Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) I haven’t been able to determine who’s the special guest accompanying Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Netroots Nation this morning. Karen Kolber, Netroots Development Director, phoned yesterday and told me I didn’t want to miss the, now, 8:30 presentation and that Speaker Pelosi is bringing a very big guest who I’d want to meet. Alas, a 9am meeting at the Coordinated offices this am. grrr, and I’ve not been able to cajole, entice or otherwise budge the secret out of Glazer.

(Community Matters) Interesting visitors yesterday – nearly all referred in through archives. Visitors from Hungary: Szolnok-Jasz-Nagykun & Budapest; Samsun, Turkey; Johannesburg, South Africa; Netherlands: Utrecht & Almelo-Overijssel; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Italy: Treviglio-Lombardia, Milan & San Marco-Lazio; Swansea, United Kingdom; Toulouse – Midi Pyrenees, France; Chernihiv-Chernihivs’ka Oblast, Ukraine; and even Leavenworth, Kansas. I’ve always loved Canadians, several visit regularly, including my daily visitor from Halifax, Canada (wish you’d send me an email and let me know who you are).

(Community Matters) Insomniactive pointed out Krugman’s column yesterday; I’d forgotten to even read my hard copy NYT. Hmm, not sure if JT’s reference to Krugman channeling the Onion is meant to reinforce the analogy or challenge Krugman’s contention that we’re in for a prolonged recession and that a President Obama will have to take aggressive action to avoid a 2010 backlash. Both Krugman and JT more quantitative and well qualified to opine on the macros and micros. While a fundamentalist long term, I wonder if psychological factors, including optimism and the timing of expectations, couldn’t dramatically influence results. I agree Obama’s administration must immediately demonstrate results to sustain expectations.

(Community Matters) Bishop Greg Rickel, the Bishop of Olympia/Seattle, blogs from the Lambeth Conference here. Greg was formerly the rector at St. James Episcopal in Austin.

I shouldn’t be but I am always impressed that clergy begin most deliberations with meditation and prayer. Reminds me that my meetings should begin by recounting the human side of our missions.

(Community Matters) ok, back to a good mood:

and, Poblano’s observations from Austin (NetRoots conference):

I’ve spent the past couple of days in Austin at the Netroots Nation conference. It’s very hot here, but not humid, and I’ll take wandering around an air-conditioned conference center any day over lugging a laptop bag between meetings in Manhattan.

Let me caveat the following in a couple of ways: firstly, I see my function as an analyst rather than a reporter. Secondly, I am a participant in the conference as well as an observer. Thirdly, my observations are based on a limited sample size — a series of friendly conversations I’ve had here, as well as a couple that I had in New York.

But here’s the sense that I’ve gotten on the ground. There are very few displays of anger at Obama over things like his affirmative vote in FISA. The people here in Austin are mature and seasoned political aficionados — there are plenty of folks in their 20s and 30s here, but just as many in their 50s and 60s. They come from a wide diversity of backgrounds, and bring with them a fairly wide diversity of viewpoints running from the center to the left. They understand electoral politics, and they understand why Obama has positioned himself on these issues as he has.

If the good news for Obama is that people aren’t talking much about FISA, the potentially bad news for him is that people aren’t talking much about Obama, period. The focus is more on long-term organization and party-building, House and Senate races, and governance if and when Obama takes office. The Obama campaign itself also does not have much presence here.

So there is a certain amount of … I don’t know quite how to put it. There is a certain amount of arm’s-lengthedness, aloofness, toward the Democratic nominee. Of the 2500 or so attendees here, Obama can probably count on about 2475 votes, and for significant fractions to donate, knock on doors, and volunteer for the campaign. But the enthusiasm toward Obama is a bit more cerebral than you might expect.

Some of this is an inevitable consequence of the long- and drawn-out primary campaign. I don’t mean that you have a bunch of bitter ex-Hillary supporters here; there are plenty of Hillary supporters here, and they’ve (mostly) gotten over it. But the primary process was exhausting — an 18-month campaign that concluded barely a month ago. People are taking a bit of a breather before the conventions begin and the campaign really gets underway.

At the same time, the complaints I’ve heard about Obama are not about policy so much as presentation. I think people want to see and hear a little more of him, for him to let down his guard a little bit. There is some danger to the Obama campaign in being a bit overscheduled: Iraq Trip, Europe Trip, VP Pick, Convention, Debates, Election, FIN. Sometimes you have to take a little time out with your friends — and I don’t just mean progressives, but all American voters.

furthermore:

He’s revised this list of +- 5pts, battle ground states to: North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, Indiana, Montana, Virginia, Colorado, Ohio, Michigan and New Mexico. That’s why you’ll see the Obama campaign running full-scale US Senate style campaigns in 18 battle ground states as well as staff in all 50 states.

(Community Matters)

here’s why

If you didn’t already know why, there’s one important difference in our worlds. All week, I’ve slow steamed about what to say. This is the nicest that came to mind.

(Community Matters) Ooops, forgot I was suppose to say no to new opportunities. But, we’ve got to keep the IT guy/campaign technology programmer at the Coordinated Campaign.

(Community Matters) We purchased tickets for tonight’s McCallum High School performance of Rent. But, we’re not attending. Planned too but Steven’s flight from NYC didn’t return until nearly 1am this morning, so chilling at home tonight instead.

(Community Matters) . . . for war crimes and likely for other nefarious actions. This is certainly 43s prerogative. And, since he can’t pardon himself – though gosh knows someone in DOJ (though really Dept of Cheney) will write an opinion supporting that he can, it’ll be our responsibility to investigate and prosecute 43 if there’s evidence that he violated the Constitution.

The World Court and courts of other countries aren’t bound by US presidential pardons, so I imagine they’ll be quite a few home bound former administration officials.

(Community Matters) I’m not talking about bread.

here

(Community Matters) Woosh, only 2 in Austin on the closing list. I feared losing stores with friends. Only Academy & Congress and a Slaughter Ln store closing per list on Huffington Post.

(Community Matters)
I’m at the convention center for the Netroots Nations conference. Rick Noriega on a panel and strolling around visiting with all. John Thornton here. Folks seem happy with turnout and programming. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to spend as much time here as I would have liked. Missed Howard Dean’s speech yesterday, though fortunate to have joined him and others at Chris Mattson’s & John McHale’s for dinner last night. After, dropped by the Paint Texas Blue party at Club Deville. Connected with Cong Lloyd Doggett, Ian & Amy, Crystal and a few others. Had to leave before Wes Clark introduced Rick Noriega. Posted from my blackberry