archived: 10 - 16 Apr, 2005 Back Next
“FIRST THEY CAME FOR BOB …….”
Recalling how Hitler installed fascism in Germany, Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote the epic lines:
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a
Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not
a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for
me._____
Democrats looking for daily examples of the fallout from the war on terrorism can cite the case of Bob Pyle. Bob is apparently an eccentric citizen who published his own newsletter, lampooning people and events in his hometown.
Bob expanded his scope to include a spoof of Bush’s inauguration by Muslims. The content of the parody:
"Some Muslim thoughts on the recent Bush Inauguration, translated from the Arabic by the State Department."
Here, Bob had written some fake Arabic characters, and then next to them, the "translations," such as, "We are overjoyed that President Bush never changes his mind! What joy to have Christianity finally spread to the Muslim World!" and "What a lovely inauguration! I especially admired the Bush twins' fetching lilac and mauve ensemble by Oscar de Laurenta." The third item read, "Kill Bush! Bastard!" and the translation, "The precious wellspring of democracy is a fountain we are eager to sip from. Thank you, Americans!" -- Takoma Voice
Bob chose his local Kinko’s to copy his newsletter for distribution. A Kinko manager reported Bob to local police who arrived on the scene and they, in turn, summoned the FBI. Bob was held for four hours, questioned and then released.
That is not the end of the story, however:
The following week, the police stopped him again as he photocopied the second issue of the News (which bore the headline, "Muslims Demand New U.S. President!"), but this time, they only questioned him for an hour, and one of the officers looked at some old issues of the Rag, which Bob had on him, and declared that it was "pretty funny stuff." -- Takoma Voice
Bush’s new America? Copy at Kinko’s anyone?
STANDING UP
Some Congressional Democrats are standing up to the Republicans as this news story demonstrates:
President Bush's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration is being blocked from Senate confirmation by two Democrats who said Wednesday that they would hold up a vote until the agency settled the long-delayed question of whether an emergency contraceptive could be sold over the counter.
The Democrats, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Patty Murray of Washington, met with the nominee, Dr. Lester M. Crawford, on Wednesday to discuss what they regard as foot-dragging on the issue of the so-called morning-after pill. An expert panel of scientists recommended over-the-counter sales in December 2003, but the agency has yet to issue a final ruling.
"I'm prepared to hold it for as long as it takes to get a decision made," Mrs. Clinton said. She added, "From everything we're able to determine, the agency has substituted politics and ideology for science and facts." – New York Times
A broad range of Democrats should be selectively exercising their authority to hold Republicans accountable on salient issues. TPJ kudos to Senators Clinton and Murray.
NDN
Simon Rosenberg is President of NDN. He ran an impressive, if unsuccessful campaign for Chairman of the National Democratic Party.
Rosenberg is formulating a progressive blueprint for NDN that progressive Democrats can emulate at virtually every level of the Party. Here is his plan:
1. Stepping up our advocacy for a better agenda for the nation. Last year,our community became known for two powerful, effective television/multimedia issue advocacy campaigns that ran in English and Spanish in 11 different states. These campaigns successfully promoted a progressive "brand" based on NDN's Agenda for the First Decade of the 21st century, A Commitment to Hope and Progress.
In the next two years NDN will be building on our community's success in using modern media and arguments to help lead the America towards a brighter tomorrow. Already, we are working closely with the main progressive coalition – Americans United to Protect Social Security – to defeat the President's reckless Social Security plan. Clinton Administration veteran Robert Shapiro and I published an economic strategy memo that suggests some next steps in the raging economic and fiscal debate that we are marketing to progressive leaders across the country. Earlier this year I wrote a well-received response to Peter Beinart's New Republic piece about the progressive approach to national security.
Two of our ongoing and influential research projects, the Hispanic Project and the New Majority Coalition Project, will be releasing their first "message memos" later this quarter. General Wesley Clark will be addressing NDN members about America's role in the world in both Los Angeles and New York later this month.
To keep track of our work daily, you can visit our blog at www.ndnblog.org. And of course there will be much more.
2. Investing in emerging leaders. A hallmark of our community's work for many years, NDN and its affiliates, the NDN Political Fund and NDNPAC, will expand our investment in and support of progressive candidates, political entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, and private sector leaders critical to our future success.
Enhanced emphasis will be made in nurturing exciting, emerging elected leaders under the age of 45, while working to develop the next generation of progressive private sector investors through the growth of our "Network" project to additional markets across the country.
3. Launching the New Politics Institute – A Think Tank for Progressive Politics. Powerful 21st century trends are changing our politics, creating a new 21st century political battlefield. The rise of the conservative movement is challenging our progressive infrastructure as never before. The Internet and other modern media are fundamentally altering the way we talk to one another. The country itself is changing, becoming more Hispanic, more Southern and Western, less unionized, and more wired.&n
The New Politics Institute, a project of NDN, will assemble some of the finest minds in progressive politics, non-profits, and the private sector to think about these long-term trends and help us master, fund, and incubate new strategies, technologies, and techniques appropriate to the rapidly changing battlefield of 21st century politics.
All of this may sound bold and ambitious, and it may be. To me, it is just what needs to get done.
If accomplished, this is a formula for success. TPJ readers are encouraged to visit an consider joining NDN, just follow this hyperlink: NDN
Last Update: 03/23/2006