Organizing for America | GLBT Veterans for Obama

GLBT Veterans for Obama

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered veterans, AND friends, family and supporters who advocate the abolition of "Don't ask; don't tell," and the establishment and recognition of full legal rights for GLBT members of all branches of the military.

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NOT going to innauguration anymore

By Jason Girard - Dec 18th, 2008 at 11:23 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

after hearing that barrack invited prop8 pastor rick warren to give the invocation at his inauguration, i am canceling my trip to D.C. anyone who compares same sex marriage to incest or pedophilia does not belong on the same stage with a president who is SUPPOSEDLY dedicating his presidency to change!!!

i'm pissed off and i'm definitely not going to drive 13 hours (each way) to stand in the cold and cheer you on. i'm not going to walk door-to-door, in the snow, hundreds of miles from my own home, to get people out to vote for you when you run for re-election. i'm probably not even going to vote for you again. you have lost my faith. i no longer believe in you.

f you barrack!!!

jason girard (former obama volunteer and supporter)

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voter fraud protection, grassroots

By Duane Kuehn - Oct 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Hi All,

     What a long and sometime tumultuous ride we have had! I am so proud of this country because of fellow people like you. We are America.

     Of course, it is not over yet. I figure that I cannot just sit home and not vote on Tuesday, because I think it is going to be a "win". Lol I know that I have to keep on others to keep them motivated to go out and vote, for sure. One way is to offer rides to others, especially the elderly, but anyone.

     Frankly, an admittance, me bad, I know that there have been voting days when I just had to force myself to go out and vote because I just plain didn't feel like driving to the polling place. What always forced me to go is that I know if I do not vote, then I have nothing to say about the outcome. Now, we have to contend with gas prices so I will have to fill my tank (which I can surely not afford) and offer to drive others to the polls.

     Nevertheless, I see a greater problem here. I am most worried about voter fraud. Computers with too sensitive touch screens (this has to be rigged, as there are too many 'double check's which can be programmed which have not been). From the 2004 gaffs to next Tuesday's vote, I am afraid and I am sure I have a right to be.

     I believe everyone should be afraid, after what we have seen in the past few elections. One county with around 500 registered voters allegedly posted around 5000 votes for George Bush! There should never be a ballot without a paper trail; this is just plain sense.

     I am now thinking (do not laugh, I do that sometimes) that I might take a box or a few boxes, a few thousand slips of paper and some pencils to the local polling place. That I would try to sit at the polling place all day and ask voters leaving the booths that they please write, privately, for whom they voted and stick it into the box(s?).

     Later, after the polling is over, I would count those slips and check to see if there is any big difference between my count, my averages, and the election results posted by the voting precinct I was at all day.

     Now, I am wondering, what if this happened at local polling places all across the country. Is it possible, a People’s Paper Trail to keep tabs on the big boys?

     All of you have created and maintained a wondrous grassroots campaign. I will bet you can do the same to make sure this is a clean election.

     Is anyone else interested in such a thing? It does not have to be fancy but it is something we can do to watchdog our election.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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Tell Mukasey: Don't suppress Ohio voters.

By Eric in San Diego - Oct 29th, 2008 at 1:38 am EDT

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Dear Friend,

This year, there are over 600,000 newly registered Ohio voters, but President Bush has asked Attorney General Mukasey to investigate as many as 200,000 of them. Why? Because Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has refused to use an "exact match" standard before adding these voters to the rolls.

What is this "exact match" standard? Basically, it works like this: After you fill out your voter registration card, a local or state employee has to type in your information to add you to the voter rolls, and check to see that you really exist, usually by verifying your driver's license number or Social Security number. And as you can imagine, sometimes there are typos or other disparities when the information gets entered and matched - for example, if your last name is "De la Rosa" and it got entered as "Delarosa", you would fail to meet the exact match standard, and your registration form would be invalid.

Secretary Brunner has refused to use this standard on the grounds that it would erroneously deprive tens or even hundreds of thousands of Ohioans of their right to vote. The Ohio GOP sued her a month ago to try and get the courts to compel her to use the exact match standard, but the Supreme Court ruled that they had no standing to make that case.

Now, President Bush is trying to run around the Supreme Court by getting the Department of Justice to intervene. On Friday, October 24th, Bush reportedly asked Attorney General Mukasey to investigate whether as many as 200,000 voters need to reconfirm their registrations before November 4th - which would almost certainly result in forcing them to vote provisionally.

I just signed a petition urging Attorney General Mukasey not to act on President Bush's sickening request. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/doj_oh_suppression/?r_by=-1895004-IItfUVx&rc=paste

Thanks!

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Something Smells: Plumber Joe a McCain (Sewage) Plant

By Eric in San Diego - Oct 16th, 2008 at 11:00 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Joe the Plumber didn't just appear from nowhere. The McCain campaign orchestrated a big lie and another example of their smear and slime campaign rooted in lies because they don't have anything else to run on. McCain planted Plummer Joe, made sure he was captured on film with Obama, and was prepared to bring him up in the debate. This was a debate gimmick, a lie, and spotlights the dark, negative character of McCain and his campaign.

This morning, Plummer Joe spouted off a litany of radical right wing talking points. A person such as this would not be found at an Obama Campaign rally. He would be found at the "cocky wacko" Sarah Palin rally. I believe the American people are smart enough to see right through this ploy and the human waste that runs through Joe the Plumber's plumbing.

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Sarah Palin vs. Dan Quayle & Mark Foley

By Eric in San Diego - Oct 2nd, 2008 at 1:58 am EDT

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If Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP then Dan Quayle is:

- overqualified to by President.

- qualified to be Pope.

If Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP, then former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley is qualified to:

- baby sit teenage boys.

- be a Boy Scout leader.

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Republicans Manufacture Fake Outrage over Gwen Ifill

By Eric in San Diego - Oct 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 am EDT

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I am disgusted by all the fake, manufactured outrage about Gwen Ifill. So what if she is writing a book about Obama. Gwen Ifill must be allowed to moderate this debate. It would be a huge mistake for PBS to replace her. It is impossible to get a moderator that is not biased one way or the other. That is why personal ethics and professionalism is important. I believe Gwen Ifill is ethical and professional and will do an excellent job moderating the debate. Contact PBS and tell them to not let politically motivated fake outrage cow PBS into submission.

http://www.pbs.org/vote2008/2008/10/showdown-in-st-louis.html

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ABC News Suggests that Voters Think Twice Before They "Vote and Drive

By Eric in San Diego - Sep 30th, 2008 at 10:56 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

http://blogs.abcnews.com/health_insider/2008/09/think-twice-bef.html

Below is my comment on an ABC News article that appeared on the main web page today. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Oh, the horror. Well, I can't vote now. I can't believe you would publish this crap. What you have done is to associate terror with driving to the polls to vote. Where is your article about driving to the supermarket, jury duty or to the DMV? I guess driving to those places isn't quite as terrible or life threatening.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/53/l_b92dd2097fdb4a28a122c8209cc394f9.jpg

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Here is an editorial that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, needs to read.

By Eric in San Diego - Sep 24th, 2008 at 2:15 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Here is an editorial that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, needs to read.
It summarizes my thoughts on Sarah Palin perfectly:

http://www. newsweek. com/id/160080/page/1

A quick quiz:

1. If you were starting an NBA basketball team, would you start with a.) LeBron James; or b.
) Your next door neighbor?

2. If you were in need of brain surgery, who would you rather have perform the operation?: a.) a Harvard Medical School brain surgeon; or b.) a mother of five that seems very friendly.

3. If you were going to choose someone to preside over the most powerful nation on earth, complete with keys to the most powerful military in the world and a vast nuclear arsenal, would you choose a.) A Harvard Law School graduate, former President of the Harvard Law Review and professor of Constitutional Law, and current U.S. Senator; or b.
) a former beauty pageant queen/TV news reporter/small town mayor and current governor of the 47th largest state (for 18 months)?

Over the past eight years, this country has seen what happens when we elect the guy that we could imagine sharing laughs with over a few beers.
Can we really afford to take this choice so lightly again!?

Tim, from CAS

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Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified ...vote now Poll

By Eric in San Diego - Sep 24th, 2008 at 1:59 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Take this PBS pole. It looks like wingnuts have been getting other wingnuts to take the poll, skewing the results.

According to this unscientific PBS poll, 50% say Palin is qualified to be president. 48% say Palin is not qualified to be president. We need to get as many people as we can to take this easy poll. Just click NO.

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

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TODAY - Leaders of Women's Rights Groups Endorse Obama: AWESOME SPEECHES (w/C-Span Link)

By Paulette MacDougall RN BSN - Sep 16th, 2008 at 3:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: 5 groups

Major leaders of numerous women's rights groups announced their endorsement for Obama & gave INCREDIBLE speeches (link to speech below). Powerful speeches included why they are endorsing Obama & why McCain does NOT represent the best interest of American women or feminists. The endorsement & this event were organized & speeches were given by (but represents lists of other supporters/orgs [PASS IT ON])!Elizabeth Clark (Exec Director, Nat Assoc of Social WorkersDeborah Frett (Chief Exec Officer, Business & Professional Women USA)Kim Gandy (Chair, NOW)Kristy Pagan (Chair, Women's Information Network)Eleanor Smeal (Chair, Feminist Majority)E Faye Williams (National Congress of Black Women)http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/vidLink.php?b=1221582714&e=1221586314&n=3

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dick cheney (video from 1994 interview)...

By Jason Girard - Aug 31st, 2008 at 11:09 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

hello friends. i don't often take time to reflect on my time in the united states navy. especially not the months, in 1991, that i spent in the persian gulf, during operation desert storm. but i saw a video on youtube today that made me so angry i had to pass it along...

as some of you know, i met dick cheney (actually served him dinner) in 1990, during the commissioning of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- my ship, of which i am a proud "plankowner" -- the very same aircraft carrier that george bush landed on to declare "mission accomplished." i was nearly court-martialed when (then secretary of defense) cheney took exception to a peace symbol i drew on his menu... i knew he was an evil bastard then, but i had no idea what we were in for.

anyway, i've attached a link to an interview that was shot in 1994, regarding operation desert storm -- a war i personally served in and received a medal for... it's frightening to actually hear cheney ask the rhetorical question, "how many dead americans is saddam worth?"

the current cheney-inspired war is still raging. apparently, he crunched the numbers again, after 9/11, and determined that saddam (and, of course, controlling the oil in the region) was worth a lot more than the 146 US soldiers killed in desert storm...

in fact, 4150 additional "dead americans" later, there is no end in sight to this madness. another 4011 US soldiers have been killed since president bush stood on the deck of MY SHIP and declared mission accomplished!

and now all of dick cheney's 1994 predictions of turmoil in the region have come true. THEY KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!!! BUT THEY DID IT ANYWAY!!!

it begs the question: what is the life of a "dead american" worth to dick cheney? this same question can easily be extrapolated and applied to george bush and john mccain. there has never been a more important election in the history of our country. we cannot afford any more dead americans. george bush and dick cheney started this criminally-insane war. our next president has a moral obligation to end it.

PLEASE take a minute to watch this video and then visit the second link (a complete list of every US soldier killed in iraq) and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in this horrible, criminal, immoral war. i am not a religious person. however, if you pray, please say a prayer for their families and for the wisdom of our next president...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENbElb5-xY

http://antiwar.com/casualties/list.php

thank you for your time. if you're so inclined, please feel free to forward this message along...

sincerely,

ms3 jason girard, usn
uss abraham lincoln (cvn-72) -- 1988 to 1992

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Let's send some messages to demand responsibility in government

By Duane Kuehn - Aug 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Hi All,

     We have watched our political system become filled with irresponsibility and a demand that people are above our law.
      I hope you will please investigate these links, which are timely, and make a decision if you would want to see responsible politics put back into the system.

     This one is Karl Rove (McCain’s new campaign spin/lie master). He claims nothing less than “executive privilege” to not honor a Federal Subpoena. I forget when he was elected President! Do not let him get away with this!

http://sendkarlrovetojail.com/?utm_source=47433

     Hold McCain responsible for his lies in his advertisements.

http://therealmccain.com/pac/?utm_source=rgemail

     Like Barack says, it is “bottom up” instead of “top down”. We cannot expect one man to change everything about the way government is run. We must take action ourselves to help Barack. One think is holding people responsible for what they say and what they do.
     Bush said many things about responsibility and takes none himself.

     Let us hold these people responsible for what they do. Show them that we are not just some supporters of Barack Obama for some “movement”. That we are the movement and we mean business.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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Hey Wow! Win a beautiful heritage Obama Quilt!

By Duane Kuehn - Aug 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Hi All,

     Okay, he it is, I have begged and pleaded for people to donate at my Fundraiser. I have crawled and cried and… Okay, maybe not. Lol

     This, is where you should surely donate! Any amount will help and we can help these wonderful persons who made this quilt reach their goal. I know we can do it, you and I.

     The great part is that you will be put in the pot to win this quilt! It will be a great heirloom for sure. A quilt made in honor of the man who has already changed the way politics works. He is already one of the greatest figures in American history.

     Please, let’s do this. For us, for Obama, for our children’s future.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/QUILTERSFOROBAMA

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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Repost: Barack Obama vs. Bush's McCain drone

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 30th, 2008 at 3:14 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

     A young man stepped up to the podium at the 2004 Democrat's National Convention to give a speech. A riveting speech it was. He touched the heart, the mind and the soul as he spoke of the civil rights of all Americans. About the need to take back our government, to change the way government operates and make it transparent to the people once more.

     That we ARE one nation and should refuse those who would tear us apart for their own political gain. That we are a diverse nation, Latin’s, Blacks, Whites and every shade in between. Members of various religious creeds, races, and individuals along the vast spectrum of sexuality financial capability. That we are God’s diversity and in our diversity is our true strength. That we are a house divided by political mudslinging and lies. That we must come together as a house united. Not mentioning what we all know, that a house divided can only fall.

     A "Keynote Address" he was giving too, a message of hope for the future, its unarguable truth unheard of in modern politics. I was glued to my seat, listening as this man spoke. Reminding myself that we are so good at coming together for one another in times of tragedy. Knowing that the current Bush/Cheney Administration itself was a tragedy of our proud heritage.

     His speech was in favor of John Kerry and we watched as a group, now indicted for their actions, called the “Swift-boat Veterans” slung heaps of lies and mud upon one honored veteran; and in doing so slung mud upon every veteran in the grand military history of this country. The people we swayed by the mud, untruth and spread of fear which would never come to be. He advocated John Kerry and John Kerry lost the election.

     Giving us four more years of economic decline, military bumbling, an oil consortium growing rich as the rest grew poorer. But for the rich, like Warren Buffet who, upon receiving his $395 million dollar tax break said he didn’t ask for it, he certainly didn’t need it. The other wealthy were not so forthcoming as another four years of feeding the rich at the expense of every hard working American.

     But, the average American was also rewarded with tax breaks. Little did they suspect that they would pay dearly much more than they received. The Bush administration stood tall and proudly demanded that the dollar was strong, the economy on the upswing, as they had for four years prior. No one seemed to pay much attention that the dollar, for seven straight years, had been continually falling on the world market. The world market being the true barometer of a national economy, though the elite like to confuse things with GNP and deficit spending or consumer buying.

     For six years, George Bush replaced “unemployment” with “unemployment rolls”, a smooth move. “The unemployment rolls are down this month”, not mentioning that the unemployment rolls are reduced each month that any unemployed person’s benefits have run-out. They didn’t get jobs, they just were off the rolls. When they did get jobs, it was usually making much less money than they had been.

     Seven, going on eight, years of deceitfulness and blatant lies in government, all allowed by an obviously controlled press. Yes, you can fool all of the people some of the time. Even for eight years running.

     This man who gave that keynote address speech that was so riveting. His name, we know, is Barack Obama.

     I watched him over the years and yes, he fulfills his promises. He acts in a bipartisan manner and even produced the most compelling ethics laws that the State of Illinois has ever seen. In the United States Senate, he began to open the government, in spite of George Bush's disabling of the Freedom of Information Act.

     He recently created a huge stir with his support of the new FISA legislation. Though fulfilling his promise to fight to have the immunity provision removed, it remained in the bill, as expected. The rewrite of this FISA bill itself, reins in Bush's domestic surveillance but allows for International surveillance, so long as an American citizen is not involved in what is espied.

     That the PAA was to expire in August and Bush had already demanded that he would veto another extension, the passing of this bill is necessary. Add the fact that it was known that this bill would pass the Senate with little friction, I must wonder. Why did Barack Obama support it when it would pass with or without his vote? The only answer is that there was an "Old-School" trade-off.

     You see, Obama knew that his support would create a wave of unrest in his supporters but said, "I will take my lumps". What nobody seemed to be watching at the time is that, probably the most important financial and health legislation was also going through the Senate, a Medicare bill that Bush promised to veto.

     A number of Republican's oddly did an about face and approved the new Medicare legislation. John McCain the only Senator absent for the vote (but he has a history of being absent from the Senate floor for his entire career more than any other Senator anyway). Ted Kennedy, recover ing from brain surgery even made an appearance, casting the deciding vote, which made the legislation veto-proof. Hence, I believe that Obama put himself on the line for an "Old-School" trade-off. He is, after all, only a Senator and must work within the system. I think that everyone might understand that.

     I almost forgot the "Change" thing. Yes, "Change" has been used in many campaigns before. However, contrary to what many people claim, Barack Obama defines "Change" if one reads his proposals or listens to his speeches it is all there.

     Open (called now, "transparency") Government is Barack Obama's "Change". A change in how government operates. A reopening of the doors that have been closed as government operates behind them. Promising executive order to reverse many of those Bush put into effect. Like George's lengthening the President Act that the activities of Presidents would not be public knowledge for a full 25 years! Moreover, reversing the executive orders Bush used to disable the Freedom of Information Act. Barack also promises to correct George Bush's extension of the "National Security" classification to include what Cheney had for lunch at a public restaurant. (My joke, me bad.)

     I hope that everyone recognizes that Barack Obama does bring us a new Hope. That the "movement" part of his campaign is the promise to Change the way that a government we have come to mistrust, operates. This from a man whose political history is the "proof in the pudding" that he keeps his word.

     I watch now as the McCain campaign begins to smear tactics. Slinging lies blatantly into the media which devours them like Adam and Eve devoured the Fruit of the Garden. I wonder how many people will be swayed into believing these lies and campaigning spins.

    I hope very few.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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repost: Obama, Washington behind the scenes

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 12th, 2008 at 4:45 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Hi All,

Covered by the FISA fiasco we weren't watching behind the scenes.

As Barack Obama was taking the big hits for voting "Yes" on the FISA bill (which it was known was already going to pass by a huge majority without his vote), nobody seemed to notice the Medicare bill and the number of Republican Senators that jumped ship and voted, "Yes" on it.

Many of us were wiping the tears from our eyes as if maybe Barack Obama had stood us up for a date. When in fact, as Barack is not President yet but we are very aware of his persusive bipartisan influence; the Medicare bill was being passed with a majority vote that George Bush cannot veto.

A huge victory for the people of this country. What happened? We all know the give and take of Washington politics, the behind the doors goings on which Obama says will Change when he is President. But, Obama is not President yet and still apart of the give and take of Washington Politics.

I would venture to gain that the give and take was a trade off on a FISA bill which was going to pass anyway, for a Medicaid bill which wasn't going to pass. A bill which will now help to pave the way for a badly needed Universal Health Care bill.

Who knows but, I say 3 cheers to mybarackObama!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/opinion/11krugman.html?em&ex=1216008000&en=ba067d25713ebe77&ei=5087%0A#secondParagraph

Loveya,

Duane Kuehn

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repost: McCain fundraising loopholes 527's

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 10th, 2008 at 10:41 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Hi All,

I stole this link from newday4us's blog.

As we all know, John McCain locked himself into the public funding system before he realized that the Republican Primary would be a "walk in the park" for him. Then he could not get out of public funding without explaining a few million dollars in loans and a few million in corporate jet transport through his wife Cindy.

We know that Barack made the right decision going with us, the people of the United States.

Unfortunately, as Barack said, the McCain campaign will have plenty of misleading advertisement from the "527's". More than that, he is recieving huge donations through the loopholes via the RNC.

Barack will be needing donations and lots of them. I have donated and hope to donate more with every monthly check. Now, I decided to open one of those fundraiser spots and hope some of you might help me out to reach that goal. I can't start donating in my own fundraiser thing until my next rather measly but not complaining check.

I hope that I get the links right and I hope some of you all will help me out with my fundraiser thing, though I know that ya'll already donate elsewhere. 5 or 10 dollars is great and will be very much appreciated by me and the campaign.

The link to the article about McCains funds:

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/07/07/for-mccain-money-talks.aspx

I tried to do a takeoff on the old saying and make it, "Wish in One Hand, Hope in the Other", kind of lame I guess.

The link (hopefully correct) to my fundraiser page:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/WishIn1Hand

Loveya,

Duane Kuehn

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More smear information

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,

Some more wonderful information on smears.

Loveya,
Duane

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repost: Obama and Gays in the Military

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm EDT

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Hi All,

We should all learn from history. When the very far right Republican Party that was his creation elected George Bush the father, he turned on them, he voted "Yes" to Civil Rights.

The result was a Republican Party of close-minded bigots who turned on him. This turning included many death threats, and death threats in Texas are promises in a land where people keep their promises.

Rather than run, George Bush gave what some consider the most amazing speech of his political career, and that man could give a speech. He called the Party Big-Wigs and Big Money to a meeting and talked to the outraged and angry mob.

The gist of his speech was that when he was in the armed service, he watched black men fight and die next to him. That if these black people could fight and die for this country, they deserved Civil Rights in this country. George Bush walked away from that meeting to thunderous applause.

John McCain is no fool. He must attack Obama's stance of allowing gays to serve openly in the military. He must because these are his trump cards with the huge voting block of the Religious Right.

Bill Clinton tried to allow gays to serve openly in the military. One of his generals had a hissy-fit about it and it changed to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy". It was a little better than the days of Vietnam when our troops were spied followed and spied upon in attempt to catch and criminalize anyone who was gay. A time when some of our most honored and highly decorated soldiers were thrown out of the service, not for sexual misconduct but for the mere fact that they were bisexual or gay.

Strange when one considers that the most famous of military leaders, Alexander the Great, was a homosexual. The homosexuality of Alexander of Mesopotamia is a documented fact, which proves that gays can be the best of soldiers and military leaders. That the Spartans were often homosexual couples because they would fight harder when fighting beside someone they loved.

The point being that gay men and women do not join the army to get a date.

Being gay is not a behavior; it is a natural part of life. It is not a "choice" for most anyway, most hate themselves for being gay and nobody would choose to live life in a closet of self-hatred. I do not think the marines have to worry about being raped by a gay soldier.

Sexuality should not really enter into the picture but as a man has the right to say, "I have a girlfriend back home", or a woman has the right to say, "I have a husband back home", and so does the gay soldier have the right to share his life back home with his comrades in arms. Gay soldiers should not be forced to tell lies to their friends in the service for fear of court martial.

If a gay person chooses to fight for the United States of America, the United States of America should recognize that person's human rights; and the armed services are no exception.

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repost: thermal energy

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Hi All,
Here is a message I received from John Chamberlain at St.Louis for Obama. I hope you will all take a minute and enter a not on the Obama mypage as this asks. It is a marvelous system of renewable energy.

Apologies for any repeat postings.

I just sent this message to the Obama Team regarding America installing a real and feasible 100% renewable energy supply for America on a national scale - i.e. Thermal Solar power (not Solar PV panels), see:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/business/06solar.html? and http://www.trec-uk.org.uk/csp.htm .

This technology is applicable mostly to the American West & Southwest, i.e: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. It is also applicable world-wide, with 90% of the world's population living within 1700 miles of a suitable area for such Thermal Solar power production, meaning only a max 5-8% transmission loss using HVDC lines. This make Thermal Solar power a TRULY 100% renewable power technology which can be applied world-wide to replace coal, oil and nuclear power stations and really start to clean up the world again. If it were fully installed in the USA (for less than the cost of the Iraq war) we would cut US C02 emissions by over 50% within 5-8 years.

The message to the Obama campaign is below. Please check this out. If you support the promotion of this technology, please send your own message on the subject to the Obama Team at this weblink:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mypolicy -under 'Energy and Environment'

The McCain campaign is about to release a series of TV advertisements across America on Energy Policy, and the Obama Campaign needs to hear our thoughts on what real and renewable energies it should be promoting in return. Remember, Thermal Solar is in service TODAY and is 100% Renewable. Thermal Solar power plants only take about 2 years to build, and could take care of 100% of America's electricity needs in an area the size of 10% of Federal lands in Nevada. These plants could be dispersed across Western and Southwestern Sunbelt states and create thousands of jobs there too.

As members of the Obama Campaign let's promote 100% renewable energy technologies which really do work like Thermal Solar (and Geothermal) power, not hokey half-way houses like Biodiesel or so-called "Clean Coal" both of which will just do further damage to our planet in different ways. It may not be sensible to put 100% of our energy production into one technology, but clearly Thermal Solar should play a major or majority part in our future energy production.

If you support the promotion of this technology, please send your own message on the subject with your own technical and business inputs to the Obama Team at this weblink:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mypolicy -under 'Energy and Environment'

This is not to say that other renewable power sources are not effective also (like wind, wave, tide etc), but this power technology is new to many people and in my mind offers the best advantages for the planet.

Sincerely yours,

John Chamberlain

BSc Eng, MBA

PS Some other links and resources regarding Thermal Solar Power are below:

Below is a link which gives you a good feel for production costs of Thermal Solar power vs. coal and other fuels.

http://www.trec-uk.org.uk/csp/costs.htm

www.ausra.com will likely have the lowest cost Thermal Solar power, and their new fabrication plant in Nevada has just been opened by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (click on RHS of webpage). Ausra uses Fresnel lenses (the same as in lighthouses) inside their mirrors to concentrate the solar power and heat the tubes of liquid above. Below are two nice slide shows on the technology:

http://www.ausra.com/pdfs/SolarThermal101_final.pdf

http://www.ausra.com/pdfs/070820discussion.pdf

http://www.ausra.com/pdfs/SolarPACESMills-Morgan.pdf

http://www.ausra.com/history/ History of Solar Power. Click on "1905-1954" and use the green arrow to scroll right to 1913. Amazingly this Thermal Solar technology was producing 55 HP (around 40 KW) back in 1913 !

Ausra's view on the future of Thermal Solar for the US is as below:

http://www.ausra.com/news/releases/080306.html

This is a very good article by John Hay on the same subject of Thermal Solar (check pages 1 and 2) plus a very interesting video

http://www.tellingthoughts.com/us-politics/baseload-renewable-power-solar-thermal-90-us-needs

It has also been pointed out that thermal solar plants usually need access to water supplies (not always accessible in desert areas!), although many types can use closed loop systems which limits the issue. In addition, Thermal Solar does not have to be the only renewable solution used, and others can clearly include wind, geothermal and solar PV.

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the 4th

By Duane Kuehn - Jul 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Hi All,
Happy 4th of July!
That day for celebrating our independence from our good friend England. :)

I've just recently read some of Mr. Obama's statements on FISA and I am so very proud of him, again.

Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

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