Congratulations to all of you on our new president. For those of us who supported him, it has been quite an extraordinary journey. I always believed in the notion that “You cannot fool all the people all the time.” and people will eventually see through you and they did.
But I guess we don’t have much time to celebrate. We stand at pivotal times in our history, not because we have elected an African-American but because of the financial mess we find ourselves in. The hole we find our selves get bigger by the day. Every day it is a new industry that needs the bailout, first it was mortgage industry, then the Wall Street, then banks and now auto industry. It looks like dog chasing its tail and we have been running in circles for more then a year.
We have sixty days before new president takes office and the current president checked out long ago. Sixty days of torture for its people while “Rome Burns”.
For those of you who want to look at the history to figure the future out, I would recommend “The Forgotten Man – A New History of The Great Depression” book by Amity Shlaes.
I have put together some of my thoughts together for the new president. These may sound like common sense approaches but as you know, when it comes to Washington, common sense is not as common as you think.
http://www.slideshare.net/TSiddiqui/framework-for-turnaround-presentation-758505/
Best Regards,
Tariq Siddiqui
Originally wrote this blog on Nov 22, 2008 at http://whentectonicplatescollide.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/sixty-days-of-torture-while-rome-burns/
GM is on the brink of bankruptcy and no one really seems to care. President Bush seems to care less and Republicans don’t seem to care at all. Experts are lining up at CNBC to give their opinion, and they seem to be unanimous, let GM file for bankruptcy. Former GE CEO, Jack Welch, joined the foray with his verdict against the industry. In theory it makes sense, if we are going to prolong their misery for six more months before their demise, then we should let them die now.
But this reasoning is intellectually dishonest and morally bankrupt. Auto industry all together employs 5 million people; bankruptcy by the big three will at least cause half of these jobs to disappear. It will force millions to apply for unemployment benefits and the unemployment rate will at least double to 15-16%. It will cause major contraction in the economy and we may not be able to get out of this mess in the first term, or second term, of the Obama presidency.
We as a nation cannot stand by while millions loose their jobs. We have to give our best if we think this industry is viable in the long run. Once these blue collar jobs are lost they aren’t coming back. These auto workers have worked all their lives in these plants and that’s all they know how to do. I am not suggesting socialism but I believe the industry is recoverable and requires a major surgery. It requires redoing the labor contracts, substantially reducing the dealership, eliminating several brands and above all producing high quality, energy efficient cars. This may sound a lot but it is not impossible.
For twenty five billion dollar, tax payers get to sit on the driver’s seat. With smart and well thought out policies, we can turn this industry around. With almost one trillion dollar spent and nothing to show for, this could turn out to be the best investment we ever made.
Originally wrote it on Nov 24, 2008 at folllowing blog:
http://whentectonicplatescollide.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/is-this-class-warfare/
1%, or 1 vote out of 100There have been 12 Presidential elections that were decided by less than a 1% margin; meaning if less than 1% of the voters in certain states had changed their mind to the other candidate the outcome of the entire election would have been different. More than half were decided by less than a 2% margin.
In 2004, 57,787 votes would have given us President Kerry.In 2000, 269 votes would have given us President GoreIn 1996, 575,515 votes would have given us President Dole.
From ABC News:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
=========="Squeakers"Ned PotterABC NewsSeptember 29, 2008How close have Presidential elections been? Closer, perhaps, than we ever guessed. Mike Sheppard, a grad student in statistics at Michigan State, has done a mathematical exercise that shows it.He ran a computer program to answer this question: "What is the smallest number of total votes that need to be switched from one candidate to another, and from which states, to affect the outcome of the election?"The answer: in some years, very, very few. Take a look at his analysis HERE. It shows the powerful interaction between the popular vote and the electoral college.[...]==========
Full article here:http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
Detailed analysis here, including colored maps:https://www.msu.edu/~sheppa28/elections.html-Mike Sheppard
Dear Senator Clinton,
This is in response to your request for feedback as to how your campaign should proceed.
You have run a phenomenal campaign, are a dedicated public servant, and a brilliant candidate. You have the right to stay in the running through the convention, as many candidates before you have.
However, for THIS election--at THIS time--with the party so divided, I would encourage you to look at what is best for our nation and the November election. As you do not have the delegates to be declared the presumptive nominee, you could appeal to the credentials committee, appeal to the legal system, or stir up a Denver floor debate.
But I fear that will be 2 months of showcasing and further driving the divide in our party. We need this precious time to bring our party together and channel our energies toward outing the republicans from the White House.
I would like to respectfully request that you consider conceding by the end of this week. It pains me to say this--as I would have been thrilled to see such a talented woman at the helm of our nation--but now is the time for graciousness, healing and the bigger picture.
Best to you and your family,Allison Carroll, Hinesburg VT
(submitted to HillaryClinton.com on 6/4/08)
Damian Sedney has graciously organized 3 forums to give Obama Town Delegates (all 975 of us!) an opportunity to meet the 110 District-level candidates. As a first time town delegate - I would like to thank Damian for his tremendous efforts. I have pasted his e-mail below.
Also - don't forget there is a final delegate training by the Vermont Democratic Committee this Wednesday 5/14 at 6:00pm in South Burlington. For more information, directions and to RSVP, please contact Reid DeWolfe at rdewolfe(at)vtdemocrats(dot)org
This is an opportunity for Obama Town delegates to meet some of the candidates for District-level DNC Obama delegates and ask questions that will help you decide whom to support at the state convention. This is also a great chance for District delegate candidates to introduce themselves and explain why they are running for one of the District delegate slots.
WHERE and WHEN: 3 locations in the state. Times and locales as follows:
1. Norwich Public Library, 368 Main St., Norwich, VT 05055Thursday, May 15th, 7:00-8:30pmhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vt 2. Oakledge Park, Flynn Avenue, Burlington, VTMonday, May 19th, 6:30-8:30pmhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4w57 3. Mark Skinner Library, 48 West Road, Manchester, VT 05254Tuesday, May 20th, 6:30-8:00pmhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4w5z
1. Norwich Public Library, 368 Main St., Norwich, VT 05055Thursday, May 15th, 7:00-8:30pmhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44vt
WHAT TO BRING?
Town Delegates: Bring your questions and begin to sort through the 110 District delegate-level candidates.District-level Delegates: Come to the forums ready to answer questions and be prepared to promote yourself as one of the best Delegate candidates! Questions? Please email: vermont(dot)obama(dot)delegates(at)gmail(dot)com
And PS (from me, Allison/MapleMama, your host): Although I am a candidate for district-level delegate, I have decided there are MANY much more deserving than I for this honor. So I will not be campaigning.
However, I promise to share my Obama song with anyone interested on the 24th! See you soon!
Hello Everyone,
So I made a simple 60 second video that responds to the recent rain of brouhaha that has been coming down on our heads.
All I hope (Obama in 60 Seconds)
The purpose of the video is to focus on what is best about Barack Obama's campaign: the joy of possibility, the power of optimism and the excitement of hope. I hope you enjoy it. And please share it with your friends.
> - CLICK HERE TO JOIN US AND WEAR A ROSE FOR OBAMA! - <
Some more of what folks are saying:
Dear Vermont Women for Obama, Ida is inviting you to a postcard writing event at her house in Burlington next weekend Saturday 3/29 and Sunday 3/30 from 12:00 (noon) to 5 p.m. We will write to women in Penn. why we are for Obama. If you can't come at those times, call me and you can come another time, when it's convenient for you. She is mailing them off April 3rd. Lets have a big turnout. Bring women for obama with you...as many as you can. Call everyone you know in case they aren't on this list. She is hoping for at least 50 women to show up and spend a 1/2 hour writing postcards. Guys pass this on to women you know. National goal is 100,000. Lets set a record for our state. Ida will provide the postcards and will have stamps here, and she will send them off.
You just have to show up! Below is her address and contact information.
(please be considerate)
Ida Gatwood 18 Rose St. Burlington RSVP to iegatwood@yahoo.com If you have any questions call cell (949)293-3798
I know I've been remiss in posting here...but that's because I've been posting HERE!
http://www.obamastraws.blogpspot.com
My blog, "The Obama Minute", has been getting hundreds of hits a day and has had nearly 10,000 page views! Better still, it's not just for reading up on the latest; it suggestions quick, easy actions which can be taken for Barack NOW (letters to the editor, voting in online polls, petitions, etc.), and includes all of the pertinent links.
But I digress.
Sen. Clinton's comments today, implying that Sen. McCain would make a better president than Sen. Obama, simply cannot go unchallenged. Please read this post and then contact DNC Chair Howard Dean, as well as your local Democratic congresspeople.
http://obamastraws.blogspot.com/2008/03/disloyal-democrat.html
Two days ago I sent out a message about "A Rose by any other Name", inviting folks to reclaim and reframe the questions about Senator Obama's middle name with a poetic symbolic gesture of patriotism
Even more joyful responses keep rolling in...
As you can see, the faith Senator Obama has repeatedly expressed about the decency of the American people is well founded"
I think the American people, at their core, are a decent people. I think that we still have prejudice in our midst but I think that the vast majority of Americans are willing to judge people on the basis of, you know, their ideas and their character. Barack Obama
Hello Everyone!
Would you like to help reframe the issue surrounding Senator Obama's middle name? Would you like to nuetralize the recent (and ongoing) drama about patriotic symbols such as flagpins? Then join us!
Since the Rose is the National Flower of the United States, we created the "A Rose by any other Name" event as an ongoing nationwide action to show our support for Barack Obama by wearing a national symbol which not only addresses the flagpin question but also reframes the issue of the middle name.
Sign up here ->A Rose by any other Name< - and let your support be counted.
We all know that what really matters is the intelligence and integrity of a person, not the arbitrary coincidences of his name. We all know that what really matters is the content of his character. And it doesn't hurt that the greatest wordsmith of the English language is on our side!
This ACTION's title comes from the famous phrase "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Romeo & Juliet, Act II, scene2). And so would Barack still be the inspiring leader he is even if his name were different!
This ACTION basically says, "Barack Obama, regardless of his name, would still be the same leader who has insired a whole nation with hope and instilled in us a real sense of agency by his exemplary dedication to public service."
This ACTION wants to demonstrate that shows of patriotism can take many forms - wearing flagpins is one form, wearing the national flower is another, and, as Senator Obama has repeatedly said, speaking out for the best interest of the country is perhaps the strongest.
People have already started signing up and sending back enthusistic feedback. Here are some of the things they are saying about this ACTION:
I hope you, too, will join us.
Cheer!Adoyo.
"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." (Romeo & Juliet, Act II, scene2)
Clickhere for an adaptation of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.
NOTE: The action does not require any travel or change in routine, just sporting a lapel rose at your convenience! When signing up, be sure to select "Yes, I will attend" to help the event planner count your participation.
I've heard lots of great endorsements lately, but I think it's very hard to overestimate the importance of an endorsement from the sports world.
Thanks, Kareem!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/22/abduljabbar-to-magic-ob_n_82707.html
America is at cross-road. We have a country that is divided, our planet is in peril, our economy is in tail spin, and our markets are in free fall. The foreclosures are at their highest level, dollar is slumping, forty five millions of Americans without health care – a number hard to fathom -- and the list goes on. The problems we face are monumental but not insurmountable.
The world is transforming at lightening speed, our competitors are rising with a breath-taking rate, and our dependence on foreign oil is at its highest. With no coherent strategy to keep us competitive and reduce our addiction on foreign oil, we are more and more owned by foreign sovereign funds – another way to say foreign countries. We didn’t get here overnight and we won’t be able to solve these problems overnight but doing the same thing over and over again will give us the same old result.
We need a visionary leader who has a character, judgment and intelligence to lead us in these turbulent times. And Sen. Obama is that leader. He demonstrated during his carrier as a community organizer, state legislator and then as a Senator that he has this uncanny gift to bring people together and lead. He has said over and over again “that there is no red America or blue America, black America or white America, just the United States of America.”
His victories in Iowa, South Carolina and close second in New Hampshire and Nevada suggest that his appeal is not only limited to Democrats but to all of us – Democrats, Republicans and Independents. He is a candidate who transcends party labels, race or gender.
People say he is a hope peddler. But there was no fallacy in wanting to go to the moon. There was no fallacy in Martin Luther King speech “I have a dream”. And definitely there no fallacy in hope to bring us together to lead us in a new direction, All those millions of those who came through Ellis Island and are still coming, America is synonyms with Hope. They all come here with a dream, a vision and hope that some day they make will make it in America.
Sen. Obama brilliant campaign is indicative of this presidency to come. He surrounds himself with best minds out there and the results are unprecedented. His improbable journey could become reality and it shows his brilliance.
People complain about his inexperience in Washington but President Lincoln came to office with limited experience, much less than Sen. Obama – in public office, let along the experience in the Executive Branch. This comparison may be a stretch but we are at historic moment. If the longest resume is indicative of presidency to come then President Buchanan and Vice President Dick Cheney had the longest resume and result speaks for itself.
Carolina Kennedy eloquently wrote in an Op-Ed piece in NY Times “I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.”
I support him because he has a great vision for America. I support him because where he is going to lead us. I support him because the message he will send to the rest of the world. And most importantly, l supports him because I want to leave a better world for our kids then the world we found ourselves in.
To own part of this movement and make history you can join us at Norfolk4Obama@comcast.net, http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/NorfolkForObama.
