http://confabb.com/conferences/index Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:03:44 GMT Attendee Reviews of Take Back America 2007 http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews An excellent speech demonstrating that she is the best candidate for President, and she knows it. The only problem was the hecklers. Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:03:44 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#330 Thomas Senecal http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Speaker Pelosi gave a fabulous, responsive address in which she didn't just read from a copy but interacted with the audience (and even the hecklers!). It was a very inspiring speech covering a broad spectrum of important issues. Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:02:22 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#329 Thomas Senecal http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Many times panels fail to provide a wide enough range of voices ... this proved to be an exception ... I'm sorry it doesn't appear to have been recorded. Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:41:23 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#322 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Easily could have been an all day session Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:19:46 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#321 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Senator Sanders is the real deal when it comes to progressives ... he reminds me of Illinois Senator Paul Simon ... Senator Klobuchar is on her way to "Boxer" status and is someone I look to be in the highest leadership levels of the Democratic Party Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:12:41 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#320 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Digby was the star of the evening! Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:06:42 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#319 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews One of the popular anti-war rally chants is "This is what democracy looks like." TBA07, my first, could easily adopt that phrase as its own. While I would have liked to see more "minorities" in the audience, I find it hard to suggest how I would have improved TBA07, even after the fact. I interacted with Air America President, Mark Green, the Nation's David Corn, MSNBC's David Schuster, all of whom who gave me straight-forward responses to my concerns in their area of influence. I thank them all. I saw all the speeches, and especially will remember Howard Dean's closing charge to Democrats. As they say, I took notes on that one ... valuable ideas on his winning strategies for progressives and for the Democratic Party. TBA07 has made me a smarter player on the Take Back America Team. But as a caution to all, democracy is still at risk in 2008 ... until the majority of Democrats realize that nearly all of the smoking guns of election fraud from many venues in our last three elections, are still very much in the hands of those ready, willing and able to do it yet again. The corporate media will again not help democracy in ferreting out crooked activities before, during, and after elections. We may yet be buried under Rove's "THE MATH" instead of the voter's math. As a final sobering thought, our position with American public opinion would be very different if the Bush/Cheney invasion and occupation of Iraq had gone well. The slide to the left still needs a lot of heavy pushing on our part. Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:41:40 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#318 Mr John Jakulevicius http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Rev. Jackson was outstanding ... Anna Burger did a wonderful job of talking about labor issues and telling stories .. Howard Dean was masterful with an ending designed to lower activists frustration level with Congress and the Democratic Party, to outline issues and objectives, and to inspire the troops ... Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:05:46 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#317 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Check it out for yourself ... those of us old enough to remember Walter Mondale's failed run for the presidency will be quick to note similarities in the former Senators. Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:50:04 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#316 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Be sure to watch the video yourself ... and think of President Obama giving a "State of the Union" ... WOW!!! Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:40:18 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#315 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Although I was a panelist for this session,I believe the timing to talk about this issue couldn't have been better. A special thanks goes to Bob Brandon for making this happen. Everyone did an excellent job! Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:22:05 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#308 Anthony Daniels http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews A very lawyer like presentation with just enough humor ... after seeing this presentation we all need to think what radical right wing "Coruplicans" would do if they ever get to their goal of privatizing Social Security ... Senator John Tester did not make it to the program so I gave him a 1 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:38:41 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#307 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews With an impressive introduction the Congressman from Ohio hit all his usual talking points ... with Iraq and his desire for a new foreign policy to be evidenced by a Department of Peace Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:21:42 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#306 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Perhaps it is because I compare her public appearances to her husband ... I'm biased ... I would have loved to hear her husband give the same speech ... given that bias ... her speech was dare I say it ... "Presidential" ... I hazard to say that almost the entire audience arrived with their very own pre-conceived notion of "Hillary" and ... when they exited few minds were changed Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:17:01 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#305 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews I note the set of former military brothers that did Gov. Richardson's intro were greeted by a standing ovation ... hardly the way liberals and progressives are portrayed by the radical right wing corporate media. Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:35:00 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#302 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Nice intro by Ralph Nader... Mike made it short and (not so)sweet, laying the hammer down. Very electrifying speaker. Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:00:27 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#301 Jason Rozenblat http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews The session was well structured and carried the potential for helping prospective candidates at every level. While material is fairly standard the panel did a good job of making it interesting. My only fault was the need for more q&a time Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:54:36 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#300 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews What a shame this resource was under appreciated by TBA ... no publicity = poor attendance Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:47:48 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#299 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews Thanks to all the speakers and the moderator ... interesting and informative with real "to do" action items for progressives who care Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:39:31 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#298 Shawn O'Donnell http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews This was just terrific. The reasons we MUST impeach were clearly explained. And there were some great strategies shared as well. The only negative was the location of the session but that was clearly not the responsibility of the presenters. IMPEACH!! Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:56:46 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#297 Anne Pritchett http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews ALthough I came in towards the end of the session, I was able to catch the last 30 minutes of a very emotionally charged session. I think everyone in that room was moved by Mr. Pacheco's powerful speech. Excellent crowd participation as well. Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:10:12 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#296 Jason Rozenblat http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews I thought the opening plenary was terrific!! I loved the opening video, and thought that Borosage laid out a convincing case re: the failure of conservatism and the GREAT opportunity that lies before progressives (right now!) to change the direction of our country. Eli Pariser followed with a great point about not waiting for our elected leaders (even the Dems) to push the envelope -- because "We are the ones we've been waiting for!". Also loved Andrea Batista Schlesinger's comparison of Voltaire's maxim (Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good...) with her father's advice (Don't let the good be the enemy of the perfect.) to underscore the point that we're in the majority right now, and shouldn't just settle for setting! Best opening in my 4 years of coming to TBA! I just wish it was in a room that better matched the size and energy of the crowd. The Crystal Ballroom is a tough layout because the arched shape of the room breaks up the co-hesiveness of the audience and (in turn, I think) dissapates energy. Small gripe though, because the content (which matters most) was excellent! Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:27:14 GMT http://confabb.com/conferences/22121-take-back-america-2007/reviews#295 Ian Mishalove