Friday, September 03, 2010

The Nitty Gritty Of Politics And Idealism



Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, head-and-shoulders por...Image via WikipediaSometimes in the nitty gritty of politics, in all those hourly, daily details that have to be taken care of, in yet another hand that has to be shaken, yet another speech that has to be given, one more time of telling the same story, sometimes it can feel like the idealism has been diluted, possibly even lost, especially when it has been a down hour, or a down day. But the idealism has to continue to burn. The purpose can never be lost sight of.

It is important to learn the mechanics. It is important to get to know the tools of technology that are so important. But beneath it all it is all about the larger goal.

I have long maintained meeting "ordinary people" is the best part of being part of a political campaign.

You can have the best intentions, but if you can't navigate the political process, your ability to deliver gets hindered. Good politicians are like good doctors. They know their stuff.

But often times a lot of politicians get lost in the process. The process took over the purpose a long time ago for them. They are going through the motions. Incumbency can do that to you. You can lose touch.
NYDailyNews.com: NY-14 Money Matters: Carolyn Maloney V. Reshma Saujani
NY-14 Hopeful Reshma Saujani No "Uptown Girl"
UK Asian: Interview w/ Reshma Saujani At Netroots
Inspire@BTHS: “Don’t Ever Let Anyone Tell You That You Can’t Do Something”- Reshma Saujani:Ever since she was a child, Reshma Saujani was extremely passionate about law and public service. Saujani says her father, a prominent figure in her life, provided her with the tools for a successful career in both law and politics. “Law and politics were always in my interest. I always wanted to be an attorney. My father would read to me about Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt. They were inspiring because they were always working on social justice issues. That was very empowering to me.”.... Saujani used her teen years to build experience in social work. ..... “I did a lot in high school to prepare for attorney skills. In college, I was part of student government. I led marches and I was an activist. .... I want to make this country a better place.” .... asked if being a first-generation Indian-American woman has ever held her back from doing anything, Saujani was very firm in her answer. “No,” she says. “It has never held me back.” On the contrary, it seems that being a first generation Indian-American woman has pushed her forward...... the strong, confident and incredible woman that is Reshma Saujani. ..... She constantly stresses one idea:dreaming big...... Don’t worry about making money. Money will come. ...... Favorite fictional character: Atticus Finch, the lawyer from To Kill a Mockingbird ...... Your most treasured object: A bracelet my father gave me when I was thirteen. .... Greatest achievement: Running for office. ...... Greatest influence: My father...... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again .... if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. ..... A passionate, determined and strong-minded woman, Saujani is working towards winning the Congressional seat. Brilliant, courageous, and caring, this woman is undoubtedly reaching for the stars. She’s working ardently to help rebuild Main Street and work with Wall Street. ..... cannot wait to see what this phenomenal woman will do once in office.
Pennsylvania Lemon Law: “Maloney and Saujani spar on Wall St., L.G.B.T. issues”: includes America's wealthiest voters on Manhattan's Upper East Side, as well as some of the nation's largest and most troubled public housing projects in Queens .... will experience a very rare event later this month — a Democratic primary challenge to its nine-term representative. ..... an effort she describes as generational, ethnic and based, as much as anything else, on "leadership style." ..... could in time land the congresswoman in front of the same sort of ethics investigation currently plaguing Charles Rangel ...... Saujani now explains that her concern about the banking industry's health has to do with the availability of credit, which she said is vital to the prospects for small business owners in Queens to survive. ....... the press has uniformly ignored an inspiring immigrant story ..... widespread frustration among L.G.B.T. voters with the slow pace of change two years into the Obama presidency and after four years of Democratic control of Congress. ..... Her passion for not waiting, Saujani explained, is "generational," an example of her willingness to emphasize her age difference with Maloney. She would challenge the House speaker in the same way that she took on the organizers of the Aug. 15 India Day Parade, whom, she said, she threatened to "call out" prior to their agreeing to allow the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) to march openly. ...... Saujani readily acknowledged that she has no endorsements to speak of, saying she really never expected any. True to her insurgent form, she turned that lemon into lemonade, noting, "Membership has its privileges."
MSNBC: NYC House Race Boils Down To Wall Street Visions
Community Conversations Wrap-Up



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Thursday, September 02, 2010

The Hammer Effect, The Butterfly Effect


The hammer effect was Bush invading Iraq. The hammer effect was Barack pushing an almost trillion dollar stimulus bill through Congress.

Iran
A President Is Like A Political Billionaire

The butterfly effect is a much more delicate exercise of power except when it isn't. The conditions have to be optimal for the butterfly effect to come into play.


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Get Out The Vote For Reshma 2010


The moment we have been waiting for is fast approaching.

Get Out The Vote

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

This Is Not 1994



I am sick and tired of people suggesting the Republicans are going to storm the House like they did in 1994. 2010 is not 1994. Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton. Here are some reasons why.
  1. There is no Newt Gingrich in the picture. 
  2. There is no Contract On America. There is not likely to be one. The only things the Republicans have is obstructionism and the Bush policies. The voters already decided in 2008 how they felt about the Bush policies. And obstructionism does not get you votes. You have to have a positive agenda. The Republicans don't have one. 
  3. Barack Obama is not Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton's economic record was outstanding, but Obama has beat Bill Clinton in the greatness department. To me that was a foregone conclusion on the campaign trail itself. And the greatness went official after he passed health care reform, something presidents struggled over for half a century. 
  4. Bill Clinton's health care reform had failed as he headed into November 1994. Barack Obama's health effort passed. That is his backdrop as he heads into November 2010.
  5. Barack Obama has been compared with JFK, with FDR, but never with Bill Clinton. Now is not the time to start on that. Clinton and Obama are just different. Their styles are very different. 
  6. Bill Clinton did not campaign much for 1994. He was considered too unpopular to be effective. Barack Obama's popularity is not the same it was in December 2008, but it is still good. 
  7. Barack is going to be able to explain that the Wall Street meltdown was an unexpected inheritance. The bailout happened before he got there. He is going to be able to explain the stark necessity of the stimulus bill. Without it the country would have been in Great Depression II right now. The unemployment rate would have been closer to 30% than 10%. The American people are going to understand that.  
  8. He is going to be able to say he wants to focus on Congress reform and immigration reform in 2011. That he is a foe of debt and deficits and they will be at the center of his 2012 agenda going into the second term. But these past two years have not been the time for balanced budgets. These past two years have been the biggest economic crisis in 70 years. And the government had to step in to avoid Great Depression II. 
  9. The Tea Party "movement" has made the GOP even more of a minority party. The harsh voices that are known to alienate people in the mainstream have taken over.
  10. Barack is going to be able to energize the Obama surge crowd of 2008, not to the same extent perhaps as 2008. But he is going to make the case and they are going to come out in large enough numbers. One important point he has to make is that grassroots electioneering is not the same as grassroots governance. The netroots/grassroots need to acquire governance literacy. You can't attain power and then lose interest in it once you have it. But governance does require that you become more knowledgeable of the contours of power, of the compulsions of the opposition party, the compulsions of the various interest groups within your own party. Energizing people to show up to vote one day is comparatively simple. But governance is about conducting complex transactions on a daily basis. And the grassroots has to take an interest in that exercise of power like it took great interest in attaining that power. So far the grassroots has not lived up to the idea of grassroots governance. It does not have to be that way. You got to act like a party that feels being in power is but natural to you. You can't be feeling awkward and out of place once in power as if you miss being in opposition. Some of the netroots/grassroots act like they miss being in opposition. That has to go. 

Keeping The House And The Senate
Iran, Obama 2010, Reshma 2010
Perfect Time For Congress Reform
Save Immigration For 2011
Sep 15 - Oct 31: Obama-Reshma Should Crisscross The Country
September 14 Will Birth The New Woman
Reshma Saujani Is The Second Stimulus Bill This Country Needs
Reshma: Obama's Number One Weapon For November 2010
Obama Needs To Ride The Reshma Insurgency Wave To November Victory

Maloney Dismantled Glass-Steagall And Gave Us Great Recession

I read a reader comment at the New York Daily News that tells you all you need to know about Carolyn Maloney and the dismantling of the Glass-Steagall Act. That dismantling is what brought about the Great Recession, it is now widely believed in most intelligent circles. And this entire time Maloney has been telling the media and whoever else will listen that Reshma Saujani is the Wall Street's candidate.



In The News

New York Daily News: Reshma Saujani Launches New Anti-Carolyn Maloney Site: Updated: TheRealCarolynMaloney.com
Comment by Jonri: I live in the district. Way back when, I voted for Maloney when she ran against Bill Green. She won because of redistricting. The redistricting included Roosevelt Island, Astoria, LIC,etc.--areas which Green had not represented. Green carried the areas that had been part of his district. Maloney won because of Roosevelt Island and Queens. Since then, Maloney has ignored the rest of the district and catered to big money donors from the Upper East Side and from outside the district. I really chuckle when Maloney claims that she is in favor the small fry and anti the financial industry. Go back and check the record. Like a lot of people, I think the current economic mess, especially in New York, was caused by the dismantling of Glass-Steagall. That bill created lines of separation between banks and riskier investments. It was dismantled by the Gramm-Leach-Biley bill. Maloney not only voted in favor of the bill, she was one of the conferees. Yes, the bill had a few consumer protection clauses in it and that's what Maloney touts. But the whole subprime mortgage fiasco is in part the result of the gutting of Glass-Steagall and Maloney was an active participant in the gutting. Maloney was more than willing to do what the BANKS (not the securities firms) wanted her to do back then. And the result was a disaster. When the crisis hit, Congress didn't react quickly enough. And given her committee position, Maloney is responsible for that too. I've gotten invited to several Maloney events. The cheapest ticket to any of them was $1,000--out of my league. I saw Maloney at a community event a couple of months ago--the first time she's attended in over a decade. I tried to talk to her--a line formed. Maloney ignored all of us and talked to local elected officials--people she already knows. I gave up and left the line. Got about 2 feet when 2 of her campaign workers blocked my path and asked me to sign her petition. Of course, I said no--but now at least I knew why she bothered to attend this annual event after so many years of absence.
Our Town NY: Reshma Saujani: New Solutions To East Side Problems: a jobless recovery with no end in sight and politicians in Washington and Albany that are failing to act...... Public spaces like Ruppert Park may close, bus lines are being cut and bedbugs are a growing problem.......Right now, creating jobs must be our first priority ...... I’ve proposed a new 21st Century Jobs Corps to provide educational training grants to help unemployed Americans, like construction workers, find work in emerging sectors. I’ve also proposed a National Innovation Fund—a public-private partnership to invest seed money into start-up businesses in next-generation industries. I believe we should eliminate capital gains taxes on investments in micro-enterprises to empower entrepreneurs with innovative new business ideas. And I am calling for a $15,000 student loan credit for math, science or engineering college graduates who go to work for a clean-tech, biotech or high-tech start-up in New York for at least three years. We should also double the $2 billion in grants awarded to our entrepreneurs through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs......... I will push for a national Tenants’ Bill of Rights to protect homeowners and oppose plans to privatize public housing...... The completion of the East Side Greenway must be a priority. I’m also concerned about the potential construction of a high-rise at the Ruppert Playground on 92nd Street........ The Second Avenue subway will ultimately be a positive addition to the community. But we need to engage the community throughout the building process. ...... New York is the greatest city in the world, but our politicians in Washington and Albany are failing to lead.

The Lo Down NY: Maloney/Saujani Quizzed On WNYC: The back-to-back interviews on WNYC last Friday will give you a pretty good idea what to expect during that midday radio-only encounter

Reshma Saujani: New Solutions To East Side Problems

New Solutions to East Side Problems
Posted by Our Town on September 1, 2010

Creating jobs, housing and infrastructure repair top agenda

By Reshma Saujani

In my campaign, I’ve traveled from the Lower East Side to the Upper East Side, from Astoria to Long Island City—and everywhere I go, I hear the same fundamental concern from voters: for the first time in generations, parents are worried their children will not have the same opportunities that they had. And more than anything, people in New York—from artists to taxi drivers to teachers to bankers—are anxious about the economy. They’re worried about a jobless recovery with no end in sight and politicians in Washington and Albany that are failing to act.


Compounding that anxiety are several factors. First, New York is one of the most expensive places to live in America. The overall cost of living here is an astonishing 364 percent higher than the national average—and it’s not getting any cheaper. The delayed and over-budget construction of the Second Avenue subway is pushing small businesses into bankruptcy. Upper East Side schools are overcrowded and students are being forced to go across town for a quality education. Public spaces like Ruppert Park may close, bus lines are being cut and bedbugs are a growing problem.

We can—and must—do better. In order to ensure a vibrant Upper East Side for future generations, we need new leadership and innovative ideas to create jobs, make sure that middle class families aren’t priced out of the city, and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers.

Right now, creating jobs must be our first priority, because the solutions coming out of Washington simply aren’t working. Carolyn Maloney, my opponent, has not passed a single piece of legislation to create jobs since becoming chair of the Joint Economic Committee. Not one. To create thousands of new jobs starting this year, I’ve proposed a new 21st Century Jobs Corps to provide educational training grants to help unemployed Americans, like construction workers, find work in emerging sectors. I’ve also proposed a National Innovation Fund—a public-private partnership to invest seed money into start-up businesses in next-generation industries. I believe we should eliminate capital gains taxes on investments in micro-enterprises to empower entrepreneurs with innovative new business ideas. And I am calling for a $15,000 student loan credit for math, science or engineering college graduates who go to work for a clean-tech, biotech or high-tech start-up in New York for at least three years. We should also double the $2 billion in grants awarded to our entrepreneurs through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Maintaining an affordable New York is critical, especially when it comes to housing. Only 30 percent of New Yorkers are homeowners, a far cry from the national rate of 68 percent, and people of color in New York are even less likely to own a home. New York must first take steps to mandate that a percentage of development projects be dedicated to affordable housing. In addition, I will push for a national Tenants’ Bill of Rights to protect homeowners and oppose plans to privatize public housing.

Quality of life is another important issue. I’m committed to maintaining our existing parks and public spaces and creating new ones. The completion of the East Side Greenway must be a priority. I’m also concerned about the potential construction of a high-rise at the Ruppert Playground on 92nd Street. I’ve written to both the City of New York and The Related Companies, urging them to permanently preserve this space as a public park.

Infrastructure will continue to be an important driver of economic growth, but the Second Avenue subway is an unfortunate reminder that when our leaders don’t properly consult the community, too often, businesses are adversely affected and many of our economic goals are not achieved. The Second Avenue subway will ultimately be a positive addition to the community. But we need to engage the community throughout the building process. To help businesses that are being affected by the construction of the Second Avenue subway, I will work with local, state and federal officials to provide an economic stability initiative to establish grants and property tax abatements.

New York is the greatest city in the world, but our politicians in Washington and Albany are failing to lead. As an example, Carolyn Maloney recently held a fundraiser at the home of a financial lobbyist—while serving on the committee negotiating financial reform. That’s wrong. I’ve pledged to never accept a penny of corporate PAC money in my career. And I will fight the special interests culture that brings Congress to a standstill. We can’t keep re-electing the same politicians and expecting change. Together we can change our broken system and build a new era of opportunity and prosperity for all New Yorkers.



Maloney Should Concede To Reshma Saujani

The Huffington Post: Murkowski Concedes Alaska GOP Senate Primary To Joe Miller: Sen. Lisa Murkowski was booted from office in the Republican primary Tuesday by a little-known conservative lawyer in arguably the biggest political upset of the year..... amid deep dissatisfaction with the Washington establishment..... defeated a sitting senator in a primary ...... Murkowski is the third senator to lose this year, along with Bennett and Arlen Specter, D-Pa. ..... after more than 15,000 ballots were counted, she remained 1,630 votes behind...... the Miller camp had no idea what to expect Tuesday. ...... Murkowski has proudly touted her seniority after eight years in office, and said her roles on the appropriations and energy committees put her in a strong position to ensure Alaskans' voices are heard ...... with Murkowski holding such a name-recognition and fundraising advantage ..... Miller connected with the voters and tapped into anti-incumbent anger ....... the Kansas-raised Miller had no experience running in political races ...... in the race's final weeks, when Miller's camp said it sensed momentum was on its side and that Miller would win.

Maloney should not wait until September 14. She should concede now. And here's why.

It is about the cause. It is now time for The New Woman to step forward. (September 14 Will Birth The New Woman) Conceding to Reshma now would be the biggest thing Maloney ever did for women worldwide. It would be a masterstroke.

It is about the party. Maloney could do her part in letting the Democratic Party ride the strong anti incumbency mood sweeping the country. (Obama Needs To Ride The Reshma Insurgency Wave To Victory)

It is about time. Maloney has had a 18 year run. That is long enough. She should exit the state in dignity.

It is about the ground reality. Reshma 2010 obviously has the momentum in this race.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

One Detail Missing In AP Article On Reshma

Rupert Murdoch - World Economic Forum Annual M...Image by World Economic Forum via Flickr
This Associated Press article has covered all the major points about Reshma Saujani except one, and that missing detail is a big one.

Reshma's Momentum: Line Graph Or Curve Graph
Reshma's Momentum: 70% Vs. 7%, 24,000 Vs. 8,000 Signatures, $2 Vs. $1.2 Million

That big missing detail is the several months old internal polling numbers that the Maloney 2010 camp has been providing to the oh so eager media people that shows Maloney is at 70% and Reshma is at 7%. Those poll numbers are so old, it is like saying John Edwards won in Iowa. But those Maloney provided numbers have been recycled by mainstream media relentlessly. I wish Maloney all the false confidence in the world (Send Maloney An Absentee Ballot In DC), but I want the media people to get back to their commitment to fairness and accuracy in reporting.

I mean, what the! This article is the Associated Press engaging in yellow journalism. This article is full of lie after lie after lie. The first lie is the headline itself.

No, Maloney is not a pro Wall Street reform candidate and no, Reshma is not an anti Wall Street reform person. Maloney has no clue how Wall Street works. If you want her to take the lead on Wall Street reform, I would like to perform your next surgery. Grant me the honor. (Joke Of The Day: Carolyn Maloney) And if you think Maloney was the architect of the recently passed Wall Street reform bill, remember that guy who landed on the moon? That was me. (Credit For Credit Card Bill Goes To Barack Obama, Carolyn Maloney's Work On The Second Avenue Subway Line)

Maloney was raising money from Wall Street PACs w-h-i-l-e she was working on Wall Street reform. After the ethics committee is done with Rangel, mark my word, it is going after Maloney. (Rangel And Maloney Need To Vacate The Premises And For The Same Reasons)

Maloney sits on a personal fortune of 20 million dollars. A-l-l of that is Wall Street money. Reshma has a student loan of $100,000. If she is that person that skimmed the country of trillions like Maloney 2010 has been telling the media, why did Reshma not pay off her student loans?

Maloney has taken half a million dollars from Wall Street PACs. Reshma Saujani has not taken a dime. Let me crunch the numbers here. Give me a minute. Okay, done. My calculation says that makes Carolyn Maloney the Wall Street's candidate, not Reshma Saujani. (Barack Obama: The NRA's Candidate)

Yes, Maloney voted for the Wall Street reform bill. Of course she did. She is a checkbox Democrat. That is what checkbox Democrats do. But Reshma actually knows what is inside that bill. And she has come out saying the bill is a big step in the right direction, but it does not do enough.

Calling Reshma the Wall Street's candidate is like calling a brown person a terrorist just because he is brown. What's wrong in that picture? Intelligent people don't do that. (Wayne Barrett: Suspicious Package, Al Hagan: Capable Of A Hate Crime)

Vision? Maloney has no visions. Maloney is a nightmare. (Yes, Maloney Is A Crook) What competing visions are you even talking about?
The Associated Press: NYC House Race Boils Down To Wall Street Visions
If I were Rupert Murdoch - wait, who owns AP? - I'd fire this Beth Fouhy person like yesterday. (Tea Party Astroturfing)
Terra: Halle: The Kate Spade Shoe All the Power Ladies Want
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Send Maloney An Absentee Ballot In DC

Panoramic view across Queens, New York, taken ...Image via Wikipedia

Carolyn Maloney has been missing in inaction. (Carolyn Maloney: Missing In Inaction) She claims she has been too busy in DC "creating jobs" to bother showing up for debates. Only a few days back she told a Queens newspaper that if she did not have an opponent in the primary "I would not be here today talking to you."

She has stayed far away from her district. She has stayed far away from New York City. She has been holed up in DC like you might think a war was on and bombs were raining in on London.

I fear she has been so busy in DC "creating jobs" she might not even show up on election day, September 14. My compassion says mail her an absentee ballot right about now. She might not even show up to vote.


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Obama Needs To Ride The Reshma Insurgency Wave To November Victory

With his family by his side, Barack Obama is s...Image via Wikipedia

This year the face of change is Reshma, not Obama. And Obama needs to ride the Reshma insurgency wave all the way to victory.

Barack Obama Just Endorsed Reshma Saujani
Hillary Clinton Just Endorsed Reshma Saujani

The discontent on the ground is real. The disaffection is real. The hunger for change is even more real than it was in the 2008 season. Back then change was about changing the tone in Washington. Now change is about taking the unemployment level back to 5%. Now change is about tectonic structural changes to the economy. Now change is about explaining the huge debt and deficit. Change is about saying there is no going back, there is only going forward. Change is about saying it is a woman's time now. She is ready.

Obama needs to place his congratulatory phone call to Reshma a-t her victory party (September 14 Will Birth The New Woman) and invite her to accompany him across the country on and off for the next six weeks. (Sep 15 - Oct 31: Obama-Reshma Should Crisscross The Country)

Reshma more than anyone else in this country today is best positioned to talk the talk on how the unemployment rate in this country is to be brought down from its current 10%. And that 10% is average. Some places the figure is more like 50%.

Barack Obama: The NRA's Candidate
Reshma Saujani Is The Second Stimulus Bill This Country Needs

The tea party "insurgency" is froth. (Tea Party Astroturfing) The real insurgency this year is the Reshma Saujani insurgency. Her insurgency is about fundamental Congress reform. (Perfect Time For Congress Reform, Charlie Rangel: An Unrepentant Motherfucker)

Obama brought change to the White House. Reshma will bring change to Congress. Reshma is the real deal.

This November election is a very real contest. It is not at all obvious which side will win. It is like the Barack-Hillary tussle all over again. The Reshma insurgency wave is the wave to ride. Victory is nowhere close to guaranteed, but I believe it is possible. But the arc does not bend on its own.
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NY1, NY1, NY1, NY1, NY1



Reshma Saujani, Scott Heiferman and Chris Hugh...Image by TCDisrupt via FlickrThe highlight of my Reshma 2010 community conversation in Queens yesterday evening (Roosevelt Island: Community Conversation) was the news that NY1 has decided to call Maloney's bluff and is slated to give Reshma Saujani a 30 minute slot. They invited Maloney. She declined. So they have decided to give Maloney's share of time to Reshma. Now that's what I call courage. Courage on the part of NY1. This was so necessary.

For me it has not been about the first Indian American woman running for Congress thing. I have been too individualistic to bother joining the Indian American community in this country so far. So far I have followed interest groups. For me it has been about Reshma's political talent.

And now we are about to see the turning point. (We Intend To Swamp Maloney: The East Side Is Going Electric)

I give the credit for this wonderful move to Brian Lehrer. He did something really innovative. And that is how the dam burst. (Brian Lehrer's Message To TV Journalists In Town)

How am I going to watch this though? I don't own a TV. I hope they put out the whole segment on YouTube.

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