Be the Power

Relax. Then get back to work.

2010-01-22T05:20:06Z

Earlier today, a friend asked me to talk him down.

He’s freaked out about Scott Brown and losing the filibuster-proof Senate majority. He’s angry that too many Congressional Democrats are walking away from a health care bill that really would still be a historic achievement that would do a world of good.

He’s frustrated that President Obama isn’t taking a more visible leadership role. He’s dumbfounded that the Supreme Court seemingly signed over our democracy to corporate cash earlier today.

It’s been a hell of a week for us Democrats.

In truth, it took me most of the day - and a stern talking to from my smarter-than-me wife - to figure out what to tell him. I’m angry and frustrated - probably more than you. Achieving real change has been my life’s work and I see it all teetering on the brink of catastrophe.

First, Tracy said it best: “It’s only been two days.” Our leaders in Congress are still figuring out what to do about health care. There is a real bind, because the House and the Senate don’t agree.

But they’re working on it. Everything they’ve said publicly indicates they actually do have some inkling that we need to achieve something with our majority.

On a broader scale, it’s important to remember that Massachusetts is only one loss after a nearly unprecedented string of victories. We weren’t going to go on winning every election from here on out.

Political fortunes ebb and flow. We’re at the bottom of a trough right now. But the media loves a good comeback story too much to not write the “Obama Recovers!” story about six months from now.

This is what Obama still understands better than just about anyone. Too many people try to win the news cycle. He’s playing a much longer-term game than that.

I still believe that the President knows we have to do more and we have to do it better. You do not organize poor folks in South Side churches and forget that they’re depending on you. I know it. I’ve been there.

I saw some of this from Obama when he spoke on Martha Caokley’s behalf last week. I think we’ll see more at next week’s State of the Union.

Finally, for anyone who has been frustrated with the pace of change or anxious over lacking leadership in this country, there has only ever been and will only ever be a single path to sucess:

(Ahem)

Don’t fight the power. Be the power.

If you’re concerned that your leadership in Washington isn’t representing you, then run for election and beat them. If you don’t think you can beat them, then find someone who can and work your tail off to get them elected.

If getting rid of someone who’s not representing you isn’t an option then organize your people to exert some influence.

The system sucks and all of that is gonna be hard. Boo hoo. It’s the best we’ve got.

The Lone Ranger ain’t riding into town to save the day. We must be the change we want to see in the world (h/t Ghandi, Obama)

# # #

Tuesday night, I was pretty dispirited by Brown’s victory. I didn’t have a lot to say, but I kept coming back to one piece of advice. I twittered it that night.

For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.

Ted Kennedy

The Lion roars one last time. Remember, these words were actually the closing passage from Kennedy’s concession speech after losing the nomination for President in 1980.

Senator Kennedy shows us the way here, in the face of a gut-wrenching defeat. It’s always darkest before dawn. It’s never as bad as it seems. But the only ones - the only ones - who can lead us to better days are us.

Ted Kennedy’s legacy isn’t the letter after the name of the junior senator from Massachusetts. It’s the spirit liberal, progressive Democrats have to make America live up to its promise.

Time for whining is over. Let’s get back to work.

links for 2009-06-11

2009-06-12T04:30:28Z

Trains for iPhone: For lovers of Flight Control, except with trains

Not as good as Flight Control, but still worth a buck, I think.

(tags: iphone gaming)
Google Sitemap Template for MT4 (MT Hacks)

Another method for XML Sitemaps in MT.

(tags: mt SEO work)
Canonical Google Sitemap template - MovableType | wiki.movabletype.org

Creating an XML Sitemap with an MT Plugin

(tags: mt technology blogs SEO work)
<mt:Assets> (MTAssets) | MovableType.org - Home of the MT Community

Instructions to add alt tags to your MTAssets

(tags: mt technology blogs design work)

links for 2009-05-28

2009-05-29T04:30:13Z

25 And Over « Tomato Nation

Rules to live by.

(tags: funny advice)
Batteries Feel Included: 309

What could possibly go wrong?

(tags: funny)
Google Wave Drips With Ambition. A New Communication Platform For A New Web.

Gmail on Steroids. Coming soon.

(tags: technology)

The Truth About Hate Crimes

2009-04-30T04:57:26Z

On Facebook today, a friend of mine made the claim that she was going to honor President Obama’s 100th day in office by praying “for our country before that becomes a hate crime too.”

There’s a lot I disagree with in that statement, but one aspect is close to my heart and I can’t let it pass without clearing up a common misconception.

Hate crimes laws don’t make any new activities illegal.

Instead, for example, the current legislation before Congress provides for federal prosecution and enhanced sentencing for crimes that are considered especially heinous.

This is something we already do in a wide variety of ways. For example, crimes committed against children are generally considered “worse” and therefore these criminals face stiffer punishments.

In fact, we already have a federal hate crimes law, passed in 1969.

This law permits federal prosecution of hate crimes committed on the basis of someone’s race, religion, or national origin, but only when the victim was engaged in a federally protected activity like voting, going to school, or enjoying the National Parks.

The new hate crimes law - known officially as the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act - only expands the scope of existing law.

First, it expands the list of “protected classes” to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

Second, it removes the requirement that the victim must be engaged in a specific, federally protected activity.

The idea behind the law is that crimes committed against someone because they are part of a specific group is a “bigger” crime with more “victims” than a random act of violence. Not only do you have a physical victim, but it also creates a sense of fear within that entire community.

Ergo, the reasoning is that since this crime affects more people than just the individual victim, sentencing should be enhanced.

We can disagree about whether that’s a good reason to add years to a prison sentence, but it’s disingenuous to say that the bill makes new actions illegal. It just provides for enhanced prosecution and sentencing for existing crimes.

I pray for a country that doesn’t try to address violence and bigotry.

links for 2009-04-20

2009-04-21T04:30:12Z

NHL Network Online - Detroit Red Wings: Playoff Last Stand Video

Even Captain Picard wants the Red Wings to win.

(tags: detroit RedWings hockey sports)
Couch to 5k - C25K Running Program

I'm hoping to try this in the near future.

(tags: health exercise)
atebits - Tweetie for Mac

Cool new Twitter app for Mac

(tags: twitter apple technology)

links for 2009-04-16

2009-04-16T19:13:38Z

http://www.dailycandy.com/weddings/i/gallery/entertainment/first-dance-songs/first-dance-songs.pdf?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=600&width=800

I kind of dig this.

(tags: wedding music)

links for 2009-04-07

2009-04-08T04:30:13Z

Bemidji State Hockey Goes From Being Seeded 16th to Playing in the Frozen Four - NYTimes.com

I, for one, am rooting for Bemidji.

(tags: hockey sports)

links for 2009-04-06

2009-04-07T04:30:12Z

Bless You Boys: The Song, the Video, the Anthem! - Bless You Boys

…in honor of Opening Day

(tags: Detroit Tigers baseball sports video)

links for 2009-04-02

2009-04-03T04:30:12Z

iPhone 3.0 Streaming Bluetooth Audio To a Toyota Venza [IPhone]

Tracy, we need a new car with Bluetooth

(tags: cars technology music iphone)

links for 2009-03-31

2009-04-01T04:30:17Z

Stealing Music: Is It Wrong Or Isn’t It?

Reading this, but thinking of "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Just because it's a bad law, doesn't mean you're righteous in flaunting it.

(tags: politics technology music)
Malwarebytes.org

Great spyware removal tool. Knocked out Tracy's problem in no time.

(tags: technology spyware windows)
Tuxedos | Calvin Klein Two-Button Super 100's Notch Lapel

The tux I chose for this party I'm having in August.

(tags: wedding)
Faster Movable Type with FastCGI | patrickbeeson.com

I did this today and it dramatically sped up MT.

(tags: mt technology blogs)
Why so hard on the Rust Belt, and so easy on Wall Street? - How the World Works - Salon.com

Just sayin.

(tags: politics)
Design Meltdown § Diagonal Stripes

Good tutorial for making striped backgrounds in Photoshop.

(tags: photoshop design technology)
1001 rules for my unborn son

Cool idea.

(tags: cool family blogs)

links for 2009-03-25

2009-03-26T04:30:08Z

Apple - Movie Trailers - Where the Wild Things Are

Movie Trailer of the Day

(tags: movies)

links for 2009-03-24

2009-03-25T04:30:09Z

Flight Control - A game for iPhone and iPod Touch

Funnest iPhone game yet.

(tags: technology iphone)

links for 2009-03-23

2009-03-24T04:30:12Z

Grasping Reality with Both Hands: The Geithner Plan FAQ

Finally, someone thinks the Geithner plan might work. Let's hope so.

(tags: politics)
SEIU - Service Employees International Union - Wall Street Journal: Employee Free Choice Act "does not remove the secret ballot"

Corporations lying about workers' rights? I'm shocked! Shocked!

(tags: politics)
CSS Standards & Best Practices | Dezinerfolio

Good resource for building beautiful CSS files.

(tags: css technology)
Define Your Own WordPress Loop Using WPQuery | Weblog Tools Collection

All this time I've been using multiple instances of queryposts when I should have been using wp_query. I know you don't care, but this was a big deal to me.

(tags: technology wordpress)
How to Add Nested Comments to Your WordPress Theme | Bavota San

Great resource to add very classy looking comments to WP.

(tags: technology wordpress)

links for 2009-03-20

2009-03-21T04:30:07Z

The White House - Blog Post - A New Year, A New Beginning

I thought this was amazingly powerful. President Obama is showing the world a true willingness to engage. To some extent, I think it backs Iran into a corner. After a beautiful appeal like this, can they really justify their bellicose attitude to the Great Satan?

Makes those who called Obama naive on foreign policy look, well, naive.

(tags: politics)

links for 2009-03-18

2009-03-19T04:30:09Z

US Torture: Voices from the Black Sites - The New York Review of Books

Shameful, but a must-read. We must undo what they did.

(tags: politics war history)