St. Paul's yanked our Permit. (RNC) and who's coming?

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Friday August 08, 2008 · 11:11 AM PDT

2008/08/08 · 11:11

On March 5th, dailykos denizen norahc (Ben Plunkett) obtained permits in the name of "Swift Students for Truthiness" from the St. Paul Parks Department for use of Hamm's Plaza for non-partisan issue oriented expressive activity on Sept. 3d and 4th, 8AM to 8PM. Planned, a "Shutdown Guantanamo Stop Torture" event the 3d, "Stop Government Spying" on the 4th, both starting at 4:00. I'm co-ordinating the "spying" event.

Hamm's is tiny, not much more than a traffic island, so the limit of 91 in attendance at any time was acceptable.

Yesterday, Ben received a Certified Mail from the Parks Department, dated August 5th, indicating that the permits had been revoked, offering alternative space at Ecolab Plasa or Mears Park, both much less visible. Hamm's is 2 blocks from the Convention site at the Excel Center, and faces the St. Paul Hotel, a major delegate hub. I've just lined up an attorney, we'll be seeking a Temporary Restraining Order directing that the Parks Dept. honor the original permit.

Anyone planning to make it to St. Paul, post in comments, let's plan a get-together.

ben masel

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Sunday June 29, 2008 · 10:17 PM PDT

2008/06/29 · 22:17

UPDATE: I'm embarrassed. As McJoan and Selise point out way down in comments, there was a unanimous consent to only debate 3 Amendments, all on immunity. One from Feingold/Dodd, another from Specter, the last from Bingamon. Kevin Bankston of EFF is most hopeful on the last.

I'm as disappointed as the next that Obama's not jumped into the fray, but in the meantime, we've got a damn good one on the field in Russ Feingold, and instead of whining that your favorite quarterback's on the bench, let's get to work with the team we've got.

The real fight comes before the cloture vote on the bill itself. If one amendment passes (edven Specter's) the Bill returns to the House. Only if the 2 Chambers pass identical legislation does it move to the President's desk. If we send a bill sufficiently not to his liking to draw a veto, that kicks the can further down the road. If this mess can be stalled through Labor Day, when the Congress breaks for campaign season, it's dead.

ben masel

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Saturday June 28, 2008 · 1:36 PM PDT

2008/06/28 · 13:36

In my last diary, I called for a variety of face to face approaches to our Senators while they're back in their home States over the recess. After hearing from various folks, I'm narrowing it down, to Operation Read the Bill. Print the thing out, all 114 pages (pdf) LINK FIXED, and hand it to your Senators.

Best if you can say "I've read it, I expect you to take the time to do so yourself." For extra credit, take a highlighter to the printout and mark up the sections you consider problematic.

UPDATE: Bring an accomplice with a vidcam. An admission that they haven't and won't read the bill makes nice youtube, come re-election time.

Poll

118 votes Show Results

Get to Work!

118 votes Vote Now!

Get to Work!

I'm on it.

46 votes

Going Fishing

10 votes

I don't care

7 votes

My Senators won't listen

31 votes

I'll make 'em listen

4 votes

I'm a telco or NSA spy. We're on to you Masel.

20 votes

FISA Call to ACTION: 4th of July

ben masel

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Thursday June 26, 2008 · 6:41 PM PDT

2008/06/26 · 18:41

With the Congress in recess, members typically return to their States and Districts for the Holidays. Many hit the Parade and Picnic circuits. We should be there.

Options include lining the route with signs, trying to march as contingents, cornering the Members for personal pleas, and, my favorite, cutting old tapes into 5 foot segments and using it as confetti, or 'tickertape.'

If you're able to find an appearance by your Senator, print out a copy of the bill, ask if they've read it yet, and if nolt, hand them a copy.

Please look on your Senators' and Reps websites and campaign pages, search local papers, etc. and list their holiday appearances as comments.

Also spread this call to action to other sites, especially local once you've identified times and places.

If you can't find your DC representatives' parade schedules, work your local one anyway.

WIRETAP THIS M#*&@-$>@^"RS!

Facebook event page

Poll

164 votes Show Results

Are you in?

164 votes Vote Now!

Are you in?

I'm there!

83 votes

I'm scared.

21 votes

I don't care.

12 votes

I'm going fishing.

19 votes

I'm a telco snoop.

13 votes

I'm a sheep.

16 votes

FISA and the politics of bundling

ben masel

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Sunday June 22, 2008 · 2:12 PM PDT

2008/06/22 · 14:12

Jesselyn Radack I think first spotted the linkage.

FISA coming up now was certainly not Obama's choosing. I don't think Pelosi let it come up specifically to screw with Obama, rather, a conflict of legitimate divergent interests. Most House members top priority is bringing federal money home. In some cases, it's the only interest.

The Iraq supplemental had hit an impasse. The Speaker imagined that as in Spring 2007, she could leverage Iraq funding for a chunk of dough for various domestic programs, this time the GI Bill, unemployment extension and flood relief. The Budget negotiation broke down as Bushco drove a wedge insisting the telco bailout be included in the package. Nancy had to go with it, you don't get between a Member and the takehome in an election year. Obama's stuck with the same dilemma.

ben masel

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Saturday June 14, 2008 · 6:54 PM PDT

2008/06/14 · 18:54

It started slowly. Last night I did the "terrorist fist bump' with a couple State legislators at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin annual convention. By this afternoon, at adjournment, it was not a fad, but a movement. Hippie icon that I am, I was particularly in demand with the Union guys.

We're taking back the bump. Old, young, gay, straight, redneck and freek. Preacher and geek. Oh yeah. Black, white, brown, red, yellow too. Bump with the Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheist, Christian, and Jew.

Seeking: stills of improbable demographic pairings doing the "bump" in honor of Michelle and Barack.

Poll

157 votes Show Results

I will bump

157 votes Vote Now!

I will bump

everyone I see

84 votes

folks who I already know

56 votes

only in private

17 votes

Presidential Tech debate liveblog from CFP

ben masel

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Wednesday May 21, 2008 · 7:30 AM PDT

2008/05/21 · 07:30

Liveblogging a presentation at the 19th Annual Conference on Computers, Freedom, and Privacy by tech advisors to the Obama and McCain campaigns, entitled the Clinton Campaign was invited to participate, but declined. The official title of the session, Presidential Technology Policy: Priorities for the Next Executive

In attendance a blend of academics, dotgovs, corporados, civil liberties orgs, cyberpunks.

Opening, Conference Chair Eddan Katz of Yale reminds that the only tech question of the 2000 Presidential debate cycle, asked at the MTV/CNN debate, was "Mac or PC." Apparently, the questioner had a more sophisticated question in mind, but was told to use the softball by debate organisers.

For the Obama Campaign: Danny Weitzner formerly of Center for Democracy and Technology, now at MIT
For McCain: Chuck Fish former counsel for Time-Warner (patents)

ben masel

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Thursday March 27, 2008 · 7:25 PM PDT

2008/03/27 · 19:25

4 PM at Escape Java Joint, 916 Williamson St, on the near east side, in the back room, also known as the Art Gallery. I've reserved the space until 6, and if the conversation's still flowing, we'll adjourn to the Weary Traveller, 1201 Willy St, for booze and food.

Candidate-neutral on the Prez race.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, keep Louis Butler on the State Supreme Court.

Dems and Medical Marijuana: Harkin v Michigan, IL

ben masel

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Wednesday March 05, 2008 · 10:42 AM PST

2008/03/05 · 10:42

While 1500 delegates to the Michigan Democratic State Convention were approving, by acclamation, a resolution supporting legal access to cannabis as medication (On Monday, an Initiative was approved for the Statewide November Ballot), Iowa Senator Tom Harkin replied to letter from a constituent/patient with hyperbole that would make even a Republican White House Drug Czar blush.

Meawhile, the Illinois Senate's Health Committee holds a hearing today on a State Medical Marijuana bill. Action link

Poll

40 votes Show Results

Harkin

40 votes Vote Now!

Harkin

Careless staffer

4 votes

Off his rocker

34 votes

for Majority Leader

2 votes

Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms

ben masel

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Tuesday February 19, 2008 · 5:19 PM PST

2008/02/19 · 17:19

The demise of the Clinton campaign was sewn just after the 2004 election, when pollster Mark Penn sought to explain the Bush victory among so-called "values voters."

He found that uptight parents were less concerned with abortion than the idea of their kids watching "Sex in the City," "pumped into their homes" which they'd never seen, and was then only on cable, and playing "violent videogames."

The next year, Senator Clinton held a press conference with Joe Lieberman and Republican Senators Santorum and Brownback, threatening the game industry with legal restrictiopns if they didn't "clean up their act."

Clinton allies introduced State Laws, with press releases claiming "86% of 16 year old boys play 'these' games."

ben masel

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Sunday February 17, 2008 · 8:30 PM PST

2008/02/17 · 20:30

Momentum's all Obama. had the set tuned to Fox adult cartoons, good mix of spots for Obama, none for Clinton (or Repubs, Paul should have bought.)

Obama's Iraq spot was an excellent fit for American Dad.

All had a notable flaw. Type only of "Vote Feb. 19". Should scream THIS TUESDAY. For spots on shows targeting the 18-22 demographic, I'd even add "you can register at the polls. bring Photo ID and proof of address."

With no school tomorrow, everyone stuck at home due to weather, these should have been especially high viewership for the youngest eligibles. In this update, I'm presuming Obama had the monopoly in other Wisconsin markets.

On to the predictions...

ben masel

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Saturday February 16, 2008 · 12:41 PM PST

2008/02/16 · 12:41

Weather forecast for Sunday is nasty. Sleet and ice all afternoon, then 10 inches of snow. Is bagging a few more votes worth risking the lives of your supporters?

WeatherUnderground's Madison forecast
Brisk...snow...sleet...a chance of freezing rain and rain in the morning...then snow in the afternoon. Snow may be heavy at times in the afternoon. Snow and sleet accumulation of 7 to 10 inches. Ice accumulations up to one tenth of an inch. Highs in the upper 20s. North winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

If you're driving in anyway, assume double normal driving time, and book a room for the night. Hotels within walking distance of the Monona Terrace Convention Center: : Inn on the Park, Concourse. i assume the Convention Center's Hilton's booked.

UPDATE: Obama should cancel his Sunday event in Kaukauna too.

Poll

258 votes Show Results

Should the event be cancelled?

258 votes Vote Now!

Should the event be cancelled?

yes

100 votes

60 votes

Masel, you're a Gravel troll

98 votes

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St. Paul's yanked our Permit. (RNC) and who's coming?

UPDATE: NOT Feingold's FISA strategy

FISA ACTION: Operation Read the Bill

FISA Call to ACTION: 4th of July

FISA and the politics of bundling

Widespread fist bumping broke out today.

Presidential Tech debate liveblog from CFP

Madison, Wisconsin dkos meetup this Sunday

Dems and Medical Marijuana: Harkin v Michigan, IL

Grand Theft Auto Kids mow down Soccer Moms

UPDATED Wisconsin predictions, w adult cartoons

Hillary, cancel your Madison rally.