http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxqt4
Join us for the easiest form of campaign involvement I can think of and is the most fun! Honk and wave in Peterborough...a visibility event. Click the link above to learn more about this Saturday.
I thought this poem spoke well to the flux in personal and national purpose. I hope it is worthy of discussion in higher circles.
"Fix" by Alicia Suskin Ostriker, from No Heaven. © University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005. Reprinted with permission. (buy now) Fix The puzzled ones, the Americans, go through their livesBuying what they are told to buy,Pursuing their love affairs with the automobile,Baseball and football, romance and beauty,Enthusiastic as trained seals, going into debt, struggling —True believers in liberty, and also security,And of course sex — cheating on each otherFor the most part only a little, mostly avoiding violenceExcept at a vast blue distance, as between bombsight and earth,Or on the violent screen, which they adore.Those who are not Americans think Americans are happyBecause they are so filthy rich, but not so.They are mostly puzzled and at a lossAs if someone pulled the floor out from under them,They'd like to believe in God, or something, and they do try.You can see it in their white faces at the supermarket and the gas station— Not the immigrant faces, they know what they want,Not the blacks, whose faces are hurt and proud —The white faces, lipsticked, shaven, we do tryTo keep smiling, for when we're smiling, the whole worldSmiles with us, but we feel we've lostThat loving feeling. Clouds ride by above us,Rivers flow, toilets work, traffic lights work, barring floods, firesAnd earthquakes, houses and streets appear stableSo what is it, this moon-shaped blankness?What the hell is it? America is perplexed.We would fix it if we knew what was broken.
Allan Berggren, Claremont, NH
USA TODAY/GALLUP: OBAMA LEADS HILLARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 41%-28%
(Sunday, January 6, 2008)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-06-poll-newhampshire_N.htm
CNN/WMUR: OBAMA LEADS HILLARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 39%-29%
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/06/nh.poll/index.html
New Hampshire is about to send a message to the rest of the country on January 8, that Barack Obama is our candidate and leader of choice for President of the United States. Let's get busy and remind our friends, family and neighbors how important this primary is and get them out to vote for Barack Obama for President.
Eli RiveraBarack Obama Wall of Supporterswww.obamanh.comHelp me reach 1500 by January 8th, 2008.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vvgq
Come join us at the above link for a morning of visibility. All you need to do is bring a smile. If you would like to make a sign, bring that too. We will be standing out on the corners of Rte 101 and 202 for loads of fun. When our group breaks the ranks of 8, we will also being doing more locations. So help us flood the community with lots of visibility. We would like to spread cheerful spirits of waving and smiling to all that pass by. This past Saturday we had 10 of us Standing out in the snow banks.
We had incessant honks and thumbs up all morning. It was so invigorating! So inspiring! Join us for this highly non confrontational campaigning event. It's a NH tradition. It's easy. And you will get to meet lots of lovely people as I have over these past few weeks.
Afterwards, we will be canvassing the neighborhood with cheerful campaigning. Join us for that as well. It is so rewarding and enjoyable. I have done about a dozen of these now and they are getting better every time. Bring friends, we love friends.
Ignore the Fame and Fortune: Oprah Knows What She’s Talking About
My husband and I attended the Obama rally in Manchester, NH on December 9, 2007. The crowd was impressively huge and enthusiastic. Although people were curious to hear what Oprah would say and we all gave her a very warm welcome, the audience was clearly there to cheer for Obama. Spirits were high and Barack didn’t disappoint us. He gave a great speech.
We captured some of the highlights of Obama’s speech on our little digital camera, and my husband used the clips to create a YouTube video for those who might like to see it. (Thanks to Matchbox Twenty for their song "Let's See How Far We've Come." Check out their music video.)
I’ve never watched Oprah and didn’t expect to have anything in common with her. So, I was surprised when I heard Oprah expressing my own thoughts and feelings about the state of our country and the hope offered by Barack Obama.
I believe she was able to articulate the truth of Obama’s campaign: it’s all about empowerment. The only way we are going to be able to turn things around in our country is if every citizen feels empowered to contribute to the positive changes we want to see. We have to know our voices will be heard by our government, our concerns about the environment and the war in Iraq will be taken seriously, and our needs for good schools and medical care will be met. We have to feel like we matter and are able to make a difference.
As Oprah so aptly expressed, "Apathy is believing that disappointment is normal. What Barack Obama has taught me is that disappointment doesn't have to be normal.
The following letter appeared in the Concord Monitor (December 12. 2007)
Uniquely Qualified
More than at any other time in history, the choice we make in this year's election is crucial. It will decide what kind of a country and what kind of a future we bequeath to our children and our grandchildren.
I have watched our country become divided and distracted by the issues that separate us. We all struggle with questions concerning the war, our economy, civil rights, reproductive freedom and global climate change, trying to come to a moral position that we can live with and which sometimes puts us at odds with our neighbors.
Barack Obama is uniquely qualified to deal with these issues. He understands that the place to start is not where we are divided, but where we can all agree.
Obama's biography uniquely qualifies him to bridge the gap in our partisan divide. From his Midwestern-born mother and his African-born father, his early years in Indonesia and high school years in Hawaii, his Ivy League education, coupled with his community organizing in the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago, he straddles the line between races, cultures and socio-economic positions with a poise and a grace that transcends the differences that define us all. Barack Obama is the man to lead us past our differences into a more hopeful future.
Rep. BETH ARSENAULT
Laconia
Now that New Hampshire has announced January 8 as Primary date, let's ask Governor Lynch to endorse Senator Obama. Below is a sample letter.
Office of Governor John Lynch State House, Room 208 107 N. Main Street Concord, NH 03301
DATE
Dear Governor Lynch:
Please consider making a public announcement that you endorse Senator Barack Obama for President. Senator Obama has shown the leadership and integrity that this country needs. Our country needs new direction and hope for the American people.
I encourage you to support and publicly endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of this great nation and help make a difference in our country. Sincerely, [type your name here] [type your phone number too if you wish]
Even if you are not from New Hampshire, write the Governor a note, and let's start reaching out to other political leaders in other states as well
**************Eli RiveraJoin the Barack Obama Wall of Supporterswww.obamanh.com
In case you haven't heard, the day after the debate...this Friday is becoming Barack Friday. Go to the following link to learn why and how you can help. It will take very little effort and this could be one of the biggest headlines of the weekend papers.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vzvl
The Obama Office will be on the ROAD. It will have a surrogate office at the intersections of rte 101 and 202 in Peterborough from 10-11 am. Come one come all and join us.
We had the most amazing fun last week...we handed out about a dozen bumper stickers...this week we will be bringing yard signs and bumper stickers. OH YEAH. We are fired up and ready to go...we are marching for Obama this Saturday and hopefully each until election day. Come Join Us. We want this to double in size each week...so bring friends, neighbors, and even kids...yes this will be exciting. We didn't want it to end after a half hour last week so we are extending it to one hour.
Click on the link and sign up...and we will see you there:)
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vzk2
You are cordially invited to attend a house party with NH Senator Harold Janeway and the Obama campaign which is being held in Antrim, NH on Sunday, November 18th, from 1 PM to 3PM.
Join neighbors, friends, and undecided voters as we informally discuss energy and the environment, and also indentify the challenges and opportunities we face in the coming years.
Learn more about Barack Obama's campaign for President.
Bring any questions you may have about Barack Obama and his campaign.
Additionally learn more about Barack Obama's energy plans and his in-depth environmental record.
The house party will be held at the home of Lois Essex, 11 Grove Street, Antrim, from 1 PM to 3 PM on Sunday, November 18th.
Light refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to me at 588-3631. (Leave a message on machine if no live voice responds.)
This should be a MOST fun and informative gathering! Hope to see you there!
Best regards,
Marion
I would like to make this Saturday one for the history books. Every Saturday we have an organizational meeting of strong Obama supporters. Lets gather at the Obama HQ, parade up to the intersections of 101 and 202 and Wave our Hopeful message. Check out the events listing for details.
It would be equally as great if you could join us after the half hour event for an organizing event and go canvassing with us. It truly is an uplifting and positive time that will leave you having new friends and great stories to share.
One of the ways in which I do research on the presidential candidates is by checking their voting record and, in the case of Senators such as Obama, reading the bills they have sponsored or cosponsored. I also find it interesting to note whether or not the bills they have sponsored have been passed, because that gives me some indication of how well they do when it comes to generating support on a given issue.
Barack Obama has sponsored two important foreign policy bills which have been passed by the Senate: S. 2125 is a bill to promote relief, security and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (this not only passed the Senate but was signed into law); S.CON.RES.25 is a concurrent resolution condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society. Both bills can be viewed in their entirety at the Thomas (Library of Congress) website.
Here it is, primary time is approaching and we need to help our candidate get the edge. What better way than to Gear up and be Ready 2 Go. (Slight alteration of the Rally chant Fired up, Ready to go! that my fiancee just happened to blurt out. I caught the phrase mid air and was inspired to write and challenge all of you). Gearing up with Obama 08 Gear helps advertise and endorse Our Candidate and also helps finance his election. So I challenge everyone who reads this to buy at least on item from the Obama store.
OR
You could do as our Peterborough Group for Obama and pitch in and buy in bulk to hand out for free when canvassing. What a wonderful way to help fuel the fire of numbers of voters for Obama.
Geared Up and Ready 2 Go!
I have never learned so much in one day. I have never felt so much positive energy as I did talking with people at their doors in one day.
Let me tell all of you, when we, a staffer and myself, knocked on doors in Wilton New Hampshire town we found that most were undecided. However, let me tell you that every single person was thankful that we came and talked. They were pleased that we listened. Each door brought new perspective to respectful pleasant conversations about "politics"; you know the subject everyone is told to avoid because it will cause arguements.
I also met this one supporter of Obama that left me in awe for the day. She was so articulate on so many issues. She spoke from her heart with strong intellectual comments and concerns.
We found only one HRC leaner, and she said that it wasn't much more than a leaning. All in all, forget the polls...just get out there and talk to people, talk to your coworkers, relatives in New Hampshire and you, as I did, will see that this election is Obama's to win. I am enjoying being a part of this campaign.
