The question of the moment is where do we go from here? As Alaskans? As a nation? As my.barackobam.com participants?
For my part, I have updated my profile, dropped some groups, maintained some groups, and altered E-mail settings on some groups. Would like to continue to build alliances among Alaskans and others for a more healthy, just, peaceful, and sustainable planet, peoples, and all our relations.
We've built some invaluable alliances here and it will be interesting to see if this site remains active and influential in the future for building upon the movement of change and mutual support begun here.
What does everyone think about the best ways to move ahead from here? In Alaska and elsewhere?
Barack Obama, our President-elect is inviting your participation in change with your ideas through his new website:
http://change.gov
Sweet celebration to all. Goal #1 (check). Onward.
Hope we can continue to network here to brainstorm, gather information, share information, set new goals, and implement new policies--for the good of all.
If McCain and the Repubs picked SP for VP, (with the blessings of Bush and Cheney) who are they going to pick for: Department Heads, Supreme Court Justices, other judicial appointments, other government positions???
It’s not just SP becoming President that is terrifying, it’s the entire weight of reckless, irresponsible political appointments and catering to the CEO’s and lobbyists and bankers and insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and Big Oil.
It’s about corporate welfare and loss of privacy and about people for clean air being added to terror alert lists. And if you’re not for the Patriot Act and loss of your rights as citizens then you’re not a real American.
It’s about wanting to criminalize women and their doctors for making decisions that are best made by women and their doctors.
It’s about regressing back to the darkest of dark ages with intolerance being the rule of law.
Obama/Biden in '08 promises change:
**smarter energy policy and investment in jobs and workers **national unity **diplomacy skills and a more peaceful and safe world **your health and the health of the planet **a steady hand at the helm
This just came around from down south.
"I Didn't Vote For Obama" by kentuckyscott Monday, October 20, 2008"I'm a middle-class white guy living in Jacksonville, Florida. I've got a wife and two kids. Because the kids had no school today, I took a vacation day from work, and took the kids downtown to vote early. Fifty-nine minutes later, two smiling children and I proudly sported "I Voted" stickers. But I didn't vote for Obama. I voted for my ancestors, who believed in the promise of this country and came with with nothing as immigrants. I voted for my parents, who taught in the public schools for decades. I voted for Steve, an acquaintance of mine from Kentucky . (Killed by an IED two years ago in Iraq ). I voted for Shawn, another who's been to Iraq twice, and Afghanistan once, and who'll be going back to Afghanistan again soon -- and whose family earned eleven bucks a month too much to qualify for food stamps when the war started. I voted for April, the only African-American girl in my high school -- it was years before it occurred to me how different her experience of our school must have been. I voted for my college friends who are Christian, Jewish, Mormon, and yes -- Muslim. I voted for my grandfathers, who worked hard in factories and died too young. I voted for the plumber who worked on my house, because I want him to get a REAL tax break. I voted for four little angels from Birmingham. I voted for a bunch of dead white men who, although personally flawed, were willing to pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, and used a time of great crisis to expand freedom rather than suspend it. I voted for all those people and more, and I voted for all of you, too. But mostly, I voted selfishly: I voted for two little kids, one who has ballet in an hour, and one who has baseball practice at the same time. I voted for a world where they can be confident that their government will represent the best that is in this country, and that will in turn demand the best of them. I voted for a government that will be respected in the world. I voted for an economy that will reward work above guile. I voted for everything I believe in. Sure, I filled in the circle next to the name Obama, but it wasn't him I was voting for -- it was every single one of us, and those I love most of all."
Senator Obama exemplifies family values. He honors his parents and his grandparents. He honors the stories of his extended family in Kenya. He has been married to one beautiful wife for sixteen years and he has two beautiful daughters. He honors his wife, works at his marriage, and supports his children. He respects women and works to uphold their rights. He's worked in communities to better the lives of children, teenagers, and families. He has his own Christian faith, but does not impose that faith on others. He values his own family and honors the families of others. His economic proposals are designed to help and lift up working families. He is working for a better health care system with an emphasis on prevention that is affordable and accessible to all--for families. He understands that families need clean air, clean water, healthy food, and adequate shelter. He leads his family and his country by example, with honesty and compassion.
The Economy and Taxes--Biden
Healthcare--Biden
Energy, the Environment and Global Warming--Biden
Connected with Main Street--Biden
Human Compassion--Biden
Foreign Policy--Biden
Got his Facts Right--Biden
Answered the Questions Asked--Biden
Women's Issues--Biden
Supreme Court Justice Appointments and Ideology--Biden
Role of the V.P. (Cheney's Interpretation Dangerous)--Biden
Supports his/her Running Mate--Biden
Closing Comments--Biden
Did I miss anything? Please continue.
Instead of waiting for others to send you links for letters to the editor of various newspapers across the country, this site lists all U.S. newspapers by state. http://www.50states.com/news/Write a short a letter of why you support Obama/Biden. Comment on McCain/Pain if you wish. Pick your states and pick your newspapers. It sometimes takes a few minutes to find the "Contact Us" link--but it's always there somewhere.Just a few weeks left. Your voice can make a difference. Pick swing states. Pick states where people know you. Pick states that you think your letter will resonate with. If necessary, tailor your comments to specific states.
I'm an Alaskan who supports the Obama/Biden as being best for Alaska, the nation, and the world. At this critical time in our history, we need responsible leadership that will stabilize our economy, commit to a more diverse and smarter energy policy that will create jobs, and bring ethics and honesty back into our government.
Kathleen Menke, Haines, Alaska
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The National Organization for Women (NOW) said Tuesday it had been pushed by the Republicans pick of Sarah Palin as vice presidential nominee to back Democrat Barack Obama for the White House.
"NOW is going to be endorsing the Obama-Biden ticket," NOW head Kim Gandy told National Public Radio (NPR), referring to Obama and his running mate Joseph Biden.
The 500,000-strong women's movement, which "very, very rarely endorses in a general election", broke with its tradition of neutrality after "the addition of Sarah Palin gave us a new sense of urgency," said Gandy.
"She is being portrayed as a supporter of women's rights ... as a feminist when in fact her positions on so many of the issues are really anathema to ours," Gandy said.
