Beware Dick Cheney

Hillary Must Have Known

Only a few weeks back Hillary called Dick Cheney Darth Vader. She must have known Dick Cheney and Barack Obama are cousins. I think Hillary has decided to go negative this primary season.

Impeach Bush-Cheney, Nancy Pelosi Gets To Become First Female President
Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean

So

Does this mean Barack Obama is good with a gun or bad with a gun? I am trying to figure out.

NYC

I took to NYC like duck to water. This city is custom-made for me. I like the whole package deal, the filth, the stench, the noise, the street food, the crowds, especially the crowds. Welcome to the Third World. I am in total love with New York City.

• Zone 3/The Blue Zone: Positive, Creative Group Dynamics.
• Social Concentric Circles.

Reverend, What Do You Do?

I think the hardest thing for me being in New York City for over two years now has been to explain to people as to what exactly it is that I do. I used to try and give an honest answer, try and be as precise as possible. I am working to win the Nobel Peace Prize. I am going to be bigger than Michael Dell. One of them is enough to lose people. When you mix both, it sounds like more than a career switch, it makes people want to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. People don't get the impression they are in the presence of greatness. They think it outlandish. So now I try to do the nice, diplomatic thing. I have a young company that I can't tell you anything about because you are not one of my investors. People can live with that.

From inventing nonviolent militancy to the IC vision is no career switch. It is a continuation of your work. You are still moving in the same direction. In my worldview, democracy is the starting point for any country. And then if you want to bridge the gap between the so-called First World and Third World, the internet is the only way to do it, so you try to get as many people in the Global South online as possible through market efforts. Where is the career switch? I don't see one. Inventing nonviolent militancy means I am great with group dynamics.

A black reporter once asked Jesse Jackson on national television, "But, Reverend, what exactly it is that you do!"

At the last DL21C event I went to, this guy who accompanied the guest speaker asked me, I found myself sitting at the same table, "What do you do? Are you a doctor?"

"I am not a doctor, but I am very smart!"

In my travels all over America, I got that so very often. I don't think there is any small town in America anywhere that does not have an Indian doctor and a Chinese restaurant. Way to go.

"Are you a Patel?" That was another big one. I once saw this huge billboard in Tennessee off the interstate, "Motel, run by Americans!"



Racial Politics In America Just Got Very Complicated

Now I find myself rooting for a Dick Cheney cousin. Could that still count for progressive?

Barack: Black Enough For Me

In The News

Dalai Lama Says His Successor Could be Chosen by Unorthodox Method Voice of America
China calls US medal for Dalai Lama a "farce" Reuters
US honor for Dalai Lama angers China CNN International
Clinton Eclipses Obama, Giuliani, Romney in Wall Street Money Bloomberg Clinton raised more money on Wall Street last quarter than Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney combined. ..... $748,896 .... $177,456 for Obama ..... lead in public opinion polls and disciplined campaign ..... Clinton supporters say raising money became easier in recent months as she showed she can run a largely mistake-free campaign. Her debate performances and surge in the polls also helped ......... Clinton's biggest third-quarter take came from Morgan Stanley, the world's second-largest securities firm. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Mack held an event for Clinton ....... second quarter, when Obama, 46, raised $739,579 and Clinton followed with $424,545 ...... a market correction ..... ``The promise of Obama was sort of like the tech start-up that got people very excited early on, but he really hasn't delivered the steak with the sizzle.'' ........ Democratic strategist Steve McMahon said that while Wall Street ``behaves like a futures market,'' Obama still has a good shot at the nomination. ``Barack's future is going to be determined not on Wall Street, but on Main Street -- in small towns all across Iowa and New Hampshire and if he wins there, Wall Street doesn't matter,'' said McMahon, who isn't aligned with any campaign.
IMF warns about impact of biofuels on food prices Forbes
IMF trims 2008 global economic forecast MarketWatch
IMF raises China's 2007 economic growth forecast to 11.5 percent International Herald Tribune
NTPC to set up 1980 MW project in Bihar Hindu a 1,980 MW (3 x 660 MW) coal based power project at Nabinagar in Aurangabad district in Bihar. ..... the existing 220 MW capacity under renovation at Muzzaffarpur in Bihar.
Gore Says He Doesn't Plan Run for US Presidency (Update1) Bloomberg
Support Wanes in House for Genocide Vote New York Times
Parliamentary Democracy In Russia? Forbes
Cheney, Obama are 'cousins'. Sydney Morning Herald
Barack Obama and Dick Cheney 'are cousins' Times Online
Obama and Cheney, Making ConnectionsWashington Post
Clinton disappointed as Obama closes funding gap Independent
First thoughts: Calendar madness MSNBC The possibility that both parties will have two separate primary calendars is growing more likely by the day, especially after the Iowa GOP set Jan. 3 as its date and the South Carolina Dems are set for Jan. 26 (when the SC GOP is going on Jan. 19). While it may make sense in the backrooms of a rules and bylaws committee meeting at the RNC or DNC, the average voter is probably going to be confused. ....... And this is the democracy we're trying to export around the world? ...... Obama went after Clinton yesterday -- both complimenting her and describing the politics she practices as timid and divisive. ...... “If every move you’re making is based on a static politics where you are looking backwards and this is what the polls tell me, this how much room we have to maneuver … you’ll be a vast improvement over George Bush,” he said. “But you are not going to deliver on the major challenges, and you are not going to set a broad vision for the country.” .......... So far, the Clinton camp has responded to all Obama attacks the same way: Is this the "politics of hope"?
Giuliani, Clinton Lead in Tri-State Area The Associated Press New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. ......NEW YORK ..... Hillary Rodham Clinton, 49 percent ..... Barack Obama, 12 percent ...... NEW JERSEY ..... Hillary Rodham Clinton, 46 percent ...... Barack Obama, 20 percent ..... CONNECTICUT ...... Hillary Rodham Clinton, 43 percent ..... Barack Obama, 16 percent ....... New Yorkers Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Rodham Clinton hold commanding leads on their home turf and could sweep presidential primaries in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut on Feb. 5. With the Republicans' winner-take-all primary rules, Giuliani could win all 183 tri-state delegates, giving him 15 percent of the 1,228 he needs to secure the nomination. Because Democrats allocate primary votes proportionally, Barack Obama and John Edwards could win some tri-state delegates, but Clinton could win more than 250 of the 2,181 she'd need for the Democratic nomination.
Poll: Giuliani, Clinton poised for tri-state primary sweep Newsday Giuliani and Clinton "can count on their Northeast neighbors to give them an early bumper crop of delegates ....... Edwards ... in Connecticut he runs third with 8 percent, just ahead of the state's senior senator, Christopher Dodd, with 7 percent. ...... Clinton could win more than half the 468 delegates at stake, giving her 250 of the 2,181 she'd need ...... Clinton trumps Giuliani in New York, 50 percent to 36 percent. But the matchup between them in both Connecticut and New Jersey is a statistical tie
Thompson cautions against Clinton obsession Boston Globe
Widow of Paul Tsongas Wins House Seat in Possible Preview of '08 ABC News In the end, though, Tsongas credited her ideas more than her name for her victory. ...... Tsongas is the first woman this state has sent to Congress in more than two decades. ....... Ogonowski's loss by six percentage points "sent a message." ...... This race was noted around the country as a possible indicator of voting trends in the presidential primaries and caucuses. Tsongas made opposition to Iraq her central theme. ....... the first woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts in 25 years
Giuliani has built a national campaign machine New York Daily News also has opened offices in half a dozen other states: California, Florida, North Dakota, Illinois, Missouri and New Jersey. ....... Super-Duper Tuesday because of the 20 primaries planned for the day, enough to seal a potential victory. ....... Giuliani has been able to stay atop the national polls without having to spend a dime on expensive TV commercials - a benefit of his post-9/11 fame. ...... the campaign has staffers on the payroll in less traditional states, among them Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia and Michigan. ...... His campaign teams in Florida and California, meanwhile, are now equal in size to those in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
India-US accord on nuclear energy in doubt Globe and Mail The pact would reverse three decades of U.S. anti-proliferation policy by allowing the United States to send nuclear fuel and technology to India, which has been cut off from the global atomic trade by its refusal to sign non-proliferation treaties and its testing of nuclear weapons. But Communist parties key to the survival of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government argue against closer ties with the United States.
India plans to impose restrictions on foreign investors International Herald Tribune Some foreign investors may desert India's red-hot stock markets, after regulators unveiled a plan to ban anonymous investment and curb derivatives issues - a proposal that triggered a plunge of almost 10 percent ....... The proposal affects half of all foreign market investments. A recent rush of overseas cash has driven up the rupee, propelled markets to record highs and raised concerns about inflows of laundered money. ....... India's markets have enjoyed unprecedented appreciation in recent weeks, becoming some of the best performing in Asia, after foreign investors piled in, some looking for refuge from America's housing market problems. ....... "Exporters are hurting" and there are concerns about job losses in jewelry, textile, footwear and leather industries ....... About half of all foreign investment in India's equity markets is made through participatory notes. ....... Foreign investors are drawn to these instruments because they allow them to necessary to buy stock directly on India's markets - and because they are skip the paperwork-heavy registration processcheaper. ....... The proposal has the backing of the Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance and is expected to be passed ....... The move will "take some of the wind out of the sails" of India's markets in the short term, but is unlikely to have a long-term effect ....... Investors say the registration process can take three to six months, and is often delayed by layers of bureaucracy. ...... speed up the process for direct registration
SA, India and Brazil discuss ties BBC News the developing world's most influential nations - South Africa, Brazil and India .... stalled world trade talks and co-operation in energy and access to natural resources ...... the three nations are trying to ease their reliance on trade with Europe and the US. ..... All three countries also have ambitions to join the UN Security Council. .... an effort by India to compete for energy and markets with China and the West.
Judges Weigh Musharraf Election Win New York Times after an eight-year absence, despite threats from militants and pressure from the government to delay her return. ...... a “sea of people” would greet her ...... is planning to run in parliamentary elections set for the first half of January. ....... Bhutto said that she recognized that she was returning to many unknowns .... Ms. Bhutto holds that the corruption charges against her are politically motivated. But if the amnesty is found to be unconstitutional, numerous charges could be resurrected, and she could face jail. ......... Asif Zardari, who served eight years in prison in Pakistan after she was removed from power in 1996 ....... The former prime minister displayed a bold and passionate stance today that heralded a shakeup in Pakistani politics with her return. ....... “Threats have been made by Afghan militants, Arab militants and Red Mosque militants ....... “I have heard this morning that more than a million people are gathering in Karachi from far-flung areas. People have gathered together and pooled their money, their life savings, to rent a car, to rent a van, to rent a motorcycle, to rent a bus, to hitch a ride to come to Karachi, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.” ......... she said she had to try to work out a transition to democracy. She took credit for persuading General Musharraf to resign his military post and continue as a civilian president, which will almost certainly reduce his control over the country. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she said. ......... her party would continue to try to negotiate with General Musharraf for a transition to democracy, but if that failed, they would take to the streets. ........ we don’t have to agree on everything but we must agree that we will resolve our differences peacefully and politically,” she said.
In Diabetes, a Complex of Causes The fifth leading killer of Americans, with 73,000 deaths a year ........ Until very recently, the regulation of glucose — how much sugar is present in a person’s blood, how much is taken up by cells for fuel, and how much is released from energy stores — was regarded as a conversation between a few key players: the pancreas, the liver, muscle and fat. Now, however, the party is proving to be much louder and more complex than anyone had shown before. ........ the reasons for abnormal sugar seem to “differ tremendously from person to person” ........ “providing the right care for each person each day, rather than giving everyone the same drug.” ....... researchers at Columbia University Medical Center published startling results showing that a hormone released from bone may help regulate blood glucose. ....... “For the first time,” he went on, “we see that the skeleton is actually an endocrine organ,” producing hormones that act outside of bone. ........ could turn out to be a “unique new treatment” for Type 2 diabetes ...... the relationship of obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance ........ the hypothalamus, which also regulates appetite, temperature and sex drive. ....... side effects — chattering helpfully with one organ, but problematically with another. ..... “The picture is becoming more and more complicated,” Dr. Saltiel said. “And let’s face it, it was pretty complicated before.”
Well: The Family Meal Is What Counts, TV On or Off The biggest factor wasn’t whether the TV was on or off, but whether the family was eating the meal together. ...... the power of the family meal. ....... many parents worry about what their kids are eating — vegetables versus junk — ....... the best strategy for improving a child’s diet is simply putting food on the table and sitting down together to eat it. ...... those who regularly have meals with their parents eat more fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich foods, ingest more vitamins and nutrients, and consume less junk food. Some of the research has shown that kids who regularly sit down to a family meal are at lower risk for behaviors like smoking and drug and alcohol use. ........ “family connectedness,” which essentially measures the psychological health of a family. ...... Children from highly connected families have been shown to eat healthier foods, get better grades and have lower risk for smoking and drug and alcohol use. ......... even after controlling for family connectedness, kids who had seven or more family meals a week were far less likely to smoke, drink alcohol or use marijuana than those who had just one or none. ........ Girls who dined alone ate fewer fruits, vegetables and calcium-rich foods and more soft drinks and snack foods than girls who ate with their parents. .... Boys who didn’t eat with their parents had fewer vegetables and calcium-rich foods than family diners. ....... Why a family meal can make such a difference isn’t entirely clear. ...... mealtime is often the only chance parents have to actually look over their busy teenagers, catch up on their lives and visually assess behavioral or physical changes that might signal problems. ..... “I think many people just don’t realize how important the family meal really is.”
Pakistan Prepares for Bhutto Return ABC News
Attack fears as Bhutto heads home CNN International
China officially rebukes Bush over Dalai Lama meeting ABC Online
China's Communists Now Welcoming Foreign Press Forbes
Secrets Aplenty As China Communists Meet The Associated Press
Congress Calls Yahoo to Explain its Action in China PC World
Google's YouTube Debuts Copyright Enforcement System InformationWeek
JFK Workers Moved Drugs, Authorities Say New York Times
Facebook to Improve Safety PC World following an New York Attorney General investigation .... .... policing of pornography, harassment and inappropriate behavior ..... sending email to the abuse@facebook.com address. The company will respond to these complaints within 24 hours ....... perceptions it is a haven for pornography and sexual predators. ....... Investigators posing as minors on Facebook were repeatedly solicited by adult predators, and the site did a poor job of responding to complaints from investigators posing as minors or their parents ....... calling for Facebook to add age and identity verification for users 18 and older, filtering technology that would weed out inappropriate content, and a variety of other steps to protect minors.
Madonna deal more about money than music Chicago Tribune has very little to do with ensuring the future of great music or serving the dedicated music fan. ...... a deal for the few, the rich, the branded. ...... using the Internet to get music from band to fan as directly and inexpensively as possible ....... Madonna's global megadeal with the nation's largest concert promoter is all about maximizing revenue streams. ...... the idea that an aggressive entertainment company can sell Madonna in more ways than ever. ....... even less about innovative music, and even more about innovative marketing. ...... Executives valued for their ability to find talented bands and artists who excel only at music, and not glamour, will become extinct at this mega-corporation level. ........ Madonna's business smarts. She saw this as a way to get even more rich and more famous, if that's possible. ........ concert tickets, where the two shared $86 million in revenue last year ...... record sales, merchandising, fan clubs, Web sites, DVDs, music-related television and film projects, and sponsorship deals.
......... The deal likely means the rich will get richer ....... Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Eminem, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, U2's Bono ........ Live Nation presents a threat to the near monopoly once enjoyed by Warner Brothers, with whom Madonna has been contracted for 25 years, as well as Sony BMG, Universal and Capitol/EMI. ....... gunning to sign the same big-name artists that have been the majors' meal ticket for a half-century and offering them one-stop shopping benefits. ....... For a new or midsize band with a niche audience, the Live Nation-Madonna model has nothing to do with their reality, and probably never will. ........ Hello, Madonna -- a celebrity with a profound understanding of who she is at this stage in her career. She no longer needs a record company.
Cry Me A River Ellen DeGeneres! Washington Post











New York City For Barack Obama 8

Taking Hillary To Task On Foreign Policy

A Ying Yang Scenario

Security And Opportunity For The 21st Century by Hillary Rodham Clinton reintroduce America to the world and restore our leadership ...... the democratic values that are the deepest source of our strength. ...... In my travels around the world as senator and as first lady, I have met people from all walks of life. ...... we diverted vital military and financial resources from the struggle against al Qaeda and the daunting task of building a Muslim democracy in Afghanistan. ........... turning our backs on the search for peace in the Middle East. ...... refusal to participate in any international effort to deal with the tremendous challenges of climate change ........ the world's most pressing problems require unprecedented cooperation ...... American leadership is wanting, but it is still wanted. ......... threats from states, nonstate actors, and nature itself ........ The next president will be the first to inherit two wars ....... an unpredictable and dangerous situation in the Middle East that threatens Israel and could potentially bring down the global economy by disrupting oil supplies. ........ a new wave of global health epidemics. ........ a pragmatic willingness to look at the facts on the ground and make decisions based on evidence rather than ideology. ......... Leadership requires a blend of strategy, persuasion, inspiration, and motivation. It is based on respect more than fear. ...... harness our might to a set of guiding principles. ..... Use our military not as the solution to every problem but as one element in a comprehensive strategy. ........ Nor can diplomacy alone stop the perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity in places such as Darfur. ...... the value of simply carrying a big stick, rather than using it. .......... international institutions are tools rather than traps ...... we should bring them in line with the power realities of the twenty-first century and the basic values embodied in such documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ........ Globalization is widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots within societies and between them. Today, there are more than two billion people living on less than $2 a day. ....... a vast permanent underclass ....... countries plagued by mass poverty and ruled by tiny wealthy elites ....... The war is sapping our military strength, absorbing our strategic assets, diverting attention and resources from Afghanistan, alienating our allies, and dividing our people. The war in Iraq has also stretched our military to the breaking point. ........ government ministries or ministers that hoard, steal, or waste them. ...... the two million Iraqis who have fled their country and the two million more who have been displaced internally. ......... Ongoing military innovation is essential, but the Bush administration has undermined this goal by focusing obsessively on expensive and unproven missile defense technology ......... develop a modern GI Bill of Rights ...... In the cities of Europe and Asia -- such as Hamburg and Kuala Lumpur, which were the springboards for 9/11 -- terrorist cells are preparing for future attacks. We must understand not only their methods but their motives: a rejection of modernity, women's rights, and democracy, as well as a dangerous nostalgia for a mythical past. We must develop a comprehensive strategy focusing on education, intelligence, and law enforcement to counter not only the terrorists themselves but also the larger forces fueling support for their extremism. ............ dry up recruiting opportunities for the Taliban by funding crop-substitution programs, a large-scale road-building initiative, institutions that train and prepare Afghans for honest and effective governance, and programs to enable women to play a larger role in society. ......... better intelligence and a clandestine service that is out on the street, not sitting behind desks ........ increase the number of agents and analysts proficient in Arabic and other key languages ....... building counterterrorist capacity around the world ...... strengthen police, prosecutorial, and judicial systems abroad; improve intelligence; and implement more stringent border controls, especially in developing countries. ........ help the most vulnerable and at-risk cities prepare for an attack. ....... The Bush administration has opposed talks with our adversaries, seeming to believe that we are not strong enough to defend our interests through negotiations. ......... Iran .... the country that most practices state-sponsored terrorism, and it uses its surrogates to supply explosives that kill U.S. troops in Iraq. ......... Iran has enhanced its nuclear-enrichment capabilities, armed Iraqi Shiite militias, funneled arms to Hezbollah, and subsidized Hamas, even as the government continues to hurt its own citizens by mismanaging the economy and increasing political and social repression. .......... North Korea responded to the Bush administration's effort to isolate it by accelerating its nuclear program, conducting a nuclear test, and building more nuclear weapons. ........ remove all nuclear material from the world's most vulnerable nuclear sites and effectively secure the remainder ........ Putin has thwarted a carefully crafted UN plan that would have put Kosovo on a belated path to independence, attempted to use energy as a political weapon against Russia's neighbors and beyond, and tested the United States and Europe on a range of nonproliferation and arms reduction issues. Putin has also suppressed many of the freedoms won after the fall of communism, created a new class of oligarchs, and interfered deeply in the internal affairs of former Soviet republics. ......... Putin has used Russia's energy wealth to expand the Russian economy, so that more ordinary Russians are enjoying a rising standard of living. ........ Our relationship with China will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world in this century. ......... on most global issues we have no more trusted allies than those in Europe. ......... the largest developing democracies in the region, Brazil and Mexico, and deepen economic and strategic cooperation with Argentina and Chile. ...... the interconnected threats of drug trafficking, crime, and insurgency ...... the growing ranks of democracies in Africa ........ the blatant political corruption and brutality of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe ........ We will have to talk about the consequences of our invasion of Iraq for the Iraqi people and others in the region. We will have to talk about Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib. ........... the Education for All Act, which would provide $10 billion over a five-year period to train teachers and build schools in the developing world. ......... climate control represents a powerful economic opportunity that can be a driver of growth, jobs, and competitive advantage ........ Two-thirds of the growth in energy demand over the next 25 years will come from countries with little existing infrastructure. ...... all of Africa can provide carbon credits to the West. ........ Human rights will never truly be realized as long as a majority of the world's population is still treated as second-class citizens. ......... women have been elected heads of state in countries on nearly every continent ....... the continuing spread of trafficking in women, the ongoing use of rape as an instrument of war, the political marginalization of women, and persistent gender gaps in employment and economic opportunity. ........ 1825 .... exulted in the simple fact that America had survived and flourished ...... gloried not in American power but rather in the power of the American idea ......... Two centuries later, our economic power and military might have grown beyond anything that our forefathers could have imagined. ........ the authority not simply of a large and wealthy nation but of the American idea.

Hillary made a major mistake on the Iraq War and she will not admit it. After 10,000 years of men ruling the earth, it might be the woman's turn, but will the woman admit a few mistakes first, learn a few lessons, and open up her mind a little instead of digging deeper into some past grooves?

Hillary in this Foreign Affairs article rehashes many of the established progressive principles but covers little new ground. There has been a G8, so she will create an e8. There was a GI Bill, she will create another.

I admire Hillary. Anyone would be better than Bush in the White House, but Hillary is more than anybody. She is outstanding as a person and has been an excellent Senator.

I am a great fan of the speech she gave in Beijing back in 1994, but I don't feel the same spirit reflected in this article. (Hillary's Beijing Speech) Is that what long years in Washington do to you?

Her $10 billion over five years for education in the poor countries proposal got me. That might be too little too late, but it is a step in the right direction.

The article is a major balancing act.

But one begs the question, could Bush have started the invasion of Iraq if it had not been for that vote in 2002? I would have been more than happy to move on, and let bygones be bygones. But Iraq is not past. The mistake is still being played out on a daily basis. 150,000 innocent Iraqis killed? Two million having left the country and another two million internally displaced? That is almost a quarter of that country. The Iraq War has been an unqualified disaster. And Hillary has been shifting the sand. Before the 2006 election, Hillary's primary stand was that Rumsfeld must resign, as in the decision to go to war was good, but its execution was bad, and so the Defense Secretary must go. Now she is ploughing a different narrative. Now she is saying there was a slight misunderstanding between Bush and herself.

If the Al Qaeda had been in a ground war with the US army, and 3,000 American lives were lost, the feelings that would have been generated would have been different. But instead the Al Qaeda killed 3,000 innocent people on 9/11.

Come to think of it, more than 3,000 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq.

The reason Hillary's 2002 vote does not go away is because not only has she not connected the dots between her leadership role on that vote and Bush' decision to invade, she has also changed her narrative a few times.

And now she has gone and repeated the mistake on Iran.

Hillary's Iran Vote, Not That Different From The Iraq Vote

Going into the future, there are two details that caught my attention.

One, this phrase I find so very offensive: "all of Africa can provide carbon credits to the West." The white people can go on polluting, the black people will have to make do with lukewarm economic growth. I believe I speak for African women when I protest.

Another is the line about how the US and Europe are meant for each other. That feels like a white suggestion to me.

The war on terror is the same magnitude as the Cold War, and the only way to conclude it is by ensuring a total spread of democracy in all Arab countries, and India, with its population of over 100 million Muslims, is in a unique position to help. And so India qualifies to become a close ally of America. Europe can not much help. That is where political logic takes you but Hillary is not going there. She is going back to the past.

India's role is not only crucial for the democracy cause in the Arab world, but also ultimately for the same cause in China. China can not be a one party state forever. China is not a different planet.

Don't get me wrong. Hillary is squarely in the progressive camp. She has been one of my progressive inspirations over the years. She chairs the Senate India Caucus. She has a long track record of working for women and children. And it is not for one person, not even the President of the United States, to solve all the world's problems. The reality of problems is more complicated than that.

And some of my criticisms are to some of the systemic malaise that Hillary has been part of by being part of a system that, for the most part, does good.

But I am with Barack, and I intend to draw out the differences. And I intend to criticize Hillary where I feel criticism is due.


Barack: Black Enough For Me

In The News

Obama's Eight Degrees of Dick Cheney Washington Post the very white vice president from Wyoming is in fact the eighth cousin of Obama ........ an early Cheney settler named Richard Cheney, whose granddaughter married Samuel Duvall, whose mother, Mareen Duvall, is distantly related to Obama. ...... Obama, whose mother was white, did not immediately comment on the revelation. But his campaign made light of the tie, without confirming it. "Obviously, Dick Cheney is the black sheep of the family," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said.

Obama Hopes to "Close the Gap" Washington Post Can bad fundraising news be potentially good? Sen. Barack Obama seems to hope so. ....... "We continue to build the largest grassroots movement in history, but Washington lobbyists and special interests rallied to help Hillary Clinton out-raise us for the first time" ......... Obama described Clinton as the "chosen" candidate of establishment lobbyists, saying he is campaigning "in the face of the most entrenched political machine in Democratic politics."
Giuliani Criticizes Obama The Associated Press Giuliani on Tuesday ridiculed Democratic rival Barack Obama for saying he would meet, without precondition, with leaders of renegade nations. ....... The Obama campaign answered back, arguing that Giuliani may not want to engage in diplomacy with outlaw leaders but he's been willing to take their money. ...... links between Giuliani's law firm and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. ...... given the hefty fee that Hugo Chavez's oil company paid Rudy Giuliani's firm, he apparently thinks we shouldn't talk to Chavez, but it's fine to take his money

Does Obama's Message Match the Moment? Washington Post promising a new era of consensus instead of partisan divide. ....... Obama says he wants to "turn the page" past the country's red-blue polarization. ..... the war in Iraq is not about a catalogue of many mistakes -- it is about one big mistake. The war in Iraq should never have been fought ......... those moments on the trail when he allows himself to take clear shots at Bush -- on issues such as torture, military contractors and education funding -- tend to win him his loudest cheers. ....... "If we could gain a 60 percent majority on any of these issues, we could actually get something done. My goal . . . is finding that 60 percent majority."

Bush Meeting Dalai Lama: Is That All You Can Do For Burma?

Burma: 400, 000 Members, 400,000 Dollars
Burma: Time For Nonviolent Guerilla Warfare
Burma: Time For Hyper Action
The World Is Failing Burma
Burma: Than Shwe Is Going To The Hague
Britain Is Betraying Burma
Burma: Time For All Out Sanctions By All Powers
Burma: Momentum Is Key To Victory
Shame On The Top Politicians Of The World: Burma Asks For More
In Solidarity With The Burmese People

For the money one candidate for president spent on one ad in Iowa this past month, you could catapult the democracy movement in Burma to success. But all the western leaders offer is words, gestures. Your kind words are killing me softly.

I appreciate Laura Bush and her husband extending moral support to the democracy movement in Burma. Bush has his heart in the right place. It is his brain that is the problem.

Moral support is only one small part of the deal. It must be accompanied by logistical support. A democracy movement has to be planned like a space mission, and then it works like exact science. It will work unfailingly, in country after country after country.

It takes a lot of guts for hundreds of thousands of people to come out into the streets in the face of certain brutality. But when that momentum is lost, it takes a lot of time to regain it.

If the momentum is strong enough, a successful uprising in Burma can catapult into a mass uprising in Zimbabwe. To Iran, to Egypt. To Saudi Arabia. And, let's not kid ourselves, ultimately to China.

No external power can bring about mass action, but all external powers working in close cooperation with the diaspora of each such country can provide the moral and logistical support that can make all the difference.

Spread Democracy
Revolution

In The News

Security And Opportunity For The 21st Century by Hillary Rodham Clinton reintroduce America to the world and restore our leadership ...... the democratic values that are the deepest source of our strength. ...... In my travels around the world as senator and as first lady, I have met people from all walks of life. ...... we diverted vital military and financial resources from the struggle against al Qaeda and the daunting task of building a Muslim democracy in Afghanistan. ........... turning our backs on the search for peace in the Middle East. ...... refusal to participate in any international effort to deal with the tremendous challenges of climate change ........ the world's most pressing problems require unprecedented cooperation ...... American leadership is wanting, but it is still wanted. ......... threats from states, nonstate actors, and nature itself ........ The next president will be the first to inherit two wars ....... an unpredictable and dangerous situation in the Middle East that threatens Israel and could potentially bring down the global economy by disrupting oil supplies. ........ a new wave of global health epidemics. ........ a pragmatic willingness to look at the facts on the ground and make decisions based on evidence rather than ideology. ......... Leadership requires a blend of strategy, persuasion, inspiration, and motivation. It is based on respect more than fear. ...... harness our might to a set of guiding principles. ..... Use our military not as the solution to every problem but as one element in a comprehensive strategy. ........ Nor can diplomacy alone stop the perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity in places such as Darfur. ...... the value of simply carrying a big stick, rather than using it. .......... international institutions are tools rather than traps ...... we should bring them in line with the power realities of the twenty-first century and the basic values embodied in such documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ........ Globalization is widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots within societies and between them. Today, there are more than two billion people living on less than $2 a day. ....... a vast permanent underclass ....... countries plagued by mass poverty and ruled by tiny wealthy elites ....... The war is sapping our military strength, absorbing our strategic assets, diverting attention and resources from Afghanistan, alienating our allies, and dividing our people. The war in Iraq has also stretched our military to the breaking point. ........ government ministries or ministers that hoard, steal, or waste them. ...... the two million Iraqis who have fled their country and the two million more who have been displaced internally. ......... Ongoing military innovation is essential, but the Bush administration has undermined this goal by focusing obsessively on expensive and unproven missile defense technology ......... develop a modern GI Bill of Rights ...... In the cities of Europe and Asia -- such as Hamburg and Kuala Lumpur, which were the springboards for 9/11 -- terrorist cells are preparing for future attacks. We must understand not only their methods but their motives: a rejection of modernity, women's rights, and democracy, as well as a dangerous nostalgia for a mythical past. We must develop a comprehensive strategy focusing on education, intelligence, and law enforcement to counter not only the terrorists themselves but also the larger forces fueling support for their extremism. ............ dry up recruiting opportunities for the Taliban by funding crop-substitution programs, a large-scale road-building initiative, institutions that train and prepare Afghans for honest and effective governance, and programs to enable women to play a larger role in society. ......... better intelligence and a clandestine service that is out on the street, not sitting behind desks ........ increase the number of agents and analysts proficient in Arabic and other key languages ....... building counterterrorist capacity around the world ...... strengthen police, prosecutorial, and judicial systems abroad; improve intelligence; and implement more stringent border controls, especially in developing countries. ........ help the most vulnerable and at-risk cities prepare for an attack. ....... The Bush administration has opposed talks with our adversaries, seeming to believe that we are not strong enough to defend our interests through negotiations. ......... Iran .... the country that most practices state-sponsored terrorism, and it uses its surrogates to supply explosives that kill U.S. troops in Iraq. ......... Iran has enhanced its nuclear-enrichment capabilities, armed Iraqi Shiite militias, funneled arms to Hezbollah, and subsidized Hamas, even as the government continues to hurt its own citizens by mismanaging the economy and increasing political and social repression. .......... North Korea responded to the Bush administration's effort to isolate it by accelerating its nuclear program, conducting a nuclear test, and building more nuclear weapons. ........ remove all nuclear material from the world's most vulnerable nuclear sites and effectively secure the remainder ........ Putin has thwarted a carefully crafted UN plan that would have put Kosovo on a belated path to independence, attempted to use energy as a political weapon against Russia's neighbors and beyond, and tested the United States and Europe on a range of nonproliferation and arms reduction issues. Putin has also suppressed many of the freedoms won after the fall of communism, created a new class of oligarchs, and interfered deeply in the internal affairs of former Soviet republics. ......... Putin has used Russia's energy wealth to expand the Russian economy, so that more ordinary Russians are enjoying a rising standard of living. ........ Our relationship with China will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world in this century. ......... on most global issues we have no more trusted allies than those in Europe. ......... the largest developing democracies in the region, Brazil and Mexico, and deepen economic and strategic cooperation with Argentina and Chile. ...... the interconnected threats of drug trafficking, crime, and insurgency ...... the growing ranks of democracies in Africa ........ the blatant political corruption and brutality of Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe ........ We will have to talk about the consequences of our invasion of Iraq for the Iraqi people and others in the region. We will have to talk about Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib. ........... the Education for All Act, which would provide $10 billion over a five-year period to train teachers and build schools in the developing world. ......... climate control represents a powerful economic opportunity that can be a driver of growth, jobs, and competitive advantage ........ Two-thirds of the growth in energy demand over the next 25 years will come from countries with little existing infrastructure. ...... all of Africa can provide carbon credits to the West. ........ Human rights will never truly be realized as long as a majority of the world's population is still treated as second-class citizens. ......... women have been elected heads of state in countries on nearly every continent ....... the continuing spread of trafficking in women, the ongoing use of rape as an instrument of war, the political marginalization of women, and persistent gender gaps in employment and economic opportunity. ........ 1825 .... exulted in the simple fact that America had survived and flourished ...... gloried not in American power but rather in the power of the American idea ......... Two centuries later, our economic power and military might have grown beyond anything that our forefathers could have imagined. ........ the authority not simply of a large and wealthy nation but of the American idea.

Paparazzi 'fighting' by Diana car Guardian Unlimited A paparazzi photographer was seen fighting next to the wrecked car in which Diana, Princess of Wales was dying ..... the scuffle with a passer-by broke out within minutes of the crash in the Pont de l'Alma underpass in Paris in the early hours of August 31 1997, before emergency services had even arrived. ..... saw driver Henri Paul, his lifeless head wedged into an airbag, and the Princess's lover Dodi Fayed hanging between the front and back seats of the car. ....... the conscious but horrifically injured bodyguard Trevor Rees Jones, whose jaw was hanging loose. ..... she was trapped so low in the footwell and obscured by Dodi's twisted body. ...... a photographer whom he was unable to identify, was taking pictures of the wrecked car
Myanmar's beating of monks "very bad": Dalai Lama Reuters reminded him of China's treatment of Tibetans. ...... he had expressed to U.S. President George W. Bush gratitude to First Lady Laura Bush for championing democracy in Myanmar. ...... naturally, I felt some very, very strong sort of feeling. ..... China's warning that U.S. plans to honor the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could damage relations between Beijing and Washington. ....... Myanmar police are still raiding homes and arresting activists. ....... "The junta, they are also Buddhists, so logically they should follow Buddhist teachings: non-violence or compassion -- and beating a monk is very bad," he said.
Putin tells U.S. not to strike Iran Russia would not accept military action against Iran and he invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Moscow for talks. ...... and leaders of other Caspian Sea states who ruled out any strikes on Iran from their region. ..... "We should not even think of using force in this region." ...... Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan at a summit of Caspian Sea states. ...... The countries also backed the rights of signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty -- which includes Iran -- to develop peaceful nuclear energy. ...... Russia is building Iran's first atomic power plant in the port city of Bushehr. Russia says Iran is behind in payments for the plant, causing construction delays, but Iran says it is up to date and that Moscow is bowing to Western pressure. ....... Putin had bilateral talks with Ahmadinejad and also met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran. ........ Moscow says it sees no evidence of a military program
Family beaten as YouTube party descends into chaos gatecrashers went on the rampage at a 16th birthday party after details were posted on YouTube ....... More than 100 uninvited teenagers descended on the family house, stole whisky and champagne, smashed windows and started fighting ....... was supposed to be a small event with about 30 invited guests. However, details were posted on the Internet, attracting dozens more teenagers.
Poll: As Thompson's star fades, Clinton's on the rise CNN just after he got in last month, polling showed Thompson and Rudy Giuliani were just about tied for front-runner. ....... last month -- 46 percent to 23 percent. She now leads the Illinois senator by 30 points -- 51 percent to 21 percent. ...... A majority of Democrats favor Clinton, whereas fewer than a third of Republicans favor their front-runner, Giuliani. ...... Nearly two-thirds, or 64 percent, of those polled expect Clinton to be the Democratic nomination. That's four times more than those who expect Obama to be the nominee. ...... expect to win the election? Clinton was chosen by 45 percent. Only 16 percent expect Giuliani to get elected. ...... when the two front-runners are pitted against each other, Clinton leads Giuliani by just two percentage points, 49 percent to 47 percent, a statistical tie. ....... Giuliani gets a lot more support from moderate and independent voters than a generic Republican candidate. That's the irony, Giuliani is trying to sound more and more like a typical Republican to get the nomination. But voters don't see him as a typical Republican
GOP breaking Reagan's 11th commandment
Campaign ad spending expected to reach $3 billion
Clinton open to military action against Iran nukes Newsday she would stress diplomacy over military might to restore the world's trust in America, but would spare no option in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. ...... Bush's handling of Iraq has squandered the respect and trust of even America's closest allies ...... a preference for cooperating over acting unilaterally, for exhausting diplomacy before making war, and for converting old adversaries into allies rather than making new enemies ......... seeking diplomatic engagement with some of America's most problematic adversaries, including Iran. ...... "We had a historic opportunity to build a broad global coalition to combat terror, increase the impact of our diplomacy, and create a world with more partners and fewer adversaries," Clinton wrote. "But we lost that opportunity by refusing to let the UN inspectors finish their work in Iraq and rushing to war instead."
Clinton Details Foreign Policy Agenda New York Times “You cannot be a leader if no one else is following.” ........ her philosophy and approach reflect the Democratic mainstream ...... Use both hard power and soft power; talk to your enemies and strengthen alliances with your friends; deal with systemic destabilizing issues such as poverty and disease; elevate pragmatism over ideology; use international institutions such as the United Nations as tools for progress; make the military a part of comprehensive solutions, not as the solution itself; and encourage the spread of “our values” and the rule of law. ......... committed to building a world we want, rather than simply defending against a world we fear ...... “We must learn once again to draw on all aspects of American power, to inspire and attract as much as to coerce.” ....... Senator Clinton, who is seeking to become the first female commander-in-chief, also sprinkles some tough talk and hawkish positions into the mix, lest anyone doubt that she is tough enough for the job. ...... “As president, I will never hesitate to use force to protect Americans or to defend our territory and our vital interests. We cannot negotiate with individual terrorists; they must be hunted down and captured or killed” ..... false choices: force versus diplomacy, unilateralism versus multilateralism, hard power versus soft ...... an ideologically blinkered vision of the world that denies the United States the tools and the flexibility it needs to lead and succeed ....... replace our military force with an intensive diplomatic initiative in the region ....... will convene a regional stabilization group composed of key allies, other global powers, and all the states bordering Iraq ....... achieving a stable Iraq that provides incentives for Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey to stay out of the civil war ....... consistent U.S. involvement can lower the level of violence ....... If they think they can carry out another 9/11, I have no doubt that they will try. ......... if Iran is in fact willing to end its nuclear weapons program, renounce sponsorship of terrorism, support Middle East peace, and play a constructive role in stabilizing Iraq, the United States should be prepared to offer Iran a carefully calibrated package of incentives. ...... substantially and verifiably reduces the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals ...... seek Senate approval of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty by 2009 ....... supplement the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Establishing an international fuel bank that guaranteed secure access to nuclear fuel at reasonable prices ....... HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria ....... an “e-8” international forum modeled on the G-8 ..... world’s major carbon-emitting nations

A Ying Yang Scenario

Hillary's Iran Vote, Not That Different From The Iraq Vote

I find Hillary's Iran vote hard to believe. This is Oops, I did it again.



Hillary Might Defy Gravity

I have compared her to Ted Kennedy in 1980, to Howard Dean in 2004, to Joe Lieberman in 2003. But I have a feeling that is not the full story.

It's amazing to me how Hillary is cashing gender. She is coming sure and strong.

Right now I am thinking it is going to be a close race. Hillary 2008 can be defeated, but it will not implode.

Amy, Holly

Amy is at the Columbia Journalism School, doing her Masters. She can be seen in the second half of this video interviewing people for her assignment. It was a rally to remember five years ago Barack stood up against the Iraq War.



And then it was her turn to interview me. And the first thing I said was, "I like Hillary." And she visibly changed. She just got so much more comfortable. She got so very relaxed.

"I like Hillary, it is just that I like Barack more," I added. And we both laughed.

Holly is a young professional. I met her at the DL21C annual summer bash. We became Facebook friends the following morning, but I never heard from her again. A few days back I saw she had joined a million strong for Hillary group on Facebook.

DL21C Annual Summer Bash: Barack Won The Straw Poll

"I like Hillary," I said to her too. "It is just that I support Obama." And she visibly changed. She just got so comfortable.

I think there is this feeling men have been ruling for 10,000 years. Now it is the woman's turn. I am not going to argue with that. I have not tried. Gender is proving to be Hillary's number one strength and I think that is fair. I grew up in a very sexist part of the world. Bill Clinton is from the US South of race, I am from the Global South of gender. In the policy realm, I have found myself less sexist than most white guys I have met, and I think it is to do with where I come from. I do not struggle to see the gender countours. They are loud and clear to me. Gender is a major part of social reality.

Hillary's Beijing Speech

It is just that I have intended to outgender Hillary.

The Grassroots Power Woman
Muscular Gender Agenda

If I were Barack Obama - which I am not - I think I would be saying, if you want symbolic progress on gender, go with Hillary, if you want substantive progress on gender, come with me. Indira Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto were women with "strength and experience" and they did not do much if anything at all for gender in their countries. Hillary is going to be the same way. That would be my line of attack.

George H W Bush, Lyndon Johnson

Herbert Walker competed against Reagan hard in 1980. He lost. But he came such a close second, Reagan had to have him on the ticket.

Lyndon Johnson fought JFK tooth and nail in 1960. JFK felt the need for a unity ticket after the fight was over. Bobby Kennedy was offended. We just spent months fighting this guy, now look what you did!

Right now I don't know what will be what, but I have a feeling both the "first African American" and the "first woman" are going to end up on the ticket. One is going to win, and another is going to be a close second. That is what it looks like right now.

A Barack Hillary Ticket

I am rooting for Barack. But it is a long way. There is going to be some major drama in January and February. Stay tuned.




In The News

Having less means asking for more for Obama Baltimore Sun, United States
Obama Appeal: ‘Close the Gap’ New York Times
Obama Outlines Rural Policy The Associated Press a plan to aid smaller farms, expand the renewable fuels industry and establish incentives for organic production. ...... a goal of producing 2 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol by 2013 while ensuring that such an expansion doesn't increase pollution. Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production. ........ Edwards called for enforcing antitrust laws to thwart corporate farming operations from monopolizing the business, capping farm subsidy payments at $250,000 and establishing a national fund to increase investments in rural communities. He also favors improving Internet access and offering bonuses of up to $15,000 to bring in top teachers to needy rural areas. ....... "Let me put it this way, I think the world of Barack Obama and he is the future of this party. Hillary Clinton and Slick Willie and those people, they are the past," Jones said. "John Edwards is the present for the Democratic Party." ....... Obama told voters that if elected president, he would hold a rural policy summit in Iowa and submit a package of proposals to Congress within the first 100 days in office. ....... "Real leadership for rural America starts with one simple principle: listening" ...... ............................ A $250,000 limit on subsidy payments to farmers as well as strict environmental rules and enforcement for large livestock operations. ...... Creation of new cost-sharing programs to help farmers get certification as organic farmers, and revamping crop insurance programs to avoid penalizing organic producers. ...... A goal of a 50 percent increase in the economy's energy efficiency by 2030. ...... A change to allow small businesses to pool together to offer health insurance for workers, with subsidies for those who can't afford it. Also, overhaul the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement system that can penalize rural areas. ..... Loan forgiveness for doctors and nurses who practice in rural areas. Also, revamp community college programs to "reflect the increasingly dynamic and technical skills required for rural America to respond to a globalizing workforce."
Obama's wife in London on charm offensive Telegraph.co.uk
Note to Obama and Edwards: Step-Up on Iran Huffington Post, NY upbraid Hillary Clinton for going along with Bush's impending attack on Iran. ....... the Pentagon's plans to attack Iran ..... Bush, Clinton and the go-along Congressional Dems are leading us into another disastrous war. ...... Of course Bush will disregard Hillary's resolution demanding he check with Congress before attacking Iran. No president since James Polk has felt the need to check with Congress before "defending" American troops. ......... A war on Iran has been a neocon dream for decades ....... Bush has consistently disregarded checks and balances. He defied a Supreme Court decision banning torture simply by ordering his Justice Department to secretly issue a go-ahead. ...... After Bush launches the planned strikes on the IRG, Iran will hit our naval forces in the Persian Gulf and our troops in Iraq. Within an afternoon, we will be at war. ....... The Iranian navy will cut the oil supply of the European economies and a worldwide depression will hit American markets. Other regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, might be drawn into the war. Within weeks tens of thousands will be dead ....... They must join me in challenging her directly during the debates.
Obama: US Must Encourage Iran Alalam News Network "I think Iran understands what military threats we pose. You know, they're not surprised that we could strike them," Obama said. "What we haven't suggested in any way is what advantages they would have in acting more responsibly in the region. That's been the missing ingredient." ....... a week of sparring over Iran with his main rival Sen. Hillary Clinton ...... On Thursday, Clinton said she'd meet with Iranian leaders "without preconditions" - a position she criticized Obama for taking earlier in the summer. ....... Obama also questioned Clinton's judgment in voting for last month's Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which identified the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Obama said the amendment included language that empowers the president to attack Iran. ..... "This is a lesson that I think Sen. Clinton and others should have learned: that you can't give this president a blank check and then act surprised when he cashes it," Obama said.
Obama, Edwards push rural agendas in Iowa Boston Globe, United States



DL21C: Gender Month?

http://dl21c.org/

Looks to me like the top political organization in NYC is celebrating Gender Month!

I am all for grassroots organizing, but even when you do that, your goal is to get into the corridors of power. DL21C is more in tune with the structure of power than any organization like it in the city. It was good to be at the DL21C event last night. And I look forward to its next event.

Elizabeth was the top political talent in this room: Tim Russert: Bill O'Reilly's Lower Case Cousin.

Monday, October 15

7:00 pm

DL21C's Education Committee presents
Dr. Marcia V. Lyles
Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning
New York City Department of Education
"Our City's Public Schools: Educational Innovation or Just Another Change?"
7pm, Dekk Lounge
134 Reade Street
(one block North of Chambers Street between Hudson and Greenwich Streets)
A/C/E/1/2/3 to Chambers Street
J/M/Z/4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station

Please RSVP!

Tuesday, October 23

6:00 pm

DL21C and DL21C's Women's Issues Committee present a conversation with
Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA)
Opal Lounge
251 E 52nd Street (at 2nd Avenue)
One block from E/V (53rd Street) and 6 (51st Street) stops
www.opalbar.com

Please RSVP!

Thursday, October 25

7:00 pm

Got Issues? How Progressives Are Taking Back Ballot Measures and Winning Campaigns

DL21C presents
Kristina Wilfore, Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, for a lively discussion of the new energy around progressive ballot issues. She will talk about how this under-the-radar weapon is quickly becoming a powerful political tool around the country.
Location TBD

Please RSVP!

Sunday, October 28

6:30 pm

DL21C presents a conversation with
U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
location TBD

Please RSVP!

Tuesday, November 27

6:30 pm

DL21C Political Author Series continues with...
Christine Pelosi, author of Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders, as she discusses her new book, her message to future public servants, and her life as the daughter of the country's first woman speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
Location TBD

Please RSVP!

Clinton, Obama Enter Next Stage of Primary Race Flush With Cash Bloomberg next 100 days ....... Most states will hold their contests by mid-February ...... Clinton paid $15,000 for office rent to the William J. Clinton Foundation run by her husband ....... pent $6 million on payroll, $1.7 million on media and almost $1 million on polling. ...... Among Obama's expenses was a $9.30 charge for printing at the Clinton Library in Arkansas. He spent $5.6 million on payroll, $2.1 million on telemarketing and $3.7 million on media. ....... Obama is spending as much per week on Iowa TV as Kerry did less than a month before the 2004 caucus ....... the Clinton campaign burning through $22.6 million, compared with $21.5 million for the Obama campaign. ...... Obama reported more new donors in the third quarter than he estimated at the beginning of the month. His total of 108,000 new contributors may have topped Clinton's estimate of more than 100,000. ....... Clinton's biggest sources of money were New York-based Morgan Stanley, whose employees gave $209,970, and New York- based Goldman Sachs Group Inc., whose employees contributed $186,540. ....... ``When you look at the scale and scope of the operations that both of these campaigns have, it's staggering.''