Tuesday's caucuses: Go, if you want to break the far-right's grip on Utah
Tribune EditorialArticle
Last Updated: 03/22/2008 10:49:57 AM MDT
With almost metronomic regularity during the Utah Legislature's general sessions, you can hear this refrain, or something like it, up and down the state: Did you hear what the Legislature did?
The specifics about the latest embarrassment or outrage on Capitol Hill vary, but there is a common theme: Why do we keep electing these people?
Well, there's one very big reason. Too often, the folks who complain the loudest don't take the trouble to do the one thing - apart from voting in November - that will give them a voice in changing the status quo that so often irks them. They fail to attend their neighborhood political party caucuses, where delegates to the Republican and Democratic conventions are selected. These are the delegates who in turn vote for the candidates they want to place on their party's ballot for the primary and general elections to come.
Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_8661857
http://www.utdemocrats.org/ht/d/sp/i/1139834/pid/1139834
It’s time to make an impact.
Well, we had another successful Drive for Change canvassing trip to Elko, Nevada, over the weekend. Despite the rainy, snowy cold weather six hearty Utahns, including myself, made the journey to our neighboring early state. Luckily by Saturday morning the sun came out, but it was still chilly! Hopefully the Barack Obama Store gets hoodies and knit caps in-stock soon!
We were given lists, maps and pledge cards to get signed as we headed out around 10AM to knock on doors. By the end we got more pledge cards signed on Saturday than any other canvassing day before. Those that were leaning towards Hillary were easily swayed by our rational assertions that Obama is the best choice. Now they'll be giving him a second look.
Door-to-door work is more important than ever. With all the distractions from radio, TV and the computer, there is nothing better than looking someone in the eye with their full attention and discussing the best candidate for President, Barack Obama.
I hope more of you can join us for our next canvassing trip to Nevada, or even help canvass in our home State of Utah. In a way, the primary is more important than the general election for Utah Democrats. We know our votes will be counted in the primary, which will directly lead to Obama's nomination. In the general election, we may be out-weighed by republicans. Therefore the time is now. Do not wait until November of next year to take action.
Obama is considered the best choice by environmentalists according to the League of Conservation Voters who released environmental ratings of 2008 Presidential candidates.
Environmental ratings:
Obama - 96Kucinich - 92Clinton - 90Biden - 84Richardson -82Dodd - 77Edwards - 59Paul - 30McCain - 26Brownback - 14Thompson - 12Tancredo -11Hunter - 9
http://presidentialprofiles2008.org/
This is an excerpt from an article in the International Herald Tribune:
On Saturday, Obama said he would be willing to meet — without conditions — in the first year of his presidency with the leaders of those nations, contrary to "the chattering class" in the nation's capital who "want to focus, like they always do, on who's up and who's down."
Defending his position, Obama cited Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address saying that the nation must never negotiate out of fear, but also never fear to negotiate.
"I was called irresponsible and naive because I believe that there is nobody we can't talk to," said Obama, drawing loud cheers. "We've got nothing to fear as long as we know who we are and what we stand for and our values."
Obama said his campaign was about "turning the page on a failed foreign policy and having the strength to engage our adversaries and protect American interests around the globe."
When dealing with renegade nations, Obama said, the Bush administration has mistakenly been led by a "guiding diplomatic principle" that it can punish a nation by refusing to talk.
"I am confident we can go before the world and talk to the worst dictators and tell them we don't believe in your values, we don't believe in your human rights violations, we don't believe in you exporting terrorism, but if you are willing to work with us in a better direction then we're willing to talk," Obama said. "We shouldn't be afraid."
Link to the full article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/28/america/NA-GEN-US-Obama-Diplomacy.php
From one of Obama's teachers:
Obama was a marvelous student at Harvard and has a remarkable mind. He is capable of absorbing a great deal of difficult material with amazing speed.
Obama is a strong advocate that governmental policies must be based on the best available science. For example, his actions in the field of nuclear nonproliferation are based on a careful study of the relevant scientific facts.
Obama has a gift for going behind labels and looking at difficult problems in new ways. In Professor Minow's opinion, Obama is likely to be substantially more successful than Hillary Clinton in finding a middle ground among liberals and conservatives in developing federal legislation.
Obama has studied the U.S. Constitution, constitutional case law and constitutional history in great depth. He is a fervent advocate of the separation of powers and of constitutional protections such as habeas corpus.
Obama is not afraid to deliver unpleasant realities to the groups that he addresses, whether they be teachers, black people or the liberal elite, yet he knows how to connect on a personal level with all of these groups.
Obama's chief priorities would be to restore America's moral standing in the world, to improve education at every level, and to reform the health insurance system.
http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070719/REPOSITORY/707190313/1029/OPINION03
Check out this video:
http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1080191055
and the Santa Cruz site:
http://www.obamasantacruz.com/
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/07/obamas_alabama_stops_pull_more.html
"U.S. Sen. Barack Obama brought his presidential campaign to Birmingham and Huntsville Monday, raking in more than $100,000 to add to a war chest that already has topped $50 million.
....And the Democratic candidate's swing through Alabama convinced some uncertain voters to come off the fence and support him.
Obama began his day in Alabama with a $1,000-a-plate luncheon at the Heritage Club in downtown Huntsville attended by 70 donors. The Huntsville event was closed to the public but a small crowd gathered outside the event caught Obama's attention."
