Report from the Field: Elizabeth Warren (Jim's Take)

I've asked Jim Miara permission to share this email, describing his experience at a recent volunteer meeting for US Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren:  

Report from the field-- 

The rally yesterday for Elizabeth Warren at the Reggie Lewis Arena in Roxbury felt like a gathering of a massive church choir: We were all singing the same song and all (a thousand or so of us) were determined to harmonize.  
Chairs were arranged in a pentagonal formation in the infield of the track with a small stage in the center.

Barney, we hardly knew ye. (Redistricting and MA-04)

UPDATE 1/2/2012: Joseph P. Kennedy III likely to run for Congress « On Politics
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(pulling these updates from my Lynch town hall post, to make a separate post on these developing topics)

11/9/2011: The new, proposed Congressional maps have been released, and as widely expected (at least by me), Needham has been taken OUT of Lynch's district, and we are now in the MA-4th Congressional District, along with our neighbors Wellesley and Newton, which is currently represented by Barney Frank.   Though it was anticipated that there might be a challenge between Lynch and Keating, turns out that's not going to happen.

New Progressive Era?

A "new progressive era"? I won't hold my breath. Too many disappointments. Too many cats to herd.

But maybe there are some good things happening.  And it won't happen without work and organizing.  Let's keep trying.

Cynicism, Apathy, Distraction, Disengagement

I have things to say on this.  After an election day (I worked for Suzanne Lee for Boston City Council on Tuesday), I inevitably am left with a gnawing sense of dissatisfaction/unease about what it means to VOTE and ENGAGE with our democracy.  Even though I personally successfully encouraged many people to vote, the ones who DIDN'T are the ones that stick with me.

I'm going say more when I get around to it.  But for now, a link or two:

Obamify

Watch!:

On Bootstraps

Are people who are out of a job lazy?  Are people who are protesting Wall Street and the unequal economy moochers who disdain real work?  Is the American Dream--that hard work, education, will be rewarded with a comfortable life, no matter what station in life you were born into--still true?  Are we a meritocracy?

Let's explore.

Rep. Lynch's Needham Town Hall: The Surprising and the Not

[see UPDATES at end of post for REDISTRICTING and BARNEY FRANK]
Recently, Congressman Stephen Lynch came to Needham as part of a series of "town hall"-style fora around the 9th District.

This Needham Patch article offers a good write-up of the scene and the topics covered.  I just want to point out here the surprising and not surprising elements of what I heard on that day.

First, Mr. Lynch deserves kudos for being much improved from his spring town halls, which felt much more uni-directional than being an open exchange of ideas. In spring, attendees submitted questions on index cards, which were sorted thru by a moderator, and then the Congressman answered. The opportunity for follow up and questions was not there, or did not happen for whatever reasons.  For dog's sake, someone said, "Keep government out of my Medicare" and Mr. Lynch replied, "I totally agree with you sir" without any opportunity for pushback!!