7 November 2009
Dear Congressman Rehberg:
I am writing in support of the current health care bill being debated in The House today. As a member of a life-long Montana family, I am concerned about this nation’s broken health care system, and the high percentage (more than 34%) of Montanans without health insurance. I encourage you to break from the partisan politics being played by the Republican party, think about those uninsured in the state you represent and VOTE FOR THIS BILL!
There is no reason this great country should have such a high number of uninsured. No one should be forced to choose between paying their rent or buying food and going to the doctor or getting their prescriptions. Allowing this to continue is un-American.
Do the right thing for Montana and vote YES for H.R. 3962.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Kello
In case you hadn't seen this yet I thought I'd pass it on, please consider hosting a party or talking with a friend you can work with to find a venue to hold a party. We need many minds to figure out the stimulus plan and economic recovery and your voice needs to be heard.
Sign up to host an Economic Recovery House Meeting the weekend of Friday, February 6th.
Wouldn't it be great if we could get a party in every major town in Montana (and the smaller ones too). I have sent this e-mail to people in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and Helena, please forward this to people all over the state who may be interested, this movement is about us, the people and let’s keep it going to change Montana and America.
Please don’t let the scare tactics of Rush Limbaugh continue to run this country, we need bipartisanship to solve the economic crisis and rebuild our country. We cannot stand by as every house republican votes against the stimulus plan in lockstep, this is not a political issue, it is an issue that needs open discussion from all viewpoints and not just the Republican caucus (or Democratic one for that matter) to decide. President Obama ran his campaign on openness, bipartisanship and real solutions for America; let’s help him on the road to recovery.
Thank you and may your personal finances outlast this recession,
Nathan Kosted
P.S. Here's he link again:
By morning the wind had stopped and cold had set in. We got an early start and headed north to the Twin Cities. We stopped in Fargo for lunch with friends.
North Dakota was cold, but the roads were clear and we made good time. Dixie and I lived for 5 years in North Dakota and still feel at home in the Big Empty. Warmest people in the country.
We spent the night in Miles City, Montana, having driven 800 miles.
Early start this morning, as snow has moved in. Fought a light snow for 400 miles, across the passes and along the rivers, but made it home this afternoon.
Good trip. President Obama made it all worth the effort.
We got out of Wheeling late. Dixie loves the casinos. I enjoy reading while she plays.
As we got a late start, we did not get very far and spent last night in Danforth, IL.
Today in Iowa we hit ground blizzards and thought we would try and get north of it. Didn't happen. We are stranded in Northern Iowa for the night.
We arose early yesterday and did a tour of Arlington Cemetray. What a place. Emma felt we had to visit since we were so close. This visit did delay our leaving DC by a couple of hours. Emma wanted to see Baltimore, home of Hair Spray, so we drove there first. And we drove there very slowly. The only heavy traffic we have had for the whole trip.
Then we stopped at Gettysburg to view the battle sight. Here we found out that we were probably too far from Pittsburgh for the Kids to catch their flights home and to college. I drove as fast as I dared, but we just missed their flights. We got them rescheduled for the 22nd and set up in a hotel at the airport (pricey, aren't they?) and drove to Wheeling, WV.
For those I have promised photos, I can not download them to this computer, so everyone will have to wait. Sorry.
The ObamaCart made the NY Times yesterday, so I guess we have arrived.
Sunday Jeff and Emma flew into Pittsburgh and Jeff's baggage was lost so we had to spend the night. Monday we got out late and drove to DC. We swung south and came in from the south east to avoid traffic. Missed our motel and wound up down town. Parked and spent a few hours on the mall. Then back to the motel. Very light traffic.
Then to the MYBO Grassroots Soical. Cheryl had given a power point on the Obamacart, so when we arrived with my wheel, we got a warm reception. Had a great time and returned to the motle around midnight.
This morning up before 5 and got a cab down to the mall. I wanted to watch the show from the Lincoln Memorial, but was over ruled so we moved. To the WWII Memoial where Emma and I found good seats. But, that was not to be either. Dixie and Jeff went to the Washington Monument and called us, so we joined them.
So, we watched our dreams come true from the cold, wind swept hill top which surrounds the Washington Monument. The crowd was so thinck you could hardly move, but not heavy enough to create enogh body heat to warm the place.
What a wonderful experience! It was everything I wished it would be.
Afterwards, we worked our way back out of the mall, across the river to Arlington Cemetary and caught the Metro then a cab back to the room. Tonight we are going out again, but nothing will ever top today.
I really do not know if anyone is reading these posts, but it will be a record if the aliens capture us.
This morning the roads were the pits. 30 miles an hour. Car is rotten in the snow or ice.
Made Pittsburgh. Jeff's luggage is lost, so we have a room in Pittsburgh for tonight. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton. Nice place
Tomorrow DC
Still have an extra room, it ayone cares.
if you need a place to crash let me know.
Another 620 miles done. Tough roads today. Right outside of Sioux City was a wreck. A truck pulling a trailer rolled. Truck went end over end. Trailer looked like a horse trailer to me, but I saw no horses. Four ambulances passed us going to the scene. Iowa was icy for 150 miles so we went slow. Didn't make Indianapolis, but came close.
Thanks to Laura, we stayed with her in Iowa when we were on our Obamacart tour, she is driving about one day ahead of us and keeps us up to date on weather.
Wind turbines in Iowa are impressive. Dixie and I like their looks, but I know some folks think they are ugly. Energy of the future.
Sign up for the grassroots ball.
Made it from Hardin< Montana to souix City Iowa today. Good roads. We are just following the storm. Folks tell us today is the first nice day in a week. The weather is sort of "Obalmy"
See you in DC
We are on the road again. Heading to Washington, only without the Obamacart. I do have a wheel which I am having people sign. We left Anaconda at 4:30 and are spending the night in Hardin, near the Little Bighorn Battlefield.
We still have a hotel room to get rid of, if anyone wants it.
The Obama Cart will be in Butte this Saturday, attending a fundraiser at the War Bonnet. Drop by and sign it and say "How she goin.'"
Election night it will probably be at the Elks Club here in Anaconda, unless we get a better offer.
After 7000 miles and 24 states and Washington D.C. its journey is almost over.
Sign the petition against Montana voter suppression and call the Montana Republican Party. Link and contact information is at the bottom of this article.
Republicans crossed line with voter purge attempt Guest opinion, By John Bohlinger, lieutenant governor, 10/05/2008 Frank St. Pierre, of Anaconda, fought in World War II. He is one of the most decorated living veterans in America. And yet, on Wednesday, my party — the Montana Republican Party — tried to invalidate his voter registration because he lives in a county with a lot of Democrats. Incredible as this may sound to you, it is the truth. When people ask why, as a Republican, I agreed to become part of a Democratic administration, I tell them that I believe in putting my state before my party. This has created tension at times. On occasion the folks who run the Republican Party have tried to lock me out of their convention, and this year they even tried to prevent me from speaking at the Presidential Primary Caucus in support of John McCain. I have always taken this treatment in stride. As the saying goes, "All's fair in love, war and politics." But the executive director of the Republican Party crossed the line when he attempted to remove 6,000 voters from the rolls in Montana. These voters are law-abiding citizens and are legally registered. Some are veterans. Others are active servicemen, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or about to be deployed there. As a Republican, I was ashamed to hear of this. But as a Marine, I was outraged. Why would the Republican Party, which always claims to care greatly about our troops, do this? It appears that Republican operatives looked to gain an advantage by purging as many voters as possible from counties that lean Democrat. The director of the Republican Party issued a blanket challenge to validly registered voters based on false criteria, trying to persuade election clerks that a mere change of mailing address is grounds for automatic cancellation of voter registration. Not only was the effort blatantly deceptive, but the Republicans based their challenge on a national change-of-address database from an out-of-state vendor who sells personal information. Among other problems, this database lists servicemen and women who have been deployed overseas as having moved out of Montana. In other words, if you go to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Fort Sill, Okla., to report for active duty, you have "moved out of the state" according to this list. A significant number of the 6,000 voters targeted were servicemen, including Kevin Furey, a former state legislator from Missoula who left the legislature to serve in Iraq; Cindie Kalan-Green, who is also serving in Iraq; and Mathew Robison, who I am told has been deployed to Fort Drum. Many were college students and elderly people. For example, Babe Aspholm, of Anaconda, an elderly man, simply moved across town from his house to a senior living center. The Republicans tried to void his registration. Tom Detonacour, a policeman from Deer Lodge County who simply bought a house in another county, also got targeted. But worst of all is the legendary Frank St. Pierre, 86, also of Anaconda, who helped save thousands of allied troops at Dunkirk in World War II and has 10 Medals of Honor. St. Pierre, too, moved from one end of town to the other, and the Republicans tried to void his and his wife's registrations. I have a copy of the signed affidavits from the Republicans, declaring that Frank and Marilyn St. Pierre's voter registrations must be purged. An utter disgrace. Beyond the outrageous lack of consideration for citizens, patriots and heroes, a significant burden and cost has been placed on county election administrators, public servants who work hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. They have been completely swamped by this scheme. I am a Republican, and I will continue to be a Republican. But I am appalled at the leadership of my political party. I urge party elders to take action and promptly withdraw this outrageous effort to challenge the eligibility of legitimate voters, and to call for the removal any Republican Party employees responsible for this. This kind of activity has no place in a democracy. Finally, I would urge the voters of Montana whose registrations have been improperly challenged not to be discouraged by this unfortunate effort. — John Bohlinger is Montana's lieutenant governor. He may be reached via e-mail at jbohlinger@mt.gov.
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2008/10/05/opinion/hjjbijjejjigfj.txt Sign the petition against Montana voter suppression:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1739/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1420
Montana Republican Party p: (406) 442-6469 | f: (406) 442-3293 | 1313 N Last Chance Gulch | Helena, Montana 59601
For the next few weeks the ObamaCart is in the Bitterroot Valley. You can see it on the East side of the highway right before Stevensville.
Milissa has several Obama signs up and it is hard to miss, but, of course, I missed it.
Stop by and sign it.
Just got back from Belgrade. It was a lot of fun.
The traffic in Belgrade is equal to that of much of the east coast, at least it was today. I was planning on arriving at the Event Center at 9, but due to traffic, I was at the school instead and did not arrive until 9:30. Elizabeth found me and set me straight. We got the ObamaCart together and got in line.
I thought we had quite a few Obama supporters in the parade. Not hundreds, but a nice group. My daughter, Cheyenne and a friend of hers pulled the cart most of the parade route before being relieved by three young ladies from Belgrade.
Along the route as we went through Belgrade's older town with our paraders chanting O-Ba-Ma, the crowd picked up the chant and it echoed off the old brick buildings back to us. I sounded as if everyone was chanting, but we all know Belgrade has its fair share of Republicans.
At what I believe is the Lewis and Clark Park we had a booth set up for the Democrats. We parked the ObamaCart at the booth and enjoyed the rest of the morning and early afternoon with the great people of Belgrade. Free barbeque. Can't beat that. The girls played in the park and ran loose for awhile, before we disassembled the cart and came home.
As we were working our way through the park with the cart to leave, a lady stopped us and told us that her brother supported Obama and her husband supported McCain. So she always took pictures of anything with "Obama" on it to irritate her husband and tease her brother. We had a nice long chant with her and left unsure of who she supported. She took a lot of pictures of us with the cart and wished us luck.
Next trip is to Hamilton unless someone wants us sooner.
The ObamaCart is on the road again. This weekend heading to Belgrade, Montana to participate in a parade and festivities. Early October it will be in the Bitterroot Valley for a few days.
If you need the ObamaCart contact me and we will put it to use. Only six weeks left.
