Erik Moe: Critic at Large

The erosion of our civil liberties under this administration has been well documented and alarming, but did any of us ever foresee a day when we would lose our right to dance to our iPod at the Jefferson Memorial. What would old Thomas have to say?

At last night’s Oscars, Alex Gibney’s Taxi to the Dark Side won the Best Documentary prize. I finally had a chance to catch the film late last week at the National Archives* and think that (for once) the best – and most important – of the nominated films definitely won. Taxi is a well-researched and troubling look at the expanding use of torture in the U.S. military since 9/11. Gibney builds a strong argument that very specific methods of torture have come into use through a carefully orchestrated fog of conflicting demands, intentionally leaked documents, and purposefully vague orders from the Department of Defense and the White House. These indirect orders leave low-ranking troops vulnerable to court marshalls while shielding top level officials from war crimes trials. The film takes its title from the case of an innocent taxi driver named Dilawar who was captured along with his passengers at an Afghan army checkpoint and eventually died as a result of repeated beatings while in U.S. custody at Bagram Air Base. Taxi goes on to explore the suspension of habeas corpus rights – unprecedented in U.S. history – that make it impossible for detainees to find out why they are being held and tortured. The film can be tough to stomach for its use of footage of physical abuse and sexual humiliation at Bagram, Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo, but since these crimes are being done in our name and in violation of our own Constitutional principles, the film is essential viewing.

UPDATE: *Yes, I appreciate the irony of watching a film about the Bush administration’s abuses of the Constitution in the very building that the executive branch displays the Constitution.

TechPresident sent a belated valentine card yesterday to our disbanded cohort of digital Dodd Squad-ers. Joshua Levy critiques Maverick McCain’s emails and thinks the Republican frontrunner should call us up for advice. Somehow I don’t think that would work out well for any of us, but the sentiment is appreciated.

The Sunday before an election is traditionally a time when newspapers make endorsements. In that spirit, here are a few notes in support of two candidates for this coming Tuesday’s primaries and caucuses: Illinois Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Presidential nomination and Al Franken as Senate nominee for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in my home state of Minnesota.

On the cold weekend morning when Sen. Obama announced his candidacy last winter, I had been living in Chicago for about four months. The widespread enthusiasm for Obama in Chicagoland seemed genuine, honest, and – despite constant fawning from media sources I tend to distrust – unmanufactured. As I worked on Chris Dodd’s campaign over the intervening year, I watched cable news dig into and tear apart every minute detail of the “top tier” candidates’ personal and political lives to justify their omnipresent “BREAKING NEWS” graphic. Amid this caustic environment, Obama has continued to turn out huge crowds and energize groups that have historically had little voice in the nominating process. His campaign has raised absurd amounts of money through small online donations, making him much more of a true “people’s candidate” than a candidate of corporations and the wealthy. His early decision to pursue community organizing in crime and poverty-ravaged neighborhoods of Chicago rather than the easy money of corporate law shows the kind of commitment to common good that should be at the core of a progressive Presidency.

Al Franken’s netroots-savvy campaign has similarly energized Minnesota progressives. Over the past several years he has done serious legwork across the state to prove that he is not a novelty candidate merely coasting on his celebrity. In his years as a comedian (sorry, “satirist”), author and radio commentator he has been a leading voice in the effort to reject the very framing of American politics: we do not live in a blue and red nation, but in a have and have-not nation – with the disparity growing rapidly. As a Minnesotan, I will be honored to have Franken take on Norm Coleman in November and add his name to the proud list of prominent progressive Minnesotans that includes Humphrey, Mondale, and Wellstone.

In a sign that the battle is indeed continuing, ex-Dodd über-blogger Matt Browner Hamlin and his always frequently sound commentary has a new home over at Hold Fast. Do stop by. While you’re visiting, complement him on his lovely tattoo-themed WordPress installation.

Image: Dodd concession speech at Temple for Performing Arts, Des Moines, Jan. 3, 2008

Thanks to all for the kind words on the Dodd campaign and our online efforts. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to online campaigning and working with the netroots than I had with the Dodd internet team: blogger Matt Browner Hamlin, internet director Tim Tagaris, data dude Brett Schenker, and tech directors Aaron Welch and Tim Cullen. The real props, of course, go to Senator Dodd who stayed true to himself and showed real leadership in the Senate and on the campaign trail regardless of what the poll numbers said. If all campaigns fought that way, we’d be living in some kind of Star Trek future world by now.

Meanwhile back in the Senate, the FISA bill Dodd fought back just before Christmas is coming back to the floor.

Stay tuned – the fight goes on.

This morning I’m on my way to Des Moines to help with Chris Dodd’s final push for the Iowa caucus. I haven’t blogged at all really about my work for the campaign these past months (graphics, web design). With Christmas behind us and the caucus just seven days away, it is long overdue that I educate all twelve of my readers a bit about Senator Dodd and why he deserves your consideration. Thankfully, Mike Caulfield of Blue Hampshire has done the hard work and put together a timely endorsement post that uses a great series of clippings from throughout the Senator’s long career to make a case for Dodd as an experienced change candidate. Also, he seems to be the only candidate who’s participated in a “donut fight.” Off to Iowa!

Apparently all of Edwardian England was in a kerfuffle for the better part of a decade (and rightfully so) over the (alleged) torture of a cute pooch by medical scientists. The memorial for the dog caused riots in the streets due to the provocative question on it’s plaque, “Men and women of England, how long shall these things be?”

The story is fascinating to me not only because animal rights seem more like a 21st Century issue, but also because of the role of the simple, symbolic artwork in the controversy. Admittedly, the intrigue of “Swedish women activists” infiltrating the medical school and the “pitched battles” between medical students and police assigned to protect the bronze dog add a certain level of incredulity.

Is there a lesson here for today’s animal rights advocates? If the sympathy of cuddly dogs is such a catalyst for change, perhaps activists should seize upon the popularity of Cute Overload to help their cause instead of photographing naked vegetarians over and over again. I mean — I like to think we vegetarians are good looking, but the approach always results in a troublesome mixed message and doesn’t really win the cause any allies. Best to stick with creatures that are easier to identify with.

Full entry: Brown Dog Affair (via Wikipedia’s usually more banal article of the day).

the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world. (via the WashCycle)

That is all.

Chicago, I hardly knew you. I already miss your irrationally exuberant municipal elections, your lovable but flailing transit system, and of course all of your amazing food. For those keeping score at home, my departure from Chicago and my most recent extended blogging lull is due to a very sudden move to Washington, where I’ve taken the position of lead graphics and web designer at Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd’s Presidential campaign. I’m excited to be working on a team doing some innovative things on the web and to be using my design skills to fight the good fight in support of a candidate with strong progressive credentials. To get a feel for the pulse of my new day-to-day and an introduction to Chris Dodd, might I suggest our campaign blog led by my colleague Matt Browner-Hamlin. As for Washington… So far so good. I haven’t even had cause to write an angry letter to D.C.’s Senator yet. Oh wait… D.C. doesn’t have a Senator.