THE DEANS ARE FIRST!

Hey Franco,

Thanks for committing your summer to activism, new possibilities and a more muscled progressive infrastructure. Certain birdies that flew north before you have already told me how awesome you are, so I'm delighted you'll be in Burlington working for us all.

Shout-out to ALL the great summer interns up at HQ!

BOOYA!

Rosi Efthim, NJ for Democracy, co-Chair

Wow! Good for you Franco!

 I took a DFA/Dean-challenge this year and decided to run for Council in my town here in Red Bank NJ.

I wish you the best of luck...it's a great group to work with...excellent people and a
VERY good cause--Democracy!

 Best wishes for a successful Summer.

E J Zipprich, Monmouth for Democracy

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070607-113722-3412r.htm

By Brian DeBose
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
June 8, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama yesterday rallied supporters in preparation for his presidential campaign's nationwide March for Change, which will see thousands going door to door tomorrow to promote the Illinois Democrat's candidacy.

...

the Obama campaign's canvass tomorrow, in which more than 10,000 volunteers will participate, said Temo Figueroa, national field director for the campaign. "It will be the largest grass-roots-organizing campaign this early in a presidential election."
    

More than 2,000 people will march in Iowa, a few hundred in New Hampshire, where the Obama campaign conducted a canvass late last month, about 300 in Nevada, more than 200 in San Francisco and 270 in Oakland, campaign officials said.

...

Krugman on the Media and Repugs:

 In Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate, Mitt Romney completely misrepresented how we ended up in Iraq. Later, Mike Huckabee mistakenly claimed that it was Ronald Reagan’s birthday.

Guess which remark The Washington Post identified as the “gaffe of the night”?

Folks, this is serious. If early campaign reporting is any guide, the bad media habits that helped install the worst president ever in the White House haven’t changed a bit.

There wasn’t anything comparable to Mr. Romney’s rewritten history in the Democratic debate two days earlier, which was altogether on a higher plane. Still, someone should have called Hillary Clinton on her declaration that on health care, “we’re all talking pretty much about the same things.” While the other two leading candidates have come out with plans for universal (John Edwards) or near-universal (Barack Obama) health coverage, Mrs. Clinton has so far evaded the issue. But again, this went unmentioned in most reports.

By the way, one reason I want health care specifics from Mrs. Clinton is that she’s received large contributions from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Will that deter her from taking those industries on?

LETTERS TO NYT ON IRAQ

In “Defeat’s Killing Fields” (Op-Ed, June 7), Peter W. Rodman and William Shawcross condemn those who are “toying with the idea of American defeat” in Iraq and list all the horrors that would result.

The fact is that the United States has already been defeated in this war, that the defeat was predictable, and was in fact predicted even before the invasion. More important than military defeat, the United States has been morally disgraced both for starting the war and for its conduct of the war, unleashing unfathomable levels of death and misery on Iraqis.

It is the war’s initiators and supporters who are responsible for the terrible consequences of the American disgrace in Iraq. It is absurd to be “against defeat”: what we need now are those who can grapple with its reality.

******************************************************************

Peter W. Rodman and William Shawcross are following the traditional political script for when an unjust war goes horribly bad: argue that continuing the war is still better than defeat.

The Johnson and Nixon administrations made all the same arguments that Mr. Rodman and Mr. Shawcross now make once it became obvious that the Vietnam War was a monumental mistake.

Sadly, these arguments always fall on many sympathetic ears because of people’s basic psychological reluctance to accept defeat. The real question now is how to begin restoring the credibility we have lost.

****************************************************************

America’s defeat in Iraq occurred the moment we decided on a unilateral invasion based on known false information. It already threw the entire Middle East into greater upheaval. It has also diminished our stature as a nation for many years to come, if not forever.

As was stated four years ago, there is no right way to do the wrong thing. We’re in a hole, and we have to stop digging. Trying to figure out how we can win will produce nothing but blank stares and a deeper hole.

********************************************************

I have but one serious question for Peter W. Rodman and William Shawcross regarding their ominous warning about accepting defeat in Iraq: What constitutes victory?

63.
Monica, thanks, I figured the same thing when I read his quotes. I laughed at his tone and talking points from the "establishment". And I questioned him INSTANTLY.

The "establishment" and Insiders and pundits aren't doing them a favor by ignoring the realities. It seems they are seeing evidence that folks aren't falling for their instructions to settle for the crew of candidates they're pushing at us. Apparently they didn't notice a recent poll in Iowa, that a HUGE amount of Democratic voters were not satisfied with the current group of candidates and I believe it was 44 or 45 percent said they wanted Al Gore to enter the election. That's huge.

It seems indeed, the Revolution will not be televised.




_________________________________

mprov

perhaps the real question should be not of party but of ridding ourselves of the dlc/centrists so that we can have a liberal/progressive party.
mprov


>>>That's what I'm aiming for, including when I called the DNC months ago to ask they put in their Convention Rules that the Candidate must support Democratic Principles!

...but, we have seen the DLC is using everything they got for the weak ones, to sweeten their compromising side with the bucks, and the Corporate candidates are staying strong in the party. So, if this is all we end up with, I can't say they get my vote.

Paine, I LOVE Groucho Marx (and Harpo too, the other side of this "mirror.")  I promise you that I will perform the same dance on the day Cheney and bush are frog marched to jail or when Al Gore is in the White House, whichever comes first.

Run, Al, Run-mp3

Wishing a safe and happy journey to all those traveling to Deanfest today.  As for me, I'm off to the salt mine and then to Michigan for the weekend, sans computer.  I will be reading the weekend threads as soon as I get home.

Franco...sounds good to me!

It seems to be happening a lot more. During the summer months in Miami, head north. Especially with warmer weather. I even spoke to a young man from Israel manning a cart at Bayside a couple weeks ago and he said he's heading to Boston for the summer! LOL

I did notice very strong support for a President Al Gore. One gentleman I spoke with extensively who said the 4000-5000 Cubans who were punishing the Democrats for Clinton not getting involved in the Elian mess, sending him back to Cuba, pretty much regret that decision these past 6 years, including his own wife.

Kolker opposites:

conservative republican / progressive democrat

~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~~

Run Al Run
dance donna dance!

Hey Donna, be safe and enjoy Michigan

...all other traveling too,

But all folks , Charlie...howdy, TTT, Mainefem, Rich, Thankful, all heading to DFest, be safe and have a great time.

Obama To Beat Clinton In Second Quarter Fundraising

I'M SINGULARLY UNIMPRESSED, EXCEPT TO ASK WHAT IT IS ALL THESE DONORS EXPECT FOR THEIR MONEY

Please allow me to introduce myself  by Franco Caliz-Aguilar

+++

Franco -

That's a great opening line (something Mick Jagger might say, if he had any sympathy for the devil, lol).

Good luck to all travelers today for tomorrow's events -- those going to Deanfest, those walking for Obama, relay for cancer walkers in the local Boston area, and Paine's travels.

Looks like a busy weekend for all. 

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/060707R.shtml

By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes:
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!

- Macbeth, Act IV, Scene

"Scooter" Libby got clocked with a 30-month prison sentence after being convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Valerie Plame matter, and now squadrons of GOP die-hards are insisting that Bush pardon him before he goes to jail. On the surface, debate over whether or not to pardon Libby centers around how much more scandal and public disgrace this administration can endure. The Post story reports that several White House aides are deeply concerned that a Libby pardon risks "renewing questions about the truthfulness of the Bush administration."

    Perish the thought.

 The newest Pew Research Center poll shows Bush's overall popularity coming in just under that of scabies and bubonic plague. "For the first time in Pew Research Center polling," reports the Center, "disapproval of President Bush's job performance outnumbers approval by more than two-to-one (61 percent disapprove, 29 percent approve). Bush's job approval is down six points from April, and is three points below the previous low measured in November and December of 2006."

AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE TOO CHICKEN-SHIT TO TAKE HIM ON!

* rdorgan
Fri, 06/08/07
8:04 am
__________________________________________________________________________

Sure, hes entitled to a bad game very once in awhile..only problem is, it will cost them a championship..........who cares right? as long as he makes his millions, drives his hummer....and the fans that pay ridiculous ticket prices? they can go home to their 2 and 3 jobs needed for such a lifestyle (except for the rich corporate execs in front row seats)

USA beat Guatelmala last night in CONCACAF......I watched it on the Spanish channel

have a fine time and deanfest. lucky u. tell howard I will see him june 20 at the TBA conf.

Peace out.

10. Yes, Happy Journey Demfesters and please blog. TTT so guys do that too huh (flirt to get stuff -- it doesn't work when you're old anymore unfortunately).

I decided to try and tackle a 700 page book on WWII. So far, think Hitler was paying back for WWI and because he could. Within a year (1939-40) he had pretty well conquered Europe as we know it. Also that the Finns were ferocious in defending their country and invented (prolly) the Molotov cocktail, which they threw into the turrets of Soviet tanks. Also, that intelligence espec Enigma decoding was key in helping the Allies. Also he was ruthless with Germans trying to speak up for human rights and that German soldiers had to get drunk to carry out their atrocious orders. We think we would stand up for ourselves and civil liberties and human rights -- how we doin' so far? I'm only on p 150 lol -- I'll be back with more :~)

Franco, welcome - you are smart to get out of FL in the summertime (I live up by Jax).

Here's my contribution for the morning - may watch this when I get back from Publx.
Frontline's the Dark Side is featured on Rawstory and may be watched for free on Frontline's website. Here's a trailer and the link at Rawstory. It's on the upper right corner of the page.

http://www.rawstory.com/

Really should be packing...

~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~

The machine we have at the $2,300 level is a superior machine, but the Obama campaign continues to beat us with small donors and on the Internet."
>

Listen to the people! Not so much Sen Clinton, but all politicians! These numbers and Dean's too highlight the silenced majority. Hey, that's a great one-liner and spot on too!

The Silenced Majority

~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~

worst. president. ever. (have you noticed how this repeated group of words that BFAers would repeat more than a year ago is found with frequency lately?)

Well, the draft Gore fellow did call back.  Seems someone told him I'm an organizer of Democracy Fest and he wants to put up a table.  I directed him to the DFNH crew who are actually co-sponsoring.  I'm handy because I'm easy to find.  LOL

Mainefem is getting dithery.  But she does live WAY up in the great state of Maine.

I'm assuming the Wayfarer has Wifi, so will take my lap top and blog from there.

There's a report in the paper today that folks at MIT have transmitted electricity wirelessly--not just packets of info, but packets of energy sufficient to light a 60W bulb.

Now, if they could just pick up energy out of the atmosphere............. 

LOL

...the republickers impeached William Jefferson Clinton for WHAT?

worst. president. ever.

I need a cigar!

Welcome, Franco

Will you be jumping down to DemFest?  It's not too far.  You need to get a taste of politics New Hampshire style.  Edwards will be in attendance.

And the great Howard Dean on Sunday night. 

23. 

As is typical of Republicans, there were multiple reasons:

1) Revenge for Nixon

2) Innoculation against another Democratic effort

3) Clinton's dithering over invading Iraq

4) Providing evidence of doing SOMETHING, rather than continuing with nothing

5) Writing finis to hyprocrisy as a viable Democratic issue

6) Distracting the public from corporatization 

26.

DOh! i was thinking b... ...

Thank you for the kind wishes from everyone.

"something Mick Jagger might say, if he had any sympathy for the devil"

I just wish I was a man of wealth (i can argue about my taste).

Glad someone picked up on it.

I think the Miami Cubans realize they screwed up, and the younger generations are much more liberal than the older ones. There's still hostility to Democrats but less so now than before Dubya.

 I will indeed be going down to Manchester for DemFest so I'll meet some of you there!

Back to work for me!

All the best folks,

-Franco 

the great Howard Dean

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I demand live blogging from one of you lucky dogs.

Welcome aboard Franco and great firsties. You catch on fast.

Paine,

What does conservative mean?  What does progressive mean? What does Republican or Democrat mean?

In this article I'm (very slowly...work just got busy again) working on, I discuss all (or at least a bunch of) the bidirectional vectors (for example, left/right is a bidirectional vector) that can describe a person's political philosophy.  I've come up with 10 or 12.

In them, conservative isn't the opposite of progressive.  In fact, I would argue that conservative and liberal don't mean anything any more without qualifiers (socially conservative, fiscally conservative).  The opposite on the progressive vector is regressive, opposing positive change. Yes, that's going to take some more words to describe...that's why I'm writing an article.

But even with a dozen bidirectional vectors, an individual's position on a specific issue can't be predicted, just a general philosophy defined. 

The best to you, Franco.

reformer/defender of the status quo

I assume Howard's on Sunday night because that's the only time they could get him, but I will be on a plane back home by Sunday night.  I have to be at work Monday morning.

So scheduling Howard Sunday night was bad planning, because I know I'm not alone. 

change agent/spectator

Phil,

As I'm sure you're aware, there are all kinds of subtlties to this.

If you say change/status quo, supporters of Newt would say that's exactly what he was in favor of, and you can't argue with that.

So change/status quo is one vector, progressive/regressive is another, and together they start to describe the difference between a Newt and a Howard (although I can't think of a progressive status quo quadrant.)

Sorry you're missing D'Fest. 

rich

propensity to act/passive acceptance

I'm trying to find a word for actor/audience so crucial to political involvement.

change agent/spectator

Yep, that's one.

One of the things I'm pondering (Pinky are you...) is how much I'm spectating these days and not on the field, and how and where I want to reengage. 

Thanks Rich.  My post referring to your bidirectional vectors notion proves my contention that threads are threads (and pregnant) even when it doesn't appear as though an interest has sparked.  I had seen your post some time ago, but didn't have a response at hand. 

 I hope you (and all others) have a wonderful time at DemocracyFest2007.

Have fun Franco and thank you for the reply! :)

In my original list, I said involved/uninvolved

Paine,

I think what it shows is that there is really only one thread, going back to 2003, and everything else is just breaking it into pages so it will render in a browser more quickly. 

rich

You were running sign-in at the first Deanfest when I showed up, and I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to visit. I sort of assumed I could clear my schedule for the next one. I sure wish I could make this one because of the venue and line-up, but as you have noted it is the social aspect that is most important. I find it so much easier to argue with Indy Steve here simply because we shared dinner conversation at Deanfest number one.

Oh Phil, I caught you....what Organaization is TTT putting together that you mentioned Actblue page for?

I'm in charge of crowd building for our (Democratic Party) off year training in Peosta on July 14th, so I can't be a spectator.

 A deal for $20, and I need to kick it up a notch, since not everyone has e-mail

our Congressman, Bruce Braley, has a political list and an official list and we need to be careful and follow FEC rules, which are a major pain, but his office is helping after they clock out for the day

Tim is getting ready to run for State Rep.

And to prove my point (and just as a reminder since we're getting into poll season already) here's a post from 2003...

The word "Average" is meaningless. There are three mathematical averages, each with their strengths and weaknesses.

The one most people think of as "average" is the MEAN, where you add up a bunch of numbers and divide them by how many numbers you have.

Then there's the MEDIAN, where you line up all the numbers in order, and take the one in the middle.

In the MODE, you pick the individual number you have the most instances of.

So, for example, let's use this set of numbers:

1 2 2 2 3 3 5 7 20

The MEAN is 45/9 or 5
The MEDIAN is 3
The MODE is 2

As you can see, onle large number can skew the MEAN significantly. So for example, Bill Gates' tax cut skews the MEAN tax cut significantly. The most honest way to measure what an "average" person gets is to take the MEDIAN.

Class dismissed :-) 

In my original list, I said involved/uninvolved  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

you can be involved working to defend the status quo

the list that the Iowa Democratic Party sells to Presidential candidates includes a sort of activists; and if you are on that list each one of them will contact you

Travel safe all those winging to DemFest. Have a ball, live blog the thing, and kick ass as usual.

Same wishes for all those staying home to work magic locally.

I assume Howard's on Sunday night because that's the only time they could get him, but I will be on a plane back home by Sunday night.  I have to be at work Monday morning.

So scheduling Howard Sunday night was bad planning, because I know I'm not alone. 

rich, howard will be at the TBA conf on wednesday at 1:30 pm. I am surprised cause after lunch everyone usually leaves. but we will stay. and he will be there for 2 hours.

So it may be a good time to talk to him one to one if u can get off from work.

I want to express regret that the immigration bill was pulled. It is the only hot button issue that will bring Republicans out this cycle, and Democratic leadership would be wise not to let it fester.

You can be involved to help support the status quo.  That's why change/status quo is a different vector from involved (or activist)/uninvolved.  Those are independent variables.

DFA supports "fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates."  The fiscal vector is independent of the social vector.  The simple left/right paradigm ignores this, and assumes social and fiscal positions are linked somehow, with the GOP coming down on the conservative side, and the Democrats on the liberal/progressive side.

Franco, since u are at DFA HQ can u tell me why no one is answering the phone for the past 2 days?

anyone?

Phil, that's incredible. You have esp and answered my question before I asked it. LOL

That is GREAT...I did not hear that. TTT...running for office. That is great. And under Ted Strickland should be much more fulfilling than Taft or Blackwell (eeks) :)

Do let us know when ActBlue is set up....muy muy Congratulations!

...thank you Phil for advising me.

Gee they have Howard for the closing rally!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!

36.

rich^kolker
Fri, 06/08/07
10:22 am


So change/status quo is one vector, progressive/regressive is another, and together they start to describe the difference...
---------

Phil recently described exploitation (to which both Parties agreed wholeheartedly) as a distinctive characteristic of this society.

Isn't that enough "to describe the difference" by precisely THAT characteristic, e.g. by having both people: EXPLOITED and EXPLOITING, who are in a constant (sometimes hidden, sometimes open) opposition to each other?

Do you need any more vectors?

DFA supports "fiscally responsible

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

which is why it doesn't surprise me there are a few Blue Dogs who have made the A list

the stock market and house market will fall as interest rates rise due to the irresponsible Republican budgets of the past several years

time to "re-adjust the rates to restore fairness" (my current framing)

DemFest NH, TBA Conference DC,...

Have I told you how lucky those on the East Coast are?

...I'm so envious at times

 

...but then again, I do have this  :)

Why come to Washington for Take Back America 2007 on Monday June 18, when you can get the party started a day earlier?

On Sunday June 17, our friends at the YearlyKos Convention are throwing a fundraiser right near the Take Back America site, so TBA participants can meet up with area bloggers, activists and political luminaries.

The second annual YearlyKos Convention, set for August 2-5 in Chicago, is the biggest Netroots event of the year, and in its short history has immeasurably strengthened the Progressive Blogosphere, which will be honored at the Take Back America Gala Awards Dinner. Support for YearlyKos goes a long way toward building the progressive infrastructure our movement needs to get our message out and counter the misinformation from the conservative machine.

Here are the details for the fundraising event:

Sunday, June 17
5-7 PM
Local 16
1602 U Street, NW
Washington, DC
Minimum contribution: $35

*Live Blues
*Hors D'oeuvres
*Featured Guests including:

• Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America
  

Linda in NM wish u could be here too. but u have lovely NM, (minus bill richardson)