Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Hillary In Person







The artist Hillary brought along for the event played hip hop on violin. I had not imagined that was possible.

There are benefits to being on Leila Noor's mailing list. I got invited to this Hillary fundraiser. Cost $50 but more in the priceless category. After making the payment online, I teased her. After Hillary Obama. The reply email said sure, I will put you down for an Obama fundraiser I might be hosting. I was not expecting that. Then I said, after Obama Amitabh Bachchan.

"Who is Amitabh?"

The most recognized face on the planet.

I video recorded Hillary's entire speech which I will display here after uploading. Her basic thrust was it was time to start winning elections again. She did not say as much, but her point seemed to be that Nancy Peloisi should be the next Speaker.

If more 18-35 crowd voted, we would not be in this sorry shape, she seemed to suggest. That was the crowd she was addressing, people who buy cheap 50 dollar tickets.

"Now I will have to host a fundraiser of my own," I emailed Noor after purchasing the ticket.

If we can send a man to the moon, we can put biofuel in your tank. That was another point she made.

She also talked about health care for everyone, "starting with me and my throat." She was on the verge of losing her voice.

After getting the wild-eyed personal attention along the rope line I said, "Senator, it is such an honor." Then I requested a photo. Her staffer did the clicking. It's a big deal.

I had been growing my hair all winter. Today I had a haircut for the event.

I met a French guy who is originally from Chile and his job is to order clothes from places like India. He has been in the city three years. We talked much Chile and France politics for much of the evening. Hillary signed her autobiography for him. She made a point to ask him his name. She made him say it a few times to get the spelling right; he was to my right. Authors like the idea of being read, I guess.

Meeting Hillary in person is a big deal. After seeing her on television and in countless pictures, and reading so much about her, as well as reading her writings, listening to her speeches online, I still really really wanted to do this event. You meet in person, and it is like breaking the sound barrier. There she is in flesh.

A few evenings back I watched her appearance in San Francisco recently, archived online by C-Span, to prepare for this event.
PLAYAmerican Perspectives: Sen. Clinton (D-NY), Fmr. Pres. Bush, Coretta Scott King
On this week's program, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and journalist Jane Pauley sit down and discuss a variety of political issues. Next, George & Barbara Bush, fmr. President & First Lady, talk about a wide range of topics, including memories of their White House years. Then, a tribute to Coretta Scott King, the civil rights activist who passed away Tuesday at the age of 78.
2/4/2006: WASHINGTON, DC: 3 hr. : C-SPAN
The anti-war hecklers showed up again, just like at the San Francisco event. Two young women with alike banners, alike slogans both times ("Hillary, stop the war! Stop the war!"). You would think Hillary were Commander In Chief. Hail Chief, stop the war. Is someone coordinating this? The crowd drowned them out with pro-Hillary cheers. Now that part was spontaneous.

Hillary looked a little tired, with wrinkles she did not have in 1992. A politician's job does ask for much physical stamina. Golley, shaking all those hands, smiling at all those people, endless speechmaking. Talking is hard to do.

To my left was a guy from Ohio who had just moved to the city, four weeks. He was relieved to know I had spent some time in Indiana.

"Everything is three times more expensive here," he noted. He was paying $2800 for his apartment.

Leila and Dana were two DFNYC folks I bumped into. Tonight was also the DFNYC Mixer. We missed it. But that's okay. They are screening a Dean 2004 themed movie in a few days. I plan to show up.

The hubbub of the city has many layers to it, some of it is to do with how much people are making. A lot of money is being made and spent. The caching sound is loud and strong.

Come to think of it, this was the same bar where I showed up for the Lampson fundraiser. (Lampson, Mistry, Dance-a-thon, LinkUp) Crobar. 530 West 28th Street.

My new French friend told me he also attended a Bill Clinton fundraiser for Hillary the same venue. And that Bill Clinton was in Delhi, India, for a wedding as we speak. He told me of privately owned roads in Chile, privately owned pension schemes. We talked Bachelet. (Michelle Bachelet: Yet Another Woman)

Noone I know talks of Hillary without not mentioning 2008 in the same breath. Tonight was no exception. This was a loyal crowd. But Hillary is pragmatic, disciplined. She is focused on 2006. There is no way to guess where she herself stands on 2008.

Hillary Clinton is focused and disciplined, concepts that are alien and imaginative to Bill Clinton.

I feel protective of the Clinton couple. They have done so much already. You really miss them when you are out of power, don't you? One person does make a whole lot of difference. Supporting the leader is part of the package deal of activism. Leadership particularly matters to the Democrats because this party tries to represent the powerless. That is a tricky proposition. There is much infighting you end up dealing with.

At the end of the day I was just thankful. Thanks for making the time, Senator.

Bill Clinton Had Icecream For Lunch
Bill Clinton Has Left The Building

In The News

ABC Asks Bill Clinton To Endorse Hillary's Odd View of Cheney's ... NewsBusters
Poll: Condoleezza Rice Up, Hillary Clinton Down NewsMax.com, FL
President's Day Poll: Hillary Clinton Numbers Continue to Dive National Ledger, AZ
The upcoming Hillary Clinton wreck Wizbang, DC
Hillary Clinton to speak at Latino event New Britain Herald, CT
Purple Heart group gets flak over nod to Sen. Clinton Scripps Howard News Service, DC
Why Hillary Clinton is so disliked Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL
Hillary Rodham Clinton Looks Like a 2008 Candidate ABC News
Magical moments with Hillary Clinton Northwest Asian Weekly, WA
Hillary Clinton Sides with Conservatives in Ports Controversy NewsMax.com, FL

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Monday, February 20, 2006

Iraq Intel: The Spy Who Failed Me


This article by Paul Pillar, a CIA Officer has-been, in Foreign Affairs is a must read.

Intelligence, Policy,and the War in Iraq
Paul R. Pillar
From Foreign Affairs, March/April 2006
"..... it has become clear that official intelligence analysis was not relied on in making even the most significant national security decisions, that intelligence was misused publicly to justify decisions already made, that damaging ill will developed between policymakers and intelligence officers, and that the intelligence community's own work was politicized ....."
This is quite an accusation. The author claims the mistake was not in the intelligence sector, but rather in the policy of not letting the UN inspectors do their work. War was rushed into. The messy aftermath was not thought through.

You don't go invade a country just because you can. With much power comes much responsibility.

I don't believe an immediate pullout of all troops is the answer. But the rush to war asks for some judgment. If you don't ask the questions, you are allowing yourself to be blackmailed.

Only a total spread of democracy in the Arab world will positively conclude the war on terror. I believe that. The question is, is the neocon Iraq way the way to go ahead, country after country? I don't believe so. It is too expensive in terms of lives and dollars, not sustainable. If the US had not so rushed to invade Iraq perhaps it might have found the better way to work towards the same goal.

Isolationist sounding liberals are not a viable alternative, so that neocons have failed is not enough solace. The answer lies with progressives who will find a way to spread democracy the progressive way while keeping the option of war as the weapon of the very last resort, and will reorganize flanks of the army for the new challenge of dealing with organized groups that do not fight with standing armies but rather through sneak attacks.

Bush has spent upwards of $200 billion on Iraq. A policy alternative would be to suggest perhaps a $10 billion war with communications technology and grassroots organizing should be fought, not that America should turn inwards. Isolationism is not an option, technically speaking. Globalization is here to stay. Or if you act miserly on the $10 billion proposal, you also lose another $1 trillion to Bush' tax cuts. So you spend $1o billion to save on $200 billion and $1 trillion.

And it is not just about spreading democracy in the Arab world. It also is about expanding the democracies in Europe and America so people of all cultural and religious backgrounds can feel at home in those democracies. Right now that happens not to be the case. This is also very much part and parcel of the war on terror. Xenophobes in the west are in the political target zone.

It is not just about introducing democracy in Arabia, but also about expanding democracy in Euro-America.

blac
The Larger WMD Question And Iran
Complicated Iraq
The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
Pat Robertson Is Sick, Anti-Faith
French Society: No Easy Solutions

In The News

Update 2: US Envoy Warns Iraq Over Sectarian Govt Forbes
Five die in Iraq restaurant bomb BBC News, UK
Group begins month-long protest over Iraq invasion ABC Online, Australia
Bin Laden compares US tactics in Iraq to those of Saddam himself Salt Lake Tribune, United States
At Least 17 People Killed in Insurgent Attacks in Iraq New York Times, United States

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Busiest day so far19 February 2006
Page views55

Contents 2004, 2005

The 90 Minute Experience
Presidential Primary Reform
The Spectrum On Gender
Pan American Desi Caucus: Brown Is Beautiful
Nepal Message To Top Democrats
Michelle Bachelet: Yet Another Woman
Lampson, Mistry, Dance-a-thon, LinkUp
DFNYC Socializing Is Circle 3 For Me
Mumzee's Kitchen
Soviet Health Care In America
Politics At The Speed Of Thought
Social Progress: Show Me The Money
Lee Metcalf Is A Naderite
Howard Dean's Anti War Email From Yesterday
Thanks David For Bringing Me Back To DFNYC
A Piece On DFNYC
Bill Clinton Is Now Anti War Like Dean
Short Stories
Social Security, School Vouchers, And Class Warfare
Superpower Talk, Infrastructure Talk
DFNYC, 100,000 Strong, Scalable Organization
Money, Message, Organization
The "I" Word: Monica And Saddam
Does Hell Have A Kitchen?
Pentagon, Hexagon
The Israeli Wall Is Wrong, Hillary
Howard Dean Is No Pacifist
Blacks, Hispanics At The Core Of The Democrat Rainbow Coalition
2006: When DFA Could Really Grow
The Spectrum/Dialogue Concept Is Key To Power
3 Bomb Blasts Each: London, Delhi, Jordan
38, 20
Congratulations Bloomberg, Now Switch Back Parties
DFNYC TV, DFNYC Wiki
Obama Was In Town And I Missed It
French Society: No Easy Solutions
Sick Sarkozy
Free Trade: Got To Walk and Chew Gum At The Same Time
Riots In France
Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean
My Involvement
Dean And Ferrer At City College
Atlanta
Blogging Is Scalable Media
First Mayoral Debate
Delhi Bomb Blasts
Say Hello To Appu
Mixer For Ferrer
American Leftonistas
Ferrer Gets Aggressive At A Ferrer Fundraiser
Mixing It For Ferrer
Bill Clinton Had Icecream For Lunch
Bill Clinton Has Left The Building
100 Hours Of Video Online Will Elect Ferrer
Jesse Jackson On Martin Luther King Boulevard
No Taxation Without Representation
Bloomberg
The Saudi Royal Family Has Got To Go
I Am Running For Dean 2008 Campaign Chair
50% Women Friends, 50% Women Colleagues
U2, Me Too
The One Voice Concept
Don't Need To Wait Till 2008
MeetUp, LinkUp
This Is What I Am Talking About
My Photo At ABCNews.com
The Bloomberg Machine
One Blog One LinkUp One Atom
Takes Two Arms And Two Legs To Swim
More On Organization
DFNYC And This Blog
Ferrer Can
Bloomberg: No Mr. Security
Messages To Dean, Ferrer
An Email From Headquarters
DFA Organization Framework
Soaking In Howard Dean
Lewis Cohen Has Been Behind Ferrer Since Summer 2004
Going On The Offensive For Ferrer
Who Is Leecia Eve?
2008: Some Themes
DFNYC In The News
Overheard In New York
2008: Some Thoughts
Dean 2008
A Not So Little Norman Fact
Dean Was In Town Yesterday
A Great Mixer
Bloomberg Is No Democrat
Fernando Ferrer
To: The Good White People In The South
Eric Cesnik For District 5
A Little Siegel Incident
Dean-Hillary-Obama Ticket
Democracy For Nepal, DFN
Landscape Talk
DFNYC Research And Advocacy Group
Simplifying Social Security Debate
Some Suggestions To The Cesnik Campaign
Eric Cesnik For City Council
Seceding
Dumb And Dumberer: Creationist Bush
Tracey Denton Of DFNYC
Hillary Speaks Up For NYC
The Three Pillars
Sister Blogs
I have written up a very long essay about the medi...
When Web Hosting Is No Longer A Problem

Saturday, February 18, 2006

blac



Every legislature in America needs to get a BLAC, Black Latino Asian Caucus. The word in block letters signifies the caucus. The word in small letters is a noun. I am blac.

The world is not white and non-white. Rather it is blac and white. Non-white suggests a lack of something, a missing of whiteness. Blac suggests the embodiment of the rich cultural heritage of the Global South.

Powerlessness leads to infighting. Infighting leads to powerlessness. It is a vicious circle. Ethnic solidarity is all good, but reachouts have to be made, political alliances have to be forged. There is too much at stake.

It is all good that the word blac rhymes with the word black, for the blacks in America have born the brunt of the non-whiteness more than any other group. "The Plymouth rock landed on us," like Malcolm X said.

Identities are social, cultural, political constructs. You have to claim it, you have to create it, you have to forge it. It does not just passively happen. It has to be asserted.

Pride is positive power.

Blac is not a negation of the white. There is a positive, European white heritage. Blac is a positive affirmation of a vast identity. The blac identity has always had the numbers, but power has eluded it for the longest time.

Power is pride. Pride begets power. Pride is the antithesis of self hate, and hence half the battle.

BLAC is political. It respects the separateness of the component groups, but it also brings them together. The leadership has to see the common ground, and the masses will follow.

It is about pride. It is also about strength, the strength in numbers, and in solidarity.

Blac.

The Demosphere Manifesto
Your Many Identities

The Larger WMD Question And Iran
The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
Pan American Desi Caucus: Brown Is Beautiful
The Spectrum/Dialogue Concept Is Key To Power

In The News

Black Caucus walks out, evacuees get to vote absentee The Southern Digest, LA
Black Caucus and NAACP Want Juvenile Boot Camps Closed Lakeland Ledger, FL
National Black Caucus of States Institute to Hold Press Conference ... U.S. Newswire (press release), DC
Ga. black caucus miffed over King funeral DailyIndia.com, NY
Black Caucus: ‘Together we can take America back’ People's Weekly World
Kozloff honored by Pennsylvania Black Caucus BU Today Plus, PA
California Latino Caucus Institute Announces Senator Richard G. ... Hispanic PR Wire (press release), FL
Hispanic caucus seeks fresh ideas Orlando Sentinel, FL

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Thursday, February 16, 2006

Chairman Dean's 2005

Annual Report to the Grassroots


Support This Work Join the Community

One year ago today... Governor Howard Dean launched his plan for building a new Democratic Party. The members of the Democratic National Committee endorsed that plan unanimously when they elected
him chairman, and hundreds of thousands of Democrats signed on to that plan during his first week on the job. Below are the points of that plan, and the results so far.

The Plan:

  • Show Up Everywhere
  • Strengthen State Parties and the Grassroots
  • Focus On Our Core Values
  • Take Advantage of Cutting-Edge Technologies
  • Train Tomorrow’s Leaders

The Results So Far:


Show Up Everywhere

Wins in Virginia and New Jersey: A seven million dollar investment in these two crucial contests produced two new Democratic governors. Governors Tim Kaine and Jon Corzine will continue to benefit from the long-term investments made in these states, and their wins signal that Democrats can and will win elections everywhere. In a signal of things to come, Democrats also picked up two seats in the Virginia legislature in post-November special elections -- seats that had been held by Republicans.

Wins at Every Level of Office: In addition to these high-profile Democratic victories, historic down-ballot victories in Arizona, Minnesota, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Alabama are another early indication that Gov. Dean’s plan to reinvigorate state parties with organizers will provide Democratic victories up and down the ballot in 2006, 2008 and beyond. In Tucson, Arizona, Democrats took back the city council by defeating two Republican incumbents. In Minnesota, two Democrats won seats in the state Senate elections that Republicans had held for over a decade. We also elected mayors in West Virginia and Alabama, including the first African-American mayor of Mobile, and won seven of eight special elections for the New Hampshire state legislature.


Strengthen State Parties and the Grassroots

State Party Partnership Program: Governor Dean launched an unprecedented program to provide well-trained staff and resources to state parties based on their individual needs to strengthen the local party infrastructure. To date, every single state has received funding and more than 150 activists and operatives have been hired and trained. These organizers will work with the state party to build Democratic organizations in every single precinct in their states. They have hit the ground in important swing states like Ohio and West Virginia, but also meant an historic investment in places like Alaska and Arkansas.

The American Majority Partnership: Last summer, Chairman Dean created the American Majority Partnership to change how the DNC reaches out to our core constituencies, replacing a series of isolated operations with a proactive, constituency-focused, issues-based program. Housed in the Chairman’s office to elevate the visibility and profile of this critical work, AMP coordinates constituency-related activities across all DNC departments. AMP has led successful community outreach events in Texas, California, North Carolina, Colorado, Ohio, Arizona, Washington and Missouri, hosted two major national constituency-focused grassroots summits (Hispanics and Women) and will soon host a third, the first-ever national Asian American and Pacific Islander political organizing summit.

A New Off-Year Record in 2005: Building upon the success and long-term investment of former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, the DNC raised more than $51 million in 2005 -- a record for a non-election year and a 20% increase over the total raised in 2003. This record fundraising has enabled the DNC to make critical early investments in grassroots organizing across America.

Record Numbers of New Donors: The number of committed monthly donors more the doubled in 2005, thanks to the Democracy Bonds program. In addition, the number of major donors to the DNC has more than tripled since 2003. Overall, more than 584,000 people contributed to the DNC in 2005 -- an increase of more than 90,000 people compared to 2003.

Building the Democracy Bonds Community: Governor Howard Dean launched the Democracy Bonds program, and bought the first one himself to signify his commitment, because he believes that we can take our country back with every Democrat taking responsibility for getting their family, friends and neighbors involved. The Republicans raise $10 million every month from corporate interests and lobbyists. The Democratic Party will never be able to compete in the traditional ways with a party that has abandoned the people and taken selling access and influence to a new level. But we can do it if half a million people are giving $20 a month to change the way our political process works. The Democracy Bonds program -- a commitment by ordinary Americans to make small monthly contributions to the Democratic Party -- is already bearing fruit, and in 2006 current online Democracy Bond holders will raise more than $7 million for the DNC.

Raising Money for State Parties: In 2005, Governor Dean traveled to 40 states and hosted fundraisers for 22 state parties, in addition to record-breaking for the Democratic National Committee itself.

Diverse Involvement in Fundraising: Chairman Dean’s fundraising also extends to a diverse group of Councils that work on issues of concern to the Democratic Party. For example, the Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF), building upon 13 years of successful fundraising and networking, has a National Board of 96 women activists, political leaders, and fundraisers working to educate, engage, and mobilize women across the country.


Focus On Our Core Values

Never Backing Down: Governor Dean has lived up to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to never remain silent about the things that matter. From the failed management of the war in Iraq to the moral crisis of 45 million people without access to healthcare, he has shown honesty and backbone and encouraged more Democrats to do the same.

A Clear Agenda: Working with other party leaders, we have created and begun to communicate a clear agenda for change:

Honest Leadership and Open Government -- We will end the Republican culture of corruption and restore a sense of responsibility to elected office, and we will pass fundamental reforms that make government more honest, open, and accountable to the American people than ever before.

Real Security -- We will protect Americans at home by getting serious about homeland security, and address the real threats abroad by capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and focusing on actual (not imagined) nuclear proliferation. We will be prepared for the threats of tomorrow, and we will always tell the truth to our troops and the American people.

Jobs in America that will Stay in America -- We will keep good jobs from leaving and ensure that every job in America is a fair deal. We will balance the budget, ensure that the tax code is simple and fair, and create jobs by making America energy independent.

A Strong Public Education System -- We will strengthen our nation’s public schools to restore opportunity and optimism for every American.

A Health Care System that Works for Everyone -- We will join every other industrialized country by making sure everyone has access to affordable health care. We will change a corrupt, inefficient system into one that makes sure the world’s wealthiest country is also the healthiest.


Take Advantage of Cutting-Edge Technologies

A key part of Governor Dean’s plan to rebuild the Democratic Party is to use the power and potential of technology as part of an aggressive push to meet and include voters, work with state parties, increase fundraising and get our message out.

Overhaul of Democrats.org: The official DNC website, Democrats.org, received a complete overhaul, making the site more dynamic resource portal for state parties, Democratic organizations, and Democratic activists around the world. The web site has made the Democratic Party more transparent, more accessible, and more empowering for ordinary people than ever before.

Online organizing: Governor Dean has committed the DNC to integrating technology seamlessly with the party’s organizing operation. He continues to break new ground not only in fundraising, but in developing new and innovative ways for ordinary people to take part in our political process and organize in their communities. The web site has hosted thousands of events and been the vehicle for millions of independent actions by ordinary Americans to shape our political process, including over a thousand Organizing Kickoff meetings nearly a year before the 2006 midterm elections.

Online fundraising and small donors: Technology has empowered small donors from across the country to become powerful stakeholders in the party. Small donations over the Internet accelerated even faster than the overall improvement in fundraising. The DNC also recently launched a new personal fundraising tool, which allows anyone to create their own page on the web site and take fundraising into their own hands.


Train Tomorrow’s Leaders

Organizers and other staff received comprehensive training: New staff deployed to the states travel to Washington for multi-day training on everything from voter contact to press relations to legal compliance. Several states are trained at the same time, offering the diverse staff the ability to share experiences and best practices as part of the program. All new organizers have clear, measurable
goals and performance reviews, and DNC headquarters staff regularly visit the states to conduct additional trainings.

Trainees become trainers: Part of every professional organizer’s role is to train grassroots volunteers and local leaders to be more effective. They are creating a network for sharing best practices and building a team of volunteers to drive results.

Organizers make a four-year commitment: Organizers being hired in the states make a multi-year commitment to the program, so that the networks and relationships they build will last beyond 2006 and 2008 -- creating a permanent infrastructure of expertise and accountability that will win elections for decades.

The Larger WMD Question And Iran


".....Iran wants to use nuclear technology purely for peaceful purposes, that it opposes all weapons of mass destruction and favors all countries getting rid of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."

Complicated Iraq
The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
French Society: No Easy Solutions
The Saudi Royal Family Has Got To Go

Iran accuses the west of "nuclear apartheid."

Recently some senior French official was in India promising to help India advance its nuclear energy hopes. But there were conditions. India had to develop more stringent divisions between its civilian and military facilities. Does France have them?

I am for preventing nuclear proliferation. Ultimately all such weapons have to be dismantled. They can not possibly be put to use, no matter who has them, so why have them if not to make some kind of a political statement against the have-nots?

There have been times when the US has discussed using "smart" nuclear bombs to penetrate deep bunkers possibly used by terrorists with "limited" radiation fallouts. Whoever has been talking this talk in the military establishment, you have to ask, are these people sane?

WMDs. The short term talk has to be prevent proliferation. But the long term talk has to be elimination. And the long term talk framework might make short term talk more possible.

In the case of Iran, there is also the issue of helping that country democratize itself. There are strong domestic undercurrents to that effect. We have to find ways to help them.

On The Web

CIA - The World Factbook -- Iran
Iran Daily
Irna
Iran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tehran Times

In The News

France Joins In Criticizing Iran CBS News
US turning up the heat on Iran
The Standard, Hong Kong
Merkel optimistic diplomacy can work in Iran nuclear dispute
Ireland Online, Ireland
Iran Renames Danish Pastries
Houston Chronicle, United States
Iran's Parliament speaker visits ally Cuba
IranMania News, Iran
Iran Open To Helping Venezuelan Nuclear Program RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Pakistani minister in India for talks on Iran gas
IranMania News, Iran
India, Pak to discuss execution of Iran-Pakistan-India gas ... Islamic Republic News Agency
France says Iran has secret nuclear program
Reuters
Iran hopes for Russian help in nuclear settlement - ambassador
RIA Novosti, Russia

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Sunday, February 12, 2006

Complicated Iraq


That Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and those might get into the hands of ruthless terrorists who will not hesitate to use them for a second, that was the official reason the US invaded Iraq.

Democracy is a great thing, Saddam was a bad guy, true, but those were not the official reasons given. And if they are the reasons given now, will the US invade every country that is not a democracy, will it take out every Saddam of the world? If not, why did Iraq deserve the special favor?

Now we know Iraq did not have the weapons of mass destruction, and we always knew it was not Saddam but Osama who was behind 9/11. But 40% of Republicans believe today it was Saddam, and that is why he had to be taken out. Dick Cheney repeatedly made the nonexistent connection while drumming up support for the war. Some say the intelligence itself was fabricated, very much on purpose. Was it? And if it was not, how was it so faulty? It was not a matter of degree, it was like the intelligence agencies reported having found an entire new planet in the solar system. Finally they found the elephant in the room, for once. Only not true.

But if it is about weapons of mass destruction, North Korea went from not nuclear to nuclear on W's watch. Iran is on the march. And Iran sponsors groups across the region that are shady. So maybe it was not about weapons of mass destruction, or even their spread.

And if it is now about democracy, 40% of humanity longs for it. Iraq is but a small slice of that.

And if your official reason for going in is fundamentally discredited, should you not be in a hurry to get out? If that requires a faster training of the local army, should that not be expedited?

I am glad Saddam is gone, and I think it is America's duty to proactively spread democracy around the world, now squarely tied to its very security, but the Iraq way is not it. $200 billion and counting, 2,200 American lives, 30,000 Iraqi lives. That price is too steep on all sides. There has to be another way, there has to be a progressive way.

Blogalaxy For Global Democracy
Nepal Message To Top Democrats

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Monday, February 06, 2006

Sean Maloney


Last Wednesday I was trying to figure out which LinkUp to show up for.

I started out at the East Village one because that looked the largest. Recently I have switchd to the West Village one that Dana runs. But the LinkUp this past week looked different. There were all these guest speakers. A few were running for the US Senate against Hillary. I immediately discounted them out. I don't like the idea of people running against Hillary. But I figured this is the DFNYC leadership's plot to bring in Hillary herself down the line. "Senator, we have been parading candidates for the US Senate. You are next!" Smart move. I have seen Howard Dean, Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, but not yet Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama. I am sure they look like in their photos, but there is something to be said to meeting in person.

So I find myself choosing between two candidates running for New York Attorney General, the job Eliot Spitzer has so famously glamorized. I google their names. There is a woman who is showing up at the West Village venue.

But then there is Sean Maloney. He had Harriet Miers' job in the Clinton White House. Miers of course got nominated for the Supreme Court by Bush. He left her out to sizzle for a while. "We Democrats don't take good care of our own," Maloney quipped.

Maloney reminds me of Leecia Eve. Eve happens to be African American, she happens to be a woman. Maloney happens to be gay. He has the distinction of being the first openly gay person in a senior White House position. Maloney is going to be a total asset in 2008. From my political point of view, it is not enough to be gay, it is not enough to be openly gay, it is not enough to be gay, and out of the closet, and politically vocal. You also have to navigate the electorate and the system to be of the best possible service for the gay rights issue. You need that sophistication. Being right is not enough, you also got to win. And for the most part you do that by beating the opponent by being as good or better on most other issues. You win, you keep slugging it out, win or lose.

Leecia Eve was not Spitzer's choice for Lieutenant Governor. (Mixer For Ferrer, Who Is Leecia Eve?) Maloney is third in polls, at around 5%. Andrew Cuomo with a famous last name and having been a Clinton cabinet member and Mark Green, the almost Mayor of New York, are in the run and are ahead of him (A Great Mixer). They both are better well known. They are both brand names, wheres Maloney is much younger and only starting out.

But Maloney's got it. He is qualified, he is passionate, he could shake things up. I found him very impressive.

I had a lot of fun during the question answer session. I asked him two questions, one normal, and one "elongated," Lewis Cohen's word for it. And then one after question after he casually mentioned if anyone wanted to know more about his children.

"It is not enough to have the guts to pick the fights, you also have to have the skills to win them. What have you learned from Eliot Spitzer on winning?"

"You say you are third in polls. How do you hope to bridge the gap and pull ahead?"

Someone in the audience asked, "What exactly does an Attorney General do?" Fair enough.

Maloney came across as someone smitten with the DFA. He seemed to be using the DFA network for many of his appearances across the state.

This was the LinkUp on the Upper East Side that Lewis Cohen hosts.

After Maloney left, the LinkUp group had this wonderful conversation on the possibilities of a national Democratic resurgence. I just sat back and listened. I could not believe my ears. And I had been thinking for a few weeks that DFNYC was a local group. (A Huge Mixer: Happy New Year)

On The Web

seanmaloney.com > Sean Patrick Maloney, Democrat for New York ...
Join Us
Sean Patrick Maloney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
happily stuck in Ithaca: Sean Patrick Maloney visits Ithaca
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute - Events
Sean Patrick Maloney: Information From Answers.com
Windy City Times
New York's Premier Alternative Newspaper. Arts, Music, Food ...
DanielFTL of Fort Lauderdale talks about his life, his education ...
blogJosh: Sean Maloney Seeks AG Seat
Sean Patrick Maloney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Politics1 - Online Guide to New York Politics
New York Blade Online
Rivals Spar at Gay Democrats' Forum - New York Times
Slant Point: Dem Maloney Enters State AG Race

In The News

Pirro stands strong in attorney general campaign Auburn Citizen, NY - 2 hours ago
Matt forman, mandy carter, and coretta scott king in washington ... Gay City News - Feb 2, 2006
Rivals Spar at Gay Democrats' Forum New York Times, United States - Jan 25, 2006
Political Memo Democratic Elbows Are Flying, Mostly Aimed at Cuomo New York Times, United States - Jan 26, 2006
Dark horse Democrat shakes money tree Albany Times Union, NY - Jan 13, 2006
Staten Island DA considering entry into attorney general's race Newsday, NY - Jan 23, 2006

Visitors


2 February12:13CTX Mortgage Company, Dallas, United States
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3 February10:27Adelphia Communications, Buffalo, United States


3 February20:17United States (dickinson.edu)
5 February03:00Road Runner, New York, United States
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6 February08:36UNI-C IT Center, Denmark
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6 February13:19Pacific Coast Net Inc., Canada
6 February15:41France Telecom, France

I bought a 1 GB memory card for my camera on eBay from a merchant in Singapore. I get to pick it up at the post office tomorrow morning. Now my camera could do one hour of video in one go as opposed to the less than 9 minutes it has so far in the past. I also ordered an extra battery at the same time that arrived last week.

This blog is going multimedia and pay per view down the line.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy


A friend called earlier in the day and was surprised I was not aware of this huge global controversy. I must have had my head buried in all Nepal all the time.

But this controversy has to be addressed. This reminds me of the riots in France. Like a friend said to me after those riots: "Europe is worse than the South in terms of diversity."

Is falsely shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre protected by free speech? These cartoons have caused violence.

These Europeans need a major dose of sensitivity training. These are the Trent Lott crowd. They make their racist comments and for the life of them do not understand how their comments are racist.

Hate speech condoned by the leading newspaper of a major European country tells me a whole lot about Europe, and I don't like what I see.

Has that newspaper ever published anything remotely similar on Jesus Christ in the name of free speech?

Defaming an individual can find you at the receiving end of a libel suit. Does defaming an entire religion, and its hundreds of millions of adherents count?

French Society: No Easy Solutions
Sick Sarkozy
Riots In France

Google Search

Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy - Wikipedia, the ...
Jyllands Posten Muhammed Cartoons
Jihad Against Danish Newspaper | The Brussels Journal
Face of Muhammed - Drawings of Muhammed
FrontPage magazine.com :: Thou Shalt Not Draw by Robert Spencer
Firestorm over Danish Muhammad cartoons continues | csmonitor.com
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Muhammad cartoon row intensifies
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Anger grows over Muhammad cartoon

Google News

Igniting More Than Debate Newsweek
Cartoons: 'Cut them to pieces' News24
Cartoons cause offence The Good News UK
Muhammad Cartoons: Global Lynch Mob Attacks Free Speech Human Events
Violence Over 'Muhammad' Cartoons Spreads on Sunday
Editor & Publisher
Muslims torch embassies over Muhammad cartoons
Houston Chronicle, United States
Danish embassy in Beirut burned in ongoing row over cartoons ... Monsters and Critics.com
Damascus: Embassies set on fire Jerusalem Post
Violence Spreads Over Muhammad Caricatures The Kindred Times
Empathy and the Muhammad cartoons
American Thinker, AZ
NEWSWEEK INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW: Flemming Rose Editor of Jyllands ...
PR Newswire (press release), NY
Cartoons: Under the Veil of Freedom of Speech
Al-Jazeerah.info, GA
Free speech clash over Muhammad cartoons flares into violence JURIST
Does the right to freedom of speech justify printing the Danish ... Guardian Unlimited
Hate Speech in the Guise of Freedom of Expression Arab News
Heavily-guarded newspaper stands firm on free speech
Gulf Times, Qatar
Hateful hypocrisy over cartoons East Valley Tribune
Internal politics behind cartoon furore Zee News
Insulted Muslims step up offensive over cartoons that rocked world Sydney Morning Herald
How cartoons fanned flames of Muslim rage
The Observer, UK
Threats against Danish cartoonists no laughing matter Houston Chronicle
East: Islamic Officials, Journalists Reflect On Publication Of ... RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Hysteria that only highlights the differences between us Scotsman
Boycott costing Arla £1m per day Radio New Zealand, New Zealand
Outcry prompts Danish food giant to ditch US$50m Saudi investment ITP.net
Cartoon Costs Danish Dairy Company Millions newswire.co.nz
Demonstrators Outraged, Apology Accepted Yemen Observer
Counting the cost of religious rage
African News Dimension, South Africa