Monday, November 24, 2008

The Four White Manhattan Organizations

The mind is a beautiful thing. I remember the details from the weeks before June 4 more vividly than the six months after June 4, although I remember those six months just fine. As long as they did not deport me, and I was not physically hurt, I got a steel interior. I am like one of those weeds you can't get rid of. I got strong survival instincts, like James Bond and Jason Bourne, only I am not a fist fighter. My skills are political.





I went to Rudy's, and I made it to the South Asians For Obama event at 8:30 that same evening where I stayed for half an hour - "I got to make it to Westchester" - and I felt out of place both places. Earlier in the day I spent about two wonderful hours walking around with my second Adam, my second big catch for my startup, whom I would never have met if I had never showed up on the Island, and I am thinking, perhaps I should say goodbye to the four white Manhattan organizations - DL, DL21C, DFNYC, MYD - absolutely, completely, perhaps I should not go to political events no more, that all my socializing should be to do with my startup, period.

Justin Krebs was not there at Rudy's, and it looked to me like Drinking Liberally was dying as an organization. I think I counted only five people, as opposed to the usual 50. Stephanie showed. She is the most permanent fixture at Rudy's, more so than Krebs. But she is not on the DL Politburo. That right there is the tragedy of the Minority Female.

In a city that is 60% nonwhite, if 90% of the people in a room are white, that is a white room. The first day I got picked up by NYPD, some of the questions I got asked were, is that your vehicle parked in front of your house, how do you get to the freeway from here, where is the tunnel? Before I got told I was a threat to Charlie dumbfuck Rangel, I was metioned the John McCain name. How was I going to react? My reaction to McCain, then and now, is boredom. Yawn.

Maybe Drinking Liberally thinks I am a threat to Justin Krebs, that is why he did not show.

Dan Berger exhibited animal behavior at the Senator Mary event. As of October 2007, Spitzer had done nothing to secure himself a place in world history, I had. But Berger would never have acted the way to Spitzer the way he did to me. That is what makes him a racist white wannabe male. That lowly staffer to an insignificant Congressman - insignificant as in insignificant to world history - described me a physical threat to himself in October 2007, and that was not based on anything I had said, any physical gesture on my part, he described me a physical threat to Elizabeth Caputo in January, Loser Lupinacci in attendance, a few months later that dumbfuck described me a physical threat to Charlie dumbfuck Rangel. The nonwhite person as a violent person is only one step away from the nonwhite person as a dumb person, the nonwhite person as a lazy person. It is image making, it is racist demonization. For Loser Lupinacci to say "You have crossed the line" is racist, but not as racist as Dumbfuck Berger saying I was a "threat to Elizabeth." Neither of them are British. ERC and Denton are British.

Howard Dean never showed up for a DFNYC event with the express intention of meeting Lewis Cohen. After April 2006 Dean showed up at a DFNYC Mixer with the express intention of meeting me. Half an hour before Dean showed up Cohen had to make the point that now I needed to go through him if I wanted to go anywhere in NYC politics. Josh is like, don't get too close, stay away from Dean. He is too famous and big and I am half way there. Two hours later Cohen says to Denton: "Did he screw you at your blog?" I called him a white asshole male a few days later, and a few different times. At a Tom Daschle event, after Daschle recognized him, Cohen immediately turned around and looked at me. Don't you know who I am! About 10 minutes later I thanked Daschle for the trip he had made to Nepal months prior. "You spread some hope when there was very little hope going around." That country is very special to me, he said.

Liz did what Lupinacci did: those were mirror situations. If you are not going to like her back, I am going to say something racist to you.

An African friend relayed a story to me in early 1997. An older white guy, a townie, tried to show him how to use the icecream machine at Food Service. To the African it felt like an experience in racism. A white guy trying to act matchmaker in NYC is showing you how to use the icecream machine.

I did not emerge angry. I am not opposed to meeting any name I have mentioned. It is just that I am not sure I have the legal option to meet anyone DL21C right now. Right now I don't know if the harassment charge was dropped by ERC or NYPD. It is possible it was dropped by NYPD. This guy was on the Island a month, and he is to be deported anyways, so why bother? Drop it. Fly him away. Legalese aside, I made a decison inside. Unless DL21C and ERC directly contacted me to say things are normal now, I was going to stay away indefinitely. That decision made social sense. That also might be the safe thing to do, safety for me. I like my freedom, I like my privacy.

I got bored at Rudy's a few days back. I felt out of place. My biggest consternation with the biggies of the four white organizations has been from day one how you can't get them to email back. Initially I thought maybe they think I am too small a fish. But that behavior did not change even after I was pretty sure they thought I was a big fish. You email them, and they will not email back. Weird. I never understood that. This is a 5.0 town. I want to turn it into a 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 town.

Globally speaking gender is a bigger deal than race. I saw female guards in Alabama having a hard time asserting authority. And so I was going to give political room to women like HRC, ERC and TD. I was willing to take some pain. But white women acting racist are white women not giving s___t about Minority Females also. White women in racist bonding with White Males and White Wannabe Males are not my idea of progressive politicos. You can't do race gender business with them. White Wannabe Males act racist when they are trying hard to be white. White women act protective of white men when white men engage in racist words, racist attitudes. Makes you think. That is not fertile progressive ground. Rather that is what regressives call "the Southern strategy."

HRC wants nothing more than to see a woman president in her lifetime. That woman is a hero of mine. For one, she is not dumb.

Of all the famous people I have read about, the one I most relate to right now is Larry Ellison. Larry had a sweetheart. She went to college. A year later he showed up wanting to marry her. She said she was engaged.

"Excuse me!?" Larry reacted.

At this stage in his career Larry's private life was described "a train wreck." He grew up in Chicago's Jewish ghetto. His third wife left him for a Harvard MBA. His first wife laughed when he promised to make a million dollars if she stayed with him. His second wife would put makeup before going to bed so she did not have to rush in the morning.

There was a time in my life when I could not say I can eat as many eggs as I want. That time lasted until I was about 23 when I flew to America. Until 23 there was this village that I called my homevillage, your typical Third World village, no electricity, no post office, mud roads. Nepal is the poorest country outside of Africa. But then a cousin to my mother was Laloo Yadav's Education Minister in Bihar. Her family was the leading family in her village. My father's was the leading family in his village. I went to the best school in Nepal. And I stepped onto the concept of the post-ISMs individual early on. That is why class as an identity platform has never been mine. And culture also has been elusive. My sense of belonging does not come from any country, any high school, any college. It comes from my family, NYC, my company. I wonder if that is why I am so individualistic.

In The News

US Offers Citigroup Expansive Safety Net
Washington Post
Obama Eyes $500 Billion in Stimulus; Paulson Weighs Ramping Up Aid ...
Wall Street Journal
Obama’s Troika May Push for Deeper Role in Economy (Update1) Bloomberg
House leaders clash over economic stimulus MarketWatch
Emerging players in Obama's national security team CNN
Hillary Clinton swayed by Barack Obama’s vow to listen to her input Boston Herald
Geraldine Ferarro on 'Secretary of State' Clinton FOXNews
Obama introduces Geithner as treasury secretary
CBC.ca
The last thing we need is a Clinton in charge of foreign policy. Slate
Ex-Bush speechwriter: Obama would control Clinton in Cabinet CNN
Obama taps Geithner, Clinton, Richardson, Summers
MarketWatch
Holder must face questions about the Marc Rich pardon Minneapolis Star Tribune
Experience of China's 30-year reform helpful to Nepal Xinhua
Lieberman Does Not Remember Who McCain Is Black Star News
CM to Inaugurate 115 New Bridges in Bihar Patna Daily
Obama says automakers need clear plan Chicago Tribune
Automakers must offer restructuring plan, Obama advisors say Los Angeles Times
Obama vows no 'blank check' for auto industry AFP
Asif Ali Zardari delights India with 'no first strike' policy
The Australian
Annan and Carter call for intervention in Zimbabwe Reuters
Venezuelan opposition gains power despite Chavez poll wins AFP
EDITORIAL: China’s non-democratic advantage Taipei Times
Hu: China upholding global financial stability Hindu
China basks in APEC limelight, balks at star role Forbes
Guns N Roses album may be banned in China Times of India
China's richest man 'under investigation' CNN International
China's richest man disappears Financial Post
Emerging players in Obama's national security team
CNN
Why Hillary became first cabinet pick Newsday
GM ends 9-year endorsement deal with Tiger Woods
BusinessWeek
Why Did Google Discontinue SearchMash? Washington Post
Why Yahoo! still matters Times Online
Analyst is impressed by Yahoo's strategic focus Boston Globe
Sprint targets Indian WiMAX and presses on with deployment at home
TelecomTV
Big B all praise for Ajay Times of India
US Economy: Home Resales Fall, Prices Tumble Most on Record Bloomberg
It's Too Soon to Hail Michael Dell as a Savior Barron's
Chinese media calls Guns 'N Roses 'Chinese Democracy' an attack New York Daily News

Obama's Daughters to Attend Sidwell Friends
Washington Post, United States
Obama Lobbies for Chicago Games in 2016
New York Times, United States
Obama Vows Swift Action on Vast Economic Stimulus Plan
New York Times, United States
Clearer picture emerges of Obama's Cabinet
San Jose Mercury News, USA
Chicago, Clinton camps feed Obama's incoming team
The Associated Press

United States Superpower Status in Decline - According to Report ToTheCenter.com
US Intelligence Report: World Headed for Multipolar Global Community Voice of America

Obama Tilts to Center, Inviting a Clash of Ideas New York Times

Plan would create 2.5 million jobs by 2011, he says
CNN
Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter Refused Entry into Zimbabwe
Voice of America
Clinton Expected to Accept Secretary of State Post FOXNews
Obama's vetting could chase away candidates
CNN
Timothy Geithner, the man who will run Obama's ecomomic team, is a ...
Telegraph.co.uk
Obama’s win a nightmare for al-Qaida Atlanta Journal Constitution
New York Weighs Options to Fill the Seat of Senator Clinton
New York Times
Nepal PM Prachanda offers to quit Times of India
US missiles striking terror into Pakistani militants guardian.co.uk
US Muslim leaders denounce al Qaeda's slur toward Obama CNN International
'WiMax the best for internet access' Economic Times
Now, Intel set sights on WiMAX space Sify
Dell disappoints as sales, earnings decline MarketWatch
Dell India revenue up 48%
Sify

Lines Grow At US Unemployment Offices
Forbes
Sources: Pritzker, Napolitano being vetted
CNN
Health Insurers Offer to Accept All Applicants, on Condition New York Times
Is Prince William Behind Paris Hilton's Split With Benji Madden? FOXNews
Al Qaeda's No. 2 leader uses racial epithet against Barack Obama Los Angeles Times
Al-Qaeda Leader Uses Slur Against Obama in Web Video Washington Post
GLENN BECK: Obama’s Election Changes Nothing for Al Qaeda
FOXNews
Pakistan protests US drone attacks, Taliban warns of reprisals AFP
Pakistan warns US over missile strike CNN International
Sector retreats on sub-$50 oil and $2 gasoline
MarketWatch
Wall Street fall accelerates London's decline guardian.co.uk
Astronaut on space-walk loses $100000 tool bag TG Daily
Lawyer: Michael Jackson to testify in London The Associated Press
Five ways to keep Alzheimer's away CNN
TV Ads Contribute to Childhood Obesity, Economists Say New York Times
Holder Poised to Make History, Again ABC News
Would-be attorney general Eric Holder haunted by Marc Rich pardon Los Angeles Times
China Hints at Climate Strategy in Los Angeles New York Times
California leads fight against climate change on global level Los Angeles Times
Auto industry bailout could get second chance in December Detroit Free Press

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

After A Week Of Freedom, Rudy's? SAFO?



Hillary's Westchester


It has been a week of living at the house of a family friend north of the city in Scarsdale, I believe it is in Westchester county. Never imagined I would share a county with Hillary. I have been a Hillary fan since 1991. But I hope to move to the city at the earliest. Believe it or not, but I miss the subway. The subway is the most New York thing about New York, I have long maintained.

No Anger

I am no Nelson Mandela, not even close, and you don't get time served credit for detention, but he came out not angry. They already took enough of my time, he said. I long made up my mind I was going to seek a fresh start, get back to work, take a second bite at the apple, take care of the legal details, but otherwise get back to working, living.

If I end up making some barbey comments, I hope all will take it in good faith. I am not angry, it is just that I have not blogged in a while. Allow me a few expletives here and there. Skip as necessary.

Fresh Start

My political contributions to Nepal and Obama have been through my digital democrat ways. So I thought I will give a few hours to Nepal and Obama each week, other than that I will steer clear of all political events in the city. Now I feel I should not be so hard on myself. So I am thinking of dropping by at Rudy's on Thursday and at this SAFO event. Likely Justin Krebs long forgot my name and face, but I will try my luck.

SAFO celebration Thursday, November 20th, 8:30pm at Apple Bar

Creative Angst

I feared I might have lost my man Friday Adam. But he is still on. He is now married. Anna is just an amazing human being. Lucky man Adam. I am trying to meet up with my second Adam. Hope that happens soon. At one level I do fear I might start going to too many events again. There is a part of me that says get totally consumed by the startup. No more political socializing. I am having to pick up the pieces. Six months lost, that means I get to shift the deadline for the two products by three months and get down to some intense work. It is called living dangerously, living on the edge.

A Different Kind Of Socializing

I keep talking about Web 2.0 and Web 5.0. If I were to totally subsume myself into startup work, I think that is going to greatly impact my socializing ways. You do the intense web 2.0 stuff for work, and you balance it out with intense 5.0 that is not formally work, but you could not do the 2.0 without the 5.0. Kind of like matter and antimatter. Got to coexist.

Dean, Barack

Dean 2004 was Grassroots 1.0, Obama 2008 has been Grassroots 2.0. I find myself wondering what shape and form Grassroots 3.0 will take.

My Cousin Barack

I want him to feel my physical absence and my love. He is my cousin like Steve Jobs and Larry Ellison are best friends. I am a Karl Rove he does not have to pay for, only I am no Karl Rove. That guy could never run for public office himself, I could, it is just that I don't see me doing it. Rove is short of a political genius. The thing is anyone standing next to Bush would look like a genius, why only Rove?

Barack's presidency is an amazing point in world history. And I am so glad I can follow his moves through Google News. In a city like NYC, almost everybody is a small fish in a big pond. Unless you are ridiculoulsy high wattage - like Barack and Hillary - you pretty much get the anonymity of being a nobody. Charming.

Micro Economics, Macro Economics, Globo Economics

Before Keynes and FDR came along, we had micro economics but no macro economics. I think this crisis will allow Barack to carve out a global financial architecture that will serve the planet for decades. Looks like everything is going global, including the American presidency. This dude did his elementary schooling in the Third World, like I did. I told you, he is my cuz.

Barack's New Kind Of Politics, My Nonviolent Militancy

I am a declared student of Barack's new kind of politics. For one Barack has proven it can be wildly successful. I don't fully get it, but I am learning, and I am also skeptical as to its universal appeal. I propose my nonviolent militancy to topple Third World dictators. And Barack's new kind of politics itself could be succeeded by what I might want to call scientific progressivism.

Barack And Race

My experience so far has been the average white American gets really unsettled when you just mention race as a topic. You don't have to accuse anyone of racism or get into the policy nitty gritty of race relations. You just mention race and people lose it.

Barack tackled that real well. By proving me wrong. My attitude was and still is we have to talk about race. That is how you make progress on race. He is like, no we don't. We make progress on race by not talking about race.

This dude is white. He was raised by a white mother, by white grandparents. I think Barack's mother has done as much for race in America as MLK. Because Barack is biracial he instinctively sees the stupidity of racial anxieties. That guy is black but no, he is not violent. That guy is white but no, he is not racist.

News

Holder Seen as Justice Choice as Obama Forms Team
New York Times, United States
Barack Obama must sideline Bill Clinton before making Hillary ...
New York Daily News, NY
Two for the Price of Two New York Times
The Early Word: How to Pick a Cabinet
New York Times, United States
Borger: Obama dealing from strength CNN International
I'm Still Inspired by John McCain Wall Street Journal
Obama Affirms Climate Change Goals
New York Times, United States
Obama Addresses Climate Summit Washington Post
Obama's video message energizes climate conference Los Angeles Times
Barack Obama morphs into Bill Clinton. How sad
Kansas City Star, MO
White House Memo Obama Team Anything but Shy and Retiring New York Times
Barack Obama’s Change Administration Full of Old Faces U.S. News & World Report
Al-Qaeda message condemns Obama
BBC News, UK
Al-Qaida No. 2 brands Obama dishonorable MSNBC
Al-Qaida No. 2 insults Obama in new audio message The Associated Press
Obama Thanks Palestinian President
New York Times, United States
Palestinian official: Obama pledges to support Mideast peace process Xinhua
Obama Embrace of Wall Street Insiders Points to Politic Reforms
Bloomberg
Can Lincoln's playbook help Obama in the years ahead? CNN
Obama Inspired by, Compared to Lincoln Washington Post
Honest Abe and Forceful Barack Seattle Times
No sweat: Obamas work fitness into daily routine
The Associated Press

Clinton endorses Clinton as Barack Obama's secretary of state
Los Angeles Times, CA
President-elect Barack Obama puts CBS' '60 Minutes' on top of ratings
New York Daily News, NY
Archival footage: Barack Obama has a sense of humor! About Rahm ...
Los Angeles Times, CA
Hill Heavy Hitters Filling Obama's West Wing Lineup Washington Post
Longstanding Obama Adviser Gets Senior Role at the White House New York Times
Political temperature may be just right for healthcare overhaul
Los Angeles Times, CA
Malia and Sasha's big move Los Angeles Times, CA





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