Monday, February 26, 2007
Austin, Here I Come
In The News
Obama Ridicules Cheney's Iraq Comments Wyoming News, WY
Obama ridicules Cheney at Austin rally Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX
Interest appears high in Barack Obama's Austin landing Austin American-Statesman (subscription), TX a midday private fundraiser to be followed by the free outdoor event
Obama fires up Texas Dems at rally UT The Daily Texan, TX the stated goal to "kick ass" .... people of various ages, races and backgrounds .... Obama's magnetism extended all the way to Princeton Review's ninth-most conservative school in the nation, where a group of Aggie Democrats embarked on a trek from College Station across the geo-political spectrum. .....there hasn't been such an energizing political figure since Robert Kennedy. ..... "You don't often see such diversity at a political event," she said. "Hopefully we're starting a trend." ..... his 40-minute speech. ..... "We are less safe now than when this war began," Obama argued. ... "I knew that this Obama wave was sweeping the country," she said. "Now I know why."
Obama rallies thousands in Austin abc13.com, TX
Austin Crowd Largest for Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama MyFox Austin
Thousands Cheer Obama at Austin Rally MyFox Houston, TX
Thousands Cheer Obama at Austin Rally MyFox Houston, TX
Barack Obama rallies in Austin KHOU (subscription), TX
Obama stumps in Austin News 8 Austin, TX
Obama Reels In Austin Crowd Dallas News a lakeside venue used for rock concerts ..... The crowd – extraordinarily large for so early in a presidential campaign ...... "The American people are tired of being afraid," the senator said. ..... attended private fundraisers in Houston and Austin before Friday's midafternoon rally. ..... one rapper punctuated the chorus "Everything I do will be funky," with shouts of "Obama!" ...... The rally was an unusual burst of campaign activity long before Election Day .... "I said we should not give open-ended authority to a president because it would lead to an open-ended occupation," he said. ...... A top Clinton political supporter in Texas, former land commissioner Garry Mauro, acknowledged that Mr. Obama is charismatic but suggested the political newcomer is effectively auditioning for a second spot on the ticket. ..... "Now, keep in mind, this is the same guy that said we'd be greeted as liberators, the same guy that said that we're in the last throes. I'm sure he forecast sun today," he said amid the Austin rain. "When Dick Cheney says it's a good thing, you know that you've probably got some big problems." ..... New Orleans "still looks like a war has been fought"
Obama staging rally in Austin on Friday Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX Obama-rama sweeps Austin today as Democrat Barack Obama brings his 13-day-old presidential campaign to the Texas capital for a rare political do next to Town Lake. ..... The capacity is 20,000. .... Obama, 45, is believed to be the first presidential aspirant to rally voters at Auditorium Shores, typically home to concerts, since President Reagan did in July 1984. ...... "When you have an opportunity to see people, you go," said Shaw, an associate professor of government. "It's like if you had a chance to see John F. Kennedy in 1960." ...... Obama's campaign has touched off an Internet boomlet, especially among students and young people. ..... Two weeks ago, UT law student Richard Cofer went on the "Facebook" site to launch UT Students for Obama. More than 500 have since joined ...... Obama, like President Clinton, connects with crowds and with individuals one on one. ..... he trails U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and John Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina and the Democrats' 2004 vice presidential nominee, in organizing and fundraising. ..... the pressure cooker he's just walked into ..... Garry Mauro, the1998 Democratic nominee for Texas governor, is helping Clinton, the former first lady. He said Obama will run a fascinating race: "I hope after this is all over that we'll never ask the question again, can an African American be elected president or vice president?"
Two Obama Events: Manhattan, Brooklyn
I went to the first Manhattan event for Obama that was a citywide thing, organized by New York City For Obama. First it was slated to be at Rudy's near Times Square where I have been going for Drinking Liberally. But soon too many had signed up and something more spacious was found. You could just feel the energy. We ended up in the East Village, I think.
Then I went to the first Brooklyn event for Obama. It was in Park Slope. I had planned on walking, but with my usual disorganization and last minute catchup, I boarded the train. I got reminded of the Brooklyn appeal. The place was just so much more spacious, the street outside quieter. Manhattan tends to be high tempo, crowded. You could just feel the energy.
Manhattan is for work. Brooklyn is for living.
When I landed in NYC, I sought out DFNYC and that was all good except Howard Dean was no longer running for president. I never got around to getting excited about the many local races the organization specializes in. The mayoral election got me excited, but apparently it did not excite DFNYC.
Since then I have been going to several groups.
Drinking Liberally DL21C Manhattan Young Dems
But only now I feel the energy and the sense of purpose. All these Manhattan groups have been disproportionately white. You can put people in the same room, but the boundaries stay. The Obama crowd is more colorful, more to my taste, more reminding of NYC to me.
I am a Brooklynite. I have been going to Manhattan events, because events by the same groups in the outer boroughs tend to be much smaller. I remember going to a Drinking Liberally event in Williamsburg, since I really like that place, it is more leisurely, it has this Mardi Gras, New Orleans ring to it, but I was a little late, and it felt like noone showed up. I did not meet anyone. Back then I had a car. I readily drove back.
It is that same democratic arithmetic that drives me to the Nepali political events in Queens. And the biggest Nepali events are easily larger than the big events of the major Manhattan progressive groups. Go figure.
http://my.barackobama.com
This is a great tool. Gives Obama 2008 a clear edge. This is The Matrix that I had envisioned, only much better. It is really user friendly. It has also been good for my mailing list.
http://groups.google.com/group/dfAmericana
You add one listserv email address, and the larger ones now are hundreds strong. The largest is 2,000 strong.
I have been making some friends. I have also been pitching my business plan on the side to select contacts.
Obama 2008 feels like Race 2.0. Top income bracket professionals who have come to a strong realization that identity never goes away, is not supposed to go away relate to Obama 2008. It is not even about shared experiences in racism. It is just a realization that race continues to be a reality even when racism might not be around. There is healthy acceptance of one's heritage, a more muscular approach to remnants of racism.
For me it is global from day one. Obama is my Third World guy.
In The News
US says wants "incremental steps" to pressure Iran Reuters
Marriage registration now compulsory in Bihar
'The Departed' wins Oscars for best director, filmCTV.ca
Google freebies give way to fees
Obama Speaks To A Crowd Of 3000 In Kentucky
Rice: Obama's Run Shows Black Black Star News
Barack Obama Has Breakfast With Sold-Out House In Cincinnati WXIX
Clinton's too-calibrated response Buffalo News
Beware the Dreaded "Clinton Machine"
Clinton-Obama spat 'sad,' Edwards tells ABC
Abortion Advocates Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton Lead Southern Poll LifeNews.com
Nepal: Maoists return to camps demanding better living conditions ReliefWeb (press release)
Strikes Resume In Southern And Southeastern Nepal All Headline News
Byrd to Take Center Stage in Iraq Debate Washington Post
5 Governors Agree to Work on Climate Washington Post
Lalu lives upto expectations of Bihar people Hindustan Times
Agriculture in Bihar set for a paradigm shift Hindustan Times
Panel: Military Health System Needs Help Washington Post
India Inc raises toast to railway budget 2007-08 RxPG NEWS
China's Widening Income Gap MSNBC
Google planning office war NEWS.com.au
Google in content deal with media companies CNET News.com
Google Apps aims beyond Microsoft Office
3 French travelers slain in Saudi desert Seattle Post Intelligencer
Google Partners With Dow Jones for Video-Sharing Program
Video + ads = Google's copyright fix?
Will Facebook hold out or sell out? CNN International
Facebook Among Many 'Web 2.0' Companies Spurning Buyout Offers
Facebook.com faces dilemma: build or sell
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
A Rare Email From Bill Clinton
From a guy who has sent out a total of two emails over a lifetime! This makes it three.
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