Nancy Pelosi, Speaker

You need one leader, one program. A 10 point program. But there is only so much to learn from Newt's 1994 fireworks. Actually, only one. That you need a 10 point program.

This one person has to be projected as the next Speaker, and the obvious choice is Nancy Pelosi. But then the parallels end. There has to be this sense of collective leadership under the banner, otherwise you win like Newt, and then you crash and burn. There is not much tangible in terms of what you accomplish in the aftermath, not much in terms of legacy.

As for the method to the madness, you learn from Dean 2004. You do it the grassroots way.

So the overall strategy obviously has to be a hodgepodge. There have to be several strands to the thread.

And although Pelosi is the masthead, people like Dean, Hillary and Obama, and even Bill Clinton, should really be crisscrossing the country like crazy, and that list can be larger. There can be no overshadow fear. It should feel more like we are all in this together. The base is dying for a victory. Feed it some.

On The Web

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, California, 8th District
Biography :: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, California, 8th District
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nancy Pelosi on the Issues
The Blog | Rep. Nancy Pelosi: Bush State of the Union - It Was a ...
Pelosi willing to give up SF funds for recovery
Nancy Pelosi: Biography and Much More From Answers.com

In The News

Nancy Pelosi, investment advisor Town Hall, DC
Nancy Pelosi: Addicted to Nonsense ChronWatch, CA
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Slams Hamas AXcess News, NV
US Delegation Promises Electricity AllAfrica.com, Washington
US Pledges More Support to Ellen Liberian Daily Observer, MD
US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MEETS LIBERIA PRESIDENT, PROMISES AID African News Dimension, South Africa
US Government Promises to Help Restore Liberia’s Electricity African News Dimension
Bipartisan opposition to the Dubai port deal Town Hall, DC
Searching for the Democrats - Blue Clues OpEdNews
Anti-wire tap vigil in San Francisco features Lady Liberty Mercury-Register, CA
US Pledges More Support to Ellen AllAfrica.com, Washington
US Corporate Council On Africa Holds Roundtable on Investment and ... Perspective (press release)
Structure of Congress PBS
'Political Baggage' from Ports Deal Could Undermine Bush, Say ... Agape Press, MS
House Democrats Offer 'Grassroots Campaign for Victory' Town Hall, DC

1994 Republican Contract With America

Republican Contract with America
Contract with America - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Contract with America: Implementing New Ideas in the US
The Contract With America
Coalition releases Black Contract with America
newt.org - The Official Home Page of Speaker Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Possible Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich - The Dark Side
frontline: the long march of newt gingrich
GINGRICH, Newton Leroy - Biographical Information
The Secret Life of Newt Gingrich
CBS News | Gingrich Criticizes DeLay | April 14, 2005 10:15:05
Right Web | Profile | Newt Gingrich

Dean 2004 Grassroots Democracy

Democracy For America
Blog for America
People Powered Graphics - Democracy for America
I can't believe it's not a democracy!: Dean for President, 2004
Change for Kentucky: April 2004 Archives
Minnesota for Dean
Dean Launches New Grassroots Group in Seattle
Howard Dean on March 18th 2004 | Democracy for Washington
Columbia Spectator - Trippi Says Dean's 2004 Run Just the Beginning

Visitors

24 February

09:04

Road Runner, New York, United States

24 February

09:52

Research In Motion UK, Canada

24 February

10:10

Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States

24 February

10:33

XO Communications, Washington, D.C., United States

24 February

10:35

United States (nyct.net)

24 February

11:31

United States (prudential.com)

24 February

13:05

Cisco Systems, Inc., United States

24 February

18:26

Verizon Online, Reston, United States

Tom Vilsack, Iowaman

Hillary In Person

Leila Noor was going to make up for the fortune it cost me to attend the Hillary event, and that by a free pass to a Vilsack event. My business ideas can come across as so out of the whack, I can come across as a member of the Starving Artists' Association (SAA). You show up at some fancy Manhattan party dressed up like a dot com millionaire, and people actually avoid you, otherwise my instinct is to work the room. Especially if you also have long, uncombed hair, unless combing with fingers counts. But today I had my haircut from the day of the Hillary event. And I dressed up, or as far as possible. Spickspan shining shoes, man in black trousers, shirt and jacket. But inside the buttoned jacket - one button, double breasted - was an untucked shirt. And there was no way I was going to put on a tie. It might as well be against my religion.

But then my "new French friend" Alvaro from the Hillary event emailed today, and so I put him on Leila's mailing list for the expensive fundraisers I can not make it to: he got the money alright.

So I was going through the flyer for the event. And there she was the Somalian cum American Queen Noor sitting on the committee, again: political animal, Obama heritage - a combo I find fascinating like stars to astronomers, Obama trait. I am telling you, these lawyers have more fun politicking than lawyering. I just need a few hundred of these nationwide to take off: Video Blogging For A Living!

So today I was actually dressed up, but this time the blackness hit me, the way bright colored Indian clothes might hit American eyes. (blac) I did fine the first round. I made small talk. Then there was the event. Vilsack talked, I recorded it all on video. And I remember thinking, isn't video blogging less travel? Then he was done, and I was about to leave, and Noor was at the other end of the room, nearer the gate, away from the stage, where I first saw her. She was perhaps jaded from the more private audience organizers like her had with the Governor right before the event.

That was the beginning of part two of the evening. It culminated in me meeting with an actor who actually has made an apperance in the mega movie Any Given Sunday (Any Given Sunday (1999)): DJ Funny. The guy has met Al Pacino, the American Amitabh Bachchan.

"What is he like in person?"

"He bites nails."

DJ used to work a Wall Street job. He quit that to follow his sartorial dreams.

Robert Smith hosted the event. Towards the end he presented Vilsack with all sorts of "black" books and magazines. It might have been an awkward moment. He also announced the organization endorsing several candidates for the same office, and got one wrong, he got it mixed up between Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor.

I am so glad I stayed on. I got more and more comfortable. I was one of the last to leave. I was getting into the groove. Once I warm up, there is no stopping me. I talk like I blog, impulsive, unstoppable.

Vilsack has an impressive record. He has been both DLC Chair and Chair of the Democratic Governors' Association. Bill Clinton was one, Howard Dean another, I think. I overheard him having spent an hour with the Time magazine columnist Joe Klein. I guess you come to pay your respects. Should not journalists be doing field work instead? Some media types come without term limits!

I got to quiz his staffer. She was taking care of the logistics for his tour. Political work is much physical stamina.

During the first half of the evening before the speech, I bumped into one group, two were for not sparing the rod, one was for no touch, in terms of raising children. I joined the second school of thought, and the vote became 2-2.

I arrived way too early. That gave me time to get a slice of pizza in the neighborhood, read a few stories in the New York Post that I had picked up in the train, the most reading of the Post I have ever done. Then two glasses of coke in the outside bar. Then a glass of pineapple juice downstairs before the Vilsack hubbub began.

On The Web

Office of Governor Tom Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson
Tom Vilsack - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Office of the Governor
DesMoinesRegister.com
Tom Vilsack on the Issues
The Fix - Chris Cillizza's Politics Blog - (washingtonpost.com)
Vilsack for Veep?
Heartland PAC
Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Democrat

In The News

Insider Interview: Tom Vilsack's Democratic Optimism Washington Post, United States
Vilsack quietly focuses on '08 presidential campaign DesMoinesRegister.com, IA
Candidates address penitentiary issue Keokuk Gate City Daily, IA
Leader Sees Video Lottery Restrictions As Inevitable KCCI.com, IA
Vilsack: Lawmakers could miss ethanol opportunity Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
Vilsack to lead trade mission to India Cedar Rapids Gazette, United States

Visitors

22 February

21:06

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States

23 February

10:29

Bulgaria (cablebg.net)

23 February

15:15

University of Colorado, Boulder, United States

23 February

22:25

Orange County Dep. Education, United States