Organizing for America | Friends of Michigan

A Father's Day Salute- My Daddy was Superman

By Nina Calahan-James, Freelance Writer - Jun 23rd, 2009 at 2:36 am EDT

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My Daddy was Superman!

My daddy and I took a walk together. If alive today, he would be my Spider Man, IRON MAN, The Incredible Hulk & Superman Senior! Yes I am the child of a true daddy’s girl! I am thankful 4 him!

My father was my buddy. I am very thankful to have had such a remarkable human being in my life called dad. They say God knows what we each need and he will not put more on us than we can bare.. My dad was a superstar in our family. Musically inclined. Naturally gifted in musical instruments, voice and the sport of football. My dad was the star quarterback in school. Multi-talented is what it’s called today. Love is what he did best with me!

Growing up in a house with both parents doesn’t seen to be the norm these days. But it was for me! It’s kind of sickening the relationship we shared, spoiled rotten I became. Having a preference of father over mother, isn’t the norm either but it was for me.

My father and I took many walks together; we talked all the time about everything. He never had seen to get tired of my inquisitive nature of the world and people. I think he really liked having me around. So when I hear of sons and daughters whom did not know their father or their father left their mother, my heart extends to them. For I think every child should experience the joys of growing up with their father active in their lives.

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"He's baaaaack"

By Joe - Nov 28th, 2008 at 3:30 pm EST

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Almost made a clean getaway.

Now I'm making calls to Georgia for Jim Martin. For two reasons:

1.) To get the Democrats closer to that fillibuster-proof goal of 60 votes in the Senate

2.) Because I don't like what Saxby Chambliss did to Max Cleland six years ago.

Want to join me? Then log on to the Obama site and make just a few more phone calls (again) before Tuesday.

It's snowing right now where I live (Buffalo -- where else) and I'd even consider going down to Georgia to camapign for Martin just to get away from early winter here. Well, if I could afford it I would. Oh well. Hope he's happy with the calls.

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A pol who is human!

By Joe - Nov 17th, 2008 at 9:31 am EST

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OK, I know I'm biased, but I thought the "60 Minutes" interview last night was great.

Barack Obama seems like a nice guy. Michelle seems like a great mom. Together, they make a wonderful team for us and US!

I especially liked the mother-in-law mentions. As someone who loves his mom-in-law, I identified with that.

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450 Jobs for the Obama Transition Team $12 Million Budget

By Nina Calahan-James, Freelance Writer - Nov 12th, 2008 at 4:47 am EST

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Barack with Illinois State Director of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth after placing a wreath at The Bronze Soldiers Memorial in honor of Veteran's Day (Duckworth is on the short list to replace Obama's Senate Seat in Illinois)

At a briefing before well over 100 reporters, John Podesta, the co-chair of Barack Obama's White House transition, announced three priorities for the interim period and laid out just how comprehensive the effort would be.

The transition team will operate off a budget of $12 million ($5.2 million has been appropriated by Congress, the rest will be raised separately through individual donations of under $5,000), employ 450 people and operate out of offices in Washington D.C. and Chicago. Already, Podesta reiterated, the team has granted 100 interim security clearances.

As for the priorities - they resembled the same major interests Obama announced repeatedly on the campaign trail.

• The team, Podesta said, would be "laying the groundwork in stabilizing the economy and putting Americans back to work."

• They "also will be engaged as is required and necessary in national security issues that remain constant throughout the transition."• And, of course, there is "the task of building a government."

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Why?

By Joe - Nov 10th, 2008 at 11:45 pm EST

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I don't know why, but I still keep checking back to the site. Maybe I'm expecting another call to make more phone calls (hey, it would be nice if this was updated; by my count I made @120 more calls than what they say -- no one included the tally from Nov. 3 and 4-- wazzup with that); maybe I want to go knock on more doors agin (yeah, as if); or maybe i just plain miss the excitement.

If that's the case, how do I become an Obama delegate for the 2012 convention. Wait, where IS the '12 convention???

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It was all worth it

By Joe - Nov 5th, 2008 at 8:26 am EST

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I can’t remember the last time I felt this good the day after Election Day. Thank God for California’s 55 electoral votes! As soon as the polls closed there (11 p.m. in the East), the networks said Obama won. Yeah! So why did he do it? Because of 3 million Obama volunteers like us who are tired of the war, tired of the injustice, tired of the division, tired of the malaise and tired of the same old-same old way of doing things that sapped our hope and our spirit and led us not to what Lincoln termed the “better angels of our nature,” but to fear and loathing (to steal a journalistic phrase). We volunteers loosely got together and reached out to Americans and asked them to change the system. I made 527 phone calls to voters in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri and Colorado; traveled to Edinboro, Pa., one weekend and knocked on dozens of doors and handed out reams of literature (and was fed by volunteers who made oh-so-good desserts); wrote scores of letters to the editor and to TV stations in several states; also wrote about 30 blog posts that went on a half-dozen or so Web sites; and donated my own time, services and money – as well as persuaded others to donate – which came out to more than $300 (Warren Buffet, we’re not). But here’s the point: I was just one fat, old guy in little ol’ Buffalo, N.Y. Imagine what the other 2,999,999 or so people did. I am so proud of what the 3 million of us did and I am oh-so-joyful that America listened to our words and watched our actions and responded by electing Barack Obama. But now the real work begins. Let’s celebrate some, and then let’s heal the national wound of a long and sometimes bitter campaign and then come together as one nation to work for better days. God bless the United States of America.

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Thanking my Lucky Stars

By Eric(law_rebourne) - Nov 5th, 2008 at 1:49 am EST

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congrads everyone.

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Election of dreams

By Joe - Nov 5th, 2008 at 12:42 am EST

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Remember the movie "Field of Dreams"? There's a scene where Roy's wife pleads with a crowd not to ban a book. The crowd votes and the book is kept on the shelf. Roy's wife is heppy and beaming to everyone in the school gym something like: "All right, America! I'm proud of ya!" Tonight, I know how she feels.

The only thing missing tonight was commentary from my fellow South Buffalonian, the late Tim Russert, may he rest in peace.

Now we have the real work to do.

May God bless the United States of America.

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Michigan! We Did It!

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 4th, 2008 at 9:31 pm EST

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Michigan!

We did it!

Michigan made its voice heard!

Thanks to your work - your effort knocking doors, making phone calls, talking to your neighbors - we did it.

Thanks to you, Michigan will be part of the change we need. Thanks to you, Michigan has decisively voted for Senator Obama. We've turned the page on the divisive politics of the past - thanks to you.

To our volunteers, to our staff - to everyone who worked so hard to make this day happen - thank you. We couldn't have done it without you, and you are what this campaign is and was all about.

This is hopefully just the beginning of what will be a fantastic night for our nation as other states follow Michigan’s lead and for Democrats up and down the ticket in Michigan.

Our work doesn't end here. We must keep working to make Michigan - and America - what we want it to be, and what it should be. Working together, there's nothing we can't do.

Thank you, for all that you've done.

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Vote, volunteer - victory

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pm EST

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If you’re reading this now, chances are you’ve already heard dozens of pitches trying to get you to volunteer for the Obama campaign. If you’ve already volunteered - we thank you. This is a grassroots, “bottom-up” campaign, and your help is why we’ve been able to come this far.   But, it’s not over yet.

Even if you’ve volunteered before - or if you’ve always wanted to help out but never had the time - today is the day! Since Barack announced his candidacy for president on May 2, 2007, everything we’ve done has been in preparation for today - which is why it’s so important to not give up now. We need your help! Sign up to help out today at a Campaign for Change Get out the vote location near you, the most important day of the election here.

Michigan! This is our moment; this is our time! Get out and vote - and then volunteer - and tonight, we’ll celebrate victory. Don’t delay, volunteer today!

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Get out the vote on your campus

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pm EST

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John McCain's campaign has as recently as yesterday said that they believe that students won't turn out to vote. Today is our day to prove them wrong and show America that young voters do matter. Our opponent and the media believe that young voters won’t show up - that we don’t care about the election, and are too lazy, too unwilling, or too unmotivated to actually get out and vote.

But today, we’ll prove them wrong.

 Today is the day to turn the page on eight years of failed Bush policies that have seen our middle class shrink, economy worsen, and college move out of reach for more and more people. Today is the day to make your voice heard!

What happens today will determine the direction we want our country to move in. Decades from now, your children will ask you what you did today. Do you want to be part of the moment that changed America - or do you want to stay home, and just hope for the best?  

Our moment is now. Get out and vote - bring your roommate, your friends, anyone you can think of. After you vote, help us get out the vote on this critical day - sign up to help get out the vote on your campus today!

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This is it!

By Joe - Nov 4th, 2008 at 9:04 am EST

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Today is the day.

As for me, I choose hope over despair. I choose unity over division. I choose real, positive change over the failed policies of the past eight years and the malaise of the status quo.

I hope and pray we all choose wisely.

I also think that a Democratic-controlled House and Senate will help a potential Obama administration. So that's why I encourage everyone to vote for those who would stand with Obama to give us the country we dream about. God bless the United States of America.

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It's time

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 4th, 2008 at 7:00 am EST

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It's time.

Time for you to stand up and say what kind of country you want to live in.

Time to show that yes, we can bring the change Michigan needs.

As Barack said, "The time is now to shake off our slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe past and future generations."

Yes, now is the time to get to the polls and cast your vote for the change we need, for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The polls are open throughout Michigan from 7 a.m. EST to 8 p.m., and it's absolutely essential that you get out to the polls and vote.

If you need a ride to the polls or have any election day questions or problems, please call us toll-free at 1-888-MI-CHANGE.

Tell your friends; tell your family; tell your neighbors -- today is the day to stand up for the change Michigan needs. Stand up and be counted.

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You're invited...

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm EST

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YOU'RE INVITED to the
Michigan Democratic Party's
ELECTION NIGHT EVENT
at the
Detroit Renaissance Center

Finish up canvass and phone bank shifts as the polls close and then join the Michigan Democratic Party to watch the election returns and celebrate the work we have done together to get out the vote for change.

Guests will include Governor Jennifer Granholm, Lt. Governor John Cherry, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Judge Diane Marie Hathaway, Speaker Andy Dillon, MDP Chair Mark Brewer.

November 4, 2008
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Renaissance Center Ballroom
Detroit, MI

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My vote

By Joe - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm EST

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On Tuesday, I will be proud to vote for Barack Obama for president. As Sen. Obama said four years ago at the Democratic Convention: "There is no liberal America, there is no conservative America. There is just the United States of America." There are forces of disunity in the country that would divide us, but I believe that Sen. Obama will help lead us to better days when we can all be proud of who we are and what we stand for as a country.

We can follow teh forces of disunity and fear, or we can vote for the future. I am voting for Sen. Obama and I say God bless the United States of America.

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Condolences

By Joe - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm EST

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My condolences to Sen. Obama and his family on the loss of his grandmother. May she rest in peace.

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Jay-Z: "I'm voting for Barack Obama!"

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm EST

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We have a lot of work to do

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 am EST

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REMINDER: if you are eligible, today (at 4 p.m.) is the last day to vote absentee in-person at your clerk's office. If you've requested your absentee ballot previously, it must be returned by mail or by hand to your local clerk's office by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

For more information, call 1-877-767-6424, or visit the State of Michigan's voter information page.

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1 day!

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 am EST

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I know everyone is busy, has other things to do, has work, and is tired. But - there will be thousands of other days to work, thousands of other days to sleep, thousands of other days to run errands. This is our only day to make sure Barack Obama becomes president and if we win this election I truly believe each of those thousands of other days will be better.

That is why I am asking you to take off Election Day and help ensure that we elect Barack Obama our next president.

In twenty years you will not be thinking I sure am glad I slept those extra few hours or I am glad I saved my vacation or sick day. But I guarantee you that you will be proud for the rest of your life to have been part of the Obama Campaign on Election Day 2008.

Let's win this thing.
Josh

Sign up to help Get Out The Vote! It's the most important time of this campaign and we need your help!
Students! Help out on your campus getting out the vote and join Michigan Students for Obama!
With our Neighbor-to-Neighbor tool, you can make calls from your home, and print lists of your neighbors to canvass!

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Monday's events

By Josh In Michigan - Nov 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm EST

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Tomorrow's the last day before Election Day, and our offices will be humming with activity. We hope you can join us at some of these events:

At 11:30 pm, on the eve of election day, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, and Denise Ilitch, Candidate for University of Michigan Board of Regents will join students and supporters for a “Midnight Madness,” Get Out the Vote Rally for Barack Obama in Ann Arbor. The rally will also feature a musical performance by Ann Arbor’s own “My Dear Disco.” Join Governor Granholm, Senator Levin, and Denise Ilitch at 11:30 in the Michigan Union Ballroom for the event!

Also, Lt. Governor John Cherry will appear at several events tomorrow:

12:15 pm        Meet and Greet with Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry
Capitol Coney Island
4021 Van Slyke Rd
Flint, MI

2:30 pm          Plant Gate Meet and Greet with Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry
TRW Automotive
2328 E Genesee Ave
Saginaw, MI

3:30 pm          Canvass Kick-Off with Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry
UAW Local 467
2104 Farmer St
Saginaw, MI

Stop in one of our sixty-plus offices tomorrow!

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