Continuing with the topics covered at our Economic Recovery Meeting -- the message about the stimulus package:
As a retired vocational art educator from the V.I. Dept. of Education, St. Croix, I am still trying to have an impact on the vocational curriculum.
The message, I would like to leave is most of the petty and the felony crimes that are committed in our society can be prevented. Today’s educational system is out dated and under funded. We graduate thousands every year and the thousands of dropouts, are sent out into our communities with a certificate / diploma. Some barely able to fill out an application for a job . It leaves and puts a lot of them in a survival mode. Malchom X said, by any means necessary. The youth refer to the crimes committed in the community as, “Street Tax”. All are not college material. To send our children out into society without a viable trade or a marketable skill, we are breeding generations of beggars, criminals, thieves and welfare recipients. No child should leave school without a trade. Those college students with a trade could easily supplement their education without going into deep student loan debt.
The Arts can be the educational catalyst to Change!
Ivan Butcher II
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
Hawaiians for Obama - Barack Obama Groups
December 7, 2008
President Elect Barack Hussein ObamaPRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICATHE WHITE HOUSE1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President Elect:
On behalf of all Hawaiians everywhere, we send you our warmest and most heartfelt congratulations on your election as President of the United States of America. Mere words cannot begin to convey the joy, the optimism and the intense sense of pride we collectively felt at the moment your victory was announced. Although most of us could not be with you in Grant Park on November 4th, our spirits soared as we listened to you humbly accept the honor and the responsibility of serving as the 44th President of our nation.From the moment you stepped into the public forum, we recognized in you the true embodiment of the Spirit of Aloha. The nation remarked on your strength of character, your quiet intellect, your wisdom and your spirit of peace. The media called you unflappable. We saw in you the trait most needed to guide us and lead us as one people through difficult yet promising times, He po`i na kai uli, kai ko`o, `a`ohe hina pûkoa. (Though the sea be rough and deep, the coral rock remains standing - You are the one who remains calm in the storm).
We have for so long yearned to share with the world the Spirit of Aloha. Most of us never dreamt it would be possible. In you, however, we know that spirit was nurtured and will now serve you and our nation well as you represent us on a global stage. We are proud and we are joyful. For us, you are so much more than the President-Elect, you are Mai Ka Lani Mai (Heaven sent). You are Hawai‛i’s native son. You are our ohana.
No matter what the future holds for you, for all of us, you will always have the support of your ohana. Our spirits are entwined with your spirit, your joys are our joys, your successes are our successes and when trials come remember, with ohana, your trials too are our trials.
`A`ohe pu`u ki`eki`e ke ho`â`o `ia e pi`i
(No cliff is so tall that it cannot be scaled - No problem is insurmountable when one works hard to solve it)
Aloha and mahalo nui loa for the sacrifices you have chosen to make for all of us, Hawaiians for Obama,
Gerald W AshtonDavid AppersonTeresa ArcangelMaría Julianna AuzenneElizabeth BalaoVictoria BatesGail BreakeyTeresa BurkertJeri Lynn EndoRebecca EstradaCarolyn GolojuchLisa HolmesJohnny HuckabyBruce JuselisKelvin KinteCarole KuwaharaArni MaddoxAnita Di MauroSamuel MitchellJeff McKnightNedra McKnightDaryl MuromotoLisa ReyGerry Jayte TavaresBonnie WalkerAroha WalshEliza WalshMakana WalshMichael Walsh Email hawaiiansforobama@barackobama.com
IT MATTERS WHAT WE BELIEVE
Rev. John T. Crestwell Jr.
December 6, 2008
It truly matters what we believe. Some of the things we hold construct, while others tear-down. Some of the things we accept allow us to be hopeful, while many other things we believe cause fear and doubt. Some of the things we believe help us to do more than we ever thought we could or to bear a heavy burden, while other beliefs castrate our sense of dignity and purpose, or push us to give up way to soon on something we want. Yes, it matters what we believe…
I graduated with a BA in communication and a minor in dialogue and I'm fascinated by the consistency of the message from the beginning of the campaign.
I wrote about it on my other blog at www.melissachungfat.com
Congratulations on your remarkable campaign and well-deserved win!
I recently wrote a positive e-mail to all my friends and family letting them know I have my reasons for supporting Obama. I'm not some mindless college kid following a trend, but am really invested in this thing. The response has been great! From Republican and Democrat alike. I'm glad I did it, you should too!
Here's what I sent maybe it can inspire your own:
Hello Everyone,I hope you will read this; I will try to be brief. I have been doing some volunteering lately for the BYU Democrats and especially for Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change. A key point in the campaign’s philosophy is that we make sure we share with everyone our personal story for why we support whom we support. It’s important to me that everyone know I’m not behind Obama because I’m young and impressionable but because I feel that we as Americans have a vested interest in seeing this man become President.I’m a junior at BYU majoring in Middle East Studies with the goal of one day serving the United States as a Foreign Service Officer. Diplomacy to me is key to American security. Soldiers are a precious resource, they’re individuals with husbands and wives and families who love them, and should be used only as a last line of defense. Senator Obama understands the need to use diplomacy first and warfare last. America has lost too much credibility on the world stage doing the reverse. I want my boss to be someone who understands that important balance.Second, Kennedy encouraged his countrymen to “ask not what your country can do for you [but to] ask what you can do for your country.” The reason that statement lives on almost half a century later is because it’s an emboldening principle, an ideal of American civic virtue. After 9/11, despite the fact that we as nation felt a huge swell of solidarity, few outside of the military were asked to sacrifice much of anything, we were asked to shop; that was a wasted opportunity. Obama will build-up programs like the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps and Teach for America, programs that encourage our best and brightest to give back to the nation that gave them so many opportunities. Educated people make countries stronger, and help with tuition in return for helping the country only makes sense.Third, from just a personal viewpoint, when Obama says he believes in every American’s potential and that America’s brightest days are still ahead, I believe him. All I did was give the campaign my name, my number and a pledge to volunteer and they gave me a list of people to talk with. For those people I was the voice of the Obama Campaign, even though Barack Obama has no idea who I am. Yet because of his beginnings as a community activist he entrusts millions of us to be his ears and voice rather than rely on something maybe more accurate and infallible (like robo-calls). To me that spells trust and real confidence in the American people.So those are just some very simple reasons why I’m so excited to see Barack Obama become our next president. I don’t think he’s a Messiah, he’s not a pop-culture icon for me, but he does give me hope for the future and he does make me excited to be an American and to represent this incredible country abroad. I’m linking this to Obama’s Blueprint for Change, which sums up the campaign’s position on most of the major issues (and some you might not expect). I know my few little reasons won’t apply to some of your major concerns so I’m encouraging you to take a look at the ones that do.And if you’ve already made your decision for McCain I think that’s great. I hope you won’t mind getting this from me, I’m so tired of partisanship and I hope we can still be friends (politics isn’t worth dividing friendships over). One day the time of wars and nations will be over and all we’ll have left is our friends and families, so I hope we can all keep our priorities straight ;) Thanks for reading.Much love,Andrew
We are close to the wire and McCain continues to stump and fabricate untruths (lies!). Barack and Joe have to be able to continue to push back with our positive messages that will carry us into the future as a united country. That is why even on this Saturday before election day Tuesday, I will opt to send a donation and cook in tonight or do my own pedicure/manicure (or maybe I will just consider it a self imposed luxury matching fund donation). If we all continue to do whatever we can between now and Tuesday, a lot will get done!
If one judges the candidates on the manner in which they directed their election campaign, Sen. Barack Obama would win hands down. He has spearheaded a campaign that has been nothing short of brilliant. Sen. Obama has remained steadfast and had a consistent message of genuine change. Whereas Sen. John McCain's campaign has been floundering from one issue to another and the latest reports of in-fighting between Palin's and McCain's aides is another sign of a troubled camp.
It is now up to the tens of millions of Barack Obama supporters to ensure they get to the polls and vote for soon to be President Obama.
I've been wanting to discuss the Obama Design since day one. Many people have agreed that the design behind the Obama campaign has been stellar and reaching people unlike previous elections. What is behind this?
The Symbol
So, never before have I seen such a flawlessly run design campaign.
Politics aside, the mobilization of the logos, the diverse options, and the inspiring mottoes and - dare I say - typeface have people eager to put stickers on their bumpers.
Seriously, never before have I been thinking about putting a bumpersticker on my car. Bumpersticker activism isn't how I want to change the world.
But the simple circle with the new day dawning over the striped fields...something about that image just gets into the core of me. It doesn't just represent Obama - it represents something deeper, something organic and powerful that connects us all to the earth beneath our feet and the people on the street.
Even if Obama didn't win, I really think this logo could be something people across the country could unite under. It represents the best of us, the intrinsic American spirit that is about community and roots, as well as change and growth.
You have to admit, it's fabulous design that manages to take one symbol and tweak it to fit so many different people. It gives credence to the underlying statement: that we are all equally important and united, despite our individual differences. (For a sample of the logos as made individualized for each voting group, you can check the BarackObama website, or you can read this blog that includes a sample of each. )
Designbay did a study of winning presidents and their logos, and then compared this year's candidates. The Obama logo is designed to win.
Designers Review the Branding
K-Co, my top-notch designer friend, and I have discussed the Obama branding and what makes it so alluring. The branding has a lot of designers talking. One designer and critic, Michael Beirut, was asked to give his opinions of the Obama branding and the effort that has gone into it. His views seem somewhat amazed at the level of detail put into the branding, and his tone sounds a bit conflicted. But he says it clearly - the design and branding are impeccable.
The website is part of the branding technique, and people definitely have opinions about that. Friends I've talked to find it simultaneously helpful and beautiful, but expansive and overwhelming. Back in 2007, the Bivings Report took a look at the Obama campaign site. They gave it pretty high reviews, although some issues were noted. Additionally, Brian Yerkes provided his own review in June of '08, which goes through some detail as to why the Obama website is superior.
In January '08, the Boston Globe put together a review of fonts by The Font Bureau, Inc. focusing on which fonts in the campaigns really speak of change.
The Website and the Store
Have you been to the BarackObama store? Not just your typical cheesy election stuff. The designs are quality and make you feel inspired and happy to be a part of the experience. In addition, if you're looking for something higher end, there are the Runway to Change and Artists for Obama lines. SwissMiss featured the newest art poster in a blog post a few days ago, referring to it as a "typographic waterfall" as lovingly as any designer might.
The problem? Everything I want (or can afford) is sold out! (Perhaps I should check out the Democratic Stuff website.)
Next Post: Capitalism, Artists and DIY Speak Up For Obama
(originally posted at Exponential)
The McCain is 90% Bush commercial run after the 3rd debate is a disaster for the campaign. You absolutely have to refer to Bush as President Bush or risk everything. If the polls swing negatively as of 10/16/08, this commerical is the cause. No matter how much people dislike Bush, you cannot refer to him as "Bush!"
McCain, in every way, whether it is that he is a prisoner of War, or that he supported the War in Iraq, and he not time frame planned for getting out... has "WAR" written all over him when the people of the world see him.
When people see Obama, they see Peace. He promotes Peace, he plans for Peace, he advocates Peace.
Isn't this the fundamental message that we want to be putting out there?
From: Ron Carpenter
24 years Air Force (4 in munitions - 20 doing intelligence work)
2 years Compaq Computers
4 years teaching at-risk students (gang members & drug users)
Stepdad married 22 years
... and changing from Independent to Democrat
McCain is trying hard to scrape Bush off his shoe.
I've thought of a way to make that impossible. A way to make sure everyone smells what McCain's been stepping in the last 8 years.
It's a new slogan to use before and after speeches, on bumper stickers, at gatherings, and on podiums and television backdrops.
It may unite and energize an audience, and it's a strong clear message for public speaking. It's sheer simplicity will make it an effective message and fund raiser.
It looks like this:
UV_XY
NO MORE W's
It is the strongest possible rallying cry for loyal Democrats and undecided Independents. It says in a simple way get rid of the "W" (Bush and his follow-ons).
(1) Everyone recognizes the oval office monkey by his nickname "dubyah" or "W".
(2) Every Republican ran out to buy "W" bumper stickers.
(3) Every loyal Democrat might use the "UV_XY" sign and slogan. People would see it on bumper
stickers on every highway and every parking lot in America, on front lawns, and tee-shirts.
(4) From now on, energize people with the simple chant "U-V-X-Y" and "NO MORE W's".
It is memorable and to the point, like Mr. Obama himself.
As a slogan it exposes the Republicans' biggest weakness: that link between Bush and McCain. They are doing everything they can to break that link before November, but this tactic will forge it into an unbreakable chain.
Republicans didn't even want "W" at the convention. The hurricane was just a flimsy excuse for his absence.
Mr. Bush ... the man who stayed to watch the Olympics when war broke out between Russia and Georgia ... the man who kept reading a nursery book to school kids after he heard the twin towers were destroyed ... the man who did nothing about Katrina for days ... the man who vacationed at his ranch every time the world went to heck ... that same Bush pretended a hurricane was keeping him busy.
Don't allow the Republican and Bush track record to slip into the background!
Every television backdrop should be showing "UV_XY" and NO MORE W's. Every speech should start with the "UVXY" chant and high spirits. Every car driven by every Democrat should proclaim the days of George Bush and his kind are over .
"U-V-X-Y" and "NO MORE W's" would also refocus the campaign on McCain and away from that awful woman Palin. It would reinforce in every listener's mind, Independent or Democrat or other, that McCain is just another Bush.
And one more thing. In the 2000 election Bush was relentless claiming he'll be a better President than John MCCain. With Bush's record, what does that say about McCain?
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There's been a lot of talk about change in this Presidential race. Some of it real, and some of it just talk.
I do admit the Republican party has made some very real changes.
For instance, after the Democratic party brought a woman so close to the White House, the Republican party finally brought one into the picture.
After the Democratic party demanded we consider other options in Iraq, the Republican party also began talks about ending the war ... a war which has lasted nearly 2 years longer than World War II.
After the Democratic party talked about curbing the abusive profit-taking of big oil, the Republican party did eventually admit something needed to be done.
And after the Democratic party talked for years about the need for major changes in the way the White House does business, the Republican party dropped its long held mantra "stay the course" and began calling itself "the party of change."
Oh they've made changes all right. The trouble I see is that they only do it when they're backed into a corner. When the majority of Americans are suffering and an election is coming.
And you can't really talk about majorities without talking about minorities.
Remember we are all Americans. We are not part rich and part poor, part black and part white, part Hispanic and part Asian. We are the people , every last one of us. Your government shouldn't pick and choose who gets all the benefits, who gets immediate attention after a hurricane and who doesn't, who gets laws passed for their personal benefit and who does not.
But the Republican party doesn't seem to see it that way. In this great democratic process of electing the next President, the Democratic convention floor was a cross-section of all Americans ... the Republican convention was a different story.
The Democratic party has long held the doors open to minorities, to Hispanics and the young and women and African-Americans and others ... in short to all Americans ... but the Republican party is slow to accept these differences.
This year a quarter (24%) of the Democratic delegates were African-American. On the Republican side, the number was less than 2%.
At the Democratic convention, almost half (44%) of delegates were the minorities of this country. Twelve percent (12%) of them were Hispanic ... at the Republican convention that number was a mere 5%.
It seems to me that if the Republican party is reluctant to lead the country towards real equality and opportunity for everyone, the Democratic party is more than willing!
The Republican convention this year did have more women delegates than in the past, and one woman even made it onto the ticket. But the Republicans had only a handful of African-American delegates, of handicapped, Hispanic or Asian, or young people ...
... and certainly no one they think of as undesirable ... or who dares to challenge the party line.
Republican gatherings have frequently been preceded by the signing of loyalty oaths ... and party loyalty, not competence, has been the chief requirement for Republican appointees to government positions.
For women in the Republican party things look pretty good right now ... not so good for others. But I suppose if you're only going to talk about change you don't need to go into it with your heart and soul.
I guess what I'm saying is that when you talk about leading the way ... making America a fair and free land for all Americans ... you have to actually do it ... to show it ... you have to mean it .
I often wonder what must be going through the minds of voters.
When John McCain's economic advisor called us a nation of whiners, did voters think perhaps the Republican controlled White House, Congress, and Supreme Court have given them plenty to whine about?
And what must the more open-minded voters think of the Republican way of viewing the world today?
A frequent Republican goal seems to be amassing personal wealth. They rub the shoulders of big oil and wall street firms and major banks. John McCain even had a billionaire speak for him at the convention. The speaker mentioned how hard it is to get by in America today, with the high price of gas and food and everyday necessities.
By the way, that speaker really opened my eyes. I can now say in all honesty that I'm no longer surprised the Republican candidate doesn't know how many houses he owns ... or the difference between millionaires and the struggling middle class. People of enormous wealth, though they may be very good people, live in a different world from the rest of us.
... We didn't have a billionaire guest speaker at our convention because, quite frankly, they understand the problems of the average American. They are much more familiar with Republican support of big business.
Another conservative political mantra is a free market economy. The Republican party still seems to believe the more money you put into the hands of the wealthy, the better off everyone will be. It's that trickle down theory they've chanted since the days of Ronald Reagan.
Yet when John McCain's economic advisor, Mr. Graham, threw away many of the restrictions on profit-motivated banks earlier this year, the economy took a nose dive and millions of investors were hurt.
This is not to say that all major U.S. companies are interested only in the bottom line, but it does seem like most of them are.
And when you tell a company CEO and stockholders they can make all the money they want, by whatever means, and no one will be watching ... there are those who just might take advantage of the ordinary American.
Like big oil. Their profits under President Bush have been record-setting.
There's one report that Exxon made over $35 billion profit last year, while claiming they only raised prices to cover increased costs. On profits alone big oil could practically pay for the Iraq war, without putting the burden on us taxpayers.
It's no secret this administration and John McCain and Ms. Palin are all for letting big oil drill anywhere it wants and make whatever profit it can. But will unrestricted drilling reduce the price of filling up at the pump?
Let's examine the Republican "trickle down" theory in actual practice.
The price of crude oil has dropped over a third since it's record high, but at the pump the price has dropped more like an eighth. You can be certain that between 33% and 12% is a huge profit that went into someone's back pocket, and it wasn't mine. Nor was it the average American's.
And when the Republicans' chief economists and political figures loosened other government oversight, turned their heads away from the mortgage lenders, it was a clear signal to market predators they had the government's blessing to chase down every last crumb of mortgage profit. They lured millions of American families into buying more house than they could afford.
Mortgage lenders also pressed hard to convert Americans across the country into refinancing existing homes with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs). Americans were told this would be their ticket to bigger and better things, not to worry about the rates going up. But the rates did go up ... driving many of those same families into foreclosure.
Homelessness plays no part in the American dream as I understand it.
Surely some innocent Republicans are suffering along with the rest of America in the housing crisis. But the die-hards never seem to accept reality. They never seem to see the light of day.
The die-hard Republicans ... and I'm not talking about the typical Republican party member ... whose only concern is the good of the country ...
... but the die-hard Republicans like the Karl Roves and Henry Paulsons ... the John McCains and Sarah Palins ... they forge ahead continuing to support the same policies, the same political tactics, and the same administration. In the face of overwhelming evidence that things are not going as hoped, they stay the course .
Perhaps they're sticking to their guns in the mere hope their economic strategies will do better in the future ...
... though I've heard many Republicans claim Mr. Obama’s message of hope is merely a hollow promise. He has been attacked by die-hard Republicans for carrying his message of hope and the belief in a better tomorrow.
Let us not forget the Republican White House and Congress have been telling us the Middle-East, Iraq, the economy, and our standing and security in the world will all improve … all without a sliver of evidence. It sounds to me like they are saying “hope” only means something when they say it does.
Still it seems to me that hope has its place. Just not where the die-hards are looking.
Die-hard Republicans are hoping the job market will improve, even when their government does little to help ...
They're still hoping the price of oil will come down, when the government is backing the oil industry over the consumer ...
Hoping big corporations will trickle their profits down to the average American, when history tells us otherwise ...
Hoping the war will end, that our sons and daughters won't be dragged into that war, though the government refuses to consider the options ...
Hoping the world will be a safer place, when we go after the wrong targets ...
Hoping our civil rights will remain secure, when the very government meant to protect those rights is taking people to prison without trial, spying on our e-mails and phone calls without warrants ...
They're hoping college will be affordable, and opportunity will come knocking, when the government is spending less and less on college education ...
They're hoping people will get help when disaster strikes, though Katrina victims waited days for the Republican President to even acknowledge their plight ...
Most of all they're hoping the world will end up a better place for our children, despite the fact they keep putting the same kind of people and the same kind of policies back into power ...
It seems to me that's where the false hope lies.
.
I believe in hope, but of a different kind.
I believe in hope ... when it's backed by honest commitment, and it's not just a last-minute political label.
I believe in hope ... when I can see a political party that includes all Americans in that message.
I believe in hope ... when people say they're ready for change.
We cannot go on as before. We cannot survive as a nation if we continue to exclude everyone except the rich and powerful and closed-minded. We must change for the good of all.
This country does not belong to just a few of us ...
... to just 1.5% of the African-Americans ...
... to just 5% of the Hispanics ...
... to just those who support war ...
... or just those who support big business ...
... or just those who support Republican policies ...
This country is our land, rich and poor, black and white, Asian, Hispanic and everything in-between.
It's time to take the "W" out of the White House. It's time to give this country back to its people.
Say it with me. U-V-X-Y. No more W's.
Barack Obama, you changed the tone of the campaign this week. You brought it back to politics and policy. With all of the right policies, you should be winning in the polls.
Again, I say it: Barack, take the highest of high roads. Right now, be the change you want to see.
You want a campaign free of smears? Praise your opponents.
You want a campaign based on truth? Tell us the truth about you. Your plans. Bring it back to you.
Barach Obama, you inspired a nation during the Democratic convention. You inspired us to believe for so many months. We learned all we could about you. We had the audacity to hope.
Then McCain pulled a rabbit out of his hat and inspired his own base.
You have no more rabbits. We all know your message.
All you can bring us is you.
Inspire us again. Speak only kindness. Focus on helping in Texas, even before the financial markets. Go to Texas. Fix things! Be the hope you talk about! Be the change you promise! Start your presidency of hope and kindness and fairness today. Lead us now! Inspire us again. We need you.
If you haven't read George Lakoff's Don't Think of An Elephant, please do so- and quickly. He talks about frames and worldview, and how that impacts people.
When Obama first came into this election, I was electrified. I was inspired. I got it. But, since the convention (and I loved his speech), since choosing Biden, and since McCain picked Palin, I've noticed that I've lost my sense of inspiration.
I believe what's missing is a strong narrative. They are doing what Democrats always do to lose elections- they are talking about the issues without a strong narrative to support the progressive viewpoint. Facts and figures without context, and you can notice that energy, momentum, excitement is being lost.
It's not too late. I wrote up a draft of what I think could be a strong narrative. And that's to focus back on the "we" in the message. People say that "change" is what this is about- and I disagree. I think the strongest, most inspirational part of the message is "we." There are a whole host of historical factors that make this true- I may talk about it in a later post.
