Just a few moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39 to move forward with debate on health reform legislation. OFA Director Mitch Stewart explained:
For the first time ever, the Senate just voted to begin debate on a comprehensive health insurance reform bill. This was the first big hurdle we had to overcome to pass reform through the full Senate. The decision was close -- and insurance company lobbyists were working overtime to defeat us -- but your calls this week made a huge difference. There are more fights ahead, but this is a big victory and I wanted to take a minute to thank you for making it possible.
President Shimon Peres also paid tribute Friday to Obama, saying that his leadership had meant "peace became a real and original agenda."
******************The President******************* Jerusalem, 9th October, 2009 "Very few leaders if at all were able to change the mood of the entire world in such a short while with such profound impact. You provided the entire humanity with fresh hope, with intellectual determination, and a feeling that there is a lord in heaven and believers on earth. "Under your leadership, peace became a real and original agenda. And from Jerusalem, I am sure all the bells of engagement and understanding will ring again. You gave us a license to dream and act in a noble direction." Nobel Peace Prize laureate and President of Israel, Shimon Peres.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasite/images/iht_daily/D091009/peresobamaletter.pdf
You might want to sit down to read this one .......
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-dorlester/guaranteed-health-care-in_b_280528.html
AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE REFORM
http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com
Phone/Fax (712) 239-0992
Direct Questions to:
americansunitedhcr@cableone.net
Press Release
9 A.M. CDT, August 31, 2009
AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE & INSURANCE REFORM RALLY & March in Washington, D.C. Sept. 13, 2009
Sioux City, August 31, 2009: A rally/march will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 13, 2009 between 12N – 5pm in support of the administrations health care and health insurance reform goals. It is the goal of Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform to let congress know that all Americans need health care and insurance. Over 47 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are underinsured or at risk of losing their health insurance
The rally/march will begin at the Lincoln Memorial and march to the steps of the Capitol Building via the National Mall. This rally/march will be peaceful.
Robert Reich has given his support to this rally and march, “….I just want Congress to know how many Americans want universal health care and will settle for no less than complete coverage and no less than a public insurance option, to keep private insurers honest. So I’m happy to lend my support to whatever you are doing.”
Americans have enjoyed the freedom of movement, speech and employment. It is time that American citizens have the freedom that comes from knowing they have affordable health care for themselves and their families. Health care is not just for the privileged but it is a fundamental right.
Other groups marching on September 13, 2009 for health care reform are Congressman Fattah’s “March for Healthcare”, “Medicare for All”, and “March on Washington for Health Care.”
We invite all those who wish to participate visit our web blog at http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com and register to rally.
For more information please see our web blog (address above)Please direct all questions to our committee at americansunitedhcr@cableone.net.
Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform is not affiliated with Organizing for America or the Democratic National Committee or affiliated with any other groups, special interests or lobbying forums.
What I like about President Obama and His Presidential team is that they stay abreast of all that is going on in America,they have their fingers on the pulse of all cultures and mentalities of the The American People they are not intimidated nor or they shy about dealing with militias, cooks, wingnuts and etc. This kind of mess, being spewed by wolf's in sheep clothing like Anderson and a few others will not be kicked under the carpet, nor ignored and it is unacceptable and unjust to think or do so... Personally to me : S. Anderson is a thug and he needs to be treated as so, and as demented and dangerous as he is, his followers are even more so...for example, the guy with the militia gun had just heard Jim Jones lite(Steve Anderson ) called for the Destruction of Our President the previous day. I really like this Administration because they don't run from problems, they run to them and handle/solve them. GoD Bless President Obama His Entire Presidential Team and may God Continue to Give Him Wisdom and Knowledge/Favor and Solutions to Riddles/Hard Problems and Enigma's that Confounds/Stumps and Stun his enemies and Amazes his Supporters. Definition of Confound:
-verb (used with object)
1.to perplex or amaze, esp. by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse: The complicated directions confounded him. 2.to throw into confusion or disorder: The revolution confounded the people. 3.to throw into increased confusion or disorder. 4.to treat or regard erroneously as identical; mix or associate by mistake: truth confounded with error. 5.to mingle so that the elements cannot be distinguished or separated. 6.to damn (used in mild imprecations): Confound it! 7.to contradict or refute: to confound their arguments. 8.to put to shame; abash. 9.Archaic. a.to defeat or overthrow. b.to bring to ruin or naught. 10.Obsolete. to spend uselessly; waste.
Definition of confound is Courtesy of Definition.com
It is time for us to renew and change our own personal way of thinking!!!!!!!!!
We Need to Find Different and Multiple Ways to increase our personal finances.
Here are some notes I took from today's conference call, May 28, 2009.
Mind you, I came in after the conference had already started.
Also, this is not verbatim. I have done some paraphrasing but I still think it's pretty accurate.
David Plouffe was introduced at 1:12 p.m. by Mitch Stewart.
David Plouffe thanked everyone for working for Obama to help him get 365 electoral votes. Although we accomplished so much in Nov., this cleared the way for the opportunity to make change. In essence, it was just the first step. We worked very hard for the opportunity to have real healthcare reform for businesses and families that are being crushed by healthcare costs. The President ran on reform to healthcare and education. It had been talked about for so long but nothing had been done. So, now is the time.
David Plouffe went on to say that the President is defying the cynics, skeptics, and critics but this change is not going to happen in D.C. alone. It will come from other parts of the country to Washington. We will be asked to spend precious time that many of us have little to spare, but we need to implement this into our lives where we will be calling of lists, and knocking on doors.
We need to speak with our family members and colleagues. Nothing is more powerful than human beings talking to other human beings. We need to be passionate about why healthcare reform is so important. So, we need to take ownership of this. (House parties on June 6, service on June 27). If the country is demanding healthcare reform, we’ll get it done and Washington will not have any option but to follow us.
We need to get costs under control and make sure everyone can have affordable healthcare coverage. As we head into the summer, we all can’t focus on just relaxing. We will have to roll up our sleeves and go out there and make healthcare happen. There is huge interest in this. This is not some distant Washington debate. Most people have health insurance but they know they are paying more for themselves and so are their employers. It affects everyone.
So, spread your net wide. This shouldn’t be a lonely affair. You can lead it in your community. If we all work together, we can make the promise of the election a reality.
From the President of the United States:
President Obama says hello, Mitch…calling from Air Force One line, I think. Mitch tells President, you are talking to the President.
President: It is great to talk to everybody. I want to start off by saying thanks to everyone who knocked on doors and registered voters. You had the confidence that we could reclaim the sensibility in Washington, that we could restore a sense of fairness and stability to our economy. We have to keep ourselves safe but be true to our ideals. That is the kind of change you voted for and that is why I am President, and I will never forget this.
Economic Recovery Act was successful because of us. Hundreds of thousands of pledges were signed by all of us. Americans from coast to coast were committed to making investments in energy and healthcare. We passed a budget plan and Economic Recovery Act. Now, we have the task of passing a healthcare reform act. Healthcare costs are crushing families.
Businesses and families are also getting hammered each and every day. Millions of Americans have lost their healthcare. The President has heard these stories via email and other forums from the citizens of the United States. The President cited an example of a lady who is fighting an insurance company who threatens to cut off her health insurance, and she’s already depleted her savings.
We need healthcare reform legislation that fixes the things that are broken. The status quo is unacceptable, and we need to get it done this year, or we won’t get it done. All of us need to educate our friends, relatives, and neighbors. We can protect choice of doctors, hospitals, healthcare providers, and ensure affordable healthcare. The President greatly appreciates all our support.
Question from Mary Alice in Grand Rapids, MI. She mentions her county went blue for the first time since 1968.
Mary Alice asks, as volunteers, what do you need us to do in order to grow this grassroots movement?
Answer by PBO: We need you to stay involved. The election only gave us an opportunity for change. We need to remobilize, reach out to friends and neighbors in support of our agenda. On 6/6, host a kickoff event to help launch healthcare reform. We need to refute arguments as to why we can’t drive down costs. The most important thing is to mobilize people in local communities block by block, neighbor by neighbor to make sure everyone understands. When that happens, Congressmen will take notice. Some are in districts or in states where right now politicians are resistant. We need to mobilize and telll them it’s not acceptable to preserve the status quo. To get involved, go to the Organizing for American website on www.barackobama.com.
Bonnie from Portland:
Question: My son has graduated from college this past winter, and he is burdened with college loans and cannot afford healthcare. What will you make available to young people like my son?
PBO: I have personal experiences and know how tough it is. We want to make higher education more affordable by increasing PEL grants. This year, the Administration will implement an income-based repayment loan and are dedicated also to simplifying the student loan application. We need to eliminate middle men in the current student loan programs who get fees off the top. As to the issue around healthcare for these young people, we must ensure young people can stay on their parents' health insurance plan up to age 25.
From Leanne in Birmingham, AL
Question: In a state as conservative as AL, what is the most important goal that can be accomplished ?
PBO: Keep organizing and talking to people, especially young people (who historically haven’t voted as much.) What I think the American citizens want, even in the most conservative communities, is action. It’s not a red or blue state thing. It is an American recognition that Washington needs to get off the dime. Inaction on healthcare leads to costs everywhere, including AL. If we want to cut our deficits, and a lot of conservative communities are concerned about all the debt we are building up, the most important thing we can do to close our budget gap is to rein in healthcare costs. Change comes from the bottom up, when people in their communities are out there talking, persuading, presenting facts, supplying information. Grassroots work makes a difference primarily because people trust their friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers as opposed to talking heads on tv. So, having the tone of reasonably presenting the case of why change is needed, that will work everywhere. That is why I was successful, and that’s why we will keep on being successful.
The President thanks us all for a great job and then hangs up.
Mitch:Two more things to go over.
For more info, check out the website.
President Obama used today, tax day, to speak about the work his administration has done so far to restore fairness to the tax code and provide tax relief to working families. "We start from the simple premise that we should reduce the tax burden on working people," the President explained, "while helping Americans go to college, own a home, raise a family, start a business and save for retirement. Those goals are the foundation of the American Dream, and they are the focus of my tax policy."
President Obama promised to begin work to simply what he described as "a monstrous tax code" that is "far too complicated for most Americans to understand, but just complicated enough for the insiders who know how to game the system." The President also outlined five specific steps that have been taking so far:
In the budget outline that he delivered to Congress last month, President Obama identified three key areas that are critical to our long-term economic health: Health Care, Energy, and Education. This morning, President Obama delivered remarks on education reform at the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 19th Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. He stressed the importance of education and stressed the connection between education and economic success, saying "let there be no doubt: the future belongs to the nation that best educates its citizens."
The President outlined five key areas for reform:
We got out of Wheeling late. Dixie loves the casinos. I enjoy reading while she plays.
As we got a late start, we did not get very far and spent last night in Danforth, IL.
Today in Iowa we hit ground blizzards and thought we would try and get north of it. Didn't happen. We are stranded in Northern Iowa for the night.
We arose early yesterday and did a tour of Arlington Cemetray. What a place. Emma felt we had to visit since we were so close. This visit did delay our leaving DC by a couple of hours. Emma wanted to see Baltimore, home of Hair Spray, so we drove there first. And we drove there very slowly. The only heavy traffic we have had for the whole trip.
Then we stopped at Gettysburg to view the battle sight. Here we found out that we were probably too far from Pittsburgh for the Kids to catch their flights home and to college. I drove as fast as I dared, but we just missed their flights. We got them rescheduled for the 22nd and set up in a hotel at the airport (pricey, aren't they?) and drove to Wheeling, WV.
For those I have promised photos, I can not download them to this computer, so everyone will have to wait. Sorry.
The ObamaCart made the NY Times yesterday, so I guess we have arrived.
Sunday Jeff and Emma flew into Pittsburgh and Jeff's baggage was lost so we had to spend the night. Monday we got out late and drove to DC. We swung south and came in from the south east to avoid traffic. Missed our motel and wound up down town. Parked and spent a few hours on the mall. Then back to the motel. Very light traffic.
Then to the MYBO Grassroots Soical. Cheryl had given a power point on the Obamacart, so when we arrived with my wheel, we got a warm reception. Had a great time and returned to the motle around midnight.
This morning up before 5 and got a cab down to the mall. I wanted to watch the show from the Lincoln Memorial, but was over ruled so we moved. To the WWII Memoial where Emma and I found good seats. But, that was not to be either. Dixie and Jeff went to the Washington Monument and called us, so we joined them.
So, we watched our dreams come true from the cold, wind swept hill top which surrounds the Washington Monument. The crowd was so thinck you could hardly move, but not heavy enough to create enogh body heat to warm the place.
What a wonderful experience! It was everything I wished it would be.
Afterwards, we worked our way back out of the mall, across the river to Arlington Cemetary and caught the Metro then a cab back to the room. Tonight we are going out again, but nothing will ever top today.
I really do not know if anyone is reading these posts, but it will be a record if the aliens capture us.
This morning the roads were the pits. 30 miles an hour. Car is rotten in the snow or ice.
Made Pittsburgh. Jeff's luggage is lost, so we have a room in Pittsburgh for tonight. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton. Nice place
Tomorrow DC
Still have an extra room, it ayone cares.
if you need a place to crash let me know.
Another 620 miles done. Tough roads today. Right outside of Sioux City was a wreck. A truck pulling a trailer rolled. Truck went end over end. Trailer looked like a horse trailer to me, but I saw no horses. Four ambulances passed us going to the scene. Iowa was icy for 150 miles so we went slow. Didn't make Indianapolis, but came close.
Thanks to Laura, we stayed with her in Iowa when we were on our Obamacart tour, she is driving about one day ahead of us and keeps us up to date on weather.
Wind turbines in Iowa are impressive. Dixie and I like their looks, but I know some folks think they are ugly. Energy of the future.
Sign up for the grassroots ball.
