DJs, Musicians, Artists, Poets & Creators of the GREATER GOOD FOR BARACK OBAMA in 2008!!!!

idiots prayer

Filo — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:16:07 EST

My voice is byzantine arabic sounds like the animals.and my house is a mess women?

i can t change

Filo — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:40:07 EST

FAIRIES WEAR BOOTS

Is Sean Hannity's Political Talk Hurting Our Kids Critical Thinking?

AmeriGus — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:47:08 EST

With the USA in uncertain economic straits, you would think American parents would be looking more closely at their children's civic education. Despite an ever increasing availability of data, media and technology, however, our kids often develop warped perspectives because they are not being exposed to the range of views present in "reality". This will affect their health, wealth, well-being and political views and will shape America's future.
The problem is that "learning" today is less about going to school or reading and more like negotiating a super-barrage of media inundation where money trumps accuracy. Fake news and slanted discussion is churned out to sell us on political narratives using the emotion-tugging methods perfected by the manipulative geniuses in advertising, marketing, mass-messaging and mutant hybrids thereof.
Many Americans don't realize the effect the multimillionaires secretly exert on public debate of issues. Today's talk radio industry has made propaganda a part of everyday life, expanding political speech we used to see only in campaign ads fully into the content of three-hour shows.But unlike truth-in-advertising regulations that mandate accuracy or balance (as in pharmaceutical ads), nothing compels hosts, producers or execs to be honest - there are no industry guidelines and no legal requirements anymore.
So America's top-rated talkers exaggerate, obfuscate and deceive our citizens every day as they ironically claim both patriotic and spiritual high ground, contradicting not only America's noblest responsibility, but updated "sin" canons issued by the Pope in 2008 including "social injustice which causes[s] poverty or the excessive accumulation of wealth by a few."
During the Bush era, many of the biggest debates concerning our security and domestic policy have been hijacked by monied minorities with hidden agendas buying high-visibility messaging from friendly media surrogates. Corporate cash translates very easily into air time, whether it's George Soros or the secret financiers behind the Swift Boat ads.

Three Grammy Award Women on Health Care

RFLTV for Obama — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:10:36 EDT

Kelly Price, Debra Cox and Tamia Hill talk to Tracy Tluv on RFLTV about Health Care and their new humanitarian project called "The Queen Project". Please support and see how you can help me continue to get many fellow celebrities involved with their voice that can make a difference. Thank You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da046hYtj1I

Build Support In Your Community

EsquireUK — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:12:05 EDT

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Word-from-the-White-House-President-Obama-Welcomes-Doctors-from-Around-the-Country/

It's no secret that institutions of all stripes focus their communications on certain messages day to day. We thought it would all be a little more open and transparent if we went ahead and published what our focus will be for the day, along with any related articles, reports or documents.

Supporting Article: "Poll: Doctors Among Public Option's Biggest Fans," NPR, 9/15/09

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Word-from-the-White-House-President-Obama-Welcomes-Doctors-from-Around-the-Country/

On Friday, Dr. Alice Chen sent out a special message to fellow OFA supporters:

My name is Alice Chen. I'm an OFA supporter, and a physician practicing internal medicine in Los Angeles.

I'm following the health reform debate pretty closely -- you probably are too. And as I see opponents of reform trying to water down or derail the President's plan, I know it's our urgent responsibility to speak out.

That's why millions of my fellow doctors and nurses, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and groups like the one I work with called Doctors for America are all fighting so hard for reform right now: talking to our patients, holding grassroots events -- and a few are even filming an ad with OFA.

Health professionals are doing what we can, but this is something we need to do together. Your voice, your opinion, and your story can help influence the debate at this crucial moment. Can you take 5 minutes to write a letter to the editor of your local paper in support of President Obama's Plan for health reform?
OFA has an online tool that makes it really easy. They'll provide background info on the President's plan that you can combine with your personal story about reform, and you can even submit your letter online to newspapers near you.

You don't have to be a doctor or an expert to write an effective letter -- you just have to have an opinion or a personal story to share. And these letters are short, usually just a paragraph or two, but they can have a huge impact because it shows your representatives and the media what local folks are thinking in the most public way possible.

I know that one of the most important things I can do for the health of my patients is to stand up for the reform all Americans need. That's why I and my fellow doctors are working so hard to spread the word, and that's why I'm asking you to join me by writing a letter today.

http://my.barackobama.com/write

Thank you,

Dr. Alice Chen

P.S. -- I want to share a story with you about why I'm so passionate about reform:
Two years ago, I took care of a businessman in Los Angeles. He had Crohn's disease, and his health and nutrition had been getting worse for over a year. He was seeing doctors at one of our private hospitals, but he lost his insurance, so he couldn't see his doctors anymore. Buying private insurance was impossible - no amount of money could have convinced an insurance company to cover him. He tried the county hospital ER, but the wait was 24 hours. He thought maybe he could manage.

A few months later, when he could barely walk from his bed to the door, he tried the ER again. By then, he had kwashiorkor (the kind of malnutrition that famine-stricken African children get) as a complication of his gut disorder. Every organ system was failing. I remember that even in the hospital, he tried to keep up his work via his Blackberry. We tried to help him, but he rapidly deteriorated and died just six days after admission.

I was devastated and talked to many colleagues about what I could have done differently to save my patient. He should have been living his life and being a productive member of society today, but he's dead. We could have saved him if he had been able to come for care sooner -- instead of being deterred by his lack of insurance. Ultimately, I recognize that he died because the system failed him. In our great country, that is unacceptable.
That's a big reason why I keep fighting for reform. I hope that this week, you can share your own view and your story in your letter to the editor.

Over the past week, OFA has been organizing events for health insurance reform with doctors and nurses across the country. At a “Roundtable” event in Gainesville, FL, Dr. Rob Hatch said the health care status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable. Here’s his quote from an article in the Gainesville Sun:
"It's just inexcusable. It's absolutely inexcusable and we need to do something about it. One reason our health care is so bad is that we have so many uninsured people," Hatch said.
In Albany, Georgia, about half a dozen doctors are planning to make 40,000 calls for health insurance reform. They’re talking to locals about what reform will mean for them, answering questions, debunking rumors and asking them to call on their senators and representatives to support President Obama’s plan. Here’s an excerpt from the piece on WALB News:
"I was calling to discuss health care reform with you," said Dr. Tania Smith, of Prestige Pediatrics.

Public opinion over health care reform remains divided and now these south Georgia health care professionals are weighing in. They joined forces with Organizing for America to push reform now.

"Right now people are looking for answers, they're looking for the truth about health care reform and doctors are a great place to start," said Ken King, Organizing for America.

Pediatrician Tania Smith is on the front line of this debate. While critics worry the President's plan may take decisions away from doctors, she feels insurance companies are already doing that. "As the system is going now we have a lot of people who are medically ignorant making decisions and denying claims and making insurance populations where you don't have any wellness visits included in your plan," said Smith.

AMERICA 10 MONTHS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA

Appolo — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:37:28 EDT

First i want to thank President OBAMA for an outstanding job for the last 10 months in office and when you read this Mr President,i want you to know that all my thoughts and prayers are with you.God Bless you and your family,and God Bless America.

Mr President,these thoughts i am about to outline are both to you and to the American people for as a keen observer of all the ongoing events,i think a good percentage of Americans are either lost in translation,or they are just stupid and stuborn.Mr President i want you to know that you are doing a phenomenal job for some of us who got a brillant mind like you and are great free thinkers.To those of you who don't understand,i am going to help you Mr President,to break it down for them so they can let you go further with your agenda,and achieve these brillant visions that we have for America.

To all readers of my thoughts from the Balcony,you should know by now that RESISTANCE WITHOUT A PURPOSE TO ME IS CONSIDERED FOOLISH AND STUPID.Why?

What is your problem with a PUBLIC OPTION in the Healthcare reform plan?

What is your problem with President OBAMA'S Birth certificate?

What is you problem with LIFE?

Are you DELIBERATELY stopping the President elect from doing his job?

Now let me break it down for those of you who got all these so called issues with President OBAMA.You guys are just IGNORANT,and have idle minds which is the devil's workshop.You don't think,You don't VISUALIZE,and You REFUSE to learn.My fellow WORLD CITIZENS,this is a RECEIPY FOR DISASTER.When i see and read the way some of you critisize him,deform his character and image with no better proposals in return,i feel like we are driving ourselves pretty close to what we call ARMAGEGON TODAY.People let me remind you this:

"Ignorance leads to ego,ego to selfishness,selfishness to resentment,resentment to anger,anger to hatred,hatred to annihilation."Heart of a Buddha.

But this fellow concerned citizens is not going to happen because of ignorance,because we have a President in the person of BARACK OBAMA,who has a perfect VISION for this country and the world as a whole.You have a President with the brightess mind ever,You have a good man who is sacrificing alot for his people,You have a Presidentwho is willing to give you everything you want and as he promissed during his campaign,He is willing to work for America and the World to get better,SO CAN YOU PLEASE UNDERSTAND HIM ,AND GIVE HIMA CHANCE TO WORK FOR YOU THE PEOPLE.Open your eyes,ears,hearts so your minds can be free and you would understand him better.

"Hear what is said,retain what is important,speak what is worthy.Attach to nothing."Heart of a Budda.

President OBAMA came to power at a very crucial point and time in world history.He inherited not only a very HUGE DEFICIT,but also a POWERFUL ECONOMIC RECESSION,TWO UN-NECESSARY WARS,and as if it's not enough,CRITICISM from a group of people with unthinkable not to say stupid and crazy reasoning faculties.

"Peace is not the absence of WAR,it is a VIRTUE,a STATE OF MIND,a DISPOSITION FOR LOVE,HONESTY and TRUSTWORTHINESS."Heart of a Buddha.

President OBAMA is here to let his people free.When i say his people,i know very well what i mean.All around the World,peopl are looking up to him for a better situation for everybody i.e Parents,children, and even future generatiopns to come.But the amazing thing is that all Resistance against him is comming from the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,which is considered the greatest Power and Democracy in the WORLD.Now i have another question which is WHAT DOES THAT POTRAY ABOUT AMERICA?Peolpe again let me remind you of this:

"In our interactions with others,gentleness,kindness,respect are the source of harmony."Heart of a Buddha

"I THANK GOD HE IS A GOOD MAN,AND HE IS HERE DURING THESE VERY DIFFICULT TIMES TO SET US FREE."

President OBAMA is not a politician for some of you who don't know.First of all he is a parent,then he is a man on the rise with an outstanding vision for AMERICA and the WORLD.He is a free thinker with a brillant mind,he dares to do what most of our leaders before him could not do,he is a GOOD TEACHER if you let him into you hearts,he is a good family man and to add it all up A MAN OF GOD.With his great commonsense,vision and wisdom, he understands the FUNDAMENTAL BASICS OF LIFE.Give him his chance to work and stop what i call "BLIND RESISTANCE"because it's not going to take us anywhere.

WE THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS,GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT FOUNDERS AND ORGANIZERS around the WORLD, are going to continue to give you Mr President,all the support that you need because we understand what time it is.This is a very crucial and important moment in WORLD HISTORY.

Politics is the oldest game in the book,so politicians should stop putting their interests before those of the peolple who pay their salary and put them into office because we the concerned citizens already know the games they are playing.These "POLITICIANS"are mad,angry at President OBAMA because HE DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY THESE GAMES WITH THEM.Another food for thought for you America:IF WE SPEND 1 YEAR ON HEALTHCARE REFORM,HOW LONG SHALL WE SPEND ON OTHER PRESSING ISSUES?Ther is still a lot of work to do for the BENEFIT OF ALL MANKIND,so politicians stop "PLAYING THIS OLD GAME"because we the people are sick and tired of it.IT'S TIME TO FACE REALITY.

"As human beings we chase after fleeting pleasures like a child licking honey off a sharp knife or a person carrying a torch against the wind."Heart of a Buddha

PRESIDENT OBAMA,CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK.WE WILL KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU'WE WILL KEEP SUPPORTING YOU,WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.TOGETHER WE STAND,TOGETHER WE WE SHALL WIN,TOGETHER WE SHALL PREVAIL,FOR THE RULE OF LAW WHICH IS ALSO THE "LAW OF NATURE IS ON OUR SIDE."

"Natural laws are impartial.Only those who are virtuos are in harmony with nature."Heart of a Buddha.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS THE WORLD

Senator Feinstein of California does not support Public Option

Melanie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:33:53 EDT

Please, all Californians, call Senator Dianne Feinstein and ask her to support public option. I got this from her website when I was directed by one of her staff on her beliefs about President Obama's Healthcare Reform. Please call her. Thanks, Melanie

What I Support : Senator Dianne Feinstein of Californa
I basically believe that reform should be incremental and should cover the following:

    * Allow people to keep their current healthcare coverage. Millions of Americans have insurance that meets their needs. In all of the proposals that Congress is considering, those happy with their current plan will be able to keep it.
    * Stop certain practices of insurance companies. Any bill should end discrimination based on preexisting conditions, stop insurance companies from dropping insurance when people become sick, and prevent the unreasonable denial of treatment. There must also be limits to out-of-pocket expenses to ensure that Americans are not driven into financial ruin by illness.
    * Control insurance premiums. Insurance premiums have doubled over the last 9 years, 3 times faster than wages. Meanwhile, the profits of the nation’s largest private insurance companies increased 428 percent from 2000 to 2008 (Health Care for America NOW). This is unacceptable. Insurance for healthcare is an urgent and universal need, but will not be sustainable and universal if the profit margin remains unconstrained.

In order to see that premiums are affordable, I believe that all non-direct healthcare costs (advertising, overhead, profits, and other administrative costs) should be limited and not exceed 10 percent. All premium rate adjustments should be subject to review and approval by a Health Insurance Rate Authority. Bottom line: your health insurance must remain affordable. Your premiums cannot be allowed to double again in the next nine years, as they have in the past nine.

Another way of stabilizing premium affordability is the public option. Depending how the competition is structured, this “option” could compel insurance companies to lower premiums to remain competitive. It remains a viable proposal. The public option should be one of a variety of choices for people who want improved coverage, giving them an option between a private insurance plan and a public one. The public option is simply that—an option. No one will be required to enroll in the public plan. Instead, it would offer consumers an additional choice as they select a health insurance policy. Instead of choosing between policies offered only by private insurance companies, people could choose to buy a public insurance plan. Those that prefer to buy private insurance could still do so.

The purpose of creating a public plan is to increase competition so that premium costs can be controlled. It is very clear that in the current market, private insurance companies do not control the price of premiums. The public option will not replace anyone’s private insurance coverage, but it could prevent future premium increases as private insurance companies lower their prices to compete with a public option. I am also open to considering a non-profit co-operative model, as long as it can accomplish the critical goal of controlling premium costs and spurring competition. Because insurance company profit taking has been so high, it will be very difficult to control premium costs without some non-profit option.

    * Save and improve Medicare. Medicare presents us with a looming and serious problem. In eight years, 2017, it will begin to run out of money. The cost of Medicare has more than doubled over the last decade, growing from $210.4 billion in 1997 to $431.2 billion in 2007. These rising costs are unsustainable, and they contribute to the burgeoning cost of entitlements.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, 56 percent of all dollars that the federal government is projected to spend in 2009 will be spent on entitlements (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Veterans’ benefits). If you add interest on the debt, which will account for 5 percent of this year’s federal spending, 61 percent of everything the government spends cannot be controlled. That is because if you qualify for an entitlement, you receive it, regardless of cost. And the interest on the debt must be paid, which further jeopardizes the financial future of the county as the debt grows. Any health reform bill must revise and reform Medicare to eliminate duplication and waste, and to prevent this continuing cost explosion.   I cannot vote for a bill that will add a new entitlement, like a subsidy, that will grow over time.

One way of accomplishing Medicare reform is to create an Entitlement Commission to reform and control Medicare and Social Security. This Commission would retain independent actuaries to periodically and regularly review the system and periodically make recommendations to the Congress, which would vote them up or down.

    * Expand healthcare coverage. With over 20 percent of Californians uninsured, healthcare reform must expand coverage to those who cannot currently afford it. Any expansion of coverage must be sustainable in the long-term, and be affordable without requiring adding costs to California and its counties, and without becoming another entitlement. This is difficult to do, and it remains to be seen how it will be accomplished.
    * Make prescription drugs more affordable for public hospitals and clinics. Currently, hospitals like San Francisco General Hospital and Harbor/ UCLA, as well as Federally Qualified Community Health Centers, are able to purchase some prescription drugs at a discounted price. However, these discounts apply only for prescription drugs used in outpatient care. This discount program should be expanded to cover drugs used for inpatient hospital care, and other facilities, like mental health clinics. This would allow healthcare providers to give patients more affordable access to the prescription medications that they need.
    * Health reform should include tort reform. I believe that medical malpractice reform must be included in health reform. Reforming medical malpractice in the correct manner can lower costs in the system, while still ensuring that injured parties are compensated fairly. The rapid escalation in health care spending is driven in part by defensive medicine. We can create incentives for doctors to provide efficient, high quality health care, but these efforts will not bear fruit if physicians feel compelled to order extra tests, images and procedures to protect themselves should there be a lawsuit.
    * Health reform should not address end of life care. I feel strongly that anything relating to end of life care does not belong in the bill. These are private family matters that do not require legislation.

Healthcare Reform “Musts”

    * Healthcare reform must contain and lower costs long-term. Any system that is created must be sustainable in both the short and long-term. I agree with President Obama that healthcare reform must not add to the federal deficit, and it must control the increase in healthcare spending in the long-term. It will do our Nation no good to expand coverage in the short-term, only to realize we cannot afford the policies we have adopted. So, the cost curve must not just go down for the initial period but be sustainable over time in the out years.
    * Healthcare reform must protect public hospitals, community clinics and county programs. Public hospitals, community clinics, and other county programs contribute substantially to healthcare across California. The Finance Committee is considering large cuts in payments (called Disproportionate Share Hospital payments, or DSH). As a former mayor, major cuts to public hospitals are unacceptable to me.

These payments are vital to the survival of publicly owned hospitals like San Francisco General Hospital, UCLA/Harbor Medical Center and UC San Diego Medical Center to cover the costs of providing care for the uninsured and undocumented. Many counties, including Los Angeles County, Riverside and San Francisco, are concerned that these payments will be reduced as a cost saving mechanism in the bill, and result in additional County costs. In California, these cuts could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

    * Healthcare reform must not create new financial burdens for the state or counties. California has been hard hit by the economic downturn and has sustained a systemic imbalance in its budget, which I anticipate will continue for the next year or so. Therefore, health reform must not add obligations that the state will be unable to pay.

If extending health care to the millions of currently uninsured is achieved by expanding Medicaid, the new cost to California would be approximately $2.05 billion per year, if the new eligibility level is set at 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($14,404 per individual). Many California counties contribute to the cost of Medicaid, and they do not have extra funding to pay the cost for a program expansion. California still faces an ongoing financial emergency, so this becomes an important consideration. I could not support a bill that pushes additional costs on California state government or its counties.

    * Healthcare coverage must be truly affordable. Healthcare reform must also meet the needs of those living in high cost states like California. If individuals are required to purchase coverage, this coverage must not require them to spend a high percentage of their income. For example, I am led to believe that the bill under discussion could consider any health insurance plan to be affordable if it costs less than 15 percent of a family’s annual income. For a single parent of two children in California earning $55,000 per year, this could mean spending as much as $8,250 on health insurance premiums—with no additional help from the government. With the high cost of living in California, this could be very difficult for many families.

These concerns and others that develop must be addressed in the Finance Committee bill.   I will amend and change this paper as I learn more about the actual bill likely to come before the Senate. I thank you for reading this. Be assured that I want practical health reform to pass, but believe that the package must control the escalating cost of health insurance, increase coverage for those who do not have it, and contain costs.

Thank you,

Dianne Feinstein

She is a tough one to reach on this issue. She's stubborn. She's for reform but she hedges. Please call if you live in California. Or read what she believes and don't call....however, I think she should consider the public option. If you do too, please call.

Thank you!

melanie

MASS DEMONSTRATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

Chuck Britt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:51:46 EDT

I think it is time for mass demonstrations in every city and town to let the media know that the people will not accept anything less than real heath care reform.

DEMAND THE PUBLIC OPTION

SHOW THE LOBBYISTS WE CAN MAKE IT STICK

Why do I still feel as if I am alone?

Because I have not been in a good demonstration recently!

We can stand together for our shared interest in bringing sanity to our healthcare system!

We can stand together with President Obama to take back healthcare for the people.

Let US help Congress find it's backbone!

Chuck Britt

Facebook

John Stewart — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:42:29 EDT

OFA

President Obama needs more supporters on Facebook. The republicans there have started using the polling function and have made a significant number of anti-Obama polls and voted overwhemingly against President Obama making him trying to make him look unpopular there. OFA needs to try and get more Obama people on Facebook to vote in the polling functions there or create better poll's themselves. Maybe Facebook needs 1 million new Democrats to join it, so we can all vote in the polls there and change them. I think the press does look at the social networking sites when considering all the "popularity" articles they write, and the GOP has become "hip" enough to understand this. So Facebook is being bombarded by the GOP with propaganda and new users.

Thanks

John

Health Insurance Reform

Jane Anne Jeffries Johnson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:33:55 EDT

I retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District in February. I felt it was my civic duty to give up my job and live on my retirement, since the economy is struggling. I moved to Friday Harbor, Washington, where the economy is doing better than in California. I am able to keep abreast of the changes President Obama is making toward a more viable society and economy. I urge everyone who voted for him to continue to support him now. The sharks are swarming, and there is blood in the water. It's time to come together as a force for change.

A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform

Henry M — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:16:16 EDT

Many people don't know any more about the healthcare reform than what they've been told by one or two pundits. Here's an article from the New York Times that you can give to people to help them get a more balanced view of the issues.

A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform
By ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: August 9, 2009
WASHINGTON — With the debate over the future of health care now shifted from Capitol Hill to town halls, supporters and critics of the Democrats’ legislative proposals are polishing their sound bites and sharpening their attack lines.
Increasingly, the battle looks like a presidential contest, with expensive advertising campaigns and Internet-driven efforts to mobilize local support. It can be difficult to sort fact from fiction, as angry protesters denounce the legislation at raucous public forums.
President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress have made the health care overhaul their top priority, putting their political futures on the line. Democrats had hoped to spend the month whipping up support for the legislation, but instead find themselves on the defensive, responding to what Mr. Obama describes as “outlandish rumors” spread by critics.
Many Republicans view fighting the president as a smart political strategy, turning a potentially wonkish debate over Medicare reimbursement rates and subsidies for the uninsured into an ideological battle over the government’s role in health care.
Each side hopes to win ground by boiling down one of the most complex policy discussions in history into digestible nuggets. For beachside viewers who might be more interested in iced-tea service than fee-for-service, here is a guide to the main fight points.
KEEP IT OR LOSE IT?
Mr. Obama has said repeatedly, as he told the American Medical Association in June: “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what."
These assurances reflect an aspiration, but may not be literally true or enforceable.
The legislation does not require insurers or employers to continue offering the health benefits they now provide. The House bill sets detailed standards for “acceptable health care coverage,” which would define “essential benefits” and permissible co-payments. Employers that already offer insurance would have five years to bring their plans into compliance with the new federal standards.
The Senate health committee bill goes somewhat further by offering an “option to retain current insurance coverage.
”The legislation could have significant implications for individuals who have bought coverage on their own. Their policies might be exempted from the new standards, but the coverage might not be viable for long because insurers could not add benefits or enroll additional people in noncompliant policies. Dallas L. Salisbury, president of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a private nonpartisan group, said: “The president and Democrats in Congress are saying what they would like. Their promises may not be literally true because your health plan may change, and your doctor may no longer accept your insurance.”
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE Or Uniquely American?
Republicans harshly criticize Democratic proposals to create a government-run insurance plan, or public option, to compete with private insurers. Republicans say the public plan would drive insurers out of business and lead to “socialized medicine” or a government takeover of health care. Democrats say they want a “uniquely American” system with public and private elements. For now, the Republican criticism seems overblown. Major versions of the legislation all rely heavily on a continuation of private health plans, offered by employers and by insurance companies, subject to sweeping new federal regulations. Whether a public plan would crowd out private insurers depends on details yet to be decided, including its premiums and its payment rates for health care providers.
The public plan is not even a certainty. To win bipartisan support for the overhaul, some Democrats have proposed private nonprofit health care cooperatives, instead of a public plan, to compete with private insurers. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, under the House bill, the number of people with employer-sponsored insurance would climb to 162 million in 2016, which is 3 million more than expected under current law. Further, it said, enrollment in the proposed public plan might total 11 million, far lower than estimates cited by Republicans. An additional 10 million people, most of them now uninsured, would enroll in Medicaid, the budget office said.
At any rate, the federal government already holds sway over the health care system through Medicare, Medicaid and various insurance programs for children, veterans, military personnel and other federal employees. The federal government will account for 35 percent of the expected $2.5 trillion in health spending this year, and that does not include subsidies built into the tax code.
BLAMING INSURERS Or Ensuring Blame?
Democrats have unleashed a blistering attack on private health insurers as they try to convince the vast majority of Americans who already have coverage that the current system is tilted in favor of corporate profits, not patients, and that insurers are a main obstacle to passing legislation.
Insurers say they support some of the most important Democratic proposals, including a ban on denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on pre-existing medical conditions.The insurance industry does oppose a government-run insurance plan and could eventually mobilize against the overhaul. But insurers appear to be less of an obstacle than public apprehension over such sweeping change and skittishness among lawmakers, including centrist Democrats from Republican-leaning districts.Most Americans do not know the full cost of their employer-sponsored insurance. And it is easier for Democrats to paint insurers as greedy than to explain the complex math that shows current health care spending is unsustainable.
DEFICIT-NEUTRAL Or Budget-Buster?
Mr. Obama has avoided dictating specific provisions of health care legislation. But he has insisted that the bill not add to the federal debt, leading Democrats to say that the overhaul will be “deficit neutral,” with the roughly $1 trillion, 10-year cost to be offset by reduced spending or new taxes. The Congressional Budget Office has yet to issue cost estimates for the latest versions of the bill approved by three House committees. But it has warned that the legislation “would probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits” beyond 2019, in part because health costs are rising faster than the rate of inflation and proposed new taxes would not keep up. Republicans use those warnings to cast doubt on the claim by Mr. Obama that the legislation will “bend the cost curve” by slowing the growth of health spending in the long term. Democrats say the overhaul will lead to savings that cannot be calculated under budgeting rules.
At this point, it is difficult to know who is right. Over the next 10 years, the budget office said, the House bill would “result in a net increase in the federal budget deficit of $239 billion,” partly because of an increase in Medicare spending to avert sharp cuts in payments to doctors scheduled to occur under existing law. House Democrats say the higher doctor payments should not count in the cost because they fix a problem that predates the Obama administration and Democratic control of Congress.
EUTHANASIA And Abortion
Conservative critics say the legislation could limit end-of-life care and even encourage euthanasia. Moreover, some assert, it would require people to draw up plans saying how they want to die.These concerns appear to be unfounded. AARP, the lobby for older Americans, says, “The rumors out there are flat-out lies.” The House bill would provide Medicare coverage for optional consultations with doctors who advise patients on life-sustaining treatment and “end-of-life services,” including hospice care. The legislation instructs Medicare officials to propose ways to measure the quality of end-of-life care. Doctors would have financial incentives to report data on such care to the government.
On abortion, the situation is more complex. Opponents of abortion, like the National Right to Life Committee, say the legislation would use tax dollars to subsidize insurance that could cover abortion.Under a bill approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, health plans, including the new government insurance plan, could choose to cover abortion. But they generally could not use federal money to pay for the procedure and instead would have to use money from the premiums paid by beneficiaries.
Douglas D. Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said, “Under either the Senate bill or the House bill, the federal government would run a huge system of subsidizing elective abortion.
”Representative Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado, said the bill would keep current restrictions on the use of federal money for abortion, but “would not expand the prohibitions, as many Republicans want to do.”
CUTTING MEDICAREOr Preserving It?
To help finance coverage for the uninsured, Congress would squeeze huge savings out of Medicare, the program for older Americans and the disabled. These savings would pay nearly 40 percent of the bills’ cost.
The legislation would trim Medicare payments for most services, as an incentive for hospitals and other health care providers to become more efficient. The providers make a plausible case that the cutbacks could inadvertently reduce beneficiaries’ access to some types of care.
The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Democrats would make “massive cuts to Medicare to pay for more government-run health care.” Mr. Obama told AARP last month, “Nobody is talking about reducing Medicare benefits.” All the savings, he said, would come from measures to “eliminate waste and inefficiency in Medicare.” As an example, he cited duplicative tests ordered by different doctors for the same patient. But some proposals could affect beneficiaries. The major bills in Congress would cut more than $150 billion over 10 years from federal payments to private health plans that care for more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Henry M

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Henry M — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:34:13 EDT

One good thing that "birthers" have inadvertently done is to make everyone aware of President Barack Obama's birthday. This year, Thomas Pynchon (my favorite author) has a new, more popularly styled book out today.

It is a bittersweet day for me, however, as it was also my father, Sam Musikar's birthday. He was a New York artist who loved jazz, and he would have loved to see the President who beat the Republican stranglehold on Washington, the arts, and the world, celebrate his birthday on the same day as he.

Henry M

Familiar Players in Health Bill Lobbying

Melanie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:14:53 EDT

Familiar Players in Health Bill Lobbying
Firms Are Enlisting Ex-Lawmakers, Aides

By Dan Eggen and Kimberly Kindy
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, July 6, 2009

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records.

The tactic is so widespread that three of every four major health-care firms have at least one former insider on their lobbying payrolls, according to The Washington Post's analysis.

Nearly half of the insiders previously worked for the key committees and lawmakers, including Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), debating whether to adopt a public insurance option opposed by major industry groups. At least 10 others have been members of Congress, such as former House majority leaders Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.) and Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), both of whom represent a New Jersey pharmaceutical firm.

The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.

The push has reunited many who worked together in government on health-care reform, but are now employed as advocates for pharmaceutical and insurance companies.

A June 10 meeting between aides to Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and health-care lobbyists included two former Baucus chiefs of staff: David Castagnetti, whose clients include PhRMA and America's Health Insurance Plans, and Jeffrey A. Forbes, who represents PhRMA, Amgen, Genentech, Merck and others. Castagnetti did not return a telephone call; Forbes declined to comment.

Also inside the closed committee hearing room that day was Richard Tarplin, a veteran of both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Senate, where he worked for Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), one of the leaders in fashioning reform legislation this year. Tarplin now represents the American Medical Association as head of his own lobbying firm, Tarplin Strategies.

"For people like me who are on the outside and used to be on the inside, this is great, because there is a level of trust in these relationships, and I know the policy rationale that is required," Tarplin said in explaining the benefits of having government experience.

But public interest groups and reform advocates complain that the concentration of former government aides on K Street has distorted the health-care debate, and that it further illustrates the problem posed by the "revolving door" between government and private firms.

"The revolving door offers a short cut to a member of Congress to the highest bidder," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, which compiled some of the data used in The Post's analysis. "It's a small cost of doing business relative to the profits they can garner."

Aides to Baucus and other lawmakers bristle at any suggestion of special treatment for former staff members. Baucus spokesman Scott Mulhauser said the senator "remains committed to working with a variety of stakeholders" as the Finance Committee attempts to come up with a bill this summer.

"The senator and his staff meet daily with individuals, nonprofits and interests from across the health-care spectrum, and are proud that all interests are treated equally and that no one receives special treatment of any kind," Mulhauser said. "As a result, the Finance Committee has been praised by members of Congress and the media for its uniquely inclusive and transparent health-care reform process."

The Post examined federally required disclosure reports submitted by health-care firms that spent more than $100,000 lobbying in the first quarter of this year. It used current and past filings to identify former lawmakers, congressional staff members and executive branch officials.

The analysis identified more than 350 former government aides, each representing an average of four firms or trade groups. That tally does not include lobbyists who did not report their earlier government experience, such as PhRMA President W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, a former Republican congressman from Louisiana. Federal law does not require providing such detail.

Overall, health-care companies and their representatives spent more than $126 million on lobbying in the first quarter, leading all other industries, according to CRP and Senate data. PhRMA led the pack in spending and employs 49 former government staff members among its 136 lobbyists, according to The Post's analysis. Dozens of other former insiders are employed as lobbyists by Pfizer, Eli Lilly, the AMA and the American Hospital Association, each of which spent at least $3.5 million on lobbying from January through March.

The aim of the lobbying blitz is simple: to minimize the damage to insurers, hospitals and other major sectors while maximizing the potential of up to 46 million uninsured Americans as new customers. Although many firms have vowed to help cut costs, major players such as PhRMA, America's Health Insurance Plans and others remain opposed to the public-insurance option, a key proposal that President Obama has endorsed.

Several major Democratic bills include such a plan, but Baucus's committee -- which is acting as the central broker in the debate -- has not committed to the idea. Instead, the Finance Committee has focused recently on private-insurance cooperatives and other proposals seen as more palatable to the insurance industry and centrist Democrats. More than 50 former employees of the committee or its members lobby on behalf of the health-care industry, records show.

Deploying former government officials is a key strategy for pressing such positions on Capitol Hill, according to industry lobbyists, many of whom discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity. They say that legislative or administration experience helps ensure that policies considered by Congress do not imperil health-care interests, which account for about one-sixth of the U.S. economy.

At the same time, these lobbyists say, a personal connection to lawmakers and their staffs does not guarantee success.

"If anyone thinks hiring a former staffer for Baucus or [Charles] Schumer or Blanche Lincoln is going to get them what they want, they are crazy," said one health-care lobbyist who used to work on the Finance Committee, referring to several key Democratic senators. "If we were being judged on that, a lot of us should be fired."

William K. "Billy" Wynne, a former Baucus health counsel who now works for the Health Policy Source lobbying firm, said that "there's nothing insidious" about medical companies and groups hiring former legislative staff members. He also notes that he is subject to a two-year limit on contacts with Baucus's office.

"The technical processes of the House and Senate are not intuitive or widely known," Wynne said. "Like with any service, people who have experience are going to be valuable to people who don't."

Some trade groups and companies appear to emphasize hiring lobbyists with legislative or executive experience. Wellpoint, one of the world's largest insurance conglomerates, employs 11 lobbyists with government experience and three with none. One of its veterans is Stephen Northrup, who worked for several years for Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), including a year as his health policy director on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

"I think the experience on Capitol Hill gives you a better appreciation of the challenges that members and staff face," said Northrup, who began his Washington career as a lobbyist before entering government. "Every institution has its own rhythm. You need to understand when people need information."

The personal and professional ties between lawmakers, their staffs and lobbyists are often complex. Consider the case of Tarplin and his wife, Republican lobbyist Linda Tarplin. The two worked on opposite sides of the Family Medical Leave Act debate in the 1990s, and each has held high-ranking HHS positions -- he for Bill Clinton and she for George H.W. Bush.

Now they run their own health-care lobbying firms, drawing on their connections. Last year, Richard Tarplin's firm reported $650,000 in lobbying income and his wife's firm -- Tarplin, Downs and Young -- reported $3.5 million.

"We have been in situations that are much more combative than this," Linda Tarplin said of the health-care fight. "Both Democrats and Republicans want health-care reform. The rub has always been they tend to get there in different ways."

At least eight former HHS appointees have also crossed over into health-care lobbying, representing more than 25 companies with a stake in the reform legislation. Most were presidential appointees with high-ranking positions, such as the Tarplins.

A few have also cycled back into government. Jack Charles Ebeler, a former Clinton HHS official, left his job as president and chief executive of the Alliance of Community Health Plans a few months ago to become senior adviser for health policy on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Financial disclosure statements show that Ebeler received consulting fees over the past two years from UnitedHealth Group, Academy Health, the Medicare Rights Center, the Center for Health Care Strategies and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Ebeler declined interview requests by The Post.

One of the most prominent examples of Washington's revolving door is Tauzin, who took the $2.5 million-a-year job as head of PhRMA in 2005 after shepherding a Medicare prescription drug plan through Congress.

Uproar over the appointment led Congress in 2007 to pass a bill barring former members from bringing clients onto the House and Senate floors and from lobbying their friends in members-only gyms. The legislation also forbade direct lobbying contacts with former colleagues for a year in the House and two years in the Senate; efforts to enact a wider ban went nowhere.

Tauzin and other lobbyists rebuff critics, arguing that it is unsurprising that those with experience on Capitol Hill should then draw on that background.

"Is it a distortion of baseball to hire coaches who have played baseball? Is it a distortion of universities to hire from academia?" Tauzin asked rhetorically. "The bottom line is that people work in the fields in which they have experience. Somehow there are people who think that's unusual for politics, but I think it's pretty normal."

Graphics editor Karen Yourish, database editor Sarah Cohen and research editor Alice Crites contributed to this repor

For our childrens sake

Sherryan' from Santa Clarita, CA — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:24:11 EDT

We need to work together, or we all loose. This has nothing to do with progressive, or conservative, your way, or their way, it has to do with us finally coming together to get health care reform on the table. Do you not think that the Republicans are watching. If we represent the President, then shouldn't we trust him and his decisions Who's divisive method of divide & conquer, by way of fear, are we using. We must keep in mind the bottom line, The Goal. Which is reform. If we don't, not one congressmen will listen. We must make a united front behind the President, in order to succeed in achieving real reform in Washington, just like we did during the campaign. Are we adult enough of a party to get past ourselves and support the man we asked to do the job at hand? For our children's sake, I hope so!!!!!!

Support the People of Iran

darlene matthews — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:04:29 EDT

Avaaz means "voice" in Farsi, the Iranian language. Let's show the people of Iran that, whoever they voted for, we support their right to have their voices heard. Click below to sign the petition, and spread the word by forwarding this email:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/iran_stop_the_crackdown

Health: It's Nothing Personal, It's Just Business

Henry M — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:58:37 EDT

If a Public Option is So Bad, Why are They So Sure that It Would Kill Private Health Insurance?

Henry M

Insurers Reserve the Right to Ruin Your Life

Melanie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:17:38 EDT

by Tim Foley

Now that we’re full-on into silly season, where the policy is getting buried under the politics of the moment, it’s more important than ever to focus of these two essentials. One, reform that does not change the game for private, for-profit insurance is not real reform. Two, insurers will not police themselves, even when the business practice in question is morally indefensible. Such it was that yesterday at a hearing in the House of Representatives, CEOs from UnitedHealth, Assurant Health, and WellPoint point-blank refused to limit cancellations of insurance policies for sick patients.

This is a process known as rescission, and it’s the flip side of the pre-existing condition dilemma. For pre-existing conditions, you’re denied a plan or care at the beginning. For rescissions, you’re denied after you’re already sick. The policy exists to fight intentional abuse of the system. If you intentionally leave something off when you’re applying for insurance and sign a statement saying you haven’t, that’s a pretty clear breach of contract. But, as Bob Laszewski, a former COO of an insurance company himself, writes, “It would be an inadvertent and non-material misstatement to sign your health insurance application having promised you told all but left something, that in the end did not matter, off of it. It is always important to be thorough and honest in filling out a health insurance application but sometimes we forget things.” In Robin’s case, she didn’t even forget anything – it was a mistake on a medical record. Regardless, Laszewki asks the pertinent question: “How could you sleep at night knowing you retroactively canceled (or rescinded) a sick person’s health insurance because of something that really didn’t matter?”

And yet, when given the opportunity point blank to say their companies would cease rescissions except when in reaction to “intentional fraud,” all three CEOs refused.

We hear a lot from Karen Ignani of AHIP about how private insurance knows it must earn a seat at the table. We hear from Joe Lieberman that the private insurance market is plenty competitive and doesn’t require the competition on quality from a public health insurance option. Insurance is fine. Yet these companies haven’t just refused to limit rescissions. They’ve made money off of it: $300 million in California alone. As the L.A. Times reports, “It also found that policyholders with breast cancer, lymphoma and more than 1,000 other conditions were targeted for rescission and that employees were praised in performance reviews for terminating the policies of customers with expensive illnesses.”

Let’s say that again. These companies praised employees for terminating the policies of sick patients with expensive illnesses.

Forget the politics and the theater and the supposed evils of government. This is health insurance as it’s practiced in this country. That’s the game. We need to change it.

The President unveiled "United We Serve"

Melanie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:34:37 EDT

Dear Friend, Today, in a video message, President Obama unveiled United We Serve - a sustained effort to expand the size and impact of volunteer efforts in addressing tough challenges facing the nation. The initiative, which will be led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, officially kicks off on June 22, and runs for 81 days through a new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. To make it easy to get involved, the President is urging Americans to visit the Corporation's web site, Serve.gov, where visitors can search for local volunteer opportunities, recruit volunteers by posting their organization's projects, or get ideas for creating their own projects with friends, families, and neighbors. During this summer, the President is renewing his call to all Americans to identify needs in their communities, engage in meaningful service to create change - and stay engaged long after September. The President's call focuses on four key areas where everyone can make an impact in their community: energy and the environment, health care, education and community renewal. Please go to Serve.gov today to view the President's video, and get started on your summer of service. In Service, Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National and Community Service

The Rise of Single-Payer Health Care

Melanie — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:49:41 EDT

Truthout Original The Rise of Single-Payer Health Care

Friday 12 June 2009

by: David Swanson, t r u t h o u t | Report

Single-payer health care supporters rally in Los Angeles in April. (Photo: Getty Images)

Health care reform plans are being drafted and passed around on both sides of Capitol Hill, but the plan with the greatest number of Congress members behind it was first introduced as a bill six years ago. With two new co-sponsors having just signed on, Congressman John Conyers's single-payer health care plan, HR 676, now has 80 Congress members supporting it.

A House committee held a hearing on single-payer health coverage on Wednesday, and a Senate committee included single payer in a hearing on Thursday. Many opponents of single payer, including President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, say it would be the ideal solution if it were possible.

A single-payer or "Medicare for all" system that eliminates for-profit health insurance and simply pays for everyone's treatment by private doctors and hospitals of their choosing is also the only solution consistently favored by a majority of Americans in polls. The proposal, already in place in most of the world's wealthy nations, is raised at every health care town-hall forum that Congress members or President Obama speak at, including the one Obama held on Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The president always rejects single payer on the grounds that some Americans are too fond of their health insurance companies to part with them. A report by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting last week found that the corporate media still virtually bans coverage of single payer. A Senate bill being championed by Sen. Chris Dodd in place of ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy, does not include single payer (which is supported by only one US senator, Bernie Sanders). The Kennedy-Dodd bill, at least in its initial draft, does not even include a "public option," that is a Medicare-like program to exist alongside the private insurance companies. The House bill is being drafted by one current and two former co-sponsors of HR 676, Congressmen George Miller, Henry Waxman and Charles Rangel, but it avoids single payer, championing a public option instead. Other competing Senate bills are expected to complicate things further.

The approach taken by the Kennedy-Dodd bill and considered for the House bill is, rather than eliminating health insurance companies, expanding them by making insurance mandatory and subsidizing its purchase. While this approach is favored by the insurance companies, which have been among the primary participants in White House and Congressional health care forums this year, it is not supported by other corporations that would rather not be required to provide health insurance to employees. If anything has emerged on Capitol Hill this week, it is a chaotic lack of consensus except around the idea that something must be done to address a health care system that is damaging Americans' health and economy. Whether the growing chaos opens the door to single payer remains to be seen, and that possibility appears much more real in the House than in the Senate.

In the House, the progressive Caucus has declared that, while it would prefer single payer, it will back no bill without a public option; the Black, Hispanic and Asian caucuses have also backed a public option; and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that no bill without a public option will pass. This should mean that, as the debate advances, the House will be more likely to back single payer than any other solution. Or, rather, it would be if it could create laws without having to get them through the Senate as well.

Sen. Max Baucus has taken the lead in Kennedy's absence and chaired hearings last month to which he refused to invite any supporters of single payer. Baucus had 13 people arrested for speaking up at his hearings uninvited, an action that generated more media coverage of single payer than any poll or study ever could have. One of those arrested, Dr. Margaret Flowers, is the Maryland co-chair of Physicians for a National Health Program. She was interviewed by Ed Schultz on "MSNBC," who began covering single payer in a major way. "Bill Moyer's Journal" on PBS also focused on single payer and aired interviews with three leading advocates, including Donna Smith of the California Nurses Association (CNA). Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) was interviewed on Fox News. Even the Washington Post took note.

Over the past few weeks, the relatively serious media attention has inspired more activism and vice versa. Senator Baucus has been surrounded by demands for single payer at town-hall forums in Montana and questioned by activists with video cameras in Washington, DC, as have health insurance executives and lobbyists.

Congress members John Conyers, Raul Grijalva, Donna Edwards, Steve Cohen and Emanuel Cleaver, along with Carpenter of PDA and Smith and Michael Lighty of CNA met with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to lobby for single payer. Conyers has become increasingly outspoken, and on Wednesday evening, complained of being shut out by the president and by Waxman and Rangel, promising not to let up. On June 3, Senator Baucus met with advocates of single payer and told them he was wrong to have excluded them. But he said he would continue to do so.

However, on Wednesday, the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee in the House, Chaired by Congressman Robert Andrews, held a serious hearing on the topic of single payer, with four of the five witnesses favoring a single-payer system, and Conyers was one of the four.

After the hearing and a briefing, Stephen Spitz of PDA told me, "Some of us met with Congressman Conyers in his office when he suddenly said: 'Let's go to Nancy Pelosi's office.' Off we went and, after talking to an aide of the speaker, we talked with Speaker Pelosi in her office in the US Capitol. She said she is for single payer and encouraged us to keep on doing what we were doing. She said that single payer cannot pass this year in the Congress. She said she was fighting to get a meaningful public option. Congressman Conyers asked her to let him (and experts he would bring) conduct a briefing before the entire House Democratic caucus on HR 676."

The next day, on Thursday, the Senate provided a stark contrast. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing with possibly a record number of panelists, one of whom, Dr. Flowers, favored single payer. Senator Dodd, chairing in place of the absent Kennedy, opened by remarking that he'd never seen a panel so large and that he at first thought the panel was the audience. While hearings often include as many as six witnesses, this one included two panels with a total of 24 speakers. The first panel, with 15 speakers, began with Flowers's very brief statement, followed by 14 other prepared statements, none of them responding to Flowers.

Flowers began by indicating that she spoke for a majority of Americans. No one ever challenged that claim. Flowers criticized the idea of a uniquely American market solution as a delusion that has failed for 40 years. She said that health care in the United States is rationed right now ("rationing" being one of the dangers of "government health care" warned about by the sole witness against single payer on Wednesday). Congressman Dennis Kucinich had made the same point on Wednesday. The threats of wait time and denial of care are here under the current system. In what other industrialized nation, Flowers asked, do people hold bake sales to pay for their health care? In what other industrialized nation do millions of people go bankrupt because of medical bills? None of the following 14 speakers or any of the senators in the room answered these questions. In fact, they directed more criticism at the Kennedy-Dodd bill.

Randel Johnson, vice president of the US Chamber of Commerce, warned that employer mandates could force companies to go out of business. William Dennis of the National Federation of Independent Business claimed to be concerned that employer mandates would hurt low-wage employees. There were no low-wage employees on the panel.

Dr. Samantha Rosman of the American Medical Association (AMA) spoke against any public option. She did not provide arguments against it so much as announce that the AMA would not accept it. President Obama has said that a public option must be included. He is scheduled to speak to the AMA on Monday.

Other panelists included right-wing think tankers and the CEO of a supermarket chain, who advocated urging employees to take better care of themselves. Two panelists other than Flowers were not from the usual crowd. They were Gerald Shea of the AFL-CIO and Dennis Rivera of SEIU, both leaders of labor unions that have backed HR 676 in the past and whose members overwhelmingly favor single payer. The AFL-CIO does not have a clear position now. Rose Ann DeMoro, vice president of the AFL-CIO, was part of the meeting with Baucus and advocates single payer. Shea mentioned that unions have always favored single payer, but he moved immediately to discussing the details of Dodd's plan, favoring a public option and employer mandates, but opposing taxing employees for health insurance payments made by employers. Rivera, too, favored a public option.

The panel was followed by a lengthy question-and-answer period. For a long time no senators asked Flowers any questions. Finally, she grabbed a microphone and asked to speak. She responded to a discussion of preventive care by pointing out that when the goal of health coverage is not profit, an incentive is created to keep people healthy since doing so saves the public money.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski later asked Flowers why a public option isn't good enough. Flowers said that one problem is that insurance companies will cherry-pick the healthiest patients and leave the sickest to the public program. More importantly, Flowers argued, much of the waste in the current arrangement is due to the fragmentation of the coverage system into 1,300 different companies, requiring hospitals to employ staff to interface with them. Adding a public option would only make this worse, Flowers said, not fix it.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman tried to claim he had found a consensus among most of the panelists on various points, acknowledging that he was excluding Flowers. The fact that 14 of the 15 panelists represented a smaller portion of the public than the one panelist alone did not seem to matter.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who supports single payer, asked Flowers to expand on why single payer is the best plan and then proceeded to criticize another panelist, the CEO of Aetna, for denying people health care.

While the Senate has a long way to go, even just to measure up to the House, single-payer advocates are encouraged by the progress this week. Katie Robbins of Healthcare-NOW! called Wednesday's and Thursday's hearings "measurable successes of the groundswell of support for a just, equitable system based on single-payer financing."

"However," said Robbins, "the conversation is just beginning. We demand full hearings on single payer in the Senate, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Energy and Commerce Committee. In addition, a fair scoring of single-payer legislation must be included in the Congressional Budget Office's report on health care reform."

Kevin Zeese of Prosperity Agenda emailed me from Thursday's Senate hearing: "The multi-player advocates are divided. Bitterly so over mandates, paying for their plans and whether to have a public plan to compete. The senate is trying to fix the equivalent of a broken egg. It cannot be done. But they all have their heads in the sand and their hand in the till. Single payer is making progress. More people know single payer is right than admit it. It will win the day but they will pursue the wrong paths until they run into the dead end."

A single-payer rally is planned for Friday, June 26, at 6:00 PM in front of Union Station in Washington, DC. Those likely to show up often speak about their struggle as one for basic human rights. Those who imagine the single-payer movement might go away often speak about health care reform in terms of "political feasibility" and "focus group message testing." Perhaps the growing success of the push for single payer is not so surprising.

-------

David Swanson is the author of the upcoming book "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union," by Seven Stories Press. You can preorder it at http://tinyurl.com/daybreakbook.

OK FOLKS! PUT YOUR VOLUNTEER HATS ON FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM!

Melanie — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:39:10 EDT

VOLUNTEER TO GET CONGRESS TO PASS HEALTH CARE REFORM!!!!! PLEASE READ BELOW!!!

I know we had a slammin' victory in 2008 and we had an amazing Inauguration. We are still basking in the glow of our victory. But the Whitehouse is moving at 150 miles an hour with a 100 tons of garbage on their plate that they have to deal with every day.

We have to help them.

We got them there, NOW we have to support them.

THEY CAN NOT DO THIS ON THEIR OWN.

We have to be somewhat incessant in getting the message across to the folks out there that its not just COOL to have President Obama, Vice President Biden, Sec. of State, Hillary Clinton, David Axelrod, Rahm Immanuel, Press Sec Gibbs. and all the pretty faces (and David Plouff helping on the outside too of course), its EFFECTIVE.

I mean look, this country is in the doghouse. The ball of yarn is so tangled up they are just now finding the end and starting to detangle..and they have a long way to go. OK?

So what's up? What do they need all of us for next?

HEALTH CARE REFORM!!!!! HEALTH CARE REFORM!!!! Health Care Reform.

We have to get just as bolstered up and just as caffeinenated for this fight as any. BELIEVE ME, there is a TON of money on the other end of this battle and they are going to fight like the SWIFTBOATERS. They are mean, greedy, manipulating and they will twist and lie and do anything they can to put out the most grossly disgusting propaganda against Pres. Obama's Health Care Policies you can imagine. Just look up this guy "Dick Morris". He's a knucklehead, but you might as well get your feet wet and check him out. He's the kind of nightmare you're going to see.

WE HAVE TO GET ORGANIZED TO FIGHT THESE GUYS. WE CAN'T GO BACK INTO LAZY SLACKERDOM NOW THAT OUR MAN WON. ALL THAT WE FOUGHT FOR AND WORKED FOR WILL BE GONE DUE TO OUR BEING LAZY. WE ARE NOT LAZY. WE ARE SO STRONG WHEN WE WAKE UP AND GET ORGANIZED. WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE!!!!

Come on!!! It was fun getting involved wasn't it? It was fun getting passionate over something bigger than yourself. Let's do it again. Lets get Health Care Reformed so our parents don't have to pay thousands of dollars in premiums when they are in their 80s. Heck, so WE don't have to pay thousands of dollars in our eighties. So we CAN GET the CARE WE NEED WHEN WE ARE SICK instead of some letter that says we are declined due to pre-existing conditions -( so just go die somewhere away from us please.)

Let's not let just any Health Care Reform pass either. A good one. One like what Congress has. Seriously.

YES!!!!! WE CAN!!!! YOU'RE BRIGHT!!! YOU'RE STRONG!!! YOU'RE OH-SO-SMART! HOW ABOUT HEALTHY TOO!!!!!!! DO IT FOR YOU, YOUR KIDS, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS. GO TO BARACKOBAMA.COM AND THEN ORGANIZING AMERICA AND CALL FOLKS LIKE LAST TIME. WRITE BLOGS, GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOUR OLD BUDDIES FROM THE PAST 2 YEARS.

THE TIME IS NOW!!! YES! WE CAN!!! :-D

BORDER PATROL OUT OF HAND>>>WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY!

Dance in the Streets — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:01:07 EDT

Border Patrol Beats a Pastor. We cannot allow this.....I have found that there are racists people working at the check points. Immature little boys that now have some power. Mr. President there needs to be an investigation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUzd7G875Hc

disABLED in CA? PLAN ON STAYING THAT WAY...

darlene matthews — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:41:24 EDT

TRY TO BE MORE ABLE WHEN YOUR LEFT BLIND AND IN PAIN...

FROM CDCAN REPORT #0103-2009:

“FEDERAL FUNDS TRIGGER” WON’T BE PULLED - TREASURER & FINANCE DIRECTOR SAY GOAL OF $10 BILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS WON’T BE REACHED – SEVERAL MAJOR CUTS TO HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES WILL NOW HAPPEN

Pulling “Trigger” Would Have Stopped Permanent Cuts To IHSS Worker Wages, Elimination of Several Medi-Cal Optional Benefits, Cuts to SSI/SSP & CalWORKS Grant Levels From Taking Place – Those Cuts Will Now Happen Barring A Change of Mind By Governor and Legislature To Restore Funding

MEDI-CAL “OPTIONAL” BENEFIT ELIMINATIONThese Medi-Cal “optional” benefits are called “optional” because the federal government does not require the states to provide them – though these benefits are provided in Medi-Cal covered health facilities. Another cut to the Medi-Cal program impacted by the federal trigger cut decision is a reduction of $54.1 million in State funding for South Los Angeles Medical Services

The Treasurer and Finance Director’s report released today (March 27) means that the “federal funds trigger” will not be pulled – which means this cut – barring a change in mind in the coming months by the Legislature and Governor to reverse their action in February and restore this funding in the budget – WILL happen.
When This Cut Takes Effect: July 1, 2009
Description of This Cut: The following Medi-Cal optional benefits will be permanently eliminated as of the effective date:
1. adult dental
2. acupuncture services
3. audiology and speech therapy services
4. chiropractic services
5. optometric and optician services including services provided by a fabricating optical laboratory
6. podiatric services
7. psychology services, and
8. incontinence creams and washes.
This reduction was originally proposed by the Governor and will mean a cut to the Medi-Cal program of over $258.8 million ($129.4 million of that in State general funds) during the 2009-2010 State Budget year that begins July 1, 2009.

SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS IMPACTED BY FEDERAL TRIGGER IHHS WORKER WAGESCAL WORKS

Cuts to Courts (new judges, trial court operations) of $171.3 million in State general funds.
University of California cut of $50 million in State general funds.
California State University cut of $50 in State general funds.
The increase in personal income tax drops from 0.25% to 0.125%

MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com Website: www.cdcan.us

Support our President

Silex — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:04:25 EDT

Support our President! Support our President! We have to support our President!

The country elected him with a decisive majority. He has been in office for only two months and his nose to the wheel every day. He working for us. Listening to everybody: his advisers, the opposition, and Paul Krugman. He is taking it all into account and applying his knowledge and judgment as best as his human nature will allow him. He is our hero. He is not a god or a saviour, he is a hero. He is putting his life and his personal well being in jeopardy for us, risking his health and his family's security. He is our hero. Let's get behind him and give him everything that we can. Here is a President applying real intelligence to problem solving in the real world, a Master of the art of the possible.

Give him a chance to help us.

Taking the Pro-Pot Position (Because Somebody Has To)

Henry M — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:50:26 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-sweeney/taking-the-pro-pot-positi_b_179653.html

Fast-forward to today's online town hall, and once again, marijuana legalization proved to be one of the most popular questions, with the most-approved-of pro-pot question being: "Should the U.S. legalize pot as a way to grow jobs and stimulate the economy?"
With all of his usual charisma and endearing jocularity, our president laughed off the question, stating "I don't know what this says about the online audience, but, no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow the economy." The mewling sycophants in the East Room audience laughed and burst into applause.
Once again, the Obama administration has greeted this question with an out-and-out rejection, with no reasoning underlying their position. Let's ignore for a moment that Obama's answer, in and of itself, is deeply wrong and ill-informed; moving from zero taxes on weed to any taxes is obviously an increase in revenue, not to mention the shift of growing and supplying jobs from the black market to legitimacy, which means more revenue in income taxes and more jobs.
Now, couple this with the millions, if not billions, of dollars that would be saved without the government being responsible for the care and feeding of hundreds of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. From 1965 through the election of Barack Obama, our government arrested 20 million people for possession of marijuana. That, folks, is a lot of stoners.
In 2006 alone -- the last year for which statistics are available -- 829,625 people were arrested on marijuana-related charges, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. Of these, 89 percent were arrested for simple possession.
So, couple the tax revenues, both sales and income, with the savings involved in keeping potheads out on the streets instead of in the pen. Now, put that Everest-sized pile of cash aside for a moment and think about this: Who's losing money in the deal?
According to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, fully 75 percent of Mexican drug cartels' cash comes from the sale of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would, of course, take away that massive source of income for the cartels, just as ending prohibition cut bootlegging as a source of revenue for La Cosa Nostra.
Combining all of the above effects, the legalization of marijuana means billions of dollars saved or made, the creation of jobs and the curbing of violence along the Mexican border, which in turn means saving thousands of lives.
Barack Obama can certainly be against legalization, but he owes it to nonviolent drug offenders caught in the horror show that is the U.S. prison system, the families of innocent victims of the Mexican drug wars and economically bloodied U.S. taxpayers to explain why. Ganja may cause the giggles, but legalization shouldn't be a laughing matter. And it certainly shouldn't be treated as cavalierly as it has by the current administration, especially when it has been proven to be a popular issue every time Obama has tried to go straight to the people.

Vox Populi

Henry M — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:16:06 EDT

I'm Mad As Hell About The Pro-Alcohol Media Bias And I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore!

guitar46phil — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:04:04 EDT

For the past two hours MSNBC has been running a sentence every minute or two along the bottom of their broadcast "study indicates moderate drinking with friends reduces risk of stroke and heart disease." Really? Is this news or just pro-alcohol lobbying? Is this such an important newsflash that it has to be run at the veiwing public, practically subliminally, every two minutes all morning long, or is this just an example of free advertising by a media giant for it's fellow rich corporate conglomerates? What kind of message does it send to kids watching a bit of the news before heading off to school? What message does it send to hard-core alcoholics, or moderate drinkers who are on their way to becoming alcoholics? It says "Drink Alcohol With Friends, It MIGHT be GOOD for YOU!" In a word, "bullcrap." But even if "drinking with friends" is good for some people, (so are DUI's) why is this news for MSNBC? My dad always said, "If you don't understand something, look where the money is." My guess, advertising revenue is down because all of the ripp-off mortgage brokers and financial swindlers have gone belly-up, and MSNBC is courting more money from beer, wine and hard alcohol producers, Maybe this free advertising is their form of a "bonus" for a lucrative advertising contract with an alcohol corporation. I like MSNBC, but it makes me mad as hell to see them giving free advertising to the Alcohol monopoly - while they treat marijuana as if it were evil and they ignore the harmful effects our nations prohibition of marijuana cause our nation and other nations. Marijuana is a much safer recreational drug choice than alcohol, it is less addictive, and yet, there is no advertising money in it. So much for the media as being an unbiased reporter of the "news."

Healthy WA Coalition Lobby Day

Karahpino — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:10:21 EDT

"First they will ignore you, then they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, then you will win." - M Ghandi

This was my first time lobbying the halls of congress.

I'm glad for the experience and to see the place. See it as a sheet of power. What do I mean by a sheet? Sheets are often used as a blank space for watching a movie, painting a backdrop and to hide something from view. That is what I mean by sheet.

After listening to the process, the wrangling, the absolute devastation of the numerical metering of goods and services known as a budget. There are no numbers left. The sheet has fallen to the floor and the ghost has been revealed.

The lawmakers are strapped by the rules that had created the image fading from the sheet. And now that the lights are out, the paint has begun to chip off, the hidden is now revealed. These men and women are strapped into the system that has created the delusion and I feel for them in their powerlessness.

Unfortunately, there is nothing that can stop the decimation that will follow the numerical decline. Many people will go without. In the past few weeks since the Gov wrote the budget, the budget shortfall has grown by 60%, equalling 1/3rd of what had been the total budget previously. Health Services will be cut all but completely.

By the end of the year, there will be an explosion in homelessness, Emergency Room visits will skyrocket and many who live on the edge will fall. Public Health will be at risk as stress and strain overwhelm thousands. Crimes of desperation will rise.

It is important to prepare for this. Prepare yourself to experience and to witness suffering and pain and confusion. And also prepare yourself to keep the hope alive. For as we reach out, whether it is in need or to comfort another, we are recreating community that has been lost. And we will persevere. We will survive and we will find a better way.

In Peace and with Hope,

Karah

Universal truth

Filo — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:48:34 EDT

Soon Ahmanidajad will put himself in a distorting travesty with bin laden.Our market world economical outlook could be looked at as psychological.Has our Judeo-christian society left us at this point without a voice of reason to distribute.They mostly have been a peaceful faith for 2000 years in which our fold comes from.Should the decision for Iran's nuclear program come from somebody else.After all it is a volatile issue that affects the balance of power.Most if I can say all do not believe that an all out war will an can happen.For nobody will go against the wishes of peace.Should the farewell of this issue begin in our markets a rally in which we could find a involving great wealth.For after all that would be the mirror image of the offensive in which is also a defensive.Is Iran's nuclear program an offense to GOD.For many believe that man cannot think of himself as a great.Nobody knows except his angels and soon we will have to figure out why.But as for now we must try to be overconfident and keep the faith and trust in our Government for they see into the deep future and soon this could be as a success in which we will not find ignorance.But soon we will know.For we have seen many canontation's deep south the north poverty Constitution Hitler human rights.So therefore change will define come as but at last they will be final until the end.For if knowledge is knowable who tells us that?So therefore again is it an offense?

EARTH AMENDMENT

Silex — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:56:31 EDT

I am writing today to propose an EARTH AMENDMENT to the constitution of the United States that will define fundamental principles in our relationship to our planet.

Instead of a Right, this a Principle: Congress shall make no laws that endangers or allow to deteriorate the health of Earth's ecosystem.

The United States shall endeavour to optimize the relationship between the Earth and its population so that all can thrive in a sustainable manner for the foreseeable future.

A cabinet position to the Environment shall be established to administer all questions of energy, land management and resources.

Obama: He Can't Do It By Himself

Henry M — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:34:03 EST

Good song: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1098034535572&ref=nf

Henry M

KCUF, 128 Kb/s on Shoutcast Unlimited: http://tinyurl.com/kcuf-on-shoutcast-limited/ to play, http://www.urdomain.us/playing.html to see what's playing, and now available on RECIVA Internet-Radio receivers, http://tinyurl.com/kcuf-on-reciva

KCUF can now be listened to using a Windows Vista Sidebar Gadget:

http://gallery.live.com/results.aspx?bt=1&q=KCUF

LOOKING FOR OBaMA ART -pass it on

darlene matthews — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:55:16 EST

Officially Unofficial - Inspired Art for Obama
Brought to you by CRO in collaboration with The Post FamilyHosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs
April 1st - May 15th, 2009Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph

This exhibit will house a collection of prints, photographs, posters and videos that emerged in 2008 as icons of the art movement supporting Barack Obama. The work will feature a look behind the scenes at Obama HQ as well as independent efforts of designers and artists that converged in a groundswell of inspired work.

The internet was a critical vehicle of grassroots success for both the official and unofficial campaign efforts. This network empowered artists to collaborate and disseminate their work across the country — all of which paralleled the official campaign's use of email, text messages, and bypassing traditional fund-raising practices with individual online donations.

The show will feature several facets of the visual campaign including Ray Noland's GoTellMama! poster series and art tour across the U.S., Shepard Fairey's now iconic Hope poster, the Manifest Hope series, and Sol Sender who developed the campaign's official logo and branding. The result was a separate but united project that ultimately aided in the successful election to office of Barack Obama.

Buy Officially Unofficial limited edition poster here.

Open Call to Artists:Officially Unofficial is now accepting Obama artwork created during the 2008 campaign. We are seeking to bring together a representative collection of prints and posters documenting the Obama Art Movement. In addition, if you have any "slapper" posters you would like to donate, we would like to utilize them in creating a giant wheat-pasted poster-wall of collective works. As mentioned above, artwork will be for display only. It will not be possible to return posters at end of exhibition. After the exhibit work collected will be donated to a museum TBD. Deadline for entry is March 16th, 2009. General Info: All work must have be printed during the 2008 election period. Please submit screen-prints, photographs, posters and other print materials. No original drawings or one of a kind works. Ship rolled in a tube or flat.

Please send posters and prints to:

Chicago Cultural CenterPublic Art Program78 E. Washington
Chicago, IL 60602Attn: Officially Unofficial Exhibition
For info or questions please contact us here.
  info Thanks to an email from Go Tell Mama, 1353 S. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60608

Obama will move towards legalization of marijuana.

guitar46phil — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:37:57 EST

As I read today about how bold and complicated his budget proposals are, it struck me how little information we have heard from the media on the choice of the new Drug Czar and the "drug war" under Obama in general. While the President has made it clear that he does not favor legalizing drugs, it has remained a very low priority issue.

My guess is that the last thing he wants is to be ridiculed ealry on (which is the conservative right-wing tactic regarding any pot discussion) for bringing this logical policy change into play while there are so many serious issues involved, the economy, health care, education, the wars etc...

Like a Texas Hold-em poker player with two aces he is waiting for the other players to bet and raise the "pot" and pull him into the 'war on drugs' debate, but when it is time to lay the cards out, it will be obvious to all that the drug war has to go, for the sake of the budget and the economy. His advisors will point out what Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman and conservative icon Willliam F. Buckley said - The war on drugs cannot be won and it is hugely damaging to our ECONOMY as well as to the safety and security of the citicizens of our country and other nations!

Obama is a brilliant tactician/politician as well as a great communicator, because frankly, I thought he would stop the war in Iraq first, and then stop the drug war, but it looks to me like he will take on the easiest "dumb war" we are in first.

From the time of the Big Bang Freedom is the natural state of things and Freedom can only be restrained by man's greedy desires and his artificial outside intervention. While man's collective efforts to restrain individuals from hurting other individuals or groups is a hallmark of our collective soul and civilization, that is not restraint of Freedom, it is restraint of evil. Restraint of the Freedom of an individual who is not harming others to pursue life, libery and happiness is wasted energy because the impulse and instinct for Freedom will always eventually outlast any efforts at artificial restraint. The human spirit's constant movement towards freedom and away from tyranical government will continue, as will our efforts to restrain evil. The devil is in the details of what is evil and what is just inconvenient for some.

The alcohol companies may need a bailout if pot is legalized. It is a lot cheaper to throw some seeds in the ground and watch the "weed" grow than to pay huge companies for your recreational high.

Simple Learning To Start This Running & Reading Program

Kathy Smith — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:05:23 EST

First pick out a simple book to start with. . For learning drill #1: Pick a line that is in quotes... and take the line and read it out loud. then ... ask - what does this mean to me. Or, give an example in different words of what you just read from your material. If one cannot give an example, it means there may be a word in the sentence not fully or correctly understood. So, we look up which word, and the rest is pure magic. You can give examples. (Here's an example-- 1. read the sentence: "When people mess up their own possessions and area, it can slop over into your own." 2. give me an example of that: hmmmmmm (these are made up) (thinking)... If my kids throw books & coats just anywhere when they get home from school and leave a mess in the kitchen and bathroom, it causes confusion to what I was in the middle of doing. And on and on...I hope this makes sense.Let's say we were having a child read that sentence and they didn't understand the word "slop".
So we look it up: http://www.onelook.com/ and find the definition that best fits: (I feel #1 in the Encarta fits the sentences best:
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861701887
So I look up the word... Say what it means to me... Go back to the sentence and it would make sense. I just gave a simple example. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and I can go over any of these exercises at the next meeting.
I really had fun today.
Thanks so much,
Kathy Smith

I am not a winner?

Filo — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:28:34 EST

The only way to solve problems is the third person singular.We have learned much from the ancient Greeks that they could rule with a democratic system.The only way to solve problems is this.This economical package will be a success in accordance with the great economical thinker in whom are too big to fail.They are not like us winners or losers they just economicaly sound in which we find success not economicaly going or coming to form an economical system in which you find another system in limbo.But an all together package in which bonds all three into a sound system.In Engalnd in which our economy is based to form a system in a imposing manner with this package as a form in principals has been a success.To get the economy into a winning system we have to judge in accordance to these principals.Not everything in a winning economical system is sound.Senators have offered health care for children and billions in initiatives for the country to return to a winning system.But a winning system has and always will be labeled.How much has and will be won and how much will be lost.Look winning is not a great draw nowadays.If only it is a success economicaly it will dictate a winning strategy in which we will find not the winner but the success of a working system.To forbear the world economical system.Like restrain to be a created peaceful supposition.In which many ideas reside for it is said that every thing that is confessed is a want.So if we desire success in the stimulus package then we have definetly raised the standards of business.And therefore included all so that our economical system rule with expertise of the Greeks.

We are sure

Filo — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:11:26 EST

We are sure when we shake hands when we smile war economy we are sure w/flags a many.

HIV AIDS

Gabriel Santiago — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:51:49 EST

Congratulations in getting the stimulus package through. However It was with sadness that I saw the compromises made by the white House. Specially the funds for Hiv Aids so desperately needed. I translated your strategy to fight this pandemia and hope you get to it as soon as possible.Lives are at stake, financial ruin to many, and lack of hope for those who impatiently see the alarming rise among latinos,afro americans the young and the old. Mental Health is as important as medicines, Rehabilitation Programs sorely needed. And involvement by all who voted for change for the Bush administration let many things slip by for this particular group.I firmly believe in you and your strategies for all the areas mentioned above. Perhaps a little impatient but that seems to be a characteristic of those burdened with the bureaucracy

Mr. President, First Lady we need your full commitment which I am sure you both have.

Sean Hannity: Economic Dead-Ender or Terrorist Hatemonger?

AmeriGus — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 23:16:11 EST

Today's youth may not know who Tokyo Rose is, but everybody knows who Sean Hannity is, he's America's second biggest talk radio personality and also one of the richest media figures in the U.S., currently working under a $100 million dollar contract.

But is Hannity a hardworking American success story, or has his contentious brand of talk actually deteriorated the quality of public discourse in the country?

On the one hand, Hannity addresses the strong demand for right-wing programming, covering the news and events left unreported by the "liberal media". On the other hand, Bush-friendly hosts such as Hannity stand accused of acting as the media surrogates for an illicit White House propaganda operation, spinning news irresponsibly to condition American "hearts and minds" just as they did to the Iraqis.

Emergency Legislation Needed, Please Help

Bev Meyers — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:16:14 EST

Please contact President Obama and your representatives in Congress ASAP

We need emergency legislation to stop large financial institutions from victimizing millions of American citizens while Congress and the President are busy dealing with critical issues.

AT&T, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase (and Washington Mutual) credit customers are being systematically downgraded in their credit ratings and having their interest rates at least doubled with never having had a late payment or over limit charge.

Chase has told some people that if they want to continue to have a credit card, they have to agree to pay 30 percent interest. Most of us feel the need to have some credit in case of emergencies.

AT&T cancelled my 12 year card with perfect credit because I wasn't using it.

Then, Bank of America sent me a letter that they were doubling my interest rate unless I said no. I said no. They decreased my credit limit and reclassified me as having maxed out my card. I had not maxed out my credit limit.

Now Chase is sending me strange letters and making comments about letting me keep my WAMU card if my credit is good. Again, I have never had a late payment or gone over my credit limit. I pay early and more than the minimum.

I am in a distressed financial position at this time. I am living on what is left of my 401K after Bank of America made a mess of it.

Everyone I mention this to has a family member or friend who is having the same thing done to them. It is systematic. It is calculated. It is wrong.

We need your help. We need your help now. Please contact President Obama and your representatives in Congress.

Peace, Bev

CAN Group Organizing Meeting

Wayne — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:25:24 EST

We are in the midst of setting up County.CAN groups under Washington.CAN and want to make sure everyone on MyBO takes a moment and registers. We will be sending out a post as soon as we are completed so that you can begin planning in your county and set up similar meetings on February 7th. If you are in or around King County please consider attending this meeting:

Event Name: CAN Group Organizing Meeting

Description:February 7th is when the call has been put out for all CAN groups to have their first meetings across the country. This is our team building nationwide project...to form ranks. We are asking all MyBO members who want to participate in Government 2.0 to reach out to all their MyBO groups and have them join Washington.CAN group as well. At your face to face meetings across your state and in each county you will elect officers, assign issue teams by individual interests, and make plans to work across CAN groups with all others who might share that issue focus in order to join forces and see solutions implemented. This is the plan we make in support of President Barack Obama's upcoming legislation and programs. All issues that we are focusing on to begin with are posted at www.whitehouse.gov. Overall mandate on what we are to do: 1) Organize support for legislation at all levels of government. This includes supporting President Obama's agenda as well as organizing around state and local laws/initiatives. 2) Build grassroots electoral strength at all levels by training and developing grassroots leaders to organize and serve in their communities. 3) Be an organ of two-way communication between the White House and the grassroots, so that each knows and responds to the priorities of the other. 4)Launch a national, grassroots-driven renewal of civic engagement, again at both the local and national levels.Time:Saturday, February 7 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PMHost:Wayne SeversonContact Phone:206.550.2136Location:Samara Apartments (Tukwila, WA) 3434 S 144th
Tukwila, WA 98168 Directions:One block west off Hwy 99 & S. 144thAssociated Groups:11th Legislative District Democrats of WA State!, 32nd LD For Obama, 36th LD for Obama - Washington State, 43rd LD for Obama, 43rd Legislative District Seattle, 7th Congressional District - Washington State for Obama, AAU Basketball Coaches for OBAMA, Auburn for Obama, Bainbridge Island for Obama, Ballard for Obama, Beacon Hill for Obama, Bellevue For Obama, Belltown for Obama, Burien for Obama, Capitol Hill Artists, Crafters, and Musicians for Obama, Clallam County for Obama, Clark County for Obama 08, Columbia City for Obama, DJs, Musicians, Artists, Poets & Creators of the GREATER GOOD FOR BARACK OBAMA in 2008!!!!, Eastern Washington for Obama, Eastside for Obama, Federal Way for Obama, Issaquah for Obama, Jefferson County WA for Obama, King County for Obama, Lewis County for Obama, Mill Creek for Obama, Mukilteo for Obama, orcas island for obama, Pierce County for Obama, Queen Anne for Obama, Rainier Beach, SouthEast Seattle supporters of Barack Obama for President (not moderated), Redmond for Obama, Renton for obama, Shoreline for Obama, Single Parents for Obama, South Asians for Obama (SAFO), South King County for Obama, Spokane County for Obama, TacomaForObama, Thurston County for Obama '08, Tukwila for Obama, Tukwila Neighborhoods For Change, University of Washington For Obama, Vancouver for Obama, WA 48th LD Obama Delegates and Alternates, Washington 1st LD for Obama, Washington State LD 21 Lynnwood, Washingtonians for Obama 2008!, Yakima Valley For Obama

Washington.CAN - The Next Step - Join Today

Wayne — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:52:51 EST

Hello Wonderfully Active People:It's time to move forward as one. We made it through the election and inauguration - and now we must bring our Washington together and work towards organizing county .CAN groups to work at all levels of government to achieve the Change we voted for.

You're invited to join a group on My.BarackObama.com:

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

We are writing to invite everyone to please come out and join the President's Grassroots Team to support Barack as we roll out Government 2.0.
In his recent video (http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/thefuture) Barack Announces Organizing For America.  He mentioned that in a few days you would get instructions by email.  These are the instructions.

1.  We need you to find your State.CAN group in MyBO and join these two groups:

USA.CAN

Washington.CAN

2.  Each of you must update your Personal profile on MyBO with real contact information so we can interact accordingly.

3.  This is our team building nationwide project...to form ranks.  To give you a heads up, February 7th is when the call has been put out for all CAN groups to have their first meetings across the country.  We are asking all MyBO members who want to participate in Government 2.0 to reach out to all their MyBO groups and have them join their State.CAN group as well.  At your face to face meetings across your state and in each county you will elect officers, assign issue teams by individual interests, and make plans to work across CAN groups with all others who might share that issue focus in order to join forces and see solutions implemented.   This is the plan we make in support of President Barack Obama's upcoming legislation and programs.  All issues that we are focusing on to begin with are posted at www.whitehouse.gov.

4.  Overall mandate on what we are to do:

• Organize support for legislation at all levels of government.  This includes supporting President Obama's agenda as well as organizing around state and local laws/initiatives.
• Build grassroots electoral strength at all levels by training and developing grassroots leaders to organize and serve in their communities.
• Be an organ of two-way communication between the White House and the grassroots, so that each knows and responds to the priorities of the other.
• Launch a national, grassroots-driven renewal of civic engagement, again at both the local and national levels.

Lisa Lindo
National USA.CAN Group Administrator (Community Action Networks)
Associate Producer Vote For Change Campaign
Internet Community Organizer
Economic URL: IfTheBuckStopsHereShootIt.com
Vote For Change: http://obeygiant.com/voteforchange/

Celebrating The Hardest Four Years Of Our Lives

Qaliqo — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:44:02 EST

Today the real work begins. President Obama has called on us to rebuild our great nation. Bringing a large, populous, wealthy nation to the next level is our task. We must not be overcome, for the hour is late and time is short. Until campaign season in 2012, we are on a new mission: to achieve our destiny as individuals, as communities, as a nation, and as a world. We are all one people today, but the road ahead will be long and arduous.

Cincinnati Obama 2008 is becoming Cincinnati Supports Our President. I invite mailing list members to create a forum for discussing local solutions to the many problems we face. God bless President Obama, and God bless America!

Inauguration Music

Henry M — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:33:06 EST

FWIW, KCUF will be playing an Inauguration Day playlist from today till 6:30 this evening, Eastern Daylight Savings Time, with a very special hour-long Obama Remix starting at about 11 am.

Henry M

KCUF, Still the Most Eclectic Music on the WWW, Now at 128 Kb/s on Shoutcast Unlimited: http://tinyurl.com/kcuf-on-shoutcast-limited to play and http://www.urdomain.us/kcuf.htm to see what's playing

Be The First To Know...2 Days Until Inauguration

EsquireUK — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:21:10 EST

Sunday, 18th January 2009

Washington, D.C.

Text SERVE to 56333 for alerts about Renewing America Together – National Day of Service.

Text EVENTS to 56333 to receive the latest info on events & updates on free Inaugural events in the area.

Text SCHDL to 56333 for latest updates and breaking announcements and any schedule changes.

Text TIPS to 56333 for information on how to prepare for Inauguration

Text WEATHER to 56333 for basic weather updates in the DC area and planning

Text METRO to 56333 for alerts about the buses and trains in DC.

www.change.gov

Text SERVE to 56333 for alerts about Renewing America Together – National Day of Service.

Text EVENTS to 56333 to receive the latest info on events & updates on free Inaugural events in the area.

Text SCHDL to 56333 for latest updates and breaking announcements and any schedule changes.

Text TIPS to 56333 for information on how to prepare for Inauguration

Text WEATHER to 56333 for basic weather updates in the DC area and planning

Text METRO to 56333 for alerts about the buses and trains in DC.

Faith an Choice Update

darlene matthews — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:44:35 EST

Update from the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice.

Subject: Faith & Choices - January 2009Reply-To: info@rcrc.org
You're receiving this email because of your relationship with Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.  You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.  Faith & Choices - January IssueInauguration Optimism!
  Dear DARLENE, There's a feeling of optimism here at RCRC. Eight diasastrous years for women and families are over. President-elect Barack Obama and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi are both pro-choice and both people of strong religious conviction. They understand that our religious beliefs are deeply entwined with our social justice ethic. Of course, that doesn't mean that the fight for reproductive justice is over. We still must convince Congress to de-fund dangerous abstinence programs and lift harmful restrictions on funding overseas for family planning and HIV/AIDS programs. Much else must be done, but our faith-informed priorities have been delivered to the Obama transition team, and we are preparing for high-level meetings with congressional leaders. Please take a few moments to read more about our plans and help to make them a reality by making a generous donation to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Thank you for keeping the faith for choice!
Reverend Dr. Carlton W. VeazeyPresident and CEOReligious Coalition for Reproductive Choice   What's Ahead  These are some highlights as we approach the inauguration of the first president who openly identifies his pro-choice views with his religious convictions. Watch for our action alerts as legislation moves through Congress - and when you contact your congressional representatives, let them know you are a pro-choice person of faith.Prevention First: On the opening day of the 111th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) reintroduced the Prevention First Act (S. 21), a package of health and education measures that will reduce unintended pregnancy. This week, Representatives Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) will introduce the bill in the House of Representatives. RCRC endorses these legislative proposals as necessary and effective responses to the needs of women and their families and in keeping with the values of our faith traditions.  Read more!
The Bush Administration Rule: As a parting shot at women, the Bush Administration finalized a rule creating more barriers to reproductive health services. In the guise of protecting the conscience of providers who object to abortion, voluntary sterilization and other measures, this regulation denies women and other patients their right to follow their conscience and make decisions according to their religious and moral beliefs. Opposition to this rule was overwhelming, widespread and... ignored. Congress and the Obama Administration must act quickly to rescind the rule. Read more!

Children's Health Care: It is a fundamental tenet of all faiths to protect children and work to ensure that they are strong, safe and healthy. It is unconscionable that 9 million children in the United States continue to be uninsured. An important step to address this will be taken this week when the House of Representatives is expected to vote to renew and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Read more!Diversity Increases in Congress The new Congress - like the nation as a whole - is much more religiously diverse than ever before. The total percentage of Protestants in Congress is 54.7%, a drop of 20% since 1961, which roughly tracks with broader religious demographic trends during this period, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Civic Life. Roman Catholics, who account for nearly one-quarter of the U.S. adult population, make up about 30% of Congress. Jews and Mormons are also better represented in Congress than they are in the population as a whole but Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus still are somewhat underrepresented. Read more!
  Lexi Jay was an anti-choice born-again Christian until she saw an RCRC bumpersticker that said: "Prayerfully Pro-Choice." She had a change of heart. Now, she says, "God allows us to choose...so should the law." Read more  Order your bumpersticker now!

Support RCRC! RCRC is the leading national religious voice for reproductive health and choice.Support teen pregnancy prevention, faith-based sexuality education in congregations, advocacy for health care access, HIV/AIDS prevention, and more. Support RCRC.Moral voices.Vigilant attention. Effective action.
Generation of Justice Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom Regional Training Institutes The SYRF Regional Training Institute (RTI) is back and better than ever. The RTI is an activist and organizing training program preparing participants to galvanize community support for reproductive justice in a faithful context.  Austin, TX:March 7-8, 2009
Apply by January 30

Download a sample schedule and see what we've got in the works.

SYRF Regional Trainings are completely free to accepted participants.  Forward email This email was sent to go2thesun@mac.com by cveazey@rcrc.org.Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.Email Marketing byReligious Coalition for Reproductive Choice | 1025 Vermont Avenue, NW | Suite 1130 | Washington | DC | 20005

Be The First To Know...7 Days Until Inauguration

EsquireUK — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:50:27 EST

Tuesday, 13th January 2009

Washington, D.C.

Renew America together, let us live through the journey of service:

www.change.gov

Thousands of events will take place across the country on Monday, January 19th, as people connect through our new site, USAservice.org. In Washington, DC, the President-elect and Michelle Obama will participate in local events to serve their new home.

No matter what you do – mentoring at-risk youth, giving blood, volunteering at a homeless shelter, cleaning up a park – this is just the beginning.

President-elect Obama’s initiative begins now, but it ultimately demands an enduring commitment from every one of us to serve our communities well in to the future. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (in whose honor we’ll serve next week):

If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But, recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That’s a new definition of greatness.

Please visit USAservice.org to find an event near you. Now is the time to remind all Americans what ordinary people can accomplish when we stand together. Join us on January 19th in our effort to Renew America Together.

www.change.gov

What Electing Barack Obama President means!

Davec — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:00:50 EST

Change

The course of time
The attitudes of men
The imaginations of nations
The focus of our minds
The direction that were headed
The menu of our politics
The course of our plight
The value of our contributions
The sentiments of our ancestors
The justice of our intentions
The height of our expectations
The economics of our system
The history of our books
The look of our future
The color of inspiration
The tomorrow of our lives…..
Barack Obama

-written by David Cromwell 12/22/08

America...Change Can't Happen Without You

EsquireUK — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:24:47 EST

Monday, 5th January 2009

Washington, D.C.

The historic grassroots Barack Obama presidential campaign captured through the lens of http://phottto.blogspot.com/

Questions on Change.gov

Trisha — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:21:02 EST

I have been reading through so many questions on Change.gov, and I have noticed so many questions that I look at and wonder...what was this person thinking.

So here are some thoughts I would like to express...

One...so many have asked the question "why do I have to pay for individuals who did things wrong, when I did everything right?" My question is why, because someone is caught up in this economic downturn, do you automatically assume that the person has done something wrong? What about the people who did everything right, but because of others greed, they are in trouble...why do you assume the people asking for help do not fall into that category?

My second thought...Maybe we should all take a step back and understand what a President can truely do. I understand, and partake in the excitement of a President who promises change from the same old politics, but all of the questions requesting things completely out of the control of a President does nothing to advance the cooperation that will be needed between the Government and the communities they serve. I understand that everyone has the right to ask what they choose, but questions that request the President to do things beyond his control are not productive.

Common questions I have come across...and my thoughts on them...Please give me your input...these are meant to get ideas going, so that we can be more proactive in our Government...

I have come across several questions that have had to do with legalizing Marijauna and taxing it the same way we tax cigarettes and alcohol. The common argument is that this would give an instant boost to the economy, both by the tax revenue this would raise and also by the billions of tax dollars saved in law enforcement costs each year. I personally see the argument, whether or not I believe in the cause, as a plausible way to stimulate the economy. What are your thoughts on this?

The next question that I have seen over and over is in regards to U.S. stimulus...Why not give a stimulus check to each American adult...the amount varries based on the questioner, but range from $30,000 each to 1 million each...included in the stimulus package to be voted on later this month. The arguement...That giving that much would allow those who have been hit hard to pay their mortgage payments and get bills caught up, and will then continue to stimulate the economy by spending, saving, or investing the rest. What are your thoughts on this?

The last question I am going to address here is whether or not we should abolish the current tax system and go to a sales tax instead of income tax system? I would like to hear all your ideas on this subjects as I am still trying to weigh the pros and cons of each. What are your thoughts on this?

The great part about this is that you can vote on which questions you want the Obama team to answer...with the questions that get the most votes being the ones they answer...if you have time you should stop by change.gov and answer a few...

Happy New Obama Year

John from WillObamaWin.com — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:30:13 EST

We have the final answer to our question Will Obama win? So now 2009 will be the first of 8 (or more) years of real progress in all the fields that have been ignored or missmanaged during The Bush Aberration.

Do enjoy your first Happy New Obama Year, 2009!!!

Regards,

John from http://willobamawin.com/

On an arm being borne.

paulec — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:30:18 EST

"In a dozen uses of 'bear', nowhere is the meaning closed or hidden, even to 'bear a grudge' is something seen by its bearer. To carry in view is to (hope) to scare off adversary; but is there a Second Amendment 'right' to conceal or hide 'arms'?"
I posted this question about the word as well at change.gov. Thank you again, and HNY!

A new president and a year to remember

Rach — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:21:59 EST

I feel like this is going to be a great year 2009 that is. A new president is going to be arriving at the white house before we know it. I hope he can handle the pressure, I hope he'll be able to bring the change we need.

My new year is looking bright as well. I feel like I am personally making my own changes and they are for the better. Looking towards the future, I see nothing but good possibilities both for myself and for the president as well as for the good ole USA

So happy new year everyone and make it a year to remember!

Rach

Econ 3.5

paulec — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:45:31 EST

One has a menial, mundane, fair paying job five, maybe five and a half days a week. Is there a way that this person may have 3 days at decent wage, which allows another (who has no job) a similar opportunity to have then four days off a labor that is not their favorite? I believe part of this idea is that with those 4 days a person will be able to work something constructive and possibly arrive at an entrepreneurial situation or productive function: all sorts of arts and sciences to increase happiness and the general social peace and welfare.

I am visual artist writing far outside field, but will post this in change.gov anyway. Thank you.

MTV To Co-Host: Be The Change Inaugural Ball

EsquireUK — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 11:49:03 EST

www.change.gov

MTV announced that it has partnered with ServiceNation to co-host the "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009 — the same day President-elect Barack Obama will take his oath of office.

The event will celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this month's presidential election and an active commitment from America's youth to impart positive social change through volunteer service. ServiceNation is an organization that campaigns to increase support for expanding national service programs like the Peace Corps and Americorps. In September, it hosted a forum with Obama and Senator John McCain, in which both presidential candidates agreed on the importance of community involvement.

A record 24 million people between the ages of 18 and 29 voted in the 2008 presidential election, accounting for 18 percent of the 133.3 million voters who hit the polls. It marked the third major election in a row with increased youth-voter numbers, and for the first time in 20 years, the number of young voters surpassed the number of voters over the age of 65.

The ball will be staged at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and will feature several leading artists, celebrities and government officials (to be named later), alongside hundreds of young people who've been chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.

The "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" will be televised live across all MTV platforms, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and MTV.com on the evening of January 20. Exact air times will be announced in the coming weeks.

The live television event will also include live broadcasts from other locations across the globe, where young people are completing major service projects. Leading up to the event, MTV will showcase stories of young people providing service within their communities on a daily basis, beginning on January 1.

"Over the last year and culminating in this election, we have seen a groundswell of engagement and a refreshed spirit of activism from young people," MTV general manager Stephen Friedman said. "ServiceNation is the perfect partner for this inaugural event, given that they encompass a broad coalition of youth service organizations. We want to celebrate young people across the nation who are answering the call and working to make changes in their communities and beyond."

www.change.gov

Bigotry

Dunstan Christopher — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:50:39 EST

You gotta give em hope. Barack, these are the words of Harvey Milk. Barack, how can Rick Warren, a bigot who believes that I do not deserve the same right to marry my partner as he does or as you do... Barack, how can this man give the invocation on the proudest day in our collective history? How can this be, Barack? You were supposed to give us hope. Instead you've given us hate. How could you? How could you?

A Missing Link

paulec — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:11:34 EST

On Meet the Press Dec 7 Pres.-Elect Obama chuckled as he spoke to involvement in the Senate appointments.
I was surprised to hear he be having any 'trouble'.
On Dec 8, the Illinois Gov. speaks of protection in a sunshine column.
The 9th, a crime in progress is stopped, and the 'trouble' had its context.
But this exchange has been recalled not at all as I can tell, over a week later, while on and on go silly suppositions wasting time...

MR. BROKAW: You still have some appointments to make coming up, and there's also a good deal of consideration here in Illinois about who will replace you in the Senate. But in New York this weekend the big buzz is Caroline Kennedy in the United States Senate, perhaps as the appointment to fill the seat that Hillary Clinton is expected to vacate if she gets confirmed as secretary of state.
PRES.-ELECT OBAMA: And?
MR. BROKAW: Is that a good idea?
PRES.-ELECT OBAMA: Well, let me tell you this. Caroline Kennedy has become one of my dearest friends and is just a, a wonderful American, a wonderful person. But the last thing I want to do is get involved in New York politics. I've got enough trouble in terms of Illinois politics. But just in terms of our appointments, I am very proud of the speed with which we have started to put together our...

Text: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28097635/page/4 (and about 40 minutes into the Video).

To laughingly volunteer information, with a ludicrous back-story suggests having 'no concern'. The Pres.-Elect does not work to guile to corrupt, and does not want it in others. He could not have liked the idea of Fed money going through the Office of the Governor because, as Lizz Winstead said on Joe Scar. yesterday; "Blogo's hair has roots like redwood trees that disallow good decision making".

Thanks Dad. My Hero.

Www.VisionsOf.Us — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:30:57 EST

Dad, thanks for loving me.

Like the Sun you never had.

Like for me you would die.

Dad, thanks for making me smile,

When you wanted to cry.

Thanks for all your dedication and commitment.

Thanks for being my foundation.

After you and Mom failed to see eye to eye.

Thanks for standing by me.

You gave me footprints of example;

You proof to me everyday

That there is no failure if I try.

You’re my role model.

A treasure box in my life.

Dad, thanks.

You'll always be

Apart of my journey; apart of me.

For you’re. My Dad. My Hero.

TMcLaren (c)

Inspires by: Responsible fathers around the world.

The sound of hope rang

Sage — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:55:20 EST

November 12, 2008 – Wednesday

Written on the morning of November 5, 2008
The sound of hope rang.
The darkness seemed to be getting darker.
Weariness lay heavy upon my shoulders.
The future was hanging in the balance.
But then a sound arose; at first it was just a whisper.
The sound got louder and louder upon request.
Then the sound broke through.
The sound of hope sounded, it rang through the world.
Like a light breaking the darkness.
Like a friend who came to help carry the load; hope rang loud and clear.
And others accompany hope as well.Where hope is; faith and love come along side it.
They help guide hope on its mission.
And as faith and love are requested, they too will get louder and louder.
Until we hear the sound of them clearly as well.
Then the sound that breaks all barriers will move through woman and men.
Bringing peace within their hands.
To heal and bring together their wounded and broken land.
These men and women will see the evidence of their belief.
For once they sound together they will drown out un-belief.
Once they sound together; love and unity they will bring.

Laughter is the best Medicine

Www.VisionsOf.Us — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:29:16 EST

I got the news today, :-( that I "might" get layoff. Just great, I thought to myself. It's not like I could affort being broke. Lets, face it. The value of a penny has more valuable today than yesterday.

This is where the testimony of hope, laughter and love comes in. She is like a summer breeze my mother (Hehe). When my mother learned of the possibility of me being (shhh lets not say it) she sign and said, "Mmm, you might be able to get unemployment". Without hesitation my respond was, "Mom, even unemployment will start layoffs".

Don't panic, laught it out. Seriously, whatelse are you going to do. In no shape or form is stress the answer. You deserve to laugh until you cry. My Mom sure did and that made me happy. God bless her. It was like watching Uma Thurman in the end of KB 2, when she was on the bathroom floor.

Poem-ing to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama

Madama Ambi — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:22:45 EST

Track Two--Sections 3, 4 & 5

Madama reads Walt Whitman's poem, Song of Myself, a long poem in 51 sections, as a way of poem-ing herself to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. She will finish recording the last section on January 20, 2009.

There is no intro or outro, only the raw poem.

bobdonpaul.com invites “Obama art” for inauguration day

Bob Manley — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:44:47 EST

A local graphic design agency, bobdonpaul.com is inviting artists from around the world to submit their ideas for a poster commemorating the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. Unlike never before in history, Barack Obama the candidate and now President Elect has been celebrated by artists all over the globe in what has been dubbed “Obama Art.” Obama’s campaign has inspired every form of creative expression from sculpture to painting, drawing, graffiti, posters, song, poetry, and the list goes on. Artists, writers, poets, designers, moms, dads and kids, from coast to coast and abroad, have joined the ranks of this new art form now know as “Obama Art,” a phenomenon that has not gone unnoticed by Bob Manley, his brother Don Manley, and their partner Paul Gurney.

After Barack Obama won the election on November 4th, Bob, Don, and Paul realized that January 20, 2009 was likely to go down in history as one of Americas most historic and important days, regardless of your politics. “With the “Obama Art” wave beginning to crest with his election, we became inspired to invite that energy to the celebration and commemoration of his inauguration” says Bob. He went on to say “in many ways, the artistic movement inspired by Barack Obama and his message of change is likely to have contributed to his victory.” “We would like to celebrate that effort, and the artists that made it happen.”

To that end, bobdonpaul.com has created a website, http://www.inaugurationday2009.org, to invite creative people from around the world to submit their ideas for “Obama Art” celebrating his swearing in on January 20, 2009. In addition, they are using their site to celebrate all the creative people that have led this phenomenon, buy sharing their artwork, videos, poetry. You can find all the information you need to know about Inauguration day and its history… ok, maybe not all you need to know, but stay tuned, the site is only a few weeks old.

bobdonpaul.com does not know where this will lead and seem not to care. They have lots of ideas and are depending on the growth and popularity of the site to determine its future. “It’s our hope that maybe one of the posters that are derived from our contributors will someday hang in the Capital, or maybe the White House,” says Bob.

Visit http://www.inaugurationday2009.org, and see some of the finest examples of “Obama Art,” learn all about Inauguration Day, and most importantly, let your creative juices flow and contribute your idea(s) for a commemorative poster in celebration of the swearing in of our 44th President.

bobdonpaul.com is a small boutique graphic design agency recently formed in central New Hampshire. To keep it simple, Bob and Don are brothers and Paul is their friend. We are three modest and humble guys who each feel as though they have something to offer the world. Together, and not so modestly, we discovered we have something great to offer.

Bob Manley

bobdonpaul.com, LLC

56 Taylor Road

Sanbornton, NH 03269

603.556.7117

bob@bobdonpaul.com

* CONGRATS & TRIBUTES TO PRESIDENT OBAMA *

Delores Chamblin — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:55:48 EST

~*~ CONGRATULATIONS ~*~ PRESIDENT ~*~ BARACK ~*~ OBAMA ~*~

TRIBUTE:
http://www.africreations.com/Obama-Tribute.html

Black Designers Crafters and Artists for Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlackDesignersCraftersandArtistsforObama

Delores Chamblin

The Enough Project Update

darlene matthews — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:16:39 EST

From: d matthews <go2thesun@mac.com>
To: 0bama Worldwide <0bamaWorldwide@groups.barackobama.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 23:20:41
Subject: [0bamaWorldwide] Fwd: The Pursuit of Justice

Begin forwarded message:

November 20, 2008
ENOUGH PROJECT RESPONDS TO ICC PROSECUTOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
DARFUR WAR CRIMES PROSECUTION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Enough Project today issued the following
statement in response to an announcement by the Chief Prosecutor of
the International Criminal Court. The statement, which follows, is
from John Prendergast, Co-chair, John Norris, Executive Director, and
Omer Ismail, Policy Advisor:

Today the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, or
I.C.C., Luis Moreno-Ocampo, applied for an arrest warrant for war
crimes against several members of a splinter rebel faction in Darfur
related to the September 29, 2007, attack on African Union
peacekeepers in Haskanita. The Chief Prosecutor's actions are a
powerful reminder that the Court will pursue justice with an even
hand and follow the chain of evidence with regard to crimes against
humanity wherever it leads.

Today's move by the prosecutor makes clear that repeated claims by
the Sudanese government that it is being unfairly targeted by the
Court are without merit. Now that government officials, rebels, and
militia leaders all have been subject to I.C.C. actions, it is clear
that the Court is pursuing its work in a professional and impartial
manner. Further, this balanced pursuit of accountability underscores
the importance of all sides in the conflict partaking in credible
peace talks and forging a lasting solution. While the United Nations
Security Council can invoke Article 16 to defer specific cases on a
rolling one-year basis, it only should do so in the overwhelming
interest of peace. Efforts by parties, including the Sudanese
Government, to build support for invoking Article 16 will not be
taken seriously until there is a peace to keep in Darfur.

To read the I.C.C. Chief Prosecutor's statement, click here.

Separately, the Court is still waiting to determine if it will issue
an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir for
charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. We
believe these charges to have merit, and the issuance of an arrest
warrant coupled with a change of administration in Washington can
combine to create a transformative opportunity for Darfur. Many
governments that had earlier expressed unqualified support for Bashir
are backing away quietly, making it increasingly plausible that it
will be politically feasible for Bashir to be replaced as president
of Sudan if his fellow party members follow the letter of the law in
Sudan, hold him accountable for his actions, and push him to the
side. An arrest warrant would also present a golden opportunity to
use the regime's desire to suspend these judicial proceedings as
leverage not only in forging a peace agreement in Darfur but in
getting implementation of the existing North-South peace deal back on
track.

The Enough Project, Save Darfur, and the Genocide Intervention
Network jointly have called on President-elect Obama and his
transition team to develop a new strategy for Sudan, or a peace
surge, built around strong diplomacy, improved civilian protection,
escalating pressure on the parties to the conflict, and justice.
President Obama can help lead an international effort to construct a
viable, sustained, high-level peace process that addresses the
fundamental issues in Darfur and Sudan more broadly. The time is
right also for a concerted multilateral effort to see an indicted
Bashir resign the presidency and face extradition to The Hague, which
would have a profound effect on the domestic political situation in
Sudan. Peace remains possible in Sudan, and today the Chief
Prosecutor took an important step in helping the international
community fulfill that goal.

###

Enough is a project of the Center for American Progress to end
genocide and crimes against humanity. Founded in 2007, Enough focuses
on crises in Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo, northern Uganda, Somalia,
and Zimbabwe. Enough's strategy papers and briefings provide sharp
field analysis and targeted policy recommendations based on a "3P"
crisis response strategy: promoting durable peace, providing civilian
protection, and punishing perpetrators of atrocities. Enough works
with concerned citizens, advocates, and policy makers to prevent,
mitigate, and resolve these crises. To learn more about Enough and
what you can do to help, go to www.enoughproject.org.

- A Peace Surge for Sudan
- IRRESOLUTION: The U.N. Security Council on Darfur
- Merits of Justice

ENOUGH Project | 1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 307 | Washington, DC 20005
ENOUGH is a project to end genocide and crimes against humanity. For
more information, go to www.enoughproject.org.

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Poem-ing to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama

Madama Ambi — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:07:45 EST

Madama reads Song of Myself by Walt Whitman.

click here to listen...scroll down to Pickle Player...

10:14 min.

NOT EXPLODING

Chuck Britt — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:07:26 EST

Not Exploding

(For Becky 11-04-08)

My sister is in

Grant Park

Listening to dreams come true

I watch from the west

Remembering Goldwater in ‘64

Me still trying to be loyal to my father

But wondering what my big sister

Was doing on campus

With all those liberals

I secretly wanted to win

You led our family

Away from hate and fear

Toe to toe with the old man

Paying a fearful toll

With your life and your love

You did it

You did it for me

Perhaps unaware of my need

But nonetheless

I learned

Your head did not explode

You did not die

So toe to toe

We all went

Not exploding

President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009 - Washington, DC Group!!! 4

Carol Maric — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:51:18 EST

An open invitation to join : President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009 - Washington, DC Group!!!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/InaugurationDay2009

Make plans to be in DC on this historical day!

Make plans to be tuned in with TV and/or the Internet.

Be out in public with friends and fellow citizens.

A Grand and Wonderful Celebration!

Call or write your Senators TODAY!

Chris in West Seattle — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:00:53 EST

The full Democratic Caucus is set to vote on Joe Lieberman's Chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee next week. Write to your Senators, or call them, today!

Here's what I sent to WA Senators Murray and Cantwell today:

Dear Senator Murray: First, thank you for visiting our Canvassing Kickoff with Howard Dean and Governor Gregoire on the Saturday before the Election!

I am writing, as a constituent from West Seattle, to beg you on bended knee to vote to remove Senator Joe Lieberman (Joe Lieberman for Joe Lieberman party, CT) from his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee when the Democratic Caucus convenes next week to vote on this issue. While I'm sure you're receiving plenty of emails, letters, and phone calls from constituents urging Sen. Lieberman's ouster from his committee Chair assignment for more partisan reasons (and his broken promise that he would support Senator McCain's candidacy, but refrain from attacking Senator Obama, is certainly a breach of faith with the Party, the Caucus, and his own word), there's something just as important to consider, if not more so:

Joe Lieberman has been incredibly ineffectual in his role as chair of the Homeland Security committee - particularly when it comes to the role he, and the committee, were supposed to play in standing up to the shameful actions of the Bush White House during these past years. Unlike its much more effective and active counterpart in the House, the Committee, under Joe Lieberman, failed to challenge the Bush Administration on its failures and offenses on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "war on terror", torture, Hurricane Katrina, and a host of other issues the Committee was charged to oversee and investigate. It could be argued that Joe Lieberman's inaction as head of the Committee enabled and shielded a whole laundry list of failures of the Bush Administration, resulting in countless wasted tax dollars - and lives.

But there's ample reason to be suspicious, given his past behavior patterns, that an embarrassed, embittered Joe Lieberman may abuse his Chairmanship to "go after" the Obama Administration in a way he abjectly failed to do under the Bush Administration.

While Joe Lieberman's personal and political conduct during the Presidential election of 2008 (and his campaigning in support of other Republican candidates to the House and Senate in the recent past) are shameful enough, it's his dereliction of duty, lack of leadership, and failure to fulfill his role as chair of his Committee that should be the primary rationale for stripping him of his Committee assignment.

Let Joe Lieberman continue to caucus with the Democrats if he so chooses. Offer him Chairmanship of a different Committee - something that Mr. "Agreed with us on everything but the War" can be trusted with. But he's been an embarrassingly ineffective Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, and has failed at his duties in that role.

It's time to give someone else a chance to do a better job. If I dared to exhibit such lackluster performance and failure at my job, I would have been fired a long time ago.

Please vote to strip Joe Lieberman of his Committee Chair assignment.

Chris Roy

Precinct SEA 34-1545 / 34th District Democrats

---- 15th Avenue Southwest

Seattle WA 98136

206-_-__ nullemail@nullemail.com

My Strength

Adam Z — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:57:37 EST

I am alone. I just want to know what it is that I can’t seem to get right. I cannot make a relationship work. Love, to me, is stepping out from the bushes into the most beautiful view you have ever seen, only to find out you have stepped off the edge of a cliff and are now plunging to your imminent demise.

I live, I love, yet I am alone. I seek, I find, yet I am alone. I struggle on without shame or pity; the world’s problems are far bigger than anything I could burden them with, yet I am alone.

I do not choose to be alone. I flirt, and engage. Yet I rarely get a response. Then, once in a while, I do get a response. And it fills my soul with a passion not rivaled by Mars. I push it further; perhaps I don’t push it far enough. But I expect a self-respecting woman to put in her fair share of the work.

Something happens every time that I cannot explain. I recognize it, yet I can’t make out it what it is. I try to stop it, yet I know it can’t be stopped. The Great Cosmic Reality offers no protection against this rampaging demon.

What is this love they tell me about? What is this fairy tale that is the true leading cause of divorce? How do I combat its evil, destructive power? What can I do to make them realize the power of true, lasting love? Monogamy is a fraud to all but the hopeless.

I still believe in the noble qualities; honesty, fairness, willingness to confront and overcome one’s demons, trust, empowerment, sacrifice, generosity. But they don’t seem to impress anyone.

Do I expect too much? I don’t expect anything. I hope for the best. But, after a fortnight or two, she always comes to realize she doesn’t want to be with me. Why? What have I done to be burdened by this curse?

I am alone and for strength I give my love to the world.

Italians react to Berlusconi's comments and Maher's new rules

Alexandra Pereira — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:25:22 EST

The reaction of Italians to Berlusconi's comments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M1Cy5DCzAI&feature=related

Bill Maher's best new rules ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHu4p-yb0pc&feature=related

Wall in Washington DC With Messages from Around the World to President Obama

Alexandra Pereira — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:58:12 EST

"Congratulations President Obama. Change Won't be easy but... Together as One World, Yes We Can"

An Avaaz.org initiative, you can help us reach the goal of 1 million messages from around the world here:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/million_messages_to_obama/?cl=145666506&v=2398

tell your friends, ask them to write their message.

So Glad We Won - Now the Work Begins

Mike — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:28:19 EST

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?

Black Voters, Gay Voters - The Bait and Switch

Jarrett in Florida — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:44:53 EST

Yet Another Glass Ceiling With Many Cracks...

I write this blog post in a moment of bittersweet victory. Having campaigned my heart out for Barack Obama over the last 3 months, I am overjoyed at our victory and feel that real change is finally coming to Washington and Main Street.

On election night, I partied in the street on the West side of Fort Lauderdale - a gay white boy surrounded by black people, most of whom were probably heterosexual. It could not have made a difference at the time, because we were all so optimistic and excited. The following morning was a different experience entirely... My friends and I were informed that Amendment 2 had passed and that not only would gay marriage now be outlawed but also civil unions and commonlaw marriages would be denied legal status.

So drops the other shoe.

The most disappointing part of the experience was the media coverage. Every news station was telling us that Black People were to blame... That all of the blacks who came out in droves to vote for Barack Obama had not listened to his supportive speeches and had voted specifically and willfully against my rights... The media maintained that Black people had not returned the "favor" of equality.

I'm not buying it. Here's something that the media is not telling us:

According to the same exit polls from CNN which indicate that Blacks voted for Prop 8 & Amendment 2 at higher percentages than whites, there is a key bit of information that needs to be explored - The total number of black voters for the anti-gay amendments is still not even 1/3 the total number of white, Evangelical voters who voted for the Amendments in the rural areas of the state... In fact, most black voters did not vote on Amendment 2 at all...

It is unfair, unreasonable and devisive for the mainstream media to pit blacks and gays against eachother at a time when we should all be celebrating eachother's diversity... As a white, gay male who supported and voted for Barack Obama with all my energy, I can honestly say that I have not experienced the slightest amount of homophobia from anyone in the Campaign For Change. I have never really felt any exceptional homophobia from the Black community at large, either...

Furthermore, it was not black people who put this Amendment on the ballot in the first place. Once again, this hateful bit of legislation has been brought to you by those "true Americans" who live in the remote grassy knolls that you drive by on your way to better places.

I think it's time to stop blaming races and sexual orientations for problems which are largely brought to us by Republicans. That's the other missing statistic here... Those who voted for John McCain also voted 91% in favor of Amendment 2.

It's time for Black people and Gay people alike to stand up for ourselves and refuse to let Republicans and the mainstream media continue to assail us in the name of "divide and conquer"...

God Bless all of you who helped on this campaign and remember to keep your cool and love your neighbors... even the bigoted ones. We shall overcome.

~::~ YES WE CAN !!! *** YES WE DID !!! ~::~

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:09:46 EST

~::~ YES WE CAN !!! *** YES WE DID !!! ~::~

OUR BARACK OBAMA IS OUR NEW PRESIDENT !!!! CHANGE IS HERE !!! NOW !!! FINALLY !!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

BIG VICTORY FOR PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA! (Poem Version II)

Delores Chamblin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:53:31 EST

The term is ending soon for Mr. George Bush.
Across the USA the massive grassroots push
throughout the campaign for the '08 election
to register, vote early and make the selection
for a man of hope and real change not drama
resulted in big victory for President - Obama!

"Yes We Did!"

HATS OFF TO OBAMA!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/africreations/show

Delores

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Afri

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

Congradulations President Elect Barack Obama!!!!

La Susa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:25:15 EST

Congradulations President Elect-Barack Obama!

Congradulations To All Of Us, We Won!

It has been a long and hard race!

A Special Thanks To Everyone Here!

And with hope in our future, I am finnally at ease!

If there is one thing that I have learned throughout all of this, and that is, to expect more of myself, especially in the face of adversity. Thank you President-Elect Barack Obama!

Wow!

Tony Oppenheim — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:11:07 EST

In the last week leading up to the election we noticed that our Obama music video, "We'll Get There", started receiving about a 10x increase in daily viewers. It's still increasing even now that the election has come and gone.

I think this is because the positive feelings about Barack are still increasing. If you want to watch the video here's a link:

We'll Get There!

I'm so happy and relieved now that the election is over. It will be so exciting to see how Barack tackles the many challenges that he now faces as President.

Everyone here has to take their hand, reach around and pat themselves on the back!

We all did a wonderful job, and now as a result the future is much brighter!

Peace and love! Thank you all!

Tony

YAY: Brand New Day!!

Alexandra Pereira — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:01:41 EST

"Brand New Day" by Marc Johnson, from Chicago:

http://www.dreamyjazz.com/audio/13-Brand%20New%20Day.mp3

Lyrics:

"Quit your fronting and your fighting
Throw your sadness and your heartache away!
We're living in a Brand New Day.

The world's abuzzing with the novelty of all the things
We've heard and read and seen
A sea change igniting our dreams
Framing all of our hopes and
Defining the possibilities

Never been a better time to be and to be free
If you believe as I believe

We're living in a brand new day

We've got fences to mend
Bridges to build and hearts to heal
Overcoming obstacles from without and within
It's a (crazy) lot of work but I know that once it begins
What an amazing place we'll find ourselves in

So hey don't delay
Put one foot in front of another and begin this brand new day

We've got fences to mend
Bridges to build and hearts to heal
Overcoming obstacles from without and within
It's a (crazy) lot of work but I know that once it begins
What an amazing place we'll find ourselves in

So seize the day, this brand new day
Gonna stir it up, gonna break it down
Melt it like we should
Bringing love and light and hope to every neighborhood
It's a Brand New Day."

A Brand New Day Is Here

"Funky President"

Tim A. — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:35:41 EST

If you've been following this blog at all, you had to know that its intended destination was to be able to post this song. Thank Jesus/Moses/Muhammad/Buddha/Zorro/etc that I'm actually able to do so.

"Funky President" by James Brown

As a P.S., here's a recap of how I spent election night in DC:

Congratulations to America!

There's nothing more to say, except...

John from WillObamaWin.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:50:46 EST

YESSS!!!

Don't forget my 5 Obama songs for your Inauguration party night CD!!! Or for any other events you are planning.

Of course, you can choose which one(s) you'd like to download, but why not grab 'em all? They're FREE!

Yes We Did!

John, http://willobamawin.com/

Will Obama Win?
"Pleased to serve the cause"

Hope Reborn

mizztotal — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:49:52 EST

It’s been a full twelve hours since Barack Obama became the 44th President-Elect of the United States of America and I am still in a state of awe. I’ve been in this same state since last night when I watched as the undeniable election results streamed in and John McCain conceded on live television, since I heard my neighbors yelling with joy up and down my street.

I wouldn’t call it a state of a shock---I knew this day was coming. The only way I can describe the feeling I have right now is as a stunned joyfulness, a quiet brought on by the overwhelming magnitude of the history I have just witnessed being made. And I think to myself, this is how my enslaved ancestors must have felt when they first found out they were free. This is how my grandparents must have felt when civil rights laws were finally enacted and enforced in this country.

But I imagined this moment differently. I thought I would be screaming and yelling, jumping for joy, tears streaming unchecked down my face. Instead, I sit quietly in a place of stillness and wonder. I walk outside and the sun seems to be shining brighter than I’ve ever seen it before. And I think to myself, this is how it must feel to be born.

An Inaugural Poem for President Barack Obama

mizztotal — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:45:04 EST

I was inspired to write this poem for my President Barack Obama on 5-19-08 because even then I knew that this day would come.

Glory in the Gathering Place

Come

The Land cries out; and all of Nature replies

The elements assemble themselves, Here

Into towering effigies of glory, remnants of Dreams,

Remembering time and times, Today

The Sky speaks to the Earth

Nothing between them save matters of air,

Of Grace, of Majesty of man; Stone speaks to Sand

The Land cries out; the four winds rush to tell

Bending the will of grass, stirring the notions of trees,

Lifting every bird in their shifting gales,

‘Til a dove flies in the Eagle’s realm

Behold

The Lake feeds greater waters; gradually the basins rise

Tides upon tides spilling over

‘Til the Great Rift no longer divides

Oceans of centuries reclaim sons and daughters

The clouds rescind to reveal their prize

A Crane arises from the gathering place, kingly crowned,

Proud face upturned to the ethereal Light

Our Nation fortifies its might

Stand

Mighty Nation, a witness to Nations

That Strength is not a sword, nor Power tyranny

The Inevitableness of Possibility prevails

That which we have divulged has made us strong

Sing! A chorus verse to a redemption song

Rejoice, child! Rejoice into the Millennium

O hear the People’s voices joining in crescendo!

Stand, Mighty Nation, a witness to Nations

That We are One

WOW!

Lawrence Morgan — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:02:24 EST

We DID it!

What a sweet night!

Carole B — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:18:25 EST

I wept salty tears as I thought back over the years to the many sacrifices made by so many to bring this to fruition, to the work done by both blacks and whites to help eliminate our nation's ignorance. I thought of my own marches during the Civil Rights Era in Washington and in Chicago, even when to march risked terrible consequences. I thought back to Dr. King and his eloquence and the agony of hearing the words, "They shot Dr. King."

Tonight I saw Jesse Jackson biting his lip with tears streaming down his face, and I saw the light in the young people's eyes as they realized it was a new day. I pictured Michelle and the kids living in the White House, the promised puppy scampering from room to room.

Then I thought how never again can anything any ignorant racist says have the same impact because today my county, my beautiful America chose to elect a president based on his beliefs rather than the color of his skin. This was an amazing act of trust and an act accompanied by great joy. It will take a while to sink in. Over the last few weeks a black Republican friend of mine kept saying cynically," Do you really think this country is ready to elect a black man?" Well today I can tell him. Today I can affirm what he was afraid to dream.

Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we did.

Caroe Borges

YAY!!!

Elisabeth — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:58:53 EST

Now what? I'm ready to serve!

Some thoughts on Election Night

Maura — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:38:43 EST

I'm taking a break from making calls (over 100 made tonight & counting!) to reflect on some of the memories I've collected while working for Barack's Campaign for Change. I'm thinking about the many people I've met and the voices I've heard.

The first time I, went canvassing for Barack the somewhat disheartening day ended on a high note. After knocking on 10 pages worth of doors in an economically depressed area of Virginia Beach, and being met with hostility, suspicion, indifference, and many empty homes, my partner and I were greeted by an entire extended family who came outside to thank us for the work we were doing to change the world.

The man on our list was a young African American soldier who was visiting his parents' home with his wife and two daughters. He came to the door in a Barack T-shirt and stepped outside to speak to us; his mother, father, uncle, wife and two daughters followed. As he updated his address (he had recently been transferred to Northern Virginia) and signed up to volunteer, his father and wife spoke about the campaign and the hope they felt. His pre-teen daughter said she wanted to vote too. As three generations of this family stood around us, I noticed that we were all smiling ear to ear, just beaming at each other. "It's a new day!", his father said as we took turns shaking hands round the circle and said goodbye.

The first night I made calls to voters in my state, after 25 calls that yielded little but wrong numbers and one screaming McCain supporter, I happened on a 93 year old African American woman who had voted early, she said, "because of my age". She wanted to talk and her quavering voice conveyed the emotion she felt. "I have waited so long for this, for this day! I have waited so long to see this happen, wouldn't nothing keep me away."

Tonight, as I made calls to voters in Virginia and Nevada, a 73 year old Caucasian woman stopped me mid-sentence to say "Don't you worry, I voted this morning and I voted for Obama!".

As I canvassed on Sunday, a young Caucasian man with sandy-colored hair in cornrows, a naked torso covered in what looked like home-made tattoos, and a big smile asked for an Obama lawn sign and poster. As he meticulously taped the sign to his mailbox he explained that he couldn't vote, but he wanted to help get the word out. "Barack's gonna change everything up! He's gonna change this world. " (Apparently, as an ex-convict, he had lost his right to vote.)

This is the first time I have felt truly connected to the political process and the first time I have become actively involved beyond voting and giving a small donation. I'm a single mother of a young son and a teacher; my time and my budget are tight. Yet, somehow I managed to scrape up extra time and extra money for Barack Obama's campaign. I have waited so long for this and together we all will change everything up. For the first time I unabashedly believe--we can change this world.

Yes we can,

Maura Alia Badji

Virginia Beach, Virginia

November 4, 2008

Strength in Numbers

mary4change — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:09:11 EST

As I made calls today and heard of all the others who have called and were visiting the homes I'd reached, I was in awe of the power of many of us working together for change.

So often during this campaign, I'd think -- oh, I have so little money to give, I can only make a few calls and I'd wonder if it made a difference. But I'd always think about the fact that there were many, many people just like me doing what they could and so I'd go ahead, figuring it would all add up. Today I realized that it has. We don't know for sure if we'll win, but we have found out how much power there is in many people working together.

May we continue to work together in the days ahead and create an unstoppable force for change!

I Voted

Sue — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:30:29 EST

I have waited so long for this. I just have to shout...MY VOTE IS IN!!!! Never has this given me such a feeling of satisfaction and power.

Where is everybody...haven't heard from you for so long? Take a moment to reveal your feelings today.

Go Obama!!!

"Shut 'Em Down"

Tim A. — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:54 EST

Also been saving this one for a while. It's one of the songs I thought of almost immediately when this whole idea to build a playlist for a President initially occured.

The point of the song, much like one significant point of this election, is to commit an act of iconoclasm meant to initiate the building of a new icon. It's not strictly about tearing something down. But more about remixing something to make it better. Which, hopefully, will begin tonight.

"Shut 'Em Down" by Public Enemy

FINAL PUSH TO ELECT OBAMA (POEM & SLIDE SHOW)

Delores Chamblin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:08:41 EST

The term will soon end for Mr. George Bush.
We must continue to make a huge final push
to get out the vote and make the selection
for the best candidate this historic election -
one with a clear message of hope not drama.
Oh "Yes We Can" elect Mr. Barack Obama!

HATS OFF TO OBAMA! (Slide Show)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/africreations/show

Barack's Grandmother

Melanie — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:06:02 EST

Hi there.

I wish there was a place where we could send a sympathy card to Obama for the death of his Grandmother.
Do you know anything about where we could do that? Online? Like we did for Ted Kennedy when he was diagnosed?

"The Choice Is Yours"

Tim A. — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:36:54 EST

I've been saving this song for a while.

If you're under the age of 40, you've probably heard it before. And you may have lost your mind whylin out at some house party, some club or in some car in some traffic jam on some American street.

It is quite obvious what we're on the precipice of. No need for any more salesmanship.

"The Choice Is Yours" by Black Sheep

Why Obama is Actually More Conservative Then McCain

AmeriGus — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:29:45 EST

By Gustav Wynn

A strange thing happened to me when I was creating my bio for this site - I realized that I had more in common with traditional Conservatism then Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, George Bush, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Dick Cheney, John McCain or the folks running the Heritage Foundation. After reading this article, you might find that you, dear reader, are also far more Conservative then those rich elite and that even Barack Obama, labeled the most "liberal" Senator in Congress is actually more Conservative then any of these other Americans. [Update: Barron's agrees.]

Tomorrow we take back our Country!

Mike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:24:27 EST

Tomorrow we take back our country!

THATS THE CHANGE WE NEED, MINNESOTA!

Ali from Seattle, WA — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:45:55 EST

Those words were so powerful when I first heard them that I put them in a song. I am a Seattle musician. I've sang "Minnesota" at ever show I've had since then, which is at least 4O times.

Please watch the video and pass it on! just copy and paste the link, it's easy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ8sPG97GkA

www.alimarcus.com

Count your vote Make it count

Duane Kuehn — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:59:35 EST

Hi All,

     Election Day is upon us, then we can go back to regular commercials on television.
     Congratulations, it appears that everyone's hard work will surely "pay-off".

    Unfortunately, one major problem remains unaddressed and appears to be worse this year, more widespread, than the 2004 election. Vote Fraud. Not, mind you, voter fraud, but computer dysfunction, hacking, and even built in "flip" voting.

     Do we remember the 2004 election? All the networks declared John Kerry the winner, except Fox News. As the very important Florida votes came in, Fox News declared George Bush the winner. The other networks checked their own figures and "gosh darn" George Bush was the winner. How did that happen, all the other networks somehow had the wrong figures, or more exactly, suddenly those figures "flipped".

     Later, December 2004, a man named Clint Curtis testified under oath before the House Judiciary Committee on vote fraud.

      http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/465.html

     Mr. Curtis testified that he worked for Yang Enterprises Incorporated (which proudly proclaims on its site, "To provide high quality engineering and computer services for both the government and private industries"). Clint Curtis testified under oath that he was approached to create and did create a program that would “flip” a percentage of the votes to the other candidate. I hope you will click the link and watch the full video (from a movie insert but apparently the true testimony)

     The House Judiciary Committee did find vote "flipping" in the Presidential election of 2004. One "hint" of this happening is the flicker on the screen. The program which Curtis mentions, however, does not "flip" as the individual votes, a person flips a specific percentage of the votes after the voting is finished. Did the 2004 Florida vote “flip” at the last minute? We the People should be very worried.

     Already, some machines are showing flickers, many called “over or under sensitive screen problems etc. This is not some programmer or screen-maker error. This could easily be resolved in programming, why was it not done. We like to believe in honesty, especially in the election process, however, it is just no longer feasible to believe this.

     Like it or not, we need to take back our country, "change from the ground-upward" as we have been told. Our politicians will do nothing to address this problem but "We the People" will, in order to KEEP this more perfect Union more perfect!

     Election Day, Tuesday November 4, 2008, I plan to go to my appointed voting place, vote and stay there, all day if I must.

     I will take with me a large cardboard box having a hole cut in the top. I will take thousands of slips of scratch paper and a gang of pencils. Staying at least 25 feet from the building entrance, I will ask voters to please write "M" or "McCain or "O" or "Obama" on a slip and put it, unseen, into the box.

     Explaining that this is an anonymous gathering of the votes to check with the computer totals at this precinct to make sure there is no large difference between the ballots cast inside and the intended receiver of that individual vote. The ballot is the private business of the individual voter but the total of votes cast and for whom is important to keep the system honest.

     I will wear no campaign materials, this is not for campaigning, supporters are to take the day off, says Obama. You deserve that.

     This situation, however, demands our time. We are doing this for the honesty of this election and the protection of future elections in this country. If the other candidate wins in our individual districts, one need not be happy but we know that we are able to accept what comes.

     We are much stronger than to tamper with the paper trail we are creating in our individual districts. Tampering, with our own totals, will only do us harm and is out of the question. This is for the future voting rights of all Americans.

     I am inviting anyone to volunteer for this with me. Regardless of political affiliation, color, creed, etc. This is for the nation at large, not for our individual egos. Wherever you live, gather and do your individual precincts.

     I hope you will join me in this. Some may scoff at me but I do not care, this very Democracy deserves my time. Be it alone all day, I wholly plan to do this.
     I hope that you will do the same at your precincts. We have come too far to trust this election to others. Nobody will watch out for us, We must take action. If the results are true, then great. If the results are incorrect and we have done nothing, we get what we get, like it or not.

     For input or more information please contact me at   de-wah@usa.com
Loveya,
Duane Kuehn

The Day Before...

L. Glory — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:29:35 EST

Here's a little something to start Monday off right.

http://www.theobamaexperiment.com/Videos.html

Here's looking to a Bright BLUE Tuesday Voting Day!

:Lilly

Participate in your own democracy - it's your life!

Alexandra Pereira — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:50:32 EST

People, go out and vote for a healthy democracy. Vote for the future of your kids and a proud country.

The rest of the world watches and suspends its breath. The rest of the world prays that you give an example and show the wisdom of the right choice. United, bring us the hope. It's the time to actively participate, the time to express your views and opinions, the time to celebrate on the 4th.

Vote and be happy! Go and vote - do it now!!

I have had some people that are angry at so many calls

Melanie — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:06:45 EST

I was calling Ohio and Colorado yesterday and Virginia today. I have received quite a few people that are getting angry at the amount of phone calls that Obama volunteers are giving them. I had one lady that said if we call anymore, she'll vote for McCain, even though she is thinking of voting Obama.

I don't know if we are just repeating the same lists over and over.

I'm a bit afraid to call anymore because I don't want anyone to switch to McCain because they are tired of being hounded.

Is anyone else getting this same response?

"Who's Gonna Take the Weight?"

Tim A. — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:05:46 EST

Like any other creative type, I get very excited to start a new venture. At some point, I might grow bored, frustrated, impatient, distracted or disillusioned. Whenever that point (or those points) occur, I may be inclined to abandon the venture. Most likely, my energy will wane and I'll complete the venture on a lower note than I started it. Often, arriving at the destination feels less rewarding than was the act of launching into it.

The longer this campaign has dragged on, the more I've struggled to sustain my enthusiasm for it. I suspect I am not alone. At the very least, I figure there are a fair amount of people who've stagnated in their abilities to advocate for Obama and have leaned very heavily on talking points to sell the Senator's candidacy. If you're reading this and you're one of those people, let me see if I can give you a shot of rhetorical adrenaline.

Let me start on a low note. Obama is not going to deliver on everything he's told us he wants to do. Even if he has a Democratic supermajority in both chambers of Congress, the circumstances he will be asked to respond to (economic impotence, globalization, nebulous enemies, Iraq, etc) will require him to change up the game plan just a bit. He'll probably have to compromise on some elements of some of his bigger ideas (taxes, healthcare, withdrawal from Iraq, etc). I don't doubt his ability to execute, but I am realistic. And no politician is ever able to honor every single aspect of every single campaign promise. That's just not how governance unfolds. Governance, as we all know, is about compromise. For good. For ill. For the survival of those who play the game.

Now, let's find that high note.

There is a man we have become better acquainted with during these last 12 months. There is a campaign we have all participated in. There is a movement forward in which we have all invested. We have been awed by the intelligence of it all. We have been encouraged by its cunning. We have been inspired. And we have felt, for the first time in many of our cases, like the future really is ours to shape.

There is also a gasp. It is, in part, a wheeze from the willfully ignorant. It is, in a much larger part, an urge to operate as America 1.0. To retain an identity that is predicated on old world realities that allowed our little empire to manifest. That gasp is woefully unreasonable and it is ill-prepared for the historical moments that lie ahead of us. It informs some of the structure of America 2.0, but it is not, many of us believe, the business model that will work best in the world of tomorrow.

The future that started yesterday needs imagination. It needs forward thinking. It needs everything we have born witness to during the course of Senator Barack Obama's campaign to become President of these United States.

If you find yourself talking to undecided voters--whom we understand to still be quite plentiful--maybe it is no longer worthwhile to discuss with them the issues. At this point, if you're not informed on the issues, why should anyone believe that the issues really matter to you? Really. Web sites have been up for months now with pretty much every position statement you could want. And if you're not willing to seek out information that is so easily available, then I question your patriotism. After all, America is supposed to be about you controlling your own destiny. Or, at least, the illusion that you can control it. But I digress.

At this point in the campaign, if someone out there is still struggling to make sense of everything and decide for whom they will vote on Tuesday, perhaps the best appeal is to simply ask them, in their gut, what exactly do they want for their country?

Do they want to help seize an opportunity to take bold steps forward to empower the smartest guy in the room? Or do they believe it really is a good idea for America in 1950 to be the model for America in 2010?

Times have changed, yo. Time for us to vote for the guy who reflects that. The guy who is best equipped to guide the ship--through every kind of water.

It's a simple choice, really. Someone will take the weight. Regardless. It's up to the entire country to make the choice whether the broken, creaky tradition will carry on or whether a bold, daring advance will take the day.

If the song for today is any indication, you should know what I think. And you can play it for anyone still looking for some inspiration to help them make their choice.

"Who's Gonna Take the Weight" by Kool & the Gang.

McCain VS Obama

La Susa — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:01:44 EST

Im not in favor of McCain because he wants to cheat workers, and give more money to the extreamly rich that make 250,000.00 or more! Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que el quire enganiar a los trabajadores y dar mas dinero a los ricototes, la cual que hacen 250,000.00 y mas!

Im not in favor of McCain because he is too old, 72 years old, and placed Palin as VP. Poor Palin dosn't know much about the world, much less about how to run Our Nation. Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que ya esta muy viejo, 72 anos, y puso a la Palin de VP. La pobre Palin no sabe mucho del mundo, menos como correr nuestro Nacion!

Im not in favor of McCain because he says he knows how to do everything, but really what has he done in, practicly nothing in 20 years. Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que el dice que el sabe como hacer de todo, pero a la deveras no ha hecho casi nada en 20 anos.

Im not in favor of McCain because he lies too much! There are so many lies I cannot place them all here, it is an embarrasment! Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que miente demaciado! Hay tantas mentiras que no los puedo ponerlos todos aqui, es una veruenza!

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to help those workers who pay way too much in taxes. He wants the rich that make 250,000.00 or more to pay taxes as it was during the years of President Clinton. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el qiere ayudar a aquellos que trabajan y pagan demacido taxes. El quiere que los ricos que hacen 250,000.00 y mas que ellos pagan taxes como era en los anos del Presidente Clinton.

I voted for Senator Obama because he realized when his mom was ill that the insurance companies didn't want to pay the bills because her illness before she died being cancer was considered 'pre-existing'. And she sadly died with the worries of the bills. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el se dio cuenta que cuando su mama estaba enferma las companias de seguranza no querian pagar los cuentos por que querian decir la cual que la enfermedad que cancer que tenia su mama antes de murir que era 'pre-existing'. Y la pobre murio con penas de los cuentos!

I voted for Senator Obama because he knows what it is like to live in poverty, for when he was a child he and his mom were on foodstamps. And his manerism is one of humility. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el sabe como es vivir pobre, cuando el era nino, su mama y el estaban es las estampas. Y tiene un modo de ser que es humide.

I voted for Senator Obama because he knows what it is like to live without a dad. His dad left when he was only two years old. And he knows that there are many mothers with children who are alone and suffering with mounting bills. Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el sabe como es vivir sin un papa. El papa de el se fue, cuando el no mas tenia dos anos de edad. Y sabe que hay muchas madres con ninos que estan solas y sufiendo con biles demasiados.

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to give many jobs to the people! Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere a dar muchos trabajos a la gente!

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants all students to have the opportunities to go to collage, not just the rich! Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere que todos estudiantes tengan la oportunidad a ir al colejio, no, no mas los ricos!

I voted for Obama because he knows we have to stop the war in Iraq, and look for that man Bin Ladden who killed nearly 4 thousand people here in the United States on September 11, 2001. Yo Vote al Obama por que el sabe que tenemos que parrar la guierra en Iraq y buscar al hombre ese Bin Ladden; que mato ha casi 4 mil personas aqui en Los Estados Unidos en Septiembre 11 del 2001.

I voted for Senator Obama because he dose not want American companies to leave to China, and he wants them to stay here in the Untited States. Yo Vote por el Senador Obama por que el no quiere que las companias Americanas se van para China, el quiere que se esten aqui en Los Estados Unidos.

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to help companies make new inventions, so that we will not be dependant on other nations for oil. Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere ayudar a las companias hacer invenciones nuevas, para no estemos dependidas en otros Naciones para el aceite.

The tax calculator: El calculador de taxes:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGgFgH

Acuerdencen! Remember!

La Susa — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:57:01 EST

Acuerdencen al los ancianos y gente debiles a llevar sillas para que se descansan cuando voten en el dia 4 de Noviembre, por que se me hace que va a ver mucha gente!

Remember to remind the elderly and weak to bring chairs so that they can rest, when they go vote on November 4, because I belive that there will be a lot of people!

DJs, Musicians, Artists, Poets & Creators of the GREATER GOOD FOR BARACK OBAMA in 2008!!!!

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