Group Administrators for Obama - Collaboration Group

Time to Get Back to Work!

Obama Donna — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:06:36 EST

Where is everyone? We have an important election coming up in 2010, and all the experts are predicting the Republicans will win back the House and gain seats in the Senate. Our grassroots effort in 2008 needs to be repeated with that "Fired Up and Ready to Go!" energy. The Republican talking points are working with the help of Dick Cheney's big mouth to turn all energy to the right,

Dr. Bob's Health Care Reform Check-up 2009

Dr. Bob — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:41:43 EST

President Obama supports the current health insurance reforms in process in Congress, wholeheartedly, yet as unfinished works in progress. These bills emerged clearly as a reflection of his unending hard work, his impetus, and his inspiration, which stimulated this sea change toward a critical social justice that he and many of us have worked for much of our lives -- health care as a right, not a privilege. Everyone knows this crucial beginning is just and only that, our lifetimes may not see its end result.
Yet at the same time it seems that so many demand that President Obama hang a "Mission Accomplished" sign on this. Didn't we learn from that? Sure, we all could have demanded a single payer or robust public option right now for health care, just the way we like it. That would have been great, but impossible by any reasonable political standard in the Senate or House, like it or not. But on the other hand, whatever happened to the perspective that, "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Did we not show extreme patience when we were all on that "marathon road to victory" to the White House starting in the early primaries? Well, health care reform is another journey, another marathon, that we are all on with Barack Obama. A longer and more strenuous one, certainly, than the campaign, not to mention a one that past generations have died lining up just trying to begin. We, ourselves, might just be lucky enough to actually get the journey started and even to get in a few good miles along the road.
And in this health care reform battle, when it comes to the man we all worked so diligently to help elect, let's not lose perspective. Barack Obama is to be admired for the many significant and historical steps he has taken in his very young and burdened presidency. The uphill path of compromise, with its jeering detractors and demanding constituents takes a man of true mettle. Those who have accused him of taking the easy route have it backwards. It's the timid and unsure who quickly find only the applause lines to appease the cheering crowds of fans on the sidelines, and ignore the realities when they must be addressed. No one rallies to the cry of "compromise ahead!" Barack Obama warned us early on that to get to the real change that we really want we just might have to take the hard road. Well here it is, compromise and all. And it's not all lined with cheering crowds.
President Obama has the bravery to take this hard road to reach health care reform when it is now the only road we have beneath us, because the time is now to begin, and we may not get another time reasonably soon. Let's have the courage, maturity, and patience to walk this hard road with him.
YES WE CAN!

Dr. Bob

Sharing my old notes with you'll

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:12:24 EST

Physical conditions which are caused by emotional conflicts are generally referred to as being Psychosomatic.

The mental condition in which anxiety is not generally found is Psychopatic Personality.

The Rorschach test - Helps in a diagnostic formulation and in determining differential treatment.

Ethical values are most generally acquired through the integration into the self of parental values and attitudes.

Sharing notes and wisdom

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:50:06 EST

Children and Adults need vaccines for continued protection -so, the best thing to do is to ask you Health provider RN or Medical doctor what vaccines do you need to stay healthy and prevent diseases.

From First Lady Michelle Obama

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:25:50 EST

Tomorrow, many of us will gather around the table with family and friends to give thanks over a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy -- and let’s not forget pumpkin pie!

But for some in this country, the feast will not be as bountiful. In fact, it won’t be much of a feast at all. Hunger is on the rise in America -- hitting its highest levels in nearly 15 years. A recent report released by the USDA reveals that in 2008 an estimated 1.1 million children were living in households that experienced hunger multiple times over the past year.

To combat hunger this winter, we’re launching, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative -- a program that empowers you with all the resources you need to mobilize against the hunger crisis in your community. Learn how you can get started today:

Barack and I are committed to doing all we can to end hunger by making food programs more accessible to eligible families. But government can only do so much -- it will take all of us working together to put an end to hunger in America.

That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to get involved at Serve.gov. Find local volunteer opportunities like delivering meals to homebound seniors, offering your professional skills at a food pantry, or planting a community garden and sharing produce with your neighbors. You can also create your own volunteer opportunity using our anti-hunger toolkit.

This holiday season let’s recommit to serving our communities and working together to feed American families. Get started giving back today.

Thank you,

Michelle

First Lady Michelle Obama
The White House

Fight flu with facts! • Visit Flu.gov • Call 800-232-4636 • Text FLU2 to 87000

Prayers To Shree Ganesha DiDi Taramati and Me Yb-lem.

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:18:09 EST

Om eka dantaya vidmahe, Vakratundaye dheemahi tanno danti prachodayat.

Om gananantwa ganapati gwam hwa mahe, Priyanatwa priyapati gwam hawa mahe.

Priyanatwa priyapati gwam hawa mahe

Nidhi nantwa nidhipati gwan hawa mahe

Vyaso mamah ahm ajni garbadham

Atwamajasi garbadham.

Om vakratunda mahakaya

New LOWS & New Corruption in Luzerne County

eric HUSSEIN graff — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:50:25 EST

New lows reached by members of our group. Please vote NO to retain corrupt Luzerne County Judges. Two blind mice see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. Watchdogs of corruption at the courthouse, what a joke. The worst juvie corruption case in the HISTORY of the nation (Micheal Moore) RIGHT HERE in LUZERNE County. These two couldn't figure it out! And now WORSE yet member(s) of our group are publicly supporting one or BOTH these corrupt judges! UNBELIVABLE The good old boy (or girl) system is ALIVE & WELL its sickening..........................ERIC Z GRAFF

Netanyahu to Obama: Nobel win sign of hope for 'new era of peace'

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:00:15 EDT

Israel's leaders congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing the hope that his presidency would "usher in a new era of peace."

"Congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize for Peace," said Netanyahu in a message to Obama. "You have already inspired so many people around the world, and I know that this award also expresses the hope that your Presidency will usher in a new era of peace and reconciliation."

Netanyahu added that the Middle East was in dire need of peace, having been long marked by terror and bloodshed.

"I look forward to working closely with you in the years ahead to advance peace and to give hope to the peoples of our region who deserve to live in peace, security and dignity," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1119998.html

Do You Know That...???

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:53:49 EDT

Do you know that - Our Sweet Father God The Supreme Super Soul who is the Father of all Souls has a special place for each Souls Religions in the Soul World. God is The Creator of all the religions worldwide and all these Religions together are the leaves of that tree of life which all humanity belongs to. Every Religion is just a piece of the puzzle, and all Religions together = The Big Picture.

Public option off the table NO!

eric HUSSEIN graff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:00:37 EDT

Call backsliding Dem & Republican leaners & POLITELY asking for their support the PULIC OPTION which is one of the FEW ways we'll be able to control costs as reform moves forward examples include Sen Arlin Specter D-PA 202-224-4254, Max Baucus D-MT 202-224-2651, Susan M Collins R-ME 202-224-2623, Olympia J Snowe R-ME OR YOUR SENATOR! We need to MOVE FAST ON THIS and BOMBARD these folks!

KEEP THE PUBLIC OPTION!

eric HUSSEIN graff — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:56:23 EDT

Video: OBAMA RAISING THE BAR

Madama Ambi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:47:55 EDT

Video: Obama Raising the Bar

I made this video during the campaign and I think it still has relevance, maybe even more so right now during our country's crisis of trust.

What do you think?

President Obama speaks to the "joint session of congress,9/10/09 "

"Road " Scholar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:06:15 EDT

The President's speech to both houses of Congress next, Thur. 9/10th/09, will be addressed not only to the legislatures but also to the american people. Those of us who supported president Obama, during the primary and the general elections and now as President should ask of the White House, that the upcoming speech or address to the joint session have a "Town hall" like atmosphere. Where the President removes his jacket, rollup his sleeves and begin to talk to us all about; affordable healthcare with a public option. Make this speech like none other. Remember Mr. President,: If God be for you, who can stand against you. Respectfully the "Road Scholar".

The Health Insurance Reformers are Organized and Self- Disciplined!!!

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:36:23 EDT

Christopher Hass stated that: Thousands more woke up this morning, gathered together as neighborhood volunteer teams, grabbed clipboards and continued going door-to-door, making calls and connecting with their neighbors one-on-one as part of OFA's methodical, meticulous, focused organizing strategy.

That's Awesome, Organized and Disciplined!

Way to Go Health Insurance Reformers, Way To Go!!

Sharing my Journal notes from my notebook with y'all.

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:41:37 EDT

Caring for people with arthritis and caring for yourself.

Aspirin or ibuprofen can give one irritation and/or heartburn.

Encorage others to become active.

Gentle exercises, and activities such as meditation and or Yoga can help to reduce the effects of arthritis. Follow the care plan instructions of your health care provider carefully, and don't forget to use canes or other walking aids as needed.

Yoga - TM

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:04:48 EDT

The Yoga of Wisdom - (adapted from the Gita chapter 4) - when a person is free from attachments and the mind is rooted in wisdom everything he wants to do is to worship the Creator. People who practise Yoga pray to the Creator when they pray/Meditate to The Supreme Soul. God likeness is attained by all those who see the Creator in every action. Some people who practise Yoga offer their senses in the fire of self-abnegation and all actions of the senses and of breath in the fire which is kindled by wisdom of the yoga of self-restraint, and offer their studies of the Veda scriptures, and wisdom to the Creator=Baba=Sweet Father God.

The real Yoga person is one who is unselfish.

Enlightment

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:24:16 EDT

Emeline Goulden Pankhust was a women's right supporter, and she was arrested, and released 12 times (In 1913); she explained her Martyrdom;

"We know joy of battle .

When we have come out of the gates of prison at the point of Death,

Battered,

Starved,

Forcibly fed as some of our women have been...

Their bodies bruised,

They have felt when the prison bars were broken,

And the doors have opened,

Even at the point of Death,

They have felt the joy of battle,

And the exultion of Victory."

Enlightment

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:14:58 EDT

"He prayeth best, who loveth best, all things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us He made and loveth all."

-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Practical Ancient Yoga

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:07:28 EDT

ü Raja Yoga nFree yourself from all of negativities. nExperience from Purity and Wisdom. nThe Teachings of Raja Yoga can help The Soul break away from all bondages – and make the person free from ignorance – with knowledge – intellect and intense meditation knowledge from God = The Fruit Of The Tree Of Life nMeditation is the key to change yourself and to change the world. nMeditation is the seed for self change and world change. nLet the consciousness be focus on The Self = Soul. nGod = The Seed of the entire tree – radiating the ocean of: nLight nMight nPeace nClarity nWhen we reach the point of purity of The Soul, -we reach peace, and become as God The Father. nThen ones consciousness becomes unlimited, and one can see the whole entire tree spread before him/her. nWhen one understands that ones power and strength comes from The Seed = God The Father, and that thru meditation one can transform The Self and The World. nThe people are the world and when they change, then the world will change. nThe Tree Of Life – has to do with the intellect and the applied knowledge of Ancient Yoga Wisdom = Practical Change. nThis knowledge of ancient Yoga wisdom – is not just something for one to talk about with other – but to actually become it through the transformation of The Soul – into a Deity Soul. nThrough the power of knowledge, God transform us from a Human Being – into a Brahmin – and into a deity. nThe Tree of Life = Human Beings = God The Self = The Universal Life Force and The Seed of It all. üAncient Cabbalistic WisdomnElohim = It is one of the ten names of God the word Elohim is used often in the Hebrew Bible. nEin Sof = the word, is the cabbalistical name of God, and it means "without End" in Hebrew. nEin Sof Or = It means the light that was emanated from the Divine God/Ein Sof in the act of creation of Our Universe. nThe Hebrew Bible = It is the Old Testament known as Torah, it consist of the first five books of the bible = Books of Moses and also the books of the other Prophets plus the book of the psalms. nKite = Crown = It is the first sefira on the Tree of Life. nHochma = Wisdom = It is the second sefira on the Tree of Life. nBin The Original Psalm 23 of David ah = The third circle on The Tree of Life. nTree of Life = Human Being nHesed = Loving-kindness = It is the fourth sefira on the Tree of Life. nGevurah = Strength = It is the fifth sefira on the Tree of life. nTiferet = Beauty = It is the sixth sefira on the Tree of Life. nNetzach = Victory = It is the seventh sefira on the Tree of Life. nHod = Splendor = It is the eighth sefira on the Tree of Life. nYesod = Foundation = It is the ninth sefira on the Tree of Life. nMalkhut = Majesty = It is the tenth sefira on the Tree of Life. nTree of Life = It is the most important symbol of cabbala, for it is believed to have ten circles and twenty-two paths that connect them and keep them connected even though there exist strong forces of Creation continuously. nIt is believed that God formed and destroyed seven Universes previous to creating the one in which we at the present time live in. nThis means that our souls have been to this earth seven times previously and back to the Golden Age. nThese is actually the eighth time of the cycle of our souls. ( Each cycle of the souls last 5000 years) nCabbalistic wisdom have accepted the theory that our Universe is based on the idea in relation to principles of balance and harmony. üA Soul is a Seed Of God The Father and belonging to the tree of life – One must strive to become perfect, become as God. üWhenever you do anything good to help others don't look out for a reward, but instead do it from your heart, and do it unconditionally and God will reward you later. üTivamukti Yoga
This Yoga method focused on spiritual teachings, postures, chanting, meditation, music, readings, some light posture exercises, and are all incorporated into one class.

Health Insurance Reform

Jane Anne Jeffries Johnson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:34:36 EDT

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

Baracko is My President, compassionate, just, fair he promise change and progress I Know In my Heart that my Dear pal will grant poor little old me the tax Pardon so I can move on and get a real J.O.B.

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:06:29 EDT

üP nIt is a view of the Universe and of God which suggests that God is the same as all living and inanimate objects in the Universe. nPantheism sees God as a part of all things, as if there were an spark of divinity in everything, and therefore, that everything in the Universe is a part of God. nIt is a theory tell us that there is a Divine Spirit throughout the Universe which is part of the Divine Spirit Of God, and that there is an all powerful external God who controls the Universe and provides guidance on how human beings should conduct their lives. nTherefore if all living things are part of The Divine Spirit, then this philosophical thought carries a number of implications for human conduct. nThen it can be said that the way in which human beings treat the environment and plants, for example, must be affected by a view which sees plants as being part of God, and equally well, if we mistreat a human being than we also mistreat God.

-Pantheism Theory

Believe it or not

Rev. Dr. Yb-lem Cueva Oskowitz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:56:39 EDT

üThe Prophet Jesus was a Sage; he used to teach people by telling them stories (parables).
Mark 4: 33-34 in The Bible’s New Testament say, “And with many such parables He (Jesus) did not speak to them, and when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples”. üJesus was a Sage and a free thinker, someone who in his own way rebel against the teachings of his time such as corruption of the church back then, and the exploitation and persecution of the Jewish community by the Romans. üSo, tired of what was going on back then, one day, over 2000 years ago, the young man, Prophet Jesus, decided to do something about it, and he proclaimed himself The King of Israel and The Son of God. He knew that this act will later cause for him to be arrested and even killed. nPeople back then saw Jesus as a Revolutionary Savior who was sent from God to save them from both the church and the Romans, but later when people realized that Jesus was not going to actually fight The Romans physically or organized some kind of revolt, the people became angry against Jesus, and quite scare of the Romans and the church leaders to turn against them, and so, they decided to turn him in, and accused him. üJesus used sarcasm by calling Himself a King of Israel, making The Romans look silly, and by calling Himself God (Hinduism and Greek Philosophical concepts God=The Self), He challenged the church. üFrom The age of 13-33 it is believed that Jesus was at the Himalayas becoming a Yogi.
He was a very brave and courage's young man, and he stood his ground for what he believed even if this would had result in his death. nOn the other hand, the people in Jerusalem did not like Jesus, and this included his own family.
This was the first time in many years that the people of Jerusalem had actually accepted him as a prophet of God; at that time people were very upset at The Romans and at The Church, and many kept their old beliefs such as that in Jerusalem one of their old rituals where to scarify a good man or their first male sons to Baal and other Gods for protection and good luck. nSo, the results were some people shouting, a few days later, crucify him and others shouting do not crucify him. Nevertheless, Jesus was a wise and brave young man who meant well, and above all he was just as human as you and me. n1 Timothy, this book of the New Testament is a leadership manual, for in it Saint Paul counsels Timothy to beware of false religious teachers, public prayer, the role of women, and the requirements for elders. ü2 Timothy is a text that teaches one about endurance in ministry.
Moreover, this book is a combat manual which is designed to build up, as well as encourage Timothy to become bold and steadfast in view of the hardships of spiritual warfare.

Has Barack Obama REALLY Done Anything Yet?

Pat — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:10:37 EDT

Here's a record that I've keep, not up to date, but a list of some of the things he's done:

OFA ==> Message from David Plouffe: "It's a go"

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:20:50 EDT

From David Plouffe:

Earlier in the week, we asked if you thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air and online to show why we need heath care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.

Thanks to your support, we were able to spring into action and share with America the very personal reasons why we cannot afford to miss this one chance to finally reform our health care system.

I want you to be the first to see this powerful ad. It features real people telling their true stories of lost coverage, watching loved ones go without care, and making the case for why we need reform.

Once you watch this, you'll see what we mean about how powerful these personal stories can be -- and why we need to get them on the air right away.

Will you watch the video now, and then donate $25 or more to put it on the air?
As we speak, Congress is rapidly hammering out the details of the health care bill, and getting this message out now is crucial. Our representatives must understand how strongly we feel about the need for real reform -- and that we need it now.

In the next few days, we must decide how many of these ads we can make, where we can air them, and how many views we can guarantee. The more resources we have, the greater the impact we'll be able to make.

So watch this first video, and then please dig deep with a donation of $25 or more so we can get this ad and others like it on the air and online in key areas across the country.

https://donate.barackobama.com/healthcaread

Thanks for making it happen,

David Plouffe

P.S. -- Over 99,000 people have already donated to power our campaign for health care reform. This is the perfect time to join them, and help us hit our big goal of 100,000 donors for health care.

Blacklist

equal citizen — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:27:45 EDT

i wanted to set up an appointment with my congressman because i was blacklisted for exercising my rights as a citizen. i was locked into an office against my will to be tormented by my supervisor. i filed a formal complaint and was terriably harrassed by the healthcare institution where i worked. not able to find a job in my skilled field; i decided to start my own business. i faxed a request a month ago as instucted. i called to find out if indeed my fax was recieved and to make an appointment. i got some information per sba etc.; but no appointment. after following up with questions, i was told to apply for welfare. what a cut down. is this the change we are suppose to look forward to?

OFA==> National Health Care Day of Service

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:51:02 EDT

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

We're working hard together to help pass real health care reform by the end of the year. We also know that for so many people in our communities, America's broken health care system is a daily crisis -- but there are ways that we can help right now.

So we're organizing a National Health Care Day of Service. On Saturday, June 27th, in thousands of communities across the country, Organizing for America volunteers will roll up our sleeves, raise awareness about the urgent need for reform, and do what we can to improve vital health care services for people in need. Join us!

Learn more and sign up to organize or participate in a National Health Care Day of Service event near you.

This summer, Organizing for America will fight to ensure Americans receive much-needed health care reform in 2009. Community service is a critical piece of our health care campaign and our National Health Care Day of Service on June 27, 2009 will highlight its importance.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcservice/

The Democractic Club of Macomb Community College

Justin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:33:06 EDT

Hello all, I have started a Dems club at MCC and I intend on working not only with the Macomb OFA group, but also with local and other national officials who wish to come out to the college and speak. I am already planning some projects for the fall semester with the Black Student Union ( who helped me file the paperwork to get started) and we will jointly be putting on a documentary in the Fall on Campus. I hope to also work closely with Wayne States Dems on certain projects and maybe even OCC since their National Honor Society works closely with ours on key projects I don't see why our Dems clubs can't do the same. I hope to work in the future with the Gay/Straight Alliance on key issues of mutual self interest. Also, if the college decides to start a Debate team I have stated that I personally want to be on it, so naturally I would like to include anyone in the group who is interested. No more meetings have been scheduled currently for the summer semester as turnout for the first meeting was less than desired. I plan to recruit heavily during the Fall and contact others before than to get the word out. Any suggestions or help you can offer or if you would like to join please feel free to contact me. I am also willing to answer any questions pertaining to the group that I can. Right now everything is just getting started. I have firm commitments from local politicians and those running that they will come out and speak when the group is ready. I am hoping we will be ready when they are. You can reach me at: The Democratic Club of Macomb Community College on here or on Facebook, as well as yahoo, I am also listed on the DNC website, but I don't use that as often honestly. Contact me on here or on Facebook and eventually once the group is fully formed I will put everything on a google group as the main point of contact.

Last chance to make it to upcoming events

Justin — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:21:44 EDT

-Policy Summit at Cobo on the May 16th. 9-5

-OFA related Meeting at Macomb Library on May 17th

- MCC school board meeting on Tuesday May 19th

- The First Official Meeting of The Democratic Club of Macomb Community College May 21st

- The Relay For Life of St. Clair Shores benefiting the American Cancer Society May 29th & May 30th 12noon-12noon at blossom heath park.

- The next S.C.S. City Council meeting will take place on June 1st

- Also on June 1st there will be a discussion held on recycling programs in Michigan and how jobs may be created. This event will be held at St. John of Arc. at shady lane st. and mack ave.

- The National Summit is being held at the Marriott at the Ren Cen and tickets cost roughly $300 I believe it is too late for students to apply for sponsored tickets but I don't know for sure. This event is taking place to solve some of the problems the auto industry faces. More info at nationalsummit.org

Health Care reform is not just a good idea, it's an overdue necessity.

Tom Hayes, working for change — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:38:03 EDT

President Obama has arranged for several large trade groups, including the AMA, to join an event Monday afternoon to discuss ways to wring cost savings from the health system through more efficient practices, according to officials who briefed reporters on tomorrow's meeting. The President is expected to say that we can't continue the same way we've been going, with costs that are out of control -- that reform is not a luxury that can be postponed, but a pressing necessity.

According to a Reuter's article published on Sunday:

"A centerpiece of Obama's health proposal would be a new government health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers. The administration says the public plan would help cut costs by introducing competition, and cover the uninsured.
Republicans and insurers oppose a government plan, arguing that it would undermine the private healthcare market.
By focusing on delivering more efficient care, Obama is weighing in on one of the least controversial aspects of his healthcare proposal rather than the much more heated topic of whether to establish a new public insurance plan."

While you're wondering why anybody would oppose a plan that would both cut costs and cover the uninsured, do ask your friends that same question. Health Care is a 2 trillion dollar per year industry. Maybe somebody's making some serious green? Point friends at the article, perhaps.
It's at: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE54A01P20090511?sp=true

The fight's not over.

goo morning

Unknown user — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:36:11 EDT

dear freinds

iam glad to send this message for say you obama is doing well and he would find issue for finacial cyse we know now the world was exposed this texte yes and the worls is now one from All we know and the pepole try to do nice in the right way because the world become one blog and very short pepole must know this very importante we can't do and work Alone we do and work together for this cryse fully of problemes we met every day but we can build to gether the world now in the right way withe out war because it causes very very importante desagree we must arrange between pepole for that to stop and we nees and Ask at it place isay withe carffully PEACE the world Ask PEAce because who is paying now the invoice only children and civil pepole

best regards

lahcene

President Obama to Latin America: "Choosing a Better Future in the Americas"

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:57:43 EDT

Choosing a Better Future in the Americas
by President Barack Obama
As we approach the Summit of the Americas, our hemisphere is faced with a clear choice. We can overcome our shared challenges with a sense of common purpose, or we can stay mired in the old debates of the past. For the sake of all our people, we must choose the future.

Too often, the United States has not pursued and sustained engagement with our neighbors. We have been too easily distracted by other priorities, and have failed to see that our own progress is tied directly to progress throughout the Americas. My Administration is committed to the promise of a new day. We will renew and sustain a broader partnership between the United States and the hemisphere on behalf of our common prosperity and our common security.

In advance of the Summit, we have begun to move in a new direction. This week, we amended a Cuba policy that has failed for decades to advance liberty or opportunity for the Cuban people. In particular, the refusal to allow Cuban Americans to visit or provide resources to their families on the island made no sense – particularly after years of economic hardship in Cuba, and the devastating hurricanes that took place last year. Now, that policy has changed.

The U.S.-Cuba relationship is one example of a debate in the Americas that is too often dragged back to the 20th century. To confront our economic crisis, we don’t need a debate about whether to have a rigid, state-run economy or unbridled and unregulated capitalism – we need pragmatic and responsible action that advances our common prosperity. To combat lawlessness and violence, we don’t need a debate about whether to blame right-wing paramilitaries or left-wing insurgents – we need practical cooperation to expand our common security.

We must choose the future over the past, because we know that the future holds enormous opportunities if we work together. That is why leaders from Santiago to Brasilia to Mexico City are focused on a renewed partnership of the Americas that makes progress on fundamental issues like economic recovery, energy, and security.

There is no time to lose. The global economic crisis has hit the Americas hard, particularly our most vulnerable populations. Years of progress in combating poverty and inequality hangs in the balance. The United States is working to advance prosperity in the hemisphere by jumpstarting our own recovery. In doing so, we will help spur trade, investment, remittances, and tourism that provides a broader base for prosperity in the hemisphere.

We also need collective action. At the recent G-20 Summit, the United States pledged to seek nearly half a billion dollars in immediate assistance for vulnerable populations, while working with our G-20 partners to set aside substantial resources to help countries through difficult times. We have called upon the Inter-American Development Bank to maximize lending to restart the flow of credit, and stand ready to examine the needs and capacity of the IDB going forward. And we are working to put in place tough, clear 21st century rules of the road to prevent the abuses that caused the current crisis.

While we confront this crisis, we must build a new foundation for long-term prosperity. One area that holds out enormous promise is energy. Our hemisphere has bountiful natural resources that could make renewable energy plentiful and sustainable, while creating jobs for our people. In the process, we can confront climate change that threatens rising sea levels in the Caribbean, diminishing glaciers in the Andes, and powerful storms on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Together, we have both the responsibility to act, and the opportunity to leave behind a legacy of greater prosperity and security. That is why I look forward to pursuing a new Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas that will help us learn from one another, share technologies, leverage investment, and maximize our comparative advantage.

Just as we advance our common prosperity, we must advance our common security. Too many in our hemisphere are forced to live in fear. That is why the United States will strongly support respect for the rule of law, better law enforcement, and stronger judicial institutions.

Security for our citizens must be advanced through our commitment to partner with those who are courageously battling drug cartels, gangs and other criminal networks throughout the Americas. Our efforts start at home. By reducing demand for drugs and curtailing the illegal flow of weapons and bulk cash south across our border, we can advance security in the United States and beyond. And going forward, we will sustain a lasting dialogue in the hemisphere to ensure that we are building on best practices, adapting to new threats, and coordinating our efforts.

Finally, the Summit gives every democratically-elected leader in the Americas the opportunity to reaffirm our shared values. Each of our countries has pursued its own democratic journey, but we must be joined together in our commitment to liberty, equality, and human rights. That is why I look forward to the day when every country in the hemisphere can take its seat at the table consistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. And just as the United States seeks that goal in reaching out to the Cuban people, we expect all of our friends in the hemisphere to join together in supporting liberty, equality, and human rights for all Cubans.

This Summit offers the opportunity of a new beginning. Advancing prosperity, security and liberty for the people of the Americas depends upon 21st century partnerships, freed from the posturing of the past. That is the leadership and partnership that the United States stands ready to provide.

Open Letter to Leaders at Fem2pt0 : society’s issues + women’s voices

Madama Ambi — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:06:59 EDT

Please read my post and leave your comments at Fem2pt0's blog or wiki. The wiki can be found at www.fem2pt0.wetpaint.com.

email to Emily Kadar of Feminist Campus

Madama Ambi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:50:48 EDT

Emily–I see myself as a bridge-builder and a cross-pollinator among women’s groups, and I have been spending time getting to know all the players in the femisphere, as well as forming Feminist Advisory Board for Obama, which now exists on both Facebook and Organizing for America. I’m very impressed with Feminist Campus’ energy and organization, watched several hours of your conference on the day of, and felt very connected to the excitement and passion generated by 600 unruly feminist activists!!! I also tweeted my butt off during Lilly’s and Tina’s and Ellie’s speeches!

In addition to being supportive of many groups, I’m also a transparent organizer, regularly laying out my ideas, my visions, and inviting collaborators. As I’ve said in many places, there’s a tremendous amount of talent in the femisphere and the movement can prosper with many leaders; we don’t all have to sign onto the same agenda or even belong to the same group. That said, the more I get to know who’s doing what, the more I see women’s movement as a vast network of groups and individuals with specializations. Recently I floated the idea of unifying women’s movement on a wiki-map with a recognition of specializations so that we can share talent, resources, know-how and connections. It seems to me that the circuitry exists–the job is to strengthen our connections. Here’s an analogy from a recent article in the NY Times on brain research:

"…research…suggests that brain cells activated by an experience keep one another on biological quick-dial, like a group of people joined in common witness of some striking event. Call on one and word quickly goes out to the larger network of cells, each apparently adding some detail, some sight, sound, smell. The brain appears to retain a memory by growing thicker, or more efficient, communications lines between these cells."

Gloria Pan of Fem2.0 replied that she liked the idea but that there were too many egos involved for this to happen, to which I replied if that’s what’s holding up women’s movement, then we women need to confront it. I’m building relationships with many women and especially focusing on women of color, partly because as a Jew (secular) I don’t identify as white (although I recognize that I have had much white privilege), but also because I really feel that women’s movement cannot succeed without leadership of women of color. Women of color will be the leaders of this phase of women’s movement, imo, and I’m gung-ho on helping this happen.

My basic organizing principle for Feminist Advisory Board for Obama is that it will be networked to all other women’s groups and will facilitate direct communication from the people with the needs to the people who make public policy. This is a very big vision, and I’ve laid out some of my ideas for this in a a proposal for a needs-based women’s media network driven by user-interactivity: Our Needs Have Not Been Met: needia

Although I already feel like you are a friend, I wanted to extend myself to you and your fellow organizers in recognition of our common cause and to open up the lines of communication. Would you please pass this email to your fellow organizers? Also, you are all invited to join Feminist Advisory Board for Obama. I’m looking forward to having meaningful conversations with Feminist Campus.

this email is also posted to FAB/Facebook, FAB/OFA, FAB/Blogger and Fem2pt0

First US Ambassador-at-Large 4 Global Women's Issues

Madama Ambi — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:18:43 EDT

Feminist Daily News Wire
April 6, 2009

First US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Confirmed

Melanne Verveer was confirmed by the Senate Friday as the United State's first Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues. Several other nominees for state department positions were also confirmed Friday. According to a White House press release, "The President's decision to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues is unprecedented and reflects the elevated importance of global women's issues to the President and his entire Administration."

Verveer formerly served in the Clinton Administration as Assistant to the President and as Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff and Chief Assistant in international activities. She was also involved in establishing the President's Interagency Council on Women during the Clinton Administration.

Verveer is the Co-Founder, Chair, and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit that invests in development of women leaders globally. She has also served as Executive Vice President of People for the American Way and in a number of other legislative and international policy roles.

Media Resources: White House Press Release 3/6/09; US Senate Confirmations 4/3/09

Feminist.org: Your daily source for the feminist perspective on national and global events.

If you liked this story, consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Feminist Majority Foundation! Your contribution helps support the Feminist Daily News Wire.

Subscribe to the Feminist Daily News Wire

FAB/OFA news reported by Tom Hayes

Madama Ambi — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:21:50 EDT

http://digg.com/politics/Feminist_Advisory_Board_FAB_within_Organizing_for_America

How nice to wake up and find an idea that exists right now in my head and in words is getting eyeballs. Tom Hayes, the Synergist, has posted about FAB and http://needia.blogspot.com at his blog.

Someone has also DUGG the post! Oy, this reminds me of the months I spent doing the drill for the Obama campaign! Push push push! Digg Digg Digg! Tweet Tweet Tweet!

thank you, Mr. Tom Hayes, whoever you are...I see also that you are an entrepreneuer? Would love to have your input on needia.

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

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

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

"Ready to act on health care"

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:25:14 EDT

Fifteen years ago, many felt that if they couldn't have exactly the change they wanted, their second choice was no change at all. Last week, there were no defenders of the status quo. More than one Republican member of Congress agreed with the principles the president laid out for reform. Even a representative of the insurance companies that famously played such a huge role in killing reform in the 1990s pledged the industry's cooperation this time around.

In the past month alone, there has been important progress toward the goal of providing affordable, high-quality healthcare to all Americans. The children's health bill the president signed provides and protects coverage for 11 million children, while the Recovery Act ensures that 7 million men and women who have lost their jobs through this recession can keep their insurance. It also made critical investments in electronic medical records, prevention programs, and funding for research on the effectiveness of care.

Obama will move towards legalization of marijuana.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Net Neutrality

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:45:33 EST

Net Neutrality

Twitter is a great source of information and links to news.

There are many members of Congress on Twitter as well as Twitter members around the world.

Here is an important issue for all to be aware of:

http://tinyurl.com/ehtjs - net neutrality is an important issue on the net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9jHOn0EW8U

Investing in Our Country's Infrastructure

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:26:30 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM
Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 12:00 am Vice President Biden: "400,000 Jobs to Be Created Nationwide by Investing in our Country's Infrastructure" THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2009

Vice President Biden: "400,000 Jobs to Be Created Nationwide by Investing in our Country’s Infrastructure"

Washington, DC – After touring the Laurel, Maryland MARC Train Station, one of the thousands of rail and commuter stations all across the country in dire need of improvements, Vice President Joe Biden discussed why we must invest in our nation’s infrastructure in order to build a 21st century economy. He was joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Vice President said that 400,000 jobs will be created over the next two years nationwide if we invest in improving and upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, including mass transit systems, highways, bridges and ports. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan includes the largest investment increase – at least $100 billion – in our nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and mass transit systems, since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s.

The White House released the following report to illustrate, using Maryland as a case study example, the impact investing in infrastructure will have on our nation. Please find this report included below.

###

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan
Creating Good Jobs by Modernizing Our Infrastructure

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a nationwide effort to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform our economy for the 21st century. Across the country, this plan will help businesses create jobs and families afford their bills while laying a foundation for future economic growth in key areas like health care, clean energy, education and a 21st century infrastructure.

NATIONAL Impact of Infrastructure Investments

A key driver of job creation in the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the largest investment in America’s crumbling roads, bridges and transit lines since the creation of the national highway system. The infrastructure investments in the plan are designed to fund ready-to-go projects that can get money out into the economy quickly, while addressing longstanding infrastructure backlogs that are creating security risks for our citizens and a drag on economic growth.

· At least $100 billion to improve and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, including mass transit systems, our highways, bridges and ports. [Source: White House Estimate]

· Create or save 400,000 jobs over the next two years. Jobs will be created by improving our mass transit systems, rebuilding roads, bridges, waterways, ports and more. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009.]

MARYLAND Impact of Infrastructure Investments
This historic infrastructure investment will provide direct, immediate support to Maryland, including:

· At least $400 million to improve Maryland’s highways, $100 million to upgrade and expand transit systems in Maryland and $150 million to invest in water and sewer projects in the state. [Source: White House Estimate]

· Funding sufficient to modernize at least 138 schools in Maryland so our children have the labs, classrooms and libraries they need to compete in the 21st century economy. [Source: White House Estimate]

NATIONAL OVERALL IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PLAN

The recovery plan will create and save jobs in the near future while addressing long-term needs that are critical to laying the foundation for a strong economic future. Specifically it will:

· Create or save 3 to 4 million jobs over the next two years. Independent analyses by Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody’s have confirmed that the recovery plan will meet this jobs goal.[1] Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector.[2]

· Spend out at least 75% of the package in the first 18 months after passage. By including major fast-spending provisions like tax cuts for middle class families, measures to avoid state health care cuts, and temporary expansions of unemployment insurance, food stamps and health care for unemployed workers, the package will spend out at least 75% of its total commitment within the first 18 months after passage. The Administration will work with Congress to refine this package to ensure that it meets this 75% goal.

· Double renewable energy generating capacity over three years, creating enough renewable energy to power 6 million American homes.

· Computerize every American’s health record in five years, reducing medical errors and saving billions of dollars in health care costs.

· Launch the most ambitious school modernization program on record, sufficient to upgrade 10,000 schools.

· Enact the largest investment increase in our nation’s roads, bridges and mass transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950.

Maryland Overall Impact OF THE RECOVERY PLAN:
The national economic crisis has devastated states across the country, and Maryland is no exception. Unemployment in Maryland is at a 15 year high, up 60 percent over the past year. In just the last four months, the state has lost more than 30,000 jobs. The recovery and reinvestment plan is urgently needed to help stem this downturn and jumpstart job creation across the state. Overall, the plan will:

· Create or save 70,000 jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009.]

· Jobs created or saved include about 9,500 in Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Laurel.

· Provide a Making Work Pay tax cut of up to $1,000 for 2,210,000 Maryland workers and their families. The plan will make a down payment on the President’s Making Work Pay tax cut for 95% of workers and their families, designed to pay out immediately into workers’ paychecks. [Source: White House Estimate based on IRS Statistics of Income]

[1 Macroeconomic Advisers, "Fiscal Stimulus to the Rescue?" January 15, 2009; Zandi, Mark. "The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," Moody’s Economy.com, January 21, 2009. Available at: http://www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/Economic_Stimulus_House_Plan_012109.pdf. ] [2 Romer, Christina and Jared Bernstein. "The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." January 9, 2009. Available at: http://otrans.3cdn.net/45593e8ecbd339d074_l3m6bt1te.pdf. ]

Change The White House to The People's House, Repost by Denise Hawkins

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:25:38 EST

Hello All,

I think the White House should be renamed to mark President Obama's historic Inauguration which represents true change and it will assuredly usher in a new a era of diplomacy and accountability in gov't. A gov't that will give more power to the people!

President Obama has called the White House, the "People's House"
several times!

What do you think, there's a precedent for this!

In 1791, President George Washington and Pierre L'Enfant, an architect who helped plan the layout of Washington, D.C., chose the site of the "President's House." (It would later be known as "President's Palace" and the "Executive Mansion," before President Theodore Roosevelt christened it the White House in 1901.) In a contest to choose the architect, Irish-born James Hoban beat out eight other proposals with his practical and handsome design, and the first cornerstone was laid in 1792

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The White House is the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public, free of charge. Thomas Jefferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805, and he welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year's Day and the Fourth of July. In 1829, a horde of 20,000 Inaugural callers forced President Andrew Jackson to flee to the safety of a hotel while, on the lawn, aides filled washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to lure the mob out of the mud-tracked White House.

Inaugural crowds continued to attend receptions at the White House through much of the 19th century. But when Grover Cleveland was first sworn in as President in 1885, he held a presidential review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand built in front of the White House -- an event that evolved into the official Inaugural parade we know today. Receptions on New Year's Day and the Fourth of July continued to be held until the early 1930s.
====
Please help me e-mail the White House, if you agree!
Thanks, Denise

    The White House
    1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
    Washington, DC 20500

.
Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD

Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
Windows Live™ Hotmail®...more than just e-mail. See how it works.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to 406 members of Obama Rapid Response
Your reply will be sent to: hawkinsdr@hotmail.com

Repost of YES WE DID, YES WE MUST by Carla Mays, Jan 23rd, 2009

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:55:02 EST

YES WE DID, YES WE MUST By Carla Mays - Jan 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 am EST Also listed in: 8 groups

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

My Inauguration Experience: January 20, 2009 Was A Wonderful Experience In spite of the Cold

FREDERICA — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:12:31 EST

My Inauguration Experience: A Wonderful Experience In spite of the Cold I have always wondered what it was like when so many people saw Martin Luther King gave his ‘I have a Dream Speech’. On Jan 20, I was able to capture that feeling.

January 20 was a cold day. I arrived by bus. I was located far in the pack on the hill next to the Washington Monument. It was so cold my hands were numb; I guess I should have worn knit gloves rather than leather. I didn't notice when I dropped the hand warmer I paid 5 dollars for and I did not notice when I dropped the inaugural program I paid 10 dollars for from someone selling them in the mall.

I and so many others around me ended up being separated by the groups we came with. I turned around and saw my Aunt and cousin and in a few seconds of turning my head we were all separated. So looking around in despair I knew we could meet up at the bus, so I pushed further. As a matter of fact at that moment I ran into a block when an armor truck needed to inch through the crowd. As the crowd moved out of its way I like so many got behind it and inch through as it cleared a path to move forward through the crowd. That was how it was you were either moving along with a group of people are you were ducking and turning as you were following someone in military uniform or someone else who was able to dive and weave in and out through the crowd. What an adventure!

In spite of the cold it was a wonderful day. When I looked around me it was as if I stepped into another moment in time. I realized what it must have felt like during various times in history when people were able to embrace significant changes. The streets were similar to the ones you see in movies about wars. The people looked like they wore everything they owned to keep warm. You couldn't see the ground before you and the person in front of you had to tell you step up and step down. If there was a gate I often ran into because there were so many people you couldn't see that far ahead. People were climbing over fences just to get closer to the screens. Where I was on the hill was about a four ft climb up just to get closer to the screen. Oh I tried several routes to get to further screens up along the mall, but I kept running into a wall of people.I

think about all those people and I see the descendent of slaves, refuges, Jews, Christians, and any other group that were once oppressed because of just who they are. On that hill I thought I was in a forest, because there were so many of us up there. I did not notice the children playing on blankets on the ground until I was next to them. People were in trees and on the top of buildings (of course before the police told them to step down). This was a Pilgrimage in history for hope and change.

I'll never forget when a man said, he had to move because a Teenage girl in a wheel chair stood up on two broken legs. Of course people on the hill jokingly chimed ‘Barack Obama could heal the sick’, 'Barack could heal the lame'. I'll tell you something else that was funny; imagine my surprise when I arrived home my whole hair was frosted white. Immediately I sprayed some oil sheen on it. I love to gain wisdom but not like that. I guess it was just the cold air of Inauguration Day.

YES WE DID, YES WE MUST

Carla Mays — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:03:34 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

Barack Obama, Inauguration As President of the United States

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:29:07 EST

President Barack Obama is inaugurated as President of the United States of America!

Hope fills the hearts of everyone watching.

Peace remains foremost in the minds and hearts of Americans and People around the world.

Change is coming to our U.S. Government, banks, corporations, businesses, and People.

Amazing grace has uplifted the spirits of People everywhere.

Responsibility is awakened again for our Nation to be an example of Goodness in the World.

We all have a part in determining our personal happiness and a responsibility to others.

We, as a nation, are blessed and united with this new First Family, the Obama Family.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Malia and Sasha are the greatest example of a happy, responsible family that we could ever hope for.

We, all together with the Obamas, make History, each of us and all of us Together!

The People's Agenda

Dana — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:38:04 EST

After a frustrating few days using the Citizen's Briefing Book on change.gov - only to have them pull the plug - I've taken the initiative to launch an open-source, citizen-driven project to create its replacement: The People's Agenda ( http://www.99americans.org/ )

This is an invitation to any or all of you to come there and help me with this effort.

This was the best way I could think of to spend the last few working hours of this national day of service.

My Response to the Final Eviction of Bush and Cheney

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:42:29 EST

This is me break-dancing xo_xo_xo_xo_xo_xo_cccyyyyy and now this me laying on the floor in an awkward position screaming help I've fallen and I can't get up zzz#urrrggg<>....(LOL). Yeah!!!!!

No More Bushes!!!!
No More Bushes!!!!
No More Bushes!!!!
and Cheneys!!!!!!.

1/20/09.

It's done!

Eva from Yarmouth Port, MA — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:28:52 EST

Please read an excerpt from the Grassroots for Change position paper. Click here to full document, submitted to HHS and Change.gov today. Read it online at hhs.grassrootsforchange.org
Healthcare delivery and health insurance are separate and independent service offerings and are best not bundled, when discussing issues of reform, accountability and change. While the science of health care delivery is best left to professionals, the average consumer - ie an ordinary person should be able to understand simple, equitable , accountable and transparent choices both in consumption of health care services and in the purchase and use of health insurance plans. Any reform is best measured by grassroots oversight and channels of review driven by market forces and an ordinary person's common sense. Lack of such "user friendliness" either in the consumption of health care services or in the purchase of health insurance, has led to isolation of the "consumer". This isolation is causative in the total lack of confidence on part of the consumer, in the "system".
The same ordinary person who is capable of navigating a complex i-phone cannot begin to protect him/her self without being swindled by or otherwise deluged with "the insurance" gorilla or the occassional "provider" mafioso old boy network, especially, in small town America.

Dec 31 deadline for contributions / suggestions

Eva from Yarmouth Port, MA — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:07:57 EST

Hi,

Please let us know of your blogs or posts on healthcare. We are looking for your suggestions.

Our work in progress is available by clicking here.

If you would like to edit the work in progress directly, please register by clicking here.

Thanks for the incredible work that you are doing. We value it immensely at Grassroots for Change.

Post Election Thoughts, Inauguration, Military and Veterans Outreach

Carla Mays — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:03:38 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!!!!!

Great New Song

David Butterfield — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:49:38 EST

From Micahael Franti and Spearhead, the Barack Obama Song:

<http://c.ilike.com/d/0000/355/0000355420.mp3?fn=Michael%20Franti%20&%20Spearhead-Obama%20Song.mp3> http://c.ilike.com/d/0000/355/0000355420.mp3?fn=Michael%20Franti%20&%20Spearhead-Obama%20Song.mp3

Download and pass it on!

Inauguration Request - An Open Letter

Laura — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:53:31 EST

This is an open letter to all those attending next month's inauguration.

In just over a month, millions of Americans will be flocking to Washington, DC to celebrate this historic Presidential Inauguration. As an early and enthusiastic supporter of President –Elect Obama, I welcome my fellow celebrants to the party. As a DC resident, I’m thrilled that so many of my friends from all over this great nation will be joining in the fun.

However, as a DC resident, I am deeply concerned about my city council’s decision to keep Washington bars open 24 hours during the days preceding the inauguration.

Since I can’t do anything to stop the decision, I am writing this letter as a concerned mother and fellow Obama supporter.

Please do not come to my town and get so drunk that you litter my streets or drive drunk on my roads. The roads you use to return home from the bars are the same ones that take my kids to school.

Please do not engage in crass behavior that will embarrass me in front of my children. Don’t make me explain explicit adult behaviors to my five year old son and his three year old brother.

Please do not get into fights or start screaming matches with McCain supporters. While these people may be your political adversaries, they are my neighbors.

You see, for many, Washington is just host to the Party of the Century. For me, it’s the city where my kids go to school, the home where I rest, the roads I drive and the parks where my children play.

Please remember that there will be families working, going to school and living at this party venue. We deserve the kind of dignity and consideration our President-Elect has modeled during the two years of his campaign.

Thank you.

Laura Owen

Washington, DC

just moved to FL from IL-looking for events

freedom4u_n_me — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:44:55 EST

Hello, I'm Gail and I just moved here from Peoria,IL. I'm a middle aged woman with 2 children and 3 grandkids. I've been involved with Barack's campaign since the beginning.

I'm looking for fellow supporters to meet with, plan activities, and find volunteer opportunities.............I'm also looking for a job!!

I'd love to hear from you!

I'm admin of the following groups: Obama in the Heart, Peoria, IL, Illinois chapter of Families for Obama and Phi Theta Kappa members 4Obama.

Let's start making that change!

I look forward to hearing from you!

ECONOMIC SECURITY PRESS - - - - - - DOW Down nearly 700 points droppin’ in search of the bottom: 7000? 6000?… U.S. Recession is official. Countdown to economic recovery -- 12 months maybe 2 years…

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a definition of feminism

Madama Ambi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:35:52 EST

Professor Bettina Aptheker's popular course at University of CA, Santa Cruz, has released a 17-DVD set of her lectures covering an entire academic quarter.

You can view a short video clip of her giving her own definition of feminism--click here.

There's more info at my blog Feminist Advisory Board for Obama

Russian Economist Predicts Breakup of United States -- Time to Take the Blinders Off

Cindy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:21:59 EST

True fact. He also correctly predicted our current financial crisis - ten years ago! (citation below) Frankly, his accuracy scares the living daylights out of me.

What can we do to avoid total financial meltdown and breakup as a country? Here's my two cents:

1. TOTAL HONESTY. Until anchorman Peter Jennings had the personal integrity to insist that the war in Iraq be finally and correctly publicly called a civil war because it had, in fact, long since degenerated to one, America wasn't getting the information that the situation was far worse, not better as Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld insisted in claiming. All of a sudden, American opinion changed and there were outraged calls for us to stop wasting our money and to get out of Iraq. We need that kind of total honesty right now, and we're not getting it from Bush.

2. SPEND HERE, NOT EVERYWHERE ELSE. It's time to stop the arrogance of supporting the entire world. We don't have the money to support everybody else's economies. Period. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. THE WELL IS DRY.

3. REORDER OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES. Quit spending billions to preserve the last known habitat of the Kingfisher and other minor actors on this planet. Species die out. There are plenty more birds, snakes, etc. Move on.

4. REFUSE TO FUND BUSH'S LARGESS. George Bush just gave a speech yesterday about how he was defiantly continuing to send money to other countries so that they could have economic progress, good homes, educaton, etc. Screw that. We are losing all of that right now, right here, in our own country. What does it take, giving away every last penny before somebody finally admits the horror is actually true? We need the money right here. Period.

5. STOP SPENDING ON THE ARTS. Now this will anger a lot of people. But right now, we don't need new little theatre groups, dance troupes, more art shows, etc. Nobody can even afford to go see that stuff now, anyway. Also, the phrase "starving artist" should not be a historic relic. After all, we've all now got starving neighbors. Everybody into the pool.

6. NO MORE HANDOUTS TO BANKS, COMPANIES, INSURERS, ETC. UNLESS THEY SHOW A PLAN. And that plan had damn well better show that the 25 top officers and managers in the company are taking a severe compensation package cut. Like, no stock options. No performance unit plan payouts. Base salary only for a few years. Oh, and salary freezes throughout the company, with voluntary, alternating short-term layoffs. The goal should be to preserve jobs, not the earnings potential of the fat cats. Why hasn't anybody followed the lead of Goldman Sachs on cutting executive salaries, I'm asking? And why the CRAP was it so important for the government to pay $400,000,000 for naming the new Yankee stadium the "Citi Center"? If it doesn't put food on the table or keep the roof over our heads, it's not critical, period.

7. ADDITIONAL REGULATION OF THOSE WHO ALREADY GOT THEIR HANDOUTS. Impose the same salary and compensation limits on those who stuck out their panicked, greedy hands already. Congress, get off your butts and pass a law, already.

8. STOP BEING BLEEDING HEARTS. This will sound heretical, but we need to stop throwing money at every single perceived ill. Everybody has their hand out all the time. Time for people to just get them slapped away. If it isn't critical to feeding people, clothing people, or putting a roof over their heads, don't spend on it. DON'T spend on it. Don't SPEND on it. Don't spend on IT. Think like a Republican when it comes to non-critical spending.

9. JUST SAY NO. We're spoiled as a nation. We've got closets full of clothes, shoes, accessories, suits, ties, etc. when a few will do. Two cars in many families because it's more convenient, a luxury. And just stuff, stuff, stuff that marketers tell us makes our lives more complete, meaningful and enjoyable. Just say no. Their marketing pleas fill their pockets with moola, not yours. Time to suffer. One TV per household, not one on every floor. Wear your scruffies and read a good book more often. Yes, companies will go bankrupt, restaurants will close, fewer movies will be made, etc. After one massive shakeout, we'll all be doing what we should be doing - paying more attention to home, hearth, and each other, and less attention to stuff.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashrur.htm

Barack Obama Steps Up For Georgia and Jim Martin

Shawn O'Donnell — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:17:50 EST

Barack Obama Steps Up For Georgia and Jim Martin

Hillary as Secretary of State? Oopsie, Small Matter of Constitutional Bar

Cindy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:53:49 EST

Ok, sportsfans. Bill Clinton has promised to cooperate fully with vetting, scale back his relationship with his foundation, disclose his clients, and other limits, "anything they want," to help Hillary land the Secretary of State position. So what could possibly go wrong?

The Constitution, that's what.

Specifically, Article I, Section 6, Clause 2, which provides that "No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; ...."

Emoluments? Yep. Pay raises, among other things. And, wouldn't you just know it, Congress approved a pay raise for for cabinet posts during Hillary's current senate term. The Huffington Post quotes the Washington post for this tidbit:

"In Clinton's case, during her current term in the Senate, which began in January 2007, cabinet salaries were increased from $186,600 to $191,300."

As Keith Olbermann would say, "Oops."

There is another solution, however, successfully employed once before in the "Saxbe Fix," which evidently involved repealing the pay raise for the duration of an unexpired Senate term so that Sen. Saxbe could be appointed attorney general in the Nixon Administration, even though he was a Senator when the Attorney General's salary had been raised. This little end-run dates back to the Taft administration, and U.S. Attorney Generals have sometimes allowed it and other times declared it not constitutionally permissible.

For more fun reading, see the full Huffpost article and a nifty online exerpt from The Heritage Guide to the Constitution:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/13/hillary-clinton-secretary_n_143735.html?page=29&show_comment_id=18149463#comment_18149463

http://books.google.com/books?id=-_8N3UeXeesC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=Saxbe+Fix&source=web&ots=kYTyZxZMRN&sig=mQGRqI7568yqqURydEIExjExhtY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result

We Have The Perfect Dog for the Obamas--check out the one in the middle

Dena, St. Thomas — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:22:05 EST

Click headline to enlarge
V.I. shelters offer Obama choices for the next First Dog
By GENEVIEVE RYAN
Tuesday, November 18th 2008

Daily News Photo by SEAN McCOY Please, Mr. President, pick me. Dolly, Loretta and Reba are three Chihuahua mixes.

President-elect Barack Obama made a now-famous Election Night promise to his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7: "You've earned that new puppy that is coming with us to the White House."

There's no taking it back now - he said it front of a hundred thousand people in Grant Park, Chicago and hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide.

Obama's was the first acceptance speech in U.S. history to include the mention of a family pet, though presidential pets certainly have received their share of the limelight. The White House website has an entire section devoted to the pets that have occupied their masters' chambers, and there is even a Presidential Pets Museum in Williamsburg, Va.

There hasn't been a president in residence in the White House in a long, long time who did not own a dog. Not since Woodrow Wilson, in fact.

Most presidential dogs were purebreds - a notable exception was Lyndon Johnson's mixed breed, which he named J. Edgar - but Obama hopes to adopt a "mutt" for his daughters - from a shelter where there are "mutts like me," our 44th president said in his first news conference as president-elect.

Obama disclosed that the family will need to find a "hypoallergenic" dog because his daughter Malia has allergies.

Dr. Jack Boden, veterinarian at Imperial Animal Hospital on St. Thomas, said that dogs that don't shed are the best option for people who suffer from allergies. When a dog sheds, the skin attached to the root of the hair follicle - skin that contains the protein to which some people are allergic - breaks up into small particles that can be breathed in, Boden said.

Frequently brushing the dog is good for both the dog and owner who suffers from allergies because it stimulates oils in the skin to keep the coat shiny and gets rid of fur that would otherwise be spread throughout the house.

"By and large, short-haired dogs with single coats - no undercoat - seem to be the best recommendation for allergy sufferers," said Boden.

Some of the breeds and mixes that are considered hypoallergenic are Chihuahuas - both long-hair and short-hair - Bichon Frisé, Greyhound, Schnauzer, Poodle, Goldendoodle or any Poodle hybrid, Yorkshire, Silky Terrier and any from a long list of non-shedding terriers.

Many websites have emerged to help the Obama family find a dog, including www. obamafamilydog.com, and thousands of people have given opinions on personal blogs and on news websites.

But since the Obamas have stated they would like to get a dog from a shelter, what better place than from one here in the Virgin Islands?

If the Obamas are interested in Chihuahuas, The Humane Society on St. Thomas has three cute little Chihuahua-mix puppies up for adoption. The three are 2-month-old sisters found in the Crown Bay area and brought into the shelter on Oct. 19. All are in good health and have up-to-date shots. Dolly is a short hair mix and has a cream coat with a little touch of white, and Loretta and Reba are both tan with short hair. All three have sweet dispositions, the Humane Society staff say.

On St. Croix, the Animal Welfare Center has more than 100 dogs waiting for adoption, and most are mixed breeds.

Shortly before Election Day, the AWC put two of the mixed breed puppies up for adoption: "Obama," a black and white Crucian mix, and "McCain," a lab-bulldog mix. McCain was adopted the day before the election, but "Obama" is still waiting for a home.

A White House would be nice - big lawn, lots of room to run, two adoring little girls to play fetch with.

"Obama" has qualities of "leadership and and can-do attitude" said Animal Welfare Center's communications director, Gretchen Sherrill.

Other St. Croix shelter puppies that might work for the Obamas are "Sticky," a black terrier mix with longish fur and brown eyes, and "Chrissy," also a terrier mix. "Chrissy" has short tan fur with a white chest and belly and a dark brown face.

"I think it'd be great to have a Crucian in the White House; we'd love for the Virgin Islands to be represented through man's best friend," said Sherrill.

To find out about animals for adoption on St. Croix, call 778-1650, on St. John, call 774-1625 and on St. Thomas, call 775-0599.

First dogs

The dogs that belonged to the presidents of the United States. As Harry Truman said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."

- George Washington: Mopsey, Taster, Cloe, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweetlips and Searcher, all foxhounds.

- Thomas Jefferson: Briards and foxhounds.

- James Monroe: Spaniel.

- John Tyler: Le Beau, a greyhound.

- Abraham Lincoln: Jip and Fido, unknown breeds.

- Ulysses S. Grant: Faithful, a Newfoundland.

- Rutherford B. Hayes: Grim, a greyhound; Duke, an English mastiff; Hector, a Newfoundland; Dot, a terrier.

- Grover Cleveland: Unnamed Japanese poodle.

- Benjamin Harrison: Dash and various dogs of unknown breeds.

- Theodore Roosevelt: Pete, a bull terrier; Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever; Skip, a mixed breed; Manchu, a Pekingese; Jack and Peter, both terriers.

- Woodrow Wilson: Davie, an Airedale.

- Warden Harding: Laddie Boy, an Airedale; Old Boy, a bulldog.

- Calvin Coolidge: Peter Pan, a terrier; Paul Pry, an Airedale; Rob Roy, a white collie; Prudence Prim, a white collie; Calamity Jane, a Shetland sheepdog; Tiny Tim and Blackberry, both Chow Chows; Ruby Rough, a collie; Boston Beans, a bulldog; King Kole, a German shepherd; Bessie, a collie; and Palo Alto, a setter.

- Herbert Hoover: King Tut, a German shepherd; Big Ben and Sonnie, both fox terriers; Glen, a Scottish collie; Yukonan, an Eski.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fala, a Scottish terrier; Majora, a German shepherd; Meggie, a Scottish terrier; Winks, a Llewellyn setter; Tiny, an English sheepdog; President, a Great Dane; and Blaze, a mastiff.

- Harry S. Truman: Feller, a cocker spaniel; and Mike, an Irish setter.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower: Heidi, a Weimaraner.

- John F. Kennedy: Charlie, a Welsh terrier; Shannan, an Irish cocker spaniel plus their puppies: Blackie, Butterfly, Streaker, and White Tips. Also, Pushinka, a gift from the premier of Russia, who was the daughter of Laika, the first dog in space.

- Lyndon B. Johnson: Him and Her, both beagles; Freckles, their puppy; Blanco, a white collie; Yuki, a mixed breed; J. Edgar, a mixed breed.

- Richard Nixon: Vicky, a poodle; Pasha, a Yorkshire terrier; and King Timahoe, an Irish setter. Checkers, a cocker spaniel, immortalized in a 1952 political speech by vice presidential candidate Nixon, died five years before Nixon was elected president.

- Gerald Ford: Liberty, a golden retriever.

- Jimmy Carter: Grits, a mixed breed.

- Ronald Reagan: Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres; Rex, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

- George H. W.Bush: Millie*, a springer spaniel; Ranger and Spot, two of Millie's puppies.

- Bill Clinton: Buddy, a Chocolate Labrador.

- George W. Bush: Spot, Millie's daughter, an English springer spaniel; Barney and Mrs. Beasley, Scottish terriers.

* While in the White House, Millie was a busy dog. She "co-authored" a children's story, "Millie's Book," with the help of First Lady Barbara Bush and she gave birth to a litter of six puppies, one of which was Spot, who returned to the White House with President George W. Bush, making Spot the only dog with the distinction of being a second-generation presidential dog.

- Contact reporter Genevieve Ryan at 774-8772 ext. 340 or e-mail gryan@dailynews.vi.

Will Obama "Rule" or "Run" this Country?

Cindy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:37:07 EST

I'm dismayed by the number of newscasters who are counting down the days until Obama "rules" the nation. Were they not paying attention when a "ruling" GWB overran and trashed this country's laws, economy, and future? I want to see a president who RUNS this country, not rules it.

RUNS it. Like a well-oiled machine. Like people can actually speak up and talk back to him, and air their views without fear of retribution.

Despite all of GWB's actions notwithstanding, this isn't a monarchy. The press should be more careful in how it characterizes our government and the people who will be running it.

Alan Keyes and Obama's birth certificate

Cindy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:29:27 EST

Alan Keyes is now suing to prove that Obama isn't a United States citizen. In my opinion, he's just a vindictive sore loser. Hawaii has already provided a certified birth certificate.

What, exactly, does it take to convince these loonies, and why should anybody else have to bear the litigation cost of their obsessions? What a total waste of everybody's time and money.

POPLUV THE PAYGO... Bail Out the American Auto Makers!

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The fixed direct payments $250 and $1050 distributed by the trust executive administration management includes the refundable fee paid by the contributor.

The bank wire transfer cycle only takes a few days. The direct payment distribution cycle is 20 business days in a 30 day calendar month.

The currency board facilitates 50 single unit [contributors] transactions at a time. Once the trust executive administration management has completed and satisfied all transactions with direct payment distributions it will handle the next 50 single unit [contributors] transactions.

All direct payments are distributed by trust executive administration managers strictly to a local community bank by bank wire transfer. Direct payment distributions are bank wired to the local community bank the corresponding contribution was received from.

The currency board only has 50 million positions that individuals can work from. A person must be a member of the group POPLUV THE PAYGO; they must register their legal full name, mailing address, and email address at esp.ness.contact@hotmail.com; the person must pledge to complete single unit transactions and maintain a 50 unit Currency Board Activity Report; the person must pledge to accept pledge contributions and referrals from the my.barackobama.com group POPLUV THE PAYGO.

Leave Clinton in the Senate, PLEASE

Dena, St. Thomas — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:40:54 EST

I didn' trust Clinton to be VP and I sure don't trust her to be Sec. of State. President-Elect, please leave her where she is or she will undermine you, for sure.

I sent email from BarackObama.com, now Detective Merlin Ghobrial investigating me?? help!

Jersey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:23:41 EST

I can t believe it, but my patriot spirit may have gotten me in trouble here. Weeks later a detective shows up at my house today questioning me about this email I sent from my.barackobama.com.

I am feel very confused at this point and annoyed I bothed to email for Barack Obama. I imported my contact list from my g-mail account and the person who is complaining I a one point was in their office trying to sell them mortgage leads. So this is how I originally obtained their email. I havent sent them not even 1 email since April 2008 until now when I emailed out my contact list here on this website.

Is anyone else here going through the same thing. I feel entrapped a little.

Sorry about my spelling, but this note is not worth the time of a spell checker to me. I just look for answers and opinions from others on my situation.

Thanks,

Mind of Jersey

Ten Online Ideas for Obama in Government

Steven from Minneapolis, MN — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:34:03 EST

Here are ten quick ideas for the coming Obama administration. The GSA commissioned this article last year. A PDF version and looong version with international examples is available.

Ten Practical Online Steps for Government Support of Democracy

By Steven Clift
Chair, E-Democracy.Org and Ashoka Fellow

This article will appear in the upcoming Intergovernmental Solutions newsletter of the U.S. federal
General Services Administration: http://tinyurl.com/2dhl9s

Does e-government have anything to do with democracy and citizen participation? Let's get
straight to the point - not yet.

Should it?

Yes. Government should be leading a charge into the increasingly and fundamentally interactive
web.

Information access, considered the safe starting point for government accountability online now
mostly presents the public a daunting needle in a huge haystack. This system is so complicated
that the valuable and substantive information that government produces is often ignored in the
increasingly interactive public lives of active citizens. . The lack of real and effective online access
to governance will substantially increase cynicism about and distrust in government among a
public that demands a more participatory representative democracy.

A bit of context: I coordinated e-government for the State of Minnesota in its early days. As a
citizen, I independently started E-Democracy.Org which created the world’s first election
information and discussion website in 1994. When “services first, democracy later” enveloped
most e-government projects, I went independent in late 1997. Since then, I've spoken and
consulted across 26 countries on "e-democracy.”

Here are the 10 things I would do in government at every level to help rescue our democracy in
the information age.

1. Timely, personalized access to information that matters.

Government decision-making information is not really public or relevant if people cannot act on it
when it still matters. Give people tools like personalized e-mail alerts based on keywords,
location, etc. and eliminate the "nobody told me" backlash government often receives due to
poor public outreach. Every government needs a “what’s new” democracy portal or a thematic
section covering all democratic processes as part of their main website.

2. Help elected officials receive and sort, then better understand and respond to email.

E-mail overload is the number one complaint I hear from elected officials around the world. Most
want to respond effectively, but simply aren't being provided the tools they need. If there ever
was an opportunity for open source collaboration among governments, this is it. In general, our
representatives and representative institutions must start to invest in the online infrastructure
they need to connect directly with the public they represent.

3. Dedicate at least 10% of new e-government developments to democracy.

Let’s define democracy starting with public input. In an e-service initiative, the 10% should start
with citizen focus groups to guide the design of the service, usability testing and studies to
generate user input and accountability, and post-transaction user surveys. If the investment is a
new content management system for information access, then use the 10% to add
personalization and survey input features or democratized navigation (those nifty menus that
show you the top ten articles viewed that day or week).

4. Announce all government public meetings on the Internet in a uniform manner.

All public meeting notices, agendas, handouts, and digital recordings must be online. The system
should be standards-based and tie state-by-state systems into a national network covering
federal, state, and local government public meetings. This is the only way for people to ask to be
pro-actively notified of any government public meetings within a certain geographic area
addressing specific topics that interest them.

5. Allow citizens to look-up all of their elected officials from the very local to national
in one search.

Along with the ability to look-up all public meetings, Americans should have the right to easily
determine who all the elected and appointed officials are who represent them currently. Just
before elected and appointed officials assume office, every government unit should be required
to submit contact information for those officials into a national database.

6. Host online public hearings and dialogues (or “e-consultations” as they are known
outside the U.S.)

As in-person public meetings begin to incorporate live online features, envision more deliberate
online exchanges to improve the outcomes of the decision-making process. If your government
agency hosts three public hearings across the country or your state, host the fourth hearing
online over a week or two and improve the format in the process. In 10 years, the legislatures,
commissions and city councils not holding hearings online will be in the minority.

7. Embrace the rule of law by mandating the most democratically empowering online
services and rights across the whole of government.

Technology itself is not forcing real institutional democratic change. I estimate that 90% of the
democratic innovations online that really share power are based on a political tradition or law
that existed before the Internet arrived. If we want all citizens to benefit universally from a more
wired democracy, then now is time to update our legal requirements and fund core online
democracy services.

8. Promote dissemination through access to raw data from decision-making
information systems.

Let’s explode decision-making data, like Congressional information and rulemaking related
content into bits via XML and open standards and make it easy to re-use public government data
from many sources to create views and searches that provide insight, understanding, and
accountability. Think “Web 2.0” interactivity built on top of government data by those outside of
government.

9. Fund Open Source sharing internationally across e-government.

Sharing and supporting open source software takes resources – a consortium of national
governments need to step up with collaborative funding. The new and less cluttered area of eparticipation tools are an ideal starting point within e-government to reduce technology costs and
build systems for use by multiple governments.. Efforts to place modules and customizations out
for community use will be key. Government and its vendors must contribute code back for the
wheels of reciprocal value to start turning.

10. Local up – a strategic approach to building local democracy online.

To build e-participation momentum, citizens need to experience results they can see and touch.
By investing in transferable local models and tools, more people will use the Internet as a tool to
strength their communities, protect and enrich their families and neighborhoods, and be heard in
a meaningful way. Every community needs an “online town hall,” E-Democracy.Org calls them
Issues Forums, for agenda-setting discussion of public issues. Comparative evaluation of access
and participation related online service and content indicators will introduce efforts for an online
"Democracy Tune-up." This same tune-up concept should be applied at the state and federal
level as well.

Conclusion

In the early days, folks thought the Internet was inherently democratic. Parts of it are, but that
mistaken sense of technological determinisms has not carried over to make constitutional and
legally-ground representative processes more open and responsive. Today, “politics as usual”
online may actually make things worse. Civically conceived e-participation efforts need to counter
such negative trends rather than being viewed as an extra option. Ultimately, each generation
needs to rebuild democracy with the special tools of their time. Our tools are online and our
democracy needs us.

Steven Clift leads the “Online Consultation and E-Participation” online community of practice at
DoWire.Org and shares numerous articles on e-democracy from Publicus.Net. An extended
version of this article with specific examples is available from that site.

Michelle Obama will be an amazing First Woman

Madama Ambi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:02:17 EST

Hello Group! I just got invited to join by my new friend Mary Nickum...I love and adore Michelle and I don't use that kind of language in my everyday life...I can't wait to see how she transforms the "First Female" thing...I expect she will play it very, very safe for at least her first term...still, whatever she does will be amazing because that's just who she is...

I also am kind of in love with Sasha & Malia, but I hope Michelle keeps the press out of their lives as much as possible...it will be better for them not to be hounded...

Madama

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

One Recommendation For The Obama’s Dog A “Doodle”

Shawn O'Donnell — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:11:16 EST

http://virginiadem.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/one-recommendation-for-the-obamas-dog-a-doodle/

Obama Stories Wanted for New Book

Adele Nicols — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:27:52 EST

I am writing a book on Obama volunteers’ experiences. This text will focus on meaningful and inspiring stories from your phonebanking, canvassing or other campaign journeys. If you have pictures or stories of volunteering that were significant to you and you think would have meaning for others, please send submissions to:

AdeleNicols@yahoo.com or
P.O.Box 494, Waitsfield, VT 05673

I have a particular interest in the "phonebankers". Making cold calls throughtout the United States was a unique opportunity to get to know the diverse pockets of individuals and communities that exist within our nation. I personally had some amazing discussions that I know must have been echoed by other volunteers. I am better off from the experience...and am eager to showcase your personal experiences.
Chosen submissions will be notified by January 10, 2008 and full acknowledgement will be given in the publication.

I am looking for stories that will exemplify the broad scope of voters that were either for or against Obama. My primary interest is to showcase the heart of the Obama campaign by revealing personal and transformational stories and images that were at the core of this successful campaign.

Thank you in advance for your participation. Feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.

Sincerely,
We did it!
Adele

WOW

Nahum — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:52:47 EST

I SHALL REST NOW! AT LEAST FOR A MOMENT!

Tonight We Are All Americans. yeswecan

1Love (Laura) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:09:20 EST

To my unborn children and grandchildren,

Tonight we watched history unfold and we will always remember these months, these moments.

Many of us are thanking Barack Obama. Many of us are also thanking God.

Tonight we realized that a small, committed group of citizens CAN change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

TONIGHT
Tonight we realized that our friends in Canada and South Africa and Italy and Switzerland and all over the world still had faith in us. After eight years - they still let us be a shining beacon of hope. They had more patience in us than perhaps we had in ourselves. I'm touched by the international love we have all felt through this. They knew before we did that we are the ones we have been waiting for.

WE WERE ASKED TO STAND FOR CHANGE and WE DID.

Yes We Can.
Echoing Barack and Biden

We were asked to stand up for Change and to stand up for a better America. yeswecan. We knew there could be a better America. yeswecan. We knew we deserved a better America. yeswecan. We knew we should be a country of love not hate. yeswecan.

What We Realized

What we realized after we heard him tell us what we must do is -- what we realized after we poured our hearts into his (our) election strategy --- and our five or ten dollars into his (our) campaign and what we realized after we made the calls for him (ourselves) and put up the signs for him (us) what we realized after we saw him and his daughters and his wife upon stage after we elected him (ourselves) is that he (We) are the ones we have been waiting for. Indeed, he had (we've) been here all along. yeswecan. Indeed, we ARE the better America. WE ARE THAT BETTER AMERICA WE HAVE YEARNED FOR. yeswecan. This one man pointed out to us the greatness that lies within. We are all champions. yes we can. We are America.

WE ARE ALL AMERICANS
Today, we are all Americans. Tomorrow we can all be simply humans. yeswecan. It took one man to bring together millions upon millions of Americans and people all over the world, with all eyes watching to see what we could do to help us sing out in a chorus of beautiful voices in thousands of languages from the mountaintops to the seas: YES WE CAN. YES WE CAN. YES WE CAN.

WE MADE IT!!!

Tess — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:00:59 EST

Well... here we are! President Obama. Can those words be any sweeter to say? As i sit here typing completely filled with pride, excitement and overwhelmed with emotion. The SECRET works people!! Apply it to your lives and apply it to help our new President get us back on track!! YES WE CAN and YES WE WILL!!!

Congrats!

Rick OBanion — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:51:02 EST

So finally the moment arrives...this historic moment! Take tonight to revel in the success brought upon by hard work, determination and a great message for the world.

Tomorrow the planning begins, for change. Change we need, change we can live with and change we cannot live without.

To all my American neighbours, relatives and friends, my heartiest thanks and congratulations. To all the members of Canada for Obama, Canadians for Obama and related groups, thank you from me.

Canada is the traditional first official state visit for a newly elected President of the US. I hope to be somewhere nearby and get to hear him speak.

Rick O'Banion

Head Admin

Canada for Obama, Canadians for Obama

What's Next? Grow the Hope: join in and help us!

Brian Corr — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:19:37 EST

After the polls close tonight, here's the next step: Grow The Hope <http://www.growthehope.org>

For so many of us the Obama campaign has inspired us to hope for a better future and engage in the political process to make change possible. We know that something special is happening in this campaign. We feel it. We experience it personally and share this profound and moving feeling with others.

We celebrate this special moment and continue our work to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States. The final day of this historic campaign is crucial to our success. We will canvass, phone bank, and organize until the polls close.

While we keep focused on the prize - electing a smart and moral man as the next president of the United States, we also feel moved to do what we can to nurture the hope that has built within this campaign and within many of us.

Thus we begin the process of building Grow The Hope - a people's movement for progressive social change. We seek to capture the spark of creativity and hope that has come alive during this campaign.

If you are interested, please join us. Explore the brief introductory website at: http://www.growthehope.org and sign up by giving us your contact information. As this movement unfolds we will reach out to you.

Those of us working on Grow The Hope are so busy with the campaign that we don't yet have complete answers about what's next. We have not yet determined our organizational structure, programmatic initiatives, or funding options. If you get involved now, you can help shape the future direction of this emerging movement. At this point, we urge all those interested to take one minute to sign up, spread the word, and get back to working on the campaign!

Let's do all we can this final crucial day of the campaign to make sure that we can celebrate on November 4th. Then on November 5th, let's take a day of well deserved rest. On November 6th, let's be back in touch to see how we might join together and Grow the Hope.

Yes We Can!
Brian

Brian Corr
Organizer, Progresive Massachusetts for Barack Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/ProgressiveMassachusettsforBarackObama
BCorr@CambridgeConsultingServices.com

-----------
Grow the Hope is not affiliated with Obama For America.

Proudest Vote of My Life...

Vermonter — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:14:59 EST

Calling On All Beauty and Barber Shops to Close On Election Day!

Karen Y Johnson — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:50:43 EST

Let's not give anyone any reason not to go to the polls on Election Day. A little sacrifice in your daily routines and time will give each and every person an opportunity for the American Dream whether that is just simply being able to pay your bills or trying to get your children through college, obtaning a comfortable-beautiful relaxing home, affordable Healthcare, or even finally being able to own your own business. Whatever your goal is, President Barack Obama will enable us to turn our dreams into reality. We all have registered a record number of new voters and although Early Vote totals look encouraging, we still have much work to do to ensure a landslide Victory on Tuesday, November 4th Election Day! Encourage people to not get discouraged if the lines are long. Make that sacrifice and stay in line however long it takes. Let's make History for All People. Ask all your family and friends have they voted. If you know someone who has not voted, take them to the polls. Let's Take as many People as possible to the polls!

Be the Change You Want to See!

No need custom for Haloween..We have got 2

Nahum — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:04:07 EDT

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

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

Zimbabwe - Still Mired in Problems After Its Election

wt — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:50:43 EDT

I now know scores of Zimbabwean teachers in exile who want to be able to safely return to their country to rebuild their lives. Please write to your elected leaders and Mr. Obama to urge that his administration CHANGE how American foreign policy is conducted. Make Peace Corps the lead agency at the Grass Roots levels! In addition to leadership skills, specialized skills are necessary to support developing countries as they strengthen their states. The Obama Administration must not make the same mistake that the Bush Administration (and others before it) have made by filling top positions with patronage selections that are NOT FULLY QUALIFIED. (Ask me for examples) The technical skills needed to promote the rule of law, democratic governance, sustainable economies, security, and social well-being (whether its for education or healthcare systems or community organizing) are vital. The US collaboration, promoted by our State Department and USAID must be with field based organizations that are able to get out of the capital cities and provide already developed practitioner tools and training. Let’s take an example today of Zimbabwe. The drama has been going on for years now, mostly behind the scenes. I witnessed hundreds of Zimbabwean fleeing from their country earlier this year and blog about it on this site. How many of you took any action, networking to help break the impasse? Read http://www.cipe.org/publications/fs/pdf/103108.pdf At a glance this article, written by a young person submitting an essay to the Center for International Private Enterprise provides a bleak assessment of the reality today in Zimbabwe.

Poverty and economic hardship can either mobilize people to fight for quality education and a better future, or drive them away from education. The latter is disastrous to society in the long run, but it is the path many people in Zimbabwe have taken in recent years.
The education system in Zimbabwe has long suffered from an insufficient focus on teaching practical skills, limited access to higher education opportunities, and unequal access for girls to specialized fields such as science.
Successful educational reform is a necessary step to create the basis for sustained economic growth and requires the involvement of all stakeholders, ranging from families and civil society to national and local governments as well as the private sector.

YOUTH VOTE - GET TO THE POLLS

Claudia — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:41:29 EDT

It is Thursday and 5 days to go. Watching the updates on the early voting. It is showing the students and young people and those newly registered are not getting to the polls yet.

On Neighbor to Neighbor, I am calling the under 20 year old folks first. Yes, I am mostly getting the answering machine or students away at college. Hope all these young people's enthusiasm reverts into voting by November 4.

I am like your Grandmother and the furture is in your hands. It is your future. Get involved NOW. Don't waste yourself by not voting.

Close your eyes, listen to the Obama songs on You Tube and get to the polls.

Barack needs your vorte and so does America.

ROCK THE VOTE

Listen

Why This Is Not Over

Andrew Hammer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:58:32 EDT

The nation was ready for a change.

It had been through a depression, a war, and sixteen years of government by the same political party. The incumbent was an unpopular man who had been a "last choice" pick four years earlier for the Vice-Presidency. The challenger was an intelligent, charismatic, well-spoken and experienced governor of a major state who had been nominated once before and whose time had finally come.

Everything was in place, the polls looked great, and on election night, the media was so certain of the challenger's imminent victory that a major American newspaper reported that he won before all the votes had come in.

And then Thomas Dewey lost. The great hope of the Republican Party failed to take the presidency away from Harry Truman, a man who inherited the office in the shadow of Franklin Roosevelt.

Fast forward sixty years, and we Obama supporters find ourselves in a similarly dangerous situation. The polls look great, and our opponent looks like a beaten man who made a bad choice for a running mate, and can't seem to do much of anything right. Our guy looks presidential, and no one can deny he has the charisma of a classic American leader. The whole world wants him to be elected.

But just as in 1948, the only thing that matters is the final vote count. Not polls, not charisma, not clever slogans. And if we do not work every day to until November 4th to win this election, as if we were the ones who were ten points behind, we could well find ourselves mourning a numbing loss of the White House the next day.

If you're young, it's so easy to feel over-confident about all of this. Hell, even if you're old it's easy. It's so obvious that Obama is the best choice for the job, right? How could anyone not see that? But many don't, and many won't, and you and I will never understand why they won't, because we just don't think that way.

What I'm trying to say to everyone who reads this is that we can lose this election.

The only way to prevent that is to resist the temptation to believe that we have already won it. The media is singing into our ears about how great our campaign is, how well-funded and well-organized we are. How naturally presidential Obama looks and sounds.

Don't believe it. Work as if we have nothing and need to gain everything. Speak passionately but patiently to people who are not yet convinced that Obama is the right choice to lead the nation. We need them to join us if they can.

If you are living in a part of your state where our victory is very clearly assured, then consider going to another part of your state where it's an uphill battle, and your help is desperately needed.

This election symbolizes deep change on many levels, but only one of them has to do with the election. We are at a point of cultural and generational change in this nation that will take place no matter what the result of the election may be.

The people who remember the Great Depression are now all near 80 or older. The youthful generation of the 1960s that we still see in films and television shows, the ones who are often seen as eternally youthful hippies; they are now all near or over 60. So change is going to come; the question for us is will we get the political leadership we want to steward us through those other kinds of inevitable changes.

Time has done its part; it's up to us to do the rest. As Barack Obama has said from the very beginning, it's not about him, it's about us. He can do nothing unless we make him the next President.

Let's get out there and make the change we want.

Andrew Hammer is a writer, speaker and activist with over fifteen years of experience as a consultant on faith and politics to progressive political parties throughout the world.

Find Your Voting Location: 1) For Early Voting; 2) Voting On Election Day Tuesday November 4th

Richard Chamberlain — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:38:35 EDT

Subject: Find Your Voting Location: 1) For Early Voting; 2) Voting On Election Day Tuesday November 4th

1. Find Your Early Voting Location

This link shows where you can go to Early Vote by entering your zip code and optionally your address: http://govote.org/
(click on ‘View Larger Map’ after you see the first map to reveal the Early Voting Location address and polling times)

2. Find Your Voting Location on Election Day (next Tuesday, November 4th for everybody* )

This link shows where you can Vote on Election Day by entering your zip code and address:

http://maps.google.com/vote

3. *Dispel the ‘Staggered Voting Date’ Rumor

Some Republican election machines have been giving the misleading message to voters that: “Election/Voting Day is November 4th for Republican Voters and November 5th for Democratic Voters”

This destructive misinformation has been misleading many voters, especially those who are new to the election process.

Please dispel this poisonous destructive rumor with everybody you meet, and tell them:

“Election/Voting Day is Tuesday November 4th for Everybody: Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike”.

Please forward this message to all your email groups, message boards, Facebook and so on.

Norfolk Hears “Closing Argument” Directly From Barack Obama

Shawn O'Donnell — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:51:33 EDT

Norfolk Hears “Closing Argument” Directly From Barack Obama

Banking Bailout - Money that Needs To Be Recovered

wt — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:11:21 EDT

While I was riding on the Washington Metro today, I came across an article in the Express reporting that Wachovia paid 'preferred dividends' totalling $23.69 billion US dollars for the period ending 30 September.

Is Wells Fargo getting any of the bailout money? If so, they probably need to be recovering a giant chunk change from executives that might have been making a bundle on sub-prime deals. This money once recovered could go towards helping home-owners who are in trouble now!!!

I am urging our elected officials responsible for the bailout to look into this issue to determine whether action corrective needs to be taken

A New Song for You!! Get Up, Stand Up for Barack!!! Enjoy!!

Andrew from Hayward, CA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:01:08 EDT

Hey There, How are you?

Thanks for everything you're doing for Barack Obama!

I wanted to share my little ditty with you. It's our battle cry for people to get up, stand up and vote for Barack Obama for President. We hope that it will inspire, energize and give strength to all his volunteers, supporters and staff the final weeks of this historic campaign.

My band and I would love to know what you think. You can leave comments please on our Youtube video page.

Click here to hear it: http://www.andrewkongknight.com/att/News.html

Dipdive music video: http://www.dipdive.com/member/BWILLIAMSMEDIA/tv/

A Youtube music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch

Thank you for listening to my voice, our voices, thanks for helping us to spread hope.

Peace and much love to you, andy

A Prerequisite for the White House

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:03:28 EDT

Intellectual curiosity is one requirement that any American President must have...

Barack Obama says, “Every Single American Has A Right To Affordable Accessible Health Care”

Shawn O'Donnell — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:38:31 EDT

Barack Obama says, “Every Single American Has A Right To Affordable Accessible Health Care”

ROBOCALL for OBAMA

Nahum — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:16:41 EDT

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

DONATE PLEASE

John — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:17:43 EDT

Minnesota Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachman appeared on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews yesterday, and called Barack Obama and his wife Michelle "anti-american", as well as implying that all democrats are anti-american. She called for the media to investigate democrats in congress to so they can be outted as being un-american.

So in response, lets show her what democracy is all about. Lets make our voices heard, by donating to her rival, Democrat Elwyn Tinklenberg, and aid him in removing another hate-monger from the halls of the U.S. Capitol. As with Obama, any amount is accepted. The link to donate is below.

http://www.actblue.com/page/nonewmccarthy

Middle Income Mother with Two Children In College Thanks Barack Obama for Getting It Right!

Karen Y Johnson — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:09:16 EDT

It is such a breath of fresh air to see a presidential candidate understand truly what struggles middle income families have and what it takes to help make all families prosperous. Having two children in college at the same time has been a significant challenge, however applying for scholarships and pulling together whatever money you can to give your children a future is worth it, but realistically all families cannot even do this given our hard economic times. Your plan for $4,000 each semester in exchange for community service is right on target. It instills in our young people the sense of giving to others and with the present generation being about "me" this is critically important. This helps them to understand that a part of their education is to give to others. Students suffocating in a sea of loans which is what the other camp wants to expand, would not even give our young people a chance to even think about service, or giving, or community or much of anything else. They would have a much harder time establishing themselves after college. Barack Obama and Joe Biden you are a breath of fresh air and I look forward to the next generation being able to soar and survive under your plan.

The Big Things in Life Are Easy

Cindy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:34:44 EDT

The big decisions are easy. You know in your gut what is right to do. And here, you know deep down in your soul that having Palin anywhere near the presidency is wrong.

1. She stonewalled an investigation into her abuse of power, trying to get it stopped.

2. Having failed to halt the investigation, which concluded she DID violate Alaska's ethics law by abusing her power, she blithely lies and lies, saying she was completely cleared and no abuse of power, not even a whiff of it, was found.

3. She made up her "extensive" foreign policy and trade experience, lied about opposing the bridge to nowhere (and kept money, too), and more.

4. She intentionally and deliberately tells lies about Obama "palling around with terrorists." Note particularly the plural there, when only one former terrorist is at issue.

5. She incites crowds to murderous fervor, and doesn't even think there is anything wrong with such conduct.

6. She is completely, dumbfoundingly, disturbingly unprepared to assume the office of president should that one cancerous heartbeat away suddenly stop.

7. She slept with her husband's best friend, if the National Enquirer's occasionally correct truth/proof squad can be believed.

Whatever you may think of McCain, his decision to select Sarah Palin, a completely unqualified candidate, was intentionally manipulative, crassly political, and just about the worst judgment he could have made for the country. Far from recommending him as our next president, it exposes the desperation and hollowness of his campaign. This is a man who wants power, any way he can get it, ethics and lack of experience be damned.

The choice could not be clearer. Nor easier.

BOTH McCain & Palin Tainted by Ethics Scandals - MAKE THIS GO VIRAL

Cindy — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:04:07 EDT

Alex makes an excellent point - both McCain AND Palin are tainted by ethics scandals. McCain, rebuked because he exercised "poor judgment" in a national economic matter, and Palin found to have violated Alaska's ethics act for abuse of power.

Not what you want in a president and vice president - tainted before they even begin.

This is Alex's post:

Questions of "Trust"

By Alex Sarrasin - Oct 13th, 2008 at 7:53 pm EDT Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content I appreciate the fact that Obama / Biden are trying to run a "Decent" campaign but Senator Biden needs to constantly remind America that BOTH John McCain and Sarah Palin have been found in violation of ethics rules and direct violation of the "People's Trust". Has there ever been a campaign where BOTH the top of the ticket AND the second are guilty of being unethical? McCain and the Keating scandal and Palin with Troopergate. If McCain / Palin insist on painting Obama as being nefarious then LOWER THE BOOM OF FACT ON THEM. Just remember to do it with a sense of pitty.

A Warning -- If Economy Does Improve, Stress that McCain Had Nothing to Do With It.

Cindy — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:57:08 EDT

Here's a thought.

It is entirely possible that the economy will bounce back at a screaming pace. The key for us is to make clear that McCain had nothing to do with it. He dithered as the economy tanked, then couldn't even manage to get out a plan until it was already recovering.

Country LAST

Cindy — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:48:58 EDT

McCain's erratic performance regarding the economic crisis indicates that if he can't stop wanting to just war-monger, and he is consistently putting country last.

1.He insisted that the fundamentals of the economy were fine. Then he tried to backtrack when it became clear that they weren't - by defining fundamentals as our nation's workers, without explaining how workers getting fired, unable to pay mortages, or unable to send their kids to college were "fine."

2. He then suddenly did an about-face and declared the economy in crisis.

3. He cancelled on Dave Letterman because he had to "rush back to Washington" to deal with the economic crisis, then spent another day and a half in New York City doing Katie Couric and a Bill Clinton event before he finally flew to Washington for the "emergency."

4. During the meeting with Bush, according to the accounts, he said little. That included exactly nothing when Obama twice asked him what HE thought.

5. Then, he spent an entire week on the campaign trail avoiding the economic crisis just as hard as he could. Instead, he focused on Iraq, putting THAT country first over our own tumultuous country.

6. Now, he announced he'd have a strong new economic plan today.

7. Oops, not today. His campaign in total lockdown, can't comment, no economic plan will be proposed in the near future. No "Country First" today, it seems.

8. Meanwhile, Obama gets the job done and issues HIS economic plan. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, stock market soars 936 points.

9. Suddenly, McCain seeks to grab headlines with a new economic plan to be issued TOMORROW. He now looks completely irrelevant, since the recovery is taking place without him, too.

And while McCain was so busy putting "Country First," the country left the field, got on the bus and left, and the janitors are picking up the bases off the field.

Hey John, lights out.

A Plan Today, No Plan Any Time in the Near Future, Plan Suddenly Coming Tomorrow? TALK ABOUT ERRATIC

Cindy — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:23:14 EDT

McCain is clearly telegraphing that he is disorganized and erratic in times of economic crisis.

Since Obama came out with his economic proposal today, McCain has realized he is behind the eight ball after proclaiming he would have is own plan today but then abruptly cancelling it. Now, supposedly, he will suddenly deliver one tomorrow, no doubt substantially copycat but tinkered slightly to make it look different.

Let's not forget who issued a new plan FIRST.

Let's highlight who was CALM, IN CONTROL, ORGANIZED, AND COHERENT on economic issues.

Acorn Obama Campaign Response

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:19:44 EDT

[ObamaRapidResponse]

ACORN Obama Campaign RESPONSE

This is a reply from watchdog@barackobama.com.

This smear has been gaining popularity lately as people look for

explanations for our economic crisis -- and smear artists looking to

destroy Barack see an opening. Every word of it is dishonest and

manipulative.

Email smears like this are part of a broader, shadowy strategy to scare

people who aren't very familiar with Barack by spreading false information.

Here are the facts:

Barack Obama was never an ACORN community organizer.

Barack was never an ACORN trainer and was never an employee of ACORN.

ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration

drive Barack led in 1992.

As an attorney, Barack worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to

represent ACORN and other voter's rights groups in a lawsuit to enforce

the widely praised federal Motor Voter Law in Illinois .

The Huffington Post has laid out the evidence showing the truth about

Barack, ACORN, and these smears. See:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/05/smears-contradicted-obama_n_132098.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/03/obama-camp-debunks-voter_n_131686.html

There's no way to stop these dangerous, misleading viral emails

one-by-one, but together we can take the political process back from the

cynical politics of deception. We can all start by spreading the truth

about Barack Obama.

Forward this email to everyone else who received the ACORN smear, then

head to Fight The Smears <http://www.fightthesmears.com> to get details

about more smears and see what else you can do:

www.FightTheSmears.com http://www.fightthesmears.com

Here are a few facts about Barack Obama that people might be interested

to learn:

* Barack Obama is working for middle class Americans. The

Obama-Biden tax plan includes a tax cut of $1,000 for more than

150 million working Americans. The plan will also eliminate income

taxes altogether for more than 7 million senior citizens who make

less than $50,000 per year. Finally, Obama's plan will provide an

average of $500 to 10 million homeowners, the majority of whom

earn less than $50,000 per year. Learn more about the Obama-Biden

tax plan: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#tax-relief

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/url.cfm?ID=411693

* Barack Obama knows that the problems we're facing in this election

are too serious to let the politics of manufactured controversy

and fake outrage dominate. He wants to bring our troops home from

Iraq , so we can focus on Afghanistan and track down the terrorists

who attacked us. And he's proposed a detailed plan for using

alternative energy sources to relieve America 's dependence on

foreign oil within 10 years and put millions of Americans to work.

See more about Obama's plan for change here: See Barack's detailed

plan for America :

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/planforchange_ad/

* After being raised by a single mother and by his grandparents in a

modest household, Barack studied hard and won scholarships and

loans to attend Columbia University and later Harvard Law School ,

where he became president of the Harvard Law Review. After law

school, he returned to Chicago , where he helped disadvantaged

citizens work for better jobs and better schools. Barack later

went on to teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago ,

helping to educate the community leaders of tomorrow. Read more

about Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php

Please forward this to anyone you know who has received this smear email

about Barack. Together we can make sure these negative and divisive

attacks don't affect this election.

Thanks for your help,

Obama for America

McCain's rage makes him unfit to be President......Watch!

LuAnn in Indiana — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:48:41 EDT

Watch this and think if this man could talk to foreign leaders or make rational cool headed decisions. This is so scary. He could blow up and not work with anyone he did not like. OMG he even shoved a woman in the hallway and has called his wife the c word in public!

You have watched how hateful and condescending he has been towards Barack and even the media now. He is out and out lying and will do anything to win.We need this out there viral and let people see the REAL McCain.......not the kind of PRESIDENT we need in this time of crisis!

Watch the video and send it to friends: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g

LuAnn

Tell everyone including the media!

Obama's Good Judgment on The Middle East

Dena, St. Thomas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:59:11 EDT

Petraeus Talk Seems to Bolster Obama By Spencer Ackerman 10/8/08 4:16 PM

Gen. David Petraeus (WDCpix)

Throughout Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, the Republican nominee has wrapped himself in the mantle of U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, proclaiming himself the leading advocate of the former commanding general in Iraq who devised last year’s controversial troop surge. Yet during a talk Wednesday about Iraq at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington policy organization, Petraeus repeatedly made statements that bolstered the foreign-policy proposals of Sen. Barack Obama, McCain’s Democratic rival, or cut against McCain’s own lines.

Petraeus relinquished command in Iraq last month. He assumes responsibility for U.S. Central Command later this month, putting him in charge of U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia.

Illustration by: Matt Mahurin

As a serving military officer, Petraeus attempted to avoid any explicit political discussion. “I’m not walking into minefields now,” Petraeus said, to laughter, when asked a question that referred to Tuesday night’s presidential debate. In fact, the general averred that he didn’t watch the debate.

Yet Petraeus, whether intentionally or not, often waded into areas of dispute between Obama and McCain involving Afghanistan, negotiating with adversaries and other recent campaign controversies. Each time, the general either lent tacit support to Obama or denied tacit support to McCain.

Unbidden, Petraeus discussed whether his strategy in Iraq — protecting the population while cleaving apart the insurgency through reconciliation efforts to crush the remaining hard-core enemies — could also work in Afghanistan. The question has particular salience as Petraeus takes over U.S. Central Command, which will put him at the helm of all U.S. troops in the Middle East and South Asia, thereby giving him a large role in the Afghanistan war.

“Some of the concepts used in Iraq are transplantable [to Afghanistan] while others perhaps are not,” he said. “Every situation is unique.”

Petraeus pointed to efforts by Hamid Karzai’s government to negotiate a deal with the Taliban that would potentially bring some Taliban members back to power, saying that if they are “willing to reconcile,” it would be “a positive step.”

In saying that, Petraeus implicitly allied with U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Last week, McKiernan rejected the idea of replicating the blend of counterinsurgency strategy employed in Iraq. “The word that I don’t use in Afghanistan is the word ’surge,’” McKiernan said, opting against recruiting Pashtun tribal fighters to supplement Afghan security forces against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. “There are countless other differences between Iraq and Afghanistan,” he added.

McCain, however, has argued that the Afghanistan war is ripe for a direct replication of Petraeus’ Iraq strategy of population-centric counterinsurgency. “Sen. Obama calls for more troops,” McCain said in the Sept. 26 debate, “but what he doesn’t understand, it’s got to be a new strategy, the same strategy that he condemned in Iraq. It’s going to have to be employed in Afghanistan.”

McCain qualified that statement in Tuesday’s debate, but clung to it while discussing Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Gen. Petraeus had a strategy,” McCain said, “the same strategy — very, very different, because of the conditions and the situation — but the same fundamental strategy that succeeded in Iraq. And that is to get the support of the people.”

Petraeus also came out unambiguously in his talk at Heritage for opening communications with America’s adversaries, a position McCain is attacking Obama for endorsing. Citing his Iraq experience, Petraeus said, “You have to talk to enemies.” He added that it was necessary to have a particular goal for discussion and to perform advance work to understand the motivations of his interlocutors.

All that was the subject of one of the most contentious tussles between McCain and Obama in the first presidential debate, with Obama contending that his intent to negotiate with foreign adversaries without “precondition” did not mean that he would neglect diplomatic “preparation.”

McCain, apparently perceiving an opportunity for attack, Tuesday again used Obama’s comments to attack his judgment. “Sen. Obama, without precondition, wants to sit down and negotiate with them, without preconditions,” McCain said, referring to Iran.

Yet Petraeus emphasized throughout his lecture that reaching out to insurgent groups — some “with our blood on their hands,” he said — was necessary to the ultimate goal of turning them against irreconcilable enemies like Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Petraeus favorably cited the example of one of his British deputies, who in a previous assignment had to negotiate with Martin McGuiness of the Irish Republican Army, responsible for killing some of the British commander’s troops. The British officer, Petraeus said, occasionally wanted to “reach across the table” and choke his former adversary but understood that such negotiations were key to ending a war.

Petraeus reflected at length on the need to “take away and hold the strongholds and safe havens” possessed by Al Qaeda in Iraq during 2007 and 2008, saying that without doing so, the rest of the counterinsurgency strategy “won’t work.” While he did not initially make reference to Al Qaeda’s much greater presence in the Federal Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, it was hard not to hear the overtones of the current argument over Pakistan policy between Obama and McCain.

McCain has attacked Obama for explicitly stating conditions under which he would order U.S. military action against the senior leadership of Al Qaeda in Pakistan, deriding that by saying Obama is “going to attack Pakistan,” while advocating that the Pakistanis perform the task instead of U.S. troops.

Barbara Starr of CNN attempted to draw Petraeus out further, asking him about the importance of capturing or killing Osama bin Laden, believed to be in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Petraeus did not tip his hand on advocating anything, saying merely, “clearly, Osama bin Laden remains very important, if for no other reason than sheer symbolic importance,” and warning that “decapitating” Al Qaeda would not end the threat from a jihadist entity that he compared to a “syndicate.”

He did, however, say that he was encouraged by what he called signs that the Pakistanis “increasingly see an existential threat to their country being in FATA,” referring to the tribal areas — something that might gel with McCain’s stated preference.

Naturally, since Petraeus centered his hour-plus talk on progress in Iraq, McCain could fairly claim to be closer to the general than Obama — who opposed the surge — on the subject. But, particularly given the Republican-friendly audience, it was remarkable as well what Petraeus did not say.

Unlike his three recent rounds of congressional testimony, Petraeus did not discuss withdrawal from Iraq. He did not issue warnings that withdrawal — which Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki support, while McCain instead calls for “victory” — would lead to a downward spiral of violence.

While the general warned that there were several “potential storm clouds” threatening to undermine progress, he said that Iraq was on a more stable footing since his last appearance on Capitol Hill in April. He never said terms like “victory” or “success” that McCain uses, and which the GOP nominee frequently chides Obama for avoiding.

The Heritage Foundation crowd clearly loved hearing from Petraeus. The think tank’s executive vice president, Philip Truluck, referred to Petraeus’ “history-making service in Iraq” before the audience greeted the general with the first of two prolonged standing ovations. A questioner proclaimed himself “honored and proud to be in the same room with you.”

Petraeus has repeatedly averred that he has no interest in running for president. “I think that Gen. Sherman had it right,” he told Fox News’s Chris Wallace in December, when asked if he’d run, referring to Sherman’s famous declaration that if nominated he would not run, and if elected, he would not serve.

But given McCain’s recent lagging poll numbers, perhaps many at Heritage hope Petraeus will change his mind before 2012.

"Overhead Projector" was upgrade of Sky Theater at Chicago's Plantarium: another LIE from McCain

Dena, St. Thomas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:34:26 EDT

The truth behind the "$3 million dollar projector" by Deoliver47 Wed Oct 08, 2008 at 08:45:47 AM PDT

Watching John McCain stagger and stumble through last night's debate was hard to do. I found it curious that he seemed stuck on stupid with an "earmarks" rant about Senator Obama having approved money for a "$3 million dollar projector".

When I hear the word "projector" it brings to mind the AV projectors that aides wheel into my classroom weekly. I had no idea what McCain was talking about, and promptly forgot about it as the debate moved on towards the conclusion.

This morning, while reading through the roundups of articles on the debate, and other commentary on the campaign, I headed over to the NYT to read their editorial Politics of Attack and afterwards,
I decided to read and recommend comments, and post one of my own.

Deoliver47's diary :: ::

Much to my surprise I found this comment, which I recommended as did many other readers. I hope the Editorial Board will make it one of their featured selections.

I am an Associate Professor of Astronomy at the University of Chicago (the University that today has added yet another Nobel Prize winner in the sciences for the US). I would like to comment on Sen. McCain's statement during the today's debate that Sen. Obama has earmarked "$3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Ill. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"
The way Sen. McCain has phrased it suggests that Sen. Obama approved spending $3 million on an old-fashioned piece of office equipment (overhead projector).
The 3 million is actually for an upgrade of the SkyTheater - a full dome projection system, which is probably the main attraction of the Adler Planetarium and is quite sophisticated and impressive piece of equipment.
I find it appalling that Sen. McCain would call a science education tool for public (largely children) for a historic planetarium with millions of visitors a year a wasteful earmark. The planetarium's focus, as stated on their website (http://adlerplanetarium.org) is "on inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities, to pursue careers in science." Is an investment in such public facility at the time when US competitiveness in math and sciences is a constant source of alarm a waste?
"American's ability to compete in a 21st Century economy rests on our continued investments in math and science education," said Rep. Brian Baird, Chairman of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee in Congress, after the passage of The 21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007.
Considering such investments "wasteful earmarks" today, even in the face of the financial crisis, will severely cripple US economic competitiveness in the increasingly high-tech world down the road.
— Andrey Kravtsov, Chicago, IL

http://community.nytimes.com/...

Shame on McCain - again, for misrepresentation and distortion (read "lying").

Curious I went to visit the Adler Planetarium website, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring their exhibits.

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

Nahum — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:37:39 EDT

Sen McCain, Let me tell you something

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

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

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

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

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