expecting that the words of the prophets had moved from the subway walls and tenement halls into the mainstream of the Democratic Party you'd be sadly disappointed. [...]

U.S. Military Keeping Secrets About Female Soldiers' 'Suicides'?By Col. Ann Wright Aug 26, 2008 TruthDig http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080826_us_military_keeping_secrets_about_female_soldiers_suicides/

Tidbits: August 27, 2008 1. Astraea Lesbian Foundation International Fund for Sexual Minorities 2. Re: Rise of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party 3. Help us Take on the Thugs - The Yes Men 4. Teacher Probed Over Cuba Trips Says, 'Adios' 5. Re: Obama and the Legacy of the 1963 March on Washington 6. Re: The Myth of the Tragedy of the Commons [...]

War Resister Robin Long Sentenced to 15 Months in Prisonhttp://www.alternet.org/rights/96325/By Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist August 25, 2008.Long, an Iraq War resister deported from Canada last month, was sentenced to 15 months of prison and dishonorable discharge. --This is an update to AlterNet's previous story http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/95832/robin_long,_war_resister_deported_from_canada,_faces_trial_this_week/ on the case of Robin Long. [...]

New Orleans Three Years LaterKatrina Pain Index: New Orleans Three Years Laterby: Bill Quigley, t r u t h o u t | Perspective Truthout Original - Tuesday 26 August 2008http://www.truthout.org/article/katrina-pain-index-new-orleans-three-years-later

The Democratic Education Divide - A Dialogue* Web article by Dana Goldstein and a response from Duane CampbellA pre-convention education event was full of anti-union rhetoric, even as teachers' union members remain among the most loyal of Democratic constituencies.by Dana GoldsteinThe American Prospect - August 25, 2008 - web only [...]

Moving Obama Leftby David MobergThese questions still haunt progressives about Sen. Barack Obama. Does an Obama presidency promise dramatic and progressive change, as his rhetoric sometimes suggests? Or will Obama simply shift from Bush's neoconservatism back to the confused - if slightly less conservative - perspective of the Democratic Party establishment? The answer may depend on how progressives respond to the challenge of building the expectations and organizations that put demands on an Obama presidency. Here's an in-depth look at what progressives face. [...]

Dems in Denver - Rise of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic PartyCONVENTION DISPATCH: Kennedy & The Rise of the Democratic Wing of the Democratic PartyBy David Sirota In These Times Weblog - August 26, 2008 (A Weblog from the editors and staff of In These Times magazine)http://www.theittlist.com/site/ittlist/ind/5087/

Union leader: Racism keeps Obama from building leadBy Kevin BogardusThe Hill - Posted: 08/26/08 06:45 PM [ET]http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/union-leader-racism-keeps-obama-from-building-lead-2008-08-26.htmlDENVER - A prominent union leader on Tuesday blamed racism for Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) failure to build a big lead over GOP rival Sen. John McCain.