For those of you who reside in California's Congressional District 12, represented by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, it may interest you to know that she has a poll question on her home page asking about the importance of having a public option included in the healthcare package. http://speier.house.gov/?sectionid=58§iontree=56,58&formid=8
If you are a constituent, make sure she knows where you stand! But note that by completing the survey, you are signing up for her newsletter.
As you can see, the visible score of my Obama campaign involvement is a paltry 1/10 (recently reduced from a 2/10 for some reason)! In reality I am extremely proud of the behind the scenes work I have done, as well as others have done, to support Barack Obama's candidacy. I have worked at the local volunteer center making many calls there, e-mailed copiously, covered my car in bumper stickers, talked to everyone who would engage with me, etc. While the work wasn't recorded officially, it was still done.
How amazing is it that our generation and our children's generation gets to become comfortable with this kind of leadership change in America?! President Obama. What a beautiful sound.
Congratulations to everyone who helped make this possible!
I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next. But I want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you. Thank you, Barack
Find a polling place near you at Last Call for Change.
Last weekend, I traveled with 150 friends to the battleground state of Nevada, joining thousands of Californians in campaigning for Senator Barack Obama. Over the weekend, our group knocked on over 5,000 doors. We spread out across Las Vegas, meeting people in their homes and talking to them about their hopes and concerns. What we heard is that Nevadans, like many of their fellow Americans, are worried. They are yearning for change and strong leadership to put our country back on track. Most were responsive to Senator Obama's economic plan of tax cuts for the middle class and smarter regulation of our financial sector. I know that an Obama administration would bring renewed focus toward reviving our urban centers, and I will be working to bring that message to other voters between now and Election Day. Join us on another Drive for Change for the final Get Out the Vote Weekend.
This weekend, the Obama campaign held four ginormous super phonebanks in the Los Angeles area. Harnessing the amazing enthusiasm here in the final weeks of the Presidential campaign, these phonebanks are full of great energy, dedication, and cell phone waves (oh, and yummy snacks). In my neck of the woods, our Hollywood-Los Feliz-Silver Lake phonebanks joined forces at the fabled Sunset-Gower Studios, located at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Gower St. (This intersection was once known as "Gower Gulch" - silver-screen cowboys used to gather there looking for work as extras on western films.) Last weekend, this particular phonebank drew 200 volunteers who made 13,000 calls to battleground states and, in phonebanks throughout California, over 500,000 voters were called! This weekend our goal was higher - the campaign has challenged California volunteers to reach at least 625,000 voters - the Last Call For Change! Former home of Columbia Pictures ("It Happened One Night", "Funny Girl" and "The Caine Mutiny") and current home to such TV shows as Dexter and Heroes, Sunset-Gower houses many independent film and television production companies. It was also the former home of one of my all-time personal favorites: Six Feet Under. (You can read more about the studio's history here.) Last weekend, entering data from calls to Colorado, I was really heartened by the number of voters solidly in the Obama camp, versus the ones for McCain. The polls there are bearing this out. This weekend, we're over halfway toward beating last week's totals - 111 volunteers on Saturday, making nearly 9,000 calls! Sunday will surely rock. Thanks to the incredible volunteer coordinators who are making this phonebank happen every weekend. Your dedication is inspiring. And of course, the roomful of volunteers who didn't want to leave. Folks, if you haven't tried it yet, it's not too late - get thee to CA.BarackObama.com and find the nearest phonebank. You can make calls, enter data, sell swag, bring snacks - the possibilities are endless. You won't regret it!
We cannot afford to lose this election, and I cannot stress that enough. We have survived 8 years under a terrible administration, and it is almost, almost over. We cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers. A leader as intelligent, progressive, charismatic, and inspiring as Barack Obama, rarely comes around, and even more rarely, gets this close to becoming the President of the United States. If we don’t do everything in our power in the next few weeks to get him elected, it will be too late. This is not the time to procrastinate.
I have not regretted a moment of the time I've spent doing this. I have met new friends, including many new heroes, and have learned more about the political process than I ever thought I would know. I have learned so much about veterans and military issues, and the various advocacy groups working these issues, that I know this is going to continue to be a part of my life long after Nov. 4. And I have learned so much about how much Barack Obama cares about veterans. I was a supporter before I took on this role, but what I have learned about this man, who has never served a day in uniform, but who, with his wife, goes out of his way to reach out not only to the person serving, but to the family members of that person, has not just reinforced my faith in his abilities as a leader, but as a human being who cares for his fellow man.
Barack Obama believes America has a sacred trust with our veterans. He is committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits our nation's veterans deserve. Obama will demand that the military and the VA coordinate to provide a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life, and improve mental health treatment at every stage of military service. He will require that they work to recruit more health professionals, improve screening processes, offer more support to families and make PTSD benefits claims fairer. We shouldn't have to hear stories about veterans losing their families and careers after they come home because they cannot deal with the emotional scars created by repeated deployments. There shouldn't be more stories of veterans committing suicide because they can't re-integrate into civilian life.
Bravo, California! This weekend, we exceeded our 500,000 call goal! You made 543,000 calls to Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, crucial battleground states that will make the difference in this election. Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication. Catch your breath and then get ready - we are three weeks from Election Day. Our goals will grow. And we will continue to exceed them. Now is the time to recruit all your friends who have been saying 'What can I do?'. Join us this weekend at another Last Call For Change phonebank. I am proud to be in the company of so many amazing volunteers. Yes We Can, Mary Jane Stevenson California Field Director
Dear Reader,
I am sorry it has been some time since my last post. I have decided to discontinue this blog at this point. It has been a pleasure to write this blog for the past eighteen days. I hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to share some of the following excellent resources I utilized for this blog.
1. Mark Crispin Miller's blog 'News From Underground' http://www.markcrispinmiller.blogspot.com/
2. NYT daily email updates on politics that you can sign up for on their site www.nytimes.com
3. The listservs from the groups on this website. Particularly, TwentyandThirtysomethingsforObama.
4. Brave New Films video subscription: http://therealmccain.com/issues/?utm_source=rgemail
5. Daily Kos: The State of the Nation http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/16/63238/2462/721/600320
6. Think Progress' blog http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/26/presidential-debate-live-blogging/
7. Michael Moore's site http://www.michaelmoore.com/
8. The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
9. Brennan Center for Justice http://www.brennancenter.org/
10. Commondreams.org News Center http://www.commondreams.org/
11. Media Matters for America http://mediamatters.org/
12. MoveOn.org http://www.moveon.org/
13. NOW on PBS http://www.pbs.org/now/index.html
14. Stealing America: Vote by Vote http://www.stealingamericathemovie.org/index.html
A big thank you to all of the people who contributed to, read, and spread this blog. I greatly appreciate your help and this experience. I am going to shift my energy to support Barack in removing myself from the daily grind as it were and by placing my energy into intention-based daily meditations on President Obama coming into office on November 4, 2008.
I have no doubt Barack will be the next President of the United States and here's what I think everyone can do to support that goal. Insist on a paper ballot at your polling place, keep forwarding all great information you come across, keep your focus on President Obama more than anything, limit the amount of news you consume on a daily basis, remain diplomatic in your support of Barack and don't fall into the trap of hating McCain. All we need to do is focus on President Obama by stating this every day and by choosing to place our energy here. Spread as much information as you can about voter fraud and purging for as long as you can and remember: Barack will win!
My deepest respect for all who are participating in this political, social, emotional, evolutionary, experimental process. Our time is well spent-we have everything to lose and everything to gain. Let's focus on the gain.
Much respect,
Tara
I am very sorry for the delay. Today, you are going to receive Thursday-Saturday of this week’s blogs. All I can say is that I watched the VP debate and really had to ask myself how I might have been contributing to this circus of an election. I wanted to avoid the ‘post-game’ analysis that so many fall into after the debates.
As a former 8-year resident of Alaska, I found myself deeply saddened by how Sarah Palin has been presenting AK to the rest of the country and world; not unlike a mother protecting a child who was not seen for who they truly are. Not unlike a woman who is ashamed of another women acting in such a spiteful, non-peaceful manner. Not unlike a child who sees her father cry only to see the terrible mother laugh in his face, as I saw Sarah doing. Considering myself a psychologically complex person, as a professional in the mental health sector, I was reminded of the archetypes and deeper significance spinning behind what these folks are saying and doing. Of the collective consciousness that is being affected by the 52 million plus viewers who are engaging in these types of character assassinations; of the unconscious aspects of ourselves that these images and sound bytes touch upon.
Of the lack of boundaries individuals in the public sector are asked to sport; of the loose, cavalier way in which human lives and hearts are treated, whether they be of soldiers or the working poor, as there is no middle class. Of the horizontal pitting that happens between those lowest on the unforgiving totem pole of capitalism; of the children who may be watching these debates who are taught to cheer and jeer at their “enemy”. Our civilization has become a 49ers game, yet there is grace, dignity, diplomacy, and kindness in the hearts of many, dare I say all Americans. Barack and Joe are modeling this like beacons on a dark sea of oil, pollution, and deception. My take away is that we need to keep building lighthouses of the soul that strengthen our hearts to love ourselves enough to show up in such a stunning way in this depressed, herded society. The show must go on.
As dozens of emails containing other concerning news poured in, I knew I had to rise above the inherently flawed process and carry on as a vehicle for the truth. I knew Joe did well in the debate, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the resounding polls unilaterally stating he had won by all accounts. As we now know, Barack and Joe are ahead in the state and national polls and I just received an email from the DNC stating that the Democrats are ‘surging’ (interesting choice of words) in all of the Senate races as well. Very good news. Things are looking very good, which is all the more reason to deal with the bigger election issues: voter caging, purging, etc. Please see the articles regarding the bigger picture issues below and take action immediately, whether it is forwarding the blog, re-posting the articles in your blog, talking about the issues, or urging the campaign to do something about them and quick. Without further a due and with gratitude for your commentary ear, the news.
1.‘Voter Caging’ video by David Brancaccio on PBS’ ‘Now’ from the week of July 27, 2007. It is a bit long, but excellent. Stop before the housing story if you are not interested in this. Notice it was from July of last year-this is not new news. Thanks to Jim Fadiman, Ph.D. for forwarding this clip.
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/330/video.html
2. ‘McCain Mailing Mistakes’ from WTMJ-TV and JSOnline.com from September 14, 2008 as it appeared on MSNBC’s Local News section for Milwaukee, WI. This is another story on voter caging, this one involving absentee ballots with incorrect return addresses in another attempt to disenfranchise mostly Democratic voters.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26683049/
3. “The Rich Are Staging a Coup This Morning…A Message From Michael Moore’ by Michael Moore as it appeared in September 29, 2008’s CommonDreams.org News Center, forwarded to me by Marilyn Handler LeGette of Moss Beach, CA. This is a bit after the fact, but when I saw that nearly no one was willing to fight this, I thought it would be best for a Barack win to let him push through on his decision and to offer Michael’s views after the fact. When is Michael wrong? I urge you to submit any evidence of to me.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/09/29-6
4. ‘Urgent: On the Ground Citizen Journalists Needed in Ohio to “Video the Vote”: Free Flip Camera for Each Citizen Journalist’ by Ray Beckerman on Ohio Election Fraud blog. Please get the word out to your friends in Ohio and to avid citizen journalists everywhere.
http://fairnessbybeckerman.blogspot.com/#7429331604186114916
5. ‘Senate bailout debate III’ by Kagro X http://kagro-x.dailykos.com/ forwarded by John LeGette of Moss Beach, CA.
“Thanks to Hunter for some mildly amusing stuff, found tucked in among the bailout bill provisions:
Page 279 — Rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Page 280 — Mine rescue / mine safety
Page 290 — Motorsports racing track facility
Page 290 — Hurricane Katrina and Gulf opportunity zone
Page 295 — Wool modifications
Page 296 — Permanent authority for undercover operations
Page 297 — Child tax creditPage 300 — Children and wooden arrows”
*Read the full bailout bill HR1424 for yourself at:http://senateconservatives.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/bailouttext.pdf
6. ‘Alaska Natives question Palin’s support’ by Rachel D’Oro of the AP as it appeared in September 27, 2008’s Google News, forwarded to me by a great mover and shaker in Anchorage, Alaska. This one is for the man at Cameron’s Pub in Half Moon Bay, CA who stated after Thursday’s VP debate that he knew “all the Eskimos loved Sarah”. Armed with my Minor in Native Alaska studies, I kindly told him that the term “Eskimo” was no longer politically correct and that I begged to differ.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jjtSZGziV-5C7BVO5oteUzZEBtdAD93GG4S00
7. ‘Veterans deserve better than the double talk given them by McCain’ by Harry Hughes in September 30, 2008’s Tennessean.com, forwarded by Kenneth Traugott of the ‘TwentyandThirtysomethingsforObama’ group on this site.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/OPINION03/809300346/1008/OPINION01
That’s it for Thursday’s most ironic, concerning news that passed under my nose. Stay tuned for the 2 additional blogs to come today. Thanks again for your patience while I catch up with this fast-moving, good-looking week of news for Barack.
Fight back,
The VP Debate Watch Party at Social Hollywood drew an even larger crowd than the first Presidential debate for what was one of the most highly anticipated events of the campaign. As the two candidates approached their podiums, the excitement in the room reached fever pitch, and everyone was thrilled to see Joe Biden deliver! The statesman from Scranton clearly outlined how the Obama-Biden administration would bring the change the country so desperately needs to the White House. The hundreds of spectators in LA cheered loudly as Senator Biden advocated for the middle class and showed how we could restore America's leadership in the world. While Governor Palin defended the policies of the last eight years, Joe Biden showed the vision and judgement the country an expect from an Obama-Biden administration. And the crowd last night couldn't have been more proud!
