Kimberly Russell's Blog

Crowd of 1 million could attend Obama inauguration

Obamakim — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:28:05 EST

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_el_pr/inauguration_turnout

Crowd of 1 million could attend Obama inaugurationBy BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press Writer Brett Zongker, Associated Press Writer – 3 mins ago

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration is expected to draw 1 million-plus to the capital, and already some lawmakers have stopped taking ticket requests and hotels have booked up.

Some people are bartering on Craigslist for places to stay for the Jan. 20 ceremony when the Illinois senator takes the oath of office. They are offering cash or even help with dishes for residents willing to open up their homes.

The National Park Service, which is planning for an inaugural crowd of at least 1 million, will clear more viewing space along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route. Jumbo TV screens will line the National Mall so people can watch the inauguration and parade, park service spokesman David Barna said Thursday.

The District of Columbia's delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, is urging planners to use arenas and stadiums to help with overflow crowds wanting to view the ceremonies on big-screen TVs. She is also urging churches to hold viewing parties.

"You can't judge by past inaugurations. It's going to break all the records," Norton said. "They're going to come with or without tickets. ... It's each man and woman for himself."

The city's police chief, Cathy Lanier, said organizers brought in an additional 3,000 officers from forces around the country to help with the last inauguration. This time, the request probably will be for about 4,000 officers.

Because of a lawsuit, people should have more standing room along the crowded parade route. War protesters sued after President George W. Bush's last inauguration, forcing the government to open up more free public viewing space between the Capitol and White House.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled in March that the park service violated its own rules by giving preferential treatment in ticketing for bleacher seats along the parade route for supporters of the government over its critics. Friedman wrote the inauguration "is not a private event."

New rules to be issued Monday will lower the number of ticketed bleacher seats along the parade route from 20,000 seats to 8,700, leaving much more of the route open to people without tickets, Barna said.

Seat tickets had sold for between $15 and $150 in 2005 to help pay for the inaugural parade. Details for the 2009 parade tickets have not been set because Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee, which organizes the parade, is being formed.

There will also be designated "free speech" areas for protesters along the parade route, Barna said.

The inauguration has been designated a National Special Security Event, giving the U.S. Secret Service the lead in coordinating all law enforcement agencies to secure the event. There are 58 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together.

The largest crowd ever recorded on the National Mall was for President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 inauguration. At the time, the park service estimated 1.2 million people descended on the area. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan's inauguration drew about 500,000 people, and President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration drew about 800,000 people, according to park service estimates.

Of course, the crowds can always thin out. Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in ceremony had to be moved indoors, and the parade was canceled when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees (with a wind chill at 10 degrees to 20 degrees below zero.) John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961 came with a blanket of snow; still, 1 million people turned out.

Congressional offices are reporting tens of thousands of requests for the 240,000 free tickets for the inauguration ceremony. As of Thursday, the office of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., had received 26,000 requests. Webb sent a letter Thursday to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who heads the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee, requesting that Virginia's proximity to Washington be considered in its allotment.

EBay Inc., the parent company of listing and sales sites eBay, StubHub and Kijiji, said it will not allow tickets to the inauguration to be sold on its Web sites. The company made the decision after meeting with committee representatives, eBay spokeswoman Nichola Sharpe told The Associated Press.

The inauguration will come at the end of a four-day holiday for federal workers, following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 19. Many area schools and some universities have canceled classes or are considering it.

___

Associated Press writers Kamala Lane in Washington, Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh and Steve Szkotak in Richmond, Va., and news researcher Judith Ausuebel contributed to this report.

Richards Post

Obamakim — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:38:03 EST

Today, November 4th, 2008, we are the government. For these hours while the election polls are open WE are in charge of the direction of our great Country.

In this moment, and only in this voting moment, WE become the law, WE become the supreme authority in our Country. WE become supreme over every office, Court, Legislature and Exeuctive.

Today, November 4, 2008, WE, the electorate, become the principal institution of these 50 States United.

This right to vote is the magnificent gift our ancestors gave us -- too often at the price of their blood, sweat and tears. PLEASE do not let their sacrifice be in vain.

VOTE!

Learn How Your Vote Is Counted in Ohio

Obamakim — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:11:03 EDT

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/10/28/story_counted_votes.html?sid=102

Learn How Your Vote Is CountedTuesday, October 28, 2008 11:49 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nearly 1.5 million Ohioans have requested absentee ballots ahead of November's election, and millions more are expected to hit the polls on Election Day.

To deal with the large number of absentee ballots, elections workers are doing everything they can prior to Election Night, except count the votes, 10TV's Cara Connelly reported.

"The ballots or electronic results are all kept under double lock," said Matt Damschroder with the Franklin County Board of Elections. "A Republican key and a Democrat key."

No ballots can be counted until 7:30 p.m. on Election Night, but elections workers are preparing in other ways.

"Before Election Day the Board of Elections then opens all of those envelopes, separates the ballot from the identification envelope, and then begins scanning them through our high-speed absentee tabulator," Damschroder said.

Absentee ballots will be ready to total right at 7:30 p.m., busting the common myth that they are counted last, Connelly reported.

"They are actually the first results that we report on Election Night," Damschroder said.

Thanks to the large number of early voters this year, elections workers anticipate that they will have more results earlier on Election Night, Connelly reported.

After the absentee ballots are counted, votes cast on Election Day get their turn. Electronic votes and paper ballots are delivered by hand to the election warehouse shortly after polls close. With more than 500 cars arriving, the deliveries create a massive traffic jam.

"They come with the presiding judge or voting location manager who's from one political party Damschroder said. "They also then have a ride along with someone from the opposite political party."

After the votes are delivered, the counting begins.

"Electronic results are then uploaded to a central tabulating system," Damschroder said. "That central tabulating system is not on the Internet. It's not connected to any network. It's a stand alone system that's just for our tabulation."

After being delivered to the warehouse, paper ballots are collected again and taken to Memorial Hall where they will be counted.

"We'll have absentee up between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.," Damschroder said. "We will probably have our first Election Day electronic results between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m."

Elections officials said their goal is to have Franklin County votes 100 percent counted by 11 p.m., Connelly reported.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing Campaign 2008 coverage.

Military for Obama

Obamakim — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:25:57 EDT

Here's a video of many former Generals & Admirals stating their reasons for supporting Barack Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdN8XpL36Pk

Here's an article by Frank Schaeffer who is the son of the "father of evangelicalism". life long Republican, father of a son in the military, and Obama supporter.
http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,163515,00.html

Young Military Families Closing Ranks Around Obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/younger-military-families_b_133183.html

Just because John McCain is a veteran doesn't mean he has actually supported the military while in the Senate. Here is a long list of John McCain's non support for troops and veterans.
http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1973

Early Vote In Ohio!!!

Obamakim — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:37:14 EDT

Ok, it's been said many times many ways but, here's my 2 cents worth!

I encourage everyone I meet to early vote. Every person I work with. Anyone with an Obama button on. Have you voted yet? No? When are you going to vote?

Every person that votes early not only is one in the bank for us but also less crowd on election day for everyone else that chooses not to. Long lines with hours of waiting often result in people with jobs and children to have to leave and not vote. Long lines are disproportionately in Democratic leaning neighborhoods, poorer neighborhoods where a day's pay can't be missed and childcare hard to come by. It is our votes that are lost when lines are long.

Don't be part of the traffic jam at the polls on election day. Your early vote may ensure that someone else's vote for Obama will be cast on election day. I know many of you want to experience casting your vote on THE day but, it's the days after that are more important. We need every vote to win.

Even if you don't canvass or make phone calls you can talk to and encourage the people around you to early vote. I've gotten nearly everyone I work with to vote early. Person to person works even better when you know the person you're talking to. You can make the difference.

GOTV! Early vote! Run through the tape!

time till an obama innauguration

Obamakim — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:46:31 EDT

ACORN Smear Response

Obamakim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:36:08 EDT

Discredited Republican voter-suppression guru Ken Blackwell is attacking Barack Obama with naked lies about his supposed connection to ACORN.

• Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
• Fact: Barack was never an ACORN trainer and never worked for ACORN in any other capacity.
• Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.

Continued at fightthesmears.com

http://fightthesmears.com/articles/20/acornrumor
When I get any smear e-mail I go to fightthe smears.com, copy the link and send the true info back out immediately. I hit REPLY ALL instead of just REPLY so everyone that received the smear e-mail gets the info, not just the person that sent it to me.

Since this is the smear du jour I'll keep posting this!

GOP...not so much

Obamakim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:22:11 EDT

Scott from Austrailia posted earlier this morning that his wife thought, well...that Americaans must not be very smart to vote for McCain. It's what I heard several years ago all over Europe about Americans voting for George Bush & what I heard recently in Canada about people voting for McCain.
Here's my thoughts on how a portion of our electorate has become brainwashed and how the Grand Old Party has become...not so much.

With all due respect to our wonderful Obamacans the GOP has depended (lately) on a variety of things to stay in office.
1)Hot button issues like right to chose & gay rights were brought to the fore to keep people from paying attention to other issues. This has lead to so many voting against their better interests.
2)People with alot of money vote for more money for themselves not for a healthier economy over all. It's a myopic view that as we've seen lately just doesn't work
3)Scare tactics. Campaigns always use this to a certain extent but, the GOP has used it of late almost as a platform. Another ploy to keep people from voting for their best interests.

In the past I have disagreed with the premise that small government is the only good government and that state rights should supercede what should be national issues. I was always ok disagreeing on this, it's a position that is just different than mine.

The Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln or Eisenhower. The party is now controlled primarily by the religious right and corporate greed. At one time I could respectfully disagree, after all there would be no "left" politically without a "right", it's what balances our political system. I never used to vote straight ticket but do now as I feel that our democracy will collapse if the GOP doesn't mend their ways.
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth." But only if WE take back our government and put Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the White House.

I'm so psyched y'all

Obamakim — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:38:22 EDT

I went and early voted yesterday & got a couple of my coworkers to go with me. Gin was voting for the first time. Ralph hadn't voted in DECADES!

Today I got the Early vote/Registr location for another co-worker who lives in a neighboring county. Derek is ANOTHER first time voter, he said he was going after work!

I convinced another co-worker, Brandy to take her cousin Tina with her to early vote (and register!). They're going on Saturday. Tina said she probably wouldn't be doing it without my "encouragement".

Our union (UFCW) has been awesome at registering voters. Union members have been coming into ALL of the Kroger stores and getting people registered and signed up to receive mail in ballots. I know of 3 others at my store alone that are voting for the first time due to our great union involvement.

I talk to anyone who'll listen about early voting. I tell them how easy it is. How UN-CROWDED & QUICK it was to vote this way. Even if they have a mail in ballot or plan to vote on election, day sharing the information will increase our turn out.

If we increase turnout by only 9 people per precinct here in Ohio. We WILL win Ohio.

So everyone with early voting TALK IT UP!!!

Oh, also cool. On the way home from work today I passed by 13 Obama signs (compared to 2 McCain) on just one road!

I'm PSYCHED!

Abortion Question

Obamakim — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:35:10 EDT

Hey Michael,
My belief is that we need to work on the root of the problem instead of just making abortion illegal. Overturning Roe v. Wade will never curtail the number of (mostly) scared poor uneducated young women from making the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy, it will only send them to the inevitable back alley doctors that will spring up. What sends women to an abortion clinic is in large part economic. The Bush administration and John McCain have led this country to a point that the economy is the worst since the great depression. More people have fallen into poverty than at anytime in our lifetime or most of our parent's life times. The number of persons that go without healthcare and have lost their jobs has skyrocketed. Less people have the ability to gain a college education and we've fallen so behind in the world that big companies are hiring non Americans to fill positions. If more women had a better education, a better job, a better income there would be less pregnant teens & less abortions. If the country continues to become poorer there will be more abortions whether it's legal or not.

As for the truly vile 527 ads suggesting that Obama lets infants die or suffer they are such a lie that the Republican sponsors of the bill said it was untrue and that no one who opposed the bill voted against a child in those circumstances right to care.
Medical care for a child born alive is assured through federal law and the authors of the bill knew that. The bill in question did not add anything to it and contained language designed to undermine Roe vs. Wade. As for healthcare in general, in Illinois Barack Obama sponsored and passed legislation that expanded health care coverage to 70,000 kids and 84,000 adults. In the U.S. Senate, Obama cosponsored the Healthy Kids Act and the SCHIP Reauthorization Act to make sure that more children have affordable health care coverage. In the Children’s Defense Fund Action Council (a non partisan organization) rankings, John McCain ranked dead last of all senators with only a 10 percent rating on issues that affect children (including health care issues). So John McCain is by far the least supportive of children when you look at their records.

And what about the economy? John McCain himself has said he has never understood economics as well as he should and as recently as Monday he was still saying the economy was fundamentally strong. His economic plan is more of the same that we've seen with the Bush administration. McCain’s plan offers two massive tax cuts for corporations, slashing tax rates from 35 percent to 25 percent, with 58 percent of it going to the top 1 percent of taxpayers. This is an even larger tax cut for the wealthiest taxpayers than Bush gave them. Will some lower & middle income tax payers get any relief from McCain? Yes, but less so than with Obama AND McCain wants to tax our employer provided health insurance. One of the many other things that McCain is in lock step with Bush on is deregulation. The collapse of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Lehman Brothers is all tied to the deregulation of the industry. The 700 BILLION dollar bailout of FM & FM will be funded by us, the tax payers. John McCain's main economic advisor (until he called us a bunch of whiners) was Phil Gramm, whose efforts towards deregulating the commercial finance system could be the main factor in the mortgage crisis. Oh, and when Enron fell, that had Phil Gramm's deregulation hands on it too. Thank God they never managed to privatize Social Security (even though they still want to).Our country is near collapse and electing John McCain would be like putting the wolf in the henhouse.

As for Jeremiah Wright, do I think he's perfect, no. But, no one is. However, I did watch many of his sermons and they were all extremely spiritual and uplifting. I did so after the media seemed to be on a witch hunt regarding the 2 phrases that were repeated over and over on the news. The thing I discovered was that the clips originated with Fox news and had been edited to make Rev Wright appear to be damning America. The quote you mentioned was from a larger piece in which he was discussing GOVERNMENTS (not the American people, not our country). He was saying that when governments act as if they are God they are indeed blasphemous and will be damned for it by failing. Examples such as the Roman empire were given and he said that if America's were to do so she would be damned and fail too. I may not agree with the way he said it but, taken in context I agree with him.
On the other hand Rev Hagee blamed the people of New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina saying God was punishing them (In other words damning them) and also called the Catholic Church 'The Great Whore'. Rev. Parsley has said that America was created in part to destroy Islam. Rev Fallwell (and later Rev Robertson) stated after 9/11 could be blamed in part because of those trying to "secularize" America. These people say these hateful things with regularity and they're never called on it. Rev Wright says two things taken out of context (the other about chickens coming home to roost in reaction to 9/11 was actually quoting someone else & he went on to say we can't act in that manner) out of 30 years of preaching and being recorded & it's an important issue. John McCain sought the endorsement of all of these preachers He once even called Rev. Fallwell & Rev Robertson, "agents of intolerance" but, now seems to find them tolerable enough if they get him elected. Personally I wouldn't want any of them or Gov Palin's pastor to be my spiritual advisor but, everyone has a right to their own faith. The founding fathers were so wise when the wrote in the separation of Church and state, it should be what protects us all from the intrusion of others into our faith and our religion. I don't think elections should involve anyone's wife or preacher or kids, I just want to know where they stand on the issues, what they plan on doing & what kind of work ethic & temperament they have.

I realize that nothing I say will change your mind, certainly nothing you say will change mine. We are very lucky, at least for now, to be in a democratic country where we are allowed to have differing opinions.

Have a beautiful day Mikey
Kim

Strength and wisdom are not opposing values. -Bill Clinton

What's truly audacious is to believe that something different is possible, to hope, to aspire to change. -Barack Obama

Kim,I'm not so sure it can be considered a rumor yet. We will only know after the Oct 2-5th dates pass. How can you be for a guy who would not allow medical help for a child born alive through a botched abortion? He voted against a bill twice that would give those babies medical protection and help. I met a woman like this while I was at EWTN. She lived through her mother's botched abortion. She needed 30 some operations just to get near being normal. Thank God her mother gave her the medical help she needed! As for Barack, I like him personally, but as a Catholic my hands are tied! I can't vote for him even if I wanted to (which I don't) 4000+ babies a day! How can we ask God to bless America when we "legally" kill 4000+ babies a day through abortion? Some 40 million since Roe v Wade! Barack is the most pro-abortion candidate we have ever had at the top of a ticket.and as for quotes at the bottom of the email try this one out... "Not God Bless America, no! no! no!, God Damn America!" Rev. Jeremiah Wright - Barack Obama's pastor of 20 plus years!

Why Women Should Vote

Obamakim — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:30:14 EDT

WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-
grandmothers, as they lived only 90 years ago.
Remember, it was not until 1920 that women
were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they
were jailed nonetheless for picketting the White
House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by
the end of the night, they were barely alive.
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's
blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women
wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burn, chained her hands to the cell
bars above her head and left her hanging for the
night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled
Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head
against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her
cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and
suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits
describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating,
choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking
the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov.
15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan
Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach
a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House
for the right to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an
open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was
infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice
Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her
to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and
poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was
tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled
out to the press.

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this
year because--why, exactly? We have carpool duties?
We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter?
It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening
of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a
graphic depiction of the battle these women waged
so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth
and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the
reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my
passion. But the actual act of voting had become
less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting
often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.
Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied
women's history, saw the HBO movie, too.
When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she
looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought
kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,'
she said. 'What would those women think of the
way I use--or don't use--my right to vote? All of
us take it for granted now, not just younger women,
but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right
to vote, she said, had become valuable to her
'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish
all history, social studies and government teachers
would include the movie in their curriculum I want
it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else
women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of
socializing,but we are not voting in the numbers that
we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in
order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies
try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul
insane so that she could be permanently institutional-
ized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse.
Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave.
That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women
is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the
women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that
was fought so hard for by these very courageous
women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or
independent party - Remember to vote.

History is being made.

speculators are behind rising oil costs

Obamakim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:57:10 EDT

Speculators are behind rising oil costs

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008013898_oiltrade24.html

John McCain Wants to Drill in Your Toilet

Obamakim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:03:41 EDT

John McCain Wants to Drill in Your Toilet
http://www.truthout.org/article/john-mccain-wants-drill-your-toilet

Ok, not really but, it makes as much sense as all of the offshore drilling he's calling for. My favorite analagy is that it will be as affective "as looking for loose change in your couch when you're 6 months behind in the mortgage."

FISA Bill

Obamakim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:45:17 EDT

Jonathan Alter w/Keith Olbermann discussing FISA bill. Point is made that although Obama is against telecom immunity the larger idea of the bill was more important. Also Jonathan Alter points out that until we pass this bill we are opperating outside of the Constitution as we've been without a FISA court since last August.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5buTpjp3lqk

Team of Rivals

Obamakim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:41:27 EDT

Anyone else read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about Abraham Lincoln & his cabinet 'Team of Rivals'?

It's one of my favorite books & also Barack Obama's. When asked what 2 books he'd take with him to the White House he said the bible & this one. I bring this up because many of us are upset about the FISA bill (myself included) but, in Lincoln's time a large portion of his party was upset with him for focusing on keeping the union intact rather than slavery as a reason for the war. At times he didn't even seem to support anti slavery. Why? Because in order to reach the goals of both a country that did not support slavery & a country that did not split in two he had to bide his time. He was smart enough to wait for the right moment so that he could succeed. The point isn't to win the fight it's to win the war.
The fact that this particular FISA bill is shoddily written could be to our benefit. If we can criminally charge the telecom companies after Bush is out of office that will be better than the Dems voting this down bringing up another bill that passes but Bush vetoes etc etc & it drags on into the election.
The fact that Obama is a firm believer in the words of the Constitution & a student of the governing of President Lincoln lead me to trust him on this.
I myself TRY to look at the big picture & TRY to have patience but, I sometimes end up figuratively holding my breath & kicking & screaming when I think I'm right. The results are never good. Stubborness is useful sometimes but, not as the only tool in your case.

Just my thoughts.
Kim

Wittmacck-Ekborn Syndrome

Obamakim — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:48:31 EDT

Wittmacck-Ekborn Syndrome

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/restless_legs_syndrome.jsp

The Russert Rainbow

Obamakim — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:17:32 EDT

The Russert Rainbow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/2591737594/

Bailey "Obama Organizing Fellow"MONEY BOMB!!!!

Obamakim — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:43:00 EDT

MONEY BOMB FOR BAILEY!!!!

Bailey was on the blog yesterday talking about being an Obama Organizing Fellow. She was trying to get some movement on her FR page.

Lets show her some Obama love for all of her hard work.

BAILEY "Obama Organizing Fellow" MONEY BOMB!!!! http://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/public/gGvTW4

Good evening!

Obamakim — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:43:48 EDT

MY GOAL IS TO GET ONE DONATION PER DAY.

YOU CAN BE THAT ONE SPECIAL PERSON TODAY!

No amount is too small & I'll be oh so thankful & have a big goofy smile on my face!

MY FR PAGE

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Obamakim

Thanks!, Kim

LACE KING MONEY BOMB!!!!

Obamakim — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:33:31 EDT

I mentioned this up blog a way's but I thought it would be great if we could surprise Lace when she returns from moving into a new house with a LOADED FR page!

LACE KING'S FR PAGE!!!!!!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/LaceKing

Let's show her how much we appreciate & miss her!

Here's from Lace's Blog:
"I'm moving to Wisconsin Saturday morning and will not be back online until at least next Tuesday. I may be offline until the following Tuesday; I'm not entirely sure yet."

Good morning!

Obamakim — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:43:41 EDT

WHEN SPIDER WEBS UNITE THEY CAN TIE UP A LION--African Proverb

ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH--Helen Keller

Please consider putting a little sugar into my Obama bowl!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Obamakim

Thanks, Kim

Defending KO

Obamakim — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:49:35 EDT

I heard Keith Olbermann is getting some flak for his Special Commentary about Senator Clinton's RFK comment. I fired off this e-mail to his NBC boss to show my support. We have so few people in the media we can depend on to tell the truth. We need to support the ones we're got!

Mr. Griffin,

Although I am a supporter of Senator Obama, I was a supporter of both President & Senator Clinton for years ,(Hence the Bill Clinton Quote signature on this e-mail that I can't decide whether or not to get rid of). At the beginning of this campaign I thought I would have been happy to vote for any of the democratic candidates should Senator Obama lose the primary. That is no longer the case. I'm so upset and saddened by the way Senator Clinton has run her campaign. The things that have come out of both Hillary & Bill Clinton's mouth's remind me of the Rovian tactics of the Bush administration, not the Clinton's, not a Democrat. When I heard about Senator Clinton's comments regarding staying in the race & RFK's assassination I could not believe what I was hearing. I was so angry. I was so upset. I was so completely saddened that I didn't know what to do. It was the straw that broke the camel's back regarding my respect for Senator Clinton.

Thank God for Keith Olbermann. Not only did he understand my anger but, he understood my sadness. To hear Senator Clinton play the fear card, THIS fear card, is unforgivable. It was bad enough to hear her say on 60 Minutes that Barack Obama wasn't a muslim, "as far as I know" but, to hear her put forth the idea that Barack Obama might be assassinated were he to be made president is going too far. AND THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS SAYING. It had nothing to do with not dropping out because it was early (and anything can happen!), it wasn't even about planting the seed that Senator Obama could be taken out during the primary. It was about planting the seed that we shouldn't elect someone that's black because we've still got a lot of extremely racist people living in this country. Hard working Americans. White Americans. With guns.

Before Mr. Olbermann made his special commentary the vitriol toward Senator Clinton had reached caustic levels in some quarters. I strongly suspect that just hearing someone in the media confirm what we knew to be true helped many of us to take a deep breath and move, at least in part, past this. Because we trust him to tell the truth (whether we like it or not). Because we know he'll go out on a limb for the sake of truth. Because we know if he says something that's proven wrong he'll tell us.

Murrow, Huntley, Brinkley, Cronkite, Olbermann-We thank you (and good night!)

Kimberly Russell

Columbus, OH

Strength and wisdom are not opposing values. -Bill Clinton

What's truly audacious is to believe that something different is possible, to hope, to aspire to change. -Barack Obama

Send e-mails to : phil.griffin@nbc.com in support of Keith Olbermann

To Clinton Supporters

Obamakim — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:28:44 EDT

For Clinton supporters coming to this blog, I want to tell you-

I know how you feel.

As wholeheartedly as I support Barack Obama, I know you feel the same about Hillary Clinton. Politics is not for the faint of heart, I know because it's broken mine more than once.

You've put all of your effort, heart, soul (and money) into supporting your candidate. You believe that your candidate is the only person for the job and you don't understand why everyone else doesn't feel that way. You've focused on getting them elected to the exclusion of almost everything else. And when it's over, you feel empty.

I know how you feel.

I have sat in a daze in front of the TV waiting for a mistake or fraud to come to light that would change the outcome of the election. I have kicked the wall and sprained my ankle (and put a hole in the wall). I have cried myself to sleep in complete misery. I have felt hatred in my heart,

I know how you feel.

My mom was the one that finally put an end to my blue funk. She told me that I should be proud of myself for becoming involved and not let the loss by my candidate make me lose sight of why I got involved in the first place. I got involved to make a difference. I got involved because so many things were wrong in our country that I could no longer sit on the sidelines and just watch anymore.

So, be proud of yourself for all that you've done. It is ALL of our continued involvement that will force our government to truly be OUR government. It is OUR involvement that makes our country a DEMOCRACY. Remember why you got involved in the first place, remember the big picture.

We need to bring our troops home & take care of them, we need to strengthen our economy & create good jobs, we need to become less energy dependent & improve our environment. We need to educate all of our children & provide affordable accessable healthcare for all, we need to speak to our friends & our ememies and improve our battered image around the world.

We have so many important things to accomplish and we can only do it if we work together.

Welcome & Thank You,

KIm

Obama (t-shirt) At The White House

Obamakim — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:28:50 EDT

Rush Limbaugh vote travisty

Obamakim — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:10:11 EDT

I just wrote to EVERY GOP Senator using this wonderful Contacting the Congress website

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here's what I wrote them :

Hillary Clinton didn't win Texas. Who actually won Texas was Rush Limbaugh's "Hillary Hater" votes. Take away those votes and Obama wins Texas. Take away those votes and the news is completely different the next day. I bring this up not to complain about Barack Obama's loss but, to mourn a segment of our populations willingness to destroy democracy in order to get what they want.

It saddens me to think that people are using their vote in such a way. I remember the first time I voted, the joy I felt in taking part in Democracy, the pride that I felt that my vote was important not just as a vote but, as a confirmation of "the great experiment". I wish someone in the GOP would denounce (and reject!) this ploy for what it is, a denigration of democracy and a lack of respect for all that was done by our forefathers to give us this this sacred right.

Thank you for your time,
Kimberly Russell
Columbus, OH

Randi Rhodes on Air America

Obamakim — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:02:20 EST

Listened to a repeat of Randi Rhodes on Air America on my way to work in a blizzard this morning. She is so FIRED UP about the smear tactics being used by Hillary that she said she can't hold back any more! She was awesome!

Here's the link to Air America, I've mostly stopped watching mainstream media & spend a lot of time while online listening to Air America.

http://www.airamerica.com/

Contact Links for CNN & MSNBC

Obamakim — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:07:32 EST

Barack Obama gained the support of so many of us by running a clean campaign. He can't go nasty but, he can fight back with the truth. In today's news cycle there are the beginnings of the questioning of HRC's actual foreign policy experience and questioning of why she hasn't released her tax returns. This is the way to do it with out getting nasty.

We as supporters as well as Obama surogates need to keep pressing these issues.

There is also a great advantage in continuing to press on her ability to get things of importance done. We've all seen both candidates legislative output and know that Senator Obama's is far more substantive we need to get that out there.

If you're going to e-mail focus on one thing. Keep it short & to the point. Don't act like a crazy paranoid nut! Remember who we represent!

Here are some links:

Contact CNN

Main Contact page http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/
What we are reporting that you want to talk about: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?39
Send us a story idea http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?2
Report Errors http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form6a.html?2

Contact MSNBC

If you want to comment about something on MSNBC TV that you saw during the day or that doesn’t pertain to a particular show viewerservices@msnbc.com <viewerservices@msnbc.com>
Hardball/ Chris Matthews hardball@msnbc.com <hardball@msnbc.com>
Countdown With Keith Olberman countdown@msnbc.com <countdown@msnbc.com>
Meet the press/Tim Russert http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6872152/
Morning Joe http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/
Live With Dan Abrams http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19599749/

2 More Votes for Obama in Ohio!

Obamakim — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:49:00 EST

I went to my chiropractor this morning for an adjustment (Doc voted for Obama, we always talk politics). His receptionist Cindy (also for Obama)said she wasn't going to be able to vote today because her kids have her car. I said "I'll take you!" She lived an hour away in another county & it's pouring down rain but we got there & she cast her vote! She said, "That felt GREAT!"

She'd also told me that her sister had been told that as a registered Independent she couldn't vote in the primary! I had her call her sister immediately and tell her that it was an open primary & she just needed to request a Democratic ballot. So her sister went out right away to cast her vote for Obama!

As I said it was pouring down rain here in Columbus & as we were returning to the Chiropractors office I hit the MOTHER OF ALL POT HOLES and blew out a tire. Didn't bother me a bit because I got to do something to help. Doc (who was being the receptionist & chiropractor for 3 hours), gave me the thubs up when we got back and mouthed "Thank you".

O' bama Shirts

Obamakim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:26:18 EST

Just bought 2 O'bama shirts for St Paddy's day. Hope they're not back ordered but, either way it's another $40 for March's total!

A Prairie Home Companion

Obamakim — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:10:27 EST

Hey, Did anyone else hear A Prairie Home Companion last night or today? I was on break from work & heard a great segment where Garrison Keillor & another guy were playing cowboys out on the range. Who show's up at their campfire but Ralph Nader (wearing a seatbelt while riding in on his horse!). Garrison & his buddy end up hypnotizing Mr Nader and sending him off with a couple of "dancehall floozies". I was laughing so hard I'm sure people walking past my car thought I was insane!

BTW Garrison Keillor (a man with a great way with words himself) very eloquently endorsed Barack Obama last month which made the piece all the more affective for me.

Decision Analyist Inc. Polling in Texas & Ohio

Obamakim — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:43:31 EST

Does anyone know about the track record of Decision Analyist, Inc? They have surprising polls for both Texas and Ohio.

Barack Obama is leading Hillary Clinton in Ohio, according to a statewide survey of 735 registered voters planning to vote in the March 4 Democratic Primary. The survey was conducted February 21 and 22 by Decision Analyst, a major national survey research firm. Decision Analyst projections indicate that if the election were held today Obama would win 54% to 46% over Clinton. The survey�s margin of error is 3 percentage points, plus or minus, at a 90% level of confidence. http://www.decisionanalyst.com/publ_data/2008/obama2.dai

Obama has a double digit lead over Hillary Clinton in Texas, according to a statewide survey of 678 registered voters planning to vote in the March 4 Democratic Primary. The survey was conducted February 20 and 21 by Decision Analyst, a major national survey research firm. Decision Analyst projections indicate that if the election were held today Obama would win 57% to 43% over Clinton. The survey�s margin of error is 3 percentage points, plus or minus, at a 90% level of confidence. http://www.decisionanalyst.com/publ_data/2008/obama.dai

2 differences between many other polls seem to be: 1) they seem to suggest that they think their survey is weighted demographically more correctly 2)Survey was taken of registered voters who INTEND TO VOTE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY (other surveys I think only survey Dems & Independents not Republicans)

Survey MethodologyyResults based on scientific sampling of registered voters from American Consumer Opinion® (www.acop.com), one of the largest online research panels in the world. The sample was carefully balanced by gender, ethnicity, age, and geography; the data were weighted as necessary to fully represent the different demographic groups.

About Decision Analyst (www.decisionanalyst.com), based in Dallas-Fort Worth, is a leading international marketing research and marketing consulting firm specializing in advertising testing, strategy research, new product development, and advanced modeling for decision optimization. In addition, Decision Analyst owns and operates American Consumer Opinion® Online, one of the largest research panels in the world with over 7 million members.

I don't want anyone to stop working in the March 4 primary states, I think it's tight & this is only one poll but I found it interesting. Are perhaps Obamacans having a lot more influence than polls are showing? Wisconsin polling after all only had Obama up by 4-5 points & he won by 17.

Where's the Substance?

Obamakim — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:43:14 EST

I love truthout.com!

FOCUS | Scott Galindez: Where's the Substance?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021808Z.shtml
Truthout's Scott Galindez writes: "many pundits and the Clinton campaign keep asking where the substance is to Obama's campaign. There's a simple answer: in his plans. It's true that his stump speeches are full of soaring oratory and do not satisfy policy wonks, but do a simple search of his web site and you will find substance. He also regularly gives policy speeches packed with specifics."

Military Shifting Donations to Democrats

Obamakim — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:38:23 EST

Military Shifting donations to Democrats By Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor September 13, 2007 12:12 PM

As the Iraq war drags on and US casualties mount, members of the military appear to be showing their discontent by donating more to Democrats, a campaign finance watchdog group said today.

Service members have traditionally supported the Republican Party, but there has been a dramatic shift since the war started in 2003 away from financial backing for GOP candidates for president and Congress, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics said.

So far this year and in the 2004 election, about 40 percent of contributions from donors identifiable as military members has gone to Democrats, compared to about one fourth in the 2000 and 2002 cycles, the center's study said. Service members gave about $1.8 million in the 2004 cycle and about $330,000 this year, the study said.

Democrat Barack Obama, who is calling for a troop withdrawal to start immediately, has received the most of any presidential candidate from uniformed service members -- about $27,000.

Ron Paul, the only Republican candidate who opposes the war, has brought in at least $19,250 -- more than Vietnam War hero John McCain, who supports the war and has raised $18,600 from military personnel.

The center's report quotes Lieutenant Colonel Joyce Griggs, an intelligence officer who contributed to Obama: "People are saying enough is enough. If you're a soldier, you're going to do your job, do what you're commanded to do. But that sentiment is wide and deep."

I'm no longer a Virgin Caller!

Obamakim — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:19:43 EST

Hi just got home from phonebanking for Obama @ SEIU Local 1199 here in Columbus, Ohio! The SEIU endorsement has paid off in this very practiacal way, thank you SEIU!

I was really nervous but after a few calls I was ok. I got ALOT of undecideds in Cuyahoga County outside of Cleveland. I had a couple of great conversations with undecideds and I hope along with my words that directing them to the ISSUES link on this website will help them to make their decision. I suspect many of them were already leaning toward Obama, I believe that adding more policy information into his speeches is what is needed to convince many of them.

The other thing that was brought up alot was the upcoming debate in Cleveland and how important that might be in their decision.

Making calls to Ohio

Obamakim — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:26:33 EST

I'm a rather shy person from Columbus, Ohio. I will not let my shyness keep me from making calls to Ohio voters on behalf of Barack Obama. I e-mailed my Obama district organizer about this & here was his response:

I have just the ticket for you. Our new user friendly phone bank is at SEIU 1199 at 1395 Dublin Rd. There are going to be tons of people who have never phone banked before there so it will be a lot of fun and nothing to worry about. You should just come on by anytime after 12pm on Sunday or anytime between 9am-9pm every week day.

If you live in Columbus & like me need a little push to pick up the phone & make these important calls come join me. You'll be glad you did!

Kim

Does MD Healthcare Plan = HRC's Healthcare plan?

Obamakim — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:08:32 EST

Could someone confirm for me that MD's health care system is a plan like HRC's?

I've heard that it's failing in part because both the state's portion of the cost & the insured portion of the cost has increased which has resulted in more & more people paying the penalty rather than paying for the insurance that they can't afford.

I'd heard that Gov. Romney has as much as said so.

Barack's Sister

Obamakim — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:22:20 EST

Here's some insight from Barack's sister Maya from a Hawaiian article

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA_HAWAII?SITE=ORMED&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-02-14-17-47-13

Presidential Candidates & Earmarks

Obamakim — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:04:22 EST

Tonight @ 8pm on CNN they will air a show on "Presidential Candidates & Earmarks". As most of you know Senator Clinton will not release her earmark totals but, many watchdog groups have been watching her, although our guy has some earmarks on his record they are primarily for non-profits and come nowhere near the amount of pork on Hillary's plate.

http://www.hillaryproject.com/index.php?/en/story-details/hillary_clinton_queen_of_federal_pork/

Senator Clinton has also has also taken more donations directly from lobbyists than any other candidate. She's famously said that "lobbyists represent Americans".

http://www.nohillaryclinton.com/2008/02/06/lobbyist-cash-pours-into-clinton-campaign/

Although I like to focus on OUR candidate rather than on Senator Clinton I belive that these two issues are extremely important in the focus on what is wrong with Washington. Voters need to know the difference between the two candidates.

FIRED UP AND READY TO GO IN OHIO!

Dem Party Call

Obamakim — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:50:35 EST

Just got a call from the dem party asking for $. I told them that every extra dime I had was going to Obama. The poor woman was talking 100 miles an hour. I told her that I was sorry but that I was focusing all of my energy and $ on one thing right now. She said that's OK, you're not the first but, everyone's been so polite!

I'm Psyched!

Obamakim — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:01:11 EST

I just simultaneously donated $50.01 (Happy Lincoln's birthday money bomb) & talked to a dear friend in Cleveland who has decided after much debate that she's full in for Obama & will cast her vote for him here in Ohio on March 4th!

I've been wearing my Obama button everywhere & I've had so many people tell me they were so psyched to vote for him in March . I even had an elderly woman come up to me today and whisper in my ear "That's Obama on your button isn't it? I'm on the other side (me with puzzled look until I realize she means a Republican) but, if he wins the primaries, I think I'm going to vote for him in November." What's with the whispering?!

Experience then, experience now

Obamakim — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:08:58 EST

The Clintons have said that they are experienced and Barack Obama is not. This clip on Youtube shows that Bill Clinton was originally charged with the same thing during his presidential run. His response, he had the "Right kind of experience". What a difference a couple of decades make!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUm7tkgFGYs

I wish I could get this video to Keith Olberman

Military Vote

Obamakim — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:57:52 EST

Hey everyone. I saw a little bit of an interview with a reporter a few weeks ago. She had said that the person the soldiers were talking about was Barack Obama. Has anyone heard anything about the military vote? If Obama was the Democratic favorite amoungst soldiers it would be huge news.

I did find this article on military workers' donations:

Obama, Paul net most military workers' campaign donations
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3601542&page=1

When does the military vote? If they voted strongly for Obama I believe it would affect the votes of many that are still on the fence.

JJ Dinner Speech

Obamakim — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:03:04 EST

Are you all watching O's JJ Dinner Speech? Great mixture of policy & inspiration. He looks tired though I hope he gets some sleep tonight!

I hope lot's of Clinton supporters see that he will be great in the general election. They won't vote for him in the primarys but, I think he had to have impressed them enough to vote for him in November.

Fundraising as News

Obamakim — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:57:28 EST

Hey Malise welcome under the VERY BIG umbrella!

Also wanted to comment on the $ tracker being gone. I think we're looking for money raised for the month of February to be a news item instead of it just being barely mentioned daily (as is happening with Hillary's recent fundraising, she just inched up to 8 mil today). I think it lulls Hillarys supporters into thinking how great the fundraising is going. Being able to see what we're raising every day may egg them on to raise more (as it does with us!). A big POW at the end of the month is a lot harder to match and shows how the Obama campaign is only picking up steam.

Of course, that requires the total at the end of February to BE a big POW. I get paid on Friday and although I can't afford much I can afford a little.

Keep on making Phone calls. Keep on donating. Keep on talking to the people you meet every day.

YES WE CAN!

Lou Dobbs say's no Dem is addressing...

Obamakim — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:44:32 EST

Just saw Lou Dobbs on CNN saying that no one in the Democratic race was addressing the mortgage crisis. I immediately e-mailed him and pasted all of Obama's plans from the issues site. Barack Obama has been talking about this for quite awhie now, not just as something to bring up in a campaign.
Please e-mail Lou Dobbs and tell him so!
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/confirmation/loudobbs.show.html

Gary Hart: Obama Won't Fade

Obamakim — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:32:54 EST

Check this out!

http://www.observer.com/2008/gary-hart-obama-wont-fade

Superdelegates

Obamakim — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:05:34 EST

I just e-mailed C-Span asking them to play the UCLA Rally again. I figure if they're flooded with e-mails, even that could make news.
viewer@c-span.org
I also found this great sight that lists all of the superdelegates. This link goes directly to the ones that have not endorsed but, you can view all of the "endorsed" delegates on the site as well. Link
Some of them have links but most don't so I had to do a little searching for a way to contact them. I e-mailed everyone in Ohio (my state) telling them that although I didn't think my simple e-mail would make up their mind on who to support, I felt that as a fellow Democrat I should tell them why I support Barack Obama.
Once again, it can't hurt & could help if they get a flood of e-mails. They need to know what we the Democratic Party are feeling. Also remember that even the delegates that have made endorsements can change their minds so maybe a few e-mails sent their way wouldn't hurt either!
Just an idea! I was so pumped up after watching the UCLA Rally I HAD to do something!

YES WE CAN!

Superdelegates

Obamakim — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:05:34 EST