America's Mayor...Rocky Anderson

[Hamlette]

we in Utah don't get to toot our horn very often, but he's a national column (by a former Utahan) doing it for us.

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_4317195

President Bush is commemorating the fifth anniversary of 9/11 by reminding us of all we have to fear. In his speech before the Military Officers Association of America, Bush spent about as much time quoting Osama bin Laden and other dangerous foes as speaking in his own words. The specter of enemies everywhere will help the Republicans in the midterm elections. It is truly the party for the scared.
On the other hand, the Democrats seem to be the party of the scared. Democrats in Congress, with a few notable exceptions, keep leaning right or hunkering down in the noncommittal middle so as not to be seen as helping the terrorists, or cutting and running, or channeling Neville Chamberlain, or appearing to be whatever absurd appellation the Republican slime machine has thought up. This defensive posture and their continued focus on Bush's agenda for the country rather than their own is not doing the Democrats any favors. The prospects for Democrats may be rising, but that is because Americans are running from Bush, not toward them.
With political courage in such short supply, my suggestion is that Democrats take a gander at what Rocky Anderson, the mayor of Salt Lake City, has been doing for the past six years. Here, in the reddest of red states, is a leader who acts out of conviction and who speaks powerfully for progressive causes, regardless of the political consequences.
I know Anderson and consider him a friend, but I would be writing this even if I didn't know him. Anderson, a 55-year-old former civil rights lawyer, has made national waves with his forthright condemnation of the Bush administration and his energetic approach to thinking globally and acting locally. What Anderson has brought to the Wasatch front is a form of bold and hopeful leadership that seems to takes its cue more from the ''West Wing's'' Jed Bartlet than from real-life Harry Reid.

[halobeam]

1. I saw a recent video of a speech he made recently.

He was informed, articulate and yes, very progressive. I'd love to hear more from him.

[shifting_sands]

2. UTAH

I guess Dems don't get to toot their horn in Utah very much, that's true. But Rocky Anderson is someone who would make a person "toot, yell, jump up and down and scream." He is fantastic. I appreciate the fact that he wants to do something beside politics but I hope he doesn't stop being outspoken, I would very much like to see him on a national stage. I was proud to say he was from the West and I'm not even from Utah, I was just proud that I was in the same region. Utah and specifically Salt Lake was fortunate to have him

[helderheid]

4. welcome to DU! "Blind faith in bad leaders is not patriotism" GEAR

http://www.cafepress.com/blindobedience

[helderheid]

3. Hey Neighbor!

:hi:

:loveya: Mayor Anderson!!

[helderheid]

5. boot!