Steve Harrison

House Party for Steve Harrison for Congress
I am helping host this one along with Joy Romanski and Marjorie and Alan Gersten.
Sun., Apr. 27, 2008, 4:00 PM
Suggested Donation $50
Location: Willow Street, Apt 1, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Steve Harrison is against the war in Iraq, supporting a plan for withdrawal similar to those proposed by Bill Richardson and John Edwards. He supports strengthening port security as a better way of fighting terrorism than getting mired in Iraq.

NY Times Editorial Board endorsing Steve on his 2006 run:

"Mr. Harrison...is an attractive alternative to Mr. Fossella in his own right. Mr. Harrison has a presence in both sides of the district; he resides in Brooklyn, while his mother and sister live on Staten Island.

As chair of Community Board 10 in Brooklyn, he demonstrated leadership as he oversaw one of the city's largest efforts to contain overdevelopment through rezoning. He has a good command of the issues, and a feel for the concerns of the district. Mr. Harrison surprised many with his passion and keen intelligence in a series of debates with Mr. Fossella. The distinctions could not be clearer. We endorse Mr. Harrison for Congress."

Hosts: Alan and Marjorie Gersten, David Michaelson, Joy Romanski ~ and Jacob.

Sunday, April 27, 2008
From 3PM to 6PM
50 Willow Street, #1

Fundraiser for Steve Harrison for Congress (NY-13)
Wed., Feb. 27, 2008, 6:30 PM
Hosted by Lewis Cohen. Honorary host Gloria Steinem. Special Guest Frank Barbaro.
Social Bar and Grill, 795 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

Fundraiser Suggested Donations $100-$2300

Steve Harrison is running against Bush Republican Vito Fossella in the NY-13 race. Steve is a friend of mine and I can personally vouch for his dedication and drive.

Steve Harrison passionately stands for good, old-fashioned, Democratic values that resonate with most voters. And he seeks to retake the dialogue from the radical right wing. Steve advocates that we stop running from being Democrats and being Liberals. He seems to favor the term "liberal" to "progressive," and for solid reasons. Liberal is what this nation was founded on, the liberal values of liberty (same root), equality, fairness and rights. Our founding fathers were so passionate about Liberal values that they demanded Liberty or Death...they were willing to die for liberty. George Bush and Vito Fossella ask us to surrender our liberties out of fear of our enemies. Our founding fathers, Liberals that they were, would reject that as cowardly and fundamentally un-American. Liberty is patriotic and this is why Democrats are more patriotic than Republicans today. Steve Harrison believes that surrendering the Constitution out of fear of terrorists is un-Patriotic and un-American because the Constitution is the very foundation of our liberties, of our nation. The Constitution is the codification of the liberties and Liberal values that our founding fathers were willing to die for. We should be proud to call ourselves Liberal because THAT is what America is all about: liberties, equality, fairness. And those are Liberal Democratic values.

Americans like to complain. Grassroots progressives, myself included, in particular like to complain. Sometimes I have seen the complaints become almost an obsession, to the detrement of actually getting things done. Nader is a perfect example of this. I have seen progressive apathy or even antipathy sink some of the most progressive and honest candidates you could ever imagine. This is the danger of being on the forefront of progress. You can get ahead of yourself, ahead of everything and wind up all alone.

Impeachment, Iraq and winning elections. Right now these really are about the most critical things. And these three things are what we really need to work hard at if we want to be a significant force in politics...and in society. I want to discuss some specific examples of people who really need our help and they deserve it because they are taking strong stands for impeachment and/or against the Iraq war. We need them...but they also need us. They need our time and our money to win so that they can fight for what we think is right.

In 2006 an amazing coalition of mainstream moderates and grassroots progressives created a tidal wave of change in Congress. Many have complained that we didn't get what we expected from our new Congress...but don't let the complaints get in the way of appreciating that what we did was amazing.

It was a damned good effort and I am proud to have been a part of it.

The following has made it onto the Recommended List on Daily Kos. Wasn't expecting that! I may have to do this regularly! If it is interesting to dKos people, maybe I should post it here as well.

Being a New Yorker, I have realized that many people don't know what Rudy Giuliani is really like. It is amazing how few people realize what a dick he is and how our first responders DETEST him. So I wanted to find some articles (including my own...) that highlight how he really is.

Which then made me realize that I already have some articles on some other Republicans that should get more attention. So, here is what might be a regular thing I do: highlighting the articles that Republicans DON'T want you to see. Please feel free to add more in the comments. I may pick up on some of them for my own blogging. And feel free to spread the word on these articles.

Rudy Giuliani:
So few people realize what a self-centered control freak this guy is and how much he is despised by the REAL heroes of 9/11. So here are a few articles that highlight the side of Rudy he doesn't want you to know:

Firefighters hate him

I mean, they REALLY hate him

Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his first public appearance since announcing switching from the Republican Party to being an independent, a press conference celebrating the alleged success of his 311 program, to showcase his policy creativity to the media.

Bloomberg’s aware that his leaving the Republican Party would confirm to the media, his current constituents and potential presidential voters, that he’s pursuing an independent Presidential candidacy, despite saying wink, wink, I’m not running, and knew the world be watching his first appearance after making public his official political independence. This is why Bloomberg is using a press conference honoring 311, a program that he is particularly but unjustifiably proud of, as the location of his personal Presidential Debutante Ball.

Bloomberg hoped touting 311 success would perpetuate the myth that he’s a non-partisan problem solver. But the emperor has no clothes. 311 is useless.

For non-New York readers, 311, which New Yorker City residents can dial like 411 directory assistance or 911 emergency services, is an information system designed to help people navigate the government maze. Sometimes it’s useful, mostly it’s not, often directing people to call the same agency whose action or lack of such inspired the 311 call to begin with. But the primary reason why 311 is a joke is that Bloomberg doesn’t let 311 operators have internet access. I first mentioned this in the blogosphere in a comment on Andrew Rasiej’s Huffington Post blog in 2005. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-rasiej/the-power-of-many_b_5892.htm...