I'm so tired of the so called Congress men and Women, Senators, and the Media speaking for the average Americans. They are so out of touch with the average citizen, that it has become a joke to listen to these people reporting on what they think that we need . I really don't understand where they are getting their information from, are they actually talking to the average middle class americans? We the People voted for President Obama, because we were tired of the status quo. We want change, and change that will focus it attention to the middle class in this country. We are hard working people, who has followed the rules, and we have watched those who didn't even know what the rules were, or they just didn't care what they were, walk away billions of our tax dollars; while we watch our homes go down in value, our pension plans losing value, our children can't afford to go to college, or having to suspend going for lack of money. Those of us who are looking to retire have to put off retiring.
President Obama's rescue bill, started out a good thing. Then we get Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid with their over inflated egos, load it down with things that will not stimulate the economy, these things may be good things, but not now. Lets focus on stimulating the economy. It's so simple Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, good paying Jobs. I have lived in my city for twenty years, and in that twenty years, there has not been any jobs created that would sustain the average home owner, most people have to commute to other cities in order to make a living. I have seen more low wage jobs created than anything else, fast food restaurants, retail, these are not the kind of jobs that will sustain most home owners. This city is being ruined by people that are so smart that they have beome the city idiots.
Lets help the home owner stay in their homes, lets help students stay in college, or be able to go to college. Where is the help for those home owners who did the right thing, and is losing home value? Enough is Enough! When is the government going to start working for the people? We hired them, and we can fire them.
Our super-charged holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are upon us once again. More than at any other time of the year, we sense our souls awakening. Our hearts turn in equal part to dreams and memories; to miracles and despair.
In America, we have developed a habit of measuring our seasonal goodwill by the thickness of our wallets. This season will test equally our generosity, our spirit and our audacity.
Will we summon the wisdom to lift ourselves up and accept the challenges that push at every door? Will we choose to recognize ourselves in our neighbors? Will we take pride in our accomplishments and work harder to improve our short-comings? Will we acknowledge that sharing success is equally important to individual achievement?
It is no illusion that this holiday season will have gravely dark clouds hanging over it. But let all of us also see that a new dawn is just over the horizon. As our souls awaken now, let us reflect on the kind of America we seek and pledge to work to make it happen. May your blessings be large and may peace be with you.
It is a glorious new day. A day to celebrate and give thanks. Once again we can stand tall and be proud. Bask in the promise and the opportunities. And, then, we must remember to roll up your sleeves, for much remains to be done and hard work lies ahead. This is the Obama Imperative.
More than 60 million voters, Democrats, Independents and Republicans have created a mandate for fundamental change in how America is governed. This is a mandate that demands an end to grid lock and mindless partisanship and a beginning of cooperative politics that puts country before party and solutions before slogans.
The Obama Imperative is to govern as if average Americans matter. Nowhere is the urgency greater than with us and our neighbors all across the country. Millions of average Americans are "upside-down" in their homes and buried in credit card debt. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the government is on the hook for more than TWO TRILLION DOLLARS to bail out banks, financial institutions and Wall Street. A relief package for average Americans deserves as much.
The Obama Imperative is to NOT ACCEPT the argument that the explosion of the deficit and the national debt (caused by the Wall Street bail-out) means we cannot afford to help our neighbors. We cannot afford not to. No issue confronting President-elect Obama is more important than helping neighbors get back on their feet.
Yesterday Americans took responsibility for electing their President; tomorrow Americans must take responsibility for helping him govern.
I became a supporter of Barack for President in February 2007 and have worked to help that happen. Whether it was 21 months ago when it was "Obama who?" or just yesterday, people ask me the same thing. "Why do I support him?" My answer has always been, "Because he is just like me."
It matters not that I am white and he is black. Or I am old and he is young. Or he is physically fit and I have Parkinsons. What does matter is we share the same essential American values of equal justice and opportunity for each and everyone of us.These values are what make America unique. Throughout our history as a nation, they have been fought for and now constitute the basic inheritance of every American.
What ever the differences among us, be it our economic circumstance, our faith, our ethnicity or the details that differ between myself and Obama, equal justice and opportunity our the right of every American.
I believe that these values are at the core of Barack Obama. He believes, as I do, that we are our brother's keeper. That equal justice denied to one is justice denied to all. He believes, as do I, that it is up to all of us to be peace keepers. He believes, as I do, that all children are the supreme gift of the Almighty. And that all children have, as their birth-right, the opportunity to pursue their own impossible dreams.
I support Obama for President because he has demonstrated, by his choice to follow his own path, a steadfast commitment to working to protect and promote these essentially American values. His choice of vocation and commitment to family, to me, speaks volumns as to the kind of values he holds dear.
I believe in turning points that determine history. Over the great waves of history, people and leaders have found in each other the power to alter course. This is one of those times. As one people, we know that now is such a time. As a leader, Barack Obama has made us aware that this our time. With hope, prayers, hard work and our enduring commitment to equal justice and opportunity for all, we will again see greatness in the making.
Although listed as a Democrat on the ballot, Obama will be, more accurately, elected as an independent with Democratic backing. And, for the country as a whole, this is, indeed, a very good thing.
As an independent with backing from Democrats, Obama will not be stuck with rubber-stamping the "wish-list" of any particular special interest group, whatever their political party affiliation. Instead, Barack will be able to bring together new coalitions with new approaches to address those matters that most urgently need new answers.
This independence will be re-inforced by the size of Obama's mandate. By capturing the vast majority of Democrats, the bulk of the independents, and even moderate Republicans, Barack is likely to receive more than 50% of the popular vote, something that Bill Clinton was unable to do in either of his winning elections.
With the historic low favorability ratings of the current congress, members of the new congress will likely give a "honey-moon" to the popular new President.
Expect Obama to have many "cross-over" faces to also reinforce that this is a "non-partisan", put the country before politics type of administration.
Look for the point person on the most crucial of all issues, dealing with the economy, to be Paul Volker, 81, former FED chairman under Reagan. Not exactly, a young, radical type. Just another, well-informed, deliberate and strong at the helm kind of guy. Seems that Barack favors this type of dedicated public servant; no matter their age or party affiliation. I think that, once again, that's a good thing.
We've all seen the callous political smears put forward by John McCain and his cronies this week. We know it's only going to get worse in the days ahead, and unless we act, we risk surrendering this election to the fear-mongering and divisive Bush/McCain politics of the past. That's why hundreds of people throughout your community are standing up this week to say, "Not this time, not this election." Together, we're reaching out to voters in battlegroud states to let them know the truth. But with only days left, and with thousands of voters left to contact, we can't do it alone; we need your help. Will you join us?Don't worry, making a difference is easy. All you need to do is come to the nearest Call for Changeevent (listed below) with your cell phone and charger. Our team will welcome you at the door, and set you up with everything else you need to be a force for change in this election.
Please find phone banks labeled "Phone Bank for Change" or "Big Phone Bank for Change" on your group MyBo pages. We are hosting these in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Redlands and Rancho Cucamonga. In your area, we are hosting these events Saturday the 1st of November through election day, the 4th. Please use the following Mybarackobama.com links below to sign up:
San Bernardino County Democratic HQ - 136 Carousel Mall (lower level) San Bernardino, CA 92402
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gprzsb
Electrical Workers Union Hall (Riverside, CA) - 1405 Spruce St. Suite H Riverside, CA 92507
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs5y3s
UFCW Local 1428 - 705 W Arrow Highway Claremont, CA 91711
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gprwf4
Redlands, CA 92373
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gprzh9
Making a difference is easy, and you can do it right in your own neighborhood. All you need to do is come to the nearest Call for Change event (listed below) with your cell phone and charger. Feel free to bring with your friends, family or anyone else that is willing to make calls. If you would like to bring potluck style food for everyone to share, that would also be much appreciated. Our team will welcome you at the door, and set you up with everything else you need to be a force for change in this election.
We hope you will join us. With only days to go, this is our last chance to make a difference in this election and to turn the tide against the Bush/McCain politics of division. Together, yes we can.
Best Always,
Rick Sheinin
Deputy Field Director, Region 7 California (volunteer)
I remember coming of age in the late 1960s. I served my country during that era, and was convinced that our leaders have done us wrong. I remember American people taking to the streets to stop the war in SE Asia.
Now many years older, I have seen the American people in the streets protesting our war in the Middle East today. In both eras, Americans have answered the call to serve their country. Many of our young people, both then and now, have suffered to defend our country’s interests. The big gainers in both eras were the military-defense establishment that wasted so much of America’s budget.
The anti-Vietnam-era anti-war militancy wasn’t only the radical Weathermen; it was composed of American men and women from every segment of our society, and in its closing days included many veterans of that war. Lies, secrecy, and half-truths characterized Peace with Honor was an often-heard cry as America disengaged. But I know American veterans from that era who are still suffering the results of what they faced in SE Asia.
While I was studying abroad in Sweden in 1976-77, I met quite a number of Americans who had disserted from the military, mostly while on leave, and somehow ended up in Sweden. I was happy when an amnesty was granted that finally allowed them to return to their homes and families.
These days, I am meeting young American veterans who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan, and paid dearly for listening to the call of their leaders who brought them into war without really understanding what we were doing.
The McCain campaign appears to have confused differing definitions of the word ‘radical’. Many of us were radicals during the Vietnam era because we wanted a departure from what was going on there. We wanted change to end the war. Most of us did not advocate extreme measures to end the war.
I know America just can’t take 4 more years of the same stupidity that surrounds our foreign wars today. Urge everyone to go to the polls and elect Obama.
What a fantastic journey the Obama Campaign has been for millions of Americans and for me personally. We have seen Barack up close from the California Democratic State Convention in San Diego, to East LA, Trade Tech, the Music Center then back to San Diego this summer for the National Council for La Raza. I don't think Riverside has seen anything like the Obama Campaign Headquarters before where hundreds of Obama supporters came together to open the Campaign Office. From Camp Obama, to canvassing, to making phone calls we have all spent countless hours working for Change in America.
In a few days we will see the result of all our hard work when we elect Barack Obama the President of the United States.
Here in Riverside I ask one more thing from all of you who have worked so hard for all these months. That you once again come out and show the Inland Empire how much support there is here for Barrack Obama. Please attend the Final Presidential Debate Watch Party on Wednesday October 15, 2008 at 5:30 PM at the Riverside Marriott. Please sign up on the Obama Web site.
Fired Up and Ready to Go!
I'll will repeat what I said three weeks ago. Providing immediate liquidity to families across America will do more good, more quickly and more fairly than anything now being considered.
It is more and more understood that the world economies, including our own, teater at the edge of financial meltdown and global depression. And yet, official attention from world leaders remains fixated on trying to push a string. They keep trying to do more of the same that has already proven to be ineffective. Attention is locked, lazer-like on financial markets; yet those markets are not responding to the various incentives being proferred. Why?
Because there are two potentially devastating problems and the proposed remedies are directed to only one of them. The potential global depression has been, and continues to be under recogized. It is now ready to overwhelm any financial meltdown prevention move attempted. Lenders will continue to be unresponsive to moves to give them more ability to lend without action that also makes potential borrowers more credit worthy. Therein lies the trouble with trying to push a string. As the real economy worsens, the average borrower is likely to become more risky.
Households need to be RELIEVED of their debt obligations in order to make the purchases that will fuel economic activity. The most immediate, effective and needed relief would be to stop foreclosures prosecutions, place a moratorium on mortgage payments and begin re-negotiating interest rate reductions.
Failure to provide immediate debt relief to households will not only make financial remedies impotent but wil almost certainly lead to a global depression. And, as was witnessed this week, the clock is ticking.
Now is the time!
While we are busy calling and canvassing, let's not forget those closest to us. We may assume they are voting or have transportation to the polls...but maybe not. Create a list of family, friends, and neighbors and make sure these folk are: 1.) Registered (if it's not too late in your area): 2.) voting by mail or in person; and, 3.) have transportation to the polls.
FOLLOW-UP AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE UNTIL YOU CAN CROSS THEM OFF YOUR LIST AS 'VOTED';
Complete for all eligible voters you know, example:
Name Registerd? Voting by mail? Voting in person? VOTED!
You get the idea. Make a chart like this for everyone you know, starting with those closest to you. Get on the phone and start calling now to see who might need transportation help. These are the people we have the most influence over and we MUST make sure they vote.
Spread this around!!!!!
Linnie Frank Bailey
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres warned that the welfare of the world’s poor and uprooted people is increasingly at risk as the international community struggles with a combination of adverse economic, social and political trends that threaten to trigger even more displacement in the years to come.
The following links will take you to the press release in both English and French: www.unhcr.org/press-releases www.unhcr.fr/communiques
Politics has indeed gotten in the way of real leadership. Both parties are choosing to avoid our real problems by hiding behind empty claims that no bail-out will cause economic calamity. Nothing could be further from the truth. A bail-out is about the only action that will guarantee the calamity that is warned about.
The bail-out will be a trillion dollar demonstration of just how unrepresentative the major political parties have become. Both Republicans and Democrats are hostage to big money interests and, folks, that does not include us. Clever deception about how a bail-out will rescue Main Street is the just the latest chapter in an on-going attack on true participatory democracy.
The passage of the bail-out will insure that there will be insufficient resources left to combat the free fall in the real economy where you and I live.
The real economy and the Wall Street economy could not be more different. The Wall Street economy deals in paper assets NOT tied to anything in the real economy. The paper assets of Wall Street are NOT tied to mortgages that are backed by houses. That link was severed. This created two assets out of one; one was still connected to mortgages backed by houses and the other asset was not. It is this second paper "asset" that was bundles, sold and inflated in "value". This non-backed asset was sold to foreigners and home grown speculators. This non-backed asset is the one that Americans will be saddled with by the bail-out.
In the real economy, four million real homes that once housed real people are foreclosed or in foreclosure. The bail-out plan provides an "opportunity" to adjust the terms of some mortgages but no help for those already out of their former homes.
In the real economy, unemployment is high and growing in every new report. This growth is due to falling sales that will not be addressed at all by the bail-out. Retail sales drive our consumer driven economy. There will be no seasonal sales rescue this year because the economy is in a growing recession.
A bail-out of any kind is actually pouring water INTO a sinking ship; this is not a useful strategy.
Ask your local congress person and your local congress wanna be person if they favor this torpedo?
This Wall Street bail-out has become bipartisan but that's the problem.
Dear Senator Obama,
Please do not be stampeeded and don't be bamboozeled either. The financial sky over Wall Street is not falling and let those who caused this mess stew in their own mess.
You did not allow scare tactics, false information and rush to act pressures to fool you into supporting the move into Iraq.
Lead the way again in bringing real solutions to the real financial crisis; the one that is, and has been, festering on Main Streets across the entire country.
Take the hundreds of billions of tax payer dollars and put them to work in towns and cities that desperately need the help.
Average American families have a liquidity problem; they need cash and they need it now.
Urge your congressional colleagues to take a deep breath, and point out the dangers of once again being railroaded to act too hastily.
Get them focused on coming up with common sense solutions for the common good.
The crisis began in housing and the solutions will be found there as well.
If a bail-out is appropriate, let it be a bail-out of my street, your street and our neighbors street, too.
We’re Going All the Way…..
It’s been over 16 months since the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama encouraged me to get involved in the political process. ‘Encouraged’ may be too weak of a word. I felt ‘called’ to get involved with supporting the best candidate for President America has seen in a long time. I believed Obama when he repeated the motto “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
I started by signing up on this website and donating $10.00. There were only a few of us on the blogs back then, but as more people got to know our candidate the numbers swelled.
I’ve had quite a journey since getting involved with this campaign, including attending the DNC as a delegate and sitting close to the stage at Invesco. That night at Invesco was surely one of the highpoints of my life. When Senator Obama took the stage, all I could do was weep. I wept for what was and what wasn’t. But mostly I thanked God for ‘encouraging’ me to get involved! I also thanked God for Barack Obama—our country needs him.
So what now…..still much work to do. I’m not backing down and I know you won’t either……. We’re Going All the Way!
We’re Going All The Way by Jeffrey Osbourne: (youtube people please make video)
We’re just beginning And I know we’ve each been down this road a time or two And never could make it through But I’ve got this feelin’ That we’ve stumbled in to what we’ve both been waiting for And maybe even more It doesn’t matter where we’ve been cause this time I know for sure We’re goin all the way (All the way) Headed far forever and that’s where we’re gonna stay The more you’re near me, the more I know it We got it all here if we just don’t blow it We’re goin all the way (All the way) If the two of us both want it I’d lay my money on it Startin today (Starting today) We’re goin all the way I know for certain That there’s more than magic in these feelings that we found We’re standin on solid ground But now we’re both ready Ready for the real thing cause our dues have all been paid We’ve finally got it made Believe me when I tell you there’s no need to be afraid We’re goin all the way (All the way) We’’re headed far forever and thats where we’re gonna stay The more you’re near me, the more I know it We got it all here if we just don’t blow it We’re goin all the way (All the way) If the two of us both want it I’d lay my money on it Startin today (Starting today) We’re goin all the way We’re gonna weather all the showers And hold together through whatever comes I know we got the staying power We’re gonna make tomorrow ours If we just stick with it And give it all we’ve got to give it We’re goin all the way (All the way) If the two of us both want it I’d lay my money on it Startin today (Starting today) We’re goin all the way, mmm....hmm...
We have endured 28 years of trickle down economics with the result being that productivity has gone up and real wages have gone down. During this period, the has been a massive concentration of wealth in the hands of the few.
Because real wages were falling, middle class America had to increase credit card debt and rely upon refinancing real estate to survive.
As a Nation, we followed Wal-Marts suggestion and went for the cheapest commodities and imported substandard goods from China and other low wage countries. The Administration set up union busting policies to further drive down wages. We provided tax incentives to ship jobs overseas. We ran our own manufacturers out of business.
We subsidized gas guzzling cars and imported hundreds of billions of dollars worth of oil from middle eastern countries. We entered into a stupid war that costs us twelve billion dollars a month to prosecute to help out the administration's oil buddies.
We allowed speculators to artificially drive up the price of oil and gave ourselves $4.00 a gallon gas and $5.00 a gallon diesel fuel. The increased cost of deliveries, combined with the diversion of corn for ethanol hasdriven up grocery prices.
We have a financial industry that was unregulated and maximized their profits. When the underlying economic weakness led to foreclosures, the financial institutions started failing. While their CEO's will take billions of dollars in bonuses, the American people, in order to prevent the total collapse of the economy, we are being forced into saving their butts to prevent a total meltdown of the economy.
The GOP (grease our palms), theoretically the party of financial responsibility, is now the author of the greatest corporate give away in the history of the world. We can't afford to provide health care, or decently fund education, or fund alternative energy but by God we can provide a trillion dollars to bail out corporate America. Wall street was positively giddy about the impact of this massive corporate welfare, with the Dow soaring.
I am a small business owner, really small, payroll of only about 300,000 per year. I bust my butt to make a profit and keep my people employed and provide health care for them. I guess I don't make enough money to get in on this massive corporate giveaway.
The companies we will bail out will make a good profit. Their CEO's will get hundred of millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses and middle class america, what little there is left of it, will be forced to subsidize these companies and their investors.
I for one say ENOUGH! Let them pay for their own salvation. Place heavy taxes on all salaries over $1,000,000 per year and bonuses over $200,000 per year.
Wall street seems to be enjoying the benefits of this bailout, let them help finance it. Place a transaction charge on all stock transactions. Make the transaction charge much greater for short sales. Stop the index funds, and derivitives that are nothing more than legalized gambling that leads to speculation and market distortion.
I'm sure that there are those that will describe this as class warfare, but what have we been going through for the past 28 years of trickle down economics but class warfare.
I AM TOTALLY FED UP WITH THIS CORRUPT SYSTEM I AM ALSO TOTALLY FED UP WITH THE GOP WHO FEELS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO LIE ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANT TO GET ELECTED AND BY REPEATING THE LIE OFTEN ENOUGH, CONVINCE THOSE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO CANNOT THINK FOR THEMSELVES THAT BLACK IS WHITE AND UP IS DOWN.
HOW ELSE CAN THE CANDIDATEWHO OWNS EIGHT HOUSES AND WHO'S WIFE WEARS A $300,000 OUTFIT TO THE CONVENTION GET THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THAT THE CANDIDATE WHO HAD A SINGLE MOTHER WHO DEPENDED UPON FOOD STAMPS, WHO HAD THE TEMENDOUS DISADVANTAGE OF BEING BLACK IN AMERICA, WHO BY HIS OWN EFFORTS GOT AN EXCELLENT COLLEGE EDUCATION AND EXCELLED IN LAW SCHOOL, IS THE ELITEST.
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THE LIES AND THE DISTORTION AND THE ME FIRST PARTY.
The bottom line is it is important to get involved. Yesterday, I spoke with an 81 year old in New Hampshire who told me he was urging everyone he met to make sure they voted in November.
C) Oil Prices: Was I imagining it, or did the pump prices skyrocket up overnight by 30 cents a gallon, even more than 1,500 miles away from where the hurricane made landfall. Even before there was any actual shortages. What was that all about?
