what you said, Southpa*!
angie |
03.25.06 - 10:13 pm | #
for those who don't have the time: all you have to do is get a form/request package from any national dem org, and instead of a check, send them the following: i am now giving my money thru progressive blogs like (your fav here). if you want to get any of it, impress her/him.
those in the area should deliver the message in person, but with the caveat that 1/2 our dems are kerryesque, and won't let you talk to their C-list staff, let alone themselves.
chicago dyke |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:14 pm | #
wow, you up late, lady....
TeddySanFran |
03.25.06 - 10:16 pm | #
That's am impressive story. I'm surprised to hear the Kerry letdown. What is Kennedy looking into, I wonder, that is "more meaningful than a symbolic gesture like censure"? Seems as if that's all anyone can muster on the hill, and even that goes nowhere.
dana |
03.25.06 - 10:17 pm | #
Christy, get to sleep. We need you rested tomorrow when either the Bushies or the media f*cks up good.
Redd wrote it earlier but I thought it was very much in keeping with late nite so I did the posting duties.
jane hamsher |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:19 pm | #
Anyway, big big BIG kudos to Andy, Selise and RevDeb for taking the time and trouble to do that. It puts real faces behind thousands of faxes. That was a really, really incredible thing to do.
jane hamsher |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:20 pm | #
OK, you get to sleep, Jane. We need you too.
And your Huffpo piece on Benji really rocked.
You have been on fire recently.
Now, how do we get you on NPR?
Prof |
03.25.06 - 10:21 pm | #
What chicago dyke said, and also:
I always let candidates know when I give money, like to Charlie Brown, Ned Lamont and Francine Busby (so far) that my money comes to them because of the blog that sent me there. I think that's just as important, when writing them with links, details, and suggestions, as giving through the ActBlue page. I've noticed there's usually someone in the campaign, reading emails and paying attention.
Of course, in the case of Charlie Brown (seeking to be Doolittle's Democratic opponent) he usually writes back himself.
One question: I thought I'd read an update to the Kerry security-guard story that said the folks in the district office had all gone home, after my initial impression that the visitors were declined entry to the office. If there's no one in the office, it's not really up to the security guard to let anyone upstairs, is it? And if there's no one in the office, the visitors weren't really turned away. Now, WHY there was no one in the office during normal business hours, especially during a "constituent contact out-of-session" week, that's certainly another question....
TeddySanFran |
03.25.06 - 10:25 pm | #
Based on earlier readings, am I right in assuming that "andy" is Professor Foland of FDL? I remember his post about the Boston meetings (Kennedy), or non meetings (Kerry), as the case might be. Gotta assume, since he's been here a while, that his readings of FDL (and comments) fired this up. (Then again, not meaning to diminish Selise and RevDeb-- it's just that I recognize "Andy"- or think I do, anyway.)
-
Valley Girl |
03.25.06 - 10:27 pm | #
Well, it's good to know RH isn't up this late, because I'm certainly looking forward to Sunday morning's birdie selection.
TeddySanFran |
03.25.06 - 10:27 pm | #
Prof -- I'm actually going to be on Air America LA with Johnny Wendell tomorrow (he usually calls @ 11:00 am PST or so) and also on Barry Gordon's show tomorrow I think @ 3pm PST.
jane hamsher |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:27 pm | #
Teddy---I remember reading the same thing but can't for my life find the link.
RBG |
03.25.06 - 10:28 pm | #
Hey Christy and Jane and Pach-- thanks for your work today and everyday. I don't get much sleep 'cause I worry too much about a lot of things, but you and Jane keep me focused on what I can do to help change some things. When I hear your voices call for action, I am part of a community and it feels good-- not lonely like it was before. I appreciate the civility, tolerance and great minds that participate here.
angie |
03.25.06 - 10:30 pm | #
I've been getting calls from party organizations and I, too, have been telling them my donations are going to candidates I think are worthy and not to the party organization. They tend to push real hard to get money and when I resolutely refuse they seem troubled. I think it's a good message to send on top of everything else.
puppethead |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:31 pm | #
Jane--there are several pressing issues regarding Katrina that could become an FDL action plan.
scout prime |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:32 pm | #
Hope you'll put your schedule up on the main page, Jane.
I'll tune in if it's raining again.
(One problem with the "Read the rest of this entry" fold is that one has to go there in order to see updates. Oh, well. Can't have everything.)
Prof |
03.25.06 - 10:33 pm | #
P.S. Where are your and Christy's e-mail addresses now?
What if Jim Brady lost his Rolodex and couldn't find you?
Prof |
03.25.06 - 10:34 pm | #
Great stuff.
I have also told party personnel on the phone that I now contribute directly to candidates through blogs.
Semblance |
03.25.06 - 10:35 pm | #
The illustration on the book cover is one of Norman Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" paintings. Hokey, maybe, even corny. But they're iconic illustrations of the America we want to inhabit and still choke me up. If you're anywhere near Stockbridge, Massachusetts (yes, where Arlo got arrested in "Alice's Restaurant"), you can see them at the Rockwell Museum: http://www.nrm.org/exhibits/curr...r-
freedoms.html
Constant Reader |
03.25.06 - 10:39 pm | #
Late Nite Bright Idea --
We need to suggest that the WaPo use the Box Turtle Ben meltdown to ditch the one blogger format for "Red America" -- and go with guest bloggers for "Red America" and "Blue America" online op-eds.
That way, Jane could write a very civil post explaining why people got so upset with li'l Debbie's problem -- factual errors and factually accurate but misleading reports are both BAD JOURNALISM. Nothing personal -- but the WaPo should not be a GOP propaganda organ.
I'm not suggesting any of this as a positive tactic. I'm just asking everyone who's upset right now: How much are you really willing to sacrifice?
Because these fascists/corporatists are not likely to give up, especially because they appear to be very close to winning.
And that WILL be the end of history.
Be uncomfortable. This is not going to be easy. And it isn't going to be won with keyboards.
We are so quick to suggest that Turtle Ben enlist. Deconstructing the text of that: we are suggsting he risk his life for his belifs.
How many of us are willing to do so?
Charles R. |
03.25.06 - 10:42 pm | #
Debbie Howell's latest: "The Post and the Whole Picture in Iraq" http://www.washingtonpost.com/
wp...6032401717.html
I saw nothing of note, just a lot of WaPooh cheerleading. Could have been a lot worse though (by her standards), I didn't see any WH talking points.
John Casper |
03.25.06 - 10:44 pm | #
And if there's no one in the office, the visitors weren't really turned away. Now, WHY there was no one in the office during normal business hours, especially during a "constituent contact out-of-session" week, that's certainly another question....
TeddySanFran |
there is always someone "in the office." that is, if they're not in that building, then staffers and pols are at 'known' secondary locations (signatures, anyone?) and just hiding from the Little People.
show me a money-making business that is cut throat and fast paced, which doesn't have full time daytime office hours. being in DC as a pol today is all about making money. so even if kerry couldn't find one, lonely, young, highly underpaid staffer to sit at the front desk (but he was ready to be president???), it's not the case that "important" people couldn't find him. constituents? not so "important."
chicago dyke |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:49 pm | #
I work on Capitol Hill at the Library of Congress which is on the House side of the Capitol, I more and more get my aerobic exercise at lunch walking the 15 mins. over to the Senate side (& past the incredibly depressing endless construction on a new "capitol visitor center" whose bedwetting pussyhood undergroundness could have been dictated by bin laden himself and probably was - the entire east side of the Capitol is nothing but construction barriers and trucks and noise and destruction over what used to be the most beautiful sprawling green grounds with trees so old and venerable they had names and plaques on them - now all but two or three felled with barely a thought - every time I walk those blocks and am forced to behold the horror of our utter capitulation to FEAR, I just curse at this sad pussy nation, and I wonder what the busloads of tourists think on traveling from wherever to see such a sight, not to mention the closed streets and checkpoint huts and capitol police setting up roadblocks in front of my building whenever they feel like it just to stop people because they can, even pulling over Metrobuses and boarding them and standing there for five seconds and getting off and waving them on, it is such fucking obedience training. Anyway, hey tourists, welcome to East Germany which even the Germans got sick enough of to ditch but we seem freshly enamored of.)
Anyway. I'll trek yet again over to Sarbanes and Mikulski's offices this week. There is no fucking excuse for Sarbanes, he's retiring & nothing to lose. Mikulski's probably subject to dyke-blackmail by Rove, but couldn't she hoist his evil ass by its own JimmyJeff petard?
Sharkbabe |
03.25.06 - 10:51 pm | #
Constant Reader | 03.25.06 - 10:39 pm
Thanks for that link. I have been to the Rockwell Museum, and it was a breathtaking and memorable experience. I actually searched out the Post cover (Sat Eve) of the 4 freedoms as a possible graphic for Jane or Redd a long time back, but never sent it along. Sorry, I can't remember where I found it, but this is the cover: http://i8.photobucket.com/
albums...ll4freedoms.jpg
-
Valley Girl |
03.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #
Charles R. | 03.25.06 - 10:42 pm | #
my pedigree and personal politics are such that i highly doubt many of you are more radical in your beliefs than me. so whenever i hear these "put your money where your mouth is and die for the Cause" people, i'm skeptical. i hope everyone else is too, in this age of known unknown information collection and distribution on the part of your hostile gov't.
if you ever see me blogging that you're all useless hypocrites because you're not willing to pick up a gun, run to DC and start shooting all because of half-baked nonspecific rhetoric, you know it's not really me writing that.
chicago dyke |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #
I'm actually not surprised that Kerry's people won't accept "walk-ins". And TeddySF - are you sure about reading they'd all closed up for the day? My senators and congressman's offices were open til 5 pm yesterday ( I know because I called). I don't believe Kerry's was closed up. I think he's a just another chicken shit Boston Brahmin who is so removed from the "little people" that he'd rather drink swampwater than have to deal face to face with his constituents - because it's not a controlled environment.
if I had been restricted from entering Murray's or Cantwell's
offices, I would have stood in front of the security guard, called up to the office on my cell phone and asked them if they think it's kosher to restrict the senator's employer from entering the premises. Our tax dollars pay their salaries and medical care.
I'm really past the point of being polite and deferential to them.
shoephone |
03.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #
Another proud moment in citizen participation: Senator Dumb Asapost (R-VA) takes a question about gay marriage from a 16 year old in Culpeper:
I had no idea about your other life!!! Am I completely stoopid in remembering that you are a musician? If so, I never pictured you as being so close to Capitol Hill. Anyway, the Library of Congress is an amazing place- only visited there a few times, looking for totally obscure articles on insect development, but.... I found it an awe-inspiring experience.
-
Valley Girl |
03.25.06 - 11:01 pm | #
That's my line too. I keep getting money calls from the DCC and The DLCC. My answer is no more money until the leadership grows a spine. No more. Not to them. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. ENOUGH. My resources and my energy goes around the party until the leadership starts to lead.
SW |
03.25.06 - 11:02 pm | #
VG - yeah, bass player in other life
insect development - kewl
one of the memorable book titles in years of surfing the stacks (aside from "Cooking with God") was "The Mosquitoes of New Jersey"
Sharkbabe |
03.25.06 - 11:07 pm | #
CNet is reporting that a newly created branch within the Homeland Security Department that brings together many different federal agency employees and private sector players has been given the go-ahead to disregard a law requiring meetings to be open and proceedings public. From the article: "The 1972 law generally requires such groups to meet in open sessions, make written meeting materials publicly available, and deliver a 15-day notice of any decision to close a meeting to the public. The last is a particular point of concern for Homeland Security officials, who anticipate that private emergency meetings may need to be scheduled on short notice."
More DHS Secrecy!! |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 11:08 pm | #
Interesting - feels like the fascisti are moving exponentially faster with time - yet so are we
Sharkbabe |
03.25.06 - 11:10 pm | #
what do you have against 20 somethings who sit in their pajamas and play with their laptops?
tommy |
03.25.06 - 11:12 pm | #
Charles R.: We are so quick to suggest that Turtle Ben enlist. Deconstructing the text of that: we are suggsting he risk his life for his belifs.
We're not suggesting that he risk his life for his beliefs, we're asking that he risk his life because, by advocating war, he is calling for others to risk theirs. That's the difference.
Redshift |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 11:18 pm | #
Sharkbabe | 03.25.06 - 10:51 pm
I lived very close to the Library of Congress in the early 60s. It was not air-conditioned, and neither was our house. I wish I had been a little older and able to appreciate more, but it was pretty interesting anyway. JFK, LBJ....
Margot |
03.25.06 - 11:19 pm | #
Sharkbabe | 03.25.06 - 11:07 pm
BTW, I don't live in the DC area, or I would visit the Library of Congress more often. As a kid, I loved the local library. Great respite. A weird volume I found even gave me tips on writing and style for the "Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year" competition during high school. Or maybe future homemakers. Kinda vague now. But I took full advantage of the info, and got the award from my high school. Still have the award pin, somewhere, I'm sure. But, the general concept came in handy when I was being hammered during a grad school interview at UCLA. They really pissed me off, those 3 guys, by a lot of impertinent questions. I finally said, well, look, I was the Betty Crocker Homemaker of the year from my high school, but I don't think that is what I want to do for my life. Later, one of them told me I was the only girl they didn't make cry. Of course, he was the guy who kept hitting on me, and kept calling my mother to find out where I was. LOL. Sorry for the long OT personal info, but libraries do have their strengths.
Valley Girl |
03.25.06 - 11:21 pm | #
The Justice Dept. says "hell yeah, the NSA can spy on doctor - patient, attorney - client phone calls if it feels like it":
What is Kennedy looking into, I wonder, that is "more meaningful than a symbolic gesture like censure"? Seems as if that's all anyone can muster on the hill, and even that goes nowhere.
Why can't he back the censure and do something more meaningful. Why does it have to be one or the other?
mls |
03.25.06 - 11:24 pm | #
Jane and Christy and all of the good folks at FDR --
I'm sure that it was all the increased traffic that made you switch sites, but I gotta say, I really miss the looks of the former firedoglake. Now, this looks too much like other big blogs -- the aesthetics are cluttered and the "Click if you want to Read More" stuff is really off-putting.
I like to read whole posts without having to go through another operation. It totally disrupts any mindflow I have going. Plus, it's an ugly inconvenience. Your writing is good enough and engaging enough to want to follow through to the end. This new lay-out is way too much "Huffington Post" for my taste.
If you want to continue the "Read More" stuff to save on server power or whatever it is you're doing, please save it for the "day-old" posts, when it's more appropriate. The only thing I like better with the new site is that the Haloscan opens wider. But that's not enough.
Sorry to be casting cold water here, but that's the way I'm seeing things from this vantage point in front of my Mac.
Blessings on what you do and what you write, but please bring back that "old school" look.
What everyone needs to understand,and to think clearly about,is how" they" are going to react when it becomes apperent that the democratic majority is regaining control of the government.
This has gone beyond ideological changes in how the pie is split.Those in power now do not intend to allow any major reform of the system that will change #1how the money flows#2who it flows to#3who controls the legislative control of rules and regulations that control corparations.The corp. control/fascist system is now compleat. They write the laws now.
Our only true freind now,is chaos.
Chaos in the form of several million latino protesters that a certain wisconson sentor did not expect....and I expect to see more and more in the streets until his legislation goes away,or some real bad shit starts to happen
Chaos in the form of the netroots,blogosphere,,and true,citizen democracy rearing its head....with a intelligent,informed electorate that KNOWS the issues.[this alone should scare the hell out of the ones who wish to use war,to enrich themselfs,or feed on the publics ignorence]
Chaos,from public awareness of the danger to our society from peak oil. What it will mean when the public DEMANDS action to restore fiscal sanity to governmet.It tears my heart to see the wasted moneys that will be needed for conversion to alternitive energy being used to make obsenely welthy people moreso
The net is the only tool that we citizens have at this time.We have 10 years to change the nation,after that ,peak oil and climate change will be in full swing,and the options we wil have willbe worse and worse....
snuffy |
03.25.06 - 11:25 pm | #
One person is not as effective in making the difference as groups of people, organized, focused, trained and able to speak strongly and intelligently about whatever issues they believe in...today we saw the power of the group - just look at the thousands in LA demonstrating and tell me you weren't impressed... America really means something to the people who actually struggled to get here.
Spiderpaws |
03.25.06 - 11:26 pm | #
One of the ironies of living in the DC area is that my senators are generally further away from me during a recess than when Congress is in session. (Warner doesn't even have a Northern Virginia office.) Republican or no, I'm going to try to figure out a time from my behind-schedule project at work to go down to his Capitol Hill office and demand to know what he thinks the proper Senate response is to admitted lawbreaking by the president. I'll also ask about his response to my letter against the Graham amendment eliminating habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees, in which he basically said he voted to suspend one of the centuries-old most basic rights because habeas corpus suits could be a nuisance. Grrr...
Redshift |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 11:27 pm | #
not to detract from this:
And being a gov't worker, I fully expect to be threatened/hounded into silence or lose my job before this is over.
It's here, people.
Sharkbabe |
but you could've written "and being a black/latino/brown colored and/or poor worker..." fifteen years ago and it would've been just as true.
"it" has always been "here." it's just that the once protected (mostly white) middle class is finally feeling what the rest of us have been, for decades unending.
chicago dyke |
Homepage |
03.25.06 - 11:27 pm | #
Teddy---I remember reading the same thing but can't for my life find the link.
RBG | 03.25.06 - 10:28 pm | #
Well, that makes me feel better because I can't either. I know I read it though, and can't find it.
I'll certainly withdraw it as a faulty recollection on my part, but it would be nice to hear from those involved in the Kerry action again at some point, because I don't think my short-term memory has gotten that bad... and I went to look for it too.
TeddySanFran |
03.25.06 - 11:40 pm | #
Jane,
I picked up on your comment that you and Redd are working on action plans for next week and Redd posted about Katrina this morning, sooooo.....
About the insurance companies, As far as I can tell they do three things which are not only nasty and possibly illegal but also make them vulnerable to coordinated pressure.
First, they skim of last years premiums.
Second, they refuse and obstruct claims. And
Thirdly, they cover the claims they do pay on last years policies with this years premiums and even next years premiums.
If they take a big hit, they finance it with increased premiums NEXT year.
You see what's happening?
It called a Ponzi scheme or more commonly "robbing Peter to pay Paul" .
(There's also a big scam in the Re-Insurance business. I don't understand it myself but I've read insiders that say it's so. Maybe a reader can enlighten us)
To get back to the insurers' vulnerability,
They rely on next year's premiums to stay afloat, to cover their existing liabilities (they'll deny this, of course, loudly) .
Soooooo, if FDL were to run a poll on who are the good guys as far as coughing up are and, more importantly, who the bad guys are, everyone would know who to swap their policies to at renewal time or, better still, right now.
After all, there is absolutely no point in having an "insurance policy" with a company that doesn't pay up.
I reckon it'd be a good way of forcing their hand and maybe cleaning out a few of these leeches
Griffon |
03.25.06 - 11:48 pm | #
Just back from seeing "V for V" The new low brass prof they hired to take my place saw it Thursday and told me "You've got to see this movie. It has Phil's movie written all over it!"
Best cartoon dystopia movie yet.
chicago dyke is right. Being white and straight, I've just had to watch this stuff happen to friends in the past. But it comes in cycles. My best friend's (white) parents were fired from university tenured jobs in the mid-50s for being socialists.
Edward Teller |
03.25.06 - 11:53 pm | #
Teddy - I wasn't challenging your veracity. It was more like "WTF is up with Kerry? His office was CLOSED?"
Sometimes I wonder why I wasted all that time and effort working on his campaign. He's such an isolated elitist.
shoephone |
03.25.06 - 11:58 pm | #
Ed t- i just saw it too! funny. not too many folks in the theatre, but everyone there was mesmerized. it was pretty good for a "graphic novel" flick.
crap, i'm tired. everyone have a great evening. i hope all y'all who think i'm right about anything stop by my blog and leave a comment. and my blogmates rock, too; we're almost as prolific in posting as the fine wimmin here, albeit to a smaller audience.
blogwhoring is tiring, so i'll bid you all adieu.
chicago dyke |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 12:04 am | #
Valley G, what a great Betty Crocker/kickass story - I've always been drawn to libraries too, it totally made sense to me to wind up at the LOC mothership, though the course was naturally a weird and circuitous one...
Sharkbabe |
03.26.06 - 12:07 am | #
JFK, LBJ....
yeah, good times or what - that crazy shit - heck, even Tricky Dick - looks like truth, beauty and our favorite easy chair now :)
btw in preparing to see V for V I wanted to know more about the Wachowski brothers, especially Larry and his purported odd proclivities - wikipedia sent me to this hella interesting article
Thanks- so glad to know that you read my BC story! Been checking back to see! Okay, probably I have to do the reasonable thing now, and go to bed.
-
Valley Girl |
03.26.06 - 12:16 am | #
Wait, wait, wait, you doggies!
We can't got to bed. Joe Wilson says we're his first read in the morning.
Maybe that one just slipped by with all the stuff going on here today, most of which I missed too.
So, Joe, if you read this on a Sunday morning, hear this sir. You're one of the top heroes of the 21st century. But, hey, as centuries go, the competition gets rougher as years go along. Maybe your best work is yet to be performed. Nopt bad so far, though.
Edward Teller |
03.26.06 - 12:22 am | #
Hello ET-
And, yes, I do need to go to bed. I am in a completely different time zone. But, since you're still up, and I will stay online a bit more, I do hope that you will get to meet Coriolanus personally during your Ashland trip. email me. I will forward such to him. He is def. one of the more interesting "outliers" in the FDL community, if I can say that w/o being misunderstood.
-
Valley Girl |
03.26.06 - 12:30 am | #
Yeah Edward, was that Wilson shit bracing or what? Loved it/him!
Wilson/Hedd '08
ok, goodnight I mean it!
Sharkbabe |
03.26.06 - 12:31 am | #
Everyone who has a Democratic Congressperson/Senator be very thankful.
I am stuck with blowheart JD Hayworth has voted 97% the Bush agenda and supports making 11 million humans inside America's boarders felons. Then there is Senator Kyl, he also votes 97% with BushCo. We also call him the Absent Senator because instead of coming home and having townhalls like Feingold, he is off on some trip probably with some lobbiest.
Then to top it off, there is McCain, the man with NO family values and with his mouth firmly planted up Bushs ass.
The funny thing was that those reported 20,000 protesters marched to Senator Kyl's office and he is out there whining "It was a house bill... why did they pick on me?". Figured he was getting lessons from Box Turtle Ben.
The first reports of attendance on the march was 25-30K, the spin is still going on and lots a nasty comments back and forth.
The organizers really had no idea how many would show up and did not get a permit to march in the street. Phoenix mayor is screeming it was a safety issue.... so glad that NO ONE was hurt.
Personally, I think that having that many show up when they had orginally predicted 3000, scared the shit out of the white boys..... the brown people haters....
It is ok when the brown people do all the lawns, clean houses, wash cars and do all the hard manual labor ...... But to actually SEE them, to have THEM disrupt their nice friday evening commute home... YEE gads... something came between the wingnuts and their friday night beer.
katymine |
03.26.06 - 12:34 am | #
g'night, sharkbabe.
Valley Girl,
Still hoping for Manzanita-Ashland OR this summer. But yesterday my wife's sister got some of her art accepted into a juried show in Anacortes WA that same week. My wife's sister's husband and I had a falling-out in Costa Rica a couple of years ago - he was infuriated that I had written music about the "terrorist" Rachel Corrie - and we're supposed to patch up. Apparently, he's coming around on that issue. So, we'll see. I'd really like to see Coriolanus in "Cyrano de Bergerac."
Edward Teller |
03.26.06 - 12:43 am | #
ET- thanks for the update. These family things are so complicated. For myself, I am hoping that I get to see Coriolanus in some production, sooner or later. Actors generally are not held in high regard (unless they are HW types, and then not often) but, from my brief experience in that mileu, I know that being a professional in that biz requires incredible talent, dedication, and stamina. That's why I never pursued it, despite my SAG credentials. Same with music, I'd guess.
-
Valley Girl |
03.26.06 - 12:54 am | #
ET- where did wilson say he reads blogs? can't find it on your link.
wraxilon |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 1:12 am | #
vg,
You're absolutely right, and that could get us on topic again. God forbid, it is Saturday night, and this place was pivotal in taking down Bendover yesterday, but....
Actors are incredibly disciplined. They're disciplined in a different way from musicians. I've written incidental music to five plays and either been musical director or played in the band for dozens of plays and musicals. All on the university or community theater level.
People in community theater, for example, rehearse every night, all evening, for weeks. As they go along, everything gets dickered with, fussed over, and people gradually memorize their parts. If it is a new production, lines and music get changed up to the last moment, but it is all ready when the curtain goes up on opening night.
In music, I've worked at almost every level. I've seldom seen the same level of ensemble dedication among musical professionals as I've seen in the theater. Sure, pro musicians practice a lot, but alone, not together. There are exceptions.
The top orchestras perceive themselves so good they rehearse very little compared to theater groups. And, except for soloists, there's virtually no memorization. Gyorgi Ligeti was asked after a performance of a new piece of his a few years back what he thought of the performance (by the Chicago Symphony). He replied "It went better than the rehearsal." This wouldn't, couldn't happen in theater.
That's part of the difference between Republican and Democratic party discipline, and has been since Kevin Phillips was a Republican. And it has a lot to do with why they're running things now and not the dems.
Republicans rehearse and rehearse. They go to seminars to learn their lines. They may have less talent than the community theater people with whom I've worked, but they are really ready when the curtain comes up to sing as a chorus.
The Democrats practice their craft mostly individually, like a pianist would practice. But when it comes time to get together and plan collectively, they feel their natural superiority in rationality (yes, dems have that over republicans, at least now), will get them over the hump. This approach consistently fails to work.
I suppose I drove that metaphor into the ground, eh?
Edward Teller |
03.26.06 - 1:25 am | #
wraxilon,
In the comments. Found it earlier, but can't remember where. It is there. Your turn.
Edward Teller |
03.26.06 - 1:27 am | #
wraxilon | Homepage | 03.26.06 - 1:12 am | #
It's in the secord or third comment down. The author updates in the comments also.
Suzanne |
03.26.06 - 1:29 am | #
wraxilon,
is that your nom de blog when you're sleep typing?
I love your web site. A bit like Susie Madrak (suburban guerilla), but more edgy and your humor works better.
Edward Teller |
03.26.06 - 1:33 am | #
Back in the day, jayt was looking for links to signing statements on the anti-torture and patriot acts. I happen to have this one, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/r...20051230-
8.html
for the anti-torture. From the stub of that url, I found this one which I think is the statement for the patriot act: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/r...20060309-
8.html
At least, it hits all the right low notes.
prostratedragon |
03.26.06 - 2:12 am | #
I gave a lot ot money to the Dem party machinery in the run up to the 04 election. Since that time, with the help of caller ID, I haven't been giving a dime.
It never occured to me actually talk to them. I figured they were just using paid fund raisers making the calls and that those folks could care less what any of us had to say. Maybe I'll start answering the phone.
Kevin |
03.26.06 - 2:31 am | #
Completely OT but I couldn't find a contact link--
There appears to be something wrong with the RSS feed as listed in the right sidebar. The last post that went out via that feed was Your Daily Hallelujah.
Daryl Cobracnhi |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 2:42 am | #
off topic
there was an immigration rights march five hindred thousand strong
that will work against us in the election, it will give something to galvanize the republicans and give them an excuse to vote against the "liberals"
me to me |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 2:49 am | #
I have to tell you, there IS an imigration problem in this country, and it dilutes the labor force and power
I think we need to criminilize employers who hire an itllegal
harsh for a democrat, but the republicans aren't wrong on every issue, this is one that their philosophy is correct
the application is depraved, but the philosophy is correct
me to me |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 2:52 am | #
THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING IL-6!
Too many in the blogosphere (cough - Kos - cough) seemed to feel that because Duckworth was a wounded vet everything Rahm, Durbin, Obama, Schakowsky(!) et al. did to trample on the grassroots was A-OK. For those unfamiliar with all the bad shit that went down here, check out William Rivers Pitt's summation of the fiasco: http://www.truthout.org/docs_200...6/
032406Z.shtml
Jim in Chicago |
03.26.06 - 2:55 am | #
sorry i missed the discussion last night... i see that there was some question about kerry's office being closed. but, that was not the case - the security guard let RevDeb speak by phone to someone in the office. most telling to me, was that i was not even able to leave my letter.
selise |
03.26.06 - 3:01 am | #
italics off?
pseudonymous |
03.26.06 - 3:06 am | #
Just a moment or so to spare to pop in here before bed. Thanks for all the great comments from everyone in this community! It helps keep me going just to know everyone else is wrestling with the same painful things -- the support we get here from each other helps keep us paced for the long haul, IMO.
--------
This afternoon, a couple or three threads down, I quoted the Joe Wilson remark about reading the blogs in the morning before the NYT, and firedoglake being his first choice, and his recommending FDL to everyone. The quote is downthread for anyone who wants to go looking, sorry I'm too tired to find it now. I gave a link then, too.
I should have known better than to jump into a hot topic with a post marked "OT." Even then I was worried that it was old news to y'all (it's definitely a drag that I no longer have time to catch up on prior threads, just have to jump into the stream when there's a chance, otherwise I couldn't post at all anymore...). I would have repeated the news again later, but for fear I was pounding a drum over old news.
But isn't that super-cool? Wilson's spreading the news about FDL at his public speaking engagements. Either Jane or Redd had hinted some time ago that the Wilsons were fans of the site, albeit an indirect hint. Now we know Joe's on board!
Mr. K8 and I had the great pleasure of meeting him in October 2004, just a couple of days after Rove went back before the grand jury for the third(?) time. Wilson had some great snark about KKKarl on that occasion, too. You have to admire him and his wife, for the service they've both given this country over the years. And he certainly has grace under pressure, style and humor, to boot. His comments cited in the dKos diary are well worth the read -- Mr. K8 laughed so hard just thinking about how funny it is to hear such fiery, piercing truth, framed in such witty terms -- coming from a *diplomat*!!!
So, Joe, if you're reading, my husband and I once again wish you all the best, and hope you're still planning on filing a civil suit. That would sure take the wind out of the sails of any potential pardon King George might have planned. No pardon will protect them from having to testify in a civil suit -- and your joke that night in 2004 about seeing Karl's Corvette parked in your garage next to Valerie's car as a result of a lawsuit is still a lovely image.
Mrs. K8 |
03.26.06 - 3:06 am | #
Just saw a fine but disturbing post by Kagro X on whether the optimal positioning of the Democratic Congressional delegation for the careful preservation of its forty-seven percent minority is more important than, you know, impeachment, and ran screaming back here to drop off something I wrote and decided not to post during what turned out to be the Friday night follies. It was a follow-on to remarks from scarecrow about framing impeachment issues:
scarecrow | 03.24.06 - 2:31 pm (under ReddHedd's article “Pissed Off”) and anyone else trying to get organized to push for impeachment:
Have you seen the new booklet from Center for Constitutional Rights, Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush? They have four articles which are very much like scarecrow's in that they refer to specific acts that the President has committed, then under each act are listed the offenses against the law, Constitution, and his oath of office that each act violates. The content of the CCR list is much like yours also, as I guess should be obvious (guess the html here doesn't speak ordered list):
1. Directing or authorizing warrantless spying in violation of the law;
2. Initiation and continuation of the Iraq War;
3. Arbitrarily and indefinitely detaining citizens and non-citizens without due process of law;
4. Arrogation of excessive power to the executive by conducting surveillance and detentions without judicial review, as well as signalling his intent to arrogate the powers of Congress in his “signing statements”.
So, the CCR have combined scarecrow's first two acts, substituted a kind of superset of the third for scarecrow's torture act (they include discussions of torture, rendition, and the conditions of the detainees'confinement in the brief below Article III), and added the Iraq War act. Both lists include the adherence to the purity of essence theory of executive power, which I personally think is the thing that ought to have every citizen running to impeach his hide as directly violating his oath of office.
Now, one can look at acts in terms of the laws and principles they violate, or the reverse. Earlier this winter, when the roll of transgressions began to resemble C.F. Kane's storeroom in my mind, I tried to bring a little order to my thinking by consulting the President's oath and Article II of the Constitution (both of which are helpfully included in the CCR book), and came up with three violations of principle into which anything he's done can be fitted: failure or refusal himself to faithfully execute the laws of the United States, failure to see to it that the laws of the United States are faithfully executed, and failure to defend the Constitution. All manner of graft, treasury-looting, fraud against the government, and nasty-minded sandbagging masquerading as incompetence fits into this scheme. Now, when fever has taken hold, this little formula is not likely to be enough to restore health quickly (these guys recently gave me the first flu I've had in years, so far as I'm concerned), but used prophylactically when the room first starts to spin, it may conquer death. For purposes of forming watch/working groups and the like, however, the scarecrow/CCR approach is probably better—we just might have to keep adding groups for new sins.
If more direct action is immediately required to clear one's febrile transports, the link at the top goes to a CCR action page where not only can the book be bought (just $10), but copies can be sent at half-price to Congresscritters, in addition to the usual editable form letter of official disgust.
prostratedragon |
03.26.06 - 3:58 am | #
prostratedragon | 03.26.06 - 2:12 am | #
Got 'em -thank you for the help.
jayt |
03.26.06 - 4:15 am | #
Kevin, et al, re getting the Dem Party's fundraisers' attention:
If you get solicitations in mailings that include a postage-paid return envelope, write a letter and send it in that. Not only do they not get your $$ but someone will definitely see your reason why, and it will cost them 50 cents or so in the process.
Minnesotachuck |
03.26.06 - 4:30 am | #
selise, TeddySanFan, et al. --
I was the source of the information that Kerry's office was "closed." I reported this late Friday afternoon/evening? I had tried to link up with the three, but wasn't able to leave my office in Cambridge until mid afternoon. By the time I got to Kennedy's office downtown, the receptionist said the three had left about 15 minutes earlier. I had a quick conversation to the effect that I agreed with whatever they said, and ran over to Kerry's office, hoping to find the crew, but apparently missed them by about 5 minutes. The downstairs security guard informed me that Kerry's office was closed and all had gone home. He said there were "three ladies just here, but they left." I noticed that the three had signed in, including Prof Foland.
I just saw Selise' fdl entry about one of them actually calling upstairs and talking to someone in the office. So I can't explain this further.
Anyway, sorry I missed the bus, but glad the three of you talked to Kennedy's people. Well done.
prostratedragon -- thanks for the info on the impeachment. You're categories are helpful. Arise, Dragon, and breath fire again.
scarecrow |
03.26.06 - 5:13 am | #
scarecrow - hope to see you next time! this time there were three of us in our little group... what if next time there were 4 or 5? and then next time there were 7 or 8...? you see where i'm going with this?...
selise |
03.26.06 - 5:20 am | #
What http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/
said yesterday has gotten me very, very nervous. We may yet see the day when the government takes away the blogs (except FoxInstapunditProteinWisdom.com).
From Glenn: "Put another way, the Administration has seized the power of Congress to make the laws, they have seized the power of the judiciary to interpret the laws, and they execute them as well. They have consolidated within themselves all of the powers of the government, particularly with regard to national security. This situation is, of course, exactly what Madison warned about in Federalist 47; it really is the very opposite of everything our Government is intended to be."
Madame |
03.26.06 - 5:27 am | #
Christy, I agree. It really makes me proud to read those comments. Glad I have these community members as my constant tutors.
We have a long fight ahead of us, on many fronts, but those actions, that passion. . . all of it, collectively, can make a huge difference.
Great work, Massachussetts folks!
Pachacutec |
03.26.06 - 6:09 am | #
selise -- Yes. I'd like to join the next effort.
scarecrow |
03.26.06 - 6:20 am | #
What you said, Pach. Top o' the mornin', all.
And where on earth did you find that picture of Rahm? He doesn't look like he was half bad, either, though I do wish he'd been content to end up teaching plies instead of performing them for AIPAC, Hillary, and the Beltway gurus.
All of whom have their hearts and minds set on Iran, btw. Which is the real big deal and about which We The People, once again, have no choice whatsoever.
dannyboy |
03.26.06 - 6:21 am | #
Edward Teller | Edit comment Delete comment | Email | 03.26.06 - 1:25 am
I find this comment extremely compelling.
Pachacutec |
03.26.06 - 6:21 am | #
Pachacutec - thank you for your comment last week making the suggestion to visit our senators.... i've never done it before and needed the suggestion/push to get me going.
thanks! plus, i can't tell you how good it felt...
selise |
03.26.06 - 6:24 am | #
I seem to recall that the Boston Globe article used the term "last month" when referring to Bush's signing statement on the so-called Patriot Act (I refuse to capitalize the letters).
I also seem to recall the Boston Globe saying that after the news conference, the President "quietly" made a signing statement. However, he put it on the Web.
Regarding the second point, was the Globe making itself seem more like an investigative reporting operation than was true? Or what?
The main issue, however, is that the President can issue these statements and, as long as they don't say, in exactly these words, "I plan to ignore parts of the law that I just signed," Senators and Representatives are willing to whistle past our graveyard and avert the eyes. In fact, they don't even notice the graveyard and don't even whistle.
Prof |
03.26.06 - 6:25 am | #
ET -- How does the role of the conductor/director vary for Dems vs. Repubs?
I've always attributed it to the Repub penchant for blind obedience to authority/chain-of-command vs. the Dem, well, not.
dannyboy |
03.26.06 - 6:27 am | #
OK, found it. I remembered incorrectly. The BG article started, "en President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, ...."
OK, flock, let's skidaddle over to Redd's new thread and the pretty bird.
Prof |
03.26.06 - 6:29 am | #
and that bluebird is all of us!
Prof |
03.26.06 - 6:31 am | #
The Rahm ballet pic is photoshopped by a reader who preferred not to be given a graphics credit.
Pachacutec |
03.26.06 - 6:31 am | #
selise: It's great you did it, and great you found it empowering!
Pachacutec |
03.26.06 - 6:35 am | #
My heartfelt gratitude to everyone who takes the time and makes the effort to lobby their reps and Senators. And, heartfelt gratitude to Firedoglake and other bloggers who work so hard to force the truth out. Some days it feels as if the truth comes out "dropping slow" to quote Keats. To Sen. Kerry--shame on you.
Tennessean |
03.26.06 - 6:35 am | #
Clarification on the office visits.
We had to go through security to get up to Kennedy's office as it was in a Federal building. We did and then just hopped on the elevator and walked in. No appointment and they gave us a lovely young intern to chat with. She's not a blog reader —yet. We gave her a couple of URL's to start with.
Kerry's office is in a regular office building. It was about 2:30 or so when we got there. The security guard in the lobby who had only been on the job for 3 weeks shook his head when we said we wanted to go up to the senator's office without an appt. (for the record, I had e-mailed a staffer I knew on Wed. asking who we should meet with and did not get an e-mail back until I got home from our visit on Fri.) He doubted we could but called up on the phone. He put me on the phone with the receptionist who was cold and not very cooperative. I asked who would be the person we would talk with. She gave no name and said that "the person is not available." I asked about the staffer I knew—if she was still there as I had not heard back. Oh, she said, that would be the person we would talk with but she is not available. I left my name and phone number.
That was that. I got home and got an e-mail from the staffer that was sent at 3:02 pm. She would be happy to meet with us next week "if we are available." I leave that decision up the rest of the group and anyone else in the Boston/Worcester area. If ya'll want to go in, I'll make time.
It truly was an invigorating experience. I'd been to both DC offices on many occasions "lobbying" for Choice (hence I got to know the staffer who is now in Boston) but this is the first trip to their Boston offices.
RevDeb |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 6:46 am | #
before i get down to serious work, can I just pimp for a moment:
There's an Australian lad who is doing an Herculean amount of work (ala Jane and Christy) over at Wotisitgood4.com. (can't get a link, dammit). He's the go-to guy for all things Sibel - and a few other things which FDL'ers for some reason eschew....
but he's on the same page as most of us(?)(I'm gonna now self-importantly include myself as an FDL-er)
Lukery's the kid's name - and he links often with love and affection to FDL - good taste and all....
I love FDL - but there seem to be some issues which are verboten...
It's a great big world - the issues here at FDL, as wonderfully addressed as they may be, are not solely inclusive. The fire, passion and courage in this here FDL spot should never be trivialized - but beacons of hope must must try to shine their light as far as possible - across oceans -
We are not asleep - let it ring....
jayt |
03.26.06 - 7:07 am | #
I called district offices of both Clinton and Schumer on early Thursday afternoon to follow-up on the censure motion question I had posed 10 days earlier. No one answered the phone and there was no voice mail at Clinton's district office which I had contacted last week. The next closest district office said that I would know someting when a statement was posted on the senator's website. That is, all statements come out of the Manhattan office and were posted directly to the website. No other information, such as a timeframe, was available. Frustrated, I called the Manhattan office. Again, no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail. Busy signal at the DC office.
Schumer's district office was a bit more forthcoming and actually returned my call. The aide disclosed that, although the senator was in China, they were receiving a number of calls urging support of the censure motion.
JML |
03.26.06 - 7:51 am | #
A while ago I made a phone pledge to the DNC- I had not sent in my payment because I am so irritated with them.
Yesterday I got a nice reminder letter telling me that I han't sent it.
On the little slip where you are supposed to say how much you are sending I wrote: "I am not sending any more money to the DNC until you guys take Feingold's centure resolution seriously and quit trying to change the subject every time you can. We the base are not just an ATM machine. Dean was a step in the right direction, but it obviously is not enough."
paida |
03.26.06 - 8:28 am | #
I was considering contributing to the DNC because it is run by Howard Dean, and he is building the 50-state strategy and he seems to be loathed by the DLC Democrats. I'm not sure that it is wise to conflate the DCCC with the DNC, necassarily. I'd like some feedback on this as I'm holding a contribution/survey form right now. Thanks.
Summerfield |
03.26.06 - 8:49 am | #
RevDeb, Selise,
I work in Govt Center and would gladly participate in the next visit.
rcman |
03.26.06 - 9:15 am | #
Summerfield,
Yes there is a difference between the DNC (run by Dean) and the DCCC (run by Emanuel) and DSCC (run by Schumer). Personally I'm sticking with giving to candidates through the blogs and ActBlue. I've even stopped giving to Emily's list after Melissa Bean—to whom I had given—turned out to be such a tool.
rcman,
you can e-mail me at blog4choice at comcast dot net and we will keep you in the loop. I will then contact you via another e-mail address. Glad to have you join us whenever the next one comes up.
RevDeb |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 10:04 am | #
Brattleboro, Vermont voted at Town Meeting on Saturday to ask Vermont Congressional reps to start impeachment proceedings against George Bush.
Quite a discussion. The original, strongly worded article was simplified and, after debate, passed.
People, not politicians, will make things change.
mooseguy |
03.26.06 - 10:20 am | #
The slogan "Together, we can do better" just sounds timid and mealy-mouthed to me. Let's come up with something better. How about:
COMPETENCE FOR A CHANGE
Let's Get It Right
Vote Democratic
You can tell the Republicans worry about the competence issue by the way Cheney is trying to pre-empt it .
pattyk |
03.26.06 - 11:02 am | #
rev,
i'd make the appt. and go meet w/kerry's people.
and while there, i'd bust their chops big time about not letting walk-in constituents meet w/staff members.
remind them you are paying their salaries, and you are the sen. employer.
make them sweat.
skippy |
Homepage |
03.26.06 - 11:12 am | #
Summerfeild: The consensus around here generally seems to be DNC favorable with Dean at the helm.
Pachacutec |
03.26.06 - 11:47 am | #
Send back DNC donation requests back empty. ... The DNC does nothing for the public interest...so they get nothing in return.
Mary H |
03.26.06 - 12:49 pm | #
rcman - great! i hope to get to meet you next week for another visit to our senator's office. RevDeb posted her email above, and mine is selise at speakeasy dot net.
selise |
03.26.06 - 1:16 pm | #
You are wasting time on John Kerry. He does not care, and he hasn't for a long, long time.
Stephen |
03.26.06 - 1:23 pm | #
