Daily Archives: 09/11/2008

(Community Matters) This is so bad, so I won’t say who sent it to me.

City officials just announced the Houston hurricane evacuation plan:

Cajuns use I-10 to Lafayette.

Hispanics use I-10 to San Antonio.

Rednecks use 59 north to East Texas.

Republicans fly Continental first class to Washington D.C.

Yankees and Democrats use 45 South to Galveston.

Longhorns use 290 West to Austin.

Aggies use the 610 Loop.

(Community Matters) So, OldSquid challenged me to write a positive blog about why I’m supporting Obama

First, where our country finds itself: 1) in economic distress – a) likely the largest economic chasm between haves and have nots since the Great Depression, b) unsound economic fundamentals, led by a ridiculous reliance on foreign capital and c) longtime underinvestment in societal and physical infrastructure; 2) Bush’s squandering of America’s good standing in this world built over the previous 60 years, 3) unsustainable wars which threaten to break our troops and risk national security, and 4) demoralized citizens who overwhelmingly believe America is headed in the wrong direction and increasingly distrust government and politicians.

Why would I first list our circumstances prior to promoting Barack Obama? Because the times and challenges made a huge difference in who I decided to support and why.

I stated our situation in a list prioritized in today’s climate. But, when I finally decided to support Barack Obama, it was 2007, and I would have prioritized the situation as 1) national security, 2) world standing, 3) economic, 4) demoralized electorate.

Barack Obama represents a new generation and a new way of governing. His candidacy signals the inclusion of millions and millions of previously disenfranchised or less included people into the political process – African Americans, multi-ethnic/multi-cultural, all people of color and a reminder that smart, hard working young men and women from low/moderate income backgrounds can still achieve the highest office (as opposed to dynasties, whether political or military). Barack’s ascendancy represents a message to the world that Americans recognize the folly of our decisions in the last two races, and that we’re not only unhappy with our leaders but changing direction 180 degrees. I believe this message will do more to further diplomacy and provide an opportunity to restrengthen our national security than any military initiative. And yet I understand that it’s a hard world with some very mean people, so we will have to engage our military at times.

Despite successfully selling the message of economic stewardship to 50+% of Americans, Republicans have screwed up our economy every time they’ve had control in the last 20 years. Obama will focus on matching revenues and expenses. He will lower taxes for 95% of Americans. Though our family will pay higher taxes, we’re willing to do so in exchange for rebalancing the budget and investing in physical and societal infrastructure. I dislike that the capital gains tax rate will be raised – consider it counterproductive. And, I understand that many professions have figured out how to recategorize earnings as capital gains and have avoided paying their fair share. How many executives pay a lower percentage of their income in taxes than their administrative assistants? Too many.

Nevertheless, I’m heartened by a promise not to raise rates (income tax and capital gains) beyond the levels of the Clinton years, and I’m counting on promises in how they’ll invest these monies. The appointment of Furman, Rubin, Summers and Goolsbee to the economic A-team as well as Paul Volker’s and Warren Buffett’s support reinforces my faith.

There’s a lot about free markets (which I support) and their imperfection which require regulation (mostly to force the cost of externalities and to limit the US economic guarantees – implied, explicit or defacto in practice [redundancy acknowledged]); educational initiatives such as merit pay for teachers, investment in curriculum, increased site-based management and accountability; health care reform; and watching who Barack hires and how he enforces team work & consensus rather than deploying or even tolerating byzantine management practices, all further influence my decision to support & enthusiasm for Barack Obama.

Last said, before the debate party in Austin, I was just an enthusiastic supporter. It was watching my 9yo and 10yo god children – their enthusiasm for Barack and hearing them talk about what they’d learned on-line on their own initiative – and the turn out of youth and African Americans that made me call up friends and agree to become a fundraiser for the campaign

Enough for now, I’ll post more in the days ahead about why Barack Obama. Thanks OldSquid.

(Community Matters) Sept 11, 2001.  My cell phone went off, it was a private call but I didn’t answer it.  The waiter at Las Manitas called out to the restaurant that a plane had struck the World Trade Center.  Margo Weisz, Kirk Rudy, John Dirvin and I kept meeting and eating, not really believing what the waiter had said.  Another cell phone call from a private number.  The waiter then calls out that another plane had struck another tower.  Oh rats, that private number.  Our mutual friend works in the tower.  I called.  Yes I’d heard.  Okay coming over.  No one had heard from our friend.   Arrived at home of private number.  She’d heard from our friend.  He wasn’t in the tower but on subway over.  He was now at base of tower looking for his employees.  On tv, we see first tower collapse. Can’t reach our friend.  About an hour later he calls, he’d run with hundreds of others as the tower was collapsing, finally settling somewhere in midtown.  Had found all employees but not the artist who was staying in the apartment in the 91st floor.  We subsequently learned he’d died.  We pray for all those lost and we thank God for those who survived. 

(Community Matters) Will someone please help me understand why so many good, honorable people who identify more with the Republican Party than with independents or Democrats aren’t as outraged by misleading statements and lies as I am?  Of course, those in the news just now and which I’ll cite in a minute are from the campaign.  But, it’s a continuation of Bush/Cheney statements about weapons of mass destruction, about wiretapping or not wiretapping, about politicizing the DOJ while saying we’re not politicizing the DOJ.

The two most recent comments are Palin’s.  She said “and when the deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.  That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead . . .”  So, the problem is, NOT ONE section of pipe has been laid.  The pipeline hasn’t received even federal approval.  It may never get built.  Second, the bridge to nowhere.  Palin’s comments that she told the federal government no thanks.  Come on, we’ve now all read that she did so only after first embracing, defending, even campaigning on the bridge.  So, I don’t get this.  Why no similar outrage from those who support McCain or Palin.  Or is there outrage but its drowned out by others?

(Community Matters) The Annual Out & Equal Summit underway in Austin. Major sponsors include Dell, Deloitte, HP, Accenture, Citi and many others. Hundreds of reps from Fortune 500 companies and others gathering in Austin to discuss equality in the workplace, best practices and to network.

Equality Texas’ Paul Scott & hubby, Scott Simons, hosted a reception tonight welcoming some attendees and introducing Tony Broaddus of the Equality Federation. Nice gathering and good conversations. Equality Federation also an important organization.

(Community Matters) If I’m reading Nate Silver correctly, the increased sampling of Republicans in this week’s polls may be simply the tally of those polled rather than a deliberate weighting. Certainly would be the case with Gallup and SurveyUSA which do not force the samples. Rasmussen weighs samples for party id according to a three week average.

More disturbing is imagining that average 9-ish point increase in sample would be a bounce or a shift from convention.