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The Optimism of Uncertainty
Election got you down? Ready to give up hope and just ignore what’s going on? Move to Canada? New Zealand? What do you say to people who think that all that work was in vain?
I want to share with you an article on hope by Howard Zinn, who was my teacher at Boston University during the tumult of the early 1970s. (An aside on the Kerry campaign: The first time I ever met John Kerry was through Howard Zinn. The time was 1972, and I was helping to organize a teach-in about the Vietnam War. Howard said to me, “Why don’t you get in touch with this fellow John Kerry." I contacted Kerry, and he spoke at our event, huddled over the microphone, his hair falling in front of his face, as he compelled us to listen and understand the truth about that war.)
From college onward, I have looked to Howard Zinn for a special kind of moral leadership. Because he has steeped himself in the history of people who have struggled to make life better for everyone, he has a longer time perspective than many of us cell-phoning, IMing, emailing, instant gratification channel surfers. I just came across this article ("The Optimism of Uncertainty") from Z Magazine from late September, where in a very few words, Howard explains why the lessons of history hold out hope in times of darkness.
Here are a few excerpts that give a flavor of his thinking; click here for the whole article.
First he reminds us of the empheral nature of even the mightiest institutions:
"There is a tendency to think that what we see in the present moment will continue. We forget how often we have been astonished by the sudden crumbling of institutions, by extraordinary changes in people's thoughts, by unexpected eruptions of rebellion against tyrannies, by the quick collapse of systems of power that seemed invincible."
After reviewing the many unanticipated upheavals of the 20th century, he says:
"Looking at this catalogue of huge surprises, it's clear that the struggle for justice should never be abandoned because of the apparent overwhelming power of those who have the guns and the money and who seem invincible in their determination to hold on to it.
"That apparent power has, again and again, proved vulnerable to human qualities less measurable than bombs and dollars: moral fervor, determination, unity, organization, sacrifice, wit, ingenuity, courage, patience--whether by blacks in Alabama and South Africa, peasants in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Vietnam, or workers and intellectuals in Poland, Hungary and the Soviet Union itself. No cold calculation of the balance of power need deter people who are persuaded that their cause is just."
And his conclusion is just beautiful in showing how to see the triumph in even small acts:
"If we remember those times and places--and there are so many--where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."
Thank you Howard--Karen Bradley
Persistence. No retreat, no surrender.
Thank you Dick. In a twist of irony, my 23 year old son (then 21) got me interested in John Kerry by showing me a video where John said we needed to start making some friends on this planet & that we should go to war because we have to not becaue we want to. I then remembered that it was the same John Kerry I remembered from 1971, not Bob Kerrey or some other person. He then showed me Kerry's voting record at http://www.ontheissues.org and I was hooked. At the same time, my son was attending Evergreen in Olympia and his textbook was Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the US" and this was also my introduction to Howard Zinn. (I think that at my son's age I was studying Noam Chomsky for his linguistic theories & learned accidentally that he also had some rather interesting political theories as well!)
Thanks again, Dick!!
I just realized I should be thanking Karen for posting that - I read too fast sometimes.
Thank you, Karen, for posting that & for everything else.
Hmmm!
USA to put strong sanctions upon Ukraine... because of fraudulous election!
Oh yes, this is the Administration that embodies moral values...
Who are they trying to fool?
Thanks, Karen. I needed to read that today, now.
Last night when my husband and I were returning from a day at the Oregon coast, I asked him "Can you name 5 people who were remarkable and great people, in spite of never being president of the US?" And his answer was "Amy, most presidents are only deemed great because they were presidents. The real greats were people like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Jody Williams, Ghandi, Mother Theresa - these people never had "political" aspirations. They never craved the glory of having the word "president" after their names. Their dream was to make a difference, to change the world, to right a wrong, and they did. It doesn't take a president to change a country. It takes a hero."
Well, John Kerry is a hero. He doesn't need the word president in front of his name to change the world. It is only that he is just now coming to realize that.
Getting Our Vocabulary Straightened Out
We live by American PRINCIPLES founded by our Fore-fathers more than 220 years ago...not by the morallistic "values" of the Christian Reconstructionists.
PRINCIPLES: Pronunciation: 'prin(t)-s(&-)p&l, -s&-b&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, modification of Middle French principe, from Latin principium beginning, from princip-, princeps initiator -- more at PRINCE
1 a : a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption b (1) : a rule or code of conduct (2) : habitual devotion to right principles c : the laws or facts of nature underlying the working of an artificial device
2 : a primary source : ORIGIN
3 a : an underlying faculty or endowment b : an ingredient (as a chemical) that exhibits or imparts a characteristic quality
Principles are the beginning...the initiators...the Natural Rights we all share as humans...and Americans.
Let us use this as a cornerstone from which to share and spread our ideas...our PRINCIPLES which are founded but the rights of all of mankind, and described in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Neocons and Christian Restorationists CANNOT take our Hearts and Minds...so let us use them in harmony to effect this change as is OUR RIGHT!
Fundamental Principles of the First Amendment as penned by Thomas Jefferson.
Please link to it...read it...understand it...KNOW IT for this is our best legal defense against the Theocratic mindset.
America was founded to protect ALL Religions and beliefs...not to serve one.
Statute of Religious Freedom
1777
Jefferson first drafted his “Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom” in 1777. Although it was not enacted into law until 1786, it firmly established the principles of religious freedom and the separation of church and state and provided the basis for the First Amendment’s clause on religion.
Statute of Religious Freedom
I. Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his almighty power to do; that the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavouring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world, and through all time; that to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical; that even the forcing him to support this or that teacher of his own religious persuasion, is depriving him of the comfortable liberty of giving his contributions to the particular pastor, whose morals he would make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most persuasive to righteousness, and is withdrawing from the ministry those temporary rewards, which proceeding from an approbation of their personal conduct, are an additional incitement to earnest and unremitting labours for the instruction of mankind; that our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics or geometry; that therefore the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages to which in common with his fellow-citizens he has a natural right; that it tends only to corrupt the principles of that religion it is meant to encourage, by bribing with a monopoly of worldly honours and emoluments, those who will externally profess and conform to it; that though indeed these are criminal who do not withstand such temptation, yet neither are those innocent who lay the bait in their way; that to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion, and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency, is a dangerous fallacy, which at once destroys all religious liberty, because he being of course judge of the tendency will make his opinions the rule of judgment; and approve or condemn the sentiments of others only as they shall square with or differ from his own; that it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order; and finally, that truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them.
II. Be it enacted by the General assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, not shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, that that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
III. And though we well know that this assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act to be irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present, or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/archives/documents/ih195802.htm
The Reclaimation of America Begins With You.
Agreed of course, it's hard to argue with your sermons..
but let me add this, Standing on Principles alone won't restore the balance needed. We've got to take action, starting now, and continuing on until the Neo Cons no longer control every aspect of Government. Current events, over which we have no control, seem to be tending in our favor. There are lingering doubts about the last election, the war continues to appall the public. One or two items under the fold bear watching. Halliburton may yet be the Administration's undoing.
We need to be, not John Adams and Patric Henry declaming in chambers, but Paul Revere, riding thru the countryside calling the alarm.
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/04/11/con04510.html
Interesting piece on the Republican "winning strategy"
excerpt:
"ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK! ROVE attacked truthfully (Kerry is liberal) and attacked deceptively (Kerry is the most liberal member of the senate.) If a candidate actually has a record of compromise, don’t let anyone know! Simply attack, attack, attack! Bob Smith, the former New Hampshire senator and fellow Vietnam veteran, is the most recent prominent Republican to pledge his support for John Kerry. In a letter to Kerry on Wednesday, Smith praised the Democrat as one “who crossed the aisle to forge a bipartisan coalition in the Senate to balance the federal budget.”
Posted by: ladytechie01 | November 22, 2004 03:29 PM
Agreed. But we must first ORGANIZE our messag to speak in the same terms. If we use the PRINCIPLES and DOCTRINES of the Constitution, they cannot be argued with so easily...remember we are not trying to re-invent the wheel, but build a better mouse trap.
Instead build a better Democracy...upon the foundations of THIS Nation, not the fundamentalist Theocracy.
Starting with defining our VOCABULARY and reaching across the many vernaculars that exist within our American culture.
USE-IT - Unity, Simplicity, Elegance, Integrity, Truth.
Start with the basics and build to define the PRINCIPLES which are the basis of the ACTION.
The Reclaimation of America Begins With You.
From the Unofficial Blog:
Identify Today's Mystery Country
Identify the Mystery Country. To make it more difficult, some words are removed from these quotes from the Washington Post article:
*** was thrown into turmoil Monday by nearly-complete election results from *** presidential election, which gave *** an insurmountable three point lead but raised the threat of unrest because of angry charges by the opposition and *** observers that the vote was tainted by widespread fraud.
Tens of thousands of people flooded *** in the capital Monday amid calls for a general strike or even the kind of revolution that toppled regimes in Serbia and Georgia after suspect elections.
In strikingly frank language, election monitors laid out a litany of election day abuses that they said called into question the validity of the vote, as well as the future legitimacy of any *** presidency. One British member of a European Parliament observer group, using language rarely heard in election missions in Europe, said the turnout and results from certain districts favorable to *** could best be compared with elections in North Korea or in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
"It is now apparent that there was a concerted and forceful program of election day fraud and abuse enacted with the leadership or cooperation of authorities," said *** of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "In my judgment President ***, even at this late stage, has the opportunity and responsibility to review all of this."
Western monitors cited among a long list of complaints unusually heavy turnouts in districts favorable to ***.
Observers also said that *** were forced to apply for absentee ballot certificates by their managers, and the filled-in ballots were collected at their places of work. Students were similarly coerced by professors and deans, according to the OSCE at a press conference in which officials said there were simply too many violations to enumerate them all.
"*** did not meet a considerable number of standards of the OSCE and the European Council for democratic elections," said George of the OSCE. The organization called for an almost complete review of the vote by the *** authorities.
The answer to our Mystery Country quiz is in the Comments section.
http://kerryblog.blogspot.com/2004/11/identify-todays-mystery-country.html
Indy is right that we need to rethink the very vocabularly we have been using. Let me recommend the growing body of work by linguist George Lakoff, who has been laboring in the trenches for the last couple of years trying to teach Democrats and progressives how to use language to "reframe" their arguments. Lakoff has written several books, including Moral Politics and a brand new one one that summarizes his thinking called "Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives".
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-9823056-8495341
For more info online, go to Lakoff's research operation, the Rockridge Institute.
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/
Sermon on the Blog VI
An American Revolution
Gather 'round the Reverend for a little fun and an inspirational sermon from the Texas Pulpit.
Brothers and Sisters…We are gathered here together to declare our dedication to this profound and noble cause during a time of great upheaval across this precious land of ours. We know that none of us can sit idly by while the fanatical right attempts to subvert and dichotomize the very spirit of these United States of America. We all understand the gravity of this situation and what we must do to rectify it before it is indeed too late.
Just as the British used road blocks to stop the colonists of this burgeoning nation from communicating with each other so do our political adversaries use the media to scatter and divide us, preventing us from having a clear and unified message spreading like wildfire through the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans. Young, old, poor, wealthy, free or oppressed we are all children of this hallowed land of Freedom and Liberty, I stand here with you all to exclaim in a transcendent chorus of voices WE SHALL NOT BE SILENCED!!!
Brothers and Sisters…On April 18, 1775 as the light shown down from the old North Tower signaling Paul Revere and William Dawes to set forth on their heroic ride across the countryside, so shall we mobilize our brethren…Democrats, Independents, Republicans, Libertarians and all good peoples of this land divided in the right and tradition of casting our lot to insure each and every opinion is heard. And in that cry from the wilderness we will demand of our elected leaders accountability and transparency in our government for behind closed doors Democracy itself will perish!!!
Brothers and Sisters… As on that April morning in 1776 when sun’s first light did reach the tree tops, an unexpected advance of soldiers upon our brave Patriots culminated in the "Shot heard 'round the world" and on that momentous occasion was the beginning of our American Revolution so shall it be today!!! Not through the violence of battle but with the potency of our intellect, our voices will sing out on this coming election day and before the eyes of the world we can cast out any doubt that WE THE PEOPLE have spoken our conviction, our passion, our determination, our true conscience and our beloved hope to once again be free!!!
Brothers and Sisters… tonight as we proclaim our unity, I leave you with the words of the third President of these United States, Thomas Jefferson and counsel to those who we would elect to speak our voice, “Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them.”
When the going gets tough...AMERICANS GET GOING!!!
The Reclaimation of America Begins With You.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/200633_moveon22.html (edited by me)
MoveOn brings activists together to set a course for the future
There was a dose of commiseration and some quiet lamenting about a presidential election lost, but the focus of the people crowded into a Beacon Hill home last night was what they can do now.
.. "How to take the positive energy of engagement and enragement and move forward."
The "house party" was one of dozens in the Seattle area and thousands held simultaneously across the country that were organized by MoveOn, a fast-growing political-action group aimed at getting "moderate to progressive" candidates into office.
Key issues, from the Iraq war to same-sex marriage, brought out the political activists in people who'd been perfectly content to sit quietly in the background before.
So the idea last night, less than three weeks after voters put President Bush in the White House for another four years, was to keep the momentum going.
..
"A lot of people are demoralized by the election," said Loeb, editor of a collection of social-issue essays titled "The Impossible Will Take a Little While: A Citizen's Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear."
"The most important thing," he said, "is to keep all these new people who have come in involved."
..
Some hosts gave their parties catchy names such as "Where do we go from here," "Blue America strikes back" and "Bush beat Kerry, but he didn't beat me."
The parties -- which took place in living rooms on Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, Mercer Island, Edmonds and other local places -- began with a national conference call linking all of them. Officials asked participants to decide which issues were the most important, then discuss how to go about accomplishing their goals.
In three different discussion groups .. some said they were most concerned about ending the war in Iraq, protecting abortion rights or income-tax reform. Others were worried about erosion of civil liberties, the ballooning national deficit or discrimination against gays.
They debated strategies to pursue over the next two to four years, including whether MoveOn should move its views toward the political center to attract more support -- or whether it should work to transform the Democratic Party "to offer a more viable and inspiring alternative to the Republicans."
..
Others said getting support for their message should involve media reform, a focus on organizing or an effort to champion presidential candidates who could connect well with the American people.
..
Thanks to Ron for posting the link to this site on the unofficial blog. It's wonderful to "see" everyone again. I must admit, I'm still not over "black Tuesday". The best I've been able to do so far is try to re-engage in the little, normal things that I neglected during the campaign like, oh say, cleaning my house, having dinner with friends, Christmas shopping, etc......
I will never be disengaged from the political process again but, I am still trying to decide where/how to re-engage.
Also, wanted to share this site with y'all since it's us Dems that REALLY support the troops. Since the military is not processing holiday packages addressed to "any soldier", this is a great alternative:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
"moral fervor, determination, unity, organization, sacrifice, wit, ingenuity, courage, patience-"
OK, this is the list. I will definitely have to work on the patience part...
Everything else is here, inside of everyone in this community.
Posted by: Karen | November 22, 2004 04:50 PM
Forgot a BIG one Karen...
EDUCATE
USE-IT - Unitfy, Simplify, Educate with Integrity and Truth
I know it can be ellaborated upon but...
USE-IT or Lose it! =]
You all forgot one Simplify we found during this election people do not want to take time to educate themselves they want simple little sound bites! We can do this and educate at the same time if we are smart about it!
There is a LTE in today's Rocky signed by Caley Bovee-wasn't she on the old blog? The name is familiar.
Posted by: April | November 22, 2004 05:25 PM
Hence my sound bite April...
USE-IT or Lose IT! LOL!
And once we agree on the language, a reminder of why we need to act..
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/opinion/22herbert.html?incamp=article_popular_1
And yest, NYTimes may require registration..
Indy and April--I was coming off of Howard Zinn's list, but yes, I agree about Educate and Simplify.
We will be developing educational materials for this site that will be simplified, but compelling!
How's that?
Ah, we're BACK!
This is the start of something really special.
From BLACK BOX VOTING.ORG
UPDATE due Tuesday Nov 23 -- A significant development, announcement late afternoon or evening.
BREAKING -- MONDAY NOV 22 2004: Florida counties stonewall records requests. While some Florida counties have been attentive to the public interest and have promptly complied with our public records requests (scroll down for the Nov. 2 records request, for critical audit diagnostics), other counties have stalled, stonewalled, failed to comply in a timely manner, or outright refused to provide the records. Stay tuned for who they are and what happens next.
I will be attending the meeting of All the State Chairs for the Democratic party in several weeks to see what direction to go from here, what was done correct and what was not in 2004 election.
Any suggestions,comments, recommendation you would like to get mentioned at this meeting. In particular for your state (ie) was there alot of local Democratics out there visable, getting the word out, etc.
Your voice will be forwarded at this meeting.
The grass may need to get replanted and spread around in order for our roots to get stronger each year...
My old name for JK blog was JJforJK.
If you want the visual version of sound bites, check out what Oliver Willis has been doing with Brand Democrat. His blog is at:
http://www.oliverwillis.com/
Some examples are on the current page, but also check the previous pages for more examples from last week. For example:
http://www.oliverwillis.com/node?from=20
Ron, love the brand Democrat stuff. Going to load up. Thanks. It's so so so so smart!
http://www.oliverwillis.com/
Democrats: Principles in Action
hey folks....check THIS out:)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240
HI HEX!:)
I feel for the people of the Ukraine now, after what we have gone through! Amazing to see them in the streets with others headed there by bus, car, train, plane. I can't imagine how we would get enough people to march on Washington - the NYC protests were covered mostly by C-span, the 11 million who hit the streets to oppose going into Iraq (that's worldwide in 1 day, biggest gathering ever) were miniimized, & we'll see what happens for the inauguratin. To think that the US would threaten any sanction or punitive action to another country because their election is unfair - highly hypocritical. Senator Lugar was an observer - will be interesting to see what he says. I read Andree's comments on this earlier in the day. Oh the irony, the irony! Jimmy Carter did say our elections weren't fair - I'm not even talking about the outcome but about the doubt, the lack of a nonpartisan or even bipartisan overseeing board, the lack of standardization & the fact that things seem even more confusing & inconclusive after the suspect "Help America Vote" act & weren't the funds appropriated not even fully used for this?! For shame.
Ron, what if I want to order one of the other ones from last week? I'd like a health care one, too. Especially in preparation for JK's introduction of the bill to the senate that I co-signed (she says proudly, sitting up a little straighter, puffing up just a little....)
Hi everyone. The posts above have been incredible. Thank you. I wanted to share an interesting piece written by Kevin Sites, the journalist who photographed the marine shooting/killing insurgents in the mosque in Iraq...most of you have probably seen the clip of that horrible incident...but here it is, in his own words. No spin, no fabrications. I hope this is not too off topic.
http://www.kevinsites.net/
Communication in our current era is so diverse that radical simplification of basic message is key.
Rove understands this. Hence, the talking points. Gingerich understood this too, with the so-called "contract with America". It was a David Letterman-style top 10 list.
Countdowns are popular in politics as well as sports.
If we could create something similar, like a Democratic Action Plan, or say "Top Ten For America" list, we'd be well on our way to establishing our post-election message.
By the time 2006 rolls around, everyone will know what Democrats stand for.
TOP 10 for America
1. Access to healthcare for all children
Our man John Kerry has already launched this one...
2 - 10 (lets all fill in the blanks together)
Posted by: hexham | November 22, 2004 07:48 PM
Gee thanks Hex...
Next time I hear someone on this AMERICAN Website promoting only Democrats I am gone for GOOD!
If we do not unite as AMERICANS...Dems, Independents, Republicans, Greens and Libertarians as Americans...against the Neocon Corporatist Theocrats...America is dead....and you can kiss your party good-bye.
Get rid of the labels and deal with the facts...BE AMERICANS FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!
There is more than enough substance there to right the course of this Nation.
BTW if you have not guessed I am an Independent who supported John Kerry and John Edwards...NOT the DNC.
Hi DOC, and thanks again for keeping the home fires burning
you should get a Medal of Freedom for your work with keeping our community in touch.
Principles in Action, indeed!
Indy Be Americans first & foremost?
Since the age of 6, I decided I am a Global Citizen first, an American afterward. I know what you are saying though.
Posted by: DiAnne | November 22, 2004 08:02 PM
Small steps DiAnne...I am a citizen of the world as well, but this is a distinctly American problem st this point. No offense but Foreigners cannot vote...only Americans.
People of other Nations can boycott, they can refuse to trade with us and they can attack us...those are American concerns...yes?
DiAnne, it is great to see you again. Congratulations to you and all of those involved with this amazing new site.
Since we did not have a venue to speak after Novemeber 2nd...I was wondering what your thoughts were about the headlines of the British Newspaper on November 3rd....I think it was the Daily Mirror?
Indy, we love you man.
I am going to rally around my flag. Yes, the American flag.
I am also going to rally around the flag of my party. It is after all the banner borne by Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards, and the best point from which to begin organizing.
Please don't threaten to abandon your adoring fan base if some of us show our blue stripes proudly.
I would also tell you that the blue tent is large and comfortable.
Cheers.
I would be very interested in receiving any information that you would be willing to forward to me, as I did work on the democratic campaign for John Kerry.
That is the problem with ALL Parties at this point...the facts were not presented to the American People and therefore the PEOPLE suffer...not those at the top of the Political Pyramid.
I say throw off the labels and organize to accept all Americans to the table, for a government of the people, for the people, and by the people is the true promise of America.
when I said "adoring fan base" I should have said, MYSELF INCLUDED.
we shall overcome
Didn't mean to pick on you Hex...just making a point, as I sometimes do.
Just as much as God is not a Republican, Democracy is not only for Democrats...it is for ALL.
Andrea
I did go downtown after the "loss" - 3 different times when people were gathered - took alot of photographs. Someone had taken that Daily Mirror cover & put their own heading with it.
I really do think half of the voters made a grave mistake since many of them do not make over 200,000 dollars a year so are in effect voting against themselves! No unions, no choice etc. - what were they thinking?!!
I should think there would be more & more buyer's regret. I think there was after the last election but not enough. I think back on all the advantages the rightwing had even with their horrible record domestically & for foreign policy - money, propaganda, consolidated media & timing.
Glad to see this blog starting off so well! & I knew you were out there somewhere!! I have been lurking around a bunch of different places!!
..and here we are exercising our free speech together, and I couldn't be happier.
I wanted to thank Karen again, Karen please take my deepest thanks for your inspiring words at the beginning of this thread. We must remember all to see the light in the darkness.
Message is key. Let's have "thinking points" instead of "talking points", for example...
We have to find one issue no matter how small that our whole diverse party can rally around, and work out any differances we may have about others.
It seems that us Dems in-fight alot and this is hurting us.
The Republicans did not all agree with Bush some were vocal but it was a calm vocalness (explaining badly I hope you all get what I am trying to say)we seem to have a loud portion willing to tear the hell out of a candidate that does not support ALL their issues. IMO this hurts us also. We have to understand no one is going to support one hundred percent of what we want we are all human after all even candidates who run for office. If they have to spend time telling us what we want to hear we are not hearing anything real.
Indy
I am talking about the fact that our trade, economic and foreign policy affects everyone on the planet in some way. Even our education & healthcare does, as it controls our mentality, which currently could have a higher lowest common denominator.
Voting is just part of it. Every time someone does something stupid with the whole world watching, it helps determine how much danger we and our troops are in.
I think our provincialism and xenophobia are a big part of our problem. Having Condileezza Rice as Secretary of State (a neoconservative bent on world empire) is a prime example. If we continue to have a system where fear of terror can be manipulated to channel the masses to the service of the military-industrial complex then we DO need to think about how we present ourselves to the world & about how much we identify with other citizens of the planet.
I absorbed something in my teens when I worked against the Vietnam war: If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
Later I was impressed by a philosophy my friend who was an environmentalist & 10 years younger lived by: Think globally, act locally.
My democracy cell is about peace.
Amy,
The guy who did the Brand Dem stuff has limited stuff available for sale. You'd have to contact him if you want other merchandise on merchandise. Of course if you do anything on line or in print, you could use his health care graphic.
I wrote this in the middle of the night. I woke up, and had to write it down...its how I feel, and the issues are black and white.
I dont know if this makes me a dem, repub, or independant...its just how i feel;)
http://members.cox.net/movingforwardtogether/editorial.html
Dear PCDoc..
Tried to view your piece..but alas...it did not work.
http://members.cox.net/movingforwardtogether/editorial.htm
sry, broken link...need to drop the 'l' in html ;)
April,
One issue would be too narrow, but I agree we are better off stressing a limited number of issues which a larger number of people can unite behind.
Kerry has already made affordable health care an ongoing issue. I'd suggest extending this to defending against abuses from HMO's (both because it is the right thing to do and because it could help with popular support).
Other issues I'd stress (and I'm sure there are others which other people would want included):
Foreign Policy: Combine opposition to Iraq War (as distraction from fighting terrorism) with cooperation with other countries/restoring our standing in the world (also stressing why this is improtant for an effective defense against terrorism)
Traditional American Values, such as individual liberty, fair elections, separation of powers, and separation of church and state.
Individual Liberty: Use this to oppose Patriot Act and similar restrictions. Also used this as the utlimate principle behind abortion rights and gay rights. I think we could get better acceptance presenting abortion/gay rights as subsets of individual liberty, while making them the main issue comes off as too left wing.
The other ideas under traditional American values are self-explanatory, and I propose them as Traditional American Values to counter the idea that the Republicans are the party of values. Separation of powers is becoming increasingly important, and also gives a reason to vote Democratic even if someone doesn't agree with Democrats on all issues.
pcdoc,
Along those lines, I would also argue that Democrats should loudly embrace capitalism, rather than letting the Republicans win on this. (Those few on the far left who object will either need to join the Nader people, or stick with us as still far preferable to the Republicans).
Other than the Libertarian Party, nobody is advocating pure laissez-faire capitalism, and Adam Smith wouldn't recognize capitalism as practiced by the GOP any more than he would that as advocated by most Democrats.
We need to argue that we have the fairer form of capitalism. Republicans pervert capitalism to use the state to provide advantages and transfer wealth to big business interests which support them.
We support capitalism, but recognize that a certain degree of regulation is needed to keep the average person from being cheated, such as with the mutual funds scandles (Keep it on a level the average voter can relate to).
I read one post-election article which says that instead of capitalism Democrats support values such as that people are rewarded for their work. The author thougt that such values would be attractive to the supposed "values voters." That missed the point. I'd change that to say we support capitalism, including rules where necessary to make sure that the average person does get rewarded for their work.
Posted by: Ron Chusid | November 22, 2004 08:33 PM
Hey Ron!
Thank you for keeping the Library going...we are going to need all the resources at our call as we can get!
My understanding of the Cell Project (and may Dick Bell swoop down and correct me if I have misunderstood) was to intitially address the two issues that take away our voices as Americans...namely:
1. Election law and how we vote
2. Taking back our Airwaves so that our voices may once again be fairly and evenly represented.
More complex issues could more easily be addressed once these two monumental tasks were accomplished.
Thanks again for keeping your forum open. =]
This blog is going to be great because its not just for one party its for all Partys, My Unlce (he has Passed) was a WW2 Vet and he loved Politics and News he wanted to know everything. Never considered himself part of any Party. When he went to fight in WW2 he did not fight for the Democrats or the Republicans, he fought for this country. When I asked him what Political Party he belonged to, He said he belonged to the only one that mattered in the end, THE AMERICAN PARTY! It was about more than one party or another to him, it was about right and fairness, it was about what the Founding Fathers intended not what some Politions (sp) think they ment or want them to have ment. It was about US the People of this Country, So many of us may be Democrats by voter reg. But we are all Americans.
We live and Love by that one guiding princ. Freedom right now the words been highjacked to mean other countries. But Everyone Freedom starts right here at home.
So lets put party aside here and be one party while we hold an open converstation about the changes we have to make to keep our country whole, To heal it. Bush Republicans will never heal this country they are to selfish and need this country divided to stay in power. So our goal has to be to Unite everyone and constantly remind them what this country was founded on. If we can acheieve that one Goal we WIN our Children WIN and This Country will be repaired. Hard Work? Yup Worth it? Hell Yes.
Indy,
That might be what Dick intended, but we all know that bloggers are going to extend beyond any limited set of ideas.
Election reform fits is even included in my list.
As for fighting the right wing noise machine, this cannot be done just by itself. We need to put outideas to compete with Republican ideas. That's why I wanted to list some core values to promote which could be widely accepted, without us having to compromise our principles in an attempt to attract the right wing "values voters."
I'll be keeping the library open as long as there is interest. Most likely over time I'll reorganize a bit to include more of these American Values issues. (I already added some new topics recently in the library). I also will reorgainze to include articles on major players (and potential candidates) on both sides.
PC Doc - liked the editorial - good points
April - you say "freedom" right now has been hijacked to mean other countries. I assume you mean Bush talking about "freeing" Afghanistan or Iraq & I agree the term has been hijacked, but I don't even believe he is using it the way it should be used, and I question his motive, along with his administration.
During the Vietnam war, the conflict was "sold" to the American people (& others) by talking about the Communist threat, much as they now talk about the Terrorist threat. It was never made clear why the particular country to be attacked was a threat or how the logistics worked.
& you know that in the end, these "ideologues" don't care about "freedom" for those in other countries or here - they care about dominating the world's oil before it is gone (Google "peak oil" and start reading).
PC Doc - liked the editorial - good points
April - you say "freedom" right now has been hijacked to mean other countries. I assume you mean Bush talking about "freeing" Afghanistan or Iraq & I agree the term has been hijacked, but I don't even believe he is using it the way it should be used, and I question his motive, along with his administration.
During the Vietnam war, the conflict was "sold" to the American people (& others) by talking about the Communist threat, much as they now talk about the Terrorist threat. It was never made clear why the particular country to be attacked was a threat or how the logistics worked.
& you know that in the end, these "ideologues" don't care about "freedom" for those in other countries or here - they care about dominating the world's oil before it is gone (Google "peak oil" and start reading).
I did not push the button twice!!!
DiAnne your posts are always so good they deserve to be read twice! ;]
Posted by: DiAnne | November 22, 2004 09:06 PM
I couldnt agree more!
Bush uses Terrorism as an excuse for everything, every issue, it is along with Freedom for other people his excuse and it is just that an excuse for every decission he makes. We know that but Bush People still scream that we have freed people in other countries (I have seen no real evdience of this anyone else?)What I have been asking is what is happening to our Country because of fear and Hate? Our Country? I get blank looks.
The other thing I have noticed is Bush Republicans look a bit shell shocked that the Job Problem is now affecting them. Alot of these people have 16 and 17 year olds looking for jobs and guess what? Not there. I guess they thought the problems that Bush has brought onto us would only affect Democrats and Non Bush Supporters. They have been living in a little Bubble that is about to burst.
It will creep you out...
An actual billboard.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2739723
DiAnne,
Now I am going to have nightmares! That is creepy all right. It's even worse than the large billboard of Judy Woodruff that is down the street from us...
Virginia Paper Drops Columnist Malkin
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_di...
By E&P Staff
Published: November 22, 2004 3:00 PM ET
NEW YORK On daily newspapers' opinion pages, columnists come and go. But the dumping of an increasingly popular conservative at the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., got more of a public airing than usual.
The newspaper's public editor, Marvin Lake, announced in a column responding to a reader's complaint about editorial balance at the paper that Michelle Malkin, who had been added to give "another voice to the conservatives," had been dropped as a columnist because she was "too stridently anti-liberal."
Lake explained that "readers often took issue with her seemingly mean-spirited rantings and suggested that she be dropped. Well, she’s outta here, silenced for being 'too stridently anti-liberal,' the assessment of the editorial board."
Editorial writer Don Luzzatto told Lake: “I was really put off by her penchant for name-calling and ad hominem attack. I think we can do much better.”
At least some journalists know a rotten egg when they see one. This is my newspaper and glad they decided to diss this well fill in the BLANK.
NO SURRENDER !!!
Republicans Raise Fees on Small Business Borrowers
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As part of this year's recently passed $388 billion spending package, the Republican majority eliminated all funding and increased fees for the largest source of small business loans in the country: the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program.
"Republican leaders in Congress have rubber-stamped a proposal by President Bush that makes it even harder for small businesses to borrow money in America. That is simply wrong," said Sen. John Kerry, Ranking Democrat on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. "Once again, they're putting the costs of lending on the backs of small businesses -- the backbone of our economy and the very enterprises we're supposed to be helping."
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=40054
They Asked for it...they got it...
Been Screwed?
ROFLMAO!!!
By Pedro Nicolaci da Costa
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The economic policies of President Bush (news - web sites) have set the country on a dangerous course that will likely end in crisis, Princeton economics professor Paul Krugman told Reuters in an interview.
Krugman, who may be best known for his opinion column in The New York Times, said he was concerned that Bush's electoral victory over Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) earlier this month would only reinforce the administration's unwillingness to listen to dissenting opinions.
That, in turn, could spell serious trouble for the U.S. economy, which under Bush's first term was plagued by soaring deficits, waning investor confidence and anemic job creation.
"This is a group of people who don't believe that any of the rules really apply," said Krugman. "They are utterly irresponsible."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041...
You all know I still refuse to believe Bush won fairly! I will hold on to this belief, until someone proves other wise.
Thanks Indy :) night all.
And so it continues...
93,136 EXTRA Votes Found In ONE Ohio County
(Bush won the entire state, and thus the presidency, by 130,000)
From Teed Rockwell
Philosophy Department
Sonoma State University
11-19-4
You may have seen the associated press story about the precinct in Cuyahoga county that had less than 1,000 voters, and gave Bush almost 4,000 extra votes.
But that turns out to be only the tip of a very ugly iceberg. The evidence discovered by some remarkably careful sleuthing would convince any reasonable court to invalidate the entire Ohio election.
In last Tuesday's election, 29 precincts in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, reported votes cast IN EXCESS of the number of registered voters - at least 93,136 extra votes total. And the numbers are right there on the official Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website:
Bay Village - 13,710 registered voters / 18,663 ballots cast
Beachwood - 9,943 registered voters / 13,939 ballots cast
Bedford - 9,942 registered voters / 14,465 ballots cast
Bedford Heights - 8,142 registered voters / 13,512 ballots cast
Brooklyn - 8,016 registered voters / 12,303 ballots cast
Brooklyn Heights - 1,144 registered voters / 1,869 ballots cast
Chagrin Falls Village - 3,557 registered voters / 4,860 ballots cast
Cuyahoga Heights - 570 registered voters / 1,382 ballots cast
Fairview Park - 13,342 registered voters / 18,472 ballots cast
Highland Hills Village - 760 registered voters / 8,822 ballots cast
Independence - 5,735 registered voters / 6,226 ballots cast
Mayfield Village - 2,764 registered voters / 3,145 ballots cast
Middleburg Heights - 12,173 registered voters / 14,854 ballots cast
Moreland Hills Village - 2,990 registered voters / 4,616 ballots cast
North Olmstead - 25,794 registered voters / 25,887 ballots cast
Olmstead Falls - 6,538 registered voters / 7,328 ballots cast
Pepper Pike - 5,131 registered voters / 6,479 ballots cast
Rocky River - 16,600 registered voters / 20,070 ballots cast
Solon (WD6) - 2,292 registered voters / 4,300 ballots cast
South Euclid - 16,902 registered voters / 16,917 ballots cast
Strongsville (WD3) - 7,806 registered voters / 12,108 ballots cast
University Heights - 10,072 registered voters / 11,982 ballots cast
Valley View Village - 1,787 registered voters / 3,409 ballots cast
Warrensville Heights - 10,562 registered voters / 15,039 ballots cast
Woodmere Village - 558 registered voters / 8,854 ballots cast
Bedford (CSD) - 22,777 registered voters / 27,856 ballots cast
Independence (LSD) - 5,735 registered voters / 6,226 ballots cast
Orange (CSD) - 11,640 registered voters / 22,931 ballots cast
Warrensville (CSD) - 12,218 registered voters / 15,822 ballots cast
The Republicans are so BUSTED.
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/BOE/results/currentresults1.htm#top
Is the official website of the Cuyahoga county election board, providing irrefutable evidence that the vote was off by at least 93,000.
Kerry lost Ohio by approximately 130,000, so this is not an insignificant figure that can be ignored, particularly when there are numerous other indications of voter fraud in Ohio and elsewhere. I think the only possible alternative is to invalidate the entire Ohio election, if not the entire national election.
I'd say the game's up .America, it looks pretty much like you've been had.
Sincerely,
Teed Rockwell
Philosophy Department
Sonoma State University
Got Fraud?
A Stronger America Begins With You.
It is wonderful to see so many new and familiar people here on this blog. Is Democracy Cell Project a great idea or what?!!
We will now have a forum and educational place to help form groups around the country and spread the word! We will be able to counter balance the Fox News spin with facts! This is just the beginning as there is no doubt we will grow by leaps and bounds in the months ahead!
Looking forward to hearing and reading everyone's thoughts and idea's.
A new era begins with this website and I can't wait to get started!
http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/BOE/results/currentresults1.htm#top
I went to the website listed you sent and scanned down. Have you seen this part of the data on that site? This is all really interesting for sure...
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT
Vote for 1 (With 1458 of 1458 precincts counted)
MICHAEL BADNARIK/RICHARD V. CAMPAGNA
1828 0.28%
GEORGE W. BUSH/DICK CHENEY
215624 33.05%
JOHN F. KERRY/JOHN EDWARDS
433262 66.41%
CANDIDATE DISQUALIFIED
0 0.00%
MICHAEL A. PEROUTKA/CHUCK BALDWIN
1667 0.26%
Posted by: Ron Chusid | November 22, 2004 08:33 PM
Ron. Would you please run for office or something?
American Values
Democratic Principles ('small-d' for Indy)
Let's get back to the things that make America great.
Ron, I love how you show, simply, how core values inform position. Liberty. 'ensure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity'
Liberty is an American value. All Americans are guaranteed the blessings of liberty, be they rich, poor, black, white, gay or straight.
I think we need to be using "foundational language" in everything we do.
We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and..
Posted by: hexham | November 22, 2004 10:29 PM
Hex did you see this post upthread?
Posted by: Democracy Cells | November 22, 2004 03:58 PM
Check it out and the website contained within. =]
Hi All,
Just got here from the IRC and this is great. A big thanks to doc, Dick, Karen, and all others who worked to pull this off. I have been visiting a lot of blogs since ours ended, and I have not found any that have the same feel and sense of community that we developed.
We have a blog that is easy to navigate, dicusses important issues, and has a great group of individuals doing analysis of so much of the media spin and bias. This is a great way to get the word out.
I know we will all continue our political activism for the mid term elections, and this support will be crucial.
thanks again to all--this is going to be great!!
This is so cool - my little cell is in 3 time zones tonight - Florida, MN, OR & WA - one is reading Democratic Underground, the rest of us are reading various newspapers & I'm reading this. Then we are emailing our stories & comments & posting to blogs. This is like we did before the war, during the campaign & we are just keeping on keeping on!!
We need to overcome the perception / reality that most Americans are apathetic & uninformed & do not make much effort to find out what is going on in the world, do not take much interest in politics. Following ideologues is also different than really analyzing & synthesizing info.
Topics tonight: small businesses, voter reform, the dollar & a bit of gossip - head of China visits with Castro, a news commentator calls Condi Aunt Jemima & gets into trouble, Bush's dad has a near miss, & Arafat's nephew accuses Israel of poisoning him.
We will not survive without some humor!!
"I think we need to be using "foundational language" in everything we do." WELL SAID, HEX.
And I'd back Dr. Ron if he wanted to run for office!
Ok, to jump back in (dinner and grandchild's need to play games on Sesame St seemed for a brief wild moment more important than saving the country)
Indy and Ron you're both right, and to a lesser degree so am I.
Transparent elections has to be addressed NOW, while the greater public intrest is still with us. Most people move on, that's how we got the rather lame Voter's act. And at least in NM more of the money was spent on "education" than anything else, as far as I can tell. This is something that we can take action on NOW as well, as long as each state sets it's own rules we'll have to act locally. Letters to election commisions, to SS"s pressue on state legislators are all steps that can be done in the next few months.
As to the next goal.. reforming the airwaves, here's where Indy has the strongest arugment. We can't reform until we have something to offer. And yes to a point it's going to have to be sound bites.. that's what Rove does.. but we need to offer the more compelling sound bites, and on a whole range of issues, that's where Ron is right.
There now, see how easy it it to get along (:>?
hey guys!
...its so great having a blog for everyone again =) was enjoying reading it. Indy loves to quote the founding fathers and I love to quote the Kennedys lol but I thought this was a good quote that went along with what we've been talking about:
Let this be our commitment: Whatever sacrifices must be made will be shared and shared fairly. And let this be our confidence: At the end of our journey and always before us shines that ideal of liberty and justice for all.
- Ted Kennedy, 1980 DNC
If free elections are good enough for the Ukraine, they're good enough for us - I think they're having a little trouble over there - I feel for them!!
Thanks KJ. I do want to ensure the blessings of liberty for my future offspring.
Indy, thanks for the reminder of the earlier post. BOY did it hit the spot with me! Here's a clip from it:
Progressives commonly wring their hands in despair when conservatives use Orwellian language. They shouldn't. The use of Orwellian language signals to us where conservatives are weak. Forget that their deceptiveness is immoral. The point is that they are weak and are revealing their weakness. If they had public support, they could freely call their initiative the Dirty Skies Act.
Progressives can use the Right’s Orwellian weaknesses to our advantage. We can focus the public’s attention on it by highlighting the discrepancies between what the radical Right says and what it does. Do not hesitate to rename their Orwellian legislation. For example:
Do not call it the “Clear Skies initiative.” Call it the “Dirty Skies initiative.”
Do not call it “Healthy Forests.” Call it “No Tree Left Behind.”
Do not call it “Compassionate Conservatism.” Call it “Callous Conservatism".
-------------
One I've always been interested in is the orwellian naming of military operations.
Operation Just Cause. (why'd you invade? Just 'cause.)
Operation Anaconda. Should've been Operation Toothless Rattler.
Et cetera.
Promote the General Welfare.
Collateral Damage
Precision Bombing
(lst Gulf War)
That's when I really noticed it & it sounded like propaganda to me so I began to tune it out so as not to be brainwashed, & when media coverage of an air war looked like a video game.
Anyone notice a new game came out which simulates the JFK Assassination, in time for the 41st anniversary of the real thing?!
As one of the main objectives of this blog is to hold the media accountable. I nominate Joe Trippi for special consideration. I am watching him on Hardball. I am almost short of breath with rage, as I listen to him say that the Democratic Party did not have any new ideas for the voters to consider. It is exactly this this type of lying that merits a concentrated effort to expose this type of distortion when it rears its ugly head.
There's a certain degree of truth to Trippi's statement, but that is not the whole story. More importantly, how do we benefit from having Democratic spokespeople out saying such things in public? That's one area where the right is doing better. Their people stay on message, even if it is the wrong message.
Posted by: latina4justice | November 22, 2004 10:34 PM
Me too--have been all over the blogosphere. Lots of Deaniacs--but I'm a Kerrycrat! It will be great to converse will all of you again.
Posted by: Ron Chusid | November 23, 2004 12:07 AM
What they are doing is gossiping. People gossip in order to promote themselves at others' expense. Trippi makes himself look good on Hardball--big deal. But the problem is that these types are looked at as Dem spokespeople--and that shows us as anything but united.
Hello everyone. I'm glag to see the new blog uo and running.
*glad
Has anyone heard any good news today? I havn't been home long so I missed all the mews.
*news P.S. Not typing worth a crap tonight. LOL