McCain's Mansions: The Real Elitist

Written by: Susan Rowe on Aug 21, 2008 4:20 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Film Club, Blog For America, DFA Blog Network, Bloggers, Blogs United, Netroots Activism!, DFA-Link Organizers, California for Democracy

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

In their latest video film maker Robert Greenwald and the Brave New Films' Team expose presidential candidate John McCain's Republican hypocrisy.

McCain's Mansions

'The Real Elitist'

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Video: Rallies & Protests in SF as McCain and Obama Rake in the $$

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Aug 18, 2008 9:15 PM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

 "The more I see of the moneyed classes, the more I understand the guillotine."
George Bernard Shaw

 Barack Obama came to the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel for a fundraiser yesterday on Sunday, August 17. He raised 7.5 million dollars. Just 3 weeks earlier John McCain had braved being corrupted by the dreaded 'San Francisco Values' at a fund raiser in the same hotel. His campaign declined to state how much their haul was.

Here are videos I made of both Rallies.

Barack Obama at San Francisco Fairmont Hotel Rally, Aug 17, 2008
 

Anti McCain SF Rally - Alec Bash - 07-28-08 at Fairmont Hotel

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Progressive Values Stories: Gavin Newsom on Inclusivity and Noah’s Ark

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Aug 16, 2008 5:08 PM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

We are trying to construct a more inclusive society. We are going to make a country in which no one is left out.  Franklin D. Roosevelt

I interviewed San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom about what he personally feels are the most important progressive values. He mentioned  several progressive values, such as, Interdependence, Stewardship, Empathy and Tolerance, but focused on Inclusivity as the most important.  He cautions progressives not to 'eat their young' and implode internally from all their differences. When asked to create a metaphor for inclusivity, he came up with the image of  Noah's Ark. 

Progressive Values: Gavin Newsom on Inclusivity and Interdependence

Gavin Newsom:  Well, I’m thinking inclusivity, the notion that we’re all in this together, and interdependence, that celebrate our differences, but unite around our common humanity.  And the opportunity to live their lives out loud and to be fully expressive is a core value, it’s a value that provides an opportunity to create wealth and opportunity and keeps us competitive, a spirit of pride and entrepreneurialism that transcends the movement, the willingness to agree to disagree without being disagreeable. 

The willingness to come together and try new things, and innovate and focus on a precautionary principle, that is decisions we make today have an impact tomorrow, and being thoughtful about making an investment not only in terms of solving today’s problems, but in the long term. 

And I think these values are uniting values and transcending values from one generation to the next, and I think they are truly American values.  And they’re family values, as we’re talking today about family values – if you believe in family values, you need to value the family with a living wage and sick leave or family medical leave. 

You need to create jobs and opportunity, create opportunities for health care and get your kids into college, to be able to afford college, or work-training programs.  Be prepared for the new evolution in terms of green-collar jobs and realities of global interdependence, and the fact that we can’t put a wall up, and that we have to deal with the changing economy and climate, literally and figuratively in the global climate itself. 

So I think it’s a much more impactful and impassioned stewardship, and certainly one that is in stark contrast to a decade of conservatism that has been thrust upon us. 

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Join Texas' Largest OBAMA WATCH PARTY August 28th!

Written by: Phillip McNutt on Aug 8, 2008 6:38 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Houston, Democracy for Texas, DFA-Link Organizers, DFA Blog Network, Netroots Activism!, Blog For America, 2007 Training Academy Organizers, Progressive Democrats of Southeast Texas, Training Academy Alumni, Class of 2007, DFA Film Club

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Houston will host the LARGEST OBAMA WATCH PARTY in Texas on August 28th at 7:00 pm.  You DO NOT want to miss this one!

You can purchase your tickets online at:

http://www.CelebrateObama.com

Buy your tickets TODAY!!! Before they are sold out...  Be sure to request seating at the DEMOCRACY FOR HOUSTON table(s).

The event will be held at the Renaissance Hotel at 6 Greenway Plaza (Southwest Freeway and Edloe) next door to Lakewood Church - Houston, 77046.

Bring your party hats and noise makers - we'll furnish the rest!  European desserts, coffee and cash bar provided.

All net proceeds benefit the Harris County Democratic Coordinated Campaign.  This event is hosted by the Houston Area Stonewall Democrats and Harris County Democratic Party Volunteers.

Purchase your tickets for August 28th today at:

http://www.CelebrateObama.com

Hope to see you there!

Phillip McNutt

Obama Celebration Event Co-Chair

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Failed Conservatives Values: Gavin Newsom on Division and Tasmanian Devils

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Aug 8, 2008 11:48 AM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

A house divided against itself cannot stand.  Abraham Lincoln

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

The likes of Bill O'Reilly and Newt Gingrich have long railed against 'San Francisco Values' as a cause of America's ills.   I sat down with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at the Netroots Nation Conference in Austin, Texas to talk about conservative values.  Gavin articulated the case for how the conservative value of division has failed. He listed case after case of failed results and finally likened conservative values to schizophrenic and bipolar Tasmanian Devils. 

Failed Conservatives Values: Gavin Newsom on Division and Tasmanian Devils

Edwin:  I’ve been asking people how conservative values have failed.  I’m wondering what your thoughts are.

Gavin:  I guess I’m all about evidence and results.  Let’s take a look at the evidence of the last eight years, where you had a Republican Congress and a Republican President, and a conservative agenda, that was being carried on every talk show and almost every single cable news network that reconciled the fact that they needed to be more conservative in order to justify a market share in terms of an audience.

What you have are the largest deficits in the history of mankind, a debt that has grown exponentially.  You have income disparity, the likes of which we have never seen, and never could have imagined coming out of World War II, where we had a vibrant middle class.

You’ve got jobs that are being outsourced overseas, and you’ve got all sorts of issues of insecurity at home which relates to energy costs and the challenges associated with people trying to live the American Dream by keeping their home, let alone affording to purchase a home.

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Conservatives in Hollywood

Written by: DFA Staff on Aug 5, 2008 8:00 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Film Club, Blog For America, blog for America Test and Poll Group

The cover story of the latest issue of the Weekly Standard takes a look at the "growing class of Hollywood conservatives":  

Until now, conservatives in Hollywood have always been too few and too worried about a backlash to do anything serious to challenge the left-wing status quo.

I can't bring myself to actually link to the Weekly Standard, so, here is a link to the Slate piece in which I came across the Weekly Standard article.

I've always found it funny that conservative entertainers are hailed by the right -- President Ronald Reagan, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Huckabee-sidekick Chuck Norris -- and liberal entertainers are roundly and regularly mocked by the same people.

I was living in California during the recall effort that resulted in Arnold Schwarzenegger's election.  At one point during the campaign, Warren Beatty's name was bandied about as a potential Democratic challenger.  I remember Republicans taking to the airwaves to say that Mr. Beatty was unqualified and he had a wild and crazy past that would disqualify him from serious consideration.  As if Gov. Schwarzenegger never went through a well-documented pot smoking, steroid using, womanizing phase.

Anyway, conservatives are coming out of the closet and, boy-oh-boy, are they going to let those Hollywood-liberals have it.  I feel safer already.

Danny
Communications Director

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Oliver Stone's 'W.' (Open Thread)

Written by: Susan Rowe on Aug 5, 2008 3:56 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Blog For America, DFA Film Club

The teaser trailer for Oliver Stone's biopic of President George W. Bush has been released on YouTube. The 'W.' trailer is already stirring debate all over the Internet between opponents and supporters of the President. ...

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DFA Members at Democratic National Convention in Denver, August 25-28, 2008

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Aug 2, 2008 4:58 PM EDT

Linked to groups: What are Progressive Values? Study Group, East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

I thought I'd start a thread for any DFA members going to the DNC. We can discuss logistics, travel, accommodations, events, plans, ideas,  etc. here.

 Is anyone going to Denver?
What are your plans there?
What's DFA going to do there?

I've just started looking into transportation and accommodation in Denver. Anyone have tips for places to stay there and things to do? I thought I'd go to do more interviews about Progressive Values..

- The website for the convention is at  Demconvention.com

- Progressive Democrats of America have a center there with activities, speakers, etc.
 

any other tips out there?

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Progressive Flying Monkey versus Conservative Snail Values

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Jul 31, 2008 3:32 PM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

I attended an anti McCain rally at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. There I interviewed several people and asked them to create a metaphor for Progressive and Conservative Values and to create a dialogue between the two.  In this story, Melanie sees conservative values as slug-snails and progressive values as monkeys with wings. See how the snails and monkeys get along.

  Melanie on Progressive Flying Monkey versus Conservative Snail Values

I’m Melanie.  I would say conservative values are kind of like a slug, moving along very slowly,and that’s not going to lead to the progress that this country needs and continues to be the amazing presence that we are meant to be in this world.

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Presidential Candidate Bob Barr on the Failure of Conservative Values

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Jul 27, 2008 12:13 PM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

 At Netroots Nation in Austin, Texas, you can always tell when a VIP is in the room.  Just look for the person with a deferential crowd gathered around them and  follow the direction the cameras are pointed. While I feel uncomfortable standing so deferentially in anyone's presence, I have a job to do, and that's to find out how exactly conservative values have failed. So, when I saw a crowed gathered in the hallway, I moseyed on over with my video camera in hand and worked myself into the front of the crowed.  There was  Bob Barr, the Libertarian presidential candidate. After patiently waiting for the other interviewers to finish asking their questions, I asked Bob, "Have Conservative Values Failed?"

Presidential Candidate Bob Barr on the Failure of Conservative Values

Bob Barr:  I'm not sure.  The term "conservative values" means so many different things to so many different people.  To me, what has utterly failed in the traditional conservative movement is any understanding of or respect for true individual liberty and our constitutional system of government, which was designed expressly to provide protection for individual liberty.

We now have a government which calls itself conservative, yet believes it's okay to spy on American citizens within their own country without a court order.  We now have an administration which calls itself conservative and supports conservative values that believes it's okay to detain a citizen or non-citizen in this country and never give them access to courts to determine under habeas corpus if they are being held properly.

So if in fact respect for individual liberty, respect for the Constitution are conservative values, we certainly don't have that in Washington nowadays. 

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