Organizing for America | Montanans for Obama ~ Helena

Montanans for Obama ~ Helena

We are working with Helena folks to build the efforts to elect Barack Obama for President 2008. We have a web presence for Montana for Obama and we invite you to join us there too! You can find it by going to Yahoo Groups and then search for Montana for Obama, and there it is! Thanks! ~ Melisa Kaiser Synness & Curt Synness

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Helena Health Care Discussion Notes

By Marshall - Feb 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am EST

Also listed in: Montanans for Obama ~ Helena

FYI, I'm posting the results of our Health Care Community Discussion, held last December 28th in Helena. The questions were asked by (then) Department of Health and Human Services Secretary designate Tom Daschle. The answers reflect the consensus of the participants from the meeting.

Look for a letter to the editor of the Independent Record soon by Judy Fay referencing the notes below. And if you want to continue the discussion, join the Montana for Obama - Helena group on my.barackobama.com at http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/MontanaforObamaHelena .

Marshall

Health Care Community Discussion
Helena, MT
12/28/08

Group Consensus Statement:

We believe that a profit based healthcare system is a tragic and mistaken direction that our country has taken. Without a doubt, there is an inherent problem with having to pay for healthcare, like many other rights you are endowed by your country healthcare should be a right not a choice. Our healthcare system today costs too much money on both independent employers and individuals; we recognize that this sad state of affairs is an intrinsic part of the state of our society today. Healthcare should be a right not dependent on employment or how much one can pay therefore we advocate a single payer government run healthcare system. We believe a single payer government run healthcare system is the strongest choice because it takes the power and ability out of the hands of insurance companies and focus’s it back in the hands of doctors. We recognize that we do have a efficient system working in our country in the form of Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Administration, we believe that we should consolidate and harness these incredible organizations to better help utilize a single payer healthcare system.

General Questions:

1. How many people attended your health care community discussion?

25 people attended our discussion, approximately 1/2 men and 1/2 women. Most were in the 45-60 age group, the others were more senior rather than younger. Most attendees found out about the discussion as a result of a letter to the editor published in our local paper. Approximately 1/3 were employed in the health care profession in some professional capacity.

2. Please summarize compelling personal stories from attendees about the need for health care reform in our country, and provide their contact information.

Due to time constraints discussing the following 7 questions, we were not able to collect these stories.

Summary of Responses from Discussion Questions:

1. What does the group perceive as the biggest problem in the health system?

The group felt that a private insurance-based system of payments, primarily accessible through employment, was the biggest problem in the health care system. As such, it does not focus primarily on health care provision (including preventative services) or the actual health and wellness (physical and mental) of the people being served, but really is oriented to maintaining the profits of private insurance companies and the privileges of employees fortunate enough to be covered by their employers (mostly larger companies). For the rest of us, and increasingly most of us as employers increase co-pays and other cost-shifting strategies, we have no or inadequate access to coverage or health care services. The patchwork of "solutions" (we don't have a health care "system" but a patchwork of many "systems") makes it all but impossible to achieve the goal of quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Our group felt that there will only be one chance in the next generation to effectively address this issue, and bold national leadership is required now. Tinkering with the patchwork systems, as our group understands the current Obama approach to be (based on the Participant Guide), will not solve the problem. In fact, you should know that this sentiment was among the most strongly felt of all problems.

2. How do attendees choose a doctor or hospital? Where do attendees get information in making the decision? How should public policy promote quality health care providers?

In our rural area, there is a dramatic shortage of internists and primary care doctors. This is getting worse very quickly, so we are increasingly faced with no choices. Pubic policy should make it easier for practitioners to serve rural communities as internists and primary care physicians. Furthermore, the quality of care that is offered by public policy should be measured by against that provided at VA and community-based health centers (as opposed to traditional hospitals and clinics). These institutions take a long-term approach to the health of the patient, not a short term approach of addressing a disease based primarily on allowable insurance reimbursements. The conflicts of interest in the provision of medical care must also be removed, so that health care professionals are not paid to promote profitable solutions. Consumers should have more choice of doctors and other providers based on open and transparent records of their effectiveness at delivering health care solutions, and all medical records should be electronically transferrable at a patient's request between providers. Public policy should promote cooperation between health care providers, not enable competition among them at the detriment of providing quality health care. Finally, public policy should promote the adoption of best practices, whether it be about the design of the entire health care system based on what works in other countries or of individual procedures.

3. Have attendees or their family experienced difficulty paying medical bills? How can policy makers address this problem?

This was the quickest discussion of all. Our group strongly endorses a "single payer" or "Medicare for All" approach to addressing the problem of paying medical bills. In fact, there was no one that spoke up for any other alternative. HB676 (sponsored by John Conyers) was mentioned as one legislative vehicle, though no one knew of a Senate corollary. The consensus was that since more than 60% of health care dollars are spent by the government (based on taxes we all pay), and since so many people remain vulnerable to health crises because of lack of adequate access to quality health care, and that what Americans pay per capita is twice as much as any other advance economy for less heathy results, we feel that that only a government administered payment system can help control costs, guarantee access, and increase the overall health of all Americans.

4. In addition to employer-based coverage, would the group like the option to purchase a private plan through an insurance-exchange or a public plan like Medicare?

Based on the previous discussion, the short answer to this question is, "NO!" First of all, and as reported above, our group felt that employer-based coverage was part of the problem. Leaving that aside, an insurance exchange still is an private approach, i.e., not a solution because it relies on private companies who's business model is fundamentally contradictory to the long-term health and financial interests of their customers (private health insurance is a gamble, and as in Vegas "the house" always wins). Paying into a public pool, such as Medicare (in our preferred case Medicare for All) is the much preferred route. No one in our group opposed paying more taxes in exchange for access to a quality health care system. Everyone should pay into the pool (at some level, but otherwise subsidized), and everyone's health care expenses should be covered by the pool, regardless of when they entered the pool (just like in Social Security with actually is solvent far into the future).

5. Did attendees know how much they or their employer pays for health insurance. What should employer's role be in a reformed health care system?

Several of our participants were employers, and knew exactly how much they were paying per employee for their benefit, and how much premiums have dramatically increased in the past few years. These are all small companies (for profit and non-profit), and all of them are struggling with these costs. They feel that it is a competitive advantage that they should offer to recruit and retain quality employees, but are increasingly finding it hard to provide the benefit. They also strongly object to being put in that position, as employers. They want to be in the business as defined by their primary business mission, not in the business of administering private, employer-based health care coverage for their employees. For those that do provide a heath insurance benefit for their employees, they feel trapped if one of their employees actually needs to use the policy because of a serious medical condition, i.e., they are locked into that company lest they cast those with pre-existing conditions to a market that will no longer accept them as an "acceptable" risk. Others in our group were either smaller organizations or self employed, and do not provide any health insurance benefit, not because they do not want to but because they can't afford to. All of this added up to the consensus that employers must be removed from the health insurance equation. That will happen by default sooner or later (it's a race to the bottom when all employers are forced to eliminate health care benefits due to competitive pressures), but then no one will have insurance unless government takes a much larger role, or the only role, in providing coverage.

6. Were attendees familiar with the types of preventive services Americans should receive? Had attendees gotten recommended prevention? If not, how can public policy help?

Our group is acutely aware of preventive health care services and supportive of expanded access to them, especially for people who have been traditionally denied access to any kind of health care service. Much of this will involve a new kind of public health campaign, to ensure that once health care services are made more accessible that people actually access them. They've learned how not to, and now they need to be encouraged to get the preventive health care that will both provide them with a better quality of life and reduce overall costs to the system. There are plenty of precedents for this (diabetes prevention by the Indian Health Service; mandatory free dental checkups and cleanings every 6 months, patients pay if they don't practice simple preventive hygiene; mandatory immunizations and other public health practices as well as dramatically expanded health and physical education throughout enrollment in public schools, etc.). Public policy should ensure paid time off for preventive procedures, such as annual exams, as well as provide tax or other financial incentives for healthy habits that demonstrably reduce reliance on health care provision (such as quitting smoking) and tax and other financial penalties for unhealthy behaviors (i.e., taxes on transfatty foods).

7. How can public policy promote healthier lifestyles?

Besides "sin taxes" (which has its pros and cons, based on who is addicted and their ability to pay), there were several ideas offered:

* Urban and transportation policy that promotes the re-development of affordable housing close to employment and other community assets (such as grocery shopping), preferably within walking or biking distance;

* Agricultural policy that promotes healthy food production and distribution, such as more coverage of healthy foods by Food Stamps, more provision of healthy foods in lunches and other school venues, more production of actually healthy foods (fewer hormones, chemicals and pesticides in production, fewer processed foods, more locally grown fruits and vegetables in local markets, etc.);

* Bans on most drug advertising, in much the same way that tobacco and most alcohol advertising has been banned;

* More stringent environmental regulations, and aggressive enforcement of all regulations, that affect the individual and public health of all Americans; and

* We recognize that lobbyists in DC sill have far more power that citizens do, and thus also recommend that campaign finance reform be overhauled, specifically to include public financing of political campaigns.

We realize that the Obama administration is making an extraordinary effort to involve citizens in the democratic change that we voted for on November 4, a precedent that we hope all future Presidents, regardless of party affiliation, will follow. We particularly appreciate your efforts in establishing health care reform as the first of your policy objectives to be addressed as early as possible, and want to stress that we agree that all Americans have the overall responsibility, individually and through our elected government, for the collective health of all Americans.

###

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Will you help President Obama with the economy?

By Nathan Kosted-OFA Montana Field Director - Jan 30th, 2009 at 6:06 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

In case you hadn't seen this yet I thought I'd pass it on, please consider hosting a party or talking with a friend you can work with to find a venue to hold a party. We need many minds to figure out the stimulus plan and economic recovery and your voice needs to be heard.

Sign up to host an Economic Recovery House Meeting the weekend of Friday, February 6th.

Wouldn't it be great if we could get a party in every major town in Montana (and the smaller ones too). I have sent this e-mail to people in Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, and Helena, please forward this to people all over the state who may be interested, this movement is about us, the people and let’s keep it going to change Montana and America.

Please don’t let the scare tactics of Rush Limbaugh continue to run this country, we need bipartisanship to solve the economic crisis and rebuild our country. We cannot stand by as every house republican votes against the stimulus plan in lockstep, this is not a political issue, it is an issue that needs open discussion from all viewpoints and not just the Republican caucus (or Democratic one for that matter) to decide. President Obama ran his campaign on openness, bipartisanship and real solutions for America; let’s help him on the road to recovery.

Thank you and may your personal finances outlast this recession,

Nathan Kosted

P.S. Here's he link again:

Sign up to host an Economic Recovery House Meeting the weekend of Friday, February 6th.

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Home

By Bill Johnson - Jan 25th, 2009 at 10:05 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

By morning the wind had stopped and cold had set in. We got an early start and headed north to the Twin Cities. We stopped in Fargo for lunch with friends.

North Dakota was cold, but the roads were clear and we made good time. Dixie and I lived for 5 years in North Dakota and still feel at home in the Big Empty. Warmest people in the country.

We spent the night in Miles City, Montana, having driven 800 miles.

Early start this morning, as snow has moved in. Fought a light snow for 400 miles, across the passes and along the rivers, but made it home this afternoon.

Good trip. President Obama made it all worth the effort.

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Wheeling

By Bill Johnson - Jan 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

We arose early yesterday and did a tour of Arlington Cemetray. What a place. Emma felt we had to visit since we were so close. This visit did delay our leaving DC by a couple of hours. Emma wanted to see Baltimore, home of Hair Spray, so we drove there first. And we drove there very slowly. The only heavy traffic we have had for the whole trip.

Then we stopped at Gettysburg to view the battle sight. Here we found out that we were probably too far from Pittsburgh for the Kids to catch their flights home and to college. I drove as fast as I dared, but we just missed their flights. We got them rescheduled for the 22nd and set up in a hotel at the airport (pricey, aren't they?) and drove to Wheeling, WV.

For those I have promised photos, I can not download them to this computer, so everyone will have to wait. Sorry.

The ObamaCart made the NY Times yesterday, so I guess we have arrived.

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By Bill Johnson - Jan 20th, 2009 at 6:39 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Sunday Jeff and Emma flew into Pittsburgh and Jeff's baggage was lost so we had to spend the night. Monday we got out late and drove to DC. We swung south and came in from the south east to avoid traffic. Missed our motel and wound up down town. Parked and spent a few hours on the mall. Then back to the motel. Very light traffic.

Then to the MYBO Grassroots Soical. Cheryl had given a power point on the Obamacart, so when we arrived with my wheel, we got a warm reception. Had a great time and returned to the motle around midnight.

This morning up before 5 and got a cab down to the mall. I wanted to watch the show from the Lincoln Memorial, but was over ruled so we moved. To the WWII Memoial where Emma and I found good seats. But, that was not to be either. Dixie and Jeff went to the Washington Monument and called us, so we joined them.

So, we watched our dreams come true from the cold, wind swept hill top which surrounds the Washington Monument. The crowd was so thinck you could hardly move, but not heavy enough to create enogh body heat to warm the place.

What a wonderful experience! It was everything I wished it would be.

Afterwards, we worked our way back out of the mall, across the river to Arlington Cemetary and caught the Metro then a cab back to the room. Tonight we are going out again, but nothing will ever top today.

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Pittsburgh

By Bill Johnson - Jan 18th, 2009 at 9:09 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

I really do not know if anyone is reading these posts, but it will be a record if the aliens capture us.

This morning the roads were the pits. 30 miles an hour. Car is rotten in the snow or ice.

Made Pittsburgh. Jeff's luggage is lost, so we have a room in Pittsburgh for tonight. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton. Nice place

Tomorrow DC

Still have an extra room, it ayone cares.

if you need a place to crash let me know.

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To Indiana

By Bill Johnson - Jan 17th, 2009 at 9:59 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Another 620 miles done. Tough roads today. Right outside of Sioux City was a wreck. A truck pulling a trailer rolled. Truck went end over end. Trailer looked like a horse trailer to me, but I saw no horses. Four ambulances passed us going to the scene. Iowa was icy for 150 miles so we went slow. Didn't make Indianapolis, but came close.

Thanks to Laura, we stayed with her in Iowa when we were on our Obamacart tour, she is driving about one day ahead of us and keeps us up to date on weather.

Wind turbines in Iowa are impressive. Dixie and I like their looks, but I know some folks think they are ugly. Energy of the future.

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hardin to souix city

By Bill Johnson - Jan 16th, 2009 at 11:48 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Made it from Hardin< Montana to souix City Iowa today. Good roads. We are just following the storm. Folks tell us today is the first nice day in a week. The weather is sort of "Obalmy"

See you in DC

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On the road again

By Bill Johnson - Jan 16th, 2009 at 12:27 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

We are on the road again. Heading to Washington, only without the Obamacart. I do have a wheel which I am having people sign. We left Anaconda at 4:30 and are spending the night in Hardin, near the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

We still have a hotel room to get rid of, if anyone wants it.

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Check out change.gov!

By Montana for Obama - Nov 26th, 2008 at 12:29 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

I've been on change.gov lately, and am very impressed with it for
several reasons:

1. First, all Americans are being invited to make suggestions to
Barack's policy plans in all the various categories. He wants to
hear from us! That's an invitation to continue to be involved in
helping to steer our country forward;

2. There is also a survey that most of us have been invited to fill
out which asks us to identify the policy areas of greatest interest
to each individual person and whether we would be willing to invite
others in our communities to participate in by both making
suggestions and also by being willing to contact our elected
representatives to make our voices heard.

It's refreshing to see how he is using a grassroots approach to
organize and focus our creativity and energy in the service of a
better country. It's just what we were expecting and hoping to d!o!

Be sure to check this site out and to continue to help Barack in
governing our great country. We accomplished step one...and now on
to step two!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm in Beaverton, Oregon today to be
with our kids and grandkids at this special time.

Frank

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Step one and the next one is coming up!

By Montana for Obama - Nov 14th, 2008 at 10:57 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

I've been thinking about this momentous thing that we accomplished,
all of us working together across America. No one gave Barack Obama
much of a chance when he first announced he was running for
president. Lana and I sat transfixed in front of the TV as he made
his announcement. It was a cold day in Chicago, and a pretty cool
day here in Missoula too! But there was an excitement in the air.
It was the hope of a new day, a new era in American history. A time
of renewal and rededication to the principles of equality, justice,
opportunity and fairness. As we listened to Barack that day, we saw
two bald eagles circling overhead here on the Bitterroot River. We
laughed and said, "Give us a sign!" And honestly, as all this was
happening, we felt that we indeed were witnessing a sign of new hope
and possibilities. And all this from a skinny guy with big ears and a
funny name as he has said many times. Wow.

The movement that lifted Barack up was based on the love we all have
for our wonderful country. We grew strong dispite all the bitterness
and division that existed between Americans who felt that we were
just stuck where we were. And step by step throughout this long
campaign season, people joined the voices for change. And wonders of
all wonders, we elected Barack as our President! Yes, we did!

Well, if we can do that, just think of what we will accomplish next!
For sure, Barack will need us all to stay engaged in transforming our
country. We all have our different talents and interests. Won't it
be amazing to see how we will use them for ourselves, our families,
our state, our country and the world? I'm really excited about our
prospects aren't you? In the midst of the many challanges we face,
we can do so much more than we ever thought we could do before this
election happened.

And it has been so exciting to see the reaction to the prospects of
President Obama around the world! This change for the better is
catching isn't it? What a time to be alive!

Frank

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"My Videos"

By Bigskygirl - Nov 5th, 2008 at 8:43 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

I wanted to share my Videos, of my travels with Obama. It will be fun for me, to have them, to look back to, when the memory of this amazing, exciting, election, may try to fade. It will be awhile!

Enjoy. Leave comments, if you'd like, and rate them too!

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos

BSG ;-)

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President-Elect Barack Obama!

By Montana for Obama - Nov 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

First, I'm so happy that Barack is going to be our President!

And this morning, we saw that we were unable to overcome the party
bias of our state, even though in a number of counties we had solid
Obama wins. Where we organized and worked hard, we did very well
indeed. I think we can take heart in those counties and in our
efforts.

And I think we can learn from this experience for the future.

Did we make person to person contacts, building our relationships
more widely in our state? Or, did we hope, as we have done in times
past, that we could overwhelm conservatives with our numbers as we
were able to do so in the case of Jon Tester? Certainly
circumstances are different now, but I think in the future that we
need to reach out earlier and reach out more, and organize more
effectively in outlying areas to have a better chance of achieving
our goals. What do you think you learned that might help us in the
future? I'm interested in your thoughts on this.

And finally, remember that Barack is going to need our support in the
coming months and beyond. We will be ready to give it!

Congratulations on what we were able to achieve! It is a new day in
our America!

Frank

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ObamaCart to Butte

By Bill Johnson - Oct 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

The Obama Cart will be in Butte this Saturday, attending a fundraiser at the War Bonnet. Drop by and sign it and say "How she goin.'"

Election night it will probably be at the Elks Club here in Anaconda, unless we get a better offer.

After 7000 miles and 24 states and Washington D.C. its journey is almost over.

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Our Jewish Friends for Obama

By Montana for Obama - Oct 27th, 2008 at 7:37 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

I found this very moving indeed and thought you would enjoy it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2VFRt5W4FM It was my "little shot of hope today." Frank

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What You're For

By Montana for Obama - Oct 25th, 2008 at 10:51 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Toni Rehhein sent me this great Amy Martin song and youtube video. I really appreciate it Toni! Give a listen to Montana's own Amy Martin and I think you will too. Thanks so much for your creative and always thoughtful presence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJGJsfIXGt4&feature=email

Frank

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My American Prayer

By Montana for Obama - Oct 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Like many of you, I've been watching, working and waiting for the day when the answer to our prayers for our country might be lifted up to the next level. This is the evening of the 12th day until America responds to Barack's message to come together for the common good through the mechanism of the voting booth. Both Barack and Michelle have been telling us that we have to run through the tape at the finish line, doing all we can, giving our time and energy to help him win this election as our president.

Here in Montana it may not be easy, but I think it can be done. We elected Jon Tester didn't we? I think we have a good chance to pull this off, but you and I have to really be active in these remaining days. Most importantly, we have to sign up people to vote and let people know why we are supporting Barack Obama, and asking people to support him too.

We each have our own ways of making a difference. One of the most important ways, is by working with the nearest Obama campaign office to where you live. Barackobama.com lists a number of things you can do. And there are lots of ways of helping on a very personal level. I wear my Obama t-shirt when I go out to do things. People often see it, smile and even say they like it. I always ask them if they are a Barack supporter and if they are signed up to vote. If they aren't, I tell then how to get signed up and offer to take them to register. And today, I was sitting in the dentist's office waiting to get some work done and I asked the receptionist if she was excited about the upcoming election. (In other words, always provide an opening for dialogue.) She said yes, but she hadn't registered to vote yet and asked some questions about how to to it. So, I told her, and before we were done, she got permission from her boss to go register tomorrow at a particular time! I suggested she take a friend who might also need to register as well. She said, I will do it! Anyway, it's just an illustration of how easy it is to be active no matter where you are!

And here is an inspirational song about this time…a time to act on our hopes in the voting booth. A time to stand up. We can do this. Yes we can!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi4rUzf-0Q In peace and love, Frank

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Barack's Legislative Record...talking points for you

By Montana for Obama - Oct 21st, 2008 at 8:09 pm EDT

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I thought you might find this a useful article as a talking point as you register people to vote and to vote early.FrankRobert J. ElisbergPosted October 21, 2008 | 11:21 AM (EST) The Little Known Truth of Barack Obama's Legislative Record As we all know, Barack Obama hasn't passed any major legislation. He's inexperienced, never done anything. We know this. We know it because John McCain and Sarah Palin, bless her accomplished heart, have said so. And so, we know.Far be it from me not to take their word for it, but I decided to check things out. And shockingly... it doesn't turn out to be true! Really. So, take a guess on how much legislation Barack Obama has sponsored in the United States Senate, which has become law.C'mon, take a guess. Nope, sorry, take another guess.Barack Obama has authored or co-sponsored 579 bills in Washington. And as a state senator, he sponsored 820 laws for Illinois.That's 1,399 bills in all. Not bad for someone who apparently had done zero -- okay, according to his opponents.I know, I know. Those 820 are just for a "state," so they don't really count. Except... well, wait, a "state" is what Sarah Palin is governor of. (At least for 21 months.) So if sponsoring pesky "state" laws doesn't count, what in the world does she have on her resume then? Other than ethics violations.Besides, y'know, Illinois is an awfully big state. If someone passes a law there, it does affect the lives of 13 million people.And, yipes, it turns out that there is a wide-ranging record of bipartisan laws he's co-sponsored, as well, working across the aisles with Republicans. Go figure, who knew?!Okay, first, let's look at Barack Obama's 579 Senate bills. (To be fair, some of these are pending -- the U.S. Senate works slooowly...) But here are just a few highlights of the ones that have passed.With Russ Feingold, Sen. Obama helped put together and co-sponsor the Obama/Feingold 2007 Ethics Reform Law, which curbed lobbying abuses. The bill was perhaps the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.Mr. Obama joined forces with Republican Richard Lugar as original co-sponsors of the landmark bill that improved the government's ability to detect and destroy Weapons of Mass Destruction, keeping them from terrorists. Working across the aisle again, this time, with Republican Chuck Hagel, Barack Obama authored a provision to secure vulnerable nuclear weapons and nuclear material around the world, protecting them from terrorists. Sen. Obama also wrote the legislation for his Homes for Heroes Act and SAVE Act, that increased services for homeless veterans. Shockingly, it turns out that John McCain is also wrong about Barack Obama not being willing to go against his party. You see, Mr. Obama sponsored an amendment that required lobbyist disclosures. And as the NY Times wrote, "The disclosure idea's lead sponsor, Senator Barack Obama... 'has not been the most popular person in our caucus in the last couple of weeks,' said a Democratic aide involved in deliberations over the bill." Gee. Apparently, it seems, Barack Obama has been willing to buck his own party. And work across the aisle. And sponsor and pass important legislation. And there are 574 other bills -- some large, some smaller, but all can be found on State Surge.Meanwhile, his record as a senator in Illinois has an impressive 820 bills that impacted the lives of countless millions, as well. By the way, for fact buffs: the 13th District he represented was alone comprised of 653,457 people -- the same as the entire state of Alaska.In Illinois, with its 13 million citizens, Barack Obama co-sponsored bipartisan campaign finance reforms, that the Chicago Tribune referred to as "the most sweeping good-government legislation in decades." He co-sponsored a bipartisan, groundbreaking ethics reform law and was the main sponsor of the Health Care Justice Act. As co-chairman of a bipartisan committee, Sen. Obama also helped pass predatory mortgage lending reforms, which prevent foreclosures. (Hmm, that was forward thinking. Ya think? But, tosh, it was just a "state" law...) He sponsored laws that raised tax credits for low-income workers, that improved childcare subsidies for the KidCare Program (bringing health care to 70,000 uncovered children), and that reformed welfare. And he co-sponsored the Equal Pay Act for women.Further, Mr. Obama sponsored bipartisan legislation that made Illinois the first state to require videotaping of capital cases, and bipartisan laws for monitoring racial profiling. This list goes endlessly on. A total of 820 laws in all. FactCheck.org has detailed descriptions. None of this is to place a value judgment on the 579 federal laws Barack Obama authored or co-sponsored. Nor is it to equate state laws with federal. It's merely to address the false impression that the McCain campaign has tried to put forth that Sen. Obama has sponsored no important legislation in the U.S. Senate, never been able to work across the aisle and largely sat in the Illinois Senate voting "present."Put whatever value you wish on the 1,399 laws Barack Obama has helped sponsor. Decide for yourself what is a "major" law. From ethics reform to safeguarding WMD to child health care to home foreclosure protection, and much more, you have a great many laws to choose from.It's up to you to decide if passing laws in a state of 13 million people shows a person's interests, initiative and abilities and helps set precedents. In truth, Illinois state laws do not cover a nation - they just cover 4% of the nation's population. In the end, there is only one simple point to this. Honesty. That anyone who suggests that Barack Obama has been ineffectual in his 12-year career as an elected representative, sponsoring no important legislation, unable to work across party lines, unwilling to go against his party, and avoiding taking stances by voting "present" -- then that person doesn't know what they are talking about. Or is lying

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Win the Battle for Montana's Editorial Pages with this Amazing "Live" List of Newspapers

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Oct 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

There's still time to win Montana's Editorial Pages: Please use this list at usnpl.com; OpEdNews Compendium of Major Endorsements Thus Far

Taken from this "LIVE URL":

http://www.usnpl.com/mtnews.phphttp://www.usnpl.com/mtnews.php

Newspapers
Click ( A ) for Newspaper address
Click ( C ) for County summary

Belgrade Belgrade News (A) (C)
Bigfork Bigfork Eagle (A) (C)
Billings Billings Gazette (A) (C)
Billings The Billings Outpost (A) (C)
Bozeman Bozeman Daily Chronicle (A) (C)
Browning Glacier Reporter (A) (C)
Butte The Montana Standard (A) (C)
Chester Liberty County Times (A) (C)
Choteau Choteau Acantha (A) (C)
Columbia Falls Hungry Horse News (A) (C)
Conrad The Independent-Observer (A) (C)
Cut Bank Cut Bank Pioneer Press (A) (C)
Eureka Tobacco Valley News (A) (C)
Glasgow Glasgow Courier (A) (C)
Great Falls Great Falls Tribune (A) (C)
Hamilton Ravalli Republic (A) (C)
Havre Havre Daily News (A) (C)
Helena Helena Independent (A) (C)
Helena Queen City News (A) (C)
Huson Clark Fork Chronicle (A) (C)
Kalispell Flathead Beacon (A) (C)
Kalispell The Daily Inter Lake (A) (C)
Laurel Laurel Outlook (A) (C)
Lewistown Lewistown News-Argus (A) (C)
Libby The Western News (A) (C)
Livingston Livingston Enterprise (A) (C)
Miles City Miles City Star (A) (C)
Missoula Missoula Independent (A) (C)
Missoula Missoulian (A) (C)
Pablo Char-Koosta News (A) (C)
Plains The Veterans Voice of MT (A) (C)
Red Lodge Carbon County News Online (A) (C)
Shelby The Shelby Promoter (A) (C)
Sidney Sidney Herald-Leader (A) (C)
Stevensville The Bitterroot Star (A) (C)
Townsend Townsend Star (A) (C)
West Yellowstone West Yellowstone News (A) (C)
Whitefish Whitefish Pilot (A) (C)
Wolf Point The Herald-News (A) (C)

College Newspapers
Univ of Montana Montana Kaimin

Editorial Page Victories clarify: Obama will win 2-1 in Electoral College! 4 part compendium---

Endorsements at OpEdNews: Washington Post, Houston, Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Salt Lake, Philadelphia, Portland, Bangor, Sacramento, Kansas City (4 former Red States)

OpEdNews has been the site of choice to post the growing list of major and minor newspaper endorsements for Obama. The Editorials are quoted generally in full, with interspliced commentaries from major editors and commentators, explaining what is behind the Editorials.

Part I Obama's Editorial Endorsements: including Washington Post, Fidel Castro, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, & more!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Endorsements-The-by-Stephen-Fox-081016-633.html

*******

Part II Editorial Page Endorsements of Obama Denver Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francsico Chronicle, Los Angeles Times

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Editorial-Page-Endorsement-by-Stephen-Fox-081017-544.html

********

Part III New Endorsements: Salt Lake City Tribune, Bangor and Brunswick, Maine, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Kansas City

http://www.opednews.com/articles/EndorspLements-Salt-Lake-Ci-by-Stephen-Fox-081018-476.html

********

More Obama Endorsements IV: Sacramento, Katie Couric, Malaysia, Houston Chronicle, Detroit, Waco Tx (sort of)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Obama-Endorsements-IV-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-492.html

TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS, which become a vital part of a larger on-going dialogue.

Thank you, Stephen Fox Founder, New Millennium Fine Art Contributing Editor New Millennium Fine Art Santa Fe, NM

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Why I voted for Barack

By Montana for Obama - Oct 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

This is why I’m voting for Barack. Frank From the Huffington Post: Frank SchaefferPosted October 8, 2008 | 02:45 PM (EST) Obama Will Be One of The Greatest (and Most Loved) American Presidents Great presidents are made great by horrible circumstances combined with character, temperament and intelligence. Like firemen, cops, doctors or soldiers, presidents need a crisis to shine.Obama is one of the most intelligent presidential aspirants to ever step forward in American history. The likes of his intellectual capabilities have not been surpassed in public life since the Founding Fathers put pen to paper. His personal character is also solid gold. Take heart, America: we have the leader for our times.I say this as a white, former life-long Republican. I say this as the proud father of a Marine. I say this as just another American watching his pension evaporate along with the stock market! I speak as someone who knows it's time to forget party loyalty, ideology and pride and put the country first. I say this as someone happy to be called a fool for going out on a limb and declaring that, 1) Obama will win, and 2) he is going to be amongst the greatest of American presidents.Obama is our last best chance. He's worth laying it all on the line for. This is a man who in the age of greed took the high road of community service. This is the good father and husband. This is the humble servant. This is the patient teacher. This is the scholar statesman. This is the man of deep Christian faith. Good stories about Obama abound; from his personal relationship with his Secret Service agents (he invites them into his home to watch sports, and shoots hoops with them) to the story about how, more than twenty years ago, while standing in the check-in line at an airport, Obama paid a $100 baggage surcharge for a stranger who was broke and stuck. (Obama was virtually penniless himself in those days.) Years later after he became a senator, that stranger recognized Obama's picture and wrote to him to thank him. She received a kindly note back from the senator. (The story only surfaced because the person, who lives in Norway, told a local newspaper after Obama ran for the presidency. The paper published a photograph of this lady proudly displaying Senator Obama's letter.)Where many leaders are two-faced; publicly kindly but privately feared and/or hated by people closest to them, Obama is consistent in the way he treats people, consistently kind and personally humble. He lives by the code that those who lead must serve. He believes that. He lives it. He lived it long before he was in the public eye.Obama puts service ahead of ideology. He also knows that to win politically you need to be tough. He can be. He has been. This is a man who does what works, rather than scoring ideological points. In other words he is the quintessential non-ideological pragmatic American. He will (thank God!) disappoint ideologues and purists of the left and the right. Obama has a reservoir of personal physical courage that is unmatched in presidential history. Why unmatched? Because as the first black contender for the presidency who will win, Obama, and all the rest of us, know that he is in great physical danger from the seemingly unlimited reserve of unhinged racial hatred, and just plain unhinged ignorant hatred, that swirls in the bowels of our wounded and sinful country. By stepping forward to lead, Obama has literally put his life on the line for all of us in a way no white candidate ever has had to do. (And we all know how dangerous the presidency has been even for white presidents.) Nice stories or even unparalleled courage isn't the only point. The greater point about Obama is that the midst of our worldwide financial meltdown, an expanding (and losing) war in Afghanistan, trying to extricate our country from a wrong and stupidly mistaken ruinously expensive war in Iraq, our mounting and crushing national debt, awaiting the next (and inevitable) al Qaeda attack on our homeland, watching our schools decline to Third World levels of incompetence, facing a general loss of confidence in the government that has been exacerbated by the Republicans doing all they can to undermine our government's capabilities and programs... President Obama will take on the leadership of our country at a make or break time of historic proportions. He faces not one but dozens of crisis, each big enough to define any presidency in better times.As luck, fate or divine grace would have it (depending on one's personal theology) Obama is blessedly, dare I say uniquely, well-suited to our dire circumstances. Obama is a person with hands-on community service experience, deep connections to top economic advisers from the renowned University of Chicago where he taught law, and a middle-class background that gives him an abiding knowledgeable empathy with the rest of us. As the son of a single mother, who has worked his way up with merit and brains, recipient of top-notch academic scholarships, the peer-selected editor of the Harvard Law Review and, in three giant political steps to state office, national office and now the presidency, Obama clearly has the wit and drive to lead. Obama is the sober voice of reason at a time of unreason. He is the fellow keeping his head while all around him are panicking. He is the healing presence at a time of national division and strife. He is also new enough to the political process so that he doesn't suffer from the terminally jaded cynicism, the seen-it-all-before syndrome afflicting most politicians in Washington. In that regard we Americans lucked out. It's as if having despaired of our political process we picked a name from the phone book to lead us and that person turned out to be a very man we needed.Obama brings a healing and uplifting spiritual quality to our politics at the very time when our worst enemy is fear. For eight years we've been ruled by a stunted fear-filled mediocrity of a little liar who has expanded his power on the basis of creating fear in others. Fearless Obama is the cure. He speaks a litany of hope rather than a litany of terror.As we have watched Obama respond in a quiet reasoned manner to crisis after crisis, in both the way he has responded after being attacked and lied about in the 2008 campaign season, to his reasoned response to our multiplying national crises, what we see is the spirit of a trusted family doctor with a great bedside manner. Obama is perfectly suited to hold our hand and lead us through some very tough times. The word panic is not in the Obama dictionary. America is fighting its "Armageddon" in one fearful heart at a time. A brilliant leader with the mild manner of an old-time matter-of-fact country doctor soothing a frightened child is just what we need. The fact that our "doctor" is a black man leading a hitherto white-ruled nation out of the mess of its own making is all the sweeter and raises the Obama story to that of moral allegory.Obama brings a moral clarity to his leadership reserved for those who have had to work for everything they've gotten and had to do twice as well as the person standing next to them because of the color of their skin. His experience of succeeding in spite of his color, social background and prejudice could have been embittering or one that fostered a spiritual rebirth of forgiveness and enlightenment. Obama radiates the calm inner peace of the spirit of forgiveness. Speaking as a believing Christian I see the hand of a merciful God in Obama's candidacy. The biblical metaphors abound. The stone the builder rejected is become the cornerstone... the last shall be first... he that would gain his life must first lose it... the meek shall inherit the earth... For my secular friends I'll allow that we may have just been extraordinarily lucky! Either way America wins.Only a brilliant man, with the spirit of a preacher and the humble heart of a kindly family doctor can lead us now. We are afraid, out of ideas, and worst of all out of hope. Obama is the cure. And we Americans have it in us to rise to the occasion. We will. We're about to enter one of the most frightening periods of American history. Our country has rarely faced more uncertainty. This is the time for greatness. We have a great leader. We must be a great people backing him, fighting for him, sacrificing for a cause greater than ourselves.A hundred years from now Obama's portrait will be placed next to that of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Long before that we'll be telling our children and grandchildren that we stepped out in faith and voted for a young black man who stood up and led our country back from the brink of an abyss. We'll tell them about the power of love, faith and hope. We'll tell them about the power of creativity combined with humility and intellectual brilliance. We'll tell them that President Obama gave us the gift of regaining our faith in our country. We'll tell them that we all stood up and pitched in and won the day. We'll tell them that President Obama restored our standing in the world. We'll tell them that by the time he left office our schools were on the mend, our economy booming, that we'd become a nation filled with green energy alternatives and were leading the world away from dependence on carbon-based destruction. We'll tell them that because of President Obama's example and leadership the integrity of the family was restored, divorce rates went down, more fathers took responsibility for their children, and abortion rates fell dramatically as women, families and children were cared for through compassionate social programs that worked. We'll tell them about how the gap closed between the middle class and the super rich, how we won health care for all, how crime rates fell, how bad wars were brought to an honorable conclusion. We'll tell them that when we were attacked again by al Qaeda, how reason prevailed and the response was smart, tough, measured and effective, and our civil rights were protected even in times of crisis...We'll tell them that we were part of the inexplicably blessed miracle that happened to our country those many years ago in 2008 when a young black man was sent by God, fate or luck to save our country. We'll tell them that it's good to live in America where anything is possible. Yes we will.

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