This Saturday there will be a meeting of some local Obama folks to discuss what we are going to do going forward. Please see the message below.
Okay, we've all had some time to recover (both from the campaign and the holidays). Now let's try to take the next step in continuing the commitment and enthusiasm of the Obama campaign that we've worked so hard to create, and turn that into something lasting that can help our own communities right now!
Obama 2.0 (as we like to call it) is going to be an unofficial group borne out of the Change House Parties that many of you may have attended or hosted several weeks ago. Our main focus will be working on advocacy issues that we're passionate about, and volunteer and outreach events that take place right here at home. Why wait for the administration, or some big organization, to tell us what should be important to us in our own neighborhoods. No one knows that better than we do!
If you're still fired up and ready to go, please join us at the Marshall Library in Rose Hill this Saturday, January 10th, 3:30 pm to discuss some ways to go forward and help our community. We'd love to see you and hear what issues you want to work on in the coming months of the new Obama administration.
Saturday, Jan 103:30-5 pmJohn Marshall Library6209 Rose Hill DriveAlexandria, VA 22310-6299
Let's hope it never ends, because it is just funny.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/628010.html
So there is supposed to be this frenzy over the selection of Rick Warren to present a prayer on January 20, I not sure if I think this issue desires a frenzy response. Joe Klien from Time's Swampland expresses this issue the best. You can read it below.
Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 6:43 pm The Not-So-Right Reverend Rick Posted by Joe Klein | Comments (77) | Permalink | Trackbacks (1) | Email This I am not a big fan of Rick Warren's. He thinks I'm going to hell. He said so in mixed company, at an Aspen Institute forum. He was asked if Jews were going to hell. He said yes. He can go ahead and feed every poor child in Africa and I'm still going to think he's a fool for believing that. Reverend Rick is also not too big on gay or women's rights. (Indeed, if Jews--and all other non born-again Christians--homosexuals, feminists, and anyone who has either had an abortion, performed an abortion or reluctantly agrees that it's none of our business who has abortions...if all those people are going to hell, then heaven's got to be about as interesting as linoleum.) I am not a fanatic about the so-called social issues. I spend most of my time worrying about other things. I think gay people are people and should have all the requisite rights that people have. Period. I have qualms about abortion and I don't think it should be allowed in the second half of a pregnancy, unless the life of the mother is at stake, but I may be wrong about that--in any case, I would never demonize those who disagree with me. Finally, it is a matter of unalloyed joy to me that people who don't believe in evolution will no longer have even the teensiest sway over the federal government. But... I have no problem with Barack Obama asking Reverend Rick to deliver a prayer at the Inauguration. It will have zero--repeat, zero--impact on the policies of the Obama Administration. And it may do some good, especially if it gives pause to all those people who think that I--and the crypto-Muslim Barack Obama--are going to hell...If it causes those folks to give the new President just the slightest credit for appreciating their worldview, if it causes them to give him the benefit of the doubt on controversial stuff like talking to the Iranians or universal health insurance, then it's worth it. If it causes evangelicals to say, "Well, he's not demonizing us, maybe we shouldn't demonize him," it's worth it. If it makes Rush Limbaugh's toxic blather about our next President seem even the slightest bit ridiculous and over-the-top to his idiot legion of ditto heads, it's worth it. The thing is, Obama is trying to change the nature of public discourse from the raw blast it has been for the past 20 years to something more civil and tolerable. You sense that every time he opens his mouth. He's all for opening doors. I don't know how many of ultra-conservative evangelicals will walk through the door he is opening by having one of their most popular leaders join the inaugural celebration, but I appreciate his inclusive intent. Even if I think there is an insurmountable roadblock to heaven--I'd guess it's about like the relationship between a camel and the eye of a needle--for those who make blanket judgments about which of us is going to hell.
I am not a big fan of Rick Warren's. He thinks I'm going to hell. He said so in mixed company, at an Aspen Institute forum. He was asked if Jews were going to hell. He said yes. He can go ahead and feed every poor child in Africa and I'm still going to think he's a fool for believing that. Reverend Rick is also not too big on gay or women's rights. (Indeed, if Jews--and all other non born-again Christians--homosexuals, feminists, and anyone who has either had an abortion, performed an abortion or reluctantly agrees that it's none of our business who has abortions...if all those people are going to hell, then heaven's got to be about as interesting as linoleum.)
I am not a fanatic about the so-called social issues. I spend most of my time worrying about other things. I think gay people are people and should have all the requisite rights that people have. Period. I have qualms about abortion and I don't think it should be allowed in the second half of a pregnancy, unless the life of the mother is at stake, but I may be wrong about that--in any case, I would never demonize those who disagree with me. Finally, it is a matter of unalloyed joy to me that people who don't believe in evolution will no longer have even the teensiest sway over the federal government.
But...
I have no problem with Barack Obama asking Reverend Rick to deliver a prayer at the Inauguration. It will have zero--repeat, zero--impact on the policies of the Obama Administration. And it may do some good, especially if it gives pause to all those people who think that I--and the crypto-Muslim Barack Obama--are going to hell...If it causes those folks to give the new President just the slightest credit for appreciating their worldview, if it causes them to give him the benefit of the doubt on controversial stuff like talking to the Iranians or universal health insurance, then it's worth it. If it causes evangelicals to say, "Well, he's not demonizing us, maybe we shouldn't demonize him," it's worth it. If it makes Rush Limbaugh's toxic blather about our next President seem even the slightest bit ridiculous and over-the-top to his idiot legion of ditto heads, it's worth it.
The thing is, Obama is trying to change the nature of public discourse from the raw blast it has been for the past 20 years to something more civil and tolerable. You sense that every time he opens his mouth. He's all for opening doors. I don't know how many of ultra-conservative evangelicals will walk through the door he is opening by having one of their most popular leaders join the inaugural celebration, but I appreciate his inclusive intent. Even if I think there is an insurmountable roadblock to heaven--I'd guess it's about like the relationship between a camel and the eye of a needle--for those who make blanket judgments about which of us is going to hell.
George, you'll have a big asterisk next to your name in the history books for having started the Iraq War and not finished it, I might add. Here's a question: Do you want an even bigger asterisk, A HUGH ASTERISK, next to your name in those history books? Here's what you could have done. Now listen closely. You and Dick and your wives, could have left the good ol' U.S. of A. and gone to CANADA! Just left! Abdicated!
(The next important word is : ANOINTED.)
You could have anointed the first woman President of the United States, Nancy Pelosi. Think of it! The first, The very first woman President, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
A month, a week, or just a day, by George. Too late. An other missed opportunity.
Welcome to Sherwood Changemakers!
Yesterday evening about 15 people gathered at my parents house for a "Change is Coming" house meeting. Over the past several months, the passing of Obama supporters in and out of their house has become a regular occurance. Even after being a part of this movement for more than a year, I continue to be energized and inspired by the enthusiasm of my neighbors and friends. I think we've created something amazing and I look forward to working with each of you in the months and years ahead.
I hope this group will help keep us connected to one another. Please invite other folks, share your thoughts on a blog post, create events, etc. Thank you all for everything you've done so far! Change is coming and we're going to play an important role in making it happen.
