Better Angels

Moving...

2006-06-13T11:28:00.000-05:00

I've jumped to wordpress and set up shop here.

I'm famous!

2005-05-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

I got front-paged at dKos today!!!

Wow, I should get up at 5 am more often!

Caught with my blog down!

2005-05-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

Well, it was a complete and total surprise to discover that the mighty Media Matters linked to little ol' me in the course of hammering NPR's Christ-beat reporter, Barbara Bradley Hagerty. (or Barbara! Hagerty! sung a la Veggie Taless)
Those of you who kindly followed those links and appreciated my research and incomparable word-smithing might wonder what I've been up to lately, due to the paucity of, well, content, on this page.
Far from being a one trick pony, I've been using my muckraking skills over at propagannon.com, delving into the gears of the Right Wing Noise Machine with an amazing group of folks.
Anyway, thanks Atrios and pals for the traffic. I'll try to be more worthy!

Sniff

2005-05-06T11:10:00.000-05:00

Yes, the cat's head is IN the stinky shoe.

Young America's Foundation

2005-03-22T12:21:00.000-05:00

Now this is a fun group of folks:
Young America’s Foundation is committed to ensuring that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.

They do this in all the usual ways, with all the usual folks, but one thing that caught my attention was this poster in their store:

Apparently, no one at YAF has ever seen any of these.

Where I've been, where I'm going

2005-02-11T11:20:00.000-05:00

Hey all,
I've been a conspicuously absent blogger for a few weeks. I haven't even been hanging around Atrios' pad. I got sucked into the drama of Gannongate over at Dkos, so I've been hanging out there. I've volunteered to put together some info on Gannon's relationship to the CBS/TANG story, so I'll be posting over there for a while. Here's the diary I'm using as my virtual 3x5 notecards as I research. Come on over and see me.

It must be Friday

2005-01-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

(Yes. That's me. In my pajamas. With bedhead.)

This Cat Eats Trolls

2005-01-14T09:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, he is wearing a tiny cowboy hat.

Make the Connection! (between Armstrong and Oprah)

2005-01-10T20:42:00.000-05:00

One of the interesting little tidbits of info that came out of the Armstrong Williams pay-for-punditry story is his association with Stedman Graham, the perennial fiance of Oprah Winfrey. The genesis of their relationship is unclear. They either met while working together at B&C Associates (A North Carolina PR firm which once represented Winnie Mandela) or when Williams was working for the Oprah Foundation. In any case, they were close enough by 1990 to go into business together as "Graham-Williams Group" which was originally branded as a sports marketing firm. A 1991 article lists GWG clients as including Oprah, Save the Children, Everson Walls and Sheridan Broadcasting. By the fall of '91, Williams was making a name for himself as Clarence Thomas' number one defender, which led to the creation of his GWG-produced and Heritage Foundation-sponsored radio show in November of '92. Graham began his own firm, S. Graham and Associates in December '92, and remained a consultant at GWG until Williams bought him out in 1994. And there their paths would seem to diverge...or not.

Williams originally excused his actions by saying that NCLB is something he believes in, so promoting it for pay wasn't unethical. Whatever you think of his logic, he does have the bona fides as a NCLB promoter in other aspects of his life. (Although, when you are a PR person by trade, are there any aspects of your life untouched by your clients?) Williams serves on the advisory board (along with Ohio's infamous Ken Blackwell!) of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a pro-voucher, pro-charter school, NCLB booster that recieves funding from the usual right-wing suspects, including the Bradley Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. No, not John Boy and the gang, but the family who put the Wal in WalMart. BAEO made headlines when the Department of Education awarded them a 2.5 million dollar grant to promote NCLB in heavily black cities. (Do I detect a trend?)

Graham, on the other hand, serves on the board of advisors for the Children's Scholarship Fund. The CSF was founded by John Walton and investor Theodore Forstmann. Yes, the WalMart Waltons again. The CSF provides partial scholarships for low-income students to attend private, parochial or "home" schools. (In the case of "home schooling" the scholarship helps pay for tuition at an approved cyber-school. Does Rick Santorum know about this?) CFS is affiliated with Children First America (formerly CEO America, which apparently also had Ken Blackwell on the board.), another school-choice oufit funded and organized by rightwingers. When CFS wanted to announce its first big scholarship lottery in 1998, who did they turn to? Why none other than Oprah! Oprah has featured charter schools on her show and financially adopted the Walton-funded Young Women's Leadership Charter School in Chicago.

So does Graham have an incentive beyond his personal beliefs to promote school choice and charter schools? According to his website, the Department of Education is a client for his "customized training and leadership development programs." I'd FOIA that contract pronto, if were the GAO!

Friday Catblogging: Liberal Anguish

2005-01-07T20:35:00.000-05:00

Angus reacts to the Gonzales hearings, Tom Delay's tsunami prayer, social insecurity and the certification of the electoral votes.

A cautionary tale...

2005-01-07T19:20:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, there was a Republican Congressman from New Jersey named Chris. Because Chris was a good little Republican, he got to be the chair of the Veteran's Affairs Committee. But Chris had a problem: he actually wanted to help our veterans, so much so that he argued with the other Republicans! So a big mean man named Dennis gave Chris's job to Steve because Steve cares more about pleasing King George than about those dumb ol' veterans. Who probably didn't even earn those purple hearts anyway. Dumb veterans.

Sorry, Fundies...

2005-01-05T09:39:00.000-05:00

...Jesus is a liberal!

Thanks AM and Ola for the great shirt! In return, I've found you a friend for your Tomte.

You just can't make this stuff up...or can you?

2004-12-27T10:45:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Atrios linked to the Daily Howler's takedown of the media's inability to fact-check a la the "who among us does not love NASCAR" foolishness. It was one of those strange moments of blog serendipity, as I was just about to research an different Kerry quote that seemed just as suspect. So bouyed by the Howler, I took a stab at it and found yet another Kerryism of doubtful provenance. It took a few weeks, due to the holidays, but here is is in time for the third day of Christmas.

In the December 20 issue of Newsweek, George "Here, Tucker, let me help you with that tie" Will has the "Last Word" on the year that was 2004. He opens with this:

In 2004 an IBM supercomputer set a world record with 36.01 trillion calculations per second. The U.S. electorate may have made its calculation the instant John Kerry, who is not a supercomputer, explained why Toy's restaurant in Canonsburg, Pa., "is my kind of place":
"You don't have to—you know, when they give you the menu, I'm always struggling: ah, what do you want? He just gives you what he's got, right? ... whatever he's cooked up that day. And I think
that's the way it ought to work, for confused people like me who can't make up our minds."

So that's why he lost! Foget that whole values thing: he admitted he couldn't make up his mind! He's confused! Like another Jim DeMint, who...won his race. Nevermind, bad analogy. See! He really was a flip-flopper!

Except, you know, I don't remember ever hearing this story before, (and I think you all know I'm pretty much hip to the news cycle) so I sort of doubt this little tale made as much of an impact in the election as say, vote tampering did. (Oops! I wasn't sposed to say that, was I?)

Here are the facts: On September 6, 2004, John Kerry travelled to Canonsburg, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and spoke to a group of neighbors from Dale and Judy Rhome's front porch. He talked about a number of issues, but the one that made the biggest impression on the media assembled was one you may remember:

Following his remarks, Kerry took questions from concerned voters, including one from a 70-year-old woman who had 14 throat surgeries and recently returned to work in order to afford her prescription medicine.
While telling her story in only a whisper, several Bush supporters shouted chants and insults
making it harder for people to hear the woman. Kerry responded to the hecklers.
“While the Bush people were rudely shouting, a 70-year-old woman who has had several throat operations was trying to be heard. It’s proof that they don’t want to hear the truth.”

In fact, in the straight news articles written about this campaign stop, not one reporter mentions the restaurant remarks. The story first surfaces in that night's New York Times online "Political Points" column, by David Halbfinger. He writes:

Mr. Kerry stepped boldly into the verbal minefield early, arriving at a front-porch session with supporters in Canonsburg, Pa., near Pittsburgh. As he likes to do, he brandished a bit of local color to show he wasn't just any interloping politician blowing through town.
But in so doing he seemed to forget that Republicans have been tearing him down for months as a vacillating, indecisive, finger-in-the-wind politician of the worst order.
"Everybody told me, 'God, if you're coming to Canonsburg, you've got to find time to go to Toy's, and he'll take care of you,'" Mr. Kerry said, dropping the name of a
restaurant his motorcade had passed on the way in. "I understand it's my kind of place, because you don't have to - you know, when they give you the menu, I'm always struggling: Ah, what do you want?"He just gives you what he's got, right?" Mr. Kerry added, continuing steadily off a gangplank of his own making: "And you don't have to worry, it's whatever he's cooked up that day. And I think that's the way it ought to work, for confused people like me who can't make up our minds."

Halbfinger seems to have spent the majority of the campaign finding evidence to support the "flip-flopper" label the GOP cooked up for Kerry. (For some of the more egregious examples, see the Daily Howler, Bart Cop, Columbia Journalism Review and Reading A1)

The story was also picked up by a British paper, the pro-war, pro-Blair London Telegraph, in a September 7 article by Alec Russell, filed from Canonsburg:

Mr Bush's campaign staff will have loved his opening comments, praising the limited menu of a local cafe. Mr Kerry said it was perfect "for confused people like me who can't make up our minds about what we're going to eat" - words which would fit perfectly into a pro-Bush attack ad.

I first assumed that this was independent confirmation of Halbfinger's account, since it was filed the following day. But then I calculated the time zones. When Halbfinger filed his column, it was already Wednesday in London, meaning that Russell could have filed his column first and Halbfinger simply picked up his quote. Picked it up and truncated it in order to make Kerry out to seem even more confused.

Of course it's possible that both reporters heard Kerry the same thing, recorded it and transcribed it and came to the same conclusion: Kerry was just giving the Republicans ammo for the flip-flop meme. But that doesn't change the fact that Halbfinger conveniently left off the "about what we're going to eat," making Kerry sound like he's admitting he can't make up his mind about anything.

Not surprisingly, it was Halbfinger's quote that most often got picked up, rather than Russell's.

On September 7th, Slate's Chris Sullentrop quoted Russell's version of the Kerry quote, commenting that Kerry's extemporizing was "damaging." It's unclear from the article if Sullentrop was present when the words were uttered or if he simply read Russell's column.

The National Review Online also picked up the quote on Sept 7th, using the Halbfinger version. The NRO piece ended up being reposted on Free Republic. From there it spread to countless blogs and other online sources and made its way to several more traditional media sources:

Toronto Star Sept 13:

Kerry, meanwhile, has become a dream for political satirists and the proverbial fish in the barrel for the Bush war room. The man vilified as a waffler, played right into that perception at a stop in Pennsylvania where he waxed rhapsodically about a local restaurant which brings the daily special to the table with no menu.
"That's the way it ought to work for confused people like me who can't make up our minds," he told supporters.

LA Times - Sept 13 -

Sen. John F. Kerry has been accused by his Republican critics of being wishy-washy and wavering on matters of national security — a claim he adamantly denies.

But when it comes to ordering in a restaurant, the Democratic presidential candidate admits
he sometimes has difficulty.

During a Labor Day stop in Canonsburg, Pa., Kerry praised a local restaurant because the choices were limited to whatever the cook decided to serve.

"My kind of place, you know, because when they give you the menu, I'm always struggling," the Massachusetts senator said. "He just gives you what he's got, right? You don't have to order. It's whatever he's cooked up that day, and I think that's the way it ought to work for confused people like me who can't make up our minds."

American Spectator Sept 17 -

Obviously, Kerry isn't a particularly appealing figure, but his problems run deeper than that....This not only pleases nobody, it reinforces one of Kerry's chief liabilities, the perception that he's a flip-flopper. (His praise at a campaign stop for a restaurant with only one choice, rather than a menu, as being great "for confused people like me who can't make up our minds" didn't help on that front, either.)

LA Times - Sept 17

At his very best, Kerry is capable of adequately delivering a prepared speech. But when speaking off the cuff, he has an inexplicable penchant to play into his opponents' hands.Bush implies (outrageously) that Kerry wants to go soft on terrorists? Kerry responds that he wants a "more sensitive war on terror.

Bush portrays Kerry as an out-of-touch, Francophile elitist? Kerry tells GQ, "I love sports. French skiers."

Bush paints Kerry as indecisive? Kerry volunteers that at restaurants, "You know when they give you the menu, I'm always struggling, what do you want?" It's as if he has somehow internalized his opponents' attacks upon him.

Weekly Standard September 20 - The article leads into the Canonsburg story with "There have been other mistakes:"

The Economist Nov 4th - quotes the NY Times version as its "Kerryism of the Campaign"

And then came Will's "year in review" column. Note how in 3 months the comments in Canonsburg have turned from a derisive remark propagating the "flip-flop" charge to the comment that alinenated the US Electoate and cost Kerry the election! That's your "liberal" media at work!

Sudan in Crisis? Troops Stretched Thin? Why Not Try Thugs 'R' Us?

2004-12-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

The death and desecration of 4 private contractors in Fallujah last Spring was a horrifying thing. Emotions in the blogosphere and the mainstream media ran high in the immediate aftermath and the gruesome nature of the event overshadowed the discussion of our military's use of privateers in a war zone. As evidenced by the reactions to Markos Zuniga's now-infamous comments, the discussion quickly devolved into right/left sparring, leaving the central issue of private security personnel largely unexplored in the media. Which is unfortunate, because it's an issue that's been in the background of our military and intelligence operations for the past 50 years, and it's not going away any time soon.

Two of the biggest private defense contractors in use by the US are Dyncorp and Pacific Architects and Engineers, or PAE. Dyncorp was purchased in 2003 by Computer Sciences Corporation, a publicly traded company worth billions of dollars. In 2004, 41% of the company's revenue came from the US government, with 25% coming from the DOD alone. From CSC's June, 2004 company profile:

CSC's fourth quarter federal government revenue was $1.6 billion and comprised more than 40% of the total quarterly revenue. Revenue from CSC's U.S. Department of Defense activities surged to $988.8 million from last year's $581.4 million. U.S. civil agencies business grew 57.7% to $650.2 million, compared to last year's fourth quarter total of $412.4 million.

That's in the 4th quarter alone. In fact, during the quarter CSC announced several billion dollars in new government contracts including $406 million from the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command.

The feds obviously find Dyncorp's work satisfactory, which is troubling when you consider that during the US's involvement in the Balkans, Dyncorp employees in Bosnia participated in the sex trafficking of young women, some as young as 12. The company attempted to cover up the scope of the problem and employees who blew the whistle in 2000 and cooperated with an Army investigation were fired. Despite confessions and evidence gathered by the local police and the Army CID, no one was ever prosecuted. Neither the Bosnian police nor the Army had the jurisdiction to prosecute the men while they were in Bosnia, and once Dyncorp sent them home they were unable to be tried for crimes committed on foreign soil. Eventually, in 2002, one of the whistleblower received compensation from

Despite the passage of the Military extraterritorial jurisdiction Act of 2000, loopholes, inconsistencies and confusion exist to cloud the matter of jurisdiction of the US over private military contractors employeed overseas. In fact, as of September 2004, only 2 such cases had gone to trial in the US. For an overview of the problem, see this statement given to the House Armed Services Committee by Martina E. Vandenberg in September 2004.

Dyncorp is also the subject of a class action lawsuit brought by a group of Ecuadorian peasants who claim that the company's use of pesticides to kill cocoa plants as part of Plan Columbia destroyed legal crops across the border and poisoned villagers. This suit was filed in September, 2001, and as far as I can tell, is still languishing in the courts.

Dyncorp has had other mishaps in Central America, including suspicion of running drugs. More tragically, in 2001, Dyncorp employees and subcontractors (Eagle Aviation and Service Technology, of Iran-Contra fame) were involved in the downing of a small plane carrying an American missionary and her 7 month old baby in Peru. Frustrated by her inability to get answers from the government about the incident, Rep. Jan Sharkowsky of Illinois introduced the "Andean Region Contractor Accountability Act' which attempted to limit the activity of private intelligence and security forces in the region. The bill died in committee.

All this was known and documented before September 11th. But in 2002, when the DOD announced it had contracted with Virginia-based private defense contractor Dyncorp to provide security services in Afghanistan and Iraq, it was if the collective memory of the media had been wiped clean. There was a ripple of incredulity on the left-leaning blogs (scroll down to 11/25/02) and the international media, but the mainstream media in the US simply reported the contract and left it at that. Amazingly, the only news outlet to consistently link DynCorp with its past scandals was Insight on the News, the weekly news magazine from the Moonie-owned Washington Times.

It's happening again. The State Department recently announced a 5-year joint contract for Dyncorp and PAE worth over 20 million dollars. The mission? The Darfur region of Sudan, which is in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. That's right, we're turning privateers into peacekeepers and the mainstream media has failed to notice or comment. The NY Times printed a "Letter from Asia" on October 13, 2004, which did go in to some detail of the company's troubles in Afghanistan, but there has been no follow-up since the Darfur contract was announced.

So what does this mean? Why has is become perfectly acceptable to outsource not only our aggressive acts but our peacekeeping ones as well? Is war-ravaged Darfur, land of widows and orphans, really the best place to put soldier-of-fortune types who can operate with impunity and very little oversight? Most importantly, when will the American people stand up and demand that their tax dollars NOT be spent financing mercenaries, to the tune of billions of dollars per year, when our own soldiers don't have enough rations for breakfast or armor for their trucks?

Liberating the WH Press Corpse

2004-12-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Over at Nieman Watchdog Dan Froomkin has a great, thoughtful piece up about the White House press pool and the unbreakable veneer of the Bush Administration. In addition to the usual complaints about the inaccesability of the President and the circumlocutions of Scott McClellan, Froomkin also offers a practical plan for reporters to become better questioners. His prescription for the potted plants in the breifing room? Get tough with Scotty and the Prez. Either get the answers or make the White House look uncooperative in the process:

At this point, the best thing reporters can do is ask questions so simple and direct that Bush's almost inevitable evasion is obvious to everyone. And then they should repeatedly remind their readers and viewers that the questions remain unanswered. Maybe Bush can be prodded and shamed into meeting with the press more often. And maybe White House reporters -- who are, after all, among the best of their profession -- can craft the occasional question that actually prompts the president to reflect upon a decision, recall an event or reaction, give some insight into his judgment, or even spill some beans.

This should be required reading for any reporter who has ever come within a hundred feet of the White House, and will strike some familiar chords among those of us who follow Holden's Obsession with the Gaggle.

Even more of a charade these days are the daily briefings held by White House press secretary Scott McClellan, whose robotic adherence to repeating the predetermined messages of the day -- no matter what questions come his way --has driven some correspondents to despair. Only narcissists and cranks could possibly feel they are getting much out of asking a question at a McClellan press briefing. Not coincidentally, the cranks are increasingly sitting at the front of the briefing room and getting called upon, in part because some big media organizations don't even bother to fill their assigned chairs anymore. What's the point?

The piece itself is worth taking a trip over to NiemanWatchdog, a relatively new site sponsored by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. What makes it all the more fun to read is the comments section, where there is a typically toady response from one of the above "cranks," GOP plant Jeff Gannon of Talon News.

Let me make it up to you.

2004-12-03T10:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know, it's been weeks since I've blogged a damn thing. So to make it up to you, here is a vintage Friday Feline:

That's me in 1973 at 6 months old, attempting to maul my mother's cat Shakti. Note the mustard colored playpen and orange shag carpet. We were a hip little family, no?

Friday Feline

2004-11-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

Yet Another Thing They Do Better Than We Do

2004-11-17T20:11:00.000-05:00

I thought I had a really great idea. One of the suggestions I made here was a way to get kids more involved in the DNC:

Why just target highschool kids? Start 'em young, when they're learning about the colonial era and pumped up about patriots and freedom. I know that if the DNC backed me up I could get together a group of local progressive homeschoolers to form a "Democracy Corps." or something. They'd just have to give a little direction and some donkey t-shirts. It'd sort of be like the girl scouts, only with fewer cookies and more constitutional law.

Well guess what? The Christiantonians thought of this already. Behold Generation Joshua, a "civics education" program for homeschoolers run by the Home School Legal Defense Association. (HSLDA is run by Michael Farris, one of the signers of that infamous call-to-theocracy, the COR Manifesto.) Generation Joshua's director is Ned Ryun, son of Congressman Jim Ryun of Kansas. (What IS the matter with Kansas, anyway?)

GJ members get to participate in an online civics curriculum, chats with folks like Representative Ryun and David Barton of Wallbuiders fame and a connessiuer of truly horrible cowboy shirts. (Barton was the guest on Believer's Voice of Victory every night during the RNC and I tuned in just to witness the red, white and blue with mother of pearl monstrosities.)

They also got to participate in a little hands-on learning this fall:

The Student Action Teams, run thru HSLDA’s Political Action Committee, will be an opportunity for Generation Joshua members to put into action their stewardship of this great nation. The last week of the general election, starting October 27, 2004, teams of students will begin campaigning for pro-life, pro-family candidates who have been surveyed and endorsed by HSLDA PAC. Generation Joshua members will be given preference in participating in these teams. There are no additional costs for Generation Joshua members to take part in the Student Action Teams. All travel expenses, food, and lodging will be covered for those participating.

So how about it Dems? You ready to put the power of homeschoolers to work for you?

Dr. Copernicus, Please Pick Up the White Courtesy Phone

2004-11-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

Yes, yes, we all know about the Christian Right and their "Intelligent Design" schtick. But what do you know about Geocentricity? That's right, boys and girls...the Earth is a stationary object around which all other heavenly bodies rotate. How do we know? Because the Bible tells us so.

Is this just some fringe theory, or does it have legs in "Biblical Science" circles? Is this the next junk science issue to appear on ballot initiative everywhere? How can you tell if you're looking at the next big fundamentalist jamboree?

In library science we look for something we call "authority" when we look at information sources. "Who wrote this?" we ask ourselves. "Who endorses them?" Unfortunately, evaluating authority in this case is a down-the-rabbit-hole proposition. The question to ask: Which nutjobs take this other nutjob seriously? How much money do they have?

This particular nutjob has a stirring defense of his theory posted on his website. It was written by Martin Slebrede, the Vice-President of Chalcedon, Inc, hotbed of Dominionism and favorite charity of good old Howard Ahmanson.

Sooo...big names? Check. Theocratic billionaires who like to throw money at projects like this? Check.

Oh, crap.

National What Now?

2004-11-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

You know that new movie, "National Treasure" where Nicholas Cage is trying to steal the Declaration of Independence? Just a mindless Hollywood fantasy, right? Maybe. Or maybe the screenwriter was inspired by the fact that Diebold, the nemesis of would-be voters everywhere, provides the security vaults for America's most precious artifacts. Oy.

Speaking of the DNC...

2004-11-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

There's an amazing diary over at DKos tackling just this issue. Go. Read. Propagate.

Whither the DNC?

2004-11-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

The other night Atrios asked for ideas on what the DNC could do better. The result was one of the most optimistic, exciting and fun-to-read threads in a long time.

I went through the comments and discerned several main ideas floating around (click the title to read comments on this topic):

Education:
The DNC should be actively involved in educating citizens about our government and their place in it.
The DNC should help educate young Dems in organizing, fundraising and media and PR.

Infrastructure and Organization:
The DNC needs to reorganize, from the top down.
Two chairs? The CEO and the COO, or one message person and one money person.
Borrow winning ideas from the RNC like direct mailing, databanking, grooming college kids for party jobs
Get the DNC active full-time instead of just in election years.
Creative fundraising.
Regional communication centers.
DNC supported foundations like Heritage Foundation et al.

Service:
The DNC should encourage and support local Dems to "put their money where their ideals are" through local service projects

The Message and the Media
Framing, framing, framing.
A clear, consistent message statement.
Coordinated weekly talking points.
"The party of the people NOT corporations"
Be Dems, don't try to be Republican-lite.
Return to the base and old-fashioned progressive values.
Focus on familes.
Stop campaiging to demographics instead of campaigning on ideas.
Training programs for local dems to help them become more media savvy.
Advertise, get a PR machine going.
Reach out to young people.
The DNC "on the road" bus tour.

Get Local
Help folks run for local races, especially SOS.
Sponsor local events, start "Democrats for local issue x"
Decentralize management, get out of the Beltway mentality.
Meetups etc.
Start Dem clubs for students, feeder programs for the College Dems.
Better Web presence for local Dem organizations and a place for county coordinators to get info, make connections.
Permanent voter registration and education drive.

I trimmed out the OT comments, overlap and "me too" posts and reorganized the comments into these groups.

Education (back to top)

· How about framing our platform so that it appeals to the "average folk"? How about talking to the average folk, period?How about explaining to the average folk that their representatives are in Congress to represent their interests, not to make laws for the convenience of corporations and the like?How about holding "democracy seminars" to give people a decent civic education so half the country doesn't still stay home on voting day?How about organizing mass voter contact with representatives so that even Republicans can't ignore their real constituents in favor of lobbyists?
Lettuce Prey Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:22 pm

· Education. Education. Education.Good teachers.
pie Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:22 pm

· Why just target highschool kids? Start 'em young, when they're learning about the colonial era and pumped up about patriots and freedom. I know that if the DNC backed me up I could get together a group of local progressive homeschoolers to form a "Democracy Corps." or something. They'd just have to give a little direction and some donkey t-shirts. It'd sort of be like the girl scouts, only with fewer cookies and more constitutional law.
Biblio Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:44 pm

· I agree with many things, particularly the media training, vote protecting, and reframing arguments. But there's one thing in Lakoff's book that has been largely ignored here.I'm a smart professional who is preparing to work full-time or even go back to school to bring the Democrats back to power. But when I look around the internet, as I have for the last few days since I made that decision, I can't find anything to send me in the right direction. Lakoff is right; we need a centralized message to take the country back, and we need to train a generation of thinkers, journalists, and spokespeople to shape this message and get it out to the people.So I guess what I'm saying is the Democrats should have and advertise a career counselor who can give people ways to help. If someone wants to devote their life to the cause, why not help them in the right direction? The party could identify talented individuals early on and make sure that they utilize that talent properly. We need to take our country back. Let's make sure our best people are doing that.
Bill Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 9:41 am

· How about, to expand on Withnail's idea of a traveling dog and pony show, going into high schools to give programs on our constitution? Would that just be too too boring and an excuse for kids to skip assembly?
Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:35 pm

· How about, to expand on Withnail's idea of a traveling dog and pony show, going into high schools to give programs on our constitution ?
Only so long as we take flamboyant homosexuals along with us, so they can recruit the kids into their lifestyle choice. Not a bad idea, though. One thing I've notice is that College Republican organizations are well organized and direct feeder programs into the GOP. The largest College Republican chapter in California? You guessed it: UC Berkeley.College Dems need to counter the College Republicans by emulating their very effective model, but use their power for good, not evil. Each chapter of the College Dems should have some kind of liaison from the party to pick the best and the brightest College Dems into meaningful positions in the Party. Send the smart ones, the dedicated ones to campaign manager school in Washington every year and then send them out to find and run candidates. College Demos need better newspapers, too.Remember, the point of the Democratic Party is to win elections and advance our agenda. I think that getting too involved in activism is a distraction. Just win, baby.
Old Hat Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:44 pm

Infrastructure/Organization (back to top)

· Compile detailed info and records and quotes and whatever on each and every member of the GOP in the House and Senate. To be used to attack come election time.
Bubba Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:15 pm

·Become more active on college campuses and on the INTERNET!
MisterX Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:16 pm

· I'm thinking the DNC should become more involved in helping with the Democratic Party message.It should serve as a coordinator for the 2006 midterms, and since we lost a few governors seats as well, maybe provide some assistance to the state Democratic Party infrastructure. Obviously off of the national stage the DNC's role would be minimal, but the organizational capabilities, and fundraising capabilities could, and probably should, be shared with the state organizations.After, most people contact with the "Democratic Party" is, for the most part, at the state level.
David (Austin TX) Email Homepage

· Lettuse, we need to talk less and listen more.Someone mentioned this the other day. The Dems should start visiting their constituents and listen to what they have to say. That they only do this during campaign season (other than isolated appearances) speaks volumes about their concern for the voters.
pie Email Homepage 11.11.04

· Doesn't the RNC do a lot more?The DNC needs to start running people like us for local school board elections and city/county supervisor positions. The DNC should create a cadre of direct mail specialists. Hire some bright college kids straight out of college, turn them into PR flacks. Hire bright college kids straight out of college and train them to run campaigns, like what Emily's List has been doing.
Old Hat Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:30 pm

·"Find more candidates like Obama. Then make sure they get elected."-Anonymous Good point. There should be a system that nourishes the young members (from organizers to politicians to be). Camp Wellstone is a great model: http://tinyurl.com/4wwou(or click my homepage)
Yoshimi Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:35 pm

· Fund the loyal opposition.There's going to be fights galore,USSC nominations, gutting of SSI, rape of tax system. Money will play a part in these. DNC can help
tmcotter Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:38 pm

· Old Hat: The Internets are still a baby. The DNC would be wise to get in on the ground floor of this marvelous grass-roots communication medium. This year was the beginning; by '06 we need to have our cyber-infrastructure humming. We either join the future, or get relegated to the past. I've seen the past, and I don't want the future to look like that...
Doozer among Fraggles Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:39 pm

· Damn long thread. Well, these have been said before in slightly different ways but I'll say them again:1) InfrastructureCreate a national level template for data collection (into something like Demzilla). A basic consistency in data collection (i.e. who's registered in my town, how often do they vote, what issues are of interest to them) would go a looooong way every cycle when this data is collected yet again and the different communities that make up a CD or such are mismatched. In off years, we, at the local level, are collecting this data. Why waste it?
carnot5 Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:50 pm

· Here's a suggestion:As Matt Yglesias and Josh Marshall have pointed out, Rove has basically maneuvered the Dems into a virtual position of a quasi-parliamentary opposition party.The Dems need to EMBRACE that role and present clear and compelling policy alternatives to every major GOP agenda item from here through '08.To do that, as many here have noted, the DNC Chair would be the ideal spokesperson.But that involves reconfiguring the job. The LAT over the weekend had an op-ed advocating Bill Clinton for DNC Chair. Ignoring Clinton for the moment, the bigger idea in the piece was splitting the Chair into a "COO"-type operations-and-fundraising director and a "CEO"-type charismatic spokesman.If the DNC could do this -- and enforce party discipline up and down the ranks to ensure that the "CEO" spokesperson was indeed the single lead voice of the Dems, then this position could essentially function as a "shadow president" for the next four years. This "shadow president" could speak out weekly/daily/what-have-you, giving the Dem agenda and counter to the b.s. from the White House.This would also essentially position whomever fills this "CEO" role to be the presumptive nominee in '08. He would be able to say, "I have over the last four years given the American people a clear policy alternative to the ding-dongs who screwed everything up."My personal choice for this "DNC CEO" would be John Edwards (filling this role for four years would fill in the c.v. gap he'd otherwise have, and would give him the "gravitas" some feel he lacks), but I can see good arguments for Howard Dean, Mark Warner, and several others. More here: http://croatan.blogspot.com. Write the DNC if you agree!
The Confidence Man Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:55 pm

· Donna Brazile for DNC is another idea.We need a master organizer.McAuliffe's original raison d'etre was that he could raise a ton of money.Now, we can do that in our sleep via the internet to stay at near parity with the GOP.So, why do we need him?Someone with major organizational skills we do need.The question then becomes, do you want an organizer or a firebrand mouthpiece for the party as its head?
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:59 pm

· What to do with the DNC? Fire everyone sounds like a start. I'm serious too. We're in big trouble, not turn it around in 06 or 08 trouble, we need to wake up and get new people with new ideas running things. If the Dem party doesn't change the 24-year ass-kicking will continue. Thanks to the great McAuliffe and Clinton we now have lost every branch of gov't...thanks guys, great idea going to the middle to get those swing voters. Worked like a charm. They raised lots of money though, probably bought some nice suits, and very nice hair I must say.
spectator consumer Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:01 pm

·Jumping ahead w/o reading the thread, so someone may have already said, but the DNC needs to be active full time. Why did I read that Ohio, which everyone knew would be crucial, had no real organized party apparatus on the ground? That's inexcusable and the DNC should have recruited and trained and funded a first class Ohio Democratic Committee. Ditto Florida and other battleground states.If no locals are available, which I doubt, import smart young people who will spend 5 or 6 years doing the organizing and putting the structures in place in return for national jobs later on.
Hecate Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:10 pm

· The first of many things I would like the DNC to do is stop the stupid in-fighting going on amongst the Dems who are only interested in their own political gain.Sure, NY (for example) could use a good Democratic Governor, but does Schumer have to give up his Senate seat to fight a primary with Spitzer? And the loser, will probably drop out of politics and go back to making real money on Wall Street. Why can't the DNC step in and say NO? Both of these people are very competent and the country (if not the Dems!!) need both. The same could be said for CT and NJ etc.
TALL16 Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:25 pm

· What everybody is basically saying is:Keep the campaign going between electionsSeriously. Have any of us received talking points for LTEs in e-mail after the election? How expensive would that be? Heck, elected Dems don't even have talking points.There is a huge energy explosion among people who want to go back to work right now. And the DNC has done nothing to put it in motion.
Smallbottle Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:43 pm

· And while I'm on that subject, how about a system like Pacifica uses? No, not the quadrennial fundraisers (although, then again...) but, the monthly Credit Card contribution scheme they use. $20/month from a million or so of the faithful would buy some PR, hmmm? Then again, it seems so obvious, is it legal?
Doozer among Fraggles Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:59 pm

· so is the consensus that our first priority is free, fair, fully verifiable voting in the USA?God, it kills me to have to ask that question, even.then a team to develop, promote, focus and spread our message?because really, if you want to talk values, we've got it over the GOP in spades -- especially if you want to talk "Sermon on the Mount" Christian values.The GOP is a bunch of arrogant SOBs.I read Dobson & Co's voting statement last night, and about puked. Unmolested nature -- that is to say, God's own handiwork -- isn't good enough for these people. It has to be "improved" by human kind. Jesus' own message -- the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the tares, the woman at the well -- isn't good enough. They prefer the "improved" version from Paul (don't get me started on Saul of Tarsus).But the deal is we need to be sure the next election results are verifiable. Then we need a hellacious PR team of our own.Cool. When do we hack the satellite feeds for Fox/CNN/ETC?
The Other Sarah Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:04 pm

. [2]Much of what needs to be done is just organization, but it's not done correctly, because many of the people doing it are guys in their 50's who can't quite get it into their heads that 70% of the people who can and will help them are women, so they need to learn to respect the things women like to do, and if they don't know what those things are, they need to ASK.There are several areas that need to be covered. Counties should have adults who serve as youth club coordinator, and they should assist student club leaders whenever possible. We need to get people and businesses to sponsor Explorer Troups on behalf of the Democratic Party. Almost all Explorer troups go camping, but more than half have a special area of interest. Start grooming young democrats early. Since democratic training properly done is quite the opposite of indoctrination, then far from having anything to be ashamed of, we can be proud of what we teach the young folk. American History, or even American Revolution Re-Enactment Camp is also an interesting idea. Good resume credit for any aspiring pol.sci., am. hist., or prf. arts major.Create a Party Platform CD with answers to any question a pundit might ask, or for that matter, any citizen might ask. Call it 'DEMOCRATIC ANSWERS'.Start Democratic Action Groups that rebuild our infrastructure here in America. In the northern states, institute drives to get new road construction to include the use of road as passive solar collector, using inexpensive heat transfer technology, as pioneered in the Scandinavian countries. Start and maintain a national drive to get the military to release Aerogel for testing for use in construction, consumer goods, and vehicles.RAISE FUNDS AND HELP SOMEONE BESIDES YOUR FAT DUMB HAPPY SELF! Get groups of democrats together and form them up as Democrats for (whatever needs doing). Build playgrounds, but leave a little plaque or scribble in the cement that this park was built by so and so. Buy and install solar panels for senior citizens and the poor. When the local burned out husk or dilapidated house goes on the auction block, initiate a democratic co-housing project, and welcome your republican neighbors.I'm nowhere near done, but this should do for the moment. Remind me to tell you where we can get a lot of the money for this sort of thing.
John Iceknife Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:32 pm

·OK, I'm gonna take my tithing idea a bit farther. Maybe run it right off a cliff, I dunno.There are so many places the Center-Left Dollar can do some good, we can drive ourselves nuts--or broke--trying to cover all the bases. How about a clearing-house sort of organization--here's something Soros might be able to arrange, and not have to be spending his own money. Or at least not so much--that would accept our donations, and allocate it, say quarterly, according to the votes of registered contributors. Unworkable? Too grandiose? Too susceptible to WF&A? There's gotta be a fly in the ointment somewhere...
Doozer among Fraggles Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:36 pm

·Thanks, Tena.Here we go, more stuff:[3.5 argh]Have Dean's web team coordinate online activity. Build six regional communications centers, and two alternate hidden ones that are only used in emergencies. Have each center staffed by an on duty NOC op., and an on-call security team. Set up general IRC chat, with moderated and unmoderated forums. Also have a private server with encrypted access for party operations use. Use e-mail and chatrooms to coordinate the activities I'm talking about. Specific sites to assist people with different tasks would be helpful... one for county coordinators, one for youth coordinators, one for event planning, etc.We have to take back our media. We start with FOX. Every affiliate and owned station needs to be buried in complaint letters for review during their license renewal. The target is enough letters to represent the equivalent of 1.5% of the population of the estimated audience of that station. Set up online petitions to be sent as well. Force affiliates to drop FOX. Tell the general public the truth - FOX lies, because Rupert Murdock is a hostile foreign national determined to defraud America to line his pockets.If you're 100% honest, you can talk as hard as you need to. This "president" is hell-bent on murdering an unknown number of American and Iraqi teenagers and young adults. Chances are, someone you love, a child you love, will die in this needless criminal war. Talk hard, fight clean. Use a clean scalpel, cut to the heart of the matter. Enough pontificating, back to the matter at hand.FOX, Sinclair, Clear Channel, all the media monopolies need to be broken and scattered. We need to find lawyers and returned service personnel willing to file against FOX for their various lies; particularly families that've lost members because of those lies.We best promote the party by demonstrating who and what we are, not by running our mouths and demanding money every thirty seconds. Got to give to get, and only in serving are we served. We claim we think government should serve the people, and not the other way around. Let's put our time and effort where our mouth is.How the hell do we expect to win in the south without holding bluegrass festivals??? How about a good old fashioned barn raising for an indigent family in a rural community? Or gardening parties for seniors to help with their lawns? You want to unite instead of divide America? Then you can't just talk the talk, you have to WORK and PLAY the walk.You hearin' me out there in the night?Ok, I'm done.For now.Until I think of the other 90,000 things.
John Iceknife Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 10:30 pm

·Start establishing block grants to liberal writers, the same way the Republicans do. Establish a liberal Townhall.com. Establish one or more DNC-supported Foundations to espouse liberal ideas (like the Heritage Foundation, only better).
meph Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 10:44 pm

·I think the DNC should be the salesman-in-chief. Someone who puts the talking heads in their place, someone who gets them standing in the aisles and singing hallelujah. Someone who makes people either want to run for office, or work for their campaigns. Someone who makes people open their checkbooks, and smile while they're doing it. An outsider who doesn't say the same old things, in the same old way.A visionary who makes us see his vision and inspires us to make it happen.Oh! I guess I'm talking about Howard Dean, aren't I.
Susie Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:22 pm 11.11.04 - 7:22

· oh yeah, the MONEY.[4]Ok, like I mentioned, bingo parlors and event spaces are possible methods, and a lot of fun. But I happen to know where thousands (hundreds of thousands) of dollars are collecting dust, and I keep contacting party finance people about it, but the election's had 'em too busy to do anything about it yet. Funny thing is, the money already belongs to the DNC, and/or various now defunct campaigns. It's sitting in the state controllers office in virtually every state in the nation.Don't take my word for it, go look at the website for your state controller, and find the unclaimed property section, sometimes called property location. Enter 'demo' in the search function, and look at what pops up. There's several thousand in California alone.This, by the way, is a great public outreach tools. You go down the list of people in your neighborhood or precinct, and call the ones with more than 30$ sitting in the state treasury. Tell them "Hi, I'm so and so, I live over on blah blah. Did you know that the state is holding x amount of your money? " Tell them how to claim it, make sure they understand that they owe you nothing, and that you're doing it as a public service on behalf of the (whichever) campaign. If you're fundraising, tell them that normally property locator get 10% of the recovered amount, but you're not asking for that. Instead, if they could give that ten percent to (whatever), or whatever amount they can manage, you'd appreciate it. I've done this, it works very well. On the other hand, I rarely bother with amounts under $2000.Hold a pottery party with a lot of celebs, and auction off the finished works, with a party video, and an autographed photo of the celeb with the ceramic. Invite celebs who sew to quilting bees, auction the quilts off for insane amounts of money.Homeless people can be assisted with honest work that helps them get homes, helps the environment, and saves the environment: urban biodeisel collection and filtering stations. After the business paperwork, it takes buckets, space, coffee filters, hand pumps, and some hose to get started.We can buy cheap property and start wind and solar collection farms. That cuts dependence on foreign oil, helps support and reinforce our infrastructure, cuts into the ass-fat of the petrophiles, and helps provide cheaper energy costs to the surrounding communities, all while making a profit. Energy farming is becoming an up and coming fund raising technique.more later.
John Iceknife Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 10:59 pm

·Hold a post election convention. Figure out what we did right and what we did wrong and move on as a group.
Yoshimi Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:57 pm

Service

· How about by supporting our troops- and before you get your panties in a twist, I'm not talking about the shallow, bullshit bumper sticker "support our troops" crap the Bushies talk of...I mean the Dems should become the champions of our troops that are in a FUBAR situation, are underequipped, overstretched, back-door drafted, and left to fend for themselves with their wounds when they come homeKerry said to them "Help is on the Way."OK then. Let's go help.www.optruth.org
Michael Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:18 pm

· WRT: helping folks - after the Citizens for Equality/ElectionProtection meeting yesterday (have I mentioned lately that Bush only carried Dallas County, Texas by one steenking point?) people were talking about things to do at grassroots level. One suggestion was a coat and jacket drive. Good idea. Anything that makes the point that we care.
Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:34 pm

·I'm with Michael, posting at 7:18; one thing we can do is support the troops as individuals. If you go to Books for Soldiers you'll find an awful lot of folks in need of reading material and lots of other mundane things to make their lives better. If you think the more miserable they are, the sooner we'll bring them home, remember our Dear Leader's refusal to think about anyone other than himself. Some of these guys (and gals) just need a kind note. Who knows who you might convert in the process, though I don't recommend campaigning at all. They don't need that. Sign up and pick yourself someone to help out.By the way, a few of them, particularly chaplains but others, too, are working to help Iraqi kids. Just read their notes; some of them are absolutely heartbreaking.It doesn't cost more than a couple of bucks to ship a small box to Iraq because, technically, you're sending to a military address here in the U.S., and then the military is reshipping.
Out and About Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:19 pm

.Jumping into the support the troops movement is a great idea, too. There are active VFWs everywhere. Why can't the DNC get involved with those. Why can't we raise money to help the troops with equipment and help their families? Just make damned sure it is publicized and that it is known that it is Democrats who are doing it - Put our actions where our mouths are.
Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:25 pm

The Message and the Media ((back to top)

· How about framing our platform so that it appeals to the "average folk"? That should be job 1. That requires a leadership with balls, charisma, and credibility.
Catherine Durkin Robinson Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:16 pm

· Well, not to repeat what is already becoming a bit of a lefty cliche, but it seems to be time to at least try out Lakoff's reframing ideas -- which might suggest that the DNC and its chair could play a role in formulating and articulating a coherent ideology (he doesn't use the word, but this is what he's talking about) -- that is, begin to gather together the effective metaphors based on progressive values that might be used to frame the debate. The RNC, it seems, plays a significant role in coordinating the VRWC, and the DNC could do likewise instead of just sitting around gathering dust. Undoubtedly this is why more "idea" driven candidates like Dean are being put forward (and just as undoubtedly, this is also why they are being resisted).--
Stusdf Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:17 pm

· Easy; First, define what "progress" is for society. The whole thing about the current Conservative politician/pundit is the fact they generally aren't for the advancement of society and the human race, no matter how much they say otherwise. They are status-quo. A dead-end.A nice strong and (important) basic mission statement would be good. Armed with these things, all could see very easily where we are going.
Spider Jerusalem Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:42 pm

· Vicki - I was talking to a guy last night who said the same exact thing - that our party is the party of individuals. Since we don't march in lockstep, like the Repugs, make that our strength. It is an expansion of the big tent idea. We are with the people - not the big money.That's great. Now it has to be sold.
Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:43 pm

· Doesn't the RNC do a lot more? We can take a cue from some of their strategies without having to duplicate their, um, duplicity... Get out vision out in front of the public. That is the single most important thing we can do. We need someone to stand up and fight on behalf of the image of the party and of liberals in general. I realize the party does not equal liberals, but just the same someone needs to work on our PR - a lot. A whole lot. We are fighting against a media that is completely Right wing - your local wingnut post and the resulting thread proved that once and for all., Atrios. There are mini Rush Limbaughs from coast to fucking coast.If we can't fight the Mighty Wurlitzer, we are doomed to always fight uphill battles.For christ's sake - can our leadership please formulate a clear and consistent message and put it out in front of the public?Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:28 pm

· DNC and other organizations should be in the business of figuring out a clear, compelling message for 2006 and 2008. Get the candidates lined up behind it and make clear what we want to do with the country.Think back to the Rs in 1992 vs 1994. We don't have to make a "Contract on America." I don't agree with the message, but I do admire the way they got it across. We should make a very clear, concise, desirable message for Americans to consider.Lots of talk in the blogosphere about how Dems didn't have a coherent message, or shied away from what message they did have.
Eric Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:43 pm

· Inspire the Democrats to stop being afraid of being demonized. Every election we get so worked up figuring out how we can nominate someone who won't fall into the GOP's well-known talking points that we fail to get candidates who are actually, you know, good. We automatically concede the argument, and are always on the defensive. People think "Democrats=taxes" because the GOP has hammered that into their brains, but also because we've lost the ability/will to fight back. We need to get people thinking "GOP=deficits."I have an idea on how to reframe the debate in the favor of Democrats.I think we need to make the Democratic Party the party of the people, not the party of corporations. The money that Dean and Kerry were able to raise from individuals was astounding. The Democrats must sever their ties from corporations and become the honest to goodness party of the people. We can win on that value alone. The Party needs to be reorganized from the ground up. All Democratic politicians must be held accountable for severing their cozy relationships with corporations and even major PACs.The Republican Party is even more corrupt, and I don't see that they'd be willing to sacrifice the money trail. So the Democratic Party should.It's a radical idea, but I think it would flush a level of honestly through the Democratic system that neither political party has seen in decades. Who represents your needs better? The party of the people, or the party of corporations? We need to call the Republicans on their lies and ties to business and corruption.The major obstacle is how to honestly divorce the Democratic Party from corporate, political ties. Maybe the Pandora's Box in this issue blows my idea to smithereens, but I'd like to think that this idea is possible. And then maybe I'm just full of shit. Just an idea that's been percolating in the noggin.
Vicki Stein Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:38 pm

· More than anything, build the brand.
Dave J. Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:44 pm

· On a very concrete level, the DNC should:1) Be in charge of consolidating and then disseminating the party's message on a long term basis, but also specific messages that last for, say, two months at a time, and then a weekly message. Talking points.2) Once the talking points are determined and sent out it needs to be in charge of keeping all Dems on message.3) DNC needs to be in charge of getting our talking heads on television on a consistent basis, on complaining to the press when the Dem point of view is not be represented proportionately, etc. It needs to be in charge of keeping people like Donna Brazille off tv, and people like Bob Kerrey on tv.OT: I want a television station, yesterday. I got at least $100 for one right now. Everyone has their culprit list for this last election - mine is Fox News. I just don't believe anything we do will be enough to overcome the disinformation and propaganda put out by Fox. Let's face reality. A television station is within reach. Let's do it. If Atrios or Kos puts up their name to verify that the funds will go towards starting al liberal news network to combat Fox, we'll have $10 million in two months time.
Peter Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:49 pm

· 2) MessageThe usual compliant. If the DNC could put together the Dems vision (and yes, we do have one) into simple memes (not talking points, not poll tested crap), we, again at the local level, can move them out into the public. Couple this message movement with feedback(and recording the response into the database of 1) could give a huge jump on the next election cycle. carnot5 Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:50 pm

· Hire George Lakfoff and the Rockridge Institute. Everone in the party must learn how to frame the debate for our moral progressive values. Have a whole year of workshops to teach candidates, party officials, office holders and any interested progressives, how to frame and reframe the debate in favor of our progressive agenda.
Phil Philiben Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:54 pm

· Dems need discipline. Start adhering to some simple tenets and getting all spokespeople to parrot them.
Mule Kicker Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:04 pm

The DNC should teach people how to act on television: how to write talking points, how to use talking points, what to say when the Republican interrupts, how to look appealing on television (comb your hair!), etc.A horrible example of where the left is right now with television was on the Daily Show last night. (The ACLU guy kept having his earpiece fall out and it was embarrassing.)
Daniel Stewart Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:06 pm

· Fly-over country is not going to vote for us if you pretend to be Republicans. This is so condescending it's crazy. Some of you still can't understand what's happening. No one believes the Democrats stand for anything. So what if we appeal to the red-states, they've been voting against their best interests for 24 years. It's like thinking Kerry would get the military votes because he was a war hero...makes sense until you accept the basic reality that republicans own the military vote. Talk God and morals like Clinton and Pelosi say and you'll just end up looking like fools.I'll say it again. If people want to vote God, or military, or pro-business, they will vote GOP.
spectator consumer Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:09 pm

· Read Thomas Frank, read Keillor, read Lakoff. We need a return to our base people. It's painful to watch this. Like the guy that said Kucinich and Oberlin college isnt our base??? The fuck it isn't. The Democratic party is the party of the cities of the population centers, we have the people if we only return to the messages that won us power for the better part of a century. Workers/Unions NOT free trade/NAFTA, equality, inclusivity, helping the poor, advocating for the students and young people, providing for the children, looking out for the elderly and fighting people that would put their pocket book above helping their fellow American.The problem here is that Rush, Foxnews, and Rove have done such a number on our party that many of us don't believe our own values can win. Stop listening to the conservatives, stop playing their pro-business game. Do not support these moderate Dems who have so effectively neutered our party.
spectator consumer Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:23 pm

· The worm is right. New faces, winning races. Let's get this thing changed. And let's focus on the family, no pun intended. We have to be the party that focuses on rights and security and opportunity for FAMILIES.And Hesiod is right -- Wes Clark was a missed opportunity.
Mule Kicker Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:26 pm

· The problem is that Democrats think of their base as a group of constituencies, like African Americans, or Unions, as opposed to PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH OUR CORE VALUES AND IDEAS!Stop campaign to demographics, and start campaigning on IDEAS.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:27 pm

· Spectator Consumer:Dems have a natural base in the military. Most enlisted men are Dems. We need to appeal to them. Getting a few Dem leaning military types to help support the party's efforts will be key. As will stopping the Dem appeasement of the anti-war left.
Mule Kicker Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:35 pm

· Someone who can kick ass and take names needs to be in charge of weekly talking points (Hillary?) and deciding who does and does not go on talk shows. Donna Brazile should have been yanked long ago and she's not the only one. Train these people in how to interrupt!!!!!! How to stay on message. How to ridicule the other side. If my law firm can hire consultants to teach this stuff to lawyers the Dems can hire them for our spokespeople.
Hecate Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:43 pm

· Ask who it is you are trying to persuade?Traditionally youth are idealistic and liberal. The ones to target are the youth that start out with their parents' conservative politics.Not too many "old" conservatives are going to become liberals. If they vote with the liberals it's a vote against the party in power.
The Spirit of Howard Beale Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:46 pm

· Spirit - that's a good point, too. The young are already with us, to a large extent. And they are getting more involved than they used to. High school kids were really involved this time - Jon Stewart and Bill Maher are unbelievably popular with high school students here. When we catch them early, we have them and we need to make sure we keep them.We also need to be clear that now we are the party of fiscal responsibility. That actually matters to both young and older voters.
Tena Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:49 pm

· We need a progressive network, yes, but we need to continue to hammer the CNN's and the MSNBC's which persist in putting up journalists, who are supposed to be neutral, as the "liberal" voice against people like Pat Buchanan. The other night, I watched, with the sound off for a while, Bob Woodward and Pat Buchanan debate; Woodward can hold his own but Buchanan was spewing while Woodward was trying to be factual. We need some raving liberals--people like Jon Stewart only NOT Jon Stewart--to go onto to these stupid programs and hold up our viewpoints.
Knot My Hair Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:50 pm

· missing the point .. it isn't the reframing that is important -- it is coordination and consistency... the DNC is the place where EVERY democratic politician and pundits gets their talking points before they go to media or public.also DNC needs to help encourage and develop credible voices in mainstream media that won't get out muscled and overwhelmed by the right wingers on talk shows.
smartone Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:59 pm

· smartone, by god aren't you right. I am so sick of watching our pansy-assed representatives get flustered on tv. fer chrissakes, Bob Kerrey shows up the sunday before the election on Meet Timmy Russert and, after doing badly for the first two questions, absolutely ate Timmy's lunch thereafter. Where the hell was he all season?And I agree with the no need to reframe issue; the things we stand for are american values, and we just need to remind people of that. by god, i should make bumper stickers like:Freedom of Speech, Brought to you by LiberalsFreedom of the Press, Brought to you by LiberalsThe Defeat of Nazi Germany, Brought to you by Liberals
PoppieProng Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:03 pm

· I should addFreedom of Religion, Brought to you by Liberals
PoppieProng Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:03 pm

· Work with George Soros, Warren Buffet, and others with money and an honorable progressive American mindset to purchase media outlets and bring true journalism back to the media.
freelove Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:18 pm

· Democrats and people of good will must recognize that the "values" deficits perceived in this culture by mainstream voters - whether they're voting Rep. or Dem. - are real. Agree with spectator consumer that Dems need to return to their traditional base. There is a spiritual void in our society. Only the religious zealots have proposed an answer to it. That's why the country has moved so far to the right. The televangelists, etc. aren't really selling salvation, of course. They're selling indulgences. But they own the moralistic language. We need to expose the phoniness of the entire movement in language which will appeal to peoples' hopes and dreams - not their fear and greed.Just a thought.
cosmis rays Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:24 pm

· I think the DNC should run an aggressive ad campaign designed to re-brand the Democratic Party. It should set out to educate Americans on the core differences in the parties. Studies show that more people agree with liberal values (pro-choice, civil unions, environment, etc.) and this should be pointed out to them. We need to educate the public and connect with the working class at the same time. During a campaign there's no time to do this. Now's the time! Then we can connect the dots during the campaign.
Shoeshineboy Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:44 pm

· Ideas:1. The DNC should make sure that all dems are asked to attack everything the repubs do that can be considered "immoral" with facts and specifics. 2. The DNC should make sure that all dems, when asked to go on television, ignore the scarecrows, or better yet, point out that the questions or comments of the opposing idiot and/or talking head are in fact scarecrows.3. The DNC should make sure that all dems are prepared for interviews and photo ops.4. The DNC should already be cultivating its farm system for '06. They, and each state's dem party, needs to be finding strong, principled candidates who are not afraid of presenting a liberal agenda; now is not the time for rest.5. The DNC needs to develop a set of issues we will run on, and bring the fight to them: offense, not defense. Such issues can include: torture of enemies; unlawful detainment of prisoners; erosion of civil liberties; corporate corruption; stagnating job creation; incompetence of military strategy; failure in the war on terrorism; intolerance of mankind. Box the opponent into the corner and make them explain why they are so immoral.6. The DNC needs to realize the press will not do its job. Quit expecting them to.You see, I think Kerry lost because he didn't fight. I heard Joe Lockhart say on Al Franken that they backed off a lot of issues because they didn't want to seem like they were piling on. That really needs to stop. The American people like a fight and they want a man to stand up for himself. Now, look, I'm not being Pollyanna-ish; i do realize that roughly 20% of this country will never ever in a bazillion years believe anything that comes out of a dems mouth, but I get the distinct feeling that 51% of this country doesn't feel a deep loyalty to the repubs; they just felt they could get along better with Bush. Yup, they're idiots, but here's the thing. They believe things. They believed what Bush told them. All we need to do is get the info out to them first... This post is already too long. I'll continue a little later.
PoppieProng Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:49 pm

· When the neocons do what we all know they will - we need spokespeople that appeal to the southern and midwestern people. God bless Michael Moore, but he ain't it.Yes, but he WAS it, once. More than any other lefty, Lakoff included (Lakoff ESPECIALLY) he knows how to talk to Americans about political issues. It's not forced or academic but heart-felt, simple, and forceful, without the cloying folksiness of Hightower or Ivins, or the Yankee smartassiness of Stewart or Franken (who nevertheless are very good at talking to average non-Southern people).In fact as recently as F 9/11 Moore made lots of converts. I was in the theater in a hardcore Republican suburb when he did.But he's been smear-machined by the Right, and that means he's been put in the Crazy Bin for all time. And this is the key: you can frame issues all day, you can come up with great metaphors to talk to "average folk". You can get a great political wit to do it for you (Moore, Franken, Stewart). But it won't make any difference until we control the volume and repeat like they do.Shit, we ARE the "average folk". Many of us live in the South. The Bush voters are our brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, employees, bosses, ministers, teachers, gas station attendants. But it's very hard to cut through the noise, and the noise is everywhere. THAT'S the issue.One more thing: one reason young people vote for Kerry in such numbers, I would argue the MAIN reason, is that in college and high school they have isolated themselves and insulated themselves from the mainstream culture and thrive in their own noise machine. And that noise machine is receptive to our point of view. We need to spill over into the broader culture.
swifferBoat Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 10:01 pm

· Do the obvious, but unexpected...advertise!!!! The biggest problem with the Democratic party is that nobody can clearly state what we stand for. So educate them. Republican wouldn't know what to...nobody advertises without an election. We should pull an "ad council commercial on them... inform the public as to why the Democratic party has been good for them, why we are the "heart" of the country...that conscience and responsibility are not Republican, and that we are the uniters.As stupid as the "brains on drugs" scrambled eggs commercials were and as simple as the got milk commercials are, you get the message. There should be an ongoing campaign to frame the debate about how accessible, real, non-threatening, and identifiable the party is. Don't trust the media to brand the party, dammit, brand it yourself. Then it won't be a candidate, but a PARTY.Advertising 101: you want people to buy into something, make them feel so good about it, they can't imagine their life successful without it.Karl Rove is successful because he is a savvy advertiser first, and a political strategist a distant second.
jen Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 12:09 am

· I agree with Jen. We need some public relations ads to start airing right away explaining what the Democratic party stands for and how Dem policies affect ordinary peoples lives. Have policy seminars around the country to trade ideas and to actually listen to what we people on the ground think about things. It seems like the leadership has no clue how to deal with real people. Get out of Washington and meet and greet fellow Dems! Work with the state and county parties to reach the most people and get us excited about where we're going for cripes sake!Deejay Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 12:26 am The answer to Atrios' question is obvious: fact sheets.The DNC should be sending out fact sheets informing people of what they obviously don't know about the Bush administration. These are cheap and the information is there, and you can give people links to verify it online. Why they didn't blanket the battleground states for months leading up to the election is beyond me.Facts are what the Democrats have that they aren't using. Republicans don't have them, but they're using what they've got (emotional appeal) very well. For an example of what I mean, see this (though shorter) : http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041108&s=facts
Ruttiger Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 1:36 am

· Hire a marketing firm.We're dead in the water when it comes to messaging, because we're always too concerned with laying things out to the extreme, including their nuances. Screw nuance. It hasn't worked for years, and that we had people a week before still making up their minds...well, those are people we could have convinced with a solid marketing campaign.The idea of politics as a theater of policy is dead. Politics is a theater of public relations, and the policy should stay in the background, available for those who wish to seek it out.It should be the DNC's job to help mold platform, and then hone message points to fire up the broadest coalition.
Greg Turner Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 9:29 am

· The Democratic party should fund a media campaign of TV ads saying something like this... "On November 2, the country made its choice. We in the Democratic Party respect and honor that choice. The Republican party, however, now controls the White House and both houses of Congress. The Republicans promised they reform Social Security without raising taxes, cutting benefits of increasing the national debt. They promised you they would increase your access to quality health care, without increasing the costs to you or to businesses. They promised you they would stop your jobs from being shipped overseas. They promised you they would increase the number of good, manufacturing jobs in this country. And they promised you they would win the war on terror, and would bring Democracy and freedom to Iraq. It's time to hold the Republican Party and President Bush accountable for their promises. The Democratic party believes it has better ideas on providing affordable, quality health care to all Americans, prescription drugs for our seniors, strengthening and improving social security, winning the war on terror, and democratizing Iraq. But, we will also will be your eyes and ears in Washington, D.C.. We will hold President Bush the Republican Congress' feet to the fire, and demand that they deliver on their promises to you. You deserve nothing less. After all, that's what you voted for."
********************
By doing this, Democrats would be setting expectations for the GOP impossibly high. When the GOP inevitably fails to meet these goals, the Democrats will be there to stand on the aide of the voters and step E-mail me with your thoughts. (I shut down my blog).
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:22 pm

· When the neocons do what we all know they will - we need spokespeople that appeal to the southern and midwestern people. God bless Michael Moore, but he ain't it.Neither is Ashton and Roseanne, for the love of Pete.Is it heresy to find a good salesman/woman????Catherine Durkin Robinson Email Homepage

· The Dems need to start advancing some good wedge issues -- even if they will get shot down. Let's take up the cause of the military and see if the GOP had the courage of their convictions. Let's look into anti-union practices of Wal-Mart.
Mule Kicker Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:42 pm

· Following up on Susie's salesman-in-chief idea, I'm thinking a perpetual tour bus, sort of like Charles Kuralt used to have with his "On the Road" segment on the CBS Evening News. Meet people, have celebrities sometimes, whatever. Just create the impression that the DNC, and Democrats generally, care what people think, no matter where they live.
Withnail Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:29 pm

Get Local (back to top)

· Become more active on college campuses and on the INTERNET!Fuck the Internet. We need to get serious about running people like us for school board elections and other local positions on the ballot that come up every November. The DNC can help field and support candidates for these elections, instead of sitting on its ass for three years out of four, as Atrios points out. Start at the bottom and build our way back up.The DNC also needs to make a series of regional colleges to send potential precinct captains and GOTV leaders to. Say, one for each state. Something like that. We need organize our organizing skills.
Old Hat Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:26 pm

· Contribute time and money to local races. Democracy for America and cough cough the Christian Coalition is a good example.Y
oshimi Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:15 pm

· I agree with implementing a more aggressive approach on the internet and in local races. We need to take over all Republican Secretary of State offices in every state to make for more fair and well run elections.
CallMeOrko Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:26 pm

· Identify, support, mentor, groom and otherwise do what's necessary to develop some bench strength in every purple county out there. Most state party organizations are a shambles. A well run DNC could do a lot to fix that.
flory Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:37 pm

· Reframing is the thing. The wingers have snatched up all the American icons heroes for use in their propaganda. Maybe the Dems could become the party of the Bill of Rights, clearly articulating the policy ideas that go along with each amendment.I like the idea of "democracy seminars" or teach-ins at local schools and civic institutions.I also think service should be key. Have a community service component to the party. Something like "Democrats put their money where their mouths are." Use Meet-up or a similar program to regularly get people together on a local level to help out in their communities. Not only does it actually do some good, it puts the Dems in a new light. Maybe I'd even change my affiliation.
Biblio Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:37 pm

· The DNC could sponsor a series of town hall meetings and debates across the country where local state and national Dems answer questions. They could all get on the local( and regional) TV. evening news, radio call in shows and even write ups in the newspapers.They could also make videos for smaller local dem offices that open up 3 months before the elections and are staffed completely by volunteers. The videos would help the volunteers explain the Dem party positions and train people to promote candidates and good advertising techniques and all that stuff.
Big Nasty Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:38 pm

· I also recommend that we concentrate on taking over state legislatures to effect redistricting, and to build up a farm team for federal offices.Internet driven fundraising can have an enormous impact on local races, that it might not have on a Congressional or Senatorial race.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:38 pm

· I'm not digging the traveling circus sort of thing. The only people who would be interested are those already predisposed to political science, and American History, which is one small group of people.The DNC, and affiliated groups should participate in any type of "Civics Day" type activities.I think the best solution would be to make the Democratic Party connected to that sort of program, rather than as the sponsor/organizer of that sort of program.I think ultimately taking the position of sponsoring/organizing events will, in the short term, make people think the DNC is being a bit too opportunistic.In your face subtleness is what is called for. Helping the Jaycees put on a 4th of July Fireworks display, where the DNC is a participating sponsor, rather than the title sponsor.Being a participating sponsor of various craft fairs, etc.Then, after name recognition begins to kick in, and people begin to associate the DNC with the sorts of activities that people like to do, then stepping up the involvement.Perhaps a title sponsor of a large event.Ideally a large number of small events, where the entry costs are small, but over time increase exposure to a much larger, and diverse group of people, who may then become receptive the to Democratic Party message.Any end goal needs to accomplish 2 things. First, make the DNC be seen as a local community entity, even though they are located in Washington. Second, make the DNC be seen as helping that community. By getting candidates, and elected representatives at any level out in front of their constituency.The financial outlay does not have to be large to be effective, just well placed.
David (Austin TX) Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:47 pm

· A Democratic "Contract with America." A genuine platform that is more than platitudes. A document that spells out what Democrats believe, and what we want to achieve.[shameless plug] I've been working on my thoughts for what that would look like at my blog. [/shameless plug]
Josh Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:47 pm

· They need to get off their lazy butts and start giving the Repubs a run for their money. They're stifled by the inside the beltway mentality.Seriously, if they have to resort to asking all of us what they should do to compete with Republicans, they're really in trouble.Communications, coordinated message, coordinated media strategy, grassroots mobilization at the state level (directly or by proxy), MWBO - management by walking around (have someone seriously in charge of field operations).
Demgirl Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:48 pm

· Fuck the Internet. I tend to agree. Nothing beats a physical presence with a face you get to know. Someone here or at Kos was suggesting opening one-stop, old-style "precinct" offices, where people needing helping dealing with governmental bureaucracy could go. Same person, I think, talked about opening up youth-oriented political internet cafes, though I think opening them for old farts like myself might also be good. The point is to get an actual human group working side-by-side, instead of the too-easy-to-bail-out internet world.Not that internet and other computer-oriented activities should get the short end of the stick. But that should concentrate on the back-end portion of that, in service of the upfront, human aspect.
dave Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:50 pm

· Demgirl, you raise a good point about the inside the beltway mentality. DNC headquarters should be staffed with people from the recently successful state and local campaigns - people who know how to win. The air may be a little stale in Washington.
Withnail Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:51 pm

· Idea number six:Move the Democratic National Committee Headquarters to Columbus, Ohio.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:52 pm

· Follow-up thought to my 7:51 p.m. post - de-centralize DNC management, so that it's more responsive on the state and local level, more flexible, and less identifiable with Washington.
Withnail Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:53 pm

· 1)id a few key 2006 races and make them nationwide campaigns using the internets - it will keep the internet infrastructure that is developing focused and in campaign mode. I'd give a kidney and some cash to get rid of Santorum and Delay - if I was getting pestered and informed about the elections on all the blogs I read about an "unholy trinity" Atrios and Kos et al had id'd, I'd be more likely to stay focused and involved.2) Dems will never tolerate a top down hierarchy like the RNC types - the DNC needs instead to monitor what's happening at the grass roots level, on the internets, in state parties etc - communicate good ideas around the country; step in with infrastructure, funding, expansion to take local ideas up to the next level. 3) I like the traveling dog and pony show idea.
Pudentilla Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:54 pm

· Spirit of HB,Good point. If the DNC would decide to ensure that Dems win SoS in every key state for the next five or six years, I'd contribute real money to that effort.
Hecate Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:46 pm

· As a high school teacher, I agree with starting 'em out young. Maybe next year, I'll start a dem club at our school. Too many kids are idealistic with no way to express it. We should also start listening tours to get at what's really going on in the rural areas instead of relying on journalists to tell us.
Catherine Durkin Robinson Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:54 pm

· First, elect someone with stones and fresh face. MuleKicker suggests Gen. Merril McPeak.Second, set out a simple platform based on a simple clear message.Third, recruit more heartland voters and Flyover Democrats. Start getting more former military people into this party. With the disastrous Iraq war going on, there should be plenty of veterans who want to get involved. There is no reason we can't be the party of the military.Fourth, identify candidates who adhere to our message and elevate them and promote them in the national public arena -- even if they are local candidates.http://mulekicker.blogspot.com/Rebel against the Party establishment.
Mule Kicker Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:56 pm

· I think the best thing the DNC can do for the next two years is support the growth of local grassroots. Keep the networks that were built in the GOTV and through the meetups etc. Build on this to have a strong base for the 06 cycle, when the state level is the ticket.
samia Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:58 pm

· Between elections the DNC must work on message, message, message. Seize control of the language and put the Republicans on the defensive....where they have had us for years! I also see a role for the DNC in voter education in areas where there are lots of potential voters who are new to the system. There needs to be a permanent registration effort.
Plenty Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:23 pm

· [1] The DNC should spend the election and the mid-terms supporting our candidates, and pushing our agenda. The rest of the time should be spent doing the same thing.This is done by enlisting county coordinators in EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN AMERICA. Make it interesting and fun for those people, have a special central website for them. Have them establish three levels of phone tree: one for election work, one for emergency issues, and one for special projects. Base operating budgets on population per county. Some county coordinators can operate out of their living rooms, some need offices and staff. Be sure to provide adequate staff in heavy fund raising areas, regardless of population levels. Have county coordinator create an event crew (theater and performing arts students are often helpful in this capacity, and you can write evaluations, so they get academic work study credit), and a list of venues willing to discount or donate use of facilities. Do the same with caterers, grocery stores, any business willing to contribute cash or donate in-kind. In-kind donations can be better in some cases for all concerned. Use the venues, hold events, and make sure you don't lie about the events. This approach is useful just because the republicans can't really emulate it with any hope of success.Open a string of nonprofit Democratic Party Bingo Parlors across the country, and have decent prizes. Open Democrat Reading Rooms that carry our propaganda, mostly the old stuff... y'know, Payne, Jefferson, Madison... not liberal or progressive exclusively, but conservative and centrist democratic as well. Democracy wants to hear from everyone.Start a CONGREGATION OF TRUTH movement, with a program of respected religious leaders who travel from church to church (and anywhere else that'll have them) and present a program based on truth and morality according to the great religious teachings, in the context of current and recent events.Of course, if you give me time, I can do much better, but this is what flew off the top of my head.These are the things I haven't already discussed at length on the MRR blog. Look over the last couple of days, and you'll find a lot from me about steps to move from conspicuous consumer capitalism to high-craft ethic capitalism.
John Iceknife Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 9:18 pm

· Local races is right. Start taking back statehouses and county boards. Fund local Democratis in the reddest of the red areas. Don't even pick and choose - just throw $1500 at every Democrat running to be a state legislator from a rural district. That little bit of money goes a long way in these races, and they could do it many thousands of time over, every year.And a system for distributing info. Appoint someone who will serve as a cyber-liaison to the directors of a couple dozens campaigns, each.Eight, ten years from now, these guys start winning Congressional seats.
joe Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 10:52 pm

· The DCN needs to develop website for each state so that every level of elected offices in that state can be found and used to lead users to the democrats in those offices or those seeking the offices.
EasyRider Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 11:44 pm

· The old Chicago precinct captain got his precinct to go 8 to 1 for his guy down the ticket when the candidate at the top of the ticket got creamed (see Bilandic, Michael) because the voters in the precinct knew him and liked him and voted for his guy *for him, * for their friend Frank, who asked them personally. I was there, I heard him say it: "I know you can't vote for Bilandic, I can't either, we're all mad at him, but you know, we've got a guy further down the ticket. Would you vote for this guy as a favor to me?" And they did. They did it because Frank the precinct captain was their friendly neighbor, the guy who'd help them get a pothole fixed, the guy who'd get scholarship papers for little Mikey and chat about what a great time his nephew Tommy had at State U., the guy who'd help grandpa clear up the tangle with the VA. One-stop friendly service and information.He also could say "hi, how are ya" in all the languages represented in the precinct, even those spoken by non-citizens, and he knew all the kids' names. He sent Christmas cards, Hanukkah cards, Ramadan cards, Chinese New Year cards, Greek Easter cards, birthday cards -- he kept Hallmark and the post office in business. He did the things friendly neighbors do. He helped the voters in his precinct, and when he needed some help from them, they gave it.Now what was going on upstream from Frank? The ward committeeman (who was not necessarily the alderman) was the company commander of the precinct captains and he kept tabs on what was going on with them and their precincts. The ward committeeman was one of fifty in the city and thirty in the county, and the committee slated the city and county candidates, on the basis of connections and experience. They had a farm system -- the statehouse was the AAA league. Gotta have a farm system.Go read "Don't Make No Waves, Don't Back No Losers" and "We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent" for details. Read "The Last Hurrah" for a loving picture of an old-fashioned machine pol in a fictionalized Boston.Yeah, machine politics is old-fashioned and messy and it isn't hip and cool and progressive (and God knows there's been some first-class slimeballs involved). But we can learn a lot from how it works. It's been successful for a long long time.By the way, I'd start younger than high school. Grade school. Sponsor a Little League team like the local hardware store does. Sponsor the fireworks at the minor league ballpark (*everything* is sponsored at the ballpark). Don't just have your pols marching in the 4th of July parade, sponsor the parade. Hand out little flags to everyone along the route (and not cheap plastic ones, either). Make the county Dem organization and its friendly people well known for civic good works and fun. It's gotta be fun or no one wants to be part of it.Start Dem clubs in junior high. Take the kids on field trips to city hall (with pizza!) and the statehouse (with an overnight!).strawhat
Email Homepage 11.12.04 - 11:39 am

Etc. (back to top)

· Suggestion number three:Build up a country-wide counterintelligence unit of progressives and Democrats that can infiltrate and gather intelligence on GOP campaigns AND their shadowy "independent" groups.If we can blow the lid of these groups from the inside with documentations and other evidence of direct connections to GOP campaigns, we can both expose Swift Boat like operations as frauds, delegitimize them with counter-propaganda "I was on the inside, and they are all crooks and liars," and also make GOP campaigns paranoid that our intelligence unit will nail them if they pull any of their traditional hanky panky.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:42 pm

· Idea number 5:Start pretending to be fundamentalist Christians, and send a lot of fan mail to Judge Roy Moore begging him to run for President in 2008 as either a Republican, or as a third party candidate when they nominate Rudy Giuliani or John McCain.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 7:49 pm

· Now for a really radical idea:Nominate our President and Vice President in 2006!Hold the convention in the Summer of 2006, and have a Presidential nominee on the hustings as THE spokesperson for the party in opposition for two years.
Hesiod Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:05 pm

· oh geez, i'm not going to be some fucking slave or drone to a political party which really doesn't give a shit about anything much more than maintaining its own dwindling power.the question is also the answer--IDEAS. whether the DNC as an aging institution survives or not doesn't really matter to me any more. but there needs to be an effective opposition party to the current party in power, and i don't think some minor changes are going to cut it.tear the whole damn thing down and start from scratch, maybe even change the name. all new candidates have to be more in the obama mold, while completely phasing out the aging batch of democrats who are completely worthless. the DNC and most democrats just don't give a damn. i want candidates who are willing to fight, and maybe only serve one term, if it means actually accomplishing something.
the worm Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:06 pm

· 4 things DNC can and should do: 1. Organize the GOTV effort. Put people on the ground especially in RED COUNTIES in OH and FL so we have an idea what the hell is happening on the ground. Clearly, we were surprised this year. Have to win 2 out of the big 3 states OH-FL-PA2. Polling: I think DNC and Kerry's team did not have good data to work with. Their polls sucked. Their pollsters sucked. Must have good and accurate data.3. Overall messages for different groups i.e. hispanics, blacks, married women, especially single women. Figure out a way to get single womens' support. Kerry lost the hispanic votes in NM and NV and FL. 4. and most importantly, a memo to all future candidates: DO NOT EMPLOY BOB "I always fuck up" SHRUM.
snoopy Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:11 pm

· Here's what we really need:I hear a lot of hand wringing about social security, new appointments, tax code changes. How about some action? This is the most criminal administration ever. We need multiple assaults to through them off their stride - Whitewater type investigations into their lies, secret deals to help their rich friends and so on. We are still in reaction mode - to Bush appointments, Fallujah, tax and SS threats. We need to attack and lawsuits are the way to do it. We need lots and we need them to be talking points for our side. How about a taxpayer suit requiring legislators and the president to do due diligence before spending our cash? Important intelligence info was ignored on the road to Iraq. That is taking money out of my pocket. Gonzalez has made our prisoners of war less safe by voiding the Geneva Conventions. Shouldn't he, and Bush, be held accountable? Bush alone is responsible for shredding protections against mercury poisoning. Shouldn't victims name him in a suit? Powell lied to the UN. What body should we apply to prosecute him?Simply, those in our government acting out of self interest, rather than in the interest of the people should be prosecuted. Elected officials should be subject to at least the level of oversight we use against corporate ones. Lawsuits are the way to go. Let's stop reacting and ACT!
Mark Milstein Email Homepage 11.11.04 - 8:33 pm

All Apologies

2004-11-13T10:56:00.000-05:00

I hadn't seen this before: people of faith expressing sorrow, solidarity and hope to Iraq through picture messages.

Cat in a Box

2004-11-12T19:08:00.000-05:00

Not so sweet vindication

2004-11-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

Was it just a few months ago that my friends and family were rolling their eyes every time they heard me say "Ahmanson?"

He's in this electronic voting thing up to his pointy little dominionist ears.

Onward Christian Soldiers...

2004-11-07T09:44:00.000-05:00

Between the service's electric guitar religious tunes, marines stepped up on the chapel's small stage and recited a verse of scripture, meant to fortify them for war.
One spoke of their Old Testament hero, a shepherd who would become Israel's king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.
"Thus David prevailed over the Philistines," the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back "Hoorah, King David," using their signature grunt of approval.
The marines drew parallels from the verse with their present situation, where they perceive themselves as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world.
"Victory belongs to the Lord," another young marine read.
Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis "freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder ... We ask you God to bless us in that effort."
The marines then lined up and their chaplain blessed them with holy oil to protect them.
"God's people would be annointed with oil," the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines' foreheads.

More here.

Friday Cat Blogging

2004-11-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

His name is Captain Angus "Shanks" McPhee, commander of all he surveys.

Sorrow

2004-11-03T14:44:00.000-05:00

After great pain, a formal feeling comes--
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs--
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?

The feet, mechanical, go round-
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought--
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone--

This is the Hour of Lead--
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow--
First--Chill--then Stupor--then the letting go.

---Emily Dickinson

Even Obama Gets the Blues

2004-11-02T11:31:00.000-05:00

What? You're challenging my vote? You're goin' down, man.

Hmmm...

2004-11-02T11:20:00.000-05:00

"Let's see...Dean at HHS? Clark at State? What about the Big Dog? Damn, this is gonna be fun!"

Today's The Day We Take Back America

2004-11-02T07:22:00.000-05:00

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain--
All, all the stretch of these great green states--
And make America again!

----From "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes

Grrrrrr....

2004-11-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

Mara "Nice Polite Republican" Liasson just wrapped up a report on All Things Considered with her usual partisan aplomb. It was a pre-election look back at the campaign with highlights and lowlights called "Key Moments in the 2004 Campaign." She stated that Kerry's focus on Vietnam left him open for attack and then played about 30 seconds of Swift Boat Vets for Bush clips. She said the Swiftees dampened any post-convention bouce Kerry might have had and never once mentioned the fact that the SBV was associated with prominent Republicans or that, more importantly, that the charges they leveled against Kerry had been completely discredited!

The audio isn't up yet, but check back here later this evening and give a listen. (Update: It's there as of 6:00 p.m.)

*sigh* I guess it's time to write another letter to my old buddy Jeff.

Oh, I'll bet THIS is going to be a good time...

2004-10-29T22:47:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, it's time for Restoration Weekend 2004! No, not Renaissance Weekend, the nonpartisan gathering for movers and shakers in various fields, but the conservative version, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Popular Culture. Just imagine, you get to swim and golf in Boca Raton and go to banquets where you can watch Ann Coulter push food around her plate while Michelle Malkin preens like a cross-eyed cat. Oh, there'll be speeches and forums and panels galore and get this...it's only 9 days after the election, so you know you'll get to hear lots of wailing and gnashing and bitter recriminations!!!

Just look at the roster of soon-to-be sore losers:

Senator Zell Miller

Senator Mitch McConnell

Senator Jeff Sessions

Senator Lindsey Graham

Kelsey Grammer

Victor Davis Hanson

Dick Morris

General Thomas McInerney

Marc Andreessen

Ann Coulter

Michael Barone

Bill Kristol

Tammy Bruce

Robert Davi

John Bryant

Lew Rockwell

Jerry Taylor

Phyllis Chesler

Michelle Malkin

Daniel Pipes

Chris DeMuth

David Horowitz

Charlie Black

Steve Emerson

Christopher Hitchens

R. James Woolsey

Congressman John Doolittle

Bob Barr

But that gets me thinking...the Righties must be mighty confident in the election results. I mean, if there were to be a recount or any other post-election wackiness, it wouldn't make sense for all of Bush's surrogates to be holed up at a resort instead of appearing on Meet the Press et al. What do they know???

(Just for shits and giggles, here's the text of Paul "Lickspittle" Wolfowitz's address to the Kool-Aid Gang in 2002.)

Um, what?

2004-10-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Veterans of what, exactly? The rumble at Obadiah's barn-raising?
And one other thing: What is UP with that not-quite-flag on BC04's signs? It's flag-esque!

Somebody Stole My Sign!!!

2004-10-24T08:22:00.000-05:00

Oh I am sooooooo aggravated right now. I was upstairs getting dressed when something made me look out the window in my closet. A big SUV with BushCheney stickers was turning around in the driveway across the street. "Oh great" I thought. "He probably just stole my sign." Ha ha, very funny...except it was gone! He drove away and I didn't get the plate number, but I will be on the lookout for the truck. This is a small town.

What is WRONG with these people???

Wonder if Laura Read This Story to the Twins...

2004-10-10T22:56:00.000-05:00

Coalition of the 404 File Not Found

2004-10-09T12:07:00.000-05:00

Via comments at DailyKos: The White House seems to have misplaced the members of the "coalition of the willing." Clicking on the link "Who are the members of the coalition?" on this page gets you a 404 error. The Wayback Machine has it archived as of Feb. 2004, however, so you can still revel in the fine, fine coalition Georgie put together:

Afghanistan
Albania
Angola
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
Colombia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Georgia
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Japan
Kuwait
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Mongolia
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Rwanda
Singapore
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Spain
Tonga
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan

Of course, Spain, Poland, Honduras, the Phillipines, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Thailand and the Dominican Republic have pulled out. Norway is reducing troops to almost nothing. Time to update that page, then.

This is a good resource for keeping track of all of our allies. Those 12 Moldovans are the linchpin in this operation.

President Pro Temporary Insanity

2004-10-07T12:43:00.000-05:00

There was a little dust-up in the Senate yesterday, where the Dems have suddenly found their balls and the Repubs are on the defensive. Thomas doesn't have the transcript up yet, but NPR replayed bits yesterday and the transcript is up at LexisNexis.

What it came down to is that Sen. Durbin from Illonois was challenging the truth-telling capabilities of the administration, much to the chagrin of Senate President Pro Tempore, Jay Stevens of Alaska. (Stevens is the fill-in for Dick "Parliamentary Procedure" Cheney and 3rd in line for the Presidency.) Stevens objected to Durbin's assertions that there were no WMDs in Iraq, as borne out by the Duelfer report:

NPR's DAVID WELNA: Durbin had rebuffed Alaska's Ted Stevens, the Senate's most senior Republican and the powerful chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which Durbin sits on, too. Durbin eventually did yield to Stevens, who rose to cast doubts on the Duelfer report's conclusion that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction.

SEN. STEVENS: We had the same conclusion with regard to the air force. We were told that he had destroyed a series of airplanes. Later, we found them buried in the desert, a whole series of airplanes, the whole airplane buried, with capable of being dug up and brought up and used. Now we haven't found the weapons of mass destruction yet. This senator believes he had them.

I wondered about these airplanes, I really did. So I took a look. It's true. In the summer of 2003 US troops uncovered 30-40 planes buried at al-Taqqadum. They were cold-war era MiGs for the most part:

Since the year 2000, Iraqi MiG-25s were reported flying recce sorties over Jordan, and even penetrating the Saudi airspace: the Jordanian F-16As proved unable to intercept any, while in early 2003 even the USAF F-15s came too late to catch the Foxbat that flew 60km deep over Saudi Arabia. In December 2002, finally, an Iraqi MiG-25PD shot down a USAF RQ-1B Predator armed recce drone in a sharp engagement in which both sides opened fire. To a great surprise of all informed observers, however, the IrAF was not to participate in the III Persian Gulf War at all: instead, all of its aircraft were hidden, or - as the report above showed - even burried intact. Why had Saddam ordered this was done - especially in the given manner - remains unclear: certainly, the IrAF crews were training the disassembly of their aircraft into main sections already since the late 1990s. But, it remains unclear why would this be done in this case considering the fact that the aircraft were needed for the defence of Iraq. Equally, it remains unclear why was no order given the aircraft to be re-assembled, or why was the job of burrying them in sand done in such a poor way that the damage on most aircraft became irreparable.
(From the Air Combat Information Group's Journal)

Even Porter Goss, our new CIA chief, had to acknowledge that this cache was not the WMDs:

Although the remnants of Saddam's estimated 300-strong combat aircraft fleet are not weapons of mass destruction, Porter Goss, chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee, said that their concealment showed the lengths to which the Baathist regime had gone to hide its armaments."Our guys have found 30-something brand-new aircraft buried in the sand," he said. "These are craft we didn't know about. They are weapons (Iraq) tried to hide." (From the Times of London, 8/2/03)

"Brand new" 25 year old planes? Ok, Porter, you're the spook, not me. But even our friends at Fox reported that "Various officials differed in opinion as to whether the buried aircraft could ever fly again. Many of the planes were buried intact with minimal efforts to protect them from the sand." So Stevens' claim that these things just needed a little dust-off and they'd be ready to go is a little bit disingenuous.

The most damning fact that points to these planes being inconsequential is the general lack of media coverage or administration hype of them. Lexis lists 5 newspaper reports of the find, only 2 of which were in the U.S. FoxNews had one mention, on April 28, 2004, when Sean Hannity tried to use the planes as evidence of WMDs. (He was rebuffed by his guest, New York City Councilman Charles Barron) Nobody else seemed to pick up on this story and you know the administration and their flunkies in the media would be flogging this to death if they could use it to bolster their case.

So why does Stevens bring it up now? Is it a desperate attempt by the administration to hold out one last hope that the WMDs are out there? If so, it's a pretty shoddy one. Stevens finished up by saying "I'll be willing to debate anytime, anytime what happened in Iraq." Even if he has to pull half-truths out of his ass to do so.

Taking back God from the Right

2004-10-07T09:14:00.000-05:00

If you are, like I, a thinking, prayerful progressive, take a look at the Kerry Edwards Prayer Team. It's a lovely, thoughtful site with prayers and affirmations for us, our candidates and their families, staff and volunteers.
(via the Village Gate)

What a weird thing to say!

2004-10-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

I've noticed something strange about W's stump speeches. He likes to
start them out by mentioning Laura, even when she isn't there. Here's an
example from last week's rally in Ohio:

I wish -- I wish Laura were here today to see this crowd. (Applause.) I'm going to have dinner with her tonight, and I cannot wait to tell her what I saw. (Applause.) As you might remember, she was a public school librarian. I asked her to marry me; she said, fine, just so long as I don't ever have to give a speech. (Laughter.) I said, okay. (Laughter.) Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. The American people got to see her in New York City a while ago, saw what a strong, compassionate, great lady she is. (Applause.) I love her dearly. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back into office is so that Laura is First Lady for four more years. (Applause.)

(The most important reason? Good Lord, what does that even mean? Can you imagine if Clinton had said the same about Hilary? It would have been a national news event for weeks. Is Laura Bush actually accomplishing something as first lady? Please, somebody, help me understand this.)

But I digress. What I thought was truly strange about this little anecdote about his marriage proposal. He's told it a lot. I don't know why because it really doesn't make any sense. A 2001 profile on CNN.com tells the story this way:

Laura and George W. Bush married after a three-month courtship in 1977 when both were 31. "I saw an elegant beautiful woman who turned out not only to be elegant and beautiful, but very smart and willing to put up with my rough edges, and I must confess has smoothed them off over time," George W. said of his wife while he was governor of Texas.

Soon after the marriage, George W. Bush began his first political campaign for Congress, which he lost. Laura, raised a Democrat, was now forever tied to a Republican dynasty with her new husband, the grandson of a senator and the son of an ambassador who would soon become vice president, then president of the United States.

While she agreed to take on the role of political wife, she made her husband promise that she would never have to give a speech -- a promise long since broken.

She "agreed to take the role of a political wife?" That's an odd way to put it. But then again, according to Bush's little tale, Laura responded to his proposal with "Fine. As long as I don't have to give a speech." Not "Oh! George! You've made me the happiest woman alive!" Nope, just "fine." There's some real passion there, kids.

Even with the weird dynamics of their relationship aside, it's undeniable that rather than highlighting his accomplishments or complimenting his wife in a more conventional way or demonstrating his patriotism or something suitably campaign-like, Bush chooses to open almost every stump speech he gives, including today's "major policy speech" by bragging about the fact that he doesn't keep his promises. Telling, eh?

Links

2004-10-04T05:53:00.000-05:00

Somebody tried to hack into Ginny Schrader's campaign computers. Was it a consulting firm with GOP ties? Becki Donatelli, whose firm, "Campaign Solutions" is apparently THE campaign consulting agency to the GOP, is married to Frank Donatelli Esq., former Reagan staffer and current board member of "Americans for a Better Country." ABC, as it is so cleverly called, is not just another 527. It is, in fact, the 527 that tried to kill all the other 527s.

Last year, Donatelli and his partners started ABC: "Americans for a Better Country, a newly formed 527 political committee, has been set up with the goal of establishing an aggressive voter-mobilization and issue ad campaign to out-raise and out-spend, within the boundaries of the new campaign finance law, the liberal groups whose stated mission is the ‘defeat of George Bush," read its press release.

That's right, they collected no money. They supported no candidates. They ran no advertising. Instead, they filed an request for an advisory opinion with the FEC to try to get that body to rule against the fundraising and spending activities of 527s in general: "The liberal groups have already been raising money from billionaires, labor unions and other special interests and making plans to spend their unlimited soft dollars to affect the 2004 elections. ABC wants the advisory opinion to clarify whether this is permissible." The request for an opinion contains such questions as "If I were George Soros, could I do this?" Ok, not really, but it does lay out very specific hypothetical questions, especially about 527 coordination with campaigns and political parties. The FEC's opinion sidestepped most of the questions, much to the chagrin of conservatives hoping to muzzle Moveon etc.

Donatelli seems to have missed the irony inherent in this situation. He started a 527 to help Bush by limiting the supposed "coordination" between campaigns and advocacy groups while ignoring the fact that his wife runs the company that handles the online presence and fundraising for the RNC and Bush-Cheney '04! Well, as they say, IOIYAR!

Incidentally, while Schrader's opponent is not a client of Campaign Solutions, he is a recipient of funds from Rick Santorum's PAC. Santorum has previously worked with Mike Connell, who is Becki Donatelli's partner in ConnellDonatelli, her other political consulting firm.

Update: Connell's other company, NewMedia Communications, designed the website for the Pennsylvania State Republican Committee. Small world.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Next President of the United States...

2004-10-01T08:42:00.000-05:00

When the debate started last night, I sat on the couch in absolute agony, just waiting for something to go horribly wrong. I couldn't sit still (highly unusual, as I usually make sloths look like real go-getters) and kept getting up to refill wine glasses, make tea, go to the bathroom, etc.
Finally, around the halfway point I started to relax. My parents and Mr. B, who, while essentially Dems, aren't nearly as immersed in the minutae of this campaign as I am, were laughing at Bush and cheering Kerry and reacting the way I imagine most sensible people around the country would react. By the time W. started with the preacher talk about the valley of peace, I was feeling giddy with relief.

Yesterday over at Eschaton, someone in comments metioned how Kerry needed to wear an Atticus Finch suit to the debate. Athenae and I both swooned. Peck-as-Finch turns out to have been a formative crush for both of us. I don't know about her, but I thought Kerry brought the Finch last night, and Chimpy was the rabid dog. Either that or the busted chiffarobe.

Of course, this is my first stop online this morning and I haven't seen the media spin yet. Last night they were acknowledging Kerry as the winner, but who knows what kind of spanking they got from Karl after I went to bed to make them change their tune.

Put on Your Podhoretz Jammies - It's Storytime!

2004-09-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the mind just boggles. I've been reading a books of critical essays on 1984, edited by that old gasbag Howard Bloom. Bloom, in his introductory essay, mentions that Norman Podhoretz "recently" (as of the 1986 writing) claimed Orwell as a neoconservative.

Sure enough. I've found the essay here. Has Podhoretz ever actually read 1984?

Right Christians

2004-09-30T08:25:00.000-05:00

I know I do a lot of what seems like Christian-bashing here, so it might be easy to assume that I myself am not a Christian. I am, in fact, a committed Episcopalian. I was confirmed this summer, after leaving the Roman Catholic church I was raised in.

It's the Christian Right I unapologetically "bash," as I can not stand their perversion of Christ's message. Christianity has been co-opted by these lunatics and the Christian Left has been marginalized. So it was with great pleasure that I read about Church Folks for a Better America. They state:

We grieve that our nation is not standing for “liberty and justice for all,” nor treating Iraqis as we would be treated. We believe that accountability begins at home, that wise leaders know their mistakes, and that honest leaders admit them. Fear and resentment will never guide us to a just and lasting peace. Any nation that hopes to be “under God” must live for a positive vision of world community, not a blind response to terrorism that tragically makes others see us as if we were terrorists ourselves.

CBFA is currently raising funds to place an anti-war ad in a major newspaper. Drop by and give if you can, and help give the Christian Left a voice again.

Mindless

2004-09-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

I was watching C-Span last night and managed to catch the rerun of James Fallows speaking about the debate styles of Bush and Kerry. I read his original article in the Atlantic with interest and it was a treat to see actual clips of the debates referenced, especially the Weld-Kerry match-up. True to C-Span form, the callers alternated between Bush and Kerry supporters and it made for a particularly interesting contrast.

Kerry supporters called in with specific suggestions, especially about which issues Kerry should attack Bush with. Many of them sounded like they've been following comment threads at Eschaton or Kos.

When asked "what does Bush need to do to win these debates?" at least two Bush callers I heard answered with some variation on "just be himself, speak from the heart, tell the truth." He was praised for being "sincere" and "a godly man." One particularly emotional caller stressed how we should never forget what he did for us "at 9/11." Don't worry, love, we won't.

Bush on "the rich"

2004-09-22T19:55:00.000-05:00

He's STILL saying it:

And finally, when you hear them say, tax the rich, be careful. The rich hire lawyers and accountants for a reason, because they don't want to pay. And you get stuck with the tab. But we're not going to let him stick you with the tab. We're going to carry Minnesota in November and win a great victory. (Applause.)

---Pres. Bush - NSC Sports Hall, Blaine, Minnesota 9/16/04

Um, how long are the rich going to let Bush get away with insinuating that they are tax cheats?

Thanks for nothing

2004-09-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

I'm always sensitive to the portrayals of homeschooling families in the media so I was interested to see the story of Jan Rankowski, a 9 year old Maine boy with Asperger's Syndrome who has been barred from the local playground.

Turns out Jan, who is being homeschooled this year after being "mainstreamed" out of his special ed classes, wanted to go play with the school children during recess. The town apparently has only one playground, which the school uses. According to this Boston Globe article, Jan had played on the playground for a year without incident until the school began documenting his behavior without informing the family and determined that his agressive behavior was unacceptable and dangerous to the other children. The parents are now suing the school for access to the playground.

I don't know who's right in this case. As a homeschooling parent I have certain biases, which this story mostly confirms. My main rule of homeschool/school relations is "the less, the better." I turn in my paperwork, they send my approval letter and that's it. But the Rankowskis seem to have other ideas. The AP story reports that "The boy's parents say they hope their lawsuit will force schools to treat disabled or home-schooled children the same way as other children. " Fair enough, in theory, but this isn't an issue of the school treating a homeschooled child unequally. He was allowed to participate in a school activity, and like any child, the school is obligated to make sure he obeys the rules set out for that activity. Whether or not he was able to is not the question. If I decided to send my children to recess at the local school, the school folks would have every right to make sure they were behaving the way they expected the other children to behave, whether or not they were disabled.

In the Globe, the Rankowskis paint a sad picture of Jan's life without recess:
Sitting at a wooden picnic table outside their home, Jan's parents said they blame the school for leaving their son without daily playmates for the last seven months.
He is increasingly isolated, holing up with his computers, gaining weight, and struggling with social skills.

This just doesn't ring true to my experience as a homeschooler. I seek out activities and playmates for my children. It's my responsibility, not the school's to makie sure my kids get a well rounded experience, both academically and socially. If my kids can't read, or don't have access to a chemistry lab at home, or don't have anyone to play with during school hours, it's not the school's fault! They took the child out of school. Now they need to take responsibility for his education, in all areas of life.

Ouch! Will Brings the Smackdown!

2004-09-22T08:25:00.000-05:00

What a hectoring know-it-all. I've never had any use for him and usually don't even bother to read his column in Newsweek. But for some reason I did read it yesterday and was amazed to see this:

Last week in The Washington Post, Robert Kagan, a leading neoconservative, wrote a column that illustrates why neoconservatives alarm almost everyone who isn't one—and especially dismay real conservatives. (emphasis mine)

Since I imagine Will considers himself a "real conservative" I'm going to take this as a sign that the Republican civil war has begun. Can it be they've finally realized the untenable position these imperialist clowns have put them in? I'm going to enjoy this.

(Will also gets his shots in at Kerry, concluding the column with this:"Lurking there is the idea behind foreign-policy overreaching—the anticonservative delusion that political will can control the world. And Kerry has nothing to say about it." Whatever.)

Classy

2004-09-22T08:18:00.000-05:00

Newsweek online reports on a Bushtwins stop on the campaign trial:

As they left the building on their way to another campaign event in Milwaukee, Jenna and Barbara ran into a group of about 40 student protesters, who were positioned near their motorcade. One girl held a sign that said DRAFT JENNA, while another held a sign that read SEND THE BUSH TWINS TO IRAQ.
A male student on his way to class read the signs and paused. “No way,” he yelled. “Don’t send them to Iraq. Send them to my room!”

Charming.

I Loves Me Some Pierce

2004-09-21T07:10:00.000-05:00

Charlie Pierce is one of my favorite journalists in all the world. His letters to Jonathan Alterman never fail to crack me up. Here's the money quote from last Friday:

Pretty sorry-ass week, though. Dan Rather beset by pipsqueaks with Cheerios dripping down on their Norm Podhoretz pajamas.

And here I am wearing my matching Midge Decter peignoir.

Speaking of Podhoretz, I keep sitting down with Commentary magazine to try and wade through his article "World War IV: How It Started, What It Means, and Why We Have to Win" . I get about 1 paragraph in before I get the itch to do something more fun, like brush the cat's teeth.

Fox!

2004-09-20T21:33:00.000-05:00

You know, usually our local Fox affiliate isn't too bad. But tonight I was so irritated with their political coverage. Their "analyst" Joe Battenfeld mentioned that a "lot of people would be watching" Kerry's appearances on Letterman and Regis and Kelly "to see if he shows his human side." This he says without any irony after showing a clip of Bush shambling around a stage in New Hampshire, smirking and speaking non-sensically. ("I couldn't disagree more, and not so long ago, so did my opponent.") I'd like to see Bush's human side sometime - you know, the side of him that gives a rat's ass about the millions of Americans suffering as he cavorts around his neo-con fantasy zone.

Are you a moonbat?

2004-09-18T08:23:00.000-05:00

Trolls like to throw around the term "moonbat" like it's a hideous insult. I don't get it. We're moony? Batty? We fly through the night on silvery wings? I dunno. But I DO know that you can get your moonbat merchandise at my cafe press store.

Isn't he cute?

Buckhead

2004-09-18T00:02:00.000-05:00

So everybody's all over the outing of "Buckhead" the once-anonymous blog poster who started the maelstrom that we know as "Kerning! The Musical."

He's not just some basement dwelling, cheeto eating troll; he's Harry MacDougald Esq. of Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to being a lawyer allied with conservative causes, he's a member of the Fulton County Board of Electors.

Not only that, but when the LA Times and the Washington Post sued Freerepublic.com for copyright infringement, Macdougal drafted an amicus brief for the Freepers on behalf of the Southeastern Legal Foundation.

Charming.

ETA: Powerline blog, which followed the Superscript Follies from the beginning, credits a certain Elizabeth MacDougald with pointing them to the Freerepublic comments thread where Buckhead first struck. Hmmmm. (I'd provide a link, but uh, I really don't want to show up in their stats. Here, look at the Google results.)

Blogger ate my Blogroll

2004-09-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

It was there yesterday...I swear.

Well, go visit Attaturk while I fix it.

Update: Look! It mysteriously re-appeared...just like Bush's TANG records!

Who's writing this war? John Waters?

2004-09-15T19:21:00.000-05:00

So I was reading Newsweek's little story on the Green Zone, when this line stopped me in my tracks:
"Sheik Fuad Rashid, the U.S.-appointed imam of the local mosque, dresses like a nun, dyes his hair platinum blond and claims that Mary Mother of Jesus appeared to him in a vision (hence the getup)."

Hello? Is this not a story all by itself?

The San Francisco Chronicle thought so. The highlight has to be the picture. He's...fabulous!

The Ineffable Sadness of Laura Bush

2004-09-15T08:41:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you can see it behind her frozen mask of First Lady compliance:

People:You've just been traveling with your grandmother [famously strict former FirstLady Barbara Bush]. Do "Ganny's rules" still apply?

Barbara: Mmm-hmm. Definitely.

Jenna: We had some wardrobe malfunctions. Age 22 and 80 don't really go together. There were outfits that got nixed before they even were put on.

Barbara: She doesn't like a lot of complaining, really.

Mrs. Bush: Yes, you don't get to complain.

Doesn't that just about sum up Laura's life?

Messiah Complex

2004-09-14T12:04:00.000-05:00

I've created LIFE! LIFE, I tell you!

I Shot the Sheriff...

2004-09-14T08:22:00.000-05:00

In the September 7th issue of "People" there's a charming little "at home with the Bushes" story meant to emphasize for all the red staters how down home and reg'lar the first family is. Among the mundane trivia is this exchange:

People: Mrs. Bush, we read that you like Bob Marley. And Jimmy Cliff?
Mrs. Bush: Well, I just have my old record collection.
Jenna: I think it's funny people think it's shocking that my mom would have good music taste. What does music have to do with politics? I mean, she can have cool music tastes. She's a normal woman.

Boy, I'll bet they're going to regret that little anecdote once the Laura-as-pothead meme hits the fan.

Small World of Wingnuttery

2004-09-13T19:39:00.000-05:00

Wow. Turns out Skulky McStalker in the previous post is the son of Tim Lomperis, a St. Louis University professor of Political Science and a Vietnam vet. 'Tis a pity, but I can no longer hear that designation without wondering "are you a good witch, or a bad witch?" Turns out he's the latter. Lomperis spoke this summer at a conference in Boston put together in response to Kerry's, well, general existence. It was apparently entirely funded by Vietnam vets who were also Harvard MBAs. (No, GWB did not make a pledge.)

IRD Watch

2004-09-13T15:45:00.002-05:00

Christian Century Magazine had an interesting tidbit in the 9/7/04 issue:

At the retirement banquet for Bishop C. Joseph Sprague of the Northern Illinois District of the United Methodist Church, guests observed a young man assiduously noting who was present, and photographing and tape-recording every speaker. Sprague recognized the man as John Lomperis, a staffer for the Institute for Religion and Democracy, an organization that regularly assails what it terms the “leftist” stances of mainline Protestant denominations. Lomperis works for Mark Tooley, the director of the IRD department that focuses on United Methodists and that for the past eight years has especially hounded Sprague. When asked why he was attending the event to honor the bishop, Lomperis insisted he had a right to be there because he is a United Methodist. When pressed, however, he said he belongs to an “evangelical ecumenical” church, not a UMC congregation (The Reporter of the Northern Illinois Conference, August 13).

Here's an eyewitness account of the event and here's the IRD's response.

I'd been wondering what those dogs had been up to lately, since they seem to have momentarily stoppped trying to destroy the Episcopal Church from within.

Flag Desecration

2004-09-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

Pixie over at Eschaton linked to this picture in the flag desecration thread and I just had to post it here, too.

Yes, my fellow 'Muricans, this is your president, commander-in-chief of the brave men and women of our armed forces, signing his name on an American flag.
Either it's a sacred piece of cloth, that must never be treated with anything but the utmost respect or it's not. If you can autograph it, Georgie, I can burn it.

9/11

2004-09-12T12:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my stepsons and I were talking about the 9/11 anniversary and where we were at the time. They recalled that they were on their way back from a dentist's appointment with their mom:

"Mommy had the radio on and heard that there were explosions and people were escaping and stuff and she turned it off. Then she dropped us off at school." This I already knew and had always thought odd, since most people heard the news and rushed to pick up their kids from school.

"What time was it?"

"9 or 10 A lot of kids left early."

"I had to keep it a secret." This from S, who was then 9.

"What?"

"The teacher told me not to tell anyone."

"Yeah, they didn't make an announcement until dismissal," added M, now 14.

Can you imagine? Your mother drops you off at school, knowing there's a terrorist attack. She heads off to work and you have to spend the school day acting like everything's ok. I don't get some people. At all.

Watching the Tragic Odometer

2004-09-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

Attaturk pointed to this in a thread over at Eschaton.
999 dead Americans in Iraq. Do you suppose the men and women in the field have any idea? Imagine starting your patrol knowing you could be #1000.
Athenae has an idea to mark this sad milestone.
When I hear the news, I'll light a candle, too.

Someone at the AP has a sense of humor!

2004-09-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

"Now go over there and get me some of that "W" ketchup, boy!"

Could this be the convention kicker?

2004-09-06T22:26:00.000-05:00

Jesus' General reports that the convention kicker bears a striking resemblance to the son of conservative radio host Dr. Laura.

What do you think?

Deryk Schleissinger - undated but obviously a few years ago.
(Cropped and enlarged. Original photo is here.)

The convention kicker.

Verrrry interesting.

Out of the mouths of babes...

2004-09-04T00:16:00.000-05:00

Driving home from the aquarium this evening with the wee Biblios, my kindred spirit AM and her 2 kids. After 3 hours of gazing at mollusks, chasing crazed preschoolers around the penguin exhibit and testing the limits of the Bickford's waitstaff's patience, the rise of the backseat chattering class is almost too much for the mamas to bear. We order silence to commence. Murmurs and giggles...then their voices rise again until finally we hear the youngest call out "I'm going to kill you! Nanny nanny boo boo!"
Amazed, I turn to AM and said "I think that's our foreign policy in a nutshell!"

(You were right, AM. I did put it on my blog!)

The Big Top of Hatred

2004-09-02T19:40:00.000-05:00

So the Republicans are always going on about their "big tent." I don't know about you, but the image that springs to mind when I hear that is a big ol' stripey circus tent. Which, given the recent freak show of the RNC, seems to be appropos.

What is it with them? Why do they want to be the party of doom and gloom and apoplectic speakers with venomous spittle flying out of their mouths? I practically mainlined CSPAN during the DNC and I don't remember anything approaching the level of vitriol coming from the Republicans. If their whole goal was to reach out to swing voters, I think they botched it. (Well, I guess that's another manifestation of the Botch doctrine) First they had Rudy, with his nervous little hands all a-twitter, thanking God for W. while a body came hurtling toward him. Then John McCain swallowed his pride and shilled for the man who destroyed him in 2000 by making fun of Michael Moore. Liddy Dole apparently misunderstood the "big tent" and thought they said "tent revival." Then we had Arnold, you know, all misty eyed over Nixon and insulting girls, men, girly-men and people who worry how they're gonna buy the kids lunch this week. Miller and Cheney rounded it out by delivering a tag-team smackdown of John Kerry in one of the ugliest evenings of television I've ever seen.

What would an undecided voter make of all this? "Gee, they seem angry, but they sure do like flags!" "Wow, John Kerry has screwed up the economy and the war so badly, we need to make sure he doesn't get reelected!" "Look! Shiny!" I don't know. I should think "Hope is on the Way" would come off better than the use of adhesive bandages to insult our veterans, but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Bush and company knew the best way to get reelected was to make sure America was poor, hungry, frightened and eager to find someone to blame. They created the perfect storm, and now they're exploiting it by pointing the big finger of scapegoating our way. Yes, Liberals are to blame for the woe that has befallen America. We are to be treated with scorn and derision for our insistence on the truth and our stubborn idealism and our sense of fairness. We went and ruined America, didn't we?

The faces I saw at the DNC were joyful. People from all walks of life looked like they were thrilled to be participating in the process, thrilled to be nominating John Kerry and celebrating their party. The GOPers just seem grim, roused to excitement only when swept up in a moment of loathing and jeering. It's a side of America I don't understand but I'll do my damndest to make sure those folks have jobs, healthcare and peace while John Kerry is prseident. They may hate us, but we'll deliver the goods to them anyway, because we're liberals and that's how we do it. We have a big tent, too. Big enough for the whole damn country.

When in doubt, make stuff up.

2004-08-30T08:23:00.000-05:00

Like many Americans, the Biblios belong to AAA. This month's member's magazine has a special report on the election, wherein the candidates answer AAA's questions about mobility. In his answer to a question about traveling "without hurting the environment" Bush states:

In addition, I am currently finalizing a rule to dramatically lower
sulfur emissions from diesel engines along with an interstate air quality rule
that will reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by nearly 70% by 2018. The Natural Resources Defense Council called this rule the most
significant public health step in a generation.

Wow. That's really impressive. Except it isn't true. The NRDC did call a proposed EPA rule reducing diesel emissions in light trucks and buses "the most significant public health advance in a generation." But it wasn't one of Bush's. That statement, attributed to the NRCD's senior attorney Richard Kassel, was included in a press release dated December 21 2000. Hey, wasn't somebody named Clinton the president then?

When Bush took office in 2001, much ado was made of the fact that new EPA head Christine Todd Whitman was planning on proceeding with the Clinton-era diesel reductions. The new diesel fuel standards were effective starting in March 2001. Unfortunately...

Almost immediately after Governor Whitman's historic announcement last year, industry associations representing the oil industry, the engine makers and several individual companies filed lawsuits challenging the regulation and seeking to stop EPA from implementing it. NRDC and several other environmental and health organizations intervened in the litigation to help defend EPA's rule. Today's decision soundly rejected the industry contentions, and allows EPA to proceed with implementing its rule. (NRCD press release, May 3, 2002)

Two years after it was first proposed, the EPA was finally able to implement the rule. Even with the delay, this can't be the rule Bush is talking about in his response to AAA. So what does he mean?

The strange thing is, the quote by Kassel has a life of its own. Somehow, it got attached to a completely different diesel emissions rule proposal, this one regarding off-road diesel engines, like tractors and bulldozers. The NRDC expressed disapproval of this rule when it was proposed in 2002. Kassel is quoted in a June 2002 article from the San Francisco Chronicle:

But Rich Kassel, at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, said he viewed the administration initiative as "a back-door way for the oil industry and its friends in the Bush administration to reopen last year's highway diesel rule. Obviously, we will strongly oppose it if it goes forward in any forum." The EPA appears to be "ceding its full regulatory authority to the White House Office of Management and Budget to jointly produce a rule that would consider emissions trading between trucks and buses and farm and construction equipment."

A NRDC press release from the same month uses similar language:

"The White House OMB shouldn't be involved in writing environmental regulations, especially when it favors a scheme to allow emissions trading between trucks and buses and farm and construction equipment," said NRDC attorney Rich Kassel. "Although beneficial to the oil industry, trading away reductions in diesel emissions would be unhealthy for citizens and unacceptable to NRDC."

The NRDC supported the 2003 proposal for an off-road diesel emissions rule, warning, however that

"...It is critical that industry lobbyists do not weaken the proposal -- by weakening the 2007 Highway Diesel Rule, exempting any engines from the final rule, or by creating emissions trading or other schemes that would reduce the environmental and public health benefits of the EPA's proposal. Moreover, this Proposal shouldn't be a Trojan horse for radical cost-benefit analyses promoted by the White House Office of Management and Budget that could undermine other important environmental and public health and safety programs."

When the rule, now known as the Nonroad Diesel Rule of 2004 was finally enacted in May of 2004, Kassel was quoted as saying "This rule will go a long way toward reducing the significant pollution problem of nonroad diesel engines...Unfortunately, this positive step stands in contrast with the administration's backward slide on other air pollution issues, especially power plants."

So, again, this can't be the rule Bush mentions in the AAA magazine, unless he was asked the question back in April. Even assuming that is the case and that Bush was referring to the Nonroad Diesel Rule sometime in the weeks before it was finalized...it is still NOT the rule that inspired the Kassel quote. But this doesn't stop the Bush Administration from repeating it on the White House website. (Scroll down to M.S. Mclead's question)

The other plan Bush mentions in his answer to AAA, the interstate air quality rule, sounds like something to do with the interstate highway system. But it's actually a rule to regulate the emissions from power plants that blow across state lines. It has nothing to do with the question asked, and is certainly not what Kassel was referring to in his quote. In fact, the NRDC criticized the proposed rule in a December 17, 2003 press release:

"As expected, the Bush administration's plan to clean up air pollution is too little, too late," said John Walke, director of NRDC's clean air project. "It's no wonder power companies and industry lobbyists are cheering this plan."

The Sierra Club reports that the Bush "Clear Skies" program actually allows for MORE pollution than allowed by adequate enforcement of our current Clean Air Act. Although the EPA has bundled the IAQR into what it calls the Clean Air Rules of 2004, it is still clearly the same program proposed in the 2003 State of the Union Address, which also called for reducing air pollution 70% by 2018. The Sierra Club isn't alone in objecting to Clear Skies. The American Lung Association, Clean Air Task Force, Clean Water Action, Clear The Air, League of Conservation Voters, National Environmental Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and World Wildlife Federation released this press backgrounder on 2/7/03, stating, in part:

The Bush administration's air pollution plan would weaken the public health protections of the current Clean Air Act. It would threaten public health and help big polluters by delaying and diluting cuts in power plants' sulfur, nitrogen and mercury pollution compared to timely enforcement of current law. It would roll back the current law's public health safeguards protecting local air quality, curbing pollution from upwind states, and restoring visibility in our national parks. Finally, it also would do nothing to curb power plants' growing emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.

Huh. So I guess that means Bush's statement in the AAA magazine is, well, not true. Amazing. The nation's largest organization of automobile drivers asks the President of the United States if it is possible to "travel safely and efficiently and at reasonable cost without hurting the enviroment" and he answers them with misleading statements about unrelated programs that actually do less to reduce pollution than current legislation. Sure, it might sound good to the uninformed reader, especially with all those scary chemicals and percentages and that endorsement by the NRDC, but in the end it's just another Bush lie.

How stupid does he think we are?

2004-08-29T18:27:00.000-05:00

Ewww! Gov. Goodhair is touching me!

You know you're spending too much time online...

2004-08-29T08:34:00.000-05:00

...when you start dreaming about bloggers. Last night I dreamt the Boston Globe was blaming Atrios for bad performances by American gymnasts at the Olympics. Eschaton, take me away!

2004-08-10T07:37:00.000-05:00

Check out the smirk on W.

The Party of Family Values, Eh?

2004-08-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

Somebody who works for the RNC is having their wages garnished for child support payments. Ouch.

Curious...

2004-08-09T19:35:00.000-05:00

I find it enlightening to peruse the campaign financial reports over at opensecrets. One interesting little tidbit I stumbled upon today: both the Kerry campaign and the Bush campaign use credit cards for campaign expenditures. When they report the payments to their credit card companies however, they follow different formats. The Kerry camp lists their AMEX payments in the "travel" category on their FEC reports, which makes sense, since most hotels require a credit card for reservation. The Bushies, on the other hand, lists their AMEX payments as, well, "credit card payments." I scoured the raw documents over at the FEC website, but I sure couldn't find an itemization of those charges. So it seems that Bush-Cheney '04 is using that AMEX card to buy quite a lot - $7,937,066.00 worth of something over the past year or so, according to my calculations- but we the electorate have no idea what.

North Korea...Again

2004-08-04T09:22:00.000-05:00

Intrepid Moon investigator John Gorenfeld posted this story about one of Moon's businesses sold nuclear subs to North Korea. (via Atrios, ur, Duncan) I shook my head in amazement and decided to mosey on over to the Congressional Record to see how ol' Sammy Brownback's North Korea Freedom Act was faring. (You remember the NKFA, don'tcha?)
I usually check the CR every day, but the last few weeks were a whirlwind of summer fun and pre-camp preparations around chez-Biblio, so I had missed the last congressional session on July 22. And what a session it was: the House version of the NKFA was passed by the house and sent to the Senate. The Congress resumes on September 7th, so I will keep an eye out for any developments.
Let's recap: our representatives coronate the mad theocrat who sells WMDs to the mad dictator, allowing the "church" said theocrat leads to prosper here in the US, while passing a bill that would authorize spending millions of our tax dollars to broadcast American propaganda into North Korea, a land, for the most part, without radios. (That's where the radios floating over the border come in. 99 red balloons...)That's in addition to the millions of our tax dollars that would be given to non-governmental groups operating outside North Korea. There are myriad groups who would likely compete for this money, many of which seem to view converting North Koreans to Christianity to be of more importance than feeding them.
Call or write your senators. Refer them to the points raised in this article, and this one. Let them know why this bill is a bad idea and why cracking down on the Unification Church instead is a good one.

Just Who is this John Kerry You Speak Of?

2004-07-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

Last night, watching the DNC on C-Span: Mr. B. cuts over to WGBH during a dull moment and I hear the question - Can John Kerry define himself for the American people on Thursday?

This morning, on the Connection: What do we want to know about Kerry and will that help him get elected?

In my mailbox this afternoon: Cover of Newsweek, "In Search of John Kerry."

Ok, ok, I get it. John Kerry is an elusive cipher, a whil-o'the-wisp, Mr. Cellophane himself. I have no idea what to think about him and I don't think I can make up my mind unless he drives to my house, settles in on the couch and personally tells me what it is he's all about.

At least, this is what the media would have us believe.

When did the "cuddliness" of the candidate and the transparency of his personality trump the substance of his intellect in presidential campaigns? Did post-Revolutionary voters lament the lack of intimate details about George Washington?

Dorcas: I know he is a great general, but pray, tell me of his pastimes and predilictions.
Constance: Marry, I know not, but mayhap we could secure an interview with his great friend LaFayette to discern the quality of his nature. I hasten to enquire.
Dorcas: Godspeed!

The fact is, what we do know about Kerry is enough to assure us of his fitness for the office of the President. He decided on public service at an early age, and has never wavered in that committment. He has a mind capable of seeing the nuances in complicated matters. He makes careful decisions and listens to advisors. He is willing to change his mind. He studies history.
Want details about his personal life? He is still close friends with people he met as a young man. His children adore him. His ex-wife speaks of him kindly. His step-sons are happily campaigning for him. He loves his wife.

On the Connection, the point was made that Kerry is more relaxed one on one and that Bush is more "comfortable in his skin" in public. But we all know that the most important moments of the presidency don't happen in public, they happen away from the cameras in tense negotiations and heated debates. They happen when the President presents his case to a foreign leader or brokers the support of the Congress. In the middle of the whirlwind of security and motorcades, of proclamations and gala dinners, surrounded by the Secret Service, his staff and the press, the President is, ultimately, alone. He shoulders the responsibility for protecting us and helping us prosper. He has to live with the results of his choices and decisions, good and bad. He is accountable to us.

We don't need a President who knows how to work a rope line and josh with the press. We don't need a President who needs the constant approval of syncophants to fuel him. We need a President who knows how to be alone with the issues, to grapple with the tough questions and face down the distractions, until the answers come to the fore. John Kerry can do that. What more do we need to know?

2004-07-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

But on the other hand, I share a lot more DNA with this guy.
The eldest wee-Biblio is seen here in his Kerry shirt, holding "Kerry" the Democratic donkey and the 32 dollars he saved for the Kerry campaign. I am one proud progressive Mama.

My Cousin Andy

2004-07-27T06:18:00.000-05:00

My mother is involved with the Alden Kindred of America, an organization of people descended from John and Priscilla Alden. The other day she told me about one of our newest members. Ok, I already knew that I'm related to Dan Quayle, so I should have been prepared for this, but I wasn't. Ok, ok, deep breath...

Andrew Card. There, I said it. Andrew Card is my cousin. Chimpy's chief enabler and I share DNA. DNA, people! And probably someday he's going to be struck by a terrible genetic disease and it will turn out that I am the only one who can save him and his life will hang in the balance as I decide...hmmm, will I let him live to spread more Republicanism throughout the land or will I leave him to die in the lonely knowledge that he and he alone could have said "C'mon Mr. Preznit, let's put the goat book down and go save the country?"

I confess: I would let him live to spin the spin on cable talk shows another day. Because that's what liberals do!

Whew. Sorry about that. President Gore got me all fired up last night.

Carry on.

Truckin'

2004-07-24T14:03:00.000-05:00

Here's the schedule for the Southern Baptist Convention's "ivotevalues" tractor-trailer truck tour. If they're in your neighborhood, stop by and see how non-partisan they really are.

2004-07-23T17:42:00.000-05:00

Senator Byrd on the Defense Appropriations Bill of 2005:

Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz described the $25 billion which is contained in the conference report of the Defense appropriations bill now before the Senate as an insurance plan. That is the way Mr. Wolfowitz described it. Secretary Wolfowitz stated in his testimony to the Armed Services Committee that our troops would not run out of funds until February or March 2005. I didn't buy that line. The administration has fallen down on the job in budgeting for these wars, and his budget projections simply are not to be trusted.
I say ``these wars'' because we are fighting two wars, one war in Afghanistan, which is the result of the al-Qaida attack upon the United States on September 11, 2001. That was an attack upon the United States by those individuals who had hijacked planes and flown them into the World Trade Towers, into the Pentagon, and into the field in Pennsylvania. That was one war. I supported Mr. Bush on that war. I support that war today.
The second war is the Bush war, the war that is of Mr. Bush and his ring of people around him in the White House. That is the Bush war. That was an attack upon a sovereign nation which had not provoked us, which had not attacked us. That was an attack on a nation in support of the Bush doctrine of preemption. I did not support that war then, and I do not support it today.

It's nice to see someone saying something sensible, isn't it? Byrd thinks so, too:

The administration would do well to listen--just to listen; get off its high horse, swallow its false pride, and listen--to this commonsense message. Stop the budget gamesmanship that only endangers the lives of our fighting men and women. Enough of the political posturing that denies that our military in the field may have urgent needs. The President of the United States must take responsibility for the fiscal mess that he has created.

I think the Dems smell blood in the water.

Uh-oh

2004-07-23T09:54:00.000-05:00

Senator John Kyl of AZ has introduced a whopper of an anti-terrorism bill in the Senate. I haven't read through all of it yet but a quick perusal yielded this:

IN GENERAL- Whoever, within the United States, or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, willfully participates in or provides material support or resources (as that term is defined under section 2339A) to a nuclear weapons program, or other weapons of mass destruction program of a foreign terrorist power, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be imprisoned for not more than 20 years.

I hope this is retroactive, cause I'm pretty sure some members of the current administration did

just that.

I can't wait to hear the debate on this one...

2004-07-23T09:39:00.000-05:00

Sen. Mark Dayton of Minnesota introduced this bill into the Senate on Monday - "to ensure that Members of Congress do not receive better prescription drug benefits than medicare beneficiaries."

The short title is "Taste of Our Own Medicine Act of 2004."

Give Dayton some love here.

Denmark, Scourge of Scandinavia

2004-07-13T07:01:00.000-05:00

I watched some of the Senate debate on the marriage amendment yesterday and was struck by Sen. Santorum's comments on Denmark:

"For example, the countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have either marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples. Sixty percent of first-born children in those countries are now born out of wedlock. Now, that is equivalent to some of the poorest neighborhoods in our society. Remember, I talked earlier about how the breakdown of marriage has affected the poorest communities in our society and our culture, and in many of those cultures marriage is not accepted, and as a result the Government has to come in and bail out those communities because there are no unions, there are no families, there is no support network for these children? In middle-class and upper middle-class, socialistic, equality-driven Scandinavia, where there are no ghettos of poverty that we see in America, 60 percent of first-born children in these countries are born out of wedlock. Why? Because marriage is not important. It has no meaning. So people simply do not get married."

due, of course, to Denmark's legal gay almost-but-not-quite marriage. This is a common argument against gay marriage.

Since Santorum and his ilk insist that this amendment isn't about discrimination but about protecting children, I thought I'd do a little compare and contrast between the good ol' U.S. of A. and gay lovin', bastard birthin' Denmark.

Infant mortality rate:

US - 6.63 deaths per thousand born
DK - 4.63

Deaths due to abuse or neglect (averaged over 5 years):

US - 2.2 per 100,000 child deaths
DK - .07

Deaths due to abuse or neglect of a child under age 1(averaged over 5 years):

US - 1,889
DK - 8

Children living at or below the poverty line:

US - 22.4%
DK - 5.1%

Children in one parent families:
US - 16.6%
DK - 15.2%

Percent of those children living in poverty:

US - 55.4%
DK - 13.8%

Teen births:
US - 52.1 per 1000 women giving birth
DK - 8.1

The United states is one of only 2 states (Somailia is the other) that has not ratified the UN's Convention for the Rights of the Child

All Danish children receive health insurance. American children do not.

In Denmark, all mothers receive free prenatal care. Parents have a total 52 weeks of leave with a "subsistence allowance" guaranteed them following the birth of each child and each year receive quarterly tax-exempt family support payments for each child under 18. American parents get 12 weeks of unpaid leave and a child tax credit...unless they don't.

Denmark has outlawed the physical punishment of children, while in the U.S. physical punishment is legal except for in prisons and some schools.

98% of Danish mothers initiate breastfeeding. Only 70% of US mothers do. Denmark enforces the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. The US does not.

So you see Santorum's point, right?
Me neither.

Oh Yeah...

2004-07-10T22:33:00.000-05:00

The Lilly Endowment gave NPR $125,000.00 last year for the coverage of religion. Which sorta means that BBH should put up the firewall between them and her, rather than jet-setting off to Florida to speak at a conference they funded, right?

More on the Lilly Endowment

2004-07-10T20:30:00.000-05:00

A commenter below mentioned that I might have been too harsh in my desription of the Lilly Endowment at "right wing," mentioning that they funded quite a lot of programs, including enviromental ones. So I took a look. What I found is curious.

The Lilly Endowment is one of the largest, if not the largest non-profit foundation in America. I has a three pronged approach to grantmaking, funding organizations and programs in community development, education and religion. Grant preference goes to groups in the Indianapolis area or Indiana as a whole. Some of the grants are quite astonishing: In 2003 the Endowment gave 12 million dollars to the American Red Cross, over 8 million dollars to the Indiana Zoological Society and over 20 million to the United Way of Central Indiana. I want to acknowledge that this organization does yeoman's work in making Indiana a better, safer place to live.

That said, there is a strange subset of gifts that seem at odds with the Endowment's overall mission. In 2003, Lilly gave grants to the following organizations, all of which have ties to the Right:
American Enterprise Institute - 100,000.00
Atlas Economic Research Foundation - 500,000.00
Federalist Society - 150,000.00
Foundation for Research in Economics and the Enviroment - 100,000.00
Fraser Institute - 300,000.00
Freedom House - 100,000.00
George Mason University Foundation - 100,000.00
Hoover Institution at Stanford University - 125,000.00
Hudson Institute - 650,000.00
Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation - 85,000.00
Intercollegiate Studies Institute - 125,000.00
Manhattan Institute - 200,000.00
National Center for Policy Analysis - 150,000.00
Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy - 175,000.00
Political Economy Research Center - 50,000.00
Reason Foundation - 225,000.00
Social Philiosophy and Public Policy - 100,000.00
That's 3,235,000.00 all together, which is small potatoes in terms of the money Lilly gives out annually, but still a significant amount in the grand scheme of philanthropy.

These grants are listed in the Endowment's 2003 annual report under "Community Development." The "guidelines" section of the Endowment's website states: "Our community development grantmaking focuses primarily on the quality of life in Indianapolis and Indiana, and we grant funds for human service needs, central-city and neighborhood revitalization, low-income housing, and arts and culture in Indianapolis. We also support facilities and programs that help advance the city's economic revitalization and community recreational opportunities. On a statewide level, we provide major support for the development of the endowments of community foundations and the advancement of United Ways." The above organizations certainly do not fit that description.

Moreover, the website states that "Outside Indianapolis. Requests usually are declined for building campaigns, elementary/secondary education, arts and culture, human service projects, general operating funds (emphasis mine)and neighborhood projects (except as part of invitational grant programs)." 16 of the above grants are listed as "general operating support" for organizations outside Indianapolis.

The bulk of these organizations have a libertarian/free market/anti-enviromental regulations slant. The three "enviromental" organizations listed, Political Economy Research Center, Foundation for Research on Economics and the Enviroment and Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy are actually "free-market environmental" groups with ties to the oil industry. Another thing these groups have in common is the fact that in addition to monies from Lilly, they have all recieved funding from the Bradley, Olin, Scaife and Koch foundations.

There were no grants made to left-leaning think tanks or legitimate enviromental groups, which leads me to conclude that in matters of humanitarian assistance, the arts and education the Lilly Endowment does fine work. In matter of national policy, however, they make grants to neo-conservative and libertarian organizations that are part of the right-wing infrastructure. What does this mean in terms of the Barbara Bradley-Hagerty speaking engagement? Not much, I suppose, except that she was compensated by an organization that does have a politically partisan slant. Unethical? Probably not. Ill-considered? Defintely.

She Just Doesn't Get It, Does She?

2004-07-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

Who here remembers the "outside work" section of NPR's Ethics Policy? Yes, that's right, it does state that

"NPR journalists may only accept fees from educational or nonprofit
groups not engaged in significant lobbying or political activity.
Determining whether a group engages in significant lobbying or political
activity is the responsibility of the journalist seeking permission, and
all information must be fully disclosed to the journalist's supervisor.
NPR journalists may only accept fees from educational or nonprofit
groups not engaged in significant lobbying or political activity.
Determining whether a group engages in significant lobbying or political
activity is the responsibility of the journalist seeking permission, and
all information must be fully disclosed to the journalist's supervisor."

So can somebody explain to me why Barbara Bradley Hagerty spoke at this conference at Pepperdine Universtity, a Christian college, sponsored in part by the Lilly Endowment? The very same Lilly Endowment that supports the American Enterprise Institute and the Hudson Institute among many other rightwing groups? How is that not political activity?
"Liberal bias" indeed.

Pinky vs The Brain

2004-07-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

The Atlantic Monthly has a great article this month on the upcoming presidential debates. The author, James Fallows, has analyzed hours and hours of video of Kerry and Bush speaking, both in debates and prepared speeches.

A teaser:

Clearly Bush has been content to let his opponents, including the press, think him a numbskull. Even his unfortunate puzzled-chimp expression when trying to answer questions may be useful: his friends don't mind, and his enemies continue to underestimate him.

It looks like we're all set to play the low-expectation game again. If Bush manages to string together two coherent thoughts without drooling, fainting or wetting himself, we'll all heave a big sigh of relief and ignore the tall, eloquent dude with the actual policy ideas on the other side of the stage. (Oh and by the way, his running mate is a trial lawyer. Did you hear? A dirty little girl of a trial lawyer. And he kills kittens. Cute ones.)

Or not.

Bashing Trial Lawyers

2004-07-08T20:59:00.000-05:00

If you, like I, were wondering why the Right keeps harping on John Edwards being a trial lawyer, as though it were akin to being the guy who takes the lame horses behind the barn to shoot them, wonder no more: The Commonweal Institute has issued a report titled "The Attack on Trial Lawyers and Tort Law" and it will answer all of your questions. Like, for example: What could Richard Mellon Scaife possibly have to do with this nonsense?
Or: What has Grover Norquist stuck his nose into this time?
Or, perhaps, this stumper: How did Ken Lay and the tort reform movement help George W. Bush win the governership of Texas?
Really.
Every time I start to think I am turning into a total tin-foil hat conspiracy nut, I go and find some evidence that it's all true.
*sigh*

Faith-based Foolishness

2004-07-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

Oh, I love these "ulterior votives!"

The Condi one is so purty...

FMA Watch

2004-07-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

Congress is scheduled to begin debating this proposed amendment to the Constitution soon and I was heartened to discover that a group of religious organizations, including my own denomination, sent a letter to Congress opposing the amendment.

"It is not the task of our government and elected representatives to enshrine in our laws the religious point of view of any one faith. Rather, our government should dedicate itself to protecting the rights of all citizens and all faiths," they write and in two sentences hit upon the heart of the matter. No matter what emotional pleas either side may use in the debate, this is a church-state issue, plain and simple. Some religions believe that homosexulaity is a sin. Some don't. Why should one religion dicate the contents of our Constitution?

I find it particularly ironic that 3 of the sponsors of this bill, Allard, Brownback, and Inhofe also sponsored the Constitution Restoration Act of 2004, which, although it focuses on protecting elements or individuals in local government who acknowledge "God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government," has the overall purpose "to limit the jurisdiction of Federal courts in certain cases and promote federalism."

Huh. Federalism. Perhaps my memory is slipping, but isn't Federalism all about...state's rights? Wikipedia says "The Federalist movement seeks to return political power to the people by decentralising and devolving existing structures of government." Do these guys know their names are attached to this marriage amendment? Cuz, boy, if they want to promote federalism, amending the constitution to prohibit something the states are busy deciding for themselves just doesn't seem like something they'd get behind.

2004-07-06T08:51:00.000-05:00

YES!

When in Doubt, Cry "Liar!"

2004-07-06T08:32:00.000-05:00

So Jerry Falwell and Barry Lynn were on CNN's Capitol Report on Friday, talking about the Bush campaign's effort to get support from right-wing churches. Lynn is the executive director of Americans United for the separation of Church and State and Falwell is...I'm sure you know who Falwell is.

Here is a bit of their conversation:
Rev. LYNN: Let me respond to this. You know, Jerry Falwell, you lost your own tax exemption for "The Old Time Gospel Hour" for one year in 19...

Rev. FALWELL: Never. Never. Never. Not one minute.

Rev. LYNN: ...wait a minute, '86 and '87.

Rev. FALWELL: Not one second. You are wrong.

Rev. LYNN: You had to pay...

Rev. FALWELL: Not one second.

Rev. LYNN: Excuse me, Let me finish.

Rev. FALWELL: Not one second.

Rev. LYNN: Fifty thousand dollars was paid to the federal government.

Rev. FALWELL: Never one second did we ever lose our tax exemption.

Rev. LYNN: So I don't think people ought to be taking tax advice from Jerry Falwell on this very sensitive matter. This is very serious.

Rev. FALWELL: You are telling a lie right now, Barry.

Rev. LYNN: We're not trying to go scare anyone, we're trying to tell the truth.

Rev. FALWELL: You are lying publicly right now, Barry. And, come on, be honest. "Old Time Gospel Hour" is not a church, by the way.

Rev. LYNN: No, it isn't.

Rev. FALWELL: But it has never lost...

Rev. LYNN: It's supposed to be a charity.

Rev. FALWELL: Listen. It has never lost its tax exemption. Thomas Road Baptist Church I've pastored 48 years. We've never even been challenged by the IRS nor has any other church in America.

Rev. LYNN: I didn't say you were. I talked about one specific incident.

Hmmm...Old Time Gospel Hour DID retroactively lose its tax-exempt status for 1986-87 though, and Falwell WAS fined $50,000.00. Why accuse your opponent of lying about something so easily verified?

No, really?

2004-07-06T07:23:00.000-05:00

From the June 25, 2003 BUCHANAN & PRESS on MSNBC

Pat Buchanan and Christopher Hitchens discuss the situation in Iran:

BUCHANAN: But that's not our problem...

HITCHENS: No. As long as they leave us alone and find out for themselves that you can't run a society out of a holy book, that's fine...

Funny, that's exactly how I feel about Christian Fundamentalists! Wow, I've never agreed with Hitchens before. I feel so dirty.

I'm confused...

2004-07-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

If Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is so concerned about maintaining the wall between church and state, then why would he offer his support for this?

Then again, why would he advertise products from David Barton and Wallbuilders, an organization which works against the separation of church and state?

'tis a puzzlement.

More on the Southern Baptists

2004-07-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

So they're all mad at the Bush Campaign right now for interfering with the church. They're appalled! Appalled, I tell you!

So, how much you wanna bet that this little interactive tool never actually makes it to their website? Do you think they'd really design an applet that'd tell you to be a democrat?

In other news, there's a big old ivotevalues truck heading your way. Stop in and see if they match you with the right party.

Happy 4th, folks!

2004-07-03T20:18:00.000-05:00

My 4th of July Shirt

Secular Schmecular

2004-07-03T16:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, let me get this straight...Little Sammy Brownback and his chums what to chip away that church-state wall with this, but they also want to encourage "legislation designed to help create a democratic, secular government in Iran" with this.

Brownback has a history of consorting with Dominionists. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Christian Statesman of the Year Award in 2000 from the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship. Kennedy, you may recall, was one of the original signers of the Coalition on Revival's Manifesto, which had all sorts of good ideas for implementing theocracy in the U.S.

So, I guess from Brownback and Co.'s POV, theocracy is ok, as long as your theo ain't coming from the Mullahs.

Oh, Good Lord!

2004-07-01T09:59:00.000-05:00

My good friend Senator Sam "brown-nose" Brownback doesn't just sponsor legislation designed to drag our country into ill-conceived wars. Nosiree, he also likes to sponsor legislation to beat us all over the head with our "Christian Heritage." Yes, my friends, Sam and his buddies Zell "R-GA" Miller, Jim "Outrage" Inhoffe, and Jeff "VICTORY Act" Sessions came together last February to propose a special time for us to sit back and reflect on the Biblical origins of this great nation. Oy Vey.

Christians and Neocons Join Forces to Drag Us Into War with North Korea

2004-06-29T07:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a story I stumbled upon while looking for something else. It has gotten very little media attention so I am going to go into some detail here in the hopes that it gets picked up by the lefty blogs. It could prevent a disaster.

North Korea is one of Bush's points on the "Axis of Evil." I'm not about to argue that Kim Jong Il isn't a nutcase or that North Korea doesn't present issues for the rest of the world, but I do think aggression in this case is a bad move. I'm not an expert on NK by any means, but from my dovish lefty perspective it seems caution would be the operative word in trying to undo the current regime.

Not so the Neocons. They've simply got to stick our ugly American noses in there, despite the potential consequences. And they're doing it with help from our old friends from the "Christian Right."

The Players:

Senator Sam Brownback, a Republican from Kansas, introduced the "North Korean Freedom Act of 2003", which is still being reviewed by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Representative Jim Leach of Iowa introduced the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, which is with the House Committee on the Judiciary until July 6th. The text of the House bill is reportedly less confrontational than the Senate version. Both bills are strongly supported by the North Korea Freedom Coalition, which includes the following groups:

Aegis Foundation This is not the Aegis Trust, which boasts both Desmond Tutu and Bob Geldof on its board, but a organization in Virginia run by North Korean Doctor Jae Joong Nam. It does not appear to have its own website.

American Family Association This is an anti-gay Christian group run by Donald Wildmon, who is a member of the Council for National Policy.(CNP)

Christian Coalition Founded by CNP member Pat Robertson, currently headed by Roberta Coombs.

New York Commission to Help North Korean RefugeesThis appears to be a chapter of CNKR, which was founded in affiliation with the Christian Council of Korea. The group's American advisor is Paul Cedar, CEO of the Evangelical Mission America Coalitionand executive chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.

Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism This is a pro-choice, gay-friendly group of Reform Jews who obviously are being used here for window dressing.

Concerned Women for America Founded by Beverly LeHaye, wife of Tim "Left Behind" LeHaye as a conservative answer to NOW. Tim LeHaye is a founding member of the CNP.

Defense Forum Foundation Founded by Chadwick Gore, husband of current president Suzanne Scholte. The DFF advises congress on foreign policy issues and is the go-to group for information about North Korea. Donald Rumsfeld was apparently a financial supporter of the DFF until he joined the Bush Cabinet. The board of directors includes the Project for a New American Century's (PNAC) Fred Ickle, and CNP member Ambassador Holly Coors of the right-wing, beer-brewing family. Scholte is also on the board of directors of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, along with former ambassador to China and current AEI fellow James Lilley, Brookings scholar Roberta Cohen and not one, but six PNAC members!

Democracy Network Against the North Korean Gulag This group maintains a website in Korean, so I can't find much information about them, but this indicates that they have been recipients of funds from the National Endowment for Democracy, a publicly funded NGO staffed by many familiar conservatives including PNAC members. Senator Evan Bayh, the sponsor of the Senate version of Brownback's bill, is also on the board.

Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention I'll let these folks speak for themselves:

"Our vision is an American society, blessed by God, that affirms and practices Judeo-Christian values rooted in biblical authority" -President Richard Land

Land is also on the record as saying that only Christians will be saved. (So much for the "Judeo" part of Judeo-Christian.)Frighteningly, Land is a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Freedom Society of America The only reference I could find to this group that wasn't related in some way to this coalition was this which indicates the Freedom Society is in Fairfax Virginia.

Helping Hands Korea Helping Hands Korea is run by the Family Care Foundation which is the non-profit arm of The Family. The Family, or Children of God, as it was formerly known, is a cultlike Christian group that came out of the Jesus Movement in the 60s. Ex-members report abuse, pedophilia, prostitution and polygamy.

Human Rights Coalition-USA Save North Korean Refugees This group is primarily made up of Korean Americans. Its founder and president is Chun Chong You, a Presbyterian minister in Maryland.

Institute for North Korea Missions Strategy Who are these people? The World Center for North Korean Missions? The Institute for North Korean Missions? (site in Korean only)The Mission Institute for north Korea? (also in Korean?) It remains a mystery.

Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) From the folks who brought you "Schism in the United Methodist Church" and "Episcopal Extremists" comes "Liberty Initiative for North Korea!" Funded by monies from the Scaife, Coors, Olin and Bradley fortunes, the IRD board is chaired by Roberta Ahmanson, wife of another prominent right-wing philathropist: Presbyterian Reconstructionist-turned-Orthodox Anglican and CNP member Howard Ahmanson. Other notables on the board are Mary Ellen Bork, daughter of Justice Bork and Deputy Director of PNAC, George Weigel of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and PNAC, Richard John Neuhaus, also of the EPPC and a Bush advisor, Michael Novak of the American Enterprise Institute, and President Diane Knippers, who also sits on the board of Concerned Women of America.

The IRD was founded by Novak, Neuhaus and PNAC's Penn Kemble to counter the liberal politics of the Mainline Protestant denominations. Right-Web describes the group thusly:

For more than two decades IRD has advocated U.S. military interventionism. During the 1980s IRD attempted to rally U.S. Christians around a program of higher military budgets and military campaigns against the Soviet Union and allied countries such as Nicaragua, Angola, and Cuba. IRD was a leading advocate of U.S. military aid and intervention in Central America and the Caribbean during the Reagan administrations, and it routinely challenged the patriotism and the belief systems of Christians who didn'tÂ’t share its militarism and interventionist spirit.

So when these folks get involved in foreign policy it results in things like this.

Jabbok, Inc. This is another ambiguous name. There are plenty of "Jabbok" entities out there, but no Jabbok Inc. My guess is that it's this church in Maryland. Warning, very loud music on intro page.

Jubilee Campaign "Jubilee Campaign USA lobbies Congress on behalf of those suffering religious persecution and human rights violations." Faith Hooper-McDonnell of the IRD is on the board of directors. Director Ann Buwalda was scheduled to speak at this "Reclaiming America" conference, along with such luminaries as Oliver North (CNP), Os Guinness (Trinity Forum), Alan Keyes(CNP) and Gary Bauer(CNP,PNAC).

Korean Association of Church Communication There is very little information about this group, and their webpage is in Korean.

Korean Freedom Democracy League of America This is another group with no website. This indicates that they are in Fairfax, VA.

Korean War Abductees Family Union This appears to be a South Korean organization representing the families of people kidnapped by the North during the Korean War.

Life Funds for North Korean Refugees A Japanese NGO working to help refugees in Japan and elsewhere.

National Association of Evangelicals Diane Knippers of the IRD is on the executive committee, despite the fact that her church is not a member. (Knippers is an orthodox Episcopal who attends the same church as Oliver North and Clarence Thomas.) NAE President Ted Haggard is a member of the "Presidential Prayer Team."

CitizenÂ’s Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees This is a South Korean group with no website. Bae Jae Hyun is listed as various positions within the group, including President. A South Korean named Bae Jae Hyun is listed as a student at the Ministry Training College of New Zealand It's possible they are one and the same, but I can't find enough information on this group to know if it is a Christian one or not.

Salvation Army, U.S.A. Most people think of the Salvation Army as a charitable organization, but it's really a conservative Christian denomination. Some funding for the church comes from the usual suspects.

Stand Today "Stand Today is an international advocacy organization dedicated to raising awareness and promoting action specifically on behalf of refugees and persecuted Christians worldwide. Stand Today works to advance the cause of human rights and freedom of religion for all people." A look at the links page reveals that Stand Today is closely allied with the other organizations mentioned above.

The steering committee for the coalition reveals even more connections to the Christian Right and the Neocons. Deborah DeMoss Fonseca, in particular, has an interesting history. A member of the wealthy DeMoss family, she was Jesse Helms' Latin American (including Nicaragua) expert for 10 years. During that time, she worked with PNAC director Randy Scheunemann. Scheunemann later drafted the Iraq Liberation Act and served as the executive director of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq with other familiar PNAC members.

The ultimate goal of the CLI was war with Iraq, despite any posturing about the good of the Iraqis themselves. The North Korea Freedom Coalition seems poised to take the same path.

The Plan:

The North Korean Freedom/Human Rights Acts are designed to do three things: address human rights issues in NK, assist North Koreans in need and protect North Korean refugees. No thinking person could argue with those goals. However, the manner in which those goals are achieved is more likely to cause harm than good. Proponents of the act have put a section by section analysis online here.

The principal effects of these acts would be to:
-Release 2 million dollars each year for 4 years to "support programs by private, nonprofit organizations to promote human rights, democracy, rule of law, and a market economy in North Korea."
-"Increase radio broadcasts into North Korea by Radio Free Asia and Voice of America"
to release 2 million dollars a year for 4 years to "increase the availability of non-government-controlled sources of information (such as radios capable of receiving outside broadcasts) to North Koreans."
-Spend 100 million dollars a year in food aid, provided that "any such increases should be conditioned upon substantial improvements in transparency, monitoring, and access"
prohibit any U.S. non-humanitarian aid unless NK has made "substantial progress toward respecting basic human rights, providing for family reunification, resolving abductee cases, reforming its prison camp system, and decriminalizing political expression."
-Circumvent the South Korean constitution by allowing North Korean refugees to apply for asylum in the U.S.
-Circumvent the United Nations Commission on Human Rights by designating refugees from North Korea as a "Priority 2 group of special humanitarian concern."
-Pressure China and South Korea to allow U.S. access to North Koreans seeking asylum and dictate refugee and asylum policies in those countries.

Not surprisingly, there is opposition to these bills in South Korea among community development groups, civil groups and individuals. The general consensus is that these bills antagonize both North and South Korea as well as China, endanger North Koreans by providing them with illegal radios broadcasting illegal propaganda and may actually stop the flow of refugees from North Korea by inspiring China and South Korea to tighten up their borders.

Hazel Smith, a British academic currently at the United Nations University criticized the Senate bill in Jane's Intelligence Review, saying

"Clues to the bill's real import can be found in continuing high level pronouncements by Brownback's fellow neo-Conservative Republicans, such as Bolton, Undersecretary of State. Bolton was a senior official of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the influential Washington DC-based think-tank that has provided the foundation for much of the Bush administration's thinking on foreign policy. When asked by journalists what the Bush administration's policy was towards North Korea, Bolton replied that the aim was "the end of North Korea" the title of a book written by an AEI colleague."

John Feffer wrote in the American Prospect earlier this year regarding the Senate version of the bill:

"In addition, a provision in the bill lays out conditions for North Korea to meet before achieving its two key objectives, the elimination of U.S. trade sanctions and diplomatic recognition. But so strict are these conditions -- they include, for example, such high standards of transparency and democracy that even U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and Nigeria are hard-pressed to meet them -- that one might reasonably suspect that the sponsors want North Korea to fail and thus become further isolated. Linking human rights with the nuclear issue, meanwhile, may ensure that neither issue is adequately addressed in the upcoming talks. And even if the legislation ultimately did lead to regime change, such an outcome might not be desirable: The absence of any credible alternative to the government of Kim Jong-Il would create a dangerous power vacuum in North Korea, trigger a potential humanitarian crisis and leave thousands of dangerous weapons in limbo."

In a May, 2004 column on TomPaine.com, Feffer adds:

"Inconsistent and hypocritical, the United States has become evangelical in its policy on North Korean human rights. This evangelism certainly has a Christian tinge from the faith-based approach of the current administration. But the neocons in Washington have a much wider sense of mission: to save the souls of North Koreans by changing their government. Whether most North Koreans share this mission or are willing to risk the consequences is not a concern of the Washington missionaries. They will flirt with apocalypse to get the rapture of regime change, and North Koreans who have suffered so much already will bear the brunt of it."

There has been very little mainstream media coverage of these bills in the U.S. This is not surprising, since the bills do not bear up under scrutiny and its in the coalition's best interest to keep them quiet. It's time for us to write to our Senators and Representatives and ask them not to vote for either of these bills. It's time to write to our newspapers and expose the foreign policy mistakes this administration has waiting in the wings. The Iraq Liberation Act was snuck by us with little fanfare by the same players and served as a forerunner to the mess we've made in Iraq. Don't let the Neocons and Christian Right drag us into North Korea as well.

Blogger is Hinky

2004-06-24T09:10:00.000-05:00

I am trying to make things more readable around here and for some reason Blogger only likes to resize part of my posts. So it looks kindra freaky while I figure things out.

Now the WeeBiblios and I are off to Gymboree, which, to my knowledge, has no connection to PNAC, the Council for National Policy or the Institute for Religion and Democracy. Maybe they should look into that, though, since I imagine you could indoctrinate lots of kiddos with a "Pax Americana Playdate." Onward Christian Soldiers! :)

Now She's Even Pissing Off the Baptists!

2004-06-21T07:12:00.000-05:00

Poor Barbara Bradley Hagerty! First we come at her from the left, and now they're coming at her from the right! The Southern Baptist Convention is upset about this story, in which she asserts that the SBC's "iVoteValues" campaign is urging members to "vote Republican." (This despite the fact that the SBC probably DOES want members to vote Republican. Still, they'd rather not lose their non-profit status.) Thisarticle appears on their website refuting Hagerty's claim. The highlight:

Land concluded his letter by stating, “We trust that NPR will in the future strive to be more accurate and careful in its reporting, and extend the professional and journalistic courtesy of prior confirmation with the source,” in referring to the lack of a call from Hagerty or an NPR fact-checker to verify her “vote Republican” assessment of the iVoteValues campaign.

Wait a minute...Barbara didn't bother to call and verify something? That's not the BBH we know! Oh, wait, nevermind, it is the BBH we know!