Monday, October 23, 2006

Switching To Obama

Three Pillars, Draft 2
March And Rally For Full Immigrant Rights

If Obama is running and Hillary is running, for the primary season I would throw my hat Obama's way. That is no tough choice at all. Obama can win. And I relate to his background.
..... women make only 76 cents for every dollar that a man makes. .... The average African-American woman earns 66 cents for every dollar that a white male earns and Latino women only 55 cents per dollar earned by white men........ The national average for white females is about 74 cents to every dollar a white male earns. Black women's earnings were 85 percent of black men's and Hispanic women made 87 percent as much as Hispanic men (US Department of Labor, Aug. 2001) ........ a white female worker earns 77 cents for every dollar a white male worker earns. A Hispanic woman with the same job earns 58 cents to every dollar earned by a white man, while an African American woman receives 70 cents for every dollar earned by a white male worker...This wage gap is not a function of low-paying jobs; it is found consistently through all levels and professions ..... African Americans and Hispanics, on average, still earn 65 cents for every dollar a white male earns for comparable work
The American caste system is as follows: white male, white female, minority male, minority female. And Obama grew up partly in Indonesia. His father was from Kenya. I relate directly to that "Third World" connection; make it Global South with respect. Go Obama.

Obama In Africa
2008 Countdown: Hillary-Obama
Obama Votes Nay
Obama, Ethics Reform, And White Dems

First black US president? Obama the man to watch The Age
African son Obama for US presidency? AND
Obama weighs run in '08 San Jose Mercury News Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., opened the door to a 2008 presidential campaign Sunday, saying he has begun to weigh a possible candidacy and will make a decision after the November elections. ..... "After November 7th, I'll sit down and consider it, and if at some point, I change my mind, I will make a public announcement and everybody will be able to go at me.'' ...... had said he planned to serve out the full six years of his Senate term, which would have ruled out a presidential or vice presidential campaign in 2008. ....... New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is considered the early front-runner for the Democratic nomination, should she decide to run, but some Democratic strategists said Sunday that Obama immediately would become one of her principal challengers, if he decides to run. ...... "If he runs and Mrs. Clinton runs, I don't think there's a lot of room for anyone else'' ...... having served just two years in the Senate and seven in the Illinois state Senate, Obama has a thin résumé upon which to build a presidential candidacy ...... "I'm not sure anybody is ready to be president before they're president,'' he told moderator Tim Russert. "You know, ultimately, I trust the judgment of the American people that in any election they sort it through. We have a long and a rigorous process and, you know, should I decide to run, if I ever did decide to run, I'm confident that I'd be run through the paces pretty good.'' ....... Obama advisers said Sunday there has been little formal analysis done in preparation for a possible campaign and agreed they will now accelerate that work. But they said they are confident Obama could raise the money to run and noted that he already has many offers from people to work in a campaign.
Obama Answers - Sort Of RealClearPolitics Blog
CBS: Dems Opting for Obama Because They 'Don't Believe Hillary Can ... NewsBusters
Rising star considers running for president Times Online said yesterday that he was considering a 2008 presidential run, a move that would present Hillary Clinton with a formidable rival for the party’s nomination. ..... young, black, intelligent, telegenic and eloquent ...... Obama said that he could no longer stand by a vow to serve a full six-year term in Congress. ..... His charisma has brought comparisons to a young John F. Kennedy. Many in the party, who fear that Hillary Clinton would be too polarising a candidate, have been urging him to run. ...... In a survey that was conducted in March by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, Mr Obama came second only to Rudolph Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York, as the most popular person in American politics.
The Most Dangerous Man In America GOPUSA If I were a liberal Democrat tasked with finding the ideal candidate to take back the White House in two years, I would try to find an extremely intelligent, well-educated individual with a fresh face, an articulate voice, a charming manner and no political baggage. ....... This person would be male and a member of a minority group. He would not yet be a household name, but would be in a position to become one. He would be in his forties, not unlike John F. Kennedy in 1960 or Bill Clinton in 1992. He would come across as the only candidate talking about new approaches to old problems. He would have the ability to get lots of press without appearing to crave the spotlight. ...... Barack Obama is a savvy, charismatic, articulate liberal who could very well be the Democratic Party's best hope for recapturing the White House. His background is intriguingly diverse. ...... His impressive performance as a speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention made the party's presidential nominee, John Kerry, seem dull by contrast. ...... Obama's flawless performance on Meet the Press (his performances are almost always flawless), his appearance will no doubt be lauded as "refreshingly frank," and as "not politics as usual." ...... Obama said that a great president causes the people to think differently about their country. ..... Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. ...... Barack Obama is the anti-Hillary Hillary. His positions on the issues of the day are every bit as radical and leftist as hers. The difference lies in his ability to sell it. In an age when political baggage can kill a candidate's chances of success on the national stage, Hillary Clinton is dragging around overloaded steamer trunks filled with negative poll numbers. Obama is encumbered by no such weight.
Obama May Run for President WTMJ-TV
OBAMA MULLS PREZ RUN New York Post
Obama (may be) Running for (Vice) President
Huffington Post, NY
Barack Obama: The Most Dangerous Man in America
Human Events, DC Obama has said he believes that health care is a basic human right. (Funny, I must have missed that one in the Bill of Rights.) ..... As an Illinois state senator in 1998, Obama voted to give welfare and Medicaid to immigrants. ..... he is also liberal enough to be the most dangerous man in America if he is elected.


"You Are Not President, Yet!"

My favorite part of Hillary's debate with her challenger on Friday was when the guy said, "You are not president, yet!"

Thoughts on Hillary's Debate New York Observer, NY
Challenger denies Clinton looks comments
Globe and Mail, Canada Republican challenger John Spencer told a reporter that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton wasn't very attractive when she was younger and may have had a lot of work done to improve her looks ...... “You ever see a picture of her back then? Whew,” Mr. Spencer was quoted by the Daily News as saying about Clinton in her younger days. “I don't know why Bill married her.”
Did Hillary's Foe Say She Was Ugly? CBS News
Hillary Clinton: 'I love my life' WWAY NewsChannel 3
A Secret Divide in a GOP Stronghold New York Times a groundswell of Republican support for the attorney general’s bid to become governor. ..... Some believe Mr. Spitzer will tackle fraud and waste in Albany with the same zeal that he pursued white-collar crime on Wall Street. ..... He said Mr. Spitzer may have gone after fraud on Wall Street, but he has ignored fraud in state government. “He’s done nothing in the public sector,” said Mr. Meade, who is not registered with any party. “Do we have corruption in the public sector? It’s ungodly.” ....... Indeed, in Broome County, people’s views on the election are colored by a kind of cynicism, apathy and angst. This is a place known not so much for what it is, but what it used to be. ...... grows so close to the men whose hair he trims for $10 that, when they die, he attends their funerals ..... One man, when asked the last time he voted, replied simply, “Ike.”
Obama vs. Clinton vs. Kerry in '08? ABC News "I can't make a decision now" about running for president, she said. "I have made no decision. But if that concerns any voter, they should factor that into the vote they make." ..... the first since 1928 in which there will be no sitting president or vice president running. ..... his face gracing the cover of magazines ranging from Time to Men's Vogue ..... Kerry is thinking about another run, and told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" that he'd welcome the competition from Obama. ..... Obama is a newcomer whose publicity has been virtually all positive ...... "A lot of other candidates are going to be pushed to the side in media attention, money and political support if you have these two titans running for president." ..... "John McCain is a formidable front-runner, but there are a lot of doubts about him within the Republican Party," said Halperin. "Mitt Romney has been the most aggressive and the most successful in playing off some of those doubts and positioning himself as McCain's chief challenger."
John McCain, Hillary Clinton campaign in New Jersey for US Senate ... International Herald Tribune, France
NJ Senate Race Draws Political Stars Washington Post looked like a potential preview of the 2008 presidential campaign. ..... the Garden State contest would determine which party controls the Senate ...... McCain said Sunday he would make a decision early next year. .... 48 percent of likely voters favoring Menendez with 39 percent favoring Kean ..... Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez
Barack Obama: The Visible Man American Thinker, AZ
Obama consideration of presidential bid generating DC buzz WQAD

A Ticket For Two

One of them is going to be president, another vice president. Both have to be on the ticket regardless.

Someone who runs for president is a good vice presidential candidate.

McCain Is Right

New Jersey shows the Dems will take over the Senate. Rock and roll.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006

Iraq Movie, Liberally, But Not Drinking



Movie: Iraq For Sale
Movie with Daniel & Judith October 12

I showed up on the 9th at the Lower East Side location. There was no movie there for the 9th. I should have been at the Upper West Side location. I messed up. I got told don't show up on the 12th either, too many already coming. Instead show up on the 19th. So I did. I was the only one to show. Two hosts, and one guest, me. It was a treat. A big bowl of popcorn. I walked back with the bag of chips I had taken. Judith insisted.

"Would you like something?"

"I would like to use your restroom. Can I please use your restroom?" I had had pizza and pepsi just before getting into the car. I fantasize about steamed broccoli for breakfast. But once in a while it is nice to eat bad.

"Isn't it so nice when people ask if they can use your bathroom?"

I had driven there. It is quite nice. When I first came into the city, one of the best parts was to realize you don't need a car. I almost sold off my car. Now I am glad I did not. Because I have rediscovered the joy of driving around. And in the evening parking is not that hard to find even in Manhattan, especailly if you are closer to the water.

Cross into Manhattan across the Manhattan Bridge, go up Bowery, take a right on Houston, then a left on Avenue B, and a right on East 8th Street. And then drive round and round the block until you find parking.

The movie is necessary. I think the Democratic Party should just go ahead and pay the filmmakers some money and make it available online for free. The numbers you are talking about are so huge.

Daniel is a DFNYC member, he said. Too bad I have had a communication meltdown with DFNYC. It is quite an organization. I wonder what it was like during its heyday.

The three of us had a lively conversation after the movie. Daniel signed me up for some phone banking stuff for the election season. I like to avoid local retail politics, but one or two sessions might not be that bad. So I gave him my email address. I once did that for Berea College fundraising, and one alum was like, What kind of people do they admit at Berea these days! I assumed it was the accent thing that threw him off balance.

And I have taken to dressing up recently. I am discovering I just dislike the tie. I actually like the rest of it. And black is a good color. The dressiness also prompts me to comb my hair. Use some gel. Now I might just grow my hair so combing is easier to do. You actually have something to comb.

Liberally Tipsy

Then I drove towards Times Square for Drinking Liberally. Because I was driving I had a good excuse to not drink. I have always been more into the Liberally part than the Drinking part in the first place, although you can have beer for free if you just go for it.

Justin White Male Krebs caught me first thing in. I had skipped the last two Thursdays. I had such a nice time today I think I want to be more regular. I really appreciate the structurelessness of the whole thing. The whole thing is such a simple, such a great concept. The founders deserve to feel good.

"You are a very active member of DFNYC, right?"

Justin must have missed the meltdown.

"Well, not recently. But why?"

"What are you doing for Election Day?"

"Well, I can't vote."

"Got to go to Yonkers."

"Where is Yonkers?"

"North of Bronx. DFNYC is doing a whole bunch of stuff. They have a bunch of info."

I am opposed to going anywhere outside the city as a matter of principle. But I guess I will make my third exception for this. But I am not taking the train. I will drive. I have four seats in my car I can offer.

Wow. I just visited the DFNYC website after a while. So many events in the buildup to the election. DFNYC executives have always been hyperkinetic types. Go-go-go types.

Breakfast Event for Jerry McNerney in Midtown (8 hours)
Democrats for New Politics Campaign Car Pool to Kirsten Gillibrand Campaign (1 day 9 hours)
Walk Don't Destroy: A Fun Walkathon for Responsible Development in NYC (1 day 12 hours)
Target PA: Meet and Canvass for DFA - Endorsed Candidate Lois Murphy (2 days 9 hours)
Canvassing for John Hall (2 days 9 hours)
Fundraiser for Eric Massa (3 days 17 hours)
Take Back Congress - Landline Phone Banking Now Three Nights Per Week (4 days 18 hours)
Seize our State Senate - ACT NOW Landline Phone Banking Now Three Nights per Week (5 days 18 hours)
Make Your Vote Count: A Forum on New Voting Technology (5 days 19 hours)
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT: A Forum (5 days 19 hours)

The only thing in American politics that is of interest to me is Hillary 2008. Even the 2006 elections for me are a prelude to Hillary 2008.

Vote Big For Hillary

JFK became Senator in 1952. When he ran for reelection in 1958, Massachusetts knew he needs to win as large a victory as possible, because everyone knew he was going to run for president in 1960.

Same applies to Hillary. She needs to win as big as possible to get a headstart for 2008.

"First Nancy Pelosi, Then Hillary"

I remember one of the earliest DFNYC Mixers I attended. I was thinking, the subway keeps running, all sounds fine, why are these people so agitated! My feel for local politics is a little bit better. But the thing is, my knowledge might be scant, but boxing is boxing is boxing. I can get the tempo of it. I have that. I don't watch sports, unless it is soccer, but I do follow politics.

Yonkers

Okay, so Yonkers it is. I am willing to drive. But I still don't know where.

YouTube: Central Park
YouTube: Statue Of Liberty
YouTube: Times Square
News: Thieves Steal New York Mayor Bloomberg's Car
The City In Online Video
Subway

In The News

Candidate Asked to Leave Race Over Threatening Letter to Voters New York Times
Priest in Malta Says He Had Close Contact With Foley New York Times
Former House clerk testifies in Foley investigation Boston Herald
Absentee ballots available Newszap Florida
Bush, Clinton Headline Va. Fundraisers Forbes
US Faces Iraq Crossroads Wall Street Journal
Latin American remittances benefit investments MSNBC
United States Mid-Term Elections: Towards Divided Government? Oxford Analytica (subscription), UK
Anti-Immigration Candidate Asked To Withdraw abc7news.com
Ballots loaded with issues, and weight Seattle Post Intelligencer
Democrats, Republicans both focus on Bush Chicago Tribune
Bush Faces a Battery of Ugly Choices on War New York Times
A senator fights to shed his ‘macaca' moment Globe and Mail, Canada
Mark Warner Out, Hillary Clinton Inevitable? FOX News no disrespect meant toward Warner, one wonders would the decision have been the same were Sen. Clinton not such a formidable candidate for the nomination. ...... she is farther ahead in the race for the nomination than any Democratic non-incumbent in many decades. ...... Warner's decision is both an important development and quite telling about what is likely to happen.
Senator watches his dream fizzle Toronto Star, Canada
Virginia Senate race to close to call NDTV.com, India
Presidents know Va. is crucial Richmond Times Dispatch, VA


Thursday, October 12, 2006

"First Nancy Pelosi, Then Hillary"



Hillary Rodham Clinton Does The Roxy Thing


That is what I told the Senator when I got to meet her earlier in the evening. She beamed. And then looked down to the ground. That is strange. Bill Clinton did the exact same thing when I told him, "Mr. President, you are Elvis." He looked down to the ground.

Hillary In Person
Obama Was In Town And I Missed It
Bill Clinton Had Icecream For Lunch

Roxy is a nice place. The floor is spread out. The music is nice. They charge much for little vodka.

Welcome to The ROXY Night Club New York City
Roxy NYC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This was my second time meeting Hillary in person. It is not that hard to do. You just have to be there at the right time at the right place. You just have to be in the city, and on the right mailing list.

Google Video: Bill Clinton
Hillary 2008: Enough White Men
YouTube: Bill Clinton
Hillary In The White House, Bill At The UN In 2010
Advice To Hillary
Hillary's Formula For 2006
Three Pillars, Draft 2
Hillary 2008
The First Major Revolution Of The 21st Century Happened In Nepal
2008 Countdown: Hillary-Obama
Karl Rove, Hands Off Hillary
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker
A Different Kind Of Campaign, A Scientific Campaign
The Spectrum On Gender
The Israeli Wall Is Wrong, Hillary

This Hillary event was a nice break from some hectic stuff with the visiting Nepali politicians.

Seven Party Delegation

The first time I met her, I guess I was nervous. I had been rehearsing my line. "Senator, I just want you to know I am a very happy New Yorker." But when finally she showed up in front of me, I forgot that line. I said something banal like, "Senator, it is an honor to meet you."

This time I was fine. I said what I wanted to say.

She gave a fine speech. She looked a little tired. I think she said she was somewhere upstate earlier in the day. And she worked the ropeline real fast.

There was this young couple to my right. It ended up Hillary knew the young woman. She stayed with her longer than anywhere else along the ropeline.

These Roxy type places. They are not in an easy business. It is not easy to get people collected.

I was the last person on the dance floor. I had a nice time.

I captured much of the evening on video. I got someone else down the line to capture me talking to Hillary. I hope he did a good job. I hope I am in there somewhere. I want to be seen talking to Hillary on video.

I also showed up to get to meet people. But I did not do much of that. I got carried away by the music and the ambience. You just want to take it in.

Mark Warner

He dropped out. I still had some time left before I was to head out for the evening event. So I lazily opened up Google News. And there he was.

This is kind of like Rudy Guliani dropping out when Hillary ran for the Senate.

The guy felt the heat. Hillary simply is too strong. She is hard working, she is methodical. She has the instincts. She has this practical side to her that Bill Clinton does not. She has this discipline to her that Bill Clinton does not.

Obama Should Not Run For President

He is not going to be president in 2008. He increases his chances of being running mate by avoiding takinng pot shots at Hillary during the primary which he inevitably will have to if he runs.

Collage

I am so proud of this collage that I made for an earlier post.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton is like a Pele who will never retire. What that guy does is through talking, and he will keep talking forever.

In The News


Poll: McCain, Hillary Clinton popular choices for president Boston Globe
voters were asked about 20 potential presidential candidates ...... Among Democrats, Clinton was the favorite, with 30 percent choosing her. John Edwards is next with 16 percent .....
Mark Warner's Clinton Problem Radar Online
Former governor bows out of White House bid, leaving crowded field ... International Herald Tribune, France
Warner bows out of White House bid, leaving crowded field Boston Globe, United States
Democrat Mark Warner Decides Against US Presidential Bid Voice of America
Ex-Virginia governor will not seek White House ABC News
UPDATE 2-Ex-Virginia governor will not seek White House Reuters
Former Governor Warner Says He Won't Seek Presidency (Update2) Bloomberg
Warner Rules Out Run for White House in 2008 New York Times, United States Former Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia, who has been traveling across the country for more than a year exploring a bid for the White House, said today that, after “a lot of reflection, prayer and soul-searching,” he had decided not to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008. ..... said his decision was based on family considerations ..... Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic nominee, did not carry any of the 11 states of the old Confederacy .... while politically this appears to be the right time for me to take the plunge, at this point I want to have a real life ....... Warner had assembled a staff of 35 and raised close to $10 million. ...... Americans are looking for leaders .. bring us together and get things done ...... “He realized how hard this was going to be. He’s a great general election candidate, but he thought he would have difficulty winning the primary.” ....... Warner, 51, was seen as one of the leading alternatives to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton ...... Senator Evan Bayh, a centrist from Indiana, cancelled a day of fund-raising in California to begin telephone calls in hopes of rounding up some of Mr. Warner’s supporters and contributors. ....... he indicated more interest today in perhaps running for the Senate or for governor again ..... Warner has displayed the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that many Republicans revere. ..... In the early years of the cell-phone industry, he assembled investor groups and packaged their cell-phone license applications in return for fees and ownership stakes. By 2001, his net worth was estimated at $200 million
Former Virginia governor won't run for president in '08 Boston Globe, United States
White House candidate stands down BBC News, UK
Ex-Va. governor won’t run for president in '08 Chicago Tribune, United States
Ex-Virginia governor wants 'real life,' not Oval Office CNN
No '08 White House Run for Ex-Va. Leader Forbes, NY
Former Virginia governor won't run for president in '08 International Herald Tribune, France
Former Virginia Governor Warner Says He Won't Seek Presidency Bloomberg
No '08 White House Run for Ex-Va. Leader Forbes, NY
No '08 White House Run for Ex-Va. Leader ABC News
Popular former Virginia governor will not run in '08 CNN
Source: Warner Won't Run for White House Washington Post, United States
Democrat Warner will not seek White House - sources Reuters
Former Va. Gov. Mark Warner to Announce He Won't Run for President ... FOX News
Warner bows out of White House bid Herald News Daily, ND
Warner decides not to run for president White Rock Reviewer, SD
Pro-Abortion Virginia Democrat Mark Warner Won't Run for President LifeNews.com, MT
Democratic Governors' Statement on Warner's Announcement U.S. Newswire (press release), DC
Analyst says Warner's decision leaves Democrats in a bind KVOA.com, AZ Virginia's former governor could have been the main challenger to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is considered by many pundits to be the front-runner.
Warner won't seek presidency Daily Press, VA
Ex-Gov. Warner drops presidential race United Press International
Reaction to former Va. governor's decision not to seek presidency Daily Press, VA
Mark Warner won't run for president WDBJ7.com, VA

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Robert Reich: Why a Massachusetts Liberal Will Be The Next President