STAR CITY CHALLENGE PROMOTES RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
ROANOKE, VA- Sunday, February 8, is the beginning of Random Acts of Kindness week. One way to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness is to join The Star City Challenge to raise hope in our area by helping to feed the hungry. The Star City Challenge is a grassroots campaign to raise, funds, food and volunteers to help the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. Three local citizens inspired by President Obama's call to service responded by creating The Star City Challenge. Beth Barnes and Freeda Cathcart were recently unemployed. Carolyn Greene, a real estate agent, had more free time than she used to. They wanted to do something to help their community.
They were concerned about their neighbors being hungry. It's hard to believe that people where we live are hungry, but recent studies show that 40% of people in our area are hungry. The three ladies hope to spark a grassroots campaign in our area to help meet that need. They learned that the Food Bank needs donations of non-perishable food, especially canned foods and that every dollar donated is worth six dollars of food. You can donate directly by clicking on The Star City Challenge at http://www.swvafoodbank.org/
They spoke of how Barack, during his multiple trips to the Southwest, has reminded them of RFK's famous connection to the voters of this region. They also spoke of how this moment, this election, will be remembered forever, and that you're going to want to say you did your part. Watch the video here:
Three days left folks. Get out the vote.
Registrars are open across Virginia today, click here to find out where and when your registrar is open for absentee voting.
After you vote, you should make sure that others get out and vote by signing up here. And if you do not have time today, you can still vote on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4th!
Enjoy these pictures of people voting absentee in Richmond!
His commitment to fighting for rural American values and rural American jobs is why he's earned the support of Sen. Jim Webb, and why a group of grassroots volunteers in Wytheville painted another Barn for Obama. Check it out here:
We just sent out this e-mail:
Dear Scott,This is it. Get out the vote -- the final stage of a historic campaign here in Virginia -- has begun. This is when we prove that what we've built is real and can deliver the change America needs.We've talked to thousands of undecided Virginians and formed neighborhood teams to spread our message of change throughout our communities. But all of this work means nothing if we don't get people out to vote.Watch this short video about our strategy to win the commonwealth and sign up for a volunteer shift to get out the vote:We have the chance to make history here in Virginia. This is your chance to be a part of it.This plan won't work without you. What you do or don't do in the next two weeks will decide the outcome of this race.We can't risk waking up on November 5th to four more years of the same failed policies and the same cynical politics.Sign up for a shift and do your part in bringing this campaign across the finish line:http://va.barackobama.com/GOTVThis is our moment. We've worked too hard to let this slip through our hands now.Thanks,MitchMitch StewartVirginia State DirectorObama for AmericaP.S. -- If you will be gone from your locality on Election Day, or will be commuting to work 11 out of the 13 hours on November 4th, you can vote right now. Find out how:http://va.barackobama.com/voteearly
Dear Scott,This is it. Get out the vote -- the final stage of a historic campaign here in Virginia -- has begun. This is when we prove that what we've built is real and can deliver the change America needs.We've talked to thousands of undecided Virginians and formed neighborhood teams to spread our message of change throughout our communities. But all of this work means nothing if we don't get people out to vote.Watch this short video about our strategy to win the commonwealth and sign up for a volunteer shift to get out the vote:
As president, Barack will promote infrastructure projects and technologies like clean coal that will create good, secure jobs in rural areas. He'll help rural Americans get the health care and schools they deserve by providing incentives and grants that will bring teachers and doctors back to rural towns.
And he will conserve more land for hunting and fishing and protect the rights of gun owners. Barack fights for rural values because, as he says, "rural values are American values." In Wytheville this week, a group of grassroots volunteers showed their support for Barack and his dedication to rural America by painting a local barn. Check it out:
On Friday, Barack was in the Commonwealth for the seventh time since winning the Democratic primary.
Sen. Jim Webb introduced Barack to a pumped-up Roanoke crowd of more than 8,000. He spoke at length about his trust in Barack Obama and in his comitment to fight for the people of Virginia.
He also pointed out that the Republican ticket has held a total of zero events in the Southwest, compared to Barack Obama and Joe Biden's six.
With less than 25 days before the election, the Virginia State Board of Elections, on Tuesday, October 14, 2008:
"...adopted a ban on clothing, hats, buttons or other paraphernalia that directly advocates the election or defeat of a specific candidate or issue."
The Washington Post carried the Associated Press story here:
Google News Associated Press article here:
Of course, we Virginians for Obama need to get the word out to other Virginia Obama supporters about this. So spread the word...tell your family, friends, your dog(s), your cat(s), don't wear political paraphernalia when you go to vote.
If you want to wear Obama shirts, hats, buttons...please do so *before* and/or *after* you go to your polling place to vote, not during.
In my opinion, I don't like the ban. And to enact this regulation so close to election day, I think it's disingenuous for the Virginia State Board of Elections to do so.
However, I suggest wearing something "plain blue." What's Plain Blue? It's a:
plain blue t-shirtplain blue dress shirtplain blue dressplain blue jeansplain blue tieplain blue socksplain blue shoes [suede, if you got them]plain blue ribbonplain blue hatplain blue turquoise/sapphire/lapis lazuli jewelryplain blue scarfplain blue beltplain blue mascara
Wear a plain blue something...it's one way to support Obama on Election Day.
It has always been my belief that if Obama wins Virginia in this year's election, a large amount of the credit will have to go to the military familes living in the Hampton Roads area and along the I-64 and I-95 stretch of eastern and southeastern Virginia.
From the Huffington Post comes an interesting article, Younger Military Families Closing Ranks Around Obama, by Diane Tucker.
Quote of note:
"My military friends are tired of being lied to," said Singleton. "They're told to deploy for six months, but it ends up being a year...."
Wow!!! Have you been to CNN's Election Tracker today? This gives Obama 304 Electorial Votes!!! Only 270 needed to win. If this trend continues, we may just have a landslide!!! Don't stop the hard work we are doing, much can change and we must insure Obama is elected on Nov. 4th.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/
Sarah was unprepared to be mayor – it was John Cramer [the person later hired as Wasilla’s city manager] who actually ran the city. As vice-president she'll certainly have to rely on faceless advisors with no public accountability. Haven't we had enough of that in the past eight years?
– Michelle Church, about Palin’s stint as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Source: Talbot, David. “Sarah Palin's wasteful ways,” salon.com, 17 September 2008.
Digg it!
John McCain may have been a man of honor at one time in his life. He was a man of courage.
Now, he's a liar. And a thief. Literally.
Today, on a day he reached out with one hand to reach out in the spirit of national unity, with the other he slaps the very notion of decency in the face.
The lies, the smears, and the crimes below the fold.
The Denver Post exposes the shameful stunt:
This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story."What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags," a Republican official emailed. "We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag."I’m not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone’s patriotism here.
This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story.
"What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags," a Republican official emailed. "We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag."
I’m not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone’s patriotism here.
Oh noez! The Democrats hateses the flag!!
Not quite.
"American flags were proudly waved by the 75,000 people who joined Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention. John McCain should applaud that, but instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism. On the same day he agrees to join Barack Obama at Ground Zero on September 11, John McCain attacks the patriotism of Obama supporters who so proudly waved the American flag at our historic event in Denver just days ago."
That's right.
McCain Republican operatives STOLE flags. That's right. Not 'rescued.'
STOLE.
All of the flags at Invesco were picked up and put in bags and into storage, along with the unused flags and campaign signs. The flags were going to be donated, and the signs were going to be sent out to be used elsewhere
But, that didn't stop the McCain Republicans from attempting to lie about the patriotism of Obama supporters.
They did so gleefully. Because they have no shame, no decency, no honor.
John McCain was a hero at one point. Now, he's just another lying Republican criminal in the line of Nixon, Bush, and Cheney. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/6/183034/8308/70/575554
I don't expect anyone to read this. however...
I dont think the Rebublicans have much chance. even the talking heads, on various cable channels, are dogging him 10 minutes later..."boring...no talk of issues...fear mongering...finger pointing..." what bullshit...who gives a damn...it is like a sales meeting at Ford dealership, and believe me I know. As the world passes us by while the people with the power and money struggle to keep the power and money. It is inevitable.... the old guard is so caught up in their own little bubble, the can't see the larger picture. The majority of americans will change with or with out them(e.g. power and money crowd)...but maybe for the worse! It is a DAMN SHAME PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE SO STUPID, SELFISH, SCARED AND IN THEIR OWN LITTLE WORLD. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS HAVE A CLASS STRUGGLE VIEW OF AMERICA AND HOW TO LEAD IT, WHICH, IS HOW IT CURRENTLY IS...PANDERING TO CORPORATE AMERICA AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL CITIZENS. SHAME OF IT IS...THEY HAVE THE MONEY/POWER AND WILL SELL OUT THE AVERAGE GUY'S BILL OF RIGHTS TO FURTHER THEIR OWN GREED AND PROTECT WHAT THEY HAVE EARNED THUS FAR; ON THE BACKS OF THOSE WHOM HELP THEM GET IT. TYPICAL OLD GUARD STANCE ON AMERICA. MAKES ME SICK...I'M OVER IT...Obama will win i'm sure. Bad thing is, those in opposition to Obamas version of change will expend their efforts over the next four years trying to impede the betterment of all americans, for fear of having to deal with an America where 'yes' they personally are less secure from a class perspective. I mean really...first of all, he has been well rewarded for his contributions to America thus far...I'm way over that argument for why we need him as leader. Hey... great story, thanks for your service! But... lets move on people. Second, Sarah Palin? You've got to be kidding me!!!!!! I need say nothing in that regard. Ridiculous...the whole thing. I'd be happier in an America in chaos and civil war. Go ahead America, let the corporations and the old money whom run them take your arms...those persons have already taken your jobs, rights, votes and thus your voice! I'm for CHANGE!!!!!! Are you??????????
Here is something important I learned as a Government & Politics major at George Mason University back in the early '80s: numbers can lie. A class on political statistics clearly demonstrated that numbers can be manipulated to support whatever position they need to on any given issue. That was probably one of the greatest lessons I took away from my degree program.
Since that time, I pay very little attention to polls. Polls are accurate about as often as weather reports. But they do serve an important psychological function - they make people believe that future events are predictable. And they do sway people who are uncertain and undecided by giving them an anchor or a framework for their decision making.
There has been a lot of talk about the polls at the Obama events I've attended this past week. And I say the same thing every time - the polls are working in our favor. Every Obama supporter needs to wake up every day scared to death that our candidate may not win. Why? Because the legion of people the pollsters have largely overlooked will work that much harder over the next 67 days to make sure Obama supporters are registered and turn out to vote.
I hope the polls continue to show a very close race. It will be the fuel that drives us to knock on doors, make the phone calls, register the voters, participate in fundraisers, recruit other volunteers, and display our support on our cars, our lawns and our t-shirts. We cannot pull back on this effort for even one day. These well publicized polls will help ensure that we don't. So embrace the polls for the positive effect they will have on the Obama campaign and realize on any given day those numbers are probably about as accurate as the chance for rain.
Is anyone else interested in helping me organize such a treat? If we can get some bars behind it, I think it could be a fun way to both raise money and awareness for the campaign. The best bet for fundraising, I think, would be to charge a set fee for participation-- a portion of that would go to memoribilia of some sort: a t-shirt, button, or sticker stating our purpose; and the rest could go to the campaign and bar owners, if necessary.
I've never organized a bar crawl, though, so if someone else has more experience, I'd gladly take guidance. What do the rest of you think?
Some of the most effective tools in any effort can be the simplest ones: like a nametag. Some campaign offices have blank peel-n-stick nametags for big volunteer events so that people can talk with each other over the course of an afternoon or evening and not have to remember the names of 20 new people they just met.
But take that one step further and realize that in going door-to-door and canvassing in neighborhoods, having your name where someone can see it while they are speaking to you helps make a connection. As volunteers, we have an advantage in having a sheet of paper in front of us with the full name of the people we are looking for. But after we say our name once in the first three seconds of our introduction, what is the likelihood that the person standing there is going to remember it?
I am proposing that volunteers make a name tag using the simple tools available at any local office supply store. We've all been to conventions or conferences where we are handed a name tag in plastic sleeves that we either pin on or hang around our necks for the duration of the event. A lot would be gained if volunteers would simply wear a nametag when working in the campaign office, attending events or going door-to-door to canvass. It allows us to better connect with each other and the voters we meet in the field. Even in a high tech world, low tech solutions can be very effective. Consistently wearing a name tag gives us an identity that transcends being just one among a throng of volunteers and helps us to make the human connections that will drive this campaign.
