Joe Ruwe's Blog

The Joe Ruwe Donation Army Top Ten Donors and Other Laudables

joe ruwe — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:35:03 EDT

Okay folks, time is winding down on this marathon campaign/election and the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team, while still chugging right along, has already made history in our own minds. As we surpass $30,000 in donations raised for the Obama campaign, we would like to take a minute to thank everyone who boldly made it possible. Although more than 500 people have donated to our FR page, and we'd like to thank them all personally, we simply cannot. However, we want to start by presenting the first in our series of thank-yous, gratitudes and celebrations of the top donors who have really blown us away with their sacrifice and generosity. You guys ROCK!! Here it is....

JOE RUWE DONATION ARMY TOP TEN DONORS AND OTHER LAUDABLES

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Honorable Mention: My good friend, Anne Cross, who missed the Top Ten by about 60 bucks, nevertheless, is one of my all-time favorite donors who has come through in the clutch so many times for me, kept the Streak alive over and over, and has kept me FIRED UP!!! day in and day out. THANK YOU ANNE!!!! You are a true pal.

And now....

10. A 3-way tie!!!!!! That's right, it was so close, they all made the top 10! They are: my mom, Gail Ruwe!!!! (thanks Mom!), Lorie Caven (you are so clutch, Lorie!), and Valorie Thompson (Val - thank you!)

9. Linda Niehaus!! Linda, over and over you have thrown down and we really appreciate it. You are awesome and congratulations for making the Top Ten!!!!

8. Maureen O'Halloran!!! This is remarkable because Maureen started to donate to the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team fairly recently, and in no time at all, in dramatic fashion, sealed her legendary status in the Top Ten!!! Maureen - you are awesome and Alaskans the world over should be proud of your effort.

7. Another legendary tie!!!!!! This time, two of my all-time favorite Obama bloggers: Daniel McKernan and Valerie Jean Bailey!!!!!!! Val and Dan - you know I love you both and you two have kept the Streak alive for more days than anyone else!!! Thanks for being there day in and day out for me and the Team!!! YES WE CAN.

6. My neighbor and friend out here in Santa Cruz, John Hunt, with one single whopper of a donation, propelled himself into the JRDA Top Ten and all the way to #6!!! Woah, is right. Thank you John and family!!!

5. Um, now we are starting to get into the big bucks. Number 5 goes to my friend Monica Bradford!!!!! Monica - you are a legend!!! You have steadily been in the Top Ten all aong, and I am so grateful for all that you have done! Thank you for everything!

4. Judy Mackesy!!!!!!!!!! You are in 4th place out of over 500 donors! You are amazing, we love you and you have definitely been an inspiration to the Team!!!! Wow - when I look at your totals, I am blown away.

3. Gram!!!!! That's right, my own grandmother way up in the great state of Maine!!!!! Gram - you know for a fact how much I appreciate what you have done for me and the Obama campaign. You are in the very elite OVER 1000 BUCKS CLUB and I hope you have saved a few bucks for yourself!!! Your investment in the future of our country will help the future generations, aka Maya and Desmond. We love you GRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. # 2 goes to James "Obamacrat" and his great, great family. James - if you happen to read this - we love you sir. You were a good early friend on this campaign trail and we miss seeing you around. You and your daughter, wife, aunt and uncle are amazing and have earned a clear 2nd place for all that you have done this past year. Thank you sir - and bless you and your great family!

1. Number 1 needs a drumroll.........................

You all know her. She has given more money just to my page than I can even count. No one will catch up with her. She is the top donor of the Joe Ruwe Donation Army and I thinks that makes her the 5-star general in command. The first female 5-star Fundraising general .............

..... MIA KANG!!!!!!!!

MIA - YOU ARE SO UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME, I HAVE TO WRITE IT IN ALL CAPITALS. Thank you so much! You have been a true friend and a donating/fundraising GODDESS!

The very top spot out of the more than 500 donors goes to you and you alone.

So, there it is! A big shout out and THANK YOU to the top ten, and all the great people who have helped prop up the Fundraising Team and keep the Streak alive! I would also like to mention a few special people who have been so instrumental to my fundraising efforts and an overall inspiration to me and this campsign. Just because their totals aren't in the top ten doesn't mean they aren't appreciated!! You guys really rocked my socks off and I love you for it. They are:

Kelly Shepard, Danielle Guillou, Katheryn Houston, Benjamin Mbouombouo, Nancy Rebore, Carol Robinson, justin Olsen, Craig Vanderbrough, Steven Von Kampen, Leslie Morris, Jill Adams, Jim Barrett, Mary Harris, Teresa Blommers, Kristin Xander, Patricia Yarbrough, Susan Blumenberg and the legendary Tracy Squatrito! Hey - you guys have donated hundreds of dollars each and don't think that I haven't noticed! You all rock and are legendary in my book.

A special thank you to Donna Skinner - who has been a true inspiration and a whirlwind of hope and action for this campaign.

A shout out to Anita Lasiter - AJ - I love you!!! I wish I could come give you a hug for all that you have done. I'll always remember you and your 5's....

Marianne Stanciu - I still don't have the right words to express to you my full gratitude. I just hope you know anyway. I will never forget....

My friend Hitomi Sera up in Seattle - you are so clutch! High 5 from Santa Cruz!!! Thank you.

My pal, Marytnurse - again, I don't have the words. You rock twice as much as I could ever even imagine!!!

Imiebihoro Aisuku - with the coolest name on the planet - thanks for all that you have done, pal - I won't forget!

And a final ((HUG)) and thank you to Val. My friend. Val - you have kept me going for awhile now and I will always be grateful. Even though you made the Top Ten, I felt the need to shout you out again and give you thanks and praise.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!!!

From Joe Ruwe Fundraising HQ - Y E S W E C A N ! ! ! ! ! !

p.s. Keep the Streak alive!

fundraising page

@#$% The Bailout

joe ruwe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:21:11 EDT

Let me begin by saying that I am no economist. I can't even balance my damn checkbook. But this bailout stinks. I mean, really stinks.

Now, since George W. Bush stole his way into power over 7 long and gruelling years ago, I have become something of a conspiracy theorist - don't ask me why.

Everything that originates or passes through the current White House reeks of foul play. Not a single word can be trusted. Clouds of suspicion and distrust waft from the White House like never before.

I do not trust our President or our Vice President. I do not and cannot trust our Secretary of State or Secretary of Treasury. The EPA is laughable. The National Security Advisor is a puppet. I do not trust Karl Rove. It might go without saying that I do not trust the Federal Reserve, nor it's chairman. I most certainly do not like or trust Mukasey. Robert Gates is actually growing on me though..... but you get the drift.

After the 2000 election, the 9/11 suspicious and still largely unexplained attacks, the subsequent 9/11 Coverup Commission, the Iraq War and WMD hoax, the Bin Laden hoax, Attorneygate, CIA ValeriePlamegate, secret torture, domestic spying and all the rest - how can we possibly trust anyone even loosely associated with the Bush White House on this one?

I cannot.

And thank God Congress cannot. Though I fear a pathetic caving-in within days...

Why would we bail out Wall Street? Why would we instantly feel compelled to throw $700 billion dollars that we do not have (thanks to the Iraq War) at a problem that we do not yet fully understand? Where is this money going to come from? China? Who will be getting this money? Why would we put this sort of extraordinary power and responsibility in the sole dirty hands of yet another Bush administration official? This stinks.

I say - let the economy collapse. Is the stock market really propping up our flimsy little economy? The mortage crisis? Can the greed of a handful of creepy executives, manipulators and risk-takers really sink the entire US economy? What happens if we don't buy all those toxic mortages? I know I don't want my hard-earned tax dollars going to that. What happened? What happened to our schools? What happened to our hospitals and our health care? We have borrowed nearly 800 billion dollars to ruin two foreign and faraway countries (the GWOT - Global War on Terror) and we need to borrow another $700 billion for this? What am I missing? Probably a lot, but I am pissed. Maybe the end of credit isn't such a bad thing. Maybe a "collapse" is actually a painful restructuring of our economy of credit. Who knows, but this stinks.

I have heard, in my conspiracy circles, that the Great Depression was caused much in this same way - the over-leveraging of stocks by the elite of the elite. Using someone else's money to buy things that don't really exist, speculate on the future of these financial "products" and sell these "illiquid" fantasy assets to someone else for a large profit. Or something like that... Some say that the market was intentionally crashed by the Federal Reserve, who were testing their new power. It all is over my head, but I find it hard to believe that this could not have been prevented, foreseen, prepared for, or somehow altered. Or if it is even true at all.

How could our President, John McCain, Ben Bernanke and others flatly tell the whole world that the American economy was "sound", "solid", on "sure-footing" and "not to be alarmed" - and then a matter of days later, the sky is literally falling. Our flimsy little economy, propped up by little more than a wing and a prayer - is now on the brink of collapse, which could somehow deflate the entire global economy? All because of a sub-prime meltdown hoax? Who was asleep at the wheel on that one? Yeah, right.

Let's say that I have 500 bucks in the bank. What will happen to my little pittance if the stock market crashes? I won't get it? Someone else will get it? Will my little community bank fail? Is that $400 even my money once I deposit it? Will the entire economy collapse? Will I get fired from my job? Will the cost of goods and services immediately shoot through the roof? (More than they have already this year?) I guess it's easier for me to say - I'm a renter. I don't have a stake in the Stock Market. Or do I? How will all this affect me? Someone needs to explain that A LOT better than they have so far. Why do I need to be ordered by my government to step in a and finance this greedy, corrupt little trick by the banking cartel that already dominates all of civilization? Beats me.

Well, I'm still not scared enough to support this bailout.

And what of the @#$%ing bastards that caused this mess? Or the evil @#$-&%%^$$#@- @##%$sons-of-s%$%##$#$ who were supposed to be watching over our economy, watching over our banking systems, protecting our national financial security? WHAT ABOUT THOSE SCOUNDRELS? I have yet to see a single head roll. Not one executive has been fired, much less indicted. Not one government regulator has been reprimanded.

Politicians want to limit the amount of compensation for these unpatriotic and greedy criminals? Oooooh, that will teach them. What the hell? What about oversight from Uncle Sam? Who will enforce that? How will we prevent former CEO's of Goldman Sacks from becoming Secretary of the damn Treasury? How will we stop the revolving door between government and the private sector? This bailout addresses few of my concerns. But it spends a lot of my money. And Paulson gets to decide how to spend it.

No thanks.

The Obama Presidency can't come soon enough.

President Bush said that this bailout package need to be passed by last Friday, or we could face a national panic. Well, it's Tuesday and I still have my job, I ate dinner tonight, and I still have my $400 in the bank. (more like $350..) I'm calling bullshit, George. I don't believe you and I don't believe anyone in your administration.

You have lied to me too many times. It is on YOUR watch that our great country was attacked by "terrorists" and it has been on your watch that the entire US economy has somehow been destroyed. It's up to you pal. I say: you fix it, jerk.

Get your Dad to bail you out again. He's made plenty of money from the Carlyle Group recently.

Get old Dick to cover you - we all know Halliburton has been raking it in in the Middle East.

But don't take my money. It's your problem, not ours.

Get on the phone and start talking to some CEO's. Pass the hat. I don't care.

You are a disgrace and this is the final straw.

The total collapse of the global economy certainly would be the final verdict of the Bush administration.

Just like Obama said.....

Senator Obama - This is Your Chance!

joe ruwe — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:11:58 EDT

Senator Obama - the economy truly sucks right now. I believe it is collapsing. People are starting to freak out. But, this is your golden opportunity, sir. Right now. You can open up this election and leave McCain in the dust if you want to.

It is clear to most of us that McCain is weak on the economy, among other things - but especially economic issues.

Senator Obama - SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

The economy is far worse than anyone is telling us. Years of GOP "Let the Market Sort it Out" is being completely debunked by current events. John McCain, for decades, has repeatedly fought for and voted for increased deregulation of financial institutions. This is the root cause of this mess. No oversight breeds corruption and we are all seeing it play out. These recent government bailouts are suspicious and extraordinary. They are solving nothing.

Alas, this is an opportunity for our campaign!

Seize it!

Senator Obama, you know that saving us from complete economic collapse will take an incredible national effort, along the lines of FDR's 'New Deal.' You can come up with a dramatic plan and hammer it home. Abolish the Federal Reserve. Allow Congress to print our own money. Put limits on CEO salaries..... GET DRASTIC!

Americans are worried. They are angry. CEO's are jumping from the flaming plane of the economy with golden parachutes worth many millions of dollars. Disgraced, corrupt speculators are exiting the stage quietly while taxpayers are further burdened with the heavy yoke of debt. It is a disgrace and a travesty. Why should we have to bail out corporate greed and irresponsible risk-taking? ENOUGH!

We have seen what deregulation does. Greedy rich bastards, left unchecked, will not be proper stewards of the economy. THEY WILL TAKE EVERY LAST PENNY THEY CAN THEN JUMP SHIP BEFORE IT ALL COMES CRASHING DOWN.

We have seen what focusing all our resources and attention on faraway "democracy building" scams can do back here at home. For 8 long and miserable years, our government has completely neglected our country. The economy, healthcare, infrastructure, our veterans - the list is long and goes on and on. We are sick of it, we are scared and we want you to step up and win this election. THIS WEEK!

Seize the moment, sir.

McCain and his handlers are clearly unprepared for this monumental looming crisis, and they are part of the reason we are in this mess.

McCain cannot reinvent himself after decades of staunch conservative, deregulatory, free-market leanings and voting record. If you ever had a golden opportunity to open up a huge lead on your far inferior oppponent, this is that moment.

HIT HIM HARD! Come up with a plan. Be bold! You can do it. Come on - a complete market overhaul. The republican economic schemes are a complete failure. These last few days are proof. Our country is in crisis.

I'm one of your number one supporters sir - and this will be your best week to convince America that you are the bold and innovative leader that we know you are. Time is short.

Please hammer him on this. Play offense for 48 more days. Put him on the ropes. He's out of his element! He's part of the problem! You know it and I know it.

This is your chance, sir.

Yes You Can.

I stand by ready to help in any way I can.

Joe Ruwe

$50,000

joe ruwe — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:28:38 EDT

I'm going to raise $50,000 for the Obama campaign. Many feel that I am just joking around or something, but I'm not.

I know it won't be easy. Just like this campaign overall, I will have to work my tail off and I will need your help.

Almost 600 people have made more than 800 donations so far. At an average donation of 30 bucks, it is really starting to add up. Some people donate 25 dollars every paycheck. Some give 100 bucks a month. I've had people donate $500 and $1000 at a time! I've had a whole bundle of 5 dollar donations. Every dollar makes adifference.

There's this thing called the Streak happening - you might have heard. Awhile back, I committed myself to securing at least one donation every day until Obama won the election. Today was the 119th day in a row.

I found this website called Vistaprint and managed to get a box of free business cards made up. They are the Joe Ruwe Obama Fundraising Team with a link to the website. I carry them everywhere I go and pass them out to everyone who will take 'em.

You guys, there are only 47 days left to go until the most profound election of our lifetimes.

We will either win or lose.

We will either save our country, or we will hand it back over to the GOP and the corporate world for another 4 years of disaster and disgrace.

It's up to us.

Sadly, it will take all the money we can possibly muster.

Please consider contributing to this great campaign. Consider it an investment in your future, your children's future, and the future of our country.

3 simple word: YES WE CAN.

Here's my fundraiser: fundraising page

Obama/Biden '08

3 Words

joe ruwe — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:41:27 EDT

YES WE CAN

THE STREAK LIVES

joe ruwe — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:18:54 EDT

Since going to Denver, my fundraising, blog and all the rest has been in chaos and my time has been short. But I wanted to report that regardless of my hectic life and yours, the Streak has lived on for 110 days in a row. At least one donation has come into the FR here for 110 in a row. 5 dollars, 20 dollars, a thousand dollars at a time. People donate 20 bucks out of every paycheck, some contribute 10 per week. Some put in 5 almost every day. Some go big and drop a grand or more at a time on the Obama for America campaign. It adds up. The average donation has been 29 dollars. 768 donations so far - that just blows my mind. I'm going for 1000.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who donates to my page - it really is making a difference. And THANK YOU to my friends like Marytnurse, Recovering Whine-O, Rich in FLA, My Gram, Anne, DDD, Maureen who keep the Streak going for me when I can't and help me overall in general.

Keep the Streak alive. Grassroots fundraising certainly beats lobbyists and special interests bribing everyone. The masses can control this election if we want to. It will take money (that's us) and organization and inspiration (that's Obama) and we have both and we need to go all out.

Less than 2 months to go.

Soon, this will all be over. We will either win or lose. It's us against them - and we all know it. The People versus the Machine. High stakes and profound implications are overbearing. I shudder to contemplate the historic and unimaginable importance in this years Presidential election. This race should be a silly landslide at this point - McCain/Palin is no match for Obama/Biden when it comes to experience, intellect, integrity, temperament, organizing abilities, fundraising, capacity to inspire people. Alas, it is not. Sadly, this election will come down to the wire and somehow miraculously be decided in a few key states. Humbug.

Every little extra thing we can do to help the Obama campaign will be adding up to make the ultimate difference this year. This election is about us, just like Obama says. It isn't about him, or history. It is a test to see if we can take back our government from corporate interests and allow it to be run by honest representatives. The eternal challenge. Only this time, it is more serious than ever. Frighteningly serious.

I have no doubts that the Bush/Cheney regime will continue to bungle the operation and stewardship of our government to increasing levels of national peril. I foresee even more economic chaos, military aggression or false-flag attacks on our Constitution before January of this winter. These guys still aren't behind bars or in front of a war crimes tribunal - these guys are still operating our government as I write this. I can only shudder and be prepared for anything.

We gotta win this year, that's all there is to it. So much is at stake. I think probably more than we know. I think the failures of the Bush administration are not even close to fully known or even imagined at this point. We have a lot of work to do still. The most important of course, is to win this election. Fixing our country happens after. Every single dollar will help. Everything we do will help. Keep doing it. And get a few friends to do it too.

Yes we can.

DONATE.

Joe Ruwe Goes To Denver /Day 4 - the Seats, the Speech, A Night to Remember

joe ruwe — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:18:28 EDT

Well, the final day of the DNC. Still cannot believe that I am here. Still cannot believe the dramatic pandamonium of yesterday. Bill, Kucinich, Kerry, Biden, Obama - holy smokes. My voice is almost totally gone.

Met up with Meta for breakfast. Feeling quite haggard from the events of last night, the late commute home, the early rise for credentials. Felt hungover but wasn't.

Everyone in the restaurant was abuzz with anticipation - you could see it and feel it. The two ladies next to us had a laptop open and a layout of the Mile High Stadium, trying to see where their seats were. They were kind enough to let us see ours too, and a series of other eager supporter lining up behind us. Seats looked quite good... Breakfast and lots of coffee but still no energy. Feeling tired and crappy to say the least. I was going to have to double my efforts.

We wandered briefly downtown but presently made our way to the Stadium. We had a hunch that the lines would be long and we were right. Woah.

Surprisingly, we made it in around an hour - which was far less than the average wait that we heard about later, 3-4 hours. We got there before 2 in the afternoon and the already-long lines were growing fast.

Being inside unleashed a great wave of enthusiasm, not just for me but to all who entered. Passing through the gates meant the great making of history. Tonight was the night. I cannot believe that we are here. Obama won the primary and is soon accepting the party's nomination. It's official. Wow. Woops and yells were spontaneous throughout the day, but few moments compared to the public thrill of passing through the gates in the Stadium of History.

The seats, were, well - you wouldn't believe me. Suffice it to say - I had a great, great view. My luck surely must have played out after this. The long series of amazing good fortune had continued and followed me right to my seat at the Stadium. After sitting down, I decided to stop taking notes the rest of the day, though I took a few hear and there. It was like a rock concert. A Hopefest. Hot, sunny, hopeful. Serious. Historic.

Stevie Wonder, Cheryl Crow, John Legend and will.I.am (a total and complete highlight if ever there was one), the yonder Mountain String Band (!), Michael McDonald, and an incredible Star-Spanged Banner by this amazing lady:

YouTube - Jennifer Hudson Sings National Anthem at 2008 DNC

and this:

YouTube - Democratic National Convention-Will.I.AM & John Legend

So that was definitely cool.

Bill Richardson got the crowd fired up, Tim Kaine rocked it a little, but the crowd saved the love for Al Gore. It was cool to watch as he strode to the podium - we all went wild. For a brief moment, everyone paid their respects to this amazing man - an author, Noble prize winner, Vice President and environmental legend. For a brief moment, 84,000 of us imagined what life would have been like if the neocons hadn't stolen those elections, and this man would have been our President.

Here it is:

YouTube - Former Vice President Al Gore speaks to the DNC

The guy is a legend in my book. 2000 was one of the darkest years in the history of our great democracy, but I won't get started...

He nailed it, the crowd loved it and the audience was electrified. My vocal chords were likely shredded and completely ruined. We were ready.

A procession of military generals lined the stage, including Wes Clark and others, and proceeded to provide a powerful backdrop of military might through their strong endorsement. Senator Dick Durbin, Obama's close friend in the Senate, gave a generous and warm introduction. Then it was on.

I'm sure you have seen it:

YouTube - Barack Obama at the 2008 DNC

I don't have much to add. Everyone around me was crying. I'm not kidding. As the fireworks were shooting off, the crowd still cheering, confetti raining down - we all knew that something was happening. Something had just happened. Change was coming. Change is coming. Everyone could feel it. I was high-fiving people I had never met, hugging women I would never know - and witnessing the great turning point of our country. The whole incredible week had led us to this point. All the great statemen, speakers, and stars had spoken on behalf of this man. It seemed like the whole world was behind him, if only temporarily. I will never forget it and I can only think of my friend MaryanneAZ who I still have not met, who gave me her trip so that I could be here. Thank you Maryanne.

The night was a party, everyone was celebrating. But I was tired, and I knew the hardest part of the campaign was just beginning. Two months of brutal Washington War. Good versus evil. Sanity versus insanity. Smears, lies, spin, and the GOP - I knew it would be getting dirty and the media would not help us. I was tired and I needed to get back to work. I pledged then and there, even though I didn't need to, that I would do something to get Barack Obama and Joe Biden elected every single day until Nov. 4th. I will not take a day off. Raising money, registering voters, spreading the word, spreading the truth, making phone calls, convincing people - I will do something every single day until these guys are in the White House.

They are our last best hope. These past 8 years have been too catastrophic for our country, too profound, to gamble with anything other than Obama/Biden. The GOP has practically ruined us. Just look around. How do you feel? How could anyone in their right mind even think about entertaining the notion of voting Republican this year? I don't get it.

But I know it won't be a landslide, even though it should be. I know that it will take all of us, every day until the end, to win this election. Too many forces are working against us.

So I say more than ever - this is our time to do something great. This is our time to save our country from ruin. This is our time to save and protect our democracy, something we now see teetering on the brink of disaster. THIS IS OUR TIME.

Get involved, spread the word, wear your gear, make a donation, write a letter to the editor, call your friends and family, know the facts, stay positive and focus! We can't not win this time, that's all there is to it. The stakes are too high. The danger is too great. Every one of us should consider this the single most crucial and profound election of our lives.

You can count on me to do my part and more.

I was in Denver and I saw what was happening. Something really is stirring out there. The media isn't covering it, and the GOP doesn't get it. The little guy is rising up again. The average citizen is getting involved.

Only two months to go, my friends. We can rest on November 5th.

Let's do this.

Yes we can.

Joe Ruwe Goes To Denver /Day 3 - Meeting My Heroes, Roll Call, I Knew I Loved Bill, and Obama Cameo

joe ruwe — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:44:34 EDT

Day 3 promised to be huge, I could tell right when I woke up. My little legs were tired - I must have walked 60 miles yesterday altogether. The sun was bright and so was the future of this day.

I wore my black suit today and I was glad I did. I was going all out. I was representing the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team, the Obama Blog, and Santa Cruz! I was all decked out... Thank goodness it was slightly cooler today.

As I walked to the light rail station from the Days Inn, I pondered the previous night. Was I just still mad at the Clintons from the primary? Nahh, maybe. If so, I needed to get over it. And fast.

Since I had elected to leave the Ruwe Private Helicopter at home in CA, my daily commute consisted of a leisurely half-mile stroll over hill and dale, the longest pedestrian bridge I had ever encountered and a few sidewalks more - to a light rail station. 3 bucks and 25 minutes later, I was downtown in the thick of it. I shuffled through the throngs on the 16th Street Mall, taking it all in. I looked like Secret Service in my black suit and new shades. (No I didn't.) I thought to myself, "dude, you are lucky to be here."

As I made my way to the Hyatt , my feelings against the Clintons solidified and I became reckless with my thoughts of dissatisfaction. She could have done way more. That was my bottom line. For all she did in the primary, she could have done and said way more to unite this party.

What was my problem? Geeze, it was a rollercoaster. My notes lamented: "Great disturbances on the waves of my mind over Bill and Hillary. Unease. Tonight's roll call should be a complete @#$#ing spectacle. Bill's final chance to redeem himself. Pathetic."

Harsh.

After getting my daily credentials, I was waiting to go to a tea party with Nancy Pelosi (no kidding) and I got this urgent text from meta: "If you are not busy, get to the CC. Black Caucus."

As I discovered the tea party had been postponed, I raced over. Maybe one hundred people had crowded into the Wells-Fargo theatre inside the Colorado Convention Center and meta was nowhere to be seen in the hall. Michelle Obama was on stage!

Her speech was incredible. It was heartfelt and totally honest and refreshing. She spoke of the hard work left to be done, the knocking on doors, the registering, the donating. She seemed worried, hopeful, steadfast. I wanted her to be First Lady.

Afterwords, as I found meta and we excited, we ran square into the legend John Conyers. A lion in the House of Representatives, Conyers is a hero to both meta and I and apparently some others, as he was surrounded by a large crowd of supporters and fans. We managed to squeeze in and shake hands with and talk to the soft-spoken Congressman, and exited in jubilation. I've always liked John Conyers and it was a pleasure to meet him. A great honor, actually.

Meta and I had a great lunch and compared notes of the trip. A relaxing and pleasant couple of hours with my friend. Meta was my contact to the blog when I was in Denver, keeping me abreast on the Streak, and other things.

On to the Pepsi Center.

Inside, the crowd seems way more fired up today than usual. Wow. Almost a packed house and it is only 4:00 pm. Roll-call starts.

Each state starts with a very brief speech by either the governor or a senator or another big-wig of some kind, then the amount of delegates are read for each candidate (Obama and Clinton's names were both on).

Alabama - Clinton 5 gelegates. Obama 48!

Alaska - Clinton 3. Obama 15.

American Samoa - Unanimous! 9 delegates for Obama!

Arizona - Clinton 27. Obama 40. woah.

Arkansas - "honoring the call to unity by our native daughter" - Unanimous! All 47 delegates for Obama!!!!! The crowd went nuts and the energy/intensity level spiked. Awesome!

California - Barbara Boxer declares that California passes. WTF? What does that mean? People in my skybox looked around at each other, perplexed.

Colorado - 15 Clinton. 55 Obama!

still wondering about California...

Connecticut - Clinton 21. 38 Obama.

Delaware - Yes! Unanimous! All 23 delegates for Biden, I mean Obama!

Democrats Abroad - for the first time ever - Clinton 2.5. Obama 8.5. Yeah, I don't get it either.

District of Columbia - for the first time ever! - Clinton 7. Obama 33!

Florida - 51 Clinton. 166 Obama !

Georgia - 18 Clinton. 82 Obama!

Guam -3 Clinton. 4 Obama. (light, scattered applause)

Hawaii - 1 Clinton. 26 Obama, the native son...

Idaho - the largest margin of an Obama primary victory (I guess?) 3 for Clinton. 20 Obama!

Illinois - Dick durbin: "Illinois passes." WTH? I started thinking that something was up at this point. Why would Illinois pass? Or California, for that matter. I smelled a conspiracy.

Indiana - 6 Clinton. 75 Obama!

Iowa - where it all began - 9 Clinton. 48 Obama!

Kansas - 6 Clinton. 34 Obama.

Kentucky - 24 Clinton. 36 Obama.

Louisiana - 7 Clinton. 43 Obama.

Maine - 8 Clinton. 24 Obama!

Maryland - 6 Clinton. 94 Obama !!!!!

Massachusetts - 52 Clinton. 65 Obama. yikes.

Michigan - 27 Clinton. 125 Obama!

Minnesota - 8 Clinton. 78 Obama.

Mississippi - 8 Clinton. 33 Obama.

Missouri - 6 Clinton. 82 Obama !

Montana - 7 Clinton. 18 Obama.

Nebraska - 3 Clinton. 28 Obama.

Nevada - 8 Clinton. 25 Obama.

New Hampshire - where Hillary won the Primary - "answering the call" - unanimous! All 300 for Obama!!!!

The crowd is going nutty at this point...

New Jersey - "following the lead of Hillary Clinton" - unanimous! all 127 for Obama!!!!!

The thunderous applause are deafening. Rousing speech by NJ Governor. The place is wild.

New Mexico - yields to Illinois (crowd going berserk)

Illinois - yields to the great state of New York (crowd out of control)

The suddenly - the crowd goes wild and a spot light shines on the Clinton entourage making its way to the floor, over to the NY delegation.

The rest as they say, is history. The crowd literally erupts at this point.

YouTube - DNC 2008: Official Nomination of Barack Obama (video of the drama)

The roll call was quite possibly the highlight of the entire week. It may sound crazy, but it is true. It all came together - a great light bulb in my head. Of course! Hillary was saving it up for tonight! I couldn't believe how mistrustful I had been. Or distrustful. The symbolism of Hillary's nomination by acclamation was incredible. The suspension of the rest of roll call. Historic. I couldn't believe that I was there, in the room where American history was being made. Obama had the nomination! It was official. Hillary had come through in the end! I couldn't believe it. I thought I was going to fall down. Voice - all but gone.

It took a long time for the crowd to settle down after that. A long time. There was actually some kind of intermission. I went out onto the concourse and took several calls from my friends on the East Coast. "Did you see that?" "That was amazing!" "I can't believe you're there!" And so on.

It really was incredible and if you have time, I suggest you watch the whole roll call. Maybe on a rainy day.

As I turned to walk back to my skybox, I practically bump into Patrick Leahy! Holy smokes! I thought fast.

"Senator Leahy!" I called out as he walked past. He turned as I approached, and thankfully, because of the great guy that he is, stopped and talked to me for a couple minutes. I introduced myself and told him that I was from Maine but now lived in Santa Cruz, and had grown up idolizing him and most recently for his firm and dedicated resolve to hold the criminals in the White House accountable. I thanked him for his great work on the Senate Judiciary Committee and his tough hearings and told him he had a hero in Santa Cruz. It was the highlight of my night, personally, and the fact that he stopped to talk to me, if only for a few minutes, really blew my mind. John Conyers, Pat Leahy. I was fired up! I immediately called my mom in Maine. "Mom! I just met Patrick Leahy!" She knew how important this was to me. Ahh, what a night. And it was only just getting rolling...

I got back to my skybox and could baraly contain myself. The drama of the roll call, my appreciation for Hillary and her dramatic nomination, shaking hands with Pat Leahy - it was quite a shocker, all of it put together. I'm glad I wore a suit.

Jay Rockefeller spoke, but I could barely hear him above the roar of the crowd - left over from before the intermission. Melissa Ethridge played a little medley that rocked the house down. Harry Reid got up and blasted BushCo. for it's corruption and failings. Madeline Albright took the stage and tried to give a speech above the crowd's insane decible level, but from my vanateg point - was unsuccessful. I had to read the teleprompter for about 5 speeches in a row - the place was so loud. Evan Bayh came out and did a great job of getting the crowd even more fired up! I made a mental note that the attacks on BushCo. and his criminal gang of jackals was getting noticeably sharper. I liked it. Terms like "disgraceful incompetance" and "miserable failure" were finally getting tossed about with gusto. About time!

Daschle came out and to the crowds delight, ripped into Bush and Cheney as few can do. If anyone knows how bad these scoundrels are, it's Tom Daschle. He lit off on a great and fiery speech. He practically received a hero's welcome.

Then up next, the King.

The crowd had somehow saved some serious energy for Bill Clinton, and when he walked to the podium, I thought my ears were going to fall off onto the floor. The screams and cheers and whistles all globbed together to form a thick crashing cymbal of noise directly into my brain. Democrats still loved Bill, no doubt about it. He came right out and said, "I'm here to support Barack Obama." The crowd went nuts, myself included, and he proceeded to give one of the best speeches of his life. I was amazed, grateful, and inspired. Bill was in rare form.

Here it is....

YouTube - Pres. Bill Clinton Address at Democratic National Convention

It was off the hook. It was more than I could have asked for. He redeemed himself. He was back to his old self. I sound like a blathering idiot, but he really blew me away, no pun intended. He was incredible! And as you can see - the crowd ate it up. The thirst for the good old days was everywhere. The Clinton Years, up against the current 8 nightmare Bush years, released an amazing outpouring of emotion from the 24,000 inside the Center. I still cannot believe that I was there.

From across the hall, I could see Michell Obama sitting in her skybox and could feel the waves of relief washing over her in rivulets.

Bill brought the house down, that's all I can say. Relief, satisfaction, relief. Ahh, what a relief!

But amazingly, John Kerry followed that up with an incredible speech of his own. I was amazed and impressed that he managed to salvage the energy level that Bill had brought. Very impressive indeed.

Kerry was in top form and did an excellent job talking about Obama's patriotism and readiness to lead.

I didn't take any notes while Joe Biden was talking. I took it in. I was simply in awe of this man. Talk about the straight-talk express! Wow. Such a straight-shooter. The crowd gave him an insane ovation which lasted for quite a spell. I got the sense that Barack could not possibly have chosen a better running mate. The feeling in the hall was that the ticket was superior, inspiring, and unstoppable. Joe gave a great speech that everyone in the room could relate to. Joe is the man.

The night was mind-numbing. I have done a disservice to it by posting such a hasty outline of a rich, and jam-packed evening of incredible speeches, but you get the drift. The party is energized. The party is united. Tonight was out of control.

and then at the end, I mean right at the end, Obama came out. It was the first time I had ever seen him in person and I went wild. Everyone went wild. His cameo brought the house down for the tenth straight time tonight. I was hoarse and wild. People were high-fiving each other. What an amazing way to end the evening. Tonight, Wednesday night, the 3rd day of the DNC, was something that I would remember for all time.

I had met Pat Leahy. I had seen Bill Clinton. I had seen Barack Obama.

The Streak was still alive.

I didn't even try to imagine how it could get any better.

In bed by 2:00 am. Ouch.

Tommorrow is the big day...

Joe Ruwe Goes To Denver /Day 2 - Credentials, Hillary Paranoia, Schweitzer and Dennis Kucinich

joe ruwe — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:34:33 EDT

The first lines in my journal regarding Day 2: "Big improvement over yesterday already. Things happening. Credentials - check. Positive vibrations throughout the town."

Tuesday was really the first true day of my DNC experience. The DCCC tracked me down and gave me credentials. I had only a vague knowledge of credentials, but at the Convention, they are a cool thing to have. A pass to get you around and involved in the action. Not only that - but the DCCC had a private skybox just above stage left for all three nights of the events at the Pepsi Center. Needless to say - I was styling.

Despite my auspicious start to the 2nd day in Denver, thoughts kept returning to Hillary. Don't ask me why. Perhaps the oppressive heat was altering my normal thought processes. As I wandered through downtown, joyous about credentials and a skybox seat, an insidious and alarming nervousness began to spread. As I wandered by newspaper machines, headlines screamed of Tension Within the Party, or a Possible Revolt by Hillary - things that played into my already unfounded paranoia. The heat, mixed with the moronic chants of pockets of Hillary-supporters-turned-McCain-supporters steadily fed my skepticism and slowly started killing my natural buzz of HOPE and CHANGE. What would Hillary do? Would she blow it all, her reputation and her legacy - just because she lost the primary? I shuddered. The word on the street was unease about the role of the Clintons in Denver. Hmmmm.

I sought refuge in a coffee shop, where open newspapers haunted my free time and plagued my thoughts about tonight at the Convention. I decided to just dive in. I'm going to the Pepsi Center right now, and Hillary better not blow it. I made haste down the avenue....

The Pepsi Center is cool. Literally and figuritively. It was the first real AC I had felt iin Denver, and the energy inside was amazing. I got there several hours early, just as the gavel was coming down and Speaker Pelosi was calling the Convention to order. It is an understatement to say that my seats were awesome. Unbelieveable, actually, as in - you would not believe me if I told you. I will try to find a picture for proof.

I was pleasantly surprised by a great speech from Iowa's Governor, Chet Culver. The guy could talk and he was well-liked here. David Patterson from New York followed to a rousing ovation from the half-filled auditorium. He gave an extremely forceful speech. I sat right above the band, which was directly next to the podium, so we had a great view and sound of the action both during and in between the speeches. I noticed beach balls being knocked around on the delegate floor. The air was alive with a fierce, raw energy.

I checked the clock: 4:00 p.m. Wow - still so early.

The Congressional Black Caucus came out to a standing ovation and stirred into a moving tribute to Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. Congressman John Conyers launched into a blistering critique of those old war criminals Bush and Cheney to hearty applause. His speech touched on the stolen elections of '00 and '04. He kept coming back to the chant: "NEVER AGAIN!" which the crowd echoed angrily.

My long-time hero in the Senate, Patrick Leahy took the stage next and gave a much quieter, but quite excellent speech on Rural America that went over well. Leahy lacked some of the fire of the other speakers but the man can do no wrong in my book, for the many times he has stood up to the Bush/Cheney criminal cartel as Chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I personally gave him the loudest ovation of anyone in the entire room.

The crowd was growing steadily in size and intensity. People could tell that tonight was a big night.

At around 5:00 pm, Dennis Kucinich (though not scheduled to speak) took the stage and launched into one of the highlights of the entire week. If you didn't hear about this speech, you better watch it now. The crowd went absolutely insane and I practically lost my voice on the spot due to uncontrollable bursts of shouting, yelling and cheering.

The guy threw it down and said what needed to be said.

YouTube - Dennis Kucinich * WAKE UP AMERICA!!!* Dems Convention 2008

All I can say is, after this speech, the crowd was instantly FIRED UP and never calmed down again.

I'm getting chills just thinking about it. Definitely one of my personal highlights from Denver.

Barbara Boxer from my own great state tried to follow that and did well. The crowd was too loud to hear much of what she said, but I was close enough to read the podium teleprompter, so I followed along. Kucinich's words were still ringing in my ears.

Believe it or not, Ed Rendell opened up a little can of whoop-ass on Bush and Cheney and had nothing but praise for Obama. I was surprised to be impressed with his forceful and seemingly genuine speech.

Speakers followed in rapid succession, Johnn Sweeney from the AFLCIO, Rahm Emmanuel, Steny Hoyer, Jennifer Granholm, Jim Whitaker, and two of my favorites: Napolitano and Sebelius.

YouTube - Governor Janet Napolitano (D-AZ)

and Sebelius:

Dnc - Sebelius

I'm not sure if the crowd was still fired up from Kucinich or what (maybe that was just me) but these two ladies went over extremely well. Both received standing, prolonged ovations.

More speakers continued, singing the praises of Obama and slamming Bush, Cheney and McCain for their abysmal failures and horrible performance - Ted Strickland, Bob Casey Jr., Mark Warner, Duval Patrick (great speech), and others.

The highlight of the night for me came when Brian Schweitzer took the stage. Now, I didn't know him that well before and I can tell you - HE MADE AN IMPRESSION. The guy was off the hook! I had no idea....

YouTube - Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT)

He blew the roof off the Pepsi Center, that's all I can say. It suddenly was pandamonium in the audience. Raving jubilation swept over the crowd. I think I saw confetti. I couldn't even hear the band just below me. It was awesome. I doubt the country would be ready for him, but I remember thinking, this guy could be President someday. Except Kucinich (in my book), this was the greatest speech of the night.

And then a strange thing happened. I started seeing a sea of white Hillary signs all across the crowd. The house was packed and everyone was starting to wave these Hillary signs. Random chants of "Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!" broke out spontaneously across the venue. A video tribute came on with syrupy and gentle music, and silly naration. I feared for my safety and my sanity. My blood pressure started rising. Late primary nausea and shivers broke out across my body. Sweats. Chills. What was happening? The enthusiasmm in the crowd was getting uncontrollable. I wondered where I was - I had somehow gone back in time to a Hillary rally in PA or West Virginia! My notes in my journal read something like this: " WTF? What the hell is going on? OMG - is this a Hillary rally? Thinking about throwing up. Shudders and sweats. Weird, very weird. Fear and loathing in Denver. Totally over the top and worrisome. Skepticism rising. Rapidly."

I was @#$#ing nervous.

Hillary came out and got the old 5-minute standing ovation. A smug and annoying Bill looked on, proudly. It seemed like a bad dream. Ten minutes in, she started talking about Barack. Kind, forceful and to the point. I was expecting more. Maybe I was too shell-shocked at the introduction, the signs, the feel-good video and the crazy crowd, to think clearly. But I was unsatisfied. Something was still missing.

She ended with another 5-minute standing ovation but I was nervous. I didn't see her giving it her all. She never said "Obama is ready." I had to process. I exited the Pepsi Center with e few people from my skybox and scrambled for safety.

I found a joint called the Cheesecake Factory downtown and swaggered in. I had no need for cheesecake, but found solace in a pint of strong margarita, Don Julio. Sippin away, my brain swirled. I scanned my notes. Wow, I was here in Denver. I had just seen Senators, Governors, Congresspeople and the Speaker of the House from less than 100 feet away. A couple of days ago, I had been working hard in Santa Cruz, landscaping, thinking about the family and the Streak, and tonight I was pondering the incredible history being made before my very eyes. I could not get that oddball, amazing patriot Dennis Kucinich out of my mind. The guy was awesome. And Schweitzer! Holy @#$#. Leahy, Boxer, Warner - all stepping up to support our guy Obama and plead for change in this country. It all seemed so genuine. For some reason, my healthy skepticism and distrust of American politics (either party) faded temporarily, and it truly did seem like the Democrats were trying their hardest to unite this party and win this election. I was on cloud nine.

But I could not answer that pesky question. What about the Clintons? For some reason, her speech left me more uncertain than ever, and ever less satisfied that she was truly behind Barack 100%. I was puzzled, but the margarita was perfect.

I wasn't dissapointed. I can't explain it. I went to bed unsure. Tommorrow would have to be better, I was thinking. Something was missing from tonight, a nagging question, a mild let-down from the long series of fiery speeches that proceeded her. Was I just being biased? I would have to sleep on it. And slowly approaching 2 am, I fell asleep - questions swirling.

Wednesday - Bill's big night. I would have to prepare myself. Bill could do it. Bill could unite the party. If anyone can do it, old Bill can.

And the Streak was alive for the 98th day.

I smiled right before I nodded off...

Coming up: Day 3 - Meeting My Heros, Roll-Call, I Knew I Loved Bill and Obama Cameo......

Joe Ruwe Goes To Denver /Day 1 - Fear & Loathing by Bus, Plane and Light Rail - A Missed Meeting - and Meta

joe ruwe — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:54:29 EDT

Yep, I was there. I didn't plan to be, I didn't think I'd be, but I was. And man, was I surprised when I got there. A lady who I had never met had won a trip and then suddenly I was there, sent on her behalf. I knew I had stumbled into a miracle, with airfare and a hotel room, but beyond that - I was totally clueless. It fell in my lap, I only had a week to prepare, and I went and it was incredible. I went as a representative for the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team, the Obama Blog, Santa Cruz, and Citizens For Change all throughout the world. I felt change and momentum and hope in the air every single day I was there. It would be my first time to see Barack speak in person. And many other legends of American politics.....

The biggest surprise, of course, was my email from MaryanneAZ the week before - telling me that she had won this all-expense paid trip to the DNC through the organization, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and she wanted to transer it to me. Read this: Barack Obama | Joe Ruwe's Blog: MaryanneAZ That was the heart attack, fall-down, pass-out moment of the whole week. She had very little info for me, very few details, but it surely did not matter to me. Just get me to Denver and I'll see what I can do. Amazingly, the DCCC itself had virtually no information for me except my travel/lodging reservations. No problem. I felt a sudden and painful realization that I was totally underinformed when representing this historic democratic mechanism of nominating a President. I couldn't really even remember exactly what went on in a national convention. Speeches, confetti, a good band if you're lucky. ?Hmmmm... Woefully inadquate for a few moments, but it passed.

However - my world was about to be rocked.

I left for Denver Monday morning, scheduled to meet my DCCC contact at 5 pm at the downtown Hyatt Regency but due to flight delays in the beautiful, sweltering town of Phoenix AZ, I was late arriving. This was a nervous moment for me, since my 5 pm meeting would organize and essentially dictate the rest of my week. So, in the back of my mind, I started thinking - if I missed this meeting, which it looked like I would, the whole week would be reduced to mayhem and chaos. I had no DCCC contact info, no cell numbers, no nothing - just the adress and Mapquest of where to go to get to the Hyatt Regency. I am an idiot.

Needless to say, I missed the meeting. My plane had been too late for me to even have a chance. I found out later that I missed getting my credentials for the first night of the Convention. I missed getting into the Pepsi Center to see Michelle Obama and Teddy Kennedy, two historic and inspired speeches to say the least. We learned only that afternoon that Kennedy had made it to Denver and would be appearing onstage. Travelling by air sucks nowadays, that's all that can be said. You have to pay extra now to have the plane and its crew actually take your luggage with you on your trip. I paid 2 dollars for the very smallest bottle of water from a friendly flight attendant who seemed as embarassed as I was startled. A bottle of sunscreen was confiscated. I took off my flip-flops and walked through the X-ray barefoot, remembering travels by plane in my 20's with long hair and a huge beard. Official airline interactions always had suspicious and nervewracking undertones in the past, and my strange airline paranoia of yesteryear had subsided. As I watched the clock tick by that day, watched my flights delayed, my shuttle connections delayed - the eery sense of fear and loathing in a large, western city crept up on me, I fought to remain calm and hopeful. It was however, much like most things we worry about - no problem. Much greater things were in store.

As I ambled through the crowds in downtown, seeking strong drink to quench my thirst and soothe my nerves - I called meta, who had left me her cell phone number in case I made it to Denver. Well, I'm glad I missed my 5 pm meeting because I GOT TO MEET META!! Yes, it's true. And I can tell you that she is somehow even cooler and more amazing in person than she is on the blog. Incredible! We made our way to an overcrowed and overpriced, noisy joint and sat down outside to compare notes, talk about the blog and introduce ourselves. I skipped strong beverage in favor of a meal and a great meeting of the minds. With one eye on the convention that was visible on all the TVs around, we had a @#$%ing excellent few hours - eating drinking and being merry. We got to see Teddy on screen and shared the magic moment from Marlowe's - a classy little ripoff of a joint. Cheers meta! All my troubles from the previous hours vanished, all the dust from the trail from Santa Cruz to Denver somehow whisked away..... Ahh, the irony of worry! Everything always works out the way it should.

Among many other intriguing things, meta and I also agreed that despite a preponderance of sinister and depressing scandals and failures of the Bush administrations and the probable long-term, negative impact on the world because of these scoundrels - there was an underlying sense of seriousness, urgency and hope all throughout the town and quite possibly the whole country. People seem to be feeling that there is something going on in this country behind Obama. People are getting involved again. People are waking up. People are uniting and mobilizing. We realize that unless we stay engaged in our government, it can become hijacked and grotesquely distorted. 2008 will be a pivotal and crucial year for our great country. I gave meta an extra helping of Joe Ruwe Rants against the Machine for old times sake. I think Dick Cheney's name came up once or twice....

Hours later we parted, and I made it back to my Days Inn on the light rail and called it a night. Now, this needs to be a whole side-story on its own, because my Days Inn could not possibly have been any further away from Denver or the Downtown area and even remotely been still considered part of the Convention. We're talking a 10 to 15 minute walk to the light rail station, a 20,25-minute light rail to Downtown, and then footing it to reach the Hyatt or wherever else I needed to go. But Denver was packed to the gills, and I understood and I was happy to be there. In shock still, actually. Comical though, how many miles I walked and tickets I bought. Excellent light rail system in Denver, however. Clean city, on the outside at least.

The D.I. was not a bad little place - a free hotel is always a refreshing delight, so I hunkered down and watched CNN rebroadcast of the night's highlights, Michelle and Teddy's speeches. As I drifted off to la-la land, my wife called and told me that the DCCC had frantically been trying to reach me, had left multiple messages on my home phone instead of my cell phone (?) and were eager to meet me in the morning. Aha! Great news! Directions were given, instructions relayed, and critical cell phone numbers were recorded. Several days too late, but terrific news anyway. A great night had just gotten greater, and the next day promised to be even more incredible than this first Monday had been. I drifted off quickly with a smile on my face and an eageness to sleep through the night for only about the third time since my boy Desmond was born in December. Ah - the thrill of it all!

First day a success by almost all accounts. Though I had missed my meeting, I had met meta, Teddy had made it to the Convention and even delivered a speech(!), and although I missed Michelles speech, I would have opportunity to see her speak again... Plus, meta had told me that the Streak was still alive.

Incredibly, Day One was, highlighted by meeting up with the legendary meta - a great start to the week. Each day would get increasingly and exponentially more inspiring, moving and historic, as I would soon find out.

I thanked my lucky stars (MaryanneAZ) and slept like a rock for 6 hours. When you have an 8 month-old and a 3-year old, sleeping 6 hours is like hibernating for the winter.

I new that Denver and the Democratic Party hadn't even seen the beginning of Joe Ruwe yet.

Stay tuned for Day 2 and more highlights from Denver......

MaryanneAZ

joe ruwe — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:48:38 EDT

I'm not sure if you guys have heard this story, but it is certainly worth repeating. And all of it is true.

A couple weeks ago, I received a mysterious Omail that went something like this:

Sender: MaryanneAZ

Subject: URGENT message re. Trip to Convention

I have just been contacted by the DCCC that I have won an all-expense paid trip to the Denver Convention. I am unable to attend due to health issues and I immediately thought to ask if I could transfer my win to another supporter. The DCCC only does this in cases such as mine where I cannot go because of health reasons. The reason I am contacting you is that I am hoping to transfer my trip to you, or if you are already scheduled to attend, to another die-hard supporter. You don't know me beyond my posts on the blog, but I have noted your valuable contributions and I think it would be appropriate to pass on my good fortune to another die-hard supporter who has made a difference. Anyhow, I need to contact the DCCC immediately so please contact me.....

Maryanne

Can you believe that?

I almost had a heart attack. I almost fell down. I grew weak at the knees, I started to sweat and my hear rate increased.

Had I read that right? My name wasn't even in the message - surely this was some accident or mistake. I re-read the message a dozen times. Without consulting my wife or the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team, I immediately replied that YES! I WOULD DEFINITELY GO!

So, when I finally spoke to sweet Maryanne in Arizona, later that day, it was all true. It was me she was talking about and yes - the DCCC would let her transfer her trip to me. It was all a dream. A whirling, unbelievable fantasy....

And so I went.

And it truly was extraordinary. And as soon as I can find the time, I will start posting the epic story of my week in Denver. Epic is the only word for it.

So I say thank you Maryanne, for this most extraordinary gift you have given me. When I saw Barack's speech from my incredible seat at Mile-High Stadium, I thought of you and what you had done for me. When I saw Bill and Hillary Clinton unite the party in historic and dramatic fashion, I thought of you. When I shook the hand of my hero in the Senate, Patrick Leahy, I thought of you and I told him about how I happened to be there. When I shook hands with the legendary Congressman John Conyers, I thought of you and how incredibly lucky I was and how unbelievably generous and inspiring you are in my book.

Being in Denver was truly historic. Beyond historic. And as I begin to tell my epic 5-day tale, you will understand why.

Thank you Maryanne. Thanks for thinking of me. I know many people who have done more for this campaign than I have, but I could never question why and how you chose me. I just went with it and made the most of it, like I told you I would.

I agree with you about many things, and our politics sound almost exactly alike! I also agree with you that nothing happens by accident, and I thought about that every day that I was there.

Your story, and mine, was quite legendary in Denver and within the DCCC, and now within the Obama/Biden community. You have inspired a lot of people, the least of which is obviously me, my wife and the JRFT.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will never, ever forget last week or you - the person who made it all possible.

Now, I know in my heart, more than ever.......

Y E S W E C A N ! ! ! ! ! !

Your grateful friend in Santa Cruz,

joe ruwe

Iraq

joe ruwe — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:06:01 EDT

Do not forget about Iraq. Though it is becoming difficult to find any stories anymore about the two wars we are still mired in, it's on my mind every day. The Olympics have distracted us. The Presidential race has distracted us. The Russian war in Georgia has distracted us. The anthrax hoax has distracted us. The economy has distracted us.

Do not be distracted.

This country should be demanding an end to this war at the top of their lungs. It has proven to be based on lies, document forgeries and other sinister foundations. We are not "winning", whatever that means, and the "surge" did not work. In fact, now that troops are slowly leaving, combat deaths and attacks are going back up. Well, DUH!!!??!!

What did we think was going to happen? Iraqi politics is a corrupt mess. Our mission there is murky and questionable. Iraq still has nothing to do with the hoax called the "war on terror." We still have not found Osama bin Laden or brought anyone to justice in connection to the crimes of 9/11. There is growing consensus among experts around the globe that bin Laden is probably dead and most likely was NOT behind the 9/11 attacks.

Yet we slog along in Iraq, losing more good people every day. All for nothing. Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars being flushed down the toilet. Innocent people being killed, families destroyed, and chaos raining down all over the country. Still no proper water and electricity in Iraq. I know, unbelievable. All I can do is shake my head.

I wish the war was still on everyones mind like it is mine. If the war was on the front pages, if the names of those killed were on the nightly news each night, if pictures of flag-draped coffins rolling home were everywhere, perhaps there would be a much greater public outcry. And McCain and the GOP would lose in a landslide in November.

I say again, do not be distracted. We were fools to invade and occupy that country. We will eventually be held accountable, in one way or another. We have helped make the world considerably less safe. We have created a generation of new enemies who hate us more than ever. And we have saddled our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a debt that they might not be able to ever repay.

Stay focused. Stay angry. Keep pushing. Do not let the war mongers off the hook.

Not this time.

Unraveling part 2

joe ruwe — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:01:11 EDT

Already almost totally faded from headline or memory, the recent "conviction" of Salim Hamdan, the accused driver for Osama bin Laden, is further proof to many that the "war on terror" is a sham.

The US government created this entirely new system. It was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The lazy and corrupt Congress wrapped it up in new shiny wrapping and handed it back to the White House and the Pentagon and off they went.

The US government created it's own rules, allowing heresay evidence, evidence procured through torture, and other legal trickery that would never be allowed in civilian or military court.

The US government took 7 years to build it's flimsy case, that this man had anything to do with 9/11 or the "war on terror," which the independent panel of jurists quickly rebuffed.

The US government created all the rules, picked the venue, made things up as they went, sought 30 years, and Hamdan's sentence will be up in 6 months.

What happened? Why, after the worst attacks ever on US soil, an exhaustive, exspensive, and wide-sweeping assault on "terror," can we only prosecute bin Laden's driver? Where are the others? Where is our justice?

We've waited 7 horrendous years only to send one low-level criminal to 6 more months of prison?

Something, like many other things, doesn't smell right.

Is bin Laden's chef next?

We have not seen justice yet for the attacks of 9/11. We have made ourselves and the world much less safe. We have not even answered the numerous, mind-boggling mysteries of 9/11 itself!

Yet the defense industry is booming. Warships, fighter jets, submarines, and all the accompanying missiles and guns are being constructed at record pace. How do we fight terrorism with these things? Seemingly random countries are being invaded and occupied indefinitely. People are being tortured, innocent people are being imprisoned indefinitely without charge, and many, many thousands of innocent people are being needlessly killed.

And our grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be paying for it all.

Damn. Getting mad all over again. Here's some articles that explain it better than I can.

Salim Hamdan’s Sentence Signals the End of Guantanamo - CommonDreams.org

and

Analysis: Bin Laden driver Salim Hamdan trial a disaster for George Bush - Times Online

and

The Forged Iraqi Letter: What Just Happened? - CommonDreams.org

Andy Worthington: Folly and Injustice: Salim Hamdan's Guantanamo Trial
or

Senate Report's New Findings on Pre-War Deception | Newsweek Voices - Terror Watch | Newsweek.com

Educate yourself. Ask questions.

Yes we can.

Paul Craig Roberts

joe ruwe — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:30:11 EDT

The man knows what he is talking about and isn't afraid to talk about it.

I consider this an important look at the other side of the "war on terror."

Marching Off Into Tyranny | BaltimoreChronicle.com

Unraveling

joe ruwe — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:53:53 EDT

The anthrax debacle is quite possibly the last straw for an increasingly skeptical and incredulous American public. The incredible story of a raving lunatic psychopath bioweapons engineer with a sorority-girl fetish and an alter ego who suspiciously "commits suicide" as the FBI is just now "closing in" on this almost 8yr old case is almost as creative as it is ludicrous. Have you guys heard the details of this story yet? Nothing short of amazing, and insulting if you ask me. Right or wrong, the government does not give much credit to the collective intellect of the American people.

Many of us have consistantly wondered what ever happened to the Anthrax case. Considered a minor detail in the overall 9/11 traumatic experience, this extraordinary domestic biological attack never received the public scrutiny it deserved. And now, the main "person of interest" has been cleared by the US government and paid millions of taxpayer money in a settlement for his ruined career and reputation, and the subsequent "suspect" has committed suicide. So, after years of silence, the FBI and Justice Dept. are closing the case, asking us to trust their judgement, investigative abilities and overall integrity and thoroughness of work and move along.

Funny, I remember for weeks and even months, our media proclaimed repeatedly that this was the work of radical Islamic terrorists. That all-capital handwritten PRAISE ALLAH and all the rest are practically seared into our memories from sheer repetition of viewing. When they "developed" their list of one person of interest, in early 2002, he was an American scientist! And the next suspect in line was.... an American scientist! I never heard this news in the media over and over again like I heard the first reports. Why didn't our government come out and clearly explain to us that the anthrax attacks had nothing to do with Muslims, al Qaeda or 9/11? (rhetorical)

There are also plenty of other huge holes in this case. The suspect, being dead, will have no opportunity to defend himself or discuss any of the evidence presented about him. Peer testimony has largely contradicted the "official story" that he was deranged and mentally unstable.

And if so, then how did this man enjoy a long, distinguished career in a sensitive, military bioweapons lab? No one caught this? After decades? This wasn't just some random office where everyone just does their own thing in some cubicle and punches out and goes home. These people have top-level security clearance and have been vetted. Thoroughly. It doesn't seem right.

And the FBI can't, after 7 years of intense, high-tech detective work place him at the scene of the crime - the post office in New Jersey where the letters originated.

The description of this man by the FBI does not correlate with the testimony from peers who worked with him, and in most cases contradicts it. At least, that's what many of us are reading and learning.

I say all this because I cannot in good conscience, simply take the Justice Dept. at it's word. Can you? I know it's probably a hard and stressful line of work, but this latest debacle is pure fallacy. This whole story is so suspicious and incredible, many of us are dumbstruck and practically speechless.

And what about ties to Islamic terrorists, links to al Qaeda, or any relationship to Iraq? I mean, the biggest single issue for invading and occupying that innocent country was the Weapons of Mass Destruction. Since our country had already seen a biological attack on our own soil, it was much easier to rush us off to war to prevent further biological or chemical chaos.

Even the mainstream media is suspicious of this whopper, and that's really saying something.

This story smells foul and does not hold up under the smallest modicum of scrutiny. Like much of the other stories we have been told by our White House, they grow increasingly difficult to believe. It is like the vast ice shelves rapidly melting in Antactica and Greenland and all over the Earth. Increasingly, the House that George and Dick built is starting to crumble. I believe this will be the story that finally snaps the country out of its trance and back into reality.

This story is likely the most ludicrous and unbelievable story out of the Bush/Cheney fortress yet, in itself a staggering statement, and only raises further questions and doubts about the US-manufactured "war on terror." Who are we fighting and what are we fighting for? That's what I want to know.

I miss the truth.... The raw old truth.

Ahhhh, maybe someday.

Here are some useful articles:

BBC NEWS | Americas | Ambiguous case of 'anthrax killer'

and

George Washington's Blog: The Anthrax Attack Was a Classic False Flag Operation Targeting Arabs

and

BBC NEWS | Americas | US anthrax 'suspect' found dead

and

Vital Unresolved Anthrax Questions and ABC News - CommonDreams.org

and

Marching Off Into Tyranny | BaltimoreChronicle.com

Happy Birthday Senator Obama!

joe ruwe — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:17:14 EDT

Sir, what you are doing is truly remarkable. Your current effort on behalf of this country is an inspiration. I strongly believe that the scope and intensity of the gassroots, bottom-up campaign that you have started is far greater than any of us could ever imagine.

We are behind you all the way. We are grateful that you have decided to help us at this crucial time in our country's life. We need change, drastic change, and you have already helped mobilize and motivate people from all over the country to start whipping things into shape in American politics. Change is in the air.

We hope you have a great day today, and though it looks like you have some events scheduled, we hope you get a little break today - relax with your family, and know that so many millions of us are praying for you and pulling for you all the way. The bloggers on your website are trying to set a single day online fundraising record so that you may be able to take a day off sometime soon. I'm telling you - we've got your back!

Happy Birthday!

gratefully,

joe ruwe

Anthrax Mystery Dies Forever.....

joe ruwe — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:23:10 EDT

Well, what do you know? The main suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks has committed suicide - just when the FBI was closing in on him! Yeah right.

8 years later, the FBI was just getting ready to indict? Really.

In my opinion, the anthrax attacks were the true smoking guns of 9/11, (well, along with the demolition of the Twin Towers and WTC Building 7, the miltary's response, our President's behavior and all the rest) proving that someone other than radical jihadist hijackers were involved in that horrible event.

Do you guys remember that madness? Only WEEKS after 9/11, anthrax spores were sent to Tom Dashcle and Patrick Leahy - two of the most outspoken critics of the Bush administration. Daschle was actually heading the Congressional investigation of the 9/11 attacks. He was even pressured by Bush and Cheney personally to limit his investigation. Hmmmmm.

Also, prominent journalists were sent the spores which overall resulted in 5 deaths and almost complete paralysis of an already traumatized capital and country. I was suspicious the second I heard about it.

The anthrax that was used, the Ames strain, is only produced in a small handful of laboratories and is under the close watch of the US military - the only known source for it in the world.You can't just pick this stuff up on a street corner.

The letters containing the spores were supposed to be from Islamic terrorists, remember? All capital letters with phrases like "PRAISE ALLAH" thrown in for extra scary effect. Yet, only one American scientist was ever even deemed a "person of suspicion", let alone indicted or arrested.

Why does the country choose to forget about this incredible story?

It was nothing compared to the events of 9/11, but in some ways was just as significant and possibly even more suspicious and alarming. WMD attacks on our own soil, using weapons that only our military is known to posess. Only a couple weeks after 9/11 itself, when people were starting to ask questions and Congress was ramping up its own investigation. The anthrax event threw everyone into panic, cast Washington DC into chaos, and delayed any investigation or serious inuiry into the abysmal failures of our government on 9/11 for many many months. This should have been a HUGE story, and the unsolved nature of this crime should have been on everyone's minds. Yet it served its purpose, and increased the chaos, and simply threw gas into the fire that was burning since 9/11/01, obscuring everything else.

This scientists suicide, while quite possibly true and as it appears, reminds me more of Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby. A known mobster, with ties to the CIA and the US government, walks into a police station and murders the only suspect in the assasination of JFK in cold blood, thus shutting the door forever an the truth about that day.

Convenient, don't you think?

Perhaps, like much of the circumstances and suspicion surrounding 9/11, the anthrax case will never be solved. But I think we owe it to ourselves not to forget about this very serious and incredible event.

Question everything. Don't be complacent, and do not neccesarily take the media at its word. Certainly not the government.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the past 8 years. Some of us want some answers.

McCain Takes the Low Road

joe ruwe — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:36:41 EDT

Just as I was about to put out a post regarding Obama supporters knocking McCain around and disrespecting him and calling him McSame, McBush, McPain, McSurge, McGoo, McSenile and all the rest, I heard about his new ad. And I've changed my mind.

I have nothing but respect for all of our veterans, my late Grandpa Bade, and my uncle Russ are veterans. I cannot imagine how poorly I would hold up as a POW for 5 years in Vietnam. And torture? I cringe at the thought of my whimpering self being thrashed about or stretched or waterboarded or whatever.

This has all made McCain who he is and I hate to see him disrespected so thoroughly by a large cross-section of Obama supporters. He is simply out of touch. His time has past. He has too old a view of the world and the challenges we face as a nation. He would make an absolutely horrible President at this time in our country's young life.

His ad today proves it. He clearly does not understand the strength and size of the Obama movement. When he tries to mock Obama for his lack of foreign policy credentials and practically dares him to visit the Middle East, Obama turns it on its head. That trip was a brilliant success.

When McCain tries to trap Obama as not supporting the "surge" in Iraq, he fails to see that the entire effort in Iraq, the entire IDEA of invading and occupying and surging in Iraq was and remains a serious disaster and an ultimate failure. We must not forget that even if we "win" in Iraq, whatever in the hell that means, we have still lost more than 4000 troops. We have still lost five years that we could have been actually fighting terrorists. We have still spent 800 billion dollars that could have been spent on terrorism, border security, nuclear security, properly investigating 9/11 - you name it! McCain is spin warmed over. His politics are old.

When he tries to belittle Obama's celebrity appeal, and equate the hundreds of thousands of supporters who come to hear his speeches with the fans of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton - he belittles all of us. Why on earth would he mock the crowds of Americans, and Europeans and everyone else who comes to see him? Are we all foolish? Are we all naive and blinded by his celebrity status?

I don't think so.

In November, McCain will catch up on current events in this country. It's a new day out there.

The old politics that have practically ruined our country and destroyed our Constitution are dead.

Negative attacks are dead.

Lies are dead. (well, that might be wishful thinking on my part)

New politics are coming to town.

Hope is coming with it.

Yes we can.

THE STREAK LIVES

joe ruwe — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:23:36 EDT

Thanks to the wonderful work of our friend Carey yesterday, the Streak stayed alive for the 71st day!

That's 71 days in a row that someone has donated to this historic campaign through my personal fundraiser. My goal is to somehow get at least one donation a day until Obama is our President.

I should have started earlier!

Thank you Carey!

Stay tuned.....

Obama '08

Our Esteemed Vice President

joe ruwe — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:02:21 EDT

I sure haven't heard much about Dick Cheney in the news lately. I wonder what he's up to these days?

Makes me nervous. Scares the hell out of me.

(shudder)

August 4 BIRTHDAY MONEY BOMB

joe ruwe — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:33:26 EDT

Start saving your money, friends. August 4th - Barack's birthday - we are going to have an incredible donating blitz to show him how much we appreciate what he is doing. I'm hoping to raise 25 million dollars on this day.

Please join me and fellow bloggers on the 4th - and donate whatever you can afford.

Take a moment to email and call all of your friends and let them know about our birthday plan.

Let's give Barack and his campaign 25 million dollars on his birthday.

I think he'll get the hint.

Obama '08

Pathetic

joe ruwe — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:55:11 EDT

McCain/Diebold '08

It's his only chance at this point.

Fundraising Update From the Joe Ruwe Fundraising Team

joe ruwe — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:26:36 EDT

I have increased my goal one more time. $15,000 ought to do it. I'm also going to get 500 donors on my page before the November election.

In between, I will continue dropping money bombs on our faithful fundraising friends around the O-blog. So far, since I hit 10K, we have initiated 10 money bombs for ten special Obama fundraisers. 5 of them have helped reach the fundraising goals. 4 helped pump some serious bucks into 4 other individual fundraisers, and only one was a complete failure without a single donation. All in all, though - a big success!!!

We will continue our fundraising work as we shift back into investigative reporting mode. There are so many high-level crimes being committed in our government - I cannot sit back and simply watch. My writing will continue and my focus will remain on making our country great again.

Also, the Great Streak stands at 58 days today. 58 days in a row to the J.R.F.T. - that's a lot of donations! And we won't stop until the November election or the end of the Streak, whichever comes first.

So, the Team thanks you and thanks all of our donors, and most of all we thank Obama for giving us hope!

Yes We Can.

Obama '08

WAR

joe ruwe — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:32:24 EDT

With the initial signs of possible economic collapse in our country, and the price of oil and energy, the focus has shifted away from the wars that we are currently still fighting and still losing, as well as a possible third war against Iran. I believe it is all a distraction.

I believe, as I have stated here and elsewhere in the past, that this latest economic crisis is all a product of manipulation and engineering at the highest levels of our government and the corporate world. For, as we all well know by now - they are practically one and the same.

I recently read in the current Vanity Fair about Bear Stearns and the improbable collapse of that company. It sounds to me like a conspiracy, though I am no expert. A blatant and intentional collapsing of an important financial institution to help set off a wave of fear and nervousness within the stock market and the US economy in general. Short-sellers were most likely the culprit, ruthless players who bet on the stocks of companies to crumble. It reminds me of the short sells of airline stock immediately before 9/11 that went unanswered and underreported. Seriously shady business to a conspiracy theorist like myself.... I'm getting off the subject a bit, but I get the sense that a small handful of incredibly powerful people control and manipulate the entire US economy and a thus all of our lives.

This, factored in with the blatant price manipulation in the oil industry and the deep oil connections to our own shameful White House along with the absurd and probably criminal, unprecedented and mind-boggling oil profits in recent years only fuels my suspicious mind. What in the hell has happened here? Supply and demand, market forces, or government incompetence cannot explain away this serious perfect storm that is brewing. Only the deep, dark cloud of corruption could be behind this - worse than we probably imagine.

And all of this is a perfect way to get us to forget about the wars. We have been at war in Afghanistan for 7 years now. And that effort is in serious trouble. Iraq - since 2003 and certainly no good has come from that.

Our troops are still dying. 9 in Afghanistan today alone. Yet, the lives, blood and treasure wasted on this cowardly and criminally foolish endeavor is hardly a front-page story any more. I wish it was. The wars are still my number one issue and will continue to be. When I lose my job, my pension (yeah, right) and my healthcare - the wars will still be the number one issue to me.

These wars simply must end. The "war on terror" must end. I often say that we cannot destroy terror with terror. It will never work. I shudder at the thought of what we have done to the Middle East. All the bombs we have dropped and things we have blown up.... frightening. And I don't feel any safer, in fact - I feel drastically less safe in the world now. I don't feel like we have brought any justice to whoever was behind the 9/11 attacks, do you? Wasn't it a bunch of Saudis? I don't even really know who we are at war with. It's absurd and heartbreaking.

Read this and get mad all over again. And stay mad! Warmongers are the very worst kind of people on this planet and should never be tolerated.

INFORMATION CLEARING HOUSE. NEWS, COMMENTARY & INSIGHT

NO MORE WARS!!!!!!!

Let's put our democracy to action! Slam some serious checks and balances against the swollen heads of the war-mongers and other frightening specimens who have been in charge and have inflicted this catastrophic damage to our country. Make the founding fathers proud, I say. No tyranny. No absolute power. No torture, no illegal spying, no blatant violations of international agreements and treaties, and no false and fraudulent wars of choice.

And then - a new direction........

...change we can believe in.

Congratulations!

joe ruwe — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:20:19 EDT

My computer is working again and my first post will be a shout out to Ben Vos and his new family. Congratulations Ben and cheers to your wife and your new daughter. I think she was born today. Congratulations, Happy Birthday and best wishes from Santa Cruz.

joe ruwe

Keep the Streak Alive!!!!

joe ruwe — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:22:56 EDT

Friends, I'm sorry to say that my computer is down. Keeping the Streak alive is my highest priority, so I'm sending out an urgent request for help.

I still try to check in when I see a computer, but I will be at reduced power for several days, by the looks of it.

Please help me keep the Streak alive while I'm offline - we're counting on you!!!!

If you can, just toss in a few bucks if you get the sense that the Streak is in limbo..... better safe than sorry!!!!

We are at 55 days in a row right now, and it would be a shame to see it end so early.

Besides, we're going for 222 days altogether!!!

Keep the Streak alive for ole Joe!

here's the link:

http://www.mybarackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Joecool

Many thanks and praises!

joe ruwe

Yesterday Was A Good Day

joe ruwe — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:08:18 EDT

I reached 11 K.

We dropped a money bomb Tyrone's way.

The Streak reached the 50th day.

Obama swung a couple more voters his way.

I wrote a post about maryT - she didn't know what to say.

I have to say it was a good day.

I didn't even have to use my AK.

All in all it was a good day.....

My Pal Marytnurse

joe ruwe — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:01:44 EDT

Mary was one of first people I met here at the Obama website. She took me in and showed me the True Way of the Blog. Believe it or not, I made my first impressions here as an extremely pissed off, suspicious, skeptical anti-Bush/Cheney crusader. I mean, I really took them to task in my writing, on my blog - anywhere I could. I have written letters to my local editor, research papers on the Bush administration, the "war on terror," the other two wars and all the other crazy, immoral BS that these guys have stumbled carelessly into. When I was first starting up on the O-train, I was practically frothing at the mouth.

Well, Mary kind of calmed me down a bit. Little by little in subtle ways, she encouraged me to project hope and optimism instead of anger and disrespect. She helped me, whether she knows it or not, channel my fierce and fiery anger at BushCo. and the myriad ways they have damaged our country, and steered me onto a more productive path. Those warnings from HQ helped, too.

Well Mary - here's looking at you.

You are one of the people on the blog that I respect the most. I look for you when I log on. You always listen to my rants, hear me out, and crack me up at how ridiculously and blatantly angry I can get. I know you're with me, you just convey it better than I do. You are a calming and uplifting presence here. Your blog is insightful, hopeful and inspiring. Judging from your points, I can tell that you have done as much as anyone here to help Obama win. Let me just say that I am completely impressed by you and your work on this campaign.

I've been here for almost 7 months now, and I have to say that you are top notch.

And I guess I should have known that you of all people, would be the one to make that donation through my page that would kick me over $10,000. I should have known. I know that you have already given so much money, time and effort to this campaign - on this website and on the ground in Iowa (I follow what you're doing)! When I discovered that it was you that put me past my goal, a goal that I thought was ridiculously way too high, I viewed it as symbolic and inspiring.

Thank you, my friend. In front of however many Obama supporters are on here reading this --- I SALUTE YOU!!! You are my 10K hero. And you are my hero for a lot of other reasons.

Keep up the good work - I think you are Obama's secret weapon. Keep me on the good path, don't let me wind up in Guantanamo, and keep doing what you've been doing on this website.

You are a hero to many of us here and many of us look to you as an elder stateswoman to this great and historic cause.

I hope I can meet you someday and thank you in person.

Until then, I think I'll rant a bit about that criminal Vice President of ours.......

Marytnurse - this post is for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

your friend,

Joe Ruwe

Peace, Love, Obama

joe ruwe — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:19:12 EDT

The Great Way is not difficult
for those who have no preferences.
When love and hate are both absent
everything becomes clear and undisguised.
Make the smallest distinction however
and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.

- Seng-T'san

THE STREAK - 3rd update.

joe ruwe — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:29:38 EDT

The great Streak is truly becoming legendary. Today, June 27th, we hit 41 days in a row of donations. That's 41 consecutive days of donations to my fundraising page. Truly remarkable yet just the beginning...

I am trying my best to log on and keep it alive every day, nomatter where I am or what I am doing. Amazingly, I am having such a busy day today, I thought I wouldn't even be able to log on to keep the Streak going - and wouldn't you know it? My grandmother had kept it going for me! Whew! Thanks, Gram!!!

The Joe Ruwe Obama fundraising team is attempting the impossible - collecting at least one donation to the Obama campaign every single day until he wins the election in November. That will bring it close to 222 days in a row!!!

Think I'm crazy? Well, you're probably right, but so far so good. 41 days today.

I try to post a link to my fundraiser as often as possible, or you can simply click on my name to go to the fundraising Streak. I also post a daily update on the Streak's status daily.

If in doubt, make a small donation to keep the Streak alive!!!!!!!!

Also, now that I have reached my fundraising goal, I have started to raise money for my fellow Obama supporters. We have helped 2 people reach their goals in 2 days. We are working on a 3rd person today on this third day and she is almost there!!!!

Keep the Streak alive, then sit back as watch other fundraising thermometers shatter all over the Obamablogosphere!!!

Yes We Can.

Obama '08

KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE!

Joe Ruwe Rocks Again

joe ruwe — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:23:08 EDT

I have been a drummer for many years now. My brother and I moved from Maine to California to chase the dream of becoming rock stars out here and damn - we got pretty close! Our band, White Rhino was a local legend (if only in our own minds).

However, when my son Desmond was born 6 months ago, I essentially retired. I'm a family man.

However, a couple days ago, I was invited to fill in for a drummer at a benefit concert this Friday night. I wasn't all that interested, considering my energy level, time constraints, hectic schedule and my family. However, this concert is a benefit sponsored for the local chapter of Santa Cruz Iraq War Vets Against the War. As many of you know, I hate war. I especially hate this fraudulent, deceitful war.

So, this Friday, I am suiting up again to rock the Santa Cruz Veterans Hall for a 4-band benefit concert to support our troops and protest the warmongers. Our set includes some rocking protest songs like War Pigs, Come Together, Machine Gun, War, and some others.

Wish me luck (I haven't even sat down at my kit since November) and if your in town - stop by and help support the troops!!!

6 - midnight this Friday night.

Rockers for Obama! War Protesters For Peace!!

Obama '08

The 9K Hero

joe ruwe — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:12:57 EDT

Today was quite a day in the news/headline machine - quite a day indeed. Made me do a lot of thinking.

The headlines screamed about Bush, McCain and the small handful of remaining neocon and GOP thugs left in Washington - clammering for oil drilling off the coasts and other ecologically sensitive areas. Our President commanding that Congress authorize this ludicrous and dangerous notion, declaring 18 billion barrels hidden in choice coastal and Arctic regions. Plenty, baby, plenty..... Another dumb idea.

However, he did not mention that this would only increase profit margins for the Corporate Oil Machine. He forgot to mention that Americans would probably only save pennies at the gas pump and the savings would materialize no sooner than 15-20 years at least. Hmmm. Any economists/oil experts want to weigh in?

Anyway, I also heard more about the deteriorating catastrophe that we call Afghanistan. NATO overwhelmed, coalition frayed, costs spiralling, troops dying faster than ever and the Taliban making a comeback. Hey, at least opium production is at new record levels! Oh... wait.

I also heard alot about the increasing troubles of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans after they return home. Thousands upon thousands of our soldiers returning home to neglect, red tape and a government that is either too overwhelmed and distracted to properly help them or they simply do not care. The VA is obviously a mess. Overwhelmed, underprepared, understaffed and underfunded. Silly, considering we have been at war now for 7 years. Great planning. Walter Reed, Bethesda - where else? Why can't we take care of our veterans??????? It is a disgrace bordering on suspicious to treat our veterens with anything other than the very highest level of treatment, care and respect. These wars were a collossal and tragic failure in every way and by every measure, and todays stories only reconfirmed my belief for the millionth time.

I then read about the two pigs who will be indicted for the Bear-Stearns manipulation scandal. Billions of dollars lost thanks to a little greed and arrogance. Thanks boys! There's gotta be more than just two.......

I heard a show about the oil speculation/manipulation theory - the argument that since supply and demand cannot explain the current criminally suspicious prices of oil, the price is being intentionally manipulated by greedy speculators who are pushing the price up legally or otherwise. Conspiracy theorists everywhere...

I saw the President talking oil and making threats from the comfort of the Rose Garden, while the middle part of our great country struggled with the worst natural disaster since Katrina. Where's Bush? Oh - a little flyover tomorrow. Or the next day. Who cares? It seems obvious that the man cares much more about oil, terror, Iraq and torture than he does about us. Same goes for McCain. And the whole GOP for that matter! WTF!

What have they done for our country? In almost 8 years, what have they done for our country? Can some one please tell me? Has he made our country safe from terrorism? Has he helped the economy with his masterful financial strategies? Has his foreign relations team improved our standing and influence around the world? Has he helped further and strengthen the green revolution that is going on all around him and in direct defiance of him? Has he downsized government? Cut spending? Effectively enhanced and improved the quality on the Supreme Court? Responded well to natural disasters? Told the truth? Been open and honest? Surrounded himself with the best possible people he could find? Worked with Congress to improve the lives of Americans? WHAT HAS HE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???

Well then, I got so worked up I decided to call my grandmother in Maine. Of course, she calmed me down and we laughed at life and the horrible disaster that has been the Bush presidency.

And then she told me I had hit 9000. My fundraiser had reached 9000 bucks.

I wondered who the 9K hero was........

The suspense was killing me, but I finally got home and after bathtime, brushing teeth and stories and bedtime (Maya & Desmond) - I finally found her. (thanks Mid America Mom!)

It was Jeannie in PA.

My 9K Hero.

I suddenly forgot the days news and my twisted and angry veiws of them. I started thinking of all the things that our current President is not, our next President will be. And more.

I see Obama surrounding himself with the best possible players and thinkers and statespeople, a mixture of amazing newcomers, loyal associates and respected establishment fixtures. He will focus on our country and us and our image in the world. He will stand up to the frightening influence of lobbies within our democracy, and big business and corporate greed. He will undoubtedly respond swiftly and dramatically to future natural disasters, and put his organizational skills to fast use responding and recovering.

He will use war as a tool of last resort, when all other options have first failed. He will not allow torture in his military.

He will gather the sharpest minds and figure out a solution to the economy, if there is one.

He and Al Gore will jumpstart the green revolution that has been trying to emerge despite a terrible reluctance and neglect in recent years by our top leaders.

He, more than anyone else, will come closest to getting our country back on track. Or on a better track altogether.

That's why everyone is so fired up. You can feel it in the air.

That's why people like my Mom, my Aunt and Uncle, Tamsin, Mary, all you guys are going to your State Conventions. Going to caucuses. GOTV.

That's why people like Ty - our friend in Iraq, is actively supporting the Obama campaign while fighting a war. Pretty impresive, if you ask me.

That's why people are donating, even though most of us cannot really afford to.

But we can't afford not to.

People are hitting the streets, hitting the phones (Christine Obama rocks!), abusing their credit cards with repeated donations (Gram - you rock!!), talking to strangers and in general spreading the word and growing the movement.

And people like my new good friend Jeannie in PA, are becoming the 9K Hero.

Jeannie - you definitely rock. You are my 9K Hero. I can't say that I love you more than Desert Dove Dan, who has helped the Streak reach 30 days, among others. I probably can't declare you in a saintly category above the amazing Mia in NC, who saved the Streak on day 20 and has thrown down repeated, jaw-dropping, heavy, heavy sums of cash. My 9K Hero, you might not be maxed out like SvK, or marytnurse, or Obamacrat. Perhaps you don't have as many points as Mid America Mom or as many "firsts" on the blog as Lace King (has does she do that?)......

But you hold a special place in my heart.

Your contribution to Obama today rocked my world and made me happy.

I almost immediately stopped mentally ranting to myself about BushCo. and terror, inc. and oil - and started envisioning an Obama Presidency. Too many good and hopeful visions to even list here.

You turned the day around Jeannie.

And I sure appreciate that.

Now I'm really fired up.

Obama '08

End of an Era.

joe ruwe — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:56:04 EDT

In January, the Bush Era will come to an end. This will undoubtedly have a profound effect on the world, to say the least.

I hear in the air, on the blog, in cyberspace, on the media, in the streets - a deep longing and eagerness for a dramatic change in this country. Everywhere I go, everywhere I look - I see a distraught and stressed out citizenry; filled with hope, yet beaten down by fear, rising costs of living and a government that increasingly cares less and less about them. Our time is coming.

Since 2000, we have been thrust into an era of deep political divide, clouded with frightening events, unneccesary wars, dire threats and warnings, and deeply suspicious behavior by our top elected officials. Most of us have become accustomed to this new age of hyped-up yet underreported war. Many of us have gotten used to hearing about 3 more troops killed today by insurgents, or 4 more deaths in an IED attack, or another helicopter crash, or yet another US troop suicide. So very sad, yet we have conditioned ourselves to push on in our lives, to get on with things and work within this bloody and heartbreaking backdrop.

Many of us have grown used to the steady stream of misinformation and propaganda that is emanating continuously from our own White House. We often have no idea whatsoever what is actually occurring at the highest levels of our government -- for a toxic stew of secrecy, stonewalling, obstruction and scandal has befouled whatever remained of our open and transparent democracy. In addition, our media has largely failed us, compounding our troubles. But our time is coming.

We have witnessed our government distort and diminish the dire truth about global warming, and aggresively stifle the urgent quest to curb environmental destructioon. We have rolled back crucial environmental laws and protections, and vigorously pursued more oil drilling and corporate invasion of our protected lands and forests. We have done everything we can possibly do and more to make corporations richer, and the income gap grow to frightening levels. Inflation is out of control, energy prices continue to be manipulated, and the grotesque pricetag for our global "war on terror" continues to swell. But not for long, my friends, because our time is coming.

America the beautiful has become, in 7 short years, something approaching a tragic disaster. After years and years, our troops are still dying every day. We are still torturing and imprisoning innocent people. We are still giving away our Treasury and our future to the wealthiest of the wealthy, the most powerful corporations, and our friends in Saudi Arabia. We are still hopelessly addicted to oil.

For 7 long years, we have been scared by our own government. We have been at the butt end of rising terror levels, whatever that means. We have been kept under an oppressive blanket of manipulated nervousness and agitation..... intentionally!!!! By our own leaders!!! Enough with the threat levels and fearmongering. Enough talk about the mushroom clouds (shame on you Condi!). Enough with the duct tape, PATRIOT Act, domestic spying, torture and all the rest. We don't want it and we don't need it! Our time is coming.

For 7 long years, we have been led on a wild-goose chase for Osama bin Laden and terrorists worldwide. We have bent and perverted the Constitution in this effort. We have violated international law, disregarded treaties and ignored former agreements. We have gone against everything our great country stands for, for nothing more than a blatant attack on Muslims everywhere and a takeover of the Middle East. Enough is enough. Our time is coming.

Americans are waking up.

Americans are standing up.

We are taking our country back!!!!

Obama has said himself that he is an imperfect messenger, a flawed leader. He is human, after all.

But he is the best we have, and we'll take it!

He has come along just when we need him the most.

Now it's our turn. It's time to re-engage in politics and our community. It's time to spread this grassroots movement. It is time to convince our friends and families to do the right thing. It is time, now more than ever, to pay attention and GET INVOLVED.

IT IS OUR TIME.

The Bush era is almost over.

Let's get America back.

Who's with me?

Obama '08

The Streak

joe ruwe — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:50:34 EDT

As of today, June 11th, 2008. the Streak stands at 26 days in a row. This is beginning to become epic.

For 26 days in a row, generous donors have supported Obama by contributing through my fundraising page. Today, it was Desert Dove Dan - one of the true legends of the blog.

Tomorrow - who knows? It could be you!

Read the first story of the Streak here:

The Streak

Keep it alive. Tomorrow will be Day 27. Our goal is 222 days total. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me...... it will happen.

Joe Ruwe's fundraising team stands ready to process your donation and keep faithful vigil over this historic Streak.

fundraising page

Obama '08

Uncle Matt!

joe ruwe — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:17:53 EDT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

To my big brother Matt!! We're thinking of you today and hope you are having a great day!!!

Do something fun today.

Love,

Joe, Aurora, Maya & Desmond

Focus On McCain

joe ruwe — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:35:19 EDT

The Primary is over.

This Old Guitar - by Neil Young

joe ruwe — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:16:52 EDT

"This old guitar ain't mine to keep

just taking care of it now

It's been around for years and years

just waiting in its old case

Its been up and down the country roads

its brought a tear and a smile

Its seen its share of dreams and hopes

And never went out of style

The more I play it, the better it sounds

it cries when i leave it alone

Silently it waits for me

Or someone else I suppose

This old guitar

This old guitar has caught some breaks

but it never searched for gold

It can't be blamed for my mistakes

It only does what its told

Its been a messenger in times of trouble

In times of hope and fear

When I get drunk and seeing double

It jumps behind the wheel and steers

This old guitar ain't mine to keep

it's mine to play for awhile

This old guitar ain't mine to keep

Its only mine for awhile

This old guitar............"

by Neil Young

Neil Young - This old guitar - AOL Video

The Streak

joe ruwe — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:09:47 EDT

An historic streak is underway right now. It hasn't received much attention in the media yet, nor has it become very big news within the blogosphere. But it will. I just need a few more days to start getting international attention.

Right now, I have received a donation through my personal fundraising page for ten consecutive days. That may not seem like much now, but I get the sense that something incredible and historic is in the works....

May has been a great month for fundraising. I believe Obama supporters are getting sick of this primary and want it ended, and they are finishing it off with an avalanche of donations. I started seeing a generous increase in donating in recent weeks. In fact, people have donated through my O-page 21 out of 26 days in May, and I believe people are just getting started.

Like my Mom and my Gram, who have each given hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Or the legendary Obamacrat, whose family has donated thousands of dollars, and inspired my to double - no triple my efforts! My generous friend, Mia in NC, who likes to go BIG and has been a repeat donor to my page. I could talk about my friends Ann, Bonnie, Paula, Don, Debbie, Rebecca,Leslie, Louise or Patty - who have donated again and again and are still FIRED UP! The generous Kristen, Jill, Emily, Angela, Christopher, Maeve, Victori, Kevin, Sasa, Bonnie, Paula and the reat - you guys rock!!!

My friend Tracy in CT who has donated 4 or 5 times to my page!!!! ( I've lost count!)

My sweet friend Becky in Iowa who, when the streak was just beginning, answered the call in a big and meaningful way. Becky - we love you out here in Santa Cruz and you are one of the founding donors of the Streak!

So far, there are too many kind souls to name here, but they will all get their own post someday soon. To all who have donated to my page, all 164 of you, and everyone who has given so generously to this historic campaign - THANK YOU!!! The steady stream of money is a true inspiration to me and only causes me to work even harder for this great campaign.

So here's a shout out to all who have given their scarce, hard-earned money to the Great Cause so that Barack Obama may be our next President. I thank you and so does Barack.

Together, you are making history - one dollar at a time, one phone call at a time, one registered voter at a time. Keep up the great work!!!

And help me keep the streak alive.

I am on a mission, and my goal is now 1 billion dollars. I want to collect at least one donation every day until November. I want to raise $100 a day until Obama is President. And I think we can do it.

We are fired up and ready for change!

Let's get to that 11th day in a row.

Obama '08

VM

joe ruwe — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:08:47 EDT

Our friend VM, who first "had a sneaking suspicion that the media is underestimating us" but who now "wants it clearly stated that Obama is the nominee!" - if the stars are properly aligned and all goes well, is now having a baby or has already had it. I want to be the first to congratulate her with a blog post.

Bless you, VM, for bringing a child into the world. We are all thinking of you and wish you and your family well.

A big reason that many of us are so inspired and FIRED UP about this historic campaign is our fierce desire to improve the lives of the next generation. Obama can help make it happen.

VM - take it easy and know that we will hold down the blog and the campaign for you while you are away. We got you covered!

Best wishes from all of us here in Obamaville.

I'll go first.

Joe, Maya, Desmond and Aurora Ruwe

Ode To My Wife

joe ruwe — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:38:44 EDT

As you may have noticed by now, I spend a lot of time on this website. I write, I make hundreds of phone calls all across the country, I try to raise money, and of course, I research and broadcast the myriad foul and suspicious activities of the Bush administration. All this while working full time, raising two kids and trying to get ahead. What I sacrifice most is sleep, since my Obama activities often occur after my family is slumbering away late at night. But I sacrifice other things as well, and probably, you guys can relate.

I have Obama on the brain, so to speak, and I want to thank my wife Aurora for putting up with me and my condition. Now, Aurora is an Obama supporter too, but I wouldn't say she has the "condition" like many of us. She definitely believes that he is this country's last best hope in this creepy time of fearmongering and unneccesary war and violence. She understands the great stakes involved with this election. But she also shudders to see the bank statement when I have donated yet another ten or twenty dollars to this campaign. (Let's just say that she married into a little debt thanks to my dumbass.)

She rolls her eyes as I stall for another ten or twenty or thirty minutes, blogging away when really I should be going to work. She often goes to bed at night to the annoying clicking away at the keyboard of my computer, wondering what liberal, frothing rant I am cranking out next. (The next one is about Afghanistan, honey!)

Though she seems impressed with my fundraising and all the comments people leave on my blog, I have often left her wondering about my addiction to this website and the Obama blog.

Well, here is my chance to give a shout out to my sweet wife in front of a million Obama-supporting Americans. Yes, she is sweet, and she is my partner in crime as we battle this crazy and hostile world that George Bush and Dick Cheney have helped create for us. I love you and I am glad you can put up with my hyper-political activities and radical (but truthful) views of global affairs and neocon world domination.

I love my wife, and I would not be here, part of the O-community, fighting for my family's future, and my kids and future generations everywhere - were it not for her and the beautiful kids she has brought into this world. You might not see her on the blog, but she is the force behind me, behind my words and behind my enthusiasm and effort here. Thanks, Aurora!

You Ba-rock! (She would roll her eyes at that).

If you guys have a similar message to send to your somewhat neglected spouses or significant others, feel free to do it here.

We love our silent partners in this movememnt!

Love,

Joe

What John Edwards Endorsement Means To Me

joe ruwe — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:49:41 EDT

Obama '08

A Most Surprising and Kind Thing......

joe ruwe — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:59:36 EDT

As many of you know, our friend Obamacrat had the incredible fortune to meet Michelle Obama privately the other night after a fundraising event in Chicago. His story is amazing and inspiring. I firmly believe that the karmic wheel was turning as few of us around here deserve such an opportunity more than Obamacrat, in my humble opinion.

In the presence of Michelle Obama, an Obama aid, and two Secret Service agents, Obamacrat, his wife and their daughter met with Michelle privately in a room after the event. They were thanked for their incredible support and genuine enthusiasm for the campaign, presented with a signed copy of Audacity of Hope (Michelle and Barack!) and recieved hugs and thanks all around. Truly remarkable.

The part of the story that you may not have heard is that Obamacrat mentioned the name Joe Ruwe to Michelle Obama. I don't know why either. Obamacrat told me that he told Michelle about me and my work on the blog, and my work on behalf of the campaign from out in California. Before being whisked away by her SS detail, Michelle Obama signed a picture of herself and wrote this unbelievable inscription (if I remember correctly) -

To Joe Ruwe; Thank you for everything! - Michelle Obama

Well, needless to say, I was blown away. Dumbstruck. Awed and humbled. Speechless. Yes, totally speechless. But I had to tell somebody about it.

Obamacrat let me know that he took it upon himself to not only mention my name to her, get the picture signed by her, and describe me to her in person, but he then framed the picture and has sent it to me by Express Mail out to California.

Now, I have never met Obamacrat. He lives in Illinois and I live in California. We know each other only through the Obama blog and apparently he has noticed my work there, much like we have all noticed his.

This is a profoundly kind and thoughtful deed that has no real explanation. How I can show my gratitude and appreciation for this amazing act of kindness and true honor, remains a mystery to me. How I was singled out by a man I have never met or seen, at such an amazing moment in his life is beyond me. But I had to at least mention it to somebody.

I still don't have the words that captures my thoughts and reaction to this most surprising and kind thing that has happened. How can I possibly thank him for what he has done?

All I know is that Michelle Obama spoke my name two nights ago, far away in Chicago, and I have a package coming in the mail.

This Obama community has impressed me and moved me from the start, and I am no longer surprised by the level of enthusiasm, commitment, knowledge and patriotism that I have found here. But this takes the cake. This has been my first interaction with an Obama blogger outside of the internet, and it is a doozy.

I am now more committed than ever to getting Obama elected and changing the disastrous path that our country is currently on. I will continue to fight for truth and honesty and integrity on the national level and everywhere. I will dog these neocon criminals who have tried to destroy our great democracy until the end of my days. And I will devote at least a part of my life to helping preserve and protect our Constitution from evil forces, foreign and more importantly, domestic.

If you see Obamacrat around the blog, let him know how amazing he is - he just hates the attention! He exemplifies what I love about the Obama community and the grassroots force that has taken root all across the country. Together, we can make a difference in this country and around the world. We already have.

All I can say is that I am touched and honored that someone I have never met would think of me in this moving way. A tribute of all tributes.

Now, I am, more than ever, FIRED UP!

Let's get this thing done and get America back on track.

Oh, and Obamacrat - you are the man.

Humbly submitted,

Joe Ruwe

Obama '08

You Never Know About West Virginia......

joe ruwe — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:07:38 EDT

This is a true story...

In the early summer of 1999, while recovering from a head injury and a nasty breakup with a psycho, long-time girlfriend, I decided to return home to Maine from Marin County California. Though I was at a bit of a low point in my life, racking up the hospital debt and bitter about women, I was starting to experience an awakening of sorts. Life was changing, my perspective widening and the true way of things was become clearer to me. It was a historic and profound period in the life of Joe Ruwe.

Being in no condition to drive solo cross-country (I hate flying), one of my true best friends since kindergarten, Grayson, flew out to CA and offered to drive back with me. What a pal, indeed. We took about three relaxing weeks, ambling and meandering through the country roads of this great country, seeing the sights and breathing the air. Mountains, hot springs in the southwest, petrified forest, Texas plains, trippy southern Kansas dust oasis, rivers and streams and woods. It was beautiful and ranks near the top of the most peaceful and pleasant days of my life. It was the third in what would be five roadtrips for me cross-country.

As our tortoise-like pace began to get ridiculous in the last week or so, we made a push and drove all night and into West Virginia. At around sunup, we reached the outskirts of Charleston. Beautiful and amazing. The narrow highway was lined with enormous pines, with the sun just starting to peak through the branches. Groggy and ready to start discussing a breakfast break, Gray and I noticed a huge winged creature taking awkward flight from about halfway up in the treeline. In our periphery, we watched in amazement as this gigantic bird lumbered through the sky, clumsily struggling to remain airborne over the highway. It was so awkward and out of place that we later agreed we thought we were having the same foggy hallucination.

We were travelling at reasonable highway speed (maybe 70 mph), and just as the great winged beast was just passing over my little 1987 Toyota pickup, it dipped and struggled and we both quickly glanced at each other and started to exclaim.

But no words came out. In an instant, the great bird smashed directly into the center of my windshield, we were slowed instantly to half speed and the truck skidded off to the road's shoulder.

All was still. No other cars in sight. Barely 6 in the morning. Feathers, blood and shattered glass were everywhere. I looked over at Gray who was covered in blood and a face full of feathers, laughing and shaking his head. "That was a fu@#ing wild turkey, man! Welcome to West Virginia!"

We were both okay. The blood was the poor turkeys, who was killed instantly and must have weighed 50 pounds or more. My windsheild was completely smashed out, and the top of my truck, the windshield frame, was buckled in. We were dumbstruck.

We limped the truck to the nearest exit, and spent the rest of the day in a small and strange town outside of Charleston as we waited for a new windshield and some minor repairs. We had a few shots of Wild Turkey in a scary local bar, in honor of our historic morning, and in the evening, continued our adventure to Maine.

That was the last time we made it to West Virginia. But I keep in touch with Gray, who lives back in Maine, and I in California. About once a year I think back to that strange day and contimplate taking a shot of Wild Turkey in tribute. I usually refrain, but maybe not this year....

It makes me think anything can happen in West Virginia.

I'll be making a few calls there today.

Obama '08

It's Up To PA

joe ruwe — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:36:51 EDT

Come on people in Pennsylvania - it's in your hands! With even just a .000001% victory in your great state, this race would be effectively over.

Remaining superdelagates would start declaring. The twisted Clintons would lose any remaining sliver of an argument that their campaign is a success. We could start focusing on McCain.

I know it's a lot to ask, but I believe you can do it. You're not Ohio, damn it - you're Pennsylvania! and you're smart enough and nice enough and doggonit - people like you!

We're counting on you to put an end to this circus and get back to business at hand: repairing our country and cleaning up the trail of slime left by Dick Cheney and company.

Obama '08

My Gram

joe ruwe — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:24:26 EDT

I'm very humbled and thankful that so many people are starting to read my personal blog posts here on this site. I've been getting so many great comments lately, especially on some of my more controversial posts regarding the fraudulent "war on terror", the "war" in Iraq, 9/11, and war crimes by the Bush administration. I am pleased to know that my views are not too radical for the Obama community and I am humbled by the great feedback.

That being said, I would like to use my small soap box to shine the spotlight on one of the most loyal, passionate, scrutinizing and generous Obama supporters I know. My Gram.

That's right, my grandmother, Dorothy B., way out in the great state of Maine - is my true partner in this Obama movement, which has partially taken over our lives. My Gram, like many retired Americans, is on a fixed income, yet makes regular monthly and even weekly donations to the Obama movement. We email each other articles of interest and we call each other for uplifting and optimistic news about the incredible Obama campaign. Though she no longer drives, doesn't own a car, and lives in the coldest state in the country, she travelled to Bangor to see Obama speak there in the middle of the coldest month there. She is fired up.

Moreover, she is my true sidekick when it comes to unearthing the gross and utterly expansive list of misdeeds carried out by the worst President and administration in our country's history. We constantly outdo each other in our patriotic investigation of war crimes, lies, deception, war profiteering, racketeering, corporate chicanery and all other forms of abuse by the Executive branch of our government. While she is much more positive, optimistic and does not spew the venomous bile about Bush & Cheney that I have been known to, she is thoroughly disgusted with the lies and mismanagment that has been the cornerstone of this President. Gotta love her for that.

She loves Keith Olberman and got me into watching him.

She is devout watcher of CSPAN, and got me interested in watching. One of the only non-biased channels left.

She sent me a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for Christmas and has encouraged me to keep those great words always in my mind. And I have.

She has seen a lot in her day, and she is more involved in shaping our country's destiny now than ever before.

I love my Gram, that's for sure. She is a true Obama supporter and a fierce patriot.

Just this morning, she was putting a kind spin on Gov. Ed Rendell, who I consider a total weasel) who she feels probably knows deep down that Obama will win his state and the nomination. That's my Gram!

You probably won't see her on the blogs, but she's out there - supporting our guy and sending money.

And she's keeping me inspired, which in turn is helping me fire a few people up, which in turn is helping Obama become President, which will undoubtedly help us fix our ailing country.

Keep up the great work, Gram - we love you here in Obamaland!

Obama bloggers, when you happen to be in Downeast Maine, or passing through my blog, be sure to give a shout out to my Gram!

She's probably reading us right now....... or watching Keith O.

Obama/Gram '08!

Joe the Gardener

joe ruwe — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:27:43 EDT

Well, I currently am a landscaper. That's how I spend most days and pay the bills. Great work, in my opinion, but tough. I am operate the small but wonderful company A.G. Ruwe & CO. Organic Landscaping, with the help of my family.

I do all kinds of gardening; maintenance, hardscapes, stone work, etc. and right now I am working on a very cool project. I have been installing a huge stone patio with a pond/waterfall up in the Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods. The patio is terraced into two large areas, each level making a huge yin/yang. You step up to the yin from down on the yang. The pond and waterfull are going to be tucked masterfully into a strategic corner of the project. This is all located in an area behind a huge stage, where my client puts on huge concerts twice a year, sometimes more. This area I am building is essentially the "backstage" area for musicians waiting to play. The last concert here was probably 200 people at least, with 7 bands and all other kinds of entertainment - quite the little festival!

Anyway, this current project will take me several more months and it will compliment the lotus flower patio and expansive redwood deck that I helped construct over the past two years. When completed, this area will be roughly 10,000 square feet at least, with a hottub, outdoor kitchen, zen garden, and the yet completed fish pond/yin/yang/waterfall project.

I mention this because I usually work alone, or sometimes with my friend Chanda (the master carpenter) and I have all day to ponder the world, the Presidential race, BushCo., the state of our country, music, family and other things. Lately, I have been pondering what an Obama Presidency would mean. What would it look like?

Well, in short: the world would immediately breathe a huge sigh of relief. Many urgent fears would pause, an immediate sense of hope would return to the common man.

Countries worldwide would reconsider their negative impressions of us, and immediately remember why they loved our country years ago. (Well, most would)

Our troops would let out an amazing collective sigh of relief almost immediately. They would know that their mission would be in much better hands than it is now. They would know that for 4 years at least - the would not have to risk their lives for a fool's errand. Their families, instead of dreading that 12 or 15 month deployment, would start looking ahead to their inevitable homecoming.

Al Gore and environmentalists worldwide would rejoice, since the vigorous destruction of our planet from American corporations and unmotivated consumers would immediately have a better chance at slowing down in some meaningful way. Imagine if our top leaders actually started taking the environment seriously!?!

I personally would nearly collapse with relief at the prospect of our young country coming together to elect this great man. I would have renewed faith in my fellow countrymen that we actually did have the ability to do the right thing - a faith that has been greatly tested over the last eight years.

My two kids, whether they realize it or not, would rejoice, since the prospects for their future would immediately and drastically improve.

So, as I pick up my shovel and level and mallet, I return to work pondering an end to the crazy disaster that has been the Bush Presidency. I contemplate an end to criminal hijacking of our government. I look forward to an era of relative peace, a return to democracy, a restoration of civil liberties, and a halt to the disgusting rise of corporate America and the military industrial condition.

Back to work with a smile on my face.

Chop wood, carry water. Let's win PA, then on to NC and IN, let's finish this thing and beat McCain and get those idiot criminals out of the White House and State Dept and Pentagon and elsewhere (no offense, boys!). Do what you can to help. It will be worth the relief and reduction of stress that will immediately flood through the souls of most of us.

It will be worth it to start securing a better future for our kids.

I lift a stone, I see Obama in the White House. I put my shovel into the soil and Hillary and McCAin are no longer in our way. I apply mortar to the flagstone and my troubles are diminished.

I put my level on the beam and everything is perfect.

A gulp of coffee and back to work!

Obama '08

Obama/Floyd '08

joe ruwe — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:24:41 EDT

So, so you think you can tell

heaven from hell?

blue skies from pain?

Can you tell a green field

from a cold steel rail?

a smile from a veil?

Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade

your heroes for ghosts?

hot ashes for trees?

hot air for a cool breeze?

cold comfort for change?

Did you exchange

a walk-on part in the war

for a lead role in a cage?

How, how I wish you were here -

we're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl

year after year,

running over the same old ground,

what have we found?

the same old fear?

Wish you were here....

- Pink Floyd

Dem Belly Full

joe ruwe — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:31:52 EDT

Dem belly full but we hungry

a hungry mob is an angry mob

the rain a fall but the dirt it tough

The pot a cook but the food not nuff

We're gonna dance to Jah music - dance

Forget your sorrows - and dance

Forget your troubles - and dance

Forget your sickness - and dance

Forget your weakness - and dance

The cost of living get so high

The rich and poor they start to cry

And now the weak must get strong

They singin "Ahh, what a tribulation!"

Dem belly full but we hungry

A hungry mob is a angry mob

The rain a fall but the dirt it tough

The pot a cook but the food not nuff.....

- Bob Marley

Smile

joe ruwe — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:23:33 EDT

"Come on people now

smile on your brother

everybody get together -

try to love one another right now.....

Right now."

One of My Heroes

joe ruwe — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:02:19 EDT

Perhaps it's not who you think.

That's right - SaSa is one of my newest heroes. You may know her from the Obama blogs. She is out here in California, and from what I have learned - she is one of the true supporters of democracy and justice and equal rights. She is very active, with actual boots on the ground out here. She is walking the streets, holding the signs and marching to try to improve the frail condition of our country.

You are truly an inspiration, SaSa. We will always have your back on the blogs and elsewhere. We support youu and we are with you.

In short - you rock!

Anyone, who runs into SaSa on the blogs - be sure to stop and read what she writes. It is almost always important, from what I have read, and it is always constructive in the eternal quest to improve our country and our planet.

SaSa - even though I have not met you, you have impressed and uplifted many of us around here and I'm starting to think Obama has even noticed you.

Keep up the great work!

Oh, Those Were the Days.....

joe ruwe — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:21:22 EDT

"If tyranny comes to this country, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

- James Madison

Obama '08

joe ruwe — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:31:57 EDT

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanantly discredited and abandoned......

and until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race,

and until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes;

and until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race - we'll have war.....

and until that day -

the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained.......

WAR!

- part of a speech from H.I.M. Haile Selassie in front of the United Nations made into "War" by Bob Marley

Joe Ruwe's Top 10 Bloggers List

joe ruwe — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:51:26 EDT

After being part of the amazing Obama blog for awhile now, I would like to offer my own personal top ten list of some of the most faithful and awesome bloggers I have met. I mean it only as a compliment to all the great people who make this blog so cool.

10 - Top Contributer to My Personal Fundraising Page (besides my Mom- thanks Mom) --- Tracy in CT! Tracy - you rock girl! Thanks for every dollar you have donated.....

9 - Greatest Link I Have Recieved in Response to One of My Posts --- "the Color Purple" link from The Black Knight aka Isaak! Thanks Isaak! It was just what I needed at that time. Could you link it for us again? Thanks, man!

8 - Obama Blogger Most Likely to Recieve a Position in the Obama Administration --- Sam Graham-Felsen! duh,it's pretty obvious isn't it? Sam - thanks for all that you do.

7 - Blogger Most Tolerant and Supportive of My Radical and Highly Critical/Controversial Posts --- Samantha from CT! Thank you Samantha for always getting my back! Your support and kind words always keep me going!

6 - Cool Blogger Who Always Seems to Know Everything That is Going on in the Campaign and Backs it All Up with Links --- Sasa *fear is the opposite of love*! Sasa - you rock! The Obama blog is lucky to haveyou around - many thanks for keeping us surrounded by facts and truth. How refreshing!

5 - Obama Blogger With the Greatest Celebrity Name --- James Brown! 'Nuff said. James - I also love reading your posts. Keep up the great work.

4 - Greatest, Sweetest Mom of Three Boys on the Obama Blog (besides my Mom) --- Tamsin, Whose Conscience Will Only Allow A Vote For Barack Obama Even if I Have To Write His Name On the Ballot! - Tamsin - you are a sweetheart and we are lucky to have you here! We love you!

3 - Bloogers Named Jim Who I Would Most Like to Have a Beer With --- a tie between Jim B - Monster Free and Archeology Jim Hussein!!! Jim and Jim - you guys always speak the truth and use humor and sarcasm masterfullylike a samurai weilds a 2000 year old katana! Keep it up gentlemen!! The beers are on me!

2 - Blogger With the Most 'Firsts' and the Best Obama-Related Website --- Lace King - Who's 1000% for Obama! Lace and obamacycle.com are true supporters of this great cause! Keep up the great work Lace!

1 - Obama Blogger Who Cracks Me Up and Keeps Me On My Toes and Is My Best Source For News Regarding the Current Fascist State of America Who I Will Hopefully Someday Meet --- marytnurse - rejecting AND denouncing alarmist behavior from BOTH parties !! - mary - you are awesome and an inspiration. I consider you my virtual partner in crime battling the jackals, hyenas and hacks that currently run our country. Here's the tin foil!

Stay tuned for next weeks Top Ten List and see you guys on the blog!

Joe Ruwe

Obama Picks Up Another Key Endorsement

joe ruwe — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:12:59 EDT

3/26/08 - (AP) It was reported today that the Obama campaign got another key endorsement today from A.G. Ruwe & Co. Landscaping. With its global headquarters based in Santa Cruz, CA, A.G. Ruwe & Co is an organic, ecologically responsible landscape company dedicated to sustainable methods, composting, reduced reliance on fossil fuels and low-water installations. A.G. Ruwe & Co. is owned and operated by Joe Ruwe, legendary Obama blogger and supporter, with the help of his crew - wife Aurora, daughter Maya (age3) and son Desmond(age 3 months). This is just another key endorsement in a growing list of prominent supporters for the Obama campaign as the race heads to the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. Look for a joint appearance with Ruwe, Senator Obama and environmental crusader Al Gore in the near future.

Nice.

joe ruwe — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:13:15 EDT

Here's what is starting to take shape in my mind for reasons unknown.

The March fundraising numbers will be relased. Shock and Awe - Obama style. The mere magnitude of so many dollars and numbers of donors will be so staggering that even the least curious, most misinformed American will have to take notice. The increasingly distrusted, disregarded mainstream media will again understate the significance of this, but the message will be clear and the sheer numbers will ring across the land.

In addition, the superdelegates will continue to hop aboard. Why they don't all declare immediately and end this thing is beyond me, but they will continue to trickle in. With the inspirational and very strategically helpful endorsement from Gov. Bill Richardson, the bar has been set for the remaining bigwigs of the party elite. Supporting Clinton at this stage will just look plain bad.

Despite the twisting and spinning of the press, I believe momentum is still on our side and has been since Iowa. This movement has grown steadily and more formidable month after month. It is becoming difficult to hide or distort the incredible following and support that Sen. Obama has right now.

I think by the time of the PA primary - it will be so clear that Obama is the nominee, the primary will lose much importance. After PA, I believe Hillary will pull out. Our ground game in PA sounds incredible so far and I am impressed with what I have seen and heard. I have a lot of hope for a suprisingly close race in PA.

Lets keep doing the real legwork of this campaign, especially the donations. Send some money and make some calls. Chop wood, carry water.

We can win this thing.

The One With the Most Money Wins

joe ruwe — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:30:36 EDT

It's true. While I hate to see millions and millions of dollars spent on a divisive primary campaign, there is currently no alternative but to raise so much money that Hillary is forced to drop out.

This money could be spent on pressing issues like education, healthcare, the national debt, veteran health care, the economy and on and on. However, by donating to Obama's campaign, we are actually helping to solve some of these problems, or at least paying them some needed attention.

It is my sincere hope and belief that we can raise 100 million dollars in March, or somewhere very close to it. This would end this race once and for all. HRC would drop out the day those numbers were released.

We have to dig deep, friends. Most of us have already chipped in more than we can afford to, but the stakes are so huge, the consequences of this Presidential race so profound - that we must dig as deep as we possibly can and deeper to end this thing and put our guy in the White House.

We can do this. Ten dollars at a time. Twenty. A hundred. Dig deep and then deeper. Obama is counting on us.

Yes we can.

Another Super Tuesday....

joe ruwe — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:22:23 EST

Yet this will be the best. Tomorrow, Obama will do the impossible. He will win in Texas, a state that was supposed to be a Clinton "firewall." He will win in Vermont, a state with the great freedom-fighter Patrick Leahy - a state that is always ready for change from the politics of the establishment. And he will win in Ohio. Yes, he will. Many people will be suprised, indeed. But the good people in Ohio, from what I have learned, feel that their government has failed them. Their elected leaders have failed them. They want a new direction and a new sense of control in their own destinies. They also have Clinton fatigue, like the rest of us. Yes, tomorrow Ohio will suprise us all.

Relax, fellow supporters - our hard work is paying off. The Clintons continue to move the goalposts, adjust their expectations and create excuse after excuse after excuse. It is over for Clinton and the Clinton style of trash politics. That's supposed to be a GOP thing anyway.

I have spent hours calling strangers in different states trying to support Obama. I have donated money that I could not afford to donate to help get this man in the White House. And millions of my fellow average Americans have done the same.

It's time to start taking back our country, our government and our democracy from the machine that is trying to ruin it all. Tomorrow will be a great day for the average American. Trust me, for this I have no doubt.

Wow

joe ruwe — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:08:22 EST

Today's win in Wisconsin solidified Obama's claim to the "Peoples Choice" for President. He has won among white men, black men, educated, less educated, rich, poor, middle, class, college students, you name it! And women of all races are flocking to the movement. It's incredible and it is a sure sign that the politics we have witnessed for the last several decades is dramatically changing.

Never before have so many people been so fired up so early in a Presidential contest. We still have a long while to go and this thing is just getting started. Doubters, skeptics and Clinton supporters are all realizing what's at stake and how incredible this man is.

I fear the negative & nasty attack-dog politics will continue for a bit, but in 2008 - the people are no longer fooled. Spin isn't working anymore. Americans want the truth and will support those very few politicians who will give that to them.

I feel a twinge of pity at anyone who stands in this mans (and our) way.

A Big Surprise!

joe ruwe — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:01:34 EST

Believe it or not, making calls in support of Senator Obama is very cool. Maybe even fun. I wasn't very into the idea at first. But after literally hundreds of calls in CA, VA and WI, I have to say - it is very cool to reach out across the country and get the word from my fellow Americans.

I talked to an older-sounding lady in Milwaukee today who told me "oh yeah, we need change. BIG CHANGE. And don't you worry about nothin. We got our boy's back and and we'll do our part to see him into the White House. Don't you worry bout nothin, son." I love it.

I talked to a man somewhere in WI who insisted he was voting for Hillary Clinton and that was his right. When I didn't push him to change his mind, he seemed surprised and impressed - and even slightly doubtful about his potential vote for Clinton.

It is a great way to talk to the country and spread the word. This is grassroots pure and simple. And so far, not one single person has been rude or unpleasant. Most seemed happy to hear from me. And most have heard about or caught Obama fever.

I reccommend everyone make a few calls. You won't regret it.

You will probably be quite surprised.

Obama - The World's Best Hope

joe ruwe — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:21:12 EST

This is no longer a race for the White House. This isn't just about a presidential campaign.

This has become a revolution for change from the bottom up. This is the common citizen finally standing up to the political machine in Washington D.C. that has become so corrupt and damaged over the years.

This has become a campaign of hope, not only here in the U.S., but worldwide. All around the globe, people are noticing Obama and praying and hoping that Americans will do the right thing and counter the last eight disastrous years with some years of hope and peace and truth.

From what I have seen, the world has grown tired of the U.S. war and guns mentality. People are nervous that the #1 superpower in the world has behaved so dishonestly and fearfully. People everywhere are sick and tired of war. "War on Terror", "war on drugs", "war on poverty" etc. etc.

Obama is bringing hope to the global citizenry. We can still be the #1 superpower. We can still have the top military in the world. But we need to use our power and prestige (what's left of it) to help save the planet from global warming, figure out a replacement for oil, eradicate starving and poverty, find a solution to the population and water problem that will soon be facing us and strive for global peace.

People everywhere are closely watching Obama's incredible rise to the top. This is our chance to redeem ourselves and tell the world we are ready to start behaving again.

Imagine

joe ruwe — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:07:46 EST

What if Barack Obama became our next President? Imagine if someone really could hold the highest office without being bought by corporations?!? What if we really did bring an end to this horrible catastrophe we call the Iraq War? What if we really did see a reduction in lobbies, corruption and evil-doing in American politics? What if issues like education, health care, civil liberties, and the national debt really were addressed? Imagine if the peoples' candidate really did win, with the donations of the broke little guy! What if a positive, hopeful message really did defeat the Washington establishment?

Ahhhhh. It sure is nice to think about.

Think About It

joe ruwe — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:59:20 EST

Okay, Clinton supporters have to stop just for a moment and think about what is going on. Please read the headlines. Check out the commentary and opinions in our respected magazines and network news shows. Talk to your fellow Americans. A clear picture is starting to emerge.

First, we all want change, don't we? We are all tired with the disaster of the past seven years of Bush. We want to shake things up a little and forge a new direction in Washington, don't we?

The republican party is as split as ever. They have been at the healm of our government in some of the worst years of our democracy. They have been the root of numerous errors, misjudgments and terrible ideas. Right now, they are as weak as ever.

Nothing would unite them faster than a Clinton/McCain matchup. Nothing would rally the base and enthuse them more than the prospect of waging war with the Clintons again. It is one of the few things that would save their party this election year. We can't have that.

Many many people are saying that Republicans fear an Obama/McCain matchup. Hardcore republicans hate McCain and would vote for Obama but probably not Clinton. Independents like McCain, but probably would vote for Obama, and would probably not support Clinton. Many democrats, desperate to see a change in Washington, could not support Clinton for this reason alone: another 4 years of Clinton would mean 2-family rule over this country for 24 years. That is unnacceptable for many in a democracy. That is the frightening beginnings of monarchy.

Democrats would have a difficult time supporting Clinton or McCain for these reasons, and I think that Obama could be the fallback man for many, including Republicans.

So the Clinton supporters need to think about the best way to defeat the Republicans, defeat the corrupt machine in Washington and dramatically change things in this country. Obama has more money, more grassroots support and more energy on his side. He also clearly has the best chance in a general election.

We cannot become divided as Democrats. This is the best chance we might ever have to change things in Washington and put the Republicans in their place - cowering in the corner. Continued support of the Clintons and 24year 2-family rule will only divide this country further.

We need to rally behind our truly great hope. Clinton supporters should accept the reality of current trends and read the political winds that are blowing. This is our chance to unite and bring down the Republican house. Throw your support and money into the Obama campaign so we might join forces and take our government back in November.

Entering the summer conventions divided and still bitterly competing would be very dangerous for Democrats and democracy.

At this stage, we need to concentrate on beating McCain and the republicans.

Don't Let Up

joe ruwe — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:10:56 EST

Record money. Record crowds. Record involvement and voter turnout. Record enthusiasm and hope. We are on a roll. The headlines are confirming what we already know: the Obama campaign is a peoples movement to reclaim our government. It is a nationwide uprising to restore truth and integrity to the White House. It is a public expression of hope and faith in a new direction for America. And we're only just getting started. Don't let up.

We cannot let this slow us down. The Clintons have a lot of money and a lot of important friends. They know all the political tricks in the book. They are well connected and hungry for a return to power. But so are the people of this nation.

Every dollar will matter. Every phone call and email will make the difference. We must continue to send the message to Washington that a new day is ahead. We don't want to see 24 years of American rule by two families. We want to see President Obama setting things straight again.

Crucial primaries are ahead. Call your friends and relatives in Texas, Maine, Washington, Pennsylvania and the upcoming crucial states and encourage them to get involved. Don't let up.

Give ten dollars. Give a twenty. Own a piece of this historic groundswell.

Don't let up.

Follow the Money

joe ruwe — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:24:34 EST

It is clear to me that the people of this country are now uniting and sending a strong message to Washington, D.C. The incredible fundraising by the Obama campaign is a testament to the peoples' desire to see him get to the White House and to see true change in American leadership.
The little guy out there is chipping in $20. The working parents are donating $50 that they probably can't afford. The college kids are sending money. Grandmothers are writing checks. All across the nation, people are demanding change. And they are donating to the cause.
Obama raised 7 million dollars yesterday. Think about that for a minute. 90% of his donations were $100 or less. So far, he has more than 650,000 donors.
If corporations can spend millions upon millions to exert their influence on American politics, then so can we.
Once people check out the website and catch the fever, even people like me with no extra money to spare, will find a way to chip in $25 or $50.
This really is a revolution. The people are taking their government back and if they need to pay to see it happen, even if the economy is in the toilet, then we will.
The tidal wave is only growing.
It will surge right on into the White House.
Be part of this movement. Instead of your next sixer, donate ten bucks. Instead of that dinner out, chip in 25 bucks.
It is a truly worthy cause.

There's Still Work Left..

joe ruwe — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:56:02 EST

Obama is still riding the wave even after Super Tuesday. Sure, I was a little dissapointed with my state, California for not giving him a clear and resounding victory - but that was alot to ask. His performance in the South and the middle of the country and heading out west was amazing and inspiring. It is clear that most Americans are willing to sacrifice Washington experience for a new hope, a new direction, and a new attitude. Thank goodness.

But there is still work left to do. More primaries are ahead and just because our state has voted - we cannot let up on the tidal wave of momentum that has gotten us this far. Keep up the intensity, keep up the positive groundswell, keep up the good hard work. I have a feeling that after everything is counted today and tonight - we will be in incredibly good shape!!

It has been amazing to see this in action over the past year - our country is definitely changing for the better and we owe alot of it to Obama & Co. My feeling of utter despair and foreboding that I had after the 2000 and 2004 elections has dissapated and I am ready for the peoples revolution in the 08 election.

Keep it up!! Now's a great time to donate, especially if you haven't already. The campaign will need an influx after the blitz yesterday. Let's ride the momentum....

Keep it up! Keep up the intensity! We're not out of the woods yet.

Hope and inspiration. Keep up the great work Obama!

Cali......

joe ruwe — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:26:27 EST

Say a prayer for Obama votes in California.....

WE CAN DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get It Out!!!

joe ruwe — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:01:33 EST

Oh yes - call your friends!! Call your relatives! Call a stranger!! Everyone will be voting!!! It's the new COOL!!! Record turnout!!! This is going to be historic!!! Send a message to the machine in Washington!!! Obama is the man!! Here we come!

Yes we can...

joe ruwe — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:44:19 EST

I can feel it in the air. I see the cheering crouds. I hear the inspired speeches. Everyone is talking about it. Obama is riding a tidal wave right now from coast to coast. People can feel it everywhere - this could be the best chance we may get for some time to set our country stright again. The people are standing up again in this country and getting involved. People are sending a strong message. We all want our country back. Obama will help us take it back.

Get out the vote

The Big Day

joe ruwe — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:43:52 EST

There's only one day left to get out the vote. Call your friends, call your families, call your co-workers. Send out mass emails, leave messages, IM anyone you know to join in the effort to bring change to our country. The more people who go to the polls tommorrow, the more we will change the direction of our country.

I can see some of those people now: they aren't that interested, they don't know who to vote for, politics have gotten so weird that they thought they would just sit this one out. Then they got a call or an email from a friend and decided to go down to the voting station. While filling out the ballot, they thought "what the hell, I've been hearing so much about this Obama guy, and I'm so turned off by politics as usual - I'll just give him a chance."

As easy as that, I see that kind of simple proccess occurring over and over again all throughout the country as people throw in the towel of politics as usual and open the door for a dramatic change in American direction.

No more Bush. No more Clinton. No more Cheney. No more Rove. No more McCain. No more!! This is the year the political machine in Washington will be forced by the masses to change its flawed ways. We can indeed get back on track - if the masses start getting involved. The young people, the students, the minorities, the poor, the people who feel ignored by government, the people who feel disenfranchised with the twisted democratic processes, lobbied lawmaking and money politics - these people will change the course of history with one powerful vote.

But there is only one day left.

Do all that you can and more. Tommorrow is a crucial day for us.

I can feel it in the air - Obama's going to do it!

Get Out the Vote!

joe ruwe — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:36:20 EST

There's only two days left until almost half the country votes in the primary election. This is absolutely crucial since we could be sending either Obama or Clinton to face the Rove/Republican attack machine in the general election.

First, many Republicans have an intense dislike for John McCain. Those on the far right like Limbaugh and Coulter have publicly declared that they would not vote for him. Many are making a last push for Romney even though that campaign is sputtering out. McCain is on weak ground because of this, his age, his strong military attitudes, and his loyalty to Bush.

However, the one figure that Republicans dislike with much greater intensity is Hillary Clinton. Many fear that the completely broken, disgraced Republican party would unite in a spectacular fashion to defeat the Clintons. This would be disastrous and would continue to divide our country. Even though I would vote for the Democrat regardless of who it is, I fearfully believe that McCain would easily defeat Clinton in the general election in November.

On the other hand, it has been widely reported that many Republicans would consider Obama as President. He is well-respected thus far in Washington and does not have the hostile enemy base that the Clintons do. And since the Republicans have done such a pitiful and disgraceful job of managing our country in these past seven years, a candidate like Obama could get many Republican and independant votes.

Of course although the Rove-style dirty trick machine will be in full force regardless, Obama now stands a much better chance against McCain in the November election. Momentum is on our side!!

Here's what we need to do: GET OUT THE VOTE!

Call ten people. Call a few friends who may not be thinking of voting and reiterate how important and historic this election is. Call some distant relatives and let them know that you are personally involved in our democracy and ask them to be a part of it. Call your slacker friends that hate politics and have never voted and ask them to reconsider just this one time. Go to MoveOn.org and get a few phone numbers from them and call a few strangers in key battleground states to encourage voter turnout. Write a blog. Hang up a sign. Send a text message. Every additional vote cast will help us and help American democracy. Imagine if every Obama supporter made ten phone calls, or twenty - imagine!

A huge voter turnout, especially among the young voting block (18-25) will put Obama in the White House. This has all the makings of a historic election, with record turnout and unprecedented dissatisfaction with our current political scene.

Get out the vote on Tuesday and for the rest of this great campaign. Bring a few friends to the polls. Host a party afterward with the voter sticker as the entrance fee. Hire a band, have a raffle - do whatever you can to get some more people interested.

We are on the cusp of great change in this country and a revitilization of democracy in America. Only two days left!

Obama's On A Roll

joe ruwe — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:13:22 EST

Barack Obama is on a roll. He's raising record funds from record numbers of people. He's getting historic and profound endorsements like the Kennedys, MoveOn.org, Dorothy Bader and others. His poll numbers, if we trust them at all, are rising and he is cutting deeply into the Clintons supposed lead. He is poised to take control of the race on Super Tuesday.

However, there are still a lot of people out there that might vote for Hillary. There remain many people that are worried about his lack of "experience" and his lack of concrete, detailed policy plans.

We have to assure these people that this campaign is very simple. Do we want change in the White House? Do we want a new direction for America? Do we want to shake up politics as we know it in this country? Do we want positive, hopeful energy in our highest office? Do we demand a break from the past?

Or do we want to give the Clintons yet another chance to fix things? Do we want to step back into the past to try old remedies and worn-out ideas? Do we want another politician who is a clear Washington insider, deeply connected to major oil, defense, pharmaseutical industry? Do we want another politician who once in office, will owe many big donors many key favors? Do we want a continuation of a two-family dynasty that has clearly left our country in disrepair over the past 20 years?

This is an election about hope and change. It matters little that Clinton knows the ins and outs of Washington D.C. It matters little that she could become the first female President in our country's history.

It matter ALOT that we vote for change this year. It matters alot that we take a step into a bright future in this country. It matters alot that we do not step back into a murky and questionable past.

And besides, won't the crazy republicans, blind with rage and fury against the Clintons, unite in a dark and sleazy campaign to ruin her Presidency, her campaign and her reputation? Most pundits and pollsters are saying that only Obama has a good chance against McCain and the Republicans.

Let's make sure we get Barack into the White House. He is the only candidate that will truly bring change and hope to our capitol.

Anything less won't be enough to start saving our country from the damage that has been caused in recent years.

Go Obama!!!!

Here's Our Chance

joe ruwe — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:16:50 EST

Okay, rumor has it that John Edwards is pulling out of the race. He has run a positive and fiesty campaign and it might be safe to assume that Obama supporters like alot of what Edwards stands for. His support of the Obama campaign could be a huge boost and another dramatic setback for the Clintons. Who knows if it will work, but let's send word to the Edwards campaign encouraging him to support Barack publicly before Feb. 5 Super Tuesday.

Write to him, email his website, call his office. Let's get his support and swing some more votes our way. His stance on many things including the wars, health care and corporate power seem to compliment the Obama campaign. Maybe we could even see an Obama/edwards ticket.

At any rate, he needs to hear from us that his support would really help the overall cause of bringing hope and real change to the White House. Isn't that what we all want and need anyway?

Here's our chance.

Stay Above the Fray

joe ruwe — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:53:44 EST

Dear Senator Obama,

You have so far done an excellent job in staying above the lowdown, dirty tricks of the increasingly ruthless Clinton attack machine. I hope you will continue to do so.

Undoubtedly, the attacks will grow ever uglier and more personal as the days go on and as your campaign grows stronger. We support you and your positive campaign and urge you to maintain the high ground that you currently operate in.

It is becoming clear that the more negative and nasty the Clinton campaign grows in its desperation, the better a candidate you become. Your campaign is positive and hopeful and as time goes on, more people will realize that you are the only serious contender to change politics in Washington as we know it.

Your comments on Bush's SOTU address were right on and captured the fatigue that many of us feel after hearing the same warped stories for the past seven years.

Get ready for the attacks. Get ready for the true mudslinging. Watch out for the "swift boat" style assaults. You don't have to answer for every absurd allegation that comes at you. We're behind you all the way. 2008 will prove to be the year that a positive hopeful campaign can be effective.

Keep up the good work.

Joe Ruwe