The Spencerian

Finally Friday Nobody in the World

by Benjamin J. Kirby

Just a quick one tonight.

Wanted to say a special thank-you to the folks who have done the heavy lifting on the blog this week... and it ain't me.  

First, a serious thank you to Matt Spence, who had the idea to do the short-burst back-and-forth Into the Echo Chambers.  They've been fun, and I only dropped the ball once.  Looking forward to seeing how we do when the Democrats start in a week or so.

I'd also like to thank Kevin King for sharing his great and timely -- and now wildly popular -- post on Mitt Romney's lack of foreign policy credentials. 

I would especially like to thank my friend Mo Eppley for her wonderful photographs she took from behind the scenes at the Convention.  I told her this, and I'll tell you: that's some of the best stuff that's been on this blog, ever.  I know she had a job to do there, so taking pictures for this blog was just an extra thing I had her do -- from my view, it was worth it.  I enjoyed those pictures an awful lot, and I really hope you did, too.  Thanks, Mo.  

Thanks finally to you.  I've had a huge spike in readership in the last week, and it is thanks to the folks above, Laura Jane, who in recent weeks has written some popular posts as well.  But mostly it is because of you and your loyal readership, for which I am grateful.  

Thank you.  Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day. 

# # # #

It's finally Friday.  

Into the Echo Chamber: Deuces

Friday, August 31, 2012

Ben -

Well, our region survived. Aside from the jokes about humidity and cockroaches and strip clubs, I think you have to say that Tampa hit a home-run this week. Much credit goes to Mayor Buckhorn and the Tampa Police. In working with protestors and standing firm but acting fair, protesters were able to have their say without becoming criminals. There was no University of California pepper spray moment. In fact, a typical Tampa Bay Bucs game has five times the arrests that were made this week. That's right, there were only 2 RNC-related arrests. One for a guy carrying a machete and one for a persistently uncooperative protester.  That's it. 

So what have we learned? Well, first of all we have learned that mystery guests are a bad idea. We have learned that there are Republicans who can speak Spanish. We have learned that Mitt Romney cannot seem to command a spotlight. We have learned that the GOP message machine is still tripping all over itself. In a way, it is quite fascinating. I have written on it before and I believe it even more strongly now. The Nike-esque ability to coin a phrase, craft an image and mount a public relations campaign has disappeared from the GOP.

Not that I am the one to fix that problem, but if I were asked, I would say that the pieces are all there. The fundamentals of this election cycle have always been in the GOP's favor. The potential narrative to reject the incumbent is plain to see and seems easy enough to relate. Apparently it is harder than it looks.

Just as in so many other moments Romney should have been able to capitalize upon, last night's acceptance left quite a bit to be desired. And just like the big picture, the fundamentals were there. A touching personal story told by "regular folks", a slick video, a powerful introduction and a well-written speech with just the right balance of content. It was all in place. Then came Rambling Harry. It was as if someone had escaped from one of the many nearby assisted living facilities and wandered onto the biggest stage imaginable. Oops, Uncle Clint forgot to take his meds again! Look, he's talking to a chair!

What? You say that was the over-hyped "mystery guest"? Someone actually planned it Someone made the decision to push the candidate's personal narrative support pieces off prime time to allow a rambling octogenarian to speak to 20 million viewers without a script or vetted remarks? Well, I would say that you can be ready to see an uptick in the unemployment numbers again. Cause if I were in charge, heads would roll. What a slow-motion train wreck.

How appropriate. Yes, a rich old man yelling at a pretend Barack Obama is a great metaphor for the RNC. Yes, a slow-motion train wreck of a convention capper is appropriate and right in line with the slow-motion train wreck of a GOP nomination process. Remember Cain-mentum? Or Michelle Bachmann's brief turn in the spotlight? Or the fact that people seriously considered the pu-pu platter of candidates Gingrich, Pawlenty, Santorum, Paul, et. al.?

The fundamentals were always on Romney's side there as well. He'd been campaigning for 6 years. He had the most money. It was "his turn". It will be interesting to see if the general election fundamentals - high unemployment, low consumer confidence, high gas prices, etc. - will be enough to carry him again. Lost in the Gran Torino meltdown, Romney made the argument - quite well, in fact - in his speech yesterday. It is the "are you better off" question that every incumbent must face. And this is how Romeny famed it:

"In the richest country in the history of the world, this Obama economy has crushed the middle class. Family income has fallen by $4,000, but health insurance premiums are higher, food prices are higher, utility bills are higher, and gasoline prices have doubled. Today more Americans wake up in poverty than ever before. Nearly one out of six Americans is living in poverty."

That is a grim picture. If this election is truly going to be a referendum, that isn't the message Team Obama wants people to base their judgment on. "It could have been worse" is not a sales pitch either. But we'll get to that next week. Somehow I doubt that the DNC will be headlined by a senior citizen and a barstool. After all, the ones with message discipline are now the Democrats.

How the heck did that happen?

Back to Blue,

MBS

# # # #

Friday, August 31, 2012

Matt -- 

Happy Friday, and happy end to the Republican National Convention.

I agree: the big winners out of this Convention were Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn -- a Democrat -- the Tampa City Council, Hillsborough County Commissioners, the Tampa Chief of Police, and everyone else involved in the planning of this event.  They helped make Tampa -- and the entire Tampa Bay area -- look great on the national stage, especially in the face of the threat of Tropical Storm Isaac.

When did Democrats become the message leaders?  I don't know.  Hell, I've pretty much been keeping up with this blog over the last six or so years because Democrats have been so terrible at the messaging piece.  

And now here we are.

This is "Into the Echo Chamber," and so I echo much of what you say.  Whoever thought the Clint Eastwood thing was a good idea ought to be out of a job today.  I said a couple of posts ago that I likened this event and even Romney's campaign to someone falling.  Falling, stumbling, bumbling from one thing to the next, and so to be fair to Eastwood -- and even those scripting the RNC -- the whole thing it was really just another stumble along the campaign trail.  

The hard-to-watch Eastwood moment.  The racist peanut throwing event.  The shouting down of a Republican functionary from Puerto Rico who had taken the stage.  Paul Ryan's strange speech filled with easily-disproved lies.

I even heard the Gingriches tried to do a speech together, trading paragraphs.  Only a rambling Clint Eastwood could eclipse that horror show.

Governor Christie's message-stepping speech in which he seemed to forget who was being nominated, not mentioning him -- Mitt... Romney, is it? -- for many minutes.  

Sure, the Convention had its high water marks.  You and I wondered early on if there would be a "Barack Obama 2006" breakout moment, and I think the consensus has shown that in this was accomplished, in some measure, by Senator Marco Rubio.  Maybe not such a surprise to regular Rubio watchers, actually, but worth noting, to be sure.  Rubio cemented himself as a player for 2016, no question.  

Matt, I had occassion tonight to have a discussion about politics in the frame of the Republicans being in town with folks of differing politcal views.  I didn't speak up as much as I should have, and the one time I really wished I had involved the conversation about guns in America.

There were the predictable shrill liberals who had to misquote the Second Amendment out loud and wonder where all the militias are.  There was a conservative gentleman there, and he was trying to keep it in the framework of the national conversation.  

The question was asked of him: What's really your concern?  Obama has done nothing on the gun issue in his time in office.  Which is a true statement.  There has been little -- actually, there has been no legislation on this issue since Obama took office.  Indeed, he's hardly used even the bully pulpit to address this issue, despite the clear need for governmental action and leadership in this country (I won't link back to the recent tragedies we've witnessed; you know them as well as I do).  

"Obama hasn't said anything about guns," said a liberal man next to me.

The conservative guy chuckled. "Well, that's what scares me."

No.

No.

You can't have it both ways.  You cannot have it both ways.  The conservative movement and the NRA have effectively won the argument about guns, gun availability, accessibility and appropriate usage in this country.  For all intents and purposes, the argument about guns has been conceded by President Obama, for he has not, as we established, even raised his voice on this issue.  

If he had proposed a raft of legislation, then the staunch gun-rights advocates like my new friend from this evening could profess fear.  But you can't be afraid of one and the other. 

It is simply not fair.  It is disingenuous, at best.  It is a deliberate reframing, mid-conversation, of the rules of what you're debating (gun rights) and what you are actually afraid of (a black man with power). 

And it does not work that way.

At least until it does.  At least in the mind of the current Republican voter.  

"We built this!" The theme of the Republican Convention, built on a false conceit, a phrase wholly taken out of context and twisted to fit a convenient frame.  

A national debt counter?  It was the Republican President who wasn't there who fired up two wars -- one predicated on lies -- and cut taxes for the wealthy which lead to that debt.  Only in the mind of a Republican voter could you be in the same convention hall with a national debt counter right by the school-marm scold brother of that President, as he whines that the current President should stop picking on his brother, and have it all make some sort of sense.  

And then there's the empty chair.  I'm sure somehow that makes sense in their world, too.

It's over, now, and the energy for Charlotte is already palpable.  I am quite sure there'll be gaffes there as well.  (Let's face it: Joe Biden will be there.  Kidding, Uncle Joe, kidding.)  

I'm looking forward to it, too.  

Happy Labor Day weekend to the whole family, Matt.  

BJK

# # # #

Welcome to a special Republican Convention Edition of Into the Echo Chamber, the weekly electronic conversation of the 2012 presidential campaign as viewed from two Twitter feeds.  Matt Spence is monitoring the Twitterverse of the Romney Campaign, Republicans, and the "red" side of the aisle at @SpencerianRed.  I am monitoring the tweets of the Obama Team, Democrats and the blue team using @SpencerianBlue.  Our email-based back-and-forths are normally posted here on Thursdays.

For the week of the Republican Convention, we will be attempting to post one exchange per day. Stay tuned.

You are, as always, invited to join the discussion, either in the comments below or by emailing Spencerian Red or Spencerian Blue.

Images from the RNC: Final Day vol. III

Editor's Note:  Throughout this week, we've been posting amazing behind-the-scenes photos of the Republican National Convention, happening just over the bridge in Tampa.

I am lucky enough to have a friend who was doing some work there for someone else, and she agreed to submit the photos -- taken with her iPhone 4s -- you've been enjoying over the last week for publication here.  While she was doing the work, she asked to remain anonymous, and I respected her wish.

Now we can name her and thank her for her great work and her amazing contribution to this blog: Mo Eppley -- follow her on Twitter @mitymo.  

If you are so inclined you can thank her via her via Twitter, or in the comments below.  This really has been some of the best stuff I've ever published on the blog.  Hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.

Editor's Note: these next five were taken just before Clint Eastwood took the stage. 

From Mo: Below, Thomas Friedman hanging out with his daughter at the Google space.

He did an interview foyer the NYT but it was filmed in the Workspace at the Convention Center and not at the box at the forum, where I spent all my time.

Images from the RNC: Final Day vol. II

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

Images from the RNC: Final Day vol. I

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

Into the Echo Chamber: Faded Obama Poster

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Ben -

Well, rarely do things involving politics go exactly as you would expect. The 10 PM hour of the Republican National Convention did just that last night. It started with Ann Romney giving a universally applauded speech. She spoke of love, basement apartments, family struggle, real marriage and of triumph. She sought to humanize Mitt, to paint him not just as an empty, expensive suit, but rather as a father, a husband, a man who has risen to incredible success based on hard work, commitment and a good heart. She did quite an effective job of asking the American people to count on Mitt as she and her family have for 47 years. And honestly, it is hard to argue that Mitt has come through for his family. They certainly have lived the American dream to the fullest. Without coming out and saying it, she did the "chicken in every pot" message for Mitt. Other than snark, I have yet to hear a negative word about the speech, the optics, the moment, or anything else. @SpencerianRed, of course, called it a home-run.

And then we have Chris Christie. Divisive, self-congratulatory, pompous and condescending - he was almost a comical stand-in for the other side of the GOP story. You know, the one that Ann just peeled Mitt away from. In fact, in a moment that probably angered writers from the Onion, Christie's central theme argued directly against Ann's. If you had to describe Ann's speech in one word, it would have been love. Christie, no joke, said this: "sometimes you have to choose respect over love." Uh, Governor, I am not sure what you were doing back there in the green room, but I think you just stepped on something - and it was wearing a red dress.

Christie's argument for Romney - when he finally got to it 16 minutes into the speech - basically was about making the hard choices that bring progress. He talked of politicians seeking respect and results instead of status and adulation. He firmly separated an "us" from a "them". Un-ironically, he actually said "We win when we make it about what needs to be done. We lose when we play along with their game of scare and divide." In a total reverse of the thesis of the first fifteen minutes, apparently he considers himself a loser.

The take-your-medicine speech was quite interesting in the abstract. In some ways, it came from a decade of presidents and leaders telling us not to sacrifice, but to shop. It came from the last GOP president's failure to call for collective sacrifice in a time of war and economic downturn. It came from a spiraling debt built by a monstrous budget deficit built from a lack of political courage on both sides of the aisle. But courage is not about saying something harsh. Courage cannot look backward. Courage is about stepping forward. And there was some nod to that - talk of "taking our country back" and of "big problems with not-painless solutions" and more. But no real idea of what that would mean. In a way, this speech was almost part 1 of 2.

Which leads us to tonight's headliner, @PaulRyanVP. If you look at the Christie speech as the setup to Ryan, it makes more sense. To quote him from his very slick intro video, he was sent to do a job, not be elected prom king. If you look at the accusations and scare-mongering in the light of how Democrats are attempting to paint Paul Ryan, it makes sense to have Christie be that messenger. He isn't on the ticket. He's already perceived to be an ass. He can say mean things because we expect him to... and it frees Paul Ryan up to offer the solutions. Jersey in your face gives way to midwestern manners - though the message is the same, the messenger makes the difference. Christie said it so Ryan doesn't have to.

The Washington Post writes today that the GOP is winning the race to define Ryan. Tonight will be a key moment in that race. Will Ryan be the futurist or the Granny killer? Will Ryan be the fresh face unafraid of real solutions or the regressive social darwinist?

If anything, Chris Christie's keynote set him up for success. We'll see if he can capitalize on it. My guess would be that our twitter feeds will not give us the answer. @SpencerianRed will be fawning and triumphal. @SpencerianBlue will be combative and dismissive.

In a way, it is brilliant. If they can pull it off. I know the Red side is all sorts of pumped up for tonight. What are you hearing out in the Blue?

Best,

Matt

# # # #

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Ben -

I am glad you didn't get a chance to respond to yesterday's email because the only thing I like less than being wrong is having someone else point it out to me. And my predictions for Paul Ryan's speech were wrong. My point about the @christiekeynote speech serving as part 1 of 2 for @PaulRyanVP, allowing the latter to be positive - was wrong. Dead wrong. In accepting the nomination, Ryan did not holster his weapons and portray a positive message. Though the daggers were launched with a smile and an "aw shucks" manner, they were thrown nonetheless. Paul Ryan played the traditional VP attack dog role with vigor.

On the other hand, I love being right. And I think that the standout quote of the night fit right in with something I have been saying all along - Ryan and the GOP think that there is a generational opportunity to exploit. They think that there is room to peel the support of the under 40 crowd away from Obama. The headline quote that had the pundits punditing was this:

"College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life."

Boom. Right there is the message - economy, failed hope/hype, student debt, jobs crisis, etc. all rolled into one strong image. If Ryan can stay in this lane, stick to this general point, he will certainly do some damage to the Obama brand - and the Obama base. I'm not sure that polling can get an accurate picture of what the under 40 vote will look like in November but what we do know is that Obama dominated it in '08. Can he again in '12?

I have to say, though, that as a whole, it was a strange speech. I haven't seen this in other places, but I felt that there was a very odd son/father vibe to Ryan's description of his relationship with Mitt. It sure didn't sound like a partnership of equals where the VP was ready to step in if needed. It was more like an heir with a seat in the boardroom that he didn't quite fit into yet. And that surprised me. It wasn't what I expected.

Perhaps asking Ryan to step away from policy details left him without a crutch of comfort. Perhaps his desire to be deferential to the nominee just came off awkwardly. I'm not sure what happened, but I was definitely not overwhelmed nor overly impressed. And that surprised me a little.

In places, the speech even got a little weird. A couple of times Ryan referred to "government planners" or "central planners", as if he was in some post-apocalyptic sci-fi world government story. Just strange.

I do have to say, however, that he did a better job of framing Mitt - his successes, his religion, his record - than almost any I have seen. Here's what he said:

Mitt Romney and I both grew up in the Heartlands, and we know what places like Wisconsin and Michigan look like when times are good. We know what these communities look like when times are good, when people are working, when families are doing more than just getting by, and we know it can be that way again. We have had very different careers, mine mainly in public service, his mostly in the private sector. He helped start businesses and turn around failing ones, and by the way being successful in business, that's a good thing.

Mitt -- Mitt has not only succeeded, but he has succeeded where others could not. He turned around the Olympics at a time when a great institution was collapsing under the weight of bad management, overspending and corruption. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?

He was the Republican governor of a state where almost nine in 10 legislators are Democrats and yet he balanced the budget without raising taxes. Unemployment went down. Household incomes went up, and Massachusetts under Governor Mitt Romney saw its credit rating upgraded.

Mitt and I also go to different churches, but in any church, the best kind of preaching is done by example, and I've been watching that example.

The man who will accept your nomination is prayerful and faithful and honorable. Not only a defender of marriage, he offers an example of marriage at its best. Not only a fine businessman, he is a fine man, worthy of leading this optimistic and good-hearted country.

Pretty good.

@SpencerianRed, of course, ate the speech up. As John Cassidy from the New Yorker put it - the Cheesehead brought the red meat. He faced Obama down and called him out. He even dinged the W. administration a bit. He had some nice one-line attacks that I am sure we will hear again. Here are the three biggies:

They have no answer to this simple reality: We need to stop spending money we don't have.

The man assumed office almost four years ago. Isn't it about time he assumed responsibility?

and

They have run out of ideas. Their moment came and went. Fear and division is all they've got left. With all of their attack ads the president is just throwing away money.

And he is pretty experienced at that.

Red meat for sure. And the convention audience ate it up. The larger question remains whether or not the voters in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia and Colorado will. I think the jury is still out on that one.

So, in many ways, last night offered a traditional VP speech. Appeal to the base, attack the opponent and build up the top of the ticket. The question for tonight is whether the top of the ticket can cash in... We shall see. My expectations are pretty low. And to top it off, the convention planners made an almost inexplicable decision. They placed Jeb Bush on the final day of the convention. How many people do you think will make the point that they wish it would have been him speaking at the end instead of Mitt? If Jeb brings the house down, the bar will be almost impossibly high for Mitt. Tonight should be interesting.

So what are you hearing from @SpencerianBlue?

Best,

MBS

# # # #

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Matt -- 

First of all, I owe an apology to you and to our readers. If there was one night I should have been "on" it was last night -- and it just wasn't to be.

That said, I do hope folks enjoy the now-extremely popular guest post from Kevin King on the Romney/Ryan ticket's total lack of foreign policy experience (at a dangerous, changing time in our world), as well as the great interview I managed to get with Josh Shulman, who is running for State House in the new District 69.

With respect to @SpencerianBlue, most folks seem pretty intent on doing whatever it takes to foster what looks to be a growing mainstream media consensus that Paul Ryan's speech was, well, pretty much one big lie.

A quick word about Governor Christie, though, before we get back to Ryan, and certainly tonight's main event.  I've never gotten it.  I mean, I get it... sort of.  He's brash.  If he was southern, they'd call him "plainspoken."  He cusses at members of the media.  He's not a traditionally good-looking politician.  (In fact, he's always reminded me a bit of Vincent Pastore, who played Big Pussy from The Sopranos).  

All of this combines to make him, apparently, charismatic.  Charismatic politicians are nothing new, but the thing about a politician is, charisma or no, they have to deliver something.  And if you held a gun to my head -- speaking of The Sopranos -- I'm not sure I could tell you what Governor Christie has delivered to the people of... New Jersey, is it?  

As I followed along the Spencerian Blue feed, it was interesting to see them sort of using Governor Christie's sub-par speech -- truly, "you have to choose respect over love"?  It really is an episode of The Sopranos with this guy -- as a springboard to attack Ryan.

I'm not sure how the Republicans are going to feel about the Convention as Mitt finally takes the stage and they prepare to wrap up.  

Objectively, you'd have to give it a C, maybe a C-minus.  Hell, maybe a D.  I mean, they lose a whole grade in my book for the two idiots who threw peanuts at an African American camerawoman for CNN and shouted rude, racist phrases at her.  They lose points as well for predicating the theme of the Convention -- "We Built That" -- on a quote taken out of context.  They lose more points for poor strategic placement of signage.  Optics, people:

Matt, I made myself a promise at the start of this Convention: that I would take a moment to stop and reflect on events which led us here.  Think about that for a minute.  Remember the protracted primary?  This is the natural continuation of that long, embarrassing process.  

I can't really say I have a lot of hope that the next two months will be much different. 

As we wind down, how are folks taking the man at the top of the ticket?  Just checking in with Spencerian Blue, now, the fact check teams are going nuts.

Best to Erin and the boys.

Oh, and I'll be better about my responses.

BJK

# # # # 

Welcome to a special Republican Convention Edition of Into the Echo Chamber, the weekly electronic conversation of the 2012 presidential campaign as viewed from two Twitter feeds.  Matt Spence is monitoring the Twitterverse of the Romney Campaign, Republicans, and the "red" side of the aisle at @SpencerianRed.  I am monitoring the tweets of the Obama Team, Democrats and the blue team using @SpencerianBlue.  Our email-based back-and-forths are normally posted here on Thursdays.

For the week of the Republican Convention, we will be attempting to post one exchange per day. Stay tuned.

You are, as always, invited to join the discussion, either in the comments below or by emailing Spencerian Red or Spencerian Blue.

Profile & Interview: Josh Shulman -- Balanced Government is Better Government

by Benjamin J. Kirby

I'm heading up 66th Street, late for my meeting with Josh Shulman, the Democratic nominee for State House in the new District 69, which is a lot of Saint Petersburg, Gulfport, all the way up to Kenneth City and Pinellas Park, over to the beach communities, and all I can think about is the Republican Convention.  I am struggling, desperate for an idea on how to begin my conversation with a local candidate running for an important state office using something other than the obvious national -- global -- get-together happening just over the bridge.

"So," I say after the brief, breathless introductions, me an unforgivable ten minutes late, "How's the campaign going with this big convention deal going on up the road?"

He'd get a more thoughtful, better framed question from the newspaper staff at a high school.  I am embarrassed already.

"I was just at an event with a group of doctors, 'Patients Over Politics,'" he smiles, "I recognize the irony there -- I was the only politician around -- but we had a wonderful conversation with these doctors, largely talking about the Affordable Care Act.  It was a good start, but there is more to be done, and a lot of it is work we can do together on a state level." 

He hasn't missed a beat.  And I haven't even cracked the notebook yet.  

The conversation has begun.

I try and settle in.  Josh, a 36 year-old financial planner with an easy smile and a manner that is direct, but not threatening, seems eager to continue.

What do you want to get done when you're elected?  It seems like a better question, something to get us moving in the right direction, at least.

"To slow things down.  To stop bad legislation, and work across the aisle with reasonable-thinking Republicans on good legislation.  We need to think strategically, we need to move Democrats back into the conversation."

In a way so natural you wouldn't notice, he nudges the dialogue away from the nakedly partisan, the overtly political.

"If we insist on looking at the government of Florida as a business, then let's look at what businesses want: a stable environment in which to invest.  We need to find ways to compromise to bring about that stability.  It's that stability which provides a good business solution, and makes Florida the kind of place where you want to raise your family."

I put down my pen and realized with a bit of melancholy -- but also a good bit of hope -- that this was the first time I'd heard a politician not just say those words, but engage in a entire conversation the point of which was to support that very idea.

I skip the coffee.  The conversation was already too good for an interruption.  More of it after the questions Josh was good enough to answer directly. 

# # # #

When and where where you born?  May 20, 1976 in El Paso, Texas.

What was life like growing up in the northeast?  What I like most about the northeast is the wealth of diversity, opportunity, and the connection to our American history.

You held three jobs working your way through college -- what were those jobs?  I worked three different jobs at the same time while in college.  The first job -- my main job -- was as an office manager/optician/lab technician for a family-run optometrist.  The second job was working nights -- 6:00 pm to 6:00 am -- as an EMT.  The third was working for Lens Crafters as an optician and lab technician.  

How long have you been married -- tell us more about how you met Jennifer.  Jennifer and I just passed our fourth anniversary; we were married on August 8th, 2008.  We liked the date because the number 8 represents infinity and the idea of two independent circles connected together.  I met Jennifer through a blind date.  I was volunteering for the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society and met a couple who knew Jennifer's family and thought we would be a great fit.  They were correct.

You have a son -- Jacob.  Is it hard running for office and raising a baby?  I think this question is more for Jennifer as she bears the lion's share of the work.  Outside of the actual work it takes to raise a baby, the hardest thing is not being there.  Often I leave the house before anyone gets up and come home after he is in bed.  Jennifer has him playing with pictures of me in campaign materials.  She says, "Go tell Daddy something," and he goes to the card on the refrigerator and picks it up.  It felt strange when he did that while I was there, but it was also very funny.  We just call him "Flat Daddy."  Jennifer and I are both working hard for this campaign; we know that we are doing this so that he can have a better Florida.

Talk a little bit about what inspired you to get started in politics/elected office when you did.  What first brought your attention to politics and government?  I first decided to run for St. Petersburg City Council because I saw that the decisions made by government have lasting impact, long-term impact on our community.  I wanted to help shape the community and the city we live in for the better.  There are many ways to get involved in the community, whether it is through civic organizations, non-profits, or just helping a neighbor in need.  I felt that running for office allowed me the opportunity to do the most good for the most people.

What has inspired you to run for State Representative?  Like many Floridians, I have been troubled by the extreme agenda and one-sided, unilateral decision-making coming out of the Florida House over the last two years.  I do not believe that much of the legislation reflects the attitudes and ideas of most Floridians, instead it has been playing to a vocal and well-funded base of constituents, and we deserve better government.

Who are some of your early political influences in American politics?  Growing up mostly outside Philadelphia, you cannot understate the impact of being surrounded by American political history and the context in which our country was founded.  I am awestruck by the courage, convictions, and even the human failings of our Founding Fathers.  They have left us a tremendous legacy and we owe it to them to live up to their sacrifice and struggle.  I grew up a huge fan of Thomas Jefferson.  His words in the Declaration of Independence so eloquently struck to the heart of what it is to be free.  As I learned more about him and his Presidency, I  learned of the internal struggle between his personal ideology and the responsibilities of a President; he did not always do what fit his personal nature and ideology, but instead did what he though was best for the position he held , this is a model I hope to follow.  We have lost that ability to look past our own ideology and embrace the bigger picture of a world that is bigger than ourselves.  I hope to change that.

What is the most surprising thing you've learned about how politics (ie, campaigns) works?  What surprises me most is how dissimilar the role of campaigner and the role of Representative are.  Before I got into this race, I thought about what it would take to do the job of representing some 160,000 Floridians, how I would balance their needs, wants, resources, and risks.  Ultimately, I felt that I had the skills necessary to be an effective Representative, someone people in the district would be proud to speak of.  You quickly learn in a campaign that those skills and views in no way are what it takes to GET elected.  Growing up, we are taught that we hold elections to select candidates; we select them based on qualifications, views, ideas, personality, etc.  The truth is that we actually elect people based on two things: money and messaging.  I am not surprised by this, more dismayed that we all take for granted the system that others struggle so hard to give us. 

This election year looks to be contentious.  Is there any sense in this political cycle that we will get away from some of the nasty, personal pettiness and move on to the issues that matter, at least in your race?  The upsetting part about negative politics is that it works.  Campaigns deploy those tactics because they are effective at casting doubts in people's minds.  If they didn't work, they wouldn't be used.  In order for us to make a break  from pettiness, the voters need to make it clear that they will not stand for it.  From my standpoint, I have nothing bad to say a about my opponent.  I applaud her desire to represent the people of Pinellas.  There are distinctions about how we see Florida, where we are going and how we get there.  I hope to focus on those differences.

What issues translate for you from a national level to a local level, as you look at what people in the new District 69 are talking about?  The economy is the biggest issue on the minds of Floridians.  The economic slowdown is not just affecting Florida, it is affecting the nation and most of the world.  Businesses want  a government that is stable, policies that have staying power, and costs that are consistent and predictable.  If we can deliver that, then we can bring more businesses here, which helps everyone.  Businesses also need customers.  We need to focus on helping the middle class.  The more disposable income in the middle class, the more they buy and do; the more they buy and do, the more businesses make money; the more businesses make money, the more they hire which then creates more customers.  Henry Ford said that he wanted to keep the price of his cars affordable and pay his workers well because then his workers will buy more cars.  We need that sort of mentality in Florida.

If you were the King of Florida -- or even just Governor -- what would be the first things you change for the better?  I would universally change how we handle our education system.  I am a product of public schools; however, I am a product of public schools in a community that truly has made education a priority.  We need to invest in our students.  The strength of our society, future business opportunities, community cohesion, and overall health of Florida all starts with how we support and nurture the education of our youth.  It is so important that we have written it as a mandate into our Constitution.

Looking ahead five, ten, even twenty years ahead, what are some things that Florida needs to do now to make it the kind of place you'll want to continue to raise your child?  Florida needs to look past the politics and issues of the day.  We spend too much time focusing on short-term issues, while completely neglecting the long-term impact of our decisions.  We must get past the moment and keep our eye focused on the bigger picture.  We must also put political ideology aside.  Arguing over issues that divide us will not allow us to come together and we need to come together to solve the bigger problems we face.  I hope that Jacob and others growing up here will see Florida as I do: a beautiful environment, with beautiful people, limited only by our own imagination and willingness to do better.

# # # #  

"My hope is that my time in the legislature would be a transformative time for the state, a time where we come together.  We need to gain a balance."

He's talking about the kind of government he wants to see -- the kind of government we need.  I ask him what he'd tell the people of District 69 if he could communicate with every single one of them at one time.  He's got the answer locked down.

"Balanced government is better government."

He delivers the line with such conviction that I'm momentarily taken aback.  This guy is a true believer.

So many politicians run for the sake of running.  It is clear to me that Josh genuinely believes in public service.

"There are some things, though, where I won't compromise.  I won't tolerate hate.  I won't tolerate those who represent anti-GLBT issues.  My door in Tallahassee will always be open -- there won't even be a door, we'll take it off the hinges -- but those people who represent hate don't even need to come by.  We have nothing to say."

Elated beyond words at finally finding a candidate who recognizes the value and importance of compromise, and yet has core values and ideals, my mind wanders a bit.  I realize I've interrupted him.

I've launched into one of my old campaign war stories and about half-way through, I realize I have entirely lost the point I was trying to make.  I finish it for the sake of telling it.

Josh is smiling, to be polite, yes, but he is genuinely engaged as well.  I end up asking something about timing.

His smile grows, "You know, it's 69 days until Election day.  69 days in District 69." 

He's right, of course.  It's Wednesday, August 29th.  Only 69 days to go.  

Josh Shulman is going to continue his important conversation in District 69 for the next 69 days.  It's too important a conversation not to have, so I hope you'll join him.

Please support Josh and his campaign for the balanced government we all need, however you can.

Images from the RNC: Color Guard

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

Editor's Note: my contact tells me the men at the table (below) are the Color Guard. All are war amputees.

Bragging Rights

by Benjamin J. Kirby

I try not to brag too much on the blog, here.  My ego is big enough as it is, I don't need to bore you with my bloviations about what a swell blogger I've turned out to be.  

But some good news has come to my attention, I'm pretty proud of it, and I'd like to share it with you.  The guest post yesterday from my friend Kevin King on the Romney/Ryan ticket's total lack of foreign policy experience -- orignially posted at the Truman National Security Project website -- has been quoted by Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast, and fully re-posted at the prestigious publication of international affairs, The Diplomat. 

Over at the Truman Project, they're getting more traffic than they've ever gotten:

"...your blog post just got picked up by two huge outlets, The Diplomat and The Daily Beast. This is a huge amount of traffic for one post -- actually, probably the most-ever on The Truman Doctrine -- so a big thank you in order."

I echo the sentiment of Kevin's colleagues at the Truman National Security Project.  As I told Kevin, he is certainly welcome back here any time.  It's no Daily Beast, nor is it The Diplomat, but then again, it's not about me, is it?  It's about you.  Thanks for coming back and reading.

Sincere congratulations to Kevin.  He's earned it.  

Images from the RNC: Day Two

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

The Wheels Off the Wagon

by Benjamin J. Kirby

The wheels have officially come off the GOP Convention's unity bandwagon.

Last week I wrote about the Texas judge expecting a civil war upon President Obama's re-election.  In the same post I talked about the New Hampshire Sherrif's candidate who said he would use "deadly force" against doctors who provided abortions in the name of protecting "life."  

Before that, I chronicled the litany of bullying and mean-spiritedness in this campaign -- and yes, it exists almost exclusively on one side of the ledger, I'm sorry to say.

Two attendees of the RNC -- it remains unclear if they were actual delegates or not -- were removed today after throwing peanuts at an African American CNN camerawoman and saying, "this is how we feed animals."

And that is about all we know of the incident right now, largely because the media -- including CNN, which has nothing on their extensive website about the incident, nor does it come up if you search "peanuts" and "rnc" together.

You'd like to think this is an isolated incident, the work of two hate-filled individual asshole who were rightly ejected from the proceedings by folks who know better.

Unfortunately, there is just too much anecdotal evidence that Mitt Romney -- he of the utterly false, unbearably awful welfare ads, called demonstrably false by such liberal icons as Joe Scarborough and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback -- is now the nominee of the party of seething racist hate.

To wit:

“If you know Middle Easterners, a lot of them, they look Mexican or they look, you know, like a lot of people in South America, dark skin, dark hair, brown eyes. And they mix. They mix in.

“And those people, their only goal in life is to, to cause harm to the United States. So why do we want them here, either legally or illegally? When they come across the border, besides the trash that they leave behind, the drug smuggling, the killings, the beheadings. I mean, you are seeing stuff. It’s a war out there.”

These are not the comments of some fringe activist living in a shack in the woods.  They are the comments of Arizona Governor Jan Brewer-endorsed Gabriela Saucedo Mercer, GOP candidate for Congress in the Arizona 3rd.

Given that, maybe the positive response of a State Representative in South Carolina to an overtly racist email shouldn't surprise me all that much. 

Back at the GOP Convention just up the road, they're not only throwning peanuts at African Americans, they're chanting USA! USA! when a Puerto Rican Republican Party functionary -- a woman named Zoraida Fonalledas -- took to the podium.  It was such chaos that the GOP Chairman himself, Reince Priebus, had to step in to gavel them down and call for order.  Here's the fairly disturbing video:

Rational thought has long ago set sail with these folks.  

We already knew that, I guess, but it doesn't make these most recent events -- and every one that will follow, and you know there will be more -- any less shocking.  

What happens to the Republican Party -- and our country -- if Romney/Ryan lose the election in November?  Where will these Americans channel their hate?  In what twisted, awful ways will we bear witness to the ugliness?  How will it manifest itself?

What happens if they win?  

Images from the RNC: More from the Floor

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

Into the Echo Chamber: Jersey Sure

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Ben -

So I ended up being two days early with my Boogity Boogity Boogity video. But now, it is on. The GOP convention is off to an interesting start today with RGA day - seven Republican governors and Ann Romney on the schedule. Thankfully for all, Governor Voldemort has decided not to attend and bore us all to tears. The big mouth speech tonight will be the "keynote" address of Chris Christie - as sure of himself as any politician ever. He started @christiekeynote to inform everyone of his impending genius... Even going so far as to say that people are expecting a Gettysburg Address-type performance from him. I doubt it. I would surmise that there are two things about that speech that will not apply to Governor Christie's effort tonight: brevity and meaning.

You asked if @SpencerianRed was talking at all about the ground game and mechanics of the election. Other than quoting polling numbers here and there, I would say not really. I do not see much of an effort to look at this as 15 battleground mini-elections, but rather as a national election. It seems that still the focus is on big picture and that if they win the larger narrative and the debates, and if the economy continues to slog, they will win all the little battles. Apparently, they either do not subscribe to Tip O'Neill's adage that All Politics Is Local, or they disagree. I get the feeling that they are counting on anti-Obamacare voters to carry them. We shall see.

In a way, tactically it feels like the '08 primary with Romney playing Hillary and Obama as himself. One confident of their destiny, the other rolling up sleeves and working every block like an old Chicago alderman. Except this time Obama has the power of incumbency and the curse of a 4-year track record. It will be interesting to see if that tips the scales in the other direction. I remember a conversation that you and I had in the first week of February expressing our surprise that Romney was closing up shop in Florida. I think as a result he lost four months or so that may prove to be decisive. I wouldn't know what his camp feels about it via twitter, though.

I have to say, for inside baseball fans like you and me, the @SpencerianRed feed comes up woefully short. Lots of videos, ads, quotes from cable news network appearances, etc. Not all that heavy on the strategy and tactics side of things.

One strategy is clear from following @PaulRyanVP. He is definitely focusing on the generational view I have spoken of before. Both of his tweets today referenced future generations. It is an interesting angle to play because Obama is touting how he has made college more affordable, yet tuition is at an all-time high as is student debt upon graduation. I think that R&R feel like they can win the younger voters - or at least drastically cut away at Obama's advantage there.

Also of note, there is a running debt clock on one of the Tampa Bay Times Forum's scoreboards... Interesting to see which speakers reference it and how often... Other random things of note, I have added Jeb Bush, Jr. and George P. Bush, as well as good ol' T. Boone Pickens and several of the governors speaking tonight. Should be fun to see what they have to say.

In the big picture, I am curious to see how both sides play politics in a time of natural disaster. Not much to speak of yet on my end. What about @SpencerianBlue.

Best,

MBS

# # # #

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Matt -- 

This will be short and sweet for a couple of reasons.  One, father (of young children) to father: between the "accidents" on the rug, the extra baby clothes to fold, and a kid whose energy seems to expand as the evening winds down -- later and later -- well, the time to write a thoughtful response just got away from me.  

It's not Emmy or Finn's fault.  This is family life, right?  This is what it's about, and we -- both of us, I think -- do this when we can.

The other is, like you -- for those reasons we just alluded to -- I am not watching the convention in real-time.  But this is okay.

This is actually in some part what this project is about.  I may actually be able to get something better with respect to a response about the first full non-Isaac impacted day of the RNC tomorrow out of the @SpencerianBlue feed rather than trying to cull it all together now.

You did say one thing that got me thinking -- and it's a point on which I hope we can expand.  The old Tip O'Neill adage: All politics is local.  That, and the image of Obama as a hard-working Chicago alderman, of the old school.  

I think that's exactly right, and that's largely what you've seen out of the Spencerian Blue feed.  It's the concept of victory through organizing.  It's not so much that Obama has the winning message -- he does, but it hasn't been the bread and butter of his campaign -- it's that he's out-organizing the other side.

Just like he did against Hillary Clinton, as you pointed out.  

In fact, that's a fantastic analogy.  Hillary had the message, because that is what the Clinton's are the real masters of: messaging, framing.  But Obama always had the boots on the ground, the house parties, the meet-ups.  He perfected it through the Internet, and if Romney/Ryan lose, Republicans may not catch up for a generation.  

Anyway, this is what's at the real heart of the Blue feed: you cracked the code.  It is all about organizing.  Or most of it is, anyway.  

We have applied to refinance our home under the HARP program.  It essentially means we'll be paying less per month for this house where we're pretty far underwater.  It's a great program, and it is times like these I think about folks who are in similar situations to the one Duncan and I find ourselves in, but are not as politically involved as we are, and I don't wonder if there's not a bit of organizing by good policy going on there as well.  

I have to say, if I was ambivalent about politics, I'd be backing Obama now for sure.  And I wonder: the conversation -- the frame -- has been "Obama inherited a crappy economy, and it's not better yet" for so long, that maybe we're starting to miss the real stories, slow to emerge to be sure, of success, and getting our heads above water again.  After all, if I am doing better -- certainly if I'm doing better by my kids -- then I'm going with the guy who got me a hand up.

Don't want to lose the thread about generations and Paul Ryan.  You're on to something there.

Stay well, and best to Erin and the boys.

BJK

# # # #

Welcome to a special Republican Convention Edition of Into the Echo Chamber, the weekly electronic conversation of the 2012 presidential campaign as viewed from two Twitter feeds.  Matt Spence is monitoring the Twitterverse of the Romney Campaign, Republicans, and the "red" side of the aisle at @SpencerianRed.  I am monitoring the tweets of the Obama Team, Democrats and the blue team using @SpencerianBlue.  Our email-based back-and-forths are normally posted here on Thursdays.

For the week of the Republican Convention, we will be attempting to post one exchange per day. Stay tuned.

You are, as always, invited to join the discussion, either in the comments below or by emailing Spencerian Red or Spencerian Blue.

Images from the RNC: The Daily Show!

Editor's Note: I have a friend who is doing some work behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention here in Tampa.  This friend has agreed to snap a few cool photos as Convention events unfold, and I have agreed to post those images here for your enjoyment.

Report from Tampa: What’s Mitt’s Foreign Policy?

By Kevin King

This week in Tampa, just over the bay from me, Willard Mitt Romney will be nominated as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate. Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan will become the first GOP ticket since 1940 to lack any formal military or foreign policy experience. Coincidentally, the ticket that year was led by a businessman, Wendell Willkie, who had the misfortune of running not just against a popular Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but in a year when the economy was showing signs of life. The Willkie-McNary ticket lost in a landslide.

Today’s economy is also in recovery mode and showing signs of life. But unlike 1940, voters’ anxieties on the issue have remained sky high, and as a result, both tickets are forced to focus almost exclusively on pocketbook issues. This is especially unfortunate for President Barack Obama, whose first term has been marked by numerous accomplishments abroad and by keeping America safe at home.

And, while an electorate focused solely on economic issues may appear to be good news for Romney and Ryan, the lack of attention being paid to the pair’s lack of foreign policy experience and avoidance of the topic is a disservice to America and our allies.

Meanwhile, there is much unrest in the world.

Syria is in turmoil, with this past Saturday marking the deadliest day in that nation’s civil war.

Iran is the world’s biggest state-sponsor of terrorism and despite facing their toughest sanctions yet, new evidence suggests they are developing a nuclear warhead.

In Afghanistan, U.S. and coalition forces are being attacked by their supposed allies, the Afghan security forces they’ve been training.

In dealing with these issues, President Obama has taken a smart, principled approach that has kept Americans out of harm’s way. Still, these issues take time to resolve.

Meanwhile, look at Romney’s foreign policy gaffes so far – and he’s not even in the White House yet. Prior to picking Ryan, Romney went on a European Adventure that would have made Clark Griswold proud.

But it’s the substance of his views – or lack thereof, Will Marshall argues, that is no laughing matter. In a recent article for The American Interest, Marshall explains that “Romney has yet to develop a coherent outlook on U.S. security and leadership in a networked world. What we get instead is GOP boilerplate about American greatness and exceptionalism, and a pastiche of spaghetti-against-the wall criticisms of Obama’s foreign policy.”

For Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to be considered viable on the most presidential of issues – foreign policy – they must prove during this week’s convention that they not only grasp the world’s most intractable problems, but can offer solutions different than those already in place.

Continuing down a path of incoherence may be a calculated campaign strategy, but it’s not an option available to a commander-in-chief.

Kevin King is a Truman Partner.  This was a guest post from Kevin, and is cross-posted at the Truman National Security Project.