Donkey Talk FCD

Brian's Inauguration Videos and Pictures

2009-02-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

Hi Gang,

As I continued to sort through my photos and some short videos I shot with my camera since returning from the inauguration, I thought I would post some more for you to hopefully enjoy. Apologies that the videos are so short and low quality but they were taken on my old digital camera to capture a bit more of the feel for some of the events.

At the Inauguration Opening Concert at the Lincoln Memorial
Bruce Springsteen starts it off:

Some Will.i.am and friends:

And a fun sing along - "This Land is Your Land"

And now on to the big day. First check out the energy from people just getting out of the metro enroute to the inauguration!

And now what we came here for (Obama taking his oath at the inauguration)!

Life of Brian: Coming Home - Day 6

2009-01-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

Since hotels returned to normal prices Wednesday, I actually decided to check into a hotel near Dulles airport after a wonderful seafood dinner in Alexandria Wednesday night celebrating our last night in DC. That let the remaining 8 in the condo have a bit more space and also meant I did not have to wake everyone up at 4 AM to be picked up by Supershuttle the next morning!

I happened to sit next to another Californian on the flight back (get the feeling there were a lot uf there?) and shared stories from the inauguration. As we talked, a woman in a nearby row overheard my story of almost missing entry into the blue area due to the slow line and confirmed she had a blue ticket (she was a staff memeber for the DNC) and did indeed miss getting in with her ticket. She actually ended up giving up and moving into the public viewing area.

I wanted to show a picture of my final haul from the inauguration so you can see my impact to the DC economy! It was an amazing experience filled with incredible images, opportunities and most of all, amazing people - just like I met nearly every day back in California working on the Obama campaign. When people ask me about the crowds at events in a city that was bursting at the seems, I tell them I can best describe it this way: imagine being surrounded by a million people who have all just won the lottery and are going to collect their money. That was the kind of vibe, excitement, postitive energy and happiness that shone out of just about everyone you encountered, whether talking to them one on one, or shoved into a crowd of thousands. Now its time for the biggest adventure of all - helping our embattled country under the guidance of President Obama recover from years of disastrous leadership.

I hope you all enjoyed my blog and it could make the event a bit more real for you, or least give you a different perspective. So many deserved to be there - I truly feel blessed that I was able to make it!

Brian

Life of Brian: The Day After - Day 5

2009-01-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

This was basically a low key recovery day after the excitement yesterday. Oh yes, we also survived our first night of 9 in the condo (see the gang on the left)! It was cold in the condo last night as I was on an air matress in front of a an uninsulated window with temps outside probably near zero or in the teens. Think of sleeping near an open refrigerator door! At times I only had my head out of the covers (I know, wimpy Californian).

I went out today sight seeing with Joy and Debbie as the rest of the condo-crew went on a visit to nearby relatives. Debbie really wanted to see the Lincoln monument, and the war memorials (Korean, Vietnam and World War II) so we decided to use the double decker on/off buses that make stops at many DC points of interest and allow you to disembark and reimbark freely. They are actually a nice way to go (and $32 for 2 days so not bad). We started at Union station - after I fell victim to another wave of Obama merchandising fever as I started mentally adding up all the friends and family who would want souvenirs from this epic event. The lines had not died down in any of the Obama merchadise related stores and may have even been worse! We then headed out on our bus and even braved the upper deck (I think it was in the 20s) for a brief time.

The bus drove us through various areas of downtown DC and its beautiful architecture, embassy row, Georgetown and Arlington Cemetary before we got off at the Lincoln Memorial, where the concert staging from Sunday was still being cleared. The monument itself is of course as impressive as it is famous, especially as you read about what Lincoln was dealing with in a country divided with war perfectly captured on the statue's grave and resolute expression. A lower floor holds a small museum which I believe has only been there since 1994. I found it especially inspiring since it was conceived of, and initiated by school children who thought there should be more education about the monument and civil rights. Way to go kids!

We also visited the Vietnam Memorial and looked for 2 Monrovian's names. Joy actually knew the fellow student who had died so it was especially emotional for her as she recounted details of him as the bright eyed, handsome young man she remembered. It really is an incredibly basic, but incredibly powerful and effective monument as it simply lists all of the soldiers who died names etched into black stone.

The World War II monument on the other hand is grandeuse and large. Its quite impressive and as epic and imposing as the war. The columns are each named with states so we captured the obligatory photo at the California column. I would like to see this memorial during warmer weather when the water features are going.

The Vietnam War memorial was as ghostly as a friend had reported from their visit. Rough, white hued statues of soldiers are spread throughout front greenery with a backdrop of an etched marble wall. On the wall you see faintly etched images through a glossy marble veneer that are white from the rough stone beneath the veneer. Its a very unusual monument.

We were considering the long trek to the Jefferson monument, but it was really was brutally cold and we all plan to visit DC during a more weather condusive season (i.e. when the trees are actually green, the grass isn't brown and the reflecting ponds are not filled with ice)!

We returned via our last ride on the DC metro (the metro here is wonderful) and enjoyed a scrumptuous seafood dinner by the Potomic in the beautiful city of Alexandria. I really do want to return during nicer weather. Of course the main goal of this trip was to see the historic inauguration and to feel proud of my country again. No, I was not ashamed of the troops, nor my fellow citizens (except maybe for Dittoheads and the like who spread hate and ignorance), but I was ashamed of the White House and almost everything it stood for under Bush. So for my mission at least I can truly say "Mission Accomplished"!

Tomorrow - time for the big flights back.

Life of Brian: The Big Day! - Day 4

2009-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

This was it - the day of the inauguration! The plan for the household was to get up at 6 AM and head out during the early part of the crowds. I could barely sleep I was so excited about the ticket and going, so I heard Ruth on the phone early with relatives who lived near the blue zone (where I needed to go) who took 3 hours to get home from leaving a bar at 2 AM (i.e. 3 hours to go a few miles). Ruth helped me get started even earlier than planned so I was out the door by 6 AM and onto the Metro. The Metro was much more full than usual, but well managed (and our stop is early on the red line so there was still space). My transfer to another line went well, but then the Metro announced an unexpected closure of the stop I was supposed to use. It just meant more walking but that is the transportation mode of choice at this event. A very cool moment was being in a tired mass of people streaming out of the subway (its very early and cold remember) who then spontaneously broke into a mass of cheers, shouts and Obama chants as the metro escalator led us up and out into the light of a truly new morning!

It was about a 20 minute walk to the start, and then what looked like a reasonable line into a security perimeter line that lead to the entrance that said "Blue Entrance". The entrance was only a thousand yards away or so and it was only about 7:00 AM - success! At about 7:30 friends with tickets met up with me and we thought we were truly golden. However, although the metro and security at the event was well managed, the line control was not. People poured in from all angles and apparently cheated the line at its intersection with a line from the other direction so we ended up taking 3 hours to move a few hundred feet. Once we got into the main security feed we were able to get through the next part in about an hour .... OK, add that up. That makes 11:30! Yes, we arrived precisely as the inauguration was starting... wow, that was close!

We were closer than I expected to the inauguration ceremony but also to the right, so we couldn't really see the speakers as they were blocked by the right bleacher structure. However we also had a nicely placed video monitor in the area in front of us, so we saw everything and of course the crowd's energy was palpable. The sun came out and the wintery sky was beautiful as we watched the scene from the Capital lawn. I was there for the cheers and Obama chants, and for the boos as Bush came up, and for tears by some at the power of the moment. Yours truly turned his back on Reverand Warren - who at least thankfully left his hate speech behind and was well behaved in this speech. Aretha Franklin belted out America the Beautiful (and whatta hat!) and Joe Biden apparently had an energy shake for breakfast as he came out charged up for his speech. Of course Obama stole the show with another moving, eloquent speech that sealed the deal on the intelligent and sincere President we finally have in office. Michelle appeared in a beautiful goldend dress that made her look like the amazing First Lady that we all know that she will be. The cheers every time she (and their daughters) were shown make it clear America is in love with the entire Obama package!

Leaving the event, my friends invited me to a Congressman's office where they a friend working to warm up at a low key and friendly reception. It was about 1 pm then so we had been out in temps in the 20s for about 6 hours so it was a very welcome break and nice to feel my toes again (and to have my first cup of coffee for the day since I had been to worried about lines to coffee up in the morning)!

I left my inaugural friends to try and join up with my condo roomates - but was unable to reach them via cell so I stupidly decided to try to make it to an obscure Metro stop to beat the masses I had heard were clogging the major stops after the inauguration ended. Unfortunately the parade route and staging areas had blocked about every road and I could not get out, nor find a restaurant or place to get in from the cold so I ended up in the mall (freezing, the sun was gone and the wind kicked up so it had to be in the teens) watching the start of the parade on a jumbotron. It was actually pretty amazing to watch Barack and Michelle getting out of the car and smiling and waving to the frenzied crowd (as I cursed myself for not having stayed at the parade route of course)! I had assumed Obama would have done the Bush "fast drive by" back when protestors had lined the route and his car was pelted with eggs after the 1st stolen election - but of course the events on this election could not have been more opposite. It was a beautiful moment.

Then of course more walking (miles of it) trying to get around the endless police blockades, closed streets, closed metro lines, etc. in weather that was now brutally cold before about 6 PM when I found (with the help of a local angel) an open Metro station. Unfortunately, first I had waited in a line with others at a closed station awaiting it to open after the parade. I then learned it might actually not open for 1-2 hours. I got home tired, cold, sore and completely thankful that I was able to take part in what I had. It took an amazing Presidentia candidate, an incredible victory, exciting California grass-roots actions, a friend's sister's kindess, and incredible luck in getting a ticket - but I was able to attend what will undoubtedly be the most amazing Presidential inauguration for the most amazing President of my life, oh yes and history was made!

Life of Brian: Obama Day of Service and a very pleasant surprise.... - Day 3

2009-01-19T19:30:00.001-08:00

Today I joined fellow Obama California volunteers to help out in the Washington DC Emery Eduction Center school in answer to President-elect Obama's call for a day of service to honor Martin Luther King Jr's birthday. The picture above is from our painting exploits. Yes, this class now has the coolest painted lockers in all of ... the 3rd floor of the school, or at least in the top 10!

Now the really amazing part of today - through a series of fortunate events and connections to Obama volunteering, I actually was given a.... Are you ready for this? I was actually given a ticket to the inauguration! Unbelievable, eh? Yes - I was truly stunned and incredibly grateful. I will be standing in the blue area which is part of the restricted front standing area ticketed access. I can honestly say that so many people I worked with during the Obama campaign deserve to be here - but I will be there for all of you in spririt (Lance, Cathy, Don, and many, many more). I am still in shock frankly that this happened! Following are pics of the packet: invitation letter, program, Obama and Biden pics and the actual ticket:

Of course that was the topper for the day (month and year)! Today like yesterday, my roomates split to do more touring of DC via car and taxi so we tried to synch up after my volunteer work in the morning at the school. Enroute to trying to meet them I did serious damage at an Obama store at Union Station to chip away at Debbie's Obama souvenir haul from yesterday. It was insanely busy so that I had to wait in line to loop around to select things enroute to the cash register. I was able to purchase some very nice souvenirs and just in time - an upscale event was about to cause the lock down of Union Station. That also caused a giant influx of people to flood the station as I tried to leave. As predicted my cell didn't work, but it also actually crashed & locked up. It took multiple resets and blocks of walking away from the throng before it worked again and I could try to reach Lorraine and the gang.

They were heading for the Washington monument via taxi so I tried it via foot (a several mile hike from Union Station that gave me a great view of many things in DC - the capital, the White House, judicial buildings, etc.). Unfortunately it took so long to reach the monument (with intermittent cell coverage all the way) that by the time I got there the gang was ready to leave and was just exiting via taxi to an area about half way from where I had just hiked in. I was dog tired, but still jazzed from having scored a ticket so I walked back and finally met up with them after about 4 hours of non-stop walking.

We met up at TGIF as my feet celebrated finally sitting down while the rest of me enjoyed a Cosmo & Long Island Iced Tea! We took the metro back to Ruth's place and tonight she tried to plot out tomorrow's game plan since getting to the inauguration will not be trivial with all of the crowds and metro and street closings. I enter in a different area because (did I mention this already) I HAVE A TICKET!!!!!! We are going to get up at 6 AM Tuesday and try to fight our way down to the noon event. My brain cannot quite wrap around actually being there (I got teary during part of the concert). I really find this whole thing sureal. I keep trying to realize its really happening and that Obama is actually our President and that our 8 year national nightmare is coming to an end (with an incredible amount of work to do to dig us out of course).

On a lighter note, Debbie and I continued our souvenir throw down! Today I bought more, but I am still far under her running total - however she said that the tickets make me the winner hands down. I am inclined to agree (assuming I survive the night in the condo now hosting 8 people - all drooling over the ticket). In case anything "suspicious" happens I want this blog to be entered into evidence! Oh yes, just for the record this is today's Obama gift hunting bounty:

Good night all! Its going to be beyond isane tomorrow... I hope you all are able to watch this amazing moment of history in the making and celebrate your butts off with friends and loved ones!

Life of Brian: Inauguration Opening Concert - Day 2

2009-01-18T17:42:00.001-08:00

Hi gang!

I made it to the concert as I hoped! It started at 2:30 pm but gates opened at 8 AM and I did not get an early start (hey its me after all). Actually we were still making group plans this morning and it ended up that my roomies all went for a drive/tour of DC instead so I was solo for the concert. But y'all know how bashful I am so that was not a problem! I was still able to get in after a short ride on the Metro and about a mile of hoofing it to the mall and then waiting through a security line and then I was into the mall area between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

At first I stopped on the side of the mall where the crowd seemed thick. OK, its not too bad for coming late right? But I see people still moving towards the reflection pool (i.e. "skating rink" this time of year as its frozen!) so maybe I can get closer.....?

Oh yeah - that's what I'm talking about! This is where I ended (and was stuffed in a crowd so I couldn't leave to drink, eat, etc.). It was close enough to see the figures (small of course) without the video monitors! As I started talking to a guy next to me (Willy) I found he was from, California - Altadena to be exact. What are the chances of going to an event with an estimated half million people in another state across the country and standing next to someone who actually lives about 5 miles from me?? Too funny!

Bruce Springsteen opened backed by a red-robed gospel choir and then the Obama family arrived. The event alternated celebrity speeches and musical performers who were a virtual "who's who" of music. There were unique duets and combos (like Herbe Hancock at piano with James Taylor singing) and stars like John Cougar Melecamp, Bono, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Cheryl Crow and many more. Vice President-elect Joe Biden and President-elect Obama both gave rousing speeches. Denzel Washington was the first celebrity to speak in a long list that included Tom Hanks, Forrest Whittiker, Jamie Fox (whose Obama impression was hysterical) , Samuel Jackson, Tiger Woods, etc. I have to admit that I dislike country music so when Garth Brooks came up I did an internal groan.. and then he performed a super high energy version of "Shout!" with a background choir that brought the house down and had everyone dancing and throwing their hands in the air. Sheryl Crow and will.i.am performed "One Love" togther. If you did not see Will.i.am's Obama "Yes We Can" video during the elections, you really should check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Thanks Willy (remember my new friend from Altadena?) for the photo to prove I was actually there! That is Brian sporting his recently purchased winter hat and I was also able to finally wear my scarf (thanks Laura)! It was in the 30's today with no wind or snow so it was not really that bad (says the Southern Californian). Of course the other possibility is that my Ohio DNA kicked in to keep me alive!

And yes Virginia, there is Obama marketing. I bought a few things today as I came back down 17th Street past the mob of vendors selling everything conceivable that was Obama related. When I returned to our condo and viewed Debbie's stash from today's shop-a-thon I was humbled. Let's just say I got spanked! Here is the photo of the loot - note, my purchases are the sparten 2 hats and a bag on the right (Debbie says "Take That!").

I have been invited by some of my Obama California activist friends to join in a "Day of service" at a local school tomorrow so I am going to try and go. Don't forget to try and to attend a service event if you can Monday, as Obama has requested us to honor Martin Luther King Jr. You can check out the Foothill Community Democrat site for a food drop opportunity. To quote Ghandi "Be the Change You Want to See in the World"!

Life of Brian: Going to the Inauguration - Day 1

2009-01-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

Check out this picture! No - I did not score tickets... read below for the story.

My day started at 5:00 AM with the shuttle pickup to Burbank airport. For those who know me and mornings, it was not pretty! I flew out of Burbank (great little airport) and the guy sitting next to me turned out to be a high level Obama coordinator for Nevada. His name is Ian and he had been involved in politics before going to the Iraq war, and when he came back, he was so inspired by Obama that he moved to Nevada for 6 months as a coordinator for a Nevada region. Ian is definitely a fascinating guy. I found out he had innauguration tickets as well as tickets to 3 balls! He was nice enough to let me drool over them and shared a picture he had taken (I asked if I could take a picture of them). If the resolution was higher and I had a color printer while in DC.... er, bad Brian! Just kidding of course (that is addressed to friends and any secret service reading this)! I was so engrossed in my conversation with Ian that I left my ipod on the plane (first drama of the day) but discovered my blunder in time to get it back fortunately.

Here I am in stop 1, Dallas before I am off to my next stop in wintry Columbus. The last leg of my flight changed airlines so I was very worried my checked bag and probably for good reason. I had to get my United ticket in Columbus and asked the agent about my bag transfer. She ended up making a series of online checks and calls to make sure my bag had made the transfer. The nice part is that its such a small airport, the agent called the baggage area and talked to an actual person she knew (try that in LAX!) and walked over to the American agent to ask her to call her people and make sure my bag was transferred. As we walked out onto the tarmac and I spotted our teeny little plane for the final leg to Washington, I got to experience the joy of 10 degrees in Columbus. So why did I move to California again... but I digress. Our flight was held on the ground for a late Chicago flight to drop off some customer. The innovative crew had them literally pull the plane up next to ours and let the folks directly disembark from the other plane right onto our flight. I sat next to a woman who had a 3 leg flight like mine originating in California to Chicago to Columbus to Dulles. Our insane flight paths led us to the same conclusion - apparently airlines are using all possible combinations to get people into DC once standard flights were sold out. In her case her daughter was a friend of the Obamas back in Chicago and that was her link in. I also met and very nice Republican couple ... they told me - it wasn't obvious... ;-) and their daughters breaking a few stereotypes but not only going to the Obama inauguration, but an HRC (gay rights) ball that night as well.

An hour later I was in Dulles - gratefully looking at my bag that had actually made the transfer (thank you un-named United lady from Columbus!). It was bustling and of course met another cool activist / participant in the festivities tomorrow enroute (you can meet a lot of cool people at this methinks)!

After a long and very hot SuperShuttle ride I was at Casa de "Ruth" (my friend's sister). Ruth is really going above and beyond and letting 9 people crash at her condo (she even bought some air matresses). Her graciousness has been amazing! Here is a small part of the gang (more coming Sunday):

OK - its now 1 AM somewhere...actually here and our Sunday plans are not finalized and could be an early attempt to get into the concerts I mentioned yesterday so after 4 hours of sleep I am going to bed! Bon soir!

Life of Brian: Going to the Inauguration - Getting Ready!

2009-01-16T22:33:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! This is Brian's first posting of the series as I finish packing the night before I leave. Yes, that's a pic of me in warm ol' SoCal on the patio with some of the folks back from the night of my Obama Acceptance Speech party from the DNC. I thought it would be a nice contrast to some of the winter DC pics that I suspect to follow. I leave on at 5:00 AM Saturday (arg) to start a 3 leg flight from Burbank to Dallas to Columbus to DC to start my inauguration oddysey!

A friend's very kind sister is letting about a dozen people crash out at her place (about 5 miles out of downtown DC) for the inauguration. I am coming in Saturday and leaving Thursday morning. I really couldn't pass up this opportunity of a lifetime for something so wonderful and also historically significant. I have no tickets to any official events, so I will let you know what I make it to that is public (or if I score any event tickets -hahahaha... hey, it could happen)! There is a wonderful concert Sunday night that is open to the public at the Lincoln Memorial (but I suspect not to all 3 million of us that are expected). I am going to try for it so that should be my first taste of the crowds. Wish me luck!

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE50F0NW20090116

I plan to update this post daily with my adventure in DC. Cold, crowded, crazy or not - the one thing I think is guaranteed is that it will be an adventure! For my friends that can't be there this is your chance to live vicariously through me, without the crowds and the frostbite. Stay tuned....

Join our next meeting April 24 for the MTA Goldline Foothill Extension Rally!

2008-04-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

Come to this meeting and find out why you need to support the Goldline Foothill Extension. After Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa speaks, you will then be provided with everything you need to write a letter or postcard that night. Foothill Community Democrats will even pay your postage and mail them for you! See more information on our clubs web site www.foothillcommunitydemocrats.org

Don't Duck Tape Keith Olbermann

2007-10-10T15:56:00.000-07:00

I am outraged Comcast is censoring Keith Olbermann. Keith’s special comments are the raw facts this nation needs to wake up. You can not get this kind of information anywhere else on TV. This explains why the show is top rated. It is obvious Comcast is abusing its media outlet. Give the people what they want….THE TRUTH. Give us Keith Olbermann unbridled. Keith will be going in the Hall of Fame. Place an asterisk under his name explaining how he had to over come Comcast???!!!! For that mater all history books may reflect how the nation had to overcome Comcast. With the help of people like Keith Olbermann, a movement has begun that not even you can kill. Send a message to Comcast and tell them how you feel, and that you will tell all of your friends that Comcast is acting like Fox noise. Also go the Keith Olbermann "Count Down" site and tell Keith you are fighting for him.

Worst Nightmare: A Citizen With a Consitutional Right

2007-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is pulled from this youtube clip. The clip, in turn, comes onto our radar courtesy of this post from the good folks at boingboing.net

Public.Resource.Org released a gigapixel 'photograph' of 1000 pages of U.S. case law, a volume of what is known as the Federal Reporter. Accompanying that is a letter to West Thomson asking why the decisions of U.S. courts are not available in an unencumbered format.(emphasis added)

L.A. Times Reporting Unlawful Politicizing by GOP "Drug Czar"

2007-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times reports the GOP tried to bolster vulnerable candidates in the 2006 elections by deploying John P. Walters to town halls and other events in hopes of swaying voters to the GOP cause.

Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, attended 20 programs...documents suggest a coordinated effort to employ a senior official who is barred by law from political activities to help boost the fortunes of Republican candidates...and that Karl Rove, Bush's chief political advisor, thanked Walters for his attention to the candidates.

Business as usual, eh?

T-Man in Our Collective Unconscious

2007-07-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

At first it seems funny, and the folks at boingboing.net present it tongue-in-cheek. But the more I think about it the more sense it makes. If this is really from a 1952 comic then it's part of the collective unconscious and may indeed explain what to some of us younger folk are the truly depraved and irrational actions of our current leaders.

(Image previously published at boingboing.net)

New Warm Blood

2007-07-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

Here's to Linda Sanchez for her no-nonsense reaction to Harriet Miers' failure to honor a congressional subpoena. Finally, a Dem with warm blood in her veins who's not afraid to take off the gloves and stand nose to nose with the Repubs.

My favorite quote of the day comes from a comment on Crooks and Liars by PNAAC Minister:
"Congress is in jeopardy of becoming our nation’s largest joke." (......not if more people like Linda Sanchez step forward)

Once again I'm reading blasphemous statements re our country's founders. If Americans ever begin showing an interest in and learning about our country's political history, no Republican spin-meister will ever again be elected to high office. Please pass the word along to your Repub friends and family members: The Founders thought Congress, specifically the H.of R., the most important part of government because, unlike the president and senators, representatives are directly elected by and represent the interests of the "common" people. (Remember: the president is elected by "state electors" and senators were historically appointed to office by their state legislatures.) They would never approve of Bush's consolidation of power in a unitary executive or of his broad use of executive priviledge to confer "absolute immunity" on current and former staff members to prevent the sharing of information with congress. For a good read on the ideas that form the foundation of our Constitution get a copy of James Madison's Notes on the Convention of 1787. It's available in paperback in most larger bookstores or online.

Cal FPPC Investigates 59th Candidates

2007-07-01T00:51:00.000-07:00

As reported in the Hesperia Resorter in early June, the Cal Fair Political Practices Commission is auditing the campaign finances of all 59th A.D. candidates who ran in the primary and general elections last year. They made quick work of everyone's books except of those of Anthony Adams. Seems like Republicans just can't help juggling the money and then trying to hide it. There're problems determining who was on his payroll, what they did, what exactly they got paid and where all the advertising money came from. Tsk! Tsk!

Congressional Dems and some of their Repub brothers and sisters are rearing up and demanding Bushie turn over subpoenaed documents re his wiretapping and re the US Attorneys firings. I've been waiting 32 years for the outcome of this fight. Back in the era of "Tricky Dicky" both the Special Prosecutor's office and the Senate's Watergate Committee issued subpoenas to the executive branch. The Prosecutor's office brought its criminal charges against those Nixon aides involved in the coverup first and issued subpoenas for documents (the tapes) it needed in court. It had to fight tooth and nail against Nixon and his "executive priviledge" to get those tapes, finally ending up in the Supreme Court. Nixon lost that round but the court restricted its decision only to those members of the executive branch facing criminal charges. In the meantime, House members, finally fed up with Nixon and under a lot of pressure from the public, got around to impeachment hearings and issued three articles of impeachment. Nixon resigned rather than go through the Senate impeachment trial and the Senate Watergate Committee disappeared into the ether. So, for 32 years I've wondered what would've happened had the Senate committee gotten the chance to drag Tricky to the Supreme Court. Now I'm going to find out. Hope the ending's the same! We all went out and celebrated long, hard and very happily.

GITMO Update at Jurist

2007-06-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

[JURIST] A military judge at Guantanamo Bay Friday declined to revive charges against Guantanamo detainee Omar Ahmed Khadr [TrialWatch profile; JURIST news archive]. Judge Peter E. Brownback, III reiterated his June ruling [order, PDF] that since the Combatant Status Review Tribunal [DOD materials] that reviewed Khadr's status had not found him to be an "unlawful enemy combatant" as required under the Military Commissions Act of 2006 [PDF text], charges against Khadr had to be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction [JURIST report]. Brownback found [PDF text] that a plea for reconsideration by the prosecution did not offer any change in the facts or law since his June 4 dismissal. There is some question about whether the decision can be appealed, but Brownback said that determination was up to "an appellate court."

Khadr, formally charged [charge sheet, PDF; JURIST report] in April with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism, as well as spying, was 15 years old when he was detained in 2002. Khadr allegedly threw a grenade that killed one US soldier and wounded another while fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. He has remained in US custody despite the dismissal of charges. SCOTUSblog has more.

Time to Take On FOX "News"!

2007-02-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

By now I am sure that most of us realize that Fox is not a credible news outlet and instead acts as a mouthpiece for the Republican party and Conservative issues. If you are tired of throwing things as your TV - try fighting back instead! A great little site is helping you do just that. Check out www.FoxAttacks.com to see videos and information on how Fox distorts their "news". They also give you a handy way to pressure Fox advertisers so we can hit Fox where they live, in the bank account!

Remember, to have a healthy Democracy, its citizens must be informed. The biased, uncritical "news" spoon fed by most Corporate owned media is void of critical analysis and fact checking and is a key contributor to mess we are in (and the voters apathy to much of it). Corporate media's self interests have little to do with educating the populace and Fox is the poster child for the worst of the worst.

"An Unreasonable Man"

2007-02-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

I have been alerted that I have made my big screen debut in "An Unreasonable Man". I was protesting Nader at Vromans book store. Hope to catch it at the Llamly before it's gone

Elliott Barkan LA Times Feb13th

2007-02-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

Obama would try to represent all
February 13, 2007
Re "Would Obama be 'black president'?" Feb. 10I am surprised that no one has pointed out that 30 to 40 years ago, "black" referred to those we now speak of as African Americans. However, with the substantial immigration since 1965 of West Indians, Africans and others who are recognizably partially or wholly of African lineage (such as from Brazil and Panama), "black" has actually become an umbrella term for all those in America of African descent. Those of us teaching and writing about race and ethnicity emphasize that "black" is no longer synonymous only with African Americans; that is a dated notion that obscures our very altered reality in contemporary America.Thus, a more accurate question — if even thought to be necessary — ought not to be whether Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would or would not be a "black president," but would he or would he not represent African Americans. That distinction would be a step toward broadening and more accurately conveying what he may represent, or may in part seek to represent, but he certainly understands that he cannot win if that is all he labors to emphasize.I believe that Obama recognizes the need to persuade African Americans of his concern for issues of importance to them and, at the same time, that he fully understands the need to convince all Americans that he can represent the concerns of many segments of the American community.ELLIOTT R. BARKANProfessor emeritusHistory and ethnic studiesCal State San Bernardino

Thank you Molly Ivins

2007-02-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Molly you will always be my devilish angel. Thank you for helping me through these rough years. You always reminded us we were not alone.

Donkey Talk FCD

2007-02-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

Dreier on climate change
Regarding Rep. David Dreier's quote in the Star-News "The jury is still out on this notion of what role human beings have on global warming."
Well Rep. Dreier, this is not your played down "notion." We will be the decider. The voters will be your jury in 2008. The jury will see the overwhelming scientific evidence.
We need a government that does not support polluting policies. Growth and profits can not come at a price of killing the only planet we have to live on.

Donkey Talk FCD

2007-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? A bunch of chickens! Idaho Governor wants to order 500 wolves killed. I say we tell him no. In 2008 I order we put the likes of him, and my elected official David Dreier on the endangered list. Vote out the conservation zeros. We put Pombo on the wall in '06. A great duo target for California in '08 would be Doolittle/Dreier.

Donkey Talk FCD

2006-10-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Donkey Talk FCD

Great exercise on the issues for the Governor from our friends at KPCC. I was thrilled to see how much my opinions matched those of my selected candidates. Try this yourself:

http://www.scpr.org/features/2006/election_2006/candidate/index.php

Donkey Talk FCD

2006-10-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Will be watching the debate at the Democratic Headquarters. Everyone is encouraged to come. Location on web foothillcommunitydemocrats.org
Goooooo Phil!!!!!!

Bumper Stickers

2006-09-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is being passed around the Internet -- I can't attest to the veracity of the introduction, but I sure do enjoy the humor -- when it doesn't make me cry. Fight on!

Subject: Politically polarized bumper stickers

[ These bumper stickers were compiled by Jerry Paull, a former
Methodist minister in Lakeside, Ohio, who writes: The following
actual bumper stickers are now on cars. I didn't write any of them.
I'm only the messenger. If they make you laugh, good. If they make
you cry, good. If they make you angry, that's good too. If you
don't want to read them, hit the delete button.]
BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

IF YOU SUPPORTED BUSH, A YELLOW RIBBON WON'T MAKE UP FOR IT

POVERTY, HEALTH CARE, & HOMELESSNESS ARE MORAL ISSUES

OF COURSE IT HURTS. YOU'RE GETTING SCREWED BY AN ELEPHANT

BUSH LIED, AND YOU KNOW IT

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A THREAT ABROAD, A THREAT AT HOME

GOD BLESS EVERYONE
(No exceptions)

BUSH SPENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ON HIS WAR

PRO AMERICA, ANTI BUSH

WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?

IF YOU SUPPORT BUSH'S WAR, WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? SHUT UP AND
SHIP OUT

FEEL SAFER NOW?

I'D RATHER HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SCREWED HIS INTERN THAN ONE WHO
SCREWED HIS COUNTRY

JESUS WAS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST -- THAT IS A LIBERAL

MY VALUES? FREE SPEECH. EQUALITY. LIBERTY. EDUCATION. TOLERANCE

IS IT 2008 YET?

DISSENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM -- Thomas Jefferson

DON'T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST BUSH -- TWICE!

ANNOY A CONSERVATIVE: THINK FOR YOURSELF

VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT

HEY BUSH! WHERE'S BIN LADEN?

CORPORATE MEDIA = MASS MIND CONTROL

STOP MAD COWBOY DISEASE

GEORGE W. BUSH: MAKING TERRORISTS FASTER THAN HE CAN KILL THEM

KEEP YOUR THEOCRACY OFF MY DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRATS ARE SEXY. WHOEVER HEARD OF A GOOD PIECE OF ELEPHANT?

ASPIRING CANADIAN

CORPORATE MEDIA: WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION

DON'T CONFUSE DYING FOR OIL WITH FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PRO LIFE

HATE, GREED, IGNORANCE: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

HONOR OUR TROOPS: DEMAND THE TRUTH

REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?

FACT: BUSH OIL
1999 - $19 BARREL
2006 - $70 BARREL

THE LAST TIME RELIGION CONTROLLED POLITICS, PEOPLE GOT BURNED AT
THE STAKE

I'LL GIVE UP MY CHOICE WHEN JOHN ROBERTS GETS PREGNANT

HOW ON EARTH CAN 59,411,287 PEOPLE BE SO DUMB?

Say No to Pombo

2006-09-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Sending money and good vibes from Los Angeles. Get rid of that guy!!! Say No to Pombo

Donkey Talk FCD

2006-09-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

Route 66 Parade this Saturday. 8AM Huntington and Cotter st.
Come show your Democratic pride.

Some Thoughts on the anniversary of 911

2006-09-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

On the 5th anniversary of 911, Bush takes the opportunity to shamelessly try and use the trajedy for political gain. Check out this wonderful commentary by Keith Olbermann as captured on Alternet:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/41501/

Excerpts below:
"Five years later there is no memorial to the dead. Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals. Five years later this country's wound is still open. Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked. Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op. It is beyond shameful....

Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning. And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.

History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage....

Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people. The President -- and those around him -- did that. They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists." They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.

The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication." The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."...

How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death, after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections? How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11? Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero. So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.

When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American... When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:

Who has left this hole in the ground? We have not forgotten, Mr. President. You have. May this country forgive you."

Donkey Talk FCD

2006-09-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Donkey Talk FCD
Prepare to get educated about the upcoming November election!

Reposting of ezunino post

2006-09-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

(This was posted on our test blog by a member due to a mistake by yours truly. Sorry, the test site has been deleted to eliminate any potential future confusion - Brian)

For those members who aren't familiar with it, posting, uploading picts, setting their profiles, etc. may be a bit daunting. Maybe we should plan a time to get every member up to speed, answer their questions, get everyone motivated to write. It will be both fun and informative to post our news and views. What's the pulse of your friends and neighbors? Didja happen to see Schwarzenegger at one of his "quickie" public appearances locally? What do you think of Bushie's latest stumble?

Speaking of stumbling, the 1996 Clean Break report (a work product of our Neocons and Israel's Likud) that's been in the news can be found at: http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm

An easier-to-understand summary of its contents with lots of tables and graphs: http://www.irmep.org/Policy_Briefs/3_27_2003_Clean_Break_or_Dirty_War.html

Happy Blogging Fellow Dems!

2006-06-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to my article in the Pas Star News 6-14-06.http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/search/ci_3933190

oil and water don't mix

2006-06-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

Said goodbye to Arrowhead water today. They put a 2 dollar surcharge on my bill for oil. Arrowhead and their parent company Nestle give money to the right. And they want me to make up the cost of their oil? Hah.

Fun facts about the election

2006-06-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

I thought the following stats might be of interest from the LAVote data base (http://rrcc.co.la.ca.us/elect_results/pejun06.ets) pertaining to the 6-6-06 results:

44TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
TOTAL PRECINCTS 273 PRECINCTS REPORTING 273 100.00

DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION 94,319
ANTHONY PORTANTINO 12,678 42.76%
ADAM MURRAY 7,753 26.15%
D PETERSON-MORE 7,008 23.64%
BRIAN CENTER 2,209 7.45%

REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION 66,208
SCOTT CARWILE 15,500 100.00%

GREEN REGISTRATION 1,824
RICARDO COSTA 211 60.63%
PHILIP KOEBEL 137 39.37%

LIBERTARIAN REGISTRATION 978
BARRON YANAGA 165 100.00 6

What I found interesting about this is that of the raw votes cast, more were actually cast for the single Republican candidate than for the winning democrat. But democrats have about 1/3 more registered voters than the republicans. Clearly the key to this race in the fall is converting the democrats to the chosen candidate and preserving/increasing the turnout.

A similar look at the CA 59th AD is not so encouraging:

ASSEMBLY 59TH DISTRICT
TOTAL PRECINCTS 150 PRECINCTS REPORTING 150 100.00%

DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION 40,830
ELLIOTT R BARKAN 10,610 100.00%

REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION 54,628
ANTHONY ADAMS 5,156 31.23%
C LANCASTER 3,887 23.55%
BARRY K HARTZ 3,345 20.26%
SUSAN SLATER 2,457 14.88%
KEVAN OTTO 1,663 10.07%

LIBERTARIAN REGISTRATION 702
JILL STONE 116 100.00%

From a raw numbers view, Elliott pulled 10,000 of 40,000 possible voters, but the Republicans managed to pull out over 15,000 of the 54,600 voters who are registered. Barkan only got twice as many votes as the Republican winner, who was one of 5 in the race. So turn out and registration are key for Barkan, as well as the much more difficult notion of converting non-democrats to vote for democrat.

2006-05-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

I have arrived at the Donkey Talk of the Foothill Community Democrats. I urge others to join in the dialog.