Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for Obama

Yes

Walt — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:29:37 EST

Yes I can
Yes I will
Yes you can
Yes you will
Yes we can
Yes we will
Yes I, you, we will prevail.

City council and the college tuition tax

Pat from Pittsburgh, PA — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:47:00 EST

Yesterday, I attended the public hearing at Pittsburgh City Council chambers. I was there to speak for increasing the Community Development Block Grant funding for Just Harvest and the Pittsburgh Hunger Fund. I stayed to observe the testimony and discussion on Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s illegal college tuition tax proposal.

I was very pleased to see so many college students speaking so eloquently on the topic. I just wish that more students would be involved on social, political, and economic justice issues. Once again, if you want peace, work for justice. The performance of the council members was disappointing and somewhat puzzling.

CONTINUE . . . .
http://www.examiner.com/x-14931-Pittsburgh-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009m12d1-City-council-upholds-its-tradition-to-disappoint-us

Find out where the stimulus money is going

Pat from Pittsburgh, PA — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:41:31 EST

So how’s that stimulus working for you? I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that question this year. Okay, let’s answer it. Yes, the money is moving. And yes, I expected more results by now, too. But it will take a long time to fix an economy that was so deliberately and horribly neglected for eight years.

CONTINUE . . . . http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-14931-Pittsburgh-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2009...

Lets get this done!

Matt Benford — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:09:35 EST

Dear Readers,

Tonight the Senate will decide if the nearly 30 million Americans who are uninsured in our country can get the health care coverage they desperately need! This issue is personal for many including myself. I have family members who are uninsured or are paying ridiculous heath care premiums! We need our government to step in and rein in the health insurance companies to make premiums affordable to all americans! We are at a critical point in our country's history! We can not fail again!

Joe the plumber

Walt — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:01:18 EST

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacker, paid a visit to St. George yesterday. He addressed a small audience at a local college and I attended. Dress was casual. Joe says exactly what he thinks and he asked for our support for politicians who do the same. I applaud his words.

It was interesting to hear his side of his encounter with Barack during the campaign. Barack was in Joe's neighborhood and Joe was curious to see what was happening. Joe had recently discussed with his boss the purchase of the small business where Joe worked. That was on his mind when he encountered Barack. Barack made the now famous statement that he wanted to spread the wealth around. I think that Barack wanted to say that he favored a more equitable distribution of the nation's income.

Joe talked at length about everyone taking responsibility for the results of our politics. I agree wholeheartedly with his ideas although I disagree with other positions he endorses. I believe that to make democracy work requires three steps: vote, express your opinions frequently, and donate/time money to a cause of your choice. Joe talked about the second item and I believe that he would support all three if questioned, which I did not do.

Joe also complained about the taxes a small business must pay. I might or might not agree with him if I knew more about how small businesses are classified, either as business or individual taxpayers. After WW2, individuals provided 65% of federal revenue while businesses paid 35%. Gradually over time with the advent of more and more loopholes, businesses now pay 10% of federal taxes while individuals pay 90%. Businesses should pay their fair share. If big businesses can pay their top officers millions or tens or hundreds of millions of dollars per year, they are not paying enough in taxes.

Turn about

Walt — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:59:50 EST

Instead of sending more US troops to Afghanistan, I think that the US should enlist the aid and support of Russia. The Russians were there recently before and faced the same enemies we are fighting now. When the Russians left in defeat, they were defeated by the insurgents aided by the US. If we fought as allies this time instead of on opposite sides, we could learn from each others experiences. The terrain in Afghanistan has not changed and the enemy uses the same methods of ambush as before and has only recently added the use of IED's which method they have imported from the fighting in Iraq. Just think what we could accomplish with the US and Russia fighting the insurgents from the north and west and Pakistan attacking from the east. The insurgents would be surrounded. This could be our best chance for success.

Perfection

Walt — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:51:00 EDT

I have an idea for the perfect health care reform. You have an idea for the perfect health care reform. They have ideas for the perfect health care reform. Let's not let the yearning for the perfect get in the way of good health care reform. Once we have health care reform and we see how it is working, we can always make necessary changes.

Vote Nov 3 for the Democratic Statewide Judicial Candidates

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:16:42 EDT

We need your help on Election Day to keep PA Blue!

Download the PA Democratic Statewide Judicial Candidates Voter Guide at this link:

http://www.padems.com/Officials/Candidates/PA_Dems.pdf

US Constitution

Walt — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:03:52 EDT

There are 27 amendments to the US Constitution. When an elected official swears to preserve and protect and uphold the Constitution, he or she is swearing to preserve and protect and uphold all of it, not just those amendments favored by some voters, such as the 2nd and the 10th. The first amendment guarantees free speech and religion, the 14th makes you a citizen if you were born in the US, and the 16th added the income tax. The 18th instituted prohibition while the 21st repealed the 18th. The most recent amendment, the 27th, regulates the timing of increases in Congressional salaries.

To be given the honor of a Nobel winner...

Otto Holland — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:57:16 EDT

Congrats Mr. President. You are called many names but today, being called Nobel is truly honorable. Before your presidency is over, you will be known for more and better deeds.You are now in a unique situation as the world looks to you for leadership. Your plate is full, your duties immense but at the end of the day; we know you are human. Keep up the good work because humanity depends on it!

Passionate

Walt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:12:50 EDT

Last night, Keith Olbermann devoted the entire hour of Countdown to a passionate denunciation of health care insurers. I enjoyed every minute of it. If you play by the rules, you expect to be treated fairly. I was not treated fairly by my insurers and they keep changing the rules in their favor.

To be fair, the insurers are not the only problem with health care. There is big pharma overcharging for drugs; malpractice suits frequently over reward a few and neglect the many; records are archaic, and doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine. Please watch this special comment

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NEPUo_IcO8&feature=related

8 months

Walt — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:09:27 EDT

January 20 to September 26, 2009. The Obama presidency is only 8 months and a few days old, but it seems like forever. The Bush administration is a rapidly fading bad dream. If Barack had a honeymoon, it was certainly a short one. All the Republicans can do is make noise and delay, and that they are doing at full volume. Barack continues to make good decisions and great speeches. Soon the 2010 electioneering season will be upon us and it will be another 12 months of the same old right wing noise. The time is going to drag, but we can make use of it to reduce their numbers in Congress. The Republicans are counting on history to increase their numbers in Congress. Let's give them a big surprise.

Republican Metcalfe: Domestic violence a family value?

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:32:12 EDT

A simple resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican representing Butler. Why? Because, he said, “It has a homosexual agenda.”

On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding a domestic violence programs “a slap in the face to family values.”2 The bill passed despite his outrageous claim.

Until America Wakes Up!

Peter and Linda — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:17:03 EDT

While reflecting on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, I couldn't help but miss the "We're All Americans" spirit. There's a noticeable void, where once was a sense of unity and pride. Hence, I have made a a cognizant decision to rethink my support for various organizations, causes and charities.

I have sent notice, to many charities, of my decision to discontinue any further support. If people elect to act like "animals", then that's exactly how I'll view and treat them. After some forty years of monthly support for such organizations as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the American Red Cross, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and various local churches and charities, (just to mention a few that I've been extremely loyal to) each has been notified of my decision and all automatic monthly contributions have been discontinued immediately.

When we can once again come together as "Americans", as a respectful society, then and only then will I reconsider my position.

Regretfully,

Peter

Fairness

Walt — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:05:59 EDT

Some hedge fund owners/managers make as much as a billion dollars per year which is $500,000 per hour while the janitor who cleans their offices at night might make $10 per hour. The person who makes $500,000 per hour would not miss $10 per hour to double the janitor's wage to $20 per hour. After all, that would leave the hedge fund owner/manager with $499,990 per hour. Surely enough.

The hedge fund billionaire could surely spare $1000 per hour to give 50 breadwinners an additional $20 per hour and thus provide a more decent life for them and their families. If each family consisted of 3 people, 150 people would benefit from the hedge fund owner's generosity. As Barack told Joe the plumber, he wanted to spread the wealth around. The hedge fund billionaire would still be making $499,000 per hour. The question before us is, how many of us need to suffer to allow a few to live lavishly?

Letter from Senator Ted Kennedy to President Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:50:16 EDT

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _______________________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2009

Below is the text of the letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy referenced by the President in tonight's address to a Joint Session of Congress.

May 12, 2009

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to write a few final words to you to express my gratitude for your repeated personal kindnesses to me - and one last time, to salute your leadership in giving our country back its future and its truth. On a personal level, you and Michelle reached out to Vicki, to our family and me in so many different ways. You helped to make these difficult months a happy time in my life. You also made it a time of hope for me and for our country.

When I thought of all the years, all the battles, and all the memories of my long public life, I felt confident in these closing days that while I will not be there when it happens, you will be the President who at long last signs into law the health care reform that is the great unfinished business of our society.

For me, this cause stretched across decades; it has been disappointed, but never finally defeated. It was the cause of my life. And in the past year, the prospect of victory sustained me-and the work of achieving it summoned my energy and determination. There will be struggles - there always have been - and they are already underway again.

But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat - that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

And so because of your vision and resolve, I came to believe that soon, very soon, affordable health coverage will be available to all, in an America where the state of a family's health will never again depend on the amount of a family's wealth. And while I will not see the victory, I was able to look forward and know that we will - yes, we will - fulfill the promise of health care in America as a right and not a privilege.

In closing, let me say again how proud I was to be part of your campaign- and proud as well to play a part in the early months of a new era of high purpose and achievement. I entered public life with a young President who inspired a generation and the world. It gives me great hope that as I leave, another young President inspires another generation and once more on America's behalf inspires the entire world.

So, I wrote this to thank you one last time as a friend- and to stand with you one last time for change and the America we can become. At the Denver Convention where you were nominated, I said the dream lives on. And I finished this letter with unshakable faith that the dream will be fulfilled for this generation, and preserved and enlarged for generations to come.

With deep respect and abiding affection,

Ted

The President's Address to America's Schoolchildren

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:04:33 EDT

THE BRIEFING ROOM

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 8, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN A NATIONAL ADDRESS TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN

Wakefield High School
Arlington, Virginia

12:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat. How is everybody doing today? (Applause.) How about Tim Spicer? (Applause.) I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten through 12th grade. And I am just so glad that all could join us today. And I want to thank Wakefield for being such an outstanding host. Give yourselves a big round of applause. (Applause.)

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now -- (applause) -- with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived overseas. I lived in Indonesia for a few years. And my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday. But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning.

Now, as you might imagine, I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. And a lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and she'd say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster." (Laughter.)

So I know that some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now, I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked about responsibility a lot.

I've talked about teachers' responsibility for inspiring students and pushing you to learn.

I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and you get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the Xbox.

I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, and supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working, where students aren't getting the opportunities that they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world -- and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities, unless you show up to those schools, unless you pay attention to those teachers, unless you listen to your parents and grandparents and other adults and put in the hard work it takes to succeed. That's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education.

I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a great writer -- maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper -- but you might not know it until you write that English paper -- that English class paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor -- maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or the new medicine or vaccine -- but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice -- but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it.

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical-thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that -- if you quit on school -- you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.

Now, I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what it's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mom who had to work and who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us the things that other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and I felt like I didn't fit in.

So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been on school, and I did some things I'm not proud of, and I got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was -- I was lucky. I got a lot of second chances, and I had the opportunity to go to college and law school and follow my dreams. My wife, our First Lady Michelle Obama, she has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have a lot of money. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life -- what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home -- none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Neither of her parents had gone to college. But she worked hard, earned good grades, and got a scholarship to Brown University -- is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to becoming Dr. Jazmin Perez.

I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's had to endure all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer -- hundreds of extra hours -- to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind. He's headed to college this fall.

And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods in the city, she managed to get a job at a local health care center, start a program to keep young people out of gangs, and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.

And Jazmin, Andoni, and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They face challenges in their lives just like you do. In some cases they've got it a lot worse off than many of you. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their lives, for their education, and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same.

That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education -- and do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all young people deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, by the way, I hope all of you are washing your hands a lot, and that you stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work -- that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things.

The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject that you study. You won't click with every teacher that you have. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That's okay. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. J.K. Rowling's -- who wrote Harry Potter -- her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that's why I succeed."

These people succeeded because they understood that you can't let your failures define you -- you have to let your failures teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time. So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to act right. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. The same principle applies to your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right. You might have to read something a few times before you understand it. You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and that then allows you to learn something new. So find an adult that you trust -- a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor -- and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don't ever give up on yourself, because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.

It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and they founded this nation. Young people. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google and Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask all of you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a President who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?

Now, your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part, too. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down. Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all, don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
12:22 P.M. EDT

Support the Public Option Sign the Petition

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:08:27 EDT

Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Friday night, Keith Olbermann led his show talking about the PCCC's latest campaign:

"More than 200 former Obama staffers, 13,000 Obama volunteers, 23,000 Obama donors on a petition: A bill without a public option would not be 'change we can believe in.'"

And those numbers are increasing! All weekend, former Obama organizers are putting their skills to use -- calling and emailing other Obama organizers to get them involved in this campaign.

Will you add your voice to theirs -- and join the thousands of Obama voters, donors, and organizers who still believe we can defeat the insurance interests and bring real change to the health care system?

Please sign the petition at this link:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4951/content.jsp?content_KEY=2802&tag=pod_e2-non

Then, please forward this to friends. Time is of the essence. This Wednesday, President Obama will speak to Congress about his health care priorities.

We're making a national ad that will highlight the voices of former Obama staffers who want the public option -- and it will include the number of petition signers. So let's get the number as high as possible.

We need to make sure President Obama (and any White House staff urging him to capitulate) knows that the overwhelming majority of Americans want a public option -- and that includes those who worked hardest to get him elected. Can you add your name to the petition?

Thanks for being a bold progressive. -- Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Michael Snook, Evan Miller, Andrew Perez, and the PCCC team

http://boldprogressives.org/

Winning Elections

Walt — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:58:45 EDT

Winning Elections, Political Campaign Management, Strategy & Tactics edited by Ronald A. Faucheux is a collection of 129 articles by experts in the field of politics. Clearly written with insider details, I think that it is a great source of information for those of us who want to participate fully in the critical elections that loom in our near future.

Lithium-ion batteries

Walt — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:03:23 EDT

The largest source of lithium for lithium-ion batteries here in the US is Nevada. The world's largest known source of lithium is the Uyuni Desert in southwestern Bolivia. The lithium is found in salt brine in desert areas. Lithium is a key component in the batteries that will make hybrid and electric vehicles possible. We must NOT allow the oil companies to acquire stakes in lithium suppliers or battery technology which will compete with gasoline powered vehicles. They will stifle the new technology to maximize their profits from the old, greenhouse gases producing technology.

It's Time for Change!

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:05:28 EDT

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. speaks with Admin. Jackson and Sec. Donovan on the new green economy. Photo credit: Johnny Simon Green the Block Obama Administration officials and members of the Green the Block campaign discuss opportunities in the new green economy and announce their first major initiative.
Correspondence Video The President's position on health care insurance reform is informed by the ten letters he reads every day. Watch a behind-the-scenes video showing how these letters are chosen from the tens of thousands he receives daily.
White House Photo, Lawrence Jackson, 7/31/09 Weekly Address: The Economy & GDP 8-1-09 The President discusses the state of the economy amidst positive signs from the GDP. Recognizing that is little comfort to those struggling, he offers hope for the time ahead.

Health Insurance Consumer Protections Watch the President's remarks, or get the fact sheet on how 8 fundamental consumer protections in reform can bring you and your family peace of mind.

Correspondence Video The President's position on health care insurance reform is informed by the ten letters he reads every day. Watch a behind-the-scenes video showing how these letters are chosen from the tens of thousands he receives daily.

Let's go change the world...

It's time for Health Insurance Reform!

Consumer Protected Health Insurance

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:05:28 EDT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH, 2009 AT 5:59 PM

The President Highlights Health Insurance Consumer Protections

Posted by Katherine Brandon

Speaking to North Carolinians at a town hall in Raleigh, the President made clear why health reform will benefit all American: "if you’ve got health insurance, then the reform we’re proposing will also help you because it will provide you more stability and more security. Because the truth is we have a system today that works well for the insurance industry, but it doesn’t work well for you." We all know the horror stories, which is why the health insurance consumer protections that are part of reform are so important.

At the town hall, the President outlined these core principles: Let me be specific. We will stop insurance companies from denying you coverage because of your medical history. (Applause.) I've told this story before -- I will never forget watching my own mother, as she fought cancer in her final days, worrying about whether her insurer would claim her illness was a preexisting condition so they could wiggle out of paying for her coverage. How many of you have worried about the same thing? (Applause.) A lot of people have gone through this. Many of you have been denied insurance or heard of someone who was denied insurance because they got -- had a preexisting condition. That will no longer be allowed with reform. (Applause.) We won't allow that. (Applause.) We won't allow that.

With reform, insurance companies will have to abide by a yearly cap on how much you can be charged for your out-of-pocket expenses. No one in America should go broke because of an illness. (Applause.) We will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies -- (applause) -- eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illnesses that cost not only lives, but money. (Applause.) No longer will insurance companies be allowed to drop or water down coverage for someone who's become seriously ill. That's not right, it's not fair. (Applause.)

We will stop insurance companies from placing arbitrary caps on the coverage you can receive in a given year or in a lifetime. (Applause.) So my point is, whether or not you have health insurance right now, the reforms we seek will bring stability and security that you don't have today -- reforms that will become more urgent and more urgent with each passing year. So, in the end, the debate about reform boils down to a choice between two approaches. The first is projected to double your health care costs over the next decade, make millions more Americans uninsured, bankrupt state and federal governments, and allow insurance companies to run roughshod over consumers. That's one option. That's called the status quo. That's what we have right now. I want everybody to understand this. If we do nothing, I can almost guarantee you your premiums will double over the next 10 years because that's what they did over the last 10 years. It will go up three times faster than your wages, so a bigger and bigger chunk of your paycheck will be going into health insurance. It will eat into the possibility of you getting a raise on your job because your employer is going to be looking and saying, I can't afford to give you a raise because my health care costs just went up 10, 20, 30 percent. And Medicare, which seniors rely on, is going to become more and more vulnerable. On current projections, Medicare will be in the red in less than 10 years. So that's the status quo. When everybody goes around saying, why is Obama taking on health care -- that's the answer. That's one option. I don't like that option. You shouldn't either. (Applause.) That plan doesn't sound too good. That's the health care system we have right now. You can read more about the President’s eight health insurance consumer protections here, and figure out how reform will directly affect you and your family.

2010

Walt — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:03:30 EDT

The November 2010 election will be a challenge and an opportunity. It will be a challenge since the party out of power usually gains seats in Congress. It will be an opportunity to increase Democratic majorities and make Barack's change agenda easier to achieve. If the Republicans manage to hold their own, they will increase their obstruction and Barack will be able to do little in 2011 and 2012 as both parties jockey for position. The 2010 election is critical since we cannot afford to wait two more years for reforms.

My goal is to reduce the Republicans in Congress by 25%. I don't know the exact numbers in the House, but in the Senate that would be a reduction in the Republican ranks from 40 seats to 30. It will be difficult to achieve, but well worth the doing.

Consider the 2010 election as one of the 12 labors of Hercules: the cleaning of the Augean stables in one day. Hercules diverted a river to wash the stables clean. We must channel the desire for change on election day to further cleanse Congress of corruption and indifference to the well being of the majority. We began this process in 2006 and continued it in 2008. Many in Congress have still not gotten the message.

Stand With President Obama to Reduce Health Care Costs

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:42:14 EDT

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG THE BLOG

MONDAY, JULY 20TH, 2009 AT 2:30 PM "Not This Time" Posted by Jesse Lee

download .mp4 (89.5 MB) | read the transcript

This afternoon the President continued his conversation on health reform with a roundtable at the Children's National Medical Center, a conversation that has taken him to every region of the country and encompassed every imaginable perspective on health care reform. It has been a conversation that has brought more people and more stakeholders into the fold supporting strong reform than ever before, and taken us further down that road than ever before. And so it is no surprise, perhaps, that those who feel they would profit financially or politically have come out swinging furiously to try to kill reform.

Surrounded by those who heroically do everything they can to help the young and the ill, today the President made clear that whereas those special interests and their voices in Congress have stopped change in the past, they would not win this time: And over the past decade, premiums have doubled in America; out-of-pocket costs have shot up by a third; deductibles have continued to climb. And yet, even as America's families have been battered by spiraling health care costs, health insurance companies and their executives have reaped windfall profits from a broken system. Now, we've talked this problem to death, year after year. But unless we act -- and act now -- none of this will change.

Just a quick statistic I heard about this hospital: Just a few years ago, there were approximately 50,000 people coming into the emergency room. Now they've got 85,000. There's been almost a doubling of emergency room care in a relatively short span of time, which is putting enormous strains on the system as a whole. That's the status quo, and it's only going to get worse.

If we do nothing, then families will spend more and more of their income for less and less care. The number of people who lose their insurance because they've lost or changed jobs will continue to grow. More children will be denied coverage on account of asthma or a heart condition. Jobs will be lost, take-home pay will be lower, businesses will shutter, and we will continue to waste hundreds of billions of dollars on insurance company boondoggles and inefficiencies that add to our financial burdens without making us any healthier. So the need for reform is urgent and it is indisputable. No one denies that we're on an unsustainable path. We all know there are more efficient ways of doing it. We just -- I spoke to the chief information officer here at the hospital and he talked about some wonderful ways in which we could potentially gather up electronic medical records and information for every child not just that comes to this hospital but in the entire region, and how much money could be saved and how the health of these kids could be improved. But it requires an investment.

Now, there are some in this town who are content to perpetuate the status quo, are in fact fighting reform on behalf of powerful special interests. There are others who recognize the problem, but believe -- or perhaps, hope -- that we can put off the hard work of insurance reform for another day, another year, another decade. Just the other day, one Republican senator said -- and I'm quoting him now -- "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."

Think about that. This isn't about me. This isn't about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America's families, breaking America's businesses, and breaking America's economy. And we can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time. Not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake. There are too many families who will be crushed if insurance premiums continue to rise three times as fast as wages. There are too many businesses that will be forced to shed workers, scale back benefits, or drop coverage unless we get spiraling health care costs under control.
(President Barack Obama roundtable with health care providers at Children's Hospital, July 20, 2009.
Official White House Photograph by Pete Souza)

Life is a pre-existing condition

Walt — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:34:26 EDT

Most illnesses develop gradually over time. If you declare a pre-existing condition, health insurers will not cover you. If you do not declare a pre-existing condition, insurers will take your money and then try to prove that the condition was pre-existing when you submit a claim. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

In theory, insurance is the sharing of risks. Add a profit making company to the mix and insurance becomes an effort to pay as little as possible to maximize profit and to justify the enormous salaries insurance CEO's receive. I recently saw a list of some insurance company top executive salaries and the one that stuck in my mind was $17 million per year. Some were higher and some lower. To put that in perspective, $17 million is $8500.00 per hour. The President of the US makes $200 per hour and say you make $20 per hour.

It looks like this:

$8500.00 insurance CEO

$200.00 President of US

$20.00 you or I

If questioned about the huge salary, I am sure the insurance CEO would justify it by saying if he were not paid so much, he would not have kept insurance rates as low as they are and benefits would have been less. I neither accept nor believe that explanation. Do you believe it?

Pennsylvania Democratic Party State Committee Meeting June 5 - 6

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:30:03 EDT

Pennsylvania Democratic Party State Committee Meeting June 5 - 6

June 5-6, 2009
The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh

We still have tickets for the Inaugural Catherine Baker Knoll Dinner, scheduled for Friday, June 5th, available at PA Dems Party Headquarters and padems.com. Call Rachel Moore at 717-920-8470 to order by phone or click here to order your tickets online.Join Governor Ed Rendell, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Arlen Specter and PA Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney for what promises to be an unforgettable night honoring an unforgettable public servant.

And don't miss the FREE workshops on Friday afternoon. All workshops will be held in the Westmoreland Room and are open to all registered Democrats in Pennsylvania

2:00 PM - How to Manage Your Volunteers: Using the Voter File with Mark Sullivan, co-creator of Votebuilder
3:00 PM - Netroots Nation: Blogging and using social networks like Facebook
4:00 PM - Moving Forward: Party Building in 2009 and Beyond

For more information on the FREE PA Democratic Party workshops and to register visit this link: http://www.padems.com/committee/june09

Defintion of Health

Carole' G. Parker — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:25:49 EDT

Health is defined as the absence of illness. Is this what our "health care" system is designed to address? I don't think so.

Illness is defined as the absence of health. Our health care system is designed to fully capitalize on the fact that most of us will at some point not have health, rather we will become ill. Our illness may occur for a number of reasons including poor life style, stress, accidents, or just plain old "old age" where the body deteoriates over time.

Would you feel more comfortable if the system we had in place was designed to promote health or one that promotes illness?

What does the current "health care system" do? Does it promote health or respond in a reactionary manner to illness? What is in your best interest as a consumer of medical care?

by Carole G. Parker, Ph.D. May 26, 2009

A Personal Message for Obama Supporters from Judge Anne Lazarus-Vote May 19,2009

PA Field Team - Centre County Obama — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:40:15 EDT

A Personal Message for Obama Supporters from Judge Anne Lazarus

Democratic Candidate for Pennsylvania Superior Court – Vote Tuesday May 19,2009

My name is Anne Lazarus and I am a Democratic candidate for Superior Court. I'm asking for your support on May 19th.

I began my career as a judge nearly 20 years ago when I was appointed by Governor Robert P. Casey as a merit selection judge to the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. On the Court of Common Pleas, I have served as a judge in both the Criminal and Civil Divisions and currently on the Orphans’ Court. I remain as excited today about the opportunity to dispense justice fairly and equally as I was when I first joined the court.

For the past four years, I have served as Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, a role that requires me to provide guidance to judges throughout the Commonwealth on standards of ethical behavior as directed by the Code of Judicial Conduct. I am proud to say that no judge that has sought an advisory opinion from the committee, and has followed our advice, has ever been disciplined for misconduct.

As committed as I have been to the law, I have been equally committed to the community and volunteering. I have served as a board member of the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program and in 2006, the Pennsylvania Bar Association recognized my work with the first-ever Judicial Pro Bono Award. I also serve as an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, the National Judicial College, and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

I believe it was for all of these reasons that I was again given the Bar Association’s highest rating “Highly Recommended” for this campaign. They wrote that I am “intelligent, thoughtful, candid and scholarly, … and demonstrate superior writing ability, knowledge of the law and exceptional judicial temperament.” I am the only Democrat running for Superior Court who won the Bar’s highest rating.

I hope I can count on your vote on May 19th. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me at anne@lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org or 215-687-6348.

Thank you.

http://www.lazarusforsuperiorcourt.org/

Tax Cuts

Peg — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:13:10 EDT

Does anyone know if the tax cuts granted in April were rescinded? It was my understanding that they were permanent. For most of us it meant an additional $30 to $50 in our paychecks monthly....Our bookkeeper received a new "tax guide" and told us that the tax "breaks" would not continue???

Green Jobs & Recovery

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:32:41 EDT

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Recovery.gov

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis testifies before Senate HELP Committee on green job skills training Accountability and Transparency -

This is your money. You have a right to know where it's going and how it's being spent.

Learn what steps we're taking to conduct oversight of funds distributed under this law in order to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

Share your Story - Tell us how the Recovery Act is affecting you. What's working? What isn't? We want to hear from you.

State Progress and Resources -

Curious about the recovery progress in your state?

Learn more about statewide recovery efforts here.

Agency Progress and Resources - We're bringing transparency and accountability to all areas of government. Learn about Recovery investments and grant programs at government agencies and departments.

US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis testifies before Senate HELP Committee on green job skills training Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Secretary Solis testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions regarding green jobs skills training for workers.

Solis stated the promise of green jobs is not only to help re-start the economy and put Americans back to work, but also to help make America more energy independent.

DOL is developing plans for use of Recovery Act funding for research, labor exchange and job training projects that prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, and will soon issue solicitations for grant applications to be administered by ETA. The department has encouraged states to expand existing training programs that have the potential to prepare workers for careers in the renewable energy sectors and for other green jobs.

Read More @Recovery.gov

Easter Monday at the White House

Jill 4 Obama — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:18:38 EDT

President Obama at The White House Easter Egg Roll

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times President Obama during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House.

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm Egg Roll! If you have not been watching, be sure to check in on our coverage of the White House Easter Egg Roll. You can watch some of the best artists, story-tellers, chefs, and egg-rollers around on four separate live-streams, carrying on and expanding on the tradition established by President Bush. President Obama and the First Lady spoke to the happy crowd this morning: var params = { allowscriptaccess: "always", allowfullscreen: "true", wmode:"transparent"}; swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jxz0c8C8BI8&hl=en&fs=1&showinfo=0&showsearch=0", "flashcontent", "480", "295", "8", null, {}, params);

download .mp4 (24.8 Mb) | also available here

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody -- that's Malia, our technical advisor. (Laughter.) It is wonderful to see all of you today. Welcome. I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter. This is one of the greatest White House traditions because it reminds us that this is the people's house. And to see so many children out here having a great time just fills Michelle and myself and the entire family with a whole lot of joy. So I'm not really in charge here today. My sole job, in addition to thanking Fergie for that wonderful rendition of our National Anthem and thanking my buddy, the Easter Bunny, for being here, is to introduce my First Lady, your First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.) MRS. OBAMA: All right -- okay, it's working. Welcome everybody. I don't have much to say. I want to welcome you all to the 2009 White House Easter Egg Hunt. Yay! Our goal today is just to have fun. We want to focus on activity, healthy eating. We've got yoga, we've got dancing, we've got storytelling, we've got Easter egg decorating. Oh, we've got basketball -- (applause) -- a little soccer, as well. And we want everybody to think about moving their bodies, get out -- we don't have tennis; it's on the tennis court -- the peanut gallery back here. (Laughter.) So the goal today is to have fun, to get out and play. And let's get things started with the Easter Egg Roll. Thank you all for coming today. Have fun. Thanks so much. (Applause.)
(President Barack Obama smiles up at a young child in bunny ears as he shakes the hands of guests attending
the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday, April 13, 2009, on the South Lawn of the White House.
White House Photo/Pete Souza)

The President Obama Effect

Hiphop4Barack — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:15:41 EDT

The President Obama Effect is the story about the effect that the Obama campaign had on a group of community organizers in the "Battle Ground" state of Pennsylvania and a few of the young people that they mentor. Take a ride with members of "One HOOD" as they organize to stop the violence that has engulfed Pittsburgh's black community while they work hard to ensure that those same communities have the opportunity to have their voices heard at the polls.

The Obama Effect is not just another Documentary about President Barack Obama, It is a collection of diverse media created during the period of a few months prior to President Obama's announcement that he was running for President, right up until his historic Inauguration. The collection includes films, photography, audio, campaign memorabilia, newspapers, magazines and original art, there's even a blue Obama Terrible Towel from the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Spider Man/Obama comic book throw in for good measure!

"The aesthetics of the Obama campaign was unlike anything that I had witnessed before, the imagery was a thing of beauty. Then add the drama of the constant twists and turns and the political maneuverings, it all came together like the ultimate reality show. I was positively effected by the whole experience" - Paradise Gray

What "effect" did it have on you?

Please tell us your stories, share your photos and your video.www.PresidentObamaEffect.com

CALL TO ACTION! Tweet and email @SenArlenSpecter and tell him to support President Obama's Budget.

Hiphop4Barack — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:20:13 EDT

Operation tweet for change is underway. Below is a link to the action page on the League website, and the tinyurl below that is more tweet/g-status/etc friendly. Post it, tweet it, share it with everyone you know on facebook and ask them to:

1. Take action and contact Specter
2. Post/ tweet/ share it around and ask their friends to to do both things. In other words, lets take this viral with a little push. Tell them there will be a hotl video to follow up with tomorrow.

It is ESSENTIAL that you do this.

http://action.theleague.com/t/2608/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=743

http://tinyurl.com/cze2b5

This week, Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey will either vote to invest in green jobs, clean energy, 21st century schools, and college affordability OR they will vote to return to the failed policies that created the economic crisis we now face.

President Obama once said that his Presidential victory alone was not the change we seek; it is only a chance for us to make that change.

Today we can do our part to demand the change we need in Pennsylvania and the rest of America. Contact our elected leaders in Washington and declare your support for President Obama's budget plan:

Senator Arlen Specter: Senator Bob Casey:
Call (202) 224-4254 Call (202) 224-6324

Tweet @SenArlenSpecter

Be the change we have been waiting for and act today! Call or Twitter Senators Specter and Casey above, and send them a personal email @

http://action.theleague.com/t/2608/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=743

http://tinyurl.com/cze2b5

Whitehouse Blog, March 24, 2009

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:01:36 EDT

TUE, MARCH 24, 9:53 AM EST The President Calls NASA Astronauts

President Obama, joined by Congressional leaders and middle school students from the Washington, DC area, is currently calling to congratulate the astronauts on the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery on their successful ongoing mission.

WhiteHouse.gov/live.

UPDATE: The call has concluded.

TUE, MARCH 24, 8:58 AM EST

“A Time for Global Action”

With the G20 meeting approaching on April 2nd, this morning the President published a rare "simultaneous op-ed" in thirty papers around the world, calling for a collective effort to address the economic peril found in all corners of the globe. "The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose," he writes. His op-ed appeared in the following publications: Al Watan (Gulf States), Arab Times (Gulf States), Asharq Al Awsat (Arab-wide paper in Arabic), The Australian (Australia), Bangkok Post (Thailand), Chicago Tribune (United States), Clarin (Argentina), Corriere della Sera (Italy), Die Welt (Germany), El Pais (Madrid), El Mercurio (Chile), Eleftyropiea (Greece), Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil), Gulf News (Gulf States), The Hindustan Times/ The Hindu (India), International Herald Tribune (London), Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark), Le Monde (Paris), Lidove Noviny (Czech), Los Angeles Times (United States), The News (Pakistan), NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands), Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia), South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), Straits Times (Singapore), Sunday Times (South Africa), Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden), Syndey Morning Herald (Australia), WProst (Poland), Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan) The President calls for a coordinated approach to three central issues, namely the need to "stimulate growth" (pointing to the Recovery Act as an example); the need to "restore the credit that businesses and consumers depend upon" including an "honest assessment of the balance sheets of our major banks" (pointing to the plans laid out yesterday); and extending "a hand to countries and people who face the greatest risk" to help emerging economies remain stable and avoid plunging the global economy into deeper trouble. The President closes with a broader vision: While these actions can help get us out of crisis, we cannot settle for a return to the status quo. We must put an end to the reckless speculation and spending beyond our means; to the bad credit, over-leveraged banks and absence of oversight that condemns us to bubbles that inevitably bust. Only coordinated international action can prevent the irresponsible risk-taking that caused this crisis. That is why I am committed to seizing this opportunity to advance comprehensive reforms of our regulatory and supervisory framework. All of our financial institutions -- on Wall Street and around the globe -- need strong oversight and common sense rules of the road. All markets should have standards for stability and a mechanism for disclosure. A strong framework of capital requirements should protect against future crises. We must crack down on offshore tax havens and money laundering. Rigorous transparency and accountability must check abuse, and the days of out-of-control compensation must end. Instead of patchwork efforts that enable a race to the bottom, we must provide the clear incentives for good behavior that foster a race to the top. I know that America bears our share of responsibility for the mess that we all face. But I also know that we need not choose between a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism and an oppressive government-run economy. That is a false choice that will not serve our people or any people.

Come on voters and taxpayers lets revolt against AIG!

Arthur Long Precinct Delegation Chair and Capt for *Precinct 0372* Houston, TX — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:55:52 EDT

Hello fellow voters,

Call your insurance agent and change your policy form AIG to another carrier (Probably better to pick a respectable mutual insurance company, ex.. Guardian, Mass Mutual, Northwestern Mutual, New York Life). AIG is not going to apologize or correct their misuse of our tax dollars, unless we lower their amount of the policies in force dollars. So, if you are really upset change your policy, I don't care if its life, long-term care, short and long term disability, auto, or health insurance. Just hit them where it works and let’s ask the President to put a special tax on AIG and or request for all our money back. Let’s make an example out of AIG, to set a standard for all other financial and non-financial firms.

Please people lets use common sense when changing your policy, make sure you apply, get the underwriters acceptance, and the in-force policy with the final policy letter, then cancel your AIG policy. This process should take 20 to 30 days.

Sincerely,

A disgruntle taxpayer.

Vote for an Obama-Maniac

Paul "Sluggo" Shelly Jr. — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:35:26 EST

Dear Friends,

It has been a long time since I blogged the MYBO. I had a serious illness that I just recently recovered from. It's all good now but was scary for a while.

I am seeking re-election to my City Council seat in McKeesport. I hope to continue to share Barack's message of hope and positive change to the city I love.

If you could, please vote for me in a current online poll. You don't have to be a Mckeesport resident to vote, just someone who wants more people with shared vision elected:

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/mckeesport-pa/T1PT5SBHEEJH9BS89

You can read up on me at www.paulshelly.com

If you have any friends in Mckeesport, please put in a good workd for me.

We did it folks. We "shook up the world!" !

Better days are ahead.

Peace.

Paul

This is the "change" we voted for!!!

Peter and Linda — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:20:11 EST

President Obama's plan ... Read it ...Understand it ... Support it.

Please be open-minded and, by all means, use some common sense. Try NOT to be like the arrogant, ignorant conservative right. They say "no" before they even look at the plan or care about what's best for the American people or what we voted for in November. Their only concern is to attempt to rescue their broken, sad party and ... to hell with the average citizen and what's best for all of us. If they want to say no and display contempt for all of us, we can start from now to send them a clearer message in the next elections, when they lose more seats in the House and the Senate. They want to punish us ... we will PUNISH them. Then, just maybe, they'll start to understand that we voted for change and "we want change" ... PERIOD!

This is the change we voted for. President Obama has done his part, now we need to do ours.

Twitter- Know Your Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:56:12 EST

TWITTER

KnowYourObama

Following

You follow KnowYourObama
KnowYourObama's updates

Obama is getting out of the bubble. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...21 minutes ago

HOPE

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
- Emily Dickinson

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

The Quickest and Broadest Tax Cut Ever

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:28:04 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Saturday, February 21st, 2009 at 5:00 am The quickest and broadest tax cut ever Two important takeaways from the President's Weekly Address this morning.

#1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will start having an impact as soon as a few weeks from now, in the form of the quickest and broadest tax cut in history:

"Because of what we did, 95% of all working families will get a tax cut -- in keeping with a promise I made on the campaign. And I’m pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks -- meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans."
#2, once the economy has recovered and we’ve laid the groundwork for a sustainable future, the President is committed to taking on the massive deficits we inherited:

"That work begins on Monday, when I will convene a fiscal summit of independent experts and unions, advocacy groups and members of Congress to discuss how we can cut the trillion-dollar deficit that we’ve inherited. On Tuesday, I will speak to the nation about our urgent national priorities, and on Thursday, I’ll release a budget that’s sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and that lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don’t, and restoring fiscal discipline."
Watch the full address and read the text below.

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White House photo 2/20/09 by Pete Souza

SATURDAY, February 21, 2009
WEEKLY ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE NATION

THE PRESIDENT: Earlier this week, I signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- the most sweeping economic recovery plan in history. Because of this plan, 3.5 million Americans will now go to work doing the work that America needs done.

I'm grateful to Congress, governors and mayors across the country, and to all of you whose support made this critical step possible.

Because of what we did together, there will now be shovels in the ground, cranes in the air, and workers rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, and repairing our faulty levees and dams.

Because of what we did, companies -- large and small -- that produce renewable energy can now apply for loan guarantees and tax credits and find ways to grow, instead of laying people off; and families can lower their energy bills by weatherizing their homes.

Because of what we did, our children can now graduate from 21st century schools and millions more can do what was unaffordable just last week -- and get their college degree.

Because of what we did, lives will be saved and health care costs will be cut with new computerized medical records.

Because of what we did, there will now be police on the beat, firefighters on the job, and teachers preparing lesson plans who thought they would not be able to continue pursuing their critical missions. And ensure that all of this is done with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability, I have assigned a team of managers to make sure that precious tax dollars are invested wisely and well.

Because of what we did, 95 percent of all working families will get a tax cut -- in keeping with a promise I made on the campaign. And I'm pleased to announce that this morning, the Treasury Department began directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks -- meaning that by April 1st, a typical family will begin taking home at least $65 more every month. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans.

But as important as it was that I was able to sign this plan into law, it is only a first step on the road to economic recovery. And we can't fail to complete the journey. That will require stemming the spread of foreclosures and falling home values, and doing all we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes, which is exactly what the housing plan I announced last week will help us do.

It will require stabilizing and repairing our banking system, and getting credit flowing again to families and businesses. It will require reforming the broken regulatory system that made this crisis possible, and recognizing that it's only by setting and enforcing 21st century rules of the road that we can build a thriving economy.

And it will require doing all we can to get exploding deficits under control as our economy begins to recover. That work begins on Monday, when I will convene a fiscal summit of independent experts and unions, advocacy groups and members of Congress, to discuss how we can cut the trillion-dollar deficit that we've inherited. On Tuesday, I will speak to the nation about our urgent national priorities. And on Thursday, I'll release a budget that's sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't, and restoring fiscal discipline.

No single piece of this broad economic recovery can, by itself, meet the demands that have been placed on us. We can't help people find work or pay their bills unless we unlock credit for families and businesses. We can't solve our housing crisis unless we help people find work so that they can make payments on their homes. We can't produce shared prosperity without firm rules of the road, and we can't generate sustained growth without getting our deficits under control. In short, we cannot successfully address any of our problems without addressing them all. And that is exactly what the strategy we are pursuing is designed to do.

None of this will be easy. The road ahead will be long and full of hazards. But I am confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overcome this crisis. And if we do, our economy -- and our country -- will be better and stronger for it.

Thank you.

New Accountability Site- Recovery.gov

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:22:00 EST

privacy policy | download .mp4 | also available here The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be carried out with full transparency and accountability -- and Recovery.gov is the centerpiece of that effort. In a short video, President Obama describes the site and talks about how you'll be able to track the Recovery Act's progress every step of the way. Accountability and Transparency This is your money. You have a right to know where it's going and how it's being spent. Learn what steps we're taking to ensure you can track our progress every step of the way.

Learn More Share your Recovery Story Tell us how the Recovery Act is affecting you. What's working? What isn't? We want to hear from you.

Share your Story
Where is Your Money Going?

* Learn More
Welcome to Recovery.govRecovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. There are going to be a few different ways to search for information. The money is being distributed by Federal agencies, and soon you'll be able to see where it's going -- to which states, to which congressional districts, even to which Federal contractors. As soon as we are able to, we'll display that information visually in maps, charts, and graphics.

On Our Way: Read the Bill The President recently signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. Read the full bill here.

Timeline - Milestones at a Glance

President Barack Obama, First Press Conference

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:44:45 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 8:10 pm

President Obama is holding his first press conference. You can watch it streaming at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

He opened up with some brief remarks, which you can read in full (as prepared for delivery) below.

OPENING REMARKS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA -- AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
First Presidential Press Conference
East Room, The White House
Monday, February 9th, 2009

Good evening. Before I take your questions tonight, I’d like to speak briefly about the state of our economy and why I believe we need to put this recovery plan in motion as soon as possible.

I took a trip to Elkhart, Indiana today. Elkhart is a place that has lost jobs faster than anywhere else in America. In one year, the unemployment rate went from 4.7% to 15.3%. Companies that have sustained this community for years are shedding jobs at an alarming speed, and the people who’ve lost them have no idea what to do or who to turn to. They can’t pay their bills and they’ve stopped spending money. And because they’ve stopped spending money, more businesses have been forced to lay off more workers. Local TV stations have started running public service announcements that tell people where to find food banks, even as the food banks don’t have enough to meet the demand.

As we speak, similar scenes are playing out in cities and towns across the country. Last Monday, more than 1,000 men and women stood in line for 35 firefighter jobs in Miami. Last month, our economy lost 598,000 jobs, which is nearly the equivalent of losing every single job in the state of Maine. And if there’s anyone out there who still doesn’t believe this constitutes a full-blown crisis, I suggest speaking to one of the millions of Americans whose lives have been turned upside down because they don’t know where their next paycheck is coming from.

That is why the single most important part of this Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the fact that it will save or create up to 4 million jobs. Because that is what America needs most right now.

It is absolutely true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or economic growth. That is and must be the role of the private sector. But at this particular moment, with the private sector so weakened by this recession, the federal government is the only entity left with the resources to jolt our economy back to life. It is only government that can break the vicious cycle where lost jobs lead to people spending less money which leads to even more layoffs. And breaking that cycle is exactly what the plan that’s moving through Congress is designed to do.

When passed, this plan will ensure that Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own can receive greater unemployment benefits and continue their health care coverage. We will also provide a $2,500 tax credit to folks who are struggling to pay the cost of their college tuition, and $1000 worth of badly-needed tax relief to working and middle-class families. These steps will put more money in the pockets of those Americans who are most likely to spend it, and that will help break the cycle and get our economy moving.

But as we learned very clearly and conclusively over the last eight years, tax cuts alone cannot solve all our economic problems – especially tax cuts that are targeted to the wealthiest few Americans. We have tried that strategy time and time again, and it has only helped lead us to the crisis we face right now.

That is why we have come together around a plan that combines hundreds of billions in tax cuts for the middle-class with direct investments in areas like health care, energy, education, and infrastructure – investments that will save jobs, create new jobs and new businesses, and help our economy grow again – now and in the future.

More than 90% of the jobs created by this plan will be in the private sector. These will not be make-work jobs, but jobs doing the work that America desperately needs done. Jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, and repairing our dangerously deficient dams and levees so that we don’t face another Katrina. They will be jobs building the wind turbines and solar panels and fuel-efficient cars that will lower our dependence on foreign oil, and modernizing a costly health care system that will save us billions of dollars and countless lives. They’ll be jobs creating 21st century classrooms, libraries, and labs for millions of children across America. And they’ll be the jobs of firefighters, teachers, and police officers that would otherwise be eliminated if we do not provide states with some relief.

After many weeks of debate and discussion, the plan that ultimately emerges from Congress must be big enough and bold enough to meet the size of the economic challenge we face right now. It is a plan that is already supported by businesses representing almost every industry in America; by both the Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. It contains input, ideas, and compromises from both Democrats and Republicans. It also contains an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability, so that every American will be able to go online and see where and how we’re spending every dime. What it does not contain, however, is a single pet project, and it has been stripped of the projects members of both parties found most objectionable.

Despite all of this, the plan is not perfect. No plan is. I can’t tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope, but I can tell you with complete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans. My administration inherited a deficit of over $1 trillion, but because we also inherited the most profound economic emergency since the Great Depression, doing too little or nothing at all will result in an even greater deficit of jobs, incomes; and confidence. That is a deficit that could turn a crisis into a catastrophe. And I refuse to let that happen. As long as I hold this office, I will do whatever it takes to put this country back to work.

I want to thank the members of Congress who’ve worked so hard to move this plan forward, but I also want to urge all members of Congress to act without delay in the coming week to resolve their differences and pass this plan.

We find ourselves in a rare moment where the citizens of our country and all countries are watching and waiting for us to lead. It is a responsibility that this generation did not ask for, but one that we must accept for the sake of our future and our children’s. The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate, but they endure when people of every background and belief find a way to set aside smaller differences in service of a greater purpose. That is the test facing the United States of America in this winter of our hardship, and it is our duty as leaders and citizens to stay true to that purpose in the weeks and months ahead. After a day of speaking with and listening to the fundamentally decent men and women who call this nation home, I have full faith and confidence that we can. And with that, I’ll take your questions.

Compromise

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:24:11 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 5:00 am Compromise There was bad news and then there was good news.

Yesterday we learned that in January, the country suffered its largest one-month job loss in 34 years.

But last night, the Senate struck a compromise on the economic recovery plan and put us on our way to giving the economy the short-term jolt and long-term investments it needs.

"Americans across this country are struggling, and they are watching to see if we're equal to the task before us," the President says in this morning's Weekly Address. "Let's show them that we are."

Watch the President's address and read the full text below.

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privacy policy | download .mp4 | also available here

REMARKS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
WEEKLY ADDRESS
The White House
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Yesterday began with some devastating news with regard to our economic crisis. But I'm pleased to say it ended on a more positive note.

In the morning, we received yet another round of alarming employment figures – the worst in more than 30 years. Another 600,000 jobs were lost in January. We've now lost more than 3.6 million jobs since this recession began.

But by the evening, Democrats and Republicans came together in the Senate and responded appropriately to the urgency this moment demands.

In the midst of our greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people were hoping that Congress would begin to confront the great challenges we face. That was, after all, what last November's election was all about.

Legislation of such magnitude deserves the scrutiny that it's received over the last month, and it will receive more in the days to come. But we can't afford to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary. The scale and scope of this plan is right. And the time for action is now.

Because if we don't move swiftly to put this plan in motion, our economic crisis could become a national catastrophe. Millions of Americans will lose their jobs, their homes, and their health care. Millions more will have to put their dreams on hold.

Let's be clear: We can't expect relief from the tired old theories that, in eight short years, doubled the national debt, threw our economy into a tailspin, and led us into this mess in the first place. We can't rely on a losing formula that offers only tax cuts as the answer to all our problems while ignoring our fundamental economic challenges – the crushing cost of health care or the inadequate state of so many schools; our addiction to foreign oil or our crumbling roads, bridges, and levees.

The American people know that our challenges are great. They don't expect Democratic solutions or Republican solutions – they expect American solutions.

From the beginning, this recovery plan has had at its core a simple idea: Let's put Americans to work doing the work America needs done. It will save or create more than 3 million jobs over the next two years, all across the country – 16,000 in Maine, nearly 80,000 in Indiana – almost all of them in the private sector, and all of them jobs that help us recover today, and prosper tomorrow.

Jobs that upgrade classrooms and laboratories in 10,000 schools nationwide – at least 485 in Florida alone – and train an army of teachers in math and science.

Jobs that modernize our health care system, not only saving us billions of dollars, but countless lives.

Jobs that construct a smart electric grid, connect every corner of the country to the information superhighway, double our capacity to generate renewable energy, and grow the economy of tomorrow.

Jobs that rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges and levees and dams, so that the tragedies of New Orleans and Minneapolis never happen again.

It includes immediate tax relief for our struggling middle class in places like Ohio, where 4.5 million workers will receive a tax cut of up to $1,000. It protects health insurance and provides unemployment insurance for those who've lost their jobs. And it helps our states and communities avoid painful tax hikes or layoffs for our teachers, nurses, and first responders.

That's what is at stake with this plan: putting Americans back to work, creating transformative economic change, and making a down payment on the American Dream that serves our children and our children's children for generations to come.

Americans across this country are struggling, and they are watching to see if we're equal to the task before us. Let's show them that we are. And let's do whatever it takes to keep the promise of America alive in our time.

Thank you.

Let's Start Brand New Banks: A clean slate would keep TARP money away from bad banks.

David — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:28:43 EST

By PAUL ROMER, Wall Street Journal, 6 Feb 2009

Everyone agrees that the United States urgently needs a few good banks. Turning bad banks into good banks is a difficult and risky way to get them. It's simpler and safer to start entirely new banks.

In this context, "good" means a bank with assets and liabilities that are easy to value using market prices. At a good bank, officers, regulators and investors can be confident about the value of the bank's capital.

The government has $350 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds that it can use to encourage new bank lending. If this money is directed to newly created good banks with pristine balance sheets, it could support $3.5 trillion in new lending with a modest 9-to-1 leverage. Right out of the gate, the newly created banks could do what the Fed has already been doing -- buying pools of loans originated by existing banks that meet high underwriting standards.

If the TARP funds go to existing banks, much of them will end up stuck in financial institutions that are still bad after the transfer. We know from the previous round of TARP that giving more capital to bad banks generates very little net new lending.

Proposals for turning existing banks into good banks -- recapitalizing them, nationalizing them, transferring the toxic assets off their balance sheets, or insuring the toxic assets -- require prices for all these hard-to-value assets or, worse still, prices for derivative contracts on the toxic assets. (Calling the derivatives "insurance" doesn't make them any easier to price.) Without reliable market prices for the hard-to-value assets, any proposal for turning bad banks into good banks could lead to huge transfers of wealth between taxpayers and bank shareholders.

If the government lets new banks provide the new lending that the economy needs, it could return to clearly stated and familiar policies for bank regulation. The government could announce that it will not invest any new capital in a troubled bank that it hasn't yet taken over. Nor will it offer troubled banks any transfers or implicit subsidies. It can stick to a policy of assigning accurate values to assets as new information comes in. It can follow the usual FDIC procedures for protecting depositors and taxpayers and for deciding when to take over a distressed bank, and managing careful workouts that avoid the turmoil that a Lehman-style bankruptcy proceeding can cause.

With a return to a clearly articulated and familiar pattern of bank regulation, investors from the private sector could invest in the banking sector without fear that they will be competing with zombie banks that receive ongoing subsidies and transfers from taxpayers. Provided that the government accelerates the approval process, investors from the private sector can quickly create the new banks that the government backs. Over time, they can also buy the government's shares in these banks. Investors from the private sector can also invest in existing banks that truly are good banks.

The government should move first and signal unambiguously that new banks with at least $350 billion worth of capital will enter the market quickly. Over time, the private sector will deliver on this commitment. The government's role is merely to act as a temporary bridge.

There are, to be sure, risks of political interference from government involvement in banking, but all of the current proposals for increasing lending require more government involvement. The challenge is to find one that increases lending and does the least harm.

If the government starts as a shareholder in new, healthy banks that eventually end up entirely in the hands of the private sector, the political risks start small and diminish. If instead the government combines open-ended and opaque financial support for troubled banks with promises of tight supervision and punishment for bad behavior, the risks are large and grow over time.

The brewing backlash against the existing players from the financial sector is almost certain to burn hotter as the recession wears on, and new election campaigns get underway. If the new administration ties its fate to the existing players, it could lose its room to maneuver on countercyclical policy and be put under political pressure to intervene in bank decisions in ever more intrusive ways.

Because they can and will borrow, new banks will be much more effective in leveraging TARP funds. They will undertake more total lending, bring more trading to financial markets, and do more to limit the depth of the recession. As a result, investing the TARP funds in new banks will do more to help the troubled but potentially viable existing banks than giving funds directly to them.

Banks that are not viable, the ones with liabilities that substantially exceed their assets, will lobby vociferously against a return to historical patterns of bank regulation. They will say anything to postpone a looming FDIC takeover. The administration should not listen to threats and pleas from these doomed banks. It does not have to rely on them to get new lending going quickly and on a large scale. New entrants could give us a few good banks. That, plus an FDIC that can do its job, is all we need.

Mr. Romer is a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

Our Defining Moment

Hiphop4Barack — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:35:19 EST

Jasiri X is a Dope M.C.!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czDcBivYkH8

The Season Finale of This Week With Jasiri X, Season 2

Each Episode Of "This Week With Jasiri X" features Your Hip-hop News Anchor Jasiri X reporting the National news over the hottest beats.

For weeks Jasiri X has provided a rapidly growing internet audience with a most creative and interesting delivery of the weekly news. Using lyrical skills, controversial subject matter, and phat beats, Jasiri X shows and proves that real Hip-hop is not in the least bit dead.

Chuck D of Public Enemy once boldly declared that "Hip-hop was the CNN of the ghetto", no artist has better embraced and embodied that concept than Jasiri X.

Jobs in All 50 States

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:13:54 EST

THE BRIEFING ROOM • THE BLOG
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 at 4:03 pm Jobs in all 50 states Economic adviser Brian Deese was part of the team that assembled an analysis of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will create jobs in all 50 states. In a guest blog post, he explains.

You've probably heard a lot about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. And you may have heard the President or members of his economic team say that this plan will save or create 3 to 4 million jobs over the next two years. Maybe you wondered where that number comes from. Well, it's from a study by Christina Romer, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist to the Vice-President. Their analysis has been confirmed by outside experts including the forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisers and Moody's.

Jumpstarting job growth is the top priority of the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Construction jobs to rebuild our nation's crumbling infrastructure*....technology jobs to bring put medical records online and lower health care costs while reducing medical errors...engineering jobs to modernize federal buildings and save billions in annual energy costs...jobs equipping our schools and colleges so the country's best young minds have a place to grow...and jobs laying broadband lines so a business in rural America can compete with any other business in the world.

The plan will create jobs in all 50 states, in industries across the spectrum. Over 90% of the jobs created will be in the private sector. We put together a fact sheet to show you, state-by-state, just how many jobs the plan aims to create.

But no matter what state you live in, with 2.6 million jobs lost last year and our economic crisis deepening, we can't afford to delay any longer.

*Just a couple of weeks ago, the American Society of Civil Engineers Report Card for America's Infrastructure issued an overall grade of D. From Katrina to the Minnesota bridge collapse, our nation's failure to take this infrastructure crisis seriously is blatant, and unacceptable. By making long overdue investments in our roads, bridges, transit, ports, and air security, this plan will put people back to work while making our nation safer and more prosperous in the future.

Time For Us All To Win: A Young Girl's Poem

Kamana — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:29:36 EST

This was written by my 10-year-old niece, a budding poet and writer, and a HUGE Obama supporter...

A Poem on Racial Tolerance

By Sathya Baskaran

My name is Sathya and I’m ten years old,

Some say I’m different but it’s not as it’s told.

Even though I’m Indian I am pretty much the same,

And I shouldn’t feel regret, nor should I feel shame.

Prejudice is being left behind;

This is the time for everyone to shine.

Though some may laugh and some may sneer,

There shouldn’t be anger and there shouldn’t be fear.

The only problem is with people who don’t know

That we’re past the time for people to be low

Because of where they’re from or the color of their skin,

This is the time for us all to win!

I have felt injustice from people like that

Who care if you’re thin or think that you’re fat

But people like that don’t know what’s true

And that’s the person inside of you!

I am EXTREMELY glad Obama won the election. Since he’s African American, and there was prejudice against African Americans (and there still is some!) more people will accept that we ALL DESERVE THE SAME! Just because we look different doesn’t mean we have to separate ourselves into categories. Religion, culture, where you’re from– it doesn’t matter! It’s character that counts!YAY OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Historic Whistle Stop Tour: Philadelphia To Washington

EsquireUK — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:01:34 EST

Wednesday, 7th January 2009

Washington, D.C.

www.change.gov

Wednesday, 7th January 2009

Whistle Stop Tour: Special Guest Mark Dowell

When President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden take their historic train ride from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. on January 17th, they will be riding in the company of everyday Americans who have been invited to make the journey based off their extraordinary stories. This is one of those stories.

www.change.gov

Mark Dowell is a second-generation Ford Motors employee. He and his wife Melinda both work at the Ford plant in Louisville, Kentucky, a few miles from their town. He’s a University of Kentucky fan, while she roots for Louisville.

The Dowells live in Crestwood, a small rural community, less than four miles square, with a few thousand residents. It was the highest ranked city in Kentucky on a recent list of the “Best Places to Live in America.“ Yet despite their homey surroundings, 2008 was a turbulent year for the Dowells, just as it was for millions of Americans.

Melinda lost her job early in the summer and was called back to work just three weeks ago, after six months of unemployment. They are among the thousands of Ford employees coping with rotating layoffs and the possible shutdown of the local plant.

Yet, despite these challenges, Mark is hopeful about the next four years:

The economy took a toll not just on me but on my extended family too. But this is definitely the man that can get us back on track.

Mark, Melinda and their two daughters will have the experience of a lifetime, as they join the President-elect and Vice President-elect on the train ride to our nation’s capital.

Says Mark:

We’re still stunned by it. I’m very honored to meet the President-elect and Vice President-elect, and to be a part of history right as it’s taking place. To ride the train into Washington, D.C. with them is really an honor.

The Dowells will join a number of other guests invited by the President-elect and Vice President-elect which together represent the diversity of our country and the different life experience of the Americans who make up our great country.

www.change.gov

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 19, 2009

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:06:10 EST

Make it a Day On... Not a Day Off!

During the 1950s and ’60s, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals.

Initiated by Congress in 1994, King Day of Service builds on that that legacy by transforming the federal holiday honoring Dr. King into a national day of community service grounded in his teachings of nonviolence and social justice.

The aim is to make the holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned.

With thousands of projects planned across the country, the 2009 King Day of Service on January 19 promises to be the biggest and best ever!

President-Elect Obama - Holiday Radio Address

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:31:55 EST

English and Spanish. Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama
Holiday Radio Address
December 27, 2008

Good morning. This week, Americans are gathering with family and friends across the country to celebrate the blessings of Christmas and the holiday season.

As we celebrate this joyous time of year, our thoughts turn to the brave men and women who serve our country far from home. Their extraordinary and selfless sacrifice is an inspiration to us all, and part of the unbroken line of heroism that has made our freedom and prosperity possible for over two centuries.

Many troops are serving their second, third, or fourth tour of duty. And we are reminded that they are more than dedicated Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard – they are devoted fathers and mothers; husbands and wives; sons and daughters; and sisters and brothers.

This holiday season, their families celebrate with a joy that is muted knowing that a loved one is absent, and sometimes in danger. In towns and cities across America, there is an empty seat at the dinner table; in distant bases and on ships at sea, our servicemen and women can only wonder at the look on their child’s face as they open a gift back home.

Our troops and military families have won the respect and gratitude of their broader American family. Michelle and I have them in our prayers this Christmas, and we must all continue to offer them our full support in the weeks and months to come. .

These are also tough times for many Americans struggling in our sluggish economy. As we count the higher blessings of faith and family, we know that millions of Americans don’t have a job. Many more are struggling to pay the bills or stay in their homes. From students to seniors, the future seems uncertain.

That is why this season of giving should also be a time to renew a sense of common purpose and shared citizenship. Now, more than ever, we must rededicate ourselves to the notion that we share a common destiny as Americans – that I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper. Now, we must all do our part to serve one another; to seek new ideas and new innovation; and to start a new chapter for our great country.

That is the spirit that will guide my Administration in the New Year. If the American people come together and put their shoulder to the wheel of history, then I know that we can put our people back to work and point our country in a new direction. That is how we will see ourselves through this time of crisis, and reach the promise of a brighter day.

After all, that is what Americans have always done.

232 years ago, when America was newly born as a nation, George Washington and his Army faced impossible odds as they struggled to free themselves from the grip of an empire.

It was Christmas Day—December 25th, 1776 – that they fought through ice and cold to make an improbable crossing of the Delaware River. They caught the enemy off guard, won victories in Trenton and Princeton, and gave new momentum to a beleaguered Army and new hope to the cause of Independence.

Many ages have passed since that first American Christmas. We have crossed many rivers as a people. But the lessons that have carried us through are the same lessons that we celebrate every Christmas season—the same lessons that guide us to this very day: that hope endures, and that a new birth of peace is always possible.

President Obama Please!!!

Randy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:28:47 EST

Please raise all taxes and tariffs on all imported cars, planes, and trains everything this is the only thing that will give our Country a chance. Think about it the Japanees live on an island and there running our auto industry (if it smells like fish it must be fish). Other countries treat there people like s----- and we reward then by buying there products. Just the taxes that we would get would get us out of this recession. I BELIEVE that other countries would pay and pay to be able to sell over here but we better do something before we lose all of our buying power.

Merry Christmas

Randy

Remember there watching you or should I say us!!!!!

Randy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:57:38 EST

All I got to say is that Obama has to be real carefull I feel that there are very evil people out there and if he tries to take away there money they will try to get rid of him. They may try to drum up some kind of stupid charges or even worse. I honestly believe they allowed him to be president just to satisfy our needs. So that they can keep our attention off of whats really going on and for all we know Obama, Clinton and the whole bunch may already be apart of the grand plan. And for those of you who haven't figured it out yet the biggest transfer of wealth went on right in front of our eyes while we were watching Obama they raised the price of a barrell of oil to 150.00 dollars and spent trillions of dolllars. Foriegn companies gave suit cases of money to people in our goverment for u.s. contracts. Our most secret plans and weapons are already in the hands of our enemies. Our banking system is the most corrupt in the world we are spending money we don't even have wait till the Chinees and the Japanees find out that we couldn't pay them back even if we wanted to. Lets just say they think were on the up and up and they really think we can pay them back and then something happens and they want there money and there is none. Then what? WORLD WAR (3). AND OUT THE WAR COMES THE NEW WORLD ORDER A ONE WORLD ONE GOVERMENT WORLD. But at the end of it all untill we get rid of greed and we fix the hunger problem we will always have problems. When you really think about it all you need is love and if the people of this crazy world could come together and take care of each other so that all men no matter what color there skin is could have a home a means for feeding there families. When you really think about it why do we need borders why do we care about what we look like we are all Gods children no matter what you call him whether you believe in religion or mother nature it doesn't really matter does it. We got to get rid of money it is the root of all evil.

WOW WHAT A MOUTHFULL!!!! WELL YOU GUYS PROBABLY THINK I'M CRAZY BUT HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS ANYWAY!!! AND TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ABOUT.

Obama please find out where our money went!!!

Randy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:53:05 EST

Remember a year or two ago they said that they lost 100 million dollars of re-costrustion money in transport from here to Iraq. After you are sworn into office Sen. Obama I would like you to create a website where the general public can go and find out where we are spending our tax dollars. We as Americans have a right to know. I saw on the news the other day that a German company called Seimans I'm not sure if that is spelled right was found guilty and had to pay a bunch of money in fines for bribeing people with suitcases of money to get goverment contracts. Who are these people? All I'm trying to say is that in the last decade our goverment has spent trillions of dollars and on what. I am sure that I'm not the only one who wants to know where this money went. Are we going to let Bush and his CRONIES get away with the biggest crime in the in the history of the United States. I guarentee that if we took a closer look we would find all kinds of wrong doings going on in Washington. I mean lets be real look at the people that ran for President, all we could find was a handfull of people with a clean enough record. Nothing against Obama I have been on Baracks side from day one. But you would think that in the U.S. we'd have thousands of people Qualified to run for President. just like this latest scandal going on, on wall street right now how does one person have the ability to rip off 50 billion dollars from everyone. I THINK THERES A WHOLE LOT OF GUILTY PEOPLE OUT THERE. And I think it's time to end this mess even if it means we have to start all over again cause this game is over!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!! Randy

Civil War!!!!

Randy — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:43:05 EST

Here we go again North against the South!!! Yep believe it or not all of the Senators that voted against loaning the big three any money to help them get past this recesssion, (which the BANKS started) are all from states from the south. When I look at these Senators they remind me of the plantation owners that believed in slavery and if we don't watch out we will be right back there again or we might as well be. Your wages will start droping and droping. All the Republicans are doing is trying to break the unions and if they do were all in trouble. The company owners will start treating people more and more like dogs. And it's already taking place all over the country in sweat shops where these people hire illegals to do the work. These Senators are not stupid they are getting all kinds of kick backs from the foriegn auto dealers that have plants in there states. This just another straw on the camels back. Bush and his people are slowly taking every penny they can. The honest people can't take anymore people all across our country are starting to eat less and less. They keep trying to tell us that we have to start working in the service sector or in the medical field but what they are not telling you is that those fields are not necessary people won't go out to eat because they won't have the money and they will just start staying home instead of going to the doctor. They are treating us like we are dum and the worst part is we are falling for it. Sometimes when i'm watch these news casters talk I wonder If they even know what they are talking about do they even know what the service sector is and does it even pay enough to take care of your family. And don't let them fool you the people that work in these shops don't make no where near 70 dollars an hour thats a bunch of crap. Well I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

RANDY M.

Barack Obama's Birth Certificate!!!!

Randy — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:51:42 EST

Does anyone know why the Supreme Court is looking at Barack Obama's Birth Certificate. I heard that there is a group of people out there, it might even be the Bilderbergers that are BEHIND THE HOLE THING. They are trying to proove that Obama wasn't born in the U.S.A. AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT HE COULDN'T BE PRESIDENT. Because the law states you have to be born in the U.S. to be president. Does anyone have any info?

And just for your own info look-up the words bilderberger, trilateral comission and the commitee for foriegn relations and see what you think.

Were not done yet Randy

Roots Camp Pittsburgh

Michael Morrill — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:09:11 EST

rootscampPittsburgh

What is RootsCampPittsburgh?
RootsCamps are participant driven events or forums, using the "unconference" or "open space" format that is born from the desire for activists, organizers, leaders and politicians in the progressive sphere to share and learn in a productive, fast-paced, open environment.

Think of it as a cross between an election debrief and grassroots organizing skills share. The progressive community — everyone from the "netroots" to precinct captains to field organizers to national message consultants — come together to share successes, failures, impart old wisdom and new discoveries.

RootsCamp is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from participants. There are NO SPECTATORS. This open format never fails to yield an astounding exchange of information, spin-off projects, and cross-pollination among unexpected partners.

Find out more about RootsCampPittsburgh at http://rootscamppittsburgh2009.pbwiki.com

When is RootsCampPittsburgh?
RootsCamp will be held at the United Steelworkers Building, 5 Gateway Center in Pittsburgh on January 24, 2009.

Who should come to RootsCamp?
RootsCamp will be for anyone who played a role in the 2008 elections and/or working in progressive politics. As fellow organizers, we'll be meeting each other, reuniting with team members, discussing the innovations and challenges from this cycle, and most importantly, celebrating!

RootsCamp 2009 will bring together the best and brightest organizers that were engaged in 2008 campaigns, including staff and volunteers from:

Presidential Campaigns
Down ballot races
Labor
Non-partisan GOTV and voter registration operations
Online organizations
Advocacy organizations
Tech support
Blogs and other media
Media, message, polling and targeting consultants

At RootsCamp, you will:

· Share stories and knowledge with each other from all over Pennsylvania, especially the western part of the state.

· Teach others from the progressive movement what you did and how you did it. Brainstorm ways that the methods you practiced can be exported to unions, advocacy organizations and community organizations.

· Strategize about how to help progressive institutions to sustain what you've started.

To find out more about RootsCampPittsburgh or to register, go to: http://rootscamppittsburgh2009.pbwiki.com

Gov. Bill Richardson, Commerce Secretary-designate

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:35:19 EST

Newsroom: Blog Subscribe to the Blog RSS Feed Gov. Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary-designate (Update 2: Video) Wednesday, December 3, 2008 03:14pm EST

President-elect Barack Obama announced he has asked Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico to join his administration as Secretary of Commerce.

"With his breadth and depth of experience in public life, Governor Richardson is uniquely suited for this role as a leading economic diplomat for America," President-elect Obama said at the Chicago press conference announcing the appointment. He added later, "In the end, Bill Richardson is a leader who shares my values...I know that [he] will be an unyielding advocate for American business and American jobs, at home and around the world."

Read President-elect Obama's full remarks and see pictures and video from the press conference below.

Also available on MSN.
High-resolution, Quicktime format available here.

Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama--as prepared for delivery
Announcement of Commerce Secretary
Chicago, Illinois
December 3, 2008

Last week, Vice President-Elect Biden and I began the process of announcing our economic team. Today, we are pleased to name another key member of this team: our nominee for Secretary of Commerce, my friend, Governor Bill Richardson.

With each passing day, the work our team has begun, developing plans to revive our economy, becomes more urgent. Earlier this week, we learned that the U.S. economy has been in recession since December of 2007 and that our manufacturing output is at a 26 year low -- two stark reminders of the magnitude of the challenges we face.

But while I know rebuilding our economy won’t be easy -- and it won’t happen overnight -- I also know this: right now, somewhere in America, a small business is at work on the next big idea. A scientist is on the cusp of the next breakthrough discovery. An entrepreneur is sketching plans for the startup that will revolutionize an industry. Right now, across America, the finest products in the world are rolling off our assembly lines. And the proudest, most determined, most productive workers in the world are on the job -- some, already on their second shift of the day; many, putting in longer hours than ever before.

After nearly two years traveling across this country, meeting with workers, visiting businesses large and small, I am more confident than ever before that we have everything we need to renew our economy -- we have the ingenuity and technology, the skill and commitment -- we just need to put it to work. It’s time to not just address our immediate economic threats, but to start laying the groundwork for long-term economic prosperity -- to help American businesses grow and thrive at home, and expand our efforts to promote American enterprise around the world.

This work is the core mission of the Secretary of Commerce. And with his breadth and depth of experience in public life, Governor Richardson is uniquely suited for this role as a leading economic diplomat for America.

During his time in state government and Congress, and in two tours of duty in the cabinet, Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better.

As Governor of New Mexico, Bill showed how government can act as a partner to support our businesses, helping create 80,000 new jobs. And under his leadership, New Mexico saw the lowest unemployment rate in decades.

As a former Secretary of Energy, Bill understands the steps we must take to build a new, clean-energy industry and create the green jobs of the twenty-first century. Jobs that pay well and won’t be shipped overseas -- jobs that will help us end our dependence on foreign oil.

And as a former Ambassador to the United Nations, Bill brings both international stature and a deep understanding of today’s global economy. He understands that the success of today’s business in Detroit or Columbus often depends on whether it can sell products in places like Santiago or Shanghai. And he knows that America’s reputation in the world is critical not just to our security, but to our prosperity -- that when the citizens of the world respect America’s leadership, they are more likely to buy America’s products.

To this crucial work of restoring America’s international standing, Bill will bring a leadership style all his own. Bill has never been content to learn just from briefing books -- never satisfied with only the official version of the story. During his time in Congress, he held more than 2,500 town-hall meetings, so he could hear directly from constituents. He was a regular in the U.N. cafeteria, mixing it up with U.N. employees over lunch. And during his 2002 campaign for Governor, he actually broke a world record by shaking nearly 14,000 hands in just eight hours.

All of this reflects a determination to reach out and understand where people are coming from, what they hope for, and what he can do to help. This approach, I believe, has been the key to Bill’s success as a negotiator and will be key to his work on the critical functions of the Commerce Department -- from administering our census and monitoring our climate to protecting our intellectual property and restoring our economic diplomacy.

In the end, Bill Richardson is a leader who shares my values -- and he measures progress the same way I do. Are we creating good jobs, instead of losing them? Are incomes growing, instead of shrinking? I know that Bill will be an unyielding advocate for American business and American jobs, at home and around the world. And I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.

David Hunter of Indiana: A Grateful Call to Arms

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:06:14 EST

A Repost from David Hunter

All,

Where do we go from here? The campaign was a battle of epic
proportions. As in war and most battles, the heroics of the
battlefield will remain unsung. Where do the spoils of war rest?
There will be no medals given out; that's the bottom line. President-Elect Obama called upon us to join him to bring the change we need.
Though all our stories are unique to ourselves, we answered that
call. With fierce determination, strength and political will that
the world has never seen before, we turned 'Yes We Can' into 'Yes We
Did.' There are no words to describe what victory means in the
context of history, to the people of the world or to oneself. The
victory is either upon us or now rests soundly behind us depending on
what we do from this point forward.

So where do we go from here? I say this: There will be no more lofty speeches to feed our hunger for change. Change has come to the White House and the United
States. Our President must be the President of all our citizens.
Today and for the unforeseeable future, the challenges are great but
not insurmountable. The battle of Obama for America and the Campaign
for Change was won and a celebration is due. However, the problems
we face as a nation are far greater than our victory. The time to
exult must be short because victory was merely a step in the right
direction.

Though the challenges we face are immense and the battlefield appears to be in Washington D.C., it is not. The battle rages on in large and small cities across this country, places that
only we have been with people that were once strangers to us who
still remain unemployed, uninsured and underpaid. We still live in a
crumbling infrastructure where jobs are being shipped overseas and
where the schools for our children are under-funded, etcetera. These
problems still remain and will continue to do so. Though these
challenges were not created by us, it is us that know how to bring
the change they seek to them.

President-elect Obama called upon this nation two years ago and asked us all as a people to help him with these challenges. These problems will not go away overnight. The president cannot swipe his pen and end poverty and inequality. We as
a trained "army" are the ones who know how to build and harness
change at the grassroots level and help it rise to the top. The
brotherhood, sisterhood and the renewed value of citizenship are
alive again in America. It brings with it something new, individuals
of all generations, all economic levels and all backgrounds. It took
the whole history of the United States for this to come about and it
cannot wilt. The community we built and the strength that has come
with it has just begun. Our time is now to act on what appears
natural for us to do: bring change to our communities, which will
bring change from the bottom-up to our President's desk. We carry
the mantra of change now because we were and are that change. That
symbol of hope, which is the new great symbol for America, is ready
for its next steps. I believe that it is on us to pick up that
battle flag and continue to inspire and motivate the millions of
people who helped us all get to this historic moment in history.

What are the spoils of this war? First and foremost, we now hold
inside us the greatest political victory in our nation's history.
For all people that took part, from volunteering, first time
activists and to all the staff, we will not fully understand the
weight and gravity of our achievement for some time to come. It goes
far beyond anything we have ever done in our life.

Now is not the time to stop. We are at the beginning of our journey. We have still yet to make the ultimate sacrifice. We worked tirelessly, but that
was just to get us to the starting line. No sacrifice was too
small. Each and every individual played a critical role, which
contributed to our success. I truly believe the grassroots
organizations combined with an unstoppable field operation are the
faces connected to the people who got it done. Washington is not
where that happens. It's now rooted in Des Moines, Iowa and all the
places in the country where we made a difference and where the
campaign foothold was grounded deep in the trenches.

If we let the front lines go and do not build them strong and reinforce them, our
President's job will be tougher than what it is today. 2010 and 2012
will be here before you know it and we must be prepared. The
President's mandate is the front line, and it must be held. We
cannot fade into the distance and watch as things unfold. In some
way we must be there to stand with them so we are building from this
point forward and not rebuilding afterwards, which may be too late.
The most precious thing we have is our grassroots and the communities
we organized. We must keep them motivated and empowered to take
action in their own towns and to keep supporting our President as he
wades the difficult time ahead that he and the American people face.

We all started this for our own reasons. For me it was my belief in
Barack Obama and the belief that if he were president, my brother
Sgt. Daniel James Hunter, U.S. Army, would finish his third tour
safely and return to a new President and Commander-in-Chief. These
are my spoils of war. Yet, the war still rages on at home and
abroad, and our task has just begun.

What I'm thankful for today on this Thanksgiving Day is that tonight
my brother will arrive again on U.S. soil. Let us all hope that this
will be his last tour.

I am also grateful for every individual who sacrificed and who
believed that what we were doing was the right thing to do and that
if we worked hard enough we would bring change to the United States
of America. We did and for that I am thankful for each and every one
of you.

We are all the ones we were waiting for and we shocked the world.
Let's see this through. We must water the roots and they will grow.

David Hunter
Former Field Organizer for the Battle of the Campaign for
Change-Indiana

Thanksgiving Day Remarks of President-elect Barack Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:28:57 EST

Remarks of President-elect Barack Obama
Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Good morning.

Nearly 150 years ago, in one of the darkest years of our nation's history, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of Thanksgiving. America was split by Civil War. But Lincoln said in his first Thanksgiving decree that difficult times made it even more appropriate for our blessings to be -- and I quote -- "gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."

This week, the American people came together with family and friends to carry on this distinctly American tradition. We gave thanks for loved ones and for our lasting pride in our communities and our country. We took comfort in good memories while looking forward to the promise of change.

But this Thanksgiving also takes place at a time of great trial for our people.

Across the country, there were empty seats at the table, as brave Americans continue to serve in harm’s way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. We honor and give thanks for their sacrifice, and stand by the families who endure their absence with such dignity and resolve.

At home, we face an economic crisis of historic proportions. More and more Americans are worried about losing a job or making their mortgage payment. Workers are wondering if next month's paycheck will pay next month's bills. Retirees are watching their savings disappear, and students are struggling with the cost of tuition.

It's going to take bold and immediate action to confront this crisis. That's why I'm committed to forging a new beginning from the moment I take office as President of the United States. Earlier this week, I announced my economic team. This talented and dedicated group is already hard at work crafting an Economic Recovery Plan that will create or save 2.5 million new jobs, while making the investments we need to fuel long-term economic growth and stability.

But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won't come from policies and plans alone -- it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people.

I have seen this strength firsthand over many months -- in workers who are ready to power new industries, and farmers and scientists who can tap new sources of energy; in teachers who stay late after school, and parents who put in that extra hour reading to their kids; in young Americans enlisting in a time of war, seniors who volunteer their time, and service programs that bring hope to the hopeless.

It is a testament to our national character that so many Americans took time out this Thanksgiving to help feed the hungry and care for the needy. On Wednesday, I visited a food bank at Saint Columbanus Parish in Chicago. There -- as in so many communities across America -- folks pitched in time and resources to give a lift to their neighbors in need. It is this spirit that binds us together as one American family -- the belief that we rise and fall as one people; that we want that American Dream not just for ourselves, but for each other.

That's the spirit we must summon as we make a new beginning for our nation. Times are tough. There are difficult months ahead. But we can renew our nation the same way that we have in the many years since Lincoln's first Thanksgiving: by coming together to overcome adversity; by reaching for -- and working for -- new horizons of opportunity for all Americans.

So this weekend -- with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come.

Repost from C. Hass: President-Elect Obama Thanks the People of Illinois

Jill 4 Obama — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:00:57 EST

Post from Obama HQ Blogger:

President-elect Obama Thanks the People of Illinois By Christopher Hass

Today, President-elect Barack Obama resigned his Senate seat and he sent the thank-you letter below to newspapers across Illinois:

Obama's Letter to the People of Illinois
November 16, 2008
BY PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA
Today, I am ending one journey to begin another. After serving the people of Illinois in the United States Senate -- one of the highest honors and privileges of my life -- I am stepping down as senator to prepare for the responsibilities I will assume as our nation's next president. But I will never forget, and will forever be grateful, to the men and women of this great state who made my life in public service possible.
More than two decades ago, I arrived in Illinois as a young man eager to do my part in building a better America. On the South Side of Chicago, I worked with families who had lost jobs and lost hope when the local steel plant closed. It wasn't easy, but we slowly rebuilt those neighborhoods one block at a time, and in the process I received the best education I ever had. It's an education that led me to organize a voter registration project in Chicago, stand up for the rights of Illinois families as an attorney and eventually run for the Illinois state Senate.
It was in Springfield, in the heartland of America, where I saw all that is America converge -- farmers and teachers, businessmen and laborers, all of them with a story to tell, all of them seeking a seat at the table, all of them clamoring to be heard. It was there that I learned to disagree without being disagreeable; to seek compromise while holding fast to those principles that can never be compromised, and to always assume the best in people instead of the worst. Later, when I made the decision to run for the United States Senate, the core decency and generosity of the American people is exactly what I saw as I traveled across our great state -- from Chicago to Cairo; from Decatur to Quincy.
I still remember the young woman in East St. Louis who had the grades, the drive and the will but not the money to go to college. I remember the young men and women I met at VFW halls across the state who serve our nation bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I will never forget the workers in Galesburg who faced the closing of a plant they had given their lives to, who wondered how they would provide health care to their sick children with no job and little savings.
Stories like these are why I came to Illinois all those years ago, and they will stay with me when I go to the White House in January. The challenges we face as a nation are now more numerous and difficult than when I first arrived in Chicago, but I have no doubt that we can meet them. For throughout my years in Illinois, I have heard hope as often as I have heard heartache. Where I have seen struggle, I have seen great strength. And in a state as broad and diverse in background and belief as any in our nation, I have found a spirit of unity and purpose that can steer us through the most troubled waters.
It was long ago that another son of Illinois left for Washington. A greater man who spoke to a nation far more divided, Abraham Lincoln, said of his home, "To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything." Today, I feel the same, and like Lincoln, I ask for your support, your prayers, and for us to "confidently hope that all will yet be well."
With your help, along with the service and sacrifice of Americans across the nation who are hungry for change and ready to bring it about, I have faith that all will in fact be well. And it is with that faith, and the high hopes I have for the enduring power of the American idea, that I offer the people of my beloved home a very affectionate thanks.

President-Elect Obama's Weekly Radio Address

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:58:26 EST

Newsroom: Blog Subscribe to the Blog RSS Feed Your Weekly Address from the President-elect Saturday, November 15, 2008 06:00am EST /

For the first time, the weekly Democratic address has been released as a web video. It will also continue to air on the radio.

President-elect Obama plans to to publish these weekly updates through the Transition and then from the White House.

Today's address from the President-elect concerns the current economic crisis:

Also available on AOL, Yahoo, and MSN
High-resolution, Quicktime format: (106MB .mov file).

Remarks of President-elect Barack Obama

November 15, 2008

Today, the leaders of the G-20 countries -- a group that includes the world's largest economies -- are gathering in Washington to seek solutions to the ongoing turmoil in our financial markets. I'm glad President Bush has initiated this process -- because our global economic crisis requires a coordinated global response.

And yet, as we act in concert with other nations, we must also act immediately here at home to address America's own economic crisis. This week, amid continued volatility in our markets, we learned that unemployment insurance claims rose to their highest levels since September 11, 2001. We've lost jobs for ten straight months -- nearly 1.2 million jobs this year, many of them in our struggling auto industry. And millions of our fellow citizens lie awake each night wondering how they're going to pay their bills, stay in their homes, and save for retirement.

Make no mistake: this is the greatest economic challenge of our time. And while the road ahead will be long, and the work will be hard, I know that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis -- because here in America we always rise to the moment, no matter how hard. And I am more hopeful than ever before that America will rise once again.

But we must act right now. Next week, Congress will meet to address the spreading impact of the economic crisis. I urge them to pass at least a down-payment on a rescue plan that will create jobs, relieve the squeeze on families, and help get the economy growing again. In particular, we cannot afford to delay providing help for the more than one million Americans who will have exhausted their unemployment insurance by the end of this year. If Congress does not pass an immediate plan that gives the economy the boost it needs, I will make it my first order of business as President.

Even as we dig ourselves out of this recession, we must also recognize that out of this economic crisis comes an opportunity to create new jobs, strengthen our middle class, and keep our economy competitive in the 21st century.

That starts with the kinds of long-term investments that we've neglected for too long. That means putting two million Americans to work rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools. It means investing $150 billion to build an American green energy economy that will create five million new jobs, while freeing our nation from the tyranny of foreign oil, and saving our planet for our children. It means making health care affordable for anyone who has it, accessible for anyone who wants it, and reducing costs for small businesses. And it also means giving every child the world-class education they need to compete with any worker, anywhere in the world.

Doing all this will require not just new policies, but a new spirit of service and sacrifice, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. If this financial crisis has taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers -- in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people. And that is how we will meet the challenges of our time -- together. Thank you.

Coatesville School Children Going to the Inauguration!

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:44:56 EST

Send the Kids to the Inauguration (Community Service)

There are 45 school children from Coatesville who will be going to the Inauguration in January 2009.

A community concert will be held on November 14th beginning at 6:30 PM at the Scott Middle School located at 800 Olive Street, Coatesville, PA 19320.

The event is produced by the Chester County Internet Radio Project and the Scott Middle School Mentoring Project.

Expect to see some great gospel, hip hop and rhythm and blues. The event has a free will donation. There will be food and activities for children.

Time: Monday, November 17 from 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Host: John Hall Location: Scott Middle School (Coatesville, PA) 800 Olive Street
Coatesville, PA 19320 Maps:

Directions: Take Rt. 30 By-Pass to Reeceville Rd. exit. Turn left onto Reeceville Rd. Continue south towards Coatesville. Turn right on Rt. 30 (Lincoln Highway. Go three lights turn left. Scott Middle is one block on the left. The auditorium entrance is on the left.

Associated Groups: B Reed Henderson High School Students For Obama, Berks for Obama, Berks Region 5--Dream Team, Brandywine Valley for Obama, Chester Countians for Obama, Chester Springs for OBAMA, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Students for Barack Obama, Coatesville, PA for Obama, Lionville Middle School for obama, Pennsylvanians for Obama, Rock For Barack, West Chester Henderson High School for Obama!, West Chester University (WCU) for Obama!

Signup for 'Send the Kids to the Inauguration'

Offering to play the inauguration.

Bergevin Brothers — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:35:14 EST

Hello all,Congratulations on a job well done, getting Barack elected. It's been a huge effort and a lot of work, but we did it!We are the creators of the now very popular internet hit "Fired Up, Ready To Go". This summer, we went to Denver, were we released our Obama-inspired album 'Seven Songs For America & One For The World'. Since we've been to the convention, we have performed at the "Women For Obama - Band Together" fund raiser at the Museum of History And Industry and helped raise over $85,000 for Barack Obama's election. We also played for Governor Christine Gregoire at an event for the 48th district up at New Castle Golf Club. Patrinell Wright the leader for the Total Experience Gospel Choir just sang for Vice President Al Gore and the governor two weeks ago at a fund raiser for the governor downtown Seattle.Our music (and us) has been included in a new documentary already available in Block Buster stores Nationwide called "Barack Obama: Who is this guy?". Two weeks ago, we were given the opportunity to submit a new piece of epic American music for the same documentary that is now being repackaged for distribution in theaters nationwide by Universal Pictures with the name "Barack Obama: The man and his journey" for release this winter. The music is called "I Am An American". We poetically just finished the vocal (choir) work on election night (November 4th, 2008) and were in fact in the studio until 5:30AM on the night of the election with 75 voices from two choirs. The music features original composition by my brother and I and the arrangements for full band, brass and strings by me.I have just spoken with Patrinell Wright the leader for the Total Experience Gospel Choir. We are confident that our contribution to the democratic party and the election of Senator Barack Obama and Governor Christine Gregoire has been very substantial based on the internet hit "Fired Up, Ready To Go", our personal relationship with Miss Edith Childs (the women from South Carolina that started the 'Fired Up!' chant and appeared with Barack many times, our appearance at Key Arena in February for Barack's rally, our relationships we've developed with Obama HQ and other key players around the country, the inclusion of our music in two DVD's that the Obama Campaign has been selling called 'The Road To Change' our album being sold as a relief effort for Gulf Coast survivors, and being sold at the Obama HQ in Texas by Molly Hatchey the state director there and our inclusion in the documentary both in Blockbuster stores and soon in theaters around the country. We feel that the effort is worthy of proposing the idea of representing Washington State at the Inauguration celebration in Washington DC in January 2009. We feel that we embody the energy, passion and commitment that Barack spoke of last night in his history acceptance speech (that we viewed with 80+ people in the recording studio last night on a big screen TV to the sound of cheers and tears of joy) and would love to have the idea get posed in the right channels.

We'd like to play our music at the inauguration for Barack Obama and represent Washington State and it's creative music community at this historical event. The piece we did last night is fitting for the event. You can listen at www.BergevinBrothersMusic.com. Of course, we could always play "Fired Up, Ready To Go" for fun, since the country needs to stay fired up and ready to go. The entire group of people I work with are excited to participate and need help connecting with the group planning the event. Any help any of the readers of this letter can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,Jon Bergevin
www.BergevinBrothersMusic.comemail me: jon@bergevinbrothersmusic.com206-818-2632

Obama's Sister: An Email on Her Brother and Grandmother

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:02:52 EST

Obama's Sister: An Email on Her Brother and Grandmother By Dan Nakaso / Honolulu Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 Senator Obama sheds tears while talking about his grandmother Madelyn Dunham. Emmanuel Dunand / AFP / Getty

Barack Obama's sister has not emerged in public since the death of their grandmother two days before her brother's historic presidential election but in a post-election email to close friends Maya Soetoro-Ng said "I wept tears of joy for all of us on Tuesday. He may not be a perfect man. Certainly, he has often said that he'll likely be an imperfect president, but he is a good man, a smart man, a disciplined soul who balances temperance with determination and courage. We've made a great choice, I assure you."

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My Chance Encounter with Obama in Hawaii

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Their maternal grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, died on the Sunday before the Tuesday Nov. 4 presidential election in the two-bedroom, 10-story apartment where Dunham raised Obama. The email was shared with this reporter (and with his newspaper, the daily Honolulu Advertiser).

In the final run-up to Election Day, Obama had abruptly changed his campaign schedule to fly back home and visit Dunham, who was dying of cancer at the age of 86. After her death was announced, on Election Day eve, he spoke movingly of her at a final campaign appearance, tears streaming down his face. Services for Dunham have not been announced and the Honolulu mortuary handling the arrangements, Borthwick Mortuary, has not returned phone calls. Obama's campaign, however, says he will return home to Honolulu sometime in December, prior to his Jan. 20 inauguration 5,100 miles away in the nation's capitol.

During a family vacation in August, then Sen. Obama brought his family to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which overlooks the apartment where he grew up. Obama and his children left two leis at niche No. 440, where the ashes of his grandfather Stanley Dunham are in an urn behind a bronze plaque. Stanley Dunham was an Army sergeant in World War II and died of prostate cancer in 1992. Officials at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific have since been contacted by Borthwick Mortuary about holding a service for Madelyn Dunham, says Gene Castagnetti, the cemetery's director. Stanley Dunham's niche is large enough to hold another urn. If the family decides on that arrangement, Sgt. Dunham's bronze plaque covering the niche would be removed and replaced with another that would include his wife's name, birthday and date of death.

As it turned out, Dunham's koa wood urn arrived on Election Day, Soetoro-Ng wrote in her email. Soetoro-Ng surrounded the urn with pictures of Dunham's late daughter, Stanley Ann Dunham (the mother of Soetoro-Ng and the President-elect), Dunham's grandchildren and her great grandchildren, "all of us who benefited so much from her steady voice and hand," she wrote.

Soetoro-Ng could have accepted her brother's invitation to be by his side on Election Night in Chicago. But, as she had for much of the past eight years, she chose to stay in the apartment on Beretania Street where Dunham raised Obama as a boy and where Soetoro-Ng had later cared for her. In the post-election email, Soetoro-Ng writes of the sometimes-conflicting emotions surrounding both her grandmother's death and her brother's success — and of the need to then unplug for a while with her husband, Konrad, and their 4-year-old daughter, Suhaila, on Oahu's rural North Shore. She writes that she had been flooded with email messages "of both congratulation and condolence.... There's a wide swatch of emotion cutting through me, sometimes swirling, never simple... a briny mixture of elation, sadness, determination, regret, pride, hope, fatigue. You can imagine..."

Dunham, whom Obama called "Toot" after the Hawaiian word for grandparent, tutu, never showed self-pity or fear as she faced the end of her life, Soetoro-Ng writes. But Dunham could be wickedly funny. "When she saw the number of flowers that had been sent to her," Soetoro-Ng writes, 'she said, 'Oh my...with all of this hullabaloo, it's going to be embarrassing if I DON'T die.' I gave her a chuckle and of course told her that I wouldn't at all mind such an embarrassment, and then I invited her to stay and dance with me into the new year. She couldn't stay, but she certainly tried, and defied expectations again and again."

Click here for pictures of Obama's campaign.

Mystery Email

Yvette — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:06:25 EST

I have been contacted by a couple of folks about a "thank you" email that was sent to some folks in Dormont and Mt. Lebanon and signed by Yvette. The email addy used was: changelebo@gmail.com.

FTR, this email was not sent by me. I don't know of another Yvette in the office, so this is a mystery right now.

Thanks,

Yvette

The (Non-)Issue of Color in the USA

Quasaur — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 11:52:42 EST

Originaly posted at http://www.clmitchell.net/main-weblogs32/ofthepeople65/276-art-colorissueusa.html

I am white. My mother's great grandfather (surname Cunningham) was Irish/Scottish.

I am black. I have Americans of African descent on both sides of my family who suffered under slavery.

I am Native-American. My great-great grandfather on my mother's side married a Native-American. My great-great grandmother on my father's side was also Native-American.

These are my known heritages. If I were able to go back through my family tree far enough, I have no doubt that there would be some surprises waiting for me.

Like most of you, I have experienced the insanity and seduction of prejudice and bigotry. In the Bible God Himself is quoted as saying "Man[kind] looks at the outward appearance" (1st Samuel 16:7). As a student of history I have read of the challenges and biases faced by all three of my bloodlines down through the halls of time.

That is why, as I was driving to work 05-Nov-2008, after Barack Obama won the Presidential election of the United States, I found myself crying. After 400 years of waging war against the psychological stigma of being seen as second-class citizens, our perseverance as blacks has been vindicated.

As whites we have finally stood up, and in one single event we have reached out our hands to our African-American citizens and said "You have a right to be here."

And, though perhaps indirectly, we as Native-Americans have finally found the strength to once again begin to participate in and sew the seeds of ancient truth and wisdom in a society that had almost lost its way.

It goes without saying that the struggle for equality is not yet over; but a major victory for peace and justice between our peoples has been won, and will be long-remembered by us and our descendants.

Change.gov - The Official Website of the U.S. Presidential Transition

Jill 4 Obama — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 05:53:41 EST

Very interesting. Launched at amazing speed! Change.gov is a website launched by the Obama team's Presidential Transition Project which documents the transition into power and solicits ideas from the public. Change.gov

Change.gov - The Official Web Site of the The U.S. Presidential Transition

"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today." - President-Elect Barack Obama
Change.gov - The Official Web Site of the The U.S. Presidential Transition

Thursday, November 06, 2008 | 75 Days Until Inauguration

Obama & Biden in Grant Park

The Newsroom Wednesday, November 5, 2008 04:09pm EST / in Blog Change has come to America Last night, President-Elect Barack Obama delivered the final speech of a presidential campaign that promised change in Washington. Open Government It's Your America: Share Your Ideas

The story of the campaign and this historic moment has been your story. Share your story and your ideas, and be part of bringing positive lasting change to this country.

GSA Transition Directory

The Transition Directory was developed to introduce Presidential nominees, appointees, and members of the President-elect's Transition Team to the operation of the Federal government and to the resources available to help them begin their service in the new Administration.

http://change.gov/

Obama Wins!!!! My last blog.

Randy — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:31:57 EST

I'M NOT GOING TO WRITE A SPEECH I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP WE DID IT. ALL OF US, AND DEEP DOWN INSIDE I FEEL BETTER I FEEL AS THOUGH AMERICA IS ALREADY MUCH CLOSER. THANKYOU EVERYONE!!!

Hope & Change It Forward!

Steve Goedert — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:07:08 EST

Just a quick thanks and congrats to everyone in the South Hills who help capture the state and nation for President-Elect Barack Obama! The journey we made in meeting new people and making new friends does not end now the day after this historic election, but it only begins. It is now our duty to help President-Elect Obama carry the message of unity and hope forward.

Thanks again to everyone on the campaign trail. It truly was an awesome experience from the cold days in February when President-Elect Obama visited Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland to 11am last night when he made his refreshing and uniting speech.

And i'll end with echoing President-Elect Obama's campaign email that was sent out to all his volunteers!

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

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign...But I want to be very clear about one thing...
All of this happened because of you."

This is our time!

Stephen

Free at Last Free at Last

Kentucky Woman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:12:58 EST

Thank You God. We won and we have not even seen all the states yet. We won.

God bless this world. God Bless us all.

Love Yascone

I just voted in PA -- no lines!

PA Teddy H. Vega$ — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:27:05 EST

No lines!

This Time the Tide Is Turning on Election Day

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:04:31 EST

November 4, 2008

To celebrate this great Election Day, this time the tide is turning... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s9ubMQX7WE

Excerpt from Senator Barack Obama, American Promise

The Democratic Convention

August 28, 2008

I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.

For eighteen long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said enough to the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us - that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.

America, this is one of those moments.

I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming. Because I've seen it. Because I've lived it. I've seen it in Illinois, when we provided health care to more children and moved more families from welfare to work. I've seen it in Washington, when we worked across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, to give better care for our veterans and keep nuclear weapons out of terrorist hands.

And I've seen it in this campaign. In the young people who voted for the first time, and in those who got involved again after a very long time. In the Republicans who never thought they'd pick up a Democratic ballot, but did. I've seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day than see their friends lose their jobs, in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.

This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

Instead, it is that American spirit - that American promise - that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours - a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.

And it is that promise that forty five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead - people of every creed and color, from every walk of life - is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.

"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America. http://my.barackobama.com/nov4

Sorry to hear the sad news (Toot passed away)

Otto Holland — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:31:07 EST

I was hoping and praying that Toot would be able to see the results of her Grand Son's election but God knows best.I am very sad the hear she passed away today, just one day before the Presidential election and for her to see her loving Grand Son achieve his dream and hers as well.She will be sadly missed and I pray you will find strength in the knowledge that there are millions who truly care.God bless you and your family Senator Obama!

Heart breaking... My Condolences to Senator Obama and Family

Cliff Sharples — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:51:56 EST

I just heard the news that Senator Obama's grandmother has passed away... All of our best thoughts and good wishes go out to the Obama Family. With just hours to go before Election Day, this is particularly hard for a man that has lost all of the people that have raised him.

The sacrafice that Senator Obama has made for all of us is beyond comprehension... Thank you for everything and we all will make you proud tomorrow.

Final Thoughts...

Holly Wyble — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:23:28 EST

It is unbelievable we are standing on the eve of the most important election of this century. Through all the ups and downs, all the bruising and campaigning, we have finally arrived to this pinnacle moment. At this time, I have no criticisms or anger, I have no facts or well laid points.

Two things sit heavy in my mind: The first is a comment made on the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report by Native American writer Sherman Alexie: “Unlike other groups of people in this country, we Indians vote for the good of everybody, and not just for the good of our little group.” To me, this is significant for a couple of reasons: the most obvious and important is that no group in American history, with exception of African Americans, owes less to this country and the good of our whole country, in my opinion, than Native Americans. After stealing their homeland, parceling their tribes onto reservations which grew smaller after natural resource reserves were discovered and brutally trying to commit cultural genocide, including stealing their children to be educated as true‘Americans,’ the Native Americans of this country owe us nothing. Yet they recognize all of its citizens and act with good moral authority to vote to elect the candidate that best represents the needs of the majority: no ideology, no single issue persuasion, no party affiliation politics. This second point is demonstrated in the fact that Alexie acknowledges that John McCain has been good for Native Americans but that the majority will be voting for Barack Obama. This touches me as an American; not because I back the same candidate but because it gives me hope that we can come together for a common good and override whatever interests and benefits we would individually receive from any one candidate to do what is best for all of us. It may mean sacrifice, it may mean that our politics are put aside and we disagree with policy that we are asked to comply with, but if Native Americans can make the sacrifice, why is it so hard for everyone else to be a little bit less selfish and single minded?

Granted, Native Americans do not hold the monetary wealth and resources of this country. But neither do African Americans and Hispanics. Yet, I want us to keep in mind that in forty years from now, when I am retiring, when many of us will be looking forward to the sunset years of our lives hoping we are able to have the dignity to enjoy those moments without the stresses of wondering if we can afford insurance and relying on Social Security: who is going to be the safety net that provides those services? Who will be the majority that will be asked to work and carry the load of our generations so that we can be comfortable? How are we ever going to be able to guarantee those same benefits to future generations if we do not take care of everyone in this country, especially the minorities that will not always be in the minority, yet sit at the bottom of the economic chain. It is not about voting racially, morally or financially. We are facing a choice of what our country’s unfolding will be: do we emulate countries where the smallest populations control those countries’ resources or do we build a strong, educated, large workforce that can be competitive and help everyone do better? I do not understand how we can ask other countries to treat their people better; to forgo racial warfare; to uplift the poor; to educate children; to recognize that global health issues trickle out to everyone if they are not aided; and yet we can not do the same at home first. Maybe that is the Native American wisdom speaking which we have so deftly ignored since Columbus touched these shores.

The second thing that has stricken me is remembrance of a poem by Max Ehrman:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly to the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are a community and country that could fall together as sure as we could rise as one. We ALL have a right to be here. Let our voting and our voices be a reflection that we recognize every American in each other, that we look in the mirror and see the rainbow of all we meet and touch throughout our lives. Let us, at least this once, follow the Native American spirit of inclusion and do what is best for ALL who make up this country. Vote for Barack Obama.

A New Low in American Politics

Kamana — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:38:48 EST

It’s apparent that Republicans feel the only way they can win this election is by misleading and disenfranchising voters. What is truly appalling is that this is happening in a country that goes around the world denying aid to nations that we deem “too corrupt” to have free and fair elections….

Voters Across Nation Hit by Dirty Tricks http://news.aol.com/elections/article/voters-across-nation-hit-by-dirty-tricks/235328

I'm Voting Because...

Kevin Hartnett — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:57:37 EST

Change happens from the ground up. And in this case, change is happening quite literally on street level. In the form of text messaging, passersby are invited to send in supportive messages on why they are voting for Barack Obama to an interactive projection on a wall, finishing the line "I'm voting because..."

The projections move beyond the typical static signage and billboards, allowing the public to create their own, customized Obama poster. Participants typically snap photos of their messages up on the wall. The project encourages the sharing of positive messages, negative and mean spirited messages about either campaign are not displayed.

This is part of an interactive roadtrip criss-crossing the heartland from Indiana to Michigan, through Ohio, then into Pennsylvania for the ten days preceding Election day. Volunteers with the Obama campaign invite people to participate in the large scale projections, and have been successful in signing up more volunteers to help out with getting out the vote and issue awareness.

Campaign for Change Road Blogger Paul Notzold wrote this post.

My Own Closing Arguments

Cliff Sharples — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:58:32 EST

After volunteering, writing, learning, participating, caucusing, speaking and experiencing the Race for the White House for almost 14 months now, I feel like I owe it to myself to make my own closing argument for why I have voted for Senator Barack Obama and ask that you join me. You may have your own set of reasons, whether they be pro-Obama or pro-McCain. These are a few of mine, not necessarily all-inclusive, but reasons that have stuck with me as we reach this historic week.

If you are also an Obama supporter, please take the time to send out your own closing argument to your family, friends, business associates and neighbors. Encourage them to do the same and ask for your network’s vote for Obama-Biden on November 4th. Election Day is upon us, and the stakes for our nation and our future could not be higher.

If you are a McCain supporter, I respect your decision and seek no further debate. The important thing is that we all participate in the process, take careful measure of the facts, discard the slanders and negativity, and vote for the kind of leader we want in these challenging times.

OK, so here are my closing arguments, being as brief as possible!

Barack Obama has the leadership qualities I look for in business and politics. Empathy, vision, courage, conviction, decisiveness. He is a listener, he balances opposing views, he seeks common ground, he understands that everyone’s perspectives are valid. He is steady, assured, articulate, energizing, compassionate, consistent. He is analytical, incredibly intelligent, a student of history, has a vast appreciation and understanding of our country’s constitution. He is diverse, global, and the most human of any of the Presidential candidates that I have seen in a long time.
As an entrepreneur, I have an appreciation for change and innovation, which I think is needed more than ever. America has been a beacon of light for the past 2 centuries. We have had good times and bad. We have had periods where maintaining the status quo was prudent. And we have had times when we needed a fresh, new approach. I believe we are sitting at a critical moment where America very badly needs a fresh approach. I can’t say that Barack Obama will fix all of our problems, but he represents the only candidate who has challenged many of the status quo policies and philosophies that have been increasingly decaying our country. It is time to take a chance on a new kind of leader with a new set of life experiences, from a new generation.
I want to reverse the downward spiral of America’s standing in the world. I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to visit many nations and experience several cultures around the world. I believe that we are part of a worldwide community of nations that must continue to work together to make peace, heal our planet, and fight for the rights of all individuals. Our reputation around the world has plummeted in the past 8 years under Bush-Cheney, coinciding with our waning ability to provide leadership and action on these critical areas. We have been behaving more like bullies than a beacon of hope and light. The world, however, knows how amazing the American People can be, which is why the entire planet is holding its breadth to see how resilient and self-governed we Americans can be. A President Obama will not solve world peace, world hunger or global warming all on his own. But just the mere act of electing for the first time a person of color, with a rich global upbringing and an inclusive world view that appreciates all perspectives will give a new hope around the world that America can reverse course from the treacherous path we have been lead down by the Republican Party and the Bush-Cheney Administration. Obama’s Presidency begins to create a climate where we can have a fresh start with our community of nations and make progress on the important collaboration we so desperately need.
I want my children to be inspired to participate and love this country as I do. I look at John McCain and I see the past. I am so ready for new leadership in Washington who will reject old-style politics, understand how we Americans live our day to day life and have a fresh perspective on the enormous problems we face in our economy, in our foreign policy and in our domestic agenda. I’ve seen Senator Obama speak in person a couple of times, and I have studied endless speeches, talks and writings he has done throughout his career. There is a genuineness in intent, an inspiration in his message and an understanding of our daily lives that I have not seen from any other political figure. I’m not a mindless believer. I am not typically prone to to “drink the Kool-Aid.” But this man has activated and inspired me in a way I have not previously been before. And in 14 months of working on and off on his behalf, that feeling has only grown. I care so much because I have kids who I want to have a passion for their government and their participation in the governing of their lives. I think there is an opportunity in Barack Obama to inspire my children's’ generation and prepare them for the enormous challenges and opportunities that await them in the future.
We can not pass up the opportunity Barack Obama represents. I would not have ever predicted 2 years ago that I would feel that America has an opportunity to once again reinvent itself to become even better and stronger than ever. But here we are, on the eve of making the most important national decision in my lifetime, and I feel optimistic and hopeful. And it’s not Obama the President that will solve all our problems and take us forward as a people. It’s going to be us. With President Obama, we will be more energized, passionate and motivated to take personal responsibility and action. We will be able to make faster progress at turning the page on racial divides. We will find a voice and a place to engage on issues we care about. We will be excited to embrace the next set of huge challenges affecting our lives.

McCain Show No Leadership as Campaign Races Towards the Finish Line

Cliff Sharples — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:33:58 EST

Despite promises to take the high road to the White House, John McCain has shown he is willing to do anything and say anything to be elected our next President. Why I am surprised by the latest attack ad dredging up Reverend Wright is beyond me... despite McCain's insistence that the Wright-Obama story line had no place in his campaign.

It appears that Sarah Palin has more sway and increasingly more say in the strategy of this failing bid for the White House. She and the desperate Republicans who have brought us the last 8 years of Bush-Cheney have completed their marginalization of the McCain who ran in 2000.

Barack Obama has largely taken the higher road in this election. He has stayed on message: restore the middle class, give everyone access to health care, restore our educational system, create an alternative energy economy to fuel the next century of America's economy... Please keep getting this message out. Let's not give into division and hate, and instead come together and choose hope, common sense and growth as a people and a nation.

McCain VS Obama

La Susa — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:20:15 EST

Im not in favor of McCain because he wants to cheat workers, and give more money to the extreamly rich that make 250,000.00 or more! Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que el quire enganiar a los trabajadores y dar mas dinero a los ricototes, la cual que hacen 250,000.00 y mas!

Im not in favor of McCain because he is too old, 72 years old, and placed Palin as VP. Poor Palin dosn't know much about the world, much less about how to run Our Nation. Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que ya esta muy viejo, 72 anos, y puso a la Palin de VP. La pobre Palin no sabe mucho del mundo, menos como correr nuestro Nacion!

Im not in favor of McCain because he says he knows how to do everything, but really what has he done in, practicly nothing in 20 years. Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que el dice que el sabe como hacer de todo, pero a la deveras no ha hecho casi nada en 20 anos.

Im not in favor of McCain because he lies too much! There are so many lies I cannot place them all here, it is an embarrasment! Yo no estoy en favor al McCain por que miente demaciado! Hay tantas mentiras que no los puedo ponerlos todos aqui, es una veruenza!

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to help those workers who pay way too much in taxes. He wants the rich that make 250,000.00 or more to pay taxes as it was during the years of President Clinton. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el qiere ayudar a aquellos que trabajan y pagan demacido taxes. El quiere que los ricos que hacen 250,000.00 y mas que ellos pagan taxes como era en los anos del Presidente Clinton.

I voted for Senator Obama because he realized when his mom was ill that the insurance companies didn't want to pay the bills because her illness before she died being cancer was considered 'pre-existing'. And she sadly died with the worries of the bills. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el se dio cuenta que cuando su mama estaba enferma las companias de seguranza no querian pagar los cuentos por que querian decir la cual que la enfermedad que cancer que tenia su mama antes de murir que era 'pre-existing'. Y la pobre murio con penas de los cuentos!

I voted for Senator Obama because he knows what it is like to live in poverty, for when he was a child he and his mom were on foodstamps. And his manerism is one of humility. Yo Vote por Senador Obama por que el sabe como es vivir pobre, cuando el era nino, su mama y el estaban es las estampas. Y tiene un modo de ser que es humide.

I voted for Senator Obama because he knows what it is like to live without a dad. His dad left when he was only two years old. And he knows that there are many mothers with children who are alone and suffering with mounting bills. Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el sabe como es vivir sin un papa. El papa de el se fue, cuando el no mas tenia dos anos de edad. Y sabe que hay muchas madres con ninos que estan solas y sufiendo con biles demasiados.

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to give many jobs to the people! Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere a dar muchos trabajos a la gente!

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants all students to have the opportunities to go to collage, not just the rich! Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere que todos estudiantes tengan la oportunidad a ir al colejio, no, no mas los ricos!

I voted for Obama because he knows we have to stop the war in Iraq, and look for that man Bin Ladden who killed nearly 4 thousand people here in the United States on September 11, 2001. Yo Vote al Obama por que el sabe que tenemos que parrar la guierra en Iraq y buscar al hombre ese Bin Ladden; que mato ha casi 4 mil personas aqui en Los Estados Unidos en Septiembre 11 del 2001.

I voted for Senator Obama because he dose not want American companies to leave to China, and he wants them to stay here in the Untited States. Yo Vote por el Senador Obama por que el no quiere que las companias Americanas se van para China, el quiere que se esten aqui en Los Estados Unidos.

I voted for Senator Obama because he wants to help companies make new inventions, so that we will not be dependant on other nations for oil. Yo Vote al Senador Obama por que el quiere ayudar a las companias hacer invenciones nuevas, para no estemos dependidas en otros Naciones para el aceite.

The tax calculator: El calculador de taxes:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGgFgH

Acuerdencen! Remember!

La Susa — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:14:08 EST

Acuerdencen al los ancianos y gente debiles a llevar sillas para que se descansan cuando voten en el dia 4 de Noviembre, por que se me hace que va a ver mucha gente!

Remember to remind the elderly and weak to bring chairs so that they can rest, when they go vote on November 4, because I belive that there will be a lot of people!

I Can Not Control Nov.4

Kentucky Woman — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:37:25 EST

There is very little I can do to get you out to the polls. I can not control your actions. I can not make you vote. I can 't even deliver a state to Obama. I do not live in a swing state/ toss up state, but I hope Kentucky will surprise us all. Besides voting, reminding others to vote and fasting until the polls close there is not much I can control.

I need your help in order to take back this country. Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Indiana ( where My Sister is working hard to Get Out The Vote ), North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada, Missouri and Georgia too, your votes are key to change this country. My vote counts but your States can win the Electoral College. It is important for the youth to vote in recorded numbers. It is important for seniors to vote.

I can't make you take responsibility for your country but you are responsible for your country. I can't make you vote but you should vote!

What will I do? I will fast until 7:00 PM Tuesday. I will vote and bring 4 other voters with me to the polls. I will write about the importance of voting. I will call and make sure that others vote. I will pray for landslide. I can not make you vote, but I will ask you now please vote for Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America.

You control you and your vote.

Fight the McCain Economics LIES!!!!!!

La Susa — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:40:48 EDT

EconomyObama's Stance on the Economy Barack Obama's Tax Savings Calculator:http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGgFgH

Barack Obama has offered a detailed plan to get America’s economy back on track, by creating new jobs and easing the burden on hardworking Americans by offering middle-class tax cuts three times the size of McCain’s.

Plan to Strengthen the EconomyThe Problem

Wages are Stagnant as Prices Rise: While wages remain flat, the costs of basic necessities are increasing. The cost of in-state college tuition has grown 35 percent over the past five years. Health care costs have risen four times faster than wages over the past six years. And the personal savings rate is now the lowest it's been since the Great Depression.

Tax Cuts for Wealthy Instead of Middle Class: The Bush tax cuts give those who earn over $1 million dollars a tax cut nearly 160 times greater than that received by middle-income Americans. At the same time, this administration has refused to tackle health care, education and housing in a manner that benefits the middle class.

Learn More

McCain's Stance on the Economy

John McCain’s economic policy is the same as George Bush’s. It ignores middle class Americans, giving $200 billion in tax cuts to corporations, including $4 billion in tax breaks to Big Oil, while leaving over 100 million middle-class Americans with no relief. Economists say McCain’s plan will add $3.4 trillion to the national debt.

McCain Lieing Again!!!!!!

La Susa — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:29:48 EDT

McCain says Obama wants to re-distribute the wealth!

Who has been burdened by taxes the last 8 years? The Middle Class, because the million and billionaires have enjoyed a tax break, that McCain wants to make permanent!!!!!!!

Obama wants to tax the million and billionaires, and belive me, those folks are not small businesses!!!!!!!!

McCain is using fearmongering to sway votes in his favor!

Who was with Bush on the 'Privatizing of Social Security'? McCain?

When Sen McCain claims to have been tested to be United States President; in 1962 when he sat in a plane cockpit, during the Cuban missle Crisis, why didn't McCain run for USA President way back then? It's only been 46 years ago.

McCain says he knows how to win wars, what wars has he won?

McCain says he knows how to fix corruption, what corruption has he fixed?

McCain says he knows how to fix Wallstreet, when has McCain ever fixed Wallstreet?

Yo, Arnold R-Gov of Calif.

La Susa — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:59:40 EDT

We can take your 'skinny legs' insults, but we cannot take four more years of McCin-Bush economics!!!!!! Was it not you Arnold R-Gov of Calif. that asked for a bail out for the State of Calif. a few days after the AIG bail out? So you want the hard working middle class to bail out Calif., because you don't know how to balance a budget? And allow the billion and millionaires to get richer and richer?

Do the math!!!!!! See Barack's Tax Calculator!

http://www.my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGgFgH

Get Educated! Use the Brain Muscle! Look it up in the dictionary!!!!!!!

The insults and fear mongering has gotten way out of hand! Just because Sen Barack Obama wants to make healthcare affordable for everyone, dose not mean a socialistic government! Way too many of our working families are going bankrupt because of the sky rocketing costs of healthcare! And those who don't have healthcare, are often treated when it is too late, driving up the costs of healthcare for all of us!!!!!!! Of all develped countries in the world, the USA is lagging far behind, with high infant mortality rates etc. etc.! The past 8 years the middle class has payed above and beyond their fare share, while the rich get richer! Now the middle class are loosing jobs left and right, they need a break! And I don't think it's too much to ask the million and billionaires to pitch in their fare share! Our economy depends on the middle class! they are the buying power of America! Small buisnesses fall under the catagory of middle class people because they earn far less than 250,000.00 dollars a year!!!!!!!!

Socialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the means of ...
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

Democracy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system. It is derived from the Greek ...
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Capitalism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Capitalism is the economic system in which the means of production are distributed to openly competing profit-seeking [1] private persons and where ...
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism

Marxism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Marxism is the political philosophy and practice derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Any political practice or theory that is based on ...
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxist

Now Is The Time

Kentucky Woman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:10:56 EDT

Now is the time to change the direction of this country. Now is the time to have healthcare for all, not tax the health care benefits of some. Now is the time to help students afford college, not stick with the status quo. Now is the time to improve our standing in the world, not become more isolated. Now is the time to value the American workers not the CEO. Now is the time for America to build its infrastructure not ignore collapsing bridges and levees. Now is the time America should start making its on products, food, and toys not allow China to poison our pets and kids. Now is the time to believe in each other not question our neighbors patriotism.

Now is the Time to vote for OBAMA and send this Super Power into its Golden Age!

Senator Barack Obama's Remarks in Sarasota, Florida, Oct. 30, 2008

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:24:12 EDT

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama (Sarasota, Fl) Sarasota, FL | October 30, 2008

Florida, I have just two words for you: five days.

After decades of broken politics in Washington, eight years of failed policies from George Bush, and twenty-one months of a campaign that has taken us from the rocky coast of Maine to the sunshine of California, we are five days away from change in America.

In five days, you can turn the page on policies that have put the greed and irresponsibility of Wall Street before the hard work and sacrifice of folks on Main Street.

In five days, you can choose policies that invest in our middle-class, create new jobs, and grow this economy so that everyone has a chance to succeed; from the CEO to the secretary and the janitor; from the factory owner to the men and women who work on its floor.

In five days, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town, Republican against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need hope.

In five days, at this defining moment in history, you can give this country the change we need.

We began this journey in the depths of winter nearly two years ago, on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Back then, we didn't have much money or many endorsements. We weren't given much of a chance by the polls or the pundits, and we knew how steep our climb would be.

But I also knew this. I knew that the size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics. I believed that Democrats and Republicans and Americans of every political stripe were hungry for new ideas, new leadership, and a new kind of politics - one that favors common sense over ideology; one that focuses on those values and ideals we hold in common as Americans.

Most of all, I knew the American people were a decent, generous people willing to work hard and sacrifice for future generations. I was convinced that when we come together, our voices are more powerful than the most entrenched lobbyists, or the most vicious political attacks, or the full force of a status quo in Washington that wants to keep things just the way they are.

Twenty-one months later, my faith in the American people has been vindicated. That's how we've come so far and so close - because of you. That's how we'll change this country - with your help. And that's why we can't afford to slow down, sit back, or let up for one day, one minute, or one second in this last week. Not now. Not when so much is at stake.

We are in the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. 760,000 workers have lost their jobs this year. Businesses and families can't get credit. Home values are falling. Pensions are disappearing. It's gotten harder and harder to make the mortgage, or fill up your gas tank, or even keep the electricity on at the end of the month.

And just today, we learned that the GDP, or Gross Domestic Product - a key indicator economists use to measure the health of our economy - has actually fallen for the first time this year. That means we're producing less and selling less - so our economy is actually shrinking. And we saw the largest decline in consumer spending in 28 years as wages failed to keep up with the rising cost of living, and folks have been watching every penny and tightening their belts.

Now, this didn't happen by accident. Our falling GDP is a direct result of eight years of the trickle down, Wall Street first/Main Street last policies that have driven our economy into a ditch.

And the central question in this election is this: what will our next President do to take us in a different direction?

Well, Florida, if you want to know where Senator McCain will drive this economy, just look in the rearview mirror. Because when it comes to our economic policies, John McCain has stood with President Bush every step of the way. Voting for the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy that he once opposed. Voting for the Bush budgets that sent us into debt. Calling for less regulation twenty-one times just this year. In fact, after twenty-one months and three debates, Senator McCain still has not been able to tell the American people a single major thing he'd do differently from George Bush when it comes to the economy.

And you've got to ask yourself, after nine straight months of job losses and the largest drop in home values on record, with wages lower than they've been in a decade, why would we keep on driving down this dead end street?

Folks who can't pay their medical bills, or send their kids to college, or save for retirement can't afford to take a back seat to CEOs and Wall Street banks for four more years.

At a moment like this, the last thing we can afford is four more years of the tired, old theory that says we should give more to billionaires and big corporations and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. The last thing we can afford is four more years where no one in Washington is watching anyone on Wall Street because politicians and lobbyists killed common-sense regulations. Those are the theories that got us into this mess. They haven't worked, and it's time for change. That's why I'm running for President of the United States.

Look, the biggest gamble we can take is embracing the same old Bush-McCain policies that have failed us for the last eight years.

It's not change when John McCain wants to give a $700,000 tax cut to the average Fortune 500 CEO. It's not change when he wants to give $200 billion to the biggest corporations or $4 billion to the oil companies or $300 billion to the same Wall Street banks that got us into this mess. It's not change when he comes up with a tax plan that doesn't give a penny of relief to more than 100 million middle-class Americans. That's not change.

The average working family is $2,000 dollars poorer now than when George Bush took office. When Bill Clinton was president, the average wages and incomes went up $7,500 dollars. So I've got an economic plan that is similar to Bill Clinton's and Senator McCain's got an economic plan similar to George Bush's. Look and see what works and what doesn't.

We've tried it John McCain's way. We've tried it George Bush's way. Deep down, Senator McCain knows that, which is why his campaign said that "if we keep talking about the economy, we're going to lose." That's why he's spending these last weeks calling me every name in the book. Because that's how you play the game in Washington. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run away from. You make a big election about small things.

Florida, we are here to say "Not this time. Not this year. Not when so much is at stake." Senator McCain might be worried about losing an election, but I'm worried about Americans who are losing their homes, and their jobs, and their life savings. I can take one more week of John McCain's attacks, but this country can't take four more years of the same old politics and the same failed policies. It's time for something new.

The question in this election is not "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" We know the answer to that. The real question is, "Will this country be better off four years from now?"

I know these are difficult times for America. But I also know that we have faced difficult times before. The American story has never been about things coming easy - it's been about rising to the moment when the moment was hard. It's about rejecting fear and division for unity of purpose. That's how we've overcome war and depression. That's how we've won great struggles for civil rights and women's rights and workers' rights. And that's how we'll emerge from this crisis stronger and more prosperous than we were before - as one nation; as one people. We just need a new direction. We need a new politics.

Understand, if we want get through this crisis, we need to get beyond the old ideological debates and divides between left and right. We don't need bigger government or smaller government. We need a better government - a more competent government - a government that upholds the values we hold in common as Americans.

We don't have to choose between letting our financial system run wild, and stifling growth and innovation. As President, I will ensure that the financial rescue plan Congress passed helps stop foreclosures and protects your money instead of enriching CEOs. And I will put in place the common-sense regulations I've been calling for throughout this campaign so that Wall Street can never cause a crisis like this again. That's the change we need.

The choice in this election isn't between tax cuts and no tax cuts. It's about whether you believe we should only reward wealth, or whether we should also reward the work and workers who create it. I will give a tax break to 95% of Americans who work every day and get taxes taken out of their paychecks every week. I'll eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000 and give homeowners and working parents more of a break. And I'll help pay for this by asking the folks who are making more than $250,000 a year to go back to the tax rate they were paying in the 1990s. No matter what Senator McCain may claim, here are the facts - if you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime - not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes. Nothing. Because the last thing we should do in this economy is raise taxes on the middle-class.

When it comes to jobs, the choice in this election is not between putting up a wall around America or allowing every job to disappear overseas.

The truth is, we won't be able to bring back every job that we've lost, but that doesn't mean we should follow John McCain's plan to keep giving tax breaks to corporations that send American jobs overseas and promoting unfair trade agreements. I will end those breaks as President, and I will give American businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every job they create right here in the United States of America. I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country.

We'll create two million new jobs by rebuilding our crumbling roads, and bridges, and schools, and by laying broadband lines to reach every corner of the country. And I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid; jobs that will help us eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years and help save the planet in the bargain. That's how America can lead again.

When it comes to health care, we don't have to choose between a government-run health care system and the unaffordable one we have now. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change under my plan is that we will lower premiums. If you don't have health insurance you'll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that Members of Congress get for themselves.

And as someone who watched his own mother spend the final months of her life arguing with insurance companies because they claimed her cancer was a pre-existing condition and didn't want to pay for treatment, I will stop insurance companies from discriminating against those who are sick and need care most.

When it comes to giving every child a world-class education so they can compete in this global economy for the jobs of the 21st century, the choice is not between more money and more reform - because our schools need both. As President, I will invest in early childhood education, recruit an army of new teachers, pay them more, and give them more support. But I will also demand higher standards and more accountability from our teachers and our schools. And I will make a deal with every American who has the drive and the will but not the money to go to college: if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition. You invest in America, America will invest in you, and together, we will move this country forward.

And when it comes to keeping this country safe, we don't have to choose between retreating from the world and fighting a war without end in Iraq. It's time to stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while the Iraqi government sits on a huge surplus. As President, I will end this war by asking the Iraqi government to step up, and I will finally finish the fight against bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. I will never hesitate to defend this nation. From day one of this campaign, I have made clear that we will increase our ground troops and our investments in the finest fighting force the world has ever known. Watching our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines fight in Iraq and Afghanistan has only deepened my commitment to invest in 21st century technologies so that our men and women have the best training and equipment when they deploy into combat and the care and benefits they have earned when they come home.

I won't stand here and pretend that any of this will be easy - especially now. The cost of this economic crisis, and the cost of the war in Iraq, means that Washington will have to tighten its belt and put off spending on things we don't need. As President, I will go through the federal budget, line-by-line, ending programs that we don't need and making the ones we do need work better and cost less.

But as I've said from the day we began this journey all those months ago, the change we need isn't just about new programs and policies. It's about a new politics - a politics that calls on our better angels instead of encouraging our worst instincts; one that reminds us of the obligations we have to ourselves and one another.

What we have lost in these last eight years cannot be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits alone. What has also been lost is the idea that in this American story, each of us has a role to play. Each of us has a responsibility to work hard and look after ourselves and our families, and each of us has a responsibility to our fellow citizens. And that's what we need to restore right now - our sense of common purpose; of higher purpose.

Yes, government must lead the way on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and our businesses more efficient.

Yes, we must put more money into our schools, but government can't be that parent who turns off the TV and makes a child do their homework.

Yes, we can argue and debate our positions passionately, but all of us must summon the strength and grace to bridge our differences and unite in common effort - black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American; Democrat and Republican, young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, disabled or not.

In this election, we cannot afford the same political games and tactics that are being used to pit us against one another and make us afraid of one another.

Despite what our opponents may claim, there are no real or fake parts of this country. There is no city or town that is more pro-America than anywhere else - we are one nation, all of us proud, all of us patriots.

There are patriots who supported this war in Iraq and patriots who opposed it; patriots who believe in Democratic policies and those who believe in Republican policies. The men and women who serve on our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.

It won't be easy, Florida. It won't be quick. But you and I know that it is time to come together and change this country. Some of you may be cynical and fed up with politics. A lot of you may be disappointed and even angry with your leaders. You have every right to be. But despite all of this, I ask of you what has been asked of Americans throughout our history.

I ask you to believe - not just in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.

I know this change is possible. Because I have seen it over the last twenty-one months. Because in this campaign, I have had the privilege to witness what is best in America.

I've seen it in lines of voters that stretched around schools and churches; in the young people who cast their ballot for the first time, and those not so young folks who got involved again after a very long time.

I've seen it in the workers who would rather cut back their hours than see their friends lose their jobs; in the neighbors who take a stranger in when the floodwaters rise; in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb.

I've seen it in the faces of the men and women I've met at countless rallies and town halls across the country, men and women who speak of their struggles but also of their hopes and dreams.

I still remember the email that a woman named Robyn sent me after I met her in Ft. Lauderdale. Sometime after our event, her son nearly went into cardiac arrest, and was diagnosed with a heart condition that could only be treated with a procedure that cost tens of thousands of dollars. Her insurance company refused to pay, and their family just didn't have that kind of money.

In her email, Robyn wrote, "I ask only this of you - on the days where you feel so tired you can't think of uttering another word to the people, think of us. When those who oppose you have you down, reach deep and fight back harder."

Florida, that's what hope is - that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that there are better days ahead. If we're willing to work for it. If we're willing to shed our fears. If we're willing to reach deep down inside ourselves when we're tired and come back fighting harder.

Hope! That's what kept some of our parents and grandparents going when times were tough. What led them to say, "Maybe I can't go to college, but if I save a little bit each week my child can; maybe I can't have my own business but if I work really hard my child can open one of her own."

It's what led immigrants from distant lands to come to these shores against great odds and carve a new life for their families in America; what led those who couldn't vote to march and organize and stand for freedom; that led them to cry out, "It may look dark tonight, but if I hold on to hope, tomorrow will be brighter."

That's what this election is about. That is the choice we face right now.

Don't believe for a second this election is over. Don't think for a minute that power concedes. We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week, because it does.

America, the time for change has come.

In five days, we can choose to invest in health care for our families, and education for our kids, and renewable energy for our future.

In five days, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo.

In five days, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history.

That's what's at stake. That's what we're fighting for - for the small business owner in Denver to keep his doors open; for the hardworking couple in Cincinnati to retire in comfort; for the young student in Sarasota to afford her tuition; for men and women in every city and town across this nation to achieve the American Dream.

And if in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and go to barackobama.com and find out where to vote - and remember, you can vote early here in Florida.

If you will stand with me, and fight by my side, and cast your ballot for me, then I promise you this - we will not just win Florida, we will not just win this election, but together, we will change this country and we will change the world. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.

Exxon Record Profits!

La Susa — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:13:15 EDT

Exxon Oct. 30, 08 third quarter record profits 14.8 billion! Bush-McCain economics!

Every Vote Counts!

La Susa — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:48:24 EDT

Vote Early, take friends and relatives with you!

Before and on Nov. 4, if one can help to bring people to the polls! If one has folding chairs, mark with your name and phone number and offer to help our seniors, and those with disbilities sit down while waiting in expected long lines!

Remind folks to sign their names on paper ballots!

In some areas one cannot wear political T-Shirts or pins!

If one has no car, is disabled and cannot be out and about, still vote early, call all of your friends and relatives and encourage them to vote!

We cannot afford to believe the polls! Every Vote Counts!!!!!!

Barnstorming Northeastern Pennsylvania

Kevin Hartnett — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:28:56 EDT

This post is the latest in a series chronicling Governor Rendell's Road to Change Bus Tour.

Lebanon Valley
We held an amazing and beautiful rally in the on-campus chapel with a crowd of close to 200. The serenity of the chapel reinforced the significance of this event and this campaign.

The Governor got a tremendous introduction from Pat Walter, who talked of her and her family’s commitment to LVC. She explained that for the college and the community to move forward; an Obama/Biden Administration is what is needed

Got a chance to meet a great and active Democrat; Pat Stephens She has great story to tell about her long history of support the party in Southeast PA and Philadelphia. After moving near LVC she is ready to help this ticket and this party move ahead. Her enthusiasm was tremendous

Wilkes University
A great event, though it took me awhile to understand why someone was dressed as Superman at a campaign event. Then someone reminded me that it is Halloween. That’s life on the road for you. Now that I know, I am on a mission to track down some candy corn and pumpkin pie.

It is clear that people are very engaged with the issues of the campaign. It was great to talk with young people who understand the importance of protecting Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare.

Scranton
A beautiful day and a tremendous rally. Thanks to the UFCW 1776 for their great shirts and their enthusiasm. It was good to see so many of our friends in organized labor. We had a great meeting with Field Organizer Matthew McCabe and Regional Field Director Bill Rubin. It was clear from the success of the event that they have a strong team.

Back on the road and headed south the Bethlehem. The search for candy corn continues...

Campaign for Change Road Blogger Abass Kamara wrote this post.

Barnstorming Northeastern Pennsylvania

Kevin Hartnett — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:28:56 EDT

This post is the latest in a series chronicling Governor Rendell's Road to Change Bus Tour.

Lebanon Valley
We held an amazing and beautiful rally in the on-campus chapel with a crowd of close to 200. The serenity of the chapel reinforced the significance of this event and this campaign.

The Governor got a tremendous introduction from Pat Walter, who talked of her family’s commitment to LVC. She explained that for the college and the community to move forward an Obama/Biden Administration is what is needed.
We also had a chance to meet a great and active Democrat; Pat Stephens. She has great story to tell about her long history of supporting the party in Southeast PA and Philadelphia. After moving to Lebanon she is ready to help this ticket and this party move ahead. Her enthusiasm was tremendous.

Wilkes University
A great event, though it took me awhile to understand why someone was dressed in a Superman costume. Then someone reminded me that it is Halloween. That’s life on the road for you. Now that I know, I am on a mission to track down some candy corn and pumpkin pie.

It is clear that people are very engaged with the issues of the campaign. It was great to talk with young people who understand the importance of protecting Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare.

Back on the road and headed south the Bethlehem. The search for candy corn continues...

Campaign for Change Road Blogger Abass Kamara wrote this post.

Joe The Plumber...

La Susa — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:47:07 EDT

Joe the plumber said yesturday "I will vote for McCain the real American." 'The real American', wonder what he means by that? Or what is he implying by that statement? Unless one has Native American ancestry as dose Sen Barack Obama, I cannot see the connection to 'real American'. I personally find the comment offensive... Should Sen McCain win this election, what cabnet position will Joe the Plunger have, or did I hear wrong?

Poor Joe the Plumber, if he had studied small business (or at least googled it) he would know that overhead, payroll, utilities and a host of other expenses are deducted before talling up the total profit from business income on Schedule C of the Federal Tax Forms... It's sad to see gulable American people lied to, in such a decptive fashion! I wonder if Joe the Plumber is jumping for joy because EXON-MOBIL again anounce hudge profits! Will Joe the Plumber get any cash from EXON-MOBIL as McCain has implied that the rich will somehow benifit the poor and middles class?

McCain-Palin Small Business LIES, BUSH-ECONOMICS, DECEPTIONS!!!!!

La Susa — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:32:17 EDT

McCain's Small-Business BunkJuly 14, 2008He claims 23 million small-business owners would pay higher tax rates under Obama. He's wrong. The vast majority would see no change, and many would get a cut.SummaryMcCain has repeatedly claimed that Obama would raise tax rates for 23 million small-business owners. It's a false and preposterously inflated figure.

We find that the overwhelming majority of those small-business owners would see no increase, because they earn too little to be affected. Obama's tax proposal would raise rates only on couples making more than $250,000 or singles earning more than $200,000.

McCain argues that Obama's proposed increase is a job-killer. He has a point. It's true that increasing taxes on those at the top would leave them less money for other purposes, including investment and hiring in the case of business owners. But the number of business owners who would see their rates go up would be only a small fraction of what McCain says. Many would see their taxes go down.
AnalysisSen. John McCain has been making this false claim over and over, starting with a July 7 speech announcing his "jobs for America" plan:

McCain, July 7: Senator Obama's tax increases will hurt the economy even more, and destroy jobs across this country. If you are one of the 23 million small-business owners in America who files as an individual rate payer, Senator Obama is going to raise your tax rates.

He repeated it in an address to the League of United Latin American Citizens the next day:

McCain, July 8: Keeping individual rates low isn't intended as a favor to wealthy Americans. 23 million small-business owners pay those rates, and taking more money from them deprives them of the capital they need to invest and grow and hire.

He said it again at a campaign event July 9:

McCain, July 9: If you are one of the 23 million small-business owners in America who files as an individual rate payer, Senator Obama is willing to raise your tax rates.

And he repeated it in the first of a planned series of radio addresses July 12:

McCain, July 12: If you are one of the 23 million small-business owners who files as an individual rate payer, watch out – because as your business grows, my opponent proposes to raise your taxes.

But repeating a falsehood doesn't make it true. McCain's 23 million claim is a bogus figure.

Outdated, Inflated, Inapplicable

To justify the 23 million figure, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers referred us to a press release by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which refers to "23 million small business owners" without citing a source. That is actually an outdated count of all the businesses in the United States, produced by the U.S. Census for 2002, when the Economic Census counted a total of 23,343,821 business firms of all sizes. Of those, 16,845 firms employed 500 persons or more, which still leaves just over 23.3 million classified as "small" by the widely accepted definition that we will use here.

That figure is six years out of date. The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy estimates the total number of "small" firms with fewer than 500 workers reached 26.8 million in 2006. That's the most recent estimate. But it is also inflated. Since the total U.S. population was just under 300 million in 2006, it would mean that one in every 11 Americans – men, women and children – is a "small-business owner."

It turns out, SBA's estimate includes more than 20 million "nonemployer" firms, an unknown number of them sideline or hobby businesses run by persons who actually make their living some other way. Census and SBA count as a "small business" anyone who reported as little as $1,000 of business receipts. By that very broad definition, John McCain himself is a "small-business owner," because his tax return shows Schedule C income from book royalties. For that matter, Barack Obama would also be a small-business owner, by virtue of his book income. As would President Bush and Vice President Cheney, as we pointed out in 2004. Of the 26.8 million that SBA counts as "small businesses," fewer than 6 million are actually "employer firms" with any payroll.

From this, we must conclude that to arrive at his 23 million figure, McCain is counting mostly "business owners" with no workers, including those who simply report small amounts of income from sideline or freelance work. McCain is arguing that Obama's tax increase would "destroy jobs," but he's counting mostly firms that don't produce any.

That in itself is seriously misleading. If McCain wants to focus on the effects of Obama's plan on employment, he would do better to confine his count to employers – the just under 6 million firms that actually have workers. And even that figure wouldn't be applicable because Obama's tax increase wouldn't fall on all employers, only on those in the top two income tax brackets.

McCain Campaign's Statement

1. These small businesses are subject to Sen. Obama's pay or play health care plan: The tax will either be in the form of health insurance to
workers or cash to the government.

2. Further, even giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, if they make
over $250,000 and file as individuals or have capital gain or dividends, their taxes go up, as Obama has promised.

Note US Chamber cites 23 million figure: "The U.S. Chamber is proud to pay special tribute to some of its most valued constituents: America's
23 million small business owners"McCain's Non-explanation

McCain cannot justify his 23 million claim. We asked McCain spokesman Brian Rogers for substantiation and received the statement that we reprint here. We find it simply won't do.

Rogers starts by saying that Obama's health care proposal to provide coverage for uninsured workers would amount to a "tax," either in the form of higher costs for covering employees or "cash to the government." But McCain was talking about income tax rates, not higher business costs. That's not justifying McCain's claim; that's trying to change the subject.

Furthermore – as we've just seen – the vast majority of those that McCain is counting as small-business owners have no employees and wouldn't encounter any added costs for covering workers. Obama's plan wouldn't apply to every small employer, either. It says: "Small employers that meet certain revenue thresholds will be exempt." Also, after Rogers sent his message, Obama announced July 13 that he is proposing to grant $6 billion per year in tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance plans, covering up to half the cost of premiums paid to cover employees.

As for actual income tax rates, which is what McCain keeps talking about, Rogers says "if they make over $250,000 and file as individuals ... their taxes go up." But this leaves out all but a very small fraction of those McCain counts as small-business owners. Rogers also says taxes will go up if small-business owners "have capital gains or dividends," but Obama's proposal would not increase rates on capital gains or dividends for couples making under $250,000, or singles making under about $200,000, regardless of whether they are classified as small-business owners or not.

How Many Would Actually Pay More?

McCain is right about one thing. Many small-business owners would indeed see their taxes go up if Obama is elected and raises the top income-tax rates. According to a survey from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, about eight out of 10 small-business owners responding to the poll report that they are organized legally in a way that would require them to pay taxes on their business income as individuals, rather than as a corporation. But since Obama's plan wouldn't affect those making less than $250,000 for couples, or about $200,000 for singles, we need to estimate how many would fall into those high-income categories.

Obama's plan, according to his economic policy director Jason Furman, would return the top two federal income-tax rates to what they were before Bush lowered them. In addition, Obama would adjust the income-tax brackets to ensure that no married couple making under $250,000 or single filer making under $200,000 would pay the top rates.

The actual number of business owners who would be affected turns out to be well under a million, and the number of employers would be even less. Based on the number of taxpayers who now report any sort of business income on their returns, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center projects that 663,608 taxpayers with business income, or business losses, will fall into the top two tax brackets in 2009, when any Obama tax changes would first take effect. Not all of those can properly be called "small-business owners," however. Some are farmers. Many are lawyers, accountants or other professionals who get some of their income in the form of partnership distributions. Others may be passive investors in real-estate partnerships or similar investment arrangements and not really persons who own and manage a business.

It is also not clear how many who report business income actually employ any workers. In 2004, the Tax Policy Center found that hundreds of thousands of individual taxpayers who had business income from partnerships or subchapter-S corporations (whose owners pay taxes as individuals) did not claim any tax deductions for employee expenses. For all these reasons we judge that the actual number of small-business employers who would face higher tax rates under Obama is probably far below 663,608, and certainly a far cry from McCain's ridiculously inflated 23 million figure.

Lower Taxes for Many

While Obama's plan would raise rates at the top, it also would grant what he calls a “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Since this credit would not begin to phase down for couples making less than $150,000, we judge it likely that many, if not most of the 23 million that McCain counts as "small-business owners" would likely get tax reductions.

An Echo of Bush

McCain's claim struck us as wildly improbable the first time we heard it because we debunked a much less expansive claim that President Bush made about John Kerry in 2004. Bush ran a TV ad saying that Kerry's proposal to raise taxes on persons making more than $200,000 a year would affect 900,000 small-business owners. We found Bush's number to be far too high. We noted that Bush was counting as a "small-business owner" anyone who reported even $1 of business or partnership income, regardless of how the taxpayer made their living. At that time, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimated that a total of 471,000 small-business employers could be affected.

– by Brooks Jackson

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/mccains_small-business_bunk.html

Please vote today.........if you can!!

Dave — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:15:22 EDT

If you are already registered to vote, please don't wait until Tuesday, 4th November 2008. Go and vote for Obama using the absentee voting system today, if you haven't done so. This will ensure that you don't queue up for ages waiting to cast your vote on next Tuesday.

Remember, you have a right to cast your vote if you're already registered. If someone tries to stop or challenge you, politely take their name and photograph if you can. We have a voter protection team in most polling stations and am sure they will be able to offer you help and support.

If you're using an electronic voting machine, ensure you review your vote - clearly select Barack Obama. In most cases, if you make a mistake and press the wrong button, you should be able to change this quite easily.

It's important to note that Al Gore lost Florida by 537 votes in 2000. Therefore, every vote counts in this election. Please don't assume anything and make sure you get up early on Tuesday and be at the voting location in good time.

Good luck and God bless you folks.

Obama/Biden '08

Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt

Otto Holland — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:17:05 EDT

This story maybe ridiculous or thought of as insane but it s just a thought! No one needs to agree but as free humans; we are free to think. Having experienced the horrible state of the economy and the devastation we face; I have become afraid to look at my 401K account. The last time I looked, I noticed my loss was in the region of $30,000.00 and I cringe at the thought of what I worked so hard for gone up in smoke. I as well as millions, who are in the same situation, find it very hard to sleep at nights. I feel sorry for anyone like myself who are close to retirement or retired. I have to ask myself, what in God’s name are we to do and how will we manage going forward? I remember reading in the Bible where the Children of Israel being lead out of bondage in Egypt by Moses. There is an account where they came upon the city of Jericho and was instructed to take the city. If my memory serve me correctly; they had no army or weapons except the “Ark of the Covenant” which they carried with them. As the story goes; they became afraid and ask, how is it that they should do such things. They were told to march and to bond their faith while carrying the Ark of the Covenant. I guess many reading this story can relate but this goes to show that faith can move mountains. The Children of Israel marched round and round the great walls of Jericho and when their hearts, mind and faith became one; the great walls came tumbling down. This is a time when we as a people badly needs a Moses to guide us out of the dark ages of the last eight years and lead us to the promise of a better future. I am not saying Barack Obama is our Moses but what if he is the one who transcends all ordinary thinking and we are just fortunate to have him take up the Ark of American and lead us to a better future? This is just something to think about because it is not only Americans who looking, hoping and praying that Barack Obama becomes our next President. The world is watching as never before and hoping for peace and prosperity.

Was Obama's Infomercial Worth the Cost?

Kamana — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:52:54 EDT

Obama’s primetime infomercial, aired by three networks last night, was an impressive audiovisual display that highlighted his working class roots. The “Oval Office” backdrop was undoubtedly designed to portray him as “Presidential.” He effectively recapped his vision for America and the policies that Americans can look forward to under an Obama Presidency. Most importantly, it may have comforted some voters unsure of Obama’s motives and ambitions. Obama came across as intelligent, likeable, and characteristically Presidential.

Despite all this, it appeared to me an “over the top” campaign event. Obama has a significant lead in the polls and is almost guaranteed a victory in the upcoming election. The McCain camp’s attacks on his character don’t seem to be working. Obama’s throng of energetic volunteers and his well-tuned campaign team are doing their job well. The several million dollars spent on these ads were unnecessary and could possibly portray him as extravagant at a time when frugality is finally becoming a virtue in America.

Obama had my vote before the infomercial. Less than a week from the elections, most voters know who they are voting for – many have already voted. Did the infomercial sway anyone? Perhaps, but not enough to justify the $3 million expense.

My blog has moved to: kmsl.wordpress.com

More McCain-Palin "Unethical?" LIES, MISLEADING, FALSE!

La Susa — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:11:48 EDT

'Unethical?'

October 27, 2008

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/unethical.html

A McCain-Palin/RNC ad claims Obama 'rewards his friends with your tax dollars.' It's off the mark.SummaryAn ad released jointly by the McCain-Palin campaign and the RNC claims Obama "rewards his friends with your tax dollars" and calls his actions "unethical." Some of what the ad says is false or misleading. Here are the facts:

The ad claims that Obama supporter and Chicago real estate developer Allison Davis received $20 million in taxpayer money. That's false. Davis didn't get this money. Instead, the federal grant went to the Chicago Housing Authority, replacing money it had already put forward for a mixed-income housing project on which Davis was a developer. The grant didn't go to Davis, nor did it help him pocket any additional funds.

The ad says Obama gave Tony Rezko $14 million of taxpayer money. That's misleading. It's true the housing project Rezko was working on cost $14 million in taxpayer cash. Rezko and his partner netted $855,000 in fees.
Obama worked to get Kenny Smith a $100,000 grant to build a park, which Smith later failed to complete. Smith has since caught the attention of the state attorney general. But, according to reports, Obama isn't under investigation for helping Smith get the grant.

The RNC and McCain may consider Obama's actions to be "unethical"; that's a matter of opinion. But the fact is, as far as these three incidents are concerned, Obama has not been officially accused of any wrongdoing, and there's been no report that his actions are the subject of any official investigation.
AnalysisThe joint ad from the McCain-Palin campaign and the Republican National Committee accuses Sen. Barack Obama of being "unethical," citing instances in which individuals connected to Obama received federal or state funds. Sen. John McCain's campaign and the RNC have spent $5.9 million so far airing the ad in 17 states, including Pennsylvania, where $1.2 million has been spent on the ad, and North Carolina, where it has aired a total of 1,629 times, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group of TNS Media Intelligence. The ad started airing on Oct. 14.

RNC/McCain-Palin Ad:
"Unethical"

Announcer: Obama rewards his friends with your tax dollars. Tony Rezko, fourteen million. Allison Davis, twenty million. Kenny Smith, one hundred thousand. That's unethical. Congressional liberals promise to raise your taxes to reward their friends with wasteful pork. Taxes for you. Pork for them. Who's gonna' stop 'em? Congressional liberals? Or him.

McCain: I'm John McCain and I approve this message. $20 Million? Try Zero

The ad claims that real estate developer Allison Davis received $20 million of taxpayer money thanks to Obama. But that's false. Davis didn't get any of this money. The ad cites a story from The Washington Times, but the article says that "city housing authorities confirmed" that the "grant money won't go to Mr. Davis or his company."

According to documentation provided by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), a letter was ghostwritten for Obama, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and others by the CHA in support of a project called Stateway Gardens – an urban revitalization effort to transition crime-ridden high-rises into mixed-income housing. The letter was sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in an effort to acquire a fiscal year 2008 grant of $20 million to support the project, of which Davis, a supporter of Obama, was one of the developers.

We spoke with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spokeswoman Donna White, who told us that the money was not awarded to Davis, but to the Chicago Housing Authority:

Donna White, spokeswoman for HUD: The Chicago Housing Authority competed for [the Hope VI] grant. The housing authority applies for the funding, they select a developer. ... It's common for congressional members to submit letters of support when they know that a housing authority in their jurisdiction is competing for a grant.

We also spoke with William Little, executive vice president of development for CHA, who reiterated that the HUD grant was not awarded to Davis, but to the CHA, and that the grant allowed the CHA to reallocate funds it had already directed to the Stateway project. Davis did not see a profit as a result of the HUD grant, according to Little, nor did the budget for the Stateway project increase. When we asked Little about the charge in the ad that Obama "reward[ed]" Davis with $20 million, he told us:

William Little, CHA: That's totally false. HUD awarded CHA $20 million in a Hope VI grant, which allows CHA to reallocate funds it had previously earmarked for that particular project to other projects. The overall budget for the project did not increase. Allison Davis gets none of it.

A portion of the Stateway development is devoted to market-priced housing, and Davis stood to profit from the sales of those homes. But he did not pocket any of the HUD grant, which went to construction of low-income units.

Tony Rezko (Again)

The ad also claims that Tony Rezko got "fourteen million," because of Obama. But he didn't.

A 2007 report from The Chicago Sun-Times is the source, but the article goes over territory we've addressed before: that Obama wrote letters to state officials supporting a low-income senior housing complex Rezko was trying to have built. Both men say Rezko did not solicit the letters. The Sun-Times quoted Obama spokesman Bill Burton as saying Obama didn't write the letters as a favor but "in the interests of the people in the community who have benefited from the project."

Regardless, the ad is wrong to imply Rezko pocketed millions. The project cost $14 million of taxpayer money. But, as we've reported, Rezko and his partner, who was Allison Davis, received $855,000 in fees. It's not peanuts, but it's not $14 million either.

Kenny Smith's $100,000 Garden

The ad then claims Kenny Smith received $100,000 in taxpayer money as a "reward" from Obama. This claim holds more water than the rest, but it's still a leaky vessel.

The ad cites a New York Post report that details how Obama, then a state senator in the midst of a race for a congressional seat, worked on Smith's behalf in 2000 in an effort to raise $1.1 million in state funding for the "Englewood Botanic Garden Project." Smith, head of the nonprofit Chicago Better Housing Association and a volunteer for Obama's congressional campaign, planned to rehabilitate a plot of land in a Chicago neighborhood. He was awarded a $100,000 state grant to do so, a far cry from the $1.1 million he had hoped to receive.

But Smith never built the park. And, according to a report from The Chicago Sun-Times, state Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a Democrat who backs Obama, has started to look into whether or not taxpayer money was mishandled. While questions have been raised about how Smith spent the money, according to the Sun-Times, the paper notes that "neither Smith nor his wife are accused of any wrongdoing." The Post report cited by the ad said that "officials in Madigan's office said Obama's actions in giving out the member item aren't under investigation."

Democrats "Promise to Raise Your Taxes"

The ad swings away from the taxpayer hand-outs and claims: "Democrats promise to raise your taxes to reward their friends with wasteful pork." That linkage doesn't sound like a promise any sane politician would make.

The ad cites a Nov. 2007 article from The Washington Times, which chronicles a bill introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.). The bill would have amended the tax code to repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax and limit deductions that could be claimed by taxpayers making more than $250,000 a year, among other measures. But Rangel's bill, introduced a year ago, never cleared the Ways and Means Committee.

As for the "wasteful pork" claim, the fact is that securing earmarks is a popular practice among both Democrats and Republicans. Two oft-cited earmark recipients are longtime Sens. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Both were listed in Porkbusters.org's "Hall of Shame" in 2006 and have been singled out as "Porker of The Month" more than once over the last eight years by the organization Citizens Against Government Waste – proof that, promise or not, Democrats and Republicans send money home for projects whether taxes go up or down.

– by Emi Kolawole

from www.factcheck.org a non-partisan watch dog group!!!!!!!!

"Beating the sun and on the road again"

Kevin Hartnett — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:57:25 EDT

This post is the latest in a series chronicling Governor Rendell's Road to Change Bus Tour.

Beating the sun and on the road again, Gettysburg College is our destintation.

We walk into an early morning rally of 300 full of all ages and races. A beautiful sight to see.

The story of Susan Eisenhower, grandduaghter to President Eisenhower, and her reasoning for supporting Barack Obama, speaks volumes to where this campaign is going. We are bringing people of all political backgrounds onboard. Ms. Eisenhower goes on to say how excited she is to see a candidate and campaign "transcend the racial and cultural divide"

The Governor's energy at these campaign stops is a site to see, espeically with a schedule as aggressive as his, so we all follow his lead and power on through.

Some really hearty cheers for the calls for "renewable and alternative energy to be a key part of our economy", especially in light of the sucesses that already are occuring in PA with wind energy

Seeing the children of so many volunteers and supporters is a tremenouds reminder of the long term importance of this election. Young Andrew (11) of Gettysburg gets his placard signed and gets a picture with the Governor and then says "this is most historic election ever and it is great to have a candidate we can be proud of..."

-"Out of the mouth of babes, out of the mouth of babes"

Campaign for Change Road Blogger Abass Kamara wrote this post.

"A License to Kill" Email TV Adds LIES, FALSE!!!!!!!

La Susa — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:11:34 EDT

A License to Kill

October 28, 2008

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/a_license_to_kill.html

A new anti-Obama group runs a bunk-filled ad implying he'd give a driver's license to Mohammed Atta. SummaryAn upstart group calling itself the "National Republican Trust PAC" mixes a pile of false claims and the image of 9/11 mastermind Mohammed Atta to create one of the sleaziest false TV ads of the campaign.

The spot falsely claims Obama has a "plan" to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. In fact, Obama has said quite specifically, "I am not proposing that that's what we do."
The ad implies such licenses would enable terrorist attacks. In fact, Atta wouldn't have needed one to carry out his attacks.

It claims that Obama's health care plan will apply to illegal immigrants. But Obama has stated quite clearly that his plan "does not" cover illegal immigrants.

The ad falsely claims that Obama's plan "gives illegals Social Security benefits," which is also flatly untrue.

AnalysisDespite its name, the National Republican Trust has no formal connection to the Republican Party. It is an independent group with ties to the conservative Web site Newsmax. It sprang into being barely a month ago and has reported spending more than $900,000 to attack Obama through e-mail messages and, now, TV ads.

Its TV spot first showed up on the air in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 26, and it has also received considerable circulation on the Web. It attempts to link Sen. Barack Obama to the 9/11 hijackers. The link? A spurious claim that Obama plans to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. NRT PAC, which is headed by a former writer for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Insight magazine, says it plans to air the ad in other swing states.

Update, Oct. 29: Newsmax distributed a new NRT PAC fundraising e-mail today in which NRT boasts of having now raised "over $3 million." A postscript states that the group's ads are now running "in 5 battleground states."

National Republican Trust PAC Ad: "Social Security for Illegals"

Announcer: Millions of illegal aliens in the U.S. Barack Obama’s plan gives a driver’s license to any illegal who wants one.

But that’s not all.

Obama’s plan gives illegals Social Security benefits and raises taxes for his health care plan to cover them. Who pays? You do.

Driver’s licenses and government benefits for illegals. Higher taxes for us. That’s Obama’s plan. Obama. Too radical. Too risky.

The National Republican Trust PAC is responsible for the content of this advertisement. Drive Like a Maniac

The ad begins with the ominous warning that "Barack Obama's plan gives a driver's license to any illegal who wants one." More alarmingly, the ad flashes a picture of a Florida driver's license featuring 9/11 mastermind Mohammed Atta. The ad then goes on to claim that Obama's "plan" provides illegal immigrants with Social Security and health care benefits and would raise taxes to pay for it.

Hardly a word in the ad is true.

Let's start with the incendiary implication that Obama's "plan" would somehow enable terrorists like Atta. That's ridiculous. It's true that Atta did use a Florida driver's license to board the plane he hijacked. It's also irrelevant. Atta entered the U.S. legally, using a tourist visa, so laws about licenses for illegal immigrants wouldn't have affected him anyway. What's more, Atta could just as easily have boarded the plane with his Egyptian passport. The Transportation Security Administration lists foreign government-issued passports as acceptable identification for boarding a U.S. flight. For that matter, The Cato Institute's Jim Harper, who advises the Department of Homeland Security on data privacy, describes NRT PAC's claim as "despicable" and says that it is "terror-pandering of the highest order."

Plan? What Plan?

Furthermore, NRT PAC's claim that Obama has a "plan" to give driver's licenses to "any illegal [immigrant] who wants one" is just false. Obama has no such plan. "Plan" implies a worked out, formal policy. But NRT rests its claim entirely on comments Obama made during two Democratic primary debates. All candidates were asked whether they supported then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Obama hedged, but when pressed, admitted that he agreed with states granting licenses, and requiring insurance. Here's part of the exchange:

CNN's Wolf Blitzer (Nov. 15, 2007): Barring, avoiding, assuming there isn't going to be comprehensive immigration reform, do you support or oppose driver's licenses for illegal immigrants?
Obama: I am not proposing that that's what we do. ... I have already said I support the notion that we have to deal with public safety and that driver's licenses at the state level can make that happen. But what I also know, Wolf, is that if we keep on getting distracted by this problem, then we are not solving it.

We take no position on the wisdom of Spitzer's proposal. But it's false to puff up Obama's comments into a "plan" when he quite specifically said, "I am not proposing that that's what we do." That sounds to us to be the opposite of a plan. The group would have been correct had it said Obama supported Spitzer's plan, but only in the absence of a federal effort to fix the immigration mess.

Health Care and Taxes. Again.

It is simply untrue that Obama plans to provide health care for illegal immigrants. To the contrary, in an exchange with CNN's Joe Johns during a January debate in South Carolina, Obama explicitly ruled out coverage for illegal immigrants:

Johns (Jan. 21, 2008): Senator Obama, we all know what universal health care is, as Senator Clinton just said, sort of the idea that everybody deserves health care. And I have not been able to sort of zero in on your position on this one question: Does your plan cover the estimated 12 million or so illegal immigrants in the country?
Obama: It does not.
Johns: Why not?
Obama: Well, because I think we've got limited resources. And it is important for us that, when we've got millions of U.S. citizens that aren't yet covered, it's important for us to make sure that they are provided coverage.

That sounds pretty clear to us. Furthermore, as we've said more times than we care to count now, Obama's plan raises taxes only on people making more than $200,000 ($250,000 for a couple). That's true for income taxes, capital gains taxes and payroll taxes.

Social Security Bunk That Won't Die

Just for good measure, the ad recycles some two-year-old bunk, too. The claim that Obama "plans" to grant Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants is nowhere to be found on his Web site. NRT PAC bases this claim on Obama's vote on an amendment to a 2006 immigration bill. But that amendment would not have granted Social Security benefits to any illegal immigrants, not unless they became U.S. citizens or legal immigrants first. We debunked this attack back in 2006 when it was a Republican favorite. The passing years haven't made it any truer.

Under current law, an illegal immigrant who later gets legal status can claim credit for any Social Security taxes he or she paid while still illegal. The 2006 amendment would have ended that practice. The bill failed 50 - 49, with Obama joining the majority to vote against it. Many illegal immigrants pay Social Security taxes even while working illegally. In 2006, for example, the Social Security Administration collected about $7 billion in taxes that couldn't be credited to specific workers.

Again, we take no position on the merits of the amendment. But it's a serious distortion to say that it would have granted Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.

End-Game Sleaze

The National Republican Trust PAC came into being Sept. 26, when it first registered with the Federal Election Commission. By Oct. 15 it had reported raising $463,000 for its anti-Obama campaign. (Update: In an e-mail to supporters on Oct. 29, the group said it had raised more than $3 million.) It has reported spending a total of $902,604 to attack Obama, according to the most recent report filed Oct. 26. It has reported spending substantial sums to the conservative Web site Newsmax and to other vendors for "email communication" opposing Obama's election, and to a Virginia company called Integram for "direct mail." It has also listed expenditures for "media production" and a "media buy."

Its Web site lists its executive director as Scott Wheeler, who also writes articles for Newsmax, which the NRT PAC pays to distribute anti-Obama e-mail messages, many of which are little more than fundraising pleas.

It's not uncommon for the final weeks of the presidential campaign to bring out some of the most deceptive ads of the cycle. We thought it would be tough to top the whoppers we've seen already, but it looks as if some of the third-party ads are out to prove us wrong. If this gem from the National Republican Trust PAC is any indication, we'd best brace for a blizzard of balderdash.

– by Joe Miller

from factcheck.org

Obama to be on top of the hour!

La Susa — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:57:41 EDT

Sen Barack Obama to be on TV for 30 minets at the top of the hour!!!!!!!