I've accepted a job as an organizer for the SEIU in Grand Forks, ND.
I am very excited about returning to Grand Forks, ND to work for health care for all and advocating for the employee free choice Act. I hope you will join me in this effort to ensure workers will have the right to collaborate. People working together to improve their own living and working situation -- we must ensure that right is protected.
I look forward to working with you on these issues. Let me know if you are interested in learning more about the work we are doing in North Dakota.
North Dakotans!
Join the Change that Works Campaign. Help work for a stronger and fairer economy, increase access to health care, and support employee free choice. Sign up for email updates on future activitie.
http://www.seiu.org/changethatworks/northdakota/
I must admit some apprehension when I heard Barack Obama proclaim his intention to be "an instrument of God" and that he will bring "a kingdom on Earth." I shuddered to anticipate the reaction of atheists. But it is important to note that the peaceful co-existence Barack Obama envisioned globally would be a quest informed by both his religion and also his upbringing.
It is clear that Sen. Obama is accomplished at bridging gaps between antagonistic groups. He has garnered bi-partisan support for initiatives in his public service and played a role in organizing community members in South Chicago to work with and through civic organizations to improve life for those people.
His kingdom on Earth will be formed not through the divisiveness and exclusivity that characterizes some modern movements, but will be based on concepts of equity and inclusiveness.
I hope he succeeds. I don't think the world needs another savior, but I do think we could use the quality leadership and positive message that Barack brings to this election.
Watched a thrilling closing speech on CSPAN last night. I don't know whether they'll re-play it, but he gave the final address of the night to the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Iowa.
My favorite element of the speech was the message he would deliver to people around the world -- that we care about them, and will address issues of global terror, poverty, and disease.
His appearance on Meet the Press went well, according to my source who has cable. I'll be listening to the radio re-broadcasts of the interview this evening. In the Fargo-moorhead area, it will be carried at 5PM 1250-KBRF and at 5:30 on 790-KFGO.
I really want to congratulate Barack on an excellent speech and thank the Obama supporters in Iowa for turning out in great numbers and spirit in Des Moines last night. Kudos! With you in spirit last night, and my exuberance for Barack as the future president of the USA bubbled through my chest -- my heart pumping mightily.
I hope we will see familiar and fresh faces at Atomic on thursday.
I also hope I can find a dog-sitter for saturday. Really, my dog could survive fine for the duration of a day indoors, I would just have pee to clean up from the bathroom floor (which is not bad at all compared to cleaning it from a carpet.)
I heard some coverage of the Debate on NPR this morning. I know some people would like Barack to remain positive and avoid attacking Hillary. I thought he was particularly good to raise the familiar theme of each's stance on Iraq. I'll look forward to reading some of the transcript of the debate, unless they are re-playing it sometime.
This is a copy of the email I sent to the Fargo Forum (I'll let you know if it prints):
I am responding to David Broder's column, printed in the Forum on October 26, regarding Senator Obama's campaign for the democratic nomination. I want to emphasize that this volunteer's confidence in Obama's values and experience remains unshaken by the Rodham-Clinton campaign machine. While my initial interest in volunteering for Sen. Obama's campaign stems from his consistent opposition to the Iraq War, it is Barack's fund-raising policy that solidified him as the candidate I support. I understand Broder's argument that the timing of Clinton's Fundraising announcement stole some of the wind from the Obama Anti-war movement. Yet, Obama still held a slight lead in donations that could be used during the primaries. If anyone thinks that Sen. Rodham-Clinton's ability to raise more money in the third quarter (about 40% more) is really that appealing, how about considering where that money is coming from? Individual arms industry employees donated $52,600 to Rodham-Clinton's campaign.
The next highest target of their donor dollars: Mitt Romney. If voters don't find her ability to raise funds from the special interests disconcerting, how does her refusal to let the public know to whom she has directed the $2.2 Billion in earmarks appeal? Obama has drafted legislation that mandates such foreclosure.Whomever you support, please actively engage in this very important nomination process. I am pushing for America to entrust our highest office to the candidate who is the leader America needs: Barack Obama. If Obama is your candidate, the campaign is sending a bus from Fargo to Sioux City, IA next saturday. Check out MyBarackObama.com, join FargObama, and come canvass Sioux City IA November 3. Sincerely,Aaron Quaday
I started writing this blog entry from the Coffee Works in Sioux City, IA. (Or from Pierce St. Coffee -- the name as it appears on the receipt)
Good coffee; but not the best egg sandwich I've ever had ('cause kraft single type cheese is not my favorite.) But enough about the food. Well, with one exception, my travel companion Allan and I went down to the Farmer's Market. We each bought honey and I bought some radishes and two hand-made gifts for my sister's birthday next month.
Leaving Fargo (almost wrote Boston) at 6:30, Allan and I shared a state of fatigue that almost prompted each of us to suggest postponing the trip in favor of canvassing in across-the-river Moorhead, MN. Yet, we persevered and drove the four point five hour trip to Sioux City (with a brief gas and meal stop in Sioux Falls.)
Our arrival in Sioux City was laced with some trepidation about finding a place to stay the night. I had lost the phone number for our Sioux City campaign contact, Thomas. I'd failed to saved the number in my phone because I was on the phone with Thomas at the time. I had saved numbers successfully before, but this time I failed. The Obama campaign is lucky to have Thomas, from Texas, who in his diligence, stopped by the Sioux City Obama or America office at 11PM on a Friday night when he hadn't heard from us. (I had left a message at the office, saying I'd lost the number.)He called back just as Allan and I were about to head out to a hotel a few miles out of town. Tom was very welcoming and helped to get Allan and me into the apartment Andy had temporarily donated for the purpose. Dependable Thomas.Allan and I had a late departure from Fargo. Each of us were expecting to be able to leave work about wo hours earlier. Despite no small measure of sleep deprivation for each of us, we awoke with time to visit the farmer's market before returning to the campaign headquarters for a pre-canvass briefing.
Our knocks on the majority houses were left unanswered (until our last block.) Fortunately, our luck swung when we hit that last block, on which we receive answers at our last four houses. Three of these people were up for long conversations and Allan and I agree that those made the whole trip worth our driving and walking efforts.
I'll plan on returning down there in the weeks preceding the caucus. Until then, I've got a local campaign i'm going to work on and will see about helping out at the Moorhead campaign office.
