Claudia Flisi's Blog

The times they have changed!

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:22:37 EST

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=dylan+times+they+are+a+changin&hl=en&emb=0&aq=0&oq=Dylan+times+#q=dylan%20times%20they%20are%20a%20changin&hl=en&emb=0&aq=0&oq=Dylan%20times%20&start=10

Zero and counting

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:40:01 EST

No more days to count, emails to send, phone calls to make, friends to remind. All that is left (at least till tomorrow) is the counting, hour by hour, minute by minute, state by state. We in Milan are about to huddle together on a miserable rain-soaked evening at the (appropriately named?) La Banque, where the US consulate has organized a results-watching party not just for us but for Americans from both parties in Milan, and many Italians as well.

We will close our ears to the exit polls and glue our eyes to the results of canary states like Virginia and Ohio. If hope triumphs there and the Kerry states remain true-blue, we will be celebrating throughout the night -- and whistling "Blue skies" as we make our way home in the morning.

Then please join us tomorrow evening at Bistrot Fiori Oscuri (Via Fiori Oscuri 3, in Brera) from 7 pm on. Let's hope to toast our country's rebirth in less than 24 hours.

Can we? Yes?

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:50:13 EST

Tomorrow is it. Make or break. Our country's image in the world, our own future in -- or impacted by -- our country. Tonight even the atheists among us can pray.

If we get the opportunity to remake America's reputation, our work will be just beginning. I was reminded of the self-examination this will require in a recent exchange with one of my sons. He wrote, "Guess I'm not such a flag-waving progressive. I just don't feel we should be spending left right and center on any/every problem."

I replied, "I too do not believe that throwing money at a problem resolves it. To me, being progressive means wanting to solve problems not spending more money to keep them afloat. Sometimes managers, including politicians, get sloppy. They want to show that they 'care' about issues by throwing money at them, and that is NOT necessarily a viable solution. It's a lot harder to figure out how to solve a problem than to show someone you care about it.

An interesting statistic gleaned recently: the US health care system (which excludes 43 million people) spends more than $7,000 per person (entire population) per year. The French and Italian health care systems (ranked number one and number 2 in the world by the WHO, and including the entire population) spend a little more than $3,600 per person per year.
The Finnish education system is ranked best in the world by many studies. The US ranks well down. Yet the Finns spend less than half of what the US spends per student per year.
Why? That's what a progressive cares about. Money is a resource like oil and water. It needs to be used, but it should not be used indiscriminately. We face many problems these days, and we care about them. Now we have to roll up our sleeves and work to solve them . . . after a day or so to recover from these last tumultuous weeks.

It's TWO, TOO much . . .

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:20:59 EST

It's Sunday. Do we know where our fellow voters are? We are watching the polls, biting our nails, glued to our computers, wanting -- but not daring -- to plan our victory celebrations, and wondering, "Is there anything else we can do?"

Yes there is. Yes there is.

1. Those final contacts to friends and colleagues in the US who haven't voted yet. The core states have boiled down to Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada, so if you know anyone in one of those states especially, make sure they are well-informed and determined to vote. But all states matter, because all states have Congressional races that could be decided by a handful of votes.

2. Money still counts. We know that Obama has been an amazing money machine and is spending it aggressively. Money to him, to the DNC, to a 527 of your choice (environment, animals, energy, take your pick) can still be used in these final two days, including GOTV on November 4. If you aren't already barraged by requests for donations, you haven't been making yourself known online (which has disadvantages as well as advantages). Donating online is safe and easy; do it today.

3. Stay informed. Here's a great summary of the eight major polls, strengths and weaknesses:

www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/tracking-poll-primer.html

4. Keep a sense of humor. John McCain appeared on SNL last night with Tina/Sara, and was a good sport about the whole thing. If we'd seen THAT McCain throughout this campaign, our side might not be in as great a humor at this point.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/02/john-mccains-saturday-nig_n_140081.html

The medium isn't the only message

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:26:36 EDT

This morning I received an email from a fellow Democrat. It wasn't about Obama or the election, amazingly, it was about a reputed vote of the Senate to allow "illegal immigrants" Social Security benefits. I was suspicious of the way the original note was phrased and of its provenance, so I investigated. Not to my surprise, it had come from some right-wing group that was trying to discredit Congress, with its Democratic majority, and was rife with inaccuracies.

Since ardent Democrats can be taken in by these messages, you can only imagine what happens when they are sent to undecideds, or independents, or middle of the roaders in either party. If -- the BIG IF, so big that I don't want to hex it by breathing the prospect aloud -- the Democrats are to triumph on Tuesday, then these insidious, weaken-from-within notes and insinuations are going to increase.

Tuesday will hopefully mark the end of one long national nightmare. But it will be the beginning of an even more arduous task, to rebuild the reputation of our country, step by step, policy by policy. Those who feel threatened, out of ignorance mostly but sometimes out of conviction, are going to try to thwart us at every turn. The messages of the media may be distorted, inaccurate, blatantly untrue or unfairly presented.

We have seen that all through this campaign. Remember the two-week bubble after Palin was nominated and we thought Americans had gone stark raving mad? Well, it's not going to stop. So neither can we.

Make your final phone calls to American friends this weekend, remind folks to vote on Tuesday (though fully 1/3 of the electorate has already voted!), and we will see you at Le Banque on Tuesday night in Milan.

Four and a third

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:37:36 EDT

Four interminable days till the election. One-third of US voters will have already voted by November 4. Lines of several HOURS in pre-election-day voting. This is no normal election cycle.

But then, this is no normal period for anything. The stock market has never been so erratic and unpredictable, EVER. The US has never been in a war -- make that TWO wars -- for which there is no clear enemy to "surrender" to us. The national economy has never looked more like that of a banana republic. Let's hope the election process doesn't devolve like a banana republic as well. The press reported that Democrats have unleashed 5,000 lawyers for the state of Florida ALONE to make sure that the process goes smoothly.

The Chinese curse goes, "May you live in interesting times." The Chinese, who may yet take over the world, certainly got this one right. Meanwhile, you can spend the next three days flipping from poll to poll on

http://mashable.com/2008/10/24/electoral-projections/

Remember to take time out to remind your US friends about voting -- this weekend, Monday, or on the day. If THEY need more coaxing, here's some star-studded impetus:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k4qCWsdPsY

"Socialism" and sandwiches

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:39:14 EDT

If you have been following the news, you know that the McCain/Palin theme this past week has been centered on socialism -- the fear that the kind of government favored by those elitist, European surrender-monkey types might (mercy forebear!) come to pass in the US if the Democrats are elected. Palin in particular has been sent out with scripts that call for sneers when "wealth distribution" is mentioned.

It's so pathetic: wealth distribution is EXACTLY what governments do, governments from the right as well as the left. Not only are progressive income taxes wealth distribution, ALL taxes redistribute wealth. You take money from individuals to provide services for the collective. Those who can afford to pay more so do (in theory) and those who have less may benefit relatively more. It's not communism, which is redistribution taken to the extreme, but it IS what makes society as a whole better off.

Obama has deflected the accusations with his usual aplomb, using the example of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he used to share in kindergarten. I was reminded of the time I brought my young sons to a Ronald McDonald House to donate several of the still-new stuffed animals they had and didn't need. They were a little confused, a little uncertain about surrendering their toys, and a little afraid of the thin, bald, very sick children they saw. But they never sneered.

See you Saturday night at Ba-Rock for Obama. Meanwhile, don't relent on those notes to undecided US friends. You can point out that Stephen Colbert endorsed Obama, so it's nothing for even a conservative to be ashamed of!

www.colbertnation.com/home

All over (tv tonight)

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:23:01 EDT

As you may know, Obama has bought half an hour (HALF AN HOUR) of television time on FOUR channels tonight to talk to the American people. Simply the fact that he can do this is amazing and may override the impact of the words themselves. But we owe it to ourselves to check out his message, so if you don't feel like staying up tonight -- could be practice for next Tuesday night? -- pick up the program online at your convenience tomorrow. Any google search will bring it to you.

Halloween is this Friday. There are many suggestions for Obama pumpkin carvings online, in case you come across a large orange vegetable at your local supermarket. So far no word about political parties in Milan, but on Saturday we can all "Ba-Rock the vote" at Dixieland on Corso Sempione from 6-9 pm.

Meanwhile, here are some thoughts for how to survive the next six days, thanks to Kevin Praeger of Brussels:

http://www.236.com/news/2008/10/27/eight_ways_to_survive_the_next_9828.php

The good, the sad, and the ugly

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:20:14 EDT

With a week left to go before THE ELECTION, the good news is that the polls, all the polls, are looking good. We all know that polls mean nothing, only election results count, but we also know that Obama is spending this final week of his campaign in pink (not to be confused with "pinko") states rather than places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Colorado.

The sad news is that this good news has come almost exclusively because of America's economic meltdown. In other words, in spite of all the compelling, dramatic, persuasive reasons to vote for Obama-Biden next Tuesday, many -- perhaps a majority --might not have been convinced if reality hadn't whacked them in the piggy bank. So there may not be as much of a mandate for change, fundamental, pervasive and -- of necessity -- disruptive change, as the predicted electoral college vote might suggest.

Now, the lack of an electoral mandate didn't stop Bush W from pursuing an aggressively right wing agenda within two hours of entering the White House, but that was because he cared only what his BASE thought, not what AMERICANs thought. Obama is more encompassing and forward-thinking; this suggests that he won't push an agenda too far left of center. Some supporters may also find this sad (though I would disagree) and might be disappointed.

The ugly has been widely reported in the mainstream media: robocalls, racist slurs, slogans of "socialism" and the like. There have been uglier campaigns historically, but the nation has rarely been as polarized as it is in this period. Throwing "ugly" into this atmosphere is dropping a match in the tinderbox. Let's hope our explosions on November 5 are strictly those of joy.

Meanwhile, if you can't get enough of polling this final week, go to

http://mashable.com/2008/10/24/electoral-projections/

Ain't over till the fat lady swings

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:39:03 EDT

Polls look good, optimism abounds (in terms of election results, NOT the economy). But it's no time to lose focus. We know from the past two elections that a desperate party will try every trick in the book to send the votes their way, and the only defense is to win by such overwhelming numbers that dirty tactics don't have a chance.

The outcome of the election is now concentrated on a few swing states:

Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota

The latter three weren't supposed to be swing states; they were red-tinged pink only a few weeks ago. What a difference a financial meltdown makes! If you have undecided friends voting in any of these days, in particular, keep up the barrage of information -- the eloquent Colin Powell endorsement, the Chicago Tribune endorsement, or this recent compelling video of Republicans who are voting Democratic for the very first time:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBLnwMbYmUw

And a treat for friends, voting and not, if -- and ONLY if -- they are familiar with the award-winning`"wassup" Bud ads of 2000:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE

Foodies for Obama!

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:15:05 EDT

The biannual Salone del Gusto runs till tomorrow in Turin, and I took off a few days from the election (and my day job) to visit. Naturally I wore my Obama buttons -- two of them, one for the coat and one for the blouse. It's not surprising that when people saw them, they broke into big smiles. Slow Food, which organizes the Salone del Gusto, is essentially a political movement. It's all about ecologically-friendly food, home-grown, genetically pure, pesticide-free, and Republicans haven't been on that bandwagon in the US for years . . . although the underpinnings could easily overlap with traditional conservative values. (THAT shows how far Republicans have strayed from their philosophical base since the 1980s).

Seeing my Obama buttons, people would ask me, "Will he make it? Is it true? Racism won't interfere?", as if they couldn't believe that the US were capable of making an intelligent political decision these days. I would always say that to make a prediction would be to hex the outcome (a superstition apparently shared by Joe Biden) so I would refuse to discuss it. But I would tell them that the Bradley effect (some Italians are following this campaign closely enough that they know about the Bradley effect), such as it still exists, might well be balanced by the increased registration of and voting by black voters who normally don't turn out in large numbers but are expected to do so for this historic election.

Here in Italy, not many of us can have a direct impact on turning out the black (aka African-American) vote, but we can all do our part with people we know who have not yet voted. Since early voting is now possible in 31 US states, why don't you encourage your US contacts to do so? Here are the states where early voting is permitted:

www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/elect/absentearly.htm

And here's some "food for thought" from noted Republican intellectual David Brooks about a GOP (to continue the analogy) starved for ideas:

www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26brooks.html

Four star endorsements

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:12:20 EDT

In recent days Colin Powell, the Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times have all endorsed Obama. Each is special, over and above the three to one edge the Democratic presidential ticket has in overall newspaper endorsements. Colin Powell is perhaps the most respected Republican left in that once intellectually-impressive party. His reasons for endorsing Obama are more meaningful than the endorsement itself. You can see it here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/CPvideo

The Los Angeles Times support is significant because that paper hasn't endorsed any presidential candidate in more than two decades.

The Chicago Tribune is more startling because they have NEVER supported a Democratic candidate in their entire history (more than 150 YEARS) . . . until this election. This should underscore the importance of 2008 as a potential watershed in the direction of our country. So if any of your US contacts is still wavering about WHETHER to vote, you must persuade them to do so, and to vote early if that option is possible. (Early voting leaves fewer options for voter disenfranchisement or fraud.)

This election isn't won till the polls have closed everywhere, so keep the pressure up. It is the most dramatic presidential decision in our lifetime, because the once honorable Republicans have careened so far to the right that only a resounding defeat of their viewpoint may bring the country back to its senses, and its centrist, sensible roots.

Paying it forward

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:53:12 EDT

An upset American called me today. She had received her ballot from the swing state of Virginia and had been told in the same mailing, "If you want to make sure your ballot arrives in time, you have to send it by courier service." When she investigated, she found that courier service would cost her 43 euro. So she called me.

"This is like making us PAY to vote," she fumed. "This is unfair. This is un-American."

"We (Democrats Abroad) are collecting ballots Wednesday evening," I told her. "If you bring your ballot then, we will take it to the consulate and that will save significant mailing time. If your ballot goes out in the diplomatic pouch this week, it should arrive in Virginia comfortably before November 4."

"I went to the consulate already," she replied. "They agreed to post my ballot but couldn't guarantee me that it would arrive in time. Why didn't they tell us beforehand about the short turnaround? Why don't they let Americans know about the options we have?"

"This can be a problem with US consulates," I tried to explain. "It's usually up to local Democratic and Republican groups to guide expats through the voting process. That's why we try to reach people EARLY."

By the time we finished the call, the woman was a little less upset, but I was frustrated. HOW can we reach Americans who arrive in a new country close to election day? If they aren't already aware of what they have to do to register, receive their ballot, vote and mail, they will be disenfranchised. Suggestions welcomed on how to reach new expats immediately and effectively.

Spreading the wealth

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:39:38 EDT

Those of us privileged enough to have attended yesterday's fund-raiser for Obama in Milan know that affluent people DO support the Democrats, contrary to popular opinion.

Among the events at the party -- which included a donkey, a fabulous buffet, Hillary and Obama impersonators, a jazz group, and a performing monkey -- was an informal "debate" between Republicans and Democrats. The debate should in no way be compared to the monkey's antics, but did serve to highlight some salient points between the two parties' positions.

One significant point, mentioned in passing but unfortunately not developed in full, is the growing discrepancy between the richest and poorest in the United States. This gap has increased more in the last eight years than in any period post-World War II, and it is not only between the "richest" and the "poorest' but between the ultra ULTRA rich and everyone else. The gap is now so great that there is class resentment between the merely rich (one to 10 million dollars in net worth, not counting primary residence) and the really most sincerely rich (over $100 million). That former group, consisting of professionals like lawyers, doctors and bankers, has been a bastion of Republican strength over the last few decades. But this year doctors are opting for Obama two to one, bankers idem, and lawyers four to one. Technology entrepreneurs support the Democrats five to one.

Moving to the top of the scale of "Richistan", the support for Democrats is as overwhelming as it is -- perhaps -- surprising. The two richest people in the US, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, are both outspoken Obama supporters.

Why is this? Why are the richy-rich and the moderately rich, the mainstay beneficiaries of "trickle-down" theory, supporting those who say they want to "spread the wealth around"? Because the former realize that the huge and growing gap between the super rich and everyone else is NOT healthy for society. One need only look at Latin America to understand why. Income inequality has long been inherent in Latin American society, and the result has been unstable governments, under-served populations, and a growth rate that has underperformed with respect to the continent's natural and human resource potential.

Too great a gap between rich and poor, or super-rich and the rest of us, has pervasive impact on the fabric of society, affecting entitlements, equal opportunity, educational access, human rights, health care, and the list goes on. NO ONE benefits from such a gap, not even those at the top of the pyramid, as Gates and Buffett recognize.

Unfortunately, Republicans don't. Try to enlighten those you know between now and November 4.

Here are a few sites with ammo:

http://www.demos.org/inequality/

http://communicatinglabourrights.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/us-income-inequality-is-growing/

http://www.frbsf.org/news/speeches/2006/1106.html

Saturday night live and Sunday livelier

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:51:35 EDT

As you may know, the real Sarah Palin will be on SNL tonight with the even-more-authentic Tina Fey version. You can watch it tomorrow morning at www.nbc.com and there will probably be links from www.huffingtonpost.com and others. No need to write dialogue; the GOP speechwriters seem to do very well on their own.

Then at noon tomorrow is a political extravaganza at the home of one of Milan's most renowned philanthropists. There will be entertainment icons, jazz and opera, performing animals, a quiz for kids, a debate for sober-minded adults, an art auction, and many surprises. If you have not received information yet, go to

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ProObamaFundraisingBrunch

We look forward to seeing you then, and will be delighted to share our views on what else is happening between now and November 4.

Running silly, running scared

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:11:50 EDT

The American political process has become so unreal that speeches by presidential candidates are better written -- and almost as well delivered -- as the punch lines of comedy shows. If you haven't seen the Obama/McCain roasts at the Alfred Smith Foundation dinner the other day, google them now. They synthesize the campaign perhaps better than the debates themselves did, and just as well as Saturday Night Live.

We had flashes of humor at Milan's screening of the third presidential debate last night, but the mood and the questions were generally serious and focused. Many thanks to our two marvelous commentators, Professor Erik Jones and journalist Dennis Redmont, and to the engaged and spirited audience.

Meanwhile, Democrats should continue to run scared, because organization in the US will mean everything between now and election day. We in Europe are bystanders, but the DNC, local organizations, and the 527s have to give their all to ensure a tamper-proof victory. As we carry our last lingering ballots to consular offices or DHL, we should try to keep tabs on what is being done in our local voting districts in terms of voter access, paper trails, and accountability. Whatever money we donate between now and November 4 should be used for those grass-roots efforts. No time to slack off.

Little time, big problems

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:58:14 EDT

It's no time to get smug about the election, as emails aimed at lethargic Democrats are insisting these days).

Polls are exceedingly unreliable. (I once worked for a polling agency and the neutrality was a bunch of crock). The national desire may be for change, but, for many, "McCain" is already a change from Bush, and anything else may be more than they can handle. So we have got to continue to urge our US contacts to vote and to vote for the change that will be better for America, not the change that will simply be "not Bush and therefore better by definition". Because the latter could be far worse.

Tonight's debate will be visible on cnn.com, nytimes.com, debate.org and many other sites. You can also follow it tomorrow at 5 pm Milan time at our screening on Via del Lauro, or on line at www.snodi.org. Our two commentators, Dennis Redmont and Dr. Erik Jones, will add valuable insight so we hope to see many of you in downtown Milan or your virtual presence online via Snodi.

Meanwhile, if you haven't seen Barack's video about the economy in the early stages of the crisis, here it is:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/economyblueprint

A Dewey-eyed view

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:44:46 EDT

The electoral college maps of sites like pollster.com, electoral-vote.com, and fivethirtyeight.com have turned largely blue, but it's no time to feel smug.

Thomas Dewey was expected to win the 1948 presidential election in a landslide, and instead Harry Truman (a Democrat, although Sarah Palin has cited him) became president in a vote that wasn't all that close. I have mentioned the Bradley effect and that's not the only imponderable. Will our votes from overseas (overwhelmingly Democratic) all arrive in time? Will they all be counted? Will voters be disenfranchised at the polls? Will ballot boxes be stuffed?

We can't control what happens in the US on election day, but we can donate money that will be used to add legal scrutiny to the polling process. We can encourage our US friends and relatives to serve as polling officers on election day. We can try to keep up the pressure to our Democratic Congressional representatives about their attentiveness to voter fraud BEFORE it happens . . . because we all know it's gonna happen.

Our other alternative is to pray to our preferred deity (provided it is a Supreme Being and not the Supreme Court).

An alphabetical countdown - ABCDE

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:26:11 EDT

A couple of Endorsements of Obama have come recently from two unlikely sources: Christopher Buckley (Author and son of William F, who practically invented the intellectual Conservative movement) and David Brooks (Author, Columnist and Consummate Conservative intellectual). Buckley came out and endorsed Obama on October 12, noting that he (Buckley) is a libertarian, while he (Obama) is a "lefty". The conservative commentator, who has written speeches for McCain, ticks off the ways in which the Republican candidate has betrayed true conservative principles, ending with "Then there was the Palin nomination. What on earth can he have been thinking?"

Obama instead possesses "a first-class temperament and a first-class intellect," which Buckley hopes will help lead the country out of the absolute mess in which it currently flounders.

David Brooks has not endorsed Obama, directly, but several of his recent columns suggest he is sympathetic, at the very least. In mentioning the Republican rationale for " rough and rooted people like Palin" in or near the White House, he observes, "I would have more sympathy for this view if I hadn’t just lived through the last eight years. For if the Bush administration was anything, it was the anti-establishment attitude put into executive practice.”

As a bona fide intellectual, he must realize how hostile the Republican right wing has become to “thinking” and “analysis” of any kind, even from one of its own.

This becomes clear when you compare the list of endorsements Wikipedia reports for Obama and McCain. The McCain list has 15 categories of supporters; Obama has 25, including “academics”, “foreign writers”, and “foreign political leaders”. These are categories that don’t exist for McCain.

Suggest that your still-undecided friends ask themselves, “Why not?”

Barack, Bradley and Coca-Cola

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:43:15 EDT

Yes, the Obama-Biden ticket is ahead in the polls, but no time for complacency. The issue of racism, not the overt kind but the subtle, unarticulated kind, is not to be dismissed easily. Palin's comments the other day were meant to evoke it, and expect Rovian ad attacks to do the same even more crudely.

In other words: the Bradley effect. I lived in Los Angeles when Tom Bradley was the well-liked, respected mayor of that city, and -- like most of the pollsters -- I expected him to win the race for governor in 1982. But he didn't. The polls were wrong. By way of explanation, polling experts said that people were embarrassed to admit aloud that they wouldn't vote for someone because he/she was black, so they said they would. But they didn't.

It's a bit like the debacle surrounding the launch of "New Coke" in 1985. Surveys showed that consumers preferred the taste of "New Coke" to the traditional formula. But when the new product was actually introduced, the traditionalists shunned it and sales of the original formula shut up. Eventually New Coke was withdrawn from the market.

We have to keep contacting our undecided friends, keep reminding our expat colleagues to get their ballots mailed, keep up the pressure on all fronts.

For more ammo today, here's the New Yorker's impeccably-phrased and lucidly-reasoned endoresement of Obama:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/10/13/081013taco_talk_editors

It's going to be a bumpy ride!

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:49:07 EDT

With the economy tanking worldwide, ongoing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, and no Republican plan to alleviate one or the other, it's obvious that the Rovians masterminding McCain's campaign would take the low road in these final weeks.

Be prepared: it's going to make Swiftboating look like a doggy paddle on Golden Pond. That means we here, all of us, have to assure our uncertain US colleagues that no, Obama is not a Muslim, and no, he isn't cavorting with terrorists in his spare time, and no, he doesn't listen to Reverend Wright''s rantings anymore. Since McCain pulled out of Michigan, he is going to hit these lies with all guns blazing in other swing states-- so especially if you are from one of them, send those emails, letters to the editor, phone calls to undecided friends.

If you have relatives in Florida, or if you are Jewish, you can find great ammo (with pungent language) on this site by comedian Sarah Silverman:

www.thegreatschlep.com/

Comedy and politics

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:32:53 EDT

The most remarkable thing about the SNL skits with Tina Fey as Sarah Palin is not that they are hilariously funny, or that Tina Fey's impersonation is so perfect it's hard to tell which person you are watching, but that the writers don't have to WRITE anything new.

Comedy writers usually have to come up with riffs on current event. They have to exaggerate what actually happened, put silly words into serious mouths, take real situations and force them over the top. The frightening -- rather than funny -- truth of the SNL-Palin skits is that the writers were able to use Palin's OWN WORDS. There was nothing they needed to add to make them more ridiculous.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/04/tina-fey-as-sarah-palin-i_n_131964.html

In fairness, some of Biden's and Ifell's own words were used in the latest sketch, but the actual words were only the start. Then the writers carried on with their imagination. With Palin, the candidate's actual dialogue was practically all that was necessary (except for the flute). Judge for yourself, then send this link to all your undecided friends, especially those in swing states. For a list of swing states, go to

www.electoral-vote.com/

www.fivethirtyeight.com/

www.pollster.com/

Energizing independence

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:12:08 EDT

There are two ways to look at today's post theme. One is the issue raised in yesterday's debate, about how to make the US energy-independent. Two VERY different approaches that shouldn't be categorized so much Obama versus McCain as Democrat versus Republican. Here in Europe, we know that the US has a long way to go in terms of gasoline prices, utility prices, the extravagant waste we see every time we visit the States. The Republican chant of "Drill, baby, drill" won't do it at all. Here's a way to fill up on the energy issue in efficient fashion (URL thanks to Dr. Janette Martin):

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wmra/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1352072&sectionID=3507

The second reflection focuses on energizing the independents. We hear about "energizing the base," mostly in terms of Sarah Palin's ability to energize the Republican right wing. Well, in the next three weeks, we have to work at energizing independents who lean to our side but aren't as upset (terrified?) as we are about a McCain victory. Explaining to them the energy and environmental implications of a Republican win may be what it takes to get them excited.

So let's do a little "global warning" to our as-yet-undecided friends, family and colleagues.

Meet me after St. Louis

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:48:53 EDT

Tonight's vp debate could be the first time that a vice presidential encounter might have a real impact on the election results.

Or maybe not. Remember that the spin is already so vertiginous that it may be hard to figure out what we REALLY are seeing. So regardless of what happens, keep in mind that what counts is voting in the election: register, get your ballot in on time, get a write-in ballot if your state ballot doesn't arrive in time, and mail that ballot to your county clerk in timely fashion. Any questions? Contact us.

The big issue isn't Biden-Palin; we already know who is competent there. The issue isn't simply Obama-McCain; we already know who is thinking 21st century and who is stuck in the Cold War without knowledge of economic fundamentals (by his own admission). The key issue is dramatically different views of how to move on from the debacle of the last eight years. Even conservative pundit David Brooks says that Republicans today are "ideologically bankrupt" (and hey, so is the country). Impress THAT on your hedge-sitting friends and undecided independents.

October is up and running

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:29:14 EDT

Fewer than FIVE WEEKS to Election Day, and voting has already begun in many states. (I have already voted, in fact). If you haven't written a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, do so NOW. This is no time for complacency. Just because the polls are in our favor (reason and rationality prevailing for the first time in more than a decade?) doesn't mean they will be tomorrow. We have to keep the pressure up, keep sanity top of mind, offset the inevitable insanity spins of the Rovians.

So go to www.world-newspapers.com/usa.html and find your local US paper. Go to the website, look for "opinion" or "letters to the editor" and write no more than 150-200 words about why the world NEEDS a Democrat in the White House. If you need help with phraseology, write to us and we will send you a pre-packaged letter ready to email.

If you need some ammo about Palin, here's what several randomly-selected Italian women had to say about her:

http://pinkmagazine.com/blog/claudia_flisi.html

Palin comparison

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:34:06 EDT

The much-anticipated vice presidential debate is this Thursday in the US. We can all view it on line in real time (at 3 am Friday) or later on many websites. Keep in mind that Joe Biden will be under more stress than Ms. Palin, though for different reasons. She has to master about 10 talking points and deliver them with brio, including digs at the Democrats. She has shown at the Republican Convention that she does "give good speech." She need not focus on anything more than her 10 points, because no matter what is asked of her, that's what she will answer.

Biden, instead, with a wealth of knowledge and experience, has to control his foot-in-mouth garrulous tendencies, be synthetic, treat Palin with the respect she so richly does not deserve, AND appear knowledgable without pomposity. His is the harder task, and pressure on him, in a way, is greater. No matter what happens, the Rovians will spin that Palin exceeded expectations, that Biden was sexist in his conduct, and -- if Palin really flubs (probably won't happen) -- that she faced unfair trapdoor questions from the elite leftist media.

Will be fascinating to watch -- both the debate and the spin.

Bailing outcry

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:51:51 EDT

No matter how the ink dries on the bailout package, for sure

1. it will cost taxpayers plenty

2. McCain's Rovians will spin that McCain, the economic ignoramus, was responsible for making it happen.

So when you are talking to undecided and moderate Americans this week, remind them that while McCain was posturing, Obama was talking to Paulsen and key Congressioanl figures DAILY. If you need more ammo to press this point, check out Paul Krugman's comments today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/opinion/29krugman.html?th&emc=th

Remember that we have the distance to see things clearer than our US-based colleagues and friends, so it's up to us to enlighten them.

Top Dog

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:20:39 EDT

As noted yesterday, many comments were made about McCain's refusal to acknowledge Obama by not looking at him. In the dog world (as opposed to the dog-eat-dog of politics), when one male refuses to make eye contact with another, it is his way of avoiding conflict because he instinctively recognizes the superiority of the second, alpha male.

From what we are told of John McCain, this explanation doesn't make sense, but there it is. Male dogs who believe they are rank equals always look at each other directly. Males who feel inferior avoid eye contact, hunch down, and show their side rather than their front. Older dogs may do this with a snarl because it really bothers them to have lost their top dog ranking.

On a lighter note, here are two SNL skits from yesterday, one about the debates and the other about Palin's interview with Couric this week. The latter is more scary than funny, because Tina Fey used almost verbatim Palin's words to describe Russian proximity and the financial crisis. To think that the world's superpower might wind up in THESE hands?

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/presidential-debate/704121/

DE Baiting

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:31:24 EDT

If you haven't seen the first presidential debate, you can do so online at many sites, including

http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/first-presidential-debate.html

The general consensus is that Obama won it, but even if he didn't nail McCain on every vulnerable point, he ALWAYS looked composed, informed, intelligent, reflective, in short "presidential". So he won it in the image sphere regardless of anything else. What viewers as well as reporters picked up on is that he often looked at McCain, his debating adversary, while the latter studiously avoided looking at him. This behavior, according to one pundit, was McCain's way of avoiding a short fuse (since he is known for a short, explosive temper) but it also made him look surly and ungracious, in contrast to Obama's unflagging cordiality.

Preparation helped Obama shorten his answers and warm his manner. One can only wonder WHAT IN THE WORLD the Republicans are going to do to prepare Sarah Palin. Here's a preview of what awaits, thanks to Melinda Kapor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoYMbgL3meQ

You have to emphasize the obvious

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:34:37 EDT

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public, " quipped Henry Mencken, an American satirist of the early 20th century. That's more true today than ever, and is the reason we have to remind all our US friends, colleagues, contacts and -- primarily -- undecided voters about the unimaginable dangers of a McCain-Palin White House. They dance to the right wing waltz, and that is too slow and outdated a response to the current economic meltdown (among other catastrophes). Keep reminding people that McCain never studied economic issues, admits the economy is not his strong suit, and has advisors (such as Phil Gramm) who helped CREATE the crisis we now face. Palin, well, it doesn't take much to remind people that she is ill-equipped to come up with answers. But you might gently remind them that a hockey mom doesn't have to cope with these issues of macro-complexity.

As a footnote for today: Mencken took the US to task for its puritanism, anti-intellectualism, and emphasis on conformity. We haven't made much progress, have we? And if we approve another Republican administration, we will be sliding inexorably backwards to the 19th century.

Convincing the undecided

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:40:19 EDT

You would think that the Complete Catastrophes that have assailed us lately -- not to mention those of the last FIVE years -- would be enough to send the undecided kicking and screaming into the Democratic camp in this election. But it's not that easy. To those who are still nervous about Obama, or insist that John Mcain "has more experience" and "is a nice guy", here's the counter argument:

McCain HAS been around longer and MAY have some likable characteristics

BUT

the fact that he has approved the smear campaign we are seeing and has picked an outrageously unprepared person for his vice presidential candidate are overwhelming proof that he is not his own man anymore. He is completely in the thrall of the right wing neocon fundamentalists who have led this country into disaster after disaster. Is THIS who your undecided friends and colleagues still want to vote for?

Framed this way, you may have a chance to persuade them. So try it out.

Meanwhile, here is some additional food for thought, suggested by Richard Greenslade:

http://www.alternet.org/rights/98915/what_privileges_do_mccain_and_palin_receive_because_they%27re_white/

What's cute got to do with it?

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:18:15 EDT

Michelle Obama made a good quip when she said the other day, "You shouldn't vote for someone because they are cute." She was quick to add, "I was talking about myself."

If friends tell you, "I think I'll vote for McCain because he LOOKS like a nice guy" or "I'll vote for Palin because she is a mom just like me", remind them that "nice guys"

1. don't run vitriolic ads, as McCain has done

2. don't necessarily have good judgment, as McCain has demonstrated.

And being "just like me" is the LAST thing you want in a president who has to deal with China, Russia, india, and (can you imagine?) Berlusconi. Can "you and me" do that? A video offering insight on Palin, thanks to Heidi James:

http://www.youtube.com/v/PdJUCU1UH2w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1

The great debates

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:21:59 EDT

The first presidential debate will be held in the US this Friday, Sept. 26. If you have a chance to see it, or bits of it, online, that would be helpful as you email undecided friends in the US. Check out www.debates.org for information.

Meanwhile, be RELENTLESS in canvassing friends, neighbors, colleagues about registering to vote. Although specific state requisites vary, you more or less need to register by the end of this month. Come to our event at Hotel de la Ville in downtown Milan tomorrow night if you still have questions.

In the US, positions are hardening, the media isn't helping, and the economic bloodbath caused in part by Republican right wing intransigence to any form of regulation -- advisable or not -- will have us paying for years. This is an Iraqi war, domestic version. Get angry. Do something.

Listen to Obama's take on this;

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economyvideo

Red and blue votes

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:23:29 EDT

If you live in an overwhelmingly red or blue state (think Texas or California), you may be tempted to say, "It doesn't matter if I vote or not." WRONG. Every Congressional seat is up for re-election every two years, including 2008. You may be in a blue state but vote from a largely red Congressional district that COULD go blue this year. You may be in a red state that has pockets of blue and needs every vote to make that happen.

So your vote ALWAYS counts. Make sure you exercise your right to do so. If you haven't registered, go to www.votefromabroad.org NOW.

Then reward yourself with Tina Fey's fabulous take on Sarah what's-her-name:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/fey-palin-character-debuts-on-snl/

What Italians think

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:15:36 EDT

I have been gathering comments by Italian women about Sarah Palin for a US women's magazine for which I contribute a monthly column. I wanted a balanced view for credibility, and sought women from the political right as well as the left, but not ONE person had anything good to say. The most positive observation was that Palin might conceivably be bright, but that was one opinion against a dozen others that talked about a "nightmare" and that they hoped the US would "please wake up".

Well, it's up to US to make that wake up call. If you haven't sent a letter to your local newspaper, do it. MoveOn.org has made it easy for us:

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=96&id=13830-4804079-PGcP_2x&t=1

On Tuesday evening, September 23, we will be available to help you write other letters, to friends, family, business colleagues, as well as register to vote. See you at Hotel de la Ville, via Hoepli 6, MM Duomo, Milan, from 5:30 pm - 9 pm.

Questions: write us at votefromitaly@gmail.com

the audacity of hoping?

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:49:58 EDT

Ironically, when the bad stuff hit the financial fan, it was good for our side. Finally serious issues returned to the front page. If you aren't up on the Democratic plan to do something about the crisis, go to Obama's video on the subject:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/economyvideo

If independents and moderates tell you that Bush "isn't responsible" for the current crisis, agree that macro trends cannot be blamed on a single administration, but that Phil Graham's December, 2000, deregulation maneuver certainly bears some responsibility. Check it out at

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/07/foreclosure-phil.html

Keep contacting your colleagues to register to vote, and to send in their ballots as soon as they arrive.

mental meltdown

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:35:04 EDT

Wiser heads than mine have pointed out the folly of putting complex foreign affairs into the (possible) hands of a person who says, "I know about Russia because I can see it from my window." There is equal insanity in putting economic affairs into the hands of someone who admits, "I don't know much about the economy" and leaves decisions to his right wing advisors. Their advice, need you be reminded, is (in part, not fully) what has led to the meltdown on Wall Street in the last few days.

So . . . meltdown on Wall Street. Meltdown on the polar caps (threatening those polar bears Ms. Palin doesn't care for anyway). Meltdown in Afghanistan. Has the American electoral mind melted down as well that they don't "get it"? Remind your friends of this today.

Here's more on economics, thanks to Lisa Finerty:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/09/15-6

hurricane US

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:44:11 EDT

We can create our own winds of change, with 48 days to go. Today, write to your local newspaper. Find it at

world-newspapers.com/ Write a short 200-word letter to the editor, explaining why, as

an expat, Obama-Biden are the ONLY choice for a safer America. Then treat yourself to a chuckle with this

delicious video:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/fey-palin-character-debuts-on-snl/

49 days and counting

Claudia from Fort Howard, MD — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:24:33 EDT

Seven weeks before election day and much to do. We in Italy can write to our friends, colleague, and co-workers in the US as well as abroad. Explain to them about the media distortions so obvious to us here.

Write an letter to the editor to your local newspaper. You can find the address at

http://www.world-newspapers.com/usa.html

Contact us if you would like help in composing your letter. Don't give up now; FIGHT BACK. The pen IS mightier than the sword, but only if we wield it.

We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events. Look for them posted here.

a presto.