Washington Veterans for Obama

Bias in the WNBA ?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:21:20 EDT

I just wanted to share a message I sent to a friend of mine on Myspace. She is a professional basketball player in Greece. She is arguably the best 2-guard in the world, yet she has been blacklisted by the WNBA because of an act her brother committed, which landed him in prison. Her name is Giuliana Mendiola and while in her senior year at the University of Washington Giuliana Mendiola averaged 23.1 points; 4.9 assists; 2 steals and 5.2 rebounds as a 5’11” 2-guard at the University of Washington. She was informed she would be drafted by the Seattle Storm, coached by Anne Donovan at the time. When the 2004 WNBA College Draft approached, Giuliana was ignored by everyone because of the acts her brother committed. Giuliana had no part in this act, yet she was blacklisted. I was a guest columnist with the Seattle Times and wrote the following article < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20040425&slug=mytake25 >. MY MESSAGE: Oct 24 2009 12:19 AM Hey Giuli,
are you back to playing ball overseas? I tried to add Fab to my friends list, but I do not know his email, which it required in order for me to send the request.

I hope you're in a good situation with your team overseas, but I wish you were playing ball in the WNBA even more so. You and Shelia Lambert are without a doubt the best 1-2 guards in the world, but the ridiculous politicking by coaches like Anne Donovan and others have blacklisted both of you.

I wish the Federal government would do a probe of this bias against persons of color in the WNBA. I would hope the President Obama would create a commission to look into this continuing problem which I have seen go on for far too long. It's racist and it's wrong and should be dealt with immediately.

Dr. Phil did a show on racism and bias on his show today which I believe went a long way to eradicate this disease of the mind in our social consciousness.

Love you my friend,
David Giuliana, as a walk on with the Sacramento Monarchs, received no playing time, except in a televised game against Los Angeles where she almost single handedly brought her team back from a 20 plus point disadvantage in the closing moments of the game. She’s a very positive minded person, but it’s heartbreaking to see her not be given the opportunity to play in the WNBA and be given the playing time to showcase her talent. There have been other players who I’ve spoken with who played for Miss Donovan, never to be allowed back into the WNBA as well. In the end, I believe the fact that Giuliana is a heterosexual and a devout Catholic may have played a role in being blacklisted. I was so concentrated on race when I wrote that article in 2004; I didn't take into account these other two components, which I have found to be as pertinent as race, if not more so. I would wish that the President would assign a commission to look into the bias that exists in the WNBA, which have affected other players as well as Giuliana over the years.

State Rep. in PA calls OpFREE veterans "traitors"

Lorin Walker — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:17:25 EDT

Team--Seems a state representative in Pennsylvania thinks Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans working for energy security are "traitors" and "Benedict Arnolds" Let's get the word out and push back hard against smears like this.

Twitter friendly post:
Why is a Republican State Rep. calling Iraq and Afghan vets "traitors"? http://tinyurl.com/ylspwev #secureamerica #vetsbus

Direct link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-powers/why-is-a-republican-pa-st_b_326155.html

Thanks,

Lorin Walker

Seattle is Liberal in some ways, yet conservative in most others, you just have to look within

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:49:06 EDT

Seattle is liberal in some ways, yet conservative in most others

While attending the University of Washington I wrote a paper on the ugliness of our country that is visible by African-Americans, not Caucasian-Americans, due too Institutionalized racism titled “Culture of Embedded Racism: No Legal Recourse, No Legal Mobilization, only Revolution”.

Racism in the United States (that dark little secret shared by more Caucasian-Americans than you’d believe), is the reason why we have not excelled as much as we have the potential too at this point in our society’s life.

To me, racism is secretly or overtly rationalizing to oneself that blacks, simply because they are black, speak Ebonics, are violent, make love better than a white man, are more endowed than white men, are less intelligent than white men, are not wired to lead, etc, etc, etc…I have attached a copy of a paper (please overlook the typos and grammatical errors and attempt to comprehend my train of thought in developing this research paper), I wrote in one of my LSJ (Law, Societies & Justice courses at the UW. I am in no way a racist; but a realist who has experienced and witnessed violence by institutionalized authority figures since I was three, when I had yet not developed the mental maturation to comprehend what I was exposed too at such a young age.

AS A CHILD, MY FAMILY MOVED AROUND LIKE NOMADS (I recently discovered documents, through the “freedom of information act,” detailing the barbaric treatment of my father by the military and NOAA, was the reason for this constant movement of our family. I am now attempting to get “Veteran’s Benefits” for my mother (81) before she passes away. He received the “Victory Medal” and “Good Conduct Medal” while serving in the Navy in WWII. He was drafted five times, first at the age of 16. He served a total of 23-years of Navy service, ending in “Honorable Discharges”.

While enroute to Virginia with military orders; to be shipped out to war, he got into an accident and rolled his car. He sustained back injuries that plagued the rest of his career, yet the Department of Veterans Affairs saw it as the right to refuse disability benefits. This led to arthritis in his back and internal damages, yet as in the case of most African-American vets, he was rejected benefits that would have given his family a more stable life. As with me and my wife, my father married my mother, even though she had three children to bring into the marriage. My sister Linda (11-05-1959); me (03-15-1962); and Charles Edward martin Jr. (03-28-1963), were his biological children. There was Rufus (05-10-1947); Margaret (02-19-1953); and Freddie (12-25-1956). My mother and father married on 12-01-1959, so Rufus was 12, Margaret was 6, and Freddie was 2. When I met my wife on 05-01-1990; Oliver was 12 (02-09-1978); Ramona 3 (05-11-1986); and Corinna 2 (02-04-1988).

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS I ATTENDED

Olympic View in Bremerton, WA; Frank B. Cooper on Delridge Way in West Seattle; and West Woodland Elementary in Ballard and each of these schools had a profound affect on my human development. I attended West Woodland in the sixth grade. My teacher was a German National with a very thick German accent named Mr. Entenmann. He may have been a naturalized citizen by then, but he obviously lived in Germany most of his life. He took our class to an opera, which blew me completely away. Of all of my teachers, he has always been my favorite.

I always felt that I was treated as less important than my white counterparts, but never did I feel that way when Mr. Entenmann was my teacher. I believe, even though most of my white teachers were wonderful, they were not aware, or maybe they were, of how they treated me versus how that treated my white counterparts. It was as if they pushed me along, even though I had not mastered the subject, because I was a good kid. Mr. Entenmann demanded excellence and I loved that!

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS I ATTENDED

Blaine Junior High on Queen Anne; Logan on Magnolia; Cascade Middle School in White Center/ Burien; and ASA Mercer Junior High School in Seattle.

Up until I attended ASA Mercer Junior High, our family was the only blacks at those schools, with the exception of Cooper, which had a few other black families, but not much.

I always thought of my dad as the one who took care of everything. At 6’3” and about 250 pounds, my father was a very imposing figure. In Burien, we all lived in a brown ugly shack with one or two bedrooms. I was bused from Burien to Blaine middle school (09-05-1974-10-03-1974) and called nigger everyday, with no friends. The kids surrounded me daily and one day I let loose. I went to the principal’s office and explained my story. The principal was a racist; the whole school was at that time. My father came there and for the first time, I saw a chip in his armor. He could do nothing, so my family had me bused to a different school (Logan). I must have been there for the rest of the year or a similar event unfolded and I was sent to the school closest to our home, Cascade Middle School. Again, I was called nigger and had fights with Tim Thornton every day. The 7th grade was the worst year in my life. I never learned fractions and whatever else was taught in the 7th grade because of the simply trying to survive everyday.

The next year my family moved to the Madrona neighborhood and I went to ASA Mercer Middle School. There were a lot of Asian students, black students, white students, Native-American students and we all got along so well! Bruce Mar (Chinese and Gerald Russell) were my absolutely best friends. We then stayed and I went to High School at Franklin. All of my friends were there too and I was finally living. I never got into the hardcore rap crowd because ASA was my first experience with black students who were proud and equals, but I has so many friends in all groups.

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDED

In High school we moved to the Garfield area and my family let me finish out school at Franklin. I caught a metro bus (14 Mt Baker) to school everyday. I then excelled, winning a Scholarship Award from The Seattle Public School District, “In recognition of academic excellence and contributions made to the quality of life as a student of Seattle Public Schools on 06-11-1980.

When I finished school I found that racism was still there, everywhere. I would be shadowed in stores, while whites were robbing them blind. Police Officers would look at me meanly for no reason at all. I wanted to get away from Seattle, so I joined the US Marines on 08-29-1980. I was a guide for a while and I even humped Mount Mother fu-ck-- with my Gunnery Sergeant “Gunny,” yet in the end they gave it to Costar, a white male. From then on, I saw that even though I tried twice as hard in everything I did, excelled over others, I would never get the accolades because that’s just the way things were.

I’m a Catholic, but I believe gays should be allowed to marry (no civil union), but marriage because I know what it feels like to be treated as less than… Less than should not even be in the American vocabulary.

Well, now you can read the attached paper, knowing I’m not a racist, but one who has been picked on all my life by my country. I love my country, which is why I served both in the US Marines and US Army. I’m just so hurt and can’t understand why my country doesn’t love me.

Seattle is liberal in a lot of ways, but with gentrification (forcing blacks out of their homes), because blacks are always turned down for higher paying jobs, e.g., I applied to Microsoft’s security team and they didn’t even call me back after just having served as a sergeant in the Army as a Military Policeman. My German son worked at Wal-Mart and then applied and they made him a supervisor getting the kind of money I will never get. My wife and I worked at Safeco Insurance Company in Redmond, Washington when Mike McGavick was the president of the company.

I worked in Manuals and Distribution. I made it clear that I wanted to stay there and become a supervisor or manager. Whenever my supervisor was out, I was designated as the one to delegate work assignment sand keep things moving. I received many pride awards for what I did. However, my supervisor and Manager kept telling me that this position would never come up, so I should put in for a transfer. They kept doing this for a few months until I finally gave in. Not two days later a fellow worker told me my supervisor was being promoted and they gave, I believe his name was Chad (a 19 year old redheaded male with shoulder length hair and a full beard) the job, without even announcing it.

I immediately confronted them, but they said there was nothing I could do. I went to HR and I was contacted by Mike McGavick who attempted to smooth things over. I told him this wasn’t right and that it was an example of institutionalized racism and something needed to be done. They told me he had college (1-year of junior college); I told them I had one year at the University of Washington and gave them my transcript. They said he had more experience and I stated that I was the one who performed the supervisory duties when the supervisor was absent; I also had an assistant with my manuals. I also told them I had managing duties as a sergeant in the United States Army and they stated that my military experience didn’t count.

My wife was made a lead in her department, a German national with little experience. My wife told me her Manager Karen stated that I was blacklisted because of my complaint and I would never advance at Safeco. She said the best would be for me to go to another company.

What my father had experienced before passing away 08-15-1997. My experience in school and the workforce and my brother’s lost case against the city and his company (His Company (Jore Marine Corps) was cited numerous times by OSHA for not having safety rails on their barges, because longshoreman could fall off. On 08-31-2000 my brother’s bobcat, which he was in, went off the barge into 40 feet of water in the Duwamish River. The fire Department responded immediately, but was forbidden to wear their scuba diving gear, as that was given to Mayor Paul Schell’s Police Department comrades. A fireman, Dave Powell, on one breath of air made numerous attempts to reach my brother, but would have to surface because of no oxygen tank. There were bubbles coming from the water, so my brother was still alive.

Dave Powell finally reached the bobcat and put a hook on it and they brought it up with my brother’s lifeless body inside. At this time, the police Department arrived. Judge Alsdorf ruled against our family and acquitted the city and Jore Marine Corp of all charges.

We found out approximately three years later that our lead attorney was a defense attorney for the city judges, getting them off on DIU charges and winning cases for their family. We believe this was a conflict of interest and that some deal was made to rule against our family.

It is for this reason, I wrote this research paper. You may not agree with it, but this is because of all that I have suffered, my family has suffered and other blacks have suffered. Once we realize this, rather than continuing to dismiss it, we will begin to heal as a nation. Should we continue the path of not going there, racist rhetoric, institutionalized racism, and other acts of subjugation of blacks and no legal remedy from our courts will continue to plague our nation and cultivate anger that will one day explode.

David Martin
14014 Admiralty Way, #7F
Lynnwood, WA 98087

firstlisten@comcast.net

(425) 787-7976

I really do love you all...email me if you want me to email my paper to you, it's 33 pages of some really graphic stuff...it's real life

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:43:06 EDT

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize

Why President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, in my point of view. The world rejoiced when he won. A collective world of relief was felt, Obama won the Nobel Peace prize and all that strengthened the resolve of terrorists to recruit new enemies of the world was halted. We who believe in, e.g., Jesus Christ (Christians), Allah (Muslims), Hare Krishna(Hindu), Manitou(Native Americans), Buddha(Buddhists), etc., Who we believe in is based on faith and hope. Faith and Hope is why the collective world body rejoiced. Peace in some part was restored in the world. President Barack Hussein Obama's commitment to public service to bring hope to the United States and the world is why he won The Nobel Peace Prize. Those who are dumbfounded are of the same group who conspire to sabotage his every effort to bring about Universal Healthcare in the United States, those who sabotage his efforts to fixate on what we all have in common than what defines our differences, those who can't understand why he won the Nobel Peace Prize are those who do not believe in peace, hope and love in our world.

President Barack Hussein Obama exemplifies the qualities the winner of the Nobel Peace prize must possess. It's a no-brainer to me and the world's people in each and every continent. I could not be more proud and more in agreement why he won.

Health care for EVERYONE...

Yakima County Democrats — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:30:32 EDT

Watch this video. Please.
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20091007_keith_olbermann_saving_american_lives/

Then send this link out to everyone you know. Please.

My response to the Seattle PI online article, “Before Mount Vernon, Glenn Beck will speak in Seattle”

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:47:48 EDT

Glenn Beck is a representative of racism. I am dumbfounded that in this day and age, in the United States, someone so archaic in his beliefs could be so appealing to so many Americans. It really makes me ashamed of those Americans, because they are the ones that other nations look to in defining who we are as a people. Glenn Beck represents all that is wrong with the average American; supposedly one of the most educated in the world, yet baffles others at our ignorance and hypocrisy. Glenn Beck is a racist that brainwashes any American too lazy to do the research to see if what he says holds up in water, which it never does. He's a shock jock, just like Rush Limbaugh, preying on those who take word of mouth as the truth and frowns upon those who actually do the research to discard just about everything that comes out of their hateful mouths. Other nations look at us and see the Weimer Republic. We have so many that are actually that ignorance, which is the real concern here. President Obama made light of a question by David Letterman, which actually goes to the root of the Glen Beck dogma. Our society was rooted in racism and all he need do is provoke fear to unseat that ugly demon that lies in the subconscious of those who are ignorant. Luckily, we have far more Americans who are intelligent and who actually see every human being as intrinsically equal and not as some instrument to further their own needs, especially when knowingly doing harm to a group within our society, like the Germans during the Weimer Republic’s refusal to consciously believe in the Jewish extermination project. Today’s Jews are our blacks and other minorities, gays and lesbians and our working class poor.

He represents a very dangerous sect within our society that needs to be dealt with openly or we may one day find our selves on the wrong side of history. Glenn Beck is a very dangerous virus within our society that continues to spawn off even more dangerous strands at every opportunity he has to speak to the masses. Wake up everybody and see this parasite for what he really is, the devil.

ONLY A FEW volunteer spots left RSVP your time NOW...

Yakima County Democrats — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:43:03 EDT

We need volunteers to help out at our Central Washington state fair booth in Yakima, Washington especially September 25 to October 2, 2009. The times available change very quickly but they will be between 11 am to 10 or 11 pm. You and your friend will each receive a FREE fair pass for each four hours volunteer time. So go to http://tinyurl.com/VOLUNTEErforYakimaDemocrats and click on the evens like to RSVP you and your friend NOW... Yakima County Democrats are now on Twitter at http;//www.twitter.com/ycdemocratsSo come follow us for all kind of fun information that you just can not live without.

Thanks Randall (509.654.9740 or 509.210.2701) or questions e-mail: ycdemocrats@q.com

ONLY A FEW volunteer spots left RSVP your time NOW...

Yakima County Democrats — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:01:45 EDT

Thanks Randall (509.654.9740 or 509.210.2701) or questions e-mail: ycdemocrats@q.com

Volunteer spot are quickly filling up for the fair booth...

Yakima County Democrats — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:39:08 EDT

We need volunteers to help out at our Central Washington state fair booth in Yakima, Washington especially September 25 to October 2, 2009. The times available change very quickly but they will be between 11 am to 10 or 11 pm. You and your friend will each receive a FREE fair pass for each four hours volunteer time. So go to www.barackobama.com and click on the evens like to RSVP you and your friend NOW... Yakima County Democrats are now on Twitter at http;//www.twitter.com/ycdemocrats So come follow us for all kind of fun information that you just can not live without. Thanks Randall (509.654.9740 or 509.210.2701) or questions e-mail: ycdemocrats@q.com

Were are all the volunteers...

Yakima County Democrats — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:21:02 EDT

We need your help to staff this years Central Washington fair booth between September 25 to October 4, 2009. We will be selling raffle tickets, t-shirts, and buttons to all fair vistors. For a little extra fun will will have a big screen TV and a Wii game set up for fair vistors to play. The fair opens at 11am and closes at 10 or 11 pm. Plus you will receive a FREE all day fair pass for the days you volunteer. To see the FREE fair entertainment that is going on each day go to www.fairfun.com Click on the event link to see which volunteer times are still available for you and bring a friend and have some fun at the 2009 CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR.

Volunteers for Central Washington fair booth needed..

Yakima County Democrats — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:22:57 EDT

MY WIFE'S BATTLE WITH ANGIOSARCOMA CANCER, this week off

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:36:35 EDT

Hi to all of our friends and those concerned WITH MY WIFE'S BATTLE WITH ANGIOSARCOMA CANCER,

AGENDA AND CURRENT HEALTH UPDATE

Margita does not have “chemo therapy”-Taxol this week, so we thought of this week being one where she would have an extra time to rest up and “recharge her batteries”. It doesn’t appear to be the case so far, as she has had very little appetite, stomach aches and diarrhea, pain on the top of her head, which is very tender, aching in her legs and joints, which feels like arthritis, soars in her moth( the corners and upper lip), as well as the usual week and dizziness.

LOSS OF HAIR DUE TO CHEMO

Since August 14, 2009 1:38 pm PST, we have collected a one half large zip lock bag of her hair. The amount is 1 ¼ inch thick, 4 ½ inch tall, and 7 ½ inches long. Her head is very tender in the area where most of the hair is falling out; top and back of her head.

MOBILITY

Margita has remained in bed most of the time, yet she also gets when necessary, e.g., go to the rest room, wash off a piece of fruit, get a jar of peanut butter, make a toast with some preservative topping, etc.

MENTAL STATE OF MIND FROM HUSBAND’S POINT OF VIEW

Margita remains the same stubborn women I love, yet at time she has gotten a bit mean, but last night, she quickly corrected herself and said out loud, so I could hear, “ That was mean and not right of me to say.” Margita has begun to recognize when she loses her ability to hold in her anger at having cancer, which I see as very normal. She has actually been an extremely strong woman; holding in her anger…always the professional.

WHAT ABOUT NOW; LITERALLY

This Tuesday evening, August 18, 2009, 8:48pm PST, she appears to be on the upward movement toward feeling better. Half of her hair is gone and I’m feeling better (her husband, David).

WEIRD

Last week, Saturday, August 15th, David could not get out of bed. His knees were badly swollen; he had headaches that would not go away regardless of the number of Tylenol or 15MG Oxycodone tablets taken. David has had an episode of a shortness of breath, a very heavy chest (upper right side) and waking up coughing and trying to breathe, then spitting out dark mucus with blood. This morning I have collected the mucus and will take it to the VA first thing tomorrow. I first contracted pneumonia while guarding sensitive weapons in the military, so I will bring those records with me.

SYMPATHY PAINS?

Aside from the shortness of breath, Saturday morning I woke up with swollen knees and swollen ankles, which I have never had before. My joints were very sore, prompting me to do my own Physical Therapy. Margita looked at me and stated I’m having sympathy pains and I’m beginning to believe her…what do you think?

Please don't throw them under the bus

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:53:01 EDT

Yesterday I was so excited for my youngest daughter; because now I could give her the info she had sought for, for so long. I found a free online High School she could attend and finally get her much sought out for, High School Diploma.

I called the number I got from a television add for those who did not complete HS to finally get their diploma. The name was Apollo Group 1-602-713-3140. I left a message last evening (Monday August 10, 2009) and received a callback this morning (August 11, 2009) at 10:00am.

I don’t remember the person’s name, but she stated that this program is for those who are under 21. This is the second time I must give my daughter this depressing information, as she was so excited and psyched about this opportunity to finish up and get her HS diploma.

I was told they had another program I could have my daughter enter into, which catered to ALL of those wishing to get their HS diploma. She stated their name as Olympus at 1-866-883-0522 and the tuition was $1,900.00! I asked why it wasn’t free like their program and she stated, because Olympus is a private school.

My daughters lost her job during this recessionary period, and because she doesn’t have a HS diploma at age 21, jobs are impossible for her to land.

Why doesn’t the government pay for ALL to finish up and get their diploma, regardless of their age, rather than throwing this segment of our society under the bus?

My opinion on the legalization of marijuana debate

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:53:39 EDT

I consider myself a Liberal Democrat and a realist....yes; there are those of us who are liberal realists, but not Blue Dog Democrats.

I believe they should have legalized gay marriage in California and I have been happily married to my wife for 17 1/2 years (living together for 19 1/2 years) with three beautiful step-children who are now 21, 23 and 31.

I believe marijuana takes away the motivation of our youth to excel in all that they can be. Marijuana makes users lethargic and lazy. The arguments that say marijuana makes people violent are unfounded in my opinion; quite the opposite in-fact.

Cocaine (powder), crack-cocaine (cooked), meth, speed, and any other type of drug that makes people more aggressive are the dangerous drugs as far as knowingly committing violent acts are concerned.

Marijuana creates dangerous drivers, because of the lack in the ability to react quickly to all driving conditions, unless you're driving through Wyoming. Because of this, marijuana should continue to be an illegal drug unless used for medicinal purposes, e.g. to help with pain management, to help cancer patients with eating disorders as a result of the severe treatments needed to destroy cancer from one's body and saving their life.

This new push to legalize marijuana, to me, is the wrong thing to do. It should stay the illegal drug it is regardless of those who wish to have it categorized in any other way.

I further believe, the past presidential administration created an atmosphere of fear when it comes to marijuana that was excessive. This is not a violent drug, so one should not be sent to prison for possessing it, just as one is not sent to prison for driving while under the influence of alcohol, unless they get into an accident and kill someone as a result of its consumption.

We need to get more realistic about the laws we make and the ability to truly enforce them. There will be those who use marijuana in the privacy of their own homes, which I have no honest argument for preventing this recreational use, however if one sells marijuana and does not pay taxes for doing so, then one should be imprisoned for tax-evasion.

Like it or not, a large percentage of our working population's income is given to marijuana sellers, with none of that money being given back to the government in the form of taxation, so we as a nation should open our eyes to the obvious and put that money back into our economy rather than continually drain our nation's capital.

So, I guess my stance is I'm against legalizing marijuana, but the real fact is, it is out there; draining our country's pocket, with no realistic way of enforcing its circulation.

The money spent in creating commissions to come up with ways to punish those who possess or sell this narcotic is ridiculous and the enforcement even more so, with laws founded on stereotyping, rather than evenly enforcing it. What we end up with are the rich being allowed to freely use this drug without taxation and the poor being incarcerated and made to make up the difference. This is silly and just plain wrong.

It is for this reason that legalization with taxation may be the only way to go.

We are all allowed to have our own opinion and this is mine.

Today we met a wonderful new friend while Margita was getting her chemo (Taxol)

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:11:58 EDT

Hi all,Today while Margita was receiving her first dose of Taxol and also had a PET/Scan, we met a very nice young lady named Marcia Williams. Marcia is from Jamaica and currently lives in Utah, where her husband (Andy Williams < http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t121&player=williams_a&playerId=wil375877&statType=current >) playes professional soccer for Real Salt Lake. Her Husband played in the All-Star game with our very own Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg < http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Roster.aspx >. Marcia was diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago and desperately needed a core transplant. Soccer Unites Utah was established to help find a donor for Marcia, which was found last week and she looks absolutely beautiful as we talked for about a half hour as we were both waiting to be called to get our chemo; well; her and Margita.She has a site following her battle with Leukemia< http://soccerunitesutah.com/ >, which is used to also have others give fivge minutes of their time to give blood to help another person racing to fid a match so that they may conquer cancer. She is an amazing woman and we enjoyed meeting her.Apparently, we Seattleites are really lucky to have the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in our backyard. We have just a 30-45 minute drive, then back home with our family. Marcia has been her, away from home for a very, very long time.Please check out her site and say a prayer for this lovely lady and her beautiful family, in continuing to have positive results. While you're at it, please say a prayer for my beautiful Margita as well.

David & Margita Martin

Healthcare reform MUST include Government healthcare option

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:45:15 EDT

Dear Mr. President,

My wife Margita Eva Margita has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (Angiosarcoma) that is so far, incurable. We are now being cared for with The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), a part of The Fred Hutchinson Research Institute, UW Medicine and Children's Hospital.

Please visit my wife, Margita's, SCCA site at <

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/Margitaangiosarcoma

>.

I had back surgery on May 11th and Margita had surgery to remove a large section of aggressive cancer, from her abdomen wall, on May 19th. She now has no belly button, because they had to stretch her skin down ward and stitch back up from one side of her hip to the other. The got rid of the aggressive cancer, but not all of the cancer which stretches from the area that was stitched up to her upper thigh area.

She had her blood work done last Thursday, her surgery for implanting a port on Tuesday, and then her first round of chemo"Taxol" on Thursday.

How are things with you and the family? How's the house? I hope you are having a fantastic summer and kiss and hug your husband and kids everyday, because you never know what curve life will throw at you.

When they opened my back up, they found almost an inch of my L3 disc had extruded into the LS nerve root, which was the cause of all of the pain. When they opened this up, they found a large tear in my L4 disc. I had a L3-4 discectomy.

I still have a lot of numbness on my left buttock area up to the area on my back where the L3-4 discs are. Usually this is most noticeable when I neglect to take my 15 MG oxycodone. I had been at 7-8 per day and I have been going down. I should be at 6 per day, but I took myself to 4, with an occasional 5 if I have been out all day with doctor's visits with Margita, and have to catch up to the pain when I get home, because I do not take meds when I know I have to drive.

My left knee took a major hit when I injured my back as well, tearing something or further eroding the lateral area of where my lateral meniscus was in my left knee. Sometimes the pain is completely unbearable, even with the pain meds.

So, I've been told I need to think seriously about a knee replacement now on the left knee, rather than later. This also prevents the rehabilitative work on my back, so I'm in a mess. Senator Murray's liaison for the Department of Veteran Affairs has gotten involved in my case because I should have been granted a 100% disability when I was rejected from going back into the military because of my knees, but the VA only gave me 80%(40% for each knee) and purposely omitted the 20% disability I had always had for my spine.

As you know, because of this I had to work, resulting in my knee and spine giving way and requiring surgery on my back and acceleration on my knee replacement. It turns out that the Department of Veteran Affairs was simply ignoring my deteriorating health, which apparently is a common experience by African-American Vets from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

So I'm getting L&I for my spine, but not the additional damage to my knee which has speeded up the process of me having to have replacement knee surgery. After two months, Eberle Vivian stopped my physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage therapy. They also stopped paying for my medications, resulting in my spending over $200.00 for medications until I contacted Legislative Constituent Chuck Smid and having an additional MRI completed showing that as a result of the stoppage in care, almost an inch of my L3 disc had extruded into my L3 nerve root causing the pain and numbness down my left leg and in my back, which still persists today. Also, a large tear on my L4 was found when they operated as a result of the L3 findings that warranted surgery; surgery I may not have needed had I been kept on the physical theray, message therapy and chiropractic care .

There is not much they can do because of my knee problems, so they are trying to get me going to a school for 8 hours out of the day, so they do not have to pay for the permanent damage done to my back and the need for knee replacement now. I'm so angry! This is why we need government healthcare.

We all remember how during Desert Storm Jessica Lynch of the 507th Maintenance BN out of Fort Bliss, TX, was kidnapped by Iraqis when her unit was ambushed on March 23, 2003. She was later rescued by a Special Operations team, becoming the first American POW to be rescued. What also happed during that time was the rescue of Shoshana Johnson and four others from the same 507th Maintenance unit.

Jessica was rescued having never been shot or raped by her captors. Shoshanna on the other hand had been shot and if my memory is correct, was raped as well. Jessica was white and Shoshana was black. Jessica received 80% disability while Shoshana received 30%.

This is only one of many stories of institutionalized racism and mistreatment of African-Americans in not only the the military, but in all aspects of American big business. I too have been discriminated against, such as when I had the highest points of any Specialist (E-4) in our Battalion, while stationed in Germany, yet I was never promoted to Sergeant until some years later. An African-American Lieutenant, especially in the Military Police MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was very rare; in-fact I only saw one during my entire Army and Marine enlistments, and he was a damn good officer

Senator Patty Murray is the ONLY Senator I have seen for myself that does everything to level the playing field and get all vets the equal respect that they deserve for their loyalty and sense of sacrifice for the most beautiful nation. It is because of Senator Murray that I have had hope even before President Barack Obama was elected our first president with African-American blood (He is HALF African-American and HALF Caucasian American, but most racists fail to see all of what and who he is; fixating only on his African American blood).

Being the true leader that she is, Senator Murray was very angry when she was made aware of the treatment I had been receiving from the Department of Veteran Affairs for the last 14 years and got things rolling with my PTSD, major depression, knee deteriorations from multiple surgeries and now arthritis due to no menisci, back and kidney injuries sustained because of the regime of 800 mg Motrin prescribed because the swelling would never go down in my left knee after having three surgeries on it in a 14-month period; leading to my being medi-vac’d from Landstuhl, Germany to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC for 6-months and then med’d out of the military. I'm currently awaiting the VA medical board's decision to finally put me at 100% disability, from the 80% disability I have now (40% for each knee and conveniently leaving out the 20% disability I had for my spine since 1998). Because I attempted to re-enter the military as a paralegal, the Veteran’s board found that the reasons for my being permanently denied re-entry into the military services was because of the extreme case of arthritis in both knees, so they up’d my rating to 40% for each knee. In doing this they retracted the 20% rating for my spine, so I would not get 100% disability, and then told me that if I wanted it would be no problem at rating me at 100%. Because, after trying to get employed at every business I could, with my new bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a minor in Law, Societies & Justice (March 16, 2007), I found that still, no one would hire me for anything accept as a Security Guard.

So I got a job as a Security Patrol Officer and lasted for almost a year, until my knee and spine gave out at the same time, requiring surgery on my back and a left knee pain that is never ending and has led to me falling on the ground four times in the last week. If I had been given the 100% disability I would not have the surgically altered back, extreme anger and depression and inability to care for my wife who now needs me more than ever with terminal cancer.

Because of all of this, I have just turned into a grumpy old man. I don't like speaking to people much; concentrating mostly on my wife and kids. I can't be cheerful to people, as I used too, or if I am, it can change in a split second. I don't want to put my friends through my moodiness (anger and depression). Sometimes I get so paranoid, that I lash out, or I get so angry, I speak while carefully enunciating with grinding teeth and an obvious annoyance at having to explain myself. I've become very impatient with everyone. Like I said, I've become a grumpy old man who would rather just be alone. I have insomnia, not falling out till 5 or 6 in the morning, constantly checking the doors, windows and rooms throughout the night. I have dreams of doing harm to others and when I finally do fall asleep, when I wake up my back and knees are locked; a paralyzed sensation. I wear my two bulky knee braces all of the time and use a cane. I try and walk upright because it limits the spasm pain on my back above where the injury occurred and sharp pain where the disc had been painful before the surgery.

My wife has often said, if she should pass, I will immediately get married again and forget about her. I have responded; I will travel by car around the United States, not having to deal with anyone. I will never re-marry, because she is my world. I won't be a pleasant person to be around for quite some time, so I'll only be around for holidays until I can get my mind together by spending time only with myself. I feel I will eventually die myself from the excruciating pain and loneliness if my wife should be taken so prematurely.

What angers me so much about my wife’s current fight for her life is that it could have been prevented if not for selfishly greedy healthcare Companies who are now trying to prevent citizens from haviong the opportunity to have government healthcare plans which are better! and cheaper...

We had Aetna Healthcare while employed at Safeco Insurance Company. January 2001 she was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. One the first of February she went through surgery where they removed her lymph nodes from her hip(both sides) and then went through a regimen of radiation 5 days per week and chemotherapy once a week, for 4 months. She was determined to be cancer free at the end of May.

Because her lymph nodes were taken out, she lacked the ability to regulate the fluid in her legs. We lived in Auburn (30733 48th Ave, So, Auburn, WA 98001 and worked in Redmond; Safeco Insurance Company (4854 154th PL NE, Redmond, WA 98052). One way was 28.22 miles and roundtrip was 56.44 miles.

While my wife was going through her treatments, I had my hours changed to 4:00am till 11:30am (56.44miles roundtrip), then I would race home and pick her up and take her to her radiation or radiation and chemo (Tuesdays) at Virginia Mason Hospital 1100 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98111(48.46miles roundtrip), total miles = 104.9 miles. This while receiving less pay because my wife was on short-term disability, so she received only 2/3 of her pay.

She was supposed to have compressor stockings to omit the chances of her getting lymphedema, but the Aetna Medical Plan (supposed to be one of the best), of which we paid $352.55 per month for, would not pay for her compressor stockings or other care after treatment for cancer. Because of this, my wife had the ingredients of Lymphedema and radiation, which is the constant in the rare case of Angiosarcoma developing, which is so far an incurable form of cancer.

Government healthcare does pay for compressor stockings and all preventive care, necessary to reduce healthcare costs and save lives, like that of my wife. People need to be aware of stories like ours, so they can see the reasons for why they need to contact their Congressional Representatives and Senators and use my case as to why we need the option of government healthcare and not just private healthcare.

She returned to work, but three times she had to be hospitalized and given intravenous antibiotics, because of the exertion required to work everyday was too much and the fever she kept getting, probably because of the lymphedema. She went on short-term disability and then on long-term disability, and then Safeco fired her while on long-term disability.

Please, it is vital to not cave in on the healthcare plan giving us the option to take the government plan instead of the private “anything for a profit” plan, which cares for money more than the lives of their patients. No government option is NOT an option. Because of this, I may lose the one I love so much too soon. She’s only 53 years old and I am 47 years old. I served honorably in the US Marines and US Army. She was with me my entire enlistment in the Army. She deserves better. She deserves what we had while in the military.

IMMIGRATION: ASU overt racism a reflection of American racism

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:38:18 EDT

Ask any University of Washington women's basketball fan from the Mendiolas'(Giuliana and Gioconda- from Orange County in LA and played basketball for UW in Seattle) era and they will tell of the serious overstep in racism they from the ASU fans. I remember that time and was absolutely disgusted at how they behaved. It honestly reminded me of our racist past (and present); realizing at that time how much the Latino community must also endure.

Currently, Latinos are being stereotyped and viciously profiled when it comes to law enforcement's using the violence of law in abusing the Latino community, while we American citizens simply look the other way. We're cowards and we're lazy. We should do more.

Does anyone realize that we have more illegal alien Canadians than we do Mexicans in this country? They don't pay the taxes we do, yet they have homes here, they work here and yet they come over the border un-harassed everyday; often easier and with less harassment than Americans (black Americans and Latino Americans for sure).

When you know, from a very young age, that you will be harassed because of the color of your skin; when you see your Caucasian counterpart being treated as good, trustworthy and promoted as a leader with lightening speed, yet you are consistently denied, you are condition (brainwashed) into believing you are less human and deserving of the added violence of the law whenever your number is called. Well, this needs to stop now!

Illegal aliens have always been here and we need to find them and do what needs to be done to correct what we knowingly allowed before 9-11.

If we are going to check Latinos with methods of profiling, since Canadians out-number Mexican illegals, we should profile them as well. Every time we see someone who is white, we must generate a conversation. If during that conversation they end their sentences with "eh", we notify the local police and surveil these suspected illegals until local law enforcement or immigration officials can check their papers. Now, if you think this is silly or you can stomach this, yet you have ignored or cheered on the on-going harassment of our Latino Community members, you just might be a racist, or at the very least a victim of the conditioning we all have been subjected to in hating on ethnic members of color in our otherwise beautiful country.

I think this needs to be addressed because I absolutely love my Canadian friends and family and I absolutely love my Latino friends and family. I would not want to be faced with sacrificing one of my children and declaring "safe" the other in the spirit of "economic blaming," so why in the living hell would I agree to sacrifice either a Canadian or a Latino? Think America! Think about what we are being asked to do and for God's sake, speak the hell up! Damn, I hate ignorant lazy people! Get out of your little comfort zone and be a man or woman, get off your lazy ass and speak up before too many innocent people are harmed by the violence of our law, under our watch! I mean really, talk about a "slippery slope," when all of the persons of color are locked up our expelled from our country, will white brunettes be next? Oh wait..."Emos (black hair) will be next, then brunettes. Gotta get my secret American cast system correct...

Single Payer Health Care System is a must!

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:22:20 EST

Why we need a “Single-Payer” Health Care System

link: http://www.democrats.com/single-payer-petition?source=firstlisten%40comcast.net

As a US Marine Corps Veteran, as well as an 80% disabled veteran of the US Army, I fully support a Single Payer Health Plan for all Americans.

The Veteran’s Administration only covers healthcare of my “service-connected” disability left and right knee, as well as my back.

On August 31, 2000, I lost my oldest brother (Rufus Martin) to a tragic accident while working as a longshoreman in Seattle, WA. < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000902&slug=4040189 >; < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030908&slug=policefire08m >; < http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20000902&slug=4040135 >. Even though his employer had been cited numerous times for OSHA violations that directly contributed to this accident, Judge Alsdorf ruled in favor of my brother’s employer and the city.

In December of that year, my wife (Margita Martin) was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. While recovering from her bought with cancer on long-term leave, my wife was fired from her job at Safeco Insurance Company-former Republican challenger to Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell in the US Senate.

With Social Security now, my wife does not have good healthcare benefits, as she only gets approximately $500.00 per month and no prescription discounts and no funding assistance for “compression stockings,” which has resulted in her having “elephantitus” of the legs, which have permanently resulted in her legs getting tighter and tighter.

The Republican Party believe less government is best, which includes no “Single-Payer” system, which would immediately cut costs because the government would be the only entity for hospitals to bill, as apposed to many documents with different forms to fill out all of the time. A cheaper system would mean that much more income into American pockets. This would obviously give middle-class Americans more of their own income to keep, strengthening the “middle-class,” Which republicans do not want.

Instead Republicans have their lobbyists, with their suitcases full of money, taking kickbacks to pass legislation that funds products for “erectile” dysfunction, instead of life saving products for woman after having survived the battle to put cancer into remission. It’s time our political leaders started using “ moral-common sense” when passing legislation.

My wife and I took in my late brother's youngest surviving son (Marc Martin) and we were already raising three other children of our own.

With losing my wife's income and only having my one income, we were unable to fulfill our financial commitments, resulting in our filing for bankruptcy and losing our home with predatory lender-Aames Home Loans and Countrywide Financial. Bad credit, as a result of this life-changing time, led to our being socially and economically discriminated against, when seeking gainful employment.

Social-economic outcast such as our family are denied decent medical coverage, as are millions of other Americans.

I have PTSD, and I am permanently handicapped as a result of my service to my country twice, yet the Veteran’s Administration continues to deny me “unemployability” status, which would increase my medical coverage and include my wife.

There are so many stories like ours in this country, which a “Single-Payer” Health Care System would address in a large way.

Please support a “Single Payer Health Care System.

Sincerest Regards,
David Martin

response to representative on HB 1624 and SB 5522

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:39:08 EST

HB 1624 and SB 5522 basically cyber fitting our voting process

my recent response sent to a representative in response to an email from that representative, which I felt minimized my earlier reasons for stating my opposition to HB 1624 and SB 5522 (basically, cyber-fitting our voting process),

   I completely disagree. This will only lead to another window of opportunity for those with deceitful intentions to infect our political process.

   In this time of cost-cutting and streamlining our societal functions in order to make for a more efficient nation; we must also exercise due diligence in not going to the extreme in fulfilling this goal.

   Our mission statement should take into account common sense applications that will assure our safety in fulfilling our democratic goals.

   My youngest daughter has been a victim of domestic violence and cyber-bullying. Even though she now lives with us and has a restraining order against the perpetrator, she still encounters acts of cyber-bullying which the law enforcement agencies have stated they just can't prevent from happening. Our legal system is based on addressing a harm after that harm has been realized, not preventing it from happening in the first place, which we know would be more efficient.

NEW UPDATE: my daughter was granted a permanent restraining order, but it only lasts for 1-year. The judge, in finding her holding in support of my daughter’s request after being stalked at home, work and on the internet, cited his assuming of her identity and posing as her to her MYSPACE friends and then demeaning her and our family, as the reason for granting her a permanent restraining order. The judge stated that a permanent restrain order is granted only when my daughter has suffered a physical harm, stalking, etc, not a mental harm, such as the conditioning she experienced which has now made her a shell of who she once was; anxiety ridden which has made her continuously nervous and paranoid; anorexic; etc.

Our laws are grossly-flawed (grossly inadequate) when it comes to protecting our domestic violence victims, which we as a society have been conditioned to simply accept (lump-it). This appears to be the same template we use in adjudicating our election laws, should the internet be used as a tool for having access to this right.

Until we can truly protect those who would be victimized by our denial of the gray-areas that fall victim to our black-and-white lens by which we view any violation of ones rights when accessing remedies for being victimized by our laws, seeking to cyber-fit our 15th Amendment (right-to-vote) at this time, would do more harm than good.

This would indeed give soldiers deployed overseas and citizens not able to stand the long lines at the polls an additional avenue by which to exercise their Constitutional right, but we already have absentee balloting, which is the most efficient way at this time to safeguard this right. If we can fly a man or woman to the moon; we can surely get the absentee ballots from our soldiers abroad to the polling stations her at home before Election Day. We can step up the “early-voting” process, for our soldiers or a host of other measures that would not compromise the integrity of our 14th Amendment right, without subjecting that right to the hi-jacking of our short-falling legal system in remedying a potential harm by those who would intentionally jeopardize the execution of that Constitutional right.

If we, as citizens, are harmed as a result of a breech in the safeguards put in place to protect our political process, we can then seek a remedy, but we cannot use our courts to remedy a harm from a presumption of a breech or a harmful act that does not physically harm us.

With that said; our legal system process is such that a wrongly elected leader can be put in place, and hold office, long after that harm has been addressed for remediation. The former president is indicative of this act, which was never remedied as Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore did not pursue the issue, because he knew the cost was too great for a seeking of law’s protection, which was not equipped to clear the hurdle of a less than physically tangible harm. In the end, our nation has gravely suffered as a result of this illegality.

Not allowing for internet voting is the only preventive measure we have, until a more efficient legal process can be created. It is for this reason I ask that you please voice my objections to its implementation.

Sincerest regards,

David Martin”

It angers me that I must attempt to make our elected leaders feel guilty by putting them into a place where they can actually feel the hurt and pain that one most effected by the violence of a law. Our laws have a large failure of creating an environment of zero-sum outcomes (there is a clear winner and a clear loser), which requires a re-examining on how we construct laws that govern our society. One side must clearly lose, while the other side clearly wins. I would argue that we are not so “black and white” anymore and so, we must reexamine our approach to the creation of domestic and foreign policies which encompass a more “graying (compromise)” of our laws.

We are all the product of a society that has pitted “us-against-them”. In this ever-changing “global-society,” we must move away from partisan politics and embrace a more “inclusive” approach to the laws that govern our society.

RESPECT is the new template we demand be used when crafting legislation by our elected leaders, because bi-partisan politics only creates new enemies and a further legitimizing of the hate the losing side references when “home-growing” our new enemies of “real-change”.

Why the House Economic Stimulus Plan Must Pass

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:12:20 EST

Why the House Economic Stimulus Plan Must Pass

These days I find myself hopeful, but very vigilant of our societal leaders who struggle to keep things as they are, even when our country and our world grow united in the fight for change.

2008; Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain asked that his supporters during his concession speech to join him in supporting President Barack Obama in this time of a run-away national economy and terrorist threats that America finds herself facing today. I honestly thought he was a classy gentleman that night in Colorado, but now I see that he is a manipulative politician and a compulsive liar.

Watching as Senator McCain would change from one personality to another during the presidential debates, angrily chastising President Obama in an attempt to make President Obama appear as subordinate, while stumbling over facts in foreign policy which was supposed to be his expertise; Watching as Senator McCain gave orders behind doors to the Republican Party to release racists propaganda in an effort to de-legitimize President Obama when President Obama was not the person who committed the acts the Republican National Party-Senator McCain-Governor Palin had attempted to tie President Obama too, then uncomfortably denouncing these tactics when the next day polls showed this tactic didn’t work (throwing everything out there to see what stuck); and other failed attempts at keeping the American public enthralled in this yester-year conditioning which kept racist and misogynists in a state of complete power was something that literally made me sick.

This constant hate rhetoric and lies, requiring President Obama and every African-American and mixed American with African blood to explain ourselves was sickening. To watch as many in our country would not only listen too, but defend these tactics was literally heart-breaking and has placed me back in a place I thought I had rid myself of long ago. I’m overjoyed at the answer from my fellow Americans, but I am so sickened by the Republican politicians still in power. They anger me and sicken me.

President Obama has rightfully decided that in order to stimulate the economy, we must inject a large infusion of capital. The strategy needed at this time would be that of strategically injecting this capital into certain areas of our economy, while withholding this infusion from other areas, so that they do not cancel out each other.

President Obama has already explained to the American people the reasons for why we find ourselves in this dire economic situation. In my opinion, he honestly identified them correctly,

Republican removal of regulatory oversight of large corporations and financial firms (out-sourcing of labor to countries where labor is cheaper to save money; relaxing laws that would require a set amount of company assets to be allocated to labor-excluding executive salaries; prosecuting those who practice labor discrimination and those who retaliate against whistle-blowers, etc.),
Transfer of wealth from working class Americans into the chafers of wealthy Americans and foreigners,
Continual economic drain from a war and occupation we should have closed the door too long ago,
The selling of our roadways and ports to foreign entities,
The illegal mass removal of liberal superior court judges.

Now, President Obama has called for the American people to join him in his support for the House-passed Economic Stimulus Packet. This packet has very important financial aid for state economies suffering from this economic recession. Many states are experiencing a failing budget for unemployment benefits; veteran’s benefits; money for homeless shelters; food stamp programs; work programs; education; housing; as well as infrastructure projects that would create jobs. Most of our poor are feeling this need of state assistance more than anyone else, so the Republican Party naturally targeted state funds in their efforts to sabotage this important stimulus bill. Remember, President Obama won, not Senator McCain, so why are they allowed to harm the working class Americans further?

We need to honestly give our president the chance we ALL voted he should have. For the Republican Party to vote 100% against President Obama makes this old black man feel as if they are simply acting as the old racists their party endorses. The words or Rush Limbaugh and David Duke this past week were always expected, just like the silence when I waited for at least one Republican to separate their party from these two well-known racist individuals.

I think America is past our racist past.

Here are some facts of African-American life:

African-American adult unemployment has remained twice as high as Caucasian unemployment for more than 30 years; 3 times as high among young people. African-American women make 89% of what Caucasian women make; African-American men make 67% of what Caucasian men make. 53% of African-American men aged 25-34 are either unemployed or earn too little to lift a family of 4 from poverty. 21% of African-American high-school graduates are unemployed, 10% of whites. 34.4% of African-American high-school drop-outs are unemployed-18% of whites. African-Americans hold only 10.1% of U.S. jobs and are dramatically underrepresented in many professions. They are only 3.2% of lawyers, 3% of doctors, and less than 1% of architects. African-American males have both the lowest average level of educational attainment and the highest percentage-nearly 50%-of workers with more education than their jobs require. Caucasian males with a high-school diploma are just as likely to have a job, and tend to earn just as much as African-American males with college degrees. Light-skinned African-Americans have a 50% better chance of getting a job than dark-skinned African-Americans. African-Americans are rejected twice as often for small business loans than whites of comparable credit.

David Martin

IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 12:57:56 EST

Why is it that people continue to listen to this openly racist talk show host commentator? Here’s a copy of a letter I took off of the internet which cites some factual comments by this racist talk show personality. My concern is that there appears to be growing support from the elected Republican officials who believe in him, to the point where they have obviously adopted the call to make President Obama fail because of their embedded racism, even if it is at the expense of the American people.

Here’s the letter,

Wilson, John K. “Rush Limbaugh’s Racist Attacks on Obama.” ObamaPolitics.com. < http://www.oba mapolitics.com/node/96 >. 27 May 2008, 11:13 am. ObamaPolitics.com Rush Limbaugh’s Racist Attacks on ObamaSubmitted by JohnKWilson on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 11:13am. Today, Rush Limbaugh began a new line of openly racist attacks on Barack Obama. According to Limbaugh, Obama is "stupid." The racist part is Limbaugh’s assertion that Obama "probably didn’t get out of Harvard without affirmative action." As a college dropout, Rush Limbaugh probably doesn’t understand the use of blind grading in many law school classes. The idea that Barack Obama could not have graduated from Harvard Law School without preferential grading is one of the most ridiculous racist assertions made so far during this campaign. No one can possibly imagine that Obama’s success in law school, including selection to the Harvard Law Review, passing the bar, becoming a top teacher at the University of Chicago Law School, was all somehow granted to him by a conspiracy of Harvard Law professors to raise his grade. But to a racist like Rush Limbaugh, such nonsense becomes believable if it’s a black person who is succeeding. Limbaugh has a long record of racism. Limbaugh lost his job at ESPN after claiming that there is a vast media conspiracy to help black athletes: "I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well." Consider these other examples compiled by FAIR < http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2549 >: Limbaugh once told a black caller: "Take that bone out of your nose and call me back." A decade ago, after becoming nationally syndicated, he mused on the air: "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?" Here is Limbaugh's mocking take on the NAACP, a group with a ninety-year commitment to nonviolence: "The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies." When Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) was in the U.S. Senate, the first black woman ever elected to that body, Limbaugh would play the "Movin' On Up" theme song from TV's "Jeffersons" when he mentioned her. Limbaugh sometimes still uses mock dialect -- substituting "ax" for "ask"-- when discussing black leaders. And Limbaugh has targeted Obama in particular for racist comments, referring to Obama as a "halfrican American" and playing the parody song "Barack the Magic Negro" repeatedly. But this isn’t just Limbaugh. While critics reported extensively (and correctly) on media sexism, the racism in the media is largely ignored. From the start of his campaign, Obama has been falsely attacked as "inexperienced," a common double standard faced by African-Americans imagined by whites to have advanced due to racial preferences rather than qualifications. It is almost impossible to find anyone in the media who points out the fact that Obama has more foreign policy experience than four out of the last five presidents when they were elected, or the fact that his judgment about the war in Iraq was far better than nearly all of the pundits and journalists who find it so easy to dismiss Obama as "inexperienced." Will the media give any attention to Rush Limbaugh for his racist attacks on Obama? Crossposted at DailyKos < http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/27/13848/7414?new=true >.

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

There’s more,

Top 10 Racist Limbaugh Quotes. News One for Black America. By Casey Gane-McCalla October 20, 2008 9:45 pm. < http://newsone.blackplanet.com/obama/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/ >.Normally I do Top 5 lists, but Rush Limbaugh’s racist comments could not be limited by such a small number. Now that he has reared his ugly once again in saying that Colin Powell is endorsing Barack Obama because he is black, it’s time to ask ourselves why is Sarah Palin appearing on the show with such an astounding racist. Is she pallin around with bigots?If John McCain was so eager to have Barack Obama repudiate the statements of his ’supporter,’ John Lewis, shouldn’t John McCain repudiate the extremely racist comments of his biggest right wing radio supporter, Rush Limbaugh.Here’s Our Top 10 Racist Rush Limbaugh Quotes1. I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.Okay Rush, slavery was not a good thing for the millions of African Americans who were enslaved, raped and beaten. The streets weren’t at all safe for African Americans. Slavery not a bad thing? Someone should put Rush on a plantation for him to see how great it is. Keep on fear and race mongering Rush, you might get to Goebels status.2. You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed. Martin Luther King is a national hero, not a black hero. Everybody in the United States celebrates his birthday, children are taught to look up to him as a hero in school. He’s earned the respect and admiration of the world and you believe the man who killed him was a hero? This is beyond racist. This is evil, mean spirited, subhuman. Praising the assassin of one of our great American heroes is beyond the scope of regular racism.3. Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?No but I’ve noticed that all racist bigots think like Rush Limbaugh. Comparing a respected black politician and minister to common criminals is Jim Crow racism. Maybe all black people look alike to him, but I’ve never seen a picture of a wanted criminal that looks like Jesse Jackson. A serial killer that looks like Rush Limbaugh on the other hand.John Wayne Gacy4. Right. So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there. You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandela — who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing.The communist connection is an old way of dealing with black leaders. They used it on Martin Luther King, they’re using it on Barack Obama and Limbaugh used it on Nelson Mandela. By siding with the racist apartheid regime over a world-wide symbol of peace and freedom, Limbaugh has shown he’s a global racist.5. Look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.Limbaugh is once again fear mongering and race baiting by associating professional black athletes with criminals and gangmembers. He continues the fear mongering association of good, decent, hard working African Americans as criminals.6. The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.Now Limbaugh is saying that an organization with a storied tradition of representing the positive black people for change in their communities are criminals and rioters. An organization that has been represented by intelligent professional African Americans, that has played a part in the Civil Rights movement and continues to be an intelligent, concerned voice for the African American community is degraded to common criminals. There you go Rush. Keep racism alive!!!!7. They’re 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares? Decent human beings care Rush. Someone out of that 12% may just become President of the United States. Not caring about black people? Even George Bush wouldn’t admit to that.8. Take that bone out of your nose and call me back(to an African American female caller).Okay Rush that’s classy. The old African bone in the nose stereotype. Wasn’t funny when the racist white school kids called the black kids that and it’s definitely not funny when a grown man with audience of millions of easily influenced dittoheads says it either.9. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They’re interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there’s a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn’t deserve. I wasn’t super offended by this, the whole black quarterback/coach thing has been going on for years in sports, but the quote was so offensive that Retired General Wesley Clarke said:There can be no excuse for such statements. Mr. Limbaugh has the right to say whatever he wants, but ABC and ESPN have no obligation to sponsor such hateful and ignorant speech. Mr. Limbaugh should be fired immediately. When a respected, retired general condemns the statement of a sportscaster, you know he’s gone too far.10. Limbaugh attacks on Obama. Limbaugh has called Obama a ‘halfrican American’ has said that Obama was not black but Arab because Kenya is an Arab region, even though Arabs are less than one percent of Kenya. Since mainstream America has become more accepting of African-Americans, Limbaugh has decided to play against its new racial fears, Arabs and Muslims. Despite the fact Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law school, Limbaugh has called him an ‘affirmative action candidate.’ Limbaugh even has repeatedly played a song on his radio show ‘Barack the Magic Negro’ using an antiquated Jim Crow era term for black a man who many Americans are supporting for president. Way to go Rush.So Rush Limbaugh has managed to make racist attacks on four of the most admired and respected people of African descent in the past one hundred years, in Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Colin Powell and Barack Obama. He has called for the assassin of Martin Luther King to be given a medal, and said slavery was a good thing. He has claimed that Joe the Plumber, who isn’t even a plumber is more important in this election than Colin Powell, a decorated military veteran who has served honorably in three administrations. How can the Republican party stand by this man and let their candidates appear on his show? Rush Limbaugh’s comments are so racist, they’re funny, in a Borat, Archie Bunker kind of way. What is not funny is the millions of dittoheads who listen to him, who take in and re-spout all the racist rhetoric that he spits. Limbaugh’s statements are echoed in the racist, angry Palin/McCain supporters who shout ‘kill him,’ ‘terrorist,’ ‘communist,’ ‘traitor,’ ’socialist’ and ‘off with his head.’**************************

I hope America again takes another step away from our racist past by sending the Republican Party a resounding rejection at the next term elections.

I would love if impeachment proceedings would immediately be implemented against those Republican officials who have no valid reason for voting against the President’s stimulus plan, other than doing so because they were told to do so by their Party leaders. Unlike most allegiance to Party lines, this is due to the influence of a racist talk show host, when we are in such dire times as a nation. All elected officials take an oath to uphold the dictates of the Constitution, as servants to ALL of the people; elected office of service. If there is any indication that they have become an enemy of the state (Fascism: using their elected powers to act against the people, in favor of big business), that is immediate grounds for impeachment.

David Martin

Yes We Can Song

Wayne — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:16:48 EST

YES WE CAN SONG/VIDEO FEATURING DARRYL "CAPPY" LEWIS OF SACRAMENTO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u_JYXCRw_c

Welcome to .CAN and some rules of the road...

Wayne — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:59:42 EST

Hello Everybody - Please share this emial with all new members, so we all know we each have agreed to hold ourselves to our highest standards. We lead by example. Welcome to Government 2.0. "This is my gift to my country. " I am a large scale systems architect, and I saw a need and did something about filling it. "The Community Action Network is yours to use to make all our dreams come true. " Our election of President Obama was only a beginning. Lets go to work. Government 2.0 is our participatory citizens "real time" responsibility. "The Internet makes this new phase of our American Expierment (Benjamin Franklin's words) at Self Government possible." Politics changed. �Welcome to the future. The Community Action Network is a Post Partisan Cooperative of Individuals and Groups Assembled as Protected by the Second Ammendment. "Our primary tool of community defense is our vote." We are not to arm into Militia, rather assemble, and vote as we see fit to protect the health and welfare of our Communities. Residency within a Legal County is required, as is voter registration. At this time the Membership, Events, Blog posts, and all List Servers are moderated until further notice. "We have construction to do before we open up for Community Action." This is a National Network of State Networks of County Networks of All MyBO Groups within every County of our United States. "Our .CAN organization is not any political party. " We are the change we have been waiting for. Stop waiting. "Fire it up." Let me address three points: I.) Rules of Participation; II.) Communications and Administrative Structure; and III.) Processes and proceedures. I.) Rules of Participation: Barack Obama asked his initial campaign staff to make three commitments, and then welcomed them all to try what appeared impossible at the time. I repeat these now as you must commit to these in your heart now, before you begin your work, individually and collectively. 1.) Honesty. 2.) No Drama. 3.) Have Fun. Marshall Ganz tought us the three rules of Community Organizing at Camp Obama. The Obama for America Presidential Campaign graduated over 20,000 of us at those events. f you have not run thru the training please take the time and set up your own County Events. �You can find the complete training here: http://campobama.blogspot.com/ We hope to repeatedly deliver a new Camp to your groups over the Internet. Our plan is to deliver this training to all twice a year forward. Grassroots Camp 2.0 will be tooled to Government 2.0, where as the original expierence was focused on Community Organizing around an Election. �Stay tuned as this is true grasstroots triaining for your local teams. There are many policy aspects of your Governments, which you may want to change, which are not election based activites. �Regardless, Marshall gave us the three Rules of Efective Community Organizing. 4.) Respect. 5.) Empower. 6.) Include. Barack Obama asked us to study, to work at, and become the Change we were waiting for. �Core to all Barack's teaching and leadership is a concept of Empathy. When you read and re-read his books, this theme is a thread that is woven throughout his writing. So we require your best attempt at: 7.) Empathy. Membership in the .CAN Network is a privilage and not a right. Name calling, foul language, and hurtful conduct, speech and written words are good cause for two warnings by any Administrator and then removal upon any third violation. This is not a joke. Appeal to your local .CAN group at any monthly group meeting as a "Housekeeping Item" is the only point of appeal to your group. And all groups are to allow group re-entry upon apology. Sometimes a few weeks or months off, is all anyone needs to repair their attitude. Some good video on Empathy is here: Barack Obama and a New Spirit of Empathy - Rough Cut 1(1 hr 15 min)�http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6504935098489252112 � II.) Communications and Administrative Structure: We have a Network, of Networks (50 States), of Networks, (3,071 Counties), of Networks (All MyBO Group Members of All MyBO Groups in that County. We also will open a Network of all Colleges and Univers ities as stand alone .CAN Groups, which are welcome to participate as stand alone groups and elect delegates to our State Assemblies and National .CAN Congress. The Students have asked us for this, so be it. We also will open a Spanish Language set of .CAN Groups, where that language will be used. As needed - all other Language .CAN Groups are welcome to set up their own Groups and join in the Quarterly Countywide MyBO Membership Assemblies. Each MyBO County.State.CAN Group will host an all inclusive Quarterly Assembly of all MyBO Members in there County. Our Charter to set up this network required we not compete with existing groups, and include all who wanted to join us. All MyBO Groups are welcome to elect two Delegates to our Bi-Annual State MyBO Group Assemblies, and those same delegates are welcome to our Annual National MyBO Citizens Congress. Our State Umbrella Grou ps will meet in our various State Capitols. Our National Congress will meet in Washington DC. Each set of Delegates will include one voting Delegate and one Alternate. Each Group is Autonomous and Self Supporting. We are Volunteers. �Any service compensation for expenses is up to each group. The State Groups are welcome to sponsor any Delegate who may not have the resources to participate. We are inclusive and not exclusive. To be a member, any person must agree to abide to the best of their ability and capacity, to our seven core principles stated above. Each Group will maintain two or more Group Administrators and one or more Communications Directors. The Group Administrators will oversee the interface to MyBO and the other .CAN Groups. �Group Administrators will admit and remove members and are empowered to make thier indepentant decisions. The local Group Membership can override and change any arbitrary decison made between meetings. The Communications Directors will moderate the List Servers as quickly as possible. Where Groups grow to large - they may further sub devide their counties as they see fit. All Groups will meet once a month as we suggest the use of our Standardized Meeting Format. This is not a legal organizational entity at this point. Agreements as to legal form are left to the membership for future decisions. All I have done is design the structure to give to you. What you do with it is up to you. III.) Processes and proceedures: In Each Group Blog, you will find three postings which we require you keep posted on your Community Blog for all to reference: 1.) The Suggested Meeting Format for Monthly Meetings. You can archive meeti ng notes and records on Google Docs as shared files for all to see. We recommend Setting up a Group Membership Spread sheet on Google Docs as well, as we share our Names, Addresses, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, and other public data and notes with all members in each Group. The State Group Data and Membership Directory of Elected Delegates and Officers will be maintained on Google Docs as as shared file - open to Delegates only. The National Registry of all State Delegates will be also open to all Elected Delegates - as a shared file. �Transparency is critical and we lead by example. No Delegate shall share the group data. There shall be no solicitation of contributions or commerce on any Group List Server. 2.) The Two Year Schedule, created by the founding .CAN Group in San Francisco, California on December 13, 2008. We ar e all to synch to this schedule for all our use. You can set up your List of Officers - terms and when you have your group elections on a shared Google Doc as well for the reference of your group. 3.) The Link List of All MyBO Groups in your County.State.CAN Group shall be created, posted and maintained by your County Group Adminsitrators. �We promised Chicago MyBO HQ we would create and maintain an Umbrella Protection and inclusion of all MyBO Groups with clear inter-group level of respect, empowerment, and inclusion. The Link List of All MyBO County Groups in your State shall be created, posted and maintainted by your State.CAN State Group Administrators. The Groups are open to do as they see fit within this structure and may advocate as the see fit. This is post partisan politics. The Link List of All MyBO State.CAN, and Colleges.CAN and Language.City or State.CAN Groups will be created and main tained by the USA.CAN Group Administrators. Thank you for allowing me to be of service. Paul Talcott CurrierInternet Community Organizer.Official Amercian by Birth. ( I like my Middle Name as it is thank you )

Washington.CAN - The Next Step

Wayne — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:15:34 EST

Hello Wonderfully Active People:

You're invited to join a group on My.BarackObama.com:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/WashingtonCAN

We are writing to invite everyone to please come out and join the President's Grassroots Team to support Barack as we roll out Government 2.0.
In his recent video (http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/thefuture) Barack Announces Organizing For America.  He mentioned that in a few days you would get instructions by email.  These are the instructions.

1.  We need you to find your State.CAN group in MyBO and join these two groups:

USA.CAN

Washington.CAN

2.  Each of you must update your Personal profile on MyBO with real contact information so we can interact accordingly.

3.  This is our team building nationwide project...to form ranks.  To give you a heads up, February 7th is when the call has been put out for all CAN groups to have their first meetings across the country.  We are asking all MyBO members who want to participate in Government 2.0 to reach out to all their MyBO groups and have them join their State.CAN group as well.  At your face to face meetings across your state and in each county you will elect officers, assign issue teams by individual interests, and make plans to work across CAN groups with all others who might share that issue focus in order to join forces and see solutions implemented.   This is the plan we make in support of President Barack Obama's upcoming legislation and programs.  All issues that we are focusing on to begin with are posted at www.whitehouse.gov.

4.  Overall mandate on what we are to do:

• Organize support for legislation at all levels of government.  This includes supporting President Obama's agenda as well as organizing around state and local laws/initiatives.
• Build grassroots electoral strength at all levels by training and developing grassroots leaders to organize and serve in their communities.
• Be an organ of two-way communication between the White House and the grassroots, so that each knows and responds to the priorities of the other.
• Launch a national, grassroots-driven renewal of civic engagement, again at both the local and national levels.

Lisa Lindo
National USA.CAN Group Administrator (Community Action Networks)
Associate Producer Vote For Change Campaign
Internet Community Organizer
Economic URL: IfTheBuckStopsHereShootIt.com
Vote For Change: http://obeygiant.com/voteforchange/

March on Washington - Rev. Dunning

Wayne — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:29:30 EST

Rev.Clyde Dunning has sent you an invitation to 'MARCH ON
WASHINGTON (Looking Beyond the Election)' -- click here to
view the invitation and submit your response:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g23s

---

I thank God for being able to witness in my lifetime what happens when people come together who share one common bond, and that is the need for change. Even before President Obama takes office, already there are oppositions that are gearing up to be contrary to the change we seek. Just the other day rush lembah was quoted as saying that he "hopes the president fails". Despite the urgency and the need for success as it affects everyone. Sadley enough, there are thousands perhapes even millions who are contrary to the change that we seek and so desperatly need. This is why it is important that we stick together to demobilize the stagering llegacies of the past

In furtherance of our support to President Obama, we the people of the United States of America would like to sponsor a March on Washington and a show of solidarity on the issues that affect us all.

It is a march for all people of all ages, races creeds and nationalities, with different stories, but who have heard the cry for change coming together in Washington to dramatize the issues that concern us all.

This is a march for the people who come and who are ready to answer to the call that change does not start from the top down, but it begins from the bottom up.

We come as a show that we are ready to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk and roll up our sleeves to began the work and start the healing process in America under the guide and leadership of President Barack Obama.

It will be a peaceful March not for or by the politicians, but it will be a march by the people who are affected by the real issues that hit home or close to home from the war in Iraq to the failing mortgages and the economy, down to the Injustice in our courtrooms, violence in our communities and the job profile and availability in America.

We want to make the message clear that after the election that the change that we seek, before it will takes place, that change begin with us. We come aware knowing that change is never easy and that the hardest work is ahead beyond the election.

We want to show also our appreciation and support to an administration that we are confident in and that now we can reach up to who will reach back.

This march is tentatively scheduled for June 27th , but because of all the detail involved may have to be pushed back to a later date to assure its success and to preserve the surety that the message we come to Washington is clear and uncertain.
Updates on the development of this march will be given regularly to keep us all on the same page. Get involved! We need you and your creativity.

God Bless

Rev. Clyde Dunning

A note to a friend who lives in New York

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:10:41 EST

A note to a friend who lives in New York

Isn't this a great new world? I am overwhelmed with emotions everyday because of how America spoke on November 4, 2008. The inauguration was great and now President Obama is immediately getting down to the business of keeping his campaign promises. If the republicans think he will succumb to the Washington politics and become another clog in the wheel of justice, remember, this was the Senatorial candidate who stood up against the invasion of Iraq when it was believed to be political suicide to do so.

I'm deeply angered at the NY Democrats. So selfish and so mean spirited at a time when we all are beginning to think in terms of WE instead of in terms of ME.

What they did to Caroline Kennedy has angered me and I'm not going to hold it in. If you can't trust your own party members to be civil and trustworthy; by not resorting to back-stabbing and petty politics to further their self-aggrandizing agendas, then maybe it's now time to clean house with all that is wrong with our party as well.

This election was not just about clearing out those Republicans who were an enemy of the state (We the people), but to also look within ourselves and rid ourselves of what we have become as a result of the conditioning we experienced under a Republican State.

The NY Democrats and the NY governor (Governor Patterson) showed me, the work is still far from done, with their actions that mirror those of the out-going administration. I hope the New Yorkers will overwhelmingly show their disapproval over how Caroline Kennedy was treated in the next elections in NY State. Caroline Kennedy represents what have always been right with America and its time the Democratic Party realize what the American people were saying on November 4, 2008.

Trouble the Water Movie

Wayne — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:44:57 EST

From: Tia Lessin and Carl Deal (directors@troublethewaterfilm.com) Sent:Thu 1/22/09 1:10 PMTo: Wayne Severson (tukwilareign@hotmail.com)

Dear Wayne,

Wow. We received big news this morning and wanted you to be the first to know.

Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards(R). We are thrilled to share the news that "Trouble the Water" has been nominated for best documentary feature!!

What an incredible week this has been. It began with the celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy in Atlanta, where we screened "Trouble the Water" at the King Center's Freedom Hall with Kimberly and Scott Roberts and The Free Agents Brass Band of New Orleans.

Then we got word that "Trouble the Water" was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for outstanding documentary.

On Tuesday, the Obamas moved into the White House (and the Bushes moved out!).

And then this morning's Oscar(R) nomination for best documentary feature.

This is our time. If you haven't seen the movie yet, or have friends and family who are waiting to see it, there is something you can do.

Call your local movie theater and ask them to play "Trouble the Water." Theater managers (especially art-house theaters) take note of these requests, and it makes a difference. We've made it simple, and provided some helpful talking points, just click here to get started:

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/page/s/theatrical

We are so very honored that "Trouble the Water" has been recognized by the Academy along with these extraordinary films: "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"; "Encounters at the End of the World"; "The Garden"; and "Man on Wire."

And we are determined that the national and international exposure that this nomination will bring to "Trouble the Water" will also bring desperately needed attention to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and to so many communities throughout the country that are fighting for racial and economic justice.

A year ago this week, "Trouble the Water" premiered at Sundance. Since then, it has been released by Zeitgeist Films, in association with HBO Documentary Films, and has screened in more than 200 theaters nationally. But there are so many communities that have yet to see "Trouble the Water."

Click here to find out how to bring the film to your community:

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/page/s/theatrical

We have partnered with scores of community-based and national organizations working for change throughout the country. Follow this link if you would like to screen the film on your campus, in your community center, at your house of worship, or to organize a community event:

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/group

Together with Kimberly and Scott Roberts, executive producers Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes of Louverture Films, co-producer and editor T. Woody Richman and the rest of the talented and dedicated team that has made "Trouble the Water" possible, we thank you for your support.

Our best,

Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

directors and producers of "Trouble the Water"

www.troublethewaterfilm.com

This email was sent to: tukwilareign@hotmail.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/unsubscribe

Dear Wayne,

Wow. We received big news this morning and wanted you to be the first to know.

Then we got word that "Trouble the Water" was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for outstanding documentary.

On Tuesday, the Obamas moved into the White House (and the Bushes moved out!).

And then this morning's Oscar(R) nomination for best documentary feature.

This is our time. If you haven't seen the movie yet, or have friends and family who are waiting to see it, there is something you can do.

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/page/s/theatrical

Click here to find out how to bring the film to your community:

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/page/s/theatrical

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/group

Our best,

Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

directors and producers of "Trouble the Water"

www.troublethewaterfilm.com

This email was sent to: tukwilareign@hotmail.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/unsubscribe

My rebuttal to a vet's(man of color) rejection of Obama strategy for success

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:05:31 EST

My response to a rejection of the Obama strategy for success I haven't read your entire email, as I was growing more and more frustrated while reading the first paragraph and some of the second. What makes Obama’s approach to public political discourse so effective is just that; it’s public political discourse. He has created a public funding constituency of the people, not big business with their lobbyist who historically has brought suitcases filled with money to bribe our political leaders in an effort to further their own self-serving agendas. Obama offers a break from that cycle of dysfunctional dogma, to one which is literally “of the people and for the people”. He has created a system, < http://my.barackobama.com/page/user/login?successurl=L3BhZ2UvZGFzaGJvYXJkL3ByaXZhdGU/c291cmNlPW15Ym9iYXI= >. Please people, if you don’t like the president’s approach to a problem that affects all of us, let him know. Growing up an African-male in the 60s, 70sand early adulthood into the 80s, I believe I have developed PTSD, not only from my military service in the US Marines and US Army, but also in everyday America as a child and then as an adult because of the conditioning that all people of color and blacks in particular had to endure, which still to this day has made me paranoid (to some extent) whenever I enter a large department store, when a police car enters the same roadway I have already occupied, when another black man (who is a stranger) enters the space I am already occupying.

In a store, if my cell phone is ringing and I take it out of my pocket to answer it, I will not put it back into my pocket, because I feel store security will think I’m stealing my own cell phone! I wait until I get back outside.
My German national wife, while we are in the produce section will sample a grape, and then we will almost get into an argument because my blood pressure will skyrocket and I will get nervous because I fear we will get in trouble.
I have now learned never to put my wife and family’s picture on my work desk, because that is the beginning of when my boss’s relationship with me, as well as the relationship with my co-workers will degenerate; that is the start of the harassment-style work reviews to justify my not receiving a raise or blacklisted for any type of advancement.
When my wife and I walk hand –in-hand in public, if my wife should drift behind, when I pass some eyes of those who are against bi-racial marriage (whether black, white or any other), they will give my wife their judgment of our union. My wife will not tell me until months or years later for fear of how I will confront them (not if I will confront them). My anger will make me entirely un-rational and I am afraid sometimes that my conditioning as a Marine sometimes makes me act without knowing when my family or country is attacked (there is no distinction). I have managed in the past to remain reserved, but lately I have been feeling myself lose control because of the frustration of waiting for an adult (our racist society) to grow up!
Whites who do not agree with interracial marriage, blacks who do not agree with interracial marriage and all other bigots and racists who collectively support each other’s common goal of divisiveness and conquering, reinforce what is wrong with America and what is wrong with the world. The world is a growing experiment whose success depends on our growth toward recognizing all that we have in common with one another, to disregard that fact is to validate the march to the destruction of it.

We (people of color) must realize and then understand why we have this immediate feel for rejecting a member of another racial group’s rise to a position of leadership whether it is on a sports team, in a class room, in the work place, or in a public office; especially when we immediately accept that position going to someone is white, even when we all know they are less qualified. We have all been conditioned to accept the role of “less than”. This conditioning is so strong that it manifests itself, even when we are left to govern each other when the group which created this system of conditioning is not around. We police each other; ensuring that we each accept our roles as “less than” in this society, even if by physical force.Our world is now changing and the biggest obstacle this change is no longer those who created this world in the first place, but the older generation in our society who suffered first-hand the power of that racist society, because it is us who hold that sacred trust to our next generation and if we substantiate a dogma, it is more immediately acceptable than if a stranger substantiates it; which leads to an immediate acceptance and conditioning once that new generation world enters the world of our society. Obama represent s a break from that cycle of “less than” for all peoples of color, but the work is far from over because now it requires that we pull up our sleeves and do our part. We must now look within ourselves and recognize our infections, so that we may root it out and start anew. We must now listen to the man who has demonstrated to us that he knows what he is doing and who yearns for our participation. He is the first to respect us as people of color,

because HE IS LISTENING!
We must also respect him and TELL HIM WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WHAT WE NEED FOR HIM TO DO TO HELP US HEAL.

To only speak within our small circle of those who are also affected does nothing to correct what is wrong, and more so only reinforces the stranglehold that old world has around our collective necks. Remember, “Ask not what our government can do for us, but what can we do for our government”. I think this is what John F. Kennedy met and what Barack Obama met when he asked for public service. This is our defining moment; respects begets respect, so own up and disclose your concerns not only to us, but to President Obama so he has the opportunity to respond to your pain and request for a remedy to the damage you have suffered to your soul. Obama is not the enemy; he is an ally, so speak up to him. In this time in American and World History, the actions of the President of the United States of America requires an assault on ALL fronts, and to limit that rescue to one group of people in this multi-racial country and multi-racial world would be irresponsible and defeating. You are hurting and have grown impatient because no one has listened for far too long. Do not let your blinding rage and hunger for justice overshadow the task at hand and the corrective steps this president must take, on all fronts, in order to meet this unprecedented challenge in American and world history. It’s about ALL of us, not simply some of us, because we are the sum of all of our individual parts and only as one are we able to overcome, together.

Gaza Father's Heartbreak

Wayne — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:32:56 EST

While visiting Op Ed News, Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News saw this article and thought you might be interested, and has this message for you:

The anguished and heartbroken cries of this father who just lost three daughters to Israel shells only minutes before this newscast are in both Hebrew and Arabic; they are in the Universal Language of Grief, and need no translation. Article by Jeffrey Fleishman, Bureau Chief of Los Angeles Times, in 2002 as Berlin bureau chief. He has covered wars in Kosovo and Iraq and has traveled extensively through Europe and the Middle East. He is a former Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and was a 1997 Pulitzer Prize finalist for a story he wrote accompanying 15 Buddhist monks and nuns on their escape trek across the Himalayas from Tibet. Before joining LA Times, was European correspondent based in Rome for Philadelphia Inquirer moved to Cairo in summer 2007. Please post a comment on this article.

Article at http://www.opednews.com/articles/Israel-TV-news-broadcasts-by-Jeffrey-Fleishman-090117-860.html
Israeli TV News Broadcasts a Gaza Father's Heartbreak

Thank you!

...Rob Kall
Op Ed News
rob@opednews.com

Op Ed News brings Progressive news, original articles and OpEds
from all over the world.

King Country Elections Directot

Wayne — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:04:49 EST

Dear Voter,

What happens when you put a highly partisan and unqualified person in charge of counting votes? Does Florida, the 2000 elections fraud, and 8 years of George W. Bush come to mind?

Ballots have been mailed out for a special election to elect the King County Elections Director. Two of the top three candidates are highly partisan and completely unqualified for the job.

There is a broad consensus among progressive organizations (see below) that Sherril Huff is the candidate who deserves your vote. Not voting, or voting for anyone else, could have very negative consequences.

Please forward this email to your friends. Voters have very little information about this important election. And turnout will be low, making every vote more important.

Click on the link below and go to our Progressive Voters Guide to learn more about all the candidates for this office:

MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.fusewashington.org" claiming to be www.ProgressiveVotersGuide.org

The other serious candidates for this office are Pam Roach - one of the most conservative (and craziest) members of the Washington State Senate (and winner of a 2008 Fuse Fizzle Award), and David Irons, a conservative former member of the King County Council with no administrative election experience.

Despite being unqualified for the position they could win simply on name recognition.

Sherril Huff has been highly regarded for her work managing the county's 1.1 million voters since King County Executive Ron Sims appointed he r in 2007. Of the five candidates vying for her office, Huff stands out for her experience and non-partisanship. She has helped the county institute more than 300 reforms in response to the 2004 county elections debacle and has helped conduct 21 successful elections since then. A two-term county auditor, she has been endorsed by just about every county auditor in the state.

Huff has been rated Outstanding by the Municipal League of King County, and has been endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Fuse Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, UFCW Local 21 and 35 Washington County Auditors (both Republicans and Democrats).

Christine Gregoire was elected Governor by 133 votes in 2004. Al Franken is laughing all the way to the U.S. Senate with a 225-vote spread this month. These examples are proof positive that every vote does matter in an election. And, they are fine examples of why making sure every vote is counted and count ed correctly matters to democracy - at the local, state and federal level.

You are being asked to vote for King County's first elected Elections Director. The winner in this important special election will be responsible for clean, fair elections and for ensuring the county's transition to all mail-in balloting goes smoothly.

As the 14th largest county in the nation many elections very well may ride on a King County elections office that is efficient, effective and non-partisan. Cast your vote for Sherril Huff, and please forward this message to your friends.

Click on the the link below and go to our Progressive Voters Guide to learn more about all the candidates for this office:

MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.fusewashington.org" claiming to be www.ProgressiveVotersGuide.org

Thank you,

Aaron Ostrom, and the entire team at Fuse Washington

Trip to DC

Wayne — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:45:17 EST

Hey friends I'll be writing for the Seattle Times about my trip . I
wanted to let my Obama mailing friends know.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/inauguration/

-love Crystal Ainardi
--

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader

Tell Congress to Act Quickly

Wayne — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:31:01 EST

From: Ingrid McDonald [mailto:aarpwa@aarp.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 11:08 AM
Subject: Tell Congress to Act Quickly

Tell Congress to Act Quickly

Dear Steven --

Click Here to Take Action

For almost two years, AARP, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Business Roundtable have put aside our vast differences and come together in a focused initiative called "Divided We Fail."

Through this campaign we have been working together to demand action, answers and accountability on health and lifetime financial security.

Click Here to Take Action

Yesterday we delivered 1.6 million pledges, signed by Americans across the country, demanding real solutions to these tough issues. These pledges are a reminder that millions of Americans are ready to hold them accountable if they fail to act.

Please take a moment today to send an e-mail your US Senators and Representative. Let them know that we are counting on them to put partisanship aside and work diligently towards long-tern, lasting solutions.

Click Here to Take Action
Thank you for taking action ~
Ingrid McDonald
Advocacy Director, AARP Washington
.

This email was sent to you by AARP.
To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders),
please add aarpwa@aarp.org to your address book.

This e-mail is being sent by the AARP Washington State Office, 9750 3rd Ave. NE #450,
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Greetings, Mr Bush

Wayne — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:24:18 EST

http://www.truthout.org/010709J

To: George W. Bush
From: Your biggest fan
Re: Your imminent unemployment

Greetings, Mr. Bush.

I was sorry to hear about the passing of your cat, India. Eighteen
years is a long time for a cat - my mother has one that's 20 and still
going strong, if you can believe it - and I'm sure India had a
comfortable, caring life with your family.

I got to spend part of last weekend with an old friend of mine.
He's a bit older than 18, and he's also a troop who recently rotated
back from a tour in Falluja. He just had a baby daughter, and he will
be sent to Afghanistan before too much longer. He did his duty in
Iraq, dealt his share of death and saw his friends die or be ripped to
shreds right in front of him.

He was hollow in a lot of places that had been full before he went
to Iraq. He was not the same man we'd said farewell to. But he was
alive, and if he survives his upcoming Afghanistan tour, maybe he will
get the chance to have a long, comfortable, caring life with his
family, just like little India.

At present, my friend's life is the polar opposite of comfortable,
and he still has Kabul waiting for him just over the horizon. His life
is the way it is because of you, Mr. Bush. You have been the single
greatest influence upon his time in this world; you put him over there
and hollowed him out, and because of you, it's about to happen again.
You were the single biggest influence upon the lives of every person
he knew over there, every person he saw over there, and every person
he killed over there.

It's funny. I was thinking the other day about when I marched in
one of the first large-scale post-inauguration protests against you in
Washington, DC. It was May of 2001, it was The Voter's Rights March to
Restore Democracy, and it was a few thousand people shouting down the
unutterably ruinous Supreme Court decision which unleashed, just as we
then feared, everything that has since come to pass. "Not my
president!" we bellowed. "Not my president!"

It's funny because that memory seems so very quaint to me now. A
stolen election? Pfff. To paraphrase a different president, Americans
get scarier stuff than that free with their breakfast cereal nowadays.
Thanks to you, governor.

My All-Time-Grand-Prize-Bull-Goose-Gold-Medal-Winning Top Five
list of what you've done, in no particular order, and in my own humble
opinion:

1. You were warned by the outgoing administration when you first
took office. You were warned by the Russians. You were warned by the
Israelis. You were warned by the Germans. You were warned in a memo
given to you by your own National Security Adviser. You were warned by
men like Richard Clarke. You were warned all those times that Osama
bin Laden intended to strike the United States, and still the Towers
came down.

(All those people working on that Legacy Project of yours should
go back to bed, by the way; they are trying to salvage the
unsalvageable. You protected us, they claim? Ha. You're 0-1 on
terrorism and 0-2 on war)

2. Less than a month after those Towers came down, a reporter
asked what you thought we should do. "We need to counter the shockwave
of the evildoer," you replied, "by having individual rate cuts
accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates." I happened to be
watching television and heard you say that live into a camera. The
only reason I didn't throw up on myself is because my teeth were
clenched too tightly for the vomit to pass my lips. I swallowed hard,
grabbed a pen, and wrote down what you said and when you said it. It
was October 4, 2001, just after nine in the morning. You'd like people
to remember you standing on that pile of rubble in Manhattan, you with
the bullhorn and the heroic pose. I, however, will always remember you
pitching tax cuts to a devastated nation while a pall of poison smoke
still hung in the air over Ground Zero.

3. A few years later, you wanted hundreds of billions of dollars
diverted from other areas of the federal budget and into your war in
Iraq. You took more than $70 billion out of the budget used by the
Army Corps of Engineers in Louisiana to fund the repair and
maintenance of the New Orleans levee system. Katrina struck not long
after you took that money and poured it into the sand, and the levees
failed for lack of funded upkeep. Through this, along with your
disinterested disinclination to help your own countrymen in their hour
of darkest need, you played the very last note for that old, sad, lost
American city. Reflected in those actions are the same budgetary
priorities that motivated you to turn Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
the hospital where I was born, into an abattoir of suffering and
neglect for the wounded soldiers you tore apart for a lie.

4. You let Dick "Crazy-Eyes" Cheney do whatever the hell he wanted
to whomever he wanted whenever and wherever he wanted, and be damned
to the damned old Constitution anyway. Cheney once said the vice
president's office was not part of the same branch of government as
the president's office, and he said it with his bare face hanging out
the whole time. Why? He didn't want to give any of his official papers
over to the National Archives, as mandated by at least two federal
laws. Nope, he said, my office is in Congress today, sorry about that,
but be sure to come on back after you drop dead. Or words to that
effect. That's about one zillionth of a percent of what he did,
because you let him pick himself to be your boss.

5. On July 19, 2006, you vetoed H.R. 810. On June 20, 2007, you
vetoed S. 5. Both vetoes killed legislation aimed at funding and
vastly enhancing the reach and scope of stem cell research in America.
The father of someone I know died of bone marrow cancer just after
that first veto; he was adopted, no family could be located, so no
donor match for a bone marrow transplant could be found. With stem
cell therapy, doctors could have taken his own marrow and grown enough
healthy, matching marrow to save his life. Two other people I know
have diabetes, like millions of Americans. Stem cell research could
offer them a cure. Someone else I know has multiple sclerosis, and
stem cell research could very well help her, too. She'd write you a
thank-you note for those vetoes, but her right hand doesn't work so
well anymore. She's getting better with her left hand, so maybe that
note can get written next year.

Also, you defied lawfully issued subpoenas and potentially set a
precedent that could shatter the separation of powers. You told the
American people Iraq was in possession of 26,000 liters of anthrax,
38,000 liters of botulinum toxin, 500 tons - which is one million
pounds - of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent, 30,000 missiles to
deliver the stuff, mobile biological weapons labs, al-Qaeda
connections and uranium from Niger for use in a robust nuclear weapons
program, even though all of that was a lie. You made a joking video
about not being able to find any of it. You outed a deep-cover CIA
agent who was running a network designed to keep weapons of mass
destruction out of the hands of terrorists, and you did so because her
ambassador husband told the truth about you in the public prints.

You gave away our right to privacy by sending the NSA to spy on
us. You turned us all into torturers and butchers in the eyes of the
world with your decision to use Abu Ghraib prison the same way Saddam
Hussein once did. You tried to appoint Henry Kissinger to lead the
investigation into 9/11. You turned the entire Justice Department into
a carnival of political hackery. You championed the economic policies
and deregulation fantasies that have left the financial stability of
millions in ashes. You used the threat of terrorism against your own
people in order to give yourself political cover. You killed hundreds
of thousands, if not millions, of people who did you nor us no harm.

You did all this, and so much more.

From a certain perspective, one could argue that you have been the
most successful president the country has ever seen. Think about it,
because according to your definition of "success," it's true. You came
into office looking to make your friends richer, and to fulfill as
best you could your most overriding personal belief: that government
is the problem, so government must be damaged and denuded to the point
of impotence. Through your tax cuts and your two vastly expensive
boondoggle wars, you made your friends rich. By unleashing Mr. Cheney
and your other minions, you tore the Constitution to shreds and
tatters. You have achieved both goals in smashing style, so from that
certain perspective, you have triumphed.

Could you also, from the proper perspective, be considered our
greatest president?

Perhaps, someday, if we make it so.

It will be in the best interests of many powerful people if we as
a nation simply dismiss you and forget you ever happened. A lot of
news media people want us to forget you, because in forgetting you, we
would forget the media's vast complicity in your actions and misdeeds.
A lot of rich people making new fortunes from war profiteering and
defense contracts want us to forget they and you even exist, as it
would make it possible for them to do it all again someday. A lot of
politicians who stapled themselves to you would simply adore it if we
forgot about you. The Republican Party would be forever in our debt if
we forgot about you.

No. We will not forget you. We will remember.

We the people are going to save you from ignominious oblivion. We
will remember. You could be the president who doomed America, the
worst president of all time, but we must not, will not let that
happen. You will be remembered differently, because we will hold the
memory of you high, and behold you, and say, "Never, never, never
again." We have tasted the soot and smelled the blood on the wind; we
have seen how fragile our way of government is when placed in the
hands of low men such as you, and because of that, you will be
remembered for all time.

Your greatness will be defined by how we rise to overcome and undo
what you have done. Your greatness will stand forever if we never,
ever forget the hard, bitter lessons you taught us. We are responsible
for this republic, for our Constitution, and for each other. We are
our brother's keeper. You taught us that by becoming our Cain. You
nearly slew us, but here we stand, and we defy the place in history
you would relegate us to. We defy you, and by doing so, we rise.

Something like you must never again be allowed to happen to this
country, and if we save ourselves by preventing you from ever
happening again, your greatness is assured. You are the tallest of all
possible warnings, and a promise all of us must solemnly and
stalwartly keep. If we can damn you to the past, we will save our own
future.

May you live forever, you son of a bitch

Slate for Change

Wayne — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:20:22 EST

I would like to share an interesting post by Linda Lindo about the Slate for Change site and the Community Action Network (CAN) program. Linda's mom is a delegate in California. Wayne

My 71 year old mother just left the house with a speech in hand (will they let her give a speech?) and her list of Slate For Change (www.SlateForChange.com) delegates to give out at her district caucus meeting of -- the fighting 53rd. Please send nice thoughts her way that they might add her as a Delegate For Change to our California Central Committee. Light a candle, do a dance, just please send some energy here way. She's a little nervous, but mostly excited to participate. Go Grassroots!!!

She is Dr. Benice Lindo
My mother is the widow of Jess Samuels, a Tuskegee Airman....and I couldn't be prouder of her today.

Lisa Lindo
National Administrator CAN (Community Action Networks)
Associate Producer Vote For Change Campaign
Economic URL: IfTheBuckStopsHereShootIt.com
Vote For Change: http://obeygiant.com/voteforchange/
P.S.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

MIDDLE OF THE VOTING WEEKEND...THIS JUST IN:

VICTORY FOR CHANGE !
WE Claim a huge Victory for Change ! - with the initial reports in - clearly we see a 30% to 40% win ratio for our Statewide Slate for Change!!!! Together, we picked 300 to 400 Change Delegates with only a 10 day effort on our part. Congratulations to all who worked long and hard over the last week.
CHANGE IS COMING TO CALIFORNIA !
--------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Grassroots:

This California Election can serve as a model and lesson learner for the other 49 states of our Union. If you are one of those who just participated this weekend in California, as soon as you get some free time today, please go to www.SlateForChange.com and fill out the "Contact Us" form on line. This is necessary. As we all put this together, we discovered "Decline to State" problems with to many - as one example - which we learned with the vetting of bonified Candidates For Change! We need everyone's CURRENT INFORMATION !
We look forward to supporting our people again in the future, and please help us help you again, by providing your information on our "Contact Us" electronic form now!
We will build from this core of Great Obama People! Congratulations! We need your contact information, and the contact information of those who support Change in California!!!
As our work to build a 58 County California Obama People's Movement For Change has just started - please keep in mind...

Join California.CAN and YourLocalCounty.California.CAN on MyBO - now. One has been set up for all 58 counties in California, just log in to my.barackobama.com and join your group. And please send in your record of your experience of this weekend's huge Victory!
Again Congratulations to Team Change! Please feel free to blog on within MyBO and post your stories and next events on you new MyBO County.California.CAN pages. Everyone wants to read about your experience and ideas on what we can do better next time. Next time, if we learn to GOTV - we can sweep.
In closing, to all who are meeting us and getting to know our style, we have Seven Principles as Obama's Ambassadors: 1.) Honesty, 2.) No Drama, 3.) Have Fun,
4.) Respect, 5.) Empower, 6.) Include, and 7.) Empathy for All. I look forward to meeting you online!
(smile)
Paul CurrierInternet Community Organizer

You Tube Barack the House

Wayne — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:51:41 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TJllptYLlM

And....

Barack the House.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNle_402RY0

--

My stance on abortion; reply to response on veterans for Obama

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:57:25 EST

I would also like to add to Karen's email which I agree with fully. Obama is against the right for gays to marry and other civil rights matters which make his stance on issues like this hypocritical. Don't get me wrong, I love Obama and even served as a delegate in my precinct for him, but there are issues we completely disagree on and this is one of them.

I'm a Catholic, but that does not mean I agree with all of the Catholic teachings literally. I believe the Bible is supposed to be interpreted symbolically, not literally. This is because it is supposed to be a "working" document, meaning it is supposed to grow with the times, making it everlasting.

I believe abortion is one such subject. There are a host of reasons for having an abortion and to suggest that birth control is somehow deserving of being the major, rather than being the minor factor in that decision process is insulting (misogynistic) to women and to me is the ultimate form of disrespect you can give to God's only entity for creating life. If it weren't for women, we all would not be here to have these discussions in the first place. Women have always been the humanistic side to any argument, yet men have historically attempted to silence them and render them as 2nd class. We men need to grow some and stop acting like its weak to admit we have always been wrong, assuming that to acquiesce to a women's intuition is somehow weak and un-Godly. Where do we think we come from anyway?

If you want to look for a villain in this argument, you need walk no further than the closest mirror.

Women have this tool of abortion available to them for a host of reasons, the major reasons being for health reasons and violent rape with birth control being secondary to health or rape because you control the birth to save the woman's life at that time or later if she is to continually be victimized by a brutal rapist by carrying his child or being forever linked to this evil perpetrator because of our legal system designed to benefit men. That is to say, the legal system allows for this felon to have visitation rights with this child or even custody. They make arguments like the mother wanted to abort him/her or the felon has a right of law to file for visitation rights because he fathered the child. Or, in the case of our increasingly fascist [government and big-business working in concert against the "will" of the people, e.g. wall street and automaker bailout with Republicans threatening veto of bill with a bailout ($500.00 tax-cut) for the people] society, the felon may be some rich bastard who raped an under aged child of a poor working-class family, and given that our court system is flawed with a bias for those with the monetary might to buy the best lawyer to argue their case in an institution of secrets and traditions the ordinary public is not aware of unless versed in the highly advanced education of law. The felon will have a higher percentage at continuing his torture of any one of our daughters, which you now argue to make even more advantageous to a would-be destroyer of her future life.

As a father of daughters and as an African-American who has constantly been conditioned in a society that has put me and women at a disadvantage, that is how I see it and I wish for only one day, you too could see it through my lenses. I applaud you Karen and full-heartedly agree with you.

David Martin
Veteran U.S. Marines/ disabled veteran U.S. Army

Obama is for abortion rights, but he stated birth control along with reasoning. I'm assuming he thinks as I do, having two daughters, and believes birth control is secondary to the other reasons I have stated as well. I don't know for sure though. Maybe he'll read this and comment.

Richardson Withdrawals

Wayne — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:20:05 EST

On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 1:09 PM, Ram A <a_ramm2001@hotmail.com> wrote:

From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28493919/
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico state contract worth more than $1 billion.
..................................................

Franken's Lead Widens in Senate Recount

Wayne — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:06:39 EST

JANUARY 4, 2009, 11:25 AM

By KATE PHILLIPS

Late last night, Democrat Al Franken appeared to widen his lead in the
Minnesota Senate race to about 225 votes as the state's Canvassing
Board finished counting absentee ballots that had earlier been rejected.
The tally is still considered unofficial, however. The Canvassing
Board resumes its meetings on Monday, and may validate the new totals
including those absentee ballots later this week.

But the Minnesota Supreme Court is weighing a challenge on the recount
by incumbent Senator Norm Coleman, the Republican whose first term
expired yesterday. Yet the likelihood that the state court would
overturn a decision by the state board remains slim.

Mr. Franken began yesterday with an extremely narrow lead of 49 votes.
It grew as the canvassing board reviewed ballots that had been cast
aside as invalid by local poll workers. The results still must be
certified, and experts say that could take more time because of state
requirements that the legal challenges must be resolved first.

With the Senate about to begin its new session on Tuesday, Republican
leaders had vowed last week to fight the Democratic leadership's hope
of seating Mr. Franken at least provisionally. Whether that threat
will hold -- if the board declares Mr. Franken the winner in this
recount -- remains a question.

Conf call #1: Get FISA Right in Round 2 of "Ideas for Change" (Meeting)

Wayne — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:05:58 EST

Jonathan Pincus' idea Get FISA Right, repeal the PATRIOT Act, and restore our civil liberties finished #2 in the Criminal Justice category of change.org/MySpace’s Ideas for Change in America competition, and so has advanced to the second round. w00t, w00t!

Voting starts again on January 5, and lasts through the 15th. Please vote for it! Also, we'll need your help in getting the word out and signing up bloggers and non-profits as supporters. Details TBD ...

We're going to have a conference call Tuesday, January 6, at 5 p.m. Pacific time/8 p.m. Eastern time to kick things off ... you can register for this event at mybarackobama.com.

For more info, please see http://getfisaright.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/on-to-the-second-round-of-ideas-for-change-in-america/ on our new blog.Please watch http://getfisaright.wordpress.com for updates.

Position Paper Submitted to Daschle

Wayne — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:25:35 EST

Dear all,

Thank you all for the wonderful support in helping develop a 12 page position paper, which was submitted today to Sec. designate Tom Daschle.
Grassroots for Change is powered by each of you. Stay in touch with us by joining Grassroots for Change group or by visiting http://grassrootsforchange.org

Read the full submission online by clicking the link below:
hhs.grassrootsforchange.org

From the team that said - Yes We Can !

Strong Get Stronger

Wayne — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:08:40 EST

It’s not the state’s struggling financial institutions that are benefiting from the feds’ $700 billion bailout package.By Rick AndersonPublished on December 30, 2008 at 8:37pm

It's called a federal "bailout," a $700 billion relief program supposedly meant to aid America's needy financial institutions. Except: "We did not need nor require this capital," says Brian Vance, CEO of Heritage Financial, a $900 million holding company headquartered in Olympia whose net income for the first nine months of 2008 was $6.5 million. Yet last month, Heritage accepted $24 million in congressionally approved bailout cash.

David C. Wong

Likewise, Washington Federal of Seattle, which got $200 million under the program, "did not need the capital infusion," says spokesperson Cathy Cooper—but took it anyway.

The bailout fund is called TARP, the Troubled Assets Relief Program. But much of the money distributed so far has gone to banks with anything but troubled assets. "The public needs to understand," says Cooper, "that what once was a bailout has changed focus. Rather than buying out bad banks, it has become a program to help strong banks."

In other words, despite what you might read or hear, this is a "healthy bailout" if you're into oxymorons—or "corporate welfare" if you're not. A Treasury Department spokesperson says the department is now targeting healthy rather than ailing institutions, reviewing financial records to determine which institutions are in good shape before inviting them to apply for funds. The aim is to keep strong banks strong rather than to prop up weak banks likely to fail (as 24 U.S. banks have done this year).

Heritage and Washington Federal are two of seven Washington banks that have taken altogether $793 million in the 2008 financial bailout, according to a review of federal records. The biggest slice, $303 million, went to Sterling Financial Corporation in Spokane.

Nationwide, about $335 billion of the $700 billion bailout has been allocated so far, and 211 U.S. banks have been granted $199 billion of that, according to the Government Accountability Office and propublica.org, an investigative journalism Web site. But critics say the money comes with so few strings attached—for example, there's no enforceable edict on how the banks must use the funds—that the misnamed TARP program is a cash cow waiting to be milked.

As Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren, chair of the government bailout oversight panel, put it in a recent MSNBC interview: "The principal strategy that the Treasury is using right now is 'Let's put billions of dollars more cash into banks that are already solvent.'...It just takes a little to try to understand how that's going to help families across the country."

The TARP funds are distributed through the Treasury's Capital Purchase Program (CPP). In return, banks hand over a corresponding amount in stock, which the government can redeem in later years; in the meantime, they agree to pay five percent stock dividends to the feds. But if CPP is an economic engine that strengthens strong institutions, as Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says, that idea seems lost not only on the public but on some of the banks: Among the CPP recipients is Honolulu's Central Pacific Financial, which was near failure until it got $135 million through the program this month.

Such contradictions aside, money is mostly flowing to banks that don't seem to need it. Washington Federal CEO Roy M. Whitehead observed that his bank felt "complimented" to get $200 million in new equity to augment "our strong capital position." D. Michael Jones, CEO of Banner Corp. in Walla Walla, said the $124 million shot in the arm his bank got was "recognition of the strength and financial health of Banner." Melanie Dressel, CEO of Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, which got $76.9 million, said the money "further affirms both our financial strength and our successful business model." Also getting CPP bailouts were Cascade Financial of Everett ($39 million) and Washington Banking of Oak Harbor ($26.4 million).

Heritage CEO Vance did not respond to phone inquiries. But in a press release, he said the bailout money would increase Heritage's capacity to make loans and strengthen its ability to "proactively work with our borrowers in difficult times." Difficult for the borrowers, it seems, but not so much for the bank.

randerson@seattleweekly.com

Health Care Meeting

Wayne — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:03:09 EST

Meeting Announcement - please forward
In response to President-elect Obama's Transition Team's request for
people to hold community discussions on the issue of health care, a
discussion meeting open to the public has been scheduled.
Date: 12/31/08
Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Newport Presbyterian Church, sanctuary, 4020 120th Ave. SE,
Bellevue
Directions: Go south on Rt. 405 and take the Coal Creek exit west. This
is the next exit south after Rt. 90. Make a right onto Coal Creek and
make another immediate right onto 120th and go up the hill.
Note: This meeting is scheduled subject to weather and could be cancelled
if the weather makes it difficult to get up the hill.
R.S.V.P.: Linda Seltzer, lseltzer@alumni.caltech.edu
Program:
Opening remarks by Rev. Patten
Agenda roughly following the Transition Team's Participant Guide
Everyone will ba given the opportunity to speak and to enter his or her
documents into the report sent back to the transition team.
Inputs may include anything from personal stories to formal policy documents.

Grassroots for Change Website - visit today!

Wayne — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:26:50 EST

Please take a moment to visit this website: http://grassrootsforchange.org and click on the link on the left - myBO- Collaboration. The content here will be published both at mybarackobama.com's Grassroots for Change group site and at this new website. Please remember to send invites to all those who feel they want to contribute, be involved and more importantly participate in the benefits from the economy subsidies that start as they relate to mortgage modifications, home purchasing, job creation and of course getting health care coverage.Please feel free to spread this link as work in progress so that more of us can stop worrying about turf battles and focus on getting Senator Daschle the input he needs.While you are at it, consider joining the Grassroots for Change group today!Thanks, Wayne

Suggestions for a bottom-up stimulus approach

The IdeaMan — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:24:22 EST

For the economic recovery, I hope Obama will inspire a more bottom-up stimulus (sounds sort of erotic?)....that will perhaps be something like this:

- Provide immediate help to all homeowners by capping all mortgage rates at the current average of 5%. No applications. No refinancing. No limits. This provides banks with ample return, reduces foreclosures, helps increase consumer spending in other areas, and doesn't cost the taxpayers a thing.

- For unemployed homeowners, lend their banks just enough money to directly cover mortgage payments (not the entire mortgage). These payments would be simply added to the mortgage balance (regardless of current home values) so it doesn't cost taxpayers a thing. Limit the term to 6-12 months... combined with intensive help to get jobs.

- Instead of lending money directly to car companies (who will try to sell us cars if we can afford or finance them), let's provide these funds directly to consumers. This could be done creatively by holding an 'Auto-Lotto' where consumers can 'win' $10,000-15,000 no-interest, pre-approved loan vouchers toward a US auto purchase. This creates an economic 'pull' (versus 'push') where consumers, local dealers and manufacturer's all win.

As to where the money for this recovery should come from...frankly it's time to pull back on military spending just as we pull back our troops from the Iraq invasion. Yes, I'm ex-military myself, but we need to really resist the urge of investing in building military programs, facilities and weapons right now. There are too many much more important needs, including those in roads, environment, health, energy, our power-grid as well as protecting our ports, nuclear plants and water systems from terrorism.

If Obama has as much guts as he is smart, he can create a significant stimulus program by diverting military funds to programs which create a more direct impact on our lives, our economy, our health and our internal security.

We have alot of these needs right in our own area.

The IdeaMan

Trouble the Water Movie

Wayne — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:55:20 EST

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with others about a very interesting documentary about Katrina. If you have the time I highly recommend you view the trailer or see the film at a theater near you. show dates are listed on the website.

“When hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf and the floodwaters rose and tore through New Orleans, it did not turn the region into a Third World country… it revealed one.” – Danny Glover

Trouble The Water takes audiences on a journey that is by turns heart stopping, infuriating, inspiring and empowering. People leave the theaters wanting and needing to do something – not only about the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, but about the underlying issues that remained when the floodwaters receded – failing public schools, record high levels of incarceration, poverty, lack of government accountability and structural racism.

The producers are creating partnerships with faith-based, advocacy and service-based groups working on racial and economic justice, sustainable and equitable development and youth empowerment who will harness the power of Trouble The Water, engaging people in dialogue and inspiring them to act, so critically important during this election year.

If you work with a group that might want to screen Trouble The Water, please email us at TroubletheWater@gmail.com

Thanks, Wayne

Dear Wayne,

As you know, I'm Kimberly Rivers Roberts, otherwise known as Blackkoldmadina. I'm the star of the movie Trouble the Water. I've never written to you before, but I wanted to take the time to thank you for your support. It has meant so much to me and to my husband Scott.

Not just the support you've shown the movie, but for us and our friends and family who have moved back to New Orleans and are trying to rebuild.

Scott and I never dreamed that people would be responding to us in such a strong, joyful, positive way, really feeling us and understanding the journey that we've been on.

Trouble the Water shows what can happen if you stay positive no matter what environment you're forced to live in, or what negative influences you have to deal with, and expect better out of life than what you see. It shows that everyone makes mistakes and a mistake does not determine the future, you do.

I hope you'll share the Trouble the Water experience by sending the movie trailer to your friends, family, church groups, anyone that will help get the story out.

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/sharetrailer

On this new journey with Tia and Carl and the movie, I've been able to see life from a truly different perspective.

In the past few months, I've shook hands with the richest of the rich, and been introduced to the smartest and the brightest in their field and slept in the most comfortable beds that money can buy.

But no matter where I am, or who I meet, I can never forget where I come from, and the people I love. I go back to New Orleans and see the poverty, our neglected schools, our destroyed neighborhoods. Living in these conditions, you feel like this is the world, and there's nothing to lose.

Had it not been for this movie, I would not have known that a positive educational environment existed for me. I know now I can enjoy a better quality of life. But where I'm from, it's not given to us, we have to take it.

You might remember that I wrote a song called Trouble the Water that's in the movie. The song describes what happened before, during and after Katrina -- our attitude about survival and our pride in our community in spite of being forgotten about, underprivileged, and overlooked.

Please help support Trouble the Water the movie, Trouble the Water the album and Ya girl Blackkoldmadina, by sending the movie trailer to at least five of your friends. When you do that, you'll get a copy of my song.

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/sharetrailer

The song says that the people of New Orleans deserve more then a commemoration with a wreath -- we deserve the opportunity to be educated. We are productive citizens who care about each other and are passionate about our communities.

The song explains that with the right tools, we can have a positive effect on the world. But we need the tools.

In Trouble the Water I shared a big piece of me with you. I hope you'll do the same, and share this story with your friends, family, and everyone on your email list.

http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/sharetrailer

Wishing you peace and love in the New Year,

Kimberly

PS: Let me know what you think about the song and the movie -- write to me at http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/contact_kimberly

This email was sent to: tukwilareign@hotmail.com

To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/unsubscribe

Warren changes attitude

Wayne — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:53:09 EST

“[Rick Warren] said he regretted his choice of words in his video message to his congregation about proposition 8 when he mentioned pedophiles and those who commit incest. He said that in no way, is that how he thought about gays.”

This is great news and what I needed to hear to feel comfortable with Warren giving the Invocation.

Message from Melissa Etheridge

Wayne — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:50:58 EST

A message from Melissa Etheridge, an Oscar and multi Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter. Throughout her 20 year career she has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Currently she released her first Christmas album titled A New Thought for Christmas.

This is a message for my brothers and sisters who have fought so long and so hard for gay rights and liberty. We have spent a long time climbing up this mountain, looking at the impossible, changing a thousand year-old paradigm. We have asked for the right to love the human of our choice, and to be protected equally under the laws of this great country. The road at times has been so bloody, and so horrible, and so disheartening. From being blamed for 9/11 and Katrina, to hateful crimes committed against us, we are battle weary. We watched as our nation took a step in the right direction, against all odds and elected Barack Obama as our next leader. Then we were jerked back into the last century as we watched our rights taken away by prop 8 in California. Still sore and angry we felt another slap in the face as the man we helped get elected seemingly invited a gay-hater to address the world at his inauguration.

I hadn't heard of Pastor Rick Warren before all of this. When I heard the news, in its neat little sound bite form that we are so accustomed to, it painted the picture for me. This Pastor Rick must surely be one hate spouting, money grabbing, bad hair televangelist like all the others. He probably has his own gay little secret bathroom stall somewhere, you know. One more hater working up his congregation to hate the gays, comparing us to pedophiles and those who commit incest, blah blah blah. Same 'ole thing. Would I be boycotting the inauguration? Would we be marching again?

Well, I have to tell you my friends, the universe has a sense of humor and indeed works in mysterious ways. As I was winding down the promotion for my Christmas album I had one more stop last night. I'd agreed to play a song I'd written with my friend Salman Ahmed, a Sufi Muslim from Pakistan. The song is called "Ring The Bells," and it's a call for peace and unity in our world. We were going to perform our song for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a group of Muslim Americans that tries to raise awareness in this country, and the world, about the majority of good, loving, Muslims. I was honored, considering some in the Muslim religion consider singing to be against God, while other Muslim countries have harsh penalties, even death for homosexuals. I felt it was a very brave gesture for them to make. I received a call the day before to inform me of the keynote speaker that night... Pastor Rick Warren. I was stunned. My fight or flight instinct took over, should I cancel? Then a calm voice inside me said, "Are you really about peace or not?"

I told my manager to reach out to Pastor Warren and say "In the spirit of unity I would like to talk to him." They gave him my phone number. On the day of the conference I received a call from Pastor Rick, and before I could say anything, he told me what a fan he was. He had most of my albums from the very first one. What? This didn't sound like a gay hater, much less a preacher. He explained in very thoughtful words that as a Christian he believed in equal rights for everyone. He believed every loving relationship should have equal protection. He struggled with proposition 8 because he didn't want to see marriage redefined as anything other than between a man and a woman. He said he regretted his choice of words in his video message to his congregation about proposition 8 when he mentioned pedophiles and those who commit incest. He said that in no way, is that how he thought about gays. He invited me to his church, I invited him to my home to meet my wife and kids. He told me of his wife's struggle with breast cancer just a year before mine.

When we met later that night, he entered the room with open arms and an open heart. We agreed to build bridges to the future.

Brothers and sisters the choice is ours now. We have the world's attention. We have the capability to create change, awesome change in this world, but before we change minds we must change hearts. Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise that are beginning to listen. They don't hate us, they fear change. Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world.

Maybe if they get to know us, they wont fear us.

I know, call me a dreamer, but I feel a new era is upon us.

I will be attending the inauguration with my family, and with hope in my heart. I know we are headed in the direction of marriage equality and equal protection for all families.

Happy Holidays my friends and a Happy New Year to you.

Peace on earth, goodwill toward all men and women... and everyone in-between.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-etheridge/the-choice-is-ours-now_b_152947.html

Auto Bail Out

Wayne — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:53:19 EST

Do you think the loan is worth the investment at this time? Can the auto makers revive their industry by March 31?

The Fix is own after defeat of Big 3 stimulus(loan)

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:39:26 EST

Turns out that those Democrats who join forces with republicans to defeat this bill where from southern states where foreign auto-makers have set up shop in the US. Ever since Ronald Regan, the Republican Party has schemed to destroy American worker unions. As I have stated on many occasions before, the true enemy of the United States will strike from within America’s borders and destroy us from the inside out. The EU (European Union) was formed so that Europe can compete with the United States economically by pooling their resources into one formidable force. The changing of their currency to the “Euro” was another phase of that formation.

The next challenge was to weaken our economy so severely that we would be forces to adopt wage standards that were already agreed too by foreign markets. The time when the US economy operated independently of global dictates is now a thing of the past with an accelerated rate till fruition. The only thing to prevent this from occurring was the strength out the US economy and its worker Unions, which is why we have always been against socialism, which makes it so ironic that the very Party which claimed to put America first is the same Party driving us to this inevitable fate.

The Civil war pitted the North against the South, which the south pledged never to forget. The south solicited the help of foreign markets to finally destroy the north. What we forget has come back to destroy us.

The same southern states with the commonality of being dependent on foreign auto makers like Hyundai, Toyota, Mercedes, etc., are now banning together to destroy US auto makers in the north. Millions of US jobs and Unions are to be destroyed to the satisfaction of foreign competitors who now look at the US as ignorant and weak.

The “America first” slogan of the Republican Party was merely words from a desperate group of narcissists who never cared about America’s interests. They have always believed in profits first, even if it met selling their mothers and their country in order to achieve their goals.

But, don’t take my word, read up on where these lawmakers are from and then follow the money (greed). America never stands a chance so long as America chooses to keep her eyes closed.

If a company is in a bankruptcy, will you buy a car from them? No!

So tell me, how does a reorganizing like a bankruptcy save these companies? It doesn’t, it merely accelerates their descent of destruction. What happened to “America First?” Republicans were never about America First, they were always about Me First! They used your fear (cowardice), your hate (Racism) and you stupidity and laziness (willingness to bury your heads in the sand until the coast was clear) to achieve their objectives. Well, its time to wake up America!

Look around and see what the Republican Party, along with some southern Democrats, is doing to our country. They are traitors to the American people! They simply care about their own interests, not yours! They are not public servants but public enemies.

Our children’s future is dependent upon what we do today. Once America’s last producing entity is gone, America’s reign as a world power is numbered. Think about your fellow citizen and do what’s right for us, not me!

$14 billion bailout dies in Senate

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:31:08 EST

As I scan the latest headlines regarding the failure of the US Senate to pass a temporary economic stimulus package for the “Big3” US Automakers in the form of a downgraded loan in the amount of $15 billion dollars, I’m growing increasingly uneasy about the political environment President-Elect, Barack Obama faces.

I grudgingly accept the consistent hostility facing our first African-American President in the form of continual attacks to his armor, e.g., the failed attempts to bring his citizenship into question was finally quashed by a recent Supreme Court decision to not hear any further arguments questioning his citizenship in court, because he has more than satisfied any thoughts to the contrary; Recent attempts to taint President-Elect Obama’s approval rating by attempts to link his rise in Illinois politics to Governor Rod Blagojevich’s “Pay-to-play” scheming in selling the President-Elect’s vacant Senate seat in Illinois; and news reports continue to surface disclosing failed attempts to do President-Elect Obama harm with continual reports of foiled attempts in this regard, but I now wonder if these foiled attempts are merely to serve as reason not to question any successful attempt in the future? That is to say, with many publicly known successes by our Secret Service at thwarting these attempts, could this be cover for a future success in striking their target? Are we being conditioned so that a future failure in protecting our 44th President is more easily accepted, given the number of attempts foiled? One success out of five attempts makes for a more reasonable argument that it wasn’t an inside job, giving conspiracy theories a harsh blow before such thoughts are even contemplated.

These things and now recent failed Senate votes to pass legislation that would protect our “Big-3” auto-producers, which in turn would protect jobs and protect the power of the people to assemble in numbers for the sole purpose of looking out for the rights of US workers in the US economy. What disturbs me are the number of Democrats, whom we were led to believe would champion the decisions of our newly elected president and newly elected Democrats, who ran on the promise that Republican politicking for the wealthy and well-to-do was a thing of the past. A recent 52-35 vote against the “Big-3” stimulus denotes that Republican Senators voted against what amounts to a loan verses a bailout. This to me is unsettling because it means, even though the Democrats have picked up 6-8 Democratic voting agents, to include the 2-independents who caucus with the Democrats, Republicans are still bent on denying the American people anything that does not give them more. Heck, Governor Rod Blagojevich must have been a Republican, because they both act exactly alike!

We voted over-whelming Democrat in the November elections, yet our Senators seem to have thought otherwise. I realize the Senate in office now is split evenly, but the Democrats still failed to support this Democratic Bill, endorsed by our new president? I realize that two Democrats (Obama and possibly Kennedy) did not vote, but that still leaves 46 Democrats and two independents for 48 votes, if I am correct. What gives with the 8-discrepency if the 52 are yea and the 35 are nay? What are these Senators doing? Are they giving the US economy one last finger? We should remember the Senators who did not step up when the vote for a loan for American jobs, versus a bailout of Wall Street was on the line. We should remember the Senators who failed to support a loan for the industry that most affects the working and middle class jobs, versus supporting a bailout for the wealthy upper class and their bonuses. This we should not forget. This we will not forget.

The Republican machine and their agents continue to do all they can to not only hurt our new president, but to destroy our country by further destroying our economy and we will not forget!

I say yes we bailout the auto industry

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:43:19 EST

It appears that even though the Democrats won in the last set of elections, the Republicans appear to be the only benefactors.

First, the Republicans create this economic mess (they drove our economy into the ditch) we find ourselves in, yet all of the solutions appear to be, lets reward the Republicans by implementing their plans (remember, the bailout for Wall Street came from the Bush Administration, not the Democrats?), and lets be very critical of any Democrat solution.

Doesn’t anyone remember that it was the Unions that did all of the dirty work in getting us a minimum wage, health care, workers rights and a host of other mandatory work conditions; while the Republican “union busting ways” have consistently tried to prevent worker’s rights from existing. Look it up and study your history people!

Currently we find ourselves in a ditch and the only solutions I hear coming out of people’s mouths are, “Unions are bad” and “break-up the Unions, because they are the cause of the problem.” Has everyone lost their minds? This is playing right into the republican hands because they deliberately created this mess in the first place, to break up the Unions once and for all. Remember their hero, Ronald Reagan? His whole philosophy was about destroying the Unions.

Any solution calling for destroying the very agency that has created rights for the workers should be seen for what it is; another step in the Republican plan to give away the worker’s only leverage in realizing their American dream of retiring with a home, healthcare and a decent retirement pension, as a reward for their life’s hard work and paying taxes. If we destroy the Unions, you can kiss your future with peace of mind away.

Giving money to Wall Street does nothing for the average worker, but saving our symbol of the industrial revolution (the auto industry), does; it has allowed for us to travel, to commute to work even though its at a greater distance, to take vacations, and a host of other things, which in itself spurs other avenues of economic growth. To allow our auto industries to fold would be to take another chunk out of the backbone of America.

No terrorist could do what we are doing to our own country; destroy us from within. Ford, GM and Chrysler are US companies, which is about as American as you can get. To sit by and watch it die would be about as un-American as one could ever get. Our companies cannot innovate without surviving today, so the opportunity is there to do so. The Republicans would not allow it to occur on their watch, but President Obama and the Democratic Congress will. If we lose our companies that will never happen. I say we give Obama a chance to turn our country around with all of his players to get it done.

The Republicans had their chance and blew it. Don’t allow their misstep to constrain the Democratic Party from having a fair chance for success. We need our auto industry now more than ever. We need to stop complaining about where we are at and allow our new President to get us out, with all of the tools necessary to get the job done. Our Unions, our auto industry, our middle and working class citizens have worked together in the past to get us through the great Depression, now is not the time to delete any of these former actors from getting the job done again.

I say we help the Auto industry just as we helped the banking industry, because these times demand all of our teammates to get the economy moving again. I’m sure the auto industry now realizes the importance of getting with the times and creating more fuel efficiency vehicles, with less tonnage on our fragile roadways. I’m sure they realize the importance in acting more responsibly when it comes to rewarding benefits to its employees. I’m sure the auto industry will be more than willing to implement our new president’s plan in creating alternative fuel consuming vehicles, so that we may lead the world in eliminating our dependency on oil producing nations, because that standard will also ensure our rank in power through the next century.

No more divisive rhetoric when it comes to our auto industry, because we need them if we are to succeed.

Crime does not fit punishment

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:16:37 EST

Crime does not fit the punishment

My response to a Seattle PI article from the AP wire, “Boy who talked way onto airlines now a felon”. < http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/388003_runaway15.html >. November 14, 2008.

So why not punish the boy, as you should have initially, by putting him in juvenile detention? Why is it, when those in power screw up, they react with an irrational jerk that unintentionally creates an even bigger problem than the one initially to be confronted and solved as a requirement of the job they are being handsomely paid to do?

When I initially saw this, I thought, the kid would have a harsh punishment for a stupid act, but would then have this non-violent, yet stupid past, erased as he matured in life (sealed once he turned 18). Now, because the courts felt ashamed for being called out due to their mistake in not initially holding this boy accountable for his crime, they are happy with punishing this little brat by ruining any chances for this thug to live a normal life.

Juvenile detention is supposed to rehabilitate a young mind before the point-of-no-return level of adulthood has been reached, where a person is basically unable to be rehabilitated. This kid still had the opportunity to learn from his mistake and move on once he became a responsible adult. This opportunity has been negated by a judge who saw it; one could only rationalize, as a personal responsibility to show this little punk whose boss. Why now would this throw-away attempt to change, when his future has already been sealed? I don't know Mr. Judge, where's the normative aspect of this holding? He is a kid, so shouldn't there be reasoning for changing one's ways in coming to this holding? I've seen young murders, rapists and kidnappers get more leniency! Those teenage girls who kidnapped a fellow student, then beat the crap out of her, while video-taping the whole thing will most likely go to jail, then be released at eighteen, with their records sealed. Will anyone argue me on this?

What the kid did was wrong; failing to hold him accountable for his actions was the fault of the courts, not the kid. To now correct their mistake by condemning the future for this kid, when we have a court system in place, which has been designed to rehabilitate lost children like this one...well, that is inexcusable and unjust. We elected our first African-American president, but America will not change overnight. Life is still very unfair for a lot of us who look differently or who choose to live an alternative lifestyle. There is still much work to be done, to fix what is still wrong with America.

This judge needs to rapidly mature by not stroking his ego to prove he’s a man, at the expense of a child, or simply retire so none of the rest of our children fall in sight of this mistake for a judge. Those who have historically held positions of power, still hold those positions at our local levels, the levels that still affect us most in our daily lives.

I do not wish to put water on your parade America, but there is still much work to be done, to fix what is still wrong with America. Those of us who have been vigilant in the past (Pre-Obama), must continue our work, so many of our children do not parish in the night. We can't turn back, we must continue moving forward, we can, we can, we will...

Bailout bait and switch; Paulson and crew need to be locked up!

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:03:39 EST

Bailout bait and switch; a debate on MSNBC

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (a Bush-R appointee) stated the $700 billion in bailout money should go to the banking industry; not to saving homes from foreclosures, as a way to stimulate the economy. If this has that uneasy feeling of having been taken by Bush Administration politics; on par with how we were duped into invading Iraq under the false pretense that they had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that were positioned to use against the United States, you are not alone.

Bush and Paulson, after cornering the Democratic Party into rushing a $700Billion bailout for Wall street, under the false pretense that a failure to act immediately would guarantee the implosion of the US and world economies, succeeded in the unlawful coercion of money from the American people, because their intended reception of the reasons for allocating these monies, was knowingly misleading. In other wards, this was a simple case of extortion, which is a crime in America.

This is extortion, because now Paulson, after receiving access to this ungodly amount of money has changed the rules for which this money is to be used. This was a ploy of the Republican Party all along. Not only does it attempt to vilify the Democrats, by insisting the Democrats orchestrated this misuse of money because it virtually characterizes this money as a “loss,’ having not been allocated correctly, but it also redirects the use of this money to a secret location of their (Paulson/Bush Administration) choosing and infers that Democrats should acquire additional monies to solve the shortfall in remedying the initial targets for this money as well as our auto industry.

If this is beginning to smell, your senses are correct. The Republican Party in their “do anything” attempts to win an election and stay in power, have implemented deceit and a collective effort to damage our economy (ruining the American middle and working classes), in their efforts to achieve success.

This is domestic terrorism at its worse, yet most efficient way toward achieving their objective. The American people have grown weary of the Republican arrogance and fear mongering, in an effort to act without accountability. I believe it is time for us to change that scenario and hold these criminals strictly liable for their continuous efforts to destroy our nation.

I remember reading somewhere as a child of what I believe was a saying by the Japanese during World War II, “The only way to kill a giant is to get inside the belly of the beast and kill from within.” This corrupt Republican Party is attempting to use this ethos in destroying our nation. They are killing us by killing our economy from within. We need to hold them accountable before it is too late. They are attempting to work at a faster pace, because Obama will obtain power on January 20th. It is at this time, while they race against time, we will have many opportunities to coral this vogue Party, because they will operate recklessly in the open. This is one of those times. Paulson’s about face, on a coerced bailout is the opportune time we have to hold them accountable for their deliberate acts to destroy our economy and as a consequence our nation.

This is the time we need to round these criminals up and put them on trial for the treacherous acts they have continually been allowed to commit under the failed Bush Administration.

Obama visits White House and world watches

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:34:17 EST

President Elect Barack Obama’s first White House visit

I am deeply disturbed and angry at ABC television, by what I have just seen on TV. It’s okay to film his first White House visit, but then they cut away to a topographical view, marking out every tree, bush and angle from which to see the White House, then noting the walk, the president will always perform.

These reporters are either the biggest idiotic morons I have ever known of or the most sinister! Why disclose, what should be a classified depiction of the various views of the president’s positioning within the White House grounds, to the rest of the world. Why do this, knowing the various attempts that have been disclosed to do our president-elect harm? Why do this, with idiots like Rush Limbaugh on the radio calling him and the Vice-President “thugs?” Why do this when we have racist internet sites like “Sodahead” that constantly have registered members who respond to bloggers by reciting the rhetoric of hate and ill will aimed at our president-elect and loving it?

We have come a long way as a nation, but Governor Palin, Senator McCain, Cindy McCain and the rest of the rouge RNC have resurrected an ugly dimension of our country that continuously plots, under the cowardice veil of secrecy, to darken what could be the brightest moments in our nation with the continued sabotaging efforts of the past. They have condoned just enough despicable thought and past behaviors to give the okay to those who are brainwashed into believing that the vilest recesses in their minds are somehow okay, when in-fact we all know they are definitely not.

Television stations need to first, stop giving information to these parasites within our society, who we all know wish to do our president-elect harm. Second, we need to immediately launch a campaign which states once and for all that this type of behavior is not acceptable and will be an outlawing societal act, answered with a public shamming when even referenced. And lastly, we need to hold those who contribute to this acquiescence to a campaign of violence toward a high-level public official as punishable by law.

Any who choose to equate this to a “slippery slope” argument, worthy of condemning because of their right to hate and advocate hate and harm to which they choose, must back up that claim with hard facts to justify such acts, or be held liable for their campaign to do harm to another American citizen. In other words, we should treat them like the terrorists they are, because a terrorist is the only category that describes one who is a party to such actions. There’s the answer to your “slippery slope” argument, so how will you answer that, with hypocrisy? By current definition, these people fall into the category of terrorist, unless there is some secret further defining definition that requires the agent to be one of color in order to complete the definition of terrorist. Well, the President is now black, so that definition needs to be adjusted to protect him as we have protected all of our presidents.

Election Day Live Blogging in Washington State

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:50:49 EST

Update 14: 7:26pm PT Fremont Staging Location

Even though the polls are closed in many states, the volunteers at the Fremont staging location are still working hard to get out the vote. The room is buzzing as workers call Washington State voters, reminding them that there's still time to vote for Barack Obama, Chris Gregoire, and other local Democrats.

When I asked Michael Maddux why he's volunteering for the campaign, he responded, "As a former Hillary supporter, I think it's essential that we have a comprehensive health care plan. Senator Obama will make sure that everyone gets the care they deserve."

Volunteer Amy Klosterman says that she doesn't mind the long hours on the campaign. "I'm happy to work into the night because Governor Gregoire really needs our support in the final minutes. Even though polls are closed in other states, we have to continue our efforts to ensure that Barack Obama has a strong partner in Washington State."

Matteo Griffin is a regional organizer who has been working with the campaign since August. He said, "Obama speaks to me. What makes him different is that he truly wants to see a better world. He believes in change and is willing to do what it takes to put our country on the right course."

Polls are open until 8pm and Governor Gregoire and needs everyone to go to a polling location and make their voice heard. Remember, if you are in the parking lot by 8pm, you have the right to vote. Find your polling location now at voteforchange.com.

Update 13: 7pm PT – 25th Avenue Northeast

On our way back to the car after our visit to the Terry Hall polling location, we bumped into a passionate supporter braving the torrential Seattle rains to show her support for Senator Obama. “Come rain, come sleet, come anything Seattle can throw at me, I’m out here showing my support for Barack Obama. I know he’ll do anything for our country, so I’m willing to brave some weather to help him.”

The polls are open for another hour, so please encourage your friends and family to vote. It’s not too late to ensure victory in Washington State for Senator Obama and Governor Gregoire – go to voteforchange.com

Next, stop: Fremont staging location

Update 12: 4:45pm- Terry Hall Polling Location

University of Washington students are coming out in droves to vote at the Terry Hall polling location. For many students, this is their first time voting and they can't wait to cast their ballot for Senator Obama. The dorm windows above the polling place were full of Obama signs and many students proudly displayed buttons or t-shirts in support of Senator Obama. "I can't wait to finally be able to mark my ballot for Barack Obama," said UW Senior Janice J. "I've been volunteering since last spring and I'm so excited to see all the hard work pay off."

When asked what advice she has for fellow Obama supporters she urges, "Make sure you keep pushing your friends and family to go to the polls. They're open for 2.5 more hours and Senator Obama and Governor Gregoire need every vote!"

Make sure you follow Janice's advice and encourage your friends and family to get to the polls to vote for Senator Obama, Governor Gregoire, and Democrats up and down the ticket. Though polls are closing on the East Coast, make sure you and your friends go to the polls before 8pm! Remember, if you are in the parking lot by 8pm, you have the right to vote. If you experience any problems at the polls, call 877-WA-CHANGE.

Find your polling location at www.voteforchange.com.

Update 11: 4:15pm PT University of Washington Student Union
Before we reached the University of Washington polling location, we stopped by the cafe to get some coffee - after all, that's what Seattle is known for. We were greeted by Ashley who was wearing an Obama T-shirt. She saw our Obama gear and was sure to remind us to get to the polls. We told her we were headed over there.

Next stop: University of Washington Polling Location

Update 10: 3:55pm PT Red Square at the University of Washington
On route to the University of Washington Polling location, we were greeted by an interesting scene. We stopped by the University of Washington to interview students about why they support Barack Obama, so you can imagine our surprise when we bumped into a stroller holding two Obama-clad youngsters in the middle of Red Square. Sisters Robin Goodman and Nikkole Jennings brought their children to Red Square to help get out the vote on the UW campus. "My sister Robin has been involved in the campaign since the beginning so she convinced me to take the day off work to support Obama. I know the youth vote is essential, so we're out here doing what we can to remind students to vote and encourage them to vote Democrat," said Nikkole.

When I asked Robin why she's voting for Senator Obama she laughed and replied, "Why wouldn't you?"

"We're hopeful for change," she continued. "Through his actions, Senator Obama inspires us to do more ourselves."

To help get out the vote like Robin and Nikkole visit my.barackobama.com/novvolunteers.

Next Stop: University of Washington Polling Location

Update 9: 3:18pm PT Suzzallo Cafe, University of Washington
It is a commonly held belief that if students vote, then Democrats will win. In the next stop of our route, we've come to the University of Washington to document the work that students are doing to get out the vote. It takes just five minutes on this campus to see that these students are fired up and ready to go.

At the Suzzallo Cafe, dozens of students have put on their Obama shirts and charged their cell phones to help get out the vote amongst their fellow students. "I'm volunteering in this campaign because I can not stand eight more years of these policies. They've really underestimated the passion among students. We truly understand the importance of voting in this election," said UW student Jenny Revak.

UW Students for Obama founder Jed Bradley added, "I've been volunteering for over a year because I saw something in Barack Obama that I haven't seen in any other candidate. The student turnout has been phenomenal thus far, and I have full faith in students across this campus to go out and vote."

Check out these pictures of Students of doing visibility and phonebanking for Senator Obama:

Next Stop: University of Washington Polling Location

Update 8: 2:45pm PT - University of Washington Bookstore Parking Lot
Democratic pride can be found everywhere! While parking at the University of Washington Bookstore we ran into Nasar Ibrahim, a parking attendant who was proudly displaying his Obama/Gregoire button. He waited in line for 30 minutes early this morning to vote before heading to work. "I support Senator Obama and Governor Gregoire because they believe in the middle class. They know that working people like me are the backbone of America and our government should represent us, not the wealthy corporations."

Make sure your friends and family vote as well. Help them find their polling location by going to www.voteforchange.com

Next up: Suzallo Cafe at the University of Washington

Update 7: 2pm PT - Tell Us Your Story

Have you voted already? Did you volunteer for the campaign here in Washington State? Tell us about your experience and why you support Senator Obama!

Leave a comment below!

If you have any questions about voting or you want to report any problems that you are seeing at the polls, call 877-WA-CHANGE. Polls are open for another 7 hours. So help us get out the vote by going to http://my.barackobama.com/novvolunteers

We're on our way to the University of Washington now. Check in for updates!

Update 6: 12:29pm PT- Washington State Campaign for Change Headquarters

Volunteers are flooding the Washington State Campaign for Change Headquarters to help ensure a victory for Barack Obama and Chris Gregoire. The office is filled with supporters young and old, making calls to encourage their fellow Washingtonians to vote for change.

Ethan Schaffer is volunteering because he "wants to see a change in the government. I'm taking the day off work to make sure that we see a Gregoire/Obama victory." He adds with a smile, "90% of the people I've talked to are voting Obama."

Reena Koshy became involved in the campaign after spending the last two years working in New Zealand. "Living abroad, I could see that America was heading in the wrong direction. Respect for the US was faltering and it was clear that we needed to change course. When Senator Obama is elected he will make our country stronger and a more responsible member of the global community." When asked why she's volunteering today, Reena replied, "Why wouldn't I be? I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."

Even though he's too young to vote, 14-year old Harry Page-Salisbury is spending the day volunteering at the Seattle Headquarters. "I agree with what Barack Obama says in his speeches. It's exciting to spread his message to other voters."

It's not too late to join this campaign for change. Head over to www.my.barackobama.com/novvolunteers to sign up to volunteer

Next up: we go back to college and visit the polling location on the University of Washington campus.

Update 5: 11:20am PT- South Lake Union Visibility Site

Even those too young to vote are showing their Election Day excitement. At the South Lake Union visibility site, dozens of elementary school children were participating in a real life Civics lesson by encouraging passersby to vote. Check out the pictures below to see these future statesmen in action!

Update 4: 11:05am PT Seattle Central Community College Polling Location

The Seattle Central Community College polling location was packed with students and community members casting their votes.

First time voters Jessica Placides and Brooke Williams were thrilled to participate in their first Election Day. Not wanting to stop at simply casting a vote, they stayed at the poll and encouraged people who walked by to stop in and submit their ballots. Both are Obama supporters and expressed excitement about getting to cast their first votes for Senator Obama. "He connects with people," stated Brooke Williams. "It's time for us to see change in this country and he's the candidate to bring it."

"He's really inspirational," said Jessica Placides. "I think he'll make life better for every American and I'm so excited to see him elected President in just a few hours!"

The sun may have ducked behind a few clouds but we've got some bright faces to perk up the day.

Next stop: Visibility location in South Lake Union

Update 3: 10:10am "The Baltic Room" Staging Location

A vibrant example of the grassroots nature of this campaign can be found here at "The Baltic Room" Staging Location. This hip, Capital Hill coffee shop has been transformed into a one-stop Obama shop, filled with volunteers. Many are preparing to canvass the surrounding neighborhood; others are signing up to drive voters to the polls. Dozens more are spread throughout the café– huddled in corner banquettes, at tables, or standing at the counter– cell phones in hand calling as many voters as possible.

New friendships are being created over cups of coffee and shared table space, as Obama supporters from all over the city convene to spread our message of change.

Julie Farago took the day off of work to volunteer for the first time because "If I was in the office I'd just be obsessively checking the news. I'm much more productive here." Her friend Kenny Wolf agrees, "I've volunteered and given money in the past but I wanted to know that I did everything I could to elect Senator Obama."

The sun has finally come out and The Baltic Room is bustling. Also, a new stock of oranges and bagels just came through the door. Join a staging location near you by going to: http://my.barackobama.com/novvolunteers

Check out the photos here:

Next up: Seattle Central Community College Polling Location.

Update 2: 8:58am Seattle Center Polling Location

The polling location in the Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center has been bustling since before dawn. When polls opened at 7:00am, there was already a line down the block with hundreds of voters waiting to make their voices heard. "This is a historic day," said one Obama supporter. "I've been waiting almost two years to cast my vote for Barack Obama. He's going to do so much for us when he's President, I'm glad I can do something for him by giving him my vote."

Sprits ran high as hundreds of voters cycled through the polling place, proudly displaying their "I voted" stickers as they walked out. Another Obama supporter enthused, "I can't stop grinning. This is my first election and to have the opportunity to vote for a candidate I believe in so strongly is a joy."

Even if you've already submitted your ballot, make sure you encourage your friends and family to vote for change. Help them find their polling place at www.voteforchange.com.

Next stop: Baltic Room Staging Location

Update 1: 7:45am Seattle HQ Office

Election Day has arrived. The Seattle office is filled with energy and excitement as hundreds of volunteers have flooded into campaign headquarters to ensure an Obama-Biden victory. They received walk packets to go out into neighborhoods and knock on doors.

“I can’t believe Election Day has arrived. I took the day off of work to make sure that Senator Obama is our next president. And I can guarantee, I’ll do whatever it takes to help him today,” said Jessica P.

There are many opportunities to help the campaign throughout the day. It is crucial that we have as many people on the ground as possible to help voters get to the polls and talk with those who are still undecided. Sign up to volunteer now at http://www.barackobama.com/splash/volunteer.html

Check in throughout the day to get more updates from the ground. It’s going to be an exciting day and we’ll be interviewing volunteers, canvassers, and local officials to give you the full story of this historic day.

Next Stop: Seattle Center Polling Place

Announcement: Live Blogging Election Day

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:00:34 EST

Election Day has finally come. Tune in all day on Tuesday as I will travel to staging locations, polling locations, visibility sites, and ultimately our election night headquarters to share with you stories from the ground. I will talk to voters about their stories, and shoot video of volunteers getting out the vote. So check out this blog all day to see what is going on. And be sure to leave us a comment to tell us your story as well!

Until then, watch this video of Washingtonians across the state getting out the vote:

Listen to Your Mama: "Mamas for Obama" Bring Change to Small-Town Washington

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:19:42 EST

It’s a well-known fact that Mother knows best, and this old adage holds true when it comes to the presidential election. The “Mamas for Obama” are dispensing their motherly wisdom by rallying on the streets of Belfair, WA. “We are from a small town where a lot of people are still hesitant about change - but we are proud to be part of a large number of voters in Belfair that support Barack Obama. So proud that we have stood on one of the only sidewalks in Belfair on multiple occasions greeting motorists and enthusiastically spreading our joy and support for Obama,” says Kristina Atencio, one of the organizers of “Mamas for Obama” and the wife of an Iraq war veteran.

The “Mamas for Obama” are comprised of a group of local military wives and their families. “We are all so crazy about Obama and are just trying to encourage other young women, 'mamas', and military families to vote for Obama,” explains Kristina.

She describes the experience as “great. There were many people driving by and honking, giving us cheerful thumbs up signs, waving, or even dancing in their car, while driving, and cheering for Obama. Just down the sidewalk from us were about 5 McCain/Palin supporters who didn't get nearly as many honks and waves as we did!”

Military wife and “Mama for Obama” Shannon Walker supports Barack Obama “because I am middle class America. My husband is in Afghanistan right now and I know personally that McCain and Palin do not speak for all military families - this military family supports Barack Obama."

Stephanie Shumaker, another “Mama,” states, "Barack Obama is much more that just a political figure - he stands for something that our generation can believe in and support whole heartedly. He isn't supported by big business, insurance companies, and oil companies, he's supported by you and me - the people who REALLY need change."

Kristina Atencio supports Barack Obama “because now is the time for our generation to have a voice - to be heard - and to have an advocate in the White House. Obama stands for what we need right now: hope. He wasn't born into a long line of military officers or big money; he relied on his country and government aid to go to college– just like I did. He had to work hard every day to achieve what he has– just like I am. In Barack Obama I see real change and I see hope for myself. He is setting an example for all who are willing to watch and inspiring me to reach higher every day. We are all 'Mamas for Obama' and can't wait to see what our future holds with him in the White House.”

Listen to your mama and do your part to help Barack Obama win on November 4th! Please join our Get Out the Vote activities taking place from now through Election Day. It’s easy to do– no experience is required. Sign up here: http://www.barackobama.com/splash/volunteer.html .

Mika Brzezinski showed no class with her smirk

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:31:28 EST

First of all, my family and I would like to offer our condolences to Senator Obama and his family for the loss of his grandmother. She helped to raise a wonderful man and my President of the United States of America. I know she is looking down from the heavens, with her daughter and are so, so proud of their son:-)...Our President.

I was just watching MSNBC’s “Race for the White House,” usually hosted by David Gregory, but this evening hosted by Mika Brzezinski, at 3:40pm, PST by Mika Brzezinski. Ms Brzezinski is usually a co-host with Joe Scarborough on “Morning Joe.” Tonight, I am very disgusted at Ms. Brzezinski, at what my wife and I see as pure evil. She, as the host, sitting in for David Gregory, cut a way to Senator Barack Obama giving his first public appearance since his grandmother’s death. Senator Obama was giving a speech to a motivated crowd, and then spoke of his grandmother, whom he had disclosed to the crowd, had just passed away after a bout with cancer. My wife and I could see that Senator Obama was obviously in pain, but still, he gave a motivational speech to the crowd, honoring our “silent heroes” like his grandmother (Madelyn Dunham) and others, like her, who have tried to make a better life for their children and grandchildren. As he was speaking, tears rolled down the left side of his face. MSNBC then cut back to Ms Brzezinski, who had a smirking smile on her face and they went to commercial. We were absolutely disgusted at the immature or evil actions of Ms Brzezinski. This was inappropriate behavior, especially for a professional anchor, which, in our mind, there is no excuse for. Is this woman a childish idiot, or so racist and evil that she found the death of someone’s grandmother, funny. Ms Brzezinski and MSNBC should come out and give an apology for this hateful and despicable act. What in God’s name was her intent? What did she find so funny about the death of a loved one? Does this represent the feelings of MSNBC or this individual who was obviously born without a mature enough mind to understand the inappropriateness of smirking because of someone’s death,.?

Election Day is Tomorrow!

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:45:22 EST

The most common reason that people don’t vote is that no one asked them to. The second most common reason is that they don’t know how.

Here is what every registered voter in Washington state needs to knows about voting in this election:

Who can vote? All legal residents of Washington who were registered to vote by October 4 via mail or October 20 in person and are 18 years of age are eligible to vote.

How do we vote? All counties except for King and Pierce County vote by mail. Voters in King and Pierce County go to the polls or vote by mailing in absentee ballots.

Where do I vote or turn in ballots? Find your Washington State ballot drop or polling location here: http://www.voteforchange.com/

What is the deadline for vote by mail? If you live in a vote by mail county or if you vote absentee, ballots must be postmarked by November 4 before the last mail pickup.

When are the polls open? In King and Pierce County, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All voters in the parking lot of the polling location at 8:00 p.m. have the right to vote.

What should I bring to the polls? Voters voting at polling locations may be asked to provide identification. Approved forms of identification include: driver's license, state ID card, student ID card, tribal ID card, Voter registration card, Utility Bill, Bank statement, Paycheck, Government check, or another government document. If you do not have these documents, you can still vote by requesting a provisional ballot at your polling location.

What if I have problems at the polls? If you encounter problems with the polls or have any questions, please call 1-877-WA-CHANGE or seek out a Democratic Party voter protection attorney at the polls.

We’re almost there. Please help us spread the word on voting in Washington state and encourage your family, friends, and co-workers to get out there and vote.

Thank you so much for your all your support.

Barack O'Lanterns in Washington

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:10:07 EDT

If you were trick or treating yesterday in Washington state, you may have noticed a significant number of pumpkins fired up for change. Throughout the state, Barack O’Lanterns joined the likes of pumpkin faces and scary witches on many porches.

Two creative and enterprising young women in particular have taken carving knife in hand to transform pedestrian pumpkins into political statements. 30 year-old Hannah Lidman of Rainier Beach believes that “Obama’s an amazing candidate, and the iconography that has accompanied the campaign has been beautiful and inspiring. It’s the first campaign in my lifetime that has really reached out to the young generation with the iconography we’ve grown up with.” Specifically, she became enamored of the Obama posters designed by artist Shepard Fairy. While Hannah was already working hard to get out the vote in her neighborhood, she wanted to do more. So she decided to spread the love by extending Obama mania to her Halloween pumpkins. “I’m not really artistic, but I love making Halloween pumpkins. So I just took an image of a Shepard Fairy poster, turned it into a black and white image, and used that as the stencil.” And voila, thus were born the Rainier Beach Barack O’Lanterns.

25 year-old Olivia Webster is a committed supporter of Barack Obama. She believes that “Obama has instigated action in the American people such as I’ve never experienced or witnessed before.” In her opinion, Barack will help Americans confront the difficult issues we face through hope and action. Her support for Barack collided with her artistic life in the form of Barack O’Lanterns. As an oil painter, Olivia chooses subject matter based on forms she sees in her paint. She confided, “I pondered my pumpkin…and sure enough, the contours of the form spoke to me.” Taking a freestyle approach, Olivia sketched the image and shading directly onto the pumpkin and carved away, noting “The hardest part was hoping that the carving would look as attractive as Obama.” The Barack O’Lantern was a smash hit with friends and neighbors, but Olivia cautions against keeping Barack too long on the porch, remarking that “Unfortunately, I carved him at the beginning of October, so he is a little squishy by now…”

You can appreciate both Hannah and Olivia’s masterpieces at carveforchange.com.

Democratic Women Leaders Bring Spirit of Change to Washington

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:50:56 EDT

Last Sunday, supporters in Bellevue and Lynnwood came out by the hundreds to join Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire for a Canvass Kickoff rally. Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Congressman Jay Inslee and Congressional Candidate Darcy Burner were also in attendance.

The event began with powerful speeches from the special guests who discussed why Christine Gregoire and Barack Obama will bring the experience and change we need to Washington State. Volunteer Carolyn Shlafer said, “Governor Gregoire’s speech was so inspiring. She’ll be the ideal partner for Barack Obama in Washington State. I loved listening to all these strong female leaders. You really get a feeling for their personality and their values.”

Volunteer Darshan Rauniyar was also moved by her party’s leadership saying, “We’re so fortunate that the Democratic Party has such strong, competent women leaders.” Washington State pride filled the venue as attendees cheered on the speakers. “The energy in the room was incredible,” stated one volunteer. Darshan Rauniyar agrees, “We’re so lucky that Washington State is in a better economic situation than other states. That’s due to Governor Gregoire’s leadership. In these tough economic times, it’s vital that she be able to continue her work to keep Washington State strong.”

The rallies were also a time for community members to connect with each other. Dan Burnett said, “It’s cool to see everybody out. The Obama Club from Edmonds-Woodway High School is here to canvass; young and old are really coming together. It’s great to see the community join forces to support such an important cause.” The event was a huge success with canvassers knocking on almost 8000 doors to discuss Senator Obama and Governor Gregoire’s message of change.

If you would like to help bring change to Washington State, please join our Get Out the Vote activities taking place from now through Election Day. It’s easy to do -- no experience is required. Sign up here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/WAGOTVShifts/

Bassets For Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:18:26 EDT

In the last couple of weeks, you might have noticed an interesting visual display—a trio of adorable basset hounds riding on a mini-trailer sporting a “Bassets for Obama” sign. You might be asking yourself, “Who? How?” We have the exclusive scoop from Steve McElhenney, proud owner of two of the bassets.

Seattle resident Steve McElhenney was steeped in politics from an early age, thanks to his mother’s job as a political speechwriter. A lifelong Democrat, he was “blown away” by Obama at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and has been itching to cast his vote for the Illinois senator since then. He proudly declares, “I’m 44, and I’ve voted in almost every election, but this is the first time I’m voting for two people that I truly believe in. Obama-Biden is my dream ticket!”

Steve also has another passion: his beloved basset father-son duo, Buddy and Barkley. Reluctant to leave them home alone, he came up with the idea of building a wagon-style trailer from friends, and often takes Buddy, Barkley, and Barkley’s mother Charlee (who belongs to a friend) on motorcycle rides. When Steve’s district leader asked him to be a neighborhood leader, it gave Steve the idea that he could reach more people by driving around with his bassets. In response to some people’s “Pit bulls for Palin” slogan, he created a “Bassets for Obama” sign and put it on the dogs’ trailer. Steve was thrilled to be able to combine the two disparate passions of his life.

Steve racks up frequent motorcycle miles as a Seattle park steward, which has been great for “Bassets for Obama” visibility. In fact, he’s so dedicated to this cause that he’s made a great video clip, which you can view below.

Fish Throwers for Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:53:41 EDT

As voting begins across the state, the Seattle’s Pike Place Market Fish Mongers speak out about the importance of this election. Watch their stories and then sign up to Get Out the Vote in Washington.

LA Times Release the Video!

Karen in Kirkland, WA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:43:39 EDT

Since the LA Times has already admitted that they have a video that shows Barack Obama speaking about his friendship with a known terrorist, it should be released!

However, what should also be noted is that John McCain ALSO has ties to the same terrorist, through work HE did for the man in the 1990's!

The longer it takes for this tape to be released, the more likely it is that folks that might have voted for Obama will either stay home, or switch their vote to John McCain. I have no doubt that the McCain campaign waited until less than a week before the election intentially!

Let's not let them win this time!!!

Newsflash to media; we Americans can see, the fix is on

David from Lynnwood, WA — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:03:44 EDT

Newsflash to media; we Americans can see, the Fix is on

To all of the major news media; we Americans can see the fix is on. Obama garners between 100,000 and 150,000 supporters in a rally in Colorado, while McCain at the same location hours prior to Obama garners 4,000. Reports say McCain’s crowd was enthusiastic; well I would counter that and state that Obama’s crowd looks hungry for justice.

Many cell phone users (mostly the under 30 group) are not included in those media surveys and these polling numbers only represent some 100 or 1,000 participants, which in no way reflects the actual numbers. We are constantly bombarded with headlines stating McCain is closing fast, when the reality simply does not state that! What psychological game have they decided to play? You want to see a true indication of how November 4th will play out, look no further than the crowd numbers while these candidates are stomping.

I hope the Republican Party and their cronies are not stupid enough to think they could actually get away with fixing this election without accountability by the people. In every great society, whenever the government has blatantly failed in their responsibilities to the people, the people have revolted. Unfortunately, I see nothing in today’s world that departs from that reality.

If you are corrupt enough to attempt to suppress voter turn-out by intimidation and psychological tactics, you are not worthier of the high-paying positions you currently have. If you cannot be impartial enough to do your job, because your job is not that of a political pundit, but that of reporting the news, you should be fired come November 5th because that is a part of the CHANGE we need as well.

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought-John F. Kennedy"

A Video Message from Senators Murray and Cantwell

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:08:44 EDT

If you live in a vote by mail county or applied for an absentee ballot, you should have received your ballot by now. If you have not, call 1-877-WA-CHANGE.

Watch this video from Senators Murray and Cantwell to ensure that you fill out and mail your ballot properly and then send this video to your friends:

While vote by mail and absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day, DON’T WAIT! Fill your ballot out and get it in the mail as soon as possible to ensure victory for Barack Obama, Chris Gregoire, and Democrats up and down the ballot.

Canvass Kickoffs in Bellevue and Lynwood Sunday with Governors Sebelius, Napolitano, and Gregoire

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:05:17 EDT

On Sunday, October 26th, please attend a Canvass Kickoff rally with Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire.

After the Governors talk about why Christine Gregoire and Barack Obama will bring the experience and change we need to Washington State, join the Washington Campaign for Change to help get out the Democratic message by knocking on doors.

Here are the details:

Washington Campaign for Change Canvass Kickoffs

with Governors Sebelius, Napolitano, and Gregoire

Sunday, October 26th

Bellevue Community College – Carlson Theater

3000 Landerholm Circle SE

Bellevue, WA 98007

12:30pm

Special Guests: Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Darcy Burner

RSVP Here

Lynnwood Convention Center – Ballroom 2E

3711 196th Street SW

Lynnwood, WA 98036

2:30pm

Special Guest: Congressman Jay Inslee

RSVP Here

If you cannot make this event but would still like to volunteer for the campaign, please join our Get Out the Vote activities taking place from now through election day. It’s easy to do -- no experience is required. Sign up here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/WAGOTVShifts/.

How to fix the economy; reverse osmosis, economically speaking

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:36:48 EDT

I don’t understand the accepted hypocrisy of the Republican Party and its surrogates by the media. There have been those calling Obama a Socialist or Communist because he wants to re-boot the taxation and reset them back at the levels during the Clinton Administration, which is called teamwork in my book.

During the Regan Administration, there was a push to adopt a “Trickle-Down” theory in restarting our economy to take us out of that recession era. The Republicans wanted to institute public economic policies that would take a larger percentage of the wealth from our least wealthy, in the form of taxes and at the same time, take a smaller percentage of the wealth from our most wealthy, in the form of taxes at every level, not just in the everyday operations of commerce.

This was sold to the American people by the charisma of Ronald Reagan, with alienating rhetoric and lies of them versus us (poor versus rich, white versus black), and stating that poor people are too stupid to spend their money wisely. This is the same rhetoric the Republican Party is using today.

What this public policy advocated was a re-distribution of wealth. The difference between the re-distribution of wealth of the Republican Party and that of the Democratic Party are, the Republican Party had initially taken the wealth from the poor and given it to the rich during the Reagan and Bush eras. The Democratic Party now responds to that apparent failed economic policy, which has led to the slowing and eventual halting of our economy, by retrieving what was stolen by the wealthy and given back what was initially theirs prior to the implementation of Reaganomics by the Republican Party in the last eight years of the Bush Administration. Obama sees this as one of the catalysts attributable to the economic crisis we find ourselves in today and one of the obstacles toward reversing this effect.

It took until the House was lost by the Democratic Party in 1995, for the full affect of Reaganomics to take place, which Bush saw too in his era. This as well as the Bush tactic of using signing statements to unconstitutionally alter legislation created through serious negotiations by our elected officials. This is unconstitutional because it grossly undermines the intent of the creators of our Constitutional documents in separating the powers between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of the Federal Government to aid in the protection of the people from an overly intrusive government.

This re-distribution of wealth is no different than that re-distribution of wealth carried out by the Republican Party, other than the Democratic model is in reaction to what had been taken away (a defensive move). Like our Foreign Policy of Containment in Democratic eras; the Republican model is an aggressive and hostile pro-active move of expansionism.

If you’re going to call Obama’s economic policy socialist (for the poor and middle-class), what do you call the Bush and McCain economic plan of a continuation of a Republican (Reagan) economic policy for the wealthy? If one is socialist, so is the other, so what’s with the hypocrisy from the Republican side, especially when the Democratic plan is in response for a harm done unto the people because the Republican Executive Branch overstepped its reach in the meddling of Legislative activities?

Let’s say a wealthy person makes 1,000,000,000.00 dollars a year and a poor person makes $100.00 a year. Democrats agree that a flat 10% tax cut would be sufficient if each group would pay 10% of their wealth in taxes. However, this is not what happens. The average American would pay 10% of his wealth, but the wealthy person would pay a whole lot less because of tax loopholes, which gives them the opportunity to not pay any taxes. Many of these loopholes end with the wealthy getting more back in the end, due to incentives from their employers, such as stock options and bonuses.

The Republicans want to give them additional cuts in taxes, which Obama has advocated should go to the poor and middle-class instead, with the wealthy paying a higher percentage in taxes because then, by the time the loopholes have been exhausted, their end tax liability will be more in line with the 10% wealth being taken from the poorest of our citizens. 10% is just a generic number, but this gives you an idea as to what Obama’s plan may look like. His plan will obviously not result in the wealthy paying as much of their accumulated wealth in taxes as the average American, but it will shorten the gap, while John McCain’s economic policies aim at towing the Party line of increasing that gap until the America economy is completely stopped. This because, the poor and middle-class will have no money to contribute to our everyday commerce, which would seize the entire economy and the economies of those relying on the markets in America (the American people to buy their products).

Republican Party Scenario:

If our economy has 100 billion dollars in money circulating around it all of the time, then you given 8 billion to the wealthy (8 people at 10 billion a piece) and the rest (2 billion dollars) to the working people (2 billion people), then you have 2 billion, plus 8 people helping this economy run, 2 billion of which only have 1 dollar to contribute to the economy. This is an extreme, but indicative of where our economy is heading and why we are experiencing the economic collapse happening at this time. The pro-wealthy economic policies have virtually removed 2 billion consumers out of American commerce, as well as the commerce of those relying on our markets. To correct this, obviously you create a plan to reverse the policies that contributed to this redistribution of wealth, by putting that wealth back into the markets (people), who buy the products. To further feed the corporations takes more money out of the markets and accelerates the demise of the economy here and abroad.

Let’s say we are competing with 2 billion plus 10 people in China, who have 50 billion dollars: 10 people with 1 billion dollars each and 2 billion with 40 billion dollars between them.

Let’s say one of our large corporations (GM) wants a market to sell cars and (Microsoft) wants to sell computer software. These companies want to sell in America, but 2 billion dollars amongst 2 billion people, does not give each person in America any money to purchase these products, so they go to China because they have 2 billion customers who can pay for their products, but this market will eventually be flooded and you are still without that large market in the US. There is no end to this madness until you correct the American markets.

In this scenario where do you think our American companies will go to market their products? If they sell the products in China and elsewhere the taxes are paid their, not here. The products will then be manufactured there too, so the jobs will be there. The Chinese economy will flourish because of the laws they have to treat their poor and middle-class more fairly, by protecting their workforce from an overly abusive corporatist economy. This is crazy right, China! But, that is where we are heading. We have accepted the least common denominator in order to satisfy the wealthy corporatists. Countries like Germany, England, France, China, etc., have tariffs that those wishing to sell in their markets must pay in order to do business there. Over the Reagan and Bush Administrations, we have eliminated those tariffs and other safeguards to protect our workers here in the United States.

The US economy will eventually reflect that of a third world nation if we continue to allow corporatists and the wealthy to lead the way in dictating the rules they should be governed by, instead of the government retaining that power. The Republican Party has a plan to eventually eliminate government and give the power to the wealthy private sector. This is the beginnings of a truly class system, not unlike that during the Roman Empire. This is the true motive of the Republican Party.

Redistribution of wealth is nothing but a redefining of the 10% rule. Under the Democrat rule, 10% will mean 10% of your wealth and not 10 dollars. If I buy a commodity, then whatever tax is agreed upon is okay, but with regards to wages for work a percentage and not a flat rate is what being American is all about.

If you play on a football team, is it un-American to have your star running back gain 200 yards in that game to lead you to victory? Should he run for 50 yards and then sit on the bench angrily because the other three running backs could not gain 50 yards and you lose? Should he do all he can and you do all you can, then collectively you win the championship? Then, he can get the MVP trophy to recognize his going over and beyond the line of duty to his team?

Republicans have forgotten team work and have replaced it with selfishness, greed and vanity. These are problems we can fix, but to call someone or some group un-American, makes you in-fact, un-American.

Chris Sheppard's Story: A Commander-in-Chief I Can Trust

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:23:48 EDT

Chris Sheppard served two tours of duty in Iraq and bravely fought in the battle of Fallujah. His experience overseas led him to rethink his Republican Party membership. Watch this video to hear Chris' story and find out why this lifelong Republican will support Barack Obama on Election Day:

Message to Obama: Bring on some Serious Change!

The IdeaMan — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:55:41 EDT

Senator Obama, I am a big supporter of your campaign - but as a business owner, veteran and long-time Democrat I am pretty concerned with how you are responding on the economy issue. This is a real opportunity for you to show us all exactly how serious you are about making a real 'change' in the way things are always being done.

Let's bring on some Serious Change! So far I don't see anything seriously new or "changed" in your economic suggestions. It's frankly the same old stale approaches and rhetoric that we've heard from every other politician. Ok, it's indeed better than anything McCain has suggested....and your Obama charm does a great job to make the rhetoric "sound" exciting, but the bottom line is - there is still nothing creative, new, different or which represents a fundamental 'change' in the way things have been done. Your approach so far hasn’t been any change at all – its’ simply an using different words to make it sound better.

Senator Obama, if you really want to show people like us that we can 'believe' you represent change, we need you to suggest solutions that are more transformational, unique, creative, and innovative than anything that's been done before. Serious solutions that help quickly....deeply...effectively and without costing taxpayers more huge sums of money.

Innovative solutions perhaps like:

- Immediately capping adjustable mortgage interest increases (so homeowners don't have to worry about higher payments or foreclosures)...

- Putting unemployed people back to work rebuilding our deteriorating infrastructure (roads, mass transit, parks, environmental protection, schools, security, etc)....

- Creating a short term ‘bridge' insurance program (similar to the FDIC) that will enable banks to defer payments for up to 120 days when someone loses their job due to a company closure or layoff (this won't require assuming ownership of the underlying asset, and could greatly enhance bank lending confidence)....

- Creating a ‘Foreign Displacement Tax’ for each job large companies create overseas (instead of in the US)

- Capping the retail price of gas and heating oil (so oil companies stop gouging consumers and are forced to seek more profitable alternative energy themselves)....

- Requiring the Iraqi's to PAY us for the security our troops are providing (from the billions in our oil money). This might even help end our involvement quickly.

Senator Obama, you are by far the better candidate, but in this economic mess, please show us that you can deliver the change you promise. Show us that you can be an innovator, a leader, a change-agent and an "Idea man". Your political future - and our entire country's economic future - are at stake. Now is the time.

Why hasn't our government acted on this incitement of hate?

David from Lynnwood, WA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:52:38 EDT

Warning: This is a very disturbing video (unless you’re a racist) from a Sarah Palin rally in Ohio. Copy and past the link attached, to your search browser, to find the video and article. Why isn’t any of this hatred covered by the main news media outlets? A full disclosure is needed at this time, so the American people have the opportunity to demand action against these people be initiated. Why hasn’t our government acted against this hate? < httphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0 > or < http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/mccainpalin-supporters-let-their-rac >. MCCAIN/PALIN SUPPORTERS LET THEIR RACIST ROOTS SHOW. David Neiwert Thursday Oct 16, 2008 10:31am. This hate rhetoric is very disturbing and I demand that our government act proactively for Barack Obama's safety and the safety of African-Americans like me as well as those who support Barack Obama. His life and well being, as well as ours are in jeopardy, so I demand that our government act on this incitement of hate and rioting, these McCain/ Palin campaign rallies have endorsed.

I feel as if I am re-living the past.

Hatred (racism) is a virus. Because we have not instituted anti-racist legislative laws to force enforcement, racism simply grew beneath the surface because there was no accountability. Our laws on record are simply symbolic and not actual in nature, because they lack the most important components, enforcement and accountability.Hate speech should not be protected by the first Amendment (free speech), because its only purpose is to incite a riot-like atmosphere and physical violence, which then denies its target from accessing their fourteenth Amendment right of equal protection of the law. To condone violence by not enforcing the laws to prevent it, the action itself of no action is to institute a state law (common law) to deny this equal protection of the law. We need to hold those complicit in such actions accountable if we are to progress as a nation. The alternative is simply, unacceptable!

Join Joe Biden in Tacoma This Sunday

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:25:03 EDT

SUNDAY: Biden to Hold Change We Need Rally in Tacoma, Washington

TACOMA, WA – The Obama Campaign announced today that Sen. Joe Biden will hold a Change We Need Rally on Sunday, October 19th in Tacoma, Washington. The Vice Presidential nominee will host a rally to discuss the Obama/Biden plan to get the economy back on track.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Tacoma, WA

CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH JOE BIDEN

Cheney Stadium
2502 South Tyler Street
Tacoma, WA

Doors Open: 12:00pm

Program Begins: 2pm

RSVP Here

Dino Rossi-R, very bad for our poorest workers

David from Lynnwood, WA — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:50:12 EDT

The minimum wage in Washington State is $8.07 per hour, effective July 24, 2008. Republican gubernatorial (for governor) candidate Dino Rossi states that if elected, he will lower the minimum wage by $1.50 per hour, to the new hourly rate of $6.57 per hour.

Dino Rossi further states, if elected, he will not raise any taxes.

What this means:

In order for a government to run, especially in times when we are running a deficit, there has to be taxation. This is simply common practice, to deny this fact is to flat out lie to the people of Washington State.

$1.50 represents just under 25% of the wage for our poorest workers, which means Dino Rossi will be taxing our poorest workers by just under 25% of their pay to get us out of this deficit his party created in the first place! This is insane! Do people actually believe this crap?

If our poorest workers are forced to accept a new minimum wage of $6.57 per hour, we are condoning our state government to unfairly tax them by 25%. That is idiotic and no better than the dictates of a third world country. Does anyone care about that?

I’ve seen enough homeless people flooding our streets based on Bush economics. If you vote for Rossi you deserve what bad fate will fall upon you for being so selfish and so apathetic to the fate of our poorest workers.

It’s time the American people said, enough!

Students For Obama Video: "I Believe"

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 03:36:02 EDT

For many students, this is the most important election of their generation. Senator Obama has energized students across the country to get involved and to take this election into their own hands. Watch this video of students talking about why they support Senator Obama:

If you are a student and you want to volunteer, sign up now at http://action.barackobama.com/page/s/newvolunteer

The Real Qualifications on Who is Set to Lead

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:40:35 EDT

An email from a friend which really says it all!More on white privilege . . . . Subject: Crossroad for America

Hi All - We are at a major crossroad in the history of
the United States of America. Here is one of the greatest
challenges facing us today.

How Racism Works...

What if John McCain were a former president of the
Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth
from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said
'I do' to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first
wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became
addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through
her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from
Princeton (BA) and Harvard Law (JD)?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does.
It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive
qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

You are The Boss... which team would you hire? If your answer is any different than the obvious, I'm sorry to inform you that you're a racist.

McCain and Palin are the Devil in Sheep's Clothing

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:13:41 EDT

The reason I believe Americans should be aware of the McCain economic plan with regards to this economic crises we find ourselves in:

McCain wants to bailout the lenders, who participated in fraudulent accounting practices against unsuspecting home buyers, which is most of us! It’s is those of us who are the victims, because those houses are in our neighborhoods, not simply in another state or in gate-protected areas. What we do now will affect all of us, which is why McCain’s selfish plan is so dangerous.

McCain has been listening to his lobbyists who represent the very rich or the very well-off in our country. They have been telling him, by helping those victimized by predatory lending; they will suffer because their home values will go down.

What is wrong with this scenario is that we have not recognized the seriousness of this situation. The whole world has been affected by greed; greed by unscrupulous lenders, who saw it as their right to take advantage of the lack of economic and real estate knowledge possessed by those who these unscrupulous lenders took advantage of.

This right was validated by laws passed by wealthy backed politicians who passed biased laws of deregulation. We have regulatory laws to protect the American consumer, so we all have equal access to products necessary in order to enjoy the promise of Amendment 14; section 1 of the United States Constitution, “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws.” It appears, that by indemnifying unscrupulous lenders for unjust loans; which were unscrupulously marketed to individuals within the United States, by playing upon their lack of knowledge in this area of commerce, is unconstitutional because it not only denies their constitutional right to an equal protection that is granted to these housing, automobile and other lending markets, but rewards them unfairly, with no deliberate rewarding of those victimized by the same unscrupulous markets.

Amendment 14; Section 4 gives the Congress the power to create laws that will enforce this right. By creating laws to give away this right, which is what deregulation does, an unconstitutional act was committed and should be dealt with in our courts. This makes John McCain’s part in the Keating Five scandal very relevant, because it represents lawmakers who played a role in the unconstitutional act of violating Amendment 14, section 1, as well as the violation by the law makers who deregulating our markets, which so violently has affected all of us again today.

McCain’s plan to indemnify unscrupulous lending institutions, at the overly inflated value they deceitfully orchestrated to come about in the first place, not only rewards them for this criminal act and does not hold them accountable, but further harms the victims by permanently separating them from their property, as well as from their acquired income they had obtained in their years of working and playing taxes, which they invested in this property.

McCain wants to pay these lenders for the overly inflated market rate that they themselves created, with no relief to the buyer, who are left as the victims of these tactics and affecting other markets around the world.

The rate charged to these homeowners should be re-adjusted at a new amount after devaluing the property back to its reasonable market rate, and then this new amount should be given to the homeowner victimized by these acts. The government should carry these loans until a time when the markets have been regulated and operated in such a rate that is safe for the home owners to again re enter the marketplace.

By forcing the government to purchasing these loans through political tactics of fear; at the rate falsely created by these unscrupulous lenders, McCain’s plan does nothing but further increase the riches of these unscrupulous lenders, while leaving the victimized homeowners out in the cold to die. There would be no accountability for their actions and they would be free to continue doing what lead us down this path in the first place because it has happened in the past and John McCain was a party to it.

I really wonder, how does he and all of those other selfish players in this hi-jacking of middle-class and working class wealth, live with themselves? How can they sleep at night, knowing how they have destroyed so many American lives and the lives of those affected abroad? They must have no soul, in my eyes, their the devil.

Yes We Can... Carve. Barack O' Lanterns??

Jennifer Smolen — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:21:48 EDT

4 Obama supporters from across the country met each other in Seattle, and consequently created this site just in time for Halloween. Take a look, preferably before you carve your 'punkin' this month!

www.YesWeCarve.com

Roberta Riley's Story: Obama's Health Care Plan: Leadership I Can Trust

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:39:16 EDT

15 years ago, Roberta Riley found out that she had cancer. While she was fighting to live, her health insurance company decided to drop her from coverage. 15 years later, Roberta talks about her support for Senator Obama and his plan to make health care accessible and affordable for all Americans regardless of preexisting conditions. Watch her story here:

It is really getting ugly out there, which frightens me

David from Lynnwood, WA — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:26:46 EDT

It is really getting ugly out there, which frightens me

The pulse of a segment of America, within America, frightens me. That pulse shows just how far we have not come as a nation. The pulse of racism has once again reared its ugly head into the political debate, threatening to vilify America as “that” nation of people who resemble what is most ugly and wrong with the world today.

As a child growing up in the 60s and 70s, I had thought then, by now we would have distanced ourselves from the ignorance that blinds us from achieving endless accomplishments by working together against the obstacles our nation faces. Instead, I woke up this week to find that we never left yesterday, and because of it, we have been stuck in the mud of futility when it comes to what we could have accomplished by now.

Our racism induced fear, which permeated within every level of our society, in large part contributed to the economic crises we find ourselves and the world in today. Instead of learning from what good was done in creating policies to stamp out racism and creating an atmosphere where blacks and whites could live together peacefully in the 60s, and then applying that to how we condition our society for future successes, we ignored the good and applied only the knowledge we received from the subjugation of African-Americans within our society, with the use of Jim Crow laws and how that made blacks feel inferior, then using that to justify blacks being placed in job market positions of servitude and hard labor, and then applied that knowledge to how we deal with those we fear in the world. In other words, the same disrespect that has been allowed to exist within certain segments of our society has been used in trying to spread Democracy to nations of color around the world. This is taking the knowledge we learned from bad experiments in our societal past and using it as a strategy for persuasive tactics in spreading Democracy, which has not and will never work.

Those who prospered from this tactic, grew so comfortable, arrogant and greedy, they started to apply it to a larger sector of our society (our middle-class), which has lead to the economic crisis we find ourselves in today and the increasing divide between the wealthy and the rest of us.

The rest is, how they say, history. At a recent Sarah Palin rally for the Republican Presidential Campaign of McCain/Palin, Governor Sarah Palin incited a mob like mentality among her supporters, falsely labeling Barack Obama as a terrorist sympathizer and by association a terrorist, that resulted in a participate yelling from the crowd, “kill him” in reference to Senator Barack Obama. No one in the crowd reacted; accept to get more into a crazed frenzy. It was like a Klan rally and made me sick to my stomach and wonder about the safety of all African-Americans in this country.

Barack Obama was the first candidate to receive Secret Service protection because of the threat of being assassinated, yet Sarah Palin knowingly incited a riot and a call to action resulting in this extreme behavior, yet the McCain/Palin Campaign played this serious threat, by ignoring it.

I would think the Secret Service would immediately have arrested the person who threatened Senator Obama’s life and I would immediately conduct an investigation into Governor Palin’s intent, given that she has reacted in a way that would suggest that she sees nothing wrong with this behavior.

Obviously, this atmosphere created by the McCain/ Palin ticket, which most African-Americans feared would be created as a result of Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President of the United States has been now been prematurely ignited by the McCain/ Palin campaign in a desperate effort to stop the momentum of the Obama/ Biden ticket. This has become less about conducting a hard fought Presidential campaign and more about creating an atmosphere to eliminate the apposing party’s top candidate permanently.

We are not a third world country, even though the past Administration’s policies have threatened to make our economy into one. And, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you must see the need to hold the McCain /Palin campaign accountable for the mockery they have made of our Presidential Elections. This shows no class and puts us and our soldiers in an even more dangerous environment because we look like we have turned into merely a shell of what we once were as a nation of people.

It’s time the American people said, enough!

The Seattle Post-Intelligencier Endorses Senator Barack Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:20:04 EDT

The Seattle PI wrote this editorial about why Senator Obama is the best candidate to the be the President of the United States. Read excerpts of the endorsement here:

If the country ever needed new direction under a fresh, steady, calm president, this is the time. Sen. Barack Obama is the country's hope, the kind of promising, intelligent leader who comes along perhaps once in a generation. Obama is the best candidate for president. He has the vision, patience and fortitude to put America on a track to recovery after an eight-year run of financial irresponsibility, aggressive adventurism abroad and mismanagement, secrecy and dissembling on numerous fronts.
The issues and the superiority of the Obama-Joe Biden team have become clearer than ever in the past few days. Obama spoke the unvarnished truth when he called the need for a record-breaking economic rescue plan a "final judgment." It was a sweeping verdict not just on the disastrous presidency of George W. Bush but also on the Republican deregulatory obsessions that Sen. John McCain has shared broadly.

Read the full endorsement here.

The Reason for our current economic crises and why we are being prevented from seriously correcting it

David from Lynnwood, WA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:12:43 EDT

I now find myself moved to figure out why it has taken our political leaders, as well as our citizens, so long to react to what groups from within our society have been crying out against. Predatory lending, which has led to the loss of wealth in the billions by the African-American community, due to the removal of federally mandated regulations that would have prevented this abuse of a targeted segment within our society in the first place.

There were activist within our government ranks who were positioned to call out this abuse, but were silenced at the last minute, due to the moral deficiencies of one of the messengers.

New York Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer attempted to disclose those complicit in the whole redistribution of wealth campaign instituted by high-ranking political and economic figures within our society, which has played a part in a large segment of our population (African-Americans) no longer being in a position to contribute as they had in making the engine run that fuels our economy. This timely outing of Spitzer’s character flaw (disclosed indiscretions with a stripper being revealed on the eve of the outing of those complicit in the predatory lending scandal, effectively destroyed Spitzer’s reputation) illuminated by those in power to redirect the focus of the unlawful redistribution of African-American wealth, to the greedy pockets of wealthy banks and lending institutions.

Curiously, this same tactic is implemented by the Republican Party when there is a need to shift the attention off a topic harmful to their continual attainment of power, i.e., while the McCain/Palin Campaign is running against the Obama/Biden Campaign, in an attempt to hold on to the Executive Branch of government, because the nation is currently in an economic crises, attention to that political issue (failing economy) is bad for the Republican Party because the people want a new political party in that Branch of Government. Currently, our media has focused on the economic crises, which has resulted in a rise in the polls for the Democratic challenger, the Barack Obama/ Joseph Biden Campaign.

In a desperate attempt to change the agenda (characterized by a former professor of mine at the University of Washington as “priming”) the McCain Campaign has inserted mistruths about Barack Obama. This “shock-jock” approach is used to quickly change the topic of the day, to move the conversation from real issues like the economy, to tabloid style news filled with untruths that will buy time for the Republicans by stopping the bleeding of those crossing over to favoring the Obama/Biden Campaign, as the Democratic candidate are forced to spend money and time on the defense, negating these false accusations, and then back to getting the real information out to the American people.

In the end, this redirect of real issues serves the purpose of the Republican Party, at the expense of the American people who are looking for the truth, so they can make a decision on who they want to lead this nation.

African-Americans in the Detroit, Michigan area, who owned homes and were poised to retire, were in a positioned to become the first generation of African-Americans to be in a position to pass on their accumulated wealth (homes and savings plans) to their next generation, for the first time in our nation’s history. However, with between $71 billion and $122 billion in loss wealth, African-American children will once again be placed at a disadvantage in comparison to their Caucasian counter parts, who when facing the normal economic bumps in the road during the beginning of their adult years, will be less likely to file for bankruptcy (causing an impact on the overall economy) due to having access to that safety parachute of family wealth to protect, as apposed to the only option of African-American children being sued or filing bankruptcy. This will lead them on a path of continual decline for credit to buy or rent a home; to purchase an automobile, or to have access to a job that would provide them with decent healthcare. This, while their Caucasian counter parts will continually march forward, leading to the historical economic divide in wealth between Caucasians and people of color.

Some wonder if this economic meltdown wasn’t an unanticipated by-product of the deliberate act, aimed at quashing the economic gains by African-Americans, even at the expense of some Caucasians who got caught in the cross-fire.

“Boston - A new report says the subprime mortgage crisis will cause African-Americans to experience wealth losses of between $71 billion and $122 billion over its duration. The racial bias of subprime mortgage lenders accounts for a 40 percent difference in losses between whites and people of color.” (Christina Kasica). “Subprime Crisis Causing Huge Loss of African-American Wealth.” New America Media. Jan 23, 2008. retrieved from the internet on October 5, 2008. < http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=b121910bf335fc737295ea33b0fadedb&from=rss >.

The current economic and political crisis can be linked to those who have historically played a role in the continual subjugation of African-Americans and other racial minority groups in the US. What scares the living hell out of those who have been complicit in such practices is the current swell of support for Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, because his ascending to the ultimate position of American power represents the fact that Obama has been successful in uniting all of us. By design we have been governed in a way that attempts to keep us divided in order to successfully keep us down economically and politically within our society (An imposed class system based on race). By dividing us, real stories of discrimination when an African-American or Hispanic American or Native American, etc., attempts to break the glass ceiling by entering managing positions or powerful political positions, are never heard, or they are countered by inserting “zero-sum” scenarios in the political and economic jungle, which only serve to pit minority groups against each other. This is done by limiting positions available to minorities, then creating a situation where there is never a sharing of power; it’s this person gets it or that person gets it, but not both. Yet, in areas where it is already dominated by our Caucasian counterparts, sharing is the “rule”.

An end to the “reign of terror” on the average America citizen is in site, which will lead to us collectively agreeing to hold those complicit in this terrorism accountable for their deliberate actions to destroy our country, with their efforts to permanently disable a segment of our society. Curing this problem within a sub-segment of our society will eventually resonate upward and solve other problems as well by opening dialogues for real movements toward making everyone feeling satisfied.

The younger generation will not hesitate to correct this repeated wrong by my generation and the generations before me, seeing to it that this never happens again by holding those complicit in the design for failure, accountable for their sabotage of our society.

Our current economic crisis can be contributed to the overwhelming success of those complicit in this hijacking of wealth and power, thus removing the masses from participating in the daily functioning of our society, which is a necessity for our economic and political survival. Collectively, minorities represent a large majority of our society, so removing us from the participation of moving our society forward with the economic might to do so; will have devastating consequences on our country’s overall health. To solve our current economic crises would involve empowering us by giving back what is continuously being taken away from us, in the way of allowing the wealthy to go unchecked in ciphering our wealth with deregulation, ever sense the Regan Administration in the 1980s. The wealthy have hoarded our wealth leading to the engine of our society starving and dying. Obama seeks to retrieve what was taken from the majority of our society by placing us back at the levels we were prior to the Regan Administration, in the form of reinstituting those tax-levels those earning $250,000 per year or more had prior to the Regan Administration and suspending the furthering ciphering of wealth from the other 80-plus percent of us so that we may begin to recover from the blood sucking of the republican Party. This is why he has put forth a plan of taxing those earning $250,000.00 or more while also instituting a plan for affordable healthcare. This multiple attack will energize the working and middle class, leading to an economic stimulus of “main street America” rather than “Wall Street;” a “trickle up” theory, if you will to counter the “Trickle Down” theory of the Regan era. This is the only plan that will work because this will cause an immediate upward trend in buying and moving our commerce forward, while restoring consumer confidence immediately.

Palin -- Military Readiness

Carpe Diem in '08 — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:45:17 EDT

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/bluestars/gGxjnZ

Vice President Debate Watch Parties Take Place across Washington State

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:09:02 EDT

Last night Washington Obama supporters gathered in living rooms and restaurants across the state for more than 50 grassroots debate watch parties.

Over 300 Obama supporters attended the Women for Obama debate watch party at Sports Restaurant and Bar in Seattle. The restaurant was filled to its capacity as some supporters watched from televisions set up outside the building.

“It was packed – and the restaurant was filled with so much energy and excitement. As a mother, I felt so proud of Joe Biden. The debate elevated my opinion of him,” said Mary Ann L. “I looked around the room and saw so many people’s faces filled with hope.”

After the debate, the response was overwhelmingly favorable towards Senator Biden. “Palin showed that she was a strong politician but I thought Biden proved that he was more capable to be the next vice president,” said Peggy Z.

Betty H. added, “The event has energized more people to get involved. Even though it was a Women for Obama event, I saw people of all backgrounds – men, women, young, old, businessmen, nurses – sign up to volunteer. We’re not going to stop working hard until Senator Obama is the next president.”

Washington's Voter Registration Deadline Approaches

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:57:43 EDT

The deadline to register by mail is this Saturday October 4. Throughout the state, Obama supporters are holding Voter Registration Drives in order to get Washingtonians registered for the election this November. As the deadline approaches, sign up now to help at a registration drive near you.

Watch this video of Alicia Keys:

If you want to help the efforts to get voters registered, now is the time to do so. Go to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/WAVRDrives.

To check your voting registration status, sign up for absentee ballots, or find a polling location go to: http://voteforchange.com. PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!

Women's Outreach Week Begins

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:08:57 EDT

Building on last week’s Women’s week of action, efforts to elect Senator Obama are ramping up. Women across the state are coming together this week to participate in a Women for Obama Outreach Week.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008-Women-to-Women Phone Bank
   5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
    At all office locations (please bring a cell phone if available)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2008-Women-to-Women Phone Bank.
   5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
    At all office locations (please bring a cell phone if available)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2008-Washington Women for Obama Evening Voter Registration Drive.
   5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
    At all office locations (please bring a cell phone if available)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008-Washington Women for Obama Vice Presidential Debate Watch Parties.
   Sign up for a Vice Presidential Debate watch party here .

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008-Last chance Voter Registration Drive. Today is the deadline to register folks to vote.
   Sign up for a registration drive here .

Sheepdog or Coyote?

Steve — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:30:10 EDT

SHEEPDOG OR COYOTE? Let’s say we live on a big farm and have a large chicken coop and we are deciding whether to put a sheepdog or a coyote in charge of protecting the chicken coop. You would think that would be an easy decision, but our family is divided on which one to choose. The farm we live on is big and surrounded by other farms. Our farm used to be very profitable. We used to grow and make all sorts of things and sell them to other farms. Everyone in our family studied and learned about our farm and the other farms and about crops and animals and farm products. Recent generations of our family however have stopped reading and learning. They sit around and watch entertainment TV and play video games. We don’t make any farm products any more and we don’t grow diverse crops. We don’t even grow our own chicken feed. We do like roast chicken and we like eggs, so the chicken coop is important to us. For generations we have used either a sheepdog or a coyote to guard the coop. For reasons beyond our control, they only last 8 years. Sometimes we have to replace them in 4 years. We pick two finalists, one from the sheepdog pack that hangs around the farmhouse, and one from the pack of coyotes that roam the farm. The family then votes to decide which one will guard the chicken coop. In 1980 we picked a coyote named Ronny. He lasted 8 years. In 1988 we selected another coyote we called Bushman. He only lasted 4 years. Then we tried a sheepdog named Billy. In the 7th year he started hanging with a stray female and took his eye off the coop so after 8 years many in the family were glad to see him go, even though the chicken coop was in good shape and we had a surplus of chickens and eggs. In 2000 we selected a coyote named Bushboy, so now in 2008 we have to find a replacement. We have selected a sheepdog named Bama and a coyote named Mic. The sheepdogs have always had white fur, but Bama has black fur. His bark sounds a little different too. The coyotes have always had white fur. We have never selected a female on either side as a finalist. Some in the family think fur color or gender makes a difference, but nobody can say why. Ronny and Bushman didn’t ever bug us about food for the chickens or supplies for the coop, but we found out later that they borrowed this stuff from the other farms. Now we owe the other farms a lot of money. Billy pretty much continued the same policies but stopped some of the borrowing. Bushboy inherited a relatively healthy chicken population, but the coop needed some serious work. We have noticed some differences between the coyotes and the sheepdogs. Some of the farms around us are friendly and some are not. The sheepdogs always want to visit the other farms and make friends with the humans and animals there. The coyotes are constantly killing the inhabitants of the other farms and stealing their stuff. Since we have been unable to control the coyotes’ ramblings, many of the other farms hate us now. In 2001, one of the other farmers sent some people over to destroy part of our chicken coop. Bushboy was not ready for them and they succeeded. Bushboy sent a bunch of coyotes and sheepdogs over to that farm to catch the farmer. They didn’t find him so they went to one of the other farms that did not like us and killed a bunch of their animals and people and killed the farmer. They are still there running that farm and using our chickens to feed the sheepdogs and coyotes that are there. Some of the people there are still managing to kill our sheepdogs and coyotes. Bushboy used all of our chickens and eggs on his farm occupation and has borrowed chickens and eggs from other farms, some of which don’t like us either. They don’t mind loaning us the chickens and eggs because they know they will own our farm soon and will evict all of us. About half the people in our family don’t seem to care about this and just sit and play their video games that they bought from the farms that actually make stuff. They didn’t have money to buy the games so they borrowed the money from the farms that don’t like us. We have also noted that when we put a sheepdog in charge, he does take some of the chickens and eggs. We have noticed that he takes the chickens and eggs to the handyman that rents a small house on our farm. The handyman comes and fixes the roof to the chicken house, paints it, fixes the heater, and brings bags of chicken feed over. We have noticed that with a sheepdog, we always have chickens and eggs… ones we didn’t borrow. We never catch the coyotes taking chickens or eggs when we have a coyote in charge, but our supply of chickens and eggs always goes down. We also notice that the coyote pack is very fat… actually obese. The sheepdogs never go out looking for a fight at the other farms, but defend the coop to the death if something threatens it. They will also go fight for the farm if first attacked. The coyotes are always out roaming around looking for a fight. If the coop is attacked, a single coyote will run and hide unless the whole pack is around. A single sheepdog will defend the coop. Sheepdogs are always playful around the coyotes and want to get along. The coyotes are always sneering and hissing at the sheepdogs and always nipping at them. So far the other farms have not launched a major offensive to take over our farm because we still have the biggest and most lethal guns left over from our prosperous times. Many in the family are afraid and want to put Mic in charge because he is a coyote and will continue to go out looking for a fight and preemptively take out farms he thinks are a threat. Bama wants to rebuild the farm and chicken coop, stop borrowing from the bad farms, start raising our own chickens, and wants to bring the sheepdogs and coyotes back to defend the farm. It is said that most of the coyotes and even some of the sheepdogs have made alliances with the bad farms because they think that is where their next meal will be. I hope that is not true. Mic is young and not very experienced with chicken coops. He is intelligent and has good instincts about chickens though. He prefers his dog food over live chickens. Mic is old and experienced. He loves live chicken flesh and one time got caught with another coyote named Keat stealing chickens. We scolded him and let him go back to the pack. One time one of the other farms that the coyotes attacked captured Mic and tortured him. They let him go and he says that makes him a wise chicken coop guardian. For that reason some in the family have picked him as a finalist to guard the coop. Bama got a new doghouse from a shady sheepdog named Resco, but we can’t find any evidence Resco got anything from Bama or that Bama owes Resco anything. Something really funny happened lately. A sheepdog named Lieb started hanging around Mic. It really hilarious… a big old shaggy sheepdog trying to run around and act all tough like the coyotes. The coyotes all laugh at Lieb behind his back. They put up with it though because they know some of the humans think it makes Mic look more like a sheepdog and might influence their vote. I don’t think Lieb cares much about the coop, he’s just trying to bet on where his next meal is coming from. I think he likes chicken flesh better that dog food, unlike most sheepdogs. The other night Bama and Mic were trying to convince the family to pick them. Bama was characteristically nice to Mic and Mic was nasty to Bama. Many in the family think that is a good trait for a guardian, many did not. Also, it was very strange, but lately Mic has been trying to act like Bama and has been barking the same sound that Bama has been barking for years. Which one should we pick to guard and repair the chicken coop?

Women Take Action For Senator Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:51:39 EDT

Across the state, women gathered in campaign offices and living rooms to volunteer for Senator Obama. Last weekend, hundreds of women hit the streets to knock on doors and talk to their neighbors about their reasons for supporting Senator Obama. This Wednesday, many more made thousands of phone calls to spread Senator Obama’s message of change. Throughout the week, women used the online tool Neighbor to Neighbor to make reach out to other women throughout the state.

Tamara K. said, “It’s exciting to see so many women take action and speak out for issues we care about. I believe that Senator Obama is a leader who understands the problems we face on a daily basis.”

Kate T. added, “We are excited and ready to take action. I’m definitely coming back and doing this again!”

Go canvassing or phone bank for Senator Obama now by going to www.my.barackobama.com/n2n.

My Proposed Op-Ed

Danny — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:56:10 EDT

Sen John McCain’s visit to Scranton brought out a sizeable contingent of local veterans to listen to his appeals. We wish to explain to them why these two Scranton-born veterans are firmly in the camp of Sen Barack Obama. First off, we thank Sen McCain for his exemplary Naval service, where he suffered grievously for his nation. Although being taken prisoner does not automatically qualify him as a “hero,” his resolution and bravery while in captivity for five long years certainly does. While we do judge that armed service is an advantage for any Presidential candidate, as it would have been for Vietnam veterans Sens Al Gore and John Kerry, we do not believe that it should be the sole determining criteria. We understand why a POW with iron resolve appeals to veterans from the outset, but we plead with you to inspect the record a little closer.

Sen McCain was vehemently opposed to the ‘21st Century GI Bill’ that was signed into law by President Bush in June. He argued that the bill would entice senior non-commissioned officers to prematurely leave the service. Although Sen McCain hastily drew up his own version of a new GI bill, it never gained traction or support from even the Republican base. We find it ironic that a veteran with 25 years in the Senate never thought of updating the antiquated GI Bill until it became obvious that he was being upstaged by a junior peer and fellow Vietnam veteran, Sen Jim Webb (D-VA). In the end, Sen Obama voted in favor of the ‘21st Century GI Bill’ and Sen McCain was conveniently absent. The Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) both rank Sen Obama higher than Sen McCain in their most recent Congressional scorecards. Likewise, the Vietnam Veterans of America show that Sen McCain has voted against them on “key votes” fifteen times, and for them only nine times since 2001. Sen Obama came in at fifteen for, and only twice against. Finally, Sen Obama made it a point to join the Veterans’ Affairs Committee immediately after being sworn into the Senate, a committee that Sen McCain still has not joined.

In our opinion, and with a combined 28 months in Iraq and Afghanistan behind us, the Iraq war was a strategic blunder of enormous proportions. The rush to invade that Sen McCain spearheaded showed a colossal lack of judgment on his part and his failure to admit his error demonstrates the same arrogance of the current administration. Our armed forces – the Marines and Army in particular – are weaker and severely limited in their current capabilities due to the grave misstep of the Iraq war. While many Democrats supported the invasion back in 2003, Sen Obama was not one of them, and many others, like Sen Evan Bayh (D-IN), have since admitted their error. Sen McCain’s dishonesty, in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, is something that should weigh on the minds of all veterans and their families as they prepare to vote in six short weeks. The road ahead will not be easy. Much of the effort needs to be realigned against a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, where it should have remained from the start.

Service in the cause of an unnecessary war in no way diminishes the sacrifices of those who served; to the contrary it reflects their selfless decision to answer the call of their nation, unquestioningly. Writing checks for soldiers to fight wars does not constitute ‘supporting the troops’ if they and their families are ignored once they return home. Sen Obama understands this and has shown the judgment to make clear-sighted decisions in the face of opposition and pressure. While at West Point we learned to “do the right thing even when nobody is looking.” It aptly applies to the choice between John McCain and Barack Obama this election season. Nobody was watching Sen Obama when, as a state senator, he fervently opposed the war, and nobody seems to be looking at him on a daily basis as he serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and continues to fight behind the scene for veterans all across America. Honor Sen McCain’s service and kindly send him back to Arizona. Honor YOUR service and put someone in the White House who understands what needs to be done now.

Seattle Times Endorses Senator Obama

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:38:05 EDT

This Sunday, the Seattle Times endorsed Senator Obama’s candidacy for the Presidency of the United States. Read part of the endorsement here:

An economic Katrina is shattering the confidence of hardworking, middle-class Americans. The war that should never have been in Iraq is dragging on too long. At a time of huge challenge, the candidate with the intelligence, temperament and judgment to lead our nation to a better place is Sen. Barack Obama...
Our country is on the wrong track. Average, middle-class citizens have lost confidence that if they work hard, they can improve their lives, afford to send their kids to college and not be tossed out of their homes.

American optimism has been wracked by President George Bush and a previous Republican Congress. If you want change, you do not keep what is essentially the same team in power. You try something different. You vote for the stronger matchup, Obama and Sen. Joseph Biden, a smart and steady hand on foreign policy and other matters.

Read the whole endorsement here.

WA Campaign for Change Unveils Veterans for Obama at Seattle Press Conference

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:55:06 EDT

This Wednesday, Major General Paul D. Eaton (Ret.) and other members of Washington State Veterans for Obama held a press conference to explain why they support Senator Obama.

Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), the highest ranking retired officer in the committee said, “Barack Obama is a smart and courageous leader. We need a man who is going to listen, decide wisely, and do the right thing. Barack Obama is the wisest, best choice we have for president of the United States."

Over 1,200 veterans in Washington have joined Washington State Veterans for Obama. Members of the committee will reach out to other veterans and military families to listen to their concerns and talk about Senator Obama’s commitment to our troops. If you’re a veteran and you want to get involved, you can sign up here.

Watch highlights from the press conference here:

Speakers included:
WA State Senator Steve Hobbs, Iraq War Veteran
Lorin Walker, Daughter of Capt. Bruce Walker, MIA/POW RVN, Vice President, Council for a Livable World's Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy (CLW-VETPAC), proudly serves on the Veterans Policy Team and the Military Family outreach team for Obama for America
Julie Mock, Gulf War Veteran and Veteran’s Advocate
Harvey Brooks, Regional Commander of NABVETS
Paul D. Eaton, Major General, US Army, Retired

Senator Hobbs (44LD) on Steering Committee for WA Veterans for Obama

Jennifer Smolen — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:09:31 EDT

Email forwarded to me on a list from Chair, Snohomish County Democrats. Original email is from Sen Steve Hobbs, 44LD. I'm told Sen Hobbs is reachable for this at stevenhobbs@military.com.

***

Hello fellow Snohomish County Democrats,I was asked by the Obama campaign to be on the Steering Committee for Washington Veterans for Obama and be the spokesperson on Veterans issues from time to time. Today we rolled out officially the Committee for Washington Veterans for Obama. I was the emcee at the press conference and introduced some great American heroes including Maj Gen Paul Eaton (ret). This was cool because Maj Gen Eaton (ret) was the commander of the Infantry School when I was a wee lieutenant trying to figure out how to say, “ Hooha!” Another highlight was being able to take shots at McCain at the beginning of the press conference as it was my role to open the event up.Below is the official press release from the Obama Campaign in Washington State. If you are a Democrat and a Veteran please contact me so I can sign you up on our committee. We need to show Washingtonians that McCain does not have the monopoly on Veterans.Take Care,
Steve Hobbs
Senator
44th District

CAMPAIGN UNVEILS WASHINGTON VETERANS FOR OBAMA AT SEATTLE PRESS CONFERENCE Major General Paul Eaton (Ret.) and other WA Veterans Discussed Senator Obama’s National Security Plan and Record on Veterans AffairsSEATTLE, WA – Today, Major General Paul D. Eaton (Ret.) and other members of Washington State Veterans for Obama held a press conference at to unveil their committee and discuss the reasons why they support Senator Obama. Over 1,200 veterans in Washington have signed up to be an active member of Washington State Veterans for Obama. As ambassadors to the veteran, military and military family communities, members of the committee will play an important role in Senator Obama’s Washington state campaign. They will listen to the thoughts and concerns from the veteran, military and military family communities and help spread the facts about Senator Obama’s sacred commitment to our troops. The following are quotes from members of the committee who spoke at the press conference:

“I often get asked why I support Senator Obama. I have two main reasons: First, I believe that Senator Obama will be a strong and commander in chief – he will keep us safe at home and restore America’s leadership in the world. Second, Senator Obama is the one to best take care of the growing constituency of veterans,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.), the highest ranking retired officer in the committee.

“Barack Obama is a smart and courageous leader. We need a man who is going to listen, decide wisely, and do the right thing. Barack Obama is the wisest, best choice we have for president of the United States . . . When it comes to Veterans Affairs, Senator Obama believes in fulfilling our responsibilities and keeping our promises to the men and women who serve in our armed forces, while Senator McCain, of all people, has been interested in cutting corners.”“What is important to me are deeds, not just hollow words. This means that actions define you- not talk. This is why it is so simple for me to support Obama for president,” said Washington State Senator and committee member Steve Hobbs.

“Barack Obama does not just talk, he acts. He passed a bill for homeless veterans. He stood up to the VA when they tried to sweep the negligence under the rug. I honor Senator McCain’s service, but it is not enough that he is a veteran. I look at the deeds, not the words. Senator McCain voted against a defense package to provide armor and new equipment for a war that he supports. I was very disappointed that a man who supports the war turned his back on those who are serving. The choice is: do you support someone who happens to be a veteran, or do you support someone who is actually for veterans?”“The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have brought an influx of injured veterans into an already overburdened and underfunded VA system,” said committee member Julie Mock.

“Senator Obama has committed to fully fund the VA so that it can serve our veterans when they need it. The Republicans have not made this commitment. Senator McCain may have visited troops, but he has voted against millions of dollars in benefits for our veterans. Our veterans deserve the best of care, and only Senator Obama has committed to provide it.“While John McCain served honorably in Vietnam, his service to veterans here at home has been downright shameful,” said committee member Lorin Walker.

“He has been on the wrong side of veterans’ healthcare, quality medical facilities, counseling services, educations benefits, and so much more.” “Senator Obama helped pass legislation to ensure that people coming back from war receive the support and care that they need,” said Regional Director of the National Association of Black Veterans and committee member Harvey Brooks.

“Senator Obama stands for me- he believes in what I believe in. He believes in the government’s sacred commitment to its troops that serve our country so honorably.”Major General Paul D. Eaton is a retired United States Army General. He was in charge of training the Iraqi military as Commanding General of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT) from 2003 to 2004 and was most recently Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. ###

Another POW

Carpe Diem in '08 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:47:42 EDT

Hello,

View this clip of another POW, Lt. Phillip Butler and

former classmate of Sen. McCain. Note the contrast in perceptions

about preparedness. Former POW veterans often have

serious health considerations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

Casey's Story: An Unforgettable Canvassing Experience

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:50:15 EDT

“I was so anxious, I almost didn’t go,” Casey O’Roarty told me as she described her first canvassing experience. For Casey, who had never volunteered for another campaign before, the thought of talking to complete strangers was daunting.

But it took a phone call from a local field organizer to vanquish all of these fears. “After signing up for Neighbor to Neighbor, I got a call from the campaign and attended a local training. I realized it was so easy, ” Casey said. Through neighbor to neighbor, Casey easily printed out a list of targeted voters and began her canvass in her neighborhood of Monroe.

For company, Casey brought along her three year old son Ian and her five year old daughter Rowan in a wagon decorated with Obama signs and red, white and blue streamers. The three of them strolled up to 10 houses and talked to 7 neighbors.

“I’m canvassing today because Senator Obama is the first person to speak to me. He understands my needs. He sets the stage for the country that I would like it to be. It’s not about corporations, it’s about all of us,” she told me.

The highlight of her canvass experience came the next day as Casey stopped by a local coffee shop. As Casey began to pay for her coffee, the cashier told her that her coffee was already paid for. To Casey’s surprise one of the folks she talked with on Saturday approached her and thanked her for the work she was doing. “He told me that he was an Obama supporter and that my volunteer efforts were so invaluable to the campaign and our country’s future – it made my day!” she explained.

Asked whether she’ll do it again, Casey replied, “Oh yeah, I’m definitely getting back on the street!”

Neighbor to Neighbor is the most important thing that supporters can do to support Senator Obama’s campaign. To sign up for Neighbor to Neighbor, click here.

If you want to share your canvassing story, let us know by sending an email to Washington@barackobama.com.

Neighborhood Leaders Take Part in Neighbor To Neighbor Training

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:12:33 EDT

Volunteers gathered in Senator Obama's Campaign for Change office in Seattle Friday night to learn how to use our new online voter contact tool: Neighbor to Neighbor

Neighbor to Neighbor is the easiest and most effective way for supporters to help Senator Obama's campaign. When you sign up for Neighbor to Neighbor, you get a list of voters right in your neighborhood that the campaign wants to reach out to. You'll also get directions on on what to say. You use your own phone to make the calls, and report the results right on your computer. Neighbor to Neighbor provides all the resources you need to go out and talk to voters about Senator Obama's message of change.

"I've been looking for more ways to get involved. The campaign has made it so easy to help. I can't wait to begin using this." Chris P. said.

Neighbor to Neighbor is the easiest way to get involved. And you can do it all from home on your own time. Go to my.barackobama.com/n2n now to sign up! Neighborhood leader trainings happen every week at offices throughout the state. To find a training near you go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/NLtraining

Defending statement by Matt Damon

David from Lynnwood, WA — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:12:07 EDT

Matt Damon has a right to his political opinion, just like the rest of us.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View) and other right-wing nut jobs like her assume they are the only ones allowed to share their political opinions about the direction of this country and their interpretation on the state of this union.

Last time I checked, Mr. Damon is an American citizen allowed to vote in the United States and enjoys the same constitutional rights to the freedom of speech, the rest of us tax-paying citizens are privy too. To attempt to vilify Mr. Damon publicly, simply because he exercises that right, is unpatriotic and un-American. It is unpatriotic and un-American, not because she voices her dissent on his statement, but because in doing so she attempts to sway her audience to shun him in such a way as to curtail any future attempts to exercise his right to air a public grievance against what he sees as a failed government attempting to persuade Americans into accepting more of the same through intimidation and public persecution.

Matt was correct in being concerned, because based on polls; simply because Sara Palin is a Caucasian woman and a “hockey mom,” many are persuaded into thinking this is reason enough to assume that she can competently exercise the duties of Vice President of the United States, and seeing this as simply ludicrous.

Gov. Palin didn’t even know what the Bush Doctrine was, when repeatedly posed this question by Charles Gibson of ABC TV, in a much anticipated television interview of Gov. Palin. He asked her if she agreed with this type of foreign policy principle and she showed her obvious ignorance for the question, by responding with rehearsed “safe” answers, showing no familiarity with the subject. To me, who am against Gov. Palin, it was embarrassing and made me feel uncomfortable. However, I felt no sympathy because of her display of arrogance in her response, attempting to force Mr. Gibson into accepting her response or being looked at as un-American with her condescending remarks and repeatedly calling Mr. Charles Gibson, “Charlie.” To me, she was attempting to vilify him; with catch phrases those in the Vietnam era demographic would subconsciously acknowledge as the enemy “Charlie”. Maybe this was her way at signaling to Mr. Gibson, her anger at the questions he was posing, getting these anger signaling points from her leader, John McCain.

Something so indicative of the US turning from a Policy of containment and deterrence to one of expansionism and aggression; and also turning from only recognizing the legitimacy of state sponsored militaries, e.g., US Army, US Marines, to recognizing and therefore legitimizing non-state sponsored militant movements or groups, e.g., KKK, Cripps, Bloods, skinheads, etc., opens the US up to international criticisms of hypocrisy if not holding ourselves to the same consequences should such outlawing groups export their terrorist acts outside our borders. To legitimize these rogue groups by elevating their standing on the international scene lowers our standing in the world and elevates the standing of these viruses within our walls, simply because of an unwillingness to listen to the critiquing of others.

If we go down this road of legitimizing the Bush Doctrine, then we open ourselves up to the same scrutiny, which will only weaken our international standing in the long run. This is a very dangerous and defining moment, which Governor Palin has absolutely no idea of the long-term repercussions for implementing such a doctrine into law.

Gov. Palin lacks the long-term insight, necessary for any leader to posses, as that most describes the difference between a leader and a follower; a follower only sees what is in front of them, while a leader must see the entire field, so as to anticipate every possible scenario of the apposing side and have a plan for dealing with each scenario. Gov. Palin obviously lacks this most important quality, which would explain why, as mayor of Wasilla, she inherited an Alaskan city with a budget surplus, and then after only two years in office, she left the same with a budget deficit.

Matt Damon has shown his intelligence for recognizing such an ideological difference in the Bush Doctrine (aggressive, expansion, preemptive and short-term power) and that of the Democrats (containment, long-term, persuasive), which have proven to be more effective with regards to securing a better America domestically and abroad.

Mr. Damon sees the difference between seeing only what’s in front of you and creating public policies that mirror this ideology with respect to short-term goals based on the “me generation”, disregarding the input of our allies and disregarding the price our next generation will have to pay as a result of this self-serving action, and the long-term goals of the Democrats who take into account that we are not in this alone and our actions will have a real lasting effect on those who come after us. Democratic Party goals look more long-term, taking into account the whole picture, rather than just snippets that suit our short-term needs. Like grocery shopping while you are hungry, when rationality is impaired by your immediate need to satisfy your hunger.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck should stop flinging out emotionally charged comments and get her facts straight first. The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us. John F. Kennedy, Amherst College, Oct 26, 1963 - Source JFK Library, Boston, Mass. In his book, “The Case for Democracy,” Natan Sharansky, in speaking of the difference between the societies of America and The Soviet Union, where he was a political prisoner of war made this telling statement, “The profound moral difference between our society and a free society was that the people in free societies could publicly express their own ideas and persuade others to accept those ideas as well. We all understood, therefore, that free societies had a basic respect for human rights.” Natan Sharansky. The Case for Democracy. Preface, XIII.2004. Public Affairs. If Elisabeth Hasselbeck had it her way, we would no longer have a free society, because we would be too concerned with character assassination or other forms of threats to living our lives, simply because we spoke out. Our speech would be severely curtailed because of the element of fear.

Obama/Biden Campaign Announces the Creation of the Washington State Latino Leadership Committee

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:24:03 EDT

Yesterday, the Obama/Biden Campaign in Washington state announced the formation of the Washington State Latino/Hispanic Leadership Committee, highlighting the continued growth of support Senator Obama is receiving in Washington and nationwide. The advisory council will play a significant role in delivering Sen. Obama’s message to the state’s Latino/Hispanic Community. Composed of community activists, business leaders and elected officials, the committee will be take the lead in the campaign’s outreach efforts within the Latino community in Washington state.

“Latino voters will play a pivotal role in the November election,” said Obama National Director of Latino Vote, Temo Figueroa. “The members of the advisory council bring a breadth of knowledge, experience and leadership and will provide important guidance to Senator Obama and our campaign about how to most effectively reach Latino voters in Washington state. Senator Obama has earned a strong lead among Latino voters, but he isn’t taking a single vote for granted. Latino voters are already seeing the contrast between Senator McCain's campaign of the past and exchanging principle for political expedience, and Senator Obama's campaign of change, hope, and opportunity.”

Want to get involved with Washington Latinos For Obama? Sign up now!

Sep 15 statewide roll-out, WA Vets for Obama!

LuckyCharm — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:57:37 EDT

Hello fellow veterans! I'm sure you're all as outraged as I am about the Republican attack ads, smears, lies, and voter suppression tactics in key states. Now is the time to fight back, and fight hard.

Washington Veterans for Obama will be officially rolling out on Monday, September 15th. As part of this effort, we'd like to get veterans statewide to approach your local VFW, AmVets, American Legion, and other military fraternal organizations to recruit new members, spread the TRUTH about our candidate, and get out the vote. Our tasks, then, in preparation for the roll-out, are:

If you haven't yet done so, fill out the survey providing your basic contact and military info, so that we can see at a glance how many folks we've got and where everyone's located. If you're not sure whether you filled it out or not, you can check the spreadsheet and resubmit your form if necessary (please note in the comments block if this is a re-submission). If these links don't work for you, go to:

(Survey form) http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pHEd_HnCUCSzAfpYA_SRoDQ
(Spreadsheet) http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pHEd_HnCUCSzAfpYA_SRoDQ&hl=en#

Sign into our group website. I've temporarily set it up so you don't need approval to join, so you can get started right away. I'll try to keep it that way till everyone's in. Go immediately to the Files and Resources page, where I have linked three documents the campaign has provided us to reach veterans (they're listed under the "documents for tabling" heading). Or, you can go directly to the links under "Files" -- the titles are self-explanatory. Check out these documents and print them out. You will need enough copies of all three to support your outreach efforts. If the previous link doesn't work for you, go here: http://groups.google.com/group/wavets4o
Get out your phone book or fire up Google and make a list of all the veterans organizations near you. Contact the post commander, preferably by phone, and ask to be allowed to speak at one of their meetings and/or set up a table to reach voters. Sample script: "Hello, I am [your name and military affiliation], and I'm with Washington Veterans for Obama. I would like to know if I could attend one of your meetings to provide important information for veterans and families about the upcoming election." Find out when they meet, and try to set something up. Keep going down the list until you've hit as many as you feel comfortable to start with. Make a note of who you talked to, when, and how receptive they seemed, along with any follow-up you may need to do.
Post a new discussion on the website indicating which post(s) you will be visiting. This will help us avoid duplicating efforts. If there's someone living close to you (check the spreadsheet), you may wish to team up and coordinate efforts. I encourage everyone to select the option to receive all group emails, so that you will know immediately if someone else has just contacted an organization you were planning to call.
Obtain a small stack of voter registration forms from your county auditor's office. Public schools and libraries should also have them -- call ahead to make sure. Bring voter registration forms to your tabling event!
Share your experiences with the rest of the group via the discussions feature on the website. Some of us may be a little nervous at first about "cold-calling" these organizations, and hearing how it went for you, along with any lessons learned, might be all they need to feel more comfortable about it.

Last but not least, have fun with it! Remember, you are not asking anyone for any personal favors -- you are OFFERING them an OPPORTUNITY to empower themselves and to continue their service to our country by getting involved in the most important election, perhaps in their lifetime. An opportunity to help make history and turn our ship of state toward brighter horizons. Get names, phone numbers, and email addresses of everyone who accepts a flyer or expresses interest or support, and follow up to recruit them to our group. The more hands on deck, the easier our jobs will be.

I will be obtaining and posting an official sign-up sheet as soon as I have it from the campaign (probably today), so don't forget to print that out and have it with you. Any questions, difficulties with the survey, spreadsheet, or website, or concerns about answering objections, please don't hesitate to contact me: PierceCoVets@gmail.com, 253-507-9460.

Yours in service,

SSG Cheryl Kopec, USAR
Chair, WA Vets for Obama
--
The time for can't do, won't do, won't even try, is OVER!

Howard Dean in a Canvass This Saturday!

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:06:35 EDT

This Saturday, Governor Howard Dean will be joining us to kickoff a volunteer canvass at the Carpenters Hall in Renton! The Governor will be joining us at 11:15 Saturday morning, and then we’ll head out in teams to to talk to voters. A second canvass shift will be held at 2pm for those who cannot attend in the morning.

There are only 55 days left until Election Day, and your efforts are crucial to electing Barack Obama. If you’re ever going to get involved, now is the time!

RSVP now and help ensure a victory this November.

Sign Up Now!

Obama Unveils His Vision for a 21st Century Education

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:30:15 EDT

Today, Barack returned to Dayton to deliver a major policy address on reforming and strengthening America's schools for the 21st century. Speaking at Stebbins High School, he detailed his plan to modernize and strengthen our education system for the challenges of the 21st century.

Barack Obama discussed his plan to ensure that our children have the skills to compete in a global economy, and how the Obama-Biden ticket will do what’s right for the next generation even if means breaking with tradition. They’ll demand more reform and accountability, increase resources, and recruit an army of new teachers.

Here's what Barack Obama said:

We need a new vision for a 21st century education – one where we aren’t just supporting existing schools, but spurring innovation; where we’re not just investing more money, but demanding more reform; where parents take responsibility for their children’s success; where our schools and government are accountable for results; where we’re recruiting, retaining, and rewarding an army of new teachers, and students are excited to learn because they’re attending schools of the future; and where we expect all our children not only to graduate high school, but to graduate college and get a good paying job.

Seattle Concert For Change Organized Around Voter Registration

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:45:12 EDT

The lights were dim and the sound check was complete. The atmosphere was all set for another Friday night concert at El Corazon, a local Seattle music venue. But this concert would be unlike any other.
The Seattle Concert for Change was organized by five bands with the goal of registering voters and recruiting volunteers for Senator Obama’s campaign.

“Unlike my previous concerts, this one was not about the performers. It was about Senator Obama and his vision for change in this country,” said Jessica T.

Throughout the night, dozens of supporters agreed to volunteer for the campaign and those who were not registered to vote did so. According to Jessica, “It was definitely a success – and helping change history was an added bonus!”

Want to create and publicize your own event? Go to my.barackobama.com now to get started.