Remembering the campaign makes me relive so many emotions:
Excitement – when he announced his candidacy. YES WE CAN!
Elation – when he was declared the nominee.
Looking online each day for campaign news, music, videos, art! A talent explosion!
Emails to editors and TV news – somebody has to read them!
Caucusing – scary, thrilling, overwhelming! What a turnout! Everyone cared so much!
Talking to complete strangers about then-Senator Obama.
Oh, and friends and family, too.
Bumps, lows, highs in the primary. Asking my Senators and Congressman to endorse.
Another donation request? We’ve still got some money; let’s just give a bit more.
Maybe he can really do it, maybe this country can move forward – YES WE DID!
And so 2008 was a very good year.
2012 will be another. So are the years in between. Our President is at work.
Voting by absentee ballot is usually a lonely experience, but not last November!
I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and late last August, as I was walking to the grocery store, I noticed the neighbourhood drag was closed to traffic for one of the city's summer street festivals. I wandered over to browse the numerous booths selling this and that craft or cause, when what should I see? Team Obama had set up a table!
I made a beeline to the five or six volunteers at the table to express my solidarity, and was greeted warmly. Of course, as soon as I announced I was an American citizen, several clipboards were thrust at me simultaneously, but I explained that I was already registered to vote and had even voted in my primary.
It was wonderful to talk enthusiastically about the election with other voters, but the best part was when I told them how happy I was that since my state, North Carolina, was in play this election, my vote finally had some weight. The gang cheered. Not only that, one of the volunteers at the booth was from NC! She expressed the same sentiment and I left to do my shopping feeling even more hopeful of success in November.
Open for Questions: Round two
Monday, December 29, 2008 01:01pm EST / Posted by Dan McSwain
During this brief transition period, we’ve rolled out important new tools to let users interact with our team in a transparent and meaningful way.
Our first run of Open for Questions was one such feature, with nearly 1,000,000 votes cast on questions from the Change.gov community.
In this round, you can still view all of the questions that have been submitted—or you can break down the questions by category for easier navigation. For instance, you can read the top-ranking question regarding Energy and the Environment and browse through other questions on the same topic by clicking on that issue.
We think this change is valuable. It serves the other key purpose of features like Open for Questions: making your input easy to pass on to the members of our Transition team that are crafting solutions to these vital issues right now.
Check out the Open for Questions feature here. We’ll close this round of questions and put together our responses in the new year.
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
by Sheila Samples @ commondreams.org
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!Sail on, O Union, strong and great!Humanity with all its fears,With all the hopes of future years,Is hanging breathless on thy fate! - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The recent blowout election that gave us President Barack Obama resulted in a flood of emotion that engulfed both parties. The one thing they had in common was that neither party could believe it. Political comedian Mort Sahl once said, "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." If we have learned nothing else about Republicans, it's that, with few exceptions, they are vindictive, immoral, blood-thirsty, and just plain power-mad. Republicans are so much better at destroying things than Democrats are. They say and do whatever it takes to win. And if that doesn't work -- they seize it anyway.
So we were braced for another disappointment -- not because we didn't share Obama's vision of change and his hope for a better life for all Americans, but because voting machines were frantically flip-flopping votes from Obama to John McCain, minority voters were purged, telephones jangling with robocalls smeared Obama as an alien terrorist -- and John King over at CNN kept ramming solid red "magic" maps in our faces as proof that McCain could not lose.
So, what happened?
We woke up. After snoozing through massive homicide, refusing to confront genocide, ignoring fratracide and the hopelessness that has driven an alarming number of our military to commit suicide...we woke up............
ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/11/29
Thus far, the campaign events were about the developments leading to the victory of the Democratic candidate in a historic manner.
It is time to conclude the interesting, dramatic, challenging and the most exciting Presidential race with the honorable acknowledgements.
As stated in the earlier blog posts, my contribution to the Obama candidacy privately acknowledged throughout the campaign by President-elect Barack Obama.
President-elect Barack Obama never failed to express gratitude and deep appreciation of the hard work since my involvement in the campaign.
I received the genuine acknowledgment promptly after every primary race and the general election.
Here are the excerpts of some communication held following important moments of the campaign: Prior to the acceptance of Democratic Nomination:
Invitation to join the election night:
From: Barack Obama
To: Padmini Arhant
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 8:22:21 AM
Subject: Will you join me on Election Night?
Join Barack on Election Night Padmini –
I want you to be there with me on Election Night when the results come in.
We’re planning a big event that will include tens of thousands of supporters in Grant Park in downtown Chicago.
We’re saving some of the best seats in the house for 5 people who have given to the campaign before — and who decide to make a donation one last time before Sunday at midnight.
You can bring a guest, and we’ll fly you in and put you up in a hotel for the night. You’ll go backstage at the big event and — no matter what happens — you’ll have a front row seat to history as we celebrate the supporters who got us over the finish line. Any donation counts — whatever you can afford. Show your support at this crucial time with a donation of $250 or more, and you could join me on Election Night:
https://donate.barackobama.com/frontrow
This movement for change has been a testament to the power of ordinary Americans coming together to achieve extraordinary things.
I look forward to having you there on Election Night.
Thank you,
Barack
————————————————–
My response to the invitation:
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 3:40:21 PM PST
Dear Senator Obama,
I am honored and delighted to attend the historic night on November 4, 2008.
I predicted this night in my letter to Amy Goodman of Democracynow.org in mid-January 2008.
Some might say audacious while others, probably presumptuous!
I have absolutely no qualms about your victory on November 4, night.
Hope, you remember that I posted the blog "The Winner" on February 2, 2008 and took lot of heat from the critics during the Primary election.
However, this time I do not wish to spoil the surprise for many feeling nervous about the outcome.
Let me be the first one to congratulate you on your victory as the 44th President of the United States.
My heartfelt Congratulations to you ahead of time!
Best Wishes,
Padmini Arhant
Private and Intended for Addressee only please: ———————————————————
I could not attend the election night for reasons explained in the blog post - Transparency - Broken Promise.
——————————————————-
On the Historic Night, November 4, 2008 - As the results poured in, I received the following email from our President-elect Barack Obama:
Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 8:17:45 PM
Subject: How this happened
Padmini –
I’m about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.
We just made history. And I don’t want you to forget how we did it.
You made history every single day during this campaign — every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it’s time for change.
I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.
We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.
But I want to be very clear about one thing…
All of this happened because of you.
—————————————-
Finally, I am profoundly thankful to President-elect Barack Obama for his kindness, understanding and greatness demonstrated throughout his communication with me.
It is just unfortunate that he could not express his true sentiments in public as stated in earlier blog posts.
It is truly an honor to be part of history.
Thank you.
The historic election is over and the new administration is in the process of recruiting members for key positions.
It is still important to reflect on the role of media and news organization in this electoral process.
Extreme media bias towards one candidate and overwhelmingly condescending against another caused a great deal of frustration, anger and disappointment among the electorate.
The anti-media sentiments reverberated all over the cyberspace.
Media hype was intense during the Democratic Primary election.
Since I was vigorously involved during that time, I have great memories that will remain part of me for a long time.
There were several incidents but some of them have a greater impact on individuals, more severely than others do.
Mainly due to the smear tactics and negative attacks hurled on people like me entering the political campaign for the first time as surrogates, representatives or grass root supporters.
One particular incident is worth the spotlight because it is about the media personalities conducting themselves as the world authority in all matter especially the political race such as the Presidential election.
Ironically, in this Presidential election they were repeatedly wrong with both Democratic and Republican nominees.
Why?
They followed the conventional wisdom and failed to see or accept new possibilities and developments.
Only to steer course once the tide turned in a different direction sweeping anything and everything on the way.
The spotlight is precisely on MSNBC.
The network that took lot of heat from the public and rightfully so, for being excessively in favor of Obama Campaign in an unprecedented appeasement of the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.
It is noteworthy that MSNBC initially rejected the candidate Senator Barack Obama against their preferred candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.
Likewise, the venerable New York Times endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton way back on January 25, 2008 as the “IDEAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.” and
Emphasizing that President-elect Barack Obama was not qualified in that respect,
Quoted by the recent Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman through national and international telecast on CNN.
I was devastated to note the hasty decision by a leading and the most respectable news organization such as New York Times.
Immediately, I made my first and only contact with the cable media outlet, Free Speech and World Link Television expressing my emotion on the endorsement.
Here is extract of the email titled The Moment of Truth sent to Amy Goodman of Free Speech Television on January 25, 2008, 12.22P.M PST , in that context:
“This morning the endorsement by New York Times is another way of indicating that Senator Clinton will be the future President of the United States.
Senator Clinton made many overtures in her recent T.V talk show appearances that I should go away and abandon the Obama campaign to suppress the Iraq war issue finally.
The impression I have is,
If Senator Obama becomes the nominee, there is absolutely no turning back for him as he would win the general election.”
———————————————-
In reality, what exactly happened prior to our President-elect Barack Obama establishing himself as a formidable candidate in the election is attention worthy.
First, my personal experience with MSNBC goes back to the days when the incumbent administration laid out the strategy to sell the unpopular Iraq war to the public and the United Nations.
I happened to be one of the unfortunate victims of mandatory public opinion survey superficially conducted by the administration to gain public support for the illegal invasion of Iraq.
This matter verified and confirmed truthful by the Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit organization, following the claim in my blog post during the Democratic Primary election.
With the relentless pro-Iraq war rally from networks such as MSNBC and FOX, the administration successfully launched their mission.
Although, there were other major networks equally involved in drumming their support for the Iraq war…
MSNBC displayed no qualms in abruptly eliminating dissent like the popular and visibly democratic, none other than their own talk show host, Mr. Phil Donahue.
My first unpleasant experience with MSNBC is regarding the anti-Iraq war message conveyed to the administration in response to the mandatory survey.
In my statement, I clearly emphasized the blunder by the administration on their commitment to wage war against Iraq and,
The consequences ensuing in terms of loss of lives, economic costs, national reputation and everything else that followed the disastrous war.
The born again liberal MSNBC demonized and targeted me as anti-patriotic with spam mail flooding my Inbox.
Further, the obscene materials via virus corrupted my database, forcing me to abandon the hard disk for a new one.
It was nothing short of homegrown terrorism for my anti-war position.
It is important to cite the article by Victor Davis Hanson, A senior fellow at the Hoover Institution,
Ref. San Jose Mercury News, November 13, 2008.
The article quotes “Most polls reveal that American voters believed that their media was biased in favor of Obama.
The popular journalist Chris Matthews even bragged that it was his job responsibility to see that Obama succeeds.” ———————————————————————-
Chris Matthews brags about his support to Obama during the election.
It might be the case but the evidence is against such claim.
Chris Matthews threw his weight not until the candidate Barack Obama proven the Democratic nominee against all odds.
Mr. Chris Matthews clearly knows about what this is.
During the fiercely battled Democratic Primary election, Nevada Primary & Caucus held on Saturday, January 19, 2008.
I published the following blog post that morning 4.19 am EST, my time 1.19am PST causing fury and anger among the Clinton campaign and their surrogates in the media, especially Chris Matthews of MSNBC.
Post from Padmini Arhant’s Blog: - www.my.barackobama.com
Electability Factor By "Voice behind the movement" - Jan 19th, 2008 at 4:19 am EST
Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Electability Factor:
The voters should focus on the electability factor when casting the vote in the primaries for their respective candidates.
The candidate, who can eventually lead the Democratic Party to victory in the general election in November 2008, will be the ideal nominee.
There will be various issues discussed and debated between the two parties during the general election.
Given the track record of the Republican Party in the general election, the Democratic Party would be well positioned with a candidate voting against the Iraq war.
Senator Barack Obama had consistently opposed the Iraq war.
He voted for the funding of the Iraq war to protect the interest and security of our brave young men and women in harm’s way and enable Iraq stabilize as a sovereign nation ultimately leading to the withdrawal of our troops.
The illegitimate Iraq war has been a major catastrophe for our national economy, security, credibility to deal with International crisis, and our image as the leader of the new world.
The Republican Party nominee voting for the Iraq war could be challenged and held accountable by the Democratic Party nominee voting against the war.
The victory strategy for the Democratic Party in the general election should be on the premise of Iraq war to honor the sacrifice by brave young men and women who lost their lives and all those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The victory for Democratic Party would then truly represent the ‘real change’ against the ’status quo’ or the establishment.
Padmini Arhant - Copyrights reserved
OBAMA SUPPORTER
————————————————————
To emphasize again, the blog post created enormous outrage with the Clinton campaign bitterly complaining about my attempt to influence the election negatively on that date.
As usual, mainstream media lend support to the power and establishment expresses their reaction in a manner to warn a private citizen like myself to stay off the campaign trail.
Like the BET CEO, Mr. Robert Thompson a close Clinton surrogate, with his exclusive appearance on–
The Situation Room, hosted by Mr. Wolf Blitzer, on CNN specifically advised me by referring to me as,
The “woman of color” to cease my campaigning for the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.
The Nevada Primary was won by Senator Hillary Clinton.
President-elect Barack Obama had the caucus victory.
The MSNBC coverage on Saturday, January 19, 2008, the day Nevada results was declared, is evidence to the outburst of a media commentator against a private citizen.
Chris Matthews, in particular admonished me directly by wagging his finger and in uttermost condemnation of my interference in the Presidential election.
He said, “This is not a horse race for betting. It is a serious Presidential race.
Individuals with no knowledge or experience should stay out of political campaigns.”
It was a clear indication that individuals like me have no place in politics or public forum.
The sentiment was shared by another MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell who initially tried to remain objective during the discussion with Clinton aid about that particular blog post that morning.
However, she later on made a bizarre remark about a possible substance abuse by me because of my daring attempts to envision a future with an African American Presidency.
Only, if Andrea Mitchell would have played a similar role in critiquing her spouse and the ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan,
Equally responsible for neglecting the warnings of the economic turmoil that nearly brought the domestic and international financial markets on the brink of collapse,
The recent bailouts may not have been necessary. Thankfully, we are living in a technology driven age, where such incidents cannot possibly be buried in a time capsule with a hope of never being found until it becomes irrelevant.
All these blatant attacks and innuendoes were to demoralize me and debilitate my effort in spreading the message of our movement.
I owe my passion, commitment and drive to get further involved in the campaign to my children especially my eleven-year-old child.
He encouraged me to stand up to partisan politics and send a strong message to commentators like Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell and the likes,
That, ordinary people can do extraordinary things in life.
In fact, he was targeted as well with a nickname sidekick by the President-elect Barack Obama’s opponents for his exceptional role in exploiting the web technology with the publication of my blog posts.
My son’s advice to me was, not to rest until Senator Barack Obama is elected "The President" Barack Obama. I am glad and proud of my son’s advice to fight against the odds given the extreme stressful situation at that time.
Surely, children have a better sense of rationality enabling them to behold a different vision for the world.
They realize the burden on them with respect to the national debt, credibility and financial security as future taxpayers of the economy.
Prior to the election coverage, MSNBC’s show –
The Countdown by Keith Olbermann targeted the American idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar and
Sadistically mocked him almost on a daily basis to survive competition with condescending remarks through critic like Maria Melito.
Maria Melito in her brutal attack against Sanjaya Malakar claimed that the reason for Sanjaya to gain unprecedented votes was because…
“The people of his ethnicity i.e. India, voting for him never had anyone rise to the hall of fame in history.” Sadly, such comment reflected ignorance as anyone born on Planet Earth, should know the ancient Indus valley civilization which is India is not new to fame and wisdom.
The land in South East Asia is the origin and birth place of celestial beings like the Holy Lord Krishna, Holy and Graceful Gautama Buddha and sentient beings of the twentieth century such as Mahatma Gandhi –
The noble soul, the light of the world, the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Nelson Mandela, preached and practiced non-violence, peace and unity that are oxy-moron in the contemporary world.
Not excluding other notable scholars like Nobel laureates…
The Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore for literature in 1913 and DR. Har Gobind Khorana for Physiology or Medicine in 1968 to name a few.
Besides, Sanjaya Malakar fan base sprawled across the social spectrum as demonstrated by his young admirer, Ashley Ferl awestruck during his performance.
Young Ashley Ferl, was in return summoned to the Senate for rigorous interrogation by the elected officials…
Prioritizing investigation of genuine admiration for a young performer on the national stage over serious issues like Abu Ghraib, Katrina and deliberate exposure of CIA overt operative Mrs. Valerie Plaim.
To revert to the article by Victor Davis Hanson, ref. San Jose Mercury News, Nov 13, 2008, titled — “The kind of real ‘hope and change’ we can believe in for next year”
“The media, meanwhile should be careful not to abandon fairness and discretion for short-term political advantage.
When the wheel turns - and it too, always does - what you did or said will come back to haunt you.”
I could not agree more with the affirmation.
I hope Chris Matthews and others learned a lesson or two from this historic political event. When Change occurs, it happens all around much to the dismay of those consumed with fallacy and egocentrism regardless of the empire they reign. The mainstream, far left and right media as well as some news organization with an exception of cable network like –
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Night Shows”, Failed to meet the journalistic standards of objectivity and professionalism required in the presentation of views and analysis of any events particularly a Presidential election or for that matter, serious missions like the war.
The role of MSNBC and FOX in their relentless bashing of the candidates from both political aisles successfully drove the viewers to the cyberspace in search of…
Truth and Transparency desperately sought by people of the human race.
Whether it is young Sanjaya Malakar reaching for the stars or young Senator from the State of Illinois, President-elect Barack Obama successfully taking a shot at the highest office on land,
Their audacity of hope was challenged with rhetoric filled with racial slur, negative attacks and divisive politics to deny them the spotlight.
It is admirable that both individuals displayed a decorum signifying unity and poise seen unlike before in dealing with excessive criticism from the entities exhibiting power in the corporate media and Public office.
United States is a nation of immigrants from all over the world.
Any social progress to the satisfaction of all those feeling disfranchised is attainable only if the media and the elected officials recognize their share of responsibility in the service to democracy.
Further, the author of the cited article, Mr. Victor Davis Hanson, concluded with the following passage:
“Obama and his giddy Democratic majority sound like they think they will now be novel exceptions to these iron laws of politics, as if they really believe their hype that they are the “change” we have been waiting for, with cosmic power to stop the planet from heating and the seas from rising.
But the only real difference from the past old politics is that the present avatars of “hope and change” apparently don’t believe that the age-old adage - “The more things change, the more they remain the same” - will really apply to them as well.”
————————————————————–
It does not require the cosmic power to stop the planet form heating and the seas from rising.
It is doable by the ordinary human power to respect life in general and act responsibly for their survival now and in the future.
Failing that,
Perhaps the cosmic power could influence the resisting human nature to preserve and protect the ecological balance necessary for the sustenance of the planet.
As for the age-old adage referenced above applying to the present avatars of ‘Hope and Change”, It entirely depends on the agents of change and their target.
The age-old adage applies to those involved in cosmetic change rather than fundamental change, the ultimate goal and mission of the present avatars of “Hope and Change.”
Cosmetic change is delusional and beneficial for short-term gains affecting a selective few, hence it yields “more of the same” result.
Whereas, fundamental change target the philosophy of the institution as the sovereign power and,
Therefore, it is real, long lasting and universal.
As per the Hindu mythology, Almighty God Shiva is depicted the
“Lord of Destruction.”
Destruction is Deliverance for a New beginning with a divine commitment to depart from the age-old adage towards new-era prophecy, a divergence from
“The Oscillating Pendulum.” –
The significance and the sole purpose of the avatars of “Hope and Change.”
Where Do You Stand: Energy for America and the Truth about Energy?
We Are in a Crisis
Our dependence on foreign oil forms the intersection of the three most critical issues America currently faces: the economy, the environment and our national security.
There is a Solution
America is blessed with the world's greatest wind power corridor and abundant reserves of clean natural gas. The Pickens Plan will utilize these tremendous resources to build a bridge to the future — a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives and buying time for us to develop even greater new technologies.
The Plan calls for building new wind generation facilities that will produce 20% of our nation's electricity and allow us to use natural gas as a transportation fuel. The combination of these domestic energies can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports. And we can do it all in 10 years.
We Can Bring Change On January 20th, 2009, a new President will take office. We're organizing behind the Pickens Plan now to ensure our voices will be heard by the next administration. Together we can raise a call for change and set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.
You can start changing America's future today by supporting the Pickens Plan. Join now.
The Man with the Plan
T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman, BP Capital Management, is principally responsible for the formulation of the energy futures investment strategy of the BP Capital Commodity Fund and the BP Capital Equity Fund. With more than $4 billion under management, BP Capital manages one of the nation's most successful energy-oriented investment funds. Pickens frequently utilizes his wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry in the evaluation of potential equity investments and energy sector themes. He has not been shy in predicting oil and gas prices and — more often than not — has been uncannily accurate.
Pickens is also aggressively pursuing a wide range of other business interests, from water marketing and ranch development initiatives to Clean Energy, a company he founded and is the largest shareholder. Through Mesa Water, Pickens is the largest private holder of permitted groundwater rights in the United States. Clean Energy is advancing the use of natural gas as a cleaner-burning and more cost-effective transportation fuel alternative to gasoline and diesel.
Boone grew up in Holdenville, a small eastern Oklahoma town. His father was in the oil business, and his mother ran the Office of Price Administration during World War II, rationing gasoline and other goods for four counties. Boone attributes much of his success to his mother and father.
Boone graduated as a geologist from Oklahoma State University in 1951 and started work with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After three and a half years, he struck out on his own as an independent geologist. Pickens was founder of Mesa Petroleum in its various forms beginning in 1956. Mr. Pickens' career at Mesa spanned four decades. Under his leadership, Mesa grew to become one of the largest and most well known independent exploration and production companies in the United States; Mesa produced more than 3 trillion cubic feet of gas and 150 million barrels of oil from 1964 to 1996.
From its inception, Mesa was at the forefront of change and innovation. Mesa's fitness program is a good example. Boone has long understood the benefits of physical fitness. Mesa's fitness program has become a model for corporate America, and Mesa was the first company to be accredited by the Institute for Aerobics Research.
Throughout his professional life, Pickens has been a generous philanthropist, giving away almost one half of a billion dollars. In 2006, he contributed $175 million to a wide range of causes and the formation of the T. Boone Pickens Foundation. He has appeared multiple times on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of top U.S. philanthropists. The T. Boone Pickens Foundation is improving lives through grants supporting educational programs, medical research, athletics and corporate wellness, at-risk youth, the entrepreneurial process, and conservation and wildlife initiatives.
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. selected Pickens as a recipient of the 2006 Horatio Alger Award, which epitomizes those who overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve success. It is but one of many honors awarded to Pickens for his achievements, including Trader Monthly's 2006 Trader of the Year award, the Texas Business Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Pickens lives in Dallas and is married to Madeleine Ann Pickens. He has five children and 12 grandchildren.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE!
New Energy for America
The voters have spoken, but I don’t believe this was a mandate for the Democrats. It was a mandate for Obama’s promises of cooperation and bipartisanship, of treating each other with respect and dignity. It was a vote for the hope of a Washington that functions for the good of the American people.
Can Obama lead America to that reality, as he has promised? Time will tell. But, as Obama has said, getting there requires all Americans. It’s not something he can do by himself. It’s a challenge to all of us to work together so our nation can see better days.
Thank you for taking the time to look at this booklet. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden’s Plan for America
Barack Obama Plan for America
Energy and Environmental
Obama's plan to create five million new "green" jobs would depend upon a ten year, $150 billion investment to "catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future."
Obama has pushed for one million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015 and a target of 10 percent of all household electricity originating from renewable sources by 2012.
He has also stressed the importance of providing short-term relief, offering to enact a Windfall Profits Tax that would provide a $1,000 energy rebate to American families.
Obama has even announced a plan to eliminate our current imports from Venezuela and the Middle East within ten years. Obama proposes a $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles.
Economy Obama's Stance on the Economy Barack Obama has offered a detailed plan to get America’s economy back on track, by creating new jobs and easing the burden on hardworking Americans by offering middle-class tax cuts three times the size of McCain’s. Learn More
Read the Pickens Plan Pledge below and then tell your Member of Congress to join with T. Boone Pickens and his army of supporters in calling for an Energy Independence Plan to be enacted within the first 100 days of the new administration. CLICK HERE TO EMAIL CONGRESS NOW!
GET THE DETAILS:
Attachments:
President-elect Barack Obama, speaks during the election party at the Grant Park in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 (NAM Y. HUH, ASSOCIATED PRESS / November 4, 2008)
Text of Senator Barack Obama's speech upon winning the presidency of the United States.OBAMA: Hello, Chicago.If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
Your thoughts on Barack Obama winning the 2008 presidential election:
Newsday's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist.• Watch Walt's animations
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.We are, and always will be, the United States of America.It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain.Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton ... and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years ... the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady ... Michelle Obama.Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us ...to the new White House.And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe ... the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.To my chief strategist David Axelrod ... who's been a partner with me every step of the way.To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics ... you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy ... who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.This is your victory.And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.I promise you, we as a people will get there.AUDIENCE: Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!OBAMA: There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.AUDIENCE: Yes we can.OBAMA: When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.AUDIENCE: Yes we can.OBAMA: She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.AUDIENCE: Yes we can.OBAMA: A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.Yes we can.AUDIENCE: Yes we can.OBAMA: America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
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The answer to the question of what my election night was like, surprised even me. I cried like a baby! That night I could not figure out why I was so emotional. I have had a few days to reflect on that historic evening. I realized that this had been the culmination of a journey for me and I think the whole country.
I first realized how the President-elect had influenced me, by his coolness and the way he took the high road. I live in a small town, and about a month before the election, I encountered some people who said some pretty rough statements about the Senator. In other elections I use to get upset and angry. But, this time I did not, I spoke with calm and compassion, and still got my point across. I do not know if I changed their minds but they did not have much to say after I finished. Thanks to the President-elect and his example, I was able to express myself in a way I have never been able to do before.
My husband and I own a small business, which does pretty well. But,we had to give up our health insurance. and I was laid-off from my job. The whole situation scares the heck out of me. But I felt Senator Obama was speaking to us. I cried when Senator Obama won because it was such a relief, we elected a person who has given us hope, understands our situation and will help us, and the many other Americans that are hurting. I do not want a hand-out just a chance to get back on our feet. I know many families are a lot worse-off than us, we are still able to keep our home, so far.
I also cried because of the African-American community in our country. I just voted for the person I thought would do the best job. I did not realize what this election of Senator Obama meant to the African American community, I did not realize how deep the sins of our past had affected them. I am sorry, and it looks like this historic election will help the United States along the journey to a more accepting, compassionate and hopeful society. I know there is still work to do,but now there is hope.
In conclusion, my election night was like a journey that has not ended but has just taken a different path. I have been on this journey with the President-elect which has changed me for the better. I now have a deeper understanding of many issues and I thank President-elect Obama for his hopeful inspiration and the journey he has taken me on and will continue on in the future, I can't wait! I pray for President-elect Obama and his administration as they start on their own journey.
Now that election day has come and went, I just want to say wow. We did it, Barack Obama will be our next president. It is through everybody's hard work that we have acheived this great accomplishment. Its been a great campaign and a great political year for us, and can't wait untill Inauguration Day and I know these next four years will be very exciting, and hope that we can turn this country around.
Thank you everybody for all that you've done to help make this dream come true. Let's stand behind Barack and show the rest of the country and the rest of the world how much we can all do to implement change. Yes We Can.
All you can say is Wow.
YESSS!!!
Don't forget my 5 Obama songs for your Inauguration party night CD!!! Or for any other events you are planning.
Of course, you can choose which one(s) you'd like to download, but why not grab 'em all? They're FREE!
Yes We Did!
John, http://willobamawin.com/
Will Obama Win?"Pleased to serve the cause"
Most elections are about immediate issues. Sometimes you get a confluence of factors that presents us with immediate issues and generational issues that can transform the nation. This is one of those elections. We have serious immediate issues (e.g., energy independence, a failing economy, and the Iraq war). We also have some serious generational issues (basic philosophy of what the government's role should be, and dealing with serious religious and racial/political divides). Those issues require a different kind of leader. In essence, they require a transcendent and transformation figure who can reach across those divides to accomplish change. That's what I saw in Obama; in a lot of ways, he was the culmination of a lot of the great battles for which our father's generation fought so bitterly - including most prominently civil rights. Moreover, he - by his basic philosophy and his biography - was able to bridge and transcend those divides; and most importantly, he preached that message and walked the walk.
I believe one of the most amazing things about this country is its ability to continuously strive for a more perfect union and fix mistakes and heal divides. We owe our fathers and forefathers a great debt of gratitude for what they accomplished and fought for and we have a huge obligation to protect it, better it, and pass it forward. I think the generational churn (for lack of a better word) is amazing to witness. Thanks to them, we now live in a world where the next generation was no longer consumed by the 60's or the civil rights fights and was able to elect a man simply as the better choice; And that's what happened in this election; with this generational churn, we validated what our parents and grandparents fought for. Now our kids will grow up in a world where that is hopefully no longer a relevant question.
I can only imagine what will be ours to fight for and protect. I personally think it may be in our great struggle between defeating terrorism and religious extremism on all sides - whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian or other - and avoiding World War III and preaching tolerance for all those who are moderate practitioners of the same. In that regard, I am hopeful because although I know Americans may disagree on policies, I think the country elected a man who will be able to approach this issue with the depth and nuance and intelligence it requires.
And more than that, I'm hopeful because I know that most Americans - while on opposite ends of the political spectrum - will both be united in the fight to strike out against evil and extremism while instilling in our kids tolerance of all peace-loving good-hearted people, regardless of basic creed or ideology.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate Mr. Obama on his win of the Presidency...Congratz and Nicely Done, Barack! I hope to see great things from you, and I do not believe you will disappoint :).
Now, to introduce myself. I just joined this site, and note that I would have earlier had I known it was here. I am not normally one to be very political, but I always vote my conscious each election, and there are some issues that I feel very strongly about. I am a 32 year old Floridian, and disabled due to legal blindness from birth. I am also a non-Christian, who tends to have liberal ideals, with some center-line leanings. I believe strongly in equality, free speech, freedom of religion, and in those who have helping those who do not.
It is my strong opinion that over the last eight years, our country has fallen into great disarray. I have watched as many of my friends and family have lost jobs, lost health care, lost money, lost homes, and lost hope. I work with many people in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, and am well aware that the world in general does not see us the same way they did in years past. Many are angry, some are baffled, ans still others consider us the laughingstock of the world these days. I want that to change, and hope that we once again re-earn the respect of the world at large. I do not say this in arrogance, for even though we are one of the largest powers in the world, we are no better or worse than any other country or its people. I just want peace and international cooperation wherever possible.
I want to see things improve, especially for the poor and disabled. Many of us cannot afford to live on our own anymore, myself included. We simply don't have enough money to do so. I am not saying we deserve to be rich, but I do think that we should at least be able to rent our own quarters and be able to pay our bills, put food on our tables, and not have to worry about being treated as 'second class' citizens by the health care system. We are not numbers, or charity cases. We are citizens of this great country, and bottom line, we are human beings who deserve just as much honor and dignity as those with more assets than us.
I would also like to see our nation start to really make changes to energy means and uses. We have but this one planet to live on for the time being, and we need to take care of it. I am not anti-technology (obviously, since I use a computer and modern conveniences), but I am all for keping our planet a good place for us, and for future generations, to call home. Pollution in moderation is to be expected in our modern world, but we do need to find better, cleaner, and cheaper ways of powering our modern lifestyles. We depend too heavily on oil, a resource which is not as plentiful as it once was, and is costing so much, both in money and in lives. There are many options available to us, and I feel we should truly start harnessing them on a larger scale, and release ourselves from the costly tethers of oil as a majority of our energy source.
Well...I think I have said enough, some may think too much, I expect. However, I have finally found a place where I feel I can express my views to those who feel as I do. I'm not a genius, and I live a simple life for the most part. I don't understand a lot about polotics, nor do I make it a large part of my life. I just want things to improve, and I strongly feel that Barack Obama will usher in those changes that we need so desperately.
Peace, and Brightest Blessings to you, Mr. Obama, and to all.
I did a bit of sign waving with another dozen volunteers, made reminder calls in the afternoon, but others had done such a great job with GOTV efforts, just about everyone we reached tonight had already voted. Someone brought champagne for all, but we dare not jinx the outcome by celebrating victory prematurely, so a toast was said in gratitude and memory of Barack's Tutu (grandmother).
On to the watch party and celebration, which was packed full of supporters. A heartfelt letter from Barack's sister, Maya (who has been caring for their grandmother in these last few days) was read. I think the longest line this Election Day was the buffet, but it was ono (real good)!
99% of the Hawai`i count is in now, and we've made our staff's goal to bring in the largest percentage of Obama/Biden votes... 72%!
My favorite personal experiences of the campaign... on a Sunday afternoon of sign waving, seeing a car come around the median in a U-turn (heading to McDonald's) full of tutus (grandmas) all vigorously waving back at us after seeing our Obama-Biden signs. Registering a student to vote who was turning 18 on Election Day... and shaking hands with both our State Senators for the first time tonight!
Mahalo (thank you) to all campaign staff and supporters for making my HOPE a REALITY!
IMUA (go forward)!
Thank You so much for stepping up to the plate President Obama. Thank you to all the advisors. Thank you to all of my fellow volunteers! Thank You to everyone who got to that voting poll and did the right thing!
We DID IT!
We envoked CHANGE!
My voting experience video on Myspace!
*BLESS*
Change is underway!
