"Cindy Sheehan camps outside of Bush's ranch and tells her story over and over to the TV cameras and on every radio talk show she can get her lips on. After her son, Casey was killed last year in Iraq, she met with the president at Fort Lewis, then became an antiwar activist. She says she'd going to stay out infront of the ranch until Bush speaks with her again. She'll be waiting a long time, we'll wager.
It's a demonstration that's doing what it's supposed to do: grabbing media attention away from the missing girls and murdered cases that dominate the summer "news" season. You can always tell when Republicans are feeling threatened by how hard they thrash their critics. John Carlson (KVI m-f, 3-6p) called Sheehan a liar, so did Sean Hannity (the hypocrite). Bill O'Reilly put her in bed with Michael Moore and said she'd become radicalized by the hard left. Michelle Malkin on the Hannity show clucked-clucked in that funny little way she has and cut off Sheehan's balls (or the female equivalent thereof) with that cute little tongue she keeps razor sharp by steeling it on those sensational lips. Sheehan's being accused of lying, stealing, being duped, being stupid, duping other people, hating America, promoting herself, exploiting her dead son. Haven't heard "fornicating" yet but give 'em time. "A little bit nutty and a little bit slutty?" it's coming.
She's one of the shock troops--one of the first wave in the undoing of the Gordian knot of deception around this war. The murder of her character by the right-wing is some of the first blood drawn from the military and their families starting to ask the questions, make the demands. That's when Vietnam support really began to crumble--when the military and their families started questioning, protesting, and defacing the war.
Defacing? Today a full-time Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel was caught allegedly vandalizing cars parked at Denver International Airport bearing pro-Bush bumper stickers. He spray painted "Fuck Bush," and defaced the bumper stickers. A lieutenant colonel.
Something's happening."-from the post late Thursday night on blatherWatch.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Thursday, August 11, 2005
This is George Bush’s Accountability Moment
"This is George Bush’s accountability moment. That’s why I’m here. The mainstream media aren’t holding him accountable. Neither is Congress. So I’m not leaving Crawford until he’s held accountable. It’s ironic, given the attacks leveled at me recently, how some in the media are so quick to scrutinize -- and distort -- the words and actions of a grieving mother but not the words and actions of the president of the United States.
But now it’s time for him to level with me and with the American people. I think that’s why there’s been such an outpouring of support. This is giving the 61 percent of Americans who feel that the war is wrong something to do -- something that allows their voices to be heard. It’s a way for them to stand up and show that they DO want our troops home, and that they know this war IS a mistake… a mistake they want to see corrected. It’s too late to bring back the people who are already dead, but there are tens of thousands of people still in harm’s way.
There is too much at stake to worry about our own egos. When my son was killed, I had to face the fact that I was somehow also responsible for what happened. Every American that allows this to continue has, to some extent, blood on their hands. Some of us have a little bit, and some of us are soaked in it.
People have asked what it is I want to say to President Bush. Well, my message is a simple one. He’s said that my son -- and the other children we’ve lost -- died for a noble cause. I want to find out what that noble cause is. And I want to ask him: “If it’s such a noble cause, have you asked your daughters to enlist? Have you encouraged them to go take the place of soldiers who are on their third tour of duty?” I also want him to stop using my son’s name to justify the war. The idea that we have to “complete the mission” in Iraq to honor Casey’s sacrifice is, to me, a sacrilege to my son’s name. Besides, does the president any longer even know what “the mission” really is over there?
Casey knew that the war was wrong from the beginning. But he felt it was his duty to go, that his buddies were going, and that he had no choice. The people who send our young, honorable, brave soldiers to die in this war, have no skin in the game. They don’t have any loved ones in harm’s way. As for people like O’Reilly and Hannity and Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh and all the others who are attacking me and parroting the administration line that we must complete the mission there -- they don’t have one thing at stake. They don’t suffer through sleepless nights worrying about their loved ones
Before this all started, I used to think that one person couldn’t make a difference... but now I see that one person who has the backing and support of millions of people can make a huge difference.
That’s why I’m going to be out here until one of three things happens: It’s August 31st and the president’s vacation ends and he leaves Crawford. They take me away in a squad car. Or he finally agrees to speak with me.
If he does, he’d better be prepared for me to hold his feet to the fire. If he starts talking about freedom and democracy -- or about how the war in Iraq is protecting America -- I’m not going to let him get away with it.
Like I said, this is George Bush’s accountability moment."-Cindy Sheehan on The Huffington Post.
But now it’s time for him to level with me and with the American people. I think that’s why there’s been such an outpouring of support. This is giving the 61 percent of Americans who feel that the war is wrong something to do -- something that allows their voices to be heard. It’s a way for them to stand up and show that they DO want our troops home, and that they know this war IS a mistake… a mistake they want to see corrected. It’s too late to bring back the people who are already dead, but there are tens of thousands of people still in harm’s way.
There is too much at stake to worry about our own egos. When my son was killed, I had to face the fact that I was somehow also responsible for what happened. Every American that allows this to continue has, to some extent, blood on their hands. Some of us have a little bit, and some of us are soaked in it.
People have asked what it is I want to say to President Bush. Well, my message is a simple one. He’s said that my son -- and the other children we’ve lost -- died for a noble cause. I want to find out what that noble cause is. And I want to ask him: “If it’s such a noble cause, have you asked your daughters to enlist? Have you encouraged them to go take the place of soldiers who are on their third tour of duty?” I also want him to stop using my son’s name to justify the war. The idea that we have to “complete the mission” in Iraq to honor Casey’s sacrifice is, to me, a sacrilege to my son’s name. Besides, does the president any longer even know what “the mission” really is over there?
Casey knew that the war was wrong from the beginning. But he felt it was his duty to go, that his buddies were going, and that he had no choice. The people who send our young, honorable, brave soldiers to die in this war, have no skin in the game. They don’t have any loved ones in harm’s way. As for people like O’Reilly and Hannity and Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh and all the others who are attacking me and parroting the administration line that we must complete the mission there -- they don’t have one thing at stake. They don’t suffer through sleepless nights worrying about their loved ones
Before this all started, I used to think that one person couldn’t make a difference... but now I see that one person who has the backing and support of millions of people can make a huge difference.
That’s why I’m going to be out here until one of three things happens: It’s August 31st and the president’s vacation ends and he leaves Crawford. They take me away in a squad car. Or he finally agrees to speak with me.
If he does, he’d better be prepared for me to hold his feet to the fire. If he starts talking about freedom and democracy -- or about how the war in Iraq is protecting America -- I’m not going to let him get away with it.
Like I said, this is George Bush’s accountability moment."-Cindy Sheehan on The Huffington Post.
Poll Shows Cantwell Leading McGavick
"A Strategic Vision (R) poll shows Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) leading Mike McGavick (R) 46% to 38% in the 2006 Senate race."-from Political Wire.
Sirota, Zogby & DCCC Debate Iraq on NPR
"I debated America's Iraq policy on National Public Radio today with the spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Also appearing in the roundtable was pollster John Zogby; Dante Zappalla, the brother of a National Guardsmen killed in Iraq; and Andrew McCarthy, an archconservative from the so-called Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (a group set up to advocate for war in Iraq). Listen to the debate here (it really gets going at around 24 minutes in).
I found a few things interesting. First, as noted on this website with regard to the DCCC's attitude toward the Paul Hackett race, the Democratic Party as an institution really seems afraid to address the Iraq War at all, which is not only sad, but, as Zogby notes, is politically stupid. Second, the right-wingers who pushed deliberate lies that justified this war in the first place are resorting to claiming that Iraq is an extension of the War on Terror, coming once again very close to claiming that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and al Qaeda - claims that have been repeatedly debunked.
Both positions are really troubling. On one side, you have the Democratic Party still afraid of its own shadow on Iraq, and ignoring the courageous Democrats in Congress who are demanding answers about Iraq. On the other side you have conservatives so desperate to hide their lies and their disastrous Iraq policy, they are resorting to already-debunked lies. The result is that the majority of Americans who believe the Iraq War made this country less safe and want an exit strategy are being ignored by an ever-more insulated and out-of-touch political Establishment that purports to speak in our country's name."-from Sirotablog,
with audio from NPR.
I found a few things interesting. First, as noted on this website with regard to the DCCC's attitude toward the Paul Hackett race, the Democratic Party as an institution really seems afraid to address the Iraq War at all, which is not only sad, but, as Zogby notes, is politically stupid. Second, the right-wingers who pushed deliberate lies that justified this war in the first place are resorting to claiming that Iraq is an extension of the War on Terror, coming once again very close to claiming that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and al Qaeda - claims that have been repeatedly debunked.
Both positions are really troubling. On one side, you have the Democratic Party still afraid of its own shadow on Iraq, and ignoring the courageous Democrats in Congress who are demanding answers about Iraq. On the other side you have conservatives so desperate to hide their lies and their disastrous Iraq policy, they are resorting to already-debunked lies. The result is that the majority of Americans who believe the Iraq War made this country less safe and want an exit strategy are being ignored by an ever-more insulated and out-of-touch political Establishment that purports to speak in our country's name."-from Sirotablog,
with audio from NPR.
MSNBC: Olbermann allows Cindy Sheehan to rebut right-wing spin
Cindy appeared with Keith tonight.- video via Crooks and Liars.
UPDATES ON CINDY SHEEHAN VISIT TO CRAWFORD
Photos and reports for Thursday, August 11 from the Lone Star Iconoclast.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"How come you're so wrong, my sweet neo-con?"
"You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite," the verse goes. "You call yourself a patriot. Well, I think you are full of [expletive]!"-from the song by the Rolling Stones on their new album, ""A Bigger Bang". The Seattle Times passes along the story.
"You call yourself a Christian, I call you a hypocrite," the verse goes. "You call yourself a patriot. Well, I think you are full of [expletive]!"-from the song by the Rolling Stones on their new album, ""A Bigger Bang". The Seattle Times passes along the story.
The Peaceful Occupation of Crawford Day 5
"Today started at 4am when the rain started blowing into my tent and my head and my feet started getting soaked and the thunder and lightening came over my tent. I was really frightened for my life, so I abandoned ship and went into Crawford.
By the time we made our way through the floods and got into Crawford, I had a fever, sore throat, and bad headache. So I was made to rest and not have any interviews until noon.
We had a little bit of trouble with locals today. We are beginning to feel a little unwelcome here. One lady almost ran over a film crew that was filming a commercial today. She screamed at us that the neighbors are really mad at ...so we moved down the road to our closest neighbor who is very sweet. Her husband is a medic who just got home from Iraq.
Again, I did tons of interviews. It looks like I will be on the cover of People Magazine. Time Magazine, Vanity Fair and Oprah's magazine will be interviewing me also.
It was great having the other GSFP and MFSO there to help me with interviews and greeting all of the hundreds of people who came out from all over the country to be with us today. We were hassled by the Sheriff because there were too many cars out there. Our little Bush Town has grown to full capacity. The town Sheriff said we can put up tents and RV's in the town stadium. There are wall to wall sleeping bags here at the Peace House.
Due to the generosity of you all, the Crawford Peace House has gotten over 30,000 dollars and GSFP has gotten a lot of donations too. I got about 2 and a half dozen bouquets of flowers from all over everywhere. I am so amazed and overwhelmed by the support and love we are getting from everywhere.
As for Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Matt Drudge, etc...nothing you can say can hurt me or make me stop what we are doing. We are working for peace with justice. We are using peaceful means and the truth to do it. I guess the truth frightens people. It frightens them so much, they have to resort to telling lies to rebut my arguments. They are despicable human beings and not even worth our concern. Bill O'Reilly had the nerve to invite me on his show again today. But, Dolores Kesterson, another Gold Star Families for Peace member who also had a terrible experience with meeting George and she kicked his butt.
Tonight we are still on arrest alert...so we shall see.
Peace soon."-Cindy Sheehan posting on Kos, cross-posted at AfterDowningStreet.org. AfterDowningStreet.org also has several versions of video of Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey.
Alternet's Lakshmi Chaudhry did an interview with Cindy on Wednesday.
By the time we made our way through the floods and got into Crawford, I had a fever, sore throat, and bad headache. So I was made to rest and not have any interviews until noon.
We had a little bit of trouble with locals today. We are beginning to feel a little unwelcome here. One lady almost ran over a film crew that was filming a commercial today. She screamed at us that the neighbors are really mad at ...so we moved down the road to our closest neighbor who is very sweet. Her husband is a medic who just got home from Iraq.
Again, I did tons of interviews. It looks like I will be on the cover of People Magazine. Time Magazine, Vanity Fair and Oprah's magazine will be interviewing me also.
It was great having the other GSFP and MFSO there to help me with interviews and greeting all of the hundreds of people who came out from all over the country to be with us today. We were hassled by the Sheriff because there were too many cars out there. Our little Bush Town has grown to full capacity. The town Sheriff said we can put up tents and RV's in the town stadium. There are wall to wall sleeping bags here at the Peace House.
Due to the generosity of you all, the Crawford Peace House has gotten over 30,000 dollars and GSFP has gotten a lot of donations too. I got about 2 and a half dozen bouquets of flowers from all over everywhere. I am so amazed and overwhelmed by the support and love we are getting from everywhere.
As for Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Matt Drudge, etc...nothing you can say can hurt me or make me stop what we are doing. We are working for peace with justice. We are using peaceful means and the truth to do it. I guess the truth frightens people. It frightens them so much, they have to resort to telling lies to rebut my arguments. They are despicable human beings and not even worth our concern. Bill O'Reilly had the nerve to invite me on his show again today. But, Dolores Kesterson, another Gold Star Families for Peace member who also had a terrible experience with meeting George and she kicked his butt.
Tonight we are still on arrest alert...so we shall see.
Peace soon."-Cindy Sheehan posting on Kos, cross-posted at AfterDowningStreet.org. AfterDowningStreet.org also has several versions of video of Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey.
Alternet's Lakshmi Chaudhry did an interview with Cindy on Wednesday.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Howard Dean speaks at Democratic fundraiser
"CONCORD, N.H. Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean was back in New Hampshire today raising money for the state Democratic party.
Dean talked about campaign finance reform, saying the Democrats can change political fundraising practices in their own party.
Dean says contributions from working men and women are needed to buy back the government from the corporations that paid George Bush to run.
But Dean says Democrats must do more than spout off about their opponents. He says Democrats must stand for a balanced budget, health care reform and election reform. He says the country needs a broader defense policy that reduces the country's reliance on foreign oil and ensures soldiers get the equipment they need to protect themselves.
He says it will be up to Democrats to show they can do the job of running the country."-from the AP story Wednesday night.
Dean talked about campaign finance reform, saying the Democrats can change political fundraising practices in their own party.
Dean says contributions from working men and women are needed to buy back the government from the corporations that paid George Bush to run.
But Dean says Democrats must do more than spout off about their opponents. He says Democrats must stand for a balanced budget, health care reform and election reform. He says the country needs a broader defense policy that reduces the country's reliance on foreign oil and ensures soldiers get the equipment they need to protect themselves.
He says it will be up to Democrats to show they can do the job of running the country."-from the AP story Wednesday night.
Iconoclast To Be Posting Cindy Sheehan Updates
"CRAWFORD — The Lone Star Iconoclast, by popular demand, has begun filing frequent updates on its website, regarding the vigil taking place near Crawford. The banner leading to the updates is called “Cindy Watch.”
Cindy Sheehan on Saturday made a journey to Crawford to discuss face-to-face with President George W. Bush the death of her son in Iraq last year.
The Iconoclast was there when marchers made a trek toward the Bush ranch and the newspaper reported on its website a play-by-play of what happened.
Normally, The Iconoclast updates its website weekly, to correspond with the weekly publication of its print edition.
“We felt that in this case it was warranted to provide more frequent updates,” said publisher W. Leon Smith."-from The Iconoclast in Crawford, Texas.
Update: AfterDowningStreet.org is posting numerous links to Cindy Sheehan's Crawford protest. Ed Schultz on AM1090 in Seattle, the Air America affiliate, is featuring Cindy's work and is promising an on-air interview soon.
Cindy Sheehan on Saturday made a journey to Crawford to discuss face-to-face with President George W. Bush the death of her son in Iraq last year.
The Iconoclast was there when marchers made a trek toward the Bush ranch and the newspaper reported on its website a play-by-play of what happened.
Normally, The Iconoclast updates its website weekly, to correspond with the weekly publication of its print edition.
“We felt that in this case it was warranted to provide more frequent updates,” said publisher W. Leon Smith."-from The Iconoclast in Crawford, Texas.
Update: AfterDowningStreet.org is posting numerous links to Cindy Sheehan's Crawford protest. Ed Schultz on AM1090 in Seattle, the Air America affiliate, is featuring Cindy's work and is promising an on-air interview soon.
"Liberal Activists Pressure DCCC"
"Are you a 50-state "attack 'em where they live" strategist? Or should we carefully choose a few GOP strongholds while reserving money for close contests around the country?
Whatever your strategy, we need to pick up 15 seats. And we can't afford to lose a single seat in 2006. ( POLL BELOW.)
"Liberal activists want Democrats to storm congressional races, even on GOP's turf," writes Ron Brownstein in today's LAT (sub. free)."-from Susan Hu's post on Booman Tribune, which covers both sides of this issue.
Whatever your strategy, we need to pick up 15 seats. And we can't afford to lose a single seat in 2006. ( POLL BELOW.)
"Liberal activists want Democrats to storm congressional races, even on GOP's turf," writes Ron Brownstein in today's LAT (sub. free)."-from Susan Hu's post on Booman Tribune, which covers both sides of this issue.
"Sowing change from a Texas ditch"
"The President's gaze is averted, but the eyes of at least some of Seattle, Texas and the nation are upon her.
Cindy Sheehan sits on her lawn chair three miles from Crawford, determined to swelter in the Lone Star sun until vacationing President Bush comes out to talk to her.
She wants to ask him to stop saying we must stick with the war in Iraq in honor of soldiers like her son, Casey, who died there. She wants him to bring the troops home.
In Seattle, P-I readers, peace activists and callers to KUOW's "Weekday" program have been saying lately that another Walter Cronkite moment is what's needed to tip an already tilting nation toward demanding an immediate withdrawal.
Someone of fame and stature. Someone formerly neutral or even supportive of the invasion must speak out the way the father figure anchorman did in a watershed way during Vietnam.
But, instead of someone famous, is it crazy to think that, this time, the grieving nobody mom of a young soldier killed in Iraq a little more than a year ago could be the catalyst?"-Susan Paynter, writing in today's P-I.
Cindy Sheehan sits on her lawn chair three miles from Crawford, determined to swelter in the Lone Star sun until vacationing President Bush comes out to talk to her.
She wants to ask him to stop saying we must stick with the war in Iraq in honor of soldiers like her son, Casey, who died there. She wants him to bring the troops home.
In Seattle, P-I readers, peace activists and callers to KUOW's "Weekday" program have been saying lately that another Walter Cronkite moment is what's needed to tip an already tilting nation toward demanding an immediate withdrawal.
Someone of fame and stature. Someone formerly neutral or even supportive of the invasion must speak out the way the father figure anchorman did in a watershed way during Vietnam.
But, instead of someone famous, is it crazy to think that, this time, the grieving nobody mom of a young soldier killed in Iraq a little more than a year ago could be the catalyst?"-Susan Paynter, writing in today's P-I.
Cindy Sheehan's diary: Day Four
"Today started at 4am when I had to get up and get ready to be on Good Morning America. It was pouring down rain at Camp Casey. The wind was blowing and there was thunder and lightening. It was pretty exciting. The interview went very well. I haven't seen it or read a transcript. Since it was taped, I am just wondering if they showed it when I said Bush doesn't want to see me because he likes to surround himself with "sycophants." I also interviewed with Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Greta Van Susteran, and many others, and closed out the day with my pal, Mike Malloy.
The "first meeting" controversy died down a little today when my town's newspaper printed an op-ed that contradicted Matt Drudge's cherry-picked account of my first meeting with George.
But since they don't have that controversy, they apparently have been lying about other things. Bill O'Reilly said that I am doing this because I have been bought out by, "The Arab Anti-Discrimination League." He was telling his viewers that I am a tool for the liberals and that I am a tool for the anti-war movement. Right now, what we are doing right here in Crawford is the anti-war movement. We have such a strong coalition of groups. GSFP, Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and the Crawford Peace House.
I talked with John Conyers today and he wrote a letter to George signed by about 18 other Congress members to request that he meet with me. I also talked to Maxine Waters tonight and she is probably going to be here tomorrow. I am so overwhelmed by the support.
I did non-stop interviews today. 100 people came through today to visit with us. About 25 people are staying the night. More food, water, flowers, and money came through today. One father brought his 2 and 4 year old sons out to meet me and thank me for trying to save his boys from the same fate Casey suffered.
Celeste and Dante Zappala from Philadelphia and Bill Mitchell from Atascadero, Ca., all members of GSFP, came out today to support me and help me do interviews and greet all of the people who are arriving.
There is a huge action tomorrow in Aurora, Il. George Bush is leaving the ranch tomorrow to go to Aurora, Il to sign a part of the energy bill at the Caterpillar factory. True Majority has raised money to dog George Bush when he leaves the ranch. Every time he leaves, there will be a GSFP member, MFSO members, VFP members, and Code Pink members who will protest him and say "Meet with Cindy." We will not let him have a 5 week nice vacation when there are millions of people in harm's way in Iraq due to his careless policies. The people of Iraq and our soldiers are suffering. Why should George have a nice vacation?
Thank you for all your support and interest.
We are making a difference.
Keep up the good work."-from Cindy Sheehan's post on AfterDowningStreet.org.
Amy Branham has been with Cindy all week and posted this on Antiwar.com, here on The Smirking Chimp with comments.
The "first meeting" controversy died down a little today when my town's newspaper printed an op-ed that contradicted Matt Drudge's cherry-picked account of my first meeting with George.
But since they don't have that controversy, they apparently have been lying about other things. Bill O'Reilly said that I am doing this because I have been bought out by, "The Arab Anti-Discrimination League." He was telling his viewers that I am a tool for the liberals and that I am a tool for the anti-war movement. Right now, what we are doing right here in Crawford is the anti-war movement. We have such a strong coalition of groups. GSFP, Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and the Crawford Peace House.
I talked with John Conyers today and he wrote a letter to George signed by about 18 other Congress members to request that he meet with me. I also talked to Maxine Waters tonight and she is probably going to be here tomorrow. I am so overwhelmed by the support.
I did non-stop interviews today. 100 people came through today to visit with us. About 25 people are staying the night. More food, water, flowers, and money came through today. One father brought his 2 and 4 year old sons out to meet me and thank me for trying to save his boys from the same fate Casey suffered.
Celeste and Dante Zappala from Philadelphia and Bill Mitchell from Atascadero, Ca., all members of GSFP, came out today to support me and help me do interviews and greet all of the people who are arriving.
There is a huge action tomorrow in Aurora, Il. George Bush is leaving the ranch tomorrow to go to Aurora, Il to sign a part of the energy bill at the Caterpillar factory. True Majority has raised money to dog George Bush when he leaves the ranch. Every time he leaves, there will be a GSFP member, MFSO members, VFP members, and Code Pink members who will protest him and say "Meet with Cindy." We will not let him have a 5 week nice vacation when there are millions of people in harm's way in Iraq due to his careless policies. The people of Iraq and our soldiers are suffering. Why should George have a nice vacation?
Thank you for all your support and interest.
We are making a difference.
Keep up the good work."-from Cindy Sheehan's post on AfterDowningStreet.org.
Amy Branham has been with Cindy all week and posted this on Antiwar.com, here on The Smirking Chimp with comments.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Federal Building Event to Support Cindy Sheehan
"This message is to announce an action of support for Cindy Sheehan at the Federal Building in Seattle, from 5 to 7 PM, tomorrow, Wedneday, August 10th. We will gather to show solidarity with Cindy and support for all those persons and organizations inside/outside that are calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq. Please join us and spread the word."-from Judith Shattuck, Progressive Democrats of America organizer, Washington.
Dean predicts "little surgery" for primary calendar
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Democratic National Party Chairman Howard Dean is predicting Democrats may perform "a little surgery" to the 2008 presidential primary calendar, but not make major changes.
"There will be a little surgery, not major surgery," said Dean, a doctor and presidential hopeful in 2004.
For decades, the Iowa caucuses have been the first nominating contest, followed closely by New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. Defenders of their special status argue that candidates must meet their party's supporters and other voters face-to-face for the most personal politicking of the campaign.
Dean told the Concord Monitor on Monday that he was reluctant to share his opinions because the commission is still debating what to do.
"At this point, my position is pretty delicate," Dean said. "If I come out in the newspaper (with my opinion), it may not end up helping New Hampshire's position."
In the past, Dean has been supportive of New Hampshire's leadoff role. He told the Monitor he has not changed his position.
Dean said New Hampshire should be encouraged by Democrats carrying the state in recent presidential elections.
"We have a state that, while it's libertarian, I think is dismayed by the conduct of the president in terms of ethics, his willingness to invade people's personal life, and that doesn't go well in New Hampshire," said Dean. "I think we're going to do particularly well in New Hampshire. But it can be played out across the country." He said Democratic Gov. John Lynch's election last year is an example of how Democrats can win elections.
He said Democrats should seek an advantage over Republicans by pitching themselves as more responsible managers of public money and by seeking to redefine debates over moral values. Democrats should seek to expand the discussion beyond hot-button issues like gay marriage and abortion to poverty and access to health care instead.
"Moral values are about our responsibility to each other," he said. "Republicans are very good with language and propaganda. We've not done very well with that and we have to get better...We need to broaden the debate on moral values. If we do that, the Democrats will win."-from the AP story today.
Update: "16 Democrats call on Bush to meet mother of fallen soldier," from RAW STORY.
"There will be a little surgery, not major surgery," said Dean, a doctor and presidential hopeful in 2004.
For decades, the Iowa caucuses have been the first nominating contest, followed closely by New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. Defenders of their special status argue that candidates must meet their party's supporters and other voters face-to-face for the most personal politicking of the campaign.
Dean told the Concord Monitor on Monday that he was reluctant to share his opinions because the commission is still debating what to do.
"At this point, my position is pretty delicate," Dean said. "If I come out in the newspaper (with my opinion), it may not end up helping New Hampshire's position."
In the past, Dean has been supportive of New Hampshire's leadoff role. He told the Monitor he has not changed his position.
Dean said New Hampshire should be encouraged by Democrats carrying the state in recent presidential elections.
"We have a state that, while it's libertarian, I think is dismayed by the conduct of the president in terms of ethics, his willingness to invade people's personal life, and that doesn't go well in New Hampshire," said Dean. "I think we're going to do particularly well in New Hampshire. But it can be played out across the country." He said Democratic Gov. John Lynch's election last year is an example of how Democrats can win elections.
He said Democrats should seek an advantage over Republicans by pitching themselves as more responsible managers of public money and by seeking to redefine debates over moral values. Democrats should seek to expand the discussion beyond hot-button issues like gay marriage and abortion to poverty and access to health care instead.
"Moral values are about our responsibility to each other," he said. "Republicans are very good with language and propaganda. We've not done very well with that and we have to get better...We need to broaden the debate on moral values. If we do that, the Democrats will win."-from the AP story today.
Update: "16 Democrats call on Bush to meet mother of fallen soldier," from RAW STORY.
NEO-SULTANIC VERSES
"No entourage, no
eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
dialysis machines.
No Contractor of Death.
No 'Sama.
No family members, no kith nor kin,
our business pals jetted
before the smoke cleared
no questions asked.
Bye bye, bin Ladens, bye bye.
Undisclosed principals wander among us,
as undisclosed principals do,
with undisclosed plans and video tapes.
Lots of video tapes, and no return address.
No investigation required.
Let's round up the usual suspects,
a thousand or so will do.
Just men of middle eastern ancestry, and
-to boot- a lawyer or two.
We'll feast on seconds
of proven oil reserves and
hunt elusive weapons we gave
the twisted patsy. Kept
til he caught on. Regifter!
Close enough for government work.
We called our exodus from Mecca
once the wells had been secured.
We'll pull out, we really will,
when oil flows to port.
Democracy, privatized, ten cents
on the dollar.
(Damn that Kuwaiti coastline looks good).
And still no 'Sama.
So let the other shoe drop
and darkness fall over
the royal tent. Your bloodbath
washes our hands and backs
our Futures. Modest masters
and pious killers, we thank providence.
Who needs Osama?"
My friend Joe Lynch, who wrote this in July, 2003, died last month. Joe was a friend and supporter who first suggested I begin to send email updates of the posts on this site. Joe was a soul brother in many other ways.
eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one
dialysis machines.
No Contractor of Death.
No 'Sama.
No family members, no kith nor kin,
our business pals jetted
before the smoke cleared
no questions asked.
Bye bye, bin Ladens, bye bye.
Undisclosed principals wander among us,
as undisclosed principals do,
with undisclosed plans and video tapes.
Lots of video tapes, and no return address.
No investigation required.
Let's round up the usual suspects,
a thousand or so will do.
Just men of middle eastern ancestry, and
-to boot- a lawyer or two.
We'll feast on seconds
of proven oil reserves and
hunt elusive weapons we gave
the twisted patsy. Kept
til he caught on. Regifter!
Close enough for government work.
We called our exodus from Mecca
once the wells had been secured.
We'll pull out, we really will,
when oil flows to port.
Democracy, privatized, ten cents
on the dollar.
(Damn that Kuwaiti coastline looks good).
And still no 'Sama.
So let the other shoe drop
and darkness fall over
the royal tent. Your bloodbath
washes our hands and backs
our Futures. Modest masters
and pious killers, we thank providence.
Who needs Osama?"
My friend Joe Lynch, who wrote this in July, 2003, died last month. Joe was a friend and supporter who first suggested I begin to send email updates of the posts on this site. Joe was a soul brother in many other ways.
"Cindy Sheehan interview with Tony Trupiano"
"Cindy was on with Tony today and answered Matt Drudge's smear campaign as well as many other questions dealing with her Crawford trip.
It's an 11 minute interview---there is some slight noise interference, but not that often."-audio via Crooks and Liars. You can get the latest word on her website, MeetwithCindy.org including details on the "Rally in DC on August 10" sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America, Code Pink and others.
It's an 11 minute interview---there is some slight noise interference, but not that often."-audio via Crooks and Liars. You can get the latest word on her website, MeetwithCindy.org including details on the "Rally in DC on August 10" sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America, Code Pink and others.
"Strength/weakness on security – missing the big picture"
"One recurring theme when discussing Democrats’ inability to win the big races and seal the deal with the public is the continued perception of our weakness on military issues. No matter how many times or how many ways we approach it, we’re considered weaker than the Republicans when it comes to national defense. When this problem comes up, the answers are always the same:
Wes Clark will save us! - (full diary here)
We’ll win if we run a real veteran!
Look, another veteran on our side!
We support the troops, not the war!
Democrats just have to stand up and oppose the Iraq war forcefully!
We just need to offer our plan to get out of Iraq!
The GOP, like it or not, agree with it or not, has a plan and a strategy: Spend on defense, prevent anyone else from developing weapons, and scare the hell out of anyone who’s already got them. If someone gets uppity, pound on them fast and hard and apologize later.
Our strategy is, as with most issues, scattershot. If there is an overriding theme, it is “find warriors of yesterday to justify our current opinion of the current military action”. But no one, not on Kos, not in the media, not in the DNC, not in the DLC, can offer a singular, compelling and encompassing plan to ensure the national defense. Hell, with 64% of the country now admitting to doubts about Iraq, we can’t even offer a single plan on this. As long as we’re fighting among ourselves whether to: A: pull out now B: pull out strategically, or C: increase troop strength until we’ve “won”, Bush doesn’t HAVE to do anything. We’ve got nothing coherent for him to respond to, so he can just hold the course and his homeland security numbers stay above 50%.
We have to get our heads out of the sand, stop waiting for one-off saviors from 40 year old wars, and decide how we intend to protect this country today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and in future decades. Will we build up the military strategically and invest in better technology, as Clinton started to do? Will we invest in combination of diplomatic efforts, foreign aid to poor communities in at-risk areas and a tough stance on radical outliers? Will we deploy more resources on the coastlines, at ports? Do we have the stomach to say we will hunt down people who threaten us – even if we have to do it here at home?
We have to provide answers to these, and as yet unforeseen, threats. A Department of Peace isn’t the answer. A bloated, endlessly and unquestioningly funded Department of Defense isn’t the answer. But right now, we can’t say truthfully that we have a coherent plan for national defense moving to the future.
Howard Dean is one of the Democrats trying to get us there, but his stock message, that we won’t send our children to war without telling the American people the truth, is only part of the issue, and doesn’t identify what we’re willing to tell the truth about. What will trigger those decisions for us, and what will we do differently to ensure that we’re ready? We have to make those decisions, and we have to agree on them. We have to be willing to compromise among ourselves, hawks and doves alike. We can’t simply adopt a war posture and call us safe, nor can we ignore the real threats. We have to answer the question not just of what we will do to protect America, but how we will do it.
In the short term, we keep setting ourselves up for long-term failure by our myopic focus on biography over substance, story over planning. The latter must underscore and precede the former – not vice versa."-from the post by Ray Minchew on his blog.
Wes Clark will save us! - (full diary here)
We’ll win if we run a real veteran!
Look, another veteran on our side!
We support the troops, not the war!
Democrats just have to stand up and oppose the Iraq war forcefully!
We just need to offer our plan to get out of Iraq!
The GOP, like it or not, agree with it or not, has a plan and a strategy: Spend on defense, prevent anyone else from developing weapons, and scare the hell out of anyone who’s already got them. If someone gets uppity, pound on them fast and hard and apologize later.
Our strategy is, as with most issues, scattershot. If there is an overriding theme, it is “find warriors of yesterday to justify our current opinion of the current military action”. But no one, not on Kos, not in the media, not in the DNC, not in the DLC, can offer a singular, compelling and encompassing plan to ensure the national defense. Hell, with 64% of the country now admitting to doubts about Iraq, we can’t even offer a single plan on this. As long as we’re fighting among ourselves whether to: A: pull out now B: pull out strategically, or C: increase troop strength until we’ve “won”, Bush doesn’t HAVE to do anything. We’ve got nothing coherent for him to respond to, so he can just hold the course and his homeland security numbers stay above 50%.
We have to get our heads out of the sand, stop waiting for one-off saviors from 40 year old wars, and decide how we intend to protect this country today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year and in future decades. Will we build up the military strategically and invest in better technology, as Clinton started to do? Will we invest in combination of diplomatic efforts, foreign aid to poor communities in at-risk areas and a tough stance on radical outliers? Will we deploy more resources on the coastlines, at ports? Do we have the stomach to say we will hunt down people who threaten us – even if we have to do it here at home?
We have to provide answers to these, and as yet unforeseen, threats. A Department of Peace isn’t the answer. A bloated, endlessly and unquestioningly funded Department of Defense isn’t the answer. But right now, we can’t say truthfully that we have a coherent plan for national defense moving to the future.
Howard Dean is one of the Democrats trying to get us there, but his stock message, that we won’t send our children to war without telling the American people the truth, is only part of the issue, and doesn’t identify what we’re willing to tell the truth about. What will trigger those decisions for us, and what will we do differently to ensure that we’re ready? We have to make those decisions, and we have to agree on them. We have to be willing to compromise among ourselves, hawks and doves alike. We can’t simply adopt a war posture and call us safe, nor can we ignore the real threats. We have to answer the question not just of what we will do to protect America, but how we will do it.
In the short term, we keep setting ourselves up for long-term failure by our myopic focus on biography over substance, story over planning. The latter must underscore and precede the former – not vice versa."-from the post by Ray Minchew on his blog.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Cindy Sheehan's Speech in Dallas
The Veterans for Peace National Convention wraps up today at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. Thursday and Friday saw the vets check-in, and attend workshops that varied from Stan Goff’s ‘Gender & Militarism’ to ‘Speaking Truth to Power’ which featured Ann Wright, Coleen Rowley, and Jesselyn Radack. Friday night featured keynote speakers and entertainers at Lynch Hall, on campus. They all had great things to say, and Cindy Sheehan was no exception.
Here is what she had to say:
Cindy Sheehan: It’s so great to be here.
Last year when you guys had your convention in Boston, my son had only been dead a few months, and we were really honored because the Santa Barbara chapter took my daughter’s poem A Nation Rocked to Sleep, (and they did it again this year), and I remember Michael Cervantes, he brought the booklet over to our house and showed it to us, and I never dreamed in a year I’d be standing here in front of you as one of the speakers at your convention, I never dreamed I’d be doing this at all, but isn’t it weird what life hands you…
I never heard about Veterans for until, I can tell you the exact day I heard about VFP, it was May 4th, 2004, and my son had been dead exactly a month, and I was watching CNN, and something came on, it was a report on Arlington West in Santa Barbara, and we lived about 6 hours north of Santa Barbara, and it was the May 4th before Mother’s Day, which was May 8th, and VFP was going to put it up on Sunday, every Sunday, so I called my husband and I said, “There’s only one place I want to be on Mother’s Day this year, I want to be at Santa Barbara. I want to go and see Arlington West.”
When we went, the first time we went, there was a little over 700 crosses, now there’s over 1,800 crosses.
And I’m glad to hear everybody else’s words, because somebody’s gotta stop those lying bastards. Somebody has to stop them.
I got an email yesterday - - If you guys heard I just had a story published that talks about - - it’s called Where Do I Live?, it talks about an Iranian-American who got the shaft because a recruiter liked him, and the recruiter falsified his paperwork, so he ended up in prison. He’s been in prison since November without due process. Another mother whose son was found dead in Iraq, they told her that he died from a drug overdose. Three months later, they got the toxicology report; no drugs. She was devastated, she said, “I know my son, he did not do drugs.” She was told that her son’s wife and his battle buddies said in a report that yes, her son abused drugs in Iraq. But when she got that report it said categorically that no, he did not abuse drugs. So how did her son die?
And then there’s Kevin and Monica Benderman. Kevin did exactly the right thing and got 15 months in prison. Whereas like Dahr (Jamail) said, the war criminals in Washington, D.C., they don’t even lose a night’s sleep. Then we have this lying bastard, George Bush, taking a 5-week vacation in a time of war. You know what? I’m never going to get to enjoy another vacation, because of him.
My vacation probably - -this is really sad because I have a really cute dress I was going to wear to the banquet tomorrow night, but I’m either gonna be in jail or in a tent in Crawford, waiting until that jerk comes out and tells me why my son died."-from the post on AfterDowningStreet.org.
Here is what she had to say:
Cindy Sheehan: It’s so great to be here.
Last year when you guys had your convention in Boston, my son had only been dead a few months, and we were really honored because the Santa Barbara chapter took my daughter’s poem A Nation Rocked to Sleep, (and they did it again this year), and I remember Michael Cervantes, he brought the booklet over to our house and showed it to us, and I never dreamed in a year I’d be standing here in front of you as one of the speakers at your convention, I never dreamed I’d be doing this at all, but isn’t it weird what life hands you…
I never heard about Veterans for until, I can tell you the exact day I heard about VFP, it was May 4th, 2004, and my son had been dead exactly a month, and I was watching CNN, and something came on, it was a report on Arlington West in Santa Barbara, and we lived about 6 hours north of Santa Barbara, and it was the May 4th before Mother’s Day, which was May 8th, and VFP was going to put it up on Sunday, every Sunday, so I called my husband and I said, “There’s only one place I want to be on Mother’s Day this year, I want to be at Santa Barbara. I want to go and see Arlington West.”
When we went, the first time we went, there was a little over 700 crosses, now there’s over 1,800 crosses.
And I’m glad to hear everybody else’s words, because somebody’s gotta stop those lying bastards. Somebody has to stop them.
I got an email yesterday - - If you guys heard I just had a story published that talks about - - it’s called Where Do I Live?, it talks about an Iranian-American who got the shaft because a recruiter liked him, and the recruiter falsified his paperwork, so he ended up in prison. He’s been in prison since November without due process. Another mother whose son was found dead in Iraq, they told her that he died from a drug overdose. Three months later, they got the toxicology report; no drugs. She was devastated, she said, “I know my son, he did not do drugs.” She was told that her son’s wife and his battle buddies said in a report that yes, her son abused drugs in Iraq. But when she got that report it said categorically that no, he did not abuse drugs. So how did her son die?
And then there’s Kevin and Monica Benderman. Kevin did exactly the right thing and got 15 months in prison. Whereas like Dahr (Jamail) said, the war criminals in Washington, D.C., they don’t even lose a night’s sleep. Then we have this lying bastard, George Bush, taking a 5-week vacation in a time of war. You know what? I’m never going to get to enjoy another vacation, because of him.
My vacation probably - -this is really sad because I have a really cute dress I was going to wear to the banquet tomorrow night, but I’m either gonna be in jail or in a tent in Crawford, waiting until that jerk comes out and tells me why my son died."-from the post on AfterDowningStreet.org.
Dean Says Democrats Must Take Offensive
BURLINGTON, Vt. Aug 8, 2005 — Howard Dean gives Republicans credit for one thing: They have put the Democrats on the defensive and forced them to fight on their turf. That, he said, is about to change. "What the propagandists on the right have done is make people afraid to say they are Democrats," Dean told a gathering of Vermont Democrats. "We have to be out there. We have to be vocal. We have to be pushing our version of the facts because their version of the facts is very unfactual."
After visiting 30 states in the first six months as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Dean said Monday he has found "There are Democrats everywhere."
The key to success is making those Democrats proud of their party, Dean said, by taking the offensive and fighting on Democratic turf. "We need a message. It has to be clear," he said. "The framing of the debate determines who wins the debate. "Running away from issues is how you lose elections," said Dean, a former Vermont governor. "We need to position ourselves as the party of change," he said. "I think we have learned that when big changes happen in the House and Senate, they happen because one party nationalizes the race and becomes the change agent."
Dean detailed his 50-state strategy to hire and finance from national coffers organizers in every state, saying that the party is on track to have organizers in every state by the end of the year.
"Vote by vote, precinct by precinct, door by door, year by year and election by election, we will take this country back for the people who built it," he said.
In his speech Dean talked about the growing diversity in America and how well that diversity meshes with the message and membership of the Democratic Party. "The face of the Democratic Party is such that it looks like all of America will look in 2050," said Dean. Dean's speech Monday night came at a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee.
Among those attending were U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords, as well as U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, who is seeking Jeffords' seat in the Senate. Both Jeffords and Sanders are independents but both caucus in Washington with the Democrats.-from the AP story today.
After visiting 30 states in the first six months as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Dean said Monday he has found "There are Democrats everywhere."
The key to success is making those Democrats proud of their party, Dean said, by taking the offensive and fighting on Democratic turf. "We need a message. It has to be clear," he said. "The framing of the debate determines who wins the debate. "Running away from issues is how you lose elections," said Dean, a former Vermont governor. "We need to position ourselves as the party of change," he said. "I think we have learned that when big changes happen in the House and Senate, they happen because one party nationalizes the race and becomes the change agent."
Dean detailed his 50-state strategy to hire and finance from national coffers organizers in every state, saying that the party is on track to have organizers in every state by the end of the year.
"Vote by vote, precinct by precinct, door by door, year by year and election by election, we will take this country back for the people who built it," he said.
In his speech Dean talked about the growing diversity in America and how well that diversity meshes with the message and membership of the Democratic Party. "The face of the Democratic Party is such that it looks like all of America will look in 2050," said Dean. Dean's speech Monday night came at a fund-raiser for the Democratic National Committee.
Among those attending were U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords, as well as U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, who is seeking Jeffords' seat in the Senate. Both Jeffords and Sanders are independents but both caucus in Washington with the Democrats.-from the AP story today.
"Cindy Sheehan to Be Arrested Thursday"
"Cindy Sheehan phoned me from Texas a few minutes ago to say that she's been informed that beginning Thursday, she and her companions will be considered a threat to national security and will be arrested. Coincidentally, Thursday is the day that Rice and Rumsfeld visit the ranch, and Friday is a fundraiser event for the haves and the have mores. Cindy said that she and others plan to be arrested."-from David Swanson on Kos.
"This Is Angry. I Am Yelling. But I Am a White, Male Truckdriver..."
"I have been reading pages and pages about the DNC and the DLC and I want to tell you why I am so opposed to the direction the DLC has taken the Party in the last 20 years. I have been advocating, writing letters, talking locally within the Democratic Party for 25 frickin' years now. To no avail.
My message is simple: talk about workers' rights. Unionizing, outsourcing (especially outsourcing!), management cheating (we have ALL been cheated out of portions of our wages by innumerable statistical tricks). SPEAK OF THEM and blue-collar men go absolutely NUTS with recognition of the problems! Followed 5 minutes later with the most intense hunger to do something about it all that you have ever witnessed.
I speak of them to my blue-collar friends all the time! All. By. Myself.
Millions of white, male blue-collar workers go around in right-wing talk radio induced ignorance. Each and every one of them thinks that the problems they have with their employer is unique, puzzling and sure to get better after a change of management ...or something."-from Fred Stembottom on The Huffington Post.
My message is simple: talk about workers' rights. Unionizing, outsourcing (especially outsourcing!), management cheating (we have ALL been cheated out of portions of our wages by innumerable statistical tricks). SPEAK OF THEM and blue-collar men go absolutely NUTS with recognition of the problems! Followed 5 minutes later with the most intense hunger to do something about it all that you have ever witnessed.
I speak of them to my blue-collar friends all the time! All. By. Myself.
Millions of white, male blue-collar workers go around in right-wing talk radio induced ignorance. Each and every one of them thinks that the problems they have with their employer is unique, puzzling and sure to get better after a change of management ...or something."-from Fred Stembottom on The Huffington Post.
"Cindy Sheehan Finally Getting Some Deserved Attention"
CNN: "By popular demand ( many requests ) Cindy was on with Wolf and talked about her son, her first visit with President Bush, and her trek to Crawford in an effort to see President Bush again. She was highly critical of her first meeting with President Bush about her son's death and talked a little bit about yesterday's events." Crooks and Liars has the video.
New York Times (via Dem Bloggers): "President Bush draws antiwar protesters just about wherever he goes, but few generate the kind of attention that Cindy Sheehan has since she drove down the winding road toward his ranch here this weekend and sought to tell him face to face that he must pull all Americans troops out of Iraq now.
Ms. Sheehan's son, Casey, was killed last year in Iraq, after which she became an antiwar activist. She says she and her family met with the president two months later at Fort Lewis in Washington State.
But when she was blocked by the police a few miles from Mr. Bush's 1,600-acre spread on Saturday, the 48-year-old Ms. Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., was transformed into a news media phenomenon, the new face of opposition to the Iraq conflict at a moment when public opinion is in flux and the politics of the war have grown more complicated for the president and the Republican Party."
New York Times (via Dem Bloggers): "President Bush draws antiwar protesters just about wherever he goes, but few generate the kind of attention that Cindy Sheehan has since she drove down the winding road toward his ranch here this weekend and sought to tell him face to face that he must pull all Americans troops out of Iraq now.
Ms. Sheehan's son, Casey, was killed last year in Iraq, after which she became an antiwar activist. She says she and her family met with the president two months later at Fort Lewis in Washington State.
But when she was blocked by the police a few miles from Mr. Bush's 1,600-acre spread on Saturday, the 48-year-old Ms. Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., was transformed into a news media phenomenon, the new face of opposition to the Iraq conflict at a moment when public opinion is in flux and the politics of the war have grown more complicated for the president and the Republican Party."
"Vermont publisher finds elephants can fly"
"WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — With just a few months to go before the 2004 presidential election, Vermont publisher Margo Baldwin was offered a short political book by a California professor whose ideas were drawing interest from liberals in Washington and elsewhere.
It was an unusual offer for the small company she and her husband founded, Chelsea Green. Its over 200 titles focus mostly on sustainability and low-impact living, from homesteading, framing a home or building a yurt to raising herbs and environmental consciousness.
The author, George Lakoff, wanted to write a very different book, one on how to “frame” political debate and build a liberal majority.
Lakoff had already put out a longer, more academic book on the political side of linguistics, his specialty. But now he was looking for a publisher for “Don’t Think of an Elephant!” sort of a field guide telling readers how to use strategic words and phrases to influence the nation’s political debate, Baldwin said.
Baldwin agreed to take on the project, and it has yielded startling sales. The small publishing company she and her husband had started in their Chelsea home two decades ago is looking at its first national bestseller, not to mention a book that is shaking up Democratic politics.
The book was the subject of a lengthy article recently in The New York Times Magazine, talking about Lakoff’s ideas about how words and phrases like “tax relief” cue subconscious associations, which may be more powerful than the details of the programs for which they are used to advocate."-from the story today in the Times Argus (VT).
It was an unusual offer for the small company she and her husband founded, Chelsea Green. Its over 200 titles focus mostly on sustainability and low-impact living, from homesteading, framing a home or building a yurt to raising herbs and environmental consciousness.
The author, George Lakoff, wanted to write a very different book, one on how to “frame” political debate and build a liberal majority.
Lakoff had already put out a longer, more academic book on the political side of linguistics, his specialty. But now he was looking for a publisher for “Don’t Think of an Elephant!” sort of a field guide telling readers how to use strategic words and phrases to influence the nation’s political debate, Baldwin said.
Baldwin agreed to take on the project, and it has yielded startling sales. The small publishing company she and her husband had started in their Chelsea home two decades ago is looking at its first national bestseller, not to mention a book that is shaking up Democratic politics.
The book was the subject of a lengthy article recently in The New York Times Magazine, talking about Lakoff’s ideas about how words and phrases like “tax relief” cue subconscious associations, which may be more powerful than the details of the programs for which they are used to advocate."-from the story today in the Times Argus (VT).
"Democrats discuss Hispanic vote at party summit"
"SAN ANTONIO Democrats are pondering this weekend how to better attract Hispanic voters.At a summit in San Antonio, party chairman Howard Dean told over 400 party leaders Saturday evening that there should be a "new partnership" among minority groups."-from the AP story today. I will be looking for some more details about this idea.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
''Democrats promise to focus more on Latinos''
"SAN ANTONIO - Democrats vowed Saturday to increase the party's appeal on all levels among Hispanics, including giving the nation's fastest-growing minority group more resources and leadership positions in the party.
Among the issues discussed during this weekend's Hispanic Leadership Summit has been turning back advances that the Republican Party made among Hispanic voters during the last presidential election. The renewed commitment spurred many to greater resolve that Democrats can make political gains in the next couple of years.
"There will soon be a Hispanic governor in the state of Texas," Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in his keynote speech, evoking loud applause. "There are people sitting in this room who will run for governor."
The summit -- the third overall and first in Texas -- was designed to collect feedback from the party's Hispanic faithful nationwide and to help shape a new marketing campaign in October, Dean said."-from the AP story today.
Among the issues discussed during this weekend's Hispanic Leadership Summit has been turning back advances that the Republican Party made among Hispanic voters during the last presidential election. The renewed commitment spurred many to greater resolve that Democrats can make political gains in the next couple of years.
"There will soon be a Hispanic governor in the state of Texas," Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said in his keynote speech, evoking loud applause. "There are people sitting in this room who will run for governor."
The summit -- the third overall and first in Texas -- was designed to collect feedback from the party's Hispanic faithful nationwide and to help shape a new marketing campaign in October, Dean said."-from the AP story today.
"Howard for Hispanics"
"EDINBURG — The national leader of the Democratic Party denied Friday that Republicans are winning over traditionally Democratic black and Hispanic voters, and he pledged that his party will no longer take its supporters for granted. Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee since February, addressed more than 300 people, including students and elected officials, during a visit to the University of Texas-Pan American. Edinburg was the latest stop on a national tour Dean is making as part of a 50-state strategy to strengthen state Democratic parties.
The former candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination rallied local Democrats with a pledge that the national party will not turn its back on labor, women, blacks and Hispanics. He said the party leadership has learned from its mistakes and is committed to standing up for what Democrats believe."-from the story in The Monitor (TX).
The former candidate for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination rallied local Democrats with a pledge that the national party will not turn its back on labor, women, blacks and Hispanics. He said the party leadership has learned from its mistakes and is committed to standing up for what Democrats believe."-from the story in The Monitor (TX).
"Cindy Sheehan Protest Top Story on Google News and AOL"
"The protests in Crawford, Texas led by Cindy Sheehan are currently the top U.S. story on Google News..."-from AfterDowningStreet.org. They've got the links to the news stories.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
''Bob Brigham ''Political Play of the Week.'' on CNN''
"Our man Bob from The Swing State Project was featured today on Inside Politics for his incredible work on the Paul Hackett campaign. The blogosphere is supposed to be the realm of anarchy. Bloggers are said to be fierce individualists, spouting off online, sitting in the park, alone, like Bob Brigham here. He and his partner, Tim Tagaris, run a Democratic blog called swingstateproject.com. Brigham is in San Francisco. Tagaris is in Ohio.
SCHNEIDER: The bloggers made their point on their Web site, of course. And I quote. "The Republican Party," they write, "is on notice. For that matter, so is the Democratic Party establishment on notice. Get with the program or we'll leave you behind."-from Crooks and Liars with video from CNN. The blogosphere meets the televised msm, courtesy of the internet.
SCHNEIDER: The bloggers made their point on their Web site, of course. And I quote. "The Republican Party," they write, "is on notice. For that matter, so is the Democratic Party establishment on notice. Get with the program or we'll leave you behind."-from Crooks and Liars with video from CNN. The blogosphere meets the televised msm, courtesy of the internet.
''Fighting Back''
"An Ohio special election result shows how Democrats are harnessing the power of the blogosphere.--Aug. 5, 2005 - No fewer than three esteemed political reporters from The Washington Post were in the audience taking notes on a steamy Thursday afternoon at a forum called “Reflections of a Blogger,” sponsored by the New Politics Institute, a progressive think tank. There were plenty of other news stories to pursue, notably increased violence in Iraq that claimed 21 Marines in two days and a wave of new polls showing declining confidence in President Bush’s leadership. In one survey, taken by Public Agenda before the latest spasm of violence, 82 percent of Americans said they worry “a lot” or “somewhat” that the Iraq war is taking too many lives.
Two days earlier, an antiwar Democrat had come close to winning a special election in Ohio for a congressional seat assumed to be safe for Republicans. Former Marine reservist Paul Hackett, who returned from Iraq to run for Congress, had gotten a huge boost from bloggers around the country. Leading the charge was Markos Moulitsas, founder of the progressive Daily Kos, which attracts hundreds of thousands of daily visits and is considered one of the most popular political blogs on the Internet. For Democrats desperate to find their way back to a winning coalition, Moulitsas, 33, has emerged as one of the most creative thinkers and activists in the progressive ranks. The Post team, along with reporters from other national publications and scores of political operatives, had come to get a glimpse of the future."-from the article by Eleanor Clift, writing in Newsweek (web only),
Two days earlier, an antiwar Democrat had come close to winning a special election in Ohio for a congressional seat assumed to be safe for Republicans. Former Marine reservist Paul Hackett, who returned from Iraq to run for Congress, had gotten a huge boost from bloggers around the country. Leading the charge was Markos Moulitsas, founder of the progressive Daily Kos, which attracts hundreds of thousands of daily visits and is considered one of the most popular political blogs on the Internet. For Democrats desperate to find their way back to a winning coalition, Moulitsas, 33, has emerged as one of the most creative thinkers and activists in the progressive ranks. The Post team, along with reporters from other national publications and scores of political operatives, had come to get a glimpse of the future."-from the article by Eleanor Clift, writing in Newsweek (web only),
''Mom of fallen soldier leads Bush protest''
"CRAWFORD, Texas - The angry mother of a fallen U.S. soldier staged a protest near President Bush’s ranch on Saturday, demanding an accounting from the president of how he has conducted the war in Iraq. Supported by more than 50 shouting demonstrators, Cindy Sheehan, 48, told reporters, “I want to ask George Bush: Why did my son die?” Sheehan arrived in Crawford aboard a bus painted red, white and blue and emblazoned with the words, “Impeachment Tour.”
Sheehan said she decided to come to Crawford a few days ago after Bush said that fallen U.S. troops had died for a noble cause and that the mission must be completed.
“I don’t want him to use my son’s name or my family name to justify any more killing,” she said. Sheehan said Bush administration officials “don’t have a mission and they don’t even ever plan on completing it.” She said she fears that the United States plans to keep a U.S. military presence in Iraq indefinitely.
Sheehan’s bus pulled up at a house run by peace activists a few hundred feet from the town’s only stoplight. There, she met up with other demonstrators and then led a caravan of about 20 vehicles down a winding road toward Bush’s ranch. The group stopped along the way and sheriff’s deputies advised them that if they wanted to go farther toward the ranch, they would have to walk in a ditch along the road. The marchers walked about half a mile until the deputies stopped them, saying that they had violated their instructions by walking on the road itself instead of staying in the adjacent ditch. Sheehan protested, saying she had not walked on the road. The deputies refused to let her go farther.
The protesters then began chanting, “W killed her son.”-from the AP story late Saturday.
Sheehan said she decided to come to Crawford a few days ago after Bush said that fallen U.S. troops had died for a noble cause and that the mission must be completed.
“I don’t want him to use my son’s name or my family name to justify any more killing,” she said. Sheehan said Bush administration officials “don’t have a mission and they don’t even ever plan on completing it.” She said she fears that the United States plans to keep a U.S. military presence in Iraq indefinitely.
Sheehan’s bus pulled up at a house run by peace activists a few hundred feet from the town’s only stoplight. There, she met up with other demonstrators and then led a caravan of about 20 vehicles down a winding road toward Bush’s ranch. The group stopped along the way and sheriff’s deputies advised them that if they wanted to go farther toward the ranch, they would have to walk in a ditch along the road. The marchers walked about half a mile until the deputies stopped them, saying that they had violated their instructions by walking on the road itself instead of staying in the adjacent ditch. Sheehan protested, saying she had not walked on the road. The deputies refused to let her go farther.
The protesters then began chanting, “W killed her son.”-from the AP story late Saturday.
Friday, August 05, 2005
"DNC Leader Dean Addresses Texas Hispanics"
"EDINBURG, Texas - Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued on Friday that Republicans will try to make immigrants the "scapegoats" in the next election. At a rally, Dean garnered the loudest applause when he said Republicans would make immigration a pivotal issue during upcoming elections, as they did gay marriage and affirmative action in previous elections.
"Do you know who the scapegoats are going to be? Immigrants," he said. "In Colorado, the chairman of the Republican Party endorsed Tom Tancredo for re-election. That is morally reprehensible. The governor of California, a supposed moderate Republican, invited the Minutemen to visit California. We do not need vigilante justice."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., has drawn the ire of Hispanic groups in calling for tougher immigration enforcement and a proposal to tax some of the money immigrants send home. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a radio interview in April, said the civilian border patrols known as the Minutemen "have done a terrific job."
Dean spoke at a rally on the eve of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Summit in San Antonio. Edinburg is located just a few miles north of the Mexican border and is more than 80 percent Mexican-American.
Dean also criticized President Bush, contending that the president rebuffed Mexican President Vincente Fox because of divisions over the Iraq war.
"A strong Mexico means a strong America, and our ties must not be based on the petulance of the president of the United States," Dean said."-from the AP story, late Friday.
"Do you know who the scapegoats are going to be? Immigrants," he said. "In Colorado, the chairman of the Republican Party endorsed Tom Tancredo for re-election. That is morally reprehensible. The governor of California, a supposed moderate Republican, invited the Minutemen to visit California. We do not need vigilante justice."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., has drawn the ire of Hispanic groups in calling for tougher immigration enforcement and a proposal to tax some of the money immigrants send home. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a radio interview in April, said the civilian border patrols known as the Minutemen "have done a terrific job."
Dean spoke at a rally on the eve of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Summit in San Antonio. Edinburg is located just a few miles north of the Mexican border and is more than 80 percent Mexican-American.
Dean also criticized President Bush, contending that the president rebuffed Mexican President Vincente Fox because of divisions over the Iraq war.
"A strong Mexico means a strong America, and our ties must not be based on the petulance of the president of the United States," Dean said."-from the AP story, late Friday.
Parents of Slain Marine on Hardball
"Via Daily Kos: The parents, Rosemary Palmer and Paul Schroeder, were amazing on the show, and below the fold are some of the statements they made to Matthews."-from the post on Crooks and Liars. Video, too.
''The D.C. Dem Party's Disconnect on the Iraq War''
"On the issue of the Iraq War, the disconnect between the Washington, D.C. Democratic Party establishment and political reality in America is growing by the day. Case in point is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's attitude towards the tremendous special election run by Paul Hackett in the staunchly Republican Cincinnati suburbs.
Hackett, an Iraq War veteran, made headlines in the campaign for taking a strong position against the original decision to go to war in Iraq, even calling the President of the United States an SOB. And while it's true, Hackett didn't support full withdrawal from Iraq, few would deny that his position opposing the war was a key part of his campaign.
Ultimately, the anti-war position defined his candidacy, and was the clear reason he was able to do so well in such a Republican district. That should be no surprise: polls have been telling us for months that America agrees with Hackett in believing going to war in Iraq was a mistake. Meanwhile, Americans' view of President Bush's handling of Iraq is at its lowest level ever.
Incredibly, however, in a memo sent to all Democratic House Members about what Democrats should learn from the Hackett race, the DCCC makes not one mention of the Iraq War and its effect on the election. Not one. It is as if the party is going out of its way to deny the importance of Democrats taking a strong position against the war, or making the war a serious issue in their campaigns. See page 1 of the memo here, and page 2 of the memo here." -from the Sirotablog, again.
Hackett, an Iraq War veteran, made headlines in the campaign for taking a strong position against the original decision to go to war in Iraq, even calling the President of the United States an SOB. And while it's true, Hackett didn't support full withdrawal from Iraq, few would deny that his position opposing the war was a key part of his campaign.
Ultimately, the anti-war position defined his candidacy, and was the clear reason he was able to do so well in such a Republican district. That should be no surprise: polls have been telling us for months that America agrees with Hackett in believing going to war in Iraq was a mistake. Meanwhile, Americans' view of President Bush's handling of Iraq is at its lowest level ever.
Incredibly, however, in a memo sent to all Democratic House Members about what Democrats should learn from the Hackett race, the DCCC makes not one mention of the Iraq War and its effect on the election. Not one. It is as if the party is going out of its way to deny the importance of Democrats taking a strong position against the war, or making the war a serious issue in their campaigns. See page 1 of the memo here, and page 2 of the memo here." -from the Sirotablog, again.
"How Not to Win the Democratic Nomination"
"It's one thing to say that your party needs to sharpen up its message on foreign policy. It's another thing to give credibility to the GOP's accusation that our party is not serious about national security. Speaking in Iowa, Evan Bayh parrots the worst of the DLC talking points:
"Many Americans wonder if we're willing to use force to defend the country even under the most compelling of circumstances," Bayh said. "The majority of Democrats would answer that question that, yes, there is a right place and a right time. We don't get to have that discussion because many people don't think we have the backbone.We've got a few voices out there who would be a little bit more on the fringe," Bayh said. "Unfortunately, too often they define the entire party."
No, Senator. Too often, the GOP's spin machine and their all-too-willing accomplices in the media allow these so-called "fringe" figures to define our party. One wonders who Bayh is referring to, anyway? Is he talking about the 99.5% of the House Democratic Caucus that voted to authorize the war in Afghanistan after 9/11? Or is he talking about the Democrats who warned that the Iraq War was an ill-advised and ill-timed diversion from the campaign against Al Qaeda?"-from the post on MyDD by Scott Shields.
. . .
"Many Americans wonder if we're willing to use force to defend the country even under the most compelling of circumstances," Bayh said. "The majority of Democrats would answer that question that, yes, there is a right place and a right time. We don't get to have that discussion because many people don't think we have the backbone.We've got a few voices out there who would be a little bit more on the fringe," Bayh said. "Unfortunately, too often they define the entire party."
No, Senator. Too often, the GOP's spin machine and their all-too-willing accomplices in the media allow these so-called "fringe" figures to define our party. One wonders who Bayh is referring to, anyway? Is he talking about the 99.5% of the House Democratic Caucus that voted to authorize the war in Afghanistan after 9/11? Or is he talking about the Democrats who warned that the Iraq War was an ill-advised and ill-timed diversion from the campaign against Al Qaeda?"-from the post on MyDD by Scott Shields.
. . .
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Did the GOP steal another Ohio Election?
"Overall, experts estimate more than 7,000 votes were stolen outright from John Kerry under the Noe's supervision in Lucas County 2004.
Whether similar theft defeated Paul Hackett remains to be seen. Hackett ran extremely well in a district thoroughly gerrymandered as a permanent Republican safe seat. Democrats are now crowing about how well Hackett did in "serving notice" that the GOP may be in trouble. But the bottom line is that the Republicans still won the election.
As of 1 am this past Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Hackett was within 3600 votes---about four percent---of Schmidt.
But election officials announced a mysterious "computer glitch" that delayed reports from Clermont County, which accounted for roughly a quarter of all the ballots cast in the district.
When things finally settled out, Clermont gave Schmidt 58%, and a 5,000 vote margin there. And thus the election.
Earlier in the evening---around 9pm---Hackett and Schmidt had been in a virtual dead heat, according to sources in the Cincinnati area (see among them http://billmon.org/archives/002073.html ).
A full 88% of the district's precincts had then reported, including more than half those in Clermont. As in Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, it looked like a cliffhanger. Schmidt's lead was less than 900 votes.
Clermont's "technical malfunction" with optical scan readers was blamed on the humidity. Election officials said the southern Ohio summer had soaked into the ballots, making it hard to pass them through opti-scan machines.
Once the problem was "solved," Schmidt picked up more than enough votes to guarantee victory. The percentages by which she won in the post-glitch vote count were far higher than those by which she had been winning prior to the glitch. Vote counts were also higher than expected in the strongest Schmidt precincts.
Clermont and neighboring Butler and Warren Counties gave George W. Bush a margin in 2004 that exceeded his entire statewide margin over John Kerry. Warren County became infamous on election night, when its supervisors suddenly declared a "Homeland Emergency" and dismissed all media and Democrats from the vote count. Bush then emerged with a huge, unexpected and unmonitored majority.
Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties' totals were also suspect because a Democratic candidate for Ohio Supreme Court implausibly out-polled John Kerry. As would be expected, Bush vastly out ran the Republican candidate for Supreme Court Chief Justice in those three counties. But Democrat C. Ellen Connelly, a pro-choice, pro-gay-marriage African-American from Cleveland somehow got a higher vote count than Kerry in these conservative, predominantly white southern Ohio counties. Richard Hayes Philips and other experts who have assessed that vote say it is beyond implausible, indicating a high likelihood of fraud."-from the story in The Free Press (OH).
Whether similar theft defeated Paul Hackett remains to be seen. Hackett ran extremely well in a district thoroughly gerrymandered as a permanent Republican safe seat. Democrats are now crowing about how well Hackett did in "serving notice" that the GOP may be in trouble. But the bottom line is that the Republicans still won the election.
As of 1 am this past Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Hackett was within 3600 votes---about four percent---of Schmidt.
But election officials announced a mysterious "computer glitch" that delayed reports from Clermont County, which accounted for roughly a quarter of all the ballots cast in the district.
When things finally settled out, Clermont gave Schmidt 58%, and a 5,000 vote margin there. And thus the election.
Earlier in the evening---around 9pm---Hackett and Schmidt had been in a virtual dead heat, according to sources in the Cincinnati area (see among them http://billmon.org/archives/002073.html ).
A full 88% of the district's precincts had then reported, including more than half those in Clermont. As in Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, it looked like a cliffhanger. Schmidt's lead was less than 900 votes.
Clermont's "technical malfunction" with optical scan readers was blamed on the humidity. Election officials said the southern Ohio summer had soaked into the ballots, making it hard to pass them through opti-scan machines.
Once the problem was "solved," Schmidt picked up more than enough votes to guarantee victory. The percentages by which she won in the post-glitch vote count were far higher than those by which she had been winning prior to the glitch. Vote counts were also higher than expected in the strongest Schmidt precincts.
Clermont and neighboring Butler and Warren Counties gave George W. Bush a margin in 2004 that exceeded his entire statewide margin over John Kerry. Warren County became infamous on election night, when its supervisors suddenly declared a "Homeland Emergency" and dismissed all media and Democrats from the vote count. Bush then emerged with a huge, unexpected and unmonitored majority.
Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties' totals were also suspect because a Democratic candidate for Ohio Supreme Court implausibly out-polled John Kerry. As would be expected, Bush vastly out ran the Republican candidate for Supreme Court Chief Justice in those three counties. But Democrat C. Ellen Connelly, a pro-choice, pro-gay-marriage African-American from Cleveland somehow got a higher vote count than Kerry in these conservative, predominantly white southern Ohio counties. Richard Hayes Philips and other experts who have assessed that vote say it is beyond implausible, indicating a high likelihood of fraud."-from the story in The Free Press (OH).
"It's Time for Bush to Answer Questions on CIA Leak"
"For weeks, the White House has hidden behind excuses of "not commenting on an ongoing investigation" to avoid answering questions about the CIA leak scandal. But President Bush abandoned that strategy when he recently told Texas newspapers that Karl Rove has his full support.
"Karl's got my complete confidence. He's a valuable member of my team," Bush said in his strongest defense yet of Rove, the architect of his presidential campaigns.
Now that Bush is answering questions about the leak, maybe it's time he answer the most important one."-from the DNC.
"Karl's got my complete confidence. He's a valuable member of my team," Bush said in his strongest defense yet of Rove, the architect of his presidential campaigns.
Now that Bush is answering questions about the leak, maybe it's time he answer the most important one."-from the DNC.
''Meaning of the Antiwar Resolution Passed by the AFL-CIO''
"And now for some bits of good news. Historic news. On Tuesday, July 26, the AFL-CIO convention did something organized labor had never done before: it opposed a war during wartime, and called for the withdrawal of American troops. The resolution opposing the war in Iraq was not the best or the most fluent. Cobbled from 18 resolutions that had been offered for consideration, it read as if it were written by at least as many hands. The remarkable thing about those resolutions? Not one that had been submitted for the convention's consideration supported the war. Not one was solely a simple statement supporting the troops. All called for withdrawal, the only difference being over timing. All came from Central Labor Councils."-from JoAnn Wypijewski's post on AfterDowningStreet.org.
"Pressure getting to Novak?" (Video, too) (UPDATED)
"CNN contributor and syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak stormed off CNN's set after using vulgar language during a live discussion with CNN contributor James Carville on the "Strategy Session" segment of the August 4 edition of CNN's Inside Politics.
While discussing Rep. Katherine Harris's (R-FL) plan to run for a Senate seat against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Novak told Carville, "Just let me finish what I'm going to say, James, please. I know you hate to hear me." Carville said to host Ed Henry, describing Novak: "He's gotta show these right-wingers that he's got backbone, you know. The Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show 'em you're tough." Novak responded: "Well, I think that's bullshit, and I hate that." He then said to Henry, "Just let it go." As Henry asked Carville a question, Novak walked off the set.After the segment ended, Henry apologized to viewers for Novak's leaving the set "a little early," adding: "I had told him in advance that we were going to ask him about the CIA leak case. He was not here for me to be able to ask him about that. Hopefully, we'll be able to ask him about that in the future."-from Media Matters for America.
Update: "CNN suspends Novak"-from Kos.
While discussing Rep. Katherine Harris's (R-FL) plan to run for a Senate seat against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Novak told Carville, "Just let me finish what I'm going to say, James, please. I know you hate to hear me." Carville said to host Ed Henry, describing Novak: "He's gotta show these right-wingers that he's got backbone, you know. The Wall Street Journal editorial page is watching you. Show 'em you're tough." Novak responded: "Well, I think that's bullshit, and I hate that." He then said to Henry, "Just let it go." As Henry asked Carville a question, Novak walked off the set.After the segment ended, Henry apologized to viewers for Novak's leaving the set "a little early," adding: "I had told him in advance that we were going to ask him about the CIA leak case. He was not here for me to be able to ask him about that. Hopefully, we'll be able to ask him about that in the future."-from Media Matters for America.
Update: "CNN suspends Novak"-from Kos.
"Schmidt- Hackett race could be catalyst"
"Democrats lost Ohio's 2nd District congressional election Tuesday night, but it was hard to tell, given their excitement and their warning that the surprising closeness of the race could mean big changes ahead in Republican-run Washington and Columbus. Don't get too excited, Republicans countered. Special elections can't be compared to regular elections because they involve much lower voter turnout and a much shorter time to get the message out to voters.
In a race watched by the nation, Republican Jean Schmidt beat out Democrat and Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett 52 percent to 48 percent. That was a surprisingly narrow margin in a district where President Bush won with 64 percent in November and former Rep. Rob Portman regularly garnered 60 percent to 70 percent of the vote. Democrats in Washington and Columbus Wednesday talked up the results - with almost the same talking points.
Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean called the race a "wake-up call" for Republicans.
"The culture of corruption they've brought to Washington is on its way out." In Ohio, state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Culp echoed that, saying Hackett's strong showing sends a message: "Ohio voters are getting tired of the culture of corruption.'' "If voters in this strong Republican district can do what they did Tuesday, then it is pretty clear that there is a real hunger for change in Ohio,'' Culp said.
Ohio Republican Party spokesman Jason Mauk conceded that the race was a "wake-up call" to Republicans, reminding them that Ohio remains a competitive, two-party battleground state.
But the results do not necessarily mean that there is any seismic shift in Ohio politics on the horizon, Mauk said. "The environment for this election was different from a normal general election,'' Mauk said. "Jean Schmidt came out of a bitter primary campaign with very little time to unify the party. There was a tight time frame. No time to heal any wounds.''
Exactly what voters were trying to say is not so easy to discern. Only one in four registered voters turned out. There were no exit polls.
As much as the Democratic party was heartened by Hackett's strong showing, some voters interviewed by The Enquirer Tuesday as they left 2nd District polling places said they voted for Hackett precisely because he did not sound much like the typical Democrat. Hackett, an Indian Hill lawyer, ran as a straight-talking pro-gun family man. But what helped him most was that, although he opposed the Iraq war, he was an Iraq war veteran - the first to run for Congress.
Matt Bechtel, a county planner from Mount Washington, said he voted for Hackett "because he doesn't follow the party line.'' "I think he would make a good leader in Congress because he has seen what the war is and can give the country a good perspective,'' Bechtel said.
At the Madeira Municipal Building Tuesday, Karla Balskus said Hackett's opposition to the war was one of the principal reasons she cast her vote for him. "He seems to be an independent thinker,'' Balskus said. "It would be a change.''
In Waverly, at the far eastern edge of the district, Waverly councilman Johnathan Clayter said: "I like that we're in the middle of this Iraqi war and he can bring some inside knowledge of it. "He was there. He is an Iraqi war veteran. He knows what they need."
Al Tuchfarber, a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati, said the shorter time period in which the special election played out helped Hackett because it kept many voters from learning the details behind the campaign ads they saw on TV. "His own commercial starts out with a Republican president. It's my belief that the mass majority of voters did not know his feelings toward the war and the president," Tuchfarber said, adding that the Hackett commercials were tremendously influential in the rural counties, which Hackett won.
"The fact that he won there, I attribute almost solely to his military experience," Tuchfarber added, saying that the one lesson both parties can take away from the election is the advantage military veterans will have in any race. "Throughout American history, that's been true."
Because Ohio is a national bellwether - it was the state that decided the 2004 presidential race - the political parties were trying to figure out what the results could mean for Ohio's governor's race, congressional races and even the 2008 presidential race.
Sarah Feinburg, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party's wing for House races, said Hackett's performance in the heavily Republican district shows voters' dissatisfaction with the ethics scandals involving Gov. Bob Taft and Rep. Bob Ney, who has been linked with a tainted Washington lobbyist.
"If I were a House Republican, I would have woken up to these election results incredibly worried about my 2006 race." Indeed, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which oversees the party's Senate races, came to this conclusion: "Schmidt Squeaker is bad news for Mike DeWine."
Sen. DeWine, R-Ohio, is up for re-election to his seat next year, and he already has upset some of his conservative base for his participation in talks with Democrats to avert a judicial filibuster. Democrats say Hackett's showing shows that he's even more vulnerable. "If you just look at the areas where Hackett performed well, the fact that a Democrat won those counties, that sends a shot across DeWine's bow right off the bat," DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said. Singer declined to comment on whether the committee was talking to Hackett about running against DeWine next year. Ohio Reps. Sherrod Brown and Tim Ryan also are considering the race.
Republicans said DeWine has nothing to worry about, and neither do Republicans running for the House next year or the GOP presidential candidate in 2008. "Their political analysis is ridiculous," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Nick said, pointing out that Hackett's commercials pictured Bush and did not say that Hackett was a Democrat. Hackett was running as a Republican, and that's why he was able to do as well as he did," Nick said. "Democrats are trying to say that this race shows that things are bad for Republicans, but then they turn around and pretend to be a Republican. It doesn't make any sense."
Meanwhile, White House spokesman Allen Abney said the president is pleased with Schmidt's victory. President Bush called Schmidt from his Texas ranch about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to congratulate her on her win, Abney said. Regarding the 2008 presidential race, Republican National Committee spokesman Aaron McLear said the party is focusing on next year but isn't worried. "We're confident that we're going to continue to be competitive and continue to win elections in Ohio," McLear said."-from today's story in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
In a race watched by the nation, Republican Jean Schmidt beat out Democrat and Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett 52 percent to 48 percent. That was a surprisingly narrow margin in a district where President Bush won with 64 percent in November and former Rep. Rob Portman regularly garnered 60 percent to 70 percent of the vote. Democrats in Washington and Columbus Wednesday talked up the results - with almost the same talking points.
Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean called the race a "wake-up call" for Republicans.
"The culture of corruption they've brought to Washington is on its way out." In Ohio, state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Culp echoed that, saying Hackett's strong showing sends a message: "Ohio voters are getting tired of the culture of corruption.'' "If voters in this strong Republican district can do what they did Tuesday, then it is pretty clear that there is a real hunger for change in Ohio,'' Culp said.
Ohio Republican Party spokesman Jason Mauk conceded that the race was a "wake-up call" to Republicans, reminding them that Ohio remains a competitive, two-party battleground state.
But the results do not necessarily mean that there is any seismic shift in Ohio politics on the horizon, Mauk said. "The environment for this election was different from a normal general election,'' Mauk said. "Jean Schmidt came out of a bitter primary campaign with very little time to unify the party. There was a tight time frame. No time to heal any wounds.''
Exactly what voters were trying to say is not so easy to discern. Only one in four registered voters turned out. There were no exit polls.
As much as the Democratic party was heartened by Hackett's strong showing, some voters interviewed by The Enquirer Tuesday as they left 2nd District polling places said they voted for Hackett precisely because he did not sound much like the typical Democrat. Hackett, an Indian Hill lawyer, ran as a straight-talking pro-gun family man. But what helped him most was that, although he opposed the Iraq war, he was an Iraq war veteran - the first to run for Congress.
Matt Bechtel, a county planner from Mount Washington, said he voted for Hackett "because he doesn't follow the party line.'' "I think he would make a good leader in Congress because he has seen what the war is and can give the country a good perspective,'' Bechtel said.
At the Madeira Municipal Building Tuesday, Karla Balskus said Hackett's opposition to the war was one of the principal reasons she cast her vote for him. "He seems to be an independent thinker,'' Balskus said. "It would be a change.''
In Waverly, at the far eastern edge of the district, Waverly councilman Johnathan Clayter said: "I like that we're in the middle of this Iraqi war and he can bring some inside knowledge of it. "He was there. He is an Iraqi war veteran. He knows what they need."
Al Tuchfarber, a political science professor at the University of Cincinnati, said the shorter time period in which the special election played out helped Hackett because it kept many voters from learning the details behind the campaign ads they saw on TV. "His own commercial starts out with a Republican president. It's my belief that the mass majority of voters did not know his feelings toward the war and the president," Tuchfarber said, adding that the Hackett commercials were tremendously influential in the rural counties, which Hackett won.
"The fact that he won there, I attribute almost solely to his military experience," Tuchfarber added, saying that the one lesson both parties can take away from the election is the advantage military veterans will have in any race. "Throughout American history, that's been true."
Because Ohio is a national bellwether - it was the state that decided the 2004 presidential race - the political parties were trying to figure out what the results could mean for Ohio's governor's race, congressional races and even the 2008 presidential race.
Sarah Feinburg, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party's wing for House races, said Hackett's performance in the heavily Republican district shows voters' dissatisfaction with the ethics scandals involving Gov. Bob Taft and Rep. Bob Ney, who has been linked with a tainted Washington lobbyist.
"If I were a House Republican, I would have woken up to these election results incredibly worried about my 2006 race." Indeed, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which oversees the party's Senate races, came to this conclusion: "Schmidt Squeaker is bad news for Mike DeWine."
Sen. DeWine, R-Ohio, is up for re-election to his seat next year, and he already has upset some of his conservative base for his participation in talks with Democrats to avert a judicial filibuster. Democrats say Hackett's showing shows that he's even more vulnerable. "If you just look at the areas where Hackett performed well, the fact that a Democrat won those counties, that sends a shot across DeWine's bow right off the bat," DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said. Singer declined to comment on whether the committee was talking to Hackett about running against DeWine next year. Ohio Reps. Sherrod Brown and Tim Ryan also are considering the race.
Republicans said DeWine has nothing to worry about, and neither do Republicans running for the House next year or the GOP presidential candidate in 2008. "Their political analysis is ridiculous," National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Nick said, pointing out that Hackett's commercials pictured Bush and did not say that Hackett was a Democrat. Hackett was running as a Republican, and that's why he was able to do as well as he did," Nick said. "Democrats are trying to say that this race shows that things are bad for Republicans, but then they turn around and pretend to be a Republican. It doesn't make any sense."
Meanwhile, White House spokesman Allen Abney said the president is pleased with Schmidt's victory. President Bush called Schmidt from his Texas ranch about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to congratulate her on her win, Abney said. Regarding the 2008 presidential race, Republican National Committee spokesman Aaron McLear said the party is focusing on next year but isn't worried. "We're confident that we're going to continue to be competitive and continue to win elections in Ohio," McLear said."-from today's story in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
''1090Am: where are you?''
"BlatherWatch is frequently accused of having it out for KIRO; we've been charged with wreaking vengeance on KVI's talk hosts. KTTH fans and employees say we trash them unfairly.
These same people give us hell because we seem to favor the fledgling progressive Air America station KPTK 1090AM.
We are a liberal blog, for god's sake, but we're going on the record right now to say, we've been holding our fire, biting our lip, pulling our punches--resorting to lame cliches and excuses while hoping, chanting--even praying--that THE TEPID, TIMID, CHEAPSKATE INFINITY MANAGEMENT would DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE to build this fucking station!
And it's obvious what needs to be done.
What brings all this up are the room temperature numbers rung up by KPTK in the new Spring 25-54 book. The station went up overall from 24th to 23rd, but that ignoble hop was based on only a 10th of a point--statistically no change at all. (23rd place in the market is down there mucking around with the likes of Mike Siegel, (KTTH m-f 6-9a) Mike Webb (KIRO m-f, 9p-1a) and Mt. Vernon High School basketball broadcasts. At least it's going in the right direction--especially considering the downturn in talk radio ratings across the board--KIRO's management would problably consider KPTK's shame a victory.
KPTK has been in a holding pattern with only syndicated shows.
BlatherWatch, our readers, 1090's listeners, the progressive establishment, NPR listeners, the old guard, the new order, the meta beta community, the socker moms, the working class, the drinking class, the Christian left, the homeless service providers, the peace community, the yacht clubbers, the women's health providers, the foodies, the mass transit ravers, the buck-naked community, the buck-toothed community, the leather people, the rubber people, vinyl community, the Mountaineers, the Valley girls, the sushi freaks, the Swedish Club, the BBQ buffs, the fetish community, gays and lesbians, breeders, feeders, the eaters--we all believe that the local programming station manager Jim Trapp has been promising us for months would do the trick.
It's amazing how the advantages and opportunities given this progressive station in this progressive town have been ignored or wasted. The implosion of KIRO, the wasting away of KTTH, the star power of Al Franken, the media attention, Ed Schultz's appearance...we could go on but we're getting weepy.
You only have to look at the wreckage of KTTH and compare it to KVI to get the picture. Because of local jocks doing local issues, a real local listener base has been cemented, ratings and a come-back were built. KTTH with Rush Limbaugh, but only one local (the lame Mike Siegel--who's had bad ratings as long as he's been on the station) went down the primrose path like Tiny Tim. Over the same time period, 1090AM stoked up a comment line, made some "community-building" spots and barely kept its head above water at the shallow end of the pool.
Have you heard that goofy 1090AM spot with House Speaker Frank Chopp and the sexy pimp jazz background music? Kids: Frank's cool. His politics are great. He's from Seattle--but for god's sake--he's a legislator, not Shaft!
We're liberal political activists, here at blatherWatch--big picturewise, we don't give a damn about the radio business. Having a successful liberal talk station in this town would be good for the good guys. The Republicans play their talk stations like a French horn--delivering not only the political goods, but also scoring good ratings keeping GM's & PD's happy at the same time.
We know for sure that Trapp has had some great local applicants. We know for sure there's terrific broadcast talent across the fruited plains. We know for sure there's a big blue state audience out there waiting for new places to go."-from the post today on BlatherWatch. Read the rest of the post, including the "private message to State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt and his posse."
These same people give us hell because we seem to favor the fledgling progressive Air America station KPTK 1090AM.
We are a liberal blog, for god's sake, but we're going on the record right now to say, we've been holding our fire, biting our lip, pulling our punches--resorting to lame cliches and excuses while hoping, chanting--even praying--that THE TEPID, TIMID, CHEAPSKATE INFINITY MANAGEMENT would DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE to build this fucking station!
And it's obvious what needs to be done.
What brings all this up are the room temperature numbers rung up by KPTK in the new Spring 25-54 book. The station went up overall from 24th to 23rd, but that ignoble hop was based on only a 10th of a point--statistically no change at all. (23rd place in the market is down there mucking around with the likes of Mike Siegel, (KTTH m-f 6-9a) Mike Webb (KIRO m-f, 9p-1a) and Mt. Vernon High School basketball broadcasts. At least it's going in the right direction--especially considering the downturn in talk radio ratings across the board--KIRO's management would problably consider KPTK's shame a victory.
KPTK has been in a holding pattern with only syndicated shows.
BlatherWatch, our readers, 1090's listeners, the progressive establishment, NPR listeners, the old guard, the new order, the meta beta community, the socker moms, the working class, the drinking class, the Christian left, the homeless service providers, the peace community, the yacht clubbers, the women's health providers, the foodies, the mass transit ravers, the buck-naked community, the buck-toothed community, the leather people, the rubber people, vinyl community, the Mountaineers, the Valley girls, the sushi freaks, the Swedish Club, the BBQ buffs, the fetish community, gays and lesbians, breeders, feeders, the eaters--we all believe that the local programming station manager Jim Trapp has been promising us for months would do the trick.
It's amazing how the advantages and opportunities given this progressive station in this progressive town have been ignored or wasted. The implosion of KIRO, the wasting away of KTTH, the star power of Al Franken, the media attention, Ed Schultz's appearance...we could go on but we're getting weepy.
You only have to look at the wreckage of KTTH and compare it to KVI to get the picture. Because of local jocks doing local issues, a real local listener base has been cemented, ratings and a come-back were built. KTTH with Rush Limbaugh, but only one local (the lame Mike Siegel--who's had bad ratings as long as he's been on the station) went down the primrose path like Tiny Tim. Over the same time period, 1090AM stoked up a comment line, made some "community-building" spots and barely kept its head above water at the shallow end of the pool.
Have you heard that goofy 1090AM spot with House Speaker Frank Chopp and the sexy pimp jazz background music? Kids: Frank's cool. His politics are great. He's from Seattle--but for god's sake--he's a legislator, not Shaft!
We're liberal political activists, here at blatherWatch--big picturewise, we don't give a damn about the radio business. Having a successful liberal talk station in this town would be good for the good guys. The Republicans play their talk stations like a French horn--delivering not only the political goods, but also scoring good ratings keeping GM's & PD's happy at the same time.
We know for sure that Trapp has had some great local applicants. We know for sure there's terrific broadcast talent across the fruited plains. We know for sure there's a big blue state audience out there waiting for new places to go."-from the post today on BlatherWatch. Read the rest of the post, including the "private message to State Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt and his posse."
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
"Proof: Our 50 State Strategy Works"
"Your mandate to fight everywhere had its first test last night.
Marine Major Paul Hackett ran for Congress in a special election in the most Republican district in Ohio. Republicans vowed to "bury" him, pundits wrote him off, and the conventional wisdom asked why Democrats would even bother to put up a fight.
But then something happened. With the infrastructure of local organizers we're building in Ohio and every other state, the most Republican district in Ohio became the most competitive district in Ohio -- a district where Bush won in 2004 by a margin of two to one. We energized thousands of grassroots volunteers and small donors in Ohio and across the country. We made our stand and we fought.
No, Paul Hackett didn't get elected to Congress yesterday. But he received 48.2 percent of the vote in a district where the Democratic candidate received only half that in the last four elections.
The formula is simple. Paul Hackett didn't apologize for being a Democrat, didn't hold back from criticizing a president who has failed to lead in Iraq and at home, and took a strong Democratic message into the heart of a Republican stronghold.
This district used to be written off. Now we have a network of Democrats, independents, and sensible Republicans who are tired of the out-of-touch Republican leadership and its culture of corruption. It proves that we can compete everywhere -- if we show up and fight, and give people a real choice.
This unprecedented result shows that Americans are hungry for change. In the words of one political analyst, Hackett's performance in supposedly safe Republican district means that something is "very, very wrong" for Republicans in 2006.
That's absolutely true. It also means that something is very, very right with our democracy.
For too long, we have conceded huge pieces of this country to the Republicans. No more. When we roll up our sleeves and fight we can compete everywhere -- and we will.
We're just getting started. We have moved people and resources into 25 states so far, and we are on our way into the next 25. We're building a permanent infrastructure to organize and build the Democratic base in every single precinct in the country -- an operation that will not disappear after a single election.
This effort is unprecedented and will fundamentally change the way our party does business. But the only way to do this building the community of people who have Democracy Bonds. A Democracy Bond is a commitment to give a small amount every month to build and sustain the Democratic Party everywhere.
Thousands of people have made the commitment already and are using tools on Democrats.org to grow the community and track their progress. If you want to fight everywhere, now is the time to join the Democracy Bonds community here.
Thank you for everything you do."-from Howard Dean's email today.
Marine Major Paul Hackett ran for Congress in a special election in the most Republican district in Ohio. Republicans vowed to "bury" him, pundits wrote him off, and the conventional wisdom asked why Democrats would even bother to put up a fight.
But then something happened. With the infrastructure of local organizers we're building in Ohio and every other state, the most Republican district in Ohio became the most competitive district in Ohio -- a district where Bush won in 2004 by a margin of two to one. We energized thousands of grassroots volunteers and small donors in Ohio and across the country. We made our stand and we fought.
No, Paul Hackett didn't get elected to Congress yesterday. But he received 48.2 percent of the vote in a district where the Democratic candidate received only half that in the last four elections.
The formula is simple. Paul Hackett didn't apologize for being a Democrat, didn't hold back from criticizing a president who has failed to lead in Iraq and at home, and took a strong Democratic message into the heart of a Republican stronghold.
This district used to be written off. Now we have a network of Democrats, independents, and sensible Republicans who are tired of the out-of-touch Republican leadership and its culture of corruption. It proves that we can compete everywhere -- if we show up and fight, and give people a real choice.
This unprecedented result shows that Americans are hungry for change. In the words of one political analyst, Hackett's performance in supposedly safe Republican district means that something is "very, very wrong" for Republicans in 2006.
That's absolutely true. It also means that something is very, very right with our democracy.
For too long, we have conceded huge pieces of this country to the Republicans. No more. When we roll up our sleeves and fight we can compete everywhere -- and we will.
We're just getting started. We have moved people and resources into 25 states so far, and we are on our way into the next 25. We're building a permanent infrastructure to organize and build the Democratic base in every single precinct in the country -- an operation that will not disappear after a single election.
This effort is unprecedented and will fundamentally change the way our party does business. But the only way to do this building the community of people who have Democracy Bonds. A Democracy Bond is a commitment to give a small amount every month to build and sustain the Democratic Party everywhere.
Thousands of people have made the commitment already and are using tools on Democrats.org to grow the community and track their progress. If you want to fight everywhere, now is the time to join the Democracy Bonds community here.
Thank you for everything you do."-from Howard Dean's email today.
"A Victory for Democracy"
"Yesterday, one of the reddest regions in America turned a whole lot bluer.
I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat.
When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known.
While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.
It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere.
Join me, and help DFA elect Democrats in Ohio and across the country: click here. "-from Paul Hackett's email today. You might have received one yourself.
I ran in a special election to serve in the United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Ohio. I am a Marine recently returned from Iraq, a husband, a father, an attorney, and a Democrat.
When I won the Democratic primary for this contest, few people believed we had a shot at victory. But DFA put its faith in me -- and went to work organizing on the ground and online. Your support helped build the greatest Democratic get-out-the-vote effort this district has ever known.
While we didn't pull out a victory yesterday -- we came incredibly close. We got 48 percent of the vote. And in those results rests hope for the future.
It had been 15 years since a Democratic candidate for Congress received more than 30 percent of the vote in Ohio's 2nd District and decades since a Democrat held the seat. Your support helped me improve Democratic performance by nearly 20 percent. This is a victory for democracy. And if we can do this in Ohio -- we can do it anywhere.
Join me, and help DFA elect Democrats in Ohio and across the country: click here. "-from Paul Hackett's email today. You might have received one yourself.
"How Beltway-itis Rots Reporters Brains & Distorts America's Political Debate"
"A lot has been written about how, when reporters spend too much time in Washington, D.C., their brains start to rot, and they start spewing back insider gossip and stereotype that is so removed from reality, you think you are reading the rantings of patients in an insane asylum. Case in point is Washington Post reporter Dan Balz - one of the most intellectually impaired reporters working today.Balz has made a career parroting whatever Beltway conventional wisdom is out there, regardless of how polls show it is totally disconnected from reality. He regularly writes declarative statements that have literally no connection to anything other than what he and his insulated cocktail party friends have decided in a vacuum is what America believes. Today, in his article about Hillary Clinton, there was a shining example of this."-David Sirota on The Huffington Post via Yahoo News.
"Too Close for Comfort"
"Beating expectations is great. But expectations don't get to vote in Congress (although false hopes frequently do.) Schmidt's narrow scrape may inject a little fear into the pea-sized brains of the average GOP deputy, especially if he or she is within fallout range of the Coingate scandal. But an outright defeat, as Cook suggests, would have generated a hell of a lot more negative media coverage, and might even have triggered a stampede the next time the House wranglers went to round up the herd for a cattle call, I mean a roll call vote.
That humilation, at least, was avoided. But how it was avoided is a story worth a closer examination -- by guys armed with subpoenas, if I had my way, which of course I won't.
If you followed the returns last night, you may have noticed that one county in the district -- Clermont -- was extremely late in reporting part of its returns. Clermont is the second largest pool of votes in the district and provided roughly a quarter of all ballots cast yesterday. It's also a GOP stronghold (in a GOP stronghold district) and Jean Schmidt's home turf. If you followed the returns last night, you may have noticed that one county in the district -- Clermont -- was extremely late in reporting part of its returns. Clermont is the second largest pool of votes in the district and provided roughly a quarter of all ballots cast yesterday. It's also a GOP stronghold (in a GOP stronghold district) and Jean Schmidt's home turf.
That being the case, it's not a big surprise Schmidt did well there, carrying the county with 58% of the two-party vote -- less than what a GOP candidate can usually expect, but enough to give her nearly a 5,000 vote margin in Clermont, and thus the election.
At about 9:00 PM ET last night, however, things didn't look nearly as good for Ms. Schmidt. In fact, her name looked more like Schmud. With 88% of the district's precincts reporting, including more than half of Clermont's, the count was almost evenly split -- with Schmidt holding a lead of less than 900 votes.
At that point, though, the Clermont election bureau experienced a "technical malfunction" with its optical scan readers:
The Board of Elections in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati, says it's optical scanners haven't counted all the ballots yet because it was so hot -- and humid -- Tuesday."-from the post on Whiskey Bar by billmon. Given recent electoral history in Ohio, it doesn't seem too unreasonable to consider this argument. Read the whole post for more details.
That humilation, at least, was avoided. But how it was avoided is a story worth a closer examination -- by guys armed with subpoenas, if I had my way, which of course I won't.
If you followed the returns last night, you may have noticed that one county in the district -- Clermont -- was extremely late in reporting part of its returns. Clermont is the second largest pool of votes in the district and provided roughly a quarter of all ballots cast yesterday. It's also a GOP stronghold (in a GOP stronghold district) and Jean Schmidt's home turf. If you followed the returns last night, you may have noticed that one county in the district -- Clermont -- was extremely late in reporting part of its returns. Clermont is the second largest pool of votes in the district and provided roughly a quarter of all ballots cast yesterday. It's also a GOP stronghold (in a GOP stronghold district) and Jean Schmidt's home turf.
That being the case, it's not a big surprise Schmidt did well there, carrying the county with 58% of the two-party vote -- less than what a GOP candidate can usually expect, but enough to give her nearly a 5,000 vote margin in Clermont, and thus the election.
At about 9:00 PM ET last night, however, things didn't look nearly as good for Ms. Schmidt. In fact, her name looked more like Schmud. With 88% of the district's precincts reporting, including more than half of Clermont's, the count was almost evenly split -- with Schmidt holding a lead of less than 900 votes.
At that point, though, the Clermont election bureau experienced a "technical malfunction" with its optical scan readers:
The Board of Elections in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati, says it's optical scanners haven't counted all the ballots yet because it was so hot -- and humid -- Tuesday."-from the post on Whiskey Bar by billmon. Given recent electoral history in Ohio, it doesn't seem too unreasonable to consider this argument. Read the whole post for more details.
"Dear Hillary Clinton"
"Hey, we’ve never met but trust me I’ve been holding up my end at the base of a lot of Democratic pyramids going back to my days at the Ron Brown DNC. So allow me a little slack -- as this is going to sting a little. But it seems like the only way to get through these days in our world is to make a stink or pitch a fight, publicly, so I’m gonna take my turn. I do mean well.
I want you to understand that you are in a big political pickle. You are the presumptive 2008 Democratic nominee and like it or not, you are a permanent LIBERAL ICON, (just ask the Republican talking point machine) and you are also in a permanent shooting war with party liberals because of your tendencies to “moderate” in a certain style. The current conflict with the liberal blogosphere didn’t just start in Ohio when you spoke to the DLC last week, it just re-fueled it. So you’re getting it from left and right, and this squeeze is only going to get tighter and tighter.
Now for the tough love part of this rant. I want you to know that I think that both you and your husband are the most selfish politicians I have ever seen, and I do think that it should be OK for folks to question your strategic voice in our Party after the events and outcomes of the last 12 years -- without fearing shunning or stoning from the Democratic-Clinton Taliban.
Some personal disclosure is in order. I am fine to be categorized as a semi-bitter progressive curmudgeon who like many others, still smarts at the thought of your husband’s abandonment of the $18 billion Putting People First economic agenda in the 1993 budget, the complete abandonment of the opportunity to do real campaign finance reform when we had Democratic control of both the House and Senate, and the tragic signing of the 1996 Telecommunications Act which loads of folks – from both sides of the aisle – fought against because of just the sort of Fox-Sinclair-media consolidation madness that has happened since its enactment. Oh, and did I mention NAFTA?
Curmudgeons are easily dismissed and ignored, so feel free.
But as a lovable curmudgeon who also cares about winning, I’m here to temper my criticism with some well-meaning counsel so that we can advance core values like ensuring starting gate equality via public education, championing a new investment economics through programs like The Apollo Alliance, and fighting a smarter war on terror that sure as hell extends beyond the death dance in Iraq."-from Dan Carol's piece on The Huffington Post.
I want you to understand that you are in a big political pickle. You are the presumptive 2008 Democratic nominee and like it or not, you are a permanent LIBERAL ICON, (just ask the Republican talking point machine) and you are also in a permanent shooting war with party liberals because of your tendencies to “moderate” in a certain style. The current conflict with the liberal blogosphere didn’t just start in Ohio when you spoke to the DLC last week, it just re-fueled it. So you’re getting it from left and right, and this squeeze is only going to get tighter and tighter.
Now for the tough love part of this rant. I want you to know that I think that both you and your husband are the most selfish politicians I have ever seen, and I do think that it should be OK for folks to question your strategic voice in our Party after the events and outcomes of the last 12 years -- without fearing shunning or stoning from the Democratic-Clinton Taliban.
Some personal disclosure is in order. I am fine to be categorized as a semi-bitter progressive curmudgeon who like many others, still smarts at the thought of your husband’s abandonment of the $18 billion Putting People First economic agenda in the 1993 budget, the complete abandonment of the opportunity to do real campaign finance reform when we had Democratic control of both the House and Senate, and the tragic signing of the 1996 Telecommunications Act which loads of folks – from both sides of the aisle – fought against because of just the sort of Fox-Sinclair-media consolidation madness that has happened since its enactment. Oh, and did I mention NAFTA?
Curmudgeons are easily dismissed and ignored, so feel free.
But as a lovable curmudgeon who also cares about winning, I’m here to temper my criticism with some well-meaning counsel so that we can advance core values like ensuring starting gate equality via public education, championing a new investment economics through programs like The Apollo Alliance, and fighting a smarter war on terror that sure as hell extends beyond the death dance in Iraq."-from Dan Carol's piece on The Huffington Post.
''Top Democrat calls SCLC an inspiration''
"BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — National Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean told the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on Tuesday that he takes inspiration from the SCLC's efforts to dismantle segregation four decades ago as he tries to find core values for his party and reassert its national influence.
"The SCLC is an icon for people of my age," said Dean, 56, former Vermont governor and failed presidential candidate in 2004. "But our work is not done."
Dean said the Democrats must start taking clear stands on issues like supporting a plan for universal health care and opposing efforts to restrict voting rights.
Dean said he is opposed to laws like the one passed in the Republican-dominated Georgia General Assembly that requires voters to present a photo identification at the polls. Democrats had complained that the new requirement will discourage minority voters who might not have driver's licenses or birth certificates. Dean said the government should be making it easier for people to vote, not more difficult."-from the story by Cox News Service.
"The SCLC is an icon for people of my age," said Dean, 56, former Vermont governor and failed presidential candidate in 2004. "But our work is not done."
Dean said the Democrats must start taking clear stands on issues like supporting a plan for universal health care and opposing efforts to restrict voting rights.
Dean said he is opposed to laws like the one passed in the Republican-dominated Georgia General Assembly that requires voters to present a photo identification at the polls. Democrats had complained that the new requirement will discourage minority voters who might not have driver's licenses or birth certificates. Dean said the government should be making it easier for people to vote, not more difficult."-from the story by Cox News Service.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
"CAFTA Shockwaves Being Felt Among Dems"
Roll Call reports that the vote over the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) could have serious implications in the 2006 elections for both Republicans and Democrats. But if you believe Crain's Newsletter, CAFTA's political ramifications may be felt sooner than that.
Specifically, Crain's reports "New York City Reps. Gregory Meeks and Ed Towns could lose key committee assignments as a result of voting for CAFTA...The threat [was] made in an emergency meeting of Democratic leaders the next night. Towns' spots on the energy and Commerce COmmittee and its trade subcommittee have helped him reap hefty business contributions. Meeks sits on the Financial Services Committeee."
This is a good thing - it shows that the Democratic Party is getting serious about creating a culture of accountability."-from Sirotablog.
Specifically, Crain's reports "New York City Reps. Gregory Meeks and Ed Towns could lose key committee assignments as a result of voting for CAFTA...The threat [was] made in an emergency meeting of Democratic leaders the next night. Towns' spots on the energy and Commerce COmmittee and its trade subcommittee have helped him reap hefty business contributions. Meeks sits on the Financial Services Committeee."
This is a good thing - it shows that the Democratic Party is getting serious about creating a culture of accountability."-from Sirotablog.
How Progressive Young People Can Have an Impact In These Times
(Remarks for gathering of progressive caucus interns at US Capitol, July 27, 2005)
"Well, what kind of times are these? They seem to me to be times not just of an increase in plutocracy, but also of a decrease in awareness of it.
A majority of Americans favor single-payer health coverage, a shift to renewable energy, the protection of natural resources, investment in education, and protection of civil rights. And very nearly a majority of Americans – a strong majority of Democrats – favor impeachment of the President if he lied about the reasons for war. And a majority of Americans believe that he did so lie. But a majority of Americans have no idea that a majority of Americans support these things. The same media outlets that do the polls, do their news reports as if the results were quite different.
A majority of Americans distrust those in power and see them as under the influence of corporate money, but a majority of Americans have no clear vision for directing political power to better use. Rather, as people's cynicism about Republican lies and abuses grows, their cynicism about Democrats grows right along with it.
On many majority issues there is a minority in Congress willing to speak up, but the media doesn't do a very good job of communicating that fact.
One thing that I think young people can do is influence our public communications system, through activism and through the creation of better media. There are thousands of people who lack the skills you have for communications. You're needed in that field.
At the very least, you should be submitting regular columns to your local newspapers. Or take a job at a small town newspaper for a while, to influence it and to learn journalism – at most small town papers the pay is lousy, but you can get a job practically by walking through the door, and if you're smart you can improve the coverage.
Get involved in college radio and community radio. I'm working on a project for Pacifica Radio right now and need a volunteer who knows the internet. If you're interested, contact me. But also, simply go over to WPFW in Adams Morgan and volunteer to help with whatever they need. Answer the phones for them. Learn how to edit audio. Get yourself on their advisory board.
Start your own low-power FM station. Contact the Prometheus Radio Project in Philadelphia to get help.
Go to a labor union local in your town, or a community organization in your town, and offer to help with their newsletter.
And, whatever you do, do it on the internet. There are local and national groups in this country in desperate need of websites. Make them one. Call them up and offer to make them a website. You can get help from People-Link.org, a non-profit, unionized ISP that helps set up sites for progressive groups. It's very very easy and well worthwhile.
Start a show on a cable access TV station and put it on the internet as well. Work with existing shows and satellite stations like Free Speech TV.
And use your experience in Congress to tell people that the Progressive Caucus exists and that Congress Members are influenced when they hear from their constituents.
Get active in the nearest chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, where you can develop skills both working with Congress and giving Congress hell.
Another job that you can get by walking in the door, but that you can only hang onto through great dedication and ability is that of community organizer or labor organizer. Talk to me if you want to try to find work for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. They are doing some of the most effective organizing of poor people – those people who are always snubbed when politicians demand concern for "the middle class." But it is often only poor people who stick with progressive causes through foul weather and sacrifice for them.
Rumor has it that the labor movement is falling apart. I doubt it very much. Things could hardly have gotten worse, and a serious debate about what's needed has yet to begin. If you want to help resuscitate the force in our country with the greatest potential for progressive action – and the most wasted potential – get a job with the labor movement. But do so by taking a job in a workplace that needs to be organized. Organize as a fellow worker, and do so without any superiority. You'll have better luck and you'll learn more.
A couple of other features that stand out about our times are increased militarism and increased globalization. It is the role of young people to bridge national divides and to take the risks needed for peace.
This may seem unrelated, and maybe I just want to say it, but:
Yesterday I learned that next Spring I'm going to be a father. This means that I need to fight harder for a better world, but it also brings with it hesitation about travel and about risking death or prison. I can't ask you to take greater risks because you're young, but you should think about what you will face later.
It may be that massive civil disobedience will not stop the wars or shift our resources out of the Pentagon to where they can do some good, but I know we will not accomplish this without massive civil disobedience. Contact organizations like CODE PINK that are not afraid to take risks."-from the post on David Swanson's blog, Let's Try Democracy.
"Well, what kind of times are these? They seem to me to be times not just of an increase in plutocracy, but also of a decrease in awareness of it.
A majority of Americans favor single-payer health coverage, a shift to renewable energy, the protection of natural resources, investment in education, and protection of civil rights. And very nearly a majority of Americans – a strong majority of Democrats – favor impeachment of the President if he lied about the reasons for war. And a majority of Americans believe that he did so lie. But a majority of Americans have no idea that a majority of Americans support these things. The same media outlets that do the polls, do their news reports as if the results were quite different.
A majority of Americans distrust those in power and see them as under the influence of corporate money, but a majority of Americans have no clear vision for directing political power to better use. Rather, as people's cynicism about Republican lies and abuses grows, their cynicism about Democrats grows right along with it.
On many majority issues there is a minority in Congress willing to speak up, but the media doesn't do a very good job of communicating that fact.
One thing that I think young people can do is influence our public communications system, through activism and through the creation of better media. There are thousands of people who lack the skills you have for communications. You're needed in that field.
At the very least, you should be submitting regular columns to your local newspapers. Or take a job at a small town newspaper for a while, to influence it and to learn journalism – at most small town papers the pay is lousy, but you can get a job practically by walking through the door, and if you're smart you can improve the coverage.
Get involved in college radio and community radio. I'm working on a project for Pacifica Radio right now and need a volunteer who knows the internet. If you're interested, contact me. But also, simply go over to WPFW in Adams Morgan and volunteer to help with whatever they need. Answer the phones for them. Learn how to edit audio. Get yourself on their advisory board.
Start your own low-power FM station. Contact the Prometheus Radio Project in Philadelphia to get help.
Go to a labor union local in your town, or a community organization in your town, and offer to help with their newsletter.
And, whatever you do, do it on the internet. There are local and national groups in this country in desperate need of websites. Make them one. Call them up and offer to make them a website. You can get help from People-Link.org, a non-profit, unionized ISP that helps set up sites for progressive groups. It's very very easy and well worthwhile.
Start a show on a cable access TV station and put it on the internet as well. Work with existing shows and satellite stations like Free Speech TV.
And use your experience in Congress to tell people that the Progressive Caucus exists and that Congress Members are influenced when they hear from their constituents.
Get active in the nearest chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, where you can develop skills both working with Congress and giving Congress hell.
Another job that you can get by walking in the door, but that you can only hang onto through great dedication and ability is that of community organizer or labor organizer. Talk to me if you want to try to find work for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. They are doing some of the most effective organizing of poor people – those people who are always snubbed when politicians demand concern for "the middle class." But it is often only poor people who stick with progressive causes through foul weather and sacrifice for them.
Rumor has it that the labor movement is falling apart. I doubt it very much. Things could hardly have gotten worse, and a serious debate about what's needed has yet to begin. If you want to help resuscitate the force in our country with the greatest potential for progressive action – and the most wasted potential – get a job with the labor movement. But do so by taking a job in a workplace that needs to be organized. Organize as a fellow worker, and do so without any superiority. You'll have better luck and you'll learn more.
A couple of other features that stand out about our times are increased militarism and increased globalization. It is the role of young people to bridge national divides and to take the risks needed for peace.
This may seem unrelated, and maybe I just want to say it, but:
Yesterday I learned that next Spring I'm going to be a father. This means that I need to fight harder for a better world, but it also brings with it hesitation about travel and about risking death or prison. I can't ask you to take greater risks because you're young, but you should think about what you will face later.
It may be that massive civil disobedience will not stop the wars or shift our resources out of the Pentagon to where they can do some good, but I know we will not accomplish this without massive civil disobedience. Contact organizations like CODE PINK that are not afraid to take risks."-from the post on David Swanson's blog, Let's Try Democracy.
''The First Wind in a Hurricane'' (UPDATED)
After a hard-fought race, Democrat and former Marine Paul Hackett came within a handful of votes or winning in one of the most Republican areas of the country. This was a win for Democrats everywhere, and Paul Hackett has made Democrats nationwide proud. Paul was a phenomenal candidate - one that put his life on the line in Iraq and was ready to serve again in Washington. Republican Jean Schmidt is the poster child for Ohio corruption - and she'll fit right in with the Republican caucus.
Paul's fight and his commitment to his beliefs helped turn a deeply red district a little more blue. His campaign was proof that by fighting in all 50 states - in every race at every level - the Democratic Party will be able to win anywhere. After rallying continually for weeks around Paul's campaign, it's nice to see it end with such a stunning win - even if it didn't result in a new Democratic member of Congress.
A short round-up...
Hunter says: "Biggest winners here are the grassroots, and Dean's 50 state strategy. A 70% Republican district was turned into an edge-of-your-seat race -- I'd have liked to win the thing outright too, but realistically, these results are fantastic."
John Aravosis says: "If the GOP can't win by a romp in Ohio's Second District, they are in big trouble. And four points in this district is big trouble. ... Great job by Paul Hackett...he has started the campaign for 2006 and has given us all great hope."
Armando says: "New Ohio Democratic superstar Paul Hackett went into the lion's den of pure Red Southern Ohio and scared the pants off of the GOP losing by less than 4 points in the face of a NRCC promise to 'bury him.'"
Tim Tagaris says it was "a win for the 50 state strategy, the netroots, and the future of the country--the grassroots of the Democratic Party."
DavidNYC says: "Tonight's results exceeded my wildest expectations. Don't get me wrong - I would have been overjoyed had Hackett won. But I am still thrilled, and his tremendous showing in an incredibly red district should buoy the hopes of Democrats everywhere."
Atrios reminds us of what Cook said, and adds: "Something is very, very wrong for the Ohio GOP." Chris Bowers at MyDD says: "It's tidal, if you ask me."-from The Blog on the DNC site.
Update: "Earlier today, before the results were known, Charlie Cook wrote this in the Cook Political Report: But even assuming a GOP win tonight, the margin of victory can give us some insight into just how radioactive the governor’s troubles and the “time for a change” sentiment in the state will be for other Republicans in the Buckeye State next year. If Schmidt’s victory margin is in double digits, this tells us that there is not much of an anti-GOP wind in Ohio right now. If the margin is say six to nine points for Schmidt, then there is a wind, but certainly no hurricane. A Schmidt win of less than five points should be a very serious warning sign for Ohio Republicans that something is very, very wrong, while a Hackett victory would be a devastating blow to the Ohio GOP."-from The Democratic Daily Blog.
And this story in the Cincinatti Enquirer headlines, "Closeness of race a surprise, Few expected Hackett's performance in GOP-heavy district."
Paul's fight and his commitment to his beliefs helped turn a deeply red district a little more blue. His campaign was proof that by fighting in all 50 states - in every race at every level - the Democratic Party will be able to win anywhere. After rallying continually for weeks around Paul's campaign, it's nice to see it end with such a stunning win - even if it didn't result in a new Democratic member of Congress.
A short round-up...
Hunter says: "Biggest winners here are the grassroots, and Dean's 50 state strategy. A 70% Republican district was turned into an edge-of-your-seat race -- I'd have liked to win the thing outright too, but realistically, these results are fantastic."
John Aravosis says: "If the GOP can't win by a romp in Ohio's Second District, they are in big trouble. And four points in this district is big trouble. ... Great job by Paul Hackett...he has started the campaign for 2006 and has given us all great hope."
Armando says: "New Ohio Democratic superstar Paul Hackett went into the lion's den of pure Red Southern Ohio and scared the pants off of the GOP losing by less than 4 points in the face of a NRCC promise to 'bury him.'"
Tim Tagaris says it was "a win for the 50 state strategy, the netroots, and the future of the country--the grassroots of the Democratic Party."
DavidNYC says: "Tonight's results exceeded my wildest expectations. Don't get me wrong - I would have been overjoyed had Hackett won. But I am still thrilled, and his tremendous showing in an incredibly red district should buoy the hopes of Democrats everywhere."
Atrios reminds us of what Cook said, and adds: "Something is very, very wrong for the Ohio GOP." Chris Bowers at MyDD says: "It's tidal, if you ask me."-from The Blog on the DNC site.
Update: "Earlier today, before the results were known, Charlie Cook wrote this in the Cook Political Report: But even assuming a GOP win tonight, the margin of victory can give us some insight into just how radioactive the governor’s troubles and the “time for a change” sentiment in the state will be for other Republicans in the Buckeye State next year. If Schmidt’s victory margin is in double digits, this tells us that there is not much of an anti-GOP wind in Ohio right now. If the margin is say six to nine points for Schmidt, then there is a wind, but certainly no hurricane. A Schmidt win of less than five points should be a very serious warning sign for Ohio Republicans that something is very, very wrong, while a Hackett victory would be a devastating blow to the Ohio GOP."-from The Democratic Daily Blog.
And this story in the Cincinatti Enquirer headlines, "Closeness of race a surprise, Few expected Hackett's performance in GOP-heavy district."
''Please join Senator Patty Murray at her Veterans Hearing in SEATTLE''
"Coming Home from Combat: Are Veterans Getting the Help they Need?”
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2005
10:00am- Noon
Army National Guard Armory
1601 West Armory Way, Seattle
Please Join Senator Patty Murray, and her three panels, Officials from the National Guard and Reserves and the VA and the State Department of Veterans Affairs; recently returned veterans; and reintegration professionals who work with returning veterans on issues like health care, education and employment to discuss helping veterans make the difficult adjustment to civilian life after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Murray, who visited Washington troops in Baghdad in March, is holding this hearing to obtain information that will help shape legislation by the Veterans Affairs Committee."-from the email today from People for Patty Murray.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2005
10:00am- Noon
Army National Guard Armory
1601 West Armory Way, Seattle
Please Join Senator Patty Murray, and her three panels, Officials from the National Guard and Reserves and the VA and the State Department of Veterans Affairs; recently returned veterans; and reintegration professionals who work with returning veterans on issues like health care, education and employment to discuss helping veterans make the difficult adjustment to civilian life after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Murray, who visited Washington troops in Baghdad in March, is holding this hearing to obtain information that will help shape legislation by the Veterans Affairs Committee."-from the email today from People for Patty Murray.
"One Day at a Time"
"So today I was sitting at a desk in an anonymous exurban office complex, in a town where you can’t spit without hitting a conservative foundation, the first day of my new job. I was the one wearing itchy pantyhose and polyester, trying hard to stay awake. You knew it wouldn’t be simple, didn’t you? I mean, this is me. (Plus, it’s that goddamned Mercury retrograde.) I wasn’t in my new office five minutes when the migraine scotoma formed and I was virtually blind for a half-hour. I figured out it wasn’t only the sunlight hitting the blinds that triggered it; it was the fluorescent lighting, too.
I felt better after I went into the restroom and threw up, though. Then I remembered I’d had the same problem at my last job. It’s been so long since I had steady work, I’d completely forgotten.
Spend two years in the unemployment trenches, and you look real hard for a friggin’ silver lining in your life. (You have to, if you want to survive.) Even though I wouldn’t wish the same situation on anyone, my silver lining was the opportunity to write this blog and get to know my readers. You guys act like it was no big deal, but damn! You took care of me. When I was sick, broke, and depressed, you not only paid my bills, you offered endless encouragement and emotional support. Kind of a miracle, really. I’m not used to such unconditional compassion.
See, the longer my joblessness went on, the more I suspected I was a real loser – and I don’t like feeling like a loser. While there are few people who can shake my self-esteem, shaky finances do it every time.
It’s not just the lack of money, although that does change the way people see you. (Money is how people with no talent keep score, my favorite button says.) It’s about a sense of your own competence. It’s also about autonomy, independence and the ability to chart your future. With this new job, for the first time in a long time, I’m going to have options. It’s all rather mind-boggling, especially for someone who’s been a professional beggar for most of the past six months."-from Susie's post on her blog, Suburban Guerilla. Her comments resonate with underemployed, intermittently unemployed and recently re-employed bloggers everywhere. Like me.
I felt better after I went into the restroom and threw up, though. Then I remembered I’d had the same problem at my last job. It’s been so long since I had steady work, I’d completely forgotten.
Spend two years in the unemployment trenches, and you look real hard for a friggin’ silver lining in your life. (You have to, if you want to survive.) Even though I wouldn’t wish the same situation on anyone, my silver lining was the opportunity to write this blog and get to know my readers. You guys act like it was no big deal, but damn! You took care of me. When I was sick, broke, and depressed, you not only paid my bills, you offered endless encouragement and emotional support. Kind of a miracle, really. I’m not used to such unconditional compassion.
See, the longer my joblessness went on, the more I suspected I was a real loser – and I don’t like feeling like a loser. While there are few people who can shake my self-esteem, shaky finances do it every time.
It’s not just the lack of money, although that does change the way people see you. (Money is how people with no talent keep score, my favorite button says.) It’s about a sense of your own competence. It’s also about autonomy, independence and the ability to chart your future. With this new job, for the first time in a long time, I’m going to have options. It’s all rather mind-boggling, especially for someone who’s been a professional beggar for most of the past six months."-from Susie's post on her blog, Suburban Guerilla. Her comments resonate with underemployed, intermittently unemployed and recently re-employed bloggers everywhere. Like me.
Monday, August 01, 2005
''Something Happening Here''
"The impact of the liberal blogosphere is becoming clearer each month. The national progressive blogs led by DailyKos, mydd, Talking Points Memo, Atrios and now TPMCafe, the Huffington Post and many, many more have driven the national conversation on the John Bolton nomination and the Rove-Plame affair. Bloggers and community members dug up old memos and connected the dots and kept the stories alive until they got picked up by the mainstream media which gave the Democratic leaders enough cover to stand up for their principles.
We are just this month seeing the power of the Internet to elevate a special election for an open seat in Ohio to national prominence. Democrat Paul Hackett is within striking distance of Republican Jean Schmidt in OH-02 in Southwestern Ohio, a district that went heavily for Bush and has had Republican congressfolk for decades. It happened because the netroots provided a pretty good sum of money, $150,000 a week ago and much more since then, to Hackett and has called out folks to make the trek to campaign for him. If Hackett wins or even gets close it will be a big upset.
Chris Bowers at mydd.com describes the impact of the progressive blogs and how much more effective they’ve been on Hackett’s behalf than the conservative blogs have been on Schmidt’s behalf."-from the post on Evergreen Politics.
We are just this month seeing the power of the Internet to elevate a special election for an open seat in Ohio to national prominence. Democrat Paul Hackett is within striking distance of Republican Jean Schmidt in OH-02 in Southwestern Ohio, a district that went heavily for Bush and has had Republican congressfolk for decades. It happened because the netroots provided a pretty good sum of money, $150,000 a week ago and much more since then, to Hackett and has called out folks to make the trek to campaign for him. If Hackett wins or even gets close it will be a big upset.
Chris Bowers at mydd.com describes the impact of the progressive blogs and how much more effective they’ve been on Hackett’s behalf than the conservative blogs have been on Schmidt’s behalf."-from the post on Evergreen Politics.
Dean: Bolton Appointment Another 'Abuse of Power'
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, in an unprecedented move, President Bush announced that he would use a recess appointment to install his embattled nominee John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations -- over the objection of Senate Democrats and many Republicans. The appointment comes amid unanswered questions regarding Bolton's involvement in an ongoing State Department probe about the use of false intelligence.
Bush's decision to circumvent bipartisan opposition to Bolton is another example of the White House's willingness to abuse their power and silence critics in an effort to reward loyal political allies, even at the expense of America's international stature and national security. Bolton has aroused significant bipartisan opposition in the Senate because the White House repeatedly stonewalled specific, legitimate requests from senators for access to Bolton's employment records at the White House and the State Department. Bolton attracted greater criticism last week when it was revealed that he had failed to report on his Senate questionnaire that he was questioned by the State Department Inspector General probing the use of false intelligence data in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement and sharply criticized President Bush's recess appointment of Bolton to the United Nations:
"In a truly arrogant move, President Bush abused his power by refusing to provide documents to answer legitimate questions about John Bolton and our national security, and his use of the recess appointment for one of the most important and sensitive posts in international diplomacy is troubling," said Dean. "Bolton is the next in a line of Bush nominees who have had their integrity called into question because of this President's continuing failure to fulfill his constitutional obligation to be honest and forthright with the Senate and the American people. By moving unilaterally to overrule the Senate and appoint a nominee who is being dogged by significant questions about his integrity on intelligence matters, Bush has reduced our nation's ability to cooperate with our allies on the war on terror."-from the DNC via Yahoo News.
Bush's decision to circumvent bipartisan opposition to Bolton is another example of the White House's willingness to abuse their power and silence critics in an effort to reward loyal political allies, even at the expense of America's international stature and national security. Bolton has aroused significant bipartisan opposition in the Senate because the White House repeatedly stonewalled specific, legitimate requests from senators for access to Bolton's employment records at the White House and the State Department. Bolton attracted greater criticism last week when it was revealed that he had failed to report on his Senate questionnaire that he was questioned by the State Department Inspector General probing the use of false intelligence data in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement and sharply criticized President Bush's recess appointment of Bolton to the United Nations:
"In a truly arrogant move, President Bush abused his power by refusing to provide documents to answer legitimate questions about John Bolton and our national security, and his use of the recess appointment for one of the most important and sensitive posts in international diplomacy is troubling," said Dean. "Bolton is the next in a line of Bush nominees who have had their integrity called into question because of this President's continuing failure to fulfill his constitutional obligation to be honest and forthright with the Senate and the American people. By moving unilaterally to overrule the Senate and appoint a nominee who is being dogged by significant questions about his integrity on intelligence matters, Bush has reduced our nation's ability to cooperate with our allies on the war on terror."-from the DNC via Yahoo News.
''OH-02: Once More Unto the Breach''
"Here's the situation, the Paul Hackett decided to shoot the moon. Ohio's second congressional district favors Republicans by 30 pts. Running a safe campaign would result in failure. Paul Hackett is a Fighting Democrat and he's gambling, pushing, pull out all of the stops and running like his life depends upon it (if he loses, he'll probably be sent back in Iraq).
To Get Out the Vote, we need to raise $30,000 today. Here's why.
Last week, the netroots stepped up and delivered around $40K a day. The campaign gambled and put all of that on TV (the ads are great and a Democrat is leading the Republicans in gross points in every market in every medium!!!).
It worked, and now Independents are breaking rapidly our way. And Democrats in the district are so fired up that far more than expected are signing up for GOTV. This has drastically increased the cost of the GOTV mobilization. The enthusiasm over the weekend was more than expected and more was spend during the huge door-to-door effort. Now the campaign needs money for tomorrow to finish the job.
The cost breaks down to around $50 a precinct with 600 precincts. The netroots best friend, Matt from ActBlue, is flying in right now to coordinate moving the money.
But we need enough to finish the job.
Your investments have made Hackett a contender. Please give one more time so we can win this in the field."-from the post on Swing State Project. Atrios has a funding update.
To Get Out the Vote, we need to raise $30,000 today. Here's why.
Last week, the netroots stepped up and delivered around $40K a day. The campaign gambled and put all of that on TV (the ads are great and a Democrat is leading the Republicans in gross points in every market in every medium!!!).
It worked, and now Independents are breaking rapidly our way. And Democrats in the district are so fired up that far more than expected are signing up for GOTV. This has drastically increased the cost of the GOTV mobilization. The enthusiasm over the weekend was more than expected and more was spend during the huge door-to-door effort. Now the campaign needs money for tomorrow to finish the job.
The cost breaks down to around $50 a precinct with 600 precincts. The netroots best friend, Matt from ActBlue, is flying in right now to coordinate moving the money.
But we need enough to finish the job.
Your investments have made Hackett a contender. Please give one more time so we can win this in the field."-from the post on Swing State Project. Atrios has a funding update.
''Reason Before Religion''
Devoted Deaniac Jackie Minchew passes this along to focus on the issue of how the Democrats should relate to communities of faith: "It has become an article of faith among many leading Democrats that they lost the 2004 election because their party and its candidates were considered “too secular” and too removed from the “moral values” cherished by a majority of American voters. According to this credo, Democrats, to regain the White House, must adopt a strategy of fighting fire with fire -- presenting socially progressive religious values as an alternative to the right-wing religious ethos so forcefully articulated by President George W. Bush. Americans are to be convinced that God himself is displeased by the Bush administration’s tax cuts for the rich, its war in Iraq, and a host of other initiatives that the Republican religious right has cast in its image of the deity.
If the advocates of faith-based campaigning have their way -- and there is good reason to fear that they will, given the Democrats’ panic at the election results -- it could mean nothing less than the end of the American experiment as we have known it since 1789. If Democrats opt to place an irresolvable conflict of biblical interpretation front and center in politics, they would be turning their backs, as Republicans have already done, on the genius of the first secular Constitution in the world -- and on the Framers who shocked the religious rightists of their day by deliberately omitting any mention of a deity, instead ceding supreme governmental authority to “We the People.”-from the humanists of north puget sound site.
If the advocates of faith-based campaigning have their way -- and there is good reason to fear that they will, given the Democrats’ panic at the election results -- it could mean nothing less than the end of the American experiment as we have known it since 1789. If Democrats opt to place an irresolvable conflict of biblical interpretation front and center in politics, they would be turning their backs, as Republicans have already done, on the genius of the first secular Constitution in the world -- and on the Framers who shocked the religious rightists of their day by deliberately omitting any mention of a deity, instead ceding supreme governmental authority to “We the People.”-from the humanists of north puget sound site.
''Bush Circumvents Senate to Install Bolton at UN''
Make no mistake. It was President Bush who has been holding up the vote on John Bolton by refusing Senate Democrats' request for more information about the nominee's record.
Now President Bush has decided to sidestep the approval process altogether -- rather than revealing Bolton's full record -- and install him with a recess appointment that will put Bolton at the United Nations until January of 2007.
We know John Bolton is unfit for the job, with a record of harassment and retribution in his tenure at the State Department. We know he lied to Congress on a questionnaire, saying he hadn't been questioned in any investigations in the last five years when in fact he's been questioned in the CIA leak scandal.
With a public record like that, we can only imagine what the White House is hiding by refusing to disclose his full record."-from the DNC.
Now President Bush has decided to sidestep the approval process altogether -- rather than revealing Bolton's full record -- and install him with a recess appointment that will put Bolton at the United Nations until January of 2007.
We know John Bolton is unfit for the job, with a record of harassment and retribution in his tenure at the State Department. We know he lied to Congress on a questionnaire, saying he hadn't been questioned in any investigations in the last five years when in fact he's been questioned in the CIA leak scandal.
With a public record like that, we can only imagine what the White House is hiding by refusing to disclose his full record."-from the DNC.
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