In The Name of Progress

It’s been an interesting week.

From viewing beautiful photos of women and their children voting, and paying respects to suffragette pioneer Susan B. Anthony in my hometown (Anthony might have been proud to learn that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote); to learning about racist graffiti sprawled across public property, just miles away, following the election.

The divide in America seems greater than many of us thought, yet I’m not entirely surprised.

As someone who campaigned hard for Bernie Sanders, I sympathize with the struggle of the working class (hell, you could say that I am part of that class). I understand that in addition to fighting for equality, we need to work to improve the standard of living for all Americans. Unfortunately, many people have felt left out of the conversation, and perhaps voted to send a message. I just hope those voters took time to consider the more troubling aspects of this past election, and what might lie on the horizon.

During the election season, I found perspective in an unexpected source. Last spring I started gathering materials again for the Google Arts & Culture, centered around the theme of American Democracy. Trying to come up with a suitable online exhibition for Norman Rockwell Museum seemed a no-brainer for me, as we were just preparing to open an exhibition at our Western Massachusetts site on the art of Thomas Nast. The 19^th century political cartoonist was known for his great influence in affecting the outcome of presidential elections, and his biting commentary shined a light on issues that remain important to this day—from political corruption to imperialism, inflation, and civil rights (his political cartooning career began right alongside the presidency of Abraham Lincoln).

My work on the Nast online exhibit was primarily an exercise in graphic design and layout (I did not create the text or, unfortunately, even the video attached), but I also appreciated the increased knowledge it provided me, to better understand the events that shaped our national identity and politics (how fascinating that the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties were essentially flipped over the course of a century).

Google was generous enough to allow me to create two online exhibitions for their American Democracy forum. The second idea I had was to repurpose materials from the Museum’s 2008 exhibition, Norman Rockwell: Illustrator in Chief. That show, which we presented during another historic election year, looked at the many portraits that Norman Rockwell created of presidential candidates during his lifetime.

Working at the Museum for over a decade, I was already aware of the great number of presidential portraits that Rockwell created—from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to John F. Kennedy to Lyndon B. Johnson to Richard Nixon. We have a great number of reference and candid photos of Rockwell with these presidents, and I included them in this new online exhibition titled Norman Rockwell:Presidential Elections Illustrated (also included: old video clips I conducted with my friend and the Museum's former archivist, Corry Kanzenberg).

Photo of Norman Rockwell, looking a little weary after illustrating
the election of 1968. Photo by Louie Lamone. Norman Rockwell Museum
Collection. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency.

What I knew less about were many of the candidates who challenged these politicians during their respective presidential primaries: Adlai Stevenson, Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, Eugene McCarthy, and Hubert Humphrey; the latter three names, in addition to Robert Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, were all candidates during the election year of 1968—it’s ironic that an artist who strove to illustrate the “best of America,” found himself commissioned to paint one of the most turbulent and tragic elections in modern U.S. history.

I had been hearing a lot about 1968 during this year’s presidential election. They say it was a year that really heightened the divide between Democrats and Republicans. The dissatisfaction that many voters were expressing during this year’s primaries, and surprising rhetoric espoused by Donald Trump, made me curious to learn more.

my "light" summer read

My research lead me to a wonderful new book called American Maelstrom. Author Michael A. Cohen covers the events and each of the candidates (by chapter) that were major players during the ’68 election. At the beginning of the year, if you had told me that a thick tome devoted to national politics would be my “summer read” I would have called you crazy…. but I could not put it down.

What I read surprised me. President Johnson’s Great Society, which sought to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, seemed a noble and humane plan, but many Americans felt we were moving too fast on these platforms, and that their own concerns were being left behind (sound familiar?). Growing up in the Reagan era, I never would have imagined that the south once identified more closely with the Democratic Party. Cohen’s book explained the “southern strategy,” which Nixon utilized that year, preying on some of the fears that white voters had in that region of the country. Nixon preached “law and order,”  and his TV commercials further tapped into those fears and uncertainty. Again, many parallels to 2016.

Beyond that, I learned about such divisive figures as George Wallace, who did nothing to hide his racism while running as a president during both the 1968 ad 1964 elections; what is interesting to learn is that he ran as a Democrat during the 1964 election (and 72 and 76, for that matter!).

Barry Goldwater also ran in 1964. He was another polarizing figure, who planted the seed for a new conservatism, which eventually won out in the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. But in the early 60s, it appeared that liberalism was favored by most Americans.

Lyndon Johnson is really a tragic figure. He could have been a “great" president. The book explains how his unyielding support of the Vietnam War was really his undoing. As today, many liberals opposed tough military intervention in regards to foreign affairs, and you saw figures like Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy voice opposition and eventually enter the election as candidates.

"A More Perfect Union" exhibit, Tang Museum. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

But nothing is “black and white." Although Kennedy, who along with Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated that year, was a champion of civil rights, he hardly connected with working class voters. McCarthy, one of the most vocal opponents of the Vietnam War, otherwise ran a rather ineffective campaign on domestic issues.

On the other side were Republican candidates like Nelson Rockefeller and George Romney, who the book called “moderate Republicans.” Again, having grown up in a much more conservative era, I was surprised to learn about Republicans who favored some form of government assistance on social issues (are they, essentially, modern Democrats?). I guess you would include President Eisenhower in this camp, who warned, among other things, about the growing military industrial complex.

Artist Steve Brodner illustrated both the Democratic and
Republican convetions this year. This particular cartoon haunted me.
Courtesy and ©Steve Brodner. All rights reserved.

Anyway, this past year has been an incredible learning experience for me. As I have written before, I have a newfound wariness of the mainstream media, seeing how they handled the candidacy of Bernie Sanders (the Associate Press, of all things, went so far as to basically call and influence the Democratic primary, even before all voting had even started in the last couple states). And as troubling as internet hacking is, I was not surprised (and somewhat vindicated) to learn of the content of emails presented by Wikileaks. Fortunately, the two party conventions did not end up like the violent 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, but I must admit that I appreciated some of the delegates' protest within the halls this year (particularly on the first day).

Talking Four Freedoms with scholar Harvey J. Kaye.

It seems obvious we can learn as much from history, as we can from the unfolding present. I have been very interested in the writings of Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal. Like Sanders, Frank has presented a critique of the current Democratic Party, which he states has become too comfortable with Wall Street, money in politics, and the idea of meritocracy. People are hurting, and for all the great social good they have done over the last decade, it’s ironic that the Democratic Party has not connected more with the working class. Author/scholar Harvey Kaye, who I helped interview this past year for the Museum, has been pretty vocal about the idea that the United States has, in fact, a proud history as a progressive nation, fighting for equality, that we should embrace—that’s what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was all about and expressed in his "Four Freedoms speech," later painted by Norman Rockwell, which still resonates 75 years later.

Looking for unity."A More Perfect Union" exhibit, Tang Museum.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe

I’d like to think most Americans are tolerant—of race, gender, sexuality, and different beliefs—however, some of the hateful displays since the election really disturb me. Even before the election, I picked up Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild. In this new book, professor Hochschild leaves her liberal hometown of Berkeley, California, to venture deep into the Louisiana bayou—a stronghold of the conservative right. The book presents an understanding of the plight of fellow citizens who come from different backgrounds, and some hope in the form of common concerns. I have tried to remain open-minded to my own friends and acquaintances, who hold different beliefs. There have been some tense exchanges over the past week, but I’d like to keep the dialogue open and hopefully realize some common ground.

That being said, I remain committed to fighting back against discrimination. We have come too far as a nation to go backwards (similar resistance, in fact, happened following both Reconstruction and the civil rights era of the 1960s). My plan is to remain vigilant; continue this pledge of solidarity through peaceful demonstration and thoughtful discourse.

On that note, it’s funny how suddenly everyone wants to know what Bernie Sanders thinks; this quote, given during a speech he gave here in the Capital Region this summer, says it all:

“Never lose your sense of outrage… democracy is not a spectator sport… and when we stand together, we can transform this country.”

Explore: Google Arts & Culture online exhibitions - Norman Rockwell Museum

Interview: "Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge partners with Google to share presidential portraits, artifacts," Springfield Republican, July 20, 2016

Recommended Progressive Resources/Thought Leaders:

Senator Bernie Sanders
Senator Elizabeth Warren

Professor Robert Reich

Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader
Harvey J. Kaye
Democracy Now!

Peace Action New York State

Keep It Bern-in'

So to recap: we have lost Bowie... and Prince... yet Trump is still around. It's been a rather depressing year so far.

Taking it outside: Bernie speaks to overflow crowd during his April 12
rally at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

One bright spot for 2016: Bernie Sanders. It was exactly a year ago this month that the Vermont senator announced his candidacy for President of the United States. As I understand, it was at the urging of veterans (for whom he has worked so hard), so Memorial Day weekend was perfect timing to launch the campaign.

Personally, I didn't even know who Bernie was a year ago. All I knew is that I felt uneasy with the idea that the Democratic Party was "anointing" Hillary Clinton (I, for one, do care about her "damn emails"). Following some work at the UN, my wife and I spent a long weekend in Vermont last July, and that's where I really started hearing about "The Bern." At first, I thought it was just hipsters being ironic....but no, he was the real "New Deal."

Captain America! A true civil war:
canvassing during the NYS primary

It was the Democratic debates that sealed it for me. Bernie not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. Here was a "once-in-a-lifetime" candidate who seemed to share my values when it came to the ideas of social justice and equality. I wanted to know more, so the obvious place to turn was the media covering the primaries. I was surprised and disappointed to learn that the mainstream outlets offered very little, and what it did seemed rather disrespectful. New York Times... NBC News... CNN... all so-called "reputable sources" that I trusted... as someone who has worked for and with media over the years, it was truly a depressing realization to learn about the corporate influence. If you believe, like I do, that media has an opportunity if not a responsibility to educate, it is indeed troubling.

Over the years, you always heard conservatives complain about the so-called "liberal media," when, in reality, the more progressive voices seem to be distorted as well (if presented at all). This, quite frankly, is what lead me to start donating and volunteering for the Sanders campaign. I surprised myself at how good I was, and actually enjoyed it... phone banking, canvassing, and even serving as a poll watcher for the New York State election (Bernie won our District handily, as he did most across the state...even if he did not win New York). 

Feelin' The Bern! Getting fired up during his August 10 rally 
in Albany, NY. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

Going up against the establishment and corporate influences, Bernie has not let up. I greatly admire him for his integrity and tenacity. This past week's proposal of a debate with Donald Trump seemed too good to be true - Bernie would, no doubt, mop the floor with that dangerous pretender. Indeed, who knows what Trump's intentions for running are, but I have had my suspicions along the way... and they are quite disturbing.

Bernie still has an uphill climb (not helped by reports of election fraud taking place in my own state and others) so I'm not sure how this thing is shaking out. I do know that this "progressive" is forever changed and grateful. Thank you, Senator Sanders for educating us about true democracy and the idea of "a future to believe in." In the words of Bowie, you're "a star man," and have my support to the end.

The real scoop! Yearning for Bernie...with the original Ben and
Jerry at College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, April 15, 2016.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe

www.berniesanders.com

www.democracynow.org

http://robertreich.org

Bernie Sanders I The Young Turks interview, May 27, 2016

"Be Like Bernie: Sanders Looks To Spread His Political Wealth," NPR, May 28, 2016

"Getting The Story Wrong: The Distortion of American Politics By The Press," Lawrence Wittner, Huffington Post, May 6, 2016

"How the 'New York Times' Sandbagged Bernie Sanders," Rolling Stone, 
March 15, 2016

Re: Assessment

Has it really been a week since the election? A certain heaviness has been lifted from the air... or make that uncertainty... not just about who would win, but what the majority of the general public was looking for in terms of policy and governing style. I'm happy to say that I seem to be on the right side of that equation this time out. 

Of course, now both sides (especially Republicans) are dissecting what went right and wrong with both candidates' campaigns. Most agree with President Obama's assessment that he might have had "the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics." I have heard several news reports discussing the very smart way that they focused their ground team since the last election. Even if I thought the emails about contributions could have been a little more elegant, I was always reassured by the common sense style of the President's  campaign advisor David Axelrod, during his frequent appearances on the Sunday talk shows. 

Here is a rare moment, captured on video, that the Obama team sent its supporters via email this past week. We see the President visiting his campaign headquarters in Chicago, and getting quite emotional while thanking his team:

On the flip side, it is also fascinating to hear the assessment of how Mitt Romney's team ran his campaign. NPR reporter Ari Shapiro, who followed the campaign for the past year, filed a fascinating postmortem on how the former governor's campaign seemed to get derailed on several occasions, and how his team often made rather poor choices in its attempt to get it back on track. It is not only an interesting analysis, I think it is also stellar reporting/writing... click here to listen.

So, I guess there are still plenty of interesting discussions to be had... will Obama be able to work with Congress to avoid the fiscal cliff? What will happen to the Tea Party? Who will run in 2016? What will be done about the millions that are going into political campaigns? What will be done about ongoing concerns about voter fraud and the long lines some voters had to endure this past election? All questions that will soon be answered... but for the moment, this liberal-minded voter feels relieved...

Related Links:

"'Let Mitt Be Mitt': But Who Was He?," NPR, November 9, 2012 

"Hillary's next move," The New York Times, November 11, 2012

"Stephen Gottlieb: Jajja's Kids," WAMC, November 13, 2012

Ryan's Hope?

Monday night. It's late, I'm tired... still adjusting to daylight savings time perhaps... I made it to the gym again, just got done wishing my mother a happy birthday... and... yeah, still need to do my blog.

Giving myself this assignment to write in here every day this year can be a bit of a bother sometimes... even more so when there's something I have been meaning to say, and now might be the last appropriate time to write about it. Ughhh.... well here goes... I'm not an expert commentator on politics, but I have been thinking about family and self-sufficiency lately, so let me see what I can do... 

Last August Sarah and I were heading back from our annual camping trip with some of my longtime high school buddies. It was a relaxing weekend for the most part getting away from it all, but on the way back we noticed a Wegmans supermarket(!) and had to stop. We got some food and caught up on the latest news...

Mitt Romney had just announced his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan, and The New York Times was examining the "Conservative Star's Small-Town Roots." However, it was the subhead for that August 13 story that really caught my attention: "Ryan's Self-Reliant Worldview Shaped by Father's Death." I read further to discover that Mr. Ryan, who was born the same year as me, also lost his father at the exact same, early age. 

I was just 16 when I lost my father, and I sympathize with anyone who has to go through the ordeal of losing a loved one unexpectedly, especially when they are just a kid. I remember my well-meaning grandmother telling me that I was the "man of the family" now... but what did that mean? For a teenager still trying to overcome common insecurities of that age, it was a tough act to follow...

The article talked about how Ryan went to work at McDonald's, began to pull his own weight, and became class president the same year. I can relate to some of that idea of not wanting grief to overtake you... my last two years of high school, I decided to snap to as well: I continued working at my part-time job (at Wegmans), joined the yearbook as art editor, began acting in school plays, became actively involved with mission work with my church, and made some strong, new friendships that last to this day (and hopefully many more camping trips). 

Ryan could have been my classmate, and I'm sure there would be a shared sympathy for each other's life experience. The article describes his self-reliance, continuing as a summer camp counselor (adept at hunting and fishing) and then into college, where he took an interest in conservative economic theorists and writers, including Ayn Rand. I certainly didn't have my mind in economics, but considering my religious background, I know I would not have found much appeal in Rand's ideas of ethical egoism.

This was the era of Ronald Reagan though, and I had a friend who was quite "gung-ho" on The Gipper and his "trickle down" economics. I think it was the communicative style that was the most impressive, hiding some of the less attractive elements of the President's conservatism... that caught my eye as well, but what did I know about politics back then... 

In contrast, I can't say I felt all that self-reliant... about midway through my first year of art school, I was hitting hard on the grief. I think it was a combination of things, but I was definitely feeling depressed and finding it difficult to motivate myself to create... I decided to change course and focus more intently on communications. There was still a form of creating there, but the idea of the arts was getting a little muddied to me. Thankfully, my friends and family were a great support during this time.

Part of becoming a man is accepting the responsibility of your right to vote. I actually first registered as Republican, impressed by Reagan, the smooth talking, former actor.... but the more I learned about politics, the more I began to detest the self-centered approach of conservatism when it came to caring for the haves and the have nots. Trying to dictate other's religious beliefs, especially related to decisions about one's body, is another thing... I'm proud to say that I have always voted Democrat or Independent in every election since I have been eligible to vote. I support the advancement of social causes, education, the environment, the arts... and a more conscientious approach. Working hard should be rewarded, but not at the expense of others.

I found it funny when one of Paul Ryan's favorite music acts, Rage Against The Machine, said that he was "the machine that they were raging against." Since his time in Congress, he has become the darling of the Tea Party for his far-right views. He seems like an earnest guy, but he's earnest about the wrong things... and while we don't know which Mitt Romney we would get as President (moderate, highly conservative, or international bully), we know what we would be getting with Ryan. The odd thing is that the latter is probably being more truthful about who he is... Romney just seems to say whatever he can to get elected... I don't understand why he is running, except for the power that would come with the position... his term as Massachusetts State Governor seemed only to be a fast grab for the presidency.... his low favorability in the state is telling, and articles that describe his very ruthless private equity firm, Bain Capital, make me less sure how this man can claim he has the right idea for creating jobs? I read this summer's Rolling Stone article about the way the firm left company after company bankrupt, while they reaped huge profits, and it seems morally reprehensible for a man whose faith supposedly plays a big part of who he is... I witnessed the shuttering of KB Toys plants in Pittsfield, and it wasn't a pretty sight... something unfathomable and sinister. It's telling that the least awkward speech I have  heard him give was during that private dinner, where he referred to 47% of the country as "victims"... that was the real Mitt Romney, I'm fairly certain.

A self-reliant approach is not a bad thing... yes, working hard and looking out for yourself are essential requrements to succeed... your family and friends are only going to help you so far... but some of us were not born with a silver spoon, or have rich friends to suck up to for the material things... some of us, in fact, can't stomach such an idea. For us, self-reliance can go hand-in-hand with being a good citizen... looking out for others as well, and finding ways to help... to be charitable.

Despite his distortion of facts, narrow-minded support of anti-abortion bills, and dubious plans for the budget and Medicaid, I still have some sympathy for Paul Ryan... I hope he can someday see the error of his ways... and maybe we'll have a place for him... just not in the White House. Tomorrow I will add my vote against that machine.

Related Links:

"Conservative Star's Small-Town Roots," New York Times, August 13, 2012

"Greed and Debt: The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital,"Rolling Stone, August 29, 2012

"Paul Ryan Can't Lose," New York Times Magazine, October 21, 2012

Hands Off Approach

On the topic of women's rights, do we seriously have another politician making insensitive comments about the idea of rape? Really... how do these guys get elected? 

Of course women alone should have the right to make choices about their own body. Here's a clip of the great Tina Fey telling it like it is at a gala for the Center for Reproductive Rights: 

Again and again, I think comedians like Fey, Stephen Colbert, and John Stewart serve as our best commentators. Sometimes laughter is the best medicine against all this ridiculous dialogue and radical conservatism, but it's still scary... I hope voters will consider this when thinking about who supports these wrongheaded candidates, and will come to choose the next members of the Supreme Court.

Queens, NY, 2008 (I still need to follow up on that idea
of guesting on 30 Rock...!). Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved. 

Related Link:

"RNC 2012- Abortion Law & The Republican Platform," 

Daily Show with John Stewart, August 29, 2012

Fact Check

All these news reports about the Presidential Campaign are killing me. Yeah, Obama was off his game last week during the debates, and Romney moved to the center... suddenly everything is getting tense... at least for a compassionate liberal like me. I'm finding it hard to keep myself from checking the news over and over again throughout the day. 

I posted this Norman Rockwell painting on the Museum's Facebook page today--it seemed appropriate after last night's spirited Vice Presidential debate (more on that later).

 "Breakfast Table Political Argument," 1948, Norman Rockwell.
 From the Norman Rockwell Museum exhibition
"Norman Rockwell's 323 'Saturday Evening Post' Covers."
Norman Rockwell Museum Digital Collections.
©SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN.

Speaking of Norman Rockwell, I had three separate press inquiries this week for our traveling exhibition Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera. Kind of odd, because they didn't mention that it was the exhibition they had discovered, but rather that they stumbled on the idea that Rockwell had used reference photography (someone putting me on?). Since we don't own the copyrights, I had to come up with something relatable to our Museum, since we can only provide images related to stories about our exhibitions and collections. Luckily, the exhibit is opening this weekend in Vero Beach, Florida. 

Anyway, I was also interviewed for the piece in the New York Daily News yesterday. Here's the link.

It has been a long, tiring week... fretting about politics didn't help any. 

Still getting over the allergies, and preparing to move this weekend... hello Electric City.

Related Link:

"Norman Rockwell used richly-detailed photographs as reference for his iconic illustrations," New York Daily News, Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Talk To The Hand

Today at work I conducted an interview with a hand model...... yes, it's come to this. And to think, back in 2005 I was on the red carpet at New York Fashion Week... at least the image is cool.

I keep thinking about the White House videographer... wonder what he's up to this week. I didn't watch much of the convention last night, but it sounds like Michelle Obama "knocked it out of the park..." at least that's the term I keep hearing... seriously, find a new metaphor!

Image: atriam.threadless.com (JFMan66)

A Healthy Dash of Hope

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

I must admit that I wasn't sure how the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act was going to pan out. Things have become so incredibly divided when it comes to politics, that it's easy to become cynical. However, Chief Justice John Roberts broke with his fellow conservative judges and voted to uphold most of President Obama's health care reform (the vote was decided 5-4). In my view, yesterday was a huge step forward for our country, helping more Americans get the care that they need.

Source: Amnesty International
Facebook page. All rights reserved.

It was shrewd of the President's team to turn the word "Obamacare" into a positive,after his opponents had been throwing it around as a derogatory term. As a President, I do think Obama cares. Over the past four years I think some of his supporters have felt that he hasn't acted "liberal" enough--that he has run more moderate, and maybe even acted more aggressive in regards to the use of military force (i.e. the escalating use of drone missiles). I'm no fan of war and am uneasy with the idea of assassinations. During the 2008 election, the President promised to close Guantanamo Bay, where some of the previous administration's more troubling abuses of political prisoners took place, but near the end of his term, it remains open...

©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

When I volunteered fot the President's election campaign, Obama appeared to be level-headed, intelligent, and idealistic--well, maybe he is more of a realist... There is a poem that I worked on for the Spoken Word Almanac Project called "My Obama"--it's a funny piece, written by Darian Dauchan and being performed by several of the spoken word artists. The poem tries to understand who the "real" Barack Obama is:

"...His Obama would throw you into a cell indefinitely 

My Obama wouldn't do that

I know who he is!

I know what he did!

I know what he's capable of!"

And so on...

You can see the visuals I created for this poem, and more of my media design at SWAP's mid-year show being held this Saturday, June 30, at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City. Show starts at 7 p.m., and it should be interesting with all the news that has happened so far in 2012... 

Cheers. Here's to your health!...

Related Links:

The Health Care Decision, Explained in 1 Paragraph on SCOTUSblog, Atlantic Monthly, June 28, 2012

Robert's Rules, Atlantic Monthly, January/February 2007

"A Cruel and Unusual Record" by President Jimmy Carter, editorial for The New York Times, June 24, 2012

Peace Action New York State

www.facebook.com/swappoetry 

To Your Health...

Where do you stand?...

"We Can't Afford To Wait" health care reform rally.
Hudson, New York. September 2, 2009
Photo ©Ben Hillman & Company, Inc.
www.benhillman.com

Related Links:

"In Health Case, Combustible Mix Of Politics And Law," NPR, March 25, 2012

"Health-Care Provision at Center of Supreme Court Debate Was a Republican Idea," The Washington Post, March 26, 2012

House Cleaning

Ok, I'm on a tear this afternoon, using some of my old shelving and storage units to help organize our cohabitation. It's not even spring, but things are feeling good! I could keep going like this all day, but I probably should stop and get some of my other work in order.

Speaking of work, my buddy/poet Darian Dauchan will be performing his new piece Obamatry this afternoon at 1 p.m., at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City. The performance is what he calls a "spoken word remix," collecting many of the poems he has created, that document Obama's presidency. Adding to that mix, he will be using several of the "chiefly commanding" visuals I have created over the years for the Spoken Word Almanac Project, where I serve as multimedia designer. The afternoon event is free, but donations are being accepted for a Kickstarter campaign for Dauchan's hip hop poetry musical Death Boogie, which he is attempting to share with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. If you can't make today's performance, you should be able to stream it live at www.bowerypoetrylive.com

On a political note, I was watching Meet The Press this morning, and I swear it's a miracle that anything gets done in Washington. Some of the bantering is so petty, and this latest controversy over the funding of contraception by insurance companies is infuriating. I think Al Franken was spot on when he declared: "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot." Go ahead and have a public discourse, but keep your sexist comments out of it. Oh, I better get the visuals ready... I'm sure one of the SWAP poets has already started working on this one...