(Howard Dean at Union last night)
Schenectady’s Union College’s ambience is human-friendly. The buildings are human-scale, providing an enironment tjhat is conducive to human interaction.
What a contrast to the SUNY-Albany campus and the Empire Mall down the road in Albany.
Union is fortunate that Nelson Rockefeller’s grandiose edifice complex did not infiltrate Union Street.
Howard Dean spoke at Union’s Memorial Chapel last night. The Chapel is one of several attractive buildings surrounding the college’s central square. In front of the Chapel is a plack honoring Union alumni who died in the “great war-1914-18”. It’s an honor of course, but it’s a stretch to call WW I the great war.
Dean filled the Chapel with at least four generations-the millienials, the yuppies, boomers and post-boomers. But he really preached to the choir-the millienials (18-30 yr. olds). Dean believes Obama is the millienials' savior. Obama took the technical tools used by the millienials-the internet, Facebook, MySpace and even the early Twitter, and built networks of support.
The strategy was also employed in Dean’s 50 state ’08 election strategy. Through micro-targeting (marketing), potential Dems. supporters were targeted.
Dean called for the students to combine their internet social sites with their commitment to diversity, fairness and bottom-up organizing. This combination could bring down authoritian governments everywhere, as it did in the former Soviet empire.
Dean spent just a few minutes on health care reform.He favors the inclusion of a public single-payer option in a reform package. But he didn’t elaborate on how this option is being opposed by private insurance interests. I would have liked to see him outline how this option is needed and how the millienials can use their technical tools to guarantee it becomes part of a reform package.
While Dean preached to the millienials, there were also three other generations present. The interests of all these generations may not always be compatible. Millienials are strong libertarians, living in the Now. The issues of interest to the latter groups, such as SS ,Medicare, and retirement security, may be incidental to the y generation.
The millienials are strongly individualistic and independent. They form networks through the internet, but this networking is done alone with a computer or Blackberry.
I would have liked Dean to have urged the building of bridges between the generations..bridges built with motar that would create solidarity, that would have all the generations believing that we are all in this together.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
the cramer-stewart and rush-keillor feuds
You can listen to some of the fabulous radio feud between Fred Allen and Jack Benny. One of Allen's best lines was announcing that Benny was named the chairman of the March of Dimes, but that no dime has ever been minted that could march pass Benny.
The feud made for great radio comedy ratings.Allen was an original wit, and wrote most of this humor and program dialogue. Benny needed writers, and, in fact, once told Allen that he couldn't talk to him that way if he had his writers present.
The Jim Cramer-Jon Stewart feud is also media hype, and makes for good ratings.Cramer is a kinda of dangerous kook, and Stewart is sorta of a bargain basement Fred Allen.The feud is helpful in that Cramer is attacking Obama, and along with Fox cable, is sowing deep seeds of cynicism
Speaking of feuds, we have now reached the ultimate.Garrison Keillor is going after Rush Limbaugh:
"...When it comes to disability pensions, you ought to include congressmen, especially these remarkable Republicans who, in the midst of a serious banking crisis, are recycling Herbert Hoover and decrying socialism and paying homage to a fat sweaty guy living alone with his cat in a five-mansion compound in West Palm Beach. At the moment, he seems to be steering the Republican Party like it's his personal power boat and Mitch McConnell is the girl in the bikini on water skis.
"I am at the top of the mountain of what I do. Everybody underneath it wants what I've got," Rush said on his show the other day. "As such, they'll do what they can to take me down or to criticize me or what have you. It is beneath my dignity to be critical of those beneath me. It's just a waste of time."
For similar delusional megalomania, you have to go back to the rock stars of yesteryear, but they were 30 or so, and Rush is somewhat north of there. You have to wonder if the man doesn't need to get out of the compound more and converse with real people and not just talk to his cat. Has he ever sat at a bar and talked to other men over a beer? One of the problems with OxyContin is that it's such a lonely drug: Guys don't get together to toss back a few pills and tell jokes, so an Oxhead like Rush is missing the social skills that one might develop over beer and bourbon. At the bar, a man can rant and rave about Obama and hope he will fail, but when he stops for breath, he has to listen to someone else point out that we are in an economic crisis and the country seems to want a change of course....."
http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2009/03/11/disability/index.html?source=newsletter
The feud made for great radio comedy ratings.Allen was an original wit, and wrote most of this humor and program dialogue. Benny needed writers, and, in fact, once told Allen that he couldn't talk to him that way if he had his writers present.
The Jim Cramer-Jon Stewart feud is also media hype, and makes for good ratings.Cramer is a kinda of dangerous kook, and Stewart is sorta of a bargain basement Fred Allen.The feud is helpful in that Cramer is attacking Obama, and along with Fox cable, is sowing deep seeds of cynicism
Speaking of feuds, we have now reached the ultimate.Garrison Keillor is going after Rush Limbaugh:
"...When it comes to disability pensions, you ought to include congressmen, especially these remarkable Republicans who, in the midst of a serious banking crisis, are recycling Herbert Hoover and decrying socialism and paying homage to a fat sweaty guy living alone with his cat in a five-mansion compound in West Palm Beach. At the moment, he seems to be steering the Republican Party like it's his personal power boat and Mitch McConnell is the girl in the bikini on water skis.
"I am at the top of the mountain of what I do. Everybody underneath it wants what I've got," Rush said on his show the other day. "As such, they'll do what they can to take me down or to criticize me or what have you. It is beneath my dignity to be critical of those beneath me. It's just a waste of time."
For similar delusional megalomania, you have to go back to the rock stars of yesteryear, but they were 30 or so, and Rush is somewhat north of there. You have to wonder if the man doesn't need to get out of the compound more and converse with real people and not just talk to his cat. Has he ever sat at a bar and talked to other men over a beer? One of the problems with OxyContin is that it's such a lonely drug: Guys don't get together to toss back a few pills and tell jokes, so an Oxhead like Rush is missing the social skills that one might develop over beer and bourbon. At the bar, a man can rant and rave about Obama and hope he will fail, but when he stops for breath, he has to listen to someone else point out that we are in an economic crisis and the country seems to want a change of course....."
http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2009/03/11/disability/index.html?source=newsletter
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Pres. Obama's budget proposal is audacious
Two impeccable liberals, Robert Kuttner (the American Prospect co-editor) and NYT's oped economist, Paul Krugman, like the proposals.
Kuttner:
President Obama's new budget is, well, audacious -- not just because it includes several big, audacious initiatives (universally affordable health care, and a cap-and-trade system for coping with global warming, for starters) but also because it represents the biggest redistribution of income from the wealthy to the middle class and poor this nation has seen in more than forty years. In order to see the whole, you need to look both at where revenues will come from and at where they’ll go:
Come from: By allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, the marginal income tax on the highest earners goes back to 39.6 percent (from 35 percent, now), and capital gains rates to 20 percent (from 15, now). The budget also limits the amount highest earners can claim for mortgage-interest and charitable deductions (from 35 percent now down to 28 percent), raising an estimated $318 billion over ten years. Finally, wealthier Medicare beneficiaries will have to pay higher premiums for prescription drugs. http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2009&base_name=finally_a_progressive_budget
Krugman:Op-Ed ColumnistClimate of Change Published: February 27, 2009
Elections have consequences. President Obama’s new budget represents a huge break, not just with the policies of the past eight years, but with policy trends over the past 30 years. If he can get anything like the plan he announced on Thursday through Congress, he will set America on a fundamentally new course
Kuttner:
President Obama's new budget is, well, audacious -- not just because it includes several big, audacious initiatives (universally affordable health care, and a cap-and-trade system for coping with global warming, for starters) but also because it represents the biggest redistribution of income from the wealthy to the middle class and poor this nation has seen in more than forty years. In order to see the whole, you need to look both at where revenues will come from and at where they’ll go:
Come from: By allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, the marginal income tax on the highest earners goes back to 39.6 percent (from 35 percent, now), and capital gains rates to 20 percent (from 15, now). The budget also limits the amount highest earners can claim for mortgage-interest and charitable deductions (from 35 percent now down to 28 percent), raising an estimated $318 billion over ten years. Finally, wealthier Medicare beneficiaries will have to pay higher premiums for prescription drugs. http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=02&year=2009&base_name=finally_a_progressive_budget
Krugman:Op-Ed ColumnistClimate of Change Published: February 27, 2009
Elections have consequences. President Obama’s new budget represents a huge break, not just with the policies of the past eight years, but with policy trends over the past 30 years. If he can get anything like the plan he announced on Thursday through Congress, he will set America on a fundamentally new course
(President Obama said the end is in sight for the Iraq War)
Our soldiers performed at the highest level in Iraq, and there should be unconditional support for whatever services they need- medical, rehab. or anything else.
The geopolitical question is whether our invasion of Iraq was necessary, proper or legal. I vote NO.
The neo-cons posed the argument that Iraq's Hussein was a threat to the US, Israel and the oil-producing states in the Mideast. And 9/11 was allowed to happen to prepare the public for the invasion of Iraq.
Hussein was not a direct threat to us; posed a hyperthetical, perhaps existential, threat to Israel; and was contained within the Middle East.
The real reason for our Iraq invasion was oil. It was another oil war.Hussein was moving to freeze out the private international oil giants. He was opening oil contracts to French,Russian and other European companies. He was moving to trade oil in euros, instead of petrodollars.He was also a petty, psycho tyrant. The Iraqies deserved better.
It is illegal to go to war to control national resources.
It is now necessary to have Obama go further than his speech/announcement of yesterday. He needs to declare the goal of total separation of oil and the state.
The geopolitical question is whether our invasion of Iraq was necessary, proper or legal. I vote NO.
The neo-cons posed the argument that Iraq's Hussein was a threat to the US, Israel and the oil-producing states in the Mideast. And 9/11 was allowed to happen to prepare the public for the invasion of Iraq.
Hussein was not a direct threat to us; posed a hyperthetical, perhaps existential, threat to Israel; and was contained within the Middle East.
The real reason for our Iraq invasion was oil. It was another oil war.Hussein was moving to freeze out the private international oil giants. He was opening oil contracts to French,Russian and other European companies. He was moving to trade oil in euros, instead of petrodollars.He was also a petty, psycho tyrant. The Iraqies deserved better.
It is illegal to go to war to control national resources.
It is now necessary to have Obama go further than his speech/announcement of yesterday. He needs to declare the goal of total separation of oil and the state.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The death penalty, fair trials, and Nancy (witch bitch) Grace
I’m opposed to the death penalty. I’m concerned about media,particularly cable sensationalism.I believe everyone is entitled to a fair trial.These are cosmic issues, and they’re all relevant in the Anthony family tragedy.
CNN’s Headline News Nancy Grace had extensive film coverage of last week’s Caylee Anthony’s memorial service. She also had home movies. I assume CNN bought the rights to these and the money will be used for Caylee’s mother’s (Casey) defense.
I have followed this case, and have posted earlier comments.
Grace has already declared Casey guilty. If there is a mistrial, Grace will be one of the reasons. It will be impossible for Casey to get any semblance of a fair trial. A change of venue will be necessary, but not helpful.
Grace has hammered Casey hard, and comes across as a witchy bitch. She has an obvious anti-Casey bias, and her guests are tilted in the same way
I have followed this case because I’m not convinced Casey murdered her daughter, certainly not intentionally. Mothers are not hardwired to do that. Prosecutors do not have to show a motive, but what would Casey’s motive have been? She doesn’t have a history of violence. She may be immature, but she does have a moral core, although undeveloped. She gave birth to Caylee, rather than aborting.
Her parents are giving Casey unconditional love. Dr. Phil has an interest (although it may be totally opportunistic). The forensic anthropogist for Fox’s Bones has been a member of Casey’s defense team. An opportunistic Texas bounty hunter put up early bail for Casey, but only to get close to her to gather information. At least 150 threats were received leading up to the memorial service, most likely motivated by witchy Grace’s sensationalism. The Casey family is living through a perfect emotional storm.
So many questions; so few answers.
CNN’s Headline News Nancy Grace had extensive film coverage of last week’s Caylee Anthony’s memorial service. She also had home movies. I assume CNN bought the rights to these and the money will be used for Caylee’s mother’s (Casey) defense.
I have followed this case, and have posted earlier comments.
Grace has already declared Casey guilty. If there is a mistrial, Grace will be one of the reasons. It will be impossible for Casey to get any semblance of a fair trial. A change of venue will be necessary, but not helpful.
Grace has hammered Casey hard, and comes across as a witchy bitch. She has an obvious anti-Casey bias, and her guests are tilted in the same way
I have followed this case because I’m not convinced Casey murdered her daughter, certainly not intentionally. Mothers are not hardwired to do that. Prosecutors do not have to show a motive, but what would Casey’s motive have been? She doesn’t have a history of violence. She may be immature, but she does have a moral core, although undeveloped. She gave birth to Caylee, rather than aborting.
Her parents are giving Casey unconditional love. Dr. Phil has an interest (although it may be totally opportunistic). The forensic anthropogist for Fox’s Bones has been a member of Casey’s defense team. An opportunistic Texas bounty hunter put up early bail for Casey, but only to get close to her to gather information. At least 150 threats were received leading up to the memorial service, most likely motivated by witchy Grace’s sensationalism. The Casey family is living through a perfect emotional storm.
So many questions; so few answers.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Obama's blackberry
Obama gets to keep his BlackBerry)Good, although he needs to limit his texting to a small number of people.Reports from Obama's WH staff suggest that the Bush WH was a technological disaster...outdated computers, and software, broken telephone lines etc.Perhaps in the technogical lexicon, Bush Jr. was a dork.A geek, like Obama, is techo. savy and socially sophisicated.A nerd is techo. savy, but lacking in social skills.A dork has no techo. savy, or social graces.*****************James Taylor is reported to be going to give the girl in NYC a new IPhone. This is the girl who was ordered to give a taxi driver her ipod when her credit card payment collapsed. Kudos to Mr. James. Enjoyed his participation at the Lincoln mem. concert. The IPhone will have all of Taylor's tunes..hey, its worth it.****************Obama has ordered Gitmo. to close. Kudos to him. It signals a repudiation of Bush Jr.'s terror fighting unconstitutional tatics. It can also lead to the unfreezing of our relationship with Cuba. With Gitmo. closing, we will have to put Bush Jr., Cheney and other neo-cons. somewhere else.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Hillary as Sec. of State
Hillary will likely make a good ambassador-type Sec. of St. State is a hugh bureaucracy, and the reports are that Condi Rice has not been an effective administrator.Hillary's resume is weak on big administrative experience. She's been a lawyer, coordinator of task forces, and administrator of a Senate office. She directed a Pres. campaign that had many problems. None of this really qualifies to run a large bureaucracy. Watch who the asst. secretaries are and who appoints them..will it be Obama and the WH or will Hillary have the auhority to appoint her asst. secretaries?Who will be the national security council director? and will this person undercut Hillary?In so far as we know Hillary's foreign policy stands, she appears to be hawkish on Iraq, Iran and Russia.Will she work in partnership with Obama, or will there be clashes? And if so, could Obama really fire her? Probably not. He would tend to ignore her, work around her with the nat. security council director and asst. secretaries in State.
*****
Professor Patricia DeGennaro develops a strong brief against Hillary as Sec.St.Excerpts from the brief:--------------------------She supported the Iraq war, he is against it. Clinton was unapologetic about voting for the war despite pleas from her own constituency to admit it was a mistake. Alternatively, she took a hard stance and further disagreed with Obama's idea of withdrawal.
Under no circumstances does Clinton want to speak with Iran. Obama, on the other hand, stated that he felt speaking to Iran was a requirement for getting them past their nuclear weapons ambitions. Her policy ironically is to use ours on them if they did not submit to US demands.
Further, Clinton has said nothing of changing policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, two issues that were central to Obama's foreign policy platform. Nor has she commented on how to move beyond either war toward a more sustainable peace.
She has shown through her own statements that she is definitely more hawkish than he is. I wonder if she can stand down when he says so.
Appointing Clinton Secretary of State is not what the US needs especially when it is trying to repair its relationships in the world, end two wars and get the Middle East peace process back on track.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patricia-degennaro/obama-dont-hire-hillary_b_145250.html
reserved.
*****
Professor Patricia DeGennaro develops a strong brief against Hillary as Sec.St.Excerpts from the brief:--------------------------She supported the Iraq war, he is against it. Clinton was unapologetic about voting for the war despite pleas from her own constituency to admit it was a mistake. Alternatively, she took a hard stance and further disagreed with Obama's idea of withdrawal.
Under no circumstances does Clinton want to speak with Iran. Obama, on the other hand, stated that he felt speaking to Iran was a requirement for getting them past their nuclear weapons ambitions. Her policy ironically is to use ours on them if they did not submit to US demands.
Further, Clinton has said nothing of changing policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, two issues that were central to Obama's foreign policy platform. Nor has she commented on how to move beyond either war toward a more sustainable peace.
She has shown through her own statements that she is definitely more hawkish than he is. I wonder if she can stand down when he says so.
Appointing Clinton Secretary of State is not what the US needs especially when it is trying to repair its relationships in the world, end two wars and get the Middle East peace process back on track.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/patricia-degennaro/obama-dont-hire-hillary_b_145250.html
reserved.
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