alamObama Meeting Thurs Aug 14
Special Guest Speakers: For a pre-Convention Kick-Off, we will be joined at our monthly meeting byState Sen Letitia Van de Putte, co-chairwoman for the Democratic National Convention; State Rep Trey Martinez-Fischer and Carla Vela, BexarCounty DemocraticChair REMINDER: The meeting this month will be held in the SEIU office at 1017 N. Main 78212 (6:30 pm) MAP
Give me a break. Puhleez. Grampy McCain, et al, just get over it. Grampy mentioned the dollar bill images in June, but now it's news? Well, how else does Grampy get in the news cycle, I guess. The whole thing is just total crap brought to us by the media, who hype stuff that is meaningless in order to get us to watch their sad, pathetic 24-7 so-called news. When most of the people at Obama rallys are WHITE people, how the heck can you even speak of racism and make it believable? Oh, duh, Americans can be so gullible, after all if you say it often enough, you can make it seem true...ask George Bush and Co. They catapulted the propaganda and lied to us enough than many believed Saddam caused 9/11. See, how stupid we are? So now will we fall for that kind of BS and believe Obama is pulling the race card? Only if we are stupid. I am sick of this crap and sick of the lies.
All the baloney in the latest news cycle brings me back to a post on another blog that I have about bento boxes. I am proud that my family encompasses three (or more) racial/ethic groups. We are quintessentially what makes up the fabric of our nation, a veritable tapestry of humanity, with many ideas, many foods, many traditions, all of which help make our country a better place -- and can do so, if we just stop bickering about our differences and instead embrace and enjoy our differences. And how do we start? FOOD. Food is what brings us together, we like food, and we like ethnic food. So if the food is so good, what is the matter with the people??? Huh???? Tell me that one. Oh...they don't look like you. Well, get over it and try to meet people that don't look like you. This might come as a shock to you, but most people in the world really just want to have a family and raise their family in peace, and with love. Doesn't matter where they come from or what their religion, etc. They just want to raise good kids. So, take a step up to the plate and as you embrace that Mexican, Cuban, Thai, Chinese, and Soul food that tastes so good, go meet the people from that country and thank them for their style of cooking that you love so much. It is a start.
<strong>My previous post on this subject, from last Easter Sunday:</strong>We decided not to celebrate Easter twice this year. For once we will only celebrate Orthodox Easter on April 27th. It worked out great, we relaxed and the grandkids had Easter festivities at the other Grandma's house. I did get the urge to cook, when I discovered our HEB (grocery store) was closed and I had to fix lunch for Monday with what I had in the house.I came up with a Tandoori chicken with leftover greek yogurt, and a sort-of tabbouleh with Manchego cheese, tomatoes and green onion. Mexico meets the middle east so to speak.
We are all looking forward to Orthodox Easter and our favorite foods: Pashka (cheese), Kulich (bread), Mama's blini (crepes, which I have not mastered yet) and piroshki (yeast bread rolls filled with a meat mixture). Yummy. Everybody's favorite is the bread and cheese, even my new son-in-law is a fan, and it is sure very different from the food he grew up with in Puerto Rico, but he loves it.
We are the quintessential American family comprising 6-7 ethnic groups (and 3 racial groups), sharing our foods and customs across the board. We are proud of our various heritages and holidays, celebrating Russian Orthodox Easter, Cinco de Mayo, 4th of July, Dia de los Muertos, Three Kings Day, Martin Luther King Day, and various saints days (Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopalian). We ARE America, we are what makes our country so special and so great....a mix of cultures, ideas, love and faith. Our children and grandchildren are the future of our nation, and the colors of our nation. We are so proud of all of them.
So, in the spirit of rebirth, in this Easter season, please take time to let new ideas take wing. It is time for us to discuss where our nation needs to go, how we put our dreams into action, and how we work for a future for ALL of us, no matter our color, or belief system.
To quote Barack Obama (who we support):
<blockquote>In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination - and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past - are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds - by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations. It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.
In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world's great religions demand - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well. </blockquote>
To sign up for the alamObama newsletter please email jenromo@msn.com
The Volunteer Party was a Huge Success!! The evening was lovely, the venue hospitable, the food plentiful, and the music absolutely delightful...And, MOST IMPORTANTLY, volunteers came from all areas of our community and were United for Change. A big Thank You to everyone who worked to make this great night a reality!Pictures from the evening can be viewed here:
alamObama Volunteer Party Pictures
July 10th 6:30pm Monthly Meeting:
alamObama is finalizing details for a new (well air conditioned) meeting location.
FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!!Sincerely your alamObama Co-Chairs,
Jen Romo (jen@alamobama08.com)
Judy Hall (judy@alamobama08.com)
Fred Tawil (fred@alamobama08.com)
What does our nation value?
While I was participating at the Texas Democratic Convention in Austin, June 5-7, 2008, my youngest daughter, age 26 (mother of 2) was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She was hospitalized with a blood sugar of over 400 mg/dl, following symptoms of thirst, blurred vision and fatigue, the classic symptoms of diabetes. Prior to this she had been in excellent health, not even a hint of gestational diabetes when she was pregnant with her 2 children.
She has insurance, but it covers very little. The diagnosis was shocking, but the sticker shock for her medications and supplies, which are critical to keeping her alive, was even more stunning.
The statistics:
This week, the total cost for supplies as she was discharged from the hospital (and we shopped around) $700.
My daughter and her husband earn $10 per hour. My daughter’s insurance does not cover medications. What I want you, the reader, to picture, is how they (or you) can manage to live on your salary, pay for a home, raise 2 children, and still afford to pay $700 per month for medication to keep you alive.
It is stunning to me, that in the richest nation in the world, that prides itself on being “number one” we don’t have national health care. No, we would rather allow people like my daughter, to suffer due to lack of care, poor care, no care, or complications from a treatable disease due to lack of funds, rather than save money and help them care for themselves. In other words, we as a nation, would rather pay many times more for emergency room care, and indigent care (which increases our insurance premiums) rather than pay for preventative and maintenance care. This is a national disgrace.
What is even worse, is that during my daughter’s hospitalization, she got one (count ‘em ONE) visit from a diabetic educator and ONE visit from a dietician. How much can a person learn about managing a life threatening disease in one visit? In addition, during her hospitalization, there was no visit from a social worker or anyone else to inform her about what resources were available to her in order for her to find a way to pay for her life sustaining treatment.
As an RN, and her mother, I am outraged at the poor quality of care we offer our citizens. I can help my daughter, and together we will learn the best way to help her manage her diabetes. What happens to others? How do they learn what to do, and how to best care for themselves. How do they afford their medication?
For our family, I hope we can find the proper resources to pay for my daughter’s medication. For the rest of our nation, and others like my daughter, what do we do? How do we resolve this problem? How do we care for those who need assistance?
This is why I believe that a single payer health care plan is the only way to go forward.
Senator Obama, please help all of us.
I will continue to work tirelessly to help you get elected, as I have since June 2007. Remember, my husband and I worked your San Antonio event June 24, 2007, on our 35th wedding anniversary…and we have block walked, phone banked and everything else since that time. Consider those with chronic illness and help improve healthcare for them. After all, what does our nation value, guns and the corporations, or our citizens? I am hoping it is the citizens.
Thank you.
To Senator Obama and campaign strategists:
Silence is acquiescence.
Failure to respond to Rev. Wright's latest devasting blow is disasterous.
This is the first time my husband has ever contributed to any political campaign, and I have given far more to Obama than I've ever contributed before. We are shocked that "our" candidate hasn't repsonded sharply and quickly to Wright's comments.
Rev. Wright's characterization of Obama's wonderful speach on race relations as "what a politician has to say" is the equivalent of saying it's false. Obama's own (former) spiritual advisor has effectively told the American people, "oh don't pay any attention to that speach. He had to say that."
I believe that Wright WANTS to bring down Obama because if Obama proves that a black man in America CAN win the nomination of a major political party and run a very serious campaign, possibly even becoming President of the United States of America, it will show that all his anti-America rhetoric of the past decades is false. He is trying to save his credibility by destroying Obama. That is tragic. Don't let it happen.
Obama has to respond NOW!! by saying, I'm deeply saddened that my former pastor has not been able to move beyond the rhetoric of hate and paranoia of the 1970's. I represent the future, not the past. I continue to call for a brighter future in which we strive toward acheiving the vision enunciated by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sincerely,an Obama delegate to the Texas conventionand donoran Obama delegate to the a Texas County convention and donor
Austin is expensive, no doubt, but there is a hostel!
Sen. Obama, when you are President of the USA, how will you address issues regarding healthcare in America today?
Specifically, will you hold town hall meetings across the county consisting of bedside nurses, nurse's aides, respiratory therapists, and other allied health professionals in order to discuss the issues facing those that deliver the actual bedside care? Will you listen to the thoughts of those who struggle, and try to give compassionate, professional care in a for profit setting, that does not allow professionals to deliver the standard of care that we believe our patients deserve?
Second, as a former US Army Nurse and VA nurse, I would like to know how you will address the top-down change in culture in these facilities? In my experience in the VA, and US Army, I found that healthcare professionals who are well versed in history (i.e. history of US conflicts) can find common ground with their patients, and therefore develop more empathy and compassion for them, if only they know their histories.
For example, I had never heard much about Iniwetok, but took care of military personnel who were there and were exposed to the atom bomb testing. I took care of those who were involved in the Normandy Invasion, the invasion of Siciliy and Italy, and in the North African campaign, the Philippines and Corregidor, etc. Only those who invaded Normandy are recognized by most Americans, because that battle is well known. Those involved in other military battles, such as the invasion of Sicily, Italy, North Africa and later, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, are also unrecognized. VA and US military staff should know of each of the conflicts, and understand them, and thus be trained to recognize the Veterans of these (and all other campaigns) and learn to value their sacrifices. Until and unless those who take care of our military veterans are well versed in the history that led to the battles in which they were involved, they are likely unable to give these veterans their due respect. Therefore, caregivers in the VA and in military institutions should be well schooled in history, so they can be more respectful of the veterans.
The same goes when it comes to taking care of our civilian elders. They have had a world experience that goes beyond the bounds of high school and college history classes, We must instill in our young folks a hunger to learn the lessons of our nation's history beyond the "blurbs" their school books now have.
National healthcare is more than just health care, it's about our nation as a whole, learning where we have been, and were we must go. It is learning our history, which will teach us volumes.
Most of all, I believe that our healthcare professionals, those who give direct care to patients, deserve more input regarding the things that will help them deliver quality patient care, and we need your help.
I last posted the early voting location for residents of Fair Oaks Ranch. One important note is if you live in FOR and Kendall County then you'll have to go to the Kendall County court house in downtown Boerne. The early voting location in FOR is only for Bexar County residents.
After I voted today, I made sure I was eligible for the Caucus/Convention on March 4th. They placed a "Democratic" stamp on my voter ID card and mentioned that I'll need to show up WITH my card in order to participate. If you don't have your voter ID card when you vote early, just ask for a form from your election official showing that you voted in the democratic primary.
Lastly, if you live in precinct 8-2 your Caucus/Convention will be held at the Kendall County Fair Grounds. See you there!
If you live in Fair Oaks Ranch, you can cast your vote now at the following location and times:
Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall
7826 Dietz Elkhorn
Dates and times:
2/19 to 2/22 (8am-6pm)
2/23 (8am-8pm)
2/24 (12noon-6pm)
2/25 to 2/29 (8am-8pm)
If you live in Boerne proper you'll probably need to go to the Kendall Count Court House on Main st.
Please check your location at this link: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/txevlookup
Once you've voted in the primary you're eligible to participate in the caucus after the polls close on March 4th. The caucus should take place at your local election day polling place. Check the site for more details.
Thanks to Oscar Garcia. Check out events for 78006. A nice way to end the day after the Obama event in SA on Tuesday.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/4rpxk
Our meeting Wednesday will be a training session on the program that is about to sweep Texas: Precinct Captains. Please join us at 6:30 Wed. Feb 13th. 301 Broadway suite 106 210-569-1206
alamObama NEWSFLASH
What a Super Tuesday! Obama Success across America and Enough Chocolate to Last 'til the wee hours of Wednesday!! Thanks to the entire alamObama community!
Now, it's on to the Texas Primary...
alamObama Volunteer Meeting: Our normal meeting date has changed to Wednesday, Feb 13th
at 6:30 pm to avoid a conflict with Valentine's Day ;-)
We will be meeting at our office (301 Broadway Suite 106) and our agenda will
include an important Precinct Captain/Delegate Selection training session.
note: This training session will be repeated before the March 4th Primary.
Feet on the Street: Hurrah! Due to many amazing volunteers, we are already delivering over 6,000
Obama flyers with Voting information across Bexar County. Without a doubt, this
is the most effective way to spread Obama's message of UNITY!
The next wave of canvassing will begin as soon as our new literature arrives; so,
get your walking shoes warmed-up.
Call Center: Believe it or not, we will make call number 12,001 very soon. So far, we
have encouraged voters in: Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, California,
Minnesota and Massachusetts. Today, we began calls to students in
Maine!
Our Bexar County Get-Out-The-Vote calls will begin very soon;
so, all this "practice" should come in handy.
OBAMA FOR AMERICA STAFFERS: A large group of OFA staffers are headed to Texas and
will join our grassroots' effort to secure the Democratic nomination for
Senator Obama. Let's show them true Texas hospitality, determination
and grit as we rise to the challenge of our great state being in play for the
first time in recent history...
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/313648.ec24395213f
Yes We Can!
alamObama co-chairs,
Jen Romo
Judy Hall
Fred Tawil
office # 210-569-1206
We have our Feet in the Street Packets ready, so if you're ready to canvass San Antonio please come into the office this week. You'll get instructions, a map and the Obama literature that you'll need to get San Antonio Democratic Primary Voters ready for March 4.
You can call the office at 210-569-1206 for more info.
