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Posts with the tag San Francisco

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A Cheerful Tune for the Holidays From Health Insurers!

By Eve - Dec 5th, 2009 at 10:25 pm EST

Courtesy of Billionaires for Wealthcare!

Contact your local chapter today and see if you can afford their membership fees.

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Great turnout for President Obama's NoCal Video Event at the Golden Gate Bridge

By Buck Bradberry - Nov 24th, 2009 at 9:54 pm EST

Also listed in: Mission Action Team | San Francisco Volunteers for Obama | Young Bay Area Professionals for Barack Obama

Thanks to all Northern California MyBO and OFA staffers, organizers, and volunteers who turned out for Sunday's AV event at San Francisco's Chrissy Field. Thank you to Four Beans Coffee in the Mission (and to the wonderful volunteer who picked it up) for the donation.

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Laguna Honda Hospital - Layoff in San Francisco

By Johaubannah - Jul 31st, 2009 at 4:06 pm EDT

I hate to say this but our family is so affected. I don't know if this problem started because of our Mayor Gavin Newsoms leadership or the management of Laguna Honda Hospital really want to downsized everything from people to salary. It is very painful to our pocket and mostly to our family to be laid off. But the the most heavy is they have a plan to lay off the CNA's and hire them back in a different position as (PCA) Patient Care Assistant. From the salary that they are earning from many years the management will deduct $6.00 instant. How could a family will live if their living needs is depending on the salary that they have now? How rediculous is this isn't it? Ohh God, why those people giving their best to care the residents are the one needs to suffer? While those people on top are the one enjoying the big salary.

This is considered as discrimination. They are discriminating the people working as CNA because that's the only job they knew? And because they knew that they cannot do anything about it - the CNA's. They are abusing the power. Now they are short of CNA's and keep calling for overtime. So why they need to change the classification and lessen the salary of those hardworking CNA's. I don't know. They don't have a heart or they are just looking forward for their own betterment. Many families will be bunkrupt.

Give the CNA's their reward as a hardworking and loyal to their job a better benefits. Don't downgrade them. Be proud of them. Without them nobody will give care to sick people in the hospital.

I hope President Barack Obama send somebody to give a solution to this illness in our City and County mostly in the workers of the Hospitals.

I really felt so sad. Very down and weak because of this downsizing. I feel so sorry to my fellow family because our Mayor doesn't give his people a better life instead he is giving them grief.

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Recovery Bay: A round-up of news on the Bay Area's economic recovery

By Leo Romero - Feb 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

I'm looking for good news around the Bay. If you find some, please Comment and link. - Thanks; Leo

Creative Entrepreneurship in a Downturn
Harvard Business Review, February 23, 2009
by Martha Lagace

Entrepreneurs, take heart. True, the global economic malaise removes opportunities and precious resources—but also adds them in new and interesting ways, argues HBS senior lecturer Bhaskar Chakravorti. In this Q&A he identifies reasons for optimism, and shows how entrepreneurs can think differently about bad news. Key concepts include:

There are three fundamental decisions facing any business in good times and bad: where to play, how to deliver, and how to win.
Entrepreneurs should systematically identify "downturn needs," including necessities and affordable luxuries, substitutions for previous products and services, and products that deliver value for money.
To serve these needs, look for downtime resources that might be available at relatively low cost.
Think business model, says Chakravorti. Consider the unintended consequences of cost cutting, and instead focus holistically on the interconnected parts of your entire business model.

Obama's plan to stem foreclosures is key to economic recovery
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 02/22/2009 12:01:00 AM PST

THE OBAMA administration has launched a promising $275 billion effort to substantially slow down the rate of housing foreclosures. It is designed to keep more families in their homes by helping them and lenders with restructured mortgages and to stem the decline in housing prices

President Barack Obama correctly emphasized that using taxpayer money to stem foreclosures is not just in the interest of those who are struggling and failing to make mortgage payments.

The massive number of foreclosures and plummeting real estate values affects everyone. It is the folding of the housing market that is at the root of the current economic crisis and what makes this recession different from previous ones.

Housing plan must help the undeserving
Sunday, February 22, 2009, San Francisco Chronicle

President Obama's new housing plan is as elegant a solution as we're going to see to end the foreclosure crisis. That doesn't mean it's perfect.

It will help some people who don't "deserve" to be helped, just as the bank bailouts have helped Wall Street executives - none of whom deserved to be helped. But no effective solution to the economic crisis facing this country is going to feel fair to the vast majority of Americans who played by the rules. What would be even less fair would be for Americans to refuse to support this quite good solution out of spite. Stopping the cycle of foreclosures is the only thing that will slow our country's downward economic spiral.

Some residents see opportunity as gold spikes up
By Jondi Gumz, Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 02/21/2009 01:30:26 AM PST

Some were curious, some were downsizing and some had bills to pay.

That's why they brought gold rings, lockets and necklaces to the Capitola Mall Friday to be evaluated by Gold Buyers. The company, based in Appleton, Wis., visits malls across the country offering to turn gold into cash.

As the line formed a few minutes before 10 a.m., the spot price for gold topped $1,000 an ounce in New York trading before dropping back. Analysts said investors sought a safe haven from a wild ride in the global markets.

Funding for Sacramento region road rehabilitation authorized
By Bill Lindelof, Sacramento Bee
Published: Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 - 8:23 am

Even before the federal stimulus money is in hand, the transportation board responsible for funding projects in the Sacramento region has authorized $32 million for road rehabilitation.

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments authorized release of the money Thursday for projects in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. Transportation funds from the Economic Recovery Act first pass through the state Department of Transportation with a portion based on a formula going to SACOG.

Will Obama's mortgage plan help Silicon Valley homeowners?
By Pete Carey and Sue McAllister, Mercury News
Posted: 02/19/2009 12:25:46 AM PST

The Obama administration unveiled a three-pronged plan to stop the nationwide slide in real estate values, saying it offers potential relief for struggling homeowners and a possible shot in the arm for an ailing economy.

The package could help up to 9 million homeowners, many of whom could face foreclosure, the administration said.

But it's unclear how many in Silicon Valley will benefit since so many homeowners have big mortgages that may not qualify for one of the programs announced Wednesday.

Overall, the plan was greeted warmly by the housing industry and economists, who said it provides a way for homeowners to reduce their loan payments while helping ease the gridlock in the nation's home lending sector.

Foreclosure wave, stocks' slide sink Silicon Valley home prices
By Sue McAllister, Mercury News
Posted: 02/19/2009 10:50:21 AM PST

Bargain-minded buyers snapped up deals on foreclosed properties in Santa Clara County in January, even as some high-priced Silicon Valley cities saw a record-low number of sales during the same period.

The number of homes sold in the county rose by more than one-third last month compared with January 2008. But with home values still generally sliding and foreclosure properties accounting for about half of all sales, the median price fell precipitously from last year.

The median price of resale, single-family homes sold last month in the county was $420,000, down 39 percent from January 2008 and down 8 percent from December 2008, according to a report MDA DataQuick released Thursday. The last time the county's median price was lower was in February 2000, when the figure was $417,500. The median price of condos sold in January was $262,000, down 43 percent from a year earlier, and 13 percent from December.

Obama's mortgage relief not designed for high-cost areas
February 19, by Broderick Perkins, Examiner

Struggling homeowners in California and other high-cost housing markets will benefit less from the Obama administration's "Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (HASP)" than those in lower-cost housing markets.

The $275 Billion Plan, with a planned March 4 rollout, includes a refinancing program for "responsible" borrowers who haven't missed payments and whose loans are larger than the value of their homes, and a loan modification provision with incentives for lenders to modify certain mortgages.

Many Californians and others in high cost areas may not see much immediate relief but federal aid earmarked for those areas could follow.

Questions and answers about Obama's plan to avert foreclosures
By the Mercury News
Posted: 02/18/2009 09:00:00 PM PST

Who will be helped? Those who may be at risk of foreclosure as well as some homeowners who are "underwater" on their loans.

What are the broad outlines of the plan? A refinancing option for those who are making payments but are paying high interest rates and would otherwise not be able to refinance, either because they do not have enough equity or because their houses are worth less than they borrowed.

Groups back remedy for Silicon Valley downturn
San Jose Business Journal
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

More green energy development and better job training are being called for in a report that details the sudden drop in the Silicon Valley economy last fall.

The annual Silicon Valley Index from Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation show a region that abruptly shifted from its long recovery from the tech bust at the turn of the century.

The report compiles many previously released statistics from 2008 that show three quarters of growth and a sudden downturn that began in the fourth quarter and continues this year.

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Whose Table Is It?

By Madama Ambi - Nov 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

My organizing began when I gathered all of the neighborhood kids plus my cousins, who lived not too far away, to put on a play to raise money for cancer. I must have picked cancer because it was the only "cause" I knew about at age 10. My next organizing venture was as an adult, in SF, and happened because I was suddenly too much at the mercy of decisionmakers who had not thought about how their actions would affect my little life and my puny goals. I won't bore you with the whole story, but both my activism and my feminism got fused into a sunny, warmish place in my brain, encased in an SF/Berkeley-Oakland/Bay Bridge no-snow-globe. And so, though I haven't lived or worked in N. CA for a decade, I have felt a real sense of belonging to the San Francisco for Obama group on MyBO.

This group has at least three activist hubs setting up post-election shop. Wade Hudson & Roma Guy are working together on their network, Paul Currier is organizing, and Paul Warnow, too. Today, Wade Hudson posted a link to Stephen Rose's blog, where a discussion about the future of MyBO is underway. Here's what I wrote in reply to the concerns that it won't be the viable, 2-way mechanism we think it should be when Obama is POTUS.

Thanks for this discussion--I agree that in order to have participatory democracy, many, many 2-way mechanisms must be in place, and must work! I've been writing and networking on this for some weeks now and have a few points to add:

1. The people are the movement, and we are still the movement. Whether or not MyBO continues to function, we can and we will create these structures.

2. The structures to be redundantly networked (a good thing, imo) already exist--I'm on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and more networking platforms. I'm creating post-election subversonance, networking like crazy with other activists, creating mechanisms for less active people to participate in political process...and I expect that other activists will, too...

3. I'd like to see all organizers/activists stay in touch. We need one another. We need to share knowledge, skills, and to collectively hold the Obama administration's feet to the fire on many issues. I agree completely that Obama wants us to "make him do" what he wants to do.

4. Facebook is frequently confusing to me, but it is a powerful organizing tool, maybe even more powerful than MyBO. In case you're not on it, you will discover this as soon as you join and invite your friends. You simply can't avoid finding out what your friends are doing, which instantly expands your awareness & connectivity. Now, how to translate all of that connectivity into action...that's the question.

5. In sum, here's what I'm saying. We, the people, build the table and take our seats. We invite Barack & Joe and anyone else relevant, to come to OUR table and LISTEN to us. We dialogue. We work it, work it, work it.

I will post links to the above groups separately. If you know of other groups that are also creating transparent, horizontal, voter-motivated activism, please feel free to write to me, madamaambi at g mail dot com.

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Most Important Video of the Whole Campaign

By Neal in New York - Oct 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm EDT

Wow! This may be the most important video of the entire election:

Barack Obama Meets Chronicle Editorial Board

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1381682549

You won't need to view another video or read another article after viewing this.

How does Obama govern?
How does he make government more transparent and accountable to we the people?
How does he have such foresight and judgment?
How does he treat people? Even those who disagree with him.
What are his ideas to move us forward?
How will he run meetings?
How he will contribute to a new American Image overseas.
How he will move the nation toward racial reconciliation.

His clear understanding of the vital role and important place of government.

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Second Amendment Obama Propaganda

By JJ - Oct 19th, 2008 at 4:28 pm EDT

As seen on http://www.flickr.com/photos/jameth/,

THIS IMAGE

is a large, rather clear pic of some propaganda being handed out on BART in San Francisco, CA.

Caution: pic is really quite large.

And I think this paper sends some mixed messages. WTF?

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Editorial Page Victories Clarify: Obama will win 2-1 in Electoral College! 4 part compendium: Endorsements at OpEdNews: Washington Post, Houston, Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Salt Lake,Philadelphia, Portland, Bangor, Sacram

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Oct 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

OpEdNews has been the site of choice to post the growing list of major and minor newspaper endorsements for Obama. The Editorials are quoted generally in full, with interspliced commentaries from major editors and commentators, explaining what is behind the Editorials.

Part I Obama's Editorial Endorsements: including Washington Post, Fidel Castro, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, & more!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Endorsements-The-by-Stephen-Fox-081016-633.html

*******

Part II Editorial Page Endorsements of Obama Denver Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francsico Chronicle, Los Angeles Times

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Editorial-Page-Endorsement-by-Stephen-Fox-081017-544.html

********

Part III New Endorsements: Salt Lake City Tribune, Bangor and Brunswick, Maine, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Kansas City

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Endorsements-Salt-Lake-Ci-by-Stephen-Fox-081018-476.html

********

More Obama Endorsements IV: Sacramento, Katie Couric, Malaysia, Houston Chronicle, Detroit, Waco Tx (sort of)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Obama-Endorsements-IV-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-492.html

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San Francisco Presidential Debate Watch Party Recap

By Sarah Gallagher - Sep 27th, 2008 at 1:19 am EDT

Also listed in: 13 groups

Ruby Reid is a volunteer with the Obama for America Campaign in Oakland, CA

I had the pleasure of watching the first Presidential Debate with hundreds of Obama supporters at a fabulous club venue in San Francisco. Kamala Harris (San Francisco District Attorney) gave a rousing speech before the debate started, encouraging attendees to think about what they could do to help elect Barack Obama--then to do TWICE that much! The audience certainly took this message to heart, because over 200 volunteers signed up to phonebank and travel to battleground states!

Join us at the next debate watch party! Sign up at my.barackobama.com/cadebate.

Since I've been working all hours of the day and night to get Barack Obama elected as our next President, I have not had much time in recent weeks to sit and listen to his speeches--the debate watch party offered me a rare opportunity to pause for reflection. I got goosebumps at several points in the debate--all I could think was how Presidential his demeanor is and how John McCain seemed to be floundering. McCain was grasping at straws, trying to divert the blame for this country's economic crisis from the deregulation of the banking industry (of which McCain was a strong proponent) to anyone/anything else.

John McCain once again showcased his allegiance to the failed economic policies of the Bush Administration and even hearkened back to "Reagonomics" in which benefits offered to wealthy individuals and corporations are supposed to "trickle-down" to the rest of us. It seems to me that John McCain and a few wealthy Republicans who have disproportionally benefitted from these policies are the only people who think that the "trickle-down" system actually works. McCain made it clear that he is not reflective, not willing/able to be accountable for his mistakes, and not capable of changing the direction of this country's economy.

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The Obama Craze: Count Me Out, an 2/27/08 piece by former President of San Francisco Board of Supervisors; I don't agree with much of this, but it is a thoughtful piece; any refutation from readers? Sent to me by a friend in Hawaii: how to counter this?

By Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News - Sep 10th, 2008 at 1:20 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

by Matt Gonzalez‚ Feb. 27‚ 2008

Part of me shares the enthusiasm for Barack Obama. After all, how could someone calling themself a progressive not sense the importance of what it means to have an African-American so close to the presidency? But as his campaign has unfolded, and I heard that we are not red states or blue states for the 6th or 7th time, I realized I knew virtually nothing about him.

Like most, I know he gave a stirring speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. I know he defeated Alan Keyes in the Illinois Senate race; although it wasn’t much of a contest (Keyes was living in Maryland when he announced). Recently, I started looking into Obama’s voting record, and I’m afraid to say I’m not just uninspired: I’m downright fearful. Here's why:

This is a candidate who says he’s going to usher in change; that he is a different kind of politician who has the skills to get things done. He reminds us again and again that he had the foresight to oppose the war in Iraq. And he seems to have a genuine interest in lifting up the poor.

But his record suggests that he is incapable of ushering in any kind of change I’d like to see. It is one of accommodation and concession to the very political powers that we need to rein in and oppose if we are to make truly lasting advances.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

Let’s start with his signature position against the Iraq war. Obama has sent mixed messages at best.

First, he opposed the war in Iraq while in the Illinois state legislature. Once he was running for US Senate though, when public opinion and support for the war was at its highest, he was quoted in the July 27, 2004 Chicago Tribune as saying, “There’s not that much difference between my position and George Bush’s position at this stage. The difference, in my mind, is who’s in a position to execute.” The Tribune went on to say that Obama, “now believes US forces must remain to stabilize the war-ravaged nation – a policy not dissimilar to the current approach of the Bush administration.”

Obama’s campaign says he was referring to the ongoing occupation and how best to stabilize the region. But why wouldn’t he have taken the opportunity to urge withdrawal if he truly opposed the war? Was he trying to signal to conservative voters that he would subjugate his anti-war position if elected to the US Senate and perhaps support a lengthy occupation? Well as it turns out, he’s done just that.

Since taking office in January 2005 he has voted to approve every war appropriation the Republicans have put forward, totaling over $300 billion. He also voted to confirm Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State despite her complicity in the Bush Administration’s various false justifications for going to war in Iraq. Why would he vote to make one of the architects of “Operation Iraqi Liberation” the head of US foreign policy? Curiously, he lacked the courage of 13 of his colleagues who voted against her confirmation.

And though he often cites his background as a civil rights lawyer, Obama voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act in July 2005, easily the worse attack on civil liberties in the last half-century. It allows for wholesale eavesdropping on American citizens under the guise of anti-terrorism efforts.

And in March 2006, Obama went out of his way to travel to Connecticut to campaign for Senator Joseph Lieberman who faced a tough challenge by anti-war candidate Ned Lamont. At a Democratic Party dinner attended by Lamont, Obama called Lieberman “his mentor” and urged those in attendance to vote and give financial contributions to him. This is the same Lieberman who Alexander Cockburn called “Bush’s closest Democratic ally on the Iraq War.” Why would Obama have done that if he was truly against the war?

Recently, with anti-war sentiment on the rise, Obama declared he will get our combat troops out of Iraq in 2009. But Obama isn’t actually saying he wants to get all of our troops out of Iraq. At a September 2007 debate before the New Hampshire primary, moderated by Tim Russert, Obama refused to commit to getting our troops out of Iraq by January 2013 and, on the campaign trail, he has repeatedly stated his desire to add 100,000 combat troops to the military.

At the same event, Obama committed to keeping enough soldiers in Iraq to “carry out our counter-terrorism activities there” which includes “striking at al Qaeda in Iraq.” What he didn’t say is this continued warfare will require an estimated 60,000 troops to remain in Iraq according to a May 2006 report prepared by the Center for American Progress. Moreover, it appears he intends to “redeploy” the troops he takes out of the unpopular war in Iraq and send them to Afghanistan. So it appears that under Obama’s plan the US will remain heavily engaged in war.

This is hardly a position to get excited about.

CLASS ACTION REFORM:

In 2005, Obama joined Republicans in passing a law dubiously called the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) that would shut down state courts as a venue to hear many class action lawsuits. Long a desired objective of large corporations and President George Bush, Obama in effect voted to deny redress in many of the courts where these kinds of cases have the best chance of surviving corporate legal challenges. Instead, it forces them into the backlogged Republican-judge dominated federal courts.

By contrast, Senators Clinton, Edwards and Kerry joined 23 others to vote against CAFA, noting the “reform” was a thinly-veiled “special interest extravaganza” that favored banking, creditors and other corporate interests. David Sirota, the former spokesman for Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, commented on CAFA in the June 26, 2006 issue of The Nation, “Opposed by most major civil rights and consumer watchdog groups, this Big Business-backed legislation was sold to the public as a way to stop "frivolous" lawsuits. But everyone in Washington knew the bill's real objective was to protect corporate abusers.”

Nation contributor Dan Zegart noted further: “On its face, the class-action bill is mere procedural tinkering, transferring from state to federal court actions involving more than $5 million where any plaintiff is from a different state from the defendant company. But federal courts are much more hostile to class actions than their state counterparts; such cases tend to be rooted in the finer points of state law, in which federal judges are reluctant to dabble. And even if federal judges do take on these suits, with only 678 of them on the bench (compared with 9,200 state judges), already overburdened dockets will grow. Thus, the bill will make class actions – most of which involve discrimination, consumer fraud and wage-and-hour violations – all but impossible. One example: After forty lawsuits were filed against Wal-Mart for allegedly forcing employees to work "off the clock," four state courts certified these suits as class actions. Not a single federal court did so, although the practice probably involves hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.”

Why would a civil rights lawyer knowingly make it harder for working-class people to have their day in court, in effect shutting off avenues of redress?

CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES:

Obama has a way of ducking hard votes or explaining away his bad votes by trying to blame poorly-written statutes. Case in point: an amendment he voted on as part of a recent bankruptcy bill before the US Senate would have capped credit card interest rates at 30 percent. Inexplicably, Obama voted against it, although it would have been the beginning of setting these predatory lending rates under federal control. Even Senator Hillary Clinton supported it.

Now Obama explains his vote by saying the amendment was poorly written or set the ceiling too high. His explanation isn’t credible as Obama offered no lower number as an alternative, and didn’t put forward his own amendment clarifying whatever language he found objectionable.

Why wouldn’t Obama have voted to create the first federal ceiling on predatory credit card interest rates, particularly as he calls himself a champion of the poor and middle classes? Perhaps he was signaling to the corporate establishment that they need not fear him. For all of his dynamic rhetoric about lifting up the masses, it seems Obama has little intention of doing anything concrete to reverse the cycle of poverty many struggle to overcome.

LIMITING NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES:

These seemingly unusual votes wherein Obama aligns himself with Republican Party interests aren’t new. While in the Illinois Senate, Obama voted to limit the recovery that victims of medical malpractice could obtain through the courts. Capping non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases means a victim cannot fully recover for pain and suffering or for punitive damages. Moreover, it ignored that courts were already empowered to adjust awards when appropriate, and that the Illinois Supreme Court had previously ruled such limits on tort reform violated the state constitution.

In the US Senate, Obama continued interfering with patients’ full recovery for tortious conduct. He was a sponsor of the National Medical Error Disclosure and Compensation Act of 2005. The bill requires hospitals to disclose errors to patients and has a mechanism whereby disclosure, coupled with apologies, is rewarded by limiting patients’ economic recovery. Rather than simply mandating disclosure, Obama’s solution is to trade what should be mandated for something that should never be given away: namely, full recovery for the injured patient.

MINING LAW OF 1872:

In November 2007, Obama came out against a bill that would have reformed the notorious Mining Law of 1872. The current statute, signed into law by Ulysses Grant, allows mining companies to pay a nominal fee, as little as $2.50 an acre, to mine for hardrock minerals like gold, silver, and copper without paying royalties. Yearly profits for mining hardrock on public lands is estimated to be in excess of $1 billion a year according to Earthworks, a group that monitors the industry. Not surprisingly, the industry spends freely when it comes to lobbying: an estimated $60 million between 1998-2004 according to The Center on Public Integrity. And it appears to be paying off, yet again.

The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 would have finally overhauled the law and allowed American taxpayers to reap part of the royalties (4 percent of gross revenue on existing mining operations and 8 percent on new ones). The bill provided a revenue source to cleanup abandoned hardrock mines, which is likely to cost taxpayers over $50 million, and addressed health and safety concerns in the 11 affected western states.

Later it came to light that one of Obama’s key advisors in Nevada is a Nevada-based lobbyist in the employ of various mining companies (CBS News “Obama’s Position On Mining Law Questioned. Democrat Shares Position with Mining Executives Who Employ Lobbyist Advising Him,” November 14, 2007).

REGULATING NUCLEAR INDUSTRY:

The New York Times reported that, while campaigning in Iowa in December 2007, Obama boasted that he had passed a bill requiring nuclear plants to promptly report radioactive leaks. This came after residents of his home state of Illinois complained they were not told of leaks that occurred at a nuclear plant operated by Exelon Corporation.

The truth, however, was that Obama allowed the bill to be amended in Committee by Senate Republicans, replacing language mandating reporting with verbiage that merely offered guidance to regulators on how to address unreported leaks. The story noted that even this version of Obama’s bill failed to pass the Senate, so it was unclear why Obama was claiming to have passed the legislation. The February 3, 2008 The New York Times article titled “Nuclear Leaks and Response Tested Obama in Senate” by Mike McIntire also noted the opinion of one of Obama’s constituents, which was hardly enthusiastic about Obama’s legislative efforts:

"Senator Obama's staff was sending us copies of the bill to review, and we could see it weakening with each successive draft," said Joe Cosgrove, a park district director in Will County, Ill., where low-level radioactive runoff had turned up in groundwater. "The teeth were just taken out of it."

As it turns out, the New York Times story noted: “Since 2003, executives and employees of Exelon, which is based in Illinois, have contributed at least $227,000 to Mr. Obama’s campaigns for the United States Senate and for president. Two top Exelon officials, Frank M. Clark, executive vice president, and John W. Rogers Jr., a director, are among his largest fund-raisers.”

ENERGY POLICY:

On energy policy, it turns out Obama is a big supporter of corn-based ethanol which is well known for being an energy-intensive crop to grow. It is estimated that seven barrels of oil are required to produce eight barrels of corn ethanol, according to research by the Cato Institute. Ethanol’s impact on climate change is nominal and isn’t “green” according to Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America executive director. “It simply isn’t a major improvement over gasoline when it comes to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.” A 2006 University of Minnesota study by Jason Hill and David Tilman, and an earlier study published in BioScience in 2005, concur. (There’s even concern that a reliance on corn-based ethanol would lead to higher food prices.)

So why would Obama be touting this as a solution to our oil dependency? Could it have something to do with the fact that the first presidential primary is located in Iowa, corn capitol of the country? In legislative terms this means Obama voted in favor of $8 billion worth of corn subsidies in 2006 alone, when most of that money should have been committed to alternative energy sources such as solar, tidal and wind.

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE:

Obama opposed single-payer bill HR676, sponsored by Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers in 2006, although at least 75 members of Congress supported it. Single-payer works by trying to diminish the administrative costs that comprise somewhere around one-third of every health care dollar spent, by eliminating the duplicative nature of these services. The expected $300 billion in annual savings such a system would produce would go directly to cover the uninsured and expand coverage to those who already have insurance, according to Dr. Stephanie Woolhandler, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program.

Obama’s own plan has been widely criticized for leaving health care industry administrative costs in place and for allowing millions of people to remain uninsured. “Sicko” filmmaker Michael Moore ridiculed it saying, “Obama wants the insurance companies to help us develop a new health care plan-the same companies who have created the mess in the first place.”

NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT:

Regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement, Obama recently boasted, “I don’t think NAFTA has been good for Americans, and I never have.” Yet, Calvin Woodward reviewed Obama’s record on NAFTA in a February 26, 2008 Associated Press article and found that comment to be misleading: “In his 2004 Senate campaign, Obama said the US should pursue more deals such as NAFTA, and argued more broadly that his opponent's call for tariffs would spark a trade war. AP reported then that the Illinois senator had spoken of enormous benefits having accrued to his state from NAFTA, while adding that he also called for more aggressive trade protections for US workers.”

Putting aside campaign rhetoric, when actually given an opportunity to protect workers from unfair trade agreements, Obama cast the deciding vote against an amendment to a September 2005 Commerce Appropriations Bill, proposed by North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, that would have prohibited US trade negotiators from weakening US laws that provide safeguards from unfair foreign trade practices. The bill would have been a vital tool to combat the outsourcing of jobs to foreign workers and would have ended a common corporate practice known as “pole-vaulting” over regulations, which allows companies doing foreign business to avoid “right to organize,” “minimum wage,” and other worker protections.

SOME FINAL EXAMPLES:

On March 2, 2007 Obama gave a speech at AIPAC, America’s pro-Israeli government lobby, wherein he disavowed his previous support for the plight of the Palestinians. In what appears to be a troubling pattern, Obama told his audience what they wanted to hear. He recounted a one-sided history of the region and called for continued military support for Israel, rather than taking the opportunity to promote the various peace movements in and outside of Israel.

Why should we believe Obama has courage to bring about change? He wouldn’t have his picture taken with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom when visiting San Francisco for a fundraiser in his honor because Obama was scared voters might think he supports gay marriage (Newsom acknowledged this to Reuters on January 26, 2007 and former Mayor Willie Brown admitted to the San Francisco Chronicle on February 5, 2008 that Obama told him he wanted to avoid Newsom for that reason.)

Obama acknowledges the disproportionate impact the death penalty has on blacks, but still supports it, while other politicians are fighting to stop it. (On December 17, 2007 New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed a bill banning the death penalty after it was passed by the New Jersey Assembly.)

On September 29, 2006, Obama joined Republicans in voting to build 700 miles of double fencing on the Mexican border (The Secure Fence Act of 2006), abandoning 19 of his colleagues who had the courage to oppose it. But now that he’s campaigning in Texas and eager to win over Mexican-American voters, he says he’d employ a different border solution.

It is shocking how frequently and consistently Obama is willing to subjugate good decision making for his personal and political benefit.

Obama aggressively opposed initiating impeachment proceedings against the president (“Obama: Impeachment is not acceptable,” USA Today, June 28, 2007) and he wouldn’t even support Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold’s effort to censure the Bush administration for illegally wiretapping American citizens in violation of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. In Feingold’s words “I’m amazed at Democrats … cowering with this president’s number’s so low.” Once again, it’s troubling that Obama would take these positions and miss the opportunity to document the abuses of the Bush regime.

CONCLUSION:

Once I started looking at the votes Obama actually cast, I began to hear his rhetoric differently. The principal conclusion I draw about “change” and Barack Obama is that Obama needs to change his voting habits and stop pandering to win votes. If he does this he might someday make a decent candidate who could earn my support. For now Obama has fallen into a dangerous pattern of capitulation that he cannot reconcile with his growing popularity as an agent of change.

I remain impressed by the enthusiasm generated by Obama’s style and skill as an orator. But I remain more loyal to my values, and I’m glad to say that I want no part in the Obama craze sweeping our country.

Matt Gonzalez is a former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

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South SF Camp Obama - Scattered Reflection

By Raider Spence - Sep 8th, 2008 at 4:00 am EDT

Also listed in: Southern Nevada for Obama

Saturday.....

Tired.....Akili.......Alive......New Energy......Learning.......

People together.....similar values......dreams........beliefs......different histories.......races.....religions

UNITY!

Sunday

Real Tired......Akili......Strugeling to lift soul on Sunday........Barack Race Speech.......ALIVE....NEW ENERGY

MyBO!!......Intern in Nevada....JUST DO IT!!!......for your furture........take control.....DONT FOLLOW--->>>LEAD!!

East Bay Mission!! .......Make it happen!!

FIRED UP!! ---->>> READY TO GO!! ---->>> TO?!?! ---->>> NEVADA!!

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Voting - it's the most important thing we can do.

By Arturo Perez - Sep 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm EDT

Hello guys,

For the past two years I've been working on a movie to try to get more people excited about voting.

Check it out:

http://www.flowersthemovie.com

pass it on to your friends! Now let's go work!

We are the ones we've waiting for!

-Arturo

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Today is the beginning!

By John - Sep 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm EDT

9:13 am PST, September 4, 2008. Near 16th and Mission. I am ready to begin.

I volunteered in the Obama campaign during the primary. I wanted her to win over Clinton. However, since Obama has clinched the primary, I have done nothing.

I was thinking about leaving the country when Bush beat Kerry. I didn't do it, but I was thinking about it. It's unbelivable when you think about it: Gore won in 2000, yet Bush got elected. Bush won in 2004, yet I still dispute the result. I remember watching the results come in on the internet and seeing Kerry ahead in the polls and projections. I have to admit I was really discouraged by this country at that moment in time. To even get to the point where it was close meant that I disagree with so many other voters. Now I am really proud of the Democrats. To elect Obama was great. BUT WE ARE NOT FINISHED YET AND NO ONE SHOULD BE SATISFIED!

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Santa Cruz County Fair – September 9 to 14 - Volunteers Needed

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm EDT

Santa Cruz County Fair – September 9 to 14 – Volunteers Needed The Democratic Party has a booth at the County Fair and is need of volunteers to staff the booth. The link to the Fair Booth sign-up page is on the Santa Cruz Democrats website: www.cruzdemocrats.org Each year the Santa Cruz Democratic Party has a booth at the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville. The Fair runs from Tuesday September 9 through Sunday September 14. If you can help by covering a two-hour shift to provide information about Obama and other Democratic Candidates and register Democratic Voters. Your Democratic Party Needs You -- To Help In Our Fair Booth. Sign yourself up. Tell your friends. Read More »

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Week of August 28 - You Make the Call

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 1:38 am EDT

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Make the Call to Win in Nevada and New Mexico Nevada and New Mexico are two very important swing states where our out-of-state voter outreach efforts can make a difference in electing Barack Obama. The Obama Campaign is asking California to support the NV and NM campaigns with phonebanks and travel teams. Aptos Phone Bank – Winning the West – Saturday, August 23Time: Saturday, August 23, at 9:00am to 1:00pmLocation: Palm Terrace Mobile Home Park Conference Room, 2711 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos, CA 95003Directions: South on Soquel Dr. take the second right past the Aptos Fire Station on Mar Vista Dr. The park is halfway down the block, on your right. North on Soquel Dr. take the third left past Ages Assisted Living facility.Contact Phone: Dennis Connors / 831-428-2783 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gpgbj8 Felton Phone Bank – Win the West -- Saturday, August 30thPlease join your felton neighbors at nancy's home. We'll call nevada or new mexico to help obama win the western states. If you haven't been in a phone-bank before, we'll be happy to show you what to do! PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE a beverage of your choice, and a snack to share. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Saturday, August 30 at 1:00pm to 5:00pmLocation: Nancy’s Home, 5401 Taylor Way, Felton, CA 95016Directions: Take hwy 9 in Felton to "bigfoot" museum, turn up san lorenzo, turn left on jackson, right on prospect, left on taylor way. Look for Obama sign!Contact Phone: Nancy Baker / 408-306-1088 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gpg4vp Capitola Phone Bank – Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st – Obama Santa Cruz is coordinating with NV and M Obama Field Teams to provide phonebank support each weekend through the election. PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31st at 1:00pm to 5:00pmLocation: Thunderbird Real Estate, 3555 Clares Street, Capitola (next to Kinko's) Contact: Wes Swift at 831-476-4113 or wswift@ebold.com Boulder Creek Phone Bank – Win the West -- Sunday, August 31stPlease join your felton neighbors at nancy's home. We'll call nevada or new mexico to help obama win the western states. If you haven't been in a phone-bank before, we'll be happy to show you what to do! PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE a beverage of your choice, and a snack to share. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Sunday, August 31 at 1:00pm to 5:00pm Dorrie Kennedy'sLocation: Dorrie Kennedy’s Home, 13481 Highway 9 (100 yds past Bear Creek on left)Boulder Creek Contact Phone: Dorrie at 831-703-4141 Obama Volunteers NeededVolunteers Needed for Phonebank Callers – SignUp at www.obamasantacruz.com

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Convention Watch Events – Santa Cruz Californai

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 am EDT

Convention Watch Events – Monday through Thursday Evenings

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Week of August 21 - Working to Win the Western States

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 am EDT

Obama 08 Santa Cruz County

August 21, 2008

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………HIGHLIGHTS

Barack Obama to Announce Vice President - Saturday
Convention Watch Parties – Starting Monday through to Thursday Evening
Volunteers Needed Help Barack Obama Win the West
Phonebanks Supporting Nevada and New Mexico Campaigns - Weekends
Out-of-State Travel Volunteers Needed for Reno Travel Teams
Obama Visibility and Voter Registration -- Weekends
Camp Obama Training – September 13th and 14th
Santa Cruz County Fair – Visibility Booth – September 9 to 14th

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Barack Obama to Announce Vice President EMPORIA, Va - Barack Obama said Thursday he's chosen his running mate and planned a major rally to present the Democratic ticket Saturday in Springfield, Illinois. Obama refused to say whether he'd notified his pick or when exactly he would send cell phones buzzing with the answer delivered via text message. He seemed to relish the frustrations of scores of reporters following him this week in anticipation of the announcement.Obama planned to appear with his pick Saturday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., where he launched his presidential campaign in February 2007. Obama then planned to travel to the battlegrounds of Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Montana before arriving in Denver to accept his party's nomination Thursday.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Convention Watch Events – Monday through Thursday Evenings

Join Us Monday through Thursday Evenings Starting at 5pm to Watch the Convention The Santa Cruz Democratic Party is hosting Watch Events Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Santa Cruz HQ office. Please join with fellow supporters to watch each of the evenings the keynote speeches from Democratic Leadership and the Democratic Party platform. Monday, August 25th starting at 5pm – Michelle Obama and Tribute to the KennedysLocation: Santa Cruz Unified Democratic Campaign HQ -- 740 Front Street, Suite 250 (2nd floor in the Galleria building), Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 Tuesday, August 26th starting at 5pm – Senator Hillary Clinton and former Virginia Governor Mark WarnerLocation: Santa Cruz Unified Democratic Campaign HQ -- 740 Front Street, Suite 250 (2nd floor in the Galleria building), Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 Wednesday, August 27th starting at 5pm – Bill Clinton and the Vice President nominee Location: Santa Cruz Unified Democratic Campaign HQ -- 740 Front Street, Suite 250 (2nd floor in the Galleria building), Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 Acceptance Speech by Barack Obama – Thursday, August 28th Thursday, August 28th starting at 5pm - Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama Join us for the final evening of the Democratic National Convention and watch the Senator Barack Obama deliver his acceptance speech Thursday evening in front of 80,000 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. This will prove to be a historic evening and event. Santa Cruz Event: Woodstock Pizza, 710 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 (no host bar and food)RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/conventionwatchparty/gpg9bv Aptos/Seascape Event: Seascape Golf Clubhouse Lounge, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/conventionwatchparty/gpg9qx Pleasure Point Neighborhood Watch Event Neighborhood Watch Event in the Pleasure Point area. Show your enthusiasm as we Barbecue and socialize at our house just near the Hook/Pleasure Point. Location: Home at 631 #2, 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95062Host: Kellie DockendorfRSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/44g29 Watsonville - Cilantro's, 1934 Main Street, Watsonville (no host bar, no host food, etc)RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/conventionwatchparty/gpg93q Watsonville Jalisco's Restaurant, 618 Main Street in Watsonville (PV Cesar Chavez Democratic Club)RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/conventionwatchparty/gpgyfz Contact: Danny Dodge at 831-761-5428 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Volunteers Needed – Winning the West to Elect Barack Obama Volunteers Needed for Phonebank Callers – SignUp at www.obamasantacruz.com Volunteers Needed for Data Entry – SignUp at www.obamasantacruz.comVolunteers can provide assistance with our weekend data entry working with our phonebank teams are invaluable and good way for people to contribute. Volunteers Needed for Travel – Contact Cori Gurlach - cgerlach@smallplanetbrewery.com Volunteers interested in supporting the voter outreach in Reno, NV and can travel for weekend are encourage to join our Reno for Obama Travel teams to provide voter-outreach in Sept and Oct. Please contact our local Obama Travel Coordinator Cori Gurlach. Volunteers Needed to Assist with Lunch – Contact Susan Drake at 831/462-1889Each weekend our volunteers working phonebanks are in need of lunch and snakes to keep their energy high and phonebanking productive. This is a great way for volunteers to support one of our valuable contributions to Winning the Western states. You can donate your time and food to help the campaign if you're not into facing the public. If you're not connected with a neighborhood team already or don't know where your team is phone-banking, to learn where food is needed, please contact Susan at sdrake2@cruzio.com and put "Obama food" in the Subject line or 831/462-1889 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Volunteers Need for the Democratic Party Office - volunteers are needed to staff and support state and local campaigns at the Santa Cruz Democratic Party Office. Volunteer Information: 831-427-2516 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Make the Call to Win in Nevada and New Mexico Nevada and New Mexico are two very important swing states where our out-of-state voter outreach efforts can make a difference in electing Barack Obama. The Obama Campaign is asking California to support the NV and NM campaigns with phonebanks and travel teams. Aptos Phone Bank – Winning the West – Saturday, August 23Time: Saturday, August 23, at 9:00am to 1:00pmLocation: Palm Terrace Mobile Home Park Conference Room, 2711 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos, CA 95003Directions: South on Soquel Dr. take the second right past the Aptos Fire Station on Mar Vista Dr. The park is halfway down the block, on your right. North on Soquel Dr. take the third left past Ages Assisted Living facility.Contact Phone: Dennis Connors / 831-428-2783 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gpgbj8 Felton Phone Bank – Win the West -- Saturday, August 30thPlease join your felton neighbors at nancy's home. We'll call nevada or new mexico to help obama win the western states. If you haven't been in a phone-bank before, we'll be happy to show you what to do! PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE a beverage of your choice, and a snack to share. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Saturday, August 30 at 1:00pm to 5:00pmLocation: Nancy’s Home, 5401 Taylor Way, Felton, CA 95016Directions: Take hwy 9 in Felton to "bigfoot" museum, turn up san lorenzo, turn left on jackson, right on prospect, left on taylor way. Look for Obama sign!Contact Phone: Nancy Baker / 408-306-1088 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gpg4vp Capitola Phone Bank – Saturday, August 30th and Sunday, August 31st – Obama Santa Cruz is coordinating with NV and M Obama Field Teams to provide phonebank support each weekend through the election. PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31st at 1:00pm to 5:00pmLocation: Thunderbird Real Estate, 3555 Clares Street, Capitola (next to Kinko's) Contact: Wes Swift at 831-476-4113 or wswift@ebold.com Boulder Creek Phone Bank – Win the West -- Sunday, August 31stPlease join your felton neighbors at nancy's home. We'll call nevada or new mexico to help obama win the western states. If you haven't been in a phone-bank before, we'll be happy to show you what to do! PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE a beverage of your choice, and a snack to share. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Sunday, August 31 at 1:00pm to 5:00pm Dorrie Kennedy'sLocation: Dorrie Kennedy’s Home, 13481 Highway 9 (100 yds past Bear Creek on left)Boulder Creek Contact Phone: Dorrie at 831-703-4141 Obama Volunteers NeededVolunteers Needed for Phonebank Callers – SignUp at www.obamasantacruz.com ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Travel to Reno, Nevada Volunteers Needed for Travel – Contact Cori Gurlach - cgerlach@smallplanetbrewery.com Volunteers interested in supporting the voter outreach in Reno, NV and can travel for weekend are encourage to join our Reno for Obama Travel teams to provide voter-outreach in Sept and Oct. Please mark your calendars now for these very important travel events and dates. The Obama NV needs weekend coverage to ensure voter turn-out. Native Spanish speakers are very much needed for these weekends. Please contact our local Obama Travel Coordinator Cori Gurlach. Phase 1: NV Voter Registration- Now through Aug 28th- Voter registration Phase 2: NV Voter Persuasion— Travel Key Event – Weekend of Sept 26th. Details to follow. Phase 3: NV Early Vote GOTV- Travel Key Event- Weekend of Oct 17th. Details to follow. Phase 4: NV Voting Day- Nov 1st through 4th. Visibility and GOTV in Nevada. Details to follow. Nevada Voter Registration Weekends in Reno, Nevada – August 22nd, 29th Obama San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley and San Jose are organizing weekend carpools to Reno, Nevada and pre-trip training efforts. California volunteers can help win the state by canvassing to identify and persuade undecided voters to support Senator Obama. Weekly trips to Reno are scheduled to leave Friday afternoon and returning Sunday afternoon.SF Organizers: Kenya Wheeler at kenyaw@gmail.com and Ellen Kamoe at travel4barack@gmail.com San Jose Organizer: Eric Orque at eorque@musd.org or 408.891.4024. August 22th-24th: Trip leaving Friday, August 22th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 24th at 6pm. San Francisco RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/4wx52 August 29th-September 1st: Trip leaving Friday, August 29th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 31st at 6pm or Monday, September 1st in the afternoon. Berkeley: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/444rc San Francisco: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44qm4

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Obama Visibility and Voter Registration – Volunteers NeededVolunteers needed to support our local Voter Registration efforts that are a primary focus this summer. We ask volunteers to offer as little as 1 hour of their time to help register new voters and answer questions about our candidate as well as to offer buttons, bumper stickers. Volunteers are needed to staff the table and answer questions. This a great opportunity to get involved in support Obama and increasing voter registration. Santa Cruz – Bookshop Santa Cruz – Saturday, August 23rd 11am to 3pm1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gpg4vm Information: David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971 Capitola Book Cafe – Saturday, August 23rd 1pm to 4pm41st Avenue, Capitola, Information: Santa Cruz – Bookshop Santa Cruz – Saturday, August 30th 11am to 3pm1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060Information: David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971 Live Oak Farmers Market Voter Registration – August 31st 11am – 2pm East Cliff Village Shopping Center, 21564 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4wkt9 Capitola Begonia Festival – August 31st 11am Should be huge crowds at this family event in Capitola that lasts all Labor Day weekend long. Sign up for a 4 hour shift on Sunday. We will provide the training and materials.Location: Capitola VillageRSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gpgdxg Cabrillo College Regisration Drive – Sept 2nd at 11am6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gpgd7s Skyview Flea Market Voter Registration – Sept 2nd at 10am – 3pmSkyview Flea Market, 2260 Santa Cruz, CA 95065RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gpgdm8 Santa Cruz County Fair – Tuesday, Sept 9 to Saturday, Sept 13th, 12noon to 4pmThis will be a huge event for us. We need help tabling and talking to voters. A lot of people will be at the fair and we need help on all days and for all shifts. Don't worry, you can sneak off and get a fried twinkie and we won't tell! What happens at the fair, stays at the fair!Location: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, WatsonvilleInformation: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/gpgd55 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Obama Fundraisers – Convention Fundraising EventsTwo fundraisers taking planned in Santa Cruz for Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech Evening on Thursday, August 28th. Many thanks to the families opening their homes for Watch Party Events. Watch Party Fundraiser for Obama Campaign Local fundraiser and convention watch party is planned for Thursday, August 28th from 4pm to 8pm on the West Side of Santa Cruz. Watch the acceptance speech while enjoying appetizers, wine and entertainment throughout the evening. Generous Donations will be accepted at the event. Time: 4pm to 8pmSuggested Donation: $50 • $100 • $200 • $500 (checks payable to Obama For America)Hosted by: Patrice and Bob KeetRSVP by Aug 25th: Angela Chesnut at amc7@mail.com / 831.425.7788 Convention Celebration Dinner (Fundraising)Local fundraiser will be hosted by the MacDonald family in Santa Cruz on August 28, the night of the Democratic National Convention, to watch the proceedings, share food, and raise money for Obama.Time: Thursday, August 28 at 5:00 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: 1045 Nobel Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060Host: James Macdonald RSVP : http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/fundraising/4gj3j Obama Year at the Movies Raffle (Fundraiser)'Year at the Movies' Raffle is a local Obama 08 fundraiser providing supporters an opportunity to win a series of movie tickets at the Del Mar, Nick or Aptos theaters as the grand prize. Tickets are $10 each and can be obtained at various tabling events that will be staged around Santa Cruz County all summer long or by contacting Harvey or David below. Raffle winners will be determined on Election Day 2008. Contact: Harvey Dosik at 831-420-1567 / David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971Information: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4jyt ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Camp Obama Volunteer Training – Sept 13th and 14th Camp Obama Training is coming to the central coast September 13th and 14th. We will be hosting the Camp which is a TWO DAY training for our Area Leaders, Precinct Captains, Phonebank volunteers and Travel volunteers. The campaign is sponsoring the training and providing HQ trainers to provide us with the latest campaign strategies, objectives, out-of-state information, voter-out-reach methods, voter persuasion, phone banking, canvassing and get-out-the-vote activities. Training includes the use of our online Vote Builder system, phonebank and travel information. Please reserve one of these dates. Location details will follow in our next Newsletter. Area Leads are encouraged to attend with their Precinct Captains to maximize their team’s training experience. The training is very interactive and group oriented. Training for all our neighborhood and precinct volunteers will follow the Mini-Camp Obama during the September and October. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Santa Cruz County Fair – September 9 to 14 – Volunteers Needed The Democratic Party has a booth at the County Fair and is need of volunteers to staff the booth. The link to the Fair Booth sign-up page is on the Santa Cruz Democrats website: www.cruzdemocrats.org Each year the Santa Cruz Democratic Party has a booth at the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville. The Fair runs from Tuesday September 9 through Sunday September 14. If you can help by covering a two-hour shift to provide information about Obama and other Democratic Candidates and register Democratic Voters. Your Democratic Party Needs You -- To Help In Our Fair Booth. Sign yourself up. Tell your friends. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Santa Cruz Democratic Party Office Open The Santa Cruz Democratic Party Grand Opening is Wednesday, August 13th. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. Located: 740 Front Street, Suite 250 (2nd floor in the Galleria building), Santa Cruz, CA, 95060Office: 831-427-2516 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Week of August 7 - Working to Win the Western States

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 am EDT

Obama 08 Santa Cruz County

August 7, 2008

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………HIGHLIGHTS

Santa Cruz Democrat Party Open Headquarters – August 13
Volunteers Needed to Staff Democrat Party Headquarters
Phonebanks Supporting Nevada and New Mexico Campaigns - Weekends
Obama Visibility and Voter Registration -- Weekends
Obama Fundraisers – Book Sale - Acceptance Speech – Senator Obama in SF
Convention Watch Parties – Acceptance Speech - August 28th
Obama Volunteer Training and Organizing – September 6 and 13th
Santa Cruz County Fair – Visibility Booth – September 9 to 14th
Support Our Convention Delegates
Obama Local Entrepreneurs

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Wharf-to-Wharf Race a Success and Thank YouObama runners finished the race in true Obama fashion and created visibility for the campaign along the route. We had a good showing on the beach in Capitola and recruited 20+ volunteers. Thank you to race organizers June Gorman, Dennis Connors, Susan Drake and Angela Chesnut. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Santa Cruz Democratic Party Office Opening – August 13th The Santa Cruz Democratic Party Grand Opening is Wednesday, August 13th. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. When: Wednesday, August 13 between 5:30 pm to 7:00pm. Where: 740 Front Street, Suite 250 (2nd floor in the Galleria building), Santa Cruz, CA, 95060RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/44sgwInformation: 831-427-2516 or Leslie Steiner 831-335-4765 Sam Farr, U.S. Representative for CD 17, California State Senator Simitian, California Assembly Members Laird and Caballero together with local and state Democratic leaders and candidates will be on-hand for the headquarters opening. The United Democratic Campaign headquarters is organized to support local, state and federal democrat candidates. The headquarters represents the unified focus of the Democrat campaign that welcomes all supporters and volunteers from the Obama, Clinton, Edwards and state and local campaigns. The Santa Cruz Democratic Central Committee welcomes everyone to join us for the Grand Opening and celebrate the start of an exciting and successful campaign season. Music will be provided by Wildsang ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Volunteers Needed for Democratic Party OfficeVolunteers are needed to staff and support state and local campaigns at the Santa Cruz Democratic Party Office. Volunteer Information: 831-427-2516 Office Supplies & Equipment Needed: Laptops, Inkjet printer, Lightweight folding tables, floor lamps, general office supplies, 18-gal tubs/containers and a Cash box (which locks). Items can be dropped off at Headquarters M/W/F from noon - 4pm. Please Call: 831-427-2516 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Nevada and New Mexico Swing State SupportNevada and New Mexico are two very important swing states where our out-of-state voter outreach efforts can make a difference in electing Barack Obama. The Obama Campaign is asking California to support the NV and NM campaigns with phonebanks and travel teams. Santa Cruz to New Mexico Phone Bank – Sunday, August 10thObama Santa Cruz is coordinating with the New Mexico Obama Field Team to provide phonebank support each weekend through the election. We will be making calls to New Mexico. PLEASE BRING YOUR CELL PHONE. Check with your cell phone service provider to see if you get a large number of free minutes on the weekend. Time: Sunday, August 10 at 4:00pm to 6:00pmLocation: Wes Swift’s Home, 4515 Bain Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062Contact Phone: Keven Cook / 408-306-1088 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/44bdf Nevada Voter Registration Weekends in Las Vegas, Nevada – August 16th The Obama San Jose team is coordinating with the Obama Nevada campaign in Las Vegas to provide voter registration and voter out-reach support the weekends of August 9th and August 16th.Organizer: Eric Orque at eorque@musd.org or 408.891.4024Information August 16th: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4gdkk Nevada Voter Registration Weekends in Reno, Nevada – August 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th Obama San Francisco, Oakland/Berkeley and San Jose are organizing weekend carpools to Reno, Nevada and pre-trip training efforts. California volunteers can help win the state by canvassing to identify and persuade undecided voters to support Senator Obama. Weekly trips to Reno are scheduled to leave Friday afternoon and returning Sunday afternoon.SF Organizers: Kenya Wheeler at kenyaw@gmail.com and Ellen Kamoe at travel4barack@gmail.com San Jose Organizer: Eric Orque at eorque@musd.org or 408.891.4024. August 8th-10th: Trip leaving Friday, August 8th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 10th at 6pm. San Francisco RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44jqkSan Jose RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4gdcc August 15th-17th: Trip leaving Friday, August 15th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 17th at 6pm. San Francisco RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/4wx54San Jose RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4gdkk August 22th-24th: Trip leaving Friday, August 22th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 24th at 6pm. San Francisco RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/canvass/4wx52 August 29th-September 1st: Trip leaving Friday, August 29th @ 2pm, returning Sunday, August 31st at 6pm or Monday, September 1st in the afternoon. Berkeley: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/444rc San Francisco: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44qm4 New Mexico Voter Outreach - Obama Palo Alto/Silicon Valley The Obama Palo Alto office has is coordinating with the Obama state campaign in New Mexico and will be providing phone bank support beginning this month on Saturday and Sundays from the Palo Alto office. Those interested can contact the Obama Palo Alto office directly:Location: Silicon Valley for Obama Field Office, 3898 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306Information: (650) 852-9401 / (650) 852-9527

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Obama Visibility and Voter Registration – Volunteers NeededVolunteers needed to support our local Voter Registration efforts that are a primary focus this summer. Locations are in Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz; in Capitola on 41st Avenue in front of Safeway; and in Watsonville. We ask volunteers to offer as little as 1 hour of their time to help register new voters and answer questions about our candidate as well as to offer buttons, bumper stickers and signs to interested parties. Volunteers are needed to staff the table and answer questions. This a great opportunity to get involved in support Obama and increasing voter registration. Santa Cruz – Bookshop Santa Cruz – Saturday, August 16th 11am to 3pm1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/44b5k Information: David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971 Capitola Information: Dennis Connors at squenix@sbcglobal.net / 831-685-8553Watsonville Information: Luis Alejo at laalejo@msn.com / 831-726-6032…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Obama Fundraisers – Book Sale – Convention Events - Barack in SFWe have 5 fundraisers taking place in August locally. Many thanks to the families opening their homes for Watch Party Events, our book-sale friends, our raffle team and the friends in San Francisco hosting Senator Obama for a major fundraiser. Book Sale for Obama – Saturday, August 16th at 8:30amHuge book sale, something for everyone.......... Saturday, August 16, 2008 8:30 am to 12:30 PM Time: Saturday, August 16 at 8:30 AM to 12:30 am Location: 228 Martin Dr., Aptos, CA 95003Take the Rio del Mar exit, go towards the beach, Martin Drive is one block past Aptos Beach drive. Make a right on Martin, first house on the left.Host: Teri HandzelRSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/fundraising/44w4z Barack Obama in San Francisco for Fundraiser – August 17thBarack Obama will be back for a very special fundraiser in San Francisco on Sunday, August 17. It is a private fundraising event for those supporters interested in donating to the Obama For America campaign and seeing Senator Obama speak. The event is not open to the public.When: Sunday, August 17th, 2008Time: 5:30PM - General ReceptionRSVP: Angela Chesnut at amc7@mail.com / 831.425.7788 to RSVP or more information Watch Party Fundraiser for Obama Campaign Local fundraiser and convention watch party is planned for Thursday, August 28th from 4pm to 8pm on the West Side of Santa Cruz. Watch the acceptance speech while enjoying appetizers, wine and entertainment throughout the evening. Generous Donations will be accepted at the event. Time: 4pm to 8pmSuggested Donation: $50 • $100 • $200 • $500 (checks payable to Obama For America)Hosted by: Patrice and Bob KeetRSVP by Aug 25th: Angela Chesnut at amc7@mail.com / 831.425.7788 Convention Celebration Dinner (Fundraising)Local fundraiser will be hosted by the MacDonald family in Santa Cruz on August 28, the night of the Democratic National Convention, to watch the proceedings, share food, and raise money for Obama.Time: Thursday, August 28 at 5:00 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: 1045 Nobel Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060Host: James Macdonald RSVP : http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/fundraising/4gj3j Obama Year at the Movies Raffle (Fundraiser)'Year at the Movies' Raffle is a local Obama 08 fundraiser providing supporters an opportunity to win a series of movie tickets at the Del Mar, Nick or Aptos theaters as the grand prize. Tickets are $10 each and can be obtained at various tabling events that will be staged around Santa Cruz County all summer long or by contacting Harvey or David below. Raffle winners will be determined on Election Day 2008. Contact: Harvey Dosik at 831-420-1567 / David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971Information: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4jyt …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Watch Parties August 28th – Democratic National Convention On Thursday, August 28th, Barack Obama, the assumed Democrat nominee, is scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech in front of the assembled delegates and what is expect to be an audience of 75,000 in Denver. 3 Convention Watch Parties Planned in Santa Cruz CountyThe Santa Cruz Democratic Party is organizing three Democratic National Convention Watch Events across Santa Cruz County on the evening of Thursday, August 28th starting at 5pm. Join us the final evening of the Democratic National Convention and watch the presumed Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday evening. When: Thursday, August 28th starting at 5pm. Santa Cruz Event: Woodstock Pizza, 710 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060 (no host bar and food)Aptos/Seascape: Seascape Golf Clubhouse Lounge, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos, CA 95003 (no host bar)Watsonville: Location to be announced Event Information: Leslie Steiner 831-335-4765 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Obama Volunteers Organizing and Training Live Oak Area Obama Volunteers MeetingAndrew & Rena's House (Santa Cruz, CA) Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pmLocation: 1200 Capitola Rd. #18, Santa Cruz, CA 95062Contact Phone: Andrew Longsworth - andrew@longsworth.com or call 831-465-9447 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/44jv4 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Mini-Camp Obama Volunteer Training – Reserve the DatesMini-Camp Obama Training is coming to the central coast in September. We will be hosting the Mini-Camp which is a one-day session for our Area Leaders and Precinct Captains on September 6th in San Francisco and Sacramento and September 13th in Santa Cruz. Our Area Leaders and Precinct Captains are welcome to attend either the Monterey or Santa Cruz session. This one day session provides hands-on training covering neighborhood and team organization, campaign objectives and strategies, voter-out-reach methods, voter persuasion, phone banking, canvassing and get-out-the-vote activities. Training includes the use of our online Vote Builder system. Please reserve one of these dates. Details will follow in our next Newsletter. Area Leads are encouraged to attend with their Precinct Captains to maximize their team’s training experience. The training is very interactive and group oriented. Training for all our neighborhood and precinct volunteers will follow the Mini-Camp Obama during the September and October. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Santa Cruz County Fair – September 9 to 14 – Volunteers Needed The Democratic Party has a booth at the County Fair and is need of volunteers to staff the booth. The link to the Fair Booth sign-up page is on the Santa Cruz Democrats website: www.cruzdemocrats.org

Each year the Santa Cruz Democratic Party has a booth at the Santa Cruz County Fair in Watsonville.

The Fair runs from Tuesday September 9 through Sunday September 14. If you can help by covering a two-hour shift to provide information about Obama and other Democratic Candidates and register Democratic Voters. Your Democratic Party Needs You -- To Help In Our Fair Booth. Sign yourself up. Tell your friends.

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Week of July 24th - Working to Win the Western States

By Team / Area Leader - CD17 - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 am EDT

Obama 08 Santa Cruz County

July 24, 2008

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………HIGHLIGHTS

Barack Obama in Europe and the Middle East
Wharf-to-Wharf Runners and Obama Supports – July 27th
Listening to America - Democrat Platform Events to Solicit Your Input
Convention Watch Parties and Fundraiser – August 28th
Santa Cruz Campaign Office Opening in August
Supporting Nevada and New Mexico Campaigns
Camp Obama Volunteer Training Coming to Santa Cruz
Support Our Convention Delegates
Obama 08 Fundraiser - Movie Raffle Tickets Now on Sale (fundraising)

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Barack Obama in Europe and the Middle EastAs you have heard, Barack has been in Europe and the Middle East this week. Today, he spoke in Berlin, Germany. In a city where a wall once divided the free from the oppressed, he talked about tearing down the walls that divide all peoples so we can address our common problems -- the threats of terrorism and nuclear weapons, global warming and genocide, AIDS and poverty. "I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before," Mr. Obama told the crowd, confronting the delicate issue of campaigning abroad. "Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world." Senator Barack Obama waved to the crowd gathered at the Victory Column at Tiergarten Park in Berlin on Thursday. An estimated 200,000 Germans gathered to watch Mr. Obama's speech. Barack Obama met for about an hour with Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Federal Chancellery. A German diplomat said the discussions went very successfully, saying: "They quickly found themselves on the same page. It was not superficial at all."

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Runners for Obama at Wharf-to-Wharf - This Sunday

How cool is it to represent the next President of the United States at the 36th Annual Wharf to Wharf race run on Sunday, July 27th. The race starts at 8:30 and runs from the Santa Cruz Pier (near downtown) to the Capitola Pier (in Capitola Village) and is considered the "Best Little Roadrace in California". The 10K, six mile race, is festive and fun rather than deadly serious.

Event Date: 8:30AM Sunday, July 27th. Obama Shirts: order your *T-shirts at: BarackObama.com and join us for a "Race to Change".Information: June Gorman at june_gorman@sbcglobal.net Volunteers Needed at the Race:Volunteers needed at the starting point in Santa Cruz and at the finish area in Capitola to provide Obama information, sign-up volunteers and sell Obama gear. Pre-Race Obama Crew at the Starting point in Santa Cruz will meet in front of Ideal Fish Restaurant near the Santa Cruz Wharf at 7:15 am to 9:15 am. If you arrive that early you might actually find parking! But bring lots of quarters for the couple of hours. Otherwise, Shuttle parking lot is at Ocean Street Government Center and shuttle starts at 6:30am. Look for Obama shirts and hats!Time: 7:15 am to 9:15 amLocation: Ideal Fish Restaurant near the Santa Cruz WharfContact: Susan Samuels Drake at sdrake2@cruzio.com Post-Race Obama Crew at the Finish area in Capitola will meet on Capitola Beach at "Obama" space 9:15 am. Beach "Obama" station set-up, plus "milling" crew at the Finish line/ Bridge working with "waiting" spectators. Look for Obama table, signage, shirts and hats!Time: 9:15 am to 11:15 amLocation: Meet at on Capitola Beach at "Obama" space Contact: Dennis Connors at squenix@sbcglobal.net / 831-685-8553 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Listening to America - Democratic Platform Events & Your Input The Democratic Platform for Change – Forums to Solicit Your InputEvery four years, the Democratic Party assembles a platform that outlines the party's position on a number of issues. Traditionally, the drafting of the platform is not open to ordinary people. This year, that's going to change. From July 19 to July 27, people all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities. People all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities and homes to discuss the issues and share their input. The input obtained from these meetings will help shape the platform at the Democratic Convention in August. The outcome of these meetings will be reviewed by the Drafting Committee as it creates the final Platform. Platform Meetings are a great way to connect with fellow supporters and help write the next chapter in the history of the Democratic Party. No political experience is required. Your thoughts and experiences are all that matter, and they will shape a platform that -- like this campaign -- is owned by the people. Attend one of the Santa Cruz County Platform Events listed below. Saturday, July 26th -- Downtown Santa Cruz Democratic Platform EventA Great Idea, A Great Opportunity to Get Involved. A Saturday Afternoon Brainstorming Event of Getting Whats in Our Heads Out & Heard! Join Us, Some Appetizers Provided.Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pmLocation: Fusion Restaurant & Lounge, 110 Pearl Alley, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Contact Phone: Jamaka Johnson / 831-600-7417 RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/platformmeeting/442x9 Sunday, July 27th -- SLV / Boulder Creek Democratic Platform EventMark your calendar for Sunday July 27th for an afternoon of sharing good food, and conversation with community members that want to have their voices heard. Bring your ideas for change and a dish or some wine to share with others. All ages welcome to attend!Time: 12noon to 200pmLocation: Ellis Residence, 14395 West Park Ave., Boulder Creek, CA 95006Directions: Take Hwy 9 in Boulder Creek to West Park. We are located about one mile up West Park on the left. RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/platformmeeting/4gwg9 Host a Platform Meeting Event You can also host an event in your own community. We’ve prepared all the materials that you need to host. Or, if you’d prefer, find an event near you.Sign up to host or attend a Platform Meeting in your neighborhood: http://my.barackobama.com/listening

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Voter Registration Drive – Volunteers NeededVolunteers needed to support our local Voter Registration efforts that are a primary focus this summer. Locations are in Santa Cruz on Pacific Avenue in front of Bookshop Santa Cruz; in Capitola on 41st Avenue in front of Safeway; and in Watsonville. We ask volunteers to offer as little as 1 hour of their time to help register new voters and answer questions about our candidate as well as to offer buttons, bumper stickers and signs to interested parties. Volunteers are needed to staff the table and answer questions. This a great opportunity to get involved in support Obama and increasing voter registration. Santa Cruz – Bookshop Santa Cruz – Saturday, July 26th 11am to 3pm1520 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060Information: David Gripton at dag1951@cruzio.com / 831-238-4971 Capitola Information: Dennis Connors at squenix@sbcglobal.net / 831-685-8553Watsonville Information: Luis Alejo at laalejo@msn.com / 831-726-6032………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Santa Cruz Campaign Office Opening in AugustA Santa Cruz Campaign Office is in the works and tentatively planned to open mid-August. The office is located in the Galleria Plaza between River and Front Streets in downtown Santa Cruz. This office will support the Obama campaign efforts in Santa Cruz County along with state and local Democratic candidates and ballot measures. An office opening event is planned, stay-tuned for more information. Volunteers are needed to staff the office. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Out-of-State Voter Efforts – Nevada and New MexicoNevada and New Mexico are two very important swing states where our out-of-state voter outreach efforts can make a difference in electing Barack Obama. We will continue to announce out-of-state voter efforts for those who have the time and ability to support these activities. Nevada Voter Registration Weekend in Reno, Nevada – July 25 and 26th You may be aware that Nevada is one of the swing states and very critical to November's results. We have to get out the vote for Barack Obama in Nevada but in order for people to vote they have to be registered to vote so our sister state is asking for our help with voter registration by traveling to Reno for a weekend. We will leave on Friday evening at 5:30PM on July 25 and return on Sunday evening, July 27th. When you sign up please include your telephone number, only the event organizer can see that information, and we will call you to confirm. The ask is of all of Northern California - our goal is to get at least 100 of us. The sooner we know the sooner we can try to pool our money for buses and/or set up carpools. There will be some supporter housing available.Organizer: Kim Mack 916-400-3252 / Sacramento Obama OfficeInformation: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gt5z Nevada Voter Registration Weekends in Las Vegas, Nevada – August 9th and August 16th The Obama San Jose team is coordinating with the Obama Nevada campaign in Las Vegas to provide voter registration and voter out-reach support the weekends of August 9th and August 16th.Organizer: Eric Orque at eorque@musd.org or 408.891.4024Information August 9th: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4gdcc Information August 16th: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/voterregistrationdrive/4gdkk Nevada Voter Registration Weekends in Reno, Nevada – Weekly Carpools from SF Obama Ellen San Francisco and Oakland are organizing weekly carpools to Reno, Nevada and pre-trip training efforts. Ellen has also setup a google docs spreadsheet to track volunteers who are traveling on a specific week. We are sharing this information with Obama for Nevada staff to assist their planning efforts for canvassing and voter registration plans and to find supporter housing for usOrganizer: Kenya Wheeler at kenyaw@gmail.com and Ellen Kamoe at travel4barack@gmail.com New Mexico Voter Outreach - Obama Palo Alto/Silicon Valley The Obama Palo Alto office has is coordinating with the Obama state campaign in New Mexico and will be providing phone bank support beginning this month on Saturday and Sundays from the Palo Alto office. Those interested can contact the Obama Palo Alto office directly:Location: Silicon Valley for Obama Field Office, 3898 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306Information: (650) 852-9401 / (650) 852-9527 New Mexico Voter Outreach - Obama Los GatosBring your lap top, cell phone, or mic and skype account and join us in calling New Mexico Independent Voters. We have a couple of computers in the office. When you RSVP, please let me know if you are brining your own lap top or need to use one of our computers.Time: Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 AM to 12noonContact Phone: Yeffi Vanatta / 408-406-5309 Location: LG Obama Office, 15495 Los Gatos Blvd Suite 4 (Above Erik's Deli), Los Gatos, CA 95032 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Watch Parties August 28th – Democratic National Convention On Thursday, August 28th, Barack Obama, the assumed Democrat nominee, is scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech in front of the assembled delegates and what is expect to be an audience of 75,000 in Denver. 3 Watch Parties Planned in Santa Cruz CountyLocally we are organizing 4 Watch Parties for Thursday, August 28th to bring supporters and volunteers together throughout Santa Cruz County. Watch Parties are planned for Watsonville, Mid-County and Santa Cruz. Reserve the evening of August 28th for this historic event and celebrate with local supporters. These events are open to all. More information in our August newsletters. Watch Party Fundraiser for Obama Campaign Additionally, we have a local fundraiser and watch party planned for Thursday, August 28th from 4pm to 8pm on the West Side of Santa Cruz. Watch the speech while enjoying appetizers, wine and entertainment throughout the evening. Generous Donations will be accepted at the event. Time: 4pm to 8pmSuggested Donation: $50 • $100 • $200 • $500 (checks payable to Obama For America)Hosted by: Patrice and Bob KeetRSVP by Aug 25th: Angela Chesnut at amc7@mail.com /l 831.425.7788 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Camp Obama Volunteer TrainingIn August and September we will host Camp Obama Volunteer Training to prepare people for the General Election campaign voter-outreach efforts. We are tentatively planning to hold a number of sessions on Saturday’s -- August 23, 30, Sept 6, and Sept 13th. More information to follow.

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Photos from San Francisco Pride

By Paul Schreiber - Aug 11th, 2008 at 3:42 am EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Here are my photos of the Obama contingent at the San Francisco Gay Pride parade.

If you know folks I don't, please tag or comment!

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