If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
California was always likely to play a substantially bigger role in Obama's fundraising than New York. The Golden State's economy is much bigger than the Empire State's. And Wall Street simply can't be catered to the way it would clearly like to be, not by any Democratic president.
Among many politically engaged creatives the failure of SOPA, seen as the industry's biggest policy initiative in recent years, isn't necessarily being blamed on the Obama administration.
We can't bicker among ourselves while the other side has no problem focusing on the primary objective, which is to win -- even at all costs.
Ignoring all evidence and facts, Wall Street is reported to be "an industry that the White House has thoroughly and repeatedly demonized and demoralized" -- what?
As the media frenzy in Iowa fades to the media frenzy in New Hampshire, the selection of an American president has completely descended into a poorly acted reality TV show. This show will continue through the winter and into the spring. Several contestants will be thrown off the island. With re-runs and conventions over the summer, the fall season opens up with a whole new horse race: President Obama (the battered champ) vs. "who knows who?" (the determined challenger). For the media, the challenge will be to ensure that the race is close enough to stimulate viewership and high ratings. For the nation, the challenge will be to select the person most qualified to lead the American people.
It's clear enough -- or should be by now -- that the electoral process has been occupied by the 1%. They are making money off, and electing a president via, you. Which means that you -- that all of us -- are occupied, too.
Four years ago at this time, the early adopters among us were just starting to get used to the regular flow of email from the Obama campaign. The missives were actually exciting to get, because they seemed less like appeals for money than a chance to join a movement.
Money has taken over our political system in a way that is simply horrifying. Special interest groups, in particular corporations, unions, Wall Streeters and bankers, dominate our politics. But we are not helpless.
Just as Obama was being feted Thursday night at Harvey Weinstein's West Village pad, at the Bowery Poetry Club a recognized psychic healer was telling the crowd, "I feel sorry for him. He won't be elected to another term."
The fractured Republican field, together with Obama's fundraising freight train, may lead Republican donors to simply raise the white flag and wait it out till 2016.
I was rooting for President Obama to hit a home run last night at the Sheraton at his first ever gay fundraiser. I don't think he did though, so here is some constructive criticism.
With software designed to allow campaigns to tap the enthusiasm (and the wallets) of supporters, 2010 should see an explosion of online fund-raising at the state and local levels.
So it turns out there's a reason the president hasn't wrapped up health care or Iraq, figured out Afghanistan, closed Guantanamo, or found anybody a j...
It is early, but so far, OFA's legislative "organizing" efforts run the risk of being boring, vague and redundant.
Post-election legislative advocacy and activism by volunteers organized during an election campaign is unprecedented, especially on a national scale.
If you don't have enough friends to donate their time or money to help elect you, it is extremely unlikely that you'll later have enough friends to vote you into office.
