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Tennessee Turns Out for Lamont, Dean, and the DFT Convention!
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On Easter weekend, close to 80 progressives from Memphis to Knoxville and all points in between attended Democracy for Tennessee’s Convention ’07 in Nashville throughout the day on Saturday.
Kicking off the ceremonies were myself and Jim Grinstead, who inspired DFA members to keep the momentum going for the progressive movement in Tennessee. I then unveiled FROM THE GROUND UP: The Plan for a Progressive Tennessee, DFT’s strategic plan that not only lays out our vision for the progressive changes we want to make in 2007, but also how we’re going to do it. Vote By Mail and Green Tennessee are two initiatives that we will be focusing on at the local level. Campaigns for Tennessee is a program involving campaign training (starting with the DFA Training Academy on April 28 & 29) and actual elections as we target the Nashville Metro Council races by helping elect a slate of new progressive candidates. Meanwhile, we will be unveiling Blog for Tennessee over the next few weeks. BFT will be a clearinghouse for state and local news that is important to progressives and will become a vehicle to push back against local conservatives’ propaganda.
Next, it was time to hear from Gray Sasser, the newly-elected chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party. Gray talked about the future of Tennessee Democrats and their plan to pick up more seats in the state House and Senate in 2008. Gray believes that Tennessee is trending Democratic – a theory that is backed up by the most recent MTSU Poll that shows that more Tennesseans are self-identifying as Democrats than Republicans now. Sasser also emphasized his commitment to continuing with the path laid out by his predecessor Bob Tuke in working alongside Democracy for Tennessee whenever possible to advance a better agenda for all Tennesseans. The first round of workshops began at about 10:00 and those included "Vote By Mail", "Green Tennessee", and a panel discussion titled “Building the Movement”.
The "Vote By Mail" workshop, which was run by DFT's resident election reform activist Dave Thomas, also featured an appearance via conference call from Adam J. Smith, who heads up the national Vote By Mail Project organization. Dave and Adam educated people on VBM, why it’s the best solution to having verifiable elections and in improving participation in our democracy, and what’s happening with VBM efforts across the country. Here in Tennessee, one bill that pushes for no-excuse absentee balloting is out of committee and another one that sets the stage for form a full VBM pilot project is underway. To sign the petition to support Vote By Mail or to join the campaign and host a Town Hall meeting in your county, visit www.VoteByMailTennessee.org and if you want to read Dave’s blog post on the VBM workshop, click here.
Next door, the "Green Tennessee" workshop kicked off with panelists Doug Morse (the GT campaign manager), Seannalyn Brandmeir (presenter for Al Gore’s Climate Project), and Jeff Barrie (filmmaker of Kilowatt Ours) on hand to launch the campaign to make Tennessee a more “green” state. The Green Tennessee campaign combines global warming tutorials by Climate Project presenters and screenings of Kilowatt Ours (which is part of Democracy for America’s national agenda this month), with organized efforts to pass specific “green policies” at the county level. The legislation includes everything from installing geo-thermal heating in county schools to energy audits for municipal governments, to setting city and county governments on a path to implement LEED standards (“green” building codes). This workshop got great attendance and great feedback and we need you to help out by staging events and participating in the campaign. Stay tuned, the Green Tennessee campaign website will be online in the next two weeks.
The “Building the Movement” panel discussion was moderated by Nell Levin from the Tennessee Alliance for Progress (which has it’s Compass Conference this coming weekend in Nashville). Panelists were Cynthia Bennett with Tennessee’s NOW chapter, David Lubell with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and Tony Garr with the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign. As expected, the discussion on how progressives can work together better was lively and full of ideas. Thanks to all the panelists who participated.
After the first round of workshops, it was time for lunch, which was kicked off by a ceremony for our first Democracy for Tennessee "Trailblazer Award", which was given to one of our best activists - Joan Nelson of Oak Ridge. Congrats Joan! We did some re-organization business too in which I handed over the reins of Democracy for Tennessee to our new chairman, Jim Grinstead. Jim has demonstrated good political judgement and a willingness to work hard for the organization and he brings an amazing set of skills to the table that will move DFT to the next level as an effective organization. I’d like to thank Jim, Tom Burns, and the other members of the DFT Steering Committee for the award they presented me with. It was an honor to serve with all involved and I will continue to help DFA’s cause whenever possible.
But the main event of lunchtime – and of the whole day, for that matter – was an amazing speech by our keynote speaker... NED LAMONT! As you know, Ned challenged (and defeated) Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary. He gave a great speech on Iraq, drawing a connection between the situation there and in El Salvador, a place he’d recently visited. Lamont also discussed the role the grassroots played in his campaign, how DFA was the nucleus of his organization – both online and on the ground – and how he’d like to see more “non-political” people, either regular citizens or new entrepreneurs, decide to run for office. Ned received several standing ovations and was questioned about whether he plans on running for office again. His response: “you never completely rule anything out”. For more coverage on Ned’s speech as well as a great one-on-one interview by local progblogger Sean Braisted, visit his blog here or check out Sean's post on Daily Kos about the DFT Convention. After lunch, it was back into workshops. The schedule included “Root Camp”, “Grassroots on the Hill” and “Citizen Journalism 101”.
The "Root Camp" workshop was a two-hour crash course on running a better political campaign. Ned Lamont and Jim Dean were guest lecturers as our own Freda Player and Georgia Weindling covered everything from framing a solid campaign message to door-to-door canvassing. Ned and Jim offered some great insights from Ned’s 2006 race and were a great inspiration for several local candidates and campaign managers who are gearing up for their races this year and in 2008. This Root Camp training is just a taste of things to come as we gear up for the weekend-long DFA Training Academy coming to Knoxville at the end of the month. Click here to sign up for one of the best campaign training programs in the country.
The Grassroots on the Hill workshop, hosted by lobbyist Stewart Clifton and state representatives Janis Sontany and Rob Briley was a real eye-opener for attendees. Clifton’s program, which included “10 Tips on Being a Citizen Lobbyist” and “How to Show That You Were Raised Right (When You’re at the Legislature)” educated people on a process that many progressives instinctively distrust. Clifton, Sontany, and Briley brought it all down to a human level. “In Tennessee, most of our legislators have to give up their jobs and their families for several months at a time to do what – make less than $20K a year? And if the session doesn’t finish on time, they have to pay for their hotels and expenses out of their own pockets. Think about that the next time someone tells you that these people are all in government for the money”. Briley explained the realities of politics in the assembly. “You may disagree with a legislator on 99% of their issues or legislation, but you never want to burn bridges because there will be one time when they are on board with your issue and that can make all the difference with getting it passed”. Sontany’s take on how to get a legislator on your side? “Be prepared to help the legislator understand your issue and who can help on it. We usually don’t have time or staff to pore through all the white papers and build consensus around your issue – you need to come with everything ready to go.” The "Grassroots on the Hill" workshop got some of the best reviews from the Convention attendees and we thank Clifton and our legislators for putting on an amazing session.
Progressive voices will be heard more loudly and more clearly as a room filled with DFT activists learned the skills of framing, blogging and getting online during the "Citizen Journalism 101" workshop conducted by Jim Grinstead, Sean Braisted, and Angela Trigg. One of the main components of this workshop was to teach writers how to discuss events using progressive frames and to avoid terminology that reinforces conservative messages. CJ-101 attendees learned about the basics of journalism, framing, and how to organize their stories in a way to have the greatest impact. Sean Braisted, creator of Nashville for the 21st Century, explained the discipline of blogging, how to develop an audience for a blog, and how to select issues to write about. Angela Trigg, the creator of the CampaignWindow software that many DFA groups in Tennessee use, closed out the session by teaching the class how to get online and post entries on the brand new Blog for Tennessee. Blog for Tennessee will be a community site that focuses on blogging about local and state politics and will combine the voices of DFT activists and independent writers into a comprehensive resource for progressive news and opinion in Tennessee. Stay tuned for more details about Blog for Tennessee in the coming weeks.
The Conventioneers regrouped in the main room of the IBEW hall to wrap things up, talk about what they’d learned through the course of the day, and give us feedback on how we did (the verdict: great!).
We ended the day with a special DFA Candidate Forum that featured five of the six major contenders to become Nashville’s next Mayor. DFT and DFA Nashville plan on being involved in this election as well and it was an educational experience on where the candidates are on the issues. While you can read more in-depth coverage of how the candidates did from Tom Cash’s report at the DFA Nashville website, we do want to mention that all of the candidates were supportive of Vote By Mail and our Green Tennessee initiatives. Nashville DFA members should stay tuned too for information on how to vote in our Mayoral Straw Poll in the next two weeks. We’ll also be posting video from the Candidate Forum on our YouTube channel, DFtv, within the next two weeks.
Thanks to all who attended, who volunteered, and who sat as panelists or instructors at “Convention ‘07”. A special thanks to Ned Lamont and Jim Dean, the Connecticut Yankees who made time during their busy schedules and a holiday weekend to visit the Volunteer State. And of course, thanks to all of you – in Tennessee and across the country – who continue to stay involved and get active in the progressive cause. The tide is turning and we must continue to make changes in our government at every level and take our country back from the corporate special interests and the right-wing ideologues that have hijacked our democracy. Remember, we have the power… now let’s use it!
Mark Naccarato
Founding Chairman, Democracy for Tennessee
www.DemocracyForTennessee.com
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Nice job Mark and DFT!
Excellent! This is a model of a well run statewide convention. Keep up the great work!
Many thanks to the staff in Vermont, who... bless their hearts... didn't hang up on me - not once! A big shout out to Charles and Kyle for hooking us up with all kinds of cool swag, Arshad for patiently working out the email schedule with me and Charles, Sheri for offering to help out in any way she could, Tom Hughes for taking the news of my resignation well (mostly), and of course to Jim Dean for hopping a plane down here on what should have been a day off for him. Interesting factoid - this is the second Tennessee convention where me and Jim have worn the same outfit (blue oxford shirt and tan khaki pants). Great (out of style) minds think alike, eh, Jim?
Keep up all the hard work, Team DFA! If I start to miss you too much, I may just call to harass you just for the heck of it.
Peace out.
They are doing some GREAT stuff in beautiful Tennessee.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-valeriani/april-10-2007-news-updat_b_45496.html
News Update (Valeriani)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted by White House, Cheney, and other Republicans for going to Syria. Deafening silence about Republican Congressmen who went to Syria just before and right after Pelosi. Maybe CIA never found out about Republicans.
Sen. John McCain visits Baghdad marketplace to demonstrate area's improved security. Especially improved by hundreds of soldiers, helicopter gunships overhead and super-armored Humvee.Bet that kind of Humvee would work well in battle, too.
White House holds annual Easter Egg Hunt. The president didn't find any. He was looking for them at his ranch in Texas.
Baseball season opens, but President Bush, a onetime team owner, sits on bench, does not throw out first ball. Hey, George, a little booing might be good for you.
Juxtaposed internet magazine headlines: "Oil plunges to $62/barrel." "Gas prices rise 18 cents/gallon." Huh?
Newsmax headline: "Obama tries to hide white grandmother." Where? In New Hampshire?
Media go into frenzy over campaign fund-raising figures. Only 18 months of journalistic hysteria left before Election Day.
Former Bush Cabinet member and Governor, Tommy Thompson, enters GOP presidential race. Republicans eagerly awaiting another Thompson.
Jesse Jackson comes out in support of Obama. Stop the presses!
I was there and I can say the convention went smoothly. I just want to echo Mark's thoughts about the convention, the Green Tennessee plan, the Vote by Mail in Tennessee plan. These are all things which other DFA groups in other states can look at and implement in their own region. Again, the Ned gave a great speech. All the information given was great and overall a great job, Good job Mark and Jim on a successful convention.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001776.html
3 Generals Spurn the Position of War 'Czar'
The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, but it has had trouble finding anyone able and willing to take the job, according to people close to the situation.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have declined to be considered for the position, the sources said, underscoring the administration's difficulty in enlisting its top recruits to join the team after five years of warfare that have taxed the United States and its military.
"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander who was among those rejecting the job. Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,' " he said
I'd really like to hear more about the TVA. What are their future energy plans?
It struck me in that "KilowattOurs" video that some of the "savings" being realized as a result of energy conservation were really rather modest, in part because the rates were sort of low to begin with. If the per capita energy consumption is highest in the southeast, as the video claims, it may just be that the subsidies they enjoy are counter-productive.
Which 'minds me. When Phil refers to the cost of food being at an all-time low when total income is considered, I have to think that's not necessarily a good thing. Whether it's what people are eating, or the amount, one thing is clear and that's the cheap food is making a lot of people too fat and, as a consequence, unhealthy. Reminds me of the story of Hansel and Gretel whom the witch fattened up, or tried to, before they were ready to be consumed. In this case, it's industrialized health care that's looking to benefit from having a whole lot of people incapacitated by unhealthy food and air.
http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_...
Explosions rock Algerian capital, 17 killed
4/11/2007 11:00:00 AM GMT
A series of bomb blasts rocked the Algerian capital on Wednesday, killing more than 17 people and wounding at least 82 others, authorities said.
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I don't know anything about Algiers. Anyone want to elaborate on what this is about?
Also, I find it noteworth that capitalnews.org (C-SPAN) is linking more than one Al Jazeera article this morning.
Who really wants us out of Iraq?
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/50424/#more
Of course Biden wants out, right? But no. He's talking about leaving a dictator or chaos if the troops get out -- and to "protect" Iraq from such a scenario. Hillary Clinton was no more serious. She talked about taking a look at the security situation in 2009 to see whether troops were still needed. I could go on, but the point is illustrated. The value here of getting these candidates to all speak in some depth on the same issue is that it's easy to see where the differences are, and who is offering the most substantial plan. Biden, Dodd, Obama, Clinton, Richardson -- they all have different plans, and said different things. But listening to one after the other I can tell you they aren't terribly serious about them. Edwards was slightly more believable, but tethered his discussion to the the current congressional debate. And Kucinich's language was miles more serious and unequivocal about leaving.
The Voters spoke loud and clear in November. The polls since are unambiguous. The Iraqis want us gone, no matter what the consequences.
So why are these turkeys spouting such nonsense?
For the geographically challenged like me Algeria is in north Africa east of Morocco and west of Libya and Egypt. bbl
Here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6544437.stm is the bbc story on the same set of explosions in Algiers.
Whatever you think of aljazeera's "slant" on things, they are making an effort on international news, at least in their English language service.
Interesting point of view from another discussion I'm in the middle of online. Needless to day, I disagreed with the person who said "But we need more pragmatism and less dogmatism. The true believers, the GOP base, the religious right, got us into Iraq, after all, while
the pragmatists said, "wait a minute...." "
Me, I thought the pragmatists (Kerry, Clinton, et al) voted FOR the IWR?
As I remember my history class,Algeria and France are joined at the hip,. The colonial age of France bit us in the ass in Vietnam I hope we can avoid that mistake in north Africa. Much more likely to influence the upcoming French election. A car bomb or two would propel their right wing kook that's running third. Racism and fear are alive and well in France too.
Right now Democrats need to line up behind Reid and Pelosi in the showdown with the Whitehouse and stand behind their statements that they all support us leaving Iraq by 08. I sure hope no one running is a waffling "I voted for it before I voted against it" wind surfer
Algeria was a French colony before winning independence in 1962. It has had lots of ups and downs since then. In recent years there has been an ongoing battle between secularists and Islamists, fought both at the ballot box and in the streets.
My decision of who to support will get a lot easier this week if any of them back away from Reid and Pelosi.
Phil,
Without naming names, there are several Democratic Presidential candidates still trying to have it both ways on Iraq, saying they want to get most of the troops out, or leave them in for X and Y but not Z. And of course, there's the whole fear of actually defunding, instead of just saying we'll consider definding at some point in the future if Bush doesn't Do A, B and C.
Reid/Pelosi is probably the best we can do right now, but it's far from a clear statement to quickly bring the troops home. At best, they're home in another year. That's a long time, and more time than is necessary for safe withdrawal.
second generation Algerian youth fought the car burning battles in Paris last year
it isn't just a 50 year old deal for the French, but it does illustrate the cultural problems of occupation that last for decades between patriots and collaborators, secularists and believers, (the Klan and the FBI)
Iraq will have strife for decades because of our invasion no matter how peaceful the leaving, and like a French speaking Algerian, if you are an English speaking Iraqi, you are immediately suspect to conservative elements.
In Vietnam the people on "our" side spoke French and were Catholic which makes about as much sense as taking the word of an Iraqi spoken in English
rich
Reid/Pelosi got Ben Nelson on board. It sure better be a minimum position for any of the 08 crowd.
Tennessee is leading the way, DFA.
We are going to get a similar report from Missouri next week.
The middle of the country is getting it's act together, it would be nice of we could get that man from Tennessee into the White House.
bbl, I have to move snow for the milk hauler.
21.
rich^kolker
Wed, 04/11/07
10:37 am
Without naming names, there are several Democratic Presidential candidates still trying to have it both ways on Iraq....
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...lol, it's easier to name those who is NOT trying that...(Kucinich maybe?).
In the meantime here is the new info regarding plans "to improve situation" in Iraq:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk...
Robert Fisk: Divide and rule - America's plan for Baghdad
Revealed: a new counter-insurgency strategy to carve up the city into sealed areas. The tactic failed in Vietnam. So what chance does it have in Iraq?
Published: 11 April 2007
Faced with an ever-more ruthless insurgency in Baghdad - despite President George Bush's "surge" in troops - US forces in the city are now planning a massive and highly controversial counter-insurgency operation that will seal off vast areas of the city, enclosing whole neighbourhoods with barricades and allowing only Iraqis with newly issued ID cards to enter.
The campaign of "gated communities" - whose genesis was in the Vietnam War - will involve up to 30 of the city's 89 official districts and will be the most ambitious counter-insurgency programme yet mounted by the US in Iraq.
The system has been used - and has spectacularly failed - in the past, and its inauguration in Iraq is as much a sign of American desperation at the country's continued descent into civil conflict as it is of US determination to "win" the war against an Iraqi insurgency that has cost the lives of more than 3,200 American troops. The system of "gating" areas under foreign occupation failed during the French war against FLN insurgents in Algeria and again during the American war in Vietnam. Israel has employed similar practices during its occupation of Palestinian territory - again, with little success.
But the campaign has far wider military ambitions than the pacification of Baghdad. It now appears that the US military intends to place as many as five mechanised brigades - comprising about 40,000 men - south and east of Baghdad, at least three of them positioned between the capital and the Iranian border. This would present Iran with a powerful - and potentially aggressive - American military force close to its border in the event of a US or Israeli military strike against its nuclear facilities later this year.
The latest "security" plan, of which The Independent has learnt the details, was concocted by General David Petraeus, the current US commander in Baghdad, during a six-month command and staff course at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.
..........
FM 3-24: America's new masterplan for Iraq
FM 3-24 comprises 220 pages of counter-insurgency planning, combat training techniques and historical analysis. The document was drawn up by Lt-Gen David Petraeus, the US commander in Baghdad, and Lt-Gen James Amos of the US Marine Corps, and was the nucleus for the new US campaign against the Iraqi insurgency. These are some of its recommendations and conclusions:
* In the eyes of some, a government that cannot protect its people forfeits the right to rule. In [parts] of Iraq and Afghanistan... militias established themselves as extragovernmental arbiters of the populace's physical security - in some cases, after first undermining that security...
* In the al-Qa'ida narrative... Osama bin Laden depicts himself as a man purified in the mountains of Afghanistan who is inspiring followers and punishing infidels. In the collective imagination of Bin Laden and his followers, they are agents of Islamic history who will reverse the decline of the umma (Muslim community) and bring about its triumph over Western imperialism.
* As the Host Nation government increases its legitimacy, the populace begins to assist it more actively. Eventually, the people marginalise insurgents to the point that [their] claim to legitimacy is destroyed. However, victory is gained not when this is achieved, but when the victory is permanently maintained by and with the people's active support...
* Any human rights abuses committed by US forces quickly become known throughout the local populace. Illegitimate actions undermine counterinsurgency efforts... Abuse of detained persons is immoral, illegal and unprofessional.
* If military forces remain in their compounds, they lose touch with the people, appear to be running scared, and cede the initiative to the insurgents. Aggressive saturation patrolling, ambushes, and listening post operations must be conducted, risk shared with the populace and contact maintained.
* FM 3-24 quotes Lawrence of Arabia as saying: "Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them."
* FM 3-24 points to Napoleon's failure to control occupied Spain as the result of not providing a "stable environment" for the population. His struggle, the document says, lasted nearly six years and required four times the force of 80,000 Napoleon originally designated.
* Do not try to crack the hardest nut first. Do not go straight for the main insurgent stronghold. Instead, start from secure areas and work gradually outwards... Go with, not against, the grain of the local populace.
* Be cautious about allowing soldiers and marines to fraternise with local children. Homesick troops want to drop their guard with kids. But insurgents are watching. They notice any friendships between troops and children. They may either harm the children as punishment or use them as agents.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk...
Latest Poll shows a majority of Americans want Congress to place timelines in the Iraq spending bill to end the occupation.
Damn straight Phil, EVERY SENATOR RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BETTER BEING SIGNING ON TO Senator Feingold/Reid's Out of Iraq Resolution.
CALL YOUR PRESIDENTIAL SENATORS NOW!!!
1-877-331-1223
Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Obama
Great post and pics!
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Fred Thompson has cancer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/ap_o...
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The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies,
When Hitler's generals didn't carry out his insane orders to his satisfation he took direct command of the military upon himself. The lesson of that stupid and disasterous action is obviously lost on Bushboy and Ayatolla Cheney.
mary interesting...won't the evangelicals jump all over that he took a cloned medicine derived by cloning immune cells in to a drug?
[Emphasis herein mine]
"The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press:
[...]
Even more striking than the changes in some core political and social values is the dramatic shift in party identification that has occurred during the past five years. In 2002, the country was equally divided along partisan lines: 43% identified with the Republican Party or leaned to the GOP, while an identical proportion said they were Democrats. Today, half of the public (50%) either identifies as a Democrat or says they lean to the Democratic Party, compared with 35% who align with the GOP.
Yet the Democrats' growing advantage in party identification is tempered by the fact that ***the Democratic Party's overall standing with the public is no better than it was when President Bush was first inaugurated in 2001.*** Instead, it is the Republican Party that has rapidly lost public support, particularly among political independents. Faced with an unpopular president who is waging an increasingly unpopular war, the proportion of Americans who hold a favorable view of the Republican Party stands at 41%, down 15 points since January 2001. But during that same period, the proportion expressing a positive view of Democrats has declined by six points, to 54%."
[....]
I must say how wonderful it is for the NEW JUNIOR Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Whitehouse, to not show Political fear in having CoSponsored Senator Feingold's Bill.
THANK YOU SENATOR WHITEHOUSE
The only Presidential Candidate that has joined to date is Senator Chris Dodd.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/04/11/obamas_silence_on_imus_alarms_some_blacks/
Obama's silence on Imus alarms some blacks
WASHINGTON -- With the Rev. Al Sharpton leading calls Monday for radio host Don Imus to be fired over racially insensitive remarks, Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign avoided the controversy throughout the day.
Not until Monday evening, five days after Imus's comments were uttered and hours after CBS Radio and MSNBC announced a two-week suspension for the radio host, did Obama weigh in, saying in a statement: "The comments of Don Imus were divisive, hurtful, and offensive to Americans of all backgrounds." Obama did not address whether he thought Imus should be taken off the air.
Melissa Harris Lacewell, a professor of politics and African-American studies at Princeton University, said Obama missed an opportunity to prove himself to blacks and white liberals who would have wanted Obama take the lead in denouncing Imus.
"This was so easy, and his unwillingness to touch it tells me this is going to be his third rail, and race never goes away in politics," Harris Lacewell said. "Black people want to love Barack. They're doing everything they can to love Barack. We want to believe that Barack is better than this. But they will turn on him."
Sitka
Wed, 04/11/07
11:15 am
To their credit, the retired 4-stars are turning Bush down. Presumably they realize they would have to satisfy Cheney's blood lust if they took the job. And probably wind up being fired.
All of the repug candidates are happy to appear on the Imus show again. It takes me back to Howard Dean's statements about the Republican "code-words" on race to keep their redneck base on board.
LIEBERMAN IS SO FULL OF --IT!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/iraqis-finally-uniteaga_b_45561.html
What part of "leave now" doesn't Lieberman get? Speaking of the rally called by Sadr to blast the Americans as Iraq's "archenemy" and to demand "that the occupiers withdraw from our land," Lieberman surreally sought to find a silver lining of support for U.S. policy: "[Sadr] is not calling for a resurgence of sectarian conflict. He's striking a nationalist chord. He's acknowledging that the surge is working," he said.
Ugh. What tortured logic. Ponder that sentence for the sheer mendacity of its optimism, which conveniently ignores the fact that the nationalist chord is a stridently anti-American one. Yes, there were Sunni clerics in the Najaf march and Sadr's followers heeded his call to wrap themselves, literally, in the Iraqi flag while shunning sectarian slogans--but what united them was the demand to end the U.S. occupation, which Lieberman so fervently supports.
So apparently the surge is working ... to unite all Iraqis against us. As Hazim al-Araji, one of Sadr's top Baghdad representatives, described the by-all-accounts massive rally: "There are people here from all different parties and sects. We are all carrying the national flag, which is a symbol of unity. And we are all united in calling for the withdrawal of the Americans."
What irony: The final refuge of the scoundrels who sold us on this war, Lieberman included, was that although it could not be justified by claims that Saddam had WMD or an alliance with al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden, the invasion would implant American ideals of democracy on Iraqi soil. What is being implanted instead is a virulent anti-American and anti-Israeli nationalism, Sadr's current cause, competing with a smoldering sectarian civil war, which this multitasking demagogue has also fueled. Yet, spinning like a top, Sen. Lieberman desperately finds solace in a resurgent Iraqi nationalism based on hatred of the United States.
The only alternative to this Iraqi nationalism is not the democratic and pro-Israel fantasy of the neoconservatives like Lieberman who talked our clueless president into this irresponsible folly, but rather the subjection of Iraq to a Shiite militancy allied with Iran. Sadr, who is rumored to be living these days in Iran, seems torn between those two futures, perhaps positioning himself to benefit no matter which path proves more popular.
Colin Powell was only partially right when he warned before the U.S. invasion, "If you break it, you own it." What he didn't add is that the locals will hate you for it, and try to kill you every day until you give it back.
36.
Huron John
Wed, 04/11/07
12:01 pm
Reply to this
30.
Sitka
Wed, 04/11/07
11:15 am
To their credit, the retired 4-stars are turning Bush down. Presumably they realize...
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Agree with both, our "decider" should probably take this czar role into his own hands...., the fate of any desperate dictator before vanishing off..., lol.
All of the Presidential candidates should've "gotten" the primary intersections of sex & race (along with SES & power dynamics of white male privilege).
Duh.
The difference is that Imus has access to the F.E.C.'s airwaves (which belong to the American public, folks)--disparaging ***all American women***; as well as African American women is totally unacceptable.
Enough, already.
So-called "freedom of speech" carries consequences; and it's time that MSNBC & Imus *pay* dearly for his racist & sexist 'mouth' (which has elicited as a long-standing pattern of behavior)....
Trivializing, minimizing, & blame-shifting don't cut it.
This is 2007...100% unacceptable.
True, both Billary & Obama should've been the first to speak out (and vehemently); as they're both members of two minority (power differentials) in America...spineless cowards abound in the triangulated Democratic [not] party.
Hell--my sonar was up (esp. witnessing Imus's projection w/his snarky and defensive "you people" retort to Sharpton); and I reside in the 2nd whitest state in the nation (which is irrelevant, but it's a matter of awareness).
Sharpton physically recoiled, as did I--while watching it occur.
The digusting part about Sharpton is that he didn't "get it," re: the intersection of all American women...it's a misogyny issue, also.
Any person in the USA who's a Baby Boomer (early stage of the continuum) has no excuse whatsoever *not* to be outraged...none, whatsoever (the ability to detect covert & overt sexism, racism, homophobia, & classicism is a no-brainer).
A two week "time-out?" Nada. Fire him; and sue the pi$$ out of MSNBC & Imus...it's all they understand (he obviously hasn't learned to self-regulate; or to self-educate over the decades).
It's never the responsiblity of the oppressed minority groups to "educate" the rest of the arseholes of the world, BTW.
Maybe a fellow Senator doesn't want to call attention to poor speaking habits, like when addressing a crowd, a Senator refers to his fellow Senator as a "cutie".
Me thinks if a female Senator referred to another Senator in an introduction calling him a "hunk", that wouldn't have gone over to well.
Same w/James Carville...he hemmed & hawed all over the place last night on _Larry King Live_ (pathetic--wants to continue to hawk his books, etc.). "He's my friend, & has done a lot for kids w/cancer...." was his lame-assed defense mechanism.
Self-aggrandizement is nothing new for Carville...I can't stand him.
Conoco Makes Like Al Gore
By TSC Staff
4/11/2007 10:03 AM EDT
ConocoPhillips (COP - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) said Wednesday it will get behind efforts to push for new laws that would put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
The oil giant said it will lend its support to a "mandatory national framework" to address the issue. To further its goals, it has joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a business and environmental group that wants national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
"We recognize that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate," said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive of Conoco.
http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/market...
My letter to my Democratic Senator today.
Please call and write your Democratic Senators. If you like, go further by asking your Republican Senators to as well.
1-877-331-1223 Capitol Switchboard
You know, my Republican Senator Domenici sounds just like my Democratic one. They say one thing, but do another. Even Domenici sends out letters talking about not even supporting an escalation and that we need to change course. But he votes opposite that every time.
Dear Senator Bingaman,
I don't know how much more blood needs to be shed and how many more lives
need to be destroyed or lost before you will commit to ending our
occupation. Sir, you cannot, for 5 years, keep repeating the line that
you didn't support the start of this war. YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE
CONTINUATION of this war. You cannot be against the war if you are NOT
for ending it.
We are already approaching the year anniversary for the last Bill that was
introduced to specifically call for an end to our occupation by
Kerry/Feingold. Too many Senators were scared to commit to that one.
Only 13 Democratic Senators signed on that Bill, Akaka (D-HI),Boxer
(D-CA),Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Harkin (D-IA) ,Inouye (D-HI)
,Jeffords (I-VT) ,Kennedy (D-MA) ,Kerry (D-MA) ,Lautenberg (D-NJ) ,Leahy
(D-VT) ,Menendez (D-NJ) ,Wyden (D-OR). How has are occupation gone since
then?
There is no dancing around the issue. If you are not for ending an
unnecessary and senseless occupation from an aggressive War of choice by
our country, then you are for it. We know the Bush Administration doesn't
want an end to this. They want this endless war. The only thing he is
interested in is staying there for his oil and power. This is not
justified. The mission that was initially layed out since our invasion
have all been accomplished anyhow. Therefore it should end so we can
start planning for the future of Iraq, Middle East and America to move on
and start healing from this destruction.
In case you haven't noticed the recent polls, the majority of Americans
want congress to act, to place a time-line to firmly be redeployed from
Iraq and use the funds to stop this wrong continuation. We all know the
troops will have all the funds they need to be redeployed, all to end
after their ended occupation in March 08.
I cannot stress upon you more, if you indeed are opposed to this war and
continued occupation of another country, you should be publicly supportng
Senator Feingold/Reid's BILL TO END U.S. MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ,
Senate Majority Leader Reid Cosponsors Legislation Forcing President to
Safely Redeploy Troops by March 31, 2008.
Your gesture of supporting a nonbinding resolution needs to go further.
We the people are asking you to support this Bill and finally bring an end
to this occupation that is only hurting Iraq and the US more each day. A
much hastier plan could have been put together, easily calling for
immediate or 60 days draw down, but instead, a planned timely solution has
been assembled. This week and additional 8 Senators have signed on,
including the new Junior Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Whitehouse.
An excellent example of political courage and leadership.
I have called, but I fear this message is not getting through. I took
this opportunity to write you with hopes you will see my words and act
after the latest poll numbers being released today. You are our
representative and we are asking you to support this Bill to finally end
our Military Occupation in Iraq, some five years after our invasions and
attack. I hope you will be adding your name to the growing list.
I look forward to hearing the Press Release soon.
Sincerely,
Linda
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By Susan Rowe on Apr 10, 2007 10:25 AMThe Deans and DFA are always first!