Film and Television Professionals for Obama

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

The case for Single Payer over Public option

March4health4All — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:29:26 EDT

The case for Single Payer over Public option

If we are going to fight let's go for the real thing.

Enough with the Public Option, it covers, at best 5% of us, when Obama says, if you like what you have you can keep it, the most important statement is lacking: if you hate it, you can leave it. All the PO does is to create another entitlement for people to resent.

Also, if they wanted to control insurance prices, all they need to do is declare them a public utility, a mandate without price control is untenable.

Single payer is all inclusive, thereby creating less resentment and can be explain in two sentences: This is how it works. You pay your premiums through payroll withholdings, just like ssi, Medicare, etc. and you get the care free.

By eliminating the middleman, you pay a lot less and Drs get pay better.

Single payer is actually an easier sale, as it answers that very human question: "What's in it for me?"

http://healthcare4all.org/

What's in it for me? Healthcare

March4health4All — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:05:48 EDT

Must read http://kucinich.us/index.php

Enough with the public option, it covers, at best 5% of us, when Obama says, if you like what you have you can keep it, the most important statement is lacking: if you hate it, you can leave it. All the PO does is create another entitlement for people to resent.
Single payer is actually an easier sale, as it answers that very human question: "What's in it for me?"

Le's fight for the real thing.

Please join me in demanding your Medicare ASAP, regardless of age:
In FB: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147637363022

In MyBO: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpk4pt

Read Rep. Kucinich analysis below, and let's go after the real thing.
The Private Mandate Sausage Machine

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Dear Friends,

It is said one should not ask how sausage or laws are made. Are you concerned about a public option? Let me share with you some insight about health care legislation which may not be good for your health.

A lesson in politics. The Kucinich Prediction: Here's what's going to happen ...

House will make a big deal about keeping/putting a public option in HR3200 because it competes with insurance companies and will keep insurance rates low.
The White House will refer to the President's speech last week where he spoke favorably of the public option.
The Senate will kill the competitive public option in favor of non-competitive "co-ops". Senate leaders like Kent Conrad have said the votes to pass a public option were never there in the Senate.
The bill will come to a House-Senate Conference Committee without the public option.
House Democrats will be told to support the conference report on the legislation to support the President.
The bill will pass, not with a "public option" but with a private mandate requiring 30 million uninsured to buy private health insurance (if one doesn't already have it). If you are broke, you may get a subsidy. If you are not broke, you will get a fine if you do not purchase insurance.

This legislative sausage will be celebrated as a new breakthrough and will be packaged as health insurance reform. However, the bill may require a Surgeon General's warning label: Your Money or Your Life!

The bill that Congress passes may pale in comparison to the bill that millions of Americans get every month for having or not having private health insurance.

It will take four years for the new legislation to go into effect. During that time we are going to build a constituency of millions in support of real health care, a constituency which will be recognized and a cause which is right and just: Health Care as a Civil Right.

My March for health care

Sherryan' from Santa Clarita, CA — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:58:04 EDT

On the 4th day of September, with the temperature of 104’; we held a rally & marched up to Buck Mckeons office. Yes we we were unannounced, but I think the element of surprise, was essential. See article. (http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/17635/ ). We were small in size, but effective. 5 adults, 2 children & Brian Charles of the Signal Newspaper, stood on the corner, with many people stopping by to thank us for our effort.

Too often, we as a people jump on board only when we see huge support. It takes allot of courage to be the first to step forward. I applaud those that did. Dennis Bartash, a Veteran and Senior; Pattie Sulpizio, An activist/former Delegate, member of DAA; (the largest democratic club of Santa Clarita) and our calm voice of reason; Sarah Reader & Jasmine Romero, both single mothers; One a current student at C.O.C., the other aspiring to become one soon; myself, Sherryan Lima a OFA Organizing Lead in Santa Clarita and Mother of 6, representing the uninsured; Brian Charles a Signal newspaper reporter, whom has found it necessary to stand up, speak out, challenge and hold accountable those that should be telling the truth but have chosen to do otherwise and Finally, Jordan Lima-Kuderer & Kai Romero representing the future.

We told our stories and encouraged Buck to take this moment to step up and do the right thing for his constituents. To represent us when he goes back to Washington. To tell the truth, (no more miss leading statements). To work in a bipartisan way with the President; for the common goal of affordable health care for all.

Will he hear us? That still remains to be seen! I am not going to let up. What is small today, will surly be larger tomorrow. We as a people will continue to step up. Continue to speak out. Dennis is right, we are a Government run "By the people for the people" I for one, take that “RIGHT’ seriously!

Go to the link’s below to see some of the events planned for the month of September in Santa Clarita. Make your voice heard, you will effect change. I Promise!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/myevents?source=sidenav

http://www.daa.org/

http://www.dn38.org/

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:23:56 EDT

Operation swamp the streets to defend your healthcare.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

Calling on All who voted for the Obama agenda in November to match a mile a day to hand over the torch of the United State to the next persons or groups from where you are, going until we reach whashington in a human chain, to carry the torch of humanity. We are the most prosperous nation in the world, yet there is no recourse for anyone who happen to be in a bind temporarily or not, when they get sick in our nation.

We are a God fearing nation, we profess to be a christian nation, yet the answer to a crying woman who is losing her husband to cancer for lack of insurance from the republicans was " because you are here talking to me, I would be magnanimous enough to make sure you are taken care of, but anyone else can't have the same chance."

He refused to answer her pleas for a universal single payer healthcare, yet he said "he the government" would make sure her husband receives treatment that insurance companies have rationed or denied him.

What our republican speaker was saying was that, he would used his "good office" to extend government money to take care of her husband, but if she got sick herself, then too bad she would have to call him again if he is still in office.

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

He went on to say that the job of helping people belongs to the church which all depend on the taxes we pay, to the government or to the church (donations). In effect, he is putting your life in the hands of those who can only extend their services (arbitrarily)to their frock or friends.

Many people sitting in that audience may have had cases that are worse than that of the weeping lady. Yet if they didn't have the luck to have the microphone, they were not heard, and would not be helped as the lady was promised.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:21:40 EDT

Operation swamp the streets to defend your healthcare.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

match until single payer, universal healthcare for all is passed.!!!

He didn't help her by passing a law that would ensure that she gets treatement as well as all americans in his husband's condition.

We need to organize and march until the single payer universal healthcare is passed.

Defend your country and democracy

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:31:33 EDT

Hi viewers of AM and hosts:

I have never heard anything as stupid or ignorant as the "stay at home republican mom" altered on CNN. she said and I quote" The government has never run anything efficiently". The same dumb statement repeated over an over by the zombies on the republican side:
1-America is the greated country in the world, and the government has "run" it into becoming the best in the world.
2-America has the best military in the world. And the Government as made it what it is. The privatization by bush brought us , abugraib, and all other scandals and mismanagement by private contractors.
3-Most insurances are subsidized through legislation that allows them to tax you the premiums you pay every months.
4-All legislation that allow private business to operate in peace and healthy competition is managed by Government.
5-Keeping peace, making roads, and other infrastructures are government programs that run well: we have the best infrastructures in the world, thanks to our government planners.
5-Embassies and foreign services that pave the way to private business in foreign land, protect our interests all over the world, negotiate our participation in the world are all government run.

I was shocked to see CNN give voice to a woman who was merely voicing her own and republicans ignorance or duplicity on the air.

All those who voted for Obama's agenda rather than his good looks, get out there and defend your votes. 53% voted for now Prez. Obama after comparing his program to all the republicans' and democrats'. After two years of campagning, we finaly settled to chose among democrats Obama, Edward, and Clinton essentially. Then we selected Obama's agenda to present to Americans. The choice was between the republican agenda of More of the Same, presented by Mcain, and the democrats agenda of Reform (Heathcare and other reforms) presented by Obama.
We made that choice in nov. 2008. Those who are out there trying to undo the votes casted in nov. are plotting a coup in the open. They are the same who failled to convince us to vote for Mcain and his status quo agenda. We voted for a particular reform, that lead and presented by Obama. We should stop these people before they change our democratic process as we know it. Are we going to become the next congo or suddan? Because if elections can't settle our affairs, it simply means that the street has taken over.

Why are we still debating whether to reform or not to reform healthcare? I thought that was settled in the Nov. 2008 elections when we carefully selected the right causes, programs and agenda from more than 8 candidates in 2 years! Among the Democrats, we selected Candidate Obama's agenda to , among other things, reform health care. Then compared it to Mcain's and the majority of Americans (53%) voted for Democrats and specifically Obama's Healthcare. The president, democrats and all those who voted for this reform, or simply those who want democracy to survive, should be out there reminding everyone that the election was over in Nov. 2008. What is going on out in these townhall is a hitjack of our democratic process, a "coup" where by Republicans want to overthrow a duely elected agenda with a president, the decision Americans took to reform Healthcare in Nov. 2008, through Obama' agenda. Don't temper with our Votes!!!!!!!! We don't want a watered down version either. I know that the republicans are hoping at least, to water down the bill on healthcare reform by their protest and intimidations so much so that no one would be happy with it, and the majority being unhappy, would never vote again for Obama, or the democrats, because he hasn't, they couldn't delivered for those who voted for him (them), in a doomed effort to satisfy those who didn't want him (them) in office in the first place: The republicans.

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!!!!!!

Obama's Hamburger Hamlet - Much Ado About Mustard

Mark Wiznitzer — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:19:44 EDT

To be, or not to be medium well, that is the question!
In the most high and palmy District of Washington.
A little ere 100 days the mightiest Republicans fell,
Were storefronts now tenantless, and swine flue fright doth rule,
Did gibber of Ray's Steaks and Hell Burgers in Arlington streets.

Where Geithner and Bernanke proclaimed that
Both a borrower and a lender be;
For loan oft gains both votes and friends,
And borrowing stimulates weary economy.

Find out the cause of this effect,
Because the Commander in Chief hungereth.
Or rather say, the cause of this detect,
For this effect defective comes by cause,
So with his VP escapeth his White Castle.

Not a computer mouse stirring.
And then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons.
But, look, the noon, in hungered mantle clad,
Obama rides o'er the slew of yon high shills.
The memory be green of Arugula farmers,
With Biden that less than kin, yet more than kind.
That it should come to this!

"Season your admiration with a spicy mustard."
The President's baked meats
Did coldly furnish forth their ratings tables.

Words, words, words.
Give thy thoughts no tongue, except on talk radio.
Why, Rush, a robustious periwig-pated fellow,
Very like a whale,
Would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on.

Sean cried "Thrift, thrift, Horatio Alger!
All is not well; I suspect some French socialist Dijon foul play.
Something is rotten in the state of Virginia."

Alas, poor Yokels! We knew them, Ho-radio.
Tis as easy as lying.
What! Frighted with false ire?
The loonies doth protest too much, methinks.
They have a plentiful lack of wits.
More matter, with less condiments.
There is nothing either good nor bad, but thinking makes it so tasty.

"This above all: to thine own self be true,
Medium-well it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Brevity is the soul of wit:
"No ketchup" commandeth the Prince.

Lord! we know what we are, but know not what we may be.
For I am more a modern Lincoln than an FDR.
He was a man, take him for all in all,
We shall not look upon his like again.

A king of shreds and patches worthy of GQ.
Not just a rhapsody of words.
For the apparel oft proclaims the man.
Report me and my cause aright
To the unemployed.
Come, my limo!
Good-night sides;
Good night, sweet relish;
Good night.

Going Green - Write Write

Jeanie Schneider — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:28:45 EDT

The 3 decades of propaganda against Global Warming and Climate Change is perpetuated by Conservative voices which literally flood the airwaves. This mindset spills over to the general population.

Today I was watching CNBC to get my stock updates. Larry Kudlow on "The Call" announced, "It's Earth Day, I'm going to buy a Hummer, that's all I'm going to say about that." That was the only announcement.

Just prior to this segment Larry had made a profound statement regarding the suicide of Freddie Mac CFO. "What ever was wrong, it's only money, there are other things, spirtual things more important in this world."

I wrote to CNBC today and pointed out the science, the alarming findings and concensus among scientists across the globe that we face a dire situation. I suggested that the conservative point of view is misrepresenting the news and if they spent time really reading and exploring the articles and studies in the area of Climate Change they would perhaps see the issues with less jaded perspective. I suggested that Larry take some of his own advice and appreciate that there really are some things in this world more important than money, or his view.

It is reported that Wall Street and Corporates have hired hundreds of lobbyists to wage a war against the policies to put climate change into motion.

We need to clean up our own environment, but the greatest job at hand is to educate the public about the threats we face. The media has not done a good job of reporting Global Warming. There is a disconnect. When you read the studies in science journals and the national international counsels on climate change, and then read the newspapers, only a fraction of the story is being reported.

The public will believe what is being placed in front of them day after day. If they are lead to the comeback of Brittney Spear's, or the runner up on American Idol, then that is what captures the mind. But what about the news coverage of the melting ice shelf in Greenland? The nation of Maldives which is making plans to be submerged in the near future. Where is the guy camped out on the beach telling that story?

The problems are complex and the situation serious. The politicalization of Climate Change threatens us as much as burning fossil fuels.

I wrote to CNBC today to share my thoughts and to point out the role the media has to present the news and to educate the public. If everyone who appreciates the crisis we face begins a writing campaign to each and every media outlet to report the issue and not to perpetuate mis information that "Global warming is something you can choose to not subscribe to because it is made up". This is 2009 and the world's scientists are way beyond that notion.

CNBC engaged in dinasaur thinking today and needs to be called on it.

Thanks,

Jeanie Schneider

Too busy to blog for a long time now...

Barbara C. Benedict — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:17:03 EDT

...and that's good! : )

Continuing to look for candidates for the 2010 election.

Off to the California Democratic Convention tomorrow through the weekend.

Hope to see you there!

Hast la vista!

Barbara

I kissed the President and I liked it, hope Michelle don't mind it!

Bev Haut — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:41:07 EDT

Well, folks, WHEW! I have had a VERY exciting coupla days. When I learned that Obama was coming to Orange County, I knew that I had to do everything in my power to see him. I reached out to a fellow journalist in DC, and while she couldn't help me directly, she knew a guy who knew a guy ...

... and that guy called and said, "We need volunteers. Can you be at the Fairgrounds at 7PM Tuesday for a couple of hours, then be back again from noon till 7 or so Wednesday?" Well, YEAH. Duh.

Here's the first installment of my firsthand account. There's so much more to write! Pix (including one of me with the President) can be seen on my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82092&id=607221052&l=f9fba4a785

More later, I promise!

Bev

**********

After completing my assigned duties as a volunteer at President Obama's townhall meeting yesterday, it was time for the program to begin, and I didn't have a seat. Most of the volunteers didn't have seats; we were expected to watch from alongside one wall, unless we got lucky and found an actual empty chair. But as I was trying to get out of the way of the Secret Service and a stray cameraman, a fella looked up and said, “Oh, do you need a seat? Let me move this stuff ...”

I was in the front row, to the right of the podium. The invocation was just ending ...

An introduction, and then the President was at the podium, 12 feet away from me. It took everything in my power not to drag out the Velcro and rubber bands to fling myself up there and stick to him. The crowd's reaction was instant, loud, compelling, infectious. Frantically and joyously clapping their hands, screaming his name. OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA! I happily joined in. We volunteers had been ... well, let's say “encouraged” to comport ourselves with dignity and composure. Yeah, yeah, screw that, it's O-time now, baby!

I was already stupid insane. When I wasn't taking pictures, I was watching every move he made. And then he took off his suit jacket. I have always had a thing for a well-constructed man's back in a crisp white shirt. Fine. Mmmm hmmm.

He spoke for about 10 minutes, then took questions from the audience. Without notes or a teleprompter, he answered them eloquently and with genuine emotion. If I hadn't been an Obama Mama before, I was now. I was completely enraptured and captivated. Someone called out, “I love you, Obama!” and he replied, “I love y'all, too,” chuckling as he said it. He used the entire stage, moving like a sleek lion, looking into the eyes of 3,000 people, resting on one, then another's face, his hand frequently stretched out as if to try and touch us, or the future.

And then he closed it down, put a stamp on it and mailed it to the world. We were on our feet, screaming for him, and I realized when he stepped down that he was going to walk around the perimeter of green fence rails surrounding the podium to shake hands and press some California flesh.

He started on the far side, away from me. The crowd caught on and the air in the building became thin and frantic. I began to panic a little; people were starting to rush forward, and I was right up front, but the Secret Service was ON it, looking over and ordering people to back up (nobody f***s with the Secret Service).

Denis, the gentleman who'd unknowingly saved me a seat, had my camera in his hand. I'd been telling him how much I wanted a picture with the President. Denis kept saying, “Just wait until I tell you. Stay right there and turn this way ...” For a few moments, I caught glimpses of the President coming down the line, people everywhere, all over and around him, like when you pour gravy on rice ~ he was saturated with hands, arms, bodies, the Secret Service like a safety net around his back and to the sides.

I looked up into the eyes of the President, and he looked down into mine. I laid my left hand on his bare right arm, thrust my right hand into his, and said, “I've been waiting for you since I was 12 years old. Thank you, Mr. President.” I stood as tall as my 5' could reach (he's 6 feet 90 or something), raised my head and leaned in, and he leaned down towards me. Suddenly, I kissed him on the cheek. I don't know why, I had nothing else to say that wouldn't take 20 minutes, I kissed him, and he didn't pull away. There was one of those kinda-sorta-almost shoulder hugs, not really touching, almost there, so I kissed him again, and again he didn't pull away. And damn, if I didn't kiss him again! He smiled down at me ~ he looked directly into my eyes ~ and said, simply, “Thank you.”

It was over. He moved on. My heart was in my head, I was upside down and right side up, all at the same time, in the rabbit hole on a bus being driven by Hunter S. Thompson and every last one of the Founding Fathers. I felt dizzy, yet more solid than I had in years. I wondered why I wasn't crying; I'll cry for a good shoe sale, but not now. There was no reason to cry; I'd had a “moment” with my President, and not just a moment, a FREAKIN' EXCELLENT GODDAMN MOMENT!

My new friend Denis returned my camera, and I looked anxiously ~ he'd done it! I had a picture with the President! Not full faces, but it's me, and it's him. (When did I get so old and jowly?)

“Mr. President.” The unbridled absolute joy of saying those words to the man for whom I'd worked so hard ~ I'm teary-eyed now, thinking back. We'd been told repeatedly that as volunteers at an official presidential event, we were representing the office of the President and that our behavior, our work, our actions would reflect upon that office. We weren't allowed to speak to the press; what if someone said something idiotic? It could be an embarrassment to the President.

I flashed on an old episode of “West Wing,” one in which Josiah Bartlett's presidency was in great peril, and a scene from that show suddenly became very real for me. The camera lingered on each of Bartlett's inner circle; one after the other, they repeated the words, “I serve at the pleasure of the President.”

Finally, I know what that means.

More later about all the other stuff ~ the volunteer meetings, the White House advance staff, the hot Secret Service guys (not to mention the Marines!), the press, the local political celebrities, and how I was able to help the President's cousin!

Remove top management of AIG, take over executive management now.

Barbara C. Benedict — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:05:17 EDT

As proxy representative of every American's tax dollars, and acting as "doctor" in this critical situation, the President and his administration needs to use all means necessary to save our tax dollars *immediately.* Remove the current top management of AIG and take over executive management *now.*

I looked up the general mechanics of a "Hostile Takeover."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeover I'm not a lawyer but it seems to me that that there is a general precedent to follow here; as the majority owner of AIG, the government should immediately go forward and throw out all the top management of AIG and appoint new management. Giving the current top brass another single day to do more damage and hide evidence of their fraudulent --and at best incompetent deeds-- is crazy.

Recovering the bonuses is not enough. The administration needs to take complete control of AIG now, get in there, audit every single bit of accounting, start prosecution of all that participated in fraud, and close any division that is not needed immediately.

Perhaps the only "bonus" given out at AIG should be a whistleblower reward to employees coming forward with information leading to the successful prosecution of crooks within and associated with the company's fraudulent activities.

The administration, acting as "doctor" in this situation with AIG, would be guilty of medical negligence if it didn't step in and use *all means necessary* to eradicate the disease in this company in a timely fashion. "Timely" in this critical situation is *immediately.*

Remove the current top management of AIG and take over executive management *now.*

Barbara Benedict

Escondido, California

Supporting President Obama's Universal Health Care Plan is fiscally smart!

Barbara C. Benedict — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:19:50 EST

I sent this letter to my representatives today.

I hope you can find time to send your own letters too!

Dear Senators and Congressman,

Please know you are doing the right thing --and the fiscally smart thing -- by average Americans and Business in supporting President Obama's Universal Health Care Plan. Keep in mind that if I don't have to spend the entire --over $700. per month that I spend as a single woman, no children, on monthly health insurance (HMO) I would gladly put the difference of the money back into the American economy. I would gladly support growth in the American GDP immediately through using any savings in a "stimulating way."

Run these numbers! For example, an additional $500 - $700. per month pumped back into the economy by an average person like me, multiply me by millions... that's a lot of money! It's nearly 10x any annual tax rebate/stimulus check and it's *every month.* Hundreds of dollars per citizen put back into the American economy -- widespread across all goods and services categories. It's the difference between being able to purchase a much needed new car, making the mortgage, purchasing goods and services in our communities, paying for some college --or going back to college, donating to our local food pantries, etc. etc.

Congress please run these numbers and tell your Republican associates and anyone opposed to an affordable Universal Health Care Plan that they need to rethink! They need to see the big picture effects of how affordable health care in itself can boost the American economy immediately and dramatically. This one example is only the tip of the iceberg in measureable positive economic effects an affordable Universal Healthcare Plan will have on the United States economy.

Barbara Benedict
Escondido, California

Obama and the New Spirit of Empathy Group

Edwin Videoman — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:37:52 EST

HTML clipboard

Barack Obama is leading a movement based on values and at the core of this is the value of empathy. Barack talks about empathy and the importance of 'standing in other peoples shoes', in many of his speeches (I've collected 50 so far). Empathy is the most basic value he ran on and he says the country has an 'empathy deficit' that needs to be filled. We are forming an Empathy Values Group to build on Obama's call to address the empathy deficit.

As part of this empathy movement, we are also putting together a video of his talking about this topic to give it some context and promote this foundational progressive value. Let's help fill the empathy deficit by making people more aware of the topic. This is a collaborative project and we invite you to take part. See.

Barack Obama and a New Spirit of Empathy (rough cut 1) (1 hr 15 min)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6504935098489252112
A Chronological Video of Barack on Empathy - Compiled from about 30 of Barack's speeches and interviews, etc on the topic of empathy.

Here's a review of the video: Hi Edwin, It is truly wonderful that you and others have grasped the brass ring of the progressive movement by highlighting the core issue of Empathy. I now see that everything about the rising of Barack Obama and the revolution in America is based on this principle. Thank you, thank you for your effort and the timely reminder to me of what is really important. It's easy to get lost in the dust that is being raised by so many who sincerely want to see change and see it quickly. But it is crucial to remember why we are being called in this time in history to change. You are exactly right, it is Empathy. Warmly, Terri Jan 28, 2009.

Show the President support at the Amgen Cycling Race

Barbara C. Benedict — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:50:53 EST

Show the President support at the Amgen Cycling Race

Hello Escondido Friends and neighboring towns!

Calling all Dem's and President Obama supporters! We have very exciting news happening right here, this coming Sunday Feb 22 in Escondido (in North East San Diego County for those of you from out of town -- apx 25 miles from Del Mar). This is a chance of a lifetime opportunity for building the visibility of our Escondido & San Diego area Democrats, and most importantly right now, show our support for President Barack Obama. This Sunday Feb 22, television cameras (from all over the world potentially) will be here, in downtown Escondido at the race's finish line to cover the Amgen cycling race (with Lance Armstrong). What better way to CHANGE our town's old Red image to new Blue! Come out to the finish line in Escondido (or race line where-ever you can in California) and wear your Blue "Obama" shirts -- and other DEM gear -- but especially "Obama" gear! As you know, the "Obama" logo is internationally known so we can get the most mileage in the press from this!

*SEE MORE INFO and official event website links by choosing Find Events near you and looking for this notice.

*This is a NO HOST event suggestion. Grab your friends, organize your groups and see you there!

Create Entrepreneurs

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:43:33 EST

Equity in our economy: Everyone Capitalism.Admin Options

Here is a rough draft of the cooperative type plan for putting america back to work fast, and promoting Social Justice, and Democracy.

The plan comprises several aspects and each may be implemented separately.
Cooperatives:

Cooperatives are built on communities. That is they may be regional communities as well as they may be trade communities. Each community is open to capital inflow from anyone in the society, limited to a ceiling to avoid concentration of power in some hands. Each member of the community is entitled to grants by government to enable the start of the community or its continuity.

Let's say each worker laid off from DHL received a $5000 grant from the government and together they form a similar service. Among the 1000 workers fired, they can receive collectively a grant totalling $5,000,000 to start their own company. What ever they chose to do, this is a welcome addition to their community and they would start training some other people to work with them, and employ many other people.

Further more, their business will encourage satelite businesses around it. If each of the 70 000 workers laid off yesterday received just 1000, it would mean $70,000,000 start up funds for any idea in the community.

If they received $5000 each, they may be able to start their own credit union, with a fund of $350,000,000. and start lending money to the community right away.

Of course every community will know what they need, and the government can help in that too, by sending graduates from from various universities and a professor as a mentor, to find out what each commuty is interested in, and help them to implement it, with the help of the government.

There are many versions of this same work, some of them working around the credit unions or around the labor unions, as well as the independent communities, cities, states. Whether these ideas will be done to promote one member's idea or the community's innovative endeavor, that is left to the community and what they are able to come up with.

Ireland has announced that it is taking this path. Germany has been implementing this around the world for a long time. With the way america does business, success is more likely here than anywhere else.

I received a scholarship from one of those organizations myself some years ago.

In so doing, we are going to strengthen our communities and their capacity to participate in our development, in turning this economy around and in participating in democracy. It will also help this country get rid of some of the old structures of injustice since the communities will all have a $1000, $5000, $10,000, ... per person to tackle the recession. The more people in a community, the greater their capital to start and run their business. As a consequence, communities will be encouraged to include more people, and they would be equal since each person can take away their money but must send it to another community.

It would encourage the promotion of peaceful cohabitation, democracy values and equal rights to socio-economic development and a more sustainable use of our tax bail out dollars.

This program would give power to society's disadvantaged, who would be owners of capital for the first time in this capitalist country.

Recovery would only happen if all people would participate. Giving money to the banks would never be lent to people who don't have a job, or can't repay for any reason. Many would not benefit from tax cuts because they are/have been out of work for many years.

Giving a grant to society members would create jobs as entrepreneurs, or as consumers. This program would put people back to work, but also help communities take charge of their own communities, and creates a focus for continuous, united and diversed development of our society.

Who qualifies? Anyone who has a talent to contribute, Anyone who has no job, has a job that pays below, or at poverty threshlold, and belongs to a community of interest.

Who votes? Members of a community of interest have equal voting rights.

Disposition of the funds: The funds are not paid to individuals; a Certificate for these funds is paid directly to the groups' account, and the persons are notifited. They present the certificate to participate in the running and/or decisions of the entity.

Promoting these values and principles/practices around the world.

This program may be applies all around the world americans can be sent to promote economic development, peace, promote and safeguard democracy, social justice and socio-political develoment.

YES WE DID, YES WE MUST

Carla Mays — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:09:52 EST

YES WE DID! YES WE MUST:

Þ Protect him from harm both verbal & phyiscal

Þ Stay "FIRED UP" by staying active

Þ Work Bi-Partisan to bring "Change" together

Þ Don't just bitch, get active and stay engaged

Þ Start and join a local "Change" group

Þ Be philanthropic, serve your community, state and nation

Þ Stick by Obama, STOP smears on the Right & the Left!!!! Hold yourself responsible as you hold Barack!

Join the future of this movement!!

http://change.gov/joinus

http://www.communityorganize.com

http://www.ourpresidency.com

http://www.usaservice.org

http://www.whitehouse.gov

Barack's DNC 2004 Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWynt87PaJ0&feature=PlayList&p=B1939005B8A4D4ED&index=188

Barack's DNC 2008 Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ato7BtisXzE&feature=channel

Barack’s Election Acceptance Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-2Zu_Iic&feature=channel

Barack’s Inauguration Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4

PRAYER FOR OUR PRESIDENT

David — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:33:34 EST

We've all worked very hard for this day. And finally it is upon us. So as we prepare for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, let us all take a moment each day to say a prayer for him. We need to pray for his protection throughout all the inaugural events to keep him healthy and safe from all harm. And we need to pray for his success as he takes the helm of our nation with all the problems that will land in his lap. Whatever your spiritual beliefs or affiliation, prayer is very powerful. Let us all unite prayerfully that God will protect, lead, and guide our new President with His own hand! Tell a friend...

Barack Obama's Amazing Letter to his Daughters Malia and Sasha

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:25:47 EST

I fought hard not to choke while reading this letter. This is why we elected this man: to be a shining example. What an inspiring First Family...

IRELAND IS DOING WHAT WE CAN'T DO.

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:39:23 EST

THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS IN IRELAND WILL GET A CHECK FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS. IN AMERICA, THE FED CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE IS ASKING FOR MORE MONEY TO THE RICH, THE BANKS, AND WALSTREET, THE SAME PEOPLE WHO LEAD US INTO RECESSION.

WE ARE ACTING LIKE WE HAVE DONE IN THE THIRD WORLD. GIVE MONEY TO CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE EMPOVERISHED THEIR PEOPLE.

WE HAVE NOW SEEN THAT MICROPROJECT WORKS. WHY CAN'T WE IMPLEMENT WHAT WE PREACH BY GIVING EVERY TAX PAYER IN AMERICA AN AMOUNT TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LOSING THEIR JOBS AT THE DELL PLANT ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN MONEY TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, NOT A LOUSY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION WHEN THERE IS NO JOB IN STORE COMING, UNTIL IT RUNS OUT.

AMERICA,THE REST OF THE WORLD WAITS, NOT JUST ISRAEL

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:28:04 EST

America and the world hare keeping palestinians in the largest prison in the world.

srael: positioning in israel for elections, Every leader in israel is looking out for the next election and the person who appears to destroy their enemy more will have more votes.

ethnic cleansing and genocide: Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to annex the palestine.

caving in to settlers. Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to resettle its own people.

Positioning in America: Israel wants to be the number one subject of america policy, not just policy. They want more tax dollars,and more lobby is out asking for money than they say. Reality is that Even journalists are making the case for more money to isreal. My take is that there is more problem in the world than israel. How about the congos, suddan, zimbabwe, somalia, and every place else in the world where poverty is killing people in silence?

The world has helped israel for centuries. Yet israel remain in the middle of every turn of help, despite the fact that it is the richest nation in that hemisphere.

Obama needs to tell israel that enough is enough. Obama needs to tell israel that it is high time America had other friends in the world and help the countries in the world that need American help enjoy a peaceful life, not a life of war.

America needs to start rewarding countries that exibit peaceful process to progress, to move faster, not those countries that are constantly vie for international and american attention with killings and genocide. WE NEED TO START REWARDING THE GOOD GUYS IN THE WORLD, NOT THE BAD GUYS.

I PROPOSE THAT THE US GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE A PRICE FOR ITS FOREIGN AID: 1ST PLACE GOES TO THE COUNTRY THAT HAS MADE MORE PROGRESS AND IN PEACE. AND SO ON, DOWN TO THE 5TH PLACE. NO COUNTRY WITH HUMAN RIGHT ISSUES WILL WIN, AND NO COUNTRY THAT HAD HAD A WAR IN THE PAST 5 YEARS WILL EVER WIN. EVEN IF THEY BECAME PEACEFUL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THE PEACE HELD FOR 5 YEARS.

We elected Obama for American problems, not for israeli problems.

The people's reaction is slow but steady, like a drop in the stream, or fast like a pouring deluge.
Push them hard enough, and there is no stopping the resulting flood and devastation, one election rigging at a time.

OBAMA HAS MORE ON HIS PLATE THAN ISRAEL.

CHANGE FOR POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS TOO — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:26:11 EST

America and the world hare keeping palestinians in the largest prison in the world.

srael: positioning in israel for elections, Every leader in israel is looking out for the next election and the person who appears to destroy their enemy more will have more votes.

ethnic cleansing and genocide: Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to annex the palestine.

caving in to settlers. Israel want to clean Palestine of its tribes and families to resettle its own people.

The world has helped israel for centuries. Yet israel remain in the middle of every turn of help, despite the fact that it is the richest nation in that hemisphere.

We elected Obama for American problems, not for israeli problems.

Questions on Change.gov

Trisha — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:21:30 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...

Post Election Thoughts, Inauguration, Military and Veterans Outreach

Carla Mays — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:05:03 EST

My concerns are that the military families and veterans that have worked so hard, may not be able to participate in the inauguration that they made possible! It upsets me that I have NOT heard back from Brian Bilbray, Senator Feinstein or any other representatives that I have contacted regarding tickets. We have made various request for volunteer opportunities, discounted and free tickets to balls and events, and we are still in a wait and see pattern. It is very costly and bureaucratic, and I fear that the group may not be able to attended this most historic event, that again they made possible. As we wait for information, housing and airfare become more difficult and out of reach. But, I am hopeful that we will find sponsors to sponsor our local military families and veterans to the inauguration. We currently are in need of air miles and lodging sponsors. We currently have a proposal into the Earl Stafford Foundation for inaugural travel assistance for our 32 member OC (Orange County) and San Diego Military and Veterans for Obama, a local group of Blue Star Military Families and Veterans for Obama. Which I serve as lead organizer for, and founded this summer.
We are extremely excited about attending the Obama Inaugural after traveling to 37 states and Puerto Rico, hosting over 180 events and raising over $25,000 collectedly for the campaign and for philanthropic organizations. The group finished the campaign in Florida, where we worked with Obama organizers deliver all 27 electoral college votes for Obama!
I am also very upset that local party organizers are not making inaugural parties affordable to students, seniors, the disabled or military families and veterans! It is very sad to see that even theSan Diego County Democratic Inaugural Party is out of reach for most at $85/$100 per ticket! This is NOT the Obama way! We are a movement of inclusion, not exclusion based on socioeconomic status. I personally have helped get plane tickets and organized travel for over 850 students, veterans, military family members, unemployed folks and those who could not afford to be a part of this movement, but wanted to volunteer. It is the roll of us as organizers to be mindful of the current economic conditions and plan events accordingly. We have to work on getting underwriters and sponsors for underrepresented groups.

As a 33 year old recent graduate school graduate, I understand all to well about the struggles of trying to find a job in this economy and trying to make ends meat. And this campaign trail, has given me much to be thankful for and to work toward. As a young black woman, I often was brought to tears thinking of my mother (who died of pancreatic cancer in 2005) would be saying or the shear enjoy of my grandparents to see this day come to come to pass, when not color but charisma, brilliance, political savvy and philanthropy motivated the Nation to elect the 44th President of the United States of America! And I feel that same way in being elected delegate in my congressional district where blacks make up only about 2% of the population! That is was I felt an obligation to fundraise and take San Diego's Finest with me!
My proudest moment in this campaign was being elected the National Delegate from the 50th Congressional District to the Democratic National Convention and taking a Military Families and Veterans Delegation of 26 with me! The best event of the whole week was working with the group to packing boxes for our troops at Camp Pendleton with Michelle Obama, her daughters, her mother and her brothers! I cried when we (Benjamin Bates, my fiance, managed the Delegation while I was on the floor of the Convention) were able to get all the families and their extended families into the Invesco Field for the ending ceremonies! This is what the Obama campaign and movement is all about philanthropy and service.
The group is focusing our attention on on the California Democratic Party's Assembly District Delegates races, where we are running our Blue Stars and Veterans in the their AD's to represent military families and veterans issues on the state level. We are working to establish military family members and veterans as a strong lobby with the CDP thru the Veterans Caucus and appointments to various committees with in the CDP. Our group has now found a home in the La Jolla Democratic Club. We are very excited to be joining forces with such an active and well established Democratic Club. The new president, Dr. Michael McQuarry has been a great advocate of our work and is helping us develop Democratic Military and Veterans outreach and assist us with our philanthropic work. Here in San Diego we are working with philanthropic organizations by volunteering, hosting events or raising money.
I am very interested in changing Democrats and Progressives feelings and views on the military and veterans. I believe we have much to do on the local level to constituency build among military families and veterans. San Diego County is a military county, and we must work with them, advocate for them and provide them a seat at the policy table. I see this is my new role in the movement. The military families and veterans are our pride and enjoy, and are what makes San Diego "America's Finest City." But thru out the nation it is NOT only our duty to work to end the war, but to support the military families and veterans that were innocently caught up in this conflict also!!! For to long Democrats have been sleeping at the wheel on outreaching to military families, troops and veterans. They overwhelming supported Obama this is our opportunity. It will not be easy because we have been MIA so long, and letting Republicans set the agenda. If you want a real rewarding challenge join us in helping and working with our troops, military families and veterans! Being Democrat, progressive or liberal does NOT mean anti-military, military families or veterans!!! Pro-Obama, Pro-Military!!!!!

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.

Obama-Biden Supporters Wanted To Recruit People To Be Financial Professionals-Help End The Economic Crisis

Creator of A New Financial System — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:40:49 EST

Us the materials below to communicate my plan for helping Obama-Biden administration to solve the economic crisis:

Entreprenual independent contractors, collaborators, needed to market, a New Financial System. That's right, a New Financial System (NFS). A NFS to compete against the problematic current system of Wall Street, Banking, Multinational Corporations, etc. My NFS is so promising that "pretender(s)" are already beginning to spring up in the very small test market in which it is involved. But this NFS is based upon well-guarded confidential processes and strategies, and multiple streams of revenue, which make it potentially the most valuable asset owned by a private entity. I need bold entreprenual types or teams to market the benefits of my NFS to one or more of the 165 Nations of the world as well as the largest and most important Non-Governmental Organizations, Multinational corporations, financial institutions, etc. Average sells will be in the $5-$10 million range, with larger clients/partners paying much more. Commission-only compensation. Accordingly, only those with the right connections, experience, mind-set, and financial resources needed to succeed, are encouraged to apply. If you wish to apply in confidence then indicate in your reply.

As a strategy to help protect the confidentiality of my New Financial System, you will be required to refer serious-minded persons who have close connections to potential client(s) to me, but ONLY after they have made a request for more details of my New Financial System directly to you. Knowledge of the processes and strategies of my New Financial System will not be revealed to you. Only referrals with a high potential of leading to a sale will be considered to be legitimate. I will maintain records of all legitimate referrals. I will pay fees based on legitimate referrals. I will pay commissions of $10,000-$1,000,000 for legitimate referral(s) leading to a successful sale. I will pay smaller commission amounts for legitimate referral(s) leading to preliminary sales. Preliminary sales are where potential clients pay for partially participating in one or more of the programs of my New Financial Systems.
If you are seeking a long-term professional relationship with me then do not submit illegitimate, scatter-shot referrals.

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.

When Dreams Meet Reality.

Www.VisionsOf.Us — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:20:05 EST

Sometime our dreams travel to the bed of winter.

Covered by snowflakes and unforgiving winter storms.

With only a minor spark unfrozen,

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting to explode.

Sometime we ignore this

While, blinded by our stupidity

Or crippled by our circumstances

But these are not time for boundaries,

Nether was yesterday orr tomorrow

But empowerment.

For life is not an entrapment

Designed for failure Or is it?

Sometime we may think this.

For even the mistakes of our forefather

Carve our repercussion and we should never be blinded of this.

Still, how much more shall we give?

How much time shall we try only to feel defeated and denied?

I wonder, is a thousand times infinity enough?

So, when nothing is left but pain and anguished

When nothing is left

But a sparks from an abundant dream and memories.

When nothing is left but death and defeat

Or so it seem... Shall, we not raise?

TK McLaren(c)

Inspired by my favorite poem of all time. A Dream Deferred, by Langston Hughes. Also, thanks, MR. President

American Press Intelligence Service - Black Friday... U.S. Currency Board was fired up and ready to go.

MoorAmerican — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:55:37 EST

Wall Street Bull Monster - they said that the free market should be allowed to correct itself... now you have the currency board added to the Keynesian economic model

Main Street Bear Maller - this particular currency board model is designed by Blacksunwheel Technology and Infocom Technology... venture calpital project for new American Capitalism

Wall Street Bull Monster - this is more than economic recovery. its innovation. revolution. the United States economy just experienced a paradigm shift...

Main Street Bear Maller - forget about controling GDP... this is about the Green Economy Business... Global Recovery Economic Enterprise Development. Where do you see GDP for the U.S. in 2009?

Wall Street Bull Monster - 2008 recessed to about 14 trillion... throw in the U.S. Currency Board factor, 2009 could be around 15 trillion. 2010 through 2012? that's an outlook no body is ready to make a call on right now.

Main Street Bear Maller - president-elect has the mandate for massive economic stimulus... nation building; green economy building; global American solutions ... the consumer demand indicators just been improved

Wall Street Bull Monster - the consumer demand leading indicators will be one of the best ways the new economic team keep a pulse on the money supply generation of lawful unit value of currency; United States Dollar Currency

the primary function is to restore and maintain a strong dollar... That's what the currency board is supposed to do. cash flows into the dollar based markets of the U.S. will dramatically increase... massive stimulus package. That's where most of the world is going... U.S. government safe harbor. notes, bonds, government sponsored enterprises never looked so good.

Main Street Bear Maller - What consumer does not want more purchasing power? As the dollar strengthens - consumption returns big time... first there will be a big deflation crisis, but it probably will be short lived... No more than one year.

job losses from slowing economy is not a major concern of the currency board... Main mission, break the liquidity trap. restore confidence in the financial system. restore consumer confidence. jump start consumption.

POPLUV THE PAYGO!

Wall Street Bull Monster - POPLUV THE PAYGO tickets are available. details are coming out today before 12 noon. my.barackobama.com is where the information first drops...

Main Street Bear Maller - POPLUV THE PAYGO will be a title song sometime in the first 100 days of the 44th president and 111th session of congress assembled... just a another Change we need!

Green Festival Idea

CJ for Obama — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:22:11 EST

My husband and I have developed a way to produce a type of trade show/festival with the idea of it being completely powered by and promoting green technology in practical applications. In effect these events will use wind turbines, solar arrays, and in specific cases tidal action, to power, propel and display the following:

•   Various types of “green” demonstrations (presented by youth groups)
•   On-Site Concert Venues (proceeds donated to arts education)
•   Local Arts & Crafts Fairs (In Tandem)
•   Green Powered Displays of Household Products
•   Commercial Demonstration Areas
•   Performance Art Venues
•   Art Show

This concept can be simultaneously launched in multiple locations around the country or the events can travel in two sections. Activities will promote an appreciation for our natural resources, and will promote local artists. Festival-goers will experience a world’s fair type atmosphere. These activities include:
•   Camping Areas for RV & Tents
•   Nature Hikes (perhaps pony rides & animal shows)
•   Kiddie Balloon Park
•   “Waterslide” Ride powered by tidal action made of recycled plastic
•   Balloon Rides
•   Farmers Markets
•   Green Themed Miniature Golf Course & other outdoor athletic events
•   Hay Rides (proceeds donated to animal charities)
•   “Ninja Warrior” type Area with paintball
•   “X-Games” type Area (Engines powered by renewable products)
•   A Cornfield Maze (proceeds will be donated to flood & fire relief charities)
•   Digital Arcades powered by solar arrays

While the plan is for this to begin as a traveling festival, our long-term goal is to create an amusement park based on this model.

We are at the beginning of planning and need your help. These are simple ideas based on things that we like and already know how to do. We, like you, are inspired by the election of Barack Obama and want to do our part to bring about change in America. We were originally planning to pitch this idea to investors, but in taking on the Obama method of change, we feel this idea would best be launched as a grassroots campaign.

We are sharing this idea with you and asking for your support. We have assembled the R & D team, plus the AV providers needed to produce a prototype event. If you or anyone you know would like to help us get this idea of the ground, just let us know.

An Idea for Stimulating the Economy

CJ for Obama — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:14:06 EST

My husband and I have strong ideas about the stimulus package and how it can affect change. Before the whole financial crises started, it was about the lack of savings, a bunch of strange financial instruments like “junk bonds” and foreigners buying up our debt…that’s just remembering the recent past. So we think giving the stimulus package in cash by itself doesn't get the car out of the driveway. How about something equivalent to the bonds of circa World War II? In effect, fix an interest rate of 10% or more with a government guarantee. Coupled with an incentive to all businesses large and small, for hiring and capital development, if the stimulus package that you give to the citizens is invested in a simple bank deposit, municipal bonds, state bonds, or Treasury bills, or some small business for the next 2 - 5 years. The banks still get the money, it trains people to save, we buy our debts and to having the Chinese buy our debt, it is not exposed to the corrosiveness of greed at the top, it buys the government time to re-insert proper regulation and oversight and at worst, if spent, it stimulates the economy in the short term. This establishes consumer confidence and a clear example of a new age of governance. Like the World War II bonds, it should be prompted by celebrities and introduced into basic educational systems and marketed on TV & cable networks as prudent and moral behavior.

Any thoughts? We're curious about your ideas?

Laid Off, But Still Happy

SkyeWriter — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:12:00 EST

Like so many other Americans, I will be out of work come December. Laid off. Shluffed aside. Kicked to the curb. All it what you will. However, that still cannot dim my spirits.

I'm healthy. My family is healthy. And Barack Obama is our president elect. Usually, I get through hard times by taking solace in the small joys of life, no matter how momentary.

This joy, knowing we worked so hard and put into office a president who is destined to be great, destined to be remembered for all time by Americans and foreign nationals, is a major joy that will last throughout my lifetime.

We are the champions! And no loss of job, loss of income, loss of home, loss of anything can take that way from me.

Cheers to the New Year, 09

Skye

Barack Obama and the New Spirit of Empathy - Video Project.

Edwin Videoman — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:51:09 EST

Barack Obama and the New Spirit of Empathy
Video Project

Barack Obama is leading a campaign based on values. At the core of this is the value of empathy. I'd like to put together a video of Barack's speeches on empathy and show how he has been promoting the value of empathy. Send me an email if you'd like to help out on this project. Edwin Rutsch (email)

Join the project to put together a video of Barack Obama talking about the importance of empathy. Obama talks about empathy, the importance of "standing in other peoples shoes" and filling the national empathy deficit in many, many of his speeches. (I've collected over 30 speeches and interviews so far.)

Empathy is one of the basic values he ran on. We are putting together a video of his talking about empathy to promote this value. This is a collaborative project and we would like you to take part.

Join online or attend meetings in the SF Bay Area.

For more info see:
http://progressivespirit.com/Projects/Obama-Empathy-Video

signup for the next meeting at
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxyl2

Video from Literacy & Empathy speech

President Obama's Arts, as published in The Huffington Post

Lucia - Team Coordinator for OBAMAWOOD — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:41:57 EST

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lucia-brawley/president-obamas-arts_b_136616.html

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ARTS

by Lucia Brawley

At 10 years old, Mordecai Santiago was already the toughest kid at the 52nd Street Project, the renowned Hell's Kitchen not-for-profit where I volunteered as an academic tutor and arts educator. Though diminutive in stature and "held back" in school, Mordecai wielded an authority beyond his years with children and adults alike. Officials at his over-crowded elementary school had diagnosed Mordecai with A.D.D. and wanted to put him on Ritalin. He shared a small, low-income-housing apartment with four other siblings and two parents. They had no computer.

But Mordecai was a natural on the piano. He loved to play Beethoven's Fur Elise by ear on the only piano in the after-school clubhouse. Since he'd never had a proper lesson, his fingering was incorrect, but he hit every note flawlessly. The only way I could get him to finish his homework, was by promising him "piano time" at the end of every tutoring session. He often would rather play his own haunting compositions than go home.

His unadulterated love of music inspired me to ask fellow Harvard alums to donate piano lessons to kids at the program. Offers flowed in by email in overwhelming numbers. However, the administrators of the program, already under-staffed, under-resourced and over-worked, regretfully explained that they could not accept.

In Mordecai, a tough, brilliant, little kid in baggy jeans and a puffy North Face jacket, I saw up-close the precarious fate of millions of American children who might evolve into great artists or great criminals, at the flip of a coin. Without proper funding for programs like the 52nd Street Project, the latter possibility becomes an inevitability for too many kids.

In order to stay true to the campaign's message of hope, progress and action, I would like to see an Obama administration accomplish a broad array of arts policy goals. Arts education must find its way back to American public schools, not only as a proven measure to bring up students' math and science scores, but to allow students a means of self-expression that will save their futures - as well as saving the system the cost of trying and incarcerating many of them. Even if they never go into the arts, a youth's acquired creative problem solving abilities will serve her in any field.

Imagine art and performance exchanges between students from different areas and strata of American society, in order to create dialogue that bridges psychological gaps between demographic groups and regions.

More than an educational tool, the arts offer unique diplomatic opportunities. In the Kennedy tradition, there should be exchanges between students and adult artists from our country and other countries around the globe, perhaps in partnership with the U.N.

Controversially, during the Cold War, the CIA infiltrated Eastern European theater groups, in order to inspire revolt within oppressive regimes and prevent democratic regimes from turning Communist, as illustrated in The Cultural Cold War:The CIA and the World off Arts and Letters, by Frances Stonor Saunders. Whether one agrees with such secretive programs or not, do they not reflect the diplomatic potential of the arts, as an alternative to overt military policing?

Acting in Hungary, a country famed for its great composers, I saw young students well versed in classical music. How wonderful it would be to see original U.S. musical forms as part of every American child's curriculum: jazz, folk music, rock'n'roll, and hip-hop. What could be more patriotic than embracing our nation's cultural contributions to the world? And why not include world music and dance as an integral part of the American-immigrant and global stories?

With an eye toward valuing the contributions of artists, as all other developed nations do, I would like to see artist-tailored unemployment and healthcare insurance for those who can prove a history of work in their chosen field. And, to offer alternatives to a justice system that now reinforces the dehumanization inherent in an excessively stratified society, I would like to see more programs like Rhodessa Jones' "Medea Project," that helps rehabilitate inmates in the Bay Area correctional system, by allowing them to enact their own stories, thereby exorcising the causes of their anger and accepting responsibility for their actions.

Visual art projects helped children overcome the trauma of having witnessed 9/11. Imagine the benefits of music and art therapy for every soldier returning from Iraq who suffers from PTSD.

The arts humanize society, not merely in a spiritual and emotional sense. We have tangible historical evidence of how the arts have directly contributed to the fortification of a troubled America. F.D.R.'s New Deal - especially relevant now, as we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression - included the Federal Writers Project, Federal Theater Project, Federal Art Project and Federal Music Project, each of which employed artists in ways that served and uplifted society and the economy as a whole. In their 1995 essay, "New Deal Cultural Programs: Experiments in Cultural Democracy," Don Adams and Arlene Goldbard state that, rather than homogenize distinct regions with a big government agenda, these projects set forward in vivid relief the unique beauties of each region, inspired progress within the labor movement, and led to commercially viable enterprises.

Today, Barack Obama often speaks of a deficit, not merely economic, but of empathy. He reminds us that, "I am my brother's keeper." Obama's campaign has inspired an unprecedented amount of creativity through songs, artwork, dance and dramatic arts, and captured the imaginations of people worldwide. If a President Obama chooses to utilize his historic grassroots organization beyond the campaign, in order to successfully put forth initiatives that stand up to corporate special interests, he must remember that the arts will be the primary mouthpiece for galvanizing the people's partnership.

Barack Obama

stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust huffington_post:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lucia-brawley/president-obamas-arts_b_136616.html mixx.com

Stay In Touch!

Jon F. Merz — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:41:08 EST

There is a new spirit of change in this country - a time to throw off the chains of cynicism and apathy that have strangled our great nation for the last eight years. With the election of Barack Obama as our President, we stand poised to usher in a new era of prosperity, peace, and progress. We've been in this fight together and last night our efforts were fully realized as Barack Obama became the nation's choice for the presidency.

I know there is already an organization developing so that we may continue onward to change this nation for the better, but I also wanted to reach out to all of you that I've enjoyed being alongside on this road to victory. On a personal level, I hope that I will one day meet many of you. To that end, I'd like to extend an invitation to get to know me better, to connect, and network (if I may be of service to you in that regard) and embrace the vision that we are all each other's keeper.

If you are interested, I invite you to connect with me at the following places online. I'm looking forward to expanding my own circle of friends and new allies in the push for a better tomorrow. I hope you'll consider saying hello and reaching out as well.

Where I'm at online:

http://www.twitter.com/jonfmerz

http://jonfmerz.wordpress.com

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=709881835

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfmerz

http://jonfmerz.myplaxo.com

http://www.thefixer.tv

I hope to hear from lots of new friends! I'm still on cloud nine that victory was achieved and am filled with boundless enthusiasm, hope, and commitment toward a brighter, better future.

Be well!

-Jon

***

Jon F. Merz

WE DID IT!

! Arry Murphey-Frank-Foothills Area Manager CA CD4 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:35:42 EST

Congratulations to all of us grassroots workers! We did it, we changed the nation and we now have the most wonderful president! President Obama! Thank you to all that helped out and thank you to all of the wonderfull Obama volunteers here in the foothills. You are fantastic! Thank you BARACK OBAMA for teaching us all to be community organizers and to care about our country again.

PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL,

Arry

"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!

A Brit in Grant Park: Victory, high emotions and a brand new President... wowwowwow!! (Day 7)...Live from Chicago!

Ms CYPRAH — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:59:03 EST

I am crying as I write this, full of emotion for an awful lot of reasons. I can barely see the keyboard but I have to get this out, both to Newsvine and to Britain. I will feel better when I have said it, if I can find the words to say it. But this is no time to rush things, so let's begin at the beginning.

I started November 4, 2008, being interviewed by phone by Alice Gomstyn of ABCNews.com in New York. She had read one of my articles about the potential impact of an Obama president on 'people of colour' and wanted to question me further. But the day was about to get even better. I was told that I had a letter at the front desk, would I collect it? Yes I did, and received a cheque for one of my books I had actually given to someone after we had been speaking about her problems with her daughter. But she felt the meeting was so helpful, she wanted to pay for the book to help my work. Being surprised at this gesture seemed to be a pathetic understatement.

A changed America!

MoniqueT — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:10:37 EST

I laid in bed this morning with tears flowing from my eyes. " Could it be possible" The dreams of my ancestors, great grandparents, grandparents and parents. He is now the first African American President of teh United States of America!!

There is really no way to state the impact of this happening some 150 years after the outlaw of slavery. What dawned on me, was last night I celebrated with people who didnt even look like me. They were just as excited as I was, had worked just as hard as I did, felt proud as I did to be an American and be a supporter of Barack Obama. They too knew who how historic and important this election and campaign would be! Obama's campaign has issued in an great errror to our history, one that I will never forget in my Life time.

I am proud to be an American and proud to have worked through this with each of you!!

Yes We Can :: From Barack Obama, President-Elect

Sarah Gallagher — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:20:11 EST

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing...

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

Our family praying for Obama to win

Janice Freeman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:44:39 EST

Originally I was a supporter of Hillary Clinton, my son who's now 12 was for Obama alll the way. I felt at the time that Hillary's health care stance was best for us. Once Obama was declared the nominee, he had my full and active support. My husband who's 41 and a disabled veteran, had never even registered much less voted, but made sure to register and we voted early together. It was wonderful to share that experience and see so many people there that usually didn't take an interest because they felt like it just really didn't matter....this time they felt like it did matter and there was a clear choice. Economically, the Obama policies would definiteley benefit us, my husband belongs to a Union and I am not able to regularly work because of our son's health...even though I'm looking to telecommute....it's tough at the moment. Our family continues to pray and discuss the election. I continue to be amazed at the things our son thinks, says and feels, it impresses me so much to hear him denounce the hatred and racism that seem to be rampant on the other side, he just can't understand it. We are so optimistic about the direction this country can head when Obama becomes President. Our son has severe health problems that heve made him homebound frequently, but because of this he also has a lot more at stake in some ways, his future will be a lot better under an Obama Presidency, and because of this and many other reasons, my husband and I proudly voted early, and I've been working to GOTV from East Texas. God Bless the Obama and Biden families.

Sincerely,

Janice Freeman

Today's The Day!

eJe — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:11:02 EST

My husband and I got up at 6:30 in the morning today to get to our polling place when it opened at 7. We got there 10 minutes early and there was already a line formed 45 minutes strong and growing! I can't even express my joy and excitement over the voter turnout! I have never seen anything like it in all of the elections I have voted in! (Admittedly that has only been 3 previous presidential elections as I am only 31, but still!)

And the young people! Tweens and teens (serruptiously covering their Obama t-shirts in deferrence to the electioneering laws) waiting in line with their parents to watch them vote! Teenagers and 20-somethings serving as poll workers! It may sound sappy, but it totally brought a tear to my eye.

No matter what happens today, I am and will continue to be proud to be an Obama supporter as his campaign has been run with the integrity and intelligence I expect (but so rarely see) from the politicians of our Great Nation and even more importantly, he has given democracy back to the people by opening their minds and eyes to their own importance in the political process.

Our Time is Now: Vote Today

Sarah Gallagher — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST

Make sure you know your polling place and get out to vote today. Take a friend and cast your votes.

Change is within our reach. We're counting on you to get us there today.
www.voteforchange.com

A Letter To My Republican Mother

Smart4Obama (Chris) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:50:45 EST

Good Morning,

I hope this letter finds you well. Everything is wonderful here, I cast my ballot 20 minutes ago and was excited by both the turnout and overall attitude of the voters. I wouldn't expect to find many McCain supporters in my neighborhood.

I've decided to write you for reasons other than to tell you how I am, as that is usually unwavering and remains so today. Instead, I'm asking for an open ear and mind to speak to, although it may already be too late.

Regardless; whenever you step into the voting booth today (I remember you used to do it in the evening) I want you to really stop and think about your reasons for voting one way or the other. I know you don't vote strictly by party line, and though I respect the importance of the "undercard" it is really only the Presidential Election I'm speaking about.

I understand your frustration with politics. You have been through many elections, seen many successes, many more failures, lofty dreams, broken promises, and rampant corruption. You've seen candidates promise not to raise taxes and do so, and do damage by lowering taxes and increasing spending. You've been through lame ducks, war hawks, resignations and assassinations; seen your peers in the middle class go from having 2 cars to having foreclosed homes, and seen gas go from under $1 to over $5. You have reasons to be pessimistic, and thankfully the right to do so.

This race has been no different. You have heard the promises, exposed the lies, been through the same irrelevent negative campaigning, and listened to the scare tactics. But not all is negative.

You have seen a campaign that has energized regular people, broken down traditional voting demographics, turned away from corporate control and raised millions from those who could barely afford to give pennies.

I believe, though our party affiliation doesn't agree, that our family is relatively congruent in our moral stances: we hope for Universal Health Care, are pro-choice, for gun regulation, against the war in Iraq, and believe in investment in research and development of alternative energy sources to help cure our addiction to foreign oil.

We know it is tough for anything to happen in this political world, but things need to happen if we expect to get back to a position of leadership. There was a time when the world looked towards us for direction. When it was our policies, and our leaders that helped push the world into new technological areas or against human rights violations. This world hasn't expected much from us recently as we, the voting citizens of this country, let what our country was known for slip away and become distracted in a mess of ineffectiveness. Our children aren't educated, our infrastructure is outdated, our middle class is poor, and our economy is a playground for the wealthy. We have millions of troops stationed around the globe, but a lack of interest in true areas of necessity and a President that refuses to acknowledge our most outspoken foreign critics (Chavez, Kim Jong Il, Ahmedanijad).

It is due to these dire circumstances that people like you become so important. Someone who has seen a lot, and because of it, has grown weary about the future. Someone who doesn't feel right about shaking things up because the shake ups may never pan out. But it is only with a major consensus that changes can really happen in this country, and we can begin to build our way back up. It has thus far been a terrible new century for this country. Nations that we have helped create our surpassing us in innovation and governance, while we've turned our political landscape into a reality tv program.

With all that being said, there is a chance to begin on a new path. We can't guarantee that the path is the right one, or that we will get along it far enough to make a difference but it's worth a shot. Now I know you may have already voted, and in the end given your location in an overwhelmingly Democratic state your vote won't seem to make much of a difference, but it is going to be more than just pulling a lever. When all is said and done we have already built a coalition that looks past differences and pessimism. We've started moving the gears towards making things happen in this country that so desperately need to happen, and we will continue to do so. But we need people like you; people with good moral standing, a penchant for intelligence, a desire for something different. People who gave up on politics years ago, but can remember the times when they believed they made a difference.

It may be our time now, but as the adage goes: the more, the merrier.

Here's to the hope for change!

P.S. If things do not go my way, put together some bail money, because I'll most likely be in prison by tomorrow.

Love,
Son

Obama Supporters Rally for Change in California

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:01:52 EST

Obama supporters held rallies in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento today. Hundreds of Obama supporters and local elected officials came together to show their support for Obama and rally to get everyone fired up to vote.

After the rallies, the supporters hit area phone banks to make phone calls to swing state voters, encouraging them to get to their polling places and cast their ballots for Obama.

Find a polling place near you at Last Call for Change.

California Phone Bankers Don't Quit

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:47:43 EST

Californians made a record number of phone calls to Obama supporters across the country, encouraging them to get to the polls and cast their votes.
Joined by celebrities like Orlando Bloom and Eliza Dushku, volunteers overflowed offices across California, sitting on file cabinets, in garages, in alleyways, on yards so that they could call for change all day.Check out the slideshow for more, then join us at a phone bank near you to make history!

"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.

New Friends

SkyeWriter — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:47:57 EDT

Although I'll be glad when Senator Obama wins the election and the campaigning is all over, I'll miss meeting so many new, interesting, and intelligent colleagues on the trail.

While making campaign calls to Florida, I met a guy who had already stood in line four to five hours while waiting to vote. He had anticipated a wait, and thus had brought a book. But, I don't think he even made it to one page because he himself had such a great experience hanging out with other Obama voters.

Today, I walked precincts in Pasadena, California with a couple who were participating in their first campaign event. Once our volunteer service was over, we bought Obama T-shirts together and went our separate ways. But, I guess fate aligned our fortunes, because we then, ironically, ended up going to the same restaurant for lunch.

It is said that Obama has the personality and heart to bring disparate people and nations together. Seems as if his campaign has already had that effect.

"Make It Happen"

Tim A. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:21:31 EDT

I can't recall whether I've used this one already. If I did, I'm certain that I didn't post the live version.

Peace to all the early voters. Props to everyone working the phones and knocking on doors. Stay the course, y'all. We're almost there.

"Make It Happen" by Mariah Carey (Live).

Ryan Phillippe Works for Change

Sarah Gallagher — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 01:46:52 EDT

On Friday, Oct 31, Ryan Phillippe joined volunteers at the Obama for America California HQ to make phone calls asking voters in critical battleground states to get to the polls and cast their votes.

To learn more about what Ryan's volunteer effort and how you can get involved too, watch below and then go to Last Call For Change to find a phone bank near your house.

Here is my Story...Whats yours?

Trisha — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:53:29 EDT

I have been so inspired by this campaign. I am a 30yo lifelong democrat, and I mean lifelong. When I was about 6 years old, in 1984, I made the mistake of telling my Grandpa that President Regan was the best. He, being a lifelong Democrat, proceeded to sit me down and explain to me how many ways that was wrong, and a huge part of that was trickle down economics. So when I hear people talk about spreading the wealth as socialist, I just think back to that day, and the great advice that my Granddad gave me. Listen to the facts rather than fiction, make sure to listen to all sides no matter how painfully wrong you think they are, then you make your own decision. I took that talk with me, and politics became a passion of mine. When I was 8 and I was watching Bush Sr get elected, I was explaining the electoral college to my parents, as if they needed it explained, but I was so proud...I was proud to understand, and even though I was young, I felt the sense of pride in an election. I took my Granddad's advice again when I was in my early teens. and decided to read a Rush Limbaugh book...my Granddad, the lifelong Democrat, bought that book for me(gritting his teeth the whole time, because he practiced what he preached, He had told me to be informed...that is why when I see "Joe the Plumber" out there talking about things he knows nothing about, has never even read up on, or even did a Google search on, saddens me...his uninformed answers only serve to hurt this nation...But I took that pride with me when I went to vote for the first time, for Bill Clinton in 1996...I had just turned 18 that summer, I remember I went to register on my birthday. Again it was a great feeling of Pride...but past that point, I think Americans had lost that Pride...that is until now...I volunteered for Kerry in 2004, but it was more out of some obligation to my party...I am volunteering this year out of that sense of pride I have again...A sense that a politician is speaking from the heart...not just from a teleprompter...I want to tell my kids and grandkids how this was the election that brought a sense of pride back to American Politics...Thank you....All of you...all of you in the campaign that chose to run a clean campaign...not to revert to attacks...even if just in response...thank you for giving everything you have given to back a candidate that you believe in, a candidate that the country can believe in. In this campaign I see the party my Granddad would sit up and talk to me about, no matter how long it took to answer my questions...in this campaign I see my Parents who have worked their whole lives for other people, and are patiently waiting for it to be their turn...In this campaign I see my kids and the future I want for them...a future of peace...A future free of "who is threatening us this time?"...In this campaign I see most of all hope...

Last Four days...

Deborah — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:05:48 EDT

As I note and hope to document the experience and change I've experienced since getting on this campaign, I find my personal story unravelling before my very eyes.

Today, I have answers as I continue to move forward against forces creating obstacles that seem mountainous, but with the right attitude and force, become successful targets for success. For those of us who see the change and are in the midst of it, actually at the vortex, may our connections only grow stronger.

Those who see and feel the need for change to pray, vote early, reach a friend, and continue to do what must be done. As a former field officer told me, this election will be like no other. She advised that this election would be Fannie Lou Hamer all over again. I see that although the elements are different.

As the media rolls into the last four days, they are doing their jobs like they should have been doing perhaps eight years ago. As last four days tick away, may we all bond and make the change which will not only be historical. yet phenomenal. A spiritual, psychological, astronomical, quintessinal change is taking efrect and we must concentrate it over the next four days like never before.

Boobs For Obama - clean and tasteful

EyeHeartObama — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:19:11 EDT

a quick comedy video directed by Robert Lee King and starring Krista Allen, Jon Lovitz, and Nancy M. Pimental

please watch, enjoy, pass on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzJN-yf8lKk

Adrian Grenier Gets to Work at Barack TV

Sarah Gallagher — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:09:07 EDT

Adrian Grenier, from HBO's hit show Entourage, joined volunteers at California Obama HQ to work for change, making phone calls to battleground states.

Adrian made calls to swing state voters, encouraging them to get to the polls to cast their votes for Barack Obama.

The volunteers took a break to watch Barack's 30 minute address to America on TV, then were fired by a quick speech from Mary Jane Stevenson, our Field Director. Everyone then got back on the phones, the office was quickly buzzing again with the voices of volunteers working to Get Out the Vote! Join volunteers at a phone bank near you to help Barack Get Out the Vote in the final days of this election!: ca.barackobama.com/LastCallCA

"In the Air Tonight"

Tim A. — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:17:02 EDT

I wanted to post this one yesterday, but never got to it. It remains, I think, a good song for the moment.

After all, there are still a good number of people who've been waiting all their lives to do what they are about to do next Tues. Or, perhaps, have done already with mail-in or early voting.

It's really happenin, son. Can you feel it?

"In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins

P.S. If Barack wins, can we get a new law that requires everyone to spell "tonight" with a "ght" everytime it is used anywhere? It's one extra letter y'all. Stop being so lazy.

WHERE ARE THE LAWYERS OVERSEEING ALL THE VOTE FLIPPING MACHINES? WE NEED THEM NOW!

Moonwhile — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:59:55 EDT

There are reports of machine vote flipping all over the country. Where is the promised army of Obama and DNC lawyers?

More below:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7608000

I am doggedly determined to influence every single vote towards Senator Barack Obama!

Prosy — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:42:58 EDT

I am determined to influence every single vote I can towards Senator Barack Obama.

Since I had a debate with a Republican on a local TV station in Los Angeles, I recognized that their vote for McCain is based on something false, illusory and mythological. So, I decided wherever I am, I am winning every Republican vote towards Obama.

Each Republican voter has different, special needs. For my close relative who believes in pro-life and also the role of science in education, I decided to have a dialogue with my relative on science. I figured since she is a science and math teacher, she recognizes the role of science.

So our conversation went like this: Do you really want to vote for Gov. Palin who believes in creationism and not the evolutionary science that you teach your students? She was horrified, she did not know that voting for McCain means also voting against her own beliefs, she was narrowly calibrating her vote just on the idea of protecting the fetus.

So, I got even bolder and shared with her " You know I am for the unborn fetus as well. But, I also believe in protecting the rights of the born child, for example, their right to good schools, their right to universal health care, and their right to be globally competitive in the world, and knowing science as well as their counterparts in Japan, India and other countries."

There was a long pause for silence. She then said, " I am not certain on voting McCain and Palin anymore. I have to really examine now why I must vote Obama."

When the conversation ends that way, I leave it alone, I figured that I have sown enough doubts without demonizing the GOP candidates and now, the voter has to examine their conscience and their vote. And of course, I end up saying " You can always vote McCain, but your vote will continue our pain, and will continue the evaporation of our 401Ks ". That usually does the trick for me, I offer to them to continue voting for pain in the names of McCain and Palin or to take an informed, wise, smart choice and vote Obama.

For another Republican, our discussion boiled down to war in Iraq and birth control methods for women with AIDS in Africa. I like this discussion so much, because as they defend their votes for the unborn fetus, I now challenge them if they are so protective of the fetus while in the womb, why are they not protective of women, children and men who are alive and are now fighting the war in Iraq? Would it not make sense to protect their lives and bring home the troops?

That usually stirs them up and now would like to recognize that their belief on the so-called " pro-life culture " is empty when they realize that Pres. Bush disapproved birth control devices to be availed by women with AIDS in Africa, and has resulted in women losing their lives during difficult births, numbering 60,000 and another unintended consequence of over 600,000 abortions. Imagine their horrified look that their GOP party's beliefs and strict constructionist of Bush doctrine on pro-life to protect the unborn has created the opposite effect of killing more fetuses. That really gets them into convulsive shocks about their beliefs.

The last conversation I had was with a Republican looking forward to retire in two years. He made a statement, while playing mahjong, "that Obama is about spreading the wealth, and what did his playmates think about that?"

I intervened and responded that McCain and Bush have been spreading the wealth, except they have done it consistently to industries like oil, agribusiness, and now the mortgage institutions and banking and those making over $1,000,000 a year. And has that GOP policy of spreading the wealth to the top 5% of the population bring more prosperity to the middle and working class families, and usually, I would follow it up and say " What is the value now of your 401K? Do you want to stay inside your caged fears, and vote for your fears? Or would you like to be smart about your choice, take a leap of faith and vote for change and spreading the wealth to ordinary families like you and me"?

And I usually ask, " Do you make $250,000 a year ?" He shook his head and said no. Then, " why would you vote to protect the millionaire's interests and not majority American families' interests ? " He then shook his head and said " I am examining my vote now and for sure, it will not be McCain. I just want to be comfortable about voting Obama. "

This is when I would say, I too was uncomfortable at the beginning, in January of this year. But, as the year went on, I observed him to be more respectful of his opponent. Did you hear him during the Wall Street crisis? Did he retreat from the challenge or was he a voice of reason?

This is usually the clinching statement as they agree that McCain did not do much for the economic crisis and really was grandstanding to see if Obama would also retreat. It is invariably Obama's presidential temperament that I end up with and the womanizing past and mistakes of McCain in downing five planes that I discuss in contrast. And by now, they are just growing weary that they cannot stay comfortable in voting for McCain.

I figure that as long as I am able to influence them to feel uncomfortable about voting McCain and the consequences of their vote not just for them, but for our families and America, then, I have done my job of reaching out to fellow kababayans who have not examined why they are loyal Republicans, when deep down really, their beliefs are more towards Democrats and certainly when I get to convince them about their deep rooted values, they eventually say, " I will look into voting Obama. ". That is enough for me! I figure by explaining the long-term consequences of their votes, they will look into voting Obama eventually.

Well, I have unwavering optmism! But not really, as the the young Filipino - Americans do get it. They are pro-Obama and are non-stop convincing their relatives and families to vote Obama. It is they who inspire me to follow their progressive examples!

Making a difference by bus, plane or phone: Palo Alto Rally Wrap Up from Giselle Schmitz

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:41:07 EDT

Sunday's Obama rally at Palo Alto City Hall energized the troops.

Red, white and blue balloons brightened the plaza and a vast array of Obama T-Shirts and buttons adorned rally goers.

State Senator Leland Yee delivered a stirring speech on the importance of electing Barack Obama for both the country and the world. State Senator Elaine Alquist also spoke. Obama for America Regional Field Director Giselle Schmitz urged everyone to either travel to a battleground state, or to reach out to voters non-stop until election day on the phone banks.

More than 200 callers showed up, with the top award for "Top Agent of Change" going to Stanford student Marisa Juárez with 162 calls. Congratulations Marissa! Phone bankers were divided up into teams, named "hope," "inspiration" and "change." Callers sat scattered throughout the plaza working their phone lists, enjoying the balmy late October weather. The excitement was palpable, in the air a sense of hope and expectation, and recognition of the work still to be done.

LA County Early Voting

just a guy feeling some hope — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:52:52 EDT

I voted for Barack today. It was easy. It was quick. It was fun to see everyone, the excitement in their faces and the nodding glances as people recognized the barack obama face inside my turned-inside-out t-shirt.

If you live in LA county, you can vote early too, at this address: 12400 imperial hwy norwalk.

Here's a google map:

http://tinyurl.com/EarlyVotingForLACounty

Do it, so you can help others drive to the polls on Nov. 4th. I am.

Los Angeles Early Vote and Phonebank Wrap Up

Sarah Gallagher — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:47:34 EDT

Over 500 people gathered at the LA County Registrar's office to cast their votes early for Barack Obama. They joined California Field Director Mary Jane Stevenson and Obama for America staffers, who were fired up to vote for Obama and then get back outside to make phone calls for change!

You can still vote early in California, go to VoteForChange.com to find the early vote location for your county.

Once you vote early, join us to get out the vote by making calls into swing states from now through election day, or sign up now to drive for change to a swing state and make a big difference in this election!

GOP Gift-Bag Swag

Shanni O'Brien — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:05:19 EDT

GOP Gift-Bag Swag

Question 1: Did Barracuda Girl not get her GOP Moniker Mug?

Question 2: Will Barracuda Girl's VOTE scarf be available @ GOP.com?

http://www.gop.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/style/

obamanowsign.com

eJe — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:17:32 EDT

I got an e-mail from some friends of mine in Massachusetts this morning that I wanted to share in my Community Blog becuase it is a great example of what "real people" and "real Americans" (to use a phrase coined by the McCain supporters) are doing to show their support of Barack Obama and change the path of our great Nation. A full transcript of the e-mails follows:

This past week we put up a 40 Foot sign in Fairhaven.
We had a party! We had a lot of energy for this amazing campaign.

Homeowners Nate, Penny and Mia came up with this wonderful idea to show their
SUPPORT for Obama right Now! in their front yard on BUSY Route 6.

Check out this website http://www.obamanowsign.com/

Many pictures, Videos, interviews will follow.

Please take the time to see what we are doing in a small town in
Massachusetts for Obama and think about what you can do too!

It is all very positive energy! Everyone can make a difference!
If you live close by- drive by and see for yourself!

Think CHANGE and VOTE!

Eric Garcetti, LA Council President, on Driving for Change

Sarah Gallagher — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:34:36 EDT

Last weekend, I traveled with 150 friends to the battleground state of Nevada, joining thousands of Californians in campaigning for Senator Barack Obama.

Over the weekend, our group knocked on over 5,000 doors. We spread out across Las Vegas, meeting people in their homes and talking to them about their hopes and concerns. What we heard is that Nevadans, like many of their fellow Americans, are worried. They are yearning for change and strong leadership to put our country back on track. Most were responsive to Senator Obama's economic plan of tax cuts for the middle class and smarter regulation of our financial sector.

I know that an Obama administration would bring renewed focus toward reviving our urban centers, and I will be working to bring that message to other voters between now and Election Day.

Join us on another Drive for Change for the final Get Out the Vote Weekend.

Barracuda Girl’s Economic Stimulus Package

Shanni O'Brien — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:51:21 EDT

Barracuda Girl’s Economic Stimulus Package
Current mood: Saks, Neiman’s or Barney’s

Question: Has Barracuda Girl stimulated the economy?

Answer: Barracuda Girl definitely has provided a great economic stimulus package with her shopping sprees and subsequent appearances in American, European and Asian couture. YES, that real, hot pro-American look is one of women's favorite things about SP and I am sure men's as well. We've seen the polls of how men from the Republican base have favored her hotness. Rush Limbaugh did say "We've got the hot babe..." And non-Republican men also are noticing, right? Alec Baldwin graciously noted on SNL to her that she is even hotter in person.

SO, we are thankful to Barracuda Girl for stimulating the economy and those conservative men and not so conservative men alike. And for getting women to shop and get the hot looks as they are inspired by her in $200 Tahari to $2500 Valentino. Go go go...! Look for that biker chick red leather zip front jacket on Tina. BTW -- my last blog had her in Valentino w/Joe the VP when it was Tahari and Kate Spade -- Valentino was RNC garb and early guesses on the debate duds designers were fact checked. But whatevah! We get the point. Next Q . . .

Question: Has Barracuda Girl read her job description and/or US Constitution?

Answer: ???

From left, Damon Winter/The New York Times; Rick Wilking/Reuters; Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press

Gov. Sarah Palin is now wearing Valentino, left; Tahari, center; and Cole Haan boots, right. "In general, she looks terrific," said Cindi Leive, of Glamour magazine. More Photos >

By ERIC WILSONPublished: October 22, 2008

When Sarah Palin arrived at the governor's mansion in Juneau, Alaska, for the first time in December 2006, she wore a pink turtleneck, a preppy track jacket and what appeared to be a knockoff Burberry scarf. She had often campaigned in fleece. Introduced as Senator John McCain's running mate in Dayton, Ohio, in August, she wore red pumps that cost $89 from Naughty Monkey, a brand whose target audience is teenagers.

Skip to next paragraph MultimediaSlide Show Outfitting a Candidate $150,000 Wardrobe for Palin May Alter Tailor-Made Image (October 23, 2008)

As a vice-presidential candidate, Ms. Palin's look — which has apparently undergone a costly makeover — has not changed dramatically from a "Working Girl" formula of authoritative jackets paired with feminine skirts that seem calculated to suggest that she is ready to go to work on Day 1.

The Republicans spent about $150,000 on a clothing makeover for Ms. Palin and her family, according to financial disclosure forms. But looking at the before-and-after photos, it was not readily apparent what Ms. Palin got, exactly, from her shopping spree at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

What the number $150,000 suggests is that Ms. Palin traded up to designer versions of the clothes she wore before stepping onto the national stage, a surprising implication for a candidate who emphasizes her appeal to working-class voters.

"My first reaction when I heard about this was, 'Honey, I could have dressed you for a lot less than that,' " said Cindi Leive, the editor in chief of Glamour magazine, which asked readers on Wednesday to vote in an online poll whether the expenses were too high; 72 percent said they were. "In general, she looks terrific," Ms. Leive said, "but if you asked me to figure out where the $150,000 went, I'm not sure I could tell you."

It is not yet clear whether Ms. Palin chose her new wardrobe or worked with stylists and other advisers, or what message her clothes were intended to broadcast. In fact, most of her bracelet sleeve jackets are so generic-looking that they could have come from any of the favored designers of Washington politicians: Oscar de la Renta, Escada and St. John.

The square ivory jacket she wore during her acceptance speech at the Republican Convention was a $2,500 silk shantung Valentino, reportedly bought at Saks. But the black wrap jacket she wore for the vice-presidential debate in St. Louis was a Tahari suit, according to a spokesman for the line, and costs less than $200; her shoes, according to the sleuths at ShoeaholicsAnonymous.com, were red imitation croc pumps from Kate Spade.

To her credit, Ms. Palin has been wearing those suits, and those awkward-yet-efficient, zip-close jackets (nothing says maverick like red leather) repeatedly over the last month, implying a sense of frugality that would belie the credit card statements of the Republican National Committee. To be scrupulously nonpartisan, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., her Democratic counterpart, seems to have a deep wardrobe of ties.

Some fashion executives went so far as to defend Ms. Palin for helping to support the economy.

"There's no upside to looking frumpy or dowdy," said Simon Doonan, the creative director of Barneys New York, where the campaign reported spending only $789.72, or enough for almost one outfit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/us/politics/23style.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Currently listening :
Barracuda
By Heart
Release date: 2005-09-26

My Blog: http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=198319727

"One Mic"

Tim A. — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:36:18 EDT

Tupac Shakur used to have a saying something to the effect of "one person teach one person, teach two people, teach three people, teach four." It wasn't his own, I'd guess. And, of course, he used a word other than "person."

I don't know about y'all, but I find that so many of the dialogues taking place because of the election that is now less than 2 weeks away aren't the challenging and potentially uplifting exchanges that we all deserve. Instead, there's a lot of yelling back and forth meant to either 1) affirm pre-existing beliefs or 2) rhetorically wail on the other guy for being so ignorant as to fill his head with such foolish nonsense.

It's kinda like MMA of the mouth. And there's very little "teaching" going on.

Consequently, I've found myself drifting toward people whose belief systems I am only mildly familiar with. Or, in some cases, totally unfamiliar with. I find myself asking them about their views on the world and trying to understand how they've arrived at those conclusions. I have walked away from some of those exchanges feeling like I really learned something. I have walked away from others sensing that I've shared some wisdom. And I have walked away from a couple of them shaking my head in consternation.

All of this leads me to the song for today(ish). Which harkens back to that singularity Tupac used to holler about. If you can make just one impression on behalf of Barack, make it a good one. Like it's the only one you'll ever make. The only one you'll ever need to make.

"One Mic" by Nas.

OBAMArt

eJe — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:50:28 EDT

I am posting this blog-message because I wanted to get the word out as fast as possible about my latest campaigning project for Barack Obama. I call it OBAMArt and it is a collection of products for sale through Zazzle designed by artists dedicated to getting Barack and Joe elected this November. 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to the Barack Obama campaign.

I've already started the ball rolling with some designs of my own and new designs are trickling in everyday, so feel
free to check out the wares at the following link:

http://www.zazzle.com/erin_the_marvelous

If you are artistically inclined and are interested inhelping Barack win the election with your talents, please e-mail me your image(s) in hi-res JPEG form along with the intended product type (i.e. t-shirt, button, magnet, stickers, etc.) and I will happily upload them to the gallery and thank you profusely for your time and efforts! (Note that slogans, catch phrases, and design concepts are also welcome, I will do my best to translate your ideas into fundraising products!)

And feel free to spread the word of this project to your Obama-friendly
friends and family! The more the merrier!

What to Wear w/Joe the...?

Shanni O'Brien — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:44:57 EDT

Monday, October 20, 2008 from my blog: http://blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm?friendID=198319727

What to Wear w/Joe the...?
Current mood: Patriotic

Buy American. I Am. by Warren Buffet

At 6AM I woke up thinking about this article and the investor's dream and what I was going to eat and wear and whose economy those purchases benefit...and I've really been thinking about it since I first saw it on the front page of the NYT...it is great, don'tcha think?

Not buying a slice of Goldman Sachs this week? C'mon -- how about a few shares? Well you will be shopping for beer Joe Six Pack -- and disguises to fool those media stake outs Joe the Plumber -- and like a lot of us are thinking, purchase American as in shop American.

So, instead of sending your fellow maverick out to debate Joe the VP in Valentino and Japanese designer glasses, think pro-American and support your indigenous couturiers . . .

Op-Ed Contributor

Buy American. I Am.

Omaha

Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Brad Holland

RelatedTimes Topics: Warren E. Buffett

THE financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher. In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter and headlines will continue to be scary.

So ... I've been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I'm talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds. (This description leaves aside my Berkshire Hathaway holdings, which are all committed to philanthropy.) If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.

Why?

A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation's many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now.

Let me be clear on one point: I can't predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven't the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.

A little history here: During the Depression, the Dow hit its low, 41, on July 8, 1932. Economic conditions, though, kept deteriorating until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933. By that time, the market had already advanced 30 percent. Or think back to the early days of World War II, when things were going badly for the United States in Europe and the Pacific. The market hit bottom in April 1942, well before Allied fortunes turned. Again, in the early 1980s, the time to buy stocks was when inflation raged and the economy was in the tank. In short, bad news is an investor's best friend. It lets you buy a slice of America's future at a marked-down price.

Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497.

You might think it would have been impossible for an investor to lose money during a century marked by such an extraordinary gain. But some investors did. The hapless ones bought stocks only when they felt comfort in doing so and then proceeded to sell when the headlines made them queasy.

Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn't. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.

Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree. Those investors who cling now to cash are betting they can efficiently time their move away from it later. In waiting for the comfort of good news, they are ignoring Wayne Gretzky's advice: "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been."

I don't like to opine on the stock market, and again I emphasize that I have no idea what the market will do in the short term. Nevertheless, I'll follow the lead of a restaurant that opened in an empty bank building and then advertised: "Put your mouth where your money was." Today my money and my mouth both say equities.

Warren E. Buffett is the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, a diversified holding company.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/opinion/17buffett.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

Currently listening :
The Star Spangled Banner
By Whitney Houston
Release date: By 2001-10-02

Letter from a mother in NYC to Obama

VoicesOfObama.com — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:29:23 EDT

This letter posted to our Obama board this weekend. I had to share it - it touched us all deeply....

Oct. 15th - New York City

To Barack Obama: I can not express all of the feelings and emotions I feel about this election... but there is so much more. I admire you as a human being more than I have ever admired anyone. You embody everything I could ever hope to be - yet you are REAL... just like me and my husband, just like my mother and father - though you are like us - at our best --- if ever we get there in this life time. God Himself - sent you here for an extrordinary purpose and I know you are to change not only this country but this world. I am moved to tears when you speak ... In these last 8 years I have changed so completely as a person. I have lost all of my vigor, all of my positivity - I was there on 9.11 - 10 days away from giving birth - I watched those 3,000 Americans get murdered - I watch so many of them decided to jump out of the windows of the WTC buildings that were very personal to me as I grew up in Tribeca. I watched those towers crumbled as I held the baby in my belly. And I have watched Mr. Bush do everything BUT push that button. Please know you have restored the idea that there is TRUTH out there in my heart. You have made me believe that there is a future and that there is something to look forward to. I believe you, Barack. I believe politicians may actually really care about this country we call home of the free and I'm thinking if God is near and you become our next President my parents could possibly live to see world peace become a reality. I think you could achieve that. Thank you for being. For your efforts, for your family - for your example - for your bravery - I will be praying until November 4th. I know you can change this world because you have filled me with HOPE!

OBAMA INSPIRED SONG & VIDEO

David — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:17:27 EDT

...

A member of ENTERTAINERS 4 OBAMA helped to create this inspirational song and video in tribute to the next President of the United States. It's very inspiring and extremely well done, so I wanted to post and share it with all. Copy and paste the code below into your browser and check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpnsABX01Jw

Phonebanking Old Hollywood Style: A Post from Nancy D in LA

Sarah Gallagher — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:07:02 EDT

This weekend, the Obama campaign held four ginormous super phonebanks in the Los Angeles area. Harnessing the amazing enthusiasm here in the final weeks of the Presidential campaign, these phonebanks are full of great energy, dedication, and cell phone waves (oh, and yummy snacks). In my neck of the woods, our Hollywood-Los Feliz-Silver Lake phonebanks joined forces at the fabled Sunset-Gower Studios, located at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Gower St. (This intersection was once known as "Gower Gulch" - silver-screen cowboys used to gather there looking for work as extras on western films.) Last weekend, this particular phonebank drew 200 volunteers who made 13,000 calls to battleground states and, in phonebanks throughout California, over 500,000 voters were called! This weekend our goal was higher - the campaign has challenged California volunteers to reach at least 625,000 voters - the Last Call For Change!

Former home of Columbia Pictures ("It Happened One Night", "Funny Girl" and "The Caine Mutiny") and current home to such TV shows as Dexter and Heroes, Sunset-Gower houses many independent film and television production companies. It was also the former home of one of my all-time personal favorites: Six Feet Under. (You can read more about the studio's history here.)

Last weekend, entering data from calls to Colorado, I was really heartened by the number of voters solidly in the Obama camp, versus the ones for McCain. The polls there are bearing this out. This weekend, we're over halfway toward beating last week's totals - 111 volunteers on Saturday, making nearly 9,000 calls! Sunday will surely rock.

Thanks to the incredible volunteer coordinators who are making this phonebank happen every weekend. Your dedication is inspiring. And of course, the roomful of volunteers who didn't want to leave.

Folks, if you haven't tried it yet, it's not too late - get thee to CA.BarackObama.com and find the nearest phonebank. You can make calls, enter data, sell swag, bring snacks - the possibilities are endless. You won't regret it!

"Keep Marchin'"

Tim A. — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:56:28 EDT

I fell off.

I admit it.

I got all excited about the Obama campaign somewhere around Super Tuesday. Gave some money. Made some phone calls. Went to work on friends and family. Started this blog.

I kept all of it up for a while. Summer came. I got distracted. My inspiration waned as the campaign become more and more...well...political.

But, I'm still rockin' for That One.

And, I gather, there's a lot more of you doing the same than when I first got on board. Which is 15 kinds of great. And, hopefully, will be enough to bring this one home and put the good Senator from the Land of Lincoln in the Oval Office.

As we approach the end of this epic journey, this song is for all of y'all fighting the good fight:

"Keep Marchin'" by Raphael Saadiq

Obama's Path to the White House

CJ for Obama — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:49:44 EDT

http://www.blackcommentator.com/295/295_cover_obama_electoral_path_2_kilson_ed_bd.html

Four Key Reasons Why Barack Obama Will Be The Next United States President (One Year On)

Ms CYPRAH — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:45:54 EDT

I joined msnbc's Newsvine in the first week of July of 2007 and immediately got embroiled in heated debates about whether Barack Obama stood any kind of chance to be President of the USA. My belief in his eventual success was unshakeable, and stood confidently firm, even in the face of all the arguments. In fact it was a rather lonely time then, trying to defend my corner as a seemingly 'naive' newcomer in the face of so much scepticism and so many learned Americans telling me otherwise, especially when a few repeatedly pointed out that it was their country and they knew far more about the form than I did. But that cemented my belief even further. Often outsiders can see what we cannot because, being outside of the situation and untainted by its partisan nature, they can see the bigger picture.

Should presidential candidates be required to hold regular press conferences answering questions from the media and public?

Ms CYPRAH — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:35:28 EDT

Candidates should hold press conferences quite regularly, for four main reasons.

First, the regularity would ensure that different subjects were covered in rotation up until the election. A good deal of time could be spent examining an issue and allowing the public to get a definite feel for how the candidate would deal with it. It would allow the public to also envisage that candidate in a 'presidential' capacity, dealing ad hoc with difficult questions, instead of someone just making speeches they have prepared and saying anything they believe the audience wants to hear. It would definitely force them to keep on topic.

AMERICA WAKE-UP!!!

Mr. Diamond — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:54:07 EDT

America Wake-Up!!!We need to be aware of what's going on. Our Dollar is dropping. Our leadership is running Our Nation To Tha Ground. They are taking comma's out of our National Budget, and each year it gets Bigger. We need to get rid of that electronic vote (tha computer). That was a problem that the Bush Administration made. They found out that they could not hide our Votes. So, they came up with a solution to their man made problem. How do we control the vote? Tha computer. I can win any election or pass any law that I want as Law. Plus, We The People will have to flip the bill to keep up the cost to maintenance it; up date it; secure it. etc.We need to Recognize Who CCA is! Corrections Corporation of America Prison Privatization At It's Best!. Google them up for your self. They Control 20 States in the U.S.A. as of 2006. Their policy and power extends all tha way to Washington D.C. CCA are the reasons why school budgets are being cut; Our Teacher; Parks; Jobs; Programs; are being cut across the nation. CCA is maximizing the 13 Amendment, to it's fullest. You are able to buy Stocks and Bonds in this Trade of Human Beings under the name of Justice. And it's costing us Billions of dollars each year. And the cost of this Human Trade is constantly rising each year. Hasn't gone down since. Peep Game, Here is just a peak of the $$$MONEY$$$, This Company is making. As of December 31, 2006, our liquidity was provided by cash on hand of $29.1 million, investments of $82.8 million, and$112.1 million available under our $150.0 million revolving credit facility. During the years ended December 31, 2006 and2005, we generated $172.0 million and $153.4 million, respectively, in cash provided by operating activities, and as ofDecember 31, 2006 and 2005, we had net working capital of $226.9 million and $164.0 million, respectively.2006 CCA Annual ReportWhat do you think about that batch of apples? If you are not impressed about this. Then check out this knowledge I obtain while doing an Speech Presentation for class. Now, once your eyez open make sure you share this knowledge to others. We as Americans need to come together as One, and stop this force that has kept this Human Trade Alive and more profitable then when it first was introduce to America. The cold thing about it is that CCA has, the 13 Amendment not just targeting a race of people. Now It Is A Class Thing!!! Effecting everyone, who can't buy their way out. Remember Demographic Demand, Immigration Demand. CCA is so cold about it, that they have America Trick in allowing them to take our Kids From Us Under Tha Name Of Law. Remember they Own Members of Congress, The Clinton's {In '96' the Clinton's made CCA a force in America.}, Judges, District Attorneys, The Department Of Correction Unions Across tha Nation, not even speaking about the money CCA gets to house; feed; medicate; transport; cloth; and let's just mention the extra low interest loans; continue budget increase on their investment By the Government, Investors, and don't forget their in-House investments{Productions Industries within each establishment.}This is what we as Americans need to be sharing with each other. Waking each other up. Instead of acting off our Prejudice and Biases. That's another thing, how is it that We as a People, are still stuck on Biases and Prejudices? You do not vote for a President because of Race or Gender. You Vote on a President on who will repersent Us As A Nation. What their motive is in being President. On Who is able to mend tha relationships that are past Leaders have tanted threw-out tha World. We choose Our President On Their Track Record. What they have done for this Nation. We choose a President on sound Judgement, not feelings. We need Change Now In 2008. Change in Power. Change in our mentalities. Remember we all want the American Dream. We Can only truely grasp it by Uniting, And Cleaning up years of missmanagment from our Government Officals. We must Stop this Legal Trade Of Humans. And Work on reform. Threw out uor Nation.But First thing first. We need to stop that computer Vote. Don't let them destory the papper ballot. That's an American Trdition. We been using thea Paper Ballot since George Washington. Plus, We pay a company, eather, monthly or yearly to protect our computer. The National Securety changes their firwall how many times a day? Now why would we want to creat furture problems for generations to come. If it's on broke don't fix it. We As A Nation needs to Adress these important issues. Next Debate let's talk about our economy. HOW THEY PLAN TO BRING OUR NATION OUT OF DEPT. Bring our spending dallor power back up. Fix Education. And We need to put it on the minds of our offical to raise minimun wage $5 across the Nation. This Will Give Tha State And Feds Money. And A Pay Raise Thats much needed. Everything is up but pay; Food, Gas, stamps, rent, insurance, cost of living. This way they don't have to raise taxes or cut any more programes. Feel Me? STOP THA DRAMAAND VOTE FOROBAMA !!!God Bless,Mr. Diamond Mundyhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/MrDiamond ThaBlackDiamondz@Yahoo.comMySpace.ComThaBlackDiamondz@Yahoo.Com

They Are Attacking Our Children!!!

Mr. Diamond — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:30:26 EDT

NO ON cALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 5,

" THE NONVIOLENT OFFENDER REHABILITATION ACT" (NORA)

It Makes The Department Of Corrections(DOC) Even Stronger Then They Are Now. They Will Take Over The Drug Rehabilition Services, It Gives The DOC Control Over The Juveniles Department, & Give Them The Same Inefficent Drug Programs(Prop 36) To Our Youth So, They My Get Cought Into The System{Legal Slave Trade}. After Treatment PhaseIII The Next Phase Is Prison{Slavery}. Prop 5 Makes The Department Of Corrections Stronger, More Powerful, And The People Will Have Nothing To Say About How They Treat Their Slaves{Prisoners} Or Parole, Forever...Read It Your Self. "(14) Ensure That All These Efforts Take PlaceOn A Permant And Ongoing Basis," Let Me Put It This Way If Prop. 5 Gets Passed "The Department Of Correction An Rehabilition" Will Have The Power To Pass Prop 6 & Prop 9, And More.

SO, NO ON CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 5 "THE NONVIOLENT OFFENDER REHABILITATION ACT"

God Bless.

Mr. Diamond Mundy

Letter from Mary Jane, California Field Director, to All California Activists

Sarah Gallagher — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:01:33 EDT

Bravo, California!

This weekend, we exceeded our 500,000 call goal! You made 543,000 calls to Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, crucial battleground states that will make the difference in this election. Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication.

Catch your breath and then get ready - we are three weeks from Election Day. Our goals will grow. And we will continue to exceed them. Now is the time to recruit all your friends who have been saying 'What can I do?'.

Join us this weekend at another Last Call For Change phonebank.

I am proud to be in the company of so many amazing volunteers.

Yes We Can,
Mary Jane Stevenson
California Field Director

Hope Is Alive All Across The World

Marla Turner — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:53:29 EDT

I'm the creator and administrator for the Obama Music, Arts, and Entertainment site. I've seen a lot of incredible Obama-inspired art and heard a lot of great music. I've been brought to tears by many of the beautiful creations. Here's an example of how Obama is moving people all across the globe.

Can we try doing this!?

Cyndioh — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:31:46 EDT

My husband just wrote Mr. Plouffe and we hope he receives this letter. Below is the idea my husband has I we both think this would be a powerful way to send our message as Americans who want REAL change! Please read the letter and pass it on to those who can help coordinate this!

Thanks,

Cyndi

Dear Mr. Plouffe,

I have never written a letter to the campaign manager of any presidential candidate until today. Although my email address indicates I live in New York (I used to), I now live in Columbus, OH with my wife Cyndi and her 3 children. We have each worked in one capacity or another in support of Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden. We would each like to give the campaign one more day of commitment but we would like to do it in a certain way.

We would like to suggest a day of rallies for the Obama/Biden campaign that would occur on the same day, at the same time, in every city across the country that has an Obama/Biden campaign office, to show that the American people truly want change and that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the people to bring it. This might sound like a lofty idea but in this age of technology and the internet, some amazing things have already taken place in this campaign. These rallies could deliver an October surprise the likes of which have never been seen before in American politics. They might also give John McCain and Sarah Palin an idea about who Barack Obama really is and what the American people really want.

I know that Barack is ahead in the polls. I truly believe he can win this election. I believe just as ademently that John McCain and Sarah Palin will never be the right choice for this country, especially in these times we are living in.

My hope is that this email reaches you and, if it does, that you seriously consider our suggestion. As I stated earlier, this may be a lofty idea but ... many worthwhile and important things have come from just those kinds of ideas.

Sincerely,
Lou McAfee
Columbus, OH

EVOLVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Global Symbolic Votes — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:38:27 EDT

It is no longer about getting Barack Obama into the White House. Baring the outbreak of WW III or some other kind of unforeseen disaster, he is already there. During one of his recent rallies, Senator Obama invoked these words: “CHANGE the country” and “CHANGE the world.”

Getting Senator Obama into the White House is not the end of a process; it’s the beginning of a process. Keeping him in the White House will be the hard part. Prudence dictates that we should never underestimate the will of the forces which are arrayed against him/us.

In the beginning, Senator Obama talked a lot about “Old Politics” or “Old Thought” – which is essentially the same thing. Our messages have been about “New Thought” and saving the Planet. Obama has often said that he can’t do it alone and neither can we. We need your help.

This is a sampling of what some of you had to say about our messages:

Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:43:29 -0400, [ HarvardLawforObama@groups.barackobama.com ] “This is a very astute comment, Jan Derek. Please take 3 minutes and post it on my posting of Barack's speech posted at...” and this is an open invitation to all members of HarvardLawforObama…”
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:22:22 -0400, “I hope you do not mind but I liked this E-mail so much that I have published it in my Blogs giving you credit. Keep up the great work.”
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:48:04 -0400, “Well said, thank you!”
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 14:43:24 -0700, “Right on, Jan!!! …would you forward this to MD?”
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 21:51:51 +0200, “How well said Jan, how wise and eloquent, and how true... Can we forward this? Thank you so much…”
Date: Saturday, August 02, 2008 3:24 PM, Hi Jan: “…I'd like to keep in touch!.… p.s. "I love your musical references! :-)”
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:34:57 -0400, [From Obama for America] Jan. “Your passion and energy are crucial to electing Barack Obama president and moving this country in a fundamentally different direction.”

Why do we impart/promulgate our “New Thought” messages? Actually, I like Michelle Obama’s answer. She said, “It’s my job.” Some people are genuine truth seekers, not a lot but some. Mohandas K. Gandhi said, “If you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”

And here we have our quandary, what to do now? It is time to evolve to the next level. We are dedicated to keeping the “Obama Movement” alive for 100 years, if necessary, and we need your input. If you would like to know the rest of the story, sign up at. http://www.global-symbolic-votes.org/first.html

New thought is our only chance,
The GSV Team
-------------------------------------------------------
"We can either fear that human culture is falling apart or we can hold the vision that we are awakening. Either way, each of us must consciously choose between these two futures.” (James Redfield)
-------------------------------------------------------
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/GLOBALSYMBOLICVOTESFOROBAMA
http://www.global-symbolic-votes.org

Take a stand against Hate and Fear- Write,Write, Write

MoniqueT — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:31:14 EDT

As a young black American Woman, I am so out done by what has occured this past week in the McCain campaign. I cannot even understand least of all conceive of the underling racism that still exists in our country. The is History of our country, slavery, women liberation, anti- gay sentisim, has slipped back into the mainstream and makes us face the harsh reality of what the McCain/Palin campaign is trying to accomplish.

Will we ever get past the hateful history that still lurkes around in the midst of all of us? My friend in London who is a Black American told me today that she doesnt understand how we (black Americans) can still tolerate the deep rooted hate and bigotry that still exists. I was sadly hurt and disgusted by the McCain supporter who called Obama "a Arab" Are Arab people terrorist? Are they not human? Hell, are they not even Americans? Hate is what lead to the genocide of Millions of Jews, Hate is what lead to the genocide in Dafur? Hate is what lead to thousands being killed in Rawanda, Hate is what lead to the current war and hate has caused the division of blacks and whites right here in our own country.

For a man who states hes a maverick and has faught for a country of freedom, he sure is endorsing hate and fear. McCain and Palin is opportunisitic, erradic, frivolous and the smear campaigning is not a great tactic.. However folks, we have to wake up.. there are fellow Americans that believe this sort of stuff, that are not educated in the issues and these are the very ones that are getting out to vote...

Please use your voice and write to your editors of local and national news stations, papers and magazines. Take a stand, dont take this for grantide that our candidate is in the clear... We have to use this moment to really educate people, take a stand and help change the smear tactic of hate..

The Bradley Effect and Obama

Bev Haut — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:52:39 EDT

A friend of mine wrote to me the other day with her concerns that the "Bradley effect" might well be a factor in the upcoming presidential election.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Bradley effect, here's a brief summary from what my friend located on the web:

"The term Bradley effect, less commonly called the Wilder effect, refers to a frequently observed discrepancy between voter opinion polls and election outcomes in American political campaigns when a white candidate and a non-white candidate run against each other. Named for Tom Bradley, an African-American who lost the 1982 California governor's race despite being ahead in voter polls, the Bradley effect refers to a tendency on the part of voters to tell pollsters that they are undecided or likely to vote for a black candidate, and yet, on election day, vote for his/her white opponent.

"One theory for the Bradley effect is that some white voters give inaccurate polling responses for fear that, by stating their true preference, they will open themselves to criticism of racial motivation. This effect is similar to people refusing to discuss voting choice at all. If you state you are undecided, you can avoid being forced into a political discussion with someone highly partisan. The reluctance to give accurate polling answers has sometimes extended to post-election exit polls as well. The race of the pollster conducting the interview may be a factor into voters' answers."

The Bradley Effect was largely unheard of at the time, primarily because there were precious few African-Americans holding such an office, and it was most definitely a factor in Tom Bradley's defeat in '82. But that was 26 years ago.

Think of that ... 26 years ago, 1982. I wasn't living in SoCal then, but I remember it well (yes, they do get the news back in Georgia, although events over the past 10 years or so -- and as recently as yesterday -- have made me ashamed of my home state). In the past 26 years, we've seen immense progress towards improved race relations -- not enough progress, obviously, but racism and bigotry are not as rampant as they were in '82.

Of course the Republicans are going to do everything they can to get McCain elected, but there's a huge spotlight on political campaigns in the 21st century, thanks to the internet and a 24/7 news cycle. The public and the media are everywhere (cell phones, hidden cameras, TV, radio). It's going to be a lot more difficult to rig this election than anyone can possibly imagine.

There will always be rednecks and crackers, people who believe in their hearts that anyone who isn't just like them are less than human, don't deserve common respect, shouldn't be allowed to hold a major political office, or even vote. I know this because I am a direct descendant of two people who felt the same way. My father was the worst; I won't go into some of the nightmares he used to conjure or the hideous behavior. Just imagine the worst cracker you ever knew and square that by 100.

Fortunately for me, when I was 11, John F. Kennedy was running for office. (Some of you are too young to remember that his Catholicism was a huge factor in that election, with non-Cathols worried that JFK would somehow cohabit the White House with the Pope. Seriously.) That was my first connection with politics, and it opened my eyes.

(Disclaimer: It didn't hurt that on my 12th birthday, I received a letter from JFK, written on his Senate stationary. Dated December 3, 1960, he wrote, "Dear Miss Blackwell ... I want to thank you for the very friendly message you sent to me after my election to the presidency. I am most heartened by the many expressions of good will which I have received. I am sure that they reflect a broad unity of purpose in our nation. I hope that my record during the next four years will sustain your generous confidence. With every good wish, I am, Sincerely /John F. Kennedy/" It is my most prized possession. It is his signature; I've had it verified. It breaks my heart to read the last sentence and remember the hope, the promise, that his presidency held.)

Thus began my love affair with the Democratic Party, and politics in general. When the first black student took her seat in my 8th grade class, I was proud that Atlanta had been so progressive in matters of race, thanks mostly to Dr. King's presence, and sad that when I went to introduce myself to her, she shied away from me a bit, likely out of fear of what I might do or say. We became friends, and remained so throughout our school years. I lost touch with her many years ago, but I think of her often.

Now, I want all of you to think of everyone you know. Think of each one of them and ask yourself, "Is this person a racist? A bigot? Does this person mirror my feelings about my country and its citizens?" If the answer for any one of these people is "yes," think about how your own behavior could affect theirs. Could you have a conversation with this person without it turning into "Nazi"? A lot of 'em will blow you off, angrily; it's hard to talk about such deep-seated emotions without getting emotional, and if that's the way he/she is, so be it.

But what about this other person? Maybe he/she would actually welcome a conversation; not a yelling match, but an honest, cordial, even friendly talk? Those are the ones we must reach; those are the ones who are intellectually curious, who can observe and listen at least somewhat objectively.

Hundreds of people out there are indeed racist assholes. But thousands more are NOT racists! We now outnumber them! Names are dropping from the pathetic rolls of the Aryan Nation like gnats around Sarah Palin's mouth. The KKK is nearly dead, and I never thought I would live to see that day.

We cannot control what The Others do. We *can* control what we do when they pull out their bag of transparent tricks. Respond, in whatever forum you might find yourself, but do it without fear and without anger. You can't have a fight if one party won't fight. And that, my friends (I can't believe I just wrote that), is the best way in the world to piss of John McCain.

Wear the world like a loose jacket ~ turn to your Zen place, if necessary ~ and be like BO. Unflappable. Unshakeable. Certain. Affable. Courageous. Aware. Informed. And, more than anything, hope.

Don't let petty distractions into your life (or your mailbox). Don't concern yourself overly much about what The Others are doing and saying ~ yesterday, for the first time, John McCain finally spoke out. A woman at one of his rallies said she'd read all about Obama and flatly stated that he was an Arab. McCain, at long last, earned back about an ounce of his honor by saying to her, "No, ma'am," several times, shaking his head in disagreement. "He's a decent, family man, [a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about." And for that, John McCain was booed.

This is the greatest and most effective grassroots campaign we have ever seen. Thousands of Democratic and Obama volunteers - people like you and me - are, for the first time in their lives, truly involved in a political campaign. The polls don't reflect Obama's real lead because they're only polling voters who were already registered, NOT the hundreds of thousands of new Democratic voters who have been registered in the past 20 months.

I beg everyone to believe in their hearts and minds, to know with certitude in this: Barack Obama will win this election by a landslide. Know this: Barack Obama will be our next President, and he will be the greatest President in the history of America. Do not doubt yourselves for one moment; we cannot afford such negative thoughts at a time when the future of our country, and the world, rests on the outcome of this election.

Without hate, without fear, walk this historic walk, these last few miles - only 25 more days! - please, walk with me, with millions of others and with Senator Barack Obama as he continues to march into only his second home, the White House.

(I apologize for the length of this post, but these are topics that raise my passion, and for some reason, even though I've been blocked for weeks and I'm sick as a Georgia Bulldog on nasty Tennessee grass (UGA!), I felt the absolute need to write this, if not for me, then for the one person out there who does read it and takes something good away from it.)

NO FEAR!!!!!!!!

I wanna be like BO!

Bev Haut
www.myspace.bellesocal
www.beverlyhaut.com

WHAT IS ECONOMICS?

Destiny — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:08:09 EDT

WHAT IS ECONOMICS?

Economics is the study of how a society uses its resources to satisfy its wants and needs. What does that mean? Consider the following three scenes. First, a household works together to do the chores. They cut wood for the fire place, cook meals, go to the store to buy food, and rent movies at the local video store.

Second, the managers of a large firm are deciding to produce a new product for line of electronics. They are making decisions on their best place to put their advertising dollars, either online or in traditional television commercials.

Third, law makers in Washington D.C. are deciding how to spend federal money. Should they spend money on preschool programs for minority children, or should they invest in a new military weapon system that could make the country safer? Additionally, how much money should the government spend on health care or what controls should be placed on the internet?

All of these questions are about economics.

The first question that comes to mind is why don’t we fund them all? We would if we could. But we cannot. This brings us to our first major term in economics:

Scarcity- all resources are limited and therefore are scarce. Everyone cannot have everything they want. There is not enough stuff to go around.

To decide how funds get allocated we need to look at our wants and needs. These are our next important terms. Needs are our basic needs to survive, food, clothes, and shelter. Wants, put simply, are everything else and they are unlimited. I want a new car, new mp3 player, or a new house. I don’t need any of them to survive.

Economics is the study of how we satisfy our wants and needs with the limited resources we have.

Finally, what are the resources that we have to use to satisfy our wants and needs? There are three basic resources known as the factors of production.

Land- this refers to all natural resources used to produce goods and services. This includes crops that are grown on a land, minerals that are mined from land and rent that is paid to an owner of land for its use.

Goods and services are the things that we buy like mp3 players or hair cuts. A good is a physical thing you can hold; a service is some thing that gets used up right after it is purchased.

Labor- this is the effort that an individual person puts into making a good or service. For this effort the person is paid a wage. Labor includes factory workers, medical personal, and teachers. They all provide their labor for a wage.

Capital- this is anything that is used to produce other goods and services. If you make cars you need machines to make the metal that is used in the cars. It is also the truck that drives the cars to the dealer who sells them, and it is the building that the cars are made in. All of these are the resource known as capital.

Now that we know what economics is, why do we study it?

We study economics for two reasons. First, we want to be good consumers. Since our resources are limited we have to make choices. We can only buy a limited amount of goods and services with our limited income right? So we study economics to be good consumers.

Consumers are the people in an economy that purchase goods and services.

We also study economics to be good citizens.

Citizens are the people in a country. In a Republic Democracy like the United States of America they are also the ones who hold the political power to elect new governments.

Economics affects us as a citizen through our voting decisions. If we are in agreement with government policies then we should support them by voting in their favor. On the other hand, if we do not like how the government is spending money they we have a responsibility to vote them out of office.

Let us now look back at our three scenes from the beginning of the lesson. What factors of production do they have to use? One or more of the family members will work for a wage, which is labor, they are cutting wood to use for heat, that’s land, and anything they use to cut the wood is capital. They are using all of the factors of production.

What about the business? What decisions do they have to make to invest in a new product? Since, like all sectors of society, their resources are scarce, what do they need to do to fund the development of a new product? They need to take resources, land, labor, or capital from something else they make, right? They can use profits to fund their research, or they can spend less on wages to produce other goods.

How do they decide where to advertise? They do not have unlimited resources to advertise so where do they spend their money? It all depends on the product. If they are making a product that can record play digital music on a small device, you would probably want to advertise on the internet. If it is an alarm clock that is really loud for people who take their hearing aide out at night. That is probably an older population that does not use the internet as much, so you need to advertise on television.

Finally, what about government? Where do they get their money to spend? All the money the government spends is from its people in the form of taxes. Like the other parts of our economy their resources are also limited. They make decisions on spending on a larger scale than families or businesses, but they cannot fund everything. The government must decide what programs to fund. Do they spend more money on military projects, or should they spend money on preschool programs for underprivileged children? Both are beneficial to the citizens. But which one gets the money?

The answer to all of the scenes on where do the resources go is, what gives the most benefit to each sector. If it is expensive to heat your house in the winter then spending resources on the production of wood for burning is in your best interest. If you are a business you want to make a profit, so you advertise to the audience that will buy the most products. Finally, the government wants one thing, to stay in power and to do that they must make decisions on spending to have people vote for them in the next election.

We study economics for a variety of reasons. We want to have good information as consumers to make sure we spend our limited resources in a good way. As a citizen we want to make sure the government is spending our money in a way that we agree with. If we don’t agree with them then we can exercise our right as a citizen and vote for change.

The Year of Jubilee

Destiny — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:46:29 EDT

What is the year of Jubilee?

The law of use, in terms of money, is an awesome principle. Money, compounded, grows at an astonishing rate. If a person takes $100 and doubles is every year for twenty years, he will have $50 million. If he continues doubling it for thirty more years, he will have $12.8 quadrillion, which is more money than there is in the entire world!

But God is not unaware of the law of compound interest. After all, this is His basic law of personal growth in the kingdom. Therefore He wisely made a provision in Israel to counterbalance the effects of compounding, the year of Jubilee.

Every fifty years during the year of Jubilee the people had to do three basic things. Firsst, they had to cancel debts. Every debt outstanding, by every debtor, was cancelled. Second, they had to release slaves, because slavery is a form of indebtedness. Every person had to be given his freedom, unless he voluntarily and freely acknowledged that he wanted to remain a slave. Third, all agricultural land, what we would term today the means of production, was to be returned to the families who had originally owned it.

There was every fifty years, a redistribution of wealth through the cancellation of debt and a reassignment of land. Then another fifty-year cycle began. For the next fifty years, the people were permitted to accumulate as much as they wanted without any arbitrary limits. At the end of that time, there was another year of Jubilee. Debts were cancelled, slaves were freed, and the basic means of production redistributed.

There is a new, fresh vitality that comes about in society. Society, in a sense, starts over again. Our way of doing it is very painful. The biblical year of Jubilee is something that our society ought to learn. Otherwise, we will be faced very shortly with a major crash and a depression.

If you want God's blessing, give to His work and to other people. "Prove me now in this" and see "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." If you are generous, open-handed, and open-hearted, you will get back more. That is the law of reciprocity.

The law of use, coupled with reciprocity, makes an unbeatable combination. "Give, and it will be given to you."

McCain Spending Freeze? - CODE FOR MORE OF THE SAME!!!

Miguel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:38:24 EDT

The "specifics" that John McCain claims to have stated when suggesting a "spending freeze", except for Military Spending and entitement programs means: KEEP THE BUSH BUDGET AND KEEP SPENDING 10 Billion Dollars a MONTH in Iraq.

CALL IT LIKE IT IS!!!

While that may sound like great campaign speak, a spending freeze means DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!

DON'T change the 500 Billion dollar budget defecit.

DON'T change goverment deregulation of the financial sector.

DON'T change the lives of Americans facing bankrupcy because of out of control medical bills.

DON'T change our strategy in Iraq and get our troops OUT OF THERE!

It means DON'T CHANGE!!!

Read the code... John McCain is MORE OF THE SAME!

Double Talk...

Trisha — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:45:31 EDT

So AIG execs, get an 86 billion dollar bailout, then they take a little vacation. It only cost us $440,000 of our hard earned dollars. Maybe they should have thought about saving that money, maybe then they would not have to come back to us again for another 37.8 billion. Yes you heard me right...they want us to fork over an additional 40 billion so they can again stop themselves from going under. Here is the article, please dont let it get lost.

When Obama said they should pay the government back and be fired, I guess the execs at AIG thought that was double talk for we should give them more money.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081009/fed_aig.html

An open letter to McCain Supporters in the Fil-Am communities...

Prosy — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:17:10 EDT

I wrote this open letter tonight to a list serve where over close to two thousand Filipino Americans and Filipino immigrants subscribe to...

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Good folks and kababayans: I normally do not get involved in writing op-editorials or working to host events, phone banking, or door knocking for elections.

But for this election, I made an exception. Because the stakes are too high and 8 years of failed trickle-down economics have left many of our kababayans without homes, foreclosed upon by sub-prime mortgages and many are without a credible health insurance program that they can rely upon while family members get sick from cancers or debilitating illness.

It is because of healthcare and a for -people economics and not just the powerful that made me an Obama supporter. But, aside from this pragmatic view, I also chose Obama because he comes from the poor, imagined a new life out of poverty through higher education at Columbia and Harvard, and also because of his commitment as a community organizer, a lawyer for civil rights, and a legislator who legislated laws to protect women, children and national security that I chose him over Hillary and McCain.

Why did I make this choice? Because I know that some of my kababayans praise McCain's character and judgement!

To which I have plenty to speak to which counters his character and plainly shows his bad judgement.

For one thing, we are a God-fearing community that believes in the sanctity of marriage, yet we are so quick to give support to John McCain who dated Cindy McCain while still married to his wife, Carol.

Imagine we are a God-fearing community but we are willing to allow a potential bigamist, who already took a marriage license to marry Cindy McCain, while still married to his wife, Carol, and without any inkling of tension or conflict in their marriage managed to deceive others that he was still devoted to Carol, yet all the while, he was carrying on with Cindy McCain.

What kind of character are we vouching for when some of us are willing to lower our standards in favor of a man like McCain?

Is it because Barack Obama is black? Guess what, he was carried by Ann Dunham, a white woman, for 9 months in her womb, and for 18 years, Barack was raised by three white folks: Ann, and his grandparents. So, really Barack Obama has had a white upbringing. And yes, his father is an African, from Kenya who was educated here in our American universities.

But, some of us are willing to throw our support solidly for Hillary Clinton, accepting her experience and judgement, because she is after all an establishment, white candidate, and of course, she has good experience, but also, does Barack Obama.

Barack has solidly approved and voted for health insurance that extends to 4,000,000 children; and has voted to support women's health programs, including domestic violence legislation.

We are a community that values family, community and our women and children. Yet, some of us are willing to throw our support to McCain who has consistently opposed children's insurance legislation and voted against funding women's health programs. Why is that? Are we simply for the unborn, and not the lives of the born?

We are also a faith-loving community, who values the life of the unborn and the born. And so do I, because I believe in the value of the unborn and the born, I am supporting Obama. While we pray for peace in our Sunday masses, voting McCain means we are funding more wars. Fight, fight, fight, says McCain; Bomb, bomb Iran, bomb!

Imagine we pray for peace, yet some of us are willing to vote for wars! And of course, McCain supports the buildup of nuclear plants, and in his website, he knows that they will not generate alternative energies until 22 years from now, 22 years from now, even McCain will be 94 years old by then, do you think he really cares to provide alternative energies to our current generation?

What about what we can do now? Should we not ask the three automakers to make hybrids and give them federal incentives to do so, particularly if they create more domestic jobs in America? Doesn't that make sense to you that our families get taken cared of now, instead of 22 years from now?

By that time, most of us may be gone from this planet to see these changes proposed by John McCain, and are we that willing to gamble the future of our families and our children and grandchildren to elect a president who says he will take care of us, but his senate record of poor judgement shows he has supported 8 years of failed trickle down economics, and in fact opposed legislation to extend health insurance for our children and now, running for president, is not willing to give us a vision that takes care of us now, but 22 years from now.

I would like to believe that our community can be a positive force this election, and if we are going to vote based on our faith, I pray that as we pray for peace, we vote to defund the war in Iraq, and we vote not to fund a war-mongering presidential candidate; I pray that as we pray for our families and communities, we vote for the president whose track record is for supporting legislation for women and children and one who will get us out of iraq and will build peace through diplomacy.

Lastly, to some that are not voting for Barack Obama, to those sectors who believe in the rhetoric of John McCain that he is a maverick, one who is wildly in opposition of what is popular, but truly one who stands for himself, voting his self-interests to support for example Charles Keating, president of Lincoln Savings who swindled 20,000 consumers of their savings account to the tune of $3 billion and cost the public taxpayers a bill of $120 billion.

Or the character of a man who would choose a vice president who wants to secede from the United States and who attended six years of its unpatriotic, seccesionist conferences, and one who thinks we women must be treated as " dumb " and yes, this is the character of the man some of us believe is maverick.

Maverick in looking at women as dumb, maverick in treating his marriage as an opportunity to have an affair and of course, maverick in making sure 20,000,000 of us will lose health care insurance by taxing it. Never before have employer issued health care insurance been taxed, and yet, for those of us whose employers have issued Kaiser, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and many more, we stand to lose those when we vote Senator McCain who will tax these health care insurances, and enable him to give the health care insurance industry $2 billion dollars tax credits, and to replace it with issuing us $5,000 tax credit, when the cost of health care insurance per year is $12,000?

Why would we want a maverick who will take away our health care insurance elected into office? Even New York Times reports on this and is wondering why not much attention has been given to McCain's wildly maverick plan to make us all sick and sicker. After all, he cannot see this as he has 7 to 10 homes and 11 cars to shield him from our working class' plights.

And some of us maybe supporting him on the basis of seeing him as the white hero? Or the white maverick who will do us good?

Think again, as this election, when you simply examine behind your hidden fears, your hidden and unconscious preferences for a white candidate as a president, think of what you will be doing: the consequences of your voting decision that will put America frozen in the headlines of the 1950s, frozen in taking us back to lynchings, frozen in treating us all folks of color, yes, all of us, including those who are brown skinned, into the back of the bus, afraid for who we are; afraid to speak and think.

I hope that you will choose instead a vote for the future, a vote for hope, a vote for inspiration, a vote for new ideas, a vote that has inspired over 5,000,000 now newly registered voters as Democrats, including 19,000,000 voters in the primary, and cast your vote with them this November 2008 to carry America forward into the 21st century, for America has experienced so much progress, so much growth, so much forward movement in integrating folks of color, and I pray our community become part of that historic, forward-looking movement towards integrity and inclusion.

Yes, please examine your choices, and ask your hearts and minds, as I asked mine, and you will reach the same conclusion as I did, it is not the maverick John McCain whose volatile temperament, which he could not publicly contain which led him to refer to Barack Obama as " that one ", nor did not look towards his direction, as if Barack Obama is an invisible person, nor McCain's rude and condescending behaviors, on display for all to see on primetime television, watched by over 70 million Americans... this man, called John McCain made it plainly clear during the second debate that he did not have world-class temperament, nor the integrity of articulating his positions, and resorted to angry attacks of Obama's character, and allow his dishonorable behaviors proved unworthy of the presidential position he is running for. Please join me in rejecting his unpresidential temperament, lack of good character and poor judgment!! After all, we Filipinos appreciate pakikisama and kagandahang-loob, traits that Obama display in private and public, and traits that are absent from McCain.

AMAZING...

Trisha — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:11:59 EDT

Thank you for the emails that you send. I appreciate being kept up to date on all the latest news. This is a story I just came across. I would like to get it out, but thought you may be able to help with that. General Petraeus, has said that sitting down with Taliban members and leaders may help reduce violence. So in essence, directly contradicting McCain's veiws on sitting down with leaders we do not agree with. Also, seems the same message that Barack is puting out there. Could you please look at this article and if you feel compelled, help me get this out there.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081008/ts_nm/us_afghan_usa_petraeus

Thank you

Trisha

www.VoicesOfObama.com is launched!!!

VoicesOfObama.com — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:40:28 EDT

www.VoicesOfObama.com

www.VoicesOfObama.com has officially launched.

Hundreds of Letters and Poems are being posted to Obama, sharing the change voters want and why. We will be gathering postings until Nov. 1.

HEAR & BE HEARD!!!

Visit www.VoicesOfObama.com and post your Letter of Change to Obama!

FEAR IS HERE BUT CHANGE IS COMING

Global Symbolic Votes — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:46:38 EDT

In the best selling book CONVERSATONS WITH GOD, God said to the author, Neale Donald Walsch, something like this: “The world is full of sleep-walkers….to get people to wake up you sometimes have to shake them.” Been there; done that.

Obama has said that he can’t do it alone. He said, “I need your help.” We are all trying to help. But, far too often, my words tend to frighten the sleep-walkers who refuse to wake up. They obviously love the pain, the drama and the not knowing. The truth is hard to swallow.

I support Senator Obama 100%. The only difference between others and me is that I know this and they do not. When faced with new ideas, some engage the issues and others elect to run and hide. To keep FEAR out of the equation it is best to engage issues.

Most people tend to participate in politics unconsciously. They do this because it is easier to let others decide for them -- the experts, the pundits, the negative TV ads and things of this nature. When it comes to politics, most of us don’t even know what we are doing.

Addressing all humans, God said to Neale, “Go ahead. Act on all that you know. But notice that you have been doing this since time began and look at what shape the world is in. Clearly you’ve missed something.” Those who love their pain have not missed a thing.

Most of us have no idea of what we are going to have to deal with after the election is over. What is the famous quote? “Know thine enemy.” (Shakespeare, I think) Even Barack Obama has no idea. He is but a man and therefore subject to the laws of the universe.

Barack Obama has said many, many times, “It’s not about me; it’s about you. This is the other thing that most of us simply will not hear. It’s not about the man; it’s about what the man/movement represents. It’s about the message not the messenger.

I predict that Senator Obama has already won the election. Getting Obama into the White House will be the easy part. However, keeping him there, now that will be the hard part. We should never underestimate the will of the forces which are arrayed against him/us.

The MCcain Campaign Negative attacks!!

MoniqueT — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:39 EDT

It makes me sick to my stomach to think that the McCain campaign has now shifted towards, "Who is Barack Obama" by dealing with nasty things such as, using his middle name, trying to attach him to previous Obama supporters who they claim as being a terrorist. These ridiculous claims are just downright lies. Now they have people yelling at rallies, "Hes a terriost"

Its time that we as "true" supporters reach out to the newspapers, editiors, tv stations, magazines, talk shows and the like and really speak the truth. For Gods sake, Obama was 8 years old when Ayers was "appreantly" doing what they claim he did in the 60's... Lets tell this truth..

This kitchen sink tactic is way below the belt. Obama will stay above the crowd and continue to speak to the issues and run a respectful campaign,"The economy, health care, The war, education" however; we the supporters need to continue to defend him against this negativity, and push towards getting our candidate elected.

Im so pissed off.. I just donated more money.... I encourage you to do the same.. this is absurb!!!

Republicans Are Scaring Student Voters: Pass It On

oshun — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:31:49 EDT

Pass this to everyone you know so our students get the truth about these scare tactics. From ABC News:

LINK (Entire article below) http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Vote2008/story?id=5963751&page=1

'Tis the Season of Election Dirty Tricks: Scaring Student Voters

Election officials and watchdog groups are bracing for the wave of sneaky or suspicious phone calls, leaflets and emails that typically hit battleground states in the final 30 days of the presidential campaign.

Young voters at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Penn. have already been targeted, with students reporting that flyers have been posted around campus warning that undercover police will be at the polls on Election Day looking to make arrests.

The flyer reads like a friendly letter to fellow students relaying a warning from an "Obama supporter": "He informed me that on the day of the election there will be undercover officers to execute warrants on those who come to vote based on the anticipated turnout," writes the anonymous student in the letter which was later posted on the Drexel College Democrats website. "He advised me if I had any outstanding warrants or traffic offenses I should clear them up prior to voting."

Political experts say the Drexel flyer is a classic example of voter suppression – a practice that involves scaring, angering, or confusing voters so that they stay at home on Election Day.

"The basic idea is that you intimidate people by saying that law enforcement is using the polling place to catch scofflaws…criminals…whoever. It's basically a deterrent to keep people away from voting," said Allen Raymond, a former Republican operative who went to prison for three-months in 2006 for his involvement in a scheme to jam the phones at headquarters of the Democratic get-out-the vote effort in New Hampshire in 2002.

Raymond says that such tactics have evolved from some of the more overt voter intimidation schemes seen back in the early 1980s when the GOP's "Ballot Security Task Force" used armed off-duty police officers at the polling places in New Jersey and posted signs reading "voter fraud is a felony."

Other underhanded tactics seek to confuse voters about their voter registration. In 2006, voters in Virginia reportedly received fake voicemail messages from the state elections commission claiming that the voters were registered in another state and could be criminally charged if they cast their vote in Virginia.

"It doesn't take much to discourage people from voting," said Dr. Larry Sabato, political analyst and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

"Generally when people see that, they think 'I just don't want to take a risk. I've got enough problems in my life, I think I'll just skip this one."

Raymond and Sabato say voters should be on the look out for a number of other time-honored tricks, including:

- "Push-poll" phone calls using the guise of a survey to push negative information about a candidate.

- Leaflets or emails listing the wrong date or a "rain date" for the election.

- Automated voicemail messages telling voters that the location of their polling place has changed.

- Repeated late night automated "robo-calls" with a message from a candidate.

Raymond says that some of the dirtiest – and most effective – tricks are designed to trigger a "latent bigoted reaction." Perhaps the most notorious example was the smear against Senator John McCain in South Carolina before the state's presidential primary in 2000.

Anonymous opponents used push-polls and flyers to spread a whisper campaign suggesting that McCain's Bangladeshi-born adopted daughter was his illegitimate black child.

In his book, "How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative", Raymond describes how he helped devise other subtle tricks playing on voters' prejudices during the 2000 congressional race in New Jersey. One trick involved phone calls to Democratic voters of Eastern European descent using the voice of an "angry black man," while another used taped phone messages to Democratic union households using actors with thick Hispanic accents. The ultimate goal of both efforts was to make the voters "throw up their hands" and stay away from the polls.

Such schemes may be harder to pull off today now that federal laws require campaigns and parties to identify themselves to callers, but political experts say that in the age of the Internet the dirty trickster has an almost infinite ability to carry out their schemes with easy and anonymity.

"It's easy, it's untraceable, and by the time you find anything about it, the election is over," said Sabato.

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart

eJe — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:49:58 EDT

My husband sent me this link this morning, and I felt that I just had to share it!

And many thanks to Daily Kos for providing us all with some much needed levity durng this crazy election season!

McCain Defining Moment of Retrogression

ODEH ODEH — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:08:09 EDT

Without an iota of doubt, the McCain articulations that its campaign must do all within its power to dehumanize, denigrate, distort and perpetuate the campaign of melancholy and acrimony coupled with character assassinations and defamation may as well be the final straw that breaks the camel back!

Given the contemporary realism of the present political dispensation, we have all witness how the McCain’s campaign and its surrogates have relentlessly and aggressively sort to, but unfortunately in a very myopic fashion attempt to paint Obama as different from “us.” This unfortunate, unpatriotic and mischievous connotation has no place in the America society of the 21st century and McCain did not yet get it.

Mr. Maverick has manifested to the majority of American people and the world at large as to how mentally and physically unstable he can be under pressure especially in the context of lagging behind in the recently published polls. It is regrettable that rather than fashion the polls, the later has had a tremendous effect on his countenance to the extend that he is willing to return to the status quo of the kind of campaign tactics that he rejected and vehemently criticized President George Bush of running against him during the year 2000 Republican Party primary.

Volunteer for "Yes You Can" Music Video

Heather from Santa Monica, CA — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:48:58 EDT

We are making a music video to Get Out the Vote for Obama and give the people of Los Angeles an opportunity to have their voices heard.

The theme of the music video is that with Individual Voices coming together we can inspire people to overcome fear and take action for a better tomorrow. The music video will feature citizens of LA holding homemade signs saying what HOPE, PEACE or CHANGE means to them.

We have an amazing song that has been produced by a grammy-winning producer and an experienced team of film makers.

We need VOLUNTEERS who would like to participate in this community effort.

Please email us at yesyoucanvideo@yahoo.com if you:

Want to make a sign and appear in the music video
You can coordinate people in your community
You know of a great location in LA for people to gather
You can gather 10 or more people

With the election coming up, we need to move on this fast. So please get back to us by Sunday, Oct 5th at 8pm. YesYouCanVideo@yahoo.com

THANK YOU!

MCCAIN’S TWO MANTRAS

Global Symbolic Votes — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:12:12 EDT

John McCain and Sarah Palin seem to be stuck on two themes: “The Surge” and “Change is Coming.” It is clear that John McCain hi-jacked the “Change” concept from Barack Obama. In my blog MCCAIN’S MISTAKES, I touched upon the inherent fallacies pertaining to the so called "Surge." Apparently, John McCain actually believes that he can support Bush’s lies, tricks and games and continue duping voters with impunity. Some have asked how is this even possible. I do not know. Nonetheless, he’s a viable Presidential Candidate. The question is what’s wrong with this picture?

Game changer? No. Game Smartener? YES!

Miguel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:11:43 EDT

Well, first and foremost, Joe, Mr. Biden, Mr. Senator... I am SO eternally proud of you. I am honored to have you on the ticket I am voting for, the ticket I am supporting, the ticket I am fighting for day in and day out. Sarah, Mrs. Palin, Mdme Governor, you did very well tonight.

Was this a game changer? No. Certainly not. For all of the fear that this could have been a catastrophe, or gaffe feast for the press... fears disuaded. Didn't happen. Neither candidate hurt themselves in any way. Both, in my opinion helped themselves a good deal. And, only one bolstered their ticket and raised their candidate for President to a higher level, and that man was Joe Biden. Hands down.

A Game Smartener? I truly think so. And this lands mostly on the shoulders of Sarah Palin. Tonight, again, in my opinion, was not the bumbling idiot that we have seen with Katie Couric this week and that we might continue to see in farther Couric interviews through the week. I am pleased that Mrs. Palin raised her own level of debate so that the country can finally make a clear choice between two candidates... not just HAVE to vote Obama/Biden because Sarah Palin is such an idiot. I think this is good for the election. I think this is good for voters. I am glad that the electorate will not be dumbed down, at least it wasn't (on the whole) talked down to. Sure, she was folksy... we already know this about her... not a game changer. Sure, her views are simpler than reality... we already know this about her... not a game changer. She was not an idiot tonight... a surprise to some of us... still, not a game changer... it's a game smartener.

The smart decision, the only decision, the best decision is Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

For the honor of our country and the betterment of our future it is Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Boys... now... GO GET 'EM!

My proudest day will be November 4th when I cast my ballot. I could vote early, if I wanted to. I'm a sucker for live events and being part of movements.

BARACK OBAMA! I love even saying it.

Sarah Palin Catch Phrase Bingo!

eJe — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:22:03 EDT

Back by popular demand! Debate Bingo: this time it's Vice Presidential! With a twist!

Since Givernor Palin's interviews and public appearences have been so colorful as of late, I've decided to make this installment of Debate Bingo all about Sarah! So, grab a pen or bingo marker and and have some fun crossing off the catch phrases as they fly by this evening. Follow the link below to download and print the custom Bingo cards for your debate watching party tonight!

http://www.geocities.com/erin_films/sarahPalin_BINGO.pdf

Enjoy!

THE AUDACITY OF THINKING

Global Symbolic Votes — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:33:45 EDT

I am told that Plato said: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” Almost right. I believe that Plato is telling us that this is the penalty that one pays for participating in an Aristotelian based political thought system -- better known as Democracy.”

During the debate, Senator Obama implied that Russia and China are not true Democracies. If not, the question becomes what are they? I do not know. Perhaps we should take a closer look at Premier Wen Jiabao’s China -- with a population of 1.3 billion people. Apparently, Premier Jiabao has elected to take his country in a different direction.

In doing so, he will inevitably change the course of history and there is nothing that we Americans can do about it. If we can’t change the ultimate outcome, what can we do in the interim? We can help Senator Obama win the election. Then we might have a chance to get it right. As JFK said, “We all breathe the same air and we all cherish our children’s future.”

The political thought system that we call Democracy was born in Greece around 500 B.C. It is based on Aristotle’s political philosophy as outlined in his book POLITICS. Incidentally, in Aristotle’s POLITICS he ranked women one notch above slaves. Hence, women can thank Aristotle for creating the equal work/equal pay issue.

The 21st Century has given rise to a different kind of political thought system, a Chinese version of Democracy. It parallels Plato’s political philosophy as outlined in his book THE REPUBLIC. What is the penalty for participating in a non-Aristotelian based political thought system, the kind that Plato talks about in his book? Plato suggests that it’s being governed by a superior mind.

Am I saying that this is a good thing or a bad thing? Neither. I am making no value judgments at all. Good and bad are relative terms, subjective terms. I am simply stating facts and telling it like it is. However, I will say this: Since it is clear that we Americans seems to enjoy being governed by our inferiors, all that we have to do now is vote for more of the same -- John McCain.

Film and Television Professionals for Obama

Three Grammy Award Women on Health Care

The case for Single Payer over Public option

What's in it for me? Healthcare

My March for health care

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

Operation marathon for single payer healthcare reform`

Defend your country and democracy

For our childrens sake

Obama's Hamburger Hamlet - Much Ado About Mustard

Going Green - Write Write

Too busy to blog for a long time now...

I kissed the President and I liked it, hope Michelle don't mind it!

Remove top management of AIG, take over executive management *now.*

Supporting President Obama's Universal Health Care Plan is fiscally smart!

Obama and the New Spirit of Empathy Group

Show the President support at the Amgen Cycling Race

Create Entrepreneurs

YES WE DID, YES WE MUST

PRAYER FOR OUR PRESIDENT

Barack Obama's Amazing Letter to his Daughters Malia and Sasha

IRELAND IS DOING WHAT WE CAN'T DO.

AMERICA,THE REST OF THE WORLD WAITS, NOT JUST ISRAEL

OBAMA HAS MORE ON HIS PLATE THAN ISRAEL.

Questions on Change.gov

Post Election Thoughts, Inauguration, Military and Veterans Outreach

Thanks Dad. My Hero.

Obama-Biden Supporters Wanted To Recruit People To Be Financial Professionals-Help End The Economic Crisis

Laughter is the best Medicine

When Dreams Meet Reality.

American Press Intelligence Service - Black Friday... U.S. Currency Board was fired up and ready to go.

Green Festival Idea

An Idea for Stimulating the Economy

Laid Off, But Still Happy

Barack Obama and the New Spirit of Empathy - Video Project.

President Obama's Arts, as published in The Huffington Post

Stay In Touch!

WE DID IT!

"Funky President"

A Brit in Grant Park: Victory, high emotions and a brand new President... wowwowwow!! (Day 7)...Live from Chicago!

A changed America!

Yes We Can :: From Barack Obama, President-Elect

Our family praying for Obama to win

Today's The Day!

Our Time is Now: Vote Today

A Letter To My Republican Mother

Obama Supporters Rally for Change in California

California Phone Bankers Don't Quit

"Who's Gonna Take the Weight?"

New Friends

"Make It Happen"

Ryan Phillippe Works for Change

Here is my Story...Whats yours?

Last Four days...

Boobs For Obama - clean and tasteful

Adrian Grenier Gets to Work at Barack TV

"In the Air Tonight"

WHERE ARE THE LAWYERS OVERSEEING ALL THE VOTE FLIPPING MACHINES? WE NEED THEM NOW!

I am doggedly determined to influence every single vote towards Senator Barack Obama!

Making a difference by bus, plane or phone: Palo Alto Rally Wrap Up from Giselle Schmitz

LA County Early Voting

Los Angeles Early Vote and Phonebank Wrap Up

GOP Gift-Bag Swag

obamanowsign.com

Eric Garcetti, LA Council President, on Driving for Change

Barracuda Girl’s Economic Stimulus Package

"One Mic"

OBAMArt

What to Wear w/Joe the...?

Letter from a mother in NYC to Obama

OBAMA INSPIRED SONG & VIDEO

Phonebanking Old Hollywood Style: A Post from Nancy D in LA

"Keep Marchin'"

Obama's Path to the White House

Four Key Reasons Why Barack Obama Will Be The Next United States President (One Year On)

Should presidential candidates be required to hold regular press conferences answering questions from the media and public?

AMERICA WAKE-UP!!!

They Are Attacking Our Children!!!

Letter from Mary Jane, California Field Director, to All California Activists

Hope Is Alive All Across The World

Remove top management of AIG, take over executive management now.