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
Enlarge USA TODAY file photo A statue of "Honest John" Burke, governor from 1907 to 1913, stands in front of the North Dakota's state capitol building in Bismarck. North Dakota had the highest rate of public corruption convictions won by federal prosecutors from 1998 through 2007.
North Dakota, it turns out, may hold that distinction instead.
Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday after a wiretap allegedly recorded him scheming to make money on his appointment to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich, a Democrat, ran for election in part on cleaning up after his predecessor, Republican George Ryan, who was convicted in 2006 of racketeering, bribery and extortion.
"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Robert Grant, head of the FBI's Chicago office, said Tuesday.
On a per-capita basis, however, Illinois ranks 18th for the number of public corruption convictions the federal government has won from 1998 through 2007, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Department of Justice statistics.
Louisiana, Alaska and North Dakota all fared worse than the Land of Lincoln in that analysis.
Alaska narrowly ousted Republican Sen. Ted Stevens in the election in November after he was convicted of not reporting gifts from wealthy friends. In Louisiana, Democratic Rep. William Jefferson was indicted in 2007 on racketeering and bribery charges after the FBI said it found $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer. Jefferson, who has maintained his innocence and will soon go to trial, lost his seat to a Republican this year.
But North Dakota?
Don Morrison, executive director of the non-partisan North Dakota Center for the Public Good, said it may be that North Dakotans are better at rooting out corruption when it occurs.
"Being a sparsely populated state, people know each other," he said. "We know our elected officials and so certainly to do what the governor of Illinois did is much more difficult here."
Morrison said the state has encouraged bad government practices in some cases by weakening disclosure laws. North Dakota does not require legislative or statewide candidates to disclose their campaign expenses.
The analysis does not include corruption cases handled by state law enforcement and it considers only convictions. Corruption may run more rampant in some states but go undetected.
Michael Johnston is a political science professor at Colgate University in New York — which is ranked just after Illinois for corruption convictions. Johnston, who has studied political corruption for 30 years, said places such as Illinois gain a bad reputation that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"Expectations build up … and you replicate those expectations when you get to the top of the ladder," Johnston said. "It gets repeated."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-10-corruptstates_N.htm?se=yahoorefer
[Yes North Dakota and believe it or not South Dakota too. Both Dakotas are neck and neck when comparing in corrupted practices. It is my opinion SD should be the front runner being that they are much closer knit then ND will ever be. The closer the knit, the more likely, cover up's.
Is it surprising to know that smaller counties have the most corruption over the bigger counties? It's the truth. It is why it is important the FBI randomly investigate these counties to assure government funds are not used inappropriately.
Key is for the FBI to randomly choose. Randomly choosing keeps those who would cheat, honest. A government official would never know what county is next. Never knowing who is next is a good deterrant, he/she would refrane from defrauding the government, automatically]
Kade
Women to Women phone banks will be held at each of the 11 Campaign for Change offices in the state and run from 4:00 pm - 8:30 pm this Thursday.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden stand behind the women of North Dakota, they support the issues that matter most to them and we need you to come help us get that important message out.
Women were granted the right to vote in 1920 at the urging of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson and they have made the difference in every election since. This election will certainly be no different. Sign up today to reach out to women on Thursday.
Charlie Bolte is a recent high school graduate who plans to enter into military service with the Navy later this year. In the interim he volunteers at the Minot Campaign for Change office several times per week, making calls for hours on end, spreading Barack's message of hope and change to his fellow North Dakotans.
It is because of volunteers like Charlie that the field campaign is doing so well here in North Dakota. Like Charlie, the vast majority of volunteers in this campaign have never been involved politically before, but have been inspired and empowered by their desire for change and their recognition that they can do something about it.
If you are not already involved, now is the time. There are only 56 days left and there is a lot of work to be done. Everyone of you is needed and each one of you can make a difference. Sign up online to volunteer or stop by a regional field office to find out how you can make a difference.
Micki Lindeman is a student at United Tribes Technical College. Outside of volunteering at the Pow Wow booth, she has been helping to get fellow students involved and educated about Obama. Micki became an Obama supporter after reading his book "Dreams of My Father", prior to his presidential run. She has been following his career and campaign, and remains an avid supporter today. Like many of her fellow students, Micki is concerned about the future of her tribal college and she believes Obama's plan will not leave tribal colleges out as has been the case for years.
"Our college's President has had to fight for funding for the past seven years because we've been left out of the budget. That's kind of scary when you're going to a tribal college, to wonder if it's going to be there the next year. And then this year our President was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention. It's a huge difference!"
Photos from this weekend
North Dakota First Americans for Obama, directed by Standing Rock Nation native Jodi Gillette, is committed to getting that message out to the tribal communities in North Dakota.
Visit one of the new office locations today!
Fargo 745 45th St. S Suite B Jamestown Buffalo City Mall Highway 281 S & 25th St SW Dickinson 41 E. Villard St. Suite B Devils Lake 303 5th Ave Williston 205 Main St.
Visit ND.BarackObama.com/NDOffices for more information on these and other office locations in North Dakota.
"I've been a Republican my entire life, but I strongly believe that Senator Obama is a leader who will get our country back on the right track," said Ellen Dehn, a retired small business owner from Hatton, ND. "With the challenges that our middle class families are facing here in North Dakota, this election presents a clear choice: more of the same failed economic policies of the Bush administration or the change we need."
The initial membership of North Dakota Republicans for Obama includes, among others, a Registered Nurse, a former Truck Driver, an Insurance Agent, a Waitress, a Teacher and a retired Postal Worker. While each has their own reasons for supporting the Democratic candidate in this election, they all agree that change needs to be brought to Washington and that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the ones who can and will bring that change.
All North Dakota Republicans who agree that change needs to be brought to Washington are welcome and encouraged to join. You can learn more about where Barack stands on the issues and sign up to join North Dakota Republicans for Obama at ND.BarackObama.com/ndrepublicans.
Tomorrow, millions will be watching Barack Obama accept the Democratic Nomination. People across North Dakota and across America will be attending Convention Watch Parties and planning for the Nationwide Weekend of Action that will take place this Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Here in North Dakota, there are nearly 60 House parties planned for Thursday evening and over 100 events planned for the Labor Day weekend. These events are taking place all across the state of North Dakota; from Williston to Wahpeton, from Bottineau to Bismarck. To find the House Party or Weekend of Action event near you, visit ND.BarackObama.com/organizeforchange-bg
This is your opportunity to get involved, this is your moment, seize it!
On the second day of the Democratic National Convention, between 4:00 – 5:00 PM CT, Tuesday, August 26, 2008, North Dakotan Dr. David Gipp, President of United Tribes Technical College, will speak before the Democratic National Convention. Native American educator, David Gipp of North Dakota, has spent more than three decades working towards the development of tribal colleges. Gipp is also an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) Tribe.
Over the last few years, Barack Obama has joined with Americans in every state in this country in a positive campaign for change. The stories of the people he has met throughout this long campaign have inspired Barack Obama and helped to shape the policies he will promote as President. Dr. Gipp was one of a handful of speakers selected to be part of the nightly program who come from across the nation, but they are all brought together through their personal stories, which address real life challenges.
WHO: Dr. David Gipp, President of United Tribes Technical College and enrolled member of the Standing Rock Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) Tribe. WHERE: Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO WHEN: Between approximately 4:00 - 5:00 PM CT
WHO: Dr. David Gipp, President of United Tribes Technical College and enrolled member of the Standing Rock Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) Tribe.
WHERE: Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO
WHEN: Between approximately 4:00 - 5:00 PM CT
I am Amanda Kubik. In 1997 I was a high school sophomore in North Dakota. That spring, the Red River flooded its banks and devastated Fargo and Grand Forks. In our saddest and soggiest hour, I saw my generation, my friends, come to life. We’ve moved on from filling sandbags to raising money for a myriad of causes, to signing up for AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. And even serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. We feel a sense of urgency to make this country the America we grew up believing in. So when I hear that people doubt the impact of young people, I know they don’t know our powerful potential. But Senator Obama knows. Before the caucuses, the campaign sent staffers to North Dakota. That had never happened before. That team engaged young people, tapping into our potential. Until then, we were unregarded and the result was voter apathy among us. That has changed. Thanks to Barack Obama, young people got involved and found our voices. Across the nation, thousands of students and young professionals are uniting on campuses and in coffee shops, organizing, speaking out and running for local office. We are making our change visible. The victory of Barack Obama and Joe Biden in November may be the first presidential election where the youth vote and our activism play a decisive role, but I guarantee it won’t be the last. We are a generation who grew up believing yes, we can do anything, or as we sometimes say up in Fargo, “Ya sure, ya betcha.” For the better, we young patriots will change our country, and Barack Obama is the change we need to do it.
From the Star Tribune:
Kayla Whitaker, a 20-year-old Minnesota college student, has won a spot among 10 supporters who will be with Barack Obama backstage before he accepts the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week.In making the announcement of the contest winners, the Obama campaign said, "The people who make up our movement are of all different ages, races, and backgrounds -- and these folks are no different."Whitaker, of West Fargo, N.D., attends Minnesota State University, Moorhead.The campaign describes Whitaker as an "evangelical Christian who credits Barack for her newfound interest in the political process."Whitaker said she entered an Obama campaign contest, which said that anyone who contributes $5 or more gets a chance to be one of the 10 winners. She sent in $15 and gave herself no change of winning. The contest was illegal in Minnesota until it was modified to not require a donation."Well, I had been meaning to donate anyway," Whitaker said this afternoon. "It's not like they're going to pick a college student from North Dakota."And even after she heard the voice-mail message with the news, "I couldn't believe it. I called the lady back to make sure it wasn't a joke or something."Whitaker said that she and a guest of her choice leave Aug. 26 on the all-expenses paid trip. Obama is scheduled to accept the nomination two days later.
Retired Veteran Bill Anderson who served in Vietnam, announced the Senator. He got the event started off on a lighter note
Any man who carries his own jackknife is worth a dollar more. Well, Secret Service has my jackknife, I guess they're due for a raise.
He talked about how, in Vietnam, we fought in a conflict that need not have been fought and likened that to the current war in Iraq. He spoke of Barack being a champion for Veterans. He said Obama will treat them fair and back the GI Bill of Rights helping to propel the VA into the 21st century.
Barack spoke of the sacrifice of servicemen and women,
Their sacrifice has made possible the freedom that we enjoy. And keeping faith with those who serve must always be a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism. Because America's commitment to its servicemen and women begins at enlistment, and it must never end...These sons and daughters of America are the best and the bravest among us. When our troops go into battle, they serve no faction or party; they represent no race or region. They are simply Americans. They serve and fight and bleed together out of loyalty not just to a place on a map or a certain kind of people, but to a set of ideals that we have been striving for since the first shots rang out at Lexington and Concord - the idea that America could be governed not by men, but by laws; that we could be equal in the eyes of those laws; that we could be free to say what we want and write what we want and worship as we please; that we could have the right to pursue our individual dreams, but the obligation to help our fellow citizens pursue theirs.
He also spoke of his commitment to those who so bravely served and those who are currently serving as outlined in his pledge to build a 21st century VA as President.
You can read his full remarks here.
What makes an event successful are the people who attend it. The supporters and the curious alike. Although our stories, our beliefs, our struggles and our concerns may differ, they also bring us together, as they did today.
Among those in attendance was Randy, an Air Force Veteran, having served 23 years. Randy was initially a John Edwards supporter, but started leaning towards Senator Obama after learning more about him and where he stands on the issues. When asked what brought him here today, Randy said,
I want to hear him speak today to solidify in my mind that I made the right choice.
With Randy was Dorothy, what really impressed her was walking into the campaign office and seeing all the youth, of all different backgrounds and all different ethnicities. Dorothy said, “The youth have to be involved for things to change.”
Continue reading
Senator Obama is airing the first general election ad in 18 states his campaign is considering to be swing states:
Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
The map is changing.
See the ad and analysis at MSNBC's First Read, if the ad isn't up already at the main section of this site.
I am woman. I am Democrat. I am a North Dakotan. As a Woman, I want a candidate, I can be proud of.As a Democrat, I want a candidate who has a proven record that all the states and people within matter in the United States.As a North Dakotan, I want a candidate who knows we can go forward without pedaling backwards.
Why I Support Senator Barack Obama for President!!
My name is Lawrence P. Adams. I am a 58 year old white male, residing in conservative Republican city and state; Fargo, North Dakota. I have been a Republican since 1972.
To understand my answer to the question one needs to know a bit more about me.
I was born to an unwed mother in 1950 who had no means of supporting a child. She placed me for adoption though that never came to be. I was placed in foster care the day of my birth and would remain until I aged out at 18;spending the last 7 years in an orphanage. I experienced 16 moves in those years, verbal, physical and sexual abuse and also was so depressed and uninspired with life that at age 10 I attempted suicide.
In 1960 I heard of a candidate for President who was young, energetic and would provide hope to a nation. John F. Kennedy. I was thrilled with his election. Less than four years later he was dead at the hands of an assasin.
The wind of hope seemed to go out of the nation. We became trapped in the quagmire of Viet Nam. We experienced the shock of yet another assasination with the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King.
The nation experienced a tinge of hope when Robert F. Kennedy decided to run for President. He reminded us of the days of his brother...America just might be able to be inspired and have hope once again. In late May of 1968 RFK visited nebraska for its primary. He masde a side trip to the orphanage I was at (Boys Town, NE). He met with a group of us senior for over a half hour though we could not vote. What an inspiration he was. In two wweks I would graduate from Boys Town and his visit made me hope for the future even though I would have to spend the summer on the streets since I did not have a home to go to. An assasin's bullet brought that hope to come crashing down just two weeks later as he was on the verge of winning his party's nomination. Once again the nation was in despair.
Due to my childhood and what we as a country also expereinced in those years it would take much for me to once again have belief in myself yet alone for better days ahead for America. I became a very strong cynic and believed I would could never be inspired or have hope again.
I joined the Republican party in 1972. It was not because I agreed with them on all issues. I just didn't care about politics and felt really none of them could make any real difference. I admit that I did not vote in every election that followed. When I did it was to be agaist someone and not for someone.
In 2004 I heard a candidate running for the Seneate from the state of Illinois. My first impression was one of WOW! This man could maybe one day consider a run for president. Neither candidate for Presidnet that year impressed me and I once again sat out the election.
In the fall of 2006 I heard the person who I was impressed with two earliers earlier was considering running for President. I had read his two books by then and continued to be impressed by him.
I was so impressed that that I travelled from North Dakota so I could spend a cold Saturday morning in Springfield, Illinois amongst the 17,000 of his closest friends to hear him make his announcement.
I still was not convinced he was for real or if I could support him. I decided to research each of the candidates for president. I also had a specific issue I wanted each candidate to address.
I work for an international non profit dealing with orphans as well as those in foster care in the U.S. as Regional Manager for North America (World Initiative for Orphans based in The Hague, Nehterlands). I decided to write each candidate of both parties to see if they wuld address the need for reform of the foster care system.
I received only one response. It was not your typical form letter reply thanking me for writing about an issue. It was obvious a letter than had been very carefully considered as it addrsssed not only the issue but rsponded to the things I had experienced as a youth in foster care. One could tell this candidate had read my letter personally and responded to it in the same manner.
This candidate was Senator Barack Obama. He showed he cared about me as an individual, as an American as well as the issue. He was not the typical politician just looking for votes.
I became an immediate supporter of Senator Barack Obama for President.
The inspiration, hope, excitement for the future of America and myself that had died 40 years earlier again came to life.
In Senator Obama I see a man who, working with US Americans, can change things in Washington an bring forth the best in all of us. It is not about him but about US. He does not want change from the top down but rather the bottum up. He wants all of us to be a part of the change. He made me and millions of other Americans as well as people around the world believe in ourselves again.
He will inspire and unite our nation as no other candidate has done in so many years. He will work with us to take back our country and resolve the numerous problems that face us. That is why we say; "Yes WE Can!" He does not say I but rather WE!
I have never participated in a campaign before. Since February 2007 I have travelled to two states to campaign for Senator Obama, have sent had Letters to the Editor published, canvassed and phonebanked in my own Republican home state (which we won with 61% of the caucus vote)and donated funds.
The very simple answer to the questions is: He has made me believe once again in myself and in America and has inspired hope for the future.
The torch has passed to a new generation; now is our time, now is our moment, now is the time for Senator Barack Obama to be our 44th President.
Sincerely,Lawrence P. AdamsFargo, North Dakota
I am having the best day. My eyes are healed so I can get back to wearing contacts! Yeah! (okay, I know it, I'm vain).
But more importantly, Obama is having one of the best days of his candidacy. There are many new and exciting news stories that we all have to read.
1) Paul Volker decided to endorse him.
2) Nancy Pelosi is secretly pro-Obama and her allies are helping him in California
This is my letter to the Editor published in the Fargo Forum on January 25, 2008:
Lawrence Adams, Fargo, Letter: At last, a candidate who really inspires
Published Friday, January 25, 2008
I could list numerous reasons why I support Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., with every fiber of my being but will only list the top couple.
I am a 58-year-old Republican. I remember John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Robert F. Kennedy and the hope they inspired in America. I remember voting many times against someone rather for someone in the years that have followed.
Remember no one exciting you, no one inspiring you, no one giving you reason to hope for the future.
Obama has changed all that for me.
I am now an avid, diehard, euphoric Obama supporter.
The top reason, however, is that in all of his speeches, he does not say “I will do,” he says “we will do.” Everyone else says I, I, I.
Without the American people, very little can be changed. A president cannot do it alone. But together as we, all things are possible.
The other thing is he is positive. He does not play the politics of destruction. He knows this is not how you get support for what you want to do.
Obama is bringing Democrats, Republicans and independents together to form a new majority to work together for the betterment of all Americans.
For the first time in 40 years, I again have hope, I am excited, I am inspired. I never thought I would see this day again.
Obama is the best choice for president in 2008.
The North Dakota caucus is Feb. 5.
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=178404§ion=Opinion&freebie_check&CFID=86219007&CFTOKEN=11402639&jsessionid=883067b5ece11034d303
