by DemFromCT
Continuing a theme started by Kagro X, this is a completely open TNH thread. Ask anything you want, and you'll get a TNH answer. The correct answer, however, is another thing altogether.
But here's a heartwarming story about NYC and Katrina. It seems that the American Red Cross office in NY has been swamped with calls from LA... folks stuck in their homes, folks not knowing where to turn, etc. Naturally, they've responded by increasing their phone banks. So if you're in the NY area and want to help, don't go to LA... go to NY and volunteer for the phones (and send money) to the American Red Cross.
This is an open thread.
I've got one: I began to get involved in a campaign (NYC mayor) for the first time in my life this summer. I went to a candidate forum, liked Weiner & Miller, blogged it (entry here) and emailed all the campaigns, and Miller's group got in touch with me (personally and face-to-face, not by mass email) asking me to volunteer. I liked him, though I had criticisms too and also liked other candidates. Miller's group made getting involved so easy, though, and I'd been a little critical of myself for spending time on blogs without getting involved for real, so I did it, sitting in the lobby of my office & apartment buildings and collecting ballot petitions (blogged here).
Then Miller began pulling some political tricks I wasn't crazy about (here, and here) and I stopped helping the campaign, and am back to ambivalence between him and Weiner (leaning to Weiner).
The local politics of it I'm glad to discuss. But my greater interest is here: I'm feeling kind of like an ass for publicly endorsing him with people I know (and who know me) personally, before I really was sure about the guy. On the other hand, I wanted to get involved instead of just spouting off on-line, and if I waited until I was really sure I was crazy about someone I would likely never jump in at all.
Have any of you experienced this dilemma?
Posted by: mgh | August 30, 2005 at 16:10
Well, I don't think I've ever voted in a presidential primary for the eventual nominee, I can say that much. But I've also never evangelized for a candidate during the primaries.
That's partially a function of knowing what can happen during primary elections, but probably even more a function of not having lived anywhere with a lot of robust primaries, or early enough on the presidential primary calendar to make much difference (or sometimes, even to have a choice).
Backing away from an "endorsement" like that has got to be somewhat embarrassing. But it's better than sticking it out and pretending to defend the guy after he's been exposed as a dirty trickster, if that's the case. Surely only harder when your heart's not in it anymore.
Posted by: Kagro X | August 30, 2005 at 16:35
My answer is: give the '05 NYC mayor's race a pass. Bloomberg's going to win by double-digits, in part because the Dem field sucks donkey balls.
Posted by: Trapper John | August 30, 2005 at 16:59
Why is the sky blue?
Posted by: Mike S | August 30, 2005 at 17:13
Partisan redistricting. Not only is the sky blue, it's like 90-10 blue, leaving the surrounding elements leaning heavy GOP.
Posted by: Kagro X | August 30, 2005 at 17:25
Thank you.
Was the world black and white before the advent of color pictures?
Posted by: Mike S | August 30, 2005 at 17:26
Kagro, Ah yes! I'd always figured you for a LaRouche man. (just kidding.)
Trapper, Without enumerating Bloomberg's sins (which I agree, unfortunately the Dems haven't articulated either), I'd just ask: then you aren't of the "contest every race" school of thought?
Posted by: mgh | August 30, 2005 at 17:27
"Contest every race?" I thought that was David Duke's platform.
Posted by: Kagro X | August 30, 2005 at 17:29
Also, Mike, we prefer the term "pictures of color."
Posted by: Kagro X | August 30, 2005 at 17:30
Sure, contest every race. Preferably with a good candidate. Which we don't have in NYC.
Posted by: Trapper John | August 30, 2005 at 17:41
Sorry, pictures of color.
If a train is travelling to New York from San Francisc at 100mph and another train is traveling there at 110mph but left 30 minutes later, what color would the sky be in Indonesia?
Posted by: Mike S | August 30, 2005 at 18:16
It doesn't matter. The trains never make it to San Fransisco. They are all diverted to Montana by the sheer force of Brian Schweitzer's personal aura, which physically warps the rails themselves, as if bowing in fealty.
Posted by: Kagro X | August 30, 2005 at 19:16
Does the color of the sky in Indonesia rely on the trains arriving in San Francisco?
Posted by: Mike S | August 30, 2005 at 20:04
and you guys wonder where all the commenters are!
Posted by: emptypockets | August 30, 2005 at 20:57
DemFromCT said you guys would answer any question. So I let my inner Calvin out and he's got some questions.
Posted by: Mike S | August 30, 2005 at 21:20
My favorite Calvin question (actually, Hobbes' question, Calvin's answer), unfortunately apropos tonight:
Hobbes: "Do you believe in God?"
Calvin: "Well, someone's out to get me."
ok -- so I have a question for the "guys" (nongenderically). Bush today referred people who wanted to help to the Red Cross and Salvation Army (link, scroll to 11:36 am). At first I read that as also referring people who NEEDED help, which perhaps isn't fair. Or is it?
Does anyone have a sense of what proportion of disaster relief has been done by private nonprofits in the past, and what proportion they are taking on here?
Posted by: emptypockets | August 30, 2005 at 21:41
Does the color of the sky in Indonesia rely on the trains arriving in San Francisco?
That's a question for Mr. Wizard. And as a bounus, he's in black and white.
Posted by: DemFromCT | August 31, 2005 at 07:53