Seceding

I just got this wonderful forward in my inbox.

Subject: Letter to Red states from California

Dear Red States,

We're ticked off at the way you've treated California, and we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get Elliot Spitzer. You get Ken Lay.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Opry Land. We get Intel, Mac and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home.

We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazies believe you are people with higher moral standards than we lefties.

Sincerely,

Blue State Member,

P.S AND.............YOU GET KARL ROVE AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO APPARENTLY LIED TO GRAND JURIES IN QUEST OF RIGHT WING IDEOLOGIES. AFTER ALL, TRUTH IS JUST A LIBERAL OBSESSION.

HAVE A HAPPY, EVEN IF SHORT-LIVED,RAPTURE. WE WILL APPRECIATE THE PEACE AND QUIET.

Dumb And Dumberer: Creationist Bush

Nothing puts me off like this easy litmus test. I have zero room for creationists. It is like someone said to a creationist arguing evolution is but a theory, so is gravity, so why don't you fly away!

Of course evolution is but a theory, that is the beauty of it. It is a sound theory that has so far stood the test of time, and is always open to the possibility it might get toppled by some better theory down the line, but that "theory" is not never going to be creationism, because creationism is not a theory, it is religious dogma.

So if God created the world in six days, is it six days or is it seven days? The Muslims say it is seven days, I think. So which is it?

The creationism Bush subscribes to is a religious concept propounded by one specific (of many equally valid) religions, or more accurately a sect within that religion, for many within that same religion do not let their minds get befuddled by the nonsense debate.

Evolution is a scientific theory. And so only another scientific theory trying to make sense of the same set of facts can compete with it. Creationism is not it. And so the two can not be said to compete. There is no debate, at least there is no intelligent debate on the issue.

What gets me though about creationists is that their stance on the issue is a symptom they deep in their hearts do not really have room for religious diversity. That is seriously problematic. And so Bush goes on record saying "if there were a law that would make people love each other, I would sign it." Meaning racial strife will just have to be plain tolerated. That is regressive.

Presidents come and go. Charles Darwin stays on.

• Editorial: Origins/Don't mix science, religion Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription), MN
• The philosophy of intelligent design Seattle Times, United States
• Bush re-ignites evolution debate Newsday, NY
• Mythology in the White House Seattle Post Intelligencer
• Leading Republican differs with Bush on evolution Reuters
  
• Bush's two minds on science Cincinnati Post, OH
• They have little faith in 'intelligent design' Los Angeles Times, CA
• Fanning the Controversy Over 'Intelligent Design' TIME
• President reignites evolution debate San Jose Mercury News, United States
• Bush remarks prompt new debate on intelligent design Catholic World News
• President stirs debate with evolution remark Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia
• Inspiration for Doubters of Darwin Los Angeles Times, CA
• Bush boosts alternative evolution theory Boston Globe, United States
• Bush says all theories of life have place in classroom Houston Chronicle, United States
• Bush reignites evolution debate Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription), MN
• Bush wants alternatives to Darwinism taught in school Financial Times, UK
• Bush Remarks On 'Intelligent Design' Theory Set Off Debate Washington Post, United States
• Bush: Schools should teach 'intelligent design' CNN
• Bush Remarks Roil Debate Over Teaching of Evolution New York Times, United States
• Intelligent Design pushed by anti-science exremists The Morning Sun, MI
• Bush and Darwin Tech Central Station, DC
• Charles Darwin, Intelligent Design & The Separation Clause MichNews.com, MI
  
• American Federation of Teachers Statement on President Bush's ... U.S. Newswire (press release), DC

Tracey Denton Of DFNYC

When I moved to NYC a few months ago, primarily looking for a "hometown," but also to reengineer my career path and go back to dreaming big, I made a point to give myself a fresh start socially. And guess what I turned to first: MeetUps.

The Dean surge got me to MeetUps. And I stayed on. I "landed" in Indianapolis early last year hoping to dig into the MeetUp phenomenon, but the city was not my size. It was a little too small for me. And so I "took off" again a few months later.

NYC is a different story. And the Dean connection landed me at the DFA MeetUps. I looked for the one with the most members - East Village - and just plain showed up, is all it takes. Last night was my second show-up.

And at DFNYC you have people like Tracey Denton. Getting on a first name basis with her has been another Hollywood moment for me. It is like meeting Scott, the CEO of MeetUp.

Tracey is razor sharp, and she is on a first name basis with the man himself, Howard Dean. I still don't believe it, but facts are facts.

I think I witnessed this Bill Clinton moment with Tracey last night. She hosted the East Village meetup. And she was so good with names. Reminded me of this Bill Clinton moment from one of his biographies. So Bill Clinton, this southern boy from Arkansas, comes to the East Coast to read a few books, and homeboy goes back to homestate to run for public office. Some of his contacts arrange a meeting for him with the local business leaders who might contribute to his campaign. Maybe 20 people are in the room. He leans over to the guy next to him and quietly asks for the names of all around the table. For the rest of the evening, he is addressing everyone in the room on a first name basis and surprising them. There is another story about Billie Clinton. The guy used to learn names at college the way students preparing for the SAT might learn words from the dictionary.

And so Tracey Denton is picking up names like there were cherries spread all over the room. Topping it off with names of people in Congress I had never heard of and have since forgotten. The only name I recognized was Charlie Rangel, so guess who I sent my letter to during the letter writing campaign segment of the meetup.

An ongoing conversation on every issue on the progressive blanket with everyone in the room. And I am like, wow. The obvious leader of a structureless group, designed to be, supposed to be structureless.

Not to say all the grunt work away from the glamor of Dean going "Where is Tracey? Where is Tracey?" at a public event.

I am just so delighted to be part of the conversation. A new guy in town figuring things out entrepreneurial, personal, political.

On The Web

• Tracey Denton | Dean for America 2008: Pledge your support Because Howard Dean can win and can bring much needed change to our country. His record on healthcare, fiscal responsibily and many other important issues, along with his honesty, make him just the sort of candidates that Democrats can respect and America will support. I think it is clear that the standard strategy of the Democratic Party, chose nice boring polished candidates, is not working.
• DeanPhotos.com - Faces of Dean Nation from All 50 States :: Coming ... Tracey Denton continuing her tireless effort on behalf of Dean Dozens candidates in NYC. ... Tracey Denton (at right) chats with other Dean Democrats. ...
• Elana & Elena's Blog 'Peter Acocella encountered Democracy for NYC at two letter writing parties at Phyllis Weiner's apartment with Tracey Denton. Along with other concerned New ...
• New York's Premier Alternative Newspaper. Arts, Music, Food ... like artillery shells rooting out the last pockets of a tattered resistance army ....... As members speak of sister cells across town–"Has anyone been in contact with Brooklyn about Saturday?"–the scene smacks of nothing so much as a defiant underground guerilla group entering its final hour....... The soldiers of hellskitchen4dean–a subsection of nyc4dean–are, now as then, the true Deaniacs. With their money, time and energy, they sparked and helped sustain the Dean explosion of 2003. And tonight the loyal troops are vowing to continue the fight, if not for the nomination, then for convention delegates; if not for convention delegates, then for the future of the Democratic Party......... Until Dean throws in the towel–still an unspeakable thought–they will fight. Hard. Like the sewer rats of the Polish Underground, hellskitchen4dean is low on ammo–the group has only four bumper stickers left–but is determined to engage the enemy until each has died an honorable death against the "Kerry machine.".......... Manhattan theatergoers are discussed as if they are a vital Dean constituency......... "Remember," says one young woman, "Dean’s mother is a big supporter of the performing arts. This is a good thing to mention, especially to women." Tracey Denton, the high-energy leader of the cell, agrees that this is a good point......... The critical condition of Howard Dean’s presidential campaign has both toughened the group’s resolve and loosened its grip on reality....... "The DNC used the words ‘meet-up’ yesterday for the first time!" ...... Blitzer officially declares Dean a "distant third" at 18 percent....... Tracey Denton begins her long grapple with denial. "Wait–this could be good," she says, turning frantically from face to face. "An Edwards victory could slow down the Kerry machine!" ....... If anybody agrees, nobody says so. Nor does anyone walk over and grab her by the shoulders, shake her and scream, "Godammit woman! Get a grip! It’s over! It’s fucking over!!" .......
  
• [PDF] * . CIAC : TCILDTC
• April 6th Meeting with Howard Dean - New Democratic Majority ..... Tracey Denton (NDM Political Outreach Director), and I met with Howard Dean for 45 minutes at the Time/Life building in Midtown on Tuesday afternoon....... in the same spirit of pragmatic idealism...... He said that the reason progressives have been losing again and again is because we keep killing each other over semantics, or in Ted Kennedy's words, "letting the perfect become the enemy of the good." ....... We concluded the meeting with a group photo that we are now having digitized .....
  
• Equal Exchange - Java Jive #25, Fall 2003 A Quality Investment by Tracey Denton, Equal Exchange investor
• [PDF] [Working Title: Comparative Institutional Analysis in Cyberspace ...
• The New York City Anti-Police Misconduct Meetup Group - Meetup.com "I worked on the Dean campaign here in New York City, and I'm now working with another political organization, and I would like to connect with other New Yorkers to find out how we can make police brutality an issue in elections."
• Blog for America Tracey Denton, Executive Director of Democracy for New York City, spoke with Ronnie M. Eldridge on CUNY's Eldridge & Co. program about her involvement in the Dean campaign, Democracy for NYC politics and NYC politics in general. You can view the 30-minute segement in RealVideo or listen to audio-only in QuickTime.
• DeanPhotos.com - Faces of Dean Nation from All 50 States ... I always tell people that tracey Denton is the only person I know who speaks quicker than I do , and that's saying something
• Denton County, Texas - Denton County Most Wanted
• GoLobos.com :: Athletics :: The University of New Mexico ... Tracy Denton has been a cheerleading coach at UNM since 1996. She is a graduate of the University of ...