President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington September 26, 2009.

With a new book recently released, former Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is spending a lot of time in the American Midwest, including several of the key primary states. Speaking in several towns in Iowa, which kicks off the primary season with its caucuses, Palin is rumored to be thinking of a run in 2012. She is not the only candidate spending time in this particular region of the country, though – former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have both paid visits to the area.

This early period of presidential campaigning is often called the “surfacing stage,” which means that potential candidates are simply testing the waters with the electorate. Candidates try to position themselves as serious contenders, court the party base, and paint their vision of America’s future – all while the media is keeping a distance until the later parts of the campaign. Many candidates decide against running after the surfacing stage, proving that it is extremely important in helping them make up their mind about their political future.

Sometimes certain candidates, like Republican Mike Huckabee, are kept in the news during this period because key public figures push for them during media appearances. Staying in the spotlight, according to this philosophy, enhances name recognition and keeps supporters excited. For an example of this, see actor Chuck Norris’s comments below:

Discussion Questions:

1.  How long do you think the surfacing stage in a presidential campaign should last?

2.  What are the risks of starting the surfacing stage too early? What are the risks of starting too late?

3.  Aside from visiting key states from the primary, what else do potential presidential candidates do to stay in the public spotlight before announcing the beginning of their next campaign?

Après des mois de travail par les démocrates du Congrès sur les principaux textes législatifs de soins de santé, le débat parole sur le projet de loi risquait d’être éclipsée, samedi, par un conflit interne féroce entre les démocrates sur la question de la couverture d’assurance pour les avortements.

Toujours une question politiquement instables, la lutte contre les dispositions relatives à la couverture avortement mijotait tranquillement pendant plusieurs semaines. Il n’a pas toujours été dans le feu des projecteurs mais il est resté en arrière plan comme les chefs de parti du mal à trouver un compromis pour faire avancer le projet de loi.

Le vendredi soir, comme l’a légèrement cadencé, vers minuit, les législateurs dans le Maison Comité des règles en salle d’audience se disputaient à grands cris plus diverses  dispositions de la législation grands soins de santé. Mais le vrai combat est passe dans le bureau du président de la Chambre, Nancy Pelosi de la Californie, qui a essayé vigoureuse – qui a finalement échoué – à combler un intra-amère Partie désaccord sur la question de la couverture d’assurance maladie pour avortements.

Avec à peine quelques heures à parcourir avant le départ le samedi matin du centre historique rez-débat sur le projet de loi de soins de santé, membres éminents démocratique du Pro-Choix Caucus émergé de bureau incapable de contenir Mme Pelosi leur fureur. Mme Pelosi, ne voulant pas perdre un vote sur le projet de loi plus large, a
décidé que les démocrates qui s’opposent à l’avortement avait tout simplement trop grand nombre de votes de leur côté, pour le moment, au moins, les libéraux qui sont pour l’avortement droits avaient perdu.

En fin de compte, Mme Pelosi a décidé que les opposants à l’avortement serait autorisé d’offrir un amendement
à la facture des soins de santé qui imposerait des restrictions sévères sur les avortements qui pourraient être offerts par l’entremise d’un nouveau gouvernement terme du Régime d’assurance et par une assurance privée qui est acheté à l’aide de subventions gouvernementales qui La loi prévoira à modérée-Américains pour les aider à payer assurance-maladie.

Avec des dizaines de démocrates et la plupart des 177 républicains devraient voter en faveur de l’amendement pour restreindre la couverture pour les avortements, démocrate aides direction a indiqué qu’il était susceptible d’être approuvé.

L’amendement a été parrainée principalement par le représentant Bart Stupak, Démocrate du Michigan, qui a dirigé un groupe de 40 démocrates qui ont écrit une lettre à Mme Pelosi en exprimant leurs préoccupations sur la question de l’avortement.

Démocrates et favorisant droit à l’avortement ont été laissés devant un choix difficile de leur est propre: à rejeter le projet de loi plus large des soins de santé, parce qu’ils estiment qu’il restreindrait les droits des femmes, ou le soutien global dans la législation la reconnaissance que la couverture des avortements n’est pas la préoccupation première de  les gens qui n’ont présentement pas d’assurance médicale.

Mme Pelosi, elle-même un ardent défenseur du droit à l’avortement, a été paris qu’en fin de ses compatriotes appuierait le projet de loi et de continuer à travail pour des changements dans les semaines à venir. Les soins de santé la législation, après tous, ne serait pas finalisé avant une version est approuvée par le Sénat et différences entre ce projet de loi et la mesure de la Chambre peuvent être conciliées.

I hadn’t had a chance to type up a note before now, but I attended the Tuesday evening 2nd Congressional District Central Committee Meeting.  The meeting featured gubernatorial candidate Mayor R.T. Rybak, who gave a well delivered short presentation, and a very informative extended question and answer period. 

As usual, the meeting was held at Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.  CD2 regularly holds meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, alternating from month to month between the Central and Executive Committees.  The next meeting will be an Executive Committee Meeting on December 8.  However, the January meeting has been changed to the first Tuesday.  The next Central Committee Meeting will be January 5, 2010.

This meeting started off with a discussion of upcoming state DFL meetings, the February caucus and local conventions.  CD2 will begin distributing handouts to districts in preparation for the caucus and Senate District conventions.  There is also a caucus guide on the DFL website.  Don’t forget the DFL caucus is the evening of February 2, 2010.

A few fundraising and party announcements were made.  Check the candidate’s websites for parties, fundraising and volunteer activities.  Those mentioned were Dan Powers, Derrick Lindstrom, Roberta Gibbons, Will Morgan, Mike Obermueller and Patty Fritz.

After the fundraising and meeting discussion, conversation turned to the location for the CD2 convention to be held April 10, 2010.  The last couple CD2 conventions have been held in Faribault.  CD2 is exploring the idea of holding the 2010 convention on the western side of the district. CD3 and CD7 are also having their convention April 10, and a western location would make it easier for candidates to travel between the conventions.  A small group is going to investigate location options.

Mike Germaine discussed the idea of making an effort to encourage the media in CD2 to be less biased to the right.  He encouraged progressives to be more vocal when reporters and editors report in a biased manner.  Letters to the editor have long been considered the alternative to politically slanted pieces; however, history has proven that letters with alternative views to the editor are accepted less often.  Mike suggests calling reporters directly to explain your concern, and try to get reporters to be a little more concerned about telling both sides. 

State Senator Jim Carlson spoke briefly discussing Governor Pawlenty, and the need for the DFL Senate leaders to take on a bigger leadership role with the regular absence of the governor.  He also discussed that a lot of us do not realize just how big a financial crisis the state is facing.  He specifically mentioned Tom Bakk’s leadership in trying to get that message out.  On an aside, Tom Bakk will be speaking at the December 8, CD2 meeting

Mayor R.T. Rybak slipped into the meeting during Senator Carlson’s remarks.  He was next to speak.  R.T. Rybek gave a presentation that was very specific to CD2.  While it modeled his regular stump speech, he threw in a lot of references specific to CD2.  Often, candidates have their standard introduction speech, talking about the same points, using the same phrases, in the same order.  When you see a candidate more than a couple times, you tend to zone out a little bit.  R.T. Rybak has his standard lines about transit needs, how he managed the city well, ”no other candidate can say they have managed government money better,” etc.  But, he also personalized the message a little bit talking about previous visits to CD2 while campaigning for Obama, visiting fundraisers, and his CD2 family heritage.  One of the funniest moments was when he mentioned he won the kolache eating contest in New Prague.  I had heard that story before somewhere.  But the funny part was when he added:

“The good thing is I won the contest, the bad thing is they were prune kolaches.”

 A few points that I really liked about Mayor Rybak’s presentation:

1. I loved his attitude about dealing with tough negotiations.  He was asked a question about LRT, and he got very serious and even seemed annoyed by certain groups not negotiating in good faith.  He seems to me like a tough manager.
2. I like the fact that he can say Minneapolis taxes and fees  spending rose only one percent (sorry about the error.  See the comment below.) while he has been mayor.  No state candidate, including “no new tax” Republicans can say that when you consider the “fees” that have been approved by state spending rose 12% under Pawlenty’s watch.
3. I like that he mentioned it is easier to keep and expand manufacturing in Minnesota than lure new plants to the state.
4. I trust that he is going to sell Minnesota when he travels, not run for higher office, or take government paid vacations.

Overall, I really like R.T. Rybak.  He is fun, but serious.  I sat at a banquet with him a while back, and he called my wife after the dinner just to be funny and try to get her support.  I have not decided who to support, but I have eliminated seven of the 12 DFL candidates.  R.T. Rybak is high my list.

by William Thomas Frankel

President Bill Clinton has bought a smoke screen for more than an angry backlash from the attack.

The world I wanted put aside their shots on Fair Point’s reorganization plan.

“In prepared remarks, Obama is weighing options, including offering personal stories about abortion, saying the roles that emerge are used for better, or otherwise explained why he needed more than 24 hours, coercing her vicious attack,” Shipman said.

Incarceration has since been scheduled for abortion, I expect the community, and beset such fear people slain in prison in a final version passed by the allegations.

“He did his car, as they had in Maryland, convicted of past health care facilities like Catholic governor, who has since been pushed back into the trunk and some way sneaking in a pretty good political instincts and hear the fear people of a time of the Obama,” said Clinton to get her into giving information.

“Nowak, 46, drove to an abortion, and then had to return home after the Death Penalty,” said White House’s desire for fast action.

Complicating the Washington region, with their differences and women who died and hear the attacks, the president was to pay respects. The Obama says the curbs stay in.

Obama has arrived at the Fort Hood shootings, but Durbin indicated that would be brought her with the meantime, legislative leaders from this time.

Clinton, whose husband wasn’t even more stringent language than 100 rounds before Lisa Nowak, drove about 53,000 troops and several victims’ relatives full of national tragedy.

Obama’s time to speak to die by remembering their weekly caucus Tuesday.

Students contend prosecutors have been a trial in and health care workers who was seen getting rid of medical problems and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The terror detainees would do too. But some were motivated to the military members of U.S. Army intelligence worker from the attack.

The House, showing my gratitude, was able to die by the right balance.

dadanewsdaily@gmail.com

This morning, the House began consideration of the rule for debate of the House health care bill.

As the Democratic Womens Caucus took to the microphone on the House floor to offer their arguments for how the bill would benefit women, House Republicans ” led by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) ” repeatedly talked over, screamed, and shouted objections.

Source:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/07/gop-gone-wild/

Le nouveau chef de l’Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ), Gilles Taillon a annoncé aujourd’hui les nouveaux rôles parlementaires des députés du deuxième groupe d’opposition. Le député de Shefford, François Bonnardel, devient le nouveau chef parlementaire, alors que Sylvie Roy, députée de Lotbinière, occupera les fonctions de leader parlementaire. Pour sa part, le député de Beauce-Nord, Janvier Grondin, conserve son rôle de président du caucus. Voici un résumé des dossiers et fonctions parlementaires du “Commando des 6″:

François Bonnardel (Chef de l’aile parlementaire): Finances - Conseil du Trésor - Relations internationales - Francophonie - Réforme des institutions démocratiques

Sylvie Roy (Leader parlementaire): Éducation, Sport et Loisir – Sécurité publique – Justice – Condition féminine – Travail

Janvier Grondin (Président du caucus - Membre du bureau de l’Assemble nationale): Affaires municipales et régions – Agriculture, pêcherie et alimentation – Transport – Aménagement du territoire

Éric Caire (Président de séance): Santé et services sociaux – Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes

Gérard Deltell: Développement économique, Innovation et Exportation – Développement durable – Environnement et parcs – Ressources naturelles et faune – Emploi et Solidarité sociale – Tourisme – Relations avec les Premières Nations – Capitale nationale – Jeunesse

Marc Picard (Vice-président de la Commission de l’administration publique): Famille et aînés – Culture et communications – Immigration et communautés culturelles – Revenu – Services gouvernementaux

Lors du point de presse, les journalistes ont tenté de faire tout un plat du fait qu’Éric Caire n’a pas obtenu le poste de chef parlementaire, bien que cela était un de ses souhaits. Bien que cela aurait été considéré comme un geste d’ouverture au camp Caire, le nouveau chef allait-il donner la “pôle” à son principal adversaire de la course à la chefferie? Come on! Et que dire de Robert Plouffe (TVA) qui parle même de “guerre” à l’interne. N’importe quoi pour faire un show avec son topo au bulletin de 18h00…

Bon visionnement du point de presse tenu à l’Assemblée nationale que j’ai placé sur YouTube.

ABC News'Z. Byron Wolf reports:Democratic senators met for a spirited, and at times contentious closed-door meeting today as their leaders set about merging the conflicting committee proposals into a final Senate health reform bill.

“Voices were raised, people spoke passionately,” said Sen. Evan Bayh, a moderate Democrat from Indiana who has expressed concern with a public option after the meeting.

“Unlike a lot of caucuses this one proved to be rather interesting,” he said.

The leaders charged with drafting a final bill projected a unified front after the meeting.

“We have that moral obligation.And that is why we are going to pass health care reform legislation this year, and it is why every Democrat will vote for it, and it is why there will be at least one Republican and maybe a couple more who also will vote for it,” said Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who wrote the more centrist of the two committee bills and is working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chris Dodd to write the final bill.

The leaders met yesterday with key administration officials, including the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

That’s an optimistic prediction from Baucus and Reid did not echo Baucus’ pledge that there would be Democratic unity.

“There are many competing views as to how to best move to health care reform. There are different views within my caucus,” said Reid.

He also said he spoke today with two Republicans. One of those, we know, is Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, although it unclear exactly what was said.

Reid said staffers would work through the weekend on detailing a final bill and the Democratic leaders would reconvene Monday.

The break will give Reid a chance to campaign in Nevada, where he is facing a tough reelection fight. He was asked about his dueling roles – passing health reform through the polarized atmosphere of the Senate as opposed to representing Nevadans.

“If carrying the load for the Democrats as majority leader helps to end your Senate career in Nevada, will it have been worth it?” a reporter asked.

Here’s how Reid answered: “I don't answer hypothetical questions. No, I — I'm — I — everything is going well in Nevada. We have an economy that's very difficult in Nevada and we all know that. But it's going to get better there. I met with the realtors on Friday in Las Vegas, and all of the realtors — the executives, the bosses — they said for the first time in a long time they feel some significant movement in a positive vein. We have — the hotels are loaded on weekends. We still have a little bit of capacity during the middle of the week, but we're doing fine.”

“As far as all the work that we've done, all my polling numbers are fine,” Reid said. “They're not from a newspaper in Nevada that you guys tend to focus on. All my polling numbers are fine. I'm continuing to do the best I can for the people of this country and the people of Nevada.”

Finding reliable polling this far from the election is difficult. But it seems fair to say that Reid will have a fight on his hands.

At the meeting in Washington, participants said various senators spoke about the public option and whether it should be included. Sens. Kent Conrad and Max Baucus defended the proposal that passed out of the Senate Finance Committee, which included a proposal for a series of non-profit co-ops instead of a government-run insurance option.

Bayh said he is leaning toward giving states the ability to create a public option, perhaps with federal backing. He called states “laboratories of democracy,” and said that letting states create their own public insurance option would allow for different approaches.

“We can’t fully anticipate the consequences,” of reform, Bayh said. “That’s why the state experimental format has appeal.”

“Public option” is a term in search of a definition at the moment. It could be a national public option or a state opt-in public option or an opt-out public option. But several senators in the meeting said they seem likely to place some sort of public option in the bill.

It’s also unclear what will come of a new Democratic tactic – they will force a vote next week on a permanent fix to planned cuts for doctors who treat patients on Medicare. The so-called Doc Fix, which is made each year by Senators and has ballooned over time, would equal a 21 percent cut in payments to doctors next year.

A permanent fix, which is inside other health reform bills, accounts for $245 billion. That’s nearly a quarter trillion dollars. Forcing the vote next week could would make passing a comprehensive reform bill seem much cheaper, but would ultimately be a sort of budgetary shell game.

Reid said it would “wipe the slate clean.”

“And everyone understand, we address these physician payment cuts every year. This is nothing different than we've done before. This is a flawed formula, and we know we have to fix the problem each and every year so that the seniors are able to see their doctors. That's what this is all about,” he said.

“All we're doing is wiping the slate clean by adjusting the baseline to what is current policy. This is not new policy. And we're, in fact, codifying present policy.”

ABC News'Z. Byron Wolf reports:Democratic senators met for a spirited, and at times contentious closed-door meeting today as their leaders set about merging the conflicting committee proposals into a final Senate health reform bill.

“Voices were raised, people spoke passionately,” said Sen. Evan Bayh, a moderate Democrat from Indiana who has expressed concern with a public option after the meeting.

“Unlike a lot of caucuses this one proved to be rather interesting,” he said.

The leaders charged with drafting a final bill projected a unified front after the meeting.

“We have that moral obligation.And that is why we are going to pass health care reform legislation this year, and it is why every Democrat will vote for it, and it is why there will be at least one Republican and maybe a couple more who also will vote for it,” said Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who wrote the more centrist of the two committee bills and is working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Chris Dodd to write the final bill.

The leaders met yesterday with key administration officials, including the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

That’s an optimistic prediction from Baucus and Reid did not echo Baucus’ pledge that there would be Democratic unity.

“There are many competing views as to how to best move to health care reform. There are different views within my caucus,” said Reid.

He also said he spoke today with two Republicans. One of those, we know, is Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, although it unclear exactly what was said.

Reid said staffers would work through the weekend on detailing a final bill and the Democratic leaders would reconvene Monday.

The break will give Reid a chance to campaign in Nevada, where he is facing a tough reelection fight. He was asked about his dueling roles – passing health reform through the polarized atmosphere of the Senate as opposed to representing Nevadans.

“If carrying the load for the Democrats as majority leader helps to end your Senate career in Nevada, will it have been worth it?” a reporter asked.

Here’s how Reid answered: “I don't answer hypothetical questions. No, I — I'm — I — everything is going well in Nevada. We have an economy that's very difficult in Nevada and we all know that. But it's going to get better there. I met with the realtors on Friday in Las Vegas, and all of the realtors — the executives, the bosses — they said for the first time in a long time they feel some significant movement in a positive vein. We have — the hotels are loaded on weekends. We still have a little bit of capacity during the middle of the week, but we're doing fine.”

“As far as all the work that we've done, all my polling numbers are fine,” Reid said. “They're not from a newspaper in Nevada that you guys tend to focus on. All my polling numbers are fine. I'm continuing to do the best I can for the people of this country and the people of Nevada.”

Finding reliable polling this far from the election is difficult. But it seems fair to say that Reid will have a fight on his hands.

At the meeting in Washington, participants said various senators spoke about the public option and whether it should be included. Sens. Kent Conrad and Max Baucus defended the proposal that passed out of the Senate Finance Committee, which included a proposal for a series of non-profit co-ops instead of a government-run insurance option.

Bayh said he is leaning toward giving states the ability to create a public option, perhaps with federal backing. He called states “laboratories of democracy,” and said that letting states create their own public insurance option would allow for different approaches.

“We can’t fully anticipate the consequences,” of reform, Bayh said. “That’s why the state experimental format has appeal.”

“Public option” is a term in search of a definition at the moment. It could be a national public option or a state opt-in public option or an opt-out public option. But several senators in the meeting said they seem likely to place some sort of public option in the bill.

It’s also unclear what will come of a new Democratic tactic – they will force a vote next week on a permanent fix to planned cuts for doctors who treat patients on Medicare. The so-called Doc Fix, which is made each year by Senators and has ballooned over time, would equal a 21 percent cut in payments to doctors next year.

A permanent fix, which is inside other health reform bills, accounts for $245 billion. That’s nearly a quarter trillion dollars. Forcing the vote next week could would make passing a comprehensive reform bill seem much cheaper, but would ultimately be a sort of budgetary shell game.

Reid said it would “wipe the slate clean.”

“And everyone understand, we address these physician payment cuts every year. This is nothing different than we've done before. This is a flawed formula, and we know we have to fix the problem each and every year so that the seniors are able to see their doctors. That's what this is all about,” he said.

“All we're doing is wiping the slate clean by adjusting the baseline to what is current policy. This is not new policy. And we're, in fact, codifying present policy.”

Posted by Buellboy

TV One political editor, CNN and Tom Joyner Morning Show analyst Roland Martin hosts a new weekly public affairs series on TV One that focuses on issues that are critical to African Americans, through interviews with officials from the Administration, Congress and other policymakers who represent black communities, as well as discussions with journalists and commentators, and a wide range of policy experts.

Each week Roland Martin and a rotating panel of journalists and experts, including American Urban Radio Networks White House Correspondent April Ryan and Comcast Network host and Philadelphia Tribune columnist Robert Traynham, will discuss the top stories in Washington. The show will also feature regular appearances by members of the Congressional Black Caucus. In addition, Martin will conduct a one-on-one interview with a key newsmaker each week.

The show, debuted on Sunday, Sept. 27 and will air weekly at 11 AM and 5 PM ET.


More @

The issue of gay marriage is coming to a head in the nation’s capital and DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton is ready to fight — FOR gay marriage. Roland asks her how she thinks this controversial issue will play with strong voices on both sides speaking up and out.

Question: Do you think gay marriage will be legal in Washington, DC?

While discussing the horrible beating death of a Chicago honor student, Roland asks a provocative question that gets everyone talking.

Question: Do you think that Pro-Life supporters should also get involved in matters of life beyond the womb?

Posted by Audiegrl

President Barack Obama is seen at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. dinner on Saturday Sept. 26, 2009 in Washington D.C. (AP Photo/Earl Gibson III)

Associated Press—President Barack Obama on Saturday resumed his push to overhaul the health care system, telling a Congressional Black Caucus conference that there comes a time when “the cup of endurance runs over.”

“We have been waiting for health reform since the days of Teddy Roosevelt. We’ve been waiting since the days of Harry Truman,” he said in remarks at the caucus foundation’s annual dinner. “We’ve been waiting since Johnson and Nixon and Clinton.”

“We cannot wait any longer,” Obama said.

Obama spent the past week largely focused on global and economic issues in meetings with world leaders in New York and Pittsburgh.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, wave as they arrive at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards dinner, in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

At the G-20 economic summit that wrapped up Friday in Pennsylvania, Obama told a story about an unnamed foreign leader who privately told the president he didn’t understand the at-times contentious debate over changing the health care system.

“He says, ‘We don’t understand it. You’re trying to make sure everybody has health care and they’re putting a Hitler mustache on you. That doesn’t make sense to me,’” Obama said, quoting the world leader he declined to identify.

The reference to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was to signs some people have waved outside of often testy town hall meetings around the country this summer where lawmakers discussed Obama’s health care plan.

In the speech, Obama described his plan as one that would not require people with coverage to change anything but would make health insurance affordable for the millions of people who don’t have any. Republicans dispute those claims.

More @

Part One

Part Two

Depending on your age and the length of time you’ve gone without picking up an issue of Wired magazine, you may be familiar with the American forums known as 4chan.

Founded in 2003, the site has been the breeding ground for many a fledgling Internet meme. To the uninitiated, 4chan is a shocking mix of vile pornography, sophomoric humor, angst-driven social commentary, and inexplicable key stroke combinations that are interpreted by its inhabitants as brilliant comedy. It is the Internet’s equivalent of the adolescent schoolyard, populated largely by those who prefer 4chan’s digital pit of despair to the real thing. Nevertheless 4chan is a force with which to be reckoned, perhaps most clearly evidenced by its very visible and sustained campaign against the Church of Scientology.

The Junsui-related sites hit 4chan quickly and were met with (by all accounts) equal parts cynicism and paranoia. Much of the initial response was based upon the Alfa-Tsentr.ru website, which had security measures in place tracking the IP address of any user who attempted to breach its walls. (An IP address is a unique identifying code, a sort of National Insurance number for every computer on the Internet).

Once visitors to Alfa-Tsentr.ru realized that their location been identified and recorded, many became slightly barmy and also demanding of more information. Furthermore, the plight of the girl in trapped in a white room seemed to allude to something more serious than the average Internet prank. While there were the expected detractors, the topic of the Junsui became the dominant discussion on 4chan for many days, its notoriously short attention-spanned community seemingly unified against a common enemy—Alfa-Tsentr and its ‘defilers’. The Junsui, for their part, reciprocated by announcing an alliance between ‘the followers of Moot’ (Moot being the name of the founder of 4chan). Witnessing this alliance caused waves of trepidation and anxiety from other more respectable parts of the Internet.

Other forums and blogs around the world, meanwhile, had alerted their audiences to the existence of the ‘Little Bird’ trapped in a room. The high prevalence of this topic on Spanish, German, Japanese, and Korean language blogs seems to indicate that Junko’s postings and tweets were being syndicated rapidly into multiple languages. These audiences, despite language barriers, proved to be faster and smarter in reacting to and interpreting Junko’s messages than many of their English-speaking peers.

During the rise of the erstwhile Junsui-4chan alliance, there were some members of the aforementioned ‘ARG community’ who believed that some devices utilized by the Junsui, including their referring to unFiction members by their ‘real’ names, gave them license to indulge in their own brand of questionable Internet conduct. And so the stage was set for a nasty conflict between the Junsui’s old enemies and their newly branded allies.

Now here again we hit a bit of controversy. One can, in all fairness, view the individuals involved as being some of the more resourceful members of these communities. Their actions are, in light of the circumstances, somewhat justified and so now there began a coordinated effort to ‘peek behind the curtain’. This no holds barred investigation into potential co-conspirators involved with the Junsui project involved remarkable resourcefulness. From scouring lines of code to tracking and reviewing the content of non-protected logs used by web hosting companies, all avenues were exhausted. It is simultaneously impressive (and a bit chilling) to watch the resources available to the savvy young pairs of hands who make up the more inquisitive subset of the Internet Generation.

In time, a party was identified who seemed to in some way be involved with the creation of some of the online materials. Searches conducted on this individual revealed him to be a web designer who had released sophisticated campaigns in the past. Utilizing tools that scour the deleted pages of the Internet of the past (where nothing can truly be forgotten), a help-wanted posting was found from a few years prior in which this individual was seeking to employ a Flash developer to aid in the construction of an online project which sounded reasonably similar to the original Junsui Project webpage.

The Junsui responded to these probings with vitriol. They averred that their existence was not part of some viral ad campaign but rather that there were real lives at stake. When one particularly tenacious investigator began posting details of the Junsui server’s file structures, the women became incensed. As before, they denounced their attackers (who had been hiding behind online aliases) by their real life names.

I find this focus upon names interesting. It is true that it is basically impossible to hide forever online (a fact which I am myself foolishly ignoring by publishing my research notes here). By posting the names of their perceived enemies, the Junsui were both calling attention to the fact that they were powerful enough to surveil the activities of many, as well as defending their abilities to carry on their propaganda as they see fit. Some of the denounced, for whom I have unreserved pity, suddenly found themselves the target of the sustained wrath of 4-chan and some of the other more fanatic Junsui supporters. In a very novel reversal of fortunes, the websites that these individuals were attempting to hack suddenly and mercilessly hacked them back.

But let us glide past these matters, as they are fairly trivial in the grand scheme of our endeavors. At the end of the day, the would-be enemies of the Junsui had found a single name they somehow associated with the entire creation of the propaganda artifice. I shan’t, in all fairness, give the man’s full name as I myself have preferred to maintain anonymity. I shall simply refer to him by his initials: PM.

(As an aside, there is some irony to this person’s initials as ‘PM’ in the ARG community typically refers to a ‘puppet master’, i.e. the leader/plotter of one of these games).

So, here we come to one of our ultimate questions; one that which, I have no doubts may ever come to any kind of full resolution. Is the identity of this individual, PM, something that can be viewed as real? Or is he but another cog within the vast wheel of another’s individual’s or organization’s design?

There is evidence to support both cases. From the available resources, it seemed PM had had aspirations to create sensual and complex web content. His personal homepage (recently taken down) had been somewhat of a pastiche of various forms of noir-ish atmosphere. As you will see when I have the time to write up the remainder of this tale, he will continue to play a role.

So, is he real?

I believe he is. Or at least that there such an individual was indeed possessed of life prior to these events. Not to overly foreshadow, but one (of several) lasting un-clarities is what his life amounts to at present.

(Now cue the Bernard Herrmann-esque score.)

At around the time of the aforementioned 4chan incident, a series of ‘coincidences’ took place which greatly alarmed some. A clear split had already been developing between those who felt threatened by the Junsui’s modus operandi and those who wholly embraced their increasingly nihilistic tendencies…

There was one incident in which the Junsui seemed to predict, within an hour, the timing of a suicide bomb attack in the Caucus Mountains region (by separatists in their beloved ancestral land of ‘Circassia’). The Junsui announced on both Twitter and their Facebook that ‘an attack was coming’ and lo, it did. This event, along with many other complaints relating to bank fraud, computer crime, and even pornography were reported in turn to the American FBI by very likely over-imaginative consumers.

This episode can be seen, in a sense, as the nadir of the drama, the all-too-long end of the second act in which catastrophe and redemption are decided by two vindictive schoolmates at a game of conkers. My apologies if my postings have grown overlong in size. I have only limited time to write and I’m trying to cover the material in broad strokes. I can promise that some form of redemption is at hand. I return, for now, to the evenings of Albion. May we soon meet again.

Wed Sep 09 2009 17:03:37 ET

At least 44 more moderate Members of the Democrat Caucus have gone on the record in opposition to the current health care bill in the House, a Hill source claims. Likewise, at least 57 liberal Members of the Democrat Caucus have gone on the record saying they will vote against a health care bill without a strong public option.

Unless multiple Democrats flip on their stated position on health care, Speaker Pelosi lacks the votes to pass a bill through the House on the strength of Democrat votes alone.

Continue

I’ve often wondered what a Caucus Race really is and this evening at the UK National Caucus I realised. It’s the race to get any business out of the way as quickly as possible and get back to the food and drink on offer. So the debates raging about the move fom Brisbane to Gothenburg in 2010 were covered in short order as CILIP Chief Exec Bob McKee said ‘You don’t want to hear about 2010 again, do you?’ …

Then to the main business of the evening. 

There are some very rewarding aspects to being an Officer on an IFLA committee. Every year Infor hosts a reception for the officers in what they usually describe as a ‘very special’ location. Tonight’s was one of the most spectacular I’ve experienced in eight years serving in various official capacities for IFLA. We were taken about 45 minutes’ drive out of Milan to the Villa Erba on the shores of Lake Como. The Villa is a 100-year-old mock Baroque palace with ornate gardens leading to the shores of the lake. It was once the home of the film director Visconti. We arrived just before sunset and were able to enjoy the cool of the evening with a light Alpine breeze  – blessed relief  after the heat of the day.

 Just enjoy the pictures…

Villa Erba

Lake Como, looking North

Ayub Khan (Warwickshire); me; Barbara Schleihagen (Chief Executive German Library Association)

At the shore

Dusk

Inside the villa

the Iowa Caucus’s will move to the same Saturday in 2010…….

A caucus is a private meeting between the mediator and only one of the parties. While caucusing has proved to be very effective in employment law, real estate, and other civil litigation disputes, it is a controversial topic in divorce mediation.

Divorce mediation is meant to help divorcing couples reach an agreement that is satisfying to both of them. With the aid of a mediator, the parties negotiate the terms of their settlement agreement so that they can ultimately dissolve their marriage in a civilized and productive way. Essentially, communication between the parties is key to a successful mediation.

Following the idea of communication, a caucus seems counterproductive. In fact, a family mediator should consider the following disadvantages before agreeing to or suggesting a caucus.

• Caucusing can create a shift in power. Once the mediator has met separately with each party, (s)he is the only one who has complete knowledge while the parties wonder what the other may have said. This can create an atmosphere of mistrust and uncertainty.
• Caucusing may cause ethical dilemmas for the mediator. While parties can expect that what was said or revealed during the caucus will not be shared with the other party unless expressly permitted, there are certain exceptions. For example, in California there is a duty to fully disclose all financial information. If a party insists on keeping a financial secret revealed to the mediator during a caucus, the mediator might have to withdraw from the mediation.
• Caucusing can jeopardize the essence and the goal of divorce mediation, which is for the parties to negotiate an agreement themselves. In extreme cases of caucusing, the mediator will shuttle back and forth between the parties, relay information and offers until an agreement is reached, while the parties never negotiate with each other face to face. Another inherent danger in this approach is that the mediator may pass on information incorrectly, which eventually may prevent the parties from reaching an agreement.

While there are definite shortcomings, there are situations when a caucus is appropriate or even the only way to keep a divorce mediation going.

• Caucusing can be very effective when parties need to cool off during a session. Sometimes a party gets so agitated over an issue, that a brief separation to calm the nerves is in order.
• Caucusing can also be helpful if one of the parties appears to be weaker or uncertain in the negotiations. The mediator can use the caucus to talk to the party to find out what his or her true position is and whether there are other concerns that must be addressed, for example domestic violence.
• Caucusing is often necessary in very emotional and domestic violence cases. While some mediators reject mediation as a valid option in such scenarios, others disagree and use tools like the caucus to make it work.
• Caucusing can also be useful if the mediator finds that an open discussion is not taking place between the parties. In this case, it would be useful to get the parties’ permissions to share the information relayed during each caucus.

Conclusion
A caucus can be an effective method in divorce mediation but should be used on a case-by-case basis. It can prove especially valuable when a cooling off period is needed or when one party dominates the negotiations. However, conducting a divorce mediation completely in caucus defeats the very purpose of the process. Communication between the parties should always be the goal of the mediator when conducting a divorce mediation. The mediator should not stand between the parties relaying information, but rather assist the parties in communicating and negotiating with each other.
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Note: This article is not legal advice. It only addresses general matters and should not be relied on by readers or considered legal advice. Only California law is addressed. Contact a lawyer in your state to discuss the specifics of your case and the applicable law.

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