[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What they should do, is create a bunch of firewalled Second LIfe islands ala what IBM does for its secure corporate meetings and have daily face to face (virtual) meetings (that will almost certainly happen within a few years for national-level campaigns). I've never understood the fascination that some people have with virtual worlds. Don't these people have real lives? Don't they *like* their real lives? JOOC, what does your avatar look like in Second Life, Lawson? Does it look like you look in real life? In the only one of these silly places I ever played with (I got bored within a week), I made a 3D avatar of myself, from photos. It seemed the only honest thing to do, since the world was populated with gay guys with the avatars of buxsome babes and skinny wimps with avatars that looked like Ahnold and fat guys with avatars that looked like Brad Pitt and nerds who have trouble lifting a mouse wielding big broadswords. What IS the fascination you see with this virtual world stuff, eh? It seems to me that existing conference software with TV cameras would be a great deal more effective (and more sane and safer than for the world) than a bunch of guys and gals having meetings while pretend- ing to be Superman and Wonder Woman.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig LEnglish5@ wrote: What they should do, is create a bunch of firewalled Second LIfe islands ala what IBM does for its secure corporate meetings and have daily face to face (virtual) meetings (that will almost certainly happen within a few years for national-level campaigns). I've never understood the fascination that some people have with virtual worlds. Don't these people have real lives? Don't they *like* their real lives? JOOC, what does your avatar look like in Second Life, Lawson? Does it look like you look in real life? PRetty much, except the hair is longer, the fat less obvious (hard to gt extreme obesity right). In the only one of these silly places I ever played with (I got bored within a week), I made a 3D avatar of myself, from photos. It seemed the only honest thing to do, since the world was populated with gay guys with the avatars of buxsome babes and skinny wimps with avatars that looked like Ahnold and fat guys with avatars that looked like Brad Pitt and nerds who have trouble lifting a mouse wielding big broadswords. Eh, if play is all you intend, instead of serious work or whatever, I can see it as being boring. What IS the fascination you see with this virtual world stuff, eh? It seems to me that existing conference software with TV cameras would be a great deal more effective (and more sane and safer than for the world) than a bunch of guys and gals having meetings while pretend- ing to be Superman and Wonder Woman. Why safer? But in fact, it's often easier to relate to a cartoon than a RL person over video, and it's certainly more entertaining to attend meetings with rodent supermodels, plants, and glowing blobs of light. And it's way cheaper than video conferencing hardware, and you can attend a relatively secure text-based meeting anywhere there is an internet connection (https) and still have some 3D representation to relate to of whomever you are communicating with. Not to mention, you can establish friendships, collaborations, etc., far easier than using simple text-chat or even voice, and you can conduct VR interviews with an amazing array of guests which can be broadcast within the virtual world, as well as podcast to the rest of the internet. I attend software and technical meetings in Second Life with members of the Linden Lab technical team and other programmers from around the USA and around the world on a daily basis. I've attend (virtually), lectures by Eben Mogeln, former counsel for the Foundation for Software Freedom,and author of the GLPv3., and will likely be attending seminars on intellectual property in virtual worlds that he plans on giving later this year. I know educators who specialize in distance learning, who are using virtual worlds with great effectiveness. I know severely brain-damaged individuals who are able to function reasonably well within virtual worlds --infact, Japanese rsearchers have developed EEG input machines (one toy version was mentioned here I think), to allow completely paralyzed patients to interact in Second Life and establish new hobbies and make friends while still tied to their hospital beds. My current job, I got through networking inside a virtual world and I know musicians who are too shy to perform in public who do just fine performing in virtual worlds. Other than that and a few 10's of thousands of other activities that I know people indulge in (besides cybersex), I guess you're correct, IBM wasted millions of dollars on creating their own extension to SL to allow all their employees to meet in virtual worlds, and we're all wasting our time with this worthless technology. Certainly Richard Stallman thinks you're correct. That's why I was able to have a conversation with him about GPL issues on a forum dedicated to Second Life programming: none of hte techno-geeks (like Alan Kay or Grady Booch) would ever dream of creating their own software for VR or avatars to roam inside one. Instead, I should pay attention to what world famous techno-geeks like yourself are doing, since none of the guys and gals involved in virtual worlds right now have ever accomplished anything of note, like, you know, creating software paradigms that define the computer industry (Alan Kay and Object Oriented programming) or creating the original spreadsheet software (like Mitch Kapor, of Lotus, and member of the board of directors (former head) of LInden Lab) or who are helping to define an industry expected to involve up to two billion people worldwide within 20 years. Or, to put it in a nutshell: I have no reason to be involved because obviously virtual worlds aren't the wave of the future--Uncle Barry says so. Lawson
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, That's a good strategy for him, since he tends to get way off message without a teleprompter. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Robert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the first stop on a campaign-season tour of war zones, a spokesman said.Less than four months before the general election, Obama's first visit to Afghanistan, with a subsequent stop in Iraq, was rich with political implications, although the Illinois senator flew as part of an official congressional delegation.Rival John McCain has criticized Obama for his lack of time in the region, and the Republican National Committee had a running ticker tallying the more than 900 days since his last visit to Iraq.Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama arrived in Kabul early Saturday.I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is, Obama told a pair of reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing, he said before his flight overseas.Obama advocates ending the U.S. combat role in Iraq by withdrawing troops at the rate of one to two combat brigades a month. But he supports increasing the military commitment to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has been resurgent and Osama bin laden is believed to be hiding.On his trip, Obama intends to meet with Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president. He recently chided Karzai and his government, saying it had not gotten out of the bunker and helped to organize the country or its political and security institutions.Also on his itinerary is a meeting with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi leader. On the campaign trail, Obama has said one benefit of withdrawing U.S. troops is that it would pressure al-Maliki to shore up his government as well.Nonetheless, he said he did not plan to reiterate those messages in person.I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, and I think it's very important to recognize that I'm going over there as a U.S. senator, he said. We have one president at a time.In a speech this week, Obama said the war in Iraq was a distraction, unlike the fighting in Afghanistan.This is a war that we have to win, he said. I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, and use this commitment to seek greater contributions with fewer restrictions from NATO allies.I will focus on training Afghan security forces and supporting an Afghan judiciary, with more resources and incentives for American officers who perform these missions.By contrast, his opposition to the war in Iraq and call for an end to the U.S. combat role helped him overcome his rivals in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.Lately, his efforts to explain how he will use what he learns from U.S. commanders to refine his proposals have brought charges from Republicans and complaints from Democratic liberals that he seems to be shifting his Iraq policy toward the political center. But Obama maintains his basic goal of ending the U.S. combat role soon remains unchanged and that he's always said the U.S. withdrawal must be done carefully.Obama also arranged to visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and England, traveling aboard a jet chartered by his presidential campaign, before his return to the United States. The weeklong trip marks his only foreign excursion as a presidential candidate; McCain has visited Canada, Colombia and Mexico, in part to highlight Obama's opposition to trade deals with those allies.Obama began his trip with as much secrecy as a presumed presidential nominee can muster.The senator took an unmarked, corporate Gulfstream-III jet, much smaller than his normal campaign plane, from Chicago to Washington. He was joined by his Secret Service detail, spokeswoman Linda Douglass and two reporters.Obama deplaned at Reagan National Airport in Washington, took one question apiece from the reporters, and then his motorcade departed for a hasty ride to Andrews Air Force Base about 10 miles away in Maryland.Upon his arrival, Obama was greeted by a group of Air Force personnel at the bottom of stairs leading to the military Boeing 737 transporting his congressional delegation. Obama's traveling companions, Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Jack Reed, R.I., were not visible to the reporters, but Douglass confirmed they were already on board the aircraft.Both senators, each a veteran, have been mentioned as potential Obama vice presidential running mates, but Reed has said he's not interested in the job.Few citizens in impoverished Afghanistan were aware of
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, That's a good strategy for him, since he tends to get way off message without a teleprompter. Sometimes even *with* a teleprompter. His most recent gaffe, in a speech in Lafayette, Indiana, on July 16: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu...
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu... I don't get it, he should have said bombs? --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, That's a good strategy for him, since he tends to get way off message without a teleprompter. Sometimes even *with* a teleprompter. His most recent gaffe, in a speech in Lafayette, Indiana, on July 16: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu...
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You aren't with it if your middle name isn't Hussein- Article from Michael Medved: Barack Obama isn't just conducting a political campaign; he's launching his very own religious cult- Under the headline Obama Supporters Take His Name as Their Own, the New York Times reported on a bizarre fad among the candidate's enraptured acolytes: across the country, they've begun adopting his middle name, Hussein. The result is a group of unlikely sounding Husseins, writes reporter Jodi Kantor, from Jaime Hussein Alvarez of Washington, D.C., to Kelly Hussein Crowley of Norman, Oklahoma, to Sarah Beth Hussein Frumkin of Chicago. One of the key elements in many religious cults involves a name change like transitioning from Richard Alpert to Baba Ram Dass, or from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X. To Obama's true-believers, adding an Islamic middle name is a small price to pay for connecting with a candidate who qualifies as a lightworker and an enlightened being, according to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Mark Morford. Many spiritually advanced people I know, he writes, identify Obama as a Lightworker, the rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul. (Italics in the original) . --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, That's a good strategy for him, since he tends to get way off message without a teleprompter. Sometimes even *with* a teleprompter. His most recent gaffe, in a speech in Lafayette, Indiana, on July 16: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu...
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu... I don't get it, he should have said bombs? Yep. Not earthshaking, any more than his reference to the 57 states and other similar gaffes, but he does make a lot of 'em.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu... I don't get it, he should have said bombs? Yep. Not earthshaking, any more than his reference to the 57 states and other similar gaffes, but he does make a lot of 'em. I was thinking about my impression of Obama yesterday while driving home (its amazing, in the middle of a city, I have (one of several) routes home through farmers, cow pastures and horse ranches). As with all my thoughts, I realize they may be shaped by submerged nasty alligators (see adjacent post), I like that he appears reflective. And appears to kick an idea around inside -- and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives than many. Funny scene to me -- GWB inside BHO's mind WTF -- what are ALL these things??! He seems smart. Hillary and others are smart, but in a more clever, calculating way. BHO (any relation to HBO?) seems to have a (much) broader perspective, and not the well honed knee-jerks that many politicians have to many issues. And a great contrast to McCain, who has morphed from a sort of interesting, maverick, straight-talker in 2000, to a (poor) tele-prompter reader of scripts written by (bad, rigid, dogmatic part and portion of) conservative right, and evangelistic non-thinkers. In a rapidly changing world, I don't think pat old answers to old conditions (some quite poor answers even then) hold much of a candle to anyone who can kick an idea around inside -- and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. YMMV
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: You aren't with it if your middle name isn't Hussein- You know, this doesn't really bother me. What they're doing is a sort of *hommage* to the mass I am Spartacus declarations in the Kirk Douglas movie (I'd be very surprised if Medved, a movie critic, doesn't realize this; for him not to point it out is a bit, um, disingenuous). The whole light-worker mentality, on the other hand, creeps me out big-time.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snip He seems smart. Hillary and others are smart, but in a more clever, calculating way. BHO (any relation to HBO?) seems to have a (much) broader perspective, and not the well honed knee-jerks that many politicians have to many issues. Some of us get the impression that while his perspective may be broad, it ain't all that deep.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
-and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. -- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, curtisdeltablues curtisdeltablues@ wrote: Throughout our history, America's confronted constantly evolving danger, from the oppression of an empire, to the lawlessness of the frontier, from the bomb that fell on Pearl Harbor, to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Americans have adapted to the threats posed by an ever- changing world. Guy was *raised* in Honolulu... I don't get it, he should have said bombs? Yep. Not earthshaking, any more than his reference to the 57 states and other similar gaffes, but he does make a lot of 'em. I was thinking about my impression of Obama yesterday while driving home (its amazing, in the middle of a city, I have (one of several) routes home through farmers, cow pastures and horse ranches). As with all my thoughts, I realize they may be shaped by submerged nasty alligators (see adjacent post), I like that he appears reflective. And appears to kick an idea around inside -- and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives than many. Funny scene to me -- GWB inside BHO's mind WTF -- what are ALL these things??! He seems smart. Hillary and others are smart, but in a more clever, calculating way. BHO (any relation to HBO?) seems to have a (much) broader perspective, and not the well honed knee-jerks that many politicians have to many issues. And a great contrast to McCain, who has morphed from a sort of interesting, maverick, straight-talker in 2000, to a (poor) tele-prompter reader of scripts written by (bad, rigid, dogmatic part and portion of) conservative right, and evangelistic non-thinkers. In a rapidly changing world, I don't think pat old answers to old conditions (some quite poor answers even then) hold much of a candle to anyone who can kick an idea around inside -- and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. YMMV
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning no_reply@ wrote: snip He seems smart. Hillary and others are smart, but in a more clever, calculating way. BHO (any relation to HBO?) seems to have a (much) broader perspective, and not the well honed knee-jerks that many politicians have to many issues. Some of us get the impression that while his perspective may be broad, it ain't all that deep. Time will tell. I agree the jury is still out. And often, IMO, there is great hope with new emergent candidates who arrive on the scene, somewhat unknown. For example, there was great hope an potential promise when Jimmy Carter, JFK, Reagan to a degree, and even GWB arrived in the presidential sweepstakes. And often the sizzle was bigger than the stake. (I mean steak, :) -- but stake through the heart captures some of the thought) Still, being a romantic and optimist it appears, I have hope for BHO. (Hope -- what a concept -- some candidate ought to capitalize on that.)
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
(snip) You aren't with it if your middle name isn't Hussein- (snip) I spoke to some arab dudes about the name 'Hussein'... Whether it was some kind of title or something. They told me it means: 'beaufiful'...like in beautiful man... That type of thing. Yeah, those 'light workers' really stir up those 'dark workers' don't they?... R.G.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. This is why he has so much potential... Because there is so much energy and intelligence, Just ready to burst forth, and give new ideas, new directions... And Senator Obama is an open soul, and ready to recieve; Unlike the closed minded approach we have been through. Where you have 'group think' based in Mafia tactics; And just a handful of people making all the decisions for the rest of us...
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new.morning no_reply@ wrote: snip He seems smart. Hillary and others are smart, but in a more clever, calculating way. BHO (any relation to HBO?) seems to have a (much) broader perspective, and not the well honed knee-jerks that many politicians have to many issues. Some of us get the impression that while his perspective may be broad, it ain't all that deep. Translation: Negroes don't feel pain the way the rest of us do.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. There's probably a private, invitation-only forum/blog that the 300 can argue foreign policy in and he monitors the conversation. Lawson
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. Translation: If I could market my Pundit Lawn Jockeys in Vedic City, I could afford to get out of this dump on the shore and the festering wounds from flea bites might clear up.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. There's probably a private, invitation-only forum/blog that the 300 can argue foreign policy in and he monitors the conversation. Lawson BHO (too bad his middle name is not Robert or Richard) is the first real internet prez candidate -- as perhaps kennedy was the first television president. In that each was the first to really understand and own/master the thing. Setting up a private blog / chat group for advisors is a wonderful thing, IMO. Throw out a topic, and have them chew on it from many angles, from around the world, think along with them, and see what, and respond to, creatively shape what emerges. Way better than tightly controlled access to the president. Is it true Rick Archer is his secret chat group organizer? And that BHO regularly reads FFL because, as he says, Theres a lot of knowledge there.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. There's probably a private, invitation-only forum/blog that the 300 can argue foreign policy in and he monitors the conversation. Actually there isn't, and he doesn't. This NY Times article describes how it works: http://tinyurl.com/5aksns Basically, there's a lot of discussion back and forth via email between individuals. His top advisers ask for input from selected folks in the larger group, then discuss it among themselves. Every day they send Obama a briefing on foreign affairs and a QA of things he's likely to be asked about that day with suggested responses.
[FairfieldLife] Re: 'Obama arrives in war zone'
--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sparaig LEnglish5@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, authfriend jstein@ wrote: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, sgrayatlarge no_reply@ wrote: -and responds from a larger set of considerations and perspectives. The reason why he kicks around ideas and responds from a larger set of considerations is because he needs time for his 300 plus advisors to formulate the correct idea for him. And that's just his *foreign policy* advisors. There's probably a private, invitation-only forum/blog that the 300 can argue foreign policy in and he monitors the conversation. Actually there isn't, and he doesn't. This NY Times article describes how it works: http://tinyurl.com/5aksns Basically, there's a lot of discussion back and forth via email between individuals. His top advisers ask for input from selected folks in the larger group, then discuss it among themselves. Every day they send Obama a briefing on foreign affairs and a QA of things he's likely to be asked about that day with suggested responses. That seems even more unwieldy than a forum with 300 participants, but perhaps it has better security. What they should do, is create a bunch of firewalled Second LIfe islands ala what IBM does for its secure corporate meetings and have daily face to face (virtual) meetings (that will almost certainly happen within a few years for national-level campaigns). Lawson
