"Let's allow our unions and their organizers to lift up the middle class of this country. We can do that!"
Only a former organizer would say that.
"Let's be the generation that.... We can do that."
And he's right. It's just a question of will. Well, that and getting even tougher on those will fight a working consensus under any circumstances. But he understands that. He knows you sometimes need to roll the bad guys to get them to the table.
"No amount of American lives can solve the political disagreement at the heart of someone else's civil war."
Absolutely. So unfortunate that the invasion imperialists keep parroting that we need more and more troops to force the world to be different.
"And the lobbyists and special interests move in and the people turn away."
"That's why this campaign must be about us."
"This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship."
Well, he ought to say that every citizen should become a lobbyist. Engage in governing. Don't just expect it to happen without actively asking our legislators to do the right thing.
"I want to win that next battle! And if you will join with me on this improbable quest, if you hear destiny calling, if you see as I do endless possibilities, work with me to ... usher in a new burst of freedom on this earth! Let's get to work!"
I'd suggest he start calling on people to join battles in the U.S. Senate this week.
Campaigning only makes sense in the context of influencing government. And he can draw a stronger connection between the two to explain the higher purpose of the campaign. Right now, the anti-lobbyist theme was a bit off (in my view, as a progressive lobbyist). Organizers are ultimately lobbyists too, but they represent the public interest instead of a special interest.
This is going to be an exciting year. Invest your dollars and your hours in the campaign -- and if you'd like to do it directly through my page on the campaign website, you can do so here.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
More live blogging on Barack Obama's presidential announcement speech
Some of the problem we face:
"The smallness of our politics. Our chronic avoidance of tough decision."
And we are not "building a working consensus to tackle the big problems of America."
That's right. The people in charge for the last six years have not been interested in that. But we have been doing that in Illinois and Barack was a big part of that working consensus.
Ouch -- a knock on lobbyists. We need to take that word back from "the special interests". Because what's an active citizen engaged in government but a lobbyist? Paid or unpaid, that's what we need more of us -- hundreds of thousands of lobbyists.
"They get the access while you get to write a letter."
"We're here to take back our government. It's time to turn the page, right here and right now."
"The smallness of our politics. Our chronic avoidance of tough decision."
And we are not "building a working consensus to tackle the big problems of America."
That's right. The people in charge for the last six years have not been interested in that. But we have been doing that in Illinois and Barack was a big part of that working consensus.
Ouch -- a knock on lobbyists. We need to take that word back from "the special interests". Because what's an active citizen engaged in government but a lobbyist? Paid or unpaid, that's what we need more of us -- hundreds of thousands of lobbyists.
"They get the access while you get to write a letter."
"We're here to take back our government. It's time to turn the page, right here and right now."
Barack Obama's speech begins -- live blogging
And they play U2 to start. That's a nice touch.
Man, it must be freezing.
"I know it's chilly. But I'm fired up!"
That's a nice nod to SEIU.
"Building that more perfect union"
A nice nod to Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.
I've written about this before, but just imagine the pastor or priest on the Southeast Side 20 years ago who received a letter from a Columbia University senior with a funny name asking for a job as a community organizer. And could that person, in a devastated neighborhood, ever imagine that by choosing that person, and not someone else, he set a course of history in motion that led to a presidential campaign.
"Our cherished rights of liberty and equality depend on the active participation of an awakened electorate."
Right on.
"It was here in Springfield that I saw all that is America converge."
This is so Barack! After his applause line kicking off his campaign, he says "wait a minute, I know there's an audacity to this" to settle people down! Always thoughtful.
Man, it must be freezing.
"I know it's chilly. But I'm fired up!"
That's a nice nod to SEIU.
"Building that more perfect union"
A nice nod to Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.
I've written about this before, but just imagine the pastor or priest on the Southeast Side 20 years ago who received a letter from a Columbia University senior with a funny name asking for a job as a community organizer. And could that person, in a devastated neighborhood, ever imagine that by choosing that person, and not someone else, he set a course of history in motion that led to a presidential campaign.
"Our cherished rights of liberty and equality depend on the active participation of an awakened electorate."
Right on.
"It was here in Springfield that I saw all that is America converge."
This is so Barack! After his applause line kicking off his campaign, he says "wait a minute, I know there's an audacity to this" to settle people down! Always thoughtful.
Springfield is packed, Obama's running; his campaign website is live
This is a very exciting day.
Just as the Texas Republicans put together the movement and momentum to run the country for half a decade, Illinois Democrats are putting it together to do the same.
It's fantastic.
Obama's website is up: www.BarackObama.com and I've set up a blog there as well here.
Sign up with his campaign today.
This is a fantastic opportunity to engage more of us in governing and campaigning -- and that's the best way we get better public policies that make life better for all of us.
Just as the Texas Republicans put together the movement and momentum to run the country for half a decade, Illinois Democrats are putting it together to do the same.
It's fantastic.
Obama's website is up: www.BarackObama.com and I've set up a blog there as well here.
Sign up with his campaign today.
This is a fantastic opportunity to engage more of us in governing and campaigning -- and that's the best way we get better public policies that make life better for all of us.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Barack Obama is the most successful draft campaign in recent memory
There have been a lot of campaigns to draft a candidate to run for the presidency. Colin Powell is the most vivid example. These are efforts that are driven by anyone else besides the candidate. Almost all of them are unsuccessful.
The hundreds of thousands of people who convinced Barack Obama to run for the presidency over the last year or so have pulled off the most successful draft campaign in recent memory.
What other presidential candidate includes the statement "I didn't expect to be here one year ago" as Barack did when he released his exploratory statement a month ago? No one! Who else wonders what role a presidential campaign might play in changing our political culture? Only a candidate who was drafted.
Usually it's the candidate's ambition and drive that is at the center of a presidential campaign -- or any other big campaign. But not this time.
I think it's extraordinary. I've never seen anyone else get drafted to run.
Don't get me wrong: at this point, I'm sure Senator Obama is fully invested in the campaign. And he was certainly the driving force behind all of his previous runs for office (as he disarmingly writes in his book). But a year ago -- and certainly two years ago when most candidates were already working on their campaigns (see Hillary or John Edwards or John McCain or Rudy Giuliani or just about every other candidate), I am absolutely convinced that Barack never seriously entertained the thought of running for president. And other people drafted him to do it.
Very, very cool. It means that he resonates with people. And when people look at him and see a President -- a level-headed, honest, progressive, pragmatic, candid, consensus-building President who appeals to our higher instincts -- it's something unique. That's more important to voters than having been working in Washington, D.C. for years and years. The skills he learned in the Illinois General Assembly to build a consensus for progressive public policies are among the most important any leader can employ. Especially after two terms of the rash, stubborn and arrogant approach from the Bush Administration, I sense voters are hungry for the type of consensus-building leadership that Barack brings. And that's the experience -- forged in Springfield -- that is far more important than having spent years hanging around in D.C.
This is going to be a great year.
The hundreds of thousands of people who convinced Barack Obama to run for the presidency over the last year or so have pulled off the most successful draft campaign in recent memory.
What other presidential candidate includes the statement "I didn't expect to be here one year ago" as Barack did when he released his exploratory statement a month ago? No one! Who else wonders what role a presidential campaign might play in changing our political culture? Only a candidate who was drafted.
Usually it's the candidate's ambition and drive that is at the center of a presidential campaign -- or any other big campaign. But not this time.
I think it's extraordinary. I've never seen anyone else get drafted to run.
Don't get me wrong: at this point, I'm sure Senator Obama is fully invested in the campaign. And he was certainly the driving force behind all of his previous runs for office (as he disarmingly writes in his book). But a year ago -- and certainly two years ago when most candidates were already working on their campaigns (see Hillary or John Edwards or John McCain or Rudy Giuliani or just about every other candidate), I am absolutely convinced that Barack never seriously entertained the thought of running for president. And other people drafted him to do it.
Very, very cool. It means that he resonates with people. And when people look at him and see a President -- a level-headed, honest, progressive, pragmatic, candid, consensus-building President who appeals to our higher instincts -- it's something unique. That's more important to voters than having been working in Washington, D.C. for years and years. The skills he learned in the Illinois General Assembly to build a consensus for progressive public policies are among the most important any leader can employ. Especially after two terms of the rash, stubborn and arrogant approach from the Bush Administration, I sense voters are hungry for the type of consensus-building leadership that Barack brings. And that's the experience -- forged in Springfield -- that is far more important than having spent years hanging around in D.C.
This is going to be a great year.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Museum of Broadcast Communications, for radio and TV history fans, needs a funding surge
The Museum of Broadcast Communications is going to be another jewel for the region. Right now it's under construction, and when it's complete, this will be a top-10 destination for tourists, helping to stimulate our regional economy.
However, as Eric Zorn writes today, it needs a funding surge to make sure it gets completed.
The State of Illinois should pony up for this project (just as many museums and, for that matter, sports teams, get public funding), and if you haven't seen the Museum's online shop, check it out, particularly if you're a fan of TV and radio history. You can also donate to the Museum.
Full disclosure: I'm an unpaid guest on Bruce DuMont's Beyond the Beltway program every now and again; Bruce is the CEO of the Museum.
However, as Eric Zorn writes today, it needs a funding surge to make sure it gets completed.
The State of Illinois should pony up for this project (just as many museums and, for that matter, sports teams, get public funding), and if you haven't seen the Museum's online shop, check it out, particularly if you're a fan of TV and radio history. You can also donate to the Museum.
Full disclosure: I'm an unpaid guest on Bruce DuMont's Beyond the Beltway program every now and again; Bruce is the CEO of the Museum.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
The Trib joins the 5% (or so) income tax push for "smarter" education
Today the Tribune's editorial board starts calling for a 5% (or so) state income tax to invest a good chunk of the 2 or 3 billion in new revenue into K-12 education.
One particularly nice part of the editorial is the call for voters and legislators to consider the investment in the entire state, and not just how they would come out under any change.
This is a welcome change, as the last time a shift towards statewide funding of education got some traction (SB 755 was voted out of committee in 2006), the Trib ran a front-page story detailing exactly how each school district would make out, comparing the income tax increases the taxpayers would pay (while not noting the federal offset) versus the likely increase in school district revenues. That was a particularly chilly day at the Statehouse and the Trib's hostility was one reason no other Senate Republicans jumped on board the bill. Hopefully the editorial board will sway the news editors a bit this time.
Leadership in 2007 on investing in education is going to be far more decentralized than in previous years. The Governor has boxed himself out of much discussion of the income tax hike that's necessary for statewide funding for education with his needless campaign pledge not to raise the income or sales tax. President Jones has shown every indication that he intends the Senate to take the lead on crafting a smart solution, even prominently quoting the state constitutional provision that reads "The State shall have the primary responsibility in funding education" in his inaugural program. House Democrats were the last chamber that voted for an income tax increase for education, not to mention the almost dozen House Republicans who voted for the income tax increase in the last 90s without one losing a re-election contest on the issue.
And ultimately, the will for an income tax increase for smarter education will come (or not) from us: citizens who tell our legislators that, if they can hire excellent teachers for Illinois kids, we're willing to pay a 5% (or so) income tax.
One particularly nice part of the editorial is the call for voters and legislators to consider the investment in the entire state, and not just how they would come out under any change.
There is a corrosive habit of citizens, and their politicians, to weight only what a different funding scheme would mean for their communities.This echoes of Obama. I recall one of the themes of his Senate campaign: "When a grandmother on the South Side has to choose between her food and her medicine, I am poorer for it. When a child can't breathe at night because of asthma, I am sicker for it. It is the belief that I am my brother's keeper."
Illinois needs to outgrow this penchant for school financing that can't look beyond economic self-interest. There are plenty of reasons for Effingham taxpayers to care about Hinsdale school children, for Hinsdale taxpayers to care about Harvey school children, for Harvey taxpayers to care about Effingham students. We've just never acknowledged as a state that the future economic health, workforce and leadership of Illinois depend on better educating all of our children. And yes, all children can learn.
This is a welcome change, as the last time a shift towards statewide funding of education got some traction (SB 755 was voted out of committee in 2006), the Trib ran a front-page story detailing exactly how each school district would make out, comparing the income tax increases the taxpayers would pay (while not noting the federal offset) versus the likely increase in school district revenues. That was a particularly chilly day at the Statehouse and the Trib's hostility was one reason no other Senate Republicans jumped on board the bill. Hopefully the editorial board will sway the news editors a bit this time.
Leadership in 2007 on investing in education is going to be far more decentralized than in previous years. The Governor has boxed himself out of much discussion of the income tax hike that's necessary for statewide funding for education with his needless campaign pledge not to raise the income or sales tax. President Jones has shown every indication that he intends the Senate to take the lead on crafting a smart solution, even prominently quoting the state constitutional provision that reads "The State shall have the primary responsibility in funding education" in his inaugural program. House Democrats were the last chamber that voted for an income tax increase for education, not to mention the almost dozen House Republicans who voted for the income tax increase in the last 90s without one losing a re-election contest on the issue.
And ultimately, the will for an income tax increase for smarter education will come (or not) from us: citizens who tell our legislators that, if they can hire excellent teachers for Illinois kids, we're willing to pay a 5% (or so) income tax.
The End of Murder?
Los Angeles Weekly has a great cover story on murder, but unfortunately only compares LA to New York. I'd like to learn more about murder-reduction (or, dare we dream, murder-elimination) strategies.
The two things that seem to make the most sense to me in reducing crime are more police officers and more cameras in high-crime areas. Cheaper education programs, like Big Brothers, that help to raise children away from becoming criminals, also seem like smart investments.
The cost of violent crime is so high and so difficult to compute. The LA Weekly article cites at least $1,000,000 per homicide to the LA city government in police work, legal-system costs and lost business activity. As I recall from law school, juries in civil cases tend to value a life at between 3 and 6 million dollars when measuring compensation. And how do you measure the emotional impact of losing mother or son or friend to homicide?
If anyone knows how Illinois rates relative to the other 49 on crime-prevention strategies, I'd be very interested to learn from you.
The two things that seem to make the most sense to me in reducing crime are more police officers and more cameras in high-crime areas. Cheaper education programs, like Big Brothers, that help to raise children away from becoming criminals, also seem like smart investments.
The cost of violent crime is so high and so difficult to compute. The LA Weekly article cites at least $1,000,000 per homicide to the LA city government in police work, legal-system costs and lost business activity. As I recall from law school, juries in civil cases tend to value a life at between 3 and 6 million dollars when measuring compensation. And how do you measure the emotional impact of losing mother or son or friend to homicide?
If anyone knows how Illinois rates relative to the other 49 on crime-prevention strategies, I'd be very interested to learn from you.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Ba-Rocket takes off for Obama 08
Heeding the call of hundreds of thousands, Senator Barack Obama changed his game and announced his run for the presidency.
I had thought he wouldn't run, and that bold prediction clearly didn't pan out. I know owe Eric Zorn a dinner, as he was the first pundit in the world to predict an Obama presidential campaign (in January 2005!) and I like to think I was the first blogger who disagreed with him.
On bold predictions, I'm shooting 50%. I was the only pundit or blogger to predict an Illinois Senate super-majority for the Democrats in October.....yes, let me hold on to something....
Anyway, this is going to be fantastic. A presidential campaign that kicks off in Springfield and ends in Chicago from a community organizer who pushes for progressive policy and makes Republican leaners feel good about it....it's great.
And one other thing: the man has had 8 years as a state legislator, crafting and passing scores of bills that improved our standard of living. If that's not experience, then what is? I've got a much longer post coming on the so-called lack of experience of Senator Barack Obama....
I had thought he wouldn't run, and that bold prediction clearly didn't pan out. I know owe Eric Zorn a dinner, as he was the first pundit in the world to predict an Obama presidential campaign (in January 2005!) and I like to think I was the first blogger who disagreed with him.
On bold predictions, I'm shooting 50%. I was the only pundit or blogger to predict an Illinois Senate super-majority for the Democrats in October.....yes, let me hold on to something....
Anyway, this is going to be fantastic. A presidential campaign that kicks off in Springfield and ends in Chicago from a community organizer who pushes for progressive policy and makes Republican leaners feel good about it....it's great.
And one other thing: the man has had 8 years as a state legislator, crafting and passing scores of bills that improved our standard of living. If that's not experience, then what is? I've got a much longer post coming on the so-called lack of experience of Senator Barack Obama....
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Senator John Cullerton pushes for statewide smoking ban earlier than Chicago's schedule
Thank goodness! Senator John Cullerton has introduced SB 500 (not yet online) that would ban smoking throughout Illinois on January 1, 2008 -- a good six months before Chicago's scheduled ban in July of 2008.
There's a big coalition called Smoke Free Illinois that is supporting the ban. I'm sure they would like your help in lobbying for passage of SB 500, so check them out and call your legislator. I think they win the prize for generating the most attention for a specific legislative proposal in the first week of the 95th General Assembly, but the bars and restaurants have a lot of clout, so this will be a fight.
Our Chicago smoking ban is rather ridiculous -- a 30 month (!) time period until implementation and a bizarre provision that permits bar owners to install ventilation systems and still allow smoking if the system generates air quality equal to the air quality outside. Those provisions do not exist in SB 500, creating yet another reason to pass the bill. It was fantastic to be in Springfield during veto session and this week and enjoy smoke-free bars and restaurants. And it's disgusting to still smell like an ash tray after going out in Chicago.
Congratulations to Senator Cullerton and Smoke Free Illinois for taking the initiative on good legislation.
There's a big coalition called Smoke Free Illinois that is supporting the ban. I'm sure they would like your help in lobbying for passage of SB 500, so check them out and call your legislator. I think they win the prize for generating the most attention for a specific legislative proposal in the first week of the 95th General Assembly, but the bars and restaurants have a lot of clout, so this will be a fight.
Our Chicago smoking ban is rather ridiculous -- a 30 month (!) time period until implementation and a bizarre provision that permits bar owners to install ventilation systems and still allow smoking if the system generates air quality equal to the air quality outside. Those provisions do not exist in SB 500, creating yet another reason to pass the bill. It was fantastic to be in Springfield during veto session and this week and enjoy smoke-free bars and restaurants. And it's disgusting to still smell like an ash tray after going out in Chicago.
Congratulations to Senator Cullerton and Smoke Free Illinois for taking the initiative on good legislation.
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