Ground Zero - LA Progressive

Why Was Obama Missing-in-Action in Wisconsin?

Peter Dreier: Throughout Wisconsin Democrats’ struggle, President Barack Obama has been sitting on the sidelines, failing to use his bully pulpit to encourage the burgeoning movement to protect working families from the corporate- and Tea Party-sponsored attacks.

A Hotel, A Phone Number, and a Song

By Michael Sigman

Michael Sigman: But while New York — and the nation — are obsessed about whether a certain cultural center should go up in lower Manhattan, few noticed that the Penn Plaza plan will bring down the legendary Hotel Pennsylvania.

Obama Takes Out Osama

By John Peeler

John Peeler: Obama may not much like war, but he has shown that if he believes he must wage it, he intends to win it. Liberals who were hostile to the Iraq war, skeptical of the Afghanistan war, and dubious about the Libyan intervention will find little comfort here.

Fighting ‘Divide and Conquer’ in Wisconsin

By Lydia Howell

Lydia Howell: Madison is ground zero for resistance to the dismantling of workers’ rights and cutting anything in government budgets that serves human needs while corporate “persons” get subsidies and tax cuts and are in effect made exempt from law supposedly governing such offenses as pollution and worker safety.

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How to Win in Wisconsin and Beyond

By Shamus Cooke

Shamus Cooke: Democrats all over the country are cooperating with Republicans in launching a massive attack on the wages and benefits of public employees, scapegoating them for the deficits caused by Wall Street’s recession and the corporate sector in general, the real “base” of the Democrats.

The Koran Burning-Islamic Center Brouhaha

By Ivan Eland

Ivan Eland:The intense coverage of the Islamic center at Ground Zero, and a bigoted Christian minister’s threat to burn the Koran, are jolting and saddening.

Gas on the Fire

By Tom Degan

om Degan: When there are no issues to distract the people from what really matters, just conjure up a boogie man that the half-witted masses can rally against. Seventy-five years ago the German people had the Jews. Today we have the Muslims. Isn’t life wonderful?

Progressive Media Bolstering Republican & FOX News Agenda

By Randy Shaw

Randy Shaw: Here’s a thought. What if the progressive media stopped reporting on every silly idea promoted by Sarah Palin and used that time to report on positive actions by the federal government to help people. I get emailed press releases announcing such accomplishments each day, so the stories are out there but are not covered.

For Mosques, ‘Anywhere But There’ Echoes Far Beyond Ground Zero

By Marian Wang -- Pro Publica

Marian Wang: Given the widespread opposition to such projects over the years, is anywhere far enough from ground zero to build a mosque?

Joe the Plumber: A Political Inspiration?

By Steve Hochstadt

Steve Hochstadt: Simple virtues and political cliches won’t solve our problems, which can’t all be blamed on “liberals.” Getting off our butts to cheer our congressman was not what Wurzelbacher wanted. If these conservatives do Take Back Illinois, they won’t know what to do with it.

National Take A Muslim To Lunch Week

By Tom Degan

Tom Degan: How are we going to appear when historians look back on this era? Honestly, our chronic Islamophobia is gonna make us look awfully silly, don’cha think?

There Is No Ground Zero Mosque

By Sharon Kyle

Sharon Kyle: In response to Anthony Samad’s article, “Ramadan: The Best Time To Discuss America’s Growing Anti-Muslim Sentiment”, we posted a quick simple poll to gauge the sentiments of the LA Progressive community on the construction of an Islamic Community Center near Ground Zero.

America “Refudiates” Rights When Used

By Ed Rampell

Ed Rampell: The controversy over building an Islamic community center near Ground Zero shows that in America, you have constitutional rights – until the second you try to use them.

Destroying America to Save It: Reflections on a Mosque

By John Peeler

John Peeler: There is a more fundamental issue: if we allow our response to be governed by intolerance, we deal a hard blow to the version of America that embodies freedom of religion for all. Will we then turn in upon ourselves, resentful and repressive towards the Other, and terrified to live by our own truth?

Shame on You, Harry Reid

By Tanya Acker

Tanya Acker: When I heard about the “split” in the Democratic party between Harry Reid and President Obama regarding the building of the mosque near Ground Zero, and as I listened to Senator Reid voice his objections to the mosque, my first thought was that the Senator should know better.

Living in a ‘Post-Racist’ Society

By Tina Dupuy

Tina Dupuy: Pandering to our darkest fears about “the others” coming to our side of the island to kill us is, also, officially no longer racist.

A Modest Proposal: “Give Arizona Back to Mexico”

By John Delloro

John Delloro: Giving back Arizona may potentially jumpstart our economy and stimulate our national imagination towards creating a greater common vision. If returning Arizona to Mexico doesn’t work, we can always revisit and adapt Jonathan Swift’s “Modest Proposal” and sell and consume undocumented immigrants as food in the ultimate and most seamless form of assimilation into the body politic of the US.