A Progressives on the Prairie event was held this evening at the Heritage Room at Eden Prairie City Hall. Several dozen liberal activists mingled before the event started. (Due to a scheduling conflict, I could only stay for the beginning of the presentation itself.)
Three prominent speakers took part: Former State Sen. Becky Lourey, Ashwin Madia and Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American antiwar activist. Lourey and Rasouli socialized with attendees before the presentation; Ashwin Madia arrived just before the main event formally started.
Rasouli once ran Sinbad's restaurant in Minneapolis. I chat with him as he is arranging unframed Iraqi oil paintings on a table. With prices from $100-$200, the paintings are for sale to help raise funds for Rasouli's Muslim Peacemaker Team, he says. In a brief conversation with the friendly and talkative Rasouli, I learn that
*Abbas Mehdi [prominent local Iraqi-American scholar] supported the US invasion of Iraq in 2003; Mehdi was never employed by the current government of Iraq. [Mehdi told me otherwise, I mention to Rasouli.]
*Ahmed Chalabi receives $350,000 a month in payment from Israel. ['How do we know this?' I inquire.] Chalabi visited Israel recently, 'to attend a human rights conference.' [QED]
*Israel is deeply involved in the current governance of Iraq. [At this point the velocity of Rasouli's claims was making it difficult for me to request back-up info.]
*83% of the oil now being drilled in Iraq is controlled by US oil companies.
*Rasouli likens the United States' role in Iraq to a rapist.
*The situation in Iraq has worsened (become more violent) as a result of the surge.
*Many Americans unfairly question Rasouli's patriotism. [Evidence?] Gary Eichten promised to give Rasouli a full hour on MPR's Midday but cut him off after 15 minutes. [Now Rasouli knows how Joan of Arc felt.]
*80% of the Iraqi media is in the pay of the CIA.
In short, much of the stuff Rasouli says has a certain whiff of the apocryphal. Indeed, I wouldn't accept his claims without finding some corroborating evidence, kind-hearted though their author may be.
I was only able to hear Becky Lourey's introduction. From the side she interrupts and amplifies on some of the praise contained therein; there aren't many people who can do that and make you like them more; she is a charmer. Lourey opposed DFL-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mike Hatch in the 2006 primary.
I've heard Ash speak on Iraq on many occasions; his position is without doubt far different from Rasouli's, though as candidate Madia I'm guessing he'll give the audience what they want. Alas, I don't get to hear Madia this evening.
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Paulsenologists take note: Mitch Berg took up my Paulsen critique today. While gently calling into question my sanity on [merely!] one point, the big man's response to my overall viewpoint was reasonably sympathetic. Cool!
3 comments:
I wonder when Erik Paulsen will hold his first public forum cncerning Iraq?
Well, let me re-phrase that - "I wonder when Erik Paulsen will hold his first public forum, EVER."
I guess his strategy is working pretty well since all national and local polls show Paulsen ahead. He is also kicking butt in fundraising.
Say, earthbound?
Enjoy that lead, while ya can.
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Trust on Issues
Democrats Trusted More on All Ten Electoral Issues Tracked by Rasmussen Reports
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Email to a FriendAdvertisment
American voters now trust the Democrats on all ten key electoral issues tracked regularly by Rasmussen Reports. Last month, the GOP’s had an advantage on two issues.
Not surprisingly, the economy is still seen as the most important issue in this year’s presidential campaign--76% of voters say it is a Very Important issue. The Democrats now have a 14-point advantage over the Republicans on this issue, up from eight-points a month ago. Data from the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that consumer confidence is currently hovering near record lows. Not only is confidence low, three-out-of-four Americans believe that economic conditions are getting worse.
Government Ethics and Corruption is a Very Important issue for 71% of Likely Voters. The Democrats have a huge advantage on this issue—45% now trust them while just 26% prefer the GOP. That lead has also widened since last month, when the Democrats had only a six-point advantage.
Perhaps the biggest surprise comes from the fact that Democrats are now trusted more when it comes to National Security and the War on Terror, an issue long considered a GOP stronghold. The latest polling, however, shows that 49% of voters now trust the Democrats more on this issue while 42% trust the Republicans more. This shift comes at the same time that confidence in the War on Terror has fallen significantly.
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More, here:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/trust_on_issues/trust_on_issues
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