I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack
Find a polling place near you at Last Call for Change.
Last weekend, I traveled with 150 friends to the battleground state of Nevada, joining thousands of Californians in campaigning for Senator Barack Obama. Over the weekend, our group knocked on over 5,000 doors. We spread out across Las Vegas, meeting people in their homes and talking to them about their hopes and concerns. What we heard is that Nevadans, like many of their fellow Americans, are worried. They are yearning for change and strong leadership to put our country back on track. Most were responsive to Senator Obama's economic plan of tax cuts for the middle class and smarter regulation of our financial sector. I know that an Obama administration would bring renewed focus toward reviving our urban centers, and I will be working to bring that message to other voters between now and Election Day. Join us on another Drive for Change for the final Get Out the Vote Weekend.
Today a report released by the "Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development states that The U.S. has the highest inequality and poverty rates n the OECD after Mexico and Turkey, and the gap has increased rapidly since 2000."The OECD is a Paris based organization which works with Democratic countries to promote a fair economy for both businessws and workers. Their mission centers around:"• Support sustainable economic growth • Boost employment • Raise living standards • Maintain financial stability • Assist other countries' economic development • Contribute to growth in world trade"Warren Buffet in Timesonline in June of 2007 railed against a tax system which permiits him to pay 17.7 percent income tax while his secretary, who earns $60,000 pays a full 30%. While speaking at a dinner attended by John Mack of Morgan stanley and Alan Patricof of Apax Partners Buffet said: "that US government policy had accentuated a disparity of wealth that hurt the economy by stifling opportunity and motivation." Not every wealthy American agrees with Buffet. In fact Forbes Online recently reported that wealthier Americans cheat more on their taxes than do poorer ones -- some reporting as much as 21% less than they actually earned. That study was written by Joel Slemrod, an economics professor and director of the Office of Tax Policy Research ath the University of Michigan's business school and IRS economist Andrew Johns. Steven Malanga is an editor on the website realclearmarkets.com and Senior Fellow at the Manhatten Institute, a conservative economic think tank. He suggests that businesses don't always do well and makes the case that some large corporations make a stingy 3.4% percent profit.
The article cites that WalMart kept just $11.7B after paying $5.8B in taxes on $312B earnings in 2005. He went on to say: "Exxon Mobil earned $36 billion in 2005 after paying $23.3 billion in taxes on revenues of $371 billion."[just under 10%].A 2005 CNN money reported that a full 25% of US and foreign companies doing business in the US paid no taxes. In the article Eric Toder, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center concludes: "If the U.S. drops the rate to 30% but closes other tax loopholes, that may ultimately generate more tax revenue for the government."So let's recap: The economic gap between rich and poor is far wider than it's been since 2000 in the US. The rich cheat on, and apparently are getting away with cheating on, their taxes.A full 25% of corporations which do business in the US pay little or no taxes. Does this amount to an economic war between the classes? I suppose it depends on which side of the economic fence you stand.
***********************References:OECD: http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.htmlForbes.com : http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/21/taxes-irs-wealth-biz-beltway-cz_jn_1021beltway.htmlWSJ article re: OECD: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122464532734457657.html?mod=googlenews_wsjrealclearmarkets.com: http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2008/08/do_corporations_really_pay_no.htmlThe Manhattan Institute: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/Times online: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/tax/article1996735.eceCNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/12/news/economy/corporate_taxes/index.htm?cnn=yes
The Dustups - Fresno
No Drama Obama
He pulled himself up
By his own bootstraps
Worked his way
To the top of the class
Integrity
Cool and collected
He's been vetted
By every side
An open book
Nothing to hide
Here's the Youtube link for The Dustups - No Drama Obama song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7X-tghug4
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I belong to a social bookmarking website called Digg. On it people were talking about an article in which Senator Mc Cain accuses Senator Obama of being a socialist. One of the posters wrote and open letter to Senator McCain. Here is that letter.
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Just call me Joe the American disabled veteran with a few tough question I have a right to ask Senator McCain. Senator McCain please answer these questions the American people have a right to know the truth before the election! I served in Vietnam and I was warned upon my arrival that if I was ever captured that I was to only give my name, rank, and serial number. I served in a unit that was made up of 90 % black men, and I was one of only two white Sergeants in this unit. I clearly had my life saved by my fellow black soldiers at great risk to their own personal safety. This was during a time when there were parts of America, that they were still being told they could not enter because it was for whites only. I was wounded along with a number of my brother soldiers in an attack. While waiting for the helicopter to arrive to take us to the rear area hospital, I noticed that I was bleeding along side of a fellow black soldier. As strange as this might sound to Gov. Palin I could not distinguish my blood from the other soldiers as they ran together onto the ground in Vietnam. They were exactly the same shade of red blood. Just two American soldiers bleeding together, one black one white imagine that. Now in light of the very ugly racist campaign McCain has run and his demand for Senator Obama to answer and answer over and over his having worked on a school board committee with an old radical from the 1960 when Obama was eight years old. I want to ask a few questions of my own. McCain is it true that you gave into blackmail and fought for the establishment of normal relations with the country of Vietnam as a means of keeping them from playing their tape recordings of you spilling your guts? I want you to answer this question sir the American people have the right to know! Sir what exactly is the long term relationship you have carried on with the convicted burglar and one time suspected terrorist G. Gordon Liddy? Please answer me sir the American people have the right to know! Sir when you were attempting to interfere with regulators so your good buddy Keating could fleece the American people out of over $250,000,000.00 how much did he bribe you with sir? We know about the $112,000.00 but how much did he give you under the table? Sir the American people have the right to know! Senator McCain do you believe you can trash one the brightest men to run for President in the last fifty years or more, and not get asked some tough but fair questions yourself? I expect an immediate response as you owe the American people an accounting of your actions on these very serious matters sir! Your party talks about family values, how many times did you commit adultery with your current wife, while married to your previous wife sir! The American people have the right to know? Senator last week when you were making a speech and you stumbled and said "My fellow prisoners of war!" when it was clear you were trying to say "My Fellow Americans". Sir was that related to your dementia? Sir the American people have a right to examine your medical records. You want us to elect you and place Sarah the lest qualified VP candidate in history a heart beat away from the oval office and your attacking erratic! The American people have the right to know! Sir you can call me "Joe the American disabled veteran". Lastly sir why have you been AWOL when it comes to votes on "Veterans Benefits"leaving you sir with one of the worst records in the Senate? Sir the American veterans and the men and women fighting for this country have a right to know why you have consistently been missing in action when it comes to supporting veterans! Anticipating your immediate reply Sincerely, Joe the American disabled veteran! I can be reached Senator McCain at doylewheeler@yahoo.com Please answer my questions. http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/McCain_calls_Obama_Socialist_but_...His comment was in reference to this story on Crooks and Liars.com
This weekend, the Obama campaign held four ginormous super phonebanks in the Los Angeles area. Harnessing the amazing enthusiasm here in the final weeks of the Presidential campaign, these phonebanks are full of great energy, dedication, and cell phone waves (oh, and yummy snacks). In my neck of the woods, our Hollywood-Los Feliz-Silver Lake phonebanks joined forces at the fabled Sunset-Gower Studios, located at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Gower St. (This intersection was once known as "Gower Gulch" - silver-screen cowboys used to gather there looking for work as extras on western films.) Last weekend, this particular phonebank drew 200 volunteers who made 13,000 calls to battleground states and, in phonebanks throughout California, over 500,000 voters were called! This weekend our goal was higher - the campaign has challenged California volunteers to reach at least 625,000 voters - the Last Call For Change! Former home of Columbia Pictures ("It Happened One Night", "Funny Girl" and "The Caine Mutiny") and current home to such TV shows as Dexter and Heroes, Sunset-Gower houses many independent film and television production companies. It was also the former home of one of my all-time personal favorites: Six Feet Under. (You can read more about the studio's history here.) Last weekend, entering data from calls to Colorado, I was really heartened by the number of voters solidly in the Obama camp, versus the ones for McCain. The polls there are bearing this out. This weekend, we're over halfway toward beating last week's totals - 111 volunteers on Saturday, making nearly 9,000 calls! Sunday will surely rock. Thanks to the incredible volunteer coordinators who are making this phonebank happen every weekend. Your dedication is inspiring. And of course, the roomful of volunteers who didn't want to leave. Folks, if you haven't tried it yet, it's not too late - get thee to CA.BarackObama.com and find the nearest phonebank. You can make calls, enter data, sell swag, bring snacks - the possibilities are endless. You won't regret it!
The Los Angeles Times reported today on another voter registration fraud perpetrated by a group called "Young Political Majors" or YPM.
Voters were asked to sign petitions to strengthen laws against child molesters. The people who signed the petition were sent new voter registration cards designating them as Republicans. No big deal. Right?
I have not regretted a moment of the time I've spent doing this. I have met new friends, including many new heroes, and have learned more about the political process than I ever thought I would know. I have learned so much about veterans and military issues, and the various advocacy groups working these issues, that I know this is going to continue to be a part of my life long after Nov. 4. And I have learned so much about how much Barack Obama cares about veterans. I was a supporter before I took on this role, but what I have learned about this man, who has never served a day in uniform, but who, with his wife, goes out of his way to reach out not only to the person serving, but to the family members of that person, has not just reinforced my faith in his abilities as a leader, but as a human being who cares for his fellow man.
Barack Obama believes America has a sacred trust with our veterans. He is committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve. Obama will demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life, and improve mental health treatment at every stage of military service. He will require that they work to recruit more health professionals, improve screening processes, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer. We shouldn't have to hear stories about veterans losing their families and careers after they come home because they cannot deal with the emotional scars created by repeated deployments. There shouldn't be more stories of veterans committing suicide because they can't re-integrate into civilian life.
Bravo, California! This weekend, we exceeded our 500,000 call goal! You made 543,000 calls to Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, crucial battleground states that will make the difference in this election. Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication. Catch your breath and then get ready - we are three weeks from Election Day. Our goals will grow. And we will continue to exceed them. Now is the time to recruit all your friends who have been saying 'What can I do?'. Join us this weekend at another Last Call For Change phonebank. I am proud to be in the company of so many amazing volunteers. Yes We Can, Mary Jane Stevenson California Field Director
For all of us Obama supporters:
This is a link to a great article which will inform and supply facts to those who ask about Ayers and the "radical" education foundation.
Arm yourselves with this objective third party information:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/790/
Craig Scharton
Fresno, CA
Senator McCain has served honorably. But the affection he espouses toward veterans doesn't extend to showing up to actually vote for Veterans' issues.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of Amercia issued a roll call and assigned grades to each Senator and Reprsentative on the basis of how they voted. The record stands for itself.
On page 24 of the report we see that Senator Mc Cain was absent for 6 of the 10 votes and voted against a post 9/11 GI Bill Cosponsor which passed by a wide margin. This bill increased the spending on veteran's healthcare by 3.6 Billion dollars. Senator Mc Cain recieved a D for his efforts.
Senator Obama was absent 4 times. He voted in favor of veterans 6 times.
FOR: Veteran's healthcare in 2007 expanding expenditures by 3.7 billion dollars
FOR: Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles to replace the Humvees
FOR: 4 major revisions of the GI Bill correcting flaws and loopholes that allowed Vets to recieve inferior services.
Senator Obama was rated a B for his efforts.
We also see that Joe Biden was absent 3 times. He voted in favor of the veterans 7 times!
For his efforts Joe was rated a B as well.
So I guess in order to do the job you say you'll do it helps if you show up.
While researching something I heard about Michelle Obama I came across a website called "Free Republic". It's a website for ultra conservatives and conservative activists. I read their forum on Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama.
I have to say, I haven't seen such vile comments made or unflattering photos posted about anyone on any forum I'm a member of -- public or private. It just made me sick. Is this what America has come down to? I don't see how anyone can justify saying these things about anyone.
For people who espouse Christian morals and family values this is quite a revealation. I guess my idea of family values and theirs doesn't quite mesh. I didn't know hate was a family value.
I agree with this statement I heard the other day on the news:
"Saying 'The fundamentals of the economy are strong' may have been the point of no return for John McCain."
If you think about it, that's when things started really going downhill for him.
Yay :)
