Hi, all!! I wanted to report to you on yesterday's "Change is Coming" meeting that we had here in Johnstown. I also want to invite you to participate in our first real community service project. But first, about yesterday: We met at the home of Jayne Highlands and Kitty Bailey yesterday afternoon. At least 27 people attended the meeting, including folks from as far away as Cumberland, Md. Indian Lake, and Latrobe. It was a great mixture of "old hands" (some going back even to before the primary), and new faces. I have learned that with Obama volunteers there is a common spirit of good will, respect, and a lot of idealism -- but idealism that is not "how can we change the world?" but "how can each of us change ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods...." because we know that's HOW to change the world. I'm thinking of something that stuck with me from a book on Zen Buddhism I read as a college student: "To have a green forest, you first need green trees." To those of you who were there, this will be redundant, and to those of you who weren't, the organization of the meeting is less important than the results. But very briefly, we did introductions, a short video, a little bit of me talking about the purposes of the meeting, and then breaking into smaller groups to discuss issues and prioritize them. I had provided a handout with a list of issues (mainly drawn from the Obama web site) and then some bullet points under each to illustrate some specifics and perhaps spur ideas --- I've attached that to this e-mail in case you're interested. After about half an hour, each group said they didn't need more time, and we reassembled into a "committee of the whole" and each group reported their priorities. We very quickly agreed on five priorities: 1. A nexus of "economic" problems that may be new -- the housing crisis, the recession, the uncertainty -- and may be old -- poverty and related issues, but interconnect with other issues in many, many ways, including substance abuse, crime, domestic violence, adequate nutrition, proper parenting, education, health care, etc., as well as the likelihood of decreased funding for agencies that work to mitigate these problems. LOCAL AND NATIONAL2. Health care and the income disparity issues nested within -- whether access or quality or whatever. LOCAL AND NATIONAL3. Education -- and again, a lot of income-related issues, but also NCLB and the focus on metrics rather than kids. LOCAL AND NATIONAL4. Civil Rights/Criminal Justice -- race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation and the various social and institutionalized issues. There is a nexus here, too, that often also connects with economic issues. For example, it is almost inescapable that poverty and marginalization result in families that do not function well. And dysfunction is bound up with substance abuse, and substance abuse is linked up with crime, and crime is linked up with the criminal justice system. It is a nexus. LOCAL AND NATIONAL5. Environment / Energy -- some people wanted to lump them together as the web site does, but I had separated them out, because "Energy" certainly doesn't deal directly with clean air, clean water, endangered species, wetland preservation, lead and mercury contamination, superfund sites, acid mine drainage, chemical fertilizers and pesticizes leaching into our watersheds, clearcutting of forests, relaxation of enforcement on surface mining, etc. But as a group we decided to put them back together as an "energy slash environment" category. So in this e-mail, I'm taking the liberty of expressing the concerns that "energy" as a category doesn't encompass enough of other concerns as to vital components of the environment: clean air, clean water, biological diversity, etc. LOCAL AND NATIONAL. And while "Chicago" provided a form with spaces for four priorities, we unanimously decided to create a fifth. My experience is that "Chicago" doesn't mind.... LOL Just as we were reassembling and reporting, the SalvationArmy rep , Cindy Porter, arrived, and made a short presentation about what they do. I for one have to admit I didn't realize the extent of their activities, nor the extent to which they coordinate with other local agencies which do similar work. At that point we narrowed down exactly how we could help, and Frank Lang mentioned the Christmas Dinner the Vietnam Vets were co-sponsoring (I hope that's the right word) with the Salvation Army. We decided that would be our first (of many!!!) community service events. Cindy left with our donations. And we concluded that our first organized community service event would be to help with the VV/SA Christmas dinner. Please consider helping out and if you can, sign up at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptmxh We never did thoroughly discuss how we might exercise what I'll call "political activism." We talked briefly about trying to keep abreast of legislation, and expressing our views both in letters to politicians and in letters to the editor. Some web sites, like FactCheck.org were mentioned. But we kind of shortchanged that aspect for now. I invite all participants to respond, particularly if you think I've shortchanged or misrepresented or neglected anything. Those of you who were not there, let me just say, the work goes on. It's not "just" that we have President-elect Obama. It is that his call to "be the change": has been ratified. The change is not merely at the top. It is also bottom up, not top down. It's where we live. And no, you and I are not really going to have a major infuence on the US policy toward Iran. But we CAN be forces for good, right here, right now. So if December 23rd at the Salvation Army is not something you can or want to do, join us at our next meeting to discuss other avenues of community service. MANY, MANY thanks to Jayne and Kitty for hosting this event. Hope to see you at fuure planning meetings and events. dave PS, we got national notice on the Obama site: It mentions me, but it's really about YOU: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGxzCj
-- If not now, when? If not us, who?
I wanted to write -- even though belatedly -- about the election, because the events of Tuesday only started to sink in Wednesday. Tuesday night, for whatever reason, I had no doubt that Barack would win the election. It was just a matter of how big the margin. Besides, I was tired and also eager for it to be over. So as events unfolded, and states were called, my emotions didn’t come into play very heavily. Some surprises, yes, like calling Pennsylvania so early and then Ohio -- and McCain’s gracious concession speech and Barack’s victory speech were both stirring, but because I “knew” the ultimate outcome, it was almost like watching a movie for the second time and looking for details you missed the first time through. I said to a friend on IM that I was trying not to hyperventilate at the thought of “President-Elect Obama,” but it was only later that it really sunk in.
Wednesday morning at some point it hit me -- the WOW! moment, the big deep breath, the full-body chill. I got hardly any work done at work, thinking about MY president, and trying to sort things through. And I didn’t cry until I got home that evening and watched the victory speech again, and saw snippets of reactions from people around the world.
Why did I think of him as MY president? Why did I cry? Sure, there’s all the usual suspects -- My guy won. I’d worked long and hard for him. So of course I was invested and was happy for success. He is “not Bush.” So I was relieved that there was a firm end in sight to what I have long seen as ideologically-blinkered incompetence, divisiveness, fear-mongering and ruthlessness running roughshod over everything I’m proud of about this country. His rhetoric is inspiring, and it not only reflects an admirable frame of mind but it calls on us to be better, as individuals and as a nation. So I felt that we had genuine leadership. And of course, I liked his policy positions on things dear to me. And so I hoped for changes for the better.
Peripheral to all that are the talking heads’ analyses: plenty of money, a disciplined message, and a very effective organization on the ground.
But that is not all -- not by a long shot. It’s all kind of a little too much “what” and not enough “why.” Yes, I touched on the whys up above, but I’d like to expand a bit.
Why I cared so much, why I volunteered almost year ago, why he had so many other volunteers, why he had so much money donated by so many people, why so many were drawn to him, why the world erupted in joy at his election -- and why I am still tingling with an aura of incredulity that I have lived to see this day.
So here’s my attempt at “why.” I attempted to articulate this in the little video I did for the campaign back in the primary, but didn’t do as well as I’d hoped. I think with Barack Obama, we see a man who is intelligent, inspiringly articulate, self-deprecating; who has a sense of humor, is at ease with himself, “plays well with others,” and “doesn’t run with scissors.” He has a ready smile and a twinkle in his eye. All of that is true, and all of that is part of it. But most of all, and central to all, is that he’s got a strong, still core of values and principles that not only seems unshakeable, but informs all of the other qualities.
When you look at how he reacts under pressure, you can see it so clearly. Under attack about the Rev. Wright, Obama responded with one of the finest speeches in the history of the country -- not only about race, but about perhaps THE fundamental principle that makes us great -- that we are, or at least should be, about the business of becoming “a more perfect union,” a better people. He addressed Rev. Wright; he addressed race relations; he addressed divisions and fears and grievances. But he did it all in the overarching frame of becoming better. To me, turning a political and personal attack into an appeal of that nature is not mere rhetorical skill, but rather, it is the use of rhetorical skill for a higher purpose, to identify problems clearly and honestly, to appeal to all constituencies to work to solve them, to ask us to become a better people. To me, that is indicative of the man: his core principles, his approach to problems, his temperament.
We have become accustomed to symbols replacing reality. Getting an A on your report card is far more important to too many than actually earning it. Madison Avenue-style gloss creating needs we never knew we had. Code words substituting for thought and analysis. The too cool for school triumph of style over substance. Flag pins and “Support our Troops” car magnets the measure of patriotism.
But Barack is the real deal. There are no bumper sticker slogans masquerading as policy. There are no wedge issues calling on the worst of our nature.
Barack is the real deal. And the real deal is a good man, an honorable and intelligent man, who addresses issues honestly, who seeks breadth and depth of counsel in the attempt to devise solutions to complex problems, who treats Americans as intelligent and deserving of respect, and we have responded to his call to believe in our own better natures. I was hesitant to read too many reactions to the election before I wrote down my own, but I did read an article by William Greider, who wrote: “There is mysterious music in democracy when people decide to believe in themselves.”
Yeah, he’s the real deal. And now I’m tearing up again, and it’s good. And I am proud again. There are so many serious and pressing problems. Things won’t be perfect. But I believe in my heart that things will be better -- much better.
As Lincoln said in his first inaugural address:
“I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
I’ve taken in the yard signs, and this weekend will go through the box I threw my souvenirs of the campaign into, and kind of sort through it all before packing it away somewhere safe. I think the letter from the Pennsylvania Department of State certifying me as a delegate candidate, and the sample ballot on which my name appeared pledged to Barack Obama may just get framed, but the campaign is over, and what a wonderful ride it was!
And with the words of Tennyson’s Ulysses, I actually WILL close: “Come, my friends. ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.”
Today, I sent an article to a friend of mine, thinking it might sway her. She's conservative in the traditional way (not the false conservatism of the current administration), and Andrew Sullivan wrote a very cogent article in the Atlantic about why conservatives should vote for Barack. Anyway, my friend wrote back saying the article was too late. She voted Friday. She didn't say whether or not it would have swayed her vote, but she said that "since McCain is going to lose anyway," she voted R, which is her habitual vote. I had not anticipated that line of thinking.
URL: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-top-ten-rea.html
Rebecca Traister has written about this and other McCain tactics in Pennsylvania.
"Nov. 2, 2008 | PERKASIE, Pa. -- It was hard to believe he was actually saying it, but the words were really coming out of his mouth. Arlen Specter's, that is, at an afternoon rally for John McCain in Perkasie, Pa., a small town north of Philadelphia. Specter, the senior senator from Pennsylvania, was talking about his "sense" that Election Day in his state was going to be a rude awakening for Democrats, despite weeks of polls showing Republicans lagging far behind in this former swing state. That's when he let loose with his reason for optimism:
"There are a "couple of hidden factors" in this election, said Specter. "The first is that people answer pollsters one way, but in the secrecy of the ballot booth, vote the other way."
"Yes. That is what he said, to a chorus of hopeful affirmation. Arlen Specter was openly -- in public, into a microphone -- crossing his fingers, and hoping for racism."
To read the rest of the story, follow this link: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/02/mccain/
The Johnstown Tribune Democrat ran an online poll the other day and while I don't know the precise final numbers, I think it was largely 60-40 McCain. The "big" polls are suggesting otherwise.... that Obama is significantly ahead. I want to ask you not to be lulled into complacency by the big polls. While a lot of people are criticizing Murtha for being honest, AP now says 7 of 10 people say race doesn't matter.... so 3 of 10 apparently do think so. We all have to get out to vote, and help everyone we know get out to vote. I'm expecting to take the day off.... and I don't have paid time off pending.... so I'll work the polls for Obama dn Murtha. The point is, ignore the polls, and get yourself out to vote, and get everyone you know out to vote. If someone you know needs a ride to the polls, let me know. The polls saying Obama is up such and such a percent may be right, but we can't let that lead us into complacency.
dave
Please take advantage of this new site in order to inform yourself and others:
http://radar.barackobama.com/
Check Out This clip from the 1960s Batman Tv series. It has such Uncanny similarities to the recent events of this years election campaign its actually SCARY!!
In Davenport, Iowa yesterday, before McCain spoke to a rally of his supporters, a Christian pastor offered a prayer that seemed to ask for divine intervention on his behalf. "There are millions of people around this world praying to their God -- whether it's Hindu, Buddha, Allah -- that [McCain's] opponent wins for a variety of reasons," Pastor Arnold Conrad said. "And, Lord, I pray that you would guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you, if that happens."
So the message seems to be: Vote for McCain. God's reputation depends on it!"
Palin's bus rolled up to the War Memorial Arena shortly after 10 a.m. yesterday. The lines of ticketholders had already formed at least three hours earlier, and stretched as far as the eye could see. A group of us, about 80 to 100 union members, veterans, and quite a few others who were not part of the organized protest, were across the street. There was the expected shouting back and forth, a lot of chanting from our side, things like "Bush McCain, more of the same." The most offensive part of the morning was a man in line to enter the Palin event who was proudly displaying a monkey doll labeled "Obama." He seemed to enjoy and be encouraged by being called a racist from our side of the street.
The McCain campaign has encouraged the personal attacks, candidly admitting that they have to change the subject from the economy and other substantive issues, and when the crowds have shouted "kill him (Obama)", "traitor," "cut off his head," and other disturbingly violent and extreme statements, neither McCain nor Palin have tried to discourage it. At least not until Friday, when Senator McCain got booed by his own supporters for saying Sen. Obama was a decent man. They opened the Pandora's box of extremism, hate and violence, and now "kinda sorta" want to tame it. Let's hope the Secret Service is being extra vigilant now in its duty to protect Sen. Obama.
From news reports and from talking to people who were inside the War Memorial yesterday, Palin didn't incite, nor did the crowd exhibit that sort of extremism -- except for the monkey man and a few other vocal extremists outside.
The other noteworthy thing was that most of us on our side of the street have lived in Johnstown all our lives, and not a single one of us noticed more than 2-3 people that we knew in the line of ticket holders. Obviously this kind of event will draw from a distance, but we all noticed the lack of familiar faces. When the fire marshall closed the doors, there were at minimum several hundred people left outside. One estimate was "up to 2000," but I was there, and doubt that number very much. But still, a lot of ticketholders were left out on the street.
From the Wall Street Journal:
"John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs. The Republican presidential nominee has said little about the proposed cuts, but they are needed to keep his health-care plan "budget neutral," as he has promised. The McCain campaign hasn't given a specific figure for the cuts, but didn't dispute the analysts' estimate."
Read the whole story here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122315505846605217.html
Here are five links to YouTube videos of John McCain, or at least pertaining to John McCain. Two of them show very clearly that he doesn't seem to have core positions on key issues. One of them shows him using the authority of his position to engage in a tirade against a woman who was testifying before his committee on behalf of families of POWs and MIAs. One is former members and staffers of the Senate Select Committee on POWs and MIAs talking about McCain's obstructionism. And one is FOX News commenting on his lousy delivery... but to me, the simpleton grin after he repeats the "punch line" suggests something other than bad delivery.
See for yourselves:
The Real McCain: John McCain vs. John McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI
The Real McCain 2: McCain’s YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
McCain Tirade against an MIA family group witness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CazKanlYDg&NR=1
1992 Senate Select Committee on POWs/MIAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g
McCain Leaves Fox Speechless - “That’s not change.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aMDJP4VxY4&feature=related
On September 22, 2008, FactCheck.org published its analysis of a new NRA campaign which targets Barack. FactCheck says that the NRA "falsely claims in mailers and TV ads that Obama plans to ban handguns, hunting ammo and use of a gun for home defense." and that the NRA's "advertising campaign distorts Obama's position on gun control beyond recognition." Here is their summary:
The NRA is circulating printed material and running TV ads making unsubstantiated claims that Obama plans to ban use of firearms for home defense, ban possession and manufacture of handguns, close 90 percent of gun shops and ban hunting ammunition.
Much of what the NRA passes off as Obama's "10 Point Plan to 'Change' the Second Amendment" is actually contrary to what he has said throughout his campaign: that he "respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms" and "will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns."
The NRA, however, simply dismisses Obama's stated position as "rhetoric" and substitutes its own interpretation of his record as a secret "plan." Said an NRA spokesman: "We believe our facts."
Perhaps so, but believing something doesn't make it so. And we find the NRA has cherry-picked, twisted and misrepresented Obama's record to come up with a bogus "plan."
READ THE REST OF THEIR FINDINGS AT THIS LINK: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/nra_targets_obama.html
After the Great Depression, the banking system was forced to choose whether to go with commercial banking or investment banking. This was one of the major reforms that regulated some of the abuses that brought on the Great Depression. Fast forward to the late '80s, and we have "free market" people like Alan Greenspan and Phil Gramm and many others, including John McCain, who believe that regulatory oversight is "burdensome" and succeeded in repealing many of the safeguards that had been put in place the LAST time the investing class went on a binge. And yes, to the extent that I have a 401(k), I'm part of the "investing class" -- but people like me are forced to trust those who supposedly know better. Well, now we know that greed and hubris overcome fiduciary responsibility. If someone broke into my house and stole x number of dollars, it would be a criminal act. If someone takes my money and invests it irresponsibly, it isn't . Too bad. And of course the US and British governments have to issue rules against short trading....... Good lord. The financial system is collapsing, and some people just can't refrain from tying to profit on it. Does ANYBODY actually CARE? Or do we need some sort of 12-step program for Wall Street?
Regardless, Senator McCain and his former chief economic advisor, Senator Gramm, were cheerleaders for the "free market" that has brought us to this crisis. Do not forget that. McCain wants to abjure his role, and now wants to blame individuals, but the fact is that for his entire political career, he's been a "free marketer" and has now decided that Obama is to blame.
Today's New York Times has a rather interesting (and rather long) article on Palin's political career, at every point of which she seems to have made little distinction between the use of the powers that public office provides in order to promote the general welfare, and the use of that power to pursue personal and political vendettas. Although she has done good, and has her admirers, she also pursues appointments to public office based on personal and ideological grounds rather than objective qualifications (remember "Helluva job, Brownie"?) and she seeks to keep information secret when it's inconvenient (remember how we bypassed the FISA court to spy on Americans without warrants?) This is worse than cynical, in my view. It is the very sort of cronyism and the other unsavory aspects of politics that Gov. Palin claims to have fought against and defeated in Alaska.
Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?_r=1&partner=EXCITE&ei=5043&oref=slogin
