The saga of government intrusion into the private lives of government workers continues. Congress is now taking up the issue of Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12, a directive intended to, quite reasonably, standardize ID cards in government facilities to include contractors and students.

I met Diane Benson, Congressional Candidate in Alaska, about a month ago and was very impressed. But only got to hear her speak as a candidate tonight. Again I was impressed. Diane is a genuine American who has worked hard all her life to get an education and to better the life of her son. Often she and her son have worked hard for our country and for their community. She has the confidence of someone who worked their way through school driving trucks while raising her son. She has the confidence of a woman who worked in the male dominated workers camp on the Alaskan pipeline. She has the confidence of someone who has had to work for everything, being given nothing easily. The contrast with the spoiled brat who inhabits the White House is about as striking as you can get.

I have volunteered to be on the Host Committee for a fundraiser for one of the most amazing women I have ever met: Diane Benson running for Congress in Alaska. And she has been outraising her Republican opponent! Yes, folks, we have a real shot at getting rid of yet another corrupt Bush/Abramoff Republican and replacing him with a true working class American patriot.

Diane Benson has made opposition to the Iraq Quagmire the central focus of her campaign, largely because her son lost his legs serving in Iraq, fighting for Bush's war based on lies. But she also is someone that appeals to Alaska voters because, unlike her primary opponents and the Republican incumbent, she has actually worked as a truck driver and as a commercial fisherman, so can speak for working class Alaskans.

This year is one of the few years when Democrats have a real shot at winning the Alaska Congressional seat. Dissatisfaction with the Republicans and some Republican scandals are making Alaskans consider a Democrat for Congress. On Feb. 11th New Yorkers have a chance to meet the person who might just be that Democrat who wins the Alaska House seat.

This comes from Democracy for NYC:

We are now in a favorable position to elect more Progressive Democrats than ever before. In the long-prized effort to turn Congress a deeper blue, it is my privilege to introduce a singularly unique candidate, Diane Benson, running in 2008 for the only Congressional seat in the State of Alaska - a very big prize, indeed.

An exceptional person, Diane is a member of the Tlingit Native American People, a matrilineal culture. Diane's mother suffered from tuberculosis, and Diane was often homeless as a child and teenager, growing up in foster homes and logging camps with her Norwegian father. Despite this, she volunteered with senior citizens and in hospitals from the age of twelve. The hardships of life have influenced her thinking to this day.

In the primary race to take on pro-war, Social Security flip-flopping Bush Republican Vito Fossella (NY-13), Daily Gotham is backing Steve Harrison over Dominc Recchia, though with the understanding that BOTH Democrats are a welcome change over Fossella's enabling of Bush's failed agenda.

Already, fellow Daily Gotham writer Daniel Millstone uncovered a major difference in where Steve Harrison and Dominc Recchia stand on Iraq: Steve Harrison supports withdrawal, largely taking a similar stand to John Edwards and Bill Richardson, while Dominc Recchia expresses openness to the idea of permanent US bases in Iraq and borrows Bush talking point (perhaps with more honesty) that we should keep our troops in Iraq until the Iraqi army can take care of itself. Richardson, Edwards and, it seems, Harrison all support a regional military force taking over from the US as soon as possible rather than waiting for an indefinite period with permanent bases.

Democracy for America has nominated New York 13th Congressional District Democratic candidate Steve Harrison for consideration as a "Congressional Grassroots All-Star".

The winner of the competition receives in addition to bragging rights, a donation from the organization. Here's the link. http://democracyforamerica.com/gras

Visiting our local Congressman

It is an odd thing when a group of anti-war, pro-impeachment activists have to pay a visit to a local Congressman who is considered the most liberal of representatives in a completely "blue State." Unfortunately, that is just what we had to do. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), who is extremely progressive and has been an advocate for civil rights and civil liberties for his entire time in office, has for some reason gotten amnesia.

As first reported on the Staten Island Advance blog and then here on Daily Gotham, Frank Barbaro, former worker organizer, assemblyman and New York Supreme Court judge as well as former candidate for NY-13, has endorsed Steve Harrison for Congress.

From the Press Release from Friday, Dec. 21:

Former State Supreme Court judge and assemblyman Frank Barbaro endorses Harrison

6 PM December 21 press conference at the ferry terminal in Staten Island.

(Staten Island, Brooklyn) Iconic 80 year old former worker organizer, assemblyman and New York Supreme Court judge Frank Barbaro will endorse Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison at a 6PM, December 21, press conference at the ferry terminal, St George, Staten Island.

Harrison, is challenging New York 13th Congressional District (Staten Island and Southwest Brooklyn) incumbent Vito Fossella, New York City’s only Republican House member, again in 08, after receiving a higher percentage of the vote in 06 than any Democrat since the district’s creation.

So I was getting some insider rumors that Frank Barbaro, the gentleman who ran against Bush Lap Dog Vito Fossella in 2004, was endorsing Steve Harrison, who ran in 2006 and is running again in 2008. Given that Dominic Recchia, who pretty much kept out of the fight to defeat Fossella in 2004 and 2006, is looking to challenge Harrison in the Democratic primary, this is potentially important news. But I was going to hold off until the actual press conference on the Staten Island side of the Ferry at 6:00 PM this Friday.

Seems the Staten Island Advance went public with the story prematurely [Note: the SI Advance has this in their blog] so the rumor seems public now: Frank Barbaro is endorsing Steve Harrison for Congress in the NY-13 race against Iraq War fan, Social Security Flip Flopper and opponant of Port Security Congressman Vito Fossella.

More on that Friday, I assume.

There are two special Congressional elections on December 11th, 2007. Both are Republican districts that suddenly look like possible Dem pickups. Neither will be easy, but they are panicking the Republicans to such a degree that they are having to sink money they don't even have into these races. Yep...the Republican party are going into debt to defend these two previously safe Republican seats. That means that fighting them here will make it easier for Dems to pick up seats in 2008. OH-5 is getting lots of attention on Daily Kos, and if I get some info on how you can volunteer some time, believe me I will let you know...probably ad nauseum. The other race, VA-1, is getting less attention. This is partly because it is more of a long shot (like many of the 2006 pick ups!) and partly because the Dem candidate (as is typical of Virginia) is more conservative. But to me, it is an opportunity not to be missed. Forcing the Republicans to go deeper and deeper into debt even before 2008 hits us is just too sweet. So, for those who want to help, I present to you the VA-1 Special election in 2007.