open thread - - clinton challenges obama to a debate duel - - hireheels repeats: no debate, no balls!
Excerpted from Associated Press Article by MIKE GLOVER & SARA KUGLER:
Clinton took the debate dispute to a new level, challenging Obama to face off with her in a debate without a moderator, Lincoln-Douglas style.
“Just the two of us, going for 90 minutes, asking and answering questions, we’ll set whatever rules seem fair,” Clinton said while campaigning in South Bend.
Her campaign made the offer formal with a letter to the Obama campaign. Obama aides said they were studying the letter…..you keep studying Obamabots….here is princess’ take on the matter:
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
HI,
I’ll be there Saturday!
Hillary 08
- Anastacia
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
IVOTE is heading to Philly. See you gals at 7pm. Cheers!
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
HEY GUYS - the hireheels shindig made HILLARY’s RAPID RESPONSE TODAY ….. cooooooooooooooooool
thank you Hillary Rapid Responders for all u do!!
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Count me in….1 person, coming from Southern California to Philly!
-Maritza
on April 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Count me in!
- Carla
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
would like to attend. I’m a man, strong Hillary supporter and volunteer phone caller at her national headquarters. Are men invited? Is it a social gathering?
Thank you,
Patrick
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Patrick - Of course we’ll take some sugar daddies - come on by!!!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I can’t get there till Tues. morning / afternoon’
Where can we meet then ….
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
we don’t know our marching orders for tues - maybe we can meet @ philly office…
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
rsvp philly pa sat 7 pm - ED
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I would love to join you in Philly, but I’m heading out today for Erie until Wednesday. Wishing you all luck and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Would LOVE to go…But I will be in Washington PA and after canvassing from 10am to 4pm and planning on canvassing on Sunday from 10am to 4pm, not sure if I will have the energy….but if I do, I will be there
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hillary is a special person ,who has a rare combination of outstanding attributes. She’ll be a great President. Hillary’s shown us that she’s a tough fighter. We’ve all got to fight just as hard for her. If we all stick together and keep working hard, Hillary’s going all the Way!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
re: philly ….HI GALS,
WISH I COULD GO BUT CAN’T. MUCH SUCCESS! MUCH FUN!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hello all, I am a young professional singer/songwriter who has written a song for Hillary called “Hillary Listens” and have performed it at many PA events–I travel all the way from MD to do so. I’d love to perform at your event if at all possible. Please email me ASAP.
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Hire heels! Will be there! I will be coming up from Virginia and will be working in the West Chester area on Saturday. So if everything goes well I will make it into Philly!
Looking forward to the evening!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
RSVP for hillary party: We will come, we are from Boston and will be there campaigning for Hillary, Is it at the Lowes Hotel?
Thanks, Pnar & Bill
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Excellent - we’re from boston too!! (actually one from boston - one from miami) We’re doing the same thing - staying til Tuesday - thought it would be nice to pull some Hill supporters together.
Yes - Loews in downtown philly….here’s my cell in case you would like to call us: 617.416.4897
- princess
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
go hillary … I’ll be there in spirit!!!
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Hi guys-I can’t make it on Saturday–although I will be in Harrisburg Sun. until the primary…Can you guys put out the word—we have organized a group of HRC supporters to post on-line comments in local papers—Right now we are covering PA, IN, and NC—but we need help! (most of our volunteers have come through Hillaryis44 and Taylor Marsh)– The Obamatrons do their best to bully us but we’re sticking it out—but sometimes it’s 10-3—so we could use some FIREPOWER! EMAIL PAULA: spabeles@patriot.net
on April 18th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
LOVE your site - any way to get your blog feed on rss so we can stay up to date on your blog (e.g., bloglines)
on April 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
SEE U GALS in PHILLY! btw, Love, love, LOVE the latest video. Who knew Sean, Rush, Billo, Joe, and Pat had six-pack abs! Punditlicious!
I just wanted to thank you again for linking to our Florida/Michigan petition. We’ve set an agressive new goal of 50,000 by May, although we’ll continue this effort until the convention if we must. We’ve also added your site as a link on our new blog.
Thanks again,
Piper
Resident Hot Chic
Black Sheep Delegation
on April 19th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
GREETING FROM LOEWS PHILLY!!!!!!!!! We are in some serious OBAMA territory - we’ve been fighting them from the rental car agency to the hotel lobby - we’re armed with our signs and buttons and hireheels’ attitudes…look out PHILLY - …..this in now HILLARYLAND!!!
on April 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I’m cheering everyone on from the sidelines here in Canada!
Go, Hillary, Go!
And have fun, everyone!
on April 19th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
2 Debs just in from NYC, will stop by Media office and then out for a drink. How late will you be at the Lowes?
on April 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
2 deborahs or 2 debutants !?!? HAH!!
We will wait 4 U - princess: 617-416-4897!!!
on April 20th, 2008 at 12:12 am
12:09am Throwing back shots & boilermakers @ the standard tab pub with teamsters & 22-year-olds…
Hilladarity was a huge hit - …. Full report 2moro!
on April 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am
by the way …… we’re outnumbering obamabots 3 to 1 …. and outclassing ‘em 20 to 1
Hill has solid support here!
on April 20th, 2008 at 2:02 am
2am - switching gears in north Philly - “the puerto rican quarter” getting a crash course in salsa dancing - oh my!!
they love Hillary here - except for the dj.
on April 20th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Cowboy boot fringe contingent made it safely back to the hotel. Had a great time cavorting with the Hillary gang and regret we couldn’t continue on to the next stop with you. We plan to canvass for Hillary in Media (not media) all day tomorrow and look forward to our next rendezvous. Keep us posted.
on April 20th, 2008 at 2:17 am
For some reason my caps aren’t posting.
on April 20th, 2008 at 2:55 am
TY 2 debs. format of the blog is lower case. See you on the trail! Thanks to all who came out to support our gal!
on April 20th, 2008 at 10:18 am
princess and sista, had a great time meeting you guys and the rest of Hillary’s fantastic supporters. She’s got wonderful people working for her. Thanks a lot for throwing a really fun party! Hope we all get together again
on April 20th, 2008 at 11:52 am
yesterday we embedded ourselves in downtown’s mostly African-American urban streets, blue collar beer-drinking pubs on the outskirts…all the way to Northern Philly in the latin quarter….Hillary’s support here is palpable …. and her supporters are passionate. We found a 22-year-old guy who spent an hour explaining to us why he loves Hillary - a 81-year-old woman (former republican until last year) - who told me: “I love hillary because she’s honest and stands up for EVERYONE…unlike the republicans who stand for themselves”…a 24-year-old gal who said she appreciates the plight and journey of a woman who is about to break the ultimate glass ceiling….a 27-year old male doctoral student who cites Hillary’s 35 years of experience…”she has the drive & fortitude to lead this country out of the bush years”….a 50-something African Native (Camaroon) Social Worker who loves Obama but is secretly VOTING for Hillary (she came to Hilladarity, which she stumbled onto online!)….”there is no comparison,” she said…….A Teamster who was so afraid of telling me (he had to do a boilermaker first) - that “A good portion of the general membership of International Brethren of Teamsters are upset with Hoffa’s choice of Barack Obama…” this source proceeded to escort us gals throughout teamster strongholds to prove his point…..finally we met a surprising number of Arkansans who are in philly to make Hillary’s case…they were the fiercest defenders of the entire bunch…pretty amazing stuff to see in person.
stay tuned for the footage…coming soon!!
p.s. outstanding philly cheesesteaks @ solefood in the loews philly!!!!
on April 20th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
hey philly peeps - typo on Sonya’s Cell # - the correct telly is: (501) 282-7150
on April 20th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
back to school!
Our gal is rumored to be there …..
heading to upenn to teach obamabots a crash course in manners - unlike last night, there will be no martinis & boilermakers
on April 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
we r live on CNN right now @ UPenn …. 50 Hillary peeps 2 obama peeps in audience….
on April 21st, 2008 at 1:58 am
Spent the day canvassing & visibility in Philly burbs. Very positive hillary response. Lots of out of state volunteers. Then onto Tinicum Township fire dept to watch bill Clinton wow the crowd. Spoke with lots of repubs who switched to dem just to vote for our gal. way to go! Anyone going to u of penn tomorrow night?
on April 21st, 2008 at 9:26 am
GOOD MORNING….
hillary is widening her lead in pennsylvania, based on polls breaking this morning….this would match the mood we’re sensing, and, the anecdotal evidence we’re seeing on the streets of philadelphia……..obama has little to no presence in philly …. if a game change is to occur, it will be here in pennsylvania. if you’re not in philly, but reading this, please donate a few bucks thru our nail the nomination campaign….a polish change is just $5 and a manicure - $12….(sista just donated her mani) - click this link:
http://www.hireheels.com/nailthenom.html
on April 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Cheering for HILLARY all the way from Paris! Wish I could be there!!!! Bonne chance!!!!!
on April 21st, 2008 at 9:47 am
great news about hill and pa–i think the polls are a direct reflection of our rumpshaking for hill this weekend–hill supporters here are ‘pump’-ed up and ready to win–let’s take hillary from pennsylvania to pensylvania avenue!
on April 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am
Sista took a stiletto through the toe for Team Hillary on the salsa dance floor. My late-night get-out-the-Latin vote efforts in Philly were a samba-shimmying success. I may be limping down Market Street (in flats)— but I’m holding my Hillary sign high!!! AND reports are saying that our gal NEEDS cash pronto– so I just donated my mani/pedi (again). My nails looks like Hell, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder– so maybe some hill-supporting guy will think I’m cute anyway!
on April 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
cocktails & filets @ cap grille - no converting mccain country - but a girl’s gotta eat…. off to see bubba
on April 21st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hillary’s Headquarters has been full of enthusiastic volunteers making calls to PA today. Getting lots of good vibes and positive feedback from the good folks of PA. All of that Hireheel rumpshakin’ and stiletto salsa-ing must be gettin’ everyone psyched for Hillary! Sista, I’m sure Hillary appreciates you taking one for the team (the stiletto through the toe). Definitely calls for a Campaign Purple Heart!
on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
So glad my team’s kicking butt! Glad you’re all having a great time there, wish I could have gone, but Sista, have a samba for me, will ya?
on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
west Philly bound to persuade inner city 4 our gal!!!!!
on April 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
What a SUCCESS! Congrats to all.
on April 24th, 2008 at 12:07 am
My dears, site is looking better and better!
Now quick before the ad disappers, go check out http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/?p=880 — shoes on the left side. Really! Right now!
on April 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Thanks 1950dem and the rest who have kept us standing tall for the past several days! Philly was fab. The support for our gal was greater than we expected. Keep the good vibes pumping!!
on April 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I’d like to see the candidates impress us with what they do between now and the election. Then their rallies can just be telling their side of the story on how we got done now…about how they valiantly fought against George W.Bush, the lame-duck president, Dick Cheney the guy getting rich from defense contracts, who told us there were undeniably nuclear weapons in Iraq and has shot a man in the last couple of years. More importantly, though, I would like to hear them talk about their conversations with the Republicans who want the country to be prosperous, and agree that things are out of control, and how they talked to some hardliners whose jobs are going to be on the line. How they invoked the Senate’s treaty making powers, and talked to Al-Sadr and other prominent Iraqi leaders, and brought peace to the region for a pricetag of less than $100 Billion per year. I think getting the government to agree to a per capita stipend from oil revenues to each individual in Iraq and a matching equivalent to go to the development of mass transit, power grids etc… would go a long way toward ensuring the continued happiness of the people, and demonstrate enough revenue, that private developers will come to the region. If the government takes one step further and says that a maximum of 50% of retail space can be owned by foriegn interests, it would continue to allow the people to negotiate their own deals, and create businesses of their own.
I agree with Governor Ed Rendell.
I would like to see the candidates firmly say something like “No more foriegn military aid.”
Why do we pay Pakistan 10 Billion per year for weapons(military aid)? Especially when they have been believed to have sold nuclear technology?
As we look to cut our dependence on foreign oil, and any sort of fossil fuels…how about the government look to use the source of energy taxpayer dollars have already invested in— nuclear fuel…. there’s probably more than enough last us a decade if we switch over, and we can continue our investment in alternative.
Shouldn’t these be our debates, rather than I’m better than you are, no your not, yes I am.
every day people are losing their lives, we spend $300 million a day in Iraq. That’s 6 million dollars of taxpayer money, per state, per day. For a yearly cost of 2 Billion dollars per state. At that rate, at those levels of resources being burned up, can we afford to be listening to our two most powerful voices to debate about who’s better, or do we need to be talking about what they are doing to solve the problems?
The question of who’s better qualified can best be summed up by who’s doing, and who isn’t?
I think the challenges ahead warrant a national conversation about what needs to be done, and our elected leaders gathering information for that conversation. Their actions will produce a president, rather than their promises.
Take a look at the Newsweek article, Murdock, Ink. And think about if that is the way we should be framing our national debates.
Alg0rhYthM
From the America ‘08 campaign,
For the getting things done better campaign, ’till infinity and beyond
(previously)
I’m not worried about the general election… John Mccain is a guy who applied to get around a campaign finance law called McCain Feingold.
I want to know why the question is about who will win and why it’s not have these guys shown up to work lately?
I’d like to know how many votes these guys have missed in this time
They are the most powerful members of the most powerful body of the US Senate, and they make decisions about where hundreds of billions of dollars go…. there are people dying, while two Senators with similar ideas get their supporters barking at each other, spending millions of dollars while our infrastructure crumbles, while weather patterns are destabilizing. (It snowed this year in Baghdad, for the first time, ever- and Baghdad’s pretty old. )Our dollar is worth less every day. And our educational standards have been in decline for decades.
These people are being paid to represent us, and they’re spending their time arguing minutiae and engaging in a costly game of he said, she said.
How many jobs can you keep where you get a year and a half off to interview for another job?
How about we stop talking about who has worse associates..
To me it seems a little like a bad episode of the Real World, a bunch of people watching other people snipe at each other except billions are spent every week, people are dying.
How about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton pass some bills that will help their agenda, now.
How about they go to Iraq, and try to get us a plan, how about they organize some votes around their bills in Congress.. how about they start putting pressure on the Republicans… asking them individually why they are blocking the bills?
Put each of them on camera, saying why they are voting one way or another…. I’ll bet you those no votes start disappearing, fast.
Maybe they only get to go to rallies three days a week., where they can talk about the progress they’ve had in solving our problems, tell their stories, and let the people decide which one is better suited for the head job… and I don’t know why people are acting like the vp job isn’t a critical function. Running the Senate, running the country while the President is in foriegn meetings, which this next President is going to have a lot of, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Africa. I think we are going to need treaties with a number of nations, and to actually go there to understand the nations we are negotiating with. Really, speaking with many leaders across the globe, pressing our interests, but also listening for ways we can improve our relationships with these countries.
I’d like to see our prospective Presidents act as current Senators,working on some of these problems rather than talking about what they would do to help if they had a different job.
The only thing that will get my vote in November, is a detailed report from them on what they ARE doing, and not what they will do.
The candidates, are not as important as the issues. What is important is that the people start asking questions, demanding a higher standard from their politicians, understanding the issues that face the nation, and understanding as much about their largest expense, the government as they do about their next largest purchases, their house and their cars. Voting is not enough… you must ask for more from your government, for more for your money.
If you want to start to understand at a better level what goes on start here:
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080501faessay87304/richard-n-haass/the-age-of-nonpolarity.html
I agree with Governor Ed Rendell.
I would like to see the candidates firmly say something like “No more foriegn military aid.”
Why do we pay Pakistan 10 Billion per year for weapons(military aid)? Especially when they have been believed to have sold nuclear technology?
If we pay them, why can’t we go after Osama Bin Laden, who is hiding there?
Why is the worlds leading supplier of heroin, a US controlled state in the body of Afghanistan?
Ask why the “Democratic” party has all sorts of “super” delegates whose opinions matter more than those of other people?
Why are there rules moderating or negating the right of my vote?
That is the way it is…. but is that the way it has to be?
What is my government doing for me, for the money I pay it?
This is the best, richest and most powerful nation in the world, and I would like it to stay that way… so I ask questions about how it can do things better, and hold our leaders to at the minimal levels I would my co-workers, that they show up to the jobs we pay them for.
The nature of a democracy, is that the people decided…how about in our republic, those civil servants who have jobs in our government do them, and make their case about who deserves the top spot later or on their own time.
on April 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
noble but not realistic that candidates will engage in this level of debate - prince algorithm…good cocktail talk though…..this is a sound bite elex for a sound bite society…i didn’t create it - but your points are all taken…too bad your candidate will not agree to a debate in north carolina….by the way, should we be assigning you your own shoe? That’s quite a lengthy comment, but we love the attention.
on April 24th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
reading this made me think of senator mccaskill and others in congress who have publicly stated that the only reason they’re endorsing Obama is because their kids begged them to. Gee, i begged my mom for a car when i turned 16 and she told me to get a job. I need my elected officials to exercize judgement when choosing a president - what kind of example does following your teenage children set? Why is ‘experience’ such a dirty word in america
on April 24th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Is it non-realistic that we expect our government to serve us, that people do their jobs, that we expect that people running for the most powerful position in the world do something while they are in a 100 person tie for the 3rd most powerful person in the world?
Why can’t they work and run at the same time?
Why doesn’t it bother you that people are dying, and thirty percent of your paycheck is being wasted while two people with similar positions duke it out?
It’s not about my candidate vs. your candidate, and that is what you are not seeing. It’s about things getting better, and using any resource available to get there.
It’s about the people making demands on their government.
I don’t really understand bluefaux’s comment, but I do know experience became a dirty word when it meant you get rich as soon as you leave public life, in exchange for a few favors.
I don’t deny Hillary’s experience would be a good thing, I would like her to use it, to demonstrate that she can get things done now, instead of spending her time crafting a message to belittle her Democratic colleague.
Make some real political progress in Iraq, and the general election is a cake walk.
on April 24th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
bluetaux,
I’m with you on the experience thing. The old adage “the devil is in the details” is on nuclear-powered steroids in government, where there are thousands of ways to derail, gum up, or FUBAR the best of intentions–and they’re all within the rules.
We’re seeing a similar scenario play out in Massachusetts, where Deval Patrick rode into office on a huge wave of first-time voters but blew tons of goodwill making stupid rookie mistakes. I still like the guy, but I’m under no illusions that he’s going to be all that powerful on behalf of the important things he wants to do. Politics is, as one of my mentors said, about the accumulation and use of power. We choose our candidates based on how we think they’ll use that power. Because of my own experience behind the scenes with lower-level politicians, I’m always suspicious of reformers. I’ve seen too many who were all about the admirable and worthy sizzle, but never actually learned where to buy the steak or how to cook it.
on April 24th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Indeed bluetaux. I’m right down the street from gov. d.p.’s golden dome—where i voted to put him… brilliant words, glowing promises and gleaming ideas may glitter– but to me, getting things done it what’s truly golden. senator obama will not be able to deliver said pot at the end of that hopeful rainbow.
on April 25th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I would like to thank you for your support of what I consider one of the “Strongest Women” I have ever seen! I am a 46 year old father of 4. I have three daughters in their 20’s and I remember telling them that I wished for them to be strong independant women like their mother and Hillary Clinton! I was raised in a family of eight by a strong woman! she imparted on me a love and respect for women no matter what. I have taught this to my son and my “Girls” were raised in a household where the woman was RESPECTED!not because I saw her as needing to be sheltered or protected but, because I believed and still do that a woman is my equal. I thank my mother for this. I am a STRONG supporter of Hillary. I will do ALL I can to see her win the White House. God knows we men have done so much damage to this country that it will take a woman to fix her…Thank you for allowing me to write this and keep up the good fight!!!!
on April 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
So that means that you will never look at any one who would change the way things work… because you don’t believe that they can.
If experience is the end all be all, why wouldn’t we elect Robert Byrd, or bring back Kerry?
Because passion and strength of character, ability to project leadership counts for something.
I imagine anyone reading this considers themselves to be literate, with good reason and a good citizen, taking the time to understand the issues of the day.
Have you ever read the audacity of hope?
I’m playing ball tommorrow with a friend of mine, an Iraq veteran who will be going back. If he dies because because these two couldn’t decide to stop arguing and start working on solutions, treaties I’m going to be pretty bitter…But somebody’s wife will have to make funeral arrangements tommorrow, and alternate plans and maybe alternate paths for the family.
For that wife’s sake, can we stop celebrating the pyhirrhic victories.
Experience is critical, but so is the energy and the ideas…
don’t you think ideas, positive energy, can get a lot done with the benefit of experience, understanding who and where moves the green.
Wouldn’t you think that the goals were more important than any particular person, and getting the most done with what you have…..there’s work to be done, and we move forward with whatever pieces can help us the most. Women want their voices to be heard… and they need to be. But they’re not the only ones without the proper voice in America, and fighting one another is only helping to diminish their chances… there’s work to be done in their current positions, and they are essentially fiddling while America (the new Rome) burns.
on April 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
on April 25th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
“So that means that you will never look at any one who would change the way things work… because you don’t believe that they can.”
No, that’s an incorrect conclusion, but I can see how I led you to it. I’m wary of reformers who haven’t demonstrated to me that they appreciate and understand the ground rules of the field of battle they wish to change. One of the big factors in the ascendancy of the Irish immigrants in American politics, for example, was their intense study and mastery of all of the cogs of government. When you understand the boring details of how things happen, you find the true pressure points in the process and can use them towards your ends. I think it’s important to fight for dreams of improving things…but I believe it’s at least as important to understand the nitty-gritty of how things get done now before promising that you can change them. I simply haven’t gotten that impression from Sen. Obama, though I know others have a different experience of him.
Oh, and by the way, you have a friend who’s an Iraq veteran? Glad to hear it. I’m in love with one. Don’t ever try throwing that one in my face again. I have as much skin in this game as anyone.
on April 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
“I would like to thank you for your support of what I consider one of the “Strongest Women” I have ever seen! I am a 46 year old father of 4″
How refreshing - more men are coming out of the closet for Hillary - especially after the thumping in pennsylvania - expect more of that - in fact, our next ON CONSIGNMENT post will be by one of our sugar daddies!!
on April 25th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Madamoiselle Minx, I do not believe I was putting my veteran friend “in your face”. I’m looking to impress upon people not that I am more qualified, but to say that there are consequences to inaction.
Consequences to people doing their jobs, because their bosses aren’t busy doing theirs.
The implicit assumption.. that the lives lost, the tens of billions lost while Democrats have a majority in Congress is somehow worth it to hear this juvenile sniping, is WRONG.
Rather than doing a Hillary impersonation, I would want someone to e
I do feel like the breaches of honesty with Hillary Clinton make me not want her to be the absolute top dog, but I would not deny that she could be better at getting things done in the current climate…. but I do think she would have some conflicts, all alone in the top spot, as she has some money bearing relationships
I’ve got some questions I would like to hear the answer to.
Should the members of our Senate, in a time of great crisis in our climate change, financial situation, be taking a year and half of essentially no work, to prove themselves ready for the next job?
Do you work at a job where they give you that much leeway?
Are they hiring?
Seriously, any job would fire you, and rightfully so. And these are the most powerful people in the world, spending our money, and they do not feel the weighty responsibility to keep things moving.
I don’t think we should get caught up so much in putting these politicians on a pedestal, as princess said, they are politicians at the end of the day, and people.
I think we should hold them to as say a high a level of productivity as your average nightime security guard, and ask them to show up to their jobs on time.
I noticed no one responded to the question of having read the audacity of hope. hmmmm… not as open-minded as we thought…..
on April 25th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Good points, and believe me, I’ve seen plenty of pols up close who I wouldn’t hire to walk my dog. However, my displeasure at Dems for not having squashed this war in a year and a half of having a majority that can’t sustain a veto pales in comparison to my wrath at longterm majority Republicans for getting us into it on the flimsiest of pretexts and especially the corporate media potentates who fell down on their jobs.
I understand why you view what’s going on as “juvenile sniping,” I really do, and I don’t disagree with what led you to that opinion. I happen to have had a different set of experiences that lead me to view the fight in a different context. As for the amount of time they put in at work versus campaigning, do you have a better suggestion for how we should audition people for the most important job in the world? I’m not always a fan of how they do it now, but I’m short suggestions for improvements.
I haven’t read Sen. Obama’s book because I’m about a year behind on all the books on my wish list, what with work and blogging and a number of other serious individual issues I’d prefer not to get into here. His is only one of many I’d like to read when I can catch a breath. To imply that the reason I hadn’t responded is because I’m not open-minded is at least presumptuous on your part, if not outright bullshit. I expect better from someone who has clearly spent time and energy thinking things through as you have.
on April 27th, 2008 at 12:33 am
we are trying to organize a protest monday morning at 7:30 a.m. in front of the national press club
please come!!! pass this along to others who might be willing to join us!!
how bad is wright? this is from the wall street journal:
“what obama is evading is that this “profoundly distorted view” is not just some passing emotion. it is what wright himself, in the “talking points ” page of his congregation’s web site, describes as “systematized black liberation theology.” as we noted yesterday , wright credits james cone of new york’s union theological seminary with having undertaken this systematization. here again is cone’s description of black liberation theology:
“black theology refuses to accept a god who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. if god is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. the task of black theology is to kill gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . black theology will accept only the love of god which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. what we need is the divine love as expressed in black power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. unless god is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/sb120585801828545495.html?mod=loomia&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r2:c0.12717
info:
npc day book: event details
event name: rev. dr. jeremiah wright
event date: apr. 28, 2008
event type: npc breakfast
time: 8:30 am
sponsored by: speakers committee
event location: ballroom
details: the rev. dr. jeremiah a. wright jr., senior pastor of the trinity united church of christ in chicago, will discuss the role of faith in the public square in a presentation entitled, the african american religious experience; theology & practice, at a national press club breakfast on april 28th.
dr. wright will also talk about his pastorate, his development as a theologian and teacher, and the how the issues of social justice and global inequities have shaped his faith and his fight for those who are most marginalized in society. he will address the legacy and tradition of education in his family. and dr. wright will put into perspective theologically, historically and politically, his ministry and public service that has been so widely discussed in the media.
dr. wright will retire from trinity united church of christ in chicago in june, where he served the 8,000-member congregation for 36 years. while at trinity he developed nearly 100 active ministries/outreach programs and seven separate corporations that continue to serve the greater chicago community. he is a sought after lecturer and teacher and speaks at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities and seminaries.
the national press club breakfast will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.
the national press club is located at 14th and f streets, nw, one block west of metro center. more information about the club and its programs is found on its internet website: press.org.
this event is sold out.
—— end of forwarded message
on April 27th, 2008 at 11:45 am
It’s not just the media who fell down on their jobs, in fact, considering that most media outlets are in the hands of eight or nine people.. they may have been doing their job very well. Their actual job description is just a little different than the perceived one. It’s built into the corporate culture…. don’t questions, don’t rock the boat, don’t upset those in higher positions by daring to look for a better way of doing things.
All of Congress had a responsibility to look into the Iraq, to see past those flimsy pretexts, that I could see even through the reheated and rehashed White House press releases the media was reporting as their own.
And yet, there they were, voting away their Constitutional authority.
The Congress doesn’t need a veto override… the President can’t get funding without it. They don’t have the balls to use the powers our founding fathers gave them..
A better way of selecting the President. Yeah, it’s holding them to at least the standards of the corporate board room… Power Point presentations, budgets, talking about issues other than the media approved ones. How about we video tape some of their presentations, release them to the public and let whoever wants to edit them do so.
How about candidates create a platform that can be displayed, and each debate is about drilling down on that platform and a discussion of what they have done since the last one to further their platform.
I am sure you release the inherent bias in reading one side of a story but not the other, especially when you share more in common with side than the other. Like how I am an intellectual mixed male raised by a white mother, and I have read the Audacity of Hope, but not Sen. Clintons book. (though I did attend her PA rally) The mode of expression and styles are going to be more naturally appealing to one versus another. For instance, I would expect women to be more about the specifics, and more about working within the current system. I would expect men to be less specific, and better be able to set a newer direction. Knowing all of the specifics is necessary for someone, as is the laying out of the vision.
I had a solution, too, for at least the book situtation. 10 pages, that highlight both the good and the bad…. 50-60 in the Audacity of Hope, and I was hoping for 10 similar from Hillary’s book,.. though I think random would work well.
Do you really think they shouldn’t be participating in Congress right now?
on April 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am
“And yet, there they were, voting away their Constitutional authority.
The Congress doesn’t need a veto override… the President can’t get funding without it. They don’t have the balls to use the powers our founding fathers gave them..”
Wow, stop the presses, we agree!
The best description I’ve come across for what happened to Congress during the Bush years is “battered wife syndrome”. I think a fair number of them still can’t believe deeply that they have CONSTITUTIONAL power to fight back. Maybe some intensive domestic-violence-survivor treatment would help? You know, to help reintroduce them to their respective gonads.
Using corporate practices for choosing presidents? I gotta split with you there. Corporate America’s job is to produce profits, period, amen. The very purpose of coporate America is vastly different from the purpose of government. Given how little the corporate world has acted in the best interests of the general population, and how very screwed up the corporate worlds I’ve touched are, I’d be even more afraid of further corporatizing .(But I can understand the appeal, especially if you’ve had the good fortune to have experience with corporations whose practices are better, more effective and more balanced than the ones with which I’ve had. May more of corporate America be so wise.)
on April 29th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
“battered wife syndrome” is exactly what it is. Can’t do anything about it despite the fact that you sign the bills that release the cash, the largest cash flow in the world, far more than the GDP’s of middle size nations. The President AND Congress spends all of it and then some, including the Social Security “lockbox” and borrowing money on the taxpayers credit cards. And somehow they themselves end up filthy rich. There is a “Laura Bush” Foundation with millions in earmarks. Dick Cheney gives no bid contracts to companies he’s got stock in. He shot somebody…These guys are crooks. Speaking of power’s they are not using…..
Why aren’t we talking about impeachment?
I don’t think I said corporate practices for choosing presidents… I think I said use the presentation standards of a corporate board room…. can somebody in Congress figure out how to use Power point at the very least…. can they make a presentation, in front of each other, discuss pro’s and cons and have a camera on so the American people can see how these decisions are being made make sense of how much is being spent on what? Or is not doing that part of the game all those folks make their money from.
No, I have always felt a little uncomfortable with people who somehow justify giving a person 1 dollar out of 5 you receive for their services, even if you want to pay to keep around people you like.
So perhaps I should have stayed away from the word corporate, which implies a creature that gives you a higher and stable lifestyle but often proceeds in a way that is baffling to any sense of efficiency.