Minnesota for Obama 2008

The Way Forward is the Way Out

Ken — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:15:12 EST

Homeward bound, how sweet the sound! The only way forward in Afghanistan is to bring our troops home. Out is the only way forward. Everything else serves some other purpose.

Heritage Foundation Using OFA To Mobilize Opposition

Ken — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:15:10 EDT

The ghosts are in the machine: Has anyone here noticed that the Heritage Foundation (a virulent right-wing organization) is scheduling events to mobilize opposition and win converts from the Obama camp using the OFA website?

Check out their recent postings for events they are scheduling in October in the Twin Cities. Seems we need a strategy to counter. Anyone involved in deriving or applying one?

Not another cent until we get a public option!

Karl Steven Keene — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:20:28 EDT

I received the following e-mail today asking for more money in the battle for health care reform!

Why the heck is OFA asking for more money when we already donated our time, money, sweat and tears to get President Obama elected with a mandate of the vote?!

Not only that, we helped give the Democrats a veto-proof majority in the Senate!

Why does anybody need more money? Enough already - they've been elected and they're already on the payroll!!

I say to the President and the Democrats in congress: "We gave you the mandate, now start acting like it and get to work for us by making sure a public option is in the final health care bill!"

Health care reform without a public option will be a BIG win for the Republicans and the Insurance industry. We didn't work our hearts out so that could happen.

FIGHT - FOR OUR RIGHT - FOR HEALTHCARE - WITH A PUBLIC OPTION!!!!!!!

My response to the letter below - "Not another cent until we get the guarantee that any final bill will contain a true public option!!!!"

Karl --

On Thursday, Vice President Biden called out the insurance industry's escalating war on health reform in a special message to OFA, and asked for your help in fighting back.

Sure enough, the insurance industry is already stepping up the attack: Reports just leaked from a closed-door meeting where insurance industry lobbyists frantically warned Republican members of Congress that it was not in their interest to "ever vote for this thing" and said supporting reform is like "giving comfort to the enemy." USA Today is reporting that groups opposing reform are lobbying at "a record pace" -- and the Associated Press notes that they've already spent an astounding $32 million on TV ads this year.

This is what we're up against. President Obama, Vice President Biden, and all of us together through OFA are fighting back -- but success depends on having the resources to win.

Can you chip in $25 or more today to power our campaign?

https://donate.barackobama.com/FinalRound

In this fight, the insurance industry has their war chest and insider lobbyists. We have you. I know who I'm betting on.

Let's win this thing.

Mitch

Mitch Stewart

Director

Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Monetary contributions to the Democratic National Committee are not tax-deductible.

This email was sent to: keenekarl@hotmail.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/unsubscribe

We did a "Time to Deliver" Call Event

Rebecca — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:07:15 EDT

You gotta watch this by our President re: 10/20/09 events. Over 300,000 calls to Congress. All with one message: Time to deliver Over 300,000 calls to Congress. All with one message: Time to deliverSource: my.barackobama.comWe’ve got to keep this momentum going. The insurance companies will stop at nothing to sink reform, and it’s up to us to fight back.

March for Healthcare

Joe Brothers — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:53:21 EDT

Minnesota's March for Healthcare - in conjuction with the nationwide movement of marches on Sunday, September 13 to demand real healthcare reform.

In cooperation with TakeActionMN

Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12 noon

Phillips Park

1530 E. Franklin Ave.

Minneapolis, MN

Speakers:

Congressman Keith Ellison

John Marty, State Senator and Candidate for Governor

Reverend Grant Stevenson

Erin Murphy, State Representative

For more information visit www.march4healthcare.com

email: mnhealthcarereform@gmail.com

[This event is not sponsored or affiliated with Organizing for America. It is a truly grassroots action at its most powerful! and finest!]

We Can Not Afford The Status Quo

EsquireUK — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:22:42 EDT

We Can Afford Reform, We Can’t Afford the Status Quo

Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist for the Vice President and Executive Director of the Middle Class Task Force, debunks the myth that we can’t afford health insurance reform. To the contrary, not only has the President demanded that reform not add to the deficit in the short term, but reform is the only way to get skyrocketing health care costs under control that will be devastating not for families , businesses, and for government deficits in the long term under the status quo.

Watch the Video

Earlier today, it was announced that President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on the issue of health insurance reform next Wednesday, September 9th. CNN reported:

It will be Obama's second speech to the full legislature since he took office in January, and the setting and rarity of such an event highlighted the importance the president places on his top domestic priority: overhauling the nation's ailing health care system.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid formally invited Obama to make the address, as required, in a letter issued Wednesday after news broke of the planned speech.

We'll have more information on this important speech in the days to come.

www.whitehouse.gov

Logic absent when change discussed

Rebecca — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:38:25 EDT

Good web site "Health Care Debate--based on lack of logic" http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090826/sc_livescience/healthcaredebatebasedontotallackoflogic

First Entry

Ken Beck — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:55:50 EDT

Every issue that America faces, whether it's health care reform, war, the economy, crime, etc., also faces the students in Her schools. I am a public school teacher in Minneapolis, MN (7th grade math). The economy is having huge impact on the students in my school. Last year, out of 115 or so students on my 7th grade team, 71 were new students at the end of the year. I hope that gives you an idea of the turn-around rate of students in my room.

I believe that poverty is the biggest social issue of our time. It is the biggest injustice there is. I believe that education is a key to ending poverty.

I hope that my future blog entries will inspire readers to act to promote social justice.

Thanks for taking your time to read this.

- Ken

A Tribute to Walter Cronkite

BENTON GRIMMETT — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:22:01 EDT

Tribute to Walter Cronkite http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...alter-cronkite

President Obama Receives A Boost In The Senate

EsquireUK — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:56:42 EDT

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/273e8d0e-65b4-11de-8e34-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

In a 5-0 decision, the Minnesota State Supreme Court today declared Al Franken the winner of the state's Senate race. Shortly thereafter, Franken's opponent Norm Coleman officially conceded.

In an official statement, President Obama congratulated Franken, saying:

"I look forward to working with Senator-Elect Franken to build a new foundation for growth and prosperity by lowering health care costs and investing in the kind of clean energy jobs and industries that will help America lead in the 21st century.”

Sleeping in the Economic Matrix

Colin Brodhead — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:24:58 EDT

The foundation of every political system rests on its economics. One might even go so far as to say that every political philosophy is nothing more than an indirectly expressed economic theory. We are therefore very likely to soon experience vast waves of change in this country that have little to do with any voluntary effort or any agenda we can currently assign to the political party of our choice. At this stage, history is about to overtake us as America's currency loses its status as the worlds' international medium of exchange, and this will inevitably have a significant impact on the life of every single American citizen, rich or poor.

In my lifetime, the nation's police departments have been increasingly militarized; and laws increasingly repressive and narrowly constitutional. Its prison populations are the largest in the world --disproportionately for drug-related offenses-- while the air-waves have become saturated with drug commercials. Manufacturing capacity has been stripped and moved overseas, while the education system increasingly struggles for relevance and purpose. The list goes on and on, ad naseum.

Global poverty is at an all-time high and in America, homelessness has, incredibly(!), become commonplace in the erstwhile land of the free. And yet, all this has unfolded in recent decades in direct proportion to the total amount of money flowing through the world's capital markets. I don't think this is either coincidental or inevitable --except perhaps as the inevitable result of a fraudulent system that has been perpetrated on an unprecedented scale.

What has actually gone wrong here? For all practical purposes --and this is increasingly visible to the naked eye-- Wall Street has become the government and the true seat of power. And this has become possible solely because not one in a hundred thousand know or care how our monetary system actually works, nor knows that it was established as a deliberately conceived system of smoke and mirrors from the very beginning.

As Thomas Jefferson once wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin in 1802, "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by deflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."

Sound familiar? If so, it means the alarm is ringing and it's time to wake up. Anyone care to join me?

But this is only a small part of the story, for at the same time, most people are also unaware that the formal study of economics itself has never been able to produce a cohesive and comprehensive theory of economics. Does anyone else find this bizarre? As an anonymous staff member for the IMF website once expressed it with a sort of zen-like perfection: “Although money affects all our lives and we deal with it every day, we understand very little about the role and importance of money and the international monetary system.”

Do you see? In the final analysis, it's not really "economic conditions" per se that has bought us to the brink of economic and cultural collapse --but a state of profound and universal ignorance with respect to a very, very core subject.

No one therefore, can expect President Obama to make the necessary changes, even assuming that he understands or even sees the over-riding nature of the problem. Sadly, we have to doubt this even as we support his efforts, and even as we are forced to watch him play the part of Bush II and prop up and support the very system of debt and credit that has brought us to this point in the first place. No, only a grassroots movement of enlightenment will suffice.

To promote this possibility therefore, I thus have a two-fold agenda here:

The first part is to discuss the fundamentally fraudent nature of the Federal Reserve System (which, by the way, is neither 'federal' nor a 'reserve,' but merely a private corporation who has been given license by a clueless and corrupt Congress to print money at its own discretion which it then lends (!) to us at interest. This is not at all the same as a system in which the U.S. Treasury simply issues its own money directly.

[For a far more detailed and highly readible account of this, I strongly recommend Ellen Brown's new book, Web Of Debt.]

As to the second part, I hope to propose a uniquely fundamental solution to the problem of economic decline, because I discovered precisely why no one was previously able to provide a comprehensive theory of macroeconomics. Consequently --among other things-- I came to realize that it was possible to profoundly re-engineer the monetary system in such a way as to completely eliminate the practice of taxation --and yet support all of the vital functions of government that we have come to expect.

Naturally, this has profound political implications. America may be in serious state of advanced decay, but a complete transformation is not only possible, it's already in the cards.

But this is merely an introductory note for this blog, so I think I'll leave it at that and elaborate a little further down the road.

NY Homeless Shelters

Barb Smith — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:54:52 EDT

What are we doing regarding NY's beginning to charge homeless, working mothers rent a shelters?

Health Care Forum May 12th - Did you know

Katie in St. Paul — Sun, 03 May 2009 09:16:51 EDT

Here are some of the things we will be discussing at the Health Care Forum on May 12th. I hope you can make it!

Did you know:

Consider the following facts:

· 50 million people are uninsured and many more are underinsured;

· 37% of Americans report rationing care due to a lack of healthcare coverage;

· The uninsured are more likely to go to the emergency room for care and 20% more likely to be admitted to intensive care;

· 20% more likely to die when receiving intensive care within Intensive Care Units (ICU);

· Many of us go without psychiatric care;

· 18,000 people die each year because of a lack of medical insurance;

· Health care costs are rising at two times the rate of inflation (a major contributor to foreclosures)

· Administrative costs account for 31% of healthcare expenditures (by comparison, that is double the proportion in Canada).

SOURCE: Did You Know, MN Universal Health Care Coalition

We're going to be discussing the Minnesota Universal Health Care Initiative at this meeting. Then we're going to talk about ways to support it or alternatives. All are welcome.

Minnesota AIDS Walk

Chris — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:13:29 EDT

I started a team with my school (University of Minnesota-Addiction Studies Program) for the 2009 Minnesota AIDS Walk. I would like to encourage anyone who reads this to consider making a donation to support me in walking to help fight HIV/AIDS. My walker website is http://community.mnaidsproject.org/UofMLADC. Any donation would be hugely appreciated!

Counselor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform

Tom Hayes, working for change — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:24:11 EDT

President Obama has issued an executive order establishing the White House Office of Health Reform intended to oversee "the federal government's comprehensive effort to improve access to health care, the quality of such care, and the sustainability of the health care system." Governor Howard Dean, M.D., and Democracy for America have launched the "Healthcare for All" campaign at StandwithDrDean.com, and over a quarter of a million people have enthusiastically joined in, spreading the word.

Both initiatives will help spur on reform in the health care insurance industry, and not a moment to soon. According to a recent article from Maggie Fox of Reuters,

"U.S. government economists predict that public and private health spending will hit $2.5 trillion this year, taking up a 17.6 percent share of gross domestic product. Yet studies suggest Americans get poorer care than people in other industrialized countries that have national healthcare plans, and 46 million Americans have no health insurance at all."

While Howard Dean is a visible and credible public face, the effort requires your commitment, too. Change doesn't come about in Washington unless politicians know their constituents are paying attention to an issue. You've got to keep writing to them, and to newspapers, and inform your friends, neighbors, and co-workers about the shabby state of affairs caused by insurance company profiteers siphoning off lavish pay and bonuses that drive up all our costs but add no value to the health care industry.

Even if you're not the sort who writes letters to the editor, you can help financially to provide the backing Governor Dean needs to spread the message.

Our President, Barack Obama needs our help! Budget!!!

Nyagatare — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:07:16 EDT

This is critical,

Please let help him pass this budget! He needs our help! Washington DC seems to luck that support. Petition letters or talk to our representantives.

Good luck everybody!

Where do we go from here?

Katie in St. Paul — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:51:01 EDT

It's possible you haven't heard from me since the election. I've not been idle. I had a house party in December. I hosted a service event on Martin Luther King Day which was wildly successful, collecting over two tons of food for Neighborhood House Food Shelf and 25 plus units of blood for Memorial Blood. I recently participated in a recap/potluck regarding that event hosted by fellow volunteer Linda Zwicky. During that party, I discovered what I'm doing next.

Ever since the election, I haven't been settled or sure of what the next step for me personally would be with respect to our new administration. I am keenly interested in community gardening and have taken steps to educate myself in this area in hopes of fostering community gardens all over the Twin Cities. My thought was to throw myself wholly into the urban gardening movement and consider that to be my contribution to the new administration. After all, food democracy was a worthy and concrete endeavor and with the economic crisis looming, it seemed like a justice issue as much as a health and environmental issue.

So when I attended the recap of our service event last weekend, I wasn't prepared for the epiphany I experienced. We were talking about what to do going forward. Lots of smart people in the room, as usual. We talked about how we were all waiting for the Obama Administration's organizing arm, Organizing for America, to lead us. An astute observer nixed this concept. No, the administration was waiting for us to lead them. Huh?

Much as I wanted to forget about door-knocking and phone banking, I had to admit this was still a powerful calling. I had to reconcile myself--can I pursue urban gardening and continue to organize for Obama?

Yes, simple as it sounds and it was oft repeated during the campaign, change happens from the bottom up. Reminded of this at the meeting I attended recently, we agreed we wanted to continue to meet to try and bring change to our communities and to our country with the help of OFA and the Obama administration. We agreed that we wanted to continue to meet face-to-face on a monthly basis. We agreed that our activities could include a broad range of activities, from the community gardening projects I am interested in to lobbying legislators for health care or door-knocking and phone calling as we did during the campaign.

AndI realized that my urban gardening project, once I really understood it fully, would fit neatly into the new organizing paradigm. Service projects for kids in the garden, help in the garden on planting day, invitations to the community on harvest days all would fit into Organizing for America.

The one thing that we all seemed to agree is that this group needed to meet face to face. It wasn't enough to communicate via email or online blog postings. We gained sustenance from EACH OTHER and so once a month meetings were imperative.

Thus, Face to Face for Change - Twin Cities was created. Its goal seemed simple--to meet on a monthly basis to exchange ideas and plan for change in its many shapes and forms. We will be there to support OFA and this fledgling administration's agenda, in much the same way we supported its agenda during the campaign.

I'll invite you to join as soon as the site has approved our group. We hope to organize for the next phase of this Movement--the part where the lion's share of the work will be involved--creating permanent change we can believe in. I hope to see you there.

Katie McGee

Why I Support the President 's bold approach for renewing America's economy

Rebecca — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:13:19 EDT

President Obama is intelligent (we finally have a president who was at the top of the class) but also down to earth like "We The People". He will/has come up with a Blueprint America Needs NOW. It will be done systematically, thoughtfully and AFTER listening and HEARING EVERYONE on the subjects. Also he has the character and values of caring for ALL people that we need to get our nation back on the right track.

He strongly believes, as do I, that we will NOT Get Out of the "huge mess we are in" to become what we need to be unless we face head-on the issues of Health Care, Energy and Education Reforms AND DO IT NOW.

Oh Yes, I do hear the "chattering heads" of Congress, the media and all around us saying "WHY NOW? We have too many other problems. We need to focus on them first." I say that kind of talk is part of what got us into "this huge mess"--IGNORING--WAITING--AVOIDING "closing our eyes" so as to make the problems go away. SORRY that did not work for me even as a child AND it sure WILL NOT WORK now for our country.

We will not solve "the other problems" UNLESS and UNTIL we REFORM these 3 areas as President Obama plans to do. The money inefficiently spent on Health Care and Foreign Oil will get us into a deeper hole if it is not addressed NOW. The education of our children is what we must count on to survive and compete in a global economy. They are our nation's future. AND we must give them tools NOW for our country's sake and our world.

Health Care Reform

Rebecca — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:24:35 EST

I am a psychiatric RN who is becoming more and more frustrated with the amount of time I spend on the telephone attempting to get medications approved for patients. This is a decision made by their insurance company EACH of which has totally different rules about which medications can and and cannot be paid for--not always taking into account what is best for the patient. Something must be done so that we ALL are able to receive the best medical care.

I attended a meeting in MN where a group has been working on Health Care Reform for some time. They have researched different ways to find the most effective and efficient manner to have EVERYONE insured. I did not think I would agree that the form they advocated was the best. BUT after this informative session I was totally in agreement that the Single Payer System would be the best.

This is their web site. http://www.muhcc.org/home.html check it out. Rebecca

MinnesotaCAN help the food shelf!

Tom Hayes, working for change — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:42:42 EST

Minnesota FoodShare's annual March Campaign kicked off on March 1st and your generous donation can play an important role in tackling hunger in our community.

In 2008 the Brian Coyle Food Shelf distributed more than 113,000 pounds of food to residents in the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods and has a goal this year of collecting 5,000 pounds/dollars to restock their shelves. Non-perishable goods or financial contributions (checks made payable to Brian Coyle Food Shelf) will be greatly appreciated by the more than 900 families who visit the Brian Coyle Food Shelf each year.

Drop off hours are 2:00pm until 6:00pm on Sunday, March 15th, at the home of DonnaMarie Woodson, who was one of the tireless metro area Obama volunteers. Even one can matters, every little bit helps.

The Coyle Center, named after former vice president of the Minneapolis City Council Brian Coyle, is also proud to host a Farmer's Market once again this summer! Local farmers will sell fresh produce at the Coyle Center on Mondays from 3-7 p.m. beginning July 7th through September 29th, 2008. The Coyle Center is creating choice, change, and connection, one person at a time.

MN CAN: The Change We Seek

TJFischer — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:32:45 EST

Hello MN Change Agents!

As Communications Director of the MN CAN (Community Action Network) I’ve been asked to help get the word out.

By way of introduction, as a tail end baby boomer, I have lived and worked in Minnesota my entire life. More specifically, that currently means living in White Bear Lake but I grew up in Coon Rapids and Anoka school districts, and have lived in Burnsville, Bloomington, Maplewood, Woodbury, Mankato, Golden Valley, and NE Mpls, as well. (For what it’s worth, I also have immediate family in Ham Lake, Andover, Blaine, Lakeville, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, and Hastings:) Some of you may remember me as we biked—quite literally pedaling thousands of miles—together in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s throughout greater Minnesota with the Jaunt w/Jim (Klobuchar) Ride sponsored by the Minneapolis STRIB.

Others of you may be familiar w/my online efforts during the 2008 campaign, but I also travelled to Indiana and South Dakota to knock on doors during the primary and spent the summer working as a grassroots organizer for the Obama campaign in St. Cloud—where we gathered together to watch then Senator Obama accept the DNC nomination for POTUS at the largest Watch Party in the state of Minnesota. Like many of you I’ve also been hosting and/or attending smaller scale house parties in support of Change for the last two years and feel invested, not to mention heard, in the political process for the first time ever.

My right hand in CAN is Tom Hayes, a tireless self described “non-partisan synergist” for Change who spent hours blogging during the campaign. Tom was an Obama precinct captain in Northfield, worked closely with the metro campaign volunteers and ObamaWorks. In addition, he helped moderate and maintain the Rapid Response group on BarackObama.com. You can learn more about Tom’s leadership/philosophical approach in one of his latest online articles: If You're Not Part of the Solution.

By now you may know a little something about the CAN groups. To be clear we are not OFA 2.0 but a grassroots Community Action Network born of a strong desire to show support for our new President; helping in any way we can to DO SOMETHING about the state of the union inherited from the Bush legacy. So we requested, and graciously received, permission to build out within MyBO throughout the U.S. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to write one of the original founders, LisaLindo@aol.com, for clarification.

Someone said it’s impossible to give Barack Obama too much feedback: But we’re going to try anywayJ I believe the phenomenon of this movement for Change evolved as a result of many factors coming together in this time; none of which would have been possible w/out the type of leader we find in President Obama—who has fought hard to provide everyone of us w/access to the information/tools we need to connect the dots. Now, as Tavis Smiley observed on Larry King this evening, their accountability is our responsibility. Thus, we need your help to organize and to put together action events throughout Minnesota to support our President and your communities statewide. (If you are presently located in a different state and want to stay in the loop for local activities, just let us know so we can get you connected.)

In any case we hope you’ll join us on http://My.BarackObama.com/page/group/MinnesotaCAN

We are building out this infrastructure to organize America in support of our new Leader. Please “come out” and join our (virtual) national Barn Building Party for President Obama. Our grassroots teams, in an effort to support Barack, are rolling out Grassroots Government 2.0. before the snow melts!

Our first and foremost immediate objective is to form ranks. To get involved, these are the instructions:

1. Join these two groups:o http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/MinnesotaCANo http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/USACAN

2. Update your Personal Profile on MyBO with real contact information so we can interact accordingly.

3. Do your part to help us develop this robust nationwide project: All MyBO members who want to participate in Grassroots Government 2.0 need to join their respective State CAN group.

To give you a heads up, a call has been put out for each county across the country to have their second CAN meeting Saturday, March 7th. (In your county, it may be the first meeting as we gear up.) At these face to face meetings in each county across MN we will elect officers, assign issue teams by individual interests, and connect people who share local concerns to work across CAN; joining forces and implementing solutions. This is the plan we make in support of President Barack Obama's upcoming legislation and programs; which are detailed in the President’s Blue Print for Change and posted at www.whitehouse.gov. Please pass this on to your friends, fellow Obama Supporters, list serves et al: The more voices people hear about how important it is to meet up in each county, in each community, the better chance we have of getting bodies in those seats, votes in those polls, and voices in the National Conversation.

“We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek..” --Barack Obama

This is not a drill: Now is the time!

Be part of the solution.

Tom Hayes, working for change — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:29:22 EST

It’s time for politicians to pay attention to what voters said in November 2008. Voters said, government is here to stay, so stop running against government and just start running the government well. We had a failure of leadership in Washington, and Obama won the Presidency because most voters felt it was time for a change. The task of restoring the jobs, the task of rebuilding the American dream, is urgent. Real people are losing their paychecks every day. Real people are losing their health insurance every day, while millionaire bankers send their lobbyists to D.C. to make sure executives of badly run companies don't lose their bonuses, let alone their pensions or their jobs.

Barack Obama and his team in the White House are clear that they work for the people who elected them, because special interests didn't fund his campaign. He's turned his attention to health care plans that regular people can afford, and won't lose when they lose their jobs - the President knows our wages aren’t keeping pace with the price of gas, food, and prescription drugs. He's rolled up his sleeves; Obama's working every day.

This is what happens when you elect a former community organizer. Voters saw that this is a man who leads by example, a man who's more interested in action than repeating memorized talking points in a press conference. Will you be part of the solution? If you're not talking with your neighbors about community needs and priorities, rest assured there are people who have every intention of controlling how the money is spent.

Obama won’t sit idly by and let our country become even more dependent on foreign oil and imported goods while big companies outsource our jobs. He's targeted education, for example, an investment in our children that will renew our economic power and secure their future.

President Obama gets that government is only as good as the people who run it; he and his staff were working even before the inaugural. Voters are hungry for more leaders with the common sense values Obama has shown, with the courage to do what it takes to lead a clean up of the mess in Washington - so that government "for the people" serves us all by keeping teachers and policemen employed despite special interests and partisan posturing that most of us find disingenuous if not downright unpatriotic in a time of crisis.

I'm not asking who anybody voted for, or if they're a member of a political party. My question is: What are you doing while Obama's team works to save the economy, jobs, and our environment?

I'm not asking if you can help, but as a citizen of the USA I'm hoping you will.

MY PRESIDENT

Rebecca — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:05:38 EST

I can;t sleep--I just want to listen to "MY" President's speech over and over and over. He is the PRESIDENT for US ALL and cares about us ALL.. AND people see and feel that.I still CANNOT believe that America WAS ready and DID make him our President. A person at the very top of his class NOT 4th from the bottom.We voted for one of the most intelligent YET compassionate people that has come along in my lifetime to lead US ALL! He is up to the task without a doubt.He is more than up to the job and IT IS amazing to hear him and see him."HE GETS IT". He has been where many are now. He knows the feeling and HAS NOT FORGOTTEN, as so many do when they come out the other side.And OUR First Lady is also too awesome for words. She gets it too and has already been busy visiting schools, inviting children to the White House and companies and organizations in DC.I THANK GOD every day for leading me to do the campaigning I did. I would do even more in a heartbeat. It was more than worth it.I also THANK GOD for leading Americans of all walks of life, all cultures, religions and ethnic backgrounds to vote to make him the 44th President of our great nation! Rebecca

Time's Joe Kline "overreaction to the state of Obama's presidency"

Rebecca — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 03:53:10 EST

Klein makes an interesting observation about what he sees as the "overreaction" to the state of Obama's presidency.

"Some form of stimulus will pass. If it doesn't revive the economy, then more stimulus will be passed. Obama's maintaining the proper balance of reaching out to Republicans, making some compromises, but staying firm on the need for a bill that includes public works as well as tax cuts. A Republican Senator, a vocal opponent of the bill, told me the other day: "The guy has really impressed us. We may not vote for the bill, and he may have to learn that you have to give us more than he wants to give us to make us happy, but he's made a really strong start that will work to his benefit down the road." ...
But with Klein's observation in mind, Obama is going to get a stimulus package. It will come soon after he signed S-CHIP and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. And those laws come in the midst of key executive orders on national security, lobbying reform, and women's health here and around the world.

Inauguration

Serena Pitala — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:44:40 EST

I don't know if anyone still looks at mybo, but I thought I would give this a shot. I will be travelling to D.C. for the inauguration and the neighborhood ball and am looking to see who else is going from MN. I just found out I got a ticket and I haven't booked a flight or train or bus yet, but if anyone is driving let me know. I also think I have family I can stay with, but if anyone has a room booked and wants someone to split the cost with, contact me.

Mr Obama's Date With Destiny

John Hay - An Australian for Barack — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:51:40 EST

Mr Obama's Date With Destiny

A Pre Inaugural Special Article & Video ... http://www.tellingthoughts.com/us-politics/mr-obamas-date-with-destiny

Latest Post from John Hay @ Telling Thoughts ... www.tellingthoughts.com

MILITARY HERO - G.I. JOE

WEBMASTER — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:30:15 EST

In honor of military pigeons throughout history, I post on this Christmas Eve, information produced by Otto Meyer, U.S. Army (Ret), and supplied by the ARPU, on the American Hero “G.I. JOE” -

“G.I. JOE”
American Hero

“G.I. JOE” is the most outstanding military pigeon in history and is credited with saving the lives of at least 100 British troops during World War II. The British 56th Brigade was scheduled to attack the city of Colvi Vecchia, Italy, at 10 a.m., October 18, 1943.

The U.S. Air Support Command was scheduled to bomb the city to soften the entrance for the British Brigade. The Germans retreated leaving only a small rear guard and as a result the British troops entered the city with little resistance and occupied it ahead of schedule.

All attempts to cancel the bombings of the city, made by radio and other means of communication, had failed. Little “G.I. JOE” was released with the important message to cancel the bombing. He flew 20 miles back to the U.S. Air Support Command base in 20 minutes and arrived just as our planes were warming up to take off. If he had arrived a few minutes later, it might have been a different story.

Gen. Mark Clark, Commanding the U.S. Fifth Army, estimated that “G.I. JOE” saved the lives of at least 100 of our British allies. In November 1946, “G.I. JOE” was shipped from Fort Monmouth, N.J. to London, England, where he was cited and awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry by the Lord Mayor of London. “G.I. JOE” is the only bird or animal in the United States to receive this high award.

“G.I. JOE,” a dark checker pied white flight cock, was hatched March 24, 1943, at the Pigeon Section in Algiers, Algeria, North Africa. Later he was taken to the Tunisian front, then to Bizerte, and from there to the Italian front.

After World War II, “G.I. JOE” was housed in the Churchill Loft, U.S. Army’s “Hall of Fame” at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., along with 24 other pigeon heroes. In March of 1957, the remaining pigeon heroes were placed with different zoological gardens throughout the U.S.A.

“G.I. JOE” was placed with the Detroit Zoological Gardens where he died June 3, 1961, at the age of 18. “G.I. JOE” was returned, mounted, and placed in the Historical Center, Meyer Hall, at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

--- Otto Meyer, U.S. Army (Retired)
--- Former Commander of the U.S. Army Pigeon Service

I dedicate this inspiring story of courage and determination of the pigeon named “G.I. JOE” to the generations of troops that will secure the success of the 44th President of the United States.

May the message of peace come to The White House and spread throughout the land.

Merry Christmas Everyone,

David Apperson, Life Cloud Discussions

American Legion - member
ARPU - lifetime member
VFW - life member

Source: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxKt3

Call for Action from this Weekend: Let's Rally in St. Paul When the State Legislature Meets In January

Manuel Barrera, PhD — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:15:51 EST

I attended sessions this weekend and look forward to this Monday's "Roadmap to Economic Recovery Forum" that is being sponsored by Congressman Keith Ellison in Minnesota. The response of the Minnesota Pawlenty administration to the economic crisis has been to get out of the way of big business to make profits, limiting the taxes on those most able to pay, and cutting funding to local governments. Everyone seems to fear the taxation of big business but "we" seem so willing to hand out billions in welfare to the rich banks when they fritter away money on questionable investments of junk mortgages.

The state legislature is set to begin its business at the beginning of January. Wouldn't it be important for Pawlenty and state lawmakers to hear from us as Obama has sought to hear from us? I wonder if it is possible to plan some "RoadWORK for Ecomomic Recovery" at the steps of the state capitol when the legislature reconvenes? It would be a fitting start to the year and a strong precursor to the inauguration on January 20th.

I wonder if others of you have already begun plans or are interested in doing so? If there is action being planned, please count me in, if this is the first time you have heard of this idea, I would like to see if there are people who would like to get started. I especially call on both Mayor Rybak and Mayor Coleman as well as Congressman Ellison to help support an effort to mobilize the citizens of Minnesota in demanding justice in this economic recovery.

Here are issues that I heard were of the highest concern from this weekend and possibly around which we could organize a rally on the capitol steps:

Providing relief to people affected by the mortgage crisis

Universal Healthcare in Minnesota

A stimulus to rebuild Minnesota's infrastructure and the creation of jobs

Invest in both K-12 and higher education: no reductions in funding

An end to military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and retooling toward a humanitarian mission

Place the burden of the economic deficit on those most able to pay: A freeze on corporate profits not on working people's wages.

Of course, these are my thoughts on the issues and I look forward to hearing everyone else's.

Good luck to us all as we struggle for a more just and prosperous society.

Roadmap to Recovery Forum

BTJ — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:33:42 EST

As a follow-up to Change meetings this weekend, join Representative Keith Ellison and a coalition of community organizations for a Forum to develop ideas for a Roadmap to Economic Recovery on Monday, December 15th.

This coalition has already been doing great work addressing the foreclosure crisis in Minneapolis and provides a great opportunity to keep involved in doing critical progressive work.

See below for details.

What Does It Take To Get A Parade Permit Around Here?

Hussein The Hope Monger — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:59:52 EST

Did you know all of this! Whaaah!

Nyagatare — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:48:29 EST

TELL OBAMA series: Congo-Rwanda: The difficult search for the Truth (part II) -- by Col Luc Marchal (translated from the French by CM/P) by Mick Collins on Wed 03 Sep 2008 11:58 AM EDT | Permanent Link [Here is our English translation of Belgian Col. Luc Marchal’s piece (posted here below) about the current state of Truth and Justice in Central Africa, and its relationship to the so-called ‘civilized’ world. Much of this information will not be new to CM/Pers—Chris Black, Peter Erlinder, David Barouski, and Keith Harmon Snow, have all contributed articles about the current Rwandan regime’s belligerence in obstructing a full disclosure of the real history of the troubled African Great Lakes region. With all that I've read and posted here—Maitre Black's pulling the covers off the murder of PM Agathe and the phony Dallaire genocide fax on which many dim scribblers like Phillip Gourevitch, Linda Melvern, and even my mainest pulpist, Elmore Leonard, have based their analyses of the Rwandan genocide; Professor Erlinder’s work, much cited below by Col Marchal, on the cover-up of the real causes of the Rwandan troubles, has recently been posted here; David Barouski’s interview with a Rwandan genocide survivor is invaluable to any understanding of these hideous events; and Mr. Snow’s accounts of the financial and commercial machinations behind both the industrialized carnage in Rwanda/Congo and the big studio spectacles it has generated, are important sources for the CM/P seminar on ‘Movies and the (un)Making of History’ (to be presented in Berlin at the end of October 2008)—it is difficult to imagine how most of the world continues listlessly to subscribe to the mawkishly, absurdly racist melodrama, a grotesquerie of neighbors senselessly hacking 8000-per-day of their fellows to death with farm implements, driven by nothing more nor less than pure, aboriginal tribal venom, that the wanton polluters of Human consciousness have so unscrupulously, yet methodically and persistently, foisted on us.

But this animosity toward Real History is far from unique to Rwanda or Central Africa. In fact, it is one of many parallels to the development of the Capitalist wars against Russia and China, and, for that matter, against all other popular, rational and decent governments throughout the world. Congo, like Russia and its near abroad, or China, is an unimaginably huge and rich storehouse of natural (including human, but especially energy) resources, and has for a long time been the target of Waste Capitalist (Imperialist) conquest.

In saner days, all the goals espoused by Western waste culture would have been pursued through political and diplomatic negotiations—just as in the 1930s the USSR sought through innumerable treaties to outlaw armed aggression as a means of settling international disputes. But since WWII, the world has found itself locked in a struggle for nothing less than the continued existence of Human Life. The death wish of advanced waste Capitalism, as expressed in its irrevocable economic dependence on arms production—production for destruction—has superceded all other socio-economic considerations. Just as it will be impossible for the next US president, whoever he may be, to put an end to any of the by now fully privatized imperialist crusades (nb—If Obama were to withdraw the complete US military contingent from Iraq, what would become of the even more numerous Private Military Contractors who are the chief stokers of that desert fire?), nothing can or will be achieved geopolitically lest it result from—and result in—the further expansion and intensification of military violence. No matter how strenuously Russia or China might advocate outlawing international war, the Western wasting forces will continue to attack them, both militarily and informationally (as in the cases of South Ossetia and Tibet), to kill their citizens and servicepeople, and to seize their territory—not so much for the seizure, domination and exploitation of their resources, but really for the advancement of their own militarism, the advanced placement of their military bases and weapons systems—and then they will reverse the charges for these aggressions onto their victims.

Rwanda has become a kind of micro-history for this deadly dynamic that has blazed a bloody path through the 20 century: Only the millions of victims of the on going anti-fascist struggles in the USSR (Russia) and China could dwarf the death tolls in Rwanda/Burundi/Congo—something like 9 million since 1990.

And the Belgian Officer Luc Marchal has singularly valuable first hand, boots-on-the-ground, experience with the real horrors of Western wastage. His insights as to the political utilization by the US/UK/EU and Israel of a flaccid unto lifeless system of international law as a cover for their continuing military aggressions, and their further institutionalization of a reverse-victimating gambit in their promotion of the vapid legal notions of 'Victims Rights' and 'Victims Justice', give his presentation here a very special pertinence today. —mc]

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

Congo-Rwanda: The difficult search for the Truth (part II)

In a recent article, we discussed how much more laborious has become the search for the truth of the tragedy that, for so many years, has befallen the peoples of Rwanda and the east of Congo. Briefly, here are the areas we discussed:

1. The involvement of the US in the events that effected this region since the early 1990s;

2. The total lack of will on the part of the international community to shed light on the attack of 6 April 1994 in which presidents Habyarimana and Ntaryamira perished, the attack that marked the beginning of a holocaust of 6 to 8 million African souls;

3. The disaster produced by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which, contrary to the mandate conferred on it by the UN Security Council, has contented itself with rendering a biased and costly form of justice;

4. The independent investigations carried out by French and Spanish judges.

As if echoing the concerns expressed in that article, several unique events have occurred since its writing. These events confirm the pertinence of our analysis and preoccupations. So it seems a good time to comment on certain of these and, in that way, to update this information.

The manifesto of Professor Peter Erlinder

Peter Erlinder is a professor at Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also president of ADAD, the Association of Defense Attorneys, at the ICTR and lead counsel to Major Ntabakuze in the Military I case. He has recently published a document containing the results of several years of his experience arguing before this court of International Justice. In reality, it is more of an indictment laying out the missteps of this institution that has strayed from its prescribed role by adopting a thoroughly partisan attitude. This work contains no real surprises for those who have closely followed the work of the ICTR. However, the truly shocking testimony does not seem to have much concerned the world, except those who remain irrevocably committed to the universal principles of Peace and Justice. Which is certainly the case with the RPP.

1. The one-way vision of the Prosecutor

With regard to the knowledge gained since 1994 as to the importance and pertince of the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), it is undeniable that the Prosecutor, by pursuing only one of the protagonists in the Rwandan conflict, has not fulfilled the mandate conferred by the UN Security Council. This mandate authorized the prosecution of all crimes committed in Rwanda during 1994. This is what led professor Erlinder to the following conclusion: either the Rwandan war was the only war in human history during which only one side was guilty of international crimes, or the ICTR has been manipulated for political reasons. Let’s just let the former ICTR Prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, respond to these two assertions: It is not right that our work should be undercut by politics. It is painful to realize how we have trivialized the principles of international justice because Kagame signed an agreement with the US. We can no longer be certain as to why the work of the Tribunal was corrupted and who cut short the work that was to be done here.

However, in August 1994, the ’Gersony Report’ (the only independent investigation to be conducted in Rwanda after the seizure of power by the Rwandan Patriotic Front—RPF) informed the highest UN authorities that mass killings of the Hutu population had been committed by the RPA. No follow-up to this report was ever initiated, and it remained out of circulation for several years. On the other hand, in October 1994, Kofi Annan (at the time head of the UN Office of Peacekeeping) and Brian Atwood of the US administration directly intervened with Jean-Marie Vianney Ndagijimana (Foreign Minister under the RPF government) to cover up the crimes committed by the RPA. Former Minister Ndagijimana testified to this fact before the ICTR.

There are also other facts, all verifiable, presented in Professor Erlinder’s treatise demonstrating that while a large number of important political and military figures from the previous Rwandan government were locked up in Arusha, the Prosecutor was in possession of all the elements necessary to bring similar charges against several leading figures in the RPF and its military arm, the RPA.

2. The US, the UK and Paul Kagame or the Cosa Nostra

The unconditional protection offered, principally by the US, to Paul Kagame has created a total impunity at the heart of the ICTR that has well served the political and military authorities of the Kigali regime for the last thirteen years. So it should not be surprising that in July 2003 Carla Del Ponte announced her office was in possession of sufficient evidence to bring charges against members of the Kagame government, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Kofi Annan (by then Secretary General of the UN), both of whom were mouthpieces for Kagame’s demands and had openly expressed their beliefs that Carla Del Ponte should be relieved of her duties as ICTR Prosecutor.

Still in this context, President Bush put himself into the game by rushing Pierre Prosper, his ambassador-at-large for war crimes, off to Arusha. His mission was to order Carla Del Ponte to cease all legal actions against the RPF. As to what the deeper purpose of this move was, the answer could not have been clearer: to serve the strategic interests of the US in Central Africa.

We know what happened to Carla Del Ponte. As to the current ICTR Prosecutor, Assan Bubacar Jallow, his position on the case is quite simple: his office has studied the question, and in his judgment, the double-presidential assassination of 6 April 1994 does not fall within the legal mandate of the ICTR. Such clairvoyance will doubtless keep him from a fate like that of Carla Del Ponte’s.

3. The despoiling of the riches of Congo

Another subject treated by Peter Erlinder is the Rwandan-Ugandan looting of the riches of eastern Congo and, as a direct result, causing millions of Congolese deaths during the years of war there. This aspect of the problem is illuminated by a report from UN experts who, in 2003, clearly identified Paul Kagame as one of the kingpins of the chaos that is still being visited on this part of Congo.

And he concludes that the image of ‘democratic liberators’ that prevailed in 1994, has absolutely nothing to do with the true character of the government in place in Kigali.

4. The attack on 6 April 1994

As the lead counsel for one of the main defendants in the Military I trial, Peter Erliner has had direct access to important documentation of the events that took place in the Great Lakes region of Africa after 1990. Having dedicated a good deal of time to the study of this information, his conclusions are categorical: not only is there a deliberate will to cover up the truth of this pretended crusade of liberation by the RPF forces in 1994, but, moreover, the ICTR is also in possession of evidence that puts the responsibility for the double-assassination of presidents Habyarimana and Ntaryamira directly on Paul Kagame.

One of the consequences of this revelation by the ICTR is that charging solely those who were vanquished in 1994 makes any possibility of reconciliation among the Rwandan people pure illusion. And furthermore, this attitude makes the recurrence of such a tragedy highly possible. It is just a little ironic that this institution, that is supposed to bring about justice, would, through its actions, engender and exacerbate deep feelings of injustice in the hearts of the majority of Rwandan people.

In concluding his dissertation, Professor Erlinder stresses that though the ICTR was originally conceived as an independent institution, it will remain historically a Tribunal that has come to be a weapon of retaliation in the hands of the victors in the war of 1994, who, at all costs and by any means, have assured the total impunity of a leader who, in the Rwandan bi-monthly ‘UMUCO’ (actually published in Rwanda!), recently was compared to Adolf Hitler.

The massacre at Gakurazo or the enormous incoherence of the ICTR Prosecutor

In our previous article we discussed the killing of several Rwandan priests by the RPA at Gakurazo on 5 June 1994. A few days after the publication of the article, the authorities in Kigali announced the arrests of four suspects in the massacre. In a surprising fashion and without really taking the time to reflect, the ICTR Prosecutor withdrew from the case and ceded all authority to the Rwandan judiciary. Shocking on more than one account. On the one hand, the Arusha Tribunal has precedence over national judiciaries as to incriminating evidence. On the other, this way of proceeding is totally contrary to the Prosecutor’s own charging strategy against the accused. In fact, in the Military II trial, the former Chief of Staff of the Rwandan Armed Forces, Augustin Bizimungu, and the former Chief of the Rwandan Gendarmerie, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, are charged with the exactions and crimes committed by their subordinates. How do you explain that, on one side, certain commanders are to be held responsible for the misdeeds of their subordinates, but not on the other?

And last but not least, the ICTR’s transferring of its authority to adjudicate the crimes committed by the troops of the RPA to the Rwandan justice system is a bit like having let the Nazis determine who was responsible for the massacres at Oradour-sur-Glane in France or at Bande in Belgium. In any case, true justice does not permit the judge to be a party in the litigation. By this transfer, the Prosecutor has called into serious doubt something he has always affirmed: the certain knowledge that the political and military leaders of the ancien regime are the only ones responsible for all the crimes committed in Rwanda in 1994.

However, no one is fooled. By meekly allowing the Kigali regime the possibility of judging the ‘bit players’, the Prosecutor has permitted those who really ordered the massacre at Gakurazo never to have to answer to anyone. For that matter, everyone should appreciate the Prosecutor’s professional ethics for what they really are. The Prosecutor has, in fact, known the exact circumstances of these killings since 2003. They are by now so detailed as to erase all doubt: the priests were murdered on the orders of a high authority. The conditions under which they were killed resulted from a deliberate decision and not from spontaneous acts of revenge on the part of some soldiers driven to madness by the pain of having their families wiped out, which might have rendered them guilty.

This misstep by the Prosecutor, which came after the publication of Professor Erlinder’s manifesto, only served to further confirm Erlinder’s conclusion: the Arusha Tribunal is nothing more than a clearing house for certain partisan interests aimed at assuring all power to a totalitarian minority in the service of a capitalist oligarchy.

The case of General Karenzi Karake

You can reasonably surmise that the brilliant career of this RPA officer is the direct result of the service he has rendered to the cause of the RPF. In 1994, we knew very well what that involved. He served as the liaison officer to Canadian General Roméo Dallaire, commander of the military contingent of MINUAR. This assignment gave him total freedom of movement and allowed him to be completely on top of everything that was discussed inside this peacekeeping mission. We also knew that he worked for the intelligence services of the RPA. More than anything else, this liaison officer ‘cover’ permitted him to carry out the general coordination of the actions of all the underground cells of infiltrators deployed to Kigali by the RPF. Some of these cells were charged with the physical elimination of people who were thought to be either too critical of the Front, or just simply destabilizing influences on the situation inside the country. He thus fell directly under suspicion for the assassinations of two Rwandan politicians: Emmanuel Gapyisi and Félicien Gatabazi.

In August 2007, he was tapped to be the second in command of the African peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID). After this assignment, the Human Rights organization‘Human Rights Watch’ expressed its total disapproval to the Secretary General of the UN, as well as to the African Union, because of this officer’s direct responsibility in the many deaths of Congolese civilians during the June 2000 invasion of the region around Kisangani by Rwandan/Ugandan forces.

With Karenzi Karake’s mandate to lead the UNAMID set for only 12 months, the question has recently been just how to extend his term. And, let’s remember, at the beginning of this year, the Spanish judge, [Fernando Andre] Merelles, charged Karenzi with direct responsibility in several massacres, war crimes and crimes perpetrated against Rwanda. After that, many voices were raised to stop the renewal of his mandate. But then there was the unconditional support from the US, which, by sending its under-Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, as well as its UN ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, directly intervened on Karenzi’s behalf with Ban Ki-Moon to effectively renew the officer’s mandate. As for the government in Kigali, sticking with its well-tried and tested tactic of opposing those who put an end to the genocide to those who were responsible for it, President Kagame simply threatened to remove the significant Rwandan contingent from the peacekeeping force if Karenzi’s mandate was not renewed.

How is General Karenzi Karake’s case special? In fact, he is a perfect illustration of that international justice that holds to a double standard, one for the winning side and another for the losers. A specific example that is incontestable is that of General Léonidas Rusatira, a former officer in the Rwandan government’s armed forces, who also served with the RPA, before going into exile in Belgium. At the height of the torment in 1994, this man helped save numerous lives, and I can attest to this, having been a direct witness. However, a few years later, here he is on a list of genocidaires (a list established by the Kagame government and that varies with the needs of that regime). Without much reflection, Carla Del Ponte signed an arrest warrant that the Belgian authorities then executed. General Rusatira spent three months in a Belgian prison. Enough time for two experts recognized by the ICTR (professors Filip Reyntjens and André Guichaoua) to get Carla Del Ponte to admit that there was no basis whatsoever for the charges against Rusatira. After that she could only withdraw the arrest warrant. It’s troubling though, isn’t it, that this kind of justice can give a blank check to the ‘liberators’, allowing them to neutralize anyone who might represent an obstacle to their plans? Sad to say, this particular example is not the only one of its kind—far from it.

What makes the Karenzi case different from that of Radovan Karadzic, of Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir or even of Jean-Pierre Bemba or Paul Kagame? They are all the subjects of serious criminal charges at the international level. However, they are far from all being treated in the same way. When the international community has figured out how to correct this iniquitous situation, then, perhaps, we can write ‘international justice’ with a capital ‘J’. This is our wish, anyway.

Rwanda: an Anglo-Saxon protectorate?

Decidedly, these last few months, this magnet, Rwanda, has become a must-stop in the itineraries of many important American and British personalities.

The first visitor of note in 2008 was none other than George W. Bush, himself. The moment of his visit most reported in the press was his speech at the genocide memorial in Gisozi, near Kigali. In reality, the purpose of this brief stopover was to finalize the terms of an agreement to make Rwanda the hub of the US presence in Africa. The electronic equipment that is going to be deployed in this the land of the volcanoes will enable the US and its friends to listen in on all communications, by radio, telephone and any other means, over the entire African continent. What’s more, a vast military zone will be granted to the Americans in the region of Bugesera. The exact final state of this ‘reserved zone’ remains unclear. The interest of the US in Rwanda, in this particular area, is nothing new. The same demand was presented to President Habyarimana, who did not sign on to it as had been hoped.

If the current Republican candidate for the White House, John McCain, has not, himself, yet shown up in Rwanda, his wife [Cindy] just paid a quick, clean and almost secret call. She might have run into Chery and Tony Blair, who are by now regular denizens of the place. In fact, since leaving 10 Downing Street to his successor, Tony Blair has become a special advisor to Paul Kagame.

A little while ago, it was Bill Clinton whose tour of Africa led him once again to Rwanda. We remember the apologies he presented to the Rwandan people at the time of his previous visit. But these people will never forget that he was President of the United States in 1994, and that for several weeks his representatives led a pugnacious foot-dragging campaign to keep the word ‘genocide’ from being uttered in the semi-circle of the UN Security Council.

Just as the repeated visits of Anglophone personalities to Kigali are not the result of mere chance, neither do the kinds of expeditions by those who have preyed on Central Africa for so many years have anything to do with fate. Both are the direct consequence of covetousness for the immense underground wealth of this region. The Rwandan and Congolese peoples are doubtlessly growing little by little into a full awareness of their total abandonment by the so-called ‘civilized’ world, which, from one side of its neck, preaches ‘good governance’, while from the other it unstintingly sows chaos, all the better to loot and pillage the natural resources that do not belong to them.

The Rwandan Commission on the role of France

At the beginning of 2008, a Rwandan Investigatory Commission published its report on the role of France before, during and after the genocide. Remember that the creation of this commission in 2006 was a direct response to the almost personal insult and injury caused by the results of the investigation led by French [anti-terrorist] judge, [Jean-Louis] Bruguière, on the attack [against the Rwandan presidential jet] of 6 April 1994.

Let’s leave the analysis of the work of this commission to experts. But we should take note of one point that seems strange, to say the least. While Judge Bruguière’s investigation sets forth in the minutest detail the machinations behind this attack on the president’s plane, the investigation of the Rwandan government commission, overseen by Jean de Dieu Mucyo, does not utter a single word about this terrorist act. This should have been the perfect opportunity for the Kigali regime not only to put forth all the elements necessary to counter the charges of the French Judge, but especially to lift the veil of suspicion that hangs over the RPF with regard to this act's triggering the Rwandan apocalypse.

It’s useless merely to stir the pot. If no explanation is forthcoming from the commission, it is because this terrain is much too slippery. In reality, this silence is the highest form of acknowledging the solid basis for the Bruguière report’s [English translation on this blog—mc] conclusions as to the direct responsibility of Paul Kagame in this terrorist attack.

The commission is another example of the technique of ‘reversed-accusations’, a practice the Kagali authorities have excelled in for many years. It is doubtlessly one more step in Rwanda’s willful attempts to surmount all international resistance to its self-proclaimed ‘universal competence’. To this end, the ground has been prepared for some time. The Rwandan president has taken advantage of every one of his trips abroad to denounce the arrogance of Western justice in reserving for itself the right to accuse the citizens of ‘weaker nations’, and directly citing the charges made by French and Spanish courts. Even though it is difficult to see Rwanda as a ‘weak nation’ with its abundant workforce and its impressively equipped military.

But this insistence that it be granted the judicial implements of universal competence really hides another purpose than just getting back at those countries that presumptuously demand an explanation from the liberator of Rwanda. In fact, more than 14 years after the events, it has become more and more difficult, as was the case in the past, to add endlessly to the list of genocidaires those of whom you want to be rid. This technique is a thing of the past and should be replaced. Universal competence gives the regime in Kigali an excellent and permanent opportunity to pursue, anywhere and everywhere, people who might be considered potential obstacles to the hegemony of the current Rwandan nomenclature. And this is not all, because this same universal competence could also be used against those who search for the truth, those who oppose the intellectual tyranny imposed by those who deliberately chose the force of arms to take power in Rwanda. In other words, many of those who are being classify, in an opportunistic and simplistic fashion, as revisionists and negationists.

The danger is real. But, basically, it is expressions of Truth and Justice that will suffer. All the experts on Central Africa presently agree on one point: the true history of the region, from 1990 until today, is still to be written. Carla Del Ponte, herself, recognized that if the RPF was found to be responsible for the attack of 6 April 1994, the history of the Rwandan genocide must be completely rewritten.

Here is what is really at stake in all the hubbub behind this opposition to the cocked notion of a ‘Western Justice’. It is, above all, about the perpetuation, by any and all means, of the ‘official version’ of the events.

Conclusions

The UN Security Council, in its Resolution 1824, has extended by one year the mandate of the judges at the ICTR. In the current state of affairs, this extension will doubtlessly do little to change the way this Tribunal functions. I think that it is mainly a question of getting rid of the backlog of cases and of finding an acceptable solution to the problem of transferring certain cases to national jurisdictions, but not to that of Rwanda, which continues to express its opposition to the ICTR judges themselves.

However, when you consider that more than a year and a half after the conclusion of the Military I trial, the presiding judges have yet to render a decision (it is difficult to imagine such a situation anywhere else!), the ICTR appears far from being able to call it a day. Especially in view of all the affairs that still need to be concluded.

Let’s also consider that this extension is perhaps a much wished for opportunity to change the direction of things. But it is still mandatory that those who are in a position to act mobilize for the cause of Truth and Justice.

The major difference between 1994 and 2008 is that if it was difficult to determine who was responsible for crimes at the time, or just after, they were committed, today no one can say that he doesn’t know or that he can’t know. One thing is certain: if Western political leaders won’t unequivocally declare their determination to find out the whole truth about the real nature of the events that continue to bathe the Great Lakes region in blood, then we must insist they admit to their being accomplices in the next genocide which will surely be inflicted on this tortured part of Africa. Because if, in the West, they don’t want to know, the Rwandans and Congolese, most certainly, know all too well who is responsible for their terrible suffering. Today, it is most unseemly to continue to use the phrase:

‘Oh! I didn’t know.’

Luc Marchal
Former Commander
Kigali Section of UNAMIR
August 2008

Hey, Rick... Quit Asking For A Handout

Hussein The Hope Monger — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:53:07 EST

Saab offers the benefits of BioPower in two engine formats, delivering both enhanced performance as well as reduced fossil CO 2 emissions. Its introduction extends Saab's leadership of the premium 'flex-fuel' segment. Running on E85, the 2.3t BioPower engine delivers maximum power of 210 bhp and 310 Nm of torque, compared to 185 bhp and 280 Nm when using gasoline.

As an example of the increased performance, the Sedan with manual transmission accelerates from zero to 100 kph in 7.9 secs and 80-120 kph in fifth gear in 11.0 secs, compared to 8.5 and 12.6 secs when running on gasoline.

It's available in Europe; bring it to the States and quit making Hummers!

Am I fired up?

You betcha!!

Universal Health Care

FREEFLYR — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:28:38 EST

I'm sure this idea will go nowhere but here it is anyway.

I was thinking about paying for UHC and since I do not like the insurance companies running the health care system I looked at my auto insurnce of which I buy the minimum to be on the road, all of the premium is related to health care related expenses. ALL of the premium is for bodily injury.

So I got to thinking if there was UHC why would a person have to pay those premiums to the auto insurance industry? If a person were in a car accident and there was UHC the expenses would be paid anyway. Why not just pay a portion of the auto insurance directly to a UHC program by an amount reduced by the profits if the auto industry and lawyer fees for accidents, I mean the only way a person can be sure to NEVER be in a accident is to never get in a car.

This would raise billions of dollars for a UHC program.

Just an idea to think upon.

ok. bye.

OBAMA INFOMERCIAL

Richard G — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:06:40 EST

Did anyone save a copy of the 30 minute infomercial last week on the 3 networks? I copied it but managed to mess it up. If someone has it, I would LOVE a DVD copy of it and would certainly pay for the DVD and postage costs, and something for your time and trouble too. I know we cannot buy and sell--I am just looking for a personal copy for me.

If you could possibly do this, please email me at rgesf415@comcast.net and we can set something up. THANKS!!!

Obama Wins

Consultant — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:19:04 EST

Thanks to everyone!

Let's win this Senate race in Georgia. Vote on Dec. 2nd for Jim Martin.

Thanks,

We Did It!!!!

Ryan Kamphuis — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:09:10 EST

I still am in a sense of euphoria over the events that transpired yesterday. Together, we were all able to make history.

It all started almost two years ago, when a lone man declared his bid for the presidency. Few thought that he would be able to overcome his race. Even less thought that he would be able to beat the forces of Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, but he did. Once he did, many thought there was no way he could beat someone like John McCain, but he did.

But, it wasn't him who beat the odds to become President, it was us. It was his supporters, who stood by him since the beginning. The people who have sacrificed their time, money, and effort in an effort to create change. And it worked. Together, we all made history last night.

I'm only 16 right now. My whole life, I have only known a politics filled with broken promises, corruption, greed, and war. But yesterday, I was reminded of the great power of democracy, and the power of people. The power of all people to work together to change the world.

Together we were able to elect Barack Obama. Yes we did. But that's not the end. Now, it's time to work with our new President Obama to create that change. Yes we Can! It's time to work together in Washington like we did on the campaign trail to create change. Yes we Can!

Right now, I am now truly proud of America. I am proud of the fact that we were able to stand up to the status quo and demand change. We aren't accepting more of the same, we are hoping for something better. And, best of all, we stand united for the next 4 years.

Thank you everyone, for all of your hard work.

Together, we have taken the first step towards change. Now, let's continue onward with Obama leading the way!

A different kind of Victory!

Dr. C — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:31:23 EST

Thank you team Obama for your commitment to the future. We are all proud and your commitment is now in the history of the Universe. Also thank you President Elect Obama and Elect first lady Michelle and children. The picture of you and us is what the Universe ordered a long time ago. We are proud and teary eyed.

Have a great day

Tonight the Nation is Safer

Richard G — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:41:38 EST

For whatever struggles I have had through this campaign, such as pro life issues and the like, I have never wavered on my personal affection and hope that Barack Obama, if elected, would bring us the change we need. NOW HE CAN!

My faith, ultimately, is in God, not President-Elect Obama, but...I am proud to have had some association with his campaign for change. I remember, as a child of 12, when Martin Luther King was assasinated, as well as Robert Kennedy.

Whatever your faith tradition, or even if you don't have one, PLEASE just say a prayer for the safety and well being of our new First Family tonight.

YES WE CAN--YES WE DID--AND YES WE WILL. God bless!

We Made It

Nyagatare — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:04:12 EST

Yes We Can!

THANK YOU MINNESOTA!

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:45:31 EST

The networks have called the first races of the night, projecting that Barack Obama will win Minnesota and its ten electoral votes. Thank you Minnesota!

Thank you as well to all of our grassroots supporters in Vermont, many of whom have been working towards this moment for nearly two years now - check out a photo slideshow of Barack's campaign for change in Minnesota below:

How much is your vote worth?

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:41:03 EST

From social networking to text messaging, young people have changed the way political campaigns are run in the United States.

And, today, we have a chance to change the nation.

But only if we vote.

Check out this video of Kal Penn, the star of the Harold & Kumar movies, talking to students at the U about the power of the youth vote, and then find your polling place and vote!

Now the big question: if your attention is worth billions of dollars, how much power does your vote have?

Go to www.VoteForChange.com to find your polling place.

Iron Rangers Vote for Obama

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:44:33 EST

We've built the largest grassroots operation in Minnesota's history, but we still need your help in these next few hours.

Doorknocking and phonebanking shifts will be running throughout the day -- it's not too late to find a staging area near you. Just enter your zip code and we'll tell you exactly where we need your help.

All across the country people are coming together for change. People of all ages and backgrounds got back to the basics of grassroots organizing to do everything possible to help elect Barack Obama president.

Check out this video of folks up on the Iron Range discussing why they're voting for Barack Obama today.

Have you voted?

Find out your polling place now.

And if you have an hour or three today, volunteer to get out the vote.

Simply enter your zip code and we'll tell you where and when you're needed most.

IMPORTANT: New, Alternative Phone Number to Report Problems

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:07:34 EST

ATTENTION:

The Minnesota Campaign for Change is asking that any voters who have questions about voting or who want to report problems or issues when voting, to call 651-292-1158

These calls will go directly to a Call Center, where people are standing by to answer logistical questions ("Where is my polling location?") as well as more complicated, legal or voting-related questions.

Kids for Obama Canvass in South Minneapolis

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:39:38 EST

Kids for Obama Canvass in South Minneapolis

One day to change the world.

Now is the time to do what we've been working for: vote for Barack Obama for president.

Yesterday, a group of Kids for Obama canvassed their neighborhood in South Minneapolis:

Holding handmade signs inscribed with things such as purple scribbles, “dinosaurs for Obama,” and “vote for these tiny futures” a group of seriously vociferous elementary-school-aged kids marched down 38th Street in South Minneapolis.

This election is so important, and we all have to do our part.

Go to VoteforChange.com right now and find your polling location.

If you have an hour, or three, or an entire day to help, please volunteer at your local Action Center or making phone calls -- after voting, of course.

Everything comes down to today -- we can't let up now. Sign up to volunteer.

Fired Up?

Hussein The Hope Monger — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:29:26 EST

You betcha!!

THATS THE CHANGE WE NEED, MINNESOTA!

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

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

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

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

www.alimarcus.com

VIDEO: All roads lead to Hopkins.. and Victory.. and Change

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:21:07 EST

Volunteers at the "Get Out the Vote" Action Center in Hopkins made a short video to encourage local supporters to come on in and volunteer.

If you're watching any of the down-ticket races in Minnesota, an amazing thing is happening. Some areas, like Hopkins, that started off a deep red, have steadily gone in the last few months from red to pink to purple, and in the last few days, are even starting to look a little blue.

Check out their video, and help out for a few hours tonight or tomorrow to get Barack and the other DFL candidates elected tomorrow!

So... have you made plans for tonight yet?

There's still time help us Get Out The Vote and we still need volunteers going door to door in their neighborhoods to let Obama supporters know where to vote. Go to your local Action Center for a few hours after work today or make phone calls from home.

You can help transform the political landscape here in Minnesota.

Get out the vote.

Unregistered? Not a problem!

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:40:12 EST

If you're a Minnesotan and haven't registered to vote yet, don't worry. You can register tomorrow at the polls and cast your vote for Barack & Joe!
... here's what you need:

A MN driver's license, MN state ID card, or tribal ID with your photo, name, current address, and signature.

A photo ID plus a current utility bill in your name.
Acceptable Photo IDs: MN driver's license or ID (with old address--not expired), Tribal ID without an address, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, MN student ID.
Utility Bills (due within 30 days of November 4th): Gas, electric, solid waste, sewer, phone (any kind: land line, cell, VOIP), TV (cable, satellite), Internet, rent statement with itemized utilities, current student fee statement.

If you don't have any of these things, that's okay! You just need a voucher -- someone registered to vote inyour precinct who can swear that you live there.

Questions? Check out the Minnesota Voter Rights page at http://MN.BarackObama.com/KnowYourRightsMN.

Take the day

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:38:02 EST

Everything that we've worked for comes down to tomorrow. What are you doing?

Take the day off for Barack.

Ask your boss. Ask your professor.

Take some advice from Matthew Broderick and take the day off...

McCain-Palin Ticket Is Too Risky For America Today

Hussein The Hope Monger — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:21:28 EST

Last Friday, I 'voted early'. At this point, I can't imagine anything that could happen internally to either campaign or externally in the world that would cause me to reconsider voting for Barack Obama at the top of the ticket.

John McCain has run (or allowed to be run) an erratic campaign fraught with changing tactics and lacking principles and a strategy. That bodes poorly for his ability to lead. He has pandered to the extreme right wing of the Republican Party and fallen in line by voting 90% with Bush #43 the last 7 years. He is clearly no 'maverick'. He tried unsuccessfully to pander to the evangelicals by making up with Falwell, then Hagee and Parsely- he couldn't even get these superficial relationships straight.

John McCain is old and sick. I am not sure he will survive 4 years. He has foisted Sarah Palin onto the national stage. This Governor of a sparsely populated and resources wealthy state has never met the challenges of an Illinois, New York, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Its residents pay no state income or sales tax. She lacks intellectual curiosity and is less familiar with the world than the average American.

In pandering to the right, McCain insufficiently vetted this VP candidate. There is nothing wrong with her putting herself and her family first . However, using her public office for personal gain and influence is wrong. Taking public monies to sleep at home is wrong in any state - just because you're taking less than your predecessor is a poor defense.

She professes to be a mainstream "hockey mom" - but she's way off from the middle of our society.

I grew up in the "red" section of Cook County IL during the elder Mayor Daley's patronage machine. Ever since I could vote, I have been registered as a Republican; I have been active in local and state committees.

The Republican Party has lost its way. It no longer stands for fiscal responsibility, can no longer claim moral authority domestically or internationally, has breached Constitutional rights of freedom and privacy.

This is the first quadrennial election in which all 3 of my children will be able to vote. The 4 of us were fortunate enough to be able to meet Senator Obama during the holidays and prior to our caucuses here in Iowa. Along the rope line, he answered my questions about his relationships with the likes of Tony Rezko, George Haywood, the Strogers and others in today's Chicago machine; he described the types of advisers with whom he would surround himself if elected. He actually listened to and responded to my children's policy questions. I changed my registration and was proud to STAND UP for Barack Obama on caucus night.

I split my "down ballot" decisions and wrestled about our constitutional language change (remove "idiot" and "the insane" and replace with "judged mentally incompetent").

Barack Obama offers intelligent, insightful, inspirational leadership at a critical time in the journey toward 'a more perfect union'. For me, that's 'the fierce urgency of now'.

Is this 'Obamacan' fired up?

You betcha!!

Am I Fired Up? You Betcha!!

Hussein The Hope Monger — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:09:56 EST

"The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America." (BHO 2004)

There's nothing false about HOPE;

Keep hope ALIVE!!

There's Only One Poll That Counts - Take A Friend, Neighbor, Stranger To The Polls!!

Hussein The Hope Monger — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:34:27 EST

Fired UP?

You betcha!!

"It's Up to You"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:31:43 EST

The front pages of the Pioneer Press and the St. Cloud Times say it all--who wins and who loses tomorrow is up to you.

The weekend has ended, but our Get Out The Vote effort is not stopping. Today is the last day before the polls open.

We cannot let up now.

If you have to work today, make some phone calls during lunch and when you get home tonight. If you can take the day off, go to your "Get Out the Vote" Action Center and sign up for a GOTV shift.

We also need people working all day Tuesday to help drive voters to the polls, make phone calls to tell people where to vote, and to remind everyone to get to the polls and cast their ballot.

Whoever gets the most people to show up at the polls tomorrow will be the next president. Let's make sure it's Barack.

The Associated Press on GOTV in Minnesota

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:38:39 EST

From the AP:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - One day before Election Day, political candidates in Minnesota are focusing on getting their supporters to turn out to vote.

Campaign volunteers had a busy weekend of doorknocking and dropping off campaign brochures in hopes of reaching just a few more voters.

At John McCain's Minnesota headquarters, volunteers have been calling supporters to remind them to vote on Tuesday. The campaign has been contacting voters across the state but is putting some extra effort into the Twin Cities area and Rochester.

Officials for Barack Obama's Minnesota campaign say their get-out-the-vote efforts are twice the size of the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004. The campaign is contacting 600,000 core Democratic supporters as well as about 500,000 new or sporadic voters.

For everyone who has already been a part of the unprecedented effort in this weekend, either on the ground or by making calls from home, get some rest. We still have a lot of work to do.

Polls close tomorrow....

Countdown to Election Day

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:33:33 EST

Today marked the second day of our four-day "Get Out the Vote" drive -- the final, all-out effort to get as many voters to the polls as possible. Volunteers are still dialing away in Action Centers across the state, and canvassers are still out walking in their neighborhoods to make sure every Obama supporter knows where to vote.

After 22 months, it comes down to this -- ordinary people versus attack ads and robocalls, change versus the status quo, hope versus fear.

Can you help us Get Out the Vote?

There are only 2 days left to Get Out The Vote – be part of our movement now.

VIDEO: "If I didn't do something and sat idly by... I would feel regret for the rest of my life"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:50:58 EST

Jump in with both feet.

We still have thousands of volunteer shifts to fill across Minnesota, from knocking doors to making phone calls, organizing lit drops and processing data. No matter where you live, if you can commit to one or more shift between now and the close of polls on the Election Day, sign up now. Just enter your zip code and we'll show you when and where you're needed most.

Tomorrow we start again.

Final thought before Tuesday

Richard G — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:38:32 EST

Most of us have been on an extended journey to search for what is best in this country, and that journey has led us to Barack Obama. The one thing that holds me back, and that I have struggled with constantly all along, is his willingness not only to tolerate and support abortion rights, but his stated intention to expand them.

Before you write my words off, and before you vote on Tuesday, I would just ask you to check out this link to a Catholic Christian songwriter from Canada by the name of Mark Mallett. I am personally accquainted with him and can only assure you he is not a sensationalist or a fanatic, but rather a very kind and gentle father of 8 children with genuine concerns for our nation and world.

If you can still vote for Barack Obama after seeing this I will just say that I totally understand--I think he is smarter than McCain, and better on most social issues as well in my opinion. But Sacred Scripture tells us that we are not to "do evil that good may come"--in other words the end does NOT ever justify the means. All I ask is that you check out this video, and then say one quick prayer before you vote--one that says "God, please show me if I am voting correctly or not."

Here is the link and God bless--http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=736 .

Picture Post: GOTV Minnesota! Day 1

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:06:58 EDT

Get Out The Vote starts today and campaign for change staff and volunteers are on the ground working hard. Our offices are ready for volunteers, the phonebanks are set up and the doors are ready to be knocked.

What are you doing today? Share your plans with us, but most importantly, if you don't have plans - make them. The next 72 hours are crucial and we need every person working and organizing

That's how this election is going to be won.

Brick by brick.

Block by block.

Let's show everyone what the power of a grassroots movement can do.

Collin Peterson: "Obama: A no-brainer for agriculture"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:01:18 EDT

U.S. Representative Collin Peterson writes in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal:

I have the distinct privilege of representing some of our country’s hardest working farmers and agricultural workers, and serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture where we shaped the 2008 Farm Bill. As many of you know, I feel strongly about the importance of agriculture to this country. Farmers are part of the backbone of this country, responsible for our food security, and increasingly important contributors to our drive towards energy independence.
One thing I know for sure is that in order for our agricultural economy to be strong we’re going to need a President that we can work with. We need a President who understands the importance of federal agriculture programs, a President who will share our priorities and work with us to accomplish them.
I’ve taken time to study the records of both candidates and where the interests of Minnesota and American agriculture are concerned the only candidate who has supported agriculture is Senator Barack Obama. He’s not a perfect candidate – no one is – but at the most fundamental level, Barack Obama has shown me that he understands agriculture, appreciates its critical role in this country, and will work with farmers.
I cannot say the same of his opponent, Senator John McCain, who recently proposed abolishing the farm safety net and tax credits for renewable energy. Senator McCain has a long record of leading the charge against agriculture research, against biofuels, and against critical programs for sugar and dairy producers.
On all of the key issues for farmers and Minnesota agriculture, from preserving the farm safety net to developing renewable energy and making essential infrastructure improvements that are important to farmers, Senator Obama has been on the side of our nation’s farmers while Senator McCain has been against them.
Senator Obama has represented a key farm state and has maintained an open door to farmers from Illinois. He supported the 2008 Farm Bill, which will provide certainty and stability to producers and the entire farm sector, invest billions of dollars in conservation, and feed tens of millions of low-income families.
On the other hand, Senator McCain opposed the Farm Bill and said he would have vetoed it, just like President Bush did. This position has been criticized by leaders of numerous groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. It indicates to me that Senator McCain is badly out of touch with how agriculture really works in our country.
One of the most promising elements in our agricultural economy is the ongoing development of biofuels and other renewable energy sources. Increasing production and use of biofuels and other sources of alternative energy is decreasing our reliance on imported oil, injecting billions of dollars of capital into rural economies, and enhancing our local economies. The industry has grown from a combination of the entrepreneurial spirit and creative innovation found in American agriculture and the successful federal programs that helped lay the foundation for broader investment and growth.
Senator Obama strongly understands and supports these “ag-focused” energy development programs and even introduced legislation that created the first mandate for the production of renewable sources of diesel fuel. His leadership on renewable energy earned Senator Obama a Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union and endorsements from a number of Democratic and Republican former Presidents of the National Corn Growers.
Senator McCain, on the other hand, has one of the worst records in Congress on renewable fuels. He has repeatedly opposed and voted against all of the key biofuels programs and even said, “Ethanol has absolutely under no circumstances any value whatsoever.”
Finally, I’ve been impressed by the fact that Senator Obama has put members of his campaign team on the ground throughout rural American and has had them listening to what rural voters have been telling them. From what I can see he is an able leader who is committed to working with us for the good of agriculture – in Minnesota and throughout the nation -- and the rural communities who depend on it.
I believe that anyone who understands the economic importance of agriculture – and farmers in particular – should support Barack Obama.

Volunteer near you

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:01:32 EDT

This election will be won or lost on the ground. It will be won or lost in the four days that we spend Getting Out The Vote.

Here's what the Pioneer Press wrote about the GOTV efort in Minnesota:

The Obama campaign will try to turn out more than 1 million Minnesota supporters that it has identified since June, said Jeff Blodgett, Obama's Minnesota campaign director.

The main target will be 500,000 sporadic and first-time voters, Blodgett said. The Obama campaign and the DFL are organizing volunteers to knock on each of those voters' doors four times on or before Election Day.

Starting Saturday, the campaign plans to put 10,000 volunteers on the streets statewide every day through Tuesday.

In addition, Blodgett said, the Obama campaign plans to phone 600,000 other Democratic voters who routinely vote or live in remote areas that are hard to reach on foot and urge them to vote. Other volunteers will go door to door in strong Democratic precincts that traditionally have low voter turnouts. The campaign also will send text messages to more than 13,000 mainly young voters.

The Obama campaign, which has 37 campaign offices around the state, started organizing its ground game in July, he said. Volunteers phoned registered voters to identify Obama supporters and persuade undecided voters to back the Democratic nominee.

We can bring to change Minnesota -- and America, but we need your help.

We have been campaigning, organizing and working for over 20 months. And now it comes down to this weekend and what we do - or don't do - to get out the vote.

Sign up to volunteer now. You can find events that are close to you - phonebanks, canvasses, road trips, and more - and help in the way you are most needed.

This comes down to us. This is it. We can't look back and wish we had done more. We can't slow down or sit on the sidelines. We have to work harder each day then we did the day before.

We can do it. And we can win.

Sunrise or Sunset in America?

Consultant — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:41:49 EDT

Sunrise or Sunset In America?
Okay, here’s my prediction, and I’ve been saying this for the last few months: If Obama wins, he’ll win either small (3 to 4 points) or large (10 or more points).

In recent presidential elections, 10 or more points would be considered a landslide. If that happens, a lot of down ticket Democrats are going to win too. Recent polls indicate we’re heading in that direction. We’ll see.

If Obama wins, I hope he appoints a veteran Prosecutor as Attorney General. This totally preventable financial meltdown is hurting a lot people, and it’s going to hurt a lot more. As we descend into some very hard economic times, people are going to be mad as hell and looking for some justice. It would serve Obama and the American people if his administration goes after the tens of thousands of people who created and benefited from this vast, epic Ponzi scheme. Let’s see some perp walks!

And speaking of justice, it's not going to be served up by our mainstream press. If Obama wins, I'm thinking on November 5th the media (led by Fox), is going to back up a dump truck with all of the Bush Administration failures, and dump it on Barack. Then the media shouting will begin. Obama, fix all of this stuff. Now!! There will be no mention of Bush or Cheney. The running theme will be, if the Obama Administration doesn't cure cancer, then it's a failure.

The other thing I’d like to see from an Obama win is a national plan to rebuild passenger rail between cities, commuter rail in our top 25 metro areas along with electric powered light rail, trolleys and buses for the top 50 cities. This would be a massive undertaking that would have many benefits. It would also get us out in front of the declining oil resources that have essentially stabilized in many oil fields and are rapidly declining in most others.

We’d better try to build this transportation system soon, or one day in the not too distant future, most of us are not going to be able to get from here to there.

If McCain/Palin wins (steals this one), head for the hills (or the streets)! The unmistakeable signal to the world is that America has quit our experiment in self government. Democracy on the run.

TOMORROW: Mike D., Ad-Rock and MCA of the Beastie Boys to Get Out The Vote for Obama and Franken at Augsburg College

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:21:17 EDT

In an effort to mobilize an unprecedented turnout among first time and youth voters, Mike D., Ad-Rock and MCA of the Beastie Boys will help Get Out The Vote for Barack in Minnesota. They will host a Canvass for Change kick off at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Here are the details:

GOTV Canvass Kickoff w/ Adam Yauch, Adam Hrovitz, & Michael Diamond of the Beastie Boys
Oren Gateway Center, Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN
3:30 PM

We’ve got four more days to make a difference. So take some time this weekend to volunteer.

If we don’t each do our part, the next four years could be scarier than anything you see tonight.

Vote, Baby, Vote- Bring a Friend, Neighbor, Stranger To The Polls

Hussein The Hope Monger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:44:23 EDT

Yes We Can!!

Vote, Baby, Vote!!

Hussein The Hope Monger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:05:50 EDT

(Is that Karl Rove on the left standing next to Tom Delay?)

Fired UP!!

After So Many Years Of Voting For The 'Lesser of 2 Evils'...

Hussein The Hope Monger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:41:20 EDT

It felt GREAT to go to the Court House at lunch and VOTE EARLY. Taking time to get to Des Moines to hear Sen Obama again just wasn't in the cards today, so I did one better.

Is this 'Obamacan' fired up?

You betcha!!

TOMORROW: Howard Dean to Get Out the Vote for Obama, Franken

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:05:36 EDT

There are just four days left before Election Day and the campaign's Get Out the Vote effort is running on all cylinders to ensure that Barack is elected on November 4th.

Tomorrow, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will make stops in St. Cloud and Minneapolis to rally supporters to "Get Out the Vote" over the next few days.

Governor Dean will campaign for Barack Obama, Al Franken, Elwyn Tinklenberg and other DFL candidates. He’ll appear alongside Tinklenberg, state Senate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, Thomasin Frankin, Mayor RT Rybak, and Rep. Keith Ellison.

Here are the details:

Saturday, November 1:

ST CLOUD:
Get Out The Vote Rally for Change with Gov. Howard Dean
FEATURING:          El Tinklenberg, Minnesota Senator Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Thomasin Frankin

Campaign For Change Office
904 West St. Germain Street
St. Cloud, MN
5PM

MINNEAPOLIS
Get Out The Vote Concert for Change With Howard Dean, Martin Zellar, White Light Riot, and the Radiators
FEATURING:          Mayor RT Rybak, Thomasin Frankin, and Rep. Keith Ellison

Trocaderos Nightclub & Restaurant
107 3rd Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN
8PM

Governor Dean knows that in 2000 and 2004 the Republican turn-out machine helped deliver the presidency to George Bush, twice. Over the last 21 months, grassroots supporters across Minnesota -- many of whom had never been involved in politics before -- have built an organization to match. In four days, we'll know who wins.

But the one thing we do know is that you can't win if you don't fight. This weekend is your chance to be part of that fight.

The clock starts this weekend.

Polls close in four days.

McCain-Palin: A Risk America Cannot Afford To Take

Hussein The Hope Monger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:29:29 EDT

At this point, I can't imagine anything that could happen internally to either campaign or externally in the world that would cause me to reconsider voting for Barack Obama at the top of the ticket.

She professes to be a mainstream "hockey mom" - but she's way off from the middle of our society.

I don't know who I will support "down ballot", but it is clear who we need at the top. Barack Obama offers intelligent, insightful, inspirational leadership at a critical time in the journey toward 'a more perfect union'. For me, that's 'the fierce urgency of now'.

Is this 'Obamacan' fired up?

You betcha!!

"Don't Worry, Cindy. We'll Keep John On The Trail With Joe The Plumber."

Hussein The Hope Monger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:01:13 EDT

Fired UP!!

A 6-year old on the AIG bailout

Sine in KS — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:42:26 EDT

My 6-year old daughter was looking at pictures in the NY Times. A suitcase full of money, along with an article about AIG and how it has used billions in Fed money but failed to disclose for what, caught her eye (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/business/30aig.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1225426931-X0UkKF4IS5YDV9iIokTjUQ). After sounding out the title, “Where did the cash go?” she thought for a minute, then said: “I guess somebody was robbed of all their money.”

Mr. Paulson, she speaks the truth: You let yourself be robbed of the money we entrusted you with! How much more incompetent can this administration get?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

sudbird — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:26:45 EDT

There's no excuse now! The campaign is counting on Minnesotans like us to step up to the plate so they can take care of business in other swing states -- states Obama needs to win! If you haven't already, tell all your friends who have complained the last 8 years that they need to do something NOW to make sure they don't regret the next 8 years. And that something is right on this web site, www.banackobama.com. Tell them to search events here and get signed up this weekend to hlep out.

Its in the Little Things...

Kristi, "Song" — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:09:54 EDT

As the election nears, I am mindful of all the little things we can do to help support Senator Obama's successful election. As a professor, I am mindful of how some of the students are so educated on making wise decisions when voting, yet too, others seem to vote primarily on the "commercials" and lack sophistication in the issues. Now is the time for us to help "get out the informed vote". A mere call, discussion, or education of a friend can help. I have made attempts to talk with friends who may otherwise be undecided, another friend is assiting at the polls, another close friend has volunteered to be a driver... how wonderful.

Yes, we can all help out; I encourage each of us to consider how the "little things" can make such a difference and lead to bringing Senator Obama into office and then creating real change!

Blessings,

Song

McCain Envy

Keptin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:37:39 EDT

Originally posted at http://www.saveourcountry.us/node/104

McCain envy is the term used to describe a candidate's negative reactions towards another candidates success in fund raising activities. While this type of envy is nothing new it definitely has reached levels never before seen and therefore this term was coined in response to the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, John McCain. During the race Mr. McCain consistently failed to realize that the success of his opponent, Barack Obama, was a result of Obama's ability to reach out to the people. McCain could not comprehend how his own misguided Republican philosophies had proven to be dangerous and how they had nearly bankrupted the United States. Being unable to recognize these facts and being incredibly jealous of Obama, he began to imagine sinister alternatives which included Obama accepting funds from foreign entities and illegal donations, exceeding the federally mandated maximums, from the super wealthy. It was impossible for McCain to accept that millions of people from across the country all made relatively small contributions which gave Obama an unprecedented financial advantage.

Letters from the Field: "Past 8 years of Republican rule"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:54:37 EDT

Dennis from Akeley writes to the Park Rapids Enterprise:

The past 8 years of Republican rule has resulted in:

-Loss of American Jobs. The U.S.-China trade deficit has resulted in the loss of an estimated 2.3 million U.S. jobs.

-Multibillion dollar profits for oil companies. A 100 percent increase in your gas and home heating oil prices has accounted for this.

-Health Care costs and uninsurance for Americans. Over 47 million U.S. citizens now are uninsured under Bush/Republican Administration policies.

-Housing market crash. Home values have been driven down and families devastated financially because conservatives have looked away and abandoned government responsibility while corporations and banks have encouraged home equity loans, second, and sub-prime mortgages.

-Middle class has fallen further behind. Thanks to conservative economic policies, middle-class Americans are financially worse off than they were eight years ago when the Republicans were given the White House by the Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 party-line vote.

-The Iraq boondoggle. The American taxpayer is being charged over $10 billion dollars a month for the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations. In addition, over 4,000 American military have lost their lives and over 30,000 American soldiers have been maimed for life.

So, think about it. Do you really want 4 or 8 more years of conservative Republican failures? If you do, then vote for McCain/Palin and Norm Coleman.

Dennis Litfin

Akeley

Every day, every hour, every conversation is an opportunity that may not come again.

We can move this country forward, but only with your help.

Polls close in five days.

McCain-Palin a Dangerous Proposition

Keptin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:42:38 EDT

Originally Posted at http://www.saveourcountry.us/node/103

Today, Sarah Palin and John McCain started ranting about a connection between Rashid Khalidi and Barack Obama. The dual are claiming that Khalidi and Obama were “friends” and that this is disturbing since Khalidi is a PLO spokesman. First of all ties between Khalidi and the PLO have not been proven, they are just allegations. However, most importantly, there is no proof that Obama and Khalidi are friends. The connection between the two is because they both worked together at the University of Chicago and the event that Palin and McCain are alluding to in their propaganda was a going away party for Khalidi.

I myself have been present at many going away parties and at them I have always spoken favorably of the person. It is considered the professional thing to do, even if I was overjoyed by the fact that the person was leaving the organization. I myself have had many friends who have held beliefs which I find bothersome and have worked with people who's political views were definitely opposed to my own. I believe that this is true of most people in the world considering the numerous people I have met and interacted with during my college and working years.

The danger of people like McCain-Plain is that they try to draw conclusions for the most tenuous of relationships. We should not only be appalled but also realize the danger of having elected officials which hold these views. Based on their rhetoric most of us should be investigated and have our views and patriotism questioned simply because we may have talked to someone who held extreme fringe views. I would ask everyone who is currently supporting McCain to think seriously about whether or not this country can survive another four years of this hateful rhetoric. I would ask you to support Barack Obama but if you can not then please vote for a third party candidate or write someone in.

Can You Think Of ANYTHING That Would Cause You To Vote For These 2?

Hussein The Hope Monger — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:17:04 EDT

VOTE EARLY!!

Fired UP?

You betcha!!

Thursday: Join President Clinton, Sen. Klobuchar, and Al Franken in Minneapolis

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:49:07 EDT

This Thursday, October 30th, please join President Bill Clinton with special guests U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senate Candidate Al Franken in Minneapolis, where they will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need.

Five Days to Change Rally
with President Bill Clinton
and Special Guests Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken

Minneapolis Convention Center
Exhibit Hall A
1301 2nd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN

Thursday, October 30th
Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.

http://mn.barackobama.com/MinneapolisChange

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items. No signs, banners, or umbrellas permitted.

REBUTTAL TO CAMPBELL BROWN

Steve Sulkin — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:19:59 EDT

Ms. Brown, not only, as your astute viewer pointed out (and you absolutely know), that Senator Obama pledged to pursue an agreement with the Republicans (which means he might or might not end up agreeing) he wisely realized that sitting down with the Republicans and coming away with a fair agreement would be impossible (so I guess even with pre-conditions he did want to sit down with them, but realized the enemy, once looking into their eyes, was not to be trusted and he was right).

He knew (and you know) that he would have been unfairly “Swift Boated” out of any chance of winning. His only defense was to do what he did, reluctantly not accept federal financing, but go it on his own, which was actually quite brave.

And what is wrong with that anyway? To allow millions of individuals to support a candidate rather then lobbyists and all of the under handed dealings that typically happen, sounds like a good populist thing to do.

You are blaming the victim for defending himself. African American, half-white, an outsider, the underdog, the victim of racism, hate, lies about his religion and character and you want him to trust the Republicans and enter into a mutual federal financing deal? This would have allowed the Republicans to then get every right wing radical, despicable PAC in the world to destroy Obama. You wouldn't want a President that dumb to accept such a lose-lose deal.

So, Ms. Campbell, being honest; consider what you would have done in his shoes. And be honest, really, in his shoes, black shoes - victim of racism shoes. Can you do that? I think you’d modify your commentary.

Ms. Brown’s commentary can be found at:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/28/campbell.brown.obama/index.html

Jeff Blodgett Strategy Briefing On Obama Campaign Get Out The Vote Effort

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:53:01 EDT

Jeff Blodgett, Minnesota State Director; Photo credit: 4President.org

Mike of 4President.org, a blog which covers presidential campaigns, writes about the massive "Get Out the Vote" effort the Obama campaign is running in Minnesota:

ST. PAUL – Minnesota state director Jeff Blodgett held a press briefing today at 1:00 PM on the Obama Campaign for Change Get Out The Vote strategy. The briefing took place at “packet land,” the central location for assembling the material volunteers will use to accomplish the campaign’s aggressive goals during GOTV. Volunteers will be working at this location throughout the day.
The Obama Campaign for Change is organizing an aggressive, coordinated GOTV operation in a state known for grassroots get-out-the-vote efforts.
"We plan to work with a universe of 500,000 voters, voters who don't always vote in elections or they're new voters. We intend to knock on their doors, up to four times, between last Saturday up through election day."
"In addition, we intend to make phone calls to hundreds of thousand of voters who don't live in areas where it's convenient to door knock. And so, that combined effort we're working with about a million voters in our universe."
"In addition to the 37 field offices, we're going be offering 130 staging locations," said Jeff Blodgett at the strategy briefing.

For months now you've organized in large cities and small towns across America, competing for votes and voters everywhere, and as a result the electoral map is now wider than ever, with nearly a two dozen states that are too close to call. But that's just the beginning.

Now, in the final week, we need to fill 50,000 volunteer shifts to get out the vote across Minnesota.

Polls close in six days.

Obama lawn signs

Gabe — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:22:03 EDT

A friend of mine has 100 lawn signs that she had printed up with stands that say OBAMA BIDEN, they are solid blue with the OBAMA BIDEN in white and a white border. She had them printed up and is selling them for cost at $4.00 a piece since we couldn't get any Obama lawn signs anywhere and she has already sold 400 out of the 500 she had printed. She is willing to meet you part way if you buy 10 or more. She lives in St. Michael.

I can meet you downtown Minneapolis to deliver a few since I work there. I will be at work this Thurs, Friday and next monday 6am -4pm. If you are interested in buying any of these call her at 763-490-3039. Her name is sue.

Let's get Obama lawn signs out everywhere.

Lily Mae Will Vote

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:08:05 EDT

Lily Will Vote. Thank you SO much Minnesota.

Hello.

A couple of weeks ago, I used the phone banking tool to reach voters in Minnesota. I contacted a voter who was not home, however the voter's grandmother answered the phone. She is 80 years old and she wishes to vote for Obama, but she has a walker and needed a ride to her polling place. She told me where she lived and if I could find her a ride, she would be proud to cast her vote for Obama. I sent out emails and called Minnesota HQ's. I received overwhelming responses from you all, eagerly willing to drive Our Lily to the polls. A day later I received two calls from two different Minnesota Obama HQ's, specifically Lisa from Minneannapolis whom left a message and I later spoke with. I also spoke with from fellow blogger RTV in St. Paul who responded in O-mail (you Ba-ROCK man!!), before I spoke with any Obama workers in MN who was also a load of help.

I sent out many emails of which many of you responded to offering Ms. Lily Mae a ride. Thank you so much Obama supporters for your persistence. You all are an awesome bunch!!! I have spoke with Lily and she is very gracious to you all!!!

I will give Lily and Lisa in the MN HQ another call on Sunday to be sure everything is set up properly.

Point: Lily Mae in MN will vote. Infact, I think Lily will have 3 rides to the polls lined up for her lol. ;-)

Thanks again,
Cee in MD

PS- You all are showing proof a more beautiful America is coming.

(oh yea and Go Tinklenberg!!!)

Rally with President Clinton on Thursday!

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:05:35 EDT

This Thursday, former President Bill Clinton will be in Minneapolis hosting a "Get Out the Vote" rally for Barack Obama and Al Franken, with special guest Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Obama's Minnesota state director Jeff Blodgett:

President Clinton presided over a time of great economic prosperity. We’re honored to have President Clinton campaigning in Minnesota as the campaign comes to a close. President Clinton has a unique understanding of what it takes to bring the change we need for middle class families.

You can RSVP online for the rally at http://MN.BarackObama.com/FiveDaysToChange.

In these next seven days, our campaign faces its biggest and final challenge—getting out the vote. And we need your help.

So join Al Franken, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Bill Clinton for a Five Days Out "Get Out the Vote" rally on Thursday and sign up to help Barack between now and election day.

Senator Palin?

Keptin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:04:52 EDT

Originally posted at http://www.saveourcountry.us/node/102

While nothing is certain when it comes to the presidential race it does look like Obama will be our next president – as long as we all do show up on November 4th and cast our ballots! Consequently many of us are celebrating that Sarah Palin will go back to Alaska and hopefully never be heard from before. However, the conviction of Senator Ted Steven may change all of that. Sarah has asked that he resign should he win so that there could be a special election. There is a very real possibility that Sarah could use this as a chance to run for the open senate seat. By working together we can act today and block her for even having this opportunity and save ourselves from even having to fight that battle! Please join me in supporting Mark Begich by making a donation at http://action.begich.com/page/outreach/view/blazers/saveourcountry

Another Republican ex-Beauty Pageant Contestant?

Hussein The Hope Monger — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:41:44 EDT

Barbara WEST (wife of political consultant Wade West): You may recognize this famous quote: "From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs." That's from Karl Marx. How is Senator Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?

Joe BIDEN: Are you joking? Is this a joke?

"For the past 16 years, I have served as health reporter and anchor for WFTV's news at noon and 5:30. ... Prior to working in television news, I was an assistant professor at the University of Vermont and represented Vermont in the Miss America Pageant. I hold a Master's Degree from the University of Vermont."

Am I Fired UP?

You betcha!!

Voting "Present" In Illinois - Why Does This Keep Coming Up?

Hussein The Hope Monger — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:22:21 EDT

In the Illinois legislature, Barack Obama cast nearly 4,000 votes; only 129 were cast strategically as "present". All others were "yea" or "nay".

Giuliani, Sept. 3: And nearly 130 times, he couldn't make a decision. He couldn't figure out whether to vote "yes" or "no." It was too tough. (Laughter, Applause) He voted -- he voted "present." (Boos) I didn't know about this vote "present" when I was mayor of New York City. Sarah Palin didn't have this vote "present" when she was mayor or governor. You don't get "present." It doesn't work in an executive job. For president of the United States, it's not good enough to be present.

Palin and others have picked up this applause line since. As reported by the Chicago Tribune blog "The Swamp":

Palin (Sept. 4): "We don't have a 'present' button as governor,'' Palin said after an appearance before fellow Republican governors in Minneapolis. "We are expected to lead, we are expected to take action and not just vote 'present.' "

Four days later, the attack was repeated by GOP presidential candidate John McCain:

McCain (Road to Victory Rally, Sept. 8): One hundred and thirty times as a member of the Illinois state senate, [Obama] refused to vote. He voted present.

VOTE EARLY!
Let's WIN this thing!!

UPDATE: Thursday: Bill Clinton Headlines Rally for Obama Campaign, Franken in Minneapolis

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:25:38 EDT

The Obama for America and Al Franken for Senate campaigns today announced that former President Bill Clinton will headline a “Five Days to Change” Get-Out-The-Vote rally in Minneapolis Thursday evening. Clinton will be joined by U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

President Clinton will talk about Barack's vision for creating the kind of change we need and the candidates, like Al, who are working to help make that happen.

Here are the details:

Five Days to Change Rally with President Bill Clinton

Minneapolis Convention Center
Exhibit Hall A
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN

Thursday, October 30th
Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.

RSVP Online at: http://MN.BarackObama.com/FiveDaysToChange

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

Don't forget to RSVP at http://MN.BarackObama.com/FiveDaysToChange

Pick a time and place in Minnesota

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:38:35 EDT

Our campaign sent out this email last night encouraging everyone to sign up for a Get Out the Vote shift. We need everyone for this important final push-- so don't forget to sign up.

This race will be won or lost in a few crucial battleground states -- including Minnesota.

Our get out the vote operation in Minnesota is ready to go, but now it's up to you to fill the volunteer shifts. You can pick the exact day and time you'd like to help out, and we'll tell you where.

No experience is necessary. Campaign staff and volunteers will give you everything you need to be part of this historic effort.

Sign up for a volunteer shift in Minnesota right now.

The last four days before Election Day will be the most important of this entire campaign.

Everything we have worked for over the past 20 months will come down to what we do -- or don't do -- to get out the vote.

Change never comes without a fight, and it won't come at all unless each of us does our part.

It's in your hands. Will you help make history with us?

Sign up for a volunteer shift right now. Decide what day and time you want to make a difference.

Thanks for all you've done.

Now let's make sure we don't wake up on November 5th wishing we had done more.

Obama for America

ACORN: The Making of a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill

Keptin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:04:02 EDT

Originally Posted at http://www.saveourcountry.us/node/101

After listening to John McCain and his Republican allies one would think that the organization, ACORN, set out to systematically perpetuate voter fraud on a grand scale. Firstly, no one questions the fact, even ACORN, that there were hundreds of voter registration forms that were turned in with false names. Some of these names were obvious, like Mickey Mouse, others were not since they were of people who recently departed this plane of existence. Obviously this is a problem and there does need to be an investigation of how it occurred and those found responsible must be held accountable. The problem is that McCain and his allies are making it sound as if someone is trying to “steal” this election and generate votes for Obama, since ACORN is a left leaning organization.

However, McCain, in a truly Republican tradition, is only telling you part of the story and exaggerating the potential impact of these “false” voter registrations. ACORN hires people to participate in its voter registration drives and these people, in an attempt to fulfill their quota's and keep their jobs, created false registrations. ACORN not only acknowledges this occurred but also flagged registrations it believed to be problematic and agreed, up front, to work with officials in vetting them. ACORN did not want to simply throw these registrations away as this would be illegal. Simply put, how would you feel if you filled out a voter registration card and an organization threw it away. If it turned out a Republican's voter registration card was thrown away I guarantee you McCain and his allies would be making a fuss about that.

It is truly unfortunate that these events occurred and it is going to require government resources to deal with these false registrations. However, a false registration does not equate to a fraudulent vote. First of all there is no risk that Mickey Mouse will be leaving his imaginary land to come and cast a vote for either McCain or Obama. Second, even for the names of the deceased, it would be required that someone to actually know that the deceased is on the voter rolls and then be able to obtain false identification to cast the vote. The penalties for casting a fraudulent vote are steep, ten years in prison, it would be irrational for someone to go through the expense, trouble, and risk to simply add a single vote in an election where tens of millions will participate. Finally, there is not a single documented incidence where a false registration led to a fraudulent vote. This is just another example of where the Republican's are wrong on the issues and knowing this are trying to fabricate a scandal.

"The largest Get Out the Vote Operation in Minnesota history"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:53:27 EDT

This weekend will be the biggest on the ground effort of the campaign. It's the weekend before Election Day and we need all of our supporters on the ground in their community helping us to win the election.

Our on the ground effort in Minnesota has been incredible this past five months. Organizers are working day and night to win Minnesota, a must-win state for the Obama campaign. But to pull it off, they're counting on the time, energy, and passion of Obama supporters across the state who share their commitment to Barack's message of change.

Just check out this interview with Jeff Blodgett, the Obama campaign's Minnesota state director about the Campaign for Change's "Get Out the Vote" operation:

From MN Publius:

Earlier today, I had the chance to talk for about a half an hour with Jeff Blodgett, the State Director for Barack Obama in Minnesota. Blodgett is the most distinguished DFL operative in Minnesota. In addition to being Paul Wellstone’s Campaign Manager, Blodgett was a senior adviser in the Klobuchar campaign, GOTV Director for the Kerry campaign in Minnesota and runs Wellstone Action, the not for profit group working to advance the causes that the late Sen. Wellstone fought for during his time in public life.

Blodgett gave me a run down of the Obama campaign’s GOTV plans in Minnesota. If I had to describe the effort in one word, it would be “wow.”

First things first, if you are not yet signed up to help during this last week, go to www.gotvforchange.com right now. You can enter your zip code and find the campaign action center closest to you, even sign up for a specific shift.

Now onto the nitty gritty details. With Blodgett in charge, you will not be surprised to find out that the Obama campaign in Minnesota has been heavily focused on a grassroots ground game. Since June 1, the Obama campaign has had 1 million conversations with voters in Minnesota. That’s stunning.

But, as the saying goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

There are 37 Obama offices in Minnesota. During the last four days of the campaign, that will expand to 130 GOTV action centers spread out from Grand Marais to East Grand Forks to Worthington to La Cresent. Why the massive expansion? The campaign has to accommodate some 20,000 volunteers who have already committed to helping during those final days (including 10,000 who have already signed up to help on Election Day alone!) To put this in perspective, in 2004 the Kerry campaign had about 10,000 volunteers during the final GOTV period and 5,000 volunteers on Election Day.

That’s right – the Obama campaign has doubled what the Kerry campaign did in Minnesota just four years ago.

Its also worth noting that the 20,000 volunteers are just what the Obama campaign brings to the table – it doesn’t count the Franken volunteers, the Madia volunteers and all the other great DFL campaigns that will bring volunteers to the coordinated GOTV effort.

So what will this army of volunteers be doing? The Obama campaign has identified a universe of 500,000 sporadic and new voters who they think are likely to vote for the DFL ticket if they get to the polls. Each one of these 500,000 people will be contacted 4 to 6 times between now and Election Day. The vast majority of these contacts will be made through doorknocking, though phone banking will be used in rural areas.

People say this every campaign, but there is no doubt it is true this time around: this is the largest GOTV effort in Minnesota history.

You can be part of it by going to www.gotvforchange.com today and signing up for a shift. If you are wondering where you need to go to vote, head to www.voteforchange.com, which will direct you to your polling location.

Without a doubt, the strength we have in Minnesota is due to the people we have on the ground, talking to voters face-to-face about Barack and the importance of their vote.

We need everyone on the ground this weekend -- it is the only way we are going to win next week. Sign up to Get Out the Vote this weekend.

Minnesota candidates for Change

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:47:04 EDT

Over the weekend, the Obama campaign sent out an email to its supporters promoting the DFL candidates who are working hard to help Barack create the kind of change America needs.

You can change politics in this country at every level -- up and down the ballot.

There are candidates in Minnesota who are working to bring the change this country needs. Get involved and help carry them to victory in November.

    Al Franken for Senate:
    Visit the website

    U.S. Representative Tim Walz for Congress:
    Visit the website

    Steve Sarvi for Congress:
    Visit the website

    Ashwin Madia for Congress:
    Visit the website

    U.S. Representative Betty McCollum for Congress:
    Visit the website

    U.S. Representative Keith Ellison for Congress:
    Visit the website

    El Tinklenberg for Congress:
    Visit the website

    U.S. Representative Collin Peterson for Congress:
    Visit the website

    U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar for Congress:
    Visit the website

Don't wait until Election Day to support these candidates. Get involved today to make sure Minnesota has a strong team to take our country in a new direction.

Thanks,

Obama for America

P.S. -- To get involved with Obama for America in your community, visit your state page: http://MN.barackobama.com

www.teamsarah.org

Darlene — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:50:21 EDT

I just heard about this group while watching Larry King live. I went immediately and signed up and wrote my first blog AGAINST Sarah Palin. Let's overwhelm this site with the real truth about Sarah!

Door Knockers Stay Warm!

TJFischer — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:41:00 EDT

Obama Biden Hooded Sweatshirt by tjlabey
design your own t-shirts At Zazzle.com
Browse Politics T-Shirts

Bill Clinton to Rally for Obama, Franken in Minneapolis on Thursday

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:01:48 EDT

Former President Bill Clinton will host a rally in Minneapolis on Thursday night for Barack Obama and DFL Senate candidate Al Franken.

UPDATE: This event will be free and open to the public. Tickets will not be required. Check back here later today for more information on how to RSVP.

Here's the press release sent out by the campaign in Minnesota:

SAINT PAUL– The Obama for America and Al Franken for Senate campaigns today announced that former President Bill Clinton will campaign in Minnesota Thursday to show his support for the two candidates. Clinton will host a rally in Minneapolis Thursday evening, joined by U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken.

“President Clinton has always understood that you grow the economy by investing in the middle class and putting people first,” said Al Franken. “Minnesota families need a change in Washington so we can get our economy back on track -- and I'm so honored to be able to stand with President Clinton in fighting for that change in this election.”

“President Clinton presided over a time of great economic prosperity,” Obama’s Minnesota state director Jeff Blodgett said. “We’re honored to have President Clinton campaigning in Minnesota as the campaign comes to a close. President Clinton has a unique understanding of what it takes to bring the change we need for middle-class families.”

Everyone Canvasses, Even Barack!

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:18:22 EDT

Over the weekend, the Campaign for Change kicked off its "Get Out the Vote" effort with canvass and phonebanks at hundreds of locations across the state. Thousands of regular Minnesotans talked with their neighbors about the importance of voting next Tuesday for Barack Obama and DFL candidates up and down the ticket. They know how canvassing and getting out into the community can affect an election.

Talking to people in your area one-on-one, face-to-face, has been proven as the most effective way to persuade undecided voters -- even Barack does it.

The campaign is in the final push of the election with only one week left to pound the pavement for Barack. We need to double our organizing effort.

Thousands of supporters across the state still need to hear Barack's message of change. Help out in your neighborhood between Monday and Friday, and help us "Get Out the Vote" over the weekend!

Right now people are paying more attention than ever before, and every person who votes early is someone who can tell their friends they voted for Barack and the change we need. Go to your local office and sign up to canvass today.

The Choice of Sarah Palin by McCain Highlights Serious Danger

Keptin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:16:31 EDT

Originally posted at http://www.saveourcountry.us/node/100

There is an old adage about how “bad times” bring out the “worst” in people or rather it will highlight there worst traits. This fact can be clearly seen within the McCain-Palin campaign and the reports of how Sarah Palin is behaving. First of all there are the attacks on Katie Coric, that somehow Katie is solely responsible for Sarah's inability to answer questions pertaining to national security or the economy. This is now followed by Sarah and her cohorts now blaming her handlers, those from John McCain's campaign, for how poorly the public perceives her. Most alarming are the statements referring to her as a “diva” and that as a diva she refuses to take advice from anyone.

These traits are those of a poor leader, pure and simple. Without doubt Sarah does not have much in the way for foreign relations experience nor does she have much experience with addressing national level issues. As a governor her duties would not have exposed her to these types of issues and we know, from past presidents, that it is possible for a governor to become an effective president. However, the only way this transition can be made is if that person is willing to listen to others and to take advise. To do this a person most be able to admit when they are wrong and admit when they are “out of their league”. A good leader has the capacity to realize their short comings and then are capable of selecting advisors who can worth with them in overcoming their short comings. No leader, no matter how long they have been around, will have all the experience necessary to run this country. We must, as citizens of this great country, have a leader who is capable of relying on others for assistance.

For the last eight years this country has been run by a man who has been arrogant and who has led this country into the predicament it is in today. We can ill afford to end up with another who is like him. While John McCain is the name, on the ballot, as president we must face the stark reality that there is a high risk he will not be able to complete his term. However, what is more important than this, is the fact that he chose Sarah Palin as his running mate. A good leader must be capable of choosing advisors who will be capable of assisting him in times of turmoil. A good leader must be able to depend on his/her advisors in times of turmoil and not be concerned with having them going behind his/her back. Given that John McCain failed to properly vet and choose a running mate who he could depend on gives us very little confidence that he will be able to choose the remainder of his cabinet in a manner which will be beneficial to this country.

More than 100 Suburban Leaders Endorse Barack Obama for President

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:48:07 EDT

People support Barack for many reasons. But the a theme that has been present since the first days of this campaign is change. Today, a group of suburban mayors, city councilors, county commissioners, school board members, and legislators announced their support of Barack Obama for President.

White Bear Lake Mayor Paul Auger explained how Barack & Joe are the candidates to bring the change Minnesota needs: "As suburban Minnesotans, we see the affects the Bush-McCain economic policies have had on our towns and communities. Senator McCain’s unsteadiness in a time of crisis will not help restore this economy for working families. Senator Obama and Senator Biden have shown the judgment and vision to overcome the ongoing economic crisis and bring the change we need."

Below is the release that was sent to press. You can click here to see the full list of Suburban Leaders for Obama announced today.

ST. PAUL – In a display of broad based support, more than 100 suburban leaders today announced their support of Barack Obama for president. These suburban leaders agree that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are uniquely qualified to deal with the growing challenges facing Minnesotans in this time of economic crisis.

“As suburban Minnesotans, we see the affects the Bush-McCain economic policies have had on our towns and communities,” White Bear Lake Mayor Paul Auger said. “Senator McCain’s unsteadiness in a time of crisis will not help restore this economy for working families. Senator Obama and Senator Biden have shown the judgment and vision to overcome the ongoing economic crisis and bring the change we need.”

As the economy continues to struggle, suburban leaders are facing unprecedented challenges managing the everyday concerns of Minnesotans living and raising families in the suburbs. The schools, public infrastructure and small businesses that suburban families rely on are all at great risk as the economy continues to falter.

“Suburban leaders are on the front lines trying to deal every day with the impact of this economic crisis – on our small businesses, schools and infrastructure,” Obama’s Minnesota state director Jeff Blodgett said. “John McCain has been erratic and unsteady since this crisis began – staggering from position to position and trying to change the subject away from the economy by launching false character attacks. Barack Obama has shown steady leadership during this economic crisis and offered real solutions to build the middle class and strengthen our economy.”

Minnesota Daily Endorses Barack Obama for President

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:25:06 EDT

The Minnesota Daily, the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, joins the Star Tribune in endorsing Barack Obama for Presiden, believing he is the candidate who will lead us in "a new direction":

Barack Obama, the unlikely Democratic presidential nominee, entered the presidential race with troubling inexperience: four years as a freshman U.S. Senator from Illinois and seven years in the Illinois state Legislature.

John McCain’s political career, meanwhile, has spanned more than two decades. The Vietnam War hero, during that career, has legislated for and against military intervention, pushed for ethics reform and environmental regulations. McCain has indeed stood against the Republican Party, often risking his preservation within it.

But that hasn’t been so during this presidential race. In an extraordinary about-face, he has campaigned against the very bills he helped author, changed his stance on the Bush tax cuts for the richest in the nation, and chose a running mate with little knowledge of the challenges that face this country. McCain has failed to put country first, instead choosing to appease the fringes of his party he once flouted.

Obama has offset any concerns about inexperience with his astute judgment on the campaign trail and during his political career. His decision to denounce the war in Iraq amid a swell of patriotic support for it was the first sign of sound foreign policy judgment. Sen. Joe Biden, a 36-year Delaware Senator who currently chairs the Senate Foreign-Relations committee, will certainly serve as a necessary and knowledgeable advisor. Domestically, Obama called for restricting the financial regulatory system months before the housing and credit crises hit while McCain oddly called for a domestic spending freeze.

The Organization for Economic Corporation and Development recently released a report that found income inequality in the United States has increased greatly since 2000, when the Bush tax cuts on the top percent of income earners went into effect and financial regulation went lax. McCain’s recent assertions that Obama will redistribute wealth — ignoring the fact that distribution of wealth is the very purposes of taxes — in the United States are correct: Obama has proposed to repeal the Bush tax cuts and put money back into the hands of the lower and middle classes because it does not just trickle down to them. McCain provides few answers to quell this economic turmoil. And the ones he does provide are ineffectual: he has proposed to pay for his sweeping tax cuts — the majority of which are on the rich — by cutting pork-barrel spending, which only account for a small percent of the budget.

McCain’s hawkish stances on Iraq, Iran and Russia are the very reason the U.S. reputation is damaged abroad. While we are disturbed with Obama’s assertion that he would have no trouble violating Pakistan’s sovereignty, his realization that military troops and resources must be shifted to Afghanistan from Iraq provides necessary direction to a catastrophic U.S. strategy in the region. His willingness to talk to dictators — not without pre conditions — illustrates a much more diplomatic and multilateral approach to foreign relations necessary in this dangerous, post-Sept. 11 era.

On energy policy, McCain’s energy plan bellies on domestic oil production and increasing the role of nuclear power, but ignores that government support for companies producing alternatives will greatly accelerate the nation’s aim to become energy dependent.

Moreover, under McCain, a dangerously conservative Supreme Court could take shape with three liberal justices possibly leaving. Obama would retain a proper balance on the Court while McCain’s appointments would fundamentally alter its direction.

Obama’s run for president has showed a remarkable and resounding call for optimism while McCain’s campaign message has turned incredibly divisive, at times, skirting on bigotry. We urge readers to take part in fundamentally shifting U.S. policy away from politics of fear, unilateralism and exclusion with the prospect that the world which we inherit is one, at the very least, taking heed of the lessons of the past eight years and moving into a new era of prosperity, safety and above all hope.

HOW YOUR VOTE MIGHT NOT COUNT - CRITICAL TO READ

Steve Sulkin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:03:27 EDT

A FEW YEARS AGO BUSH PASSED THE "HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT". which was designed, in my opinion, to "legally" rig elections for the Republicans. I do not believe this is an overstatement. It is what is happening. It's an insidious law, which says that if your name doesn't EXACTLY match a government database, your vote doesn't COUNT!. Last election over 3 million votes were DISQUALIFIED. Can you imagine that? In the United States? So how does this hurt Democrats and help Republicans?

Easy. It's based on exact matches of names, and poorer people, plus new voters (two large Democratic constituencies) tend to have more problems with uniformity of their names across various documents. If you're a physician for instance, well educated, upper middle class and your name is Bob Smith III, M.D., you'll probably always write your name that way. But if you're struggling just to make ends meet, don't have a drivers license, can barely keep your head above water (or maybe your 18) your life is less perfect, and our name might be different in various documents. Add in cultural issues (Hispanic names often have numerous "middle" names) and you get the point. Voter suppression. This is designed to hurt Democrats. And the laws one by one are being challenged as unconstitutional, but it's too late for 2008 to change these laws.

All of this makes it critical that you read the attached two documents (and the email below) and tell the world of this issue.
Because of this, regardless of the polls, Barack Obama might very well lose due to voter suppression. This is real. This is happening. And when the polls all say that Barack is up by 8% but then he loses, you have to wonder why.

Follow the steps on p.19 of the attached "comic book" to help ensure your vote isn't stolen.

AND VOTE EARLY

By voting early, you'll have a chance of finding out if your vote is going to count or not and you might still do something about it. On Nov. 4, you can't do a thing. And even if you do vote early, remember, you may never know if they throw out your vote.
To learn about this, click on the site below, which Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is deeply involved with.
http://stealbackyourvote.org/

READ THIS EMAIL:

Click Here to download the comic book.

Click here to download the Palast/Kennedy Rolling Stone article.

Thanks to the support of thousands of generous donors we are now able to offer the download of the Kennedy/Palast investigative comic "Steal Back Your Vote!" for free.

Democracy for America (http://www.democracyforamerica.com/) and Code Pink (http://www.codepink4peace.org) are spreading the word to their membership list - will you join them in getting it out to yours? Please send out the message below.

Thanks to the support of thousands of generous donors we are now able to offer the download of the Kennedy/Palast investigative comic "Steal Back Your Vote!" for free.

Spread the word - our servers can take it - we have a goal of 100,000 downloads by the end of the week - help us get the word out - tell everyone you know to go to http://www.StealBackYourVote.org and download the guide for FREE - or if you can - support our investigations and donate. Put our banners on your site (http://www.gregpalast.com/please-link-to-us/), grab a page from the guide and put it up on your blog . Embed the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. video PSA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azYH5qVH90M) to your blog.

Tell your family, friends and enemies that if they go to http://www.StealBackYourVote.org they can download the full color investigative comic book written by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast featuring art by the graphic gonzo's Ted Rall, Lukas Ketner and Troubletown's Lloyd Dangle. Download the guide and find out what really is happening in the scary world of election theft, and find out how you can protect your vote in 7 easy steps.

Jesse Jackson of Rainbow/PUSH tells you to "Download it now and fight back!"

Print it out - OR Save your ink (the one thing still more expensive than gas these days...)

We've already got them in PRINT - order them in bulk for as low as 63 cents a copy and we'll ship them out priority mail to you any where in the US of A. Go to http://www.palastinvestigativefund.org/print-copies-of-steal-back-your-vote to order copies in bulk today. Your donations for print copies goes towards sending out even more copies out to libraries and low-income GOTV campaigns in key voting states. We just sent 400 copies to the director of a Santa Fe museum who passed them out to 200 Indian Pueblo leaders this past weekend - they asked for more - help us send more by making a donation to the Palast Investigative Fund (http://www.palastinvestigativefund.org/no-gift-donation).

Let's take back America!

Finest Kind-
The Palast Team

Star Tribune Endorses Barack Obama for President

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:04:16 EDT

The Star Tribune endorsed Barack Obama for President with the following editorial:

Each presidential campaign is billed as more critical than the last. This election -- coming amid a global financial crisis and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- truly finds the country at a crossroads.

Republican Sen. John McCain presents himself as a maverick, attempting to distance his agenda from the policies of the Bush administration. McCain is an American hero who has served his country with honor, often standing up for the causes he believed in despite intense political pressure.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama also promises reform and change. Since his passionate "Red State-Blue State'' speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Obama has staked out an optimistic vision of a more united America and a bipartisan approach to addressing problems in Washington.

With hope that he can deliver on that promise, Obama receives our endorsement.

This was a difficult decision because both candidates are flawed. Ideally Obama would have more experience and a long list of bipartisan accomplishments. Criticism that he has spent much of his time in the Senate running for the presidency is legitimate, and we were disturbed to see him break his pledge to abide by federal campaign spending limits.

McCain, whose campaign has lacked focus, made his most serious error in judgment with the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. McCain is well aware that the No. 1 qualification of a vice president should be readiness for the top job. Palin does not have the depth of experience to assure Americans she would be ready to run the country.

Obama's steady and analytical approach has stood out during the campaign. To make his vice presidential selection, Obama analyzed his own weaknesses and turned to Sen. Joe Biden, who offered deep foreign policy experience and the ability to assume the presidency if necessary.

Throughout his career, Obama has revealed an intellectual curiosity and openness to new ideas. He surrounds himself with academic experts and private-sector leaders, preferring research-based answers over partisan dogma. He seems willing to consider divergent viewpoints.

His approach to economic policy is revealing. Obama's appointment of centrist Jason Furman as his top economic adviser drew criticism from labor leaders and the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, in part because of the promarket Furman's links to Robert Rubin, a former Wall Street insider who served in the Clinton administration. But Furman is only one of a long list of economic experts -- including billionaire Warren Buffett -- to whom Obama has turned for advice. That he seeks out a variety of views on complex issues is refreshing.

There are numerous key policy differences, and in many cases Obama offers progressive and pragmatic ideas. His proposals on the economy, health care, energy independence, education, the environment and infrastructure investment -- while far from perfect -- offer an intelligent framework for progress.

The state of the economy makes it unlikely that either candidate will be able to fulfill the long list of promises he's made on the campaign trail. The Tax Policy Center says Obama's tax-cut pledges alone would reduce federal revenues by $2.9 trillion over the next 10 years, while McCain's would cut revenues $4.2 trillion.

Obama is less than convincing when he says he would go through the federal budget line by line with a scalpel, and McCain's call for an across-the-board spending freeze is arbitrary and impractical. Neither candidate adequately addresses the looming Medicare and Social Security funding crises.

Nor do the serious challenges awaiting the next president stop at our borders. He must also, in the words of Colin Powell, "fix the reputation that we've left with the rest of the world.'' Obama's multilateral approach to foreign policy improves the chances that America can begin to restore its stature and gain deeper support from its allies. Powell's endorsement, which followed a number of conversations with Obama, is a significant vote of confidence from one of the early pillars of the Bush administration.

If elected, Obama will need to prove his independence from predictable party politics and take a bipartisan approach to complex problems. He'll need to continue to emphasize personal responsibility as a bedrock American value. He and the country will need to remember the homeland security lessons of 9/11 and bring the Iraq war to a responsible end. Obama has properly rebuked Iran's nuclear aspirations and Russia's aggression, and he's promised a strong commitment to national defense. He seems determined not to let national security be an afterthought for his administration.
It would be a mistake to offer this endorsement without recognizing the nature of this moment in American history. The country is about to elect either its first African-American as president or its first woman as vice president. Both are long overdue, but Palin's shortcomings would likely overshadow the historic nature of her election. An Obama presidency would reaffirm for the country and the world the possibilities offered by a free, inclusive and democratic society. It would herald an important generational shift in American leadership and provide hope for a more unified nation.
Even after a bruising campaign by two strong candidates, Obama's optimistic message of unity endures. On Nov. 4, Americans will set a new course. In Barack Obama, they have a candidate who can inspire faith in better days to come.

Statement from Barack Obama on 6th Anniversary of Paul Wellstone's Tragic Death

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:40:53 EDT

Senator Barack Obama today remembered the sixth anniversary of Senator Paul Wellstone's death:

Paul Wellstone was a hero and inspiration to me and so many Americans from all walks of life. When I first arrived in the United States Senate, I was so honored to find his name carved into my desk, because we share the belief that opportunity should lie not only with those who have the most money and influence, but with every single American who wants to succeed.
Paul Wellstone often said that the lives we lead should never be separate from the words we speak, and in an era of such easy cynicism and broken politics, it is a lasting testament to his character that he lived his words every single day. Today, we remember Senator Wellstone, his wife Sheila, their daughter Marcia and all those who lost their lives six years ago in that tragic plane crash on Minnesota’s Iron Range.

Letters from the Field: "Obama will lead us back to ideals"

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:46:26 EDT

Linda Flanders from Bay City writes in the Republican Eagle:

To the Editor:
As part owner of a struggling small business, one with innovative new ideas, I am desperately ready for change.
Over the past eight years I have seen and experienced how the rules are not made for small businesses and how innovation has been shut out by fear and control. Yet, it is only when we have economically healthy local communities that we will rebuild our national economy.
I have certainly seen that money does not trickle down, but I guarantee that it will work its way up. If small innovative businesses get help and get healthy, our economy will grow because others will start asking, “What did you do”?
That will take leadership, understanding the demands of a 21st century global world and a quick change of direction. While I believe both candidates are good men, I believe Barack Obama is the man to lead us back to our ideals and then onward into a healthy and prosperous future.
Please join me in voting for him Nov. 4.
Linda Flanders
Bay City

New to the site or still undecided? Learn more about Barack Obama and his position on important issues. If you're already a supporter, find out what you can do to help between now and Election Day.