DFNYC And This Blog

As my blog expands its readership, some concerns have been raised. I take this opportunity to make a few things clear, because I expect the readership of this blog to expand more as the mayoral election progresses, and I seem to be getting more sucked into it. I mean, if Dean keeps showing up, I am going to keep showing up.

I am a staunch member of DFNYC, and I might be one of the very first members of Dean 2008. But this blog is not officially affiliated with DFNYC. The organization has its official site. This blog is one person talking. I usually will post a blog entry and then email the permalink for it to a few people over email. That way I take less space in their inbox. And they get to see the topic before they decide if they want to even click on the link. If they choose not to, that just shows their interest did not get piqued. Which is just fine. And my politics is not my private life, it is my public life. I think I am already at a point where I don't know my entire readership. And that is great. I would love to have a ton of readership.

I want to make that absolutely clear. I would have thought that was already clear. It is in the nature of the blog to be that way. This is Paramendra Bhagat's blog.

Blogging is not just writing, although writing it is. Blogging is not reporting, although it can be that. Blogging is blogging. It has to be seen as something new and kind of stand-alone.

Blogs are brainscans of the crowd's mind.

I encourage more and more DFNYC members and Deaniacs to get into blogging. Let a million blogs bloom.

Having a blog is like having an email account, I think. It is that fundamental. If you are not going to launch one now, I think you are going to do it later.

And I do expect to deal with some social progressive issues also within the progressive movement. And I am up for it. The productive way for people who are genuinely trying to get along is to keep an open channel of communication at the collective identity level also.

If you are a 6, you are still within the Democratic camp on social issues, but you are not a 9 yet.

2008: Some Themes

If there is a common sense assumption out there that there is some sort of a hiearachy - white male, white female, minority male, minority female - I don't subscribe to it. Not in my personal space. I am a progressive, seriously.

I think for the most part we interact as individuals, but channels of communication have to be kept open at the collective identity level also. We need to expand the agenda.

Like on gender. We need to expand it beyond foetus talk. We need to dig up issues and comfortably talk about them.

Race and gender are mirror images to each other.

Race Relations, Pesonal Relations, Free Trade
Gender Consciousness Vs. Feminist Consciousness
The Intersection of Race and Gender Relations: A Contemporary Perspective

Ferrer Can

Ferrer Can Lead

Truth On Bloomberg Ferrer Four Ferrer Can

Fernando Ferrer	Michael Bloomberg
1. His leadership style is political. He knows how to work the system.	1. His leadership style is corporate. He cuts some major corners on essential social expenditures so he can build a stadium. Don't blame him: that has been his life's training. It is hard to change course mid-stream.
2. He was Bronx Borough President. He delivered.	2. He never held a political office in life before he became Mayor. He has not delivered.
3. People say he is a machine politician, I say he is in tune with the voters and their various organized groups, he knows the system inside out, he is better positioned to deliver.	3. People say he has so much money, he is not beholden to any special interests. I say he has so much money, he is out of touch.
4. Ferrer's style is political. He has delivered in the Bronx, he will deliver for the city.	4. People say Bloomberg is a successful entrepreneur who can lead. I say his leadership style is corporate.
5. NYC is the capital city of the world. It should n-e-v-e-r again get itself a Republican mayor. The world needs some respect.	5. Bloomberg is a Republican. He gives more money to George W. than anyone else in the country.
6. Get out the votes. Many who will vote for Ferrer do not get phone calls from the pollsters. Forget the polls. Get out the votes.	6. Put out more meaningless feel-good ads.
7. He is a Democrat.	7. He is a Republican.
8. His lack of deep pockets makes him more dependent on voters. That makes him more responsive.	8. His limitless supply of personal money to be spent on TV ads makes him politically tone-deaf.
9. He is a Hispanic who believes in the American dream.	9. He is elitist.
10. He is not personally that rich.	10. Bloomberg is so rich, he is practically a carpetbagger in this city of the poor, the lower middle class, the middle class, the upper middle class, and the rich. Don't vote for him. He is not one of you.

• Bloomberg: No Mr. Security 10/11
• Messages To Dean, Ferrer 10/11
• Soaking In Howard Dean 10/10
• Lewis Cohen Has Been Behind Ferrer Since Summer 2004 10/10
• Going On The Offensive For Ferrer 10/09
• Dean Was In Town Yesterday 9/28
• Bloomberg Is No Democrat 9/22
• Fernando Ferrer 9/21

Bloomberg: No Mr. Security

After the Democrats had their convention in 2004, Bush's Homeland Security chief Tomland Ridge put out security alerts. Four major NYC landmarks were targeted it was said. The information was several years old. Ridge received massive media coverage.

Howard Dean was one Democrat who came out saying this was not a security move, this was political.

Kerry was the first presidential candidate in history who did not get a bounce after a convention. Even Dukakis got a huge bounce in 1988. Whatever Tomland Ridge did, it worked. And it is the strange psychology of the powerless that the Kerry machine actually went after Dean for saying what he said. Those scared of the enemies pounce on their friends.

Now Bloomberg is out playing the same cynical game. I am Bush, Mr. Security.

Have you noticed, every time Bush sinks in the polls or works himself out of the news cycles, he comes swinging with a speech on Iraq desperately trying to blame Saddam Hussein for 9/11. I think Saddam was a jerk and I am glad he is gone, but it is an outright lie to suggest Saddam had anything to do with 9/11. Because you can not nab Osama, you blame it on Saddam who you did nab. That is some logic.

My point being the security threat is very real. The War on Terror is very real. But those politicians who monkey with the security threats to win elections are precisely those who will not lead the country to victory on the War On Terror front. They do the major disservice of desensitizing the public. So where might be a real threat down the line, the people might not respond the way they ought to, and we might all be in for some serious heartbreak.

This is beyond cynical. This borders towards the criminal.

Bloomberg should apologize and cease and desist.

Compete on policy differences, track records, delivery records and leadership styles. Don't play cynical games with security. Go shake more hands and ride the subway more often if you are getting desperate, but don't monkey with security issues.

When it comes to security, do err on the side of caution, but do not be driven by political temptations.

• Sources: Tip on NY subway threat a hoax CNN Information that led to heightened security for the New York City transit system was a hoax, government sources said Tuesday..... After Bloomberg's warning, some intelligence officials played down the New York information, saying it was not credible...... On Monday, Bloomberg said he stood by the decision to increase security.
• NY Subway Fears Ease AXcess News
• NY subway threat causes alarm People's Daily Online, China - Oct 7, 2005
• NY Subway Bomb Threat Not Credible All Headline News - 23 hours ago