Apology

• I am sorry I dropped the ball on day one.
• I am sorry I messed up big time on February 7 and acted a major league jerk.
  
• I am sorry I did not apologize much earlier.
• I am sorry for a few other things in between.
  

To: Justin Krebs
Cc: Elizabeth Caputo

On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 9:50 AM, Paramendra Bhagat wrote:
> It was so good to be back at Rudy's after months. I am so excited you
> will now soon be in all 50 states. I have been to 48: beat me.
>
> You know, if I were to get active with DL21C, I'd want DL21C and DL
> chapters in all 50 states, in the biggest city in every state.
>
> I have a big favor to ask you. I am on a rough patch with Elizabeth, I
> have been since I acted like a major league jerk on February 7. I
> guess I also want to apologize for dropping the ball on day one, and
> for a few other things/times in between, but I really want to
> apologize for February 7 in person. I messed up big.
> http://democracyforum.blogspot.com/2008/05/looking-at-white-women-search-for.html
>
> You likely are not in any position to do anything about anything. We
> all know she has her own mind. But if you will help normalize things
> between us, I will remember you until the last dog dies.
>
> A good thing to do might be to work hard and sell a ticket to your
> Saturday event to her. That way you don't have to mention me.
>
> http://www.livingliberally.org/5.10.08/
>
> I am coming. And I would like to buy my ticket at the door. $100.
>
> Thanks, and god bless the Liberals of the world. You know you are a
> Liberal when you be sipping. A pitcher and a half last night, I puked
> on the train, puke is still on my shoes, missed my stop, then missed a
> train back at an outdoors stop, finally made it. I live to see another
> day. That is the Living Liberally way.
>
On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 6:59 PM, Paramendra Bhagat wrote:
> http://democracyforum.blogspot.com/2008/05/caputo-closure.html
>
> Elizabeth. Do you think we can grab coffee some time? I am asking you out.
>

Looking At White Women: The Search For Vocabulary
Louisiana Senator Event: Crime Scene
Caputo: Closure?
Brooklyn Is Africa, Queens Asia, Bronx Latin America, Manhattan Is Europe
April 29: Arianna
Gender Talk: Coming At It From The Future
Skyward Bound
Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal (2)
Sexism Bothers Me Directly
How to Tame a Free Spirit
Nobel Peace Prize 2008: Making A Case For Nepal
Nepal Votes
I Am Different

Apology. Closure?

On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Paramendra Bhagat wrote:
> Earthen Oven (Indian)
> 53 West 72 St
> (at Columbus Ave)
> New York, NY 10023
> Ph: 212-579-8888
> Hours:
> Lunch11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
> Dinner5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
>
> I hope you received the yellow roses and the apology card left with
> the receptionist on Sunday. I was wondering if you
> would like to do dinner with me Tuesday evening. If yes, would you
> like to suggest a time?
>
> http://democracyforum.blogspot.com/2008/05/apology.html
>

In The News

Obama Adds Seven Superdelegates, Closing on Clinton (Update3) Bloomberg has almost drawn even with his rival in endorsements from the party officials and lawmakers. ...... Clinton, a New York senator, has 274.5 to Obama's 271 .... Obama has gained three times as many superdelegates as Clinton since the March 4 round of election contests.

Hopes for dream ticket as Obama praises Clinton Sydney Morning Herald, Australia While Democrats savoured the prospect of an Obama-Clinton dream ticket, Republicans were squirming over suggestions that Senator McCain was involved in a dodgy property deal and did not vote for George Bush in 2000.

Maoist leaders confer with Terai-based parties NepalNews
Over 500 protesting Tibetans arrested
Analysing the CA Poll Results
Indecision mars meetings of NC, UML central bodies

PM directs Home Minister to find out Anandi Devi's whereabouts Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has instructed Home Minister Krishna Situala to mobilise the police force to find out the whereabouts of Anandi Devi Singh, the chairperson of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), who was "forcefully taken away" from her residence in Jadibuti, Bhaktapur, allegedly by industry minister Shayam Sundar Gupta a week ago.

Obama lightens up after a good week Reuters
Clinton goes from inevitable nominee to on the ropes The Associated Press
Myanmar Junta Still Blocking Much Cyclone Aid New York Times
Obama Overtakes Clinton in Race for Superdelegates (Update3) Bloomberg
Obama campaign chief sees end of nomination fight Washington Post
Dodd: Obama, Clinton ticket not likely CNN
Clinton may be angling for VP nod: biographer CTV.ca
Bill Clinton Promises No Matter the Outcome, His Family Will Stand ... ABC News
A quick Clinton exit wouldn't help Obama Los Angeles Times

Liberal Guy Justin Krebs Is A Poet

Barackface: Facebook And Drinking Liberally
Barackface: Drinking Liberally
Barackface: Liberally Tipsy
Barackface: Iraq Movie, Liberally, But Not Drinking
Barackface: DFNYC, Drinking Liberally, DL21C, Cosmopolity
Barackface: Laughing Liberally Brings The House Down December 30
Barackface: Drinking Liberally: Session X
Barackface: Murderball
Barackface: Justin Krebs

I showed up last night at Rudy's to express solidarity. I had my button from home: first time I did not forget to forget.

You are a Liberal, if you be sipping. A pitcher and a half, I puked on the train, missed my stop, then missed the train back at an outdoors stop, finally made it. Puke was all over the shoes, I saw in the morning. Puke was on my pants. You go to Drinking Liberally and party like a rock star.

I have met Justin Krebs a few times. I have a feeling he might be a Liberal.

By the way, there is a wonderful Liberal event on Saturday. Chinatown is where the action is. I am going. $100.

We're kicking off the festivities on May 10th in New York City with our 2nd Annual Living Liberally Celebration & Fundraiser. Last year's event raised the revenue that hired our first fulltime staff enabling us to increase our reach, expand the Eating, Screening, Laughing, Reading, Crafting Liberally networks, grow our online presence and become a better partner to the progressive movement.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

The Media Has a Thing for Gray-Haired Men

The media ignores Obama's statements,
on the under-reported Pentagon pundit scandal,
but obsesses on every word from Reverend Wright.

The press passes over Clinton's comments
on the defeat of the Senate Fair Pay bill
but tracks each off-note of husband Bill.

And while McCain proposes bad health policy,
remarks that women don't need equal pay rights
& breaks his own campaign finance promises,
fawning fanboy journalists give him a free ride.

What's the obsession with these three?
Rev Wright...Bill Clinton...John McCain...

The media just has a thing for gray-haired men.

Sorry Barack & Hillary...we can't hear you
over all the old guys in the way.
...Just leave politics to Daddy for now.

Share a toast, a vent, a prediction & a night
with lefties of all age, gender & hair color
at your local progressive social club.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Taking the "50-State Strategy" Really Literally

In February, states split, votes were close
& "Super Tuesday" turned out to be
"Just Another Tuesday."

In March, we were promised that Texas
would be someone's "last stand" at the Alamo,
but in the end, the night didn't produce a Lone Star.

And this week, the Primary in the Keystone State
ended up more of a Secondary concern,
and was definitely not a keystone moment.

Howard Dean took over the Democrats
promising a 50-State Strategy...

Obama & Clinton are just taking him really literally.

Raise your primary issues while raising a glass
and be part of our own 50-Bar Strategy
by joining like-minded lefties for a libation
at your local progressive social club.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Maybe the Media's Just Bored

TV "news" re-plays Jeremiah Wright's comments
more than General Petraeus's testimony...
which one's in charge of the war again?

The press wonders which of three candidates --
all with the wealth & status to run for Prez --
is most in touch with "the common person"...
but doesn't talk much about their plans
to solve the "common person's" housing crisis.

In the first debate in 7 weeks,
the moderators get around to Iraq
...only after important issues like lapel pins.

Maybe the media's run out of things to say,
maybe "issues" get in the way of their gossip,
...or maybe the media's just bored.

The media & pundits would get re-engaged
if only there were a corps of informed pros
who'd talk to them & the public about the race
in an exciting and intelligent way...if only...

Find informed excitement about the election
as you share ideas & share a few pints
at your local progressive social club.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

John McCain's No Charlton Heston

In Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston played a man
imprisoned by forces of theocracy, ignorance & fear.
In the 2008 election, John McCain plays a man
ignorantly courting theocrats & fear-mongers.

In Ben-Hur, Heston challenged
the rule of imperial occupation.
McCain wants to be an occupying empire.

Heston once led the Jews out of Egypt.
McCain wants to lead us all into Iran.

Not only would Heston's roles have
beaten McCain by chariot, drowned him in the Sea
and called him a damn dirty ape for good measure
...they also would have voted against him.

And while he may've been an gun-loving old man,
at least Heston marched for civil rights
...decades before McCain opposed MLK Day.

McCain should learn by watching a few more films
...he'll have plenty of time starting early November.

Take an exodus from the every day
& follow an 11th Commandment: Drink Liberally
at your local progressive social club.

In The News

Myanmar Turns Back Foreign Aid Workers New York Times
McCain girding for battle with Obama Reuters
Obama Seeks To Unify Party For November Washington Post behind the scenes, his campaign worked with a light touch to win over uncommitted superdelegates and allies of Clinton, mindful of not appearing overconfident and of the fact that they would need the backing of the candidate, her husband and their supporters in the fall. ........ With numerous prominent Democrats believed to be waiting in the wings to endorse his candidacy ...... as early as May 20, when Kentucky and Oregon vote ..... "I think they respect the process, they respect Senator Clinton and myself." ...... touting poll numbers suggesting that Clinton would be a stronger nominee in key states such as Florida and Ohio. "Some people don't agree, but most people respect the argument," said Steve Grossman, a member of Clinton's national finance team. ...... Clinton argued that the coalition of voters backing her would make her more viable .... she repeatedly referred to her appeal among "hardworking Americans," including "Catholic voters, Hispanic voters, blue-collar voters and seniors -- the kind of people who Senator McCain will be fighting for in the general election." She did not repeat the term "white voters" ....... McCain was "losing his bearings" ...... a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue ...... two major grass-roots programs. "Vote for Change," a voter registration drive aimed at signing up millions of Democrats over the next six months, will begin tomorrow with 100 events in all 50 states. An army of "Organizing Fellows" is also being recruited -- full-time volunteers who will be deployed to swing states. ..... Obama spent the day in Washington courting uncommitted lawmakers. Former senator Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.), who helped organize the one-on-one and small-group sessions, said Obama is in striking distance of overtaking Clinton in superdelegate support, and may hit that mark in the next few days. ...... "The writing is on the wall. They think he's the nominee, so there's no reason to rush," said one prominent uncommitted Democrat, referring to other lawmakers in the same situation. "Then you don't have to offend anybody. The voters will issue their verdict soon enough." ..... Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) said she will continue to "contemplate things" over the next few weeks. .... Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) said she spoke with Clinton by phone for 15 minutes yesterday morning, with Clinton doing most of the talking and sounding "very collected" in her determination to stay in the race. "She doesn't believe it's time," Feinstein said, adding that Clinton feels a bond with those who have supported her and does not want to let them down.
Why Barack Obama fears an immediate halt to Hillary Clinton's campaign Los Angeles Times "The Democratic race now moves to West Virginia," Jay Leno noted during his monologue Thursday night on "The Tonight Show." "Today, Hillary Clinton claimed she always wanted to be a coal miner. But those dreams were dashed when she was forced to attend Wellesley and Yale." ...... At a fundraiser in Washington's Union Station last night with cheese and crackers and fruits for a minimum $1,000, he told supporters, "The nomination doesn't take place in August -- it takes place until August."
Hezbollah routs pro-government gunmen; controls Beirut Washington Post
Victory In Two Weeks, Obama Says National Post
US elections: Barack Obama to declare victory Telegraph.co.uk
McCain Toasts Clinton, Obama TIME
Clinton: Playing the race card? MSNBC
What went wrong for Clinton? AFP
Clinton dismisses calls to drop out Detroit Free Press
Painful period for Clinton campaign MSNBC I could not find an objective Democrat who did not think the race was over ....... I think it’s a painful period for the Clinton campaign. She has fought a very energetic race, but the math just isn’t there. ....... Hillary Clinton said, “Whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me and in independents I was running even with him and doing even better with Democratic-leaning independents I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on.” ........ It’s unusual for a candidate to be using words like “whites.” ...... John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan and former President George Bush. ....... Sen. Chris Dodd, a former DNC chairman who supports Barack Obama and Terry McAuliffe who supports Hillary Clinton.
Clinton, Obama hesitate to build "Dream Ticket" Newsday chatter of a joint ticket with Obama on the top was making the rounds of Democratic power circles, the media and in the two campaigns themselves. ........ top Clinton aides were eager to discuss a peace treaty contingent on the joint ticket. ....... neither candidate may have a choice ..... Harold Ford, head of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council ...... the difficulties of Hillary Clinton playing second banana - and her husband playing third. ...... She's a true Democratic star, one of the world's most famous women. ...... They would reunify two halves of a party split by a divisive primary. ..... It wouldn't be change vs. experience, it would be change and experience.

What's Taboo for Senator Obama? ABC News The competitive senator quickly got into the game, cheering on staff members, handing out high fives to his team, and checking the score religiously after each turn........ jokingly suggesting he'd cut off access to the reporter acting as his Taboo referee. .... While Obama was trying to get his staff to guess the word "revolution" he said, "Thomas Jefferson called for this every now and then." ..... One reporter, trying to get the team to guess the word "California," used Senator Obama as an example, "This is where Senator Obama said his bitter comments" ....... the Obama campaign beat the press in two games, (25-17, and 20-18). ...... "And you guys are the wordsmiths?" Obama said ribbing the press for their poor showing as he returned to his cabin at the front of the plane.

Obama signaling a VP slot for Hillary? Hot Air, USA Obama’s generous description of Hillary to Wolf Blitzer ..... the biggest signal yet that they’re prepared to cut a deal ...... Clinton is no longer realistically capable of overtaking him, and the US media were yesterday treating him as the presumptive Democratic nominee. ...... “There’s no doubt that she’s qualified to be vice-president; there’s no doubt she’s qualified to be president,” he said. .... “She is tireless, she is smart. She is capable. And so obviously she’d be on anybody’s shortlist to be a potential vice-presidential candidate,” he said. ..... the Democrats don’t have many high-profile options for a Barack Obama running mate, anyway.

Superdelegates shifting toward Obama Christian Science Monitor, USA Obama will soon overtake Senator Clinton on this final frontier, a tipping point that could encourage a cascade of endorsements from holdouts and all but seal the nomination for the Illinois senator. Even so, some superdelegates say they are content to wait out the remaining six contests before placing their bets. ........ the number of undeclared superdelegates – 265 ....... "I want to talk to Senator Clinton. I'd like to know what her strategy is," says Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California. "She's my friend and I'm loyal. On the other hand, I don't want to rend the party asunder and so I think in this one the key is really in the strategy and whether the strategy is workable." ........ assurances from her aides that she would not let the nomination fight go all the way to the national convention in August. ....... a final month of hard campaigning ....... "I have been neutral, and out of respect for my supporters, half of whom are for Senator Clinton and half of whom are for Senator Obama, I'm going to stay that way," Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat facing a tough reelection battle ...... Obama needs 178 more delegates for the nomination .... Obama took his quest for superdelegates directly to the Capitol late Thursday morning, striding onto the House floor in the middle of a vote and chatting up uncommitted lawmakers.

Looking At White Women: The Search For Vocabulary

These are observations made from Nepal to Kentucky to Indiana to New York City and a few places in between. I hope it feels more on the light side.

First the obvious stuff. I believe in love. I am happy for everyone who can find love. Love is hard to find. Communication is hard enough when people are actually talking. People can go through large tracts of life without feeling the love. Some people go through an entire life without feeling it.

Why two people hook up, only they know. They don't have to explain it to any third person. A relationship is a private thing at the core of it.

But relationships are not islands, and if they are, they float in the social seas.

There is the personal perspective: individuals unique as snowflakes create relationships unique as snowflakes. There is the social perspective: you might still pick the person but society decides who is in the room.

There are short term relationships, there are long term ones, and there are those that last forever.

But here I am going to talk about the cross-cultural, inter-racial stuff. This is really interesting to me because more than 99% of the Nepalis in America are not my ethnicity, and more than 99% of the Indians are not my ethnicity. And there are so very few Nepalis and Indians as it is. And I have a sharply defined individualism, I am big on personal space, and so, all else equal, I think I'd rather go mix. In my world, you start with the person.

But if 99% of the people stick to their own kind, it must be that they make the big decision before they make the small decision. The big decision is to make sure the other person is the same particular cultural, religious, ethnic, racial background as you. And then you make the small decision of looking for shared interests, shared passions. That is my social observation.

My big thing to look for is political consciousness level. The average white person is racist. The average brown person is its mirror image: an internalized racist. In my personal space, I can only entertain the post-ISMs individual types.

But while you go out and about, you meet characters. A lot of them look like white male matter, but not always.

Border Patrol

This is when you might just be looking. Say you just started a conversation with a white woman. The border patrol guy feels a strong urge to verbally slap one or the other or both.

Bodyguard

When you mistake a Ms. 99% for a Ms 1% and hit on her, she knows exactly how to get that intense sense of white belonging. All she has to do is beckon the bodyguard. He will reprimand you.

The Matchmaker

The matchmaker is not really a matchmaker, but rather a bodyguard or border patrol guy, but his ways are different, rather the opposite. Instead of suggesting don't be looking at the white woman, the matchmaker will invade your space and try to hook you up, or invade space to try and "enhance" the relationship. What he is really doing is he is messing things up. The end result is the same as when the border patrol guy might go to work. The matchmaker's goal also is to prevent.

The Why Not Me Guy

You start talking to a white woman, and especially if the why not me guy knows the white woman, the why not me guy will step in. I thought you were taking time off, but if you are looking for a man, I am a man too, why not look at me instead? Why are you talking to this guy? The implication is why look at a nonwhite guy when a white guy is around. The why not me guy is really a border patrol guy, because obviously if the white woman had been into him, she would have talked to him first.

The Why Not Me Gal

Oh, so you are into white women? I am a white woman too. That is the thinking. And some totally random, perhaps unattractive white woman will start hitting on you for no reason other than that she saw you talk to another white woman who perhaps you were interested in.

The why not me gal is the female version of the why not me guy who thinks as long as there are white men available, why is the white woman looking elsewhere?

The Priest

That is usually some white guy with some authority, some social standing, some prestige, some popularity, he is usually older, so he is not exactly romantic competition and is not trying to be, but if the white woman be weak enough, she will fall for him, as in she will fall for the fear, confusion and doubt that he will sow in her mind. She will step back.

Pedestrians

These are the roomful of Mr. and Ms. 99%s. To them the Mr. and Ms. 1% are people from another planet. They are people who have crossed the line.

The pedestrians treat their value system like they treat gravity: it is just there, everyone knows it. If they were strong, they would be more open-minded, so they don't bother the Mr. and Ms. 1%s with backbone, but subject the lesser souls to occasional social indignity.

Ms. Quantum Particle

The Ms. 99% value system goes one way, the Ms. 1% value system goes a different way. It is hard for water to become steam: energy is required. So when the energy level goes down, the steam falls back into the pot as water. It is not unusual for someone to act like Ms. 1% some of the time, and Ms. 99% the rest of the time. It is not possible for Ms. 99% to have ever liked you, but Ms. 1% might have taken a look. The pedestrians shower enormous love on the Ms. 1%s who might finally have found her way and come back into the pot. She is like, wow, this is the love I was missing.

Mr. Right, Ms. Right

More and more people are going inter-racial, cross-cultural. That is the growing trend. Once the right person is found, many of these issues go away in that both recognize it as just another relationship challenge.

Maybe you just not have found the right person yet, it is not about race.

The right person will try and fathom the challenges that come not just with your individual identity but also your collective identity.

How To Handle

Define and claim your space. Communicate well with the person of interest. Once in a while it is okay to issue a verbal slap back of your own. You will be amazed by how well it works.

Perspective

Realize that it is not all about race. If someone rejects you for your race, they just made your task easy. That is NOT the right person for you. Next. But if you have found the right person from a different background, talk about race like you will talk about other relationship issues like contraception perhaps. Communication is the lifeblood.

In The News

GOP Leaders Warn Of Election Disaster CBS News
Newt Gingrich sees the GOP facing deep political peril Los Angeles Times what happened in Louisiana last Saturday. ..... in a special election, a Democrat captured a House seat that had been in the Republican column for more than 30 years ...... unless his party heeds his call, it is "going to suffer decisive losses this November." ........ This defeat follows on the loss of Speaker Hastert's seat in Illinois. That seat had been held by a Republican for 76 years with the single exception of the 1974 Watergate election when the Democrats held it for one term. That same seat had been carried by President Bush 55-44% in 2004. ....... has been below 40% job approval since December 2006, the longest such period for any president in the history of polling ........ a full 81 percent of Americans believe the economy is on the wrong track. ......... a sign of how much McCain is a non-traditional Republican that he is sustaining his personal popularity despite his party's collapse. ......... Americans now believe that Democrats can handle the deficit better (52 to 31), taxes better (48 to 40) and even terrorism better (44 to 37). ........ This is a catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans built up over three generations on the deficit, two generations on taxes, and two generations on national security. ....... If we implemented a space-based GPS-style air traffic system we would get 40% more air travel with one-half the bureaucrats. The union has stopped 200,000,000 passengers from enjoying more reliable air travel to protect 7,000 obsolete jobs.
Most Labour supporters want Brown to quit: poll AFP
China-India Rivalry Possible in African Telecom Deal New York Times
Google in driver's seat after Microsoft-Yahoo bust Reuters
Gates says Microsoft to pursue 'independent strategy' Financial Post
WiMax: The dream Internet is coming Chicago Tribune
‘I’m not being paid to blog’: Bachchan Mid-Day Mumbai the self-confessed not-net-savvy Big B has been pouring out his thoughts daily on bigadda.com
Big B's website to be ready soon Press Trust of India Amitabh Bachchan, who has taken to blogging in a big way
Thurman’s Pursuer Is Found Guilty New York Times
Jury in New York City convicts fan of stalking Uma Thurman The Associated Press

McGovern, former Clinton backer, endorses Obama Washington Post
Pundits Declare the Race Over New York Times
Nepal's king to keep royal rights at Indian Hindu temple The Associated Press
India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable, Surface-to-Surface Missile Bloomberg
Russia's Medvedev takes power, pledges freedom Reuters
Aid arriving in cyclone-hit Burma BBC News
Burmese prisoners 'executed after cyclone hit' Telegraph.co.uk
Burma death toll 'likely to hit 80000' ABC Online
Time for Clinton To Quit? Washington Post
Clinton's dream all but over Sydney Morning Herald
Obama, Clinton each get a win, but his delegate lead widens Christian Science Monitor
Obama Campaign Cites Delegate Math; Touts "Clear Path" To Nomination AHN
Republicans Give Mixed Reasons for Obama Votes Washington Post
Exclusive: Hillary will make Indo-US ties stronger Rediff
Clinton sets new finish line for Democratic nomination AFP Clinton insisted that the Michigan and Florida presidential primaries, which were voided over an internal party row, must be reinstated ..... "It's 2209," she said

Obama in striking distance of nomination as Clinton loans herself ... Hindu, India a decisive win in North Carolina and a near miss in Indiana ..... prolonged contest appeared to be nearing its climax, with Obama, a 46-year-old first-term senator, now less than 200 delegates short ...... West Virginia next week, followed by Kentucky and Oregon. ..... she had again loaned herself money, this time $6.4 million (euro4.12 million) in the past month. ..... Clinton had loaned herself $5 million in January. ...... it was time for the 270 remaining unaligned superdelegates _ party officials who are free to vote as they chose _ to take sides and settle the race. ........ Obama winning 56 percent of the vote to Clinton's 42 percent ...... In Indiana, she eked out a win with a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent ..... his delegate total reached 1,840.5 .... only 217 delegates at stake in the remaining contests ...... The protracted and often bitter nature of the race has hardened divisions in the party, according to exit polls from the two states. A solid majority of each candidate's supporters said they would not be satisfied if the other candidate wins the nomination. ....... Fully one-third of Clinton's supporters in Indiana and North Carolina went beyond mere dissatisfaction to say they would vote for McCain instead of Obama if that is the choice in the fall. ....... In both states, Clinton won six in 10 white votes while Obama got nine in 10 black votes ..... West Virginia, with 28 delegates on May 13; Oregon with 52 and Kentucky with 51 a week later; Puerto Rico with 55 delegates on June 1, and Montana with 16 and South Dakota with 15 on June 3.

Obama wins most delegates in Tuesday's primaries The Associated Press just 184.5 delegates shy ...... Obama has a 167-delegate lead among pledged delegates. ..... Clinton leads in superdelegate endorsements, 270.5 to 256, though Obama has been chipping away

Louisiana Senator Event: Crime Scene

What Dan Berger did at the Louisiana Senator event counts for a crime scene: Crime Scenes.

Starting from the summer bash to the Washington governor event, I received Caputo overtures. But the reason I dropped the ball each time was because I was still having to deal with the trigger from "Don't touch me!" It was akin to a medical condition. I was surprised with my own reaction. My attitude was, I have expressed my like. If you don't like me, you don't like me, I go to just experiencing events. But if you like me, what will you do? Will you tell me you do? Will you ask me out? If email and phone don't work for you, if you are a face time person, you want to go ahead and do the face time thing? To be honest, the idea of starting out into a relationship at a political event I found almost disgusting. I am like, I am in a room each time with people who are Mr. and Ms. 99%s. My attitude was step one has to be email, exchange of numbers, then talk on phone, then arranging to meet one on one, and so on. Step two did not happen, so I guess there is nothing going on.

The same with getting involved with DL21C. All the political organizations in Manhattan are into what looks to me like the Windows 95 version of group dynamics. There is too much dead wood on the DL21C steering committee. If you can not order the deaths of 100,000 people, you are not qualified to be president. I hope we evolve as humanity to down the line no longer needing to do that, but right now where we are at is where we are at. Before that, if you can not destroy jobs, careers, companies, industries, markets in capitalism's creative destructions, you are not going far in business. And before that DL21C has to evolve to become a place not just for hobbyists but primarily for people who are trying to make serious political career moves.

Step one, I need to really study this organization. Step two, I need to come up with a position paper saying let's take this organization through a rebirth. Step three, implement. But if the organization has no desire to grow like that, going to sit on the steering committee would be like becoming a member of the House of Lords. Not interested. I will die a slow death. I need my killer instincts intact.

John Scully booted Steve Jobs out of Apple. Dan Berger has managed to boot me out of DL21C. 1984, de ja vu.

The Berger crime scene from the Louisiana Senator event cost me the Holiday party overtures and the December Baby party conversation. I am like, I need to achieve a clinical understanding of what happened before I can talk about you and me. I want a timeframe analysis. I want to talk about what was said and what was meant. (Confronting My Own Demons)

Caputo is 5.0, I am 2.0. Her attitude is, we will talk in person, you will join my organization, we will meet and talk at events and meetings, you will get my number no sweat, and somewhere along the way we will hook up. Nothing wrong with that except back then I was doing urgent work for Nepal. I feared if I ventured too much into 5.0, I will become less good at 2.0. (Madhesi Movement Victory In Nepal) Now when I am ready for 5.0, like during and before 1989, like during my freshman year at college, Caputo is caput. She has been deeply, deeply angry for months now. And I know the reason why.

Planned Parenthood: A Different Kind Of Event

Some of the things I said about the February 7 event was her own gender trigger. I had my KY/IN trigger, my "Don't touch me!" trigger, my mandatory coat check trigger. Those were ethnicity and race triggers. Me talking suggestive about her and her Hispanic dude friend was a huge gender trigger for her. She was like, I don't know this guy any more. Come to think of it, I did nothing different from what she did at the Washington governor event when she whisked the two women away, one was Jennifer, who she had strategically planted on the street around 6 PM of the recent Arianna event, her and the book publisher white guy at the door - a charm him if you want to open the door challenge, placed on purpose - and another was the woman who delivered the event-has-not-started-yet message at Bombay Palace: that day the female Dan Berger, so glad to be of relevance to Ms. Caputo. "Mr. Singh!" she said in some agitation. At Bombay Palace I had a drink downstairs like I had a drink downstairs at the Zipper Factory. That was me saying I know when you walked away from me. I have no mystery woman to deliver my message, but I got me, and the Bombay Palace bartender.

How to Tame a Free Spirit

From "I don't like you, never did, nothing happened on day one" to "I have not liked you before" is progress. What does one do next? Does one go ahead and renew one's friendship with Justin Krebs? It is getting warmer, give me some free beer.

At the Irish Rogue, I talked to Carolyn during a debate break. When the debate started again, I grabbed her shoulder to try to turn her around so we would end the talk and go back to the debate.

At the subsequent Washington governor event, Caputo came to stand behind me, and she had Carolyn placed strategically next to me. So the two of you like to ask questions? That was three strikes on one day: Carolyn, Jennifer and the Bombay Palace woman.

JFK was practically a disabled. He had to take much medicine every day. His back never stopped hurting. He injected chemicals into his thigh every day. A close friend once watched him do it and said, "Jack, you make it look like that needle does not hurt at all." Jack lunged and pierced that needle into that friend's thigh. The friend shrieked in pain. "That is how it feels every single time," Jack Kennedy said.

I am like, if you like me, all you have to do is tell me and I am all yours. But you are a sexist woman living on a sexist planet. You will throw hints and punish me for not taking the hints. I sent an angry email that evening claiming my rise in American politics has been faster than Barack Obama himself, I just started this year. And I sent links to when a few times Obama 08 had taken advice from me.

Soon after Bobby got elected in Louisiana. Caputo's Louisiana Senator event was a response to that. He can do it there, you can do it here. Or what? The swankiest venue of any DL21C event I had ever been to. Why?

I was greeted by "You are already a member." I am thinking, I must have paid enough money seven bucks at a time. I must have paid over 50 bucks by now. So I guess I save seven bucks today. That is like getting free beer for that day. Not a bad idea at all, not a bad idea.

What was the crime scene?

I asked the Senator a question. You talk of trying to get a 60 strong majority in the Senate, how possible is that you think? This beautiful Southern gal looked at me and was pleased to see a beautiful Indian guy who was not on the other side like Bobby. She answered the question and almost helplessly said "Elizabeth!" She is like, I don't know who this guy is but he belongs with Elizabeth. Elizabeth happened to be standing not far from me. I looked in her direction. She looked in my direction, but to the ground. I remember thinking, I wish the two of us could just talk.

I think this is the scene that started the Berger tirade not long after.

The event almost over, Dan Berger came over to me out of the blue and said "Can I talk you for a second?" He did not wait for my answer, just walked away into a corner. I should have plain ignored him. Instead I am thinking, sure, why not. So I went into that corner. The rest of the room could not see us, but could hear us if we shouted, which he proceeded to do.

I was not expecting what he ended up doing. I thought he was out to share some info. So I looked down to the ground as if to really pay attention, like Bill Clinton looked down when I talked to him. I am all ears, now say. I remember thinking, I got told "You are already a member" at the beginning. Now this guy will try to figure out ways I could get involved with the organization. That is not what he had in mind at all.

"What's up with Elizabeth?" he demanded to know. "You are just going to stop!" At the time I just heard yelling. I could not believe it. I am like, I don't believe this idiot. There is a US Senator in attendance, and he is yelling at the top of his lungs.

Now I think two things. One, when Sam Walton was in the early stages of growing his Walmart, one day two suits from an established retailer in some big city showed up and said something like that: "Stop!" And just walked away. Two, this guy is trying desperately to be white male matter. He saw signs of brown male matter and white woman matter looking in each other's direction prodded by a major white woman matter, and his worst fears came alive, his worldview turned upside down. And he burst.

His confidence grew. "Look at me! Look at me!" he demanded. I has just about had it. I am like, this little nobody motherfucker, white trash piece of shit, dead end job nobody asshole, dimwit dumbass, can't count to ten jerk.

I looked at him. "Don't you threaten me!" he yelled. As I said, all I heard was yelling. I was not following the logic of the conversation. There was no logic, there was no conversation.

I need to ask. What threatened him? Me now a member of the organization? Is that what? Or me possibly hooking up with Elizabeth? The idea of it? How? But of course those questions were all in retrospect. At the time all I heard was yelling. I had just about had it.

"Let's do it this way," I said. "I don't come to these DL21C events ever again. Would you like that? Now get the fuck out of my face forever!" His anger immediately collapsed. He was outstared, I was no longer taking it, and I think the words were music to his ears. He would like nothing better than if I never again showed up for these events.

He walked away. I went back into the room. I think the room was silent. I was so embarrassed. I am thinking, I can't believe this. This motherfucking suicide bomber just disrespected a US Senator in a major way. You might be a US Senator but you are a woman. Worse, you are a woman who looked at a brown guy and said "Elizabeth!"

I was angry, I was not seeing straight. I felt very out of place. I am like, I want out of here, now. From where I was standing, I could see a door. I am like, that might be the quickest door out. In my anger I did not see that it was a fire escape. I did not plot to set off the fire alarm. I don't much care for Dan Berger, but I sure would not have done that to Senator Mary. I was looking up and walking straight. I pushed the door open. The fire alarm went off. I am like, shit. I don't believe this. But I also realized there was nothing I could do. The best thing was to keep walking.

Out on the street, I called up a fellow Madhesi in Ridgewood. I called up another Madhesi in Chicago. I was shaken. What just happened? This was before the Madhesi Revolution in February, this was before Obama's January and February successes, this was before Adam had gone ahead and raised round one money for the startup, this was before he had even come along full fledged as a team member. I was walking on thin ice, and some dumbass motherfucker just hit me on the head.

This was Mitt Romney behavior on Berger's part. The ugliest things I have heard about black people have come out of some Nepali mouths in Queens. If you think about it, white is not a language, white is not a culture, white is not a religion. White has been a political coalition of excluding nonwhites. So guys like Dan Berger who don't exactly feel white among whites do what some of those Nepalis do. If you can talk racist, you become white, that is the thinking. Mitt Romney mistook Obama for Osama, on grand purpose.

I had not liked or disliked Berger before the stupid Facebook wall flap. He was just a guy who signed you into events. The first time I ever talked to him I think was at the NYU event where I was enjoying his existence by teasing him about Hillary. So if Hillary becomes president, does Rangel become Senator? He really liked that, he blushed, then suggested Elizabeth does political work with him because she has to go to Spitzer events. No Spitzer, no Berger, yes Spitzer, yes Berger.

Then he is like, you must be hot, Elizabeth Caputo came over to stand next to you. He felt like he was floating in air.

So at the swanky venue this guy is offended. Now that there is an Indian governor in the country, does the Caputo attention shift from Berger to Bhagat? Alarm bells ringing.

That evening I blogged. I angrily said I feel the need to rescue Harlem from Charlie Rangel. Barack scheduled a Harlem event. That same day Caputo had a MTA person show up at a DL21C event. Only a few weeks back I had blogged saying if I were to become Mayor of NYC, I would want to get rid of the wheel.

Caputo: Closure?

In The News

Obama damaged by Wright flap: USA Today/Gallup poll Washington Post significantly damaged by the controversy over his former pastor ...... leading Obama 51 percent to 44 percent nationally ..... a CBS News/New York Times survey released on Sunday that had Obama leading Clinton by 12 points. ..... the Wright controversy had raised questions for some voters about Obama's values, credibility and electability. ...... Wright has angered many voters with repeated statements that the September 11 attacks were retribution for U.S. foreign policies and that the U.S. government had a hand in spreading AIDS to harm blacks. Obama has publicly severed ties with Wright. ....... "We've probably taken as many hits as anybody has in this presidential campaign. Senator Clinton has not. John McCain certainly has not, and yet I'm still here and competitive in both North Carolina and Indiana," Obama told CNN...... The USA Today poll said one-third of primary voters were less likely to vote for Obama because of his ties to Wright........ The results also showed the same portion less likely to vote for Clinton, a New York senator, because of her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
Bittersweet nostalgia for Kennedys in Indiana Boston Globe the last great Democratic primary in the Hoosier State -- the triumph of Robert F. Kennedy 40 years ago
Ohio attorney general admits to affair with employee The Associated Press a sexual harassment investigation that brought down three of his aides. ...... Marc Dann apologized to his wife and supporters but insisted he would not step down. He took responsibility for the scandal, saying he was not prepared for the office or to run such a large agency. ....... the office rife with booze, profanity, inappropriate sexual activity, misuse of state vehicles and on-the-job threats involving the Mafia. ......... two 26-year-old staffers ..... Dann, 46, said his affair was consensual and refused to disclose the name of the employee. He said the relationship came during a difficult time in his marriage ..... he has made his political name fighting corruption. ..... The 26-year-old women who accused Gutierrez of harassment — Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout — feel vindicated
Obama edges Clinton in Guam caucus MarketWatch
Fresh hope for Clinton in latest polls RTE.ie
Obama’s Marathon Day FOXNews a round robin of pre-taped morning show interviews at 5:30 in the morning ...... greeted construction workers
Corzine Says Clinton Wins This Week Could Level `Playing Field' Bloomberg 1,741 to 1,607 ..... idea to hold a superdelegate convention to choose the nominee following the last primary contest on June 3. ..... Corzine said that if Obama, 46, defeats Clinton, 60, he would support him ``as fully as I do Senator Clinton right now.''
What's new: Polls split on effect of Wright on Obama USA Today Clinton leads Obama among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents by 7 percentage points, the first time in three months she has been ahead. Two weeks ago, before the controversy over comments by Jeremiah Wright reignited, Obama led by 10 points ........ an overwhelming majority of voters said candidates calling for the suspension of the federal gasoline tax this summer were acting to help themselves politically, rather than to help ordinary Americans ....... "Obama, barring catastrophe, should win North Carolina handily. Clinton is expected, with somewhat less confidence, to win Indiana -- and will likely be forced from the race if she fails to carry the state. ....... (Bill) Clinton has finally discovered a role that suits him. He's become the campaign's self-proclaimed 'ambassador to small-town America,' traveling to places where the mere arrival of his motorcade signals a significant moment in local history, where his charm and affability carry substantial weight among voters." ........ Obama finished with 2,264 votes to Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2,257 votes -- a 7-point difference. Obama won 14 of 21 districts. ....... The two will likely split the 4 pledged delegates that were up for grabs on Guam.
GOP Gleeful at Obama rocky period The Associated Press Obama would essentially limp to the nomination. ...... six months is plenty of time for Obama to bounce back, and they argue it is unrealistic to imagine Obama would have gotten through his first ever rough-and-tumble campaign unscathed.
Stevie Wonder to attend Barack Obama rally in Indianapolis Chicago Tribune
Obama attacks Clinton over Iran BBC News
Hating Hillary Clinton, fun for misogynists left and right The Australian Pennsylvania in which she was leading by 30 per cent a month before. ...... "He's a towering political figure. Of our generation, he's probably the best politician, he's inspiring. And, reporters, white reporters, black reporters, we want to get beyond racism in America. So he was, he was inspiring. The downside, though, is that they hate, hate Hillary Clinton, most of them." ...... "Hillary will eat our babies," one message proclaims. ....... "Wanna See Hillary Run? Throw Rocks At Her", echoing the barbaric practice of stoning women to death. Take to the airwaves in America and more bile pours out; right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh, whose show has 14.5 million listeners, has identified something he called a "testicle lockbox" as an attribute of the New York senator. Is this related, I wonder, to a vagina dentata? Perhaps that's what Clifford May, a former Republican National Committee spokesman, had in mind when he called on Clinton to define herself as "a Vaginal-American". What are they so afraid of? ....... "There's just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing and scary," declared MSNBC host Tucker Carlson. ..... Scary but pathetic, says Limbaugh: "Will America want to watch a woman get older before their eyes on a daily basis?" ..... ageing "makes men look more authoritative, accomplished and distinguished", according to Limbaugh. ....... "This is sociopathic woman-hating," (says) feminist author Robin Morgan. "If it were about Jews, we would recognise it instantly as anti-Semitic propaganda; if about race, as KKK poison. Where is our sense of outrage as citizens, voters, Americans?"

Michelle Obama: Barack has hit boiling point Telegraph.co.uk "I can't let my ego, my anger, my frustration get in the way of the ultimate goal" ........ 56 per cent of voters thought it likely that Obama shares some of his pastor's anti-American views. ....... Obama has addressed the issue very forcefully but he's been thrown off message for a week ....... Last night Mr Obama appeared on course to win the Guam caucuses
Obama says don’t judge him by ex-pastor’s comments Reuters
Whither WiMAX? BusinessWeek
The Silicon Valley triangle: Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft CNET News.com
Why Microsoft covets Yahoo Since 2005, Oracle made more than 40 acquisitions, totaling more than $20 billion. Microsoft, IBM, HP, Sun and Cisco have each made dozens of acquisitions in the same time frame. ....... the consolidators want to be the data center infrastructure providers to the giant Web colonizers--Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL, Ebay, Amazon ..... Google paid $3.1 billion for DoubleClick and Microsoft pick off aQuantive for $6 billion in cash. ...... In the most recent quarter Google has $5.19 billion in revenue from its ad and search business. Microsoft had less than $1 billion for its entire online business, and Yahoo less than $2 billion, including a $401 million gain from its Alibaba investment.
Buffett says risk of financial meltdown has declined MarketWatch
Microsoft poised to increase Yahoo! offer Telegraph.co.uk
Tom Cruise's Mission: Oprah Washington Post Arriving at the movie star's mountaintop mansion near Telluride, Colo., Winfrey gaped at the postcard views and gushed, "I want to weep, it's so beautiful." ...... Cruise said, "It was a moment and it was real" and "I just felt that way. . . . That was just how I felt."