Wisconsin for Obama

It's Time to Turn the Noise Down

Gene — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:38:27 EST

I am a progressive, but I am also a political realist. Some of my more liberal friends are lambasting President Obama, Speaker Reid, and others who are working hard to get meaningful health care legislation through the Senate. The legislative sausage may not be tasty, but to those who are hungry it is still potentially life-saving.

Take the First Step

Gene — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:11:08 EST

Senate Democrats and, eventually, House Democrats need to take the first step in passing health care insurance reform, including mandating coverage, reform the insurance industry, and reverse the cost curve. It is clear we can't get as much as we'd ultimately like, but let's get what we can now. There is plenty of time in the future to make improvements, especially when the insurance companies demonstrate their continued greed and unwillingness to help improve the state of the nation's health care industry.

Breakthrough?

Gene — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:34:31 EST

Apparently, the select committee formed by Majority Leader Reid has agreed to a compromise to the public option which would expand eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid and, perhaps, create an independent, not-for-profit insurance company top provide health insurance similar to that available to members of congress and other federal employees. If true, this would be quite a breakthrough.

Public Option

Gene — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:03:35 EST

In what should have been weeks or months ago, Majority Leader Reid finally appointed a select committee of 10 Senators to come up with an acceptable public option alternative to include in the Senate's health care package.

Need to Bridge Gaps

Gene — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:07:32 EST

I encourage all to read the Congressional Record, which each day provides a transcript of speeches and other proceedings for the previous legislative day. The Congressional Record for Monday, November 30, in the Senate included the various speeches regarding the health care reform bill. In reading the speeches, one would believe the Democrats and Republicans were speaking of two different pieces of legislation. Where one sees white, the other sees black; where one sees up, the other see down; where one sees friend, the other sees foe. Almost all agree on the need for change, but the means to achieving the end are significantly diffferent and mostly philosophical. Why can't Democrats accept the need for tort reform? Why can't Republicans accept the need for some public option? Unless such gaps are bridged, there will not be the health care reform we need.

Why Troops in Europe?

Gene — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:49:46 EST

Giving the European reluctance to robustly support the NATO mission in Afghanistan, one has to ask why the United States continues to have thousands of troops in Europe.

Copenhagen

Gene — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:27:06 EST

It is good that President Obama decided to attend the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen. Yes, his opponents will grumble that he's neglecting "more important" domestic issues. They don't understand that climate issues affect the globe's long-term existence -- what could be more important. Besides, unlike many, he can chew gum and walk at the same time.

Procedural Vote

Gene — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:18:28 EST

I am looking forward to Saturday's procedural vote on health care reform in the Senate. It appears there will be the 60 votes needed.

Seeds of Change Planted

Gene — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:59:20 EST

Just 10 months into his presidency, folks on the left complain President Obama is not doing enough and folks on the right complain he is doing too much. The change we need and voted for just 12 months ago was never going to happen quickly. President Obama has planted the seeds -let’s nourish and tend to these things and watch them grow and mature. The 24-hour news cycle has created a need for instant gratification. The ever-present talking heads on radio and cable television thrive on controversy. They’re not willing to talk about – and for the most part are not capable of explaining – the details or complexities of policy changes. So take a breath and relax. If you want to help advance the Obama change agenda, write or call your Member of Congress and Senators. Tell them we need health care reform, education reform, energy technology programs and the other items President Obama has outlined to provide for the long-term needs of this country.

Successful Asian Trip

Gene — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:31:25 EST

President Obama's Asian trip has been a success to date.

One Step Closer

Gene — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:41:56 EST

The House has passed a health insurance reform bill. Certainly, this is an historic step. But it is only one step. It is now up to the Senate to act. I remain hopeful that comprehensive health insurance reform will be enacted by year's end.

Endorsements

Gene — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:46:26 EST

The AARP and AMA endorsements will, hopefully, help when the House votes Saturday on health care/insurance reform.

From a Distance

Gene — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:53:29 EST

President Obama will be in Madison tomorrow to talk education reform. Unfortunately, the closest I will get to the president will be watching from my office window as Air Force One flies in and out.

Get out in Front, Mr. President

Gene — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:36:13 EDT

I don't know what President Obama is doing behind the scenes, but it seems to me that he ought to more out front in supporting specific aspects of the respective House and Senate health reform bills, especially as it deals with the public option.

President Obama is Coming to Madison

Gene — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:00:06 EDT

President Obama is coming to my adopted hometown, Madison WI, next week to talk education policy. Hopefully it will be a public event so I can attend. More hopefully, I'd like to get my photo with the president since he wasn't able to meet with volunteers after his February 2008 Madison event.

Outta Here

Gene — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:07:32 EDT

So, Senator Lieberman says he'll vote with the Republicans to filibuster a health care reform bill which contains a public option. Leader Reid should be very clear with Lieberman that such a vote would be a ticket out of the Democratic caucus.

Opt Out Option

Gene — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:03:17 EDT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the health care reform bill going to the Senate will include an opt-out public option. That's a significant step. Now Senator Reid needs to get those 60 votes needed to prevent and filibuster.

Victory is Near

Gene — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:09:06 EDT

Unlike some of my friends, I believe the Obama administration has managed health care reform legislation very well. They gave republicans the opportunity to be defined as the party of no and the friend of the big health insurance lobby. He let them use their own rope to hang themselves. Now we're close to victory. The legislation is not likely to be perfect, but it will certainly give hope to millions and it will serve as a solid base for future improvements.

Pick-Me-Up

Gene — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:11:31 EDT

For those who haven't done so, go to the White House site at www.whitehouse.gov and read President Obama's remarks from the Democratic fundraiser in San Francisco. It is a real pick-me-up.

2016 Olympics

Gene — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:44:17 EDT

Good luck in Copenhagen, Mr. President. Hosting the 2016 Olympic Games would be great for Chicago, its northern neighbors in Wisconsin, and the United States of America.

Focus on Positive

Gene — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:57:49 EDT

There's a fine line between calling out Joe Wilson for his boorish behavior and turning him into a folk hero of the lunatic fringe right. The media exposure has garnered him hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the media has taken the time to help explain the president's health care proposal to the American people. Yes, there are some complexities in the details, but the overriding points of emphasis are simple enough if the media would focus a bit more on the positive.

PLEASE READ THIS NOW AND ACT! WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE WITH HEALTHCARE!

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:31:02 EDT

URGENTLY Needed: Your calls Right away! to President and reps. in support of the HealthCare Reform Public Plan or even Single Payor: (see why this is critical in bottom segment of this notice) NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE CALLED OR WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY, PLEASE SEE REASON FOR THIS REQUEST AT END OF THIS EMAIL-- IT EXPLAINS WHY I'M MAKING THIS 'ASK'. Also please contact your whole emai list and get others working on this immediately! time is of the essence!

Please call :WhiteHouse Comment Switchboard: 1-202-456-1111
TAMMY BALDWIN:MADISON: 258-9800D.C. OFFICE: 202-225-2906tHERB KOHL:MADISON: 264-5338D.C. OFFICE: 202-224-5653
RUSS FEINGOLD:MADISON OFFICE: 828-1200D.C. OFFICE: 202-224-5323
REASON: TODAY CONGRESSIONAL FOLKS WILL BE 'COUNTING REQUESTS' FROM CONSTITUENTS TO DETERMINE IF THE SHOUTING ANTI-HEALTHCARE REFORM FOLKS REPRESENT A TRUE MOVEMENT OR ARE JUST SMALL but LOUD FRINGE GROUPS.They will be MEASURING THE NUMBERS OF SUPPORTERS, by CALLS, LETTERS, EMAILS, AND THIS MEASUREMENT has to INVALIDATE OR SHOW SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER 'HEFT' AND SHEER NUMBERS of the ANTI-REFORM GROUPS COMPARED TO US! IF THE ANTI-REFORM GROUPS HAVE 'CHIMED IN' WITH REALISTIC NUMERICAL CLOUT across the nation, in COMPARISON WITH THE POSITIVE SUPPORTERS, THEN THE CONGRESS AND SENATE WILL HAVE TO take them SERIOUSLY, but there is still a chance that our sheet numbers can PULL DOWN the IMPORTANCE OF THE RADICAL RIGHT --- WE CAN DERAIL THE ANTI-REFORM FOLKS BY OUT CALLING AND WRITING THEM!! --
THIS COMES FROM A DISCOVERY I LEARNED WHILE LISTENING ANALYSIS BY THE D.C. PRESS INSIDERS(in prep for President's Speech Weds. night) D.C. PRESS CORPS WHO HAVE ASKED RETURNING LEGISLATORS WHAT WILL DETERMINE THE CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSE TO THE More Progressive aspects of the HealthCare Reform Legislation.
So WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSCORE OUR REQUESTS AND SWING THINGS INTO OUR CORNER--- BUT WE NEED TO FLOOD THEIR SWITCHBOARDS WITH CALLS, FLOOD THEIR EMAIL, AND any other way we can communicate!

THIS COMES FROM AN ANALYSIS BY THE D.C. PRESS INSIDERS WHO HAVE ASKED WHAT WILL DETERMINE THE CONGRESSIONAL RESPONSE TO THE More Progressive aspects of the HealthCare Reform Legislation.

March for Healthcare

Joe Brothers — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:55:01 EDT

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

In cooperation with TakeActionMN

Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 12 noon

Phillips Park

1530 E. Franklin Ave.

Minneapolis, MN

Speakers:

Congressman Keith Ellison

John Marty, State Senator and Candidate for Governor

Reverend Grant Stevenson

Erin Murphy, State Representative

For more information visit www.march4healthcare.com

email: mnhealthcarereform@gmail.com

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

State of Health/Insurance Reform

Gene — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:01:11 EDT

I'm already looking forward to President Obama's health care/insurance reform speech to Congress next Wednesday.

Disreputable Statements

Gene — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:43:30 EDT

Now we've got Republican members of Congress joking about Obama tags (hunting licenses), calling for "the great white hope", and praising self-identifying terrorists. This has got to stop. Frankly, these people bring disrepute to the Congress and they should be brought before the ethics committee and sanctioned.

An open letter to President Obama on health care reform

GoyitoMKE — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:59:33 EDT

August 17, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

I write to you in support of a comprehensive health care reform bill that includes a public option and universal coverage.

Mr. President, universal coverage has been debated in this country since before the Great Depression. We are living in a historic time, a time when our country has recently inaugurated you, and given your party a sizable majority in both houses of Congress. You are well aware that, historically, the election cycle after a president first takes office has not been kind to the party in charge at the White House.

We’ve all seen the pictures on Fox “News” (sic) and the other cable outlets of the right-wing crazies screaming at their elected representatives around the country. And we’ve all heard the outrageous lies that the opposition has spewed, as they’ve played to people’s worst fears.

That is all the more reason that NOW is the time to pass a bill that lowers the spiraling costs of American health care, includes coverage of ALL American citizens, and includes a public option. Mr. President, if you retreat now, your party may never have another opportunity to act decisively on this issue.

I feel compelled to share the story with you of my close friend Phil, who died of heart failure on July 14, 2004, two months shy of his 41st birthday. To this day, I am bitter about his death, and contend that the reason he is no longer alive is because the health insurance industry’s “death panels” killed him by refusing him coverage. And, unfortunately, his story is not unique.

As well as being a uniquely gifted musician, Phil had worked as a youth minister for a number of churches in both the Milwaukee and Detroit areas. Phil had struggled with obesity his entire life, and eventually developed diabetes. With benefit of an employer’s health insurance coverage, he was managing the disease. But when he lost his job, he was unable to afford the costs of COBRA coverage, and his insurance lapsed. With little income, he could no longer afford the high costs of purchasing the insulin his doctors had prescribed. And when several months later he found another job, he was ineligible for insurance coverage because the insurance company ruled his diabetes was a “pre-existing condition”.

Eventually, several years of the untreated diabetes took its toll, and Phil suffered a series of “silent” heart attacks. Phil had just moved back to Wisconsin to care for his ailing father when he was hospitalized, and quickly transferred to a major teaching hospital. By the time doctors discovered the damage to his heart it was already too late. The only thing that might save him was a heart transplant. But because Phil was without health insurance, the hospital sent him home with a family member to wait for a call telling him that they had found a heart donor.

He died that same evening.

Had Phil not been denied coverage, he would probably be alive today. Over the years he would have been a strong, positive influence on the lives of countless young people.

NOW is the time to quit talking, and to do something about it. While it would be nice, we do not need the Republicans to go along with us on this issue. Unfortunately, rather than working to solve the problems facing our country, they have chosen instead to be the “Party of NO”.

In the memory of my friend Phil, I encourage you and the Democratic Party to do the right thing and finally pass a health care reform bill that includes universal coverage and a public option.

Now is our moment.

Sincerely,

Gregory W. Smith

PS – With all due respect, Mr. President, let’s get this important issue behind us soon so that we can roll up our sleeves and go to work on the issue of comprehensive immigration reform.

Health Insurance Reform

Jane Anne Jeffries Johnson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:42:23 EDT

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

A Good Read

Gene — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:10:46 EDT

I finished reading the 1,000+ page House health care reform bill. While over 1,000 pages, an honest person would point out that is double-spaced, line-numbered, Congressional print. In regular print, and especially without all the duplicated legal language, it'd like be about a third of that; still a bit daunting, but nowhere near as bad as some would like us to believe. But then opponents of health care/insurance reform will grasp at any straw in their efforts to scare Americans.

Just for the Record: My Contributions

Marcia Riquelme — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:44:44 EDT

There are so many thoughts evoked by the entry of MYBO when I google this website. A kaleidoscope of incredible memories, of intense activity, of reaching out to my neighbors, of growing the willingness of standing up for my deepest best beliefs and dreams for this nation. Working with Organizing for America as a newly minted (this spring) Community Organizer with a greatly expanded turf in Wisconsin is a source of pride and inspiration for this little retired schoolteacher. Doing what I believe will help my community and even my planet is carrying out tasks that will lead to a better life for everyone in the future. To that end, when I'm asked repeatedly to DONATE --- I look at my bank account and try to calculate the incredible IN KIND donations I freely allow to flow from my purchasing power---- tanks and tanks of gasoline, cell phone minutes-- no Hours!, and vast amounts of irreplaceable time. Yes, I'm spending the majority of my retirement hours dedicated to outreach and organizing on many levels and in many spheres. There is no way to put a price on all this. If I thought I should put a price on it, I probably wouldn't so freely be involved. Long since, I've passed a time when I didn't devote at least 30 hours per week to this effort. With love. With a sense of deep determination to expand the network of citizens who realize they need to be more active and participate in the thought process how we wish our nation and world to develop, and how each of us is needed to carry our small part of this 'service' to the well-being of our neighbors, community, state and wider circles of humanity. The gift of giving in this manner carries some perks. Priceless! Perks of meeting and associating with countless 'fellow travelers' in this effort, and the joy of discovering more and more of us almost on a daily basis. The discovery that others are compelled to keep stepping up to create the Changes we recognize is sorely needed. Transformation of our nation, citizen by citizen, into determined, activated and newly participatory citizens that realizes we must reach out to one another and insist our legislators hear us, no, even 'get' that they represent us and we expect them to pay attention to represent us honestly and with a higher grade of ethics. We realize we are not alone, and in reality haven't been alone except we hadn't actually met. Well organizing gives us a gift of meeting others who share our ideals and goals for our nation. It is a tremendous 'perk', that, like time, can hardly be measured in terms of monetary value. Reflecting on today's call for another contribution makes me a little sad. It seems the requests are blasted to everyone, of necessity, but those of us who are dedicated and easily identifiable workers are not being valued for the time and other resources we don't 'bill' the OFA for. It is possible to gauge at least the average minimum time 'donated' by the feedback we strong volunteers give our State director. Then, depending on the 'assignment' we have in our turfs, there is common knowledge more personal resources in the form of time and in kind 'donations' will be expended. I believe, as high level volunteers, we should be rated as 10's on our MYBO account until proven otherwise! just sayin'.......if I were a millionaire I'd giveall I could, not being that I give more than I can afford and on top of that volunteer almost all my free time to carrying out my role and assignment in my community, state and nation for OFA. I AM NOT UNIQUE. YES WE DID, YES WE CAN AND YES WE WILL! So give us community leaders 10's on our MYBO, I think we are earning them!

Glass Half Full

Gene — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:33:37 EDT

It is good to hear administration spokespersons emphasize the 80 percent agreement with House and Senate committees rather than harping on the differences which is the media's preference. Of course, the final 20 percent will be difficult, but build on the positive of what's been accomplished to date.

Keep it Simple

Gene — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:20:15 EDT

I believe President Obama needs to keep his discussion of health insurance reform simple. Use three or four talking points, such as 1) status quo is not an option, 2) people may keep their current coverage and doctors, 3) importance of changes to eliminate pre-existing conditions and other insurance reasons to deny coverage, and 4) while not often stated, insurance company bureaucrats - not always the doctor - currently decide what treatments a patient gets.

By keeping it simple, people will more easily understand the issues and will be more likely to support the president's efforts.

Single Payer HealthCare Reform still a wish in Wisconsin ...

Marcia Riquelme — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:08:43 EDT

More than 30 still existing Obama Groups are networking to push for HealthCare Reform this spring and summer. We launched our first event over a month in advance of the kickoff date for the national push date of June 6th. By June 6th we had already hosted two events. We had a consensus at those meetings we were so strongly in favor of the Single Payer option that we would continue to voice our views even though President Obama was not placing it up for consideration this year. We feel if he knows how much support there is amongst citizens for the Single Payer plan, he will feel more certain the Congress will hear the same from their constituents. Many people are still learning what is contained in the various proposals. The array of proposals tends to confuse most citizens, so it takes time to look for the pros and cons of each and compare them. Whenever a group has that opportunity, they predictably realize the Single Payer option would be best for all concerned. Although we are uncertain if the option will make it to the Committees for consideration, we will hope for it while finding it a fair second to support any other construct coming out of committee. We will support a secondary option if that is all we can have.

Health Care Organizing Kickoff

Jennifer Butler — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:48:04 EDT

Our first health care reform went pretty well. Seven people showed up and there was much lively debate as well as sharing of personal stories. I always find it astounding how almost everyone is a casualty of our health care system in some form. A few attendees were facing huge debts, and possibly bankruptcy, because of health care bills. There were also a few people who worked in the health care field; one was a nurse, another a massage therapist and another worked for a managed care plan and witnesses firsthand the shady practices of insurance companies. Overall, it was a very good mix of people with differing opinions, but plenty of passion. We decided to focus on community education for our June 27th service event. We are looking at attending community farmer's markets and concerts to educate the public on the three core principles of a health reform. We will also be informing people of their senators' and representatives' phone numbers and how to make their voice heard on health care reform. Now we just need to finalize locations and times and find a source for informative handouts. And then we take to the phones...

Finally Got the Website up and running...please check it out

Trisha — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:44:19 EDT

So I finally have my website up and running...its been a long road, but I am finally done with the hard part. I am most proud of the Women in politics page. This page is dedicated to the women in politics...past and present. Right now there are some posts about both. Starting next week, there will be one interview per week that highlights a different woman that is involved in politics right now, and highlights there achievements, and struggles. If you would like to see a particular woman highlighted, feel free to go to the site and email me, or respond to me here.

There is also information about current political events, video blogs, and the 2010 races...as they are right now...more content will be coming as the days go on. Looking to make this a fun and interactive website...so stop by and tell me what you think...and make sure to check back often for the new content

Would love comments and feedback about what you think now...or any suggestions on content you would like to see in the future...

www.thepoliknow.com

Thanks

Conference Call with President Obama

Gene — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:52:23 EDT

I look forward to joining a live conference call with President Obama and David Plouffe tomorrow, Thursday, May 28, to discuss the health care campaign and answer some questions from supporters.

Obama's Excellent Pick of Judge Sotomayor

Gene — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:41:16 EDT

President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor is to be applauded. Of course the fringes on the left and, especially, on the right will make their predictable rants. But this is a wonderful pick.

June events for Dane Grassroots Network (for Obama)

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:44:24 EDT

June 1, I will attend a meeting of the Education Subcommittee at Tom V's home. On the 4th, there is a general meeting at which we will explore the role and interaction of the Steering Committee with the subgroups and other topics at a general meeting at Alicia Ashman Library. June 17, there is a large HealthCare Reform Panel at the Unitarian Universalist Society church near University Ave.

Three events this week...Communications Subcommittee, Grassroots Training and grannies

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:40:15 EDT

The Dane Grassroots Network (supporting Obama) has many subcommittee meetings this week. Weds. evening at the home of Laurene B. we will convene the Grassroots Academy 'education' group, for organizing skills training. Then at this house, on Friday, May 29, weill have a meeting of the Communications group which will meet our website designer, Eric Sande who will open the discussion of goals for what we want to see our new website do. Eric is generously createing and hosting this site pro bono. Welcome aboard, Eric1 We have the chance to create an efficient, user-friendly website that will be the rapid response and educational contact point for our various Dane County and Wisconsin Network groups.

Darth Vader

Gene — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:11:20 EDT

Not that he needed to prove anything, in his speech today defending waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques (otherwise known as torture) Dick Cheney once again demonstrated why he has earned the "Darth Vader" moniker.

Dane Grassroots Steering Committee Meeting today May 19

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:59:09 EDT

To keep you updated,

A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Dane Grassroots Network will be held at the Hubbard St. Diner in Middleton, Wi at 3:00pm. The agenda will be to examine the interest group reports and suggestions for action. We are a group of 6 members out of a general membership of almost 40 Team Leaders and active volunteers having stayed active post-election. We represent almost every community in Dane County and some from surrounding counties. We are inclusive in our mission, and strongly reflect the values and initiatives of OFA working in conjunction with OFA and with the knowledge of the State Director, Dan Grandone. Any local community or grassroots group who would like collaboration with us or by us is very welcome to attend our open meetings and sign up for notifications of meetings and activities. We would love to hear from you and meet you! More on the outcome of the Steering Committee Meeting in next post.

Established Dane Grassroots Network for Obama Group on MYBO

Marcia Riquelme — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:08:35 EDT

Announcing the creation of the Dane Grassroots Network for Obama Group on MYBO. PLEASE Join our group if you are interested in collaborating all across Dane County with the strong network in place due to the Obama campaign. We are a coalition of volunteers and leaders who want to keep the movement active and growing. We will provide citizen grassroots training so we can share the information we gather about issues we face, agenda of Obama, candidates worthy of support, and ways we can better serve our communities. We will collaborate with many other grassroots groups to support one another and expand the good efforts of all these groups across the county. We will also share our ideas with other groups across the nation so we can have national events and support each other in a new movement to create active and participatory citizenship habits that will make us all stronger. Join us. this is bringing citizens to life and very fulfilling!

Dane Grassroots Network Communications Team Report May 14 09

Marcia Riquelme — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:53:33 EDT

We are scheduled to have our second meeting, May 29th. The goals of this committee are to set up a communications site through which we can aid our network in accomplishing efficient communications not only with our own committee but the whole umbrella network. We will be able to comment on the progress of not only our own committees but be able to collaborate with others. Inside this site, we will have a calendar of events, be able to post events, blog, interactively register as new members, email one another, and have efficient access to links to a wide list of resources, from quick ways to contact other networks and interest groups outside our network but who share our interests and goals, tutorials on letter-writing, contacting our officials effectively, keeping track of Bills and actions of our elected officials nationally, as well as state and locally. We will provide candidate news as elections approach, and are still collecting ideas as to what other features might be useful to us all. The best news: we have an IT professional who has great experience in site development who will provide the foundation for this site creation, as well has have members with great skills and web experience who are interested in sharing their expertise.

Our next meeting is at my home, May 29. Look on the Event Hosting feature to get the details.

We also have a preliminary site on Googlegroups I've set up in the interim. As I add each committee's segment, I will post this information to all in the Network. You are able to contribute ideas by commenting in this blog for the time being. -- Marcia

Report on May 12 HealthCare Forum hosted by Dane Grassroots Network

Marcia Riquelme — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:41:01 EDT

Here is the flyer copy for the event we held. We had several local physicians also present as attendees who gave additional input to the conversation the forum generated. The forum became a very intense dialog and explorations of the issues we face no matter what kind of healthcare reform gets the final vote. We debated whether to make an ourcry for the Single Payer we know Obama really chooses, but pragmatically sees will not have a chance to be voted in. We took a consensus vote and found that of the 50 or so in attendance, only 4 people were firmly in favor of other reform variables instead of Single Payer, so we determined to write a joint letter to Obama asking for Single Payer, just so he knows how strong commuity sentiment is amidst his 'grassroots supporters'. We all signed the letter, even most of thosewho favored supporting other plans. Here is the flyer describing the event. Also, be aware there will be other actions hosted and/ or supported by the Grassroots Network and other opportunities to learn about the challenge of HealthCare Reform, to help the community, county, state examine the issues and perhaps take action.

The event Flyer:

New Energy from Obama supporters joining Democrat Parry

Marcia Riquelme — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:21:30 EDT

In the ensuing months after the election, many supporters of Obama who had not previously been active in the Democrat Party came to a big decision. Lots of us were not officially members but almost always supporting candidates and issues that were the agenda of the Domocrats consistently. We decided to take a look at the local Democrat Parties near us and determined to join the party which chose to nominate Barack Obama as its Presidential Candidate for 2008 general election.

Since then, in Dane County, I am aware of a small but growing new group who have joined the Democrats formally. I have not investigated how many of us have made that decision, but I am sure we are not unique. It must be true that throughout the state many OFA members are choosing to connect with the Democrat party, and personally, I view this as a healthy political decision. It we have been hanging back, for whatever the reason, not being sure if we want yet more events to attend and actions to participate in, we have been cheating both ourselves and the party which most pragmatically represents our views and demonstrates concerns for the issues we most often understand in the same way. We can help the Democrat party be more effective as we try to support the agenda of Obama, and we can be more effective in shaping how the party repsonds about all sorts of issues. We need to connect, empower and improve the quality of our citizen involvement to keep the good policies at the table and get them passed. We need to take every opportunity to be the voice of change. The Democrats embraced Obama to be that Voice of Change, it is good to join them officially and support that effort more inclusively! Meetings of the DaneDems take place monthly at the Concourse Hotel in Madison. There is free parking in the hotel basement lot! It is so easy!

Many people who voted for Obama gave strength to his campaign and were critical to his election. Their views and political action choices did not necessarily coincide with wishing to be a part of the major party affiliation. I was part of that group. Wanted to be independent. But then, I realized we are missing an important opportunity: to be the fresh voices of our Obama movement that is really important to the Democrats, especially now,but in the future as well, since we don't want the policies we fought hard to promote via our support of Obama just evaporate after his terms of office close. We have to keep our eyes on the horizon and think of our families, communities, state, nation, and how we will affect our international communities. It is important to keep our voices strong, keep focused, keep active, and if each of us does our small bit, we can achieve this. So I decided to link that can serve to promote all that: The Democrat Party.

I invite you to join me in starting an important activity 'being the voices of Obama' in the Democrat Party. If you would like reports from me about recent meetings, I'll be happy to share them with you. I attended the 2nd Congressional District Democratic Convention in Portage last month, and the Democrat Leadership Institute at Devil's Lake Resort. I will be attending the State Democrat Convention, June 11-12th in Green Bay. This is how we begin to exercise fresh voices of Obama within the party that chose him. It is very exciting to meet so many others with similar views! Try it, I'm finding it very fulfilling and purposeful.

DANE GRASSROOTS NETWORK SUPPORTING OBAMA NEWS

Marcia Riquelme — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:55:53 EDT

MAY 7TH, at the Alicia Ashman Library in Middleton,WI, the coalition of Team Leaders and community leaders met again to continue organizing the structure of our on-going collaboration of the post-election network throughout Dane County, WI, as well as members from a few other adjoining counties. We identified the most important issues we wanted to focus on as an overall group, selected sub-groups based on interest on specific issues, and met in those smaller groups to express goals and stragegize our next steps, set sub-group focus meeting dates, and agreed to meet so we could then make reports back to the whole network.

The Sub-Groups attaining the highest membership were:

Obama Overall Agenda

HealthCare Reform

Education REform

Environment

Energy

Communications

Other groups on the list were, Economy and Jobs, Security, and Foreign Affairs.

The groups whose membership were the highest set subsequent meeting dates. The Network will convene shortly to examine the most pressing issues we must be active about in the next month or two. Meeting Time, Date, place, to be announced within a week from this posting.

Reminders extended regarding the upcoming Network hosted Forum on HealthCare Reform, May 12 at 7:30 in Mazomanie at the Old Feed Mill.

Anyone wishing to attend future Dane Grassroots Network meetings or be placed on the mailing list to receive announcements/reports of meetings, please contact nptimm@chorus.net

Note: There will be a website online soon with more detailed information and the ongoing dates of future forums, activities of the NetWork, and an interactive feature through which people may place themselves on the email list as well as make entries as comments or blog. We will provide a directory of affiliating grassroots groups in all the special interest areas appropriate to our network. It will be both a resource site, Bulletin board/calendar of events, and an interactive communication site.

NY Homeless Shelters

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

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

Improvement Needed in Dangerous Lands

Gene — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:42:05 EDT

Hopefully President Obama's meetings with leaders from Afghanistan and Pakistan will lead to improved conditions in that dangerous part of the world.

Take Action! It only requires 2 minutes to help college students!

Marcia Riquelme — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:09:12 EDT

Many of you have seen this video by our President asking you to support his policy of eliminating the 'middle man' who rakes in fees for setting up student loans. This is an unnecessary cost when the loan can be directly set up with the Gov't. Student Loan department. It will save billions of dollars to stop this practice. Please take time to send a message to the committees in Congress who are considering this legislation right now. You will be helping many thousands of students receive more affordable loans for their college education and saving our tax dollars in the process. Please click on this link. It takes about 2 minutes to do this! It means so much to our youth! Thanks! -- Marcia HERE'S THE LINK" http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/studentloans

Meeting 8 of Windsor/DeForest OFA Team -topic how we are each serving our community

Marcia Riquelme — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:22:12 EDT

All are invited to attend this meeting.

We are a previous Obama for America campaign Team, now an Organizing for America Team that decided to continue on as a grassroots legacy team of activated citizens who wanted to continue being a network for OFA in our community. We have met 7 times since Nov. 4th, we are committed to learning about the issues facing all the layers of our world, local,state, national, international, and discovering how we can be of use to support worthwhile policies and initiatives. We also work to support candidates we find worthy.

If you are interested or would like more information about us, please attend one of our meetings.

--Marcia Riquelme

Invitation to Attend on May 12th! GrassRoots OFA HealthCare Reform Task Force Public Event discussing the various aspects of Healthcare Reform Legislation

Marcia Riquelme — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:53:47 EDT

All of us will be affected by the HealthCare Reform legislation being considered in Congress right now ! A Panel of experts on the various proposals before Congress on HealthCare Reform will participate in a public forum to help citizens wanting to know more and understand the various proposals. You are invited!! Here is the announcement:

WHY IS HEALTH CARE REFORM SO TOUGH TO ACHIEVE?

TUES., MAY 12, 7: 30 P.M. In Mazomanie

Members of the Grassroots Health Care Task Force will lead a conversation about the four health care reform bills currently before Congress:

the Obama plan

the Stark plan

the Wyden-Bennett plan and

the Conyers (or single payer) Plan.

They will talk about the three main "sticking" points for getting health care reform passed:

Cost containment

Mandates -- yes or no

A Public Plan -- Should this be part of the mix?

LOCATION: THE OLD FEEDMILL RESTAURANT, 114 Cramer Street in Mazomanie.

Panel members include:

Dr. Aaron Dunn, who just received the Young Physician Leadership award from the Wisconsin Medical Society. He is a family practitioner in Mineral Point and Dodgeville.

John Simonson, retired economics professor from UW Platteville.

John Wright, retired informational technology specialist

Jeff Ware, retired businessman in the communications field

Kent Mayfield, retired college administrator and minister

Bill Spevacek, retired Milwaukee public relations executive.

GrassRoots OFA Team Leader's Coalition EVent Planning Committee

Marcia Riquelme — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:44:08 EDT

Hi Everyone,

In the months after the WISCONSIN RIVER VALLEY GRASSROOTS CONFERENCE on Feb. 21st, a coalition of Team Leaders and active volunteers decided to meet and discuss how we could continue on with our network still on the ground post-election.

It is clear there is a great interest to strengthen and continue that network. Dan Grandone and J.D. Stier attended our second meeting and agreed it is a good thing they are enthusiastic to see continue.

There is now a third and fourth event on the calendar. Please consider attending if you can.

Tuesday, May 7th -- a collaborative meeting to set in motion a more 'formalized' sort of group description and establishing the group as an entity working within the goals of OFA but also working with many local and statewide community service issues and focus groups. We are expanding our invitation base to anyone who is interested in attending, and especially those who were part of the network that volunteered to elect Obama. Here is the agenda:

PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will move us from talking to walking. So come prepared to be in on the ground floor of developing an action agenda for Dane County.

Thanks

Dear Obama Team Leaders,

The anticipation of spring is upon us and with it the arrival of President Obama's first 100 days in office. It's difficult to determine which to be more excited about, but for most of us it probably is the 100 days.

Throughout the long winter we have continued to work with our teams, participate in the Grassroots Festival, and meet the OFA Wisconsin Coordinator, Dan Grandone). It seems clear that we will be stronger and more effective if we share our energy in some form of county wide network.

With this realization, it is time to take the next step in building the Dane County Grassroots Network. Join us at the Alicia Ashman Library (large meeting room), 733 N. High Point Rd.1 on Thursday evening May 7, at 6:30 pm. This meeting will be a work session with some heavy lifting for the future. We encourage you to bring one or two additional team members with you who are also committed to this project.

See the attached agenda for details.

We look forward to seeing you on May 7. If you have questions call any of the numbers below.

Ron Biendseil 836-1920

Bruce Green

Nate Timm 220-0139

Eric Sundquist

GRASSROOTS NETWORK AGENDA

MAY 7, 2009

6:30 p.m., Alicia Ashman Library, 733 N. High Point Rd. (Corner of High Point and Old Sauk, one block east of the Beltline)

WHO WILL KEEP US ON TIME??

6:30 WELCOME AND BRIEF HISTORY OF EFFORTS TO CREATE A GRASSROOTS NETWORK IN WISCONSIN. (Obama campaign experience, Grassroots Festival, Organizing for America listening sessions, Dual Rail Meeting, first meeting of grassroots teams at the Alicia Ashman Library
6:40 PURPOSE OF TONIGHTS MEETING:
1. Identify top priorities of issues people want to begin working on with other area teams
2. Develop preliminary work plans to address top priorities

NOTE: the underlying assumption is that you are here because you want to DO SOMETHING

6:50 WHO’S HERE Rapid fire -- Your name and community
7:00 MISSION STATEMENT:

The Dane County Grassroots Network consists of progressive groups, teams, and individuals committed to the civic betterment of the community and the nation.

The mission of the Dane County Grassroots Network is to:

Facilitate the exchange of ideas, information and skills among network members in order to promote the civic betterment of our community and nation
Identify issues of common interest to groups and facilitate shared activities and campaigns.

Is there anyone here who CANNOT live with this as the mission for this initiative??

7:10 Identify top priorities that the network will address
Who will join the Coordinating Team for Dane County? This group will support work groups, problem solve, trouble shoot, and plan follow up activities of this meeting
7:30 Break into Work Groups to begin developing action plans
8:15 Reconvene as large group to BRIEFLY report on highlights of work plans
8:30 We’re out of here.

Possible Priorities ( for further action by work groups)

Note: participants at previous meetings have endorsed the need to develop an electronic communications network to support our efforts. Marcia has agreed to coordinate this effort. If you’d be interested in being part of this work group STAND UP AND BE COUNTED NOW.

WORK TOGETHER TO:

(First, circle your top 5-6 priorities. Then check off your TOP 3)

___Influence state legislative priorities
___Support President Obama's political agenda
___Influence the national legislative agenda
___Support a national Health Care initiative: facilitate education, information

dissemination and action etc, on this issue

___Support a state Transportation initiative: RTA facilitate education, information

dissemination and action etc, on this issue

___Support a national Energy policy: facilitate education, information dissemination

and action etc, on this issue

___Support a national Education initiative: facilitate education, information

dissemination and action etc, on this issue

___Organize coordinated community service projects (short term and ongoing

projects)

___Develop and support youth involvement in a grassroots network
___Find and support a credible Dem. candidate to oppose Rep. Paul Ryan
___Establish Study/Discussion Groups (books, articles, issues, etc.)
___Establish a Grassroots Academy to help network members hone their political

skills, community organizing skills, communications skills, etc., and develop political, business and community linkages

Others??

1 The library is at the back of s small shopping center at the corner of High Point and Old Sauk Rd. Turn into the shopping center and head to the back corner. We’ll be there.

I will post the announcement of the HealthCare Reform forum announcement in my next posting. Please take a look and consider attending. We are and can still make a huge difference if we keep the network alive and functioning!

Welcome, Senator Specter (D-PA)

Gene — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:31:40 EDT

I welcome Senator Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party. While I have not always agreed with him on policy matters, I have respected the honorable manner in which he conducted his Senate business.

Environmental Symbol Michelle's Organic Garden at WH

Marcia Riquelme — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:19:17 EDT

What can be more refreshing to see than a group of chlldren helping to create the First Garden--- organic, no less- that offers veggies and spices, at the White House!? An example we've long awaited, and really hadn't even imagined! How fortunate we are to have a First Family who 'gets it'. They are promoting local food access, good nutrition, the joy of gardening, doing not only as I say, but as I do... , and a host of opportunities for updates on this wonderful project. Thank you Michelle for planting HOPE in your garden, our very special 2009 White House garden. It is sweet and significant!

Is it just ME?

Steve Severson — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:16:19 EDT

Or is "Facebook" The MOST annoying, DIFFICULT (AND I just noticed, you can't spell "DIFFICULT" when speaking of "Facebook" only! ) without the word "CULT"...What ARE we getting OURSELVES Into? Ever been there?

One finds oneself in hopeless concentric circles that twist your mind into a wet rag! Once you answer ANY question and commit to following along, YOU ARE STUCK! MY ADVICE?

Don't let it happen to you! When "Invited" Let the moment pass! Unless you LIKE MASSIVE headaches! That WILL burn into your very soul, like a hot coal of MALEVOLENT WILL (UNLESS that is your kind of "Thing"!

That's my advice to Y'all!

Your Humble Servant and Friend, Steven Severson =) Bless Y'all!

It's been a long time....

Together We Stand for Change! formerly K. Bell — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:14:45 EDT

I have a confession to make. A confession that I'm ashamed of and that I know, if it weren't for the spirit and drive of my fellow Americans, a confession that may have ruined our journey, our promise, and our nation.

My confession? Is simply this, I've been on vacation since the election, and I see now that I couldn't afford to take one. The fate of this country, the state of the economy, and fighting the opposition to change is too important for any of us to take a vacation.

I am so proud of those of you who have not. Those of you who realized that in order for President Obama's agenda for change to come to pass, he needs all of us and he has needed all of us. Yes, I've signed petitions to senators to vote "yes" on the last two budgets, but through a simple email. I've read the reports and debated with friends, but there was so much more I could have done. Attended meetings, or made calls, send emails, and knock or doors, but thank God for the statement that President Obama uttered on more than one occassion, "I am my brother's keeper." All of you have kept me and helped to keep our promise, and now I'm back to join you and replace those others that may make the mistake as I have in thinking that our job is done. YES WE CAN!

I LOVE OUR President however ....

Steve Severson — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:51:31 EDT

But he's NOT INFALLABLE, in fact, he's completely wrung about so-called "clean coal" there is no such beast! Don't get me wrong: I AM all for ""Green Jobs" (a quick aside here; it is currently storming here. Wouldn't it be a kick, were I struck DEAD after fighting cancer for so long?) Gotta find the "Funny" when it gets handed to ya!

Where was I? Oh yes! Green Jobs! "Clean Coal" I used to canvass, or rather, DIRECT CAVASSING ON THIS VERY ISSUE! So believe me when I tell you There is no such thing!

I am well informed on this "Issue"! AND CONSIDER myself, as others do too, something of an expert on the subject at hand. And I'm here to tell ya, while I've seen the jobs CREATED regarding the subject(my Brother's division is funded through this initiative!) and it's GREAT, BUT we need to watch this!

You Guys are AMAZING!

Steve Severson — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:10:39 EDT

nOT ONLY DID WE sell out of Compact discs, garnering the Hospice $120 in donations, you BOOSTED MY "ACTIVITY LEVEL" HERE to 10 out of 10 which makes me very happy! So many of YOU showed up, it was HARD keeping track of y'all RELATIVE TO THOSE FROM MY "CAREPAGE" AND hOSPICE STAFF so thank you again!

We are currently trying to set up a page whereby one can view items thatvhave yet to sell, order "prints" a kind of "one stop" dealio many of the best stuff is still available! Once its up and running, you'll hear all about it! Until then, thank you again for helping it be as Friar John called it, the MOST successful Art show he'd been to!

Thats all I have tonight! God bless you ALL!

Steven Severson

You Guys are AMAZING!

Steve Severson — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:10:38 EDT

Thats all I have tonight! God bless you ALL!

Steven Severson

I am SO proud of my Obama "peeps"!

Steve Severson — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:31:52 EDT

ANOTHER TWO of you have signed up for "my art show!

I cannot believe YOUR LEVEL OF RESPONSE! I BELIEVE it is a total of 6of you, Which is "roughly six more than I could have hoped for.

I have been bragging BIG TIME at my other Blog ABOUT you guys and your level of commitment!

This is REALLY all I have for time for now!

See ya tonight! God bless you! Love you all!

Steven

Nothing Simple about Tax Simplification

Gene — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:56:00 EDT

There is nothing simple about tax simplification. The U.S. tax code is four or five tims the size of War and Peace. It's many obscure provisions remind me of Ogden Nash's The Fly: The Lord in His wisdom made the fly, and then forgot to tell us why.

For those of you who have signed up for my "Event"

Steve Severson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:14:48 EDT

I thank you SO much! I would like to ask an additional favor of you, though; could you email me at stevenvonspark@yahoo.com, so I can thank you personally? I like the personal touch! Also, I promise NOT to harrass you, spam you, or otherwise insinuate myself into your world!

I have enough to do in my own 'lil world! Most like the personal touch! And when asked are GLAD TO HELP OUT.

i like to get to know "my peeps"(not those sugary yellow chicks that make your teeth hurt just lookin' at them!) at whatever level with which they are comfortable. It has become 'round these parts, something of my signature!

I am a very open person, and delight in it!

So much so, my phone just died from lack o' power. Again, thank you folks SO much, and I SO look forward to your emails!

Anyone Else?

Steve Severson — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:01:55 EDT

This WILL be very short! I have very little time! In fact, I shouldn't be takin' these moments.

But I want to be sure that ALL REPRESENTING the "Barack Contingent" get their opportunity to show up for "The Event" being held on This Friday Night, April 17th, 5pm-7pm. Your attendance, while not "MANDITORY", Would say much about the quality of folks I hang with HERE! And I like to show off my Obama "peeps"!

Details as to how to sign up (and how to get here!) are in previous posts!

ADDITIONALLY I am including a link that takes you DIRECTLY to my CarePage blog. It is:

www.carepages.com/carepages/HealingThroughHumor you can also join THAT SITE, and I HOPE you do! I have learned to love the word, "HOPE"! It is hope that got us a President in which we can be proud! In him, and our own selves! I literally would not be alive today, were it not for that "HOPE"! I just tested the link...you'll have to cut and paste, as it doesn't seem to be directly linking. It IS CASE SENSITIVE, so bear that in mind!

Thank you for your support and all you do for you, our President and his wonderful family, and listening to me rant, often "on and on"!

That's all I have!

Steven =)

This is Likely to be my last post for a number of days!

Steve Severson — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:18:30 EDT

I'm just gonna be Too Damn Busy to be blogging, given what I told y'all in my last post! A post to which I hope you ALL RESPOND, YES it was, as I admitted, a shameless act of not only "SELF" promotion, but ALSO for the Hospice as well!

As stated, it needs to be made CLEAR that Hospices are NOT "where people go to die", but rather be nurtured into a state, such is my case, where one lives, thrives, and creates!

Again, sign up! Details on how to get here are in my previous post!

I'm gonna be up front about this post!

Steve Severson — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:39:54 EDT

It is gonna be ALL ABOUT shameless SELF PROMOTION! I tell you this so that you may (if you want!) to deal yourself out, were we playin' "Five card Texas Hold 'em"! But we're not, so I hope you'll play along!

As many of you already know, I have an "EVENT" for which you can sign up (and I hope many more of you do; it is VERY EASY to do so; see "events" to the right? A quick search SHOULD yield a result that lists my shameless pluggery!

I am currently LIVING as opposed to the miscontsrued perception of what Hospices are really all about!

They are NOT a place where people "go to die. They are a place where one goes to live, thrive, and in my case, create some of the finest "Artwork" I've ever put out!!

Let's talk about OUR First Lady!

Steve Severson — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:32:16 EDT

Ain't she SWEET? We all know the tune...sing along! (see her walkin' down the (now heavily guarded) street/ the kind of girl I'd like to meet/ Ain't she sweet!)

I never before really cared about "First Laidies" until Michelle burst upon the scene. All of the recent ones, with the exception of Hillary, seemed to be either NUTS (witness Barbara!) or hoplessly shallow (you'd have to be to put up with "43"...a number to which he couldn't count; which has been scientifically proven; and we ALL know how much they held science close to their hearts!)

I, of course, cannot bring any of the First Ladies from Jackie-O back into the fray, as THEY all had class and even inluence!

Visit to D.C.

Gene — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:40:04 EDT

Bright and early tomorrow morning my son and I get on a plane for Washington, D.C. to celebrate his 18th birthday on Thursday. Among our plans are tours of the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. What are the chances we'll get to see the president?

Workin' hard!

Steve Severson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:32:28 EDT

Did everyone call their local Representatives yet? If not, get on the stick! We all worked hard to get Barack elected; votin' for him isn't enough in today's world. We are MORE than obligated to do more than sit on that vote!

We must, as vocally as possible, SUPPORT THE VISION for which we voted! And if that means using some cell phone minutes, so be it!

Barack is speaking right now "across the pond", as they say! Strange to see an "American Style Town Hall Meeting" taking place in a foreign country.

Don't Dismiss All of GOP Budget Proposal

Gene — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:05:27 EDT

So, the GOP finally released their proposed budget. While I disagree with much of their budget items, there are some elements which deserve attention. If we are to improve bipartisanship in Washington, Democrats would be well advised to give serious consideration of the GOP proposal and, perhaps, even adopt some specific suggesions which could improve the federal budget.

Very busy today!

Steve Severson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:22:42 EDT

Yep! I will very shortly, be workin' with Daniella, a Hospice volunteer, on my artwork for the upcoming "big event" y'all have heard about! She is a real sweetheart, as are SO MANY 'round these parts.

I left for our two-hour session, and now am back! Of course, to you, no time elapsed; that's the nature of "linnear" time; perception is key. Dylan has a song entitled "Time Passes Slowly" whereas Tom Petty has a song called "Grew Up Fast", and on top of that, the old saw that states "a watched pot never boils". Go figure...I'm not really sure what I'm gettin' at here- other than time is as much as how we perceive it as it is a function of planetary speed on it's axis and around the Sun.

Enuff of the Metaphysics...for now, that is!

What else do you wanna know? We worked on two of my unfinished projects, one called "Reaper" and the other titled "Alien". The latter is inspired by a song from a fellow who died from cancer rather suddenly (his wet, hacking cough was much more serious than he thought, and by the time he had it checked out, he was, I believe, two weeks or so from death...I suppose I could look it up, but my meaning is clear!).

In any event, there's a line in the song that goes, "...mind of glass and a mask of ice..."; I find it very compelling and as such, it moved me to creating a three dimensional piece whereby a "mask of shattered ice reveales beneath yer "classic" gray alien face. Its lookin' pretty good in the early run.

And "Reaper" is also a three dimensional project. It will display "The Grim Reaper wearing a placard that says "Will work for food" as well as cleverly holding my signature by way of his wussy complaining!

Short post tonight...I have to go to beddy early for an *:30am Doctor appointment. Nothing serious; just lookin' into my vision, which sucks more and more as each day passes...or perhaps it is my perception of time passing!

Thank you!

Steve Severson — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:08:47 EDT

We Obama people are something else! I have received a grand early response to my request of you to attend my "Art Show"..! I am SO looking forward to, not just the event, but meeting those of you who DO attend.

Again, the Date and time: Friday, April 17th, 5PM, Directions are on my previous post!...I think; I have short term memory loss from all the radiation this brain could possibly take. I will check, and if you see no new post, then it is there!

Turns out i DO have to edit this post to include what's going on with the "Art Show"! Details are as follows:

I'm not DEAD!

Steve Severson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:30:48 EDT

Just very busy! I am living it up at a Hospice called "HospiceCareInc." and I'm doing very well, thank you! I post to a blog through their "blog" frequently.

For those who are interested in doing so, please go to:

www.carepages.com/carepages/HealingThroughHumor

Note that the addy is CASE SENSITIVE, please.

There, are the details regarding my daily life, what its like where I'm at, and so I'm told, many are amused by my rantings and ravings! I will try to keep blogging here if I can find the time!

Keepin it brief for now!

Steven Severson

Ask President Obama a Question

Gene — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:13:20 EDT

"Open for Questions" is a new experiment for WhiteHouse.gov, the President’s latest effort to open up the White House and give Americans from around the country a direct line to the Administration.

To get started, head over to http://WhiteHouse.gov/OpenForQuestions and set up your account.

People Want Action

Gene — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:05:44 EDT

I spoke with scores of people this weekend about the economy and related issues. All were impacted either directly or indirectly. Most knew someone who had lost a job or were in danger of losing their homes. What was most interesting, however, were the two things that bothered them most: 1) Congress’s petty snipings and unwillingness to tackle the full range of issues needing to be solve, and 2) the perception that the media was too busy trying to create controversy (such as, the dump Geithner movement and the Obama Special Olympics gaffe) rather than attempting to educate the American people about the issues before us.

Clearly people want to be engaged in meaningful dialog. They want President Obama and his team to succeed. And while they understand these are tough times and that they will take a few hits along the road to recovery, they don’t accept the partisan busy-as-usual politics of Washington. They want to see Congress work with the president and with their members from both sides of the aisle to achieve results.

AIG Grandstanding in Congress not Helpful

Gene — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:45:38 EDT

The behavior of some members of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises was shameful today. They had no intent to listen to the testimony of AIG Chairman and CEO Edward Liddy. They had their pre-scripted outrage in hand and, with television cameras rolling, they weren’t going to let the facts get in their way.

Mr. Liddy, who took over AIG last fall, well after the mess was created and federal monies were initially expended, offered some compelling information – much of it not previously reported. He expressed his outrage at prior decisions made by the company, including the recently disclosed retention bonuses, and he pointed out that most of those “bad actors” are gone. He tried to point out that these payments were not performance-based as many have suggested. He also gave a succinct analysis of why AIG must not be allowed to fail.

I know of no one who would attempt to support the AIG activities which helped create the current worldwide economic mess. But anger and frustration should not lead to the absurd rants of our elected officials. This is a time for clear-headed, educated and thoughtful thinking and leadership. While political grandstanding and demagoguery may be part of the lifeblood of Washington politicians, they do a disservice to Americans trying to understand these issues.

Education's Most Important Factor: Parents

Gene — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:49:24 EDT

While President Obama outlined five key areas for education reform (raising the quality of early learning programs: encouraging better standards and assessments; recruiting, preparing, and rewarding outstanding teachers; promoting innovation and excellence in America’s schools, and; and providing every American with a quality higher education – either college or technical training) his most important message was:

“The bottom line is that no government policies will make any difference unless we also hold ourselves more accountable as parents. Because government, no matter how wise or efficient, cannot turn off the TV or put away the video games. Teachers, no matter how dedicated or effective, cannot make sure your children leave for school on time and do their homework when they get back at night. These are things only a parent can do. These are things that our parents must do.”

Beyond the Fun, an Important Issue

Gene — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:08:04 EST

Beyond the fun of tweaking Rush Limbaugh and those who believe his Limbaugh Luddite Lexicon, is a serious issue. It is important in our democracy that there be a legitimate, thoughtful loyal opposition. We don’t have that now, which in part explains why so many Republicans are simply what Spiro Agnew/William Safire described four decades ago as “nattering nabobs of negativism.”

Big Numbers; Bigger Lies

Gene — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:20:48 EST

WOW. Those are some huge numbers in President Obama’s 2010 budget. I understand the need to invest in many areas which will greatly benefit the country in the mid- and longer-term.

What I don’t understand is how Republicans like John Boehner can look in the camera and deliberately mislead and outright lie to the American people in characterizing the proposed budget. Honesty and accountability are clearly not words in their Limbaugh Luddite Lexicon.

A Difficult but Important Task

Gene — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:53:43 EST

I look forward to President Obama's address to the Joint Session of Congress and the American people tonight. He has a very difficult task - to speak honestly about the issues we face, yet demonstrate a confidence that our better days are yet ahead.

We all have a role to play, and we need to communicate with our elected representatives to ensure they play a constructive role in finding the solutions we need.

Budget Summit a First Step

Gene — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:59:50 EST

President Obama’s Federal Budget Summit was a most interesting event. Clearly, the president wants Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate, business and labor to work together to help solve some very large and complex issues. Let’s hope this is but a first step in a process to get things done for the American people.

Home Mortgage Assistance will Help Many

Gene — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:59:01 EST

President Obama’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, together with other recently announced related programs, will hopefully be of great assistance to millions of Americans, including some friends of mine. I also hope to be a home purchaser in the near future under one or another of these programs .

Many Steps Yet to Take

Gene — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:47:45 EST

Enactment of the ARRA is but a first step in helping getting our economy back on track and assisting Americans who, through no fault of their own, are suffering due to the dire economic circumstances. President Obama has discussed an ambitious agenda to address banking/finance, energy, entitlements, housing, health care, and other issues. While we encourage him in his efforts, we also must keep communicating with our Congressional representatives to get on board to help the president in resolving these important matters.

Reminder-Party for Leukemia on Sunday

Stephanie — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:46:42 EST

Please come for a benefit for Caitlynn, a 6 year old from Fitchburg, who attends my son's school. She is on a 2.5 year treatment protocol to fight leukemia. There will be music by "The Paoli Project," karaoke by the Canaries, children's crafts, and a silent auction. Suggested donation is $10/person or $25/family. Contact Dawn for more information, or if you would like to make a donation but cannot attend on Sunday, 608-276-9512. This is an excellent opportunity for neighbors to help out neighbors in need. Thank you.

You can see details and sign up at:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt838

My Economic Recovery House Party Report

Gene — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:31:56 EST

We had a wide-ranging discussion of economic recovery and reinvestment. Recognizing the short time frame of our meeting, the enormity and complexity of the issues, and our own limitations in understanding those issues, we developed the following key points:

1) Doing nothing, or even too little, is not an option.

2) The change we want and need, and which we voted for in electing President Obama, is not yet fully attainable.

3) While we accept the goal of bi-partisanship, and that political compromises are required to achieve immediate action, there comes a point where obstructionist gamesmanship must be overcome by the strength of the people’s will as expressed in electoral results.

4) Maintaining and creating jobs may be priority one (along with providing for increased and extended unemployment benefits, food stamps, and other necessary social safety net items), but fixing the housing mess is a very close second, followed by fixing the banking/financial systems, and truly starting on a path toward energy independence).

5) Failure to address educational (and other broader social policy issues), including providing increased Pell Grants and other related programs, not only denies immediate educational opportunities, it creates the potential for higher social costs when young adults are not engaged in positive life activities.

6) Part of our civic responsibility is to engage our elected officials in an ongoing dialogue, to support them when they earn it, and to hold them responsible when they fail to do the people’s business.

7) We remain optimistic, despite occasional setbacks, that President Obama will succeed in changing the ways of Washington, that he will continue to speak with and seek the input of the American people, and that our best days are ahead.

Born Again American - Founder Norman Lear

Darrell from Bloomington, WI — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:43:02 EST

The New Era of Opportunities for Civic Affairs in Broadcasting
- with Darrell Udelhoven

Because of all the new digital channel frequencies there is a broad spectrum of program opportunities for broadcasters, sponsors and the listening and viewing audience. These new technologies open up a broad spectrum of new venues allowing the radio-talk call-in programs to merge with television channels and with the Internet in both video and audio formats. This results-in by far the best audience reach compared to the use of one type of broadcast frequency format.
The quality of our mass communications is a high-level determinant of the quality of our lives and our eventual destinies. Nearly everything we know, do and achieve is communicated through our eyes, our ears and other sensory organs. This is why all forms of radio and television broadcasts represent our most important resource toward beneficial change for all of humanity.

A large percentage of America's problems have been due to the lack of transparency in government and corporate affairs, resulting in needless wars and economic inequities.

Our government gave the big finance companies $750 billion without stipulations as to how it was to be used, now they have given broadcasters are public owned digital frequencies without stipulations or guidance in the way that they are to be used for the public interest, need and necessity.

Over the air television broadcasting is a virtual wasteland. There is little or no utility value content in broadcasting programs. The hierarchical intelligentsia's voice in broadcasting has failed the owners of the broadcast frequencies & has also failed the global citizenry. This failure has cost our global community trillions of dollars of loss & untold suffering, it is time for the owners of the frequency resources to have unbridled access to broadcast over the new digital channels.

Government of, by and for the people cannot function in the interests' and needs of the people unless they have some control over the dissemination of content on their public owned broadcast frequency airwaves. We cannot permit these new government licensed digital frequencies to be used or squandered in non-essential unproductive content.

The potential to change the course of our destinies and to allow a representative Republic to function for the benefit of the people will always depend on the people having a powerful voice in the content of the information that is disseminated to them through the frequencies that they own.

We need interactive programming content that involves telephone talk, the merging of radio, television and the Internet, in order to reduce the use of energy and toward rebuilding our economic communities from the ground up.

Here is a link to WPR The Ideas Network Audio Archive Stream; 02/06/9, 10am broadcast, "Born Again American," founded by Norman Lear
Internet home of "Born Again American," Sign the Pledge & email your friends with a link. |
Internet Home of TV Producer, Norman Lear's Website

We can begin to build radio & TV communication community networks along with syndicated programs to reach every community in America so that, "We the People can begin to speak to each other & participate in organizing toward empowering ourselves toward governing ourselves, as was intended.

Wall street & the finance sector would not have gotten out of hand if 9 years ago the truth had been disseminated to "We the People," & therefore we had forced our elected representatives to force the Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate wall street & finance sector! Trillions of dollars could have been saved along with our economy!
All of what I have suggested is feasible & should be accomplished for everyone's benefit ASAP.

There is much more, which we will deal with later. - Darrell Udelhoven

BR Internet Merge

The Mass Media Role Toward Economic Restoration

My Political and Economic Page Links The Real Political Issues

Wisdom Principled - Empowerment Communications
Darrell Udelhoven (U-DL-HOVEN) Darrell - Bloomington
udarrell

Let's Get This Thing Done

Gene — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:36:57 EST

The reported negotiated agreement in the U.S. Senate to pass is version of an economic recovery and reinvestment act may bring an end to phase 2 of this "sausage making" process. The House first passed its version, which clearly needed work. Now there'll be the conference effort to reconcile the differences between the two packages.

It is in conference where major pieces of legislation typically get finalized and, hopefully, Democrats and Republicans conferees will come together in good faith to quickly bring a resolution which can be adopted by both chambers and sent to President Obama for his signature.

Stay in contact with your elected representatives. Let's get this thing done.

President Obama Presses for Legislative Action

Gene — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:11:22 EST

President Obama politely pushed back against Republican critics of the economic recovery and reinvestment legislation pending in the U.S. Senate. At the same time, he reached across party lines to consider changes to some spending in the bill.

"Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the essential," Obama said, adding that failure to act quickly "will turn crisis into a catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession."

A number of Republicans want to drastically reduce proposed spending, and suggest that more tax cuts would likely solve the nation’s economic problems. President Obama responded that such thinking "echo the very same failed economic theories that led us into this crisis in the first place, the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems," adding, "I reject those theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change."

While Republican suggestions need to be fully considered, they cannot adopt a “my way or the wrong way” approach to this most important legislation. Bipartisanship requires full faith efforts from both sides. I believe President Obama is fulfilling his side of the bargain.

Jobs in All 50 States

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nominee Withdrawals Appropriate

Gene — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:41:23 EST

The withdrawal from consideration by DHHS nominee Tom Daschle and Chief Performance Officer Nancy Killefer is appropriate. While their talents would have helped President Obama and will be missed, the distractions caused by their respective tax problems would have been greater. It is unfortunate that "forgive and forget" does not apply to individuals at this level of government.

Change is Real - January 2009

Marcia Riquelme — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:24:15 EST

Guantanamo will soon be closed

Other bases used for interrogation have been closed

The Recovery Package has been passed by Congress and is being debated in the Senate today.

President Obama has already had one interview with Arab media saying we are not the enemy.

President Obama is reaching out to Team Leaders to ask for input on the Recovery Package Feb. 3.

Our Team will meet soon.

Activities since Nov. 4th:

We have had two Team meetings, a meeting at the Library set up by Mary Sanderson to collect community input regarding the future Obama Health Care Policy.

Al Greene ran a service project Jan 19 and delivered 400 pounds of canned food to a local food bank.

Our De Forest/Windsor Brown Bear Organizing for America Team agreed to take actions to support the campaign of Shirley Abrahamson for State Supreme Court Judgeship. Mary Sanderson has been instrumental in helping us get this underway. We will ask for updates and become informed on needed actions.

Announcement by Russ Feingold for his candidacy arrived in our mailboxes. We need to contact his office.

If any of us feel strongly about the Economic Recovery Package,we need to urge our Senators to support it and to ask other Senators nationwide to do so as well.

We are the Change we seek. YES WE CAN!

We are advancing

Happy Inauguration Day!

Stephanie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:19:08 EST

yippeeee!

Honesty and Transparency

Gene — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:17:43 EST

The Office of the President-Elect's Change.Gov website is putting together a Citizen's Briefing Book (a collection of ideas) to deliver to President Obama. Go to the site and review/vote on the ideas. My input is below, and I'd appreciate your vote for the idea that honesty and transparency in government is vital (search "honesty"). My entry:

Whatever the issue -- economy, energy, foreign policy, health care, homeland security, or other -- it is most important that honesty and transparency guide the debate. In communicating with the American people, the President and his representatives must remain true to the principles of honesty and transparency.

Let's Do Our Part

Gene — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:30:18 EST

President-elect Obama gave a major speech today to urge Congressional action on his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/dramatic_action/). He spoke of the urgency to act swiftly, boldly and responsibly. Importantly, he also cited the need for transparency and accountability. This is the change we need. For our part, we should write our Congressional representatives and ask that they work with the President-elect to hold hearings, have debate, and enact legislation supporting his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

What a Relief

Gene — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:27:57 EST

President-elected Obama has been front and center the past few days, including meeting with Congressional leaders and the current and past presidents, and announcing more members of his administrative team. How assuring it is that in all of these, he has demonstrated both a deep understanding of the issues and the ability to articulate the particulars of those issues and his position in dealing with them.

Questions on Change.gov

Trisha — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:24:23 EST

I have been reading through so many questions on Change.gov, and I have noticed so many questions that I look at and wonder...what was this person thinking.

So here are some thoughts I would like to express...

One...so many have asked the question "why do I have to pay for individuals who did things wrong, when I did everything right?" My question is why, because someone is caught up in this economic downturn, do you automatically assume that the person has done something wrong? What about the people who did everything right, but because of others greed, they are in trouble...why do you assume the people asking for help do not fall into that category?

My second thought...Maybe we should all take a step back and understand what a President can truely do. I understand, and partake in the excitement of a President who promises change from the same old politics, but all of the questions requesting things completely out of the control of a President does nothing to advance the cooperation that will be needed between the Government and the communities they serve. I understand that everyone has the right to ask what they choose, but questions that request the President to do things beyond his control are not productive.

Common questions I have come across...and my thoughts on them...Please give me your input...these are meant to get ideas going, so that we can be more proactive in our Government...

I have come across several questions that have had to do with legalizing Marijauna and taxing it the same way we tax cigarettes and alcohol. The common argument is that this would give an instant boost to the economy, both by the tax revenue this would raise and also by the billions of tax dollars saved in law enforcement costs each year. I personally see the argument, whether or not I believe in the cause, as a plausible way to stimulate the economy. What are your thoughts on this?

The next question that I have seen over and over is in regards to U.S. stimulus...Why not give a stimulus check to each American adult...the amount varries based on the questioner, but range from $30,000 each to 1 million each...included in the stimulus package to be voted on later this month. The arguement...That giving that much would allow those who have been hit hard to pay their mortgage payments and get bills caught up, and will then continue to stimulate the economy by spending, saving, or investing the rest. What are your thoughts on this?

The last question I am going to address here is whether or not we should abolish the current tax system and go to a sales tax instead of income tax system? I would like to hear all your ideas on this subjects as I am still trying to weigh the pros and cons of each. What are your thoughts on this?

The great part about this is that you can vote on which questions you want the Obama team to answer...with the questions that get the most votes being the ones they answer...if you have time you should stop by change.gov and answer a few...

The Promise of Change We Need in 2009

Gene — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:47:44 EST

This is the 250th post to MyBarackObama.com blog in 2008, and likely the last for the year. We look ahead to the promise of change we need in 2009. The Obama administration faces an unprecedented array of challenges and the opportunity to begin to right the wrongs of the past , not only of the previous eight years, but of the old politics which is a large cause of the problems we face. It is important to learn from past mistakes, failures and missed opportunities, but it is equally important to not dwell on the past, but look ahead to the work before us. There is pain and suffering and ills of many shapes and sizes here at home and throughout the world. Our task is to focus and work together to begin the healing and begin a new era of problem solving through mutual respect and determination. Yes, we can.

Happy New Year.

Blagojevich and a Nation of Laws

Gene — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:19:11 EST

How do we square the fact that this is a nation of laws with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Obama? Blagojevich has not been charged, much less convicted, of any crime and he continues to serve as the duly elected governor. While he may not have a working moral compass (I earlier joined others in calling on him to resign), and while we may not like it, he does have the legal authority to make the appointment. What is amazing, is that anyone would agree to serve under these circumstances. I don’t think the Illinois Secretary of State has the authority to not certify the appointment. And, while the Senate Democrats have the right not to accept the appointee in their caucus, I doubt they have the authority to refuse his appointment.

Quantity over Quality?

Gene — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:51:48 EST

I read now there are some women's groups unhappy with President-elect Obama because he hasn't named more women to his cabinet.

"When you are looking at a Cabinet and you have such a small number of women in the room when the big decisions are being made, there need to be a lot more women's voices in this administration," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization of Women.

Amy Siskind, co-founder of the nonpartisan group New Agenda, accuses Obama of taking "shocking steps backward" and said "this constituency does not matter to the president-elect."

Obama, who has said he would pick people for their skills and not pander to special interests, has named five women to his cabinet. His cabinet includes African Americans, Latinos and Asians. It is a quality cabinet, and to judge it by some kind of quota by sex, ethnicity or some other category demeans the whole.

Season's Greetings

Gene — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:05:01 EST

People of different faiths and different cultures celebrate this holiday season. Notwithstanding the current economic difficulties, there is a genuine feeling of comfort and joy. So whether your greeting is Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah , Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays or something else, my wish for all is peace on earth and good will toward all.

Media Failing to Inform

Gene — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:06:14 EST

The media, including the talking heads and columnists, are obsessed with the Gov. Blagojevich scandal and, therefore, are denying Americans of much needed information. For example, it would be helpful to explain some of the aspects of the auto industry bailout, such as the difference between a structured and “regular” bankruptcy. Or, with the announcement of President-elect Obama’s environmental and education appointments, wouldn’t it be useful to explain his policy vision and the pro-con arguments associated with them? The media often bemoans an uninformed electorate, but does precious little to help provide the information needed.

invitation to "socially responsible shopping"

Stephanie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:34:16 EST

Just wanted to send out a quick notice about my event.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptmxq

It invites folks to shop at sites like:

http://madebysurvivors.com/

http://www.thehungersite.com, and it's companion sites, and

http://kiva.org/

Feel free to suggest others...