1. Sign up to donate blood (if you can) at any American Red Cross sponsored blood drive in the area at http:///www.opositiveprogram.org
2. Spread the word about this initiative by asking your friends, family and neighbors to donate blood. Feel free to use the attached flyer.3. If you donate blood, please revisit http://www.opositiveprogram.org, click on the drip so your donation can be tallied and send a personal note to President-elect Obama.
Be the Change Baederwood Hello Baederwood! Thank you all for your enthusiasm and interest in continuing working together for change. Attached and below please find the notes from our December 10, 2008 meeting. Key things to note:
INAUGURATION DAY PROJECTS:The “Change is Coming” team requested groups find a project to complete before Inauguration Day. We came up with three. Contact the Project Managers if you want to help plan the event. More information will follow to all on how we can participate.
Help stock local food banks. Project Managers: Kathleen Joyce Kjoyce_ward9@comcast.net 215-738-6025 & John Spiegelman Spiegs@speigs.net 215-740-4306
O+ Blood Drive to collect 500 units. Project Managers: John Duesler jgd@greendiscgolf.com 215-913-0569, Julie Haywood woalex@aol.com 215-715-6852 & Janice Winston janicewinston@yahoo.com 215-806-0300
Eliminating the use of plastic bags in Cheltenham. Project Managers: Karen Synnestvedt Karin-sunshine@comcast.net 267-994-3161 & Ilene Rush Mice30@comcast.net 215-470-2998
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 14th at 7PM at Jay Cooke Hall, Elkins Park PA. Come prepared to make a 60 second presentation of your ideas about what our organization should be and do.
JOIN BE THE CHANGE BAEDERWOOD: (Temporary Working Title)You must REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST.Please send an email with your name, email address, telephone number and township to dbernstein218@gmail.com. Spread the word because we won’t have access to the campaign lists much longer.
Katie Maher
katiemaher@comcast.net
215-782-8889
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Mohandas Gandhi
MEETING MINUTES 12/10/08 – Following is a high-level recap of the meeting.
Participation
2. Select short-term project(s) we can complete by Jan 20th (Inauguration Day) ·
Lorraine Marino facilitated the group through a process in which we identified 3 projects. First she provided criteria for the project(s): Any project would have to…
o Be simple enough to be doable by January
o Have a positive impact on the community – address a real need
o Be of interest and accessible to a majority of us
o Not duplicate or interfere with an existing organization’s mission ·
The process
o The group first tossed out some potential ideas so we could get a feel for people’s interest and ideas.
o We then broke into smaller groups to discuss ideas.
o Then, in the large group, people identified suggestions from their group, which were charted for everyone to see.
o The group then boiled this list of potential projects down to the Top 3 Projects for completion before Inauguration Day through a voting process. These include:
o We had team lead(s) volunteer for each project. The role of these team leads includes: Calling the first meeting, at which time team members would think through what’s achievable in the time given; and to organize how to manage the project and involve others.
o Everyone signed up for the projects they wanted to be part of. Key points that came from the group’s discussion
(A list of the team leaders as well as the additional project ideas is provided at the end of these notes.)
3. Preparing for the January Meeting Though specific plans for the January meeting may be refined by the interim leadership team, the main goal is to share and consider ideas for how we might continue to leverage ourselves as a group longer term. At the January meeting, anyone who has an idea should get their thoughts together and come prepared to give a 30-60 second pitch for that idea. We’ll have a process to follow, so that others who are interested in one or more of those ideas can gather to talk more about them. We don’t need to come to any final decisions in January. But we want to begin the process. Lorraine presented some categories based on input from Art Haywood -- to help us think broadly, not just about service-oriented projects:
Political - Related to the political process – identifying and influencing elected officials; party infrastructure, making or changing legislation or public policy. etc.
Civic - Related to local/township or regional citizen committees; these are not related to a political party. (For example, there are many openings on Cheltenham’s Citizen’s committees, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee, Economic Development Task Force, Environmental Advisory Council, Historical Commission, Human Relations, Library Board and many others.)
Service/charitable - Community service projects, support of non-profit activities, works of charity, etc.
Issue-based - Focused on a specific issue, such as health care, education, energy, environment, etc – at a local, state, of national level.
Other - An initiative or idea that does not fit in the previous categories. If there is something you are eager to work on – or an idea you’d like to put forward -- come to the January meeting prepared to give a 60-second description of your idea at the meeting. Then, people interested in working on that idea with you will have a chance to meet with you in a break-out group to talk further.
4. Identify Interim leadership
· Katie proposed that we identify an interim governance structure so we can work for the next 4-6 months – until we have more clarity about our direction.
· The group discussed this and we proposed an interim steering committee format, of 6 to 10. People were then invited to sign up for this committee.
· Katie explained that she is committed to launching the organization but needs others to provide leadership and administrative support. Once the group defines the organization over the next few meetings, an appropriate leadership group can be created.
· Deb Bernstein has volunteered to manage our membership list.
· Mike Lazrus has volunteered to address our technology needs.
Next steps
The story of the campaign and this historic moment has been your story. Share your story and your ideas, and be part of bringing positive lasting change to this country.
Here is a list of Talk Radio Programs for your chance to speak out to the public while it still matters
http://phillytalk.com/talk-radio/talk-radio-stations/talk-stations.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_Pennsylvania
It is worth just fiddling around on your dial with your phone nearby!
Yesterday I was driving in Montgomery County fiddling with the radio for another NPR election fix. They were playing soothing music so I turned to AM. On 860 I hear a request for people to call in and vote for either McCain or Obama. I called just to say "Obama" and they said Patricia from Cheltenham, you are on the air! Who are you voting for?" Turns out I'm talking to Councilman Frank Rizzo, Jr. WWDB 860 AM where he co-hosts a show with Senator Bob Rovner on Saturdays from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Without any hesitation I spooled out my reasonings with an ease that suprised me! They're like, "Wow, so who are you voting for?" I didn't get the Philly sarcasm so gave a few more reasons, like how with Governor Rendell, Senator Specter and Mayor Nutter plus President Obama the political planets will finally line up so we can get some things done around here! Like how my son is a Marine I first came to Obama because and of his position on the Iraq war, but then I learned about his economic policies, his character and the organization he's built over this campaign and know he will be a great president.
They asked if I was going to vote democratic all the way and I said "Yup! Strait ticket! The Republicans had their chance to lead and they led us down a path to a place we don't want to be."
Then I got a little delirous and said "It's like the Phillies, ya gotta believe! I hope everyone votes for Obama!"
They were eating it up with a spoon AND I tied up the vote 6 to 6. They thanked my son for his service (which always warms my heart as he was decorated for his service in the Al Anbar province and made Sergeant!)
What a thrill! The whole thing from dialing the number to the end of the call took seven minutes, tops.
You can hear what I sound like, it is going to be rebroadcast next week at the same time same channel. I figure that counts for at least a hundred door knocks for yesterday.
-- Let us then try what Love can do. William Penn
Senator Lieberman, Former Democratic VP Candidate now McCain pusher talking about Sarah Palin yesterday:"Thank God, she's not gonna have to be president from day one, because McCain's going to be alive and well," Lieberman said in a conference call with reporters.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/25/lieberman-on-palin-thank_n_137769.html
I am a sole proprietor and am very impressed with the plan laid out yesterday by Barack Obama on fixing the economy. I am astounded at his $3,000.00 tax break for every new employee. It's a brilliant way to grow business, expand the number of jobs, and create an atmosphere of success in this country.
The roads and schools are in sorry shape. I drive around North Philly and almost used to envy the people in Iraq getting all that new infrastructure. Granted Bush demolished Iraq, but the Republicans also demolished Philadelphia. Deregulation, softening of state rules, global incentives, and hatred of unions caused this great city to be brought to it's knees.
I understand everyone says that 'these manufacturingoba jobs won't come back'. But I disagree. Local manufacturing is a human need. An honest day of actually making something rather than a service economy where you are paid for hours of your life in case someone needs you.
I was talking about Ben Franklin to my young adult children to encourage them to get jobs. I said he started out making candles. My son said "At least he got to actually make candles, instead of being in meetings where they discuss the color of next years candles" Ha! He'd hit it on the nose, we are so far removed from the product of our work. We'd like to be closer to our work, closer to our food, closer to our families than this corporate global marketplace allows.
Small business will make things and make them well if given preference over communist gulag labor in China.
So here's to the New American Revolution!
Huzzah!
PA Women for Obama Invite You to CHANGE ROCKS A Very Special Acoustic Appearance By: Bruce Springsteen Saturday October 4th, 2008 Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th and 22nd Streets Philadelphia, PA Gates open: 2:00 p.m. Program starts: 3:30 p.m. FREE AND OPEN TO PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS & STUDENTS For ticket info, visit: http://PA.barackobama.com/Springsteen
Mudflats Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics
What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan’s Perspective. August 29, 2008 Lovely Downtown Wasilla, Alaska “Is this a joke?” That seemed to be the question du jour when my phone started ringing off the hook at 6:45am here in Alaska. I mean, we’re sort of excited that our humble state has gotten some kind of national ‘nod’....but seriously? Sarah Palin for Vice President? Yes, she’s a popular governor. Her all time high approval rating hovered around 90% at one point. But bear in mind that the 90% approval rating came from one of the most conservative, and reddest-of-the-red states out there. And that approval rating came before a series of events that have lead many Alaskans to question the governor’s once pristine image. There is no doubt in my mind that many Alaskans are feeling pretty excited about this. But we live in our own little bubble up here, and most of the attention we get is because of The Bridge to Nowhere, polar bears, the indictment of Ted Stevens, and the ongoing investigation and conviction of the string of legislators and oil executives who literally called themselves “The Corrupt Bastards Club”. So seeing our governor out there in the national spotlight accepting the nomination for Vice Presidential candidate is just downright surreal. Just months ago, when rumors surfaced that she was on the long version of the short list, she was questioned if she’d be interested in the position. She said she couldn’t answer “until somebody answers for me what is it exactly that the VP does every day. I’m used to being very productive and working real hard in an administration. We want to make sure that that VP slot would be a fruitful type of position, especially for Alaskans and for the things that we’re trying to accomplish up here....” There is no doubt that Palin has fierce territorial loyalties. When elected governor there was much concern because she came right out and said she would favor her own home town of Wasilla (where she was mayor) and its surrounding environs collectively known as “the Valley” while leading the state. And it’s obvious from her statement that Alaska was on her mind when accepting the VP nod (see my emphasis above). So what is it that we’re “trying to accomplish up here”? Palin is currently in the middle of a controversial gas pipeline project in Alaska. She’s favored the ‘Trans Canada’ proposal that will run the pipeline through Canada, in effect shipping US jobs over the border. Many Alaskans, including former governors, have favored the “All Alaska Route”. She is also sueing the federal government over listing the polar bears as a threatened species. The science was even compelling enough to convince the Secretery of the Interior that the bears needed to be listed. But acknowlegement of this issue, and the potential disruption to development on Alaska’s oil-rich north slope spurred Palin to attempt to stop the listing. Does she want to open ANWR? Yes. Every politician in Alaska wants to open ANWR. It’s basically a requirement if you ever hope to get elected for anything. Even Mark Begich, the progressive Democrat running against the indicted Senator and Alaskan institution Ted Stevens, is pro-drilling. That’s the sea we swim in up here. There are a few anti-drilling folks, but you have to look hard to find them, and work hard to have them admit it. Will all this wash with voters in the ‘Lower 48′? Time will tell. 18 Million Cracks in the Glass Ceiling It was obvious anyway, but became beat-you-over-the-head-with-a-two-by-four obvious when Palin referenced the ‘glass ceiling’ line, that this choice is a blatant pander to women. I would like to believe that women will actually feel insulted by this. Yes, it would have been historic if Hillary had gotten the nomination. It was historic that she made it as far as she did. Yes, it would be great to have a woman in the oval office, or in the VP slot if they are the right woman...a woman who got there with her own drive, grit, determination, intelligence, skill and merits. When you’re hand-picked by a man to win votes simply because you are a woman, that doesn’t count, and it doesn’t break any kind of ceiling. Would we have had a Stan Palin as our VP pick? No. So choosing a woman because you think her gender will get votes is insulting. Governor “Squeakyclean”....or not. Another focus of Palin’s introduction today was her reform image. Listen to John McCain and you’ll hear about a maverick reformer who took on big oil, took on corrupt Alaska politicians, and whose ethics are unquestioned. Alaskans really want to like Sarah Palin. In a state where corruption is the rule, and the same faces keep recycling over and over and over again like a bad dream, a new face, with a promise of reform seemed like a breath of fresh air. Palin defeated incumbent governor Frank Murkowski (father of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski who he appointed to his own Senate seat when he was elected governor) because he was such an obnoxious, bloviating, downright BAD politician. This staunchly republican state voted with relief, not having to cross over and vote Democratic, but still able to get Murkowski the hell out of office. In the general election Palin swept into office running against a former Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, who was capable but came with baggage. And he represented to Alaskans more of the same, tired old-style politics, and special interests that we have come to loathe. So, if McCain had made his selection six months ago, the squeaky-clean governor meme would have made a little more sense. But, Sarah Palin is currently under an ethics investigation by the Alaska state legislature. The details of this investigation read like a trashy novel, and I suspect that the players will soon have newfound celebrity on the national stage. I’ll try to explain for all you non-Alaskans who suddenly have good reason to want to know more about Sarah Palin. For those of you not interested in trashy novels, feel free to skip ahead. Here it is...what we in Alaska call “TrooperGate”. Sarah Palin’s sister Molly married a guy named Mike Wooten who is an Alaska State Trooper. Mike and Molly had a rocky marriage. When the marriage broke up, there was a bitter custody fight that is still ongoing. During the custody investigation, all sorts of things were brought up about Wooten including the fact that he had illegally shot a moose (yes folks this is Alaska), driven drunk, and used a taser (on the test setting, he reminds us) on his 11-year old stepson, who supposedly had asked to see what it felt like. While Wooten has turned out to be a less than stellar figure, the fact that Palin’s father accompanied him on the infamous moose hunt, and that many of the dozens of charges brought up by the Palin family happened long before they were ever reported smacked of desperate custody fight. Wooten’s story is that he was basically stalked by the family. After all this, Wooten was investigated and disciplined on two counts and allowed to kept his position with the troopers. Enter Walt Monegan, Palin’s appointed new chief of the Department of Public Safety and head of the troopers. Monegan was beloved by the troopers, did a bang-up job with minimal funding and suddenly got axed. Palin was out of town and Monegan got “offered another job” (aka fired) with no explanation to Alaskans. Pressure was put on the governor to give details, because rumors started to swirl around the fact that the highly respected Monegan was fired because he refused to fire the aforementioned Mike Wooten. Palin vehemently denied ever talking to Monegan or pressuring Monegan in any way to fire Wooten, or that anyone on her staff did. Over the weeks it has come out that not only was pressure applied, there were literally dozens of conversations in which pressure was applied to fire him. Monegan has testified to this fact, spurring an ongoing investigation by the Alaska state legislature. But, before this investigation got underway, Palin sent the Alaska State Attorney General out to do some investigative work of his own so she could find out in advance what the real investigation was going to find. (No, I’m not making this up). The AG interviewed several people, unbeknownst to the actual appointed investigator or the Legislature! Palin’s investigation of herself uncovered a recorded phone call retained by the Alaska State Troopers from Frank Bailey, a Palin underling, putting pressure on a trooper about the Wooten non-firing. Todd Palin (governor’s husband) even talked to Monegan himself in Palin’s office while she was away. Bailey is now on paid administrative leave. As if this weren’t enough, Monegan’s appointed replacement Chuck Kopp, turns out to have been the center of his own little scandal. He received a letter of reprimand and was reassigned after sexual harrassment allegations by a former coworker who didn’t like all the unwanted kissing and hugging in the office. Was he vetted? Obviously not. When he was questioned about all this, his comment was that no one had asked him and he thought they all knew. Kopp, defiant, still claimed to have done nothing wrong and said to the press that there was no way he was stepping down from his new position. Twenty four hours later, he stepped down. Later it was uncovered that he received a $10,000 severance package for his two weeks on the job from Palin. Monegan got nothing. After extensive news coverage about all this nasty behind-the-scenes scandal, which is definitely NOT squeaky clean, Palin’s approval ratings fell to 67%, still high, but a far cry from the 90% number that’s being thrown around so glibly by the Republicans today. Alaskans are quickly becoming disillusioned once again. “Executive Experience” Before her meteoric rise to political success as governor, just two short years ago Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla. I had a good chuckle at MSN.com’s claim that she had been the mayor of “Wasilla City”. It is not a city. Just Wasilla. Wasilla is the heart of the Alaska “Bible belt” and Sarah was raised amongst the tribe that believes creationism should be taught in our public schools, homosexuality is a sin, and life begins at conception. She’s a gun-toting, hang ‘em high conservative. Remember...this is where her approval ratings come from. There is no doubt that McCain again is making a strategic choice to appeal to a particular demographic - fundamentalist right-wing gun-owning Christians. And Republican bloggers are already gushing about how she has ‘more executive experience’ than Obama does! Above is a picture of lovely downtown Wasilla, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. Behind the Mug-Shot Saloon (the first bar I visited when I moved to Alaska long ago) is a little strip mall. There are street signs in Wasilla with bullet holes in them. Wasilla has a population of about 5500 people, and 1979 occupied housing units. This is where your potential Vice President was two short years ago. Can you imagine her negotiating a nuclear non-proliferation treaty? Discussing foreign policy? Understanding non-Alaskan issues? Frankly, I don’t even know if she’s ever been out of the country. She may ‘get’ Alaska, but there are only a half a million people here. Don’t get me wrong....I love Alaska with all my heart. I’m just saying. I, and all Alaskans will be interested to see how this whole process unfolds. This is definitely a gamble for McCain, and in my humble opinion, a gift to Obama and to Joe Biden who just got thrown a big hunk of red meat for the vice presidential debate. This is the wedge-issue, desperate ’Hail Sarah’ pass of the McCain campaign. Now I’m off to get some Jiffy Pop.
Sarah Palin? McCain’s Next Trophy Girl? August 29, 2008 Well, this Alaskan is sitting here in disbelief. This is a total gift to the Obama - Biden ticket. As the nation scrambles to figure out who Sarah Palin IS, the thinking people of Alaska are simply mystified. I’ll be posting about this a lot later in the day after I’m awake, (it’s early a.m. here in Alaska) but first impressions: This woman is going to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency? Two years ago she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. For those of you out of state, this is as small, and backwoods as it sounds. A dark horse candidate for governor, she was elected on the ‘anybody but Frank Murkowski’ ticket. Our previous governor went down hard in his primary bid for reelection, because basically he was the worst governor, ever. People questioned whether Sarah Palin was actually qualified to be governor of a state that has 1/2 a million people in it. McCain obviously is looking for the Hillary vote since apparently he thinks women need no other criteria than a set of ovaries to mark their ballot, right? I mean women don’t actually make policy decisions, do they? He’s also looking for the Evangelical vote. Palin, a creationist, anti-gay, pro-lifer will appeal to this crowd. Her fondness for creationism in schools, and the recent birth of a Downs Syndrome child can’t hurt here. Did I say recent birth of a child? Why, yes. Our new Vice Presidential candidate has four children plus an infant son. She obviously feels caring for her newborn won’t get in the way of her Vice Presidential duties. And don’t worry fellas. There’s plenty for you. Sarah won second place in the Miss Alaska contest! Didn’t they have a card for that in Monopoly? And John McCain knows how important it is to have a trophy wife Veep on his arm. John McCain has just done something that Obama has not been able to do yet - prove to the world unequivocably that McCain doesn’t have the judgement to be President. He will never ever be able to hold his head up and say that Obama isn’t “ready to lead”. The pro-drilling crowd will be pleased too. Why she’s even sueing the Federal Government for daring to suggest that polar bears should be listed as ‘threatened’. Can’t have those damned bears interfering with the oil rigs. And then there’s that annoying little ethics investigation by the Alaska State Legislature... I think I’ll be chuckling all weekend over this. More to come later. There’s just so much fodder here. Where’s a blogger to start? ------------------------------------------------------- While the various stories appearing with rapidity will certainly require checking and confirming, it seems the items recounted above are substantive. Add to them the reports this evening of the number of conflicting or potentially controversial public statements attributed to Sarah Palin. These include her statement today that she just told Congress “Thanks but no thanks” in regard to the bridge to nowhere but she was quoted during the initial “bridge” snafu saying in effect Alaska needed to get all the earmarks possible while her officials were in places of influence. She was also a part of Pat Buchanan’s followers in his presidential brigade, and is suing, that is the state of Alaska is, the US government to prohibit the polar bear from being placed on the endangered species list. She is also a member of the Feminists for Life group, an organization which purports to support full equality for women, support of all issues of “life” including opposition to the death penalty and to workplace discrimination, and has as its central activity today aggressive campaigns to eliminate abortion. That campaign includes rejecting abortion for any reason except in limited cases affecting the life of the mother in which the fetus can not be saved in any event (this according to their website). Sharon Barbosa-Crain,Irving, TX [Former Irving City Council Member]
For easy reference, I thought I'd post the upcoming debate schedule here, as it is hard to find anywhere else in the Obama site.
First presidential debate:Friday, September 26University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Vice presidential debate:Thursday, October 2Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Second presidential debate:Tuesday, October 7Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Third presidential debate:Wednesday, October 15Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Hi Friends,
Please pass the word about this new DA video aimed at persuading U.S. citizens abroad--especially the younger contingent--to register to vote.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch...
Academy-award-winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, (based in London) is one of the many Americans in the clip encouraging American abroad to register for their absentee ballot.
DA is asking ALL Democrats everywhere to pass on this video (viral marketing) and to BLOG about it.
On the first day, over 150,000 people viewed it.
More importantly, in 24 hours we registered voters in 87 different countries, voting in 45 different states.
Yes, We can!
by: Ryan Singel, Wired
Republican presidential contender Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) holds a cell phone. McCain said he believes in the right of a president to use wartime powers to spy on Americans.(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP)
If elected president, Senator John McCain would reserve the right to run his own warrantless wiretapping program against Americans, based on the theory that the president's wartime powers trump federal criminal statutes and court oversight, according to a statement released by his campaign Monday. READ MORE » http://www.truthout.org/article/mccain-id-spy-americans-secretly-too
BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOGby Mark KarlinEditor and Publisher
June 2, 2008
Last year Harold Ickes (a chief Clinton strategist), a member of the DNC Rules and By-Laws Committee that met on Saturday, voted to take away the delegates and superdelegates from Florida and Michigan if they moved up their primaries, which they did.
A few years back, Terry McAuliffe -- Hillary Clinton's campaign manager this year -- was head of the DNC, appointed by Bill Clinton. At that time he read the riot act to Senator Carl Levin about his desire to move the Michigan Dem presidential primary up to challenge Iowa and New Hampshire. McAuliffe told Levin that if Michigan moved up its primary that they would lose their votes.
Fast forward and now Ickes and McAuliffe have taken positions 180 degrees opposite their former DNC positions. Now, they are saying that a great injustice was done to Senator Clinton on Saturday because the DNC adopted the compromise Florida and Michigan Democratic Party seating and voting plans for the two states. In short, the Democratic Party agreed with the states -- not with Hillary Clinton the candidate -- and resolved the contentious problem.
Although the resolutions on Florida and Michigan that occurred in a Washington Hotel room on Saturday -- unless Clinton decides to challenge the Democratic state parties of Florida and Michigan at the Credentials Committee in order to further ruin the presumptive nominee -- was somewhat eclipsed by the relatively meaningless Puerto Rico vote (residents of the island of Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election; only Puerto Ricans living on the mainland can), the DNC Saturday meeting (there were two votes; with the Clinton campaign garnering only 8 of 30 committee members to support their electoral heist to strip Obama of the votes the state party deemed he was due in Michigan) was the final coup de grace for Clinton Inc. this year.
Yes, perhaps Senator Clinton's last stand with the likes of one demonstrator at the meeting who was escorted out, who claimed that if Obama got any votes in Michigan she would vote for McCain thus ensuring an overturn of Roe v. Wade, more pre-emptive war, and more tax cuts for the wealthy, wasn't fully understood by the mainstream press.
But this is what it meant in a nutshell: Clinton Inc. no longer can call the shots at the DNC, even in a committee that was headed by two former Bill Clinton administration officials, and a committee on which 13 of the 30 members were pledged Clinton delegates (Obama had 8 and the rest were undeclared at this time.)
It was the final blow to Clinton's presidential aspirations. The institutional vehicle for the legitimacy of Clinton Inc., the DNC, is now more interested in fairness and winning the November elections than the personal, mercurial professional aspirations of Senator Clinton and Bill Clinton.
What it comes down to is this. Delegates are the way an individual wins the Democratic nomination -- and there is virtually no way except for an act of God that Hillary Clinton can attain the requisite number to win (now there is a slightly higher threshold due to Saturday's decisions on Florida and Michigan).
So any continuation of the Clinton campaign after Obama obtains the new threshold delegate figure, which will happen probably by Thursday, if not earlier, will only serve to help McCain and hurt the prospects of the Democratic Party in November, from the presidential ticket down the line to senators, congressmen and congresswomen, governors, and state legislators.
There can only be one winner in a presidential nomination process.
No matter how much one candidate believes that the nomination belongs to him or her, there is a time to give up one's personal ambition for the good of the nation, for the good of the party, for the good of keeping Roe v. Wade the law of the land, for the good of economic justice, for the good of gender and minority equality, for the good of advancing a foreign policy based on international cooperation.
On Saturday, the race was over.
Clinton Inc. couldn't get away with changing the rules at the end of the game. Serious deliberation and fairness won out over entitlement at the DNC.
It was a courageous and just moment for the Democratic Party.
After the last two primaries are over on Tuesday, and after Obama meets the new threshold of delegates and becomes the presumptive nominee, if Clinton stays in the race it won't be about what's better for America or "choice" or economic justice; it will just be about the ego of Hillary Clinton and a desire to ruin the chances of the Democratic Party to win in November.
A lot of progressive principles are riding on her choice.
Perhaps she can finally find her true voice: ensuring the return of a just government to America by asserting her loyalty to the Democratic party, the progressive issues at stake for women, minorities, the poor, and the working class Americans in need.
To do this, she would have to douse the flame of her feelings of entitlement, her personal ambition, her battle cry of victimhood, and her feelings of hurt that her campaign was outsmarted by a junior senator from Illinois.
The choice is hers: what's best for the nation or what feels best for Hillary Clinton.
BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG
A Dollar Fifty Patriot
(or why I don't celebrate memorial day)
Monday is officially Memorial Day. This weekend, however, our nation's beaches will be full of laughing half-naked tourists looking to shake that pale, white tone of skin they earned through a winter full of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Superbowl dinners. The stores will be full of shoppers eager to make a penny on a buck savings on cheap, dime-store plastic items they really don't need. Backyards will be spent grilling and barbecuing cholesterol laden foods which will inevitably cause a night's worth of painful indigestion. Alcohol will be consumed by the gallons to be rewarded by a Monday or Tuesday morning hangover. All to remember our fallen dead.
