The Hills Have Lawn Signs II

I am in the lobby bar of the Scranton Hilton. Very nice hotel, I asked before I got here and was told Max Kennedy stayed here when he came to Scranton as an Obama surrogate. Max? I had to ask. One of Bobby's sons. Anyway, good enough for either of us.

Parking is $10 day, but room has free Internet wireless, so that seems a wash. Lobby bar too. Better service here than at the Obama office, where they just ride the airwaves of someone else--slow and unreliable.

With online access, I am here with seven sheets of volunteer sign in from earlier today, about the finish data entry onto the Penn campaign's website database. Mundane work but I am chilling with $2 bottled beers and basketball tourney on the TV. Last night I was here and registered a woman to vote, from NYC she relocated here 1.5 years ago to help her daughter care for an autistic child. Sad stuff, for this child too, it seems the symptoms came on after vaccination, they are very worried about the last round required this summer before he can start public school. Anyway, she is all about Hillary but I turned her registration in without blinking because I am the son of a League of Women Voters leader. I just hope she has faith that I did right by her and does not get worried that if I was for Obama I would lose her form. She is all set.

What else... volunteers here from Boston suburbs, DC, many from Binghamton/Elmira... an hour north of here. Two women were in the Peace Corps. Seems International experience in life is a factor in Obama support. Probably 75 volunteers out today registering voters. My group of five got nine forms and they said that was good. But we also identified some supporters and put up some window signs (the green O'Bama) and one lawn sign for people I think might volunteer. Dogs dogs dogs, big, little, everyone in the neighborhood had a dog.

Monday night 6:30 is the grand opening of the Scranton office. (It's been open and going strong for weeks, this kind of delayed celebration is typical in political campaigns, like candidacy announcements). I am signed up to be back here by bus or carpool next Saturday, daytrip.

I have my suit with me and plan to attend Scranton Trinity UCC tomorrow at 10. The campaign's only activity tomorrow is to send some supporters to black churches where we have been invited to do voter registration, but service is at 11:30 so I won't do that and will be on the road by noon or one.

The Hills Have Lawn Signs

Arrived in two and three quarter hours, small delay at NY state line for I-84 emergency road repair. Windy as hell, I don't think of my car as high profile for side wind but it was getting pushed all over the place.

Turf partner Catherine and I went to two subdivisions in the hills above Scranton, Clarks Summit. No, no stuffed bear on a pole. (obscure New Hampshire reference)
Knocked on doors for 60 people, independents. I got one McCain, two might be Hillary, probably eight people including mentioned family members are definite for Obama. Same ratio with Catherine, so indies are for Obama it seems. Everyone was Civil, most were quite friendly, invited me in right away to give my pitch. Registration effort from the two of us resulted in probably ten new Dem voters, though only two gave us completed forms. Most were family members not home but wanting to sign up, would mail. Hilly!

Anyway, valley industrial town, churches all over the place, Obama HQ has a green O'Bama motiff because he spoke here on the 17th. Hilton was $65 on hotwire.com nice hotel, parking is $10 but WiFi is free.

With all the voter registration supposed to happen tomorrow, the office right now has only 1.5 packs of forms, about sixty. Alex and Gillian and a third young woman are working here. The have tons of square footage but weak Internet.

County Commissioner is big Obama supporter and providing food to the office, decent pizza and awesome bakery cookies!

Tomorrow, Saturday, more canvassing with hopefully CT volunteers coming in.

Is this the Dunder-Mifflin Regional Sales Convention?

I am heading off this morning to Scranton PA to volunteer for the Barack Obama campaign. I guess January in New Hampshire is just to chilling for me. March in PA should be not so bad and it looks like a sunny start to this day. Scranton has an office of some sort, downtown, hotels nearby, a shopping mall and this weekend, a focus on Voter Registration. Rather than speculte, I had better get on the road and hopefully post from there. Will drive with Obama signs in my car windows. "Thank you Bill Richardson" sign? eh.

Bus to Londonderry Anyone?

Me? I have a candidate I support. But I work for a living. I can imagine how unwelcome these intruders are in New Hampshire and how Jane, and worse, are poor ambassadors for their home states and poor representatives of their candidate. I am surprised, I thought Hillary Inc. would have more control over their people. Thankfully, supporters of my candidate, a frontrunner, were not mentioned in this circus review. Hopefully his campaign put their time to productive use. One reason I don't take time from the job to volunteer up there is fear that my group will arrive on a day when they are overwhelmed by volunteers and I will be put on a street corner or asked to counterdemonstrate at another candidates event. I can't imagine mobs sway voters.

Won't You Come Home, Chris Dodd?

First, a quick pitch for voter participation -- unregistered or unaffiliated voters have until January 31 to register by mail as Dem or GOP and vote in the Connecticut Presidential Preference Primaries on February 5. (Deadline to appear in person at your town Registrar is Feb 4).

In a New Year’s Eve quote from Dubuque Iowa, the Senator's wife said the press had figured out the race a long time ago and (candidates) were unnecessary. Mrs. Dodd was correct, almost. She should have commented closer to home, why didn’t Dodd "figure() this race out a long time ago. (He's) almost unnecessary to the process,” He's a smart guy, but shelved his brains about a year ago on a mid-life quest for the White House.

From August 2006 to January 2007 Sen. Chris Dodd conducted his exploratory campaign testing voter and media reaction and donor generosity. He polled in the very low single digits, he got modest media attention and while donors came in early with seed money, there was no reason to believe this would ever be a well funded campaign. The results were clear to all but the Senator and his inner circle --- he had no chance. After testing the waters, he never should have declared for the Olympic medley. This candidacy is an ego-driven change of pace from a popular Senator and a disservice to his Connecticut constituents. He has moved his family to Iowa? What's up with that --- shouldn't he have resigned the Senate? Time after time important Senate votes have passed with him as a no-show, even ones where other Senate Candidates did return to DC and vote. What's his total missed votes in the Senate this session? Did he go to his day job at all in December?

I like Sen. Chris Dodd. He is great on the constitution and pretty good on foreign policy, domestic issue too. For me, his weak area is corporate influence and his banking chairmanship which after so many years just adds to the inside-the-beltway stench. Overall, I think he would be a very good president and probably prefer him second or third among Dems running.

However, his Quixotic persistence in the 2008 race reflects poorly on his judgment. We told him in the Quinnipiac Poll months ago, "Come Home Chris Dodd". He doesn't believe in polls? Voters will soon make this clear to him.

It's too bad, and perhaps ultimately undemocratic, that even if Dodd were to quit after New Hampshire, his name will still be on the Connecticut ballot. He will probably not quit before his home state votes February 5, and will make a reasonably good showing here. But I am sure that his CT percentage will confirm what we know from the polls, that he is not taken seriously as a potential nominee, even here, and was just a safe sentimental vote in our Primary -- which as usual will see the nomination decided in other states.

I would really like to see CT Dems express their preference on February 5 unclouded by votes for a favorite son as they choose among candidates that range from DLC moderates to unashamed liberals. Following the clear preference of Lamont over Lieberman and DeStefano over Malloy in the 2006 Primary being negated by the central party in the general election, Connecticut Democrats would now benefit from a February 5 opportunity to express with clarity whether they stand to the right or to the left of the spectrum that is our party. As a majority, are Connecticut Democrats with DiNardo and Amann and Lieberman or with Paindiris/Olsen and Williams/Looney and Donovan/Sharkey, and Courtney, Murphy and Himes? It will be important to have an answer to this question one year from now when we begin to consider challengers to Governor Rell.

Dodd is unnecessary both to the process of Connecticut Democrats selecting a preferred Presidential Nominee and to this opportunity for our party to express where it stands politically. We must vote for our preferred national contender, not for our homestate favorite

New Haven Connecticut 2007 Mayoral Race

Tonight I attended a mayoral candidate’s debate at Gateway Community College in New Haven. The school’s president welcomed us and a poli sci class attended. She said the school wants to increase its involvement with community issues.
Three candidates. One pleasantly surprised me. One met my expectations that I would be disappointed. One made it clear he was not for me.
Twelve year incumbent and last year’s Dem nominee for Governor, John DeStefano laid out an impressive legacy of achievement and addressing issues. Sufficiently so that his To Do list of issues still needing attention did not seem entirely disingenuous. While there is so much more to do, clearly, he has not been sitting on his ass and has worked hard to address many of New Haven’s problems as well as wider structural issues.
Green candidate Ralph Ferrucci was earnest in his approach to the debate, but should have better researched his talking points. The uninformed might be impressed by his call for a requirement that City funded construction projects employ a percent of City low income residents, but others know that Federal Section 3 requirements and City Ordinance are enforced by an active, capable and DeStefano supported office of the Commission on Equal Opportunities. There were other examples of Ferrucci calling for the establishment of that which already exists and functions in this City.
Richter Elser is GOP and came across as GOP. New Haven would crumble and collapse under his vision of lower taxation.
Another debate is scheduled. Although I appreciate all I heard and learned tonight, I see no reason to pay attention to the second act. So Big John will stroll on to victory, the only real suspense will be whether he can top 80% of the popular vote and whether the Board of Aldermen can go 30-0 Democrats.

Connectiuct Local Politics

It's been too easy, the last ten months, to stick my head in the sand and pretend that there were no races here in Connecticut worth my attention.

Sadly, I realized I was wrong too late two weeks ago when an appeal for help from the Chris Caruso campaign came too late, four days before Primary, for me to get to Bridgeport and help this fellow progressive in his run for Mayor. The Party candidate won.

In Hartford, I always saw the "Left Of Lieberman" (Democratic) challenge as a loser with too many candidates to cause Unsteady Eddie Perez to do anything but laugh his way to victory. Art Feltman did terribly, was it 13%?

In New Haven, Ralph Ferrucci is running against DeStefano as a Green. But I use "running" generously. The Campaign must realize their various resources are too sparce to be "managed" but need the candidate and his staffer to stand up and "lead".

Things are heating up, however. With Ned Lamont, progressive Connecticut Bloggers, and others pushing Jim Himes in our Fourth Congressional District. Diane Farrell laid the groundwork. Ned Lamont stirred up the masses. 2008 will be when a Dem retakes this district!

Another New Start

For, uh, like a year now I have been kicking myself for not getting back to this Blog and just posting frequent, short, political comments. Here I am, back and all Bloggered where I had formerly been Blogspotted. Enjoy. Comments? Eh. Maybe.

367

A year and two days have passed since I created this Blog?

Far too few posts considering all the political thoughts I have had in the last year.

Well, whoohoo, Rove passed out at the helm and Bush is pretty much in a nosedive, Cheney is on fire, and DeLay has bailed, yet to be seen if his chute opens.

 

Stay tuned, it's time to catch up.

Campaign Finance Reform, Public Financing

Governor M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut surprised her Republican legislators and Democratic majority in the last week by proposing her own version of Campaign Finance Reform that would include public financing in return for inclusion of state House and Senate legislators in the plan.

 

Shocked Republicans fell into lockstep support with little murmuring.  Suspicious Democrats' reaction ranged from calling it a distraction to prevent progress on other issues in the last days, to a plan that must certainly benefit the GOP over Dems, to a plan that, if only they could move their colleagues position a little bit more toward the GOP, might be acceptable.

 

I believe it would be wrong for the legislature to pass a CFR bill that did not put restrictions on their own campaigns.

I believe that after "Pay to Play" seeped out of Rowland's executive chambers into the management of state agencies, reformers cannot go to far in keeping state contractor money out of campaigns, pac's and favorite charities too.  Better to make it difficult and visible to give money to candidate's interests than to make it impossible to do business with the State of Connecticut -- a la the Attorney General's "Affidavits" fiasco of early 2004.  Bills proposed this session may not be perfect, but they are an improvement over a political cycle driven by when during the legislative calendar lobbyists can and cannot "pay to play".

 

Contact your legislator and senator with your views on CFR and especially public financing.  Contact the Governor and thank her for engaging the Democrats in a productive interaction on this issue.  Contact CCAG, Common Cause and others asking how you can help.

Anti-Social Promotion

Central America, 1980's

United States military, paramilitary and intelligence advisors train, supervise and oversee right wing death squads as popular democratic movements are crushed. 

Negroponte was there.

 

Eary 2000's

United States is implicated in spying on senior United Nations officials in New York and Geneva.

Negroponte was there.

 

2004

US "Advisors" train Iraqi army and police forces as the effort expands to eliminate those resisting the invadors.

Negroponte was there

 

2005

First Torture Czar named to US administration (Director of National Intelligence)

Negroponte is the man.

 

After promoting all those who fucked up the Iraq war, Bush has turned to those who have fucked up previous wars.

 

 

Interestingly, on this same day, ChoicePoint, the company they used to disenfranchise voters in Florida in 2000, the company they will use to spy on your personal and financial activities into their compiled superdatabase (no paranoia here, just too lazy to go get the technical term, probably Patriot Act something or other) today conceeded that the personal financial records of thousands of Americans were, in a breach of security, delivered to a Nigerian national, thief.

 

Goodbye Haliburton.  Hello, Choicepoint.  Guarantee, Negroponte or his minion meets with them in the next four months.     ...unless they already have an office in his suite.

 

 

 

COURAGE, HOPE, POLITICAL ACTIVISM

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert Kennedy

Larkspur used these words as inspiration for her Blog in November 2004 and I repeat them here, today, as Howard Dean is elected by acclimation chair of the DNC.  Today, this week, in the last few months, diverse acts are building to bring a true Democrat to the office of junior Senator from Connecticut. 

COURAGE, HOPE, POLITICAL ACTIVISM

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert Kennedy

 

Larkspur used these words as inspiration for her Blog in November 2004 and I repeat them here, today, as Howard Dean is elected by acclimation chair of the DNC.  Today, this week, in the last few months, diverse acts are building to bring a true Democrat to the office of junior Senator from Connecticut.

COURAGE, HOPE, POLITICAL ACTIVISM

"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert Kennedy

Larkspur used these words as inspiration for her Blog in November 2004 and I repeat them here, today, as Howard Dean is elected by acclimation chair of the DNC. Today, this week, in the last few months, diverse acts are building to bring a true Democrat to the office of junior Senator from Connecticut.

I have setup small fundraising goals of $100 at Democracy for America
https://secure.democracyforamerica.com/page/
bat/DNCChair4America

and the Democratic National Committee
https://www.democrats.org/epatriots/give.html?sourcecode=E007990

Please click over and give $10.

You guys must have hated "The Kiss"

Hated it? We LOVE it!
I am, of course, talking about the recent Man-Love, Madonna and Brittney Eat Your Heart Out, Public Display of Affection between President George Bush and Senator Joe Lieberman.

"WE" are Progressive Democrats and others in Connecticut looking to DUMP JOE from the 2006 Connecticut Democratic Senate Nomination.

SEARCH THE NET FOR "BUSH LIEBERMAN KISS" TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

LOOK FOR WWW.DUMPJOE.COM AROUND MID MARCH 2005 FOR OUR STUFF.

I don't want to sound disrespectful, but...

What, we are supposed to roll over and allow this punk from the Red State Syndicate rule this nation unchallenged? Mandate-My-Ass! Congratulations to the Diebold CEO and Secretary of State in Ohio who "delivered" that state for Bush... Not holding my breath, but I am waiting for the Federal endictments.

I am sure there is too much being written already tonight, but after wanting to get back to my Blog for three weeks now, I MUST take innauguration day as the opportunity to do so.


Democracy
Hey, George, ask voters in Ohio who are still waiting in line what they think about you defending tyranny.

Turn Your Back on Bush
My Howard Dean for America lawn sign is back up and will probably stay until he is Chair of the DNC.

Not One Damn Dime
I bought lunch at the office cafeteria today, that's it.

Diplomacy
Did you hear that friggin speach? I learned something. I never knew... The United States of America is perfect, and its all the other countries that are flawed. Thanks for the foreign relations lesson, Shrub.


Nuff said.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

 

Aaaahhh, Turkey Day!

Will this writing be the inevitable "what I am thankful for this year" speach?  We shall see... 

 

Looks like it...

 

For living in a country where disputed elections are confronted peacefully and both sides of the political spectrum recognize the need for improvement.

 

For the continued health of my parents who, despite accumulating problems, are well.

 

For all the John Lewis, Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, Vendanna Shiva and others who inspire activists and make sure they will never feel alone. 

 

For media such as DemocracyNow, the Nation, Air America Radio and Nightline, who spread the word.  For PBS shows like Frontline an NOW and smaller productions that educate us so well.

 

For the Internet as a tool for political action, and how it is changing the world.

 

For a steady job that provides a roof, food, clothing and heat.

 

For the inner drive that someday I will be an agent of significant change.

 

Thanks.

Sustainable Government

Sustainable Government

 

One of my interests is the application of sustainable development and smart growth principles in Connecticut. 

These terms may not be familiar or their meanings may be seen as out in the ether.  I use the Bruntland definition of sustainable development, roughly, carefully considered development which does not exhaust resources that should be left for future generations.  Try www.smartgrowth.org for more information.  Later, my own website will bring it all home.

 

Washington, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts are all significant states in the groundswell of smart growth public policy.  In Connecticut, the number of organizations talking about the subject, adopting principles in their decision-making and educating the public on not only technicalities but the need for engaged public decision-making has blossomed in the last few years.

 

Here are some initiatives you can keep and ear out for.  I encourage you to attend a local public meeting.

 

CenterEdge Coalition, founded by the Archdiocese of Hartford, presenting the results of the Myron Orfield study of demographic trends in Connecticut at public forums where political leaders and experts in this science converse with citizens.

 

Planning offices, Development officers, Housing developer and Chief Elected officials in cities and towns all across Connecticut are introducing principles of smart growth and sustainable development to their planning and development activities.

 

A number of commissions, studies and reports have been undertaken, sponsored by the State, by regional planning organizations and by private foundations.  In the coming months I will be attempting to catalog and address them at www.sustainableconnecticut.org

 

What made the states mentioned earlier noteworthy in the field of Smart Growth was the strong leadership of a Governor with a vision in this area.  That leadership is yet to emerge in Connecticut.  But I and many like me are hopeful that the groundswell of public interest and clamor has begun and the vision will emerge from our current or a future Governor.

 

 

A Knock Off Day

To Blog with Little Effort Today, I am Copying Here Governor Howard Dean's Message of Success From the DFA Website the Day After the Election 2004, www.democracyforamerica.com :

 

What You Won't Hear on TV Today

Wednesday, November 3

Governor Howard Dean sent this message to Democracy for America supporters on November 3, 2004.

Montana, one of the reddest states, has a new Democratic governor.

First-time candidates for state legislatures from Hawaii to Connecticut beat incumbent Republicans.

And a record number of us voted to change course?more Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history.

Today is not an ending.

Regardless of the outcome yesterday, we have begun to revive our democracy. While we did not get the result we wanted in the presidential race, we laid the groundwork for a new generation of Democratic leaders.

Democracy for America trained thousands of organizers and brought new leadership into the political process. And down the ballot, in state after state, we elected Dean Dozen candidates who will be the rising stars of the Democratic Party in years ahead.

Tens of millions of us are disappointed today because we put so much of ourselves into this election. We donated money, we talked to friends, we knocked on doors. We invested ourselves in the political process.

That process does not end today. These are not short-term investments. We will only create lasting change if that sense of obligation and responsibility becomes a permanent part of our lives.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

We will not be silent.

Thank you for everything you did for our cause in this election. But we are not stopping here.

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

Should Helping Hands Be Unseen

A fire over the weekend destroyed a medium sized apartment building across the street from my office.  The City demolished the building Sunday, the owner announced intent to sue the City Monday, and Tuesday the pile got covered by the biggest sheet of clear plastic I have ever seen.  Apparently, the mess has only started.

 

Three of us stood at a fourth floor window today, looking down at the seen, wondering if the building owner would fulfill obligations to house his tenants.  When one of us says "I hear they had a lot of Section 8", please understand that we work for a public housing agency, and our livelihoods, the roofs over our heads come from laboring for years on projects before the public is helped.  We could look at the pile and know the tenants needed immediate help and the owner's rebuilding promises were not going to touch their problems. 

 

I said I had just read that the Red Cross was housing the people in the recreation center of a city park and it could cost $20,000.  Another said she heard that shelter would only last a few days. 

 

"We should do something to help them", my coworker said. 

 

I suggested we can give to the Red Cross, I just emailed our blood drive coordinator to see if she is interested in taking this on or if the Red Cross might send a representative here. 

 

"Can't we do something to help those people, the tenants who lost their homes?"

 

Well, I am sure in a big situation like this, if we give to the Red Cross we can designate it for them.  They will get vouchers to shop for clothes and household goods.

 

Later, I was struck by the difference in approach.  Thus, this first real post to my new Blog:

 

I was interested in helping the helpers, offsetting the $20,000 Red Cross expenses to house the people and boosting the emergency fund by which the tenants could get replacement goods.

 

I felt my coworker, if she thought she could, would collect some money and pick up a family and take them to a store where they could meet their needs.

 

Did I feel the need to be more anonymous?

Do I trust a relief institution to make better decisions than those being helped?

Would her way have made for more of a warm fuzzy feeling?

 

 

Blog Inspired Blog

Just hours after Larkspur sent out notice of her RFK inspired www.tinyrippleofhope.blogspot.com I was driven to create my own FDR and others inspired Blog. I expect to write on themes such as Progressive Politics, Democratic Principles, Social Justice Christianity, Smart Growth, Sustainable Development and Particiapatory Democracy.

The Four Freedoms. Delivered to Congress by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on January 6, 1941.
www.libertynet.org/~edcivic/fdr.html
This first post is a test of the format of the Four Freedoms In the 21st Century Blog. Others will have normal sized text.