Benny's World: 09/25/2005

Roctober

Well, September has ended for this year, and now it is "Roctober"=rock+ October", as they used to say on the rock stations when I was in my 20's.

JRE had a busy September. According to an e-mail OAC sent me yesterday, he went to meet with the survivors of Katrina on September 12, to assess the situation there. On September 16th, he spoke in Sacramento about poverty. September 18th, he was the keynote at the Harkin Steak Fry. The next day, he introduced a concept-- a pragmatic one--Working Society at the Center for American Progress.

Then we learned he went to Moscow with Jack Kemp as co-chair of Council Task Force on Russian-American Relations. Hopefully when he and Elizabeth record their podcast on Monday, we'll find out more about the CRF discussions in Red Square.

JRE announced a College for Everyone initiative and is taking the show on the road at 10 colleges this month. Seems like JRE is arms-length away though as I'm travelling on business this month to Boston and Austin.

But before he goes on his college romp, he'll be on Tavis Smiley's show on October 3rd, and on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on October 5th. I'm really looking forward to the TDS as it will be interesting to see how Stewart will bring out JRE's sense of humor.

R-O-C-K in the U-S-A! John Mellencamp's tune, but it fits: JRE will be rocking this month. And a perfect time to do it, when the leaves are turning, a crisp in the air, but still warm days.

JRE: A Man Of Several Hats

From today's Daily Tar Heel :

BY ERIN GIBSON
ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR
September 29, 2005

While former senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards might not be working in the White House, his position at UNC could give him the opportunity to make a nationwide difference.

He has been juggling his time between directing the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at UNC and pursuing his personal goals to end poverty and raise awareness about the issue.

Laura Hogshead, assistant director of the center, said Edwards is on campus about once a week.

His two-year part time appointment provides him with $40,000 annually.

Hogshead said Edwards is working on his own programs and political commitments when he’s not at UNC.

Last week Edwards was in Russia for meetings as the co-chairman of an independent task force on U.S.-Russia relations for the Council on Foreign Relations.

“We’re in Russia meeting with government officials, members of the press, leaders of (nongovernmental organizations) there to find out what’s happening in Russia and prepare,” he said.

The task force, which first formed May 31 and for which Jack Kemp is the other co-chairman, reviews U.S. policy toward Russia.

Edwards also is initiating programs at home to combat poverty in the United States.

LINK

And to hear JRE talk about his work at the Center and the issue of poverty, listen to NPR Showhost Ed Gordon's News and Notes