This time I am trying a live-blog of my History and Culture of the Near East essay again, not this time because I am effervescing past the brim with joyful discoveries but because I am gnarled with grim chagrin and tired besides. On principle persons who slept perhaps five hours the night before with a degree of choice should not complain, but I feel so monumentally grumpy that one might as well celebrate it.
5:42 a.m. I am looking up the streets of extant Moorish Science Temple buildings on Flickr, and there is an overenthusiastic photographer who has uploaded millions of photos of Manhattan and Brooklyn, which end up in my results page even if I am researching an entirely different city. Every time this Thing comes up again, and the blast-durnded street address isn't even given when in fact it *is* relevant, I have been intoning the F-word very loudly in my head. Brevity is the soul of wit, said Pope (or I think Shakespeare, first), and many have said since his time that less is more.
6:25 a.m. The Flickring is done and I am going to sleep! Longer liveblog, perhaps, tomorrow. Must rest before I turn into a zombie and begin to prowl for cerebellaceous fare.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Kirkpatrick and a Du Bois-Washington Debate
Yesterday and the day before I went on a grand cooking venture, so today I have been using up part of the remainder of a generous bunch of mint, picking over excess parsley, and wondering at my own indefatigability evidenced by my making a potful of rice pudding sometime between lunch and dinner today.
After sleeping in I began to reread the Autobiography of Malcolm X, with an eye to using it as a source in my Moorish Science Temple essay. The Temple itself has not been mentioned so far, but perhaps its insights into the Nation of Islam might be useful. When I was a teenager I found the events in it a bit brutal and the language of the narrator very stern, nearly up until the end. I was also a little annoyed that he hinted at a great deal about the Nation of Islam but neglected particulars (good aspects, bad aspects, internal politics, etc.) — now I suspect that he simply refused to draw the FBI a map. Rereading the earlier bits now, his boatloads of just resentment are still striking. From my own perspective, I think that his still-festering wounds were poisoning him and as far as the culprits (misguided welfare workers, benevolent classmates and reform school leaders and so on who would not recognize him as his own intelligent person, etc.) were concerned it was pretty useless to point the wounds out to them in public; most of us simply aren't interested in rattling the skeletons in the closet of our conscience. As a self-portrait and as a narrative with which young readers can identify, I think his childhood as described in his autobiography works well; as a massive Yom Kippur schedule of everyone he's known, not so well.
Last evening I watched videos with Itzhak Perlman on YouTube, inspired by his visit on the Colbert Report. While clearly much prized by people who know these things better than me, I didn't think before that he had any strikingly idiosyncratic style; but his two pieces on the Report woke me up to the fact that his playing is excellent and full of character, and even if the interview was a little awkward the the music fit into the show perfectly, so now I am a convert.
During the past week I played the cembalo now and then, a thorough round of fugues and preludiums from the Well-Tempered Clavier being good fodder for a brooding mood, and I could admire again their inexhaustible character. What is kind of fun is to experiment with the very curious sound of the instrument itself, particularly with the different levers, and then to play things in an uncanny witchy way like Wanda Landowska does with pieces like something by Couperin on YouTube which frankly terrifies me a little. There is something about decadent creepiness in church-like music that makes me kind of mad for religious reasons, because I think it is like death-worship or a richly rotting waste or a pagan mass or something of the sort. Which sounds kind of Puritan, but I have not reached for any pitchforks yet; it simply means that I like finding a bit of fright but try not to go the whole hog. As for 'role models' at the cembalo, I did a search for something by Ralph Kirkpatrick since I read part of his Scarlatti biography in an autodidactic mood in the mid-2000s, besides which his name appears in some sort of advisory or supervisory capacity on some of our scores. It turned out to be an excellent idea because (at least this was my strong first impression) he has a lovely intelligence and command of detail and depth.
Regarding university, I went to my professor's office to review my exam and we came to the conclusion that I must review my grammar before the next semester. My professor and the department secretary drew up the letter which states that I have satisfactorily attended the course and its exam. Then, last morning or perhaps the morning before that, the letter came with my student identification for the next year. So everything is all set, except for my Moorish Science Temple essay, for which I have been reading a little Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, and being driven up the wall a little by Mr. Washington. One choice sample is a passage about how "backward" he finds Bushmen, while I have held much the opposite stereotype: a self-sufficient and proud group, sophisticated in their hunting techniques and their culture — how many still live in the countryside, though, I don't know. Another is his baby-with-the-bathwater claim that higher education is making young African-Americans useless; they should humbly learn and practice some craft (wheelwrighting, etc.) so that they may accumulate a little property and thus earn the respect of the white community. !!! Of course it's lousy of me to be annoyed that he isn't politically correct enough, but his opinions are clearly indicative of extensive brainwashing by the pale elite of his time, and there's no need to be so patronizing. Du Bois then ridiculed the wheelwrighting philosophy with a gunpowder momentum which made me feel rather better again.
After sleeping in I began to reread the Autobiography of Malcolm X, with an eye to using it as a source in my Moorish Science Temple essay. The Temple itself has not been mentioned so far, but perhaps its insights into the Nation of Islam might be useful. When I was a teenager I found the events in it a bit brutal and the language of the narrator very stern, nearly up until the end. I was also a little annoyed that he hinted at a great deal about the Nation of Islam but neglected particulars (good aspects, bad aspects, internal politics, etc.) — now I suspect that he simply refused to draw the FBI a map. Rereading the earlier bits now, his boatloads of just resentment are still striking. From my own perspective, I think that his still-festering wounds were poisoning him and as far as the culprits (misguided welfare workers, benevolent classmates and reform school leaders and so on who would not recognize him as his own intelligent person, etc.) were concerned it was pretty useless to point the wounds out to them in public; most of us simply aren't interested in rattling the skeletons in the closet of our conscience. As a self-portrait and as a narrative with which young readers can identify, I think his childhood as described in his autobiography works well; as a massive Yom Kippur schedule of everyone he's known, not so well.
Last evening I watched videos with Itzhak Perlman on YouTube, inspired by his visit on the Colbert Report. While clearly much prized by people who know these things better than me, I didn't think before that he had any strikingly idiosyncratic style; but his two pieces on the Report woke me up to the fact that his playing is excellent and full of character, and even if the interview was a little awkward the the music fit into the show perfectly, so now I am a convert.
During the past week I played the cembalo now and then, a thorough round of fugues and preludiums from the Well-Tempered Clavier being good fodder for a brooding mood, and I could admire again their inexhaustible character. What is kind of fun is to experiment with the very curious sound of the instrument itself, particularly with the different levers, and then to play things in an uncanny witchy way like Wanda Landowska does with pieces like something by Couperin on YouTube which frankly terrifies me a little. There is something about decadent creepiness in church-like music that makes me kind of mad for religious reasons, because I think it is like death-worship or a richly rotting waste or a pagan mass or something of the sort. Which sounds kind of Puritan, but I have not reached for any pitchforks yet; it simply means that I like finding a bit of fright but try not to go the whole hog. As for 'role models' at the cembalo, I did a search for something by Ralph Kirkpatrick since I read part of his Scarlatti biography in an autodidactic mood in the mid-2000s, besides which his name appears in some sort of advisory or supervisory capacity on some of our scores. It turned out to be an excellent idea because (at least this was my strong first impression) he has a lovely intelligence and command of detail and depth.
Regarding university, I went to my professor's office to review my exam and we came to the conclusion that I must review my grammar before the next semester. My professor and the department secretary drew up the letter which states that I have satisfactorily attended the course and its exam. Then, last morning or perhaps the morning before that, the letter came with my student identification for the next year. So everything is all set, except for my Moorish Science Temple essay, for which I have been reading a little Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, and being driven up the wall a little by Mr. Washington. One choice sample is a passage about how "backward" he finds Bushmen, while I have held much the opposite stereotype: a self-sufficient and proud group, sophisticated in their hunting techniques and their culture — how many still live in the countryside, though, I don't know. Another is his baby-with-the-bathwater claim that higher education is making young African-Americans useless; they should humbly learn and practice some craft (wheelwrighting, etc.) so that they may accumulate a little property and thus earn the respect of the white community. !!! Of course it's lousy of me to be annoyed that he isn't politically correct enough, but his opinions are clearly indicative of extensive brainwashing by the pale elite of his time, and there's no need to be so patronizing. Du Bois then ridiculed the wheelwrighting philosophy with a gunpowder momentum which made me feel rather better again.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
My Notes of Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day, Part VI
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
N.B.B: This is, at last, the final installment of notes for this convention! Next night I might even sleep more than three hours instead of being discommoded by the time zone differences. (c:
11:26 p.m. Antonio Villaraigosa. Chant: We are fired up! Nomination seconded by everyone roaring "Yea!"
Alice Germond, secretary of the committee, calls the roll of the states. We know that every state counts and that every vote is precious, she says, apparently criticizing treatment of Ron Paul delegates in Republican Convention. California has 609 votes, 37.5 million people! I like the secretary, who could be a benevolent figure amongst the magicians' faculty of Hogwarts. Dr. Joseph Lowery speaking for Georgia! [Besides being a civil rights activist and minister, I've just seen that he is the person who incorporated the in, my view very funny, mellow/yellow, etc., line at the Obama inauguration.] The young Iowan speakers are pretty endearing. As Mississippi passes to Ohio, Obama receives enough votes for an official nomination. Music: "Celebration Time" as a screen says "Over the Top!" 384 votes for New York State. Puerto Rico: land of Sonia Sotomayor. :) Is Ashley Judd announcing Tennessee (home of Grand Ole Opry) 's votes? [A certain online encyclopaedia states that she "earned a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration degree (MC MPA, a one year degree, not to be confused with the more rigorous two-year MPA) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government," in 2010, before mentioning that yes, she is a political activist.] She looks lovely. Vermont: "first state in the union to outlaw slavery," says Sen. Patrick Leahy. Virgin Islands, which has 12 votes. Virginia: home, for instance, to Gabby Douglas. Washington State. Wisconsin. etc. I've boiled this all down considerably, because this took a very, very long time.
N.B.B: This is, at last, the final installment of notes for this convention! Next night I might even sleep more than three hours instead of being discommoded by the time zone differences. (c:
11:26 p.m. Antonio Villaraigosa. Chant: We are fired up! Nomination seconded by everyone roaring "Yea!"
 |
| Ashley Judd at the ABC's Missing @ The Paley Center 2012, by Genevieve. April 11, 2012. via Wikimedia Commons, (Licence: (CC BY 2.0)) |
Alice Germond, secretary of the committee, calls the roll of the states. We know that every state counts and that every vote is precious, she says, apparently criticizing treatment of Ron Paul delegates in Republican Convention. California has 609 votes, 37.5 million people! I like the secretary, who could be a benevolent figure amongst the magicians' faculty of Hogwarts. Dr. Joseph Lowery speaking for Georgia! [Besides being a civil rights activist and minister, I've just seen that he is the person who incorporated the in, my view very funny, mellow/yellow, etc., line at the Obama inauguration.] The young Iowan speakers are pretty endearing. As Mississippi passes to Ohio, Obama receives enough votes for an official nomination. Music: "Celebration Time" as a screen says "Over the Top!" 384 votes for New York State. Puerto Rico: land of Sonia Sotomayor. :) Is Ashley Judd announcing Tennessee (home of Grand Ole Opry) 's votes? [A certain online encyclopaedia states that she "earned a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration degree (MC MPA, a one year degree, not to be confused with the more rigorous two-year MPA) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government," in 2010, before mentioning that yes, she is a political activist.] She looks lovely. Vermont: "first state in the union to outlaw slavery," says Sen. Patrick Leahy. Virgin Islands, which has 12 votes. Virginia: home, for instance, to Gabby Douglas. Washington State. Wisconsin. etc. I've boiled this all down considerably, because this took a very, very long time.
My Notes on Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day: Part V
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
Elizabeth Warren, con'td.:
She "grew up on the ragged fringes of the middle class," her father was a maintenance man, her brothers went to the military and moved on to other jobs, she was a waitress at thirteen and then an elementary school teacher and now a mother and grandmother 'married to a great man.' Hails the opportunities of America. A bit of agitation against "Wall Street CEOs" who arrogantly demand taxpayer handouts despite their reckless handling of the economy resulting in terrible losses. Generally an argument for equal economic opportunity. "I got mine; the rest of you are on your own": her interpretation of the Republican ethos. 'Corporations are people': — I haven't written this down perfectly — 'no — people have hearts and they have children, they live and they love and they die; and that matters.' Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, survived by grace of President Obama's steadfast support in the face of enormous corporate opposition. No to "free ride" and "golden parachute." Main Street/Wall Street talk. She was a Methodist Sunday school teacher, too, and quotes "Inasmuch," which also cropped up in the Republican convention.
10:31 p.m. Antonio Villaraigosa: introducing Bill Clinton, via a film treating him a little like a rock star and mentioning the Clinton Global Initiative as well as his presidency and its economic triumphs. High enthusiasm for Bill Clinton.
10:34 p.m. The man himself. Loud cheers for characterizing Obama as man who is "cool on the outside" but burning with fervour for America on the inside; and "after last night," the man "who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama." He recapitulates the dire picture which the Republican National Convention speakers drew of the Democratic economic philosophy, then says that "We're all in this together" is a better philosophy than the Republican "You're on your own."
Hate of far-right Republicans for Obama and some Democrats is in his opinion unprecedented. (Chelsea Clinton is there too!) Says that understandable frustration in hard times may make for good politics, but cooperation leads to good policy. Despite this extreme climate, Obama deserves encouragement because he is "still committed to constructive cooperation." Cheers for Joe Biden for his role in that cooperation. Praising Obamas' support for serving military, veterans and their families.
Criticizes prioritizing putting Obama out of work to putting people in work. Dissects Republican economic platform and says that is identical to or worse than Bush-era policy which got America into the current situation. Banks are beginning to lend again, house prices beginning to pick up again, but economic recovery has not been felt by many yet. But no president could have "repaired the damage that he found in just four years." Clinton mentions cutting greenhouse gas emissions! Student loan reform: fixed low percentage of income for up to 20 years. It means that college graduates can still take low-paying jobs like teaching or police work.
Clinton explains parts of health care law which have already gone into effect, e.g. extended family coverage for young people, insurance for people with preexisting conditions soon to arrive, 80-85% of health care premiums required to go to payer's health care instead of to company profits or premiums. "Raid" on Medicare was no such thing; it was a reappropriation of money that was being misused by health care providers to close a loophole. (I don't know what that means precisely either.) Says that under Romney's proposed policy, Medicare would end in 2016 due to bankruptcy. Seriously criticizes proposed cuts to Medicaid: nursing home care, care for people with disabilities — autism, Down's syndrome, etc. — as well as services to poor people will be diminished.
Rebuts welfare work requirement (which Clinton helped legislate into being) claims of Republican campaign ads, quotes Republican pollster who said that he wouldn't let the campaign be run by fact-checkers, jokes that "Finally I can say: 'that is true!'" About the economic plans in general, says that "arithmetic" is the distinguishing offering of the Democrats.
Then the speech ends, and Barack Obama comes out to shake hands and hug.
Elizabeth Warren, con'td.:
She "grew up on the ragged fringes of the middle class," her father was a maintenance man, her brothers went to the military and moved on to other jobs, she was a waitress at thirteen and then an elementary school teacher and now a mother and grandmother 'married to a great man.' Hails the opportunities of America. A bit of agitation against "Wall Street CEOs" who arrogantly demand taxpayer handouts despite their reckless handling of the economy resulting in terrible losses. Generally an argument for equal economic opportunity. "I got mine; the rest of you are on your own": her interpretation of the Republican ethos. 'Corporations are people': — I haven't written this down perfectly — 'no — people have hearts and they have children, they live and they love and they die; and that matters.' Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, survived by grace of President Obama's steadfast support in the face of enormous corporate opposition. No to "free ride" and "golden parachute." Main Street/Wall Street talk. She was a Methodist Sunday school teacher, too, and quotes "Inasmuch," which also cropped up in the Republican convention.
10:31 p.m. Antonio Villaraigosa: introducing Bill Clinton, via a film treating him a little like a rock star and mentioning the Clinton Global Initiative as well as his presidency and its economic triumphs. High enthusiasm for Bill Clinton.
10:34 p.m. The man himself. Loud cheers for characterizing Obama as man who is "cool on the outside" but burning with fervour for America on the inside; and "after last night," the man "who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama." He recapitulates the dire picture which the Republican National Convention speakers drew of the Democratic economic philosophy, then says that "We're all in this together" is a better philosophy than the Republican "You're on your own."
Hate of far-right Republicans for Obama and some Democrats is in his opinion unprecedented. (Chelsea Clinton is there too!) Says that understandable frustration in hard times may make for good politics, but cooperation leads to good policy. Despite this extreme climate, Obama deserves encouragement because he is "still committed to constructive cooperation." Cheers for Joe Biden for his role in that cooperation. Praising Obamas' support for serving military, veterans and their families.
Criticizes prioritizing putting Obama out of work to putting people in work. Dissects Republican economic platform and says that is identical to or worse than Bush-era policy which got America into the current situation. Banks are beginning to lend again, house prices beginning to pick up again, but economic recovery has not been felt by many yet. But no president could have "repaired the damage that he found in just four years." Clinton mentions cutting greenhouse gas emissions! Student loan reform: fixed low percentage of income for up to 20 years. It means that college graduates can still take low-paying jobs like teaching or police work.
Clinton explains parts of health care law which have already gone into effect, e.g. extended family coverage for young people, insurance for people with preexisting conditions soon to arrive, 80-85% of health care premiums required to go to payer's health care instead of to company profits or premiums. "Raid" on Medicare was no such thing; it was a reappropriation of money that was being misused by health care providers to close a loophole. (I don't know what that means precisely either.) Says that under Romney's proposed policy, Medicare would end in 2016 due to bankruptcy. Seriously criticizes proposed cuts to Medicaid: nursing home care, care for people with disabilities — autism, Down's syndrome, etc. — as well as services to poor people will be diminished.
Rebuts welfare work requirement (which Clinton helped legislate into being) claims of Republican campaign ads, quotes Republican pollster who said that he wouldn't let the campaign be run by fact-checkers, jokes that "Finally I can say: 'that is true!'" About the economic plans in general, says that "arithmetic" is the distinguishing offering of the Democrats.
Then the speech ends, and Barack Obama comes out to shake hands and hug.
My Notes on Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day: Part IV
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
8:42 p.m. Sister Simone Campbell, nun who is travelling while protesting Ryan budget on behalf of fellow Catholics. Cites Council of American Bishops' disapproval. "We are all responsible for one another. I am my sister's keeper. I am my brother's keeper." Says that poor people who are struggling to support themselves need help; they should not starve, and they should not die of undiagnosed conditions because they don't have the funds to visit a doctor. "This is part of my pro-life stance, and the right thing to do." "Listen to one another, rather than yell at each other," she says at a very loud volume. I find it kind of friendly and, I guess, organic when non-politician speakers make little errors in following the teleprompter and don't pause when the audience drowns them out.
8:50 p.m. Cheers greet the governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, who begins by hailing Joe Biden. Talks somewhat oxymoron-ically about Mitt Romney's 'roots.' Says he is a businessman, too; was at Nextel (and later at Comcast) and is a self-declared capitalist and believer in private equity (like Bain Capital's work); but he believes one should learn the right lessons. Romney concentrated on the wellbeing of his shareholders, and therefore focused on the bottom line; but in government this approach is detrimental. And outsourced jobs and unemployment when companies are driven out of business are a huge problem for others. I found this kind of convincing.
8:58 p.m. Karen Mills, Mainer of the Small Business Administration. She's a little like a besuited professional in a commercial and makes as many hand gestures as our very own Chancellor Merkel. She seems to be emphasizing that the Obama government is not nannying small businesses, but simply improving the ambient conditions so that they can thrive.
(Film which I missed due to Nutella bread break. *N.B. I am not paid to advertise a certain chocolate-hazelnut spread.*)
9:05 pm. Chipper craft beer brewer from Virginia, Bill Butcher, speaks in praise of Obama's measures for small businesses.
9:07 p.m. "California's State Attorney, Kamala Harris." Talks about the legal fundament of America and its ideal role in preventing the kind of activity which leads to financial crises, denial of rights. She says that letting mortgage foreclosures run their course, as Romney apparently suggested, 'is. not. leadership.' Refers to credit card company regulations to keep gratuitous fees in check. Speaks for American Dream.
Film on immigration. Obama thinks letting illegal immigrants' children nationalize is also 'good for our security.'
9:16 p.m. Benita Veliz, graduated student, speaking in favour of Dream Act. She introduces:
8:42 p.m. Sister Simone Campbell, nun who is travelling while protesting Ryan budget on behalf of fellow Catholics. Cites Council of American Bishops' disapproval. "We are all responsible for one another. I am my sister's keeper. I am my brother's keeper." Says that poor people who are struggling to support themselves need help; they should not starve, and they should not die of undiagnosed conditions because they don't have the funds to visit a doctor. "This is part of my pro-life stance, and the right thing to do." "Listen to one another, rather than yell at each other," she says at a very loud volume. I find it kind of friendly and, I guess, organic when non-politician speakers make little errors in following the teleprompter and don't pause when the audience drowns them out.
8:50 p.m. Cheers greet the governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, who begins by hailing Joe Biden. Talks somewhat oxymoron-ically about Mitt Romney's 'roots.' Says he is a businessman, too; was at Nextel (and later at Comcast) and is a self-declared capitalist and believer in private equity (like Bain Capital's work); but he believes one should learn the right lessons. Romney concentrated on the wellbeing of his shareholders, and therefore focused on the bottom line; but in government this approach is detrimental. And outsourced jobs and unemployment when companies are driven out of business are a huge problem for others. I found this kind of convincing.
8:58 p.m. Karen Mills, Mainer of the Small Business Administration. She's a little like a besuited professional in a commercial and makes as many hand gestures as our very own Chancellor Merkel. She seems to be emphasizing that the Obama government is not nannying small businesses, but simply improving the ambient conditions so that they can thrive.
(Film which I missed due to Nutella bread break. *N.B. I am not paid to advertise a certain chocolate-hazelnut spread.*)
9:05 pm. Chipper craft beer brewer from Virginia, Bill Butcher, speaks in praise of Obama's measures for small businesses.
9:07 p.m. "California's State Attorney, Kamala Harris." Talks about the legal fundament of America and its ideal role in preventing the kind of activity which leads to financial crises, denial of rights. She says that letting mortgage foreclosures run their course, as Romney apparently suggested, 'is. not. leadership.' Refers to credit card company regulations to keep gratuitous fees in check. Speaks for American Dream.
Film on immigration. Obama thinks letting illegal immigrants' children nationalize is also 'good for our security.'
9:16 p.m. Benita Veliz, graduated student, speaking in favour of Dream Act. She introduces:
My Notes on Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day: Part III
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
Film with Obama speech about changes in health care, and about women's choices in their contraception.
8:05 p.m. Elizabeth Bruce has endometriosis, was tentatively diagnosed by a nurse with Planned Parenthood after her doctors thought that her pain symptoms were only psychosomatic, and guided to a doctor who gave her an operation; thereby she was eventually able to have a daughter. Reaffirms importance of Planned Parenthood in providing women's health care for the poor.
8:08 p.m. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood. Paul Ryan, Todd Akin, etc. focus on denying women's rights even though they are purportedly focused on the important question of the economy, she argues. Points to role of contraception in improving higher education rates and life expectancy since Planned Parenthood was founded in the previous century. Mad Men reference. 3 million people come for Planned Parenthood services annually. Mentions God. Contributes to the compendium of American folksy sayin's. Loud applause for her mother, Gov. Ann Richards, and she tears up a little, as do members of the audience; apparently she (the mother) was friends with Obama. Rather militaristic in her mannerisms, but indubitably staunch in upholding her causes.
8:17 p.m. Representin' elderly white men, although a trifle afflicted with the Boehner-tan (what Silvio Berlusconi might call bronzato), enthusiastically: Representative of Maryland and Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer. Quotes Jesse Jackson, says that Republicans' priorities are out of order: these would rather see Obama out of office than address crucial problems in America. Says that Democrats' stimulus spending averted second Great Depression. Talks about a January where 800,000 jobs were lost — since this is in the wake of the Christmas commercial season where employment can be expected to peak, this is a little of a weaselly statistic, I think. Says that war expenditure is incompatible with fiscal responsibility. Paul Ryan fib mention by inference!!! He is wearing a flag pin. "God bless every American, and God bless all of you!" he concludes. Chant of "Four more years!" in the audience. Hoyer seems like he's a fun conversationalist.
Film: Vietnam War veteran and organizer of charity (Aleethia = 'truth' in Greek?) for wounded soldiers, from Virginia. In his opinion, Obama cares; "you can hear it in his voice when he says: 'Welcome home.'"
8:28 p.m. The veteran, Ed Meagher, speaks, about helping veterans not to feel ostracized for their visible injuries and their military careers generally. Refers to G.I. Bill, which I think was also a Republican initiative (McCain?). Mentions risk of suicide, which I think is kind of brave since it's evidently not a visible and not necessarily a socially accepted injury.
8:31 p.m. Eric Shinseki, General (ret.) and Veteran Affairs Secretary. Admires Obama's "devotion to veterans," says that they bonded over World War II service of their parents' generation. 'Finest military in the world.' Mentions 'warriors,' which always makes me think of Mel Gibson in furs askew and big blue stripes on his face, going "rawrrr" and fumbling with a sword whilst running on a hill with his fellow Celts. Talks about 'historic expansion of treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury.' Probably not enough, though, since I have read articles about how unsupportive the military still is about "shell-shock." "President Obama is determined that we will repay our debt to them. God bless our veterans! God bless our president!", etc.
8:35 p.m. Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper. The intro music really is strange. He talks about the wildfires and the tragedy in Aurora, a trifle too briskly in my opinion. Mentions 'bickering' again. Says that his state's Republicans work with him, unlike federal congressmen with Obama; pokes fun at Mitt Romney's tax return disclosure-lessness. Talks about improvement in tourism and agricultural exports and development of natural gas and environmental energy resources. Also, in beer industry. Says he was laid off in 1986 recession. Co-started a business. 'Like so many other businesses, it was not only me, it was we.' City development loan, investments from friends helped him. An example of communities coming together to help each other. Mother: single mother of four children, said that you can't control what comes at you, but you can control how you respond. Praises Obama for 'finding hope where there was none.' Shout-out for being "fellow skinny Democrat with a funny last name."
Film with Obama speech about changes in health care, and about women's choices in their contraception.
 |
| Cecile Richards at the 2011 Time 100 gala. April 27, 2011 by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 Licence) Use maybe restricted due to personality rights. |
8:05 p.m. Elizabeth Bruce has endometriosis, was tentatively diagnosed by a nurse with Planned Parenthood after her doctors thought that her pain symptoms were only psychosomatic, and guided to a doctor who gave her an operation; thereby she was eventually able to have a daughter. Reaffirms importance of Planned Parenthood in providing women's health care for the poor.
8:08 p.m. Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood. Paul Ryan, Todd Akin, etc. focus on denying women's rights even though they are purportedly focused on the important question of the economy, she argues. Points to role of contraception in improving higher education rates and life expectancy since Planned Parenthood was founded in the previous century. Mad Men reference. 3 million people come for Planned Parenthood services annually. Mentions God. Contributes to the compendium of American folksy sayin's. Loud applause for her mother, Gov. Ann Richards, and she tears up a little, as do members of the audience; apparently she (the mother) was friends with Obama. Rather militaristic in her mannerisms, but indubitably staunch in upholding her causes.
8:17 p.m. Representin' elderly white men, although a trifle afflicted with the Boehner-tan (what Silvio Berlusconi might call bronzato), enthusiastically: Representative of Maryland and Democratic Whip, Steny Hoyer. Quotes Jesse Jackson, says that Republicans' priorities are out of order: these would rather see Obama out of office than address crucial problems in America. Says that Democrats' stimulus spending averted second Great Depression. Talks about a January where 800,000 jobs were lost — since this is in the wake of the Christmas commercial season where employment can be expected to peak, this is a little of a weaselly statistic, I think. Says that war expenditure is incompatible with fiscal responsibility. Paul Ryan fib mention by inference!!! He is wearing a flag pin. "God bless every American, and God bless all of you!" he concludes. Chant of "Four more years!" in the audience. Hoyer seems like he's a fun conversationalist.
Film: Vietnam War veteran and organizer of charity (Aleethia = 'truth' in Greek?) for wounded soldiers, from Virginia. In his opinion, Obama cares; "you can hear it in his voice when he says: 'Welcome home.'"
8:28 p.m. The veteran, Ed Meagher, speaks, about helping veterans not to feel ostracized for their visible injuries and their military careers generally. Refers to G.I. Bill, which I think was also a Republican initiative (McCain?). Mentions risk of suicide, which I think is kind of brave since it's evidently not a visible and not necessarily a socially accepted injury.
8:31 p.m. Eric Shinseki, General (ret.) and Veteran Affairs Secretary. Admires Obama's "devotion to veterans," says that they bonded over World War II service of their parents' generation. 'Finest military in the world.' Mentions 'warriors,' which always makes me think of Mel Gibson in furs askew and big blue stripes on his face, going "rawrrr" and fumbling with a sword whilst running on a hill with his fellow Celts. Talks about 'historic expansion of treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury.' Probably not enough, though, since I have read articles about how unsupportive the military still is about "shell-shock." "President Obama is determined that we will repay our debt to them. God bless our veterans! God bless our president!", etc.
8:35 p.m. Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper. The intro music really is strange. He talks about the wildfires and the tragedy in Aurora, a trifle too briskly in my opinion. Mentions 'bickering' again. Says that his state's Republicans work with him, unlike federal congressmen with Obama; pokes fun at Mitt Romney's tax return disclosure-lessness. Talks about improvement in tourism and agricultural exports and development of natural gas and environmental energy resources. Also, in beer industry. Says he was laid off in 1986 recession. Co-started a business. 'Like so many other businesses, it was not only me, it was we.' City development loan, investments from friends helped him. An example of communities coming together to help each other. Mother: single mother of four children, said that you can't control what comes at you, but you can control how you respond. Praises Obama for 'finding hope where there was none.' Shout-out for being "fellow skinny Democrat with a funny last name."
My Notes of Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day, Part II
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
6:04 p.m. Delegate Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, with a lovely Italian? flow of tongue, speaking about the economy and now about immigration reform. Obama is striving to "reduce the deficit in a balanced way." He adds that he knows that Obama will stand with his people (Puerto Ricans, I think), and he concludes, "God bless America."
6:08 p.m. Congressman Steve Israel, New York's 2nd District. I'm taking a break for the sake of nourishment.
6:14 p.m. Patty Murray, senator from Washington State. Very enthusiastic contingent of her fellow statespeople. Had military father with multiple sclerosis, family relied on mother for income. She (her mother) was in a worker training programme, had to raise them on food stamps, and sacrifice. President Obama has seen similar experiences. 'Middle class and everyone working to get into it': second reference. Somewhat labyrinthine analogy of middle class to the hapless dog who had a long and uncomfortable ride on top of the Romneys' car to Canada in the 80s. [A somewhat TMI account in the Boston Globe: "Journeys of a shared life", June 27, 2007.]
Short film about energy. Oil, wind, geothermal. Definitely prefer listening to Obama speech clips, because of their kind of snappier and more immediate nature compared to Romney's, I think. Wind industry represents 75,000 jobs. Ryan-Romney budget would shut down much of green energy industry? 'Home-grown energy. That's what we're fighting for.'
[Here is a much better article on the Republican Party's platform for green energy and science generally than I could write:
"Republican Party Platform Has a Lot to Say About Science," by David Malakoff, August 29, 2012, from Science Magazine's website.
The platform itself isn't clear, as far as I can interpret, about how the alternative energy industry is to be fostered by the government; it does sound like it wants to let the industry alone so that the free hand of market can sort it out like God sorts us out at the Pearly Gates, and it does tentatively suggest that 'partnerships between traditional energy industries and emerging renewable industries can be a central component in meeting the nation's long-term needs.']
6:23 p.m. The Democratic convention definitely has more eclectic music to introduce the speakers. Tom Steyer, of Farallon Capital Management. Criticism: dependence on foreign oil and effluence of taxpayer monies to oil companies, which would be promoted by Romney. He believes in long-term thinking, to out-think and out-hustle and out-innovate other countries. 'Let's embrace the vision of a clean, healthy Earth, which God gave us' instead of 'scorched Earth.' He seemed kind of nice.
6:29 p.m. Official photograph. Everyone has to stand really still for a time lapse photo, for a minute. A very long minute. The instructions to the audience made it sound like the beginning of a mass hypnotism session.
6:33 p.m. Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State, refers to Bill Clinton. Schumer's father ran a small business, namely an exterminating company, 'which may explain why we always associated the smell of roach spray with love.' All right? :) Lots of digs against G.W. Bush. His tax cuts for millionaires 'exploded our deficits.' Schumer himself had, I think, $360,000 in personal wealth (this excludes houses and any "asset that does not generate income"), according to Roll Call, at the outset of the 111th Congress (January 3, 2009 - January 3, 2011). So I guess he is qualified as a speaker on not being a millionaire. Now he is hammering Mitt Romney for having a life experience that is too "rarefied" and 'narrow,' and for sending jobs overseas. Hailing Obama's security arrangements provided to Israel, 'toughest sanctions ever' in history against Iran to counter threat of nuclear weapons development.
Speaking on behalf of Congressional Black Caucus to protest against Voter ID laws.
6:44 p.m. (roughly) Texas's 9th District Representative Al Green. Leads cheers of "U-S-A." I feel happier imagining myself in the days where U-S-A was something that Homer Simpson said in what I thought was a sports stadium chant, not so much nationalist as vaguely triumphant.
6:48 p.m. Missouri's congressional representative Emanuel Cleaver, talking about bickering, rather too late for much of the convention, which has had much bickering regarding Romney et al. and amongst it also some enjoyable bickering. But he is criticizing Congress and disdain for Democrats and 'progressives' and 'liberals.' '[. . .] make no mistake: I am proud to be a Democrat!' He says that Obama should not be 'lampooned' for having hope. "Hope on!" he yells, and repeats the chant. If hope inspires and powers us, we should welcome it. He jokes about the Democrats' reputation for finicky inclusiveness: a caucus for small congresspeople, a caucus for tall congresspeople, and a caucus for congresspeople who don't really fit into other categories. He will probably have an incredibly sore throat after this. "We are one!" he concludes, no matter how we look like or anything else. The crowd is happily roaring along.
6:59 p.m. Connecticut's governor Dan Malloy. Arguing against Romney-Ryan budget again. 'It isn't conservative. It's harsh, it's radical, and it's wrong.' It will unravel the economic policies of every president back to FDR, thus leading to summary demise of this fair nation. He contrasts voter ID laws to Connecticut's expansion of the franchise by making registration easier or something. He also brings up women's rights, especially since his wife has worked for a rape crisis centre. 'Your sister, your mother, your daughter — let's stand for them!' Paints picture of America which does not discriminate against women, immigrants, gay people, or anybody.
7:05 p.m. Rich Trumka, President of AFL-CIO, 3rd-generation coal miner from Nemacolin, Pennsylvania. Declares that 'Romney doesn't know anything about hard work and responsibility.' When we get home from the convention, he points out, workers will be cleaning things up; we should thank them and it will leave us feeling good afterwards. "Shared prosperity is the only kind that lasts" (uh-oh, kind of socialist!). Republican convention failed to give credit to the workers who helped build their businesses (by my reckoning, this is in fact true). The "old-fashioned way" to enter the middle class: "hard work, fairly rewarded."
7:11 p.m. Denise Juneau from Montana: superintendent for public instruction, "first Native American woman in history to win a statewide election" — Wikipedia says, first in her state. Thanks her teachers, for helping her to go to Harvard and get a law degree at university in Montana. Touches on Native American status in the US, says that American Dream is sought by Indians, too. Obama became adopted member of Crow nation, she reminds us, named "One who helps people throughout the land."
American Dream film, which nods to House of Representatives Democrats, represented by the following speaker Nancy Pelosi. She says that jobs are an integral part of the American Dream, and "President Obama has focused on job creation from Day One." She mentions the military, and says that 'we must build the nation into one that is worthy of their sacrifice.' Besides she is setting up the election as a moral choice: for or against Medicare, for or against Social Security, for or against the rights of women, etc. Allusion to unhallowed influence of Citizens United in political campaign advertising. Vote for democracy . . . or for Romney and the Republican Party. !
7:27 p.m. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, talking about rural Americans: agriculture, military service, inspirational spirit of community. Refers to Obama's grandparents from Kansas. Says 'folks.' Believes that Obama is promoting agricultural exports and investing in the industry, also in biofuels and solar and wind power — 'not in the Middle East, but in America.' As the Agriculture Secretary, I guess he'd be reasonably informed. Jab at 'opportunists.'
Short film introducing lady congresswomen as a lady sings about the 'voice of women' and "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world." Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Debbie Stabenow, Amy Klobuchar, Jeanne Shaheen, a congresswoman from North Carolina, Kirsten Gillibrand, etc., and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who takes to the microphone and is endearingly tiny. "As you can see, we come in different sizes," she quips. "We build families, businesses, and communities," she says, mentioning that she used to be a social worker in Baltimore. Job creation, affordable quality child care, growth of middle class are women's issues and priorities. "We know that every issue is a woman's issue," and equal pay "is an all-American issue." Thanks to President Obama, being a woman is "no longer a preexisting condition" for health insurance.
7:42 p.m. Arne Duncan, parent of children at public school (and Education Secretary), talking about education. Talking about rewarding good teachers, rather than firing bad ones as the Republican speakers I think did more or less directly. Trying to describe the effects which cuts in education would have, and describes these as financing tax cuts for the upper tax brackets if the Romney/Ryan budget comes to fruition. Education spending is an investment.
Film with Pell Grant recipient, who was enabled to go to college with it. It "changes my life in a way that people can't imagine."
7:49 p.m. (roughly) The recipient, Johanny Adams, comes to speak. "Gracias, Mami, por todo," she says (her mother held three jobs to pay for her children's living expenses). She is studying in Florida and is a newly naturalized citizen.
7:50 p.m. Jim Hunt of North Carolina, governor in 1977-85, and in 1993 to 2001. Talks about desegregation, building up the education system for instance by paying teachers more. "We should appreciate, we should respect them, and we should pay them well." Led to 'highest graduation rate in our history.' And 'in Obama we have a great leader who is rebuilding America.' Mentions specific education spending initiatives, for instance for historically black colleges, Pell Grants, keeping schools open through stimulus money. Cutting taxes and regulations will create jobs 'like magic' according to the Republicans' proposals, he says, nodding to the unflattering label "voodoo economics." North Carolina wasn't built up 'by magic' and 'magic' is not what America needs now, he concludes.
7:59 p.m. Jessica Sanchez and God's Appointed People choir. Snappy beat. Vibrato kind of interferes with in-tuneness. People besides the young people in the crowd are also dancing! Gentleman who is signing the lyrics for the hearing-impaired lip-synchs along rather endearingly. Jessica takes her leave, looking very pleased.
6:04 p.m. Delegate Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, with a lovely Italian? flow of tongue, speaking about the economy and now about immigration reform. Obama is striving to "reduce the deficit in a balanced way." He adds that he knows that Obama will stand with his people (Puerto Ricans, I think), and he concludes, "God bless America."
6:08 p.m. Congressman Steve Israel, New York's 2nd District. I'm taking a break for the sake of nourishment.
6:14 p.m. Patty Murray, senator from Washington State. Very enthusiastic contingent of her fellow statespeople. Had military father with multiple sclerosis, family relied on mother for income. She (her mother) was in a worker training programme, had to raise them on food stamps, and sacrifice. President Obama has seen similar experiences. 'Middle class and everyone working to get into it': second reference. Somewhat labyrinthine analogy of middle class to the hapless dog who had a long and uncomfortable ride on top of the Romneys' car to Canada in the 80s. [A somewhat TMI account in the Boston Globe: "Journeys of a shared life", June 27, 2007.]
Short film about energy. Oil, wind, geothermal. Definitely prefer listening to Obama speech clips, because of their kind of snappier and more immediate nature compared to Romney's, I think. Wind industry represents 75,000 jobs. Ryan-Romney budget would shut down much of green energy industry? 'Home-grown energy. That's what we're fighting for.'
[Here is a much better article on the Republican Party's platform for green energy and science generally than I could write:
"Republican Party Platform Has a Lot to Say About Science," by David Malakoff, August 29, 2012, from Science Magazine's website.
The platform itself isn't clear, as far as I can interpret, about how the alternative energy industry is to be fostered by the government; it does sound like it wants to let the industry alone so that the free hand of market can sort it out like God sorts us out at the Pearly Gates, and it does tentatively suggest that 'partnerships between traditional energy industries and emerging renewable industries can be a central component in meeting the nation's long-term needs.']
6:23 p.m. The Democratic convention definitely has more eclectic music to introduce the speakers. Tom Steyer, of Farallon Capital Management. Criticism: dependence on foreign oil and effluence of taxpayer monies to oil companies, which would be promoted by Romney. He believes in long-term thinking, to out-think and out-hustle and out-innovate other countries. 'Let's embrace the vision of a clean, healthy Earth, which God gave us' instead of 'scorched Earth.' He seemed kind of nice.
6:29 p.m. Official photograph. Everyone has to stand really still for a time lapse photo, for a minute. A very long minute. The instructions to the audience made it sound like the beginning of a mass hypnotism session.
6:33 p.m. Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State, refers to Bill Clinton. Schumer's father ran a small business, namely an exterminating company, 'which may explain why we always associated the smell of roach spray with love.' All right? :) Lots of digs against G.W. Bush. His tax cuts for millionaires 'exploded our deficits.' Schumer himself had, I think, $360,000 in personal wealth (this excludes houses and any "asset that does not generate income"), according to Roll Call, at the outset of the 111th Congress (January 3, 2009 - January 3, 2011). So I guess he is qualified as a speaker on not being a millionaire. Now he is hammering Mitt Romney for having a life experience that is too "rarefied" and 'narrow,' and for sending jobs overseas. Hailing Obama's security arrangements provided to Israel, 'toughest sanctions ever' in history against Iran to counter threat of nuclear weapons development.
Speaking on behalf of Congressional Black Caucus to protest against Voter ID laws.
6:44 p.m. (roughly) Texas's 9th District Representative Al Green. Leads cheers of "U-S-A." I feel happier imagining myself in the days where U-S-A was something that Homer Simpson said in what I thought was a sports stadium chant, not so much nationalist as vaguely triumphant.
6:48 p.m. Missouri's congressional representative Emanuel Cleaver, talking about bickering, rather too late for much of the convention, which has had much bickering regarding Romney et al. and amongst it also some enjoyable bickering. But he is criticizing Congress and disdain for Democrats and 'progressives' and 'liberals.' '[. . .] make no mistake: I am proud to be a Democrat!' He says that Obama should not be 'lampooned' for having hope. "Hope on!" he yells, and repeats the chant. If hope inspires and powers us, we should welcome it. He jokes about the Democrats' reputation for finicky inclusiveness: a caucus for small congresspeople, a caucus for tall congresspeople, and a caucus for congresspeople who don't really fit into other categories. He will probably have an incredibly sore throat after this. "We are one!" he concludes, no matter how we look like or anything else. The crowd is happily roaring along.
6:59 p.m. Connecticut's governor Dan Malloy. Arguing against Romney-Ryan budget again. 'It isn't conservative. It's harsh, it's radical, and it's wrong.' It will unravel the economic policies of every president back to FDR, thus leading to summary demise of this fair nation. He contrasts voter ID laws to Connecticut's expansion of the franchise by making registration easier or something. He also brings up women's rights, especially since his wife has worked for a rape crisis centre. 'Your sister, your mother, your daughter — let's stand for them!' Paints picture of America which does not discriminate against women, immigrants, gay people, or anybody.
7:05 p.m. Rich Trumka, President of AFL-CIO, 3rd-generation coal miner from Nemacolin, Pennsylvania. Declares that 'Romney doesn't know anything about hard work and responsibility.' When we get home from the convention, he points out, workers will be cleaning things up; we should thank them and it will leave us feeling good afterwards. "Shared prosperity is the only kind that lasts" (uh-oh, kind of socialist!). Republican convention failed to give credit to the workers who helped build their businesses (by my reckoning, this is in fact true). The "old-fashioned way" to enter the middle class: "hard work, fairly rewarded."
7:11 p.m. Denise Juneau from Montana: superintendent for public instruction, "first Native American woman in history to win a statewide election" — Wikipedia says, first in her state. Thanks her teachers, for helping her to go to Harvard and get a law degree at university in Montana. Touches on Native American status in the US, says that American Dream is sought by Indians, too. Obama became adopted member of Crow nation, she reminds us, named "One who helps people throughout the land."
American Dream film, which nods to House of Representatives Democrats, represented by the following speaker Nancy Pelosi. She says that jobs are an integral part of the American Dream, and "President Obama has focused on job creation from Day One." She mentions the military, and says that 'we must build the nation into one that is worthy of their sacrifice.' Besides she is setting up the election as a moral choice: for or against Medicare, for or against Social Security, for or against the rights of women, etc. Allusion to unhallowed influence of Citizens United in political campaign advertising. Vote for democracy . . . or for Romney and the Republican Party. !
7:27 p.m. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, talking about rural Americans: agriculture, military service, inspirational spirit of community. Refers to Obama's grandparents from Kansas. Says 'folks.' Believes that Obama is promoting agricultural exports and investing in the industry, also in biofuels and solar and wind power — 'not in the Middle East, but in America.' As the Agriculture Secretary, I guess he'd be reasonably informed. Jab at 'opportunists.'
Short film introducing lady congresswomen as a lady sings about the 'voice of women' and "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world." Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Debbie Stabenow, Amy Klobuchar, Jeanne Shaheen, a congresswoman from North Carolina, Kirsten Gillibrand, etc., and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, who takes to the microphone and is endearingly tiny. "As you can see, we come in different sizes," she quips. "We build families, businesses, and communities," she says, mentioning that she used to be a social worker in Baltimore. Job creation, affordable quality child care, growth of middle class are women's issues and priorities. "We know that every issue is a woman's issue," and equal pay "is an all-American issue." Thanks to President Obama, being a woman is "no longer a preexisting condition" for health insurance.
7:42 p.m. Arne Duncan, parent of children at public school (and Education Secretary), talking about education. Talking about rewarding good teachers, rather than firing bad ones as the Republican speakers I think did more or less directly. Trying to describe the effects which cuts in education would have, and describes these as financing tax cuts for the upper tax brackets if the Romney/Ryan budget comes to fruition. Education spending is an investment.
Film with Pell Grant recipient, who was enabled to go to college with it. It "changes my life in a way that people can't imagine."
7:49 p.m. (roughly) The recipient, Johanny Adams, comes to speak. "Gracias, Mami, por todo," she says (her mother held three jobs to pay for her children's living expenses). She is studying in Florida and is a newly naturalized citizen.
7:50 p.m. Jim Hunt of North Carolina, governor in 1977-85, and in 1993 to 2001. Talks about desegregation, building up the education system for instance by paying teachers more. "We should appreciate, we should respect them, and we should pay them well." Led to 'highest graduation rate in our history.' And 'in Obama we have a great leader who is rebuilding America.' Mentions specific education spending initiatives, for instance for historically black colleges, Pell Grants, keeping schools open through stimulus money. Cutting taxes and regulations will create jobs 'like magic' according to the Republicans' proposals, he says, nodding to the unflattering label "voodoo economics." North Carolina wasn't built up 'by magic' and 'magic' is not what America needs now, he concludes.
7:59 p.m. Jessica Sanchez and God's Appointed People choir. Snappy beat. Vibrato kind of interferes with in-tuneness. People besides the young people in the crowd are also dancing! Gentleman who is signing the lyrics for the hearing-impaired lip-synchs along rather endearingly. Jessica takes her leave, looking very pleased.
My Notes of Sept. 5th Democratic National Convention Day, Part I
N.B.: I have not run a fact check on some of the Democratic speakers' claims. If I'll do, I'll amend these 'minutes.'
5:01 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Antonio Villaraigosa, announced by a bilingual speaker who does his name justice, takes the stage. He is the mayor of Los Angeles.
Gov. Ted Strickland: Amendment to platform. Ordained united Methodist minister. President Obama: Jerusalem capital of Israel. Camera focuses on "Arab American"-wielding people. Loud shouts for and against. Mayor repeats vote. Mayor says 2/3 have voted in favour of the amendment. Bollocks.
(Guardian: "Democratic convention erupts over reinstatement of Jerusalem to policy," by Ewen MacAskill, September 6, 2012)
5:07 p.m. African Methodist Episcopal bishop Vashti McKenzie preaches against "sexism," etc. Much less god-y and more secular messages in the Democratic convention, I'd say. An impressively fiery lady, too.
ROTC Color Guard brings in the flags. Loud applause for Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who recites the Pledge of Allegiance. Branford Marsalis performs the National Anthem on what looks like a straight saxophone. No sign of Bill Clinton as a duet partner. Kind of cheerful and valiant, piping singly into the large chamber, and very elegant.
Color Guard leaves the stage after chants of "U-S-A!" and to applause.
5:15 p.m. Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois's 4th District. "We are never more patriotic than when we see a group of people being treated unfairly and we say, 'Stop.'" June 17th: Obama offers amnesty for young children of illegal immigrant parents. "They are American in every way but on paper." But Romney wants illegal immigrants to self-deport, he says. Mitt Romney wants to 'turn their dreams into nightmares.' Harsh but perhaps accurate, and I wouldn't make Romney solely responsible for that attitude. Talks about American citizen, a soldier who has a 'beautiful immigrant son' with his wife, who had document issues. Unwisely talks about "mejor amiga" in proximity to "Janice Brewer," since it might be misheard as "whore." We should vote for Barack Obama to help him show that "freedom, equality are for all of us, all of the time."
5:21 p.m. Diana DeGette of Colorado's 1st District, Congresswoman. Talks about her daughters and how she wants to ensure that they are not "second class citizens." Nice western twang. Mentions pay gap between men and women: 1$ vs. 77 cents, addressed by Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Opposes Personhood Amendment including ban on embryonic stem cell research and abortion in cases of rape or incest and on in vitro fertilization, along with ordinary birth control and abortion — which has been proposed by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, etc. Links women's Medicare to the economic needs of American citizens. She seems sincere and conscientiously concerned.
5:28 p.m. Enthusiastic reception for John Pérez, Speaker of the California State Assembly. He answers the question, "Who are we fighting for?" . . . People who are seeking opportunity and equality. In 2009, 'some people said, "let Detroit fail"' (N.B.: Nudge at Mitt Romney and his New York Times op-ed which a subeditor rather bluntly entitled: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." What he did write was, "In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check."); Obama didn't. Like Gutierrez, he talks about having "dignity and respect" for fellow people. "But we have a lot of work to do between now and then. So let's get to work! Thank you." He is, I've found out, also a union organizer and a cousin of Villaraigosa.
5:33 p.m. Boston, Massachusetts, mayor Tom Menino. He sounds very Massachusetts-y at moments, to a Mayor Quimby degree, with a soupçon of congressman Barney Frank. Bawston, jawb. Jabs at Mitt Romney. "In Boston, do you know what we call immigrants? Mom and dad. Do you know what we call same-sex couples? Our friends, our brothers, and our sisters." Pahtna = partner. Health care companies are supported by National Research (Council?), i.e. government, funds, he mentions in passing. Massachusetts apparently 47th out of the 50 states in terms of job creation under Romney; for instance, he "cut workforce training." Romney talks about "broken promises." "Well, he would know."
'It's time to keep moving forward. It's time to reelect Obama as president of the United States.'
5:40 p.m. California congresswoman — 32nd district — Judy Chu, granddaughter of Chinese immigrant. Voting, landowning, hiring discrimination against immigrants; but grandfather persisted and "worked 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, for decades." Obama wants to extend the opportunities for all people, ensure "college affordability" and "small business tax cuts" and "health care for all Americans." Obamacare = "President Obama cares," so she no longer resents that word. Romney hammered for Op-Ed again, Obama praised for 'saving auto industry.' Vouchers mean that there is no guarantee of medical insurance coverage. "President Obama cares about all Americans," "whether we're middle class or working hard to get there." That is a pretty grounded phrase and compares favourably to the Republican conventioneers, whose mantra, I thought, was rather that we may not all be rich, but many of us are working towards getting there.
5:47 p.m. Steve Westly, former California State Controller. Very shiny Silicon Valley person, helped organize eBay. The economy. "It's also about supporting the jobs for tomorrow," making US skilled workers competitive with China, etc. Making "especially math and science, a top priority." When it comes to education, 'We should be beating the rest of the world, not beating up on teachers.' Obama 'pledged to double American exports by 2015. By now, we're more than 50% of the way there.' Smarmy grins. Support for "partnerships between community colleges and businesses." Republican economists are out of touch with contemporary economy. 'Outsource' for Them, 'opensource' for Us. Mr. Westly has two children in public school, so there's that going for him in terms of ordinary-Americanness.
5:51 p.m. "Small Business" short film. Solar panel manufacturers! 'Small businesses create most of the new jobs in this country,' says Obama. Small business tax cuts under Obama administration mentioned again.
Representative John Larson, of Connecticut's 1st District. Seniors can pay up to $6,400 'out of their own pockets' to cover their own medical care, under Romney-Ryan plans. Sister Act-like reference to the nuns - Sisters of Notre Dame. He's 'on fire'! "God bless you! God bless America!"
6:00 p.m. Ken Myers: Deputy Sheriff, father, teamster, of Carroll County of Iowa. Talks about negotiation with armed man; 'thankfully, no one was hurt.' Republicans denouncing "teachers, firefighters, and cops" are denouncing this kind of work; prohibitions on collective bargaining like the ones imposed in Iowa and supported by Mitt Romney are impeding this kind of work; funding for the services, incl. bulletproof vests, ambulances, availability of backup for police first responders, etc. cut by nearly 20% in his state. First 9/11 reference.
5:01 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Antonio Villaraigosa, announced by a bilingual speaker who does his name justice, takes the stage. He is the mayor of Los Angeles.
Gov. Ted Strickland: Amendment to platform. Ordained united Methodist minister. President Obama: Jerusalem capital of Israel. Camera focuses on "Arab American"-wielding people. Loud shouts for and against. Mayor repeats vote. Mayor says 2/3 have voted in favour of the amendment. Bollocks.
(Guardian: "Democratic convention erupts over reinstatement of Jerusalem to policy," by Ewen MacAskill, September 6, 2012)
5:07 p.m. African Methodist Episcopal bishop Vashti McKenzie preaches against "sexism," etc. Much less god-y and more secular messages in the Democratic convention, I'd say. An impressively fiery lady, too.
ROTC Color Guard brings in the flags. Loud applause for Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, who recites the Pledge of Allegiance. Branford Marsalis performs the National Anthem on what looks like a straight saxophone. No sign of Bill Clinton as a duet partner. Kind of cheerful and valiant, piping singly into the large chamber, and very elegant.
Color Guard leaves the stage after chants of "U-S-A!" and to applause.
5:15 p.m. Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois's 4th District. "We are never more patriotic than when we see a group of people being treated unfairly and we say, 'Stop.'" June 17th: Obama offers amnesty for young children of illegal immigrant parents. "They are American in every way but on paper." But Romney wants illegal immigrants to self-deport, he says. Mitt Romney wants to 'turn their dreams into nightmares.' Harsh but perhaps accurate, and I wouldn't make Romney solely responsible for that attitude. Talks about American citizen, a soldier who has a 'beautiful immigrant son' with his wife, who had document issues. Unwisely talks about "mejor amiga" in proximity to "Janice Brewer," since it might be misheard as "whore." We should vote for Barack Obama to help him show that "freedom, equality are for all of us, all of the time."
5:21 p.m. Diana DeGette of Colorado's 1st District, Congresswoman. Talks about her daughters and how she wants to ensure that they are not "second class citizens." Nice western twang. Mentions pay gap between men and women: 1$ vs. 77 cents, addressed by Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Opposes Personhood Amendment including ban on embryonic stem cell research and abortion in cases of rape or incest and on in vitro fertilization, along with ordinary birth control and abortion — which has been proposed by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, etc. Links women's Medicare to the economic needs of American citizens. She seems sincere and conscientiously concerned.
5:28 p.m. Enthusiastic reception for John Pérez, Speaker of the California State Assembly. He answers the question, "Who are we fighting for?" . . . People who are seeking opportunity and equality. In 2009, 'some people said, "let Detroit fail"' (N.B.: Nudge at Mitt Romney and his New York Times op-ed which a subeditor rather bluntly entitled: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." What he did write was, "In a managed bankruptcy, the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check."); Obama didn't. Like Gutierrez, he talks about having "dignity and respect" for fellow people. "But we have a lot of work to do between now and then. So let's get to work! Thank you." He is, I've found out, also a union organizer and a cousin of Villaraigosa.
5:33 p.m. Boston, Massachusetts, mayor Tom Menino. He sounds very Massachusetts-y at moments, to a Mayor Quimby degree, with a soupçon of congressman Barney Frank. Bawston, jawb. Jabs at Mitt Romney. "In Boston, do you know what we call immigrants? Mom and dad. Do you know what we call same-sex couples? Our friends, our brothers, and our sisters." Pahtna = partner. Health care companies are supported by National Research (Council?), i.e. government, funds, he mentions in passing. Massachusetts apparently 47th out of the 50 states in terms of job creation under Romney; for instance, he "cut workforce training." Romney talks about "broken promises." "Well, he would know."
'It's time to keep moving forward. It's time to reelect Obama as president of the United States.'
5:40 p.m. California congresswoman — 32nd district — Judy Chu, granddaughter of Chinese immigrant. Voting, landowning, hiring discrimination against immigrants; but grandfather persisted and "worked 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, for decades." Obama wants to extend the opportunities for all people, ensure "college affordability" and "small business tax cuts" and "health care for all Americans." Obamacare = "President Obama cares," so she no longer resents that word. Romney hammered for Op-Ed again, Obama praised for 'saving auto industry.' Vouchers mean that there is no guarantee of medical insurance coverage. "President Obama cares about all Americans," "whether we're middle class or working hard to get there." That is a pretty grounded phrase and compares favourably to the Republican conventioneers, whose mantra, I thought, was rather that we may not all be rich, but many of us are working towards getting there.
5:47 p.m. Steve Westly, former California State Controller. Very shiny Silicon Valley person, helped organize eBay. The economy. "It's also about supporting the jobs for tomorrow," making US skilled workers competitive with China, etc. Making "especially math and science, a top priority." When it comes to education, 'We should be beating the rest of the world, not beating up on teachers.' Obama 'pledged to double American exports by 2015. By now, we're more than 50% of the way there.' Smarmy grins. Support for "partnerships between community colleges and businesses." Republican economists are out of touch with contemporary economy. 'Outsource' for Them, 'opensource' for Us. Mr. Westly has two children in public school, so there's that going for him in terms of ordinary-Americanness.
5:51 p.m. "Small Business" short film. Solar panel manufacturers! 'Small businesses create most of the new jobs in this country,' says Obama. Small business tax cuts under Obama administration mentioned again.
Representative John Larson, of Connecticut's 1st District. Seniors can pay up to $6,400 'out of their own pockets' to cover their own medical care, under Romney-Ryan plans. Sister Act-like reference to the nuns - Sisters of Notre Dame. He's 'on fire'! "God bless you! God bless America!"
6:00 p.m. Ken Myers: Deputy Sheriff, father, teamster, of Carroll County of Iowa. Talks about negotiation with armed man; 'thankfully, no one was hurt.' Republicans denouncing "teachers, firefighters, and cops" are denouncing this kind of work; prohibitions on collective bargaining like the ones imposed in Iowa and supported by Mitt Romney are impeding this kind of work; funding for the services, incl. bulletproof vests, ambulances, availability of backup for police first responders, etc. cut by nearly 20% in his state. First 9/11 reference.
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