On a recent survey, I was asked: How would you like to see this organization move forward in the months and years ahead? And how would you like to be engaged as a volunteer and organizer?:
I'm unsure how to answer this question. I'd love to be an official blogger, bringing certain issues and actions to the people. I'm happy that the Obama office is not closing in Dallas, and that the website is staying up. We are living in the Age of Information, and any time we can communicate and learn, we improve.
Like many people, I hope that the Obama family will not only adopt a dog (preferably an adult, black, mixed-breed) but will also serve as examples to the nation in how to care for a dog: getting it fixed, trained, keeping it indoors and bathing it regularly. The notion of a dog as a status symbol is antiquated and causes so much suffering. Perhaps the Obamas can foster kindness and respect over breeding and neglect.
I'm glad that Obama is doing weekly broadcasts. I hope he will do some spots on PBS about simple things like how to tie a tie, how to hold a pencil, and having good manners. Little things that don't seem to be taught anywhere, but make a big difference in America.
We are a great country, but the things that make us great are the things we take for granted: opportunity, clean water, food, good manners, and diversity. The campaign/administration must continue to make us aware and self conscious.
The flag-pin patriots are "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing". We can do better. We should and we must. Let's make it "American" to drive slowly, spay or neuter a pet, greet and thank veterans. Let's ask everyone to uncover their heads on entering a public facility, for courtesy and safety. Let's step aside if the person behind us at the grocer only has one item. Let's keep our roads and parks clean of trash. Let's say "please" and "thank you" and look people in the eye. These are the things that will make us great again. This is who we are.
From an email I got today
It is regrettable that the recently released Government Accounting Office’s report failed to hold the BLM accountable for rounding up some 30,000 more horses than could be adopted over the past eight years. The GAO looked only at the train wreck and not the reasons that the train left the tracks in the first place. As you know, the BLM has proposed killing the horses in long-term holding to remedy their self-made budget crisis. We cannot allow this to happen and I am concerned that we don’t have much time to stop them from carrying through with this despicable plan. These horses belong to us, the American public, and they should be returned to the wild, not killed by the thousands. As I write this, the BLM is rounding up over 400 healthy horses to be removed from the Cedar Mountain Herd in Utah. It is likely that only a handful of theses horses will be adopted and the rest will end up in long-term holding where they are in danger of being killed. Please act now to save America’s wild horses, here are some things you can do· Contact your local papers, radio stations and national media outlets.· Contact both your Senators and your Representative: call 202-224-3121 or visit www.congress.org for contact information.
Doing a horse rescue errand in a small town, I was surprised to hear a woman telling us that she "knew who she was NOT going to vote for because she did not want a non-Christain in the White House". I guess I try not to buy into the small-town stereotype. But there it is. Of course, I tried to talk with her. She seems convinced that we must be at war and if it is not over there it will be "here" on our soil. What I saw in her was fear. And so I tried to asuage that, telling her that Obama is possibly the most truly Christian candidate since Carter. But she likes her fear. It's more fun to make snippy remarks than to study up on foreign policy, after all.
The frustration with this kind of reasoning has led me to wonder if we could turn it on McCain. Yes, he's a Christian....as far as we know....but he did spend a lot of time being tortured and brainwashed in a non-Christian country. And he did leave his first wife because she was no longer pretty...hardly a serious Christian approach to a life-long vow. Did he give 25% of his income to charity? Which ones? Does he attend a church regularly? If so, where? After all, he has seven houses. And twenty-one "pets". Can he tell us the names of these pets? Perhaps we have a Manchurian candidate situation here. The choice of Sarah Palin for VP is hardly in the interest of the nation. Could sub-conscious programming already be at work?
On a more serious level, I try to remain positive. There are many negative things to say about the Republican party and its candidates. But that is the "low hanging fruit". I let people say what they like, but still prefer to have positive things to say about our candidate Barack.
I really should have told her that if she wants to vote for McCain, then she can but she should find a more plausible reason. Maybe because Barack is a Virgo. Because at least that is a fact. Right? Or is he a Libra?
My old Jeep is an Obama-mobile. Last night I gave 7 bumper stickers and a button to someone in the parking lot. People honk and wave. When I am in the city, Dallas, especially. Not so much out in rural areas. When someone does come forward, it is with such joyful relief...to find another of our Kind here.
The horse rescue I volunteer with is in the small town of Waxahachie. This was the projected home for the super-collider project that got scrapped. Now, the Europeans are making headlines with their super-collider, which is far less super than ours would have been. 17 miles to our 54 miles. And it is sad to see so many people struggling, giving up homes and animals and dreams. I try to bring a little hope...or at least make them THINK about hope.
I meet people who say they don't plan to vote because "it doesn't matter".
I ask if they voted in 2004? (No)
I ask if they WOULD have voted for Bush? (No)
Then how do we KNOW your vote did not count?!
"My vote does not matter" is the exact philosophy that got us the Bush administrations.
And if you don't vote, then you give up your right to complain for the next four years. That's right, don't vote? DON'T COMPLAIN! And everybody loves to complain.
Remember to include the photo link into all your emails! Very, very IMPORTANT! Charise DeMao cdemao@parallax.ws By the way, there is a very Republican email circulating that implies that the "liberals" are wanting to take food from the mouths of the poor when they oppose slaughter of American horses for international consumption. There are a few flaws in this logic, not the least of which is that American horses are treated with all kinds of drugs that are labeled NOT FOR USE in animals intended for human consumption. The effect of eating meat from an animal who has been treated with, for example, broad spectrum wormers like Ivermectin, is certianly not healthy. Basically. it is a poison. A 20-year-old horse has a lot in the system. If we wanted to kindly supply the world with horse meat, we would have made the slaughter facilities in the USA more humane and suited to horses. We don't. The world can kill and eat their own horses. The BLM claims the horses are starving, but they are not. And if they do, it is nature's way. They are wild animals. Species rise and fall with the times and the weather. If we had left predators in place, like cougars and wolves, the sick and weak would be culled and the herds would be fine. But the BLM is not culling the sick and the weak or the old. They are rounding them all up. Additionally, in many other countries, horsemeat is considered a delicacy and is very expensive. In others, it is passed off as "American beef". In any case, someone is making a big profit on it, not just giving it away to the poor and hungry. Horseflesh is not the "soylent green" of the 21st century.
I am so glad Barack went on his trip. Today I hear that the Republicans, having nothing else to do, are saying he did not spend enough time with the troops. Well. McCain did not ask him to go see the troops. I'm sure he would have loved hanging out with the troops, but he was there finding facts and strengthening alliances and talking to the Big Players.
Answer to flag pin patriots: Must every Christian wear a cross?
The most recent activity at the rescue is in this thread: http://forums.prospero.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=26743.91
I don't have a job yet, but have been working on a prospect that should pan out in August.
Meanwhile, I give what I can (time) and am shipping out more Obama buttons this week!
Chrystal
Some of you here on the Obama blog contributed to help save 11 horses in April. I thought I'd post a picture of 2 of them so you can see the improvements. I am now working hands-on with 4 of the 11. We had to disperse them to different foster homes and rescues. For more pictures, go to
www.neverenuffacres.org
Thank you for your support! And thanks for helping to build a better world for everyone. I could not have found these if I had not been so inspired by the campaign!
I worked yesterday, then worked at the stables, then visited friends I have neglected for too long. Rushed to work this morning, to the stables this afternoon, home after dark, so much to do, and I came here just to see....and was AMAZED. As wonderful as we feel seeing pictures, can we even begin to know how it was for those who were there? It's like some political Woodstock moment...were you there? I was moved beyond words just waiting in line with 20,000 in Fort Worth.
Just looking at US, at AMERICA, thinking, "THIS is who we ARE!"Oregon and Portland, thank you. Do sitting Presidents ever raise such a crowd? Last time a sitting President was in Dallas, we mainly heard about it (and cared) in relation to the effect on traffic and the commute to work. I'm reminded of the Coke commercial "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..." which suddenly comes to mind after being shut away as too cheesy and idealistic. Maybe it's not. Maybe we just needed more than a soft-drink to unite us.
Today's blog is an email I got over a year ago, which illustrates breed discrimination and the power of the media to distort our perception. If you care about dogs or people who care about dogs, please read. I include the writer's contact information, contact information for the people involved and responsible, and pictures.
June 2007 Rudy & Shanna of Bonham, Texas called me as their last hope to help get their dog Clutch returned home.
On June 5th, 2007 the water meter man came on their front porch to ask where the meter was located. The dog came out of the house and smelled him on the leg. Nick (the meter man) threw his hands up in the air and yelled. In the process he was bit on the end of one finger. He worked on the meter and then left; however before leaving he said “Do you know you can go to prison for this?” The animal control officer Jimmy Gilbert arrived and took the dog to the vet for a 10-day quarantine.
June 13th, 2007 The dog was then picked up from the vet, labeled a dangerous dog and taken to the dump you see in the pictures ... which is one day before his 10-day quarantine period was over. Rudy and Shanna were under the impression they would get their dog back after the quarantine period and were shocked to learn that he was sent to the pound.
They immediately went to Judge Skontik who informed them that "only DOPE DEALERS and thugs own Pit bulls and people are crazy for wanting one". He continued to state that if the dog was in the company of their child he would personally call Child Protective Services and file a report.
June 19th 2007
Rudy & Shanna came to see me… I told them if I were to help them there would be some stipulations: 1) The dog be neutered 2) The dog stay in my care for one month 3) Do at least 4 follow up training visits!
The rest is on the extended blog. This describes some of the things WE the people need to CHANGE. Not just about animals, but about power-mad "officials".
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable."-Helen Keller-American Pit Bull Terrier owner!
Today I am just providing a link to a thread on another website that really touched my heart. It deserves to be made into a book. Take a look if you can. At the end of each page you can click "continue reading". There is also a number system at the bottom to be sure all the posts are in order.
Make sure you start with #1.
Good luck.
Hello absolutely everyone, The "rebate" money from the Bush administration will be coming any day now. I know that the country is struggling, and I believe that this "extra" money will mainly be going to necessities. However, this also represents a great opportunity for us to do good in the world. http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/VoteRebate This is my fundraising link. I feel that Senator Obama can help our economy. I have never campaigned before, but this has moved me from my cynicism and doubt. I've done hours of research and have no qualms.
What beeter irony than to send Bush's "hush" money to the new administration?
However, remind everyone that only $5 can make a difference in our nation's future. If you don't (or can't) support Senator Obama, you can still support a non-profit somewhere...in your own community...the Red Cross, NPR, Public Television, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Food Banks, Animal Rescue Groups, March of Dimes, funds for schools, Big Brother and Sister programs, and education, hospitals, public servants, veterans.... We can make a difference.
All year long, we hear about various causes and are often unable to give. Now, we can, if only for a day. Billions of people could give the price of a cup of coffee and change our world for the better. If you care about a particular organization or cause, take this time to ask for a small bit of help from friends and family and coworkers. Sincerely fired up, Chrystal in Dallas PS. I am helping out a horse rescue group by donating my time training abused and feral horses. If you think this is a good cause, learn more at http://www.NeverENuffAcres.org. You can donate through Paypal by sending funds to dawnrw@neverenuffacres.org or equineangel22@yahoo.com . If you want to write an Obama-friendly note, wait for the "confirm" page and scroll down to include a message.
Remember that no matter where you give, you can share your support of Obama. People need to know that Obama supporters care about more than just the candidate...we care about the country!
Today I got this email from the HSUS:
One Year After Vick,Great Progress Against Animal Fighting
Dear Chrystal,
One year ago today, authorities raided Michael Vick's property in Virginia, gathering evidence that led to his imprisonment on charges related to dogfighting. Although The Humane Society of the United States has battled animal fighting for more than fifty years, your actions last summer and into this year have helped us make great strides in bringing more animal fighters to justice.
These are just a few of the many milestones we've already reached in 2008.
I'm proud to report this progress, and I thank you for helping to make it all possible. Please donate now to extend our successful rewards program and help us continue to save animals from vicious fighting rings and bring their abusers to justice.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of dogs are exploited by dogfighters and countless vulnerable animals suffer hunger, thirst, malicious wounding, and death. You can put a dedicated, powerful team on their side with your monthly gift to the Animal Cruelty Response and Reward Fund.
Thank you for your donation, and for all you do to help animals every day.
Sincerely,Wayne PacellePresident & CEOThe Humane Society of the United States
----------------------------------------------------------
<B>FYI, of the 50 Vick dogs, only ONE had to be euthanized <B>because of pyschological scarring / anti-social behaviors. All the others rehabilitated and are in real homes with fosters or forever-families. Sadly, the MSM does not report on this. Demonizing a breed gets better headlines than the truth (sound familiar?)
I'm not putting this out here to ask you for money, but mainly to be sure that we all remember what we can accomplish in America when we rise up and focus on a problem. If we continue to use the Obama Grassroots techniques in the future, we will be able to hold our legal system accountable for its flaws- and also HELP to make things better.
I pray for a day when people will make the calls not for money or reward, but because reporting crime is the American thing to do.
I pray for a day
when people will make the calls
not for money or reward,
but because reporting crime
is the American thing to do.
Sincerely,
VOTE with Your Rebate
<B> Please, remind friends and family that if they do not want to support Barack (or cannot give any more) that many non-profits are suffering horribly during these bad times when people cannot afford to give as they would like to do. NPR is on my list of places to spread my rebate, along with Never-E-Nuff Acres, and my vet bill...<B>
<B> Please, remind friends and family
that if they do not want to support Barack
(or cannot give any more)
that many non-profits are suffering horribly
during these bad times when people cannot afford to give
as they would like to do.
NPR is on my list of places to spread my rebate,
along with Never-E-Nuff Acres, and my vet bill...<B>
There is a lot of talk about how divided our party has become, but I believe that it will not stay that way. Once Obama has secured the nomination, the attacks from the Republicans will take center-stage.
Faced with a common "enemy" the Democrats will unite. Hillary may or may not stay very active. But the party will rise up against the same old thing we've had for years.
I believe that getting Barack Obama the nomination is the goal we should all concetrate upon.
Barack has been accused of running negative ads, but anyone who has spent any time in our blog knows full well that he has NOT mentioned the many things he could have. He even gave her a graceful pass on the Bosnia issue during the debate...and rightly so. He is not trying to conquer her, but rather to take back the White House for the American people.
We all know that Hillary cannot secure the nomination, and that if she had, McCain would have much more ammunition. We can get Obama elected by doing what he does best: pointing out the real problems, and being brave enough to take action. Obama's senate record is stellar and we need to focus on that. Can he get things done? Yes. Will Republicans work with him? YES.
It is very hard to campaign without saying negative things about the other candidate. But we have the candidate with the MOST positive things to talk about. And all the other states are eager to learn about him and cast their votes.
Let's do this thing.
We are all bitter, and the "street money" thing has led me to be very proud of Obama's people because we support places like PA and their schools.
So much needs to be changed in America, for the better. I am learning about things now that I closed myself away from before, because I felt so much despair and felt I could not make a difference and would rather not know. Yes, I am human! But now, I feel braver. I think a difference can happen. So I am looking at things and trying to help.
Here is a new challenge. Some thouroughbred horses in the Illinois area have been pulled from the auction block and the kill buyers (aka KBs), but the money to take care of them, feed them, get them medical help, has not yet been raised. The people who went saved more than they thought they would originally because they could not bear to leave any horses behind to their fates if they could help it.
If you or someone you know might want to adopt or foster a horse, go to www.CANTERUSA.org or www.hahs.org
Both national horse rescue and rehabs.
They need to raise at least $1,365. more as soon as possible.
we have a snail mail for Gail of:
Gail Vacca
19501 West Ballou Rd.
Wilmington, IL 60481
and a Pay Pal address of glv190@aol.com
The specific rescue event is reffered to as Sugarcreek TBs
To read the complete story of this situation, go to:
http://forums.prospero.com/alexbrown/?msg=22008.140&post=y&guest=y
and start with the first entry.
To read a first-hand account by one of the volunteers who went to the auction, see my extended blog. It is not for the faint of heart. But no pictures, only true words.
However, you don't have to go there to be helpful, and if you tell a few friends and they each send only $5, it will help. That's the magic of hope.
Here is the link to their site again: http://www.neverenuffacres.org/
Today, through my rescue contacts, I got an an email about the 11 horses at a Seguin Auction House that we are trying to save. These are not old, lame horses on their last leg. One of them is an extremely pregnant mare ready to drop her foal at any time! Many of the others are very young and deserve a chance. Foster homes have already been arranged for each of them and they are waiting with open arms. But we need money to save them! They have long lives ahead of them if we can help! We came up with an action plan and are doing fairly well so far. But we have a ways to go though to meet our goal and we need your help!
WE have raised all but $770.00 to save them, and we have only a 50 hours left.
A volunteer has been going to check on them and their health and well-being while we raise the money.
Today's email says it all:
Donations are great! But if you CAN'T Donate, will you at least FORWARD this email like Crazy? Please help us get the word out!!! Will your co-workers donate the price of a cup of Starbucks to help save a life? You don't know until you ask! If you don't ask, it's an automatic NO, if you DO ask, the answer just might be YES!!!
So, I thought that if we can sponsor a fish, maybe some of us would do this, and mention with each donation that the Barack Obama blog was the place they heard about the auction rescue. The people who love horses are many in Texas, and many may not be decided yet. If even a few decide to look at our blog (which I am addicted to, by the way) it would be great. Remember, even a Republican can love a horse.
I also want to STRESS that I am not asking everyone to give. Most of us have given all we can to the campaign, and that is as it should be. This is something for those who can afford it and want to do it. If the word gets passed along far enough, maybe Never-E-Nuff Acres will have to change their name. And the best place I know for dissemminating information is the Barack Obama campaign.
The exact date you receive a stimulus check will depend largely on the last two digits of your Social Security number.
More than 130 million stimulus payments will be sent out starting May 2, on a staggered schedule based on the last two digits of taxpayers' Social Security numbers, the Internal Revenue Service said Monday. On jointly filed returns, the mailing schedule will be based on the first Social Security number listed, the IRS said.
For taxpayers who file by April 15 and get their tax refund deposited directly into a bank or other financial account, the IRS will send stimulus payments from May 2 through May 16. For taxpayers who file by April 15 but don't choose direct deposit, the IRS will mail checks from May 16 through July 11 (see detailed schedule below).
More from MarketWatch:
Procrastinators, take note: For stimulus payments to be part of this delivery schedule, the IRS said tax returns must be "processed" by April 15 -- not "filed." That implies that a later timetable may apply to taxpayers who mail their return on or close to April 15, leaving little time for the return to be processed by that date.
If you expect a tax refund and choose to direct-deposit it into two or three separate accounts, the IRS will send your stimulus check in the mail. (To have your refund sent to more than one account requires you fill out Form 8888. See this IRS page for more information.)
If you owe taxes and are sending a payment to the IRS with your return, you can still have your stimulus payment deposited directly into a bank or other account, the IRS said. Simply fill out the appropriate section on your return related to direct deposit, detailing your account information. See this IRS page for FAQs on stimulus payments.
If you do owe taxes, be sure to fill out your return and send payment as usual. That is, don't try deducting your expected stimulus payment from your tax bill. If you don't pay your tax bill by April 15, you likely will owe interest and penalties, said Anthony Burke, an IRS spokesman.
However, if you have a past-due federal or state income tax bill or some other type of past-due federal debt such as student loans or child support, your stimulus payment likely will be reduced by what you owe.
Mailing schedule
This is the stimulus payment schedule for tax returns processed by April 15, the IRS said:
Direct deposit payments If the last two digits of your Social Security number are: Your stimulus payment should be sent to your bank account by: 00 - 20 May 2 21 - 75 May 9 76 - 99 May 16 Paper check If the last two digits of your Social Security number are: Your check should be in the mail by: 00 - 09 May 16 10 - 18 May 23 19 - 25 May 30 26 - 38 June 6 39 - 51 June 13 52 - 63 June 20 64 - 75 June 27 76 - 87 July 4 88 - 99 July 11
There may be exceptions, the IRS warned. "A small percentage of tax returns will require additional time to process and to compute a stimulus payment amount. For these returns, stimulus payments may not be issued in accordance with the schedule above, even if the tax return was processed by April 15," the IRS said in it its press release Monday.
"We have some returns that require a second look, that require us to pull them out of the processing for some reason or another," said Anthony Burke, an IRS spokesman, in a telephone interview. "It may not be that there's anything wrong with the return," he said.
The "vast majority of people" will receive their stimulus payment according to the posted schedule, Burke said, "but it's a big system, a lot of returns go through our pipeline" so some returns may not go exactly according to schedule.
Also, the IRS said there's a new online calculator taxpayers can use to figure how much their stimulus payment will be. You'll need to have a completed 2007 tax return on hand to use the calculator.
