I received this Dear John letter from John Edwards. Here's the link to a video of the speech announcing that he was dropping out.
Dear Friend,
Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.
Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.
I began my presidential campaign in New Orleans to remind the country that all of us -- as citizens and as a government -- have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters.
Now, it's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to the White House -- but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history.
And, along the way, all of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, I am asking you to continue speaking out for those who have no voice, just as Elizabeth and I will continue to do. We need you.
Do not turn away from the great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us -- all of us together -- to make the two Americas one. We need you.
I hope you will take a few moments to listen to the video clip of my speech in New Orleans earlier this afternoon or to read it below.
In the meantime, Elizabeth and my family join me in thanking all of you for your support and for working so hard on my behalf. We are truly blessed to have such friends.
Thank you.
John Edwards
January 30, 2008
---
Thank you all very much. We're very proud to be back here.
During the spring of 2006, I had the extraordinary experience of bringing 700 college kids here to New Orleans to work. These are kids who gave up their spring break to come to New Orleans to work, to rehabilitate houses, because of their commitment as Americans, because they believed in what was possible, and because they cared about their country.
I began my presidential campaign here to remind the country that we, as citizens and as a government, have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters. We must do better, if we want to live up to the great promise of this country that we all love so much.
It is appropriate that I come here today. It's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong, we will be unified, and with our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November and we'll create hope and opportunity for this country.
This journey of ours began right here in New Orleans. It was a December morning in the Lower Ninth Ward when people went to work, not just me, but lots of others went to work with shovels and hammers to help restore a house that had been destroyed by the storm.
We joined together in a city that had been abandoned by our government and had been forgotten, but not by us. We knew that they still mourned the dead, that they were still stunned by the destruction, and that they wondered when all those cement steps in all those vacant lots would once again lead to a door, to a home, and to a dream.
We came here to the Lower Ninth Ward to rebuild. And we're going to rebuild today and work today, and we will continue to come back. We will never forget the heartache and we'll always be here to bring them hope, so that someday, one day, the trumpets will sound in Musicians' Village, where we are today, play loud across Lake Ponchartrain, so that working people can come marching in and those steps once again can lead to a family living out the dream in America.
We sat with poultry workers in Mississippi, janitors in Florida, nurses in California.
We listened as child after child told us about their worry about whether we would preserve the planet.
We listened to worker after worker say "the economy is tearing my family apart."
We walked the streets of Cleveland, where house after house was in foreclosure.
And we said, "We're better than this. And economic justice in America is our cause."
And we spent a day, a summer day, in Wise, Virginia, with a man named James Lowe, who told us the story of having been born with a cleft palate. He had no health care coverage. His family couldn't afford to fix it. And finally some good Samaritan came along and paid for his cleft palate to be fixed, which allowed him to speak for the first time. But they did it when he was 50 years old. His amazing story, though, gave this campaign voice: universal health care for every man, woman and child in America. That is our cause.
And we do this -- we do this for each other in America. We don't turn away from a neighbor in their time of need. Because every one of us knows that what -- but for the grace of God, there goes us. The American people have never stopped doing this, even when their government walked away, and walked away it has from hardworking people, and, yes, from the poor, those who live in poverty in this country.
For decades, we stopped focusing on those struggles. They didn't register in political polls, they didn't get us votes and so we stopped talking about it. I don't know how it started. I don't know when our party began to turn away from the cause of working people, from the fathers who were working three jobs literally just to pay the rent, mothers sending their kids to bed wrapped up in their clothes and in coats because they couldn't afford to pay for heat.
We know that our brothers and sisters have been bullied into believing that they can't organize and can't put a union in the workplace. Well, in this campaign, we didn't turn our heads. We looked them square in the eye and we said, "We see you, we hear you, and we are with you. And we will never forget you." And I have a feeling that if the leaders of our great Democratic Party continue to hear the voices of working people, a proud progressive will occupy the White House.
Now, I've spoken to both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. They have both pledged to me and more importantly through me to America, that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency.
And more importantly, they have pledged to me that as President of the United States they will make ending poverty and economic inequality central to their Presidency. This is the cause of my life and I now have their commitment to engage in this cause.
And I want to say to everyone here, on the way here today, we passed under a bridge that carried the interstate where 100 to 200 homeless Americans sleep every night. And we stopped, we got out, we went in and spoke to them.
There was a minister there who comes every morning and feeds the homeless out of her own pocket. She said she has no money left in her bank account, she struggles to be able to do it, but she knows it's the moral, just and right thing to do. And I spoke to some of the people who were there and as I was leaving, one woman said to me, "You won't forget us, will you? Promise me you won't forget us." Well, I say to her and I say to all of those who are struggling in this country, we will never forget you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you.
But I want to say this -- I want to say this because it's important. With all of the injustice that we've seen, I can say this, America's hour of transformation is upon us. It may be hard to believe when we have bullets flying in Baghdad and it may be hard to believe when it costs $58 to fill your car up with gas. It may be hard to believe when your school doesn't have the right books for your kids. It's hard to speak out for change when you feel like your voice is not being heard.
But I do hear it. We hear it. This Democratic Party hears you. We hear you, once again. And we will lift you up with our dream of what's possible.
One America, one America that works for everybody.
One America where struggling towns and factories come back to life because we finally transformed our economy by ending our dependence on oil.
One America where the men who work the late shift and the women who get up at dawn to drive a two-hour commute and the young person who closes the store to save for college. They will be honored for that work. One America where no child will go to bed hungry because we will finally end the moral shame of 37 million people living in poverty.
One America where every single man, woman and child in this country has health care.
One America with one public school system that works for all of our children.
One America that finally brings this war in Iraq to an end. And brings our service members home with the hero's welcome that they have earned and that they deserve.
Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency.
But I want to say this to everyone: with Elizabeth, with my family, with my friends, with all of you and all of your support, this son of a millworker's gonna be just fine. Our job now is to make certain that America will be fine.
And I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard – all those who have volunteered, my dedicated campaign staff who have worked absolutely tirelessly in this campaign.
And I want to say a personal word to those I've seen literally in the last few days – those I saw in Oklahoma yesterday, in Missouri, last night in Minnesota – who came to me and said don't forget us. Speak for us. We need your voice. I want you to know that you almost changed my mind, because I hear your voice, I feel you, and your cause is our cause. Your country needs you – every single one of you.
All of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, we need you. It is in our hour of need that your country needs you. Don't turn away, because we have not just a city of New Orleans to rebuild. We have an American house to rebuild.
This work goes on. It goes on right here in Musicians' Village. There are homes to build here, and in neighborhoods all along the Gulf. The work goes on for the students in crumbling schools just yearning for a chance to get ahead. It goes on for day care workers, for steel workers risking their lives in cities all across this country. And the work goes on for two hundred thousand men and women who wore the uniform of the United States of America, proud veterans, who go to sleep every night under bridges, or in shelters, or on grates, just as the people we saw on the way here today. Their cause is our cause.
Their struggle is our struggle. Their dreams are our dreams.
Do not turn away from these great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us, all of us together, to make the two Americas one.
Thank you. God bless you, and let's go to work. Thank you all very much.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
What's she up to now?
From an AFP story:
Clinton upheld a pledge by the candidates not to campaign in Florida. But she was adamant that the state -- along with Michigan, which has been similarly punished -- should be represented at the convention in Denver.
"I promise you I will do everything I can that not only Florida's Democrats get seated but that Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in November 2008," she said, alongside Florida Senator Bill Nelson.
My take:
Florida's Democrats were punished by the party for allowing the state to move the primary to a date earlier than Feb. 5. The party decided not to allow any delegates from Florida in the convention. The candidates also agreed that they would not campaign in Florida.
Now Hillary is trying to bring them back into the process. I'm very suspicious of this, because it's a move that happened only after their voters picked her. But they only picked her because she was the presumptive front-runner and because the other candidates played by the rules and did not campaign there.
So this is what she may be doing:
If Obama fights her on this, it just creates more bad blood in Florida. If he doesn't, it may tip the balance in critical convention vote.
This sounds like bad, back door political wrangling, and it's an idea that's best left alone.
Clinton upheld a pledge by the candidates not to campaign in Florida. But she was adamant that the state -- along with Michigan, which has been similarly punished -- should be represented at the convention in Denver.
"I promise you I will do everything I can that not only Florida's Democrats get seated but that Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in November 2008," she said, alongside Florida Senator Bill Nelson.
My take:
Florida's Democrats were punished by the party for allowing the state to move the primary to a date earlier than Feb. 5. The party decided not to allow any delegates from Florida in the convention. The candidates also agreed that they would not campaign in Florida.
Now Hillary is trying to bring them back into the process. I'm very suspicious of this, because it's a move that happened only after their voters picked her. But they only picked her because she was the presumptive front-runner and because the other candidates played by the rules and did not campaign there.
So this is what she may be doing:
If Obama fights her on this, it just creates more bad blood in Florida. If he doesn't, it may tip the balance in critical convention vote.
This sounds like bad, back door political wrangling, and it's an idea that's best left alone.
Too bad
John Edwards dropped out of the race today, and that's too bad. Although I probably was going to vote for Obama, I enjoyed having Edwards in the race. He spoke with such passion, such heart that it's a shame that his campaign got ignored mostly because the primaries have been covered by the media more as a horse race than an exploration of the issues. The media has gone for the story of Obama vs. Clinton and saw no room for Edwards in their story.
I'm glad that he dropped out only after he got promises from the other candidates that ending poverty will be a major goal of their administrations if they win.
I'm glad that he dropped out only after he got promises from the other candidates that ending poverty will be a major goal of their administrations if they win.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Apologies
Sorry I haven't blogged recently. I've been working out a possible column on racism. It's been taking up my spare energy recently.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What Hillary has to say
Hillary campaign speech from her Web site.
I'll be commenting on these later on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI9zgCxtqG0
I'll be commenting on these later on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI9zgCxtqG0
What John Edwards says
Here's a video of John Edwards talking about clean energy.
http://www.johnedwards.com/media/video/clean-energy/
http://www.johnedwards.com/media/video/clean-energy/
A letter from MLK III
In the interest of exploring other candidates, here's a letter from Martin Luther King III to John Edwards. It's interesting as the South Carolina primary approaches.
January 20, 2008
The Honorable John R. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Dear Senator Edwards:
It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father's legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.
There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father's legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.
I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are - a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.
You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don't have lobbyists in Washington and they don't get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.
I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.
From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.
I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.
So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father's words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.
Sincerely,
Martin L. King, III
January 20, 2008
The Honorable John R. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Dear Senator Edwards:
It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father's legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.
There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father's legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.
I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are - a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.
You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don't have lobbyists in Washington and they don't get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.
I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.
From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.
I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.
So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father's words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.
Sincerely,
Martin L. King, III
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
A letter from JFK
No ... not that one. The other one. John Kerry e-mailed me a letter about Barack Obama and how he wanted to stop the attempt to "swiftboat" Obama - by spreading rumors that Obama is not a Christian, didn't take oath as a senator on a bible, turns his back the flag during the pledge of allegiance.
His letter include a plea that we should fight this outright lie, not let it go unchallenged as Kerry did when the whole swiftboat episode happened. Personally, that's part of the reason I'm pissed at Kerry. He and the Democratic party just let W. win in 2004. As Lewis Black said, losing to W. in 2004 would be like a normal person who couldn't win in the Special Olympics.
Anyway, I wanted to share the e-mail. Here is the Barack Obama fact checking link that he wants to draw attention to.
Dear Ed,
I support Barack Obama because he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of Swiftboating -- he seeks to end it.
This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election.
As a veteran, it disgusts me that the Swift Boats we loved while we were in uniform on the Mekong Delta have been rendered, in Karl Rove's twisted politics, an ugly verb meaning to lie about someone's character just to win an election. But as someone who cares about winning this election and changing the country I love, I know it's not enough to complain about a past we can't change when our challenge is to win the future -- which is why we must stop the Swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the email chain smears.
The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more. We must be determined never again to lose any election to a lie.
This year, the attacks are already starting. Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by email. These attacks smear Barack's Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of "Swiftboat" style anonymous attacks.
These are the same tactics the right has used again and again, and as we've learned, these attacks, no matter how bogus, can spread and take root if they go unchecked.
But not this time -- we're fighting back.
And when I say "we," I mean that literally. I know Barack is committed to fighting every smear every time. He'll fight hard and stand up for the truth. But he can't do it alone.
We need you to email the truth to your address books. Print it out and post it at work. Talk to your neighbors. Call your local radio station. Write a letter to the editor. If lies can be spread virally, let's prove to the cynics that the truth can be every bit as persuasive as it is powerful.
The Obama campaign has created a place where you can find the truth you'll need to push back on these smears and a way to spread the truth to all of your address book.
Take action here:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
So when your inbox fills up with trash and the emails of smear and fear, find the facts, and help defeat the lies.
Barack Obama is committed to bringing our country together to meet the challenges we face, but he knows that power gives up nothing without a struggle -- and to win the chance to change America, we must first defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long.
With your help, we can turn the page on an era of small, divisive politics -- but only if next time you hear these attacks on Barack, you take action immediately:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
The fight is just heating up -- we won't let them steal this election with lies and distortions.
Thank you,
John Kerry
His letter include a plea that we should fight this outright lie, not let it go unchallenged as Kerry did when the whole swiftboat episode happened. Personally, that's part of the reason I'm pissed at Kerry. He and the Democratic party just let W. win in 2004. As Lewis Black said, losing to W. in 2004 would be like a normal person who couldn't win in the Special Olympics.
Anyway, I wanted to share the e-mail. Here is the Barack Obama fact checking link that he wants to draw attention to.
Dear Ed,
I support Barack Obama because he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of Swiftboating -- he seeks to end it.
This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election.
As a veteran, it disgusts me that the Swift Boats we loved while we were in uniform on the Mekong Delta have been rendered, in Karl Rove's twisted politics, an ugly verb meaning to lie about someone's character just to win an election. But as someone who cares about winning this election and changing the country I love, I know it's not enough to complain about a past we can't change when our challenge is to win the future -- which is why we must stop the Swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the email chain smears.
The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more. We must be determined never again to lose any election to a lie.
This year, the attacks are already starting. Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by email. These attacks smear Barack's Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of "Swiftboat" style anonymous attacks.
These are the same tactics the right has used again and again, and as we've learned, these attacks, no matter how bogus, can spread and take root if they go unchecked.
But not this time -- we're fighting back.
And when I say "we," I mean that literally. I know Barack is committed to fighting every smear every time. He'll fight hard and stand up for the truth. But he can't do it alone.
We need you to email the truth to your address books. Print it out and post it at work. Talk to your neighbors. Call your local radio station. Write a letter to the editor. If lies can be spread virally, let's prove to the cynics that the truth can be every bit as persuasive as it is powerful.
The Obama campaign has created a place where you can find the truth you'll need to push back on these smears and a way to spread the truth to all of your address book.
Take action here:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
So when your inbox fills up with trash and the emails of smear and fear, find the facts, and help defeat the lies.
Barack Obama is committed to bringing our country together to meet the challenges we face, but he knows that power gives up nothing without a struggle -- and to win the chance to change America, we must first defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long.
With your help, we can turn the page on an era of small, divisive politics -- but only if next time you hear these attacks on Barack, you take action immediately:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
The fight is just heating up -- we won't let them steal this election with lies and distortions.
Thank you,
John Kerry
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Who wants to draw a cartoon for me?
Here's a concept for a cartoon:
A damned soul amidst the fires of hell. He sits on a rock, with his head in his hands and a befuddled look on his face because of the sign over his head:
"Welcome to Hell - No smoking area."
A damned soul amidst the fires of hell. He sits on a rock, with his head in his hands and a befuddled look on his face because of the sign over his head:
"Welcome to Hell - No smoking area."
Fame - I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna learn how to fly. HIGH!
It just came over the wire that Heath Ledger of "Brokeback Mountain" and the Joker for the upcoming Batman movie has been found dead. Police are already hinting that drugs may be a factor. (Within a couple of hours, the hinting pointed more toward a possible suicide.)
I don't know much about Ledger. When I first heard the name, I had trouble placing it. I said, "Isn't that one of the 'Dead Poets' actors?" (I might have been thinking of Ethan Hawke. How I got there, I don't know.)
There may be more to his death than this, but it occurs to me that fame is a health risk, like smoking, drinking excessively or working in a building with asbestos insulation. Life expectancy of the famous can be shorter than for the nonfamous.
Consider the self-destructive lives of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Yes, they have trouble with substance abuse, but the real problem may not be narcotics or alcohol. For them - and for many in the public eye - fame itself is the drug, the substance that they abuse.
If a friend of mine were to become famous, I would add a note of caution to my congratulations. It may be fun to enjoy that ride for a few moments, like riding a roller coaster. But if you seek a complete life, you need to get off that ride.
I don't know much about Ledger. When I first heard the name, I had trouble placing it. I said, "Isn't that one of the 'Dead Poets' actors?" (I might have been thinking of Ethan Hawke. How I got there, I don't know.)
There may be more to his death than this, but it occurs to me that fame is a health risk, like smoking, drinking excessively or working in a building with asbestos insulation. Life expectancy of the famous can be shorter than for the nonfamous.
Consider the self-destructive lives of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Yes, they have trouble with substance abuse, but the real problem may not be narcotics or alcohol. For them - and for many in the public eye - fame itself is the drug, the substance that they abuse.
If a friend of mine were to become famous, I would add a note of caution to my congratulations. It may be fun to enjoy that ride for a few moments, like riding a roller coaster. But if you seek a complete life, you need to get off that ride.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Barack Obama at MLK's church
Just wanted to share a Barack Obama speech. Just to warn you, it is more than 30 minutes long.
I think I'm going to start seeking out speeches from other candidates that I find interesting as well.
I think I'm going to start seeking out speeches from other candidates that I find interesting as well.
I missed it
In summer 2001, I drove a moving truck across country with my buddy, Jeff Schnaufer. It was part of a massive effort to move my family from Los Angeles to Horseheads, New York.
Jeff and I made a few stops that were worth it: The Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Trail of Tears in Oklahoma and Arkansas. We also stopped at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., to see where Elvis had lived.
But now I realize the better stop in Memphis would have been the National Civil Rights Museum, which includes the motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
I'm kicking myself now because I've realized that the museum was only a few blocks off of our route. Perhaps it was because our trip had an adhoc nature to it - we did sort of adlib our route as we crossed the country - perhaps it was not on my personal radar. I can't even remember if my friend Jeff had suggested the stop or not. Perhaps I simply have grown since then and have realized on a deeper level how important Dr. King's message was.
We were in Memphis a year before the museum unveiled its major expasion, but still it would have been worth it. One thing that made me more aware of it was the movie "Elizabethtown," during which the star, Orlando Bloom, makes a stop there and scatters part of his father's ashes at the site.
But also today, as I watched a documentary on Dr. King's life, I saw a clip of a tour group of kids going through the museum. They were brought up to the balcony at the motel where King was killed and shown a small square where he stood.
Then I realized why the trip there would be worth it: Anyone who stood in that square would be privileged to see what King saw in the last moments of his life.
Jeff and I made a few stops that were worth it: The Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the Trail of Tears in Oklahoma and Arkansas. We also stopped at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., to see where Elvis had lived.
But now I realize the better stop in Memphis would have been the National Civil Rights Museum, which includes the motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
I'm kicking myself now because I've realized that the museum was only a few blocks off of our route. Perhaps it was because our trip had an adhoc nature to it - we did sort of adlib our route as we crossed the country - perhaps it was not on my personal radar. I can't even remember if my friend Jeff had suggested the stop or not. Perhaps I simply have grown since then and have realized on a deeper level how important Dr. King's message was.
We were in Memphis a year before the museum unveiled its major expasion, but still it would have been worth it. One thing that made me more aware of it was the movie "Elizabethtown," during which the star, Orlando Bloom, makes a stop there and scatters part of his father's ashes at the site.
But also today, as I watched a documentary on Dr. King's life, I saw a clip of a tour group of kids going through the museum. They were brought up to the balcony at the motel where King was killed and shown a small square where he stood.
Then I realized why the trip there would be worth it: Anyone who stood in that square would be privileged to see what King saw in the last moments of his life.
Screenplay: "There Will Be Blood"
There Will Be Blood
FADE IN:
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Daniel Day-Lewis ENTERS bathroom. Washes cat.
FADE OUT
FADE IN:
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Daniel Day-Lewis ENTERS bathroom. Washes cat.
FADE OUT
Saturday, January 19, 2008
What about McCain?
Well, the results are in, and it looks like John McCain has won the South Carolina primary. This must be a satisfying victory for him because it was there in 2000 that he got such a raw deal from Bush/Rove.
Although it will be a long time before the Republican nominee will be known, we really ought to think about McCain. In a general election, he could be very electable.
That's because he does carry a reputation for integrity about him. People know that he believes what he says, even if they don't agree with him. He's the kind of politician who is less likely to take a stand because of which way the winds are blowing.
Another reason he's electable is that winning the general election is about capturing that narrow but vital segment of undecided, independent voters. That's his strength. That's how he's winning primaries, and that could give the Democrats a major problem in November.
If McCain does get the nomination, the good news is that the American public may actually get an election worth voting in. It won't be all about strategy, dirty tricks and the politics of entrenched ideology. It will be more about issues. It could be an opportunity for Americans to really think about what direction they want the country to go.
This election may go down to the wire, and we'll all be holding our breath.
Although it will be a long time before the Republican nominee will be known, we really ought to think about McCain. In a general election, he could be very electable.
That's because he does carry a reputation for integrity about him. People know that he believes what he says, even if they don't agree with him. He's the kind of politician who is less likely to take a stand because of which way the winds are blowing.
Another reason he's electable is that winning the general election is about capturing that narrow but vital segment of undecided, independent voters. That's his strength. That's how he's winning primaries, and that could give the Democrats a major problem in November.
If McCain does get the nomination, the good news is that the American public may actually get an election worth voting in. It won't be all about strategy, dirty tricks and the politics of entrenched ideology. It will be more about issues. It could be an opportunity for Americans to really think about what direction they want the country to go.
This election may go down to the wire, and we'll all be holding our breath.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What's the difference?
We are looking at probably the most exciting primary season that I have ever known, and that goes back to my true political awakening when Jimmy Carter won in 1976. (Ok, maybe the first time was when Nixon resigned, but I cried over that, so obviously I was delusional. I was also 9 years old, so what did I know?)
Anyway, the difference between the two primary races is interesting, and we have George Bush to thank for it in both cases.
On the Democratic side, I see a lot of unity. The messages from each candidate is unique, but they all seem to hit the same themes. It's more a matter of degrees, of emphasis. They appear to have found a formula that they are betting will strike a chord with the populace during the general election. To me, the battle is over who will be best at pitching the Democrats' message in November.
On the Republican side, the effort seems more scattered. Look at the primaries and who has won. First it was a candidate with strong evangelical backing (Huckabee), then a conservative with a moral conscience who supports the war (McCain), then it was a strong-economy candidate (Romney). If Guiliani can pull off a win in Florida, we'll have another flavor of Republican in the mix.
The bottom line is that both parties know that the Bush example won't fly with the public anymore. That's good news for Dems, and that means that the GOP is trying to reinvent itself but doesn't know how.
We'll have a good idea about what is happening on Feb. 5, but I wouldn't be surprised if for the Republicans their nomination would go down to the convention, and that would really be a first for me.
Anyway, the difference between the two primary races is interesting, and we have George Bush to thank for it in both cases.
On the Democratic side, I see a lot of unity. The messages from each candidate is unique, but they all seem to hit the same themes. It's more a matter of degrees, of emphasis. They appear to have found a formula that they are betting will strike a chord with the populace during the general election. To me, the battle is over who will be best at pitching the Democrats' message in November.
On the Republican side, the effort seems more scattered. Look at the primaries and who has won. First it was a candidate with strong evangelical backing (Huckabee), then a conservative with a moral conscience who supports the war (McCain), then it was a strong-economy candidate (Romney). If Guiliani can pull off a win in Florida, we'll have another flavor of Republican in the mix.
The bottom line is that both parties know that the Bush example won't fly with the public anymore. That's good news for Dems, and that means that the GOP is trying to reinvent itself but doesn't know how.
We'll have a good idea about what is happening on Feb. 5, but I wouldn't be surprised if for the Republicans their nomination would go down to the convention, and that would really be a first for me.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Breaking commentary
Just moments after my last post, this item came across the wire:
Obama, Clinton agree to end rancor on race
LAS VEGAS - Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama jointly pledged to bury a rancorous debate over race Tuesday night, each agreeing in a nationally televised debate that the other had long favored civil rights.
Both blamed supporters for some of the anger that had seeped into their competition for the party's presidential nomination in recent days.
"We both have exuberant and sometimes uncontrollable supporters," Clinton said in the opening moments of a two-hour debate televised on MSNBC.
Obama said both have "supporters or staff who get overzealous. They start saying things that I would not say."
That was a good move to make by both of them. It's good that they are both smart enough to realize this was the only way to resolve this issue. This will also go a long way toward keeping the Democrats unified as they seek the White House (and a continued majority in Congress.)
But it comes down to this, that the issue of race and civil rights is now a non-issue between them. They are agreeing to not try to one-up each other on this point, but it also means that who they have in each other's camps will stay in those camps and neither one will be able to take territory from the other on this issue.
So, let's roll the dice in Vegas and see what happens.
Obama, Clinton agree to end rancor on race
LAS VEGAS - Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama jointly pledged to bury a rancorous debate over race Tuesday night, each agreeing in a nationally televised debate that the other had long favored civil rights.
Both blamed supporters for some of the anger that had seeped into their competition for the party's presidential nomination in recent days.
"We both have exuberant and sometimes uncontrollable supporters," Clinton said in the opening moments of a two-hour debate televised on MSNBC.
Obama said both have "supporters or staff who get overzealous. They start saying things that I would not say."
That was a good move to make by both of them. It's good that they are both smart enough to realize this was the only way to resolve this issue. This will also go a long way toward keeping the Democrats unified as they seek the White House (and a continued majority in Congress.)
But it comes down to this, that the issue of race and civil rights is now a non-issue between them. They are agreeing to not try to one-up each other on this point, but it also means that who they have in each other's camps will stay in those camps and neither one will be able to take territory from the other on this issue.
So, let's roll the dice in Vegas and see what happens.
Chess
The primary season has barely begun, but the events that will determine the ultimate winner have already transpired. It's just that we don't know what they are yet.
Essentially, we are at the mid-point of a chess match, with Hillary and Barack squaring off across the board. Each player has already laid the groundwork for their strategy and marked out what they want as their main territory.
I think Hillary has been caught by surprise that she has recapture her support in the black community. Her credentials had been good, and she earned key endorsements from black leaders early on. The surprise has been that with Obama's candidacy being so viable the black community realized that instead of backing a white candidate who supports black issues they could have a black candidate offering everything they want who actually has a shot at the presidency.
Hillary may be forced to cede her support from the black community because competing for that support is easily misinterpeted, as she found out with her comments about Lyndon Johnson and Bill found out with his "fairy tale" comment. Fighting for that support could cause more damage and hard feelings so that even if she wins the nomination, it could weaken her own bid for the presidency.
From this point, either side will find it difficult to make inroads on new territory. We just need to see the lay of the land, to see who is in the better position.
Essentially, we are at the mid-point of a chess match, with Hillary and Barack squaring off across the board. Each player has already laid the groundwork for their strategy and marked out what they want as their main territory.
I think Hillary has been caught by surprise that she has recapture her support in the black community. Her credentials had been good, and she earned key endorsements from black leaders early on. The surprise has been that with Obama's candidacy being so viable the black community realized that instead of backing a white candidate who supports black issues they could have a black candidate offering everything they want who actually has a shot at the presidency.
Hillary may be forced to cede her support from the black community because competing for that support is easily misinterpeted, as she found out with her comments about Lyndon Johnson and Bill found out with his "fairy tale" comment. Fighting for that support could cause more damage and hard feelings so that even if she wins the nomination, it could weaken her own bid for the presidency.
From this point, either side will find it difficult to make inroads on new territory. We just need to see the lay of the land, to see who is in the better position.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Anybody else think this is a bad idea?
First off, sorry I haven't blogged recently. Let's just say I've been distracted by the treehouse work.
Anyway, looking ahead to the Nevada primary on Saturday, I just keep seeing trouble. Politicians campaigning in Las Vegas. Hmmm. .... With so many political careers ruined by sex, drugs, gambling and other vices, it seems dangerous to bring a major presidential campaign to Sin City. Kinda like sending an alcoholic on a tour of a whiskey distillery.
I can't wait to see what kind of headlines come out of the mixture of power, sex, money and temptation.
Then again, this may be a key test for some candidates and their staffs. If they can survive here, we might learn something about their character. If they fail, we may learn something of their weaknesses.
Anyway, looking ahead to the Nevada primary on Saturday, I just keep seeing trouble. Politicians campaigning in Las Vegas. Hmmm. .... With so many political careers ruined by sex, drugs, gambling and other vices, it seems dangerous to bring a major presidential campaign to Sin City. Kinda like sending an alcoholic on a tour of a whiskey distillery.
I can't wait to see what kind of headlines come out of the mixture of power, sex, money and temptation.
Then again, this may be a key test for some candidates and their staffs. If they can survive here, we might learn something about their character. If they fail, we may learn something of their weaknesses.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Presidential selector
Here's how the candidates fared when I filled out the 2008 President Selector
http://selectsmart.com/president/2008.html
Rankings:
1. Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100 %)
2. Barack Obama (98 %)
3. Dennis Kucinich (96 %)
4. Christopher Dodd (withdrawn) (90 %)
5. John Edwards (90 %)
6. Wesley Clark (not running, endorsed Clinton) (87 %)
7. Joseph Biden (withdrawn) (84 %)
8. Hillary Clinton (83 %)
9. Al Gore (not announced) (80 %)
10. Bill Richardson (77 %)
11. Michael Bloomberg (says he will not run) (75 %)
12. Alan Augustson (campaign suspended) (75 %)
13. Mike Gravel (63 %)
14. Elaine Brown (56 %)
15. Ron Paul (51 %)
16. Rudolph Giuliani (38 %)
17. Kent McManigal (campaign suspended) (37 %)
18. John McCain (33 %)
19. Tommy Thompson (withdrawn, endorsed Giuliani) (29 %)
20. Mike Huckabee (27 %)
21. Mitt Romney (25 %)
22. Chuck Hagel (not running) (16 %)
23. Newt Gingrich (says he will not run) (15 %)
24. Tom Tancredo (withdrawn, endorsed Romney) (15 %)
25. Sam Brownback (withdrawn, endorsed McCain) (13 %)
26. Alan Keyes (12 %)
27. Fred Thompson (10 %)
28. Jim Gilmore (withdrawn) (6 %)
29. Duncan Hunter (3 %)
30. Stephen Colbert (campaign halted) (0 %)
It appears I'm an Obama supporter. I'm not surprised that Hillary didn't do better.
http://selectsmart.com/president/2008.html
Rankings:
1. Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100 %)
2. Barack Obama (98 %)
3. Dennis Kucinich (96 %)
4. Christopher Dodd (withdrawn) (90 %)
5. John Edwards (90 %)
6. Wesley Clark (not running, endorsed Clinton) (87 %)
7. Joseph Biden (withdrawn) (84 %)
8. Hillary Clinton (83 %)
9. Al Gore (not announced) (80 %)
10. Bill Richardson (77 %)
11. Michael Bloomberg (says he will not run) (75 %)
12. Alan Augustson (campaign suspended) (75 %)
13. Mike Gravel (63 %)
14. Elaine Brown (56 %)
15. Ron Paul (51 %)
16. Rudolph Giuliani (38 %)
17. Kent McManigal (campaign suspended) (37 %)
18. John McCain (33 %)
19. Tommy Thompson (withdrawn, endorsed Giuliani) (29 %)
20. Mike Huckabee (27 %)
21. Mitt Romney (25 %)
22. Chuck Hagel (not running) (16 %)
23. Newt Gingrich (says he will not run) (15 %)
24. Tom Tancredo (withdrawn, endorsed Romney) (15 %)
25. Sam Brownback (withdrawn, endorsed McCain) (13 %)
26. Alan Keyes (12 %)
27. Fred Thompson (10 %)
28. Jim Gilmore (withdrawn) (6 %)
29. Duncan Hunter (3 %)
30. Stephen Colbert (campaign halted) (0 %)
It appears I'm an Obama supporter. I'm not surprised that Hillary didn't do better.
Is Hillary finished?
Those are the words that popped up when I went to check my Yahoo e-mail acccount. It's a question I've seen asked or implied on cable news stations this morning as the voting goes on in New Hampshire with Hillary Clinton down in the polls, trailing Barack Obama.
It seems to me that the more the media asks questions like this, the bigger a role the media has in her potential downfall. They essentially create a self-fulfilling prophecy. But they do it without making the prophecy, but by being the instrument for planting the seeds of doubt in the minds of the voters.
I don't think she is necessarily finished. She has a large organization, a lot of support with the party bigwigs. I believe she also has a lot of superdelegates who are already committed to her for the convention.
This race actually is shaping up similarly to the 1984 contest between Hart and Mondale. Hart grabbed the early attention by having success in the early primaries. But Mondale had the organization and was able to bounce back. Mondale also used the classic line, "Where's the beef?" to point out the lack of substance in Hart's campaign.
But when Mondale won the nomination, he gave the country the only message from his campaign that really stuck with the voters. That message was "I will raise taxes." That's not the way to win an election, Walt.
CORRECTION: On my earlier blog, I referred to Donna Rice and the Monkey Business scandal. Although Hart is believed to have been seeing Rice during the 84 campaign, the scandal did not erupt until he was the front-runner in the '88 campaign. That was the one where he dropped out, then dropped in again a few months later and then lost. Ed Bond regrets the error.
It seems to me that the more the media asks questions like this, the bigger a role the media has in her potential downfall. They essentially create a self-fulfilling prophecy. But they do it without making the prophecy, but by being the instrument for planting the seeds of doubt in the minds of the voters.
I don't think she is necessarily finished. She has a large organization, a lot of support with the party bigwigs. I believe she also has a lot of superdelegates who are already committed to her for the convention.
This race actually is shaping up similarly to the 1984 contest between Hart and Mondale. Hart grabbed the early attention by having success in the early primaries. But Mondale had the organization and was able to bounce back. Mondale also used the classic line, "Where's the beef?" to point out the lack of substance in Hart's campaign.
But when Mondale won the nomination, he gave the country the only message from his campaign that really stuck with the voters. That message was "I will raise taxes." That's not the way to win an election, Walt.
CORRECTION: On my earlier blog, I referred to Donna Rice and the Monkey Business scandal. Although Hart is believed to have been seeing Rice during the 84 campaign, the scandal did not erupt until he was the front-runner in the '88 campaign. That was the one where he dropped out, then dropped in again a few months later and then lost. Ed Bond regrets the error.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The chosen one?
First off, I need to explain my skepticism of the political process. It's because I was burned before. In 1984, I was looking for an alternative to the Democrats heir apparent, Walter Mondale. Along came Gary Hart. He was youthful, vigorous and said that what we needed were "new ideas." He was also catching fire with his strong speaking skills. I was a freshman in college, a politics major and looking to get some experience in the political arena. So, I joined his campaign, hoping to find out what his "new ideas" were.
I never found out about new ideas, but he had some old ideas about what to do with Donna Rice on a boat named "Monkey Business." His campaign self destructed.
Now it's 24 years later, Gary Hart is a forgotten former Senator and sometime novelist. And we have another youthful vigorous challenger to another heir apparent - Hillary Clinton - and Barack Obama is telling us all that we need "Change."
Well, Obama is not the chosen one, simply because he hasn't been yet been chosen. But I'm willing to listen. He is saying what the other Democrats are saying: End the war, improve health care, etc. But he is doing it so much better than anyone else. One commentator referred to a "goosebumps" effect when listening to him. To me, his speeches almost have a healing power, bringing together the country rather than pulling it apart, welcoming all into the tent.
So, I welcome his message so far. And I listen to his promises, but as with all politicians I am watching to see whether he can fulfill his promise.
To watch his victory speech in Iowa, click here.
I never found out about new ideas, but he had some old ideas about what to do with Donna Rice on a boat named "Monkey Business." His campaign self destructed.
Now it's 24 years later, Gary Hart is a forgotten former Senator and sometime novelist. And we have another youthful vigorous challenger to another heir apparent - Hillary Clinton - and Barack Obama is telling us all that we need "Change."
Well, Obama is not the chosen one, simply because he hasn't been yet been chosen. But I'm willing to listen. He is saying what the other Democrats are saying: End the war, improve health care, etc. But he is doing it so much better than anyone else. One commentator referred to a "goosebumps" effect when listening to him. To me, his speeches almost have a healing power, bringing together the country rather than pulling it apart, welcoming all into the tent.
So, I welcome his message so far. And I listen to his promises, but as with all politicians I am watching to see whether he can fulfill his promise.
To watch his victory speech in Iowa, click here.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Gallows humor
The other day, the editors were having the daily discussion about the obituaries. As usual, we joked about how the more people who died, the better off we were because that would be that much less space that we would have to fill.
As joking in bad taste goes, this was pretty tame. But taken out of context, someone could be really offended. Then again, journalists aren't the only ones who have a dark humor about tragic events. Police, nurses and firefighters can also use this humor among themselves as a way to relieve stress.
Still, as we joked about obits, dialogue from "His Girl Friday" started playing in my head. In the story, the reporters are joking about the impending execution of Earl Williams as Molly, the only person to befriend the condemned man, stood by:
CLOSEUP MOLLIE
She lashes out at them.
MOLLIE
Go on, laugh! I'd like to know some curses bad enough for your greasy souls! Sure, I was his witness -- the only one he had. Yes -- me -- cheap little Mollie Malloy! I'm
everything the District Attorney said I was. And still I was the only one with guts enough to stand up for him! I told the truth and the District Attorney knows it! That's why you're persecutin' me! Because Earl Williams treated me decent and not like an animal -- and I said so!
MEDIUM SHOT
MURPHY
(finally irritated)
Go into your dance! This is the Press Room. We're busy.
WILSON
Why don't you go and see your boyfriend?
ENDICOTT
(winks at the others)
But you'll have to hurry up -- he left a call for seven A.M.
MOLLIE
(through her teeth)
It's a wonder a bolt of lightning don't come down and strike you all
dead!
From o.s. comes sound of the gallows. Mollie gasps.
ENDICOTT
(suddenly uncomfortable)
Don't get hysterical, kid.
MOLLIE
(begins to sob)
Shame on you!
CLOSE SHOT MOLLIE -- TAKING IN MURPHY
MOLLIE
(hysterically)
A poor little fellow that never meant nobody no harm! Sitting there alone
this minute with the Angel of Death beside him, and you cracking jokes!
Hildy comes into scene and puts her arm around Mollie. ...
MOLLIE
They're not human!
HILDY
They're newspaper men, Mollie. They can't help themselves. The Lord made
them that way.
MOLLIE
(one look back as Hildy leads her out door)
It wasn't the Lord! It was the devil!
... So, what's funny depends on who's listening.
As joking in bad taste goes, this was pretty tame. But taken out of context, someone could be really offended. Then again, journalists aren't the only ones who have a dark humor about tragic events. Police, nurses and firefighters can also use this humor among themselves as a way to relieve stress.
Still, as we joked about obits, dialogue from "His Girl Friday" started playing in my head. In the story, the reporters are joking about the impending execution of Earl Williams as Molly, the only person to befriend the condemned man, stood by:
CLOSEUP MOLLIE
She lashes out at them.
MOLLIE
Go on, laugh! I'd like to know some curses bad enough for your greasy souls! Sure, I was his witness -- the only one he had. Yes -- me -- cheap little Mollie Malloy! I'm
everything the District Attorney said I was. And still I was the only one with guts enough to stand up for him! I told the truth and the District Attorney knows it! That's why you're persecutin' me! Because Earl Williams treated me decent and not like an animal -- and I said so!
MEDIUM SHOT
MURPHY
(finally irritated)
Go into your dance! This is the Press Room. We're busy.
WILSON
Why don't you go and see your boyfriend?
ENDICOTT
(winks at the others)
But you'll have to hurry up -- he left a call for seven A.M.
MOLLIE
(through her teeth)
It's a wonder a bolt of lightning don't come down and strike you all
dead!
From o.s. comes sound of the gallows. Mollie gasps.
ENDICOTT
(suddenly uncomfortable)
Don't get hysterical, kid.
MOLLIE
(begins to sob)
Shame on you!
CLOSE SHOT MOLLIE -- TAKING IN MURPHY
MOLLIE
(hysterically)
A poor little fellow that never meant nobody no harm! Sitting there alone
this minute with the Angel of Death beside him, and you cracking jokes!
Hildy comes into scene and puts her arm around Mollie. ...
MOLLIE
They're not human!
HILDY
They're newspaper men, Mollie. They can't help themselves. The Lord made
them that way.
MOLLIE
(one look back as Hildy leads her out door)
It wasn't the Lord! It was the devil!
... So, what's funny depends on who's listening.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The trouble with Pakistan
As we watch the events spin out of control in Pakistan, we should keep one factor in mind - Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country.
The odds of one of their dozens of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands are remote. The military appears to have firm control of their bombs. But if the government falls, if the country destabilizes - and these are fairly big ifs - and if Islamic extremists come to power in that country, the repercussions could be very bad. That could put nuclear weapons into the hands of al-Qaida.
Again, the chances of this are remote. The country is troubled and reeling from days of riots that followed in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. However, Pakistan also has a large population of moderate Islamists who yearn for freedom and democracy. This may be key to stabilizing the country.
However, the violence and the possible derailment of the elections could have a devastating effect on the spirit of these people. Desperate situations can create desperate people, and put dangerous people into power.
The odds of one of their dozens of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands are remote. The military appears to have firm control of their bombs. But if the government falls, if the country destabilizes - and these are fairly big ifs - and if Islamic extremists come to power in that country, the repercussions could be very bad. That could put nuclear weapons into the hands of al-Qaida.
Again, the chances of this are remote. The country is troubled and reeling from days of riots that followed in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. However, Pakistan also has a large population of moderate Islamists who yearn for freedom and democracy. This may be key to stabilizing the country.
However, the violence and the possible derailment of the elections could have a devastating effect on the spirit of these people. Desperate situations can create desperate people, and put dangerous people into power.
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