Daily Archives: 01/23/2010

(Community Matters) The return of David Plouffe is a super sign.  A review of the D political operation an imperative – our spends & political strategies in VA, NJ, MA and on OFA especially.

I’m also wondering who made these calls and how.  We need accountability for results and expenditure of dollars raised from donors all around the country.  Where we’ve promised net positive investments, are we on track to accomplish such?  We came into power less interested in promoting (ie., preserving) our own power than producing results – healthcare at the top of the list.  Covering 30mm – 40mm uninsured should not be up for compromise.  Most of the people I know didn’t invest their souls, time, treasure & /or votes to preserve future D majorities.

(Community Matters) In DC for meetings starting Monday.  Early arrival to spend time with my friends the Cramers – Sonya, Reid, Dio & Gabel

Walking through Takoma Park, a home cooked meal, lots of political conversation (natch) and a game of scrabble.  Reid’s head of research for the New America Foundation.  Of course the political events of this week even more dramatic inside the Beltway then elsewhere.  Everyone here has been waiting for passage of healthcare, also so they can move forward on other agendas.  Add MA and the S. Ct ruling – not a good week.

(Community Matters) The Austonian was hopping last night with guests celebrating its opening.  Terry Mitchell (the building’s developer) tells me residents will start moving in this June.

Zac, Luke & Terry

The views are spectacular and the amenities unprecedented in Austin.

(Community Matters) Update from Susan Sayers of Partners in Health (@PiH_org):

The PIH team has now established 24 functional operating rooms (ORs) throughout Haiti, providing round-the-clock surgery and medical care to earthquake survivors.  Twelve of these ORs are at the central University Hospital in Port-au-Prince (HUEH), which was nearly uninhabitable at this time last week.

We have also had great success assembling surgical teams, transporting them to Haiti, and putting them immediately to work. At last count, more than 150 surgeons, nurses, anesthetists and other specialists had arrived, allowing our ORs to run at full capacity 24 hours a day. But our team in Haiti continues to report a great need for additional medicines (antibiotics, anesthesia and narcotics), medical equipment (anesthesia machines and x-rays), medical supplies (IVs, tubing, irrigating saline), and water. Continue reading →

(Community Matters) Joe Cutbirth is a former reporter for the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, a disciple of Molly Ivins and a profesor of journalism in Vancouver.  His letter from Sam Houston to President Barack Obama