The campaign to ban these terrible weapons is making progress. This week, as half the world's nations gathered in Norway to sign a treaty banning cluster bombs, here in the United States the Obama transition team announced that the new president will "carefully review the new treaty" when he takes office.
The Obama team's statement is a welcome departure from the position of the Bush administration. The Bush administration refused to send a representative to the treaty negotiations and actively lobbied other countries not to support the treaty. This week Bush's spokesperson couldn't even answer a question from veteran journalist Helen Thomas about why the White House opposes the pact. Now that President-Elect Barack Obama has said he will review the treaty,
A U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs will build support for the U.S. signing the cluster bomb treaty by mobilizing people around the country, lobbying here in Washington, and meeting with key members of the new administration.
The campaign needs your help to expand the movement to stop the use of these weapons. Get involved by writing your Congressional Representative or the President Elect
this morning after calling all my conservative leaning relatives urging them to get out to vote tomorrow, I opened a magazine to read.
The Foreign Policy Magazine provided what I was searching for – experts providing input about identifying the next cabinet. While I generally like Leslie Gelb’s selections out of the numerous experts that provided replies, it is the hundreds of lower level policy makers that will implement the visions of the President and the respective Secretaries that most concern me.
Secretary of State - Richard Holbrooke ; Secretary of Defense - Robert Gates ; Secretary of the Treasury - Roger Altman; Director of National Intelligence - Jamie Gorelick; National Security Advisor - Dennis Ross; Ambassador to the United Nations - Susan Rice They have to be selected rapidly and get in place as soon as possible after 20 January to ensure that the first 100 days of the next administration start churning out course changes that brings hope and stability to America and the world. It would be great to hear from the President-elect as soon as possible after the results are confirmed to inform the American public (and the world as a whole) criteria that will be going into making the selections:
There's still one week left to collect signatures following up on the Nationwide Campus Day of Action which was held on October 14! I am writing to ask all members of groups that this blog is being sent to request members of your group, your friends, and your family to sign and return this lette to the More Peace Corps campaign (downloaded by clicking below:)
( http://www.morepeacecorps.org/images/uploads/kletter.pdf
Letters are starting to pour into the More Peace Corps campaign headquarters which will be delivered in bulk to the TRANSITION Team of the next President (hint initials BO) and leaders of the respective House and Senate committees that deal with foreign affairs and related topics.
Your input for changing American foregin policy is important, so take a few minutes to review the More Peace Corps website ( http://www.morepeacecorps.org ) and lend a helping hand.
The Obama Small Business Plan has some very interesting parts:
- Lower Health Care Costs and Ease the Health Care Burden –
- Expand Opportunity for Small Businesses –
Helping Americans to understand how we can Compete in today’s GLOBAL marketplace is something that really needs to be better thought out. If American small business begins to become a big player in assisting developing countries to build new marketplace opportunities, Americans can be better off creating jobs both here and abroad. Small Business partnerships with people in developing countries can assist in a big way with international development, poverty reduction and more positive accomplishments in support of the Millenium Development Goals by 2015.
The Obama Administration must CHANGE how our government foreign affairs are conducted. Our State Department must lead diplomacy, but there must be more involvement of other US government organizations (especially the Peace Corps) and PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES focusing on achieving measurable gains at grassroots levels.
The Obama Administration can provide the leadership and motivate Americans.
Like Ezra Klein, I just can't describe this, so I'm going to give you a quote, and ask you to read it.
“In a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long,” he said. “They feel so betrayed by government that when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn’t buy it. And when it’s delivered by—it’s true that when it’s delivered by a forty-six-year-old black man named Barack Obama, then that adds another layer of skepticism.”
Tonight was a special "Utah Call Team Conference Call", where Emily Murphy and Amy (didn't catch her last name) gave a quick training of the neighbor to neighbor calling tool available for supporters of Senator Obama to help the campaign. Because Utah is helping drive the effort in Colorado, there were a few special guests on before that training began.
Ray Rivera, the campaign's Colorado Director, introduced Roy Romer, former Colorado Governor. Roy talked about how we can win Colorado, but we have to reach everyone we can. Every call is critical. Sincere calls from out of state will be effective. He said: "We need you. It will be effective. There's nothing more important you can do for the campaign."
Ken Salazar came on and talked about how we can move the votes from 250 to 271 by winning in Colorado, and that win the election.
Amy Klobuchar, Senator from Minnesota, talked about being in Wisconsin with Barack, and is now in Colorado. She told a story about how she got stopped by State Trooper, thinking she'd be given a ticket, and have to "take one for the team", and found out that it was just because the tags on her license plate were reversed, which was quite a relief to her. She said "You can make a difference, you taking the time out to make these calls WILL make the difference."
Ray came on again, and said that to win, we need to get 2.5 million Colorado voters to the polls, and we need to reach them at least 2 times to make that happen.
Amy came back on and stressed that nothing is more important right now than reaching out to neighbors, and personalizing Barack's message.
Emily then led the training, and the first thing she had to say is that if you can make it to Colorado for Get Out The Vote (GOTV), it will be fun.
Emily then walked us through Neighbor to Neighbor tool to show how it's used. If you come to the Phone Banking set up for this Saturday or Sunday, we'll be showing you how to use the web tool then, if you bring your laptop with you, or we can give you lists if you don't have one.
Each state's call script looks different, so if you switch states, make sure to read the script before you make the call. The web page is simple, and easy to use. You can even do it from home. Peak times are 6 to 9 PM, so if you can make calls during this time, please consider it. Even half an hour is great.
When looking at the script, you don't need to read it word for word, if it doesn't feel comfortable. However, each of the questions need to be answered, if possible, so try to make sure to fit them in when talking to the person you're calling.
You don't have to call every number you're given. If you don't get to the calls, they will go back into the queue.
It gets easier and easier as you use N2N. You'll probably even start to love making the calls, and it definitely becomes more comfortable after you've started.
Amy came back on and asked us to invite friends, family and neighbors to our own house, and pointed out that there's even a Host Guide available online.
Don't let November 4 pass you by. Your involvement does matter. Just ask Al Gore.
Last night I cleared my schedule so I could watch the debate. As with the previous debates I went in with an open mind. Well, as open as it could be knowing beforehand that I would not be swayed in my vote. Having said that I was open minded in the aspect that I was not going to jump on the ‘My team won, because it is my team’ band wagon.
Yesterday was a fine day! It was a great day for driving from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia via the Bay Bridge. It was a great day for a free street concert in Philadelphia featuring Bruce Springstein, Tens of thousands of Obama supporters including prominent Pennsylvania politicians (like a Governor and Senator) experienced a ‘winds of change’ event.
Springstein provided the quote of the day from my perspective: “"I've spent 35 years writing about America and its people and the meaning of the American promise — a promise handed down right here in this city," said the New Jersey rocker, whose songs often depict down-on-their-luck, working-class dreamers. "Our everyday citizens ... have justifiably lost faith in its meaning." Yesterday was a great example of how Americans can overcome the problems we are facing by coming together.
It is the time to get off the fence, and make sure we have a President and Congressional and other political leadership that will help give American citizens a vision of hope, and help us to reestablish hope and prosperity in our great nation. But it doesn't happen without hard work and dedication.
I have been busy over the last few days, preparing for a trip to Jigjiga, Ethiopia. Blogging would have been a luxury.
This post will attempt to provide specific details about the numerous humanitarian issues that American citizens need to be aware of, AND be bringing up during this campaign.
The first debate on foreign policy and issues was not as helpful as it should have been to identify issues of importance to all Americans. Not one word was spoken in reference Peace Corps or to the good that America can do in the next administration.
The human costs of wars – clearly in both Iraq and Afghanistan, not to speak of a score of other countries around the globe today where poverty is leading to violence CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING!
I am urging Mr Obama to assign a staff member to reviewing this report, and incorporating some of the recommendations into his campaign in the days left before the election, AND then to assemble a strong team to link American people , perhaps through his support of MORE PEACE CORPS to better addressing the needs of children in conflict.
I am sitting on my balcony this morning continuing to read American-Made by Nick Taylor. My colleagues are chuckling about my blogging about post-election planning prematurely. But in order to guarantee a fast start, preparation is required.
During this campaign, bloggers on hundreds of Obama groups have put together scores of excellent ideas for Mr. Obama for handling problems confronting Americans today from health care, jobs, education, energy through foreign affairs, poverty reduction, ending a failed war on terror, and bringing back our troops in dignity.
Making a fast start in the next administration is vital. The new administration must use the time wisely from the moment that the election results are known to inauguration day.
I find so many comparisons to make between the hand-over from Hoover to Roosevelt Administrations to what will be for the Bush to Obama Administrations (that won’t be the same if it is McCain). Discussion of the first 100 days of a new Presidential administration is worthy of comment.
The first 100 days of the FDR administration included the signing of 15 major pieces of legislation that helped get American employed, especially in public works projects, and set up humane practices in the private industry as well. This rapid start helped to break the back of the ‘Depression Era’, and marked an economic turn-around for America.
The challenge for the Obama Administration will be to get off to a rapid start (which means key appointments made early and projects clearly outlined) in making the changes required in America today. I feel he should aim his remarks in the remaining days of this long campaign towards engaging Americans and bring us together. He has the able experience of Mr. Biden to be able to ramrod legislation through the two houses of our Congress. He will need to be very quick in appointing his Cabinet and pushing forward with action steps.
Under FDR, America used the ‘blue eagle’ as visible solidarity symbol that “We Do Our Part”. What could be the symbol under the Obama Administration to rally Americans, bringing us together without the labels of Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal?
I live in Rep. Roz McGee's district, 28, and since she's retiring, the seat is open. Brian King is the Democratic candidate for the district, and I really can't say enough good things about him. I had lunch with Brian before the primary, and I learned a lot about him. In the months since, I've had several opportunities to meet with him, and his campaign manager, Chris Fleming. They've been very supportive of Obama for Utah, and the grassroots movement. Brian King will continue to represent District 28's interests, and will be a very accessible Representative.
Here are the issues Brian is running on, as stolen directly from his web site:
Representative Politics: I’m running to ensure that the interests of the people in District 28 are represented by an experienced, knowledgeable, and established advocate.Education: I was gratified to see the voucher issue so decisively defeated at the polls last year. We must build a strong educational infrastructure to effectively fund public education at all levels in the state while at the same time put in place mechanisms to attract and retain excellent teachers.Ethics Reform: We must continue to press for basic, common-sense legislation in this area. For example, it is absurd that legislators have the ability to take unused campaign funds and use them for personal benefit at the end of their service.Economy: We must ensure that our economy stays strong. Thousands of people are losing houses due to the mortgage crisis and as a state we must provide avenues for residents of District 28 and across the state to manage their money so that they don’t lose their home while at the same time ensuring that new homeowners can buy a home.Environment: Too often the environment takes a back seat to development or other economic interests. Our representative in the legislature must work to bring greater balance to all environmental issues we in District 28 are concerned about.Health Care: We must work as a state to ensure that every Utahn has health insurance, and is allowed access to quality health care while at the same time encouraging the best and safest possible medical practices in our community.
You can get a good sense of who Brian is by reading his blog, or if you enjoy reading lawyer-speak, check out his law blog.
I got this email, titled 56 Days Till Election day, from Chris Fleming earlier:
Fellow Brian King Supporters: We need to take every ounce of frustration we've felt during eight years of George W. Bush and channel it into a wave of grassroots energy dedicated to electing Brian King to the House of Representatives. If we want our open spaces to be protected, quality education for our children and a affordable healthcare we need volunteers like you to get out and help Brian Keep 28 Blue. Brian, his family, and volunteers are walking four days out of every week, twice on Saturdays and this coming Saturday we have an aggressive walk scheduled for two very large Precincts. COME JOIN US! HELP US KEEP 28 BLUE! Brian King Canvass Precincts 2632 and 2634 9:30 AM-12:30 PM 1:30 PM-4:30 PM Meet at Dan's Parking Lot in Foothill Village! Please email me at Chris@KingForRep.com if you can attend. Democratically Yours, Chris Fleming Campaign Manager Brian King for Representative “Together We Can...For All of Us”
Fellow Brian King Supporters:
We need to take every ounce of frustration we've felt during eight years of George W. Bush and channel it into a wave of grassroots energy dedicated to electing Brian King to the House of Representatives.
If we want our open spaces to be protected, quality education for our children and a affordable healthcare we need volunteers like you to get out and help Brian Keep 28 Blue.
Brian, his family, and volunteers are walking four days out of every week, twice on Saturdays and this coming Saturday we have an aggressive walk scheduled for two very large Precincts.
COME JOIN US! HELP US KEEP 28 BLUE!
Brian King Canvass Precincts 2632 and 2634 9:30 AM-12:30 PM 1:30 PM-4:30 PM Meet at Dan's Parking Lot in Foothill Village! Please email me at Chris@KingForRep.com if you can attend.
Democratically Yours, Chris Fleming Campaign Manager Brian King for Representative “Together We Can...For All of Us”
If you're free this Saturday, please consider helping the Brian King campaign out, and walking with them.
Or, if you're in House District 47 (West Jordan and Midvale), I got this email for Jennifer Burley Wolfe, who also needs help:
Hi folks! So we're in the home stretch with UNDER 2 months! And it's getting heated over here. For instance, I saw my first "Obama / Mascaro" lawn sign combination this morning - how can that happen?!! Let's turn it around by going door-to-door together and getting the word out about the REAL Democrat running in this area. I need ALL the help I can get to pull this off! Email me and let me know which 2-3 walking shifts you can make: TOMORROW Thurs. 9/11 6pm Fri 9/12 6pm Sat 9/13 10am or 3pm Wed 9/17 6pm Thur 9/18 6pm Fri 9/19 6pm Sat 9/20 10am or 3pm Wed 9/24 6pm Thur 9/25 6pm Fri 9/26 6pm Sat 9/27 10am Reminder - all month there are VOLUNTEER PERKS! Everyone gets a free campaign shirt while supplies last (I'll replenish, but there may be a few days delay.) Each time you canvass in September, your name goes into a hat and you may be randomly selected to win a $50 gift card. Then whoever walks the most shifts gets a $25 card, just for being there for us. And each Friday night we have pizza! THANKS for everything!
Hi folks!
So we're in the home stretch with UNDER 2 months! And it's getting heated over here. For instance, I saw my first "Obama / Mascaro" lawn sign combination this morning - how can that happen?!! Let's turn it around by going door-to-door together and getting the word out about the REAL Democrat running in this area. I need ALL the help I can get to pull this off!
Email me and let me know which 2-3 walking shifts you can make:
TOMORROW Thurs. 9/11 6pm
Fri 9/12 6pm
Sat 9/13 10am or 3pm
Wed 9/17 6pm
Thur 9/18 6pm
Fri 9/19 6pm
Sat 9/20 10am or 3pm
Wed 9/24 6pm
Thur 9/25 6pm
Fri 9/26 6pm
Sat 9/27 10am
Reminder - all month there are VOLUNTEER PERKS! Everyone gets a free campaign shirt while supplies last (I'll replenish, but there may be a few days delay.) Each time you canvass in September, your name goes into a hat and you may be randomly selected to win a $50 gift card. Then whoever walks the most shifts gets a $25 card, just for being there for us. And each Friday night we have pizza!
THANKS for everything!
--Jayla Jennifer (Jayla) Burley Wolfe Candidate for House, District 47 www.burleywolfeforhouse.com
--Jayla
Jennifer (Jayla) Burley Wolfe Candidate for House, District 47 www.burleywolfeforhouse.com
If you're not in either district, but you want to help candidates, you can use the Neighborhood Volunteer Program or call the Utah Democratic Headquarters at 801.328.1212 to find out which candidates in your neighborhood need your help the most!
If you are sitting around, saying to yourself that you wish you had plans this weekend, you're in luck! How about heading to Grand Junction, Colorado, as part of Drive for Change?
Can't afford it?
Well, you have to eat, anyway! And all you'll have to pay for is your food.
Colorado is swinging back and forth, and we can't afford to let McCain win there!
From the Campaign:
Utah for Obama will be departing from our Salt Lake City headquarters this Friday, September 12th at 5:30 p.m. to talk to voters in Grand Junction, CO about the Obama-Biden plan for the change we need. We will be returning on Sunday evening, though there will be an option to return Saturday as well. All costs will be covered except for food. Please let us know in the sign-up form whether you can drive or will need housing.Help us do our part in ensuring that Barack and Joe win this most crucial of battleground states. No prior experience is needed.
Utah for Obama will be departing from our Salt Lake City headquarters this Friday, September 12th at 5:30 p.m. to talk to voters in Grand Junction, CO about the Obama-Biden plan for the change we need.
We will be returning on Sunday evening, though there will be an option to return Saturday as well. All costs will be covered except for food. Please let us know in the sign-up form whether you can drive or will need housing.Help us do our part in ensuring that Barack and Joe win this most crucial of battleground states.
No prior experience is needed.
Still haven't convinced you? Do you really want to help, but just can't make the trip? Consider purchasing a gas card, and giving it as an in-kind donation, to help others get there. You can drop it off at the new Utah Campaign HQ: 780 E., South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 or call the office at (801) 983-7372 to make arrangements.
One of the most important discussions that I have ever had about the future of Peace Corps took place yesterday in a heavy rainstorm. The discussion began with input from a person who was involved in a preliminary study at the start of the Kennedy administration. Now 50 years later, America must look at the conditions of the world and undertake an intensive study that will lead to changes in the Peace Corps in the next administration.
The Consortium for Sustainable Village-Based Development ( www.villageearth.org ) has a model that will help speed up our American approach to poverty elimination and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Let me say quite frankly that my own very partial judgment makes me skeptical that the Millennium Development Goals will be uniformly reached, in some countries possibly even seriously addressed. The US Peace Corps can be our American leader because our PC Volunteers are at the grassroots.
Peace Corps Volunteers, serving as Change Agents, can be working together with the American people, NGOs, the UN and bilateral donors with the respective host governments that need assistance and are willing to make meaningful changes that foster development. Empowering villages and communities to think through their problems develop plans and work to make solutions begin to happen is what we can do. Register on the MorePeaceCorps site to support a bigger and bolder Peace Corps and get involved in the process (www.morepeacecorps.org)
November is less than 10 weeks away, as Justin of the Young Democrats of Utah reminded me via the email below. We can't just wait around and see how this turns out, we have to be a part of changing how it turns out!
Misty, With the election closing in on us fast, it is time for us to get in gear and start working to get Democrats elected. The Young Democrats will be knocking on doors every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1 PM Please come out and join us. This Saturday we will be meeting at Dimple Dell Rec Center 10600 So. 1000 E. in the 10600 So. parking lot. Come out knock a few doors, meet some new friends, and get a free t-shirt. To RSVP: Email justin@youngdemsofutah.org Phone 801-824-4073 We will also be making phone calls every Thursday from now until the election. Our Headquarters are located at 1063 E. 3300 So. (in the Corroon campaign headquarters) If you have any questions about these events or how you can get involved please let me know. Justin
Misty,
With the election closing in on us fast, it is time for us to get in gear and start working to get Democrats elected.
The Young Democrats will be knocking on doors every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1 PM
Please come out and join us.
This Saturday we will be meeting at Dimple Dell Rec Center 10600 So. 1000 E. in the 10600 So. parking lot.
Come out knock a few doors, meet some new friends, and get a free t-shirt.
To RSVP:
Email justin@youngdemsofutah.org
Phone 801-824-4073
We will also be making phone calls every Thursday from now until the election.
Our Headquarters are located at 1063 E. 3300 So. (in the Corroon campaign headquarters)
If you have any questions about these events or how you can get involved please let me know.
Justin
You can also sign up to volunteer through Utah for Obama by calling 801.983.7372. Don't let yourself wake up in November and realize that the wrong person got elected at any level of politics. Do something today!
For anyone not based in Geneva, Switzerland, organizers are encouraging you to walk or run in your own locations. Take lots of pictures of your participation.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/21/AR2008082103384.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
Last night, listening to Ms. Obama's inspiring address, I couldn't help reflect back on my own experiences looking for and working hard to achieve my American Dream. She was spot-ON!
I recall vividly still today how President Kennedy inspired me. I began my in-service training to become a Peace Corps Volunteer less than a week after graduating from the university.
I recall being shocked by the vast difference in lifestyles and learning that most children in the developing world don't have the same ability to dream or reach out that we have in America.
But now it is time to buckle our seat belts and get ready for the realities of this cold cruel world. There are people suffering from the effects of an administration which NOT been helping people to achieve their dreams as much as it might have. Please take time to think about the next generation of American children as well as all the children in our global village.
On September 6, there will be a global event in support of more Peace Corps ( www.morepeacecorp.org ). Please help to support this campaign!
