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Wednesday, March 2
Whose Democratic Party is This Anyway?
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 02 Mar 2005 05:43 PM CST
 Whose Democratic Party is This Anyway?
by Evan, Newslog, AlterNet.org
You want to see the battle for the soul of the Democratic party - IN REAL TIME - consult the blogs. The latest round was touched off by an MSNBC blurb on the Democratic Leadership Council, a corporation designed to push centrist politics (that's the nicest description I can muster).
The MSNBC blurb featured the DLC's CEO Al From explaining that, in order to win: "You've got to reject Michael Moore and the MoveOn crowd."
This apparent rejection of a good portion of the grassroots energy and
support [greatly angered] a number in the blogosphere, including Center for American Progress fellow David Sirota, who fired back:
Some
people seem surprised by that. But let's be clear - it's no secret that
the DLC is a corporate-funded institution designed to stealthily
corporatize the Democratic Party. Like a bad virus, they exist solely
to infiltrate and destroy the party from within. As From's totally
out-of-touch comments show, their insular, snarky, and self-righteous
operation in Washington is increasingly threatened by the grassroots
outside the Beltway to the point where they are openly demanding a
purge of critical parts of the party, while defending potential
turncoats.
Meanwhile,
as coincidence would have it, one of the top liberal/progressive blogs
(perhaps the most well-read blog of all), Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo
just happens to have, as its guest blogger for the week, the DLC's Ed
Kilgore. Kilgore, writing about Bush's social security woes, ended with
this statement that caught the eye of many a blogger:
"He's
going to lose this fight, folks, whether or not one or two Democrats in
the House or the Senate give him "cover" by offering some sort of deal
that neither party will accept."
This was
interpreted by the American Prospect's Matt Yglesias and popular
blogger Atrios as an attempt to give cover to DLC sweetheart Joe Lieberman who, rumor had it, was limbering up for a walk across the aisle to cut a deal on social security.
(Click here to read the complete entry.)
Iowa Author's Peace Novel Even More Relevant Today
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 02 Mar 2005 11:22 AM CST
 Iowa Author’s Peace Novel Even More Relevant Today
By Meta Hogan
"Joe
Coffee's Revolution" is about an idealistic political neophyte trying
to participate in big-time American politics. He is a Democrat trying
to tell the truth in Iowa.
Book Review: "Joe Coffee's Revolution" by Mike Palecek
by Meta Hogan, Voice of Olympia, Olympia, Washington
It is
always refreshing to read about creative, compassionate people who are
working to effect positive change against great odds. It's almost as
inspiring as being around such people. But “Joe Coffee's Revolution” is
anything but inspiring. Don't get me wrong - the story is
substantial and satisfying. The characters' lives are full of palpable
detail, handled deftly by the author. Palecek's greatest talent lies in
his ability to depict the ordinariness of life. Many of the  scenes are
in real time, grinding along at the pace of the characters' days, full
of the irrelevant details that mortals must endure. Coffee cups are
handed across tables, food is chewed, doors slammed, children listened
to, movies rented, trucks thrown into reverse in muddy driveways. After
a few chapters of Palecek's tender attention to the characters' small
lives, readers will feel the same itch for revolution that the
characters give into. By the end of the book, we are so familiar with
the characters' bodily space and personal experience that it is almost
physically painful when the [end comes]. It is a good read….
The
action in this book is far removed from the powers that govern it,
making the characters even more helpless, not only to effect change,
but even to defend their very lives. People planning to challenge the
status quo should be informed about the difficulties they will
potentially face. They should be aware that powerful, well-organized
opponents await them, and that even their allies have a built-in
resistance to change.
You can order your copy of “Joe Coffee’s Revolution” at www.iowapeace.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
Mike
Palecek lives with his family in northwest Iowa. He was the Iowa
Democratic Party nominee for the United States House of
Representatives, Fifth District, in the 2000 election. He received
67,500 votes on an anti-military, anti-prison, pro-Hispanic platform in
a conservative district. His novel, "Joe Coffee's Revolution," gives a
fictional account of his campaign experience.
Liberal Talk Radio Growing
by
Trish Nelson
on Wed 02 Mar 2005 06:36 AM CST
 Liberal Talk Radio Growing
Detroit Free Press
(AP) The day before [George W.] Bush's [faux] inauguration, listeners tuning
in to the Detroit sports station WXDX-AM were suddenly greeted by the
sound of braying donkeys. By the time Bush was taking the oath of
office, the radio station had new call letters and a full schedule of
liberal talk shows.
Twenty-two stations owned by Clear Channel
Communications Inc. have switched to a liberal talk format in the
last year.
Those
who track broadcasting trends say there's money to be made in liberal
talk radio. Todd Webster, a consultant for Washington-based liberal
talk show producer Democracy Radio, said Clear Channel is expected to
introduce the left-leaning format on 20 more stations by the end of the
year.
"There is a tremendous appetite out there for progressive talk," he said.
(click here to read the entire story)
click here for Air America Radio
click here for Democracy Radio
 Click here to receive action alerts from Rapid Response - Iowa
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