On June 2, 2009 President Obama affirmed his support for the creation of a government-sponsored health insurance plan as part of legislation that “must reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality care for every American."
However, Congressional politicians may distort this intent by employing a “triggering” option, a ploy to placate the health care industry. “Triggering” will not produce true economic reform because it will either never happen or if so, not in a timely manner. Medicare legislation includes a “triggering” mechanism that is controlled by the health industry and never used. The trigger has already been pulled! Furthermore, the current industry proposal merely cuts the cost of increase, not an actual reduction. Even that proposal lacks clarity and guarantees.
Any passage of health care reform legislation at the state and federal level must include an independent publicly regulated or managed option that does not controlled by the health care industry. While I concur that a properly crafted single-payer system along the lines of social security is ideally the best solution, practically it will never pass. Instead of repeating the past strategic miscalculation of the Clinton Administration, we must build a coalition in support of a public alternative choice. Otherwise we will lose a unique opportunity to pass true comprehensive health care reform. Furthermore, if a public alternative as proposed is adopted, the free market will most probably gravitate towards a government alternative very soon. What the public needs and deserves is the transparency of comparative analysis and an effective marketing campaign.
During the campaign Barack Obama stated that the health care “will cover people through a combination of private insurance and public insurance” asserting that “we could get to $2,500 in savings by the end of the first term, or be very close to it”. A consensus has emerged among health economists that at least a third of the country’s health care costs are unnecessary.
We are both 66 year-old cancer survivors. My wife also suffers from chronic ulcerative colitis and I was struck by a cerebral hemorrhage rendering me disabled and currently unemployed. We both rely on my wife's health insurance that is threatened by the Recession. Her employer furloughed her for one day a week. Governor Schwarzenegger has called for drastic reduction in California's health care program as a deficit reduction measure.
I intend to pursue this issue to the fullest extent and urge your leadership on this vital matter. Thank you for your attention.
On Thursday President Barack Obama released a blueprint for his budget which will confront the deepening recession our country is stuck in because of decades of Republican misrule. It included a deficit of 1.75 Trillion dollars. Is this a cause for concern? The answer is NO!
We have never in our nation's history been able to get out of a financial crisis without borrowing huge sums of cash. President Roosevelt had to run up deficits in order to save the country from the Great Depression. It was the paralysis of President Hoover who sat on his hands and CUT SPENDING after the Wall Street Crash that put Millions of Americans out of work and turned the recession into a Depression.
Just as in the turmoil before the Great Depression, Republicans then and now were cutting taxes for the Rich, encouraging businesses to cut jobs so they could save money, talking nonsense about the "free market" fixing itself, etc. All of the proposals of today's Republicans who oppose the President are the same as those made by Hoover and his foolish advisors who wrecked the global financial system with greed and ignorance.
The problem with Roosevelt was he did not spend enough at first so the recovery took longer than it had to. We must not allow fools today who do not even bother to read history to attack the President and whine about the deficit. Yes we have to do deficit spending. Yes we will have a budget that will look ugly at first glance. But that is the only way to get Americans back to work, and back to buying the goods and services that keep the economy alive.
If you want to see another Great Depression, listen to Rush, Hannity, and the clones that mimic their stupidity. Embrace "Conservative Values". Cut taxes for the wealthy. Continue to see Millions lose their jobs and homes each month. Watch the entire world economy collapse and chaos ensue. Keep supporting the failed and deadly policies of the past, just like their mentor and spiritual guru, President Hoover.
Or do the hard work necessary to rebuild America by supporting President Obama. Follow his lead, which is based on an understanding of how to get out of crisis which has been proven to be correct by actual historical example. The great economist John Maynard Keynes said that the only way out of massive unemployment and recession was deficit spending, there is no other way. President Roosevelt listened to him, and it worked. Today, we also must choose what works, not the impotent and failed ideology of the party which has run us into this ditch with greed, deregulation, and neglect.
President Obama is not telling us what we want to hear. He is making the difficult choices that must be made if we are to become strong again. Let's support him in any way we can.
Today Congresswoman Hilda Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor by an 80-17 vote in the Senate. All of this in spite of the obstructionist tactics employed by Senate Republicans who receive enormous campaign contributions from union busting lobbying firms and corporations.
Hilda Solis has a proven track record of fighting for worker rights. She has marched in the streets in support of union members. As a Congresswoman she has worked on legislation improving working conditions and safety, as well as co-authoring the Employee Free Choice Act.
Thanks to President Barack Obama for choosing someone with this background and passion for justice to be the chief advocate for working men and women. All Americans can be proud of our new Madame Secretary, Hilda Solis.
To all, As Obama supporters, I think we must pay attention to the actions of our leader, Barack Obama. He has been for a bailout of the big three from day one. If W Bush had listened to him last month, the bailout money would already have been paid from the 700 Billion dollar bailout funds, and we would not be subjected to the propaganda, pandering, and lies of the Senate Republicans. The Republicans, and unfortunately, some Democrats are howling for the Big Three to be allowed to fail, to go bankrupt, and be reorganized under the new bankruptcy laws passed by Bush and the Republicans in 2005. But is this a good idea? Will it "Save the American taxpayer Billions!" ? Under the new bankruptcy laws, Corporations are free to invalidate all contracts with Unions. They could, and will, literally throw the UAW out the window. If any employees are left after the numerous factory closings, they will be treated to the same wages as are paid to Toyota Workers in Republican Richard Shelby's cesspool of Alabama, 16 or 17 dollars an hour, no pension, pathetic healthcare plan with high deductibles and premiums paid by the worker, and no job security or seniority whether you have worked for the company for 40 years or 40 minutes. But this is not even half of the devastation. Bush has passed new rules concerning pensions for retired workers, including the rules regarding money that has already been set aside for retirees, the Billions to pay pensions and ongoing healthcare costs. Companies cannot legally touch this money. Unless they go bankrupt. Then that money can be spent in any way the company sees fit. The retirees will be told that the company is bankrupt and they will receive no more pension payments and their healthcare will no longer be provided by the company. Men and women who worked their entire lives for the Big Three will be out on the street and forced to go on Medicare to get healthcare and prescription drugs. How much will this cost the taxpayer? Most likely several times the amount of the bailout, except these Billions of dollars will not be a loan, they will be unrecoverable losses for us and our children to pay. Bush and the Republicans have set this trap for us long in advance, anticipating the failure of many American companies, hoping they will be able to destroy the few remaining Unions left in America. If Bush really supported helping American workers, he would have listened to Barack Obama and released bailout funds to the Car companies last month. Do not be misled into supporting the Senate Republicans. Not only is their true agenda wrecking Unions that give Americans decent wages and working conditions, their despicable efforts will lead to you, the taxpayer, being bilked out of Hundreds of Billions of dollars in increased spending on Unemployment benefits, Welfare, Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, etc., all because Union workers and Union retirees are defrauded out of benefits they worked their entire lives to receive. Robert Lynch
One of the most effective things our next administration could do to solve many of the problems in our nation's schools is to provide innovative ways to help each state tap into an electronic text book system. I wonder what the difference in cost would be to have a computer screen and keyboard at each student's desk in every classroom which is linked into a network versus the volumes of textbooks that need to be updated, reprinted, reshipped and stored. With changes in our world happening at an exponential rate, some textbooks are outdated before they even hit the teacher's classroom. Could it be that the savings in eliminating physical textbooks would be enough to apply to a national database for each state to tap into by supplying each student's desk with a flip up screen and keyboard?
The students would learn computer skills at a very early age with improved efficiency due to practical application for every subject. Information would be updated continually as current events move world politics, geography and science to change continually. Today's youth have quickly adpated to an interractive technological world...with old ways of learning it's no wonder so many are bored to tears and struggle to stay attentive.
Adapt or become extinct. While I am a true book lover, I am also 48 years old and have come to understand that as we grow in our amazing ability to create new ways to do everything we must be willing to let go of the old ways and make room for innovative improvements. There is something to be said for a library, but what we appreciate from our generation is not necessarily practical for the next generation. A fast paced society complete with an ever changing world of interactive technology necessitates our children to compete on a global level in all aspects of their lives. This begins with computer readiness and updated ways of learning that may not fit the mold of the 20th century.
As the Obama administration begins to put educational modifications into place, my hope is that they consider helping our states to step into the 21st century which will ensure that our children will be ready to take the leadership role when the time comes with confidence and preparedness that has come to be expected from Americans.
We were a small group from Lake Arrowhead, who drove to Las Vegas the weekend of October 17th. We felt that our efforts had great impact and we were happy to meet lots of fellow Californians there. It was a huge turn out. This was so rewarding! 9 more days! VOTE!!!! Vote Early! Great experience for our middle-school kids, they learned what democracy in America is all about. If anyone can go this coming last weekend, DO IT!!!
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)
This is from an e-mail I sent to a great community organizer in Arlington, Texas, Steve Blair:
I would characterize Gov. Palin's performance as both 'wretched' and 'chatterbox'.
One correlation that is apt is that of Keanu Reeves' character in the teenager film "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure". "Doggone it" "Say it ain't so, Joe" "It's obvious that I am, like, so totally an outsider in Washington!" The only thing missing from her repertoire was "John McCain is totally excellent, Dude!!!". Aside from her immature phraseology was the body language including winks which I thought went stale after the pinup stars of the 50's and 60's ran that horse into the ground, and her annoying, diva head shakes and eye rolls when mocking Sen. Biden or Sen. Obama. Is this really the behavior and maturity level we expect from someone who most likely would be called on to be President because of the frailty of her running mate? But Gov. Palin saved her worst for last. After Sen. Biden choked up a bit describing the horror of losing his wife and 2 daughters in a car wreck which also badly injured his son, and making clear he knew first hand the struggle of the single parent, and the fear of facing the possibility of another child dying, Gov. Palin immediately launched into her non-sensical conclusion with a smile on her face and the plastic, perky tone of a bad beauty pageant contestant. She completely ignored Joe Biden's anguish. No compassion, no acknowlegment of the tragedy, just ice cold apathy. Ultimately, Sarah Palin is the perfect representative of the modern Republican Party. Insincere, ill-educated, dogmatic and without a soul, the only point of her vying for public office is the power and fame it will bring to her massive ego. A true disciple of her spiritual and intellectual role model, George W Bush. Robert Lynch
For the record. I am totally against the bailout. I say let these banks fail. Let them learn the hard lesson to improves sales and earnings through moral and ethical products, instead to pushing the American consumer further into personal debt (attractive interest rates in exchange for longer debt, think of low housing APRs or consumer credit cards).
Understanding there are multiple fronts at risk, the greatest threat to the US Economy is not the dissolution of these financial firms, it is the ability to sell US Treasury notes AND to maintain current holders of these notes NOT dump their holdings. And the only reason this is so important is that the US has been running huge budget deficits since the early years of the Reagan administration, causing the US to export our deficit in the form of US Treasury notes. As it stands today, Japan holds approx $600 billion in T-Notes, China holds $520 billion, UK holds $290 billion, and the oil exporting countries $175 billion. You can conservatively add another 25% of these T-Note holdings in the form on other US dollar demoninated assets used to finance debt. In other words, US spending is out of control resulting in huge exposure.
The core of this financial problem is not the bad assets, it’s the policies of forcing debt on the US consumer for the last 30 years. In my less than expert opinion, I support the failure of these financial institutions. At which point the govt should help find a worthy buyer (domestic or international). The US govt can agree to purchasing the bad assets at the time of the acquisition. This would bring in influx of more responsible lending policies from our banks. Our current approach will only save the asses of these banks and the current predatory lending practices will continue until the next disaster.
I am writing this at midnight pacific time which means it is now 9/11/08. The subject of the day is unity as a people and country to remember with heartfelt compassion those who lost their lives or lost a loved one seven years ago. The past few weeks have been filled with petty, silly, and downright laughable exchanges among all of us Americans. The following is a true story of something strange that happened to me today which completely turned my attention back to the main focus of this campaign.
This morning I spent a ridiculous amount of time watching CNN and MSNBC discussions about the lipstick-pig issue and then proceeded to strike up conversations in the afternoon with my sister about the subject. While I drove us to our business to open for the evening I continued on and on about the lipstick-pig issue and then somehow transitioned to differences between the two major political parties and finally homeless people and our feelings about how to be of service (this is all relevant, believe me).We decided to stop at our local McDonald's for a quick snack and while in the drive through I noticed a van parked in the lot and a huge pig eating grass under tree with an older woman tending it (this is a TRUE story, I swear). I told my sister she had to get out and take a picture of the pig so we could photoshop some lipstick on it and email it with a sound clip of "Hail To The Chief." She hesitated at first but then jumped out of the car and approached the lady. My sister returned to the car a few minutes later and told me that she felt kind of bad because the lady lives in her van and someone had just dropped this pig to her. She said she had become attached to it and was trying to figure out how to keep it and care for it (in her van). I handed my sister all the cash I had left which was $5 and told her to give it to the woman. We agreed to return tomorrow and if she was still there we would buy her some groceries. When my sister returned this time she told me that the lady's name is "Cheryl." My name happens to be Cheryl also. Now, I know what you are thinking, that this is an extraordinary coincidence and I am reading too much into it...hmmmm. Maybe, but then when was the last time someone had a 24 hour barrage of info regarding a pig with lipstick, the importance of community service, and hard economic times only to see a pig in a McDonald's parking lot belonging to a homeless woman with your own name that very same day? I see a message here. Stop focusing on the silliness and stay with the important issues....point well taken and I have now snapped out of the brainwashed state of diversion forced on me by the media circus.
The last couple of days I have received so many emails with LIES about Barack Obama's postions on many things. I looked in SNOPES and was surprised to see that Barack is being ATTACKED by EMAIL LIES like no one else. Check it out!
Here is the email I received, with my rebuttal. It looks like it is a combiniation of two spam lie emails in one. One about Baracks position and the other about his Tax plan. Please feel free to use this to respond to anyone who sends these lies around.
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2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS
 ISSUE
JOHN McCAIN BARAK OBAMA
Yes No Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it (Subjective and absolutely no basis for this)Yes No Served in the US Armed Forces - TRUEYes No Amount of time served in the US Senate FALSE. Obama was elected to Illinois State Senate, where he served for eight years. In 2004, he became the third African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate.22 YEARS 173 DAYS Will institute a socialized national health care plan – (HALF TRUE) Obama will make available a new national health plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. This is a VOLUNTARY PLAN if you are happy with the current insurance run healthcare you can keep it. Check it out for yourself.No Yes Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy TRUE – Barack does not feel it is up to him to decide for a woman, and feels women should have that choice. What he does believe is finding a way to minimize abortions. He does not want to go back to the time when women were dying because of unsanitary and hidden abortions. God said it is not up to us to judge. Let people make their own choices. No Yes Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately - HALF TRUE – Barack has repeatedly said, depending on the conditions on the ground, discussions with the Generals, plus he will force the Iraqis to take over the military operation, and bring our troops home safely in a responsible timeline. He WILL NOT pull them all out immediately. No Yes Supports gun ownership rights FALSE – Supports the constitutional right to bear arms and enforce our existing gun laws. He said this again at his nomination speech.Yes No Supports homosexual marriage – TRUE – Though he believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman, he thinks the government should only civil unions so that gay couples are not discriminated. No Yes Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase – HALF TRUE – Only the top 5% will see an increase. (see below and in snopes) No increase on capital gains, and in fact lower taxes and programs supporting small business owners.No Yes Voted against making English the official language HALF TRUE – The bill in question was an amendment to an existing immigration reform bill. There were some problems with the bill so Barack voted against it. Here is Barack’s statement on this bill
“I believe the American people understand in order to succeed in our society, immigrants need to learn English. But the amendment would do a number of things that are problematical. The first is that it is contrary to the provisions of law that exist in many States. For example, in New Mexico, you have in their State Constitution, a provision that says that many of the documents within that State have to be provided in both English and Spanish. The same thing is true for the State of Hawaii. I believe this is a States’ rights issue, and those constitutions of those States ought to be respected. I do not believe it is a matter we ought to be imposing here from Washington DC.
Also, this amendment would undo an executive order conceived by President Bill Clinton and implemented by President George Bush. Both recognized it is important that people who have limited English proficiency receive the kinds of services so they can understand what is going on in terms of the interface between the Government and themselves. “
No Yes Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals – HALF TRUE – This was NOT about giving SS benefits to illegal aliens, it was about whether a select group of formerly illegal workers (i.e., those who might obtain legal immigration if the 2006 immigration reform act would pass), should receive credit for payments already made into the Social Security system using phony numbers.No Yes
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN 0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax. OBAMA 28% on profit from ALL home sales. Â (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)
DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN 15% (no change) OBAMA 39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')
INCOME TAX
MCCAIN (no changes) Single making 30K - tax $4,500Single making 50K - tax $12,500Single making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 60K- tax $9,000Married making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 125K - tax $31,250 OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400Single making 50K - tax $14,000Single making 75K - tax $23,250Married making 60K - tax $16,800Married making 75K - tax $21,000Married making 125K - tax $38,750Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!
INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN - 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax) OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.
NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
The Republican convention really upset me because of all the lies. It seems to me the RNC can only win on a lie. I gathered some of the facts. There was also a woman (friend of Carly Fiorina) who indicated that the President of the US has no power over the free-choice issue, so even though she was with Hilary and believed in pro-choice she was with McCain now. What she failed to note is that the President can chose the next 3 supreme court judges so far right that they will overturn Roe vs. Wade, and who knows what else in the name of GOD! and... I mean in the name of God as Governor Palin has tried to do so in her previous admininstrations.
· McCain said they had vetted Palin for weeks, but the truth has surfaced and indicates that McCain made a quick harsh decision in one day, which is why all this crap is coming up about her. Palin has a 20% chance of becoming President of the US and they didn’t do a background check??? How scary is that, check out all that has come out about her below, here is the source about the vetting process: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090203462_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008090203591&s_pos= & http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26527513/
· On Governor Palin being a reformer and anti-Washington. Complete BS, here is information about her earmarks and taxes in her own state –
o 1st ever mayor to bring big politics to a small town ($27M for a town of 9K): http://news.yahoo.com/story/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
o Real Tax Plans: http://thecitizens.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palins-big-lie.html
· On free choice, banning of books in library, no sex ed in schools and cut funding for teenage pregnant mothers:
o Banning Books- http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_2008_09_people_for_response_to_revelations & http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837918,00.html ,
o Cut Fundiing-http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html ,
o Oppose sex-ed- http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Palin_opposed_sexed.html
o anti-choice even in cases of rape and incest- http://www.naral.org/elections/election-pr/pr08292008_palin.html
o Palin on US being the Gods army to bring the message in Iraq and across the world and Jewish are the enemies of Christians: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html videos about the Jews http://www.wasillaag.net/ (was taken off line yesterday).
o Opposes the use of birth control and condoms - http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/08/30/worst_pick_ever.html
· Does not believe global warming is contributed by man, sued to remove the polar bear from endangered species because it will interfere with oil industry efforts:
o Global warming - http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/palin-global-wa.html .
o On polar bears - http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2145097820080522
o On drilling liabilities - http://www.ktva.com/ci_10337913?source=most_viewed
o Arial Hunting using government funds to educate people but won’t help teenage mothers??? - http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/9253882p-9168881c.html
· Said Obama has never authored a bill or law. LIES!
o First Obama bill was passed into law back in October 2006, signed by Bush: http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2006/10/03/News/Bush-Signs.Obamas.First.Bill.Into.Law-2327689.shtml
o Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
o Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
o Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate. Details for all 3 - http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/21/164117/783/290/461422
o Really good visual of the type of bills he has introduces and voted on - http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
o Obama will cut taxes for people making under $250K (about 95% of the population) and increase on those making over $650 (attached is the pic) while McCain cuts it for the top with minimal cuts at the bottom.
o Voting record, missed 45% of votes : http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/
o Here is McCain’s record, missed 68% of votes- http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/m000303/
· This is why there are so many rumors about her covering up her daughters pregnancy, taking her daughter out of school because of mono for 5-8 months during the time of Trig’s birth.
o Palin really poor judgment: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/palins-leaking-amniotic-fluid.php
· She has a track record going back to when she was mayor of a town of 7K.
o Of course there “Troopergate”, abuse of power trying to fire her x-brother in-law. McCain attorney’s trying to stall because the evidence appears to be compelling. Decision is due October 31st, could be detrimental to the Republicans right before election: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-lawyer-stonewallin_n_123179.html
o Palin on ethics, firing those who did not support her (never heard of in a small town): http://cliffschecter.firedoglake.com/2008/08/31/palin-fired-city-employees-for-not-supporting-her-reelection/
o Attempted recall due to the firings - http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F79408854D0C20B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
o Lying about the “bridge to nowhere”, which she supported until it became a joke - http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2008/08/well_that_didnt_take_long.php
o Dairygate - http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/dairygate-sarah-palin-and-myst.php and
o leaving town with $20M debt - http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html
o Quote about not prepared by own Alaskan colleagues - http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/510249.html
This is just some of the stuff, there is a lot more, but I only picked the ones that had real source and were verified.
This will be my 3rd weekend in a row that I am going to canvass in a swing state. 1st, I went to Nevada with our "Drive for Change" It was great! About 100 Southern Californians drove to Las Vegas to canvas for Obama, It was awesome! We had just been made aware of the event the weekend before, so I think that was a great turnout for such a big thing with such short notice. A lot of canvassing in the heat, but I KNOW I made a difference! If we win Nevada by just a few thousand votes, I know the Californian help was well worth it. The people on the ground in the Nevada campaign offices were incredible. Everything was organized and professional. They made great arrangements for me to stay in supporter housing, and had everything ready for us when we got there. I was able to meet Dina Titus, our great candidate for congress in Nevada. I wish i had representation like her. I was proud to campaign for her as well as Obama.
When we got back from our first day of canvassing, They had a great potluck dinner waiting for us! The Nevada Campaign for Change is top notch!
Last weekend, I went to Phoenix, Arizona to fulfill a promise to a friend to visit and cheer on the Dodgers. It was hot! I signed up for a canvassing event, and was greeted with great enthusiasm and gratitude that I was canvassing "on vacation". With 66 days to go, I am not about to take a vacation, but was glad my promise was in a swing state, so I could do both!
I was pleasantly surprised that the people in Arizona are done with McCain. He hasn't done a lot for them lately. Arizonans are really independent and like the "Maverick" idea, and they are smart and recognize that John McCain is not the maverick he used to be. They are sick of Bush and dealing with the same issues the rest of the country is dealing with. I couldn't find one person who likes Palin there. They think she is a fake and practically a foreigner. It is my opinion that Arizona is within our reach, but we need to work for it and it will be ours.
Friday, I am leaving at 6 am for Washington DC to speak at the National Grassroots Rally at Freedom Plaza. I will speak about how important it is to work for what we want and how much difference a short conversation and a handshake can make. I hope I can inspire others to get out and canvass in their own state or a swing state.
I can't wait, though I must confess, I am sad that I am traveling so far without getting to sightsee much. Like I say to the people who think I am crazy right now., "Nothing is more important than getting Obama elected right now" What happens in these next 62 days will determine the course of history for the entire world. We are at a unique crossroads and we MUST make the right decision this time. We cannot afford another failed administration. Not here, Not now. Our Home is hanging in the balance.
We can and must win this year, and we must work for this win.
