On Tuesday, October 2nd, I attended a Democratic Endorsement meeting with another member of the NYC Kucinich campaign team. Veronica and I headed up to Riverdale via commuter bus after work. The meeting took place at the Ben Franklin Reformed Democrats Club and about 30+ members were in attendance. Veronica spoke passionately for 5 minutes and did a Q&A on behalf of Congressman Kucinich. There were speakers representing Gravel, Edwards, Obama and Clinton. One could tell from many comments and side conversations that this group was predominately pro-Clinton. Despite that it was an interesting evening, fascinating conversations and we handed out some Kucinich info. We left there around 9:30pm and took the subway back to Manhattan.
Thursday, October 4th, was the monthly NYC Kucinich Team meetup at the 11th Street Bar. We had a nice turnout for the meetup with some new faces. Alot of info to cover, as primary ballot petitioning starts end of this month. [What we really need is more volunteers, team captains and petition coordinators.] There were a lot of announcements to make and a few other members also contributed, which is very nice. The gist of the meetup discussion centered on statewide and delegate petitioning for signatures. Statewide the congressman will need 5000+ signatures to get him on the ballot for the February 5th primary.
Friday, October 5th, did volunteer work for City Harvest at the Union Square farmers market.
Sunday morning, October 7th, I met up with Anthony and Jessica at Port Authority to take a bus up to Timdalf’s abode north of Nyack, NY. The ride up was pleasant, and we passed through Piermont and Nyack, NY. I very much want to go back one day and check out these charming towns next to the Hudson River. At Timdalf’s place we were joined by several other members of the “Northeast Tolkien Society” [photo below] to celebrate Bilbo & Frodo’s birthday with a picnic. The day was sunny, warm and with some clouds floating by. I brought up homemade brownies and a container of my own special trail mix concoction. After viewing Timdalf’s apartment; which is full of a variety of books, swords, LOTRs collectibles, Russian icons and other items; we gathered under a tree with two picnic tables. There we spread out all the delicious food, wine, soda, plates, napkins and utensils. Timdalf provided holiday party crackers, sparklers and other fun items. Then it was party time! [Out the window of the apartment came music from FOTR movie soundtrack.] Timdalf read the chapter on Bilbo’s 111th birthday from “Fellowship of the Ring”, while we drank wine and made “sound effects” to go along with the story. Nothing distasteful, but still amusing all the same, and caused much giggling. [Jessica and I were especially silly.]
[Members of Northeast Tolkien Society listening to Timdalf read from FOTR]
Anthony read the first chapter from “The Hobbit”, which sparked my interest, as I haven’t read that book in 20 years. At one point, that afternoon, I got into conversation with Jessica and Mary on the Harry Potter books. Always happy to encounter other Harry Potter fans and have abit of a chat. Overall it was a delightful afternoon, terrific conversations and good companionship with folk of the Shire. The ride back to Manhattan took a long time and we were very tired upon arrival. Good food, wine, laughter and sunshine … excellent combo.
MORE NEWS ON CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH
Kucinich Pushes Bush Impeachment
Julia Reynolds, Monterey County Herald
http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_7246943
Kucinich: The President Demands That Congress Support the Troops – The Best Way is to Bring Them Home NOW
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=76945
AUDIENCES IGNITED BY SiCKO AND KUCINICH
Special Report by the Creative Youth News Team
http://creativeyouth.net/sicodkhit.html
[Duchess Note: The above article is not only about the film SiCKO, but also about Kucinich and PDA (Progressive Democrats of America). Supposedly PDA is the most progressive wing of the Democratic Party and yet many of its members would rather support corporate-bought Edwards than Kucinich. The latter candidate doesn’t take any money or bribes from corporations, insurance companies or oil firms. (Another reason why I support DJK 100%.) The proposed “insurance plans” by Obama, Clinton and Edwards favors the insurance companies and NOT the majority of Americans. Whereas Kucinich’s proposal and legislation (HR676) will benefit ALL Americans.]
Kucinich Senses 'Groundswell' - The presidential hopeful decries the Iraq war in front of a receptive crowd in Laguna Woods
Richard Chang, The Orange County Register
Hardly anyone thinks he's going to win, even carry a single state, but that isn't discouraging him at all. Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich paid a visit to Laguna Woods on Saturday morning, urging an immediate end to the war in Iraq and calling for a withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization. The Ohio congressman, campaigning in California this weekend, warned that President Bush is starting to beat the drum for war against Iran, and that Israel would bear the brunt of any such attack. Kucinich said oil is controlling U.S. foreign policy.
"Since the oil is running everything, does the oil belong to us, or do we belong to oil?" the 61-year-old politician asked a receptive audience of about 170 people. "The next president of the United States has an obligation to be a peacemaker. You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb the world to peace." After arriving hand-in-hand with wife Elizabeth, 29, Kucinich spoke for about 20 minutes at the event organized by the Laguna Woods Democratic Club. Kucinich's speech was greeted by enthusiastic applause and hearty cheers and whistles. Attendees, most of them seniors, said they were impressed.
"He's a good speaker, and he desperately needs air time," said Joan Utas, 82, of Laguna Woods. "It's good, especially when people are older and can't travel far, that people come to them." "He's a little guy, but a real firecracker," said Frank Yturralde of Laguna Woods, a self-described entertainer and baby boomer. He added, however, that he'll vote for whoever gets nominated in the Democratic primary. California's presidential primary is February 5th. Sharon Barrier, 68, of Irvine said she didn't think Kucinich, who trails significantly in the polls behind Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., "has a chance in the world." Still, she said she appreciated his visit and hoped other candidates would listen to his message.
This wasn't Kucinich's first appearance in Orange County. He was here in March, and Friday he attended the county Democratic Party's annual Harry S. Truman Awards Dinner in Anaheim. On Saturday, he followed the clubhouse meeting with private receptions and fundraisers in Laguna Woods, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Margarita and Calabasas. Kucinich, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2004, said he believed a "groundswell" of support was developing, despite single-digit results in the polls. "As people hear the message, they're getting involved in this campaign. If you look at the last few weeks … a big article in Esquire magazine, appearances on Letterman, Leno, on Colbert, people are starting to respond to this message."
He added that he didn't mind being a frequent joke on late-night TV shows. "The same shows are inviting me on for serious discussions," he said. "So that's an easy price to pay. I take what I do seriously, but I never take myself seriously."
The Brad Blog Speaks with Dennis & his Wife about Voting Rights, Election Reform, Impeachment & the Need for an Outcry from the American People – Congressman Kucinich Vows to us “Privileged Resolution” to Force Vote on Impeachment of Cheney in US House ... http://www.bradblog.com/?p=5196
[Duchess Note: Many thanks to Linda in TX for these articles on Kucinich.]
No comments:
Post a Comment