Tuesday, October 11, 2005
DFNYC And This Blog
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
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
Messages To Dean, Ferrer
Message To Dean
I have been to all 48 states in the continental US, Vermont was the last one, nothing personal.
America is the leading country when it comes to science and technology, but it has a creationist president. (Dumb And Dumberer: Creationist Bush) That right there is proof democracy in this country is not working as is. America needs a president who has read a few science books, maybe a certified doctor or something.
I know you can't talk about it until at least 2007, and I am not going to bug you about it. But Reagan ran and lost early and bad in 1976, not that I particularly like him. Bill Clinton ran for re-election in Arkansas in 1990 pledging to complete his four year term. Arkansas is better off he did not. And I like Bill Clinton, I know you do too.
DNC can do without you, America and the world can not.
You are inspiring, and you are going to continue to inspire. That is all we need from you. Dean 2008 is already on. We are already at work.
Message To Ferrer
I really do think you have a shot at winning. I really do. We need you to win. If not the headquarters, NYC is at least going to host the War Room for Dean 2008. And we don't want a Mayor Bloomberg around at that time. He might arrest us. So go win!
Going On The Offensive For Ferrer
Talk about your management style, not just your policy differences with Bloomberg. 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. People say you are a machine politician, I say you are in tune with the voters and their various organized groups, you know the system inside out, you are better positioned to deliver. People say Bloomberg is a successful entrepreneur who can lead. I say his leadership style is corporate. Your leadership style is political. You have delivered in the Bronx, you will deliver for the city.
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.
Get out the votes. Many who will vote for you do not get phone calls from the pollsters. Forget the polls. Get out the votes.
Message To The White Democrats In NYC
The ethnic minorities are the strongest supporters of the Democratic Party. They never show up among the swing voters. They never became Reagan Democrats. And now you are all going to vote for Ferrer for the simple reason that he is a Democrat. You don't need to know anything else.
You know you agree with him on policy. And you know he has delivered before in an executive capacity. You know he has what it takes.
Let's make history. Let's elect a Hispanic Mayor. To me it is important Ferrer is Hispanic. That is a big plus. What about you? He is and should be proof America is for all its immigrants, not just the white ones.
This is the time for you to express your party loyalty.
Bloomberg Is No Democrat
Spread the word on Ferrer. Go vote for Ferrer. Get the votes out for Ferrer.
An Email From Headquarters
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2005 10:48:17 -0400
From: "Democracy for America"
To: "Paramendra Bhagat"
Subject: DFA blog post
Paramendra,
I just wanted to let you know that we here at HQ have read your blog post from yesterday and we think it has a ton of great ideas. I've passed the link along to Chris Warshaw (the Field Director) since the organizational suggestions fall under his area, but I'd like to tell you a bit about the technology projects we have coming up after DFA-Link is (more or less) finished.
The overarching project is being called MyDFA, and its basically what you describe -- an online portal for our grassroots activists. DFA-Link is the first part of that. This winter we'll be working on turning Blog for America into a community blog (coded from scratch, just like DFA-Link) that works as you suggest. Local groups and local activists will be able to publish their own posts, with the best ones filtering up via a community ratings system. As you mention in the comments, we'll encourage that local events be blogged. RSS Feeds will be pulled from exising local group blogs and be pushed out to whomever wants them.
So thanks for all the suggestions, and keep them coming. We're listening!
- Luigi Montanez
Deputy Technology Director
Monday, October 10, 2005
DFA Organization Framework
The DFA can start expanding now. This is not too early. If we are serious about taking back the White House in 2008, we need to be thinking in terms of also taking back the Congress in 2006. President Dean deserves a Congress he can work with.
2008: Some Themes
2008: Some Thoughts