AP & Yahoo article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_delegates
Democrats Abroad: http://www.democratsabroad.org
Download 'Yes, We Can' ringtones at http://www.yeswecanringtone.com/ and http://www.ringtones08.com/
Related NPR news blog: Song Set to Obama Speech Catches Fire on Web
It's Wednesday, Feb. 20 and Obama has now won ten states in a row with the lowest percentage being 57%. Part of me wants to now sit back and watch it happen instead of remaining involved. I believe that would be called complacency which in my personal life, I consider to be my greatest internal enemy apart from self-pity. No, unfortunately, for me, there really is no such thing as biding my time...I'm either moving forward or losing ground.
Interesting timing that words have become so debateable in terms of whether or not they matter. Well, they do and no, I'm not talking about Obama. I want to talk about the words of John McCain. On Feb. 19, 2008, John McCain said, "I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change that promises no more than a holiday from history and a return to the false promises and failed policies of a tired philosophy that trusts in government more than the people."His target was clear. Yet, back in 2000, in a Charlie Rose interview during his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination, he had the following to say. It's a challenge to reconcile the two in order to know which 'straight talk' to believe from McCain, something I can say more and more often, it seems.
A couple of things for the group tonight after receiving emails:
Bill Clinton, circa 1991, discounts the importance of experiencewww.youtube.com/v/ZbHiw2jlwa4&rel=1
A must read today!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/19/cia-operation-similar-to-_n_87433.html
The big topic now is Where's the substance? aka Can you name one Obama accomplishment? And to this end, supporters everywhere are arming themselves by digging a little deeper to begin to understand the 'specifics' so abundant for this candidate, though like most every other candidate who has ever run for office, fairly unknown to their constituents. I've said it before many times, if it weren't for the uninformed, Karl Rove would never have had a job and God knows Bush wouldn't have been appointed...errr...elected. So like other elements of this campaign, for me, another historic moment arises in that common voters, like myself, must rise above our own complacency and heaven forbid become informed voters. In and of itself enough to qualify as historic, but when you think about how motivated and how pro-active the disenfranchised are to become informed in order to defend their candidate, Obama, well then it starts inching into a land of miracles. Sure the specifics are important, but that rally cry is old, so the only new element here is that for once, the rabble is able to answer. And that, my friends, is why the inspiration is at least as important as the specifics. Why vote for just one or the other, specifics or inspiration, when with Obama, we can have it all? So I think it's great that this challenge is out there being posed as a threat to Obama's credibility. We'll have his back because we trust he has ours. And so, in very short order, when Fox news conducts a new focus group and poses the question, "Can you name one accomplishment of Obama's?" the audience can overwhelmingly exclaim, YES WE CAN.And with that, some specifics themed reading for today:1. MUST READ from Oct. 2006 (before he was running for President) that goes beyond the specifics of what and adds the specifics of how: http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2006/10/barack_obama.html2. Good blog with good links on the specifics of Obama's Bi-Partisan track record:
http://upword.blogspot.com/2008/02/barack-obama-style-counts.html3. GlobalSolutions.org is an interesting site to explore with several tools. --First is a 'comparison matrix' that allows you to compare the position of up to 3 candidates on 13 different issues: http://wwww.globalsolutions.org/08orbust/compare--They also have collection quotes from each candidate to answer their 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire:Obama answers:http://globalsolutions.org/08orbust/pcq/obamaHRC answers:http://globalsolutions.org/08orbust/pcq/clintonNOTE: Personally, I enjoyed going through the candidate's answers and creating my own follow up questions. For example:Question: Do you support the creation and funding of the United Nations Emergency Peace Service?:Obama: I support meeting our obligations to fund assessed peacekeeping operations and doing our share to fund voluntary peacekeeping operations. I do not support the creation and funding of the United Nations Emergency Peace Service.Hillary: The enduring weakness of UN peacekeeping is the inability to field forces in sufficient numbers when it counts. There are a number of proposals to address this problem, while preserving the essential principal that all UN peacekeeping operations require both the formal authorization and genuine political support of the UN Security Council. The UNEP Service is one of several proposals intended to plug this gap. As President it will be a priority to build bipartisan support for an approach to UN peacekeeping that can both address U.S. concerns, while making it possible for UN peacekeeping to be as effective as possible.Follow up for Hillary: Is that a yes or a no? 4. Another MUST READ blog entry that focuses specifically on his efforts in Illinois on health care. The important element here is again, not just what, but HOW. HRC is already tossing out accusations suggesting Obama is beholden to special interests. Once you stop laughing at the irony, this is a great read that aids enormously if you ever find yourself in the need of ammunition to counter that one. http://tinyurl.com/2vl79l5. FANTASTIC SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS: I came across the following 'comment' on an anti-Obama board. It was written by Everett Prewitt (who I assume to be author of Award Winner "Snake Walkers," President of Northland Research Corp, a Vietnam vet and former Army Officer who now lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio.):Senator Obama has ten years of senate experience: eight years in Springfield, and two years in Washington, D.C.His signature bills while in Springfield were: (1) expanding Kidcare (health insurance for an additional 20,000 Illinois children);(2) welfare reform (a bipartisan bill passed in Republican controlled senate, generating major headlines); earned income tax credit (tax relief for working poor families);(3) and death penalty reform. (He supports the death penalty in exceptional circumstances, but wanted all interrogations to be videotaped. Initially viewed as a highly controversial proposal and opposed by the police, Republicans and other special interest groups, the senator was able to get this bill passed 58-0 and signed by the governor who also opposed the bill.He was also responsible for Illinois passing the most ambitious campaign finance reform bill in 25 years and was lauded by good government groups for his efforts.He also took the lead on opposing bills he believed were unconstitutional or poorly written, even if the vote could later be used in misleading 30 second commercials against him. He opposed a bill to toughen penalties for violent crimes committed by gang activity, because the bill didn't clearly define a gang member, and seemed targeted at Hispanics and Blacks. He, of course, also opposed the Iraq war.When Democrats finally achieved a majority in the state senate, Senator Obama was elevated to Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. During those two years, he sponsored 780 bills, and 280 of those were signed into law.He sponsored laws against discrimination of gays in employment and housing. He worked on a ban on assault weapons. He supported a bill to allow retired officers to carry concealed weapons. He worked for legislation to expand health insurance coverage. (He proposed a study on how to provide universal health care to everyone in Illinois backed by a single payer health care plan run by the state.) He helped pass bills to increase aids funding. He sponsored a bill to investigate racial profiling by police, essentially second guessing police officers yet still won the endorsement of the state police officers union when he ran for U.S. Senate.In his first two years in the U.S. Senate, the Republicans tightly controlled the U.S. Senate. During that time, Senator Obama sponsored 152 bills and resolutions, and cosponsored 427 more. Senator Obama thus far has two bills which became law, that have his name on them. The Lugar-Obama bill and the Coburn-Obama Transparency Act. Both Lugar and Coburn are Republicans.When the Senate passed a major ethics/lobbying reform bill. (Senator Obama had voted against a prior ethics reform bill that he said wasn't tough enough.) Newspapers give Senators Obama and Russ Feingold significant credit for insisting that this latest ethics bill included tough measures.Senator Democratic leader Harry Reid has designated Barack Obama as the Democrats' point man on ethics, citing three reasons for his selection: (1) whenever Obama walks into a room, everyone stops talking and listens to what he has to say; (2) Obama is known for having unquestionable ethics and integrity; (3) Obama's expertise on ethics and campaign reform while in Springfield made him a leading expert on those same issues in the U.S. Senate.Senator Obama is on the senate committees for foreign relations; homeland security; veterans affairs; health, education, labor and pensions.Posted by: everett prewitt | February 15, 2008 2:46 PMPS...Feel free to use my compilation of 2007 senate bills either sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in the last year. That blog is entitled: "Learning The Specifics"
Came across this article todayin the Dallas News:
Hillary Clinton campaign's new TV ad targets Texas' military voters
http://tinyurl.com/2s9jp8
Couldn't help but write the journalist (even though the Dallas News is endorsing Obama) and pose the question, Where was Hillary when Obama was Sponsoring or Co-Sponsoring the following Veteran's Affairs bills in the Senate? She and McCain both should be ashamed of their efforts relative to Obama's if Senate bills are any indication.
Veterans Affairs:S.38 : A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program for the provision of readjustment and mental health services to veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] (introduced 5/23/2007) Cosponsors (12) No Hillary or McCainS.692 : 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.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 2/27/2007) Cosponsors (1) No Hillary or McCainS.117 : 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.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (15) No Hillary or McCainS.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 4/10/2007) Cosponsors (10) No HillaryS.1261 : A bill to amend title 10 and 38, United States Code, to repeal the 10-year limit on use of Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes
Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 5/1/2007) Cosponsors (6) No Hillary or McCainS.1593 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections to military personnel, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 6/12/2007) Cosponsors (29) No HillaryS.1885 : 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.Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 7/26/2007) Cosponsors (10) No HillaryS.2004 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (4) No Hillary or McCainS.2330 : 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.Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 11/8/2007) Cosponsors (1) No Hillary or McCainS.2617 : A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/8/2008) Cosponsors (11) No Hillary or McCain
This Primary must be getting unprecedented coverage which is a good thing as I have unprecedented interest. Thought I'd share some of the more interesting reads as of late:
On Obama
1. McCain advisor unwilling to fight Obama
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14586.html
2. Working for Barack Obama by John Kerry
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/15/114657/465/240/457404
3. The Austin Chronicle Endorses Barack Obama
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A591672
4. Texas Politicians Endorsing Obama:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/News?oid=oid%3A592226
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/News?oid=oid%3A590929
5. Dallas News Endorses Obama:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/longterm/stories/012508dnedirecommendlist.585e451f.html
On Hillary:
1. Putin on Clinton: "At a minimum, a head of state should have a head," Putin said.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Putin_vs_Clinton.html
related article http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/15/132130/995/170/457490
2. "I'm Hillary Clinton and I Did Not Approve This Message!"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rod-mccullom/im-hillary-clinton-and-_b_86853.html
3. Confidence or Derangement?
http://online.wsj.com/articleSB120302279226969393.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
4. 27 Reasons I'm Divorcing The Clintons Today
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/15/73629/1395/809/456851
5. Important Hillary history...from the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/opinion/05brooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
On McCain:
1. When push comes to shove, McCain was against torture before he was for it
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14577.html
2. McCain’s ‘extensive background and knowledge’ need a little work
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14596.html
And ps..since it grows more clear by the day that any principles John McCain may once have had, he's willing to sacrifice for the top gun seat by now becoming a Bush foot soldier, I offer the following under his category due to the inability to distinguish anymore.
3. Countdown Special Comment on FISA: President Bush Is A Liar And A Fascist
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/14/countdown-special-comment-on-fisa-president-bush-is-a-liar-and-a-fascist/
Misc:
1. When is a Campaign a "Movement"? (Never!)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/benjamin-r-barber/when-is-a-campaign-a-mov_b_86850.html
2. Active presidential candidates are ranked on the Center’s Disclosure Scorecard, which measures the extent to which they make public details of their personal and campaign finances. Obama 4 out of 7, Hillary 2 out of 7, McCain 2 out of 7
http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/the_candidates/
3. What you don’t know can hurt us
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14575.html
Yes, we too, can make phone calls from down here in South America and boy do I plan to put in a few hours in the next vital couple of weeks. If you saw my last blog with all of the Senate bills Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored and Hillary hasn't, you'll understand how this next part came so easily.
When I make calls, I must admit I'm pretty bad with the scripts and end up just spilling from my gut, though it's not too far off, but for me, it's more comfortable being personal. So tonight, I thought that, just in case it came in handy, I would look up bills Obama has co-sponsored for the fine senators from Ohio, Texas (none), Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In case anyone else out there volunteers in a more personal style and would like this info, I thought I'd pass it along. Even if I don't use it, I appreciate knowing I know it.
WISCONSIN__________________________________________________ Obama Co Sponsored bills Sponsored by Sen Feingold, Russel D.[WI]---------S.2412 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, and for other purposes.S.2481 : A bill to prohibit racial profiling.S.2060 : A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a Volunteer Teacher Advisory Committee.S.2088 : A bill to place reasonable limitations on the use of National Security Letters, and for other purposes.S.RES.431 : A resolution calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya.S.223 : A bill to require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports in electronic form.S.230 : A bill to provide greater transparency in the legislative process.S.436 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1086 to reform the system of public financing for Presidential elections, and for other purposes.Obama Co Sponsored bills Sponsored by Sen Kohl, Herb [WI]-------------------------
S.1577 : A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require screening, including national criminal history background checks, of direct patient access employees of skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, and other long-term care facilities and providers, and to provide for nationwide expansion of the pilot program for national and State background checks on direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities or providers.S.2143 : A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, and for other purposes.S.316 : A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market
PENNSYLVANIA_____________________________________________________________
Obama Co-Sponsored:--------------------
S.CON.RES.36 : A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Teen Driver Safety Week. Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] S.RES.95 : A resolution designating March 25, 2007, as "Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy". Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] S.185 : A bill to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] S.2166 : A bill to provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial institutions by low-income countries, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA]
OHIO___________________________________________________________________________
OBAMA Co-Sponsored:--------------------
S.RES.415 : A resolution honoring the life and recognizing the accomplishments of William Karnet "Bill" Willis, pioneer and Hall of Fame football player for both Ohio State University and the Cleveland Browns. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] S.1356 : A bill to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to establish industrial bank holding company regulation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] S.1592 : A bill to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] S.1760 : A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Healthy Start Initiative.Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] S.1792 : A bill to amend the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to improve such Act. Sponsor: Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH]
TEXAS______________________________________________________________
Well, he's a blank slate here.
And so it is...the attacks begin when all else fails. And I find myself taking it personally. I am so sick and tired of these lazy whiners who begin and end with suggesting Obama is all rhetoric, pretty speaches and no substance. Yes I know...it starts at the top and with Hillary and McCain now spouting that bs, enough people who can't think for themselves will naturally fall in line.
For me, I'm suddenly learning more about how government works (beyond my well developed levels of cynicsm) than I ever remember learning in school. Let's just start with 'what have you been up to lately?'
I decided to visit Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html) to find out how the two stacked up against each other in terms of their 'day job' in the Senate. Turns out that Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored so many bills on the environment, health and education and veteran's affairs that he makes Hillary look like she could care less about global warming and he by far puts John McCain to shame on veteran's affairs.
But, it's no wonder McCain is trying his best to do damage control for his own campaign with this spin. All the Republicans think Hillary will be easier to beat. And I'm sure you all know by now that the S.1 ethics bill actually passed this week. After McCain essentially based his reputation on the issue, he was 1 of the 8 who voted against it. Hillary didn't vote. So Obama was the only one who can say he participated.
I commented on an article at CNN tonight and ended by saying that Obama inspires while Hillary is like the teacher who either bores or alienates. He could speak on all these topics, but we'd all be asleep before he finished instead of revved up and ready to get involved. That makes him a double winner and her limited, imho.
Below is a look at what else I learned Obama has been up to lately (and what Hillary hasn't). No, I don't see the Black Eyed Peas putting these words to music anytime soon, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
BTW, Hillary co-sponsored 30 bills sponsored by Ted Kennedy, Obama co-sponsored 27. And yes, there were lots of bills Obama and Hillary both co-sponsored. Hillary sponsored a few more without co-sponsors than Obama. And John McCain sponsored or co-sponsored far less than either one of them. So below are just the bills I was surprised Hillary wasn't supporting by co-sponsoring:
The Environment-------------------------------S.115 : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (None) No HillaryS.23 : A bill to promote renewable fuel and energy security of the United States, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (6) No HillaryS.768 : A bill to increase fuel economy standards for automobiles and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 3/6/2007) Cosponsors (6) No HillaryS.962 : A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize and improve the carbon capture and storage research, development, and demonstration program of the Department of Energy and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/22/2007) Cosponsors (15) No HillaryS.906 : A bill to prohibit the sale, distribution, transfer, and export of elemental mercury, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 3/15/2007) Cosponsors (3) No HillaryS.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 5/7/2007) Cosponsors (2) No HillaryS.1389 : A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 5/14/2007) Cosponsors (3) No HillaryS.1616 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to promote and assure the quality of biodiesel fuel, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 6/13/2007) Cosponsors (8) No HillaryS.1818 : A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to phase out the use of mercury in the manufacture of chlorine and caustic soda, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] Cosponsors (4) No HillaryS.2224 : A bill to require a licensee to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of radioactive substances. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 10/24/2007) Cosponsors (1) No HillaryS.858 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters. Sponsor: Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] (introduced 3/13/2007) Cosponsors (15) No HillaryS.1151 : A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 4/18/2007) Cosponsors (None)S.1587 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a special depreciation allowance for reuse and recycling property and to provide for tax-exempt financing of recycling equipment, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 6/11/2007) Cosponsors (10) No HillaryS.1617 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for plug-in electric drive motor vehicles.Sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] (introduced 6/14/2007) Cosponsors (5) No HillaryS.RES.30 : A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the need for the United States to address global climate change through the negotiation of fair and effective international commitments. Sponsor: Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] (introduced 1/16/2007) Cosponsors (28) No HillaryEthics:---------------------------------------------------S.316: A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market. Sponsor: Sen Kohl, Herb [WI] (introduced 1/17/2007) Cosponsors (9) HillaryS.681 : A bill to restrict the use of offshore tax havens and abusive tax shelters to inappropriately avoid Federal taxation, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Levin, Carl [MI] (introduced 2/17/2007) Cosponsors (4) No HillaryS.886 : A bill to amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records. Sponsor: Sen Bingaman, Jeff [NM] (introduced 3/14/2007) Cosponsors (6) No HillaryS.1181 : A bill to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 4/20/2007) Cosponsors (6) No Hillary or McCainS.1430 : A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 5/17/2007) Cosponsors (25) No Hillary or McCainS.2030 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 9/6/2007) Cosponsors (1) No HillaryS.2291 : A bill to enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing plain language as the standard style of Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 11/1/2007) Cosponsors (4) No HillaryVeterans Affairs:-------------------------------------------------------S.38 : A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program for the provision of readjustment and mental health services to veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] (introduced 5/23/2007) Cosponsors (12) No Hillary or McCainS.692 : 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. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 2/27/2007) Cosponsors (1) No Hillary or McCainS.117 : 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. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 1/4/2007) Cosponsors (15) No Hillary or McCainS.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 4/10/2007) Cosponsors (10) No HillaryS.1261 : A bill to amend title 10 and 38, United States Code, to repeal the 10-year limit on use of Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance benefits, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] (introduced 5/1/2007) Cosponsors (6) No Hillary or McCainS.1593 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections to military personnel, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 6/12/2007) Cosponsors (29) No HillaryS.1885 : 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.Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 7/26/2007) Cosponsors (10) No HillaryS.2004 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish epilepsy centers of excellence in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (4) No Hillary or McCainS.2330 : 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. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 11/8/2007) Cosponsors (1) No Hillary or McCainS.2617 : A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/8/2008) Cosponsors (11) No Hillary or McCainHealth and Education:--------------------------------------------------S.J.RES.22 : A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the Department of Health and Human Services relating to Medicare coverage for the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents in cancer and related neoplastic conditions. Sponsor: Sen Baucus, Max [MT] (introduced 10/22/2007) Cosponsors (30) No HillaryS.RES.191 : A resolution establishing a national goal for the universal deployment of next-generation broadband networks to access the Internet and for other uses by 2015, and calling upon Congress and the President to develop a strategy, enact legislation, and adopt policies to accomplish this objective.Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 5/8/2007) Cosponsors (1) Only ObamaS.401 : A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to eliminate funding shortfalls for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for fiscal year 2007. Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 1/25/2007) Cosponsors (17) No HillaryS.691 : A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the benefits under the Medicare program for beneficiaries with kidney disease, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen Conrad, Kent [ND] (introduced 2/27/2007) Cosponsors (26) No HillaryS.972 : A bill to provide for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy, HIV rates, and other sexually transmitted diseases, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 3/22/2007) Cosponsors (14) No HillaryS.976 : A bill to secure the promise of personalized medicine for all Americans by expanding and accelerating genomics research and initiatives to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identify novel treatments. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 3/23/2007) Cosponsors (1) No HillaryS.1224 : A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV [WV] (introduced 4/25/2007) Cosponsors (22) No HillaryS.1556 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the exclusion from gross income for employer-provided health coverage to designated plan beneficiaries of employees, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] (introduced 6/6/2007) Cosponsors (13) No HillaryS.1669 : A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to ensure payment under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for covered items and services furnished by school-based health clinics. Sponsor: Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] (introduced 6/20/2007) Cosponsors (10) S.1790 : A bill to make grants to carry out activities to prevent the incidence of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among teens in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 7/16/2007) Cosponsors (2) No HillaryIraq & Security:-------------------------------------------------S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 11/1/2007) Cosponsors (None) S.1977 : A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology. Sponsor: Sen Obama, Barack [IL] (introduced 8/2/2007) Cosponsors (2) No HillaryEconomics:-------------------------------------------------S.218 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the income threshold used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit. Sponsor: Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 1/9/2007) Cosponsors (6) No HillaryS.1256: A bill to amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize loan programs under that Act, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 5/1/2007) Cosponsors (5) No HillaryS.2462 : A bill to provide that before the Secretary of Defense may furlough any employee of the Department of Defense on the basis of a lack of funds, the Secretary shall suspend any nonessential service contract entered into by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 12/12/2007) Cosponsors (3) No Hillary
If there are other Democrat expats living in Ecuador, we want to communicate with you. Please visit us at: http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/DemocratsAbroadEcuador.
I can honestly say I never watched the war in Iraq on television. (The revolution will be televised!) The reason was simple...I no longer believed US coverage of the news. I felt like it was all being censored during an era that seemed to me, akin to the McCarthy era. At that point (2001-2002 especially), I would seek out online newspapers in other countries to read the news and perspectives I was not seeing aired/published at home. Remember how anyone who spoke out against the war was unpatriotic? How people were actually losing their jobs if they spoke out? Remember Bill Maher, Al Franken, and the Dixie Chicks?
Up until a few days ago, it sure seemed that CNN was spinning pro-Hillary. I'm not the only one who noticed this, if anyone was paying attention to the comments in individual articles. CNN were not the only ones and clearly, spin like that is not doing anyone any favors. I was reminded of Bob Costas covering the World Series back when the Yankees still went to the World Series. Yeah, he may be considered the ultimate Pro, but after getting so sick and tired of his obvious distaste for the Yankees, I finally turned the volume on the TV off and turned the radio on. From here, CNN is the only TV coverage I get, though I still scour the internet daily for more coverage. Granted, the actual facts/results are now trumping the spin, but...
To see this AP piece today with the headline: "Obama hopes to rout Clinton in primaries" I found profoundly disturbing. Arrogance will only get in his way at this point and that headline attributes that unseemly 'quality' to his campaign. Who doesn't hope that, but you do so silently. His grounding, his humility and his 'right sized' humanity are one of the most vital elements, to me, that separates him from his opponent. I fear a press spin trend towards diminishing this important intangible quality he possesses and would hate to see that backfire. Perception will always matter which is exactly why the opponent is now trying to spin herself as the underdog.
Back to baseball (which I think holds many life lessons), I'm reminded of watching David Wells and/or David Cone pitch perfect games. One was too fat and too undisciplined and the other too old to achieve one of those rare spots in history, nevertheless, it happened. So you sit there during the game, hoping against hope and no one dared get cocky so as to disturb the energy of the situation. Cocky repels whether it is an 'attribute' one possesses or an 'attribute' projected by others. Remaining right sized is as crucial as anything else at this juncture, imho.
It seemed simple: Register at votefromabroad.org, be sure to check YES if you want to vote in the Global Primary and do this before Jan. 31st. The instructions were simple in order to participate in this, an historic opportunity for expats to vote in the Global Primary without having to do so by absentee ballot in the last state in which you resided. So what went wrong with my registration?
I did all the right things and yet, no credentials were forthcoming via email and my country home group was still pending approval which, of course, meant I could not join any other group as the system is set up. I began writing on Feb. 1 to see if I could resolve some of these uncertainties that left me wondering if maybe something had gone wrong. The first responses I received were from the 'helpdesk' saying that my name was not in the database; it was now too late to register and I should look at voting in person.
This was unacceptable for two reasons: A. I had done everything right. B. There was nowhere I could vote in person and if my still pending approval for my registered country group was any indication, there was no country group.
So responded with proof that I had received my account confirmation, etc and got zero response. I kept writing and getting zero response or at times, something that amounted up to 'You're screwed. Give up.'
It was through BarackObama.com, not Democrats Abroad, that I found one other Democrat Abroad here in my country. I finally reached out to expats through this site and heard back. He, too, had been having trouble voting, but had actually received his credentials. It was just that the actual process of voting would not function properly. He had actually written the DNC and provided me with some email addresses I hadn't written to yet. It was now Feb. 7 and I was beginning to face the fact that, in spite of doing things right, I was not going to get to vote in the Primary.
Still, I couldn't give up. I wrote to the International Chair who had actually once responded personally much to my shock. She felt like my only hope. I was now writing Dems Abroad contacts, the DNC and the DNC's contact in this country...who still has never responded to an email sent to him/her by me or anyone else that I'm aware of. The email was getting longer and longer as I stacked on as much proof as possible to show that I had done things right, received confirmation of that and still had no possibility of voting and worse, was being told I couldn't. Again, I couldn't give up. The last help desk response actually did say the problem was due to an error in the Democrats Abroad registration and that I should contact them for help.
Now, I don't know if it was coincidental or not, but the day after I wrote that last email to the International Chair including the info from the helpdesk that the problem apparently was rooted in the DA registration process, I finally received an email from someone in charge of the database saying that due to an error in my processing, they would be sending me a Provisional Ballot that I would need to print out, fill out, and either fax back or scan and email back. I was somewhat comforted by the email address as it would be sent to the same international chair who was probably by now sick of seeing my email address, nevertheless, someone I felt confident was willing to look into individual cases like mine.
So, the next challenge was getting this done as I have, but have never used, my HP all-in-one. And of course, my beloved dog decided to get very sick which to me, is not unlike having a sick child...but a sick child who might destroy things if left alone inside and needed to be in bed as she is running a fever of 104. So, I had to make the choice to leave her outside for awhile and hired a taxi by the hour to make the challenge simpler for me. Then I was off to the Center to search for print cartridges (seems the scanner part won't function without them) which was proving to be quite difficult I learned after attempting to achieve this with 5 stops at various 'tiendas' where I wasted so much time waiting, by the time I realized I was not going to get the black cartridge, everything was closed.
Then, the idea of going to an internet cafe occurred to me. Yes, with other things on my mind I can sometimes be a bit slow on the draw. One man assures me I can print out my email and scan it. But then he leaves and the woman left behind informs me that, 'no, their scanner isn't working.' So now I'm off to another internet cafe where finally, I get my Provisional Ballot scanned and I can now email it back!
All in all, this process took a lot of emails, refusing to give up on what seemed inevitable and then 2 hours of running around at the end, but finally, last night, I, too, got to participate in this historic Global Primary.
Sitting back reflecting on all of this last night, it occurred to me that I had only ever voted in one other Primary in my life. And that was a simple process that entailed walking two blocks to a polling place. That was 1984 in Tennessee and if I remember correctly, Al Gore was in the Primary and was, of course, the state's favored son. For some probably rebellious reason (I was young), I voted for Jesse Jackson. Now while I can appreciate Jesse, there would be no reason I could find, even in retrospect, to vote for him. The only reason I can most likely remember this was because I still remember looking at the results in the newspaper the following day and I was the sole vote for Jesse Jackson in our precinct. And I sort of enjoyed that. (BTW, I am a southern white female, not your typical Jesse vote in those days.)
This time, I wanted to vote for what I consider all the right reasons. I have leaned towards Obama for a little while now, certainly since it seemed Hillary had this all locked up. I figured that the Primary would be the only time I get to vote with my heart and that is the best reason I know of to support anything. It wasn't going to be a vote against Hillary, but rather for Obama.
I'm getting a little weary of the slanted news coverage of this Primary, but that's the topic of another blog. The point here is that I've heard, in a negative spin, that voting for Obama is essentially voting from the heart, not the head. Well, we marry and have children based on heart, not head, and that is the basis of our partnerships in life. Isn't the Presidency akin to a partnership for any individual? It's a partnership that you entrust your children's future to...possibly your own well being to...in the areas beyond your control. So why would/could/should anyone vote with their head and not their heart?
When I was 19 years old, I bought a greeting card with "Press On" to keep in my room. It spoke to me. In some ways, it became a philosophical foundation and with this experience of getting to vote, I'm reminded of it yet again. In the context of Obama's campaign, I might even add my own line about 'experience':
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
Calvin Coolidge
So here I sit in South America and wonder how to make a difference at this, a most critical juncture of the election process. Okay I donated a bit, but I wanted to do more. Through the Worldwide Expats for Obama email list, I was inspired to make Obama baseball caps / t-shirts to wear around in hopes of bringing attention to him among other expats and/or travelers in my country. But I wanted to do more. I wrote the campaign with ideas. I refused to give up on getting to vote when there were glitches in my online registration and after enough reaching out, I got to vote in the Primary. But I wanted to do more.
I will admit I was on the fence for awhile, but I found myself hoping Obama won in SC where I grew up and when I watched the Kennedy endorsement, thanks to streaming media, I cried. Sure didn't expect that, but there it was. The last time any politician inspired me to tears was Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention. And before that, Bill Clinton's acceptance speech at the 1992 Democratic Convention. And before that, never.
That inspired me to listen closer and study more and shortly, I found myself somewhat obsessed with the Primaries...shocking to anyone who knows me as I've been as close to apathetic as one gets up until the outrage I felt towards Bush policies. And who wants to listen to the equivalent of screaming complaints? And who wants to keep silently screaming in the face of such futility? So I just shut up and shut down. Until now.
Thanks to Vonage, Skype and any number of VOIP options, we expats living abroad can easily phone numbers in the US. So, yesterday, in the hour I had free, I made phone calls through Obama's site to voters in Kansas. And watching the returns last night on CNN, I realized I was a bit more keen on knowing the outcome in Kansas because I felt a bit more personally involved. The results were good in Kansas and it was enough of a seed of ownership to inspire more involvement. So this morning, I waited until the respectable hour of 9AM and started calling people in Maine.
I was taken aback, at first, by the number of people who simply hung up on me in Maine, but when I would speak to someone friendly, it more than compensated. I ended up in a somewhat lengthy conversation with a 60ish woman who teaches children, is an independent, and is married to a Republican. She is going with Obama today and if he is the nominee, her Republican husband leans in his direction. We had a long conversation, two strangers both interested in the same course of action for America. Two strangers who both could marvel at how far we have come in our lifetime. Two strangers who are both inspired by a politician in a way we haven't been before. We discussed education, our children and as she put it, (why) "Obama truly is the American dream." As a teacher, she has very strong feelings about education. Perhaps it was above and beyond and against some volunteer policy somewhere (though I am careful in being tactful), but I was glad I could suggest to her that her husband study John McCain's voting record on education.
I am only too painfully aware of McCain's voting record and position on various issues. I had been aghast when my son suggested he might be leaning towards McCain for the Fall and so I put together quite a piece contrasting the positions and voting records of Obama, Hillary and McCain. And then I walked him through absentee voting from school. I did not dictate his vote, but I did share my research and my opinions. He voted for Obama in the TN primary via absentee ballot that he actually fedexed back in order for it to get there in time. It was the first time he had voted in his life. For him, it came down to the fact that Obama had always been publically against the war even when it was a very unpopular position.
There was another lively fellow I spoke with in Maine who really wanted to tell me why he couldn't stand Hillary. I would not engage in that specifically, but since he reminded me so of the 'good old boy's' I grew up with, it wasn't hard to spin the conversation with facts. I asked him if he was aware of how heavily her donations had been from special interest groups and/or corporations and then asked him if he knew that Obama did not accept campaign donations from special interest groups? He did not know that and was surprised to learn of it. I could then reiterate that the majority of Obama's donations have come from everyday people making small donations. He liked the sound of that. I liked helping him become aware of that.
Granted, the vast majority of people I spoke with weren't heading out to caucuses today because of snowstorms. And while I'm sure this goes against some volunteer policy, I ended up discussing how to make snow cream. Having spent most of my adult life in the northeast, it was always amazing to me that it seemed only southerners had ever even heard of snow cream, but then again, as I joked, "Leave it to southerners to figure out how to make food out of weather." But I'll bet there are some trying it out in Maine today. Mr. Lively Good Ole Boy from Maine was one of the ones who said he doubted he would make it out to the caucus because of snow. But by the end of the conversation and after he crowed about his 4 x 4 that would make it anywhere in any weather, and after I listened to him on Hillary and discussed Obama with him, he seemed motivated enough to get out there. Said he would. And I told him it would be one of the few times his voice would be so loud given the low turnout due to snow. Says he's going. Hope he does. One on one, I felt like I got to make a difference.
I spoke to a 94 year old lady who is supporting Obama, but wasn't sure she could make it out to the caucus today because of the weather. It made me wish I could send someone to pick her up, but wouldn't know where to begin.
Yes, the impossible has happened. I am engaged. Obama inspired that. He has given me a reason to care again and that, my friends, I had given up on and would have bet against ever happening again. I left the US almost 4 years ago. If Obama is elected, it no longer seems like 'not an option' to return because I truly believe it would be returning to something worth believing in and being involved with. And I truly believe that only he is going to be able to rally people to want to be involved. And I truly believe that America has no hope, given the overwhelming shadow of apathy that has settled over our nation, unless the people are involved in its direction, have a voice and feel like that voice counts. And I truly believe Obama is the one who can make that happen. I have always believed that, 'if you can imagine it, you can create it.' I don't believe there is such a thing as a Divine Tease, therefore if you can imagine it, you have the wherewithal to create in. And so, I believe in his brand of hope without reservation. I can only ask my friends who doubt how they can afford not to hope?
So down here in South America, I have begun to care about America and the people in America in a way that has been so buried as to become practically non-existant. Obama inspired that. I am willing to support a candidate I can believe in and believe with. Obama inspired that. I am volunteering for the first time in any capacity in a political campaign. Obama inspired that. I weep at the possibility. Obama inspired that. My son voted for the first time in his life. Obama inspired that. In short, I begin to believe in the United States again. Obama inspired that.
I'm sort of shocked that I'm getting so involved, but I feel like I have to, like I will regret it if I didn't do what I could to participate in making the hope I now feel a realty. My exit from the US was due, in no small part, to the current administration. I can still remember how involved I was writing letters, talking to people, etc as though I had no choice but to try to make a difference in screaming with my increasingly silent voice, "NO..Don't do this!"
And then, the day we actually bombed Iraq, something inside shifted in a way that I thought, until now, would be irrevocable. Something broke inside. I felt our country had been hijacked for all the wrong reasons and I had listened when one friend said it will take generations now to undo all the damage this administration has done. I felt like futility walking and knew to stay in the US would equal me living with a kind of internal anger that equalled no way to live. So I left and did my best to ignore the decline of the US in it's own backyard and in the view of the world. One friend asked me if I felt so strongly, didn't I also feel obligated to stay and try to change it? I could only respond by relaying how futile that felt and explain how filling my soul with positivity would be a better way to contribute to this Earth than to remain and have only the opposite to give.
I left and by doing so, I explored, learned and found incredible positivity to replace all that negative space Mr. Bush and his government occupied. I was no longer lashing out at windmills, but could see how I could make a difference, for example, in the lives of indigenous cultures and by doing community service in my new home. I only had exposure to Bush by choice, instead of seeing him everywhere as you do in the US. I watched news coverage from outside the US and in short, became more of a global citizen as my perspective broadened. All good, but now, I am compelled to do what little I am capable of to make as much of a difference as possible, for my son, for my own piece of mind and because America was great and I believe Obama is the leader who can help unify a nation so it can be again.
