Let's go change the world...
It's time for Health Insurance Reform!
Organizing for Austin-Central Texas held our healthcare kickoff meeting tonight and it went very well. Our 15 attendees began the planning process for a health care day of service on the weekend of June 27/28. We decided that the main problem here in Texas is that we have the highest number of uninsured children. We decided to use this as an umbrella over all our service projects in Central Texas. This way, we can volunteer at Children's Hospital (rock the babies), do something with free immunizations, do a baby food/forumula/diaper drive, etc. Our group members are setting up an event to create a resource list for uninsured children to distribute at several locations around town. Anyone will be able to print this document and take part where ever they'd like to help. They will be putting information up at barackobama.com if you'd like to help with this event. I encourage all clubs and Austinites to create your own child centered service project for the weekend of June 27/28 to highlight this national day of service. Of course, if you'd rather do something not child-centered, please do! The point is for us to do a healthcare day of service for whatever needs you are moved by.To schedule your service event on mybo, go here:http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/service There is still time to get a group together to plan your own service event, please do this with your friends, neighbors, colleages and family by next Wednesday.To schedule to host your own healthcare kickoff to start planning, go here:http://my.barackobama.com/hcok-mybo Thank you for all you do!--Lainey Melnick
OFA Austin Regional Leader
lainey.melnick@gmail.com
www.LinkToAustin.com
Facebook Group: Organizing for Austin - Central Texas
Twitter: @lmelnick
Do Our Liberal Gun Laws Make you Feel Safer?
We all see it in the news everyday. We grow numb to the violence that we’ve become accustomed to. With the latest mass shooting in Binghamton NY, mass shootings since the beginning of the year have resulted in 53 dead in 7 separate shootings. And the fear doesn’t stop with some random act of a deranged murderer starting a rampage of revenge. The Mexican drug wars are spilling their violence in the U.S., using guns legally purchased here in America by straw purchasers hard up on their luck. And now Obama is feeling the heat from 62 Congressional Democrats who have told Obama they can't back him on his campaign promise to renew the assault weapons ban. And the Federal Credit Card bill? Be careful on your next trip to a National Park because the tourists may be packing heat!
What do we do about it? There are plenty of places to start. And public officials need to stand up to the powerful gun lobby that keeps meaningful and reasonable policies from reigning in our liberal gun laws that provide no retribution to those selling guns and ammunition to others with no right to bear them. It’s time to get more conservative and preserve the 2nd amendment right for those entitled to exercise it properly. (Note: Although there is still much debate on the interpretation of the Second Amendment, I am working under the assumption that it does exist because of the recent Supreme Court Decision striking down the gun ban in Washington, DC. John Massaro, NY, is coming out with a book this July that further challenges this premise).
And what do our state and federal legislatures propose? Gun-toting everywhere! Guns-on-demand advocates snuck through an amendment to the National Credit Card overhaul bill to allow guns in National Parks, and states like mine (TX) are close to passing legislation allowing guns on college campuses. More proliferation of guns without more responsibility of owners AND sellers will only breed more violence. I grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and there’s no doubt that guns are part of our heritage and way of life. My husband and I own guns, both for self defense and sport. Many in the southern states have an inherent mistrust of the federal government, as some of their cities endured Martial Law and other atrocities during the War between the States. The western states have a frontier culture that has relied on vigilante protection for simple justice during the last 2 centuries. Relinquishing some of your and your family’s protection to others isn’t always easy for some people, but there’s got to be a better way to protect legitimate ownership and use of deadly weapons and ensuring to the public that those acquiring the weapons are legally entitled to do so. So here’s my take on the situation and ways that we can make our gun policies more conservative by tightening up on the illegal acquisition of guns many times purchased legally.
In my opinion, guns have one of three purposes: 1) Sustenance (hunting our dinner!), 2) Sport (hunting and gun collecting is a way of life for many), and 3) Self-Defense (the right to protect ourselves from harm’s way). But regardless of what I think, the 2nd amendment protects our right to bear arms, but owning street sweepers and AK 47’s crosses the line for an individual purpose. But one thing I do get tired of is that lack of open dialogue regarding gun responsibility and accountability and intolerant opinions that stifle true debate on the many issues confronting our communities to date: such as the proliferation of “mass weapons of destruction” and the pervasive degree of violence plaguing most of our cities. Below you’ll find 5 myths about guns that I’d like to dispel, as I’m sure these are all arguments that you’ve heard over and over again:
1) Myth # 1: Guns have played a large part in American history outside of war, as settlers of the frontier had to rely on them for a rudimentary form of vigilante justice.Reality: That role has been exaggerated. Robert Spitzer, Professor of Political Science, SUNY Cortland, comments in a book review of Alexander DeConde’s “Gun Violence in America,” that ….strict gun laws existed even in colonial America…and….were quickly enacted in newly established frontier towns during the nineteenth century, and they were widely debated in the 1920s and 1930s during Prohibition and the meteoric rise in gangster activity. DeConde notes in his book that the number of guns during colonial times was far less than legend would have it. "English colonists did bring firearms with them for self-defense as well as for offense," but they "also brought the practice of restricting gun keeping, usually to selected upper-class males" (p. 17) The scarcity of firearms in America was attributable to some obvious facts, including that they were expensive (guns were either made by hand in America, or imported from abroad), were made of materials that deteriorated rapidly, meaning that they had to be constantly serviced and maintained; required considerable skill to master; required maintenance after relatively few firings; and required firing materials that were also difficult to come by and that had short shelf lives. During the Revolutionary War, 80 percent of all firearms and 90 percent of the needed powder had to be imported from France and Holland. In the early 1790s, Secretary of War Henry Knox concluded that only about 20 percent of the nation's 450,000 militiamen carried firearms. Of the government-owned stock of 44,000 muskets, half were didn’t even work. The difficulty in affording and obtaining firearms during the 18th and 19th centuries contrasts sharply with the ability to obtain cheap firearms made in China like they were toys.
Myth # 2: We need the 2nd Amendment’s Right to Bear Arms to protect our freedoms and the rest of the Constitution. Reality: Why isn’t it working?Contemporary times have seen many of our constitutional rights erode, and none of our Bill of Rights should individually be upheld in a vacuum. 9-11 has seen a drastic emphasis on National Security, sometimes at the expense of our individual rights. Over half of our Bill of Rights relates to due process, and the following amendments in my opinion are in dire jeopardy of further erosion:
First Amendment – freedom of speech is abridged every day with school censorship, and workers trying to organize unions are denied their constitutional rights to free assembly.
Fourth Amendment – illegal searches and seizures are now commonplace! Congress just overwhelmingly passed the FISA bill allowing for warrant less wiretapping of our phone conversations (yes, “ours”), and the Supreme Court recently ruled that the long-standing “knock and announce” practice by police before searching a home is no longer necessary. I recently had a headlight out on my car that may have been out for weeks, and my husband pointed out to me that a non-working headlight is actually probable cause for a police search of a vehicle without a warrant. Probable cause? How can a missing headlight prompt and invasive search of me and my vehicle?
Sixth Amendment – better hope you’re a US citizen if you end up in Guantanamo Bay, as people rot in jail for years without formal charges being filed! It’s a shame that what applies to us as citizens, like basic human rights, gets denied to those who can’t call themselves an “American.” I hate double standards.
Seventh Amendment – the right to a trial by jury by your peers in civil matters is almost non-existent in some states, thanks to “conservative” efforts commonly known as “tort reform.” The saying “he’ll have is day in court” is becoming a euphemism, as more and more people are being shoved into “binding arbitration” as a way of settling disputes, with little recourse if you’ve been wronged. The courts were meant to be an avenue to seek justice, but our access to the courts is being denied every day by those who see “litigation” as a nuisance. The threat of a lawsuit has long been a deterrent to keep individuals and corporations from doing the wrong thing, which they can now do with impunity.Yes, we’ve all heard that the Second Amendment protects “freedom” and our “way of life,” but where is the Second Amendment in protecting these rights disappearing before our eyes? During the 2000 elections in Florida when thousands of Floridians were denied the right to vote, can you imagine if they had whipped out guns to protect their right to vote? Riots could have gotten pretty bloody, especially with racial tensions at an all-time high during this large-scale voting rights controversy.
Myth # 3: We already have enough gun laws, we just need to enforce the ones on the books. Reality: Illegal “possession” is meaningless without illegal “acquisition.” It’s kind of ironic to me that guns-on-demand advocates use as a defense existing gun laws, when they fought what laws we have every step of the way! But aside from that hypocrisy, let’s look at what’s wrong with it being perfectly legal for you to sale your gun to someone without the legal right to carry a firearm, namely the mentally ill, a convicted felon, or a minor. Some people in our society don’t possess the right to bear arms if they meet one of these 3 conditions, and our liberal gun laws allow them to access guns on a daily basis through perfectly legal means. For every 10 people in this country, there is a gun for 9 of them. Maybe I’m just traveling in the wrong circles, but it seems to me that more than 10 % of the people in this country are under 18, mentally ill, or a convicted felon. In fact, one out of 5 Texans possesses a criminal record, but that’s a story for another debate. More conservative gun laws would attach a level of financial and/or criminal responsibility to those who sold their guns to someone without the legal right to bear them. The NRA has studies that show the average homicide is committed with a gun that is 6 years old. Registration at point of purchase is meaningless, since most guns are sold in the secondary market. Back to the illegal “possession” and the fourth amendment. Now, for law enforcement to get someone on an illegal weapons charge, they sometimes have to “bend” the fourth amendment right against illegal searches and seizures to find “probable cause” for a warrantless search. It’s even happened to a family member of mine (who had a chain in the back of his pickup truck characterized as a “weapon”). I’d rather keep my fourth amendment and tighten up on people legally purchasing a gun if they don’t have the legal right to bear it.
Myth # 4: The Government will confiscate your guns if you register them. Reality: Watch out for the politicians undermining your 4th Amendment, NOT your 2nd Amendment!It seems ironic to me that, the politicians that ostensibly claim to want to protect your 2nd Amendment Right to Bear Arms give such little regard for this OTHER Bill of Right to so critical guard against exactly what most gun rights advocates fear about registration: Confiscation. Yes, Hitler confiscated guns that were registered in Germany, and no, they didn’t have a Bill of Rights. But pick the right one to protect here! If we want to instill true responsibility with gun ownership and ensure that guns aren’t sold to those with no legal right to carry them, then transferring legal “title” to the gun upon transfer, much like transferring title to your car, which can also be a deadly weapon, will help protect you from liability upon sale as well as the public. Sure registration carries risks. But so does sex. Does that stop people from risky behavior?
Myth # 5: Only criminals will possess guns of you require registration and law abiding citizens won’t have access!Reality: Criminals legally acquire guns now, and why is that? Criminals SHOULD only get guns through criminal means if they’re going to get them at all! Franklin D. Roosevelt's attorney general, Homer Cummings, said in 1937, "Show me the man who does not want his gun registered, and I will show you a man who should not have a gun." Being from the South, I do understand an inherent distrust with an autocratic, overreaching government. Southern cities were put under Marshall Law, and we in the South value states rights to avoid an overzealous Federal Government. But we don’t have anywhere close to a balance. If a criminal gets a gun, it SHOULD be done illegally and not through legal channels as they do now. The status quo is anarchy, and yes transferring title might seem bureaucratic, but I want the assurance that those acquiring guns have the legal right to do so. That’s NOT too much to expect, and counties could charge an at-cost fee of $ 15 or so to cover the background check when transferring title. Besides helping assure the public that only law-abiding citizens are acquiring guns, gun title will attach a level of financial responsibility as well as the criminal responsibility to gun ownership that to date has been lacking. If a gun you own is used in the commission of a crime whether you pulled the trigger or not, then taxpayers can seek restitution from irresponsible gun owners who can’t keep track of their possessions that are dangerous in the wrong hands. Gun violence costs taxpayers billions of dollars in the form of police costs, court costs, and incarceration costs. Taxpayers should be able to place a lien on property to reimburse taxpayers for irresponsible gun ownership (any relatives living in a homestead could be protected as long as they’re living in the house). If your gun(s) is/are stolen, you can be given a window to report your weapons missing for protection from liability. Also, without legal title to the guns, burglars and drug addicts won’t be able to sell the weapons to pawn shops, etc. Will taxpayers recoup that much money? Probably not, but John Hinckley, attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan, comes from a family perfectly capable of footing at least part of the taxpayers’ bill incarcerating him. It can be a feature exercised in instances such as these to at least recoup part of the billions we spend each year incarcerating the guilty, insane, and irresponsibles in our midst. Gun title will also attach a level of responsibility to the seller, who to date has been able to skirt out of any culpability in selling to ill-fit individuals.This leads us to a discussion about the mentally ill, a serious problem with their ready access to firearms and ammunition. States should send data of the mentally ill to the federal database to keep them from passing background checks on purchases. States such as Texas are flat-out wrong to not participate in providing that data, even after we’ve seen our own university massacre resulting from a deranged individual’s legal access to weapons.
Myth No. 6: The threat of a lifetime in jail or the electric chair will deter enraged individuals from committing mass murder.Reality: These deranged individuals usually commit suicide when they’re done with their rampage anyway, so there’s no deterrent incentive.This takes us back to carrying gun title and the taxpayer’s right to attach liens on any existing assets the murderer may own to reimburse the public for the tremendous societal costs. Maybe there’s nothing we can do about a dead gunman. But the public CAN do something about the person or store equipping an ill-fit individual with the instruments that can cause so much damage in the wrong hands.
No one has all the answers to help us address these serious questions of public safety and their relation to balancing our individual rights, but thoughtful dialogue free from rote, rehearsed responses is the only way for us to come together and tackle this serious issue. Gun violence in this country does NOT have to be tolerated to the level it’s at, and we can still give people their guns if they want them. Just make them criminally AND financially responsible when they’re used irresponsibly and/or criminally, even when they cross the border, and we’ll see serious changes that save thousands of lives and millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
I though I would post this on here, It's my story and opinion I offered to the President's cause. I hope someone listens.
I am no longer covered under my parents' insurance plan, though I am still a college student. They failed to send a cancellation notice, and instead sent us a bill for my blood work and doctor's visit, totalling about $500. That may not seem like much, but to a poor college student, paying my own way through university with a part-time job, it was a lot. It was definitely a lot to have been forced upon me with no notice. My father and I fought with the company for months before they finally sent a cancellation notice for a later date, thus covering the disputed costs. It was an unnecessary struggle I do not wish to repeat. The result is now, I cannot afford to go to the doctor and when I got flu like symptoms a month ago, all i could do is rest and wait it out. Thankfully it went away after a week. That is now how I must operate. One thing my family is concerned with is that I have a thyroid problem, which left unattended could worsen my general health in the long run. That's what the disputed blood work was testing. However, even if I wish it, I cannot afford to do anything about that situation. Even before I had to worry about my lack of health coverage, the idea of profiting off of health offended me deeply. I am against the idea of insurance which adds middle-man bureaucracy only concerned with how wide their profit margins can grow. Health care should be a right and not a privilege for the wealthy. I support the idea of a single payer system, where my taxes are raised to pay for my health care. I believe, in this system, it would be easier to implement a PREVENTATIVE health care system which would save us more costs preventing serious illness early. Please, Congressmen and women, for once consider what is best for our society as a whole, regardless of concerns about re-election bids being affected. If re-election is your main agenda, then you are not truly representing the people. I implore you to create a system to benefit the future of America. That's for what your elected position is meant.Power with inaction, isn't power at all. Thank you, and I hope to the fruits of your labor soon. A deeply concerned citizen, Lindsey Allen,
Denton, TX
THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
The First Lady at Miriam’s Kitchen
Yesterday Mrs. Obama served food at Miriam’s Kitchen, a local non-profit organization that provides healthy, nutritious meals to the homeless in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Obama discussed the need to support food banks and soup kitchens around the country given that things will get worse before they get better. (View full size) She said Miriam’s Kitchen "is an example of what we can do, as a country and as a community, to help folks when they’re down. We’re all going to need one another in these times. We’re going to need to keep lifting each other up, in prayer and in hope."
Dear American Friends,
Wish you all a very happy New Year! I am now officially a candidate for the European Elections.
Please look at www.unicovankooten.eu . You can leave a message at 'gastenboek' if you want.
I would like to write a blog about the importance of the American-European relationship and would be
greatful if you would share your views with me on that.
Best regards, Unico
Dear Democrats,
The Dutch Democatic party D66 would like to learn from the success of the campaign of Barack Obama. It is important that also Europe shifts even stronger towards new policies and real change, on the economy, greening the way we live and use the planet and protecting us from natural disaster.
Sophie in t Veld and running mates like me (unico van kooten) would like to start too a grass root campaign. If you could help us in any way please contact us.
unico.voor.d66@gmail.com
The Dutch D66 www.d66.nl is a more centric party on social economic issues, believing in the power of people and with a strong progressive focus on human rights issues and democracy too. In the period in power (1994-2002) we were the driving force behind organising in law equality between heteros and gays (gay marriage was introduced) and legalising abortion and euthanasia in specific described situations, in order to not criminilize human beings who are compassionate with other human beings and giving people the chance to decide more freely themselves on these issues. But also policies on tax reliefs and support for innovating start up companies was part of the new deal, the third way. This time we think a fourth way should be paved. A sound policy on shifting the economy on greening the way we live. This creates millions of new jobs over the whole world and make our journey in this world more sustainable.
Candidate European ParliamentUnico van KootenUnico.voor.D66@gmail.comhttp://unicovooru.blogspot.com/
www.linkedin.com, www.facebook.com
Campaign and Communication Advisor
Roeland ScholtalbersRoeland.voor.D66@gmail.com
It is almost 2.30 pm in the Netherlands and I am going to bed in just a second.
But before doing so I would like to congratulate all the Americans for being part of this remarkable campaign. If Barack Obama is elected as President, then really the American Dream is reachable for everybody. And you know what, he will be! I am confident know.
Moreover, it will be peoples time, time of real change.
You and Barack Obama, Joe, Hillary and Bill did inspire me so much, that I decided to run again for Member of the European Parliament in June 2009.
As you know Europe is the United States of Europe, with 27 states and 500 million people. Hope to meet Barack officials in person after being elected next year.
If you have any suggestions, tips or advices that can contribute to my campaign for the Dutch Democrats for the European Parliament, please let me know.
http://unicovooru.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for Your inspirational work and I salute You volunteers and people of America
God Bless America and Europe and Presidents that Unit the world.
Unico from Europe
Dear Americans,
In 1990 I was 18 years old and watched on the Dutch television the historic liberation of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. It was the end of apartheid (unfortunately a Dutch word, meaning separation) in South Africa and the beginning of a United State of South Africa. I always opposed categories as whites, blacks, Asians and Latinos. It does not work, and it is discrimination. People are people and the colour of the skin may never be an issue. It is about who you are and what you do for others!
I, my two younger brothers and my sister we all cried! It was one of the greatest moments that I then experienced.
In these past 20 and more months YOU together with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did something amazing. And Barack Obama made it his campaign slogan, “Change we can believe in”. You changed America and your standing in the world already before the end of the elections. How?
1. Americans throughout the country know now that EVERY American can become President. You do not have to have a specific colour and be from a specific gender anymore! YOU the American people did this. And I am proud of you.
2. Barack Obama, also Hillary Clinton and YOU changed the standing in the world. I have never seen so much enthusiasm in Europe about an American candidate as about Barack Obama. He is not only inspiring you but us as well. The same goes for the amazing Hillary Clinton. She transformed her personal loss, into a win for the American People. What a character. But it is YOU the American people we are proud of the most. What an wave of positive energy YOU have brought to the world. In comparison to the MC Cain / Palin ticket, I truly get frightened when I watch Mc Cain shouting: “fight for me, fight for me.” He is not a diplomat by heart and America can not afford another war. You go bankrupt and destabilise by that the whole world.
3. But, in essence, it was YOU the American people who believed in change, isn't that what the American Dream is about. It is worth “fighting” for a democracy and everybody can contribute to it. I am tully proud of and amazed by YOU.
Today I got a gift from my colleague. She went to the USA (Washington, NY and Florida) and saw the posters and banners of Barack in every street were she got. She brought me two buttons of Obama. Thank you! I will keep these buttons as reminder in the firm believe of the goodness and strength of the people and good and inspirational leadership, which together makes the difference.
Keep on going; I salute you people of America and especially all the volunteers. I salute you Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And I salute you Hillary Clinton.
To make change a further reality you know you have to make the decisive proposals in the first ¾ year to make it work in time.
p.s. only one more blog to come, that will be tomorrow very late.
The American and European Community will celebrate the US election tomorrow in Brussels.
Kennedy's on Barack Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJb1E4sELO4
This is going to be a great momentum in history, real change is on the way. Keep on fighting.
All the best, Unico
How to celebrate?Dear Volunteers of the Barack Obama campaign all across the USA.This European guy would like to thank you for one of the best run political campaigns in election history, I followed so far.Why did you do so well? I think because it is clear to YOU too, that these elections are about YOU.
I will give YOU a hint how to celebrate:
1. The day before the elections YOU celebrate together the work you did and the experience YOU
gained of working together on common goals. I would start with a couple of beers and some
crispy chips. And maybe some Dutch Gouda chees.
2. On the day of thé election YOU celebrate that VICTORY for YOUR country is close. As YOU do
not know the final outcome jet – but YOU have a good feeling about it – it is important to open
up the bottle of Champagne. Nobody will ever take this celebration away from you again.
3. On the day of VICTORY YOU hug all the people YOU want to and remember each other that
the real work has jet to begin. Because of this particular important election for all Americans and
beyond, YOU deserve it to open up a second bottle of Champagne.
All the best, and do not forget to celebrate, YOUR performance has already been remarkable.If YOU want to become Friends with me, you can contact me via FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1430137614Unico from Europe
"I come from Austria, a socialistic country. There you can hear 18-year-olds talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best... Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. I felt I had to come to America, where the government wasn't always breathing down your neck or standing on your shoes."http://www.reason.com/news/show/32707.htmlEurope and in particular Austria is not a socialist country! The statement of Arnold Schwarzenegger is as untrue as incomplete as saying that Obama is a Socialist. The problems and challenges of American people do not differ from that of people in other parts of the world. The fact of the matter is that Europe in comparison to America is not in a deadlock of solving these problems; we are going forward on the issues. And we are looking forward to an USA President who understands peoples needs and joins in.If you examine the last elections in Austria, you see that there is tendency to move more in the direction of the centre right. And that is worrisome. Austria has political parties like the Social Democrats and the Austrian People party, who all fit into a mixture of Social Concervatism and Social Democracy taking care of all people, not only the wealthy. Is Arnold talking about himselve being wealthy and that he does not want to pay a little extra for people who really need it! Come on Schwarziboy, don’t act so cheep.Kids of 18 are not thinking about their pension plans at all. That is a phenomenon you can encounter in all states of the world. What a weird thing to say.As a matter of fact in countries like the Netherlands nobody until its 27td gets social security, because we believe in the strength of our youth. That Europe respects the hard working elderly more than the USA at the moment is a plus, not a minus. Was Arnold talking about that? We have in a lot of EU states things better organised than the USA at the moment (think about health care, education and pensions for the hard working middle class). A man with muscles does not necessarily has the brains to understand that by strengthening the middle class you strenghten your society.Arnold is burning his roots and that doesn’t come good in Europe. He started his carrier in Europe, with a huge desire and determination of becoming the best body builder. His family helped him in that respect. And some 30 years ago he got changes in the U.S.A. to show is incredible talent as such on a much broader platform. I believe Arnold is rewriting his own history for political reasons and that is cheep. It is great that an European became so succesful in America, the land we love too. But it is disrespectful and untrue to state that his departure out of Austria has anything to do with SOCIALISM in Austria. As a matter of fact in that time - 30 years ago - social security and especially the pension plans - weren't so sophisticated as they are now today. Arnold: what is wrong with having pension plans managed well for people who deserve it?
His statement is a blunt, untrue and disrespectful statement to the country he came from.As a matter of fact Austria has a higher GDP per capita than the USA has at the moment.Austria is better equipped to deal with health and social issues than the USA and the education system is also providing chances for everybody. What is your point Arnold?Do you not love your country Austria, your roots over everything in the world? I believe Arnold his rewriting his history to depart from Austria for cheep reasons. And that is just the same old politics we want to be liberated from.Unico from Europe
Dear All,To understand that at that night Barack wrote history and added something important to the American history, you have to listen to the comments of the annalists just after the speech.Their spontaneous reactions say it all. Didn't it?"They did not know him, but certainly do now."It is not difficult to understand Barack, just watch and listen.I can not understand that this VIDEO is only watched approx. 60.000 times yet.You have to store this American history.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36IsXj686Vc
Dear All,
In Europe we are always well informed about the American elections.And back in 2004 I watched the speech of the than unknown Barack Obama to me on the Democratic Convention.What I then saw and heared was remarkable. A young man with strong believes and sound messages, was touching upon the hearts of so many. From that moment I hoped from the bottom of my heart that he would be the leader of America ones.And four years later he is doing it, for his country with a sound believe in YOU the American people.This is America at its best. That is the American Dream come true. A dream to be lived by all of us. I will never forget that.Unico from Europe
2004 Democratic National Conventions Speech Video: Obama speaks at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1772826054/bclid1774292975/bctid791793079
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1772824057/bclid1774292969/bctid1442372461
Already somebody affraid that Obama visits TEXAS and talk to Americans in Texas.
TEXAS is the next state for America and for Obama
Yes we can
Unico
President Clinton was in 1992 4% away of winning TEXAS with 35 electoral votes.
In that time also the ECONOMY was the main topic of concern to people.
The difference is however that:
1 Texans are hard hit by the recent storms,
2 The economy is in a worse condition than in 1992.
Obama could win the hearts of the Texan people by showing some interest in the people and assessing the damage done recently by this big storm.
Even Texas is not far away anymore. And I love the Texan people! Everything is possilbe if you work hard and believe in it.
This election is about political change, everything is possible, if Obama keeps focussed on the issues that matter to people and he does.
Go to Texas. A clearer signal to ordinary people is not possilbe, of a man who wants to built bridges and overcome differences.
