Hi FriendThere is a new group that just started on Facebook that I thought Organizing for America members may be interested in joining. Please see United Against Racism -
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/354956/80588439?m=9dc74a6eUnited Against Racism
posted by David Apperson
I have been communicating with a Doctor in Oregon who happens to be a member of the Physicians National Health Project. This national group of doctors and other medical professionals who strongly believe in the Single Payer program and have been pounding the sidewalks with unique and humorous protests rallies (to get the media attention) is a little bit different than your usual protesters.
The fact that doctors are taking the time to demonstrate is a new group that you don't think about when you call a rally. The presumption always was that they were too busy, the wouldn't "lower themselves" to public outcries and they made so money what did they have to protest about anyway. Well apparently, when it comes to healthcare, doctors are finding they are being hit with high insurance premiums, overhead running their offices, paper work which is staggering, protecting themselves from patients looking for a "deep pocket" and an excuse to sue (not that some doctors don't need a slap upside the head sometime for neglect) but are also having to juggle family life, mental days off, patient care (24 hours) and paying for school loans (like the rest of us). When you combine this with the overall economy having hit financial nest eggs, pensions, and retirement funds it isn't a wonder more people aren't in the street screaming. Meantime, we are all sitting and waiting to hear about the banks that were rescued with Obama's bailout, who other than Bank of America, you don't even see advertisements about "come on in" we got our act together now, "we are willing to share the wealth", being that you (the American taxpayer) saved our bacon! But you don't see this. So here is what my buddy Paul sent me on behalf of the Physicians in Oregon who do believe that Healthcare Reform really needs to be taken more seriously than the media would care to tell us. And I'd suggest writing him, he has an inexpensive video that would make you go "hugh, they are doing what?" . . . when you hear more about the history of healthcare in America and where all the thorny discussions are, that they didn't teach you in Social Studies (if you are over 45) or Health Science if you are under 40. Enjoy . . . and give me your opinion . . .
Mad As Hell Doctors
Who are we? We are members of Oregon PNHP who believe our health care system and political process are deeply flawed. They are both mostly about money and are not yielding results that are most beneficial to our communities. We expect those who agree with us to help us bring this message to those who haven’t yet figured this out. Doing so will require serious, national media attention.
· The Health Care Industry, through our corrupt political process, continues to manipulate our legislators to create public policy that values profits over public good. That’s what we are mad about!
· Unless we find immediate savings in our chaotic health care system (that is built around insurance companies and employers) and, then, focus on controlling costs, we will never be able to accomplish the moral imperative of true Universal Access without driving our government to insolvency.
· Accomplishing this will require a single risk pool, publicly financed, and administered by an independent, transparent, publicly accountable agency that is responsible for asking and answering the following question. How do “we” get the most health and the least suffering for the precious, limited resources, that we spend on health care?
Why a road trip? Getting the attention of those who aren’t already part of the choir requires that tap into their default “channels” of entertainment/information. By creating media events in communities across the country, we will infiltrate those “channels” long enough to deliver our very cogent message, believably delivered by articulate, sincere doctors who are committed to telling the truth.
What is our vision? We will tap into the growing anger that our legislators in Washington are being manipulated by campaign contributors. We will become the rallying cry for individuals and countless local/national groups who are fed up with status quo and “false-reform”. By virtue of our numbers and the inherent truth of our message, those same legislators will be given the courage to give us real reform that results in a sustainable Health Care System with real Universal Access.
What is the plan? Over the next few weeks, with our help, communities on our itinerary will prepare for and publicize our arrival. We will leave the Willamette Valley on September 8 in a painted motor home that will draw attention to us during meetings and rallies at which we will present our case. Documenting our progress with video uploads and daily conversations with National media, they will become increasingly interested in following us as we draw progressively larger crowds. When we penetrate The Beltway in the end of September, a caravan of cars will follow us to a public rally in which we will demand health care reform consistent with our message, stated above.
How will we accomplish this? We are currently involved in Stage One, in which we put up a substantial amount of our own money to hire Gary Jelinek (Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 Campaign Organizer) and Adam Klugman (a creative media consultant) to:
Stage Two is the trip. Successful fund raising is crucial to keeping Adam and Gary involved in the project, renting and “wrapping” a motor home, and traveling with a videographer who will document our progress, record peoples’ stories, and feed video clips to both the internet and national media on a daily basis. Subsequently, a video that captures the spirit of the trip will be produced.
Consistent with our vision, “we” will grow to include you and those organizations with whom our message resonates. Tax deductible contributions can be made through our website: www.MadAsHellDoctors.com.
Questions? Gary Jelinek at jelinekdoctors@gmail.com or Paul Hochfeld at phochfeld@msn.com
As President Obama recently related to me regarding local service; "Now is our time to work together, reaffirm our enduring spirit, and choose our better history."
It is our responsibility as Americans to vote, and vote we must. And now is the time to prepare for the next election. I invite all citizens of Oregon to post a message on the Oregon Election Blog.
Oregon Election Blogoregon-election.blogspot.com
During the first 100 days of the Obama presidency we have seen outstanding leadership in tackling the many issues facing our great nation. And it seems that overwhelming poll numbers indicate that America agrees with President Obama. see THE WHITE HOUSEThe question remains; What can we as fellow Americans do to help our neighbors and countrymen? Included are nine things you can do to help the President celebrate his first 100 Days in office:1. Donate unused suits to the Salvation Army2. Donate time to Americorps3. Donate toys for children at Toys for Tots4. Donate blood at the Red Cross5. Donate a can of food each week to a Local Shelter or Food Pantry6. Donate money to Save the Children7. Donate time at local a Veterans Hospital8. Donate an hour a day to your Child9. Donate to the Make a Wish FoundationParticipation is greatly appreciated. What you do for the least of our brethren, you do for yourself -http://donate.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxWJh
Barack Obama First 100 Days posted by David Apperson
Uanshay
Committee Meeting
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Call To Order: Order
First order of business, nomination for Secretary
Susan Smith volunteers.
Nomination for President: Kyle Bussey
Vote to adopt Mission Statement. From fax sent to Senator Wyden
Ss: yes
KB: yes
Selection of Lane County Oregon as pilot county to focus on.
KB: moves to send e-mail to Faye Stewart requesting affiliations and committee information. What stimulus money he expects to be handling?
Ss: moves to send e-mail to Bill Dwyer requesting affiliations and committee information. What stimulus money he expects to be handling?
Report on Initial Contacts by KB
We have sent a fax outlining our proposal to Senator Wyden in his DC office care of Jacquelyn Elder.
Attention Jacquelyn Elder
Kyle Bussey
47822 HWY 101
Bandon, Oregon 97411
541 347-3509
Iris@theEYElady.org
Friday, March 20, 2009 I spoke with the DC office about Accountability to the citizens of the United States of America for how the Stimulus funds are being spent. I want to speak with you about the Citizen Oversight Committee system outlined below.
Sen. Ron Wyden (DEM)
District: 0S2 United States Senate 230 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-0001 Phone: (202) 224-5244
Fax: (202) 228-2717
Accountability to the Citizens of the United States of America for how the Stimulus funds are being spent.
The citizens of The United States of America wish to exercise their right to know how the people’s money is being spent. To this end, we request that strict detailed accounting measures be put in place so that we, as a nation, can track and account how the Trillions of the people’s money in the Stimulus Funds of 2008-2009 are being dispersed and ultimately spent. We wish to be able to track and account for the funds as it goes from the Federal Treasury to the States to the County level, to the city level and down through the “Not for Profit”, NGO, Contractor level. The detail of accounting information should include the prices for materials, wage\hour, fees, and be detailed enough to provide a complete break down on every project, how the recipients were chosen, complete access to board/committee correspondence and meeting notes in which the peoples business is being conducted, who had influence in the selection process and what prior business they have had with the granting agencies. This accounting information and grantee database information should be made available and stored in a standardized easily usable format so that any citizen could access and scrutinize the databases from any public library or home computer. I propose the setting up of citizen monitoring committees, which would be organized at the county level, with full access to the data. Saturday, March 20, 2009 my wife and I are having a public meeting to start the process in Bandon, Oregon. (http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptq7y )
Kyle Bussey & Susan Smith
We Make Money the Old Fashion Way – We Earn It
Back in December when it was pretty assured in my mind that the economic crisis was here to stay; my first though was “businesses will have to find a new way to stay alive.” Sure enough some of the Fortune 500’s came across with different marketing strategies, in essence to down size their profit margins while appealing to an American public, which was suffering from the burdens of the crisis also.
Starbucks introduced lower prices on certain coffee drinks along with the introduction of its newest product offering “Instant Starbucks Coffee”; a great example of adapting to the burdening times. Others have done the same, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and many more established American businesses have remembered how to compete for our business.
So why haven’t the banks?
I’m not even going to attempt to get into “banks” are a primary cause of our troubles, but the upsetting part, for me, is they’re so arrogant about what’s going on in our beloved country and develop the stance “it’s just one of those things that sometimes happens.”
Here’s a fine example of our “banks” in their finest hour (today):
Attention all Oregon PCP's (Precinct Committee People). The Mult Dems are looking to fill positions and restructure their committees, and we need your help filling these roles. The current committees include:
1. Budget and finance
2. Campaign and government liason
3. Platform, resolutions and legislation
4. Community action
5. Rules
6. Credentials
PCP's engage with legislators to help direct policy decisions. They follow legislation, report on it, create committees, brain storm and create real change.
If you want to become a Democratic PCP then let me know, I can get you started in the right direction.
Christopher Pierce, DC
Presidential Inaugural Address Delivered by President Barack Obama on 20 Jan 2009
My fellow citizens -I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.This is the price and the promise of citizenship.This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.President Barack Obama
My fellow citizens -
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
President Barack Obama
Presidential Inaugural Speech - A message for all peoplehttp://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxHqT
source: David Apperson, webmaster
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
Obama-Biden PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM is giving all people a voice in the administration -
The PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM is doing a great job. Thank the Almighty Creator that this is a new day in the history of this great nation.
Internet Webmasters, Designers and Developers
If you are an independent webmaster, designer or developer and have linked a business, personal, or political website or blog to your barack obama posts or other barackobama.com web pages and would like to be recognized for your efforts let me know. Mail your contact and other pertinent information to: David Apperson, Webmaster 10336 Loch Lomond Rd PMB 105Middletown CA 95461or email contact information to yofast@gmail.com
Adams * Adel * Adrian * Agness * Albany * Allegany * Alsea * Alvadore * Amity * Antelope * Arch Cape * Arlington * Arock * Ashland * Ashwood * Astoria * Athena * Aumsville * Aurora * Azalea * Baker City * Bandon * Banks * Bates * Bay City * Beatty * Beaver * Beavercreek * Beaverton * Bend * Blachly * Blodgett * Blue River * Bly * Boardman * Bonanza * Boring * Bridal Veil * Bridgeport * Brightwood * Broadbent * Brogan * Brookings * Brothers * Brownsville * Burns * Butte Falls * Buxton * Camas Valley * Camp Sherman * Canby * Cannon Beach * Canyon City * Canyonville * Carlton * Cascade Locks * Cascadia * Cave Junction * Cayuse * Central Point * Chemult * Cheshire * Chiloquin * Christmas Valley * Clackamas * Clatskanie * Cloverdale * Colton * Columbia City * Condon * Coos Bay * Coquille * Corbett * Cornelius * Corvallis * Cottage Grove * Cove * Crabtree * Crane * Crater Lake * Crawfordsville * Crescent * Crescent Lake * Creswell * Culp Creek * Culver * Curtin * Dairy * Dallas * Days Creek * Dayton * Dayville * Deadwood * Deer Island * Depoe Bay * Detroit * Dexter * Diamond * Dillard * Donald * Dorena * Drain * Drewsey * Dufur * Dundee * Durkee * Eagle Creek * Eagle Point * Echo * Eddyville * Elgin * Elkton * Elmira * Enterprise * Estacada * Eugene * Fairview * Fall Creek * Falls City * Fields * Florence * Forest Grove * Fort Klamath * Fort Rock * Fossil * Foster * Fox * Frenchglen * Gales Creek * Gardiner * Garibaldi * Gaston * Gates * Gervais * Gilchrist * Gladstone * Glendale * Gleneden Beach * Glide * Gold Beach * Gold Hill * Government Camp * Grand Ronde * Grants Pass * Grass Valley * Gresham * Haines * Halfway * Halsey * Hammond * Harper * Harrisburg * Hebo * Helix * Heppner * Hereford * Hermiston * Hillsboro * Hines * Hood River * Hubbard
Andrew Sullivan wrote a column for The Atlantic called:
Top Ten Reasons Conservatives Should Vote for Barack Obama
You can (should) read it here:
As usual, I felt I had to add my two-cents worth:
Mr. Sullivan: As a Republican voter since 1971, I've spent the last 6 months writing blogs and posting comments on forums advocating that Republicans vote for Senator Obama. Nothing I've read has made the case better than your top-10 reasons. I would add however, that his conduct throughout this last month (October) provides the most compelling evidence in support of the proposition. It was a remarkable demonstration of his natural leadership ability, more by virtue of what he did not say and did not do, than what his opponent did do, and did say. I was angry at the bailout, and wanted Obama to oppose it. He was wise enough to recognize that it's better to pick your own time and place to fight a battle than to rush in, solely in defense of the principle, when there's little or nothing you can really do to influence the outcome. McCain on the other hand, did more damage trying to appear 'presidential' at that moment, than if he had done nothing at all. When McCain stepped up his attacks on Obama's fitness to serve as Commander in Chief, heaping ridicule on Obama in the process, I found it repugnant. It prompted me to go back and pore over the transcripts of the Cuban Missile Crisis (I was 10 years old at the time) that I found on-line. If ever there were an historical argument that proves the case for a President Obama, and against a President McCain, that was it. When I heard McCain declaring, in his most bellicose voice: "I was on an aircraft carrier during that crisis, I had a target and we were ready to go in...", I realized how fortunate we were that he was where he was: confined to the cockpit of his fighter jet, while JFK carefully navigated this country back from the brink of nuclear disaster, in part because he resisted the Joint Chief's pressure to strike at the Soviet missiles militarily. Ironically, in spite of Joe Biden's ill-advised commentary on the subject, he may be proven correct. The next President is very likely to face a serious test, one that might turn out to be the closest thing to a repeat since the Cuban Missile Crisis ended exactly 46 years ago. We've announced our intention to install defensive missiles in Poland, and Vladimir Putin has stated that if we do, Russia will remove them, by military means if necessary. I cannot imagine a more dangerous scenario than having our angry ex-fighter pilot, John McCain, occupying the Oval Office and determined to prove how tough he really is, if a confrontation materializes over this issue. Any Republicans capable of honest critical thinking should consider this, and ask themselves if they really want John McCain with his finger on the button in such a scenario. Yesterday, I filled in my Oregon ballot, voted for Obama and sent it in. To paraphrase Michelle Obama: this is the first time in eight Presidential elections I've voted that I really felt proud of the choice I had, and the choice I made. In my opinion, this election is the most important and perilous for the future of this country since 1860. Then, as now, voters had a choice between experienced candidates promoting the conventional wisdom, and inexperience, with a serendipitous helping of promise for a better future. They chose the latter, and we should too.
Good Morning!
Senator Obama is currently running ads in Oregon endorsing Jeff Merkley who is running for the US Senate. On Tuesday, October 28th, Oregonians have a chance to meet Jeff Merkley at the Talent Library during his last Town Hall Meeting. The event starts at 4. Senator Jon Tester will appear with Jeff. CNN will be covering the event.
Thursday at 5pm I'll be attending a party at the Obama headquarters in Corvallis Oregon. Craig Robinson will be there which is Michelle Obama's brother. He lives and works in Corvallis at Oregon State University as a coach. I'll be attending to not only show my support but also as a photographer to shoot the event. You'll be able to check the images out at www.laineydyer.com
Obama/Biden 08!!!!!
On October 4th, 2008 KATU, a local Portland, Oregon news station, came to interview the owners of the OBAMA sign that is out in front of their home. Many people from around the world now come to this web site to watch over the Obama / Biden lawn sign and chat with others about the latest news and issues.
This was broadcast live at 10 and 11 pm last night here in Oregon. I recorded this news broadcast and thought to share it with you all - (see video LINKS below)
(CHAOS stands for : Citizens Hanging Around Obama Sign)
CHAOS! Obama Sign Watch, Portland, Oregon KATU News Report 10 pm from Oct 4th 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQi7HCZhyL0
See the 11 PM news broadcast here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ska1sQR_LoI
If you're interested in the Obama Sign Watch, come by and say HI!
We'd love your company!
My Detailed 2008 Presidential Election Predictions!You can check out your own state and see how every demographic group will likely break down in this election. Today I made some minor changes to my predictions after news broke that McCain was abandoning his Michigan campaign, and putting resources into Indiana and Pennsylvania. I also made some very minor changes to Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio after looking at some new polling data. These changes were minor and did not change the eventual electoral outcome in any of the states, but instead solidified Obama's lead in those states. Let me first explain how these election projections were made. Each State was carefully researched for the most recent census and other important demographic data. Using State by State U.S. Census data I broke down the state by Gender, Race, Party Affiliation, Age, Education Level, and Religion. Using a complex formula I did the following, I created a Demographic profile of individuals. (ex. Men-White-Democrat-18 to 44-College Educated-Catholic) There were about 216 Different Demographic Groups represented. Next I created a two part formula, the first was issue oriented, the second demographic oriented based on CNN Election 2004 Exit Polls.(http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/) The issues represented a wide variety of issues from Women's Issues, to Urban and Rural Issues, Foreign Policy and Economic Policy. I also included cultural issues such as Gun Rights and Racial Issues.By answering a series of Yes/No Questions regarding those issues, I assigned specific numerical values to each question either Negative (liberal) or Positive (conservative). On the Demographic formula I assigned importance based on exit polls from CNN. For instance Party is more important than Age or Gender. Race is more important than Gender etc. The end result is a formula that is about 90%-95% accurate. I double checked the results against Exit Poll Data from 2004, and they match up remarkably well. Political Party numbers do tend to be under-represented in my formulas but do match up fairly accurately, and do balance out in the end. I used Exit Poll data, and numbers of Democrats and Republicans in the state legislatures to determine likely voter models for each political party. HERE ARE THE FINAL RESULTS:I project that Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States!I project that Barack Obama will win with 338 Electoral Votes to John McCain's 200 Electoral Votes. (270 needed to win)Obama will win 26 States and the District of Columbia. McCain will win 24 States. Obama will win 51.12% of the Total Popular Vote; 67,531,664 - 338 Electoral VotesMcCain will win 47.03% of the Total Popular Vote; 62,130,227 - 200 Electoral VotesNader, McKinney, Barr and others will win 1.86% of the Vote; 2,451,238 - 0 Electoral VotesTOTAL VOTES: 132,113,129 - 538 Electoral VotesProjected difference between Obama and McCain: +4.09%Obama Projected Wins:California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin. McCain Projected Wins: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia.Below is a full list of Predictions from every State and Washington DC.FULL LIST OF EVERY STATE AND WASHINGTON DC WITH NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE: Here is a full list of all state predictions:AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington DCWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
AWESOME!!! If you haven't been able to make it to a debate watch party, mark your calendar for October 7th and get to one! Our watch parties here in Medford at The RedRock have had over four dozen people in attendance at each one and we have had an amazing time! Please join us on October 7th at The RedRock for a Town Hall style meeting between the Presidential candidates (we will meet at 5:30 our time to settle in and have a brief meeting-debate begins at 6 PST). Many "Thanks!" to RedRock for being such wonderful hosts! Thanks to everyone who attended-awesome to meet you! See everyone Tuesday! Denise
