tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90106602024-03-08T17:21:33.435-08:00Age of ReasonReform Democrats: Protecting American freedom -- Economic progress -- Generational responsibilityconchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1114288257605304012005-04-23T13:28:00.000-07:002005-04-23T13:30:57.606-07:00A Summary of All Copyright-related Ethical IssuesOne point is all that's needed. From an excellent article in the conservative British paper the <i>Financial Times</i> by James Boyle<br /><blockquote><br />Thomas Macaulay told us copyright law is a tax on readers for the benefit of writers, a tax that shouldn’t last a day longer than necessary<br /></blockquote><br />Macaulay is exactly right: copyright is a tax. No more need be said.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1113623260135737622005-04-15T20:41:00.000-07:002005-04-15T20:47:40.136-07:00Rabbi Hammers Frist and the Rapture RightVia <a href=http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/15/22721/0651>DailyKos</a><br /><blockquote><br />The news that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist plans to join a telecast whose organizing theme is that those who oppose some of President Bush's judicial nominees are engaged in an assault on "people of faith" is more than troubling; it is disingenuous, dangerous, and demagogic.<br /><br />-- <a href=http://rac.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1119&pge_prg_id=5704&pge_id=1001>Rabbi David Saperstein</a>, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1108487395088727182005-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:002005-02-15T09:14:40.050-08:00Barbara Boxer Defends the American PeopleAnd apparently this is one thing that happens when you defend the American people:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41218811@N00/4853922/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://photos4.flickr.com/4853922_9f1a017c49.jpg" width="400" height="256" alt="Feb14_boxer_roses" /></a><br /><br />Here is the <a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/14/204719/105>thank you note</a> she posted on Dailykos.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1108236566464484782005-02-12T11:27:00.000-08:002005-02-12T11:29:26.466-08:00Howard Dean elected DNC ChairReward the DNC for good behavior, and do it through this <a href=http://actblue.com/list/dnc>ActBlue donation link</a>, to make sure everyone's aware that this money is coming from grass-roots pro-Dean activists over the web:<br /><form method="post" action="https://secure.actblue.com/donate" id="form"><br /> Contribution amount: <br /> $<input style="text-align:right" name="amount" size="6"><br /> <input type="hidden" name="list" value="dnc"><br /> <input type="hidden" name="referrer" value="http://actblue.com"><br /> <input type="hidden" name="successuri" value="http://actblue.com"><br /> <input type="submit" name="startdonate" value="Contribute Now!"><br /></form>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1107489166867998122005-02-03T19:50:00.000-08:002005-02-03T20:00:22.926-08:00The New Republic Recaps the DNC Chair Race<a href=http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=GC1nbWBk1KawulpqPq3uRR%3D%3D>From Ryan Lizza</a> at the New Republic
<br /><blockquote>
<br />From the congressional leadership to the governors to the Clintons, top Democrats were all terrified of a Dean victory....And yet none of them could stop him.
<br />...
<br />At one of five candidate forums held around the country for DNC members to interview the aspiring chairs, Roemer rose and, glaring at Dean and candidate Simon Rosenberg, lashed out at the "secret e-mails" that were circulating about him. He angrily defended his pro-life record and testily challenged the DNC members to show some tolerance on the issue. It was a brave speech, but it was also the end of his candidacy. Applause was scattered and perfunctory. In New York the next week, he told DNC members, "We shouldn't let a special interest group decide our view on choice." This time, the audience hissed.
<br /></blockquote>
<br />Now I understand better the second half of his closing statement that same week at the meeting in Sacramento (paraphrasing <a href=http://phraxos.blogspot.com/#110646936555841269>mine</a>):
<br /><blockquote>
<br /> Thanks all -- and thank you for not putting me after Howard Dean. Churchill was once asked "Aren't you going to go outside? There are 10,000 people waiting to hear you speak." He replied, "If I was to be hanged, there would be 10 times as many". There are people here wanting to see me hang. If I believed everything I read, I might be out there watching. My mother is a staunch pro-choicer, and I hear from her every day. As DNC I would not overturn Roe v. Wade.
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1107382294004667062005-02-02T14:09:00.000-08:002005-02-02T14:14:31.963-08:00Howard Dean: On Borrowed TimeFrom <a href=http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_17623.shtml>Yubanet</a> (emphasis mine):
<br /><blockquote>
<br />All Americans understand that there need to be some changes to our Social Security system because 40 years from now, Social Security will go into deficit if we do nothing. And it is always better to correct problems early than wait until they get worse.
<br />
<br />But there is no truth to the Bush administration's claim that there is an imminent crisis in Social Security - the Social Security Trust Fund's potential shortfall is $3.7 trillion over the next seventy-five years. By comparison, the Medicare Trust Fund shortfall will be $8.1 trillion, and the deficit caused by the president's tax cuts will be $11.6 trillion. The crisis is not in Social Security - the crisis is the "borrow and spend" philosophy espoused by Republicans in Congress and the White House. Leadership which has no willingness or ability to think or act in our long-term interest is not leadership at all.
<br />
<br />If America is to continue to be great and strong, we need leadership which is great and strong. We need to be told the truth about our financial problems and we need a plan of action motivated by facts, not scaremongering and propaganda.
<br />
<br />The Republicans need to start thinking long term and make the following reforms.
<br />
<br />* First, stop borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund to finance tax cuts. These are not real tax cuts; these are tax postponements, which Americans will be forced to pay down the road - with interest.
<br />* Second, balance the Federal budget. There are many ways that this can be accomplished, but they all involve tough choices requiring some combination of revenue increases and program cuts. There seems to be no serious effort in Washington to make these tough choices and our country continues to careen toward fiscal catastrophe.
<br />* Third, reform the way elections are financed and run. The special interests that finance our candidates' campaigns make it virtually impossible for our leaders to make good choices for the long term. Fearful of losing this source of campaign funding and their jobs, they keep making bad choices that benefit the special interest at the expense of all Americans. In the end, of course, these leaders lose both their jobs, and their self-respect. And our children's debt burden continues to rise.
<br />Sooner or later our children pay for this borrowing with a lower standard of living, an inability to pay for college and health care, and an inability to buy American products to create American job opportunities.
<br />
<br />The debate over the future of Social Security - and every debate with this Administration - provides Democrats with an opportunity to drive home the fact that that <i><b>we are the party of fiscal responsibility, economic responsibility, social responsibility, civic responsibility, personal responsibility, and moral responsibility.</b></i> On issue after issue, Democrats are where the majority of the American people are. We just have to stand up for what we believe in.
<br />
<br />If America is to continue to be great and strong, we need leadership which is great and strong. We need to be told the truth about our financial problems, followed by a plan of action based on facts, not propaganda.
<br />
<br /><i>
<br />Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont, is the founder of Democracy for America, a grassroots organization that supports socially progressive and fiscally responsible political candidates</i>
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1107356476482246562005-02-02T06:50:00.000-08:002005-02-02T07:01:16.483-08:00Dean Will Win, Most Now ClaimYesterday saw the withdrawal of of DNC Chair candidates Wellington Web, Martin Frost, and Tim Roemer (and Simon Rosenberg, and David Leland), and authoritative sources online (<a href=http://www.burntorangereport.com/archives/cat_intraparty.html#003216>Burntorangereport</a> and <a href=http://www.mydd.com/>mydd</a>) and off (<a href=http://nytimes.com/2005/02/02/politics/02dean.html?hp&ex=1107406800&en=6b7ea10d32018d5f&ei=5094&partner=homepage>NYT</a>) are now reporting that Dean has won.
<br />
<br />We here at Age of Reason are reporting that it ain't over till it's over, but we are pleased.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106891991520502062005-01-27T21:54:00.000-08:002005-01-27T21:59:51.520-08:00Barbara Boxer's Post on Dailykos<blockquote>
<br />Condoleezza Rice received 13 votes against her confirmation -- the most votes against any Secretary of State's nomination since 1825.
<br /></blockquote>
<br />The <a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/27/124226/410>note</a> from Boxer is nice, but most important this is history in the making, which comments from 500 greatful Kossacks and an exchange with her staffer who says she did indeed write the post herself. Jay Rosen said at BloggerCon III that people running for Senate ought to write their own blogs. Barbara Boxer at leasty partly gets that.
<br />conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106875052292705132005-01-27T17:15:00.000-08:002005-01-27T17:17:32.293-08:00How Many Bush Administration Officials Does It Take to Screw In a Lightbulb?None. There is nothing wrong with the light bulb. Its conditions are improving every day. Any reports that it is dark are due to bias from the liberal media. The light bulb has served honorably, and anything you say undermines the lighting effect. Why do you hate freedom?
<br />conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106753894740065912005-01-26T07:36:00.000-08:002005-01-26T07:40:45.360-08:00Religious Right Threatens Bush Over SS, Gay Marriage<blockquote>
<br />A coalition of Christian leaders, including Jerry Falwell and James Dobson, have sent a private letter to Karl Rove <b>threatening to pull their support from Social Security Piratization if the Administration doesn't make good on their promise for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.</b>
<br /></blockquote>
<br /><a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/25/131551/210>Firedoglake</a> has more.
<br />conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106712240984778012005-01-25T20:01:00.000-08:002005-01-25T20:04:00.983-08:00GonzalezDon't miss the massive, multi-blogger-signed <a href=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/25/15437/3930>letter to our Senators</a> asking them to vote against the confirmation of Gonzalez.
<br />conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106587655094300002005-01-24T09:17:00.000-08:002005-01-24T09:27:35.093-08:00My Letter to Hillary ClintonIt emerges that Hillary Clinton is interested in <a href=http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/1/23/155150/593>standing in the way</a> of Howard Dean's run for DNC Chair. Especially if you live in New York, I would urge you to <a href=http://clinton.senate.gov/offices.html>contact Senator Clinton</a> about this matter, with a polite and inspring note. Here's mine:
<br /><blockquote>
<br />Sen. Clinton,
<br />
<br />I am writing to urge you to support Howard Dean in the upcoming vote for DNC Chair. I know many in the DNC will value your opinion.
<br />
<br />Howard Dean brings immense energy to the table, and <i> many fresh Democratic troops </i>. As you know, this past year John Kerry got millions upon millions of dollars from small donors, setting a new record for Dems -- and why he got all that money is because of people like me, people activated by Howard Dean. I'm proud to say that I was able to give Sen Kerry $1500. But I did it only because I have been so encouraged by the grass roots energy that surrounds me. I gave to John Kerry because I believed he could win in 2004 -- and I'll give in 2006 to the Democratic group that I think has the best chance of winning House elections and deepening the bench of statewide elected officials who can run to move up in 2008. I'll give my money to whatever organization I think will do the best strategic job of using it to fight for my values.
<br />
<br />I'll give it, most likely, to an organization headed by Howard Dean. And that organization, I hope, will be the Democratic Party.
<br /></blockquote>
<br />conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1106469365558412692005-01-23T01:27:00.000-08:002005-01-23T00:52:58.706-08:00Fresh HorsesA report from the DNC Meeting today in Sacramento, CA. This is also posted at <a href=http://www.mydd.com/diary_edit/2005/1/22/211952/814>mydd</a>, where there are many comments from others who were there. A video will be made by the CA Dem party and will appear on <a href="http://www.cadem.org/site/pp.asp?c=fvLRK7O3E&b=29414">their web site</a>.<p>
<br /><b><i>Condoleeza is my color, but Barbara is my kind.</i></b><p>
<br />About a dozen of members of our local DFA group drive the 100 miles to Sacramentoto support Howard Dean for DNC Chair. We arrive at 9:00, just as things start. Once we get there one of the locals tells me, "We originally thought 80-100 people." But by this morning they knew there would be 400+ of us, and indeed we fill the 400+ seats in the room where breakfast is being held. While we eat Cal state Sen Joe Dunn speaks, a progressive who represents the conservative Orange County California, who was involved in catching Enron with their hands in my wallet. The Reverend Al Sharpton enters, to applause, interrupting Joe. Ultimately Joe Dunn's highminded speech about freedom and justice receives a standing ovation at the end.<p>
<br />Sharpton begins speaking. During a short preamble praising Barbara Boxer Sharpton recieves three standing ovations. "I want the people of California to know: Condoleeza is my color, but Barbara is my kind.". Supports Marjorie Harris for one of the five Vice-Chair positions. We need young people in the party. We need to expand this party, stop having pity parties. They beat us because we were too cowardly to stand up and fight for morals. [hits the basics on why Democratic values are moral values: poverty and Iraq]. By the time his 8-10 minute speech was done he had recieved about 10 standing ovations. That man is an orator, and the only speaker who held a candle to him during the entire day was Dr. Dean.<p>
<br />Sharpton's protege, Marjorie Harris, then gave the 90-sec version of her stump speech. She spoke of bringing "the hip-hop voters" into the party, and said that being progressive on the issues is the way to do that.<p>
<br />We then stood for a brief reflection on our guys and gals in Iraq. I was shocked to find that it brought tears even to my eyes, which, through thick and thin, are almost always dry. It was a very sobering moment, to be among such a large group of partisan Democrats and share with them my support of our troops, which is the best kind.<p>
<br />Then members of the DNC were then introduced. There were perhaps 20 of them at breakfast, mostly from California of course, but plenty from throughout the west: 2 from Alaska and 1 from Arkansas and quite a lot from Colorado.<p>
<br /><b><i>90 seconds each from the grass roots</i></b><br>
<br />Attendees had been told ahead of time that they could apply for the right to speak for 90 sec. Of those who asked, 5 were then randomly selected, and they spoke next, mostly in support of progressive values. The second spoke in favor of health care for all and said there is no one better to fight for it than Howard Dean, and that it should be the centerpiece of our domestic agenda. The third, also a Deaniac, spoke at length in favor of reform. <p>
<br />The 4th speaker was introduced as a young person -- a black woman probably in her early 20's who said she had been activated by seeing Howard Dean on Good Morning America. She introduced herself with an apology about her weak rhetorical skills, and proceeded to demonstrate speaking skills that would only occasionally be matched during the rest of the day. The 5th was a woman who just lost a Cal State Sen race in a very red district to a Republican who was much better financed. She began with the point that the Cal state party had given her $100, while her opponent had received great amounts of support. She talked about running an all-county campaign. She endorsed Howard Dean.<p>
<br />The grassroots talks were to continue, but after an intermission:<p>
<br /><b><i>Candidates for DNC office begin speaking.</i></b><p>
<br />First Mike Honda, who is running for Vice Chair. He was running on regional representation. An unconvincing pitch.<p>
<br />Second Nelson Diaz: we've got to stop being lucky. "I go to church every day. We've got God in our corner." <p>
<br />Third Alvaro si Fuentes, current Chair of the Hispanic Member of the DNC. Decentralize and move away from DC. We have to assist state parties in electing Dems.<p>
<br />Fourth: Susie, running for Vice-Chair [currently Deputy Chair of the DNC]. Spoke out in favor of social justice and Roe v. Wade. "It's the counts, stupid"<p>
<br />In my book two and three are the reformers, I hope they do well.<p>
<br /><b><i>Fresh Horses</i></b><p>
<br />And back to the 90 second talks from the grass roots. Five more attendees were selected. First: from a progressive Dem club that is here to revive the Dem Party. Endorses Dean. We need a leader that doesn't run from the Repubs, that stands up for our values. Second a Dean Dem club of Silicon Valley member: After losing 3 elections its time to stop being afraid of DLC warnings that we're not enough like Repubs. When Dean ran for governor he got votes from 1/3 of Repubs and then turned his state into a blue state.She was also a good speaker -- I hope she's running for office.<p>
<br />4th is the Chair of Sac'to for Democracy [Caryn or Karen Bernali?], with her 3-year-old daughter in tow: no more republican-lite. There is a disconnect between the grass roots and some of the Dem leaders. Since when did our party decide to cross the line between civilization and barabarism by voting for Gonzalez and Rice. There was more. Appeared to be Hispanic. She was rhetorically powerful to the point where again conchis began to tear up. Rhetorically, she was the 2nd-best so far. Somebody run this woman for elected office: ten years from now, I want her to be my senator <p>
<br />5th spoke of her win out in mostly-red eastern CA. Praised Boxer. Endorsed Dean. Next: I want a DNC Chair who isn't driven by fear. The Republicans are using fear of terrorism as a distraction. Next Ralph Hiller a founder of Latinos for America. Endorsed Dean. Next Kathleen Hill: Addressed her remarks to the DNC. I'm about nuts and bolts. I was Cal coord of Howard Dean's Presidential campaign. I would venture you have never seen most of hte people in this room. These people are the grass roots. Most of them were trained to do campaign work as part of the Dean Pres. run. Next speaker from Fresno (which is cow country). She spoke about how much rural Dems need clubs, seek them. Next a guy from Silicon valley who heads his Dem club, who says he was activated by Howard Dean, and then he went from 2 years ago not really being active to now spending 30-50 hours/week doing Dem activism. Next another Dean activist from Sil valley who represents the Dem wing of the Dem party. She worked for Montdale, she worked for McCarthy. She feels that in later years she has not felt Dems have represented her. Dean turned her libertarian son back to the party. Next a woman from Santa Cruz, about 150 miles away. Says she hadn't been active, for decades. After seeing Dean, she held half a dozen house parties. Next a rouser from an older white guy from a rural area, who spoke about the women they've gotten elected this year. <p>
<br />Next a Sonoma DFA guy [Malacondra on dkos and mydd]. I'm newly activated. I have immense respect for the people who've been fighting in the trenches for the Dems for all these years. You may fear that all these new Dean people are barbarians at the gate. "We're fresh horses". Next woman from a different DFA group. Improvises and picks up the previous line: we are fresh horses. Talks about the competence and energy in the grass roots. <p>
<br />Next another DFA member endorsing Dr Dean, activist since 1968, talks about how powerful the effect of Dean has been on doing the spade work of Dem activism. Next woman from Marin and Sonoma DFA groups endorses Dean. A woman from El Cerrito gives an impassioned issues speech and endorses Dean. Woman from Grass Valley stands up and almost tearfully spends 90 sec talking about how much the environment is under thread under Bush Admin. Closes by endorsing Howard Dean. <p>
<br />There were a few more, then a recess, after which Howard Dean was to speak.<p>
<br /><b><i>Howard Dean gives his stump speech to 500 people</i></b><p>
<br />We ran a great campaign in 2004. The Repubs ran a better one.<br>
<br />Win races at all levels<br>
<br />Secretaries of State<br>
<br />When I made my Pres. run, to get power we gave power away<br>
<br />We enable your leafleting, but we let you decide what to say in the leaflets.<br>
<br />The Repubs have a great organization. <br>
<br />But it's top down.<br>
<br />We are not like that.<br>
<br />We are not gonna give you talking points from DC. We are gonna let the message be generated bottom up.<br>
<br />If this is a typical DFA crowd there are greens, Perot voters, McCain voters, even moderate voters who are tired of borrow-and-spend<br>
<br />We are gonna computerize your activism, so you don't have to look up the same phone numbers over and over <br>
<br />But we're not gonna tell you what the message is.<br>
<br />We're gonna fight to win races in CA, because if we don't, some day CA is gonna be a red state.<br>
<br />And we're gonna win in [he begins listing other states, and builds into his Dean Scream Parody, which is always is a big applause line and gets the biggest standing ovation of his speech.]<br>
<br />"Barak Obama was a Dean Dozen candidate before he was Barak Obama."<br>
<br />"You can't trust the Republicans with your money any more."<br>
<br />"We're gonna be the party of moral values. It is a moral value not to leave debt to your children. It is a moral value not only to have the strongest military in the world" but to also provide moral leadership. It is a moral value to have health care for every American. It is a moral value to tell the truth to the American people before you lead them into war.<br>
<br />Truman quote: the real Repub beats Repub lite every time.<br>
<br />Then did his nice bit on free trade. His main point here is that if we're gonna have globalization for corporations then we ought to globalize the rights of working people. Walmart is bringing down wages in China, and that's hard to do. I tell this to business leaders: We need to support organized labor and the right to organize, because that is good for capitalism and democracy.<br>
<br />Closes with the story of the Texas evangelical Christian, who tells him he disagrees with many of her most important convictions, but supports him because he is a man of conviction.<br>
<br />We are going to be the party of reform: political dialog, issues, party.<p>
<br /><b><i>Nonlunchunch Break</i></b><p>
<br />Introduced myself to Sharpton and Marjorie Harris. <br>
<br />Talked to some folks from one of CA's reddest counties, out in Yosemite country. It was refreshing to talk to committed activists from so far out. They clearly would have appreciated more help from the DNC in building their local base. They complained about having so little support from the CA Dem Committee, which didn't even pay for the filing fee of the candidate who ran against their Republican US Representative. But what they spoke about most strongly is that they don't want outsiders sent in to help canvas. It seemed pretty clear that they viewed this as harmful, or at least as something that embarasses them in the face of the very voters they seek to persuade, rather than merely as inefficient.<br>
<br />Howard Dean provided free ice cream for all.<p>
<br /><b><i>Afternoon: The Big Meeting</i></b><p>
<br />The meeting is translated into American Sign Language (ASL).<br>
<br />7 DNC Candidates are on the dais. Curiously, none of them is typing at a laptop. <br>
<br />50 DNC Members were present, seated at the front of the audience.<br>
<br />A number of people running for vice-chairs and other positions.<p>
<br />The candidates introduce themselves:<p>
<br />David Leland<br>
<br />Ohio Party Chair for 7 years, got Dem mayors in all 50 cities, there when Clinton won the state in 1996.<br>
<br />50 state strategy, <br>
<br />Dem Community Action networks: <br>
<br />365 days/year.<br>
<br />[In my view, it's easy for him to say all of this.<br>
<br />Not clear to me why this guy is bothering to run.]<p>
<br />Donnie Fowler<br>
<br />They've asked us to concede the South, West, rural, religious voters.<br>
<br />I am tired of conceding.<br>
<br />DNC doesn't mean Do Not Change -- It means Do Not Concede<br>
<br />Swing v. base voters -- this is a false choice.<br>
<br />[As a strategist about voting groups, he's not terribly convincing. Indeed, his riff about our base being women and minorities is recognizable as a Dean riff.]<br>
<br />Argues that he's the only candidate that has a lot of experience in the trenches in local races etc.<p>
<br />Howard Dean<br>
<br />Lays out his plan to pay for each of 50 states' Exec Dir, finance people, and 2 grass-roots organizers. For $250,000/year/state, it's worth it.<br>
<br />We will empower you to improve on the things you're already doing<br>
<br />...so that we can win Gov, Congress, Sen, and ultimately Pres 2008<p>
<br />Martin Frost<br>
<br />Starts by mentioning Matsui, and then weirdly talks for most of a minute about his role in getting the Japanese reparations bill through.<br>
<br />Tells us who he is: a civil rights guy, deeply committed.<br>
<br />Talks about his experience in retail politics<br>
<br />For years, I beat Karl Rove in Texas. I beat Karl Rove way beyond when he thought I could.<br>
<br />[This counts as an accomplishment? You're the guy originally responsible for losing civilization to the anti-Christ, but you feel you slowed him down, so you want us to appoint you as protector of humanity so you can lose some more?]<p>
<br />Wellington Webb<br>
<br />Appeal to base, e.g. minorities.<br>
<br />Talks about how the 447 DNC members just sit and applaud while they recieve their instructions: wants them to have a role and be listened to. This drew substantial applause from the DNC members, while the rest of us kept quiet and let them be heard. He scored some points here, now I see why he polled well in Orlando.<br>
<br />His message is very much a racial (and gender) justice message<p>
<br />Rosenberg<br>
<br />[said lots, I didn't get it all. This was a <i>great</i> stump speech.]<br>
<br />The people need a voice in this political system<br>
<br />We've got to build a media machine<br>
<br />We've got to fight and win every day of every year.<br>
<br />End monopoly of Iowa and NH<br>
<br />People from the south and minorities must have a voice in choosing the nominee<br>
<br />Roe v. Wade<br>
<br />We're on the right side of history<br>
<br />We've been on top before and we'll be there again.<p>
<br />Roemer<br>
<br />First a Dem, last a Dem, and always a Dem.<br>
<br />I'm a fighter.<br>
<br />Praises CA<br>
<br />Our national security message is better than Bush's? Goes on to give Kerry's stump speech on Bush's national security record and on jobs. [Does he know that the 2004 election is over, and furthermore that he's not running in it.<br>
<br />Curiously, he sounds just like the guy in the Firesign Theatre comedy troup who does the parodies of political stump speeches. Perhaps he has a future in comedy.]<br>
<br />Truman: doing the right thing, that's easy. Figuring it out: that's tough. [He brought this up in the context of the Jersey Girls, who he didn't mention explicitly, but he might have been talking about his whole speech: I don't see any concrete ideas here.]<p>
<br /><i>Questions</i><br>
<br />These were given ahead of time by DNC Members. The audience had the opportunity to give questions to the DNC members, who were free to submit those to if they liked. Questions were randomly assigned to the 7 candidates. In each case I list the candidate who got the question, then the question in a single sentence, then, if I got it down, his answer:<p>
<br />Dean: How would you have won in 2004 [answered well, much as this morning]<br>
<br />Frost: How do we convince rural voters we represent them? Take back the issue of keeping them safe. By rights, we own it.<br>
<br />Leland: Western Primaries Terry Mac is organizing a commission to look into this: but probably what we need is less primaries, and instead more caucuses. [conchis begins coughing up blood.]<br>
<br />Rosenberg: How are you going to get youth involved? Only demographic we increased our percentage in during the last 4 years is young people. We must speak to their core values. Focus on letting young poeple have a leg up. The college Dems of America were kicked out of the Dem party by LBJ over View Nam -- I brought them back in during Clinton 1992. My investment in media has always been about winning in the coming America. <br>
<br />Fowler: How do you win Latino voters? You let Latino voters set the strategy. A lot of people don't understand that Latinos of different origins speak in different dialects, and when you're placing ads, you need to be developing tthem with people who know the relevant dialects.<br>
<br />Roemer: What have you done concretely to promote gay rights? He's proud of our position on gay rights.<br>
<br />Webb: What can we do to get acceptance for our message on gun safety? Chuckles at the irony of this question being given to an urban mayor.<br>
<br />...<br>
<br />[bagel finally]<br>
<br />...<br>
<br />Rosenberg: what have you done while on your state central committee? Simon answered with a cataloging of the ways in which he has, e.g. as the head of NDN, helped various state parties.<br>
<br />Frost: asked about getting the DNC and its staff out of the beltway: Spoke convincingly about this. First, says he wants to break the consultant class of losers. Talked about guys he'd hired when DCCC head and said they were all over the country all the time.<br>
<br />Leland: What grass-roots organization have you done in your home state. He seemed to feel incredibly qualified as a result of his experience as head of the Ohio DNC. [As an aside, conchis points out that we lost Ohio in 2004 and 2000. This is perhaps partly thanks to Leland's 7 years as head of the Ohio DNC.]<br>
<br />Roemer: ...<br>
<br />Dean: If not the next DNC Chair, will you pledge to support the party under its next chair, and ask your supporters to. [Remember, these are assigned randomly.] Of course, as pledged. This isn't about the Dem party for me. The reason I want this position is because I think helping the party is a way to give America back to the American people.<br>
<br />Frost: Do you support the Fowler rule. [Over my head.]<br>
<br />...<br>
<br />Fowler: How will you use technology to improve communication with the party? Answered that he has 6 years experience in tech, but offered no ideas. The big problem is the antagonism between the national and state parties. We need to stop this. I have the experience of doing grass roots work on the ground in 14 states, not just giving money from a national organization.<br>
<br />Rosenberg:...We must view the people in the party as participants. The old model was to think of you out there as an ATM. [props to tim tagaris]<p>
<br /><i>Question for all 7: Specifically what role do you envision doing with the state parties, both structurally and financially, and what role do you envision for the state parties in helping you.</i><p>
<br />Dean: I want to see the state parties everywhere empowered with grass roots support to be able to go out and knock on doors. Chair in Kansas expressed his gratitude for all these new people. And we need not just people in the party, but we need people running for office. I want the state parties to get those people to run. This can't come from Washington: even if I were twice as smart and twice as rich, I'm not the right one to do it. <p>
<br />Leland: I've been doing this since 1995. A lot of what you're hearing up here are ideas that've been around. Grass roots. 365 days a year.<p>
<br />Frost: The key is partnership. The state chairs have asked that we put at least $200,000 into each state, and I will do that. I have worked with my state party for 35 years....We will win Govs, Reps, Senate seats in 2006.<p>
<br />Rosenberg: We begin by listening to all of you. There are people who know how to win here, and the foolks [typo retained] in DC need to listen to all of you. [Throughout the afternoon Simon repeatedly made it obvious that he was addressing the larger audience, rather than the DNC audience in the front that I would think it is really his job to persuade. I don't know why this is] 4 points: (1) Message, fight fiercely, take ideas directly to them in all 50 states every day every year (2) infrastructure, got to start by building the state parties. (3) Grass roots, nurture the passion that has exploded in the last couple of years (4) Got to feel like we're on the same team again. Our coalition has got to stand together despite our differences in position.<p>
<br />Roemer: [doesn't answer the question] I ran six times in red IA and I made it blue, winning against a Repub incumbent and then getting reelected as an incumbent. In rural CA we want to lose by 10 points, not 20. We need to go door-to-door<p>
<br />[Moderator Art Torres repeats the question.]<p>
<br />Fowler: I love being in the states. I love being a Colonel in the field more than being a general. Shout out to grass roots. Here's what I'd do about national/state antagonism. Dems: New Sen in CO. Atty Genl in GA. Montana. We have a lot to learn from the states. <i>We need a ballot initiative strategy.</i><p>
<br />Webb: I was mayor for 12 years, and mayors think local. First of all, after this election, the 7 of us need to all work together. Money back to states. Talks about reaching out to women and minorites. As chair I'll visit every state, and I'll let you know before I show up. [laughter] Western primary earlier in the process. Young people on the party payroll.<p>
<br /><i>If I was to be hanged, there would be 10 times as many people waiting to see</i><p>
<br />Final summations.<p>
<br /><i>Webb</i>George Bush said he wants to fight freedom and liberty abroad. I think we should fight for freedom and liberty at home. Unions, Roe, Education, SS -- which demonstrates that Bush is neither compassionate nor conservative, environmentalism -- need to deal with the problem that ranchers dislike environmentalism. We need to stand up for our values.<p>
<br /><i>Fowler</i> As Democrats, we share so many core values and issues, we fight for the same things. Once we remember that we're more than a collection of issues and interests and we talk to the American people about our hearts and souls and not just our minds, we've going to take our country back for a progressive agenda: economic justice, diversity, etc. We are a party that believes in access: health care, education, jobs. We are a party that likes to stand up and fight, when we're lead the right way -- ask Barbara Boxer. Ask Christine Gregoire, who did not succumb. Ask Carol Migden, Eugen McCarthy, ask Napolitano. We need leadership that's going to get us back to the top. [The end was rousing in tone, but every bit as incoherent as my transcription makes it seem.]<p>
<br /><i>Rosenberg</i> Repubs have more power today than since the 20s. We have to have the courage in the next 4 years to do the things that are going to put us back in power. This is about the future of our country. We have to be better than the Republicans at: grass roots, modern party, internet arena, everything that's now different.<p>
<br /><i>Leland</i>. Strong Dems means building strong America. Dems led us to victory in 2 world wars. ....Dems put a man on the moon. Dems gave us longest period of prosperity in our history. We carry the aspirations of people who are voiceless without us. [More vacuous stuff given in a rousing and climactic tone.]<p>
<br /><i>Roemer</i>. Thanks all -- and thank you for not putting me after Howard Dean. Churchill was once asked "Aren't you going to go outside? There are 10,000 people waiting to hear you speak." He replied, "If I was to be hanged, there would be 10 times as many". There are people here wanting to see me hang. If I believed everything I read, I might be out there watching. My mother is a staunch pro-choicer, and I hear from her every day. As DNC I would not overturn Roe v. Wade. Let's talk about ways to achieve what we did in the Clinton years -- a redux in the number of abortions: they went up under Reagan and down under Clinton. Let's fight and win. [BTW, conchis agrees with him on this point: the Clintonian safe/legal/rare rhetoric is the one we should be pushing. That aside, Roemer is in no way qualified to be DNC Chair.]<p>
<br /><i>Frost</i>. Thanks moderator and Cal State Party Chair Art Torres, thanks opponents. If I win I will ask each one of them to play a major role in taking our message to our country. One of the DNC Members asked me during a break to say more about myself. I was elected 13 times in the reddest of red states and I maintained a committment to core Dem values that entire time. I supported civil rights, human rights, choice, union organizers. You need a leader who can articulate the values of our party. I can go anywhere in the country and do that. We are the majority party in this country.....If I am Chairman I will wake up every day asking how I can beat Karl Rove.<p>
<br /><i>Dean</i>. [I only got bits of this.] Last week I was endorsed by Murtha, right winger. Last week, I was endorsed by a bunch of Oklahomans. Job: raise money: in Pres campaign we raised money, independent of corporate money. Job is to excite our base. In <i>any</i> of your states I can come and raise money, I can come and energize your base. I am working on a red-state special speech. I'll make sure you have the money 365/every year. But most important I stand for our values: [lists -- ending with balancing budget and moral foriegn policy]<p>
<br />And then we wrapped it up. All in all a very satisfying day. I'd be delighted to hear comments from people who weren't there (or were). My analysis: Dean is an ace, Rosenberg is a strong B+, and everyone else falls far behind.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105601736756365362005-01-12T23:31:00.000-08:002005-01-12T23:37:02.956-08:00Rathergate vs. Saddam's WMD - A Quantitative ComparisonFrom the always excellent <a href=http://www.thepoorman.net/archives/003654.html>Poor Man</a>:
<br /><table border><tr><td><td>Rathergate<td>Saddam's WMD</tr><tr><td>Investigation recently concluded?<td><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2129-2005Jan11.html">Yes</a><td><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-cbs12jan12,1,6179060.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials">Yes</a></tr><tr><td>Use of highly questionable supporting documents?<td>Yes<td>Yes</tr> <tr><td>Central claims disproven?<td>No<td>Yes</tr><tr><td>Media spread questionable information?<td>Yes<td>Yes</tr><tr><td>Number of firings resulting from investigation<td>4<td>0</tr><tr><td>Number of high-profile reassignments resulting from investigation<td>1<td>0</tr><tr><td>Number of wars started using flawed justification<td>0<td>1</tr><tr><td>Cost to American taxpayer<td>$0.00<td><a href="http://costofwar.com/">~$150,000,000,000</a> (as of 1/12/05)</tr><tr><td>Number of American soldiers killed as a result<td>0<td><a href="http://icasualties.org/oif/">1,357</a> (as of 1/12/05)</tr><tr><td>Number of British soldiers killed as a result<td>0<td><a href="http://icasualties.org/oif/">76</a> (as of 1/12/05)</tr><tr><td>Number of other non-Iraqi allied soldiers killed as a result<td>0<td><a href="http://icasualties.org/oif/">84</a> (as of 1/12/05)</tr><tr><td>Number of Iraqi policemen killed over last 4 months as a result<td>0<td><a href="http://www.boston.com/dailynews/005/world/Car_bomb_attack_at_Iraqi_polic:.shtml">1,300+</a></tr><tr><td>Number of Iraqi civilians killed as a result<td>0<td>10,000-100,000+</tr><tr><td>Number of al-Qaeda training camps destroyed as a result<td>0<td>0</tr><tr><td>Number of terrorist plots against the US foiled as a result<td>0<td>0</tr><tr><td>Percentage of Iraqi people who view the US as "occupiers" as a result<td>no data available<td><a href="http://wid.ap.org/documents/iraq/cpapoll_files/frame.htm">92%</a></tr><tr><td>Saddam Hussein removed from power as a result?<td>No<td>Yes</tr><tr><td>Saddam's torture chambers shut down as a result?<td>No<td>No</tr><tr><td>Iraqi people enjoying freedom as a result?<td>No<td>No (as of 1/12/05)</tr><tr><td>US's reputation severely damaged as a result<td>No<td>Yes</tr><tr><td>US's military stretched thin as a result?<td>No<td>Yes</tr><tr><td>Posts mentioning story on NRO's "The Corner"<td>10<td>0</tr><tr><td>Advantage blogosphere?<td><a href="http://cjr.org/issues/2005/1/pein-blog.asp">No</a><td> <i>Please</i></tr></table>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105505661438781562005-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:002005-01-11T20:54:21.436-08:00Reform DemocratsThe fundamental goal of regular Americans for politics today is reform.
<br />
<br />For Democrats, the fundamental kind of reform is to move away from corruption.
<br />
<br />We need to move toward raising money in small contributions from individuals, from the grass roots, because an excess of corporate campgaign contributions has corrupted the Democratic party, and we need to move away from this. Now, make no mistake here, the reformed Democratic Party will be a <i>friend</i> of business. We stand for economic progress, in fact that's one of our core values. But progress benefits -- and must benefit -- all Americans. We will never let corporate interests get in line in front of the people -- business has to take a number and wait in line along with everybody else. In the last ten years Bill Clinton and the Washington Democrats have let corporations cut in line. This has got to stop.
<br />
<br />Reform Democrats seek not only to clean up our party, but also to clean up the mainstream media. The mainstream media, too, is corrupted by corporations -- the corporations that own it. We reform Democrats speak out against the mainstream media: we prefer not to read it, because we <a href=http://mediamatters.org/>read every day</a> on the internet about how much right-wing bias there is in the mainstream media; when people call it "the liberal media" we stand up and <i>you in the media do not represent my interest. Maybe you are somebody's kind of liberal, but you are not my kind of liberal</i>.
<br />
<br />Today's Democratic Party must stand for reform.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105504632112546572005-01-11T20:26:00.000-08:002005-01-11T20:37:12.113-08:00DNC: Tell Them You Support Howard DeanI've been encouraging people to support Howard Dean for DNC Chair, because he has the reformer spirit and the grass-roots know-how to turn the Democratic Party from the weak, corporate-beholden party that it is into the strong people's party that it must be. Why do I think so? Because his Presidential campaign raised unexpected millions in small contributions from indviduals over the internet, thus giving the party more fuel and giving corporate donors proportionally less influence. Because his campaign <i>listened</i> to individuals at the grass roots.
<br />
<br />If you support Howard Dean, this is a good time for you to make your feelings known to the <a href=http://phraxos.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_phraxos_archive.html#110161007936505831>DNC Committe Members</a>from your state, most especially those from your local area. You can also contact your State Party <a href=http://phraxos.blogspot.com/2004_12_01_phraxos_archive.html#110240520315171323>Executive Director</a>. Let these people know how you feel about Howard Dean and let them know who you are, especially if you're an active party member or hold office within the Party.
<br />
<br />And if you live near LA, there's an opportunity this weekend to show up and make your voice heard in person:
<br /><blockquote>
<br />SATURDAY, JANUARY 15TH/NOON - 4:00PM
<br />Patriotic Hall
<br />1816 S. Figueroa St, Downtown Los Angeles
<br />(directions/location. Patriotic Hall is south of the Santa Monica (10) freeway, about 4 blocks from the LA Convention Center. The Metro blue line (Grand Ave )stop is 1.5 blocks away.
<br />
<br />The DNC California delegation is looking forward to your input!
<br />
<br />Approximately one third of the DNC members from CA are expected to attend
<br />
<br />If you cannot attend, please feel free to provide your input by e-mail to: DNCListeninghear@aol.com
<br />Or send written input, by mail to : L/O Pam Cooke, 6454 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 209, Van Nuys, CA 91401.
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105463884903840552005-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:002005-01-11T20:22:12.343-08:00Republican Noise Machine: A Quick SummaryFrom <a href=" http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Republican-Propaganda1sep04.htm">Lewis Lapham</a>, via <a href=http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/1/10/163952/558>mydd</a>:
<br />
<br />
<br /><h3>2 BILLION ASSETS CONSERVATIVE FOUNDATIONS (2001 ASSETS)</h3>
<br /><table BORDER><tr><td></td><td><b>(in $ Millions)</b></td></tr><tr><td>The Bradley Foundation</td><td>584</td></tr><tr><td>Smith Richardson Foundation</td><td>494 </td></tr>
<br /><tr><td>Scaife Family (Four Foundations)</td><td>478.4</td></tr><tr><td>Earhart Foundation</td><td>84</td></tr><tr><td>John M. Olin Foundation</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>Koch Family (Three Foundations)</td><td>68</td></tr><tr><td>Castle Rock (Coors) Foundation</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>JM Foundation</td><td>25 </td></tr><tr><td>Philip M. McKenna Foundation</td><td>17.4</td></tr></table>
<br />
<br /><h3>NATIONAL "THINK TANKS" (2001 BUDGETS)</h3>
<br /><table BORDER><tr><td></td><td><b>(in $ Millions)</b></td></tr>(in $ Millions)<tr><td>The Heritage Foundation </td><td> 33</td></tr><tr><td>American Enterprise Institute </td><td> 25</td></tr><tr><td>Hoover Institution </td><td> 25</td></tr><tr><td>Cato Institute </td><td>17.6</td></tr><tr><td>Hudson Institute </td><td>7.8</td></tr><tr><td>Manhattan Institute </td><td>7.2 </td></tr><tr><td>Citizens for a Sound Economy </td><td>5.4 </td></tr><tr><td>Reason Foundation </td><td>4.9 </td></tr><tr><td>National Center for Policy Analysis </td><td>4.7 </td></tr><tr><td>Competitive Enterprise Institute </td><td>3.2 </td></tr><tr><td>Free Congress Foundation </td><td>2.7 </td></tr><tr><td>Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis </td><td>2.5 </td></tr>
<br /></table>
<br />
<br /><h3>MASS MEDIA DISTRIBUTION--$300M CONSERVATIVE MESSAGE MACHINE</h3>
<br /><table BORDER>
<br /><tr><td>TELEVISION</td></tr><tr><td>Pat Robertson's 700 Club</td></tr><tr><td>Fox News Channel</td></tr><tr><td>MSNBC's Scarborough Country </td></tr><tr><td>Oliver North's War Stories </td></tr>
<br /><tr><td>RADIO</td></tr><tr><td>The Rush Limbaugh Show </td></tr><tr><td>The Cal Thomas Commentary </td></tr><tr><td>Radio America </td></tr><tr><td>PUBLISHING </td></tr><tr><td>Eagle Publishing, Inc. </td></tr>
<br /><tr><td>NEWSPAPERS</td></tr><tr><td>The Washington Times </td></tr><tr><td>The Wall Street journal </td></tr></table>
<br /><h3>STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS (200I ESTIMATES)</h3>
<br />
<br /><table BORDER><tr><td></td><td><b>(in $ Millions)</b></td></tr>
<br /><tr><td>George Mason University </td><td> 7</td></tr> <tr><td>Harvard University </td><td>6 </td></tr><tr><td>Intercollegiate Studies Institute </td><td> 5.8 </td></tr><tr><td>University of Chicago </td><td> 5 </td></tr><tr><td>Yale University </td><td>5 </td></tr><tr><td>Washington University </td><td> 4 </td></tr><tr><td>Stanford University </td><td>3 </td></tr><tr><td>Institute for Humane Studies</td><td> 2.9 </td></tr><tr><td>National Association of Scholars </td><td> 1.2</td></tr>
<br /></table>
<br />
<br />Give to $10 your local thinktank today (see the sidebar for details).conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105432015324591922005-01-11T01:23:00.000-08:002005-01-11T00:26:55.326-08:00What Liberal Media?<a href=http://atrios.blogspot.com/2005_01_09_atrios_archive.html#110540872709344361>Atrios has</a> a catalog of reporters who lied about the Whitewater scandal in the 1990s, and yet recieved far less attention than the errorful Rather.
<br /><blockquote>
<br />I could go on and on. But, the worst Rather has been accused of by sensible people is letting partisanship cloud his judgment. Accepting that as true just for sake of argument, it's still a far less egregious sin than most of the Whitewater-era horseshit which has never been acknowledged as horseshit by the liberal media, even though unlike the Rather incident, much of that horseshit was clearly deliberately manufactured by the producers and reporters. These events were recycled and echoed throuhgout the entire liberal media, with no one calling foul and no one calling for their heads.
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105429132848175542005-01-10T23:37:00.000-08:002005-01-10T23:38:52.850-08:00Daily Show on Harry ReidHarry Reid's message to his party: At least we're not dying in a mine shaft.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105426021647484392005-01-10T22:43:00.000-08:002005-01-10T22:47:01.646-08:00Damn<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41218811@N00/3226710/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://photos2.flickr.com/3226710_dc03722759.jpg" width="409" height="286" alt="capt.cadd10101102308.topix_california_storm_cadd101" /></a>
<br /><a href=http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050110/480/cadd10101102308>Malibu, CA.</a>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105425234659854302005-01-10T22:31:00.000-08:002005-01-10T23:30:13.236-08:00Fire the ConsultantsA fine serious article from <a href=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0501.sullivan.html>Amy Sullivan</a>:
<br /><blockquote>
<br />Hansen is part of a clique of Washington consultants who, through their insider ties, continue to get rewarded with business even after losing continually. Pollster Mark Mellman is popular among Democrats because he tells them what they so desperately want to hear: Their policies are sound, Americans really agree with them more than with Republicans, and if they just repeat their mantras loud enough, voters will eventually embrace the party. As Noam Scheiber pointed out in a New Republic article following the great Democratic debacle of '02, Mellman was, perhaps more than anyone else, the architect of that defeat. As the DSCC's recommended pollster, he advised congressional Democrats to ignore national security and Iraq in favor of an endless campaign about prescription drugs and education. After the party got its clock cleaned based on his advice, Mellman should have been exiled but was instead...promoted. He became the lead pollster for John Kerry's presidential campaign, where he proffered eerily similar advice—stress domestic policy, stay away from attacking Bush—to much the same effect.
<br />
<br />Hansen and Mellman are joined by the poster boy of Democratic social promotion, Bob Shrum. Over his 30-year career, Shrum has worked on the campaigns of seven losing presidential candidates—from George McGovern to Bob Kerrey—capping his record with a leading role in the disaster that was the Gore campaign. Yet, instead of abiding by the “seven strikes and you're out” rule, Democrats have continued to pay top dollar for his services (sums that are supplemented by the percentage Shrum's firm, Shrum, Devine & Donilon, gets for purchasing air time for commercials). Although Shrum has never put anyone in the White House, in the bizarro world of Democratic politics, he's seen as a kingmaker—merely hiring the media strategist gives a candidate such instant credibility with big-ticket liberal funders that John Kerry and John Edwards fought a fierce battle heading into the 2004 primaries to lure Shrum to their camps. Ultimately, Shrum chose Kerry, and on Nov. 3, he extended his perfect losing record.
<br /></blockquote>
<br />And why do these losers rise to such high positions?
<br /><blockquote>
<br />The consultants are filling a vacuum....
<br /></blockquote>
<br />All <a href=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0501.sullivan.html>well worth reading</a>.conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105377371950484352005-01-10T09:10:00.000-08:002005-01-10T09:18:37.563-08:00Conference on Journalism and CredibilityHarvard's conference on <a href=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu:8080/webcred/index.php?p=4>Blogging, Journlism, and Credibility</a> has been announced. As you'll note from the list of participants, it doesn't involve many legitimate bloggers; despite its title, it appears to be meant for journalistic handwringing specifically. <a href=http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/1/10/0510/46025#7>joshyelon</a> gives his take as part of a discussion at mydd:
<br /><blockquote>
<br />This is the second time I've read about a formal conference at which journalists scratch their heads and try to figure out why they aren't trusted any more. This is analogous to me hosting a conference of Ph.D. computer engineers at my house to figure out why my computer is unplugged.
<br />
<br />If you want to know why journalists aren't trusted, pick a random day and read the front page of the New York Times. Usually, the errors and omissions are so blatant that anyone with half a brain can see them. And the NYT is a good paper, relatively speaking.
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105339251250231282005-01-09T22:38:00.000-08:002005-01-09T22:40:51.250-08:00Fafblog Compares Alberto Gonzalez to a Baked PotatoFrom <a href=http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2005_01_09_fafblog_archive.html#110532348636328727>Fafblog!</a>
<br /><blockquote>
<br />POWERS AND ABILITIES
<br />Alberto Gonzales: Doesn't offer own legal opinions to the president, can't remember previous legal opinions for the senate, can't explain current legal opinions to anybody.
<br />Baked potato: Doesn't offer own legal opinions to the president, can't remember previous legal opinions for the senate, can't explain current legal opinions to anybody, and is covered with hot melted butter and sour cream!
<br />Advantage: POTATO
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105334338762258842005-01-09T21:17:00.000-08:002005-01-09T21:18:58.763-08:00Social Security: Why Private Accounts Don't WorkOne reason of many, <a href=http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_01_02.php#004367>from the TalkingPointsMemo mailbag</a>
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<br />You've mentioned Social security as insurance, previously, but I think the point deserves more emphasis. Reducing social security benefits and replacing (some of) the lost benefits with private investment accounts is still gambling EVEN if the accounts earn a relatively optimistic rate of return, and EVEN if the accounts are limited to conservative investment options. The reason why private investment accounts are RISKY is because people don't know how long they will live. Someone living to (say) 95 is going to do much worse with private investments, simply because the privately invested money is going to run out well before they die.
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<br />The scam here (on the part of those trying to sell private investment accounts as a substitute) is that they (implicitly) are talking about what someone who lives to the AVERAGE lifespan will be getting. But half (or so) of retirees are going to live LONGER than average. This half will either have to withdraw money more slowly (live less well) [and how will they be able to predict this?] or will exhaust their private investment accounts long before they die.
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<br />So with private accounts, those who die early end up with some (or much) of their money going to the heirs, and those who die late end up (potentially) in poverty. Only the hypothetical "average" person (the one who dies at an average age, having exactly exhausted his/her private investments at exactly the right time) is going to do as well as any "predicted" outcome for private investment accounts.
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<br />--JB
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9010660.post-1105333853645686662005-01-09T21:08:00.000-08:002005-01-09T21:10:53.646-08:00In the Google World, Newspapers' Impermananence Becomes a Serious OversightSays <a href=http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/weblogs/pressthink/2005/01/07/wldm_perm.html>Jay Rosen</a>:
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<br />I think it shameful, not to mention a crisis in authority, that the solid journalistic achievement of most people in daily newspapers across the land is being lost to Google, lost to bloggers, lost to online forums and conversation, lost to the long tail where value is built up.
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<br />Does your average hard working environment reporter even know that her comprehensive portrait of an ecological disaster in the making won't ever make it into search engines so that people can see where it all began, so that high school kids researching an assignment would find it and get the whole story? Do the newsroom troops understand this "lost to the future" quality about their best work? Who was supposed to tell them?
<br /></blockquote>conchishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01112463680039130649noreply@blogger.com0