Entries Tagged 'The Movement' ↓

Did you see this? If not… here is your chance. Mary Kim offers great insight! I was able to follow her on the campaign trail this weekend. Wow… she connects with so many in CD1.

The Hip Hop Caucus and T.I. have joined forces to launch a voter registration and “Get Out the Vote” campaign that combines the power of celebrity and media with 21^st century grassroots organizing tactics targeting adult between the ages 18 – 29 to vote in the upcoming Presidential election.

Many folks in 2004 felt the “Vote or Die” campaign was a little disorganized and at the end of the day… ineffective. But I have seen what Rev. Yearwood has done since then to sustain that growth. The question is, will the lessons learned be applied by the community itself. What are your thoughts? Below I started a Seesmic thread on this. Sorry for the loud background noise… I am in a coffee shop. I would love your video response. What are your thoughts?

I was a Senior Consultant for the Hip Hop Caucus during this tour. The video just got posted on Current TV’s video post, and has made (within one week) the 7th most watched video on that channel. Very proud: video here.

A good point was made by Clay Johnson’s latest tweet:

“Why doesn’t anyone talk about MoveOn vs. Human Events”

He posted a link of people who are members of these sites:

You hear so little of Human Events in the social networks, and so much from MoveOn. Why are these two not compared more and why does MoveOn become a greater target for mainstream and social networks?

I don’t have thoughts on the issue other then it was good tweet. Thoughts?

The number of young people that turned out to vote yesterday in Mississippi was MORE THAN TRIPPLE the amount of young people who voted in 2000.

See CIRCLE’s press release here: http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/PR_08_MS.pdf

I knew from the inception of his candidacy, Ron Paul would be a candidate for the history books. As someone who studies campaigns I knew that this, unlike any in the recent cycles, would be one of innovation. Not the candidate himself, but the viral nature of his agenda, his issues, and his following. His candidacy has a lot similar to progressive candidates, but with a vast difference on how and why he thinks things should be the way they are. The progressive base tends to hold out hope that community, sustainability, and the greater good is enough to motivate American voters. Sadly… the reality is that self interest is the main motivating factor of American voters. Ron Paul is someone who understands this and balances this aspect with the community and sustainability needs.

To clarify, I am NOT a fan of Ron Paul’s politics. They are NOT in sync with my own. HOWEVER, one cannot deny that this is the most viral campaign to date from a “Dark horse” candidate.  From a grassroots movement funding a friggin to blimp to Senator Barbra Boxer using his online fundraising success for her own fundraising drive, this campaign is by far impressive. It is all grassroots making it happen.

Today, in San Francisco, I saw a new VW Bug with an Apple sticker, an HRC sticker, and a Ron Paul for President bumper sticker. It was right next to a beat up pickup truck with an NRA bumper sticker and Ron Paul bumper sticker as well. That juxtaposition speaks to the audience that this candidate is attracting. We need to seriously give credit where credit is due. Congrats Ron Paul and your grassroots. We can learn a lot from this campaign.

Marshall Adame

What has become of American government? What has become of us?

Politics in America has always been a “them” and “Us” sort of event. We have so many different outlooks and avenues of expression and thought. Political philosophy, social engagement, citizen responsibility to government, as opposed to government obligation to its citizens, political correctness and how it effects our societal morays and values is today, as always, wonderfully debated and the list goes on; yet somehow those differences have helped to make us the great people we are, which has in turn forged the social Democratic miracle America still is today.

Opposing thought and spectrums, with a shared love of county, liberty, freedom and rule of law have been the hallmark of American political discourse. We all love this county and our opposing thoughts, with few exceptions, have never really challenged that principle.

I still hold back the tears when I hear the Marine Corps hymn and unashamedly jump to my feet and stand at attention when old glory passes;…. And yet something has changed. Something has begun to change us as a people….Even I have changed.

Fear has gripped us as a nation. Tragically, some of that fear is of design by our own President and those Republicans and Democrats who abide his course. President Bush displays an almost total disregard for the “Rule of Law” in America while praising the repressed peoples in the world for seeking it in their own society. Continue reading →

Though he referred specifically to the gay non-discrimination bill, Rep. Barney Frank made an impassioned plea for realism among activists that could be applied to the war, the environment or any other major issue of the day. He warned that imperfect legislation can help millions of people, unless “ideologically committed single-issue groups” are given a veto.