Bobby Jindal For President Of The United States 2016

Bobby Jindal For President Of The United States 2016

I am a progressive. But I am a political scientist before I am a progressive. A political scientist should be able to ride both swings to the pendulum. After one party has been at the helm for four, eight years, the opposition has been out of power long enough to do some serious soul searching, to gain momentum.

Bobby could come out emphasizing faith, family, personal responsibility, the next round of economic growth for America and the world, and the most diverse cabinet to date. I expect major progress on race and gender during the Barack-Hillary eight years. Bobby's eight years could be the period to consolidate those gains.

Britain's time is up.

The 12 Year Itch

If Bobby runs in 2016 and I get behind him, this blog's name changes to Pappu. That's what my family calls me.

Digital Democrat

All I have needed to be of some use to Barack has been broadband, Google News and Blogger. Eight years from now the digital tools will be so much more potent. I can be of much use to Bobby.

Pledge Of No Contact

Elizabeth Caputo: Trying To Make Sense

I pledge not to contact Elizabeth. I pledge not to show up for any DL21C event. Those are pledges I made yesterday to an attorney, and I intend to stick by them.

I think she is shooting to be a federal cabinet secretary at some point, not an elected official, hence the huge reluctance to change the basic DL21C template: nothing wrong with that. Public service is public service, it is all good. Or I might be totally off the mark. DL21C is just socializing. It is banking as far as eyes can see.

Looks like wise guy Dan Jacoby is the only one heading to be an elected official.

Charlie Rangel: A Political Observation

This is not my new feeling for Rangel. Harlem is the capital of black America and Rangel happens to be the King of Harlem for now. He is not a politician who excites me. I can't imagine working for him, I can't imagine campaigning for him, but I am so glad for his prominence in the House. It is the small steps taken by people like Rangel that have made Barack's big step possible.

DFNYC: Second Look

That was my original political organization in the city. Then something happened at Raven and I went out to pasture. It is still nice to drop by Drinking Liberally once in a while but I think I need an organization with some more action than that.

What makes DFNYC attractive:

• It is grassroots. It has been part of the effort that gave birth to the grassroots movement in America.
  
• It already has a national network. DFNYC is the crown jewel of the national DFA.
  
• There is this Dean 2004 alumni bond among the members. That makes for some glue.
  
• I know many of the DFNYC people.
  
• Tracey Denton had a video camera in her hand at the last DFNYC event I went to. If I were to become active with the DFNYC, I would be like, let's go 100% digital.
  

But the LinkUp is the only thing DFNYC seems to do these days.

Drinking Liberally May 29
June 2008 Linkup June 3
Screening Liberally - BLUE STATE June 8
A Special Evening to Support State Senate Candidate Don Barber June 24
Save the Date - 4th Annual DFNYC Fundraiser June 25

On the other hand, it might just be an idea to show up for a few DFNYC events without getting active with the organization.

Whatever happened to the DFNYC Mixer?

In The News

US elections 2008: Obama urges thaw in US-Cuba relations guardian.co.uk Obama vowed today to allow Cuban-Americans unlimited rights to travel and send money to the island as president ....... Bill Clinton and other confidantes of the former first lady have begun reaching out to Obama in the US media, telling CNN, Time magazine and others that an "exit strategy" to end the Democratic race should involve an offer for an Obama-Clinton ticket. ....... The Obama camp also released new polling that shows him ahead of McCain in the swing states of Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Obama pledges new direction on Latin America Boston Globe direct diplomacy throughout the hemisphere to advance democracy and promote American values and ideals, to immediately allow Cuban Americans unlimited family travel and remittances to the island, to create an Energy Partnership for the Americas that would develop alternative energy, launch a regional security initiative to battle drug trafficking, to target development assistance for Latin America aimed at promoting bottom-up growth, and to reinstate a Special Envoy for the Americas in the White House and open more consulates and expand the Peace Corps in Latin America.
What role has gender played in Clinton’s campaign? National Post
Feinstein backs Clinton-Obama ticket San Francisco Chronicle
Women supporters blame Clinton's imminent defeat on sexism Toronto Star If not Clinton, who? If not now, when? And, most loudly, was she a victim of sexism? ....... "She has been in uncharted waters. She has had to walk this incredible tightrope of toughness and balance it with softness and femininity. She had no role model, but she will now be the role model for those who come after her. ........ it has been 24 years since Geraldine Ferraro ran as a vice-presidential candidate, the one and only woman to ever be part of a White House run. ....... we are still a misogynist society ....... any male would be better than any woman ........ millions of women in this country have found sexist media coverage deeply offensive ....... it is more acceptable to be openly sexist than racist in the U.S. – a view supported by many social scientists. ....... Clinton has been the subject of "intense sexism" by party leaders and the media. ........... "I would drive through a tornado to vote for Hillary," Jacobson said. ..... only eight female governors
Hillary Clinton still counting; Barack Obama still leading Los Angeles Times
Clinton Touting Popular Vote Projections New York Times

Nepal king leaves royal palace Sify

As Race Wanes, Talk of Clinton as No. 2 Grows New York Times

Clinton Wins Kentucky, but Obama Nears Milestone New York Times
McCain Has Record Fundraising Month ABC News
Exit polls spell out Barack Obama's Kentucky problem Los Angeles Times
Obama plans general election team The Associated Press Barack Obama is quietly planning to take over the Democratic National Committee and assemble a multistate team for the general election ....... Top Obama organizer Paul Tewes is in discussions to run the party ...... moved within 100 of that goal after contests in Kentucky and Oregon
Obama Raises $31 Million in April, McCain Has Best Month This Year Wall Street Journal Blogs
Trent Lott on Obama vs. McCain FOXNews
Clinton says win is a vote of confidence Boston Globe

Clinton wins Kentucky; Obama poised to reach milestone in ... The Canadian Press Obama's top strategist David Axelrod disclosed that he has talked informally with Clinton's former campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle about joining forces to beat McCain. ....... Kentucky's white, rural, working-class voters were backing Clinton in droves, fuelling another lopsided win for her like the one in West Virginia a week ago. ...... Race played a decisive role in Kentucky, where 90 per cent of voters were white. She dominated in virtually all categories of those voters, including men, women and people of all ages, incomes and education levels. ....... saying sexism has played a larger role than racism in the nomination fight.

Obama's organizing skills now face a bigger test Los Angeles Times, USA winning Florida's 27 electoral votes requires Obama to build his organizing machinery almost from scratch. ...... In recent days, the Obama campaign has shifted as many as 15 staff members to Florida, launching a massive voter registration drive targeting young people and African Americans. ..... Obama is expected to draw 20,000 supporters at a rally in Tampa ..... staff being dispatched to Michigan ..... the battlegrounds of Ohio and Colorado. ....... "microtargeting" techniques honed by Republicans in the 2004 presidential campaign to locate new, GOP-leaning voters who might otherwise have been overlooked.

Obama Raises $31 Million in April Washington Post 1.475 million donors had given the campaign 2,929,000 million separate donations, with an average value of $91. ..... $37.3 million remaining cash on hand ...... The Clinton campaign, in contrast, reported its second-best monthly fundraising haul to date, more than $22 million

Hillary Is Right About Sexism, Gender Bias

Did Sexism Derail Hillary Clinton? Wall Street Journal Blogs the New York senator has become increasingly vocal about what she views as one of the reasons why: sexism. ........ how many of Clinton’s women supporters feel that she has been the target of sexism throughout the campaign–particularly in the media. ....... some of the attitudes in the press ....... organizing a series of “End Gender Bias in the Media” rallies today in places like Burbank, Calif., as well as in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan. ...... “The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head,” she told the paper. “It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists.”
Clinton Puts Up A New Fight Washington Post they tearfully grab her hand to implore her to stick it out, to take her trailing campaign all the way to the Democratic convention in Denver. ..... Clinton for the first time addressed what women have been talking about for months, what she refers to as the "sexist" treatment she has endured at the hands of the pundits, media and others. The lewd T-shirts. The man who shouted "Iron my shirt" at a campaign event. The references to her cleavage and her cackle. ....... "The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . ........ while there are plenty of men in the stands, it's the women who are most passionate. .......... as her Democratic opponent refers to her politely in the past tense, and the likely Republican presidential nominee simply ignores her, and the pundits snicker that she's delusional and should just step aside already, she is a woman definitely not preparing her remarks for a graceful exit anytime soon. And that's what her supporters want to hear. ....... "I do not want her to quit." ...... She's tenacious and I like that," said Pat ...... she's been treated pretty shabby ...... "Hillary: She is going to take care of women all over the world," Alam ...... She offered a new spin on the arithmetic, pointing out that the states she won would total 300 electoral votes in a general election. ........ you might think she was just warming up for a fight. ........ the "intensity of my support" was rarely reported ...... has looked rested and relaxed. ....... She let out a throaty laugh when asked in Sunday's interview if she could be put "on the couch" for a few minutes to talk about how she has grown through the campaign......... ....... she has become a far better candidate over the course of the campaign, and in particular over the past six weeks as she has become more comfortable and confident about her message. ........ No one is quite sure when Clinton hit her stride, when she stopped caring about the polls, when she took her campaign to the people and gave voters a window into her soul. .......... when she was losing and so had nothing to lose by being herself. ....... For Hillary Clinton, as you stripped away all the varnish, the core person is the most attractive of all.

Yes, there is sexism. Yes, there is gender bias. Yes, it is in the media, yes, it is among the electorate. That is why Hillary is the first serious woman candidate for the most powerful office in the world. Sexism and gender bias was what was holding women back till now, and still holds women back in all walks of life, including family life and relationships.

I am glad Hillary is finally talking about it. I hope she talks some more about it on Obama's ticket. There are too many women who vote Republican because they don't know any better. They are not politically conscious enough to cross over. But if Hillary talks gender like she has started to, many will cross over.

Like some idiot pointed out recently - I think it was Rush Limbaugh - that if Hillary were to get into the White House, we will all have to watch her age. (Rush Limbaugh: Idiot) Women are supposed to get off stage when they age. That is really curious because Hillary is way more pretty than John McCain.

Sexist jokes are not funny. Sexist attitudes are objectively so. Lewd shirts, the Iron My Shirt shout, references to her cleavage and cackle, asking if she could be put on the couch for a few minutes for a question: those are all sexism talking. And it's time to say no. If Hillary can be put through all this indignity, with her money, power, fame, famous husband, smarts, strength, you just have to wonder what women get put through at their workplaces by their male superiors and numerous male colleagues. Hillary has to fight off these little indignities on behalf of the women in the trenches. (Global Trafficking Of Women, Hillary's Beijing Speech)

To fight sexism is to build a progressive coalition of men and women. This is not a men versus women fight. The sexist comments that bother Hillary also bother me, and I happen to be male. Progressive men do want progress on gender.

Elizabeth Caputo: Trying To Make Sense
Tracey Denton, Al Benninghoff
Hillary Is All The Rage
We Can Put Hillary On The Ticket, But What Are We Going To Do With Bill Clinton?
Race, Class, Gender, Globalization And 2008
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
But, Hillary, Quit
Hillary For VP: Going To A Hillary Event
Women's Unity Day: Event
Looking For 10 Ninja Women
Martha Outed Kenton And Women With Issues
Hillary Cried, Women Responded, She Won
Muscular Gender Agenda



In The News

Voting today expected to deliver more delegate ammo for Obama Los Angeles Times
Obama hopes to pass key marker CNN
With Primaries in Two States, Obama Looks to End Race New York Times he wants to do it subtly. ....... will deliver his primary night speech in Iowa ..... which is shaping up as a big battleground state this fall ...... a threshold he is likely to pass Tuesday night: capturing a majority of the pledged delegates selected in the primaries and caucuses. ...... Puerto Rico on June 1 and Montana and South Dakota on June 3. ....... white working class voters ...... 75,000 people .... the event had the effect of rattling the Clinton camp ..... two-thirds of the votes have already been cast by mail ...... not appearing to push her out; treating Mrs. Clinton with respect — even as he moves with increasing force onto the general election playing field.
China says over 70000 dead or missing from quake Calgary Herald
Memo To Michelle Obama: Toughen Up Sweetie Houston Chronicle Bill was criticized sharply for calling Obama’s lack of experience "a roll of the dice", for calling Obama’s opposition to the war a "fairy tale", and for his comparison of Obama to Jesse Jackson after South Carolina.
Obama Leads OR, Clinton Strong in KY FOXNews
Bill Clinton Blames “Slanted Press Coverage” for Obama's Delegate Lead CBS News
Clinton, Obama Heading To Florida CBS News
Clinton Camp to Obama: No Nominee Yet FOXNews
Some Democrats Want Obama-Clinton ‘Dream Ticket’ Voice of America