Chris Barna's Weblog Politics, Culture, Occasional Musings on Life.

The recent Democratic debate broadcast on MSNBC has pushed an unusual candidate into the spotlight. Former Senator Mike Gravel made a beautiful ass of himself last week when he decided, among other poor choices, to take personal shots at the other Democratic candidates and politicians in general. I believe that one of the key requirements for a presidential candidate are good rhetorical skills–something Senator Gravel is surely lacking.

In the debate, it seemed Gravel could not keep from flailing his arms around wildly to attempt to prove a point. He refereed a few times to how much experience he had over the other “top-teir” candidates and then even asked Senator Obama who he planned to Nuke. Gravel is a man truly after Kucinich’s heart.

His ideas are however, not entirely crazy. Though he did make the offensive, and arguably true, statement that the 57,000 people who died in the Vietnam War died in vain, his ideas for withdrawal in Iraq are acceptable. The problem is that his position is so shrouded in his progressive rhetoric that it is difficult even to approach him in a rational debate.

If the progressives of America are to gain any votes, they need to find a balanced candidate. The inflammatory comments made by a lot of progressives drive people away from their general message of peace and coexistence. Progressives need to come to the discussion table rather than spewing their anti-corporate rhetoric in the lobbies of political conventions. Only then can they get the respect that they demand from the rest of the political spectrum.

It is sad however, that this will never happen. The progressives who do come to the discussion will be labeled as sell-outs and more fringe supporters will inevitably take their place in the political protests. It’s a vicious cycle but one that is necessary and unavoidable in the democratic system.

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The progressive democrats were also out in force, albeit one smaller than Obama’s. While the Obama supporters were out there just providing visibility for the Senator, the progressives actually had an agenda to push. They were handing out stickers and pamphlets about impeachment and troop withdrawl, they were yelling, and they had huge signs.

It’s kind of funny how well they had their talking points down. I was walking by this one woman and she was just yelling without even looking at anybody, “Who’s profiting off the war? Haliburton, Blackwater, corporations. Who’s paying for it? The American People.” Read more

I spent most of the day with the Obama supporters, the only real grassroots support out there. They were split up into two separate groups–across the street from the convention center and one by the door of the convention center.

Across the street, they were mostly about getting passing cars to honk. They told me if I wanted to hang around with them I had to wear a sticker so they gave me one and I went on with my business.

Across the street was way more passionate. There was a woman walking back and forth across the doorway leading Obama chants for the supporters on either side of the door. This group went through about three chant leaders over the next few hours but they definitely held out longer than the street supporters. At lunch, the police decided to quarantine the supporters by the door and placed barricades in front of them.

A while later on the other side, a couple kids started leading chants. Too young to vote, the kids used the old slogans “No blood for oil” along side the new Obama cheers.

Overall, the supporters were very friendly and intelligent. They were also a very fun group of people. Read more

Yesterday I went to the California Democratic Convention to check it out and take pictures. Over the next couple posts I will discuss my experiences and display the photos that I took around the convention. For all of my photos, check here.

I got there around 10AM to correspond with the planned Barack Obama rally. From what I saw on my initial approach, there weren’t really any supporters around but I didn’t look hard. I decided to check out the whole area around the convention center. I started from the back and walked around the entire thing to gauge the event.

I didn’t really see anything until I got around to the middle of the front when I saw the Obama supporters out in force.

Technorati Tags: california, democraticconvention, democrats, sandiego

The first reason the Department of Justice gave for firing 7 US Attorneys, including San Diego’s own Carol Lam, was that they had performance issues. A new attorney was appointed last March in Minneapolis just lost three of her top aides citing management issues.

Rachel Paulose was nominated in December after the former US Attorney in Minneapolis resigned last February. As the youngest US attorney currently in place, the 33 year old Paulose was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in January:

“It would have been a shame to see such a capable, experienced nominee fail to get a chance for confirmation, and I am very excited we were able to get her nomination through the Senate before adjournment,” [Sen. Norm] Coleman said a news release.

At her official installation (almost a year after being appointed “interim US Attorney”), Ms. Paulose hosted a professional photographer, a color guard and a choir. She paid for most of the ceremony out of her own pocket and said that the total cost incurred on taxpayers was $225.

In a kind of ironic move, three of the top lawyers at her office resigned yesterday. They cited her “dictatorial management style and general lack of management experience.” She also, allegedly, has a habit of quoting bible verses around the office.

This should send a message to Washington that there are actually some attorneys that need to be fired. The people who resigned were all respectable and upstanding and this kind of coordination shows that Ms. Paulose probably has some issues. The Department of Justice should investigate further.

Technorati Tags: departmentofjustice, minneapolis, usattorney