It's no surprise Republicans in Washington thought they could stay the course and keep government running the way they liked it, slow and inefficient without accountability. They are testing President Obama's voice of change and that means ours too.
Don't sit idle and let the forces that drove us into an economic ditch get what they want. Make calls to your Congressional leaders. Tell them about the letters arriving in the mailbox everyday with credit card companies and banks changing the rules of credit, such as raising lending rates even on their best customers. That while American taxpayers bailed them out economically and continue to do so and for what? They are content to keep the money and make more money as the situation worsens and Americans can't pay their credit card debt due to unemployment and trying to keep food on the table.
Ask why Congressional Republicans and some Democrats are willing to make the economic situation worse. Ask them when they will freeze their salaries and drop some of their perks to save money. Just as in the campaign, President Obama, nor his staff can do it alone, we have to stay involved and keep reminding our leaders that we are their bosses not the other way around. Republicans are content to add amendments to offer more corporate tax breaks while leaving the middle class and those without jobs or health care stranded.
Step up, take a stand and don't be shy about making repeated calls. President Obama has three million volunteers that aren't shy and can make a difference. The right has Rush Limbaugh and no other plan except to get in the way of change.
Yes We Can again.....again and again! Groups like Move On.org and AARP are among those sending emails with phone numbes attached and petitions for us to electronically sign to put pressure on Congress for real change, not just something they pledged on November 5th. Republicans don't want to be bi-partisan, as in Abraham Lincoln's time, they want to become the Do Nothing Party.
Speaking of President's Day, this year on the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth, celebrate on February 12th, his true birthday, not the government holiday. He deserves that and more for facing challenges that inspire President Obama to stay strong and bring better days to America and the World.
Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln!
Janet Webb, Frisco, Texas
I write this as I am about to pick up the phone and start calling into Ohio. I am a child of Kansas and its golden wheatfields, Colorado and its majestic mountains, Oklahoma and the Cherokee history of my ancestors, Missouri and the "Show Me" attitude and now Texas for nearly 20 years as an adult of independence built on strength, resolve, character, challenges and above all faith.
You see, like all of us I am a rainbow of colors, sunrises, sunsets, tremendous losses and unbelievable miracles. When I think of Barack Obama's campaign his message of hope for the future and faith in what we can all do as Americans inspires me to believe that people of a cascade of experiences and backgrounds can come together for the common good of this wonderful nation.
It is hard for me as a former Republican to see the party that Abraham Lincoln held so dear and fought so hard for in order to keep the Union together to come apart at the seams. It is being pulled apart by hatred and bigotry from within.
Divided we fail is surely its fate I believe because win at all cost is the GOP's motivation. I admit to election anxiety and to a disbelief in polls, having been in the meda for my whole career I discredit swings from double digit leads to single digit "too close to call" in the matter of a day or two. As I have said before in my blogs, don't believe a single thing the media says, believe in Senators Barack and Biden and their words because that's what America wants to hear and see in action in the White House.
In Texas we seem to be the land of stolen Obama signs and the land of discounted electoral votes. We have the backs of every battleground states. Once this weekend, a simple request, call into Texas and ask a voter to give Barack and Joe their support. On Election Day work like it is a marathon not for you but for your children, nieces and nephews and friends. Let the other side do what they will attempt to steal the election, they won't succeed, because have worked too hard, given all we can and done so as Barack says not for him but for us and for our believe in America the Beautiful with its spectacular tapestry of people who love this country and love each other.
God Bless You All and Thank You!
Janet Webb (Frisco)
Here's a real head scratcher but the Early Voting Locations closest to our communities in Denton County have special hours. Please note the changes and share the news with others.
Friendship Baptist Church in The Colony is conducting Early Voting only the first week, starting October 20th. That means you'll have to vote during the week there.
Del Webb's Frisco Lakes Community Center is the site of Early Votes for us the second week starting Monday, October 27 through the 31st from 7am to 7pm.
I view this as another way to confuse voters. If you have questions, contact the Denton County Elections office directly. Also if you are interested in becoming a Poll Watcher during Early Voting and on Election Day, November 4th, please email me at janetew1961@sbcglobal.net
Let's Get Ready, Texas here we go!
YES WE CAN!
Janet
You wouldn't know it by the media or campaigns, but Texas counts in this election with 34 electorial votes. Old polling as in September showed McCain up by nine points, but we all know what has happened to polling for him since then. Please count us in, call in to Texas, we don't have 41 field offices like Iowa with far less electoral votes. Please know we need volunteers to help finish the work the grassroot supporters in this state have been doing for 18 months, that is to get Senators Obama and Biden elected. Texas is going blue despite what everybody says. Come into our state, we have been asked to send our people to Colorado and New Mexico. Make no doubt about it, we are a battleground, nobody likes our Republican governor here, not even the Republicans and they don't like Senator McCain's plan for America either.
We are fighting hard and remembering the Alamo. We won't give up!
Janet Webb
Here we are, just days away from making history in the United States. To the delegates attending the convention in Denver, savor every moment of the experience. For those of us not there we will be thinking ahead and getting our organizational efforts ready for the big push. Denver is great, I went to high school in the foothills of the city. The elevation change will tax you a bit and please drink plenty of water, believe me it will help. We'll be there with you in spirit watching on a big screen television and know that what once seemed impossible is happening. Celebrate! This is a reminder of all things are possible if we believe. I know God is guiding all of us and pray safe travel for those on the road to Denver. God Bless.
It's been awhile everybody, but I thought I would touch base to say hello, Go Obama and talk about something that can be easily missed during this Presidential Election season. I just recently became eligible for Medicare under disability at the age of 47 because of injuries and subsequent conditions from a car wreck in 2005. Congress recently overrode a Presidential veto of a Medicare/Medicaid improvement bill. What I want everybody to hear from me not as a lecture but as a point of reference is that there are members of both parties trying to thwart improvements in this all important legislation. My GOP senator reluctantly supported the override not because she is against improving the system, but rather because members of the Democratic controlled U.S. Senate would not allow amendments to be added or even considered that would have improved our access to doctors that take Medicare and improve the timeliness by which doctors are reimbursed for taking care of us. This is crucial. I had a doctor I wanted to see that would not even consider seeing me until the legislation is resolved. This is wrong. The system needs not been seen as a Democratic or Republican initiative but rather as long term legislation to fix a broken system that reduces every year the number of doctors who will treat Medicare patients or even consider treating me under my supplemental plan because of the wheels of government moving so slow to reimburse them. They want to treat us, help us, but are frustrated as am I. Make this an issue, ask candidates where they stand on the long term improvements needed to fix the system and ask them that as Senator Obama leads us all as Americans not as partisans if they are willing to take his lead and do the right thing when they go to Washington. Don't let them worm out on their answers.
Hold them accountables, it is time for change and if your rep or senator isn't ready to stand with you, vote for somebody who will.
Safe travels for those going to Denver. I barely survived the Texas Democratic Party Convention and am ready to read the blogs of those going and enjoy my big screen television for once, LOL.
Rock on and God Bless.
To a man I viewed as a member of my family even though I never met him, Rest in Peace and enjoy all those great roundtable discussions in heaven. I can't imagine the rest of the campaign without Tim and don't think that void can be filled. He was fair, honorable and the coverage every primary night with Tim and the NBC crew was something I couldn't miss. Likewise on Sunday morning, I watched "Meet the Press" before going to church. As a political animal since childhood, I feel such a tremendous sense of loss from a person who truly got it with out attacking or demeaning his guests. I offer my deepest sympathies and prayers to his wife, Maureen, son, Luke, his father, Big Rush and to his family at NBC. Tim, keep giving up pointers as we open our hearts and souls to listen though the grace of our savior, Jesus Christ, the healing power of the Holy Spirit and to God who provides comfort always.
God Bless and to everybody, as Keith Oberman once said in his sports days, "we are all day to day." Enjoy every minute!
To the heavens above, I praise God and say Amen that in my lifetime as a 47 year old woman who attended integrated schools in the 1960's and 70's I watched Senator Obama win the Democratic Presidential Nomination last night. His speech was beyond compare. It was historic and is he.
My children don't see color, gender or sexual orientation when they make friends, they see people who become their friends because of their character and special qualities as people. I have hope for them and pray in the coming months the members of earlier generations predating even mine can look beyond their own past of racism and bigotry to elect Senator Obama. I come from a family of well intended people, but nontheless who carried racism in their veins even though they were with one exception, my Cherokee Great Great Grandmother not truly native Americans. Their Welsh, English and German ancestors started families in American on a hope and a prayer. It is my vow to work actively within the campaign to convince my fellow Texans and Americans that a once in a life time candidate can make our lives better and bring something better for my children.
Reach out, as a cross over Republican in this campaign other Republicans are looking for the same thing and will support Senator Obama. Reach out not only to Hillary supporters but to all Americans, we can all make a difference, just like Abraham Lincoln did in 1861, one hundred years before Senator Obama and I were born.
Now onto to Austin for the Texas Democratic Party State Convention. Safe travel to all delegates and staff.
It's refreshing today to wake up and realize truly, truly All Things are Possible if you believe.
Congratulations Senator and Mrs. Obama and to all of us for working so hard for so long to bring a vision to life.
Go Obama.
This is a special thanks to the voters in Kentucky and Oregon who voted for Senator Obama Tuesday night, who stepped up and voted for change and for a man who believes a new day can dawn in America for all of us. To the volunteers in all 50 states and territories, your work is tireless, yet so rewarding. I am awakened with email from people doing extraordinary things to make this campaign succeed. As we go to our state conventions we go with pride in the work we've done and with the spirit of Jefferson and Lincoln in our midst, Presidents who made our country better not for personal benefit but because it was the right thing to do. I hope Hillary regains her reality and knows great Americans put their own interests aside for the betterment of the nation and the world. She can do great work in the Senate and help Senator Obama in the fall. She needs to bridge the generational gap that separates many of her supporters from real change. I hope she will do so in the days ahead, letting us get ready for November and to take a moment to embrace the wonder of what this year has brought to all of us.
Yours in Texas.
At Large Alternate
Thank you North Carolina and Indiana for believing in a dream long forgotten by the children of the 70s, that one man can take our beliefs and go to Washington and bring government back to the people.Yes We Can! Thanks for the people on the ground who took their faith and turned it into a movement of change.
Donna replied to the following and said to get the word out so I am. Pass it on.
Let's keep up the battle to put Americans first ahead of politics.
Dear Ms. Brazile:
First let me say thank you for your wonderful analysis of the Democratic Party nominating process and the state of the contests between Senators Obama and Clinton.
I am an at large alternate delegate to the Texas Democratic Party Convention in Austin in June. I became an Obama supporter early this year after watching his grassroots campaign build momentum and organization. I don’t consider myself a latecomer since 1980 when at the age of 19 I voted in my first Presidential election. I am a cross over Republican for Senator Obama having cast GOP presidential votes since 1980. I am a moderate, but have felt abandoned by the party for some period of time. I am pro choice, not because I favor abortion, I am the parent of an adopted son, but because I favor less government interference in my life. At the same time I am not in favor of pork barrel spending or a lifetime terms in Congress.
I am 47 years old, white, married with two sons, one born by God’s grace through me biologically at the age of 42. However following a 2005 car wreck in Memphis while in route from Texas to Connecticut our car was hit at high speed by an uninsured motorist. I am now disabled and had to seek disability as I developed fibromyalgia and other conditions as a result of that wreck and one again as a passenger in November 2007. I was denied health insurance three times and would have had to pay 18-hundred dollars a month to be part of the assigned risk pool of coverage in Texas.
I tell you this to share perspective, not all white women want Hillary Clinton in office. Senator Obama is of my generation, his birthday is just over a month before mine. His health care strategy is sound and doesn’t require people with good insurance to give their coverage up in favor of a government mandated system. Mrs. Clinton talks often about promoting Children’s Insurance coverage while in the U.S Senate yet that very coverage in Texas in 2001 while I was a newly divorced mother of a ten year old left it unaffordable for me to buy.
Please feel free to share my thoughts with other Super Delegates. Senator Obama is the future of what leadership is needed in Washington. The media wants the race to go to the bitter end to help ratings. I know the inside workings of the media, I was a news reporter and news manager for nearly 25 years. This is the first time I have been able openly to participate in a campaign since my college days at the University of Oklahoma.
I welcome this opportunity and would above all like people like me to open their minds to a change that is uplifting, positive and creates one nation, where party affiliation isn’t topic number one, but a nation in which we are all Americans first regardless of social background, income, race, gender or sexual preference. With Senator Obama comes change for the better and hope, with Senator Clinton comes a win at all cost, never give in philosophy based on somehow being entitled to be President of the United States. Voters decide not back door power brokers.
Best Wishes and God Bless.
Janet Evans Webb
Obama At Large Alternate Delegate/Texas
All,
This is a letter to the Editor that I sent to MSNBC following the PA vote. It's my view of the race after the vote. Let's go Indiana and North Carolina.
Just when I thought my work as a Precinct Chair and Obama Delegation Chair was finished, I now hold another title I'm extremely proud of, At Large Delegate for Senator Obama at the Texas State Democratic Party Convention in Austin in June. Another Alternate from our precinct, Sandra Clements will be driving with me to Austin. We are so excited to send delegates to Denver. I will be pushing strongly for Sandra to be that delegate. She is so deserving and has put in so much work as has everybody, but Sandra is somebody very special and I would be proud to see her represent the Lone Star State in Denver. We are encouraged by our work during the entire month of March as Team Obama to carry Texas afterall for Senator Obama with more delegates than Hillary despite narrowly losing the popular vote. To those still ahead to vote in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana and others, realize it takes everything you've got and more to give to this campaign. The finish line is in sight, let's cross it together with Barrack Obama.
Frisco, Texas
Despite what the national media continues to ignore Texas is in the Obama win column because of what we finished this weekend our county conventions carried out in near chaos at many locations. Below is an email response I sent to two other Barrack supporters who attended the Denton County Convention in Denton, Texas just outside DFW. Read it and know the tricks that will be continued to be played on our supporters as the primary season winds down. The media won't report them, but this is what Texas Obama supporters had to endure in many locations.
Stay strong,be detemined, and rise above the combative tactics being waged against us because we are Americans when many party hardliners still refuse to acknowledge Senator Obama's movement to unite us rather than divide.
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What started nearly a month ago, takes another step March 29th (Saturday), with the Denton County, Texas convention. To others across the nation, pray the rain stays away as we will be outside an in large measure uncovered. After that we'll be shifting our focus to the upcoming primaries by making calls, but for most, if not all of us involved in the Texas Obama effort, we have not stopped doing since before our primary/slash Texas Two Step and are anxious for a moment to catch our breath. Thanks to all of the National Campaign Staff here with us before Primary Day and through the conventions this weekend. They are fantastic people and are dealing with alot of crazy stuff with Texas Election laws, state and county party rules, etc. For now......Have a great weekend and keep rocking.
Janet (Denton County Pct 117 Obama Delegation Chair)
We are not saddened in Texas by the popular vote, because the caucuses were attended in all kinds of conditions that were horrible, yet we did our work and delivered the delegates. Wyoming and Mississippi Obama supporters the spotlight is on you. I've encouraged family members in Wyoming to caucus. Barrack the vote folks. Let's go. Fire up. Hillary can't stop a moving train of faith and hope in America's future. I'd say let her go back to Arkansas, but she doesn't live there does she, even though her husband's presidential library is there. If you are new to the Obama campaign, welcome, work hard and help him with every bit of energy you've got.
After attending my Election Day Training meeting, I came home, got a friend who couldn't register in time to canvass for Obama. Yea Linda! She moved to Texas from Ohio. I started making calls, and am coming across call after call from people who didn't vote early, why I don't know, but apparently can't make up their mind. If you are reading this from out of Texas, please keep calling into our state and telling undecided voters your stories. We are on the phones and streets and gearing up for Tuesday. We need the Obama nation, I'm a NASCAR fan too, so I like the idea of the way that sounds but I like Dale Jr. too. Anyway, help us call so we can pound the streets.
Thanks from all Texans for Obama.
Precinct 117 Team Member and Pct. Captain
As I write this I'm listening to a Matchbox 20 song, my favorite group as a 40 something woman who likes the lyrics of their songs, with words like "Let's see how far we've come" Inspirational huh?It is a tiring day in North Texas and in Denton and Collin Counties. The good news? We have a campaign office in Frisco, finally. The bad news, no landline and we need copy paper. A gain is a gain nontheless.
There are remarkable people doing truly remarkable things, such as a mother who took her eight and four year old sons to the early voting in The Colony following what Victoria and I did yesterday during our excellent adventure. They held signs in support of Senator Obama and talked wtih voters just outside the 100 foot marker. That is truly democracy in action.
Victoria was there by herself at times today and again canvassed her neighborhood with a friend, putting fliers on the doors of people in the neighborhood. That's what is happening in Texas, we are ready for the stretch run, but want a little favor......it's not so big, or maybe it is. We need big campaign signs to post at our polling precincts leading up to and including March 4th, but can't get anything close.
Some people say signs don't matter, but in Texas they do as do placards, buttons and bumper stickers. It is an impression just like a billboard for a radio station, a reminder and a touching point for people who will never have the chance to shake the hand of Senator Obama much less meet him on the campaign trail. He is coming to Ft. Worth in a couple of days. We are so excited but the large crowds will mean that anybody that doesn't camp out for half a day will likely not get in to see him. This is our way of saying we're glad the people of Iowa and New Hampshire had the pleasure of having in house visits by candidates. We don't know what that is like here, yet we will keep working hard to make sure Texas is the state that gives Barrack Obama the nomination.
We keep believing and thanks to those who are boosting our tired spirits. We are in the stretch run of a three week long campaign in which we don't only vote, but have to caucus and explain that to people, who in many cases, are first time voters. That is the true inspiration and wonder of this campaign, people are excited about Barrack and the opportunity to be part of change.
Good night from Texas
We are labeling today’s get out the Obama vote, Victoria and Janet’s Excellent Adventure. Victoria arrived outside the Government Center in The Colony, Texas before the early voting start at 1pm. I got there about 1:40 after church.
We stayed until 5pm and greeted many Obama supporters who gave us the thumbs up as they left in their cars to those that actually rolled down their windows and asked questions about the caucus. At least ten will be with me us Election Night at the Little Elm Town Hall.
We saw people of all colors voting for the Senator which pumped us up, along with the many honked horns as people drove by on busy FM423 (Main Street) in The Colony. To us they was another way to get out the vote, much more personal than phone calls.
It's the end of another thrilling day in Texas. Our House Party was tremendous with lots of enthusiasm and new Texas Precinct Captains signed up. We are planning on turning out at early voting locations tomorrow to add even more excitement to the weekend by our support of Senator Obama's candidacy. The caucus process is something around for years in Texas, but for the first time in many moons we actually get to make a difference in the outcome of Presidential primary.
We spent alot of time getting supporters up to speed on it, that effort will keep growing until we push Senator Obama over the top to lock up the nomination on March 4th in Texas and with our friends in Wyoming, Vermont and Rhode Island.
We've got nice weather tomorrow so make the most of it everybody, talk to voters outside the 100 foot boundary as they prepare to cast ballots tomorrow, then make calls in the key hours of 7 to 9pm. That's based on what's working for me in talking to people. If you need tips in talking to GOP possible crossovers, let me know at janetew1961@sbcglobal.net As a crossover maybe I can offer some advice. Thanks to everybody who attended the party today. There were 280 parties across Texas. Imagine that and know that change is coming!
The stars at night, shine big and bright...deep in the Heart of Texas. I can't help it, it's late, I'm tired and at 19 years and counting as a resident, I'm proud to call myself a Texan and most importantly of our next President.
Take care,
