There was an excellent Health Care Discussion held in New Smyrna Beach on January 30th, 2008 that was activly attended and produced an exceptional report detailing the difficulties and opportunities for health care policy in our country.
The event was hosted by Pat Wilson and the report was written and edited by Diana Barden, Trudy Duffy, Donatella Young, and Mary Lou Schropp.
The full text of the summary report is below:
Hello Obama Volunteers and Blogosphere,
Hope you all are doing well and isn’t it amazing to see the intense intellect and capabilities of Barack Obama working during the transition period!?We now have hope of working our way through this morass the country is in with an Obama administration!
I was emailing with Pat Wilson a few weeks ago and she suggested a fun idea; how about getting together about ½ hour before the inauguration of our new President on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at Mi Mexico for a mini-celebration? The food and Margaritas were great there (all food and drink at your own expense of course) and I’m sure we’ll have some fun Obama memorabilia everyone can bring.
Here’s how you can sign up on-line: Go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptmvj and follow the directions.
At the same time, you can also join our NewSmyrnaforObama on-line group if you haven't done so yet. Just put in 32169 in the search group Zip code area, on return, scroll down to New Smyrna for Obama and click on 'Join'.
It's been 2 days now since the election and finally, a feeling of elation has set in after the adrenalin days leading up to the election.
What a night, what super volunteers, what emotion, what a new beginning for our country.
Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States of America.
You made it happen! A special thanks goes out to all you New Smyrna for Obama team members and all who have read and contributed to these postings.
We went into election day here in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with over 500 local volunteers hitting the streets, phone calling any and all in the area, providing Courtesy Stations at polling locations, dispatching and driving voters to the polls, and providing food and drink for all the above. Thanks to all, what a group, what a day, what an inspirational start to the next administration.
There were NO dry eyes at the celebration on election night now let's put that ground swell of inspiration and volunteers to the tough tasks ahead for President Elect Barack Obama .
Keep active, keep support flowing, and remember when we started this online group about 18 months ago, YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL, YES WE DID!!!
Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.
Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.
Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.
Here's the release:
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS ~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~October 28, 2008Contact:GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008. "I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote." Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting. Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting. Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29. Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217. STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217 WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties; WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; andWHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008. GOVERNORATTEST:SECRETARY OF STATE
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.
"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."
Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.
Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.
Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.
Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217
WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and
WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and
WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and
WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;
WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
THE BIGGEST OBAMA EVENT YET! NEIGHBORHOOD WALK FOR BARACK
We have a GOTV event scheduled for this coming Saturday, October 25th, 2008 that can’t be missed by all you great volunteers out there!Here's the general idea:
If you'd like to support our Neighborhood Walk for Barack, come on down to our HQ at 505 Canal St. in New Smyrna Beach and we'll sign you up for your area and let you know where you can help.
Time is short so see us soon!
YES WE WILL!!
This is a message sent to me from WonderlandPR and I thought you might like to see it:
Barack Obama, beyond the rare repertoire of roaring rhetoric and retort, beyond the sweeping scope of policy and polemics, there is a man, who, once upon a time was a boy, raised by Toot and her husband, Barack's maternal grandparents.
Now, Toot, Mrs. Dunham, is in need of the man we all have entrusted to guide our American family into its precarious future, as she lies in precarious health.
From his departure from the critical campaign, we who have worked for and with Barack for all these months, know that very little can stop Barack.
Do you remember him being sick and off the trail? No. Do you remember the times he had to leave the campaign to tend to a daughters' crisis? No. Did you ever see him explode in anger or breakdown in frustration? No.
Now this.
So we know that Barack's humanity, his very humannessm is being called by the call to return to Hawaii and Toot.
I must admit I have prayed for an intervention to give Barack some respite from the slings and arrows of the last weeks of the nasty campaign by McCain en company, but I did not pray for this.
God works in mysterious ways. Perhaps this is an answered prayer.
I hope you might join me in wishing Barack Godspeed to Toot's side and that he is restored in his pending sorrow by the loving supporters that so many of us have become.
We ARE all in this together. Never have those words been more true.
Please let's make an effort to fill the crater of space that Barack leaves as he leaves to be with Toot before they must leave each other for all times.
And, if anyone sees or hears Palin or McCain grinding Barack down while Obama tends to the call that comes to us all, PLEASE FIGHT THE SMEARS AND MAKE THEM WISH THEY HAD NEVER OPENED THEIR MOUTHS AT A TIME LIKE THIS.
We all owe Toot our honoring prayers, as she vitally helped shape the man who, if we work our butts off, will be our next President. As Barack has said, she poured everything she had into him, and now we pour our hearts out for them both.
For those who are still undecided, who are yet unsure, your hesitation is understandable. We are witnessing the unraveling of the very core of the institutions on which we have depended for stability, with the knowledge that those men and women who we had already elected to govern had neither the wisdom nor the courage to foresee or to warn, to enact or to guide. It is a time when it is hard to know who to believe. It is a time when we are unsure how to trust. We now both seek and fear their leadership. We now both seek and fear our responsibility in putting people in office with our single powerful irrevocable vote. We did put them, each of them, in office. We will put vast numbers of people into office again and again and again. We desperately want to know now that our next decision will right our course and yet secretly fear that it will not do so. Perhaps if we look beyond war and economics, we can make our decision based on who will help us to feel most hopeful, who will bring a kind of redemption to America, a redemption long overdue and much needed. Needed, perhaps, as much as, if not more than, economic and political savvy. If you are yet undecided, please remember, that a vote is also a terrible thing to waste. If you are looking for a reason to cast your vote, consider the power of the Inaugural Image. I tried to capture that power in a poem that I wrote during the primaries this past year.
All right NewSmyrnaforObama, I have 2 of the 'original' plastic yard signs left.
Since we can't get these originals anymore, it's time for a Barack auction!
Here's the plan:
1. Go to our New Smyrna for Obama group donation page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/newsmyrnaforobama and make a donation. Be sure to use the 'Donation' button below the 'Thermometer' or I won't get a notice from the Obama campaign of your donation.
2. When i get confirmation from the Obama campaign of the donation, the 2 highest 'donators' will get the signs.
3. The 'donation' period will end after the Friday Watch Party at Pat and Grey's: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxrzq#rsvp (they have a computer so you can do it there at the last minute if you must).
4. I'll notify the winners on Saturday, 9-27-08.
5. The 'winners' will have to pick up the signs at the Canal street HQ on or after Saturday, 9-27-08.
Let's do it for Barack!
YES WE CAN!!
All New Smyrna'ians, come on out and show your support for Barack!
We have a Debate watch party scheduled for this friday to enjoy the debate and meet a bunch of great Obama people and hosted by some super Barack fans.
Here's the link to the event signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/newsmyrnaforobama
Kurt and the army of Obama Volunteers got it done last weekend! Here's Kurt's note:
I agree completely with Senator Obama's stand of "hands off opponents families" as the political combat heats up. I have to wonder, though, about an opinion I read the other day. The American people seem to have accepted Briston Palin's pregnancy and praises her for her decision to have her child rather than to abort. Americans are also stating what a close family and what wonderful family values are being demonstrated by her parents willingness to support her in her decision and undoubtly help in the raising her child. The question is: if Obama had a teenage daughter who became pregnant and she chose to have her child would the focus be on the act of keeping her child and the Obama's support of her or on the morality of her getting pregnant in the frist place. I have no doubt there would be scores of columns written and talking heads spouting off about the decrease in marriage and the number of single family households in the black community.
Wasn't that moving and special, what a speech! This is going to be a great week. Get ready for day 2 and i suggest watching it on PBS. Much less agravation as opposed to watching the convention on MSM.
Oh yes:
Also, we will be at the Art Walk tomorrow, etc...
352-256-0823
From the Obama Action Wire:
Yesterday, you learned about the right-wing's latest attack: extremist Jerome Corsi and his book of the same old smears and lies.Today, you can take the next step.Tackle this smear campaign head on. The Obama research team released a 41-page rebuttal called "Unfit for Publication," refuting Corsi's rehashed distortions point-by-point, leaving no smear unanswered.Arm yourself with the facts and write a letter to your local newspapers telling them to do their job by debunking this kind of garbage. The media are not playing their role as watchdogs. In fact, they are fanning the flames of controversy and legitimizing a discredited political bottom-feeder.Take action now and tell the media to report the truth, not debunked lies and smears that are unfit for publication:http://my.barackobama.com/unfit4publicationThe right-wing smear machine is in full force -- blasting out Corsi's stale fabrications far and wide to a media that's so far been eager to pick them up. In just three days, Corsi's made front page news in both the New York Times and Washington Post.We've posted the full truth online so you have the tools to fight back in your community and local papers.Can you write a letter to the editor exposing Jerome Corsi and his book for what they really are -- another hack job by a desperate right-wing fabricator?In 2004, Corsi helped launch the Swift Boat smear campaign with a book of distortions and lies he wrote about John Kerry. This time we won't be Swift Boated.Keep up the good fight,
Veterans,
On Saturday 9 August, 2008 Fred McDeowell, President of the Florida Democratic Party Veteran Caucus presented Nick Berdeguez with the Charter for the Volusia County Democrat Veterans Caucus Charter. Volusia County is the first official chapter of this newly established Florida Democratic Veterans Caucus.
Veterans for Obama salutes the members of the caucus and is committed to the mutual goal of electing Senator Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.
On Septamber 20th, 2008 a dinner will be held at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center in honor of all our Veterans. Details for this event will be posted on the Florida Veterans for Obama soon.
Thank you & God Bless Our Troops,
Nick
Nick Berdeguez, LtCol USAFR (Ret)Florida Chair Veterans for Obama1315 Crepe Myrtle LanePort Orange, FL 32128nickberd@mac.com(386) 763-8001 Home(386) 341-2936 Cellhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/group/VolusiaCountyVeteransforObamaVolusia CountyDistrict 24
HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT, IT'S EASY!!
Choose your candidate for VP by selecting the pennies amount, listed below, associated with your candidate.
Go to our donation page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/newsmyrnaforobama and make your donation in the correct pennies amount (the dollar amount is to be selected by you but please, not less than $1.xx , e.g. McCaskill = $5.06 donation)
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO OUR GROUP'S 'DONATION THERMOMETER' to donate (do not use the top of page donation button since i won't get a copy 'thank you' note from the Obama Campaign to know who you voted for).
The candidates for VP are listed in the order they were suggested in the 'Let's Start Thinking VP' and 'VP SELECTION BLOG' posts.
The candidates current 'vote' tally as of 5:00 8-6-08 is at the right.
Pennies Name 'votes'
$ .01 Gov. Richardson............5
$ .02 John Edwards
$ .03 Hillary Clinton
$ .04 Gov. Sebelius................4
$ .05 Jim Webb.......................2
$ .06 McCaskill........................1
$ .07 Wes Clark.......................1
$ .08
$ .09 Robert Reich
$ .10 Tim Kaine........................1
$ .11 Chuck Hagel....................2
$ .12 Michael Bloomberg.........2
$ .13 Bob Casey
$ .14 John Kerry
$ .15 Chris Dodd
$ .16 Barbara Boxer
$ .17 Sherred Brown
$ .18 Gov. Schweitzer...............1
$ .19 Joe Biden.......................THE WINNER!
$ .20 Janet Napolitano
$ .21 Anthony Zinn
$ .22
$ .23 Gov. Rendell
$ .24 Gov. Strickland
$ .25 Colin Powell....................1
$ .26 Sam Nunn
$ .27 Ted Kennedy...................2
$ .28 Ray Mabus
$ .29 Evan Bayh
$ .30 Tom Daschle
$ .31 Mark Warner...................1
$ .32
$ .33 Al Gore
$ .34 Robert Wexler.................1
$ .35 Dennis Kucinich
Remember, the idea is to raise some $$ for Barack so let's have some fun!
For some difinative pros and cons of the various candidates, see the extended post text below:
