On second thought...

Maybe we should let them have it. With the news today that Ben Bernanke elected to slash interest rates by another fifty basis points (making it 125 in eight days), leaving the federal funds rate scraping bottom at three percent, it seems clear to me that the Bush administration is well aware that a Democrat will win the 2008 election. They are so confident of this, in fact, and so politically cynical, that they are trying to wreck the country before that happens so that we have to clean up the resulting economic and political mess. Even Alan Greenspan, who created the real estate bubble by encouraging Americans and America to continue borrowing and spending in good times and bad, never played with our money supply with such cavalier disregard for the long term impacts.

As we plunge into a recession that looks to be longer and deeper than any in recent memory (including the ones that began under Republicans Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Bush--not that that says anything about their economic prowess), due in no small part to Greenspan-backed Republican tax cuts and Greenspan-spawned Republican fiscal policy (the latter continuing unabated under the DLC-spawned Clinton presidency), one wonders why we are trying so hard to win this election. Sure it would be much better for the country, but how have we faired as a party in the past after inheriting Republican recessions? Just ask Jimmy Carter. And the situation he had to deal with in Iran was not nearly so bad as the one Bush appears anxious to create.

Of course I do not truly advocate allowing the Repubicans to win this election and further destroy America, but we should think carefully about how to proceed into the first months of a Clinton or Obama presidency. If Congress continues to drag its feet on key economic and foreign policy reforms under a Democrat as it has under Bush, and if we do not introduce tough policy measures like deep cuts in "defense" spending, speedy withdrawal from Iraq, and higher taxes on the wealthy, we should not expect the "eight years of [insert favored Democratic candidate's name here]" that Democrats inevitably mention when discussing their choice between the two remaining frontrunners.

Columbia Unites Behind Barack

Columbia is getting fired up for Barack Obama with an event-packed week. Students from the law school, the medical school, Barnard, SEAS, and Columbia College are making their voices heard and encouraging others to do the same.

Just in the past week, over 1500 phone calls have been made and more than a hundred new supporters have been signed up by students, who meanwhile still managed to rush to their classes on time. The Students for Barack Obama chapter has reached out to the entire campus, including the African and faith-based communities.

The enthusiasm Columbia students have shown will only grow in this coming week, which brings even more opportunities to participate. There will be tabling on college walk daily, phone banking throughout the campus, and a constant multitude of events and rallies.

Calling to Get Out the Vote

From now until Super Tuesday, students will be phone banking daily. Volunteer coordinators run these informal, intense sessions in order to garner more support and remind people to vote.

Women Throw Their Support Behind Obama

This Saturday, Columbia women will be coming together for a very exciting Women for Obama Rally on Saturday February 2^nd at Central Park. Students will be able to show their support, get out into the neighborhood, and meet other Obama-ites of all ages. These women are going to prove to New York City that this is not Hilary country--they love Obama and are proud of it!

They are going to start out at Barnard Hall bright and early at 10:30 a.m. for donuts, coffee, and sign-making. They will head over to the rally together. This is an exciting part of the GOTV week. The group is inviting all, from diehard devotees to new supporters, from political science students to enthusiastic newbies.

Tuning in For Barack

Fellow supporters and intrigued students will watch the Democratic Debate on Thursday night from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. A big screen television, cozy couches, and delicious food will accompany lively discussion on Obama’s policies and potential. Students will meet at Lewisohn Parlor, Brooks Hall Lounge, in the Quad @ Barnard.

For more information contact Students for Barack Obama Director Mary McDonald at mcm2172@columbia.edu, 914.380.2250. Students for Barack Obama is a registered umbrella group of the Columbia University College Democrats.

Enjoy the State of the Union?

Looking for a way to watch the State of the Union tonight without wanting to cry?

I know it's hard, but try this: http://campusprogress.org/opinions/2449/state-of-the-union-drinking-game

Columbia Walks for Obama

In a walk which inspired restauranteurs, market owners, and passer-byers to join in, twenty-two Columbia students marched for Barack Obama this Saturday morning. With a groggy ten o’clock start earlier than any typical college morning, the Students for Barack Obama chapter met and, fortified with coffee and donuts, walked from 130^th Street to the rally point at Columbus Circle. As they walked, they signed up supporters while all the while chanting and cheering for Obama. Everyone felt the same infectious enthusiasm, and the same desire to show people that they cared deeply about Obama’s message. To them, Obama is not just a distant figure or an appealing celebrity, but a person who inspires true passion and who brings a wide variety of people together.

Above all, the walk transcended the political, much as Obama does. Perhaps this is best proven by the grassroots nature of the event, which was run not by the campaign but by various groups from throughout New York City. His broad base was apparent at the rally, where hundreds met to listen to speakers like State Senator Bill Perkins and Harlem Office Director Cordell Cleare. The common thread in the diverse array of speeches was a consistently positive, uplifting message, a characteristic clearly inspired by Obama’s own adherence to the positive politics. One Columbia student expressed the walk and rally proved to him that Obama gives people the faith in the value of doing good, and, as was apparent by the many supporters who came out, in their own ability to do good. With seventy-five new supporters signed up by the Columbia students alone, the journey from uptown to Columbus Circle was a beautiful example of the transcendent quality of Obama’s message.

For more information contact Students for Barack Obama Director Mary McDonald at mcm2172@columbia.edu, 914.380.2250. Students for Barack Obama is a registered umbrella group of the Columbia University College Democrats.

Spaghetti and Obama: Columbia Students Get Out the Vote

For the past two nights, the Students for Barack Obama chapter at Columbia University has met to prove that every vote counts. Out of a small lounge on the sixteenth floor of an unassuming dorm on 115^th Street, they made almost one thousand phone calls in only two nights. Every new person who walked into the lounge, which had been papered over with campaign posters, was excited to see people who shared their enthusiasm for Senator Obama’s message. Over homemade pasta with steaming tomato sauce, they called New Yorkers to identify supporters and to remind them to vote. The student volunteers are drawn from throughout the Columbia community. Some are deeply involved with politics on campus, while others have been so inspired by Obama’s message that they want to help in any way they can. One student put her second semester Spanish to good use, conversing with an interested voter, while another student spoke fluent Mandarin over the phone.

These students’ phone banking in this passionate Get Out the Vote effort defies the false expectation that New York is Clinton territory, and palpably demonstrates the excitement which surrounds Obama’s place in the presidential race. These sessions launch what will be a two week effort which will culminate with the elections on February 5th.

For more information contact Students for Barack Obama Director Mary McDonald at mcm2172@columbia.edu, 914.380.2250. Students for Barack Obama is a registered umbrella group of the Columbia University College Democrats.

CU College Democrats to Host DNC Chairman Howard Dean

Party Leader to Outline Vision for Student Activism

Governor Howard Dean, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee will speak at Columbia University on February 25, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. in Low Memorial Library. In honor of the Columbia University College Democrats being recognized as the College Democrats of America Chapter of the year for 2007-2008, Dean will speak students about the importance of student activism.

As the head of the Democratic Party, Governor Dean has laid the framework for a 50-state strategy. Under his leadership, the Democratic National Committee has stationed organizers in every state, built strong ties with state Democratic parties, and has become more involved in local politics in an attempt to build new party infrastructure and to uncover the leaders of the future in states in which Democrats have traditionally struggled to compete.

Like Howard Dean, the Columbia University College Democrats believe that the party must make a concerted effort to compete nationwide in local, state, and national elections. Over the past four years, the Columbia University College Democrats have campaigned for candidates in Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio – states where Democrats have enjoyed newfound electoral success due to a Democratic Party with broader horizons. We believe that the values and ideas of the Democratic Party have great appeal to all Americans, regardless of geographic location. At a time when years of Republican leadership has eroded America’s reputation across the globe, created staggering deficits, and failed to tackle the grave domestic concerns of the day, the Democratic Party can and must assert an alternative policy vision around the country.

Multiple chapters of College Democrats of America exist in each of the 50 states. These clubs contain bright, passionate, and committed leaders who want to change the way politics works in this country. Governor Dean will articulate a vision for how students can lead the way in implementing the 50-state strategy. Students can register to hear Governor Dean speak by sending an email to dean@cudemocrats.com with their full name, school, and year. Press or ticket inquiries should be directed towards Jonathan Backer, who ca be reached at jback87@gmail.com or by phone at 414-840-9199.

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Get pumped for a great second semester!

Bye Fred, We'll Miss You

This from the forgone conclusions file: Fred Thompson has dropped out of contention for the Republican nomination for POTUS.

As an homage to this political titan and Hollywood phenom, I decided to do a little experiment for you CC buffs. Google the words Fred Thompson and Epicurean, and you get 28,000 hits. No joke!

The Global Primary

Living abroad sucks when it means having to watch Fox News at 4am to get the results from Iowa or New Hampshire, however, this was all before I realized that the DNC has been organizing a global primary....

In the grand old scheme of nomination getting, you need a bit over 2000 delegates to be the nominee (2025 to be exact). States like Iowa have, from what I can see 46, delegates at stake which get divided between the candidates (Obama got 16, Hillary and Edwards each received 15 from that state). New Hampshire has 22, Nevada has 25, Delaware has 15, South Carolina has 45, California has 370, Arkansas has 35... (You can Google the rest...) To add to the confusion of the system there are 842 "super-delegates" thrown into the mix which are the members of congress, and DNC folks who are "un-pledged and free to support the candidate of their choice".

This year, however, the DNC decided to add a "state" into the primary and on February 5th, there will be a 23rd state voting: Democrats Abroad. In 40 cities over the world there will be "voting centers" set up to allow US citizens to come cast their ballot into the international system and register to vote to get ready for the 2008 election. This "Global Primary" will take a week with mail in ballots, online voting, and faxed ballots being accepted until Feb. 12th when the 22 delegates which the international-ites have been given will be divided up by candidate.

What's even stranger as I move into working with an incredible group of people as they coordinate this monumental effort is how the candidates start to break down when there is no campaigning which is going on globally. Without the influence of constant TV ads, or the candidates flying in, voters are left to look at candidate websites, read their platforms and plans, and the news (the British news specifically is obsessed with our race.... granted, they think that Mike Gravel is the most human candidate and there was actually a sidebar in an article wondering why fewer people are voting for such a personable fellow.)

Finally, not that I need to point out the disdain the Republican party has for the rest of the world, but the RNC made a conscious choice NOT to set up a global primary and allow voters who are abroad to vote as a block but threw them into the system of securing a primary ballot abroad (trust me, something that you will never receive no matter how early you register or how many times you call your election board.)

The tens of thousands of votes which come from abroad DO count, as we learned in 2000 (as long as they actually are counted) however, this represents more than just the pure number of votes, this represents a difference between party priorities and an incredible difference in the level of engagement with the world. International voters are naturally focussed on different issues but have a unique perspective on how the US is perceived outside of our rather un-secured borders. The Global Primary won't be responsible for pushing one candidate or another over the edge, but it will certainly have made a difference to the citizens who live abroad and their friends who have no formal voice in the election for the position which shapes world policies.

Columbia Dems in the News

A glance at two Columbia Dems umbrella groups making news before primary day:

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/42405/

10 Days in Iowa

Hello everyone! I've just gotten back from 10 days of campaigning in Iowa for Senator Christopher J. Dodd, who has now dropped his bid for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination. While in Iowa, I blogged for veracifier.com and on bwog, and the links to my posts and movies are below:

A Nod to Dodd: Pounding Pavement for Connecticut's Senior Senator

Welcome to the Dodd Squad

News in the Driver's Seat of a Campaign's Final Days

48 Hours and Counting

Retail Politics Come Down to the Wire in Dubuque, Iowa

Iowa Ground Hound Video: Chuck Norris

Dodd's Loss is the Party's Gain

From the Trail (bwog piece)

Columbia Dems Heard Round the World

In the spirit of the campaign season the Columbia Democrats are bringing you updates from Iowa, New Hampshire, New York and anywhere else our fellow dems are fighting the good fight.

Take a look at the stories above and submit your own campaign tale.

Tonight, the Democratic primaries begin and the end of the Bush presidency is in sight.

Get involved and take a stand with the Columbia University College Democrats this spring.

Happy New Year

-Your friendly neighborhood President