Bill Press was the keynote speaker at a Greece Democrats fundraiser last night here in upstate New York and Rochesterturning was there, represented by Stlo7, ladkiddo and yours truly. Here are some of my notes, more later:

Press said he and his colleagues went over the figures and the Rochester area now will have 30 hours of conservative radio and 0 (ZERO) hours of progressive radio when WROC switches to a sports format soon. He said it is “no coincidence because they don’t want the truth to be told between now and November.” Press said that nationally there is 9 hours of right wing talk for 1 hour of progressive talk. 30-0, well, it’s hard to have a more warped score.

Clearly, progressives are losing the radio war and Press encourages us all to “Raise hell.” He went on to say “If they’re gettiing licenses that we own then we should get a fair share. Louise Slaughter is leading the effort to bring back fairness. Public air waves are supposed to serve the public, the general interest, not just the conservative audience.”

Here is the first in a series of videos from the Greece Democratic Fundraiser featuring nationally syndicated radio host Bill Press.

As you probably know, Bill Press is a nationally syndicated talk show host of the Bill Press Show. This show is syndicated by the Jones Radio network and currently airs locally from 6 to 9 am on 950 Am WROC.

Well at least until Labor day. After which Progressive talk in Rochester is punted in favor of sports talk.

We have discussed it before. We broke the news, reminded you to call, the station, dealt with the doubters and ultimately asked Mr. Press who confirmed the story. We asked why and faster than you can say weak signal and no promotion, ultimately figured it out.

Listen to Bill Press discuss the background, how progressive stations can be successful and what we can do about it.

Pissed? Call the switchboard

Switchboard: (585) 423-2900 (Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm)

Bill Press is on until 9:00. The switchboard opens at 8:30. Call and express your concern.

The Rochester Building Trades Council today endorsed Jon Powers, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Congress in NY-26. That comes to thirty labor endorsements, which indicates the growing power of the Powers campaign. Frank Wirt, President of The Rochester Building and Trades Council, which represents over 16,000 working men and women in and around Monroe County, said:

“We need someone that isn’t a career politician in Congress that can help bring the change we need to put our country back on track. Jon is trying to change the direction of this country to help the working people of Western New York. He makes us proud to be Americans.”

Powers understands the concerns of voters represented by labor unions because he is out amongst the people every day, knocking on doors and listening to the voters’ concerns. Powers is doing the hard work for the 26th district already. Fancy mailers and tv and radio ads can’t replace boots on the ground and actual volunteers. It’s a matter of people power and Jon Powers has people power.

After Eric Massa’s press conference today I decided to chat with a veteran and health care provider to see what the reality is on the ground. Here’s what I’ve found out:

TRICARE is the military health care program and this is how it is explained on the website:

TRICARE is the health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families, survivors and certain former spouses worldwide. As a major component of the Military Health System, TRICARE brings together the health care resources of the uniformed services and supplements them with networks of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers to provide access to high-quality health care services while maintaining the capability to support military operations.

To be eligible for TRICARE benefits, you must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.

When speaking with a private health care provider about accepting TRICARE in a private office setting (as opposed to a V.A.), the person said “It’s crap for reimbursement and the paperwork is a nightmare. It’s like Worker’s Comp times two.” Still, this provider does take TRICARE, saying “Absolutely, because I’m a former soldier. They [veterans] already go through a battle as it is.”

Indeed. This is what I like about Massa’s plan—it is an attempt to simplify the administration aspect of care our veterans need and deserve. The best place to start is by streamlining the process so that it’s easier for doctors’ and therapists’ offices to be reimbursed, which provides incentives for more private offices to accept TRICARE.

This former soldier went on to say that “There’s not enough TBI centers and the ones that are there have no idea how to treat ‘em. It’s challenging to get proper care.” Again, this soldier is correct. The incidence of TBI and PTSD is on the rise due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a Rand Corporation study finding that about 300,000 of our returning veterans suffer from PTSD and TBI. The study also found that:

“Among those who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD or major depression, only 53 percent had seen a physician or mental health provider to seek help for a mental health problem in the past 12 months,” the study said.

“The gap in care was even higher for TBI: 57 percent of those who reported experiencing a probable TBI were never evaluated by a physician for a brain injury,”

Some of the lapse in care is related to the stigma attached to admitting a mental problem in the military and in society in general. Other reasons for the lapse in care are in the nature of these afflictions themselves: those with mental problems may not realize it nor have the ability to seek the help they need. All of this points to an increasing need in proper post-deployment medical observations by military personnel and easier access to follow-up appointments for veterans. Again, simplifying the paperwork bureaucracy can greatly aid in this area.

For example, the turn around time for TRICARE reimbursement is 2-3 months and the reimbursement rate is about 60-80%. “They’ll pay once you get in the system but it’s the same nightmare with each patient,” according to the private health care provider I spoke with.

Another problem is that many soldiers just don’t utilize their health care because of all this red tape. Said the soldier I spoke with today “I have it now and I never use it. It’s hard finding people who accept it.”

Here’s hoping Eric Massa gets elected to Congress and his Veterans Plan is enacted. Our soldiers already fought one battle. Why make them fight another once they come home?

Eric Massa, Democratic candidate for Congress in NY-29, unveiled his Veterans Plan at a press conference today, challenging his opponent Randy Kuhl to debate him publicly on the issues and also calling out Kuhl for his votes against veterans even as he holds press conferences purportedly supporting veterans. Massa pointedly criticized Kuhl and other politicians for “standing in front of veterans at press conferences and photo ops but then refusing to stand behind us. Supporting these troops is a lot more than a Fourth of July slogan and a magnetic sticker on the back of an automobile. It is a promise made to these men and women.”

When I asked Massa if he was concerned that his opponent and other Republicans will refer to his plan as an entitlement rather than a promise for their service, Massa said they already are saying that and they can “Bring it on.” He said that stories like the one of Joseph Dwyer, who was photographed in 2003 carrying a disabled Iraqi child but who later went onto commit suicide, have mobilized Massa to fight even harder for veterans’ care. Massa said “I watched my father’s generation come home from Vietnam being largely ignored. Today it is much the same. There’s talking the talk and writing the check. My opponent, by refusing to support the G.I. Bill, showed his true colors.” You can read the entire plan after the fold.

The basics of it are mandatory full funding of the V.A., allowing veterans to receive medical care wherever they are and from any medical facility at home or abroad. Massa said “The days of veterans turned away from ERs because it’s not a V.A. are over.” When I asked about the logistics of this, especially abroad, Massa said it would be much the same as the practice with private insurers.

When asked about financial penalties for disabled vets, Massa said “Today Social Security is decreased if a soldier has a disability rating. [We must] eliminate financial penalties on disabled vets and their survivors. As a country we must now expand the scale of treatment of PTSD and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).”

Massa also said we must honor our National Guard and Reserves by providing the “same benefits our regular enlisted enjoy. This president has sent them in unprecedented numbers.”

Massa also advocated for federal funding of veterans’ career training. When asked by Bob Ricotta of The Leader about costs, Massa referred to the money we’ve borrowed from China and said a 1.5% 0.5 % tax increase on those making $500,000 or more per year would help pay for it and he pointed to studies by The Brookings Institute and others. Massa also said that “supporting our veterans is a matter of political will.”

When asked by Rottenchester at Fighting 29th about the educational component, Massa said that he is in support of the Webb G.I. Bill on that issue and had no differences.

I asked Massa if the idea of utilizing veterans’ services at the closest facility for routine care such as physical therapy would eliminate the need for centralized V.A. Medical Centers, Massa said “Not at all. The demand at V.A.s far outstrips their capabilities.”

You can read Eric Massa’s Veterans Plan after the fold.

Read the rest of this entry »

I just saw that Jon Powers, the endorsed Democratic candidate for Congress in NY-26, has made the Top Ten on ActBlue for the period July 14-20th. Here is Powers’ ActBlue Page, which shows the majority of his contributions are coming from Club 26. Powers’ campaign also points out that the majority of his fundraising comes from small donations, demonstrating the strength of Powers’ grassroots support.

Robert Harding over at TAP has an ActBlue donation chart up that I don’t have time to replicate, so I’ll link it here.

He may have arrived on a plane called “Straight Talk Express” but presidential hopeful Senator John McCain did not talk to the working men and women of Western New York according to this report by Robert J. McCarthy of The Buffalo News:

After only about five minutes of meeting and greeting, McCain avoided a cluster of Buffalo and Rochester reporters and climbed aboard an SUV that whisked him to the first of two fundraising events.

Money talks so McCain doesn’t have to?

Meanwhile, Jon Powers, the endorsed Democratic candidate in NY-26, had this to say about McCain’s policies:

Here in Western New York we pride ourselves on a strong manufacturing base. While John McCain is in the Queen City, I hope he takes the time to talk to the working men and women of Western New York so they can explain the damage his treasured free trade policies have done.

Powers also pointedly asked John McCain to answer a few questions, including:

On Friday, you spoke to a roomful of General Motors workers in Michigan blatantly telling them, “Now there will be times when you and I disagree on issues and one of them probably is trade.” Did they agree with your stance on shipping jobs overseas and do you expect the thousands of employees and members of the manufacturing community in Western New York to agree with you?

In March, you called Free Trade “the best thing that could happen to America” and last week in San Diego, you called yourself “an unapologetic supporter of NAFTA”. Time after time you have put the interests of corporations above the needs of working men and women. How can the working men and women of Western New York believe that their jobs will be safe with you in the White House?

It seems to me Jon Powers is the only candidate in NY-26 speaking in a straightforward manner on behalf of the working men and women of Western New York. McCain is here to raise money so that he can continue policies that ship our area’s jobs overseas—and the local GOP glitterati is helping him raise money to do just that.

While he didn’t sing or quote Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind,” Former Vice President Al Gore was on today’s Meet The Press and he answered questions about his goal for our country to switch all of its electricity production to wind, solar and other carbon-free sources within ten years. It is an energy plan that addresses the root problems, similar in that regard to Jon Powers’ (Democratic candidate for Congress in NY-26) Energy Plan. Just watching Gore speak made me long for a president who is an intellectual, who thinks and can express ideas articulately. Aren’t we all starving for this?

Here, excerpts from Gore’s interview:

Our current course is completely unsustainable. We are being told by scientists around the world, particularly the international group that is charged with studying this and reporting to world leaders, that we may have less than 10 years in order to make dramatic changes lest we lose the chance to, to avoid catastrophic results from the climate crisis. We’re building up CO2 so rapidly that we’re seeing the consequences scientists have long predicted. And the only way to take responsible action is to get at the heart of the problem, which is the burning of fossil fuels. And the quickest and easiest way to back out the coal, which is the worst of the problem, and oil, is to look at electricity generation.

(snip)

there have been two important changes. Number one, the cost of the new solar electricity options, wind power and geothermal power, not to mention efficiency gains, have come down and they’re coming down as the demand increases the attention paid to innovation. The other change is that oil prices and coal prices have been skyrocketing and because China and other emerging economies are demanding so much of it, and new discoveries of oil have fallen off dramatically, no matter the debate over drilling, the new discoveries have been declining and the new demand has been completely swamping it, and over the long term, those prices, everyone agrees, are going to continue to go up. So now it is competitive to switch over.

(snip)

MR. BROKAW: What would electricity cost in terms of the transition while it’s under way? Most estimates are that it would cost a lot more money, and that would have a devastating effect on Main Street and especially on rural America.

VICE PRES. GORE: Well, I, I don’t agree with that, and I think that the devastating effect on Main Street and the rest of the country is coming from the present rising costs for electricity. And the reason why is China and the other emerging economies again are bidding up the price of every lump of coal and every drop of oil, and the new discoveries have been declining, so the estimates are now that these price increases are likely to continue until we stop just taking baby steps and offering gimmicks and, instead, have a strategic initiative.

Now, Tom, among other things, you are the biographer of the, of the greatest generation, and, at the beginning of that period when they rose to that challenge, there were a lot of people who said that couldn’t be done. We couldn’t make these hundreds of thousands of airplanes, we couldn’t mobilize to win that struggle. And yet we did. The only limiting factor here is political will.

Bush may have been the guy you’d be most comfortable having a beer with but after eight years of his egregious mismanagement, we all need that beer to chase the economic blues away. He’s not going to make me lonesome when he goes.

Expanding on Exile’s post below, The Buffalo News today states that Jack Davis paid $5,000 each to two consultants for providing names of “friendly Democrats.” According to the article:

Anthony Orsini said his wife’s company, incorporated in Florida earlier this year, has earned the money by providing names of friendly Democrats to the Davis campaign.

Orsini is the Independence Party Chairman in Erie County, one of two men who will determine his party’s endorsement. While Orsini maintains that Davis’ hiring of his wife’s consulting firm will not be an influence in who will be endorsed, this begs credibility.

Wasn’t Davis just on the news last week decrying the influence of special interests? How is this action not an undue influence on the Independence Party nomination?

Is this how Davis operates, buying his way through life? How can someone who can just buy everything, including endorsements, relate to the struggles of everyday voters of Western New York?

Only one candidate in the entire race for NY-26 is out there every day listening to the concerns of everyday Western New Yorkers and actually earning the endorsements he has received: Jon Powers. Powers, with his nearly 4,000 individual contributors and hard grassroots work, is truly “By the people.” Jack Davis yet again shows he is “Buy the people.”

I was behind this car yesterday evening in mad, mad traffic and its bumper sticker read “Just Suffer.” Hmph. What the hell does that mean?

The car also had a “Support Our Troops” ribbon magnet (made in China I’m guessing) on its left bumper and a “Watch For Motorcycles” yellow warning sticker.

I pulled alongside the car expecting to see a cratchedy old man smoking a cigarette and wearing a Hank Williams t-shirt and “Ford Was Best For President” hat. But…no. Inside the car was a young blonde woman, likely in her late twenties, doing her thing, messing with the radio and driving in the mad traffic.

I kept trying to figure out what she was asking us all to “Just Suffer” over. “Just Suffer” over the traffic? The war? The economy? The fact that China is making our American flags and other patriotic memorabilia? The unbearable lightness of being?

No matter what it means, it sounds Republican to me, the whole notion that we need a detached government, devoid of any progressive ideals like cultivating the “pursuit of happiness” etched into our country’s indelible list of inalienable rights.

If anyone knows what this sticker is supposed to denote, please send me a note so I can stop obsessing…

Today Democratic candidates for Congress Dan Maffei (NY-25), Jon Powers (NY-26) and Eric Massa (NY-29) teamed up to encourage national service through public service jobs in America. They gathered in front of Greece Arcadia High School alongside fellow Democrats Rick Dollinger, candidate for State Senate in the 56th District (website coming soon), and Dick Beebe, County Legislator. Paul Riordan, candidate for Supreme Court Judge, was also in attendance, as were about 20 local teachers and nurses in a show of support for Maffei, Powers and Massa. It was raining a bit so I left my camera in the car, my apologies.

Powers began, noting that both he and his mother are teachers, and that his policy of national service, A Call To Service, is about “re-engaging our country.”

Here, excerpts:

Like the recent G.I Bill rewarding our men and women in uniform for their service and providing educational funding, we must launch a Professional Public Service Program similar to ROTC, encouraging high school and college aged citizens to enter service professions. As America faces shortages in critical occupations, we must reward training and public service into professions that serve our public good but are often overlooked for lacking financial incentive. Helping and recruiting our region’s best talent will ensure secure, long-term jobs here in Western New York.

Fields targeted for enhancement are nursing, teaching and social work. Powers also advocated for vocational programs, apprenticeships and mentoring. Additionally, he called for increasing both AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps enrollment. It’s an ambitious program and worth reading in full at the above link.

Massa, who has 24 years of public service, advocated reinvesting “in our work force locally by using state and federal programs to forgive student loans over time for graduates that choose to take public service jobs here in Western New York. Kind of like a domestic GI bill, but instead of serving in the military you can serve here at home.” He also advocated creating an economic development zone much like North Carolina’s Research Triangle.

Massa went on to say we must “stop leaving college students behind and shipping jobs to China. It’s all a matter of teamwork,” pointing to Maffei, Powers and Dollinger standing beside him.

Maffei, for his part, referenced Abe Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address phrase “Angels of our better nature,” stating that “Just like Abe Lincoln’s ‘angels of our better nature,’ we must stand and fight and be a part of this community where we’re needed.” He called out President Bush’s tactics by contrast such as when America was attacked on September 11th and the president told us to show our patriotism by going shopping. Maffei instead pointed to JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you” speech and noted that both of his parents were social workers. He also pointed out that he, Powers and Massa will be leaders of the next Congress, not just members.

Rick Dollinger then spoke, stating that “In 1932 America elected a president who couldn’t walk (FDR) but he put America back to work.” He then referenced the great work of JFK and Bill Clinton in terms of public service and the economy. Dollinger went on to say “Those three presidents and these three gentlemen,” pointing to Maffei, Powers and Massa, “have one thing in common: they’re all Democrats.”

The crowd erupted in applause.

Jon Powers noted “Americans are ready to serve, they just need Washington to help make it possible.” He referenced biotech and greentech jobs and the easing of college debt, stating that we need to “keep our best, brightest and talented right here.”

Massa concluded by saying “All we want is a playing field where we can solve our own problems. Everybody should serve somewhere.” He then noted the teamwork the three of them could employ with Louise Slaughter as a “Rochester caucus.” Massa noted “None of us are shrinking violets. The four of us will have a very loud and clear voice.”

Maffei concluded by saying “We also want to offer non-financial incentives for joining the military,” noting there is an increased need for Americans to help our veterans, not only from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but also from Korea and Vietnam.

Powers concluded the press conference by saying “Military service taught me to serve my country and to continue that service. There are other ways to serve, teaching, nursing…[We have] a once-in-a-generation chance for change.”

NY-26: I just wanted to add one more point to complement Exile’s post on the second quarter financial reports in local elections. During the second quarter Democrat Jack Davis has reported “zero contributions from donors,” according to this morning’s story by Erin Kelly in the D&C. Davis also loaned his campaign $337,418, a practice utilized by fellow Democrat Alice Kryzan and wealthy Republican contender Chris Lee.

Only Jon Powers is raising money through the support of the people, “by the people.” Powers’ campaign exemplifies democracy in action; all the others represent, well, themselves if you look at the largely (or in Davis’ case solely) self-financed campaigns.

People-powered politics is alive and well in the Jon Powers for Congress campaign. According to the latest fundraising report, Powers has:

over 3,900 donors to date contributing to the Powers for Congress Campaign, 67 percent have given $50 or less and almost 80 percent have given $100 or less. His campaign raised $272,000 in the second quarter making it his strongest quarter yet.

The Powers for Congress Campaign has raised more than $870,000 overall and has more than $488,000 cash on hand.

And there’s also the growing list of endorsements Powers has earned:

the second quarter, beginning in April and ending in June, brought the endorsements of the following groups:

* Working Families Party
* New York State AFL-CIO
* Western New York Council of the Communications Workers of America
* Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 22
* National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 3
* UNITE-HERE, Rochester Regional Joint Board
* International Longshoremen’s Association
* International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
* Sheet Metal Workers, Local 46
* New York State Council of Machinists

Powers himself had this to say:

“Everyday Western New Yorkers are chipping in $25, $50 or $100 to bring real leadership and real change to Washington…Our campaign has shown it can compete against millionaires. As the momentum builds with our strongest fundraising quarter yet, I am confident the voices of everyday Western New Yorkers will prevail over the dollars and political stunts of our opponents.”

The momentum seems to be with Powers and the Powers Platoon, exemplifying grassroots at its finest.

It was mid-July four years ago that the men and women of the Gunner Battalion packed up our gear in Kuwait to redeploy to our families. We just finished a nearly 15 month combat tour that took us from patrolling the garbage strewn streets of Baghdad to torn up neighborhoods of Najaf. Our soldiers witnessed a transition from eating dinner in the homes of the Iraqi people in the summer of 2003 to battling every day farmers who joined Muqtada Al Sadr’s uprising during the spring of 2004.

Our soldiers represented a beacon of hope to many Iraqi people as they were excited that we were bringing them the American dream. Unfortunately, Washington’s failure to provide us the proper planning, equipment, or even strategy was evident when we were unable to provide even the basic services or support that any human would expect and deserves. As our relationship with the Iraqi people began to unravel, so did the war.

Here we are four years later, over 4100 soldiers killed, countless Iraqi casualties, extremism is on the rise, and America’s international standing falling fast. Our soldiers continue to do everything we have asked them to do while Washington failed to provide the political, economic, and diplomatic strategies necessary to support their brave efforts. They have courageously dealt with “mission accomplished,” staying the course, the Iraq Study Group (which was thrown out after the 2006 election), and the Surge while returning for multiple tours without the proper recovery or equipment. The American military continues to do everything we have asked them to do, and more.

Washington, on the other hand, continues to be paralyzed by a lack of leadership that refuses to ask the right questions, refuses to hold accountability for those war profiteers who put our troops at risk to line their pockets, or act to bring our troops home safely, securely and soon. Here we are four years later and the Iraqi Prime Minister and National Security advisor have called for a withdrawal timeline so to ensure we are not building permanent bases while we spend $5,000 per second to “reconstruct” their nation, but suffer from $4.30 at the pump at home.

Americans are hurting, Iraqis are hurting, and the world is hungry for our nation to return leadership by example to Washington. It is time to strategically redeploy our brave men and women who have sacrificed so much. We must remain engaged in the region and find ways to address the crisis of Iraqi refugees in places like Syria or Jordan so they do not become radicalized and a destabilizing force. It is time for leaders in Washington who will work to understand the problems and not just spew the tired talking points of their parties.

Here we are four years later and America remains at war, our economy is breaking, and working families are struggling with rising food and gas prices. This election will be about bringing a responsible end to this war, implementing a policy to secure our energy independence, and reinvesting in America by putting our working families back to work. This election represents a once in a generation opportunity to get our country back on track, and I believe that together we have the power to change Washington.

Image Courtesy Michael Parks

New York is where it’s at! This election season is putting New York state front and center in so many contests it’s hard to keep track of them all. Hotly contested races that are receiving much national attention include NY-25, NY-26, and NY-29, and now add SD-55. From the ActBlue website (bold mine):

9. David Nachbar (NY-SD-55)

A native of New Jersey, Nachbar attended Cornell University in upstate New York, and is now running for state Senate in New York’s 55th District, located in the northwestern part of the Empire State. Nachbar is challenging Republican incumbent Jim Alesi, who is serving his sixth two-year term in the state Senate. Nachbar is the former VP of Human Resources at Bausch & Lomb, and has been a trustee of the Committee for Economic Development, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Twin Cities Public Television.

This is Nachbar’s first appearance on the Campaign Newswire–an impressive feat for a campaign that is little more than one month old. Nachbar announced his candidacy on June 2, 2008, with Monroe County Democratic Committee Chariman and New York State Asemblyman Joe Morelle joining him in support. After creating an ActBlue page in late June, Nachbar has brought in over $15,000 in contributions from across the country in only three weeks. Nachbar is only the third state candidate to make the Newswire Top 10 since its launch.

In a joint press conference on July 7, New York Senator Chuck Schumer endorsed Nachbar and Richard Dollinger, a Democrat running for state Senate in New York’s 56th district, saying that Nachbar has “spent his career creating jobs” and that together, Nachbar and Dollinger are “a great team that will do great things for the families they represent.”

Nachbar’s ActBlue hubpage: http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/20272

Nachbar’s campaign site: no site could be found.

Tip: I just got a tip last night that Nachbar will be launching a website soon. I’ll link it up when it posts.

This is a great development for David Nachbar’s campaign because the grassroots movement is the way to go—and online resources are the new grassroots tools which have been used so effectively by Howard Dean and Barack Obama.