Watching TV analysts tear apart the Clinton and Obama missteps tonight left me wondering why we Democrats seem to manage to seize defeat from the jaws of victory.
Jim Dean, Democracy for America says:
“The Democratic race for President has lost its focus. We have John McCain to beat in November, instead we fight each other. Geraldine Ferraro. Reverend Wright. Rezko ties. Secret tax returns. If you're like me; you're sick of it.
"We have a war to end, an economy in trouble, and $4 gas.
"With hundreds of progressives to elect at all levels of office, it's time to leave the character attacks to Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly.
"America needs to know why our candidates are better than John McCain and we need to hear it from Senators Clinton and Obama. Fight McCain, not each other.
"We have an historic nomination battle, driving record Democratic turn-out and commanding the nation's attention.
"America needs to know our nominee will fight global warming with new jobs, technologies, and investment. Our nominee will expand health coverage to 10 million kids immediately, allow lifesaving research on stem cells, and work toward health care for all by the end of a first term. We will ban torture, restore habeas corpus, and build renewed respect for America around the world.
"A Democratic President will end the war in Iraq and bring our brave men and women home.
"A long primary battle is healthy as long as we make the case for how we'll win, not how the other candidate will lose. We need to fight McCain, not each other. Join me in demanding Senators Clinton and Obama keep their eyes on the ball.”
http://ga1.org/ct/V7e7NwF1hzq8/
Monday, March 17, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Remembering Sen. Metzenbaum
The man on the other end of the telephone couldn't believe anyone in Ohio had to verify that Cleveland was in Cuyahoga County. "I would never hire you to work on my newspapers," Howard Metzenbaum bellowed."That's OK, I wouldn't want to work for a jerk like you," the very young reporter at the Wooster Daily Record responded. (I had just been checking my facts, after all, something careful journalists do.)
Despite this rocky introduction, I learned very quickly that this easily roused gentleman was just as easily set off by injustices and affronts to Ohio's working people as he was by rookie news reporters.
He visited the newspaper office while on the campaign trail later that year, as the photo of us to the right reveals. As the only admitted Democrat on the staff, I was always assured a warm greeting from "those" politicians.
Metzenbaum, who died yesterday at the age of 90, was a liberal giant from a conservative state. His ability to earn votes in Ohio and grudging respect in Washington bespoke a maverick who knew what was important to voters: lunch-bucket issues and a strong backbone.
Rest in peace, senator.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sharks are circling
Seeing a “Rent to Own” sign on a neighboring street this afternoon reminded me that being a housing rip-off artist is easy. Subprime mortgages are just one of the tricks. People wanting to own their own home don’t know the sharks are probably circling when they see those particular rental signs.
A slimy real-estate instructor explained how to make money on “rent to own.” First, you exact a fee of $2,500 or more for a Purchase Option. This isn’t a refundable rent deposit; the money is now yours. Make sure the renters sign an agreement to pay on time every month and exercise the option within one year. If they are late even one time, you keep the money, and they get nothing. Also, if they can’t get a mortgage by the end of the year, tell them goodbye and “resell” the house to the next sucker.
If you keep churning the house, you collect more than you’ll make on the rent, and the residents treat it better because they think they are buying it.
Just in case you have a chance to sell the house with a better deal before the end of the option period, do not register the option with the county registrar. Registering the option would make it difficult to sell the house out from under the renters if you get a good offer.
On the other hand, if you find an attractive rent-purchase deal for yourself, make registering the option mandatory. (Why let someone take you for a ride if you know the tricks?)
Is this all legal? Depends on how the “option” is written. While the recorder’s office suggests getting legal advice, the “smart” investor would remind the mark that “lawyers are in business just to block good deals.”
How do we keep this from happening? Just try to find out. A person in the Cleveland Office of Consumer Affairs referred me to Housing Court, which referred me to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s office, which referred me to the Ohio Department of Commerce. If my landlord was ripping me off on a rent-purchase, do you think I’d have the stomach to follow these convoluted trails through the system? Just bring on the moving boxes.
A slimy real-estate instructor explained how to make money on “rent to own.” First, you exact a fee of $2,500 or more for a Purchase Option. This isn’t a refundable rent deposit; the money is now yours. Make sure the renters sign an agreement to pay on time every month and exercise the option within one year. If they are late even one time, you keep the money, and they get nothing. Also, if they can’t get a mortgage by the end of the year, tell them goodbye and “resell” the house to the next sucker.
If you keep churning the house, you collect more than you’ll make on the rent, and the residents treat it better because they think they are buying it.
Just in case you have a chance to sell the house with a better deal before the end of the option period, do not register the option with the county registrar. Registering the option would make it difficult to sell the house out from under the renters if you get a good offer.
On the other hand, if you find an attractive rent-purchase deal for yourself, make registering the option mandatory. (Why let someone take you for a ride if you know the tricks?)
Is this all legal? Depends on how the “option” is written. While the recorder’s office suggests getting legal advice, the “smart” investor would remind the mark that “lawyers are in business just to block good deals.”
How do we keep this from happening? Just try to find out. A person in the Cleveland Office of Consumer Affairs referred me to Housing Court, which referred me to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s office, which referred me to the Ohio Department of Commerce. If my landlord was ripping me off on a rent-purchase, do you think I’d have the stomach to follow these convoluted trails through the system? Just bring on the moving boxes.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thanks for the support
Friends,
Thank you for your support during the long eight months I was running for Congress. We ran an issues-oriented, positive campaign. Your help kept our spirits high despite the crowded field and related stresses.
Our campaign made very creative use of online media, including YouTube, blogs, and the Internet to introduce the campaign to Cleveland and the 10th District. I think the methods we used will become more and more vital to political campaigns as the world moves online.
Because we were outspent by our opponents almost 12 to 1, we had to use both new and old methods of reaching the voters. We launched the HopeMobile (For Sale, cheap!) as a traveling billboard, worked hard on door-to-door campaigning, made targeted personal telephone calls and mailings, used personal notes from friends outside the district, and made appearances at fish fries, grocery stores, and mass transit. Despite all this, it was not enough to overcome the natural advantage of sitting politicians and perennial candidates.
We appreciate every dollar, every minute of time our supporters and volunteers gave the campaign. I also appreciate bloggers’ willingness to give us a chance to get out our message. As the lines between traditional and emerging media blur, they will continue to have a greater role in campaigns and political coverage.
Will I run for political office again? Your guess is as good as mine. In the short term, I’ll stay involved while I consider what I want to do when I grow up.
Now that voters have chosen Dennis Kucinich to be the Democratic nominee, we need to put aside our differences and work together to keep his progressive voice in Washington. We need to keep our Democratic majority in the House and elect a Democratic President.
We’ll all be busy! See you on the campaign trail.
Thanks again,
Rosemary
Thank you for your support during the long eight months I was running for Congress. We ran an issues-oriented, positive campaign. Your help kept our spirits high despite the crowded field and related stresses.
Our campaign made very creative use of online media, including YouTube, blogs, and the Internet to introduce the campaign to Cleveland and the 10th District. I think the methods we used will become more and more vital to political campaigns as the world moves online.
Because we were outspent by our opponents almost 12 to 1, we had to use both new and old methods of reaching the voters. We launched the HopeMobile (For Sale, cheap!) as a traveling billboard, worked hard on door-to-door campaigning, made targeted personal telephone calls and mailings, used personal notes from friends outside the district, and made appearances at fish fries, grocery stores, and mass transit. Despite all this, it was not enough to overcome the natural advantage of sitting politicians and perennial candidates.
We appreciate every dollar, every minute of time our supporters and volunteers gave the campaign. I also appreciate bloggers’ willingness to give us a chance to get out our message. As the lines between traditional and emerging media blur, they will continue to have a greater role in campaigns and political coverage.
Will I run for political office again? Your guess is as good as mine. In the short term, I’ll stay involved while I consider what I want to do when I grow up.
Now that voters have chosen Dennis Kucinich to be the Democratic nominee, we need to put aside our differences and work together to keep his progressive voice in Washington. We need to keep our Democratic majority in the House and elect a Democratic President.
We’ll all be busy! See you on the campaign trail.
Thanks again,
Rosemary
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