Progressive Democratic Caucus sponsors 'Good Jobs' tour

It's coming to Houston on July 21st:

With the debate on Capitol Hill having shifted from job creation to deficit reduction, the Congressional Progressive Caucus on Tuesday launched a 12-city summer listening tour aimed at refocusing the economic discussion on the unemployment rate.

"The Republican majority has not offered one bill, one proposal, one concrete idea that would put Americans back to work," Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) told reporters on Capitol Hill. "Instead they only talk about cutting spending in ways that would hurt seniors, children, the middle class and the economy -- so that they can protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires."

"What Republicans don't want to talk about is what Democrats know to be true: jobs equal deficit reduction," she added. "That are fifteen million Americans out there and many of the millions of them who are getting unemployment checks would instead love to be paying taxes and lowering the deficit in America. This would boost our federal revenues, bringing down the deficit."

Over the next two months, House liberals and ProgressiveCongress.org plan to "get the progressive bus on the road" and take this message to Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, New York City, Miami, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Portland, Seattle and Oakland.

"Our biggest challenges are not half-way around the world, they're half-way down the block," said Jim McGovern (D-MA). "We need to do a little bit more nation building in the United States of America."

"So let's get mad, you guys. And let's tell the man that we love in the White House to get off his butt and start supporting some legislation for jobs," added Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). "We want some action, President Obama."

The "Speak Out for Good Jobs Tour" opens June 18 in Minneapolis. Go here for additional dates and locations. Leave it to the progressives to get things moving (as usual).

Offended by the Spanish language

Speaking as a white person, I'm getting really tired of being represented by bigoted white people.



This faux outrage over people speaking Spanish is just dog-whistling to the TeaBaggers. Pretending to be offended by a language you cannot understand is no excuse for racism or xenophobia. Oh, and the BS about "I'm in favor of LEEEGAL immigration"? Yeah, that's bullshit. Just like we thought.

Women, Latinos, African Americans: PLEASE. Run for office. I'm not even going to care which party any more. Just run for any office that has had a white man sitting in it for the past thirty years.

Update: Stace has more.

The Hotter-than-Hell Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance is wishing -- not praying -- for rain as it brings you the week's roundup of the best blog posts from last week.

At McBlogger, Cap'n Kroc discussed the ridiculous plan for Formula 1 racing in Austin and the possibility that it could help us extract better redistricting terms from the Lege. He also points out that that Rick Perry needs to come out of the closet and be himself. It's a blockbuster post that you have to read to believe.

Congressional redistricting moved its way through the Senate and into the House last week, and Off the Kuff took a look at the numbers for the proposed new districts.

Libby Shaw provides the update on Governor Rooster Perry's run for POTUS. Come check out what the national audience has in store for a Perry campaign at TexasKaos.

With all the talk last week about how Sarah Palin misinterpreted Paul Revere's ride, Neil at Texas Liberal offered up a post about the actual event. You need to learn history for yourself. If you let others define your past, they will use that power to screw up your future.

Ryan at TexasVox gives us a double dose of bad news about opposition to the possible tar sands pipeline coming to Texas and the numerous spills they've had already.

Letters From Texas presented the case against Rick Perry for President.

The Republican Party of Texas can't figure out whether to shit or go blind over "sanctuary cities". PDiddie at Brains and Eggs collects the evidence.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme thinks that the 'new' GOP is the same old bad joke if Rick Perry is the best candidate they have to offer.

Sunday Funnies