Ethiopians for Obama

One month later --The world is friendlier

Pryceless — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:50:28 EST

I just returned from Istanbul, Turkey and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and I cannot resist bragging about the Change I witnessed as an American travelling through these destinations. Two years ago, I enountered hatred from Eritreans and Ethiopions who told me that while they liked me personally, they hated America. The individuals who snarled the message had been personally roused by America's disregard for their people. After talking at length with a few women, I was able to explain the difference between the people and the politics that define foreign policy. I had flown directly to Addis Ababa to celebrate their millenium on Sept. 11, 2007. Although i understood the rage that incited these women who vented, I vowed not to return to the Abysinnia I so musch wanted to explore. This latest opportunity presented itself to me with a an inaugural concert in Bahir Dar billed "Reggae By The Nile." Slated for Valentine's Day, I could not resist testing the temperament of the people who two years ago spewed bile at the USA. Still on a high since the historic Jan. 20, 2009 inauguration events I attended -- the African Inaugural Ball, the USVI Inaugural Ball, voluneering at RFK Stadium, the Lincoln Memorial Concert, the MLK Day celebration hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton -- I wore my Barack Obama hoodie, sported 'Hope' buttons and prominently displayed my paraphernia. Needless to say, from departure on Turkish Airlines I was greeted with smiles and acknowledgement. In an Istanbul bookshop I noticed books peened by the 44th president of the US selling like Turkish delights. Ethiopia abounded with Obama goodwill. Children greeted me "Obama" as if the word meant 'hello." I had to relinquish all of my display to generous individuals who pleaded for something Obama. I was only too happy to part with 20 Obama buttons, stickers, posters, keychains, pins, and books I had purchased prior to travelling. The warm reception, optimism and eagerness to hear about the inauguration is hard to explain. Everyone told me how they monitored the election. I was told screens were erected in all of the major venues. In Addis was understable. It is the capital city and I could well understand the Sheraton Hotel hosting a gala watch party. But in Bahir Dar, a remote city resting at the mouth of Lake Tana and the Blue Nile, there was an Obama Cafe. One month after the elections, a sign prominently displays the image of the newly-installed 44th president of the United States. Upstairs, posters offering 'change' 'hope' 'progress' and 'victory' don the walls. I could not help ask what had transpired on Nov. 4th, 2008. "We had a big party, we watched TV and we celebrated," I was told over and over. I gave the owner a poster of the president and the first lady dancing at the Neighborhood Ball. The smile I was returned will stay with me forever. Although I don't speak their native Amharic, I completely comprehend that they too know Change is here. Only one month later and the world seems friendlier.

Change has really come to America

Pryceless — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:04:44 EST

Where do I begin? Christmas was awesome. New Years was amazing. And from Jan. 1 until Jan. 17 all I could think was Washington D.C. Actually, it all revved up on Jan. 15 when I attended Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tribute at Rev. Al Sharpton's House of Justice. It seemed every New York politicians showed up to hail the King. From Gov. Paterson to educators holding the highest offices of government, the packed Harlem headquarters kicked off a weekend of Obama revelry. Ironically, the Thursday offered much to celebrate with a US Air plane landing softly near La Guardia Airport on the Hudson and not a single casualty, a blessed pilot named Sully made us all give thanks for the superb salvation of so many lives. In any case. From that day until now my focus has been solely Obama. Friday, I was deluged by phone calls from friends wanting to be talked into driving to D.C. My dear friend Marcia Griffiths called from Jamaica. She seemed bewildered that she would not make the historic journey. I convinced my friend Dreamy, a photographer to make the 16-hour drive. At 6 a.m. Saturday, he called to say he was on the road with two more colleagues. That same evening, my mother, and a retired 83-year-old nurse from Barbados boarded a bus to Washington. It was frigid...deathly cold, but anticipation, excitement and pure adventure kept us warm. Our bus pulled into the capital at the same time Dreamy and his pals logged 16 hours. From there it was party time. We all headed to a house at 11th St and bunked near dawn. My phone rang incessantly. Itae from Nigeria stopped by to hand me 10 tickets to the African Inaugural Ball. Another friend, Fay called to claim her ball tickets, she had arrived earlier that afternoon from France. Others checked in to confirm their arrival in the district. At 5 a.m. Fay from France showed up at the house. We all got dressed and headed to the Metro to buy commemorative passes. from there it was straight to the Lincoln Memorial...what a day. All, day music, non-stop revelry. I spent much of the afternoon reveling with a couple from Alaska...no not Wassila...they were from Juneau. There is so much to say but it would take days to express my glee this Sunday as millions packed the mall to witness a free concert at the monument named for the man who reportedly freed the slaves. fast forward to my return to the house, I got there to see singer Marcia Griffiths decked out in winter white, standing at the top of the stairs. The shock of seeing her cannot be written. Against all odds, she had made it to Washington D.C. Time was fleeting and I was due at the African Ball at 7 p.m. I got there at 9 p.m. We all watched a video about Sen. Obama's visit to Kenya and the next thing I knew, Marcia was singing her signature hit "Electric Slide." Needless to say, we were in celebration mode. Monday, another early day...it was the day of service I volunteered for RFK Stadium to help pack items for military service members. But before that l made it to cardoza High Schoold where Rev. sharpton held his annual Dr. king tribute. The 13th St. school was jammed. Two busloads of New Yorkers had arrived early in the day and were cheering Sen. John McCain, Mayors mike Bloomberg, Corey Booker, Adrian Fenty and two others along with the outgoing and incoming secretaries of education, former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, numerous political figures, Sen. Newt Gingrich, producer/artist Wyclef Jean, actor Bill Bellamy, Martin Luther king III and loads of folks just oozing praises of the King. This day was chock full of activity but Tuesday was the day. It started at 4 a.m. The Metro was packer than pack. But here we were -- Marcia, my mom, Enid the nurse, Dreamy all headed to meet fay, Gearge, Zach, Joan and others...I have never seen so many people in my wildest...I will have to detail the rest of the day, when Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office. I will have to really explain my pride and gratitude for bearing witness. But later. That evening, I attended the US Virgin Island Ball...indeed Change Has Come To America...and I cannot stop giving thanks...

WOW

Nahum — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:52:47 EST

I SHALL REST NOW! AT LEAST FOR A MOMENT!

No need custom for Haloween..We have got 2

Nahum — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:04:07 EDT

THIS WILL BE HOW THE 3AM PHONE WILL BE USED IN WHITE HOUSE.

http://www.tindeck.com/audio/filestore/w/wwdo-SarahPalin.mp3

ROBOCALL for OBAMA

Nahum — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:16:41 EDT

DID WE TRY TO USE THE REPUBLICANS ROBOCALL STYLE TO SEND OBAMA ECONOMY PLAN?

Campaigns are about how you finish

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:31:11 EDT

Earlier today, DFL Associate Chair, Donna Cassutt sent out the email below promoting the Campaign for Change's Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) effort...

In 17 short days, Minnesotans will go to the polls to vote in the most historic election of our time. That is, of course, if they are asked. We know that the number one reason people don’t vote is that no one asked them to.

Will you join me in these final few days of the campaign and ask our fellow Minnesotans to join us at the polls on November 4?

This weekend, we are pleased to launch a new website, www.gotvforchange.com. In the final days leading up to Election Day, we’ll need thousands of volunteers to fill thousands of shifts as we Get Out the Vote in all corners of Minnesota. We’ll be walking door to door and calling our neighbors, encouraging them to vote for the entire DFL ticket.

Visit www.gotvforchange.com right now to sign up.

Many of you have been working hard during a very long campaign. You've been incredible. You might be tired. You might be thinking it’s someone else’s turn to help out. You might think that we’re going to win. But we can’t give up now.

Campaigns are about how we finish and we're almost there. No one will remember how many doors we knocked on or how many phone calls we made if Senator Obama doesn’t win Minnesota. But when he does, because of your efforts, we will know that we pushed to the end to make it happen. Let’s keep pushing.

I’m fired up and ready to go. Are you? Click here to sign up right now.

We need your help to encourage our neighbors to go to the polls in the final days of this campaign. We know the most effective way to motivate voters is by calling them or visiting with them on their doorstep. Whether you can volunteer a few hours or several days, it is critical to our success that you sign up now to talk with your neighbors to ensure Minnesotans vote for change on November 4.

You might say – well, I don’t want to wait until the weekend before Election Day to start helping. Excellent. We have offices throughout Minnesota that are up and running day and night right now and we’d love to have you stop by and pitch in.

Click here to find an office near you .

Thank you so much for all you do, and will do to help get out the vote. With your efforts, we will elect Senator Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, send Al Franken to the Senate, elect three new Democratic members of Congress and secure a veto-proof majority in the Minnesota House. With your help, the DFL will win – up and down the ballot – in all corners of the state.

Sincerely,

Donna Cassutt
Associate Chair
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

P.S. There is too much at stake to stay home. It will take each and every one of us to do our part to achieve victory on November 4. Please visit www.gotvforchange.com to sign up now.

BARACK OBAMA SHOWS PROFESSORIAL DISCIPLINE

SIMENEH MAKONNEN — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:46:10 EDT

In the presidential matchup debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, it was one of Barack Obama’s possibly best performance of the campaign and I thought it had a lot to do with the format. All along we’ve heard how John McCain excels in town hall settings.

But tonight he seemed old, cranky, and downright tired as he trooped around the stage. His movements were stiff and jerky–surely a product of his brutal treatment in Vietnam, but nonetheless pitiless to watch. My hunch is that McCain has benefited from having the stage to himself in past town hall meetings. Sharing the spotlight with a much younger, more vigorous and agile Obama really highlighted his physical liabilities in a way that hadn’t previously been apparent.
By contrast, Obama really benefited from his years as a law professor. He was fluent and very much at ease walking and talking at the same time. He had a professor’s ability for making eye contact and maintaining it while he walked a questioner through a multi-step response. And his answers were much more concrete and intuitive than I’d ever heard them.

On the question of health care, for example, Obama was effective at defusing McCain’s cheap anti-government rhetoric with tangible evidence at every step of the way. He explained why healthcare should be a right by describing his mother’s fight with insurers during the final months of her life.

He explained that the reason he mandates coverage for children is that they’re “relatively cheap to insure and we don’t want them going to the emergency room for treatable illnesses like asthma.” And he exposed the shallowness of arguments about government intrusion by pointing out that, without regulators, insurers don’t always deliver on what you pay them for. The answer was so clear that it was professorial in the best sense.
The best example of Obama’s explanation came when the debate turned to Pakistan. The questioner seemed hostile to Obama’s approach: “Should the United States respect Pakistani sovereignty and not pursue al Qaeda terrorists who maintain bases there, or should we ignore their borders and pursue our enemies like we did in Cambodia during the Vietnam War?”
In response to the question, Obama did a number of important things. First, he provided some critical background: We wouldn’t even be having this discussion had Bush destroyed al Qaeda before invading Iraq. Instead, Bush allowed al Qaeda to escape to Pakistan, from which they’re sniping at our troops and destabilizing the region. Next, Obama explained that we’d first exhaust other options–giving the Pakistanis an incentive to do the job themselves–before launching a strike. Only at that point, he said, and only “if we have Osama bin Laden in our sights and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to take them out,” would he give the go-ahead. It was about as far from gratuitously belligerent as you could get–and all thanks to Obama’s soothing, professorial wrap up.

John McCain’s crankiness starting to show similarities with Australia’s war hero and a dogmatic racial creepy-crawly, Bruce Ruxtorn, whom I met once in the ABC TV studio full of audience discussing immigration issues. For that matter, both men resemble in the way they act, interact and spit bad languages of racial intolerance.

For his part, McCain mangled his explanations and stepped on his own canned punchlines. His diction was bizarrely geriatrician at times, culminating with his inexplicable reference to Obama as “that one”–language befitting a grandchild who refuses to eat his broccoli. McCain criticized his Democratic rival for supporting the 2007 Bush-Cheney energy bill, "It wa s an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies, billions for oil companies, and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. ... You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one," he said, gesturing toward Obama. "You know who voted against it? Me." To McCain’s demise, Obama recently said, "I can take four more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but America can't take four more years of John McCain's Bush policies." Though McCain has traditionally been deft at larding his responses with anecdotes, tonight was mostly argument by cranky assertion. I counted over a dozen times when McCain began a sentence or clause with the phrase “I know”–as in “I know how to get America working again” and “I know how to fix this economy.” Great, but a lot of voters don’t know and believe you. How about an example or two next time?

McCain faced a tough choice coming into this debate. He looked as if he wishes he wasn’t there. Tonight McCain managed to pull off an impressive achievement. He managed to do nothing particularly dramatic, yet still give the impression that he’s old and unsteady. I see very little for him to build on after tonight’s debate. Sorry, the game is over for John McCain.

Bush or McCain not AcGain!

Read more: www.simenehmakonnen.blogspot.com

IS SARAH PALIN A GOOD WINKER OR THINKER?

SIMENEH MAKONNEN — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:28:52 EDT

Vice-presidential nominee Alaskan Governor and former beauty contestant Sarah Palin started her debate winking at the audience and her opponent Democratic vice-presidential nominee Senator Joseph Biden. Her debate performance was pretty much what expected of her, rambling everywhere by avoiding to answer the real question when confronted by the moderator. She has been ridiculed so many times on recent interview stumbles, and some conservatives are questioning McCain’s wisdom in selecting her. He only chose her to play the old game of politics on Senator Obama but didn’t know if his vice-nominee is qualified to do the task of executing responsibilities without repeating the same mistakes like that of George Bush’s. She is at risk of becoming presidential Barbie doll. She reminds me of Pauline Hanson of Australia. Check it out http://simenehmakonnen.blogspot.com/2008/09/obama-is-creating-good-karma.html Being quick study, has become the problem as the McCain campaign has overloaded her with more information she can muster. The US economic crisis has skidded and knocked the wind out of both candidates McCain and Palin and they are struggling to regain grip. Don’t be hoodwinked by McCain and Palin’s reckless last minute gasping campaign of condescending, blaming, smear tactics and prepared to do anything against formidable opponents, Obama and Biden, and obviously racing against time and the change they have never experienced before. On the contrary, Senator Biden gave strong and detailed analysis of every question he’s been asked during the debate. Furthermore, Governor Palin while making accusations on Senator Obama has never ever called him Senator, not even once. How arrogant is that? That’s why she acts, talks, looks, stumbles and so on like Australian Pauline Hanson. Sarah Palin was not chosen for her foreign policy expertise or intellectual might either, no amount of coaching can reverse that. Therefore, she returned to the very traits that made her an attractive, winker political upstart and held her own against a much more experienced, opponent, candidate, Senator Biden. In the process she may have helped shore up some nervous voters who initially warmed to her winking smile but were in danger of skidding away. Sarah can wink, charm and smile but she can’t fool the whole America like George Bush did with his wicked smile.

BUSH or McCAIN not AcGAIN!

John McCain wants to cut and run from the presidential campaign but keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely.

John McCain didn't know the nation was in a financial crisis and didn't know his campaign manager was defrauding Freddie Mac.

John McCain wasn't aware that his campaign aide was on the bankroll of the Georgian president.

John McCain didn't know Sarah Palin was for all the earmarks he was against. And he didn't know she could stare into Putin's eyes from her balcony.

John McCain didn't know he could still participate in the presidential debate without having to be on the stage in the same city. John McCain also didn't know how to set up an e-mail account.

John McCain didn't know that his attempt to sabotage his campaign by pulling a Palin on his crew, and the White House-led GOP at the last minute without notice, wouldn't get him out of the campaign that easy.

John McCain also didn't know that his latest cowardly efforts to duck and dodge not only jeopardize his "war hero" status, but also lends credence to the notion that he is running from questions about his complicit involvement with Freddie Mac and dodging efforts to prevent any investigative media from asking Sarah Palin legitimate questions that conveniently Fox News forgot to ask (which would be every question in a real reporter's notebook). John McCain realizes that he has made one of his greatest mistakes in his life by choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate and, unfortunately, has no option left but stay in a fight or flight situation. Sarah Palin doesn’t think of what the future holds or conveys about the consequences of her actions; messages, remarks, accusations, vague policies and gaffes.

Right now, John McCain and Sarah Palin are trailing because the American people finally realized their rhetoric and the same old gaffes and cheap political tactics that put John McCain in the White House for 26 years in the first place. For McCain and Palin this new wave of technological political change is in their way and find it hard to swallow, especially for John McCain as in the past who used to winning by bickering and throwing stones at his opponent without clarifying his policies to the American people. I recently watched the documentary that shows John McCain’s failed philosophy and poor judgement that led to economic crisis. Watch the video- http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/keatingvideo.

Senator Barack Obama, up until now, has never pointed a finger at McCain and Palin to expose McCain’s past economic misjudgement that put millions of Americans at risk by losing their jobs and homes. Despite all the personal attacks made about him he instead chose to continue talking to the American people about the issues that matter the most. America! You accepted all the advancements in technological changes, why not political changes?

FAWLTY TOWER IN WASHINGTON

Britain’s Ambassador to Washington recently paradoxically admired Barack Obama saying, he is “elegant”, “mesmerizing”, “highly intelligent”, “star quality” and “tough & competitive”. How in the world then a person of all these virtues will “have less of a track record than any recent president”? This is what the Ambassador wrote back to his British Prime Minister Gordon Brown detailing his inappropriate espionage style letter. It seems that signs of discontent starting to emerge as Obama’s resilience is shinning through McCain’s neighborhood. I think all diplomats should learn from Obama’s intelligent and exuberant approaches to interpersonal relations.

Time for change!

Jamaicans for Obama

Pryceless — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:10:28 EDT

World Tourism Day was acknowledged last week and I travelled to Jamaica in order to see how the island was doing with regard to its commitment to the ecology and curbing emissions that will destry the landscape. Although the greening of Jamaica took priority, I could not help notice the enthusiasm, anticipation and optimism so many nationals exuded in discussion of the Nov. 4th elections. "Nothing anyone will do, will change the outcome, Obama is destined to win," some people said. Others echoed religious parallels to his election. And so many more felt convinced "his (Obama's) time is now."

Throughout the visit, in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, I wore, Obama gear on a daily basis...tee shirts, caps, buttons, and carried cell phone stickers, posters, car flags, and yard signs which I gave to individuals who are passionately urging their stateside affiliates and families to vote for Change. Tried as I did, I did not hear a single endorsement for the Republican candidate. I was heartened by the interest and knowledge of little children and elderly who watched the debates with keen interests. The day-after discussion was as poignant as if it was a local event. If this is any indication of how the Caribbean region feels about the upcoming elections, it is little wonder why voter registration in many states have doubled and even quadrupled in some states. On a visit to Africa and Europe, I sensed the same passion, hope and dedication to witnessing CHANGE.

Oh, Liar! Obama talked about mortgage on Sep 23,

Nahum — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:37:39 EDT

Sen McCain, Let me tell you something

Sen Obama did not wait a big moment to tell the American people that he thinks the government should purchase the mortgage directly from house owners. READ THIS!

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/09/barack_obama_sept_23_press_con.html

"...Fourth, the final plan must provide help to families who are struggling to stay in their homes. We can't simply bail out Wall Street without helping the millions of innocent homeowners who are facing foreclosure -- or, for that matter, are seeing their home values decline.

Now, there are a number of ways we can accomplish this. For example, we should consider giving the government the authority to purchase mortgages directly instead of simply purchasing mortgage- backed securities. In the past, such an approach has allowed taxpayers to profit as the housing market recovered. This is not simply a question of looking out for homeowners; it's doubtful that the economy as a whole can recover without the restoration of our housing sector, including a rebound in the home values that have suffered dramatically in recent months...."

SEN MCCAIN YOU THINK THAT THE PEOPLE ARE FLIRTING WITH YOU SO THAT YOU WANTED THIS MOMENT TO PROPOSE FOR "ENGAGEMENT". WELL SEN, YOU ARE LATE..THEY HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO ONE.

fundamentals of campaign TV ad

Nahum — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:58:52 EDT

Senator McCain thinks (rests assured) that the fundamentals of economy are strong while hundred thousands of jobs are lost for the straight ninth month. And now he wants to turn the page on the American people. Smears, Dishonesty, cut and edited video clips...These are the fundamentals of his campaign, while Senator Obama believes that America is a dearest country above personal ambition.

Too Maverick, why not Independent, why Republican?

Nahum — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:11:56 EDT

The only point the republican ticket has been left was that John is maverick. And Sen Biden, last night, successfullu showed us why the rep candidates are not maverick. By the way, if Sen mccain mentions, everytime he stumps, that he is maverick..maverick...maverick, then why doesnot he be on the Independent ticket. I think he was embraced by the republican party. He was nominated by it. (JFK said that!) and He will deliver the message what the republican party wants us to get. Depression and Isolation.

With Obama and Biden we will get ourselves Inspired, Moved, and Changed. When I say "we", I also mean we the citizens of the planet earth.

Cheers,

Nahum

VP Debate Night!!

Kalkidan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:43:16 EDT

I am so looking forward to tonight's Must See debate. I urge everyone to make time and watch this debate because anything can happen tonight. I wonder how Sarah Palin is going to be responding to the questions because she seems to be very bad at understanding questions or answering them properly. I want her to be asked hardball questions that really test her ability to lead the country because her chances of becoming a president is more than Biden's. So I hope when we see the debate we also should keep in mind that she could be our president oneday and IS SHE READY TO LEAD? I don't want to be prejudgmental about the debate and declare Biden a winner unlike McSame, I'm actually going to give Palin benefit of the doubt and listen to what she has to say infront of millions of people tonight. I hope everyone will be watching I know I am.

If You can't Vote Donate Money!

Kalkidan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:37:41 EDT

I don't want to hear people talk about not being able to vote so why give money? well, that's not such a wise thing to say because your contribution to this campaign is as good as voting. So people let's give some money and let Barack get elected. I know many of my fellow Ethiopians can't vote but that doesn't mean that they can't give because their future depends on it. Barack is a good example of what our children's future can be in this country. When we see Barack we see ourselves so please make a donation and own a little piece of this election. I encourage everyone to make a donation. It doesn't have to be a big one but a little also can serve us greatly. Remember "HAMSA LOMI ......" !!!!!!!

Countdown: One Month to Election Day

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:27:50 EDT

With just 33 days until Election Day we need to step up our efforts to convince undecided voters to vote for Barack Obama.

To put him over the top here in Minnesota, Barack needs us to step up in our own communities, because we know our neighbors better than anyone.

Sign up now to join a weekend canvass in your area and make a difference in your community.

Bailout failed who's to Blame?

Kalkidan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:17:15 EDT

Okay, now the bailout failed and the McCain camp was quick to blame Barack for it. However, it is the Republicans who didn't produce enough votes for it to pass and How's this Barack's fault? well, the McSame camp is going desperate and blaming everything on others but themselves. I thought McSame wanted to take credit for the "success" of the bailout plan well, why not take the credit when it fails too? that's only fair because McSame can't always be the Maverick right?

Why McCain was pissed on Friday!

Kalkidan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:07:12 EDT

I was so excited to see the debate on Friday. I was watching it with family with a huge HDTV and I have to say i've watched every little bit of it. The first thing I noticed like many Americans was the fact that McCain looked really OLD. and the second and main thing was the fact that McSame looked annoyed and mad everytime Barack was speaking that was rude first of all and I guess he couldn't help it that Barack had him toe to toe to on his own so called foreign policy expertise! In addition he was way off with the Economy, I feel like everytime McSame tries to talk about the economy I see an old guy (no disrespect to old folks) that can't handle this huge crisis and one step away blasting infront of the camera! Did you guys all noticed how he wasn't looking at Barack as if to control himself from exploding? that's not a guy who can handle the pressure, so much for experience, we want change not more of the Same. McSame on another thought please try to tutor your VP she is embarrasing us all. I mean I'm starting to feel sorry for her now because she has no idea what she's talking about, as a woman i want to look up to smart women who earned their spots because of their merit not for some sort of political stunt that McSame is trying to pull by picking a woman and have my Vote no way, no how, no Palin!! and NO McSAME!!

African Diaspora for Obama Wants You!

African Diaspora for Obama — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:38:56 EDT

http://www.mshale.com/article.cfm?articleID=18223

African Diaspora for Obama

Anna Otieno, Mshale Special Correspondent Published 09/10/2008 - 3:19 p.m. GMT Barack Obama, with his wife Michelle during the Democratic National Convention in Denver after receiving his nomination speech. Photo: Jackson Solway National Convention Committee, Inc. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Otieno Website:
http://www.mshale.com Email:
aotieno@mshale.com

You’ve heard it before and it will be said again: we are witnessing history in the making. The 2008 U.S. Presidential Election is right around the corner and the Democratic Party presidential nominee is an individual who has instilled hope and optimism in the hearts and minds of all Americans, including its newest immigrants.

Senator Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” campaign tagline has inspired thousands, including the African Diaspora – and the Diaspora is speaking back. First, second and third generation Africans in America are coming together to bring their community’s issues and needs to the political forefront.

So what does this mean for Africans in the United States? For the first time, thousands of new Americans are participating in the democratic process and African support for Obama is remarkably high. From Kenya to Kansas, Cape Town to California, Africans are joining the race to support the candidate they believe has the vision and insight for a more prosperous and peaceful world.

With an urgent need for more engagement, several communities have worked to create grassroots political organizations, such as Ethiopians for Obama, Eritreans for Obama and the African Immigrant Movement for Obama. These efforts have pushed to provide voter registration drives, community briefings and panel discussions, volunteer opportunities, and an overall surge of political mobilization in African communities.

One particular organization, African Diaspora for Obama, is grabbing African representatives from across the country and building a powerful constituency base for this year’s elections and beyond.

Founded in Washington, DC by a handful of inspired Africans who were born or raised in America, African Diaspora for Obama is raising awareness on Senator Barack Obama's candidacy within the African communities and creating a coalition among various African groups who represent the common concerns and needs of the African Diaspora in the United States.

Networking websites such as Facebook and YouTube are loaded with clips from African groups, as evidenced on African Diaspora for Obama’s Facebook page.

So what does this mean for Barack Obama? Well, a lot. Like so many others, the African Diaspora has placed their faith in a man who is promising change … for all. It means moving the continent of Africa from the shadows of political darkness to a light of opportunity. It means indispensable perspective on diverse African issues. It means appreciating the many countries of Africa for their international contributions – past, present & future. It means recognizing the legitimacy of the African constituency in the United States. It means change. Positive change.

Sure, it’s a tall order to fill but it looks like the African Diaspora is ready to lend a helping hand in the name of change.

For more information on African Diaspora for Obama, please e-mail Semhar Araia at info@AfricansforObama2008.com or visit AfricanDiasporaforObama.com

Don't spare a Vote.... I wish I could vote

Nahum — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:57:29 EDT

Friends please send this message for every individual you know, Even if he can't vote he might help the campaign spending his time persuading those who can vote, so count every individual, dont spare a vote!... NAHUM

Hey,

The Obama campaign just launched a new one-stop voter registration website called Vote for Change:

http://my.barackobama.com/vfc

You can check your registration status, register to vote, look up early-vote information for your state, apply to vote absentee, or even find your polling place.

It's the easiest and most important thing you can do to bring the change we need. Make sure your voice is heard:

http://my.barackobama.com/vfc

Thanks -- see you at the polls.

McCain is not fit to respond to Cyber threat

Nahum — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:06:11 EDT

I like the idea of using the unforced confession of John McCain about his illitracy on Internet ,but I dont want to conceal my fear that this Political ad might alienate some of 65% of senior citizens who dont browse internet...I pray the campaign would not be put to defence back. But I hope, with equal amount, that it could open a new attacking strategy for the Obama Campaign on the issue of the nation's future most concerning challenge...Cyber terrorism... How can a president decide on this issue while he does not have any hint how to browse even his own campaign website?

Nahum

the world was not too big for VP

Nahum — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:50:06 EDT

Governor Palin in her only interview until this day said "If you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you." when she was asked if she has sufficient foreign issue credentials to serve as a vice president. Well, during those old days when the British and and the French empires were the most powerful empires, there was no need even for the President to locate my homeland Ethiopia, unless he was a Bible reader. But after world war II, things are no more the same, and specially during these hard times, even a couple of presidential visits would not guarantee the world that there will not be new nuclear powered countries, or that multi-lateral agreement between nations would no more assure those who live inside a given territory that they will not be attacked by a more powerful one, the voters dont take the risk of looking back and saying "we did it once..why not now once again with Sarah?" They dont buy it

Oh, By the way, while I was a Grade 5 student even in a more hamlet like town far in Africa as compared to Wasilla, I did know where Alaska is...I was good at Geography...

Nahum

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:28:12 EDT

In remembrance of the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Senator Obama released the following statement:

Today, we honor the memory of the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001, and grieve with the families and friends who lost someone they loved in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We will never forget those who died. We will always remember the extraordinary efforts of our firefighters, police and emergency responders, and those who sacrificed their own lives on Flight 93 to protect their fellow Americans. And we give thanks for the Americans defending us every day in our communities at home, and in our military abroad.

On 9/11, Americans across our great country came together to stand with the families of the victims, to donate blood, to give to charity, and to say a prayer for our country. Let us renew that spirit of service and that sense of common purpose. Let us remember that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 are still at large, and must be brought to justice. Let us resolve to defeat terrorist networks, defend the American homeland, stand up for the enduring American values that we cherish, and seek a new birth of freedom at home and around the world.

Heartland for Change: Tour of Wind Turbine and Biofuel Gasification Facility in Morris

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:40:44 EDT

State Senator Tarryl Clark, Former Agriculture Commissioner Jim Nichols, and Campaign for Change Outreach Director Scott Cooper toured the Biomass Gasification Facility and a wind turbine at the University of Minnesota's Morris campus after an incredibly productive town hall on renewable energy in rural Minnesota.

UM-Morris is a leader in renewable energy initiatives, both in Minnesota and America, and is home to the first large-scale wind research turbine ever constructed in the United States, which produces 5.6 million kilowatt hours of power each year--more than half of the campus' annual energy requirements.

The wind turbine and biomass gasification facility are an example of what can be done to secure our energy future, and it's going to require far more than the same old Washington gimmicks proposed by John McCain and Sarah Palin. It will require a sustained and shared effort by government, businesses, education and research facilities, and the American people. With the clean tech research being done at UM-Morris, Minnesota proves that, with clarity of direction and adequate resources, Americans poses the insight, courage, and determination to build a new economy.

The Biomass Gasification Facility is a testament to the potential of partnerships between communities, universities, and state and local governments, as Senator Obama calls for. What started with the Minnesota Legislature's appropriation of funds to build the facility in 2005, is on track to reach its goal of energy self-sufficiency on the UM-Morris campus by 2010.

Biomass technology allows crops such as corn stover and other fibrous plants to be used as fuel sources, sources which don't produce greenhouse gases and emit fewer pollutants than coal, oil, and wood. Click here to take a virtual tour of the Biomass Gasification Facility

The facility at UM-Morris generates steam to meet 80% of the campus heating and cooling needs--proof that, with proper investment, Americans can rise to the energy challenge and transform our energy economy.

Senator Obama has a comprehensive energy plan that provides immediate relief to struggling Minnesotans, and summons the nation to confront our dependence on foreign oil, address the moral, economic, and environmental challenge of global climate change, and build a clean energy future that benefits all Americans. You can learn more about Barack's New Energy for America plan by clicking here.

Here are some more pictures of the tour of the biomass gasification facility and wind turbine at UM-Morris.

The Heartland for Change RV Tour is making its way through 24 communities across Minnesota, talking with folks in coffee shops, senior centers, and in their homes about Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plans to bring the change Minnesotans need. Click here to find a stop near you or to follow our travels across the state.

TV ad "Barney Smith"

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:04:41 EDT

I was touched by the life story of Barney, and i guess so were you guys...

The fact that Barney was long time republican I think that it will send good message for the Indies,repubs and dems.

TH AD

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

While some still pictures of workers and closed factories are displayed....the narrator would say

"these people who lost their jobs are not only democrats, there are indipendents, republicans, Liberitarians and others with different political view....but they all are Americans..." Immediatelty the Barney Smith speech will follow( which says we need American Presidet who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney)

ANd then the narrator continues to tell a plan from Obama's blue print for e.g

"Obama will Reward Companies that Support American Workers" or

" Obama will eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nahum

If barking is the real task, VP really sucks!

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:28:30 EDT

While Sen. Obama elected his fellow Senator, Sen. Biden based on his compelling story and his outstanding achievements as a senator, it seems that Senator McCain chose his "soulmate" vp because he is afraid of the fact that he can not win this election without energizing his base. It is a matter of fact that his choice could alienate those who are tired of tearing down each other, and those who are concerned with bread-and- butter issues.

McCain's campaign was not late to unleash the pitbull... and well she is delivering it, she is attacking everybody outside her camp- the democrats, the reporters, the crowds, but she is not ready even to answer reporters' questions. The voters might understand her that she not long beore a month asked what job the VP has, and now she is well instructed from McCain camp what job GOP VP has...but for now until she sarts to speak her own mind, she must adhere to the script from Schmidt-Rove.

By the way,... for the reporters- for your own information... the straight talk bus does not have "Beware of Dog" sign

"Thanks but no thanks" tv ad

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:18:18 EDT

Guys I think the RNC is flushing us with some ideas ( at least to throw our two cents into the Campaign)....

************************

While some pictures of McCain are displayed the narrator says...

"Yes He served this nation... Yes he was a POW... Yes we owe him our respect for that" And while some more pictures of McCain with Bush are displayed... the narrator continues...

"But in the senate he agreed with President Bush 90%, he vows to cut taxes for Fortune 500s while he does not have plan for the 95% American working family..... Barack obama cuts taxes for 95% of working families... he has a health care plan which covers every American....

and finally taking the segment from the speech of President Clinton on the Convention... (only "thanks but no thanks" segments)and Sen Obama's speech "America,we are better than the last eight years." the ad shall end.

Nahum

"State of denial" Campaign Ad

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:35:07 EDT

Showing some of the bills Senator McCain opposes... and Obama supports starting from the bill which would give veterans advantage to pursue their college studies (which was too generous), equal pay bill,

plus McCain saying the "fundamentals of our Economy are strong" and etc....

the narrator would conclude saying " They either dont get it or are in a state of denial".....

What do you say guys?

Nahum

************************ By the way....

The Mayer of New York said that the democrats are in state of Denial -when he tried to make his speech, you know some what like fleshy- according to his assessment of the foreign policy package of Sen. obama....

While I say well done Mayer! for the way he handled the 9/11 and its aftermath , it is not personal, but is he not someone who tried to milk this incident for the purpose of his own political campaign? Did his angry tone resonate with the voters? Was he not someone who was dumped by his own party before he was even in, in the race?

And now McCain...He is playing the same political game allowing others to be the pit bulls while he is pretending to be Senator Cool!

Well......... Here we go for the ad*******************************************

Nahum

I have got an idea ----"vision" Good tv ad for the campaign

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:38:01 EDT

guys what do you think.... looking the two conventions

If this movement brings a tv ad "Vision" showing:

some excerpts from obama and fellow democrats speechs about the clear visions they have for US

and from the RNC convention the empty personal attacks from Mayor Guillani, Romney, Gov palin...

while the narrator says

"even if they say that this election is not about the issues the people are suffering from...They neither have the values they claim that they have... Enough! politics of division"

you can improve it.... it is for free guys...lol

Nahum

Prescription From Dr. Romney

Nahum — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:22:29 EDT

The republicans' medical doctor tried to give the voters a prescription as:

"Change the liberal congress to conservatives" Even if it is crystal clear that it is not more than a few months that the democrats have got the majority seats in the congress... (for the senate considering that senator Lieber-doofus-man is "Independent" Democrat)

Moreover, this Doctor tried to mock the vice president Al Gore, even if he was the one who flushed his miscalculated campaign with a fraction of money(Is that $34M?) from what he has got... It was of course a good prescription from someone who may not have to sit down with his wife around a kitchen table to deal with the bills... By the way does he really know how exactly it costs a gallon of gasoline...I wonder if he turns to his driver... Nahum

The News Out of St. Paul: Community Organizing, Community Responsibility

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:04:40 EDT

Whether combating anti-Semitism in post-World War II Minneapolis or standing up for farmers facing foreclosure and the loss of their livelihood during the Farm Crisis of the mid-80s, community organizers like Hubert Humphrey and Paul Wellstone empowered ordinary people to do extraordinary things on behalf of the common good.

During the Republican National Convention, thousands of ordinary Minnesotans came together, driven by their belief that America can't afford another four years like the last eight, to support for Barack Obama and Joe Biden's campaign for change.

These "everyday organizers" developed their community organizing skills at Camp Obama, where over 500 grassroots supporters from every corner of Minnesota learned the techniques and strategy that will drive this campaign to victory.

And while the Republicans were in St. Paul talking to their special interest and lobbyist friends, these ordinary Minnesotans were making phone calls and going door-to-door talking to their friends and neighbors about Barack Obama's plan to make the economy work for American families.

Women reached out to women and neighbors to neighbors, with remarkable success. Over the last three days, more than 1000 volunteers knocked on over 25,000 doors and identified thousands of Obama supporters across Minnesota, spreading Barack's message of change directly to the people.

While the Republicans were in town, deriding community organizing, the Campaign for Change was out in the community doing just that--bringing new voices into the process by registering voters, encouraging folks to help those affected by Hurricane Gustav, and coming together at benefit concerts and on college campuses to change this country.

Tomorrow, after the lobbyists and the McCain attack squad have left St. Paul, the Minnesota Campaign for Change will still be out in the community, making phone calls, knocking on doors, and spreading Barack's message of hope and change.

For years, Minnesotans have proved that when ordinary folks devote part of their busy lives to organizing and building their communities, they have the power to affect change. And that's what's happening today across this state, and across this country.

If you haven't already, please sign up to volunteer in your community and consider joining your neighborhood Team Obama. Together, we can bring change to Minnesota and to America.

Check out some of the best photos from Minnesota's Week of Action:

here is the VP nominee... what a decency she has!

Nahum — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:13:48 EDT

Palin Laughs As Opponent Is Called "B****," "Cancer," Mocked For Her Weight (AUDIO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/palin-laughs-as-opponent_n_122776.html

http://bobandmarksuck.com/blog/audio/Palin-responds-scheduling-conflict.mp3

They insulted the people- "We are not deaf.. we can hear you!"

Nahum — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:15:41 EDT

In Invesco the next Presidentof USA, Barack Obama, had got it right when he highlighted us what the theme of the RNC convention would be, no issues....but personality...and when he underlined the fact that this election is indeed about the VOTERS.

Let me put it in short...Obama and his surrogates were gracious about Mccain... they did not want to appeal to the voters by insulting their opponents(even if they are worth of it)... they attacked them on issues... they preached, well, the "Gospel of Prosperity and opportunity for everyone"... they echoed what the voters are asking... they were not democratic... they were Amercans. And ,for me- atleast, it was surprsing how Obama's message influenced the speakers to deliver politics of decency, politics which challenges ideas not the deliverer personally...it proved me how a man of honour, decency and great character Obama is.

But today, we saw the politics which was popular in the 18th, and 19th century when the nominees were elected not only by their compelling messages, but how offensive they went farther...by the measure of their speech content( if it can demonize their oppnent), when the voters were squeezed between a demon and a demon (as the candidates put their opponent), when debates were about simple gotchas.... Oops to quote someone.... The GOP is now just OP...

Trying to minimize what Obama had done as community Organizer... mocking about his devotion to help those forgotten by the government... let me say it straight.. these fear mongering elites are messing up with the people... they are sending a message to the Grass roots that people can not change what is happening....

Trying to divide the nation as liberal, and conservative... arguing that a conservative president should be in the white house, they are exactly making a case for those who are tired of the politics of division to vote for Obama. By the way I want Romney to define what a conservative president means in the revised (G?)OP Dictionary...noting that this president, President Bush was not liberal by their own eyes.

Of course the republicans had some great presidents... Sorry some great presidents were republicans... but this time... we know that the elephant has big ears.. but also that it just shut them to the voters. It is rather using whatever it has to crush the voters...to insult them

The Ordinary People have honor, too

Nahum

WAR- Task From God?

Nahum — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:06:13 EDT

Well besides taking photo shot next to stuffed Bear, supporting abstinence education in schools ( not to mention that it did not work even for her own family), mocking "community organizing" as work with no responsibility....and so and so... she, the Governor, the governor of believers and those without "God" says the death of people, the suffer of children, the loss of families,...WAR is task from GOD? and just to persuade those who are gathered to listen about the unconditional love of God?

Shame... Shame... well I hope, she will understand sooner, sooner what the heck have the american mothers been passing through. And not to be rude... Obama was the man who told us to shut up while we stood up to her Family value... well, I dont raise that point any more... but I will ask her...ask her if it would be right to force someone to accept her values...even God himself does not believe that!

Nahum

Giuliani’s ugly approach may backfire-CNN

Nahum — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:41:10 EDT

ST. PAUL (CNN) – This speech is about mockery – and I wonder whether that’s appealing to voters. I really think this tone is going to turn a lot of voters off – it’s ugly, it’s bitter, it’s nasty. There is a bullying tone to this speech, and to Romney’s speech, and I just don’t think it works Even less appealing: “When they gave up on Iraq, they gave up on America”? Now that’s insulting. What they’re doing is re-running the 2004 campaign, which the Republicans won on the issue of terrorism. He’s saying the war on terror should be the supreme issue – but for most voters it’s the economy

Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention- AP

Nahum — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:31:47 EDT

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth which is....

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.

MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's National Guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Here we go again!!!!!

Meaza — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:06:29 EDT

Dear Obama families

Tonight we have wittnessed the mother of character attacks, republican ever pulled , with their new comer vp peak Sarha Paline. She was less on the polices but abondant on the character attack! I guss when you do not have any plat form to run on, the easy way out is to attack with outright lies. How can a person born and rasied in the most civilized nation of the world could think this way? dream to win by trash talk and sarcasm. It buffled me. I can clearly see how desprate John Macane and his "Conservative" in this case hypocrat, VP, win the white house with nothing but their shameless attack on Barack Obama and his supporters. However all these should not discourage us from our quest to change America, rather motivate us to work twice harder. Lets fight back her smear attack with nothing but the truth.

Yes, we can, and Yes we will

Meaza, MN

Congressman John Sarbanis supports Obama

Nahum — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:39:34 EDT

Have this link

Do not deny your mistakes/

Nahum — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:25:32 EDT

Senator John Mccain-Bush is saying that he can confidently see into our eyes and tell us that the war in Iraq is succeeding. He says that the army number is reduced to the pre-surge size. (fact!- there are 25000 soldiers more than the amount USA had before the surge) He does not want either to acknowledge his mistake or he takes "25000" as mere number not as human souls who have equal right with us to share the blessings of God- peace and family.

Let us show our support for Barack Obama because what we knew about America long ago is what we hear through his messages. what we knew about America does not fit with what we see now or whatever John Mccain talks.

Peace

Nahum

What will be changed if Barack is elected as president of USA.....

Nahum — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:57:13 EDT

BHMA newspaper reports what will be changed if Obama is elected.

Kalo kouragio!

Naoum

the people's president!

Nahum — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:19:42 EDT

Senator Barack Obama had clinched the nomination effectively last Tuesday, I saw that electrifying speech with foggy eyes struggling with my own tears. It was not only Sen. Obama who won the election but it was also the people- the people who said no to the cynics who tried to tell them that Washington is for those who do not dare the fair game of politics,-the people who said no to the pundits that tried to compel them that they are going nowhere unless they accept "The Wahington Politics Theorem", the people who proved this theorem false!

I don't live in the great isle- in the United States of America, neither am I an american citizen, but I am one of them who were baptized into the messages of Sen Obama-hope, transparency, and unty through diversity.

It is fantastic to see a candidate making the wishes of the founding fathers of the nation the core theme of his presidential campaign. It challenged me to see the possiblities of Ethiopians, the bright future we have if we stand together and say "out of many, we are one".

Thank you Obama and your wonderful campaign...

Yechalal "Yes We can"

Gabbiness — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:21 EDT

we are the ones

Meaza — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:55:55 EST

Hello... to all Obama's families all across America.... You need to see this vedio... It reflect the basic principle of Barack's vision to this country. and keep passing the tourch to your freinds and families.... Help Barack to bring the real change that is desparately needed in this country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSJsEVf0pU

Enjoy, Good luck

keep calling, keep knocking!

Meaza!

Give it up

Bizu from San Francisco, CA — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:16:06 EST

I am going to do something very different this year as the warmer weather arrives. Normally, it’s the time to update my wardrobe and head to the salon as I get spring fever. This year I am giving it all up because I have got Obama fever!

Girls, give up the new belt, the unnecessary trip to the hairdresser , “way to go”. I have a friend you just skipped her nail salon appointment, you go girl!

Do we really need the jeans, the facial, an evening of going out or the luxury stuff we spend our money on? NO, but we all need Obama!

Guys, do you really need the latest think a-ma-gijjy gadget? Thinking about taking us out on the town? We will understand this time.

Lets wear this year’s spring fashion, the Obama button!

Obama for president is not a luxury but a necessity we can all afford.

What can a 25 bucks get you? A CHANGE!

Don’t wait too long check on the website and donate!

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/abamt25?source=mainnav

Share what you gave up…

Alright, I start…i gave up that purple shirt I just had in my hands, I am putting it back. That $50.00 is going to pay for some real change this year! This is an investment, not just a makeover…

Pass it to your friends and share what you gave up….

ethiopian american endorse obma

Eyasu from Alexandria, VA — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:20:51 EST

acourding to ethiomedia.com an ethiopian website ethiopian american endrsed obama one the stongest ethiopian american grass root movemnt known as collation for HR 2003 endorsed oboma http://ethiomedia.com/access/coalition_hr_2003_endorses_obama.html

What is Hillary's 35 years of expriance?

Meaza — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:49:38 EST

hello everyone....

Thanks to NPR now we know Hillary Clintons 35 years of expriance is nothing but working for Corporate law firm, being first lady and travel accross the country....

listen or read it to yourself and make sure to spread the news, Barack needs our help, he can not do it alone we are his squad team

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18391632

A Shot for Change

VA4Obama — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:43:15 EST

Bang! A shot rang out today from every corner of Iowa. That same shot is now ricocheting around every corner of the world. This very shot has the power to erase the tarnished images that our nation has been saddled with during the eight years of a unilateralist and unbending administration. By electing a skinny man out of Chicago with a funny name, a Kenyan father, and a single mother, this very shot carries with it the possibility of erasing the historical schisms which have divided Americans for too long and prevented us from working for our common cause.

In the streets of Des Moines, the schools of Cedar Falls and the churches of Waterloo, we witnessed white and black Americans, men and women, Americans of all stripes and political beliefs come together to work for a common purpose. I could not have foreseen four years ago the audacious infection that hope can inject into a people who were left uninspired by years of political warfare. We were peddled a solution for our common misfortunes by a politics espousing a 50 + 1% solution. Instead of realizing that our neighbors fears are the same as ours, that a red state anxiety is felt by a blue state equally, we were encouraged to view our fellow citizens as an adversary. Our nation was gripped by the malady of partisanship and a boiling over with the fever of exclusion.

What we failed to realize is that a fever is at its worse before it breaks; while the elections of 2000 and 2004 alienated the majority of Americans and balkanized the rest, the men and women of Iowa voted for a man who has the ability to move us past the polarizing debates of the past. For too long, we have let anger be the fuel that drives our politics. Washington has devolved into coliseum where we elect gladiators to wield blunt weapons of partisanship and myopia to shout and yell past each other—and in the end get nothing done. This anger, an anger which I felt deeply in 2004, was not getting us anywhere. We became a nation divided to the fringes, and the majority of Americans gave up on politics. Some were offering to combat myopia with obfuscation, to flip the tables and rule with a equal ferocity from a different spectrum. However, a coin which is flawed when it lands on tails is still flawed when it lands on heads. We cannot hope to sustain our democracy by simply replacing right wing exceptionalism with left wing exceptionalism.

Yet in the darkest moments, a beacon of light often guides the disillusioned towards the shores of hope. This beacon, a speech given by a man with a funny name in 2004, lit a fire under Americans who longed to be guided by a president who leads not by fear but by hope. We were moved by a man who inspires us to reach beyond anger and seek solutions based on a unity. We cannot hope to change the state of our country by replacing one form of partisanship with another. To the contrary, our democracy is devalued when we see our opponents as adversaries. We are not a country that needs more division, we are not lacking in people that can further partition our nation. Obama, in a speech at the Democratic National Convention, beseeched us to not be an America of blue states and red states; rather, he inspired us to fully value the true meaning of the United States of America.

It has been a long road, but my faith in our democracy has been restored and rekindled. Iowans tonight rejected a politics of division and instead coalesced around a politics of inclusion. Democrats, Independents, and Republicans all voted not only for one man, but for the hope and change that his campaign represents. This moment, while history is being written with the indelible ink of inspiration, presents us with a new path in our civic discourse. No longer will we only have a choice between enmity and disillusion; Iowa, with their spirit and unity, paved a new path of solidarity. With a ballot, not a bullet, Iowans took a shot at the status quo and delivered a might blow for change—a shot that is being heard around the world today.

Stop confusing people Hilary!

Meaza — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:59:17 EST

Here we go again, Now she knows for sure that she is loosing Iowa... down playing the result!. AS we have been saying 10 month ago, Barack is the real deal in this election.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/31/prominent-clinton-supporter-criticizes-iowa-2/

Barack's accomplishement as Illinois Senator

Meaza — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:47:08 EST

Hello everyone, as you all know we are in a critical moment of this campagne or as Barack said it nicely a silly season of this campagne, most have tried to smear the Senotr Obama's clean record with their poletics as usual tactic, however the People of Iowa and Americans are more focused on what is important issues like ending the war in Iraq, Health care for all, world class education for all and lifting the economy many many more... as a result, Barack is leading in all three primary states and also he is the most electable candidate against Republican come November 4, 2008.

to support my argument, I attached a link that shows Barack's accomplishement as an Illinois Senator. I say, his record speaks to itself. Barack is The one and the only choice for America right now.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

Happy holiday everyone, make sure to claim your part of this historic moment by caccusing for Barack! tell your freinds about this unique man who could brings us to the table for the common pourpse for the common goal and for the better America!!!!

Meaza, MN

Why I am voting for Obama

VA4Obama — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:44:24 EST

While there are some offering immeasurable experience in this art of scorched earth combat, Barack Obama offers a chance to break free from the experience of discontent and replace it with the novelty of hope...

REP. McCOLLUM ENDORSEMENT OF OBAMA!!!

Matthea Little Smith — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:52:30 EST

Star-Tribune -- Bob von Sternberg “Obama snares new Minnesota endorsement”: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama snared a new Minnesota endorsement today, winning the backing of U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. "Senator Obama is a leader I respect and has sound judgment on the most important issues facing the nation," McCollum said. "That judgment is desperately needed in the White House." She also cited Obama's longstanding opposition to the war in Iraq: "I voted against giving President Bush a blank check to wage a war of choice. Many others in this race signed that check."

Hillary attack!

Meaza — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:51:10 EST

Here she is again! trying politics as usual, Attacking barack on his character is something very difficult and hard to make a case to American people. Because He is fresh, clean and consistance unlike the Clintonians. The American people are way better than that ... they need real change, they need someone who could fix the mess and that's is Barack with positive vision and agenda for this country...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CRhV

Barack at Boston

Meaza — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:45:22 EST

More than 2000 people were able to attend in this cold winter wether... when it comes to Barack, no excuse is good enough to stay behind. His vision to this country is something you wouldn't miss. His dream is the people's dream. His campaigne is a movement for change.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/12/on_a_cold_night.html

Thank you Boston

Meaza

true self previal

Meaza — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:11:05 EST

Hillary's lies are beyond control. I find it very amazing how people could get weired when it comes to power.... She proved that she will say and do anything she can to win this election very sad to witness this from such educated lady. this is embarasement

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YK4S4fY8gFA

Angela Davis speaks of Obama in Guardian article

Shauen — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:34:42 EST

Here is an article that I read in the Guardian. If you know Angela Davis you will be familiar with her through and inclusive analysis of various subjects. This article article provides the same critical analysis that I hope that we are all considering.

Oprah joins Obama! -another winning team

Shauen — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:43:23 EST

OPRAH WINFREY TO TOUR EARLY STATES WITH BARACK OBAMA

let reach our goal

Meaza — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:54:48 EST

Hello everyone: As the Iowa caucus day getting closer, Barack is also showing his leadership skills in every aspect of the issues that are so vital for every American people. For example, health care insurance, how to end Iraq war, and how to provide better pay for teachers are the few among the list. Therefore, as a member of Ethiopian for Obama, we have moral responsibility to say, “Way to go senator Barack Obama”, by donating what ever amount we can. Today is our chance to make the actual difference in the 2008 presidential election process, today is our chance to take action on what we really want in our government and today is our chance to show the voice of ordinary people is stronger than the lobbyist or special interest group who wants to buy every chair in the government. Most of all today is the time to show Barack we got his Back no matter what. My fellow members of Ethiopian for Obama, I strongly encourage you to go ahead and spend your money for a good cause, for something as inspiring and promising as Barack’s candidacy for the presidency of the United States of America in order to save more latter on. Hope to here from you all soon! Sincerely, Meaza, MN

check it out

Meaza — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:56:50 EST

my other group for obama

http://stkate.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18355409056

Volunteer with Minnesotans for Obama at the Minnesota State Fair!

Mandy in Mpls — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:14:17 EDT

Barack Obama Volunteers Needed for the Minnesota State Fair!
Join Us for Twelve Days of Fun Ending Labor Day!
Thursday, August 23rd - Monday, September 3rd

Sign Up for 1 of 4 Daily Shifts at:
www.minnesotansforobama.org/forms/volunteer_statefair.asp

WE HAVE GREAT NEWS!
Minnesotans for Obama is now officially part of the Minnesota State Fair with space inside the DFL building! And we want YOU to join in the fun!

WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS -- LIKE YOU!
To show the strength of our grassroots movement, we need to be visible, talk with voters and sign them up for Barack Obama. Our table inside the DFL building also will be staffed every day from 9am-9pm with volunteer shifts from 9-12, 12-3, 3-6, and 6-9. And here's where we need your! help.

WE'VE MADE VOLUNTEERING EASY!
Click here to sign up by day for one or several shifts during the fair. Obama State Fair Team Captains will be in contact with you to confirm your schedule, cover your volunteer assignment and other detail.

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR INFORMATION.

Our Obama table is located inside the DFL building, at the corner of DanPatch Avenue and Cooper Street.
Since we're a grassroots movement, volunteers will need to pay for their admission into the Fair, parking, food, and beverages.
2007 ADMISSION PRICES - Regular admission at the gate: adults (13-64) $11; seniors (65 & over) $9; kids (5-12) $8. Children under 5 are always free! Discount admission tickets: $8 (more discount ticket information).
Discount admission tickets are available prior to the fair until Wednesday,Aug. 22, 2007.
Parking: $9 or one additional pre-fair discount admission ticket ($8).
For information about the fair, visit the official MN State Fair website, www.mnstatefair.org.

IT'S A MINNESOTA TRADITION!
During the State Fair over 1.7 million people from 87 Minnesota counties will come to the State Fair, go on rides, visit the animal barns, eat food on a stick and talk politics. It's a Minnesota tradition and so is grassroots politics!

So join us at the State Fair. Talk with Minnesota voters about Senator Obama's message of hope and change. Volunteer! (www.minnesotansforobama.org/forms/volunteer_statefair.asp)

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at volunteer@minnesotansforobama.org or call us at 763-588-7545.

Sincerely,

Minnesotans for Obama State Organizers

PS: Don't have time to volunteer but are planning on attending the fair? You can still participate in the MN Obama movement by wearing your Obama gear for visibility and direct interested parties to the DFL Booth!

"lets's try!"

Meaza — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:53:48 EDT

YES! Finally somebody said something! I am glad Barack took the time to address this irrelevant but something that has been lingering around and keeps confusing both black and white community. Again, there are a lot more important issues that we should ask than this "is-he-black-enough" insanity.

If we believe every human being either here America or through out the world should have equal chance and opportunity in life, we need to march together with Barack in order to make it happen. (He is the hope of the past, present and the future!).

We need to ask ourselves, what should we do in order to bring this change? Do we sit and blame other for what went wrong? Do we wait and hope for others to fight for black cause or do we want to be part of that game and win!

I think Barack said it well, "Let's try!" let's not give up before we even try... that's not what our great-great parents thought us! That's not what they fought for! That was not Dr. Martin Luther king's dream!

I say, if... we all take this campaign as our own call, if … we all take this campaign as our own vision and goal, I believe we are in the verge of making a significant historical moment in American history!!!

Together we can make a difference, separate we fall!

Meaza from MN

For this I belive

Meaza — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:14:21 EDT

It's my strong belief that the change about to take place in American politics is the key step in changing the wrong perception of others about America and it’s people. I believe our foreign policy needs to be fixed in order to earn back the respect, love and trust of other societies. I believe Barack is the right man for the Job. He is determined, strong, well mannered and matured, who has the best judgment skill, unlike his fellow candidates, which can lead the country to the right direction.

Let’s march together for a change this time for a meaningful one!!!!! I beleive, if you can see what I am seeing in him, if you can hear what he is calling for and most of all if you really love America, you will stand up your ground and give a chance to hope, vision and dreams of Barack Obama.

Meaza, Mennesota

Selection of MidWest Large Minded or Million Goal Groups including a Midwest Top 150! Join One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 here and on MySpace. See URLs below. Thanks!

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 in Minnesota! — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:36:52 EDT

1.) My.BarackObama.com: Link (PLACE HOLDER)

2.) Official MySpace profile: Link (under construction)

3.) Official Group profile on MySpace: Link (PLACE HOLDER)

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PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN TO ONE MILLION MYSPACE FRIENDS FOR OBAMA'08'S MIDWEST $10,000 CAMPAIGN COFFER DRIVES!

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<A href="Link Dakota!</A>

<A href="Link Dakota!</A>

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MIDWEST'S TOP 150! If you would like your group to be added or deleted from my list please let me know.

Hooray for Women of the 21st Century! Eric Keroack Resigns! Hooray!

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 in Minnesota! — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:33:15 EDT

Washington">Link Post

Family Planning Official Resigns

Friday, March 30, 2007; A07

The doctor in charge of the Bush administration's family planning programs resigned yesterday after revealing that state Medicaid officials had taken action against his private medical practice in Massachusetts.

Eric Keroack, an obstetrician-gynecologist, became deputy assistant secretary for population affairs in November, advising Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt on matters such as reproductive health and adolescent pregnancy. He oversaw $283 million in annual family planning grants designed to provide access to contraceptive supplies, especially for low-income people.

Family planning advocates panned the pick, noting that Keroack also had served as medical director of A Woman's Concern, a nonprofit Christian pregnancy counseling organization in Massachusetts that on its Web site opposed the distribution of contraceptives as "demeaning to women."

In an e-mail to colleagues yesterday, Keroack said he was resigning to focus on appealing the action by Massachusetts Medicaid officials. HHS officials declined to provide more details, and state Medicaid officials could not be reached.

"It's a good day for women's health," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "Keroack was unqualified to run the nation's family planning program. . . . The nation's family planning program should be run by a champion for women's health and safety."

-- Christopher Lee

Fox News Horrible Record Attacking Black People Ban the Presidential Debates Deal! Please sign letter!

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 in Minnesota! — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:30:17 EDT

Dear Friends,

Fox News has a horrible record of attacking Black people, politicians,
and cultural institutions. But, at this very moment, the Congressional
Black Caucus has agreed to partner with Fox News to host presidential
debates prior to the 2008 elections.

For the CBC Institute to partner with an organization like Fox
News--given its hostility to Black political interests--is
shameful. I've signed on with ColorOfChange.org to help prevent them
from making this serious mistake. Will you join us in calling on the
Institute to drop its talks with Fox?

Link />
The CBC Institute, an organization led by Black members of Congress,
claims to share ColorOfChange.org's goal of politically empowering
Black America. But after being presented with the case against Fox
and hearing vocal opposition from over 12,000 ColorOfChange.org
members, the CBC Institute elected to complete a deal with Fox.
We'd expect that they would recognize the obvious: that validating
Fox News as legitimate hurts Black America, and undermines the
CBC's credibility.

Fox's record is horrible. Their on-air personalities and regular
guests consistently marginalize Black politicians, culture, and
institutions. In fact, Sen. Obama has stopped giving interviews to Fox
reporters because of repeated attacks on his character and intimations
that he has connections to terrorism. Even the Democratic Party in
Nevada backed out of doing a debate with Fox because of remarks about
Obama, but the CBC Institute hasn't moved.

And it's not just Obama. Here's a sampling of the kind of offensive
messages put out on Fox News:

* Commenting on Hannity & Colmes about the speakers at Coretta Scott
King's funeral, featured guest Mary Matalin said, "I think these civil
rights leaders are nothing more than racists" who are keeping "their
African-American brothers enslaved."

* Jesse Lee Peterson, a regular guest who is Black said: "Kwanzaa is a
racist, pagan, Marxist holiday" and then claimed that the "so-called
seven principles of Kwanzaa are socialist, Marxist, separatist
ideas... if a white man started a white holiday, seven-day white
holiday, black folks would be burning down America."

* Erik Rush, another Black guest, labeled Sen. Obama's church as cultish
and separatist for espousing values of black unity and black
empowerment (Fox regularly selects Black guests it knows will
undermine Black causes). Rush said he replaced the word "black" with
"white" in the church's mission statement and "Suddenly, I was looking
at this really scary doctrine. You know, it was something that you'd
see in more like a cult or an Aryan Brethren church I would go beyond
saying they're Afrocentric. They're African centric. They refer to
themselves as an African people and that somewhat disturbs me from the
viewpoint of well, do they consider themselves Americans? Do they
consider themselves Christians?"

* On The Big Story, John Gibson, warned viewers that nearly half of all
children under the age of five in the United States are minorities.
"You know what that means? Twenty-five years and the majority of the
population is Hispanic." He then urged viewers to "do your duty. Make
more babies." He later repeated: "To put it bluntly, we need more
babies."

Given it's record, Fox News shouldn't enjoy the support of Black
political or cultural institutions connected to the Congressional
Black Caucus. We believe (or at least hope) the CBC Institute will
change course once it realizes that Black America, if not all of
America, is watching.

Please join us in making sure they hear us, loud and clear.

Link />
Thanks.

Obama Endorses Senator Durbin's Fair Elections Now Act!

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 in Minnesota! — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 17:57:25 EDT

Presidential Hopefuls on Public Financing and FENA
The three front-runners for the Democratic nomination for
President are on the record in support of public financing of
elections. John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama have
all come out strongly in favor of a change to the system. You
can see Edwards' endorsement here
Link and Clinton's here
Link. See this clip
Link of Obama's recent endorsement
of Senator Richard Durbin's Fair Elections Now Act, and
exhortation for public pressure on the issue here. Republican
presidential hopeful, John McCain, meanwhile has been less
supportive of public financing while on the campaign trail this
year, but has supported it strongly in the past
Link at the state level as well as
for the Presidential race. He has joined Obama in promising to
run under public financing in the general election if his
opponent agrees to do the same. It's encouraging to see
discussion of and support for this policy from the presidential
field; nobody knows better than the candidates racing to raise
the millions they'll need to get to the White House that
campaign financing needs an overhaul.

- Energy for change: watch Senator Durbin's passionate speech
Link introducing the Fair Elections
Now Act on the floor of the Senate here.

Speaking of the Fair Elections Now Act, it's been popping up in
the news left and right drawing positive editorials and LOTS of
attention on the letters to editor page
Link thanks to efforts of Public
Campaign Action Fund members. You can write your own letter to
the editor using our tool here
Link />
New Mexico Close to Judicial Public Financing
Great news! New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson plans to turn
his endorsement of public financing for judicial races into
action when he signs the bill recently passed out of the state
legislature in special session that would expand the state's
public financing program to include state Supreme and Appellate
court races: Link. He plans to
line-item veto the "poison pill" provision in the bill that
would require voters to amend the state constitution to
eliminate retention elections (making those judges run in
partisan races) before the public financing system could take
effect. New Mexico already has public financing available to
candidates for the state's Public Regulation Commission, and the
city of Albuquerque approved public financing for municipal
elections by ballot initiative in 2005. Many thanks to New
Mexico Common Cause and Public Campaign Board member Richard
Romero, for their efforts in passing this bill!

Maryland Campaign in Final Days
Thousands of emails, hundreds of calls, and a pair of lobby days
later we are in the last week of the Maryland legislative
session: the moment of truth for a Clean Elections win in the
state this year Link. In fact, the
Senate is schedule to vote today on the bill that would bring
full public financing for legislative elections in Maryland --
the state Assembly is already in support. Though Senate
President Mike Miller (D) is notoriously opposed to Clean
Elections, the gossip in Annapolis is that grassroots organizing
(all those emails, all those calls) and the tireless efforts of
Progressive Maryland, Maryland NAACP, Maryland Common Cause,
Maryland Sierra Club, and The Reform Institute, have really
boosted support among previously ambivalent legislators for
passing Clean Elections. It's going to be quite a showdown -- as
soon as we get the results of the vote we'll let you know!

April Showers?
Did Uncle Sam give you a refund on your federal tax return this
year? How about turning a little bit of that around with an
investment in winning Clean Elections through a gift to Public
Campaign Action Fund Link Your tax
dollars fund the policies of the country, what better way to
ensure they are spent responsibly than by establishing Clean
Elections systems that make elected officials accountable to
you?

VOICEing Support
Public Campaign staffers checked their inboxes a few weeks ago
and found an email from National Field Director Jeannette
Galanis: "I think we need to go to Iowa." Why? Because a
dedicated group of legislators and activists from Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement and the Clean Elections Coalition had
advanced full public financing legislation, the Voter-Owned Iowa
Clean Elections (VOICE) Act, farther than they ever had in the
state: far enough to make a win this year a real possibility.

A pair of bills, HSB 105 championed by Representative Pam Jochum
(D-Dubuque) and SSB 1173 headed up by Senator Mike Connolly
(D-Dubuque) have passed out of their respective State Government
committees and are moving on to Appropriations, where they look
to face formidable opposition. We are gearing up for a full
court press grassroots field effort; getting calls in to
legislators in support of VOICE, getting the word out through
door-to-door canvassing and phone banking, and ramping up
lobbying efforts in Des Moines to win Clean Elections for Iowa!
You can find out more about the campaign here
Link />
Blog/News Roundup
Have you been reading Paid For By?, Public Campaign Action
Fund?s blog? In case you missed this week, check out the stories
we've been following on?

- New Jersey Governor John Corzine signing the bill continuing
his state's Clean Elections Pilot project
Link />- Presidential candidates raising money any way they can --
ethics? What ethics? Link
- Energy for change: watch Senator Durbin's passionate speech
Link introducing the Fair Elections
Now Act on the floor of the Senate here.