Sunday, December 07, 2008
Laloo
In The News
The Kashmir Connection: A Puzzle New York Times on April 23, 2006, Osama bin Laden seemed to signal an open alliance with groups like Lashkar, and their goals. He issued a proclamation denouncing “a Crusader-Zionist-Hindu war against Muslims.” He referred to the United States, Israel and India in the statement ..... no one knows if this attack was the start of something new.
Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast Scale New York Times
Kennedy Is Said to Cast Her Eye on Senate Seat New York Times
US senators says Pakistan will act The Associated Press
Terrorist SIM card trail leads to Kolkata Times of India
White House Memo Bush, On His Way Out, Leads Way in for Others New York Times
Decoy fails to deploy, but missile test called 'success' CNN International
Report Debunks Theory That US Heard a Coded Warning About Pearl Harbor New York Times
Applause from every side as Obama picks all-star team Financial Times
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Universal Broadband, Universal Health Care
Universal broadband and bringing all public school buildings into the 21st century have to be key components of the $500 billion stimulus package. On that add roads and bridges. Although initially not intended to be so, universal health care has to be part of the same package. And it can not be about throwing good money after bad. The problem with health care in this country is not that there is not enough money in the sector as is, the problem is that the sector acts like there are no market forces at work. It is socialized medicine, not socialized medicine for the people, but socialized for the insurance companies and big pharma. If market forces were at work in the medical industry, the paperwork would for the most part vanish, companies would compete with each other to adopt the latest in information technology. They would compete to cut costs. Cutting down paperwork is a big part of cutting costs in the sector. Yes, people may keep their current insurance if they like it, that is the Obama message, but the amounts those people pay have to go down. Universal broadband should similarly have a downward pull on the cost of education. And roads and bridges and public schools are things that you repair periodically. There is wear and tear involved. Giving the public schools a new look and feel is key to breaking the cycle of chronic poverty in the inner cities and in rural America and in the Appalachia.
In Bill Clinton's 1990s America saw the early pangs of becoming a knowledge economy. But it never got there. And then Bush happened. Finally we can dream again. Obama is in. Universal broadband and universal health care are the bedrock of a possible knowledge economy. A knowledge economy is not just about dot com companies and flash in the pan millionaires. A knowledge economy is about lifelong learning for everyone. In that scenario it is going to be perfectly normal for people to not just have many jobs but several careers over a lifetime. That flux will add to the productivity levels. But that flux will increase anxiety levels instead of productivity levels if there is no universal health care.
Granted Paulson is making the right moves right now, the $700 billion to the financial sector will come back as a trillion in about five years, possibly more. Anything above $700 billion will more than pay towards this $500 billion stimulus expense.
But the number one reason for this stimulus deal is that if you don't do it, the economy is going to spiral down into an even deeper recession. Can't allow that to happen. Deeper recession means wealth will vanish. There is going to be deflation in several sectors.
This 500 billion deal also allows Obama to get America to take the first steps towards energy independence. JFK took America to the moon, Barack gets to take America to energy independence. It might not happen in eight years, or 10, the challenge is bigger than landing a man on the moon. But a Manhattan Project like focus in research and development is needed.
To Go Or Not To Go
December 10: Holiday Party by the State Democratic Party (likely not attending)
I am surprised how torn I am about the December 10 event. Should I go? Should I not go? Is it legal for me to go? Or is it legal but unwise? Worse, is it legal and foolish? Legal and not the best use of my time? Should I even be blogging this thought churn? Should I instead just quietly skip?
I am not too worried about the blogging part. I have blogged about pretty much everything since I showed up in town, including the misadventure over the past six months. It is legal. It is free speech. It is a lifestyle choice.
A MLK Style Death Awaits Me In Nepal
Lipstick On A Pig
Jail Time
Letter To The Department Of Homeland Security
Freedom, Finally
Then there is the legality question. (June 4, 2008 Court Appearance: Prepared Statement: Final Draft) The harassment charge was dropped, but I don't know if it was dropped by ERC or NYPD. And I don't really have a way to find out. I guess I could go talk to the state appointed attorney in question. Is that worth my time? The iffy harassment charge was dropped. But the bogus court order violation and the resulting overnight arrest is still on the records which leads me to believe perhaps the harassment charge was dropped by ERC, not the NYPD. Because why would the NYPD drop one and keep another? But even if one was dropped and another was not, what happens to the court order resulting from both? Is that still in place? Does it stay in place forever? How does that work? And if it is still in place, I know not to contact ERC, not to ask anyone else to do it for me, and not to show up for DL21C events. But what about an event like this one? I don't know for sure if she will be there. But there is a chance she will be as an active political person. And I have no way to find out. The idea of showing up and then having to leave is not appealing. But if there is no longer a court order, is it okay for me to show up for DL21C events? Or would that trigger another chain of unpleasant events for me? I should perhaps visit John Youngblood and find out if the court order is still in place. Just to be on the safe side. The political asylum case is enough of a legal weight, I don't want another.
December 10: Holiday
Pitcher
Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?
Then there is the social angle. Court order or no court order, discomfort might be reason enough to avoid, discomfort on either her part or mine.
And then there is a political angle. The whole drama has been a study in race, and gender to me, possibly even class, but not that much, I am a future billionaire, in a class of my own. Yet another angle would be to say the October 2007 Senator Mary event started a chain reaction that got Spitzer and Hillary out of Bobby's way for 2016. (Louisiana Senator Event: Crime Scene) Come to think of it, Hillary could still run in 2016. If McCain can run at 73, why can't Hillary run at 68? That woman is dynamo.
All I really need to be of use to Barack over the next eight years is Google News, and Blogger. I am a digital democrat.
And there is a technical question. I have asked Rohini if there is a cash way of purchasing the ticket to the event. Rohini is Desi and the state party Finance Chair. That makes me less likely to root for Bobby.
Video: Governor Jindal On The Tonight Show
And then there is a career angle. I am not a politician. In politics the office that most fascinates me intellectually is the presidency, and it is the ultimate executive office. I am temperamentally not suited for anything legislative. I like movement. I am seeking a corporate career for me. It is just that I don't see it as a career switch after a few years of cutting edge political work. I see internet access as the voting right for the 21st century. (IC) My company wants to make it cheaper for people to go online. I fashion myself the MLK for the Global South, if politics is what you understand. I might show up for a political event and feel out of place, feel like I should instead have been working, putting effort into my young startup that very hour, damn the party scene. Not to say I could do with a little more respect from the young progressives in this city, political respect, for work I have already done. You want to fight the war on terror? I got the progressive formula. And you know it.
Change is Coming Holiday Bash
| Host: | |
| Type: | |
| Network: | Global |
| Date: | Thursday, December 11, 2008 |
| Time: | 8:00pm - 11:00pm |
| Location: | Nightingale Lounge |
| Street: | 213 Second Ave. (Northwest corner of 13th St.) |
| City/Town: | New York, NY |
DL21C's Sixteenth Annual Holiday Bash!
| Start Time: | Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 8:00pm |
| End Time: | Friday, December 12, 2008 at 2:00am |
| Location: | Strata Nightclub |
| Street: | 915 Broadway (@21st Street) |
| City/Town: | New York, NY |
In The News
China steps up military ties with Nepal
Hillary Clinton's coterie of 'attack dog' aides has Obama's team ... Telegraph.co.uk
Will Hillary Clinton Really Call Obama 'Boss'?
Nepal palace massacre survivor makes fresh start Times of India
LA reacts to Simpson sentencing in Vegas The Associated Press
O.J. Simpson sentenced to lengthy prison term
Friday, December 05, 2008
December 10: Holiday
| Host: | |
| Type: |
| Date: | Wednesday, December 10, 2008 |
| Time: | 9:00pm - 11:00pm |
| Location: | Westin New York at Times Square, Broadway Ballroom - 3rd Floor |
| Street: | 270 West 43rd Street at 7th Avenue |
| City/Town: | New York, NY |
My Status: Maybe Attending, Maybe Not
In The News
Issues Pressing, Obama Fills Top Posts at a Sprint New York Times Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was not sure what Mr. Obama wanted to talk about when she was summoned here last month, said another person close to the transition. She had heard speculation about jobs, but only after she arrived at Mr. Obama’s office did he ask her to think about being secretary of state.
Obama Hauls in Record $750 Million for Campaign New York Times
Pitcher
I had three stops prior: 34th Street, Water Street, and a Momo stop in Jackson Heights. Then I showed up at Rudy's a little after 7:30. The winter tent is on in the backyard. The heater is on. There was a crowd there sure. This was more than five people. Josh, the other person on Drinking Liberally payroll, was holding court. I spent a minute with that huddle, then walked over to a corner crowd, one woman, about five men. Laura and Lucas were engaged and Lucas had organized a gathering with his fellow city planner friends. The guys were from all over the place, Bronx, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Westchester. I talked mostly to Laura to start with, then to Lucas, then to others, there was a Tom.
Justin Krebs showed up late. He gave a shout out to Lucas from the other end of the tent. A little later he walked over. He was his garrulous self. Trivia: this guy is not on Facebook. Now you know why the organization is not growing faster.
He bragged about the 99 cent menu items in his neighborhood, which was right there. "I live right round the corner." Laura asked him if he ate vegetables. What are those? He asked. I feared he might ask me what a cow looks like. Like Bill Clinton says, most New York politicians could not tell one end of the cow from another. Nepal is the Arkansas of the world. We are poor and proud too. Then she asked if he had sheets. He said he had blankets. Standing back to back he mentioned "truck driver." A little later he said it was Rudy's 75th anniversary in a few hours, on the 5th. I guess the place was around also during prohibition. That might have been a Mirza reference.
Laura went out and brought food for her crowd, shared the fries with me. She gave me her card to become Facebook friends with.
Hello Stephanie. Hello Brooke.
There was some kind of a loud beer game going on at the other end of the tent, more than a dozen people participating.
A little after 10 I left.
When he talked about the 99 cent pizza place on 41st and 9th, he said, "I wonder how they make money." He is right on the dot. To me that place is in the same league as Dell and Walmart, it is a terrific business model. You drive the price down and make money on volume. I don't go there just for pizza, I go there for business inspiration.
Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?
In The News
Issues Pressing, Obama Fills Top Posts at a Sprint New York Times, United States
Obama urges donors to ease Clinton campaign debt The Associated Press
Former president Clinton says Obama must put US further into debt
Jobs Numbers Fall Off Table In November Forbes
Big jobs losses point to deepening recession
Automakers try to sell Congress on rescue Thursday The Associated Press
GM pledges faster cost-cuts in return for bailout
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Kettle, Pitcher
December 3, Kettle Full Of Fish, December 4, Rudy's, December 10, Holiday?
Kettle
I showed up a little early, so walked around. When I showed up five minutes before seven, noone else had showed up. And I am thinking, this is going to be like that Rudy's experience: After A Week Of Freedom, Rudy's? SAFO?, The Four White Manhattan Organizations. Hardly anyone is going to show. But by the time I went to the bar, got my drink - and the bowl of nuts - and got back, one person was there, Josh Silverstein, the host: Joshing Politics. I was surprised he seemed to know my name after I introduced myself. Does that fit the definition of notoriety? For a low profile guy like me? Then Tracey showed. It is possible she was surprised to see me. Then this guy who has a four month old kid who he claimed did pushups. Then Margaret of Citizen Action. Oh yes, you are a regular, she said. That is when I realized maybe Josh also faked it, he does not know me, or of me. And this guy Marshall. He hovered around until Tracey walked up to him and brought him in. Yes, this is the place. 80 minutes later he was complaining to Tracey about "Obama magnets." We supported Obama, but we are not an Obama group, Tracey said. I had a laugh. The guy was figuring out where exactly he was, what was this event, what was this organization.
None of the oldies showed up. Otherwise I had come resolved to never call Lewis Cohen a white asshole male ever again. I have been learning Barack's new kind of politics. Heather, Abhishek, Lewis, none showed. I guess they don't do the After LinkUp thing these days.
Tracey ran with her characteristic running commentary most of the time. She is really good at that. I have always been impressed with her encyclopedic knowledge of local politics. This day her talk was even more panoramic than ever. On national issues, and personalities, I would go head to head, but on local my mind used to go foggy. Dan Jacoby, whose knowledge of local politics is hardly encyclopedic, but back then everyone knew more local politics than me, his attitude would be like, let's talk local politics, let's make this guy uncomfortable.
When she asked everyone how they felt about Hillary's nomination, I saw an opening to speak, but the topic changed faster than a New York minute. I for the first time heard the name Nydia Velazquez, apparently the frontrunner to be Senator since Hillary has moved on. That's curious, because right now I happen to be temporarily living in her district.
And then snippets of comments here and there that are a window into the economically hard times in the city, Ph.D.s doing cooking jobs, people looking for jobs. This too shall pass.
Overall I was so glad to have showed up. It just might have been the most relaxed I ever felt at a DFNYC LinkUp. I was actually there. My first six months with DFNYC, my mind would be 10,000 miles away. The Dean 2004 alum feeling is a good feeling. My primary day to day focus on my startup, I am in the city, finally.
I walked out and away while the rest of the group had stood up, but they were still talking, they had not decided to leave just as yet. I walked out into a welcoming, bustling, impersonal New York street.
Tracey explores your mind while talking nonstop. That is her style. I also long called her the dynamo of DFNYC. Heather is high on knowledge, Lewis is high on authority, Tracey is high on dynamism. Abhishek brings in diversity through the door, soft-spoken diversity. And I have always been intrigued by the collective leadership concept of DFNYC. Women do group dynamics differently. At some level it is downright fascinating.
DFNYC also has a way of mixing political talk with informal, personal talk, casual mentions. The setting helps. This was half a dozen individuals sitting on couches, not 50 or 150 people standing up, drinking beer. There is something special about a DFNYC LinkUp that way.
Men's fear of women, white folks' fear of nonwhite folks, novelist Anita calls it the powerful's fear of the powerless. It is guttural, it is ignorant.
Pitcher
Tomorrow, Rudy's.
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