It has been almost two months since my grandmother started her blog at 85andchange.com. Working on this project with her has been so exciting. She never ceases to amaze me with her energy and tenacity. She is a most amazing woman, and it means so much to me to have had this experience. I wish every grandchild could have a bonding experience like this with their grandparents. We have so much to learn from our elders.
Over the last several weeks have traveled to see Joe Bide, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton. Each speaker has been an inspiration and motivational. But today the excitement hits an all time high. Today we get to go downtown and see Barack, Michelle, and Bruce Springsteen! What an appropriate and fitting end of the campaign. We are both so excited, we can't contain ourselves! The only excitement that can compare to it will come on Tuesday evening when it becomes clear that the nation has chosen Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States!
I'm happy to report that Granny Gobama has decided to stay in Ohio through the election. She already sent her request to California for her absentee ballot and has changed her flight home. The project that we launched together - 85andchange.com - has been more popular than we could have imagined and after all our effort, we could not imagine being apart on Election Day. So my grandmother will be moving over to my house to stay for a few weeks.
Together we will focus more energy on her blog, and try to get her out to even more events. This will also allow her to have further face-to-face conversations with some of her older friends here in Ohio and tell them again why she is supporting Barack Obama. Maybe... just maybe... she'll be able to convince another voter, as she was able to convince her Florida voting Son!
Go Obama!!
Well... Granny Gobama and I just returned from our Fall Foliage trip to Vermont. The colorful trees were spectacular and the trip was wonderful. But what made it even better was the fact that we now know for sure that all of her efforts at 85andchange.com were worth it. We were able to convince my Uncle ( Granny Gobama's son) to vote for Barack Obama! Granny Gobama was so proud... she felt if she couldn't even help convince her own son that this is the chane we need, that it would be difficult for her to convince anybody. But we did it! And here's the bonus... he's a registered FLORIDA voter!! YAY!!!!
Go Granny Gobama! Go 85andchange.com! Go Obama!!
A note to grandparents: If you are not a grandparent, PLEASE pass this along to the many grandparents you must know.
THIS ELECTION NEEDS OUR VOICE!
The Children's World is in Your Hands
Grandparents for Obama
The article below is very encouraging coming from the from the Kansas City Star. I am pleasantly surprised at the opinions stated, This is a an example of a state where we need Grandparents for Obama representation since MO is currently reported as leaning McCain This article suggests a chink in McCain's armor. I too believe that older voters. (I am a member of www.grandparentsforobama.org as the older vote is so essential this election) are not pleased with arrogance and disdain of McCain so dramatically obvious in the 1st debate, He has no shame after his complicity in the complete Republican failure of leadership in America over the last 8 years. www.grandparentsforobama.org is a National group and our membership is spreading across the country with a membership from a large number of states. We need a large number of grandparents, unified for CHANGE from every state in the nation.
We are working to CHANGE the direction of this country for our children and grandchildren. I am a single grandmother who has raised my grandchildren from toddlers to teens. We are working together for this campaign. I know that young people are afraid of what has become of the country they will inherit. We are horrified by the complete disregard for the disappearing middle class, America's poor and unemployed. We as seniors are worried about what will happen to our own social security, retirement, and our futures as well. We want to make things better for our children, not become dependent upon them on them. We certainly hope it will!
The Republicans are trying to demonize AARP, which is putting up a spirited fight against private social security accounts.. Bush and McCain suggested that older Americans are standing in the way of change to protect their own retirement incomes - an insulting tactic that could backfire.
Those who have already reached retirement age understand better than anyone that a guaranteed safety net of social security could be as necessary for coming generations as it is now, when nearly two out of three retirees rely largely or solely on Social Security. So we are looking out for our children and grandchildren, an act of responsibility not self-interest.
McCain has aligned himself with Bush on almost every issue in his tenure as the Senator from AZ, one of the nations most right wing states. We need change there too and have members on the ground to energize our party there.
Lets, show this country that as older voters we trust Barack Obama and that the Change he promises is for 95% of us. There is a myth that we, older voters, as a voting block, are afraid of CHANGE. Being afraid of the disaster in America, taking us to the brink of a depression, soaring unemployment, and the threat of privatizing our social security is the real fear, not Change!! We're not fooled or stuck in past failures. We, grandparents have had enough of the devastating results from the McCain supported, deregulated financial institutions and their investments. Should we toss our retirement into the same heap that has just failed to the tune of a trillion dollars? McCain thinks we should. Should we pay taxes on our health care benefits? McCain says that if he is President we will. In a desperate attempt to win at any cost, McCain and the Rove gang found a woman for his running mate that was to appeal to the block of voters McCain had never reached. Sarah Palin stands for nothing that McCain's claims of reaching across the isle and maverick politics was painted to represent. He has been pro-choice, believes in global warming, against off shore drilling, and it appears that the straight talk express is the double talk express. The maverick, non-conformist is a genuine schizophrenic chameleon, willing to sell us all out for his personal gain. He no longer knows his own platform or himself.
McCain is agitated and behaving erratically. It was unnerving to watch him during the debate. He appeared so unstable - not a condition suitable to the Presidency. And, a 72 year old's (with a horrific health history) heartbeat from the Presidency is a candidate who is the greatest insult to America's intelligence in political history. The arrogance of McCain to belittle us like this. Sarah Palin is the final straw, the final threat, the last insult and greatest danger of our times, perhaps greater than the financial holocaust we are now facing. We could find ourselves with a constitution run by a particular religious vision, and a woman who loves to have her finger on the trigger to have her finger on America's nuclear power. Sarah Palin, with no knowledge of foreign policy or the federal government who has only had a strobe light intro to foreign leaders (conversation consisting of what?) It would be funny if it wasn't real! This is a CHANGE I am afraid of! I am not afraid of the CHANGE Barack Obama is offering us! I am not afraid of the CHANGE that recognizes the plight of the middle class and wants my second family to have health care, food on the table and a roof over our heads that we are not afraid of losing. I am not asking for 8 houses, jets, servants or becoming the "Chairwoman of the Beer Board". I am afraid of a President who can't relate or recognize what the middle class is! How can McCain know what we have lost? He lives in a mega-millionaire's bubble and his entire history is tax breaks for the rich. When has he spent 5 minutes fighting for me?. Lies! I AM AFRAID OF 4 MORE YEARS OF A REPLICA OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND MORE LIES. BUT, DO NOT TELL ME THAT I AM AFRAID OF CHANGE - I AM FIGHTING FOR THE CHANGE TO MY LIFE AND YOURS THAT BARACK OBAMA WILL BRING US.
How can anyone, anywhere who is not rich, vote against their own best interests and against someone begging to help them. I watch the crowds, obviously middle class people, who gather to hear McCain's speeches or Palin's rhetoric and I wonder who these people really are. Who could listen to someone who saw to it that the financial industry was deregulated so the greedy rich could run wild with our money?. Who could vote for a longtime cohort of Bush and his cronies - the fraternity of greed and lies? Why would they cut off their feet rather than walk away? I AM NOT AFRAID OF CHANGE. I SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA AND BELIEVE HE WILL RESTORE AMERICA. If you have friends who don't understand, help them understand. Reach out and help them see through the lies and the mask - the many masks of McCain.
Please, if you are a grandparent join us, or if you know grandparents tell them about us, If you have grandparents tell them they can be empowered by www.grandparentsforobama.org Together, we can help every older voter grab the gold ring of CHANGE! Each of us can be a strong link in a long chain of older voters who have the power to increase our state's and national polling in this crucial election. This election will determine the fate of the middle class, those who will be retiring, those who have retired, and the future of our grandchildren who we must protect from Republican greed. We are their voice.
Please join us!
Thank you, Susan Federighi
sfed147@aol.com
Steering Committee
www.grandparentsforobama.org
Kansas City Star Article:_______________________________________________________________________________Poll results for first presidential debate (with update of independent voter poll): Obama wins
By George Harris, Kansas City Star Readers Advisory Panel 2008
Who won the debate?
Ignore all commentators' opinions expressed without evidence. The winner is determined by the numbers, especially the votes of the undecided. Here are some preliminary answers:
CBS Insta Poll shows Barack Obama won 39% to John McCain's 25% with 36% saying the debate was a draw.
Insider Advantage reports of those polled Obama won 42% to McCain's 41% with Undecided 17%
CNN reports voter opinions that Obama "did better" 51%, McCain "did better" 38%
The CNN poll showed men were evenly split, but women gave Obama higher marks 59% to 41% for McCain.
The CNN pollster noted a slight Democratic bias in the survey. Well, there just are more Democrats in the country. So more Democrats watched. However, this may also suggest Democratic enthusiasm which will help turn out the vote.
The MSNBC on-line (non-scientific) poll showed Obama winning the debate 52% to 33%. (But this is what one would expect from such a poll at MSNBC because of the nature of its viewers.)
MediaCurves.com reported Independents favored Obama overall 61% to 38%. (I do not know this organization or know how it conducts polls, so take results with a couple of grains of salt.)
Some free analysis: As I noted on this site during and after the debate, McCain appeared angry and dismissive of Obama and generally impressed as someone who would slap colleagues across the aisle if reaching over to them. He said several times in the debate that he hasn't won the Miss Congeniality contest in the Senate, and he proved why during the debate.
I suspect that women voters especially would be turned off by McCain's sarcastic tone because women do tend to be the conciliators in our society and saw Obama display those conciliatory qualities very well in the debate. Obama looked at McCain, and McCain wouldn't return the eye contact but rather glared or displayed a tight and angry expression.
I also suspect (but don't have the data to support) that older voters were also turned off by Senator McNasty. I believe older voters will also be reassured that, though McCain has been around longer, Obama has a good grasp of foreign affairs and can learn quickly. He impressed as a statesmen, in marked contrast to McCain's warrior demeanor.
McCain referred to Obama as naive or as not understanding on many issues when the listener probably saw a mere difference of opinion. McCain's condescenion felt annoying; to the listener who might agree or disagree with Obama, Obama nevertheless was making good points, not naive ones.
In general, I think the country is tired of negativity, and McCain's performance didn't give anyone the impression that age has mellowed him. In fact, he seemed rather proud of his continuing bellicose manner. The country seems ready for a change from the "fighting as first choice crowd."
Watch for new polls over the next week. Things can shift for a variety of reasons as people reflect on the debate.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
COULD BE A VOTING BLOCK THAT SHIFTS THE NEW POLLS IN KEY STATES. LET'S BE ONE OF THOSE VARIETIES OF REASONS!
Well - it's full steam ahead for my grandmother and her blog. She is consistently posting thoughts to her webiste at 85andchange.com, and her fan base keeps growing. She continues to receive great feedback from old and young. Everyone seems to be so appreciative that a senior citizen has spoken up and made it easier for other senior citizens to fall in line. As we saw in the numbers today - senior citizens are really starting to break for Barack Obama and Joe Biden! Others have said how they are so grateful that she has provided them a way to bridge a gap between grandparents and grandchildren and given them something to talk about with each other.
And if writing on her blog was not enough - she now has a video, too! You can find her video at her website (85andchange.com) or you can find it on You Tube! My smart, hip grandmother speaks up any chance she has and lets people know they are never to old - or young - for change!
Just this week, Granny Gobama met a couple influential people - Kathleen Kennedy Townsend & Alice Travis Germond - not to mention Heather Tom, as well! Meeting all of these women was a thrill for her. She found Kathleen Kennedy to be a thoughtful and inspiring speaker, and Alice Germond to be so enthusiastic and energetic.
Please take a moment to visit her site and pass the link on to anyone who may read (or watch) about why it is important for seniors, and everyone, to think long and hard about this important upcoming election - and why they should seriously consider voting for Barack Obama!
I am proud to say my grandmother's blog 85andchange.com is off to a roaring start! She has made two posts already, is working on her third, and is toying around with the idea of making a video that we can post to her blog and to You Tube. People seem to have gravitated to her site to find out more about this 85 year old blogging grandmother and they seem encouraged by her message of change. Her site has already receieved almost 500 hits!! UNBELIEVABLE!! So... the point is... the message is spreading. And even an old lady who isn't very mobile has found a way to reach out and pass on her hopes and dreams and a positive message of change to hundreds of people who may not have otherwise taken the time to listen to someone her age. Please circulate a link to her site to anyone you think could benefit from reading the words of a woman who has been around a while and who has some words of wisdom to pass along. Go Granny Gobama!!
85andchange.com
McCain has become dispicable - he is now just a straight talking liar! Please pass this out to your firends and anywhere you know people who are not on this listserv. McCain's adds have become so degrading and vile that he must be known for what he has become. The horror of hearing, "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" for Americans and the world to hear and see such vicious lies. I am raising my grandchildren and after his last filthy accusations against Obama using sex-ed for kindergarteners in some criminal distortion of the facts, I am afraid for them to see McCain's adds. How low can he go?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk
Today I hosted a meeting to give feedback to this campaign on the DNC platform. What a unique and grassroots way to involve the people of the USA. Leave it up to someone like Barack to care enough about the entire process to involve the American people.
The meeting was very successful and our group did an outstanding job of writing our platform ideas.
