Thanks to your support, Progressive Democrats of America is building so quickly that we’ve outgrown our website. As we move to a more robust technical platform, you may experience temporary interruptions at our usual url: pdamerica.org. Don’t panic! Moving takes time, and the upgrade will be worth it. If you cannot reach us at our usual site during the next few days, you can find us at http://www.pdamerica.net (that’s .net instead of .org). This is for a very limited time. Thank you for staying with us during this exciting transition!

Every year, we pay homage to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the month of January.  Most offices are closed, kids are home from school and people generally enjoy the day off from their normal routines.  But how many of us take the time to emulate Dr. King’s teachings?  How many of us actually understand the fight he waged on our behalf?  How many of us emulate his nonviolent dedication to defending the poor and seeking economic justice in society?  In 2012, instead of just verbally praising Dr. King, we should continue his quest for equality and tackle today’s greatest civil rights challenges:  leveling the playing field for everyone, fighting voter suppression, establishing stricter gun laws, a commitment to end international potential warfare and providing a quality education in our most impoverished areas.  Then and only then will we truly understand the depth and meaning of celebrating Dr. King’s life, legacy and purpose.

In an age when U.S. power can be projected through private mercenary armies and unmanned Predator drones, the U.S. military need no longer rely on massive, conventional ground forces to pursue its imperial agenda, a fact President Barack Obama is now acknowledging. But make no mistake: while the tactics may be changing, the U.S. taxpayer—and poor foreigners abroad—will still be saddled with overblown military budgets and militaristic policies.

The 2012 election is shaping up to be of critical importance for the North Coast. If the political pundits and media talking heads are correct, 2012 will be yet another year of political gridlock and economic stagnation. At the center of this dilemma are elected professional politicians determined to hang on to their power. For the North Coast the stakes could not be higher. Budgets are shrinking at the county and city level. More jobs are threatened. Without tax reform and fresh approaches to entrenched economic and structural problems, the North Coast will not be positioned to reverse these trends. The upcoming June primary and the November election provide the best opportunity to overcome the obstacles to a better future for the North Coast.

WASHINGTON—In the north suburban Illinois Tenth House Democratic primary contest, a new poll taken by a group backing Ilya Sheyman shows Sheyman ahead by two points of Brad Schneider but in a statistical tie.

Elizabeth Warren announced Wednesday that her campaign brought in $5.7 million in the final three months of 2011, a massive figure that easily tops the $3.2 million Republican Sen. Scott Brown brought in over the same time period.

Former TV talk show host Phil Donahue said Monday he is enjoying his first foray into congressional politics by stumping for fellow liberal Norman Solomon on the politically green North Coast.

MANCHESTER, NH—Ron Paul reaffirmed his view that Newt Gingrich is a chickenhawk. Rick Santorum called Ron Paul a liar. Jon Huntsman explained to his fellow contenders that his marriage was not threatened by civil unions. Gingrich said Barack Obama was “sincere” in his determination to create “a radical European socialist model” of governance. Rick Perry proposed reinvading Iraq. Seriously.

MANCHESTER, NH—Ron Paul reaffirmed his view that Newt Gingrich is a chickenhawk. Rick Santorum called Ron Paul a liar. Jon Huntsman explained to his fellow contenders that his marriage was not threatened by civil unions. Gingrich said Barack Obama was “sincere” in his determination to create “a radical European socialist model” of governance. Rick Perry proposed reinvading Iraq. Seriously.