Centerfield

Newark City Councilmember and Mayoral Candidate Cory Booker

That's awesome, Rick.

You might try talking to any of the newer, up-and-coming type moderate Democrats who happen to be present. Like, say, Harold Ford Jr., Ellen Tauscher, Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, Blanche Lincoln, etc.

Awesome, indeed! Congrats, Rick. Have fun with it.

Dan Glickman, if he's not too busy with his new job to show up. A Dem moderate with decades of Washington experience, both as a Congressman and as an agency head in the Clinton admin.

That's great Rick, have fun with it, I'm looking forward to your reports.

If you can get to anyone in the Kerry campaign willing to talk, I think there's only one real top question. It goes sort of like this.

[Many moderate undecided voters feel that national security is a tantamount concern, and they view some form of independent democratic Iraq as crucial to overseas efforts in the war against terror. They worry that John Kerry is more interested in getting our troops out of harm's way than fostering a democratic Iraq. ]

Does John Kerry believe a democratic Iraq is a realistic goal, or is he willing to settle for less? Describe the minimal acceptable outcome for our efforts in Iraq in the next 2 years, and over the course of the next decade.

WTG Rick!!!

I'd love to see an Eliot Spitzer interview.

What the hell, richard? If you have something to say about any of the issues we're discussing, feel free. If you want to just attack someone personally, please do it somewhere else.

I'm not sure where Richard is coming from, but as to the rest of you, thanks for your suggestions. I don't know the details of this gig yet, other than that I will be able to get into the Fleet Center.

I will be covering the convention as a credentialed blogger for Greater Democracy (www.greaterdemocracy.org) My leaning is more of the progressive bent, but there are a lot of Centrists coming from Connecticut, my home state.

I've set up another site, http://platform.smartcampigns.com, as a site listing delegates, standing committee members, other attendees, as well as planks from the platform. I have a section for affinity groups. As I add information about delegates, a long and arduous task, I am putting in information about their political leanings. So, one good starting point would be to look at DLC members that will be at the convention.

From Connecticut, this includes Dan Malloy, Mayor of Stamford, whom you should really try to speak with, Eddie Perez, Mayor of Hartford, as well as Sen. Dodd, Sen. Lieberman, and Rep. Larson.

Further thoughts about http://platform.smartcampaigns.com are appreciated.

Excellent! Congrats!

Some Qs:

What's Kerry's strategy?

What do they think of Kerry's strategy?

What do they think Rove is planning, and what're the plans on doing something about it?

What are thoughts on coattails, and chances of getting back the Senate?

My pet fear on Kerry is that we've elected our Dole, the guy who "gets it by seniority", who has no Elvis in him. I'm wondering if people there have thoughts on what's different between now and '96.

Texas People and Questions:
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I don't hang out too much with the local political types, but I think the Texas Delegation and my former Congressman in particular, Lloyd Doggett, are probably interesting people to talk to about Bush and Republicans. They've always had a burr under their saddles about Bush - many Texas Democrats feel guilty about letting him get out and afflict the whole nation. But Doggett was probably DeLay's biggest redistricting target. In my analysis, DeLay could've gotten alot of redistricting done without annoying 2/3 of the state if he hadn't insisting in gittin' Doggett personally.

It would be interesting to hear from him or other Texas Delegation members what they think Doggett's chances are, and just how forlorn Rhett Smith's chances are of tossing out Lamar Smith (R - Hell and a tiny corner of Austin where I live).

Is there a way to thread our comments, so we can delete bullshit like was posted by whoever the hell Richard is?

I think we can delete Richard's comment without threading.

I'll give it a try.

Looks like it worked.

One of the best people you could speak to is Sheila Jackson-Lee from Texas.

Rick:

You should definitely meet with the Billionaires for Bush folks! Call us!

If you want a break from the official goings-on at the DNC, stop by “I wish to say,” a traveling art show. For this work, I set up a portable office, complete with a manual typewriter, and asking visitors what they would like to say to the President. Based on their answers, I type postcards to the President. The original may be mailed, while I keep a carbon copy for an exhibition.

I'll be in Boston Monday and Tuesday.
Monday, July 26 from noon to 2 p.m at the Children's Museum Wharf, 300 Congress St. and from 4 to 6 p.m. at Harvard Square.

Two significant differences between Senator Dole in 96 and Senator Kerry in 04. 1) The United States was not at War and 2) The Economy was good, no matter how it was spun.

I would add that the Democrats hate Bush the way the Republicans hate the Clintons and Ted Kennedy, and the perception that Bush and his cabinet are not a moderate bunch. Cases in point: Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, and Dick Cheney. People may not have liked some or many of Clinton's people, but there was nowhere near as much hate as I see now.