Erin's Blog

McSame Flip Flop Fever

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:07:19 EDT

Wow...

Truly Unbelievable list of McSame Flip Flops...

Hold on to your hats...there are a ton....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/3/0717/55880/710/545421

Interesting pt of View from Kokomo Town Hall

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:03:36 EDT

Hi HQ...Here is an interesting diary from a member of the audience at the Kokomo Town Hall this afternoon...thought it had some good tips for our main man...http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/25/21021/8832/773/503661

Thanks guys for all of your hard work..

This is It...How Obama Can WIN!!!!

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:46:33 EDT

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/4/194634/9689/787/490418

Check out the link...Let's Hammer this every day!!!! This is how you win the hearts and minds and Checkbooks of the American People...

Let's Do This!!!!

Fired Up and Ready to Go!!!!!

Erin in Austin,TX

He's BACK!!!!!

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:10:25 EDT

Worth the read...will make you sleep better....Yalin just posted this dairy on dailykos...check it out! Obama '08

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/15/203514/051/358/477634

Great ..wait , really GREAT Video

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:59:19 EDT

New video by Stranahan on dailykos will make you laugh...made me laugh out loud...check it out...

http://www.dailykos.com/hotlist/add/2008/3/13/19329/4970/displaystory//

Canvas in Ohio

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:04:02 EST

Wow!!! A must read for all Obama supporters...posted on daily kos..AWESOME!!!!!!!Block by Block for Barack in Cleveland, OH, UPDATED w/ Excuse to Donate! by turnnoblindeye Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:43:52 PM PST

Wow. Canvassing is absolutely exhausting. I'm in Cleveland, OH canvassing with SEIU local 1199 out of New York, my home state. We're working night and day to be sure that wards notorious for low turnout head to the polls and deliver an upset victory for Senator Obama in Tuesday's primary.

I've had experiences that were bizarre, inspiring, scary, and hilarious.

Some fun anecdotes, canvassing tips, and sad stories below the fold...

UPDATE: Quick side note, I knocked 190 doors today. That's a personal record for one day. I'm proud of that. I've knocked over 500 doors since arriving here on Tuesday. Tomorrow I'm hoping to break my record again...

UPDATE 2: H/T to davidcstanton, I forgot my donation link! Donate via Me Here, if you Believe in What I'm Doing! (Nobody's donated yet. Don't you want to be the first? You know you do...) Congratulations, Charles. You were the first. Who's second?

turnnoblindeye's diary :: ::

UPDATE 3: Some great canvassing advice: Whenever you encounter people 60 and over, MAKE SURE you mention that Obama thinks people on social security making less than $50,000 a year shouldn't pay taxes. BELIEVE ME. That works.

The first thing that hits home in a way it never had for a young guy from the suburbs of Long Island like me when canvassing in Cleveland is the reality of the foreclosure crisis. It used to be a sad tale, somewhat foreign to me. There were people somewhere who had been kicked out of their houses, I was told. It didn't quite sound fair.

Now I'm walking down their blocks though. And there are foreclosure notices and construction permits across houses everywhere. This is not the projects. This is middle class, upper class, working class homes. This is black neighborhoods and white neighborhoods, catholic neighborhoods, protestant neighborhoods, and orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. This is everywhere. Cleveland is dying.

On our "turf", there are entire blocks worth of names, people who used to live there and had been voting there for years, but their houses lay deserted when we visit. There are apartments, apartments with people who tell me they don't have time to vote because they're working too hard to make the rent. Many of these people used to live in houses in the neighborhood over. Their houses are now empty.

But there is hope. I will tell you something about Cleveland: Cleveland is fired up.

There was the mother who brought me inside and then proceeded to drill her children, "Who is Barack Obama and why we we like him?" A little boy, probably eight years old, responds "Barack Obama is a black dude who wants to be President." The woman is upset. "We don't care that he's black. We care that he's going to be the best President for your future," she reminds her son.

There was the eighty seven year old man who assured me that he was voting for Obama, that he was getting a ride from his granddaughter so they could both vote. He could barely walk, but he is fired up, and he's voting on Tuesday.

Some people are more cautious, some ecstatic. Some feel wary about telling you who their choice is for President, others cannot wait to shout it from the rooftops. But they all have the same message:

Cleveland is ready for change, and change cannot come soon enough to Cleveland.

I'm in a canvass group with four other people. I'm working out of a staging site with 10 other teams. We're an unlikely cast. We're SEIU staff and we're volunteers, we're black and white and asian and latino, we're organizers and health care workers and record store owners and political directors, we're gay and we're straight. We're people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, and we're all going block by block for Barack, together.

Twelve hours a day, on their streets, in their churches, at their shopping malls, and in their homes, I am getting out the vote. Now, it's my job, the canvasser, to make sure my "knocks" follow through. I am making sure I let them know that I'm with the SEIU, that healthcare workers are going block by block for change. I'm making sure they know that they can vote early, that their polling location is up the street at the church or the local school, that we can give them a ride to the polls, and that the polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm. And I'm making sure they know that I'm coming back on Tuesday, that I'm depending on them to vote so that we win. And I'm happy to let you know that these people have already been visited by Obama volunteers (we can't coordinate with the campaign, so there is overlap) and been called by Obama volunteers.

And how important is the ground game?

Obama's success in Ohio rests on shoulders of ground troops
But next week, both campaigns predict the fiercely contested primary may see turnout three times as high. Many of those voters will be Republicans and independents able to weigh in on the Democratic contest, thanks to the state's "semi-open" primary (registered voters can request either party's ballot at the polls.)
advertisement
Obama's ability to draw these voters in numbers large enough to win a symbolically significant popular vote victory statewide will be seen by many as a signal of his team's effectiveness in what some volunteers are already calling a general election dry run.
CNN

I'm going block to block for Barack.

Tags: barack obama, 2008 primaries, 2008 elections, ohio primary, ohio, seiu, local 1199, Recommended (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

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Daily Kos Help

Tip me, Rec me, Come out to Ohio and help me... (219+ / 0-) Recommended by: PrometheusSpeaks, deminva, ClaudeB, MoDem, Kitty, zeke L, JWC, Terri, fcvaguy, tankej, Stevie, lanshark, firenze, Hudson, burrow owl, John R, MarkC, Char, Gooserock, jkennerl, Avila, alicia, byteb, kpardue, jeremybloom, macarthur31, cosmicrob, zenbowl, 2lucky, bethcf4p, object16, tjekanefir, bumblebums, dpc, timmyc, LiberalBill04, housesella, concernedamerican, bluephile, ReneInOregon, bronte17, mentaldebris, pondside, elveta, MD patriot, Pithy Cherub, smhbubbles, scimitar, JJG Miami Shores, roses, taonow, dmsdbo, peraspera, lauri, turneresq, itskevin, Chitown Charlie, ctsteve, griz4u, jvc, nowness, CocoaLove, TNdem, LawStudent, Janet Strange, mayan, Grunherz54, jhpdb, MrSandman, mwk, Hiro, ArcXIX, Anna Luc, Brian82, svotaw1992, Exurban Mom, ChiGirl88, mdolson22, ybruti, bibble, donailin, rapala, Chinton, Philoguy, CO, lil bird, paj1, Taz Man, John DE, Phil S 33, cerulean, northanger, Tex Kosmaniac Dem Lady, djohnutk, carlyle4, Land of Enchantment, orphanpower, terjeanderson, RainyDay, golden star, begone, Audio Guy, meghna, PointGuard, BlueInARedState, venatrix, Naranjadia, Kranman, Sagittarius, The Citizens, goodwill, sailmaker, merrinc, DumpDoolittle, CTLiberal, smari006, Cato come back, MadMs, Aaa T Tudeattack, kilgore2345, Sapere aude, chrischen, Loudoun County Dem, oscarsmom, blue armadillo, LV Pol Girl, NovatoBon, yoduuuh do or do not, FishOutofWater, Melchuck29, Duccio, la urracca, deepeco, crispycreme, Anglo, chicago jeff, geejay, keenekarl, TheCorkBoard, Bobeau, gatordem, Junglered1, gchaucer2, Professor Fate, jmm1, Empower Ink, trivium, Dem in the heart of Texas, LightningMan, oolali, dotster, NotGeorgeWill, ms scarlett leadpipe, hilage, canoeist, Cat Servant, mainecabinfever, loree920, speck tater, Akonitum, cube3u, pamelabrown, Populista, pooh74, ankey, mommaK, jalenth, TL Eclipse, haruki, allie123, goshzilla, SonicT, ggwoman55, oldliberal, Design the Future, hardtoport, bhagamu, pileta, Texanomaly, Coach Jay, imisa, Shhs, Hope08, DemocraticOz, Joes username, Jdories, Fineena, gregoryjames, highprincipleswork, BlackBox, Omo Plata, nwodtuhs, wethepeople, teyigdhk, cultural worker, brightstar, josephwouk, sleepyjean, Our Past, Meng Bomin, desertlover, glendaleguy2007, rockchalk, orexpat, Kim from Pgh PA, IamTheJudge, jwilson, lizardbox, followyourbliss, ElizabethRegina1558, munodi, mksutherland, cavebird, badger1968, sarashina nikki, NomDeKos, Hyperborean, kiki236, MMW
Gandhi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
by turnnoblindeye on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:43:29 PM PST
- Great work!! (38+ / 0-) Recommended by: ClaudeB, jkennerl, kpardue, object16, bronte17, elveta, taonow, mayan, MrSandman, Philoguy, Phil S 33, meghna, Naranjadia, merrinc, turn Virginia blue, Loudoun County Dem, oscarsmom, blue armadillo, NovatoBon, la urracca, keenekarl, TheCorkBoard, gatordem, gchaucer2, Empower Ink, trivium, turnnoblindeye, Dem in the heart of Texas, LightningMan, Akonitum, pamelabrown, mommaK, haruki, allie123, goshzilla, oldliberal, hardtoport, cultural worker
  If Obama wins, he needs to build a monument to you guys. I just came out of the 60 Minutes "As far as I know" diary and the "Clinton is a lesbian" diary. That crap isn't going to win or lose anything. It is your work that is going to win it all.
  thanks again.
  by fcvaguy on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:45:45 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
  - Thank you for your work... (20+ / 0-) Recommended by: object16, elveta, venatrix, Naranjadia, smari006, oscarsmom, NovatoBon, la urracca, TheCorkBoard, gchaucer2, Empower Ink, trivium, turnnoblindeye, Dem in the heart of Texas, LightningMan, Akonitum, mommaK, allie123, oldliberal, cultural worker
    your dedication and your most excellent report. I try to use these (and Hillary's) ground reports to give a better sense of what's going on the ground than most of the polls. This is very well laid out and informative. Rec'd.
    "We're all working for the Pharaoh" - Richard Thompson
    by mayan on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:57:39 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
    - Hard work on the ground (19+ / 0-) Recommended by: Char, object16, elveta, mayan, venatrix, Naranjadia, smari006, NovatoBon, la urracca, TheCorkBoard, gchaucer2, trivium, turnnoblindeye, LightningMan, dotster, Akonitum, ggwoman55, oldliberal, desertlover
      That's what can take our country back! This Obama Movement is a real breath of fresh air, just 324 days until BushEnd, hopefully that also marks Obama Beginning.
      1-20-09
      The day we all start taking our country back.
      by MD patriot on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:03:19 PM PST
      [ Parent ]
      - small pet peeve (2+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, turnnoblindeye
        is spell checking...
        staging "SITE"
        by MFL on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:15:21 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
        Fixed (4+ / 0-) Recommended by: mayan, venatrix, gchaucer2, Akonitum
        Thanks.
        Gandhi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
        by turnnoblindeye on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:19:57 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
  - Anything worth having takes (12+ / 0-) Recommended by: dpc, bronte17, elveta, mayan, venatrix, Sagittarius, yoduuuh do or do not, turnnoblindeye, dotster, Akonitum, oldliberal, cultural worker
    hard work to obtain. and this is the kind of hard work that is going to win change for us!
    Florida Kossacks Rock
    Blog Florida Blue
    You can't govern if you can't win.
    by gatordem on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:10:08 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
  - monument of the unknown canvasser? (6+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, bronte17, mayan, smari006, Akonitum, Shhs
    about 150 doors today out of Lakewood (YES WE CANvass another shift!)
    it was a beautiful day for speaking to the people and hanging lit -- 50 degrees and sunny
    best thing was, we've been doing this daily for weeks and I only ran into my first Hillary lit today...and it was only on one-third of one block...does that speak to comparative canvasser commitment?
    Ohio for Obama in 08!
    by Comrade Brad on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 08:10:17 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
- Already canvassed yesterday (41+ / 0-) Recommended by: deminva, zeke L, Terri, lanshark, 2lucky, bethcf4p, object16, dpc, scimitar, taonow, Yomberto, mayan, Chinton, cerulean, Tex Kosmaniac Dem Lady, venatrix, Naranjadia, Sagittarius, merrinc, smari006, OHdog, oscarsmom, LV Pol Girl, yoduuuh do or do not, FishOutofWater, Melchuck29, keenekarl, gchaucer2, Empower Ink, turnnoblindeye, dotster, Cat Servant, Akonitum, mommaK, goshzilla, ggwoman55, oldliberal, Shhs, cultural worker, desertlover, mksutherland for the Obama campaign directly. Can't do more as tomorrow is our deadine day at work, I get out late, have a pollworker meeting and have to hit the sack as I need to get up at 5 to work the polls all day. I canvassed a stretch of Cleveland Heights that is black, single-family working class and had no foreclosed houses which surprised me. Didn't talk to many people as that demo is at the grocery store and Home Depot on Saturdays. Saw several Obama yard signs. My other stretch was more rundown, transient apartments where the names on the mail boxes didn't match the names on my canvass sheets and several houses appeared to be unoccupied, judging by the untouched snow blocking all the entrances and the piled-up newspapers and mail.
  
  Yeah, our city is in ruins. We tried to act a several years ago, pasing local mortgage broker regulations, as did Dayton and Toledo, and got shot down by the GOP state lege who are owned by the industry. Last year, too late, they realized the sate was burning and tried to ameliorate some of the damage. The real heroes are our attorney general Marc Dann and couty treasurer Jim Rokakis who are really tackling this hard.
  We're retiring Steve LaTourette (R-Family Values for You But Not for Me) and sending Judge Bill O'Neill to Congress from Ohio-14: http://www.oneill08.com/
  by anastasia p on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:03:28 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
  - Republicans caused the foreclosure disaster (26+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, kpardue, bethcf4p, nowness, mayan, Phil S 33, venatrix, Naranjadia, Sagittarius, smari006, OHdog, oscarsmom, yoduuuh do or do not, keenekarl, TheCorkBoard, gchaucer2, turnnoblindeye, LightningMan, dotster, ms scarlett leadpipe, Akonitum, mommaK, TL Eclipse, ggwoman55, oldliberal, badger1968
    When President Obama takes office the nation will get a huge economic lift because we will go from fear to hope. That will be the first step towards recovery.
    "It's the planet, stupid."
    by FishOutofWater on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:07:26 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
    - It's been building since the '90s. (11+ / 0-) Recommended by: zeke L, bronte17, kanuk, mightymouse, venatrix, FishOutofWater, TheCorkBoard, turnnoblindeye, Akonitum, Shhs, channiga
      There's more than enough blame to go around for everyone; that includes the parties, the Fed, the buyers, the banks, and the mortgage companies.
      "[G]lobalization is...increasing the efficiency of resource allocation through stronger capital markets" - Barack Obama
      by burrow owl on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:33:05 PM PST
      [ Parent ]
      - Yeah but... (6+ / 0-) Recommended by: kpardue, mayan, venatrix, FishOutofWater, turnnoblindeye, channiga some people sounded the warning here in Ohio and our legislature turned a blind eye as the mortgage companies were fattening their campaign coffers. Attempts to ward off the situation through better regulation were turned back.
        We're retiring Steve LaTourette (R-Family Values for You But Not for Me) and sending Judge Bill O'Neill to Congress from Ohio-14: http://www.oneill08.com/
        by anastasia p on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:38:28 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
        You're right (2+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, smari006, LightningMan
        Cleveland, from what I understand, was ahead of the foreclosure curve by a year or two. Cleveland's boom started a few years earlier, and foreclosures came due a couple years earlier too.
        If only we, as a nation, had seen the early warning signs...
        Gandhi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
        by turnnoblindeye on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:42:28 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
        Clevelanders organizing to fight back (1+ / 0-) Recommended by: mayan
        Fighting the land sharks
        Democrats moving America forward!
        by ActivistGuy on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 08:12:12 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
    - Look up (3+ / 0-) Recommended by: bronte17, FishOutofWater, turnnoblindeye
      Glass-Steagall Repeal
      or here's a good link about the housing crisis. (hint lobbyist are involved)
      http://www.pbs.org/...http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wallstreet/weill/demise.html
      http://www.marketwatch.com/...
      by Shhs on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:37:17 PM PST
      [ Parent ]
      - Yep & see Meteor Blades' FP story about FDR (5+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, bronte17, Tex Kosmaniac Dem Lady, venatrix, oscarsmom, Shhs
        Republicans have been undoing all the protections FDR put in place....with predictable results.
        Bill Clinton was a DLC Democrat....otherwise known as an Eisenhower Republican. Democrats stopped acting like Democrats. That has been one cause of this disaster.
        "It's the planet, stupid."
        by FishOutofWater on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:52:24 PM PST
        [ Parent ]
    - Exactly (1+ / 0-) Recommended by: Shhs
      cf. the FP article right now about FDR.
      Obama reminds us that if we work together, we CAN solve these problems.
      Never give up! Never surrender!
      by oscarsmom on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 08:03:42 PM PST
      [ Parent ]
  - How's Harvey Pekar? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by: turnnoblindeye
    He lives in Cleveland Heights...wonder what his take on this campaign season?
    People in Eurasia on the brink of oppression: I hope it's gonna be alright... Pet Shop Boys: Introspective
    by rgilly on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:37:00 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
    - Harvey's doing well (5+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, hyperstation, taonow, Empower Ink, turnnoblindeye Curmudgeonly as always. Republicanism isn't a good fit for him. He's the kind of guy who'd probably be a socialist, if there were still socialist around. I've know Harvey since i came here to Cleveland as a college kid in the early 70s. He used to come over to our apartment every Saturday morning and "trade sides" (jazz records) with my roommate.
      We're retiring Steve LaTourette (R-Family Values for You But Not for Me) and sending Judge Bill O'Neill to Congress from Ohio-14: http://www.oneill08.com/
      by anastasia p on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:41:55 PM PST
      [ Parent ]
- Go Cleveland! Go Obama! (16+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, bethcf4p, object16, dpc, venatrix, Naranjadia, Sagittarius, smari006, oscarsmom, keenekarl, gchaucer2, turnnoblindeye, dotster, Akonitum, mommaK, Shhs
  I was sorry to hear of the finiancial conditions created by the subprime mess for the people in Cleveland.
  "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
  by Lefty Coaster on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:05:12 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
- You rule. n/t (1+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix
  "Animals are my friends. And I don't eat my friends." -- George Bernard Shaw
  by Hudson on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:47:18 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
- Thank you so much n/t (3+ / 0-) Recommended by: oscarsmom, turnnoblindeye, Akonitum
  I do not know what weapons World War III will be fought with. World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. -- Albert Einstein
  by elveta on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 08:02:55 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
TIp Jar? (13+ / 0-) Recommended by: deminva, jkennerl, dpc, mayan, venatrix, Sagittarius, anastasia p, gchaucer2, mad clamor, ggwoman55, Shhs, glendaleguy2007, followyourbliss
by hilage on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:46:36 PM PST
- See first comment above n/t (4+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, Sagittarius, gchaucer2, turnnoblindeye
  by Naranjadia on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:06:28 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
Keep it up! (22+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, lanshark, bethcf4p, object16, peraspera, mayan, Philoguy, Phil S 33, mightymouse, Naranjadia, oscarsmom, blue armadillo, la urracca, keenekarl, gchaucer2, Empower Ink, turnnoblindeye, Cat Servant, Akonitum, ggwoman55, Shhs, cultural worker
My only worry is the weather on Tuesday which is supposed to be really bad in Cleveland. But with folks like you on the ground, I think we'll get the voters out anyway. (Now I just hope power outages don't screw up the election---does anyone know how they do voting in Ohio? Would a power outage screw up voting?)
by cavebird on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:47:53 PM PST
- Thank you for this diary. (13+ / 0-) Recommended by: bethcf4p, peraspera, mayan, venatrix, Naranjadia, smari006, oscarsmom, blue armadillo, gchaucer2, seabrook, turnnoblindeye, mommaK, Shhs
  I've been starving for on the ground reports from Ohio. Also, I will call my brother to tell him his daughter, a registered independent, can vote for Obama by requesting a democratic ballot. Important info, so glad you included it.
  by pamelabrown on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 06:50:49 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
  - Obama ads are on it (13+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, bethcf4p, Phil S 33, venatrix, Naranjadia, Sagittarius, oscarsmom, keenekarl, gchaucer2, seabrook, Empower Ink, turnnoblindeye, pamelabrown The radio ads he's running in Cleveland state that independents and Republicans want a change they can request a Democratic ballot and vote for him. This campaign has thought of EVERYTHING. I mean, those precinct-specific door hangers to leave when most of the people you canvassed weren't home (typical on aSaturday in Cleveland) -- brilliant.
    We're retiring Steve LaTourette (R-Family Values for You But Not for Me) and sending Judge Bill O'Neill to Congress from Ohio-14: http://www.oneill08.com/
    by anastasia p on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:06:04 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
- If early voting is any indication (10+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, bethcf4p, venatrix, Naranjadia, Sagittarius, oscarsmom, gchaucer2, turnnoblindeye, oldliberal, Shhs it won't matter too much,. I was heasding north on E. 30th yesterday to the SEIU office and passing Euclid, could not believe the line at the Board of Elections.
  We're retiring Steve LaTourette (R-Family Values for You But Not for Me) and sending Judge Bill O'Neill to Congress from Ohio-14: http://www.oneill08.com/
  by anastasia p on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:04:33 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
  - We're bombarding the South Euclid / Cleveland Hei (4+ / 0-) Recommended by: Terri, venatrix, trivium, oldliberal
    Heights area. That's my turf. It's going well.
    Gandhi replied, "Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
    by turnnoblindeye on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:43:56 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
- I'm much more concerned with this! (3+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, turnnoblindeye, kdee
  http://www.wdtn.com/...
  Associated Press - February 29, 2008 6:55 PM ET
  CLEVELAND (AP) - The new Cuyahoga (keye-uh-HOH'-guh) County paper-ballot scanning system failed two tests in Cleveland in advance of Tuesday's crucial presidential primary.
  by jdw on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:08:09 PM PST
  [ Parent ]
  - Yeesh (3+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, turnnoblindeye, LightningMan
    Why can't Cuyahogo County get this stuff right?
    by smari006 on Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 07:23:59 PM PST
    [ Parent ]
    - Good question. (3+ / 0-) Recommended by: venatrix, smari006, turnnoblindeye
      This is the county that had so much trouble last time.
      If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves. -Carl Sagan
      by L

week with obama

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:40:14 EST

CHECK this out:

Posted on Daily kos:

WOW!!!!!

This Week With Barack Obama, February 25-March 1, 2008 by icebergslim Sun Mar 02, 2008 at 05:01:44 PM PST

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama

obama in austin, texas

icebergslim's diary :: ::

michelle in cleveland, ohio

Endorsements
Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) Endorses Obama; Cincinnati Enquirer Endorses Obama; Former Governor Mark White (D-TX) Endorses Obama; Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) OFFICIALLY Endorses Obama; Toledo Blade Endorses Obama; State Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-TX) Moves from Clinton to Obama; DC "Shadow Senators" Paul Strauss & Micheal Brown Move to Obama; Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) Backs Obama; DFL Chairman Brian Melendez and Associate Chair Donna Cassutt of Minnesota Superdelegates Back Obama; Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) Endorses Obama; Ohio State "The Lantern" Endorses Obama; Houston GLBT Caucus Endorses Obama; Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins Endorses Obama; Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Endorses Obama

Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama
Texas Early voting Shatters Records, Republicans Scared by FishOutofWater
Obama's Support Grows Broader
Obama Gets His Green On by kath25
Clinton, Obama have final say on Georgia delegates
Gay Clinton backers defect to Obama, eroding another bastion

obama and security

Video/Audio
Andy Stern, SEIU President & Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) Video; Obama in Rhode Island; NPR: Obama Volunteers Trained in Organizing; Are you Puro Obama?; Lisa Ling for Obama; Response to the Clinton "Red Phone" Ad, Here; NPR: Obama Seeks to Continue Streak in Ohio; NPR: Texas Women Reflect Shift in Political Sentiments

Samuel L. Jackson Skips Oscars to Campaign for Obama
Brisk Urban Turnout Seen Key for Obama in Texas
Obama Aces the Farrakhan Test
Obama Pounces on McCain Criticism

we are the ones, new video by will.i.am

Obama's Fate in Texas Hinges on Volunteers

Sen. Barack Obama's pivotal victories last month in Iowa and South Carolina over Sen. Hillary Clinton were engineered by professional staffers who worked those states for nearly a year. In Texas, the story has been a lot different.
His organization in the Lone Star State, which holds its potentially decisive presidential primary on Tuesday, has been "more like a baling wire and duct tape thing," says Mitch Stewart, who is running the campaign here. Mr. Stewart and the first dozen paid Obama staffers touched down in this capital city less than three weeks ago.
The uncharacteristic late start has left the Illinois senator relying to an unusual degree on the groundwork of volunteers such as Ian Davis. The 29-year-old Austin community organizer has been laboring for months with no guidance at all from Obama headquarters. When Sen. Obama's team finally arrived, Mr. Davis handed over laundry baskets stuffed with 20,000 handwritten names of potential volunteers, which Mr. Davis had gathered on his own. WSJ, continue

Obama: The $50 Million Man
Black Delegates Under Pressure to Switch to Obama
Day of Rekoning for Clinton- Signs of Serious Trouble at Clinton HQ
GOP Frets over Democratic Fundraising

democratic debate, cleveland, ohio, feb 26th. video and transcript here

GOTX for Obama! by Kath25
OH--IO, O-BAMA by Albatross
Obama Shoves Iraq down McCain's throat by Paleo

senator chris dodd endorses obama in cleveland, ohio

Pressure Building for Clinton to "OPT-OUT"
And I am being kind here. The reality is this, even if Clinton wins Ohio and Texas, the margin of win will not be large enough to move the real count, the delegate count.

Clinton must beat Obama by upwards of 65% from all contests out. That is not going to happen. From the latest polling Texas and Ohio is a tossup, with Texas favoring Obama and Ohio favoring Clinton.

It is reality check time. And the establishment is talking out in the open now.

Mr. Richardson, saying that it was vital to Democrats’ hopes in the general election in November to mount a positive, unifying campaign, said on the CBS News program "Face the Nation" that "whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday, a clear lead, should be, in my judgment, the nominee."

What Governor Richardson is stating is nothing new. Since Clinton just conceded 11 elections in a row to Obama, what else can you conclude? We know obviously it was a money problem that she did not even have the resources to combat on the ground. She allowed Obama to run the numbers up so great, that it is mathematically impossible for her to catch up. And finally, if Obama lost 3 to 5 in a row, he would have been OUT. The case would have been closed. Yes, she should have been gone after the Potomac Primaries.

Beating Barack Obama at this stage by 5-8 points is not good enough, because the delegate count will be split. She must win convincingly by more than 30 points, and in these contests it is not going to happen.

Younger members of her campaign team fear she will damage the Democratic Party, as well as her own reputation, if she fights on in vain to deny Barack Obama the presidential nomination.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Clinton should get out of the race if she does not perform well. Take the money raised, pay your debt off, and stand with the party. If not, you will watch your superdelegates publicly humiliate you by backing Obama, from here on out. Meaning, no possible way she can win the nomination.

Clinton, the choice is yours.

obama in flight to ohio, march 1, 2008

shoutouts: Elise; bonddad; jhutson; poblano; Geekesque; Delaware Dem; VirginiaDem; slinkerwink

General Election Projections, Beta Version by poblano
this is about all of us by kid oakland
Obama's National Lead
The Secret to Obama's Success

students walk seven miles to the polls in texas

Finger-pointing, frustration in Clinton Camp
Obama Seen as Better Democrat to Face McCain, NTY/CBS Poll Says
Debate Unlikely to Change Race
Obama Sets Another 1 Million Goal

obama in providence, rhode island, march 1, 2008

icebergslim's last word: march 4th

It is extremely important that we continue to use the undeniable tools, at our reach, to reach out to Texas, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Vermont voters.

Yes, it looks good, but nothing is over until the fat lady sings and she is warming up now.

This means that we continue to volunteer, phone bank, donate, and get the good people of these states to the polls and caucus on March 4th, 2008.

Everything you need is provided by clicking on the image below. Now is not the time to relax and think it is in the bag. Nothing is in the bag until the votes are counted. As much as I have on my plate, personally, I picked the phone up today and called Ohio voters. This is not over, until we KNOW Barack is the Democratic Nominee.

1.5 Million calls need to be made. Let's do this, together.

as in all we do, this one is for you. keep working hard, this won't be easy, but it will test the sheer will of all of us. and remember to focus on obama, and not the drama....

Obama in Austin

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:16:16 EST

Obama gets his nerd on in Austin. by Andy30tx Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 02:04:03 PM PST

I was lucky enough to find out about the economic town hall here in Austin with Senator Obama and get tickets for it. Even though the event began at 9:30 this morning my boss was more than happy to let me attend as long as I brought her a button or a sticker or something. My wife, who had jury duty yesterday was able to snag tickets from UT and a Hispanic Community Center in town. We gave the other pair of tickets to another co-worker who was able to attend as well (our office is slightly liberal to say the least.)

This event was not about hope or change or any of the vague notions that Clinton supporters and/or Obama antagonists have accused the candidate of. The town hall focused specifically on his economic plan followed by a fairly long Q&A. My thoughts on it after the fold.

Andy30tx's diary :: ::

A basic summary of his plan is (and this is all off the top of my head so don't just take my word for it):

Get out of Iraq
This is obviously hugely important and was a big applause line each time he mentioned it
Cut the Bush tax cuts for the rich
Go back to PayGO
Raise the cap on Social Security taxes just a bit
Improve schools by funding mandates and getting rid of NCLB for a sensible assessment of schools involving more than just the test

His prepared remarks were just the appetizer for the event, though, as he received a number of questions. The first was slightly obscure to most as I was the only person who whooped and applauded after it was asked. The questioner asked Senator Obama about his plan for reforming the patent system so it doesn't act as a drag on the economy and hamper innovation. Obama answered in a couple parts that a. we need sweeping patent reform and b. patent examiners need to be paid more than they are now so we are recruiting people much less likely to approve bad patents. Lawrence Lessig supports Barack Obama and it's pretty obvious why as he is knowledgable about technology.

He was next asked by a poor single mom how he would reform welfare so lazy people who don't work can't receive welfare while people who make a quarter above the hourly wage that is considered poverty can't receive benefits. He gave Bill Clinton credit in his answer for welfare reform even though he said he didn't agree with all of the provisions of said reform. He then talked again and in more detail about the $4000 annual college assistance in return for community or national service. He said that if you just needed a couple of years of training to be a nurses assistant that the $4000 would cover it and encouraged community colleges. I appreciated that he didn't just focus on 4 year colleges because the real-world skills that are directly applicable to trades are taught at the community college level.

A well-to-do gentleman said that he benefitted from the Bush tax cuts (at which point Barack interjected "I did too") and asked how Barack would cut the deficit as President. The reply was that he would restore real fiscal responsibility and stop our borrowing from the "Bank of China" (a phrase he used twice throughout the event). He said that we had much investing to do in our country lest we begin a slow decline and that he wouldn't have a "fetish" for reducing national debt. He also said that we should have been "storing our nuts" for winter. (A few people giggled at this and I admit, shamefacedly, that I was one of them.)

Another man asked about Africa and HIV/AIDS to which Barack replied that he would double foreign aid. The most important part of the answer, though, was his defense of foreign aid and his explanation of why aiding other countries is beneficial in the long run. He didn't talk down to people but attempted to sway the skeptics regarding the foreign aid issue.

All-in-all, the session was informative and substantive. Before he entered the building the chants of "Yes we can" "Si se puede" "Fired up/Ready to go" etc. fell flat after a few repetitions. This group seemed to support Barack but was really interested in what he had to say. I found it amusing and touching when the older black lady in a seat near mine would raise her hand when he mentioned how difficult it is to get ahead when you're dealing with predatory credit card debt, medical expenses, wages that have not caught up to inflation and tuition, gas prices and health care that have never cost more. I found myself quite touched that someone is echoing things I've heard from Bonddad, Jerome a Paris, and even myself say. It was like a long long DKOS diary with good commentors and a lot of replies.

Truly, in this campaign, I get a feeling of "What hath the netroots wrought?" This isn't a campaign so far that we can pick apart and criticize every aspect of since many of the things we've wished a candidate would do or would talk about are being done by this guy. I think he's unstoppable and it's not at all because of the force of his personality but because he is running a tight ship, keeping a tight and positive message, and focusing on all 50 states. I feel so honored to be seeing such a great election follow the two horribly flawed elections of this millenium.

Convention Information in Texas

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:25:33 EST

Dear fellow Democrat,

The 2008 primary election is just a few days away, and Texas is buzzing with excitement over the contest between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama. We are already seeing record turnouts in early voting and mail ballots, and we expect Tuesday's turnout to show that a record number of Texas Democrats are ready to take back Texas.

A record primary turnout will send a powerful message that our Texas Democratic Party is moving forward at full throttle, and if you want to have an even bigger impact, I urge you to attend your Precinct Convention. The precinct convention is the first step in our convention process, which continues on to the County/Senatorial District Convention on March 29th and the State Convention in Austin on June 6th and 7th. The culmination of the process is the Democratic National Convention beginning August 25th in Denver, where Texas' National Delegates will help nominate the next President of the United States.

The Precinct Convention is held at the same place where you vote in the Primary on Election Day. It begins at 7:15 p.m.(or after the last person votes if there is still a line). To be eligible to participate, all you have to do is vote in the 2008 Democratic Primary. At the Precinct Convention, you will elect delegates and alternates to your County/Senatorial District convention who represent your presidential preference (or uncommitted status). At the County Convention, delegates elected from your precinct convention will then elect delegates and alternates to the State Convention.

The order of business at the Precinct Convention is outlined in the minutes. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with this document so that you will understand how the convention will be conducted.

If you'd like to find out more about the precinct convention process, please visit the Precinct Convention Information page on the TDP website. There you can learn more about the convention process and download helpful materials.

I encourage you to get involved in the convention process as deeply as possible. Click here for a brochure that explains how it all works, and how you can become a delegate yourself. A Democratic Convention is an exciting experience and a terrific opportunity to meet fellow Democrats and conduct Party business, such as voting on Resolutions and changes to the Texas Democratic Party Rules. Even the rules that govern the primary/convention process itself are crafted and voted on by grassroots Democrats like you at the State Convention and your participation in the convention process gives you a role in charting the Party's course as we work together to move Texas forward.

But it all starts at your Precinct Convention next Tuesday. Click here to learn more.

The next few days will be some of the most exciting Texas Democrats have ever seen. Remember, you don't have to wait until next Tuesday to vote--you can vote early through Friday, and then attend your precinct convention on Tuesday evening, March 4th.

Your friend and fellow Democrat,

VOTE in Central Texas!!!!!!

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:45:09 EST

EARLY VOTING

Bastrop (512) 581-7160
Burnet (512) 715-5288
Caldwell (512) 398-1830
Hays County (512) 393-7310
Travis County 854-4996
Williamson County (512) 943-1630

ELECTION DAY

Bastrop (512) 581-7160
Burnet (512) 715-5288
Caldwell (512) 398-1830
Hays County (512) 393-7310
Travis County 854-4996
Williamson County (512) 943-1630

KXAN Austin News Poll

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:38:18 EST

Info from Austin, TexasKXAN-TVupdated 13 minutes ago

There are two days left to vote early, and already Travis County voters have hit the polls in record number.

An exclusive poll by KXAN Austin News shows statewide Barack Obama holds 50 percent of the vote, a slight lead over Hillary Clinton's 47 percent. Only 3 percent of Democratic voters polled were undecided.

In Texas John McCain is leading Republicans with 57 percent of the vote. Huckabee is second with 30 percent, and Ron Paul garnered 8 percent. Only 5 percent of Republican voters polled were undecided.

Taking a closer look at Central Texas, the majority of Travis County Republican voters prefer McCain. He has 50 percent of the vote, followed by Huckabee with 30 percent and Paul with 15 percent. Among the county's Democratic voters, Obama has overwhelming support with 61 percent compared to Clinton's 37 percent.

For Republican primary voters in Williamson County, McCain has a significant lead over Huckabee and Paul, drawing 59 percent of the vote. Obama is also the county's candidate of choice, leading Clinton with 62 percent of the vote.

Texan Rebublicans for Obama

Cool Chick for Obama-Austin,TX — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:25:57 EST

Texas Republicans cross over to vote for ObamaTrue support combines with stop-Clinton sentiment in next week’s primaryVideo Obama seeks ‘Obamacans’
Newsweek’s Richard Wolffe discusses Barack Obama’s appeal to Republicans with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing.

MSNBC

Interactive Elections ’08 results — national overview
Primary and caucus results from each state

NBC News

Interactive Explaining the election system
Msnbc.com's political reporter Tom Curry answers questions about the road to the presidency

MSNBC

Huckabee upset over Rev's McCain nod How Obama IS like Bush McCain's 'liberal' slip msnbc.com political calendar A day-by-day guide to American politicsMARCH 20084Ohio primaryRhode Island primaryTexas primaryVermont primary8Wyoming Democratic caucuses11Mississippi primaryAPRIL 200822Pennsylvania primaryMAY 20086Indiana and North Carolina primaries13Nebraska primaryWest Virginia Democratic primaryWest Virginia GOP primary (1/3 selected)20Kentucky and Oregon primaries27Idaho Republican caucusJUNE 20083Montana Democratic primaryNew Mexico Republican caucusSouth Dakota primaryAUGUST 200825-28Democratic National Convention in Denver SEPTEMBER 20081-4Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul 26Presidential debate in Oxford, Miss.OCTOBER 20082Vice Presidential debate in St. Louis, Mo.7Presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn.15Presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y.NOVEMBER 20084Election Day • Print thisBy Alex JohnsonReporterMSNBCupdated 1 hour, 8 minutes ago

One of Sen. Barack Obama’s surest applause lines comes about halfway into his standard stump speech. It goes like this:

“They whisper to me. They say, ‘Barack, I’m a Republican, but I support you.’ And I say, ‘Thank you. Why are we whispering?’”

If the latest polling data are to be believed, those Republicans aren’t whispering in Texas, where 195 of the 228 delegates the state will send to the Democratic National Convention will be chosen in a primary and caucuses Tuesday.

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As many as a tenth of the Texans voting in the Democratic contests could be Republicans, and overwhelmingly they favor Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, the polls show.

“I ran for Republican precinct chair. I went to the Republican state convention,” said one of them, Donald Rau of Austin, who has already voted in early balloting. “In this election, I voted for Barack Obama.”

GOP support ‘no longer surprising’
A poll released this week by SurveyUSA of Verona, N.J., indicated that registered Republicans would make up 9 percent of Democratic primary voters next week. Michael Baselice, head of Baselice and Associates, a Texas polling firm, said that was in line with what his company was finding.

A bloc that large could make a significant difference for Obama, who holds a large lead over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York among Texas Republicans, especially in a close race. Polls this week were showing a dead heat in Texas as Obama began pulling even with Clinton.

To be sure, the Clinton campaign is drawing some first-time support of its own among Republicans.

“I’m a Republican. I’ve been a Republican since I can remember,” said Trey Caliva of Lubbock. But “whenever I vote for an executive office, I have to vote for the best person that does the job. And for me that’s Hillary Clinton.”

But by large margins, more Republicans say they are backing Obama.

American Research Group found this week that as Obama has edged ahead among Democrats, at 47 percent to 46 percent, he is drawing the support of more than 70 percent of Republicans who said they were likely to vote in the Democratic primary. The survey, which questioned 600 likely primary voters Saturday and Sunday, reported a margin of sampling error of 4 percentage points.

A survey released Tuesday by Public Policy Polling found that while Clinton led Obama by 52 percent to 44 percent among likely primary voters, Republicans who said they would vote in the primary favored Obama by 76 percent to 20 percent. The survey, which questioned 434 likely Democratic voters Saturday through Monday, reported a 4.7-point margin of error.