Name your favorite Neopro (new progressive):

We all know that neocons are behind a lot of the deceptions and manipulations because:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism)
-they originated from back-room, good-old-boy deals
-they are out for personal gain
-they are immoral in every sense of the word

I figure a NEOPRO is
-someone who rises on their own like cream to the top
-economic and leadership smart but, still believes that privatizing everything is a bad idea
-serious about improving the lives of people through government

I'm nominating my favorite NEOPRO's from Florida that we need to support, but most people haven't heard about them!
From Florida (yes, I know it is embarrassing to be from Florida):

Alex Sink http://www.fldfs.com/Treasurer/Bio/index.asp
Bill Heller http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4392
Kathy Castor http://castor.house.gov/

Who are your Neopros ?

I would not want to call anyone I support a "neopro"

Progressive works just fine for me, as does Liberal. I'm not ashamed of the word "Liberal." It is a word that is responsible for the progress that has occurred in this nation for the last 40 years or so.

I think they don't get noticed by our party leadership, but represent the best opposition to the neocons.

I really think that there is an undercurrent of economic policies and government change with what I'm calling neopros that is very positive, no matter what you call it. I think it is more specific than simply being progressive.

The intent was not to criticize liberal or progressive per se.

I just said that your term has negative connotations for me. I'm just guessing, but I'd also bet that many people who have paid attention to the crimes and treason of the neocons would not want a term for someone they support that sounds like the flip side of the neocons.

again, it's my opinion/reaction. anytime you want to promote a term or some other sort of labeling, you get feedback from a focus group, if you're in advert-ing to gauge reaction.

My reaction to the term is negative. Totally negative.

What are the economic policies these people tout that you support? How do they relate to the traditional expression of progressive politics in this nation? (By traditional, I mean the history of the progressive movement in the U.S.)

but in Alaska I'm supporting progressive candidate Diane Benson for the House. Diane is an Alaska Native woman (Tlingit), a survivor of Alaska's foster care system, who, as a single mother, was one of the first women tractor-trailer truck drivers on the Alaska Pipeline and Alaska's first female Teamster concrete-mixer driver.

She later went on to college and obtained a bachelor's degree in theatre with a justice minor and attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. She has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and is working on a Master's in public policy. Diane ran Northern Stars Talent Agency in the 1990’s, promoting Alaska’s talent in film and commercials nationally and internationally. She received significant recognition from the Mayor, the State Legislature, and the International Committee for her success and leadership with the 1996 Arctic Winter Games held in Chugiak-Eagle River.

She's long been active in the peace movement here, especially after her son was deployed to Iraq. In 2005 after being stop-lossed he was hit by an IED and lost both his legs. When our "representative" Don Young neglected to visit her son even once at Walter Reed she was motivated to run for his office in 2006. The national and local Democratic party, believing that Don Young was unbeatable, gave her no monetary assistance or any other support, but despite being outspent 19-1 she received over 40% of the vote. At the time the investigations of Don's corruption were not public knowledge, but Diane was in the forefront, pointing out his connections to Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, the Coconut Road earmark, etc.

This cycle she was the first Democrat to declare, but sensing that Don Young was now vulnerable, the DCCC and Rahm Emanuel actively courted a more mainstream candidate to run against her in the primary, former state representative Ethan Berkowitz, and have been funneling a lot of cash into his campaign. Ethan is also supported by his many lawyer friends, who also have deep pockets. Once again, Diane is faced with a David and Goliath battle just to get through the primary.

I know Diane personally having worked with her on both campaigns. She is as honest and ethical as they come. She continues to work tirelessly for the wounded veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts, and is strongly supported by John Solz of VoteVets. She accepts no corporate PAC money and is relying mostly on the small individual contributions she receives from her passionate supporters (of which I am one, obviously).

Our primary is next Tuesday. It's an uphill climb, but Diane's a fighter and we are hopeful.

For more go here http://www.bensonforcongress.com/

Katrina Vanden Heuvel's profile of Diane here http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut/340727

Democrats.com profile here http://www.democrats.com/ak00-diane-benson-takes-on-corrupt-republicans-and-democrats