Monday, March 20, 2006

Rahm Emanuel: Big Ideas For America


TIME.com -- Joe Klein: Why the Democrats Are Happy Warriors - 11:01pm The party tries to move forward with five big ideas. ... This time the model is Newt Gingrich's Contract with America...campaign of 1994, in which Republicans
www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,1129493,00.html
Expand support for higher education. "Make college as universal in the 21st century as high school was in the 20th"; three out of four jobs in the new, high-tech economy require two years or more of higher education.

Create a National Institute of Science and Engineering, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funding for the nih has quadrupled since the 1980s, from $7 billion to $28 billion. "That's why we lead in pharmaceuticals and medical technology." Funding for science has been stagnant—about $5 billion—during that period. "I'd quadruple it and concentrate on nanotechnology, broadband and energy."

Promote energy independence. Reduce foreign oil by 50% in 10 years. Create a hybrid economy. Use government contracts and tax incentives to boost solar and wind power.

"You got a job, you got health care." Give the uninsured vouchers—"I'm not afraid of vouchers"—for use in the insurance system that covers federal employees. Basic coverage, nothing fancy.

Organize a bipartisan summit on the budget. Balance it....... Everything on the table—loopholes, pork, Bush tax cuts. "And then you gotta have a reform piece," Emanuel hydrofoiled. "Actually, that should come first. Clean up the relationship between lobbyists and legislators, same way we did donors and candidates. This place is a cesspool—gotta address the gifts, free trips, the revolving-door lobbying jobs for staff members."


I told you, the ideas are already out there. This is a pretty coherent five point program. It can be turned into a 10 point program, or it can stay this way.

One thing that is missing is foreign policy, and that is a big one. Try this: Long War.

But I must say this is a pretty good framework he has provided.

This five point program has to go in two directions. One, sum each point in one tight phrase. Two, go into the depths of policy, crunch the numbers.

The shaping of this platform has to be a dynamic, inclusive, positive process. The election is not going to be about badmouthing Bush. It has to be about tomorrow. Although Bush bashing sure is allowed.

Emanuel's five points are uplifting.

In The News

Defiantly Shaky American Spectator
Dan Carol: Dear Rahm Emanuel and Howard Dean: Don't Take The Bait Yahoo! News
Illinois Primaries Could Go Either Way Human Events
From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire... CQPolitics.com, DC
Underdogs chase 4 seats in Congress Chicago Tribune, United States
IL: Duckworth in Spotlight as Primary Day Arrives CQPolitics.com, DC
Iraq - Ain't But One Way Out Baby OpEdNews
Is this all there is Chicago Tribune, United States
Howard Dean Tells CounterPunch: CounterPunch, CA
Ain't but one way out baby, Huffington Post, NY

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Manhattan Young Dems


This seems to be another group in town offering a great list of events.

Manhattan Young Dems.

To: paramendra@yahoo.com
Subject: YOUNG DEMS MEETING TOMORROW
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 11:09:15 -0800
From: "Kristina, Alyson, Liz, and Adam"

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
TOMORROW Tuesday, March 21st, 7pm - 8pm
Manhattan County Democratic Committee Headquarters
60 Madison Avenue (at 27th St.) Suite 1201
RSVP requested: rsvp@manhattanyoungdems.org

Agenda

1. HOW ANTHONY WEINER FROM UNDERDOG TO SERIOUS CONTENDER in the 2006 mayoral campaign, by his field director and former aid to Chuck Schumer, Daniel Squadron.
2. Hear about the MYD's plans for the year and find out how you can become more involved.

If you'd like to give a report, please email president@manhattanyoungdems.org 24 hours in advance.

UPCOMING MYD EVENTS:
(also see our calendar at manhattanyoungdems.org)

THE MANHATTAN YOUNG DEMS DRINK LIBERALLY
Thursday, March 30th, 7:30pm onward
Rudy's, 627 9th Ave (between 44th and 45th)
The Manhattan Young Dems are joining the great organization Drinking Liberally for their weekly happy hour. Look for the people wearing the Drinking Liberally buttons (in the back garden if the weather's nice).

2006 ELECTION SERIES 1st EVENT: ELIOT SPITZER, NY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE
co-sponsored by the Manhattan Young Democrats and DL21c
Thursday, April 6th, 7:30pm 58 (formerly Au Bar)
41 58th St. between Park and Madison
RSVP at dl21c.org

MANHATTAN YOUNG DEMS MOVIE NIGHT
Tuesday, April 4th, 7:00 pm
Movie choice: TBA
FREE
Stonecreek
140 East 27th St.
(Between 3rd Ave. & Lexington)
RSVP requested: movies@manhattanyoungdems.org

MYD BOOK CLUB meets to discuss What's the Matter with Kansas by Thomas Frank
Wednesday, April 5th, 7pm
230 Jay Street, Apt. # 6J:
RSVP and more info at bookclub@manhattanyoungdems.org
Available in paperback or better yet, get it for free at the NY Public library!
Apply for a library card: http://www.nypl.org/books/cards.html

MANHATTAN YOUNG DEMS SPRING SOCIAL
Meet your City Council members who are also young dems!
Wednesday, April 19th, 7pm
Link
120 E. 15th St. (between Union Square East and Irving Place)
Drink specials all night!
More details to follow.

HANDS ON NEW YORK DAY
April 22nd 9:30am-3:00pm
The Manhattan Young Dems will be joining a team of over 3500 New Yorkers to clean and revitalize parks, community gardens, social service agencies, and public schools. To join our team email service@manhattanyoungdems.org.

WATCH THE METS WITH THE YOUNG DEMS
May 1st 7:10pm at Shea Stadium
Tickets $10
The Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island young dems are getting together to watch the Mets play the Washington Nationals. RSVP required by April 20th: rsvp@manhattanyoungdems.org

AIDS WALK NEW YORK
Sunday, May 21st Central Park.
Join the Manhattan Young Dems as we participate in the AIDs walk to raise money for Gay Men's Health Crisis and other AIDS service organizations. To join our team please email Brian Switzer at brian@bswitzer.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

JOIN A MANHATTAN YOUNG DEMS COMMITTEE
Our committees are where the action is! Please see www.manhattanyoungdems.org for more information.

ONCE DE MAYO FIESTA WITH THE QUEENS YOUNG DEMS
Thursday, May 11, 2006 7:00-9:00 pm
The Creek and The Cave 10-93 Jackson Avenue LIC NY
Just take the 7 Train to Vernon / Jackson. Walk 1 block north to 49th
Margarita Specials: $4.00
RSVP to msilverstein@hotmail.com by May 9th, 2006

NEW YORK STATE YOUNG DEMS FUNDRAISER with ATTORNEY GENERAL ELIOT SPITZER
May 15th Save the date! Details to follow.

FREE EMILY'S LIST CAMPAIGN TRAINING
May 24th & 25th Islandia, Long Island
Candidate training for Democratic pro-choice women. Free. Space is limited, for more info email info@manhattanyoungdems.org ASAP.

NY STATE YOUNG DEMS CONFERENCE
Tuesday and Wednesday May 30th-31st
Buffalo, New York
Save the date, more info coming soon!

CAMPAIGN TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT
Senator Barack Obama's political committee, Hopefund, is sponsoring a campaign training and job placement program for young people of color. For more information and an application check out hopefundamerica.com.

THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS BOOKS
Please donate your hardcover and paperback books to replenish the shelves of libraries hit by Katrina.
Send books to:
Rica A Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, La 70112

Disclaimer: The MYD bylaws prevent the official endorsement of a Democratic candidate involved in a contested primary. Advertising events, fundraisers, or campaign opportunities on behalf of Democratic candidates involved in a contested primary is not an indication of an endorsement or official support on behalf of MYD.

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Friday, March 17, 2006

Justin Krebs


Last night I went to my second Thursday with Drinking Liberally. This time I actually got drunk. Drunk and quiet, for a little while before a restroom stop. That means next time I don't get drunk. Conversations are more fun than beer. Beer don't taste good in the first place. It's a seesaw experience. I was hoping to show up at the start time of 7:30. But then I was on instant messaging. So I was a few hours late. My internet was down for most of the day and only late in the day I realized I had stepped on my router on my way to bed the night before and the box had to be put back into shape to get my lifeline back, and I was giddy online. I watched a few clips of Jon Stewart. Funny, first time online. It's a Mary Joyce hint from Morocco. (Democracy Spreading Mechanism, The Demosphere Manifesto)

I had a rice dinner before I left for the site. But then a block away I saw a neon sign for falafel. Don't tell me ads don't work. So here I am at a Drinking Liberally event, a falafel sandwich in my hand while everyone else is drinking. Jen - first time meeting - spotted the thief. "That is not from here, is it?" No. I smuggled it, literally. I had it in my pocket when I entered. She is doing doctorate work at Columbia, something microbio. From Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "I got a picture with Vilsack." I said. Bird flu is a media myth, she opined. The media got m-e on that one.

The evening was a seesaw experience. Last week it felt like a liberation from the DFNYC structure. DFNYC events end at around 11, just when you are starting to warm up. I have yet to be the last man standing at a DL event.

This week I kind of missed DFNYC. There is too little political talk at Drinking Liberally. Or maybe I got too drunk to have fun; last week felt much more fun. It is like you sit and there are pitchers at the table literally staring you in the face. There was only one mild protest, from a young woman. "I paid for it." Oops, sorry.

But then my thing is this blog. I have plans for the video blogging aspects. The traditional way of only moving political ground by doing events will not work for me. Video blogging is like skipping a road tour. Also meetings are ineffiicient. In the blogosphere the learning curve is steeper. The exchanges are more intense at the ideas level. My political style does not involve shaking tons of hands.

And I have come to like the structurelessness of the Drinking Liberally events. I like the idea of showing up early and staying up late. I like the idea of there being at least one such event a week. Looks like I am going to get much more selective of which DFNYC events I show up for. And I like it that Drinking Liberally events are also in Williamburg, as elsewhere, Bronx, Queens. I am a proud Brooklynite. Brooklyn has character. It is not Manhattan or Queens, it is Brooklyn. It is more residential. There is a Desi tinge to my neighborhood too. There is a paan stall walking distance. That falls in the priceless category.

Justin Krebs has this presence about him. He has the look of a retired rock star. He is just cool and collected in his ways. He does have a ponytail. And one guy name starting with a J - I forget the name - pontificated on the ponytail. For a moment I thought Justin was running for something. I asked him if he was. He said no. The suggestion from J was that Justin should get rid of his pony express. Ask Robert DeNiro to get rid of his black dot: I have two of those.

There is another Jen. Incredibly friendly. She is one person who actively introduces people to each other, otherwise most people end up in these small bubbles of small groups, and outside the bubble there is sometimes the suggestion of stepping out of the comfort zone: we need a few more Jens. The whole thing is a group dynamics curiosity to me. She is easily life of the party. She is taking pictures. She teaches my name to a few people. Justin had to take some time off to go to a Screening Liberally after event, and Jen filled in. "Don't let the party die down," Justin said before he left. He might have said it to John though, but that's okay. And when Justin finally finally left for the evening, probably around one, maybe later, he gave me a card for another Liberally event. I guess he really puts in the effort. I want to get to know this guy. He is one of those movers/shakers.

It was not Stephanie. But Tiffany. The "on and off Broadway" actor. Seattle. Lives "two blocks from here." The Cincinnati Adam vacated the table. The CBS Tom - "yes, the Letterman CBS" - vacated the table. I was sitting and shaking my leg, kind of dancing to the music. Tom could not handle it. He was nice about it. He decided to stand up and mingle some more. And so Tiffany and I are talking. And we got flanked by two Js. I forget their names. Both webmasters. One is larger than life, talks in huge sweeps and gestures, also loud. Another thinks cable TV should be pay per channel. "$3 a channel, so I should be able to get the only three channels I watch for $9 a month. That idea right there should make someone a millionaire." How about me?

"What about online pay per view shows?" I pitch in.

And Tiffany got the royal treatment. One J poured her some drink. Another gave a gentle back rub, one stroke. And I am thinking, either they are picking up threads of conversations they started earlier, or this is a concerted white male attack on the budding race-gender coalition. After India takes over the world, I am going on a vacation. Justin dropped by at the table a little later. Three Js. "Tiffany and I live in the same neighborhood," Krebs added.

If you think about it, the anti-choice stance is symbolic rape. It is the woman's body, but others want to decide what happens to it. The woman may not have a say, they say.

Race, Gender And Relationships

Last week Tiffany brought up the royal massacre of 2001 when I told her I was from Nepal. She knew.

"I knew the guy."

"Why did he do it?"

"They wouldn't let him marry the girl he wanted."

Looks like this group also has this core, tight group of about 15 people, or maybe not so tight, just regulars, and there are many floaters. Kind of like DFNYC, some of whom make me feel claustrophobic, a few guys whose idea of intimacy is to invade your privacy. Sexist exclusion is not my idea of male bonding. If you want to get along, it is easy, just say hello.

But then like someone said, guys, no matter what their backgrounds otherwise, all they have to say is, "Man, women are weired," and they bond. It might be primal. And the woman's collective identity is a soup of its own.

Talk of DFNYC, they have something called the Spring Gala coming up. Jim Dean, Leecia Eve, Eric Schneiderman, Scott Stringer, Norman Siegel - looks like Siegel's magical grip over DFNYC continues! - are showing up, I think. These politicians show up at DFNYC events like their careers depended on it. $50 price tag. But there is dinner to be served. I hope it is not dress up, but it probably is. Leila Noor just emailed me saying it is not dress up. That is a Ms. Organizing Committee. She sits on every political committee in town, especially to do with events. I have thought of going and not going. $50 is expensive; I am not running for anything. What if I were to eat $20 woth of food? Gorge it?
Event Chair: Lewis Cohen. Host Committee: Hon. Liz Krueger, Hon. Trudy L. Mason, Hon. Jerrold Nadler, Hon. Eric Schneiderman, Hon. Scott Stringer, Steve Behar, Robert Behm, Sandra Bennett, Margaret Bidel, Ruth Benedict, Mike Brady, Theresa Canter, John Cohen, Paul H. Curtis, Miriam Danar, Tracey Denton, Leecia Eve, Bernadette Evangelist, Ethan Geto, David Kogelman, Stephanie Low, Bonnie Maslin, Eric Massa, Merle McEldowney, Abhishek Mistry, Leila Noor, Dana Northcraft, Sandy Schechter, Norman Siegel, Josh Skaller, Gordon Suber, Jessica Way, Bernard Whitman, and Heather Woodfield.
Good thing. I just fed these names to the search engines.

Looks like Tracey Denton is back in town from her Europe tour. She probably has war stories from her showup at the Olympic games for the physically challenged in Italy this month. These top DFNYC people, especially Heather and Tracey, have managed to create something close to a political machine. "You are like the Richard Daley of New York," I told Tracey the last time I saw her, which was six months back. Only this is not a patronage machine, this is a democracy machine, humming loud and clear. The first time I saw Denton she was reading fill up cards from people who seemed to apply to run for office. Now that has the smell of a machine.

"What is this weird music?" I said, sitting next to Tiffany.

"This would be Sinatra," she said.

"This music. Did you listen to this growing up?" I asked about the next tune out of the juke box. It sounded a little behind, not so 21st century. I wanted to be polite and/or neutral about the second weird piece of music in a row.

"I am not that old. This is from the 50s."

Two huge cultural blind spots got revealed. Flat fall. I am better with movies.

Jen got me to take her picture with Karioke, black guy with dreadlocks and all. After I had taken the snap, K complained some guy had made a racist comment to him a few minutes back.

"What did he say?"

"He said smile so you can get seen in the picture."

At that point Jen motioned in the way that we three walk over to the culprit to confront him. I did not get the hint right away. But I kept thinking. Someone said that to Clarence Thomas in the 70s. This is oldies stuff. Contemporary racism is supposed to be a little more sophisticated, a little less crude. You kill with your smile, softly.

But later in the evening I walked over to where the Cincy Andy was. He was sitting opposite Mandy, 22, originally from Philly, not at the bar for Liberally. And there were these two guys. They said something Norway.

"Are you two twins?"

"No. Including you we are triplets."

"Where you from?"

"New York. From Norway. But was in South Africa before, when the times were good, when there was money to go around."

"When was that?"

"In the 80s."

Maybe this was the guy who made the remark to K. He turned away. I looked at the guy next to me, perhaps part of that group.

"That guy is weird. He is siding with South African apartheid."

"He probably did not mean it."

A few rounds of popcorn later, I was facing the same guy. He gave me his card. He has a blog. He writers about relationships "from the perspective of a man. Otherwise all relationship stuff you get is women's perspective." It was a line thrown to me. Male bonding. We discussed the near absent business aspect of blogging. I looked at the curious biological specimen.

John, the postdoc maths guy from Houston from last time, introduced me to Sarah. She was schooled at Brandeis. Now works for a textbook publisher. Her specialty is international relations. I think I turned her off by suggesting all textbooks should go online and be available for free, making money from ads. She went for a restroom break last I saw her. I might have come across as Mr. Outsourcing. I got badgered at the Dean Issues Forum during Dean 2004 on that topic. Arab Americans get accused of terrorism, Indians of outsourcing. This is racism.

Callia is from California. She is in town for a few days for a conference. She works for W3C, the company that sets internet standards. She was at Berkeley during the dot com boom. "I saw it all pass by." She had a Bhutani boyfriend once.

I googled Justin Krebs not long back.

Justin Krebs - 1:34pm Justin is a founder and director of Cosmopolity, an organization which promotes progressive action through social interaction. In 2003, he co-founded Drinking Liberally, which has grown into a national network of democratic drinking clubs, and has spawned other initiatives to mix socializing with politics, including Laughing Liberally. He is also a founder and Artistic Director of The Tank, a space for emerging artists and activists. He has authored a history of New York City's playgrounds, produced a documentary on youth civic engagement in New York State, performed a 100-show improv comedy run and worked in the office of US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. He is a Hell's Kitchen resident & a New Jersey native.
The Blogging of the President - 1:41pm a community organizer in New York City who puts together cultural and
Cosmopolity - Tank RNC Blog
Drinking Liberally
Drinking Liberally
Blogger: User Profile: Justin Krebs
Justin Krebs's blog | Parks1
Central Park: Nature: Park activists
The Metropolist
Network-centric Parks Advocates Show Signs of Things to Come ...
New York Daily News - Ideas & Opinions - Justin Krebs: A Jets ...

I am thinking. The Williamsburg Liberally event is on alternate Tuesdays, I think. If it is so, between the two days I got all bases covered. And there are other Drinking Liberally events in other parts of town. Like Bronx. Otherwise the DFNYC events are too few and far between during the political off seasons. And I really am not trying to be part of the DFNYC machine: stay away from event planning has been my personal motto with DFNYC. I think that confuses some who have seen me show up so often. I am working instead to turn video blogging into a political tool, possibly a business idea. I am like ether, there, but then not there.

I bet people like Tracey Denton, and Heather Woodfield and Jason Krebs are part of some kind of a progressive cabal in the city.
Justin is a founder and director of Cosmopolity, an organization which promotes progressive action through social interaction. In 2003, he co-founded Drinking Liberally, which has grown into a national network of democratic drinking clubs, and has spawned other initiatives to mix socializing with politics, including Laughing Liberally. He is also a founder and Artistic Director of The Tank, a space for emerging artists and activists. He has authored a history of New York City's playgrounds, produced a documentary on youth civic engagement in New York State, performed a 100-show improv comedy run and worked in the office of US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. He is a Hell's Kitchen resident & a New Jersey native.
I keep thinking, I could become Mayor. It is just that I am much more interested in the countries these New Yorkers come from than the city they live in. And my political methods are heavily dependent on the online medium. Cut the crap, go straight to the people. Video blogging might be the only way to penetrate the ethnic markets. Blac power.

That Spring Gala is getting video blogged if I show up. Watch out.

I guess between my blog and the events I show up for, I am trying to get situated.

Blogging is politics at the speed of thought.

Video Blogging Is The Way To Go



From: "Kleinpeter, Elke"
To: "'paramendra@yahoo.com'"
Subject: ARD German Radio Network, Interview Request
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:28:41 -0500

Dear Paramendra Kumar Bhagat:

This e-mail is to request an interview with you. We are preparing a report on "Blooger" in New York City.

ARD German Radio Network is the leading public broadcast system in Germany. On an average weekday, we reach about 40 Million listeners with over 50 broadcasting programs. ARD can be compared with National Public Radio in America, and we are committed to highest quality standard in journalism and broadcasting. The radio plays a vital and important part in the daily life of Million's of people in Germany, who receive information about New York through the ARD network and our correspondents.

Our correspondent Martin BUTTLER will be back on March 28, 2006 and available for an interview. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please call us at 1-212-752-9642 or e-mail us at: radio@ardny.com to arrange for the interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Elke M. Kleinpeter
- Producer -

633 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel. + 212-752-9642
Fax + 212-949-4497
e-mail: radio@ardny.com 1

"Robin Hood Im Internet"

Looks like they like me out there in Germany. But I am not sure about them folks in the Bay Area. They had this blog blacklisted as a potential spam blog. Their robots did that. And so I have not been able to post for a few days. But they be learning.

Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:58:23 -0800
From: "Blogger Support"
To: "Paramendra Bhagat {U 3009636 B 8712669}"
Subject: Re: [#425408] Non-spam review and verification request: http://democracyforum.blogspot.com

Hello,

Your blog has been reviewed, verified, and whitelisted so that it will no longer appear as potential spam. If you sign out of Blogger and sign back in again, you should be able to post as normal. Thanks for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Sincerely,
Blogger Support

Looks like they also like me in Norway: Audio Clip.

Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:46:39 +0100
From: Hanne-Lovise.Skartveit@infomedia.uib.no
To: "Paramendra Kumar Bhagat"
Subject: "Take the F-train" is online!

Hi Paramendra,

Thank you so much for participating in "Take the F-train"!

It is now published at the website of NRK, the Norwegian national Public Service TV channel: http://www.nrk.no/magasin/ulyd/5557216.html

I had to do some editing on your audio clip to make it fit the length of the video, so I left out some references that might not be as meaningful to the Norwegian audience as to New Yorkers. Your character is on the Coney Island stop.

I hope you like it!

It´s in Norwegian so here are some quick instructions:

(You need to have Flash Player 7 or 8 installed, have the speakers on, and a good connection since there are some heavy files to be streamed)

1) Click on the grey link TAKE THE F-TRAIN which take you to the intro which you can skip by clicking "dropp intro"-button in the lower left corner.

2) Then you come to the menu where you choose which stop you want to go on. You choose a stop and then you have to wait for a little while, while it´s loading.

3) When the train comes and stops - drag and drop those of the characters you want to travel with into the wagon through the door when it opens (it normally works fine but if they are reluctant to enter just click on them when they at the train-door)

4) On the train - move the mouse over the characters to listen to their thoughts!

You can always choose a new stop before the ride is over by clicking the exit- button.

All the best and thanks again!
Hanne-Lovise

at No comments:

Monday, March 06, 2006

Drinking Liberally


Rudy's Bar & Grill - - Hell's Kitchen - New York Magazine Bar Guide

Every Thursday.

Cosmopolity Calendar
Drinking Liberally

Last night I showed up for my first Drinking Liberally event. I meant to go to the one in Williamsburg - the East Village of Brooklyn - a week or so back, but I was instead on Google Talk for longer than anticipated, and that was passe.

Rudy's is a Times Square location. It is so close you can hear the lights, as in Times Square is so much light, it is actually sound.

I have been a little unfocused recently not having this one presidential candidate to think about. But then that also means you focus more on 2006. I am going to read up on it more. Nancy Pelosi is enough homework. (Nancy Pelosi, Speaker)

People in my hometown in Nepal would know George Bush or Bill Clinton, but noone has heard of Charles Schumer. That explains why my primary interest is presidential politics, that is the first layer you encounter coming from outside. Plus, of the three branches of government, I am most at home thinking of the executive branch. I used to get suggestions to go to law school at college. I felt misunderstood. I get hints to maybe run for Congress. That is not me either. Pet branch: executive. Pet project: spreading democracy. That's me. And I have been plotting to turn this blog into a major political tool.

I showed up dressed up. I figured maybe everyone else will, they will probably stream in right after work. But I should have known better. Most people, most everyone was comfortably dressed like dot com millionaires. I liked the vibe of it. Plus it is the same place every Thursday, and there are other locations. It is so good to know. Otherwise I do most of my work online. I wish there were something like this walking distance from where I live in Brooklyn, but there isn't. And that's fine. That's why they run the subway. But my hood does have Desi grocery stores and even a paan stall.

It was almost three by the time I got back. I missed my train station by one and had to take a return train. Catnap, catnap.

Funny how I left the MidWest - push factor - to come into the diversity of New York City to claim home, but I will inadvertently meet some new guy from that part of the world, and they learn I have spent some time there, and suddenly they are comfortable. I am homeboy. I guess I do have a ton of visuals in my mind from being there. Like Adam from Cincinnati. His shirt said Steve, he said it was on purpose. He does campaign work. He is in Hoboken, NJ. Adam mentioned "rocket surgery" at one point. I guess that would be something more complicated than rocket science and brain surgery.

And there was this guy who had just finished his doctorate in literature in Tallahassee, Florida. He was dressed like he was from Nashville, a country singer look. But he was originally from Arizona. The South can do that to you. He drove cross country along interstate 10 and wrote a book about it, Travelling With Ridlin, Ridlin being the name of his car.

Eric has a fancy chemical engineering degree from Berkeley and was a few days in town, he will get a job locally. He was saying how Berkeley is so liberal it is just like the Bible Belt. Either you are with us, or you are wrong. Open mindedness enclosed.

John is doing postdoc in maths.

"What specifically do you do?"

"Numbers. They pay you good for not doing much."

"Where you from?"

"Houston."

Justin runs this thing. And this group has now spread to tens of cities by now, but it all started at Rudy's. There is a huge poster on the wall that says that.

Stephanie, artist and teacher, Stephanie, into theater, from Seattle. She knew about the royal massacre in Nepal in 2001. Bill from Detroit, Josh, Kristina Hoke, runs Manhattan Young Dems. She is a medical science student, I think postdoc.

"Politics takes as much time as medicine."

"Think Howard Dean and Bill Frist."

Joshua Wojcik, a Cornell guy like Abhishek. He has a Nepali friend. He had a glass in one hand, and a pitcher in another, and I don't think he shared. Josh was one person who walked specifically over to me to say bye before he left after we had introduced, talked some and then moved around the backyard. He was with Catherine. Catherine introduced herself a "personal assistant." I am sure that is some kind of a corporate term, but I kept thinking martial arts. She did look slim and perhaps quick on her feet, like she can chop the air with quick arm movements.

I was thinking, DFNYC is like the Dean 2004 alumni association. And the LinkUps are so structured, as they should be. And even the Mixers end up being more political, less social, which is fine, noone forces it that way. But Drinking Liberally was primarily social, although there is no avoiding political talk, by definition. There was this loose feeling. I liked that. If you want hard core political work and talk, you go into the blogosphere.

And a few hours into the evening, I spotted guess who. Abhishek Mistry (Abhishek Mistry). I hollered across the yard, wildly shaking the beer bottle in my hand. I was not expecting to see him, but there he was. He bought a pitcher. Very predictably his girlfriend called. I think I have seen that happen at every Mixer. She is in DC, medical student, she is the one who spices up their joint blog. He lives in the neighborhood. The Hood. I guess I will see him at the DFNYC Mixer.

Hot dog and popcorn are free at Rudy's. There just is something about free food. A few evenings back at a Nepal event, I had so much popcorn, grab, grab, grab, the person sitting opposite me said she had had dinner. (Chiran Thapa: Snafu)

Around midnight when the backyard part had been ended out of consideration for the neighbors and to avoid tickets, and we were back indoors, sitting around a table, a few of us, I walked over to get three hot dogs. I figured I will eat one, and have two grateful people around the table. But I ended up having to eat all three. Beer had not got me drunk, but three hot dogs did. Suddenly I was really paying attention to the music.

"These people who stay up until three on a Friday morning, don't they have jobs?" I asked Abhishek. He passed on it.

Somebody ordered pizza, like a bunch of it. The first Stephanie asked if I wanted some. I passed. I can't believe. I was drunk on hot dogs.

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Busiest day so far5 March 2006

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7 March11:27Road Runner, New York, United States
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6 March00:25The World Bank Group, United States
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Sunday, March 05, 2006

Long War


This terminology is more accurate, it rhymes with the Cold War. It even has its own wall like the Berlin Wall, and that would be the Israeli Wall. There are going to be many facets to this war.
  • Ultimately it is about peace and democracy.
  • This war will only end after every country in the Arab world has become a democracy.
  • There is a clear military aspect to it. The Al Qaeda is well and alive. And it intends hurt, physical hurt. But this is not a traditional army. They are more like guerrillas than soldiers and have to be similarly fought. You can not really reason with them. You can only defeat them. And human intel might be the missing link in the US defense apparatus. Satellites just will not do.
  • But the primary challenge is not military.
  • Spreading democracy the progressive way, the non violent way has got to be at the center of all efforts. Instead of demonizing the Arabs in the west, it behooves to see them as the frontline soldiers for democracy for their respective home countries.
  • It is not just about spreading democracy in the Arab world. It is equally about expanding democracy in Europe and America to make the west more inclusive than it has been.
World War II, Cold War and now the Long War. Each have had clear military components in the lead. This Long War might give an opportunity to instead master a war with communications technology. Because if you don't, you are practically gearing for a hot war with China. I would think that is a total no no. It is America's blessing or curse - depends on how you look at it - that the oldest democracy will have to take the lead on spreading democracy across the planet. And it just might learn to do it the peaceful way.

Obama, Ethics Reform, And White Dems
blac
The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
7 Video Clips: Reinvent The Democratic Party
Pat Robertson Is Sick, Anti-Faith
Race, Gender, Progressive, Conservative Divides
The Spectrum On Gender
Pan American Desi Caucus: Brown Is Beautiful
Nepal Message To Top Democrats
Pentagon, Hexagon
The Israeli Wall Is Wrong, Hillary
Blacks, Hispanics At The Core Of The Democrat Rainbow Coalition
3 Bomb Blasts Each: London, Delhi, Jordan
French Society: No Easy Solutions
Riots In France
Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean
The Saudi Royal Family Has Got To Go
Bloomberg: No Mr. Security

The Democratic Party has not yet come around to seeing this war as being of the same magnitude as the Cold War. Heck, even the country at large is only grappling with it. And the anti war wing of the party has not really channelled all that energy into the idea of spreading democracy the progressive way.

The Republican party's mistake is that it overemphasizes the military aspect of the conflict, has failed to restructure the army to better face a non traditional enemy, and has been otherwise poor in terms of executing the decisions it has taken. You could call it sheer incompetence. The Democratic party's mistake is it is not cashing sufficiently on its strength of the tools of grassroots democracy. The anti war wing sounds isolationist. That will not carry the day.

On The Web

"Who Won the Cold War?" by Arnold Beichman
The Claremont Institute: Balancing Act: How We Won the Cold War
Townhall.com :: Columns :: Would Kerry have won the Cold War? by ...

In The News

Is US 'Long War' to replace war on terror? Sify, India
'Long war' is breaking down into tedium Chicago Sun-Times, United States
Pentagon: Washington faces ‘long war’ The Militant, NY
A Leaner, Meaner Military Washington Post Ending the practice of heedlessly moving individual soldiers in and out of units ..... Army has shifted from 11 unwieldy World War II-type divisions to 77 rapidly deployable brigades designed for modern war. ........ The mistake in Iraq was not keeping the Iraqi regular army intact to assume the responsibility of policing in June 2003. ....... a period of dramatic change in which the United States has been simultaneously fighting a global war against Islamic extremists, conducting campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, making preparations to preempt North Korea and Iran if necessary, undertaking strategies to contain China over the next two decades, dramatically changing the structure and rhythm of the Army
A Defense Budget Strategy for Winning the Long War Heritage.org, DC
War on Terror Now the 'Long War' Epoch Times, NY
Reflections on 'the long war' and the resolve required to win it Town Hall, DC
The psychology of The Long War Vermont Guardian, VT
Al-Qaeda's Insurgency Doctrine: Aiming for a "Long War" Global Terrorism Analysis, DC America and the West have not sufficiently appreciated that al-Qaeda, too, is fighting the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan according to a doctrine of its own .... lessons they have learned from Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Mao, General Giap, and even Ahmed Shah Masood, as well from the training manuals of the U.S. and UK Marines and Special Forces ...... al-Qaeda strategists have discussed all of these matters for years in their Internet journals, but this discussion has garnered little interest in Western essays...... writings discuss the need to conduct the political and military facets of an insurgency in tandem ...... the success al-Qaeda is having in using its doctrine against U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, a success that has prompted U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to rename the Global War on Terror as the "Long War" and to publicly lament that al-Qaeda is beating the U.S. in the political war being fought in the media........ the "First Axis of Jihad," the axis that requires complete victory over the infidels, a goal that "is not subject to discussion" and which permits "no half-solutions" and "no-bargaining." ...... striving for well-planned actions emanating from a position of collective activity ...... jihad military doctrine is constantly changing, thus denying America the chance to know it well or train its troops on how to confront it decisively and permanently ......... a fundamental working knowledge of planning, administration, security, psychology, sociology, history, geography, politics, strategy, law, education, preaching, and military science, not to mention religious knowledge ...... Islamist forces must be prepared to fight a "long war of attrition," a struggle in which "the enemy of God will feel that it is impossible to finish off the mujahideen's military power." ....... database on each target, as well as every change in enemy movements in all regions ....... "the 1,000-wound" policy of guerrilla war with the goal of prolonging the war to "exhaust" the enemies' patience and resources, and to avoid set-piece battles and attacks on "hardened targets" that would be too costly in terms of mujahideen casualties ...... The Americans love "fixed bases," al-Qurashi argued, and even in the field their combat forces are awkward, with troops who are "highly paid and overloaded with comfort facilities that often restrict their movements."......... American bases are "known and immovable," while those of the mujahideen are "light and movable." ....... the essential interconnectedness of the military and media dimensions of insurgency. ...... "jihad eats up enormous funds" and those funds are "the nerves of the jihad." ...... The insurgency doctrine used by al-Qaeda has been evolving for more than a quarter-century, and is designed to defeat conventional Western military forces. It calls for the group's fighters to be able to fight in the mountains, in desert regions, in maritime conditions, and to be able conduct what Muqrin refers to as "covert action" in urban areas. These multifaceted military operations must be matched by the mujahideen "excelling in their organized media action."
Winning the long war Enter Stage Right, Canada
General Explains Why Iraq is the 'Long War' Human Events

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Busiest day so far5 March 2006

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Thursday, March 02, 2006

Obama, Ethics Reform, And White Dems


This has been Obama's first major undertaking in the US Senate, this ethics reform business. His fellow Dems prodded him to that end. Take the lead, Barack. And he did. He made an attempt at bipartisanship that got a little complicated. McCain thanked Obama for disabusing him of some illusion, Obama called him "cranky." Then they went back to getting along.

People notice both Obama and Hillary are oustandingly talented people. And they think it is individual achievement. I don't think so. I think it is about race and gender. Because it is so hard for the Obamas and the Hillaries of the world to break up the glass ceilings, only the very best make it into the white male bastions like the US Senate. No wonder they are so outstanding.

I call it the vertical degrees of separation thing. When someone sees me for the first time without knowing nothing about me, that person sees an Indian. And all these images of India flood in that person's mind. For some it is exotic, or things they know or don't know about India, or Indians they have met, known, befriended, read about, to others it is a quick trip to stereotypeland, or their slip into their blind spots on India. And then you say hello, make small talk, the first few sentences are probably about India. Are you from India? I was born in India. And the fog slowly lifts, and you move on to the personal level. You move from the collective to the individual. This is in a casual setting.

Then there is the question of valency, bonding. Say you are in a room with 99 other people that are representative of America, both in terms of race and gender. Nobody knows noone else. And you are locked up for an hour. Who will you gravitate towards? Your valency for people who might share your race and gender might be larger than for those not so.

And then bring in the vertical degrees of separation thingie. Your immediate social circle is level 1. (A Few Diagrams)
Say for Obama the US Senate if floor 4, and the White House floor 5. Unless at least 51% of the American electorate coalesces around Obama for the fifth floor, he is not getting there. That coalescing might be meritocratic. Down the line Obama might successfully sell himself as the person best prepared to take care of your interests. Or it could be a coalescing of people who are actually open minded on race enough to see Obama for who he is and what he has to offer. It might even be a coalescing of people who get to cleanse themselves of their sins from their racist pasts by coming around Obama.

Martin Luther King confronted physical segregation. Obama confronts social segregation, and glass walls and ceilings. So far it is looking good, actually great.

How would you like to barack your world? (Take It Back: Film) So when finally Obama runs for the top job, it will be as much about Obama as America.

In The News

Senate Considers Independent Ethics Office Houston Chronicle, United States
Update 2: Senate Panel Rejects Ethics Office Forbes
Senate Considers Independent Ethics Office Houston Chronicle, United States
2 Top Senators Seek an Agency Policing Ethics at the Capitol New York Times, United States
Lobby reform off to tepid start Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Senate panel moves to lessen lobbyists' role San Francisco Chronicle, USA
Senate panel approves of more disclosure on travel, earmarks Seattle Times, United States
Attempt to eliminate medical coverage stalls Salt Lake Tribune, United States
Panel Calls for Greater Disclosure From Senators Over Lobbying Los Angeles Times, CA
States Offer Grim Look at Curbing Corruption Los Angeles Times, CA
Congress needs bold steps Robertson County Times, TN

Obama takes on ethics reform, and Democrats are watching San Jose Mercury News, USA
Senators take steps toward agreement on ethics reform Chicago Tribune, United States
Illinois lawmakers say 'bribe menu' may fuel reform Peoria Journal Star, IL
A Day After Harsh Letter, McCain and Obama Enjoy Civil Phone Call Los Angeles Times, CA
Prelims: Obama, McCain et al take steps towards lobbying pact Chicago Sun-Times, United States
McCain: Obama is partisan in approach to lobby reform Quad City Times, IA

On The Web

Obama for Illinois
Barack Obama - US Senator for Illinois
Barack Obama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Profile: Barack Obama

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2 March08:52Sify Limited, India



Christian Terrorists

He lamented the negative stereotyping of Muslims and wondered why North Ireland's Protestants and Catholics, the Oklahoma City bombers or even the Nazis had never been labeled "Christian terrorists."

"Look at the Ku Klux Klan, who use a cross as their symbol and propagate hatred against others and encourage lynching. And yet we never hear someone say, 'There's an example of how Christianity encourages violence,'" Tutu said.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu speaks with authority when he does, and he has made a valid point here. Arab origin people in the West have faced prejudice, discrimination and racism for long. The violent activities of the Al Qaeda did not invent that racism which existed before and after. If those racists blame the Arab masses for the acts of a handful of Al Qaeda terrorists, they are simply expressing the racism they have felt for as long as they remember. Racism is democracy not delivering. There is as much a need to spread democracy in the West as in the Arab world, and so there two very clear fronts on the so called War On Terror, there is also the important homefront. For those who experience racism, democracy is lacking.

The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
Pat Robertson Is Sick, Anti-Faith

Desmond Tutu speaks truth to power.

Tutu: Muslim anger not just about cartoons San Jose Mercury News, USA
'Liberal like Jesus' Orlando Sentinel, FL
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