Dear Barack and Michelle,
Just learning about Grandma's passing, I'm so sorry for your loss. But at the same time, I say a prayer of celebration for her. And I thank her for raising such a fine, gracious, thoughtful, caring young man. She has given the us, and the world, a wonderful gift. And as sure that she loved you and your sister very much, she surely was also so very proud.
Learning of her long fight with cancer, I am reminded of my own dear Granny. She too battled cancer at the end of her life. I can sometimes feel her presence, scolding me when I do something silly, chuckling when I do something right.
For today, and tomorrow, and everyday for the next four years, we will honor your beloved Granny by watching your back, holding you accountable, and working hard to restore our nation to its great moral standard. She will watch over us from heaven and will smile with pride when our nation once again leads with the power of our example.
God bless you, Michelle and your sister.
Gotta get back on the GOTV phones calls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lffB7B8jKE
Dear Joe and Jill,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God grant you peace and comfort in your time of sorrow.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
I am very proud to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Thanks to you both for answering the call.
Dear Mr. Chairman,
These are crucial days for America. We are terribly concerned about this administration’s push to rush the congress into accepting their bailout proposal with a staggering trillion-dollar price tag. We are also deeply concerned with “Section 8” of the administration’s proposal, which if accepted would effectively cede the congress’ constitutional power to manage the people’s money to the executive branch. This seems eerily reminiscent to the build-up to the Iraq war. Still yet, we are concerned that the urgent calls for a bailout of the banking system will lead to the very individuals whose ineffective management skills will be the beneficiaries of any assistance package, while the taxpayers footing the bill would be soaked once again.
We appreciate that your proposal would remove the “section 8” from the bailout agreement, however, no limitations of this sort – ceding total control to the executive branch – will be acceptable to the American people. Congress must NOT cede any of its Constitutional powers to the executive branch.
We are also deeply concerned about the way in which this package will be financed. Borrowing from the Federal Reserve is the worst possible solution. As you well know, the Fed will print more money, which will exacerbate inflation as well as continuing the devaluation of the dollar.
Mr. Chairman, we prefer that the Federal Reserve issue Treasury bonds earmarked specifically for this finance package. Surely the Fed can find 7000 people to buy a $1M bond. By making the interest on this special bond lucrative, and with oversight from your committee, we believe that this could be done fairly quickly and efficient.
Using money that is currently in the economic system is much more preferable to printing more money. We believe that the issuance of bonds as a means for financing the bailout package will provide three specific benefits: 1) to curb erosion of the value of the dollar: 2) to head off further inflation which at the current pace is bankrupting the poor and the middle class; and 3) to restore confidence both nationally and internationally in the American financial system.
Further, we respect that the specifics of your proposal will address the many other issues that need detailed regulation and oversight. We will be loathe to accept a proposal that does not address exorbitant CEO compensation packages, that does not impose extensive regulations and oversight of the financial sector, or that does not set up safe guards and protections for the taxpayers. We believe that this financial crisis is an opportunity for the further advancement of legislation and regulations to lift the middle class and reduce the growing size of the working poor.
What the American people will not accept is the administration’s proposal, which boils down to “trust us, write a blank check now, and we’ll agree on the new rules later.” As I am sure you are aware, Mr. Chairman, in layman’s terms this means the rules will never be written.
Thank you for your careful consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely,
The American Taxpayers
CC: Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, House Banking Committee
Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
Hon. Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader
Hon. Christopher Bond
Hon. Claire McCaskill
Hon. Emanuel Cleaver
Hon. Sam Graves
This is my first blog post so let me say at the outset that I am doing everything I am able to do to help elect Senator Obama. This includes canvassing, phonebanks, well you get it - the tried and true volunteer jobs. I have been working the field in a republican district for the democratic candidate there and have been joyously surprised at the warm response to Obama I have heard. Now some may say that "warm" is kind of cold, but this is actually a republican district I am talking about. We are fleshing out the independent voters and they seem to be at least 'open' to Obama. In my view, this is a good thing, and its possible to increase the numbers for the dems. Now, on to the subject of this post.
As a seasoned politico (snark) I remember the most important rule learned in the 1992 campaign 'silly season' was "Hit back, Hit harder, Return to the issues". The last two presidential elections have woefully ignored this rule, and heartbreakingly lost to the most corrupt regime in our nation's history (but that subject is for another blog). It's simple, really. Out here in the heartland, people want to vote for someone who will stand up for them. So they assume that if a candidate doesn't stand up for him(her)self, then a) the accusation must be true, or b) if (s)he won't stand up to fight this lie, (s)he won't stand up for me.
It will be no surprise to many of you that most people don't pay attention to the politics of America the way we do. Not many will hear the quote from McCain advisor Rick Davis that "McCain doesn't speak for the campaign" - but most will certainly hear the "Paris" ad through free media supplied to McCain by the MSM. So the following is what I want to see for our campaign response.
Steve Behen has graciously written the script for us should we choose to accept it. I want to see McCain blind-folded wildy swinging a bat at the pinata while the baritone voice reads the list. I want the MSM to salivate over the "hit" on McCain. I want the 24/7 free media to analize the ad adnauseum. Politics ain't beanbag, folks.
Hit back, Hit harder, Return to the issues. Until then, the silence is deafening.
Thanks for reading. Obama 08
