Political Rants

New YouTube from Brave New Films on Condi's secret meetings on torture.

Really. Enough already. Get the bozos out. This is NOT who we are.

So John Edwards met with Martin Luther King III yesterday, and received a gorgeous letter as a follow-up. One point really struck me, as I've been saying the same thing about Edwards for a while now:

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.

So in most of the debates, those watching and being polled have tended to say that Edwards won these debates...but the media only respond to (and report) conflict, so they claim it was all about Clinton and Obama. Now each of these candidates has their strong points (and weaknesses), but their recent behavior has been, at best, childish and, at worst, divisive. I'm particularly sickened (though I wish I could say surprised) at the Clinton camp.

Why, why, why won't the media acknowledge that Edwards is hitting a very significant nerve with the American public? - the ones who actually manage to hear him over the media nonsense, anyways. Without the money to send his message to all 50 states every minute of the day, it's getting lost in the din of pissy rhetoric and backstabbing (wtf President Bill Clinton?? I thought you'd figured out how to be above all this crap!)

The Dems have an excellent chance of winning the White House in November, but ONLY if they stick together and keep it clean, civil, professional and grounded in real issues and real values (not those amorphous 'family values' no one can define to my satisfaction).

Enough already!!

I keep meaning to blog about my amazing Caucus experience last week, but I've been so drained in its aftermath that I haven't had a chance. I will, I promise.

For today, I just got the email sent to Richardson supporters announcing the end of his presidential campaign. What a class act. An excerpt:

Running for president brings out the best in everyone who graces the stage, and I have learned much from the other candidates running. They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign.

Senator Biden's passion and intellect are remarkable.

Senator Dodd is the epitome of selfless dedication to public service and the Democratic Party.

Senator Edwards is a singular voice for the most downtrodden and forgotten among us.

Senator Obama is a bright light of hope and optimism at a time of great national unease, yet he is also grounded in thoughtful wisdom beyond his years.

Senator Clinton's poise in the face of adversity is matched only by her lifetime of achievement and deep understanding of the challenges we face.

Representative Kucinich is a man of great decency and dedication who will faithfully soldier on no matter how great the odds.

And all of us in the Democratic Party owe Senator Mike Gravel our appreciation for his leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam.

I am honored to have shared the stage with each of these Democrats. And I am enormously grateful to all of my supporters who chose to stand with me despite so many other candidates of accomplishment and potential.

Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats. They are all strong contenders who each, in their own way, would bring desperately needed change to our country. All I ask is that you make your own independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me with during this campaign. At this time, I will not endorse any candidate.

Now I am returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve. As I have always said, I am the luckiest man I know. I am married to my high school sweetheart. I live in a place called the Land of Enchantment. I have the best job in the world. And I just got to run for president of the United States.

It doesn't get any better than that.

I, for one, will miss his voice in the ongoing conversation this political year.

John, a Grinnell classmate of mine, recently received this online holiday card from a public relations firm in his area. It reflects much of what has been on my mind this current season of Peace.

http://www.goodforbusiness.com/ftp/holiday/gfb.html

Happy Holidays and a Safe, Healthy New Year to you all.

At the Polk County Dems Central Committee meeting last night, my friend Mary and I (both precinct reps) got to meet Sen. Joseph Biden and former VP Walter Mondale. His assistant (in the background) asked if he could sit with us, and we were delighted. I had a nice conversation with "Fritz" as we listened to Sen. Biden, who then Senator Mondale had sworn into office many years ago. Mr. Mondale is stumping for Hillary. We used my phone camera, which Mary wasn't familiar with, hence the blurriness.

My political stalking campaign continues!


UPDATE: Turns out I'm inspiring envy with my stalking. Chris Z. on the Library Underground list recently posted the following:

It's that time of year when I am jealous of Iowans. Specifically Louise Alcorn [link to this post]

Bwahahahaha! Don't worry folks - we're a strong people, we Iowans. We'll toughen these politicians up for you.

Bradley sent me this one from Daily Kos. He noticed my alma mater's name in the header (thanks, B!). Though I have to say - a Grinnellian should know better than to be used as a plant by the Clinton campaign! Though like Daily Kos I give her a tip of the hat for her honesty.

I wish I could say this surprised me - I've been seeing this from the Clinton campaign all season (which here in Iowa has been since the 2006 mid-terms). They just don't seem to get (or care?) that this just does not play well in Iowa. We have our caucuses early so that we get the chance to meet candidates in small venues and ask the tough questions. Ourselves. Come January 4th, we understand, they will all be gone like the wind. We take our role very seriously in this state. John Edwards echoed this in a follow-up interview:

"George Bush goes to events that are staged, where people are screened, where they're only allowed to ask questions if the questions are favorable to George Bush," Edwards told reporters after speaking to the National Farmers Union.

"That's not the way democracy works in Iowa and that's not the way it works in New Hampshire," he said. "We don't stage questions. We go in and answer the questions that are asked."

My boss brought my attention to Thomas Friedman's op-ed in the NYTimes on Sunday: 9/11 is Over. This really reflects what I've been feeling for many years now, with increasing frustration during this election cycle insanity.

...since 9/11, we’ve become “The United States of Fighting Terrorism.” Times columnists are not allowed to endorse candidates, but there’s no rule against saying who will not get my vote: I will not vote for any candidate running on 9/11. We don’t need another president of 9/11. We need a president for 9/12. I will only vote for the 9/12 candidate.

What does that mean? This: 9/11 has made us stupid. I honor, and weep for, all those murdered on that day. But our reaction to 9/11 — mine included — has knocked America completely out of balance, and it is time to get things right again.

...For me, the candidate of 9/12 is the one who will not only understand who our enemies are, but who we are.

He even used my word: balance. We are out of balance. I've had long conversations with friends and compatriots about this - I feel like we're on a see-saw that not only isn't moving, but has been loaded with an impossible load of bricks, breaking its back. This has been my position since the 2000 elections, really, with it getting worse every year. I've seen some signs of re-balancing (like tires?) in recent months, but it may be too little, too late (these tires are bald and need replacing!).

And how can't you like an op-ed that starts with a quote from The Onion?

Naomi Wolf was on The Colbert Report the other night. Stephen didn't let her get through them all, but she outlined Ten Steps To Close Down an Open Society. I've been saying this for years, with increasingly flailing arms and expressions of dismay, but I'm delighted that someone has clearly defined this clear plan for absolute power, which may or may not really be a plan at all. I'm not sure which scares me more.

She was also reprinted in The Guardian.

A former Grinnell classmate sent the following to our class listserv:

Instead of the usual, "my lawyer will beat up your lawyer if you share this email" automated email footer, I just received an email with this footer:

WARNING: Due to current Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President.

Thanks, John. That one made my day.

...shut Ann Coulter the hell up? Or at least give her a good smack upside her dippy blond head?

Remember, folks, they're the party of Family Values!

Well, of today anyways. From a column by Frank Rich (require NYTimesSelect account), discussing Monica Goodling's dubious educational background and probable criminal handling of the U.S. Attorney reviews:

"Though the Monica at the center of the last presidential scandal did enable a husband’s cheating on his wife, at least she wasn’t tasked with any governmental responsibility more weighty than divvying up pizza."

Forwarded to LU, blog post from The CarpetBagger Report on what one blog called "Ashcroft and the Night Visitors". I don't know about Ashcroft and 'integrity'. I agree with one of the commenters - Ashcroft was already up to his crucifix in crap and didn't need to get any further. He'd already signed off on it previously. I do know that AG Gonzales is a yes-man and, probably, a criminal. Too bad no one talked about this when he was getting soundly confirmed.

The more I hear from Gov. Bill Richardson, the more impressed I am. And he has a sense of humor - check out this new ad showing here in Iowa (and online).

I wrote my Unitarian minister an email a couple of days ago, expressing how proud of him I was that he'd been one of the clergy who went to Capitol Hill on the 17th to lobby Congress in support of two pieces of civil rights legislation — a bill to prevent hate violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity and another to ban workplace discrimination against GLBT employees.

He sent me back a photo from the clergy call. He's in the back row, left of center, with the goatee.

Well done Mark. And to the remarkable number of faith leaders who were there with you.

Video of Sen. Joe Biden's recent speech on the Senate floor, discussing the administration's massive hypocrisy about Iraq.

I got to hear him speak, along with Gov. Richardson and Sen. Edwards, on Friday the 20th at the Polk County Democrats Spring Dinner. Richardson was, as usual, clear, effective and interesting. John Edwards nearly brought the room to tears - he really is a fine orator. Biden was the biggest surprise - he started out with standard political rallying...and then he began to talk about Darfur.

As I realized later he'd been discussing it much of that day and the one before in DC, so it was much on his mind. Nonetheless, he was beyond passionate about the need for swift action in the Sudan. He's the only politician I've heard yet who said, straight out, that he'd drop troops into Darfur and stop the janjaweed massacres if he was President. Interesting. And very passionate - it felt (for what it's worth) as if he'd thrown out whatever he'd meant to say and was instead responding to previous speakers' comments about Darfur (which had been correct, if non-specific about action) and stating plainly what he thought. It's one of the things I like about Biden, overall. I don't always agree with him, but I'm usually fairly certain I'm hearing what he thinks when he speaks. Which, of course, gets him in all sorts of trouble...but again, I kinda like that.