Read this article on Mike McCurry. They seem like clones.

http://www.dfa-fairfax.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=1

I have to agree, Miller is about power and money and he doesn't seem to care who he damages to get it and that is what is wrong with America.

"Miller is about power and money and he doesn't seem to care who he damages to get it and that is what is wrong with America."

That's the exact same reason why the Republicans are going to lose Congress this year.

... even voters who have identified themselves as "Republicans" in the past.

James Webb has "cross-over" appeal. He is genuine and has shown his honesty and integrity in a number of ways. His positions on a number of issues are thoughtful reflecting a level of genuine concern rather than campaign superficiality.

I expect Jim Webb to pick up support and votes among Republicans and Independents; he's a reformer and his message crosses historic party lines.

While it's difficult to quantify, I think that many people with conservative and Republican leanings are very dissatisfied with the direction of our economy and the Iraq war. James Webb is the only Senate candidate now addressing these concerns in Virginia.

Hi.  I'm Derek Miller.  My father is Harris Miller.  I've been reading this blog with, shall we say, interest for a little while now.  I don't want to get drawn into these arguments too much, since I don't want to speak for my father (or his campaign) and these slow motion shouting matches create more irritation than catharsis.  But for some reason, this post tonight has finally provoked a response.

Dan, I would like first to express my disappointment that you would be unwilling to support my father should he win the primary.  If he does win (as I fervently hope), I wish you would give him a second chance.  I am not writing to praise my father (whom I know to be a good and caring man, not to mention one of the smartest people I know), but merely to point out some of the ways in which this blog (and this post as an example) tends to miss the big picture in the constant pursuit of something to instill righteous anger in the faithful.

First of all, Dan, I hope that when you post in the future, you will refrain from putting quotation marks around phrasings that are not, actually, quotations.  Even the RK entry you reference about the Plotkin interview reveals that my father's comments about the Bush tax cuts were not unequivocally positive.  What my father said was that he is in favor of the idea of keeping taxes low.  (And. I may add, is it so crazy to say that people should be able to keep as much of what they earn as possible?)  However, the current tax burden does not sustain the government's budget, and is thus, untenable.  As he said on Plotkin's show, he could not support the Bush tax cuts given the current fiscal situation of the government.

As for health care, I would respectfully submit that a two-sentence summary of a candidate's position on the issues sometimes misses the point entirely.  In this case, my father has for years favored some way of making sure everyone in the country has insurance.  However, contrary to the Free-Lance Star's brief, he has spoken most recently about finding ways to help businesses cover their employees and to make sure that all children are covered under federal laws.  There is a real difference between "universal health insurance" and a mandatory national single-payer system.  I hope you would agree, Dan, that we do little to help further the discussion on health care in this country by eliding the two.

Finally, on the issue of VVPT my father, indeed, opposed paper trails.  And, after working on the issue for some time, he did, indeed, change his mind.  However, he did not do so in January, but (if I remember correctly), almost two years ago, when he was still working at ITAA (and long before he gave serious thought to a Senate run).  As he himself has explained, if a paper trail increases voter confidence in the system, then a paper trail is a good thing.  Moreover, while I support a paper trail, his arguments as to why a VVPT may be less than effective and his remarks about the absurdity of suggesting that voting ever existed in a golden age of complete trustworthiness are far from outrageous.

As to this infamous "illegal poll," I know too little about the details to make any extended comment.  Suffice to say that, if anyone did screw up, it was the pollster, not my father or anyone directly employed by his campaign.  I was also struck by the blogad for Webb on this website (now posted above my father's).  While my dad's ad states that it was purchased by his campaign, the Webb ad does not disclose the source of funding.  Is this legal?  If not, is the Webb campaign to blame?  I hope you catch my drift.

A couple of thoughts on Mr. Webb.  I have never met the man.  From what I know about him (based on what I've read here and in other places), he seems to be a decent enough guy.  But if you, Dan, really wish to raise the issue of how my father would behave in the Senate, let me ask you to imagine Mr. Webb in the same position.  Imagine Jim Webb in a Democratic Caucus meeting, discussing strategy with Harry Reid.  Imagine him sitting in a committee meeting with Russ Feingold.  Or having coffee with Ted Kennedy.  Or working on Armed Services with Hillary Clinton!  I find it virtually impossible to picture Mr. Webb actually working with the Democrats in the Senate.  (I would also like to point out that, while my dad has been relentless against George Allen since the campaign began (cf. my dad's press releases), Mr. Webb seems reluctant, at best, to actually criticize the man he wants to oppose.  This strikes me as odd, to say the least.)

That my father truly believes and is willing to fight for most of the things that we who call ourselves Democrats hold dear, I know I can never prove to those who wish not to believe it.  But I remember the conference call with Bill Clinton in early 1992 that my father hosted at our house.  I remember his long years of friendship with Don Beyer.  His constant support for Democrats all across the Commonwealth: the picture of my father and me (I'm in a Little League t-shirt) meeting Doug Wilder, the fundraisers for Janet Howell, the Mary Sue Terry buttons in his office drawer.  And every election day, that two-hour shift at the local polling place, handing out sample ballots in a heavily Republican precinct.  Politics was always an important part of our household, and the politics was always distinctly Democratic.  My father believes in the Democratic Party, he believes in the United States and its government, and he believes in the ability of people of good will to make this nation a little stronger, step by step. 

I hope you will take a good look at what my father is actually saying about what he wants to do as a Senator and give him your honest consideration.  That is all any of us can ever ask of each other as people and as citizens.

Your Dad may have courted those with power within the Democratic party but in terms of real people, average everyday working people, he fought for 20+ years against them.

A Democrat is not one who makes a career out of being a corporate lobbyist working against Farm workers, high tech workers and promoting outsourcing.

I'm sorry but I agree with Dan, I would actively work against Harris Miller if he won the primary.

If he really is a "Democrat" as you claim he would drop out.

His behavior is much more suited to the Republican party and it's a shame someone who clearly is intelligent would use those skills to manipulate the American people against their own interests.

In my Junior year in High School, I had a US History teacher named John Struck.  Mr. Struck was (and I'm sure still is) a lovely and intelligent man.  He is also a Republican.  When it came time to discuss Andrew Jackson, Mr. Struck, in addition to imparting the necessary material, was free with his often amusing criticism of Jackson, whom he viewed as an almost uniquely awful President.  One day, however, he halted mid-jibe to make an observation that has stuck with me ever since.  I do not remember his exact words, but the essence of his comment was this:

Sometimes we so fiercely disagree with a politician (or fellow citizen) and his/her beliefs that we start to believe that s/he cannot possibly be acting in good faith.  But the truth is, no one has ever served as President (or Senator or Congressman or Governor) with the intention of doing the people or the institution they serve harm.  Everyone is just trying to do the right thing, the best they can with the knowledge that they have and the beliefs they hold dear.

As I said, Mr. Struck is a good man and a memorable teacher.  This is, however, often the hardest lesson to learn.  I myself need constant reminding when I think about the Bush Administration, for example.

To return to the issue of my father, you and he clearly disagree strongly over what's best for the American worker in the long run.  But I am tired of the insinuations (or outright statements) that my father wishes that most Americans were unemployed and that China were the world's major economic (okay, I hyperbolize, but you get the point).  He can discuss these issues in far greater detail than I (who slept through most of the one economics course I took) but the bottom line is this: my father, like you, wants to see all Americans given the opportunity to support their families and provide better lives for their children.

And if you want to point to the last 20 years of my father's life and ask what he's done for "real people," I would suggest that the time and energy he spent helping dozens of Democrats get elected in Virginia (and elsewhere) is not something to be sloughed off as mere "court[ship]," but the committment of a man who believes that government can and should make a difference in people's lives.

Finally, you need not apologize for declining to support my father, that is your democratic prerogative.  Rather, it is I who am sorry that you are so cynical about the motives of your fellow citizens.

There are a few quotes from the Bible which I think apply here and I, like you, cannot remember the exact wording.

First, you either support outsourcing of American jobs or not. Your father has created a nice life for you on the backs of many Americans who have lost their jobs because of him. While he may still think of himself as a good person I would direct you to the quote in the Bible which says something like "A man cannot serve God and mammon." I think the mammon part means money or some other corrupting influence.

There is also another quote (a paraphrase) which says "A man cannot serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love the other, or love the one and despise the other."

In the case of outsourcing skilled American jobs you cannot have it both ways. This violates the basic values of the Democratic party. I might also add that some of the most charming people I have met have turned out to be untrustworthy.

I have to agree with Dan as well. I could not work for Miller if he won the primary. 

I can see Webb working with leaders from BOTH sides, to get the job done.

I lost a previous job that went overseas three years ago. I have to tell you, I was not happy about it. I had worked my way up at the company from the time I was 16. I worked very hard to climb the ladder.
My best friend had to travel to the Philippines to work with the group that was taking over the operation for the company. She had to train those who would do OUR JOB.
When I was 24 we were all laid off.
Now I have a job doing the same thing (financial analyst) but it pays much less.
What happens when this job goes overseas too?
It's frustrating when you work hard everyday (I worked FULL TIME and went to college at the same time), and one day everything is gone.

Miller is obviously very intelligent, and from my interactions with him, he does appear to be a nice person. However, some of his actions worry me, a lot.

"I'm sorry but I agree with Dan, I would actively work against Harris Miller if he won the primary."

I have never said this.  In fact, I told Sean Holihan that I would keep my mouth shut in such a case, and I will.  If Miller wins by some odd occurance, I'll go to work for Phil Kellam in the Second, and make sure Thelma Drake is taken down.  I won't vote for Harris, nor will I support him and campaign for him.  But I won't try to harms his campaign.  I'll just let that campaign run it's course without me. 

Wow, nice to meet you Derek.  Now THIS is an interesting situation, isn't it?  Seeing as you have an intimate relationship with the man I'm writing about, I'm going to give you the full and detailed response that you deserve.  Maybe you can relay it your pops, and we can clear some air?

First.  Righteous anger?  Dude, I'm a Democrat, not a Republican.  Also, these are all quotes.  Maybe not your directly from your father (many are), but they are not mine.  I have to "quote" them and site them, or else it's plagiarism. 

First, let me explain something to you.  I'm a Moderate Populist Democrat.  I adore my military (heroes, every damn one of them), and I have an extreme distate for politics as usual.  I hate that freakin' term.  You don't know how much, dude.  It's such an excuse.  Something dirty happen?  "Politics as usual."  Bull.  If somebody does that "politics as usual" crap, we kick them out.  That simple.  Your Dad seems to be playing his campaign as "politics as usual."  Therefore, we can assumer I'm not too happy with your Dad's campaign.

"As he said on Plotkin's show, he could not support the Bush tax cuts given the current fiscal situation of the government."  I can't support them EVER.  Period.  They benefit the rich while taking away from those in need.  Ever heard of a "step-tax?"  Clinton used it.  You take a little from the poor, more from the middle class, and the most from the rich.  That's fair, I think.  This country gives more to you?  You owe it more.  I see nothing wrong with that.  And while I understand you're "people keep their money" thing, you can't squeeze water out of a dry sponge.  If we want to run a health care program, or keep Social Security as it is, we need money.  Not just now, but always.  The Bush tax cuts are a serious mistake in any fiscal environment.  They benefit those who don't need the money, and hurt those who do.  Ask the lower and middle class.  During the Bush Administration, the gaps between the classes have gotten much bigger.  Want some advice?  Tell your Dad to stay the hell away from those tax cuts.

As for the poll, your team reflects on you.  Somebody your Dad hires does a stupid thing?  Your Dad will take the heat.  It sucks, I know.  But it's the truth.  When Bush was running in 2000, a microphone turned on early and caught him calling a reporter a "major assh*le."  Who took the heat?  Bush did.  Not his team, who turned on the Microphone too early.  If found guilty by the FEC, your Dad will suffer.  That's the game, dude.  It may not be fair, and I may not personally like it (again, the politics as usual).  I wish that we could single out the responsible ones, but we won't.  The media will say "The Harris Miller Campaign" when it talks about it.  It's you Dad's name on it, he's attached to it.  As one of my idols Harry Truman said, "If you can't take the heat get the hell out of the kitchen."

I won't be supporting your father should he win the primary (but if comparing the tours reveals anything, this is a moot point).  I disagree with him on too much, and he's been too negative in this primary to earn my respect or admiration.  As I've said before, I can't vote for somebody I don't respect.  I've heard more from the Miller Campaign on "Why I shouldn't vote for Jim Webb" than "Why I should vote for Harris Miller."  That's a hardcore turn-off.  Convince me that your pops can help this country, and maybe I'll reconsider.  But for now, I'm not lifting a finger for a man who has not shown me a single bit of populist attitude (you know, that thing Democrats used to have when they were winning in the South?).

Webb is a lot like me.  Very upset with the current state of politics, very pro-military oriented, very defensive of those in need.  I've lived in SWVA for months now at Virginia Tech.  There are kids here in Montgomery County who are excited to go to school so they can eat.  What has your father said he'll do for them?  Nothing.  He hasn't even visited these poor people yet.  Virginia is more than NoVA, Norfolk, and Richmond.

As for Webb in the Senate, I don't want a lap dog.  I want an independent thinker.  Look at McCain, people like Mavericks.  I don't always agree with Kennedy or Clinton, and I want somebody who will side with Virginia, not the party.  I don't vote for people based on a Captial Letter at the end of their name.  What does that mean?  I vote on substance, on character, and on policy.  I may be a Democrat, but I've voted for Republicans.  As for the people you mentioned, Webb supported Feingold's censure movement.  He may not agree with Kennedy on policy, but Ted "The Lion" may find he has quite a lot in common with Jim.  And Hillary...well, I don't like her, but I'm sure Webb will get along with her, as he will with every Senator, regardless of party.

I'm not saying your father is a bad person.  I'm sure he loves his family, his country, and it's citizens.  However, I don't think he's write for this country, especially now.  He's a lobbyist, and this election very well may be a referendum on lobbying.  The Iraq war, the most important factor to most Virginians this yeat, is completely out of your Dad's range.  How can he comment on the military?  Has he been there?  Have troops ever elected him to office?  Has he ever wore a uniform?  Webb is the only candidate who can take that issue to Allen head on.

Maybe after this primary we can have an interesting talk on policy or something.  Hell, we can talk Football or Baseball if you like (I'm a Skins and O's fan, myself).  Maybe the next time your Dad runs for office, he can try to work on me again.  But for now, I'm with Webb and only Webb.

Thanks for playing, Derek.  Isn't Freedom of Speech awesome?

I'm going to go one more round, and then see if I can lay off.  This commenting thing sure is addictive.  In the vain hopes of weaning myself from it, I will not address any individual issues raised above (okay, maybe one), since I have little interest in falling (slowly) down that rabbit hole.

Dan, I hope, despite your insistence on not supporting my father, that you'll look at some of the specific proposals he's been putting forward over the past week.  While Mr. Webb, for the most part, continues to speak in noble platitudes, my father has begun to lay out exactly what he thinks he can do in the Senate.  Regardless of what you think about such proposals, I know you will agree that the actual discussion of issues can be nothing but good for any campaign and for the citizens who engage in it.

And, Dan, the comparison between the FEC complaint and Bush's comments about Adam Nagourney is not particularly apt, I think.  Bush was caught being snide, whether or not his technician screwed up.  There was a genuine issue there about Bush's attitude towards the press (which proved to be portentous).  Should the FEC find merit in the complaint against my dad's campaign, nothing will have been revealed about my father per se.  I am not complaining here about fairness, merely pointing out that, to avid political observers such as those on RK, the distinction between the words and deeds of a candidate and those of an respected outside firm should be clear enough.  Otherwise, blogs are not, as one might hope, a forum for probity and discussion, but merely a smaller, more tightly wound version of the MSM echo chamber.

Finally, Dan, I'm glad to hear you are not angry.  I am.  But, then again, I'm still learning to take trash-talk about my father from people who have met him fleetingly (if at all) in stride.

Freedom of Speech is indeed awesome.  May we put it to honest use.

First, thanks very much for taking the time to come here and defend your father.  If I were you, I'd do the same thing for my dad.

Second, having said that, I don't necessarily think that my father - or yours - would make a good United States Senator.  Hell, I don't think most people - myself included - would make  a good Senator.  The point is, there are lots of people out there who I like, even love, but whose calling is in another area of life than political leadership at the high level of the United States Senate.  I believe this is clearly the case with your father.

Third, I strongly oppose your father both on POLICY (e.g., believes extending the Bush tax cuts are a "great idea" at any time, let alone a time of war) and also on STYLE (e.g., his campaign has been relentlessly negative since the beginning, slandering Jim Webb through surrogates as a closet racist and misognyst).  I also oppose your father on his past record as a lobbyist, working for companies like Diebold and even supporting far-right-wing Republicans like Dennis Hastert and Spencer Abraham - all while he was supposdly a LOYAL DEMOCRAT.  Is that utter hypocrisy or what? It is in my book.

Fourth, I have difficulty with a man who goes around lying, bragging about himself, and exaggerating about his supposed influence.  For example, i have heard from many people that your father falsely went around telling people back in December and January that he KNEW Jim Webb was not running.  Well, where on earth did he get THAT from?  If you recall, back in December and January, Jim Webb was very much considering a run for US Senate from Virginia.  In response, several of us started a grassroots "draft" movement to encourage him.  In a few weeks, we collected 1,000 electronic "signatures" urging him to run, plus $40,000 in pledges of support.  Was all that the sign of someone who definitely wasn't running?  Well then, why was your father going around telling people that Webb wasn't going to run? That's just wrong, even in the Machiavellian world of politics.

Another example: I had dinner with your father for 2 1/2 hours in late December.  He told me several times how much of a "visionary" he was, and also a "genius," and specifically claimed credit for much of Mark Warner's political success (one quote was "who do you think came up with THAT?!?" in reference to Mark Warner's "forward together" theme).  My colleague Josh Chernila can confirm this.  As further evidence of this attitude, however, you can ask the thousands of people around the state who have heard your father speak of himself as a "shorter, poorer version of Mark Warner."  Well, I'm sorry, your father may be many things, but he's no Mark Warner.  And I've met Mark Warner.  For starters, there is NO WAY your father can play politically in SWVA.  No matter how conservative he tries to be on the death penalty, "values" issues, taxes, crime, or anything else.  No matter how many times he claims to be from Appalachia (!!!).  People aren't idiots, and they can smell this stuff a mile away.

Finally, you've given me yet ANOTHER example of what the Miller campaign does, so I'm going to point it out.  Instead of talking about YOUR positive vision for America or defending your OWN questionable actions (e.g., the infamous "Pew poll"), you continually throw sand in peoples' eyes and red herrings in their paths.  In this case, you try to claim some sort of illegality by a pro-Webb advertisement on this site PLACED BY A GRASSROOTS SUPPORTER.  What on earth does that have to do with the quasi-push "Pew" poll your father's campaign was running against Jim Webb, which once again tried to imply racism on Jim Webb's part, when nothing could be further from the truth?  Perhaps the tone of the Miller campaign does indeed start from the top; this would help explain the relentless negativity and lack of positivity (notice any pro-Miller people on the blogosphere aside from Alice Marshall?) shown by Miller supporters.  Whatever the case may be, I am now extremely turned off by your father, and do not plan to support him in his future political endeavors.  That is, after Jim Webb defeats Harris Miller in June and then goes on to become the next, great U.S. Senator - representing ALL Virginians and shaking up politics as usual in Washington.  Sorry, but your father has shown no inclination or ability to do any of those things.

Best,

Lowell

"I find it virtually impossible to picture Mr. Webb actually working with the Democrats in the Senate"

1)  Try meeting him, since to those of us who have, this is just a silly comment.  Silly silly silly

and

2)  Don't read the fact based articles about your father if it bothers you.

PS - your dad supported Diebold and opposed paper trails to the point of calling dissenters some pretty awful names (on the record).  That's not the style of leadership that will get us anywhere.

PS - your dad supported Diebold and opposed paper trails to the point of calling dissenters some pretty awful names (on the record).  That's not the style of leadership that will get us anywhere.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: Alicia @ April 27, 2006 at 10:03:34 MST

[ Parent | Reply | none0: Troll1: Unproductive2: Marginal3: Good4: Excellent  ]

Dude, your dad could have ended the war, taken away all of the Republicans money they made off oil, and thrown Bush in jail, and THAT would still make me uneasy about supporting him or voting for him.

However, if he does the 3 things I mentioned, I MAY think about voting for him if Webb doesn't win, which he will, but, hey, that's just me.

I've been as critical of Miller as any (although I agree with his outsourcing positions and I actually supported the Iraq war, fool that I am).

Anyway, in all honesty, seeing you here puts a human face on the man, which is often lost in all of this. I'll just leave it at that...

...Now back to the circular firing squad!

I think at this point in the campaign we're at a crossroads. I think at this point Webb has the primary wrapped up and we need to focus on Allen. I'm not a Miller fan by any means, but we need to stop dragging him through the mud. Despite some of the things he's done as a lobbyist, I'm sure he's still a good guy and ultimately he's on our side (most of the time). I hope  when the primary is over Webb can extend the olive branch and recruit Miller as a fundraiser/Fairfax outreach guy.

I think anyone can tell by the rallies that this primary is over. I'd hope that we can focus on Allen, because he's the real enemy here (or opponent if you will).

Derek,

I am glad you are here to speak up for your father.  I see from his agenda that on Sunday he will be attending a panel on the marriage amendment in Richmond.  As a member of Virginia's GLBT community, I sincerely hope that he is able to learn and grow through the experience.  For some of us the line between supporting the inclusion of a community and leveraging that community as political demographic is very vivid.  Others have to work a bit harder to understand the distinction.

There are many reasons that I am a supporter of Jim Webb.  And there are many reasons why I oppose divisive politics.  Perhaps I will write about that soon, and perhaps I won't need to do so.

My son will not be commenting on this Senate race.  Please forgive my political ignorance, and go here to find out why.

My son had expressed his wishes about organ donation in what at the time we thought was a hypothetical conversation.  And in the end he donated his heart to a father of four, who happened to belong to a minority.  But race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity of the recipient did not matter.  He was a person who desperately needed a heart.

This happened a long time ago, and there is more to this story, much more.  And with it bitterness, and grief beyond any human description.  But that's for another time.  A few days after the funeral, some of his friends came by the house.  Some of those poor kids from the neighborhood.  To honor his memory they had gone on their own and gotten library cards. Maybe that doesn't seem like much to most people reading this, but I'd bet that they were the first in their families with library cards.

Now when I read about the needless deaths of our young people, I have some idea of what their families are experiencing.  I do have a hard time imagining what it was like for their families to learn that the president lied about the reasons for this war.  I hope and pray that they are comforted in the knowledge that their sons and daughters stood up for what they believed was the right thing, even if those in power do not.

So why am I writing all of this personal stuff on a political blog?  Because my son is my number one hero.  He was all about giving and making the world a better place.  I admire those who are able to separate the political from the personal, but I am not one of them.

That is powerful.  It must give you strength to know that your son's heart beats on in a man who was given a second chance at being a dad.  What a gift -- and he is truly a hero.

The fact that our government can think sexual orientation has anything to do with being a good parent completely baffles me (something I've felt for a long time).  I remember years ago a grandmother in Virginia getting custody of her grandchild due to the mother being openly gay.  Forgive me if this doesn't make sense - but how can the rationale work that way?  If the government thinks because someone is gay, they will turn their children gay, so they take away custody and give it to the grandparent who "made" their child gay, won't they "turn" the granchild gay?  You would think they'd take their messed up logic one step further to illustrate how stupid it is.  I'll never forget reading about that horrible custody case, and now, I'll never forget about your son.

I feel for you and what you've gone through -- and think it's so cool that you've channeled the negative into positive work for change.

That was the mom.  Ack.  As forgetful as I am, I remember all of their names, even the grandmother's attorney.  The whole thing was just a mess and seemed to go on forever.  I agree with your logic, but I think there were other factors.  I had about a three month long debate (off and on) with someone about the role of the press in that situation.  Whoever was making the decisions on Sharon and April's public image was not from Richmond, that's for sure. 

I don't do things like this very often, but last month I attended an excellent women's workshop. It was about "leading from where you are."  It was just incredible.  But it's even more amazing to see so many people from so many different backgrounds come together and volunteer to help this campaign to do what they can in the best way they know how.  It's like you already know in your what that workshop was all about.

The way things are now, if we don't "step outside of our comfort zone," there won't be any comfort zone.

My deepest, deepest symapthies to you on your loss.  Your post here and your letter attached are some of the most powerful things I have ever read, and it is an issue that is so important to me, and many.

My brother came out of the closet 2 years ago while he was having his stomach pumped for the third time.  I went to school for theatre, and had mostly gay friends, and luckily, my parents are pretty accepting people; however, that rarely matters to a child suffering from being "different in the worst way."  I am from NJ, and he was at 20 still living there with my parents when this event occured.  My brother was teased relentlessy, beaten, abused, and felt ruined bc ignorant children born to ignorant, hateful parents "didn't know any better;" well, whose fault is that, I ask?  Certainly not mine; my heart and mind are open, I thought that's what love was all about.  I guess I was wrong.

But I digress.  My brother began drinking heavily at age 16 to numb the pain, and by 18, he was addicted to coke, and starting on what I thought was meth.  He crashed 3 cars, broke things valuable and inconsequential, ruined parties, lost friends, and hurt his family deeply.

He "took control" of his life in rehab many times, and he thought he was finally getting better at one center in Northern NJ.  That is, until one morning he woke up, and the entire facility was crowded around the television, watching former Gov. McGreevey resign.  Sometimes, even drug abusers and drunks are not kind to those with other "problems."  Despite the fact he had crossed many hurdles, and within 4 weeks there even managed to get a part time position as a helper and a tour guide, the gay jokes and the vile speech was too much for his weak soul and mental state.  By the end of the day, he had gotten my mother to pick him up, and 2 days later he was back in the emergeny room bc of an overdose.

My brother has now moved, and we don't know how he is handling his life.  We can only do so much for him, and he does not tell us much at all.  Every once in a while, he calls me, and tells me he had a fight friends, roomates, or with mom and dad, and he is coming to stay with me for the weekend.  i remain silent while he uses the bathroom more than anyone else I know, or when he takes a glass into a room with his suitcase, shuts the door, and returns with it full.  He has grown thin, he is restless, and he always needs cash, though he never really asks.  I cry a lot.  I'm not religious, but I have found myself at times wailing, staring at the sky through tears, and repeating just one word..."Please."

The human race is not always kind, and that is something we need to work on, together.  To do this, we need to reach within ourselves, across our country, and around the globe.  Like you, Kathy, I cannot separate the poltics from the personal, but at least the two of us do it out of love and out of a desire to spread good human nature, instead of dirty, american money, and greed for a sense of power we may not deserve to have.

Love you, Kathy.  Anytime you need anything, don't you hesitate one minute to contact me.

I'll send you an email.

As a software engineer and information technology professional, I first became aware of Harris Miller through IT publications discussing the use of foreign IT workers in the U.S. and offshore outsourcing of American IT jobs. As the president/leading lobbyist of the powerful ITAA "tech lobby", Harris Miller was a significant player in "the beltway".

In my workplace among the American engineers and IT professionals with whom I worked, the activities of Harris Miller and his corporate allies were a steady source of concern. You see, Harris Miller was working to put us out of jobs.

He was telling lies about labor shortages which required foreign workers to enter the U.S. where we were forced to train them before we lost our jobs. Miller concealed the fact that we were losing our jobs to replacement workers. He lied about it -- said it wasn't happening. Miller lied about how inefficient and unskilled American workers were. (It's still a major part of the outsourcing lobby's propaganda machine.)

Miller was an agent of a powerful faction who manipulated facts and LIED. He advanced the interests of the faction which paid his salary. Miller could have found work elsewhere just as millions of American victims of outsourcing have done. He could have retrained to work in the health care field or become a teacher as the propaganda generated by the ITAA advises American victims of offshore outsourcing to do. He did none of these things. He amassed a fortune from representing the interests of the most powerful and most privileged elements of our society.

Harris Miller chose the efficacy of lie as the means to his objectives, misleading and manipulating the decision makers and molders of public opinion. He has likewise misled members of the press. He deliberately acted in the full knowledge that the policies he advanced would adversely affect the economic interests of the broad American middle class.

Harris Miller deliberately injured the broad American interest because it was of lesser concern to his faction. It could be argued that Miller was too cowardly to make an honest case for outsourcing and worker replacement; he found it more effective to lie in furtherance of his faction’s financial interests. (IT writers in trade journals have also taken note of Miller's lies; they deride it and have little respect for him.)

If anyone is interested in learning how Harris Miller helped to destroy the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of American white collar professionals, the internet is full of resources. I've posted here on RK about it and you'll find more at The Modern Patriot, http://modernpatriot.blogspot.com

A good starting point is the letter and fact sheet which describes Harris Miller as an "anti-worker hired gun". (I posted these documents originally on The Modern Patriot.) This isn't just a "labor union" issue. Harris Miller has attacked the livelihoods of millions of members of the American middle class. He did this to facilitate labor arbitrage -- the replacement of more costly middle class American workers with low wage workers from elsewhere.

The exciting contrast is that James Webb is the opponent of everything Harris Miller has done to facilititate offshore outsourcing and worker replacement at the ITAA.

I can readily see James Webb in the Senate. It will be an historic moment -- a resurgence of true popular democracy. The parallels to Andrew Jackson should be apparent to anyone familiar with the great man.

I bought that ad. I did not discuss it with anyone from the Webb campaign.  I'll be sure to put additional information on the next one.

You said "never have been, never will be."

Does that mean you "always have, always will" be a fan of James Webb?

Does Webb "trust the people?"

I'm sorry, I haven't had enough coffee yet this morning apparantly and my mind is making strange connections. :D 

It means what it says, chances are I will never support Harris Miller.  And, ironically, I have supported Webb ever since November when I read an article about him saying he was considering a run for Senate, so I've been a fan for quite some time.  I'll probably be a fan for a while.

first, I volunteered for Harris in his failed attempt at the Dem Congressional nomination in 1984.  He lost to John Flannery.  He is clearly more effective at retail politics than he was then.  That person would get slaughtered against George Allen. This one would still lose, but not so overwhelmingly.  That however is little consolation.

second  - up thread there are comments about Miller and exaggerations.  I worry that there is a pattern there.  In fact, I actually first met Harris as a result of one such. He was claiming in his literature that he had been the youngest delegate to the 1972 Dem National Covention when the Washington Post had a story which told about someone younger than him who had been a delegate, the real youngest delegate.  I talked widely about that, it got back to Harris, who called me up, and wound up taking me out to lunch to talk.  On that one he said he had always thought he was, and backed off from repeating it.  I was inclined to accept his statement at that time.  I'm now not sure I would.

At the DFA Arlington-Alexandria meeting at Attila's near Courthouse recently, there were several exchanges that bothered me.  Harris said that Allen was saying he was bored with the Senate.  When a woman, who was at that point neutral in the primary, pointed out that Allen had said that the Senate was too slow, not that he was bored, Harris's response was that he preferred his phrasing.  That bothered me  --  even though he knows his statement is not accurate he plans to keep on using it??

In a question about nuclear energy, Harris remarked that some environmental leaders were now supporting nuclear power.  I asked specifically if he was referring to the then recent op ed by one of the founders of Greenpeace.  he acknowledged that he was.  I asked if it would not be more accurate to describe the man as a former environmental leader given that he had left the environmental movement quite some time ago and has for a number of years been on corporate payrolls (and I could have pointed out has testified as a supposed expert in areas beyond his competence).  Harris's response was dismissive, not directly addressing my concern, saying that he did not believe in engaging in ad hominim remarks.  I will note that I do not see how any fair person would read or hear my remarks as ad hominem.  But that is not the big problem --

we can read in the Roanoke paper that while in that section of the state Harris was personally dismissive of Jim Webb by saying something about that's how Republicans are, and that Jim Webb has always been a Republican.  The general remark about Republicans IS an ad hominem remark, and applying to Jim Webb is flat out inaccurate.  he is/was what was called Reagan Democrat, who has over the years supported both Dems and Republicans.  That level of invective bothers me, and would make me less inclined to support actively someone who seeks to win a primary by such tactics.

Let me acknowledge that I am a Webb supporter.  he was not my first choice, which was Don Beyer.  But my loyalty to Don is not something he can transfer to someone else.  Jim in December had said he expected to make up his mind by the end of the month, which in fact he did not do.  He did not push himself into the race, he was pulled in by grassroots  -- I know that I sent him an email urging him to get in and explaining why I thought the race was winnable.

I am glad that Harris has a son willing to come and engage on his dad's behalf.  That however does not change my opinion.

I also note that I have been urging both sides of this primary dispute to tone down the rhetoric and lose the invective.  From what I have seen, Miller is currently the more polished, but does not seem to make the same connections with voters.  I do not see him as capable of drawing from the broad range of popular voters as can Webb, and hence I do not see him able to win.  I may disagree with Jim on some issue, but I am quite comfortable supporting him in this race.  And I am becoming increasingly bothered by what I am seeing coming from the Miller camp, most especially from the candidate himself.  That is my reaction. 

Here's what the Bible has to say about people like Miller:

"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money)."