Penn Staters for Obama '08

Health Care Kickoff June 6

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:27:56 EDT

Organizing for America Health Care Kickoff – Beginning June 6

Organizing for America is looking for volunteers to host Health Care Kickoff events in Centre County. These programs are very similar to the program that was held by Health Care for American Now on May 15, 2009 at the Schlow Library in State College. Everything you need to host the event is available online at the link provide by David Plouffe. In addition Gregg Potter potterfb@msn.com from Health Care for America Now and Neal Gorfinkle nealgorfinkle@hotmail.com from Change That Works are willing to provide assistance.

Message from David Plouffe – Organizing for America

“On June 6th, in thousands of homes across the country, we'll gather to launch our grassroots campaign for health care. We'll watch a special message from the President. We'll build the teams and draw up the plans for winning health care reform the same way we won the election: Building support one block, one neighbor, one conversation at a time. And we'll put those plans into action.”

These kickoffs are so crucial that President Obama will join confirmed hosts and attendees on a live conference call. Sign up today to host or attend a Health Care Organizing Kickoff.

State College Area School Board Primary Election Vote May 19

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:09:36 EDT

State College Area School Board – Vote for Four

Obama supporter Jim Leous is running for State College Area School Board. Jim provided hours of technical assistance for our wonderful Obama Headquarters in State College.

Jim is committed to providing excellence in public education and we urge you to vote for him. Jim is a registered Democratic appearing on both ballots in this cross–filed race.

Jim Leous for State College Area School Board: http://leous.org/

Jim is joined on the ballot by three other Democratic candidates committed to excellence in public education.

Gowen Roper for State College Area School Board: http://gowenroper.com/

David Hutchinson for State College Area School Board: http://www.geocities.com/dxh10/

Penni Fishbaine for State College Area School Board: http://www.penniforschoolboard.com/

Primary Election Tuesday May 19, 2009

Polls Open: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Please forward this information to your friends and family

Stacy Parks Miller for Centre County District Attorney

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:34:40 EDT

Dear Centre County Democrats,

The race for Centre County District Attorney is one of the most important races in the May 19, 2009 Democratic Primary. One of the most difficult yet crucial decisions in any Democratic Primary is deciding which candidate to support. I believe we must nominate a highly qualified candidate who will restore our confidence in the office of District Attorney and select our best candidate.

I believe Stacy Parks Miller is that candidate!

Stacy will bring much needed change to the Centre County District Attorney’s office. Stacy served as First Assistant District Attorney where she gained experience as a prosecutor and as an administrator. We will benefit from her 15 years of experience in criminal law. But most importantly I believe she possesses the temperament to lead a District Attorney’s office that we all can be proud of and will restore fair and impartial justice to Centre County.

I strongly support Stacy Parks Miller for Centre County District Attorney and urge you to join me in volunteering for her campaign and voting for her on May 19, 2009

Sincerely,

Greg Stewart

Chair, Centre County Obama

Co-Chair, Obama Pennsylvania Field Team

PA At-Large Obama Delegate Democratic National Convention

Stacy Parks Miller for Centre County District Attorney

Ways to Help: ·

Put a Sign in Your Yard·

Distribute Literature ·

Work Election Day·

Donate Your Time·

Make a Contribution

Volunteer at this link: http://www.parksmillerforda.org/4873.html

Campaign information at this link: http://www.parksmillerforda.org/4801.html

Support the PA Democratic Judicial Candidates

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:46:33 EST

Obama Supporters the PA Democratic Judicial Candidates Need Your Help

Judge Jack Panella for Supreme Court http://votejackpanella.com/

Judge Anne E. Lazarus for Superior Court http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org/

Judge John Milton Younge for Superior Court http://www.judgejohnyounge.org/

Judge Robert J. Colville for Superior Court http://www.judgecolville.com/

Dan Bricmont for Commonwealth Court http://danbricmont.com/

Judge Jimmy Murray Lynn for Commonwealth Court http://www.padems.com/node/1765

Reminder it is petition time in Pennsylvania.

First day to circulate and file nomination petition February 17

Last day to circulate and file nomination petitions March 10

PA Democratic Municipal Primary May 19, 2009

Obama supporters stay active and engaged at the local level.

Your local Democratic Party needs your help and ideas.Use the PA Democratic Party map to locate your local party website.

PA Democratic Party County Map: http://www.padems.com/about/map

If the local county party does not have a website listed on the PA Democratic Party Map contact the PA Democratic Party for local contact information.

PA Democratic Party: http://www.padems.com//

http://www.padems.com/about/staff

More Drilling---Pie in the Sky Politics

Jay Paterno — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:59:01 EDT

Does anyone really believe that by opening up every corner of America for drilling that our dependence on foreign oil will disappear?

I smell more election-year pandering. There are resources here in this country that we need to tap into, but do not let these things distract us from broad solutions. Drilling gets headlines and gets attention. There are so many alternative energy sources that we need to invest in and develop besides the quick and easy phantom solution of drilling.

Senator Obama has proposed over $100 billion in investment into alternative energy--a meaningful and diverse energy policy. It is money that will return huge dividends to us and to future generations of Americans. It is a policy that goes beyond tax breaks and giveaways to oil companies. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to invoke the specter of the big bad oil companies. They provide a service and a product we all use (for a slightly tidy profit).

That said, there are so many other ways to create energy and it is time we elected someone who understands that energy policy goes beyond more drilling. It is time for a new vision on our energy future, it is time for Senator Obama's leadership.

Centre County House Parties & Events

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:54:02 EDT

Obama Fellowship Activities: House Parties & Voter Registration

The Obama Campaign recently launched a new program called the Obama Organizing Fellowship. We are here to organize for the general election and reestablish the base of Obama network volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering for the campaign, please contact Mark Donovan at (860) 301-0641.

Here are a few of our upcoming events: · On June 28th, the Obama Campaign is holding the National Unite for Change Day. House parties are a powerful way to bring the community together and build momentum. It's a chance to reactivate previous volunteers and empower new ones. We're asking for hosts that are willing to invite friends, neighbors and Hillary supporters into their homes. ·

On Saturday, June 21st we will be conducting voter registration, canvassing, and volunteer recruitment in high traffic areas as well as surrounding neighborhoods. We are meeting at 110 Hub for shifts from11 am - 2:00pm, 2:00 - 5:00 pm, and 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Through our efforts here we can create the change we want to see not only in Centre County, but across the country. We can hope for a better future; and together, we can unite and accomplish all our goals. Yes we can!

The Centre County Obama Organizing Fellows

Krishna Esteva

(814)-321-2133

kesteva@gmail.com

Grab Bag-Unemployment, Celtics Win and Barack's Big Weekend

Jay Paterno — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:19:31 EDT

It's Friday, there's a lot to talk about so let's get right to it:

The unemployment numbers came out today--up to 5.5% from 5.0% with 49,000 lost jobs. Of the over 8.5 million unemployed Americans, 1.5 million have been jobless for 27 weeks or more.

Unfortunately the plan for economic growth proposed by John McCain is the continuation of the Bush tax cuts--tax cuts he voted against BUT now supports. The economies under both Reagan and George W Bush have been held up as examples of economic growth.

I am not an economist, but I can see and smell B.S. when I run across it. Both economies were achieved running up a huge national debt, and accompanied by financial mismanagement on a national scale.

Reagan's tenure was marked by a gigantic Savings and Loan scandal that helped fuel growth in the housing and real estate sector. Eventually the taxpayers payed the tab to take care of the financial industry. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

We need both vision and someone to chart a course for sustainable growth and job creation. We need a plan rooted in common sense and built on solid rock. Just last week in my weekly mass we heard a reading about the man who built his house on sand and the man who built his house on rock.

Barack Obama has sweeping plans to help create jobs in industries old and new. His plan is one that will use our technological advantages and our innovative spirit to create jobs that can not be sent overseas. He also has plans to help working families with tax breaks and by cutting costs for education.

One of the biggest problems we have when we compete internationally are health care costs. Two years ago in a published report, General Motors reported $1,500 in health care costs for EVERY car they built here in the U.S.

Barack Obama has a plan to help cover all Americans and help rein in costs in a way that is fair to our workers and restores international competitiveness. That is what it will take--not just cutting taxes.

The economy is much bigger than just tax policy--the leadership in Washington has yet to figure that out even after several years in power.

Barack Obama will build our house on Rock while McCain will continue to keep building our house on sand.

On to topic number two--the NBA Finals began last night. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Celtics fan. More importantly, I am a fan of sports played well and competition at a high level.

Whether you like the Lakers, the Celtics or hate them both you had to be inspired if you watched last night. Celtics star Paul Pierce was knocked down hard in the third quarter, spraining his knee. He had to be carried off the court--it looked to be a series-ending injury.

A few minutes later he bounced back out onto the court--athough a bit gingerly at first. He drained two three-point shots in a 20-second span and played lights out defense the rest of the game. The Celtics won game one.

Our guy Senator Obama has been knocked down all primary season and keeps coming back and hitting big shots, playing great defense and winning promaries. He's won the conference finals and now moves onto the finals--and we are all on his team.

The results of this contest are much more important than any sporting contest--so much is at stake. Let's get up and hit some shots, play some defense and help this team win in November.

Finally I want to comment on a quote I saw from Barack Obama. Asked what he will be doing on Saturday he mentioned going home "taking my wife on a date, and riding bikes with my kids".

I hope we all just take a moment to think about the sacrifices that Senator Obama and his family have made for all of us. There are days, and moments that he has missed as a father and there are days and moments his daughters have missed with their father. We all should appreciate and respect what they have done.

From one husband/father to another have a great weekend Mr Democratic Presidential Nominee. Your Saturday plans sound simple yet wonderful, so enjoy a piece of heaven--you and your family have certainly earned it.

Message From Centre County Obama & Centre County Hillary

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:26:04 EDT

A message from Ruth Luse and Greg Stewart

While we worked diligently for our respective candidates this past spring in Centre County, we strongly agreed that each of us would support the Democratic nominee. The primaries are over and we now have the presumptive nominee of our party. Senator Obama surpassed the required number of delegates to win the nomination.

Now, we need your help. As we move forward as a unified Democratic Party, let us agree that as Democrats we have a responsibility to our nation to work tirelessly for our nominee. We cannot afford four more years of the Bush economic policies and a flawed foreign police that lead to the disastrous war in Iraq that cost so many lives and has made our nation less safe.

Let us not forget that the future of the Supreme Court as the protector of our individual right to privacy is in our hands. We need to move forward together to win in November.

Sincerely,

Ruth Luse, Chair - Centre County Hillary

Greg Stewart, Chair - Centre County Obama

Competition

Jay Paterno — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:10:07 EDT

This morning word surfaces that Senator Clinton will call it a race on Saturday and endorse Senator Obama. While I have never been a fan of Senator Clinton, I relish the competition that has been waged with her over the course of this campaign. Competition is a positive, it that forces us to push ourselves beyond our perceived limits.

I have been involved in major college football for over 20 seasons and in this world it is about competition every day. Practice is great, but how do we ever find anything about ourselves if we don't take the field and compete?

We line up opposite a worthy adversary and we compete from the first play of the game until the final whistle. We challenge ourselves to prepare and to train and to get better every day. When the game is on, it is only through the preparation that has been done prior to the game that we are successful.

Our Head Coach at Penn State Joe Paterno says three things all the time that ring true in anything you do in life:

#1. Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.

#2. You either get better or you get worse, you never stay the same.

#3. The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.

These are 3 things that became evident in the course of the campaign. Senator Obama's campaign takes care of the little things, gets better every day, and has a will to prepare. Only because Senator Clinton pushed every day was there pressure to keep improving. There was never a time to coast or rest on a win from the previous contest.

This will hold us in good stead as we move ahead to face Senator McCain in the general election. He will be a formidable adversary. To win, we all must be willing to prepare, strive to improve every day and take care of the little things.

Everyone can get involved on any level. I've helped canvass for voters, get voters to the polls, register voters, stuffed envelopes and even helped my own children make banners for the Obama Rally here at Penn State.

It is going to be the little things that make the difference--registering voters and getting them out to vote. It all begins now. Get involved on any level you can--no matter how big or small your perceive your role to be.

We can not fear to compete, because that fear leads to a failure to compete. This campaign has proven that we can compete with anyone we face--and we will prove ourselves again in November.

It's On to November...

Jay Paterno — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 11:40:49 EDT

Is it any coincidence that the backdrop for John McCain's speech last night was all green--as in money--as in it's all about money?

Folks, it is all about the money--but not the way they want it to be. It is not about funneling $10 billion a month into a war in Iraq. It is about the mortgage payments, the gas bills, the college tuition bills, the food bills and the health care bills. I haven't even mentioned the fact that people who use heating oil will be in for an even bigger shock this winter.

It all starts at home. John McCain tried to sell his idea of "change". His idea of "change" is keeping the Bush tax cuts. His idea of "change" is staying the course in Iraq, He says that the surge is working in Iraq.

I have a confession to make. Initially I did support the war in Iraq--with reservations about the lives of young people we were putting in harm's way. I wanted to believe that on the world stage we were more honest. I wanted to believe that if our government was saying something that contradicted with what Saddam Hussein's government was saying about weapons of mass destruction....

I was wrong on supporting the war, but a man like John McCain with access to all the intelligence was even more wrong than I was--and now he wants us to trust him. He wants to sell us the idea that he has better judgement on foreign affairs that Barack Obama. McCain with all his experience, was wrong on a huge foreign policy blunder.

Now all these years later there is money flying out of Washington, DC with almost no accountability. It saddens me to think of what has been lost. This administration came into office with a tax code that enabled us to have budget surplusses and look forward to a day when we could pay down a portion of our national debt.

This administration had the opportunity and the financial ability to accomplish extraordinary things that would make us better in so many ways. Instead we took that money and sent out rebate checks to get votes. We cut taxes--when we didn't need to--the economy was humming along nicely.

Now we have plodded along without any policy on energy, or global warming, or education or health care. We've let billions of dollars slip through our hands, and all the lost opportunities that come with those dollars.

It is now time to move on to the battle in November. John McCain will try and sell the idea that he is an agent of change, and that he has so much experience. He may make changes and he may have experience but they are the wrong changes, and he has the wrong experience in public service for these times.

Just remember that we need to control our destiny. It is all about how you want your government to spend our tax dollars, and how we want our government to respond to the very real challenges we face here at home. We can speak in a voice that is unified--and loud and clear. We can take back OUR White House, OUR Government and force them to respond to our calls for change.

This is our time and this is our moment. It has to be our time now and it has to be our time come election night. I am happy today, but we have higher mountains to climb--it is on to November.

This Is Our Time

Jay Paterno — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:06:56 EDT

When I say "This is Our time" I mean that it is a time for ALL americans to celebrate. Barack Obama will break through the ever-changing delegate ceiling for the nomination today or tomorrow and it will be a two-horse race.

We are blessed to have two good candidates squaring off this fall. Both are people worthy of respect and admiration. Both have the convictions of their beliefs and visions for the future.

However, their beliefs and their visions for the future are vastly different. For that reason we must be excited that the nomination process has yielded a candidate in Barack Obama with a new vision for America's future.

As he said almost 4 years ago it is not a country of Blue States and Red State but of the UNITED States of America. His vision is one that bridges divides and helps ALL people reach for a better future.

Some of my wealthy friends are pannicked about what will happen to their Bush tax cuts. Many worry that the proposals burden future generations. I was inspired by something I saw President George W Bush say yesterday about the global warming bill being discussed in the Senate.

He said "I would warn the congress not to burden the country with expensive plans that would unfairly burden future generations of Americans."

Wow---I want to respond with a phrase from a book that President Bush reads--The Bible--"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".

The idea of being fiscally conservative is a new idea for an administration that wages wars, cuts taxes and expands spending.

To my friends who worry about their Bush Tax Cuts--I say this; "the party is over" and now those who reaped the benefits from the party are going to have to help pay the bills.

To those who worry about the impact to future generations if Obama changes the culture of Washington--no matter what the costs are now they will be much cheaper than continuing the policies of George W Bush under John McCain.

For the last 8 years we have become a unilateralist power--one who preaches one thing and acts another way. We talk human rights yet we tortured and abused prisoners in Iraq and in Gitmo. We have lost the moral high ground when the world can plainly view our hypocrisy.

The times are changing--and now This Is Our Time--it is time to take back the United States of America. It is time to be a proud member of the world community again. It is time to reach out to each other and lift those who are hurting. It is time for new visions on education, energy, and the economy.

THIS IS OUR TIME--we have all helped Senator Obama get through the first stage. Now let us all Unite behind him--no matter who you supported previously. We can't afford the results of another 4 years of Republican rule in the White House.

THIS IS OUR TIME.

Press Coverage--Myths and Reality....

Jay Paterno — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:41:14 EDT

Go to Andrew Sullivan's post on The Atlantic site and read about how Geraldine Ferraro is once again playing the fool for the Clintons. She and many others have portrayed everyone who has not been a Clinton supporter as somehow being sexist. They have even called out the media for the "negative","harsh" or even "sexist" treatment of Hillary Clinton.

Geraldine Ferraro went so far as to call for a study by the Shorenstein Center at Harvard...whoops already done. Guess what they found? They essentially found that both candidates have had a fairly equal ride from the media.

Well that takes away one of the myths Barack Obama's victory.

Could it just be that his organization and campaign designed "from the ground up" was just better prepared, smarter and had a better candidate to rally behind?

They don't want anyone to believe that. They want to make comments about his resume. Well who has more years in elective office? Barack Obama does. They want to say that he is only where he is because he is African-American. Really? What country do they live in--I can tell you that this country has never been one to give a free pass to people because they are black.

For that matter--we KNOW that Senator Clinton was elected ONLY because she was married to Bill Clinton. Don't believe me? How many other lawyers who practiced in Arkansas, lived in Washington, DC for 8 years could then move into New York to run for and win a Senate seat? The answer ZERO.

It is time to stop the whining, and fighting. It is time to focus on November and days like today, where the DNC is meeting, just create another distraction from the inevitable victory in November. Barack Obama is the BEST candidate in EITHER party to take the USA where we need to be.

We are closing in and heading forward. Get ready, because it's going to be a tough fight. Nothing in life ever worth having is easy and this is one of those things. Barack Obama has won the first stage of this race--the next one is an uphill run and one that he will win.

Earlier I mentioned that his "from the ground up" campaign was a big factor in winning the nomination. It will be even more important in the next stage--so get on board, get involved and help make a huge difference.

Here is the link to the Atlantic post by Andrew Sullivan:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/05/sexism-sexism-s.html#more

Here is a link to the entire 44-page study by the Shorenstein Center if you want to read it:

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/presspol/research_publications/reports/Character%20and%20the%20Primaries%20of%202008.pdf

Memorial Day

Jay Paterno — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:00:07 EDT

In Philadelphia there is a small place called Washington Square. Washington Square became the final resting place for many unknown soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War. In the square there is a statue of George Washington and a flame that is kept burning to honor those who lie buried beneath the square.

On the wall behind Washington is an inscription which states "FREEDOM IS A LIGHT FOR WHICH MANY MEN HAVE DIED IN DARKNESS".

Memorial Day is the day to remember how many Men and Women have died (and continue to die) in darkness so that we may bask in the light of Freedom. It is a day to give thanks for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the good of countless others in this nation.

As we look to the future it is important that we elect leadership in this country that will not put our men and women in harm's way when the stakes do not warrant it. The willingness of our troops and their families to serve our nation must not be taken lightly. Their commitment, and the deployment of those troops should be seen only as a last resort when all other avenues are exhausted.

Senator Obama is that leader.

For Memorial Day, it is time to put politics aside and honor those who have given us so much. It is time to honor those who have protected the freedoms of this country. We live in a country that no matter how we may differ in opinions, we all get the chance to speak our mind and have our say in the ballot box.

For today, all can agree that we owe a great debt to the men and women who have served, and are serving us. Without their gifts of talent and, in many cases, their lives we would not have the rights to our own voices in this democracy.

That is the message for this day of rememberance.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Jay Paterno — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:41:05 EDT

Despite the unfortunate comments by Hillary Clinton about the assasination of Robert F. Kennedy, we must stay focused on what truly matters. What she said was, at best, a reminder of a terrible time in our history, and, at worst, a suggestion that there may be a threat lurking out there.

Robert F Kennedy was not alone in his assasination during that time. From the John F Kennedy Assasination in Dallas to the assasinations of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and RFK--it became apparent that the America of the 1960s had decided to resolve our political differences violently.

Despite the uproar that has accompanied Senator Clinton's remarks, do not lose focus on what this campaign is about. This campaign has been about uniting people, bringing people together and working together through our political differences to find solutions for our common future.

We must not fail to act out of fear for ourselves or for Senator Obama. We must feel compelled to act to bridge the gaps that divide us. We must feel compelled to believe and have hope that our country is ready to make the changes need to restore our excellence as a "One Nation, under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all."

Believe in our hearts, and pray to the almighty you hold sacred, for a peaceful future for all of us. No one can stop the power of millions of voices calling for change--NO ONE.

Stay focused, keep fighting for Senator Obama and with our eyes on the prize we will see Victory in November. Do not let the careless words of anyone cause us to lose that drive, determination and focus on the goal of our common cause.

There is a bigger fight looming just keep your mind on that. That battle will be hard enough. Take the energy and the passion you have and direct it towards that end--not at the words of one we have already defeated.

A Call to Fight for A New Common Destiny

Jay Paterno — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:03:40 EDT

“It’s about what’s possible when a new generation of Americans stand up and say we’re not going to settle for what is, we are going to imagine what might be. There’s a moment like that, that happens in the life of every generation. Where we shed our fear, we shed our doubt, and we shed our cynicism, where we roll up our sleeves and arm in arm we start rebuilding this country block by block, county by county and state by state. This is our moment, this is our time. We are a self-reliant people. We are an independent people, but we are not a people that turns our backs on each other. We are a people that depends on each other, that believes that ALL of us have to rise together or all of us will fall together.”

Senator Barack Obama -- Portland, Oregon May 18, 2008

These are the words that America needs to hear from Barack Obama. These are the words that remind us all that, although we may differ from one another, we are bound together in a common destiny as a Nation.

We have a choice to make about what path we choose, and what destiny that path will lead to. In my mind there is only one choice--vote for Senator Barack Obama.

His vision, and his plans for our common destiny are a future time of peace and prosperity for those on the bottom rungs of society as well as those on the top rungs. A future greatness for America is not a zero-sum game where if someone succeeds, someone else must fail.

America's future under Barack Obama will be one where we can ALL rise together and see that everyone in this country can wake up each day with hope. Everyone can get access to food, shelter, clothing, education and health care.

This is the wealthiest nation on earth and it is about time that we see that we don't have to leave part of our population behind. We are only as strong as our weakest link. Those who don't or won't understand and accept that fail to realize that ultimately we will all fall together.

I am of the same generation as Senator Obama. It is our time, it is time for us "to shed the fears and doubts and cynicism". I have done so, in large part, due to the influence of Barack Obama.

It is time to continue the Fight together for more glorious days ahead in this country--a country that inspired so many people from all over the world to come to her shores. They came because they left their fears behind and believed in America and believed in a better future. We are at a similar point in time where we can build a better nation, a better future and a better world.

The Even Higher Costs of Higher Education

Jay Paterno — Sun, 18 May 2008 12:44:47 EDT

This weekend is graduation weekend at Penn State. The months of May and June mark the graduation of yet another class of graduates from Colleges and Universities from across the country.

These same months also mark the time when governing boards of these same institutions start to deliberate or decide what the price tag on the next year's tuition will be. These governing boards are faced with increased costs, much like every person and every business in this country. From the increasing cost of health care to gas these institutions face higher operating costs.

Every year these institutions pass their increased costs on to the students in the form of higher tuition and fees. It is a never-ending cycle that has seen tuition increases consistently outpace the rate of inflation.

While the outrage over the cost of gasoline has been very real there has been much less discussion of the cost of higher education. The average college graduate will complete school with $19,000 in student loans and debt. That is before graduate school.

That debt load is a big burden to a young man or woman starting out in a new career. It is something that can be remedied.

Senator Obama has supported one proposal and proposed another program that will be significant options for young men and women in this country.

The first proposal is a new G.I. Bill--a bill that will help educate people who have served this country in the armed forces. Some have criticized the proposal for being too generous and for being something that will increase turnover in the military. How can anything benefiting our veterans ever be too generous?

The second plan is a program proposed by Senator Obama that would give $4,000 a year to students who perform 100 hours of community service (that's a rate of $40 an hour--not bad!). Under the Obama proposal that student debt level would drop from $19,000 to just $3,000--a huge difference.

The common thread among the two plans is a service component to this country. Whether it is military service or community service, the lesson is that to receive you must give back. It is a powerful lesson for young people to learn as they head out of college and on to their lives as husbands or wives or mothers and fathers.

It harkens back to a day when a young President stood on the steps of the capital and said during his inaugural address "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country..."

Talking To Our Enemies...

Jay Paterno — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:13:39 EDT

Much has been made about comments from President Bush about talking to enemies, and his reference to those who wanted to appease the Nazis.

Talking to one's enemy is not the same as what Chamberlain did at Munich when he gave away the Sudetenland--a large chunk of Czechoslovakia inhabited by many German-speaking people.

From a purely philospohical perspective, if our government doesn't talk to our enemies there are a few bad results that occur. Number one we do not gain any understanding of what they want and we gain no perspective in learning how they see the world.

The second result is this: If we only talk to countries on our side then we will only hear what we already know or want to know. We come out of the diplomatic process with only the knowledge we entered the process with.

Talking to an unfriendly nation is not giving up or giving in--it is merely an attempt to reach across a divide and find common ground so that both sides can come together peacefully. We have an administration that has taken a course that is unilateral and the result has been two wars.

There are times when a unilateral approach is in fact necessary, but there are also times when diplomacy with our allies and non-allies is vital to solving the world's problems. I applaud Barack Obama's willingness to talk to friends and foes alike.

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain when we engage the world community in diplomacy. Anyone who suggests otherwise is trying to scare voters in this country into believing that diplomcay is a sign of weakness.

Believing that the State Department has as big a role in Foreign Policy as the Defense Department is not weakness--it is wisdom.

Barack Obama's administration will lead America with both strength and wisdom. That is what makes a great nation, strength alone will not do it. When he takes office in January of 2009 it will mark a new era for American Foreign Policy one that will restore the United States to our rightful place as the world's leader.

Hope and Faith

Jay Paterno — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:58:45 EDT

Sunday, while I was seated in my weekly Catholic mass one of our priests, Father Mathew was giving his sermon. In it he quoted St. Paul who wrote “Hope is not Hope if it is for something that can be seen”. His discussion of Hope and Faith got my attention, because they are both very powerful words in my life.

I am not perfect, nor do I claim any level of righteousness because I attend mass regularly. As I have learned, we are all imperfect sinners but every day I try and do the right things.

Despite my college education, I do consider myself a “hard-working” white American. Some politicians would have you believe that my college education precludes me from relating to hard-working Americans.

No one is really quite sure when college-educated people suddenly became “elitists” in this country or when we stopped working hard. Granted I do not work in a manual labor job, but I work long hours.

I work several 90+ hour weeks annually in my job—including a lot of weekends and holidays. Those are hours I spend working so that my children can have food, health care, clothing, a roof over their heads and get an education.

The point is not who works hard, or who is college-educated or not college educated. The point is that when you are a parent and have a family, it doesn’t matter what your education level is, and it doesn’t matter what you do for a living.

Every parent has big dreams for the lives of our children.

My work takes me to schools and communities around the country. My work puts me in contact with young men and their families. These young men and their families come from different races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. As a coach I have the chance to see young men and their families reach for opportunities that can change their lives.

When I first meet these young men and their families many of the young men are just 16 or 17 years old. I see parents that have the same goals—the same Hopes for and the same Faith in their children as my parents had in me, and I have in my children.

We get to see them grow up and mature from children to men ready to make their own way in the world. I have coached and recruited young men who were the first member of their families to graduate from college. Some have even gone on the NFL and become millionaires.

It all comes down to Hope and Faith and that is what Barack Obama’s campaign is all about. It should be a uniting force for people who Hope for a better country and a better world. We can not see the future so it is truly Hope for, and Faith in something yet unseen.

If we keep the Faith and we hold fast to the Hopes we have for the future, we can collectively will this campaign and Senator Obama to the Presidency. We have not seen the finish line in November yet, but our faith and perseverance will see us through. Faith will guide us until Hope gives way to a bright reality, illuminating a new golden American future.

NY Times "Who Will Tell The People?"

Jay Paterno — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:32:22 EDT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04friedman.html?em&ex=1210305600&en=bbf6e9bdf2870076&ei=5087%0A

In case you didn't see this column by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times this past Sunday, go to the link above and read it.

He makes some great points about this country--about where we are, where we've been and where we can go in the future. He says he is looking for a President that will be tough enough to tell the truth.

Hasn't that been the thrust of the Obama Campaign from Day One? It still is the bedrock foundation of this campaign, a campaign steadily marching towards victory. If you doubt this just look at how he handled the "Gas Tax Holiday". Rather than rushing in and agreeing so he can grab a few easy votes, Barack stood on principle and told us the truth.

Read his speech on Race--if you haven't already. Barack's speech on race, a sometimes difficult and sensitive topic, did not shy away from any issues. He spoke the truth and challenged us to form "A More Perfect Union".

Beyond wanting a President that speaks the truth, Thomas Friedman discusses the influx of youth and hope into this election. This influx was inspired by and is directly attributable to Senator Obama's campaign.

Friedman warns against those who would discount the importance of these young people and the importance of Hope. When the chips are down and you're standing at a place in history where there are many paths to take you need Hope. It is a force that can drive people to perform under pressure beyond what they ever imagined was possible.

It will be Obama's plans, as well as his inspiration that will lead our Nation back to greatness. It will lead us back to the place that inspired my great-grandfather, a young sailor from Italy, to jump ship in New York City. With that act he began a family line that flows through me to my children.

As I look at my children I am filled with Hopes, and Dreams and I envision a radiant future, a future made possible by this campaign and the imminent Presidency of Barack Obama.

Barack will lead and inspire us but above all he will tell us the truth, and for that we can all look to a great American future.

Closing In....The Power of WE and US

Jay Paterno — Sat, 03 May 2008 19:25:30 EDT

At this hour Guam looks like it is going well for Barack and that will provide some more delegates. There are just 277 left to go (before the Guam results). By Wednesday morning he'll have, at most, about 180.

He is Closing in....let me correct that WE ARE CLOSING IN. That is one element of this campaign that I love--it has been all about WE and US. The slogans Yes WE Can, Change WE Can Believe In. When he wins WE all win. It will be OUR White House.

There are so many things that you look at in this country and you see so little hope. People with inadequate food, shelter, health care. You see soldiers going off to a war that looks like it may never end. You see gas approaching--and in some places surpassing $4.00 a gallon. The pressures on working Americans and working American families are mounting. The list goes on and on and on...

Then you allow yourself to HOPE. You look at January of 2009 and you begin to realize that Barack Obama will stand before the nation and the world and take the oath of office for President of the United States and suddenly you know that the change is coming. You know that WE will be standing there too. You know that the future is one of dynamic leadership and change--a future that WE made happen.

You know that it is in fact true that "WE are the ones WE'VE been waiting for." Whatever you can do, go do it--realize that "The Fierce Urgency of Now" demands our action.

A Sporting Perspective

Jay Paterno — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:53:33 EDT

I will use my job as a football coach to provide a sports perspective on yesterday's Pennsylvania primary.

This nomination process is like a football game that is late in the 4th quarter. Barack's team was leading by 20 points with just a few minutes to go. In Pennsylvania, Hillary's team got the ball with great field position (leading the polls by 20+ points) and seemed poised to score a Touchdown and close the gap significantly in the overall score of the game.

Through Obama's great defensive effort, her trick plays and gimmicks (negative attacks, non-issue questions at the debate) were thwarted. She drove deep into his territory and all she had to show for it was a 9.4% win--the equivalent of a field goal.

Sticking with my football game analogy--Barack's team now leads by 17 points and gets the ball in NC and Indiana--states where he will win. By the time May 6th is over it will be later in the game and his lead will be what it was or even bigger.

As far as the delegate count goes and the popular vote count goes this one is over--unless the referees (Party Officials) come in and "fix" the outcome of the game--that is over-rule the will of the people who voted in the primaries where the state officials followed the rules.

Penn State Daily Collegian

Paul Lyons — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:45 EDT

In response to http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/03/18/obama_plans_background_do_not.aspx:

I wrote to the Daily Collegian editor:

I was shocked to read Donald A. Moskowitz letter to the editor in the March 18th edition of the Collegian.

It is the responsibility of the editors at the Daily Collegian to provide a forum to express opinions and not out-right lies. The letter expresses alumni Moskowitz opinions about Barack Obama, and contains the line, “He is tall, good looking, an articulate speaker, he is part black and part white and he is a Christian with an extensive Muslim background.” Barack Obama does not have, “...An extensive Muslim background.” This is an Internet rumor that has been proven completely un-true. Why would you provide space for this kind of slander? To continue the politics of fear that has dominated our country for the past many years?

Mr. Moskowitz has a right to his opinions and the First Amendment right to express them. The Daily Collegian has a responsibility to the Penn State Community, and to the profession of journalism to seek the truth, and its editors should not publish lies under the guise of opinion pieces. There is a minimum of fact checking that a paper should perform even in the letters to the editor that it chooses to publish.

At least we can take comfort in the fact that The Collegian is a student news paper. Hopeful this incident will provide a teachable moment for the editors and staff of The Collegian, where they will lean that publishing lies even under the guise of “opinion” is not acceptable.

Paul Lyons

PSU BS Electrical Engineering 1990

A Call to Action

Lee Hoffart - Wisconsin Staff — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:25:14 EST

April 22nd will be a historic day here is Pennsylvania. It will be the day we secure the nomination for Barack Obama. It will be the day that we, as Pennsylvanians, show America and the world what the future of American politics looks like, a future not only with hope not only for Americans, but for people the world over. It is a day for affirming a forward looking visions and turning our back on the tired, old order that has allowed us to sink into the morass both at home and abroad. It is the day we select the first real presidential candidate with a 21st century vision.

Senator Obama has promised a new kind of politics, and this campaign already shows us the qualities of this new way. We have witnessed the birth of a totally new kind of campaign, a campaign built by hundreds of thousands of volunteers and over a million small donors. Gone are the days of an iron-handed autocrat who controls every aspect of the campaign through 30 second television ads. In its place is a campaign that recognizes and channels the initiative that has always been one of the hallmarks of American greatness, a campaign that built on the premise that all of America and every American matters. Of equal importance, Senator Obama recognizes the single most important point about change, and it is something that every great president has known. Change doesn't come from the top. Change comes from the people at the bottom. It is brought about by ordinary people who stand up and demand that their voices be heard to. Against the press of the American people the old special interests that have for too long plagued the halls of power in this nation are without power. These interests face a frightening dilemma, for the first time in over a generation a presidential candidate has appeared who has reminded the people that it is their voice that really matters, and has told these interests that they will not be able to pedal influence with dollars.

Now we are engaging in the opening stages of the Pennsylvania race, and the things we do today will echo for the rest of the primary and into the general election. We need everyone who is part of our team, here at Penn State, to a little bit of time to help lay the foundation for our eventual victory. Like every democracy that foundation is the voters themselves. We need each of you to help us register voters, so when the day arrives that foundation is strong enough to support the White House.

-Lee

From Grassroots We Will Grow A Mighty Oak: The Importance of Organization

Tim Pawloski — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:06:33 EST

Greetings from snowy Centre County. It's snowing pretty heavily right now but WE'RE FIRED UP!

I've been doing a lot of reading recently about Sen. Hillary Clinton. One article that struck me was from the Huffington Post: "Clinton's Ground Game Plunges Into Chaos" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/clintons-texas-ground-ga_b_87723.html

As Penn State Students for Barack Obama is preparing for our big canvassing trip next weekend, and our voter registration drives here in University Park, and around the commonwealth, I can't help but feel for the Hillary Texas Campaign. It's a huge undertaking. It requires a lot of time from dedicated, devoted people who really believe in their candidate. Although the Senator from New York's supporters and I disagreee on several fronts, I respect them for taking part in the political process.

Barack Obama has just reached 1 million campaign donors. In the state of Pennsylvania almost the entire state movement is volunteers. A lot of us are young, progressive, grassroots activists. And that's the difference. We are riding high on a tidal wave of victories, fundraising success, and general exuberance. We are still looking for new recruits, and we're finding them. We are the premiere (read only) candidate group at PSU, and I would argue that we are the premiere Barack campaign group in the State.

So what does this have to do with Bill Clinton in a pickup truck in a rainy rally in Texas? Everything.

We have only seen the positive side of campaigning. We have seen excited people flush with victory. We need to build an organization here that is ORGANIZED. It's not redundant, just look at Hillary in Texas. Lack of communication, lack of boots on the ground, lack of funds. We need to steel ourselves against this. We need to build an organization that can flourish after 10 straight wins, AND after 10 (God forbid) losses. Senator Clinton did not have that organization in Texas. We need to make sure that we can give Senator Obama that organization in Pennsylvania.

We're doing that now. It's all been a bit hectic, and we seem to spend about half our time talking what we should be doing, but it's a start. We're a week old. But we're getting stronger. The trip to Ohio is going to provide invaluable experience to our members. We will be better experienced come April, and by November we will be professionals.

The voter registration drive is an important part of this as well, it is good to remember that in a campaign like this it won't all be flashing lights and media frenzy. It won't be just speeches and rallies. It will be hard work, long work, and rewarding work.

In Pennsylvania, and here at Penn State University, we are working on this. We are building an organization from the ground up, but when we are finished it will be strong. It will be effective.

Yes We Can.

"There is a moment in the life of every generation when, if we are to make our mark on history, this spirit must break through

This is the moment.

This is our time."

-Senator Barack Obama, Des Moines, IA December 27, 2007

Vote for Hope in O8

-Tim

We've Got Obamomentum!

Tim Pawloski — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:54:27 EST

Tenpeat! Tenpeat! Tenpeat!

So despite my butterflies before the Wisconsin primary last night, it seems Sen. Obama is going to continue his epic run. Here at PSU, Penn State Students for Barack Obama is doing great, with a ton of new members and a canvassing trip to Ohio next weekend before the big primary. We even had to move to a bigger room on campus because our original meeting place couldn't hold all the supporters!

Now we're moving into the meat of the campaign, tonight we'll be working in policy groups at the meeting as part of our outreach campaign. We will be discussing the Senator's stance on Iraq, Labor, Civil Rights & Social Justice, Faith, Education, Healthcare, Science, Energy and the Environment, and the Arts. The meeting will feature small group discussions to help train our members to spread the message.

As of right now, PSSO has a lot of good things happening. We're currently looking for more students to help canvass in OHIO on Feb. 29th, and help work the voter registration tables in the HUB, East, Pollock, South, West and North commons. Come on out to the meeting TONIGHT at 830 in 160 Williard Building!

VOTE FOR HOPE IN O8

Tim

Great Job Everyone!

Tim — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:51:25 EST

To all of those you showed up last night:

You are getting in on the ground floor of a movement to bring about serious change to America, and you are doing it right here at home. Welcome aboard. I was so happy to see the size of the crowd for Wilkes-Barre.

Many thanks to Rita for putting lasts night's meeting together. Thanks to Bob for putting up the MySpace site. Thanks go to Joe Vender for traveling from Scranton to share what he has experienced on the trail thus far. And thanks to all of you for keeping this going.

Please feel free to drop me a line any time if you have any questions/concerns, and you can continue to contact Rita as well.

Tim

FauxPa, Freshmen and PSU Obama

Tim Pawloski — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:26:29 EST

I attended the first meeting of PSU Students for Obama. I have to admit, I'm pretty psyched. I hadn't really done much with the campaign for a while since I got back to school, but this is a pretty sweet way to get back involved. Right now we're focusing mainly on voter registration and stuff like that, but all in all, I am impressed. A quick note about the meeting: 68 people showed up, including 2 professors, 11 grad students, and the son of a famous local football coach who I won't name out of respect for his privacy. A pretty eclectic group, from many places, many majors, and a lot of different reasons for supporting Sen. Obama. One thing that we all seemed to share was a common belief in this man and what he represents. It would be trite to say "hope" or "change" or any one of the millions of buzzwords floating around today, what struck me was "authenticity."

Barack Obama has given us something to believe in. It's the idea that people, like us, can have a say. It's the wonders of the grassroots movement. Back in 04 when Dean got the ball rolling on web-fundraising I don't think anyone could have predicted how big this would get. I don't think I even considered the possibility of joining a campaign, much less writing a blog on the official website. That was the most fascinating thing about PA's Obama-nation.

According to Greg Stewart, co-chair of the PA State committe for Barack Obama, there are currently only two paid staffers in PA. This will change in a few days as more people come into the state to gear up for our primary in April, but still that's pretty impressive. With those two people are hundreds, thousands of volunteers. People like the 68 students who packed themselves into an empty classroom in Williard Building. People who wouldn't usually get involved, people who never thought they'd have a voice. We are the ones building this campaign. We own it. We are it.

I've been leary of classifying anything "a movement" unless I was sarcastic. Barack Obama's campaign has already become more than a campaign. It is a movement. It is a revolution. It is OUR TIME!

Vote for Hope in O8!

-Tim

We've attracted the attention of the local media, theDaily Item

kris — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:40:54 EST

Hey everyone Barock the Vote, the group hosting Unite for Change in Selinsgrove, PA on Feb 28th, has attracted the attention of the Daily Item. I received a phone call from a Daily Item reporter requesting an interview about our group & the PA Obama campaign. We gave the interview & took some photos. The interview & photos should be in tomorrow's (Feb 14) publication of the Daily Item. Now that we've garnered the attention of the local media, the time has definitely come to seize the moment & organize our efforts to get the vote out for Obama in PA. The reporters wanted to specifically know if we think Obama can win PA now that he has won so many primaries across the country. We should ride the wave of momentum Obama & his supporters have created across the country & continue it here well before the April 22nd primaries. Please sign up to attend our event Unite for Change scheduled for Feb 28th @ 7:30PM in Selinsgrove. Free pizza & soda will be provided. You could also go to our website barockthevote.org There you can register & participate in discussions & debates concerning just about anything that has to do with Obama, politics & history. You can even create your own topics.

Important PA Voter Registration Information

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:30:40 EST

PA Voter Registration Drive – The Time is Now!

Please remind all Obama supporters that the Pennsylvania primary is not an open primary. This means only Democrats are permitted to participate in the Democratic primary.

You must be a registered Democrat to vote for Senator Obama in the PA Primary on April 22.

We encourage all Obama supporters to plan voter registration drives now.

If you plan to conduct a voter registration drive bulk orders of voter registration forms are available from the PA Department of State.Department of State web link:http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/site/default.asp In some areas the local County Board of Elections will have a large supply of voter registration forms available for your use. You should contact the individual County Board of Elections to check availability.

· 2008 PA Primary – Important Dates to Remember!

Last day to REGISTER DEMOCRATIC to vote before the primary ---- March 24

http://www.votespa.com/

Last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot ----- April 15

More information at this link:http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1193&q=442991

Last day for the County Boards of Election to receive voted civilian absentee ballots ---- April 18

Primary Election Day ---- April 22

Fired Up!

Greg Stewart, Co-Chair
Obama PA Field Team
CentralPAforObama@gmail.com

2008 PA Primary - Important Dates to Remember !

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:41:10 EST

2008 PA Primary – Important Dates to Remember !

Last day to REGISTER to vote before the primary ---- March 24

http://www.votespa.com/

Last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot ----- April 15

More information at this link:http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/cwp/view.asp?a=1193&q=442991

Last day for the County Boards of Election to receive voted civilian absentee ballots ---- April 18

Primary Election Day ---- April 22

· PA Voter Registration Drive – The Time is Now !

Now is the time for all Obama supporters to conduct voter registration drives. Remind voters that the PA primary is not an open primary.

You must be a registered Democrat to vote for Senator Obama in the PA Primary on April 22.

If you plan to conduct a voter registration drive bulk orders of voter registration forms are available from the PA Department of State.

Department of State web link:http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/site/default.asp

In some areas the local County Board of Elections will have a large supply of voter registration forms available for your use. You should contact the individual County Board of Elections to check availability.

Fired Up!

Greg Stewart, Co-Chair

Obama PA Field TeamCentralPAforObama@gmail.com

One Republican Changing Registration to Support Barack Obama

Rob Ceres — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:42:14 EST

For a long time Republican, switching parties is enormously difficult. We all need to carefully consider what is best for our party. But we are Americans first. We MUST follow our hearts and do what is best for the United States of America. What is best for our country is what is best for our party. In this time, in this place - right now - Republicans can make a huge difference in our future. It is emotionally difficult, but on Monday I'm mailing in my registration to become a registered Democrat so I can make my vote for Barack Obama and better United States of America count in the Pennsylvania primary. Rob http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/robertceres

GOTV

Grant in Scranton — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:53:54 EST

Break out the cell phones with free weekends.
Make a commitment to make 20 calls this morning.
It is fun and easy and it's free. Be a part of the solution.
The phone bank tool is at barackobama.com
Thank you!
Grant

I am currently #1 caller to Virginia with 60 calls made this morning.

Come on people, let's go!

Integrity Honor Courage

Rob Ceres — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:31:16 EST

Integrity is steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

Honor is a personal code of Integrity, dignity and pride and principled uprightness of character.

Courage is the quality of mind and spirit that enables us to do the right thing in the face of danger and fear.

More simply, we judge a person’s Integrity, Honor and Courage, by their actions. Breaking one’s word is a sure sign of a person’s lack of Integrity, lack of Honor and lack of Courage.

In leading the men and women of our armed forces Integrity, Honor and Courage are the most important attributes of a commander. This is why the United States service academies have honor codes and drill in Honor, Integrity and Courage. Ask any officer in the United States military and they will tell you that Honor, Integrity and Courage are the most important attributes of our nation’s military Commander-in-Chief.

Hillary Clinton pledged not to pursue the Florida and Michigan delegates. Now she is pursuing those delegates.

Hillary Clinton has no Honor.

Hillary Clinton has no Integrity.

Hillary Clinton has no Courage.

Hillary Clinton will not magically acquire these traits on day one.

John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama are clearly men of Integrity, Honor and Courage. Integrity, Honor and Courage narrows the choice for Commander-in-Chief to these three.

My blog addressesissues of importance for Republicans and all Americans. Feel free to discuss these ideas with your Republican friends or point them to my blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/robertceres

Video Game Voter's Network

Jamison — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:09:01 EST

Having grown up in this age of electronics, video games have always been a part of my life. In my early years, I played endless hours on the Commodore Vic20, then I graduated into the Commodore64. Educational games were my cup of tea at the time, but I fondly remember playing Ghostbusters and a silly little game about brusing teeth. Needless to say, I have never stopped playing video games since then. Also needless to say, I have not turned out to be a violent criminal as much of the media today would have you believe!

My point is this, I know that I am not alone in having grown up with this form of electronic entertainment. However, everyday that passes we are givnen a bad name that does not seem to get much better. Let us stand up now and have a voice again! While video games are by no means a deciding factor for a political vote (and by no means very important compared to many of the other issues), they are indeed a factor. I stand for responsible ownership (and sales and marketing) of video games. I am not alone.

Please, take a few moments to check out this link. It's the 'Video Game Voter's Network'. I think that you'll be pleased, or maybe even surprised at the organization and responsibility of this network. Proper parenting and personal responsibility are some of the key ideals of this site, and I hope that is something that we all can believe in!

http://www.videogamevoters.org/

http://gamepolitics.com/

Thank You for listening!

Join us in finding new ways to get the vote out!

-- Jamison

March 24 Pennsylvania Registration Deadline

Rob Ceres — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:45:06 EST

Holy Cow! Can anybody believe it? Most people haven’t quite realized it yet, but the Pennsylvania primary is going to be a really big deal. REALLY BIG. If we want this story to have a happy ending we had better get every college aged new voter and every disaffected Republican registered as a Democrat before the March 24th Pennsylvania primary registration deadline.

That’s right the deadline is March 24th, and hardly anybody is ready and there is hardly any time. Alarm bells should be ringing. We’ve got to get people organized and get going to set up those voter registration drives.

Here is the link for the mail in registration form:

http://www.dos.state.pa.us/voting/lib/voting/02_voter_registration_applications/onlinevoterregformblank.pdf

Get it postmarked by March 24th.

I’m trying to address reasons for Republicans to support Barack Obama. Feel free to discuss these ideas with your Republican friends or point them to my blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/robertceres

Why Republican's should support Barack Obama - Foreign Policy! (part 1)

Rob Ceres — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:29:57 EST

The next in a series of better reasons for Republicans to support Obama.

FOREIGN POLICY ( part one): If you travel abroad or have any significant interactions with people living in other countries you have noticed a significant chilling in the worlds reaction to the United States and to Americans. Our former closest friends in Europe see us as basically good people but with a terribly misguided government. They don’t understand why we, as the world’s first democracy don’t do anything about ourselves. The farther afield we go from Europe the worse it gets, to the extent that in many Muslim countries people are willing to strap explosives to their children to attack the idea of America.

In studying global warming we have discovered that melting ice lubricates the flow of large ice pacts leading to very rapid, unpredictable and for all practical purposes, irreversible destruction of ice packs. There is an analogous situation in American foreign policy. 20 years of our current foreign policy has lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair among huge portions of the world’s poor populations that are attributed directly to the United States. It is the lack of hope that breeds extremism and terrorism, which undermines the very fabric of society. Just like global warming and the ice pack, the result is very rapid, unpredictable and for all practical purposes, irreversible destabilization of society. We’ve seen this in Iran, we are seeing this now in Afghanistan and Iraq. We can temporarily delay or suppress the outward symptoms of violent attacks on our troops or terror on innocent citizens by surging with crushing force, but without fixing the underlying cause of the disease we will be playing “Whack-a-Mole” until our resources are exhausted and inexorably the situations deteriorate beyond our ability to control.

So how does all this background translate into a conservative Republican’s argument for Barack Obama as the next President of the United States? In a later blog I’ll address how specific policies for specific areas of the world will help. But in this blog I’d like to concentrate on how the man Barack Obama will help.

I don’t know if anybody else has noticed, but Barack Obama is black. In normal times, and in most other aspects of Barack’s qualifications to be president this is of absolutely no importance. This is especially true in America at this point in time where, after a certain generation, we are essentially color blind. But at this time, in this place, on this Earth, it matters. It matters a lot.

The white face of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush are the faces of white multinational industry, Wal-Mart, Mac Donald’s, Boeing and Halliburton, overbearing local culture, dominating the world and wiping out real free trade. They are the faces of military occupation. Barack Obama’s face is not.

To America the white face of John McCain is and will always be the face of strength, honor, integrity and service. But to the world John McCain’s face is the face of American military might and power, Imperialism and the face of a hundred year war in Iraq. Barack Obama’s face is not.

The white face of Mike Huckabee to much of the United States and to the world is the face of radical American brand evangelical Christianity and anti-science. Barack Obama’s face is not.

Hillary Clinton’s white face is the face of corporate lobbyists and (at least for many republicans) the hated face of Bill Clinton. To the world she is the face of the past, of dysfunctional government of 20 years of disinterested and ineffectual foreign policy. Barack Obama’s face is not.

Barack Obama’s face is the face of a new America.

Barack Obama’s face is the face of a country willing to listen and take new paths.

Barack Obama’s face is the face of change.

Barack Obama’s face is the face of hope.

The United States of America needs that hope. The world needs that hope. Just as global warming will not change without reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions so to the world will not change without that hope.

We can change the face of the United States of American.

We can change the way the world feels about United States of America.

We can create hope in the United States of America.

And we can change the world.

Yes we can.

What the Hell is wrong with us in Central PA?

kris — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:19:09 EST

To the south of us, people in Harrisburg are organizing like crazy, hosting petitions drives, debate parties etc. Directly to the north of us in Williamsport, people are also uniting with Obama by hosting petitions drives, meeting at coffee shops & going door-to-door asking people to vote of Obama. They are even hosting a concert for Obama supporters. In Wilkes-Barre, petiton drives are popping up all over the place & people came together to watch the results of Super Tuesday. What the hell is wrong with us? Not a damn thing is taking place in the Milton, Lewisburg, Sunbury, Shamokin area. Not one event is being hosted. We've asked people to stop by our Obama headquarters to sign petitions over the last week & only 2 people showed up to sign! We hosted 2 events here in Selinsgrove & only 9 people showed up between the two. Are we that politically apathetic & culturally dead? Are we going to lend justification to the stereotype that we in Central PA are backwoods, uneducated & closeminded people who are behind-the-times. America is changing people, whether we like it or not! We better make damn sure that we are heard & that Central PA's issues & problems are addressed in these political & economically turbulent times. Come on people! We need to stand up & organize. No one is going to do it for us. If we continue to quietly accept our unappealing economic & political conditions our elected representatives won't do anything about it. If we continue to remain politically apathetic towards the primaries neither of the candidates will spend any quality time in our area. Why the hell should they? These people are professionals. They perform in-depth demographical studies in each state to figure out where they need to spend the most time campaigning. Because of our lack of motivation, our refusal to organize & get involved we send the message to our representatives & both of the candidates that we don't care what happens in Harrisburg & Washington D.C. Obama will not spend any quality time in our area. He may stop by briefly on his way to those surrounding areas that have real grass roots movements like Harrisburg & Williamsport. PA IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN THE PRIMARIES PEOPLE! SO WHAT ARE WE IN CENTRAL PA GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? I fully understand that people are busy. I get that. People work multiple jobs to make ends meet. People are single parents. Many adults are going to college & working full time. I am very busy as well. I am a father of 2 young children. Both my wife & I work full time. My wife is also going to college full time. But the real solution to our problems can not be found in our quiet acceptance of our poor economic conditions. Working more jobs & going to college are just temporary solutions. We need to effect change in Washington in order to eradicate the problems that created the conditions that have forced us to work multiple jobs w/o health insurance & put ourselves in debt to pay for the rising costs of a college education. COME ON PEOPLE THE TIME HAS COME TO BRING REAL CHANGE IN WASHINGTON SO WE CAN HAVE REAL CHANGE IN CENTRAL PA! WE MUST FIGHT FOR CHANGE! WE CAN'T SIT BACK & WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR US!

Yes we can get out the Republican vote

Rob Ceres — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:19:06 EST

Some thoughts on the importance of Republicans!

I am a Republican, but I have a long history of cross-over support for Democrats. I started working as a volunteer for the Ann Richards campaign against George Bush for governor of Texas.

If only that race had turned out differently. Think about how much better off America might be today!

When I look back on that election I see a huge mistake that probably cost the election. In walking neighborhoods we were given the list of registered Democrats and told “Don’t knock on other doors because visiting conservatives and democrats would stir up opposition.” The result – the Carl Rove Bush war machine successfully painted Ann Richards as a liberal democrat. Moderate and conservative democrats crossed and almost all Republicans never got the word. Even voters who had voted for Ann in her first election crossed back and voted for Bush.

Let’s not make that mistake today. Now is the time to strike. The Republican base in disarray and critical battlegrounds loaded with potential Obama cross-over voters are up for grabs in Maryland, DC and Virginia, then Texas and Pennsylvania. And these Republicans are not going to vote for Hillary. Ever.

Talk to your Republican friends. Address issues that are important to them. A candidate who will unit America, the need for a stronger defense (by intelligently getting out of Iraq), the need for a strong economy, the need for non-interventionist sensible foreign policy. The list of good reasons for supporting Barack Obama and not supporting any other candidate is almost as long for Republicans as it is for Democrats. They just don’t know it.

Get out there and tell them.

Yes we can get out the Republican vote!

I’m trying to address the reasons Republicans should support Barack in my blog. Feel free to borrow the ideas or point them to the blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/robertceres

Super Tuesday

John — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:36:42 EST

I can't stress enough how important it is for everyone in the 22 states that have primaries and caucuses today to get out and vote to support Barack. I may not be able to donate money for Obama's support because of finances but I know that when Pennsylvania's primary comes up my vote is for Barack Obama. Barack is the epiphany of change and is the right man for this country. Please though get out there and vote today so we can change this country with the help of Barack Obama. Thank You this is Change We Can Believe In.

If you didn't get the word...

Tim — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:15:20 EST

The petition drives have been a great success! In Stroudsburg and Wilkes-Barre, folks turned out to sign petitions for Obama and his delegates. Many thanks to those who helped out and thanks to those who turned out to sign petitions as well.

Lisa is interested to know if anyone wants to get together for a Super Tuesday party in W-B. Drop her a line if you are.

There is still one more signing event at Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event is listed, so if you are planning to attend, please sign up. And, bring a friend... or two. Even if we have what we think are enough signatures, a few more won't hurt in case of a challenge (and they aren't a bad morale booster, either).

Here's looking forward to a great day for Senator Obama tomorrow...

t.g.

Together We Are Making It Happen!

Tim — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:28:26 EST

Greetings all!

According to the folks at Barnes & Noble, the ice storm this morning definitely kept a lot of folks away. Regardless, a few of us braved the weather and were on hand to collect signatures, and to the folks who stopped out, whether to say "hello" or to sign a petition, I want to say "thank you!"

I am getting good feedback from those who have been out other places as well, but we are still short of our goal to get the required number of signatures for the delegates to be on the ballot. If you have not yet, please get out to one of the places where we are conducting our petition-signing drives. (Check out the NEPA for Obama/11 th District signature drive events.) Senator Obama and his delegates need your help to make the dream of postive, progressive change in America a reality.

Thanks!

t.g.

Come on People Wake Up! Central PA Needs to Get Involved NOW! PA Will Have an Impact. Lets Not Wait Until It's Too Late!

kris — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:20:09 EST

Look. I've been speaking to a lot of Obama Campaign people & they are all saying that PA's Primary is going to matter this year. It is unequivocally mathematically impossible for either Obama or Clinton to get the required number of delegates to get the nomination. The nomination may not be decided until the convention in the summer. This has happended before but not since 1976 when PA actually clinched the Democratic nomination for Carter. Our primary is April 22nd. The Obama campaign has already began to make the necessary preparations to move its' New York & New Jersey campaign offices to PA! There will more than likely be an office in Harrisburg - only fifty miles away. Are we going to wait until April 21st to wake up & get involved. Lets get involved NOW. We have a little less than 3 mos to get the vote our for Obama in our area. Lets not let Philly, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Harrisburg, Reading, Erie, Allentown, York, & Lancaster (Get the picture, theres a lot of ground to cover in PA) take up all of Obama's campaign time in PA. We need to ensure that Obama stops in our area several times. We had a nice showing tonight at Unite for Hope (take 2) but we need to keep growing. We need to organize people! We are planning an event to take place in the next 2wks & we need you. Central PA needs to be heard. There are a lot of people struggling & hurting in this area w/healthcare issues, employment issues, & a lot of local parents have children in Iraq! WE NEED TO BE HEARD! But its our responsibility to get our voices heard. No one elses. PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS TO HELP CENTRAL PA MATTER IN 2008. WE NEED YOU NOW!

Unite for Hope (take 2) is tomorrow! A special guest is attending!! Don't miss it!

kris — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:12:55 EST

Unite for Hope (take 2) is tomorrow, Jan 31st @ 7:30PM in Selinsgrove, PA. This meeting is intended to organize people in our area to become politcally active & involved. We are trying to make Central PA have an impact at the national level. It's time that our issues & intrests be heard. The meeting is open to anyone. Obama supporters, undecided voters, non-voters, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, etc. And remeber, Jerry Koening, an official head member of the PA Obama Campaign will be attending the event. This guy knows his stuff. He'a a retired election law lawyer from NYC. He'll be taking questions & giving us some ideas on how to organize the community & get the vote out for Obama. So take advantage of this rare opportunity to get some inside info on the Obama campaign & have your voices heard. So get your family & friends to sign up to Unite for Hope (take 2). If they can't who cares. Just bring them. Free pizza & soda will be provided. Also, we are giving out free official Obama signs to everyone who attends. I LOVE FREE STUFF!!

And remember go to barockthevote.org & register. It's a convenient way to talk w/people in our area & around the globe about Obama stuff & any political, historical & newsworthy topic you can think of.

Voter Registration

Tim — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:34:11 EST

Yes, we will have voter registration forms at Barnes & Noble during our petiton signing drive! So, if someone you know wants to ask some questions before filling one out - bring them or ask them to stop by, and please remind them they can also fill out the form online on this site, or at Luzerne County's Bureau of Elections.

An official member of the PA Obama campaign is attending Unite for Hope (take 2). A rare opportunity to meet one of the Obama people & get your voice heard!

kris — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:11:41 EST

Good news everyone. Jerry Koening, from the PA Obama campaign, is coming to our event Unite for Hope (take 2)! He is a really nice and intellegent guy. He is a retired NYC lawyer who specialized in election law. He's coming to take questions, brainstorm with us, and give us ideas on how to get the vote out for Obama in our area. This is a rare opportunity & if anyone wants to get a chance to speak with one of the people from the Obama campaign & get your voice heard now is the chance.

Does anyone give a damn?

kris — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:29:32 EST

Barock the Vote is hosting another event, Unite for Hope (take 2). We hosted an event tonight but no one showed up. We also created a website barockthevote.org But no one has registered. Does any one give a damn about the upcoming primaries & the Presidential election? Does anyone actually care that the majority of people outside of Central PA believe that Central PA is populated by a bunch of close-minded, uneducated, ignorant, apathetic, meaningless people who don't matter much to national elections & politics? That is the perception many people have of us. I know this to be true. I moved her 10yrs ago & most people from my old neighborhood ask me why I would move to a "backwoods" area full of "hillbillies"? I explain to them, in depth, that this is not the case. My experience is that this area is full of vibrant, creative, intelligent, hardworking women & men who have a unique & uncanny ability to progress & move foward & adapt to a changing America while refusing to compromise their timeless traditions & ideals. However, when I listen to tons of people complain and make statements like, "all of the politicians are crooks, they don't care about the voters & the government is broken", but don't participate in the political process we add some legitimacy to these stereotypes. Voting is not enough! We can't just sit around and wait for "them" to chose who the Democratic candidate will be & then be left to choose between the lesser of 2 evils. We need to unite and fight for the candidate who we believe best represents our interests. The hell w/who is electable & who is not. What the hell does that even mean people? Voting for the person who we think is most electable is the most illogical way to vote. Think about it. We, the voters, decide who is electable & who isn't. That's the point of voting. A candidate is electable because we vote for her or him. That's the only way. So what the hell does that mean that someone isn't electable? We vote for the candidate who best represents our interests. Please, lets come together by attending Unite for Hope (take 2). Please register at barockthevote.org, to discuss & debate topics about the primaries, elections etc. You can also create your own topics that are important to you. Its also an easier & more convenient way for us to unite & get the vote out.

"The Great Need of the Hour"

Michael from EriePA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:44:58 EST

Barack Obama spoke today at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA. A pastor by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke there some 40 years ago. He preached of peace and non-violence and civil rights. He not only set examples by voicing new ideas and new ways of looking at the same old problems, he also led by deeds and action. And, by doing so he inspired a nation and changed history forever. He took his moment in time and made the most of it, and he gave it his ultimate sacrifice. If there is only one thing you do today, read Barack's words that he preached from that Atlanta church today. Words that echo a passion for change and unity. Words that echo a passion for tolerance and forgiveness. Words that surely if all who hear them would raise their voices as one the walls that divide us as a people and a nation would come tumbling down just like the walls of Jericho.

I believe unity is possible. I believe that what makes us different is what makes us strong. And, what makes us strong is the belief that America was a grand experiement that was started over 200 years ago on the premise that "All men are created equal" and we all look the same in the face of God, however you see God to be.

I want the United States of America to fulfill it's destiny that was layed out first with the Declaration of Independence and later with the words to the preamble of the Constitution of the United States. I want a leader who understands the true meaning of democracy and has the courage to stand up for what sees America to be, a nation of compassion, a nation of integrity, a nation of tolerance, a nation that understands that it's differences are it's strength.

If this doesn't describe Barack Obama, I don't know what does. He is the one and our job is to spread the word put his message of change and unity out there for all to hear. Let our actions be true agents of change.

A Different Leader to Meet New Challenges

Michael from EriePA — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:32:42 EST

There is a deep discontent in America today. There is a longing for a new direction. We have been immersed in a whirlpool of despair for the past 7 years, and the spiral continues in a negative direction. There is a lack of leadership. There is a lack of moral guidance. There is a sense of profound lost hope. And the news doesn't seem to get any better.

This is why it is so important to turn the tide and find a way to believe again. Believe in what this great nation can do instead of accepting what can't be done. We need a leader who will instill in us a new vision of hope and healing, with a new found sense of purpose and belonging, and a new commitment to change.

I believe the one candidate running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, Barack Obama, is the one leader who can do what needs to be done, and do it in a way that unites us, not polarizes us. He can bring about change because he is committed to change. He doesn't just talk about it. He does it. The spirit of his campaign is so captivating that it excites people wherever he goes, whenerver he speaks, and whoever he engages. His candidacy unites people of all races, backgrounds, ideologies, and walks of life. His message is inspiring because it instills hope in the hearts of those who hear him.

That is why now more that ever we need to do whatever it is we can do to encourage others who may not feel the passion yet, who may not believe yet, who may remain skeptical to consider the message of hope and unity. We need to promote a YES WE CAN attitude. Let's GET FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

UNITE FOR HOPE RESCHEDULED 1/22/08 AT 7:30PM

kris — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:50:35 EST

Remember Unite For Hope is still on for 1/22/08 at 7:30PM at Bill's House. Also, there will be a person from the state committe for Obama to help us organize a petition drive.

Back after a long absence!!

Aaron Rich — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:32:11 EST

Well, I am back after the birth of my son Benjamin, as well as a flurry of job changes and internships. I finally have some time to devote to the cause that I believe in.

I know that this is being said everywhere, but Barack is our generations JFK, and if our country has any hope of turning around over the next 16 years Barack is the man to do it. We have been mired in swamp funk for the last 8 years and Obama is the only candidate that has the ability to motivate people to stand on their rooftops and yell "hell yeah!!" I mean, how can you get that excited over politics... well, with Barack is comes easy.

The man is a natural speaker and motivator, who also happens to be a fine politician. If Obama was to be elected President than we would have a President capable of unifying people instead of the deep political divide that is being portrayed in today's media.

The only other current candidate I believe capable of this kind of action is McCain, and while I respect this man, I feel that Obama's youth is an edge. There is an ability to be daring that comes with youth, and with Obama I feel that he can be daring while at the same time measuring his approach to any given problem. I think that this is a sorely needed trait in our next President. We need steady leadership, but we also need a President willing to set himself apart as an example of how we as Americans should act toward each other and the world.

Obama, if elected, would be a fearless leader, going after our enemies abroad, but also holding true to the very liberties that make this country great. Obama will dare to uphold the freedoms we all enjoy, and not be afraid of the consequences. Obama's America would be a safe country, but one where you wouldn't have to be afraid to speak your mind or engage in actions that might threaten those in power.

Let us all do what we can to elect this man, this great motivator and inspirer, to the office of the President of the United States.

On the Road again...Nevada, SC, and "Tsunami "Tues.

Michael from EriePA — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:42:13 EST

The Obama campaign is continuing to pick up key endorsements, i.e. Senator John Kerry, D-MA; JGovernor anet Napolitano, D-AZ; Senator Bob Nelson, D-NEB, "a moderate"; Senator Claire McCaskill, D-MO; and Senator Ben Nelson, D-NEB. With these endorsements, I believe there is a very strong and clear message being sent: Barack Obama is the best Democratic candidate to win in the primaries and caucuses and the best candidate to go up against the Republican candidate (whoever that may be) in November. Further, the message is that Barack Obama is the best candidate to unify this nation, to bring people to the table, and to end the gridlock that exists in Washington.

Barack Obama identifies with people's hardships. He understands their day-to-day concerns. He understands the sacrifices that are made to keep food on the table and clothes on the children. His message is clear and it resonates through the daily fabric of American life. Aa he said today, "We're going to put money in the pockets of hardworking Americans who deserve it. That's what I am fighting for." "Change for me is not rhetoric. It's been the cause of my life."

"Si se puede...Yes we can! " "We are readu to start the next chapter in American history, starting with those three words: Si se puede."

In the past few days, as I ponder the events of Iowa and New Hampshire, I realize that the results of this election will make a very profound statement. We have the chance to elect the first African-American or the first woman to the office of the Presidency of the United States of America. That in itself is worth getting excited about. But, as I continue to ponder, this election is more that just that profound phenomenon. It's about getting people, the voters, engaged in the political process, some for the first time. There are more young people engaged in the voting process. There are more older people feeling rejuvenated and excited that their faith in the political system has been restored. There are comments that I have heard that say, "He reminds me of Bobby Kennedy" or "Because of Barack Obama, I have hope for the future", or "I am tired of hearing the same old rhetoric, making the same old excuses, and blaming everyone else for the problem. I like Barack Obama because he tells it to me straight. He shots from the hip. I like that."

The grassroots effort in Pennsylvania is starting to get off the ground. In Erie, we have another meeting this week to begin organizing to canvas our wards and precincts to obtain signatures to put Barack's name on the ballot for our April 22nd primary. We have a lot of work to do in the next four weeks. I'll keep you posted. michael

Thoughts on New Hampshire

Michael from EriePA — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:05:35 EST

Why were the polls so far off? The numbers seemed to be correct for all the other candidates except for Clinton and Obama. Interesting phenomenon. My thinking is this: This primary received a lot of attention and prompted more voters to go to the polls. New Hampshire seems to pride itself on being very independent in its approach to its politics, and the national news analysis and pollsters could not capture this New Hampshire attitude. I suspect more young people voted and perhaps more seniors voted. The mild weather may have played a part in this outcome. The other aspect of this vote is, I believe, that many voters did not go into the polling booth with their minds made up on whom they were voting for. I also believe the "independent attitude" that permeates New Hampshire politics put the national news coverage and pundits on notice: "No one makes up our minds for us. We may be influenced but we won't be swayed by popular opinion."

Other thoughts: We, in northwestern Pennsylvania are beginning the development of and the continuation of the Obama grass roots effort. We had our second planning and organizing meeting tonight and we are generating local media coverage. We meet again next week to begin the daunting task of obtaining signatures to place Barack Obama's name on the ballot for the April 22nd primary. There are 180 delegates at stake here. Depending on what transpires on "Tsunami Tuesday" (as Tom Brokaw puts it) and assuming that there will not be any significant "blowouts", how Pennsylvania votes may loom large in the scheme of the political outcome of this nominating primary election.

More to follow as events unfold....Michael

what next?

Karen — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:37:04 EST

What are we going to do after New Hampshire to win in Nevada & South Carolina? I can't keep giving money to the campaign. Centre County needs to act now and get organized!

CALLING PENN STATE

Terry — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:21:03 EST

We should get something together for PSU (UP and other campuses)!!!!

Next Stop New Hampshire

Michael from EriePA — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:12:30 EST

There is new found enthusiasm in the hearts of the voters of New Hampshire. A number have expressed their sentiments and solidifying their support for Barack Obama in the past few days. The Obama bandwagon is building upon the historic win in Iowa and it seems to be gaining momentum.

The debates that aired last night had a different format from earlier debates. The format encouraged interaction between each of the candidates discussing their differences and similarities. Barack seemed to excel in this format. I think the negativity that Clinton promoted did her more harm than good. There is a "likability factor" that seemed very evident that Barack comes by this naturally and Hillary has to really work at it and she clearly is not comfortable in this light.

There continues to be similarities drawn between Barack Obama and Bobby Kennedy, and rightly so. Barack Obama speaks directly to the people and captures the essence of what is most important to them. Both Barack Obama and Bobby Kennedy personafy the common, everyday man/woman. There are qualities that define the man and, in my opinion, define this election. And the whole wide world is watching to see what is happening in this presidential election. Barack clearly stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Tuesday, January 8th, New Hampshire will be the next state that makes a statement that change is what the majority of democrats want and the direction that this nation needs to move towards.

First stop--IOWA

Michael from EriePA — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:58:33 EST

The beginning of his historic run started in Iowa on January 3rd, 2008. Bringing in over 37% of the caucus vote, Barack Obama made a substantive statement: Change is what the American people want. "Thank you, Iowa. You have started the the engines on the train for change."

Thanks to the Obama staff and volunteers in all of Iowa, Obama has come home a winner!

Obama for America Top Three Priorities for PA !

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:14:59 EST

Obama for America Top Three Priorities for Pennsylvania! 1) Obama Delegate to the Democratic National Convention: The Time is Now!If you are interested in applying to be an Obama delegate, we would encourage you to file your pledge form with the PA Democratic State Committee now. Pledge Form: http://padems.com/files/2008Pledgeform.pdf . Mail the completed from to this address: T. J. RooneyChair of the Pennsylvania Democratic PartyThe Pennsylvania Democratic Party300 N 2nd Street, 8th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17101 You should also write a short bio, and send it to the campaign. Please include your congressional district number and your full contact information. When submitting your background, please keep in mind we support the Democratic National Committee's goal of building a diverse delegation that reflects our party's makeup of age, race, orientation, creed, ethnic background, and a broad range of economic groups. Please email your bio to Alex DeGolia alex.degolia@gmail.com, with a copy to centralpaforobama@gmail.com.. 2) Congressional District Petition Drive: We need volunteers in each district to help circulate the petitions to place Senator Obama on the PA ballot. We would like to identify Congressional District Petition Drive Leaders in each district. The leaders will be responsible for distributing the petitions to each of the volunteers who will circulate Senator Obama's petition and our delegate candidate petitions in their communities. The leaders will be responsible for collecting the completed petitions and submitting them to the Obama Campaign. If you are interested in serving as the Petition Drive Leader in your Congressional District or as the Petition Drive County Assistant, please email CentralPAforObama@gmail.com. Please include a brief note about your background. 3) Get Out The Vote Trip to New Hampshire: The campaign is asking for 100 Pennsylvanians to travel to New Hampshire to help Get Out The Vote (GOTV) January 4-9. We have set up a Southeastern PA Departure (to sign up, see: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vl44), a Central PA (Harrisburg) Departure point (to sign up, see: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vljz), and a Western PA (Pittsburgh) Departure point (to sign up, see: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4vl89).Please join the state-wide effort by signing up and then emailing your contact information, transportation availability or requirements, and your lodging requirements to PAforObama@gmail.com or by calling Sheldon Motley at 484-340-7181 or 215-345-5188. Sheldon has already coordinated one successful trip to NH and is available to answer your questions and help you get the ball rolling. (If you can help sponsor a college student by making an in-kind donation to the campaign, please email PAforObama@gmail.com.) “We are less than two weeks away from shocking the world.”—Temo Figueroa, National Field Director, Obama for America Fired Up in PA, Greg StewartCo-Chair, Pennsylvania Field Team – Central & WestCentralPAforObama@gmail.com814-234-0776 Sheldon MotleyCo-Chair, Pennsylvania Field Team - EastPAForObama@gmail.com484-340-7181

Blessed are the peace makers for they will endure

Michael from EriePA — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:36:31 EST

First I woul like to say Happy Holidays to all. And, second, blessed are the peacemakers for they will endure. This time of the season offers many things to many different people, but the one most common thread is the hope for change. The hope that I can make a difference. This has always been true before today, but there seems to be a collective realism that now it can be possible. Change is within the realm of possiblity. And, the rallying point of reference is Barack Obama. It is like there is a fresh sense that what was once only a dream can now be ever;yone's reality. And that is something special.

Know that individual experience and action quintesentially becomes a collective vehicle for change, and hope is its fuel. To put it simply: The power of the the one becomes the will of the many. It is a steamroller gathering strength and power ,and once it is headed downhill there is nothing stopping it. So, for the year 2008, let us put our faith and energy behind this steamroller of hope personified by Baarack Obama and let's not stop until we reach our destination: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC

PA Obama Delegate to the Democratic National Convention the Time Is Now!

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:52:12 EST

Obama Delegate to the Democratic National Convention the Time is Now: We are ready to build our Congressional District network of supporters. We will need your help to select and recruit our delegate candidates in each district. The delegate pledge form and information on the delegate selection process is available on the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee website: http://padems.com/about/selectionplan If you are interested in serving as a delegate, we would encourage you to file your pledge form, http://padems.com/files/2008Pledgeform.pdf, with the PA Democratic State Committee now! You should also send a short note to the campaign about your background and include your congressional district number and your full contact information. When submitting your background, please keep in mind we support the Democratic National Committee’s goal of building a diverse delegation that reflects our party’s makeup of age, race, orientation, creed, ethnic background, and a broad range of economic groups. Please email your background information to Alex DeGolia alex.degolia@gmail.com with a copy to centralpaforobama@gmail.com Reminder: You must be a registered Democrat in your Congressional District to run for delegate from the district. Please confirm your Congressional District before applying for one of the delegate positions. Congressional District Maps: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/congress.html#pa House of Representatives: Use the Find Your Representative by Zip to confirm your Congressional District. http://www.house.gov/

America's Soul is Broken

Michael from EriePA — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:38:23 EST

"America's soul is broken." "America has holes in its soul." These were words spoken by Michelle Obama not too long ago while giving a speech somewhere in Iowa. The more I think about these words and what they mean to me, the more I an convinced she is right. There is an emptiness in Ameriaca's eyes. There is a longing for something good to happen. You can see it in the eyes of the homeless. You can see it in the eyes of your neighbor who had to foreclose on his house because he lost his job. You can see it in the eyes of our teenagers who become apathetic and are destined to become underachievers because somewhere along the way the American Dream has vanished. And not just for those who are homeless or jobless. The American Dream has vanished for the millions of families who work hard to get where they are and have nothing to show for it. It has vanished for the millions of "the working poor." It has vanished for the college graduate who has to work three jobs ot keep up with his/her student loans. The American Dream has been stolen from us.

We have to fill the emptiness in America's soul. We first must find hope. Then we must find purpose. Then we find direction. Then we find a vision. Then we find a full heart because we can believe again. And, then we get faith to keep it all together. And the more we do it the better we get at it. Our vision becomes clearer. Our direction is more steadfast. Our faith becomes unyielding. No more compromises. No more accepting second-best. No more making excuses.

Our time is now and Barack Obama is the one. Heal America's soul. Make America whole again. Set America on the path of healing itself. Make a difference in what you do today.

PA Obama Delegate Selection Process

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:35:40 EST

Delegate Selection Process: We are ready to build our Congressional District network of supporters. We will need your help to select and recruit our delegate candidates in each district. The delegate pledge form and information on the delegate selection process is available on the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee website: http://padems.com/about/selectionplan If you were interested in serving as a delegate, we would encourage you to file your pledge form, http://padems.com/files/2008Pledgeform.pdf, with the PA Democratic State Committee as soon as possible. You should also send a short note to the campaign about your background and include your congressional district number and your full contact information. When submitting your background, please keep in mind we support the Democratic National Committee’s goal of building a diverse delegation that reflects our party’s makeup of age, race, orientation, creed, ethnic background, and a broad range of economic groups. Please email your background information to Alex DeGolia alex.degolia@gmail.com with a copy to centralpaforobama@gmail.com Reminder: You must be a registered Democrat in your Congressional District to run for delegate from the district. Please confirm your Congressional District before applying for one of the delegate positions. Congressional District Maps: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/congress.html#pa House of Representatives: Use the Find Your Representative by Zip to confirm your Congressional District. http://www.house.gov/

Moving post in response to NY-Times coverage of the Obama/Oprah event

Lee Hoffart - Wisconsin Staff — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:46:48 EST

I saw this post in the NY-Times reader blog entry on the SC Obama/Oprah event. I thought it was a perfect summary of Barack Obama's message of hope and cahnge for America. The first part is directed at people making claims that Oprah supports Barack only because of race, and then quicklly rises to a cresendo hitting the positive points of Senator Obama's message.

Here is a LINK to the article (the post is by Jade7243; it's entry 145 in the comments by readers).

Qualities of the next President

Lee Hoffart - Wisconsin Staff — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:06:16 EST

In the future it will be necessary for the US president to repair the damage done by eight years of poor leadership in the Bush years. What is necessary is a candidate with the following qualities*.

1.) Knowledge of the US Constitution and how it applies to all branches of government: This is critical for reestablishing a separation of powers within the government and insuring that all branches function independently. Senator Obama has, without a doubt, the best credentials for doing this, as he has been a Constitutional law professor for some number of years at the University of Chicago. I'll say more about this in a future post, but for now I want to leave this point.

2.) Judgment: Part of being an elected official is looking at a lot of contradictory information and views before coming to a conclusion. I was very pleased to see a Wall Street Journal article (today) that extols the value of judgment and comes to a conclusion I've long thought self-evident: Without good judgment no amount of experience matters. Senator Obama has repeatedly over the course of his long public service (he has served as an elected official for longer than either Senator Clinton or Edwards) demonstrated a clear sense of weighing available information, and then considering many sides of an argument before reaching a sound conclusion. Most famously, he judged the Iraq war a folly from the very beginning. Additionally, unlike some of the anti-war movement of the time, he reached this conclusion for sound reasons, focusing on the high likelihood of failure to secure the peace. He also made clear that the war would hamper US strategic interests, both diplomatically and militarily and reduce the US's bargaining power with respect to our enemies. Additionally he pointed out that it seemed unlikely that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and unequivocally rejected the absurd assertion that Saddam was responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This vision for the future would prove prophetic, but of course at the time he had all the power of Cassandra. He did not endorse two of the common, and highly flawed anti-war arguments of the time. One suggested that Saddam Hussein was misunderstood and really not such a bad guy and the other reasoned that because America funded Saddam's rise and bankrolled the war with Iran, means the US should not take action against Saddam. The first argument was a straw man that was easily batted aside by war supporters as it was predicated on the idea that Saddam was not a homicidal dictator, while the second is logically unsound as it supports that exact opposite course of action, namely to go to war due to America's responsibility for it's previous error in supporting Saddam.

3.) Commitment to public service: This is an important part of being a representative of the American people. It isn't enough to be ambitious, and too many modern politicians are only interested in the promotion of their own power (this was true of very many non-modern politicians as well). It is rare indeed to see a man or woman enter the public arena that is genuinely committed to serving and is enamored not by power, but the privilege to represent the United States. Senator Obama is not the only candidate with this commitment, but he is the only leading candidate that appears to be more interested in promoting America than promoting him or herself.

Just a few thoughts on why Barack Obama should be the next US president, in the next installment I'll look at a few more important qualities that Senator Obama has.

-Lee

* The list is a bit haphazard and not complete. It was generated as a brainstorming list while trying to figure out what to write about why I trust Barack Obama to be the next president. Originally it contained a bunch of policies as well, but I've removed those for a future post.

Barack Top Ten - 9-22-07 - Victory2008.net

Barack Daily Buzz - Victory2008.net — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:46:09 EDT

1) Obama Condemns Jena Charges during Iowa State University Speech
9-22-07
Lisa Rossi - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS09/709220328/-1/NEWS04

2) Obama and Edwards Step Up Criticism of Clinton
9-22-07
Beth Fouhy - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPDo-NMvpVY4UgXpm2c296R0i3Jw

3) Obama Leads Both Giuliani and Thompson in Recent Poll
9-22-07
Rasmussen Reports
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070921/pl_rasmussen/obamamatchup20070921_1

4) Obama's Mother Featured in New TV Ad Airing in Iowa
9-22-07
John McCormick - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_adsep21,0,7546153.story?coll=chi-news-col

5) JFK Advisor, Counsel and Speechwriter Ted Sorensen Backs Obama
9-22-07
Jennifer Feals - Seacoast Online
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS/709210402/-1/NEWS11&sfad=1

6) Students Like Obama in Iowa But Will They Caucus?
9-22-07
Dan Gearino - Sioux City Journal
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/09/22/news/iowa/3d06824cc7f1e10c8625735e000ce490.txt

7) Obama Wants to Expand Senior Volunteer Programs
9-22-07
Mike Glover - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDkaLoCLlGNuKVxZbfOhsUW7F7Dg

8) Democrats 2008 - Clinton - 36% - Obama - 23% - John Edwards - 18%
9-22-07
Angus Reid Global Monitor
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28315/democrats_2008_hillary_36_obama_at_23/

9) Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Ben Cohen Accuses Obama and Clinton of Timidity over Pentagon Cuts
9-22-07
Teddy Davis and Mike Chesney
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3632367&page=1

10) In Polls Obama Lurks - Analysts Say Barack Needs to Soar
9-22-07
Jason Clayworth - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS/709220332/1001/ENT

Celebrate Women's Equality Day, August 26th

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:35:04 EDT

Celebrate Women's Equality Day Sunday, August 26!

This important day in our country's history marks the anniversary of National Woman Suffrage.

That is, the beginning of a woman's right to vote and the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Seventy-two years lapsed between the first major women's rights conference at Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 and the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment!

The United States Secretary of State, Bainbridge Colby, signed the amendment into law on August 26, 1920.

Fifty years later on August 26, 1970, Betty Friedan and the National Organization for Women (NOW) organized a nationwide Women's Strike for Equality. This was the largest protest for gender equality in United States history..... 100,000 women participated throughout 90 major cities and towns. I was one of them in Washington, D.C.

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/23/obama_and_women_voters.php
http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/wfoequalpay

Senator Obama, a Model President

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:12:13 EDT

Senator Obama shows "us, we the people" what a President can be to Americans of all ages. What a great model he is to students and young adults about how to handle criticism under pressure!

Think back to the debate; just how many others do you remember who were able to make everyone else feel at ease while being criticized? And who were they? Remember them?

What a great model Senator Obama is to all of us who try, sometimes without success, to answer the negative statements of the media or those who want to cast doubt on our "best man of the people!"

Those of us Americans who support Senator Obama all the way to the Presidency can only smile and be proud of his intelligence of word, his sense of humor, his confidence of body language, and his integrity of character that he showed the world today as our future President found common ground with others.

Senator Obama became the leader "with the experience" to bring us all together as one, with a unity of caring respect and life-saving purpose on our planet Earth.

Obama Flyers or other active things

Jen Wagner — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:32:24 EDT

Is anyone planning any events in the State College area any time soon? Perhaps it would be a good time to post flyers around campus to promote Obama since the students will be coming back next week. Anyone interested in doing that?

Happy Birthday, Barack!

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 08:53:42 EDT

"And the whole day should be spent
In full remembrance
Of those who lived and died
For the oneness of all people.

We know the key to unity of all
People............that lives in all of the hearts
Of people
That believe in unity

We'll make the dream become
A reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday"

From a song "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder

greatly different debate

pattyb4obama — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 22:49:04 EDT

I'm not sure who might have "won" this one. in the public eye I'm quite fed up with corporate media determining how our debates should be conducted. I don't want Wolf Blitzer choosing to whom the questions should be directed...but we don't always get what we want. I thought everyone did well, from his or her own soapbox. But all carefully devisive in how they maintained their own cliches.

I wish we could all pose a question, have someone pick them from a hat, as well as a candidate from a hat. Give them 3 minutes, then 1 minute from each of the others for rebuttal. I know, lets have LINK tv conduct the debates.

Obama did well, but as usual, talked above their heads... he is too smart. Hillary was great, except for the horendous cackling laugh.. and the fact she is truly smitten with Barack. Gravel does not agree with anyone, least of all himself. Dodd .. is like Mitt..one syllable. He's been there for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, for too long.

Biden sounded more sane than usual,a new prescription? Kucinich, as much as I mostly agree with him, would rather be infected with e-coli and grant immunity to a fly, who nested in his filafel, rather than swat , spray, or squash him. If Bill Richardson started one more sentence with I, ME or MY.. Well, Carlos ...,de de dee.

Well folks, can't wait for the pundits to spend this whole upcoming week on this debate. How bout you? My mind is still made up. No one on that stage referred to us as "folks" except Obama. Accually no one else mentioned the "constituency"they were elected to represent. No one there but Barack stood for the common man, with the empathy we all deserve to live with , by and for..
Bless you ALL,,spread the word.

Calling All Activists; Honk & Wave Visibility Day April 21st!

Faye Martin — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:50:59 EDT

Bring your rally signs, posters and a great big smile for our second Wave, Smile and Honk for Obama on April 21st! See the Honk for Obama site Link pictures and blog posts from our last event. We made the national campaign blog last time, and also our local news. What a great visibility event for recruiting new members! (Be sure to have your next meeting time and place planned in case a reporter stops to write a story.) The more cities that participate, the more likely we are to generate positive press for Obama, so be sure to blog your participation on the Honk for Obama site. If you have any questions, just ask, or email the Honk for Obama coordinator Valli Frausto to get directions for how to set up, create and advertise successful events. You only need 3-4 people, some homemade posters and possibly a couple of rally signs. This is a heap more fun than you'd imagine, I promise! (just look at our happy faces)

So get out there and make some waves (pun intended) for Barack Obama on April 21st!

Let's Get to Work

Louis McKinney — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:37:49 EST

Never doubt that a group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world.

Why?

It's the only thing that ever has.

- TWW 2/12/03

Welcome to my blog!

Aaron Rich — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:51:04 EST

I am writing here tonight because I am excited about a Democratic candidate for President for the first time since Bill Clinton. Not only this, but I feel that Obama can be the candidate to truly unite this divided country for the first time in the last 40 years, and lead us fearlessly into the uncertainty that lies ahead.Baracks morals and values are strong, sensible, and balanced. His politics fall in line with what he believes, however he is not blinded by his beliefs. He has a strong inner compass that keeps him in touch with everyday Americans. Barack seems to know what issues are most pressing when it comes to preparing our country for the challenges of the future that awaits us all, and he is not afraid to speak out and challenge all of us to do our part to ensure that the future we carve out is the best one possible for all the people that inhabit this earth.My goals on this site are to fundraise for the campaign, keep a political discourse through blogs and meetings, and campaign in the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas. I hope all of you who are reading this can join me in this worthy cause.

Proud to Be a Liberal

Kristi — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:17:54 EST

What follows is a letter to the editor that I wrote back in November 2004, a backlash to the election results. Feel freet oadapt and use as any of you see fit. It's not specifically Obama related, but could easily be adapted as a letter of support for him.

As a proud and patriotic Democrat, I am disgusted by the current state of our country. We have isolated ourselves from international allies; we have abandoned our poor and disenfranchised; we have robbed future generations of their economic security with our fiscal irresponsibility. The Democratic Party has stood idly by and allowed, and in some ways encouraged, this downward spiral. The Democrats need to act, confidently and forcefully, to create a change in this country. . In order to secure that vision in future years, I believe we, as Democrats, need to re-define some concepts for the American people. We need to clarify and embrace the ideas of Liberalism, Pro-Life (which I will later re-name Pro-LOVE), and Patriotism.

The Republicans accuse us of Liberalism as if it is something about which to be embarrassed. I am PROUD to call myself a liberal. I believe in equal rights and opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status. I believe in strengthening and FUNDING educational and healthcare reforms, and national security. These are basic rights of all humanity, the right to be safe, well, and literate.

The Republicans also proclaim themselves to be Pro-Life, implying that we are… what? Pro-Death? Anti-Life? We are most certainly NOT!! I would like to combat this mindset with the terminology of Pro-Love. As Democrats, as proud liberals, we espouse a foundational ethic of love for all humanity. We love our children, both the born and the yet to be born, so much that we work tirelessly to provide them with a future of hope, prosperity, and peace, rather than despair, desolation, and intolerance. We love our seniors and our veterans so much that we want to provide them with affordable healthcare and prescriptions. We love our men and women in uniform so much that we want to continue to train and equip them to be the best military force in the world. Our promise to them is to only send them into harm’s way when there is a clear and present danger. We envision a military whose primary mission is peacekeeping and ensuring the basic human rights of all people around the world. We love our planet so much that we want to protect and nurture the environment so that life in all its gloriousness is preserved for future generations. This is the true meaning of Pro-Life, the philosophy of Pro-Love.

The Republicans embrace Patriotism and denounce us as selling America short when we express our willingness to cooperate and converse with other countries around the world. America is currently the leading military and economic force in the world. We have the responsibility to use our power wisely and compassionately. We have the right to protect the basic human rights of all citizens of Earth. We have the right to seek global peace and prosperity. We do NOT have the right to demand that the rest of the world bow down to us in obeisance. We do NOT have the right to force other people and other governments to accept our opinions and culture as their own. Patriotism in America means accepting both the rights and the responsibilities of world leadership, dialogue, and cooperation.

As Democrats, as Liberals, as Americans, we love our country. We love the rich and the poor, the homeless and the elite, the religious and the secular, the young and the elderly. We love our planet. We love every citizen of Earth. We love the Iraqis, the Sudanese, the French, the Russians, the Chinese, the Canadians, and all the peoples of the world. Together, let us revitalize our party and stand forward with a new definition of democracy. We are proud to be Liberals. We are proud to be Pro-Love. We are proud to be Patriots.