DCCC Plan To Destroy Progressive Campaigns Fails Miserably As Cheri Bustos' Favorite Blue Dog Goes Down To Defeat

On Tuesday, the primary in Illinois' third congressional showed the failure of Cheri Bustos' toxic plan to defeat progressive challenges to Blue Dog incumbents who are out of sync with their constituents. Anti-Choice, anti-healthcare, homophobic, anti-immigrant conservative Blue Dog/New Dem Dan Lipinski was beaten by progressive candidate Marie Newman. (Remember, the DCCC chose to undermine Newman's campaign even though Lipinski refused to endorse Obama's reelection in 2012mand is currently working with the GOP in demanding that the Supreme Court overturn Roe v Wade. Can you believe this sack of garbage is the Pelosi candidate?)

It isn't uncommon for it to take two cycles for a political newcomer to displace a long-time incumbent. Tuesday Newman, with considerable help from progressive organizations and with endorsements from Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, AOC, Cory Booker, Ro Khanna, Julián Castro, Jan Schakowsky, Pramila Jayapal, Jay Inslee, Ayanna Pressley, and lots of other progressives-- both local and national-- overcame the DCCC + GOP operations to keep Lipinski in office.

As of the February 26 FEC reporting deadline, Lipinski had outspent Newman $1,348,228 to $1,193,371. But what was different from last year is that the flood of outside spending from Republican and other conservative groups on behalf of Lipinski failed to overcome progressive countermeasures. For example, the Blue Dog SuperPAC's $39,527, the National Association of Realtors' $50,686 and the slimy No Labels PAC's $80,092 was easily countered by NARAL alone ($211,468). The Republican Party's attempt tp help Lipinski through the Susan B. Anthony List this year, failed to move the needle the way it did in 2018. The Republican Party's Women Speak Out PAC spent around $20,000 to help Lipinski and hurt Neman in the midst of spending to bolster Trump and attack Bernie and Elizabeth Warren.

Progressive unions like the SIEU and the Nurses spent independent money to help Newman, while conservative unions like the Plumbers and Pipefitters spent for Lipinski.

1,141 Blue America members contributed $14,912.56 on these five ActBlue pages + another $2,800 as the result of a Blue America contest.

• Blue America Better House 2020
• Primary A Blue Dog
• Medicare For All
• Congress Needs More Progressive Women
• Chicagoland

Marie couldn't have stood up to the DCCC and their conservative and GOP allies without grassroots help. So... thanks to everyone who gave and you otherwise helped Marie win. And... please consider contributing to the other candidates on those pages.

Arizona progressive Eva Putzova is running for a seat held by another Blue Dog, one even further to the right than Lipinski. Tom O'Halleran was a Republican state legislator whop pretended to be a Democrat because he got in a fight with Arizona's GOP. But he still votes with the Republicans more than almost anyone in Congress-- including Lipinski. Yesterday Eva told me that "Despite the efforts of the Democratic Party establishment to defeat Marie Newman in Illinois 3rd congressional district, she prevailed against reactionary, blue dog incumbent Dan Lipinski. This is a great victory for her, and an inspiration to me and other progressive challengers around the country. We know for a fact that voters support the progressive agenda that Newman ran on: Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, Get Money out of Politics, women's reproductive freedom, a complete, humane immigration reform etc. I am running on those issues as well, against a corporate-DCCC-funded incumbent. Marie's successful campaign is a harbinger of what the future holds in store for so-called 'moderate' status-quo Democrats when challenged by well-organized progressive challenger."

Shahid Buttar, the progressive primary winner in San Francisco who will face Pelosi in November, noted that "Conservative Democrats have held progressives politically hostage for the past three generations. But we are finally showing them the door. With all the might of the corporate Democratic party, Speaker Pelosi couldn't hold the seat of her Blue Dog friend, Dan Lipinski. Reproductive authoritarianism has no place in the Democratic Party, and it's disappointing that Speaker Pelosi would do so much to support it. Our campaign has brought the fight for the future to her door, as her first November challenger from within the Democratic Party in her 30 year career. I'm looking forward to joining Marie in expanding the Squad in the next congressional session."


Robin Wilt, the Monroe County progressive taking on useless New Dem Joe Morelle noted last night that in the early days after declaring her 2020 run for NY-25, she "was endorsed by NYC Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams. His was our campaign’s first major endorsement, and it came at a time when the establishment was busy tipping the designating scales in favor of my opponent-- a long time Party Boss and New Dem who represented a step backwards from the progressive leadership of NY-25’s departed former Representative, Louise Slaughter. Jumaane, in his endorsement of me, said, 'We need people in government who will stand up for the right causes and against the right people, in Rochester, throughout New York, and in our nation’s capital.' Jumaane’s sage words reflect the fight that we are waging within the Democratic Party to center the priorities of the people over those of corporate and party elites. Since Jumaane’s clarion call, there have been a cacophony of voices calling on progressives to 'vote blue no matter who.' But Marie Newman’s victory shows that members of the modern Democratic Party do not have to settle for half a loaf. In safe Democratic districts such as IL-03, where Lipinski won 73-26% in 2018, we have an opportunity to lead. It is not enough to merely resist the most deleterious policies of the GOP. Doing so enables the environment that produced Trump. It is only through the strength of a people-powered movement that we can turn the tide."

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) was an early endorser of Marie's campaign, despite DCCC hysteria and opprobrium. Yesterday she told me that she's "thrilled that Marie Newman, who ran a terrific grassroots campaign, won her primary last night! A strong supporter of Medicare for All, immigrant justice and combating climate change, Marie is passionate about serving everyone in her community. She will be a principled progressive in Congress, and I look forward to welcoming her into the Congressional Progressive Caucus and working with her to make bold change a reality. Marie’s victory shows what we have been saying for some time: Medicare for All is not just great policy, it is also great politics. In state after state, exit polls have proved that progressive policies like Medicare for All and College for All are widely popular. These are smart and popular policies-- and every single Democrat should be behind them."

I spoke with one of my DCCC contacts who told me that no one there cared one way or the other. "No one likes Lipinski anyway and most people here were rooting for Marie to beat him... Besides we won in Texas [meaning they protected Henry Cuellar against Jessica Cisenors] and... we'll beat all the other so-called progressives running against our incumbents, so [in a friendly way] f_ _k you." When I pressed about Bustos' and Pelosi's support for Lipinski, it was just how they had to do that so the Blue Dogs wouldn't all stop paying dues again and further undermine the party. When I reminded him that until she decided to run for leadership Bustos herself was a Blue Dog and that she still votes like one, I was told to "grow up." Call ended on that pleasant note.

Marie Newman-- Victorious Against Blue Dog Throwback Dan Lipinski

CNN's Chris Cillizza doesn't mention in this video that the Democrats are more likely to lose more seats than they pick up. Instead he says Republicans don't have enough money to win back a majority and that ether aren't enough opportunities. First off more Republicans have announced retirements (or are otherwise leaving) than Democrats-- 31 to 11. Open seats are usually the easiest to win, although many of the Republicans who are retiring are in deep red, gerrymandered districts. Here's the GOP House count with the PVIs (and the 2016 Trump presidential scores).

• George Holding, NC-02-- (PVI- re-districted), Clinton +24.4
• Mark Walker, NC-06-- (PVI- re-districted), Clinton +21.5
• Will Hurd, TX-23-- (PVI- R+1), Clinton +3.4
• Peter King, NY-02-- (PVI- R+3), Trump +6.1
• Sean Duffy, WI-07-- (PVI- R+8), Trump +20.4
• Susan Brooks, IN-05-- (PVI- R+9), Trump +11.8
• Paul Cook, CA-08-- (PVI- R+9), Trump +15.1
• Rob Woodall, GA-07-- (PVI- R+9), Trump +6.3
• Kenny Marchant, TX-24-- (PVI- R+9), Trump +6.2
• Ted Yoho, FL-03-- (PVI- R+9), Trump +16.0
• Pete Olson, TX-22-- (PVI- R+10), Trump +7.9
• Greg Gianforte, MT-AL-- (PVI- R+11), Trump +20.2
• Duncan Hunter, CA-50-- (PVI- R+11), Trump +14.8
• Greg Walden, OR-02-- (PVI- R+11), Trump +20.1
• Chris Collins, NY-27-- (PVI- R+11), Trump +24.5
• Bill Flores, TX-17-- (PVI- R+12), Trump +17.5
• Paul Mitchell, MI-10-- (PVI- R+13), Trump +32.2
• Jim Sensenbrenner, WI-05-- (PVI- R+13), Trump +20.1
• Bradley Byrne, AL-01-- (PVI- R+15), Trump +29.4
• Martha Roby, AL-02-- (PVI- R+16), Trump +31.9%
• John Shimkus, IL-15-- (PVI- R+21), Trump +46.2
• Francis Rooney, FL-19-- (PVI- R+13), Trump +22.1
• Mark Meadows, NC-11-- (PVI- R+14), Trump +17.3
• Ralph Abraham, LA-05-- (PVI- R+15), Trump +29.4
• Roger Marshall, KS-01-- (PVI- R+24), Trump +45.0
• Rob Bishop, UT-01-- (PVI- R+26), Trump +27.3
• Tom Graves, GA-14-- (PVI- R+27), Trump +52.9
• Phil Roe, TN-01-- (PVI- R+28), Trump +57.0
• Doug Collins, GA-09-- (PVI- R+31), Trump +58.5
• Mike Conaway, TX-11-- (PVI- R+32), Trump +58.7
• Mac Thornberry, TX-13-- (PVI- R+33), Trump +63.0

The only Democratic open seats that are competitive are IA-02, Dave Loebsack's which has a PVI of D+1 but was won by Trump by 4.1% and CA-25, Katie Hill's with an even PVI, won by Hillary by 6.7%. About half the open Republican seats are vaguely competitive, not counting the two redistricted seats in North Carolina, which are solid blue.

Before we even know who the nominees are in most districts, it's foolish to try to predict which seats will flip from red to blue or blue to red. But we'll keep watching. Today Oklahoma progressive Tom Guild, going up an even worse conservative Blue Dog than Lipinski is-- Kendra Horn-- told us that "Marie’s upset victory over Lipinski is a stunning win and an object lesson. When good progressive candidates have adequate funding and strong support from leaders of the progressive movement, they are able to unseat blue dogs and other assorted conservatives in the vice grip of ruling political elitists. In many cases these corporate conservatives are better fits with the Republican or Libertarian Parties. They often give the establishment two bites at the apple. If the Republicans loses, they can then turn to corporate Democrats, who are in all but name philosophically Republicans. It took Marie several attempts and she came very close to winning the seat two years ago. She had the determination and commitment it takes to focus on a daunting task and successfully achieve her objective. We have strong and principled progressive candidates, many endorsed by Blue America, who match Marie in that they have the guts needed to slay the dragon, but they may not have adequate campaign funds and/or the widespread support of the recognized leaders and organizations in our progressive movement. We are family. As our movement matures and expands its reach to give maximum support to many quality and hard-working progressive candidates, we will achieve many amazing and shocking victories across America. Many of us pray for God to grant us patience as we exhort Him to please hurry!"

Last night we were overjoyed to see IL-03 flip from purple to blue, as solid progressive Democrat Marie Newman beat Trump-friendly Blue Dog Dan Lipinski 48,677 (47.08%) to 36,677 (44.76%). As Tom said, it took Marie two cycles-- which is the normal way congressional districts are won. As of the February 26 FEC reporting deadline, Lipinski had spent $1,348,228 and Marie had spent $1,193,371. Thanks to everyone who chipped in through Blue America to make this fantastic win possible. Four more candidates on the verge-- who, like Marie, did well against conservative incumbents last time and look like they can win this time-- are J.D. Scholten (running against Steve King in Iowa), Mike Siegel (running against Michael McCaul in Texas), Audrey Denney (running against Doug LaMalfa in California) and Kara Eastman (running against Donald Bacon in Nebraska). They are all very much investing in-- for a better America-- and that's why the 2020 Blue America congressional thermometer is on the right. Please click on it and contribute what you can to one of them or all of them-- or to Marie.

Not Any Goo Will Do, Part Two

Oligarch now has a "D" next to his name. Is that enough of a reason to vote for him?

And by "Part Two," I'm just talking about the past 24 hours! Part Three, for those who plan ahead, comes this evening at 9pm (PT). Some would say that's practically the theme of the whole DWT blog; period. OK, fair enough; it is a frequent topic. And when I saw this Akela Lacy tweet yesterday (just below)... well, you can probably imagine! That was the end of the post I was planning to write about the Georgia and Alabama Republican Senate primaries. Part One, as you can see by clicking on the first link above, was in the intro to the guest post our newest candidate, Jim Harper, wrote:

Indiana’s 1st congressional district is a rare deep-blue territory in Mike Pence’s home state. Incumbent Democratic Congressman Pete Visclosky-- retiring after 18 terms-- won the district by 31 points in 2018. The primary on May 5 will decide whether the next representative from this district is a conservative, a lobbyist, an anti-impeachment former Republican, or a truly bold progressive.

Any blue will do? Not really. Not in the presidential race, not in the Senate race (see Kyrsten Sinema) and certainly not in House races either.

I asked a bunch of California Congress members what Bustos was up to. One wrote back to say that she could be worried that if no Democrat comes in in the top two in the jungle primary, the Democrats would lose the purple-district seat. I responded with another question: "So is Bustos going to ask everyone to pressure that Republican-lite candidate who looks like Katie Hill to get out of the race so Cenk can sail to victory? If she does, I'll publicly apologize for all the unkind things I've ever said about her." No response. But after the meeting one of the freshmen called me to told me what actually happened at the meeting. The freshmen are worried that the DCCC is dumping too much money to prop up Christy who they say is too lazy and entitled to raise enough money to fund an aggressive campaign. The freshmen have a vested interest in the DCCC spending money to protect their seats and not waste it on someone who is unwilling or unable to stand on her own two feet. This was completely shocking for me to hear. And then there was some off-the-record stuff that I hope to be able to share eventually, but the idea of the DCCC even considering backing off from Christy Smith is nothing short of astounding.

I wonder if Bustos is also calling meetings of all the Texas and Illinois Democrats too, since it certainly looks like Blue Dogs Henry Cuellar and Dan Lipinski are finally about to be flushed down the toilet. Tuesday, in fact the Chicago Sun-Times endorsed progressive Democrat Marie Newman for IL-03, noting that Lipinski is "a closet Republican", just like Bustos' candidate Jeff Van Drew Christy Smith in California is. Lipinski, wrote the Sun-Times editorial board "is a reluctant Democrat. He voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2010 before coming around and doing so later on. Lipinski, we should add, also has voted against key legislation on immigration-- measures widely favored by his own party-- before coming around. And he’s been slow to support full rights and equality for LGBTQ folks, though of late he’s been coming around. And why does Lipinski, who has never distinguished himself in Washington, finally keep coming around? ... Our endorsement goes to Newman. Nobody will have to give her a push to champion the values and policies of her own party."

Like Lipinski and Cuellar, Van Drew Christy Smith is the kind of candidate who, if she wins, will have be constantly pushed to do the right thing. (Unlik Cenk, who would be leading the charge, something that may be a bit scary for many "more establishment Democrats." It's meant to be. The L.A. Times, when endorsing Smith yesterday, explained why they passed on Cenk, the very clearly much better candidate: "While we agree with him about the corrupting influence of money in politics and some other subjects, we find his pugnacious style off-putting and not conducive to a more civil Congress." Yep... no, doubt he'll fight way too hard for anyone to feel comfortable, especially if they oppose fundamental change. No possibility of anyone fearing Van Drew Christy Smith on that count. Besides, what would you rather have, a civil Congress or an honest Congress?

As for Bustos' special friend Henry in south Texas, he is so spooked by the gigantic grassroots Jessica Cisneros campaign that he released a TV ad smearing her, with the same kinds of lies Republicans use.

Cuellar, for example, claimed she just moved into the district to run against him. She was born and raised there and was recruited to run by her Laredo high school teacher. Here's the fact check on the ad's content; maybe someone should show it to Cheri Bustos and Pelosi, who are both backing Cuellar and have threatened anyone who works for Cisneros:

No wonder Cuellar became Trump's favorite Democrat after Cheri Bustos' favorite Democrat, Jeff Van Drew, migrated, officially, to the GOP, where he and Cuellar and Lipinski and Christy Smith and Bustos all belong! I spoke with Cisneros last night and she told me that Cuellar's "brand of 'bipartisanship' means sticking the Democratic stamp of approval on Republican legislation and Republican talking points." It's taken some members of Congress years to learn that lesson. It's uplifting that Jessica Cisneros understands it before she even gets into Congress. Speaking off which, please consider contributing to her campaign by tapping on that thermometer up above.

Solidarity-- 2020

In Poland, solidarity overthrow a tyrannical occupation

In 2014, there were over a dozen Democrats running for the West Side of L.A. congressional district Henry Waxman was retiring from. The DCCC/EMILY's List conservatives had some awful status quo candidate, Wendy Greuel, they were funneling immense support to. EMILY's List spent $158,516 on one of their typical smear campaigns against progressives and Greuel spent $1.3 on the primary. Blue America did our first-ever dual endorsement, for the two most progressive candidates in the race, Ted Lieu and Marianne Williamson. As you know, Ted was elected to Congress and Marianne has continued advocating for her love-based political agenda. She is also working with Blue America on helping to elect congressional candidates who back the progressive ideas she has been espousing both on and off the campaign trail.

This week both Ted and Marianne, each of whom has endorsed Mike Siegel's campaign for Congress in Texas, sent out letters to their own followers ask them to contribute to Mike's primary, which is on March 3.

Marianne urged her supporters not to forget that "it's not just the White House that’s hotly contested this year. All seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are in play as well!" She went on to explain that she's backing Mike and why.

Mike’s congressional race means a lot to me because I was born and raised in Houston. I remember a Texas that was rich in the values that make America great, and it has saddened me to see my home state represented at times by people who do not express those ideals.

Mike is running to replace a Republican congressman named Michael McCaul. McCaul designed the House versions of Trump's Muslim Ban and family separation policy, two acts egregiously in opposition to what America is supposed to stand for. Those of us wishing to see the U.S. government reflect the angels of our better nature have no interest in seeing someone like McCaul return to office.

Mike Siegel, on the other hand, stands for human rights, humanitarian values and common decency. He's a Texas civil rights attorney, a married man with two children, and a great congressional candidate. Most importantly, he has the best chance to replace McCaul-- but he needs our help in order to do it.

Having run for office myself, I know what it means when Mike says he needs help building his field campaign. A congressman doesn’t just represent his district; he represents America. I’m writing to you now so that all of us can help him.

Mike’s campaign is running hard on labor issues and the Green New Deal. This has not only earned him the support of folks like the Sunrise Movement and 350 Action, but also the Texas AFL-CIO, even though many of the workers in the Texas 10th are a part of the fossil fuel industry. He has taken a strong stand on climate change and voting rights, on justice for Rodney Reed (a Texas death row prisoner who grew up in TX-10), and on providing a living wage with a dignified retirement.

March 3rd isn't just Super Tuesday for the presidential candidates, it is also the big day for many congressional candidates all over the country. Early voting in Texas starts on February 18th. The money we raise for Mike today will help his campaign bring voters to the polls and keep getting his message out.

You and I both know how much this matters. Please help create a wave of enthusiasm that will return our government to the best of who we are.

Ted also emphasized to his supporters what a big day March 3rd is. "Californians," he wrote, will go to the polls and cast their ballots in the primary elections-- but we’re not the only ones who’ll be making our voices heard on Super Tuesday. In states across the country, from Colorado to Virginia, voters will decide which Democrats are going to be taking on Republican challengers in November, including one of the most vulnerable members of Congress, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas." 



I’m proud to back Democrat Mike Siegel in his bid to unseat Rep. McCaul, and today I’m calling on all of my supporters to participate in a contest to ensure that Mike’s team has the resources they need to win big on Primary Day... Mike’s taking a strong stand on issues ranging from climate change to healthcare to justice reform, and the money we’re able to bring in for him will help his campaign reach as many voters as possible in the final stretch of this race... [L]et’s replace a reactionary Republican with a progressive Democrat.

The other day, I was at a fundraiser for Mike up on Bunker Hill and Cenk Uygur was one of the inspiring speakers. His message was all about solidarity and how important it is for progressives to work together and bring more progressives into Congress-- real progressives. The next day, Cenk released his first TV ad. Watch it; it's really good:





Yesterday, I was very impressed with a Chicago Sun Times editorial endorsing progressive Marie Newman for Congress against the reactionary Blue Dog incumbent backed by Cheri Bustos and the DCCC, Dan Lipinski. They hit it out of the park, not just for Marie, but for all the progressives taking on Republican-lite primary challengers this cycle.

This editorial could, more or less, be in favor of Shaniyat Chowdhury's campaign to replace Gregory Meeks in Queens; Kim Williams' campaign to replace Jim Costa in the Central Valley; Jessica Cisneros' campaign to replace Henry Cuellar in south Texas; Rebecca Parson's campaign to replace Derek Kilmer in Washington state; Mark Gamba's campaign to replace Kurt Schrader in Oregon; Eva Putzova's campaign to replace Michael O'Halleran in Arizona; Brianna Wu's campaign to replace Stephen Lynch in Boston; Michael Owens' campaign to replace David Scott in the Atlanta suburbs; Robin Wilt's campaign to replace Joe Morelle in Rochester; Rachel Ventura's and Robert Emmons' campaigns, both also in Chicagoland, to replace, respectively Bill Foster and Bobby Rush; and Mckayla Wilkes' campaign root replace Steny Hoyer out of K Street so that she can represent the people who live in southern Maryland.

The incumbent congressman, Daniel Lipinski, is a reluctant Democrat. He voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2010 before coming around and doing so later on.

Lipinski, we should add, also has voted against key legislation on immigration-- measures widely favored by his own party-- before coming around. And he’s been slow to support full rights and equality for LGBTQ folks, though of late he’s been coming around.

And why does Lipinski, who has never distinguished himself in Washington, finally keep coming around?

To keep winning elections. He has the great political misfortune to be a closet Republican, at least on social issues, in a strongly Democratic district.

Our endorsement goes to Newman. Nobody will have to give her a push to champion the values and policies of her own party.

Blue America has endorsed many candidates since we were founded in 2006. And many of them are now serving in Congress. I love the fact that I never have to call members like Pramila Jayapal, Ted Lieu, Barbara Lee, Ro Khanna, AOC, Judy Chu, Rashida Tlaib, Jimmy Gomez, Ilhan Omar, Alan Lowenthal, Raúl Grijalva, Jamie Raskin, Nanette Barragan... to argue with them about policy. They are leaders to whom progressive policies are second nature. They are not political cowards and they are not closet Republicans. Remember any blue will NOT do!

You will never see us endorsing the DCCC garbage candidates who go on to become the kinds of wretched Blue Dogs and New Dems, like Lipinski, who need to be primaried and replaced just like Republicans. How do you know? You can check Blue America's endorsements on this page and this page. You can check who PCCC, Justice Democrats, DSA, PDA, DFA and Brand New Congress are endorsing. Another way to do it-- see who the bad guys are backing. If someone is being supported by the Blue Dogs or the New Dems, they cannot be good candidates and, if they are elected, they will not vote for progressive initiatives. Virtually every Blue Dog and New Dem scores at "F" from ProgressivePunch. Jeff Van Drew, now a Republican, was both a Blue Dog and New Dem until last month. The Democrats with the 5 worst voting records in the House are all Blue Dogs and New Dems (not or, AND): Anthony Brindisi (NY), Joe Cunningham (SC), Kendra Horn (OK), Abigail Spanberger (VA) and Ben McAdams (UT). The Blue Dogs, who know they are toxic, hide their candidates from voters and just reveal them to corporate donors. As for the New Dems, these are their candidates so far this year. You may decide they are the lesser of two evils, but don't kid yourself, if you support progressive policy solutions, they are the enemy. Note that the conservative opponents of both Mike Siegel and Cenk Uygur have been endorsed by the Wall Street-owned-and-operated New Dems.

Next year's congressional bad guys if they are elected

Technically, The Move To End Women's Choice Is Bipartisan-- Thanks To Two DCCC Blue Dogs

Dan Lipinksi (IL) and Collin Peterson (MN), two of the scumbag Blue Dogs whose reelection protection Cheri Bustos has made her life’s work, joined over two hundred women-hating Republican fanatics-- 166 in the House and 39 senators-- in signing the amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to outlaw women’s Choice by overturning Roe v Wade. And you laughed when we pointed out that Lipinski could well be the next Blue Dog to join his pal Jeff Van Drew in leaving the Democratic Party for the GOP? Peterson has already announced he’s too old to switch parties in the twilight of his career, but Lipinski is evasive about his plans, especially if-- as many people think-- he’s beaten in the March primary by progressive activist Marie Newman.

On Thursday morning, Newman told Chicagoland voters that “Lipinski’s decision to sign this amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade is further proof of his willingness to pursue a distorted personal agenda and extreme views at the expense of his constituents’ health and best interests. My opponent does not trust women and he is not fit to represent us. Congressman Lipinski refuses to stand up for the values of our community and it is time that our district has real leadership.”

Lipinski, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, has co-sponsored 54 bills attacking the right to choose, including bills sponsored by Mike Pence, Steve King, and Todd Akin. He co-sponsored legislation to require invasive ultrasounds before women receive an abortion and he voted against a measure to create an exemption to an abortion ban for when the life of the mother was at risk. Trump personally thanked him for his work supporting the movement to take away a woman’s right to choose at an anti-abortion dinner in 2018. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case March 4, just 2 weeks before the Illinois primary.

The case will be the first anti-Choice attempt to overthrow Roe v Wade since Trump appointed two anti-Choice fanatics, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh-- to the Supreme Court. Charles Pierce, writing for Esquire Thursday, noted that this is a problem America has with Republicans, not just with Trump. “In case you were wondering,” wrote Pierce, “if simply replacing the president will be enough to wring the extremism out of the Republican Party, think again… This is going for broke. This is about tossing the privacy rights of 51 percent of the American people overboard. They want abortions made illegal, every one of them. Critical to their argument is the notion that the protocol set down in Roe is ‘unworkable.’ Of course, after doctors get shot, clinics get bombed, judicial vandalism, and SLAPP suits fall like iron rain, almost any system will be rendered ‘unworkable.’”

The Fifth Circuit labored to do the best it could with the vague and opaque “undue burden” standard on which the Court has relied since Casey. Amici respectfully suggest that the court’s struggle-- similar to dozens of other courts’ herculean struggles in this area-- illustrates the unworkability of the “right to abortion” found in Roe and the need for the Court to take up the issue of whether Roe and Casey should be reconsidered and, if appropriate, overruled.

“That’s been the whole point all along,” noted Pierce.

Candidates Post Their Numbers

Tuesday at midnight was the FEC deadline for campaigns to get their quarterly fundraising reports in. A few candidates got extensions for one reason or another. But I wanted to share a few bits and pieces with you. Before I get to the congressional races-- which is what I want to talk about-- I have one presidential factoid to make clear. Yesterday, John McCormick and Chad Day of the Wall Street Journal reported that since he entered the race in July, Tom "Steyer has spent more than $26 million on TV ads, airing more than 53,000 spots in markets that reach Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada voters… All told, that is more than six times as many as the rest of the Democratic field combined." How'd that happen? Well, he's a billionaire and he wrote his campaign a personal check for $47,597,697.36. Would you call that trying to buy the election? Billionaires are allowed to do that. If you don't mind that because his messaging is ok and he seems to be progressive, imagine if a Koch or some other super-rich villain was doing the same thing.

OK, better news. Marie Newman is the progressive Democrat we have been supporting in Chicagoland for the seat held by reactionary Blue Dog Dan Lipinski. The DCCC has interfered in her race in every conceivable way, trying to guarantee that Lipinski-- who is anti-Choice, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, anti-healthcare, etc-- is reelected. The DCCC can control most unions and control front groups like End Citizens United but what the DCCC can't do is control grassroots donors. Lipinski, who gets most of his money from corporate PACs and lobbyists-- and has an average per donor contribution of just over $1,000-- only raised $177,741. Marie, who gets 100% of her contributions from grassroots donors, either directly or through groups like Blue America, reported a beautiful $351,326 haul last quarter-- and an average contribution of $46. I put that 2020 congressional thermometer on the right so you can contribute to Marie's campaign right now (by clicking on it). I spoke with her about her report yesterday and she told me she feels "incredibly blessed to have the grassroots support. Our campaign is partnering with and actively solving problems with the very powerful grassroots voice here and throughout our nation. I am honored to have accomplished this fundraising achievement with them. We are eternally grateful." How about we all give $47... to raise her average?

Now back to the DCCC. They tell their freshmen not to bother their pretty little heads with any of this policy stuff and leave that to Pelosi and Hoyer and their leadership team. Instead, they're supposed to spend all day on the phone begging rich strangers for money. The DCCC insists vulnerable freshman always have between a million and a million and a half dollars on their war-chests. As they spend, they're supposed to increase the pace of raising funds. It's a disgusting and grueling and hated system and it's at the heart of congressional corruption. Ironically, some of the freshmen who brought in the most money didn't follow the DCCC demands, but instead did it by performing and delivering for their constituents and for a national audience. It's the old Bernie Sanders/Alan Grayson model. It sure worked for AOC, as you're about to see.

AOC endorsed Bernie

The list below is not what the Democratic freshmen raised this quarter; it's how much each freshman now-- as of September 30-- has in their campaign war-chest (Cash on hand). I listed them from most to least. Some slacked off because they don't have serious challenges and some slacked off because they're self-funders-- like Steyer-- and couldn't be bothered and some just were too busy with... policy and delivering for their constituents. Most of the freshmen with the biggest war-chests are in the most vulnerable seats.

• Josh Harder (New Dem-CA)- $2,001,018 (even PVI)
• Katie Porter (D-CA)- $1,991,004 (R+3)
• AOC (D-NY)- $1,909,866 (D+29-- primary challenge)
• Chrissy Houlahan (New Dem-PA)- $1,841,041 (D+2)
• Elissa Slotkin (New Dem-MI)- $1,729,528 (R+4)
• Mike Sherrill (Blue Dog-NJ)- $1,683,939 (R+3)
• Max Rose (Blue Dog-NY)- $1,666,201 (R+3)
• Haley Stevens (New Dem-MI)- $1,608,391 (R+4)
• Katie Hill (New Dem-CA)- $1,545,381 (even PVI)
• Ilhan Omar (D-MN)- $1,561,439 (D+26-- primary challenge)
• Harley Rouda (New Dem-CA)- $1,530,320 (R+4)
• Antonio Delgado (D-NY)- $1,525,203 (R+2)
• Tom Malinowski (New Dem-NJ)- $1,496,100 (R+3)
• Xochitl Torres Small (Blue Dog-NM)- $1,473,889 (R+6)
• Abigail Spanberger (Blue Dog-VA)- 1,458,150 (R+6)
• Andy Kim (D-NJ)- $1,454,733 (R+2)
• Colin Allred (New Dem-TX)- $1,453,457 (R+5)
• Sean Casten (New Dem-IL)- $1,447,538 (R+2)
• Lizzie Fletcher (New Dem-TX)- $1,439,979 (R+7)
• Lucy McBath (New Dem-GA)- $1,341,507 (R+8)
• Joe Cunningham (Blue Dog-SC)- $1,337,647 (R+10)
• Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (New Dem-FL)- $1,269,804 (D+6)
• Cindy Axne (New Dem-IA)- $1,198,084 (R+1)
• Kendra Horn (Blue Dog-OK)-$1,195,089 (R+10)
• Mike Levin (D-CA)- $1,185,411 (R+1)
• Jennifer Wexton (New Dem-VA)-$1,181,602 (D+1)
• Kim Schrier (New Dem-WA)- $1,177,711 (even PVI)
• Lauren Underwood (D-IL)- $1,174,106 (R+5)
• Sharice Davids (New Dem-KS)- $1,161,442 (R+4)
• Elaine Luria (New Dem-VA)- $1,148,389 (R+3)
• Jason Crow (New Dem-CO)- $1,123,002.82 (D+2)
• Angie Craig (New Dem-MN)- $1,115,148 (R+2)
• Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)- $1,113,173 (D+33-- primary challenge)
• Anthony Brindisi (Blue Dog-NY)- $1,102,210 (R+6)
• Susie Lee (New Dem-NV)- $1,083,970 (R+2)
• Ben McAdams (Blue Dog-UT)- $1,055,162 (R+13)

• Abby Finkenauer (D-IA)- $963,100 (D+1)
• Jeff Van Drew (Blue Dog-NJ)- $931,541 (R+1)
• Donna Shalala (New Dem-FL)- $785,311 (D+5)
• Jared Golden (New Dem-ME)- $793,860.22 (R+2)
• Chris Pappas (New Dem-NH)- $758,150.25 (R+2)
• Steven Horsford (New Dem-NV)- $753,888 (D+3)
• Gil Cisneros (New Dem-CA)- $658,185 (even PVI)
• Joe Neguse (D-CO)- $654,347.64 (D+9)
• TJ Cox (D-CA)- $645,652 (D+5)
• Susan Wild (D-PA)- $644,040.31 (D+7)
• Ann Kirkpatrick (New Dem-AZ)- $500,707 (R+1)
• Greg Stanton (NewDem-AZ)- $460,454.13 (D+4)
• Veronica Escobar (New Dem-TX)- $380,101.95 (D+17)
• Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)- $285,623.23 (D+19)
• Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)- $276,909 (D+34)
• Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA)- $239,496.63 (D+13)
• Dean Phillips (New Dem-MN)- $225,884 (D+1)
• Ed Case (Blue Dog-HI)- $216,265.00 (D+17)
• Andy Levin (D-MI)- $210,665.98 (D+4)
• Deb Haaland (D-NM)- $201,489.16 (D+7)
• Chuy Garcia (D-IL)- $186,602.78 (D+33)
• David Trone (New Dem-MD)- $40,531.28-- loaned campaign $600,000. (D+6)

• Jahana Hayes (New Dem-CT)- n.r.
• Lori Trahan (New Dem-MA)- n.r.
• Madeleine Dean (New Dem-PA)- n.r.

I had long talk with one freshman, Andy Levin, who is not is a super-safe district but who did not raise the kind of money the DCCC demands of members like him. We had a long talk about it yesterday and this morning he sent me this note. When you're reading it, please consider giving Andy a contribution at this link. It's easy to understand why-- especially considering he has the single best voting record of any member of Congress.

Howie, you have given me a hard time for not raising enough money. I am determined to raise the money I need to do my part to change our world, fundamentally, root and branch, bend it towards justice. But I have to admit I hate the way it’s done now. Calling wealthy people and asking them for money is not the best way for a union organizer and climate change warrior to spend his time. I think the current system is so fundamentally broken. I’m proud that my Transparency in Corporate Political Spending Act was included in HR 1, a bill we passed through the House that would transform American elections-- including with significant public funding to reduce the advantage rich people have in American political life. It would match all contributions under $200 six to one!

Here are some things I’d rather be doing than dialing for dollars:

• Leading the charge to expose the absurdity of 31 Republican amendments to weaken the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act. (We defeated every one.)
• Being an original co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and working with Alex and other colleagues to launch the Building Blocks of the GND. (Stay tuned!)
• Launching Medicare for All on the House Lawn and fighting for it in the Democratic Caucus.
• Walking the picket line with striking UAW workers.
• Going into the Fox News lion’s den and speaking the truth about the need to impeach Trump-- now!
• Playing hockey in the beer league with my buddies in Michigan’s 9th District.
• Saving the lives of Iraqi-Americans whom ICE is trying to deport to Iraq, where they would face torture and even death.
• Going to Bangladesh to visit Rohingya refugees and poor villagers and workers seeking to organize unions to achieve the most basic safety and dignity in ready-made garment factories.
• Whipping Democrats to have the courage to pass the Raise the Wage Act to get to $15 nationally by 2025 and eliminate sub-minimum wages for tipped workers.
• Helping pass a new and improved Violence Against Women Act.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Isn’t the world better off if I spend my time fighting to make real a radical new vision of America and our place in the world, so women can control their bodies, kids can get a great education, and workers can enjoy some reasonable share of the fruits of their labor? Let’s go!!

Are You More An FDR Democrat Or A Ronald Reagan Democrat?

Yesterday, The Hill ran one of it's never-ending condemnations of Democratic Party "purity" politics. Purity politics... it sound yucky, right> What what it really is all about is a contest between candidates who believe in the values and principles of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (purists) and the candidates running as Democrats who are more in-tune with Ronald Reagan. Is this about "purity?"





The Democratic establishment-- dripping with corruption nearly as badly as the Republican establishment-- is "rallying behind their incumbents after a small band of liberal lawmakers endorsed a primary challenge to Rep. Daniel Lipinski (Blue Dog-IL) in a deep blue Chicagoland district. Lipinski’s critics say the eight-term Blue Dog is simply too conservative to represent the party, citing his opposition to abortion and his vote against ObamaCare. They’re endorsing Marie Newman, a liberal businesswoman who also challenged Lipinski in the 2018 midterms-- a hard-fought contest that Lipinski eked out by just over 2,000 votes." Eked out with a last minute million dollar smear campaign against Newman engineered by Nancy Jacobson's and Mark Penn's No Label and Problem Solvers front organizations and paid for by Republicans and corporate Democrats.

Other corrupt incumbents, though, are more concerned with their own hides than with any issues or values. Scott Wong wrote that "the attacks on a sitting colleague have unsettled a number of Democrats now rushing to Lipinski’s defense." These lawmakers, including some prominent progressives [not really; he's mis-reporting], want Democrats to avoid divisive internal fights heading into the 2020 elections, when they have bigger fish to fry with President Trump on the ballot and the direction of the country at stake." Pelosi and racist insensitive DCCC Blue Dog Cheri Bustos are leading the anti-progressive jihad against Newman and at least a dozen other progressives seeking to replace conservatives from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party. Click the 2020 primary thermometer on the right to see a list of the challengers to the worst of the Blue Dog and New Dem garbage.

Wong used crooked St Louis Democrat Lacy Clay as an example of an upstanding progressive who opposes primaries-- without mentioning that Clay is a crook or that he's fighting for his political life... in a primary. ProgressivePunch rates his voting record a "B," which isn't terrible. There are 69 Democrats in the House with better voting records-- and none of them are whining about primaries.

How about we get Wong to push some establishment talking points now? How about the stupidest one of all, that conservative Democrats-- who he obediently calls "moderates" and "centrists"-- put the Democrats back in power in the House. That's patently false. Trump and grassroots energy against Trump is what put the Democrats in the majority-- a majority they're afraid to use because of the damage they think they'll inflict on the right-wing freshmen. Conservative ideology did nothing to help Democrats take back the House but it will do plenty in making them lose the majority in 2022 when Trump is just a bad memory.

The pushback against Lipinski’s critics highlights the broader ideological tensions within the sprawling Democratic Caucus, which has seen a liberal insurgence in the Trump era but owes its House majority to centrist lawmakers who flipped Republican seats last year in conservative-leaning districts-- tensions being fueled by the emergence of similar clashes among the Democratic presidential hopefuls on the primary trail.

One Democratic operative told me this morning that it's foolish of Wong and other establishment journalists to refer the Lipinski-Newman fight as "a purity test." He said, "It isn't a purity fight, it's a fight over the values of the party-- a fight that involves Democrats and Republicans-who-call-themselves-Democrats... you know-- DINOs." Wong says Democratic leaders are "caught in the middle," but he's wrong. Hoyer and Bustos are the chief villains here and they've dragged Pelosi down into their sewer. Hoyer and Bustos have never and will never energize the liberal base-- only elite donors. Hoyer: "We want to see the party as unified as possible. We think it's very important to keep the majority, obviously, not just because we want to be in the majority, but because the values that the parties reflect [are] very, very disparate-- as disparate as I've seen it in my entire career." Like anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, anti-healthcare, anti-consumer protection and anti-regulation, pro-gun, pro-corporate greed, pro-Big Money in politics? That isn't the Democratic Party Democrats want anything to do with-- only Lipinski and enablers of his like Hoyer and Bustos. Wong wrote that "a handful of liberal hardliners"-- note the negative framing, which comes right out of Hoyer's office and the DCCC-- "have a decidedly different view, urging Democrats to embrace a progressive identity on issues like abortion rights and LGBT equality." How about this: if the Democrats give up Choice and equality they'd never win another election for anything anywhere-- and that includes even conservatives like Lipinski!

In a tweet this week that raised eyebrows in the Democratic Caucus, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), a CPC leader, called out fellow liberals who have declined to line up behind Newman.

Khanna, who got his political start as a campaign volunteer for former President Obama’s first Illinois state Senate race in 1996 and later served in the Obama administration, doubled down on his stance in an interview with The Hill later in the week.

“Progressives have to stand for certain basic values: reproductive choice, LGBT equality, the rights for Dreamers. These things should not be places where we compromise,” Khanna told The Hill.

“And when you have someone like Dan Lipinski, who was a thorn in the side of Barack Obama, who opposed with all his passion President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, who has opposed reproductive rights, who has opposed LGBT equality, who has opposed the rights of Dreamers,” Khanna continued, “then you have to take a stand and say that person doesn’t represent Democratic values. That person doesn’t respect the most iconic president, Barack Obama, in our party. He doesn’t deserve to be there. I don’t understand why that is so difficult.”

The only other members to endorse Newman are progressive freshmen Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL).

“We can’t afford deep blue seats fighting against healthcare & equal rights," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Tuesday in endorsing Newman.

Lipinski fired back on Friday, warning that Democrats risk handing the White House back to Trump if the infighting continues.

“Illinois’ Third Congressional District is not the Bay Area and it’s not the Bronx,” he said in an email. “The endorsement of Marie Newman by Rep. Khanna and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez make clear that this primary is a choice between mainstream Dan Lipinski and extreme Marie Newman. My constituents want mainstream, not extreme.”

...Rep. Jesús Garcia (D-IL), a liberal freshman who replaced the retired Gutiérrez, said he’s “not in a hurry” to jump into the race-- and suggested he won’t do so.

“I serve with him on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and at least three subcommittees,” Garcia said of Lipinski, “so I really haven't given that much thought.”

Illinois Democratic boss, House speaker Mike Madigan has made sure of that, even more so than Pelosi and Bustos. Anyone waiting for Garcia to live up to his primary promises of being a liberal firebrand is going to be waiting a very, very long time.

"Democratic lawmakers of all stripes," wrote Wong, "have lined up behind efforts to keep their colleagues in place. Take establishment hack Robin Kelly, another "B" Democrat in a deep blue district (PVI is D+29 where Trump didn't even hit 20% of the vote) 'I know Marie and like Marie, but there’s also something to the fact that [Lipinski’s] a current member and that mutual respect. I don’t agree with all of his stances, but you know how you respect the office, like we say about the president?'" Sad.

Beyond Impure (Blue Dog-TX)

Yesterday, Huff Po's Alexander Kaufman reported that the Sunrise Movement jumped into the fray against another wretched DINO-- corrupt Blue Dog Henry Cuellar-- by endorsing Jessica Cisneros, a "26-year-old immigration attorney mounting a progressive primary challenge against a conservative Democrat whose reelection campaign is heavily funded by the oil industry." Cuellar is very much like Lipinski, except further to the right and more aggressive about supporting the Republican agenda.

Varshini Prakash, Sunrise Movement’s executive director: "Henry Cuellar represents all that’s wrong with Washington. Even though he calls himself a Democrat, he rakes in campaign contributions from fossil fuel CEOs and Wall Street and joins with Trump to do their bidding in Congress. Young people like Jessica Cisneros have seen the impacts of these failed policies for our entire lives."

Do you have half an hour to spare? Here's how you can help change our country back into what we need it to be:

There Are Members Of Congress Who Don't Understand The Urgency Of The Climate Crisis-- Take Cheri Bustos And "Energy Expert" Sean Casten

Bustos and Casten-- Climate Incrementalists

Corporate Dems in Illinois really are spearheading the effort to keep the fossil fuel industry alive. New Dems, Blue Dogs and Vote-For-Sale Democrats are moving quickly to normalize false "solutions" to the climate crisis and to make them acceptable to the public. Remember way back in 2018 when Sean Casten ran for Congress as "a clean energy consultant," practically basing his whole campaign against GOP incumbent Peter Roskam on combatting the Climate Crisis. It was a popular issue in the Chicagoland district west and northwest of the city (primarily DuPage County with pieces of Kane, Cook, McHenry and Lake as well) and Casten won the R+2 district 169,001 (53.6%) to 146,445 (46.4%), which appeared to be an incredible feat, only tempered by the fact that Hillary had beaten Trump there by the same 7 point margin.

Still great news for people concerned about Climate. Pelosi put him onto the brand new Select Committee on the Climate Crisis-- no one knew then it was designed to slow down work on the Climate Crisis, not solve it-- and onto the Science and Technology Committee, where he got a seat on the Energy Subcommittee. Yesterday, one of the foremost Climate activists in DePage County told me Casten abandoned the Green New Deal on his first day in Congress. "What a phony he turned out to be! A real corporate Democrat in the worst sense of the word." Casten joined the New Dems immediately and when AOC introduced the Green New Deal Resolution, Casten adamantly refused to sign on as a co-sponsor, something 94 Democrats have already done.

The only members of the Illinois delegation who have signed on are Jan Schakowsky, Chuy Garcia, Danny Davis and Mike Quigley. Meanwhile corporate Dems like Blue Dog Cheri Bustos and Casten have been working to discredit the Green New Deal approach and lull the public into believing incremental "moderate"-- and inadequate-- half-measures are all that's needed. Progressive Democrat Marie Newman noted that "When my opponent calls The Green New Deal a fairy tale and socialism, it simply demonstrates how out of touch he is with reality. We are in a crisis and we should all be acting as first responders, not obstructionists." Her opponent is notorious Blue Dog and Climate Change denier Dan Lipinski. If he sounds more like a Republican than a Democrat, it's because he is more of a Republican than a Democrat.

Last week Bustos submitted what she calls a framework of policies and principles-- "Rural Green Partnership"-- to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. "Climate change may be the most complicated challenge our country has ever faced," she wrote, "but I intend to meet the challenge head on and give rural America-- including families in Northwest and Central Illinois-- a seat at the table... [R]ural America is armed with some of the best tools to turn back the course of climate change."

Bustos and Casten want Congress to ditch the AOC all-in approach and go for "expand and improved conservation programs that are respected and well known to farmers" [while] "exploring new markets for ecosystem services that establish economic incentives to adopt conservation practices that increase resilience...and investing in rural infrastructure and leveraging zero and low interest loans, tax credits and grants to incentivize new clean energy development and innovations that drive down green house gas emissions."

None of this is bad; in fact it's part, a small part, of what's needed to save the planet. The problem with Bustos-- along with others in Congress, like Casten, backing her approach-- is that they're attempting to tamp down any sense of urgency and any recognition of the magnitude and scope of the Climate Crisis. A Climate activist in Galesburg told me that "this is about her reelection bid, not about Climate Change; this are false solutions to an existential problem... Cheri is just a typical politician who's never thinking about anything except her next election."





Brianna Wu, is running for a Boston area congressional seat held by conservative Democrat Stephen Lynch (New Dem). Yesterday she sent me the video clip above and told me that she wished "we had time to address this crisis in incrementalist ways. In fact, Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich sat on a couch in 2008 and promised just that, slow and steady decarbonization. Unfortunately, they didn’t follow through and now we are out of time for small ideas. I was on the shore of Quincy this weekend, meeting residents in my district. And as I saw their beautiful houses, all I could think about was the incalculable human cost more inaction will cause. There is no more time for their timidity."

Eva Putzova is running for a seat occupied by "ex"-Republican Tom O'Halleran, a Blue dog being protected by Cheri Bustos and what's left of her decimated DCCC. Another Climate Crisis denier, O'Halleran, like Bustos, opposes the Green New Deal. Eva supports it strongly: "Climate change is everything: it's an environmental, health, migration, security, social, and economic issue. Decades of bi-partisan inaction at the federal level left us with limited options to stabilize the climate in a very compressed timeframe. No incremental regulation can be adequate to the monumental crisis we are facing. The only way to secure our survival on this planet is to invest heavily in retooling our economy the way the Green New Deal proposes-- with equity and justice in mind. The short-term monetary interests of industries dependent on fossil fuels should not trump the very existence of life on Earth. We led the world into the crisis, we ought to lead getting us out of it."

ShitMoms by Tala Madani

Dary Rezvani is the progressive Democrat running for the Central Valley seat occupied by Darrell Issa. He and Issa don't see much of anything in common-- and especially not the urgency of the Climate Crisis. "Jay Inslee," he told me, "said it best: 'the house is on fire.' We are watching ecological diversity disappear at an alarming rate. We have seen the hottest summer ever recorded. If we are going to actually win this battle than the only way is with drastic, immediate change. The issue stems from the denial of an actual problem. Anyone who can comprehend the magnitude of this issue knows that something like the Green New Deal is nothing compared to the dystopian future we are headed towards where the next generation will be fighting wars for clean drinking water. We literally don't have time for incrementalism. Scientists have said we have 10 years until the tipping point, what time does that leave us for change here and there? We know how long it takes for our government to take action so what makes anyone think that we would be able to make the changes necessary in the amount of time we have left unless it was done in one life-altering bill? In addition to the changes that we need to make as Americans, it will still not be enough to curb the problem entirely which is why as world leaders we need to pass such drastic legislation. When other countries see that we are taking the issue seriously, they will also fall into line. All other issues will be intensified from the denial of the Climate Crisis, immigration will increase to developed areas, health issues will intensify with worse air and water quality, and more global violence will ensue as conditions worsen in developing nations. Our future depends on the Green New Deal."

Kim Williams is the progressive Democrat running for another Central Valley district, this one occupied by reactionary Blue Dog Jim Costa, an opponent of everything and anything progressive, including the Green New Deal. "There is no question that the Green New Deal has gained momentum and the people of this country are ready for comprehensive solutions to our planet's climate crisis," Williams told us. "However, we are still met with Democrats and folks across the isle who fail to address this issue with a sense of urgency and uphold the status quo. As long as this remains the case, fossil fuel companies will continue to pollute our air and water, and communities in my district will continue to live with some of the least breathable air in America. Life expectancies will continue to be cut short, and we will fail to deliver the economic security we promise our communities every election cycle. I am running to strengthen the fight for bold, comprehensive solutions to remedy the impacts of climate change my district feels everyday. I understand we must harness this momentum to create concrete legislation that moves to dramatically reduce carbon emissions and create good union jobs for our communities. This can only be done by swiftly mobilizing federal resources in response to the crisis before us."

Something tells me that the person who managed to destroy the DCCC in just a few months after taking over as chair is not the member of Congress who is going to solve the Climate Crisis with what amounts to a spiffy campaign plank. RL Miller, one of the nation's foremost Climate activists, chair of the California Democratic Party's environmental caucus and founder of ClimateHawksVote: "Cheri Bustos needs to sit down and read the new IPCC report on lands and agriculture released on August 8 and write a plan that conforms to the demands of science, not one promoting pipelines carrying carbon dioxide. Her plan is woefully inadequate."