Barack Is A Deaniac

Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean

Barack is one of us. He is a Deaniac. He is the original anti-war candidate. We have to get behind Barack Obama like we have never gotten behind any candidate as Democracy For America. This time we are going all the way. We have experienced the highs and lows of victories and defeats in races at all levels as an organization. Now we go for the ultimate prize, the White House. Every fiber in my body aches to see Barack Obama in the White House.

We have taken over the party, now we take over the country. With Dean at the helm of the party, we are going to create a perfet storm for Obama. We are going to put in place a political operation that Karl Rove never even fantasized about. We are going to nail all the details. Karl Rove is snail mail, we are email. It is a difference between centuries.

I believe I am going to start going to DFNYC events all over again, like I did when I first came into the city. I believe I will go ahead and resubscribe to the DFNYC newsletter.

Take Back Congress - Landline Phone Banking Now Three Nights Per Week (4 days 9 hours) Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening Act Now
NOVEMBER PRE-ELECTION LINKUP (5 days 10 hours) East Village, Cinema Classics/Rafiffi, 332 East 11th Street (btwn. 1st & 2nd), with host Heather Woodfield

Perhaps the digital democracy organization I have been thinking in terms of will be a DFNYC project that I steer. If not, I am going to launch my own organization. I already have the nucleus of it from my Nepal work. I also am organizing a convention during the last weekend in May, a Nepali Convention, to be the biggest Nepali event outside of Nepal. The Global South ethnics in America are going to rise up for Obama.

• Balance the budget. Bring the rates down for homeowners and those with student loans.
  
• Balance the budget, and bring down the property taxes.
  
• End the war. Bush has killed more Iraqis than Saddam. Enough. Bring the troops home.
  
• Spread democracy like in Nepal, not like in Iraq. End the neocon insanity. Spread democracy the progressive way. Bring every monarchy in the Arab countries to an end. Freedom rings in every human heart. You just got to tap that the nonviolent way so they tap their feet into the streets and take over their countries. (The Saudi Royal Family Has Got To Go) We are also waging war, but we are waging war with communications technology.
  
• New approaches to old problems. New approaches to education and health care.
  
• Micro credit for micro revolutions in the inner cities.
  
• Free, wireless broadband through the private sector, ad based.
  
• Take America into the Information Age with style.
• Bye bye tax cut and swipe the credit card neocons, bye bye scare the Americans into voting for you neocons.
  
• We offer Hope, not fear. (Harvard Political Review - The Audacity of Hope)

Voting Machines On The Upper West
Barack Obama: This Is A New Century
Barack Obama: New Approaches To Old Problems
Switching To Obama
Seaport Diwali

A Different Kind Of Campaign: A Scientific Campaign
I Am Running For Dean 2008 Campaign Chair

In The News

Iran readies its second set of centrifuges, says report Earthtimes.org
Arson In California Kills 4 Firefighters Tampa Tribune
Bihar panchayats set for e-governance Monsters and Critics.com
Energy Prices, Housing Slow Economic Growth Washington Post
Iran 'fires up nuclear processors' CNN International
Polls undercount support for same-sex marriage ban San Francisco Chronicle
Madonna's adoption hearing adjourned EiTB
Hastert aide meets Foley panel in private Chicago Tribune
IE7 vs. Firefox: The Competition Really Begins PC Magazine
Nepal peace talks to resume soon Hindu
UN assistance for IDPs in Nepal People's Daily Online
Leader: Enter Barack Obama Guardian Unlimited Last weekend's confirmation by Barack Obama that he is weighing a run for the White House has generated almost hysterical levels of speculation that the charismatic senator from Illinois may be the candidate to break with the dismal past and lead the Democrats back to the presidency. On the face of it, this is the triumph of hope over experience..... By contrast Ms Clinton, for all her efforts not to, divides Americans sharply.... he is African and American rather than African-American ... he would be the first black man to win the nomination of either major party. His consistent opposition to the Iraq war contrasts strikingly with the timid shuffling of his senate colleagues, Ms Clinton included. It is too soon to say if Mr Obama is as good as he looks and sounds. But he should surely give his party the chance to decide.
The Dynamic Center: Disolving the 1960's - Barack Obama and 2008 411mania.com Barack Obama's interest in the presidency has sparked my interest in several levels. Aside from his considerable ability to communicate and his interesting biography, Obama may very well represent a shift past what has been the dominant factor in national political debates for several decades - namely, how to react to the 1960's? As someone not born until the mid 1970's, I am tired of a political debate about a decade I did not live through. ..... culture trumped economics in the minds of the voters in 2004. ... here we are in 2006 and a potential candidate emerges that might not be able to be pinned down on issues such as Vietnam or hippie-love ..... Obama by age alone has the potential to dissolve rather than solve the issues raised in the 1960's. ...... I say bring on the great solvent Barack Obama!
Mrs. Clinton Is Said to Be Open to a Law Allowing Gay Marriage New York Times
Cinton “evolved” on gay marriage Gay.com UK
Bachchan family consents to Aishwarya Rai - Abhishek Bachchan ... South Asian Women's Forum The Bachchan family has consented to the wedding of son Abhishek with Bollywood leading lady and former Miss World Asihwarya Rai .... The wedding is likely to take place in February next year. A firm date will be settled upon by priests for the two families who together agree that the month of February, 2007 is auspicious. ...... the couple have kept their wedding plans in abeyance pending a nod from the Bachchan family, something that has so far not been forthcoming. Speculations on the reasons for the holdup have centered on father Amitabh Bachchan's desire for a homemaker bride not a film star, the family's ardent faith in matching the horoscopes of the bride and groom, and the need for Abhishek, 30, to stabilize in his film career...... In the recent past Aishwarya, 33, has made great efforts to assuage any misgivings that the Bachchan family may have harbored about her abilities as a homemaker. Her efforts at winning the hearts of the Bachchan family include a hospital visit to Abhishek's grandmother Teji Bachchan and frequent visits to the Bachchan home. Recently she and her family spent their Diwali with the Bachchans...... Rai has gone out of the way to stress the fact that she has largely essayed roles that are quintessentially Indian. She has studiously avoided the image of a sex symbol. ..... both Aishwarya and Abhishek are believed to be Mangliks. A wedding between two mangliks with matching horoscopes is considered very auspicious. ..... A horoscope match was confirmed in Nov 2005 when Amitabh's brother, Ajitabh, visited a priest in Bangalore in the company of Abhishek, at the behest of Teji Bachchan. ...... Abhishek Bachchan, who started his film career with Refugee in 2000 had a string of 14 flops before coming good in Mani Ratnam's Yuva (2004). Since then he has starred in a chain of box office successes like Bunty Aur Babli, Sarkar, Bluff Master and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna..... they are paired again in two forthcoming big budget films (Guru, Sarkar 2) ..... both Abhishek and Aishwarya have recently avoided facing the media or their fans together.
Limbaugh hits national gag reflex with Michael J. Fox comments Salt Lake Tribune
Fla. GOP turns turnout into art St. Petersburg Times “Hi, this is Charlie Crist. Recently, you should have received your vote-by-mail ballot. And I’m calling to personally ask you to vote,” says one of several recorded messages to voters who requested absentee ballots. ..... Democrats are doing the same, but on a much smaller scale. By some estimates the GOP’s absentee-ballot program alone will ensure that Republicans wake up on Election Day with a 300,000-vote advantage over Democrats. ..... After years of leaving voter mobilization to their national party and outside groups, Florida Democrats are touting their most organized effort ever. The state party has given candidates and local parties access to their new and constantly updated voter database. .... Using Census, voter, and other data the Democrats are targeting sympathetic Hispanics, African-Americans and independents who need extra prodding to vote in off-year elections. .... The Republican National Committee’s “Voter Vault,’’ loaded with financial, personal and demographic data on individuals, allows Florida Republicans to precisely target voters with specialized appeals. ...... millions of absentee ballot applications sent to Republicans statewide. ...... Those are followed up by live and recorded calls often targeted to specific voters, and in many cases personal visits from canvassers equipped with precisely targeted pitches. ..... The GOP prints lists from its Voter Vault software. ...... Volunteers know average household income, whether it’s in a competitive precinct, whether the voter votes in party primaries. When a voter responds, that’s plugged back into the Voter Vault. ...... The next time party volunteers call, they know if the voter worried more about Iraq or immigration, terrorism or the economy. ..... Compare that to the Hernando County Democrats. They have a mobile campaign headquarters: Jay Rowden’s white Ford F150. Rowden packs signs in the back, sticks magnetic signs to the side, and drives around with a laptop and his Bluetooth ear piece attached to his head. The party has spent $3,000 on automated phone calls, but can’t muster the volunteers to go door-to-door, Rowden said. “I’m a one-man band,” he said. ...... the “72-hour program” to mobilize voters in the final days of the campaign. That helped Jeb Bush trounce Bill McBride by 13 percentage points in 2002. ....... “There are a lot of people who will be driven to the polls by the Republican machine who are not necessarily going to vote the way the Republicans think they’re going to vote,’’ said Kirk Wagar, a Miami attorney and top Democratic fundraiser. ...... “There are going to be a lot of Republicans in tight races in Florida who get carried across the finish line because of decisions that were made years ago about building the machine.”
Democrats Lead by 19 Points in US Ballot Angus Reid Global Scan
Crisis boosts US-China ties The Japan Times
With attacks on buses, French fear repeat of last year's riots Boston Globe
'The Google' lets Bush keep an eye on the ranch Mail & Guardian Online
Bush overcoming fear of technology MegaStar.co.uk
India, China rule global carbon market Financial Express
New Yahoo! Bookmarks - What about Del.icio.us? Search Engine Marketing Blog
Nigeria: Wimax - Technology for Cheaper Internet Access AllAfrica.com
Bush signs bill to build border fence to stop Mexicans Independent
Taliban accuse NATO of genocide Washington Post
A brisk walk a day keeps those winter colds away Times Online
Flu vaccines 'not worth the bother' says expert Daily Mail - UK
'Running with Scissors' an annoying slice of life Chicago Sun-Times

Muslim cleric triggers outrage for blaming women for rape Irish Examiner
NJ High Court Ruling Threatens to Re-ignite Gay Marriage Debate Kansas City infoZine
Nepal Maoists Firm on 'Republican Front' despite PM's Rejection Nepal human Rights News
FOX News Poll: Obama Versus McCain in 2008 FOX News
NJ High Court Ruling Threatens to Re-ignite Gay Marriage Debate Kansas City infoZine
In South, latest Republican ad strikes some as playing on racial ... International Herald Tribune NASHVILLE, Tennessee A white woman with blonde hair and bare shoulders looks into the camera and whispers, "Harold, call me," and then winks. This Republican National Committee television ad doesn't mention that "Harold" — Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. — is black, but the NAACP civil rights group and others have complained the commercial makes an implicit appeal to deep-seated racial fears about black men and white women. Race was always an element of the Tennessee contest in the Nov. 7 congressional elections as Ford seeks to become the first black man elected to the Senate from the South since the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War of 1861-65. The issue slammed into the public consciousness this week with the latest ad.
GOP retires ‘Playboy’ ad in Tennessee MSNBC
Dozens of Afghan villagers reported dead after NATO attack on ... International Herald Tribune
TEXT-Q&A excerpts from interview with Iraqi PM Reuters AlertNet
Iraqi Premier Denies US Assertion He Agreed to Timelines Washington Post
Iraq, not US, will call shots on timetable: Maliki Sydney Morning Herald
Google, Google, Google! Forbes
Google's Internal Company Goals Leaked eWeek
Google steps into political arena CNN
India, China should focus on economic ties: Yechury The Statesman
US Companies' R&D Operations Shifting To India, China Easy Bourse (Communiqués de presse)
Howard Dean Explains Why He Won’t Debate RNC Chair Ken Mehlman ... NewsBusters
Nigeria: Wimax - Technology for Cheaper Internet Access AllAfrica.com
Rumsfeld to Iraq war critics: 'just back off' CBC Nova Scotia
Oracle with Linux is doing the inevitable — a business model ... ZDNet
Um, Larry? It's free as in speech, not free as in MINE!!!!!!!!! Good Morning Silicon Valley
NASA launches twin spacecraft to study sun in 3D Xinhua
Russian Supply Rocket Fails to Dock Tightly to Space Station Voice of America
Russian cargo ship docks successfully at space station USA Today

Addendum, November 1

When you google the term "democracy," the DFNYC website shows up on page 25, my Democracy For Nepal shows up on page 64.

Voting Machines On The Upper West

So I went to this event yesterday: DFA Event: A Forum On Voting Machines. Although this was not a DFNYC event per se, there was the ecosystem concept in play and many organizations were involved, but I was aware I was going to a DFNYC event after a long break. I expected to see, if not meet and greet, the usual suspects. They were there. Looked to me like the white asshole males have taken over DFNYC. Dan Jacoby was in charge on stage, Lewis Cohen was in charge off stage. People to whom my clear message has been, get the fuck out of my face, forever. It is like this. You get into a time machine, you go back, and you eat some of your words, or you stay the fuck out of my face. And by the way, there are parts of my life where you don't belong (A Few Diagrams), and don't be making racist comments. Ever.

The South Dakota Event
Social Progress: Show Me The Money

I am going to do a Nepal repeat in New York City for Barack Obama. The idea is to launch a digital democracy organization - text, photos, audio, video, people, events, organizations - to project New York City progressivism into the country. Obama 2008.

Barack Obama: This Is A New Century
Barack Obama: New Approaches To Old Problems
Switching To Obama
Obama Was In Town And I Missed It

Seven Party Delegation
The First Major Revolution Of The 21st Century Happened In Nepal

I walked into the city, and I am taking over. It is called the vertical implications of one person, one vote, one voice.

The Spectrum Concept: Wide Applications
The 90 Minute Experience
Politics At The Speed Of Thought
DFNYC, 100,000 Strong, Scalable Organization

The richest Nepali in North America lives in Toronto. The richest Nepali in the world lives in Moscow. I know both. Actually I just received an email from the latter. What's up with New York? (ANA Convention: Reflections)

The vast majority of those in attendance were seniors, perhaps from the locality, mostly women. I was sitting next to a few of them. The one next to me peered as I wrote down my question for the panel. I noticed and shared.

If online banking is such a good idea, why is electronic voting such a bad idea? My point being it is not the technology that is the problem.

Paramendra.

"Oh, I was just answering that one to my friend over here."

And she proceeded to share her answer. It was a lively conversation. And then the stage was populated. Every single person on stage was a white male. The emcee, a white male. Joan Paylo, who I talked to after the event, made a few brief comments along the way. She is female. She was a small exception.

This is a problem. Joan and I talked about it.

Video: Hillary Rodham Clinton
"First Nancy Pelosi, Then Hillary"
Hillary 2008: Enough White Men

What most bothered me was a technicality. It got announced there had been "3000" meetings in the buildup to this event. Even if there were only 300, that's too many. That is inefficient. I think that is where digital democracy organizations come in. It is called politics at the speed of thought. (Hamro Nepal Constitution)

The discussion was impressive. I am glad I showed up. And I was glad I had already blogged about the issue. It was like I did my homework before I showed up. Actually I blogged so well, my blog entry would compete with the event itself. It is so informative. What I have not displayed outright can be had through the links.

You can be poor, but if you are white in the South, chances are you are Republican. In New York City you can be rich and white and progressive. Fair enough. Maybe Americans are not subsistence farmers no more, most people eat, and so they can afford to have culture wars. Fine.

After the event was over, I went on stage. Better late than never. Man in black.

Come to think of it, I think I am going to spend November 7 in Harlem. (Iraq Movie, Liberally, But Not Drinking) I am going to videoblog the day. For Obama.

"For your father, for your father." (The Godfather (1972))

I don't do high school reunions. I don't do college reunions. I am the opposite of Bill Clinton. That guy goes to every reunion he can think of, and then some. Barack Obama says something similar here: Charlie Rose - BARACK OBAMA, about being an "outsider." I relate to that. You interact with institutions that were designed with you not in mind. So you make new ones, or you morph old ones fundamentally. Preferably both.

So I get on stage. And I keep trying to get myself in the face of this professor from New York University. And he keeps turning away. I can send vibes like that. I manage to insert a short comment to someone else' question. "He has a point there. If online banking is an okay idea, what's wrong with electronic voting?"

And that is when he totally turns away. And I was left watching his back.

And next I am having this lively conversation on the topic with this white male senior. He is telling me how Microsoft screwed up and Google is one better. Totally my cup of tea. But aren't we getting a little off topic?

Somebody announced it was time to vacate. So I vacated in style. I jumped off stage. (Formal attire makes me want to play sports, soccer.) And I walked out. At the door, I said to a familiar DFNYC face - no, it was not Merle (September 16 Protest Rally) - "Nice event." I know her face, she knows mine, but I never knew her name. She beamed. Nice tie, nice pin. Nice event.

In The News

Bush signs bill authorizing border fence Houston Chronicle
Australian Muslim cleric blames women for rape CTV.ca
Bihar civil policeman dies after protest fast Monsters and Critics.com
Baghdad raids target death squads ABC Online
Amitabh Bachchan to release Sameer's biography Apun Ka Choice
Hillary Clinton on Bush White House: "They Put Nixon to Shame" Towleroad
Wal-Mart Adds 12 States to Drug Plan Houston Chronicle
Nepal: Peace Talks Must Resume Stratfor
NJ Supreme Court gives same-sex couples more rights 7Online.com
More revelations of abuse by German troops in Afghanistan (Roundup ... Monsters and Critics.com
Russia calls UN draft on Iran ‘unhelpful’ Financial Times
Bush takes a shot at Obama Chicago Tribune
Obama finds many fans in Bay Area A possible presidential ... San Francisco Chronicle
George Clooney Welcomes Barack Obama's Presidential Bid Starpulse.com
Why Obama should run Chicago Tribune
Chronicle podcast with Barack Obama San Francisco Chronicle
Illinois Democrat Barack Obama Talks About His Political Future FOX News
The great blue hope Austin American-Statesman (subscription)
How Specialized Engines Could Make Web Search Better MIT Technology Review
Lenghth of the Great Wall to be announced in 2008 Xinhua
Mobile WiMAX Deployment Gets Underway In Puerto Rico InformationWeek
Taiwan market: NCC finalizes WiMAX license plan DigiTimes
Arab dismay at cartoons verdict Irish Examiner