Now is the time to let Congress know your opinions and concerns about the Economic Recovery Plan, and the sense of urgency regarding passage of a bill that will address not only short term stimulus but will also provide for ongoing recovery and long term growth!
The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. Please contact as many members of the committee possible to send a strong message. See below for names and contact information:
Click on this link to search contact information for all Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Click on this link for the names of all members of the Senate Finance Committee:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm
Finance Committee home page: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm
See below for links to all Senate Finance Committee members:
There is no ambiguity here. It can't be stated any clearer than Thomas Friedman has in this editorial: We need to end our dependence on fossil fuels. Period.
OPINION | July 20, 2008 Op-Ed Columnist: 9/11 and 4/11 By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN We are addicted to dirty fossil fuels, and this addiction is driving a whole set of toxic trends that are harming our nation and world in many different ways.
Last week we were focused on raising money for our own candidate; Today, we're raising money for Democrats.
Yes we can win in 2008!
In the spirit of unity, please consider making a donation in the amount of $20.08 to help retire Hillary Clinton's debt. If you can afford it, please feel free to add another zero or two at the end! The sooner we put the primary campaign behind us, the better for all Democrats.
To make your donation, go to the official hillaryclinton.com website: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
PLEASE pass this idea along to all your friends and neighbors.
PLEASE post this idea in your own blog, and in your comments on other people's blogs.
PLEASE talk about this idea in your listservs, chat groups and emails.
PLEASE don't procrastinate. ;-)
Joseph J. Andrew
(DNC chairman under Bill Clinton) On My Switch From Clinton to Obama Today I am announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I am changing my support from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, and calling for my fellow Democrats across my home State of Indiana, and my fellow super delegates across the nation, to heal the rift in our Party and unite behind Barack Obama
NY Times Op-Ed Columnist
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Published: April 30, 2008 The McCain-Clinton energy proposal is a reminder that the biggest energy crisis we have in our country today is the energy to be serious. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/opinion/30friedman.html?ex=1367
Congratulations! Three dedicated grassroots volunteers from CD30 who ran together as a slate, successfully garnered the most votes to represent our district as Obama delegates to the National Convention in Denver.
They are:Victoria von SzeliskiShayne AdamskiBob Vanderet
Participating in the caucus as a candidate myself was an incredibly exciting and invigorating experience. Plus, I learned a lot about the process - both positive and negative.
On the positive side, before this election I was unaware of the California caucuses. I was pleasantly surprised to know that such a process exists in California for bringing the election to the constituents; providing voters, volunteers and campaigns an opportunity for personal interaction and dialogue.
In CD30, however, questions about gerrymandering persist, especially in light of how the successful slate chose to represent the District in their campaign correspondence - as the "West LA Area". Clearly, with voters in the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Malibu and Beverly Hills comprising at least 40% of Democratic voters in the District, in no way can CD30 be accurately described as the "West LA Area". I hope Victoria, Shayne And Bob appreciate that they do indeed also represent the Obama voters in ALL of CD30, not just the Westside.
By JEFF ZELENY (NYT)
In a television interview, former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said he “admired” how Senator Barack Obama handled a speech last month on race.
Todd: McCain's path to victoryA Republican can win the White House, but first he needs an opponentBy Chuck ToddPolitical DirectorNBC Newsupdated 10:09 a.m. PT, Wed., April. 9, 2008
Conservatives may not be thrilled with what a McCain presidency means, but if social conservatives care about the makeup of the House and Senate, as well state legislatures and the courts, then they should rally around McCain. They know better than most the importance of controlling the legislative and judicial branches to achieve long-term influence.
With McCain representing the Republican brand, even if he were to lose the race he should be able to save a few Senate seats (say 2-3) and a handful of House seats (perhaps 10). The latter could keep the Democrats majority below 250, a reachable number for the GOP in 2010.
But this isn't meant to be just a simple lesson in how McCain can cover the spread. This is about looking at his path to victories.
The first thing McCain needs is for the Democrats to find a nominee. There's a lot of bad conventional wisdom percolating that this drawn out fight is good for McCain. It isn't... at least not yet.
There may be a point where it is good for McCain, say if the fight actually goes all the way to Denver, but short of that, he needs an opponent, badly.
Why? A few reasons, not the least of which is finding out where he stands with the voting public.
Currently polls show McCain either narrowly ahead or even with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It is impressive considering how poorly the GOP, and specifically the president, are viewed by the public.
But it is a faux lead. If the de facto Democratic nominee is clear within the next 4-6 weeks, that person will see a poll bounce. And according to GOP pollster Steve Lombardo, it could be one heck of a bounce, like post-convention. He anticipates the Democratic candidate will move up 10 points once the primary race is over.
That will be a jolting set of numbers for the McCain camp to absorb. They ought to be prepping the media now, because if they wait for the inevitable overreaction of the pundit class, the bounce will take on more importance.
The initial bounce will set the polling numbers – the floor and ceiling – for the Democrats, who clearly have the generic advantage this cycle. Those parameters will dictate the morale within the GOP base.
If McCain’s is hanging in, behind by 10 or so points, then it is clear he will have a shot. If the bounce pushes the Democratic nominee to as much as a 15 point lead, it may be very demoralizing to the GOP. The sooner McCain can absorb this inevitable negative poll news, the longer he has to recover.
Getting the bounce out of the way isn’t the only reason McCain needs the Democrats’ race to end as soon as possible. It is also because he will run two very different campaigns depending on whom he faces.
He will either be the steady hand in uncertain times vs. Obama, or he'll be the breath of fresh air and openness in a campaign against Clinton.
As someone said to NBC's David Gregory, McCain will take up the space left by the defeated Democrat.
From a message standpoint, those are big differences. It is not easy to advance both, now, at the same time. McCain is trying, but ultimately, being able to refine one line of attack is a must, and that can't happen without a clear opponent.
In addition to message, geographically the battleground will be different depending on who he’s running against.
If Clinton is the foe, McCain will be using a target map that looks very similar to the one George Bush pursued in '00 and '04. The emphasis will be on the Midwest and West, as he may be able to pick off a few blue states like Oregon or Wisconsin.
If Obama is the foe, McCain's geographic emphasis is likely to shift East to the Rust Belt, Michigan and Pennsylvania in particular, and even to the Northeast.
There are credible paths to victory for McCain regardless of his opponent. But the easier path – or the more comfortable one for McCain – appears to be a campaign against Clinton.
First, a Clinton victory in the primary would probably not take place until well into the summer, giving McCain some time to stay competitive on fundraising.
Second, a Clinton primary win would give McCain an opportunity to win over younger voters (whom he connected with in '00) and affluent, white male independents (who have been gravitating slowly to Obama for some time).
Third, McCain's campaign sweet spot over the years has been when he’s the "change" candidate. Despite the (R) next to his name, he can run against Hillary's last name and claim the change mantle. It will not be easy, but it will be easier than claiming that mantle against Obama.
So how can he beat Obama?
He will have to do well in the Rust Belt and dominate the economic issue in a way he's never done before. McCain could fix some of his problems connecting on the economy by his choice of a running mate, and there may not be a better "conventional" pick than Mitt Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor could help the ticket immediately in the two blue states of Michigan and New Hampshire. And he could potentially offset Obama's strength in the Rocky Mountain west with a surge of Mormons coming out in Nevada and Colorado in particular.
Then there is the help Romney could provide on McCain’s message, assuming the problem-solving, job-creation Romney is the running mate rather than the born-again social conservative Romney.
McCain can win, no matter his opponent. But there’s the rub. He needs an opponent.
