I just watched an inspiring video posted on HealthReform.gov that showed President Obama reading a few of the letters he gets every day. Most of the letters the President reads on this video are about health care.
The President reads ten letters every day of about 65,000 that arrive every week. He makes a handwritten reply to three or four per day. (The White House staff replies to all of them.) The video also gives us a peak at how those letters arrive at the White House and how they are selected to go to the President.
If you ever feel your energy for the health care reform fight flagging, watch this six-minute video at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/video/Inside-the-White-House-Letters-to-the-President/
God I hope Obama doesn't blow his load on Oct 29th with this 30 minute TV ad.
I've seen some really impressive speeches by him. In fact that's the mark that really sold me.His ability to speak, speak well, and influence with ideals not useless, hopeless rhetoric.
I'm afraid that it's going to be some prefab video montage of the campaign and himself (and Joe of course).
And not an Influential Inspiring Moving and Motivating speech which is key at not only swaying the hearts of those that need moving. But keeping the hearts that have already learned to love, keep loving.
Voters of base, independent and undecided need that final push to the voting booth, with the vigor of change that we so desperately desire.
Well I had the pleasure of seeing Barack Obama today at Legend's Field in Tampa today. I am almost speechless, I have never been more inspired by any one candidate before. I have been a supporter of Barack's since 2004 when he gave the keynote speech at the DNC...fast forward to now and he is on the cusp of making history..I have already voted for Sen. Obama..as far as the rally goes, it was just so awesome..having the chance to talk to some of the people who were standing nearby, we traded stories of how we came to be in this same spot on this day to see this man who will be our next president. And then the place went insane, people cheering and yelling "YES WE CAN" over and over again..he is so charming and articulate and intelligent and he is so US..he is the people's president!
This incredible man will work for us..my sister and I were 5 feet from the podium..5 feet!! As he walked up to the stage, I could feel tears well up in my eyes..it was the culmination of 4 years..of this race..the debates, etc...I was so happy to be in this crowd and honored as well...to be among thousands of people who GET IT..just like Sen. Obama gets it..YES WE CAN..YES WE WILL!
I am more energized than ever. After 4 days at the convention, I am convinced that Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the leaders to begin the next chapter in the American Experience. My daughters and I were holding up "Change" signs from the convention to all motorists driving past. As a result, 2 stopped and came over. People are energized. We are engaging others to be part of the process. This is a major change in engagement in our Democracy and I encourage you to be a part of it.
Neighbors stopped by, we talked. They shared their hopes. Even those who don't believe Barack has the experience are engaging in dialogue around the election - AND you can tell that they WANT to have hope. They care. They care deeply. Yes, they may be afraid. If so, they need to be inspired. They need confidence. Listen to them. Talk to them. Don't be put off nor discouraged. They need to feel that...
together, YES WE CAN!
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."
"it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children in is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today"
"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America."
Barack Obama's words have inspired me to make a song, I spent a few sleepless nights making this and would love to hear what you think of it-- his words are the strongest part of it and rightly stand on their own, but I was inspired by the chanting of the crowd and added a hard-hitting beat and distorted guitar that really sounds like a rock-concert "rally", cheering on a movement that will bring about a brighter future.
I hope his words and this song will help others to come together and make a positive change.
Enjoy!
Woo Hoo I feel so ALIVE!!!!! This run for the White House is making history by so many different platforms. We have a gentleman from a mixed race classified as African American and a lady running for President. We are all connecting on one accord because we have a vision. We desire something better, inspiring and challenging.
I do believe that is Change, right. So who is putting it in the face of America by connecting different races, financial backgrounds, political parties and religions? That's right our man Senator Barack Obama!
It is indeed an honor to be in support of this magnificent being. He has such a warm spirit and is a distingushed gentleman. I am inspired more so by being an active participant in this political process. This is a first for me getting completely involved in a political process to this magnitude. The first Rally to gather volunteers had me hooked. We in Dallas, TX held one of the largest they that his organizers have ever seen. It was standing room only!
I tutor a kid in math, who is in third grade. Tonight I was tutoring when the kid's dad saw my car outside with my Barack Obama bumpersticker on the back. He said, "is that yout car with the Obama sticker on it," and I said yes. He said that it was great, and shook my hand. Then he told me about when he was younger, and was just a few people from being drafted in Vietnam. He said that he grew up when Bobby Kennedy was running in '68 and he sees the same thing in Obama, a spirit and enthusiasm that brought people together. Well that was awesome, I thought to myself.
Then, the mom said that the kid also likes Barack Obama. That made me feel even better. Then the kid said "yeah, I love Barack Obama, he's going to get the troops out of Iraq!" I was amazed, that even a third grader can grasp the exitement and change that is being seen in America.
After the last couple of days, this reminded me what this campaign is all about, and I couldn't be happier to be a small part of it.
I must be honest and say I haven’t been keeping up with politics like I have in the past. The truth is I’m just tired of being lied to!! So I went to Youtube and looked at a few speeches Mr. Obama has made and I was moved to tears on every one I watched. He is moving and inspiring. I feel like a spark has been lit under me and now I want to make a difference. My dream of being a politician is coming back to me. He is truly and awesome guy and I know he carries God with him everywhere he goes. I’m just scared for him……. Whenever someone is expressing the need for change there are those that get scared because no matter how much people want change there are hesitant to do so. I am praying so much for him and his family that God will put a hedge of protection around them.
God Bless you and stay in the fight America needs you Senator!
George Bush still receives support from about 28% of voters. On issues like health care, tax policy, Iraq, the environment, and energy policy, many voters still believe the propaganda coming from right wing think tanks and pundits. For our next president, we need a charismatic leader who can convince large majorities to support practical solutions to our many festering political problems.
Barack Obama can inspire most of us to come together behind new policies that actually work for our people, for our economy, and for our interactions with the rest of the world. Obama won't be able to get everyone lined up behind new policies. The radical right will still have some people getting their opinions from right wing talk radio, Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal. But with charismatic leadership, we have an opportunity in 2008 to end the era when more than 10-20% of voters believed all government is bad, taxes should always be reduced especially for the rich, and budget and trade deficits are OK as a means to choking government. Another year of drifting under the leadership of George Bush will further weaken the agenda of the radical right. Starting in 2009, we need to marginalize the entire obstructionist movement of the radical right and reduce them to a radical fringe.
Barack Obama can do this. He is more than charismatic than other democratic candidates. He can lead us in a new direction and convince most people to follow. Hilary Clinton, through no fault of her own, is viewed negatively by too many people. The culture wars would continue during another Clinton presidency and would limit what she can accomplish. I could support John Edwards, but it's unclear that his ability to fight big business as a trial lawyer will carry over to the political arena where winning through confrontation is less likely to be successful. Obama can inspire us and can peel away maybe half of the conservative support currently blocking reforms on health care, tax policy, budget priorities, education, energy policy, the environment, and global warming.
I've joked with people before about how I live in the only area of Chicago that has a Republican alderman. When we started our group, I was surprised to get as many folks as we did as early as we did. Some of the group felt it was a little early to get out and start fundraising so we slowed things down. But I've started talking with people in my neighborhood and found that there are more people interested in electing Mr. Obama than I thought there would be. One of my neighbors has a daughter visiting. She lives in England but is still a U.S. citizen. After coming to our Women for Obama house party, she decided that she wants to vote again. She came to my house and asked me about registering and we just got on the Pbama web site and got her registered. It was exciting that she had been so disenchanted with our politics that she gave up caring but now found a reason to.
Since I began finding others, I've gotten a little bolder. I put my Obama bumper sticker on my car (the 1st bumper sticker I EVER put on a car!), I've been wearing my Obama button, and yesterday, for the 4th of July, I donned my Obama T-shirt and pin and my rhinestone American flag and went to the grocery store. 3 people actually came up to me and asked where they could get a shirt and 2 other people walked by and expressed their support. I really believe that many people are beginning to "come out", now that they are seeing that so many others are. So the next thing I'm going to do is put my Obama sign in the front yard. It's not too early. It's the right time to show our support so that others, who want to, but never have, will "come out" too. It is so inspiring to see people getting together and working together to effect change.
Barack Obama has made it clear what he thinks of "cutthroat politics" and I am confident he will continue to stick to his ideals, thus, by his example, inspiring us to work together as we strive to make this a better America. I, myself, will dispute the false statements made and help spread accurate information, while, refraining from engaging in counter attack, especially on fellow Democrats. It may take a little more thought, but, in the end, that is always worth the time and effort.
To this end, I have been keeping my eyes and ears open, and this caught my attention~ Link (Link I will address it on one of my own blogs.
~ Anne
