Brianland

Here’s a beautiful inspiring story about proactively engaging young people in democracy.  And I mean young people under 18! It’s a story about generosity and generations, empowerment and inclusion, doing the right thing, and putting your good where it will do the most (as Ken Kesey used to advise). It’s told by a fellow Canadian […]

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From Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy: Adventures in Politics 1980 – 2020 From the chapter — “Fun & Loving on the Campaign Trail 2020 — A Prankster’s Primary”.   . The next day — Tuesday, February 4th, the day following the night of the Iowa caucus vote-counting debacle — I pulled off three rallies: Biden, Tulsi […]

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. George Walker:“Your election comments were brilliant and as good as anything by anyone I read anywhere.  You should be getting paid for this.  You nailed it all the way through.  Sometimes I would disagree with something you said, and then a couple weeks later I’d realize, ‘Oh yeah, Brian was right about that.’  And […]

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Yes — you can Vote — and maybe you’re already one of the record-shattering 11 million who’ve cast their ballot — but here’s some other fun cool proactive things you can do —> Talk to your friends and neighbors and make sure they’ve got a plan to vote. https://howto.vote/ Check to make sure you’re registered […]

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A lot of people got discouraged during 2016 — first the Berners supporting Sanders in the primary, then most of the nation with “the perfect storm” of the November electoral college disaster. Twice in my lifetime has this antiquated 1700s electoral college voting concept resulted in the loser of the vote becoming President. And both […]

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Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy I spent the afternoon getting all gussied up in my black velvet tails and Ben Franklin knickers with knee-high socks topped off with a top hat, accented with colorful Obama buttons, and everything underneath my waving homemade Obama pennant flag with a little red & white Canadian one on top.  All […]

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. Here’s the first live show for the book — a Facebook live stream for an online Prankster reunion — featuring The Franken Fracas, Obama’s election night, Abbie Hoffman, the climactic Bernie rally in New Hampshire & lots of other gems . . . https://www.facebook.com/Brian.Hassett.Canada/videos/10163863488060261/ . David Amram — Jack Kerouac’s principal musical collaborator “Thanks […]

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Introduction to Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy (April 2020) . Sometimes you meet a person who thinks like you do, who views the world through a similar lens.  For me, Brian Hassett is one of those people. We’re all products of our times, and Brian, being slightly younger than me, came of age in a different decade […]

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Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy excerpt . . Following the climactic election eve rally of the 2020 New Hampshire primary with Bernie Sanders at a hockey arena  . . .  The most extraordinary thing happened when it was over.  As the thousands of kids streamed out of the arena, right next to it was a big […]

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FRIDAY NIGHT DEBATE NIGHT Friday February 7th was the big nationally televised Democratic debate from Manchester.  I tried every angle to get tickets, but even longtime plugged-in politicos told me they were shut out.  Made me feel a smidge better. The obvious thing was to go to the DoubleTree Hotel in Manchester. Manchester’s the main […]

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