Hi FriendThere is a new group that just started on Facebook that I thought Organizing for America members may be interested in joining. Please see United Against Racism -
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/354956/80588439?m=9dc74a6eUnited Against Racism
posted by David Apperson
THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press SecretaryFor Immediate Release August 26, 2009- - - - - - -BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAA PROCLAMATIONSenator Edward M. Kennedy was not only one of the greatestsenators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americansever to serve our democracy. Over the past half-century, nearlyevery major piece of legislation that has advanced the civilrights, health, and economic well-being of the American peoplebore his name and resulted from his efforts. With his passing,an important chapter in our American story has come to an end.As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M.Kennedy, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by theConstitution and laws of the United States of America, thatthe flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff atthe White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, atall military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vesselsof the Federal Government in the District of Columbia andthroughout the United States and its Territories and possessionsuntil sunset on August 30, 2009. I also direct that the flag ofthe United States shall be flown at half-staff until sunset onthe day of his interment. I further direct that the flag shallbe flown at half-staff for the same periods at all United Statesembassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilitiesabroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels andstations.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thistwenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lordtwo thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United Statesof America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.BARACK OBAMA# # #
As President Obama recently related to me regarding local service; "Now is our time to work together, reaffirm our enduring spirit, and choose our better history."
It is our responsibility as Americans to vote, and vote we must. And now is the time to prepare for the next election. I invite all citizens of Massachusetts to post a message on the Massachusetts Election Blog.
Massachusetts Election Blogmassachusetts-election.blogspot.com
During the first 100 days of the Obama presidency we have seen outstanding leadership in tackling the many issues facing our great nation. And it seems that overwhelming poll numbers indicate that America agrees with President Obama. see THE WHITE HOUSEThe question remains; What can we as fellow Americans do to help our neighbors and countrymen? Included are nine things you can do to help the President celebrate his first 100 Days in office:1. Donate unused suits to the Salvation Army2. Donate time to Americorps3. Donate toys for children at Toys for Tots4. Donate blood at the Red Cross5. Donate a can of food each week to a Local Shelter or Food Pantry6. Donate money to Save the Children7. Donate time at local a Veterans Hospital8. Donate an hour a day to your Child9. Donate to the Make a Wish FoundationParticipation is greatly appreciated. What you do for the least of our brethren, you do for yourself -http://donate.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxWJh
Barack Obama First 100 Days posted by David Apperson
Presidential Inaugural Address Delivered by President Barack Obama on 20 Jan 2009
My fellow citizens -I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.This is the price and the promise of citizenship.This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.President Barack Obama
My fellow citizens -
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
President Barack Obama
Presidential Inaugural Speech - A message for all peoplehttp://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxHqT
source: David Apperson, webmaster
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
Obama-Biden PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM is giving all people a voice in the administration -
The PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM is doing a great job. Thank the Almighty Creator that this is a new day in the history of this great nation.
Internet Webmasters, Designers and Developers
If you are an independent webmaster, designer or developer and have linked a business, personal, or political website or blog to your barack obama posts or other barackobama.com web pages and would like to be recognized for your efforts let me know. Mail your contact and other pertinent information to: David Apperson, Webmaster 10336 Loch Lomond Rd PMB 105Middletown CA 95461or email contact information to yofast@gmail.com
It's been three days since Barack Obama has been declared the winner of our Presidential election. It's been three days of jubilation, exhaltation, astonishment, reaffirmed faith, and yes, relief. At last. Sing it with me, pretend you are Etta James....at laaaaaast....I remember my mom talking about JFK and the effect his presidency had on her. We're a Massachusetts blue-collar family with European immigrant roots. My grandmother worshipped the Kennedy family. We were Catholic-lite, in an attend-church-on-Easter kind of way. We were white, sometimes poor, surrounded by Irish, Italian and eventually, Asian culture in the southern suburbs of Boston. My grandmother wrote a letter to JFK, and he wrote her back and she kept that letter in one of the many books that were stacked lengthwise and sideways and everyways, floor to ceiling, in her tiny 55+ apartment.My family were waitresses, cooks and welders, not lawyers, doctors or professors. But we had our books. My grandmother talked to me of history, philosophy and Jesus and the Golden Rule. She was the kind of woman who went to Catholic churches, Native American pow-wows, Baptist churches, Synagogues and if we had a Mosque, she would have attended that too. We were Democrats. And to be a Massachusetts Democrat was a source of pride, despite what George W. Bush says.I was too young to understand the importance of "Camelot", the significance of John F. Kennedy. and what he meant to people. I had no idea what it could be like to be inspired by a single person. I kept waiting and hoping that one day I would.When I first heard Barack Obama give his speech during the 2004 convention, I was weary of politicians and a certifiable full-blown cynic. I was horrified over the war in Iraq and terrified of our leaders. I was watching my country become increasingly partisan, watching rights I always considered fundamentally American being revoked, watching religious extremists influencing way too many government leaders. I was concerned that our children were not getting the education they needed to keep our country competitive. I wondered when the expenses of fighting an ill-planned war on false premises would hurt our economy. I was concerned about massive industries like insurance, health, oil and pharma getting big tax breaks and govt. sanction to act like monopolies while charging us more and giving us less. I was concerned about working class folks with no insurance and folks with insurance who got dropped when they got sick. I didn't recognize the country I loved in my history books as a child.I was a registered Libertarian in '04 -a conservative in foreign and domestic policy, but a social liberal. I was neither Left nor Right. John Kerry bored me, but I was going to vote for him, because Bush scared me. Living in America scared me even more when we elected him again.The Barack Obama speech in 04 changed everything. I watched his career in the days following that speech with great interest. When he announced his candidacy, I was excited but skeptical over his slim resume. It was between Obama and Biden in my eyes, and I would have been fine with a Hillary term as well.
I decided to back Obama because he was a fresh break from the past and seemed to be open to rational debate. More importantly, he talked about the future as if it was a good thing and not something to be afraid of. He didn't talk about Us and Them. He didn't insult our intelligence with blatant appeals to spinal cord patriotism and la-de-da ain't-we-grand bromides. He didn't pander to our lowest fears and emotions, but spoke to our ability to reason and our spirit to innovate and make things better. With Barack Obama, I saw a better chance of America healing international rifts, as well as our own. I was sick of the hate. I was sick of Liberal being used as a swear word, as if our country is made up of nothing but Liberals or Conservatives, no one in between, that anyone who doesn't subscribe to the Sean Hannity Goosestep is Anti-American. I was sick of the "Conservative" myth and tired of the Democrat same-old.
President-Elect Obama transcends this. President-Elect Obama gives us a chance to rise above the rabble of the pundit monkies.I want a leader who recognizes that Capitalism can be ethical and sustainable, not corrupt and wasteful. I want a leader who recognizes that health care is a right, but we have to take care of ourselves. I want a leader who tells us to work hard, achieve, practice personal responsibility and do good for others. I want a leader who respects the lives of the living, not just the unborn. I want a leader who thinks teaching our children science is good for technology and not just for weapons. I want a leader who advocates a more transparent government and will give college opportunities to people who do volunteer work. I want a leader who thinks before he acts and speaks. (Is that so alien a concept?)I want a leader who shrugs off ad hominem attacks with a wide smile and then goes on to discuss things that really matter.I want a leader who is a fearless optimist with substantive ideas for solutions for the daunting problems we face.
I want a leader who likes smart people and surrounds himself with them and actually listens to them.And oh yeah, I am so ready to have someone other than a rich, white establishment man as my President. They just don't, well, get me. Or the countless others who stood in line for hours to vote, or the folks in their living rooms or in Grant Park crying out at the final hand of victory.
Obama is my JFK. I finally understand. I wish my grandmother were alive to see this.At last.
I'm happy that I was able to get out and vote for the Obama/Biden ticket this morning. My polling location is in one of Boston's black neighborhoods, and the poll workers at my site on Townsend Street did a great job.
Voting was a family event, as grandparents, parents, and children wanted to share in this history making process. While in line, I saw elderly people with canes who could barely walk, but they were excited about voting for Barack Obama for President. There were teenagers who were thrilled to be casting thier first vote ever for Barack Obama. Even would-be thugs were waiting in line, and they were excited to display their Barack Obama buttons.
There were so many happy people at my polling site. As long as some of these folks stay excited about participating in the community and our country, Barack's campaign will continue to yield benefits for years and generations to come.
This past week we put up a 40 Foot sign in Fairhaven. We had a party! We had a lot of energy for this amazing campaign. Homeowners Nate, Penny and Mia came up with this wonderful idea to show their SUPPORT for Obama right Now! in their front yard on BUSY Route 6. Check out this website http://www.obamanowsign.com/ Many pictures, Videos, interviews will follow. Please take the time to see what we are doing in a small town in Massachusetts for Obama and think about what you can do too! It is all very positive energy! Everyone can make a difference! If you live close by- drive by and see for yourself! Think CHANGE and VOTE!
Hi everyone,
I included this information in a reply below, but I also felt it was important enough to include in a post by itself.
The Lexington Democratic Town Committee (LDTC), along with the Lexington Obama coordinators, have created the LexBlue2008 Yahoo Group. If you join the group, you can learn about volunteer activities in which you can participate. To join, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LexBlue2008/
Also, the LDTC and the Arlington DTC have opened a regional campaign office at 148 Mass Ave in East Arlington. The phone number there is 781-316-2889.
Finally, if you'd like to send an email to the Obama campaign coordinators in Lexington, please email LexingtonForObama =at= gmail =dot= com.
We're fired up and ready to go! Please join us!!
JJ Krawczyk
Vice-chair for Campaigns, Lexington Democratic Town Committee
Fired Up!!!
Congressman Jim McGovern and staff couldn't have done a better job at firing up the troops to help elect Barack Obama. Last night was one of my proudest moments as a Democrat. The willingness of all the former Hillary supporters who worked their hearts and souls out for her, to come out in such numbers and enthusiasm and embrace Barack Obama... it just reinforces everything I love about our Democratic Party.
The Republican Mean Machine has had success for years redefining the public's sense of who the Democrats are, and after leading many Americans to vote against their own best interests, for the benefit of a few, there are many who now "get it," uncommitted Independents.
I hope those who went to the Unity Event last night found they've always belonged with the Democrats. The Democrats who seemingly vote against our own self-interest do so with full knowledge that we protect the little guy and we ALL benefit from Democratic programs like education funding, social security, environmental protection, fair wages and workplace safety.
Congratulations to all the passionate speakers last night who reminded me of the lessons of compassion at the dinner table with my parents, a Union Musician and a stay at-home-Mom. Simply put, they explained, "Republicans are for the Big Guys, and the Democrats are for the little guy."
Hooray for the little guy!
Yesterday we joined people across the country by holding our own UNITE FOR CHANGE event here in Needham. It was an amenable weather day, and guests started arriving around 2PM, checked in at our WELCOME table (run by my almost 5yo daughter, Hazel), voted in a mock election, slapped on name tags and headed round the back for drinks and munchies.
Around 30 people had signed up for the event via the MyBo website. On the sign-in sheet we have about 23 names (I know for sure that some didn't sign in...I'm looking at you Enrico!). People came not just from Needham, but also Newton, Wellesley, Franklin, Walpole, Norwood, Medfield, Cambridge, Amesbury and even New York city!
As we waited for everyone to arrive, guests settled into the ObaMargaritas, beer and soft-drinks, and started to get to know one another--which for me was certainly the highlight.
John Kerry, with long roots in Massachusetts, has worked hard to improve the lives of Massachusetts residents. From his work trying to improve the economy as Chair of the Small Business Committee to working with the Senate to bring projects and jobs to Massachusetts, John Kerry takes his responsibilities as the Senator from Massachusetts very seriously.
And the trust the Massachusetts voters have shown John Kerry by re-electing him to the Senate 3 times has placed him in a senior position in the Senate, giving him even more opportunities to do what he can to improve the state that has been home to his family for generations.
Here are just a few of the most recent things Senator Kerry has done for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Powerful interests sustain our adversaries. We depend on your support.
Imagine what we can accomplish together.Email volunteer@johnkerry.com , and tell Terri you want to volunteer!
JohnKerryForSenate.com129 Portland Street, 5th FloorBoston, MA 02114-2014(617) 227-1460Email support@johnkerry.com
BARACK IS A UNIVERSAL WORD MEANING TO BRING A BLESSING.
ACCORDING TO HOSEA 4:6 WITH A VISION WE HAVE THE ETERNAL RIGHT TO SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, GUIDANCE and HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
In this digital age we need courage, leadership and true vision. Obama has shown such in the proper use of political blogging. It is my belief that the message of HOPE spoken by Obama is a God given word and that the vision must not slip from the grasp of the American people or the other nations, peoples and tongues that support Barack Obama around the world.
This is a day the Lord has made. Barak Obama is on his way to the THE WHITE HOUSE . . . .
and I am humbly honored to finish this message with the closing remarks of the world famous CIVIL RIGHTS leader, DR MARTIN LUTHER KING, born 15 JAN 1929, who proclaimed to the world at the LINCOLN MEMORIAL on 28 AUG 1963 in his famous freedom speech:
I HAVE A DREAM
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.From every mountainside, let freedom ring.And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
THAT DAY IS HERE - YOU ARE FREE
UPDATE: OBAMA MAKES HISTORY as FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT and YES HE DID
HONOR PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN 1861-1865
I got an incredible email early Friday morning: Dave Smith, a young man who just graduated from Cambridge University in England told me that after hearing Sen. Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama he wanted to buy an airplane ticket to Massachusetts and volunteer for Barack Obama on Primary Day -- since as a foreigner he couldn't contribute money and wants to support this amazing movement for change.
As he told me when I said I'd try to get him a place to stay, "Brian - that would be ideal! I don't have much money I'm afraid but I'd be more than willing to pay my way. I know what it's like being a hard up student, so I can at least buy them a drink or two after the polls close on Tuesday! Thank you so much for your help. You really have turned what was once just a distant hope into a reality. I'm off to pay for my plane fare - do keep me posted! -- Very best, Dave ".
One email to the "Harvard for Obama" list and I had multiple offers for a place to stay for him in minutes! He's arriving Sunday night, will volunteer all day Monday and Tuesday, and then take a day to enjoy Boston, then the Greyhound to Washington, DC (he was a political science major wo focused on US politics in college).
Then he sent this note to me and his host: "Thank you so much – your generosity is overwhelming. I'm not quite sure what else to say. Thank you, though. Without yourself and Brian this worthwhile trip may have never proved possible. The flight is now paid for and I shall be on it! I'm so excited, I almost can't really believe this is happening. But it is, so I better get organised. Can't think of anything else at the moment. Any questions do ask. And thanks so much again. You really don't know how much this means to me. All I wanna do now is win on Tuesday. -- Very best, Dave "
I haven't met him yet, but at this moment he is flying from London and I'm picking him up at the airport this evening -- perhaps I can get him to write a few lines himself then, but see the extended post for his original email.
Dave first met Senator Obama at a town hall meeting in his hometown, Concord, New Hampshire.
Right before the meeting was over, Dave raised his hand and asked a difficult question about prison reform. Sen. Obama turned to Dave, and then with the whole room watching, did something Dave hadn't really been expecting.
He answered the question.
"Barack had a complete grasp of the situation, cited studies and had an incredible ability to break down complex issues so that everyone in that room could digest them. He had the courage to recognize what we need in this country, and the intellect to respond to the facts. But in the end he said -- and he's right -- that the fundamental issue at the core of prison reform is fairness."
A few weeks later, Dave was knocking on doors and working the phones at his local Concord Obama HQ in New Hampshire. It was the first political work of his life.
Hearing Barack speak, I had a sense that I could do something. It took me out of that sense of helplessness that I think a lot of people in my generation feel, especially after the last eight years. He made me feel like I could make a difference again.
So Dave threw himself into volunteering and worked night and day all the way through the New Hampshire primary, where Barack came back from 20 points behind, and tied for the most delegates. Then, post-New Hampshire, some people's work was done. Not Dave.
Dave was asked to keep going and move with the campaign to Massachusetts.. He went, and this time he got more responsibility -- to say the least. On arrival in the Bay State he was placed in charge of organizing the phonebanks, canvasses and all other activities in 30 Massachusetts towns.
Keep in mind, Dave is a volunteer!
To give you an idea of what that entails: today alone, Dave is out there organizing canvasses in Wellesley, Needham, Belmont, Arlington, Brookline, Newton, Concord, and Waltham -- and then visibilities in Sherborn, Holliston, Belmont, and Framingham -- not to mention the phonebanks in Ashland, Wayland, Concord, Carlisle, Natick, Wellesley -- and don't forget the additional phonebanks he has going in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Concord, New Hampshire, and Claremont, California.
Wow.
With that kind of inspiration, by now you should all be fired up to get out there and volunteer!
Check here to see what's happening near you:
Sign up to volunteer.
Phonebank from home.
Make your own Obama signs with your friends and family and create your own visibility event.
Now is the time. Go out there, make a difference -- and make history.
Yes we can.
