Why It Matters

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Aug 15, 2008 12:30 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Coral Park Young Democrats, GenDFA Student Leaders, DFA-Link Organizers, Florida Trained Activists, DFA Interns, FIU Campus Corps, Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM)

For those who received Democracy For America's email on Wednesday, with the subject line: "Whose side are they on?," and thought "why does this matter?", take a look at this youtube video of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart at a fundraiser talking about his "dear friends" Democratic congresspeople Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Kendrick Meek:

That's right, the "Democrats" that have not publicly backed DFA-list candidates Joe Garcia or Annette Taddeo.

Why does this matter? I've seen Mario claim that it's his ability to draw bipartisan support, such as these two congressional folks, for his policies of "centrism and realism" that makes him such an effective representative. Mario-Diaz Balart is a right wing thug, who voted against S-CHIP and then lied about it when his office told constituents that he voted for it.

He's the very definition of a Republican Rubber Stamp Congressman. He follows the party line blindly -- right off the cliff.   Mario regularly calls in to Spanish talk radio and spews discredited right-wing talking points bashing and demonizing Democrats. Here's someone who drank up all the Bush/Cheney/McCain kool-aid and asked for seconds.  Mario still believes that terrorism sponsored by Saddam Hussein was the reason we went into Iraq and, no matter the facts on the ground, we must stay the course.

If the activist base, the DFA members, don't put pressure on shameful "Democrats" like Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Kendrick Meek, who will? It's time for Democrats to act like Democrats and grow a backbone. It's time for us to knock out of Congress fools who are beholden to special interests like Mario Diaz-Balart, and to elect people of true good character and integrity, like Joe Garcia and Annette Taddeo. And, it's also time for us to hold Democrats accountable  when they fail to assume their duties or mistakingly align themselves with knuckle-dragging, reactionary Republicans.

I have no hope for either of the Diaz-Balart brothers or Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, but Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kendrick Meek should know better.  They should know who their friends are...and it ain't Mario, Lincoln, and Ileana.

Left-wing birds of a feather,tax and spend together

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Apr 10, 2008 5:50 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM)

"Left-wing birds of a feather, tax and spend together"-Congressman Diaz-Balart

These are the lows that Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, not to be confused with his brother Congressman Lincoln "Iraq made the whole WORLD safer" Diaz-Balart, stoops to when faced with an incredible candidate, who uses a grassroots campaign to change the face of our local community. Joe's responsible plan to get out of Iraq, moderation towards Cuba and his leadership on environmental problems (the 25th Congressional district includes almost all of the Everglades) are issues that Congressman M.Diaz-Balart can't compete with. So he stoops to tried and failed Republican talking points like tax and spend. 

Joe Garcia revitalized a dying local Democratic Party in Miami, he understands the DFA ideals and has involved all three local Miami groups in his campaign. DFAM has seen him come to meetings and speak out loudly about what his solutions for the country are. FIU Campus Corps has canvassed with him and had him come numerous times to events. Joe has been using House parties across all South Florida, he's been canvassing every weekend, he reaches out to those who would normally support him as well as others who typically are not Democratic voters. I've been with him as he knocks on a door of a Cuban American who says he will never vote Democrat due to the Bay of Pigs. 10 minutes with Joe changes the gentleman's mind and that of his wife. It is this dynamism, this ability to clearly articulate the faults in our old, failed policies that are exemplary as to why Joe is a catalyst everywhere he goes for progressive ideals.

So instead of being a Diaz-Balart, Bush rubber stamper we can elect a progressive Democrat who understands the economic crunch Miami families are facing.

The option for us are voting for someone who says we should support John McCain and stay in Iraq, someone who voted against SCHIP so our children couldn't have health care or voting for someone who calls for diplomacy, a careful withdrawal from Iraq and believes strongly that investing in our future is the only way forward. We have a choice between a man who has called local Democrats "sympathizers of Castro" or a man who has promised to help unite a community that is divided by these old style politics.So if you can, help turn Miami blue, help us take back America from corporate Republicans and keep this grassroots powered campaign going. Pass over a cup of joe for the real deal.

http://www.actblue.com/page/supportjoe

Another DFA Victory

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Apr 4, 2008 9:53 AM EDT

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps

Florida International University Campus Corps has done it!

We’ve won the Outstanding Political Club of the Year award on campus. This means that in our first year on campus, we beat out groups with higher name recognition like the College Democrats and College Fascists Republicans. We also beat out groups like Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights [SUPER] and others like United Students Against Sweatshops.

Our hard work through canvassing, phone banking, going to candidate events, volunteering around the community and asking questions of those in positions of power; have been recognized. More importantly, many people who had heard of us, have finally taken note of our group. We have arrived.

It is all down to your hard work, and if we continue this we can hopefully see Campus Corps and DFA endorsed Congressional Candidate Joe Garcia win locally as well as the other two South Florida congressional races. We are catalyzing change and winning the battle, day by day. Let’s keep up the great work and do it again next year!!!

If you're an FIU student and want to join our email list:

http://tinyurl.com/5dunoy

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Another progressive victory.

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Jan 9, 2008 3:18 PM EST

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps

Democracy For America has won yet again thanks to it's message of grassroots involvedment, and the fact that everyone can change the world.

It is that message that was applied to one of DFA's newest Campus Corps groups. Campus Corps groups are university DFA chapters. The Florida International University Campus Corps has been awarded as "The most active political group on campus". Having beaten out both the College Democrats & Republicans, crushing the candidate groups, including the infamous Ron Paul one and just piping United Students Against Sweatshops as well as a Palestinian rights group, Campus Corps looks to this new semester.

While remaining a large prescence on campus, we will continue to talk about issues such as health care and global warming. We will continue our support of local, state and national candidates, across Miami-Dade County as we spread the progressive mesage.

FIU Campus Corps is proud of this achievement. But it's a tiny one compared to what lies ahead, and we're ready to prove not only that youth can turnout, but that we can make a difference in people's every days live and that we will have an impact on the races here in 2008.

And besides, we're gonna ecome the #1 group on campus this semester.

This'll ruffle some feathers

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Dec 26, 2007 2:55 PM EST

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps

So, Happy Boxing Day to one and all!

The progressive movement may be outnumbered and outmanned in the media. But it seems as though slowly and surely, much like the American people, they are realizing that those terrible crazy progressives who are to the left might actually be correct! Well this horrendous notion has caught on at Slate apparently. Why Progressives should forget the middle is fantastic and makes a case too many Americans don't want to hear, but that is vital to have OUR goals met. And it's something we should make clear during our conversations about primaries, unless someone who is willing to fight for the goals becomes elected, we're going to get more of the same old results.

 What progressives should be focused on now is taking on the political movement that brought Bush to power. In short, what we need right now isn't Bush bashing—what we need is partisanship.

More under the fold:

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Rudy's done.

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Nov 28, 2007 6:43 PM EST

While perhaps the best candidate for Democrats to go up against, today marks the end of the Guilliani candidacy. For those of you sleeping under rocks (or coming home from work), the big political news of the day is that Guilliani was charging tax payers for meeting up with his future wife- while being married. Tens of thousands of dollars have been charged in the name of "security" to obscure NYC agencies.

Politico broke the news. Using a Freedom of Information request from New York, we find the Rudy charged tax payers for gas, hotels and other wonderful expenses, all as part of the NYPD security detail.

The first threads were found by auditors, to the tune of about 34,000$ in travel expenses. Their were many other Long Island bills that add up to upwards of 50,000$.

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Inspiration

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Nov 18, 2007 10:59 AM EST

Linked to groups: Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM)

I'm not the sort to write blogs, but I can't help thinking of our movement's progress today. We've made it so far, we can make Senators change votes, we're considered powerful by the media, and the Right's radio medium finally found an adversary worthy of a fight. In 4 short years we've come from a political wilderness to where we are now. And our movement continues to gain traction, we get more "mainstream" and the the rabid Right begins to sound and be exposed for what it is: a desperate, shrill noise machine that can't match up to us on the real issues.

At the age of 14 I found a passion - politics. The first candidate I ever volunteered with was John Kerry, 3 days prior to the general election. I was an Edwards' supporter in the primary. I can honestly say that the only thing I truly thought about Howard Dean was that he was an utter nut, as were his supporters. The media told me so, I saw his scream and frankly, he was so far out on the left that his campaign didn't seem to be able to react to anything. It was as though Dean and his Deaniacs were in a world all their own, where they couldn't really see the playing field.

Then on a humid, hot Miami day Kerry lost. That moron had won again.

I was introduced to Democracy For America-Miami Dade. I found that this group was amazing, they did incredible work and I wanted to be a part of it. At the time DailyKos was

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Debate at FIU!

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Nov 6, 2007 7:30 AM EST

Linked to groups: FIU Campus Corps

Progressives don't get equal air time. They're out numbered 40-1 on the radio talk shows. So whenever we get the chance to fight back, we hit them with the ol' Dean bat and knock one out of the park! 

In just a couple of hours (10 AM EST-11.30 AM EST) Florida Iinternational University Campus Corps (DFA's University Branch) will participate in the first ever radio debate on education. The College Democrats, College Republicans and the school's most visible libertarian on campus will sit down for a four way rumble with myself, the head of FIU Campus Corps.

The surprising thing? The reason FIU Campus Corps was chosen to participate-despite being in it's first semester of existence- is that, we're the most active political organization on campus. So in the center of the main building of FIU, we will discuss education, a topic that the Republicans know how to screw up and try to profit off of, and the Democrats haven't had the backbone to step up and fight back for much too long. Maybe today's election will change somethings.

Tune in on your dials in Miami to 88.1 FM or 95.3. Maybe stream it online at http://wrgp.fiu.edu/ 

And good luck to all the candidates out there this election day who are fighting the good fight! Remember folks, you have the power!

Please allow me to introduce myself

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Jun 7, 2007 9:45 AM EDT

Linked to groups: 2007 Summer Interns

Well, this is a role reversal. Usually people live in the Northeast and move down south to Florida. I’ve graduated from high school  (July 1st) less than a week ago, and so decided that by going to Vermont and interning with Democracy for America, a group I’ve been working for at the local level since I was 14, I’d be making more of a contribution than on my couch.

So from a city with millions of people (Miami) to one with circa fourty five thousand (Burlington), it’s a great culture clash. And going from 98 degrees to 58 in two days is a heck of a meteorological one. Then again, I’m just happy I don’t have to worry about my AP Literature and Composition class anymore!

But I do have to worry about college, where Republicans have lowered Pell Grants the last 3 years. I do have to worry that by the time I’m 50 the privatization of Social Security sponsored by a certain Chimp in the White House may ruin any pension I’ve a chance of collecting. I do worry that climate change will make this an even more unstable world in which to live in, one where my children will effectively not see many of the creatures I studied just two years ago as a Sophomore in my Environmental Science class. 

Heck, in that Literature and Composition class, they taught me something simple but conclusive with a book called 1984, that one or two of you may have heard about- Big Brother is watching you- and if we let King George continue without some checks and balances of his policies and actions, such as signing statements, Big Brother will have won.  

So while happy with the victories in 2006, I’m here to make sure that 2008 is even better, a process that starts now in 2007.

We at DFA can make sure that progressives run and win races from the top of the ticket down to dogcatcher, with the support of local groups and volunteers, such as you and I. My personal goal during the course of this summer is to help this office facilitate the local groups in their endeavors and to gain experience that will help me as an organizer when I head back to Miami. I hope that I can serve you all to the best of my abilities!

-Franco Caliz-Aguilar

Political/Field Intern

Edwards Announces 2008 Candidacy For President

Written by: Franco Caliz-Aguilar on Dec 28, 2006 3:51 PM EST

Linked to groups: Coral Park Young Democrats

In his announcement today, Edwards used the proper term for what Bush and McCain want to do in Iraq:

Edwards explicitly condemned the "surge" plan for Iraq. But he didn't call it the surge. "It is a mistake," he said, "for America to escalate the war in Iraq."  That's the term the blogs have adopted as well, and its prominent placement, used before he mentioned the word "surge," struck me as a possible dog whistle to the left.

As for the announcement itself, I can't get too excited about it. We all knew Edwards was running for president, and as you'll soon see, each of these guys will "announce" like five times.

But it would be quite significant to see a critical mass form around the word "escalate". We've got to call the Bush/McCain plan what it is -- an escalation -- rather than the politically more palatable word ("surge") they'd rather use. And it's good to see Edwards assist in that effort.

Update: Barack Obama is also talking "escalation".

Escalation Is Not The Answer

As the New Year approaches, we are told that the President is considering the deployment of tens of thousands of additional troops to Iraq in the desperate hope of subduing the burgeoning civil war there.

This is a chilling prospect that threatens to compound the tragic mistakes he has already made over the last four years.