Representative and Participatory Democracy

Thanks for this, Aldon - (4.00 / 4)

and thanks for bringing the pear cider!

Some thoughts from a similar distancing perspective:

1. Being an effective political leader and representative - Paul is both - includes this weird double role of making relatively quick fixes / Band Aids while you simultaneously try to move forward on a long-term strategy. It's like designing cars to hit the market eight years from now - while moonlighting as a mechanic who can patch up the clunker for another 15,000 miles. Odd mix.
2. That struck me when Paul was describing his efforts to help constituents in a couple of cases. One resulted in the federal version of Michele's Law, ending the insurance company practice of denying coverage to college kids if they have to take time off to deal with a medical condition. It's a great improvement - but it also addresses only a small part of the health care problem. Hodes spoke of his support for a robust public option. A good legislator must "light one candle" while s/he is busy rewiring the house.
3. The health care initiative is going to be hanging above the 2010 elections, either as a bright sun providing a clear and cheerful day to Dems, or as a cloud. And it isn't as simple as, "If anything passes, it will be sunny."

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by: elwood @ Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 21:49:28 PM CDT

The campaign song belongs on youtube. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 00:01:01 AM CDT

A Clip from the gathering is up (4.00 / 3)

I sent a seventeen second clip from the gathering from my cellphone.  Not the highest quality video, and it took a while to get through because the cellphone reception was spotty.

I also have a video clip of Paul and his wife singing Angel From Montgomery which is up on YouTube.  I have a longer clip of this I hope to put up a little later.

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by: Aldon Hynes @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 09:53:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good event (4.00 / 3)

We didn't really discuss disclosure rules, but I will say that that was some damn good pig.

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by: JimC @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 07:13:07 AM CDT

I agree (4.00 / 4)

....and I say that as a Jewish vegetarian!

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 10:16:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oy n/t (4.00 / 1)

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 15:04:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks for including me, too! (4.00 / 6)

Great to see you all!  I expect someone to post a few pictures or embed the music video.

I went, expecting to talk blogs & new media, so I was a bit thrown off when the conversation was just  "regular" old house party fare.  But Paul Hodes didn't disappoint.  Since I am in cd-1, this was my first exposure to him.  

When someone asked the "who is your political role model" question, I know how I would have answered that question; there is one person I compare all elected officials to and very few measure up: My Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter.  Hodes' answers to that one (Wellstone) and the others thrown at him were good and he passed my test.  Not many politicians can measure up to Carol.  I look forward to supporting Paul Hodes in 2010.

Food was great, company was wonderful, pregame conversations that ranged from swine flu to Druids was stimulating, and the music was a special bonus.  Thanks for including me!


Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 08:24:37 AM CDT

Blogger's Briefing (4.00 / 1)

I would have liked it to be much more of a bloggers briefing instead of old house party fair.  Yet it was a good event, and I was glad to see some old friends, hear some good music and have a good discussion with Rep. Hodes.

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by: Aldon Hynes @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 09:57:15 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

we bloggers (4.00 / 4)

should get together and have a pyjama party. Oh, wait - that's what we wear to work!  

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by: susanthe @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 19:25:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, except on (4.00 / 4)

casual Fridays.

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by: elwood @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 19:33:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nobody Named Al (4.00 / 2)

The "house band", Nobody Named Al, provided a relaxed atmosphere with their acoustic stylings.

A high point, for me, was this ad lib line they put into the Johnny Rivers song Secret Agent Man:
Our current health care systen must be ended
Our incumbent Senator works to defend it
He's the insurance industry's
Wholly owned subsidiary
We gotta put Paul Hodes right in the Senate

PS: Any event where I get to be a roady is a good one and I would love the recipe for the carrot/walnut/chili salad stuff. So much of the food was spectacular, but that stuff was my personal fave.

The crispy pig's ear t'weren't bad neither.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 09:14:37 AM CDT

I'm recreating Elwood's (4.00 / 4)

Butternut Squash Soup with Cider Cream (via Epicurious) for tonight's dinner. Yum.

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by: Jennifer Daler @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 14:47:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Damn, that was tasty. . . . (0.00 / 0)

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 06:45:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Shh! (4.00 / 2)

I was supposed to be hastening the revolution, not swapping recipes !

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by: elwood @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 18:01:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Observations about meet-up (4.00 / 2)

Aldon Hynes wrote:

When Sen. Edwards dropped out of the race, we asked her what she thought about supporting Sen. Obama.  She paused for a moment, and said, "I don't know.  I haven't met him yet."

Many regular readers of this blog have heard - in one form or another - the old yarn about a journalist asking a crusty New Hampshirite about the presidential primary candidate he supports:

"Sir, I understand that you are supporting Candidate A - what about Candidate B?"

"Well, he seems like a nice-enough fellow ... but I've only met him twice".

Hey, thanks for the invite to this; was a wonderful time and a chance to meet several nice folks again/for the first time.

Only thing I would add is agreement with Paula - we heard Paul give more of a campaign speech; when more of a "Here's what I will focus on" and "Here's what I need from you folks" would have been more helpful. But the chow and drink was exceptional, as has been noted. Also, working in the finance department at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (overseeing equipment and construction projects) I have had the pleasure to be keeping track of purchases designated as "Hodes Grant". Brings a smile to my face each time.

 "We should pay attention to that man behind the curtain."

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by: Ed Tracey @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 12:26:42 PM CDT

I am so sorry to have missed (4.00 / 3)

When Twomey asked me about doing this I called Paul, I helped organize, and am freaking unhappy to have missed the music and fellowship of the blog.Our niece's wedding in PA took precedence. Thanks to all who helped, all who attended, N.N.A.,and Incarnate for working with the band. It took a lot of work and Dean, Jack, Paul, Kristian and I et al had many conf calls and meetings to iron out details.

Note: This is blogworld not politics, and as with our Bashes its all self funded. For those who did not attend it was pot luck and Twomey donated the pig and the space. The band played for the fun of it.

You should have seen the look of utter shock and dismay on an unnamed newsie, and an unnamed press sec. when I asked them to pay the restaurant fee at the door at our last Bash; I guess they thought it was free?

Again it sounds great,and I hope Twomey's Blogger Summit becomes an annual must attend event that politicina clamor to 'play'.

but I want to see pictures....

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 15:19:19 PM CDT

People were asking about you, bro. n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 19:58:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Me, too. (4.00 / 1)

Only slow recovery from eye surgery kept me off the highway that day. Especially missed the music, natch.

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by: GreyMike @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 11:59:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Regional Cooperation (4.00 / 3)

Above Bresler talks about a "blogger summit." I'm sure you have noticed that the event was attended by folks from CT, MA & VT.

Dante Scala clues us in:

...Obama's New Hampshire campaign had the advantage of working in the only battleground state in New England. For hundreds of miles around, New Hampshire was the only place where Democratic activists could work and have a discernible impact.

Resources will split as we shift into congressional and senate races, but the idea that we must stay connected using blogs and other social media apps will be essential in 2010 and beyond.

Familiarity breeds trust. Trust bond's us into a cohesive political force of nature.

Blog On!


www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 17:47:33 PM CDT

What really made Twomey's get together special (4.00 / 5)

This is why blogger get-togethers are so awesome!

NH Ex-pat & Dartmouth Dem

Salaam Shalom!

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 19:57:16 PM CDT

Thanks for the picture Dean! n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 20:08:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No problem. (4.00 / 1)

Just glad it wasn't completely blurry - I'm the worst photographer in the world.

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by: Dean Barker @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 21:10:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It probably didn't help (0.00 / 0)

. . . that I yelled "Say Bibi!" as you were snapping the picture.

Bonding is fun!  And it was a privilege meeting Ex-Pat - and so many other members of the BH gang.  

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by: Dartmouth Dem @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 06:42:57 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bibi! Schmibi! (4.00 / 1)

That was still funny. Great time by all. I even got to take home some leftover pork!!! Thanks Paul!

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by: NH Ex-pat @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 11:08:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

OMG - surely a sign of the apocalypse! n/t (4.00 / 3)

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by: susanthe @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 21:30:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

the salami lays down with the ham n/t (4.00 / 1)

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 22:07:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]