PeterGlenshaw.com

FireFighters (and Others) for Dodd

Today was a big Dodd day.  A really, really big day.

Late last night, the Dodd campaign announced that the International Association of Fire Fighters -- one of the most politically active and powerful unions in the United States -- will endorse Chris Dodd for President.

Wow.

This is the same union which rescued John Kerry in 2004.  I remember the IAFF holding rallies in fire stations across New Hampshire in December 2003, at a time when my guy, Vermont Governor Howard Dean, seemed unbeatable. 

Right.

Six weeks later, Kerry won the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, and shortly thereafter the Democratic nomination.

This is campaign-changing news.  Particularly at a time when other campaigns are faltering.  Political whispers suggest it's only time before the Edwards campaign completely implodes.  With Edwards poll numbers dropping, his New England political director has quit, as have other top staffers, and there appears to be a growing disconnect between the campaign's HQ in Chapel Hill and the ground troops.  Governor Richardson also finds himself in trouble lately, with a number of financial supporters engaged in a New Mexico rail project in which they would benefit significantly.  More details from the Boston Globe here.

This is good news for the Dodd campaign, and judging from the emails coming from his staff, there is a real groundswell of support and opportunity ahead.

One small example:  even George Will thinks Dodd has something to offer.  Learn more here.
 

Just as Labor Day approaches, it's ironic (and appropriate) that the one candidate who has consistently stood with unions and working people in this country for more than 30 years is endorsed by one of the biggest unions in the nation.

Onwards!  There is much more to come from Senator Chris Dodd.

And Now, the Weather

There are a lot of important things I could (and want to) write about: Hillary Clinton, the cheating scandal at Hanover High School, the $70M Goldman Sachs employee, or my summer reading on wealth and the working poor in America.

But on this particular night -- when the Red Sox are turning in a World Series performance against the Angels, ahead 10-5 in the bottom of the 8th after being down 5-0 thru six innings -- another topic beckons.

The weather.

One of the hallmarks of rural living, just about anywhere in the world, involves a keen sense of the weather.  Not traffic.  Not television.  Not the Internet.  Out here, you are aware of the elements.  The wind.  The clouds.  The sudden dips (or spikes) in temperature. 

The weather news from here is clear and certain:  Fall is coming. 

For the past week or so, nighttime temps have dipped into the mid-50s (or lower). It's only mid-August, but already the mornings are filled with fog, as the cool air and warm Connecticut River water mix to form a misty morning combination. 

Each night, when I throw the ball and pitch to my dog, Bear, I am incredibly aware of the current weather and seasonal trends.  Tonight, for instance, was the first night in a long while that saw me wearing some sort of overcoat to our nightly affair.  Glad I had it, too.  The stars were out.  The moon was thin and shiny.  And it was cold out there.  Probably about 55F.  No wind, but the chill was on and I was glad to have a fleece jacket around my top.

Earlier in the day, I went for a swim.  Outdoor temps were about 70F (maybe), with lots of wind from North to South.  On this kind of day, I donned the wetsuit and started swimming.  The trek across the pond was easy; the wind was behind me, and with the wetsuit providing lots of flotation, I got across in about 11 minutes (fast for me).  The trip back was harder.  With the wind pushing the water against my head and face (slap, slap, slap), it was a chore to get a reasonable breath or any progress. 

This is where experience can help.  Relax, breathe towards the back of your head-turn, and focus on pace.  Slowly, slowly, I made it back to the beach, where Hannah, Jacob, and Noah were happily playing in the water. 

They knew, and I knew, that every minute of this day, and the few days in front of us, mattered.  Summer is fading faster than a baseball team without a steady releiver. Sure, there are dark clouds in the sky.  Sure, there is the threat of rain.  But the temps still warrant short-pants, swimsuits, and the harvest of sweet corn. 

At least, for a little while.

Dodd calls for suspension of some Chinese-made toys

Experience matters.

A few minutes ago, Senator Chris Dodd demonstrated again why he is the best qualified candidate to the Democratic nominee for President.

On CNN's "The Situation Room," he called for an immediate suspension of toys from Chinese manufacturers suspected of producing inferior products, specifically those with excessive amounts of lead paint.

OK, on its own, the issue of toys manufactured in China is not the biggest issue the country will face in 2007.  But, in a larger context, the issue of asking China and other hot-growth countries to abide by fair and safe environmental standards represents an incredibly important globalization issue. 

Dodd gets the connection between today's headlines and broader strategic challenges facing the United States.  And if he were the President today, Dodd would have used this opportunity to demonstrate to China that it must meet a fair standard.  All too often we have seen a willingness to bend to the Chinese rather than stand on fair principles such as this one.  But as Dodd himself said, "We have the legal right and power under the WTO to keep products out of our country that threaten the health and safety of our families, and I'm going to do all I can to ensure we do so."

To learn more, and to sign the Dodd petition supporting this action, visit the Chris Dodd website here.

The Road Ahead

It's going to start to get busy.  Yes, it's early August and there are plenty of people who still have to take their summer vacations.  There are BBQs to be had, races to run, and quiet nights with cool air and a full moon ahead.

But around here, in the Upper Valley, you can feel the pressure starting to increase. 

It's Primary Time. 

Shortly after Labor Day 2007, right about the time when the kids get back to school, and the weather turns from shorts to fleece vests at night, you can expect the political temperature to rise.

By then, it will be about three to four months until the NH Presidential Primary.  The final quarter.  The time when we identify who are the finalists in the big, big game for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Electeds" (those political people elected to office) are making their endorsements.  Even other folks are getting in line.  Check out this story in today's Valley News with my endorsement of Chris Dodd.  All of it matters.  We are getting ready for the prime time competition, and every advantage and angle begins to matter.

I have my favorite in the race (Senator Dodd), but let me comment generally on the race (or road) ahead.

First, 2008 looks very good for Democrats.  There is a sense that that the Republican rationale is bankrupt.  Fundraising has gone very, very poorly for the leading Republican candidates compared to their Democratic counterparts.  But even more importantly, their basic ideas, philosophy, and arguments no longer seem to carry the day with voters.

And it's not just confined to Iraq.

I get the sense -- from tax credits to New Orleans, from health care to Afghanistan, from the environment to energy, from national security to international reputation -- that more people trust Democrats to provide the responses to those issues than Republicans.

The second observation I would make is that while we are headed into the fourth quarter of the primary, it's anyone's game to win, particularly among the Dems.  It's like we have a nine-month preseason, followed by the three-month regular season, and then single-elimination playoffs.  I expect some big changes and challenges ahead.

This forecasts a forthcoming post, but there is more disaffection towards Hillary Clinton among Democrats than has been revealed in the polls.  I will write a lot more about this soon, but expect whithering criticism and debate to occur about the junior Senator from New York.  The interesting part about this criticism is that differs from the critique of the Right, but only to an extent.  I think there is a wing of the Democratic Party which has peered carefully into the well of Hillary Clinton, and while they are happy to have her in the Senate, they don't want her returning to the White House. 

Finally, let me suggest that the proposed/suggested candidacy of Mike Bloomberg really opens up the campaign.  He's not perfect, but he operates in way that appeals moderates of all stripes.  And maybe, just maybe, it's what we need going forward.   Keep your eye on this one.