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Luther College Students for Obama

Luther College students who are in support of Barak Obama for the 2008 presidental campaign.

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Human Connection

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Sep 17th, 2008 at 7:16 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBIVGskTjpU

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The Obama Cart Story

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Aug 26th, 2008 at 12:03 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

When I saw the story of the Obama Cart and the Johnsons (Bill and Dixie) I thought how great it would be to be part of it but figured that my little town is never a place "on the way" to anywhere. I emailed Bill and he wrote right back that they would be pleased to come through our town. I could not believe it! They were coming here!

Let me tell you about Bill and Dixie. They are down to earth and the sweetest people, "salt of the earth" some may say. Proud Americans. Easy to talk to and ready with a smile and a story. They instantly connected with the people at the event and mingled easily.

Bill and Dixie made me proud to be an Obama supporter. I have been lagging as the campaign drags on. I have always been a supporter and I always will be. But as you are involved with a campaign I have found the rollercoaster ride can make your stomach sick!

These people, Bill and Dixie not only bring the Obama Cart with them, they bring the heart and souls of all die hard Obama supporters with them. The true America that is in them and around them is something to see and feel.

Everyone that was there was so impressed with the journey that these two have decided to take for all of us. The miles and meals on the road, the new people and the attention. I think that what I took away from this visit is that the America we used to know is still here, it is just hidden away from the light. Barack Obama will bring us all back into the light. He will give the people that are willing to hold up the least of us the tools and resources they need to get it done. He will give the least of us a chance to work and feel like there is a tomorrow to look forward to.

The parts of my heart that felt fear have begun to heal, thanks to Bill and Dixie. Two people that ask for nothing but to spread the words of Barack Obama.

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The Obamacart is coming, The Obamacart is coming!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Aug 15th, 2008 at 11:38 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

I have been asked to host the makers of the "OBAMACART" in my home over night during their trip across the country from Division, MT to Unity, NH. A man named Bill Johnson from Montana made this cart and decorated it with paint resembling the Obama trademark "rainbow" symbol before the primaries were held in Montana and decided that a way for people to come together in unity was to make a big statement and take us all from Division to Unity...literally! Bill and his wife will begin their trip in a few days and will make stops in small towns along the way. I e-mailed them and asked if they would like to stop here. They were all for it! So we are the lucky recipients of a piece of history. The Obama campaign is involved in this and we are getting the press here to get it all on tape and in the papers. We hope to have a surrogate for the Obama campaign here as well. This will be the biggest rally Cresco has ever seen! I am proud have been considered for this event. They will be collecting donations for Obama AS WELL as LOCAL candidates before heading out to Milwaukee in the morning.

We plan to be at Beadle park (train park) on HWY 9 in Cresco at 7pm on the 25th of August. Bring your friends and neighbors.

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McCains resume

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Aug 13th, 2008 at 6:08 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- In his frivolous Paris and Britney ad, Sen. John McCain
has asked the right question: Is Barack Obama ready to lead this country?

Since last January, Sen. Obama's fitness for the presidency has been the only
question that matters in American politics. The pollsters and pundits agree that if
Obama can show the voters that he's up to the job, he'll win. If not, he won't.

But that begs another question: Is McCain fit to lead America?

That question hasn't been asked, nor has it been answered.

The assumption seems to be that McCain's years of experience in the military and in
Congress of course give him the background and tools he'd need in the White House. As
Britney might say, "Duh! For sure he's qualified!!! He's Mac!!!"

But is that true? Does McCain have the right stuff?

A careful look at McCain's biography shows that he isn't prepared for the job. His
resume is much thinner than most people think.

Here are some reasons why McCain would be a mediocre president.

Lack of accomplishments

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Like the current occupant of the White House, McCain got his first career breaks
from the connections and money of his family, not from hard work.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he attended Annapolis where he did poorly.
Nevertheless, he was commissioned as a pilot, where he performed poorly, crashing
three planes before he failed to evade a North Vietnamese missile that destroyed his
plane. McCain spent more than five years in a prison camp.

After his release, McCain knew his weak military record meant he'd never make
admiral, so he turned his sights to a career in politics. With the help of his new
wife's wealth, his new father-in-law's business connections and some powerful friends
had made as a lobbyist for the Navy, he was elected in 1982 to a Congress in a
district that he didn't reside in until the day the seat opened up. A few years
later, he succeeded Barry Goldwater as a senator.

McCain hasn't accomplished much in the Senate. Even his own campaign doesn't trumpet
his successes, probably because the few victories he's had still rankle Republicans.

His campaign finance law failed to significantly reduce the role of money in
politics. He failed to get a big tobacco bill through the Senate. He's failed to
change the way Congress spends money; his bill to give the president a line-item veto
was declared unconstitutional, and the system of pork and earmarks continues
unabated. He failed to reform the immigration system.

Every senator who runs for president misses votes back in Washington, so it's no
surprise that McCain and all the others who ran in the primaries have missed a lot of
votes in the past year. But between the beginning of 2005 and mid-2007, no senator
missed more roll-call votes than McCain did, except Tim Johnson, who was recovering
from a near-fatal brain aneurysm.

Shallow

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McCain says he doesn't understand the economy. He's demonstrated that he doesn't
understand the workings of Social Security, or the political history of the Middle
East. He doesn't know who our enemies are. He says he wants to reduce global warming,
but then proposes ideas that would stimulate -- not reduce -- demand for fossil
fuels.

McCain has done one thing well -- self promotion. Instead of working on legislation
or boning up on the issues, he's been on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" more than
any other guest. He's been on the Sunday talk shows more than any other guest in the
past 10 years. He's hosted "Saturday Night Live" and even announced his candidacy in
2007 on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

McCain has not articulated any lofty goals. So far, his campaign theme has mostly
been "McCain: He's None of the Above."

In the primaries, he campaigned on "I'm not that robotic businessman, I'm not that
sanctimonious hick, I'm not that crazy libertarian, I'm not that washed-up actor, I'm
not that delusional 9/11 guy." In the general election, he's emphasized that he's not
that treasonous dreamer.

No leadership

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McCain has frequently taken on near-impossible missions that go against the grain of
his party. It's the basis of his reputation as a maverick. But McCain has never been
able to bring more than a handful of Republicans along with him on issues such as
campaign finance reform or immigration. Democrats on the Hill have accepted McCain's
help on some issues, but except for a few exceptions (John Kerry and Joe Lieberman),
they've never warmed to him.

To achieve anything as president, McCain would have to win over two hostile parties:
The Democrats and the Republicans.

Living in the Sixties

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McCain is still fighting the Vietnam War. But he's not fighting the real historic
war, which taught us the folly of injecting ourselves into a civil war that was none
of our business. We learned that, in a world where even peasants have guns,
explosives and radios, a determined and popular guerrilla force can defeat a modern
army equipped with the mightiest technology if that army has no vital national
interest to protect.

Instead, McCain is fighting an imaginary Vietnam War, where a sure victory could
have been achieved with just a little more bombing, just a little more
"pacification," just a little more will to win at home. This fantasy clouds McCain's
judgment on foreign policy.

Most of the other high-profile politicians who fought in Vietnam -- Colin Powell,
Chuck Hegel, John Kerry, and Jim Webb -- aren't stuck in the past, and they don't
view the Iraq War as a chance to get Vietnam right.

No principles

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

After years of honing a reputation as a guy who'll say the truth regardless of the
political consequences, McCain has crashed the Straight Talk Express. On almost every
issue where he took a principled stand against the Republican line -- taxes,
immigration, oil drilling, the Religious Right -- he's changed his views.

We ought to like politicians who change their mind when the facts change; it shows
maturity, judgment and flexibility. But politicians who change their mind to suit the
prevailing winds show the opposite.

The bottom line

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Successful presidents come from two molds: visionaries, or mechanics. The
visionaries -- think Reagan or FDR -- see what others can't and say 'Why not?" to
inspire the country. The mechanics -- think LBJ or Eisenhower -- know the ins and
outs of government and are able to harness the power of millions of humans to
accomplish great things, or at least keep the wheels from coming off.

McCain fits neither style. He's neither a dreamer, nor a detail guy. His major
accomplishment, in Vietnam and in the Senate, has been merely to survive.

Just surviving doesn't make you're a hero, or a decent president. America needs to
do more than survive the next four years.

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Narcissism v. Cynicism

By Stephen N - Aug 5th, 2008 at 1:26 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Happy Belated Birthday to the next POTUS! With that out of the way, I’ll start now…

Narcisism: A psychological condition characterized by self-preoccupation, lack of empathy, and unconscious deficits in self-esteem

Cynicism: An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others

Ever since Senator Obama’s globetrotting diplomacy tour (whoops, fact-finding) the media's coverage of the campaigns has taken a turn for a fairly broad focus… depending on what you consider the focus. The two main lenses you can look at the media’s playing of the past week and a half is that Obama is narcissistic (McCain’s narrative) or McCain is cynical (Obama’s “other” narrative). The strange thing about both of these narratives focus on Obama. It’s as if there is no Republican candidate in the race. And with ads like this or this, I don’t know what exactly there would be to be proud of.

Let’s look at the hoopla surrounding both of these now infamous official McCain advertisements. On the plus side (for McCain), they… uh… well… they get people talking about the McCain campaign, which doesn’t happen a lot (so much so that on the Obama world tour, McCain gave out press passes that compared them to the JV Squad). I guess the presumptive Republican nominee is ready to go into the fall cycle with the old mantra that “any publicity is good publicity”. The strange thing to me is that McCain seemed to be so confident that he would run a “clean” campaign against Obama – certainly John “the maverick” McCain wouldn’t let his handlers control this part of his campaign… would he?

It’s understandable for a candidate to point out differences on policy and even have a little fun pointing out some changes in a candidate’s positions because that’s just politics. The line that Obama (and I) have drawn is on attacking your competition. Maliciously calling out a rival for drawing big crowds and being a celebrity or calling for the best in our nation and seeming messianic is not a “clean” campaign.

I was very involved in the John Edwards campaign in Iowa, and even led as a precinct captain on caucus night (Obama kicked our butt, I’ll admit it). Being on a college campus, I was in the perfect environment to see this supposed narcissistic celebrity, Barack Obama (and his Obamaniacs, for that matter), and I did, and I was envious. When Obama came to our fairly liberal campus of about 2,500 students in a small town in northeast Iowa, he drew a crowd of about 3,000 people. It was the biggest I saw to see a single candidate throughout the whole season. I thought of the message as “shallow” and was a little disappointed in the hype that surrounded this wonderful speaker, because I didn’t find much in his speech that was that great (other than the soaring rhetoric). Over time, and especially following January 3rd, I realized that this was not just a superficial movement about pumping up this politician who could give a great speech. It was a bottom-up movement that a lot of people have a right to be envious of, because it’s very hard to make this kind of an organization form and work so efficiently like it has. I am proud to now be a part of this campaign, and don’t really view it as narcissistic at all.

The cynical McCain narrative that Obama “fired back” with was one that I leveled at a lot of the people I encountered when campaigning for Edwards. Johnny, like Barack, was calling for some major change in people’s perception of government, and change in the American government we love so much itself - a tough pill to swallow for a lot of people who weren’t impacted as directly as others by the current occupant. Even my own father was pretty jaded at first, even though he knew he would support the Democratic nominee. For him, the cynicism stemmed from how it seemed nearly impossible for one candidate to be able to sweep through and clean out all the corruption in Washington. “Sure, you found Edwards, and he seems clean, but how’s he gonna convince the 535 other crooks in that town out east,” was one of the quotes from my dad that stuck with me throughout the past year or so.

McCain’s cynicism is different though. It's like a bad comedian who keeps trying to tell bad jokes about the fame of someone else he's competing with. A commenter somewhere else said, "When you have nothing left, humor is the best refuge." The thing is: no one is laughing. McCain’s thrives on questioning whether someone as young as Barack Obama can run this country (to which I ask if someone as old as John McCain can run this country), whether Obama has enough experience to rid the world of terrorism and end the war right (in 100 years, right, John?), or whether Obama really thinks these pie-in-the-sky ideas about health care, energy, and the economy can really work. Almost every Democrat believes in this campaign’s ability to enact change from the bottom up, but it seems only natural for a Senator who’s been in Washington for 26 years to be a little skeptical. It’s different. The candidate is different. The energy around this is different.

And this election is different. I think the fight between the perceptions of a cynical old man and a narcissistic young man will eventually be won by the American people deciding that the young Democrat is not so narcissistic and the old Republican is indeed just a little too cynical.

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Unite for Change Party Decorah Iowa

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Jun 30th, 2008 at 8:14 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

I was unable to hold a Unite for Change party of my own this weekend due to prior engagements. But I decided to check out what events were coming to my area (there are usually none, I live in such a rural area) I was happy and excited to see that in the neighboring town of Decorah there was a Unite For Change party scheduled for Sunday.

Kathy was gracious and had a wonderful home acreage. The area was carved out neatly from the surrounding corn fields and seemed like everything Iowa should be.

As people began to show up it was nice to see people I had talked with on the blog as well as people I had seen through the campaign back in Jan. Even though this party was out of my county I was happy to be involved with supporters who were proud to be helping out and excited to get things started. It gave me some great ideas for my upcoming party on July 19th.

We all introduced ourselves and told our stories about how we became "hope-mongers". Sometimes I forget that I was not involved in politics before this campaign until I tell my story and hear myself speaking the words. That "LBB" Life Before Barack seems like a million years ago.

There were people there that were close to 90 and the young and up and coming. One of the younger people there brought up the idea of a "happy hour" for Barack every week at a local bar/restaurant as an opportunity for people to get together in a "less organized" and "less threatening" way. Although calling it happy hour is out of the question she thought of calling it "Barack Hour" but thought that sounded like an evangelical "hour of power" kind of thing. I am not sure what the final name will be but what a wonderful idea to get people to be comfortable and talk about Barack and for those who may not know him to get to know him.

We decided that the biggest problem for most people is that they just have not spent enough time getting to know Barack and what he stands for, especially some of the supporters of other candidates. There were woman there that struggled themselves with the choice between the first woman and Barack as well as Edwards supporters that have all come to read up on Barack and fully support him.

I know I have not spent a ton of time researching Hillary or McCain so I assume that of others and their lack of information on Barack. We are hoping that we may, by being in a public place, pull others into the conversation or at least get the information in their ears from across the room.

There is a huge 4th of July celebration in a neighboring town and some of the people are going to set up a table with information and hope to get some attention there. I think that the opportunity we have on such a patriotic holiday, the one in which we celebrate the biggest CHANGE America ever struggled through, is a great starting point for getting ourselves out their and introducing the biggest force of change this country has seen in 40 years!

I know this is not my normal "exciting" post, but I thought the ideas we had might be shared.

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Barack is back in Iowa, May 20th 2008.

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - May 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Ahhhh back to where it all started! Finally.

Sorry it took a couple of days to get this written. BUT>>>> I did not get home until 230 AM and the alarm went off at 5AM. OUCH! I worked all the next day and came home to a sewer backed up, which by the way is still not completely fixed. But on to other things.

I was not going to go. No I wasnt. Then I was going to go. I called Sandi4Obama on Sunday night to check if she was going to go. She said she just talked to John Columbo and yes they were going to get together with a group and go. We talked about going earlier because we wanted to get up front. I went to bed happy and excited. When I was at work Monday and thought about how tired I would be and how much gas money I would be spending....I changed my mind and decided not to go. I did not want to tell Sandi as I knew I was the "early ride" for her since the others had to work. When I got home Sandi called me and told me to look in my email for a "pass to change" a special pass from the campain (I bet they gave out a thousand of them, I did not know that then) when I saw it in my mail, I changed my mind again and said. OK we are on!

I had to take my daughter to the Orthodontist first and then get home and get ready to go, which shirt to wear???lol. Then off I went a bit later than I wanted to leave, but I had to get somethings done like charge my camera battery! I met Sandi in Clear Lake and we were off, excited and talking all the way. Sandi is such a hoot and such a wonderful person, she does so much for others all the time, she gives blood every 60 days, and helps raise money for so many local charities I can not remember them all. We talked about our life history and have much in common. Who knew I would meet up with people from all over Iowa that I would have never gotten to know had it not been for this campaign.

We got there about 130 and went through the capitol, I had never been. We took pictures of the senate and some of the old marble fixtures and then walked down the steps all the way to the main street. We got behind the scenes and checked out where Barack would be speaking. We talked to some press and other "over excited and early" supporters. We ended up meeting up with a friend of Sandi's I can not remember his name because I am bad with names. He has a suit on in the pictures you will see. We called him Senator.(I dont think he ever was, he was a teacher-retired). We talked to him about his support of Obama and the times he had met him.

We went to a place called "The House of Bricks" and had a Coke and waited. This was about 230 or so, we kept our eyes out as the line got longer, and went outside and figured out that we had our own line for "pass for change" we met a couple of girls there that had chairs and were first in line. We talked to them and started our long wait til 730. The line got bigger and bigger and we started directing people to the correct line across the street for those without passes. Soon it was about 5:30 or 6:00. We had a problem on our hands, people were just showing up and making the line "wider" and not just getting in the back of the line as would be respectful. We had our hands full, but a sweetheart Joe the Secret Service guy who had been hanging out with us for an hour or so helped us out a bit, but people are just rude. ANYWAY....

They let us in early because the street was just too full of people. We went to our assigned area and were a little discouraged because it was in back of and to the right of the podium. But at least we were close. A band played and when they started out with Super Freak, I said...hmmmm does this make anyone think of someone in particular? (ok that was rude, sorry Hillary) we sang and danced around and watched as the MIB, SS and then the snipers all filled up the place. First a woman named Candy spoke. She had a story just like mine. A disinterested, non political Iowan. A Mom, a hard worker and someone who just went along with the tide. She too has been motivated by Baracks candiacy. She is now going back to college, in her 40s to study political science.

We knew that Barack would be there soon. We thought he would come from the left but he ended up coming from the right, with Michelle, Sasha and Malia. What a wonderful and beautiful family. They did not quite get to us. I was bummed....but more to come. As Michelle and the girls left the stage so Dad could do some talking the girls came running down and I have a great shot of that in my pictures, they were ready to get out of there, being little girls I am sure they tire of the whole ordeal. The girls waited right in fron of us with the SS and then Michelle came over and shook hands and gave an older woman a big hug. People just love Michelle. She is absolutly gorgous. That Barack is a lucky man considering he is so skinny and he has such big ears...lol

Baracks speech was one that showed what a statesman he is. Very gracious to Sen. Clinton and to her accomplishments. I was proud. He thanked Iowa and went on to tell us that he now had the majority of pledged delegates. The crowd went wild! It was like something I had never felt. We all have worked so hard, we have litterly put blood, sweat and lots of tears and sleepless nights in for this one man. To tell me that we should not believe in him is just like saying that I should not believe the sun will come up tomarrow. I have thrown in so much of my life in this, it is truely something that I have staked so much in. The fact that some people can not see the light, does not mean that EVERYONE will not see it if given the chance. I know now more than ever that this fight is the one worth fighting.

Barack took on McCain with an iron fist, I for one have been so glad to see Barack going after McCain. This fight will not be easily won against the right sided wing nuts, but we ARE GOING TO DO IT! That is what we are all here for! I am ready and I know that you are too. Nothing can silence the voice of a million voices calling out.

Michelle came back out and when they left the stage they went forward and I thought we missed our chance again to shake his hand. But slowly they came back towards us. I shook his hand and smiled at him smiling at me. Sandi talked about her being a Obamacain. And Barack was pleased and said "Thank You". I got a great picture of Barack coming towards us, but his ears look like they are glowing because of the lights.

We watched him leave and I realized that never in my life had I met a president 4 times personally in my life. I had just done it. I have seen him 6 times. I thanked God again that I lived in Iowa. Then I thought to myself that Barack knows how lucky he is that we love him so much here. Iowa started it all. I had a part in it. We all did. Wow!........

Sandi, the man we called senator and the girls whe had met in line decided to go back to "The House of Bricks" as I was leaving I heard someone call my name. I did not recoginze anyone, then she introduced herself as Meave! I was so happy. I wish I could have spent more time talking. I felt kinda bad but the crowd was moving and my group was leaving. We went and watched the results come in and watched some people singing Karoke. We left about 11PM and I got home about 230. It was all worth it. What a night to remember.

I know I am probley leaving some out. But Sandi can fill you in with a post or two. I may update it as it comes back to me. Right now I need to catch up on some sleep! lol

Here are the pictures!

http://community.webshots.com/album/563536255VHoQVZ?vhost=community

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HI this is me! just wanted to say HI

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Apr 15th, 2008 at 5:08 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

I just got a video camera for my computer, and have had fun listening to myself talk!

Just wanted to make a personal HI! to everyone here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNt3cCVeczA

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Who are we?

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Apr 14th, 2008 at 11:35 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

have you found yourself pondering what happened to you?

I sometimes wonder what happened to the woman who ran her job, her children and life with skill. The woman who watched the local news at night just for the weather. The woman who had absolutly no idea that Iowa voted first. I did not even know that there were primarys and the general election. Why? what? who? where?

How did the television programs like "Morning Joe", "Hardball", "Countdown", "John Stewart"," Steven Colbert" "Dan Abrams" and any other show end up on my TV. I just figured out that FOX was republican, WHAT?! I also found out that Carvel is married to that Mary lady....

I am finding out more and more everyday, and I am totally bitter! I was the American that the Clintons and the republicans dreamed of. I was totally unaware and they were counting on me to just stay in my little world and trust them to "just take care of everything" with thier hedge funds, corperate contracts, dirty money and fake promises.

Why should they tell the truth? no one is payiing any attention. No one wants the truth, it is way to scary. We are just to stupid to handle the truth. We will all get scared and start asking questions.

Then came the skinny black guy with the funny name. I heard him speak. He was different. He is different. I have heard this man get attacked over and over again for telling the truth. This only makes him stronger in Americas eyes. An American president that stands up and tells the truth, what a breath of fresh air.

We have lost over 4000 Americans. LOST. as in not getting back, ever. This is a deep scar on America. A wound that can not be easily healed. Thanks to the republican rule of the last 8 years we can not take time off of work to march in the streets, lord knows we can not afford the gas money to get to D.C!

I want to make pertectly clear that my intention on writing this is out of pure frustration and bitterness. I want to let the world know that I am an average American. I am not a latte drinking, Prius driving, white collar, Birkenstock wearing liberal. I am new to this. I am as I said, the average American. I work full time, I raise children, I own my home, I drive a American car. I have 4 dogs that live outside on my farm. I was raised in California, I have lived in NV, MD, DC, FL, NC, VA and IA. I know who I am. Or at least I think I do.

I know who I used to be. I was a sleep walking through my life. A walking political dream. Now I am considered an "activist" for the entire hospital I work for. WHAT!! everytime someone comes to talk to me, I smile. I think it is funny. Especially when they ask me a question and I have the answer....easily. I spent a day traveling with my boss. We rarely have the time to talk at work. AS soon as I got in the car, she started on the political thing "so" she said "tell me about this race, so like, who is who and what is going on" I let her ask me questions for the entire hour. If I did not know the answer, I passed on the question and let her know that I did not have the answer. I then decided that thank God she was with me asking questions and not someone who was republican, then I was taken back by my thoughts. "I am a liberal" I am influencing people. I need to make sure I am keeping up on this stuff. I need to be right! I now have a responsibilty. It is a huge one. If I misspeak just once, I will lose credibility. I was a little freaked out. I have really gotten myself into it deep.

I am proud of myself and of everyone who has gotten involved in this movement. I am glad to take this on. I will raise my awareness of this process like I have raised my children, to the best of my abilty, with the best of intentions and with the upmost of hope for the future.

Thank you Barack Obama for this opportunity. Thank you fellow bloggers for the encouragement to keep it up. Thank you to my husband and children for putting up with me and listening to me.

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Black Box Voting. Have you heard about this?

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Mar 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

The video below provides bits of the backstory for our discovery of a potentially devastating method of rigging MAIL IN VOTES, AUDITS and RECOUNTS. Black Box Voting is currently doing proof of concept testing on our "Theory of a crime" and will release details next week on how it's done, so that preventive measures can be put in before November. We'll see how the ballots and the special "optical scan marking pens" being sold by vendors actually perform in our tests. Any information you can provide on the specific paper stock and especially, the paper coatings used by ballot printers will be much appreciated right now.

Information leading up to this discovery came from a frame-by-frame analysis of video, including these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txoLlfrBENk (pay close attention to the last segment)
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOESAfrPSKI

We believe it is possible to undetectably alter thousands -- possibly tens of thousands -- of paper ballots, using a technique known as "check washing." This would require applicator bottles (for ballot alteration in a vehicle during transport), paper towels, and in central ballot storage locations, for large quantities, cans of odorless paint thinner, denatured alcohol, or acetone. Our upcoming tests will show if our theory is correct, whether it can be done in a van, how many ballots can be done per hour, whether the special "AccuVote marking pens" sold by LHS Associates and Diebold (Premier) are easier to "wash" for remarking.

These two "ELECTION REALITY TV" videos above are prequels; video of our demo will be released next week. Maybe our theory of a crime won't work. We'll see.

The new video, linked above, shows top-level New Hampshire state officials lying about chain of custody matters. In one particularly bizarre incident, they attempt to hide the fact that ballots are sitting right there in an area of the warehouse (at 5:20 pm) that they have emphasized is "closed" at 4:30 pm. When a citizen catches them on video in the "closed" area, they simply deny that the ballot boxes are ballot boxes!

Earlier, they had staged a bit of public theatre in which they made it a point that "Hoppy" of the Butch and Hoppy ballot transport team, will have trouble going back to get his bag because the area is "closed" at 4:30. But after dark at 5:20, a Connecticut citizen named Walter Reddy caught top state officials and Hoppy on film in the very area that was supposed to be "closed", and the next night at 6:54 pm, a Florida citizen named Jeannie Dean caught them again.

Apparently the state officials did not realize the ballot boxes (empty and otherwise) had been caught on video, and after saying "those are not ballots" they hurriedly turned out the lights! Imagining state-level public officials standing there in the dark would be comical if it didn't represent the rape of our democratic republic.

The same boxes identified as "NOT ballots" are later identified, on camera, as Rockingham County ballot boxes, by the same state official who claimed they weren't ballots the night before. Of course, we knew they were ballot boxes, because we followed the ballot pickup van during Rockingham County pickups!

So what did they do? Open it up and deal with ballot intake and chain of custody in a properly public and transparent fashion?

Nope. The next night, New Hampshire state officials engaged the services of a police dog to obstruct citizens from looking in the window -- aROOH-ROOH-ROOH! (Nice doggy.)

Sarasota citizen Jeannie Dean, teeth chattering in the frigid New Hampshire night, zoomed in with a camera and boosted the sound on her video and once again, caught 'em in the act of secretive ballot delivery in the dark, wandering around in areas already proclaimed "closed after 4:30 pm."

"They" included New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan, New Hampshire Archives Director Frank Mevers, Archives Records Manager Brian Burford, and of course, "Butch and Hoppy" -- Armand "Butch" Dubois and Peter "Hoppy" Falzone.

A public records request by Black Box Voting for documents pertaining to the assignment of the K-9 unit has elicited "There are no records." We asked for phone bills, New Hampshire officials have said it will take 90 days to find them. We have asked for checks, credit card receipts, etc. for cleaning supplies, paint thinner, smocks, latex gloves, etc. They say it will take 90 days to find them. (Or find which ones to purge? Guys: We have your stuff on video.)

Much of what I've just told you relates to next week's proof of concept testing. What you will see in THESE videos is the backstory that helped us figure out the mechanics of how a massive ballot-tampering operation could be accomplished with just a few key people.

This project, funded and produced by BLACK BOX VOTING, used the concept of a rolling calvary of experienced citizen voting rights leaders. We collaborated on video targets and shared our videotape. Using combined evidence captured by several different citizens were we able to piece together how the New Hampshire primary could have been stolen.

CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND VOTE SUBSTITUTION: Along with voter eligibility fraud tactics and computer tampering, these will be "all the marbles" this November for mail-in votes (Oregon, Washington: nearly 100 percent; California, Arizona: approx 50 percent; Ohio, New Mexico, approx 30 percent.) Chain of custody and vote substitution can defeat any manual spot-check and, as we saw in New Hampshire, can nuke the validity of any recount.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO SECURE ELECTIONS?

YES. Citizen controls! "Get it right on Election Night." This is not about "bipartisan" observers who are political party operatives and hacks. This is about CITIZEN CONTROLS. Because the instruments of government that we have created, and our votes -- our method of exercising control over the government that we have created -- belong to US, not "them" -- not the government, not political parties. US. U.S. We the People.

AND NOW, ABOUT THOSE COMPUTERS...

Following another investigation, requiring months of diligence and plenty of computer and public records experience, JIM MARCH, JOHN BRAKEY, MICHAEL SHELBY: Maricopa County Arizona have produced an in-depth citizen evaluation: http://www.bbvforums.org/forums/messages/1954/73271.html

The article above provides the overview for a number of issues discovered in the largest location in Arizona, the most systemic -- national in scope -- being their discovery of an illicit component in the Sequoia voting system. Pay special attention to Appendix A in the full report: http://www.bbvdocs.org/sequoia/Maricopa-County-Elections-Report.pdf

* * * * *

And as for the many locations that still use paperless DREs or fail to audit chain of custody and procedural safeguards, as they say in New York, "fahgeddaboudit." There is no reason whatsoever to trust those elections.

YOUR DONATIONS ARE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER, TO WATCHDOG 2008:

http://www.blackboxvoting.org/donate.html or mail to:
Black Box Voting
330 SW 43rd St Suite K
PMB 547
Renton WA 98057

Black Box Voting is supported entirely by individual citizen donations.

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(reposted from my Friend Annie) addresses, phone numbers and emails to most of MSM!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Mar 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

Sender: annie

Subject: next
Received: 3/5/08 3:17PM

Okay. We will continue.

Barack Obama said last night in his speech...

Well we are here tonight to say that this is not the America we believe in and this is not the future we want. We want a new course for this country. We want new leadership in Washington. We want change in America.

John McCain and Senator Clinton echo each other in dismissing this call for change. They say it is eloquent but empty; speeches and not solutions. And yet, they should know that it's a call that did not begin with my words. It began with words that were spoken on the floors of factories in Ohio and across the deep plains of Texas; words that came from classrooms in South Carolina and living rooms in the state of Iowa; from first-time voters and life-long cynics; from Democrats and Republicans alike.

If I am the nominee of this party, I will not allow us to be distracted by the same politics that seeks to divide us with false charges and meaningless labels. In this campaign, we will not stand for the politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon.

I owe what I am to this country I love, and I will never forget it. Where else could a young man who grew up herding goats in Kenya get the chance to fulfill his dream of a college education? Where else could he marry a white girl from Kansas whose parents survived war and depression to find opportunity out west? Where else could they have a child who would one day have the chance to run for the highest office in the greatest nation the world has ever known? Where else, but in the United States of America?

Hope. Progress. Barack Obama.

The time is now.

Please get involved.

Back Obama up with knowing where he stands on the issues. http://www.barackobama.com/

Please call five intelligent people and ask them to get involved.

Ask each of them to call 5 people.

Donate (No donation is too small) - http://my.barackobama.com/p...

Go to the Library of Congress and look at what bills Obama has introduced, written and or co-sponsored. http://thomas.loc.gov/

Write mainstream media about their presentation of the facts (below is a list)

Contact Howard Dean and say no to changing the signed agreement on Florida and Michigan & to not allowing this vote be decided by "Superdelegates" - http://www.democrats.org/co...

Encourage endorsements of unions, congressman, governors, and public officials.

I do hope you'll all get involved - even if it is donating $5.00 or contacting Main Stream Media or forwarding this email.

I know it takes effort. But anything worth having is worth fighting for - in a dignified way.

This is from a blog. Hopefully the info is correct.

"If you want to be heard, and I mean REALLY heard, you must bombard the main stream media with your notes of disgust about them handing the day to HRC yesterday by allowing her negativity and false rumors to dominate the news cycle. If we make can make 1.5 million calls, I bet we can send 1 million e-mails too!

Contacts are as follows:

ABC News

77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023

Phone: 212-456-7777

General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com

Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com

20/20: 2020@abc.com

CBS News

524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019

Phone: 212-975-4321

Fax: 212-975-1893

Email forms for all CBS news programs

CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com

The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com

60 Minutes II: 60II@cbsnews.com

48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com

Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com

CNN

One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366

Phone: 404-827-1500

Fax: 404-827-1906

Email forms for all CNN news programs

Fox News Channel

1211 Ave. of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Phone: (212) 301-3000

Fax: (212) 301-4229

comments@foxnews.com

List of Email addresses for all Fox News Channel programs

Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com

FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com

The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com

Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com

On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.com

NBC

30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112

Phone: 212-664-4444

Fax: 212-664-4426

NBC news programs

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: nightly@msnbc.com

NBC News Today: today@nbc.com

Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.com

MSNBC

One MSNBC Plaza

Secaucus, NJ 07094

Phone: (201) 583-5000

Fax: (201) 583-5453

CNBC

2200 Fletcher Ave.

Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Phone: (201) 585-2622

Fax: (201) 583-5453

List of Email addresses for all MSNBC news programs

Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com

PBS

1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone: 703-739-5000

Fax: 703-739-8458

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.org

National Radio Programs

National Public Radio

635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753

Phone: 202-513-2000

Fax: 202-513-3329

E-mail: Chantal de la Rionda, assistant to the Ombudsman ombudsman@npr.org

All Things Considered: atc@npr.org

Morning Edition: morning@npr.org

Talk Of The Nation: totn@npr.org

I understand it is difficult to remain positive in light of the recent attacks this campaign has seen from Clinton. I too woke up this morning unhappy with the results but after some orange juice, cereal, and some news I am reluctant to call for a change in battle strategy in this campaign.

Being positive, honorable and dignified is always harder to do - it is always harder to embrace your opponent knowing that she is going to turn around and try and cut you down.

It is more expensive to maintain the moral high ground in elections because some people like hearing Gloria Steinem belittle John McCain's struggles as a POW.

Some people like seeing a big-mouth challenge the front-runner and then they forget all about that challenge when the time came to talk openly and debate.

Some people like half-answers and machiavellian innuendo when talking about a man of devout Christian faith.

Some people like taking patriotic, open and honest dialogue and twisting it into something un-American, grotesque and demeaning. Some people like it even more when they can target a black woman of the caliber of Michelle Obama - slander her in anyway they choose - and then simply write it off as politics as usual.

Some people like seeing the smallest hint of impropriety being blown up and used to smear a honorable and noble man.

Some people like mocking statesmen.

Some people like tearing down heroes.

Not THIS hero. Not THIS time.

I would urge all of Obama's supporters, official and non-official, to resist the temptation to go negative in this primary election. That is the Clinton way. That is the Bush way.

That is not the Obama way."

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Why Obama?

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Feb 25th, 2008 at 9:18 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

This is a little something I use (with permission from a friend on here) Barath.

Please feel free to use these talking points on WHY BARACK?

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/barath/CBh9

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All Texas Newspapers Emails- Write some letters!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Feb 18th, 2008 at 9:27 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

I realize the list below is similar to another list just sent to
TexasforObama, but the following list of emails represents EVERY Texas
newspaper which makes itself available to opinion letters via regular
email. Note: College newspapers come at the end. Note also, if you
see on a given line something like x, y@z.com, that means you can
address the email to x@z.com, y@z.com. Third note: Only submit to
emails labelled SPANISH if your email is in SPANISH :)

letter@reporternews.com,
nicole.perez@aliceechonews.com,
rmann@acnpapers.com,
editor@alpineavalanche.com,
alvinsun@swbell.net,
joanne.gosselin@amarillo.com,
sam@basinbroadband.com,
john@mybulletinnewspaper.com,
editor@aransaspassprogress.com,
news2@athensreview.com,
austin@bizjournals.com,
la-voz@sbcglobal.net, --SPANISH
bccourier@sbcglobal.net,
news@banderabulletin.com,
ttaschinger@hearstnp.com,
beepic@sbcglobal.net,
editor@bigspringherald.com,
editor@blancocountynews.com,
blueridgetribune@verizon.net,
news@boernestar.com,
joyce.kepley@fcspecial.com,
editor@borgernewsherald.com,
bsh@centex.net,
editor@breckenridgeamerican.com,
danny@brenhambanner.com,
timestribune@consolidated.net,
news@brownfieldonline.com,
gene.deason@brownwoodbulletin.com,
editorial@theeagle.com,
newscopy@highlandernews.com,
herald@cameronherald.com,
editor@timesguardian.com,
editor@hillcountrynews.com,
news@clarendononline.com,
dgosser@trcle.com,
hcnonline@hcnonline.com,
news@cliftonrecord.com,
news@colemancdv.com,
editor@coloradocountycitizen.com,
editor@thebulletin.com,
info@corpuschristidaily.com,
belcher@corsicanadailysun.com,
leon@lonestaricon.com,
cuerorecord@nodial.net,
dallas@bizjournals.com,
mark.donald@dallasobserver.com,
adriana@elheraldonews.com AND aebarbosa@yahoo.es --SPANISH,
editor@elhispanonews.com --SPANISH,
waters@parkcitiesnews.com,
businessnews@dallasnews.com,
news@deleontexas.com,
tgriffith@wcmessenger.com,
mtrimble@dentonrc.com,
manager, cedarhill, desoto, duncanville, and lancaster@todaynewspapers.net,
publisher, editor@dublincitizen.com,
editor@moorenews.com,
elgram@hilconet.com --SPANISH,
editorletter@leader-news.com,
cedgren@elpasotimes.com,
success@myeldorado.net,
rainsleader@earthlink.net,
dfisher@wylienews.com,
reader@wcn-online.com,
floydada@amaonline.com,
publisher@fspioneer.com,
rconnor, mprice@bizpress.net,
harral@star-telegram.com,
masterwebmaster@fwweekly.com,
news@frankstoncitizen.com,
cathy@fredericksburgstandard.com,
HCNonline@HCNonline.com,
frionastar@amaonline.com,
dmonk@acnpapers.com,
eaglepress@amaonline.com,
dailyregister@ntin.net,
editor@gatesvillemessenger.com,
news@gonzalesinquirer.com,
editor@hcnews.com,
editor@heraldbanner.com,
news@gonzalesinquirer.com,
news@cedarcreekpilot.com,
kmiller@herald-news.com,
lucioc, ramonr, pbinz@valleystar.com,
tfloyd@hendersondailynews.com,
editor@hondoanvilherald.com,
lcarter@forwardtimes.com,
houston@bizjournals.com,
viewpoints@chron.com,
hcnonline@hcnonline.com,
editorial@diariosrumbo.com --SPANISH,
jermis, lindseyv@itemonline.com,
newsdesk@thehuttonnews.com,
editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com,
jcnews@moment.net,
editor@thecountywide.com,
egardner, timesnews@katytimes.com,
mgresham, ccampbell@kaufmanherald.com,
knhedit@kilgorenewsherald.com,
bobodom@kingsvillerecord.com,
letters@lampasasdispatchrecord.com,
cperkowski@acnpapers.com,
editor@lexingtonleader.com,
lindalenews-times@etcnonline.com,
thenews@tstar.net,
awalker, jelizondo, plitterski@longview-news.com,
eleditor@sbcglobal.net,
joe.hughes@lubbockonline.com,
aadams, jpownall, lufnews@coxnews.com,
publisher@themonitor.net,
arogers@star-telegram.com,
newscopy@highlandernews.com,
democrat@marlindemocrat.com,
masonnew@tstar.net,
editorial@diariosrumbo.com --SPANISH,
dsorter@acnpapers.com,
bporter@acnpapers.com,
gott@hearstnp.com,
editor@mineralwellsindex.com,
news@progresstimes.net,
news@montgomerycountynews.net,
lou@dailytribune.net,
editor@mt-vernon.com,
editor@muleshoejournal.com,
news@murphymonitor.com,
dryan, krogers@coxnews.com,
editor@navasotaexaminer.com,
editor@olneyenterprise.com,
ebauer@orangeleader.com,
editor@palaciosbeacon.com,
editor@palestineherald.com,
news@pecos.net,
kat, john@thepaperweb.com,
editor@postsignal.com,
1kevin@plainviewdailyherald.com,
jmillender@acnpapers.com,
selizondo, gblack@pleasantonexpress.com,
panews@panews.com,
cfinn@plwave.com,
cengbrock@wylienews.com,
robert@raymondvillechroniclenews.com,
news@recordstar.com,
mike@rockdalereporter.com,
editor@rockwallcountynews.com,
newsroom@fbherald.com,
tfleischer@saladovillagevoice.com,
sanantonio@bizjournals.com,
rrivard@express-news.net,
jsandoval@laprensa.com, tinoduran@laprensa.com, --SPANISH/BILINGUAL,
ewolff, alindstrom, jherrera, ggarcia@sacurrent.com,
amiller, rray@sanmarcosrecord.com,
editor@tcnewsleader.com,
posteditorial@sbcglobal.net,
editor@sealynews.com,
gcarter@heralddemocrat.com,
editor1@snyderdailynews.com,
hpo@antden.com,
kari@countryworldnews.com,
editor@ssecho.com,
editor@sweetwaterreporter.com,
news@TaylorDailyPress.net,
lminor@texarkanagazette.com,
theprogress@hughes.net,
editor@tribunenews.com,
opinion@tylerpaper.com,
cgarnett@uvaldeleadernews.com,
feedback@vicad.com,
editor@weatherforddemocrat.com,
bensharp@journal-spectator.com,
watsond@timesrecordnews.com,

TEXAS COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS
optimist@acu.edu,
Lariat@baylor.edu,
editor@delmar.edu,
thresher-news@rice.edu,
tglick@smu.edu,
pinelog@sfasu.edu,
skyline@sulross.edu,
editor@thebattalion.net, opinion@thebattalion.net,
A.BAK@tcu.edu,
stareditor@txstate.edu, staropinion@txstate.edu,
britney.drumm@ttu.edu, michelle.casady@ttu.edu,
ktruitt@uh.edu,
abracamontes372@yahoo.com, mag0225@unt.edu,
opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu,
firingline@dailytexanonline.com,
prospector@utep.edu,
paisano@paisano-online.com,

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He is a Doer!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Feb 17th, 2008 at 8:20 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton. Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years. These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thomas.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you. 1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site. 2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month. 3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall. 5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson. 6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea. 7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day. 8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day. 9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death. 10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program. 13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda. 14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death. 15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11. 17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries. 19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care. 20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system. There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record. Re: WOW! Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize. During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced 233 regarding healthcare reform, 125 on poverty and public assistance, 112 crime fighting bills, 97 economic bills, 60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills, 21 ethics reform bills, 15 gun control, 6 veterans affairs and many others. His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more. In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public. He's not just a talker. He's a doer. Pass it on....It's impressive

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FBI, Some nasty news. NOT OBAMA RELATED. But please pass on!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Feb 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

From The Sunday Times
January 6, 2008
For sale: West’s deadly nuclear secrets
Insight: Chris Gourlay, Jonathan Calvert, Joe Lauria

A WHISTLEBLOWER has made a series of extraordinary claims about how corrupt government officials allowed Pakistan and other states to steal nuclear weapons secrets.

Sibel Edmonds, a 37-year-old former Turkish language translator for the FBI, listened into hundreds of sensitive intercepted conversations while based at the agency’s Washington field office.

She approached The Sunday Times last month after reading about an Al-Qaeda terrorist who had revealed his role in training some of the 9/11 hijackers while he was in Turkey.

Edmonds described how foreign intelligence agents had enlisted the support of US officials to acquire a network of moles in sensitive military and nuclear institutions.
Bhutto was killed by bomb blast

Among the hours of covert tape recordings, she says she heard evidence that one well-known senior official in the US State Department was being paid by Turkish agents in Washington who were selling the information on to black market buyers, including Pakistan.

The name of the official – who has held a series of top government posts – is known to The Sunday Times. He strongly denies the claims.

However, Edmonds said: “He was aiding foreign operatives against US interests by passing them highly classified information, not only from the State Department but also from the Pentagon, in exchange for money, position and political objectives.”

She claims that the FBI was also gathering evidence against senior Pentagon officials – including household names – who were aiding foreign agents.

“If you made public all the information that the FBI have on this case, you will see very high-level people going through criminal trials,” she said.

Her story shows just how much the West was infiltrated by foreign states seeking nuclear secrets. It illustrates how western government officials turned a blind eye to, or were even helping, countries such as Pakistan acquire bomb technology.

The wider nuclear network has been monitored for many years by a joint Anglo-American intelligence effort. But rather than shut it down, investigations by law enforcement bodies such as the FBI and Britain’s Revenue & Customs have been aborted to preserve diplomatic relations.

Edmonds, a fluent speaker of Turkish and Farsi, was recruited by the FBI in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Her previous claims about incompetence inside the FBI have been well documented in America.

She has given evidence to closed sessions of Congress and the 9/11 commission, but many of the key points of her testimony have remained secret. She has now decided to divulge some of that information after becoming disillusioned with the US authorities’ failure to act.

One of Edmonds’s main roles in the FBI was to translate thousands of hours of conversations by Turkish diplomatic and political targets that had been covertly recorded by the agency.

A backlog of tapes had built up, dating back to 1997, which were needed for an FBI investigation into links between the Turks and Pakistani, Israeli and US targets. Before she left the FBI in 2002 she heard evidence that pointed to money laundering, drug imports and attempts to acquire nuclear and conventional weapons technology.

“What I found was damning,” she said. “While the FBI was investigating, several arms of the government were shielding what was going on.”

The Turks and Israelis had planted “moles” in military and academic institutions which handled nuclear technology. Edmonds says there were several transactions of nuclear material every month, with the Pakistanis being among the eventual buyers. “The network appeared to be obtaining information from every nuclear agency in the United States,” she said.

They were helped, she says, by the high-ranking State Department official who provided some of their moles – mainly PhD students – with security clearance to work in sensitive nuclear research facilities. These included the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory in New Mexico, which is responsible for the security of the US nuclear deterrent.

In one conversation Edmonds heard the official arranging to pick up a $15,000 cash bribe. The package was to be dropped off at an agreed location by someone in the Turkish diplomatic community who was working for the network.

The Turks, she says, often acted as a conduit for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s spy agency, because they were less likely to attract suspicion. Venues such as the American Turkish Council in Washington were used to drop off the cash, which was picked up by the official.

Edmonds said: “I heard at least three transactions like this over a period of 2½ years. There are almost certainly more.”

The Pakistani operation was led by General Mahmoud Ahmad, then the ISI chief.

Intercepted communications showed Ahmad and his colleagues stationed in Washington were in constant contact with attachés in the Turkish embassy.

Intelligence analysts say that members of the ISI were close to Al-Qaeda before and after 9/11. Indeed, Ahmad was accused of sanctioning a $100,000 wire payment to Mohammed Atta, one of the 9/11 hijackers, immediately before the attacks.

The results of the espionage were almost certainly passed to Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani nuclear scientist.

Khan was close to Ahmad and the ISI. While running Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he became a millionaire by selling atomic secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea. He also used a network of companies in America and Britain to obtain components for a nuclear programme.

Khan caused an alert among western intelligence agencies when his aides met Osama Bin Laden. “We were aware of contact between A Q Khan’s people and Al-Qaeda,” a former CIA officer said last week. “There was absolute panic when we initially discovered this, but it kind of panned out in the end.”

It is likely that the nuclear secrets stolen from the United States would have been sold to a number of rogue states by Khan.

Edmonds was later to see the scope of the Pakistani connections when it was revealed that one of her fellow translators at the FBI was the daughter of a Pakistani embassy official who worked for Ahmad. The translator was given top secret clearance despite protests from FBI investigators.

Edmonds says packages containing nuclear secrets were delivered by Turkish operatives, using their cover as members of the diplomatic and military community, to contacts at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.

Following 9/11, a number of the foreign operatives were taken in for questioning by the FBI on suspicion that they knew about or somehow aided the attacks.

Edmonds said the State Department official once again proved useful. “A primary target would call the official and point to names on the list and say, ‘We need to get them out of the US because we can’t afford for them to spill the beans’,” she said. “The official said that he would ‘take care of it’.”

The four suspects on the list were released from interrogation and extradited.

Edmonds also claims that a number of senior officials in the Pentagon had helped Israeli and Turkish agents.

“The people provided lists of potential moles from Pentagon-related institutions who had access to databases concerning this information,” she said.

“The handlers, who were part of the diplomatic community, would then try to recruit those people to become moles for the network. The lists contained all their ‘hooking points’, which could be financial or sexual pressure points, their exact job in the Pentagon and what stuff they had access to.”

One of the Pentagon figures under investigation was Lawrence Franklin, a former Pentagon analyst, who was jailed in 2006 for passing US defence information to lobbyists and sharing classified information with an Israeli diplomat.

“He was one of the top people providing information and packages during 2000 and 2001,” she said.

Once acquired, the nuclear secrets could have gone anywhere. The FBI monitored Turkish diplomats who were selling copies of the information to the highest bidder.

Edmonds said: “Certain greedy Turkish operators would make copies of the material and look around for buyers. They had agents who would find potential buyers.”

In summer 2000, Edmonds says the FBI monitored one of the agents as he met two Saudi Arabian businessmen in Detroit to sell nuclear information that had been stolen from an air force base in Alabama. She overheard the agent saying: “We have a package and we’re going to sell it for $250,000.”

Edmonds’s employment with the FBI lasted for just six months. In March 2002 she was dismissed after accusing a colleague of covering up illicit activity involving Turkish nationals.

She has always claimed that she was victimised for being outspoken and was vindicated by an Office of the Inspector General review of her case three years later. It found that one of the contributory reasons for her sacking was that she had made valid complaints.

The US attorney-general has imposed a state secrets privilege order on her, which prevents her revealing more details of the FBI’s methods and current investigations.

Her allegations were heard in a closed session of Congress, but no action has been taken and she continues to campaign for a public hearing.

She was able to discuss the case with The Sunday Times because, by the end of January 2002, the justice department had shut down the programme.

The senior official in the State Department no longer works there. Last week he denied all of Edmonds’s allegations: “If you are calling me to say somebody said that I took money, that’s outrageous . . . I do not have anything to say about such stupid ridiculous things as this.”

In researching this article, The Sunday Times has talked to two FBI officers (one serving, one former) and two former CIA sources who worked on nuclear proliferation. While none was aware of specific allegations against officials she names, they did provide overlapping corroboration of Edmonds’s story.

One of the CIA sources confirmed that the Turks had acquired nuclear secrets from the United States and shared the information with Pakistan and Israel. “We have no indication that Turkey has its own nuclear ambitions. But the Turks are traders. To my knowledge they became big players in the late 1990s,” the source said.

How Pakistan got the bomb, then sold it to the highest bidders

1965 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s foreign minister, says: “If India builds the bomb we will eat grass . . . but we will get one of our own”

1974 Nuclear programme becomes increased priority as India tests a nuclear device

1976 Abdul Qadeer Khan, a scientist, steals secrets from Dutch uranium plant. Made head of his nation’s nuclear programme by Bhutto, now prime minister

1976 onwards Clandestine network established to obtain materials and technology for uranium enrichment from the West

1985 Pakistan produces weapons-grade uranium for the first time

1989-91 Khan’s network sells Iran nuclear weapons information and technology

1991-97 Khan sells weapons technology to North Korea and Libya

1998 India tests nuclear bomb and Pakistan follows with a series of nuclear tests. Khan says: “I never had any doubts I was building a bomb. We had to do it”

2001 CIA chief George Tenet gathers officials for crisis summit on the proliferation of nuclear technology from Pakistan to other countries

2001 Weeks before 9/11, Khan’s aides meet Osama Bin Laden to discuss an Al-Qaeda nuclear device

2001 After 9/11 proliferation crisis becomes secondary as Pakistan is seen as important ally in war on terror

2003 Libya abandons nuclear weapons programme and admits acquiring components through Pakistani nuclear scientists

2004 Khan placed under house arrest and confesses to supplying Iran, Libya and North Korea with weapons technology. He is pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf

2006 North Korea tests a nuclear bomb

2007 Renewed fears that bomb may fall into hands of Islamic extremists as killing of Benazir Bhutto throws country into turmoil

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A tiny ripple of hope (forwarded letter) had to pass it on!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Feb 16th, 2008 at 7:14 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Below is a letter my father has approved and written that we have collectively decided to release as the time is now! Contact me for a PDF copy that contains a picture. Thanks! Go Obama. . .Sweep Texas!

It Began as a Tiny Ripple of Hope

"Hand in hand with the freedom of speech goes the power to be heard, to share in the decisions of government which shape men's lives. Everything that makes man's life worthwhile - family, work, education, a place to rear one's children and a place to rest one's head - all this depends on decisions of government; all can be swept away by a government which does not heed the demands of its people. Therefore, the essential humanity of man can be protected and preserved only where government must answer - not just to the wealthy, not just to those of a particular religion, or a particular race, but to all its people."

Robert F. Kennedy

(Speech given June 6, 1966 to young people at the University of Cape Town, South Africa)

It was 1968 and there was a feeling across the land that despite the enormous challenges facing our country at that time, change was right around the corner. It was a time of turmoil and despair, with race riots engulfing our cities and anti-war protests erupting in violence. Yet in the midst of the chaos, 'a tiny ripple of hope' began to spread through the ghettos and barrios because of the words of a charismatic man running for the office of President of the United States.

His name was Robert F. Kennedy and he was mobbed by enthusiastic supporters at every campaign stop, especially by racial and ethnic minorities. And why wouldn't they? He would hold rallies in the midst of where they lived and his speeches awakened the dormant dreams of the forgotten and disenfranchised of this country. When he won the California primary, it was no longer 'a tiny ripple of hope,' it was a movement gaining momentum and seem destined to land Robert F. Kennedy in the White House. Sadly, an assassin's bullet ended the dream, and the vision of a government serving all of its people was put on hold.

Today, 40 years later, there is once again a charismatic man on the political scene that is arousing similar feelings of hope and possibilities within the populace. Feelings that government will once again respond to the will of the people. Rising expectations of a government that works for all of us- regardless of race, religion or national origin. His name is Barack Obama and he has inspired great numbers to believe change indeed is possible.

The enthusiasm and excitement that he is greeted with at every campaign stop can't help but remind me of 1968. I was 18 years old and just out of high school. Our generation was going to end the war in Vietnam, bring about racial harmony, restore government and eliminate poverty. In effect, we were going to change the world. However, fate stepped in and change was postponed. It has taken four decades, but we once again have an inspirational leader ready to take up the cause. In 2008, Barack Obama is making us believe that change is not only possible, it is inevitable.

I say 'us' because Barack Obama's campaign is getting support from every demographic. Gender doesn't matter, age doesn't matter, race doesn't matter, political affiliation doesn't matter, social standing doesn't matter. To his supporters, what matters is the possibility that a 'United' States is within our reach if together we replace our broken government with one that responds to the will of the people.

It is his universal appeal that has me puzzled when I read or hear that Hispanics will not support Barack Obama because there is some kind of rift between Hispanics and African-Americans. Or that our support of Hillary is the result of us viewing President Clinton as a friend of Hispanics. Where do these assumptions come from? I cannot answer for other Hispanics, but I don't make decisions that will have profound consequences for my children and grandchildren based on such nonsense. On the contrary, I believe most Hispanics will vote for the candidate best qualified to unify this country only after a careful and thorough study of all the issues.

Hispanics in Texas will now have an opportunity to hear Barack Obama firsthand over the next couple of weeks and determine for themselves if he is an agent of change for this generation. Only then will you be able to decide for yourself instead of listening to the spin of the pundits. Perhaps you will be surprised by the 'tiny ripple of hope' aroused in your heart as a result of hearing his message. Maybe for a moment you will forget you are Hispanic and instead become an ordinary citizen about to embark on an extraordinary journey with your fellow countrymen. You see, Barack Obama does not expect to achieve anything on his own strength, but through the collective efforts of those responsible for electing him President of the United States - we the people.

We are in a season of change, an opportunity not to be missed or taken lightly. The last time I saw this much excitement and optimism for the future was 1968. During this election year, the anticipation of something better is allowing us to hope again as we dream of living as 'one nation under God with justice for all.' Robert F Kennedy, in his call to action in 1968, said, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Barack Obama, in 2008, is asking us to do the same and we are responding. One by one, all across America, ordinary people are aligning themselves with a cause greater than themselves. Together, these voices have become a powerful force in challenging the status quo and demanding change. After a 40 year hiatus, hope is alive and destiny awaits.

Written by:

Emilio Fuentes Jr

Dallas, Texas

Born in Mexico in1950 to migrant workers who moved to the United States when he was 2 years old. Father served in WWII in the Pacific. He began his education in Chicago not knowing English. As migrant workers, the family moved around the country before finally settling in Hereford Texas. Initially, the family had to live in a labor camp outside the city because landlords within the city limits would not rent to Mexicans. Graduated from Hereford High School in 1968. Graduated from West Texas A&M University in Canyon Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. In 1987 broke his neck and although diagnosed a quadriplegic, he overcame the odds and made a remarkable recovery. Became a naturalized citizen in 1990. Married 39 years to Mary with three grown children - Veronica, Brian and Mark. Six grandchildren. Lived in Amarillo Texas for 30 plus years before moving to Dallas Texas in December of 2005.

VERONICA FUENTES

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Hope Warrior!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Jan 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

NOW is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. If we're going to be more cheerful in the future, it's because of our aspiration to be cheerful in the present. The future is the result of what we do right now.

"if we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher."

"We think the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. The healing comes from letting there be room for it all to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy"

"Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over again to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us"

"Gloriousness and wretchedness need each other. One inspires us, the other softens us"

"We work on ourselves in orger to help others, but also we help others in order to work on ourselves"

"The truth you cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new"

"A sign of health is that we don't become undone by fear and trembling, but take it as a message that it's TIME TO STOP STRUGGLING AND LOOK DIRECTLY AT WHAT TREATENS US."

"Rejoicing in ordinary things takes guts. Each time we drop our complaints and allow everyday good fortune to inspire us, we enter the warrior's world"

Lets be totally positive today on this site. Lets fill those who would look on here to get a last look before they go caucus and make up thier mind that we are a good group of people, People they would like to be a part of.

NO POLLS, NO FIGHTING, Let them make fun of us because we are inspired by a MAN NAMED OBAMA. That names do not scare us, that the MSM does not scare us, that being behind in the polls does not sway our support of BARRACK OBAMA.

There are days I have my gut wrentching, and feelings of dispair. But coming here reminds me I AM NOT ALONE! WE ARE RIGHT. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE FACE OF OUR COMPETITOR, I HAVE SHAKEN HER HAND, I HAVE HEARD HER SPEAK.

I AM NOT AFRAID. I AM AN OBAMA HOPE WARRIOR!

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Fundraising!

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

YES WE CAN ~~ HOPE LIVES!

I became involved with this campaign not knowing how much this experience would touch me so personally. I have been so taken, not only with Barack Obama and his family but the extended family I have found at each and every event I have attended and on this site.

I met my first goal of 1000 dollars with great support from others. As the days passed and the fight got harder, I decided that 1000 dollars was not enough of an effort. I see people donating 5,10,15 or more dollars regularly on this site. I thought to myself. Why not set a BIG goal and make some noise about it! So here I go.

All these politicians have many millions of dollars just "floating" around in space it seems, ready to "fall" into thier laps as needed. I dont need a politican that doesnt need us! We each can have a real say in what happens in this country if we can get this genuine and wonderful man in the White House. We all know how it happens, it is not magic. A lot of us dont like the idea that we have to "give" money, but every candidate is getting donations from all over the place in this country. Sone of them are getting MILLIONS! from low places. I want to be a big piece of the REAL PEOPLE that give for him.

I am asking you to DIG DEEP in those pockets because the real race is just starting. We had two tests and he is ready to go the distance, he is ready if we give him the funds on which he can make it to the END!

I want to hear YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN.

SO, go to my page and help me make history!

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superdelegate story

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Jan 6th, 2008 at 2:28 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

Superdelegates are delegates to a presidential nominating convention in the United States who are not bound by the decisions of party primaries or caucuses. Superdelegates are elected officeholders and party officials.

Superdelegates were first appointed in the 1970s, after control of the nomination process in the Democratic Party effectively moved out of the hands of party officials into the primary and caucus process. The aim was to accord some say in the process to people who had been playing roles in the party before the election year.

As of the 2008 nominating cycle, the Republican Party does not have superdelegates. It does, however, have 463 unpledged delegates, 123 of whom are Republican National Committee members.[1]

In the Democratic primary phase of the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, Howard Dean acquired an early lead in delegate counts by obtaining the support of a number of superdelegates before even the first primaries were held.

[edit] The Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention, where the Democratic presidential ticket is formally agreed upon, has 796 superdelegates. Superdelegates to the Democratic Convention include all Democratic members of the United States Congress, various additional elected officials, as well as members of the Democratic National Committee.

A candidate needs a simple majority of the combined delegate and superdelegate votes to secure the nomination. Democratic delegates from state caucuses and primaries number 3,253. This means that the total number of votes is 4,049. The total number of delegate votes needed to win the nomination is 2,025. Superdelegates account for approximately one fifth (19.7%) of all votes at the convention. Delegates chosen in the Democratic caucuses and primaries account for about four fifths (80.3%) of the Democratic convention delegates.[2]

[edit] References

This is a good one to follow, it should update regularly:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D

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A caucus experience: Standing with Barack

By Laura Hubka ~From Iowa Where It Started and Will Continue~~~ - Jan 5th, 2008 at 3:47 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Its 10 AM. I am wandering around my house, checking and double checking my supplies for tonight. Yup, they are still in my BIG purse. NO problems. 12AM I go out to get the brownie mix for this evening, some how I let myself run out. I have my car completly covered with Obama signs, I have my shirt on, buttons on my jacket and my scarf. I am by all accounts a polictical buttetin board. I am full of nerves, but really not bad. I keep a big smile on my face everywhere I go. I am happy, I am confident.

I call my field director Million and I pick up some last minute supplies for another precinct caption. I go to drop them off in his store and only his wife is there, she says with out looking at me, oh he cant make it tonight. I start to freak a little. But I now of another great supporter in the area and tell million I will give it to her. She is not home, so I ask in town where it is she works, they say she runs her own business fixing computers out of her home, but does things at peoples homes too. I give up and decided I will catch her just before the caucus! OH MY wont she be surprised! poor thing.

I look through the stuff in the OBAMA TUBE, there are signs with UNITY and a little piece of paper with the call in numbers on it and a string attached to hang around your neck, I decide I WILL NOT WEAR this. ha ha.

I leave my house at 5 PM, stop by the other supporters house and give her the information. I tell her that I will help her when we get there. She is shocked but OK with it. Basically just hanginig up the signs and standing there to welcome supporters.

I told my people to get there at 645, Some of them needed extra time because of milking cows and work. I figured this would be a great strategy anyway. I was still praying.

I got there and set up my signs by 615 and there was a room filled with Edwards and Hillary supporters looking at me with pittiful looks. Asking me if I was ok. yeah I was ok! I smiled, no one seemed to be greating anyone, so I took over and spread the signin sheets out, helped people find thier names, gave them voter registration sheets if they needed them., still no one was there by 640. just me and my kids... Then suddenly here they came, I smiled helped them sign in and one by one stuck my stickers on them. I am not being mean here, but one Hillary supporter was staring me down so hard, but I kept smiling.

We counted the room 2 times and came up with different numbers. I decided that we should just count off, which worked well. We had 47 people. In a caucus that usually gets 1-5 particpants this was amazing! Then we seperated into prefrence groups and I was amazed at my number I had 16, Hillary 16 and Edwards 14 and Richrdson 1. The Richardson guy left. But we still had to count him as a participant. so out of 5 delegates OBAMA got 2 Hillary 2 and Edwards 1.

I cried, I was shaking and I gave every single person standing with me a hug, thinking of Auntie B and all the others on BarackObama.com that have inspired me. I thought of Barack and his wonderful family. I felt like I was a big winner. I kept my promise. I was asked to get 10 to stand up I got 16. One less phone call, one less door knock...would have made a difference. People showed up for Barack that have never ever caucused before. Out of the 16 people I had 12 NEW voters and caucus goers. I was shaking and shaking and the people that were there for me were smiling. I looked every single one of them in the eye and thanked them over and over, I told them that without them Barack would not have ever gotten close in this tiny precinct. I felt like a good friend to them. And I feel like I am.

The kids and I took down our signs. I shook the hands of the Edwards caption (it was my husbands cousin and his Aunt and Uncle were on the other side of the room) I just kept smiling! The Hillary caption came over and said, what is your name? I said Laura Hubka, he said ahhh yes you called me before. and I said, "not too much" We had you pegged as the Hillary caption about 3 months ago" and he said "oh yeah?" Yeah, so I left you alone. " He just laughed and said, you did really good. I am pretty impressed!" I think he thought that by the end of the night Hillary would be the winner. I'd like to talk to him today. ...well maybe not.

There was a little other business, I ended up getting voted in as delegate (I wanted it anyway) and then signed on for the platform committee (taking things to the county and state for the county...i.e. road work, hog confinments..ect)

We left and drove for an hour to get to the Decorah field office. I called into the Sirius channel 146 LEFT. I told them of our win and our energy. Someone called in from Des Moines saying that there is usually 100 people there, but there was 380 people there and 181 stood up for Barack 101 for Hillary and 75 for Edwards! In Decorah People were walking by, driving by honking and screaming! I parked and got in the office. I met Pete and his son from Michigan and Hugh again! We all hugged. We had the TV on and 2 computers with constant updates. WE were eating cake and talking laughing, telling our stories. It was like the blog would be if were all together on caucus or primary night! The energy was high.

We stuck around for the final numbers and all hugged Victoria for her hard work. I cried knowing they were leaving. I called Million who was in New Hampton he was all caught up in the evening and could not talk long.

I havent seen them since. I miss them already.

I am ready to be a delegate! Especially at the national convention. I have to talk to get my way to that, but I think I have the words! Especially if Barack is the nominee!

I Love you all!!

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