QUOTE: Howard Dean’s December 7 speech is the most important statement on race in American politics by a mainstream white politician in nearly 40 years. Nothing remotely comparable has been said by anyone who might become or who has been President of the United States since Lyndon Johnson’s June 4, 1965 affirmative action address to the graduating class at Howard University.

This is a really interesting article from a perspective many have said would not come around: support among the black community for Howard Dean. I, for one, would like to learn more about how to get the message across, and, of course, what that message should be.

The Black Commentator - Cover Story: Dean Makes Racial-Political History - Issue 68

] Consumer advocate Ralph Nader said Thursday he is leaning
] toward another independent run for the presidency and
] will make his decision public in January.

@#&^@*^& @*#&^* # &^@*#^*#&^@*&^ @*&^#@^ Curse!

CNN.com - Nader eyeing another White House run - Dec. 11, 2003

] So maybe we can stop having the tiresome argument over
] Big Government vs. Small Government. The Republicans have
] shown themselves to be no different from the Democrats on
] that score.
]
] The argument was always a little off-point anyway. The
] size of the government matters, but not as much as
] something else - whose side the government is on. Does it
] work for the general public or the favored few?

DesMoinesRegister.com | Opinion: Editorial: A short history of government

] Simon blended fiscal conservatism and social liberalism.
] Raised during the Depression, the son of a Lutheran
] minister, he saw the great needs facing the country and
] how government responded through New Deal programs.
]
] "Government is not the enemy," he said in 1988.
] "Government is simply a tool that can be used wisely or
] unwisely. We can do better, my friends."

A good man died today.

CNN.com - Former Sen. Paul Simon dies after surgery - Dec. 9, 2003

] But Pelosi's deputy, Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer,
] D-Md., reminded Republicans how they reacted angrily when
] they were in the minority in 1987 when then-Speaker Rep.
] Jim Wright, D-Texas, held a vote open for 30 extra
] minutes to win a budget bill vote. Hoyer quoted Vice
] President Dick Cheney, then the House Republican whip, to
] make his case.
]
]
] "The Democratic tactics are the most grievous insult
] inflicted on the Republicans in my time in the House,''
] Cheney said at the time. "It was the most arrogant,
] heavy-handed abuse of power in the 10 years I've been
] here.''

remember, republicans kept open the vote on the flawed medicare bill for three hours. parliamentary rules, judicial nominees, double standards galore.

Democrats decry Republican tactics in marathon vote / GOP leadership abused rules, twisted arms in late-night session, Pelosi says

] It is now beyond dispute that retiring Rep. Nick Smith,
] R-Mich., was offered a $100,000 bribe to vote for the
] Medicare pharmaceutical bill. Smith turned down the
] bribe—a promise of campaign funds for Smith's son Brad,
] who is seeking the GOP nomination to succeed his father.
] Smith then described the offer, angrily but somewhat
] enigmatically, to various media outlets. After Chatterbox
] pointed out that an offer of $100,000 in exchange for a
] House vote met the statutory definition of bribery (the
] recipient can be a third-party "entity"), Smith clammed
] up. Then, late last week, just as the Justice Department
] was promising to review the case (the House ethics
] committee is also poised to investigate), Smith recanted:
]
]
] I want to make clear that no member of Congress made
] an offer of financial assistance for my son's campaign in
] exchange for my vote on the Medicare bill. I was told
] that my vote could result in interested groups giving
] substantial and aggressive campaign "support" and
] "endorsements." No specific reference was made to money
] [italics Chatterbox's].

A Drug-Company Bribe? - The Medicare vote scandal, continued. By Timothy Noah

] Former Vice President Al Gore -- the Democratic party's
] presidential candidate in 2000 -- has decided to endorse
] former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for the party's 2004
] presidential nomination, Democratic sources told CNN
] Monday.

CNN.com - Sources: Gore to endorse Dean - Dec. 8, 2003

] DEAN IN ATLANTA! (34 registered participants)
]
] Fulton County Airport, 39 Aviation Circle
]
] Atlanta, GA
]
] Come meet Governor Howard Dean! Join Georgia for Dean in
] welcoming Howard to Atlanta. Show your support for the
] next President of the United States!
]
] For Directions to Fulton County Airport CLICK HERE
]
] Saturday, December 13, 12:00 PM

Dean for America: Dean in Atlanta

] The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday over
] whether the federal government should reimburse
] individuals whose sensitive data was disclosed illegally,
] even if no harm can be proven.
]
]
] At issue before the court, according to privacy
] advocates, is how valuable privacy really is.

this'll be a good one to follow

Wired News: How Much Is Privacy Worth?

] Cease and desist letters can make such spurious claims
] and overreaching demands because they are not official
] legal filings and there has been, as yet, little
] accountability for their abuses. Even though recipients
] may have the legal right to engage in the threatened
] activity (in this case the facilitation of free speech),
] those without specialized legal expertise and a solid
] defense fund most non-corporate recipients
] may simply comply with the letter's demands out of
] fear, uncertainty and lack of resources. The Interz0ne
] conference organizers hardly had the time to even react
] to their cease and desist letter, which Blackboard sent
] on the eve of the students scheduled presentation.

A very good analysis. Again, I believe that knowingly sending overboard cease and desist letters should be a crime bearing significant punitive liability. Wealthy entities will continue to chill speech in their interests until this is resolved.

Analysis of the Blackboard Case