I called Senators Murray and Cantwell and Congressman Baird but thought that I would be able to get the budget message across better via email than voice mail (Murray's box was full). I sent those emails on Wednesday and received the following response from Senator Murray today. I find it encouraging:
Dear Ms. Murphy:
Thank you for contacting me about President Obama's federal budget proposal for fiscal year 2010. It is good to hear from you.
As you know, President Obama submitted a fiscal year 2010 budget blueprint to Congress on February 26, 2009. We expect the President will submit his full budget with additional details later in April. The President's budget is both a statement of priorities and evidence of our commitment to making the country stronger for all Americans. This budget blueprint is a step in the right direction. It invests in health care, education, and energy independence. In addition, after eight years of hiding the true costs of war, it is a return to honest budgeting when it comes to funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, President Obama inherited huge problems not of his own making. We are facing tough economic and budget times, including the largest federal deficit in recent history. These realities will require that we make some tough choices.
This March, the Senate Budget Committee, of which I am a senior member, will be writing their own budget. I am dedicated to working with President Obama and my fellow Senators to move forward and invest in our nation. As we continue in the fiscal year 2010 budget process, I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind.
Again, thank you for contacting me with your concerns regarding budget priorities. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates at http://murray.senate.gov/updates. Please keep in touch.
I hope all is well in Vancouver.
I had a kind of archetypal prophetic dream a few days before the election. I was in the upstairs of an empty massive non-descript building in a downtown area, could have been a city hall or an office building, and I was listening to KPOJ, our great liberal Am talk radio station here in the Portland/Vancouver Metro area. The broadcast was interrupted by the Federal Emergency Broadcast and jus then I looked up through the windows to see waves of a tsunami crashing through the streets, and then I looked to the south and west to see even bigger waves about to engulf the building. I wanted to get to a safe place, but I realized there was no safe place to be found, that this dream was about to be swept away by the reality of a tsunami of mega proportions.
I'm not too sure as to how to interpret my dream. I've had a few of these in times past, they don't come very often. But this one, seemed to me to be all about the election and that a new wave of democracy was about to sweep away the old, the outdated, the empty vessel that government had become under the Bush Administration. Wake up Time!
Then came election night, the outpouring of emotion and the jubilation from around the entire globe; not just here at home but from all corners of the earth.
And so now the last couple of days after that wonderful Tuesday night, I've found myself tearing up at the drop of a dime, tear of joy and amazement--on listening in on a news report about this thing or that, watching Barack deliver his first press conference, seeing the pride in people's eyes in restaurants and along the streets and byways. It's as if a huge weight has been lifted off the shoulders of our nation even now, just days into it. Who could have expected these feelings of grace and lightness? Of hope and joy and wonderment?
I remember the talk after 9/11, about how nothing would ever be the same again. Well, in a way I feel that way now after this election, but good, real good. Nothing will ever be the same ever again. Our single combat warrior has arrived in one Barack Obama, Camelot returned and the best first family ever.
And . . . now the real work begins.
For what is this really all about if not about building community, higher purpose and commitment to excellence for a more perfect union? For what’s about to be turned upside down come January 20th, is this government of ours, and from the bottom up, not the other way around.
Rest assured there will be little time for laurels, and as a wise old friend of mine once said; either we are part of the problem or part of the solution, and there's no in between. And only one question is left to ask ourselves: Now which is it going to be?
On September 30th I wrote "WE NEED HIM TO WIN! And imagine the message the world would receive if he won by a landslide???"
Along with billions of people around the world, I watched with tears of joy as Senator Barack Obama was announced President Elect of the United States of America, after sweeping the Electoral College.
It's been difficult these past weeks... I've been living on antacids and milk because my normally cast iron stomach had rusted through with stress from this election. This is not a diet I recommend, but it was effective; I lost 2 pant sizes in the past week. Still can't eat; my head and my heart know that he's won, but my stomach appears to be a slow learner.
Anyway, full speed ahead. I'm so proud of our candidate.
What do we do now? (aside from feeling relieved/thrilled/joyful beyond words?)
Tomorrow we take back our country!
Why I’m A Conservative…. And Why I’m Voting for Obama
To understand where I am coming from, perhaps it is best to tell you where I came from.
I was born in one of the “rustbelt” Midwest industrial cities near the end of the Steel Age. My entire family was Democrats. (Reminds me of the old Will Rogers comment, that he was a Democrat because his father and grandfather were. When asked what he would be if they were horse thieves (or something equally vile at the time), he responded that he would then obviously be a Republican). I was only 13 when Reagan came to power, and still not old enough to vote for him for his second term. At the time, my family refused to become Reagan Democrats, but their stance softened over time, as they watched their precious Democratic institutions (including the labour unions) fail them time and again.
I was living overseas for the 1988 election, and was not very politically motivated. In college, we all leaned to the right, but I still felt that the old adage that “a young Republican has no heart, and an old Democrat has no brains” applied. Little did I realise that, amongst my friends, even those identifying themselves as Democrats still were rather Conservative.
After college, when I went into business for myself, I because even more conservative. I was fortunate to find a Centrist president in President Clinton, the first presidential election I voted in. Even then, I was not voting for Clinton, as much as I was voting against Senator Dole (whose abilities I failed to realise at the time). My ex-in-laws were Republicans, but they were the “scary” kind, the ones that voted against their interests, because their church told them to.
Even after my conversion, living in a city that was 80% Democratic, I remained a Democrat, because that was the only way to have a voice. The local elections were decided in the primaries (which I am sure happened here in the Pacific Northwest, before the implementation of the glorious open primary), so it was necessary to be a Conservative Democrat, and have ones voice heard that way. (Kansas has a similar problem, where it is so heavily Republican, that the liberal Republicans are often more liberal than the Democrats).
However, something has happened in the 12 years since Clinton was last elected to the White House. The Republican party was hi-jacked by the Christian Coalition at the very time I was coming to terms with my deep Conservativeness. I said, back during the primary series, that I had a lot of respect for Sen. McCain, and if it came down to him and Sen. Clinton, I would have to vote McCain. And, honestly, with the way the campaign has shaped up, I just might have voted for THAT McCain over THIS Obama.
However, the Republican party has lost its way. First and foremost, I am from a time where the Republicans stood for fiscal responsibility. Yes, even as President Reagan ran up huge deficits, we still allowed that his low tax, low spending ideals were the way to go. However, President Bush has shown Republican Fiscal Responsibility to be a huge myth. When President Clinton is considered to be the fiscally responsible one, it says a lot about how far the Republicans have fallen.
I have spoken in the past about having friends that are “one-issue” voters, and they vote Republican for that reason, even though their opinion on EVERY OTHER issue favours the Democrats. Recently, I came across something online that called itself “10 Reasons to Vote for McCain”. The funny thing was, the vast majority of the reasons given are the very reasons that I support Sen. Obama so strongly. One of the reasons given for pro-choice people to vote for McCain is, in power for 20 of the last 28 years, the Republicans have done nothing to infringe on a woman’s right to choose. To me, that sounds like a good reason for the pro-life amongst us to vote Democrat, don’t you agree?
I once considered Sen. McCain a good and honourable man. No longer. First of all, Sen. Obama may have ended up being a bit more to the left than I would like, but he is far from being a “Socialist”. And by the current Republican definition of Socialism, the Alaskan scheme to tax the oil going to the Lower 48, and use that money to buy off their own citizens is as Socialist as they come. The entire fiasco surrounding the choice of Gov. Palin chills me to the bone. Not only does her experience pale in comparison to the supposedly “untested” Sen. Obama, but her views are as dangerous to our basic freedoms as any outside threat. How can William Ayres be considered a terrorist, but Eric Rudolph a hero in her eyes? How can her husband support secession from the Union (didn’t we once fight a war amongst ourselves over that very idea?), and yet she question the patriotism of ANYONE? How can she be so unaware of basic facts (the role of the Vice President, the day’s news, scientific theory, Constitutional Law, and so many others), but feel she is qualified to be “a heartbeat from the Presidency”?
I have looked at all of the facts. I have weighed all of the options. I have watched both nominees be dragged down by this political game. And, still, for the first time in my life, I will not hold my nose when I cast my vote for my candidate. And, I am very very proud to say that my candidate is Sen Barack Obama.
They say that a democracy gets the government it deserves. I hope and pray that is not true. As a country, we have shown recently that we do not deserve a leader as great as Sen. Obama. But he is the leader we need, now more than ever. My ballot is marked, and I can only hope you agree with me that Sen. Obama can, should, and must be the next President of these United States of America.
Thank you. And, please, make sure you vote (even if you happen to disagree with me). If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. And, in that case, you will get exactly the government you deserve.
One of the many benefits of an Obama win, if we should be fortunate enough to prevail in this election, will be an administration in support of the arts again. It's been so long, that we've endured the dismal existence of the last eight years of Bush and Cheeney that I can hardly remember what it was like to actually have a president who valued the arts and the meaning they bring to our society; one that proactively supports and promotes them in impactful ways.
Over the lat eight years, an integral part of our national character then we have allowed to languish. And it’s affected everything we do and everything we bear witness to.
So let’s work together in these final days, keeping in mind all of the blessings that will flow from a big win Tuesday, in action each in our own ways to get out the vote. Nothing happens by accident and every action taken over this next few days will contribute to our success in ways we can't begin to imagine. I'm convinced of that.
What we do know however, is that our lives and those of our children and grandchildren for seven generations depend on it.
YES WE CAN
Please contact me if you would be interested in greeting commuters as they board the buses at various transit centers around Vancouver in the mornings between now and the election.
The commuters are a desirable voting demographic group. We can print out and handout various Obama flyers to those interested in additional information.
The first commuter buses pull out around 5:15-5:30am and the last ones head towards Portland around 8:15am. So this is something you could do to help Obama-Biden and still go to work!
Please contact me if you are interested.
P.S. There was a large group of McCain-Palin supporters waving signs and such encouraging people to honk out by Fisher's Landing this past wednesday afternoon--let's show those folks what real campaiging is about!
Thanks.
Debbie Hansen aka debdawg
Let me start off by saying that I do have an issue with Sen. Obama's support of abortion rights. However, this election has always been so important, that we CANNOT allow failed policies to continue because of a difference of opinion of such a divisive issue, with so many other issues to worry about.
Today, I was at church. It was a Catholic church, not some "witchcraft healing" pro-Palin church, but a church which is supposed to encourage independent thought. Although the Church itself has an issue with Sen Biden supporting abortion and remaining an active member, Church policy is clear that as long as abortion is not the deciding issue, a "good Catholic" can vote for the candidate of his choice.
When the speaker took the alter for a post-homily speech, I thought nothing of it. Yes, we often hear about the evils of abortion, and regardless of your stand on the upcoming vote of Washington's assisted suicide bill, you would expect the Church to be vocal in its opposition to it.
I sat there dumbfounded as the guest speaker (a prominent member of the medical field, a doctor who dealt with family issues) not only expressed his support for Sen McCain, but indicated that anyone who couldn't vote for Sen McCain should "find something else to do" on election day.
Now, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who takes the right to vote more serious than me. I have encouraged countless people to register and vote. My overriding view on this is, I don't care WHO you vote for, but if you do not excercise this right, you have no business complaining about the state of..... well, anything. I am very clear in my beliefs. I would assist someone in voting for the opponenet of my favoured candidate, because I feel the right to vote is that important, and belongs to everyone, even those who I disagree with. That is one of the most profound and beautiful things about this country; that your vote is secret, and yet you have nothing to fear by discussing this vote.
The idea of someone speaking from the pulpit, and endorsing disenfranchisment left me cold. Is not the support of a candidate from the pulpit a violation of Church and State, and grounds for losing tax-exempt status?
What to do? If this is happening in progressive Oregon, I can only assume it's going on all over the country.
We need better regulation of health insurance companies.
In my opinion, the Health Insurance business will be the next to financially melt down and then demand to be bailed out by tax payers. There is no shortage of evidence to draw analogies between the current Wall Street mess and the looming Health Insurance crisis in this country; gazillion dollar CEO salaries, unethical business practices, profiting off people's misery.
Barack Obama's plan is the best for our nation for the interim period, a kind of pathfinder.
But in the long term? as far as I can see, there's not much of a future for insurance companies providing for the health care needs of our people. These companies are nothing more than high dollar middle men (paid to gamble on your wellness, and then find ways of depriving you of health care when you need it the most--all to promote exorbitant shareholder profits and CEO mega-bonuses) profiting off the backs of the people, their doctors and hospitals.
All health care should be non-profit. It's a no brainer. We the people should pool our resources, then what would otherwise be skimmed off as insurance company profits would be put to much better use: like paying for health care for people.
Five Myths about John McCain:
http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/player/23356460
Make-Believe Maverick:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain
In 2004, the numero uno Bush backer was the financial services industry, i.e., Wall Street and the banking industry if you can call a derivatives market manipulation scheme an industry at all. Directly Bush tried then to "privatize" Social Security as we remember all too well and thank God every day he failed at that endeavor.
Now only four years later we see the worst financial catastrophe since the Great Depression laid upon our national doorsteps. . . or so we are to believe if we take secretary Paulson at his "words."
Yet one is left wondering if might not this somehow all been planned in advance by the Bush Crime Family, like so many of their previous scams? Well, today we were told as much by his press secretary, Dana Perino, who to paraphrase said something like, yes, the President had been working on this 3 page bail out lanuage for weeks, even a month!
Is that right, well, then how so? if the "derivatives market melt down" all just happened less than one week ago?
These people are CROOKS, that would make the likes of Richard M. Nixon roll over in his grave!!!!!!!!!!!
And John Bushboy McCain, who can't decide which side he is on from one day to the next is no better. These Republicans are "free market" crooks in mumbo jumbo, and let there be no mistake, they are totally OUT OF TOUCH with the collective financially astute American people who refuse to be fooled again!!
NEVER FORGET WE WERE TOLD? YES, WE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW MANIPULATED WE HAVE BEEN!
NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT NO BAIL OUT
If I had only a one word answer as to why I will vote for Obama and not McCain it would be RESPECT!
I want to live in a world that respects us again.
Lets put our nation back on the right track and get our message out to everyone. yes we can. lets give as much as we can now and make this election ours.
his temper scares me, not someone I would want in the White House
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/07/report-mccain-pushed-woma_n_124615.html
How can McSame change washington when he supports everything Bush has done in the last eight years?
Seems to me Sarah Palin is probably about the most unvetted VP pick in American History. Troopergate and Abuse of Power? Book censorship and Abuse of Power on Librarians? Alaskan Independence Party member, a group wo would destroy the Federal Government, and she tells them at thier convention last year (2007), Good Work? Give me a break, this is a gift from on high, like cosmic payback for the Rev Right smears.
And McCain is trying to sell himself as some kind of a Republican moderate? If Dwight D. Eisenhower could see his party today what would he think? And more imporantly who would he vote for? I have a feeling his grandaughter would assure us it would be Barack Obama hands down.
What a joke, she runs a state that has so few people and a surplus of oil profits. What is she going to do when she looks at the US 9 Trillion hole Bush has dug? Her and McCain have no clue.
