social security

We first wrote about Damon Silvers, the AFL-CIO's director of policy, on Friday. I had never heard of him before. But I liked what he said about holding Blue Dogs, New Dems and other conservative quasi-Democrats accountable for voting with the Republicans against the interests of seniors and working class Americans. Apparently CNBC noticed him to an invited him on for a dressing down. A conservative class warrior from Britain wound up getting his nose rubbed in his own shit.

Progressives like Pennsylvania state Senator Daylin Leach, who's running for the open PA-13 congressional seat, is never going to sell out Social Security, Medicare or any social insurance policies for middle and working-class American families. In fact, his record in the legislature makes it clear that he will fight to expand and strengthen them. Watch his new video above-- and then consider helping him win his crowded primary against a bunch of conservative Democrats.

Bernie Sanders (I-VT)-- like Ken and I, a graduate of James Madison High School-- has been trying to explain that “Yesterday, the Republicans were using the Affordable Care Act as the reason why they had to shut down the government and not pay our bills. Today, it’s ‘reforming’ Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Of course Elizabeth Warren refused to endorse conservative shill Katherine Clark, but that didn't keep EMILY's List from printing up these fliersLast April, Digby exposed the EMILY's List strategy for beating progressive L.A. mayoral contender-- and now progressive L.A.

Cuccinelli, struggling to stay in the 30's in recent polls, has already started cutting back on media spending. He knows he lost.

At This Time, Collapse Seems the Most Likely Forecast
The inability of the media and politicians to focus on the real issues never ceases to amaze.

Kline hates everyone-- young and old!Steve Israel was never a businessman-- nor a farmer. He's always worked in politics. He doesn't know how to make long term plans or how to initiative and follow through on long term goals. He can't see beyond the quarter or, off on his furthest horizon, the cycle. And the DCCC chair isn't the only near-sighted Democrat in power. The whole party is blinkered by strategists who never see the value of long-term planning.

Hoyer will do Margolies-Mezvinsky as much good next year as he did for another corrupt conservative hack, Tim Holden, last yearThe campaign for the Northeast Philadelphia/Montgomery County congressional seat being vacated by Allyson Schwartz is starting to heat up.

Today a number of progressive groups are doing a press conference in Honolulu to formally announce the introduction of the Harkin-Schatz Enhancing Social Security Bill. Interestingly, Senator Schatz in being challenged for reelection by conservative Democrat Colleen Hanabusa whose positions are more corporate-friendly and less family-friendly.

This week Blue America and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) sent a joint letter to all our members asking them to support Rush Holt for the open New Jersey Senate seat. The August 13 primary has 4 Democrats vying for the nomination-- Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, both progressive congressmen, General Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a kind of boss-affiliated garden variety Democrat, and the Wall Street candidate, Newark Mayor Cory Booker. The special election itself will be held October 16. Digby penned the letter: