Tweet
According to a statement released today, Chris Dodd won’t cross the picket line for the CBS debate on December 10:
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but I will not cross a picket line. By standing together America’s Union movement built our middle class, and I am proud to stand with them today.”
So far Clinton, Obama, Richardson and Edwards have also said they will not cross a picket line.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the support being given to the writers from other unions is heartening:
The International Longshore Warehouse Union today sent its support to striking WGA members in the form of holiday food baskets literally overflowing with frozen turkeys and other Thanksgiving fixings. According to ILWU member Chris Bradley, the baskets are his membership’s way of showing solidarity with the writers. “These are paid for from the pockets of the rank-and-file,” said Bradley of his fellow Longshoremen.
Also on hand to deliver the holiday baskets was Longshoremens’ Coast Committeeman Ray Ortiz, Jr., who expressed his support for the WGA, saying, “An injury to one union is an injury to all unions. And you have been injured.”
Susan Baronoff from the WGA’s strike headquarters described the scene of the donation as “Capra-esque,” with a room full of 60-pound baskets, so large that many of the WGA volunteers could barely lift them. “It was a wonderful act of generosity, and a real show of support from their union to ours,” said Baronoff, who adds that the WGA has already begun contacting writers who are hardest hit by the strike and most in need of the donations.
The WGA distributed them not only to their own members but to teamsters whose jobs have been affected by the strike.
And Campanille restaurant on La Brea is starting a Writers’ Soup Kitchen. If you show a WGA card, they’ll feed everyone at your table a three-course meal for $18. (Campanille has always been one of my very favorite restaurants, the food is fabulous and that’s a bargain.)
Lots of random acts of kindness from people in a city where 69% of those aware of the strike support the writers.
A nice way to celebrate Thanksgiving.
131 Comments
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Jane!
thappy hanks giving
Jane, I don’t know if you are reading or not, but I hope you see this comment.
Jane, it has been such a pleasure getting to know you online. You are a visionary, an incredible writer, and that’s just for starters.
Thanks for the report that Dodd will not cross the picket line either.
Too bad about NN, tho. So stupid on the labor issue.
Hey Punaise! Same to you!
Debate in the street with the writers as moderators!!!
Valley Girl @ 3
You too, VG. You’re a treasure. Thanks so much for being here & for all you do.
Gee, do you suppose we could get real solidarity among many many unions–economywide strikes? Labor, take back America.
Go Unions! Go Workers! Yeah Dodd! Yeah Clinton, Obama, Richardson, and Edwards!
Valley Girl @ 4
hey VG!
And oh yeah, YAY JANE!!!
Jane! Thanks! You are the one who showed me the path.
tw3k @ 5
fuckingyeah!tw3k @ 5
Way to get that ZeDigg!
punaise @ 9
Punaise, I have looked at the Bear Creek meet-up photos, and dayum, there is only one photo where even one single person is smiling, and that was not you.
I thought y’all had a good time!
dakine01 @ 13
i was so fast I forgot to w00t 4 Dodd!
Hmm, word press login not succesful.
Oh well, my brothers laptop, I am not going to fret the small stuff.
Speaking of stuffed, whew.
There is a french cheesecake with blackberry preserves calling me like the mythical sirens.
Must resist.
NOT!
Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially the Mods today.
We’re a Union family and I have to tell you that the story about the ILWU folks pulling money out of their pockets to feed people who possibly have never seen a longshoreman, much less had personal contact with one (other than seeing “On the Waterfront”)is just so incredibly heartwarming. One of the truly frustrating things for people looking to organize folks who sit in front of computers or who teach or who heal the sick and so on, is that they tend to see “being union” as some sort of dirty, 1930s, industrial thing – and that somehow because they feel they “work with their brains and not their hands”, they don’t feel it is necessary for them. Only when all people who work – and who have to deal with management who are not doing their job in an appropriate or fair way – realize the necessity to protect themselves through the power of organization, we will continue to see workers victimized by management bent on maximizing profits on the backs of the people who actually produce the product that management sells.
But it must have been a bit high on the “ironic” side to have someone bring home that particular “bacon” and tell the family that they were being fed by the longshoremen.*g
OT: What the Duck – Macy’s Balloon (youtube)
Very strange, it was blank where my name and email info is supposed to be when you log in, I had to type it in yet there is the little blue ‘F’!
Bustednuckles @ 19
Busted- we are living in strange times. Nonethless, FDL rules!
dodd needs to be applauded but the unions must award dodd and the other candidates a pass on this one
I don’t think they want a strong supporter of the labor movement to be left out of the presidential debates, it will be nice for dodd to get the credit for taking the stand but I am hoping the unions request he attend
Oh yeah!
Good to see you VG!
Been busy?
I want to say something that is very important and hasn’t been reported yet;
I have friends who are salesmen at bmw
they cannot sell cars because bmw is not distributing models to the states due to the failing dollar
the collapse has begun
I’m sure everyone saw the following…regarding the president “listening to the generals”
that’s the lead over at think progress right now
perris @ 21
perris- Hillary has already said she will not cross the picket line, before Dodd did.
The strongest support for labor is “I will not show up”. Otherwise, the American Public will be confused.
perris @ 21
Why? What better way for the candidates to draw attention to the problems of workers than by refusing to cross a picket line at the organization being struck? We now have 5 of 8 Dem candidates saying they won’t cross this picket line, leaving only Biden, Kucinich, and Gravel to be heard from. Do you think CBS would go ahead and hold a debate with only those three?
Bustednuckles @ 22
Yes. Lecturing. Grading exames. etc. And, then I got off on a little tear editing YouTubes. One of my favorite things to do, whether the intent is to show cricket sex to my undergrads, or to make some pols look really really stoopid, or to make some pols look just fine great (ref. Donna Edwards).
Hey dakine01! I see we are on the same page re: CBS debate.
Valley Girl @ 25
yeah, debate in the streets!!! youTube it or something.
I think it’s be great to take the debate away from cbs and have a real unscripted, people involved debate.
Valley Girl @ 28
Great minds and all that… ;})
Valley Girl @ 25
dakine01 @ 26
because of corporate marketing there is a virulent anti union sentiment in the states
this sentiment crosses all demographics too
why?
marketing, and the American people actually think unions are bad for the economy
we need strong union candidates to make the case, we need them pointing out where the middle class was relative to the economy with unions and how the middle class has fallen without unions
corporate America is going to be able to use the issue on their behalf if the unions let them
I think the unions can make strong inroads if they request the candidates attend and have them elaborate why unions are the reason we have a strong middle class
1,666 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
tw3k @ 29
actually, I LOVE that idea
I agree, that’s the solution
Something for NYers to be thankful for.
Now we’ve got to work on that domestic violence.
since I haven’t said it in a while:
I <3 Jane and the Mods and the FirePups!
thanks for being my online family :D
holy cow, er, bird, whatever, I ate to the point of discomfort – I *never* do that.
Had a great time, but it’s time for some football – go Colts!!
Happy Thanksgiving Norske.
Good to see you today.
How is the littlest Flamethrower doing?
Hey! Jane’s going to be on CSPAN’s Washington Journal tomorrow? With Brian Lamb?
Wowweeee.
perris @ 31
Thing is tho, the debates are so bloody scripted a stronger point could be made by engaging the union outside of the debate. IMHO
That’d be news in and of itself. It would be covered heavily by citizen journalists and could be youTube’d and highlighted on the candidate web sites as well.
All the guys are watching USC VS. Arizona State here.
wtlloyd @ 38
Hey, that’s great!
tw3k @ 39
I think perris already called “uncle” on this one.
And, “bloody scripted”? The questions are total hit pieces, from what I’ve seen so far.
wtlloyd @ 38
RRRAAAWWWWWW!!!
Valley Girl @ 42
yeah :/
wtlloyd @ 38
Hey! Jane’s going to be on CSPAN’s Washington Journal tomorrow? With Brian Lamb?
Wowweeee.
what time?
Diamonds or pearls?
Somebody should have got canned for that one.
perris @ 23
I am suprised we haven’t heard more about it from CNN, or CNBC.
Bustednuckles @ 46
Busted- did you read the background as to how the student got set up for that one? NV?? student. She had a lot of more pertinent questions, but somehow got set up for that one. Really telling.
jayt @ 45
what time?
Details!!!!!!!
Valley Girl @ 42
ya, I called uncle but man you inspired me, check out this elaboration on your idea;
a round table, food served, beverages, even dinks if the candidates want
a friggin DISCUSSION with the candidates gathered around like a FAMILY
post THAT on the youtube
cameras would do 360’s around the table, there would be no center, no head…king arthur and all that
put a friggin picture of kennedy on the wall and allude to camelot
man this is good
Bustednuckles @ 46
modulate the flow of indeed.
Can I have a bright shinny object for 100 please.
Bustednuckles @ 46
Hell, the way the TradMed is going these days, the person who made that choice probably got promoted.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 47
the dealer I am talking about usually has an inventory of a few hundred, they are down to 50
Yes I heard what happened. Thats why heads should roll.
perris @ 50
The best of all possible worlds!
Citizen Toby Wollin and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
As a second generation teacher’s son (he got there thru the GI Bill and so did I)and the husband of a teacher and father of an English teacher and a soon to be high school math teacher…don’t assume that most teachers are anti-union or suffer from false consciousness if they’ve taught for more’n five years. I’m an RN now and I find that the problem of lack of union organization in the healthcare field and the weakness of unions in public education has less to do with what you describe and more to do with generations of the fields bein’ dominated by women…women who on the one hand were the only income for a family (healthcare) and have been intimidated about organizin’ or on the other hand women who were second incomes (teachers)and up until now didn’t feel the pinch of risin’ benefit costs or shrinkin’ retirement options.
The assault on unions has been coordinated with the attack on public education and the fear of reprisal and the lack of community support for union people in public service has paralleled the attack on free expression and direct political action. Don’t blame the victims brother Toby, we live in a country whose population has been terrorized for over 50 years by a corporate oligarchy that now is downin’ the baby of democracy in the bathtub on the Crawford Ranch.
KEEP THE FAITH, PASS THE AMMUNITION AND AIM CAREFULLY…THERE ARE MORE OF US THAN THERE ARE OF THEM!!
dakine01 @ 52
lol
tw3k @ 57
a republican had the NERVE to invite “cookie” to the whitehouse for holiday dinner when “cookie” had to resign over his brothers’ position with blackwater..AS A REWARD FOR HIS SERVICE
the more they are exposed the more brazen they become
Way to go Chris Dodd. But most of the debates have so far been disappinting. Blitzer, Russert and the other corporate clowns have asked ridiculous question, wasted much debate time, and have really ignored many important issues. CNN reported endlessly on Hillary’s “planted question”, but CNN plants questions of “diamonds or pearls”. We do not need them. Real people generally ask better questions, without secret neo-con aggendas.
We only need nine chairs, a couple webcams, a few servers, and some real voters to have a pure internet debate. The Cable TeeVee news is even more obsolete than newspapers.
This abuse of the taser has got to stop.
perris @ 58
why isn’t that even surprising.
Jane has an hour, starting at 7:30am Eastern time, and I presume it will be Brian Lamb, as Friday is his usual day to host the show. Washington Journal is CSPAN’s daily (7days/week) 3 hour show. I rarely get to see it live, as I am on Pacific time –you will be able to see Jane’s appearance as the entire show is archived on Cspan’s website. You can also see just her segment by looking under the show headings, the guest segments are listed separately and stream from the start of their segment.
If you don’t know Washington Journal, you are missing the only consistently fair and balanced reporting on USA politics.
http://www.c-span.org/homepage…..iveDays=30
Eureka Springs @ 60
regime change now!
Valley Girl @ 14
’twas an earnest gathering, but not dour by any means!
turkey to tend to. catch y’all later….
C-SPAN schedule shows Jane 7:30 – 8:30 EST
Doesn’t indicate whether Brian Lamb or not, though Friday is his usual day.
(Question/Newspaper Articles/Phones 7-7:730)
Program repeats at 3 pm, which would place Jane in 3:30-4:30 EST time slot.
Guest following Jane is Jonah Goldberg, Natl Review Online, Editor at large.
You’ll be delighted to know Jane is Founder of “Fired Dog Lake Blog”
Caveat, C-SPAN online schedule is not always reliable..
Thanks Jane. Good for them! Glad they’re refusing to cross the picket line.
wtlloyd @ 62
Thanks so much for the link. omigod! 7:30 eastern! Jane is in eastern time. Thus, I appreciate the info about the archive.
Better than Fried Dog Lake.
Jane!
Only a blog Goddess could provide the kind of emotional safety that you do for all of US at the Lake.
Thank you.
punaise @ 65
Tended to eat too much of it myself, just told mom round two is coming.
Bustednuckles @ 71
Heh, round one just finished here…
After reading the post, I got this image of a longshore union member walking into the WGA headquarters with a basket under each arm, and setting them down on a table. One longshoreman, two baskets.
A writer comes up to claim a basket, but can’t get it off the table, so a fellow writer has to help wrestle the basket into his car. Then they both go back to wrestle another basket into the second writer’s car. Two writers, one basket.
Talk about unexpected, overflowing generosity!
SunnyNobility @ 66
as in “we got the bush dogs fired”?
eCAHNomics @ 69
707!
perris @ 50
MERLIN OR MARLINS?
JUST YES OR NO PLEASE!
MERLIN OR MARLINS?
I hate to tell this on myself but what the hell,
A couple of years ago I got real curious about how Jane came to call it Firedoglake but was too shy to ask and thought myself pretty clever, sooooo.
I googled firedog lake.
I remembered her saying she had family back in Tennessee and figured it was probably some little swimming hole she knew as a child. I must have spent hours trying to find that damn lake.
The rest you already know,
she likes to sit by the FIRE with her DOGS and watch the LAKERS.
Hand to forehead moment there.
so guess what, now the republicans are saying bush is simple minded
check this quote from think progress;
hehe
this is news to them I guess, that the president has no complexity
perris @ 78
A complexity complex!
Anyone watch KKKkarl on Charlie Rose last night?
Charlie has learned how to sound like he is asking tough questions while lobbing softballs and completely avoiding the slam questions you or I would ask.
Bustednuckles @ 80
you’re not surprised, are you?
Bustednuckles @ 80
charlie looks like it’s 1962 and he doesn’t understand why he can’t light up a Viceroy on the set.
Bustednuckles @ 80
Several years ago I decided Charlie Rose was just too smarmy for me, so I stopped watching.
However, does anyone have the link for the YouTube about the WGA strike with all the media execs bragging to Rose about how much $$ they are going to make on the Internet? I promised it to someone, but couldn’t find it.
Bustednuckles @ 80
would liable media be a good retort?
wtlloyd @ 62
and here is the link for friday’s washington journal in the the new c-span archives
Bustednuckles @ 77
Busted- I have been following the origin of “Fire Dog Lake” moniker as well. And, for all that I trust Jane, I really wouldn’t put any money on what Jane said about that. Yes, it is plausible, and I know Jane likes those three, but Jane has her secrets. So, even tho she was convincing, I’m not all together sure about that one. Some time all of us who have been around since whenever really need to push Jane into a corner on this. Or, maybe not. :)
Bustednuckles @ 80
It was so bad I watched some of it twice just to see Charlie let that crap go by.. Allowing Karl to control the whole show in such a manner did no service to viewers regardless of their potential pearl clutching.
Eureka Springs @ 87
twice! you have more courage than i do… i’m not even going to watch one minute of it…
Bustednuckles @ 77
I didn’t know so thanks for the info. I’d love to read how this blog came to be. It’s been touched on from time to time but I’d like every detail. How did the talent hook-up? Did they all know each other beforehand? I’d read a full length book about it. It would be like the documentary on getting Air America off the ground. Damn interesting. What do you think, Jane? Feel like writing a book? Filming a documentary?
Lamb’s program usually takes call-in questions for guests. If anyone has a question (and unlimited long distance for holding):
Washington Journal: Support Democrats (202) 737-0002
Washington Journal:
Support Pres. Bush (202) 737-0001Washington Journal: Support Others (202) 628-0205
selise – I was delighted to see you caught Tula this afternoon.
For you:
Power to the people.
btw, re Charlie.. I was a glutton for punishment.
Hey, for Jane’s appearance on WJ tomorrow morning, let’s all start dialing at 6:55,* and ask her really great Qs.
*First half hour will be a call-in stemming from a newspaper article. But I suspect we won’t get thru if we wait ’til 7:30.
eCAHNomics @ 83
Here is the unitedhollywood youTube page and the Who Are They Lying To? is good. I know the one your talking about but can’t find it either.
eCAHNomics @ 83
Through HuffPo
*toasting the lake with a glass of champagne in one hand and a drumstick in the other*
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 82
707!
I soooo get that too! Good one.
hey suzanne! hand me a piece of that pecan pie?
*licking lips* what pecan pie?
Eureka Springs @ 91
tula’s post was brilliant! i’m sorry i missed the discussion, but very glad i didn’t miss it all together.
great youtube, thank you!
we are the people! we have the power!
and there is no ftaa. *g*
dakine01@94
Thx. That’s the one.
Suzanne @ 95
Any turkey dives in honor of the day?
WE HEART THE LONGSHOREMEN! WE HEART THE TEAMSTERS! (who, btw, have an extra five unnecessary people on every set), WE HEART NURSES! Really, the writers have nothing left to lose, hence this strike. Plus, we writers are now the spearhead for the union concept itself: great timing for us.
The big studios are slitting their own throats this time, and don’t realize it. Ha! Time to sell your third homes, guys!
turkey dive. hmmm, i’m gonna have to come up with one for late nite. it would not be a day of thanks without diving into the lake. thanks for reminding me ecahn
I am a proud retired member of Teamsters Local 856.
Suzanne @ 95
lol, french viking?
(pardon my gloating…)
VG, I have no way to know if thats it or not, that is the only published answer I have seen.
Seeings how she started this blog all by her lonesome,how we going to know?
Wait a minute, no, can’t do that, we don’t torture, right?
Bustednuckles @ 107
How do you define torture?
itwasntme @ 106
sounded good to me!
TexBetsy @ 108
Watching Karl Rove on Charlie Rose, twice.
TexBetsy @ 108
Maybe we could tickle it out of her.
Suzanne @ 95
And quite a lovely person in between.
Well, the evasive maneuvers were entertaining.. and I was baking at the time.
1,666 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Firepup Freedom Fighters:
If we wasn’t holdin down an important Senate seat wouldn’t Chris Dodd look good as Attny Gen in an Edwards/Gore administration??!!
KEEP THE FAITH AND LET’S MARCH ON THE BASTARDS!!
Charlie Rove.
Millineryman @ 112
I agree completely, and I assume you were speaking of Suz, tho it might equally well apply to Jane.
So, has your migrane gone away? I was truly shocked that you were confused by the “DFH” term. You really must have been in a bad way not to recognize that term. xxooo VG.
Eureka Springs @ 113
Karl rove makes you hot?
(blushing) thanks mm
I like the way you think Norske.
Btw, I asked earlier how the granddaughter is doing?
gosh, norske, punaise, vg all on the same thread… kinda like back in the old haloscan days
and busted and selise and eureka
and some new kid chopped liver here in the corner
1,666 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Gotta get ready ta go ta work…Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and please don’t forget the kidz hunkered down in the sand watchin’ each others backs. There will not be a real Thanksgiving in this country until all those kids are home.
KEEP THE FAITH BUT DO THE WORK!!
thanks tw3k! I thank all people who have worked to make fdl what it is.
I ‘m thankful for every darn poster, every darn post and…and…God Bless America!
Suzanne @ 120
I remember well.
and of course all the new pups that have joined us too. i was just tripping down memory lane, back to when i found the lake.
Citizen Bustednuckles:
Freya is GREAT…she’s drivin her two older sisters nutz and she ken flat kick somew ass!!
Robert Novak (yes, that one) upstairs.
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…../#comments
Good to hear Norske.
Suzanne?
You been around that long too?
Wow, it is old home week.
Where is Egregious?
selise @ 99
Thanks for pointing out the post on the AFL-CIO and the ARA. I jumped in at the tail end of Alice’s Restaurant.
Valley Girl @ 86
Well it could be a referenceto good ol’ “fire dogs” of the Dalmatian type.
Or it could mean the “firedogs” that are used in fireplaces and ovens – ceramic or pottery pieces that either support the wooden fuel allowing airstream underneath, or serve as supports for a griddle.
The above were also used as ritual items in Central Europe. These were sometimes referred to as “horned firedogs” or “Moon firedogs” and were often excavated out of Bronze Age lake village deposits in Lake Zurich.
2006 was the Chinese “Year of the Dog” although an alternative to that name was “Year of the Fire Dog”.