We know what to do. The problem is the lack of a sense of urgency. These kids aren't just some other person's problem, they're all our kids. And things won't change until every child is our child.
Ok so this "Butter - cow' lady has know my sister and brother-in-law for years - and they like what they see in a farm plan from the Kasas-Kenyan American Cantidate
I just thought you all might be interested in what the butter cow lady has been up to.Barack rolled out his plan to improve life in rural communities. His plan was developed by listening to people in rural Iowa instead of the power brokers in Washington D.C. Check out his plan and watch a great video featuring longtime farmer and State Fair Butter Cow Lady, Duffy Lyon (she's supporting Obama):http://iowa.barackobama.com/ruralagenda
The Barack Obama Wall of Supporters reached 1003 supporters today. Visit the wall at www.obamanh.com and have your name listed. Our next goal is 1500 supporters by the New Hampshire Primary in January 2008.
Reach out to your MYBO friends, family and friends and invited them to join the wall.
Eli Riverawww.obamanh.com
The great thing about grassroots campaigning is that every little thing each and everyone of us do can make a diference.
On Saturday October 6, I headed out for my first "Jeeping for Barack" in Peterborough, NH. I arrived around 12:00 and started making my rounds through Main Street, downtown and local shopping plazas. At first I was a little hesistant, but after a few waves, thumbs up and honks, I new Barack had a strong showing in Peterborough.
I did this for an hour, finally parking on Main Street for another 30 minutes. People would wave, take pictures of my Jeep and trailer, encouraging my "visibility campaign" for the Senator.
Every little thing we do brings us closer to electing Barack as our President.
You won't believe but my MyBO event "Jeeping for Barack" made it on one of the top political websites: www.politico.com
See here:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1007/Remainders_Dodd_campaign_sheds_staff.html#comments
You just never know what political websites will pick up.
When you listen to the words of the current president, George Bush, and you analyze them, not for their insight, not for their sincerity, but for their capacity to function as purely political words, then the system is broken. We have stopped thinking of the real question and rather analyze how well it was evaded. We wonder how effective his words are in the mind of the "average voter."What we don't understand is that it is exactly this process that makes us the average voter. We, by undergoing this process, give life to that figment of our imagination. It's as if we're day dreaming up a world of day dreamers and this day dream is itself what generates the reality of the dream world.But here's the thing, it is dependent on our own attitude, our own courage of conviction. If we decide that politics is not about being an at home political strategist, it becomes so much more. I'm not sure if TV or university politics departments have contributed more to the notion that politics is like trying to drive a car by only looking through the rearview mirror and arguing about which angle helps you see the best. Look head on! Realize that you are a socio-economic-political-social activist at all times. Whatever you do generates the reality of it. Dream for something different. Making something out of the future other than habit.
Barack is someone we can listen to for his insight. We can learn from him.
I'm a PK a "Pastor's Kid" so growing up I spent a lot of time at church, the time when no one is around except whoever happens to stop by.
Today, I help answer the phones and welcome people inside Obama's Iowa HQ. A lot of what I experience reminds me of being at church with my Dad.
People are hungry to be heard. They want someone who will listen carefully and authentically to their concerns. My favorite figure from the Buddhist tradition is the Bodhisattva Avalokietsvara of listening and compassion. I think deep listening helps lessen people's suffering.
My Dad's conviction to being with people in times of need is courageous. I didn't realize that as a part of this campaign I would be continuing that work. People come in to give us things. They come if they are hungry for food. They come to tell us about their difficulty in finding vital health care.
Being a pastor's kid I know that there is a "business" side to the church. You have to pay your bills and manage internal and organizational politics. You always have to balance this with your higher mission.
The same is true of a campaign. I am here because I want to see a brighter future. I want public life to no longer be about fear. I want it to be about hope. At the same time we have to make a lot of calls. We have to take out the trash and tabulate countless spreadsheets. There is a "business" side to what we do.
What I'm really happy is that, like with my father at our church, I know that the head of this organization, Barack Obama, is truly a good person with a good heart. It is reflected in who we are and what we do.
So while it is sometimes emotionally exhausting to open yourself to other people's hopes and pains, it is something we must do. If politics is going to be about HOPE, we must have the courage to talk with our neighbors about their concerns and actually listen to them. Politics isn't about polls and message strategies, it's about getting together with those near me. Get out and do it!
On the anniversary of September 11th, we join our fellow Americans in remembering the victims and families of those who passed on this tragic day. In the words of Senator Obama:
We also remember how Americans were stirred to a common purpose. On the lines to donate blood or the candlelight vigils that stretched across our country, there was no red America and there was no blue America. We were united in our grief for our fellow citizens. We were united in our resolve to stand with one another and to stand up to terror. We were united as Americans.
Even in the darkest of times, through unity and faith we find peace. Whether through prayer and meditation or private personal reflection, our faith brings us comfort. We pray for solace now, for those who have lost; for those who remember; and for a nation that still grieves, in strength.
Hello folks! My name is Paul Monteiro and I serve as Deputy Director of Religious Affairs for the campaign. I’ll be blogging a bit as our faith forum tour moves across Iowa. We had our first forum on Tuesday evening in Burlington. It was a great success with a packed house and a great conversation. The tour continued with a stop in Clinton, Iowa last night. On the second floor of the Clinton Public Library a group of supporters, undecided voters and campaign staffers came together to discuss the role of faith in politics. Joshua facilitated the program and we heard some insightful comments from those in attendance. Bob spoke of his disappointment with mainline denominations in allowing the dialogue on faith to be dominated by extreme and polarizing voices. He also lamented the tendency of candidates to speak in religious terms and cite the language of faith while acting in a seemingly contradictory manner. During our group discussion Lindra pointed out a common desire for the moral dimension of the many issues we face (the war in Iraq, skyrocketing healthcare costs, unaffordability of higher education) to be addressed. Roberta expressed her desire for her president to possess a personal faith that informs his policy decisions but to have that faith coupled with a healthy respect for those who don’t subscribe to those beliefs. After the forum wrapped up, several of us remained behind to watch a 60 Minutes report on the close relationship between drug industry lobbyists and lawmakers in Congress that led to the passage of the Medicare prescription drug benefit program, and higher drug costs for many Americans. It was a powerful illustration of the lack of principled leadership cited by those at the forum and the moral implications that exist in the weightiest issues of public policy. Our travels take us next to Dubuque for a forum this evening. We’ll be joined by Father Michael Pfleger of Saint Sabina in Chicago, IL. We’ll be sure to keep on blogging and share our progress with you. Below is a listing of the remaining stops on our journey across the Hawkeye State.
September 7: Iowa City
September 8: Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Davenport, Council Bluffs
September 10: Mason City
September 13: Des Moines
September 14: Waterloo, Cedar Falls
September 17: Waverly
September 18: Fort Dodge, Ames
Barack’s faith has long informed his values and shaped his public service, as it does for many Iowans and millions of Americans. To better reach out to the faith community, the campaign recently launched a new website: Faith-Action-Change.On the site, you can read testimonials and guest blog posts from prominent religious leaders, and learn more about Barack's vision for faith in public life. Even if you've already signed up as supporter, you should specifically join the Faith-Action-Change community to make sure you stay in the loop about related events and speeches.Here in Iowa we've seen overwhelming support from people in the faith community – ranging from Rev. Katherine Mulhern of Edwards Congregational UCC in Davenport to Rev. Dr. Floyd Brown of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist church in Sioux City. Barack recently spoke at Antioch Baptist Church (where Rev. Michael Coleman is pastor) in Waterloo. He raised the idea that it’s time for people of faith to fully realize that we can do remarkable things when we work together.
On Saturday, Barack will be speaking at the UCC Statewide Conference at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.The campaign holds weekly faith calls for Iowans to talk about how we can invoke hope and optimism to our fellow congregants. To get more information about these efforts, please feel free to contact me. I’m heading up Barack’s faith outreach here in Iowa and can be reached at mblake (at) barackobama.com or 515-883-2008. If you're in Des Moines, you can also stop by our office at 323 E. Locust St., in the East Village.
Otherwise, click here to find your local office and stop in. They’d love to have you!Each day, we're meeting people of faith in America from across the religious spectrum. They all want to join together to meet our common challenges. They know in their hearts that the responsibility we have to one another is greater than the pursuit of any ideological agenda or corporate bottom line. Faith-Action-Change is a way to help bring folks together around the idea that we’re all connected as one people - that we all have a stake in one another. Please join, invite your friends and, most importantly, continue to share with us your thoughts, advice, vision, and hope for our country.
