Monthly Archives: July 2008

(Community Matters)
Steven just called from San Diego. Sizeable earhquake. All fine there. Evidently felt in LA.

(Community Matters) hmm, lots of chatter about the newest internet search engine Cuil, though my quick test drive wasn’t so impressive. Perhaps once they get moving.

launched by a former Google developer, high expectations

(Community Matters) Kudos to Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez and his colleagues for the idea of an ordinance requiring crane inspections. Had no idea we’ve been relying on federal inspectors. No surprise to anyone we are sorely underinvested in human and technological resources in our federal safety inspection programs. Austin should implement third-party crane inspection requirements to be commissioned by the City and reimbursed by developers. Perhaps we can negotiate favorable rates for a longterm, exclusive engagement and liability insurers may be willing to reduce premiums to offset the fees. AAS story here

(Community Matters)
Harpers: The Wrecking Crew – How a gang of right-wing con men destroyed Washington and made a killing. The author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas,”Thomas Frank’s essay on the professionalism of the wingnuts and how they’re sustained by the extraordinary profits to be made in DC as conservatives privatize government services and commodotize government favors.I recommend the essay and Frank’s earlier book. Reminds me of a very spirited conversation with one of our cousins this morning. He is a libertarian and imagines the GOP best represents his interests. Completely stumped when I asked if our country or this world was better off as a result of the last 7 years’ GWB administration. Also, admits that his perspective is informed solely by how government does or doesn’t encroach on him and his family. He’s not especially interested in healthcare, education or housing for others. Cited a lowering of the speed limit as something that would be especially upsetting. Well . . . we agreed we were motivated by different principles. Posted from my blackberry (via I-35)

(Community Matters) Ok, back to wake them up and finish that game of Monopoly.

(Community Matters) I could care less if he were candy stripped. He represents an embarrassing past, a Sine Die.

Mr. Rangel, a prodigious fund-raiser, has collected more money from real estate interests than all but two other members of Congress this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a group that tracks campaign donations. He is fifth in fund-raising from all sectors. In all, he has raised more than $700,000 from real estate interests since the 2004 election cycle, much of it from New York-based companies, according to the group’s analysis. here

The issue isn’t accepting money from developers, it’s accepting four rent controlled units at ridiculously low prices as personal gifts, not declaring these gifts (sounds like tax fraud here), pretending that developers have no special influence, then acting outraged when called to account. This fat cat should be sooo out of there. Speaker Pelosi, where are our ethics?

(Community Matters) Many recommendations for David Paul Kuhn’s The Neglected Voter: White Men and the Democratic Dilemma. The selection for our next book club meeting.

“A brilliantly insightful analysis of American politics at the national level. Every Democrat should read this book.” –General Wesley K. Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander for NATO, Europe, and author of A Time To Lead

“America’s single most important voting bloc may also be its least understood. David Kuhn rectifies that. The Neglected Voter tells you everything you always wanted to know about white men but were afraid to ask. This is a very smart book.”–Tucker Carlson, MSNBC Anchor

“If you follow politics, you already think you understand the ‘gender gap’–but you’re wrong. You won’t really comprehend its massive implications until you read this book. Using a masterful combination of first-person interviews, polling data, and personal insight, Kuhn shows why millions of white men in America broke their ties to the Democratic Party and made Republicans the majority party for two generations. But Democrats needn’t despair, because Kuhn also shows them how they can win white men back.” –Larry J. Sabato, author of A More Perfect Constitution and Director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics

“The premise that the Democratic Party’s failure to address the interests, convictions and concerns of white male voters has been the root cause of its decline since FDR days is persuasively presented in this provocative wake-up call to American liberalism.”–Jules Witcover, author of Very Strange Bedfellows and The Year the Dream Died

“The Neglected Voter is an original and insightful analysis of a great topic: the Democratic party’s White Male Gap in presidential elections. David Paul Kuhn explains the repeated failures of Democratic presidential candidates to appeal to white men and suggests how the party’s nominees might be able to win these voters in the future.”–Merle Black, co-author of Divided America: The Ferocious Power Struggle in American Politics

(Community Matters) Frank Rich, “Acting President”

What drew them instead was the raw power Mr. Obama has amassed: the power to start shaping events and the power to move markets, including TV ratings.

The Obama stampede is forcing Mr. McCain to surrender on other domestic fronts.

What was most striking about the Obama speech in Berlin was not anything he said so much as the alternative reality it fostered: many American children have never before seen huge crowds turn out abroad to wave American flags instead of burn them.

Once again he [McCain] displayed a tantrum-prone temperament ill-suited to a high-pressure 21st-century presidency. . . . comes off instead like the ineffectual Mr. Wilson, the retired neighbor perpetually busting a gasket at the antics of pesky little Dennis the Menace.

The election remains Mr. Obama’s to lose, and he could lose it, whether through unexpected events, his own vanity or a vice-presidential misfire.

No surprise to regular readers, for at least five years I’ve bemoaned the loss of 70 years earned goodwill during one nincompoop’s administration. Over a long dinner in our home with Bill Bradley, we discussed why Obama was the right man for these times. It isn’t only that the experience and strengths he offers are those exactly in demand at this time (constitutional scholar, grassroots organizing, legislative reform, health care legislation and hiring/firing the right people to run a record-busting successful enterprise, aka Obama ’08 campaign), it’s that he so visibly represents a 180 degree change to our own people as well as to the rest of the world. In my less depressed days, I’ve expressed the belief that we can earn back our goodwill – perhaps not sustainably as quickly as we lost it, but in a way that’ll allow us to move forward. The world truly wants America as a [not the only] beacon of dreams and hope. Obama represents this 180-degree change, passing of leadership to a new generation and America’s finally acknowledgment of a multicultural world where the ultimate positions of power are accessible to all citizens.

(Community Matters) Sitting in the lodge’s lobby so I can access wi-fi, all of a sudden look up out through huge windows and see a glorious morning sky. How often is my head buried in the computer and do I miss gloriousness?

(Community Matters)
Sad news. Our friend, Hortense Lawson, passed away last night. I think Hortense was 95. She danced like a 20 year old until just 5 or 6 years ago. She was a major influencer at St James and will be missed. Posted from my blackberry.

(Community Matters) We’re in northeast Oklahoma’s Ozarks near Muskogee, center of Cherokee country, for Steven’s maternal family reunion. Still awaiting the prodigal arrival of our nieces (Hilary & Hannah) and a few others. ST’s parents (Phil & Carol), several of Carol’s siblings, nieces, nephews, grand nieces & grand nephews have now arrived. I have to confirm but think we’ll have four generations here. May have had the fourth generation on my lap much of last night, an adorable 14 month old who eats more than a lineman.

Steven will be video interviewing his mother, her brothers and sisters today. We already lost one last year. The rest, topping at young 80s are in good health; nevertheless, Steven’s determined to capture their stories. Their family has a rich history including Church of Christ founders and Cherokee brides.

The down time has been great for us, though admittedly he’s done his share of “office chaffeuring” as I’ve had an extraordinary number of conference calls. All good stuff, most about the One.

Lots of long conversations, especially exploring what’s making us most happy. We’re lucky it’s each other and that others let us help them with their important initiatives.

If I could ask for anything else? It’s not that complicated: time & budget to entertain (even more) our family, friends and new friends in our home and vacation places. Some of the visits, over long weekends – spending the day exploring, laughing, prepping; long, long evenings at a table over exquisite meals spiced with delicious conversation; cigars & port under the stars confessing the intimate things we almost said at the dinner table, then the slow emergence of our brood in the morning to start the day over and dive even deeper than the day before. Wouldn’t change our jobs; they combine the best of everything we love.

Of course, all topped off by having met and married Steven Robert Tomlinson. Good gosh, he’s extraordinary.

(Community Matters)

By James Gordon Meek

DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Thursday, July 24th 2008, 6:40 PM

WASHINGTON – The latest chain e-mail smear against Barack Obama: He “blew off” troops at an Afghan base to shoot hoops for a publicity photo.

The letter was apparently written by a Utah Army National Guard intelligence officer in a linguist unit at Bagram Airfield who claimed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee was rude to G.I.s.

“As the soldiers where [sic] lined up to shake his hand he blew them off,” wrote the Task Force Wasatch “battle captain.”

But angry Army brass debunked the Obama-bashing soldier’s allegations, which went viral Thursday over the Web and on military blogs such as Blackfive.

The e-mail claims Obama repeatedly shunned soldiers on his way to the Clamshell – a recreation tent – to “take his publicity pictures playing basketball.”

“These comments are inappropriate and factually incorrect,” said Bagram spokesman Army Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green, who added that such political commentary is barred for uniformed personnel.

Obama didn’t play basketball at Bagram or visit the Clamshell, he said. Home-state troops were invited to meet him, but his arrival was kept secret for security reasons.

“We were a bit delayed … as he took time to shake hands, speak to troops and pose for photographs,” Nielson-Green said.

E-mails to the officer who made the charges and a call to his wife were not returned.