IRC log started Thu Jun 2 19:53:10 2005
-:- Topic (#pashdown): changed by pashdown: Chat is on, please ask a question.
pashdown	Hello all, and welcome to the weekly chat.
pashdown	If anyone has a question, feel free to type it in.
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pashdown	Hello again Bill
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billlee	Hi Pete,   Making any exciting progress
pashdown	I had a couple of very good meetings with very experienced politicos this week.
pashdown	In particular, I met with David Magleby this afternoon, and that was very enlightening.
billlee	Did they have any good advice that will help in the near future?
pashdown	Many seem to think that the wildcard in this race is the use of the Internet.
pashdown	I don't think it is enough to win the state, but it is a component.
pashdown	Especially when it comes to volunteer coordination, database building, and outreach.
pashdown	I am going to the Western Democrats Caucus in Montana tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to meeting other people who have won Western races.
billlee	It certainly did enter in to the last election big time on the national level.  The question is how do you let them know you are out there (on the net) to begin with?
pashdown	Senator Maria Cantwell is supposed to be there.
pashdown	Bill, I think that will take a certain amount of press exposure on a national basis.
pashdown	I think there can also be a lot done through popular tech websites, but I want to hold back on that until the credit card processing is complete (almost there).
Clarity	Sounds like you've got some good marketing ideas. I'm sure you could drive many to your website if you get a billboard, radio, and TV spots.
pashdown	Yes, but there is the chicken and the egg problem of funding.  I'm leaving town for a wedding from June 7th - 19th and I'm planning several small fundraisers for my return.
Clarity	Yes - all it takes is money. :) heheh
billlee	Maria Cantwell.  Now there is someone to get to know.  My mom is from Seattle and big into local politics up there.  It was always my idea that one of the congress people from up there would be helpful down here if they were willing.
pashdown	I think there is a lot of simularities between Seattle and Salt Lake City from an economic standpoint.
pashdown	Plus Cantwell comes from a tech background via Real Networks.
pashdown	The Deseret News article on Tuesday generated a lot of interest.
Clarity	excellent.
billlee	The name of the rep that lives on the Island my mom lives on slips my mind at the moment, but I attended a town hall meeting and spoke with him about the future of the Democratic party.  He was quite optomistic.
pashdown	San Juan islands?
billlee	Bainbridge Island
pashdown	Ah
Clarity	I used to live on BI, Bill. :)
billlee	Great place I will be spending some time up there later this month.
billlee	But Pete I will now sit back and let you answer questions about issues rather than talking about WA.
pashdown	Does anyone want to ask an issue question?
billlee	Well maybe this will get them started.
billlee	I'd usually wait to ask a Democrat this question in a less public forum, but after the article in the Deseret News I'd imagine there is no point in worrying about that, and who knows if I will get a better opportunity.
billlee	If, as a senator, you had the opportunity to vote on something the only out come of which would be either to sustain or overturn Roe vs. Wade, would you vote to sustain or overturn?
pashdown	I would vote to sustain, that leads into my explanation of my "pro-life" position.
pashdown	I think that more attention needs to be put into preventing pregnancies in the first place.
pashdown	That includes contraception education and availability.
pashdown	The primary problem I see with the government being involved in the abortion question is that most of the people deciding are men.
pashdown	Now, I'm never going to have an abortion, but that is an utterly useless statement, because obviously I'm never going to get pregnant.
pashdown	It would seem to be the best resolution on this issue would be for the states to hold referendums that only women could vote in.
billlee	I have a few teacher friends (one of whom teaches health).  They all think that preaching abstinance is like telling kids that not to sing and dance.
pashdown	Would that ever happen?  I doubt it, but it seems like the only logical conclusion to me.
pashdown	I agree Bill on the abstinence question.  My mother taught me about the birds and the bees at a very early age.
pashdown	If parents are not going to teach their children, then I think someone should.  Parents should have the power to opt out of this type of education, but if they can't sign a form, I doubt they're going to take full responsibility for talking to their kids.
billlee	Lots of other people on line from the looks of it.  Anyone else want to weigh in?
pashdown	I do not support partial-birth abortions, but I think this is a bit of a red-herring in the debate.
pashdown	Its a horrifying procedure, but as I have been told, has never actually been performed in Utah.
pashdown	Its a bit like banning being tarred and feathered.
Web764	so why not ban partial birth abortion?
pashdown	I would support a ban.
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pashdown	Yet I emphasize, I think this is an issue that only women should decide.
Web764	you say women should decide the abortion issue, what about a task force?
pashdown	When selecting a task force, partisanship and politics start to seep in.  State referendums are the only way to sample the population.
billlee	Unfortunately we all have to live with the results of unwanted pregnancies and their effect on our society.  Just as unfortunately many people can't seem to make that the only criteria when making laws.
billlee	our society and the parents that is.
pashdown	Admittedly though Bill, its a bit of a gordian knot when everyone is trying to push their own agenda.
pashdown	I think that pro-life also includes healthcare access for everyone, and safe environments for children.
billlee	If only we could require that people consider the world at large when advancing their personal agenda.
pashdown	It wouldn't be "personal" then. ;-)
billlee	I guess I have to agree with you there.
billlee	Since it would appear that I have you to myself, I will ask a question that might be closer to the heart of the campaign.  Any progress building a team?
pashdown	The individual who I wanted for campaign manager told me he was interested, then told me he couldn't later.
Clarity	What a bummer
pashdown	I have two very dedicated volunteers who will most likely go staff when funds are available, but I'm still unsure on the CM front.
pashdown	There are a couple of people that have been recommended to me, and I have yet to talk to them.  I've also tossed about the idea of just putting out a job description on Craig's List and newsgroups.  That is how I've hired for XMission, and I would have never found some of my best people if I had just depended on the grapevine.
Clarity	What's Craig's List? (sorry to be ignorant there)
pashdown	craigslist.com
Clarity	thanks
pashdown	Sort of a free classifieds.
billlee	I wonder if it might be affective to start the campaign with the CM position open.  I thing there is a lot that can be done in the way of getting the ball rolling so to speak.
pashdown	Well, I'm already doing that Bill.  I think its much the same way I started XMission, doing most of the work myself and being resourceful.
pashdown	A campaign is a business that shuts down on election day.  I have seen many small businesses succeed where large business fails, and the same I think is true of campaigns.
billlee	When you told me that your hat was in the ring I was most excited by the fact that you had done it early.  In my mind the only way to overcome fame and money is with legwork and the support of the masses.
pashdown	I think so too, but it does remain a huge challenge.  It is hard to find the successes in politics that haven't spent huge amounts of money.
Clarity	Unfortunately, it does take money and lots of it. I hate that part of politics
gthornock	Name recognition counts for a lot, too.  Articles like the Deseret News one on Tuesday make a good start.  That one, by the way, was quoted in a post on utahpolitics.org on Tuesday, which is where I first heard about your campaign.
pashdown	Phil was nice enough to meet with me last week.
Clarity	"If the Democrats are smart, they'll get behind Pete and then stay out of his way.
Clarity	" I like that
gthornock	That brings up another potentially related question: how much impact do you foresee from the FEC's plan to apply campaign finance rules to blogs?
pashdown	I don't see how they can without violating free speech.
billlee	Is there any doubt that Hatch will find a way to amass more $$$$ no matter how much you raise?  Thus the only way to beet him is to build a bigger campaign in the form of bodies.  For that you need recruitment that can't be done by one or two people.
pashdown	Bill, its going to require exponential recruitment.
alceste	Are you skipping the . and ?'s mentioned on the webpage?  I'm on the cgi version and I can't tell how behind I am.
billlee	Now.
pashdown	Alceste, its been more unmoderated this evening.  If we were unable stick to topic, then I'd enforce moderation.
pashdown	Gthornock, have you heard what they are considering restricting in respect to blogs?
billlee	With that I will try to step back and let you deal with the input of others.
gthornock	I haven't heard a lot of detail, except that true independent blogs are unlikely to be effected at all.  The ones that are run by parties and PACs will probably have to be more up front about disclosing their funding.
alceste	On the subject of staffing, Pete, have you talked to anyone who was involved with Russ Feingold in WI?  He's the only person in the Senate who I feel has the right idea on the types of issues you're concentrating on, and he's not running again for a while...
pashdown	In that case, I would see very little impact.
alceste	Or is WI just too far away to have the regional vibe down?
pashdown	Alceste, no, but that is a good suggestion.  I'll try to contact his office.
pashdown	As far as winning Utah goes, probably not.  As far as attracting national attention, probably yes.
billlee	gthornock are you related to the wrestler who did so well on the taylorsville team a few years ago?
alceste	On the subject of fiFeingold, what do you say to the free-speech arguments surrounding campaign financing, or do you agree with them?
pashdown	I think the problem with money = free-speech is that some people have more "free-speech" than others.
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pashdown	McCain Feingold was a good step, but there are still a lot of loopholes that I don't see any prospect of closing.
gthornock	Bill: no idea.
pashdown	Money's marriage to politics will likely continue for a long time.
pashdown	I hope that if nothing else, this campaign can serve as a "small business" example of how anyone with time and committment could run.
pashdown	I would like to see the hopelessness in American politics to end, in that people view their participation as impossible or out of reach.
alceste	Well, I just finished my last Diet Coke and I'm logging off of my nicely provided Bayou Xmission connection, but I'd like to say I as a non-Utah native (3 years since a move from MN) I'm happy to see you enter the political arena at any level.  I was thinking maybe as a Rocky-replacement when he stepped down, but I'd be overjoyed to not have to explain the embarassment of Utah politics to others.  Thanks a lot!
pashdown	Thank you.
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pashdown	Unless there are any other quick questions, I'm going to close the chat.  I have gone from one appointment to another today and I have yet to eat some dinner.
billlee	Relax and have a good evening.  Night.
pashdown	Good night all, and thanks for participating.
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kenny	nite
kenny	well later
IRC log ended Thu Jun 2 21:19:52 2005

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