On The View From Egypt, Part Four, Or, Gaza, We Have A Problem

Written by: fake consultant on Dec 30, 2008 12:55 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

What had been a truce between Israel and the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip seems to have abruptly come to a halt; with the Israelis blaming Hamas and Hamas blaming Israeli oppression of the displaced Palestinians for the simmering hostilities that are now boiling over into military-scale violence.

Before the recent holidays and an immoderate amount of snow buried me in things that could not be done on the computer we had been having a conversation about the strategic importance of our relationship with Egypt. Within that series of discussions we explored the influence of the political opposition, and we considered the fragility of President Mubarak’s hold on power.

We also noted the immediate proximity of Egypt to the Gaza Strip.

Today we’re going to tie all of that together—and the end result of all that tying is that we better keep a close eye on Egypt, because trouble in Gaza has spilled over into trouble in Cairo….and that’s one more Middle Eastern problem we don’t need.

Read more

Discuss

On Traffic Checkpoints, Part One, Or, Freedom? That's So...Inefficient

Written by: fake consultant on Dec 1, 2008 9:44 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

The holidays are in full swing...or at least they are in the US...which means your days—and nights—are full of running around like crazy. The holidays are in full swing...or at least they are in the US...which means your days—and nights—are full of running around like crazy.

There’s a million things to do, a thousand errands to run, and...are you kidding me?! A police sobriety roadblock?There’s a million things to do, a thousand errands to run, and...are you kidding me?!

A police sobriety roadblock?

Now?

That’s right: there’s a crowd of officers all around you, there’s no way to avoid it...and even though you’ve committed no crime whatsoever, you get to talk to the police...and if they decide it’s acceptable, you may continue on your way.

How can this be legal in America?

Does it actually serve any purpose?

And what happens when the police decide to blockade your neighborhood--for your own good?

Believe it or not, it’s my job today and tomorrow to answer those questions...and beyond that, to defend the simple right of Americans to go somewhere if we feel like it, without having to explain it to the police...and in today’s discussion, I intend to set the stage through an examination of history.

Read more

Discuss

On The View From Egypt, Part Three, Or, Could Big Trouble Create A "Biden Challenge" ?

Written by: fake consultant on Nov 17, 2008 8:35 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

I have been telling a serialized story about Egyptian politics recently, and my friend noemie maxwell, over at the Washblog, left a comment that suggested to me that I had “buried the lead” during the Part One and Part Two conversations.

We’ve been hinting at Joe Biden’s comments about inevitable challenges to the incoming Obama Administration, as well as describing political repression and the Constitutionalization of a “forever” political majority...but what we haven’t been talking about is why all of this, specifically, is important to US interests—and what a problem Big Trouble in Egypt could be for a new Administration.

Today, that’s an oversight we’re going to fix....and as a result, we won’t be resolving the cliffhanger that ended Part Two until Part Four.

So hop in the car, Gentle Reader, because we have a long ride ahead.

Read more

Discuss

On The View From Egypt, Part Two, Or, If You Can't Beat 'Em, Lock 'Em Up

Written by: fake consultant on Nov 16, 2008 2:30 AM EST

Linked to groups: Blog For America, Young Democrats of IL, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Democracy for Illinois, DFA Night School

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Joe the Biden famously warned us that the new President will be tested by a foreign policy challenge--and most of us assumed that challenge would come from somewhere like Pakistan, Afghanistan...or Russia.

New developments in the Middle East are suggesting that the challenge might come from an entirely different direction. It’s quite a story we’ve been telling--and today’s installment involves massive electoral manipulation, intimidation, imprisonment... and a recanting witness who dies in his jail cell.

Hop on board the international train, Gentle Reader, and we’ll see what we can learn about a country that is hardly an enemy...that is, in fact, such an ally that they have been willing to torture for us.

Read more

Discuss

On The New President, Or, The World Doesn't Change All In One Day

Written by: fake consultant on Nov 12, 2008 3:35 AM EST

Linked to groups: Blog For America, Young Democrats of IL, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Democracy for Illinois, DFA Night School

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Those who follow this space closely will know that we, from time to time, scout around and see what the other members of my blogging community are up to.

The "Blogpower" bloggers are primarily based in the UK, but others are located in the US, Canada, Australia, Italy...and even the Sudan.

We’ll see how they reacted to the US elections—and we’ll discover that while many are happy, it’s not all strawberries and cream out there.

We’ll meet the happy, we’ll meet the silly—and we’ll meet the not-so-very-happy as well.

So with that said, let’s head over to the UK, shall we?

Read more

Discuss

It's All Over, And Just Beginning, Or, Why The Campaign Never Ends

Written by: fake consultant on Nov 4, 2008 9:31 AM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

It is once again time to play “piano bar” here at the ole’ blog and turn a reader question into a story...and our “request” today comes from our friend jmb who is lucky enough to be living in Vancouver, British Columbia.

She wonders why American politics is now in permanent campaign mode. She comes from a Canadian tradition of limited campaign periods, and it seems awfully strange to her that we are already thinking about 2010, 2012, and 2016 before 2008 is even decided.

Matter of fact, it seems strange to a lot of us in the US as well.

Why does it happen?
Can it be fixed?
What can we learn from 2008?

Those are the questions we’ll take on today...and with time especially short today, we need to get right to work.

Read more

On Spinning Up Fear, Or, My Crazy Is Crazier Than Your Crazy

Written by: fake consultant on Nov 2, 2008 4:15 PM EST

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

There are but three days to go, Gentle Reader, and the McCain campaign is now down to fear and Joe The Plumber.

Those who seek to spread The Fear are resorting to fantastic schemes and amazing leaps of logic in an effort to find something to make The Fear rise in voters.

But to be honest, the crazy speculation lacks...imagination.

I believe I can present crazy speculation that is at least as interesting as what they’ve put out—and funnier to boot—and with that and the Halloween just past in mind we present the final weekend edition of the 2008 campaign cycle's blogging.

So, ya wanna hear a few debunked made up rumors that, frankly, have a lot more creative style?

Read more

On Dressing For Success, Part Two, Or, We Costume Palin...For 2/3 Off!

Written by: fake consultant on Oct 27, 2008 11:11 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Blog For America, Young Democrats of IL, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Democracy for Illinois, DFA Night School

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

When last we met, Gentle Reader, we were talking about more or less $150,000 in clothing and beauty services that had been purchased mostly for Sarah Palin’s use by the Republican National Committee.

Since then, we have learned that John McCain himself once tried to outlaw the very type of contribution that led to this situation, we’ve heard McCain’s campaign offer a very non-maverick-y denial...and we’ve learned that the highest paid member of the McCain campaign staff—the person who presumably has the magic touch needed to turn this thing around—will be working her magic with a makeup brush.

As we discussed yesterday, I think I could have dressed Palin for 1/3 of what the RNC paid. Yesterday we “purchased” five of the outfits I think she needs...and with half the shopping done, we’re $670 over budget.

Can she be dressed for a mere $43,000?
Let’s see if we can pull it off... 

Read more

On Dressing For Success, Part One, Or, How Much Is Armani, Anyway?

Written by: fake consultant on Oct 24, 2008 9:59 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

So you’re the Governor of a State...but the next thing you know, you’re running for Vice President. The boss says you gotta bling up the ol’ Governor clothes—and the next thing you know, you’re having to explain how you can be the common “hockey mom” from Wasilla and how you can be clothed in more than enough money to buy Joe The Plumber’s house...both at the same time.

In the interests of telling the story fairly, I decided to conduct my own online shopping experiment.

Let’s head over to Saks and Neiman’s...and Bergdorf and Goodman’s to boot...and let’s just find out exactly what you would need to spend to look fabulous—and what you should probably be avoiding if you really want to project that whole “woman of the people” kind of thing. 

That’s right folks, today, we play “Joe The Personal Shopper” for Sarah Palin.

Read more

On Grasping At Straws, Or, We've Got Biden Right Where We Want Him

Written by: fake consultant on Oct 21, 2008 6:13 PM EDT

Linked to groups: DFA Night School, Democracy for Illinois, Quad Cities Trained Activists, Young Democrats of IL, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

John McCain is all excited today, because, in his mind, Joe Biden has really Screwed It Up This Time by claiming that Obama will be tested by a foreign policy challenge, that Obama will act in a way we might not immediately trust, and that we should stand by him if it happens.

Oh My God You Have To Vote For Me, is the McCain response, because we can’t afford someone who will be tested in office.

As it turns out, Joe Biden is the smarter guy in this argument, a few calm words are in order...and I’m here today to offer a response that will set McCain’s foolishness right back on its heels.

So let’s get to it.

Read more