Stephen Views the News 7/19/08

Written by: Stephen Weinstein on Jul 19, 2008 12:51 PM

 http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* Obama and the Iraq war ~ an adult enters the discussion – On Tuesday Barak Obama gave a major speech about Iraq. He said, “George Bush and John McCain don't have a strategy for success in Iraq—they have a strategy for staying in Iraq. They said we couldn't leave when violence was up, they say we can't leave when violence is down. They refuse to press the Iraqis to make tough choices, and they label any timetable to redeploy our troops "surrender," even though we would be turning Iraq over to a sovereign Iraqi government—not to a terrorist enemy. Theirs is an endless focus on tactics inside Iraq, with no consideration of our strategy to face threats beyond Iraq's borders.” A video and text of his speech are at this link.

Who thinks that the withdrawal of American troops should begin?

~ The American people. “The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% of Americans want the troops brought home from Iraq within a year.” Would this number be over 90% if there was a military draft in this country?

~ A Pentagon-sponsored report soon to be released will recommend reducing troop levels from the current 150,000 to 50,000 by the spring of 2009.

Read more

Discuss

Farm Team

Written by: Monica Smith on Jul 19, 2008 9:31 AM

Linked to groups: Rockingham/Strafford DFA, Blog For America

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

The National Journal is on the web, but access is by subscription only, although it's possible to sign up for a trial subscription.  I did, a couple of years ago, and then decided to indulge myself and pay the rather hefty sum to subscribe (if you're not a corporation or group, you can get an individual rate).  I think it's worth it.  Although, to get full value, I find that the weekly issue needs to be read when it arrives, since the information doesn't age very well.  The political arena and all those who are active in it seem to change on a daily basis.

The July 12, 2008 issue featured Barack Obama on the cover and a cover story about the Democrats' ability to govern If He Wins--a title that accurately reflects the speculative ambivalence of the contents.  But what caught my attention was a "report" by Jerry Hagstrom about the import of his visit to North Dakota, which prompted me to pen the following response.

Read more

Discuss

Al Gore: The Challenge

Written by: Susan Rowe on Jul 18, 2008 5:42 PM

Linked to groups: DFA Alternates and Delegates to the Democratic Convention, Democracy for Environmental Awareness, California Draft Gore Ballot Initiative, Blog For America, Netroots Activism!, DFA Blog Network, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group, DFA-Link Organizers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former United States Vice President Al Gore called Thursday (07.17.2008) for a "man on the moon" effort to switch all of the United States of America's electricity production to wind, solar and other carbon-free sources within 10 years.

Discuss

Notes - How to stand out outline

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 3:09 PM

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

(Crossposted at InnermostParts.org)

John Hlinko (of Grassroots Enterprise) teach. I type. You read.

Lessons -
1: Measure, don’t assume

2: Give people what they want

3: Find the multipliers
Find the influential people who can spread to their friends.

What content inspires multipliers?
topical. in the news
emotionally impactful (humor, anger, etc)
cognitive dissonance
Dash of Beavis and Butthead
117 emails - if inbox has 117 emails, and yours is 118, will they read it?
Ignore the “joy sponges” - people who suck the joy out of life

Joy sponges aren’t offended, but think others will be.

4: Get Creative
use a villian
focus on multipliers in specific community

Find creative / funny friends and bounce ideas off each other.
There’s nothing stopping you from using lots of micro-sites and targeting each to a specific audience.

Discuss

I’m not an economist, I am an optimist

Written by: td padgett on Jul 18, 2008 8:41 PM

The President gave a press conference July 15 in which he answered questions about the economy. He discussed the housing market, gas prices, off shore drilling and various budget issues including the Defense appropriations bill. In his speech, he said, " I am not an economist." Finally, the truth...I am shocked he didn't claim executive privilege. Considering some of the statements he made, it may have been better for him to do so.

The following is a direct quote taken from the President's speech.

" It's been a difficult time for many American families who are coping with declining housing values and high gasoline prices. This week my administration took steps to help address both these challenges...To help address challenges in the housing and financial markets, we announced temporary steps to help stabilize them..."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages held in the U.S. They fund about 80% of home purchases and refinancing. They do not hold sub-prime mortgages and they provide liquidity for the U. S. to finance its budget and trade deficits. Freddie Mac has announced it plans to sell off billions in shares because it is struggling.

Indymac, a Southern California Bank and mortgage lender buckled recently. According to U. S. regulators, it is the largest regulated thrift fall and the second largest financial institution to close in U.S. history. Indymac checks are not being honored at other banks and it is under investigation by the FBI. Luckily that is not the fate of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the government has stepped in with a plan to strenghten both lenders by authorizing the Treasury Department temporary authority to buy shares and the aid of monies from the Bank of New York.

Read more

Discuss

Saturday stops from Gerry

Written by: Gerry L on Jul 19, 2008 8:17 AM

Good morning, everyone!

Saturday~

***************round of articles about our domestic ‘issues’

July 19,  2008

Yes We Can

by BOB HERBERT

As I was listening to Al Gore on the telephone, I was thinking: “Uh-oh, the naysayers will have a field day with this one.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/opinion/19herbert.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Read more

Discuss

Howard Dean's Keynote Speech

Written by: Mitch Manzella on Jul 18, 2008 3:06 PM

Linked to groups: DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, NJ for Democracy, Netroots Activism!, NJ for Obama

Hey DFAers, 

Just wanted to let you know that Howard's keynote speech from last night is up on YouTube

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/18/141254/541/733/553550

Discuss

NY Times Reports On What Bloggers Have Been Active On All Along

Written by: Kate Drazner on Jul 18, 2008 1:07 PM

Last week, I posted an interview I did with former KBR worker, Ben Carter, and the reaction I got was huge. Many, many people congratulated Ben on having the courage to face public scrutiny in order to bring the abuses of KBR to the public, and hundreds of you sent an email to DoD Chief Financial Officer, Tina Jonas (or signed the petition to her after she blocked her email address), asking her to cut off funding to KBR until a full public investigation is made into each of their alleged abuses.

I had ended my post with a heads up that the following week (meaning, today) I would be posting a breaking new story from Ben about a lawsuit against the contracting company that has been kept hidden by the Department of Justice. Well, bad news: Ben's story is so hot, it hasn't gotten the legal clearance to go public yet. I have been told to hold out for a few more days on that, so keep your fingers crossed!

One of the reasons I felt so buoyed by all the support shown for Ben is that I had long felt disturbed by both the magnitude of corruption among war contractors and the lack of coverage on the issue in the press.

Read more

Discuss

Election Film: Free For All!

Written by: Dorian Cheah on Jul 18, 2008 12:05 PM

Linked to groups: DFA Santa Monica

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Hello,

I would like to tell you all about the documentary Free For All!, which
takes a close look at election fraud, voter suppression, what really happened play-by-play in Ohio 2004, and provides good ideas for how to prevent a repeat in 2008.

You can download and watch the film for free for a limited time:

http://www.freeforall.tv

I live in Santa Monica, and am considering arranging a screening of this film.  If you are interested in attending, please let me know.  Thanks,

Dorian

http://whocareswhatdorianthinks.blogspot.com

Discuss

At Netroots Nation - Energy Liveblog

Written by: Sahar Massachi on Jul 18, 2008 11:44 AM

Linked to groups: Brandeis University, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20

Yesterday I was at the Open Left caucus:

"You need to set up an enemy as the antithesis of everything  you're for. We at <organization> use CEO's. People go crazy when you even mention CEO's"

There was a discussion on how to talk about energy policy and the environment.

"Our energy policy basically consists of a blank check to Saudi Arabia"

Joe Garcia (candidate for house in Florida) showed up and talked about energy. He impressed me with his grasp of the issues and intelligent/competent demeanor.  He said soemthing along these lines:

"Why haven't we seen our electrical bills quadruple in the lat year? Oil prices did. I'll tell you why: Planning. The electricity companies saw it coming and invested in alternative sources, more coal plants, more nuclear, yes, but also more wind solar etc.

We've known for a long time that oil was going to be scarce. But instead of planning, the 2005 energy bill cut out all incentives for investing in alternatives, etc.  Republicans are great at hobenesian choices - where the outcome is always undesirable-. The real solution is investing in alternatives."

Now I'm at the Energize America panel. Energize America is a community of people who connected through Daily Kos and now think up solutions / ideas / policy on the internet. They're really cool actually. Read on for the liveblog!

Read more

Discuss