Why Bayh's leaving the Senate

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Friday February 26, 2010 · 7:15 AM PST

2010/02/26 · 07:15

In his New York Times OpEd entitled "Why I'm leaving the Senate", Senator Evan Bayh certainly gave us the Full Monty about what he dislikes about the institution, but precious little about why he's leaving - unless he thinks its not worth saving.

But it didn't sound that way to me. It sounded a lot like he thought that the problems ought to be solved. In fact, he listed several changes which would improve things and all of them lie within the authority of the august body he is leaving. Apparently these things are worth doing, but not worth his effort. That's an awfully tricky position to take.

DonVila

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Thursday January 21, 2010 · 6:34 PM PST

2010/01/21 · 18:34

Like many of you I’ve received many entreaties to urge my Senators and Representative to pursue passage of health care reform through the tactic of reconciliation. It’s an interesting option and because it has impact on the budget it likely is viable. But I’d suggest a different approach.

Before Mr. Brown of Massachusetts is seated, the Senate should vote to eliminate filibusters.

DonVila

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Friday October 09, 2009 · 6:55 AM PDT

2009/10/09 · 06:55

I'm sure I'll take a lot of heat for this, but I'm not altogether comfortable with President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Put simply, it seems premature - particularly in view of the February 1 nomination deadline.

Nobels are generally handed out to folks with lengthy records of accomplishments or stunning breakthrough achievements. Jimmy Carter brokering a peace deal between Israel and Egypt. Al Gore relentlessly forcing climate change to become a dominant issue that most, if not all, governments take seriously. Barack Obama....using more conciliatory rhetoric with other nations than we've become used to? If not, then what exactly? There is no record of accomplishment yet.

Perhaps in a reversal of giving awards posthumously, this award is intended as a prehumous honor. The committee feels that Mr. Obama, by the time of his death, will compile a record of accomplishment worthy of this honor. So why wait?

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This honor has been earned already?

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This honor has been earned already?

Yes

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42 votes

Uncertain

8 votes

Forrest Church was important to me

DonVila

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Thursday October 01, 2009 · 6:03 PM PDT

2009/10/01 · 18:03

We lost the Reverend Forrest Church last week. He was the son of the late Senator Frank Church, and the long serving senior Minister of All Souls Unitarian Church of Manhattan, NY.

To those of you who know me at all, the title comes no surprise. It ranks up there with: I supported John Edwards, Martin Luther King, Jr. is my greatest hero, I strongly love and respect my wife, and that I am the classic besotted father.

Many, if not most, Unitarian Universalists will have little difficulty understanding my regard for Forrest - but when we lose someone of this import, I think we each need to tell our stories. Telling our stories doesn't just honor the one we've just lost - it helps all of us to think deeply about who we each may (and eventually will) lose. And in so doing, it grants us the potential gift of connecting with these people and thus an opportunity to express our appreciation in the present tense.

When I read that last paragraph, I see Forrest's fingerprints all over it. The words and thoughts are mine, but he helped me find these things which were already in me. His views about what really counts encouraged my better instincts.

DonVila

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Saturday October 11, 2008 · 8:42 AM PDT

2008/10/11 · 08:42

A little campaign ditty, sung to the tune of "Rawhide"

Palin, Palin, Palin...
Palin, Palin, Palin...
Palin, Palin, Palin...
Failin', Failin', Failin'...

DonVila

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Sunday August 10, 2008 · 8:47 AM PDT

2008/08/10 · 08:47

When John Edwards withdrew from the presidential contest at the end of January, many people wrote or spoke to me - wondering how I felt about it. Some did so to gloat, but most were curious and/or sympathetic.

With a long alleged extramarital affair, now confirmed, much in the "news", some of these folks will probably have the same question for me, so I thought I'd share my reaction.

I'm very disappointed in John Edwards.

You may find that statement puzzling. I do need to put it into context.

DonVila

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Saturday March 22, 2008 · 7:23 PM PDT

2008/03/22 · 19:23

David Sirota of Credo Action made a point of highlighting the Clinton Indiana strategy. And it is something to behold.

From ABC News:

DonVila

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Monday March 03, 2008 · 9:34 AM PST

2008/03/03 · 09:34

When I was sixteen years old, there was a Presidential election posing an agent of change versus an established pro. The change agent was a sitting Senator, but in this case, the "pro" was an incumbent President. The change agent came out of nowhere, energizing young people with his vision and attitude.

I grew up in the Chicago area when major newspapers generally had their own serious political cartoonists on the payroll. In my opinion, only Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Journal Constitution approaches (now defunct) The Chicago Daily News’ John Fischetti.

I still have this cartoon. It shows Edmund Muskie on crutches, Hubert Humphrey pushing a broken down jalopy. And overhead? A broad-chested , caped, flying figure with "McG" emblazoned on his outfit.

DonVila

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Wednesday February 13, 2008 · 8:48 AM PST

2008/02/13 · 08:48

It’s official. As of late yesterday, The Campaign To Change America – The John Edwards blog, is no more. And this morning, I had to go cold turkey.

The staff was great about warning us. I had plenty of time to "clean out my desk" and say some goodbyes. But I think many of us figured we’d be at it a lot longer and some diehards are still it at – only elsewhere.

Back to my cold turkey...

It has been my habit, for over a year, in the early hours to turn on my machine, go outside and grab our New York Times and South Bend Tribune, then hit my bookmark. On the left side, I would get news from the campaign staff; center, approved (by bloggers) posts; and on the right margin, diaries. Basically, two-thirds of the page was controlled by supporters, not the campaign.

There were two camps (and continuing arguments) about what the purpose of the blog was. Interestingly, they can be defined by splitting the name (title) in half.

DonVila

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Saturday February 09, 2008 · 12:01 PM PST

2008/02/09 · 12:01

Follow the link to Progressives, South Bend to an essay by Kathleen Petitjean, who explains the amazing difficulties of getting a minor party candidate on the ballot in Indiana.

http://www.progressivessouthbend.org...

Ms. Petijean ran a strong campaign of her own as the Green Party nominee opposing a well entrenched incumbent for South Bend Common Council.

She garnered nearly 25 percent of the vote against the "Councilman for life".

DonVila

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Friday February 08, 2008 · 2:32 PM PST

2008/02/08 · 14:32

Many leftie commentators are assuring me (somewhat worriedly it seems to me) that the natural home for John Edwards supporters is the Obama camp. My sense is that by a small margin, it will go the other way.

There are serious problems with each candidate if you are an Edwards Democrat, and eventually we each will have to decide which of the two has the least injurious problems. These break in very different directions.

DonVila

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Tuesday February 05, 2008 · 6:11 PM PST

2008/02/05 · 18:11

After interacting with the three major sites about a couple of hours ago, after putting my daughter to bed I discovered the world wide web had suddenly never heard of John Edwards. Those websites had vanished. After a few hours the world wide web has rethought its position. The front pages are there, but none of the links are working. I'm assuming they'll get that fixed soon.

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Why Bayh's leaving the Senate

Instead of reconciliation...

A pre-emptive Nobel?

Forrest Church was important to me

Landslide! or, Palin, Palin, Failin'

I'm very disappointed in John Edwards

Bill's going for the deep seats on this pitch

That scary, sinking feeling about McBama

Saying goodbye to the Edwards blog

What happened to my democracy?

Where to now, St. Peter?

I'm happy to report , they are now back! - The John Edwards websites