Most Valuable Progressives of 2005

It is hard to complain about a year that began with George Bush bragging about spending the "political capital" he felt he had earned with his dubious reelection and ended with the president drowning in the Nixonian depths of public disapproval. But the circumstance didn't just get better. A handful of elected officials, activist groups and courageous citizens bent the arc of history toward justice. Here are this one columnist's picks for the Most Valuable Progressives of 2005:

http://www.alternet.org/story/30176/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/26/125159/40

=Congress needs Coleen Rowley and many more like her. She opposed the invasion if Iraq before Bush's illegal occupation began, here's her letter to then FBI Director Robert Mueller dated Feb. 26, 2003 that explains her reasons why we shouldn't invade Iraq.

Coleen Rowley for Congress

=Russ Tice, who spent nearly 20 years analyzing intelligence for the Air Force, Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency and NSA, will be fired May 16, said the nonprofit, nonpartisan group Project on Government Oversight. In 2001, Tice, who was then working at DIA, reported his suspicions that a co-worker might have been a Chinese spy, POGO said. Two years later, after Tice had transferred to NSA, an FBI investigation into the DIA co-worker prompted Tice to raise his concerns again.

POGO said that led to a series of retaliatory actions against Tice, such as a psychiatric evaluation that led to his security clearance being revoked. Tice was also assigned to unload furniture from trucks at a warehouse, which led to a back injury, and worked in the NSA motor pool for eight months chauffeuring agency officials and checking fluids, vacuuming and cleaning vehicles. This "unusually abusive retaliation" was an attempt to force Tice to resign, POGO said.http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2005/12/23/154253/88
Snoopgate: a Lonesome Whistle Blows
=http://www.ellsberg.net/truthtellingproject/activities.html

For reference, from the links page there:
Project on Government Oversight http://www.pogo.org
Government Accountability Project http://www.whistleblower.org/

National Whistleblower Center http://www.whistleblowers.org/

OpenTheGovernment.org http://www.openthegovernment.org/

National Security Archive http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html

Daniel Ellsberg's Website http://www.ellsberg.net
Project on Government Secrecy

Tice is not alone. FBI and DIA types have been smeared and fired as well.

Feingold probably just narrowly beat out Barbara Boxer. Boxer was strong in the beginning of the year, speaking out against the election and hammering Condi Rice, but Sen. Feingold's leadership on the Patriot Act and being the first Senator to call for a timetable in Iraq finished stronger. We are lucky to have two strong voices in the Senate and now just need a few more Democrats to fight alongside them.

You people certainly helped me keep my sanity during the past year. Much thanks.

I dont think that is a very good list of progressives. I mean without huge movements and dedicated people pressing issues day in and day out not one of those people would have made any sort of list. "Leaders" such as MLK or a Cindy sheehan only have the opportunity because of others dedicating huge amounts of time to their cause.

Besides I have a hard time putting anyone in the US Senate in a progressive box.

You placed the word in quotes. What is a leader, if not someone who leads others forward and inspires them to achieve a goal, or someone who has the charisma or the type of personality that others are inspired to dedicate "huge amounts of time"?

Martin Luther King was a leader. Even after death, he still leads.

As for Feingold, he is definitely a leader. He sure isn't a follower of the status quo, and is not afraid to speak his mind.

was that these people do not create the movements and the opportunities. Theses "leaders" or figureheads what have you...only have the chance to do what they do because of the huge amounts of work other people are doing that we never hear about.

My point being that people like Martin Luther King are the catalyst for those movements to which people dedicate their time and work. If you don't have a leader for a cause, the cause goes nowhere and accomplishes little because no one is directing the energy.

I guess for some people, paying with your life is not enough to 'qualify'.

there was a Martin Luther King Jr.

NOT There was a Martin Luther King Jr therefore there is a civil rights movement.

Maybe that has a lot to do with why we're floundering in America, that there is no one with the charisma, the intelligence, and the physical stamina to lead those with high ideals anymore. The only ones being led are the bushbots because it doesn't take much to lead people who think at that level.

that we all need to be waiting around for someone to lead us to a brighter future. My general feeling is that people need to be more involved and proactive in what their government is doing and stop capitulating. There is not going to be some leader coming to save the day. People need to be working and striving and organizing. It is the only way for meaningful change. Its the way its always been done.

I dont mean to be crass or rude, but i have a hard time accepting the fact that a leader is going to build our better future. Yes, there are people who take leadership roles, but the foundations need to be laid and the work needs to be done. People like King or Sheehan just put a famous face on the voices of many. They too do meaningful work, but to go back to my example, there was a civil rights movement before and after MLK, just like there will be a "progressive" movement before and after Sheehan. People need to lead themselves.

haha i really didnt mean for that to turn into a diatribe. sorry.

Since we don't need leaders.

Remember that a true leader is more than just one person spearheading a movement. That person becomes an icon, symbolic of the movement, and provides motivation, a role model for lack of a better word.

Everyone leading themselves is the reason Repubs make fun of Democrats and say that trying to get them going in the same direction is like herding cats. It's all well and fine to be part of a movement to get things going, but someone has to be the spokesperson or else the message is lost in the crowd.

Gandhi was a great leader, but it seems to me by your logic that what was accomplished under his leadership would have been accomplished without him.

I think you should read about some of the Progressives in the Senate before you speak next time. Boxer, Harkin, Feingold are solid Progressives that hold Democratic values and fight for the average American.

Here is more info on Sen. Feingold...
http://www.progressivepatriotsfund.com
http://www.russforpresident.com

Senator Harry Reid

1. Cindy Sheehan
2. John Conyers
3. Russ Feingold
4. Patrick Fitzgerald
5. Barbara Boxer
6. Mark Felt
7. Paul Hackett
8. Joe Wilson
9. Michael Newdow
10. Ronnie Earle

I don't know about his political affiliations but I'll take a fair, courageous individual with integrity as a patriot anyday.

Feingold is great. A good list of people to remember. Thanks!

Welcome to DU

1....Conyers
2.... Boxer
3.... Waters
4..... Reid
5 ....Murtha
6..... Sheehan
7..... Rhodes
8..... Malloy
9 .....Slaughter
10......Dean

Have a great New Year folks...Chimpeachement in 2006!

Thans to all the folks on this board for helping me feel sane during this national nightmare.

Happy New Year and welcome to DU

and fitz should have been on the list though he is not a progressive in the sense of this article. but thank you feingold, boxer, conyers, fitz, and all the rest who took huge risks for the sake of our republic. they are true patriots and must be remembered 2006.

1. Cong. John Conyers
2. Sen. Russ Feingold
3. Cindy Sheehan
4. Gen.Wes Clark
5. Patrick Fitzgerald
6. Howard Dean
7. Sen. Barbara Boxer
8. Sen. Harry Reid
9. Sen. Robert Byrd
10. Paul Hackett