As a service project, I collect trash from nearby BLM land and I have been doing that since January 19 when Barack asked all Americans for a day of service. I have found all of the following: a large tree stump, palm fronds, construction material, aluminum awnings, a dead dog wrapped in a hospital blanket, paper and plastic cups, auto parts, broken glass galore, empty cartridges, both printer and gun, cans and today currency. I now know that the favorite beverage of the litterer is Bud Light. Like dogs, some litterers try to bury their trash but most don't bother.
How to prevent this mess? I have two suggestions. Prohibit the sale of beer in bottles. Cans are much easier to pick up and less glass means fewer flat tires and cuts. Secondly, make trash pickup free. I believe that some dumping is an effort to save money. Make trash pickup at home more convenient by responding to phone calls for special pickups.
Utahns want to have more of Utah under state control, rather than Federal control that now exists over much of the state. Will Utah control of our undeveloped lands lead to better care of those lands?
Like dogs, empty beer bottles travel in groups called packs, usually six in number, sometimes more. When I find an empty bottle, I usually can expect to find five more. Does someone drink six bottles at one place in the road? I think not. They just unload by throwing the empties from the window of a moving vehicle. If I am lucky, the bottle has had a soft landing. Otherwise, there are dozens of pieces that can cause potential harm. If the penalty for throwing bottles from a car were greater than for having them in the car, people would think twice before dumping their trash.
This past weekend, OFA Iowa hosted a training for our Community Organizers from across Iowa in Des Moines. Our Community Organizers are volunteer leaders that have been helping with health reform events, and other OFA events since April. Whether it was phone banks, attending public events, or hosting their own trai. You can always sign up online to attend OFA activities near you.
During our all day training, we had sections on volunteer recruitment, the basics of organizing, and work groups on how OFA will organize here in Iowa the rest of the year. These leaders were able to discuss experiences organizing their communities and hosting activities, and sit down with staff to plan what OFA should do next.
We are very lucky to have such a great group of committed leaders.Whether it is Laura, who came in all the way to Riceville, or Susan who made the drive from Council Bluffs, it is clear that health reform organizing in Iowa couldn't be in better hands.
In the first in our series of community organizer profiles, we are going to profile Gary Goldstein from Cedar Rapids, one of our newest Community Organizers. Organizing for America in Iowa is lucky to have some of the best volunteer leaders in the country. Community Organizers are popping up all over the state who are ready to take the lead organizing their local communities.Gary Goldstein has been actively volunteering with Democratic organizations for the last four years. Gary has always had an interest in politics, as a high school history teacher one of the things Gary would teach his students is about the political process. Gary has been volunteering for President Obama since 2007 after attending an event in Cedar Rapids. Shortly after that event Gary signed up to volunteer and was a precinct captain and team leader for the campaign during Caucus and General Election.
Gary believes that volunteering with OFA is a way to help make a difference, and can help create accountable government, just like he taught his students. “In order to achieve a better government we need to work for it” Gary says. By volunteering with OFA, Gary has found the opportunity to add his voice to the debate.
Gary recently became a Community Organizer on the east side of Cedar Rapids and looks forward to helping continue to build support for health insurance reform.
Last week OFA Iowa hosted a “Week of Action”. We had over 40 events across the state, all designed to let our Members of Congress know the support behind President Obama’s plan for real health insurance reform. We want to thank our Neighborhood Team Leaders and Community Organizers that held potlucks, phone banks, canvasses, coffees, discussions, phone booths, and other events.
With every event we host, we aim to learn about reform, plan next steps, and most importantly get supporters to commit to contacting their members of congress through a phone call, letter, or visiting their local office.
Our next series of events will be on October 20th. Sign up for your local event.
The Plan, Big Ideas for America by Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Reed was published in 2006. Both authors worked in the Clinton White House and now Rahm Emanuel is Barack's chief of staff in the current White House. The book is worth reading if only for the insights in the Clinton era and Emanuel's thinking now. Emmanuel contends that we should not fight the Republicans on their terms, trying to outshout each other. Instead, Democrats should offer solutions to our problems that the voters will support. He offers his thoughts on a wide range of subjects including: universal service, college access, retirement savings, health care, fiscal responsibility, corporate welfare, tax reform, green energy and the war on terror. Well worth reading.
He even quotes from one of my favorite Presidents, Teddy Roosevelt who included the following in a 1910 speech to Civil War vets in Kansas: "At every stage, and under all circumstances, the essence of the struggle is to equalize opportunity, destroy privilege, and give life and citizenship of every individual the highest possible value.... We work in a spirit of broad and far-reaching nationalism when we work for what concerns people as a whole. We are all Americans. Our common interests are as broad as the continent."
OFA Iowa has had a great start to our Week of Action. Across the state we have seen volunteers host events at their homes, local libraries, on campus, or at local businesses all in an effort to contact members of Congress and let them know that the time for reform is now.
Thank you to those that have participated so far. There is still time to sign up for our remaining events this week!
This week OFA Iowa will be organizing a “Week of Action” all across Iowa to show support for health insurance reform. Each community in the state will have letter writing parties, reunion events, phone banks, and other events that will show Congress the support that President Obama has here in Iowa. Sign up for your local events
Last week in Iowa we had organizing workshops in Sioux City, Marion, Dubuque, Bettendorf, and Des Moines and our volunteers are organized and motivated to help finally pass real reform and to plan our “Week of Action”. The picture below is from our Des Moines Workshop last weekend:
From the DailyKos, it ain't over until it's over, especially in Georgia.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/5/31224/2461
It seems very likely that Saxby Chambliss will be forced into a runoff election.
Franken and Coleman are already headed to a mandatory recount. 60 Senate seats is still in the cards!
Hey guys, let me know what you think. I'm gonna send/give this to everyone I know (baring any hardcore objections).
With only a few days left before the election, I just wanted to remind everyone how important this one is for our future. Not just the future for you and me, but our children and their children, and their children... So please go out and vote, and vote early if your state allows it. Now, while I've got you attention, I'd like to take a moment to warn you about 'that guy'. No, not Barack Obama, but John McCain! I may only be 23, but I know a bad idea when I hear one, and that is about all I hear out of the mouth of John McCain.
Let's start with the lies and distortions that McCain and Palin have spread regarding the Obama campaign. Like the increase in taxes for the middle class, or how 'he'll (Obama) create a new socialist America'. I encourage you to simply take a look and see the truth at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/.
Please don't let the shiny push button issues distract you from what's really important this year. Just because someone is black or anti-gay marriage, or likes hunting, or is a former POW, is no reason to vote for him or her. Look at what they stand for as a whole, not just the one or two issues that you think are important. That’s just, and excuse my French, RETARDED! Plus, to show how fair and balanced I am, unlike the GOP news organization known as FOX News, I'm even going to give you a linkª to John McCain's website at the end of my letter. See the differences for your self.
So in closing, I really only want to drive home one thing: Please be and educated voter. I've spent a lot of time looking things over and I think Obama will take our great country in the direction it needs to go. It may be messy, and it surely won’t be easy, but I think it's the right choice and I'm sure if you looked closely, you'd think so to.
Opinions are like noses, and yours is too big.- 'Mean' Gene Oakerland
Of course every one thinks their opinion is right. Otherwise they'd change it.- Unknown (to me anyway)
Christopher R. Morse (Christopher the Robin)
John McCain and the GOP (Grand Old' Party) are Evil. There, I said it. You should say it to; it really makes you feel better. (LOL)
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ Or call (866) 675-2008 <-toll free call
http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/ Or call (703) 418-2008 <-long distance©
ª My apologies for I originally composed this as an e-mail
© Just looking at the phone numbers, who do you think cares more about you pocket book
Statewide, the Democrats enjoy a registration advantage of nearly 660,000 voters out of 11.2 million, up from a lead of about 370,000 voters in 2004.
From the news story in the Los Angeles Times, Barack Obama turns rivals' words on them in Florida, we see that this is the year we can finely get Florida back to voting on issues in a way that will actually help their ailing economy.
There are a lot of great Democrats that live there and a lot of great Republicans -- great because there care about their country deeply. In the VFW halls, in the retirement communities, in the communities that serve the tourism community as well as the export industries -- you see their patriotism on display.
My Dad and Step-mom used to live in Bradenton, at Golf Lakes Estates -- a community of around 640 retired families, many of them snowbirds from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania -- and that's where I went for his memorial service. I'll never forget the turnout from that community which he dearly loved. Because he was a veteran, and the Chaplain of the Department of Florida in the VFW, the local VFW veteran's honored him with a truly uplifting memorial service.
Many of those veteran's might be supporting John McCain today, yet I imagine even more will be supporting Barack Obama because they are aware of how John McCain has not really fought for Veteran's after they returned home. In fact, Barack Obama has been a greater champion of their causes because of the level of commitment he not only articulates but has offered in legislative efforts.
There are many resources online that point highlight his action over John McCain's bluster. I could find them and post them here if anyone doubts this is true. Just send me an email.
The point is, in 2000, Al Gore lost the Florida vote by 537 votes, though each candidate received over 2.9 million votes. This is the election when we can turn that around, because the Dems have over 600,000 more registered voters.
However, because of that advantage, there may be a tendency to stay at home on election day and just assume that registration advantage will automagically turn into a voting result advantage. I pray no one will be caught holding those feelings. Every registered Democrat needs to get out and vote this time around. And rather than wait until election day, vote early! This is a time when we need all hands on deck. And, if we have that kind of turnout, America will have a better day on the morning of November 5th.
That will be a great day in America and all the retirees in Manatee County will sing their songs on Sunday morning just a little louder; they can hold their heads a little higher, because Florida exercised the power of their vote and redeeming their state for the Great Statesman from Illinois -- to become the first mixed race President of the United States.
Glory Hallelujah!
McCain calls Lewis remarks 'outrageous'
Well, surprise, surprise, surprise, Senator John McCain -- words actually do mean something. The idea that "Barack just had a few words in a speech" (as stated by Hillary Clinton during the primary) when she was contrasting her credentials, and the extensive experience of John McCain and herself to Barack's "words", discounted their importance, at her own peril. Now it looks like you're going to follow suit? Shame on you.
While Senator Obama was building this movement for change, he did use words and certainly he should know by now that words are every bit as powerful as weapons.
Or does he? Apparently not. Then I say that for a 72-year old, he's rather naive.
So, while John McCain has begun discounting the importance of his own words, here in the Obama camp we've been offended for month. Apparently, the John Lewis camp has has become offended by them, too.
Not only because they are something we don't care to hear, just because we like our guy better; no we're offended by them because we know they can be incendiary to those who love to hate, or may enjoy having the flames of racism fanned because it makes them feel superiority over the less powerful.
The woman who thought Barack was a Muslim, and you took the microphone and said, "No, he's not. He's a Christian and good family man" (paraphrased); why wasn't that stressed a lot more months ago, every time one of those hate mail messages was sent? Why do you allow your supporters to pound on Barack because of his middle name, as though it's some kind of sin to be named Hussein? For that matter, why does it even matter if he's a Muslim, though for the life of me, I cannot fathom why people continue to insist that he is.
Personally, I don't believe John Lewis' remarks are outrageous, at all. He's been on the receiving end of racist comments for decades, as have all people of color. Until you walk a few miles in his shoes, and in the shoes of Barack Obama, I think you'd be much better off just telling your staff and supporters to cool it with the attacks.
Even this "Palling around with Terrorists" mantra that Governor Palin has been espousing lately is incendiary. You would do well to remind voters that it was President Nixon who was impeached during this time, while the charges against William Ayers were dropped. Nixon's indirect role in the deaths of four students at Kent State, brought about because he was lying to the American public that he was NOT bombing Cambodia -- this was just the tipping point that lead to the end of this horrific war. I think you'd be wise just to drop this linking of Obama to Ayers, but, it's your campaign -- do as you wish.
President's would do well to remember it not nice to lie to the voting public, nor is it nice to make fun of community organizers, especially when the community Barack is organizing is the entire United States, which includes over 125,000,000 people who will vote on November 4th!
Words are very powerful, often more powerful than guns, though you military guys tend to forget that. I believe that's the reason you and George discount the importance of diplomacy, and of talking with your enemies. It's a tough lesson to learn, but learn it you must, apparently the hard way -- and from someone who has some insight you may soon learn to respect.
It's unfortunate, but you and your surrogates heckling the importance of being a community organizer as opposed to being a mayor -- well, it's just not a good idea to heckle anyone even if you are Rudy Guiliani. As I recall, Guiliani finished 5th in Iowa while Barack finished first. Where does Rudy Guiliani get off poking fun at anyone who has run a national campaign and become their parties nominee?
A little something I learned from my mother, and I think Barack learned it from his, as well. Just don't engage in the heckling of others -- you don't build friendships but instead build enemies, or you just come off looking uncultured. I know that's not a big goal of yours, but since you're running for President, a little diplomacy could go a long way.
Not that we want you to change, actually. We here in the Obama camp are looking forward to a landslide victory. 341-197, at a minimum. You could call that forecast "outrageous" but I would say, "It doesn't take a weatherman to tell which way the wind is going to blow".
From the NYTimes. Beyond Ideology, a Generational Clash
“At the time when the war started,” he said, “you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong. You said that we were going to be greeted as liberators. You were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shia and Sunni, and you were wrong.”
This was one of Barack's better moments last night. I agree with Mark Halperin and the CBS Poll results; Obama A-, McCain B-
In between Wednesday morning and Friday night, we were treated to a glimpse of what a McCain Presidency might look like -- reckless, aloof (he didn't even look at Barack once, that I could see), and he apparently needed a lot of notes on his podium. I don't know how many Barack had, since C-Span only showed the McCain coming to pick up the notes, but I wish the Presidential Debate Commission would simply provide blank paper and a pen. That's all they should get, IMO.
While Barack seemed willing to "reach across the isle" with his many references to when John McCain was correct on some point, he was also able to balance this with instances when he was very wrong.
McCain needed a zinger but unfortunately for his campaign, the best line of the night, the one above, was directed at him and it was a good line.
Barack looked very Presidential. Was it just me or did it seem like the longer the debate when on, the more frazelled Sen. McCain became. It's like he was just wanting this young upstart Obama to go away and leave him alone.
He kept semi-insulting him with that old line from the elderly they use whenever they can't come up with a good argument --
"Mr. McCain, 72, repeatedly argued that Mr. Obama, who is 47, was not ready for the job: “I’m afraid Senator Obama doesn’t understand” and “What Senator Obama doesn’t seem to understand” and “Senator Obama still doesn’t understand.”
