Organizing for America | FISA: Why does Sen. Obama plan to vote for it?

FISA: Why does Sen. Obama plan to vote for it?

I do not understand Sen. Obama's plan to vote for the FISA legislation. I wrote to his staff this week, and of course given the amount of email they receive, I did not receive an answer. But maybe someone can explain his support of the bill. I have campaigned for Sen. Obama since October so I am not being sarcastic. Please explain.

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Warrantless Spying Continues - Letter to Obama

By Nate - Apr 8th, 2009 at 6:02 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

This is a letter I wrote to President Obama in response to the Obama Administration's current attempts to expand the legal justification for the illegal warrantless spying program inherited from Bush (you know, the one Obama was supposed to disband rather than try and make new legal loop holes for).

I have a link to an article here, not the greatest news site, but they have links to the full text of the DOJ court filings to dismiss suits against the government, and severly limit people's ability to file future suits against the government to protect their Constitutional rights.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obama_Administration_quietly_expands_Bushs_legal_0407.html

---Begin Letter---

Dear President Obama,

In February of last year you said: "There is no reason why telephone companies should be given blanket immunity to cover violations of the rights of the American people - we must reaffirm that no one in this country is above the law."

In July you then instead voted to grant immunity to those very companies while they were in court for violating the rights of the American people. You insisted this was a necessary compromise, and gave us the following assurances:

You supported the FISA court as the exclusive means of legal domestic government wiretapping:

"The exclusivity provision [of the FISA Amendment Act] makes it clear to any President or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court. In a dangerous world, government must have the authority to collect the intelligence we need to protect the American people. But in a free society, that authority cannot be unlimited. As I've said many times, an independent monitor must watch the watchers to prevent abuses and to protect the civil liberties of the American people. This compromise law assures that the FISA court has that responsibility."

You acknowledged that blocking legal action in the courts weakens deterrents against and accountability for illegal wiretapping:

"[The FISA Amendment Act] grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have violated the law by cooperating with the Bush Administration's program of warrantless wiretapping. This potentially weakens the deterrent effect of the law and removes an important tool for the American people to demand accountability for past abuses."

And you pledged to reform the system to prevent future abuses and protect civil liberty:

"I do so with the firm intention -- once I’m sworn in as President -- to have my Attorney General conduct a comprehensive review of all our surveillance programs, and to make further recommendations on any steps needed to preserve civil liberties and to prevent executive branch abuse in the future."

Now, barely two months into office, your DOJ has done exactly the opposite. It has filed to dismiss suits against the government involving warrantless wiretapping, and further expanded the corrupt Bush interpretation of state secrets and sovereign immunity. The abuse of executive power you pledged to prevent in the future, your DOJ is now expanding. The warrantless wiretapping program created by Bush to circumvent the very FISA court you agreed was the exclusive legal means of wiretapping American citizens, is likewise now deemed to be legal by your DOJ. And since the previous immunity for telecoms didn't weaken deterrent or accountability for illegal spying enough, the grounds given for dismissing the cases against the government is that the government can't be sued, even for actions which are willfully and intentional in violation of existing law, unless the government willfully disclosed the information they illegally obtained.

Given this track record so far I guess we can expect your continued protection of Bush Administration officials against torture charges and investigations. We can expect you to keep hiding the Bush torture memos instead of releasing them to the public. We can expect you to merely relocate Guantanamo detainees in new places, closing the prison only in name. We can expect a trillion more dollars to be thrown at CEOs while we get laid off by them (Geithner and Summer's PPIP plan is just more privatized profits with socialized risks, and it stinks of corruption). We can expect more promises of European style services without admitting they will require European style taxes. We can expect future bailout programs to be crafted, like the current ones, behind closed doors and without the input of other ideas or people outside the Wall Street/Washington bubble your administration is quickly falling into. This isn't what we campaigned for, and it's certainly not what we voted for.

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feed the animals, it's free

By Duane Kuehn - Mar 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,

Terri S. sent me this link to give spread around. I hope everyone will visit it and pass the link.

All you have to do is visit the animal rescue site and click on the box. They will donate a small amount of food to rescued animals for each click they get, and they are not getting enough clicks right now.

Please help them help animals. It's simple, quick and free, and does a world of good. Please pass on to others that might be interested in helping.

Thanks,

Terri S.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Loveya,

Duane

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Count your vote, Make it count

By Duane Kuehn - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,

     Election Day is upon us, then we can go back to regular commercials on television.
     Congratulations, it appears that everyone's hard work will surely "pay-off".

    Unfortunately, one major problem remains unaddressed and appears to be worse this year, more widespread, than the 2004 election. Vote Fraud. Not, mind you, voter fraud, but computer dysfunction, hacking, and even built in "flip" voting.

     Do we remember the 2004 election? All the networks declared John Kerry the winner, except Fox News. As the very important Florida votes came in, Fox News declared George Bush the winner. The other networks checked their own figures and "gosh darn" George Bush was the winner. How did that happen, all the other networks somehow had the wrong figures, or more exactly, suddenly those figures "flipped".

     Later, December 2004, a man named Clint Curtis testified under oath before the House Judiciary Committee on vote fraud.

      http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/465.html

     Mr. Curtis testified that he worked for Yang Enterprises Incorporated (which proudly proclaims on its site, "To provide high quality engineering and computer services for both the government and private industries"). Clint Curtis testified under oath that he was approached to create and did create a program that would “flip” a percentage of the votes to the other candidate. I hope you will click the link and watch the full video (from a movie insert but apparently the true testimony)

     The House Judiciary Committee did find vote "flipping" in the Presidential election of 2004. One "hint" of this happening is the flicker on the screen. The program which Curtis mentions, however, does not "flip" as the individual votes, a person flips a specific percentage of the votes after the voting is finished. Did the 2004 Florida vote “flip” at the last minute? We the People should be very worried.

     Already, some machines are showing flickers, many called “over or under sensitive screen problems etc. This is not some programmer or screen-maker error. This could easily be resolved in programming, why was it not done. We like to believe in honesty, especially in the election process, however, it is just no longer feasible to believe this.

     Like it or not, we need to take back our country, "change from the ground-upward" as we have been told. Our politicians will do nothing to address this problem but "We the People" will, in order to KEEP this more perfect Union more perfect!

     Election Day, Tuesday November 4, 2008, I plan to go to my appointed voting place, vote and stay there, all day if I must.

     I will take with me a large cardboard box having a hole cut in the top. I will take thousands of slips of scratch paper and a gang of pencils. Staying at least 25 feet from the building entrance, I will ask voters to please write "M" or "McCain or "O" or "Obama" on a slip and put it, unseen, into the box.

     Explaining that this is an anonymous gathering of the votes to check with the computer totals at this precinct to make sure there is no large difference between the ballots cast inside and the intended receiver of that individual vote. The ballot is the private business of the individual voter but the total of votes cast and for whom is important to keep the system honest.

     I will wear no campaign materials, this is not for campaigning, supporters are to take the day off, says Obama. You deserve that.

     This situation, however, demands our time. We are doing this for the honesty of this election and the protection of future elections in this country. If the other candidate wins in our individual districts, one need not be happy but we know that we are able to accept what comes.

     We are much stronger than to tamper with the paper trail we are creating in our individual districts. Tampering, with our own totals, will only do us harm and is out of the question. This is for the future voting rights of all Americans.

     I am inviting anyone to volunteer for this with me. Regardless of political affiliation, color, creed, etc. This is for the nation at large, not for our individual egos. Wherever you live, gather and do your individual precincts.

     I hope you will join me in this. Some may scoff at me but I do not care, this very Democracy deserves my time. Be it alone all day, I wholly plan to do this.
     I hope that you will do the same at your precincts. We have come too far to trust this election to others. Nobody will watch out for us, We must take action. If the results are true, then great. If the results are incorrect and we have done nothing, we get what we get, like it or not.

     For input or more information please contact me at   de-wah@usa.com
Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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vote fraud protection

By Duane Kuehn - Oct 31st, 2008 at 10:51 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,

     What a long and sometime tumultuous ride we have had! I am so proud of this country because of fellow people like you. We are America.

     Of course, it is not over yet. I figure that I cannot just sit home and not vote on Tuesday, because I think it is going to be a "win". Lol I know that I have to keep on others to keep them motivated to go out and vote, for sure. One way is to offer rides to others, especially the elderly, but anyone.

     Frankly, an admittance, me bad, I know that there have been voting days when I just had to force myself to go out and vote because I just plain didn't feel like driving to the polling place. What always forced me to go is that I know if I do not vote, then I have nothing to say about the outcome. Now, we have to contend with gas prices so I will have to fill my tank (which I can surely not afford) and offer to drive others to the polls.

     Nevertheless, I see a greater problem here. I am most worried about voter fraud. Computers with too sensitive touch screens (this has to be rigged, as there are too many 'double check's which can be programmed which have not been). From the 2004 gaffs to next Tuesday's vote, I am afraid and I am sure I have a right to be.

     I believe everyone should be afraid, after what we have seen in the past few elections. One county with around 500 registered voters allegedly posted around 5000 votes for George Bush! There should never be a ballot without a paper trail; this is just plain sense.

     I am now thinking (do not laugh, I do that sometimes) that I might take a box or a few boxes, a few thousand slips of paper and some pencils to the local polling place. That I would try to sit at the polling place all day and ask voters leaving the booths that they please write, privately, for whom they voted and stick it into the box(s?).

     Later, after the polling is over, I would count those slips and check to see if there is any big difference between my count, my averages, and the election results posted by the voting precinct I was at all day.

     Now, I am wondering, what if this happened at local polling places all across the country. Is it possible, a People’s Paper Trail to keep tabs on the big boys?

     All of you have created and maintained a wondrous grassroots campaign. I will bet you can do the same to make sure this is a clean election.

     Is anyone else interested in such a thing? It does not have to be fancy but it is something we can do to watchdog our election.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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VIDEO THE VOTE We need your help to save American democracy

By WANOBLICK SSGT USAF (Retired) Disabled Vietnam era veteran - Sep 25th, 2008 at 7:19 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Video the Vote is calling on you to help us document issues of voter
suppression and disenfranchisement on Election Day 2008 in Your
Community!!

We need strong leaders to serve as: Local Producers, Shooters and Team
Leaders on Election Day to protect the vote and ensure our civil
liberties!
We can stop vote suppression in it's tracks. I am member of Video the vote. The republicans are still very active in vote suppression. Also we can report problems with voting devices and to document any activity. We need your help to prevent another Florida in 2000 or Ohio in 2004. We will have the time before the elctorial college votes to show the senate any irregularities during this election.

Video The Vote (www.videothevote.org) is a nonpartisan Voter
Protection project, which aims to protect the vote by being the eyes
and ears where ballots are cast and counted on Election Day 2008. With
the help of our partners (Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Common
Cause, Voter Action, People for the American Way, Color of Change,
Rock the Vote, Working Assets, many more), and an army of nation-wide
citizen dispatchers, videographers and reporters, we will document and
report any irregularities that occur at polling places and boards of
elections while they are happening, enabling the media and public to
watch-dog the electoral process and document issues of
voter-suppression across our country. Like any grassroots effort, this
campaign depends on the participation of as many people as possible.

Do MORE than vote on November 4, 2008! Video the Vote! Help protect
the vote! Protect your community! Visit www.videothevote.org or email
danie@videothevote.org to get involved today!!!

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If this electio wer not so critical It would be laughable

By WANOBLICK SSGT USAF (Retired) Disabled Vietnam era veteran - Sep 19th, 2008 at 12:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, Republican adminstration nationalizing public traded financial institutions and threatening war with Russia, etc. etc., all in all this is an unusually critical election year.

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." But.... * Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, yours is a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig, Bristol and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become
the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your
family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, Republican adminstration nationalizing public traded financial institutions and threatening war with Russia, etc. etc., all in all this is an unusually critical election year.

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." But.... * Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, yours is a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig, Bristol and Track, you're a maverick.
* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become
the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
* If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your
family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

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Thoughts about volunteering

By Frankie - Sep 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm EDT

Also listed in: FISA: Why does Sen. Obama plan to vote for it?

After his inverterbrate flip-flop on FISA, I lost interest in campaigning for Obama.

Recently a volunteer called and asked me to help, and I've been pondering the subject. To be honest, the only thing so far that might inspire me to help is the ~10% chance that McCain might die in office. But really even the theoretical notion of "Palin 09" isn't quite enough to push me into action.

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The Obama Biden McCain love fest has to go

By WANOBLICK SSGT USAF (Retired) Disabled Vietnam era veteran - Sep 11th, 2008 at 9:33 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Community Blogs Welcome, Warren.
Manage | Logout | Search Blogs It is one thing to be civil with your political opponent. I think that expressing respect for you oppponet's military service is fine.But the John McCain is my friend rhetoric is wearing a little thin out here in the trenches. John McCain has been attacking our campaign since it was certain that Barack had won the nomination. The swift boating and deceptions and lies are all over the place. Go to the RNC website and listen to all the right wing nut jobs on Clear channel AM radio. Hannity, Savage, Gallinger Boortz Jim Bohannan, and Limbaugh and Faux Noise. If it wasn't for Air america I would have taken a sledge hammer to my car radio. In Central Ohio and in My home town of Heath Ohio, our radio stations WHTH and WCLT are a 24 hour a day republican propaganda network. One neocon loudmouth after another 24 hours a day.I have even emailed the managers of these station to set up an appointment to debate all of this republican rubbish.And of course they will not even return my emails to debate me unless they have control of a microphone that they can shut off.Haven't Dukakus's and Kerry's people working with our campaign taught our people anything. Ignoring a false truth, deception or a straight out lie isn't going to make the garbage go away. this crap is sticking like super glue here and in Southern Ohio West Virginia and Kentucky.Our campaign is asking our people to go out and contact voters and get doors slammed in there faces because there are a lot of idiots that we have to contact.Well I am speaking from the bottom up to our County State and national campaign staffs.How can you expect are people to go out and defend Barack when the national campaign is lobing softballs nationally with the media.There are 55 days left until November 4th.We on the ground are putting every thing we can give to win Our battle cry is REMEMBER THE STOLEN ELECTIONS OF 2000 AND 2004. All of us had our hearts broken in two. How can we be in a statistical tie with McCain considering the economy, the war, people loosing there homes.It's time that the people running this campaign decide whether this time a democratic presidential candidate is going to be WILLIE HORTONED OR SWIFTBOATED. SHOW THIS COUNTRY EVERY SCREW UP THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE GOTTON US INTO AND MAKE THEM OWN IT. AND TO HAMMER THIS HOME EVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT 54 DAYS

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The Surge

By gryff - Sep 4th, 2008 at 11:22 pm EDT

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Tonight I gather Barack was on Fox News with O'Reilly. I have not seen the video so I can only judge by two text reports.

1. Fox News: Obama: Surge Succeeded beyond our wildest dreams

2. MSNBC News: Iraqi surge exceeded expectations, Obama says

Violence maybe down ... but why ?

1. The "Awakening" in Anbar province where groups were paid by the American military to patrol neighborhoods and to fight against other Sunni insurgents. Was that part of the 'surge' or pre surge?

2. Ethnic/Religious cleansing in Baghdad. Not something that seems to be mentioned as going on. And with good reason ... people get upset about it ... be it Kosovo or Georgia or Rwanda.

Here is a map that shows population shifts in Baghdad from July 2006 to July 2007.

Is that a success beyond wildest expectations ?

It seems really sad to see something we detest elsewhere is described as a victory!

gryff :)

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My first veiw of Palin, wolf killer, enemy of the environment

By John P - Sep 4th, 2008 at 1:08 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

When I first heard that Palin had been chosen as McCain's running mate, I thought the name seemed familiar, but couldn't place her. Later I was looking up some information about the aerial slaughter of wolves in Alaska about which I had received several emails. Turns out, Palin and her allies in the Alaska legislature had been in the forefront of the efforts to condone the culling of wolves and other carnivores from the air. Using airplanes and helicopters they stalk and destroy these animals in an effort to increase the herds of caribou and moose for hunting. She and her cohorts spent $400,00 to publicize and promote this slaughter. It is now legal in Alaska to shoot animals from the air.

This is not the only incident in her war on the environment, despite Republican claims that she is an environmentalist. She has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government to prevent the classification of polar bears as an endangered species, although it has been predicted that they will be at 30% of their present number in 50 years. The reason she gave is that it would interfere with oil production. This is the woman who "stood up to the oil companies."

Palin does not believe that there is a human component to global warming. She says "the verdict is still out on that one." This is in the face of reports by the vast majority of the world's scientists that we are in the midst of global warming and that it is primarily manmade. How long should we wait till the verdict comes in? Maybe when the world's coasts are innundated and famine strikes the world's food supply.

We must get out the word on this Annie Oakley moose-killer. She and McCain must not get into office. Go volunteer to get Barack Obama elected.

Please check out the attached video and contact your congressional representatives and Senators and urge them to vote to outlaw this aerial slaughter.

http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=QQnyHTAB5-V5Z2rIzsi_rg..

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Rewrite on Palin's Wikapedia profile

By John P - Aug 30th, 2008 at 5:52 pm EDT

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A Wikapedia editor discovered early yesterday morning that someone had been editing Ms. Palin's profile. They had spent hours deleting negative things like her beauty pagent career, anti-environment stance etc. and enhancing or adding the positive aspects. They traced it to an ip address that had only been used once to edit Palin's profile. More information on the link below.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94118849&sc=emaf

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~::~ JOE BIDEN Is Barack's VP Pick ~::~

By !!! ~::~ CeLeStiaL ~ PsYcHeDeLiC HuMMiNgBiRd ~::~ CoZMiC SPiRiT ~::~ Green! ~ For Barack Obama !!! ~::~ - Aug 23rd, 2008 at 2:57 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

~::~ *Delaware Senator Joe Biden* Is Barack Obama's Announced Choice For His Vice President. ~::~

http://AuthorsDen.Com/ShivaniSannyasini

~::~ Shivani Sannyasini ~::~

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Who knows who Obama has chosen for his Vice President?

By John P - Aug 20th, 2008 at 12:57 am EDT

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Not a damned soul except Obama and his close associates, and, presumably, the VP choice, know who he has chosen as his running mate. The media talking heads keep guessing - everyone to whom Obama waves or speaks is the new Vice Presidential choice. Many bloggers on this site keep guessing and threatening not to vote if this or that person is chosen. And nobody knows who his choice is - let's wait until a choice is announced before running amok and jumping to conclusions. We should spend our time in more productive pursuits.

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Let's send some messages to demand responsibility in government

By Duane Kuehn - Aug 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,

     We have watched our political system become filled with irresponsibility and a demand that people are above our law.
      I hope you will please investigate these links, which are timely, and make a decision if you would want to see responsible politics put back into the system.

     This one is Karl Rove (McCain’s new campaign spin/lie master). He claims nothing less than “executive privilege” to not honor a Federal Subpoena. I forget when he was elected President! Do not let him get away with this!

http://sendkarlrovetojail.com/?utm_source=47433

     Hold McCain responsible for his lies in his advertisements.

http://therealmccain.com/pac/?utm_source=rgemail

     Like Barack says, it is “bottom up” instead of “top down”. We cannot expect one man to change everything about the way government is run. We must take action ourselves to help Barack. One think is holding people responsible for what they say and what they do.
     Bush said many things about responsibility and takes none himself.

     Let us hold these people responsible for what they do. Show them that we are not just some supporters of Barack Obama for some “movement”. That we are the movement and we mean business.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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Hey Wow! Win a beautiful heritage Obama Quilt!

By Duane Kuehn - Aug 1st, 2008 at 10:27 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Hi All,

     Okay, he it is, I have begged and pleaded for people to donate at my Fundraiser. I have crawled and cried and… Okay, maybe not. Lol

     This, is where you should surely donate! Any amount will help and we can help these wonderful persons who made this quilt reach their goal. I know we can do it, you and I.

     The great part is that you will be put in the pot to win this quilt! It will be a great heirloom for sure. A quilt made in honor of the man who has already changed the way politics works. He is already one of the greatest figures in American history.

     Please, let’s do this. For us, for Obama, for our children’s future.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/QUILTERSFOROBAMA

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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REpost: Barack Obama, our only true hope.

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm EDT

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     A young man stepped up to the podium at the 2004 Democrat's National Convention to give a speech. A riveting speech it was. He touched the heart, the mind and the soul as he spoke of the civil rights of all Americans. About the need to take back our government, to change the way government operates and make it transparent to the people once more.

     That we ARE one nation and should refuse those who would tear us apart for their own political gain. That we are a diverse nation, Latin’s, Blacks, Whites and every shade in between. Members of various religious creeds, races, and individuals along the vast spectrum of sexuality financial capability. That we are God’s diversity and in our diversity is our true strength. That we are a house divided by political mudslinging and lies. That we must come together as a house united. Not mentioning what we all know, that a house divided can only fall.

     A "Keynote Address" he was giving too, a message of hope for the future, its unarguable truth unheard of in modern politics. I was glued to my seat, listening as this man spoke. Reminding myself that we are so good at coming together for one another in times of tragedy. Knowing that the current Bush/Cheney Administration itself was a tragedy of our proud heritage.

     His speech was in favor of John Kerry and we watched as a group, now indicted for their actions, called the “Swift-boat Veterans” slung heaps of lies and mud upon one honored veteran; and in doing so slung mud upon every veteran in the grand military history of this country. The people we swayed by the mud, untruth and spread of fear which would never come to be. He advocated John Kerry and John Kerry lost the election.

     Giving us four more years of economic decline, military bumbling, an oil consortium growing rich as the rest grew poorer. But for the rich, like Warren Buffet who, upon receiving his $395 million dollar tax break said he didn’t ask for it, he certainly didn’t need it. The other wealthy were not so forthcoming as another four years of feeding the rich at the expense of every hard working American.

     But, the average American was also rewarded with tax breaks. Little did they suspect that they would pay dearly much more than they received. The Bush administration stood tall and proudly demanded that the dollar was strong, the economy on the upswing, as they had for four years prior. No one seemed to pay much attention that the dollar, for seven straight years, had been continually falling on the world market. The world market being the true barometer of a national economy, though the elite like to confuse things with GNP and deficit spending or consumer buying.

     For six years, George Bush replaced “unemployment” with “unemployment rolls”, a smooth move. “The unemployment rolls are down this month”, not mentioning that the unemployment rolls are reduced each month that any unemployed person’s benefits have run-out. They didn’t get jobs, they just were off the rolls. When they did get jobs, it was usually making much less money than they had been.

     Seven, going on eight, years of deceitfulness and blatant lies in government, all allowed by an obviously controlled press. Yes, you can fool all of the people some of the time. Even for eight years running.

     This man who gave that keynote address speech that was so riveting. His name, we know, is Barack Obama.

     I watched him over the years and yes, he fulfills his promises. He acts in a bipartisan manner and even produced the most compelling ethics laws that the State of Illinois has ever seen. In the United States Senate, he began to open the government, in spite of George Bush's disabling of the Freedom of Information Act.

     He recently created a huge stir with his support of the new FISA legislation. Though fulfilling his promise to fight to have the immunity provision removed, it remained in the bill, as expected. The rewrite of this FISA bill itself, reins in Bush's domestic surveillance but allows for International surveillance, so long as an American citizen is not involved in what is espied.

     That the PAA was to expire in August and Bush had already demanded that he would veto another extension, the passing of this bill is necessary. Add the fact that it was known that this bill would pass the Senate with little friction, I must wonder. Why did Barack Obama support it when it would pass with or without his vote? The only answer is that there was an "Old-School" trade-off.

     You see, Obama knew that his support would create a wave of unrest in his supporters but said, "I will take my lumps". What nobody seemed to be watching at the time is that, probably the most important financial and health legislation was also going through the Senate, a Medicare bill that Bush promised to veto.

     A number of Republican's oddly did an about face and approved the new Medicare legislation. John McCain the only Senator absent for the vote (but he has a history of being absent from the Senate floor for his entire career more than any other Senator anyway). Ted Kennedy, recover ing from brain surgery even made an appearance, casting the deciding vote, which made the legislation veto-proof. Hence, I believe that Obama put himself on the line for an "Old-School" trade-off. He is, after all, only a Senator and must work within the system. I think that everyone might understand that.

     I almost forgot the "Change" thing. Yes, "Change" has been used in many campaigns before. However, contrary to what many people claim, Barack Obama defines "Change" if one reads his proposals or listens to his speeches it is all there.

     Open (called now, "transparency") Government is Barack Obama's "Change". A change in how government operates. A reopening of the doors that have been closed as government operates behind them. Promising executive order to reverse many of those Bush put into effect. Like George's lengthening the President Act that the activities of Presidents would not be public knowledge for a full 25 years! Moreover, reversing the executive orders Bush used to disable the Freedom of Information Act. Barack also promises to correct George Bush's extension of the "National Security" classification to include what Cheney had for lunch at a public restaurant. (My joke, me bad.)

     I hope that everyone recognizes that Barack Obama does bring us a new Hope. That the "movement" part of his campaign is the promise to Change the way that a government we have come to mistrust, operates. This from a man whose political history is the "proof in the pudding" that he keeps his word.

     I watch now as the McCain campaign begins to smear tactics. Slinging lies blatantly into the media which devours them like Adam and Eve devoured the Fruit of the Garden. I wonder how many people will be swayed into believing these lies and campaigning spins.

    I hope very few.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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Get Afghanistan Right Please

By RobinInTexas - Jul 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

The following is an edited summary of something by someone who I usually disagree with, but I agree with what I am presenting here:

For, without any visible strategy for victory, Obama is recommending the same course LBJ took. Johnson bombed North Vietnam in 1964, landed Marines in 1965 and built U.S. forces from 16,000 advisers on Nov. 22, 1963, to 525,000 troops in January of 1969.

The Soviet Union, whose 115,000-man army in Afghanistan reached more than twice the size of U.S.-NATO forces went home defeated in 1988. The Soviet Empire did not survive that humiliation.

Obama should, before committing any more combat brigades, explain how and when this war ends in an American victory. For as of today, the Afghan war resembles Vietnam far more than Iraq ever did.

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Obama Platform Proposal : 7-19-08 party

By Patrice Ventresca - Jul 28th, 2008 at 9:28 pm EDT

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Democratic Party Platform Proposals From: Blue Horizon Skyline Voters for Change --We can see clearly now the reign is gone-- Thank you for inviting all Barack Obama supporters to take part in forming the Democratic Party platform for this campaign and for the next four years of office. The following proposals are from the people of Silicon Valley who live and work together in our dynamic, technological capital of the world. ***The Three E’sThe Democratic Party has among its top priorities progressive policies that affect what our group is calling out as the “Three E’s”: - Energy: conservation and alternative sources - Environment: protection and planning - Education: expansion and enhancement These areas represent three legs of progressive change within our society and economy. A short list of examples that tie them together for multiple benefits includes: 1. Installing solar panels on all school buildings and other public buildings. 2. Elevating environmental awareness as a priority subject in K-12 education. 3. Investing the savings from ending the Iraq war in both K-12 and higher education. California's "Renewable Energy Rebate Program" can be an example for the nation. Homes reducing costs in any manner should be eligible for credits. For more information, see: http://www.wholesalesolar.com/california.html ***Timely Withdrawal from IraqThe Iraqi government has made it clear that it is sovereign and expects U.S. forces to leave within 16 months. America must listen. We must draw up a timetable and implement it as soon as Senator Obama takes office. ***Universal Health Care ReformAmericans need to know that our government cares about our health and will protect it. - No American should be without basic health care services for lack of insurance - No American mother or father should be frantic over a child’s health for lack of comprehensive coverage - No retired American should be hoarding or splitting prescription medications for lack of money ***ERISA ReformThe Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) must be reformed. ERISA-participating employees are not seeing their interests protected. ERISA protects the interests of employee benefit plan participants and their beneficiaries by requiring corporate plan sponsors to disclose to their employees all financial and other information concerning the plan. This requirement must be enforced, including the creation of new legislation and regulations as needed. ***Women's Reproductive ChoiceIncorporate Roe vs. Wade in legislation, and implement the necessary Executive Orders in order to: - Protect a woman’s right to choose - Act on that right without danger to herself or to medical professionals - Our government must not interfere in any way with a woman’s reproductive choices. ***Tax Credits for High-Income EarnersRemove tax credits for the top 3% of income earners. These credits are patently unfair. Instead, use the increased revenues to fund the “Three E’s” and other programs that benefit all Americans. ***Voting Transparency and Ease of VotingThe Federal Election Commission must implement national standards governing the voting process, and require that all states adhere to the following standards for their voters: *Transparency in every stage with voting system software, including open-source software *National standards for electronic voting machine certification* External, non-partisan certifying groups that publicly disclose testing results *Reliable voter-verifiable systems with a paper ballot as the ballot of record*Robust auditing procedures that include absentee ballots*Updated and thorough recount procedures *Public ownership of all voting systems and software There can be no trade secret methods in the voting systems*All processes, including computerized processes, must be fully open to public scrutiny.Important Ultimately, extend voting periods to all day on the weekends so that working people and parents can cast votes more easily ***“No Child Left Behind” and Other Failed ReformsOur country benefits from an educated populace. Students and working people must be assured that if they want to further their education, especially in critical subjects such as science, foreign studies, and environmental planning, that they can do so without great economic sacrifice.The Democratic Party must stand behind all efforts to: - Increase class attendance at the K-12 levels - Decrease drop-out rates - Encourage students to avail themselves of higher education - Make it possible for working people to return to school if they so desire - Make free education available not just through high school, but for advanced studies as well ***HIPAA ReformThe "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act" (HIPAA) must be reformed to protect the privacy of medical records. To ensure our Constitutional right to privacy, medical records should not be placed in a national database. Computerizing and storing this private information not only carries the potential threat of severe breaches of security: it also raises cost for doctors and medical institutions, a cost that will be passed onto many patients already hard-pressed to obtain affordable health care. ***Our Constitutional Right to PrivacyProtection of privacy, as guaranteed by our First and Fourth Amendments is paramount to American citizens. Our government must: - Ensure honest reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)The new FISA law for the first time legalizes warrantless wiretapping and grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications providers that have participated in this privacy-invading behavior. FISA as amended must be repealed. A better version, based on the recommended investigations and respectful of the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution, must be passed in its place. - Investigate privacy invasions by the Executive branchCongress and the National Science Foundation must conduct thorough investigations of privacy invasions that may have been committed by the Executive Branch, including those that may be unconstitutional and illegal. - Reverse telecommunications provider immunity from wireless eavesdropping lawsuitsExecutive and administrative requests without warrants must be eliminated as a defense against warrantless wiretapping in the civil lawsuits now being prosecuted against the telecommunications providers.If these lawsuits reveal illegalities on the part of the Bush Administration, then these illegalities must be investigated and prosecuted by the Justice Department. ***Separation of Church and State We must reaffirm the freedom of religion so dearly bought with the blood of our forebears. We uphold the principle of separation of church and state: for the sake of the church, that it is truly free and non-conformed to the state; and for the sake of the state, that it benefits from religion’s many voices. We admonish the state when it dictates and coerces the church, and the church when it coerces the state to achieve its purposes. It is our best hope that the church remains the free conscience of the state and that the state remains the guardian of free religion in America. I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day- Bob Marley

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Start Booking Rooms in DC for the Inaugural!

By Todd Epp - Jul 28th, 2008 at 10:49 am EDT

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Pollster.com and the Huffington Post have stories today on the electoral map for 2008.

If the election were today, Sen. Barack Obama would win handily.

Even solidly red state South Dakota is in play, only leaning to Sen. McCain 44.8% to 38.7%.

But we Democrats often peak too early. I remember in 1988 when Gov. Michael Dukakis got the nomination that July. His numbers were really good. Only we ended up with Pres. George H.W. Bush that fall.

If Sen. McCain continues his Captain Queeg-like ways, I think that his numbers are only going to get worse for him.

I least I hope so.

Cross posted to South Dakota Watch and Kansas Watch.

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Separation of Church and State

By John P - Jul 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 am EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

I received this letter in response to my concerns about expanding Bush's faith-based initiatives. I am not necessarily convinced, but if there are enforced safeguards to prevent corruption and discrimination it might be a bit more palatable. It is clear to me that mixing religion and politics is never a good idea no matter the good intentions. If you need any evidence we have a history replete with witch burnings, inquisitions, jihads, pograms, crusades and wars fought solely in the name of gods and between different groups of beleivers in the same god. And, we have the current administration's example of using religious predjudice against certain members of our society to gain political favor and feigned religious beliefs to coerce the conservative Christians into supporting them. We have also seen the negative influence of religion in this presidential campaign from Rev. Wright and his racist and hate-filled rhetoric and the Catholic Priest ridiculing Hillary Clinton in the pulpit to McCains active courting of Hagee and his ant-Semetic, anti-catholic, homophobic and incendary remarks. Religion or the lack thereof is a private matter between you and whatever god you claim, and should not be used as a political ploy.

Dear Friend,

Thank you for contacting Senator Obama about his plan to engage faith-based and community organizations as government partners in providing social services to those in need.

Senator Obama firmly believes in the separation between church and state, and he will abide by a set of principles that will ensure this new initiative honors that constitutional mandate. For example, organizations that apply for new funding from Obama programs will not be able to discriminate on the basis of religion in hiring. In these programs, government funds may only be used for secular programs and initiatives, not for proselytizing or teaching religion.

Senator Obama believes that we need all hands on deck to help people in need, regardless of their backgrounds or where they live, and that government should work with both secular and faith-based partners to this end. Secular and faith-based organizations each bring unique expertise in providing critical human services, whether that’s keeping veterans off the street, feeding the hungry, or rehabilitating ex-offenders.

We should not discriminate against successful service providers just because they are affiliated with a faith community. As long as they follow some basic rules and are effective in delivery of services, faith-based organizations should be able to partner with the government, as they have done for decades. Most faith-based groups hire religiously diverse staffs and have long operated within anti-discrimination laws, and Barack believes that these programs can provide good models for helping people in need while upholding the core constitutional principle of separation of church and state.

Senator Obama has been clear that faith-based initiatives in his administration will be markedly different from President Bush’s program. Barack is committed to a full review of Bush Administration policy and its effects, and to reversing any regulations that were politically motivated or sought to legalize discrimination.

To learn more about Senator Obama’s views on faith and politics, please click here:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/

Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Obama for America

-------------------
Paid for by Obama for America

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