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Weighing In
Hello friends,
This is a missive from SoCal, where my sorry body has landed most recently. Today I present a session on advocacy, and by way of opening up the conversation, I plan to present:
(TA DAH!)
The Influency Continuum
As nonprofits, we can certainly begin at the far end of the Influency Continuum, at ADVOCACY. ADVOCACY: The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support. Aside from the notion of PLEADING for a cause (reminscent of the actual act of advocacy as it is), advocacy is a fairly straightforward and necessary act. I think of it as feeding ourselves and taking care of business. Anyone who has ever worked in a hierarchical workplace knows that ADVOCATING for the projects one is working on is essential.
LOBBYING is a little more complicated. Legally, nonprofits are to keep lobbying to a minimum, whereas large corporations and PACS spend an inordinate amount of money on LOBBYING.
To try to influence the thinking of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause: lobbying for stronger environmental safeguards; lobbied against the proliferation of nuclear arms.
To try to influence public officials on behalf of or against (proposed legislation, for example): lobbied the bill through Congress; lobbied the bill to a negative vote.
To try to influence (an official) to take a desired action.
Then we come to BRIBERY. n : the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage. BRIBERY produces a high degree of influence, but nearly as much as:
BLACKMAIL. –noun 1. any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations. Obviously, blackmail can produce a tremendous amount of INFLUENCE.
So if increasing our influence over, say, our piss-poor government, is a goal, we can see that we need to move beyond mere advocacy and into something a little stronger. However, being the good citizens we are, we tend to cringe at the very thought of the illegal stuff.
And yet, we can see how it works, can't we?
If the arguments MUST be won, if influencing the outcomes of judicial and legislative processes is absolutely essential to our cause, then the illegal means become an option all too easily. After all, look at us mere advocators; how effective are we, in the end?
My message of hope is this: Quality of argument counts. What legal influence requires of us, in addition to integrity and heart-filled honesty, is clarity of argument, sound support, data-driven and moral high ground arguments that hold water.
And so we must soldier on, citizen-journalists and protesters and advocates for democracy, and we must get ever better at what we do. We cannot wait for the mainstream media or even the constabulary forces to get around to unpacking the truth; we must hold the truth and speak the truth, and share the truth, and engage in questioning the truth.
Only then we will influence the course of history and prevail, on behalf of the truth.
Good points, Karen!
Looks like AZ voters need positive advocates:
High Court Allows Arizona to Enact New Voter ID Law
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102106Y.shtml
The Supreme Court cleared the way Friday for Arizona to enforce a new rule for next month's election that requires most voters to show proof of identification before casting a ballot. The ruling reverses one by the 9th Circuit. It is expected to benefit Republicans at the polls.
And then there is the opinion of an infamous advocate for torture and dictatorship in America:
John Yoo: Sending a Message : Congress to courts: Get out of the war on terror:
The military commission bill, which President Bush signed into law on Tuesday, most of the press and the professional punditry missed the big story. In the struggle for power between the three branches of government, it is not the presidency that "won." Instead, it is the judiciary that lost.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009113
And we will not falter, we will not fail, we will not rest until Boosh and all his cronies are under the influence, too.
From the Otterworld Quoted Without Comment Department:
"The president was on ABC-TV doing an interview with (George) Stephanopolous. He compared Iraq to Vietnam. How the hell does he know?"
-- unidentified senator speaking to students at South Carolina State University yesterday
not knowing something has never stopped shrub from pontificating about it anyway,
Otter
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061021/ap_on_el_ge/election_stakes_1
Dems holding leads in many pivotal races
WASHINGTON - Democrats hold solid leads for four of the six Republican seats they need to capture the Senate and about 10 of 15 required to win the House, according to officials in both parties. Numerous additional races remain highly competitive.
{{{Click on link for more. This is all very nice, but we do have to wait and see what the "Diebold polls" show after 8 p.m. on Nov 7 in states where e-voting machines are used.... And whether or not any "close" numbers will be contested....}}}
http://www.startribune.com/587/story/757066.html
Coleman is knee-deep in global-warming fray
His draft proposal would block states and the EPA from regulating emissions of carbon dioxide.
WASHINGTON - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed that California would take the lead in the fight against global-warming when he signed a bill last month aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
But Sen. Norm Coleman is suggesting that Congress strip California and all other states, along with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, of much of their authority to control carbon dioxide emissions.
Under a draft proposal that has been circulated by the Minnesota Republican, carbon dioxide would not be considered a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.
Coleman found himself in the middle of the fray over global warming when a little-known Washington newsletter, Inside EPA, posted a copy of Coleman's draft on its website.
{{{Click on link for more. Coleman is such a sleaze-bag... and I hope Al Franken runs against him in '08!}}}
Iraq Mayhem Triggers Hunt for Exit Strategy
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102106A.shtml
Frantic efforts are under way in Washington and London to find an exit strategy for Iraq as a renewed surge in violence led Bush to admit yesterday that tactics there might need to change. Diplomats and politicians in both capitals are desperately reviewing and debating options that were once regarded as unthinkable.
Tony Karon | No, Iraq Is Not Vietnam
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102106G.shtml
"The Tet Offensive analogy is misleading. Iraq is more complex, and may prove to be far more damaging, than America's most traumatic foreign misadventure," according to Tony Karon.
US Plan for New Nuclear Weapons Advances
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102106C.shtml
The United States took another step yesterday toward building a new stockpile of up to 2,200 deployed nuclear weapons that would last well into the 21st century, announcing the start of a multi-year process to repair and replace facilities where they would be developed and assembled and where older warheads could be more rapidly dismantled.
Thank-you Karen, for all the work you do.
If any of you did not read Glen Greenwald's posting that DW linked to in the last thread, I highly recommend it. What I found quite fascinating is the unanimity of the Republican members of Congress as opposed to the Democrats. After reviewing those statistics, it seems to me, unless the Democrats display the same type of unanimity as the Republicans, having a bare majority wont make much of a difference when it comes to certain Congressional votes. Democrats demonstrate a willingness to break among ranks when it comes to voting on certain issues. Lieberman's claim that he will caucus with the Dems ia a ruse as well. So, as I see it, unless the Dems smash the Republicans in the next election - something not likely to happen - I don't see a dramatic change occuring.
I so badly want to be wrong about this. Please show me why my conclusion is wrong.
Here is the posting. Make sure you read the very end where he lists the vote totals:
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/10/deceitful-ritual-of-independent-gop.html
Random post:
Is anyone (still) interested in coming to a Gulf Coast DCP get-together in the Jan/Feb timeframe?
Posted by: V at October 21, 2006 07:47 PM
I'm definitely going to try to be there. If it's above 10 degrees I might stay too.
Sounds good to me. Where?
Mobile Alabama, exact date still TBD...
Hey, any of this sound like a familiar echo of anything anyone on our side has been saying lately?
*ahem*
From the International Herald-Tribune, at
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/21/frontpage/web.1021security.php
------------------
The Bush administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to address sectarian divisions and assume a larger role in securing the country, senior American officials said.
Details of the blueprint, which is to be presented to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki before the end of the year and would be carried out over the next year and beyond, are still being devised. But the officials said that for the first time Iraq was likely to be asked to agree to a schedule of specific milestones, like disarming sectarian militias, and to a broad set of other political, economic and military benchmarks intended to stabilize the country.
[snip]
"We're trying to come up with ways to get the Iraqis to step up to the plate, to push them along, because the time is coming," a senior Bush administration official said. "We can't be there forever."
Until now, the Bush administration has avoided using threats of deadlines for progress in Iraq, saying that conditions on the ground would determine how quickly Iraq took on greater responsibility for governing the country and how soon American troops could withdraw.
[snip]
The idea of devising specific steps that Maliki would have to take was described by senior officials who support the plan but would speak only on condition of anonymity. Their willingness to discuss a plan that has not yet been fully drafted appeared intended at least in part to signal renewed flexibility on the part of the Bush administration, and perhaps also to pre-empt the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, a commission led by James A. Baker III and charged with formulating a new strategy in Iraq. The group is expected to issue its recommendations late this year or early next year.
The plan also moves the administration closer to an idea advocated by many Democrats, who have called for setting a date for beginning phased withdrawals of American troops from Iraq as a way to compel Iraq's government to resolve its internal divisions and take on more responsibility.
[snip]
In Baghdad, Iraqi leaders have been watching the discussions carefully and expressing uneasiness over the growing political pressure in the United States for a troop pullout.
Tensions between Washington and Baghdad reached a new point on Monday when Maliki, who took office in May, used a telephone call with Bush to seek assurances that the United States did not intend to oust him. The White House said after the call that Mr. Bush had given the Iraqi leader a pledge of full support.
Rumsfeld alluded to discussions about benchmarks on Friday at a Pentagon news conference, noting that Mr. Khalilzad and General Casey "are currently working with the Iraqi government to develop a set of projections as to when they think they can pass off various pieces of responsibility."
He emphasized the urgency of transferring more security and governing responsibilities to the Iraqi government. "It's their country," he said. "They're going to have to govern it, they're going to have to provide security for it, and they're going to have to do it sooner rather than later."
But Rumsfeld was quick to play down expectations: "There's no doubt in my mind but that some of those projections we won't make; it will be later, or even earlier in some instances. And in some cases, once we meet the projection, we may have to go back and do it again."
[snip]
In his radio address on Saturday, Bush emphasized that the administration was staying flexible in its planning and would "make every necessary change to prevail in this struggle."
"Our goal in Iraq is clear and unchanging: our goal is victory," he said. "What is changing are the tactics we use to achieve that goal. Our commanders on the ground are constantly adjusting their approach to stay ahead of the enemy, particularly in Baghdad."
[snip]
---------------
and not that rummy was waffling his neokonzertruppe butt off expectations-wise or anything,
Otter
Posted by: V at October 21, 2006 07:47 PM
I will definitely try to make it. Please keep me informed.
Iraq death toll report defended by researchers
Group: Estimate of up to 794,000 civilian deaths based on sound methods
Updated: 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A controversial estimate by public health experts that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died because of the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq is likely an accurate assessment, researchers said on Saturday.
“Over the last 25 years, this sort of methodology has been used more and more often, especially by relief agencies in times of emergency,” said Dr. David Rush, a professor and epidemiologist at Tufts University in Boston.
The study, published earlier this month by the Lancet medical journal, employed a method known as “cluster sampling” in which data are collected through interviews with randomly selected households.
Critics, including President George W. Bush, have said the results are not credible, but Rush said traditional methods for determining death rates, such as counting bodies, are highly inaccurate for civilian populations in times of war.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Al Mustansiriya University in Baghdad estimated with 95 percent certainty that the war and its aftermath have resulted in the deaths of between 426,000 and 794,000 Iraqis.
more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15364807/
Things looking very difficult for Duckworth. I know what the article says about the independents, but living here, I have a very bad feeling about her chances.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061020poll,1,403745.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.):
"While Republicans fight the War on Terror... House Democrats plot to establish a Department of Peace."
gee he says that like it's a bad thing,
Otter
Otter,
Yeah, wouldn't that be just AWFUL? A Department of PEACE.
All,
Danced the night away last night and heading HOME at last tonight. I cannot wait; it's been a while. Will see you all online from the crime scene soon!
oncall, my friend, if you feel so passionately about your post then why are you not spending your Sunday at Tammy's campaign office? I would love to have that opportunity here locally and help but instead have spent valuable time travelling to Ohio and calling into Virginia. If you have that opportunity grab it and understand you can be a part of history for you, your family, community, and nation. In 19 days it will be too late to be bitter and complain. Be a part of the sollution today, oncall and others..
solution..but you get my message even with my typos Its a 60s saying if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem, Abby Hoffman, but some might take that message the wrong way
State Dept. Official: "Arrogance" and "Stupidity" Hindered US Goals In Iraq
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102206Y.shtml
A senior US diplomat said the United States had shown "arrogance" and "stupidity" in Iraq but was now ready to talk with any group except Al-Qaida in Iraq to facilitate national reconciliation.
{{{AP story has a different slant on the below BBC story.}}}
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6074182.stm
US 'arrogant and stupid' in Iraq
A senior US state department official has said that the US has shown "arrogance and stupidity" in Iraq.
Alberto Fernandez made the remarks during an interview with Arabic television station al-Jazeera.
The state department says Mr Fernandez was quoted incorrectly - but BBC Arabic language experts say Mr Fernandez did indeed use the words.
It comes after President George W Bush discussed changing tactics with top US commanders to try to combat the unrest.
Mr Fernandez, an Arabic speaker who is director of public diplomacy in the state department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told Qatar-based al-Jazeera that the world was "witnessing failure in Iraq".
"That's not the failure of the United States alone, but it is a disaster for the region," he said.
"I think there is great room for strong criticism, because without doubt, there was arrogance and stupidity by the United States in Iraq."
{{{More on link.}}}
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/
Scary spending
Posted by: Otter at October 21, 2006 09:03 PM
The overall "policy" won't change. They can parse words, or try to change the definition of words, talk about different 'tactics' all they want, but the "goal" is still the same.
i.e. As long as Herr Boosh is presidunce, the US military will be in Iraq, and the next presidunce will have to worry about getting us out of there. No longer remarked on after FoleyGate is the fact that the number of troops sent to Iraq increased the last few months, and earlier this year it was predicted that some would be brought home by the end of this year.
The more words thrown out with the hot air coming from their lying mouths, the more things stay the same (or get worse)......
Posted by: oncall at October 21, 2006 11:39 PM
I remember long before the conventions there was another candidate with experience talked about for IL who seemed like she had a very good chance to take this seat, but the IL Dem convention picked Duckworth (disabled vet, but zero experince in politics, she was apparently asked to run, didn't aspire to a political career). The only qualification Duckworth seems to have is the wounded/disabled vet image (not soft on military image). I never did understand the Duckworth choice.
If Duckworth really does want a career in politics, why didn't she run for a county or state office first to get some experience first...?
V:
I'm interested in hearing more about the gathering! Keep me posted.
Here's the latest on my husband's buddy Jason Altmire of the PA-4th.
Could it be an upset? Possibly, if there aren't any shenanigans.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_475870.html
CNN QuickVote
Will history show the U.S. displayed "stupidity" in its handling of Iraq war?
Yes 86% 44408 votes
No 14% 7095 votes
Total: 51503 votes
Will history show that the U.S. ignored warnings and displayed "stupidity" in allowing a man of questionable intelligence to run the country into the ground?
As my high school chemistry instructor used to tell us...
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
no particle left behind,
Otter
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102101050.html
How Foley Skirted Rules To Pursue Relationships
Former Pages Describe Lawmaker's Advances
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102100852.html
Rove Road-Tests Tougher Attack on Democrats
Bush's Family Profits From "No Child" Act
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102206X.shtml
A company headed by President Bush's brother and partly owned by his parents is benefitting from Republican connections and federal dollars targeted for economically disadvantaged students under the No Child Left Behind Act.
Posted by: Bubba at October 22, 2006 01:02 PM
If you will notice, I posted at nearly 11:40 P.M. on a Saturday night.
I don't feel I should have to justify myself, but because my committment has publicly been called into question, I will publicly respond. Today, I am literally, on call. I made my hospital rounds, and I have spent some time at the every Sunday (in front of the Trader Joe's) outdoor protest against the war. I also took time to contribute a sizeable amount of money to Duckworth's campaign via the net and also contributed to the DCCC. It is a miserable fall day here, and there is nobody out and about canvassing neighborhoods. Because of my responsibilities I have not gone to the Duckworth headquarters to phone bank, but after being made to feel like I am part of the problem, I will give them a call and see if they need my help.
By the way, nobody answered my question that I posted yesterday.
Any thoughts?
oncall we know your passion for progressive causes and your enormous responsibilities as
a physician and family man, that is why I was reluctant to say what I did but time is running out and we need to give it our all. Each of us contribute in our own way with our time, money and passion so no one is calling anyone 'the problem' Again my point is that many have been at this sight going on 2 years and know how important this election is. If anysone has "Any" spare time to help me complete our calls into Virginia let me know via email otherwise I am pleading for each of us to help with our local candidadtes in whatever way we can. 18 days and counting.
We're all a little touchy & spread pretty thin these last two weeks doing everything we can to help the candidates of our choice. I'm sure no one intentionally means to call into question anyone's loyalty or committment to the cause.
oncall, what was the question?
(Sorry, I've been focussing on my local candidate & blogs & haven't had much time to catch up here at the DCP.)
Sitting in my rental car in SoCal, getting ready to leave and I thought I would check in here.
I sense fervor.
That seems wholly appropriate and I will just add that I think everyone on this blog is doing simply amazing committed work.
MD, Seals seems to be doing quite quite nicely, based on the site you advised me about in an email. It's great work you are doing.
oncall, remember to breathe and keep knees loose; even the doctor needs to recuperate prn. I too am worried about Duckworth, even though we all had been pulling for Cegelis originally. What else do you think Tammy needs, aside from money? And, of course, at DCP, we do not endorse candidates, but educate ourselves about them and the process.
Bubba, let's all make some phone calls this week, for candidates of our personal choice. There are lots of good ones running, and part of our job as citizens is to help elect the best ones.
Educate, activate, empower. Looks to me like that is happening HERE.
I just got back from Duckworth's headquarters and wanted to report this right away. I am pleased to report that it was a bee hive of activity. People were coming and going, picking up literature to spread in their neighborhood, making phone calls at the phone bank. I sat next to a woman who was in customer service. She really knew how to talk to people. It was instructive. I learned that the Republicans have called many people insinuating they were from the Duckworth campaign, and spreaading untruths about her positions. I learned this from an angry man whom I called and told me in no uncertain terms what he thought of the candidates - "If there were a third party, I would vote for them! I am tired of being bombarded!" Suprisingly he did not hang up on me. We spent some time on the phone, and he realized that he had been "played" by the Roskam campaign. Boy, was he pissed when he figured out what happened. That is at least one vote I can be sure I persuaded to vote for Duckworth. People were also actually quite surprised to learn that the Chicago Tribune, for the first time in over twenty years, endorsed the Democratic candidate for this District (my cynical self leads me to believe they are trying to recapture the Sunday subscriptions they lost when they endorsed Bush). I also met Tammy Duckworth as she came out to personally thank everyone. Her pictures don't do her justice.
I apologize for overreacting.
Posted by: madame defarge at October 22, 2006 06:22 PM
MD, here is the post with my question.
Posted by: oncall at October 21, 2006 06:38 PM
Great news!!
Riverbend is alive!
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
Carla Binion | Bush's Absolute Power Grab
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102206B.shtml
"On October 17, George W. Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This new law gives Bush power similar to that possessed by Stalin or Hitler, and grants agencies within the Executive Branch powers similar to those of the KGB or Gestapo," writes Carla Binion. "Bush justifies this act by claiming he needs it to fight the 'war on terror,' but a number of critics, including former counterterrorism officials, have said the administration has greatly exaggerated the threat and used illogical methods to combat terrorism."
Nation's Leaders Mislead Youth by Preaching Peace, Practicing War
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102206G.shtml
"God forgive me," pleads David Cook, "should I ever truly understand how presidents Clinton and Bush are able to mouth the hollow words about protecting children ("We must ... teach them to express their anger and resolve their conflicts with words, not weapons.") and then, hours later, give the damnable blessing for military movements that kill other people's children. This is madness, and it is the hell-bent delusion of violence that allows the president of the United States to stand up before a crowded room of parents, reporters and survivors and announce his intentions to better protect American schoolchildren, and then, before the same day's sun sets, continue to sit on a war that has killed more than half-a-million souls. And a nation of 300 million barely opens its mouth."
Robert Parry | Giving Osama What He Really Wants
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102206D.shtml
Robert Parry writes: "By extending the US occupation of Iraq - rather than looking for an early exit - Bush has played into al-Qaeda's hands. Indeed, looking back over Bush's almost six years in office, his actions - or some might say his blunders - have repeatedly benefited bin Laden's strategies. Not only did Bush fail to react to US intelligence warnings about the 9/11 attacks, he then failed to finish off bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders in the battle of Tora Bora in December 2001."
Caveat: You need a barf bag to watch any of this crap....!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NofW8g7HYCY&NR
Michele Bachman (R candidate in southern MN against Wetterling, Dem who just pulled ahead in the polls; Bachman is currently in the MN state legislature) made Olberman's Worst Person list.... :-) I didn't know Brooklyn Park had a fundie church, but apparently it does. There is more than one film of her at the church, including the video of her imitating Herr Boosh talking about being called to run for Congress.
Wipe That Smile Off Your Face
by Our Lady Peace
It's just the two of us
A silver cross
And some strength that you won't believe
See I'm not your friend
And I won't pretend
That I've come here for peace
Well I'm not afraid
I'm gonna make you pay
I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
And this is war ...
And I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
The time has come
To drop the bomb
On all the pain you've been selling
See I don't like you
Or your attitude
Or the company that you keep
And this is war ...
And I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
And this is war ...
And I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
It's just the two of us
A silver cross
And some strength that you won't believe
Well I'm not afraid
I'm gonna make you pay
I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
It's war ...
And I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face
And this is war ...
And I'm gonna wipe that smile off your face, oh ...
And wipe that smile
And wipe that smile...
Right off your face.
Riverbend is alive!
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Carol at October 22, 2006 07:45 PM
Finally some good news from Iraq.
oncall, all I can say is that I am truly sorry if I underestimated you and was such a noodge, but getting you 'more' involved in talking with actual voters you can see how energizing it really is to speak with pissed off Republicans. Its a rush that I think you have missed out on until today and your post above truly made my day. Amazingly I am still speaking with Virginia voters who know nothing abouth the candidates and still undecided. Those are the ones that really give you an opening to persuade. Thanks again oncall we know that you are a passionate supporter of progressives and now fully behind Ms. Duckworth.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush, who gets higher marks for handling the economy than running the Iraq war, is spending two days this week trying to convince voters Republicans are the best stewards of matters affecting the wallet.
White House advisers said Sunday that Bush is not trying to change the subject from a deteriorating situation in Iraq, and that he will continue to talk about Iraq and the war on terrorism as the November 7 election nears. Bush advisers said they think the president should get more credit for recent positive economic news.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/22/bush.economy.ap/index.html
Bwahahahahaha!
Posted by: Bubba at October 22, 2006 08:33 PM
As our all too fearful leader would say, I was "misunderestimated". LOL.
Posted by: monkey at October 22, 2006 08:40 PM
It is a great economy if you are a multi-trillionaire, but if you are in the middle class, things suck.
Posted by: Bubba at October 22, 2006 08:33 PM
BTW, this was not the first time I have gotten out and "worked" for this election. To my wife's chagrin, it has not unusual for me to discuss the current mess we find ourselves in with many others while I talk about our choices. I actually had a patient who works for the Roskam campaign try to get me to support him. I let her know she was talking to the wrong guy. Just this past Friday, I was with a patient and her husband. They did not have insurance and faced huge bills. We talked and I told them to vote for Duckworth. They whole heartedly agreed. Most of my patients (many of whom are Republicans) are surprised to learn that I support her.
No hard feelings are taken and I admire your passion.
each in our way will make a difference. just don't lose any patients over politics, sometimes I have to be careful not to let my politics conflict with my responsibilities as a lawyer. Fortunately most of my clients are working class and agree with my politics as desperate as that is here in Texas, unfortunately most of my clients could care less about voting even after I hand them a voter registration card. If I sound jealous I am for not being in a place where plolitics makes a difference.Hopefully I will outlive that sentiment here.
Bubba,
How GREAT that you give them voter registration cards! Keep doing that; even if only one or two register, it's a positive direction. We need those folks because they need to be sending clear messages to legislators and walking the walk. We need their citizenry.
oncall, good to hear about Duckworth and your day. I agree that phoning can be so satisfying, especially when you realize that it is your stash of information that makes the difference and changes hearts and minds. The truth; it works.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A senior State Department diplomat apologized Sunday for having told the Arab satellite network Al-Jazeera on Saturday that there is a strong possibility history will show the United States displayed "arrogance" and "stupidity" in its handling of the Iraq war.
"Upon reading the transcript of my appearance on Al-Jazeera, I realized that I seriously misspoke by using the phrase 'there has been arrogance and stupidity' by the U.S. in Iraq," Alberto Fernandez said in an e-mail sent to reporters by the State Department and attributed to him.
"This represents neither my views nor those of the State Department. I apologize," the statement said.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/23/fernandez.statement/index.html
So, who's views were they if they weren't his nor the State Dept?
Hey everyone from Down Under, the radical one is back,is that Christys Bubba or not
Hey Oncall, how is everything going
Rossi!
Have missed ya bigtime, was asking just the other day about yer status!
Hope all is well with you & yours...
(...and bubba is not christy)
Hey oncall I was just on the phone to Christy, wanted to ask her something, Can you check something out for me.
Posted by: Kangaroo at October 23, 2006 08:53 AM
What a nice surprise! Kangaroo are you coming out for the summer?
LOL, no that is not Christy's bubba. That Bubba is nobody other than our own Ira (sorry to blow your cover Ira). I think he took up that name after Bill Clinton came out ready for bear on a Sunday morning news show. If you want to see a politician who wont take any crap, go to John Kerry's web site and watch the most recent video.
For those of you who haven't seen Kerry's interview with Stephanopoulos, it really is worth watching.
http://www.johnkerry.com/multimedia/
No I mean is Bubba Christys other half
Posted by: Kangaroo at October 23, 2006 09:02 AM
I just sent you an e-mail.
Thanks for that oncall will check it out, now hey Ira how you going.
Now dont tell me I am getting all radical, will you please oncall but will you check something out, I am really worried about it I have been trying to check it where ever I can
Thanks oncall
Sent you an email Oncall
Heyas, rossiann! Good to see you posting here again! And be sure to keep up the conversation in the next thread, too -- the new one's up even as we type, and the header content is amusingly coincidental now that you're back hanging around the old neighborhood again.
did I happen to mention that shrub is a doink yet,
Otter