Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Support Our Revolution

We have a choice to make this November. Progressive candidates across the country are prepared to challenge incumbents that represent the corporate CEOs bankrolling their campaigns. For the first time in what seems like decades, voters will have a new set of choices when they cast their ballots; a candidate who will fight for working people or a candidate who will fight for the special interests supporting their campaign.
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Now is the time to decide whether we believe dark money and Super PACs should influence elections or whether grassroots support and small-dollar contributors deserve a greater say.
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Unlimited campaign contributions are not free speech. Together we can amplify the voices of the people when each of us chips in a few dollars.
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Let's tell every elected official across the country to turn out their pockets and show us who really is supporting their campaign! If their pockets are lined with money from Exxon, Big Pharma, WalMart, or from any other industry that seeks to corrupt our planet or our bodies, we deserve to know. The candidates of the future will not fight for Medicare for All and a living wage if they are beholden to the corporate interests who benefit from the disenfranchisement of working families.
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A path to victory is possible. Now is when we must dig in and work to elect progressives in primary elections across the country who, with the strong backing of the grassroots, will fight for Medicare for All and the issues we care about. Your contribution builds our texting, calling, and canvassing programs to reach even more people and keeps us organizing locally.
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Chip in any amount today to support our work on behalf of our revolutionary candidates.
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The revolution will go as far as we take it—so let's keep moving on the path to economic, racial, social,
 and environmental justice.
In solidarity,
Nina Turner
President: Our Revolution
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Join our local chapter

March for Our Lives in Tampa Notable for Politicos Who Attended–and Those Who Didn’t

The March for Our Lives, Tampa edition, drew an estimated 13,000 participants with candidates and would-be hopefuls making a firm statement by their presence—-or absence.
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From reports gleaned from the field, not one Republican supported the Millennial and Reform Generations, giving credence to widespread accusations that the GOP has been totally co-opted by the National Rifle Association.
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The “family values” canard that has served Republicans well since the Reagan years has run its course in this pivotal election year.  And young people are registering to vote in droves.
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here
By Jim Bleyer
Photo credit Beth Eriksen Shoup

Ybor City Homeless

Kirsten

Florida Frackers At It Again

Tampa Hoods



Ybor City

Monday, March 26, 2018

Lee's Grocery Paparazzi

Scott and Beau 

The Rodney Dangerfield Of The Florida Democratic Party

The Progressive Wing
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I know there are a lot of people out there working very hard to bring change to the party. But you are going about it all wrong. The people in charge do not want to lose their power and will do every thing they can to keep it.
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They lead you around like a puppy. Sure they 
throw you a bone once in a while but you are not coming in the house.
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The plan is simple. The Tea Party showed you what to do 
and Bernie Sanders showed you how to do it.  
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When a politician doesn't do what you want, you primary them. When the party turns their back on you with their money and resources, which they will and are already doing, you take the Bernie route, you do it with small donations and boots on the ground. This can be done, it already has been done. If the party had not sabotage his campaign, he would be our president today. (Read Donna Brazile's book "Hacks" here
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An exanple of this is happening right now in Florida.
 Florida Democratic activists love Andrew Gillum.
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There are four major candidates running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Florida.  Only one consistently draws sizable crowds of activists. Andrew Gillum, sound familiar? When voters get excited about a candidate they will give you their money and knock on doors for you.
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Progressives remember, you are not the fringe any more you are the majority,
 start acting like it.
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Disclaimer: I am not a overpaid political consultant. 
The solution is obvious.

HART Stops

The Mighty #30

Tampa Bay Homeless

Downtown Tampa

Our Revolution - Tampa Bay

Campaigns End. Revolutions Endure.
We are an ideological group,
NOT a political party group.
Political parties shift, we do not.
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PEOPLE WANT A REAL OPPOSITION 
NOT MORE OF THE SAME


We are not the fringe, we are the majority!

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Local Badass Jessica Vaughn

THE Leader of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay (DPCTB)
I met Jessica after the Trump (s)election, as she stood up as the Local Progressive Voice within our Democratic Party, when there didn’t seem to be any others. Her leadership as President of the Caucus has been instrumental in growing our Caucus to its leading status within the Party and within our community, and most especially the Progressive Community. Because of her leadership we are building bridges between Progressives who are in, and Progressives who are not in, the Party. She has shown us how to make the change that can only come when we show up and participate, unite our voices, and become the change we want to see.

Jessica formed the DPCTB in August 2016, and she has not looked back. Her leadership has helped our Caucus grow from a few people in two counties (Pinellas and Hillsborough) to a split in two because it grew so big so fast (which is when I joined - after the split in December 2016). She has given us a place to find ourselves and our voice within the Democratic Party, to help it move to the left, by focusing on the issues, and the people who care about those issues. 

Jessica’s leadership is manifest in other ways - she is currently an elected Tampa Palms CDD Supervisor, and has started a podcast called “Reclaiming My Mind”. Her activism is turning into action in yet another way: as a candidate for the School Board District 3 in 2020. 

There are so many reasons Jessica Vaughn is a bad ass. She is the determined, strong, and calm center of the storm - her power and influence project out in all directions, and we are certainly better for it. We are grateful for her leadership, and look forward to more of it!

Russell Hires