I get the sense that a lot of people out there — not necessarily a plurality, but enough to justify having a public conversation with them — share roughly my preference order with respect to the remaining non-Gravel Democratic Presidential candidates. In terms of what I’d like to see in a nominee, I’d give Edwards a 90, Obama an 84, Clinton a 72, and I’ll explain where Kucinich fits in later. So here’s where I stand after today’s debate, and y’all can hash it out in comments if you want. There’s no special reason that you should be that interested in what I think, so there’s no particular reason that you should be abusive in comments. I’m mostly setting this down as my own diary for the record, so I can refer to it years down the line. (Thanks again, buhdy, for providing this service.)
January 22, 2008 archive
Jan 22 2008
MLK III to Edwards: “Keep Fighting. My Father Would Be Proud.”
X-Posted from MyDD
Martin Luther King, III Praises Edwards For Leading The Fight For Economic Justice In America.
Following a meeting at the King Center in Atlanta on the afternoon of Saturday, January 19th, 2008, Martin Luther King, III sent John Edwards a letter praising Edwards’ commitment to fighting poverty and speaking out for those without a voice. King, the first son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the President and CEO of Realizing the Dream, said his father was a fighter and urged Edwards to continue the fight for justice and equality. He also urged the other candidates to follow Edwards’ lead.
So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter.
As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.
Sincerely,
Martin L. King, III
Full letter, after the fold.
Jan 22 2008
Smart Ways to Think about Our Economic Problems
Did you know that some of the greatest wealth has been grown during times of recession? There are some really smart ways to adjust your economic “thinking” so that you can trust your investment instincts. There are also some smart things you can “do.”
The number one smartest thing you can do is ask questions in a economic-topic Essay. Don’t be intimidated because you don’t know what the writer is talking about. Tell your story. Ask for advice. Get people to argue about your situation. Keep the conversation going and bring the economic gurus down to your level.
Some of very knowledgeable economic watchers participate here. You can tell they are pros, because they never, ever give investment advice.
I, on the other hand — well, you just can’t shut me up. Thus, it’s risky to read on past here.
Jan 22 2008
On Quitting
What?
Oh, I am quitting smoking. I thought you might like to know.
Cold turkey. Well, actually, more like smoking my last cigarette last night and going to bed, and then not buying any more. I slept late because I have been sick and without a voice for several days now (sick longer than that).
I am scared, happy, and I want a cigarette. When I think about the possibilities of life while quitting, I get a happy feeling. I also think about the money I will save, around $1,000 this year alone, not counting health care expenses. Just for cigarettes.
I think I am going to celebrate that with a trip to Hawaii in June. I can spend some of the money I have saved, and for the first time in my life, I can take a plane trip without jonesing for hours over a stupid cigarette.
I won’t be the subject of odd looks or ridicule anymore. But mostly, I will provide the huge tobacco companies no more of my money to carry out their killing agenda.
Wish me luck.
Jan 22 2008
Rhetoric and Reality
Jeralyn links to this Las Vegas Sun analysis of the Nevada Caucuses. According to the Sun, it all boiled down to this:
And though it’s easy to slice and dice and analyze strategy, there’s this: Nevadan Democrats put their faith in Clinton and her experience.
At dozens of precinct locations voters interviewed by the Sun cited Clinton’s experience as the overriding factor in their decision.
Clinton’s “experience” over Obama’s call for “change.”
Jeralyn says this:
I continue to believe that when it comes time to vote, those adversely affected by our tumbling economy are going to be less concerned with aspirational change and more apt to ask which candidate has both a concrete economic program and a track record showing the ability to push it through.
I hope that’s true, but on an even broader scale. Because I don’t hear much about anyone’s economic programs. Even in the endlessly blithering blogosphere, the campaign themes are repetitively dumbed down to “experience” vs. “change.” And Jeralyn is spot on that people actually want to know about concrete policies. It would be nice if the campaigns and their supporters realized that.
If people really want real experience, they’d have supported Bill Richardson. If people really want real change, they’d be supporting Dennis Kucinich. The people who continually hype the illusion of Clinton’s “experience” or Obama’s “change” need to be a bit more honest with themselves, and figure out what it really is that makes them so adore their favorites. Maybe, then, they will do a better job of selling their candidates to we skeptics. Or maybe they won’t.
Jan 22 2008
Heroes
(originally at dailyKos, long ago)
Today, we honor Dr. King. But there are other heroes. You probably haven’t heard of these, some of my heroes. But I hope you will read on.
Who makes you proud?
Proud of what? Proud of being human. Name some heroes, and try to tell us WHY they make you proud or ashamed. And try to pick some people who won’t be on EVERYONE’S list unless you have some special thing to say – soem special bit of knowledge.
So….in no particular order….and I am NOT saying these are the greatest people in history….just some who I think aren’t that well known
Heroes:
S. Michael Gelber, who was my rabbi, and who I diaried about here
My father – who not only led a life that would fit into a Horatio Alger story (except Alger didn’t write about Jews) but is totally committed to giving back to the community, and who may be the least prejudiced person I know (certainly less prejudiced than I am).
Paul Farmer – for his stunning work in bringing free health care to some of the most impoverished places on Earth – most especially Haiti.
Wayne Inman – In Billings, MT, in 1993, the KKK and other groups were vandalizing the homes of the few Jews who live there, who they identified because they were displaying menorahs in their windows. Cemeteries were desecrated, swastikas painted….etc. Inman, the police chief at the time, reacted brilliantly. He publicized the incidents, got religious groups to sponsor marches against hate, and, in what I regard as the most brilliant move, got 10,000 menorahs printed up and urged residents to place them in their windows. Kudos to word is bond for helping me find the info, and posting it here
David Smith of Whitwell, TN, a teacher and assistant principal who came up with the idea that led to a great film. The basic story: He decided that the kids in this nearly-all-White, all-Christian town needed to learn about the Holocaust. Then he had the idea to collect a paper clip for each Jew killed by the Nazis. It really is a great film , and a testament to what ordinary people can do, and how ordinary people can grow.
Who are your heroes?
Why?
Jan 22 2008
A Promise Lives Within You Now
As we honor Martin Luther King Jr., it is also fitting to honor the unknown men and women across America who shared his dream and took a stand for justice and equality in the 1960’s. A promise lived within them, a promise of justice and equality in a land of injustice and prejudice. They believed in that promise and redeemed it with their courage, determination, and sacrifice.
We will never know their names, but they deserve remembrance and gratitude too, for even the most inspiring leaders can accomplish nothing if people like you and me do not transform inspiration into real change in our own lives, in our own families, in our own neighborhoods, and in our own communities. Leaders talk the talk, it’s up to us to walk the walk.
During the civil rights movement of the ’50s and ’60s, many courageous Americans fought for justice and equality in the face of hostile resistance. Among the bravest of them were a small group of men and women who boarded a bus in May of 1961 and headed south in the name of freedom. With nothing but idealism, courage, and their belief in justice to shield them from harm, these Freedom Riders rode into racist Alabama to show Alabamans what human dignity looks like.
Human dignity was not welcome in Montgomery, where the Freedom Riders were met by a mob armed with chains, lead pipes, and hammers. They were badly beaten and their bus was firebombed:
Human beings can be beaten, buses can be firebombed, but human dignity cannot be beaten or firebombed into submission by racists or anyone else. The ordeal of the Freedom Riders awakened the conscience of America:
The Freedom Rides were a central part of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s that fought to win equal rights for African Americans. It was a bloody and difficult battle. It was fought on one side by policemen and private citizens who used dogs, fire hoses, guns, and burning crosses. It was fought on the other side by protesters who used marches, songs, signs, and nonviolence. It was a battle the Freedom Riders helped win.
Jan 22 2008
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the legacy remembered, the message that should not be forgotten
From Dennis Kucinich’s campaign site: http://www.dennis4president.co…
Jan 22 2008
Pony Party: Dead Parrot
M’kay, so this one is nominally (nominally) better than the last. At least I bring you Python:
Jan 22 2008
Keeping Dr. King’s Dream Alive — by mikepridmore
Dr. King went to Democratic politicians for legislative support of his call for change. One of the most insightful explanations you will find on that is the one from Bill Moyers here:
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