Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

[Tallahassee News Station]

(Image) Joh Stansky @GiveJohaGo! To the voters of New Jersey: I wouldn't trust Governor Hotchkiss to run a tart shop, let alone our entire state. We cannot allow another 4 years of Republican disaster for New Jersey. Let's boot her out! (Image)

Kristen Stevenson
@BayStateGirl
Joh Stansky feeling bold enough to come out and call an a barrier breaking female Governor and veteran a "tart" is the kind of barely disguised sexism that we shouldn't tolerate in this country and that's been allowed to continue for too long because of political shields around the misogynists in high places who use it #AllOfUs

Kristen Stevenson
@BayStateGirl
Sexist attacks on women are something too many of us have to deal with too often and its past time for it to be called out and ended without any more excuses.
#AllOfUs

[Dentali]

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

Once again Joh Stansky proves himself to be unfit for any office, a sexist as well as an anti-semite.

[Puertollano]

(Image) Joh Stansky @GiveJohaGo! To the voters of New Jersey: I wouldn't trust Governor Hotchkiss to run a tart shop, let alone our entire state. We cannot allow another 4 years of Republican disaster for New Jersey. Let's boot her out! (Image)

Kristen Stevenson
@BayStateGirl
Joh Stansky feeling bold enough to come out and call an a barrier breaking female Governor and veteran a "tart" is the kind of barely disguised sexism that we shouldn't tolerate in this country and that's been allowed to continue for too long because of political shields around the misogynists in high places who use it #AllOfUs

Kristen Stevenson
@BayStateGirl
Sexist attacks on women are something too many of us have to deal with too often and its past time for it to be called out and ended without any more excuses.
#AllOfUs

Joh Stansky @GiveJohaGo! The inability to run a tart shop is not gender-specific. I wouldn't trust Williams or Amaras to run a tart shop either!

[Puertollano]

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

Once again Joh Stansky proves himself to be unfit for any office, a sexist as well as an anti-semite.

Joh Stansky @GiveJohaGo! So-called 'Progressive' peddling the right-wing talking points. I'm starting to feel as though you couldn't run a tart shop either.

[Dentali]

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

Once again Joh Stansky proves himself to be unfit for any office, a sexist as well as an anti-semite.

Joh Stansky @GiveJohaGo! So-called 'Progressive' peddling the right-wing talking points. I'm starting to feel as though you couldn't run a tart shop either.

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

@GiveJohaGo! 'Tart' is a word that has been used for decades to degrade women, you could have picked any easy to run business to insult the Governor but you chose that one. I would call that suspicious to say the least. Fighting against hatred, anti-semitism, racism and sexism are not left and right issues, these are American issues.

[Puertollano]

Motel, Des Moines, Iowa

Joh and his wife Julia stayed the night in a Motel in Des Moines after the Medicare For All Rally. Joh was on Twitter, responding to Stevenson and Samara.

"I'm so fucking done with the Democratic Party," Joh commented while on his phone.

"Why, what happened?" Julia responded.

"It's just the people, you know Jason Samara. right? He's a spineless fool, he shouldn't even call himself a Progressive. He literally attacked me on twitter for being a sexist when I asked people to vote Hotchkiss out. Spineless, gutless, he's in it for the political points."

"That's not all of the Democratic Party, though, Joh."

"If it isn't I haven't heard a peep from the other Democrats calling him out for his bullshit. I guess Samantha Soberman is a sexist because she dares run against Hotchkiss? And all I get is silence from the people up top. I'm going to be so ecstatic once I defeat Paul ... Paul whatshisname in the Senate. After I defeat him I will wonder if I should even bother hanging on with the Democratic Party."

"Your only other alternative is the Progressive Party. We all know that is a party to avoid like the plague."

"Yeah, I'm not going to join the Progressive Party if I do jump ship. Maybe start my own, but that'd be very difficult, it would be primarily supported by the unions I expect. But no, that's a lot of work, and if it doesn't work, it'd be a waste of money. Maybe independent, even then I would never be elected to higher office."

"I suggest trying to reform the Democratic Party from the inside," Julia added.

"That's way above my ability right now, right now all I am is a Mayor of a city in New Jersey. I can't reform the Democratic Party as a Mayor. I don't know, maybe I should rest it out. I might feel less enraged in the morning."

[Prolieum]

Peter Amaras
@ConservativeRevolutionary

---

I noticed that Joh made sure not to give any notice he was coming and stay half a state away from me so he could make his squeaky little insults without from the safety of distance! We all know that scaredy Joh didn't want to have to face me again after how badly I embarrassed him in his own city!

---

#CrushingVictory #BlowoutWin #DidntStandAChance #RunningScared #ScaredyJoh

[Dentali]

(Image)
Peter Amaras
@ConservativeRevolutionary

---

I noticed that Joh made sure not to give any notice he was coming and stay half a state away from me so he could make his squeaky little insults without from the safety of distance! We all know that scaredy Joh didn't want to have to face me again after how badly I embarrassed him in his own city!

---

#CrushingVictory #BlowoutWin #DidntStandAChance #RunningScared #ScaredyJoh

Congressman Glen Anderson
@AndersonPA17

@ConservativeRevolutionary Iowa is an interesting choice for his events, its not a state particularly inclined towards Medicare for All. I wonder if he is looking towards 2020...

[The Orion Islands]

Wilson Twitter @KeepWyomingGreat
"Stansky could not run an ice cream parlor, let alone America. I agree with @AndersonPA17, he is thinking about 2020."

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

(Image) Ohio Governor Comm Dept @OHPressSec Governor Mondale was born and raised in the Midwest. During her tenure, she helped decrease funding towards Planned Parenthood due to her ardent belief in protecting life. Try again @GovMS. (Image)

Fredrick Williams
@GovMS
Gov. Mondale's words be kind to the suffering of the unborn, but when the push came to shove she took the side of the baby murdering United Nations instead of those innocent babies who be murdered.

---

[Prolieum]

Peter Amaras
@ConservativeRevolutionary

---

@AndersonPA17 People like Scotty and Joh only deign to come down to the heartland out from their taxpayer-funded enclaves when they want to get something out of the people here. They'll come in to pander to try to get more power for themselves and if they do they'll turn around and stab anyone they snared in the back.

---

#TheyDontReallyCare #Panderers #ValuesMismatch #SelfInterested #AlwaysWantPower

[Prolieum]

National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.

Appleby turned, and began to make his departure.

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty We are all Americans, no need to divide those hard-working people on the coasts from those equally hard-working Americans in our nation's heartland. Spurring conflict isn't what this nation needs, instead it is what Sen. Amaras capitalizes on to advance his cause by pitting American against American.

[Meelducan]

Constitution Gardens

"Maybe not today Senator, but tomorrow is a new day!" Donald said leaping off the bench. "Catch you later dude!" he said as he jogged away.

[Dentali]

Jason Samara Campaign Stop #32
Revere, Suffolk County



“Wait only 10 to go after this?” Samara was surprised, he had lost track of the number of campaign stops they had planned and didn’t realize how thoroughly he was outpacing his opponent. The Samara campaign had made 31 stops so far out of the planned 42, even with his scaling down of the frequency of his campaign stops it was a major achievement. Perhaps even more importantly Samara had made all this progress while spending the bare minimum amount of money, only having 2 television ads in that time. This would allow for more money to be spent in the later stages of the campaign, without spending extra resources to get his name out there.

On the Jason Samara Campaign site he announced the release of his tax returns, they were fairly standard and unexciting. The median member of the US Congress was worth at least $1.1 million. That is more than 12 times greater than the net wealth of the median US household. For a member of the House of Representatives the median net worth was close to $900,000, and Samara reported a net worth of about $500,000. Jason came from a background of community organizing, not law or business which would have helped him have more money in his bank account.

He would hold today’s rally in Revere, Massachusetts and put a focus on foreign born citizens as well as first and second generation immigrants as of 2010, 27% of the residents of Revere were born outside of the United States. Holding his rally at Revere Beach, the oldest public beach in the county also known as “the people’s beach” and was frequented by the immigrants and working class community in the area. Before the rally he went to Kelly’s Roast Beef to enjoy a Roast Beef Sandwich which it claimed to have invented in the early 50s.

“Good Morning! What a crowd, it’s really an honor to be here thank you all for coming and for the warm welcome.”

“I’m Congressman Jason Samara, I am a man raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up walking the Freedom trail, I grew up watching the South End of Boston go from dangerous and remote in the 80s flourish, I grew up jogging along the Charles river and rooting for the Red Sox. But I was born to two loving parents in Puerto Rico, my father was an immigrant and a psychiatrist, my mother was a social worker who devoted her life to helping people get back on their feet. When I was 2 my father passed away in an car accident and my mother took me to Boston to live with her mother. Times were hard, money was short, we relied on family, community and at times the government to get by. I am a product of public school, I grew up hearing stories of my family that fought for civil rights, of my uncles that marched next to Doctor King, who stood on the bridge at Selma, who marched on Washington and I took that to heart.”

“I dedicated my life and schooling to community outreach and service, I married my high school sweetheart and we have beautiful daughters. I was elected to Congress in 2010 becoming the first African American to represent the state, I have fought for welfare reform, consumer protections, providing affordable college and healthcare, LBGTQ rights, a woman’s right to choose and housing reform. I proudly stand by the work I have done for this state. As a Congressman I proudly voted against the RLSA, WAC and BBA. My parents and my grandmother are no longer with us today, but I know they look down on our work with pride.”

“My last name is Samara, a name that comes from half a world away. In America though your name should be no barrier to success, no matter your name or circumstances of birth, the color of your skin, no matter who you love or how you choose to worship... America should be a place where none of that matters. I stand here now proud of my heritage, knowing that I am just a part of the greater American story. I have a vision for America where there are no barriers to success - no matter what color you are, no matter where you're from, no matter how much money you have.”

“Thats where I come from, now let me tell you what I stand for. I stand for no PACs just people, I have pledged to no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, this is just the first step in Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform that is necessary for our growing Democracy. I stand for the scientific consensus that Climate Change is real, and that we must take steps to build a clean energy economy to make fuel and energy cheaper, better for the environment and free of our dependency on foreign countries.”

“I stand for those who serve are nation in uniform, and making sure that when they return to civilian life we are there to support them in the challenges they face. I stand for Expanding medical care and support services for our service members is a moral duty.”

“I stand for Universal Healthcare, Health Care is a Human Right, a moral responsibility. I will fight to make sure that insurance companies no longer turn people away for pre-existing conditions or discriminate against women. I will work hand in hand with our governor to craft and support a healthcare plan that covers all of Massachusetts so it can continue to be the national leader in coverage and innovation.”

“I stand for Equal Pay for Equal Work. An economy that works for everyone, a $15 minimum wage, affordable childcare, parental leave. No one who works full time should live in poverty and its time big business and the 1% paid its fair share.”

“I stand for LGBTQ equality, I go to Boston’s Pride Parade every year, I marched in DC and spoke on LGBTQ rights and progress. I will stand against any attempt to take away our progress, LGTBQ rights are human rights and we need an equality act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing and other areas.”

“I stand for A God Given Right to Safety, the Minutemen Act showed that Congress cares more about handouts to Gun Manufacturers than safety for our people, and across the country children are paying the price. Gun Violence plagues our communities every day and as your Senator I will fight back against the epidemic, thoughts and prayers are not enough we need action to take dangerous weapons off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

“For most folks, one income isn't enough to raise a family and send your kids to college. Sometimes, two incomes aren't enough. It's harder to save. It's harder to retire. You're doing your part, you're meeting your responsibilities, but it always seems like you're treading water or falling behind.”

“I’m tired of waiting, waiting a decade for a pay raise while CEO pay is soaring, i’m tired of waiting for Republican Senators to act while more Americans fall into poverty, i’m tired of waiting for them to realize that their are kids with the knowledge and the drive to go to college and change the world but can’t because its not affordable. I’m tired of waiting and that’s why I am seeking the Democratic nomination for Senator of the great state of Massachusetts.”

“I am pro-immigrant, but I recognize not everyone trying to come into this nation has the best intentions, not everyone should be allowed into our nation. But a zero tolerance policy does not reflect our morality, turning away families looking for a better life, those fleeing poverty, violence and starvation… turning them away is not American.”

“America has always and should always be a haven for the oppressed, the vulnerable and the downtrodden. We cannot shirk that responsibility now. Our immigration policy must stop the criminalization of entire communities, the tearing apart of families, and the exploitation of new Americans. My immigration policy is grounded in putting the sanctity of families first, and will enforce civil, human and labor rights, continuing our tradition of embracing diversity letting it push our nation to new heights.”

“Those who enter the country illegally who do not have a criminal record should be given temporary amnesty and a simple path to citizenship. If an immigrant pays taxes they should receive the same benefits as citizens. We must dismantle our inhumane deportation programs and detention centers that tear families apart, replacing them with a system targeted on criminal activity besides crossing the border and make sure DHS agencies have oversight. We need a swift and fair legislative roadmap to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. We must respect local communities, ensuring their positive interactions with law enforcement instead of forcing them to live in hiding out of fear. We must modernize the visa system, especially regarding family visas which has a massive backlog. We must reverse the criminalization of immigrants, no person is illegal and in most cases the act of an illegal border crossing is one of desperation not malice, we must recognize that.”

“We need to save our democracy, we need to systematically reform our nation, our politics. I pledged to take to corporate PAC money because I believe PACs come before people. Washington works great for the rich, for those with connections… companies and the ultra wealthy can spend billions to influence Congress and federal agencies… we need lobbying reform and we need it today.”

“Lobbying as we know it must end, everyone who lobbies MUST register, we must take Washington lobbyists out of the shadow, ban foreign governments from hiring lobbyists and shut down the ability of lobbyists to move freely in and out of government jobs. When running for federal office candidates should be required to put their tax returns online, while in office we need to keep Senators and Congressman from trading stocks and when they retire we need to ban them from becoming lobbyists.”

“We don’t just need to limit the power of corporations in politics we need to empower the people in our Republic. Politicians are supposed to compete for votes, not try and disqualify voters who don’t support them. Many laws and rules make it more difficult to vote, and practices like partisan gerrymandering keep your vote from counting as much as it should. We must eliminate rules that make voting more difficult, laws and rules that suppress votes especially in minority communities.”

“Democracy shouldn’t be for sale, so that is why we must fight the Citizens United decision, so that you do not need to suck up to rich donors and the washington elite in order to run for office. No more billionaire Super PACs.”

“Years ago I was proud to protest against the Iraq War, at a time when it wasn’t popular to do so. I believe that time has vindicated those who stood against it then, and going forward it is a lesson we must hold close. A strong military is important, it should be a deterrent so that we won’t have to use it, we must be vigilant against terrorists like ISIS and Hamas, but we cannot be the world’s policeman, we need to bring our troops home and strengthen our support for them as they transition into civilian life.”

“When we pursue foreign policy in the future, we should not solve problems with military might and intimidation first… we need to cut our bloated defense budget, take a stand against the military industrial complex that has a grip on our military policy. We need to reinvest our money and resources into diplomacy, standing by our global allies to advance our shared interests and advance the cause of global justice.”

“That fight for justice must continue at home too, our justice system promises equality under the law and America has one of the best justice systems in the world but we need to acknowledge its faults. We live in a nation where for the exact same crime minority americans are more likely than white americans to be arrested, charged and convicted. We live in a nation where teen with and small amount of pot and no intent to distribute can get thrown in jail.”

“We must keep a constant vigil on our justice system, to find what policies disproportionately affect our minority communities and end them. We must embrace community policing and the demilitarization of police, comprehensive reform to our sentencing laws and the complete decriminalization and legalization marijuana.”

“We must however crack down on those who profit off the destruction of our planet. Climate change ravages our planet, our people. It threatens to displace millions, droughts, floods, extreme storms and a changing environment that will wreak havoc on civilization. We need to double down our commitment to alternative and renewable energies, to end our dependence on fossil fuels, to make renewable clean energy affordable and practical.”

“We, the people of Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American Revolution, Birthplace to presidents and patriots, heroes of war and peace, a place of science and philosophy, a state that has ALWAYS pushed America forward. And we know the way forward don’t we? We know how to make our economy stronger and fairer, how to make our communities safer and education more affordable, how to make our retirement security and our healthcare the gold standard.”

“We know that we should not abandon our public education to benefit private and religious schools, but we must strengthen our public education. We know that inclusion and diversity make us stronger, that we must encourage new Americans to come here to build better lives. We know that we must protect members of the LGBTQ+ community, we know that ALL are created equal and must be protected as such under the law!”

“We start right here, right now by talking about the economy. An economy that works for too few at the expense of the many. A rigged game where wall street wins and main street loses, when bankers rig interest rates so you pay more for a house or a car thats a rigged game. When companies use tricks and loopholes to avoid taxes and don’t pay their fair share? Thats a rigged game, and when the top 1% has more than the bottom 99% IT’S A RIGGED GAME!”

“Close the Loopholes, lets tell American companies that if they want to benefit from our laws and our protection they need to bring those profits home. We need a fairer economy because the market the republicans claim is ‘free’ is just a game with loaded dice. We have seen wall street billionaires declare bankruptcy a half dozen times and get bailed out, but someone who can’t afford to pay a speeding ticket goes to jail. IT’S A RIGGED GAME. “

“Since 1978 CEOs have gotten paid over 900% more, workers are 65% more productive and they get 9% more. When America’s workers play a rigged game we all lose, when unions get busted and workers can’t organize? We lose... and when you don’t give people a livable wage we all lose. Basic decency and sound economics both bring you to the same conclusion: IT’S A RIGGED GAME thats why it’s time to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

“But if we are really going to create permanent lasting change we MUST support education. Now i’m not supporting teaching our kids how to better answer a multiple choice question on a test. I want to build real strong communities around schools, have teachers who are well-trained motivated and LOVE what they do. I want schools and teachers that really prepare our children not just for college but for life. We need to treat teachers with the respect they deserve and like the professionals they are!”

“The average student graduates with over $35,000 in debt, I want to make sure that every student gets the opportunity to go to college and that they can go to community college for free and when a student borrows money to go to college they get low rates.”

“The ACA was not perfect, it could have been improved BUT I would take the ACA over having tens of millions without healthcare, without a net, where the only time they see a doctor is in the emergency room. We must continue to improve healthcare, making sure coverage is truly universal and held to the highest standards. I will work hand in hand with our governor to get the best possible healthcare after the RLSA until we can finally repeal it.”

“Everybody deserves affordable healthcare, nobody should have to choose between filling a grocery cart or a prescription jar. The Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that allow people to retire with dignity, that gives survivor benefits to their partners and families…. These are programs I will fight tooth and nail to defend, to make sure Social Security is there for you. It’s the least we can do.”

“One of the best tools we can use to reduce healthcare costs is a way to empower patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. We need a tool that is comprehensive, that provides location specific price and quality information, not just a national average of the cost of services.”

“Hospitals should and must be MANDATED to publicly post their price lists in a machine readable format on their websites. In addition hospitals should be required to report directly to state and federal agencies so they can provide a comprehensive data set for consumers.”

“We must address that our current medical education system is not producing enough primary care physicians, and as we work towards healthcare reforms like patient centered medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations. One reason for that is that the Medicare physician payment policy greatly favors specialists and Primary Care Physicians have a massive gap in income. We must support loan forgiveness policies for medical students who pursue careers in primary care, and generally incentivizing med students who focus on primary care.”

“As we make peoples healthcare secure let us also secure our communities…. Mass Shootings capture headlines, but daily tragedies we see in towns and cities across the nation are just as tragic. Thirty Thousand Americans are killed by gun violence every year, the madness must end. I have given my thoughts and prayers to victims too many times but as great man once said ‘when you pray move your feet’. We need to move, we need to realize that we have options and ways to bring down gun violence without dismantling the second amendment which I respect. Ways to ensure criminals, terrorists and other dangerous individuals don’t get firearms. This is not about hunters, this is not about responsible gun owners looking to protect their family… This is about realizing that there is no good reason to own an assault rifle. If you buy a gun, no matter where or when, you should get a background check. The gun lobby owns many in Congress but they do not own the conscience of the American people.”

“As your Senator I will fight to ensure that no one who works full time will live in poverty, I will fight to raise the minimum wage, get better work scheduling, get paid family and medical leave, I will work towards giving every kid in America an opportunity to go to college without being buried under a mountain of debt, and for the debt that is owed now I will fight to make that burden easier.”

“As your Senator I will fight for retirement with dignity, an expansion of Social Security, Strengthening of Medicare and Retirement accounts, and to reform the ACA.”

“As your Senator I will fight against attempts to strip control of a woman’s body away from her. Defending a woman’s right to choose, supporting education and easier access to contraception is vital to promoting sexual health.”

“I grew up in a home full of strong women, I was raised by a single mom with the help of her mother. I have an incredible wife, I have 3 daughters I count myself blessed for every single day and I stand by my record fighting to give my girls a better life, a better country to call theirs. To make my mother proud and know that in heaven she is looking down and smiling on the work we do together.”

“I have supported a woman’s right to choose and have reproductive rights, I have fought for programs that empower women and young girls in this country and around the world, I have fought to help keep those who commit acts of violence against women accountable, I have fought against domestic abuse and for equal pay for equal work.”

“But I can do better… we can do better… we can always do better we can always go further and fight harder.”

“As long as women are thought of something less than, overworked and underpaid, just on their appearance and not their character, as long as they are subjected to violence and not to school… we cannot truly move forward.”

“There is no simple reform, no one magic pill, it is a revolution of the mind, heart and spirit. Of Policy and attitudes, of people willing to stand up to bigotry and discrimination. We must stand up to double standards and glass ceilings.”

“I am a religious man, and Christ said ‘he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone’, teaching us that only the faultless have the right to pass judgement on others. With this as in all things no one is faultless, this is a Democratic problem, this is a Republican problem, this is a Progressive problem and this is an American Problem. The question is do you stand fight for something better.”

“I want my daughters to be free from prejudice, to be treated with respect. In the coming days we will have battles to fight, battles for better healthcare, for equal pay, for a women’s control over her own reproductive health. When we see evil, when we see injustice it is our duty to speak out, it is my duty to speak out.”

“We need stronger laws to govern Wall Street, we need to keep the 1% accountable and when banks get too big they need to be broken up, the people of this country and this state deserve someone who will hold their feet to the fire and make sure they are accountable. We deserve someone who will support trade deals that don’t just favor the big corporations, trade deals that don’t leave you in the dirt and left behind as the gap between rich and poor widens and the middle class disappears.”

“In too many places the poor are getting poorer, families who need help will find essential services cut, they will find healthcare cut and they need to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps’ while the boot of the 1% is on their back. Americans trapped in poverty, no hope of a job or education, many turning to drugs and gangs. We as a nation cannot abandon them, and as your Senator I swear I will fight for them.”

“Call it ‘trickle down’, call it ‘supply side economics’ but its the same story, the shining city is for the privileged few not America as a whole. But democrats have always fought for a different vision, a vision of a nation where we pursue new frontiers in education, healthcare, and prosperity, a nation where we all move forward to that new frontier together, where no-one is left behind.”

"To this end I want to reform and improve the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child Tax Credit. My goal is to make work pay, the EITC and Child Tax Credit is great for increasing employment and labor force participation, but they can be improved. I want to make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable for families with children under 17, increase the phase in rate to 50 for families with children under the age of 6. This could lift over a million people out of poverty."

“President Roosevelt said that our right to liberty as Americans included the ‘the right of every family to a decent home.’ If we are going to fulfill that right for all American’s we must pursue housing that is safe, secure and affordable. Without a good home no one can thrive, participate fully in our economy, our society. Housing is a basic human need and we have a moral responsibility as a society to ensure it is met.”

“We need to protect families from being displaced, preserve rental housing using incentives that keep rents low paired with renovation and credits for energy efficiency. We need to facilitate permitting for adding rental units to larger existing homes, especially for elderly homeowners. We must expand community ownership models like co-housing and housing trust while encouraging the construction, financing and preservation of owner occupied multifamily houses, creating ways of financing for working individuals and families. We need 21st century regulatory reform that understands home-sharing, protecting the income generating function of homeowners and protecting rental opportunities. Home rule petitions must be expedited allowing communities to experiment and lower costs.”

“To my republican friends out there I want them to come to the table with us on this. Affordable housing is not charity, its not government welfare, this is one of the bottom rungs on the ladder to security and prosperity for our families and our communities. Good housing improves child and maternal health, leads to better school performance, better jobs, the ability to accumulate savings and contribute to the nation.”

“Our nation, our republic will not work if we do not get out there and fight for what we believe in. Politicians from the President to the local dog catcher need to hear from you, they hear plenty from the 1% and Wall Street, from Super-Pacs and giant corporations and those who can fill their pockets and campaign chests. If we don’t speak now, make our voices heard, our politicians will ONLY work for the wealthy few.”

“So while I am asking for your vote, but more importantly asking for your engagement. I hope that when election day comes you put a check mark next to my name on a ballot, but should you decide that you disagree I hope that you still get involved. Raise the level of debate and discourse, demand the highest standards not just from your elected officials but from those who elect them. Do not take your vote for granted, your country needs you, your nation needs you, and those who do not have the chance to vote need you.”

“Our state has a strong Irish tradition, and the Irish tell the story of a man reaching the gates of heaven asking to be let in, St. Peter says ‘of course just show us your scars’ to which the man replies ‘Scars? I have no scars’ St. Peter says ‘what a pity, was there nothing worth fighting for?”

“In the days to come we will accomplish much, we will push our state and our nation continually forward, but no progress worth making has ever been made with self sacrifice, personal suffering and sometimes even death. Find your truth, fight for it, pray and move your feet, show others the path forward by blazing the trail.”

“We are STRONGER TOGETHER, that means everyone who works hard has an equal shot at America’s promise, at joining the middle class and having a better life. We are STRONGER TOGETHER yet so many of our corporate and political leaders seem content to pursue their own self interest, leaving so many hard working Americans struggling and without a fair shot. So lets not give up now, abandon our dreams to dark apathy we are STRONGER TOGETHER and we can achieve the American Dream.”

“Together we can accomplish great things, I pray you join me, I pray you stand and march forward with me, and one day we will have built a country worthy of the principles we were founded on. Thank you, God bless America and God bless the Great State of Massachusetts.”

[Greater Arab State]

Constitution Gardens

"Maybe not today Senator, but tomorrow is a new day!" Donald said leaping off the bench. "Catch you later dude!" he said as he jogged away.

Constitution Gardens

"I'll be seeing you later as well, Representative." Kramer said, before reclining back on the bench as he enjoyed the view.

[Puertollano]

Patricia Waterfield Rally, NYC, New York



The next rally was in New York City, and Patricia Waterfield was feeling confident. She had managed to increase her name recognition fruther than expected and she had high hopes for defeating the Councillor in the primary. New York City was going to be the largest battleground for the Progressive Party, so Patricia made it her goal to visit it frequently and patronize among the voters there and possibly the voters in the general election.

"New York City is a hub of innovation and productivity, it is because of the effort put in here in New York City that makes a strong backbone of our entire state. I didn't grow up in New York City myself, I'm from Saratoga Springs, but I understand the attraction of New York to the population. You have a vibrant, diverse community that is welcoming of one another, that should be the standard for not only the entire state of New York, but also the country. What truly threatens communities like New York City is the vile bigotry coming from the Republican and Democratic Party. We have Lenny Lotto rising in the polls in the Republican Party, and there's a chance he could become the nominee. We cannot allow that. Rod Johnson, too, went silent after the sexist remarks made by his family, no condemnation. I remember being told as a child that being a by-stander is just as worse as committing it yourself. Everyone needs to stand up and reject that type of thing.

I believe, as a Progressive, that I have the strongest chance to defeat Lenny Lotto and Rod Johnson. I've been rallying support across this state, not only New York City, and I am in it to win it; for you all. There's no second chance if a Republican is elected to the Senate for New York. A Republican like Lenny Lotto will destroy the fabric of our society and help push through the right-wing agenda of the President. We need a strong candidate to combat that and from what I've seen, we need a candidate who can rally the support everywhere. I've been West, bringing the people together, you need to win the general with a majority of the population, and I'm already working on it. I've got the combined experience and morals to be your Senator, putting the major issues such as housing, healthcare, education and the environment first, not last. Taking New York in a progressive direction of prosperity, no more Republican corruption and Democrat mismanagement.

Which, of course, brings me to Rod Johnson. The Rod Johnson that will not condemn his family for sexist remarks. Females make up 50% of this state, so if he thinks he can win without condemning them, he's got something coming for him. A Progressive, not a Democrat has been my guiding ideology for a very long time. I used to be a member of the Green Party, I was there in the foundation. I was heavily involved in Mayor Walton's campaign in New York and I put in 110%. I'm a hard-working, honest member of the community and I would appreciate a bit of Progressive to Progressive love. I've been in the left-wing game for a very long time, and I can assure you all, I will not surrender on my principles. As a board member of Greenpeace USA, I still have a duty of environmentalism to uphold. Something that no other candidate has dared to raise. As a Senator, I will champion green technology, cheaper electricity through renewables and protecting our wildlife and sanctuaries.

When it comes to New York City in particular, I want to work on fixing the public transport. I want the entire fleet to be electric buses so that in the long run the public purse can be saved and the cost of public transport can be reduced. Cheaper travel, that is the goal. I want to promote renewable petroleum as well, as a mediator between these stages through subsidies. Through subsidies I want to put solar panels on the rood of every home in New York City and the entire country. Bring the cost of electricity down for everyday people. I want more livable cities through more green spaces, public exercise equipment, public gardens and other initiatives such as those. When we talk about the bigger picture, we also need to look at the smaller, community-minded aspects too. That's what the major parties forget, it is the spirit of individual communities that keeps this country going and people forget that.

As a Senator, I will support increasing funding for the arts and bringing back the artistic and creative ability of the United States of America. Supporting local artists is the best way to engage the public in social capital. We used to be a forerunner in this sphere, but we have lost our way. I want to bring it back, we used to be a creative powerhouse. What the real problem is, is that local artists who have great potential are ignored. We need to bring them into the spotlight and reveal talent we never knew was possible. If we have a population of billions of people in the United States of America, and million in New York, we can surely produce good art again. Art that can prove that world that America is back.

Thank you very much for hosting me, New York City. Let's continue our advance for a Progressive for New York. A sensible and Progressive voice for New York is what we need in the Senate, to hold the President to account. We all know a Democrat or Republican will roll over for President Reed; well no way. I'm not going to play soft ball with the President, I'm going to play hard-ball and reject his homophobic agenda. Progressivism for New York!"

[Puertollano]

Patricia Waterfield @PatriciaWaterfieldReal I want to hold the President to account for his anti-LGBT legislation and continued attacks across the board. The Senate is supposed to be the check and balance, but Republican and Democratic Party will roll over to the President. #ProgressiveforNewYork

[Dentali]

MSNBC INTERVIEW: LAURA MARTIN AND JASON SAMARA



Laura Martin: And now we are joined by Congressman Jason Samara from outside Congress, to talk about the currently ongoing Senate confirmation process of Governor Mondale to the position of UN Ambassador. Congressman thank you for joining us.

Samara: My pleasure, thank you for having me.

Martin: The confirmation of Governor Mondale was a contentious one to say the least, much of the opposition coming from the President’s own party. How do you explain this opposition?

Samara: Its incredible to say the least, President Reed has faced consistent opposition from his own party on a number of issues, especially from the right wing of the party. I’ve can’t remember the last time a President faced this must opposition from his own party.

Martin: Is this the beginning of a split on the right, much like we saw on the left between democrats and progressives?

Samara: I wouldn’t go that far as of yet... but the President should definitely be concerned about it. The Republican Party is its own worst enemy at this point, holding a coalition that large together is incredibly difficult and the President has some divergent views for the party regarding the environment and some other aspects. He passed a bill to increase taxes on big business in the form of the Dudley tax, I agree with the President on that, i’m glad he did it but it exhausted his political capital with the Republican party. He also passed the BBA which cost him massive political capital with his party, maybe we have reached a point where Republican members of Congress don’t feel like they owe him anymore.

Martin: What about Mondale specifically do you think was the issue with the Republicans?

Samara: Definitely her support of the UN regarding international law, certain Senators were concerned Mondale would allow the UN to dictate US domestic policy.

Martin: Is the fear well founded?

Samara: Mondale and the UN don’t have that power, and if she tried to do such I’m sure the President would ask for her resignation. The UN is a flawed entity, but when it comes to international bodies its the biggest we have and its important to have it. Mondale couldn’t start out her service as UN ambassador condemning the very body she needs to represent us in. She needs to go to work every day with other ambassadors and have relationships with them, starting a new job by telling everyone how much you hate it won’t make you friends or help you build positive relationships.

Martin: So she was in a no win situation?

Samara: I think she could have chosen her words more carefully and mediated the damage but she was certainly between a rock and a hard place.

Martin: Do you think the President is doing a good job?

Samara: It’s a mixed bag, obviously I would have preferred a democrat but the President took a hardline against ISIS and broke the Dudley strike, I give him big credit for that. I of course ardently disagree with the President’s stance on a Woman’s right to choose and his lack of support for the LGBTQ+ community... but he hasn’t gone as far as I thought he would as of yet. I’m especially surprised he hasn’t publicly back POMA… Like I said it’s a complicated answer and I would certainly rather have a progressive democrat in the office, but I think he’s doing better than any other Republican running in 2016 would have.

Martin: Elsewhere we have Mayor Joh Stansky is promoting Medicare for all, what are your thoughts on that campaign?

Samara: Firstly it’s not just elsewhere, he’s in Iowa, Mayor Stansky has a national profile thanks to the notoriety he gained from his gubernatorial run, now he’s trying to turn that into a run for national office. He isn’t doing this in Jersey, or a more progressive state that is closer to adopting universal healthcare, he’s doing it in a state that elected Peter Amaras to the Senate. The reason is obvious.

But to answer your question... I want universal healthcare but his plan or lack thereof is just not the way to do it. I want a public option, more access to generics, the ability to purchase coverage from across state lines and medications from nations like Canada that have our same or better standards for drugs than we do. Right now I have legislation to establish price controls on prescriptions so drug companies can’t bankrupt families who are trying to keep their loved ones healthy. Mayor Stansky’s Medicare for All plan would require the total destruction of the private market, if you like your current plan you won’t be able to keep it. One size fits all isn’t good for anyone.

Martin: You condemned his ‘tart shop’ comment regarding Governor Hotchkiss, do you really think that was a sexist comment?

Samara: I have the utmost respect for Governor Hotchkiss, she is a veteran and public servant regardless of my disagreements with her politics. Do I believe she is the best choice to lead New Jersey going forward? No I don’t, but Stansky’s comments were out of line.

Stanksy already has a history of using dog whistle language, so his comment about not trusting her to run a ‘tart shop’ was clearly evocative of the derogatory term for a woman, he could have picked any other shop, but he chose language that would be offensive. Given his history I find it very hard to believe it was not specifically selected.

For the record I also don’t think he should have implied running a small business like a tart shop was easy. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and people work incredibly hard to be successful, its not easy and we need to do more to support them.

Martin: Someone else in Iowa recently was LA mayor Scotty Marlowe promoting the Clean New Deal. Is he eying a Presidential bid?

Samara: I don’t want to assume that everyone visiting Iowa is running for President *laughs*, clean energy makes more sense to promote in ethanol friendly Iowa especially with President Reed in office. I will say the more he is rolling out the Clean New Deal the more I like it, its ambitious but necessary for our nation and the world.

Martin: The Special Election in New York is heating up, you have yet to make any endorsements. What are your thoughts on the race?

Samara: I honestly haven’t been following it too closely, I will say Waterfield has some interesting ideas though. I need to look more into how she plans to implement them before commenting more. Rod Johnson needs to apologize for his sexist comments, and call out other members of his family for the same, afterwards he needs to roll out real policy. Lenny Lotto would be a flat out disaster for New York and the country.

Martin: Congress Samara, thank you for your time.

Samara: Thank you for having me.

[Tallahassee News Station]

"I think I can get some support from donors that are more on the right. After having to deal with everything being on the far left and then Breckenridge I think they're ready for an alternative that supports the President even if I'm more moderate. But you're probably right that I won't be able to really charge up some of the more far out ones like Samara will be able to. In New England I think that the only Republican we have left is Hark and I don't know how good an idea getting too involved with him would be...I'll have to go west."

"Di Pierto in New York? He's looking for support himself, you could probably help him out and he could give you access to donor information."

"You should also not be afraid to stay in DC. Their is a lot of money in this town, do fundraisers and meetings with money people here. Samara has done dozens more events than you, trying to match his ground game is going to leave you playing catch-up. You can raise money here and then use it to make media buys, ads aren't as effective as the personal touch but you can reach a lot more people and at this point Samara has a massive name recognition advantage that you need to overcome."

Stevenson gave a puzzled look. "I, uh, kinda heavily doubt that. Name recognition is the least of my problems. But the DC idea sounds like a good one. I'm obviously stuck here during the weekdays and that might be a better way to take advantage of my nights than trying to strategize. I don't really have any place to get started here though. I don't have any connections or ins with any of the donors around here"

[Dentali]

"Di Pierto in New York? He's looking for support himself, you could probably help him out and he could give you access to donor information."

"You should also not be afraid to stay in DC. Their is a lot of money in this town, do fundraisers and meetings with money people here. Samara has done dozens more events than you, trying to match his ground game is going to leave you playing catch-up. You can raise money here and then use it to make media buys, ads aren't as effective as the personal touch but you can reach a lot more people and at this point Samara has a massive name recognition advantage that you need to overcome."

Stevenson gave a puzzled look. "I, uh, kinda heavily doubt that. Name recognition is the least of my problems. But the DC idea sounds like a good one. I'm obviously stuck here during the weekdays and that might be a better way to take advantage of my nights than trying to strategize. I don't really have any place to get started here though. I don't have any connections or ins with any of the donors around here"

"I'll send you some names of some contacts I have with some small business groups, let me know if any strike your fancy and i'll put in a good word for you." Anderson hesitates a second and then pulls out a notepad, scribbling down a phone number. He rips the sheet off and holds it out in front of him.

"This is a private number that I do not give out lightly, please do not tell anyone I am giving you this number. This is my brother Richard's cell, he runs Anderson Industrial and has been know to donate to the occasional congressional campaign. No promises but if you pitch him and he likes what he hears he will donate."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Stevenson gave a puzzled look. "I, uh, kinda heavily doubt that. Name recognition is the least of my problems. But the DC idea sounds like a good one. I'm obviously stuck here during the weekdays and that might be a better way to take advantage of my nights than trying to strategize. I don't really have any place to get started here though. I don't have any connections or ins with any of the donors around here"

"I'll send you some names of some contacts I have with some small business groups, let me know if any strike your fancy and i'll put in a good word for you." Anderson hesitates a second and then pulls out a notepad, scribbling down a phone number. He rips the sheet off and holds it out in front of him.

"This is a private number that I do not give out lightly, please do not tell anyone I am giving you this number. This is my brother Richard's cell, he runs Anderson Industrial and has been know to donate to the occasional congressional campaign. No promises but if you pitch him and he likes what he hears he will donate."

"Of course, I won't tell a soul. Thank you."

[Dentali]

"I'll send you some names of some contacts I have with some small business groups, let me know if any strike your fancy and i'll put in a good word for you." Anderson hesitates a second and then pulls out a notepad, scribbling down a phone number. He rips the sheet off and holds it out in front of him.

"This is a private number that I do not give out lightly, please do not tell anyone I am giving you this number. This is my brother Richard's cell, he runs Anderson Industrial and has been know to donate to the occasional congressional campaign. No promises but if you pitch him and he likes what he hears he will donate."

"Of course, I won't tell a soul. Thank you."

“Give me a few days to talk with him first, then give him a call.... let me know if I can do anything else to help you, but I probably can’t do much with you in the way of physical events if that’s something you’d be interested in.”

[Tallahassee News Station]

"Of course, I won't tell a soul. Thank you."

“Give me a few days to talk with him first, then give him a call.... let me know if I can do anything else to help you, but I probably can’t do much with you in the way of physical events if that’s something you’d be interested in.”

"Do you think you could swing one event? I could do an endorsement rally for you, and you could do one for me. Honestly though, you've been a great help with everything, you don't have to do anything more."

[Dentali]

“Give me a few days to talk with him first, then give him a call.... let me know if I can do anything else to help you, but I probably can’t do much with you in the way of physical events if that’s something you’d be interested in.”

"Do you think you could swing one event? I could do an endorsement rally for you, and you could do one for me. Honestly though, you've been a great help with everything, you don't have to do anything more."

"No a certain Congressperson has called out another for holding too many events while Congress is in session. And considering I have held more events than both of them so far, I need to lay low for a bit so the same criticism is not leveled at me." Anderson smiles a bit coy