Organizing for America | Northwest Indiana for Obama

Northwest Indiana for Obama

This group is created for those in the Northwest Indiana who would like to learn more about and participate in the Obama for America campaign.

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TO ALL MY FRIENDS: READ THIS AND TAKE ACTION

By Joseph - Sep 27th, 2009 at 5:29 am EDT

Also listed in: Latinos for Obama | Northwest Indiana for Obama | Obama Pride

We've all read at least one newspaper. We've all watched at least one newscast. We've all heard the outcries and we've all witnessed the devastation in our own lives and in the lives of our families.

HEALTH CARE. It's "the subject of the hour" in America today. You've heard so many things about it. And I'm almost positive that most have been negative.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Almost every person on my friends list is below the age of 35. You're saying to yourself, 'Well, whatever is gonna happen, is gonna happen.' By the time that each of us requires steady health care, the system should already have been decided. There's nothing that we can do to change what is coming. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY WRONG!

We all have a responsibility to have an opinion on this matter. I've thought long and hard about this subject. I watch a lot of news television and I read a lot in regard to the subject. I've listened to friends and neighbors. I've listened more carefully than I ever have. I've tried to formulate an opinion on universal health care. If you haven't given the subject much thought, let me tell you this: It's a rough road to travel down.

Right now, the government is fighting within itself to make a decision. Either universal care for all or the same old way of doing things. From a person that lost a parent, due from a lack of specialized care, I feel that it's my responsibility to educate and inform my closest friends and family. Something has to be done. Something should've been done. And the only thing that has been accomplished to this point is to steal, cheat and effectively kill American citizens.

There are so many things that are currently running through my head right now. I know that I won't be able to share all of my thoughts with the great many of you. But if I have managed to maintain your attention thus far, please continue to read.

As I type this bulletin, the wheels in Washington and throughout our country are working against, even the theory, of universal care for Americans. They claim that the government will hold the scalpel in your next surgery. They claim that death panels will be convened to decided whether your life is cost effective enough to be saved. They claim that this sort of care will open up emergency room doors to politicians and lobbyists who all will want a stake in your overall care and well-being. This is the one question that I have had all this time: What's different from what has happened and is currently happening now??? Insurance companies are run by former members of congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. How do you think they got those cushy jobs as CEO's and upper executive management within insurance providers and pharmaceutical organizations???

The searing truth of it all is that they want it all for themselves. They want the dollars that you grasp onto to support their ways of life. Millions of dollars in salaries. Millions of dollars in retirement funding. Millions of dollars in wasted, luxury goods that only a few in the world can afford. How do you think they get that rich? When you go to the doctor and IF your insurance is good enough to make it in the door, how much will you spend for 10 minutes of care? Well, depending on how sick you are it could be $100's, $1,000's and without even a blink of an eye 100's of 1,000's. Do you really think that all that many goes to pay the doctor that treated you? Do you really think that all that money goes to maintain the machines? Or even more so, do you think all that money goes to pay the janitor that cleans up after everyone goes home for the day? None of the above.

That money makes it way directly to your insurance carrier. From that point, they decide who gets paid and how much. From that point, they decide whether or not you're going to get seen again and whether or not the next time is going to cost you more. It's THEY that have all the power.

Members, few but effective, of our government have stood up and shouted across party lines to change this. One of which who I'm sure you're all familiar with; Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton. Since the early 90's she has faught for our freedoms to choose how we manage our health care system. Sadly, she like many others, has fallen short in the battle to give Americans the right to choose their health care system. And we have paid the wage for this battle with our livelihoods... our precious dollars... and our lives.

Please note that this is not a direct support for the President or his plan. At this point, I'm not sure what to believe. It's a been long time since a President has actually fought for the good of the people. Though, I am supporting the right to choose. The right to choose how we live our lives is a right promised to us by our own laws and freedoms. I don't know whether the President's plan will even see the light of day, but I am sure that something needs to change. I watch the news networks and ask myself, "Why are these people fighting about how horrible a government run health care system would be, instead of fighting for a government run health care system that will work??? So many are opposed to even the idea of this system, instead of proposing a plan that will be effective. Well, if you decided to do your homework, you'll find the answer is very clear. Private insurance is the "bread and butter." It is the "cash cow." They don't want to let go of it because it's the lifeblood of the rich and wealthy. Bottom line: It makes money.

If you've made it this long through my rant, I applaud you. I now welcome you to learn more. Micheal Moore isn't everyone's cup of tea. He's been smeared by conservatives and liberals alike. I don't see eye to eye with him on everything, but I will tell you this: I watched a movie that he directed, produced and wrote, himself. The title of the movie is, "Sicko." I'm begging all of you to watch this movie. It's 2 hours of your life that you'll give up, but I promise it will not be in vain. This is not a movie you'll walk away from lightly. Furthermore, I'm mailing this to every single friend on my list, to ensure that everyone will have the opportunity to decide whether it's time to stand up or simply wait for whatever is decided. I will also forward this message to all of my email contacts, co-workers, neighbors, friends and family. Learn all that you can in regards to this subject and do the same.

Please don't take this lightly. We all have a responsibility to make a difference. Times are changing. But whether they change for the better or not, depends on us. Thanks for listening.

-Joseph

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Regional Planning: The Poor Appears to Be Left Out

By The CEO - Nov 28th, 2008 at 6:11 pm EST

Also listed in: 8 groups

Dear Friends,

The final Decisions are being made by Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, Northwest Indiana Forum, and the Norwest Indiana Quality of Life Council. (Regional Organizers) the quests you will be asked to answer are questions prepared by the organizers not the public.

If you are interested in Understanding what Regionalization is and how it is going to impact your life I encourage you and your families to get involved in the planning process and demand accountability and transparency. Environmental Justice Communities such as Gary Indiana's Central and northern districts must be represented in regional planning according to laws. However, there has not been any information provided to us that affirms transportation for the poor will be provided.

Moreover, registration is made available online and the majority of our poor do not have internet access and the Post-tribune article gives a number for the public to call: (219) 763-6060 ext.131 where your call will be received by a automated service directory that will ultimately access someone’s mailbox and prompt you to leave a message on an answering machine.

America Speaks is the organization whom has been contracted to conduct this public Conference. Just as they also did in Louisiana in the aftermath of the Katrina Catastrophe. The Ninth Ward remains to this date unrepresented in the planning process for redevelopment and only Volunteer Groups whom came to the region to help rebuild have been the ones whom are making the difference for those whom lost their homes in Louisiana.

Financing for “America Speaks” is underwritten by the Northwest Indiana Forum, the Quality of Life Council and the Post-Tribune. Does that raise any questions for you?

1. Are our tax dollars being used to further corporate interests?

2. Are they using our tax dollars while disenfranchising our poorest communities?

3. Will you and your concerns be represented December 6th at the conference?

4. Moreover is the Conference going to be held in Merrillville Indiana or Portage Indiana?

5. Will there be Transportation provided to the Poor in your community?

6. Why was the public notice November 25, 2008 published only in the Portage section of the Online Post-tribune Paper?

To register online click here http://futureofnwiforum.wordpress.com/

For more information call or E-mail the following.
Contact

nirpc@nirpc.org
(219) 763-6060 ext. 131

Truth to Power

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Host a Debate Watch Party

By Indiana from Indianapolis, IN - Oct 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs.

You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch.

Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success.

If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help.

We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign.

In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change.

Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now:

http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

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Yes WE Can!

By Jennifer K - Sep 19th, 2008 at 5:04 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

If you are someone who wants to see Barack Obama get elected, the time to step up is NOW. With just six weeks left before the election, we are swiftly closing in on the day when our fate as a country will be decided. We are closing in on the day that will decide whether or not we have to fear for the the lives of our children fighting wars based on lies. That day will decide whether our government works for Main Street or Wall Street. It will decide if our voices are heard over the voices of the special interests.

This election is going to be won or lost in the small towns, like ours, all across America. People like you and me are the ones who are making the difference in this race.

If you don't have time to spare, give money. If you don't have money to spare, give time. I am asking you to step up and take action. Attend a phone bank (or call from home--ask me how), grab a friend and find a group to canvass with, stop in to one of the many local campaign offices and ASK what they need in order to be more successful.

If you can't spare time or money, at least be vocal and visible in your support of Barack. IPut a sign in your yard or a sticker on your bumper. Doing so will encourage others to do the same.

Stop waiting for the campaign or others to take action. Don't assume someone else will carry your load. Take personal responsibility and get out there and FIGHT for this election.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to wake up on November 5th thinking I should have done more. I am only one supporter but I can make a difference and so can you.

As Barack said after the New Hampshire primary, which at this point seems like years ago, "We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change."

Be one of those millions.

YES WE CAN

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Sportsmen and Sportswomen Support Obama

By Lauren Rosenthal - Sep 12th, 2008 at 11:54 am EDT

Also listed in: Environmentalists for Obama | Indiana Obama Supporters | Northwest Indiana for Obama

We are hearing from lots of Sportsmen and Sportswomen from around the country who support Senator Obama. Be sure to check out his fact sheet for Sportsmen/women (is there a better, shorter way to say that?) under the Issues Section of this web site.

Chris A, Harrison Twp, MI wrote:

As an avid hunter and fisherman in Michigan, the restoration of the Great Lakes, lakes and rivers in Michigan as well habitat conservation for fish and wildlife are incredibly important to my quality of life. For that reason, I must support Senator Obama for President. For one reason, in his time as Senator he has supported the largest source of conservation funding where Senator McCain did not--the Farm Bill. Also, Senator Obama is from the Great Lakes region and will best understand the issues that this region faces.

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Report of Third World Conditions in Alaska

By Evalyn Gossett - Sep 10th, 2008 at 11:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

A friend sent this to me.

Subject: ALASKA IS A DISASTER

I am neither for nor against Sarah Palin, but this is an eye-opener. THANKS!

Alaska is a disaster

by Rob Rosenfeld

After 11 years working in rural Alaska , I feel obligated to share my observations regarding the Third World living conditions facing more than 200 rural Native communities, and the State of=2 0Alaska 's lack of attention to the many inequities they suffer.

While Governor Palin claims "exemplary leadership" and attempts to become Vice President of the United States , the truth is rural Alaska is a disaster in multiple areas: human health, lack of infrastructure, the environment, and the economy are equal to that of Third World countries. Sarah Palin is a single issue governor who fails to effectively address these critical needs. Alaska has the highest rates of homelessness per capita in the US , overflowing sewage lagoons in dozens of communities, and no running water in more than 150 villages – that's 25% of the population without running water.

Governor Palin has demonst rated how out of touch she is with Alaska while she continues to ignore the needs of the homeless, fails to recognize Third World living conditions in her home state, and ignores climate change victims, polluted waters, village health hazards and unattended military contaminate sites. Alaska is a barometer for climate change. Access to some remote communities has been cut off, villages are flooding, landfill contents and overflowing sewage lagoons are contaminating communities, and several villages are being forced to pack up and move. Governor Palin says she doesn't believe climate change is caused by humans. Regardless of the cause, she remains unresponsive to the needs of climate change refugees and victims in Alaska .

More than 200 landfills in rural Alaska lack liners to prevent seepage and dozens of sewage lagoons receive annual discharge permits to discharge untreated and untested sewage into Alaska 's salmon bearing rivers. 0A Alaska has the highest amount of military contaminant sites in the US with more than 500 sites that require extensive resources to assess, monitor and remediate. Alaska also has the highest rates of cancer per capita in the United States . Governor Palin is silent on this issue and is solely focused on the natural gas pipeline and oil drilling in protected and fragile places. While Palin asserts that resource extraction can be done responsibly, North Slope oil extraction has resulted in hundreds of spills and leaks monthly. On her watch, polluters have not been brought to justice and environmental regulations have been relaxed by her controversial appointee to head the Department of Environmental Conservation. Larry Hartig, Palin's pick for C ommissioner, was the lead lawyer defending Red Dog Mine (owned by Teck Cominco) which is rated as the worst mine in the country for discharging contaminants into the environment.

Red Dog Mine is number one on the national Toxic Release Inventory. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has continued to undermine the integrity of the Clean Water Act by ignoring the anti-degradation act, mixing zone laws and making discharge exemptions for oil companies allowing daily oil sludge discharge into the Cook Inlet resulting in millions of tons of contaminants in Alaska 's pristine waters. Palin sued the federal government for trying to protect the polar bear population and, contrary to her rhetoric, she did accept federal dollars for the Bridge to Nowhere. Alaska has the highest gas prices in the country, exceeding more then $9 per gallon in some villages.

Alaska also the highest unemployment in rates in the country as more than 150 villages face 50 to 80 percent rates of unemployment. Palin does not pay attention to any of the above realities as she fixates on the oil industry and has even created a Renewable Energy Fund that allows for natural gas extraction and coal bed methane; both of which are far from renewable resources and cause considerable environmental degradation. Beyond the pretty face of Governor Palin rests an unaware, out of touch, rape and pillage resource extractor who is doing the bidding for the leading oil companies in the world while trying to opennew areas for oil development. Rob Rosenfeld has a Masters Degree in International and Sustainable Development and has lived in Homer, Alaska since 1995, working primarily with rural communities. He is a long time advocate for human rights and fair distribution of government resources and opportunities. robrosey@xyz.com _______________________________________________________________________________

Contacts to confirm information:

anet Levin, Anchorage Homeless Coalition: Homeless facts - 907-272-0235 ()

Gershon Cohen Ph.D- Department of Environmental Conservation Facts - 907-766-3005

Bob Shavelson, Inlet Keeper 907- 235-4068 - 907-299-3277 (sludge discharge validation in the Cook Inlet and Dept. of Environmental Conservation laws being relaxed)

Unemployment rates: Department of Commerce in Alaska / Anchorage Sewage / Solid issues /

Climate Change: Joe Sarcone / EPA Alaska and Alaska Village Safe Water (907) 271-1316 or 907-677-8705

Discharge Permits: Tim Wingerter - Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation / Fairbanks or Anchorage

Pam Miller, Northern Center for the Environment in Fairbanks- Validation on 100's spills and leaks per month Pam Miller (different than above) - Alaska Community Action on Toxics -

Cancer rates and military site validation and information on Red D og Mine (907)222-7714

rian Hirsch Ph.D - Energy issues on renewable energy fund 907-299-0268 or 907-235-7164 Deborah Williams - Alaska Climate Change Solutions - 907- 929-9370 or 907-223-1518 (Polar Bear issues, Climate Change emergencies, flooding, villages having to move and village access facts and information (more contacts can be made available upon request) Eileen Grundstrom < FONT face=Calibri size=16>

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The Importance of Voting

By The Juggernaut - Sep 5th, 2008 at 10:48 pm EDT

Also listed in: Northwest Indiana for Obama

The Importance of Voting (am i really having to tell people its important)

I never imagined that in 2008 I would have to explain the importance of voting to anyone. If you need any proof of not voting's immediate and lasting effects, check out the last 8 years of the Bush Administration. Now clearly, we are all charged up about voting in the 2008 election and most of us have made up our minds who we are supporting. The thing about voting isn't that you vote for the person your mom likes or your sister or best friend thinks that you should vote for, but that you vote for who you feel deeply moves you. If that is neither candidate from the major parties, independent, or write in candidate, then you vote on the facts (which is what you should be doing anyway) and which candidate is essentially the lesser evil. Now when you vote, you express your voice. You tell Washington, this candidate is the one that will best or closest fit my needs. This candidate will make my life better in some way. It's also your job as a
registered voter to call or write your elected officials and remind them of the promises they made during their campaign just in case they forget.

Now why on earth in 2008 would someone decide not to vote????
*****Here's were I need your input.*****

The two things that I keep hearing is that they don't have a reason to vote and their vote doesn't count. Well unregistered voter with absolutely no voice, the only way that your vote doesn't count is if you don't actually vote. Here's a concept that works. Go down to your local election headquarters or polling place, pick a candidate and vote. Then go home, turn on the tv, and wait for your voice, along with the millions of other voices that voted to be heard when the returns have been announced...... Clearly voting works. The system only stops working when people choose not to use it. Then they complain that the system doesn't work when they are contributing factors to the outcome. The system worked, it just wasn't the outcome they wanted and had they voted, they would have had a chance to be heard.

Now take the current election. People voted and their voices were heard loud and clear. Age, gender, race, and the stereotypes that come with them are no longer excuses to that non- voters can hide behind any longer. They can't say that women, minorities or seniors are excluded from running for public office. This year, the American people have shown us that we are willing to bypass obvious stereotypes such as those forementioned to be heard, no matter the source. Barack Obama, a minority, has clinched the democratic nomination thanks to the voices of all those who voted. Hillary Clinton made history because of the 18 million voters who made their voices heard. Even when John McCain was counted out by his own party, people voted and let the GOP know that age didn't matter. They wanted their voices to be heard and thought it best that John McCain be the spokesperson of their collective voice.
The point I am making here is that every vote counts. We should all be in agreement with this fact. It doesn't matter who you vote for, just vote. If you don't vote, then and only then do you not have a voice. Make the adult decision and go make your voice be heard by casting your vote for the candidate of your choice. Otherwise, don't complain about the person that you helped put in office by not voting for the other guy.

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Chicago Trip to NW Indiana this weekend (9/6)

By Brit - Sep 1st, 2008 at 3:37 pm EDT

Also listed in: Cook County/Chicago Residents for Obama | Northwest Indiana for Obama | Ravenswood/Lincoln Square for Obama

Polls show that it's a dead heat in Indiana, a traditionally 'red' state for the past several presidential elections. Let's get some Chicago people down to the NW part of the state to support our neighbors to the south!

Anyone want to volunteer in NW Indiana this weekend (Sat 9/6)? There's a canvassing group in Merrillville, only an hour south of Chicago. (I'm up for heading to other locales as well--South Bend, Michigan City--whoever needs the most support). If you're in NW Indiana, please let us know how we can be of help!

Please respond by Friday afternoon so we can coordinate rides and such...only 65 more days.

Go Obama!

Peace,

Brit

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First Impression

By Mark from Munster, IN - Aug 25th, 2008 at 3:31 am EDT

Also listed in: Northwest Indiana for Obama

For the first time in my life I find that a man of simple means has finally stepped forward to lead. He is by no means a simple person by any measure. He came out of a tenuous home life as a child that provided him with a unique perspective on the challenges that face many of us today. Through his observations while growing into the leader he is today, he has determined that it is time to stop the hemorrhaging of moral values that is being bled out by our elected representatives in Washington D.C.

What had first attracted me to him is his deep and abiding faith. Faith in the American people. Faith of our greatness. Faith in our desire for the betterment of our country. Faith in our calls to make truth and fairness not just some rallying cry in government but, to re-instill it in OUR government's foundation.

Most of all, faith that all: man, woman, child, black, brown, white or, yellow regardless of their financial position are equal.

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Does John McCain’s Experience Matter?

By jamesmyers - Aug 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Does John McCain’s Experience Matter?

A Political Blog

James Myers

The Entertainment Critic

I was asked by a young Obama neighborhood organizer to write an article about an argument he was running into as he went door to door in Lake County, Indiana. The problem: How do you respond to someone who is considering voting for John McCain based on his ‘experience?’

After all at age 45, Barack Obama is not the youngest presidential nominee or chief executive. William Jennings Bryant was a Democratic nominee at 36; John F. Kennedy was 43 when he was elected, Theodore Roosevelt was 42 when he was sworn in. Nor is Barack the most inexperienced nominee or president ever. Wendell Willkie had never held any public office before he became the Republican nominee in 1940. Woodrow Wilson had been governor of New Jersey for only 2 years before ascending to the Presidency in 1912. George W. Bush was governor of Texas for only 6 years before becoming President. Lincoln had only served a brief time in the Illinois Legislature and only 2 years in the House before becoming President.

Time served is therefore not the issue. The real question is judgment. Who has the most active voting record? Who made the right decisions when it counted? Who has made more misjudgments? Who is the more unstable, more unpredictable? Who is smarter about the judgments they have made in the past on critical political issues?

What I would say to my young organizer friend is that you should first ask the prospective voter if they are happy with the way things are in our country today? If they are better off now than they were 8 years ago? Ask them if they realize that John McCain has voted 95% of the time with George Bush? Ask them if they are ready for 8 more years of the same failed policies? Tell them that it is time for a change. If they want details, show them this article.

There are 3 basic arguments: First, in a head to head comparison, Barack’s voting record and judgment are more consistent; Second, McCain’s opinion is flexible (he flip flops too much); and finally you have to consider the tremendous errors he has made just during the course of this campaign.

If we look at a head to head comparison, Obama has been in the Senate 3.5 years, McCain has been in the Senate 26 years. Obama’s name is on 606 bills to 128 for McCain. In other words, Barack is much more active. Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress. 15 of those have become law. He has introduced amendments to 50 bills, 16 of which were adopted by the Senate. From a blog in the Daily Kos by Heleann dated February 21st, 2008 entitled “I found the BEEF-Obama’s Senate Record” Here is what I found:

Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)

This would be an impressive record for anyone. It is a remarkable record for a junior Senator from Illinois. Senator McCain has said, “[T]his election is about trust and trusting people’s word…” Another blog from the Daily Kos, written by StuHunter titled, “DAMMIT…Tell me the Truth! UPDATED” traces McCain voting record, flip-flops and all:

Signing of the GI Bill: Now enthusiastically for it... after it passed. Previously attacked the Webb Bill. Didn't even bother to vote on it.
http://bravenewfilms.org/...

Campaign reform: On political reform, McCain last January opposed a grassroots lobbying bill he once supported. In 2006, the "New York Sun" reported that his presidential ambitions led McCain to reverse his support of a campaign financial bill called McCain/Feingold.
http://www.nysun.com/...

Alien Minors Act/Immigration: Last October he said he would vote against the development, relief and education for Alien Miners Act that he co-sponsored, and then said he would vote against an immigration bill that he introduced.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Gay Marriage: In 2006, he said on "HARDBALL," quote, “I think that gay marriage should be allowed.” Then after the commercial break he added, “I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal.”
http://www.youtube.com/...

Abortion: On abortion, 1999, publicly supporting Roe v. Wade, privately opposing it in a letter to the National Right to Life Committee. In the 2000 debates, he would change the GOP platform to permit exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother. May 2007, "flipped", ABCNews.com reported.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

Nuclear Waste: No Storing Nuclear waste at Yucca mountain earlier. Now flipped
http://www.lasvegassun.com/...

Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il: Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il not acceptable until President Bush did it last week.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Negotiating with Cuba/Castro: With Fidel Castro acceptable in 2000, not 2008.
http://vids.myspace.com/...

Negotiating with Hamas/Terrorists: ...with terrorists appropriate when Colin Powell went to Syria and in 2006 when McCain said sooner or later we‘ll talk to Hamas, but not appropriate now re: Obama's willingness to use diplomacy.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Pakistan: Unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan; "Confused leadership" when Obama suggested it, not when Bush did it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Warrantless Wire-taps: Six months ago, presidents had to obey the law, not anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/...

Torture: Torture detainees, no way, except for the CIA. Hold them indefinitely, wrong in 2003, the right move in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Iraq War: The Iraq war, the right course 2004, stay the course 2005. Today, McCain has always been a Rumsfeld critic.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Tax Cuts: In 2001, he could not in good conscious support them. Now he can.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Estate Tax: 2006, "I agree with President Roosevelt who created it". In 2008, "most unfair".
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Privatizing Social Security: This month not for privatizing Social Security, never has been. In 2004, he "didn‘t see how benefits will last without it".
http://www.youtube.com/...

Balanced Budget: In February, promised a balanced budget in four years by April, make that eight years.
http://www.perrspectives.com/...

Windfall Profits Tax: In May, glad to look at the windfall profits tax. By June, that was Jimmy Carter's big idea.
http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/...

Offshore Drilling: In 2000, no new off shore drilling. Last month, it would take years to develop. This month, very helpful in the short term.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Coyotes..Bush Big Time Fund Raisers: The Bush fund-raisers McCain called coyotes breaking the law in 2000. By 2006, they were co-chairing McCain fund-raisers.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

"Agents of Intolerance": Buddy Jerry Falwell...an "agent of intolerance in 2000". Kissed Falwell's ass in 2007... The Reverend Hagee and Parsley in, then out this year alone.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Martin Luther King Holiday: In 1983, opposed Martin Luther King Day. Today, all for it.
http://www.boston.com/...

Confederate Flag: In 2000, defended South Carolina's confederate flag as a symbol of heritage. Two years later, McCain calling it, quote, an act of political cowardice not to say the flag should come down. Quote, "everybody said, look out. You can't win in South Carolina if you say that."
http://www.youtube.com/...

Evolution in Public Schools: In 2005, McCain said alternatives to evolution should be taught in school. "Evolving" the opposite position he had taken in 2000.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Restoring the Everglades: On June 5, John McCain traveled to the Everglades to win over Floridians and environmentally-minded voters. There he proclaimed, "I am in favor of doing whatever’s necessary to save the Everglades." Sadly, as ThinkProgress documented, McCain not only opposed $2 billion in funding for the restoration of the Everglades national park, he backed President Bush’s veto of the legislation in 2007. "I believe," he said, "that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Swiftboating: McCain's sudden embrace of Swiftboating --- which today is synonymous with a concerted effort to lie about an opponent's history --- is all the more deplorable because he has hired retired Col. George "Bud" Day, a proud member of the group that Swiftboated Kerry --- and someone McCain once described as having "tunnel vision" --- to lead what McCain is calling his "Truth Squad."
http://digg.com/...

GITMO/Habeus Corpus:Despite John McCain's outrage last week that the Supreme Court ordered Gitmo detainees know why they were being held, or released -- Political Base has stumbled upon a McCain appearance on Meet the Press in 2005 where he argued they deserved trials, going so far as to say "if it means releasing some of them, you'll have to release them." Shameless.
http://www.politicalbase.com/...

Divestment from South Africa: During his June 2 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), John McCain called for the international community to target Iran for the kind of worldwide sanctions regime applied to apartheid-era South Africa. Unfortunately, McCain’s lobbyist-advisers Charlie Black and Rick Davis each represented firms doing business with Tehran. Even more unfortunate, John McCain was frequently not among those offering "moral clarity and conviction" in backing "a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations: During a June 4th town hall meeting in Baton Rouge, John McCain answered a reporter’s question regarding Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees by announcing:

"I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground."

As it turns out, not so much. McCain’s revisionist history neglects to mention that in 2005 and 2006 he twice voted against a commission to study the government’s response to Katrina. He also opposed three separate emergency funding measures providing relief to Katrina victims, including the extension of five months of Medicaid benefits. And as ThinkProgress pointed out, "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

McCain On His Economic Abilities: "I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not." "I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military and others. I am very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent."

-- Sen. John McCain, in an interview on ABC News, when asked why he "admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy."

However, NBC News compiles past McCain quotes in which he said "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should" or "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

On Criticizing Obama While "Overseas": Traveling in Colombia, he told reporters that he wouldn't criticize Obama while he was overseas, but on the plane, he blasted Obama’s opposition to the proposed Colombia free trade...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

UPDATES from KOSsacks:

Temperament and Temper: "My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern," he wrote in a 2002 memoir. "I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's." Not true and not under control, according to many of those on the "W"rong side of McCain's famous temper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Drilling For Oil and Automobile Efficiency: "Last week, Senator McCain reversed himself and said we need to drill more. Today, he has reversed years of failing to support more efficient cars, new energy technologies and green jobs.
http://www.speaker.gov/...

Offshore Drilling: Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered "a bit of a capitulation to the oil companies" by announcing that he would end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling. Not only is McCain’s move a break with environmental activist, but it is also "a reversal of the position he took in his 2000 presidential campaign.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Payroll Taxes: "When he was asked in 2005 whether he could see himself lifting the cap on the payroll tax, (McCain) said, 'I could.' Two years later, during a May 13, 2007, appearance on "Meet the Press," Russert asked McCain if he was still open to lifting the Social Security tax cap as part of a compromise. "Am I opposed to tax increases?" said McCain. "Yes. But we've got to sit down together and figure out what our options are, and tough decisions have to be made, Republicans and Democrats. And I know how to do that." Asked about the 2005 remark, a McCain spokesman acknowledged the tension with his current position while arguing that the Arizona senator's criticism of his Democratic rival is still valid because McCain has spoken out against higher Social Security taxes as a 2008 White House hopeful.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

Ethics Reform and Abramoff: On the stump, Sen. John McCain often cites his work tackling the excesses of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as evidence of his sturdy ethical compass. A little-known document, however, shows that McCain may have taken steps to protect his Republican colleagues from the scope of his investigation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
http://digg.com/...

Obviously experience for McCain has not resulted in the acquired trait of common sense. My friend, Karen Young, put it this way: “If you met a parent with 6 children, all of them malnourished, you would call them "experienced" parents, but would you accept parenting tips from them? The point: not all "experience" is good for America.” You’re right Karen, and McCain judgment has been proven over and over again to be something less than we need in our President, particularly after 8 years of George W. Bush. Recently, Jack Cafferty on CNN put McCain’s candidacy in prospective, “It occurs to me that John McCain is as intellectually shallow as our current president. One after another, McCain's answers were shallow, simplistic, and trite. He showed the same intellectual curiosity that George Bush has -- virtually none. Where are John McCain's writings exploring the vexing moral issues of our time? Where are his position papers setting forth his careful consideration of foreign policy, the welfare state, education, America's moral responsibility in the world, etc., etc., etc.?

John McCain graduated 894th in a class of 899 at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. His father and grandfather were four star admirals in the Navy. Some have suggested that might have played a role in McCain being admitted. His academic record was awful. And it shows over and over again whenever McCain is called upon to think on his feet.

He no longer allows reporters unfettered access to him aboard the "Straight Talk Express" for a reason. He simply makes too many mistakes. Unless he's reciting talking points or reading from notes or a TelePrompTer, John McCain is lost. He can drop bon mots at a bowling alley or diner -- short glib responses that get a chuckle, but beyond that McCain gets in over his head very quickly."

In the sole and only issue McCain relies on for his election, his military experience and judgment, his voting record is abysmal. Karen Young again pointed out the following to me:

** 2007 McCain only showed up for 4 of the past 14 senate votes on Iraq. Showed up for none this year

** April 2003 tabled a motion to provide over $1 billion of National Guard and Reserve equipment

** Oct 2003 he tabled an amendment to provide additional $322 million for safety equipment for US troops in Iraq

** March 2004 he voted against eliminating abusive tax loopholes that would have increased veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion

** March 2006 he voted against closing corporate tax loopholes that would have increased veterans' medical services by $1.5 billion

** April 2006 he voted against providing an extra $430 million for veteran outpatient care

** May 2006 he voted against $20 million for veteran health care facilities

** March 2007 he didn't bother to vote on a resolution to start redeploying troops from Iraq by March 2008

** September 2007 he voted against Senator Webb's amendment that would specify minimum rest periods for troops in between deployments

** May 2008 he first spoke out against Senator Web's GI Bill and then didn't bother to show up to vote on it. But none of that stopped him from accepting President Bush's praise when the Bill ultimately passed.

McCain hopes that the fact that he is a veteran substitutes for the idea that he has done right by veterans as a politician

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America give the following grade for voting records
John McCain D
Barack Obama B+

Disabled American Veterans grades the two candidates
Barack Obama 80% voting record
John McCain 20% voting record

In the single most important vote in the 21st Century, the decision to invade Iraq, John McCain was on the wrong side again. Not only did he vote to invade Iraq, he incorrectly stated prior to the invasion that Iraq and Suddam Hussein were involved with the 9/11 attacks. He has said that we could be in Iraq for ‘100 years.’ Spending $10 million dollars a month in an open ended war is not something the American people can afford to support. Barack Obama opposed this war from the outset. A war that has cost us over $5 Trillion and 4,000 dead, and countless injured and maimed. On November 25th, 2002, Barack said, “I think that us rushing into a war unilaterally was a mistake and may still be a mistake. (If we have invaded Iraq) then what the debate will really be about is what is our long term commitment there? How much is it going to cost? What does it mean for us to rebuild Iraq? How do we stabilize and make sure this country doesn’t split into factions…” (Article “Does Obama Have Enough Experience to be President” contained in the embedded You Tube Video found at http://www.obamapedia.org/page/Does+Barack+Obama+have+enough+experience+to+be+president%3F )

So what was John McCain doing while Obama was accurately predicting the future? One month after the invasion, he said Iraq ‘needed to be invaded.’ He called the handling of the war ‘magnificent.’ He praised Donald Rumsfeld and said if he were President, Dick Cheney would be in his cabinet. On the floor of the Senate in May of 2003, McCain said, “We won a massive victory in a few weeks and we have done so with very limited loss of American and Allied lives. We were able to end aggression with minimal loss of life, and we were even able to greatly reduce the civilian casualties of Afghan and Iraqi citizens.” In effect as commentators have pointed out, McCain declared victory in Iraq 5 years and 3 months ago. If this were true, his singular issue of the surge would not have been necessary. But instead we get his military bluster, all of which continues the Bush policy of undermining our diplomatic stature abroad.

McCain himself has recently said, “Good judgment will be at a premium in the term of the next American president.” Comparing his statements to Senator Obama’s you cannot help but conclude that John McCain made the wrong decision, and evaluated the possible consequences of our actions in a totally incorrect way. Even with his single issue of ‘the surge’ he has evaluated that incorrectly, too. If the surge has in fact worked, our troops would be home or at least we’d have the same troop level as we had before the surge. His judgment continues to be at best questionable, while Senator Obama once again is right on target.

What do their peers say about their judgment? Barack Obama’s fellow legislators have assessed his judgment in a positive light. Krik Dillard, a Republican Senator said, "Sen. Obama was someone who I thought — and I was right — could tackle extremely complex things like ethics reform, the death penalty or racial profiling by law enforcement." Dillard called Barack, “a full partner” n drafting and passing the state's first major ethics law in 25 years, Dillard says. Obama also helped pass laws requiring that police interrogations and confessions in capital cases be videotaped and creating a state earned-income tax credit.

Donne Trotter called Obama, “a quick read, a quick study.” His tenure as a constitutional lawyer, “prepares him to learn the intricacies and nuances of what the federal government is all about." Trotter picked up right away his savvy in the areas of universal health care and was most impressed by his ability to educate his fellow senators and become the author and leader of legislation. Obama "is a reader, a learner of different approaches and philosophies," he says. "He has the brainpower to absorb the facts … and make good decisions." Mel Brook, Democratic Chairmen in Littleton, NH perhaps said it best, "No doubt 20 years' experience is better than 10," he says." For some individuals, it might well be a drawback, but it depends on the intellect, the knowledge and the ability of the candidate," he says. "For Obama, inexperience is not a big drawback."

What do his contemporaries say about John McCain? Senator John Kerry thinks McCain’s judgment is dangerous. "John McCain has changed in profound and fundamental ways that I find personally really surprising, and frankly upsetting," the Democratic Senator from Massachusetts said on CBS' Face The Nation.

"This is a different John McCain. This is not the Senator John McCain; this is want-to-be president John McCain.

"And the result is that John McCain has flip-flopped on more issues than I was even ever accused possibly of thinking about! I mean, this is extraordinary what he's done: He's changed on taxes; he's now in favor of the Bush tax cut. If you like the Bush economy, if you like the Bush tax cut and what it's done to our economy, making wealthier people wealthier and the average middle class struggle harder, then John McCain is going to give you a third term of George Bush and Karl Rove.

"If you like what has happened to oil prices, John McCain is going to continue that policy. If you like what you see about health care, John McCain has no health care plan.

"I would have at least expected the John McCain that I knew back then to realize what almost every person in the Pentagon has admitted. There are very few who walk around and say, 'Going into Iraq was the right thing to do, and we should have done it, or do it again if I have the chance.' John McCain does.

"I'm challenging Senator McCain's judgment," Kerry said, "that says, 'There's no violent history between Sunni and Shia.' That's wrong. His judgment that says, 'This is going to increase the stability of the Middle East.' It hasn't, it's made it less stable. The judgment that says, quote, 'This will be the best thing for America and the world in a long time. It's the worst thing that we've done in a long time. And he's turned his [focus] away from Afghanistan and al Qaeda and made America less safe. That's dangerous for our country."

Kerry criticized McCain's continued support of the occupation, given the effect of a continuing presence of U.S. troops on the situation in Iraq and the region at large. He pointed to remarks by leaders in the Middle East who told him during a recent visit, "You, America, have served up to Iran Iraq on a platter."

"They are outraged by the ineptitude of what has been done by those who decided it was smart to go into Iraq," said Kerry, who feels the Republican Party is now in turmoil over the "reality" of McCain's position, which is that "he has a plan for staying in Iraq and Barack Obama has a plan for getting out of Iraq."

Recently, a blog entitled “Obama’s Judgment is Right; the Conventional Wisdom is Wrong” by David Sanders may have summed it up best. The worst strategic blunder of U.S. History was invading Iraq. The Bush administration then advocated a policy of labeling opponents as “weak, inexperienced, and naïve.” Barack Obama defied conventional wisdom and opposed the Iraq invasion. He was told this would damage, maybe even doom his political future. Barack felt we were in the wrong place and we needed to be in Afghanistan where we could fight with the people who attacked us, Bin Laden and al Qaeda. He called it “a dumb war” that could result in an “occupation of undetermined length, and undetermined cost with undetermined consequences.” Barack was right; conventional wisdom was wrong. According to National Intelligence, Iraq is a mess; the threat to us is “persistent and evolving”, Al-Qaeda has a safe haven in Pakistan, Iran has grown stronger and ultimately Americans are less safe. Judgment: Obama.

Barack’s judgment has in fact already tilted the table from conventional wisdom in Washington on the issue of diplomacy. Washington through Bush and McCain have taken the position that we cannot talk to our advisories because that would reward them. The result? Iran has continued to build its nuclear weapons program, terrorize Iraq and support terrorists. Syria continues to ‘meddle’ in Lebanon and support terror. North Korea produced 6-8 nuclear bombs. McCain wants to use the conventional wisdom to continue this policy of blustery, loud brave talk at home, with no discussions abroad. Obama is right; tough skillful discussion with our enemies is the only way in the 21st Century to bring about a peaceful balance. Judgment: Obama

Supporting President Musharraf has only aided the terrorists. Nuclear attacks on terrorist targets via ratcheted up rhetoric based on McCain’s so called military experience goes against the conventional wisdom of Washington. Killing innocent Pakistanis’ and lower our prestige in the world is not good judgment. Judgment: Obama.

American foreign policy has been broken by supporting the Iraq War and failing to finish al Qaeda, and worse alienating the rest of the world with our arrogance. Conventional wisdom tells us that this is the stance we must take in ‘times of trouble.’ Barack Obama is clear that we must go another direction. We must end a war we never should have begun; get the real perpetrators of 9/11; we need to talk to our adversaries and end the blustery politics of loud talk with ‘no substance.’ “Barack Obama’s judgment is right. It is conventional wisdom that has to change.”

So what would I tell my young organizer? After they admit they are not happy with the way things are and they are not better off then they were 8 years ago, remind them that the best we can hope for with all of McCain’s so called experience is more of the same, and that it is time for a change. That when it comes to judgment, Obama is right on target and his record proves he’s the most viable candidate for a change.

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Tilting the Table

By jamesmyers - Aug 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Why You Should Vote for Barack Obama?

Because He Has Already ‘Tilted the Table’

By James Myers

The Entertainment Critic

A few months back I did an interview with Mr. Jonah Goldberg, The author of a book called Liberal Fascism. He used a term that has stuck with me, I believe that I have ‘tilted the table’ in the way history will view this topic from now on, is a rough paraphrase of what he said. Tilting the table means that you have changed the way people view a particular topic. The way historians will record the topic in the history books. It means that you have exerted such insight, that others have come to rely on your judgment. It much your thoughts were fresh, original, and without any question, now considered to be correct. Much like tilting a pin ball machine, you have changed the direction that the ball will travel.

The George W. Bush administration has been, to say the least, inflexible. They take strong positions and right or wrong (and as we have seen they are wrong more often than not) they stick with these positions, to the point of an uncaring arrogance. Convincing Bush to change his position is kind of like commanding pigs to fly; it just isn’t going to happen. Rigid to the point of infamy is more what you can expect from this group.

Recently there have been some changes in position by the Bush Administration; surprising changes. Even more surprising is the source from where these shifts in policy originate. A source of original thought. A voice alone in its objections to the Bush policies. A leader that who thinking, just by his espousing a position has ‘tilted the table,’ even with ‘W’s’ rigid tough guys. A history changer. None other than Barack Obama. Not the presumptive Republican nominee, but their opposition’s leader, Obama. The junior Senator from Illinois. And oddly enough, the area of foreign policy seems to be the area of the biggest shift in direction; the biggest tilt.

What policies have been affected?

· The covert political action in Pakistan he suggested that the Bush Administration put into action;

· The 12,000 additional troops Barack called for in Afghanistan, which the Bush Administration approved yesterday, August 20, 2008;

· Yesterday, Secretary of State Rice reported from Bagdad that there is an agreement between the US and Iraq to set a timetable for withdrawal of our troops from that country by the 30th of next June, something Mr Obama has repeatedly stated during his campaign for President;

· Recently, Bush has shown more of an acceptance to speak to those who are our opposition, then to ignore them as he had in the past. Clearly this is the Obama position.

Notice that the tilt has occurred in the area of expertise that is supposed to be McCain’s strength, foreign policy. But yet, despite stubborn resistance to most opposition by Bush and his cronies, almost to the point of ignorance, they have drifted towards Obama’s positions over McCain. They have adapted the Democrats position, in an effort to effect a pre-emptive strike.

Why is this important? He is a man; a black man, so called inexperienced man; a member of the hated and dreaded other party; a liberal; yet he has in his own persuasive manner, given them such cause to pause, that they are willing to change 8 years of harsh, stoic resistance to a more moderate approach, to attempt to avoid loosing an election. Based on conduct alone, you can only conclude that Barack Obama has tilted the table. He has already made a difference before he is elected to the Presidency. He is what we call in sports a difference maker, a gamer, the go-to guy. The playmaker. Why should you vote for Barack Obama? Because he has the judgment to change history. If he can persuade the Neo-Cons by his advocacy, just think about what he could do as President in dealing with our international problems. This is a lot more effective then the hot headed; let’s go to war, ‘I know how to win wars’ John McCain. This is not advocacy that comes at the end of a barrel of a gun. Barack can change minds. He can advocate. He is a history maker. In the world’s eyes, he is that table tilter that can make a difference.

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It's Biden!

By jamesmyers - Aug 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

August 24, 2008
Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY

WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware to be his running-mate, turning to a leading authority on foreign policy and a longtime Washington hand to fill out the Democratic ticket, people told of the decision said.

Mr. Obama’s selection ended a two-month search that was conducted almost entirely in secret. It reflected a critical strategic choice by Mr. Obama: To go with a running-mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his resume, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s message of change.

Mr. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is familiar with foreign leaders and diplomats around the world. Although he initially voted to authorize the war in Iraq — Mr. Obama opposed it from the start — Mr. Biden became a persistent critic of President Bush’s policies in Iraq.

The selection was disclosed as Mr. Obama moves into a critical part of his campaign, preparing for the party’s four-day convention in Denver starting on Monday. Mr. Obama’s aides viewed the introduction of his vice presidential choice– including an afternoon rally Saturday at the old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., the same place where Mr. Obama announced his candidacy on a freezing winter morning almost two years ago, and a tour of swing states – as the beginning of a week-long stretch in which Mr. Obama hopes to dominate the stage and position himself for the fall campaign.

Word of Mr. Obama’s decision leaked out hours before his campaign was scheduled to inform supporters via text and e-mail messages, and hours after informing two other top contenders for the vice presidential nomination – Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia – that they had not been chosen.

As the selection process moved to an end, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who Mr. Obama had defeated in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, had slipped out of contention -- to the degree that Mr. Obama had ever seriously considered her.

Mr. Biden is Roman Catholic, giving him appeal to that important voting bloc, though he favors abortion rights. He was born in a working class family in Scranton, Pa., a swing state where he remains well-known. Mr. Biden is up for re-election to the Senate this year and he would presumably run simultaneously for both seats.

Mr. Biden is known for being both talkative and prone to making the kind of statements that get him in trouble. In 2007, when he was competing for Mr. Obama for the presidential nomination, he declared that Mr. Obama was “not yet ready” for the presidency, a line certain to show up in Republican attack ads.

Although Mr. Biden is not exactly a household name, he is probably the best known of all the Democrats who were in contention for the spot, given his political and personal history (not to mention his regular appearances on the Sunday morning television news shows.) He first ran for the Senate from Delaware when he was just 29 years old.

Mr. Biden has run twice for the presidency himself, once in 1988 and again in 2008, dropping out early in both cases. He was also the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during two of the most contentious Supreme Court nomination battles of the past 50 years: the confirmation proceedings for Robert H. Bork, who was defeated, and Clarence Thomas, who was confirmed after an explosive hearing in which Anita Hill accused Mr. Thomas of sexual harassment. Mr. Biden led the opposition to both nominations, though he came under criticism from some feminists for not immediately disclosing what were at first Ms. Hill’s closed-door accusations against Mr. Thomas.

Mr. Obama’s choice of Mr. Biden suggested some of the weaknesses the Obama campaign is trying to address at a time when at a time when national polls suggest that his race with Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is tightening. Chief among Mr. Biden’s strengths is his familiarity with foreign policy and national security issues, highlighted just this past weekend with the invitation he received from the embattled president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, to visit Georgia in the midst of its tense faceoff with Russia. From the moment he dropped out of the presidential race, he had been mentioned as a potential Secretary of State should either Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton win the election.

He is also something of a fixture in Washington, and would bring to the campaign – and the White House – a familiarity with the way the city and Congress works that Mr. Obama can not match after his relatively short stint in Washington.

At 65 years old, he adds a few years and gray hair to a ticket that otherwise might seem a bit young (Mr. Obama is 47). He is, as Mr. Obama’s advisers were quick to argue, someone who appears by every measure prepared to take over as president, setting a standard that appears intended to at least somewhat hamstring Mr. McCain should he be tempted to go for a more adventurous choice for No. 2. He has a long history of making statements that get him in trouble. He was forced to apologize to Mr. Obama almost the moment he entered the race for president after he was quoted as describing Mr. Obama as “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” a remark that drew criticism for being racially insensitive. While campaigning in New Hampshire, Mr. Biden said that ”you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.”

Mr. Biden quit the presidential race this year after a barely making a mark; he came in fifth place in Iowa. He was forced to quit the 1988 presidential race in the face of accusations that he had plagiarized part of a speech from a Neil Kinnock, the British Labor Party leader. Shortly afterward, he was found to have suffered two aneurysms.

He is also, at least arguably, a Washington insider, having worked there for so long, though he still commutes home to Wilmington every night by train.

The choice by Mr. Obama in some ways mirrors the choice by Mr. Bush of Dick Cheney as his running mate in 2000; at 65, it appears unlikely that Mr. Biden would be in a position to run for president, should Mr. Obama win and serve two terms. Shorn of any remaining ambition to run for president on his own, he could find himself in a less complex political relationship with Mr. Obama than most vice president have with their presidents.

Mr. Biden was born in Scranton, , grew up in the suburbs of Wilmington, Del., and went to Syracuse Law School. He also was, as a young man, in the center of a gripping family drama: barely a month after he was elected to the Senate, his wife and their three children were in a car accident with a drunken driver resulted in the death of his wife and daughter. His two sons survived and Mr. Biden remarried five years later.

Carl Hulse and Jim Rutenberg contributed reporting.

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Obama Yay all the live-long day!

By Megan in Northwest Indiana - Aug 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm EDT

Also listed in: 5 groups

We are the ones we've been waiting for. It's not just a line. Many of us have sat idly on the sidelines, cynical, weary, uninspired. We are the 'closet Democrats'. Ashamed of our party, our candidates, and probably more often than not, feeling helpless to combat the yelling, screaming arguers of what seems like endless nonsense from the 'talking heads' on the Right.

It has been all too much for far too long. Now we are awakened and owing our own power and our voices again. Not all of us started supporting Barack Obama, but none of us are waiating for Barack Obama to tell us what to say. We are saying what we believe and not always agreeing, but we are engaged again, or for many of us for the first time in our adult lives.

We don't mindlessly follow. If we did, we would have been Republicans, following George W. Bush over a cliff. We waited and we found what we were waiting for. I'm not even saying that Barack Obama won't let us down. I suspect he will because he is human. But I believe he is a good man and that he can take this great nation in the direction it needs to go so that we are strong and prosperous once again, and respected as a leader in the world.

I'm so looking forward to it.

Peace and Love,

Megan

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Valparaiso, Indiana Grassroots Report

By Megan in Northwest Indiana - Aug 11th, 2008 at 3:16 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

The grassroots are sprouting in Valparaiso --little by little. We are going to be going strong in September. We finally have our office, which was curtailed a bit last week by lack of telephone service installation due to violent storms rolling in at the beginning of last week. This information comes from our very own Rebecca Tomerlin who met me for breakfast on Saturday morning 08/09 at the Viking Chili Bowl for my event "Breakfast for Obama" which is a casual breakfast meet-up for supporters and others that I have committed to hosting each week until the election. Ed Dixon also met with me at the breakfast meeting for two consequetive Saturdays.

We have a new team leader from the Obama Campaign whose name is Mike. Rebeeca said that Mike has committed to being at the Obama office from 9 AM to 9 PM everyday, except when scheduling of other grassroots supporters can fill in at the office so that it can remain open for the public and/or the curious.

Next Saturday, 08/16, there will NOT be a 'Breakfast for Obama' meeting. We are meeting on Thursday, 08/14 at Barnes and Nobles instead for a supporter get together. Mike called me this morning to say that he was checking for events in Valparaiso because he wanted to have an organizing meeting on Thursday, so we are turning my event into an organizing meeting at Barnes and Nobles. We will have our meeting and be visible to the public at the same time.

Rebecca also mentioned that Lily Schaeffer had been canvassing recently and encountered many positive comments regarding Barack Obama. Also, Rebecca spoke with Senator Obama at Schoops when he stopped by for a burger last week with Senator Bayh after the townhall meeting in Elkhart. She got his autograph. I'm not big on hero worshipping, but I have to admit I was a bit jealous.

We are plugging along here. The 'big push' is coming and we are going to be ready for it. I've been blogging and listening to all the negatives coming from the McCain campaign, the lies about taxes over and over and over again. If we are going to take Center Township and Porter County, we are going to have to calmly and rationaly tell people that these are lies. We can show people the facts. We can show them the non-partisan evaluations Factcheck.org - The Annenburgh Group that show the McCain ads and surrogates lies for what they are... lies.

It is person-to-person, neighbor-to-neighbor that is going to win this thing. The seeds of doubt will be sewn on the television screens across America, but we are the trustworthy ones, the honest ones, the ones who are engaged with the campaign, we are the ones who KNOW!

Stay positive, stay engaged, keep in touch and don't give up. You remember how it goes. We are the ones we've been waiting for. This is OUR time. Yes we can.

Peace and Love,

Megan

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Listening to the Y (Young) Generation

By The CEO - Aug 10th, 2008 at 5:58 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

ANOUNCEMENT

Truth Power

Barrack Obama Grassroots Group

EVENT

For the first time in History During a Presidential Campaign Grassroots People Have Been Invited Make Their Voices Part of the Democratic Platform for the General Election

August 16, 2008 at 10am to 2pmTo be held at: The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, (Baber Youth center) Located at 2000 Massachusetts St. in Gary Indiana.

This Historical Event is to take place in what has been referred to by many, as the most racially polarized area of the United States: North West Indiana. This event is intended to prove that Change is here and that statement will no longer be true in the coming years.

Together we will confront the Social injustices in America by bringing social Equality into the political conscious like never done before by such a diverse regional group of citizens, “all of whom which are members of the Human Family.”

Together people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds will be gathering together making history with our younger generation at the focal point.

We are Making History on this Day, in a City and at a Church where both have been historically documented for its achievements of being the first in this nation for leaping across racial barriers in their prospectives or individual contributions to our society.

The City of Gary Indiana is the first City in the Nation to elect a African American a Mayor.

The First AME Church is the First African American Church established in this Nations History.

NOW: in this time in history, Barrack Obama will be the First President of the United States that comes with an African American Culture and has African Ancestry.

There is no better place and time to have this event

Join us, as again diverse groups of people gather together make more history for the Books, finding ways to heal our nation changing hearts and minds.

The Truth to Power grass roots group in Gary Indiana will be holding and community organizing Event featuring "Obama Listening to America the Y Generation: Bridging the Gap.”

We will celebrate The Power of our Young Generation and introduce them to the Idea of Governance, Public Service in their community while advancing there concerns to the Democratic Platform for this 2008 Election Season.

At this event we will be soliciting comment from attendees of various age groups, ethnic background, and race. Making the Democratic Platform reflect the voices of our Young Generation, as they join in discussion with older and the more mature members of our communities.

SPLITING UP INTO GROUPS AND FORMING A CONSENSUS

There will be a wide range of discussion on issues, but primarily we will dialog on healing this Nation: Economics, Social Diversity and Social Equality, Environmental Justice, and Solutions for Global Warming local policy that is by design polarizing.

Also there will discussion about the War in Iraq and the potential war in Iran and what that means to their future, and in what ways can the Democratic Party make their Ideas and vital needs part of the 2008 Democratic Platform.

Most importantly members and special guests are encouraged to provide information, and testimony to our young people about getting involved in community service, Environmental Green Collar Jobs, and why it is so important to understand that energy is at the core of our Crises in America: Why it so important becoming active in this campaign: To stay active in government even after this campaign no matter what the out come of this election.

This Group will be directing them to Obama’s Official Website just days before some of them go off to college, and others whom will start to look toward learning skills to become productive.

There will food and drinks at The Fist AME church in the Gymnasium, more commonly referred to as the “Baber Youth Center”.

We will partake in building consensus that will be provided to the Barrack Obama Review Board to be considered for the 2008 Democratic Platform for the General Election: The Consensus arrived to during this event will be mailed off to the Obama Champaign Headquarters with pictures ,video, and a report to be sent to our local Democratic Party Establishments’

The administrator of this group will also report the shipping of our consensus to all whom attended this event and provided adequate information on the sign in sheet.

Change only happens when U make it happen.

If you are all ready registered as member with Obama’s Official Website I invite you to join this group and make your presence known at this event.

If you are in receipt of this Event information and are not registered with the Official Website fallow this Link to Event Web page or my Online Blog and get registered from there to join this Group.

Event Page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/44cxf

Blog Page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/darrylharris

If you would like to be apart of this Historical Event and volunteer to help our TTP coordinators please call: First AME Church @ 219-886-7561 for me Darryl Harris, or Call me Direct at 219-886-2103 leaving your name and contact information.

Yes We Can!!!

Darryl Harris,

Hoosiers for Obama – Coordinator

Truth To Power – TTP Administrator

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Barack Evening Buzz - 8-9-08

By Barack Daily Buzz - Victory2008.net - Aug 9th, 2008 at 11:26 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Barack Evening Buzz - 8-9-08
On to Victory in November

(1) Obama Seeks "Aloha Spirit" in Hawaii after McCain Attacks
Kim Chipman and Julianna Goldman-Bloomberg
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080810/pl_bloomberg/a397ircfgrso_1

(2) Obama and McCain Urge Restraint in Georgia
CNNPolitics
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/09/candidates.russia/index.html?section=cnn_latest

(3) Obama Talks to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about Georgia and Condemns Russia
Politico
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080810/pl_politico/12419_1

(4) Clinton T-Shirts are Off-Obama's On
Ashley Parker-New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/us/politics/10switch.html?ref=politics

(5) If the Democrats Want to Win, They Have to Get Rough
Michael Crowley-The Observer-UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/10/barackobama.johnmccain

(6) Obama and McCain Trade Barbs on Iraq Policy
Associated Press
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/10/america/NA-POL-US-Elections.php

(7) Compromise Platform Draft Goes to Democratic Convention
Sarah Wheaton-New York Times-The Caucus
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/compromise-platform-draft-goes-to-democrati

(8) Obama Partisans Block Clinton Faction Bid to End Caucuses
Associated Press
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-080908-caucus-clinton-obama,0,3234587.story

(9) Democrats Derail Bid by Clinton Backers to Ban Caucuses
Steven Thomma-McClatchy Newspapers
http://www.kansascity.com/445/story/741026.html

(10) America Burning-Racists Say Obama Must Die
Claire Prentice-Scotsman.com
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/world/America-burning-racists-say-Obama.4375120.jp

(11) Wisconsin Voters Speak Their Minds about Obama and McCain
Scott Bauer-Associated Press
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-votervoices,0,2658366.story

(12) McCain Says Obama Seeks to "Legislate Failure" in Iraq
Beth Fouhy-Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAydxmBMi-tZyBJexNqHp_1nJNigD92F36680

(13) McCain Slams Obama Again for Defeatism over Iraq
Alister Bull and Chris Wilson-Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN09486415

(14) Embracing a Free Form Style, McCain Leads a Camp Divided
Adam Nagourney and Jim Rutenberg-New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/us/politics/10mccain.html

(15) Speaking to Disabled Vets, McCain Criticizes Obama on Iraq
Ryan Corsaro-CBS News-From The Road
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/08/09/politics/fromtheroad/entry4335683.shtml

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Complaint Filed and Active With the EPA Office of Civil Rights:Going on 5 Years: What's Wrong With This Picture?

By The CEO - Jul 25th, 2008 at 7:02 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Environmental Justice

From: Darryl Harris

XXXXNXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

To: Mr. Napoli - U.S. EPA, Office of Civil Rights
(Mail Code 1201A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W,

Washington, D.C. 20460

Environmental Justice Complaint against IDEM’s Issuance of the Permit to Midwest Medical Solutions LLC

I Darryl Harris who reside in a residence, just out side a mile of the private for-profit Infectious Waste Facility, am aggrieved and adversely affected by the permit issuance to Midwest Medical Solutions. As a residence living in the effected area and district, not receiving a notice of decision, believes this would have impeded my legal right, duty, and privilege to pursue financial, legal and public health interests with this matter. According to Indiana Code IC 4-21.5-3-1, IC 4-21.5-3-5 and IC 4-21.5-3-6.

Every one whom I spoke with in our 4th district Claimed not to have received a Notice of Decision sent by IDEM even as they lived with in 100 yards of the proposed facility. The Notice contained information on how to contest the decision. We believe that IDEM’s permitting and it evaluations prior to permitting this LLC (Limited Liability Company) was carried out in a discriminatory manner.

The Lake County Solid Waste District who represents us to the state has an State approved plan and authority for the management, reduction and disposal of solid waste as well as the authority to determine the need for such a facility as it relates to the public health, needs to be met and environmental concerns. They where over looked by IDEM as well. We in the City of Gary and East Chicago Indiana are already over burdened with air pollutions, water pollutions, and soil contaminations. According to the Post Tribune local newspaper, the EPA has determined that our district failed every test in 2005. As the EPA has reduced its standards lieu of the Clean Sky’s Act, our EPA classified district failing all test, sends a very serious message to the people of our community and others like it. I believe that it would be in order to have a reassessment under the Equal Protection Clause as we are seriously overburdened with pollutants. As was done in the following case:

Kenneth Owen, Environmental Justice Enforcement Requires Reassessment Under the Equal Protection Clause, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and Environmental Statutes, 30 Golden Gate U. L. Rev. 379, 391 (2000)

We need the same.

The demographics our community here in Gary’s 4th district is made up of more than 90% minority and low income poor residence with a significant number of children and seniors within 100 yards of the proposed facility. As you follow the EPA’s Interim Guidance procedures to conducting a comparative analysis, more will be reviled on the existing health conditions that are environmentally related. Our water sediments have never been cleaned as once promised by our former state governor Kernan, meanwhile these company posses a potential mercury hazard (among others) and would affect drinking water in more areas out side our fourth district, as they use steaming processes for disinfection. Moreover, they plan to use a landfill to dispose of this solid waste with in the city limits I believe.

The IDEM office understood clearly, what impact millions of tons a day of infectious waste could have on a community, a municipality, and the State. I believe it may even be possible that intentional discrimination was part of permitting process. Lori Kaplan IDEM commissioner has stated before a commission in Washington D.C. That “H.R. 1213, introduced by Congressman Jim Greenwood, represents a measured approach to providing states and localities with tools to limit but not eliminate out-of-state waste shipments. There are five separate provisions within H.R. 1213 that Indiana could utilize today. The first is the presumptive ban that does not allow landfills to accept out-of-state waste unless authorized through a local host agreement, state permit, or an existing contract. The second is the authorization of a state to limit out-of-state waste amounts based on receipts in 1993. The third and most important of the provisions for Indiana is the recognition of the "Needs Law" that Indiana has used with some limited success, but which is subject to challenge. The fourth provision provides that out-of-state waste can comprise, at a minimum, 20% of a state’s total MSW. And the last provision is the ability for state’s to impose a cost recovery surcharge on out-of-state waste to recoup the expenditure of tax dollars incurred as a result of the receipt of out-of-state waste.” (Hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials)

Unfortunately, HR 1213 HR. 411, and HR 1730 are three bills that still has not been ratified by the U.S. Congress, meanwhile IDEM has chosen to allow Midwest Medical Solutions haul more that 5 million tons a day, of Municipal and Interstate infectious medical waste into our small already over burdened city. Who is regulating these shipments? Are these transportation vehicles monitored with Geographical Tracking Devices? Especially during a time when there is Bio Terrorism concerns being discussed in Washington D.C. IDEM could have at least assured that there would be CDC funding designed to prepare our state with Biological Emergency Preparedness was in full effect before giving this “LLC” (Limited Liability Company) a permit to operate. That was not done. The State of Indiana has not received its CDC funding to prepare us for a bio-emergency, and many politicians, local health professionals and every day citizens are concerned about that, whereas committees and subcommittees have in congress and the senate accepted the fact that “Bio Terrorism and Infectious Waste should be one in the same during their discussions”. (C-span)

Moreover, IDEM bypassing our Lake County Solid Waste District entails an abuse of discretion as they Violate IC – 13-20- 1 IC 13-21, and IAC 11-9. According to the Environmental Law Group, Bingham McHale LLP:

“The governing law at issue, Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-20-1-26, sets forth the requirement that a person who applies for a permit pursuant to IC 13-15-1-3 for a solid waste management facility must demonstrate that there is a local or regional need in Indiana for the facility. 329 Indiana Administrative Code (“IAC”) 11-9-5, which implements the statute, states that in addition to other permit application requirements, the following is also required: A description of the need that would be fulfilled by constructing the proposed facility as follows:

(A) For facilities proposed in areas with approved district solidwaste management plans, a description of the need identified in

the district solid waste management plan required under IC 13-

21-5…(emphasis added)

329 IAC 11-9-5 goes on to state:

accompanying materials in accordance with this rule [329 IAC 11-9].

If it is determined that there is not a local need in Indiana forthe solid waste management facility, the commissioner shall deny

the permit application. (Emphasis added)

(Whitney Johnson, 2006)

What is really clear is that this LL company could have a much better profit margin in long term growth if located anywhere other than in the heart of our City. This company would impose a less discriminator presence and reduce its health risks to human life if it where located in a more remote area. My district is hit by emissions from several companies with in approximately 1-5 miles around us. We already have a disproportionate amount of health risks. Moreover, our property taxes have doubled for Lake County and Cook County here in North West Indiana, beginning last year.

Why in Gary? I would hope that the EPA would allow their Science Advisory Board, to determining the disproportionate environmental burdens, as was done in the following case;

University of Michigan, “Environmental Justice Case Study: Shintech PVC Plant in Convent, Louisiana,” Background section, <http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/shin.html> (last accessed June 24, 2003) (hereafter cited as University of Michigan, “Environmental Justice Case Study”) (during this time, EPA analyzed a disproportionate burden by using data from the 1990 census and estimates of industry-reported emissions.)

IDEM is not in compliance with Executive Order 12,898 and Title VI as Tools for Achieving Environmental Justice, pursuant to Public Law 103-419 by no stretch of the imagination. In addition, the violating of Indiana State Codes insures shortcomings to remain in IDEM’s Practices and present a dangerous case to our nation as it relates to infectious waste and bio-terrorism. Meanwhile our low income, minority poverty-stricken districts that are already overburdened, are held hostage during these times and would prove to be the first casualties.

Bio Terrorism and Infectious waste is one in the same. The poor seems to have no protections as our governments over look us, even as we are proactive in sounding the alarm. Just look at the Louisiana aftermath as the poor face unprecedented challenges of our time, trying to get the help they need because of what has been called a natural disaster. I beg to differ. Poverty coupled with many other factors yet to be seen caused that catastrophe. Yet poverty is the primary culprit.

In our conclusion, there are no legitimate reason why the benefits of the proposed facility outweigh the severity of the disparate impact and disparate risks. Midwest Medical Solutions LLC is now appealing the last court decision that ruled in the favor of the Lake County Solid Waste District, which had been overlooked by IDEM. Midwest Medical Solutions permit is determined in a court of law to be illegitimate, yet they are resolute and still pursue us in our district.

I do believe they Are targeting us because we are poor and minority and believe they feel they can do, as they will, because we are powerless and have no protections under the Clean Sky’s Act. It disappoints us to the highest degree to know IDEM did every thing possible to make that happen. What is their motive, Why our area, for what reason? What is their agenda?

A voice for our community

Darryl M. Harris

Appendix

Three Bills Pertaining to the Transport of Solid Waste: H.R. 382, H.R. 411 and H.R. 1730
Hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
3:00 PM
2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Indiana Court Holds Solid Waste Management District Has Authority to Determine Need for Waste FacilityBy Whitney Johnson, Environmental Law Group, Bingham McHale LLP1 See Cause No. 45D05-0411-MI-00140.2 See Cause No. 04-S-J-3355.3 See Order of June 23, 2005, page 17, Lake County Solid Waste Management District v Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Lake County Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 5, Hammond, Indiana.4 See Cause No. 03-S-J-3198.5 Order of June 23, 2005, page 10.6 Effective July 1, 2005 IC 13-20-1-2 was amended to eliminate the reference to a permit specifically described in “IC 13-15-1-3 for a solid waste management facility” and now applies to a “permit for a solid waste disposal facility or a solid waste processing facility, except for a transfer station.” (See Senate Enrolled Act No. 279)

SIGN THE PETITION :

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cleanwater/

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Local Nurses meet

By Evalyn Gossett - Jul 24th, 2008 at 10:50 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

I want to thank Michael Daniels the Organization Fellow and Greg Gershuny the Community Organizer for their support and guidance and keeping the group on track and focused on the Obama Plan. As you know there are so many issues related to delivery of Healthcare in America.

Priscilla Herochek, Marsha Bennett, and Evalyn Gossett have agreed to begin canvassing our nursing publications and local nursing organizations for upcoming scheduled meetings and identify any groups who would have us come out and discuss the Obama Health plan, and answer their questions regarding implementaion of this plan.

More to come.

Fired up and ready to go.

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Barack Evening Buzz - 7-15-08

By Barack Daily Buzz - Victory2008.net - Jul 15th, 2008 at 11:24 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Barack Evening Buzz - 7-15-08
On to Victory in November

(1) Obama Says He Would Consult on Iraq, But "The Buck Stops with Me"
CNNPolitics
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/15/lkl.obama/index.html?section=cnn_latest

(2) Europe Awaits Obama with Open Arms
Geraldine Baum-Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-eurovisit16-2008jul16,0,2296275.story

(3) Obama-The Half Billion Dollar Man
Jay Newton-Small-TIME
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1822819,00.html

(4) Obama Offers a Marshall Plan for the 21st Century
Ewen MacAskill-Guardian-UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/16/barackobama.uselections2008

(5) Obama and McCain Sharpen their Dispute over Iraq War
David Espo-Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080716/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_iraq_10

(6) Bush Bristles at Obama Criticism of Iraq War
Dan Eggen-Washington Post-The Trail
'http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/15/bush_bristles_at_obama_critici.html

(7) Obama Says New Yorker Insulted Muslim Americans
Glen Johnson-Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jNPgefV9BiTHTv8K2VaxcvZbkjAQD91UL1380

(8) Obama's Super Marketing Machine
Mike Madden-Salon
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/07/16/obama_data/

(9) Obama and McCain Tussle over Foreign Policy in Competing Speeches
Carolyn Lochhead-San Francisco Chronicle-Washington Bureau
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/15/MN7H11PF0M.DTL

(10) Obama and McCain Trade Jabs over Tax Plans
Adam Aigner-Treworgy-NBC/National Journal
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25693613/

(11) Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed on Obama's Trip to Afghanistan and Possible VP Selection
Domenico Montanaro-MSNBC-First Read
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/15/1200667.aspx

(12) Obama's Upper Midwest Strength
The Nation
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080715/cm_thenation/45336967

(13) AdWatch--Obama Cites Weapons Nonproliferation Work
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iIjsMeUUJFScXcuo4_O64YJgRQwwD91UEAN84

(14) Obama Leads But Race Looks Fluid
CBS News-New York Times
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/15/opinion/polls/main4263422.shtml

(15) NAACP Says Corporate America Needs to do Better Job of Buying from Black Vendors
Associated Press
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/16/business/NA-US-NAACP-Report-Card.php

(16) McCain Campaign Uses Online Spider to Ambush Obama
Sarah Lai Stirland-Wired
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/07/mccain-campaign.html

(17) McCain Uses "Bundler" Money More than Obama
Fredreka Schouten-USA Today-2008 Election Coverage
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-15-bundlers_N.htm

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Puzzled Peon: Why would a Democrat vote for a Republican?

By Megan in Northwest Indiana - Jul 15th, 2008 at 7:28 pm EDT

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Puzzled Peon: Why would a Democrat vote for a Republican?

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