Organizing for America | Sussex WI for Obama

Sussex WI for Obama

Sussex area Obama supporters. This is a local group for all who are within walking distance of Sussex, about 10 miles from main street in any direction. The thinking behind this is weekend summer ad hoc meetups downtown Sussex in the park, library or my place.

How republicans engineered this crisis

By Steven Szabo - Sep 26th, 2008 at 11:24 pm EDT

Also listed in: Sussex WI for Obama

In 2002 the Bush administration along with the FED made a deliberate decision to prop up the US economy not with solid infrastructure type investments like alternative energy, high tech or manufacturing, the type of investments which provided 23 million new jobs under Clinton, but rather on a scheme of loose credit that was used to inflate the real estate bubble we have today. This led not only to obscene profits on Wall Street but also to falling wages and a sluggish economy on Main Street as people used borrowed money to do what the president and Alan Greenspan were telling them to do: buy just as much of a home as those with plenty of cash and impeccable credit.

“And so what are the barriers that we can deal with here in Washington? Well, probably the single barrier to first-time homeownership is high down payments. People take a look at the down payment, they say that's too high, I'm not buying. They may have the desire to buy, but they don't have the wherewithal to handle the down payment. We can deal with that. And so I've asked Congress to fully fund an American Dream down payment fund which will help a low-income family to qualify to buy, to buy. (Applause.)”

“And so, therefore, I've called -- yesterday, I called upon the private sector to help us and help the home buyers. We need more capital in the private markets for first-time, low-income buyers. And I'm proud to report that Fannie Mae has heard the call and, as I understand, it's about $440 billion over a period of time. They've used their influence to create that much capital available for the type of home buyer we're talking about here. It's in their charter; it now needs to be implemented. Freddie Mac is interested in helping. I appreciate both of those agencies providing the underpinnings of good capital.”

Remarks by the President on Homeownership, June 18, 2002

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020618-1.html

"Freddie Mac recently began 25 initiatives around the country to dismantle barriers and create greater opportunities for homeownership. One of the programs is designed to help deserving families who have bad credit histories to qualify for homeownership loans."

"The other thing Kirbyjon told me, which I really appreciate, is you don't have to have a lousy home for first-time home buyers. If you put your mind to it, the first-time home buyer, the low-income home buyer can have just as nice a house as anybody else. "

Remarks by the President on Homeownership, October 15, 2002

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021015-7.html

“Indeed, recent research within the Federal Reserve suggests that many homeowners might have saved tens of thousands of dollars had they held adjustable-rate mortgages rather than fixed-rate mortgages during the past decade, though this would not have been the case, of course, had interest rates trended sharply upward. “

“American consumers might benefit if lenders provided greater mortgage product alternatives to the traditional fixed-rate mortgage. To the degree that households are driven by fears of payment shocks but are willing to manage their own interest rate risks, the traditional fixed-rate mortgage may be an expensive method of financing a home.”

Remarks by Chairman Alan Greenspan , February 23, 2004

http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2004/20040223/

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160713

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Governor Sebelius and Lt.Governor Lawton in Waukesha

By Steven Szabo - Sep 17th, 2008 at 11:29 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

KS Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Lt.Governor Barbara Lawton of WI visited the Obama Team Headquarters in Waukesha to kick off the Women's Week of Action canvassing and phonebank campaign.

I had the chance to tell the governor how much I admire her work in KS from the day I first heard that a small time government official, the Health Insurance Commissioner of KS stopped 2 corporate giants Blue Cross and Blue Shield from merging in KS. That was the first time since Ronald Reagan declared "laissez faire" an official economic religion in this country that anyone dared to challenge corporate mergers in any meaningful way.

I also expressed my hope that we'll see her in an Obama administration because we need the lady who can clean up the republican mess in this country and she is one of the rare experts in that. Republicans are already out there telling the American people that we will probably have to privatize SS and just about every social program because given these recent economic hardships we can't afford them. A president Obama will probably have to deal with their endless whining about how we can't afford government programs that are designed to help the American people.

They want us not to pay attention to the fact that last weekend they just socialized one of the the biggest insurance companies on the planet along with its $587 billion CDS portfolio and all the risks and hidden costs associated with this giant financial lemon. It happened in 24 hours without any discussion or debate with the American people who are being told since FDR came up with the idea, that you can't socialize the insurance business, especially not health insurance!

The governor gave really helpful tips for all of us who are canvassing and phone banking the next couple of weeks. I liked the way she turned the Reagan line on the republicans: "Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago?"

Indeed Ronald Reagan is on the ballot this season, not just mental minions like Palin and McSame. The whole conservative philosophy of free market fundamentalism is on trial in front of the American people this fall and we need to be able to lay it down for them in simple plain English what the essential difference between the 2 party philosophy is: government that works for the rich only vs. government that works for all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1D60jFF2Lc

http://www.governor.ks.gov

http://www.ltgov.state.wi.us

http://www.orchidforchange.com/parties/waukeshadems.com

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Would you give two hours a week (16 hours) to change the world?

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Sep 9th, 2008 at 10:11 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

McCain’s bounce has launched him ahead in some polls, which is the same pattern we saw in 2000 and 2004.
What’s different THIS time is on the ground, with teams of callers and canvassers in literally every community around us.

Canvassing Saturday, I met a woman whose positions were clearly Democratic, but her mother-in-law had convinced her Obama would raise taxes. I shared that his plan would only raise taxes for the wealthiest 1 to 2% of the country, gave her literature, and pointed out the website. We talked for some time about the war and healthcare—as you would with any neighbor.

You don’t need to be an expert to listen to someone’s concerns or tell them you’ll have someone get back to them—but this Saturday we’re holding our first CANVASSING 101 event to cover the basics. Join us for a little extra instruction and a few extra treats. Or call for some private tutoring….

The election is only 8 weeks away! Think about how close the last two elections were. All I did Saturday was reassure someone that her instincts were right.

If I had conversations like these in 2000 or 2004, how different would things be?
That’s the question that keeps me going.

Call us.
Give us two hours a week.
Help us change the world.*Oconomowoc Phone Banking & Canvassing Schedule:·
Tuesday, canvassing, 5:00-7:30. AND cell phone banking at the O’Brien’s, 5:30-8:30. Bring cell phones, bottled water, and a friend to 138 E. Greenland Ave.·
Thursday, cancelled. (The Obama campaign has asked us to suspend all events in deference to Sept. 11.)·
THIS Saturday, CANVASSING 101: we’ll take a little extra time to train you, to decompress afterward, and have some extra treats on hand. Join us!
Teams of two leave from the O’Brien’s at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon.

Three things I think you’ll like:·
The Associated Press, “Fact Check: The full story in St. Paul,” Sept. 4, 2008: http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080905/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
Recommended by our readers: www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
“Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: a true-false guide,” The San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 3, 2008: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/MN0012MQNM.DTL

*NEW: CANVASSING 101:
WHAT IT IS
Canvassing is going door-to-door, talking to people one-on-one about the election. We provide you with maps, addresses, a script, flyers, and an Obama button.

HOW IT WORKS1) We introduce ourselves as neighbors to break the ice. Right now, we’re just identifying voters, so “Do you have time for one quick question?” or “I promise not to keep you long” is a good lead into asking them which presidential candidate they are leaning toward. 2) If they are leaning toward:
Obama, be sure to tell them how much you enjoy volunteering and ask them if they would like to help out. Regardless of their answer, THANK THEM for their support.
Undecided, hand them a flyer and ask if there are specific questions someone else can get back to them on. There’s no need to be a policy expert. Its easiest and most effective to simply speak from the heart and tell people why you support Obama. Follow their lead on how long to talk. There is never any need to argue, but do listen politely to their concerns.
McCain, we simply thank them for their time.3) Be sure to leave on a positive note. Rude people are genuinely rare, but our mantra is “Thank you. Have a nice day!”

WHY IT WORKS
Voters are ten times more likely to vote for your candidate if you meet with them one-on-one, but no one candidate can meet with every American. Just as Obama needs surrogates to make sure he hits all the states as often as possible, he needs us to be his surrogates on the ground.
ALSO, everything we do leads up to our Get Out The Vote effort in November. The most important task we have is to find and identify supporters so we can get them to the polls November 4. If we do our jobs well, we will be a model of efficiency that weekend, with every Obama supporter contacted, and every call making a difference.

FAQs:
Will I be alone? No. We always send canvassers out in pairs.
Do we canvass at night? You will never be asked to canvass after dark.
Why don’t we knock on every door? Right now, we are simply identifying voter preferences, and we already have that information on some voters from previous calls and canvasses.
What if people refuse to talk to us? We thank them for their time and tell them to have a nice day. If you think they are open to it, feel free to leave a flyer.
What if no one’s home? We leave them a flyer, usually tucked in the door—but not in mailboxes. Leaving campaign material in mailboxes is illegal.
What if the place looks sketchy? People are amazingly polite…but don’t ever approach a home that makes you uncomfortable, even if it’s just a gut feeling. And sketchy or not, never go inside.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

"In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?" -- Barack Obama

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Sep 4th, 2008 at 11:44 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Dear Friends,

Whether you watched the speeches last night, or just picked up the one-liners this morning, we now know what form the attacks against Senator Obama are going to take.

I was most discouraged by the way community organizing was mocked. Whether we’re fighting for a soccer park, an auditorium, or a city beach—zoning regulations around the block or stem cell research around the world—we are all organizers in a world that too often forgets what City Hall policies look like on the street, a world too often swayed by large wallets instead of the greater good.

Barack Obama has done an amazing job inspiring millions to believe in what they’ve had all along—a voice.
Regardless of your politics, this is not an idea that should be mocked.

We don’t know how the country will respond to these attacks or where the polls will go from here—but we do know our candidate is working tirelessly for the ideal of a country where people are actively engaged in a government that has, in turn, pledged to listen…and that he has a brilliant team running his campaign.

One member of that team, David Plouffe, is the genius behind the call and walk packets our teams are handed each week. When Ryan Shannon gave us our first packet, he said, “If we do this, we win the election.” I don’t know enough about campaigns to know if it’s that simple, but if Obama’s gamble is on what can happen when people take more ownership, that’s a bet I want in on.

Join us when you can; call me for other ways to help:

Oconomowoc Phone Banking & Canvassing Schedule:
* Thursday, September 4, 5:00-7:30, canvass from the O’Briens,. Bring cellphones, bottled water, and a friend: 138 E. Greenland Ave. AND, Cellphone bank, 6:00-9:00, at the O’Briens. Bring cellphones. Bring a friend.
* Saturday, September 6, 1:00, canvass from the O’Briens, 1:00.
* Tuesday, September 9, 5:00-7:30, canvass from the O’Briens AND, Cellphone bank, 6:00-9:00, meet at the O’Briens.

Slow motion phone bank/canvass: Packets with addresses, numbers, and scripts can be picked up every week and brought back the next—or I’ll drop them off.
Plug in your zip code to find events closer to you: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (1) | Report Objectionable Content

Don't worry about what you can't do; tell us what you CAN do.

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Sep 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Three things I think you’ll like:
Video of Obama’s speech in Milwaukee, September 1:
http://www.myfoxmilwaukee.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=7337065&version=1&locale=EN-US
This Moveon.org briefing is a fundraiser, but feel free to ignore that part. The rundown of the challenges we face in this election should be mandatory watching for all Obama supporters:
https://pol.moveon.org/donate/electionbrief.html?id=13503-9900850-pxtz9vx&t=1.
I’m reposting the link to the Democratic convention by request. You’ll find everything you missed at the video gallery:
http://www.demconvention.com/

Oconomowoc Phone Banking & Canvassing Schedule:
* Thursday, September 4, 5:00-7:30, canvass from the O’Briens,. Bring cellphones, bottled water, and a friend: 138 E. Greenland Ave.
* Thursday, September 4, 6:00-9:00. Cellphone bank at the O’Briens. Bring cellphones, goodies if you want them, and a friend: 138 E. Greenland Ave.
* Saturday, September 6, 1:00, canvass from the O’Briens, 1:00.

SLOW MOTION PHONE BANK/CANVASS: Packets with addresses, numbers, and scripts can be picked up every week and brought back the next—or I’ll drop them off.
No matter where you are, other teams are active all around you. Find out where you can plug in: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple.

This week’s Quick & Easy thing to do: Come to breakfast! The Waukesha Dems breakfast is this Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. (Maxim’s/the Depot). Paul Soglin is speaking, and there will be a chance to hear about or meet local candidates. Also, I’ll be giving a short update on the state of the campaign in Oconomowoc. Join us!

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

We are the ones we've been waiting for.

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Aug 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

We have the organization.
We have the resources.
We have the will.
We can do this.

Oconomowoc Canvassing Schedule:
Saturday, August 30, shifts leave from The O’Briens at 11:00 a.m. and Noon. Bring cellphones, bottled water, and a friend. (138 E. Greenland Ave.)
*Harley Shift! Meet at the O’Briens at 3:15. We’ll drive to Dousman, set up in front of the Bicycle Dr. and hand out “Harley Facts.”
Slow motion Canvass: Walk packets can be picked up and brought back the next week—or I’ll drop them off. Grab a friend and knock on 10 doors a night! Contact me at staci.leigh.obrien@att.net.

Oconomowoc Phone Banking Schedule:
Tuesday, September 2, 5:00-9:00. Eighteen phone lines available at the Waukesha Office, 804 N. Grand Avenue. Come when you can; stay for an hour/stay for four.
Thursday, September 4, 6:00-9:00. Cellphones only, at the O’Briens. Bring a friend!
Slow motion Phone Bank: Call packets can be picked up every week and brought back the next—or I’ll drop them off. staci.leigh.obrien@att.net

Find other events: that fit your location and schedule: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/search_simple.

Fact: Voters are six times more likely to vote for your candidate if you call them in person—ten times more likely if you talk to them face to face.
FACT: EVERY TIME YOU CALL TO SIGN UP FOR A VOLUNTEER SHIFT, YOU SAVE YOUR ORGANIZERS 10 CALLS.

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who made our gathering at the Depot the Largest Convention Watch Party in Waukesha County! Watch here for future events!

Three things I think you’ll like:
See it all again, or catch the parts you missed: http://www.demconvention.com/
More speeches and videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/BarackObamadotcom
NYT: The softer side of Joe Biden http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/biden-meets-with-delaware-delegates/?hp

This week’s Quick & Easy thing to do: Three words—forward, forward, forward.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Convention Watch Party in Oconomowoc--or Near You!

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Aug 26th, 2008 at 3:23 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Convention Watch Party, this Thursday at Maxim’s/the Depot in Oconomowoc: Don’t forget! Party at 7:00; speech at 8:00.
Or, find a closer watch party by plugging your zip code into “Find Events” at www.mybarackobama.com.

Three things I think you’ll like:
The New York Times’ David Brooks on Joe Biden (written the day before the announcement):
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/22/opinion/22brooks.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
Pictures of the Obama/Biden event in Springfield:
http://thisweekwithbarackobama.blogspot.com/2008/08/obama-biden-pictures-august-23-2008.html
Who really made a killing on the drawn out veep-watch?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/media-learns-wi.html

This week’s Quick & Easy thing to do: Livestream the convention on your computer at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26223664/

Three sites you need to bookmark:
I had hoped to share rebuttals for each email smear, but they’re coming too fast. We really need each of you to work the frontlines and respond to them as you find them in your inbox.
The three websites below address everything from taxes and troop visits to abortion--with links to neutral sources that are easy to send to others. There’s no need to be confrontational; factcheck.org is both the easiest and most persuasive way to deal with these, and we do need to deal with these.

   • Hearing wild rumors about Obama’s positions, actions, or voting record? Answer with the truth:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/
   • This site wraps all the tools you need to respond in a nice little package:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome
   • Received a smear they don’t know about yet? Forward to:
watchdog@barackobama.com

The truth can be powerful, but only if it’s spoken.

Keep it positive out there!

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

77 Days!

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Aug 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Since our list has doubled, it seemed appropriate to reintroduce this post as an update on local events you won’t hear about in national campaign emails—such as next week’s Convention Party in Oconomowoc(!). Please forward this to anyone who might be interested, or send me their emails. If you’re reading this on my blog, and would rather get it as an email, just let me know. This is a private list and will evaporate in 78 days, so there’s no need to worry about spam. Our team is your local campaign contact, so hang on to my contact info. Your questions and comments are always welcome.

Fired up!

Staci Leigh O’Brienfor Oconomowoc’s Obama Neighborhood Organizing Team staci.leigh.obrien@att.net

Here’s your update:

You’re Invited to Oconomowoc’s Convention Watch Party! Watch Senator Obama formally accept the Democratic Nomination for President on Thursday, August 28th at the Depot/Maxim’s in downtown Oconomowoc. Party at 7:00/speech at 8:00. Admission is free; food and drinks are available for purchase. Sign up at www.barackobama.com or look for other convention watch events near you. (Minors are welcome but, of course, they will not be served alcohol.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you…to everyone who canvassed, persuaded, walked, watched, or simply stopped by to encourage us at the Festival of the Arts last weekend. We knocked on over 260 doors (the second highest canvas in the state last Saturday!) and added nearly 100 enthusiastic supporters to our list. Waukesha County may not go blue in November, but we’re turning it purple!!

Three Things I Think You’ll Like:

· “Obama Ready to Announce Running Mate This Week,” The New York Times, August 18: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/us/politics/19veep.html.

· Camp Obama’s guide to the website: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5FdX; more Camp blogs: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/amandascott.

· “Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama”: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/troops-deployed-abroad-give-61.html.

Waukesha office volunteers needed (Info: 262.521.2008):Phonebanking: M-F, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Canvassing: Saturday 10:00-2:00/2:00-6:00; Sunday 2:00-6:00.

This week’s QUICK AND EASY thing to do: Time to put your yard sign up! Help the local office out and make an easy/cheap donation by purchasing your own at www.barackobama.com (click on “store” in the upper banner).

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

This Week's Obama Update from Oconomowoc, WI

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Aug 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Obama in Oconomowoc! This week’s most exciting news is that the Obama campaign will be an active presence in Oconomowoc this weekend with lots of people already signed up to help and lots of slots open for the rest of us. Send Ryan Shannon an email if you want to get involved (ryshannon@gmail.com). Come to town this weekend for Obama, stay for our famous art festival and homemade cobbler!

Other volunteer opportunities:

Phonebanking: at the Waukesha Office, Monday thru Friday, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Call 262.521.2008 for details.

Voter Registration: Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday 10:00-2:00/2:00-6:00; and Sunday 2:00-6:00. Meet at the Waukesha office. Locations shift; transportation from the office available.

Questions? Ryan Shannon: ryshannon@gmail.com.

Three Things I Think You’ll Like:

· It’s getting down to the wire! Sign up to be the first to know who Obama picks as a running mate: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5KD4.

· Meanwhile, this slightly irreverent but dead-on look at possible veeps still makes me laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8TXmHYSbMM.

· Closer to home, check out the Wisconsin campaign blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/wihome#top.

This week’s QUICK AND EASY thing to do: The Obama campaign website makes it easier than ever to participate and stay informed: www.barackobama.com. Poke around and see what’s there and what’s new! If you’re a technophobe like me, give me a call for a mini-tour of gems it took me months to find. Send me an email if you want to set up a time to call: staci.leigh.obrien@att.net

Meanwhile, don’t forget these upcoming events:

Saturday, September 6, The Oconomowoc Dems Monthly Breakfast Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at The Depot/Maxim’s in Oconomowoc. I’ll be speaking briefly about what we’ve got going on in Oconomowoc. Hope to see you there!

As always…forward this post and help spread the excitement! And drop me a note if you want to start receiving this in your inbox: staci.leigh.obrien@att.net

Fired up!

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

This Week's Obama Update

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Aug 1st, 2008 at 2:24 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

If you would like to receive this update by email, please send me a note (staci.leigh.obrien@att.net)

This week’s QUICK AND EASY thing to do: I have never seen a candidate so emphatic about the need for people to participate in their government, or so skilled at giving us the tools we need to do just that. This is our campaign, and we only have 95 days left to make a difference! Decide now to think positive about when, where, and how you can help. If you can’t drive to a phonebank, call from home. If you can’t give an hour—give fifteen minutes. Donate babysitting time while others knock on doors or get rid of those clipboards in your closet…the opportunities are endless. Think what would happen if everyone who had to say “no, not today,” gave just five dollars. Together, we can turn the country toward a new direction! Yes, we can! Even QUICKER and even EASIER: Put this note on your fridge, writ large: “What CAN I do for Obama today?”

This week’s volunteer opportunities:

Phonebanking: at the Waukesha Office, Monday thru Friday, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Call 521.2008 for details.

Voter Registration: Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday 10:00-2:00/2:00-6:00; and Sunday 2:00-6:00. Meet at the Waukesha office. County locations shift, but transportation from the office is available. Email Ryan Shannon at ryshannon@gmail.com with any questions. This week’s most exciting news! Your Obama Neighborhood Organizing Team will be training with the Obama campaign on August 23rd! Call your campaign office to find out about the team nearest you; let them know what you can do to help as we move into the home stretch. In Oconomowoc, contact me if you want to get involved: 569-8802; staci.leigh.obrien@att.net.

Three Things I Think You’ll Like:

· Wow! http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=776931

· Martha’s story Part I: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGxyqX and Part II: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdate2/gGxm5J.

· Moveon.org’s new pro-Obama commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BncNpB6IZ9I.

Don’t forget these upcoming events:

Saturday, August 2, The Oconomowoc Dems Monthly Breakfast Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at The Depot/Maxim’s in Oconomowoc.

Thursday, August 7, The Nelson/Proxmire Dinner: 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Delafield Brewhaus. www.waukeshadems.com

Saturday, September 6, The Oconomowoc Dems Monthly Breakfast Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at The Depot/Maxim’s in Oconomowoc.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Walk for a green future

By Steven Szabo - Jul 30th, 2008 at 6:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Hi to all Sussex area Obama supporters!

This is just to remind folks in the Sussex area that we have a neighborhood "walk in the park" scheduled for tomorrow, check it out if you get a chance, should be easy ...

Beside the environment I would like to discuss jobs and the Sussex Main Street project with folks, trying to find out more info about it as we speak and would appreciate if there was somebody who knows more. It's a "tax increment financed project" which is BAD.

Also I would like to share my experience over the weekend attending voter registration and canvassing drives as well as house parties on health care. So please sign up, the weather is going to be beautiful I hear and we all need a little exercise...I know I do ;)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44ffd

Cheers,
Steve

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Canvassing for Obama

By Steven Szabo - Jul 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

The good folks out of the Waukesha office did a great job this last weekend on the 100th day before election. I shot a couple of videos of Obama field organizers doing the good work and this is the 1st of them. Please get out there and help them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0eNt6-k65Q

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Al Gore's Challenge. Status Report

By Steven Szabo - Jul 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Today, moveon.org reported that almost 50% of all platfrom meetings up to date adopted the "100% renevable electricity in 10 years" challenge as a recomendation 4 the official party platform. Here is their emai, in case you haven't seen it yet:

Dear MoveOn member,

Last week, 288,000 MoveOn members took Al Gore's challenge and signed a petition urging our leaders to commit to producing 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, within 10 years.

Then, hundreds of us took the challenge to the next level—bringing Gore's plan to Democratic Party Platform Meetings around the country to encourage the party to make the bold proposal a part of its issue platform.

The results were overwhelming: Of the parties where MoveOn members made the case for Gore's challenge, 88% voted to include the challenge in their recommendations to the Party. This means that almost half of all meetings nationwide asked the national Democratic Party to make 100% clean electricity within 10 years part of the official Party platform.

These results sent a clear message to Barack Obama and the Democratic Party's leadership: Americans are ready for bold energy solutions that will that will get us off oil, and protect both our environment and our economy.

Thanks for making it happen, and thanks for all that you do.

–Noah, Patrick S., Laura, Matt and the rest of the team

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 3.2 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (2) | Report Objectionable Content

The Health Care plank

By Steven Szabo - Jul 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

To all of you out there trying to come up with contributions to the Democratic Party Platform:

I've been to a very inspiring healthcare platfrom meeting over the weekend on the UWM campus where heath care professionals from all areas of expertise came together in agreement that the current situation is grave and untenable and that the only solution is universal healthcare that emphasizes prevention over costly invasive procedures.

In Obama's plan it is specified that health care should be universally available but it doesn't require universal participation. That's a fatal flaw in my opinion since a system like that will favor what insurrance companies call "adverse selection", that is if you don't want you don't need to participate in the system, meaning you will participate only when you are close to an age that the likelyhood of you getting sick makes it risk prohibitive not to get insurred. Please correct me if I am missunderestimating Obama's plan.

Another problem with this non mandatory approach is that it favors expensive invasive procedures over prevention. That's how it is in the current system too, so it's not a big improvement in this regard. If health care is available to everyone but not mandatory that will assure that doctors will be much better payed for taking care of those who opted out of the system as long as they could than those who were responsible and followed up on their checkups. Currently a cardio specialist makes about $1/2 million while a primary care physician $160k. That's also how profedssional prestige and curtesy is handed out by the system.

That means that all decisions of how federal dollars are spent and HMO incentives are made by people who regard the human body as a machine with parts to be replaced, ie. specialists. That philosophy in my opinion is the crux of the problem. Until we have a profit motive in the system that will prevail in 1 form or another. The very idea of market forces and competition encourages the wrong types of innovation in this field. Medical science is not computers. the object of this industry is human life, not consumer electronics.

If an HMO can make more money by investing in what the market percieves as good as opposed to what academia thinks society needs, based on solid statistical analysis of actual results, you will always have massive missallocation of resources and a pull towards medical hype rather than patient care.

In my opinion the only shortcoming of this meeting was that we failed to agree upon the words "single payer" because the general feeling was that it's A) politically untenable and B) the goal of right incentives can be attained by other means too. But I believe that's the only way to really address this issue. I am curious if any one else has an opinion on this.

In any case, here is the video I shot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQnMU98gvM&feature=PlayList&p=02DFE790786A3937&index=0&playnext=1

I relied in my connclusion on the fact that no other country on earth managed to come up with a system other than "single payer" and have a humane health care system. Switzerland is one exception, although if you look at the details, Swiss society is much different from US society:

http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34175_20070917.pdf

That's why I support John Conyers HR 676:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Health_Insurance_Act

The Diane Rhem show also took on this issue yesterday, no mention of single payer at all:

http://wamu.org/programs/dr/08/07/28.php#21831

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Upcoming Waukesha Dem Events

By Staci Leigh O'Brien - Jul 29th, 2008 at 2:00 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

This Saturday, August 2, The Oconomowoc Dems Monthly Breakfast Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at The Depot/Maxim’s in Oconomowoc. Guest Speakers include Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive, and campaign updates from the Obama staff and Waukesha County Dems.

Thursday, August 7, The Nelson/Proxmire Dinner: 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Delafield Brewhaus. This is the main fundraiser of The Waukesha County Democratic Party. Guest Speakers include Jon Richards of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Joe Winecke, Chairman, DPW. Cocktails are at 6:00, the dinner and program begin at 7:00. The cost is $50/person. Send checks made out to Waukesha Democratic Party to 1726 South West Avenue, Waukesha, WI, 53186 (include # of guests and meal preference: Prime Rib, Lemon Herb Chicken, or Vegetarian Lasagna). www.waukeshadems.com

A message from Dwayne Block on the importance of supporting the Waukesha Dems: Barack Obama brings hope that we will pull many Independents and some "fed-up" Republicans to our side this time. Let's think aggressively. In 2002, there was a 60,000 vote difference in Waukesha Co. Let's imagine that, with strong Obama support, we could take 30,100 votes out of the 60,000 differential and actually win Waukesha County. I know that's a stretch, but let's think tough and give it our best. Wouldn't it be great to win on [the Republican’s] home turf!

Saturday, September 6, The Oconomowoc Dems Monthly Breakfast Meeting: 10:00 a.m. at The Depot/Maxim’s in Oconomowoc. Guest Speakers include Paul Soglin of Madison to speak on the WMC, Staci Leigh O’Brien discussing the local Obama campaign efforts, with others giving campaign updates for Waukesha County.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Successful Platform Meeting

By swimmer - Jul 26th, 2008 at 8:08 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

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.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (3) | Report Objectionable Content

Where do most US Phds come from

By Steven Szabo - Jul 24th, 2008 at 11:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

For those who attend platform meetings it might be interesting to mention this as an argument for all those "mainstream" people who often wonder about the meaning of the word "change"...don't you just love that?! "Sure he stands for change, but that's just an empty word, besides: things are going fine!"

Two Chinese schools, Tsinghua University and Beijing University, moved ahead of the University of California-Berkeley between 2004 and 2006 as the leading sources of students who earned doctorates at American institutions. According to the National Science Foundation's latest "Survey of Earned Doctorates" report, the top five feeder schools to American PhD programs in 2006 were: Tsinghua, Beijing, UC-Berkeley, Seoul National University, and Cornell University.

http://www.norc.org/projects/survey+of+earned+doctorates.htm

I guess the socialist education system is not as bad as it's made out to be ;)

In July 2005, 15 of America’s most prominent business organizations1 joined
together to express their deep concern about the ability of the United States to
sustain its scientific and technological leadership in a world
where newly energized foreign competitors are investing in
the capacity for innovation — the key driver of productivity
and economic growth in advanced economies.

http://www.tap2015.org/news/tap_2008_progress.pdf

If you are interested in policy discussions about education, foreign policy, the environment and the economy, sign up for our weekly platform meetings which will be peripatetic sessions held in Sussex area parks and on trails, good workout plus stimulating discussions.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44ffd

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/SussexWIforObama

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Al Gore's 100% GREEN in 10 years challenge

By Steven Szabo - Jul 24th, 2008 at 2:26 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

Got me very excited lately. I noticed that Obama's goals, 25% renewable electricity by 2025, or 80% CO2 reduction by 2050 as well as some of his plans of renewables, such as "clean coal" are not ambitious enough. I am determined to convince people in my area that we need to influence our leaders through teh Democratic Party platform as wel as my.barackobama.com to do the right thing and raise up to Al Gore's challange.

Did you know for instance that 1 solar thermal array of 94 km2 in the Mojave desert could supply the US with 100% renewable power?! What's the technology used? Very simple: mirrors concentrating solar radiation and boiling water which then moves turbines the same way it does in nuclear power plants. Astonishing that a nuclear or coal power plant is nothing more than a fancy, expensive, inefficient and polluting water boiler that can be built much cheaper using simple mirrors.

There is enough wind energy in the midwest to power the whole United States. T Boone Pickens, head of BP Capital Management wants to build windfarms himself. The question however is: do we want taxpayer handouts to oil company billionaires, or do we want what Germany is doing: highly distributed, decentralized power production with ample incentives to generate local power through townships, communities and individuals.

This and similar issues will be discussed if you show up at the Bugtrail Walk For Obama in Sussex on the 24th and the 31st of July 6:20pm.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/SussexWIforObama

Also sign Al Gore's petition and join the more than 1 million people who demand real solutions!

http://www.wecansolveit.org/

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (2) | Report Objectionable Content

Posts

Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.