By Congressman John Conyers | Letter
Mr. Michael Abramowitz, National Editor; Mr. Michael Getler, Ombudsman; Mr. Dana Milbank
The Washington Post, 1150 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20071
Dear Sirs:
I write to express my profound disappointment with Dana Milbank's June 17 report, "Democrats Play House to Rally Against the War," which purports to describe a Democratic hearing I chaired in the Capitol yesterday. In sum, the piece cherry-picks some facts, manufactures others out of whole cloth, and does a disservice to some 30 members of Congress who persevered under difficult circumstances, not of our own making, to examine a very serious subject: whether the American people were deliberately misled in the lead up to war. The fact that this was the Post's only coverage of this event makes the journalistic shortcomings in this piece even more egregious.
In an inaccurate piece of reporting that typifies the article, Milbank implies that one of the obstacles the Members in the meeting have is that "only one" member has mentioned the Downing Street Minutes on the floor of either the House or Senate. This is not only incorrect but misleading. In fact, just yesterday, the Senate Democratic Leader, Harry Reid, mentioned it on the Senate floor. Senator Boxer talked at some length about it at the recent confirmation hearing for the Ambassador to Iraq. The House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, recently signed on to my letter, along with 121 other Democrats asking for answers about the memo. This information is not difficult to find either. For example, the Reid speech was the subject of an AP wire service report posted on the Washington Post website with the headline "Democrats Cite Downing Street Memo in Bolton Fight". Other similar mistakes, mischaracterizations and cheap shots are littered throughout the article.
The article begins with an especially mean and nasty tone, claiming that House Democrats "pretended" a small conference was the Judiciary Committee hearing room and deriding the decor of the room. Milbank fails to share with his readers one essential fact: the reason the hearing was held in that room, an important piece of context. Despite the fact that a number of other suitable rooms were available in the Capitol and House office buildings, Republicans declined my request for each and every one of them. Milbank could have written about the perseverance of many of my colleagues in the face of such adverse circumstances, but declined to do so. Milbank also ignores the critical fact picked up by the AP, CNN and other newsletters that at the very moment the hearing was scheduled to begin, the Republican Leadership scheduled an almost unprecedented number of 11 consecutive floor votes, making it next to impossible for most Members to participate in the first hour and one half of the hearing.
In what can only be described as a deliberate effort to discredit the entire hearing, Milbank quotes one of the witnesses as making an anti-semitic assertion and further describes anti-semitic literature that was being handed out in the overflow room for the event. First, let me be clear: I consider myself to be friend and supporter of Israel and there were a number of other staunchly pro-Israel members who were in attendance at the hearing. I do not agree with, support, or condone any comments asserting Israeli control over U.S. policy, and I find any allegation that Israel is trying to dominate the world or had anything to do with the September 11 tragedy disgusting and offensive.
That said, to give such emphasis to 100 seconds of a 3 hour and five minute hearing that included the powerful and sad testimony (hardly mentioned by Milbank) of a woman who lost her son in the Iraq war and now feels lied to as a result of the Downing Street Minutes, is incredibly misleading. Many, many different pamphlets were being passed out at the overflow room, including pamphlets about getting out of the Iraq war and anti-Central American Free Trade Agreement, and it is puzzling why Milbank saw fit to only mention the one he did.
In a typically derisive and uninformed passage, Milbank makes much of other lawmakers calling me "Mr. Chairman" and says I liked it so much that I used "chairmanly phrases." Milbank may not know that I was the Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee from 1988 to 1994. By protocol and tradition in the House, once you have been a Chairman you are always referred to as such. Thus, there was nothing unusual about my being referred to as Mr. Chairman.
To administer his coup-de-grace, Milbank literally makes up another cheap shot that I "was having so much fun that [I] ignored aides' entreaties to end the session." This did not occur. None of my aides offered entreaties to end the session and I have no idea where Milbank gets that information. The hearing certainly ran longer than expected, but that was because so many Members of Congress persevered under very difficult circumstances to attend, and I thought - given that - the least I could do was allow them to say their piece. That is called courtesy, not "fun."
By the way, the "Downing Street Memo" is actually the minutes of a British cabinet meeting. In the meeting, British officials - having just met with their American counterparts - describe their discussions with such counterparts. I mention this because that basic piece of context, a simple description of the memo, is found nowhere in Milbank's article.
The fact that I and my fellow Democrats had to stuff a hearing into a room the size of a large closet to hold a hearing on an important issue shouldn't make us the object of ridicule. In my opinion, the ridicule should be placed in two places: first, at the feet of Republicans who are so afraid to discuss ideas and facts that they try to sabotage our efforts to do so; and second, on Dana Milbank and the Washington Post, who do not feel the need to give serious coverage on a serious hearing about a serious matter - whether more than 1700 Americans have died because of a deliberate lie. Milbank may disagree, but the Post certainly owed its readers some coverage of that viewpoint.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
------------------------------------------------------
For background on the development if the Downing Street memos and the other sources of information about official lies in the buildup to the attack on Iraq, please visit Greg Palast's website at <http://www.gregpalast.com/index.cfm>.
Baggage, Indeed
One of the truly pleasurable SoCal travel experiences is flying in to and out of Long Beach Airport. With it's WPA-ish terminal -- actually, it predates the New Deal by a decade -- and lack of such refinements as miles-long passageways and cramped loading funnels, boarding and deplaning are swift and enjoyable.
On foggy nights, climbing up the back stairs to steerage on JetBlue's red-eye to New York or Florida, you feel like Louie and Rick on the tarmac in Casablanca.
So it's dismaying to learn from a report in the Times that "[b]usiness leaders, led by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and JetBlue, want a modernized airport terminal of up to 133,000 square feet that offers more amenities." <The Los Angeles Times>
This is about money, natch. The business leaders in question argue that the city has failed to take advantage of business opportunities, such as concessions -- there is a restaurant, a fast-food outlet, a gourmet coffee kiosk, and a gift shop, and is thus missing out on tax revenue. They also are trying to make an argument for the project out of the fact that fewer than 1% of the facility's 3 million annual passengers stayed overnight last year, though its hard to see why more flights would make anyone look with greater favor on the prospect of hanging around Long Beach.
According to the Times' Nancy Wride, foes of a proposed expansion of the "cozy" terminal worry it will lead to pressure to lift the city's limit on flights, currently maxed out at 41 (compared to the OC's 130 and LAX's 900), and lead to violations of legal noise limits. It's not hard to sympathize with people who hope their neighborhood won't turn into Inglewood.
Proponents of the project want to increase the capacity of the Art Deco facility by adding an annex of up to 133,000 square feet. According to Wride, the existing building, which provides about 58,000 square feet of passenger area including 23,750 square feet of temporary wooden space that resembles a ferry terminal, is a historic landmark, which means even its color can't be changed without the approval of several commissions. And architectural review boards and landmark commissions almost never say yes to anything.
Facing a city council that seems disinclined to support the full extent of the Chamber/JetBlue proposal, the developers are threatening a referendum, an end run around representative government that will not only cut elected officials out of the process but also eliminate the unpleasantness of an environmental review to determine how much the project will degrade the quality of life in Long Beach and vicinity by adding to the noise, traffic congestion, and dirty air.
Even though it is off the beaten track for most Los Angeles and Orange Country travelers, the airport has boosted JetBlue by providing cheap and easy parking, short lines, painless baggage handling, and quick boarding and deplaning. Will people from Beverly Hills and Irvine continue to make the trek to Long Beach to get the same endless corridors, parking sharking and other niceties already much closer to hand at LAX and John Wayne? Compare your recent two-a-half hour ordeal in Southwest's LAX abattoir with the comfort of being dropped at the door in Long Beach.
If you ask me, Long Beach would be better off leaving the airport more or less as is. Some revenue could be generated by improving the ground floor amenities -- the gift shop and fast food outlets -- and by inviting a world-class restauranteur to turn the beautifully situated, three-tiered eatery on the second level into a regional dining destination. With its excellent view of one of the busiest fields in the country for private aircraft and its almost unlimited parking, the Long Beach Airport restaurant would be hard to beat for a romantic evening out.
If you like the airport in Long Beach the way it is, you should let city officials and JetBlue know. Not only would keeping the airport intact benefit residents and travelers, but JetBlue may find that unintended consequences -- like increased competition: the city will be hard-pressed to keep other airlines out of an expanded airport -- and the loss of frequent fliers like me, who may not see low fares alone as sufficient to justify the long haul to what in New York would be one of the outer boroughs, for no other reason than to save a couple of bucks on a plane ticket -- aren't worth the trouble.
On foggy nights, climbing up the back stairs to steerage on JetBlue's red-eye to New York or Florida, you feel like Louie and Rick on the tarmac in Casablanca.
So it's dismaying to learn from a report in the Times that "[b]usiness leaders, led by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and JetBlue, want a modernized airport terminal of up to 133,000 square feet that offers more amenities." <The Los Angeles Times>
This is about money, natch. The business leaders in question argue that the city has failed to take advantage of business opportunities, such as concessions -- there is a restaurant, a fast-food outlet, a gourmet coffee kiosk, and a gift shop, and is thus missing out on tax revenue. They also are trying to make an argument for the project out of the fact that fewer than 1% of the facility's 3 million annual passengers stayed overnight last year, though its hard to see why more flights would make anyone look with greater favor on the prospect of hanging around Long Beach.
According to the Times' Nancy Wride, foes of a proposed expansion of the "cozy" terminal worry it will lead to pressure to lift the city's limit on flights, currently maxed out at 41 (compared to the OC's 130 and LAX's 900), and lead to violations of legal noise limits. It's not hard to sympathize with people who hope their neighborhood won't turn into Inglewood.
Proponents of the project want to increase the capacity of the Art Deco facility by adding an annex of up to 133,000 square feet. According to Wride, the existing building, which provides about 58,000 square feet of passenger area including 23,750 square feet of temporary wooden space that resembles a ferry terminal, is a historic landmark, which means even its color can't be changed without the approval of several commissions. And architectural review boards and landmark commissions almost never say yes to anything.
Facing a city council that seems disinclined to support the full extent of the Chamber/JetBlue proposal, the developers are threatening a referendum, an end run around representative government that will not only cut elected officials out of the process but also eliminate the unpleasantness of an environmental review to determine how much the project will degrade the quality of life in Long Beach and vicinity by adding to the noise, traffic congestion, and dirty air.
Even though it is off the beaten track for most Los Angeles and Orange Country travelers, the airport has boosted JetBlue by providing cheap and easy parking, short lines, painless baggage handling, and quick boarding and deplaning. Will people from Beverly Hills and Irvine continue to make the trek to Long Beach to get the same endless corridors, parking sharking and other niceties already much closer to hand at LAX and John Wayne? Compare your recent two-a-half hour ordeal in Southwest's LAX abattoir with the comfort of being dropped at the door in Long Beach.
If you ask me, Long Beach would be better off leaving the airport more or less as is. Some revenue could be generated by improving the ground floor amenities -- the gift shop and fast food outlets -- and by inviting a world-class restauranteur to turn the beautifully situated, three-tiered eatery on the second level into a regional dining destination. With its excellent view of one of the busiest fields in the country for private aircraft and its almost unlimited parking, the Long Beach Airport restaurant would be hard to beat for a romantic evening out.
If you like the airport in Long Beach the way it is, you should let city officials and JetBlue know. Not only would keeping the airport intact benefit residents and travelers, but JetBlue may find that unintended consequences -- like increased competition: the city will be hard-pressed to keep other airlines out of an expanded airport -- and the loss of frequent fliers like me, who may not see low fares alone as sufficient to justify the long haul to what in New York would be one of the outer boroughs, for no other reason than to save a couple of bucks on a plane ticket -- aren't worth the trouble.
Brain Dead
They can have everything going for them, as they did in the debate over whether the federal courts should intervene in the Schiavo family tragedy, and still the Democrats can't find the nerve or the energy to counter right wing hypocrisy, inconsistency, malversation and blatant opportunism.
The party that aggressively seeks to limit judicial authority over such issues as the death penalty, abortion, gay marriage and public displays of religious bric-a-brac should be a sitting duck for its pharisaical effort to force judges to step between families and doctors in what are difficult, painful, emotionally-charged personal decisions. You'd think that the opposition would have an easy time unmasking the party of states' rights and judicial restraint when it tries to strong-arm the federal courts into contravening state courts in a particular case that has already been litigated to death.
But, just as it took moderate Republicans to drive a stake into the heart of the neocon plan to put the Social Security Administration out of business, it was conservatives like Harvard law professor and former Reagan solicitor general Charles Fried who were left to call the president and congressional Republicans to task for reneging on their professed commitment to states' rights. Has the Democrats' embarrassment over their own many compromises -- on the death penalty and militarism and corporate welfare and health care and trade policy and a hundred other issues -- shamed them finally into silence?
"In their intervention in the Terri Schiavo matter," Fried wrote in the New York Times, "Republicans in Congress and President Bush have, in a few brief legislative clauses, embraced the kind of free-floating judicial activism, disregard for orderly procedure and contempt for the integrity of state processes that they quite rightly have denounced and sought to discipline for decades." Fried concluded the congressional action was an "absurd departure from principles of federalism and respect for sound and orderly judicial administration."
It was depressing to watch the Democrats enter another battle in command of the moral and political high ground and proceed to lose the fight, especially a skirmish they should have been ready for. Already looking to the states to market-test solutions to such problems as health insurance, economic equity, corporate responsibility and environmental degradation, they wouldn't have to do much more than find-and-replace their way through old speeches on states rights to light upon sound arguments for not changing what until last Sunday was settled law.
Whether or not the Republicans' perpetual vegetable bill could or should have been voted down, the debate was a missed opportunity to drive home arguments about the need to change national priorities in the area of health care. Instead of accepting the brannigan as a disagreement over the fate of Terri Schiavo, the Democracts might have propelled the discussion toward more burning questions about health care policy. Politicians willing to expend unconscionable quantities of time, effort and emotional and political capital to prolong a single life should be required to devote at least a fraction of as much energy and zeal to considering what they are going to do about the desperate need for national health.
That, in the long run, would extend and save the lives of millions.
If the brain dead are entitled to have Congress go into special session on their behalf, how much less deserving are the living?
The party that aggressively seeks to limit judicial authority over such issues as the death penalty, abortion, gay marriage and public displays of religious bric-a-brac should be a sitting duck for its pharisaical effort to force judges to step between families and doctors in what are difficult, painful, emotionally-charged personal decisions. You'd think that the opposition would have an easy time unmasking the party of states' rights and judicial restraint when it tries to strong-arm the federal courts into contravening state courts in a particular case that has already been litigated to death.
But, just as it took moderate Republicans to drive a stake into the heart of the neocon plan to put the Social Security Administration out of business, it was conservatives like Harvard law professor and former Reagan solicitor general Charles Fried who were left to call the president and congressional Republicans to task for reneging on their professed commitment to states' rights. Has the Democrats' embarrassment over their own many compromises -- on the death penalty and militarism and corporate welfare and health care and trade policy and a hundred other issues -- shamed them finally into silence?
"In their intervention in the Terri Schiavo matter," Fried wrote in the New York Times, "Republicans in Congress and President Bush have, in a few brief legislative clauses, embraced the kind of free-floating judicial activism, disregard for orderly procedure and contempt for the integrity of state processes that they quite rightly have denounced and sought to discipline for decades." Fried concluded the congressional action was an "absurd departure from principles of federalism and respect for sound and orderly judicial administration."
It was depressing to watch the Democrats enter another battle in command of the moral and political high ground and proceed to lose the fight, especially a skirmish they should have been ready for. Already looking to the states to market-test solutions to such problems as health insurance, economic equity, corporate responsibility and environmental degradation, they wouldn't have to do much more than find-and-replace their way through old speeches on states rights to light upon sound arguments for not changing what until last Sunday was settled law.
Whether or not the Republicans' perpetual vegetable bill could or should have been voted down, the debate was a missed opportunity to drive home arguments about the need to change national priorities in the area of health care. Instead of accepting the brannigan as a disagreement over the fate of Terri Schiavo, the Democracts might have propelled the discussion toward more burning questions about health care policy. Politicians willing to expend unconscionable quantities of time, effort and emotional and political capital to prolong a single life should be required to devote at least a fraction of as much energy and zeal to considering what they are going to do about the desperate need for national health.
That, in the long run, would extend and save the lives of millions.
If the brain dead are entitled to have Congress go into special session on their behalf, how much less deserving are the living?
NWO: More on the PATRIOT Act
-> The Proposal to Reauthorize and Expand Parts of the USA PATRIOT Act: Why It's Unnecessary and, In Some Respects, Dangerous, By Anita Ramastry.
-> Patriot Act Extension Debated at Closed Congressional Meeting
(ALA).
-> American Civil Liberties Union Testimony at an Oversight Hearing on the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001: Section 505 (National Security Letters) and Section 804 (Extraterritorial Criminal Jurisdiction) and the Material Witness Statute Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee, Submitted by Gregory T. Nojeim Acting Director, Washington Legislative Office and Timothy H. Edgar, National Security Policy Counsel.
-> "The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is writing today [May 23, 2005] to urge the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to give careful consideration to whether provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act should be renewed as written. We also urge you to oppose the broadening of the FBI's investigative powers in the absence of evidence that such expansion is necessary."
- > Little Progress in Bid to Extend Patriot Act (NYTimes).
-> Patriot Act Extension Debated at Closed Congressional Meeting
(ALA).
-> American Civil Liberties Union Testimony at an Oversight Hearing on the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001: Section 505 (National Security Letters) and Section 804 (Extraterritorial Criminal Jurisdiction) and the Material Witness Statute Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security of the House Judiciary Committee, Submitted by Gregory T. Nojeim Acting Director, Washington Legislative Office and Timothy H. Edgar, National Security Policy Counsel.
-> "The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is writing today [May 23, 2005] to urge the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to give careful consideration to whether provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act should be renewed as written. We also urge you to oppose the broadening of the FBI's investigative powers in the absence of evidence that such expansion is necessary."
- > Little Progress in Bid to Extend Patriot Act (NYTimes).
U.S. Tour of Duty Presents SUNDAY SANCTUARY
LA Supports Military Resisters
Sunday, June 12 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The Palmer Room
3387 Motor Avenue (1 block south of National Blvd.)
310.839.2500
Comedian GREG PROOPS
co-star of ABC's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Music by I SEE HAWKS IN L.A.
Plus Iraq war veteran SERGE LOUCHNIKOV
FREE ADMISSION
"Greg Proops went off on a brilliantly sustained, free-associated riff...A cheering audience gratefully lapped it all up." - San Francisco Chronicle
"I See Hawks In L.A. play the finest cosmic cowboy music since the Burrito Brothers." - LA Weekly
U.S. Tour of Duty (www.ustourofduty.org) is a non-profit project of SEE (www.saveourplanet.org).
Iraq veterans and military families demand the truth!
Please visit www.gregproops.com and www.iseehawks.com.
Sunday, June 12 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The Palmer Room
3387 Motor Avenue (1 block south of National Blvd.)
310.839.2500
Comedian GREG PROOPS
co-star of ABC's "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Music by I SEE HAWKS IN L.A.
Plus Iraq war veteran SERGE LOUCHNIKOV
FREE ADMISSION
FREE LOT AND STREET PARKING
"Greg Proops went off on a brilliantly sustained, free-associated riff...A cheering audience gratefully lapped it all up." - San Francisco Chronicle"I See Hawks In L.A. play the finest cosmic cowboy music since the Burrito Brothers." - LA Weekly
U.S. Tour of Duty (www.ustourofduty.org) is a non-profit project of SEE (www.saveourplanet.org).
Iraq veterans and military families demand the truth!
Please visit www.gregproops.com and www.iseehawks.com.
Needed: Universal Wi-Fi Access
Santa Monica needs to move quickly if it is not to be left hopelessly behind by the wireless revolution.
It's not as though providing a wi-fi network is a major capital expense requiring a big investment by the city. In fact, it may not require public funds at all.
What's needed, more than anything, is leadership.
In Turku, Finland, according to MasterNewMedia.Org, a city-wide network of wi-fi hotspots was installed in one month time with absolutely no centralized investment or public funding. Using the cooperative model, community members agreed to share surplus broadband connection capacity on a municipal-wide basis.
But, although the software is free and the hardware very inexpensive, it will take a commitment of someone's time to get this project organized. What company, institution or agency is willing to take the lead in bringing universal wi-fi access to Santa Monica by freeing up one of its employees for a month or so to put together the necessary resources? The neighborhood associations? The business districts? Santa Monica College? City Hall? The Chamber of Commerce? An internet company like Yahoo or Google? Someone needs to step forward now.
Let's do it.
Source: <http://www.masternewmedia.org/>
It's not as though providing a wi-fi network is a major capital expense requiring a big investment by the city. In fact, it may not require public funds at all.
What's needed, more than anything, is leadership.
In Turku, Finland, according to MasterNewMedia.Org, a city-wide network of wi-fi hotspots was installed in one month time with absolutely no centralized investment or public funding. Using the cooperative model, community members agreed to share surplus broadband connection capacity on a municipal-wide basis.
SparkNet and OpenSpark are two similar projects in Turku that use a specific combination of low-cost/free software/hardware tools to leverage community members' extra internet capacity.
SparkNet, a partnership between public sector organizations and private companies, including University of Turku, Åba Akademi University, Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, Turku Polytechnic, ICT Turku Ltd and MP-MasterPlanet Ltd., has created a network outside of any of the participating institutions' firewalls. Using a shared open source operating system that allows each partner to use its own internet gateway (e.g., wherever a student uses this network, the connection goes through the college's internet gateway), each institution has acquired a number of inexpensive access points. With the participation of private companies, municipalities, etc., every student in Turku (over 50,000) can use the SparkNet wi-fi network all over the city free of charge. SparkNet has now over 100,000 user accounts, more than 5,000 active users and over 500 access points. It is the most used wi-fi network in Finland.
Private companies or even individual home users can also easily and inexpensively create a voluntary co-op network. Using one version, OpenSpark, anyone can share his broadband connection with others wirelessly. Both OpenSpark and SparkNet can be installed and operated in any home or office with a broadband connection. Any ADSL or better type of connection will do. Participants can connect to the internet wherever there is an OpenSpark access point. In Turku, using OpenSpark, 600 access points have been acquired with more in the pipeline.
Either SparkNet and OpenSpark can be deployed anywhere. There is already one OpenSpark access point in New York City and more are expected to pop up in other locations. Many municipalities -- from Philadelphia to Culver City -- are installing citywide public networks. All that is needed is a broadband connection, free software, and an access-point hardware device costing $130 or so. In a city as small as Santa Monica, the expense of covering the commercial and retail areas -- Santa Monica, Wilshire, Pico and Ocean Park boulevards, downtown, the Pier, Main Street, Montana, Broadway, Colorado, SMCC and the airport -- would be a phenomenal value.But, although the software is free and the hardware very inexpensive, it will take a commitment of someone's time to get this project organized. What company, institution or agency is willing to take the lead in bringing universal wi-fi access to Santa Monica by freeing up one of its employees for a month or so to put together the necessary resources? The neighborhood associations? The business districts? Santa Monica College? City Hall? The Chamber of Commerce? An internet company like Yahoo or Google? Someone needs to step forward now.
Let's do it.
Source: <http://www.masternewmedia.org/>
To learn more about OpenSpark: <http://open.sparknet.fi>
Political Action (but fun): Westside Bike Ride
Santa Monica Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road. The Critical Mass concept started in San Franciscoin September 1992 and has spread to cities all over the world.
1st Friday of every month
Next ride: Friday, July 1, 2005
We have three starting points to choose from:
6:30 pm, Santa Monica Pier, Colorado Blvd. & Ocean Ave. (at top of pier ramp)
map | satellite | live webcam
6:00 pm, UCLA*, Westwood Blvd. & Le Conte
6:00 pm, Venice Beach*, 1401 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA
map | satellite | live webcam
* Early "satellite" groups that merge into main group group at Santa Monica Pier.
For more info: <http://www.CriticalMassRides.info>
<http://www.critical-mass.org/>
The next time you want a light beer…
…consider wheat beers, aka "white" beers:
During fermentation so-called white beers develop a pale head of foam, and, since they're often unfiltered, suspended sediment can give these concoctions a milky mien. And like many traditional beers, white beers pursue a secondary fermentation in the bottle that can also make them hazy with yeast.
While some of these beverages take their appelations from wheat – German Weizen; tarwe in Flemish; froment in French – others, like the one we're going to consider today, are named for their cloudy, pale-yellow-verging-on-white color: Weisse, wit, blanche. They might more accurately be called gelbes Biers, but who wants to drink something called yellow beer.
Anyway, to press on with today's lesson, beers made using wheat are usually fermented with ale yeasts, making them lighter than those employing lager cultures. Since white beers aren't usually very high octane, they make great hot weather refreshments, perfect for the deck of your yacht. Only a shade more mundanely, they also make a great companion for fruity desserts, like Library Alehouse's superb Mocha Torte with Raspberry Sauce. Back home in Belgium, they're typically served in chunky, bevelled tumblers that look like French pastis. Very classy.
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, in the days before barley came to dominate brewing, wheat beers were produced all over the place. In Germany and Belgium, wheat beers never entirely went away, and they've made a big comeback with the growing market for "light" beer. The traditional use of fruits, spices and herbs as seasoning began to recede as hops gained the upper hand in the middle of last millennium. In Germany, only hops are now permitted, though a barkeep or patron has been known to add fruit, raspberry syrup or essence of woodruff, whatever that is,* to some styles of beer.
The best-known Belgian Witbier or Bière Blanche is the principal justification for the existence of Hoegaarden, a pretty but otherwise insignificant town in the wheat-growing Brabant farmlands east of Brussels and Leuven.
In the 1960s, a local milkman named Pieter Celis, about whom more in a moment, revived a traditional brewing style of the region that ordinarily combined equal portions of raw wheat and malted barley (sometimes with an admixture of oats), spiced it up with dried Curaçao orange peels and ground coriander seeds and -- something else…what? cumin, maybe -- and then fermented the lot with a conventional yeast.
The resulting drink, named Hoegaarden after its hometown, is a lovely and enticing elixir, pouring a very pale yellow color that intensifies to a hazy gold when the yeast sediment is aroused. If held up to the light, the liquid appears almost off-white, true to its witbier ycleption. The creamy head sustains with a moussy feel.
As far as taste goes, there's enough complexity here to incite the verbal excesses of a wine connoisseur: a sugary wheat flavor
dominates, but the coriander and citrus, often pursued by a mild phenolic aroma, contribute to a complex, elegant, nearly winy disposition. Heady, virtually Bazooka-level sweetness, bestowed by the cereal grass, frequently with plum, apple or banana appoggiaturas, is nicely undercut by the piquant orange and herb colorations – you'll think you're catching intimations of cinnamon, cloves, pepper and nutmeg -- and by a faintly astringent dryness. That trailing nose is bright and highly fruity, with a pleasing hint of muskiness. Behind it all, a muted and nectarious bitterness, reminiscent of the absent hops, is probably contributed by the amaroidal orange peel.
Despite its lightness and freshness, this is a beverage that weighs on the tongue, graceful, bracing, yes, but because of the wheaty twang and slight acidity, surprisingly firm and grainy, with more heft than you'll ever encounter in German Weizen beers.
If it were a movie actress, Hoegaarden would be Anne Heche.
Lastly, an aside: Pieter Celis, who had reincarnated Belgian white beer, sold Hoegaarden but was subsequently unhappy with the bier as produced by its new owners (he was a purist, after all). Entrepreneurial Pieter (now Peter) relocated to Austin where he microbrewed a similar drink, Celis White (the real Hoegaarden, I guess) that was very popular in Texas in the 90s. A familiar story followed: In 1995, Miller Brewing bought majority interest in Celis' brewery, took complete control early in 2000, by December 2000 announced the brewery would be closed and sold, and ceased production before the beginning of 2001 (apparently, neither Starbucks nor Walmart was involved). At the time, the equipment and brands were sold to Michigan Brewing Co., but it now appears Celis White is under license by the De Smedt in Opwijk, a two-hundred-years-old family-run brewery north-west of Brussels that makes Abbey beers (Affligem, Aulne and Postel).
As this saga demonstrates, beer ain't just beer.
_________________________________________________________________________
*Looked it up, of course:
wood·ruff
P Pronunciation Key (w
d
r
f, -r
f
)
n.
During fermentation so-called white beers develop a pale head of foam, and, since they're often unfiltered, suspended sediment can give these concoctions a milky mien. And like many traditional beers, white beers pursue a secondary fermentation in the bottle that can also make them hazy with yeast.
While some of these beverages take their appelations from wheat – German Weizen; tarwe in Flemish; froment in French – others, like the one we're going to consider today, are named for their cloudy, pale-yellow-verging-on-white color: Weisse, wit, blanche. They might more accurately be called gelbes Biers, but who wants to drink something called yellow beer.
Anyway, to press on with today's lesson, beers made using wheat are usually fermented with ale yeasts, making them lighter than those employing lager cultures. Since white beers aren't usually very high octane, they make great hot weather refreshments, perfect for the deck of your yacht. Only a shade more mundanely, they also make a great companion for fruity desserts, like Library Alehouse's superb Mocha Torte with Raspberry Sauce. Back home in Belgium, they're typically served in chunky, bevelled tumblers that look like French pastis. Very classy.
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, in the days before barley came to dominate brewing, wheat beers were produced all over the place. In Germany and Belgium, wheat beers never entirely went away, and they've made a big comeback with the growing market for "light" beer. The traditional use of fruits, spices and herbs as seasoning began to recede as hops gained the upper hand in the middle of last millennium. In Germany, only hops are now permitted, though a barkeep or patron has been known to add fruit, raspberry syrup or essence of woodruff, whatever that is,* to some styles of beer.
The best-known Belgian Witbier or Bière Blanche is the principal justification for the existence of Hoegaarden, a pretty but otherwise insignificant town in the wheat-growing Brabant farmlands east of Brussels and Leuven.
In the 1960s, a local milkman named Pieter Celis, about whom more in a moment, revived a traditional brewing style of the region that ordinarily combined equal portions of raw wheat and malted barley (sometimes with an admixture of oats), spiced it up with dried Curaçao orange peels and ground coriander seeds and -- something else…what? cumin, maybe -- and then fermented the lot with a conventional yeast.The resulting drink, named Hoegaarden after its hometown, is a lovely and enticing elixir, pouring a very pale yellow color that intensifies to a hazy gold when the yeast sediment is aroused. If held up to the light, the liquid appears almost off-white, true to its witbier ycleption. The creamy head sustains with a moussy feel.
As far as taste goes, there's enough complexity here to incite the verbal excesses of a wine connoisseur: a sugary wheat flavor
dominates, but the coriander and citrus, often pursued by a mild phenolic aroma, contribute to a complex, elegant, nearly winy disposition. Heady, virtually Bazooka-level sweetness, bestowed by the cereal grass, frequently with plum, apple or banana appoggiaturas, is nicely undercut by the piquant orange and herb colorations – you'll think you're catching intimations of cinnamon, cloves, pepper and nutmeg -- and by a faintly astringent dryness. That trailing nose is bright and highly fruity, with a pleasing hint of muskiness. Behind it all, a muted and nectarious bitterness, reminiscent of the absent hops, is probably contributed by the amaroidal orange peel.Despite its lightness and freshness, this is a beverage that weighs on the tongue, graceful, bracing, yes, but because of the wheaty twang and slight acidity, surprisingly firm and grainy, with more heft than you'll ever encounter in German Weizen beers.
If it were a movie actress, Hoegaarden would be Anne Heche.
Lastly, an aside: Pieter Celis, who had reincarnated Belgian white beer, sold Hoegaarden but was subsequently unhappy with the bier as produced by its new owners (he was a purist, after all). Entrepreneurial Pieter (now Peter) relocated to Austin where he microbrewed a similar drink, Celis White (the real Hoegaarden, I guess) that was very popular in Texas in the 90s. A familiar story followed: In 1995, Miller Brewing bought majority interest in Celis' brewery, took complete control early in 2000, by December 2000 announced the brewery would be closed and sold, and ceased production before the beginning of 2001 (apparently, neither Starbucks nor Walmart was involved). At the time, the equipment and brands were sold to Michigan Brewing Co., but it now appears Celis White is under license by the De Smedt in Opwijk, a two-hundred-years-old family-run brewery north-west of Brussels that makes Abbey beers (Affligem, Aulne and Postel).
As this saga demonstrates, beer ain't just beer.
_________________________________________________________________________
*Looked it up, of course:
wood·ruff
P Pronunciation Key (wdrf, -rf)n.
- A fragrant perennial herb (Galium odoratum) native to Eurasia and North Africa and widely cultivated as a shade ground cover, having small white flowers and narrow leaves used for flavoring wine and in sachets. Also called sweet woodruff.
- Any of various plants of the genus Asperula, having whorled leaves and small funnel-shaped flowers.
The Disposable City: Preserve LA
"PreserveLA.com is a forum and clearinghouse for the latest news, information, and techniques concerning historic preservation and the history of Los Angeles and Southern California." -- from the website. <http://www.PreserveLA.com/>
NWO: Expanding Patriot Act
"On Thursday, May 26, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will consider in closed session a draft bill that would both renew and expand various USA PATRIOT Act powers. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has obtained a copy of the draft bill, along with the committee's summary of it..." [EFF News]
Draft of new PATRIOT Act powers (31 pages, PDF)
Senate Select Committee summary (4 pages, PDF)
Draft of new PATRIOT Act powers (31 pages, PDF)
Senate Select Committee summary (4 pages, PDF)
Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor redux
You hardly need me to tell you who to vote for Tuesday. Antonio Villaraigosa is so clearly the better candidate even the Times endorsed him unequivocally. But after two months of negative campaigning, you might need to be encouraged to vote at all.
The Times put it this way: "...the two candidates differ significantly in style, which means voters do have a choice. Villaraigosa's drive, people skills and knack for coalition-building earned our endorsement in 2001....It was Villaraigosa, not Hahn, who stepped in to settle the 2003 transit strike, and who rallied the state's congressional delegation to clear funding for an Eastside light-rail line. Villaraigosa energizes others. He is intuitive, quick at sizing up situations and recognizing talented people with good ideas....Villaraigosa's record, particularly as Assembly speaker in Sacramento, is of pulling together the right people to get things done. The city's needs keep growing. Villaraigosa as mayor would offer the promise that they would be attacked with relish and intensity. He is the best choice to lead Los Angeles."
So forget about how crappy the campaign's been. Go, vote, and then let's get busy laying that light rail line out to Culver City and Santa Monica.
-> L.A.Daily News endorsement: <http://ga4.org/ct/61aMhP41BX3F/dailynews>
-> L.A.Times endorsement: <http://www.latimes.com/>
-> Antonio 2005: <http://www.antonio2005.com/>
-> Scroll down this page for my comments on Villaraigosa's candidacy during the primary.
The Times put it this way: "...the two candidates differ significantly in style, which means voters do have a choice. Villaraigosa's drive, people skills and knack for coalition-building earned our endorsement in 2001....It was Villaraigosa, not Hahn, who stepped in to settle the 2003 transit strike, and who rallied the state's congressional delegation to clear funding for an Eastside light-rail line. Villaraigosa energizes others. He is intuitive, quick at sizing up situations and recognizing talented people with good ideas....Villaraigosa's record, particularly as Assembly speaker in Sacramento, is of pulling together the right people to get things done. The city's needs keep growing. Villaraigosa as mayor would offer the promise that they would be attacked with relish and intensity. He is the best choice to lead Los Angeles."
So forget about how crappy the campaign's been. Go, vote, and then let's get busy laying that light rail line out to Culver City and Santa Monica.
-> L.A.Daily News endorsement: <http://ga4.org/ct/61aMhP41BX3F/dailynews>
-> L.A.Times endorsement: <http://www.latimes.com/>
-> Antonio 2005: <http://www.antonio2005.com/>
-> Scroll down this page for my comments on Villaraigosa's candidacy during the primary.
Press Release: Playa Vista Tries to Buy Election for Krisiloff
This alert / press release immediately below is from the campaign of the excellent candidate (who was endorsed by the Sierra Club, LA League of Conservation Voters, and the Ballona Wetlands Committee to Stop Playa Vista) for the 11th Council District -- Bill Rosendahl.
************************************
May 16, 2005
Dear Friends & Supporters,
In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to buy the election, principals in and supporters of the controversial Playa Vista mega-development have just pumped a ton of money into our opponent’s campaign.
If anyone had any doubts that Playa Vista has a candidate in this race, it should be erased now: Flora Gil Krisiloff is the clear choice of Playa Vista.
Just a few minutes ago, the City Ethics Commission website (http://ethics.lacity.org) reported that several major players in the project choking our streets with traffic had spent large chunks of money in “independentexpenditures” on behalf of Mrs. Krisiloff. They wanted until the last minute because they did not want you to know.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Robert Maguire, part owner of the Playa Vista project, $25,000.
Randy Johnson, Playa Vista’s Chief Financial Officer; $10,000.
Douglas Moreland, Playa Vista’s Senior Vice President; $10,000.
There is a lot more. Last week, Mrs. Krisiloff’s financial disclosure reports demonstrated she received money from a veritable truckload of people associated with Playa Vista: employees, lawyers, lobbyists, consultants, and the like.
Yes, you got it. Flora Gil Krisiloff: The candidate of Playa Vista. The candidate of traffic gridlock. The candidate of over-development. The candidate of paving of over the wetlands.
This is just the latest in a series of unsavory developments in her relationship with the projects and its developers. Here is some more history.
Mrs. Krisiloff and the Playa Vista cheerleaders keep saying the project is a done deal. If that’s the case, why are they so worried about Bill Rosendahl? Why are they so worried about a candidate who demands the people have a say in development in their neighborhoods?
Clearly, the mega-developers and the entrenched interests are afraid of Bill’s grassroots campaign for our neighborhoods. They apparently will spend any amount of money to make sure the pro-development, anti-neighborhood candidate wins.
We can stop that. Email all your friends and let them know about Bill and what he stands for. Join us in our Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort. Call the office now at 310-398-4890 to get involved.
Together we will get Bill elected. Together we will take back our neighborhoods. Together we will win.
Thanks.
Mike Bonin
Campaign Manager
This message was sent to by:
Bill Rosendahl for LA City Council
12023 Venice Blvd.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
(310) 398-4890
************************************
May 16, 2005
Dear Friends & Supporters,
In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to buy the election, principals in and supporters of the controversial Playa Vista mega-development have just pumped a ton of money into our opponent’s campaign.
If anyone had any doubts that Playa Vista has a candidate in this race, it should be erased now: Flora Gil Krisiloff is the clear choice of Playa Vista.
Just a few minutes ago, the City Ethics Commission website (http://ethics.lacity.org) reported that several major players in the project choking our streets with traffic had spent large chunks of money in “independentexpenditures” on behalf of Mrs. Krisiloff. They wanted until the last minute because they did not want you to know.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Robert Maguire, part owner of the Playa Vista project, $25,000.
Randy Johnson, Playa Vista’s Chief Financial Officer; $10,000.
Douglas Moreland, Playa Vista’s Senior Vice President; $10,000.
There is a lot more. Last week, Mrs. Krisiloff’s financial disclosure reports demonstrated she received money from a veritable truckload of people associated with Playa Vista: employees, lawyers, lobbyists, consultants, and the like.
Yes, you got it. Flora Gil Krisiloff: The candidate of Playa Vista. The candidate of traffic gridlock. The candidate of over-development. The candidate of paving of over the wetlands.
This is just the latest in a series of unsavory developments in her relationship with the projects and its developers. Here is some more history.
Mrs. Krisiloff and the Playa Vista cheerleaders keep saying the project is a done deal. If that’s the case, why are they so worried about Bill Rosendahl? Why are they so worried about a candidate who demands the people have a say in development in their neighborhoods?
Clearly, the mega-developers and the entrenched interests are afraid of Bill’s grassroots campaign for our neighborhoods. They apparently will spend any amount of money to make sure the pro-development, anti-neighborhood candidate wins.
We can stop that. Email all your friends and let them know about Bill and what he stands for. Join us in our Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort. Call the office now at 310-398-4890 to get involved.
Together we will get Bill elected. Together we will take back our neighborhoods. Together we will win.
Thanks.
Mike Bonin
Campaign Manager
This message was sent to by:
Bill Rosendahl for LA City Council
12023 Venice Blvd.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
(310) 398-4890
Falling Behind
T-mobile. SBC. The laughingly named FreedomLink. Et cetera.
Downtown Santa Monica is a jumble of paid wi-fi opportunities, most of them requiring expensive daily or monthly fees.
Philadelphia. Minneapolis. Culver City, for pete's sake. Cities all over the country are installing wireless as a matter of equity and to support their business communities.
Even if the political bosses of the Smug Little City by the Sea can't find the coffee money it would take to link up all of the tiny 3-mile x 3-mile expanse, no doubt someone among the army of consultants housed and fed by the town has explained the benefits of installing free universal wireless downtown and in the Main Street and Montana business districts.
It appears that, when it comes to wireless access, Santa Monica is leaving it to others to "Shape the Future."
Downtown Santa Monica is a jumble of paid wi-fi opportunities, most of them requiring expensive daily or monthly fees.Philadelphia. Minneapolis. Culver City, for pete's sake. Cities all over the country are installing wireless as a matter of equity and to support their business communities.
Even if the political bosses of the Smug Little City by the Sea can't find the coffee money it would take to link up all of the tiny 3-mile x 3-mile expanse, no doubt someone among the army of consultants housed and fed by the town has explained the benefits of installing free universal wireless downtown and in the Main Street and Montana business districts.
It appears that, when it comes to wireless access, Santa Monica is leaving it to others to "Shape the Future."
Media: Watch a California "C-Span"on cable and the internet
"A popular government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both.
"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance. And a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." -James Madison
"The California Channel is an independent, non-profit public affairs cable network governed by California's cable television industry, and modeled after the national C-SPAN service. Our primary mission is to provide Californians direct access to "gavel-to-gavel" proceedings of the California Legislature, and other forums where public policy is discussed, debated, and decided - all without editing, commentary, or analysis and with a balanced presentation of viewpoints. While we strive to transmit as much live coverage as we can, every televised Legislative event is videotaped for future playback over the network." -- from the website. <http://www.calchannel.com/webcast.htm>
"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance. And a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." -James Madison
"The California Channel is an independent, non-profit public affairs cable network governed by California's cable television industry, and modeled after the national C-SPAN service. Our primary mission is to provide Californians direct access to "gavel-to-gavel" proceedings of the California Legislature, and other forums where public policy is discussed, debated, and decided - all without editing, commentary, or analysis and with a balanced presentation of viewpoints. While we strive to transmit as much live coverage as we can, every televised Legislative event is videotaped for future playback over the network." -- from the website. <http://www.calchannel.com/webcast.htm>
Chess Program at SMPL
The Santa Monica Public Library offers an opportunity to Play, Teach and Learn chess Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Fairview Branch, 2101 Ocean Park Boulevard.
Blog: Los Angeles 1947
"Los Angeles in 1947 was a social powderkeg. War-damaged returning soldiers were threatened by a new kind of independant female, 
who in turn found her freedoms disappearing as male workers returned to the factories. These conflicts worked themselves out in dark ways. The Black Dahlia is the most famous victim of 1947's sex wars, but hardly the only one. The 1947project seeks to document this pivotal year in L.A., through period reporting and visits to the scenes as they are today." -- from the website. <http://1947project.blogspot.com/>
who in turn found her freedoms disappearing as male workers returned to the factories. These conflicts worked themselves out in dark ways. The Black Dahlia is the most famous victim of 1947's sex wars, but hardly the only one. The 1947project seeks to document this pivotal year in L.A., through period reporting and visits to the scenes as they are today." -- from the website. <http://1947project.blogspot.com/>
Local Political Events: Amy Goodman, Rep. Henry Waxman, Ralph Nader
Amy Goodman:
KPFK 90.7 FM Benefit
Thursday, March 31
Dinner 5:30 PM - Main Event 7 PM
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Dinner $50 donation (attendees receive a free copy of "Exception to the Rulers")
Reservation: 818.985.2711 ext. 503
Main Speaking Event: $10
For general information, call 818.985.2711 ext. 214
<http://www.kpfk.org/>
Rep. Henry Waxman:
Friday, April 1st, 2-4 PM
Santa Monica Place, Community Room, 3rd floor
Rep. Waxman is meeting with all constituents, particularly seniors. Everyone is welcome, especially those who'd like to remind him to vote against H-Res 35 "Troops Home Now." He supports spending $ billions more on the Iraq War. If you can't tell him yourself, call the congressman's office to oppose his vote for $82 billion in additional spending on killing and torture. His staff is dying to hear from you. 323.651.1040 or 323.652.3095.
Ralph Nader:
and special guests
Sunday, April 3
2 p.m.: UCLA Grand Horizon Ballroom
330 De Neve Drive, Los Angeles
Contact Dennis at 310-378-0090
Admission $10 for general public, $5 for students
4:30pm: “Anti War Discussion with Ralph”
Location TBA, Beverly Hills, CA
Contact Marcia at Nader Camejo Headquarters in Washington DC at 202-265-4000 to RSVP
$100 dollar a person buffet reception fundraiser for DemocracyRising.Org, whatever that is.
6:30pm:
with Sonali Kolhatkar of KPFK's "Uprising", Pablo Paredes
Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles
1816 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles
Contact Lynda 714-803-9676 or Katie 323-691-5283
Admission $10 for general public, $5 for students
KPFK 90.7 FM Benefit
Thursday, March 31
Dinner 5:30 PM - Main Event 7 PM
Immanuel Presbyterian Church
3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Dinner $50 donation (attendees receive a free copy of "Exception to the Rulers")
Reservation: 818.985.2711 ext. 503
Main Speaking Event: $10
For general information, call 818.985.2711 ext. 214
<http://www.kpfk.org/>
Rep. Henry Waxman:
Friday, April 1st, 2-4 PM
Santa Monica Place, Community Room, 3rd floor
Rep. Waxman is meeting with all constituents, particularly seniors. Everyone is welcome, especially those who'd like to remind him to vote against H-Res 35 "Troops Home Now." He supports spending $ billions more on the Iraq War. If you can't tell him yourself, call the congressman's office to oppose his vote for $82 billion in additional spending on killing and torture. His staff is dying to hear from you. 323.651.1040 or 323.652.3095.
Ralph Nader:
and special guests
Sunday, April 3
2 p.m.: UCLA Grand Horizon Ballroom
330 De Neve Drive, Los Angeles
Contact Dennis at 310-378-0090
Admission $10 for general public, $5 for students
4:30pm: “Anti War Discussion with Ralph”
Location TBA, Beverly Hills, CA
Contact Marcia at Nader Camejo Headquarters in Washington DC at 202-265-4000 to RSVP
$100 dollar a person buffet reception fundraiser for DemocracyRising.Org, whatever that is.
6:30pm:
with Sonali Kolhatkar of KPFK's "Uprising", Pablo Paredes
Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles
1816 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles
Contact Lynda 714-803-9676 or Katie 323-691-5283
Admission $10 for general public, $5 for students
Nightlife: New Jazz Venue
Em Bistro & Corky' Jazz Club
8256 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90048
323.658.6004
7:30 to 11:00 pm
8256 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90048
323.658.6004
7:30 to 11:00 pm
Man Bites Dog: The Democrats are not caving to GOP bullying on judicial appointments
After Republican leader Bill Frist threatened to employ the so-called nuclear option to get reactionary Bush nominees seated on the federal bench, the leader of the minority, Nevada Senator Harry Reid, showed spine uncharacteristic of a national Democrat by threatening to shut down the Senate.
Go, Harry.
Nothing currently before the upper chamber comes close to matching the importance of its role in advising on and consenting to the appointment of judges-for-life. Frist's intention to use the nuclear option -- in practice this would amount to asking Senate president Dick Cheney for a parliamentary ruling declaring filibusters unconstitutional -- left the Democrats no choice but to fight back.
As things stand now, it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster and call a question. Filibusters aren't easy -- you try speechifying for 18 hours -- and the potential political damage it can cause the perpetrators is enormous; a senator or group of senators must feel very strongly about an issue to attempt it, but it is an important defence against the tyranny of the majority.
The irony of the GOP position is that more judges were approved during Bush's first term than Clinton's. But whiners and crybabies that they are, the president and his right wing cohorts in the Senate are leading off the second inning with the same handful of hacks and idealogues they failed to get appointed in the first term. Radicalizing the courts is an important part of the neocon agenda; since in the darkest hours of night the Republican radicals have to know their days are numbered, they are pushing hard to get even the most extreme nominees approved now, while they can.
The Democrats, on the other hand, have to be prepared to go to any lengths, including shutting down the legislature, to protect the nation by preventing hack fanatics like William G. Myers -- he is openly hostile to your right to privacy and opposed to all legislation designed to protect civil liberties -- from spending the next 30 or 40 years wreaking havoc from the bench. The fact that Myers is probably also unqualified professionally for the job only makes his appointment nearly as ridiculous as it is dangerous.
The Senate does most of its work by consent; it only takes the withholding of consent by one member to throw sand in the wheels. "The majority," Reid warned Frist, "should not expect to receive cooperation from the minority in the conduct of Senate business." He promised the Democrats will help to move legislation "supporting our troops" and to keep the government running, but otherwise will refuse to facilitate actions "even on routine matters." In other words, unleash the nuclear option and there will be political devastation, indeed.
This is unusually tough talk coming from a Democractic leader, and all citizens, not just liberals, should be glad for it. It is just in moments such as these -- with one party dominating all branches of government -- that brakes on excesses by the majority are most needed. Republicans may not recall that for most of the last half of the 20th century they were in the same position the Democrats are now, but they must know that, probably sooner than later, the extremism and corruption that characterize this administration will bring its downfall. They may spend many decades ruing the day they stripped the minority of its limited defences.
Go, Harry.
Nothing currently before the upper chamber comes close to matching the importance of its role in advising on and consenting to the appointment of judges-for-life. Frist's intention to use the nuclear option -- in practice this would amount to asking Senate president Dick Cheney for a parliamentary ruling declaring filibusters unconstitutional -- left the Democrats no choice but to fight back.
As things stand now, it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster and call a question. Filibusters aren't easy -- you try speechifying for 18 hours -- and the potential political damage it can cause the perpetrators is enormous; a senator or group of senators must feel very strongly about an issue to attempt it, but it is an important defence against the tyranny of the majority.
The irony of the GOP position is that more judges were approved during Bush's first term than Clinton's. But whiners and crybabies that they are, the president and his right wing cohorts in the Senate are leading off the second inning with the same handful of hacks and idealogues they failed to get appointed in the first term. Radicalizing the courts is an important part of the neocon agenda; since in the darkest hours of night the Republican radicals have to know their days are numbered, they are pushing hard to get even the most extreme nominees approved now, while they can.
The Democrats, on the other hand, have to be prepared to go to any lengths, including shutting down the legislature, to protect the nation by preventing hack fanatics like William G. Myers -- he is openly hostile to your right to privacy and opposed to all legislation designed to protect civil liberties -- from spending the next 30 or 40 years wreaking havoc from the bench. The fact that Myers is probably also unqualified professionally for the job only makes his appointment nearly as ridiculous as it is dangerous.
The Senate does most of its work by consent; it only takes the withholding of consent by one member to throw sand in the wheels. "The majority," Reid warned Frist, "should not expect to receive cooperation from the minority in the conduct of Senate business." He promised the Democrats will help to move legislation "supporting our troops" and to keep the government running, but otherwise will refuse to facilitate actions "even on routine matters." In other words, unleash the nuclear option and there will be political devastation, indeed.
This is unusually tough talk coming from a Democractic leader, and all citizens, not just liberals, should be glad for it. It is just in moments such as these -- with one party dominating all branches of government -- that brakes on excesses by the majority are most needed. Republicans may not recall that for most of the last half of the 20th century they were in the same position the Democrats are now, but they must know that, probably sooner than later, the extremism and corruption that characterize this administration will bring its downfall. They may spend many decades ruing the day they stripped the minority of its limited defences.
Protests this weekend
"This weekend, a global protest will be taking place. Here in America, there will be demonstrations in 574 cities and towns in all 50 states. Ostensibly, this protest is to be aimed at the anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. It needs to be about more than that now. It needs to be about public, vocal citizen action in and of itself. It needs to be about We The People reaching out to the one recourse we have left while we still have it: The streets, our numbers and our voices." -- Will Pitt. (More at: http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/3/17/94845/3273/)
Activism: Emotional Support
The newly formed Activist Support Circle, created to "provide emotional support, nurturing, positive energy and peer reinforcement to longtime and just-beginning activists of all ages and progressive causes," will hold its first gathering Wednesday, March 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Friends Meeting Hall, 1440 Harvard St., Santa Monica. Info: 310-399-1000 (L.A. Alliance for Survival).
I-10 foot/bike overpasses
If we are serious about making Santa Monica a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly community, an important step will be to restore or construct limited-access bridges 
over the 10 Freeway. At about Seventh Street, where the footbridge used to connect SaMoHi with downtown, and about halfway between each of the other vehicular bridges, Caltrans and/or the City of Santa Monica should build new supplementary links for walkers, bikers and skaters. Such overpasses would help to suture divisions unhealed since the road sliced through the town in the 1960s.
over the 10 Freeway. At about Seventh Street, where the footbridge used to connect SaMoHi with downtown, and about halfway between each of the other vehicular bridges, Caltrans and/or the City of Santa Monica should build new supplementary links for walkers, bikers and skaters. Such overpasses would help to suture divisions unhealed since the road sliced through the town in the 1960s.
Surf City: Wireless access at the beach
There's going to be a lot more surfing at San Elijo State Beach now that the California state parks system has made a deal to give SBC Communications a monopoly on wireless internet access at a group of state-run recreational facilities.
Offering evidence that internet access may soon be as ubiquitous and as essential as the pay phone once was, the 278-park system plans to make wifi access available -- for a fee -- to visitors who have wireless-enabled laptops or personal digital assistants, beginning with 85 venues to be outfitted by SBC.
SBC is installing the hardware and providing the service as a two-year pilot program at the 85 parks. If the program is successful, the parks department will open the system up to bids from companies that want to compete for the opportunity to sell the service, but in the meantime the phone company will have locked up nearly a third of the state's parks.
No doubt this move is being orchestrated by SBC, since only subscribers to its wireless service, FreedomLink, will have unlimited internet access at the public parks. Other taxpayers will be able to get to the state's websites for free, but will be charged $7.95 for 24-hour access or $19.95 for unlimited monthly service if they want to check their email or go to weather.com while at the beach.
It hardly needs to be said that from the consumer's point of view this is a bad idea (the state will get 10 percent of the fee, which doesn't seem like much of a deal for the state, either). Wifi technology is cheap and getting cheaper, and there is no reason to limit access in public spaces to subscribers of expensive services.
Other Southland state parks and beaches that are expected to be connected by summer include Anza Borrego, Cardiff, Carlsbad, South Carlsbad, Old Town San Diego, Silver Strand, and San Onofre.
Although they are not among the first 85, sooner or later the state will bring wifi to the Santa Monica and L.A. beaches, where it is to be hoped that local officials can make a more sensible arrangement on behalf of their constituents. Santa Monica, especially, has direct control over its beach under a contract with the state and is in a strong position to insist on public access there. They have two years to demonstrate to the parks department that there is a better and cheaper way to connect the public and virtual realms.
Maybe the Convention & Visitors Bureaus in Santa Monica and Los Angeles will see the wisdom in making the phrase "public access" mean what it says.
Here's the pdf of the press release: <http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/011905.pdf>
Offering evidence that internet access may soon be as ubiquitous and as essential as the pay phone once was, the 278-park system plans to make wifi access available -- for a fee -- to visitors who have wireless-enabled laptops or personal digital assistants, beginning with 85 venues to be outfitted by SBC.SBC is installing the hardware and providing the service as a two-year pilot program at the 85 parks. If the program is successful, the parks department will open the system up to bids from companies that want to compete for the opportunity to sell the service, but in the meantime the phone company will have locked up nearly a third of the state's parks.
No doubt this move is being orchestrated by SBC, since only subscribers to its wireless service, FreedomLink, will have unlimited internet access at the public parks. Other taxpayers will be able to get to the state's websites for free, but will be charged $7.95 for 24-hour access or $19.95 for unlimited monthly service if they want to check their email or go to weather.com while at the beach.
It hardly needs to be said that from the consumer's point of view this is a bad idea (the state will get 10 percent of the fee, which doesn't seem like much of a deal for the state, either). Wifi technology is cheap and getting cheaper, and there is no reason to limit access in public spaces to subscribers of expensive services.
Other Southland state parks and beaches that are expected to be connected by summer include Anza Borrego, Cardiff, Carlsbad, South Carlsbad, Old Town San Diego, Silver Strand, and San Onofre.
Although they are not among the first 85, sooner or later the state will bring wifi to the Santa Monica and L.A. beaches, where it is to be hoped that local officials can make a more sensible arrangement on behalf of their constituents. Santa Monica, especially, has direct control over its beach under a contract with the state and is in a strong position to insist on public access there. They have two years to demonstrate to the parks department that there is a better and cheaper way to connect the public and virtual realms.
Maybe the Convention & Visitors Bureaus in Santa Monica and Los Angeles will see the wisdom in making the phrase "public access" mean what it says.
Here's the pdf of the press release: <http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/011905.pdf>
The Arts: The Distillery LA studio in Venice
Check out The Distillery LA (aka, Institute for the Pursuit of Absolutes and Nothingness) to see some of the works of Venice-based artists Gary Palmer (whose Zanzibar Fish Dance is at left), Masami Tsuchikawa and Robert Yeager. <http://thedistilleryla.com/>
Lecture Series: Imagining Venice
Imagining Venice
Sundays 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Venice Center For Peace With Justice & The Arts
2210 Lincoln Bl (at Victoria Ave), Venice
310.391.8183
(enter first gate on Victoria and proceed thru courtyard to The Parlour)
A University of Venice Production
***********
Hosted by Eric Vollmer
Future (Invited) Guest Speakers Include:
Joel Shapiro, Artistic Director, Electric Lodge
Judy Baca, Artistic Director, Sparc
Fred Dewey, Managing Director, Beyond Baroque
Marilyn Fox, Artistic Director, Pacific Residents Ensemble
Elayne Alexander, Venice Historical Society
Todd Von Hoffmann, Author, Venice Centennial Committee
Watch for: In collaboration with the Venice Center, the Electric Lodge and local artists, Eric Vollmer and the Voice in the Well Ensemble are planning a Chautauqua Performing Arts Festival in the Summer of 2005 to celebrate the Venice Centenary and pay homage to its Founder, Abbot Kinney, who launched a cultural Renaissance in Southern California on July 4, 1905.
Sundays 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Venice Center For Peace With Justice & The Arts
2210 Lincoln Bl (at Victoria Ave), Venice
310.391.8183
(enter first gate on Victoria and proceed thru courtyard to The Parlour)
A University of Venice Production
***********
Hosted by Eric Vollmer
Future (Invited) Guest Speakers Include:
Joel Shapiro, Artistic Director, Electric Lodge
Judy Baca, Artistic Director, Sparc
Fred Dewey, Managing Director, Beyond Baroque
Marilyn Fox, Artistic Director, Pacific Residents Ensemble
Elayne Alexander, Venice Historical Society
Todd Von Hoffmann, Author, Venice Centennial Committee
Watch for: In collaboration with the Venice Center, the Electric Lodge and local artists, Eric Vollmer and the Voice in the Well Ensemble are planning a Chautauqua Performing Arts Festival in the Summer of 2005 to celebrate the Venice Centenary and pay homage to its Founder, Abbot Kinney, who launched a cultural Renaissance in Southern California on July 4, 1905.
Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor
Jim Hahn's tv ads this week dirtying up both Antonio Villaraigosa and Bob Hertzberg in the same 30 second commercial demonstrate an estimable eagerness to get the most bang for the buck. Too bad he hasn't shown the same moxie in running the city.
The only item on tonight's agenda is who should replace him.
Although it might be gratifying to watch Hahn lose to both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg, it is important to remember that there is little equivalence between the challengers beyond their tenures as assembly speaker. You might be able to argue that Hertzberg had the best commercials of the campaign, but you'd be hard pressed to make a case otherwise for his selection. In the ads, he looked like he was auditioning to succeed Schwartzenegger as an action figure; if what he said during this campaign is to be taken seriously, he would follow up his impersonation of Arnold the actor with a similarly slavish imitation of Arnold the politician.
Nominally a Democrat, Hertzberg sought to distinguish himself from his rivals in this race by running on a Republican platform that included breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District, a decision over which the mayor has no say, and opposing a tax hike to pay for more police. He is strongly in favor of relieving traffic congestion -- if there is a politician anywhere in the world calling for more traffic congestion I want to meet him -- and he has punctuated his campaign with brave calls for new leadership. Nancy Daly Riordan, wife of former Republican mayor Richard Riordan, is a co-chair of Hertzberg's campaign.
Hertzberg's proposal to break up the school district reveals an unusual capacity for growth. Only four years ago, he opposed a bill that would have established a commission to study the idea. Now, allied with Riordan and the governor, he is its chief proponent.
The ads in which a giant Hertzberg towers over the city and its problems combined with the candidate's natural gregariousness to propel him from nowhere into second place in what is a very tight contest (with nearly a fifth of the electorate undecided, anyone can win). While you can understand why Valley voters might see Hertzberg as their champion, it is a little disheartening that so many westsiders seem to be beguiled by his reputation as a hugger. I have had people tell me they plan to vote for the bearish politician on the preposterous notion that he is the warmest and most "cuddly" candidate in the race.
Watching Hertzberg's commercials, it doesn't take much leap of imagination to see him less as Gulliver and more as Godzilla.
Antonio Villaraigosa was the right choice the last time he and Hahn faced off, and he is the right choice again. This would be true if all we knew of was his commitment to minority rights and his record as a coalition-builder in the assembly. But Villaraigosa is not only one of the few politicians in California who is willing to address issues of class, race and gender, he has also stood by labor, and he is a strong advocate for clean air and clean water, a crucial stand to take at a moment when GOP-controlled state and national governments are undoing environmental laws it took a century to set in place.
"A clean environment is the foundation of a livable community," Villaraigosa said during the campaign. "It is not a luxury, it is a necessity. I will dedicate myself to transforming Los Angeles into the cleanest, greenest big city in America....Los Angeles must be a part of the emerging green economy," the councilmember added, showing he understands that the issues can't be isolated. "We can be the leader in clean energy technology and create new jobs by leveraging investments by Department of Water and Power and the Port, but we need the right leadership in the Mayor's office."
The Times, courageously braving ridicule, endorsed both Hertzberg and Villaraigosa: "Either would be a more dynamic leader than incumbent James K. Hahn, whose leadership has been lackluster and whose flawed appointments and lax oversight of City Hall contracts have fueled impressions of favoritism. Hertzberg is the enlightened businessman's candidate, a high-velocity wonk who loves big ideas and is bursting with plans (some of them even doable) for hiring more police, improving public transit and reforming the L.A. Unified School District. Villaraigosa is the intuitive anti-wonk who operates from the gut. A gifted coalition builder, he is skilled at reading situations and people. Best outcome: a Hertzberg-Villaraigosa runoff."
Even though it would be satisfying to see Hahn's cynicism repudiated in this round, progressives will do the city a disservice if they try to engineer his humiliation by voting for Hertzberg. While a run-off between Villaraigosa and Hertzberg would be a better outcome -- mostly because it would mean the stake had already been driven through the heart of the Hahn candidacy, no outcome this time around that doesn't result in the eventual election of Mayor Villaraigosa will be good for Los Angeles. It is vital that he be among the final two. Vote for him Tuesday.
Antonio Villaraigosa for Los Angeles Mayor 2005: <http://www.antonio2005.com/>
Villaraigosa's "Mayor in a Minute" video: <http://www.antonio2005.com/images/ads/mayorinaminute.wmv>
L.A.Weekly endorsement of Villaraigosa: <http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/14/news-endorsements.php>
The California League of Conservation Voters endorsement of Villaraigosa's environmental record: <http://www.ecovote.org/>
African-American leaders endorse Parks and Villaraigosa: <http://www.latimes.com/>
The only item on tonight's agenda is who should replace him.
Although it might be gratifying to watch Hahn lose to both Villaraigosa and Hertzberg, it is important to remember that there is little equivalence between the challengers beyond their tenures as assembly speaker. You might be able to argue that Hertzberg had the best commercials of the campaign, but you'd be hard pressed to make a case otherwise for his selection. In the ads, he looked like he was auditioning to succeed Schwartzenegger as an action figure; if what he said during this campaign is to be taken seriously, he would follow up his impersonation of Arnold the actor with a similarly slavish imitation of Arnold the politician.
Nominally a Democrat, Hertzberg sought to distinguish himself from his rivals in this race by running on a Republican platform that included breaking up the Los Angeles Unified School District, a decision over which the mayor has no say, and opposing a tax hike to pay for more police. He is strongly in favor of relieving traffic congestion -- if there is a politician anywhere in the world calling for more traffic congestion I want to meet him -- and he has punctuated his campaign with brave calls for new leadership. Nancy Daly Riordan, wife of former Republican mayor Richard Riordan, is a co-chair of Hertzberg's campaign.
Hertzberg's proposal to break up the school district reveals an unusual capacity for growth. Only four years ago, he opposed a bill that would have established a commission to study the idea. Now, allied with Riordan and the governor, he is its chief proponent.
The ads in which a giant Hertzberg towers over the city and its problems combined with the candidate's natural gregariousness to propel him from nowhere into second place in what is a very tight contest (with nearly a fifth of the electorate undecided, anyone can win). While you can understand why Valley voters might see Hertzberg as their champion, it is a little disheartening that so many westsiders seem to be beguiled by his reputation as a hugger. I have had people tell me they plan to vote for the bearish politician on the preposterous notion that he is the warmest and most "cuddly" candidate in the race.
Watching Hertzberg's commercials, it doesn't take much leap of imagination to see him less as Gulliver and more as Godzilla.
Antonio Villaraigosa was the right choice the last time he and Hahn faced off, and he is the right choice again. This would be true if all we knew of was his commitment to minority rights and his record as a coalition-builder in the assembly. But Villaraigosa is not only one of the few politicians in California who is willing to address issues of class, race and gender, he has also stood by labor, and he is a strong advocate for clean air and clean water, a crucial stand to take at a moment when GOP-controlled state and national governments are undoing environmental laws it took a century to set in place. "A clean environment is the foundation of a livable community," Villaraigosa said during the campaign. "It is not a luxury, it is a necessity. I will dedicate myself to transforming Los Angeles into the cleanest, greenest big city in America....Los Angeles must be a part of the emerging green economy," the councilmember added, showing he understands that the issues can't be isolated. "We can be the leader in clean energy technology and create new jobs by leveraging investments by Department of Water and Power and the Port, but we need the right leadership in the Mayor's office."
The Times, courageously braving ridicule, endorsed both Hertzberg and Villaraigosa: "Either would be a more dynamic leader than incumbent James K. Hahn, whose leadership has been lackluster and whose flawed appointments and lax oversight of City Hall contracts have fueled impressions of favoritism. Hertzberg is the enlightened businessman's candidate, a high-velocity wonk who loves big ideas and is bursting with plans (some of them even doable) for hiring more police, improving public transit and reforming the L.A. Unified School District. Villaraigosa is the intuitive anti-wonk who operates from the gut. A gifted coalition builder, he is skilled at reading situations and people. Best outcome: a Hertzberg-Villaraigosa runoff."
Even though it would be satisfying to see Hahn's cynicism repudiated in this round, progressives will do the city a disservice if they try to engineer his humiliation by voting for Hertzberg. While a run-off between Villaraigosa and Hertzberg would be a better outcome -- mostly because it would mean the stake had already been driven through the heart of the Hahn candidacy, no outcome this time around that doesn't result in the eventual election of Mayor Villaraigosa will be good for Los Angeles. It is vital that he be among the final two. Vote for him Tuesday.
Antonio Villaraigosa for Los Angeles Mayor 2005: <http://www.antonio2005.com/>
Villaraigosa's "Mayor in a Minute" video: <http://www.antonio2005.com/images/ads/mayorinaminute.wmv>
L.A.Weekly endorsement of Villaraigosa: <http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/14/news-endorsements.php>
The California League of Conservation Voters endorsement of Villaraigosa's environmental record: <http://www.ecovote.org/>
African-American leaders endorse Parks and Villaraigosa: <http://www.latimes.com/>
Politics: Finding Think Tanks
No matter what your issue, some research group is studying it, bloviating about it, and attempting to influence policy-makers and the public. Allow for the biases -- there's always a bias -- and these organizations can provide useful sources of information -- newsletters, backgrounders, policy briefs, surveys, op-ed pieces, etc. -- and sometimes even be a source of money for your own projects. Here are some listings:
-> Directory of Think Tanks (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard)
-> Political Resources: Think Tanks (University of Michigan Documents Center)
-> Think Tanks (Hillwatch.com: "A directory of Canadian and International Think Tanks")
-> Think Tanks and N.G.O.s (Worldpress.Org)
-> World Directory of Think Tanks (National Institute for Research Advancement, Japan)
-> Directory of Think Tanks (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard)
-> Political Resources: Think Tanks (University of Michigan Documents Center)
-> Think Tanks (Hillwatch.com: "A directory of Canadian and International Think Tanks")
-> Think Tanks and N.G.O.s (Worldpress.Org)
-> World Directory of Think Tanks (National Institute for Research Advancement, Japan)
The Next Los Angeles: Struggle for a Livable City
Robert Gottlieb, speaker
Thursday, March 3, 11:15am
SMC Concert Hall 1900 Pico Blvd.
Free
Given Santa Monica's focus on updating its General Plan, this SMC Associates Lecture by Robert Gottlieb is extremely timely. Dr. Gottlieb is the Director of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College and an expert on the urban environment. His talk will provide an "overview of alternative visions for achieving social and economic justice in LA and observations on key trends reshaping LA at the beginning of the 21st century." For more information, please call 434-4003.
Thursday, March 3, 11:15am
SMC Concert Hall 1900 Pico Blvd.
Free
Given Santa Monica's focus on updating its General Plan, this SMC Associates Lecture by Robert Gottlieb is extremely timely. Dr. Gottlieb is the Director of the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College and an expert on the urban environment. His talk will provide an "overview of alternative visions for achieving social and economic justice in LA and observations on key trends reshaping LA at the beginning of the 21st century." For more information, please call 434-4003.
Performance: Sunday Jazz Guitar Brunch at La Vecchia Cucina
La Vecchia Cucina has a Sunday Jazz Guitar Brunch series, with special guest guitarists each week, hosted by jazz picker extraordinaire Thom Rotella.Sundays 11am-2:30pm (no cover charge) at
La Vecchia Cucina
2654 Main Street
Santa Monica
310.399.7979
<http://www.lavecchiacucina.com/>
<http://www.thomrotella.com/>
Politics: Contact your representatives
For a quick and easy way to reach your representatives in the House and Senate, go to <The Peace Table> and enter your ZIP code in the appropriate space on the "Write to Congress" button.
Alarcon and Villaraigosa support Ballona Wetlands protection
In the election on March 8th, Westside voters will be asked to choose a new mayor for Los Angeles and a Council District 11 representative (Pacific Palisades, West L.A., Mar Vista, Venice, Westchester, Playa del Rey).
I'd never advocate choosing a candidate on the basis of one issue. But sometimes local matters say something about the bigger picture. The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust asked the candidates if they support the protection of the Ballona Wetlands and oppose the Playa Vista development expansion.
The ones who said yes are Richard Alarcon and Antonio Villaraigosa, a fact that those considering voting for Bob Hertzberg 'cause he is cuddly might want to keep in mind. Council candidates Bill Rosendahl and Angela Reddock also support protecting Ballona.
I'll have some more thoughts on the choice for mayor before election day. In the meantime, voters who are concerned about Los Angeles' development priorities, especially as they impact the environment, may want to take a closer look at Alarcon and Villaraigosa. Ballona Wetlands Land Trust; Alarcon for Mayor; Villaraigosa for Mayor.
I'd never advocate choosing a candidate on the basis of one issue. But sometimes local matters say something about the bigger picture. The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust asked the candidates if they support the protection of the Ballona Wetlands and oppose the Playa Vista development expansion.The ones who said yes are Richard Alarcon and Antonio Villaraigosa, a fact that those considering voting for Bob Hertzberg 'cause he is cuddly might want to keep in mind. Council candidates Bill Rosendahl and Angela Reddock also support protecting Ballona.
I'll have some more thoughts on the choice for mayor before election day. In the meantime, voters who are concerned about Los Angeles' development priorities, especially as they impact the environment, may want to take a closer look at Alarcon and Villaraigosa. Ballona Wetlands Land Trust; Alarcon for Mayor; Villaraigosa for Mayor.
SM Public Library On Line
The newly upgraded Santa Monica Public Library website is a terrific 24/7 resource for readers, writers, and researchers. The site has easy access to a world of online databases, including thousands of periodicals, books, indices and directories. Sign up for a library card, renew your checked-out items, get a question answered by a librarian using "Ask Now," or watch the new library building being constructed on the webcam. <http://www.smpl.org/>
See also: SMPL offers free internet access
See also: Edifice Wrecks: Building the New Santa Monica Library
See also: SMPL offers free internet access
See also: Edifice Wrecks: Building the New Santa Monica Library
Travel: ExperienceLA.com
Although the L.A. Convention & Visitors Bureau seems uncharacteristically shy about taking credit, the website guide to the Los Angeles region it has created is very useful, especially for its emphasis on public transporation (did you know, for instance, that with a Metro Day Pass you can experience LA for only $3 a day?). <http://www.experiencela.com/>
The Dems' New Dean
Democratic activists have a right to feel optimistic about Howard Dean's election as party boss (I know, he's not supposed to influence policy, but we can wish).
Typically, the Democratic National Committee's chair is supposed to be seen fund raising and not heard. Business-as-usual would demand that the head of the DNC be a technocrat in service to the conservative Democratic Leadership Council. At least half the pleasure of the governor's victory came from watching the corporatist Dems squirm.
With the out-of-power party being led by back-benchers like the inestimably wily Harry Reid and the stolid Nancy Pelosi, and with the Night of the Living Dead-visage of John Kerry lurking in the political shadows, it is left to Governor Dean to try to make elected Democrats live up to expectations.
Unlike his accommodationist partymates in D.C., Dean agrees with the rank and file that, to beat the Republicans, the Democratic Party must be both tough and right. The uncompromising Liberalism of Roosevelt and Truman won the Democrats four decades of dominance in Washington. Compare that with GOP-lite Clintonism which surrendered the keys to the kingdom in 24 months. Bill Clinton may have been the greatest Republican president since Lincoln, but his political charisma wasn't used to advance a liberal agenda and it never rubbed off on his nominal party.
As Dean put it during the campaign, we need to be proud again to be Democrats. That will happen only if we are prepared to fight for economic justice and to protect our basic political rights. It won't happen by meeting Bush halfway down the road to hell.
Here is Howard Dean's DNC Plan, as posted on the party's website:
1. Show up! Democrats should never concede a single state, a single district, or a single voter to the Republicans. We must be active and compete in all 50 states and work with the state parties to build a true national party.
This is a big change, of course, from the leadership's emphasis on winning a few closely contested seats and battleground states in the hopes of eking out a narrow majority. Electing a Southern moderate or two begs the question of why the Democrats should be given control of Congress. When the conservative radicals seized the federal government, first with Gingrich and then with Bush-Cheney, they already knew what they wanted to do to it.
2. The success of the national party depends directly on the success of the state parties — we must better integrate our operations by:
* Having the DNC pay the salary of each state party executive director to help ensure that the state parties have adequate funds.
* Collectively building and sharing supporter lists between the national and state parties.
* Recruiting, training, and encouraging candidates to run for office at every level — building tomorrow's farm team from the ground up.
* Actively grow local Democratic committees and communities by working with neighborhood activists who can reach out in their communities and enable the grassroots to support state and local candidates.
* Maintaining a permanent campaign in every state. We need to establish an ongoing, active presence, which does not have to be recreated every four years for four months.
You won't find anyone arguing against the idea of a people's democracy; it is an article of faith among Americans, often honored in the breach, it's true, but a core belief nonetheless, that the democratic process provides the best mechanism by which a society's members can decide how to conduct themselves. If Dean is sincere, this emphasis on the grass roots will shake the Democratic Party to its foundations and by its nature end the domination of the party by corporate interests. Already, grass roots organizing is happening in California, among other places. Again, the enemy must be the inspiration: conservatives have done a bang-up job of energizing their base at the school board/city council level. Now progressives need to get back in the game, and the Democratic Party, barring some serious and unlikely electoral reform, is the best potential vehicle for doing so.
3. Set core principles that define the Democratic Party and what we stand for and take a bottom-up approach to the development of the Party's message;
I remain convinced that the party's -- and the country's -- interests would be served best by making economic justice the heart of Democratic Party program. By concentrating on three issues -- national health insurance, social security and the minimum wage -- the Democrats could remake the political debate. Putting people first would remind the party's office holders that corporations are not people, but legal entities chartered to perform certain needed economic functions and serve the public good, and entitled only to those rights and privileges we-the-people give them. By adopting a bottom-up approach to development of its message, the party would serve notice on the corporations that they will no longer be able to tell us how to live our lives or run our communities.
A party committed to restoring democracy would be incapable of doing the bidding of big business or the moneyed elite. A party democratically reflecting the values of its members will be driven to fight to improve the lives of all citizens, to enhance the interests of the community, to resist not exalt unfettered exploitation and greed. Good for Senator Clinton for attempting to neutralize the thorny and divisive abortion issue. The same should be done to minimize other lifestyle concerns that distract from the core issue of economic justice.
4. Use cutting-edge Internet and other technologies to fundraise, organize, and communicate with our supporters;
Sure, why not, always remembering than an unending plebiscite may be great for raising money, but may not be the most elegant instrument for forging policy.
5. Strengthen our political institutions and leadership institutes to promote our leaders and our ideas — these organizations must work together in a coordinated and integrated fashion to elect Democrats at every level, so that we can take this country back.
The right wing success this week in all but destroying class actions as devices of redressal, punishment and reform can be traced directly back to work that went on in the netherworld of incestuous corporate-funded think-tanks, foundations and lobbying organizations fabricated to advance and rationalize the neo-conservative agenda. Our own institutes and foundations need to be expanded and deployed just as aggressively.
But we need to keep in mind that the Right did not merely organize to elect Republicans at every level; it is crucial to neocon dominance that they closely monitored whom they elected to office and whom they elevated to leadership. The arrival of Governor Dean, partisan by instinct, is a move the neocons would applaud if he was of their ilk. It is heartening evidence that the Democratic Party is beginning to think and act more idealogically.
Typically, the Democratic National Committee's chair is supposed to be seen fund raising and not heard. Business-as-usual would demand that the head of the DNC be a technocrat in service to the conservative Democratic Leadership Council. At least half the pleasure of the governor's victory came from watching the corporatist Dems squirm.
With the out-of-power party being led by back-benchers like the inestimably wily Harry Reid and the stolid Nancy Pelosi, and with the Night of the Living Dead-visage of John Kerry lurking in the political shadows, it is left to Governor Dean to try to make elected Democrats live up to expectations.
Unlike his accommodationist partymates in D.C., Dean agrees with the rank and file that, to beat the Republicans, the Democratic Party must be both tough and right. The uncompromising Liberalism of Roosevelt and Truman won the Democrats four decades of dominance in Washington. Compare that with GOP-lite Clintonism which surrendered the keys to the kingdom in 24 months. Bill Clinton may have been the greatest Republican president since Lincoln, but his political charisma wasn't used to advance a liberal agenda and it never rubbed off on his nominal party.
As Dean put it during the campaign, we need to be proud again to be Democrats. That will happen only if we are prepared to fight for economic justice and to protect our basic political rights. It won't happen by meeting Bush halfway down the road to hell.
Here is Howard Dean's DNC Plan, as posted on the party's website:
1. Show up! Democrats should never concede a single state, a single district, or a single voter to the Republicans. We must be active and compete in all 50 states and work with the state parties to build a true national party.
This is a big change, of course, from the leadership's emphasis on winning a few closely contested seats and battleground states in the hopes of eking out a narrow majority. Electing a Southern moderate or two begs the question of why the Democrats should be given control of Congress. When the conservative radicals seized the federal government, first with Gingrich and then with Bush-Cheney, they already knew what they wanted to do to it.
2. The success of the national party depends directly on the success of the state parties — we must better integrate our operations by:
* Having the DNC pay the salary of each state party executive director to help ensure that the state parties have adequate funds.
* Collectively building and sharing supporter lists between the national and state parties.
* Recruiting, training, and encouraging candidates to run for office at every level — building tomorrow's farm team from the ground up.
* Actively grow local Democratic committees and communities by working with neighborhood activists who can reach out in their communities and enable the grassroots to support state and local candidates.
* Maintaining a permanent campaign in every state. We need to establish an ongoing, active presence, which does not have to be recreated every four years for four months.
You won't find anyone arguing against the idea of a people's democracy; it is an article of faith among Americans, often honored in the breach, it's true, but a core belief nonetheless, that the democratic process provides the best mechanism by which a society's members can decide how to conduct themselves. If Dean is sincere, this emphasis on the grass roots will shake the Democratic Party to its foundations and by its nature end the domination of the party by corporate interests. Already, grass roots organizing is happening in California, among other places. Again, the enemy must be the inspiration: conservatives have done a bang-up job of energizing their base at the school board/city council level. Now progressives need to get back in the game, and the Democratic Party, barring some serious and unlikely electoral reform, is the best potential vehicle for doing so.
3. Set core principles that define the Democratic Party and what we stand for and take a bottom-up approach to the development of the Party's message;
I remain convinced that the party's -- and the country's -- interests would be served best by making economic justice the heart of Democratic Party program. By concentrating on three issues -- national health insurance, social security and the minimum wage -- the Democrats could remake the political debate. Putting people first would remind the party's office holders that corporations are not people, but legal entities chartered to perform certain needed economic functions and serve the public good, and entitled only to those rights and privileges we-the-people give them. By adopting a bottom-up approach to development of its message, the party would serve notice on the corporations that they will no longer be able to tell us how to live our lives or run our communities.
A party committed to restoring democracy would be incapable of doing the bidding of big business or the moneyed elite. A party democratically reflecting the values of its members will be driven to fight to improve the lives of all citizens, to enhance the interests of the community, to resist not exalt unfettered exploitation and greed. Good for Senator Clinton for attempting to neutralize the thorny and divisive abortion issue. The same should be done to minimize other lifestyle concerns that distract from the core issue of economic justice.
4. Use cutting-edge Internet and other technologies to fundraise, organize, and communicate with our supporters;
Sure, why not, always remembering than an unending plebiscite may be great for raising money, but may not be the most elegant instrument for forging policy.
5. Strengthen our political institutions and leadership institutes to promote our leaders and our ideas — these organizations must work together in a coordinated and integrated fashion to elect Democrats at every level, so that we can take this country back.
The right wing success this week in all but destroying class actions as devices of redressal, punishment and reform can be traced directly back to work that went on in the netherworld of incestuous corporate-funded think-tanks, foundations and lobbying organizations fabricated to advance and rationalize the neo-conservative agenda. Our own institutes and foundations need to be expanded and deployed just as aggressively.
But we need to keep in mind that the Right did not merely organize to elect Republicans at every level; it is crucial to neocon dominance that they closely monitored whom they elected to office and whom they elevated to leadership. The arrival of Governor Dean, partisan by instinct, is a move the neocons would applaud if he was of their ilk. It is heartening evidence that the Democratic Party is beginning to think and act more idealogically.
NewMedia: "Vectors" launch party at MoCAJournal of Culture and Technology in a Dynamic Vernacular
On March 3, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is hosting the launch event for Vectors: Journal of Culture and Technology in a Dynamic Vernacular, a new online multimedia journal that works with leading scholars to realize their work using interactive media in ways that go beyond simple illustration. Using dynamic display, animation, and an inventive approach to interface, the site seeks to open up academic publishing to make use of the broad potential of new media to shape ideas and experience.
Where: Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA)
When: 7 - 10 p.m., Thursday, March 3, 2005
Admission: Free and open to all.
RSVP: <http://www.annenberg.edu/calendar/invite/vectors.php>
More info: <http://www.annenberg.edu/vectors>
Where: Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA)
When: 7 - 10 p.m., Thursday, March 3, 2005
Admission: Free and open to all.
RSVP: <http://www.annenberg.edu/calendar/invite/vectors.php>
More info: <http://www.annenberg.edu/vectors>
Republican Congressman Proposes Bill that Would Permit Suspension of All Laws
[Note 2005/02/11: REAL ID passed the House, largely on party lines. <http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/021105X.shtml>]
Section 102 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (H.R. 418), submitted by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner on January 26, 2005, ostensibly to deal with immigration regulations, driver's licenses, and other matters having to do with using identity to control people, would empower the Secretary of Homeland Security, as part of the effort to keep illegal aliens out of the country, to suspend any laws that prevent or delay the "expeditious" construction of a set of barriers and roads south of San Diego.
The bill also would prohibit judicial review of the secretary's decisions to suspend laws. While the legislation refers to barriers and roads "near" San Diego," (is L.A. "near" San Diego?), it does not appear to be limited, technically speaking, to that area -- but to any barriers or roads "in the vicinity of the United States border" (33 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, are on the border of the United States).
It could be called to the floor as early as next week. -- reported on Daily Kos <http://dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/15448/41910>
Section 102 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (H.R. 418), submitted by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner on January 26, 2005, ostensibly to deal with immigration regulations, driver's licenses, and other matters having to do with using identity to control people, would empower the Secretary of Homeland Security, as part of the effort to keep illegal aliens out of the country, to suspend any laws that prevent or delay the "expeditious" construction of a set of barriers and roads south of San Diego.
The bill also would prohibit judicial review of the secretary's decisions to suspend laws. While the legislation refers to barriers and roads "near" San Diego," (is L.A. "near" San Diego?), it does not appear to be limited, technically speaking, to that area -- but to any barriers or roads "in the vicinity of the United States border" (33 states, plus Guam and Puerto Rico, are on the border of the United States).
It could be called to the floor as early as next week. -- reported on Daily Kos <http://dailykos.com/story/2005/2/5/15448/41910>
Politics: All-Celeb Dem Dream Team
The following GoogleAd for the magazine Maison Neuve was delivered to Impractical Proposals this morning:
"Jon Stewart for President
Forget Schwarzenegger.
Jon Stewart is the real celebrity candidate.
www.maisonneuve.org"
Makes sense to me. Let's get away from politicians altogether.
John Stewart for President. John Cusack for Vice President.
That's the ticket.
"Jon Stewart for President
Forget Schwarzenegger.
Jon Stewart is the real celebrity candidate.
www.maisonneuve.org"
Makes sense to me. Let's get away from politicians altogether.
John Stewart for President. John Cusack for Vice President.
That's the ticket.
Resource: Iraq Coalition Casualties
Iraq Coalition Casualties website <http://www.icasualties.org/oif/> tallies daily and monthly the numbers of killed and wounded American soldiers. According to the site, "Whenever a death occurs, CENTCOM (the United States Central Command in Tampa, FL) issues a brief news release that gives the bare facts about the incident: when it happened, how it happened, and the soldier’s regiment, if known. The only information not provided at this point is the soldier’s name. These releases are published regularly on the Internet at: <http://www.centcom.mil/>. After the soldier’s relatives are notified of the death, the U.S. Department of Defense then issues its own news release that gives the soldier’s name, age, unit and hometown. Again, these can be found on the Internet here: <http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/>. The trouble with this system of notification, however, is that the government provides no tally of those releases," so this page has shouldered the responsibility.
As of this morning, the number of American fatalities is 1,449 (86 Brits have died and 86 "others," for a grand total of 1621). The number of wounded in action, according to the DoD, stands at 10,740. The numbers are broken down in various ways, some heartbreaking (US Fatalities State Map -- deaths are heavily concentrated in the blue states, by the way), some infuriating (1242: US deaths since July 2, 2003 [when] Pres. Bush announces, "Bring Them On"). The site also has an up-to-date list of news stories, many from foreign media, related to the war. <http://www.icasualties.org/oif/>
As of this morning, the number of American fatalities is 1,449 (86 Brits have died and 86 "others," for a grand total of 1621). The number of wounded in action, according to the DoD, stands at 10,740. The numbers are broken down in various ways, some heartbreaking (US Fatalities State Map -- deaths are heavily concentrated in the blue states, by the way), some infuriating (1242: US deaths since July 2, 2003 [when] Pres. Bush announces, "Bring Them On"). The site also has an up-to-date list of news stories, many from foreign media, related to the war. <http://www.icasualties.org/oif/>
Custom Issue Action Center for your site
"Do you want our representatives in Washington to stand up for you more often? We must back them up with our vocal support if we expect them to fight for us on this or any issue. The People's Email Network encourages you to speak out and keep speaking out, regardless of your political position, until our representatives truly hear you.
"And now you can have your own custom Issue Action Center featuring any issue of interest to you for you for no charge. It's an amazingly small block of HTML code you can drop into any web page anywhere for an instant dynamic action menu effect. And we will set up a corresponding issue
action page on The People's Email Network for you too. Pursue your own policy initiative! See the code in action at <http://www.usalone.com/action_center.html>"
"And now you can have your own custom Issue Action Center featuring any issue of interest to you for you for no charge. It's an amazingly small block of HTML code you can drop into any web page anywhere for an instant dynamic action menu effect. And we will set up a corresponding issue
action page on The People's Email Network for you too. Pursue your own policy initiative! See the code in action at <http://www.usalone.com/action_center.html>"
Press Release: Southern California Tsunami Blues Series Coming To Multiple Venues
Joe McGaha (lead singer of The Barnburners) is spear-heading this effort with veteran musician & promoter Greg Serrato as Primary Advisor. "This is a great opportunity for fans to see more bands in one day than they could normally see in a month," says McGaha. Although there are currently four events booked, the series may be adding further events at a later date. "There are still a few venues in Southern California considering hosting these benefits," says McGaha. "So depending on their level of interest, and the success of these three upcoming events, the series may continue through the Spring, and possibly into the Summer."
The proceeds from the donations will go to Project Concern:
http://www.projectconcern.org. 100% of the donation will support tsunami disaster relief efforts in India and Indonesia.
The series, dubbed the Southern California Blues Tsunami Series, currently consists of four dates:
Sunday, February 13, 2005
2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Main Street Blues Club & Restaurant
4902 Main Street
Yorba Linda, CA
(714) 777-9427
All Ages Admitted
Minimum Donation: $5
Any Donation Accepted
Sunday, February 27, 2005
2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
All About Coffee
2276 Griffin Way
Corona, CA 91719
(951) 549-6710
All Ages Admitted
Minimum Donation: $5
Any Donation Accepted
Sunday, March 6, 2005
2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Martini Blues Supper Club
5874 Edinger Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA
(714) 840-2129
All Ages Admitted
Minimum Donation: $5
Any Donation Accepted
Sunday, March 13, 2005
4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Holly Street Bar & Grill
175 E. Holly St.,
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 440-1421
About Main Street Blues Club & Restaurant:
The restaurant offers casual and patio dining on Main Street in Old Towne and specializes in Italian and Mexican cuisine. Home of the 6-foot burrito,Main Street Restaurant has been owned by a local resident, Lynn Ruocco, for 11 years. Open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
About Martini Blues Supperclub:
Martini Blues Supperclub is a dining and entertainment establishment, located in Huntington Beach California for just over three years. With three venues under one roof, the Supperclub has an old 1930’s to 50’s vibe that oozes a feeling of upscale elegance. Each customer is treated as honored and loved guest, invited to a party, within an elegant – not arrogant – environment every night! In the evenings, MBS becomes the center of the Orange County music scene as the premiere mid-sized dining and entertainment venue in town.
About Holly Street Bar & Grill:
A historic landmark that marries old world charm with contemporary undertones. Our Courtyard is reminiscent of a small European town. The interior is uncluttered, with contemporary art and luxurious seating. Our lounge is often filled with the sounds of live jazz. For business luncheons, breakfast meetings or any special celebration, this is the place you've been looking for.
Master chef, Abel Cardenas, prepares our food with the utmost style and care, using the freshest ingredients available. Our Courtyard is one-of-a-kind, reminiscent of a small European town, complete with a crooked church steeple, old brick walls, and a tranquil setting with a melange of indigenous plants and aromatic flowers.
The interior is uncluttered with various contemporary art and ample luxurious seating. Our lounge is filled with the sound live jazz, which is performed nightly and during Sunday Brunch. For that special celebration, this is the place you've been looking for.
About The Barnburners:
Formed in 1997 in Yorba Linda, California, The Barnburners have performed in major venues across Southern California including The Coach House (San Juan Capistrano,) The Galaxy Theater (Costa Mesa,) B.B. King's (Universal City,) and many more. They have performed on the same bill with many Blues artists including Greg Serrato, Teresa Russell & Cocobilli, BB Chung King & The Buddha Heads, etc. The band has performed in music festivals throughout Southern California, everywhere from Leona Valley to Yorba Linda. You can find Barnburners recordings on radio stations throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Latin America. The band's first c.d., Workin' Overtime, is available for purchase at www.dwmmusic.com. Most recently, the Barnburners participated in the International Blues Challenge, 2004. For more information regarding The Barnburners, write to:
Joe McGaha
10 Marino,
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Phone: (909)938-6533 Fax: (303)845-5984
bookings@barnburnersblues.com
http://www.barnburnersblues.com
http://12.217.250.54/AudioClips/Barnburners_Travelin.ram
About Project Concern:
Saving Lives and Building Healthy Communities: With over 40 years of experience, Project Concern is a leading international health organization based in San Diego, California. We save the lives of people in need around the world by preventing disease and providing access to clean water and nutritious food. Project Concern reaches over three million people a year with programs in eleven countries. http://www.projectconcern.org
Social Security Reform
Memo to Congress: Social Security is a form of insurance, a guarantee that, no matter what direction a citizen's fortunes take, after a lifetime of labor he or she will not suffer an impovershed old age. If someone is already lucky enough to enjoy a particularly high salary, there is no rationale for gifting them the additional benefit of exemption from Social Security taxes. Social Security obligations currently max out at $90,000. Raise the cap to $1,000,000. End of problem.
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of the Bush plan shows that private accounts won't make Social Security solvent and is economically unwise: <http://www.cbpp.org/2-2-05socsec4.htm>
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman describes the Social Security scheme as the latest ploy in the conservatives' "Starve the Beast" gambit. "The attempt to 'jab a spear' through Social Security complements the strategy of 'starve the beast,' long advocated by right-wing intellectuals: cut taxes, then use the resulting deficits as an excuse for cuts in social spending. The spearing doesn't seem to be going too well at the moment, but the starving was on full display in the budget released yesterday." <http://www.commondreams.org/>
The Center for American Progress has crafted a detailed alternative plan to really protect Social Security in a way that's safe and sustainable: <http://www.americanprogress.org/>
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of the Bush plan shows that private accounts won't make Social Security solvent and is economically unwise: <http://www.cbpp.org/2-2-05socsec4.htm>
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman describes the Social Security scheme as the latest ploy in the conservatives' "Starve the Beast" gambit. "The attempt to 'jab a spear' through Social Security complements the strategy of 'starve the beast,' long advocated by right-wing intellectuals: cut taxes, then use the resulting deficits as an excuse for cuts in social spending. The spearing doesn't seem to be going too well at the moment, but the starving was on full display in the budget released yesterday." <http://www.commondreams.org/>
The Center for American Progress has crafted a detailed alternative plan to really protect Social Security in a way that's safe and sustainable: <http://www.americanprogress.org/>
Letter to DNC from OC Democratic Club
Terry McAuliffe, Chairman Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003
Dear Mr. McAuliffe:
The Democratic Club of Central Orange County,
representing the cities of Orange, Tustin, Santa Ana,
Villa Park and Anaheim Hills, was founded in May, 2002
and is chartered by the Democratic Central Committee of
Orange County. The Club operated a campaign
headquarters in Santa Ana from August 1, 2004 through
the November, 2004 election. All resources to open and
operate the headquarters were raised by the club's
officers and through outreach by club members. At the
close of the campaign, over 300 volunteers were
headquartered out of the Club's office. Campaign
activities included voter registration, precinct
organization, an aggressive vote-by-mail campaign, and
letter writing to the swing states Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan and Wisconsin. Volunteers telephoned
thousands of voters in Missouri, Florida and Arizona.
Because we had no local candidate in a competitive race
for partisan office, our primary focus was the election
of Senators John Kerry and John Edwards. Our
organization was a model of political grass roots at
its best.
Given the time, effort, energy and passion our group
put into the 2004 election, we were sorely disappointed
at the November 2nd results. On December 15 we invited
all volunteers and members to discuss what went wrong
and where we and the Democratic party might go from
here. This letter is a distillation and summary of our
thoughts and recommendations.
On the national level, our members felt that the
Democratic Party was out-organized, out-issued, out-
spun and out-communicated. We allowed the Karl Rove
machine to highjack God, and the Democrats were too
reluctant to claim the moral high ground with
traditional Democratic values. The national media was
much too passive and deferential to George Bush. Fox
News, Rush Limbaugh and his ilk were lying to the
public, demeaning our candidates and mischaracterizing
our programs and positions and the Democratic Party was
too slow and too timid in their response. It is of the
utmost importance that a Democratic news channel be
developed to counter Fox, etc, a kind of rapid response
team to counter the distortions and outright lies that
seem to pervade the market place of political
discourse.
Clearly, we were out-issued by the Republican machine.
The Democratic Party never clearly identified our
issues and what we stand for. For the first time in
our history, a whole generation of American children,
saddled with the huge budget deficit, is looking at a
future less bright than their parents' generation.
Traditionally, the Democrats have been the opportunity
party; opportunity for jobs, social security in our old
age, health care for young and old, a living wage, safe
air and water, and excellence in public education. But
the Democrats allowed themselves to be out-issued by
the Republicans. We are now six weeks past the
presidential election. Already we know the issues for
the Republicans: the ownership society: privatization
of Social Security, a permanent tax cut, a value added
tax, health care savings accounts and tort reform. This
plan was spelled out in the national media more than
two weeks ago. Even today as this letter is being
written, Bush is holding his economic summit that
continues to lie to, defraud and deceive the American
people. The DNC sent a letter last week that explains
that sometime in the future the grassroots will hear
from the Democrats about these issues. We need to hear
from the Democratic Party NOW if not yesterday. These
are real bread and butter issues that we Democrats have
the moral authority to challenge.
The Republicans knew their message and stayed on it.
As a Party, the Democrats did not communicate a clear
and simple message. Of all the e-mails our club
received, not one ever said this is our message and
this is what we as Democrats stand for. While the
Party registered tens of thousands of new voters, spent
countless hours making sure folks got to the polls, the
Party did not persuade voters to vote for Democratic
candidates. When asked why they voted for Senator John
Kerry for President, even lifelong Democrats responded,
"He is not George Bush." We should have had a better
message than that!
From our perspective, there was a lack of coordination
among the various Democratic entities: the
Presidential Campaign, the DNC, the California
Democratic Party and the Orange County Democratic
Central Committee. There was a complete lack of focus
and the Party, in our opinion, never identified the
customer. There was a complete lack of leadership at
all levels. The DNC used the internet extensively and
effectively as a fund-raising tool as evidenced by the
seven fold increase in small donor base from 400,000
donors in 2000 to 2.7 million donors in 2004. This is
as remarkable achievement. The internet was not,
however, a two way communication. We did not receive
marching orders, message or infrastructure directions
through the internet, or through any other medium. Our
Democratic Club of Central Orange County activities
were chosen and directed from within the Club and our
information for swing state activities came not from
the Democratic Party but from outside groups like the
Orange County Central Labor Council, Main Street Moms
Opposed to Bush, and Moveon.Org. Our volunteers were
incredibly committed. One volunteer on her own cell
phone made 2,500 telephone calls to Florida voters.
The Democratic Party did not lack for funds but it is
clear that the Democrats must be as serious about grass
roots organizing as they are about grass roots
fundraising. Over $158 million was raised in California
by outside Democratic candidates, the DNC and 527's.
Not one cent of that $158 million was spent in
California. Equally damning, we received no direction.
Our Club, because of recent fund-raising laws, operated
like a 527. We obtained our own instruction on fund-
raising/spending requirements. A stronger role in
financial reporting by the California Democratic Party
is urgently needed. Voter persuasion tools from the
DNC and the California Democratic Party are critical
for local party building. The California Democratic
Party piece that we have used in the past needs to be
streamlined and updated in format. If we are to take
back the White House in 2008, let alone House and
Senate, these tools should be made available now, so
that come the mid-term elections, the electorate knows
who we are and what we stand for. We can't wait until
Labor Day weekend, 2006.
The Democratic Party is dysfunctional at all levels.
There was a strong, almost unanimous recommendation
from our members, for some sort of Orange County
Coordinating Council so that clubs could communicate
with one another, expand grass-roots activities,
strategize together. Each club that operated a campaign
headquarters was operating by the seat of their pants.
It would have been such a big help had the walk piece
that our Club developed independently had the input
from and an "imprimatur" from all the clubs. Without
coordination with other headquarters, each was
struggling for cash to buy the basics. For example,
Kerry/Edwards yard sign sleeves and wires cost $4.15
each. That was an outrageous figure for a local
campaign office to support, especially considering that
$158 millions was raised in California to be spent
elsewhere. Generally, little direction was forthcoming
from the party as to process and organization for the
grass roots volunteers.
In spite of these problems, we are still working
diligently to maintain our over 300 (many young and
first-time) volunteers in Democratic activities because
we desperately want to be ready for the midterm
elections. The above recommendations are presented for
your consideration and our club is eager and ready to
continue to support the Democratic Party. We are
anxious for help and direction and look forward to
hearing from you with both. Thank you very much .
Sincerely,
Sharon O'Hara Jeanne Costales Chair
Vice-Chair
CC: Al From, CEO Democratic Leadership Council Bruce
Reed, President Democratic Leadership Council
Senator Art Torres, Chairman California
Democratic Party Frank Barbaro, Chairman Orange
County Democratic Central Committee Garry Shay,
DNC member
430 S. Capitol St. SE Washington, DC 20003
Dear Mr. McAuliffe:
The Democratic Club of Central Orange County,
representing the cities of Orange, Tustin, Santa Ana,
Villa Park and Anaheim Hills, was founded in May, 2002
and is chartered by the Democratic Central Committee of
Orange County. The Club operated a campaign
headquarters in Santa Ana from August 1, 2004 through
the November, 2004 election. All resources to open and
operate the headquarters were raised by the club's
officers and through outreach by club members. At the
close of the campaign, over 300 volunteers were
headquartered out of the Club's office. Campaign
activities included voter registration, precinct
organization, an aggressive vote-by-mail campaign, and
letter writing to the swing states Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Michigan and Wisconsin. Volunteers telephoned
thousands of voters in Missouri, Florida and Arizona.
Because we had no local candidate in a competitive race
for partisan office, our primary focus was the election
of Senators John Kerry and John Edwards. Our
organization was a model of political grass roots at
its best.
Given the time, effort, energy and passion our group
put into the 2004 election, we were sorely disappointed
at the November 2nd results. On December 15 we invited
all volunteers and members to discuss what went wrong
and where we and the Democratic party might go from
here. This letter is a distillation and summary of our
thoughts and recommendations.
On the national level, our members felt that the
Democratic Party was out-organized, out-issued, out-
spun and out-communicated. We allowed the Karl Rove
machine to highjack God, and the Democrats were too
reluctant to claim the moral high ground with
traditional Democratic values. The national media was
much too passive and deferential to George Bush. Fox
News, Rush Limbaugh and his ilk were lying to the
public, demeaning our candidates and mischaracterizing
our programs and positions and the Democratic Party was
too slow and too timid in their response. It is of the
utmost importance that a Democratic news channel be
developed to counter Fox, etc, a kind of rapid response
team to counter the distortions and outright lies that
seem to pervade the market place of political
discourse.
Clearly, we were out-issued by the Republican machine.
The Democratic Party never clearly identified our
issues and what we stand for. For the first time in
our history, a whole generation of American children,
saddled with the huge budget deficit, is looking at a
future less bright than their parents' generation.
Traditionally, the Democrats have been the opportunity
party; opportunity for jobs, social security in our old
age, health care for young and old, a living wage, safe
air and water, and excellence in public education. But
the Democrats allowed themselves to be out-issued by
the Republicans. We are now six weeks past the
presidential election. Already we know the issues for
the Republicans: the ownership society: privatization
of Social Security, a permanent tax cut, a value added
tax, health care savings accounts and tort reform. This
plan was spelled out in the national media more than
two weeks ago. Even today as this letter is being
written, Bush is holding his economic summit that
continues to lie to, defraud and deceive the American
people. The DNC sent a letter last week that explains
that sometime in the future the grassroots will hear
from the Democrats about these issues. We need to hear
from the Democratic Party NOW if not yesterday. These
are real bread and butter issues that we Democrats have
the moral authority to challenge.
The Republicans knew their message and stayed on it.
As a Party, the Democrats did not communicate a clear
and simple message. Of all the e-mails our club
received, not one ever said this is our message and
this is what we as Democrats stand for. While the
Party registered tens of thousands of new voters, spent
countless hours making sure folks got to the polls, the
Party did not persuade voters to vote for Democratic
candidates. When asked why they voted for Senator John
Kerry for President, even lifelong Democrats responded,
"He is not George Bush." We should have had a better
message than that!
From our perspective, there was a lack of coordination
among the various Democratic entities: the
Presidential Campaign, the DNC, the California
Democratic Party and the Orange County Democratic
Central Committee. There was a complete lack of focus
and the Party, in our opinion, never identified the
customer. There was a complete lack of leadership at
all levels. The DNC used the internet extensively and
effectively as a fund-raising tool as evidenced by the
seven fold increase in small donor base from 400,000
donors in 2000 to 2.7 million donors in 2004. This is
as remarkable achievement. The internet was not,
however, a two way communication. We did not receive
marching orders, message or infrastructure directions
through the internet, or through any other medium. Our
Democratic Club of Central Orange County activities
were chosen and directed from within the Club and our
information for swing state activities came not from
the Democratic Party but from outside groups like the
Orange County Central Labor Council, Main Street Moms
Opposed to Bush, and Moveon.Org. Our volunteers were
incredibly committed. One volunteer on her own cell
phone made 2,500 telephone calls to Florida voters.
The Democratic Party did not lack for funds but it is
clear that the Democrats must be as serious about grass
roots organizing as they are about grass roots
fundraising. Over $158 million was raised in California
by outside Democratic candidates, the DNC and 527's.
Not one cent of that $158 million was spent in
California. Equally damning, we received no direction.
Our Club, because of recent fund-raising laws, operated
like a 527. We obtained our own instruction on fund-
raising/spending requirements. A stronger role in
financial reporting by the California Democratic Party
is urgently needed. Voter persuasion tools from the
DNC and the California Democratic Party are critical
for local party building. The California Democratic
Party piece that we have used in the past needs to be
streamlined and updated in format. If we are to take
back the White House in 2008, let alone House and
Senate, these tools should be made available now, so
that come the mid-term elections, the electorate knows
who we are and what we stand for. We can't wait until
Labor Day weekend, 2006.
The Democratic Party is dysfunctional at all levels.
There was a strong, almost unanimous recommendation
from our members, for some sort of Orange County
Coordinating Council so that clubs could communicate
with one another, expand grass-roots activities,
strategize together. Each club that operated a campaign
headquarters was operating by the seat of their pants.
It would have been such a big help had the walk piece
that our Club developed independently had the input
from and an "imprimatur" from all the clubs. Without
coordination with other headquarters, each was
struggling for cash to buy the basics. For example,
Kerry/Edwards yard sign sleeves and wires cost $4.15
each. That was an outrageous figure for a local
campaign office to support, especially considering that
$158 millions was raised in California to be spent
elsewhere. Generally, little direction was forthcoming
from the party as to process and organization for the
grass roots volunteers.
In spite of these problems, we are still working
diligently to maintain our over 300 (many young and
first-time) volunteers in Democratic activities because
we desperately want to be ready for the midterm
elections. The above recommendations are presented for
your consideration and our club is eager and ready to
continue to support the Democratic Party. We are
anxious for help and direction and look forward to
hearing from you with both. Thank you very much .
Sincerely,
Sharon O'Hara Jeanne Costales Chair
Vice-Chair
CC: Al From, CEO Democratic Leadership Council Bruce
Reed, President Democratic Leadership Council
Senator Art Torres, Chairman California
Democratic Party Frank Barbaro, Chairman Orange
County Democratic Central Committee Garry Shay,
DNC member
Politics: The 1st Amendment Run Amok
-- a progressive blawg
Paul Gowder is a civil rights attorney and activist who writes The First Amendment Run Amok, "wherein Public Policy is discussed with an eye to ecological sustainability, broadly defined,
and humanistic values." <http://www.paultopia.org/blog/>
and humanistic values." <http://www.paultopia.org/blog/>
Blog: ...on judicial appointments
Nomination Nation is a group blawg (blog focussing on legal matters) featuring news, views and gossip about judicial appointments. <http://nominations.blogspot.com/>
California Mission Studies Association
Here's a directory of missions, articles on mission architecture, images of California missions, stories about mission life, and information about archaeological projects, including 3-D tours of some missions, a glossary, and related links. <http://www.ca-missions.org/>
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