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hrayovac

I am a music composer active with production and television commercial work. Touring happens when my Broadway show buddies make me pack my gear again to perform, often with local symphony orchestras. I like flying less these days but I've been lucky enough to travel the four corners of the globe repeatedly, and have lived for months in every region of the US. In 2003 I was a member of the Los Angeles steering committee for Howard Dean's presidential bid and I volunteered to supply the PA system and a microphone for Howard's first local rally. I contributed audio for campaign Dvd's also.

In the forties my parents moved west from New York and both worked at ILWU, my mother directly with Harry Bridges and my father was also a labor leader at local 6.

Recent comments by this user

Obama's Response To FISA Critics: A Vital Exchange With An Empty Center

Oliver..and whomever else cannot imagine any other possible rationale for allowing the new FISA through. Let us suppose that this September there is another politically motivated attack on America. And let us say that there is a candidate who "refused to allow the eavesdrop" which could have exposed the plot before it hatched...wouldn't that candidate be roasted on the fires of public opinion? If you are so certain that this could never happen, why then were we attacked on 9-11 in the first place if not to allow the dogs of war that no one would have wanted had we NOT been attacked? They will do and say anything to manipulate profit. Obama must protect his presidential run. posted 07/07/2008 at 23:25:57

Obama's Position on Iraq Could Put His Candidacy at Risk

If a true history of the last forty years can be written it would have to state that the power of the Bushes, Achesons, Haigs and the Dulles brothers types did have a dominant effect for quite a while. Yet those forces of industrialism would not have been quite so dominant had it not been for the egotistical leftists who impressed a few with noble facades but failed to have the heart, courage and wisdom to embrace a true revolution of the spirit. When you see Tom Hayden criticise Obama, that's a guarantee that Obama is doing something right. Next will be Noam Chomsky and Amy Goodman firing away. It is because the only job left after the "revolution" succeeds will be to say , "I was on the right side all along but no one would listen." And this exposes a real lack of compassion for the suffering of the "voice-less" they supposedly represented all along. posted 07/04/2008 at 22:17:58

Five People Reality TV Shows Hurt The Most

Criticism of these shows is a good idea but the two authors of this blog are sitting on the fence calling the wood bad. To be good looking is nice on the way in and makes a pleasant journey in some ways, in some ways not...but all married or going together couples find out right away what the essence of the fiendship is and the character of your loved one emerges as the most important aspect. I'll say it is the focus of Tia Tequila and Brett and all that. To me the real danger is the formalization of all those trappings which are supposed to represent wealth and symbolize love. They are purely commercials for somebody..the limo rental, Cancun, the rings..that's where the rot sets in for younger minds, that you must purchase love. An afternoon together on a lonely beach with a picnic self-prepared, not served by others, is more romantic. Net cost $20. and the gas to get there. The worst show ever is American Idol, that show that tells people that there are losers in art. The truith is, everyone is in development all the time and wherever you are has nothing to do with where anyone else is. That you are a product owned by the network immediately upon winning is the wrong idea to tell people. posted 07/05/2008 at 13:27:24

Oy. Have a Dream?

I'd like to point out that it is all about us.
In 1967 when the Beatles dressed up in satin jackets, donned flowers and peace signs with placards saying "All You Need Is Love" imagine how silly they would have seemed (and how viciously they would have been criticised) had there been no legion of folllowers and fans with similar tastes. They were not great in isolation they were of the times. Obama awakened and is a reflection of, a long lost dream in many of us...not all of us, but enough of us. Part of it is that John, Robert and Martin did not die in vain. It is up to us to be what Obama can be and he is allowing the opportunity. posted 07/04/2008 at 12:40:02

McCain Denies Roughing Up Sandinista

The denial is the confirmation. This is a propaganda, completely coming from the Republican campaign. It's "image building". Sgt Rock with a cigar. If your opponent will not expose a "weakness" in you, you must hurry up and run one out there yourself, then deny it, meanwhile capturing a voting percentage or two that likes anger mismanagement as a sign of strength. Winner: McCain and his new campaign managers. posted 07/02/2008 at 19:20:48

What If Obama Never Left the Center?

All great leaders have this quality of Obama's in common: they take an educated stance which is true to character and then agrue using common sense that can be understood by ordinary people. The trouble in our society is we haven't heard the expressions "great" and "leader" together enough, so we equate every judgement a candidate makes as mere calculation, conceit or hubris. Obama will be our greatest president , bar none, ever. Pity those who got hung up in twisted and false claims against him in the early stages of his bid. Pity because everyone read those blogs and you can't go back and say, "I was for him all along...but I was wanting him to be more progressive...etc." That's poop! posted 07/01/2008 at 22:08:13

It's My Party, I'll Cry If I Want To

Shelly1970,
Remember Elvis Presely movies? In them, you never saw anyone criticize Elvis about being too self-serving or having an arrogant or uncaring attitude. Clinton's a guy with a similar mindset only in real life. In his movie, there is no other more handsome, who gets the most attractive girl or wins at anything over "the King." posted 06/28/2008 at 03:24:59

When Rove Calls Obama Arrogant, He Means "Uppity"

Wrong again, Ridley! It has been years since public attitudes have changed. For instance , years ago when polling asked who was the most liked, trusted American, Colin Powell came in first. If you asked most Americans who is the best golfer in the game, Tiger Woods is it. You never see people complaining about either's race anymore, if they ever did in numbers warranting alarm. I think you underestimate the level of awareness in the Republican strategy. They might suggest race (As Huff Post reports today with the "John Kerry with a tan" comment by Norquist) but only as a shotgun approach to corral a small percentage here and there. The key to the "arrogance" statement is not race but elitism. If you don't recognize the importance of that strategy you'll be ill-equipped to respond appropriately. You will be made into a joke by the Juan Williams's of the world. Condoleezza Rice will nullify your claim of rascism for the right wing in an instant and you'll be sounding out-of -touch. Sure rascism exists, but that will not be even a minor talking point, if fact it will be the reverse. posted 06/27/2008 at 14:54:21

Tension In Unity: Clinton Donors Give Obama Cold Shoulder

mergina, The flowers you think you are smelling is the Smell-O-Vision from the CNN-sponsored debate in Hollywood. Remember Wolf pressing the "dream team" point for the first time and getting an easy applause because of the evenly spilt audience? This isn't an idea to take seriously. It is being pushed by others who want to something solid to criticize Obama with...all the devastatingly personal "threshold of readiness" comments that Hillary made will make both look dishonest if they suddenly pair up. Obama will look both craven and cowed into submission. posted 06/27/2008 at 12:43:47

Serenity Lost: Obama And The Netroots

ibsteve2u, You have it right. My guess is you're the exceptional young person or you are anybody over forty who has paid attention to American politics. It took thirty years for the right to screw up this country. In the Reagan Bush years there was plenty of compromise with the Dems...so much that George Bush Sr. became known as a "moderate" even though at heart he was ..and is.. a craven industrialist with a lousy human rights record. Change takes awhile. Howard Dean said in 2004 it would takes ten years. We've all got to stop whining when we don't get everything we want for Christmas. Obama is a complete revolution in politics. Support it happening and keep campaigning for all your personal causes with this in mind. posted 06/25/2008 at 13:04:37

Muslims, Obama, And The Perils of Victory Ahead

RI, You're almost saying what I want to say. Mr Chang, how long did it take for America's sovereignty, economic strength and prestige in the world to be destroyed by the neo-con, conservative, right-wing and radical forces from within? 30 years! I'd like to take each one of you folks who are treating the Obama movement as if it were a Ben Stiller/Vince Vaugn flick and teach you a little history. Howard Dean said it might take progressives ten years to regain a seat at the table and that was back in 2004. We've come very far in our progress. Band together, trust your instincts about Obama and fight like crazy to get him elected...and for God's sake, stop whining. We are well on the way to a better America where everyone's rights can be restored. And BTW, this isn't a video game..things don't "play out" in real life and especially not in politics otherwise you'd have never seen Richard Nixon emerge as president in 1968. I hate cliches. posted 06/25/2008 at 01:43:27

NYT Public Editor: Dowd "Went Over the Top" in Clinton Coverage

Get a little tougher, folks.
It is understood when you read an opinion column that you will get opinion. Not fact, not news, not enacted legislation, not a paid for media blitz nor propaganda (in that it is clearly understood to be merely subjective), not a religion and not an order of any kind to do anything at all about it. It functions to elicit a reaction...if it is well enough written. As such, there is nothing "wrong" with Dowd's opinion of Hillary. It is her own and doesn't indicate there is any crisis afoot. As for me, I found her thoughts to have a ring of truth to them and we sure need to hear more ringing. Whereas Kristol is dishonest with both himself and the reader, he similarly does no damage to democracy as we know it...that's HIS opinion. If you are afraid people thinking, we've already lost the facility to "self-examine," darthmaul. posted 06/24/2008 at 00:29:09

Russert's Legacy: A Woman Meeting the Press?

How does this sound to you: "Wouldn't it be great if a Jew were the host?" The kind of thinking that produces the statement, "wouldn't it be great if ...a woman, a black, an Asian etc.." misses the point of Russert's contribution which was a dedication to organizing hard facts and purposely taking an opposing or confrontational stance to elevate and illuminate. It is not an ideology or gender dependent job.

This is why it may be hard to pick Keith, though I love his work and views. He's established himself in the public's mind as a progressive patriot and that may create unfair backlashes based on what we now know to be his strongly held views.
Dan Rather has not developed in the public's mind any particular stripe of ideology. He is from the old school of reporting and might fit the bill perfectly. posted 06/20/2008 at 17:30:01

What's Your Fix?

Keith O and Hardball on the TeeBee. Email. Music composing on a Mac. HuffPo. Financial Times. IMDB and that will about do it. Oh, LP's and a good stereo amp. A social life, a little hampered by the petrol cost but which I refuse to lose entirely. posted 06/20/2008 at 18:49:12

Right Wing World from The Stephanie Miller Show

Get a job, then. Hollywood (is)(was)(is) an entertainment producing town. You drive to the studio as early as 4:30 a.m. for make-up. What in the name of everything holy is a "natural audience?" One that sleeps in the nude? posted 06/18/2008 at 21:51:03

Michelle Obama And Matthew Broderick Talk About James Wilkie's Barack Endorsement (VIDEO)

So, Martin Luther King was great..as long as he is not a living person but an impossible iconic person about whom we now must agree in retropsect was great.
I can tell you that certain people said the similar, horrible things about King when he was alive that is being said now about Obama..only they hid away in dark corners where ignorance thrives and were not in the mainstream. For a reference, view the Stone film JFK and watch the scene where in a New Orleans bar, the Kennedy assassination is announced on TV to the shock and grief of most of the people...but to the cheers of a few disturbed individuals. posted 06/20/2008 at 20:26:50

Mark Wahlberg Slams The "Ocean's" Movies: "The Second One Sucked!"

It is just tragic that in my lifetime I've seen criticism shift from specifics about art...effective camera angles, emotional content, location, character, storyline, pacing or lighting to the globally vague value judgements such as "this movie sucked."
People, WHY does something suck? Is it the box office receipts that you care about? Which star is "on the rise" in the TMZ sense? I've read as many comments as I could stand and I couldn't find a single one including the original Wahlberg quote that is on the subject of movies or art. What I see is "awesome" or "sucked" as final polar guidelines. I'm no snob nor film critic, I like a good entertaining flick for s's and giggles. But I can certainly articulate WHY I like even a crappy film. posted 06/17/2008 at 15:58:40

Obama and Soft Power (II)

Thanks you for responding to the readers as you have done, Mr Nye. You may have demonstrated exactly what you meant via your further efforts to clarify. This being Father's Day, I will demonstrate using my father as an example why I think the expression "soft power" doesn't resonate with me.
My father quietly worked through all my formative years as a union laborer, first a longshoreman then a warehouseman. Heavy lifting was not a metaphor but the actual definition of his job. He complained sure, but didn't quit until his retirement, working until sixty-three years old. Built like an ox. He and my mother divorced, causing great bitterness which he buried with drink. But only one time did he ever strike me physically and I distinctly remember deserving the rather light and minimal swat he gave. He had so much heart and love, it definitely hurt him more than me as that old expression goes. He managed to straighten out my course in life and teach me without abusing me. You might describe my father's character as soft power. I would call it integrity, true strength and love.
In the political sense, I don't call those who abuse others powerful. I describe them as fascist. And they are only temporarily fearsome, the treasonous tyrants like Bush who deceive, always out for the quick and transient gain while those with integrity such as Obama exhibit the strength that is eternal. posted 06/16/2008 at 01:38:42

Barack Obama and Soft Power

Mr Nye, With the attendent wisdom that we assume must come from your experience and age, could you not conceive a more adequate description than "soft power?" Could you not see the ridcule in the coming response to that phrase? It does not accurately describe the true strength of an Obama presidency. The John Kennedy stance of a world at peace requires the most resolute and determined vigilance against fascism, tryanny and corporate greed. This is not soft power, it is the very heart of our strength in the world..a beacon against the absurdity of war as solution to social problems. Or, it takes a man NOT to fight when the easy temptation is to sink into despair. I suggest "mature power." posted 06/12/2008 at 14:58:25

Emotional Day for Hillary Backers: My Report From the Speech

I agree with dct1999 and others on this. How many votes did Hillary get in Iowa? What is the count for those states with caucuses? Violations of logic, ethics, manners and agreed upon principles between Democrats is the legacy of the Clintons in this primary season. It is only marginally acceptable in the most extreme circumstances to compromise your ethics if against a fascist overthrow for example. But it is not OK to twist, distort or change rules when conducting a civil contest within the party you support. I suspect that many more Clinton supporters were of the mentality of the Party-Unity-My-Ass people before the campaign even began. posted 06/10/2008 at 13:48:47

Obama Casts Race Between Him, McCain

mrmxyzptl, I love a fatalist...You can spend your whole life predicting horrible outcomes while your children who are smarter and more eager to change the world, go out and do the hard work required to prevent that very outcome you mentioned. Before the term couch potato came into use there was another term used in a more valiant era..it was cowardice. It IS up to you. posted 04/01/2008 at 23:20:09

Love Affair (McCain and the Press) Disgusts the Liberal Blogosphere

tea, I would welcome that debate soon..However one-upmanship is sometimes designed in the image of the beholder. Trouncing an old man with a "good heart" (which he hasn't) can look mendacious. If you are old enough to remember the Oliver North testimony, he admitted to criminal acts yet was heralded for his "bravery." A teary eyed pledge of patriotism was all it took and the bastard and all his "case officers' let us say, went unpunished...major illigalities...
So Obama will win in my household..because he stands for what any sensible person wants, survival of America. There's a lot of fearful attitudes and scared individuals to contend with though. posted 04/02/2008 at 02:06:56

Get a load of CNN tonight...the coverage of McCain was so obviously gushing and made for 60 minute "positive profile" ..that you'd think they'd tell the rest of the best team on television to take the day off..But no, they simply let the digital freeze up on Creepy Crawley's face as she was trying to get a word in edgewise..just saying the very minimal which was that McCain's numbers don't mean anything right now while the Dems are in the slough...And THAT was too controversial. Everyone else was babbling. Anderson responding (facetiously I hope, but possibly not) about the notion that A fighting B benefits C was a comment that was too deep into the "algebra" for him to understand. Classic fascist propaganda. posted 04/02/2008 at 01:53:40

When the Focus of the Campaign Becomes Campaigning

AnninCA. Is it your premise that Hillary actions have been dictated by events outside her control? I would think twice about a candidate who can't direct a positive response to typical attacks which come the opposing candidates supporters..and incidentally not from her opposing candidate who has been polite and respectful to a fault. If issues are not her motive for running then what is it? posted 04/02/2008 at 10:06:32

Pennsylvania Voters Dismiss Obama's Momentum

Hip Hoo-Ray, Mayhill. Well done. posted 04/02/2008 at 09:33:55

How to Avoid a Democratic Disaster

Cuomo: ...to the detriment of both candidates and the Democratic party for its lack of clarity.

If Barack chose Hillary for VP he would be immediately taking on the baggage of the Hillary hatred which will be pushed to the forefront as she is second in line. Why would he need to bring damaged goods aboard a well run and solid campaign? Who would be appeased and would they really have voted for McCain out of spite?

If Hillary chose Barack for VP her comments about his "threshold" his "one speech" and Bill's "rolling the dice" would haunt her. Her own negative campaign and the fact of her needing Barack to win would accent her weakness as a candidate and damage the profile of the "Clinton machine." posted 04/01/2008 at 12:10:01

Florida Moves Ahead Despite DNC Threat

If there is anything traditional about this year in politics, McCarthy, it is that couch potatoes like you are still looking for an excuse for why not to get involved and cynical about the first fresh hope to come on the scene that would change all the things you whine about.

So, throw out the rules if you're losing? This argument has no merit and neither does the tepid claim from Billary about the electoral college as if that were in effect during a primary. Thinking either Hillary or Obama wouldn't take Texas Ohio or Michigan or Florida in the general is a defeatist attitude and quite illogical based on the new polls which show Obama beating McCain. Where is the empirical evidence that shows that Floridians won't relish the chance to vote for a Democrat in Novemeber..they showed up in RECORD numbers even after they were told on national and local television that their votes wouldn't count because of the calendar shift. They are blaming the Republican congress , not Barack or the DNC, because they know what happened. posted 04/03/2008 at 00:34:01

How Low Can They Go?

Carlotta, I agree with your sentiment but I really don't make connections the way you do. Real life is not Google where you match person A's words with person B's beliefs simply because they appear on the same page as a computer search. Barack Obama's campaign is nothing if not a high ground campaign, a strong departure from the smear and sensational. You cannot connect the Obama campaign to the personal question asked at a highly publicized televsion event controlled and choregraphed by Hillary surrogates of which Chelsea is one. This is not royalty a la Great Britain.
Did you understand the purpose of Evan Strange's question? The set up to Chelsea was a perfect one. His stated purpose was to show Hillary's strength. Of course that was accomplished by the answer given. I will fall short of saying this was planned but if it wasn't it certainly satisfied the mission. That's ok. But it is phony and Strange being interviewed and the clip shown repeatedly is called free TV coverage. That was done to keep Hillary in the race. Smart. posted 03/30/2008 at 13:41:22

Florida Superdelegate Introduces New Argument To Seat The State's Superdelegates

Nice Try. There's this club that reads the news every day...we took note of how both states moved their primaries up against the wishes and the rules of the Democratic party. This club meets often by the way..we're called everybody. You were warned well before the primaries began. Hillary agreed in writing. Nice job, Ms. chief executive.
The Hillary loyalists want an adjustable democracy ....a sort of Spandex to save a dying culture. Whatever will put Hillary back where she feels she deserves to be is okay to do. posted 03/28/2008 at 01:32:48

Don't Boo The Home Team!

I'm with the analogy almost all the way but for the one minor point but one worth mentioning. Giants fans threw 9 volt batteries at the Dodger outfielders during a game. In all the years I went to Chavez Ravine..and it's slightly more than Windlestick, I never saw an LA fan disrupt a game while any team was on the field let alone the Giants. You don't see the kind of hatred for the Bay Area evident in LA fans. All agree SF' s a jewel of a city..well, a bit polluted now and the traffic's as bad as South but hey..beautiful. posted 03/25/2008 at 06:08:59

Clinton's "Sniper Fire" Trip To Bosnia: More Video

4wehttam--I think you're right about the extension of the race..three weeks to fill. I'm quite happy with Obama not jumpibg on this story. It might just be that the Clintons need this story for their credentials in a twisted way because as we've seen in the last three election cycles the bigger liar gets the hire. It's like a hazing ritual to gain power. I've got dirt, you've got dirt..the modern equivalent of nuclear detante with the Soviets posted 03/24/2008 at 15:18:17

krisellyn--"...has Obama even been to Bosnia?" Has Hillary ever been to the southside of Chicago, other than with heavy police protection and for a photo-op? Soldiers with guns indeed. Just what America needs more of. posted 03/24/2008 at 15:10:34

A Mosaic: 4,000 Americans Dead

No amount of respect for the dead will bring them back. I'm furious with the American attitude towards war which is a pious attitude towards a mission where you don't get to see those who suffer on the "enemy" side (formerly called ciivilains) and a pious attitude about the noble-ness of the dead who if they could speak would want us to throw buckets of blood on our leaders if it would stop the insanity. posted 03/24/2008 at 15:51:40

Do As I Say, Not As I Do: Bill Richardson Explains Why The Other Superdelegates Should Vote With Their States

Trace8089,
You are either too young to know that John Kennedy didn't win every state in the general..or you are selective in your use of reasoning. I would think with your attitude that not winning everything all the time would comfort you if you are a fan of open and fair elections where, between two strong candidates, the best person wins by a majority and not a manipualtion of the system. If you are down to using sarcasm (the St. stuff), you've apparently lost already on substance. posted 03/24/2008 at 11:48:01

SoFlaJet,
I figured you meant CC is Camp Clinton..but can't do the math on DU. Are you trying to impress us all with your inside baseball talk here? Sounds like you're a poser which is unfortunate because it deludes the point of your post. posted 03/24/2008 at 11:29:15

Eliot Spitzer's Alleged Perversions Detailed By Ex-Madam: "He Likes To Watch Couples"

Spitzer watches couples, all right...People who collaborate with each other...as heads of banks, lending institutions and on Wall St. to swindle an entire population of new homeowners into deceptively written loans they can't afford to pay for, thus crippling an trillion dollar economy. And who else will follow through on these pending cases, now that the media has got some $4,000 dollar blue dresses to focus on? posted 03/24/2008 at 16:05:26

7 Days in America: Obama Plays Defense on Rev. & Re-votes... with Daschle, Huffington, Green & Conason

Mark Green,
I wonder if you are aware of how tiring it gets to hear you talk-show candidate activists tell us, the public, what the REAL importance of anything is. You keep switching what is real to fit the dying campaign hopes of your friend, whom you must owe some kind of favor. In your persistent application of Hillary shinola you are praiseworthy for your loyalty but not for your common sense. What good is a revived Democratic party if you abandon those who have revived and renewed it? Hillary would have been a lifeless and robotic reminder of the Kerry and Gore campaigns had it not been for Obama's influence this cycle. Quoting: "But the real jury judging the speech..." as if all that we have seen in this campaign so far such as Wyoming and Iowa ain't real in your book. You are playing the game the way it used to be played where winning an honorless, manipulative victory is not only the m.o. but desireable as if that can be the only conceivable weapon in politics. It turns out that truth is a more potent one. Obama '08 and '12. posted 03/24/2008 at 02:07:14

Michigan, Florida, and the L-word

Obama did not partake in the decision to allow a front-loaded primary season, that was a Florida and Michigan party vote. I just watched the replays of the 2006 and 2007 meetings on CSPAN.
Obama has merely agreed to abide by the rules of the game. That's called good sportsmanship.
"Passive agressive?" That would be somebody who would claim "not as far as I know" about another candidate's honest divulging of his true religion and loyalty to America. Hmmmm.
NoGoodNamesLeft, maybe you could just shorten your name by dropping the last two at the end.
posted 03/24/2008 at 00:20:42

I just watched a replay on CSPAN of the DNC rules committee meetings of 2006 and 2007 that set up the misbegotten front-loaded campaign.
Mr Keyssar is either unfamiliar with the details of how this problem came about OR he is as craven, lawless and thoroughly without ethical compass as the rabid Hillary clan. They know they are breaking the rules. They don't care.
Obama played by the rules presented him. Hillary is doing a Bush 2000 scam: playing this as a "civil rights issue". The "because we can" crowd feels they can pull off yet another coup and, again like Bush, use the argument of "democracy" to insulate Hillary from criticism that she would actually undo the will of the majority.
Jim Carrey replay: "loo-hoo-hoo-hoo-ser." posted 03/24/2008 at 00:09:58

Why Am I So Afraid

Oy vey es mir. I'm making an assumption, Erica, that you have gone on book tours to promotoe your work. Can't you imagine how much more intense the discipline required to be the candidate called Obama and have to do three or four stops a day with the press hounding you 24/7? It just grates on me that you could suggest even the slightest hint of laziness or lack of resolve in Barack Obama. And to suggest that Hillary is a dilligent "hard worker" is contradicted by her apparent "ten state strategy" rather than adopting the Howard Dean model...the DFA plan for a "fifty state" campaign. posted 03/22/2008 at 13:08:24

Crunch Time: John Edwards Needs To Step Up For Barack

StrategicThinker: Let's just count you out of any progress, growth and change that can occur in this country and turn back the clock on race relations then. Just for you. Nice strategic thinking. What's YOUR plan? posted 03/22/2008 at 16:08:24

I am not counting on Edwards. I just can't get over the numerous times he has grandstanded at the expense of his own integrity, just to advance his quest. There have been statements about his caring for the poor but how is it this same person favored the credit card bill twice when in office? Even Hillary opposed it back then. How is it that for his own convenience he voted to authorize war? How could he stand on a stage in the debates and try to denigrate Obama's committment to the poor and opposing the war and then on the next debate act as if he had pre-arranged to "gang up on Hillary" with Obama? Obama had made no such agreement. And I paid attention when Elizabeth has also delivered cheapshots on Obama.

Therefore I wouldn't trust him even if he endorses Obama. It would be another political calculation rather than from a deeper sense of what's good for the country. posted 03/22/2008 at 15:59:57

We, The O-Boomers

I was present at the first official campaign-organized rally for Howard Dean in Los Angeles for his presidential run in '03. There were about 250 people to hear Howard speak.
I brought my wife to what was amongst the first of the public rallies for Obama, held in Los Angeles, eleven days after his announcement in Illinois.
There were 10,000 people to hear Barack speak.
Something is going on and it needs to be appreciated not only for the depth of support but for the depth of the intellect involved. Obama connects and is for real but we are too and this is the basic requirement of progress. Thanks, Marc. posted 03/24/2008 at 01:12:20

Watch: 140 Arrested In San Francisco Iraq War Protest

RogerHWerner "...the War, which is merely a reflection of these problems."

The biggest heist of oil profits via the manipulation of the markets by American and Saudi "royalists" (Bush, Cheney, you know the rest) at the expense of our national economy and security is JUST a reflection? This war WAS the one and only point, set and match.

Roger, I think you assume that the participants in this "fifth column" are ignorant, misled and incompetent patriots. On the contrary, they have been the most competent of bandits. And the degradation of the United States on the world stage is a part of the power dynamic.

I think Roger Wilkins at Tuesday's Take Back America conference made the point well about demonstrations. They listen. You better bet that they do otherwise you haven't a prayer keeping your Bedford Falls from turning into Pottersville.

Of course, the media coverage isn't real. But the movement is and the power of seeing others on the street who have the same courage transforms each particpant into a "bundler" if you will. The one represents the many. The speeches are usually crap but being there is what counts. posted 03/22/2008 at 15:37:10