Just in case you're interested...
Where:
Home of Laura Atkins,
(address deleted 08DEC08)
When:
This coming Wednesday, December 3rd, 6pm
FYI, all 4 of my fellow DAA committee members have voted for my removal as chair of Democrats Abroad Argentina. Weird but true.
The vote will NOT be open to the full membership...
...only to those who show up in a luxury living room in Recoleta ...on this Wednesday, December 3rd, at 6pm. (You think I'm exaggerating? Come and see for yourself.)
There's no basis to their charges. This is nothing more than a jealous, personal, vendetta.
Please come and listen and decide and vote for yourself. If you're not a member of DAA, you can join the meeting at the door (as long as you have some proof of US citizenship ...I suggest a passport. But don't forget you can join in advance at: http://www.democratsabroad.org/user/register and leave your passport at home.)
I'm outnumbered 4 to 1, "they" have the element of surprise in that I don't know what they will accuse me of, they have the "home field" advantage in that the inquisition will be held in the living room of one of my accusers...
...and the four of "them" are inviting all their friends ...and I can only invite mine.
I hope that I have more friends. Please help me.
Where:
Home of Laura Atkins,
(address deleted 08DEC08)
When: This coming Wednesday, December 3rd, 6pm ...please don't be late, I don't know that they will allow anyone to enter after 6pm.
Free beer to everyone who comes and votes! Vote for yourself, vote for everyone in the provinces and across town and everybody who has to work and can't make it to this closed meeting.
This sucks but it's a reality.
Love,
Mike
...currently discussing the US presidential election campaign until Inauguration Day.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
More ...on confidence lost ...and confidence found
mike,
i'm just catching up on email and saw your unbelievable message. who do these folks think they are?? you are dems abroad, totally, completely. of course i insist on voting via email, especially since i'm now on staff at the herald and i work wednesdays until 10pm. but if there's a way for me to get there and report on it, i will be there!
besos grandes (with an incredulous expression on my face??)
00:35
Mike,
The email conflict over the past day, even though there was only one message from each side, hit me pretty hard. Feel free to pass this email to the "other side" if you think it might help.
I am very sorry for the troubles you are going through. I am sure that you put in many hours of uncompensated work for whatever set of reasons you may have had, but it was always clear to me that first among them was advancing the party with the American expatriate community in Argentina. From the vast distance of my location in Córdoba, I can see that you raised interest and consciousness to a level unprecedented for the party in this basically very conservative country. That is not an easy task in this country where the shadow remnants of the American community was overwhelmingly Republican or indifferent. You did get some unexpected help: One of the greatest things about W was his ability to erase indifference.
Obviously, I do not know the nature of the content of the rest of the "evidence" that they claim to have, but the act of making such a claim without providing the evidence immediately reduces it to inflammatory innuendo that is hardly appropriate to the needs of our party. The other side says that they can back up their claims. But is that really the point?
I don't think anybody can challenge my credentials as a lifelong Democrat. When I was 16, I canvassed the New York tenements for Robert Kennedy and then did the same for Paul O'Dwyer in his Senate campaign. The years went on and I was always out working for the party, frustration or not. From that time, my commitment to our party is not something anyone could call into question. And I took those basic principles into my activities as a professional economist in Argentina.
In my ten years of living in Buenos Aires, I tried through various means to get some interest going. You did it in less than two years. If there are actions that the rest of the local party leadership want to call into question, let them do it now. I am confident that the light of reason will come down in favor of your intentions and commitment. When you live in a country in almost constant crisis, you learn more profoundly the concept that life is not all good and bad or black and white. The shades of gray are what really matter.
But there is another issue that is very important to me: With a new and largely untested president coming into office at just the moment of an extremely severe economic crisis, I consider this internal bickering and questioning to be destructive to the higher cause of keeping this community organized for the future. Everyone should try to remember that the Republicans have certain advantages due to the composition of the expatriate community (including US Embassy personnel).
I hope that the bunch of you in Buenos Aires can get your dispute settled without spilling more detritus on the American community in Argentina. In the interests of our party, from Córdoba I call on you to do so.
02:18
Hello Mike,
I'm sitting here in Kabul, Afghanistan, and puzzling over the circumstances surrounding the upcoming "no confidence" vote. I would be happy to weigh in but without any particulars other than the alleged diversion of funds as outlined in the email and in the absence of an explanation from you, I'm afraid I'm completely in the dark.
My involvement with DAA has been restricted to the Obama platform meeting at Laura's place, followed by brunch with you and Alicia, and a couple of subsequent get-togethers with Laura and her husband. At no time was I aware of any subterranean rumblings.
Any enlightenment you can provide would be appreciated.
06:30
First, I have to say that I don't think I am even really a member of DAA, even though I have occassionally volunteered at events, attended nearly all of the events, and know all but one of the people on the Executive Committee (I don't know Richard Tihany). However, I do have some comments.
Does anyone have an active count of how many of the members of DAA are actually "eligible" for membership? The rules for eligibility (http://www.fotos.yanquimike.com.ar/daarbylaws.htm) clearly state that they must be residing in Argentina. This means that the vice-chair is no longer ELIGIBLE for membership herself. If voting by email is allowed, someone needs to make sure that many of those voting are still eligible members. The transitory nature of many of the people I have met down here means that someone will need to keep a very active list of who is and is not a member; although many people enjoy the DAA activities, many of those same people are really just part-time or short-term residents. Many of the people who joined the organization did so because they met you when they first got here and thought it was a pretty cool group to hang out with.
Mike, you are the face of DAA - you were on of the first people I met down here, have always been friendly, and as far as I can tell have done a good job being the spokesman for DAA.
I have heard some members (including people on the Executive committee) complain about where we have our meetings in dark, smoky bars. One important thing to note is that Drinking Liberally event (on Thursdays) is a social gathering that is in NO WAY connected to Democrats Abroad. I think many of the complaints from certain members about meeting locations have forgotten this fact because you are the face of both. Although Drinking Liberally has probably generated more memberships for DAA than anything else, the distinction needs to be made. The locations of the nomination, debate watching, and election night gatherings, all in large clubs/bars, seemed to be the only suitable venue because I don't know where else we could have had the space for 100's of people, television equipment, and a place that was willing to stay open as late as needed. It should also be pointed out that all of those establishments were smoke free, and that 99% of the people there were drinking, so it seems like that in itself is an endorsement for that type of a venue. Besides, it was probably also the only venue that was affordable.
The part about the donated funds does bug me a bit. I don't know what the motivation was for donating it in Alicia's name vs. your name vs. DAA's name was about, but in general I find the fund raising to be quite sketchy down here because campaigns are not supposed to take money from foreign citizens or entities. If DAA is hosting an event and charges a modest cover, to be in compliance with campaign finance laws, it seems that we need to keep the money paid by US citizens separate from money paid by non-US citizens, if we are going to donate it to a campaign. The same would also hold true for things like the T-shirts, buttons, stickers, etc that were being sold at the events. Granted, this would be difficult, but it is the only way we can be 100% sure that DAA is not violating those laws. It would be easy to say, "no one will ever know" if the money was partly from foreign citizens, but DAA needs to hold itself to a higher standard to be sure that everything is above ground. However, that isn't really related to why the money was in one person's name vs. another persons. I don't see how this could be considered advantageous for anyone except for the small tax break making donations allows.
Perhaps the bigger issue is that the Executive Committee was not consulted about the usage of the funds. This seems like it should have been done, as also according to the bylaws, the Treasurer should have been in charge of that money. However, I do not know about the inner-workings of the organization. For all I know they were consulted and consented, but I don't know how that can be proven at this point.
Finally, people are mentioning personal attacks when there is a disagreement. I have no idea what this entails, but it must have been kept relatively between the people involved, because I can honestly say that I have never heard Mike speak negatively about any of the other committee members (the opposite is not true however). I hope that this recall vote the Executive Committee is calling for isn't simply over a "he said, she said" type of argument.
Here is what I would propose. The membership should not ask for Mike's resignation, nor should we be voting to REMOVE someone (that doesn't seem to be how democracies work). I feel that if we are to go down this path, the best course of action would be, at the consent of the Chairman and Executive Committee, hold a special election to decide who stays and in what position.
If I was a voting member of DAA I would certainly support your candidacy to whatever position you ran for, as you have not only put in a lot of time and energy, but are also one of the few members of DAA that will actually be living down here for several years, which provides the continuity a young organization needs.
10:32
Dear Mike
Tuesday and Wednesday are imposible days for me to assit. Please let me know if you have other day. Thanks
12:51
i'm just catching up on email and saw your unbelievable message. who do these folks think they are?? you are dems abroad, totally, completely. of course i insist on voting via email, especially since i'm now on staff at the herald and i work wednesdays until 10pm. but if there's a way for me to get there and report on it, i will be there!
besos grandes (with an incredulous expression on my face??)
00:35
Mike,
The email conflict over the past day, even though there was only one message from each side, hit me pretty hard. Feel free to pass this email to the "other side" if you think it might help.
I am very sorry for the troubles you are going through. I am sure that you put in many hours of uncompensated work for whatever set of reasons you may have had, but it was always clear to me that first among them was advancing the party with the American expatriate community in Argentina. From the vast distance of my location in Córdoba, I can see that you raised interest and consciousness to a level unprecedented for the party in this basically very conservative country. That is not an easy task in this country where the shadow remnants of the American community was overwhelmingly Republican or indifferent. You did get some unexpected help: One of the greatest things about W was his ability to erase indifference.
Obviously, I do not know the nature of the content of the rest of the "evidence" that they claim to have, but the act of making such a claim without providing the evidence immediately reduces it to inflammatory innuendo that is hardly appropriate to the needs of our party. The other side says that they can back up their claims. But is that really the point?
I don't think anybody can challenge my credentials as a lifelong Democrat. When I was 16, I canvassed the New York tenements for Robert Kennedy and then did the same for Paul O'Dwyer in his Senate campaign. The years went on and I was always out working for the party, frustration or not. From that time, my commitment to our party is not something anyone could call into question. And I took those basic principles into my activities as a professional economist in Argentina.
In my ten years of living in Buenos Aires, I tried through various means to get some interest going. You did it in less than two years. If there are actions that the rest of the local party leadership want to call into question, let them do it now. I am confident that the light of reason will come down in favor of your intentions and commitment. When you live in a country in almost constant crisis, you learn more profoundly the concept that life is not all good and bad or black and white. The shades of gray are what really matter.
But there is another issue that is very important to me: With a new and largely untested president coming into office at just the moment of an extremely severe economic crisis, I consider this internal bickering and questioning to be destructive to the higher cause of keeping this community organized for the future. Everyone should try to remember that the Republicans have certain advantages due to the composition of the expatriate community (including US Embassy personnel).
I hope that the bunch of you in Buenos Aires can get your dispute settled without spilling more detritus on the American community in Argentina. In the interests of our party, from Córdoba I call on you to do so.
02:18
Hello Mike,
I'm sitting here in Kabul, Afghanistan, and puzzling over the circumstances surrounding the upcoming "no confidence" vote. I would be happy to weigh in but without any particulars other than the alleged diversion of funds as outlined in the email and in the absence of an explanation from you, I'm afraid I'm completely in the dark.
My involvement with DAA has been restricted to the Obama platform meeting at Laura's place, followed by brunch with you and Alicia, and a couple of subsequent get-togethers with Laura and her husband. At no time was I aware of any subterranean rumblings.
Any enlightenment you can provide would be appreciated.
06:30
First, I have to say that I don't think I am even really a member of DAA, even though I have occassionally volunteered at events, attended nearly all of the events, and know all but one of the people on the Executive Committee (I don't know Richard Tihany). However, I do have some comments.
Does anyone have an active count of how many of the members of DAA are actually "eligible" for membership? The rules for eligibility (http://www.fotos.yanquimike.com.ar/daarbylaws.htm) clearly state that they must be residing in Argentina. This means that the vice-chair is no longer ELIGIBLE for membership herself. If voting by email is allowed, someone needs to make sure that many of those voting are still eligible members. The transitory nature of many of the people I have met down here means that someone will need to keep a very active list of who is and is not a member; although many people enjoy the DAA activities, many of those same people are really just part-time or short-term residents. Many of the people who joined the organization did so because they met you when they first got here and thought it was a pretty cool group to hang out with.
Mike, you are the face of DAA - you were on of the first people I met down here, have always been friendly, and as far as I can tell have done a good job being the spokesman for DAA.
I have heard some members (including people on the Executive committee) complain about where we have our meetings in dark, smoky bars. One important thing to note is that Drinking Liberally event (on Thursdays) is a social gathering that is in NO WAY connected to Democrats Abroad. I think many of the complaints from certain members about meeting locations have forgotten this fact because you are the face of both. Although Drinking Liberally has probably generated more memberships for DAA than anything else, the distinction needs to be made. The locations of the nomination, debate watching, and election night gatherings, all in large clubs/bars, seemed to be the only suitable venue because I don't know where else we could have had the space for 100's of people, television equipment, and a place that was willing to stay open as late as needed. It should also be pointed out that all of those establishments were smoke free, and that 99% of the people there were drinking, so it seems like that in itself is an endorsement for that type of a venue. Besides, it was probably also the only venue that was affordable.
The part about the donated funds does bug me a bit. I don't know what the motivation was for donating it in Alicia's name vs. your name vs. DAA's name was about, but in general I find the fund raising to be quite sketchy down here because campaigns are not supposed to take money from foreign citizens or entities. If DAA is hosting an event and charges a modest cover, to be in compliance with campaign finance laws, it seems that we need to keep the money paid by US citizens separate from money paid by non-US citizens, if we are going to donate it to a campaign. The same would also hold true for things like the T-shirts, buttons, stickers, etc that were being sold at the events. Granted, this would be difficult, but it is the only way we can be 100% sure that DAA is not violating those laws. It would be easy to say, "no one will ever know" if the money was partly from foreign citizens, but DAA needs to hold itself to a higher standard to be sure that everything is above ground. However, that isn't really related to why the money was in one person's name vs. another persons. I don't see how this could be considered advantageous for anyone except for the small tax break making donations allows.
Perhaps the bigger issue is that the Executive Committee was not consulted about the usage of the funds. This seems like it should have been done, as also according to the bylaws, the Treasurer should have been in charge of that money. However, I do not know about the inner-workings of the organization. For all I know they were consulted and consented, but I don't know how that can be proven at this point.
Finally, people are mentioning personal attacks when there is a disagreement. I have no idea what this entails, but it must have been kept relatively between the people involved, because I can honestly say that I have never heard Mike speak negatively about any of the other committee members (the opposite is not true however). I hope that this recall vote the Executive Committee is calling for isn't simply over a "he said, she said" type of argument.
Here is what I would propose. The membership should not ask for Mike's resignation, nor should we be voting to REMOVE someone (that doesn't seem to be how democracies work). I feel that if we are to go down this path, the best course of action would be, at the consent of the Chairman and Executive Committee, hold a special election to decide who stays and in what position.
If I was a voting member of DAA I would certainly support your candidacy to whatever position you ran for, as you have not only put in a lot of time and energy, but are also one of the few members of DAA that will actually be living down here for several years, which provides the continuity a young organization needs.
10:32
Dear Mike
Tuesday and Wednesday are imposible days for me to assit. Please let me know if you have other day. Thanks
12:51
Saturday, November 22, 2008
JFK, 45 Years
Long time gone. It is my earliest memory. Nothing on Google News today. What do you remember? What impressions do you have if you have no specific memories?
Friday, November 21, 2008
Yanqui Mike being forced to resign...
It's true ...and it's enough to make me physically ill.
If you're a member of Democrats Abroad Argentina, you received a couple of emails from DAA last night explaining the unanimous call for my resignation as Chair. The following is every single email that I have received so far.
Some are a little tough on me to explain what has happened. I will explain to the best of my ability ...and I'll do it in writing.
The main thing, for you as members, is to insist on being allowed to "help make the collective decision on the future leadership of this organization" by email or ANY other form of remote communication.
Otherwise, this becomes just another secret meeting in someone's living room.
I promise to publish every single email that I receive on this subject... unedited except for your identity. I'm sure that I will (now) receive some emails from supporters of the mostly unelected Executive Committee ...one of whom no longer lives in Argentina.
Every email sent to me will be appended to this post. I won't leave ANY post out, positive or negative.
The main thing is: demand that you be told in writing ...and demand that you have a voice ...in the Dec 3 meeting to which we were all so kindly invited ...and that you be able to exercise your right to "make the collective decision" in the living room of an Executive Committee member for whom you never voted.
...otherwise, Democrats Abroad Argentina becomes a private club that can demand that anyone "step down privately."
--------------------------------------------
So what's going on with this nuttiness, man?
I hope all's well (or as well as can be).
Abrazo,
23:51
Holy shit! What happened?
I tried to call you just now to see if you wanted to get together for a beer tonight somewhere to here the story.
Call me ASAP ###-###-####. I had a gut feeling about Tihany and Meghan struck me as a power climber...
I just returned to BA and was planning to look you up anyways. I was at Morgan Freeman's production offices on election night... he opened them as a call center and headquarters. The place went nuts when Ohio went for Obama becuase we knew McCain couldn't recover.
Call me
22:23
Where is the beef?
This accusation that some of you are making against Mike is kind of hard to take.
I don’t know Mike in person and neither have I known anyone else.
I could no get into the last meeting because it says "You can not participate", then I did not see much motivation to go there.
I went to just one of the getting together, but been a Senior person I left early.
I did however have the impression that this was kind of "Secret Club" or an "Exclusive Club"!
Something normal at the "Republican Party", but not with the Democrats!
So I wonder myself: "Will I be comfortable there"?
I never knew of the names of the Board of the DAA.
They were elected?
When?
By whom?
I received 2 different list of the Board such:
Mike Board List:
Meghan Doran, unelected Vice-Chair
Maria Ramirez, unelected Secretary
Richard Tihany, Treasurer
Laura Atkins, unelected Counsel
The other Board List I received from The Executive Committee, Democrats Abroad Argentina:
Meghan Doran, National Vice-Chair
Richard Tihany, National Treasurer
Maria Emilia Ramirez, National Secretary
Laura Atkins, National Counsel
On Mike list 3 of the 4 were “Unelected”!
On the other they were designed as: “National….”!
What’s it?
I have no idea for instance how many voters were registered here in Argentina?
You always wanted to get together at a bar, which I don’t care about it.
It is also true that Mike was the main source of communication with me.
He never asked me to send donations to "him" or to "his wife"!
So, if Mike was deviating some money, was anyone else controlling the donations made?
Was Richard Tihany responsibility to do that?
Are all those mentioned names here in Buenos Aires?
Again these are kind of hard charges against Mike, but I did not see many proof on that!
Basically I’m asking: Where is the beef?
I’m replying to all of you guys at the same time.
Thank you!
22:15
Mike,
Okay buddy, tell me what do I need to do? Do I respond to their e-mail requesting that they allow a vote via e-mail? Who overseas the vote count? Who recieves it? Is there anyone at Democrats Abroad that I could write to directly? Basically my complaint would be that as a member I have no idea why they would be asking for your resignation.
They mentioned unethical acts, yet they only mention one and I don't think it was possible since your wife is Argentine and she could not have donated to Obama.
Anyway, sorry to be not so focused. This is my immediate response to these two e-mails and it's past my bed time. Instead of firing something off right away I will wait until tomorrow.
Obviously you have my support. It would help me though to know your response to their claim that you took DA money and donated to Obama under Alicia's name.
Saludos,
22:10
I am bewildered..what about the charge that you were bundling donations and giving them to Obama? What is the story?
In Political Exile in Argentina
22:02
Mike, is this a joke?? Did they actually ask you to resign? That's just crazy talk! Of course you have my support and confidence 100% I would definitely like to vote, but can't do so in person. I would like to do it either by email or phone, whichever way I can. Did they give any reason to why the "loss of confidence"? I'm sorry, but I think that's just a bunch of B.S. I have seen just how hard you've worked through this whole ordeal and I can't imagine anyone else that could handle it like you have. Are we able to ask for the resignation of those 4 on the account that they're idiots?? If you need anything else, just let me know. Let's see what I can do on this side of the country. Man, now they've just made this Wisconsinite steaming mad.
21:59
You have my support and confidence!
American citizen
21:47
Mike,
Here is a better draft of my letter attached.
21:33
Some preliminary thoughts are attached.
21:29
Mike,
Clearly I don´t know any of the details, but what I do know is that at every event I ever attended I immediately saw and felt your presence. You introduced yourself to me and remembered my name from the first time I told it to you. Since not a single of the other members ever took it upon themselves to meet me, clearly YOU have not only my confidence but my utmost respect for your dealings with the members of the organization and the organization itself.
Yours in democracy,
21:14
I'm behind you.
Won't be able to attent but plese let me know how to go about requesting to be allowed to vote by email.
Good luck,
21:05
Dear Mike,
What are their complaints? How many members are there total?
What do I know, all I know is that I probably would not have voted from here had you not harrassed me so much...haha.
Well, whatever happens, thanks for all your hard work.
21:01
What??? Why???
20:54
Mike,
This comes as quite a surprise. I wholly support your proposition that
people be able to vote by email, as I will be traveling in Patagonia
at the time of the meeting (though I will still be in Argentina so I
feel it is unfair not to have a voice in this affair).
That said, I am underwhelmed by both the email announcing the
confidence vote as well as your email. As I see it there is only one
specific accusation given thus far, that you had made donations in
your wife's name rather than specifically by donor. I would have
expected you to specifically address this concern and if it occurred,
why. I would have also expected you to anticipate any others that are
going to be brought up in the meeting. Without that I cannot vote
knowledgeably. That said, my hyperbole meter goes off when I see that
the first email mentioned your strange behavior via email and forums,
when I had at that point received no such correspondence.
I encourage you to promptly follow up with more specifics.
20:50
NO!!! You have my support MIke you did an outstanding job! they didnt mention the reason though.
20:49
Seems to me the matter is important enough to tell it like it is thru email: learn more about email and also voting thru email.
If the emails are good enough to be presented by you as evidence, then it follows they should be good enough to vent the whole situation thru email
Figured I am not the only one living away from the Capital, do need to get as many members as possible to participate, we do not want to emulate the republican tactics and leave half of the members out: do we?
So, make your case thru email so I am privy to the same info you have end let me decide thru email.
I do not need to remind you we've won a campaign thru the use of the internet.
I will not be able to be present and: as a campaign contributor and memeber of DAA I demand this.
20:41
This is crazy. As far as I am concerned. A coup of Democrats Abroad?
20:18
Dear Mike,
I was taken aback to get the previous email from the group of four. The whole thing seems to me to be highly irregular, but I don't know any of the facts. What I do know is that your enthusiasm and drive was really appreciated in the run-up to the election. I don't recall ever hearing from any of the others. What's this charge about altering a donation to appear in your wife's name? Is that the most serious accusation? I am sorry that following the successful election we have to go through this. I agree that a vote by mail would be the best procedure, since many of us cannot make the meetings. They should send a precise list of all the complaints. Otherwise, the possibility is hard to escape that there are some personal gripes being aired.
20:09
Mike, as a new and pretty inactive member of DAA, I've been very impressed by your energy and direction. In case we are allowed to vote by e-mail, can you address some of the issues mentioned as reasons for the vote of no confidence? Specifically, the allegations of what I assume was an unapproved use of DAA funds to make an individual donation to the Obama campaign? Thanks, and best of luck.
20:09
Hi Mike,
Unusual email from yahoo.com
I do not know you personnally but have recieved your emails and never seemed bizarre, erratic or confusing, so I gather there is something else going on.
What's your side of the story?
20:08
--------Friday emails appended here----------------
So, Mike, how about a direct answer:
Are the allegations true that you took money donated to the organization and then donated it to the Obama campaign in your wife's name? If so, why?
I appreciate all you have done. I'd like to know why you think you should stay in light of the allegations (and they say there is more).
Puzzled and concerned,
00:04
Of course you have my support. I know what you are going through, they did the same to Malcolm X. They don't want someone who works with their heart, that is too dangerous for them. I will vote for you. If they kick you out after all the work you did, I will no longer support their organization.
00:11
hi,
oh, my, how terible
what happened??
you are so into it, it is hard to believe...
best,
04:28
Dear Mike,
So why are they asking you to resign? What are the accusations?
05:41
Hi Mike,
We got the letter from the committee and were not quite sure what to make of it though it seems like ALL of you did a great job in making the election experience very, very positive this year. I was sorry to hear that behind closed doors that not all was hunky dory but when is it, especially in politics and especially with the kind of people politics attracts?
YOU are the face of Democrats abroad--I don't care what position you hold, you are the one who has been promoting it for the last few years and you are the one that gave it a voice and a face.
I think the request to be able to express our confidence by email is a good one as we are a pretty movable bunch. I will send them an email.
Sorry you have to go through this, hopefully you developed a Chicagoan thick skin.
Best,
08:59
Man, thanks like people like you...Mike I had on hands,
all the correct info to vote for this last pres.election.
You where there not some else.
I support you...no doubt and dosen´t matter if I have to go to vote there.
Sincerely
09:01
hey mike,
not sure what's going on with this. and, also extremely weird to think i might have "voting rights". what did i do -- drink beer with some style?
;-)
i just want you to know that both * and i consider you and alicia friends. we also feel the same way for laura and most everyone else that we've met. so hopefully, everything will be civil. personally, i appreciate everything that's been done by dems abroad here. it's been truly amazing actually.
if it helps, i'll attend and hear this thing out. but, my inclination is to abstain from voting (if i'm truly allowed this opportunity) partially cuz i feel that we all could take a page from obama's magnanimous approach to things. plus it would really suck to burn bridges with some people that have so much to offer.
we're all winners now, right?
09:46
Can you explain the allegations and your side of the story in the case that I/we can't make it to the meeting and (possibly) we are able to vote via email?
Thanks,
10:34
Hey Mike,
I'm with you brother, anything I can do to be of support or help you out, please let me know and I'll do it!
Thanks
10:43
Mike, sounds like in-fighting. W"hat are reasons for "lack of confidence"?
Things like this have to be aired in public and reasons given; under no
means should they remain secret.
10:56
you have my support!!!
13:49
Hey Mike,
We're all confused. Could you respond to the allegation that you took donations made explicitly to fund Democrats Abroad Argentina and converted them into a personal contribution to the Obama campaign in your wife's name?
Best,
14:04
Hello Mike:
I hope you honor your word to post all requests. I support the rest of the executive committee in asking for your resignation because I do not think you are an ethical or responsible leader for the organization. You treat it as your fiefdom and I believe your priorities are misguided.
My personal example which highlights this behavior of yours is when you undermined our efforts to clearly communicate the easiest and cheapest way for voters living here in Argentina to cast their vote. I wrote a very specific email message that included and highlighted the event hosted by the US Embassy, listing the date and time. When my message was published in your Sunday email you neglected to include the details of the date/time and importance of the US Embassy event. When I (immediately!) called you on this you stated “I would prefer to draw members to our events so we can capture their funds”. Huh?? All of our long volunteer efforts and focus was to make sure expats living here were registered and then most importantly VOTED! I felt that you actually acted as a determinate to this goal by withholding this information.
You also refused to send an email out to members announcing a fundraiser a group of us hosted in a private home. You made it clear to us that if none of the funds we were raising were ear marked for DAA you would not participate or even support the event. Double Huh? Aren’t we all working to get Obama elected?
The specific example that the executive committee listed yesterday in their email not only demonstrates your fiefdom mentality but also crosses several legal lines. Hence why that act seems to be the final straw that broke the back of your fellow executive committee members. They are tired of your erratic and very questionable behavior which in turn compromises the integrity of the entire organization. I echo their sentiments and support their efforts.
Furthermore I think you consistently lack serious professional decorum by presenting a public face that often crosses the line of inebriation. Downing more than three beers in a student administrative space at a mid-day function on the campus of a University exchange program is one specific example of this behavior.
I think the responsibilities of any Democrats Abroad organization in non-election years is simple enough: the chair needs to be a community organizer who hosts a variety of periodic events to maintain members engaged and active along with always having an eye on recruiting more members. This requires someone who has a bigger breadth of staging events than just hosting drinking events in dark bars. This appeals to only one cross section of expats. So if you do successfully manage to stay on as chair I hope you will consider a wider appeal to members of all demographics.
Please feel free to publish my name. I am not hiding anything.
Sincerely,
14:32
Hi Mike, do not worry, I will be there supporting you. I did not received anything more than this, your mail. They are crazy. You did a great job. Maybe they do not like people from here around them. But I am a USA citizen even I do not speak very well English. And I have my rights. I do not know "the interns" there but I believe in you. Love,
14:52
Mike, what is the reason o reasons? can you be honest and tell us?
15:11
Well that is definitely a shame. And to say that they do not have confidence in you. What examples do they have? Please...they remind of those people in the other party, you know the far rights.
Keep doing what you are doing and don´t give in. I know I haven´t participated much, other than enjoy reading your sunday emails.
All my best,
18:46
Okay, Mike, I know we’ve never met, but I respect what you’ve done and feel you deserve a fair shake. Below is the request that I sent the coup organizers. And I offer a few suggestions which of course you can toss out if they don’t resonate with you.
Fairness is always a big issue with me. So is honesty, and I hope you can explain those charges in their entirety to the satisfaction of all. You don’t need to fend off bricks with your bare arms when you have truth, courage, and the serenity of a clean conscience going for you.
Of course your best defense is innocence and your best strategy is authenticity. Be proud of what you have accomplished without intimating that it should allow you any privilege other than the right to respond to accusations. (Okay, and a few good soundbites might help. If you were black, we’d call it a lynching. Here, maybe “coup” works. What do I know, I’m just a social psychologist who specialized in research on attitude change and social influence.)
Now, Mike, if you have made a mistake, admit it, ask for forgiveness, and promise to do better in the future. If you broke an ethical norm, resign with an apology and wish the group well. If you are convicted though innocent, leave with your head held high. If you are exonerated, ask those who accused you to resign and then move on nobly with our bigger cause to save the world. Just don’t let them drag you into a dirty fight unless you like to fight dirty. And somehow you just never struck me as that kind of guy.
God, I hate in-party fighting, but I never like to let the bad guys win without standing up for my beliefs.
Good luck, Mike!
18:50
Mike I don't understand that you did anything different than Barak Obama did when he renigged on his promise not to accept private financing
I mean if it is okey for Obama to take private financing (the type of financing that you have been judged to have sent him surreptisously with or without your wife's knowledge) when he promised to keep his fiancing above board and transparant to others to see and account then why are you being persicuted? You should be held to the same standards that Obama has been held to by the media .......which is nothing
too bad you aren't black and a politician otherwise you could play the race card
sucks to be you
21:14
Good luck, Mike. I've never met anyone quite like you.
Now let's just hope that the Obama spirit pervades the deliberations.
Btw, I have just started a virtual Unitarian Universalist Argentina group.
You provided a great role model for a virtual group here--thanks! (And if
you want to send any liberally religious folks my way, that would be
wonderful!)
Abrazos,
22:39
----Saturday's emails appended here----
For the record I have received no emails from anyone, and I have no time to go to websites and read melodramatic happenings. My own life has enough drama.
What I do know is that volunteer organizations are often fraught with this type of infighting. Power struggles, accusations of wrong doing, and demands for resignations along with public humiliations.
I have no idea if Mike did the things you are now publicly accusing him of, or if he did them how you say he did, or if he did them and you knew about it, and maybe even sanctioned, but now for some reason want to get rid of him and find this a great way to do it. What I do know is, airing this kind of thing in the way you did, creates a divisive attitude in the organization. You are forcing people to take sides (and hopefully yours or you would not have sent your emails) without all the information.
Now let's look at the accusation. You say that Mike took donated money, and donated to Obama in his wife's name. OK, for arguments sake let's say he did do this. It is a little sleazy. But if you would have said that Mike took donated money and bought his wife a plane ticket to Mendoza and a trip to a spa, that is pretty bad news. Worse than sleazy. I think you all know this.
So what will all this accomplish? Do you think people are going to jump up and get indignant? Exactly the opposite. People hate this sort of stuff. They don't want to get involved with it. Why? Because who likes to volunteer anyway? Almost no one. Everyone wants someone else to do the work.
As the board, why didn't you have better controls? What was your treasurer doing? Sorry but I have 24 years as a business analyst, and if you tell me the President of an organization misappropriated funds, then there is a problem with your procedures. Your treasurer should have done a better job of making sure donated money was used for just causes. If you tell me that any of you could pay bills and that your system was based on trust, then you have failed collectively as a board in instituting controls. The responsibility lies with all of you, not just one man. And if one person erred, then you ALL erred.
Please understand that although Mike is my friend, I have no problem sending him up the river if he is in the wrong. I have years of placing myself in a neutral position of seeing all sides before making a decision.
Could you not have thought of a better way to handle this situation? Why could you not have called a general meeting where things could have been discussed openly? I think in the end, with this type of communication and infighting the organization will definitely lose. It is too bad. At least you waited until the elections were over.
01:28
Hello Mike,
Let’s see if you will post my input on your website.
Many of you have are confused and shocked over the board’s recent vote of no confidence in Mike and the request for his resignation. You will be receiving information over the next few days which will clarify the board’s position. Meanwhile, as the (un-elected) counsel of Democrats Abroad Argentina, I would like to present my personal views of the situation.
I first began to notice problems between Mike and the rest of board in June. It began with an unbelievably vicious attack on one of the board members. I tried for several months to mediate between this board member and Mike. Mike just wasn’t interested. Soon another board member came under attack, and then another. I was the last to be attacked, but the minute I disagreed with Mike I got it too. He accused me of not supporting HIM. Never mind that he doesn’t support any of us.
The first major disagreement I had with Mike was over the distribution of the proceeds from the first debate party held on September 26. This was advertised as a Democrats Abroad Argentina event. We charged admission because our country committee was and still is desperately short of funds. Mike took the money collected at the door and donated it to the Obama campaign in his wife’s name. Mike did this unilaterally without giving the board a chance to vote. As counsel, he did ask me about this and I advised him against it because I thought it violated Federal Election Commission campaign finance rules. He did not heed my advice – so much for being counsel.
This is not the only thing Mike did unilaterally – since I’ve been on the board, Mike has always done exactly what he wants. This is a far cry from the democratic principles he pretends to believe in. He doesn’t care if the board agrees with his actions or not. If any board member disagrees with him he viciously attacks them. He told me once that he didn’t care if the board got along with him because Democrats Abroad Argentina was a success anyway. By many measures that was true, but the ONLY reason that the debate parties and other events were so successful is because the rest of the board pulled together to register voters, obtain merchandise to sell, and rally and train our wonderful volunteers to make these things happen. We all did this despite Mike’s repeated and very personal attacks. What is sad is that, though we held successful parties, we lost out on other opportunities because of the things that were not done, and could not be done with Mike at the helm. For example, we did nothing to support Democrats Abroad International. We did not seek to develop relationships with a core group of Democrats who live here who could have helped us financially and with advice.
As far as my being unelected, let me explain how this happened. I was asked to join the board as counsel in February of this year. I gladly took the position because I believe strongly in Democrats Abroad and its mission. We held a general meeting of the membership in March. I asked Mike to allow the members to vote me in at that meeting, which would have been in keeping with our bylaws. Mike would not do it. I was puzzled by this but I didn’t press the issue. Thus I remain unelected but not by choice.
I’m sure some of you think that we are trying to remove Mike and take over the organization. That is not true but I can only speak for myself here. Let me make it clear that I do not want to be Chair. I do not have the time to do justice to the job. I will continue to do what I can to support Democrats Abroad, but not as chair and likely not on the board. As for the future, if the membership wants to retain Mike, that’s fine. However, at least now the membership and the new board will know what to watch out for. The new board will have to take actions early on to ensure that Mike runs this organization properly, including adhering to democratic principles, honoring the bylaws and giving the board a vote.
Yours truly
11:15
Dear Democrats Abroad,
The only confusing e-mail I have ever recieved has been this one. Having a sort of public image myself, and having had worked as a moderator in a public forum, I take public accusations without any evidence as very serious lapses in judgment and character. You have called someone "unethical" and accused him of taking "innapropriate actions" without any evidence. In my eyes you know have some explaining to do.
I do not have the time to lecture, nor the desire, on how you should have gone about doing this. I guess your age and/or inexperience may have something to do with it.
I am one of the founding members of DAA and I have donated funds to the cause. This is important enough to me to warrant a feeling of anger and dissapointment. I want to know all the reasons for you calling on Mike´s resignation. I want to know how Mike will have a chance to explain any of the charges that you bring up against him and I want to know who is going to oversee any voting that needs to take place. Quite frankly, I don´t trust anyone on the board at this moment considering your actions on this matter so far.
Sincerely,
11:53
----no more appending... look for a new post soon----
If you're a member of Democrats Abroad Argentina, you received a couple of emails from DAA last night explaining the unanimous call for my resignation as Chair. The following is every single email that I have received so far.
Some are a little tough on me to explain what has happened. I will explain to the best of my ability ...and I'll do it in writing.
The main thing, for you as members, is to insist on being allowed to "help make the collective decision on the future leadership of this organization" by email or ANY other form of remote communication.
Otherwise, this becomes just another secret meeting in someone's living room.
I promise to publish every single email that I receive on this subject... unedited except for your identity. I'm sure that I will (now) receive some emails from supporters of the mostly unelected Executive Committee ...one of whom no longer lives in Argentina.
Every email sent to me will be appended to this post. I won't leave ANY post out, positive or negative.
The main thing is: demand that you be told in writing ...and demand that you have a voice ...in the Dec 3 meeting to which we were all so kindly invited ...and that you be able to exercise your right to "make the collective decision" in the living room of an Executive Committee member for whom you never voted.
...otherwise, Democrats Abroad Argentina becomes a private club that can demand that anyone "step down privately."
--------------------------------------------
So what's going on with this nuttiness, man?
I hope all's well (or as well as can be).
Abrazo,
23:51
Holy shit! What happened?
I tried to call you just now to see if you wanted to get together for a beer tonight somewhere to here the story.
Call me ASAP ###-###-####. I had a gut feeling about Tihany and Meghan struck me as a power climber...
I just returned to BA and was planning to look you up anyways. I was at Morgan Freeman's production offices on election night... he opened them as a call center and headquarters. The place went nuts when Ohio went for Obama becuase we knew McCain couldn't recover.
Call me
22:23
Where is the beef?
This accusation that some of you are making against Mike is kind of hard to take.
I don’t know Mike in person and neither have I known anyone else.
I could no get into the last meeting because it says "You can not participate", then I did not see much motivation to go there.
I went to just one of the getting together, but been a Senior person I left early.
I did however have the impression that this was kind of "Secret Club" or an "Exclusive Club"!
Something normal at the "Republican Party", but not with the Democrats!
So I wonder myself: "Will I be comfortable there"?
I never knew of the names of the Board of the DAA.
They were elected?
When?
By whom?
I received 2 different list of the Board such:
Mike Board List:
Meghan Doran, unelected Vice-Chair
Maria Ramirez, unelected Secretary
Richard Tihany, Treasurer
Laura Atkins, unelected Counsel
The other Board List I received from The Executive Committee, Democrats Abroad Argentina:
Meghan Doran, National Vice-Chair
Richard Tihany, National Treasurer
Maria Emilia Ramirez, National Secretary
Laura Atkins, National Counsel
On Mike list 3 of the 4 were “Unelected”!
On the other they were designed as: “National….”!
What’s it?
I have no idea for instance how many voters were registered here in Argentina?
You always wanted to get together at a bar, which I don’t care about it.
It is also true that Mike was the main source of communication with me.
He never asked me to send donations to "him" or to "his wife"!
So, if Mike was deviating some money, was anyone else controlling the donations made?
Was Richard Tihany responsibility to do that?
Are all those mentioned names here in Buenos Aires?
Again these are kind of hard charges against Mike, but I did not see many proof on that!
Basically I’m asking: Where is the beef?
I’m replying to all of you guys at the same time.
Thank you!
22:15
Mike,
Okay buddy, tell me what do I need to do? Do I respond to their e-mail requesting that they allow a vote via e-mail? Who overseas the vote count? Who recieves it? Is there anyone at Democrats Abroad that I could write to directly? Basically my complaint would be that as a member I have no idea why they would be asking for your resignation.
They mentioned unethical acts, yet they only mention one and I don't think it was possible since your wife is Argentine and she could not have donated to Obama.
Anyway, sorry to be not so focused. This is my immediate response to these two e-mails and it's past my bed time. Instead of firing something off right away I will wait until tomorrow.
Obviously you have my support. It would help me though to know your response to their claim that you took DA money and donated to Obama under Alicia's name.
Saludos,
22:10
I am bewildered..what about the charge that you were bundling donations and giving them to Obama? What is the story?
In Political Exile in Argentina
22:02
Mike, is this a joke?? Did they actually ask you to resign? That's just crazy talk! Of course you have my support and confidence 100% I would definitely like to vote, but can't do so in person. I would like to do it either by email or phone, whichever way I can. Did they give any reason to why the "loss of confidence"? I'm sorry, but I think that's just a bunch of B.S. I have seen just how hard you've worked through this whole ordeal and I can't imagine anyone else that could handle it like you have. Are we able to ask for the resignation of those 4 on the account that they're idiots?? If you need anything else, just let me know. Let's see what I can do on this side of the country. Man, now they've just made this Wisconsinite steaming mad.
21:59
You have my support and confidence!
American citizen
21:47
Mike,
Here is a better draft of my letter attached.
21:33
Some preliminary thoughts are attached.
21:29
Mike,
Clearly I don´t know any of the details, but what I do know is that at every event I ever attended I immediately saw and felt your presence. You introduced yourself to me and remembered my name from the first time I told it to you. Since not a single of the other members ever took it upon themselves to meet me, clearly YOU have not only my confidence but my utmost respect for your dealings with the members of the organization and the organization itself.
Yours in democracy,
21:14
I'm behind you.
Won't be able to attent but plese let me know how to go about requesting to be allowed to vote by email.
Good luck,
21:05
Dear Mike,
What are their complaints? How many members are there total?
What do I know, all I know is that I probably would not have voted from here had you not harrassed me so much...haha.
Well, whatever happens, thanks for all your hard work.
21:01
What??? Why???
20:54
Mike,
This comes as quite a surprise. I wholly support your proposition that
people be able to vote by email, as I will be traveling in Patagonia
at the time of the meeting (though I will still be in Argentina so I
feel it is unfair not to have a voice in this affair).
That said, I am underwhelmed by both the email announcing the
confidence vote as well as your email. As I see it there is only one
specific accusation given thus far, that you had made donations in
your wife's name rather than specifically by donor. I would have
expected you to specifically address this concern and if it occurred,
why. I would have also expected you to anticipate any others that are
going to be brought up in the meeting. Without that I cannot vote
knowledgeably. That said, my hyperbole meter goes off when I see that
the first email mentioned your strange behavior via email and forums,
when I had at that point received no such correspondence.
I encourage you to promptly follow up with more specifics.
20:50
NO!!! You have my support MIke you did an outstanding job! they didnt mention the reason though.
20:49
Seems to me the matter is important enough to tell it like it is thru email: learn more about email and also voting thru email.
If the emails are good enough to be presented by you as evidence, then it follows they should be good enough to vent the whole situation thru email
Figured I am not the only one living away from the Capital, do need to get as many members as possible to participate, we do not want to emulate the republican tactics and leave half of the members out: do we?
So, make your case thru email so I am privy to the same info you have end let me decide thru email.
I do not need to remind you we've won a campaign thru the use of the internet.
I will not be able to be present and: as a campaign contributor and memeber of DAA I demand this.
20:41
This is crazy. As far as I am concerned. A coup of Democrats Abroad?
20:18
Dear Mike,
I was taken aback to get the previous email from the group of four. The whole thing seems to me to be highly irregular, but I don't know any of the facts. What I do know is that your enthusiasm and drive was really appreciated in the run-up to the election. I don't recall ever hearing from any of the others. What's this charge about altering a donation to appear in your wife's name? Is that the most serious accusation? I am sorry that following the successful election we have to go through this. I agree that a vote by mail would be the best procedure, since many of us cannot make the meetings. They should send a precise list of all the complaints. Otherwise, the possibility is hard to escape that there are some personal gripes being aired.
20:09
Mike, as a new and pretty inactive member of DAA, I've been very impressed by your energy and direction. In case we are allowed to vote by e-mail, can you address some of the issues mentioned as reasons for the vote of no confidence? Specifically, the allegations of what I assume was an unapproved use of DAA funds to make an individual donation to the Obama campaign? Thanks, and best of luck.
20:09
Hi Mike,
Unusual email from yahoo.com
I do not know you personnally but have recieved your emails and never seemed bizarre, erratic or confusing, so I gather there is something else going on.
What's your side of the story?
20:08
--------Friday emails appended here----------------
So, Mike, how about a direct answer:
Are the allegations true that you took money donated to the organization and then donated it to the Obama campaign in your wife's name? If so, why?
I appreciate all you have done. I'd like to know why you think you should stay in light of the allegations (and they say there is more).
Puzzled and concerned,
00:04
Of course you have my support. I know what you are going through, they did the same to Malcolm X. They don't want someone who works with their heart, that is too dangerous for them. I will vote for you. If they kick you out after all the work you did, I will no longer support their organization.
00:11
hi,
oh, my, how terible
what happened??
you are so into it, it is hard to believe...
best,
04:28
Dear Mike,
So why are they asking you to resign? What are the accusations?
05:41
Hi Mike,
We got the letter from the committee and were not quite sure what to make of it though it seems like ALL of you did a great job in making the election experience very, very positive this year. I was sorry to hear that behind closed doors that not all was hunky dory but when is it, especially in politics and especially with the kind of people politics attracts?
YOU are the face of Democrats abroad--I don't care what position you hold, you are the one who has been promoting it for the last few years and you are the one that gave it a voice and a face.
I think the request to be able to express our confidence by email is a good one as we are a pretty movable bunch. I will send them an email.
Sorry you have to go through this, hopefully you developed a Chicagoan thick skin.
Best,
08:59
Man, thanks like people like you...Mike I had on hands,
all the correct info to vote for this last pres.election.
You where there not some else.
I support you...no doubt and dosen´t matter if I have to go to vote there.
Sincerely
09:01
hey mike,
not sure what's going on with this. and, also extremely weird to think i might have "voting rights". what did i do -- drink beer with some style?
;-)
i just want you to know that both * and i consider you and alicia friends. we also feel the same way for laura and most everyone else that we've met. so hopefully, everything will be civil. personally, i appreciate everything that's been done by dems abroad here. it's been truly amazing actually.
if it helps, i'll attend and hear this thing out. but, my inclination is to abstain from voting (if i'm truly allowed this opportunity) partially cuz i feel that we all could take a page from obama's magnanimous approach to things. plus it would really suck to burn bridges with some people that have so much to offer.
we're all winners now, right?
09:46
Can you explain the allegations and your side of the story in the case that I/we can't make it to the meeting and (possibly) we are able to vote via email?
Thanks,
10:34
Hey Mike,
I'm with you brother, anything I can do to be of support or help you out, please let me know and I'll do it!
Thanks
10:43
Mike, sounds like in-fighting. W"hat are reasons for "lack of confidence"?
Things like this have to be aired in public and reasons given; under no
means should they remain secret.
10:56
you have my support!!!
13:49
Hey Mike,
We're all confused. Could you respond to the allegation that you took donations made explicitly to fund Democrats Abroad Argentina and converted them into a personal contribution to the Obama campaign in your wife's name?
Best,
14:04
Hello Mike:
I hope you honor your word to post all requests. I support the rest of the executive committee in asking for your resignation because I do not think you are an ethical or responsible leader for the organization. You treat it as your fiefdom and I believe your priorities are misguided.
My personal example which highlights this behavior of yours is when you undermined our efforts to clearly communicate the easiest and cheapest way for voters living here in Argentina to cast their vote. I wrote a very specific email message that included and highlighted the event hosted by the US Embassy, listing the date and time. When my message was published in your Sunday email you neglected to include the details of the date/time and importance of the US Embassy event. When I (immediately!) called you on this you stated “I would prefer to draw members to our events so we can capture their funds”. Huh?? All of our long volunteer efforts and focus was to make sure expats living here were registered and then most importantly VOTED! I felt that you actually acted as a determinate to this goal by withholding this information.
You also refused to send an email out to members announcing a fundraiser a group of us hosted in a private home. You made it clear to us that if none of the funds we were raising were ear marked for DAA you would not participate or even support the event. Double Huh? Aren’t we all working to get Obama elected?
The specific example that the executive committee listed yesterday in their email not only demonstrates your fiefdom mentality but also crosses several legal lines. Hence why that act seems to be the final straw that broke the back of your fellow executive committee members. They are tired of your erratic and very questionable behavior which in turn compromises the integrity of the entire organization. I echo their sentiments and support their efforts.
Furthermore I think you consistently lack serious professional decorum by presenting a public face that often crosses the line of inebriation. Downing more than three beers in a student administrative space at a mid-day function on the campus of a University exchange program is one specific example of this behavior.
I think the responsibilities of any Democrats Abroad organization in non-election years is simple enough: the chair needs to be a community organizer who hosts a variety of periodic events to maintain members engaged and active along with always having an eye on recruiting more members. This requires someone who has a bigger breadth of staging events than just hosting drinking events in dark bars. This appeals to only one cross section of expats. So if you do successfully manage to stay on as chair I hope you will consider a wider appeal to members of all demographics.
Please feel free to publish my name. I am not hiding anything.
Sincerely,
14:32
Hi Mike, do not worry, I will be there supporting you. I did not received anything more than this, your mail. They are crazy. You did a great job. Maybe they do not like people from here around them. But I am a USA citizen even I do not speak very well English. And I have my rights. I do not know "the interns" there but I believe in you. Love,
14:52
Mike, what is the reason o reasons? can you be honest and tell us?
15:11
Well that is definitely a shame. And to say that they do not have confidence in you. What examples do they have? Please...they remind of those people in the other party, you know the far rights.
Keep doing what you are doing and don´t give in. I know I haven´t participated much, other than enjoy reading your sunday emails.
All my best,
18:46
Okay, Mike, I know we’ve never met, but I respect what you’ve done and feel you deserve a fair shake. Below is the request that I sent the coup organizers. And I offer a few suggestions which of course you can toss out if they don’t resonate with you.
Fairness is always a big issue with me. So is honesty, and I hope you can explain those charges in their entirety to the satisfaction of all. You don’t need to fend off bricks with your bare arms when you have truth, courage, and the serenity of a clean conscience going for you.
Of course your best defense is innocence and your best strategy is authenticity. Be proud of what you have accomplished without intimating that it should allow you any privilege other than the right to respond to accusations. (Okay, and a few good soundbites might help. If you were black, we’d call it a lynching. Here, maybe “coup” works. What do I know, I’m just a social psychologist who specialized in research on attitude change and social influence.)
Now, Mike, if you have made a mistake, admit it, ask for forgiveness, and promise to do better in the future. If you broke an ethical norm, resign with an apology and wish the group well. If you are convicted though innocent, leave with your head held high. If you are exonerated, ask those who accused you to resign and then move on nobly with our bigger cause to save the world. Just don’t let them drag you into a dirty fight unless you like to fight dirty. And somehow you just never struck me as that kind of guy.
God, I hate in-party fighting, but I never like to let the bad guys win without standing up for my beliefs.
Good luck, Mike!
18:50
Mike I don't understand that you did anything different than Barak Obama did when he renigged on his promise not to accept private financing
I mean if it is okey for Obama to take private financing (the type of financing that you have been judged to have sent him surreptisously with or without your wife's knowledge) when he promised to keep his fiancing above board and transparant to others to see and account then why are you being persicuted? You should be held to the same standards that Obama has been held to by the media .......which is nothing
too bad you aren't black and a politician otherwise you could play the race card
sucks to be you
21:14
Good luck, Mike. I've never met anyone quite like you.
Now let's just hope that the Obama spirit pervades the deliberations.
Btw, I have just started a virtual Unitarian Universalist Argentina group.
You provided a great role model for a virtual group here--thanks! (And if
you want to send any liberally religious folks my way, that would be
wonderful!)
Abrazos,
22:39
----Saturday's emails appended here----
For the record I have received no emails from anyone, and I have no time to go to websites and read melodramatic happenings. My own life has enough drama.
What I do know is that volunteer organizations are often fraught with this type of infighting. Power struggles, accusations of wrong doing, and demands for resignations along with public humiliations.
I have no idea if Mike did the things you are now publicly accusing him of, or if he did them how you say he did, or if he did them and you knew about it, and maybe even sanctioned, but now for some reason want to get rid of him and find this a great way to do it. What I do know is, airing this kind of thing in the way you did, creates a divisive attitude in the organization. You are forcing people to take sides (and hopefully yours or you would not have sent your emails) without all the information.
Now let's look at the accusation. You say that Mike took donated money, and donated to Obama in his wife's name. OK, for arguments sake let's say he did do this. It is a little sleazy. But if you would have said that Mike took donated money and bought his wife a plane ticket to Mendoza and a trip to a spa, that is pretty bad news. Worse than sleazy. I think you all know this.
So what will all this accomplish? Do you think people are going to jump up and get indignant? Exactly the opposite. People hate this sort of stuff. They don't want to get involved with it. Why? Because who likes to volunteer anyway? Almost no one. Everyone wants someone else to do the work.
As the board, why didn't you have better controls? What was your treasurer doing? Sorry but I have 24 years as a business analyst, and if you tell me the President of an organization misappropriated funds, then there is a problem with your procedures. Your treasurer should have done a better job of making sure donated money was used for just causes. If you tell me that any of you could pay bills and that your system was based on trust, then you have failed collectively as a board in instituting controls. The responsibility lies with all of you, not just one man. And if one person erred, then you ALL erred.
Please understand that although Mike is my friend, I have no problem sending him up the river if he is in the wrong. I have years of placing myself in a neutral position of seeing all sides before making a decision.
Could you not have thought of a better way to handle this situation? Why could you not have called a general meeting where things could have been discussed openly? I think in the end, with this type of communication and infighting the organization will definitely lose. It is too bad. At least you waited until the elections were over.
01:28
Hello Mike,
Let’s see if you will post my input on your website.
Many of you have are confused and shocked over the board’s recent vote of no confidence in Mike and the request for his resignation. You will be receiving information over the next few days which will clarify the board’s position. Meanwhile, as the (un-elected) counsel of Democrats Abroad Argentina, I would like to present my personal views of the situation.
I first began to notice problems between Mike and the rest of board in June. It began with an unbelievably vicious attack on one of the board members. I tried for several months to mediate between this board member and Mike. Mike just wasn’t interested. Soon another board member came under attack, and then another. I was the last to be attacked, but the minute I disagreed with Mike I got it too. He accused me of not supporting HIM. Never mind that he doesn’t support any of us.
The first major disagreement I had with Mike was over the distribution of the proceeds from the first debate party held on September 26. This was advertised as a Democrats Abroad Argentina event. We charged admission because our country committee was and still is desperately short of funds. Mike took the money collected at the door and donated it to the Obama campaign in his wife’s name. Mike did this unilaterally without giving the board a chance to vote. As counsel, he did ask me about this and I advised him against it because I thought it violated Federal Election Commission campaign finance rules. He did not heed my advice – so much for being counsel.
This is not the only thing Mike did unilaterally – since I’ve been on the board, Mike has always done exactly what he wants. This is a far cry from the democratic principles he pretends to believe in. He doesn’t care if the board agrees with his actions or not. If any board member disagrees with him he viciously attacks them. He told me once that he didn’t care if the board got along with him because Democrats Abroad Argentina was a success anyway. By many measures that was true, but the ONLY reason that the debate parties and other events were so successful is because the rest of the board pulled together to register voters, obtain merchandise to sell, and rally and train our wonderful volunteers to make these things happen. We all did this despite Mike’s repeated and very personal attacks. What is sad is that, though we held successful parties, we lost out on other opportunities because of the things that were not done, and could not be done with Mike at the helm. For example, we did nothing to support Democrats Abroad International. We did not seek to develop relationships with a core group of Democrats who live here who could have helped us financially and with advice.
As far as my being unelected, let me explain how this happened. I was asked to join the board as counsel in February of this year. I gladly took the position because I believe strongly in Democrats Abroad and its mission. We held a general meeting of the membership in March. I asked Mike to allow the members to vote me in at that meeting, which would have been in keeping with our bylaws. Mike would not do it. I was puzzled by this but I didn’t press the issue. Thus I remain unelected but not by choice.
I’m sure some of you think that we are trying to remove Mike and take over the organization. That is not true but I can only speak for myself here. Let me make it clear that I do not want to be Chair. I do not have the time to do justice to the job. I will continue to do what I can to support Democrats Abroad, but not as chair and likely not on the board. As for the future, if the membership wants to retain Mike, that’s fine. However, at least now the membership and the new board will know what to watch out for. The new board will have to take actions early on to ensure that Mike runs this organization properly, including adhering to democratic principles, honoring the bylaws and giving the board a vote.
Yours truly
11:15
Dear Democrats Abroad,
The only confusing e-mail I have ever recieved has been this one. Having a sort of public image myself, and having had worked as a moderator in a public forum, I take public accusations without any evidence as very serious lapses in judgment and character. You have called someone "unethical" and accused him of taking "innapropriate actions" without any evidence. In my eyes you know have some explaining to do.
I do not have the time to lecture, nor the desire, on how you should have gone about doing this. I guess your age and/or inexperience may have something to do with it.
I am one of the founding members of DAA and I have donated funds to the cause. This is important enough to me to warrant a feeling of anger and dissapointment. I want to know all the reasons for you calling on Mike´s resignation. I want to know how Mike will have a chance to explain any of the charges that you bring up against him and I want to know who is going to oversee any voting that needs to take place. Quite frankly, I don´t trust anyone on the board at this moment considering your actions on this matter so far.
Sincerely,
11:53
----no more appending... look for a new post soon----
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Pan Dulce ...like mamá used to make
As if you needed another reason to try the deelicious products of Sugar & Spice...Pan dulce, panettone, or fruitcake ...you either love it or hate it.
If you're one of those who hates it... it's probably because you never had one made your way!
Do you hate nuts ...or would you like to have all cashews? Are all those candied fruits your favorites ...or would you love it if you could just have raisins? More chocolate! Or maybe dark chocolate only.
Former Chicagoan Frank Almeida's thriving cookie factory at Guatemala 5419 cranks out the very best sweets and savories ...and his pan dulce is the very best.
How can you make the best even better?
In order to get you throw away your preconceptions of pan dulce, he's offering to make your particular panettone ...anyway you want it!
Just tell him what you want: almonds, candied fruits, mixed nuts, white chocolate chunks, cashews, raisins, hazelnuts, candied oranges, dark chocolate chunks!
Any or all or none of the above. Get one, give one! Limited time only, don't miss out.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Threat Level
US Ambassador to Argentina, Earl Anthony Wayne announced today that the United States is prepared against terrorist attack in Buenos Aires and Argentina.A notebook with alleged terrorist remarks was discovered by waiters recently in Buenos Aires. Reports are that the mozos turned the cuaderno in question over to the local police which then shared the info with international law enforcement agencies. After learning of the existence of report, Ambassador Wayne conducted a drill to demonstrate that the US Embassy and Consulate would remain safe in any event.
...more details as they become available.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The First Cyber-side Chat
The first of what are said to be weekly addresses to the nation by the President-Elect.
There's something very FDR about these, not the least of which is the use of a "new" media.
Radio in '33 was about in the same stage of its adolescence as the internet is today. I think that these "chats" could be our generation's equivalent to what the US needed then.
Applause, applause for what could be another transformational aspect of our next president.
If you can't find the next ones anywhere else, you'll always be able to find them here as soon as each one is released.
There's something very FDR about these, not the least of which is the use of a "new" media.
Radio in '33 was about in the same stage of its adolescence as the internet is today. I think that these "chats" could be our generation's equivalent to what the US needed then.
Applause, applause for what could be another transformational aspect of our next president.
If you can't find the next ones anywhere else, you'll always be able to find them here as soon as each one is released.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
An Afternoon in the Park ...with our New President
I'm surprised at the response I've received already from the little tagline at the bottom of today's "Sunday Email from Democrats Abroad Argentina"!...but I shouldn't have been.
Not ever having been blessed ...I don't automatically consider the families with children that really can't make a go of rubbing shoulders with their fellow Dems during all the "night-clubby" events we've had this year.
...that ain't exactly fair.
So, lemme hear ya! The ceremony, as per our Constitution, will take place at noon on Tuesday, January 20. I'll bet that we could blare a radio about 3pm Buenos Aires time and hear That One make his historic address.
All the while, we can throw the fris around, eat some hotdogs and choripanes, and get to know each other in broad daylight and fresh air!
Any preferences as to what park in what part of town?
I suggest someplace that already has a choripanero or two ...so that we don't have to do our own cookin'. But who knows ...maybe you guys have a bunch of Weber Kettles just gathering dust in your bauleras and are dying to do the grill thing for the first time in a long time?
Lemme know your suggestions! Let's celebrate!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
...simple answers to simple questions: "Why do I need to go to Galería Jardin on Election Day and make phone calls with Zak Schwarzman?"
See that map? I "stole" it from www.mydd.com, one of the best political websites in the business. It's clickable and it's been prominent on yanquimike.com.ar and it tells a tale...We're looking good in the East ..."that's where the freight is", as we used to say. But if we can't count on WA, OR, and CA... we're in for a big struggle.
Those folks in those states already know that they have to come out and vote (note: the great State of Oregon is now 100% mail-in ballot!) ...no matter what the networks will say early Tuesday night.
But if it looks like a crushing defeat for John W. McSame early in the evening, Democrats in those West Coast states might stay home. The West Coast is our "firewall."
If you do your part with Zak Schwarzman and Americans Abroad for Obama, today and beginning at 11:00am on Election Day, you can help people find their polling places, you can help find them a ride to the polls if they need one, you can help make sure that complacency doesn't prevent them from casting their votes when all seems to be going so well 3 hours ahead of them.
Please come to the center of Buenos Aires, on Calle Florida and Tucumán, and call voters in PA, OH, and FL ...and keep WA, OR, and the big prize, California, from staying at home.
...YOU already voted! Come make sure that nobody else forgets to vote. You can call and shop, call and eat, and come back and call again!
Come down in droves and make telephone calls to Democrats in the US ...under the guidance of Obama's Top Dog in South America.
You'll be proud to say that you did.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Studs Terkel r.i.p.
I got the first word, but was speechless. I knew he was almost 100 years old but I didn't want to think about his passing. He died yesterday on the fifth anniversary of my emmigrating from my beloved, his beloved Chicago. I found a good account of his life and work on NPR ...so here it is. Reading him was one thing, hearing him was another, meeting him on the bus with his "unrepentant" red socks ...was completely another. His "Working" changed my life and radicalized me in 1970 as much if not more than anything in that year of my life. You can listen to him reading Sandburg's "Chicago" and you can cry like I did if you're so inclined. If you can go along with Nelson Algren in that loving Chicago is "like loving a woman with a broken nose", you won't have a hard time sharing my sentiments. So long, ol' pal.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Make your plans...
...there's a lot of Election Night parties that you can attend ...but there's only one that is sponsored by the United States' Democratic Party ...and only one in which you can meet and greet Barack Obama's Top Man in South America, Zak Schwarzman!Not only that! There's only one Election Night party where you can actually shake the hands of the volunteers that have made Argentina a star in the crown of Democrats Abroad International and have gotten out the vote here in Argentina and South America and Central America and the Caribbean ...and even in the swing states of the US.
Those volunteers not only pushed the stone over the mountain top ...but when the US Embassy needed Bi-PARTISAN volunteers ...they were there, too.
I'd like to rant, just a little here, if you'll allow me: over this year... during which the efforts of THOSE volunteers from Democrats Abroad Argentina... did SO much to register and assist ANY eligible voter here in Argentina... we had many doors slammed in our face.
Sometimes our volunteers were allowed to sit OUTSIDE the door ...and, don't get me wrong, I was grateful for even that. If we could register ANY voter for this Tuesday, I was satisfied that we'd fulfilled our duties ...and I was confident that the majority would vote for our candidate.
Many times, we had to pretend that we were not associated with ANY political party.
We registered many Republicans; we registered US citizens of all parties and persuasions.
But we were not allowed entry to many places in Buenos Aires ...because we were TOO partisan. If we could not enter with a "Republicans Abroad" representative, many venues would not allow us to enter. That was the game ...and we had to play it.
The fact that NOTHING along the lines of "Republicans Abroad Argentina" did/does exist ...did not affect certain venues in regard in their decision not to allow us to register US citizens in their houses.
It was unfair. We worked around it as best we could ...but it was unfair.
In those places that refused us, the fact that ANY another US political party WITHDREW from the effort to register any and all voters along side OUR volunteers ...caused us to be excluded.
"Fair and balanced" is one thing ...but this year was not fair and balanced for our VOLUNTEERS that worked tirelessly, under the leadership of our Laura Atkins, to make sure that every US citizen in this city and in Argentina was equiped to cast a valid vote in this Tuesday's election.
Brian Byrnes of CNN reported, and has assured me that he verified, that the US embassy in Argentina held the ONLY "voting day" event of it's kind in the world. It was beautiful: jazz band and snacks and party favors and everything ...all on a LOVELY early spring day.
But when I saw the staffing of the hard-working volunteers of Democrats Abroad Argentina in virtually EVERY post not devoted to crowd-control inside the embassy ...let's just say that I had mixed feelings.
Our volunteers, aparently, did not share my mixed feelings ...they worked just as tirelessly inside the embassy as they did all year outside all the gates locked to us.
Don't get me wrong: I like an neutral embassy and I like things being fair and things being balanced. But this year was an uphill battle for our volunteers ...and it didn't have to be that way.
If you're in Buenos Aires ...and happy about the outcome of the election ...there's a group of people to thank for it. That group will be found at Sacramento Resto-Bar, El Salavador 5729, in Palermo Hollywood, in Buenos Aires, THIS Tuesday, from 9pm until we can't maintain a crowd any longer.
I hope that I have the opportunity to introduce each and every one of them to you.
Let me just say that there is NOTHING that Democrats Abroad Argentina has done to compare with the effort of that fine bunch of volunteers.
Come on down and do it with your Democrats this Tuesday ...and let our volunteers know that you apreciate their work.
Yours in art and labor,
Yanqui Mike
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