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Nov. 5th, 2004 @ 12:05 am
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Dear teresa,
Here is your horoscope
for Thursday, November 4:
For the next couple of weeks, your ordinarily charming mouth may suddenly remind you of a firecracker. You won't be shy about saying what's on your mind. Just try to smile before you let it fly.
No shit.
Oh, I am smiling all right. It's just that haunted smile that makes those who know me well shudder with the possibility of what comes next. Combine that smile with the silent tears pouring down my face for the past two days and even strangers begin to get nervous. And they should.
I will not crumble into a little ball and surrender to a stolen 2% "mandate from the people". Not like Kerry (I'll get to him shortly). Oh no, I will make my stand here and now and for as long as it takes. It's not like we progressives haven't gotten our asses kicked before.
First, the good news.
Overall there was a 10% increase in youth vote turnout nationwide. First time voters of all ages registered with an increase of 40% (still waiting to see their turnout numbers). There have been some misleading articles about this turnout (AP in particular) but they are complete bullshit. The passion, engagement, and turnout are real. We kicked some ass at the polls and overwhelmingly the youth/ first timers voted for Kerry.
Moveon is reporting smaller but critical wins credited to members on the ground. The League of Pissed Off Voters is compiling data, stories, and activists on fire about what comes next. Other groups are beginning to report, but the writing comes slowly in the face of our grief.
Let me say I was happy to hear from Greg Palast and some of the election protection groups. Be sure of one thing: this election was stolen. And if you are rolling your eyes and mumbling something about tin foil hats, remind me to slap you silly next time we meet. That's two elections now that have been stolen. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Try to fool me again and I will kick your damn ass. At least one person in this country knows how that saying goes.
Now for the rant.
A. This administration, the Congress, and all their little dogs have got to be undermined at all cost. All we can hope is that given enough rope they will hang themselves or we will get lucky and throw enough sticks in their wheels to slow them down. They are a bunch of falsely righteous whore mongering drunks and freaks. Someone had better start taking pictures. I hear they are worth a thousand words and frankly, talking ain't working.
B. 2% is not a mandate. Well, it is if you can hear half of America screaming " YOU FUCKING SUCK!" over the din of the cult of Biff "chanting four more years". I am convinced this administration is all deaf in their left ear. There will be no middle ground. They will do everything they can do to rape the world's resources including our wallets. The news media has rolled over to become a bunch of flag waving ninnies and we have no allies in that realm, only tokens to give the appearance of balance. The "alternative" media is being muffled by the god bless america fox wannabees. We are going to listen carefully just to hear ourselves. Huddle close.
C. Kerry might as well have dropped his pants and shit all over everyone who has worked hard to protect the vote. To concede 12 hours after the polls close when literally thousands of people (not including the lawyers) were documenting allegations, irregularities, and stood ready to count every vote was a profound betrayal. Campaign experts my ass. It's the thousands on the ground and on line that got out to stand up for democracy. This election has never been about manners, so I'm not accepting that statesman crap. Fuck Kerry, fuck the DNC, and fuck the "campaign experts". As the numbers roll in from election watchers I get more and more pissed and am forced to wonder who's lapdog Kerry is. Fuck 'em all.
Now what do we do?
I have spoken with a lot of people who dedicated heart, soul, and ate a lot of ramen to be involved in this election. Everyone of them is asking the same question.
What is the most effective thing I can do for the next four years?
Normally there is a fair amount of attrition after a national election. Burnout is easy. But this time there is a real desire and dedication to figure out this republican puzzle of a stranglehold. It appears to be distilling down to election reform: counting every vote, transparent machines with paper receipts, eliminating the electoral college, etc. I see a lot of top notch organization and creation emerging from this. On top of this, I have had a few ideas of my own...
Get thee to a seminary: I considered applying to a seminary when it dawned on me this voter block was being led like sheep to the slaughter from the pulpit. But I am only one and I doubt I could get 3000 really good actors to join the churches and preach tolerance. So, I say we just make a lot of visits to the seminaries and meet those who will lead the flocks next election during their formative years. Get them where they worship so to speak.
The Real Party: Since we are living in a one party country running one candidate elections it's time for the Real Party. I say we create grassroots coalitions (can you say meet up/ moveon?) that share information and teach in their communities and hold "accountability sessions". Those sessions are the brainchild of Interfaith Ministries which does not run candidates, but invites them to answer important questions in public forums. The candidate can only answer yes or no to the questions (no more words) and must do so in front of a crowd of local, active registered voters. Not showing up is considered to be a bad political move. I say we need more accountability and this is a powerful model. Not to mention we need to gather regularly and build a bigger flock of converts on our own.
Married Gay Baby Killers For Bush and Jesus: Actually I just like the name. But the fantasy vision includes a raucous band of street theatre troupes bringing the absurdity to a theatre near you. Maybe it's just a good CD title. Either way, I like the way it rolls off the tongue. Try it at home.
Get a Hug: I decided what I really need is a four year hug. We all do. So go get one.
So, don't get stuck wallowing in your despair just yet. Save that for when Congress gets back into session after the inaug(barf)uration. You start plotting and examine your commitment for the fight to come. I mean, come on, you can take a punch and come out swinging, right?
It's not like you're a bunch of GIRLY MEN is it?
I thought not. So, chins up, helmets on, it's going to be a long bumpy ride and I want you to come along with me.
Here is Love and she plans between the tears and yelling. |
I have been busy all year registering voters. Largely my job involves sitting at my cluttered desk in my pajamas "pinging" on line communities and talking on the phone to organizers of all sizes and shapes. It's been an amazing adventure and VoterVirgin has helped register more than 100,000 voters nation wide via the internet. Many of you have supported this effort and I am proud to say the experiment has been a great success. When we decided to see what one person on a computer and a few friends could leverage, we had no idea that VoterVirgin would become an internationally recognized voter resource in a year. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to bring VoterVirgin to life this year. All this work at the computer has been a big change for me. By nature I am a people-person, so throughout the year I have made a point of getting out there and engaging voters face to face. From big events like the Bob Marley Fest (where we registered 420 voters in 16 hours)to one on one registration of friends I managed to register about 700 people in my Texas community. It has been amazing to watch since this year registration has involved almost no arm twisting at all. In fact, people are eager to register to vote and dragging their friends along to do the same, a big change from years past. Beyond registration, there is that one more step, getting these voters empowered enough to go to the polls. And that is where the Election Fairy comes in.
VoterVirgin has all sorts of online tools for new voters including our "Everything You Need To Know To Practice Safe Voting" blog and our issues oriented blog (heavily sugar coated for easier digestion). If there is one thing we know for sure, using light hearted humor empowers new voters to ask questions. So when it came time to be sure my local new voters were ready to vote, I decided the least intimidating, most memorable thing I could do was to reach out as the Election Fairy.
Currently, I have red curly hair, which goes well with the bright red cowgirl hat and does not clash with the pink tutu at all. Here in Texas you can wear cowgirl boots with anything, so I do. And yes, I carry a sparkley purple wand because what Fairy in her right mind would not. Thus attired, I hit the streets here in Austin to see what kind of voter magic I could stir up. I visited block parties, AIDS walks, coffee shops, laundromats, playgrounds, and bus stops stopping wherever there seemed to be a crowd of people. The conversations went something like this:
"HI! I'm the Election Fairy!! (*flash* charming smile)"
"Why, hello Election Fairy. What can I do for you today? (trying not to laugh out loud)"
"Why, thank you for asking good citizen. Have you had a chance to vote yet?"
About 30% of people I talked to had already voted. While talking to groups of friends, quite often only one had not yet voted and their peers were not aware of this. Saturday afternoon peers are really good at follow up, and I entrusted them with being sure their friends would go out and vote.
(to those who had not yet voted)"Well, I want to be sure you know you can vote early and that would make the Election Fairy very happy." And then I provide them with a bright purple list of all the times and locations and required id information that anyone could possibly need in order to vote. I did not preach politics, but we all had a twinkle in our eye when we talked about choice. And of course I provided resources for candidate and issue information. The Election Fairy strongly believes i's very important to practice safe voting.
Amazingly enough, the 70% that had not yet voted mostly had just one or two very simple lingering questions they need answered before they felt ready to cast a ballot. Things like "Is my passport a picture id?" and "Do I have to vote for all one party?" It's a week before the election and I'm not sure why they still have these questions, but as soon as they were answered, every single person I talked to said,
"Thank you Election Fairy. Now I am ready to vote."
Turns out nobody wants to disappoint the Election Fairy and that's just fine with me.
Over this past two day weekend I managed to send about 300 people to the polls (we have early voting until 10/29) and every one of them was smiling. Not bad for a red-headed Fairy in Texas.
So, if you are feeling figgety behind your computer and you can't hop in the car and get out to a swing state. Or even if you are in a swings state where the brunt of this campaign has everyone in a super state of grump. I encourage you to take my street tested voter mobilization strategy to the streets. Somewhere within us all is an Election Fairy just waiting to get out. It might even be an Election Superhero or the Election Knight In Shining Armor. There are a multitude of benefits in discovering silliness and combining it with the power of sharing voting information. You will relieve some of your inner stress, instill a smile into the middle of all this partisan bickering, empower those who are intimidated by the process, and when people ask you what you did to get out the vote in 2004 you will have a completely unique story to tell. Maybe take a day off work this week and pass out information downtown during the lunch hour. Go trick or treating and pass out maps to your local polling place.
What this election needs now is a smile. It's yours to give. And to receive. So spread it around and we could all be smiling in no time at all. Every single vote counts, but don't forget the smiles.
You wouldn't want to disappoint the Election Fairy would you?
"Over every single blade of grass is an angel whispering, "grow, grow"" anonymous |
I am sending this out as a heads up to all the lovely progressive thinkers who are struggling right now under the shadow of election coverage. Hey darlin's! There is an electric, majical re-evolution afoot so let's not lose sight of that miracle right now. We need to be focusing our energies on nurturing the positive future so it can continue to grow. The other side would have us buckle under the darkness of their campaign of despair, and I am here to say I see nothing but bright light glimmering and shimmering in defiance of their dismay.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to speak at a public rally. Everyone in the audience was registered to vote aka: the choir. At this point there are a LOT of people in the choir. And it occurred to me that the choir is here to sing. If they had come to be preached at, they would still be sitting in the audience. If even for a moment I can get them to hit a high note, maybe they will feel empowered to get others to sing a long as well. So, instead of listing the heinous crimes of our current elected officials, I spoke about the power of Love. There is only one thing that is going to see us through this election and the transition of power, and that is remembering the people and the reasons we Love. If we Love our children we fight for their future. If we Love the planet we fight for clean air and water. If we Love our neighbors we do not drop bombs on their homes. If we Love each other all the way to the polls we will win back the path that leads to Peace again. We do not have to be afraid to succeed, we need to Love without fear. We need to be leaping in faith.
It was good to hear that choir sing.
In my work, I have met more than a thousand election activists who in turn organize and mobilize hundreds and thousands and millions more around the world. There is just one of me, but I have assisted registering more than 100,000 voters in the past year. There are countless individuals like me with similar success. In fact, if everyone that voted in 2000 took two new voters to the polls we could have near 100% participation. It's that simple and collectively being replicated en masse. People all over the world are reaching out, educating each other, hashing out the issues, carrying signs in the street, launching campaigns, writing letters to the editor, and otherwise being called to participate at a new level. The learning curve is an emotional and technical bitch. Yet, more than a handful of concerned citizens keep plugging away to get the job done. When I look around it's like side of a mountain has been opened exposing millions of glittery gems to the sun. I am blinded by the light.
The BushCo campaign is notorious for their agenda of dismay. Amidst the constant pushing of the fear button, the intimidation and manipulation of the media, the outrageous blatant lies falling from the lips of the GOP, and the reality of our situation at the grassroots level, it is easy to fall prey to dismay. They want it that way. If you believe that nothing will change, then you are suffering from Bushflu. It's a nasty, ugly virus and effects your ability to think clearly. If you think your vote does not matter, or four more years of Bush might teach America a good lesson, or there is no way Kerry will win the election, or the GOP has some kind of superpower to deny democracy, then you may be infected already.
Here is the cure:
Vent: Jump up and down, scream, curl up in a little ball and cry, tap into the outrage and the overwhelming grief and frustration and ham it up until you are done with it. Let it all go in one big fit. I know it's been stewing for a while and it's healthy to let that boil over once in a while.
Accept the Truth: These people in power are assholes and they are not going to change. Your voice and similar opinions are being drowned out by a hysterical minority in the media. It will look like the other side is going to win, even when that is absolutely not true. Accept these truths and then let go.
It does not matter what they do, it's what we do that counts.
Get a Big Hug: Find someone you know or a body pillow or a pet and squeeze them tight for a while. Think about the people and the reasons you Love in the world. Be grateful and draw strength from that Love. Keep in mind, it's not how many times you get down that matter, it's how many times you get back up that counts. Rest a little. Rediscover your smile.
Pick the Smallest Task: Now do one thing. Just one small act for Hope. Register one voter. Invite one person to share a ride to the polls in November. Send $5 to a campaign. Volunteer one hour. Write one letter to the editor. And don't forget to pat yourself on the back, you just added to a gazillion other simple acts of progress in motion.
A few myths I would like to bust:
Neck in Neck Polls: Likely voters are people who have voter 3 times. Pollsters are only allowed to call land lines (not cel phones). So, who is answering their phone to a solicitor? Certainly not any of the hundreds of thousands of new voters that are poised to cast their ballots. Internet polls are easily manipulated by e-activists and thus unreliable. In short, ignore the hype. It's not neck and neck in my neck of the woods, they just want us to think so.
Undecided Voters: I have not seen stats on this, but the (surprisingly) undecided voters I have met are clear on the issues, just not sure they want to participate in the "system". In so many ways we expect our politicians to be corrupt and it is hard for some to add their name to the cause of politics. As consumers, we are not prone to buy a product we expect to suck even if it is the less evil of choices. If you are or know an undecided voter, please figure out what it will take to make it ok for you to participate. This is an imperfect system, but the solution is participation.
Mystical GOP Powers: I cannot go a day without someone mentioning how "they" control this or that. And while the GOP may or may not be pumping Prozac into rallies, I stand here to declare this presumption of power to be nothing but elaborate smoke and mirrors. A tangible point of reference for you: when Laura Bush spoke at the GOP convention, they hung a backdrop of burnished metal that created the illusion of people standing behind her. There was no one there and she stood isolated on the stage. In fact, the entire GOP convention was walled with mirrors to create a bigger than life illusion. Do not fall prey to their visual manipulation. Take a close look at the crowd's faces in the different campaigns. The progressives look far more engaged than we are led to believe.
Kerry Is Lame: As independent, progressive thinkers we tend to pick every thing apart. That's good. We need to be skeptical in order to survive in today's world. However, resorting to cynicism will never change anything. If you love the environment and you think Kerry is lame, you are a cynic. Kerry's record on the environment, education, tax reform, health care, and fiscal responsibility all meet my voter satisfaction needs. His plan for improving health care rocks. Kerry is THE MAN. Go find a reason to Love him and let all your friends know. If you cannot bring yourself to do this, you may be at risk for succumbing to the BushCoflu.
We Would Know If We Were Winning: Do you think anyone in the women's suffragette movement or the many civil rights struggles in history, or the concerned citizen brave enough to speak at the city council meeting ever thinks they are winning in the midst of re-evolution? Not when the media is beholden to sales and government influence. We cannot expect the revolution to be televised, and be grateful in turn that flying below the radar is more fun. There are moments in history that we know are pivotal, but it is silent tiny baby steps that lead up to those moments. If you listen closely you can hear the feet on the ground. Sometimes they are dancing. Winning is something you know in your heart while you play toward the end of the game, not something another person can define or dictate for you.
Chins up all you lovely activists of infinite sizes and shapes. The re-evolution is glimmering and afoot. It's so not about them, it's all about us and we are lovely to behold indeed.
Love sees Hope and she is smiling like the Mona Lisa. |
It's going to be a long hot explosive few months between now and the election, especially down here in the South. I live in Austin, Texas a renowned liberal oasis of sorts in the heart of the wild Southwest. This is a town where a lot of people personally express their political beliefs via the bumpersticker culture of our traffic oriented society. I have seen it all: "Bush: finally, a dope worth shooting", "Liberal media shot on site", "God, Guns, and Bush", and the ever popular "Bush is a Punk Ass Chump". I have seen cars that appeared to be held together merely with the adhesive of their expressions ala bumperstickers. I recently had to make a choice about new stickers for my car. Having the rear end replaced created a tabala rasa just begging to be adorned, but what to say? I did not want to mix up candidates with slogans, it just did not seem fair to associate a public figure with my personal beliefs. In fact, I hesitate to drive with campaign stickers because I don't want my driving to turn off another driver while they are thinking about a candidate. I also did not want to scream with anger, though somewhere in my heart I am very pissed off at the Bushevites. I tried to find a middle ground. And frankly, in this town, I think I hit pretty close to avoiding overtly offensive. I have a simple no W/with the red bar and circle in the center of my back windshield, a www.notbush.com sticker (cuz' I love these guys), and a red white and blue "these colors don't run....the world" (a simple truth). I have received a few thumbs up from passing cars, but the shit really hit the fan in an unexpected way on Tuesday morning.
Here I was at the barely conscious hour of 7 AM behind the wheel of my car with no caffeine and two kids in the back seat just trying to deliver them to school on time so I could my hands on a couple of shots of expresso when I see an older pick up truck aggressively moving toward me from behind. This guy pulls up next to me and starts yelling at the top of his lungs and waving his fist (my windows are down) "you communist bitch. I ought to kick your fucking ass, blah blah blah (not very creative really). Did I mention that I have my two kids in the car? So I yell back, "what the hell do you think you are doing? I've got kids in the car" and says "I don't give a damn about your kids (etc etc)" at which point I dial 911.
So here we are tooling down the road and of course there is no one around and no safe place to peel off the route we are on. Yet somehow, every time I get ahead of him, I get caught by cross traffic and he pulls up next to me yelling the same thing over and over. I finally get 911 on the phone and here is how our conversation went (more or less):
"Can you please send an officer out? I have my kids in the car and this crazy man is yelling and threatening me."
"Well, why is he yelling at you?"
"What? Uh, I don't know. Maybe it's my bumperstickers. can you please send out an officer?"
"Just what do your bumperstickers say?"
"Excuse me?!? What does that have to do with this guy who is yelling at me?"
"What do they say?"
"They are anti-Bush in nature."
"Oh. Well, I can't send out an officer unless you pull over."
"What? I can't pull over. I have the kids in the car and there is a crazy man yelling at me and chasing us around."
"Well, you can file a report later. But if you won't pull over I can't send out an officer."
"No,I can't imagine pulling over."
"Well, you will just have to file a report then later."
I almost told her I was dressed like a slut and asking for it too.
Meanwhile I am having another conversation out my window with the driver of the truck saying things to him like "Want to repeat that for the police? Go ahead, speak up so they can hear you." And finally he peels off and disappears.
That motherfucker followed us yelling for almost a quarter of a mile.
I was pissed.
So, I call back later to the proper authorities and it occurs to me to ask if my name and address will be kept in confidentiality if I file a road rage complaint. The conversation went something like this:
"Your name and address will be public information under the Freedom of Information Act."
"Welllll, I happen to be a big fan of the FOI, but I also have to think about my safety and the safety of my children when it comes down to this totally crazy man that chased us for blocks in his car today. Are you telling me the FOI Act supersedes the rights of a victim of crime to have their identity protected?"
"Why, yes, that is exactly what I am telling you."
"Are you sure there is no way to protect my identity."
"Certainly not."
'And can you tell me who this person is if I give you there licence plate number?"
"I certainly cannot."
"So, what you are telling me is that this crazy man can know who I am, but I would not be told his name and address?"
"Essentially, yes."
Well, essentially they can go jump in a fucking lake. All of them: the guy in the truck who I now fantasize about duct taping to a stool in a gay bar, the 911 dispatcher who ought to be required to read the US Constitution, and the lawmakers that do not protect road rage victims. I almost went out and slathered my car with every offensive sticker I could find, but it never was the point to offend anyone with acerbic wit. I changed my route for one day, but it was another kind of a nightmare and seemed like something Rosa Parks would object to. So I am driving my regular way again, a little nervous and definitely attentive, but clear that I will not cower in the face of hatred and ignorance. A little more on my toes....
You could dismiss this as another story about some redneck trouble in Texas, but you would be wrong. A storm is brewing and the conservatives are getting backed into a corner. That means the dumb asses are going to come out swinging with their eyes closed and they might hit anyone with those wild punches. It's going to get ugly and there is a good chance I won't be the only one left to fend for themselves under the law.
Here is Love and she says let's roll. |
Almost a month ago, the Washington Post ran a story about the IAMB (International Advisory and Monitoring Board for Iraq) audit for the period ending in December 2003. Very underreported, their number one concern is:
"The absence of oil metering. The IAMB recommended in March 2004 the expeditious installation of metering equipment in accordance with standard oil industry practices. Contrary to earlier representations by the CPA, the award of metering contracts has been delayed and it is therefore impossible to ascertain that all oil extraction is properly accounted for."
For those of you who hesitate to drop your jaw, this means that NO ONE HAS BEEN MEASURING THE OIL LEAVING IRAQ since we got there. While the ports have been open and running 24 hours a day since the coalition invaded, ships are being loaded with crude oil and leaving for destinations unknown.
With Halliburton, a leading energy corporation, overseeing the export of oil, one has to wonder why there are no flow meters yet on the port pipelines. Maybe flow meters are out of stock? Maybe Fed Ex lost the package? Yeah, right.
I believe we may be witnessing the largest heist of undocumented crude oil stolen from a war zone in history. And where is this mysterious unaccounted for oil? My guess is that it is sitting in storage tanks across the southern United States.
As our elected officials wrap up their summer vacation and ramp up their campaigning, be sure to give them a call and ask why nobody is accounting for the oil leaving Iraq. You can find your congress members contact info here.
Since the mainstream media seems to be downplaying this issue, please be sure to share the report with all your friends.
Here is Love and she rats out the thieves. |
| » Love Supports Condoms |
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Contrary to the concept of leaving no child behind, the Bush administration is poised to drop funding for HIV prevention and awareness programs that mention condoms. No, really, I shit you not, they want to end funding for anyone promoting condom awareness.
My first instinct is to fly to Washington and wear a condom on my head chanting "science is dead science is dead!" in front of the CDC. Given the elevated terror alert status this might not be the wisest path to take. So, while the CDC is taking public comment on this proposal (until August 16th) you can be sure I will be commenting and encouraging you to comment as well. You can send your comments to HIVComments@cdc.gov
To date less than 1500 people have commented on this life saving issue, so there is an opportunity to tell them what we really think and be heard.
A little background. The Christian Coalition has been trying to eliminate education about condoms. Watch the language closely when you read the Department of Health/ CDC proposal. Notice the subtleties in the language.
They are stressing the Policy Review Panels which are required to include at least one representative from the CDC (who funds these operations).
``education materials * * *
that are specifically designed to address sexually transmitted diseases
* * * shall contain medically accurate information regarding the
effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of condoms in preventing the
sexually transmitted disease the materials are designed to address. This has translated into "abstinence is the only 100% effective way to avoid unwanted pregnancy or disease" in the Texas textbooks. See below for more about what they are stressing instead of condoms.
"I. Basic Principles
Controlling the spread of HIV infection and the occurrence of AIDS
requires the promotion of individual behaviors that eliminate or reduce
the risk of acquiring and spreading the virus. Messages must be
provided to the public that emphasize the ways by which individuals can
protect themselves from acquiring the virus. These methods include
abstinence from illegal use of IV drugs as well as from sexual
intercourse except in a mutually monogamous relationship with an
uninfected partner.
For those individuals who do not or cannot cease risky behavior,
methods of reducing their risk of acquiring or spreading the virus must
also be communicated. Such messages are often controversial." (CDC proposal)
Just so you know, the top 8 ways to stay abstinent in the proposed Texas high school text books include: get plenty of sleep (your resistance is weaker when you don't have enough sleep). Of the proposed four new sex ed text, only one even mentions "barrier protection" and then does not define it as sex with a latex condom. An
I'll get a lot more sleep after November 2nd....
Here is Love and she says 'give the people condoms!'
Aug. 5th, 2004 @ 03:23 pm
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| » Love is NotBush |
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I was recently asked to help out a local Austin organization called notbush.com. Which, despite their radical name is a very conservative site using only mainstream media sources to develop talking points opposing the Bush administration and their policies. They were putting together an ad on a shoestring and asked me to do the voice over as a favor. Originally, the plan was to have a shot of me at the end saying "I am a single mother and citizen of the US and I approve this message" but in light of my very staunchly non-partisan get out the vote work, it seemed inappropriate, so I started thinking about what would be cool....
The upcoming generation, not quite old enough to vote, but wise and compassionate enough to care about the state of the world, is proving to be a powerful force when it comes to motivating others to vote. The founder of Kids for Kerry, 12 year old Ilana Wexler, is a fine example of the leadership and the clear articulate voice this next generation seeks to have heard today in the world. So, I asked notbush to give some of these kids a role in their ad.
With a few specific guidelines we rounded up a some local Austin kids. They had to be old enough to form an independent opinion, but not old enough to vote. They had to have had expressed their opposition to Bush's policies and needed to know why (not just parroting). They needed their parent's permission. And we needed them to review, understand, and approve the ad before they could participate in it. They did, and notbush shot the new ending to their ad. You can view it here.
The national press release goes out on Monday, but I thought you might enjoy this sneak peek. Please let us know what you think.
Here is Love and she is notbush.
Aug. 1st, 2004 @ 06:23 pm
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| » Love In Crawford |
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It's been a wild week with lots of unexpected opportunities, but who thought I would find myself in Crawford,Texas on Wednesday night watching Fahrenheit 9/11 in the football field parking lot with 5000 people?
A few weeks ago, a Waco columnist wrote an editorial about how no one in Waco was showing Michael Moore's new movie, so Moore offered to show the movie once for free in the area. Very quickly the Waco tribune washed their hands of the offer, but passed on Moore to the Dallas Peace House, a group that has a residence in Crawford, and a movie night was born! Moore said he would leave the DNC and attend the event, but later backed out not wanting to bias the audience. Moore publicly invited President Bush to attend, since he was on vacation on the nearby ranch anyway, but Bush made no public response. Coordinators were very careful to be sure that attendees , no matter what their motivation for attending, would be walking into unfriendly territory. And sure enough, the (other) locals called for a pro-Bush rally on the streets to coincide with the viewing and managed to produce about 200 passionate, sign waving, car honking protesters.
On our way into Crawford, on the two lane farm to market road, we knew we had arrived when we could see the flashing lights on top of the police cars flanking the road. Nothing says welcome to our little Texas town like flashing police cars on either side of the road. Now, Crawford is a little town, about 20 square blocks off a main intersection and we noticed quickly that every side street was lined with parked cars.
A little nervous since we did not know our way around, we parked and began to flow with the crowd, landing us right in the middle of the pro-Bush rally. I must admit, I was a little intimidated (not a normal reaction in me) and intentionally avoided eye contact as well as any sort of body language that could be construed as aggressive. In one way, the pro-Bush rallierers were lively, passionate, American citizens exercising their right to assemble. In another way, they were seething and angry and raging at the invasion of their town. You never know what is going to happen in a small Texas town as the sun is falling. A few trucks came past as we walked the road and it made me think of things like James Byrd. The thing I would stop if it was in my power is the name calling (on both sides). It's some nasty business and it is also the lowest form of ending a dialogue. I can't count the number of times I heard the word dumbass as we walked through the crowd and past retreating protesters.
My companion, a fine young gay man, who had never been to rural Texas after dark, began to sing softly as we walked. He struck up (and I joined in)
Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...
Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...
Imagine no possesions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say Im a dreamer,
but Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one. (thank you John Lennon)
and we whistled in the dark on the way to see 9/11.
Event organizers expected 1000 people, but 5000 people showed up from all over the state to come and see the movie. A dozen media trucks sent up live shots and nabbed moviegowers looking for sound bytes to broadcast back home. Worried about the noise ordinance (and with good cause) the volume was set at low, but everyone was minding their manners and sat quietly to watch. At first, the Bush supporters who had lingered, cheered everytime George's face appeared on screen. As the movie progressed, the cheering faded and finally it must have seemed inappropriate given the clips in the movie, and the cheering stopped altogether. The vast majority of the 5000 seemed to be absorbing the film and the information with a few laughs here and there, but no overt hooting and hollering ensued. The one viewer to yell "LIAR" in complete frustration with Bush yelled at a fitting moment and left it at that. Sherrifs with dogs circled the crowd, but a few of them ended up standing at ease and watching the show. There were no arrests.
And while Bush did not officially show up, I must wonder about the two Suburbans parked in the back that chose to leave halfway through which involved a lot of sheriff supervised turning around in the crowd and parting of the human sea to leave. One black, one white, the two Suburbans had been parked tail to the screen with tinted windows up the entire time. It was when the script showed 2001 news clips of the administration saying that Saddam Hussein was not a threat in any way to the US, that the Suburbans disappeared into the night. I know Condi was in town. I know Bush was in town. Did they sneak over for a peek at the show? Maybe it was just ironic happenstance, but all the local Bush supporters left after the Suburbans split and we all know the locals know what Bush drives around town....
The movie ended a little after 11PM. There was not a single piece of trash left behind by the crowd. Quietly returning to our cars, walking through residential neighborhoods and avoiding stepping on the lawns, as a group, the attendees did everything possible to respect the neighborhood and not create a disturbance. You have never seen a more polite merging of cars to get back on the two lane highway headed out of town. Every single car was driving the speed limit. There was no honking at all. 30 minutes after the film ended, it was nothing but a trail of tail lights in the darkness on the freeway.
That is, except for the storm building just to the north of town. Toward the end of the movie, I began to worry that we would all get rained on. The clouds were building impossibly tall and flashes of green and blue lightning flickered in the distance. The moisture hung in the air and that tension right before a storm began to grow in the air. Just as the last taillights began to disappear, there was an enormous flash of lightning filling the sky and striking north of town (I am pretty sure Bush's ranch is north of town) with a clap of thunder that shook every window in Crawford. It was the perfect curtain closing. I have to wonder if some giant old tree on the ranch was not split in two.
Even on the way home, we continued to run into people who had come from the show. At the nearest open gas station, there was a flurry of bathroom runs and coffee chugging amid "what did you think" conversations and a host of not to happy looking local police who seemed to know just where we came from.
All in all, it was an extraordinary, calm, experience. Hats off to my fellow hot heads that stuck to the high road and showed respect for the venue. Thanks to Michael Moore for sending the film. Thanks to the Crawford Peace House and the Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow crew for making the event possible. And thanks to the pro-Bush protesters for not letting the air out of all our tires.
Here is Love and she was there in Crawford when......
Jul. 30th, 2004 @ 12:26 am
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| » Love and the Playing Possum |
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It's been a while since I have posted, but it's time to broach the subject of the apparently "wounded" Bush and his strategy for being re-elected. You see, Karl Rove and the GOP strategists are very good at what they do so we have to be sure everyone is familiar with some of their more potent maneuvers.
While die hard right wing neoconservatives are galvanized behind the man who says "God speaks through me" and promises to protect America from gay marriage, the middle and left leaning anti-Bush movement run the risk of becoming complacent. This is an election where literally every single vote will make a difference. The anti-Bush coalition has tremendous momentum, but we face a tremendous task and our work is far from done. The GOP has daily "talking points" and a message that is resounded by every Republican in any venue they can gain. No matter if the point of the day is a lie or a distortion or blatant slander and name calling, we are bound to hear that message hammered often enough and from a variety of mouths until our subconscious is likely to wonder "could this be true?". A lie repeated often enough takes a whole lot of will power to resist. Some of us are entrenched in that resistance, but most Americans are still wondering if BushCo. could be telling the truth. Those on the fence are professionally inundated and subject to extreme psychological warfare. The right is empowered by the mindless repetition of what they want to believe. We are battling the largest systemic brainwashing of a nation this generation has seen.
Now Bush has resorted to an old trick of his: playing possum in the eyes of is opponents. Two weeks before Ann Richards lost to W, no one thought he had a snowballs chance of winning in Texas. It seemed like a shoe in for the much beloved and eloquent Ann. Bush was taking a beating and he appeared wounded. What Ann supporters underestimated was how Republicans react to a wounded candidate. They grimly rally around the poor boy taking a beating and show their love by stoically voting for him. I personally knew activists for Ann that were so sure Bush could NOT win, they forgot to get out and vote. As far as I know, they are still flogging themselves for underestimating Bush. But really, even those of us who did go vote never imagined Ann needed our vote so desperately (she lost by a mere 300,000 votes). Al Franken noted that it was good for him to get tongue lashed and attacked for "Lies and the Lying Liars That Tell Them". He said, every time some talk show radio host took a swing in his direction (or connected with a brutal body blow), more people bought his book and he gained more sympathy from the public. In Texas, this is known as standing like David against Goliath and Bush loves to play David every chance he gets. As we gain momentum to bring him down, we look more and more like Goliath and frankly, no one roots for Goliath and wins.
So, since we do not have daily scripted talking points and the ease of our momentum can easily result in election day complacency, we need a counter strategy that will work. Here is what I suggest: A> find the people still on the fence and offer them all the Love and information they can handle. B> be sure every single person you know is registered to vote and gets their butts out to do it.
Why Love you may ask. Well, it's the only thing that can stand up to GOP groupthink. Love is the opposite of fear and the GOP wants us to be afraid of EVERYTHING. Bush is the quintessential authoritative father figure saying "I'll protect you from the bogeyman, just do not question my authority". And out of fear, a large number of Americans (and Tony Blair) are more comfortable following him than asking questions. We must offer up the voice of a nurturing parent as counterbalance and that means lots of LOVE. This means stepping aside from our anger (which is justified, just not worth getting stuck in) and remembering how to embrace and empower citizens stuck in limbo and uncertain of what to do. Trust me, there are a lot of people would rather not decide who should run this country and Bush's rhetoric and our righteous indignation will not convince them otherwise. Imagine how disarmed these fence sitters are after being marketed and tugged incessantly when someone approaches them with a loving smile and and an opportunity to register to vote with no party pressure or preaching. Imagine how empowered these voters in limbo would feel if they were allowed to ask questions or discuss issues of concern without being answered by preaching. Love them. Show those who are not yet engaged a lot of respect. It's the most powerful tool we have in the face of the GOP machine. And we are going to need a lot of powerful tools to ensure a landslide defeat of the Bush machine.
So, tomorrow when you go to work, or over dinner with a friend, think about loving one person (or 50) you know all the way to the polls. Choose that bright eyed, quiet, thoughtful beauty that smiles like the Mona Lisa when the discussion turns to politics. Or playfully engage that person exuberant loudmouth that outspokenly shuns voting in a challenge to cast a ballot. I have never met an American without an opinion, and yet I constantly meet qualified citizens that do not vote. I say we liberals and progressives and independents can do something the right wing is incapable of, we can genuinely reach out and empower others with Love.
Leave the fear to the Republicans. Let the anger go. Mobilize your greatest asset and multiply the momentum toward a much happier future for our country. Love your neighbor and your co-worker and your cousin and any other citizen you can reach. Have hope for the little things, the individual vote, the smile, the heartfelt moment.
Here is Love and she calls you out.
A wheelbarrow full of pebbles carries just as much weight as a wheelbarrow filled with a giant boulder
Jul. 21st, 2004 @ 12:42 am
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| » Straying From Love |
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Ok, so I thought I could maintain a regular correspondence of current issues and the people who need more Love in their lives, but it has proven to be much more challenging than I imagined. Sending this administration Love is probably always a good idea (whatever it will take to get them to humbly admit the truth about their lies and agenda) but I cannot sustain it.
So I digress and sometimes there will be a call for Love, and Love IS still the most powerful force in the universe, but the format of this blog is changing....
In the past few weeks we have seen former President Reagan's flag draped casket jettisoned around the country in a final act of the scripted facade he is famous for. It looks bad to criticize a dead man, so I won't. But I will make note of the grief many Republicans expressed reminiscing about Ronnie's tenure and weeping in comparison to the embarrassment Bush has brought to the White House. I say, let them grieve in peace. It is a big dream they are letting go of.
Kerry's campaign honored Reagan by actually staying off the campaign trail for the official week of mourning (unlike Bush). They continue to release information and announcements about Kerry's plans for America when he is elected. These platforms continue to be ignored by the general press and the average American would have to hunt for coverage of Kerry's vision for the future in the mainstream media. Among announcements made over the last month, Kerry outlined a plan to raise the minimum wage to $7/hr over three years, create 10 million jobs, and rebuild our roads and infastructure. Let's face it, the only way you are going to hear what Kerry is proposing is to visit his web site and read it for your self. The press would rather cover murder trials and candidates' divorce revelations than the future of our country. It's up to you to stay informed. http://www.johnkerry.com/
The BushCo machine released hundreds of memos outlining how they conspired to avoid war crimes prosecution while still using torture. Don't forget, this is the team that loves to redefine words to meet their needs. It's not torture, it's firm interrogation. WHATEVER! Why are these people not reeling from a congressional impeachment yet I just don't know.
The Irish would have kicked Bush's ass in the local pub if he had the gall to show up on his visit. He hid inside a castle instead and was shielded form having to see the hundreds of thousands of Irish protesters. There was a tantalizing interview of the P-rez on Irish TV. You can viw it here. I would swear he looks like he is going to hit the female reporter. And then to top it all off, the Irish press catches Bush changing clothes and the tape is released. Has he taken to flashing his ass to get some sympathy from the world. Ewwww. Let's hope not.
There's more to come. I'll catch up soon. I am going to be in People magazine. I need your help getting VoterVirgin RAKs out and in the hands of those who will use this tool most effectively. I'm in a book by Jane Eisner. I may have finally learned how to levitate (not really). Life is good, the world is crazy, and GeorgieCo. has got to be taken from power.
Here Is Love and she is catching up.
Jun. 27th, 2004 @ 01:22 pm
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