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All of this might soon change for Mississippi women if Initiative 26 passes this November. Not in November, 1960, or in November, 1920, but in November, 2011. If this amendment passes, raped women would be mandated to carry babies. If this amendment passes, women could be imprisoned in order to ensure a successful birth (or because the woman didn’t ensure birth). In certain situations, doctors would even be at a loss to save a woman’s life. Some women will have many more children than they can feed. Last and probably least, many women will feel uneasy having sex.
If this Initiative passes, I vote for accompanying laws. I propose Mississippians ensure families needing help feeding their children have access to free food, health care, and general sustenance. Instead of taking from the educational system or not ensuring our safety because there’s no money, this should be funded by an increase in taxes which are specifically earmarked to avoid abortion. Mississippi doctors should be allowed to save women in crisis. And for every woman that is raped andtherefore becomes pregnant, I like the idea of choosing from one male from the Mississippi population, of both the rich and the poor and in a random drawing, and mandating he wear a sympathy belly for nine months.
It’s easy to see how this Initiative might pass. People don’t want to be baby killers or vote to allow others to be baby killers. If Mississippi passes Intiative 26 and prosecuting for abortion happens, and Mississippians decide the life of a woman isn’t worth saving, Mississippi should increase the penalty for rape to death (just because men should die, too, perhaps.)
Since the affluent will probablystill find a way to end pregnancies, impoverished people will feel the weight of pregnancy more– and the gap between the po0r and rich will further widen.
Talking about “women’s rights” seems so cold compared to talking about freedom, and I hope the initiative’s opponents will remember to talk about pain and suffering, the strengthening of the middle class, how important quality education is, and putting our money where our mouth is.
I wish we’d honestly work to reduce the number of abortions while we still work to protect women. We could start by providing our youth with proper education, ensuring there is easy access to birth control, and providing help to struggling families.
A h/t to Dave Mindeman for bringing this initiative to my attention.
update November 4, 2011: That celebrity who followed me now doesn’t follow me. Oh well, I guess he must have noticed he was following me. And I unfollowed Robert Reich and Dave Winer.
The Shannon File’s John Shannon recently assessed how he used social media, opting for the elimination of his Facebook page. I read his post, and agreed. Facebook groups should replace Facebook pages.
History
I put together my first website in 1996, relatively late for the website scene. That website introduced my side business, Webforme, which was a website design company. After teaching high school social studies eight years, I got my master’s degree, left teaching and decided to pursue web design full time. I incorporated as Northfieldweb. I enjoyed myself immensely, although back then software such as Frontpage forced me to hand code browser friendly sites and I used Perl to create forms.
In 2006, I helped a local candidate win a Minnesota House seat. He had run in 2004, too, and had been featured in Time Magazine for having a weblog. After working on his blog, I created my own blog and began creating blogs for clients . I did my own study which compared the benefits of a static website to those of a weblog, with blogs being the obvious winner. Blogrolling was an easy add into a sidebar and allowed links to viewed (by Google) as ” incoming”, which had an effect on Pagerank. Further, blogs used rss , which was free syndication of absolutely immediate information. I was amazed and gung ho about the usage of rss feeds… imagining amazing capabilities… but would soon learn very few others cared about rss feeds.
My first blog, “Prickly Burr,” was named after Aaron Burr. Burr, the obvious lesser in a gun battle, managed to kill Alexander Hamilton. My parents considered Alexander Hamilton their hero and I liked him, too, but I’d decided on Aaron Burr, a feminist and introvert, as my own political hero. Burr is simply misunderstood (I won’t go into that, now) and I especially like that Burr was friends with Mary Wollstonecraft.
In 2006, I thought it was better blogging practice to list links at the end of a post rather than link in the text, itself. I worried readers wouldn’t reach the end of my post. My town had a community blog to which I contributed, and we discussed how to do links. Community bloggers thought we should include links in the regular text body, and later I realized they were right. Those same local bloggers also thought blogging should not incorporate opinions, and we still disagree on that. Here’s my article our local community blog refused to print, with the editors disliking this;
… “a few families watched every penny and a rise in gas prices meant they would ‘not make it.’” [Regarding the need for more alternative energy] Who should be most concerned? Probably the families that watch every penny.”
They took issue with the “every penny” idea and so the story was only published on my personal blog. It was the first time I was censored, and after that I knew I didn’t like censorship. In hindsight, those local editors wanted a journalist, and I presented them with ” op ed.” As time has passed, I’ve noticed almost all blogging is “op ed” and has strengths and weaknesses because of it.
To date, I’ve created quite a few website and blogs for various clients. Sadly, I closed my small business in 2008. The economy faltered, and company or personal websites were often put on the back burner, leaving me with less to do. But I’m still poking around with social media, and here’s what I think lately about blogging, Twitter, and Facebook.
==>Blogging should be thought of as instant publishing. When comments are allowed on a blog, blogs are interactive. Static websites rely on a viewer actually going to the website, whereas people can access a blog’s information without actually going to the site. Bloggers should make sure their rss feed works and if appropriate ask other blogs to list their feed in the sidebar. If a combined rss feed is out there, bloggers should be glad to be in the combined feed, since it is easier to list one feed in a sidebar rather than many, and there’s an even greater change your story will be read on a reader.
Hint: For those of you concerned about burying information in a blog, you don’t understand the use of sidebar space and the value of a categories listing. Along those same lines, bloggers should call out in posts about what they put in their sidebars, thereby asking people to visit their actual blog.
Bloggers should be concerned about increasing readership. It’s wise to increase the number of ways your blog can be found. Facebook offers Networked blogs. Twitter can be used to share a new blog post. Bloggers can ask other bloggers/websites to list an rss feed, or at the very least, to list a blog as a link. Combined feeds, especially ones directed at certain viewers, are rare but fantastic tools. If a blog is included in a combined feed, and other bloggers display that combined feed on their blog, a blog’s story titles can be seen on all the blogs which display the combined feed.
Google’s Feedburner is a nice proxy service which allows a blogger to insert advertisements into a feed. If you use WordPress software, I hear you can code ads directly into your feed (see #3) without using anything like Feedburner, although I have never inserted ads into my feed.
Bloggers should not assume anyone processes their information unless readers comment or link to a post. Bloggers should try to remember the power of a public voice. A Google search can readily produce even an obscure writer’s thoughts, and those thoughts can even be found long after a blog’s demise. Writers should decide on the blog’s purpose and should remember that purpose as they blog.
==>Twitter.com provides a place for anyone or any organization to microblog. Tweets are the instant publishing of 140 characters or less. Your word is amplified when others retweet what you’ve said as more people see what you published if someone retweets your tweet. Should Twitter be used to magnify a voice, for its interactive potential, or just to gain information? The wise answer is that it can be used for all of those things.
If you join Twitter, you should follow almost everyone that follows you. I don’t follow anyone who never tweets, and I don’t follow porno tweeters. I use friendorfollow.com and I don’t follow people who don’t follow me, save a few people like @davewiner and @RBReich, who probably never would benefit from anything I had to say (but I like to receive their information). You might ask how I manage all that information, since I follow and am followed by over a 1000 people (which means I am a relatively small Twitter user, BTW). I use lists. I list people and view my lists when I want to see what’s going on or find people.
If you want to grow the number of people you follow, Refollow.com allows for a short period of time before you have to pay to use their service. You can enter the username of another person on Twitter and follow who they follow. Be careful, though, because you cannot follow too many or unfollow too many people in a short amount of time. Twitter is obscure about the actualities, but if your follow to following ratio changes too fast, it will suspend your account.
Direct Messaging can be used to contact people in a private manner, but most people don’t use DM. If direct messaging becomes a problem, unfollow that person. I rarely use direct messaging.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming anything from an average person’s follow to following ratio. There is no real status indicated in the follows to following ratio, unless you are a celebrity. When celebrities follow it does indicate something, though. Booya! I have one celebrity who follows me and only 117 other people, but he’s followed by 913,979 people.
If you use Twitter, don’t assume anyone gets information you tweet unless they retweet one of your tweets or respond to a tweet.
==>Facebook.com is perplexing. I find even the recent posts news feed too restrictive. Have the Facebook gods decided my interest based on my interactivity, not taking into account other things? I often find myself forgetting about friends because they don’t appear in my news feed.
A new feature I like is the “subscribe” button, because I can remain friends with people and “unsubscribe” if I don’t want to see their posts (that is, if Facebook has decided this friend’s posts should be in the news feed I see). I also like that I can list friends. Did Facebook learn that from Twitter? Even though I can list friends, I still would like an everchanging, random selection of all of my friends listed in the sidebar.
Facebook pages display an rss feed, but the feed doesn’t validate and so what is it good for? Facebook allows me to share about a page on my wall, but it doesn’t allow me to “invite friends” to like that page. When comparing Facebook pages to Facebook groups, groups are better because I can invite friends (click on the member list, and hit the “invite” button). BTW, Facebook doesn’t display a group’s rss feed, but you can circumvent that here.
Regarding resource tracking, Chrome used to allow you to export a member lists, but lately Facebook is resistant to that idea. If you happen to find out more about Facebook database sharing, please shoot me an email holly@hollycairns.com. I really don’t have any reason to move big lists but it would be nice to add my Facebook friends to Google+.
Brothers of the Sigma Lambda Beta, Minnesota chapter, stepped for the crowd at the 2010 Dakota County Fair. It was awesome! The recently created step team showcased multicultural influence in their dance. The video clip below shows Cambodian influence and then regular stepping. Besides what is shown in the clip, group members strolled, showed Pakistani and Lebanese moves, and rallied the crowd.
Stepping then, and now:
In the 1950′s, South African black miners weren’t allowed to talk and so they communicated using other means. Now, African American fraternities across the United States have modified stepping and use it competitively while they call attention to freedom of speech and unity issues.
The Brothers of the University of Minnesota Sigma Lambda Beta have established a scholarship fund for incoming students who are hampered by a lack of means. If you care to donate, please contact them here or here. Elabbady is now the acting president.
Brothers of the Sigma Lambda Beta at the 2010 Dakota County Fair: Partially sponsored by the Senate District 36 DFL and arranged for by Kevin Roberson. This video was taken with my Droid, and then shared via a YouTube application. Ha! Easy or what.
Update: August 18, 2010, 7:15 pm. Be sure to read this: SLB is mostly a Latino frat, and stepping has ties that go way back to the early Aparteid years and may be connected with military aspects (rather than just the 1950′s and miners). Thanks!
* Agriculture: Keeping Minnesota’s agricultural sector healthy by increasing the 2nd District’s participation in regional agricultural and food systems, increasing farm to school programs, ensuring food safety while ensuring we don’t overburden small and mid-sized farmers who operate safe farms and use good agricultural practices, encouraging innovation, and providing financing opportunities for young farmers.
A strong economy and a strong middle class depends on a healthy regional food system that provides good prices to our farmers, good wages to our food industry workers and good profits for our businesses.
* American Unions: the backbone of middle class prosperity: Rebuilding the economy by building partnerships among Business, Labor and Government that advance complex technologies and large-scale projects is the quickest way to rebuild America’s middle class.
The importance of unions to America’s middle class prosperity is often overlooked and understated. Unions have played a major role in creating health and safety regulations, social security and the minimum wage. Unions provide skilled workers for many complex industries and can be valuable partners in solving critical business issues.
* Banking & Insurance Reform: Banks should enable business formation and job growth and earn their profits from prudent lending and financing arrangements, not exotic products, risky trading and cheap government money. Enable small-town banks and credit unions to make loans and arrange financing for the small businesses and entrepreneurs who are critical to business formation and economic growth. Cheap money should be provided to the small banks and credit unions of the second district, not the Goldman Sachs of the world.
Systemic risks — the kind that caused the market collapse and Great Recession in the first place — still exist according to many leading economists.
* Competing with Public Infrastructure: High speed and intercity passenger rail is the first place to start and could bring big benefits to the second district.
Moving to aggressively build rail corridors and connections will also be a critical step in moving us away from oil based forms of transport.
* Creating a Clean Energy Economy: Manufacturing jobs that create energy system components such as solar panels, wind turbine components, or geothermal pumps, and service, installation and technician jobs are all part of the clean energy economy.
Job growth is our only way out of the Great Recession and the only way to build a competitive economy that rebuilds America’s middle class.
* Healthcare and Health Insurance Reform: Healthcare reform’s next phase must include robust preventative and primary care programs that address access issues and provide quality care to every man, woman and child in the United States. Lower prescription drug costs, funding for community health centers, loan forgiveness and grant programs for medical students choosing primary care — especially those willing to work in rural America — and available, quality, dental and mental health services must all become part of a comprehensive healthcare reform aimed at lowering costs and increasing access.
2010’s legislative victories are merely a start towards lowering overall healthcare costs and improving access and quality for all Americans.
* Replacing 8 million lost jobs with good jobs that pay good wages– The next Congress must do the following:
–Create the clean energy economy.
–Ensure American employees and companies are prepared to compete in the world economy:
–Compete with science & technology.
–Compete with public infrastructure projects like high speed rail and energy efficient public buildings.
–Compete with new forms of education and training such as apprentice programs that provide the skilled workers needed for a technologically efficient, clean energy economy.
–Reign in the big banks and stand with credit unions and hometown banks on the side of small businesses and homeowners.
8 million American jobs have been lost since the beginning of the financial crisis. Despite the recent uptick in job numbers, only 50,000 of those jobs have returned. Our next Congress will be faced with the challenging task of both restoring jobs and ensuring that American jobs are good jobs that pay good wages.
As we Minnesotans head to the primary this Tuesday, August 10th, 2010, let’s carefully choose from the best candidates.
Jesus, MLK, Harriet Tubman, Mohandes and other Ghandis, Genghis Khan, Susan B, Lucy Stone, Margaret Sanger, Sun Yat-sen, William Wallace, Rosa Parks, FDR, Sol Alinsky, Black Elk, Winston Churchill, and Napoleon all had at least one thing in common. They led people towards a goal or an idea, instead of away from something. They were “for”, instead of merely being “against.”
This election season, take time to investigate those who want to lead. If you cannot identify what a candidate is “for”, my suggestion is that you don’t vote for that candidate. If the candidate isn’t for anything, they probably lack the good leadership skills needed to represent us.
Of course, then, it’s not enough for you and the candidate to both be “against” an activity or issue. So pick wisely this election season.
Good news from the Tarryl Clark campaign, today (and I did see this cross the wires a few days ago). This endorsement comes in a time of great struggle for many families. I believe the nod went to Tarryl because she really will fight for benefits, just cause, and the like. So, ICYMI:
Veterans and Military Families for Progress endorses Tarryl Clark for Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District
Washington, D.C.:
Veterans and Military Families for Progress (www.vmfp.org) enthusiastically and proudly endorses Tarryl Clark in the upcoming Minnesota Sixth Congressional District election. Founded in 2005, VMFP is dedicated to ensuring that the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reservists), and their families are understood by the American public, endorsed by our elected officials, and protected by legislation, regulation, and public policy initiatives.
Tarryl Clark is a strong supporter of our nation’s Armed Forces. Tarryl was born in Norfolk, Virginia where her father was serving in the United States Navy. The oldest of four children, two of her three brothers also went on to serve, making hers a Navy family. Her strong commitment to the issues that are critical to veterans, those serving now, and their families is unsurpassed. Her public support for priority funding of the Veterans Administration and her declared determination to provide for the establishment of a national veterans and military family policy give veterans and their families hope that at long last a Congresswoman will vote in such a way as to keep faith with those who have served and sacrificed.
Additionally, Clark’s decision to support legislation for improving the treatment of veterans with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD, and her deep understanding of the need for providing and guaranteeing full health coverage for National Guard and Reserve personnel, demonstrate that she is a candidate who has the character and courage to do what is right for those in service to our country. We feel that veterans, active duty, military families, and in fact, all people of Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District will be well-served with Tarryl Clark as their representative by ensuring that America remains strong in national defense and in fighting terrorism.
Veterans and Military Families for Progress is a 501(c)(4) non-partisan, not-for-profit veterans organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a 21st Century organization made up of members located throughout the country, and from across the breadth of rank and military services, who served, are serving, or are family members of those who have heeded the call to serve their country in the U.S. military.
Please view the images at the bottom of this post, and then ask yourself, “Why aren’t the other two Democratic candidates seen in pictures like these?”
I’ve often noticed that women are harder on other women than they are on men.
Minnesota has a great gubernatorial candidate in Margaret Anderson Kelliher, and I am glad to support her. Yet, I read tweets, posts, and comments by other women that are nitpicky negative about Margaret. “Support women’s rights, vote… (other candidate). Or, “I don’t like Margaret’s suit.” Women, stop and think about that one, tiny issue, whatever it is, that turns you toward another candidate. Do you really want to dig in your heels over something that could easily be overlooked if Matt Entenza or Mark Dayton were elected? I don’t think you do. And I hope you understand it’s time, and natural, for women to lead.
Margaret Anderson Kelliher would do more for women by being elected as Minnesota’s first woman governor than either of the other two candidates ever could (in today’s climate). Plus, she stands on her own merit. She’s got the most detailed, directed plan for reviving Minnesota, and isn’t afraid to “ask for directions” as we drive towards economic vitality. She has pulled together great brains, is realistic, listens to and would empower the labor aspect of the Democratic-Labor-Farmer party, and is in touch with her farmer roots.
Margaret’s ability to help others find common ground is unique among the Democrats who will be on the primary ballot. Progressive Democrats across the state desperately need this, as we tend to focus on little issues, dig in our heels, and then be like a sticks in the mud (both progressive Democratic men and women are like this). I’ve noticed we regularly engage in circular firing squads, hurting each other and our chances of a better future for Minnesota, instead of working together for desperately needed solutions to large problems.
If Matt Entenza or Mark Dayton wins the primary election, they might have trouble using the DFL resources with good conscience. Margaret has been transparent from the start, open and honest, and communicating with all of us Minnesotans about what she’ll do and how she’ll do it. People that deeply care about politics have been right there in her face, listening and deciding– and decided to give Margaret the nod. The other two candidates showed up, wanted the floor, but didn’t want the scrutiny. Margaret stood tall, stands tall, and is no-nonsense and down to earth. She’s not afraid to say what she’s “for.” We need that kind of leadership. Even the sometimes right-leaning StarTribune gave Margaret the nod.
The reason I support Margaret is that her plans are many, and quite detailed. Spend time on her issues page, she’s put together jobs incentives that empower businesses to do better but still take care of the workers, a green energy jobs task force, places high priority on truly effective education and will fund education appropriately. She’s for more than just simply saying goodbye to No Child Left Behind, which is only one tiny part of Minnesota’s educational system. Finally, her plan is deeper than just “taxing the rich,” which sounds alienating to some.
And let’s not forget that whoever is the next governor will have a tough job, because we’re all hurting and going to keep on hurting as cuts are made and programs disappear. We need a strong, determined person as governor, and that’s Margaret.
Man or woman, but especially if you are a woman, please consider supporting Margaret as Minnesota’s first woman governor. If you want to meet Margaret in person, there’s a rally tomorrow, August 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
Here’s more details, via my FB friend Orrie Salper:
Rally for Margaret Anderson Kelliher before the last debate before the August 10 primary!
Wear your MAK shirt/buttons to the rally, then join us to watch the debate at Fitzgerald theater – 7 PM
RSVP on Facebook or contact Call Orrie Salper at 612-217-1479 with questions
Today, St. Paul (August 5, 2010) — State Chair Brian Melendez released this statement:
“Margaret’s public statements, and her voting record, are clear and consistent: the status quo is unacceptable, and No Child Left Behind must be reformed. Today’s attack is misleading and disappointing. The real issues are creating jobs, getting Minnesotans back to work, balancing the budget, and giving our children a world-class education. With just five days to the primary election, all DFLers need to focus on beating Tom Emmer in November and not give in to the temptation to attack one another.”
I don’t know if you have noticed, but candidate for Minnesota governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher and candidate for Lieutenant Governor John Gunyou have been all over the place. She’s been out there to meet us, establish a grassroots campaign, listen, and has created an awesome action plan. I can clearly see what she’ll do in office, and that’s fight for jobs, schools, farms, veterans and families of veterans, and civil rights.
I have it on good authority that her Lake Street office recently couldn’t handle the steady inflow of volunteers. They spilled into the hallways, working on call lists and other tasks. If you want to help Margaret, please consider contacting her campaign. Together we can do it! (PS, Did you do enough in 2000 and 2004? I didn’t. That’s why I now volunteer!)
Let’s have a quick look at Margaret and John’s past two weeks of scheduled public events. I can attest that Margaret’s schedule has been this busy since the beginning of her campaign, and in between these public events is door knocking. Her grassroots campaign is no accident: Margaret has worked hard, and is like the energizer bunny!
–Kelliher on KFGO Radio in Moorhead with KFGO’s Al Aamodt.
–Gunyou at Nurses Rally in Duluth, Saint Luke’s Hospital
–Gunyou at National Night Out Events, Various Twin Cities Locations
–Kelliher at CD7/SD21 Picnic in Lucan
–Kelliher on 91.7FM KAXE Radio in Grand Rapids, with Scott Hall.
–Kelliher on MPR with Gary Eichten, 91.1FM Radio (MPR)
–Kelliher at Pre-Debate Rally with Campaign Supporters, Corner of University Ave West & Berry Street, St Paul, Mn
–Kelliher in the KSTP/League of Women Voters Debate, Airing live on ABC stations statewide (Kelliher Supporters Gathering to Watch KSTP/League of Women Voters Debate at the Leaning Tower of Pizza).
–Kelliher will be on the air with Mankato’s 95.7FM The Blaze.
–Gunyou with Seniors at Creekside Community Center in Minneapolis
–Gunyou with Seniors in Saint Louis Park
–Kelliher Welcome Home Rally in Mankato, Minnesota State University-Mankato
–Kelliher in Debate Minnesota Debate, Minnesota State University-Mankato
–Kelliher on KLFD Radio AM1410 in Litchfield
–Kelliher Coffee with Supporters in Austin
–Kelliher to tour Hormel Institute in Austin
–Gunyou at Senior Caucus Social Luncheon
–Gunyou at SD38 DFL Picnic
–Gunyou at Ladies Night Phone Bank in Woodbury
–Gunyou at Pizza and Politics, Woodbury
–Kelliher, Mondale, Growe, Gunyou, and Hayden Hold News Conference Sabathani Senior Center
–Gunyou at Rochester Senior Center
–Gunyou to Attend Plymouth Progressives Event
–Kelliher, Mondale, Growe, Ness, and Reinert at Duluth Rainbow Senior Center
–Gunyou at ADA 20th Anniversary Celebration
–Kelliher on AM950 Radio
–Gunyou at SD41 DFL Picnic
–Kelliher to Hold News Conference at Her Home on policy reforms that will enhance transparency in Minnesota elections. Kelliher will disclose her personal assets and campaign fundraising summary.
–Kelliher and Moua at Hmong International Market
–Kelliher and Monserrate at Midtown Global Market
–Kelliher and Monserrate at Mercado Central
–Kelliher, Glidden, and Lilligren at 24 Somali Mall
–Kelliher at FLOW – Northside Arts Crawl
–Kelliher at Lao Hmong Recognition Day Celebration
–African American Leadership Forum
–Kelliher on KFGO Radio in Moorhead
–Kelliher at Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
–Kelliher News Conference at AURI
–News Conference at Davy Park Memorial Gazebo
–Kelliher to Visit Bemidji DFL Office
–Kelliher to Tour Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji
–Kelliher to Hold News Conference Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji
–Kelliher to Speak at Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Conference
I have it on good authority that the Entenza campaign is upset about Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s KSTP / League of Women voters debate comment about “astroturfing.” Margaret said:
“I’m proud that I have 3,500 contributors to this campaign,” Kelliher countered. “Matt, the kind of campaign you’ve run is Astroturf, the kind that you buy. We have a real grassroots campaign here, and it’s been disappointing to me that you don’t support the things that you claim to support.”
While I am not particularly against astroturfing since it works for the Republicans, I do feel astroturfing should be done along side a disclosure of sorts. If one talks about astroturfing, BTW, one is addressing paying for support and not volunteers or even campaign workers, really.
I also heard this:
Until yesterday Entenza volunteers were working hard to not only get Matt elected but were also committed to helping whoever the winner of the Aug 10th election is beat Tom Emmer.
What’s that implying? Entenza campaign and volunteers will vote Emmer if Margaret Anderson Kelliher wins on August 10th, in the Primary? Shudder. That’s really a scary thought.
If anything Margaret could have attacked Matt much more, and on a deeper level. She’s been pretty respectful of both Dayton and Entenza, who are big money campaigns while she’s truly reaching into the community and finding support among most of us who (incidentally) don’t have big bucks. Is the Entenza campaign saying “Bring it”? I don’t think you want that, Matt.
I don’t know the ins and outs of the Palestinian situation, and so hopefully this suggestion is treated as an innocent idea. If I’m wrong, please let me know. There’s a lot that happens in the Middle East, and I wouldn’t want to suggest anything that would cause never-ending bloodshed or a worsening of worldly relations. I’m a strong proponent of asking “for” what we want instead of complaining about what we are against. I believe we are for peaceful resolution in the Middle East.
The United Nations could help in these areas: Removal of sanctions or hinderances to prosperity, establishing a secure system of elections which would then bring about true representation, empowering a strengthened judicial system, and help in the prosecution of terrorist activity. Hopefully this recognition of statehood wouldn’t end in street violence or another assassination, instead of true peaceful resolution.
The United States benefited from worldly recognition of our statehood after our Civil War. We kicked out the king, other nations recognized our status, and we continued trading goods and favors. I believe it is a small detail that is largely overlooked, and was key to the establishment of a stronger union.
I joined Gather.com to discuss Tom’s post (no comments at bottom of his post allowed, I noticed) Here’s what I said on Gather.com: I was disappointed in Tom’s reaction. Spar? Margaret Anderson Kelliher is running a very clean campaign and that is a testimony to her character, IMO. She set herself apart from the others by pointing out where they fall short, but her TV advertisements and most of what she said was a positive, “I’ll do this” approach. I’m glad for Margaret’s wise use of brainpower, her vision to encourage job growth, her support of education, and her ability to bring people together.
Here’s MY THOUGHTS on the August 1, 2010, KSTP/ League of Women Voters debate: DFL endorsed Margaret Anderson Kelliher was strong and yet did not attack other Democrats in the KSTP/ League of women voters debate tonight. This down to earth and no-nonsense approach is also evident in her latest TV advertisements, where Margaret has been talking about what she’ll do rather than complaining or finger-pointing. This strong yet respectful and determined approach is more evidence of Margaret’s character and that she’ll be able to bring people together as she effectively fights to bring jobs, a balanced budget, and strong schools back to Minnesota.
More details here: (This today from Margaret’s office):
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DFL-endorsed candidate for Governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher delivered a convincing victory in tonight’s KSTP/League of Women Voters debate.
“Growing up in rural Minnesota, I know that we are one state and that we need jobs across the state. There are 204,000 Minnesotans out of work this week in Minnesota, probably more. I have the most specific plan for creating jobs in Minnesota,” said Kelliher.
Kelliher made the case to DFL primary voters why her momentum has put her in the best position to beat Tom Emmer in November.
“Minnesotans want a Governor who understands the challenges facing working families – they want a leader who will fight for them; someone who will never quit no matter how hard it gets,” said Kelliher. “DFLers want a Governor who will do everything it takes to get Minnesota back to work. I will be that Governor.”
Kelliher touted her ability to bring DFLers and Minnesotans together to address the unprecedented fiscal and economic challenges facing the State of Minnesota.
“As Speaker of the House I brought together Democrats and Republicans to override Tim Pawlenty’s veto of the 2008 transportation bill,” said Kelliher.
“In my first six weeks as Speaker, we passed the strongest Renewable Energy Standard in the country. And under my leadership we passed the Legacy Amendment for our environment, parks and trails. That’s the kind of Governor DFLers want – someone who can bring people together to get big things done. I will be that Governor.”
The Star Tribune, which gave Kelliher a resounding endorsement today, highlighted Kelliher’s unique ability to solve problems through collaborative, responsible leadership.
According to the Star Tribune, “Kelliher offers a different style of leadership than Minnesota has seen in the Governor’s office in many a year. She is a collaborator. She shares the spotlight and allows others to shine. She listens and adapts to what she hears. She’s adept at building positive personal relationships both inside and outside the DFL circle.’
Kelliher highlighted the strength of her grassroots campaign organization, and her ability to energize DFLers across the state; a strength the Star Tribune pointed out today. In their words, “[Kelliher] has generated a “ground campaign” of volunteers reminiscent of those built by past DFL masters of grass-roots politics Paul Wellstone and Hubert Humphrey.”
With the endorsements of 39 major organizations, and the support of thousands of volunteers, Kelliher is going into the final week of the primary season with the wind of momentum at her back.
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Matt Swenson
Press Secretary
Margaret for Governor
O: 612.746.8911
C: 763.464.0042
mattswenson@margaretforgovernor.com
Minnesota’s Congressional District 2 is touting its best (see literature in the image, or here’s the file). I firmly believe truth is arrived at by consensus, and these candidates were picked by groups deciding what is our best foot forward this 2010 campaign season.
Margaret Anderson Kelliher (and John Gunyou), Mark Ritchie, Rebecca Otto, Lori Swanson, Dan Powers will face challengers in the August 10th, 2010, primary. Don’t forget to vote, and please consider voting for the endorsed candidates.
Margaret’s even outlined plans for a green jobs corp. Perhaps most importantly, she’s down-to-earth and no-nonsense, hardworking, and has good family support. Margaret is running against big money opponents so I hope we help get out her message.
For Congress, I had a tough time chosing. Dan Powers stands apart from his opponent because he’s approachable and works hard to listen. At the convention I heard people say “Hey, you knocked on my door!” Dan is for living-wage jobs, clean energy solutions, more affordable health-care and better educational opportunities for our children. I recently wrote about him here.
The bottom of the CD2 literature (pictured above) says:
–Fiscal responsibility as we make hard choices
–Good roads
–Strong Families
–Great schools
–Working together to get the job done
–Clean lakes and streams for fishing and hunting
–A Balanced budget
–Civil rights minded
–Creating Opportunities to prosper and grow
Each candidate offers more information on their individual websites. Please consider visiting:
People who don’t tweet might not understand the value of Twitter, and might even think it’s too time consuming to demand our attention. But Twitter is thinking out loud, and if you hang long enough, you’ll be able to identify consensus. That alone should entice businesses trying to best use their advertising dollar. Wise Twitter users know it’s not just the @me, or the tweets that directly speak to me, that are important.
Recently, Northeastern University College of Computer and Information Sciences and Harvard Medical School have gone beyond “what’s in it for me” and started to examine what might be termed “cultural trends”. They applied Google-like philosophy to tweeting, and were able to map our nation’s mood. I’d guess there’s more work to be done in the area of summation and correctly identifying a trend, but I’m sure that will work itself out. It’s word association that I use to identify correct patterns. My brain isn’t as reliable as google-like statistics, but we’re on the same wavelength.
Disgraceful Anti-American portrayal of Obama
If I were a big business, I’d be all over the research, determined to use it for my best interest. If I were a government, I’d be very interested in correctly identifying tea party activity, opinion about war, what people are interested in, and more. Earlier, I posted on someone disgracefully painting Obama as the Joker, and I’m still wondering about the connectivity of the Tea Party. Is social media successfully connecting these oddballs, and what can we do about it? Perhaps it’s time for our government to be interested in Northeastern and Harvard’s work.
Be sure to check out Twitter for yourself. Ease yourself into a few friends, and take the plunge. It’s my best suggestion to follow almost every person that follows you, except the porno dudes and the money wannabees. But it’s a world of talk, and it’s worth listening.
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