We're going to be gathering at Spengler's in downtown Napoleon tonight to watch Barack Obama's historic speech accepting the Democratic nomination for President. Join us at this fun event for some good food, good fellowship and what promises to be an inspirational speech from Barack.
The event starts at 7PM. Spengler's is located at 713 N Perry St. in Napoleon.
If you need more information call me at 419-266-0357 or Kevin at 419-371-8481.
We're finalizing plans to take a roadtrip to Pittsburgh the weekend before the PA primary (April 19-20) to help with the GOTV effort there. The plan is to leave Saturaday morning, canvas in Pittsburgh Saturday afternoon and early Sunday afternoon and be back in NW Ohio by Sunday evening. We'll have an opportunity to get out and have some fun Saturday night with a social event in Pittsburgh's historic Strip District.
This outing is listed on the events list. Be sure to RSVP if you make it. I can help with hotel arrangements and we'll be coordinating ride shares once we have a better idea of how many are going.
Call or email me if you have any questions. 419-266-0357 or grantjim@roadrunner.com
Jim
Great news! We have opened a "Headquarters" in downtown Napoleon to serve as our base of operations and rallying point for the Get Out The Vote effort in Henry County. Our office is located in the Vocke building at 733 N. Perry St. It will be staffed and open every day through Election Day. We have campaign literature and a limited number of yard signs available.
Stop by to chat, pick up campaign materials and sign up for the Get Out The Vote events we have scheduled before Election Day.
WASHINGTON - The GOP presidential race can be summed up this way: three strong contenders and a hunger for someone else. "There's no question that there's a very open field," said Ken Mehlman, a former Republican National Committee chairman. Unlike in 1980, 1988, 1996 and 2000, "there's not a presumptive front-runner," he added.
The nomination fight has become even more fluid since the year began, which is unusual for a party that typically has a clear heir apparent.
For now, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has the lead in national popularity polls. Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has the most money. Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) may have the superior national political operation.
But none has a clear advantage in all three areas — polling, fundraising and organization — that are traditional measures in determining which candidate is in the best position to become the nominee. Perhaps more telling, Republicans say, is that none has articulated a message or offered an agenda that a majority of the party supports.
"What's missing so far is a clear down-the-line conservative champion, an establishment candidate," said Greg Mueller, a GOP consultant.
Nine months before the leadoff Iowa caucuses, the fragmented field and disenchantment with the top candidates may present an opportunity for a fourth contender to emerge.
That could be an underdog such as Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) of Kansas or two former governors — Mike Huckabee of Arkansas or Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin.
Other prominent Republicans are flirting with a run, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and could shake up the field. The latest to express interest is Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who, friends say, is seriously considering a bid. He is running third in a few national polls without doing anything more than acknowledging he was thinking about running.
Such buzz is evidence of the degree to which GOP voters are seeking alternatives to Giuliani, Romney and McCain. Conservatives who dominate the Republican primary see all as flawed.
In Iowa, Susan and Roger Rowland of Clive are attending campaign events to find someone to embrace. Last week, they saw Giuliani one night and Romney the next. But they were not impressed enough by either to commit. They have not seen McCain and are open to learning more about others, too.
"There are a lot of candidates out there, but I don't really know what I'm looking for," Susan Rowland said, sighing. Her husband said, "If I had to pick today, I'd probably pick Romney, but I'm really glad I don't have to pick today."
The Rowlands are not alone in their uncertainty.
"Significant numbers are really undecided," said David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa political scientist. Short of someone else catching fire or entering the race, he said, "in a year where Republican caucus-goers are focused on electability, they may ultimately hold their nose and pick one of the three."
It is Giuliani, McCain and Romney among the nearly dozen Republican presidential hopefuls who appear best positioned to capture the nomination.
Projecting invincibility, McCain spent more than a year meshing loyalists from his failed 2000 bid with some of President Bush's top political operatives to build what he hoped would be an unrivaled organization. Despite its depth, McCain gradually has faltered.
Last week, he announced raising a disappointing $12.5 million in the year's first three months. During a visit to Baghdad, he made upbeat comments about security only to have Iraqis mock his characterization. He told CBS' "60 Minutes," in an interview to be broadcast Sunday, that he misspoke.
To get back on track, McCain ordered an overhaul of his fundraising operation and better controls on spending. He scheduled policy speeches, including the first this Wednesday in which he will defend his support for Bush's policy in Iraq. Other speeches and an official announcement tour are set for this month as he seeks to regain momentum.
Once he made clear he was serious about running, Giuliani jumped to a double-digit edge in national polls. His built-from-scratch political operation is not yet on par with the others. Still, Giuliani ended the January-through-March fundraising period with a respectable $15 million raised.
He continues to lead in national surveys but his advantage has softened as he has come under increased scrutiny. He has faced questions about his business dealings and about his ties to Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner against whom prosecutors reportedly are pursuing multiple charges.
Giuliani also has had to answer for his abortion-rights stance and clarify statements suggesting his wife would play a significant role if he were president.
Romney set out to prove he was a threat by ensuring he had a stellar fundraising start. He succeeded, collecting a surprising $21 million in the year's first three months.
Yet he remains significantly low in national polls. He continues to be dogged by his reversals on abortion and gay rights, and his equivocations on other issues. He resumed television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire to define himself. His campaign is eager to start debates, where aides believe he will shine.
Ok, so Santa crashes Tulsa's MLK Parade yesterday with the PIMP AMERICA VOTE OBAMA sign. One brothaa VEHEMENTLY insisted Santa DEEP-six "PIMP" from the sign. At first, Santa refused, trying to explain "PIMP" is a good thing in the WHITE neighborhood he hails from, North Pole.
Brothaa PERSISTED and compared the term, PIMP, to that other N-word. At which, Santa wholeheartedly agreed to the said measure of 86'ing 'PIMP.' Ok, maybe it's OK for brothaas to use the word between brothaas, but, it's NOT ok for non-brothaas to use the word.
Whatever. So, the NEW sign: BARACK AMERICA VOTE OBAMA. Just to keep the peace and NOBODY gets confused on Santa's intention at first blush, as the sign rolls in July on its way to New Hampshire for the BIG primary.
And, what is the meaning of giving "dep?" It seems it's ok with the brothaas, but, NOT law enforcement types. To Santa, it's just a good way to press a whole lotta FLESH, without passing kooties.
By GLEN JOHNSON Associated Press Writer
Latest Photos of Mitt Romney
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Romney seeks cash lead over competition
BOSTON (AP) -- A millionaire thanks to his work as a venture capitalist, Mitt Romney is acutely aware of the motivating power of money. His presidential campaign hopes it will have a similar effect on college students, which is why it's offering them a cut of their fundraising.
Participants in "Students for Mitt" will get 10 percent of the money they raise for the campaign beyond the first $1,000. While candidates often offer professional fundraisers commissions up to 8 percent, campaign experts believe the Massachusetts Republican is the first to do so with the legion of college students who have historically served as campaign volunteers.
"For the kids that want to get involved in a political campaign and they don't want to spend their summer painting houses, they can help the campaign and themselves at the same time," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.
Others take a dimmer view.
"It may very well succeed, but I'd like to think that he'd approach young people and college students based on their commitment to the country, not because they want walking-around money," said Steve Grossman, a prominent Massachusetts fundraiser and past chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is engaged in a fundraising battle with rivals for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, including such better-known candidates as Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Presidential candidates must report their first-quarter fundraising numbers April 15. Those totals will strongly contribute to perceptions of political viability.
Running third or worse in public opinion polls, Romney is looking to raise at least $15 million to cement his status as a top-tier candidate.
Successful applicants to Students for Mitt get an ID and source code so the campaign can track donations made at their behest.
The participants are asked to contact members of their academic, social and family circles, and point them to Romney's Web site. The students get 10 percent of all money above $1,000 that is contributed under their ID and source code.
"I spend a lot of hours at the campaign here," said Sarah Isgur, second-year student at Harvard Law School, who is raising funds from classmates, friends and family members, among others in the Boston area. "Some students are working at a law firm and earning $3,000 per week. My opportunity cost is pretty high some times, and this can take the edge off that."
The U.S. House of Representatives just handed the President a DIRECT order to pull troops from Iraq by September 2008, by a vote of 218-212. The vote was strictly along party lines, with Republican leaders claiming the vote is tantamount to admitting DEFEAT.
60 US Senators will be needed to send the withdrawal bill to the President, who has VOWED a veto.
It seems at every stop Obama makes he talks about affordable healthcare for all. Certainly I would support some combination of Canadian-style care and privatized model. But, hey, what do I know?
But, one aspect of health insurance system that ALWAYS gets UNDER my skin is healthy, fit, physically-active people subsidize SMOKERS, and FAT people, who cause their OWN demise and make the rest of us pay in the process.
Obama, suppose you set the NATIONAL example to quit smoking and REALLY contributing to ONE solution to the healthcare CRISIS?
Just a suggestion. Santa LOVES ya brothaaaa! Otherwise, he wouldn't have made the suggestion in the first place.
Martha Mattes writes:
By any chance would either one of you know if there are brochures or flyers on Barack Obama available, and if so, how we can get a HUGE quantity for March 31?
Obama08OK would like to have a table at the Tulsa County Democratic Convention on March 31, and we would also like to pass out literature to those attending the Martin Luther King parade that afternoon. As you know, the latter event typically draws huge crowds.
Let me know if you know anything -- thanks!
Well, people, it had to come sometime, the first big Barack disappointment. Elaine Dodd, a member of the Obama in Oklahoma steering committee reports Obama will visit the Tulsa home of George Kaiser. The luncheon, by invitation only, will cost attendees $2,300 per person.
Then, Obama will jet to OKC for maybe another HIGH-dollar event most of us proles won't be able to afford. Oh, well, I knew the first of many disappointments had to come sometime.
Thanks a MILLION for getting our hopes up.
WASHINGTON - Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton called Tuesday for the majority of voters, women, to help her break the nation's highest glass ceiling by electing her the first female president.
"Today, women are a majority of the voters, a majority of students in college, and we are a growing presence in the Congress. But there are still far too few women in leadership positions," Clinton told a crowd of roughly 1,300 at a luncheon for EMILY's List, a national political committee that raises money for Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights.
Christina Tuff also said Sullivan chose to apologize in a letter to the editor that was published in the Sunday Tulsa World because of previous letters the newspaper had published on his comments.
"He feels that his letter . . . speaks for itself," Tuff said. "He realizes the words chosen were inappropriate and decided to respond directly to those who had written letters to the editor that ran in the paper."
Sullivan's apology grew out of reactions to comments he made last month when he introduced a bill to make a memorial to the 1921 riot part of the National Park Service.
During an interview on the legislation, the congressman conceded that some people in Tulsa resist that plan.
"There are people that don't like this. I know, but I don't care. I think that certainly it is something we need to have," Sullivan said.
"If those people think that it is wrong to have a memorial to this, that's their problem. They are either bigots or they don't understand."
Tuff confirmed that it was the use of the word "bigot" and the letters generated by his use of it that triggered the apology.
"I apologize to those I may have offended in a Tulsa World story," Sullivan wrote in his letter to the editor. "The use of inflammatory language, unfortunately, has taken away from the purpose of my interview, which was to promote legislation honoring the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot."
He also encouraged those who disagree with his proposal to read the text of his legislation, examine the findings of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission and visit the memorial once it is completed.
"The 1921 Tulsa race riot was the greatest domestic disturbance since the Civil War," Sullivan wrote.
"By the time the violence had ended, an estimated 300 people were killed, and 35 to 40 square blocks of the Greenwood community were destroyed."
If anyone has seen the Obama u-tubes from Selma, they were nothing short of AMAZING. Beautiful lyrics, cross between JFK, RFK, and MLK. AMAZING, people, amazing.
Which brings up the DARK side of America's political MESSIAHS. They get ASSASSINATED. DAMMIT, I want to go to the Obama Inaugural, NOT a damn WAKE.
As many of you might have noticed, street surveillance cameras are like reproducing like a whole lotta horny wabbits.
They are mostly pretty useless, ostensibly for catching bad guys and some pie-in-the-sky notion of keeping the public safe from the said bad guys. And, guess what? The footage is mostly UNREGULATED.
There is NO set uniform policy on how those footage might be used. Someone is probably watching you picking your nose in your car and having a jolly good time at your expense. Some of the footage are already on u-tube.
So, let's put the cameras to good use, people. Wave an Obama sign at the cameras, maybe spiced it up with a little song and dance!
