Bloomington/Monroe County Indiana For Obama 2008
Unions
I grew up in a non-union family with Republican tendencies. I have never belonged to a union nor have I been employed at a company with a union. HOWEVER, I believe that having a unionized work force for a significant portion of that work force is beneficial to all workers, union members or not. The US developed a significant and growing middle class after WW2 when large numbers of workers were union members. As union membership has declined, so too has the middle class as good jobs that pay well disappear.
Why do managements oppose unionization so strongly? Money and power. Management wants the flexibility to structure work as they see fit, without input or restraint from anyone else. They also want to keep as much of worker productivity as they can to please stockholders and to pad their own compensation. It is a shortsighted policy that reduces workers ability to purchase the goods and services that they themselves produce.
Workers need protection by government from employer actions. They also need to band together in unions with other workers for self protection. In this country, we lack free speech in the workplace and we can quit or be fired at will. If you have roots in a community, it is hard to relocate to find another job elsewhere in the country. When my wife and I left California to move to Utah, we did not have a lot of household goods. But the moving bill for less than 500 miles exceeded $5,000.
My first job as an adult involved customer service for an electronics company. I did well and received a generous salary, but not what I felt I was worth. After 21 years I left their employ. Part of my dissatisfaction was monetary, but the greater dissatisfaction came from the general manager's actions. At first, he encouraged all employees to grow on the job and take responsibilities that required us to stretch. At some point his goals changed, but were not announced. At first I could not believe the change since it seemed so out of character. Eventually over time, I realized the change was permanent. The interests of those of us who worked there were being subordinated to his goal of becoming company president. The division where I worked earned impressive profits. The manger decided to squeeze more profits from us to impress the board of directors. He succeeded in becoming president and the rest of us paid a price. I decided to leave even though I knew that finding comparable employment would be difficult.
Eventually I decided to enter the healthcare industry at a much lower salary. I started at the bottom and worked my way up. I still earn much less than my first job but I am enjoying myself much more. While employed at a hospital in California, I was able to observe at first hand how management combats a unionization effort. The nurses wanted a union and were able to enlist the California Nurses Association's help in the effort. While working the night shift on weekends, I was surprised to find top management roaming the halls at 3, or 4 o'clock in the morning. I never discovered what they were doing, but I suspect that they were watching for pro-union speech and actions. The election was finally held and the union lost narrowly. There was joy in management and even among employees who were not nurses and would not have been affected. I was disappointed because I wanted to see a union in action close up.
There is a general correspondence between the rate of national unionization and how well the average person lives: the rate of unionization in the US has dropped from a high of 36% to today's under 16% rate. Unionization in Denmark is about 95% and it exceeds 85% in Finland. The rate in Germany is 30% plus and I have been unable to find the rate in France, although it is less than in the US. The average person in those countries lives a better, less stressed life than the average worker in the US. If you try to point that out to the Party of No, they will immediately shout socialism. My question to you is this. Are you willing to live a less fulfilling, more stressed life because of someone else's prejudices?
Inflation
There are dark clouds on the horizon and the rumble of distant thunder. To those of us who lived through the 1970's, the signs of impending inflation are familiar and unmistakable.The seeds of inflation were planted in the 1960's by LBJ and Nixon during the Vietnam war. We taxed ourselves to help pay for the war, but not enough and deficits were common. Inflation reared its ugly head during the latter years of the Nixon administration. Ford and Carter both tried to deal with it and were ineffective. No matter who caused the problem, the American voter holds the current president responsible for dealing with it. An A for effort is not enough. Only results count and both Ford and Carter were voted out of office.
For the first time in the nation's history, we did not tax ourselves to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trillions have been or will be spent and that money must come from somewhere. If Barack had only to deal with the impending inflation, his task would be difficult. Rather he must steer a fine line between the Great Recession first and then later what could be runaway inflation. I have great faith in Barack and I believe that the man has a plan.
If you were to trust the Party of No to solve the nation's problems, you would be betting that only those who caused the problems can solve them. That would take a leap of faith wider than the Grand Canyon which is a half day's drive from where I live. If Evel Knievel couldn't attempt it, why should I believe in the Party of No's ability to pull it off?
New Obama Group Forming 'AmericaNOchange'
Fellow President Obama Supporters and Former Ones"
AS the founder of the Obama Group named YESWECANSOLVEIT...
I have taken the liberty of forming still another group called
AmericaNOchange. I doubt this one gets approved.
Thought I'd better hurry and write this and send it to all groups that
I am still a member of before I am banned here forever. Why would
that happen? you ask. Because I just formed a new group with a little
kid yelling "Hey You" while flipping off the viewer. Hope the president
and his staff gets the message.
The esculation of the war in Aftganistan is the last straw. Three strikes
your out!
First, he keeps the same people on the payroll that got us into this
financial disaster. He let's Bush and Cheney walk scot-free. He continues
to bail out the banks, "all too big to fail" why they screw us in every way.
And tonight on national tv he will try to convience us all that the way to
end the war in Aftganistan is to exculate it. This did not work in Vietnam,
I know, because I volunteered to go there, and it will not work in Aftganistan.
To add insult to injury. The powers that be, the ones backing McCain in
my city in Northern California, are all meeting to determine what the same
good ole boys get to do with local stimulus funds...So my question is?
WHAT THE HELL HAS CHANGED IN AMERICAN PRESIDENT OBAMA?
I am so damned mad right now, I swear, if I could afford it, I'd trade in
my next presidential ballot for a passport.
Al Boek, Ex-Supporter of a One-Term President
earlallenboek@yahoo.com
530-549-4315
Redding, California
(read more)
New blog for Generation X-Y Democrats
Hi all. After working with many of you who are my age (late 20's) and have the same passion for politics, I felt inspired to start a blog from our point of view and a group where we can all relate. The blog is at http://www.generationxydemocrat.blogspot.com/ and I have also stated a Facebook group where we can all sound off at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=57528568002&ref=nf. I will comment and post all OFA activites on here as well. Please join the group, and also visit the blog to read and comment often. Thank you!
- Ed
(read more)If it is good enough for Congressmen then it should be for All of us!
It has been some time now since I have written in my blog. Since I last wrote, canidate Obama has become President Obama. I eagerly watched as he took the oath of office, surrounded by his beautiful wife Michelle and their two adorable girls. I am also very glad that he chose Joe Biden to be his Vice President.
Our country is so lucky to have these to men of such integrity and intelligence running our country. We have suffered greatly the last eight years and it is so refreshing to see people who will not only honor the Constitution but listen, ask questions and try to work with the people across the aisle.
I do not envy President Obama for the huge task that he has just taken on. Our country has so many problems to fix or change. Yet, if there is any one man who is up to the task, I would put my money on President Obama.
He has the perfect temperment and personality to enter into this arena, which some days looks like the the olden days of the Gladiators! They need someone with a cool head to oversee and meet with the different groups.
I know our financial system and economy are in shambles but I do believe that a change in our Nation's health care system might help everyone and save billions of dollars in the long run. Our Congressmen and women along with our Senators enjoy having health care coverage that is paid for and ran but our Government. For any of them to question or say it does not work is sheer hypocrisy.
If the Government insurance is good enough and works well enough for them then there is absolutely no reason that it would not work for everyone. Yes, it may cost us at first but considering how many people are without insurance or fear loosing their job and their insurance I feel we have no choice but to fix health care now.
Like President Obama said the other day on his newscast, "If not now, then when?" He pointed out that each of the past administraitons had always faced some crisis or some reason as to why to wait. The other side will always find some excuse to stop us from moving towards a coverage that will work for everyone.
No longer can we wait and I believe that if there was ever a President to lead us to a health care solution, the time is now and President Obama is the man.
As someone who has Federal Helath Care, I consider myself one of the "lucky ones" Of course I pay a high premium as an X spouse, but never the less, I have it. Each year they have open season and during that time I get the opportunity to view numerous plans and pick the one that I can afford and that I feel will meet my health needs.
I can't see why the government could not offer such a plan to everyone, which would bring everyon's premium down. I also think that there is something to be said about having some kind of an insurance for everyone that is similar to Medicare. It only makes sense to me that the more people who particiapte in a plan the cheaper the rpremiums will be for everyone.
I am asking for each of you to please sontact your own State representatives and ask them to work with President Obama and get something done. We can no longer afford to set idley by and watch more and more people slip into the uninsured abyss which in the long run is costing all of the taxpayers.
Please tell your Congressmen that if Government insurance is good enough and works for them that it is our right as citizens of this country to be given the same opportunity. I believe as part of their retirement they can keep their insurance, payed for by "We the People". I am tired of hearing one after another Republican get on television or radio and talk about socialized medicine when they themselves have it.
(read more)IU President McRobbie?
Michael and Laurie McRobbie of Indiana attend the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States in Washington, January 20, 2009.
How did they get tickets?
(read more)Baltimore
It's great to see so many people showing up to see our next President even as the temperatures are holding around 10 degrees. The trip today by President-Elect Obama and Joe Biden has been a great gesture on behalf of them to try and enclude as many people as possible. I could only wish they could have made a cross-country trip so those of us in the mid-west could see them. Many of us here in Indiana wish we could go to Washington and watch history live in person.
Right this minute Obama and Biden are getting ready to speak in Baltimore, one more stop on this day long trip. With a large crowd gathered in Baltimore the celebration has begun even before the President-Elect and Vice President-elect have arrived. The mayor and others are giving short speeches of their own while everyone awaits history. We can't see the entire crowd on TV but there is at least 10,000 people screaming as the governor speaks about just how historic this moment is. The camera has finally gave a great shot of the crowd that is well over 35,000. The passion on this day is something we as a country have needed for a while. The country has been held captive to a lame duck President and have had no reason to cheer, until NOW!
The President-Elect and Michelle as well as the Vice President-Elect have come on stage to a roaring crowd. Could we imagine this day just a few month's ago? I know I hoped to see this day, but until now I didn't realize just how much HOPE I and many others waited to see. Today is the beginning of something bigger than the President, it's bigger than us all.
Obama shows his love of history by talking about Ft. McHenry and the flag that gave us the star spangled banner. President-Elect Obama talks about the wars and global warming as he returns the love to someone in the crowd. He speaks of equality and a better life for us all. We have hope because we all had something, hope for change. We not only had hope, we did something about it. We elected a President that nobody saw coming, except us of course.
The President-Elect is giving credit to the many people who worked so hard to get us to this point. He is talking of the fact that no man is perfect and he will make mistakes but he will do what he knows that we want a govermnent that is for all of us. Together we have hope for a better country and a better world. Again a home run speech from a great speaker. We all have to give something back if we want to make a difference.
Obama said we made this trip possible and we made this day possible. Most politicians look back at those who elected them and give nothing more then a wave. Obama is different in the fact he knows this election was something special and we created this, we made a new future for ourselves. He wants all of us to go down this road together and work hard as a group, not unlike the campaign. As he shakes hands with members in the crowd the nation watches and looks forward to the 20th when all of us will again have a voice.
(read more)The time is upon us.
I can't help but want to see Bush charged and convicted of the crimes he commited. I know we all wish to move forward and we do need to do that. We must however stand up and let all future government officals relize that they are not above the law. This can't be allowed to happen again or this nation will fail. We can't look away at Bush and his cronies without showing the world that we as a people must somehow condon what has been done.
The world looks to this country as a beacon of hope. How do we move on and ignore war crimes? I'm not saying Bush is a Hitler or anything close but he did commit crimes both in the middle east and here at home. The country will only heal when the people know all of the crimes commited by the Bush administration. The Attorney Generals office, torture, getting people who don't agree with the Bush policy removed from their positions, and walking on all of our rights.
Bush commited war crimes yet he walks around like nothing happened. His people insured that the people at CBS who showed that Bush failed his country when he went AWOL lost their jobs due to serious pressure from the right wing nuts. He trampled our civil rights yet he again chuckles to himself seeing nothing wrong with that serious crime. Torture has been proven to be almost useless because a person will tell you what he thinks you want to hear, not to mention what was done was both illegal in this country but also to the laws of war. We would be asking for the heads of people involved with torturing any of our kids.
This country needs to heal and look to the future but now that the word torture has been used by members of the Bush administration to descibe water-boarding the prosecutors have a legal duty to investigate and charge all those involved. This country is a country of laws that not even the president has the right to break. If we fail to do what is legally mandated by the law this type of thing WILL happen again.
Congress tried to impeach President Clinton for lying, how did we not impeach a war criminal? This is just to important to just let fade away. In order for this country to fully heal this an issue that has to be addressed. We have a right to know everything the Bush administration has done and the law has a duty to prosecute these crimes, including many constitutional issues. We have to be sure that nothing even close to this ever happens again. I am interested in other peoples viewpoint on this issue and look forward to reading those for or against.
(read more)Biden
A great speech by Joe Biden as he is ready to board the train to Washington. The people are showing up in great numbers even as the cold weather hangs around 0 degrees with little sun. It is amazing to watch this event here in Indiana and see the thousands of people who are seeing history as it's made. Washington is almost ready for the 20th and so are all of us. The day's of hope are upon everyone who has worked so hard for this.
Joe Biden reminded all that the work has just begun but the middle class will be salvaged and will again be a force in all of the economy. He didn't speak long before introducing President-Elect Obama and Michelle. A roar could be heard in the background as the people sang Happy Birthday to Michelle Obama. The President-Elect and his family almost feel like friends we have had for years. They still remember all of us who helped him become the 44th President of the United States.
Obama reminds all of us where Joe Biden came from and how he know swhat we all are feeling and how he will fight for us. Joe Biden was elected to congress at the age of 30 years old and the terrible events that happened shortly after that. Biden has been where many of us are and he will fight for us all. The fact that Joe Biden rides home every night on the train so he can be with his family and enjoy watching his kids grow up. Like President-Elect Obama he will work to change Washington and the government that is no longer for the people.
President-Elect Obama knows of many individuals whose personal stories represent what we are all feeling in this time of economic crisis. Obama continues to build the excitment as he moves across Delaware and Maryland on his way to the house we built. The responsibility of all of us is to continue to back the President and help turn this country around. Obama is looking for everyone to do their part. We must stand side by side, Republican or Democrat, and work hard to heal this country.
(read more)Philly " The Obama Army"
Can anyone give a speech that means so much to the masses? President-Elect Obama is the Kennedy of our time, the Lincoln of history. We sit and watch as the trip to Washington has begun and think about everything we did together to see this historic moment come to be. The speech will go down in history as one of the greats. This is only the beginning of the hard work but it was great to hear President-Elect Obama talk about the work that millions of us did to get to this day.
We all put in many hours to push through a canidate that everyone else overlooked. He was not supposed to win this election, he was not supposed to get past the first couple of states. Today President-Elect Obama is moving on a slow train to Washington as the end of the old school is on it's way out. President-Elect Obama is facing a tough challenge as he moves into the White House but he has been there before. "Battle Tested", many say he wasn't battle tested, what do they call the campaign that started 2 years ago?
President-Elect Obama has something no other President has had in many lifetimes, US. Everyone I've talked to knows this is just the starting point for the next battle. They know Obama will need all of us to continue working hard if we are going to save this nation. This country is worth saving, to much blood has been spilled for us not to work hard. Many have given their lives to protect our country, we don't have to give our lives but we do have to give all we can to help the new President fight Capital Hill and the enemies of change.
The economy is something Obama is going to have to hit the ground running on January 20th. What I have been saying for awhile about this being the next great depression is not far from becoming reality. Vice-President Chaney says nobody saw this coming, I am not an economist, I don't work on Wall Street, yet I saw this coming last summer. I can promise you I was not the only person to see this coming. Chaney, like the rest of this administration have nothing but excuses and denials. President-Elect Obama is not going to fall back on excuses or any other bull we normally see in Washington. He is going to ask us to tighten our belts and get our hands dirty.
The speech covered many generations as he pulled pieces of great speeches from the past. We must stand behind Obama and give anything we can to keep this country moving. We did the impossible back in November so there is nothing we can't do. I have said before that together we will not falter. Washington is looking for cracks in this army and we must not show any weakness if we are going to see the change that is going to save this country. We are the Obama Army, we are not afraid.
While we all look forward to January 20th we are still at war. The fighting continues in Iraq and Afganistan and we all look forward to bringing all the troops home soon. While the fighting over there is coming to an end the fighting here has just begun. It's not going to be easy but if we continue to work together this is a fight that can and will be won.
The speech today gives us all hope for the future, a future that includes all of us. President-Elect Obama is giving back today as he rides a train through Delaware and Maryland. He wants Americans to fell close to him and he is still one of us. He knows after all the parades are over and he has been sworn in that he continues to need our help. Are you up to it, are we up to it? Nothing is going to be instantly fixed on the 20th and we all need to understand that. Obama said it took years to get in this mess and it's going to take years to fix it.
I hope as everyone sits back and watches the inauguration and parades they feel proud for the hard work we all put in to see this day. Enjoy the day and take a big breath as the next year is going to be hard. Don't stop the fight because we have only won a battle, not a war. We can't take time off thinking now that Obama is in the White House that we can relax. Congress will be watching us to see if we will still be working hard to help Obama or are we going to put everything on his shoulders and think we are done. Don't give Congress or anyone else in Washington a chance to breath.
When this country declared it's independence it took many thousands of people to stand behind that declaration. It took a revolution to stand as a new country. This is our revolution and though we don't have to fight and lose our lives to win it, we must stand up and continue to be heard.
(read more)Happy New Years
We asked for change with the Obama campaign at what seemed like a lifetime ago. With the New Year comes the change we all voted for. 2009 is going to be a tough year with the economy in the tank, crisis in the Middle East, and people losing their jobs and their retirement. President Obama is going to have his hands full but I believe in the change he has promised. With President Obama coming into office in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the great depression; it's going to take years to dig out of everything this great country faces.
I can only hope people on boh sides of the aisle will give President Obama the time he needs to work out these issues. We as American's have a duty to get behind the man we voted for and help in any way we can. Change is going to include all of us, President Obama is one man with the backing of millions and he will need our continued support. Some people jump on the bandwagon when times are going great and fall by the wayside when the real work begins. We can't afford to lose a single person if the change is going to happen.
Many of us started working with the campaign before President elect Obama even had a viable campaign. We believed all the way through New Hampshire and Iowa and we continue to believe. Please people, the job isn't over, we must continue the fight. Don't sit back and say "we got the job done, Obama is President." I myself will do whatever I can do to help fight for the Obama policies and will campaign to remove anyone in Congress that tries to obstruct the change vital to a new beginning.
The other side of the aisle as well as a few on the left just don't want to see change in Washington. The government doesn't like change, it scares them and they will fight to stop it. One way we can help President Obama to make the changes he promised is to continue to work hard. Millions of you stood as one during the campaign, we will need to continue to stand as one to show Congress we are serious. If Congress sees any cracks in our work for President Obama they will try and divide us and that will give them a chance to destroy all the hard work we did to get President Obama elected. As ONE WE CAN NOT LOSE, DIVIDED WE WILL FALL.
Enjoy the next few days with your families and celebrate the new year. Soon we will need to focus on all the things that change will bring with it. Stay involved locally and if asked stand up and work nationally if necessary. The hard work is on all our shoulders and combined we are un-stoppable. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and a wonderful new year. Thanks to everyone who was involved with the campaign and I look forward to working with anyone who wants to continue the job. January 20th is the day we have all looked forward to. January 20th is the new begining.
Thanks for everything,
Robert Strunk
Bloomington Indiana
(read more)Lebanese farmer Khalil Semhat holds his giant potato in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre.
Canvasing for Food And $ for Hoosier HIlls Food Bank
The Grassroots Groups of Monroe County Indiana have been meeting and volunteering our time for the last 4 weeks.We have been having 3 shifts each weekend to canvas our community for food and donations for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. That is the local food bank under Feeding America; formerly Second Harvest. They collect and disperse the food for 99 agencies in 6 counties that are in our Food Bank's area.
This morning we turned in over $900 dollars and over 500 pounds of food. Just think if more of our volunteers across the country were out on the weekends gathering food for the winter ahead.
Our Campaign for Food is our short term solution to our empty food pantries our long term solution is much bolder. On the 15th of December we have set up a public meeting at our local library with Professor Richard Wilk,Indiana University, who will be speaking to all of us and many of the leaders in our community on Food Sustainability in our Community.
In the words of Professor Wilk, "Indiana University, and particularly the Bloomington campus, has an unusual opportunity to bring together existing resources into a new configuration around the topic of food, connecting faculty in different departments, and furthering links between the university and the surrounding community through both research and education. The Bloomington community itself has a burgeoning food culture concerned with the sustainable, ethical, equitable, and enjoyable production and consumption of food by everyone in the area, and this new groundswell of interest in good local foodways is an exceptional foundation upon which the university research and education efforts in this area can also build. Food is an ideal vehicle for understanding sustainability issues, and knowledge of how our currently-unsustainable food system works is a vital element of education in environmental literacy for our community. Since everyone eats, food connects abstract issues with personal experience, and breaks down boundaries between research in the humanities and the social and natural sciences.
We see food sustainability as a topic encompassing the entire chain from production to consumption. This starts with the ecosystem effects of agriculture and issues surrounding different models of small and large-scale farming. It extends into food distribution systems including the market, government assistance, charities and voluntary organizations, restaurants, stores, and schools, to the University itself." Please join us in your community hungry people need our help. (read more)
Display the "We're Back" American Flag on Inauguration Day
Electing Barack Obama showed the world that the best of what America represents is back! Celebrate your new president and new found sense of patriotism on January 20th by proudly displaying the American flag on a t-shirt or a button.
To order, go to: http://www.cafepress.com/ForFortyFour
All profits will be donated to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Note: I am not a professional t-shirt designer and will not receive any profit from the sales. The markup on these items is only 20%, all of which will be donated to Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
(read more)Our Campaign for Food
How much is your time worth? A minimum of $10/hour, perhaps double or triple that; $30 per hour means $60,000 per annum -- not a bad living in Bloomington. Perhaps you believe the income you generate in your work is more than the value you could generate as a volunteer for a good cause. Based on today’s experience of some local citizens, most of you would be wrong.
Seven people contributing twelve hours of volunteer time on a Sunday afternoon in a single Bloomington neighborhood generated 350 pounds of food donations and $250. That’s about $950 of value, based on a reasonable estimate of the cost of food, so equivalent to almost $80 per hour!
This is the first direct action for a new community group called Volunteers for Change. Mostly volunteer veterans from Barack Obama’s campaign for the Presidency, the group has not waited for his inauguration let alone any re-election campaign to get back into action. Dedicated to the ideal of “being the change you seek,” watching as more and more local families fall into needy circumstances, and knowing they have developed some skills in community organizing, they simply started calling each other and connecting by email. The message shared? “We need to get back to work – now!” The food and money are being collected is contributed to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Hoosier Hill supply food to 99 agency programs in six counties surrounding Bloomington. Last month, for only the 2nd time in their 26 year history, they distributed over 2 million pounds of food. This year's economic turmoil has produced a higher level of demand, and at several times during the year, the shelves were empty of canned goods. The agencies that went away empty-handed were therefore unable to feed an increasing number of people at community kitchens and food pantries. During door-to-door canvassing on Senator Obama’s behalf, many volunteers had become acquainted with the everyday challenges local citizens face. They have seen both the face of despair during these difficult economic times and the face of hope. Their group’s goal is to transform despair to hope by engaging people in the political process at the point in which they are living their lives. Many may have thought the system has passed them by or abandoned them and as a result simply will not work to help solve their needs. But that sense of hope needs to be transferred into results. During the holiday season, families come together and often share special meals. But for those who have little, the holidays can simply increase a sense of failure, want and despair. The agencies that can assist families with a little extra food, or serve some extra hot meals directly to them, make a critical contribution to keeping hope alive. As a group, Volunteers for Change knows the goodwill that exists in our wider community. Together they have knocked on thousands of doors and talked to thousands of people all over Southern Indiana. They believe this as a direct result of President-elect Obama’s call to help solve the problems of everyday Americans. Given the recent publicity on the challenges of the needy, they quickly agreed to focus on a “Campaign for Food.” Using published data, they targetted a neighborhood that voted overwhelmingly for Senator Obama during the general election. It was their hope that those who had had their doors knocked on during that campaign might once again be receptive. They hoped those who lived there had heard the same call. No one was sure, though, quite how this would play out --- till the first doors were knocked. Students raised from their beds in the early afternoon predominantly went straight to their pantries to find a box or can to contribute. Families asked their children to help carry bigger contributions to the door. The well-off who had already contributed to similar causes through their church or workplace went back to their wallets, checkbooks, and food supplies to give again. Many asked the volunteers to come back again next week for more. Many people who answered their door instantly recognized the Obama campaign symbols incorporated into the Volunteers for Change badges logo pinned to the coats of the stranger at their door (some also recognized the faces of the volunteer!), and gave a friendly welcome. A few inquired how they too could join in. But this was no merely partisan celebration. Hardy political campaigners are not dissuaded by potentially unfriendly turf, and they seemed to take extra pleasure in walking to the door of a few houses that still proudly declared their loyalty to Senator McCain. Sometimes a wry smile was shared at the door; but cloth bags were still filled with cans and food and offers of future donations were made with the same degree of responsiveness. The cause is greater than any red-blue politics. So what happens next? Plenty. Volunteers for Change has been recognized by the still active Barack Obama campaign website, and can use its outreach capabilities. The USA Today noticed its posting there, and sent a photographer to record the Bloomington group’s first meeting as part of its feature on how “Obama volunteers plan to stay in touch.” Recognizing the alternative social networking within the younger community, a Facebook page was started and within three days had fifty IU students as “friends.” Plans are afoot for a website, a phone line, and drop off points for future donations. And more door-to-door canvassing: Thanksgiving weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, no less. With more volunteers, more neighborhoods, and more donations, they can make more “Change” for those who need it. The Volunteers for Change target is 10,000 pounds of food and $50,000 of financial donations to Hoosier Hills Food Bank by the time our nation’s forty-fourth President is sworn in on January 20th. These seem like heady goals, yet from a group that helped “turn Indiana blue” for the first time in more than four decades of Presidential elections, perhaps anything is possible. (read more)Canvasing for Food And $ for Hoosier HIlls Food Bank
Canvasing for Food And $ for Hoosier HIlls Food Bank Description: <img src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v738/197/112/558175416/n558175416_4945802_7420.jpg" alt="volunteers for change">This is the first direct action for our Volunteers for Change. We are going door-to-door seeking financial and food donations for the Hoosier Hills Food Bank (HHFB). They supply food to 99 agency programs in six counties. Last year, for only the 2nd time in their 26 year history, HHFB distributed over 2 million pounds of food. This year's economic turmoil has produced a higher level of demand, and at several times during the year, the shelves were empty of canned goods. The agencies that went away empty-handed were therefore unable to feed an increasing number of people at soup kitchens and food pantries. In addition, high gas prices have pushed their fuel bill 30% over budget. They need our help -- we have the expertise and the commitment to effective door-to-door canvassing that will help reach donors. While we will ask for and collect financial donations (which are tax-deductible) we will also be able to collect and carry food from any door willing to share it. In this holiday week, what better time to share with those who have none? Canvassing will continue on a regular basis during November and December. During the weekend of Thanksgiving itself we also hope to supply volunteers for food service at the agencies who usually rely on students that may be out of town for the weekend. This Sunday We will meet at Rob & Mary's house, share a briefing and canvassing materials and then go to neighborhoods that have high potential for donating. We will team people up so each canvassing team has a warm car running with them. We will be wearing buttons promoting Volunteers for Change and happy to explain how we are a new group hoping to help the community. But our goal is to refresh the food stores and finances of HHFB, knowing that this will impact literally hundreds of families who have to rely on outside aid at this time. Be the change we seek! Contact Info Jeff Thomas Phone: 443-220-1673 Email: thomasjbg@hotmail.com Description Time: Sunday, November 23 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Host: Pamela Warren Location: Rob and Mary's home (Bloomington, IN) 1329 South High StreetBloomington, IN 47401 (read more)
Homeward Bound Event for the Homeless
Homeward Bound Event for the Homeless Description: As you may know by now Rob and Rosemary and I went to Hoosier Hills Food Bank yesterday at 9:30AM and met with Julio and then Rosemary and I went to the city at 11:00AM where I got copies of the letter sent to possible contributors and a phone list of for them of about 1000 follow up calls to make. After that meeting I preceded to the Mayors office where I made arrangements for a table to be set up for us at tomorrows event at City Hall at 11:00AM. We need volunteers there to sign up our volunteers to contribute time to canvas and phone bank to meet our communities needs for food and housing and our nations needs in health care, energy,etc. Meet at Showers Atrium at 10:30 AM for a clip board and instructions See you there Time: Saturday, November 22 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Host: Pamela Warren Location: Shower's Building - Bloomington City Hall (Bloomington, IN) Bloomington, IN 47408 Associated Groups: Bloomington for Barack, Bloomington/Monroe County Indiana for Obama 2008, Indiana University (read more)Volunteers for Change is a national group to assist the Obama Presidency with issues that need our grassroots support.
Volunteers for Change is a national group to assist the Obama Presidency with issues that need our grassroots support.
Our first campaign is for the collection of food, time line November 20, 2008 until December 31, 2008. With unemployment rising, and more and more of our food bank pantries empty we want to answer Obama's call to be our brother's keeper and fill our food banks for the winter ahead.
Summary of Plans from meeting of November 19, 2008: Volunteers for Change
Action:
1. Tomorrow, Thursday, November 20, 2008, Rosemary Hart, Pam Warren and Rob Price will go to Hoosier Hills Food Bank at 9:30am to talk with Julio and determine the best way for our volunteers to work with them.
a. Report will be sent to all our volunteers with a plan of action
b. Pam and Rosemary will go to the city and get information on the letter that they sent which needs follow up calls made. We will request a sign up table for Volunteers for Change at the event this Saturday at Showers.
2. Attend Saturday, November 22, 2008 event on hunger at Showers Plaza
- Set up table with materials, Pam and volunteer
- Sign up Volunteers for Change, All Volunteers will attend
3. Weekly Meeting at 1329 South High Street, Rob and Mary’s house.
Organization:
1. Jeff Thomas will activate the Team Leaders
a. Jeanette Heidewald will work on scripts for phone banking
2. David Pace will do Publicity
3. Mary Runnell took our minuets this week, but we need a formal secretary
4. Set Up Group on mybo, post actions and blogs
Materials:
1. Product for the Volunteers
a. Rob will make a sheet of button prints and work on the design tonight, intended to say "Volunteers For Change"
b. Button Teams Kelley Latshaw and Terri Bleuel will begin making Buttons
c. Bumper Stickers for change “Volunteers for Change”
2. Sign up Sheets for Volunteers with our logo, Rob Price
(read more)Gathering food for the winter
Monroe County Indiana carried the day this election for Obama and was responsible in large measure for Indiana turning Blue! While we patiently wait for January 20th 2009 we are planning what we can do for our community at this time! In Monroe County IN we are planning to work together gathering food for our local food bank. I think this is a good suggestion for a current project for Obama Volunteers Nationally. With unemployment raising and many of our food banks empty or running low we need to help our communities stock our food banks for the winter,
In Bloomington, IN Hoosier Hills Food Bank collects food that is then distributed to 99 agency programs in six counties. Forty two percent of Monroe Counties total population wages are below the poverty guidelines. If you exclude every person who COULD be an Indiana University Student; 15%, going to school and working part time, it still leaves 26 percent of Monroe County Residents living in poverty. Even at 26 percent Monroe County’s poverty level is well above the national poverty rate of 12.5 percent and the Indiana rate of 12.3 percent.
Source: US Census 2006, 2007 American Community Survey
We are submitting this as a suggested volunteer effort for November – December 2008 for our Obama Volunteers. Meeting announcement to follow.
(read more)
Tighten Your Belt And Pick Up A Broom, Bob
Chrysler CEO says it would be difficult for automaker to survive without federal aid
DETROIT (AP) -- Chrysler Chief Executive Bob Nardelli says his company will have a difficult time making it through the economic downturn without federal aid.Chrysler spokeswoman Katie Hepler said Nardelli made the remark on Thursday at the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Desert, Calif.
She says Nardelli reiterated his support for federal aid to help the Detroit Three make it through the worst U.S. auto sales slump in 25 years.
Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC are asking Congress for up to $50 billion in federal loans because they are running low on cash.
According to Hepler, Nardelli was asked if Chrysler could go it alone without government aid.
"It would be very difficult to make it through this unprecedented downturn," he said in response, according to Hepler.
U.S. auto industry sales are down nearly 15 percent through the first 10 months of the year because of tight credit and eroding consumer confidence due to economic worries.
October's seasonally adjusted annual sales rate dropped to 10.6 million vehicles, the lowest in more than 25 years. Chrysler's sales dropped 26 percent for the first 10 months and 35 percent in October.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081113/bailout_nardelli.html
(read more)Obama Wins
Thanks to everyone!
Let's win this Senate race in Georgia. Vote on Dec. 2nd for Jim Martin.
Thanks,
(read more)yes we did!
Last two weeks of the campaign were difficult for me; my mother died on October 23 at the age of 89. I suspended making calls until the day before the election. Made over 170 calls on Monday and Tuesday.
Now we need to stay fired up and keep Obama to a progressive agenda. He's got a strong mandate.He can repudiate the strong executive, the unfettered surveilance... We can return to a constitutional republic and rule of law. Yes we can!
Work we've done is a good start. Now for a lot more work!
(read more)Indiana Is Blue!
This is so remarkable, we did it!!
MSNBC called it just after 2 AM ET.
(read more)Vote, Baby, Vote - It's All About The "Ground Game' Now!
Fired UP?
You betcha!!
(read more)Indiana 08
Here in Indiana we pride ourselves on being fair. Now we hear that the GOP has tried to stop the early voting by going to the Indiana Supreme Court. They lost their petition to close the polls but this is another example of how the republicans continue to try to steal elections. 2000 wasn't good enough for them, one of the worst fraud filled elections in modern US history, they know they can't win in a fair election. Not since Henry Clay used his power in the House of Representitives to buy a power position has this country felt so abused by a party. It was FRAUD then, it is FRAUD now. Everyone deserves to vote no matter what party they choose. This is the land of the free, yet Bush and his party feel that means free to use every means available to win.
The long lines in Ohio, Florida and the hanging chad and the Supreme Court have all been used to keep a large number of votes from either being cast or counted. We all know that politics is a dirty business and it has been that way for generations. We the public need to stand up and say enough is enough and insure that everyone gets to vote and all votes need to be counted. Indiana put in place a law that makes everyone who votes have a gov. ID. to insure there is no further voter fraud. This state has not EVER had a major case of voter fraud and I'm not sure if we ever had any case. This law was put in place by the republicans to put up obsticles for the poor and elderly who have to go wait in long lines at the BMV to receive said ID. The only good side to this law is if you can't afford ID they must give you one anyway. My question is why do we put up walls for any voter? The above mentioned people tend to vote Democrat, wonder why now?
The election will be over soon and we will here of fraud, we will hear of long lines, we will hear of votes not being counted and we will have court cases. This is sad in a country that sends observers to other countries to stop voter fraud. Fox watching the hen house if you ask most people today. We as Americans must stop this kind of election issues. We need other nations to watch our polls so nobody cheats in our elections. Never going to happen, it is up to all of us to put a stop to this kind of politics. Those who have died or served during wars didn't do so for this kind of crap. If the goverment can't put an end to this fraud, we may have to step up. I'm not asking for a new revolution, but I'm not ruling it out either. This isn't about poor vs. rich, this isn't white vs. black, this is about parties out of control and right now it happens to be republicans in the spotlight. Democrats have done their fair share in the past but it all needs to be stopped.
I look forward to this Tuesday and can only hope that this year is not a repeat of 2000. I have chosen to work the polls to do what I can at my local polling place to insure a better and fairer election. I am only one person so I don't think that somehow I alone can stop politics as usual but it is one place. This nation must pull together and if we get enough people in the polling places then we can make a real difference. We take for granted that our rights will always be here. Nations around the world have people who wish they could vote, we have that right, yet we are to lazy a nation to get up off our butts and do something as easy as voting. Let's take back this country that so many have died for. VVVVVVVVVVVVOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEE!
(read more)Bloomington Indiana
Saturday in Bloomington on a Beautiful fall day is full of people heading to Brown County, just a few miles away, to watch the leaves change into what seems like a thousand different colors. People from hundreds of miles drive here to see the leaves from the rolling hills that surround Bloomington and Nashville. The Indiana University campus looks great this time of year as well. IU has many things on campus that look wonderful against the limestone buildings scattered around town. These are the things that a person would normally see in Bloomington on a Saturday during a crisp fall day. Some people are still watching these things but at the Curry Building, downtown Bloomington has a line of people who can't wait to vote.
Bloomington almost never has a say in an election so most people just watch from the sidelines as the East Coast decides our next President. This election is so different from all those others. People are willing to wait in line for their chance to cast their vote. The line is full of older people that you kind of expect to be there, but something is different this election, young people are excited and they too are voting. Senator Obama might not win the Presidency this election, but he created something we haven't seen in years, excitement.
Many of the people in line are smiling and laughing as they wait 20 - 30 minutes to vote. They are excited that this state gets to be a part of this historic election. They talk about seeing a canidate with a ring of truth in his words. This man has the look and feel that he wants to change business as usual in Washington, but he has something else, he came from the place most of us came from. Senator Obama wants to change this country, he has. I have never seen so many people patiently waiting in a line to do anything.
As this election heads into the the last few days I get the chance to work for the campaign one last time before election Tuesday. I work the polls in Bloomington so I can't talk politics anymore. I have to sit back and watch from the sidelines as people cast their vote. This is fine with me, I get to stand and listen to others talk as they wait. I get to be a part of this historic election in more than one way, I get to vote of course, but now I get to actually become a working part of this election. Monday I will go out and talk with Senator Obama supporters and make sure they know where to go on Tuesday to vote. We will make sure the people have their photo ID., a newer law in Indiana that some still don't know about. On Tuesday I go from a campaign suppoter to another government worker without a voice. I have already voted so my voice has already been heard so I don't mind.
As people vote here in Bloomington we sit and watch as person after person steps to the line and waits their time before voting. This is not a normal fall day in Bloomington Indiana but we will enjoy it just the same. The leaves will be here every year, the limestone buildings on IU. will be there year after year, but you only see an election like this once in a lifetime. Do you hear the clock in the background? It's telling everyone it's time to get out and vote, it's telling us that a new day is upon us and we need change. Senator Obama is that change and it's up to us to give him that charge. Washington can change but we have to change it, we must have our voice heard, our vote is that voice.
(read more)Now Is The Time
Now is the time to change the direction of this country. Now is the time to have healthcare for all, not tax the health care benefits of some. Now is the time to help students afford college, not stick with the status quo. Now is the time to improve our standing in the world, not become more isolated. Now is the time to value the American workers not the CEO. Now is the time for America to build its infrastructure not ignore collapsing bridges and levees. Now is the time America should start making its on products, food, and toys not allow China to poison our pets and kids. Now is the time to believe in each other not question our neighbors patriotism.
Now is the Time to vote for OBAMA and send this Super Power into its Golden Age!
(read more)Sunrise or Sunset in America?
Sunrise or Sunset In America?
Okay, here’s my prediction, and I’ve been saying this for the last few months: If Obama wins, he’ll win either small (3 to 4 points) or large (10 or more points).
In recent presidential elections, 10 or more points would be considered a landslide. If that happens, a lot of down ticket Democrats are going to win too. Recent polls indicate we’re heading in that direction. We’ll see.
If Obama wins, I hope he appoints a veteran Prosecutor as Attorney General. This totally preventable financial meltdown is hurting a lot people, and it’s going to hurt a lot more. As we descend into some very hard economic times, people are going to be mad as hell and looking for some justice. It would serve Obama and the American people if his administration goes after the tens of thousands of people who created and benefited from this vast, epic Ponzi scheme. Let’s see some perp walks!
And speaking of justice, it's not going to be served up by our mainstream press. If Obama wins, I'm thinking on November 5th the media (led by Fox), is going to back up a dump truck with all of the Bush Administration failures, and dump it on Barack. Then the media shouting will begin. Obama, fix all of this stuff. Now!! There will be no mention of Bush or Cheney. The running theme will be, if the Obama Administration doesn't cure cancer, then it's a failure.
The other thing I’d like to see from an Obama win is a national plan to rebuild passenger rail between cities, commuter rail in our top 25 metro areas along with electric powered light rail, trolleys and buses for the top 50 cities. This would be a massive undertaking that would have many benefits. It would also get us out in front of the declining oil resources that have essentially stabilized in many oil fields and are rapidly declining in most others.
We’d better try to build this transportation system soon, or one day in the not too distant future, most of us are not going to be able to get from here to there.
If McCain/Palin wins (steals this one), head for the hills (or the streets)! The unmistakeable signal to the world is that America has quit our experiment in self government. Democracy on the run.
(read more)Remarks of Senator Obama, Indianapolis, IN, Oct. 23, 2008
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama (Indianapolis, IN) Indianapolis, IN | October 23, 2008 It is fitting that we meet today on the mall of the American Legion, surrounded by monuments to our nation's heroes. Because on this day, 25 years ago, the Marine barracks in Beirut were bombed. 241 Americans laid down their lives for this country and for the peace they were there to protect. We revere their service. We honor their sacrifice. And we keep their families in our prayers.
We will never forget them.
Indiana, in just 12 days, you'll have the chance to elect your next President. And you'll have the chance to bring the change we need to Washington. That's the good news. But we're going to have to work, and struggle, and fight for every single one of those 12 days to move our country in a new direction.
I am hopeful about the outcome. We were thrilled this weekend when a great American statesman, General Colin Powell, joined our cause. But we cannot let up. And we won't.
Because one thing we know is that change never comes without a fight. In the final days of campaigns, the say-anything, do-anything politics too often takes over. We've seen it before. And we're seeing it again today. The ugly phone calls. The misleading mail and TV ads. The careless, outrageous comments. All aimed at keeping us from working together, all aimed at stopping change.
Well, what we need now is not misleading charges and divisive attacks. What we need is honest leadership and real change, and that's why I'm running for President of the United States.
Now, more than ever, this campaign has to be about the problems facing the American people - because this is a moment of great uncertainty for America.
We're facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The Dow plummeted again yesterday, threatening the job security, retirement security, and economic security of millions of ordinary Americans. Indiana lost 4,500 manufacturing jobs in September alone. And just today, we learned that more and more Americans are filing for unemployment. Home values are falling. Foreclosures are rising. Wages are shrinking. And the cost of health care and college tuition has never been higher.
And that's what this election is all about - because John McCain and I have real differences about how to get us out of this economic mess. You see, Senator McCain thinks the economic policies of George W. Bush are just right for America. In the Senate, he's voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Said earlier this year that we've made "great progress" over the last eight years. And while Senator McCain says now that he's different from President Bush, you sure couldn't tell by the policies he's proposing.
Just yesterday, Senator McCain strongly defended the Bush policy of lavishing tax cuts on corporations that ship American jobs overseas. He made the peculiar argument that the best way to stop companies from shipping jobs overseas is to give more tax cuts to companies that ship jobs overseas. More tax cuts for job outsourcers. That's what Senator McCain proposed as his answer to outsourcing.
He said that's - quote - "simple fundamental economics."
Well, Indiana, my opponent may call that "fundamental economics," but we know that's just another name for the Wall Street first, Main Street last economic philosophy we've had for the past eight years - and that's fundamentally wrong.
If Senator McCain wants to defend tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, that's his choice. But I say, let's end tax cuts for companies that ship American jobs overseas, and give them to companies that create good jobs right here in Indiana - in the United States of America.
If he wants to defend free trade agreements designed to protect the profits of multinational corporations and a trade policy that lets countries like China tilt the playing field against our workers, that's up to him. But I say, we need a trade policy that protects the dreams of hardworking Americans.
If he wants to defend a tax code that's more than 10,000 pages long and filled with loopholes written in by corporate lobbyists like the ones running his campaign, he's got every right. He has every right to defend offshore tax havens that let companies avoid paying taxes here in America. But I say, it's time to close corporate loopholes, shut offshore tax havens, and restore balance and fairness to our tax code.
By the way, did you know that there's a building in the Cayman Islands that supposedly houses 18,000 corporations. That's either the biggest building or the biggest tax scam on record. And I think we know which one it is.
That's the system my opponent defends. That's the system he wants to preserve. Well, Indiana, we've tried it John McCain's way. We've tried it George Bush's way. And we're here today to say enough is enough. We can't afford four more years of their "fundamental economics." That's why I'm running for President of the United States of America.
You see, I have a different notion of fundamental economics than my opponent. Because where I come from, there's nothing more fundamental than a good-paying job. There's nothing more fundamental than being able to pay your health care bills, put your kids through college, or retire with dignity and security. There's nothing more fundamental than the American dream - and that's the dream we can reclaim if you stand with me on November 4.
I know we can do this. I know we can steer ourselves out of this crisis. Because I believe in you. I believe in the American people.
We are the United States of America. We are a nation that's faced down war and depression; great challenges and great threats. And at each and every moment, we have risen to meet these challenges - not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Americans. With resolve. With confidence. With that fundamental belief that here in America, our destiny is not written for us; it's written by us. That's who we are, and that's the country we need to be right now.
But Indiana, I know this. It will take a new direction. It will take new leadership in Washington. It will take a real change in the policies and politics of the last eight years. And that's why I'm running for President of the United States.
It's time to turn the page on eight years of economic policies that put Wall Street before Main Street but ended up hurting both. We need policies that grow our economy from the bottom-up, so that every American, everywhere, has the chance to get ahead. Not just the person who owns the factory, but the men and women who work on its floor. Because if we've learned anything from this economic crisis, it's that we're all connected; we're all in this together; and we will rise or fall as one nation - as one people.
The rescue plan that passed the Congress was a necessary first step to easing this credit crisis, but if we're going to rebuild this economy from the bottom up, we need an immediate rescue plan for the middle-class - and that's what I will do as President of the United States.
Nine months ago, I called for a stimulus plan to provide immediate relief for states, along with tax rebates to get money directly to middle class families and a foreclosure prevention fund to help people keep their homes. Senator McCain's advisors openly mocked the stimulus plan before Congress - one referred to it, and I quote, as "borrowing money from the Chinese and dropping it from helicopters." Another dismissed it as "junk."
Just this week, after nine straight months of job losses, when our Federal Reserve Chairman supports another stimulus to get our economy moving, Senator McCain said he doesn't think we need to pass this stimulus immediately. Well, the working families who've been hard hit by this economic crisis - folks who can't pay their mortgages or their medical bills or send their kids to college - they can't afford to go to the back of the line behind CEOs and Wall Street banks. They need help right here, right now - and that's why I'm running for President of the United States.
I've proposed a new American jobs tax credit for each new employee that companies hire here in the United States over the next two years. And I'll help make sure the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow are built not just in South Korea or Japan, but right here in Indiana.
Few have been harder hit by our credit crisis than the workers who make our cars and the companies that supply their parts. Now, when it came to rescuing Wall Street, Washington didn't waste a minute. But now that auto-workers are suffering, Washington's put on the breaks. It turns out it could take a year for the auto industry to get the loan guarantees we passed a few weeks ago.
Well, the workers who are being laid off and the companies that are seeing their sales drop - they can't afford to wait a year, they need help right now. That's why I've called on Washington to fast-track those loan guarantees and provide more as needed - because that's how we'll secure our auto jobs and save our auto industry.
I'll also help small businesses by eliminating capital gains taxes and giving them emergency loans to keep their doors open and hire workers. I'll put a three-month moratorium on foreclosures so that we can give homeowners the breathing room they need to get back on their feet. And I will create a Jobs and Growth fund to help states and local governments save one million jobs and pay for health care and education without having to raise your taxes.
These are the steps that we must take - right now - to start getting our economy back on track. But we also need a new set of priorities to grow our economy and create jobs over the long-term.
It starts with tax relief. There's been a lot of talk about taxes in this campaign. And the truth is, my opponent and I are both proposing tax cuts. The difference is, he wants to give a $700,000 tax cut to the average Fortune 500 CEO. I want to put a middle class tax cut in the pockets of 95% of workers and their families. My opponent doesn't want you to know this, but under my plan, tax rates for middle class families will actually be less than they were under Ronald Reagan.
It's true that I want to roll back the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans and go back to the rate they paid under Bill Clinton. John McCain calls that socialism. What he forgets is that just a few years ago, he himself said those Bush tax cuts were irresponsible. He said he couldn't "in good conscience" support a tax cut where the benefits went to the wealthy at the expense of "middle class Americans who most need tax relief." Well, he was right then, and I am right now.
Let me be crystal clear: If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year - which includes 98% of small business owners - you won't see your taxes increase one single dime. Not your payroll taxes, not your income taxes, not your capital gains taxes - nothing. That is my commitment to you.
For the last eight years, we've given more and more to those with the most and hoped that prosperity would trickle down to everyone else. And guess what? It didn't. So it's time to try something new. It's time to grow this economy from the bottom-up. It's time to invest in the middle-class again.
If I am President, I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new, green jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and fuel-efficient cars; jobs that will help us end our dependence on oil from Middle East dictators.
I'll also put two million more Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling roads, schools, and bridges - because it is time to build an American infrastructure for the 21st century. And if people ask how we're going to pay for this, you tell them that if we can spend $10 billion a month in Iraq, we can spend some money to rebuild America.
If I am President, I will finally fix the problems in our health care system that we've been talking about for too long. This issue is personal for me. My mother died of ovarian cancer at the age of 53, and I'll never forget how she spent the final months of her life lying in a hospital bed, fighting with her insurance company because they claimed that her cancer was a pre-existing condition and didn't want to pay for treatment. If I am President, I will make sure those insurance companies can never do that again.
My health care plan will make sure insurance companies can't discriminate against those who are sick and need care most. If you have health insurance, the only thing that will change under my plan is that we will lower premiums. If you don't have health insurance, you'll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that Members of Congress get for themselves. And we'll invest in preventative care and new technology to finally lower the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the entire economy. That's the change we need.
And if I'm President, we'll give every child, everywhere the skills and the knowledge they need to compete with any worker, anywhere in the world. I will not allow countries to out-teach us today so they can out-compete us tomorrow. It is time to provide every American with a world-class education. That means investing in early childhood education. That means recruiting an army of new teachers, and paying them better, and giving them more support in exchange for higher standards and more accountability.
And it means investing in agricultural education. From seeing all those blue corduroy jackets in the crowd, I know there's a Future Farmers of America convention here in Indianapolis. And I want you to know that if I'm elected President, I will fight for you - because America's farmers are America's future. And it's time we had a President who understood that.
We need to make sure every American who has the drive and the will but not the money can go to college. My opponent's top economic advisor actually said that they have no plan to invest in college affordability because we can't have a giveaway to every special interest. Well I don't think the young people of America are a special interest - they are the future of this country. That's why I'll make this deal with you: if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition. No ifs, ands or buts. You invest in America, America will invest in you, and together, we will move this country forward.
Now, make no mistake: the change we need won't come easy or without cost. We will all need to tighten our belts, we will all need to sacrifice and we will all need to pull our weight because now more than ever, we are all in this together.
At a defining moment like this, we don't have the luxury of relying on the same political games and the same political tactics that are used every election to divide us from one another and make us afraid of one another. With the challenges and crises we face right now, we cannot afford to divide this country by class or region; by who we are or what policies we support.
There are no real or fake parts of this country. We are not separated by the pro-America and anti-America parts of this nation - we all love this country, no matter where we live or where we come from. There are patriots who supported this war in Iraq and patriots who opposed it; patriots who believe in Democratic policies and those who believe in Republican policies. The men and women from Indiana and all across America who serve on our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.
We have always been at our best when we've had leadership that called us to look past our differences and come together as one nation, as one people; leadership that rallied this entire country to a common purpose - to a higher purpose. And I am running for President of the United States of America because that is the country we need to be right now.
This country and the dream it represents are being tested in a way that we haven't seen in nearly a century. And future generations will judge ours by how we respond to this test. Will they say that this was a time when America lost its way and its purpose? When we allowed the same divisions and fear tactics and our own petty differences to plunge this country into a dark and painful recession?
Or will they say that this was another one of those moments when America overcame? When we battled back from adversity by recognizing that common stake that we have in each other's success?
This is one of those moments. I realize you're cynical and fed up with politics. I understand that you're disappointed and even angry with your leaders. You have every right to be. But despite all of this, I ask of you what's been asked of the American people in times of trial and turmoil throughout our history. I ask you to believe - to believe in yourselves, in each other, and in the future we can build together.
Together, we cannot fail. Not now. Not when we have a crisis to solve and an economy to save. Not when there are so many Americans without jobs and without homes. Not when there are families who can't afford to see a doctor, or send their child to college, or pay their bills at the end of the month. Not when there is a generation that is counting on us to give them the same opportunities and the same chances that we had for ourselves.
We can do this. Americans have done this before. Some of us had grandparents or parents who said maybe I can't go to college but my child can; maybe I can't have my own business but my child can. I may have to rent, but maybe my children will have a home they can call their own. I may not have a lot of money but maybe my child will run for Senate. I might live in a small village but maybe someday my son can be president of the United States of America.
Now it falls to us. Together, we cannot fail. And I need you to make it happen. If you want the next four years looking like the last eight, then I am not your candidate. But if you want real change - if you want an economy that rewards work, and that works for Main Street and Wall Street; if you want tax relief for the middle class and millions of new jobs; if you want health care you can afford and education that helps your kids compete; then I ask you to knock on some doors, make some calls, talk to your neighbors, and give me your vote.
In Indiana, you can vote early right here, and right now. To find out how, just go to voteforchange.com. And if you stand with me, I promise you - we will win Indiana, we will win this election, and then you and I - together - will change this country and change this world. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.
(read more)VOTE EARLY!! Take A Friend, A Neighbor, A Stranger - Take 3 or 4 Of Each!!
Fired UP!!
(read more)Few days remain
Not much longer for a campaign that has been going on for the past 2 years. I'm not sure what the news channels will talk about after the election. The top stories for at least 2 years has been politics. Now what? The election is only a week away and the people who have worked for Senator Obama's campaign are still working hard and have yet to miss a beat. Many people have spent many hours of many days to get us to this point. I just want to take the time to thank so mant people who have given their time to a campaign for the ages.
Without all the people working long hours to get the word out and getting the new generation of people registered I believe we probably wouldn't have had a chance. Though I couldn't help as much as I would have liked due to a disability, there are thousand of people across the country that gave up their lives to work for real change. We now have a few days left and we will know who the next President and what road this nation will take. The people of this campaign continue to fight for a belief that we must change now. I can imagine how tired these people are but they don't show it. I haven't seen so many people get together for a single cause in my lifetime and I can't say enough about them. Thanks for all the work, thanks for leading the charge, most of all thanks for giving this nation a chance. Because of you, this nation can return to it's former leadership role on the world stage. Thanks for giving of yourselves as my Father, and Grandfather did in WWII and Vietnam. There have been no bullets and no air raids but this fight has taken place on streets across this great nation. Thank you so much and let's all watch Senator Obama become the next President of the United States.
(read more)Bloomington Indiana
I don't know the record in Indiana for early voting, but we have to be pretty close to it. The lines have begun to get a little longer and it is of course taking longer to get to vote. People aren't complaining about it, they all seem to be having a good time. I have never seen so many people who don't know each other having so much in common. People at the polls smiling, that is not NORMAL. It's so nice to see the voters cracking jokes and truly feeling that this election could really change our countries future and everyone feels a part of something really special.
Yes I hope Senator Obama wins, but in the end I want to see EVERYONE get out and vote. This election means more to this nation than just who becomes President. This country is on the edge of something that has not been seen since Lincoln. The country can't continue to hold together so long as the "right and left" are so far apart. We are Americans not red, not blue but Americans. If we are going to survive as a nation we must come together and lead this country back in the right direction. Get out and vote, there is nothing more important this year, so get out and vote.
(read more)Oct. Indianapolis 2008
Senator Obama made a stop in Indianapolis Indiana yesterday. I wasn't able to go but talked to friends and the Indianapolis news channels. The crowd was huge and the energy was amazing. Senator Obama was late but nobody seemed to care. Senator Obama talked about many things, from the economy to the Indiana early voting rules. He asked those who could vote early should do so. Indiana has at least 2 weeks of voting and in some place they can even vote on Saturday.
Senator Obama arrived to a standing ovation and even though he was about an hour late the crowd didn't appear to be upset. He has been to Indiana many times since he entered the race 2 years ago. We keep hoping he will come to Bloomington again. My friends that were able to go said the crowd was electric and listened quietly to Senator Obama talk about the economy, taxes and Indiana's voter laws.
Indiana allows early voting even if you aren't going to be absent the day of the election. In Bloomington we have seen a lot of early voting. I voted last week because I will be democrat sheriff at a local polling place. The lines have been short so people shoudn't have any reasons not to vote early. The lines move very quickly as the ladies that are running the early voting office are doing a great job. In most cases you can vote in less than 20 minutes. This is a great way for elderly, disabled or business people who might have trouble getting away long enough to vote. Many people in Indana don't understand that they can vote early so we are getting the word out.
As Senator Obama gave his speech in Indianapolis people started to move toward the city/ county building just off Alabama and Market street. After the speech the crowd that overtook the city/ county building was led by a local step club who danced all the way to the door. Indianapolis registered the most early votes in one day in Indianapolis history. Thousands have voted daily both in Indianapolis, Bloomington and much of Indiana. The laws are clear here in Indiana but the state doesn't advertise the facts about the law so many don't go.
The laws are in Indiana are clear on early voting but the state doesn't advertise them, many don't go for that reason. This is great for the elderly and disabled as you can get in and out in about 20 minutes. This also gives people time if they don't have the correct papers needed to vote. Here in Bloomington the ladies are great, they tell a person exactly what is needed and explain how to get them. This is not so easy to do on election day, many never vote because the lines at the BMV are to long with people getting their I.D. .
This law was put in place by a republican administration to insure there is no voter fraud. Indiana has not had a problem with that so the law was put in place to make it harder for elderly and disabled people to vote. Many ederly don't have state issued I.D. because many don't drive. The republicans ie. Mitch Daniels claim that the state will give then the card free but know that the lines are long at the BMV so most just give up. The way we can stop the effectiveness of this ploy is to vote early and find out with at least a week what they need from the state. Now the elderly and disabled can get this I.D. during slower times at the BMV.
Let's follow Senator Obama's words and get out and vote now. This keeps the republican's from using the I.D. law against the largest group of democrat voters. Get the voting done know and sit back and watch the next President of the United States, Obama/ Biden. This is the time we take back Washington and put the U.S. in the leading role we have had for 200 years before Bush destroyed that role and has put us in line for a collapsing economy. Vote Now.........
VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, VOTE NOW, DON'T WAIT, DON'T WAIT, DON'T WAIT, DON'T WAIT, DON'T WAIT, DON'T WAIT. INDIANA EARLY VOTING, INDIANA EARLY VOTING, INDIANA EARLY VOTING, INDIANA EARLY VOTING. INDIANA EARLY VOTING, CALL YOUR LOCAL CLERKS OFFICE FOR TIMES, CALL YOUR LOCAL CLERKS OFFICE FOR TIMES. DON'T FORGET STATE OR FEDERAL PHOTO I.D. , DON'T FORGT STATE OR FEDERAL PHOTO I.D. . TAKE BACK WASHINGTON NOW, TAKE BACK WASHINGTON NOW, TAKE BACK WASHINGTON NOW,. ((((((((((((GET OUT THE VOTE AND HELP GIVE RIDES TO VOTERS))))))))))))). CHECK YOUR NEIGHBORS AND SEE IF THEY NEED A RIDE TO THE POLLS.................................... MANY ELDERLY AND DISABLED DON'T DRIVE AND NEED HELP TO GET TO THE POLLS, WE NEED EVERY VOTE OUT THERE. THEY MAY NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THEIR VOTES COUNT. 08,08,08,08,08,08,08,08. CALL YOUR LOCAL CLERK TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU NEED TO GO IF YOU ARE NOT SURE.
(read more)
HELP WIN INDIANA'S EDITORIAL PAGE BATTLE WITH YOUR LETTER/OPINION/EDITORIAL AND THIS AMAZING "LIVE" LIST OF ALL INDIANA'S NEWSPAPERS
There's still time to win the battle for INDIANA's Editorial Pages: Please use this list at usnpl.com;OHIO'S NEWSPAPERS, Taken from this "LIVE URL": http://www.usnpl.com/INnews.php
[plus, below, the 6 PART OpEdNews Compendium of Major EDITORIAL PAGE Endorsements Thus Far]
Newspapers
Click ( A ) for Newspaper address
Click ( C ) for County summary
Alexandria The Alexandria Times-Tribune (A) (C)
Anderson Anderson Herald Bulletin (A) (C)
Auburn The Evening Star (A) (C)
Batesville The Herald Tribune (A) (C)
Bedford Bedford Times-Mail (A) (C)
Bloomington The Herald-Times (A) (C)
Bluffton Bluffton News Banner (A) (C)
Brazil The Brazil Times (A) (C)
Brookville Brookville American-Democrat (A) (C)
Brownstown Jackson County Banner (A) (C)
Chesterton Chesterton Tribune (A) (C)
Cloverdale Hoosier Topics (A) (C)
Columbia City The Post & Mail (A) (C)
Columbus The Republic (A) (C)
Connersville News Examiner (A) (C)
Corydon The Corydon Democrat (A) (C)
Crawfordsville Journal Review (A) (C)
Crawfordsville The Paper of Montgomery County (A) (C)
Decatur Decatur Daily Democrat (A) (C)
Elkhart The Elkhart Truth (A) (C)
Elwood The Call-Leader (A) (C)
Evansville Evansville Courier (A) (C)
Evansville News 4U (A) (C)
Flora Carroll County Comet (A) (C)
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (A) (C)
Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Reader (A) (C)
Fort Wayne Ink Newspaper (A) (C)
Fort Wayne The News-Sentinel (A) (C)
Frankfort The Times (A) (C)
Franklin Daily Journal of Johnson County (A) (C)
French Lick Springs Valley Herald (A) (C)
Goshen Goshen News (A) (C)
Greencastle Banner-Graphic (A) (C)
Greenfield Daily Reporter (A) (C)
Greensburg Greensburg Daily News (A) (C)
Hartford City Hartford City News-Times (A) (C)
Huntington Herald Press (A) (C)
Indianapolis Indianapolis Business Journal (A) (C)
Indianapolis Indianapolis Star (A) (C)
Indianapolis Indy Outlook (A) (C)
Indianapolis Nuvo Newsweekly (A) (C)
Indianapolis The Indianapolis Recorder (A) (C)
Indianapolis The Southside Times (A) (C)
Jeffersonville Evening News and Tribune (A) (C)
Kendallville Kendallville News-Sun (A) (C)
Kokomo Kokomo Perspective (A) (C)
Kokomo Kokomo Tribune (A) (C)
La Porte Herald-Argus (A) (C)
Lafayette Journal & Courier (A) (C)
Lebanon The Reporter (A) (C)
Linton The Daily World (A) (C)
Logansport Pharos-Tribune (A) (C)
Madison Madison Courier Online (A) (C)
Marion Chronicle-Tribune (A) (C)
Martinsville The Reporter Times (A) (C)
Merrillville Gary Post Tribune (A) (C)
Michigan City The News-Dispatch (A) (C)
Monticello Herald Journal (A) (C)
Mooresville Mooresville Times (A) (C)
Muncie NewsLink Indiana (A) (C)
Muncie The Star Press (A) (C)
Munster The Times (A) (C)
Nashville Brown County Democrat (A) (C)
New Castle The Courier Times (A) (C)
New Harmony Posey County News (A) (C)
New Paris The Farmer's Exchange (A) (C)
Newburgh Newburgh Chandler Register (A) (C)
Noblesville Noblesville Daily Times (A) (C)
Noblesville The Noblesville Ledger (A) (C)
Noblesville Topics Newspapers (A) (C)
North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun (A) (C)
Paoli Paoli News-Republican (A) (C)
Peru Peru Tribune (A) (C)
Plainfield The Flyer Group Newspapers (A) (C)
Plymouth The Pilot News (A) (C)
Portland Commercial Review (A) (C)
Princeton Princeton Daily Clarion (A) (C)
Rensselaer Rensselaer Republican Newspaper (A) (C)
Richmond Palladium-Item (A) (C)
Rochester Rochester Sentinel (A) (C)
Rushville Rushville Republican (A) (C)
Seymour Seymour Tribune (A) (C)
Shelbyville Shelbyville News (A) (C)
South Bend South Bend Tribune (A) (C)
Spencer Spencer Evening World (A) (C)
Terre Haute Journal of Business (A) (C)
Terre Haute Tribune-Star (A) (C)
Tipton Tipton County Tribune (A) (C)
Versailles Osgood Journal (A) (C)
Versailles Versailles Republican (A) (C)
Vincennes Vincennes Sun-Commercial (A) (C)
Wabash Wabash Plain Dealer (A) (C)
Warsaw Times-Union (A) (C)
Zionsville Times Sentinel (A) (C)
College Newspapers
Anderson Univ News and Events
Ball State Univ News
Butler Univ DawgNet
DePauw Univ theDePauw.com
Goshen College Record
Indiana State Univ Indiana Statesman
Indiana Univ Bloomington Digital Student
Notre Dame Observer
Purdue Univ Exponent
Purdue Univ Calumet Chronicle
Purdue Univ Indianapolis Sagamore
Wabash College Bachelor
********
Editorial Page Victories clarify: Obama will win 2-1 in Electoral College! 6 part compendium, posted in full at OpEdNews.com---
Endorsements at OpEdNews: Washington Post, Houston, Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Salt Lake, Philadelphia, Portland, Bangor, Sacramento, Kansas City (4 former Red States)
OpEdNews has been the site of choice to post the growing list of major and minor newspaper endorsements for Obama. The Editorials are quoted generally in full, with interspliced commentaries from major editors and commentators, explaining what is behind the Editorials.
Part I Obama's Editorial Endorsements: including Washington Post, Fidel Castro, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, & more!
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Endorsements-The-by-Stephen-Fox-081016-633.html
*******
Part II Editorial Page Endorsements of Obama Denver Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francsico Chronicle, Los Angeles Times
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Editorial-Page-Endorsement-by-Stephen-Fox-081017-544.html
********
Part III New Endorsements: Salt Lake City Tribune, Bangor and Brunswick, Maine, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Kansas City
http://www.opednews.com/articles/EndorspLements-Salt-Lake-Ci-by-Stephen-Fox-081018-476.html
********
More Obama Endorsements IV: Sacramento, Katie Couric, Malaysia, Houston Chronicle, Detroit, Waco Tx (sort of)
http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Obama-Endorsements-IV-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-492.html
********
Endorsements 5: Cleveland, Austin, St.Pete, Gainesville,Tuscaloosa, Orlando
http://www.opednews.com/articles/ENDORSEMENTS-5-Cleveland-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-341.html
********
ENDORSEMENTS 6: College Station,New Haven,San Antonio,Columbus,Las Vegas,Lexington KY
http://www.opednews.com/articles/ENDORSEMENTS-6-College-St-by-Stephen-Fox-081020-511.html
********
If your time permits, please TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS, which become a vital part of a larger on-going dialogue.
Thank you, Stephen Fox Founder, New Millennium Fine Art
Contributing Editor New Millennium Fine Art Santa Fe, NM (read more)
Indiana 08
This election is the biggest in our lifetime and with many states already stating that their machines aren't working properly, also known as lets only count McCain and screw another election. Get out and vote early so you won't have the long lines in November. I will be working as the Democrat Sheriff so I can watch the polls at my location. If you can help out at your local polls this year do so, if you can't, just keep your eyes open and notify someone immediatly and report problems or fraud. Don't think someone else is going to report it. This election is to big and we must insure that another election isn't lost to fraud. We owe it to our country to keep this election fair and do anything we can do to help. We have just spent the last 8 years under the worst president in US history, don't force us to do 8 or even 4 years more with Bush II. (read more)Take Some Friends, Neighbors, Strangers To "EARLY VOTE"!
Fired UP!!
(read more)Don't Let 'Em Fool Us - It's All About A Successful Ground Game Now
Fired UP!!
(read more)McCain's Tax Plans Also Redistribute Wealth
I'm tired of the class-warfare accusations, especially when McCain wants to continue a practice that promotes it! Here is a small piece from my HuffPo blog today (please visit it and comment on it so your voice can be heard across the nation!):
"A recent study by the Tax Policy Center shows that a hard working individual with a total income of $19,000 would see a $100 savings under McCain's plan compared to a $900 savings under Obama's plan. So what happens to that $800 under McCain's plan? All of that money, plus some, instead goes to the family that makes $225,000, where McCain's plan gives them $4,400 in tax breaks instead of the $2,800 in tax breaks that Obama's plan does.
In other words, McCain takes $800 from someone making $19,000 a year and gives it to the family that makes $225,000."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-rotchford/mccains-tax-plans-also-re_b_135522.html
(read more)Voting in Bloomington Indiana
Here in Bloomington the early voting is going great. As we get closer to election day a few long lines have popped up at the polling office. I don't remember ever seeing so many people voting early. The buzz for change is moving many 1st time voters and most seem to be very unhappy with the direction this government has been on for 8 years. I know many Republicans that are voting for Senator Obama because they just can't stand Senator McCain. With so few day left everyone is getting ready for election day and praying for Senator Obama and our country. I hope everyone who can vote will get out and vote. This is the most important election since Kennedy and our country can't take 4 more years of the disaster in the White House. (read more)Early Voting
Here in Indiana the early vote is going at record pace. The lines are not real long and those lines that do get a little long are moving quickly. I voted 2 days ago and only spent 10 minutes in line and 2 minutes voting. This election is the biggest in my 38 years and may be what keeps the country together or brings this country to it's knees. We have a choice of 4 more years of failed economic policy and failed diplomacy. We can watch the news daily and watch our economy circle the drain. Can we afford to continue as a nation 4 more years? 200 plus years ago a group of people decided to create a free nation that they hoped would last thousands of years, History. The people in charge now have put that nation on the edge. If we don't pull up soon and change what is going on in Washington, we may be watching the end of that free nation and become a part of History that no one wants to be part of. IS THIS THE GENERATION THAT LEAVES NOTHING TO OUR CHILDREN? GOD I HOPE NOT! Senator Obama may not be perfect, then again who is, he is the only choice if we are going to turn this country around and have something left to give our childern. (read more)Let's Blow the RNC out of the water
Give money to the campaign and allow the campaign to buy advertisement in every state, not just the swing states. Help me, help the campaign by giving to my personal fundraising page.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/VoteForYou
More Pets Please
Let the world know that a vote for Obama is a vote for you. Supporting Obama does not mean you're deluded, it means you are protecting your own interest. We must define what we want our country and world to be, and I feel that Barack Obama is a big part of that definition. The USA is a country of tolerance, intelligence, imagination, and immense possibilities. We are not a people who talk down to each other, belittling one another, because we are a country that respects all its citizens, no matter the age, sex or social background of the person. This is my dream, my Hope. It starts here and it ends never.
I titled this page to connect money raised to a theme I hope you will support. Donating here in this fundraiser not only allows you to support your candidate but attaches your money to a message. A message with money behind it.
Barack Obama and I are committed to changing the political process by building a campaign built on a broad base of support from ordinary Americans.
I've set my own personal fundraising goal for the campaign, which you can see in the thermometer to the right.
Will you make a donation to help me reach my goal?
Contribute Now
Graphic updated every 5 minutes
Create your own page now!
(read more)
We need Help in South Bend IN
Please help Obama win South Bend Indiana. We need help getting out the vote. We need help canvassing. We need help. South Bend is key to winning the State of Indiana. Obama's supporters and volunteers in South Bend are being overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done. Calling all hands on deck. Please help. We will win the cities in Indiana, but we must also win the counties!!! If we win South Bend we win the State.
Ways to help:
1. Vote Early
2. Contact Joy (574) 514-5643 and ask how you can help in South Bend
PS We have 21 days before the election is over. Please help us help you.
(read more)Host a Debate Watch Party
The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs.
You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch.
Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success.
If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help.
We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign.
In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change.
Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now:
http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party
Thanks,
Jon
Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America
This is Barack's video on Ayers and McCain video on Domestic terrorism..Watch
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5989582(read more)This video is from Barack and explains the Bill Ayers issue. It is clear that McCain, Palin and the RNC are planning to paint Ayers as a terrorist and try to link him tightly with Barack.These are the facts. Barack was 8 when Ayers was participating in some deplorable acts during the Vietnam Era which was a time when there were a lot of radical movements and things happening. I am not defending Bill Ayers but this happened during a terrible time in our history and it was 40 years ago.Barack served on a board with Ayers which was appointed by a Republican. There is nothing here but we know they are going to try and make this look bad.On the other hand, McCain voted twice against stopping DOMESTIC TERRORISM. Watch this terrible video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDlpWfLyYss
I guess he feels it was okay to BOMB medical clinics and kill doctors and patients! TERRORISM is terrorism and if the McCain camp wants to go there then I think we should bring this up.
Just because McCain does not approve of a Women's Right to Choose does not mean it is OKAY to BOMB clinics and KILL doctors and patients.
So, does the McCain camp really want to go here? They will and they will get away with it unless We all say ENOUGH and let him know WE know about his votes to stop actual terrorism HERE in the US.
Come on Obama supporters. Barack and Joe need our help and full support in these final days! Both of them have the integrity and intelligence to lead us through this Crisis facing all of us.
We have the power to stop this nonsense and we have the TRUTH and the FACTS on our side. Let's use them!Thanks,LuAnn in Indiana
McCain's rage makes him unfit to be President...Watch!
Watch this and think if this man could talk to foreign leaders or make rational cool headed decisions. This is so scary. He could blow up and not work with anyone he did not like. OMG he even shoved a woman in the hallway and has called his wife the c word in public!
You have watched how hateful and condescending he has been towards Barack and even the media now. He is out and out lying and will do anything to win.We need this out there viral and let people see the REAL McCain.......not the kind of PRESIDENT we need in this time of crisis!
Watch the video and send it to friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g
LuAnn
Tell everyone including the media! (read more)Let the mudslinging begin! Don't Get MAD; Get BUSY!!!
Let the mudslinging begin!...what to do/not to do...constructiive ideas
McCain can't win on the issues, so the mud's gonna fly; brace yourselves; gird your loins; but for God's sake don't "chicken-little" us by partaking in a flood of emails that will clog up our listservs and cause people to unsubscribe at the timewe need them most. Reply to the PERSON, not the GROUP; tell them to get a grip; knock on some doors, make some calls, and not clog up your inbox. Let's promise ourselves not to send/reply to a group "look what they're saying"email unless we have a constructive suggestion to help each other. Here are mine--
- "The "killing babies" issue is a huge one among many people of faith, ludicrous as it is to describe Obama's position in those terms. "Faith speaks to faith" in the most effective way. Matthew 25 is a faith based PAC which backs Obama, and has a very effective page to deal with the smears",---
- http://www.matthew25.org/paf/index.htm
- http://www.catholics-united.org/files/pro-life-means-all-life-en.pdf
- Obama's "ties" to former Weathermen radical William Ayers
"Turn the page on the financial crisis by launching dishonorable, dishonest 'assaults' against Barack Obama. Struggling families can't turn the page on this economy, and we can't afford another president who is this out of touch."
- Muslim/patriotism/flag pin/hand-over-heart charges
- http://www.nationaljournal.com/img/hotline/AFL08043_AFL_FINAL_FPO.pdf
- "'Israel's Generals Speak" video & article- http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/harperlee/gGgPgf
- video only link- http://www.vimeo.com/1882159
- Raising Taxes
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL...THE ISSUES, knock on doors, drive peopleto early vote, take food and water to the volunteers at your office, and we will win. If we let them distract us, they will win. Period.
(read more)"Republican Fight Song" Funny!!!!!
I know we are all working extremely hard to make sure we do not have to endure any more of the same old politics in Washington. Please take a minute and watch this Youtube video a friend of mine wrote, performed and produced. It is a great tool that demonstrates just how close McCain and Bush really are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3u5sdseCaY
Enjoy,
Keith
(read more)These facts about John McCain need shared ASAP!
These are facts about McCain, his family, his life and all the mistruths that he likes to brag about. Please take the time to watch these and you may be shocked.People everywhere have the right to know these things about John McCain.He is no maverick. He would be a disaster as President. He is strictly out for John McCain and has proven he will say or do anything to get elected.Please help Barack and share these facts. McCain’s campaign is getting nastier.
Thanks, LuAnn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zsn5BuL3Y
http://www.politicalbase.com/profile/jnail/blog/&blogId=4588
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1
(read more)GOP Fight Song Spoof
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3u5SdseCaY
You have to watch this Youtube video of the GOP fightsong. It is a great laugh for all of us. I know everyone is working hard to ensure that Obama / Biden will have the opportunity to re-direct this country away from the ditch that the last eight years of corrupt GOP control has directed us in. Please pass this along to your friends and family members for a much needed laugh in this serious time of CHANGE!!!!
(read more)KEATING FIVE, E-MAIL NOW!
We need to hit McCain now on this. Now! You will see the following week get bogged down in smears.
The Campaign has asked us to forward this link to everyone we knnow. Please forward this link to all your friends. I forwarded it to 157 people.
http://www.keatingeconomics.com/
Now this is very urgent! Let me tell you why: I just watched an hour long documentary by Sean Hannity on his Hannity's America show sliming Barack Obama so much it would make you vomit. The "sources" he used weren't even credible authors, but if you watched that doucmentary and had no other point of view, you wouldn't vote Obama.
So let's get the word out NOW about John McCain. Forward this link now to your friends.
http://www.keatingeconomics.com/
(read more)How's That GOP Trickle Down Stuff Working For You?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaRXvRwhOk
Fired UP!!
(read more)Oct.6 Last Chance Workout
Tomorrow is your last chance to get friends, family members, Obama supporters, and yourself to register to vote. Call people you suspect may have forgotten the deadline. Make arrangements to get them to the office to vote. In KY you can register at the DMV or you can register at voter registration. Many states have early voting including Kentucky so You may be allowed to register to vote and vote the same day. Get it out of the way what ever state you are in, so that Nov. 4th you will be free to help out the campaign, through an "I voted party" or just celebrate with family and friends.
It is time for a change. We need all to Register to vote!!!
P.S. Don't just depend on mailing it! Go in person if you can!!
(read more)Irritation
I'm a bit irritated with Neighbor to Neighbor at the moment. I can't access my call lists - I had voters in Colorado and New Mexico that I wanted to call the last I checked a couple of days ago. Now none of my campaigns show up on my dashboard.
So I can't do some work for the campaign using the tool as I had been. No notice, just a landing page for the n2n tool that asks me to sign up for the weekend. This strikes me as poor management - people that had been making calls should see their campaigns - grey them out if the campaign needs work done in other states - and communicate clearly what is being done.
I made on the order of 140 attemped contacts and 20 odd contacts in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Indiana. Again, the campaign should communicate with me to tell me they've changed priorities, not just ask me to sign up for a weekend.
Turns out I can get to my voter lists via a different URL that was hidden in a campaign email that didn't mention neighbor to neighbor, but did ask me to make calls. Still it should stay on my home/dashboard as well.
(read more)Bad Money
Bad Money by Kevin Phillips is must reading if you want to understand the difficulties of today's economy. The title comes from Gresham's law which states that bad money drives good money out of circulation. If Congress were to pass a version of Gresham's law, George W. Bush would sign it with a signing statement that it didn't apply to him.There are so many shenanigans going on in today's economy that it is breathtaking. John McCain will never investigate them if he is elected. If Barack is elected, I hope he will appoint an independent commission to investigate the skullduggery in government and business. At this time, the only people I would trust to tell us the truth would be active and retired judges at the state and federal level. There are too many buried skeletons that I would not trust either business or Congress with the investigation.
For example, our government has been deliberately understating the rate of inflation for years. Why would they do that? There are several reasons. A lower rate of inflation makes the US appear to be a good place to invest, thus supporting the stock market and the housing market. A falsely low rate of inflation will dampen labor's efforts for large wage increases to keep up with price increases. And a low inflation rate will decrease the cost of living increases that government must pay to social security recipients.
One final point made in the book is about Putin and Russia. Putin is using Russia's oil to bring Russia back from the brink and restore its superpower status. A Russian submarine recently planted a Russian flag at the North Pole on the ocean bottom. While we are concerned with global warming, Russian is busy claiming a portion of the Arctic with estimated oil reserves twice that of Saudi Arabia. (read more)
Let's Clean This Place Up
Fired UP!!
(read more)"Huh?? The House Didn't Pass It?"
Fired UP!!
(read more)McCain
I have studied politics for years and I don't recall ever seeing a campaign implode like McCains. Don't get me wrong, I don't like McCain or Palin and love to watch this campaign. We all know most, if not all politicains lie. McCain almost never tells the truth and seems to get caught daily. McCain doesn't know what to do when he gets caught so he just continues the lies. Watching his campaign claim to win the debate before it even occured. Monday morning was more of the same, he actually bragged about all he did to get the bailout passed while claiming Obama just watched from the sidelines. He again claimed he was the man to get things done while at the same time the bill rightfully was voted down. This campaign continues to collapse on itself and we get to watch from the "sidelines" as he makes a fool of himself and his party.
Don't get me started about Palin. I don't have to say much as she too is making a joke out of the republican party. She has no mind of her own, she is a puppet for McCain. We will see the largest laugh-fest in U.S. history on Thursday when she goes against Biden in a dabate. I can't wait to see this train wreck. I just can't look away, it's like driving down the highway and seeing a huge crash, we just can't stop looking. This is the day that the campaign will see itself spin out of control and crash and burn.
I would think that a person would learn from their mistakes, not McCain. The debate comments before the debate started. The bailout comments as the bill was voted down. His own party votes to kill the so called Bailout at the very moment McCain pats himself on the back. We know Senator Obama did as much if not more than McCain to try and get the bill passed. The republican party claims the bill failed because of comments by the Speaker of the House. So a party throws a temper-tantrum that could result in the collapse of our economy.........WOW! Now McCain blames Senator Obama for the results of the vote. He can't have it both ways, Senator Obama just sat on the "sidelines" while McCain pushed this bill to victory. How is Senator Obama to blame for something he didn't have anything to do with as he sat on the "sidelines."
Most people in this country doesn't want to give Wall Street 700 Billion dollars of our tax money. The bill was on the right track but still needs a lot of work. The people that put us in this position should be charged and jailed. The money needs more oversight and one person should not have the power to spend the first 350 Billion dollars at his or her will. The mortgage bailout needs to help the average person, not just bailing out the banks that knowingly gave loans to people they knew couldn't pay back. The process must move forward, but the middle-class should see as much support as Wall Street. The bill as read was not helping the average person, it was a "BAILOUT" for the rich. We can do better, we must do better, Go Senator Obama.......Vote for Change.
(read more)My Bailout Plan
To My Bought & Paid For Senators & Congressman,
Voters are obviously outraged over this Wall St. bailout bill. The tweaks to the bill that I've read about this morning (9/30/08) are not going to make the bill any more acceptable to voters.
The premise of the bill is flawed to the point of being worthless. It is so flawed that people who know NOTHING about economics or finance know the bill is completely unfair and will not solve our problems.
This is what I think voters will support (in order of importance):
1) Law enforcement. Start indicting and arresting large numbers of people who committed wire fraud and others crimes in this epic Ponzi scheme. Rule of law still means something to large numbers of voters.
2)Help middle and working class families. Substantially reduce INTEREST RATES on all mortgages and credit cards. Put a cap on credit card interest rates. That would help millions, reduce foreclosures and kick start the economy.
3)Reestablish regulatory oversight over financial institutions and products. Start monopoly busting. Break up some of these concentrated mergers which are anti-competitive.
4) Help some of the bankrupt financial companies go out of business in an orderly fashion-to calm public fears and the "market".
Put together a plan with those four points, and you will get the vast majority of voters to support you and the rest of the Congress.
(read more)Conservative writer Kathleen Parker calls for Palin to quit.
In case your local newspaper didn't run this yesterday or today, this is must read. Please share it with others. Posted on Fri, Sep. 26, 2008 Palin clearly out of her leagueBy KATHLEEN PARKERWashington Post Writers Group If at one time women were considered heretical for swimming upstream against feminist orthodoxy, they now face condemnation for swimming downstream — away from Sarah Palin. To express reservations about her qualifications to be vice president — and possibly president — is to risk being labeled anti-woman. Or, as I am guilty of charging her early critics, supporting only a certain kind of woman. Some of the passionately feminist critics of Palin who attacked her personally deserved some of the backlash they received. But circumstances have changed since Palin was introduced as just a hockey mom with lipstick — what a difference a financial crisis makes — and a more complicated picture has emerged. As we’ve seen and heard more from John McCain’s running mate, it is increasingly clear that Palin is a problem. Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion. Yes, she recently met and turned several heads of state as the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York. She was gracious, charming and disarming. Men swooned. Pakistan’s president wanted to hug her. (Perhaps Osama bin Laden is dying to meet her?) And, yes, she has common sense, something we value. And she’s had executive experience as a mayor and a governor, though of relatively small constituencies (about 6,000 and 680,000, respectively). Finally, Palin’s narrative is fun, inspiring and all-American in that frontier way we seem to admire. When Palin first emerged as John McCain’s running mate, I confess I was delighted. She was the antithesis and nemesis of the hirsute, Birkenstock-wearing sisterhood — a refreshing feminist of a different order who personified the modern successful working mother. Palin didn’t make a mess cracking the glass ceiling. She simply glided through it. It was fun while it lasted. Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who Is Clearly Out Of Her League. No one hates saying that more than I do. Like so many women, I’ve been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I’ve also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does. My cringe reflex is exhausted. Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage, and there’s not much content there. Here’s but one example of many from her interview with Hannity: “Well, there is a danger in allowing some obsessive partisanship to get into the issue that we’re talking about today. And that’s something that John McCain, too, his track record, proving that he can work both sides of the aisle, he can surpass the partisanship that must be surpassed to deal with an issue like this.” When Couric pointed to polls showing that the financial crisis had boosted Obama’s numbers, Palin blustered wordily: “I’m not looking at poll numbers. What I think Americans at the end of the day are going to be able to go back and look at track records and see who’s more apt to be talking about solutions and wishing for and hoping for solutions for some opportunity to change, and who’s actually done it?” If B.S. were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself. If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true. What to do? McCain can’t repudiate his choice for running mate. He not only risks the wrath of the GOP’s unforgiving base, but he invites others to second-guess his executive decision-making ability. Barack Obama faces the same problem with Biden. Only Palin can save McCain, her party and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first. Do it for your country. Write to Ms. Parker at kparker@kparker.com. © 2008 TheState.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.thestate.com (read more)Vice Presidential Candidate Not Ready
Sarah Palin Interview with Katie Couric:
http://www.barackoblogger.com/2008/09/sarah-palin-not-ready-for-prime-time.html
(read more)
Is Sarah Palin qualified to be VP?
Apologies for the duplicate posts, but I want to make sure everyone sees this. Please do this:PBS is conducting an on-line poll which asks if Sarah Palin
is qualified to be VP. The right wing has organized a "yes"
campaign; and at the moment, its 50% yes its 50% no.
Please take 1 second to take the one-question poll and
submit it: for you, for all of us. Please send to everyone you know!
This will take 1 second...it's a must; we can't have PBS reporting next
Friday its audience is for Palin...spread the word
http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html
(read more)
whiskey tango foxtrot?
McCain suspends his campaign so he can focus on the economy?
seriously, wtf? he's going to actually be a Senator? And do what? He's been showing himself as terminally clueless about economic issues for his entire campaign... Oh I get it his campaign staff of Wall Street lobbiests needs to be in Washington to get their clients baled out.
Obama should invite third party candidates to share the stage with him Friday night since McCain won't be there to debate. Let Bob Barr carry the deregulation banner.
this really is a wtf moment.
(read more)The McCain Team Of Lobbyists And Bushies
Charlie Black, Matt McDonald, Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter. Just think what they could do and how much money they could make if they got in a Palin-McCain White House?
Fired UP!!
(read more)We Need To Beat The TOP Of The Republican Ticket
Fired UP!!
(read more)Old Heads Of State
Kim Jong Il of North Korea is only 66. They are already talking about his potential successor after his stroke and possible imminent death.
Why would we elect a 72-year old after 4 bouts (to date) with cancer? Or are we being asked to elect Palin?
Fired UP!!
(read more)WOW!!
President Bush must think all america is stupid if he actually believes we would't start fighting the so called Bailout. How could anyone think that no oversight, no chance to go back and account for where the money went and no court resource if needed? Who would come up with those rules in the first place? They know we have to move fast, yet they throw in rules that people need to ask themselves why? Why would we give ONE man control of ONE TRILLIOIN dollars and have no regulation? Oh, I know, the same government that has refused to answer any questions about illegal actions, President Bush. Mr. I don't belong to the executive branch Cheney. His Attorney General and anyone else in charge.
We really have to ask why, why would we give that kind of money with no oversight? No oversight is what has us, the taxpayer, paying ONE TRILLION dollars to bail out private companies. Knowing that time is something we have little of, they add rules that give one man control with no legal recource. Why do they need that clause? Is there something else we need to know that they don't want us to know? President Bush and some in his party ie. McCain have fought to deregulate everything they can over the past 7 years. Senator McCain still thinks that deregulation was a good thing, that it helped speed up the economy. Wait, he is right, it did speed up the economy, all the way into the abyss. We must insure that this bail-out has all the oversight we can have over any government program.
The answer to most of the questions above fall right in the Presidents lap. President Bush has re-created the great depression just so the people who didn't live through the last one had a chance to feel what one feels like. The man knows nothing about the economy, Senator McCain knows nothing about the economy. Hell most of us don't know very much about the economy, but we do know this bail-out, with no regulation is a a bad idea. This government, with the worst president in U.S. history, a Vice-President that doesn't belong to the executive branch, and a refusal to answer to illegal use of power, has thrown us under the train. We were poor and middle-class before, now most of us are just poor. I understand that without a bail-out this economy could very well collapse. What I don't understand is how anyone would want BUSHIII elected. He put us here as did Keating 5 member McCain. Many don't remember this last near disaster, I do and I think the press needs to step up and remind those who don't. We need change, we want change and we must have change if this country is going to survive. GO Senator Obama, our last real hope.
(read more)Call Congress
I know most of them are bought and paid for, but what else can we do?
Call your Senators and Congressional Representative and order them not to support whatever bailout plan Paulson and Bush present to Congress.
This is the run up to the Iraq War all over again. We all remember how the Administration successfully pressured Congress to quickly pass the Joint Resolution to Authorize Force, giving Bush wide authority to go after the WMD threat in Iraq. All of which turned out to be mostly administration lies. We all know what happened next.
Our current financial crisis is not made up. But giving Paulson and Bush complete authority (and immunity) to deal with this crisis is just plain old stupid and dangerous. Read my last post on the track record of these Administration fools.
I’m hoping Obama and Biden will show some backbone and fight this plan to use taxpayer money to bailout Bush and Paulson’s friends on Wall St.
So please, start calling your Reps now before it’s too late!
(read more)Proud to be We! Will you join Us?
Writers Wanted: Communication among its members is one of the keys to a vibrant effective organization. That's where you come in. Write for us.
Send commentary, letters, and articles to the Editor, Ron McBride, at wtpeditor@wedemocrats.org
Since the beginning of WeDemocrats.org in May of 2006, I had dreamed of an online magazine amongst many other things.
WE! (which stands for We The People) I founded in late 2006, and our first few issues were kind of erratic, but we settled down and began publishing each week on Wednesday, the newest issue is #87 due out Wednesday the 22nd, and it makes me proud to look over the previous issues and see some of the foremost progressives in America as authors of articles.
(read more)
Seeing Results
Check out today's (9/18/08) Dailykos: http://dailykos.com/.
The serious, sustained investigations into Palin's background have paid off. Her poll numbers are dropping like a rock. Now that people are seeing who the REAL Palin is, they are not so pleased with her.
2 posts ago I said don't let McCain & Palin off the hook. I'm glad a lot of people didn't.
(read more)Where's Our President? Why Isn't He Holding Press Conferences About The Economy?
CHANGE WE NEED!
Fired UP!!
(read more)ENOUGH!!
- Rick Davis – Campaign Manager: While the day to day strategy and operations for the McCain campaign has now been placed primarily with Steve Schmidt, Rick Davis is still in charge of the overall campaign. Rick Davis is one of McCain’s “On Leave” Lobbyists and still holds a stake in his firm, Davis Manafort. Furthermore, over the years Davis has arranged numerous meetings between McCain and his clients who seem to regularly have controversial bills pushed through by committees that McCain heads, including a controversial merger between SBC Communications Inc. and Comsat Corp., as well as the takeover of DHL by Deutsche Post which is now resulting in lost Ohio jobs.
- Steve Schmidt – Daily Campaign Manager: A number of articles have come out about Steve Schmidt has reinvigorated John McCain’s campaign with more hard hitting and nasty approach. This should not be surprising since Schmidt was is a protégé of Karl Rove and was a member of Karl Rove’s exclusive “breakfast club” that ran President Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004. Schmidt was a top aide for Cheney and ran the rapid-response team for Bush-Cheney, a job once held by ex-White House counselor Dan Bartlett.
- Douglas Holtz-Eakin - Policy Director: He served for 18 months as chief economist in the President’s Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush (2001–02. In the simplest terms, Holtz-Eakin is a supporter of supply-side economics, believing that reduction of taxes on the wealthy and corporations will trickle-down to the rest of the economy, a continuation of the same economic policy driven by the current Bush administration.
- Charlie Black - Senior Adviser: Charlie Black is a former chief lobbyist for BKSH & Associates. Black’s clients included Blackwater (yes, the “security” contractor who has received over $300 million in Federal funds for the Iraqi war) and Ahmed Chalabi (leader the Iraqi National Congress, a group formed with the aid and direction of the United States government following the Gulf War, for the purpose of fomenting the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein). When Senator McCain’s relationship with telecom lobbyist Vicki Iseman was questioned in early 2008, Black “made the rounds of television networks to defend McCain … even before McCain finished his news conference,” reported the Washington Post. Black’s lobbying clients at the time included General Motors, United Technologies, JPMorgan and AT&T.
- Nicolle Wallace - Senior Adviser: Nicolle Devenish Wallace is the former White House Communications Director. She was appointed to the senior position on January 5, 2005, the same day her predecessor, Dan Bartlett, vacated the post to become a more general Counselor to the President. Wallace also served as Communications Director for the 2004 Bush presidential campaign. Previously, she had held positions at the White House, under Florida governor Jeb Bush, and in the California Republican Party.
- Randall J Scheunemann - Foreign Policy Aide: Mr. Scheunemann has the distinction of being both a lobbyist and formal member of the Bush White House. He is the President of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, which was created by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), of which he is a board member. He was an advisor to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Iraq. Scheunemann was also a registered foreign agent (lobbyist) for the Republic of Georgia.
Fired UP!!
(read more)
McCain Leads Surge On Wall Street - Drives Lobbyists Out Of Washington
Fired UP!!
(read more)"We need a president who will put Barney Smith ahead of Smith Barney."
Fired UP!!
(read more)They Are Giving Us Material-Use It!
When are we going to see a commercial that shows a graph of the epic collapse of the stock market, and then it cuts to Bush AND McCain saying that the fundamentals of the economy are sound? When are we going to see a commercial that shows homes across the country being foreclosed, but hardly anyone being indicted and sent to jail. What about the Palin lies? Show a commercial that list her claims, and then say flatly they are all lies. How about a commercial that shows what Halliburton or Blackwater contractors make vs. what our soldiers earn. Or one on the problems at Walter Reed and other veterans hospitals?
McCain and Palin are GIVING Obama/Biden tons of material. Why aren't they using it?
(read more)Making calls
I started making phone calls for Obama again.
At the moment I'm calling people in LA/Compton and seeing what kind of volunteer activities they can help with. So far I'm seeing about a 20% bad number rate, and my timing has led to about 70% answering machine or no answers. The remaining 5% is people that want to help the campaign, primaryly through the same type of phone calling I'm doing.
The tool for doing this needs some work, it isn't as easy to use as MoveOn's tool that I used in the 2006 Congressional elections. I've taken some initiative and volunteered my computer skills to the campaign directly (one of the things I'm supposed to ask when I call is can they help with computer work). i've got 20 odd years of experience with computers and an MS in computer science. I might be better used helping clean up database schema even though that isn't my main experience.
Right now is a very good time to get re-energized to get Obama elected. People looking at the polls need to hear that Obama has a ground game and it is active - that's our job!
My personal plan is 5 calls each weeknight, 20-40 calls each weekend until the election. I may step this up as we get closer to election day.
Yes I still am irritated with him on FISA. And I'm going to get him elected. I can walk the walk like I said I would. Obama will be a force for progressive politics if we get him elected.
(read more)Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes
Another must read!
New York Times article "Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=politics
By JO BECKER, PETER S. GOODMAN AND MICHAEL POWELL
Published: September 13, 2008
Swift Boating 2008
My friend, Jake, responded to the San Francisco Chronicle article "Swift boating 2008" by Debra J. Saunders. This article appeared on page B - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle on September 11, 2008 and is available on the SFGate Website.
Jake's response is quite lovely! His post is available through the SFGate blog and below...
"There's one key element Saunders has accidentally missed/blatantly ignored; the rumors of Mrs. Palin's indiscretions are simply public exaggerations the press has picked up on, whereas the sideswipes at Mr. Obama come directly from within the McCain campaign itself. It's the difference between hearing some dishy water cooler talk at work and, say, holding a nationally televised press conference meant to skewer your opponent like a roast pig (with lipstick). Rumors will abound, but at least the Obama campaign is above spreading them. (Doesn't look as though they need to help!)"
In essence, John McCain, you can stick feathers up your butt, but that doesn't make you any more of a chicken than you already are.
Barack was great on Letterman! Please watch, read and share this will everyone!
I am not sure if you got to see Barack on the Letterman show last night but he was fantastic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s
I just posted this video on the DIGG site and really would appreciate you going there and digging it.
I took a swipe at McCain and how his VP pick was strictly a political move and how Barack vetted Joe and made "HIS OWN DECISION".
If we can get enough Diggs on it it will possibly be in the top 10 of the day and everyone will see it.
It would be super exposure for Barack as he commented on the stupid "lipstick on a pig" controversy and made some other great comments on several things. He showed both Humor and also made some great POLITICAL points!
Please take a minute, watch the video and PLEASE go to DIGG.com and digg it. The Republicans have been burrying some of our good stories on the DIGG site so PLEASE help!
(read more)We've Got To Control The Tempo Of The Game, News Cycle!!
Fired UP!!
(read more)Sarah Palin's College Education (This is Change for Sure)
Here Ya go…Sarah Palin received her bachelor's degree (B.A.) in journalism after transferring five times in six years: Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College, University of Idaho again.
None of the colleges have entry requirements. There are no records of any honors achieved. Sarah hasn't released her records to the public, normally an indication that no honors were received and the grades were enough to graduate. (read more)
Sarah Palin's College Education (This is Change for Sure)
Here Ya go…Sarah Palin received her bachelor's degree (B.A.) in journalism after transferring five times in six years: Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College, University of Idaho again.
None of the colleges have entry requirements. There are no records of any honors achieved. Sarah hasn't released her records to the public, normally an indication that no honors were received and the grades were enough to graduate. (read more)
Vote for Healthcare Reform in November! Vote for Change!
Hello friends.
As many of you know, in July 2007 I sustained a serious and financially cumbersome hand injury. While packing to move, I slipped in my kitchen and lacerated 4 tendons and the carpal tunnel nerve in my left hand. Because I was naive, like so many young people who think themselves invincible, I did not have insurance at the time of my injury. There’s no excuse for my lack of planning and I feel ridiculous for it. Even today, I am embarrassed to admit my faulty judgment.
That said; I’m also embarrassed that I live in a country where a hospital will turn away a needy patient. I’m embarrassed that one year later, after paying thousands of dollars out of pocket, I still don’t have full motion in my thumb and have only partial feeling throughout my hand. Even after obtaining coverage though my employer, which (luckily) didn’t discriminate based on preexisting conditions, I paid $20 per doctor’s visit for 10 - 12 visits per month, that’s $200 - $240 per month, more than my car payment. The minimal amount of care my doctor felt was required was often more than my insurance company’s allowable amount – or beyond what was “reasonable and customary”. As a well educated, productive member of society, who pays their taxes in full and on time, I would think that my country would want me to get the care I needed so that I could once again embody (literally) the ingenuity of the American workforce. After all, I worked summers throughout my teenage years, full-time throughout most of college and as a young professional for two-and-a-half years prior to my injury. My parents raised me well, with a strong work ethic. The period of my life where I was uninsured was a brief 3 months, a drop in the bucket when you think of all the premiums I have and will pay in my life. Americans can and should do a better job of caring for one another when they’re sick and scared and want, quite simply, to get better.
Because I was uninsured, I spent 6 months of my life one-handed. Poor and delayed care resulted in adhesions, excessive scarring that bound together normally separate anatomical structures. Unable to move my tendons, I jokingly referred to my hand as, “the claw.” I struggled with zippers and buttons. I found it difficult to fold laundry, type on a keyboard, put my hair up in a ponytail and open metal cans with a can opener. I spent months in physical therapy, struggling to keep up with my hours at work, while attending 2-3 doctors’ appointments a week. Because I couldn’t find a doctor who would repair my hand within the customary timeframe (though I was willing to pay out of pocket), and because I did not receive any post-op care, I was forced to bear an additional surgery, a tenolysis to remove the additional scar tissue, and months of additional and costly physical therapy.
I feel extremely lucky that I am now able to type this message to you using all ten fingers. I worry, however, for the millions of Americans without proper healthcare coverage or who have healthcare that doesn’t meet their needs. This is why in November I’m voting for Barack Obama. I can’t wait to use my left hand to pull the lever in the voting booth. Obama has been candid in discussing his mother’s death from cancer at age 53, stating that, “In those last painful months, she was more worried about paying her medical bills than getting well.” He understands that Americans should not spend the last days of their lives fighting with health Insurance companies.
I feel strongly about my decision to support Barack Obama. "But,” in the words of Levar Burton, host of public television’s best child-literacy program, “you don't have to take my word for it." Choose your own candidate! Make up your own mind about healthcare! I am telling my story so that you understand how important this issue is and how easily it can turn your life upside down. Choose your own candidate, but make an educated decision!
In December of 2007, just a month after my final surgery, I felt compelled to travel to the Iowa caucuses to volunteer for Obama. While there, I stayed with a wonderful host family, Bill and Lindra, who showed me a video from 60 Minutes – “Under the Influence: How Lobbyists Wrote and Bought the Rx Drug Bill.” This report is must-see viewing if you have ever wondered why the cost of prescription drugs in the United States is the highest in the world. This video details the pharmaceutical lobby’s influence in Washington, D.C. CBS has now made video of this segment available for free on their website (you can stream the content just as you would on YouTube):
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/60minutes/main2625305.shtml
Please vote and please vote for healthcare reform! Vote for change in Washington!
Feel free to forward this message to other friends.
Many thanks!
Kathryn
PS: If you know a young person – a college student or young person – without insurance, please urge them to obtain coverage. Also, I am much obliged to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and Bloomington Bone & Joint for the care and financial support they offered!
(read more)Please Call or Write MSM now to help BARACK!
I SENT THIS LETTER TO ALL THE MEDIA BELOW AND I HOPE YOU WILL do the same.Here are the addresses and numbers you NEED to CONTACT THEM! The Right has Sean Hannity and O. Reilly who can say whatever they want and call it “FAIR AND BALANCED” on FOX.Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman were just removed from MSNBC for showing some impartial attitudes. We on the LEFT have NO main MEDIA to hold Sarah and MCCAIN accountable! NBC30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426 List of Email addresses for all NBC news programs NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: nightly@nbc.com countdown@msnbc.com chuck.todd@nbcuni.com (read more)
RNC Delegates
97% of the delegates were white.
51% are worth a Net Gross of $500,000.00 or more.
Does the RNC care about working families? How can they? They don't know working families.
(read more)
Baracks Acheivements......Please share!
Legislative Experience: Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)my.barackobama.com —
You can get this information by logging on to the Library of Congress website http://thomas.loc.gov/ and conducting a search under Barack Obama.
This posting organizes and categorizes the Bills sponsored and co-sponsored by Senator Obama, and highlights those that have been passed into US Law. IL State Legislature accomplishments are summarized.
Also please go to Digg and digg this to bring it to DAYLIGHT!
LuAnn
BARACK OUR ONLY TRUE HOPE FOR REAL CHANGE!
(read more)More VP Losers Get Behind McCain Tonight - Should Be Entertaining
The evening’s program will feature John McCain’s speech accepting the Republican Party’s nomination for the presidency. Among the other speakers participating in this evening’s program are Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.), former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.), U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Mrs. Cindy McCain. The speakers’ remarks will reflect the convention’s overall theme, "Country First,"and the theme for Thursday’s events, which is "peace." Participants are organized by hour of participation:
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Entertainment (Music): Al Williams
- Entertainment (Monologue): James McEachin
- Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan
- Presentation of Colors: Fort Snelling Joint Services Color Guards
- Pledge of Allegiance: Olympians Ryan Berube, Mitch Gaylord, Brittany Hayes, Barbra Higgins, Larsen Jensen, Elle Logan, Marcus McElhenney and John Naber
- Singing of the National Anthem: Trace Adkins
- Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Speaker: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.)
- Speaker: Erik Paulsen
- Speaker: Jay Love
- Speaker: Charlie Summers
- Speaker: Aaron Schock
- Speaker: David Cappiello
- Speaker: U.S. Sen. John Ensign (Nev.)
- Video: "Country First: Peace," with narration by Robert Duvall
- Statement of Rule Regarding Vice Presidential Nomination; Recognition of Delegates Making Motions; and Adoption and Announcement of Nominee: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
- Speaker: Maria Cino, President and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention
- Speaker: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)
- Speaker: The Honorable Rosario Marin
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Speaker: Joe Watkins
- Speaker: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.)
- Speaker: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
- Speaker with Video: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.)
- Speaker: Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, USMC (Ret.)
- Speaker: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.)
- Speaker: U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin (Okla.)
- Video: "World Stood Still"
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Speaker: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
- Video: "Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Sarah Palin"
- Speaker: Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.)
- Video: "America’s Place in the World"
- Speaker: Mrs. Cindy McCain
9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Video: "Senator John McCain"
- Speaker: Presidential Nominee John McCain
10 p.m. to Conclusion
- Floor Demonstration, Balloon Drop, McCain and Palin Families on Stage
- Introduction of Presiding Officer: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
- Benediction: Pastor Dan Yeary
- Introduction of Delegate for Motion, Adoption and Adjournment: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
(read more)
Critical email and video Please read, watch and share to help BARACK!
Hello to all my Obama/Biden friends,This is so important. Please read it, go to Digg and digg it and share it with everyone!McCain is using Palin to try and steal women votes. Hillary and her have NO basic beliefs in common.Surely there are enough of us who know the difference between a woman who wants to help ALL women and Palin who wants to help her far RIGHT side!I still think most women do not want the government telling us what to do with our bodies, want equal pay (which McCain has voted against 12 times), want health insurance (which the Republicans don't talk about) and do NOT want social security PRIVATIZED! Privatizing Soc. Security and Insurance in the end means leaving it only to the wealthy the ones who can afford it!I, personally have Federal health care and each year I can chose which plan I want. The Congress and Senate have it also.If it works for them why not us all? It is a Federal Government (social program)...I don't see any of them turning it down, do you?LuAnn Barack is our ONLY way for REAL CHANGE!http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana
From: rauldominguez@msn.com(read more)
Reply-to: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
To: SouthDakotansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
Sent: 9/4/2008 8:13:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: [SouthDakotansforObama] Re: ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."
Thanks for sending this! I think the messages are getting through!!!His comments are now being shown on Real Clear Politics as well.Raul----- Original Message ----- From: Lisa Owen To: South Dakotans for Obama Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:43 PMSubject: [SouthDakotansforObama] ACTION: Joe Klein: "We will tell the truth about Palin, despite bullying by McCain."
Please I am begging you to digg this! Joe Klein says that McCain camp has been “bullying the press” all year and don’t give in to him! Please read it too.JOE KLEIN: TIME MAGAZINE:“There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.”http://digg.com/political_opinion/Angry_Amateurs_Swampland_TIME Spread the truth. TIME MAGAZINE:Angry AmateursPosted by Joe Klein | Comments (383) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized the candidate--and especially those of us who enjoyed good relations with McCain in the past--have been subject to off-the-record browbeating and attempted bullying all year. But things have gotten much worse in recent days: there was McCain's rude, bizarre interview with Time Magazine last week. Yesterday, McCain refused to an interview with Larry King, for God's sake, because Campbell Brown had been caught in the commission of journalism on CNN the night before, asking McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds what decisions Sarah Palin had made as commander-in-chief of the Alaska national guard. (There was an answer that the unprepared Bounds didn't have: she had deployed them to fight fires.)So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable. The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor. Sure, there are a few outliers--and the tabloid press--who have fixed on baby stories. That was inevitable....the flip side of the personal stories that the McCain team thought would work to their advantage--Palin's moose-hunting and wolf-shooting, and her admirable decision to have a Down Syndrome baby. And yes, when we all fix on the same story, whether it's a hurricane or a little-known politician, a zoo ensues. But the media coverage of the Palin story has been well within the bounds of responsibility. Schmidt is trying to make it seem otherwise, a desperate tactic. There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme. http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/angry_amateurs.html
This is a great video from Arizonia to rally the DEMS..Please share and go to DIGG!
Please take the time to watch this video and then one more minute to go to Digg and digg it. I had it posted on DIGG this morning.We need to get the Dems to rally NOW.GREAT news.....I just heard Barack is at 50% in the GALLUP poll for the first time.MSNBC just said it....actually Chuck Todd did!Obama is our only HOPE!Please share this with every one and ask them to please go to DIGG. We can make it rise to the top today!http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana
From: mail@bennyskyn.com(read more)
To: ArizonansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
Sent: 9/3/2008 9:03:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: [ArizonansforObama] Take It Back...Right Now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMSsm_B8iaE
or
http://www.bennyskyn.com/songlist.html
This land belongs to you
no not just a few
and you can take it back
right now
Vote responsibly, not traditionally.
Benny Skyn
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to 484 members of Arizonans for Obama
Listserv email address: ArizonansforObama@groups.barackobama.com
Your reply will be sent to: mail@bennyskyn.com
Unsubscribe or change your email settings: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/ArizonansforObama/listserv-unsub
Just written on McCain in Arizona NEW Please share with all!
Community Blogs Welcome, LuAnn.Manage | Logout | Search Blogs Preview Blog Post Below you will see your post as it will appear in your blog. If this post is correct, click the 'Save Post' button. Otherwise, click 'Edit Post'. Preview of Post This was just written about McCain in Arizona SHARE NOW!By LuAnn in Indiana - Sep 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 am EDT
WE need to make sure Democrats unite and help Barack. so far all the Republican's have done is insult him and Michelle and brag about WAR and POWs.
What about health care, women's rights, housing, minimum wage ane the cost of everything sky rising?
LuAnn for BARACK...our ONLY HOPE!
http://mybarackobama.com/page/communityblog/luanninindiana
(read more)Is This The Best The GOP Can Offer This Year?
Fired UP!!
(read more)McCain, Palin & Pregnant Children-Don't Let Them Off The Hook
I strongly support the Obama/Biden ticket. But I was very upset with his response to the story about Palin's daughter being pregnant. Obama said candidate's children are off limits. Okay, I agree with that. But Barack, that's not the point.
McCain and Sarah Palin were the ones who brought her daughter's pregnancy into the spotlight of Presidential politics. The girl is supposed to be 5 months pregnant and still living at home. Knowing that, what caring mother is going to leave her child to go on the 24/7 cycle of campaigning and have that child exposed to the scrutiny of the nation? If neither McCain (who said he knew about the pregnancy) or Palin didn't know this would happen, then both of them are stupid.
No, Obama should have said that while the children of candidates are off limits, the judgement of McCain and Palin is not. Why would McCain ask a mother of 5 children and a 4 month old baby with down syndrome to serve with him? That shows how much he cares about family values. And why would a mother with a handicapped newborn even accept such a demanding challenge that will take her away from her family. Both of them put their own ambition ahead of the welfare of the nation and Palin's family.
That's what Obama should hit both of them on. Don't let McCain or Palin off the hook. The national media is already doing that.
In just 2 or 3 days of national exposure (mostly on blogs), Palin's past is starting to catch up with her. But if we allow Rove and his boys to spin this, all of this will go away. Rove will have people thinking Palin is Magaret Thatcher.
The convention was successful because we took it to McCain and his surrogates. To win this election we'll have to win on the big issues and the small things. We have to have big ideas and sharp elbows. Republicans always want to talk about family values, well lets expose their real d@mn family vaues!
It's time to stop giving a free pass to hypocrites and scoundrels.
(read more)
"Say Goodnight, John"
Fired UP!!
(read more)Every Veteran NEEDS to read this NOW!
[PennsylvaniaVeteransforObama] Facts on McCain non-support for VeteransCANDIDATES’ SUPPORT FOR VETERANS’ ISSUES
Who has veterans’ best interests in mind? Look at the candidates’ records:
Although no bills specifically on veterans’ issues were voted on since the 2004 elections, three amendments have been (source: the Congressional Record & votesmart.org):
Health Care for Veterans Amendment
10/05/2005
Official title: S Amdt 1937 to HR 2863 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected in Senate)
Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment
11/17/2005
Official title: S Amdt 2634 to S 2020 - To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that appropriates $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected)
Tax Rate Extension Amendment
02/02/2006
Official title: S Amdt 2735 to S Amdt 2707 to HR 4297 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment failed to pass in Senate)
Now, let’s turn to the candidates’ sponsorship of Senate bills & amendments directly related to care for veterans during the 109th-110th Congresses (source: Library of Congress THOMAS database [thomas.loc.gov]):
Obama (10):
S.117 [110th] & S.3988 [109th] : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
S.692 [110th] & S.2358 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
S.713 [110th] : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
S.1084 [110th] & S.3475 [109th] : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
S.1271 [110th] : A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
S.1885 [110th] : A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.2330 [110th] : A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes.
S.1180 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes.
S.AMDT.3144 to S.CON.RES.83 [109th] : To provide a $40 million increase in FY 2007 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and to improve job services for hard-to-place veterans.
S.AMDT.5138 to H.R.5385 [109th] : To require a report on the costs of the Comprehensive Service Programs for homeless veterans.
McCain (1):
S.663 [110th] : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.
The bottom line: McCain is clearly not an advocate for veterans’ issues, and only Obama has enough interest to be a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. (read more)
Every Veteran NEEDS to read this NOW!
[PennsylvaniaVeteransforObama] Facts on McCain non-support for VeteransCANDIDATES’ SUPPORT FOR VETERANS’ ISSUES
Who has veterans’ best interests in mind? Look at the candidates’ records:
Although no bills specifically on veterans’ issues were voted on since the 2004 elections, three amendments have been (source: the Congressional Record & votesmart.org):
Health Care for Veterans Amendment
10/05/2005
Official title: S Amdt 1937 to HR 2863 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected in Senate)
Additional Funding For Veterans Amendment
11/17/2005
Official title: S Amdt 2634 to S 2020 - To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act in order to adopt an amendment that appropriates $500 million annually from 2006-2010 for counseling, mental health, and rehabilitation services for veterans diagnosed with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment rejected)
Tax Rate Extension Amendment
02/02/2006
Official title: S Amdt 2735 to S Amdt 2707 to HR 4297 - To ensure that future funding for health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation.
Synopsis: Vote on a motion to waive the Budget Act to allow for adoption of an amendment that increases funding for the Veterans Health Administration in order to account for inflation and changes in the number of veterans using the health services.
Voting record:
Obama – Yes
McCain – No
(Amendment failed to pass in Senate)
Now, let’s turn to the candidates’ sponsorship of Senate bills & amendments directly related to care for veterans during the 109th-110th Congresses (source: Library of Congress THOMAS database [thomas.loc.gov]):
Obama (10):
S.117 [110th] & S.3988 [109th] : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve benefits and services for members of the Armed Forces, veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, and other veterans, to require reports on the effects of the Global War on Terrorism, and for other purposes.
S.692 [110th] & S.2358 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to report on health care quality in Veterans Affairs hospitals.
S.713 [110th] : A bill to ensure dignity in care for members of the Armed Forces recovering from injuries.
S.1084 [110th] & S.3475 [109th] : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
S.1271 [110th] : A bill to provide for a comprehensive national research effort on the physical and mental health and other readjustment needs of the members of the Armed Forces and veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.
S.1885 [110th] : A bill to provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.2330 [110th] : A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes.
S.1180 [109th] : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to reauthorize various programs servicing the needs of homeless veterans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, and for other purposes.
S.AMDT.3144 to S.CON.RES.83 [109th] : To provide a $40 million increase in FY 2007 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and to improve job services for hard-to-place veterans.
S.AMDT.5138 to H.R.5385 [109th] : To require a report on the costs of the Comprehensive Service Programs for homeless veterans.
McCain (1):
S.663 [110th] : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the statutory designation of beneficiaries of the $100,000 death gratuity under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, and to permit members of the Armed Forces to designate in writing their beneficiaries of choice in the event of their death while serving on active duty.
The bottom line: McCain is clearly not an advocate for veterans’ issues, and only Obama has enough interest to be a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee. (read more)
Please share this....I sent it to the MSM..hope it helps or something does!
I sent this to several medias. Don't know if it will do anything. Please share. Barack is getting put down so wrongly!
Michele was great last night!
Please read this and use it in any way you legally can. I am so tired of hearing Barack being called a Muslim and Michelle being accused of hating this country.Now these NEW ads that McCain is running using his POW experience to win "hearts and minds" is too much.I fear all his negative campaigning is winning and the polls are showing that.
Is there anyone out there who can bring things like this article to daylight?Why does the media protect McCain from the terrible way he cheated on and dumped his first wife for Cindy?If it was Barack who had done that the world would know.I talk to people daily who had no idea of his infidelity, his wife's bringing drugs in for her personal use through her out of country programs and I hear and also receive daily emails saying that Barack is a Muslim and worse. Why do more people not hear about how low in his class McCain graduated? I would think intelligence is a priority in a President of our country.
I also feel as this fellow POW does that a man with a "hair trigger" temper should not have his finger on the "button".There is freedom of speech in our country. Sean Hannity , Rush Limbaugh,Ann Coulter and others spew lies about Barack constantly.Can the MAIN STREAM media such as MSNBC please say or do more?McCain is "swift boating" Barack and WE all know that was all not true. John Kerry should have been President.Bush stole the election from Gore. Please can someone with some power help out people like me in the true EVER DIMINISHING MIDDLE Class?
I know I live in one home.
I know what a gallon of gas costs and I now people on minimum wage are hurting badly. John McCain does not care, nor does he have any way of identifying with the TRUE middle class people.His family has always had money, he is John S. McCain III and he married an heiress. How can he possibly feel for people who make $6.00 an hour?He wants to privatize Social Security and could care less if we have health care. Is it true he collects his Social Security? I happen to have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance through my X husband. Each year I am given the chance to choose which type of insurance I want. If I want to pay a lot less, I can even choose an HMO.
I believe that is the same insurance the Congressmen and Senators have and I also believe they do not have to pay for their's. If everyone in the country paid into this they should be able to get the same benefits.I pay $600.00 a month for myself but I have very good insurance. If I could not afford that I could choose a lesser plan each year.
(read more)Getting involved & Volunteering
For starters - this is the first campaign I've ever helped. I was never really interested in politics before I was inspired by Senator Obama. Up until December 2007, I would usually just gripe about George W. Bush. I had become so angry with President Bush's mistakes. I was - and still am angry about Bush's invasion of Iraq - because I have friends serving over there in Iraq. I want my friends to come home. This war was based on faulty information. Bush is simply wrong. In contrast, Senator Obama brought a new hope to the country. He has better plans for the USA - and his judgment is more solid than McCain's. That's why I'm volunteering for Senator Obama. I urge you all to volunteer or get involved because we can each make an impact in small and big ways.
When I first started volunteering, I wasn't sure I could do it - because it meant stepping outside my comfort zone. But, I realized - that I had to act. I had to do something because I couldn't let John McCain continue Bush's failed policies. I knew we needed new leadership in the White House, and that's why I took that first step - and Volunteered for the Obama campaign. I found that volunteering CAN make an impact. There are lots of things you can do - and I've written some of them out below. Today, I am asking you to take a stand with me. I encourage you to find something you're comfortable with - and put in 110%. If we all STAND-UP and help - then our campaign will WIN. But we have to fight for our campaign. We all want to win - but we have to fight to help Senator Obama. We have to put our energy and ethusiasm TO USE - by becoming hopeful of a better future. Please join me in volunteering. Consider some of the options below, or suggest some!
Volunteering for the Obama Campaign: Here are some ways you can help the campaign
1. Phonebanking: You can help the campaign by making calls. You can make calls to find new volunteers, or you can make calls to find out about the level of interest. The Obama campaign has a good script for these calls and they're easy. I've had lots of good experiences with this.
2. Door-Knocking: We can help register new voters and learn about people's interests by knocking on doors. This part of the campaign is so important - because it helps us to increase our voter numbers. It's easy, and the campaign has a helpful script for this project.
3. Voter Registration: Senator Obama's campaign is having a nation-wide voter registration drive in every state. Please help the campaign - by stopping by and picking up the materials. They can train you on this - and it's very useful. You can help register voters in numerous locations.
4. Visibility and Community: You can help grow this movement by putting up a sign in your window, or a yardside in your yard. Or you can show your support by putting a bumper sticker on your car. These simple acts - can show a common purpose. They help to show a community's purpose to elect better leaders. They help to show that our community wants real change this fall.
5. Support Your Obama Office: Our offices are largely the products of donations. Many people have donated the furniture, the tables, the signs and more. I urge you to stop by your Obama office - and ask what you can donate. They need lots of things. See what you can do. For example, you can make a casserole - to keep the volunteers energized. This helps to keep us going!
6. Data-Entry: Our office needs volunteers to help enter new information into the databases. This is an easy way to help - and there's lots of work to do. Just stop by and ask to use a computer. They can quickly set you up and train you on what to do. This is a great way to volunteer.
7. Beds for Volunteers: Our campaign consists of thousands of out-of-state volunteers who help in the swing-states. For all these volunteers - we need beds. Contact the campaign - and mention that you're interested in housing a volunteer. This helps so much to keep the campaign going.
8. Letter Writing: You can change the tone of the campaign by writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper. These letters can express why you're supporting Barack Obama. They can explain why we need Change in this country. It's simple, and easy. Or, you can help write postcards to local voters - telling them why you're passionate for Senator Obama's candidacy.
9. If you don't have time to volunteer, you can always make a donation to the campaign. Even $10 can help the campaign. We need to keep Senator Obama's campaign running - and we're the spirit of the campaign. Our small-dollar donations add up, so let's help him win the White House!
10. Talk to Friends and Neighbors: Tell them why you're passionate for Senator Obama's candidacy. We need to help our families understand why Senator Obama is the best candidate for November's election. We also need to help our families to register to vote. We can reach a lot of people by talking with our circle of friends. Have an Obama house party and invite them over!
(read more)Support Your Local Volunteers & Staffers!
We thought it would be fun to celebrate the Obama Biden tickets with ObamaBidencakes on Saturday for the workers at our local office and make some up using the new logo treatments. Here's a picture of one of the sets.
Please support by getting out the vote and supporting others doing so! If anyone wants the files I used to create these flags, please let me know.
(read more)What did Americans get from having a war in IRAQ?
Did we get a reduction in the price of gas and heating oil? Do women in Iraq have equal rights? Did we protect the 100,000 plus Iraqi Christians? Can we trust that Iraq will be our allies in the future? Did we lower our deficit? Does Russia respect us? Can our allies depend on us to back them up if Russia invades? Did we catch Bin Laden? Do we have a stronger Army, Navy, Air force and Marine corps? Has it brought jobs back to America?
If the answer is no to all of the above, how are we safer?
(read more)Posters, pins
A number of people have requested I post the Obama poster and pins again. These posters and pins have a little story. With only a few weeks left before the big event in Washington DC, our local bake sale fell short to raise the funds for the permits, tables, stage, and other costs for a big rally and fund raiser in Washington DC. A grassroots event is just that, grassroots and cannot receive support from the campaign or the DNC.
With people making plans to attend and bands volunteering, I sat down and painted a portrait of Obama. Not a portrait artist, but I used to paint wildlife in watercolors. Working as a nurse in the ER, I got home from a shift, started painting, answering emails, and trying to keep ahead of a growing event. The grassroots groups have been great help, and it is coming together. I finished the painting and had a limited edition printed off along with pins from the same artwork. I am pleased to say, the stage is being built thanks to everyone!
The original painting will be in Washington DC framed, and raffled off for the Presidential campaign.
Jeanie
Link to see posters and pins:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=25596901414
for any other information, contact: jeanieschneider@gmail.com
(read more)UPDATE: GRASSROOTS FOR OBAMA in WASHINGTON DC
GRASSROOTS FOR OBAMA IN WASHINGTON DC
FREEDOM PLAZA, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
SEPTEMBER 6, 2008
This will be a rare opportunity for grassroots groups from all over the country to unite in the nation's capital.
There will be fund raising and voter registration. This is a high visibility event in Freedom Plaza close to the White House. There will be extensive media coverage as we host Mayors, Climate Change, members of Congress, Sierra Club, Veterans. Bands, performers, grassroots special guests.
French TV has contacted me and they will be filming for a special program about the election and our grassroots movement.
Our stage is being built. I am hoping to find an Obama banner for the stage if you know of any group who has one and can loan it for the event. If you live in the region, come to Washington DC to Freedom Plaza to share our grassroots enthusiasm. If you live across the country, it's a great time to visit your nation's capital and be apart of history.
A word about the ticket. I am so proud to be supporting such talented and inspirational candidates as Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Together they complement the spirit of Hope, Change, and Determination that America represents to the world. I have been fortunate to work with so many people across this country organizing this event. Grassroots have always been the spirit and good intentions of America.
I didn't know anything about organizing an event like this. I just knew I wanted to become involved. I just got onto the site and I began. With a little hard work and love for my country, I found out something about myself, and the other people I encountered.
YES WE CAN! Jeanie Schneider
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=25596901414
