Posts with the tag Alabama

UNITED AGAINST RACISM

WEBMASTER — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:46:34 EDT

Hi Friend

There 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=9dc74a6e

United Against Racism

posted by David Apperson

Alabama Election Blog

WEBMASTER — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:56:59 EDT

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 Alabama to post a message on the Alabama Election Blog.

Alabama Election Blog
alabama-election.blogspot.com

BARACK OBAMA FIRST 100 DAYS

WEBMASTER — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:23:01 EDT

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 HOUSE

The 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 Army
2. Donate time to Americorps
3. Donate toys for children at Toys for Tots
4. Donate blood at the Red Cross
5. Donate a can of food each week to a Local Shelter or Food Pantry
6. Donate money to Save the Children
7. Donate time at local a Veterans Hospital
8. Donate an hour a day to your Child
9. Donate to the Make a Wish Foundation

Participation 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

MISSING CHILDREN - IMMEDIATE WEB CIRCULATION NEEDED - PLEASE HELP

Please Help Missing Children — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:21:03 EDT

Daniel Zamlen - Endangered Missing - Minnesota

Nathaly Alonzo 12 - Abducted - Delaware

Joshua David Avara 11 - Abducted - Texas

Sandra Cantu 8 - FOUND DECEASED

JACK CONNOLLY 7 - FOUND DECEASED - KILLED BY NON-CUSTODIAL FATHER WITH VIOLENT HISTORY - NO SUPERVISED VISITATION

DUNCAN CONNOLLY 9 - FOUND DECEASED - KILLED BY NON-CUSTODIAL FATHER WITH VIOLENT HISTORY - NO SUPERVISED VISITATION

BRITTANY WELLS 17 - SUSPECTED RUNAWAY - NORTH DAKOTA

Rochelle Denise Battle 16 - MISSING - MARYLAND

ALLYSON CORRALES 4 - ENDANGERED MISSING - MISSOURI

Mariah Sparks - MISSING CHILD - ALABAMA

Amber Leeanne Dubois - Endangered Missing - California

Haleigh Cummings - Endangered Missing - Florida

Tierny Perry 16 - Endangered Runaway - Florida

Adji "Ji Ji" Desir - Endangered Missing - Florida

SAMANTHA CHER HOWELL 15 - ENDANGERED RUNAWAY - NEW MEXICO

Jeff Renaud - Missing - Ontario

Crystal Ann Fox - Missing - California

Mystic Dawn Salazar - Missing - Colorado

Omar Qutaiba Mahoud - Abducted - New Mexico

Nadia Mahmoud - Abducted - New Mexico

Pebbles Jace - Missing Endangered - California

Max-Gian (Max-Jon) Alcalde 7 - Missing - Idaho

Ashley Nicole Lopez 18 - Endangered Runaway - New Mexico

Wendy Rameriz-Beristain - Endangered Missing - Florida

Marlene Torales - Endangered Missing - California

Claudia Vanessa Yat - Endangered Missing - California

Tangena Hussain 2 - Endangered Missing - Michigan

Jaliek "Jay" Rainwalker 12 - Endangered Missing - New York

Elian Amilcar Majano 2 - Endangered - Texas

Benjamin “Ben” Melvin Roseland - Missing - Iowa

Yasmin Acree - Missing - Illinois

Amy Fitzapatrick - Missing - Spain

Adrian Gonzalez 7 - Endangered Missing - Florida

Neida Rodriguez-Gonzalez 3 - Endangered Missing - Florida

Thor Danielsson Wang 1 - Endangered Missing - California

AMBER ADELIA BITTINGER 15 - ENDANGERED RUNAWAY - NEW MEXICO

Latoya Fleming 6 - Endangered Missing - New York

JOANNA CANO 15 & ANGEL 6 mo. - "PERSON OF INTEREST" WANTED FOR 1ST DEGREE MURDER - NORTH CAROLINA

XYLONIA BEGAY - MISSING - NEW MEXICO

MADELEINE MCCANN 4 - MISSING - INTERNATIONAL

Tabitha Tudor 18 - Endangered Missing - Tennessee

Kyle Fleischmann - Missing - North Carolina

Justin Gaines - Missing - Georgia

Donna Jou - Missing - California

Jason Michael Rourk - Missing - Georgia

Jennifer Keese - Missing - Florida

Mark Degner - Missing - Florida

Brian Hayes - Missing - Florida

Maura Murray - Missing - New Hampshire

Tabitha Tudors - Missing - Tennessee

Branson Perry - Missing - Missouri

Suzanne "Suzy" Gloria Lyall - Missing - New York

Karen Wilson - Missing - New York

Michael Mayfield - Endangered Missing - Texas

Pamela Mayfield - Endangered Missing - Texas

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL SPEECH

WEBMASTER — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:39:36 EST

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

Presidential Inaugural Speech - A message for all people
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxHqT

source: David Apperson, webmaster

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

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

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM

WEBMASTER — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:06:01 EST

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.

WEBMASTER - DESIGNERS AND DEVELOPERS

WEBMASTER — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:14:56 EST

President Barack Obama

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 105
Middletown CA 95461

or email contact information to yofast@gmail.com

GOTV activities

debbier — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:44:34 EST

Hi, y'all. It has been a while since I posted but I am totally excited about our President and Vice-President Elects Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Had to go through campaign withdrawal syndrome. First, our local group, Barack Team Bessemer registered 2750 new voters in Bessemer, AL. This increased our city's percentage of registered voters by 18%. Our county, Jefferson County, had a clean sweep on November 4. For the first time in history, all Democrats won the seats they sought, including the African Americans.

We, in Alabama, picked up one additional House seat. Bobby Bright, of Montgomery, AL is our newly elected US House Representative. State totals are 4 Republicans and 3 Democrats. For years we only had 2 democrats in the House.

After our voter registration deadline ended on October 24, my sister and I, Angela, traveled to St. Petersburg, FL to knock on doors and encourage early voting. We stayed there a week and had a very exhilirating experience. Chris Haas (or CJ as he was called) had one of the most organized campaigns that I have ever witnessed. Our hosts, Millie and Bob, were very gracious and fired up. ON Halloween night, Millie had to attend a Halloween Party, and Bob asked me to hand out the treats.

My sister and I are lower middle-class African Americans. Bob and Millie are upper income Caucasians. We live in one of the poorest cities in Alabama. They lived on the coast of the Gulf or Mexico in a diverse and upscale community in St. Petersburg. Imagine the looks on the trick or treaters face when I opened the door. I told Bob, "Look, you need to show your face so no one thinks we hijacked your home". We had a ball.

My sister and I sneaked out on Wednesday to see and hear Obama speak in Sarasota, FL. I didn't see many African Americans at the rally or in the city, but everyone there welcomed us. Was told later that this was the hometown of Katherine Harris, former Secretary of State and one of the wealthiest cities in Florida.

We left on Saturday, after receiving word that Birmingham was sending several volunteers for Saturday until the day after the election. I know that we made a difference in St Petersburg. I was thrilled to finally see the election results from Pinellas County.

On election day, another sister, San, along with her husband, Mitch, and daughter, Devin, had the unique experience of taking a 92 year old couple to the polls to vote. A little background: Before Angela and I left for Florida, I registered Mr. Pitts to vote for the first time in his life. He was 92 years old. I submitted an Absentee ballot application for him and his wife (she was already registered). On Saturday, November 1, he received his voter registration card in the mail. They also received a letter from the Absentee Ballot Election Manager stating that because I submitted their applications in the same envelope, they were not eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Mrs. P was wheel chair bound. Mr. P had a pace maker and was also on an oxygen tank. I felt extremely low because I thought there was no way they could make it to the polls. The couple's son was totally disgusted with us. After talking to the couple, we convinced them to go to the polls. Mr. P went to his doctor on Monday and received additional medication to enable him to wait in long lines if needed.

My sister said they were dressed in their Sunday go to meeting clothes and were thoroughly excited to go to the polls on this historic occasion. Mrs. P's name was on the rolls but originally they could not locate Mr. P's name. Finally, a clerk looked in the supplemental rolls and found his name. Mrs. P told my sister to go over than and help him because he had never voted before in his life. She said, "go help him fill that form out for that boy!" I believe this was one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.

We spent the rest of the day going to Public Housing complexes in Bessemer providing rides to local residents to the polls. There was an elderly woman who had gone to the polls earlier and was told that she had to go to Birmingham to vote even though she has voted at this box for several years. Her son and daughter did not know where the new place was and she had reconciled herself to not voting. Two of our volunteers, natives of Nigeria and the country of India, using their GPS took her to the polls. She was very grateful and excited to be chauffered by these international volunteers.

Grassroots campaigning does work and is totally rewarding.

Notes from a member of Alabama Barack Team Bessemer and Birmingham for Obama

debbier — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:10:49 EST

I thought I would put my experience into words...

And it was really really awesome for me. I think I have evolved in some ways. And I thank you all for that. You have all changed my life through the events, and meeting and the energy and working together. Through ups and downs. Through voter registrations and phone calls and fund raisers and lastly picking up folks on 11/4/08.
I am humbled and honored. I also cherish it.
Please forward to those I may have missed..

And Thank You. You all have changed me. Forever. Change happened. Not just in the votes, but in our hearts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jll5baCAaQU

Yes we can,

Yes we did..

During Primaries:

But he Cant win Iowa.. Yes we did..

But he is too inexperienced - Yes we did

But his middle name is "Hussein"

But his name is - Barack Hussein Obama

But he is from Illinois

But he is first term Senator

But he can never raise the money

But he is a "Muslim"

But he went to church with "Jeremiah wright"

But his friend is Tony Rezko

But his friend is Bill Ayers

But the 3 AM Call?

But it is Hillary Clinton's turn?

But he is fighting against Clinton establishment?

But he Cant win PA? OH? IN? NH? FL? MI?

But he is a community organizer?

But Hillary voters wont come around?

But PUMA???? Really??

But he is Black?

But he is not Black enough??

But he is "uppity"?

But ................ Yes we did

During General Election:

But McCain is a fighter?

But McCain is "strong" on foreign policy?

But he is running against a national hero?

But he is a "Muslim"

But he went to church with "Jeremiah wright"?

But his friend is Tony Rezko?

But his friend is Bill Ayers?

But the 3 AM Call?

But it is John McCain's turn?

But he Cant win PA? OH? IN? NH? FL? MI? NC? NV? CO? NM? WI? MN?

But he wont get white votes?

But he wont get Hispanic votes?

But he wont get women voters?

But he wants to talk to the "rogue nations"?

But he is a "socialist"?

But

But .............. Yes We did!!

What nay-sayers forgot... that a "community organizer" can turn millions of supporters into "community organizers". So they can raise money for him. So they can register voters. So they can knock on doors. So they can write to newspapers. So they can energize each other. So they can travel to swing states. So they can make those millions of phone calls. So they can pick up folks and take them to the polls.

Because he not only got their votes, he got their trust, money, time and energy. He changed their lives. Forever. Those organizers changed the USA brand forever. He changed the World on that evening of Nov 4th, 2008.

Yes We Can!!!

Alabama Barack Team Bessemer-GOTV Events

debbier — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:04:45 EST

Team,
My name is Tiffany Campbell and I am organizing the polls for election day. We
need your help to man the polls for this last stretch. The polls are open from
7am to 7pm on Tuesday.

Following are all of the poll locations that Alabama Team Bessemer is going to
cover. Please give us some of your time on this final day.
We will be handing out sample ballots, holding signs and telling anyone who
wants to know why we are supporting Barack Obama.

Please take a look at this list and email me: lanae_campbell@yahoo.com or call
205-243-7474 and let me know where and when you can work. We will be meeting
Monday night at 6pm to get final details and supplies. We need you help for one
more day!!! THANKS!!!

District Location
5607 Bessemer City Hall

- Sadie M. Williamson - all day

5610 Bessemer First Station #5

- Rosa Scott (am) (driver)

5710 Brighton Middle School – THIS LOCATION MAY NOT BE IN USE

5711 Brighton Senior Citizens Center Bldg

5713 Bryant Chapel AME church

- Jerri Clark - 9-12pm

5610 Canaan Baptist Church

5609 Dunbar-Abrams Community Center

-Stephanie Cook - 1 to 7pm

5606 Thompson Manor Community Center

- Patrice Damron - 3 to 7pm

5605 Fire Dept Admin Bldg - 2nd Avenue

5604 Jonesboro Elementary School

- Stacie Robinson - 8 to 2pm

5611 Lawson State Community College

5613 Lipscomb City Hall

5614 Lipscomb Fire Station

5615 New Bethel Baptist Church

5608 Southside Homes Community Center

Campaign Chief of Staff ordered torture at Abu Ghraib

Curtis ByThePeopleForThePeopleOfThePeople — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:58:56 EDT

If you guys ever get bored of the main event, there's an off Broadway version of John McCain theater, it's called Mike Rogers for Congress. Rogers has a reprimanded Abu Ghraib officer, who ordered torture, as his Chief of Staff (more later)! Check out the shameless ad these two are running.

The Politico article never said that Josh Segall was pro abortion.

Is anyone? "Proabortion" implys a like of abortion.
The NRCC and Mike Rogers are pulling no punches in their latest <em>War on Liberals</em> ad campaign. Rogers lists off 31 flavors of liberals in his list; Hollywood Liberals, New York Liberals, Pelosi Liberals, Washington Liberals, Extreme Liberals, Radical Liberals...

Put a Democrat in Congress in Alabama

Curtis ByThePeopleForThePeopleOfThePeople — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:05:55 EDT

If you like accents this blog is for you. If not, beat it. Our Democratic Red to Blue candidate from Alabama is like Barack Obama twenty years ago. He's a great speaker, thinker but he's REAL. The accent proves it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikNnrndFGI

Friends, I've got a story for you. It's about a candidate running for national elected office. He's known as a, "very effective organizer," as well as, "one of the greatest conversationalists that anyone will ever meet." He was an organizer at his Ivy league university. Once he graduated he came home and worked at civil defense law firm. He helped with the campaigns of Mark Warner and Diane Feinstein. One of his greatest concerns are the losses of jobs from the textile factories that have shut down in his state. His opponent says he's "too liberal," "pro-abortion," and supported by Hollywood. Yet these ads are being called out by the press for being grossly misleading and dangerous. His opponent has claimed that the, Barack Obama? Nope. It's Rogers's opponent Democrat Joshua Segall running for Congress in the 3rd district of Alabama.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3044/2961293930_3a98c5e327_m.jpg

Mike Rogers calls us liberal extremists and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74tw060W4zM&feature=related because he is scared of us.

I'm scared for the lessons that millions of children are learning around this country. That there's something to be scared of in our nation, and it's "liberals." It's a joke to these conservatives to play the fear card. It's a successful strategy to them. But it's real to us. Fear is real. Fear is terror. When your friends are in Iraq right now because some underqualified guy is President because he played the fear card. That's real. Do not get me started with JFK, MLK, Vietnam.. that's real. A Senator that talks about lapel pins and preachers while men die in the field should be shamed into withdrawing from the race. A campaign that plants "plumbers" in the crowd with phony stories to create gotcha moments and narratives, while seniors have to choose between buying food and buying medicine... should be shamed.

We've raised money for Dem Josh Segall, so I know you're pissed off too $993 we've raised through my page at ActBlue for Segall from 29 different donators! Thank you. And it's paying off in the polls, http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002975892&parm1=5&cpage=1 has upgraded Segall's chances. The DCCC has upgraded them as well, http://www.segall2008.com/blog/?p=37 sending Majority Leader Steny Hoyer down to Alabama to campaign for Josh this Thursday. Rogers could barely hold back his neoMcCarthyist venom in their debate on Oct 8th. http://www.leftinalabama.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2745 watch this debate tougher questions than presidential debates, and our boy dominates!!)
"You can hire this very young zealous advocate, who wants to do a good job, but has very little experience," Rogers said, referring to Segall, a 29-year-old Montgomery lawyer making his first run for political office.Josh calmly fired back
"When you look at experience, you have to ask yourself what has experience gotten you," Segall said. He said Rogers has not done enough to create jobs in the east Alabama district...Segall said he is dedicated to finding high-paying jobs to replace the textile mill positions."We need someone who is going to wake up every day thinking how are we going to create jobs today," Segall said.
Believe it or not, but Mike Rogers mentioned the word "experienced" many times in that debate.

Rogers claims that Segall is funded by Hollywood friends. Segall rebutted with a personal letter from his "Hollywood" friends.
My husband and I currently live in California, and we made a modest contribution to Josh Segall’s campaign. We don’t think of ourselves as Hollywood types. We still introduce ourselves as “from Alabama.”
Last week, I told my book club that my favorite supper is a bowl of grits and a Miller Lite. Like Josh, I have deep roots in Alabama, and I never knew I’d end up here, but as one of our vice presidential candidates recently said, “Life happens.”
Much more information at my previous diary http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/20/0310/7777/961/635675 it's packed with videos, pictures and links to more pertinent information.

Let's send Mike Rogers a pinkslip so we can get his constituents some jobs, and get some adequate healthcare for both the civilian and military of South Eastern Alabama. Please donate, no amount is too small.. $1 will send a message. There are certain times to fight back and certain times to ignore. In this case, he's the incumbent, he's punching down. We want to fight this fight, just like the Bachmann ep. More importantly than donating is that we spread the word about this Rogers race and the great young hope that is Joshua Segall. The lesson of the Bachmann incident should be that we set the narrative. The money did it, but we can set the narrative in other ways. Spread the word, fight this hate, and maybe we'll get a progressive Democratic congressman from Alabama! But not if we let the DCCC do the fundraising, The DCCC has only raised $80 for Josh since naming him a R2B candidate.
http://www.actblue.com/page/joshsegalldailykos

Converted Party Voter Explains why "Pro Obama"

Debra from Birmingham, AL — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:16:54 EDT

Re: Mid-thirties, educated, white female- fiscal Republican, Libertarian social perspective.

I have just submitted my absentee ballot (after much "broo-ha-ha" -rules/regulations), but it was worth it. Obma all the way!

My vote for Obama is two part:

(1): I believe that MY daily life over the course of 4 years is influenced mostly by Congress as a whole, not the President. I welcome anyone to respond to interpretation, as I am still young and have forgotten many examples that might proove to the contrary. It is my experience that a Democratic President plus a Republican Congress (total) is a combination that is beneficiary to all social/economic levels. (Right now, it is the opposite, and "how's that working out for us, eh?")

(2) The rebel in me is determined to get Alabama to elect a Democratic President, which has not been accomplished since the Carter Administration.

(New voter registration in Alabama has just flabbergasted our newspaper reporters). "Let's give 'em somethin' to talk about"......WOW- even "Alabama is for Obama"....(who couldn't laugh at the day that our state votes not only Democratic, but.....well, ya know...)

Obama Campaign managers must clinch the deal and visit Birmingham, AL....I have a typical "social" group, and the news coverage alone for his visit hear is enough to cinch the vote.

Let's make history people! It's still America no matter who's smile is on the cover of the world for four years.

D. Cole Alabama Resident

A special P.S. to all those who read this: My "Peter Pan" syndrome is wishing to be a part of a unified movement, who can say when, after turning ninety-years, "Yes, I helped make history".

That alone, along with his "realness", is why I am stepping over party lines to vote for Obama.

And for the "doubter"- I have read both party platforms completely through and have read all televised debate transcripts not once, not twice, but three times- to ensure that I agree with the change that I have made.

I AM CONFIDENT.

Get in line, stay in line, VOTE.

Southern States

debbier — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:36:44 EDT

Senator Obama, when are you coming down South? Two of the debates were held in southern states, but we would love to see you in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, or Mississippi, on the campaign stump. I personally felt it was a bad decision on your campaign's part not to campaign in West Virginina during the primary. Please do not concede these southern states to McCain without a token fight!!!

Confusion reigns in Alabama over ex-felons' ability to vote

debbier — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:18:07 EDT

Monday, October 06, 2008 KIM CHANDLERNews staff writer

MONTGOMERY - When James Solomon went to register to vote earlier this year, he said he was told he couldn't vote because of a past conviction for cocaine possession.

That was in direct contrast to advice given by the Secretary of State's Office that drug possession is not a crime that strips someone of their voting rights.

"I just wanted to vote. When you got a felony, they treat you like you're nobody," said Solomon, an Enterprise welder and the widowed father of seven.

Less than a month shy of a historic election expected to bring record turnout, there still is uncertainty over who is eligible to vote in Alabama. State officials have given boards of registrars conflicting lists of felony convictions that bar a person from voting.

And registrars, already swamped with new voter applications, have the difficult task of sorting out who is and who isn't eligible to vote.

"We don't want to be in a multiple choice situation. You want to know the answer," Montgomery County Elections Director Trey Granger said.

A statewide computer system for the past 11 months has been noting convictions for more than 400 crimes that Gov. Bob Riley's administration deemed to be felonies of moral turpitude - even though officials with the Administrative Office of Courts said they were assured by Riley's office only a shorter list of 70 felonies developed by the attorney general's office were being checked.

"I know there is confusion. The computer system is flagging people who ought to be able to vote," said Kenneth Glasgow, a former drug offender turned pastor who works to help former felons to register to vote.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman said she's been trying to sort out the confusion through a series of conference calls and memos with county registrars over the past several months.

"They must first go to the AG's opinion. If that doesn't answer their question, they should seek guidance from their county attorney, their district attorney or my attorney," Chapman said, describing the advice her office has given local boards.

Alabama Ex-Felons' Voting Rights

debbier — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:55:27 EDT

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Courts make the moral turpitude callTROY KING

In July, the American Civil Liberties Union held a press conference to announce that it would be suing over Alabama's felon voting laws. Since that time, there have been several news articles and opinion pieces about the lawsuit, some written by counsel for the plaintiffs and their allies. As Alabama's attorney general, I am charged with defending this litigation, and I want to tell you the other side of the story.

The Alabama Constitution provides that felons who have been convicted of felonies involving "moral turpitude" may not vote, unless they have their rights restored. Felons - except those who committed the most heinous of felonies, like murder, rape and possession of child pornography with intent to distribute - may have their voting rights restored through a pardon or through a Certificate of Eligibility to Register to Vote. That latter process was created by the Legislature in 2003.

One of the arguments plaintiffs have made in court is that the constitution requires the Legislature to decide which felonies involve moral turpitude. In their essays, plaintiffs' counsel said the same thing.

UPC plans 3rd and 4th debate parties

Adam Miller — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:42:11 EDT

The second debate was a ton of fun, and we had a great turn out again - about 25 folks. Once again, everyone was enthusiastic about UPC hosting the next TWO debates, so we have gone ahead and planned to host both the Oct. 7 (my birthday!) and Oct. 15 debates. For both, doors will open at 7:30 pm, and the debate will start at 8pm. Please bring a friend (and a snack to share)! See you soon!

Registration Status in Alabama

debbier — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:39:26 EDT

On September 25, the Secretary of State designed a new website for checking the status of your polling place. Please bookmark this page and share it with friends and family. The new people that we registered are in there. I checked the status of people we registered up to September 20 and they were on the rolls. They appear to be running about two weeks behind in updating that page. Contact your local board of Registrar if they are not shown on the page and you registered them over two weeks ago.

https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/

Jefferson County Bd of Registrars is about a week behind in updating their rolls but 2 -3 weeks behind in sending out the cards. Make sure everyone knows that they do not have to have the card to registrar. Just contact the Bd of Registrar to see where they should vote. The deadline for registering is October 24. The deadline for Absentee Ballot application is October 30. The Circuit Clerk began mailing out absentee ballots on Monday, September 29. Please, do not send but one application in an envelope. Every application must be submitted separately unless it is a husband and wife.

Finally, if asked, in the State of Alabama, we CAN wear Obama T-shirts to the polls when voting.

It's the day of the show, y'all!

Adam Miller — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:11:38 EDT

Hey, folks. It looks like we're going to have another big crowd for the VP debate watching party at UPC tonight. The pres. debate was a ton-o-fun, and I'm sure you won't want to miss this one, either. See you at 7:30ish. Debate starts at 8!

Protecting American Voting Rights!

Omar Dyer — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:40:11 EDT

In America, your right to vote makes you an American. In America, your right to vote makes you a tax-payer. In AMerica, your right to vote gets you one step closer at being a citizen. All around the country, voter registration drives, have re-boasted the vibe of voting. Organizations like A.C.O.R.N. which means: Association of Community Organization for Reform Now, have been working too hard in order to get people registered. Yet, the House Republican Base, who's seats are endangered see this organization or any organization like A.C.O.R.N. as a problem. This problem is the same problem that helps people get registered to vote: more like Rock the Vote. In fact both of these two organizations fuel off the same information and ideas set down by the federal government.

What I can't understand is why two programs that do idnentical things, in terms of functioning and voter's rights -- are at the opposite side of the House/ Republican's table: here's an idea! A.C.O.R.N. brings in 90% of their voter drives to the Democratic Party, While Rock the vote brings in 45% of their drives to the Democratic Party. Rock the Vote turns in 55% for the Republican Party, and A.C.O.R.N. turns in 10% to the Republican party -- so this means the Republicans can't inspire their base so they want to pick which program works and what doesn't to favor them. Fact are: 55% of newly registered voters are Democrat, with 25% are independent -- with 20% Republican. Now they want to take away your rights.

The Repubs base wants to say this: These people are criminals, these people are illegally here; these people are not competent enough to vote. Listen, they ARE WRONG: During the primaries, you voted on the voter act initiative; which protects your rights unless you are mentally challenged -- and even then you still have the right to vote with assistance.
Here's you voting rights for 11/4/2008

1: To be registered by 10/4

2: U.S. Citizen that has a residence in the states county for more than 30 days on Election Day: Including a P.O. Box from the stats post office.

3: 18 years of age before Election Day.

4: If you are not in prison or on parole for a felony convicition on or two weeks before election day.

5: College students have a right to use the dormitory as a primary residence -- home or school: and they can oly vote ONCE.

6: Only a person with a misdemeanor conviction can still vote, and they have the right to vote from the jails: MISDEANORS ONLY.

7: A felony conviction can only register: after they have been cleared from: parole, probation, and their current charge.

8: A homeless person can vote if were they usually stay: they can use that place like: a park, a shelter, or a citizen sibling in good standing -- in which they reside in the county of the state they are registering in to vote.

These are the rights you have to vote and these are the rights that A.C.O.R.N. and Rock the Vote is using. One problem: Rock The Vote is an online company, and A.C.O.R.N. is a minority based community program: running under the cleanest rules in America, and just like Coaches! 101 they are under federal investiagtion. I get it when you are clean: you must be evil if you're not a Republican. When you are dirty, and create scandels -- like the financial crisis: you are good with the Republican base. Please be aware of your rights:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro_b.htm

The Guide to the Conservative Palinguage

Michael Hubbard — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:26:51 EDT

Up in the Twin Cities area folks are speaking a new language. Or, should I say Palinguage. It sounds sorta familiar because it's Latin based. But different from the plain English we're used to speaking, in Palinguage recognizable words take on new meanings. Won't you take a moment to learn some Plainguage so you can talk like a hypocritical conservative?

REPEAT THE FOLLOWING:

If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire." If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."

If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you're a "baby daddy." If you're the same in Alaska you're a "teen father." (Actually, according to your own MySpace page you're an F'n redneck that don't want any kids, but that's too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context and flog morning noon and night).

Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America. White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."

If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic." Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic." Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual you're "reckless." A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."

If you say that for the "first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country" it makes you "unfit" to be First Lady. If you are a registered member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you "First Dude."

A DUI from twenty years ago is "old news." A speech given without proper citation from twenty years ago is "relevant information."

And, finally, if you're a man and you decide to run for office despite your wife's recurrence of cancer you're a "questionable spouse." If you're a woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a newborn... Well, we don't know what that is 'cause THAT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK.

A Message from Our Regional Leaders

Jeff Joslin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:31:50 EDT

I received the following message from our Regional Leaders in the South East. John Estrada and Don Stanton are dedicated Obama Supporters who are jointly working on our behalf as the interface between the State Campaign and our National Campaign. John Estrada was the Sargent Major of the Marine Corps until his retirment in June 2007. He is a tremendous, energetic personality. He has a daughter living in the state of Georgia and plans on campaigning with us this fall.

Voter Registration Drives

debbier — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:18:58 EDT

Y'all, its good to be back. We just spent the convention weekend hosting 3 Voter Registration Drives on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Have 300 new registered voters, 23 new volunteers and mingled with the hurricane victims from New Orleans who are being sheltered in Birmingham, AL.

I met with our County Board of Registrars for three hours this morning because several registrants had not received their registration cards in the mail. They are running about 3 weeks behind schedule. Said they will have to hire temporary help up until November 4.

A new Republican in the office was purportedly informing staff members that if the Registration application was incomplete, they could not be processed but instead discarded. A couple of mine were discarded because their country of birth (US) was not included on the application. We will redo those two applications, but I have been assured that we won't have that problem in the future. The staff has been informed that they must make every effort to contact the voter by phone or mail if any thing is left out. The Republican was informed that if any other applicants' forms were discarded, we will be contacting ACLU and Reverend Al Sharpton.

Every one out there registering new voters, make sure that your election officials are actually processing these applications. We must follow up on those applications submitted.

Unite for Change Pool Party experience

Martin A from Birmingham, AL — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:52:50 EDT

Senator Barack Obama asked all of his email supporters to either attend or host a Unite for Change event scheduled for Saturday June 28th. Although we are not and have never been political activist we felt compelled to host a fun event at our condo pool house and this blog serves as our reflection.

Black voter registration climbing in Alabama, due largely to Obama's presidential bid, experts say

debbier — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:05:04 EDT

The Birmingham NewsThursday, July 31, 2008 LISA OSBURNNews staff writer

Black voter registration is climbing in Alabama, a trend political science experts attribute to excitement surrounding Barack Obama's presidential bid.

Since the last presidential election, the percentage of active registered voters who are black has risen from 24 percent to 25 percent. That is nearing the proportion of Alabama's black population, slightly more than 26 percent according to the U.S. Census.

As of June 30, 641,815 black voters had active registration. That number is up by about 14,500 from 2004 and expected to increase even more by November, according to secretary of state data.

"I think you have to assume that Barack Obama is playing a very important role here," said David Lanoue, chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama. "Not only because he is the first African-American nominee of a major party. His campaign also worked so hard to organize Alabama during the primary season, and that is paying off with registration now."

Voter registration in general has been climbing throughout the year, but it's climbing quicker among blacks. White active registration has not met its 2004 level, falling short by about 31,000 voters.

Voters are moved to the inactive rolls if they have not voted in the past four years or have no confirmed address. They still have voting rights but must update their information.

Alabama's total active voter registration climbed from 2.55 million at the end of January to 2.6 million at the end of in June.

"You are getting to a point where African-American voters will be, at the very least, proportionally represented," Lanoue said. "I have heard the biggest hurdle is to get people to register. If you get them to register, there is a good chance you will get them to vote."

Lanoue does not believe Obama will win Alabama in November, but an increase in black voters could help the Democratic Party in other races.

"If you have a strong increase in African-American voters and that persists after the 2008 election, that will begin to make Democratic candidates more competitive at the state level," Lanoue said. "Senate races, gubernatorial, particularly the looming 2010 gubernatorial race. (U.S. Rep.) Artur Davis will be very interested to see what happens in the 2008 race. If you are an Alabama Democrat, one of your fondest wishes is significant African-American turnout."

Whats going on in Alabama

Patrick — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:48:00 EDT

I've been doing a lot of spreadsheet research lately in my effort to determine who is going to win this upcoming presidential election. First of all, I took vote information from the 2000 and 2004 elections, broke it down to into Democrats, Republicans, and Unenrolled voters and then I came up with a formula for 2008.

TThis year, I changed Republican turnout in 7 different scenarios. Firstly, In 2004 Republican Identification was at 48%, breaking 99-1 for Bush Democratic Turnout was at 34%, breaking 92-7 for Kerry Indy Turnout was at 18% breaking 66-29 for Bush. The first thing I did was lower Republican turnout to 43, while raising Dem Turnout to 37 and Indy turnout to 20. For both parties, I had them break 95-5 for their respective candidates and I had the unenrolled voters split 60-40 for Mccain. Under this scenario Mccain beats Obama 55-45. In Scenario 2, 4-7, I had the Republicans break 85-15 for Mccain, and the Democrats break 91-9 for Obama.

Muscle Shoals Swamper Pete Carr Post Rare Vids

Michael Hubbard — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:04:28 EDT

No politics on this post, just got to hand it to a good friend's body of work. For anyone who doesn't know, at the same time all of the racial tension and violence was going on here in Alabama in places like Birmingham and Selma (causing national embarassment for the state and international emarasment for the country), up in Muscle Shoals Alabama some of the best soul music was being made for Atlantic records with stars like OTIS REDDING, ARETHA FRANKLIN, WILSON PICKETT and really too many to mention here was being created with an interracial cast that primarily featured the Muscle Shoals Sound Rythm Section aka The Swampers. In the 60's the swampers lead guitarist was another friend of mine named Eddie Hinton, long rest his soul. Eddie left the studio back around 1969 from full time lead guitar and was replaced by Duane Allman for about a year until the Allman Brother's Band hit it big. Well, Duane was replaced by his old bandmate from The Hourglass, Pete Carr as full time lead where he stayed and played lead guitar for the studio throughout the 70's. Pete played on hits like Kodachrome by Paul Simon, Main Street (and everything else) by Bob Seegar (yep, that's him on that stirring lead guitar) that's Pete playing on Tonight's the Night and Sailing (both acoustic and electric parts) and again, too many hits to mention. Recording a song in Muscle Shoals in the 60's and 70's meant that your song was at least 51% more likely to have a hit come of it than anywhere else in the world. Consequently if you hear a song recorded in the 70's you're probably 51% more likely to be listening to Pete Carr play guitar on it and not know it.

Oh, the link to the page is at the end of the article.....I do tend to be long winded.

Pete is being inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame next month along with the other four Swampers, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Beckett, David Hood and Roger Hawkins, all still of Muscle Shoals.

The first video is a two-fer-one with his appearance on network television with Lenny LeBlanc performing first a rocking cover of "Something About You" followed by their hit "Falling" on "AB" back in 1977. The next up is a performance on "SNL" featuring RONEE BLAKLEY along with the whole MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND RYTHM SECTION follwed by Rod Stewart's video to the hit "Tonight's the Night" which doesn't actually show Pete but does feature his amazing guitar work, or as Pete calls it his "slut" guitars. Thinking back on the first time I heard that song when I was a kid, I remember that was really the first time that sort of sound was heard so Brotha Pedro, we wannabes out here honor you for setting the standard in music. And hey, we all know Duane Allman played lead guitar for MSS back in the earliest days of the 70's after another friend I lucked up on meeting as a young man here in Alabama (I was 12 actually lol) Eddie Hinton left the top guitar slinger spot at MSS Studio, well it was PETE that with the Swampers almost immediatly following his producing Wyker's Motorcycle Mama album (peaked at 12 on Billboard in 1972) when he was ONLY 22 YEARS OLD back in '72 (and that was after he'd left home at the age of about "15 or 16" to play bass for The Hourglass along with GREGG & DUANE ALLMAN and noted CAPRICORN PRODUCER AND VP JOHNNY SANDLIN!!!) it was PETE that you hear on most ALL OF BOB SEEGAR'S ALBUMS from 70's, PAUL SIMON'S KODACHROME and STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS plus pretty much a toss up of any guitar work you hear from 70's, be it country, soul, or rock n' roll. Ya'll take a look at these vids and you'll see why Pete doesn't just meet the standards but has indeed set the standard for not only guitar, but recording, producing and writing. I'd like to congratulate Pete on his upcoming induction to the national hall of fame, and ya'll, I know he's got more of these great gems so if you like what you see and want to see more, be sure to drop him a line and let him know. Pete still lives in the Shoals with his wife Debra and son John, and he still slings a mean guitar. So without further ado.......................

Pete's rundown and link to the videos:

The page:

http://www.playthatguitar.com/Videos.html

Gay Republicans:

D. Jones — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:52:20 EDT

Is The Conservative Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan Turning Gay?

School Prayer and Gay Marriages

Michael Hubbard — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:57:52 EDT

On a note about middle class values and issues, sure I'm pro-life, I'm not into the gay marriage thing however, the Republicans haven't done a damn thing really to uphold the middle class Judeao-Christian values touted on talk radio. These things are nothing more than talking points to these guys. These issues are there only to play on our emotions about how fast society has been changing and to take our minds away from the real issues that they can actually fix but choose not to do so. It's like Jim Crowe laws, it was an effective effort to divide the workin' man between the races so we wouldn't keep as close an eye on how badly the workin' man was getting hosed by the people who touted "their values." Shoot, poor folks all look the same to the boss, whether they be black, or whether they be white.

Really now, I loved living in the 70's and 80's, life was good but it wasn't the politicians that gave Americans the values we had at the time. IT WAS US THAT GAVE AMERICA HER VALUES!! AMERICANS!! Not politicians. My mom showed me good values as a boy not because Nixon, Ford, or Carter showed her good values, it was because her mom showed her good values.

They say they want to bring back prayer in school. That hasn't happened either, plus they haven't seemed to think that one through very well either. What if that teacher is not a Christian, but Hindu, Buddhist or *GASP* a Muslim? Since neither the feds or states can endorse any religion they couldn't possibly require that school prayers be any one type of prayer.

These things are only talking points designed to play on our emotions, mainly emotions about the so called good ol' days. I remember some of those good ol' days. We had better talent getting signed by the labels (who am I to criticize I know lol), but we had a serious threat of nuclear war on our minds constantly (though i be on the older side of young the USSR didn't fall apart until the year I got married and struck out on my own). If they actually did manage to do something about these things they tout as Republican values then they'd loose some very valuable talking points.

If anyone has read this far and is interested my opionionated "old guy" opionion on school prayer and gay marriage is this:

ON SCHOOL PRAYER: WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN SUCH A PERSONAL, HOLY MATTER BETWEEN PARENTS, CHILDREN AND GOD??? You want your kids to learn to pray? PRAY WITH THEM!!! Pray with them before school, pray with them after school, pray with them at meal time, at bed time, heck, anytime. They can pray to themselves, and in most cases in student led groups in school. That teacher is a government servant and though may be personally qualified to pray, not to teach prayer to a highly diverse group of people at taxpayer expense.

My father grew up in the 50's and 60's when we still had school prayer, everyday they were required to read aloud a passage from the New Testament and were led in prayer by the teacher every morning. He said of course it was required and you could actually get in trouble if you refused. Well, why wouldn't a Jewish kid or a Hindu kid not have a problem with praying to Christ? Christ wouldn't force himself on someone like that when He was down here with us. I really don't think He'd want some imperfect human forcing him on someone, especially in lieu of the parents wishes on their child's religious education. You see, Christ doesn't deal with man in mass when it comes to this. This is a very personal thing between God and man. It's not something the government is qualified to do and it goes well beyond the scope and place of government.

Teach your children well, train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he won't depart from it. THAT'S YOUR JOB PARENTS!!! Not Bush's, not Obama's, not McCain's and not Mrs. Smith the 5th grade teachers job. That's your job. Plain and simple.

ON GAY MARRIAGE/CIVIL UNIONS: Churches don't have to participate in gay marriage. Heck, a lot of people might not realize that churches don't have to participate in "straight" marriage either!! Preachers refuse to marry men and women all the time for many different reasons. To religion Holy Matrimony is something very sacred, a bond between a man and woman to each other and to God. Now that's at the church-house, at the courthouse that Holy Union is lilttle more than a civil contract. When that same man and woman breaks their vow and goes to get a divorce, they don't go to the church-house to get it normally. They go to the courthouse for their hosing. To the civil authority it's just a probate contract that's being dissolved. It's about the division of assets when the two parties decide to null their contract they filed with the state. In this day of touchy feely only religiosity the only counselling on the subject they might get from their spiritual leader is a hands off "yeah, I'm feeling you" type of response. They may get more in depth counselling as well, depends on that spiritual leader his or her conviction on the matter. They usually get legal counselling though from a lawyer. What I'm saying is that at the local level, it's just a contract to government. It's all it legally can be really. So if Adam and Steve want to go down and deal with man's law on drawing up papers to share their assests and fortunes, that's really none of my business. I think they just want to be able to protect assets without having to go through the considerable expense of hiring a lawyer and would like a more uniform approach with the same standard fee that straight people entering into the same type of government sanctioned contract that are straight have.

Lord knows they let me at the know nothing age of 18 go down there and sign my name with someone I hardly even knew, hell, we didn't even really know ourselves that well at the time. So what's the big deal, they can go hire a lawyer to make up a partnership business contract that does the same thing as a civil marriage contract for a few hundred bucks. Why not just let them go down to probate and file a uniform contract for 25 bucks like everybody else. Heck, that'll learn'em :-p. Hmmm, maybe it should be harder and more expensive for everyone to file for marriage, why not take the judge out of the loop and instead have even straight people acquire an attorney to get married, you might as well, you're going to need to know how that system works if your partner decides to book out on you. NOW THAT's A MARRIAGE AMENDMENT EVEN I'D GET BEHIND.

Foreclosures and more bitchin' about trade

Michael Hubbard — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:30:49 EDT

How is it that by accounts of the so called "right wing" or as I like to call them pseudo-conservatives that they can seem to get away with saying that most of these foreclosures are from people taking out loans that they can't afford?

Some surely have done that I'm certain that many have, however, when you've got a job market that is this screwy going on out there that has to be taken into consideration.

Case in point, in 1990 a guy working in a factory may have been making 12 or 15 dollars per hour. His factory shut down and moved on down to Mexico or overseas to the communist countries of China or Vietnam (notice how the right likes to call unions socialists or even communist organizations so they send the jobs they have open to socialist and communist areas where unions aren't allowed by the commies that run them?) Anyway, his job went to a little gook in Da Nang, so now he looks for another job in his field only to find that instead of 12 or 15 bucks an hour he was making back in '89 or '90 he's only offered 8 to 10 dollars to do the same job with more added to it due to the cutbacks in the workforce. Now how can he pay that mortgage that he took out in 1992 when his pay was 12 bucks per hour and by all reasoning should be about 18 or 20 bucks now?

The American workin' man and woman, simply put, the Americans are in direct competition with Chinamen content to work for less than a dollar per hour, the Mexicans started to form unions about 10 years ago so the big American corporation pulled a lot of their better jobs from them and sent them, once again, to the Chinese. Combine that with U.S. subsidized beans and corn that get dumped down in Mexico then the small Mexican farmer can't compete with big U.S. agribusiness so they don't have the jobs either. That's another thing that fuels all of the illegal aliens coming in.

There again the American workin' person, ol' work-a-day Joe and Jolene can't compete with illegals who make less than minimum wage and then they can't compete with the Communists in China and Vietnam that are content to make less than a buck and hour even.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS!! WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS!!!

I ask any workin' man or woman who reads this to please consider pushing it to the edge. If we all organize unions in our places of work, sure they'll shut down more companies, they'll send'em right overseas. But then, who's gonna buy their stuff? The Chinese aren't going to buy it and support those fat asses at the top in the lifestyle they've been accustomed.

No they won't, they can't, that's what WE the AMERICAN Workin' class does. We buy the cars, we buy the big screens to watch the game on, we go to the races and spend money we do all that stuff when we've got money to spend.

I just don't understand why they cut their own throats, then blame us for them doing it, I guess because they figure if we're crazy enough to keep sending them back then we must deserve it.

Just remember, a working class hero is indeed something to be. Thanks for listening to another not very well thought out rant.

Yet another take on the blame game.

Michael Hubbard — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:25:06 EDT

It almost seems funny to me now? In my youth as an 18 year old during the '92 elections I was swayed for a time by the Republican party and their promise of "responsible government." I listened avidly to Rush Limbaugh back in the 90's and grooved on Gringirch's promise to get this country back on track. Hell, were we actually off track?

After all, we could tell that roaring economy of the 90's was really just an apparition. Foreclosures were on the rise, bankruptcy? with a discharged bankruptcy in the 90's you had a better chance of getting a home or otherwise smaller loans than if you had a few slow payments made because so many people were filing for bankruptcy the banks had to change a few lending practices to keep the appearance of "growth" up. Somebody had to put on the brakes and the Republicans said they had what it takes. So a few times I went with them.

Well, from time to time I still tune into talk radio just to see how badly they are squirming since they don't seem to still have the sway that they used to. Limbaugh and Hannity were really pushing from Romney, the people voting in their primaries weren't responding well to that so Limbaugh announced his "Operation Chaos" encouraging Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries for Hillary Clinton. The Right winger's playbook has been all about Hillary getting the nomination, that way they could just go back to the 1992 playbook, cross out all the "B's" and add "H's" and just go from there. Surely they could take back the House and Senate in the mid term elections by hammering the same old line against the same old people.

I'm happy to say that they right person got the Democratic nomination, as did the Republican nominee. Not to say that McCain is any better than what we've been getting by way of Repbulicans, but it's a step in the right direction. You can see them sitting over at the country club now instead of hiding behind a preacher just to play on our sympathy.

What gets me is the right wing's leadership not coming clean and apologizing to their base for deserting them almost immediatly upon taking office then they continue to try to fool us by throwing out this same old line. The line that says they are for lower taxes and less spending. Let's see, they lowered taxes, but spending went up through the roof over the past 8 years especially since they got a Republican president to rubber stamp everything they want.

I was talking to a friend the other day about several of the right's pet issues. She told me that the Republicans were the party against abortion so since that was the most important issue to her the economic issues that they botched so badly didn't matter. I responded that I couldn't tell where they'd done anything meaningful about stopping the practice or even to curtail it. Especially after having BOTH houses of Congress locked up from '94 to '06. Especially when they had a friendly, very friendly president from '01 to '06 that hadn't used his veto on them one time.

Next point, our energy problems. Another friend talked about how democrats aren't for off shore drilling. Apparantly neither are the Republicans. They could have tried for the 12 years they held Congress, Bush didn't even try until the last half of his last year (that's about 7.5 years. he's a two termer after all). Then I think it was simply to save some face in the face of public outcry about his do nothingness on the issue.

They say that Democrats are against simple economic theory of supply and demand by promoting over regulating everything in sight. Now I'll agree, before they lost Congress in '94 regulations had become a bit stiffling, however regulations have been gutted so badly that it's alright now, even encouraged by the government to sell off American jobs to the lowest bidders to countries that are about as anti American as you can get. Over regulation is bad, but under regulation is also bad. One stifles business and hurts the economy the other stifles true growth and hurts the economy.

Another tenant is that the Democrats want to raise taxes and raise the intrest rates. Well, taxes probably will have to be raised to pay for the overspending and under intake that has taken place under the Republicans, the intest rate needs to come up because it's been down so far so long that it has played a major role in the devaluation of our dollar world wide so that really we're playing on the level of an underdeveloped nation as far as the value of our currency goes. The problem in business has been an unrealistic idea of growth in business. Most places have wanted to see at least 18% or so of growth every year. That's possible for a time but eventually business will at least taper off to (hopefully) an even level for a time. The main thing about business isn't to show high growth but to show a profit. Like with my own small business every time it has become about the money, I see the money intake actually suffer worst in the lean periods than I do when I'm just trying to do my work and improve my company's performance through things like customer satisfaction. It's like my father in law always said, "You can't buy business, you have to build it to be truly sucessful." He was right I found out over the years. If you treat your customers right, be honest with them, do a good job and charge them a reasonable rate, then it seems that you get a good solid customer base passed on from word of mouth instead of you spending ridiculous amounts of money on marketing to try and "buy" new customers instead of the same ones use you over and over plus passing on your name to their friends and thereby, you've built a clientelle that can't be beat. But I'm just an electrician, what do I know?

Then they want to hop on social issues. SOCIAL ISSUE??!! Are you kidding?? These guys were NOT good stewards of the United States and it's citizens! They didn't help anything out socially other than by brow beating other people into taking sides as either liberals or conservatives, with us or against us mentality. It's not that black and white. With most folks it depends on the issue in reality.
Hannity loves to jump on Obama over him staying in that church for so many years with such a controversial preacher. Well, why hasn't anyone asked Hannity I've got to wonder is why he stayed in the Catholic Church in the face of such a big cover up so many cases of child molestation. It's because we like to hope for the best from our spiritual leaders, much like we hope for the best from our political leaders on both sides I'm sure.

Plus, if they were to actually do away with abortion or whatever the topic of the day to bitch about is they'd lose one of their best dividing points. People would actually be forced to look at the issues the politicians could easily do something about and then they'd be forced to address these issues that might require thought and compromise.

One other tenant brought up with me after I'd pointed out several policies that the Republicans had screwed up on by a friend was "Do you really want him in charge of our military?" Now this is a guy who has never served in uniform and seemed literally shocked when I (who has served in uniform) said "sure." I mean, WE'VE ALREADY WON IN IRAQ!! We won five years ago! We beat Sadaam and his Army. We've given them a government and an Army. Obama wants to go after *GASP* Bin Laden!! Imagine that, the people who attacked us in the first place! We gave Iraq a damn good regime change, now we need to get back on mission by fixing the problem in Afghanistan, plus whatever happened to Bush's promise to go after any country that harbors terrorists? Pakistahn has been letting Bin Laden and his gang hide out there for years yet we can't go in and get him and they won't go get him. Hmmmm, solution to that problem seems obvious to me.

I don't know if Barack Obama can fix these problems. Not all of them anyway. It'd be an almost impossible task in two terms to do. We seem to have a candidate that is ready to work with the opposition, but the trouble comes in that the opposition seems only ready to smear and oppose anything, no matter how much sense it makes. The point with them isn't what's good for Americans but whatever defeats Democratic agendas, no matter how good they are.

I pray that we as a people will stay focused on the important issues and see through these ridiculous rabbit trails that the party with no answers on how to fix things that they broke in the first place bring up so often.

They know they can't beat Obama on the issues, they know they've messed up big time, but as long as they don't admit to it, as long as they kick and scream about how Obama will turn us into communists, they'll continue to loose support simply because they aren't selling anything that seems good. Like hope and change. They say what are we hoping to change into? Something better than what we've been through for the past several years I'd simply say. Even if Obama hadn't described what he wants it couldn't have been any worse than what they've done to this wonderful country.

It is time to change, I believe we can get past this gridlock fight. It's time.

Give Barack the tools he will need to govern; elect progressives to Congress

Michael McNicholas — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:31:26 EDT

While it's important not to look too far past the upcoming election fight against John McCain, one aspect of that fight will be sending more qualified Democrats to Congress to help President Obama enact his policy and give Americans the real change they are clamoring for.

One candidate it is my pleasure to call to your attention is seeking to oust Alabama Republican U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, who is about as old-guard and wrong-headed as they come. The name of the woman who will dismiss Sessions is Vivian Davis Figures, and I predict she may just be the "next" Barack Obama.

Mrs. Figures comes from a mixed African-American/Creole/Cajun/Cherokee background and has worked her way up from poverty. Her mother did not know how to read, yet Mrs. Figures has a degree in management science from the University of New Haven.

Like Barack, Mrs. Figures worked as a community organizer after leaving college, while attending law school. She ran a summer lunch program for Mobile Community Action, providing nutritious meals for poor children, and also directed a foster-grandparents program.

She helped run an African-American-oriented weekly newspaper called New Times in Mobile, Ala, where she was born in the waning days of Jim Crow and went on to become an outstanding member of that Deep South city's city council.

She was married to Michael Figures, a prominent Mobile attorney who became perhaps the state's most successful African-American politician, rising to the post of president pro tempore of the state Senate before being struck down by a brain aneurysm in 1996.

Widowed at the age of 39 with three young sons, Mrs. Figures won election to her husband's senate seat with 87 percent of the vote, and has amply improved on his legacy. She is known for standing up for her principles while knowing how to compromise to achieve progress. Her sister describes her as a "quiet storm" who gets things done without losing respect from her friends and colleagues in both political parties.

She has been particularly active in the service of aid to the homeless of Alabama, to women suffering from breast cancer and to those seeking to drastically Alabama's high illiteracy rate.

What makes her a particularly attractive candidate, though, is that her beliefs are grounded in the old-fashioned notion that a senator is a servant of the people who voted to put her in office, not of the elite and well-connected insiders in Washington who pay to get favors from government that hurt the rest of us.

She has developed a reputation for sticking to her guns. When the white mayor of Mobile wouldn't consider appointing even one black department head {in a town that's about half African-American and has been for most of the 300 years it has existed}, Mrs. Figures refused to ratify any of the mayor's appointments until he changed his mind. In a closely divided council, her refusal held sway and the mayor came around to her way of thinking.

Mrs. Figures reminds me in some ways of Barack back when he was seeking his Senate seat. He did not have the name recognition of his Democratic rivals, nor the financial resources of his Republican opponents, yet he had the truth on his side and the ability to tell it so that folks who might not normally be attracted to his candidacy became ardent supporters.

She was against the war in Iraq when it was not popular to say so. She spoke out against the whole charade on the floor of the Alabama Senate and defeated an attempt by the Republican-dominated House to express official support for Bush's warmaking. She was careful to draw the distinction between opposing the war and supporting the warriors, who after all, only go where they are sent.

She has voiced frustration with President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" policies, which she admits were successful only to the extent that no children got ahead, either.

Jeff Sessions has amassed $4 million to fund his re-election effort, while Mrs. Figures has roughly $100,000. She could use some help from progressive donors, but she will use Sessions' financial advantage against him.

"He's big business and super-rich. That's who he represents," she told the Birmingham News last month. "He has been someone who has marched in lock-step with George Bush in taking us into war in Iraq and into recession at home. He does not think for himself. He is not his own man and it's time we give this seat back to the everyday working people of Alabama."

It is indeed time. Let's hope she can do it, and let's hope the Obama campaign extends her a hand up to help her help us.

[To hear Mrs. Figures in her own words, you might look at this Q-and-A session posted on YouTube last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqgDl9A1RY

She doesn't really get going until about six minutes into the video, but when she does, look out Jeff Sessions!]

Excited!

Tim — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:37:43 EDT

In this crazy red state, I believe its time we democrats fight to inform those around us about the facts. I have noticed that when I talk to people who are republicans, here in alabama, they ussually only know 1 or 2 issues. They believe that democrats will only raise their taxes without knowing anything about the facts. It's time that we stop allowing those around us to be so ignorant. I am really excited about this election. I really look forward to meeting other democrats in calhoun county, AL and talking. I will go into neighborhoods, hand out brochures, and get people to register to vote. WE have to DO something. One vote counts, but if each of us gets 20 others to vote with us, imagine the possibilities. YES, WE CAN!!!!

The Hidden Obama Vote

Wendy H — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:39:24 EDT

I just called my father to wish him an early Happy Father's Day. My annoyingly punctual and conscientious sister always gets in the first call, winning for herself the title of Best Daughter Ever. So I thought I'd beat her this year by getting it in a day early. This, of course, after not having called him for a month. He let me know in his typically "casual" style: "Well, as I told you when I spoke to you LAST MONTH..." What can I tell you? I'm a bad daughter.

After my mother's death almost a decade ago, my father moved to Florida, got remarried, and then moved to her home state of Alabama. Yikes. I hesitate to say that my father married into a family of yahoos, but let me just say this: on the wedding day, the parking lot was filled with pick up trucks with rifle racks and families wearing matching formal cowboy outfits. This would be merely colorful, were it not for the more disturbing reinforcers of all my anti-southern prejudices: the casual physical abuse of the children, for one. As my father's new daughter-in-law explained it, Dr. Spock was a communist and there was nothing that a kid could do that wouldn't be cured by a good whipping with a belt. Then there was the father who announced with pride that he had gotten his one year old son into drinking early by giving him a shot glass of beer over Christmas. And we won't get into the conversations about "the coloreds." They insisted that southerners were not prejudiced against "the coloreds," and then promptly proceeded to note how some football players really did "look like monkeys." My teenaged son was baffled. He looked at me at one point and said, "How do I even respond to that, Mom?" I said "I don't know. Just be grateful your gay brother isn't here. There'd be a fist fight for sure."

So when I spoke to my father, this Saturday before Father's Day, I asked him "So who's everybody down there voting for, for president?" Of course, I knew the answer, but I was trying to tease his preferences out of him. My father, after all, was the only Republican in a long, proud line of Democrats. (His sister, my Aunt Florence, still has a ceramic plate shrine to President Kennedy in her livingroom.)

His voice got very low, as though he didn't want anyone around him to hear what he was saying.

"Well, you know. They're all Republicans around here."

"Yeah, okay. Well, but who are you supporting?"

"You know," he whispered. I sort of THOUGHT I knew, but the rest of his sentence clinched it:

"George Bush did it for me. I'm never voting for a Republican again. I just keep my mouth shut, because I don't want to get them started, but I'm finished with the Republicans. I was against this war from the start, and I'm against it now. We never should have been there, and we should just get the hell out."

Mind you, this is one of the "hard working white males" that Hillary crowed about. A dirt-poor farm boy from rural Maine, he dropped out of school in the 8th grade to get in on the tail end of WWII, a war which took the life of his beloved older brother. He broke his ass on a daily basis, keeping a roof over his family's head. He drove diaper delivery trucks, he delivered milk, he drove and then repaired school buses. He got up at 4:00 in the morning to go to work, got home at 4:00 p.m., took a nap, then left at 6:00 for his second job. We were never anything approaching rich, but I don't remember lacking for anything I needed, thanks to my Dad.

So Dad is keeping his mouth shut, but when the time comes to pull the lever in the voting booth in a little town outside of Birmingham, he's pulling it for Obama, because he trusts Obama and the Democrats to do what the Republicans failed to do: keep faith with the American people. All I can say is, if my father's voting Democrat this year, the Republicans don't stand a chance.

Campaign Video

Cory — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:04:55 EDT

Hello Everyone!

Project in Progress - Campaign Video

Several supporters and I here in Mobile are working on creating a campaign video to post in locations such as YouTube, Myspace, My.BarackObama, Blogger, etc.

We are looking for You, to help out. This is an opportunity for you to help rise up continued and new support for the Obama '08 campaign and have fun at the same time! We are looking for anyone in the Mobile area of any age and race/ethnicity that would want to help in areas such as:

acting, singing, video shooting, video editing, music recording, etc.

If you do not want to particate but have access to related equipment please let me know. Also, if anyone has any ideas/comments/suggestions or further questions email me at cjsamz@gmail.com

Hope Is Fuel,

Cory

Letter From Birmingham Jail

Larry Gaissert — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:01:49 EDT

I also recommend Jake B's posting of Dr Martin Luther King Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." It is always a good time to reread, or read for the first time, Dr. King's powerful words.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/JakeB/gGCpP5

(If the link above doesn't work, copy and paste it into your browser.)

BARACK OBAMA - ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE

WEBMASTER — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:23:04 EST

BARACK IS A UNIVERSAL WORD MEANING TO BRING A BLESSING.

ACCORDING TO HOSEA 4:6 WITH A VISION WE HAVE THE ETERNAL RIGHT TO SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, GUIDANCE and HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

In 1999, the Federal Communications Law Journal revealed how Bill and Hillary Clinton were put in a compromising position. see PLAYING THE NAME GAME - A GLIMPSE AT THE FUTURE / page 411

In this digital age we need courage, leadership and true vision. Obama has shown such in the proper use of political blogging. It is my belief that the message of HOPE spoken by Obama is a God given word and that the vision must not slip from the grasp of the American people or the other nations, peoples and tongues that support Barack Obama around the world.

This is a day the Lord has made. Barak Obama is on his way to the THE WHITE HOUSE . . . .

and I am humbly honored to finish this message with the closing remarks of the world famous CIVIL RIGHTS leader, DR MARTIN LUTHER KING, born 15 JAN 1929, who proclaimed to the world at the LINCOLN MEMORIAL on 28 AUG 1963 in his famous freedom speech:

I HAVE A DREAM

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

THAT DAY IS HERE - YOU ARE FREE

UPDATE: OBAMA MAKES HISTORY as FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT and YES HE DID

HONOR PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN 1861-1865

Alabama Superdelegates Should Vote for Obama

Liz — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:41:48 EST

I’ve Got the Red State Blues

On February 5, I cast my vote for Obama in the presidential primary. That’s it for me for me in the 2008 election cycle. My vote in the general election does not count because I live in a red state. One of my Republican neighbors will cancel my vote. The only election in which my candidate won Alabama’s presidential electors was 1976, when a born-again Christian was running.

Alabama Elects Republican Presidents but Votes Democratic in Other Races

Although Alabama’s governor is Republican Bob Riley, the Lieutenant Governor is Democrat Jim Folsom, Jr. Democrats wield plenty of power in Alabama. They control the legislature, because voters trust their local Democrats. Democrats are also elected to serve as judges, district attorneys, and sheriffs.

Those officials would dearly love to see high voter turnout come next November. The Democrats want to keep control of the State Legislature and other local offices. If Democrats are disillusioned with their party, and turnout is depressed, it can have an enormous impact on local races.

Alabama Primary Voters Supported Obama by a 14 Point Margin

In the Presidential Primary on February 5th, Barack Obama carried the state of Alabama by 56% to Hillary Clinton’s 42%. Consequently Alabama will be sending 27 Obama delegates 25 Clinton delegates to the convention in August.

Alabama’s Superdelegates Are Split and Uncommitted

Alabama has eight superdelegates. They are U.S. Representatives Artur Davis and Bud Cramer, Stewart Burkhalter (President of Alabama AFL-CIO, and state party officials Randy Kelley, State Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, Joe Reed, Joe Turnham (chairman of the state party) and Nancy Worley. Five of the eight have announced their commitment to support a candidate. Davis and Burkhalter are supporting Obama, and Kelley, Kennedy, and Reed have committed to Clinton. Thus far, Cramer, Turnham and Worley are uncommitted. Of the three superdelegates pledged to Clinton, Reed and Kennedy are African-American and must be feeling pressure from their supporters to reconsider. Joe Reed heads Alabama’s largest Black political organization, the Alabama Democratic Caucus. In October, 2007, the ADC endorsed Clinton, back before it looked like Obama had a chance to get the nomination. As predicted by Chris Rock in November, the ADC is probably shaking their heads and saying “I had that white lady! What was I thinking?"

The Democratic National Convention and the Superdelegates

At present, Obama leads in the national popular vote and pledged delegate counts, and it is predicted that Hillary Clinton can not win the nomination unless the superdelegates vote overwhelmingly for her. If Obama still leads in both these measures in August, it will tear the Democratic Party apart if the superdelegates cause Clinton to become the nominee.

It will be a travesty if six of eight Alabama superdelegates vote for Clinton, when she garnered only 40% of the primary votes, particularly if those votes help her take the nomination from Obama. What can Alabama Democrats do to convince their superdelegates to vote for Obama?

Most Obama supporters are not anti-Clinton, but they believe she has less chance of winning the general election than Obama. Her high negative ratings limit her ability to attract independent voters. They fear impending scandals, which seem to dog the Clintons. Potential problems are her failure to release her tax returns, the sources of the wealth accrued by the Clintons since 2000, the unavailability of the Clinton’s records of their White House years, and the pending lawsuit by felon fundraiser Peter F. Paul. Our goal is to elect an outstanding Democrat to the White House in order to restore constitutional checks and balances to the government.

Influencing Superdelegates by Boycotting Legislative Elections

Most of us do not contribute significantly to local political races, and less than half of the superdelegates are elected officials. Our money is not the key to influencing the superdelegates.

Disgruntled Obama supporters could boycott legislative elections. The Democrats in the Alabama Legislature depend upon Democratic voters, particularly African-Americans, for their power. Representative Seth Hammett and Senator Hinton Mitchem would be minority leaders if African-Americans did not elect sufficient numbers of Democratic African-Americans to the legislature to constitute a majority. Imagine, Senator Lowell Barron would not be Chairman of the Rules Committee; Senator Roger Bedford would not be Chairman of the Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee; Rep. Demetrius Newton would not be Speaker Pro Tempore of the House; and Senator E.B McClain, who ran in the primary as a Clinton delegate, would no longer be chairman of the Business and Labor Committee. Unusually low Democratic turn out in the November election would be blamed on Alabama’s three or more Clinton superdelegates who are also Alabama Democratic Party officials.

Democratic candidates running for sheriff or judge in local elections will also be disappointed if Democratic voters stay home in November. They would know it was due to the superdelegates’ failure to respect Democrats’ wishes at the National Democratic Convention.

Republicans will prevail in the Presidential and Senate races in Alabama, so Democrats need not vote. Hillary Clinton will not get Alabama’s electoral votes. If, like me, you are hard wired to vote, write in Obama. Should a Democrat be brave enough to challenge Jeff Sessions for the U.S. Senate, don’t bother voting unless Sessions’ chances are utterly destroyed by some scandal, because Sessions owns that Senate seat.

Don’t get carried away though. We still need to vote for Obama’s state chairman, U.S. Representative Artur Davis of Tuscaloosa. I’d like to see Alabama’s only white Democratic Congressman and an acquaintance of mine, Rep. Bud Cramer of Huntsville, keep his seat. (Hopefully, Bud will support Obama, though I heard an allegation that Clinton supporters are spreading rumors that Obama opposes the high tech industries that make Huntsville thrive.) If any other Democrats have a realistic chance of unseating an incumbent Republican Congressman, vote for the Democrat, of course. The Democrats must maintain control of Congress, especially if McCain wins the presidency.

Obama supporters, contact your Democratic officials and let them know that you plan to forget about them in November if the superdelegates forget about you in August. No more than forty percent of Alabama’s superdelegates should vote for Clinton, since that is the proportion of the primary vote which she earned. Alabama’s Democratic voters should use the only power they have to affect the outcome – the ballot.

Elizabeth Potter Graham

BA in Political Science, Birmingham-Southern College

MAS, University of Alabama in Huntsville

JD, University of Alabama School of Law

Vestavia Hills, Alabama

©March 7, 2008

Taking the Gulf Coast

Todd Lowe — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:55:12 EST

The gulf coast states are all in play this year after the devastating hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005. There are 3 main concerns of most citizens of the area, Rebuilding and improving Levee systems to at least the 100 year standards they are already congressionally approved to be at, conservation and reclamation of coastal wetlands, and the home insurance emergency that is going on now.

First, the levee system. Many of you may not know the actual reason that New Orleans was so very destroyed from hurricane Katrina. It was not just the winds, though the winds were bad (half the house I am typing from right now blew over from the winds) or the rain and usual flooding that brought. It was the failure of the levee system in multiple places and the ensuing flooding from the breaks and breaches. The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (known locally as Mister GO) which was a poorly designed Corps of Engineers project in the 1960s ended up being a funnel bringing the surge waters right into the heart of the city. There are still arguments going on about this, but the choice is clear, the MRGO must be closed and the levee system must be PROPERLY repaired to meet the congressional standards already set.

Wetlands conservation and reclamation is not just a neat idea in Louisiana, it is needed to keep our state an actual dry place where people can live. The oil companies for years have chopped up the coastal wetlands to be able to run channels for pipes and to move equipment around. Every time they do that it causes salt water intrusion which kills off the brackish/fresh water wetlands. Once the trees and plants of the wetlands start to die from the increased salt concentrations, the process is slow but inevitable. The once swampy brackish or fresh water land slowly turns in to open salt water, otherwise known as 'the ocean'. This is happening at an annual ate estimated to be between 25 and 34 square miles per year. Katrina alone caused the damage of the equivalent of 20 years of erosion! The entire boot of Louisiana is basically mud from the Mississippi river that was dumped here over the last 5000 years. We must have more diversion projects that divert water from the river into the wetlands to help rejuvenate them and we must stop the coastal erosion and salt water intrusion that is occurring along our coasts!

Finally, after the Hurricane seasons we had in 04 and 05 the insurance industries took a big hit in payoffs and basically stopped writing policies in most places in the Gulf Coast. We need some type of federal plan to make insurance affordable so people can rebuild their lives in these still devastated areas.

If Obama focuses on these issues he could take Louisiana, Florida, and even, dare I say it Texas Mississippi, and Alabama in the General election.

Our Work Has Just Begun!!!

DaveNY1979 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:03:52 EST

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to drop my own personal two cents of thanks for everyone who worked so hard here in New York to close the gap with Clinton -- a big reason we're able to claim more delegates across the nation from last night!

But I also wanted to remind all of you that our work has just begun! The Obama campaign is going to need continued fundraising in order to compete in the remaining states. Also, some very big prizes are still up for grabs -- and right in our backyard! Next Tuesday sees Maryland, DC, and Virginia vote -- all potentially very strong states for Barack. Best of all, round trip bus fare there costs under $40 from NYC!!! So let's try to get some groups together to go down there and volunteer!

Pennsylvania is also coming up soon -- so let's see what we can do there! As James Carville once said, Pennsylvania is "Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Alabama in between." But we all know who won Alabama last night!!! So let's make sure that's another win, and a big bunch of delegates for the best candidate in the race!

Finally, you'll note how much progress we were able to make over the past few weeks -- even in states with seemingly unsurmountable obstacles. Look also at how OVERWHELMING Obama's victories in caucus states were. This, to me, is the strongest evidence that our work as volunteers -- getting the word out to our friends, families, co-workers, neighbors, and even strangers on the street -- is THE biggest difference-maker we have.

So keep up the great work. No one ever said it was going to be easy. But together, YES WE CAN!

-Dave Silverstone

NYC

Birmingham News Endorses Obama

Sarah Ramey — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 11:56:26 EST

Here's another big Feb 5th endorsement, from Alabama's Birmingham News:

Birmingham News

Democratic primary:
Former first lady Hillary Clinton's ascendancy isn't a surprise. The senator from New York was deemed the early front-runner; in fact, many viewed her nomination as inevitable.
But something happened along the way to her coronation. That something is the audacity of hope embodied by Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. He is not the man from Hope, but Obama sells hope like the Home Shopping Network peddles Esteban's guitars. With his cool charisma and soaring rhetoric, Obama mesmerizes crowds the way John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan did. He sells the hope of bridging America's ideological divide, of restoring our standing around the world, of improving the lives of our downtrodden, and many voters are buying.
Except for details, there's not much difference in the two candidates' positions on major issues. Obama points out he always has been against the war in Iraq, while Clinton voted to authorize the war but now says she's against it.
Clinton touts her experience and her ability to get things done. Unfortunately for Democrats, she carries enough baggage to fill an airport luggage carousel. And her husband's heavyhanded (and hardly presidential) treatment of Obama hasn't played well with many. In the general election, Republicans will remind voters of every problem, real and imagined, from the Clintons' eight years in the White House.
For Democrats, Obama, with his ability to inspire and to mobilize young, African-American and independent voters, in particular, offers the best hope of victory in the general election.
Barack Obama is the better choice for Democratic primary voters Tuesday.

Love the morning!

Virginia S. — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:21:36 EST

Today I read this amazing article in the Montery Herald describing how Clinton's campaign spun the idea that Latinos wouldn't support Barack in order to make it seem like he wasn't a unifing candidate. I had a really hard time accessing the article, so I had to pull up a cached version of it on google. It's worth the read! Even I bought the spin that Latinos wouldn't vote for a black guy, and this article proves that idea is wrong.

This one mysteriously disappeared from the news.google.com after about two seconds. It details how Mrs. "I love Unions" Clinton actually spent her time on the Walmart board doing ... nothing. Duh. And this is what she considers 35 years of experience?

Obama, the Miracle Candidate

Mary Mansour — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:02:25 EST

My mother and I took real notice of the amazing Barak Obama when he stepped to the podium during the the nomination of John Kerry in 2004. He was riveting then as he was pn Sunday when I saw him speak in Birmingham. There is the quality of excitement to Obama and those who follow him that I haven't seen since the Beatles came to America. Yes, I'm that old. In the stadium in Birmingham we were all so filled with emotion that when he arrived it was an unbelievable reception. Barak Obama is the essence of change and hope for this shredded nation of ours that has endured the neo-Nazi regime of George Bush and his horrendous cronies. He embodies the spirit that can save us in these trying times. The fact of his mixed race, sophisticated background, honesty and magnificent oratory skills, a marvelous physical presence plus his message of hope and unity should be unbeatable. But as Obama has said, he cannot do it alone. Let us change the face of Alabama and drop this dreadful mantle of republican conservatism that plagues this state. We need a new day and Obama is the essence of that day.

An Email from Gov. Phil Bredesen

William in --Tennessee-- — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:10:13 EST

I wrote Gov. Phil Bredesen asking him to endorse Barack Obama yesterday.Today I received response and it reads,

Dear William,

Thank you for your message about this year's presidential election
and for your suggestion about my personal support for one of the
candidates. I appreciate your willingness to take the time to turn to
me with this request.

Tennessee's General Assembly is in session, and I am focused on
meeting the needs of this state as we develop a budget, set our
priorities for the coming year, and provide the basic services that
Tennesseans need and expect. Like you, I will be following
developments in this year's elections with a great amount of interest.

I commend you for your enthusiasm and for your willingness to get
involved in the campaign. Senator Obama is fortunate to have your
support. Positive, proactive participation in the electoral process is an
important method of public service, and I hope that others will follow
your example. I encourage you to stay involved in our elections and
in public affairs throughout this year in and the years to come.

Please accept my very best wishes along with my appreciation for
your message.
Warmest regards,
Phil Bredesen

He hasnt made his mind up but help me by writing Gov. Phil Bredesen,

phil.bredesen@state.tn.us

Obama all the way!!!!!

Inspired and on Fire!

Genola from Birmingham, AL — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:08:54 EST

Isn't it refreshing to feel like you're voting FOR someone and not AGAINST someone?

I saw Barack Obama in Birmingham on yesterday at The University of AlObama at Birmingham. I've been following his campaign very closely. He didn't say anything that I hadn't already heard. With that said, I was still as moved as I was when I heard it the first time on television or online.

I'm glad to be able to vote for a person that I would be proud to call my president. I'm so happy, so moved to tears, to have a candidate who actually does their best to remain above the "muddy game" of negative campaigning.

Alobama

Alamantra — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:06:43 EST

Sunday, January 27, 2008 Alobama

I just got back from seeing Barack Obama speak at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. It was an amazing event that struck me as being something in stark contrast to what has played out via the corporate media.

Breaking: More than 10,000 people awaiting Obama in Birmingham

Sam Graham-Felsen — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:13:43 EST

The Birmingham News reports...

More than 10,000 people are in and right outside UAB's Bartow Arena awaiting an appearance by presidential candidate Barack Obama, authorities working the event said.
It's a raucous crowd in the arena. Just about every seat is taken and music is blaring as people stream in just before the scheduled 2 p.m. speech.
The crowd mirrors the trend that has characterized Obama's campaign. Supporters are black, white, witnesses to the civil rights movement, and college students who can barely remember a White House without a Clinton or Bush.
"I think it speaks for the country that we are ready for a different kind of leader," said Stephanie Doss, 22, of Birmingham.

If you're from Alabama, check out AL.BarackObama.com to find out how you can get involved locally!

UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters for the heads up -- you can watch Barack's speech live on CNN.com right now. We'll have photos from the event soon.

UPDATE II: Here are some photos from this remarkable event...

MSU & Starkville 4 Obama

Nick D — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 09:25:39 EST

Well we've had our first successful meeting of Senator Obama supporters this past week! Yippee! And what's even better is we've having a 2nd one next week! About 17 people organized all over the internet!

Barack inspires the next generation: Zack in Alabama

Sarah Ramey — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:41:23 EST

Zack is a high school senior in Montgomery, Alabama. At 17, he's too young to vote in his state's upcoming February 5th primary, but that hasn't stopped him from volunteering every week down at the Montgomery Obama headquarters -- typing letters, stuffing envelopes, and working on the "Build the Hope" system -- doing whatever it takes to help get Barack Obama elected as the next President of the United States.

In the fall, Zack is heading to the University of Central Florida and plans to major in Political Science -- a decision directly inspired by his respect and admiration for Barack Obama.

Zack grew up in a conservative Republican household in the South, and though he's always been interested in politics, it wasn't until he heard Barack Obama speak at the 2004 DNC convention that he started to form real political opinions of his own.

In his own words:

"I support Barack because I understand that we are at a critical point in history. The threat of global warming is real and other countries are developing stronger weapons programs that may threaten our security. Domestic issues such as gay rights, social security, and abortion have split Washington, and our country, in half.

I strongly believe it is up to my generation to take hold of this country to end politics of cynicism, and to have the audacity of hope to bring back that sense of unity that this country had immediately after 9/11.

My peers and I are the future leaders, and I try to encourage those around me to stand up for what is right, and to follow what they believe in, because we are on the eve of becoming tomorrow's Senators, Representatives, and Presidents. Barack Obama recognizes that and the needs of this country. He is working to bring our generation together such that he will just be one piece of the larger puzzle -- which is the future of our nation, and our world."

Even though he won't be able to vote for Barack Obama himself on February 5th, Zack knows how important it is to do the hard work to make sure that everyone else will.

And then when Barack wins the party nomination, Zack can look forward to voting for him in November of 2008!

The kind of politician who can mobilize an entire generation hasn't come around in long time. And it's clear: students all across the country are coming into politics for the first time, directly because of Barack Obama.

To check out and connect with the incredible volunteer efforts of Students For Obama, check out Students.BarackObama.com.

And to get involved in Alabama, please visit AL.BarackObama.com.

Tuscaloosa News endorses Barack Obama

Sarah Ramey — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:37:30 EST

Today in the crucial February 5th voting state of Alabama, the Tuscaloosa News endorsed Barack Obama:

"We endorse McCain, Obama as party nominees"
"On Tuesday, Feb. 5, Alabama voters have an opportunity to help change the course of history by selecting a candidate for president who will redirect the nation to an era of progress, peace and prosperity."
We believe Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama offer the best hope among the candidates for effective, positive leadership.

We disagree with McCain on many issues of domestic policy and we were disappointed to see him strongly back President Bush on this country's tragic and failed course in Iraq.

Yet we feel that McCain stands head and shoulders above the rest of the Republican field in terms of stature, honesty and character. He speaks his mind and doesn't try to hide his positions behind a cloud of rhetoric. He actively engages critics, seeking real dialog on issues.

He is a thoughtful, experienced and intelligent public servant. A level-headed man, he would avoid involving our country in future debacles.

The looming recession will demand a president who is dedicated to fiscal responsibility. McCain has a strong record as a critic of earmarking and a champion of budgetary restraint.

He's tough, smart and shoots straight. He would never dishonor the high office that he seeks.

Obama, at the other end of the age spectrum - he will be 47 on election day, as opposed to McCain's 70 - is a breath of fresh air in American politics. He holds a special appeal to younger voters, who see him as an agent for change from the dreary politics-as-usual in Washington.

At the same time, he has leadership qualities beyond his years. He is a brilliant and persuasive speaker. He is a unifier who honestly hopes to break the capital's partisan gridlock. And while some of his rivals for the nomination have more years of experience, Obama has quickly learned the territory in his relatively short time in Washington.

As a member of the 109th Congress, he co-sponsored the enactment of conventional weapons control and transparency legislation. He made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

In the 110th Congress, he sponsored legislation on lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism and care for returned military personnel.

As a candidate for president, he has advocated ending the Iraq War, increasing energy independence, and providing universal health care as major items on his agenda.

There is much to be said for (and against) his main challenger Hillary Clinton. But after four years of George H.W. Bush as president, followed by eight years of Bill Cinton, followed by eight years of George Bush, most Americans would prefer a fresh face in the White House, someone who can move away from the cycle of partisan warfare that these two families have furthered.

That person, we believe, is Barack Obama.

For more Alabama events and information, go to AL.BarackObama.com.

Campus Organization - Voter Registration

Matt — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:40:26 EST

Hey guys, the Alabama state primaries are coming up less than a month from now. We need to organize volunteer days for several of us to get students on campus to fill out a voter registration application. The deadline to have these forms submitted is January 25th, just 2 weeks away!!

We need to set up a table, print out around some applications and get people to register. Rather than hand them out and hope people send them in, I think it would be best to have them fill these applications out, right on the concourse, and let us submit them, this should take care of any procrastination.

If you have some free time over the next week or so, and would be interested in helping Barack here in your own town, please send me an email and lets do our part to help bring about a new leadership in the US government!!

Thanks and see you soon,

Matt Dean

deanmat@auburn.edu

Happy Holidays

Alex — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:43:56 EST

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Alabama Obama HQ to you and yours. Remember the less fortunate during this season of giving -- not only beyond America's borders and overseas, but within our country, within our state, within our lives.

And best wishes on a wonderful New Year. Regardless of the bitter and often irreconcilable differences between us in our home state, we hope you will do the right thing this Holiday Season and side with SEC pride in Sunday's Independence Bowl. If you won't be, you're not necessarily wrong, just pretty badly misinformed.

In the meantime, there are those out there who aren't just capable but eager to bring us all together, to help us recognize that we stand on so much common ground. Who wouldn't want that??

Alabama on the move

Sarah Ramey — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:26:26 EST

Only one Democratic candidate for President has opened up three campaign offices in Alabama.

In fact, in Alabama, only one Democratic candidate has opened up even one campaign office at all.

From East to West, North to South...the momentum building behind this campaign, this movement and this extraordinary candidate is truly exciting. And as everyone knows: when it comes down to it, one of the most important things a campaign can have going for it is organization.

That's why three offices in the critical Feb. 5th voting state of Alabama is so impressive.

At each opening -- first Montgomery, then Birmingham, and now Tuscaloosa -- over 200 people turned out to celebrate (and in Birmingham, it was over 350). Here's Alabama Congressman Artur Davis who spoke at the Tuscaloosa opening, and said, “I want you to think ahead to January 2009...if Barack Obama is standing on the steps of the Capitol being inaugurated as president of these United States of America, ladies and gentlemen, overnight this will be a country that sends a signal to the rest of the world about what the United States of America has become."

As Sava Berhane, a field organizer in Alabama put it, "Each opening demonstrated that Obama's call for change is not empty rhetoric; it is a call that Alabama has heard before and responded to. The diversity of race, age, political affiliation that these openings brought out was moving -- and consistent with the goal of the campaign: unite and not divide."

There were the Blue Dog Democrats in Tuscaloosa, and the Over The Mountain Democrats in Birmingham. Women For Obama came together to watch a moving Women For Obama video, which you can also watch here. And as if there wasn't enough excitement in Alabama already, there was even a marching band in Birmingham (whose seniors are now registered to vote!).

In fact, at all three openings there were kids of all ages -- Future Democrats, you might say -- who are just as excited about Barack Obama as their parents.

The Feb 5th states are gearing up -- ready to follow through after the early states. Check out this map to see if you live in a February 5th voting state, and sign up to volunteer.

Expert: Obama on a roll Cornell West speaks in Alabama

Dr. Susanne Hussein Freeborn — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:14:14 EST

The Montgomery Advertiser

By Kenneth Mullinax
kgmullinax@gannett.com

December 4, 2007

A Princeton professor and outspoken expert on African-American culture said he believes U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy for president is an important breakthrough for blacks -- whether Obama wins the Democratic nomination for president or not.

But Cornel West believes Obama is going to win.

Speaking Monday night to thousands in the Joe L. Reed Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University, West said he believes the Illinois Democrat, after running behind U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for most of the presidential race, has turned the corner.

"This man's on the move, he's out there running hard and sounding good," West said. Recent polls show Obama and Clinton in a statistical dead heat.

West, speaking at the Ralph D. Abernathy Civil Rights Leaders Lecture Series, said he was with Obama last week at New York's Apollo Theater for a fundraiser, and plans to be with him next week in Iowa, one of the first battlegrounds of the primary season.

West acknowledged that Obama has split the state of Alabama -- since its two major black political organizations have split endorsements between Obama and Clinton. The Alabama New South Coalition last week gave the nod to Obama. The Alabama Democratic Caucus earlier gave its backing to Clinton.

But West stopped short of predicting which of the two Democrats would carry Alabama, whose early primary election could be pivotal.

"Before I can comment on Alabama for Brother Obama, we need to get him through Iowa first," West said, laughing.

He said Obama has surged ahead of Clinton in the polls in recent weeks. A poll by The Des Moines Register in Iowa showed Obama with 28 percent of the vote and Clinton with 25 percent.

West said Obama is doing well among black voters less because of his race and more because of the issues he promotes.

"Our man is concerned about welfare and equality, the crisis in education and the way the mass media is distracting young people from the prize of freedom," West said.

Janice Franklin, an official with the forum's sponsoring body, said West "challenges America to live up to the promises of democracy for African Americans in this new century."

West said Obama's candidacy has done the same. He said Obama's candidacy is important to black Americans because Obama is attractive to diverse voters.

West said Obama's candidacy has paved the way for other black leaders who will follow.

"Whether Obama wins the nomination or not, he's plowed new ground," West said.

"He has made us proud as a people and made it possible for an African American to seriously be considered as president," he said.

The forum was sponsored by the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African American Culture at Alabama State University.

Office opening in Montgomery Alabama!

Sarah Ramey — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:48:05 EST

These February 5th campaign offices are opening almost faster than we can all keep up with: Fargo, Kansas City, Boise...and now Montgomery, Alabama!

On November 20th, a whopping 300 people turned up to the Grand Opening -- not to mention all of Alabama's major state endorsers, including Congressman Davis, Representative Merika Coleman and Senator Quentin Ross, who were there to speak and greet future volunteers.

As our field organizer, Sava, reports:

"We truly have the advantage here in Alabama. Last I checked, we were the only campaign with offices in the state. And, we have THREE! Go AL-Obama!"

Next up: Birmingham Headquarters Grand Opening, November 28th.

For more goings on in Alabama, check out Alabama.BarackObama.com.

Want to know more about what's happening all over the country? Or which states are February 5th states? Click here to choose a state, and see what's going down.

We will be judged by our works!

M from Phenix City, AL — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:51:42 EST

As the saying goes, "A picture speaks a thousand words." I'm confused, you mean to tell me that you, Obama, are a Christian, yet you refused to recite the pledge of allegiance?! You may as well put yourself on the same level as Professor Paul Grosswiler of the University of Maine School of Journalism. He was touted as being a leader in the first amendment right of free speech by defiling a national icon- just as you are!

Sir, I pray for your soul, that you will except Jesus Christ, into your heart, as your savior and Lord. By the grace of God and through our faith in Jesus we are saved. Then we must repent of our SINS and trust in the Lord. Our Creator put us here on Earth to glorify Him; by you conducting yourself in this manner shows that you are not a Christian. 1 John 1:8 states, "If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." We are born children of wrath and deserve everlasting Hell but, through God's graciousness and love we are given a chance to be saved through His Son.

Sir, I hope you will heed this statment and stop and think about your life and salvation and do what is right in the eyes of our Provider, God.

In Christ,

M Brandt

‘America is readier to elect a white woman than it is a black man’

Mel in Norcross — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:27:45 EDT

from: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/10/15/america_is_readier_to_elect_a.html

‘America is readier to elect a white woman than it is a black man’

Monday, October 15, 2007, 08:30 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

No doubt you saw the other shoe that dropped after Hillary Clinton left town with John Lewis on Friday.

The next day, the pair went to Alabama, where the Alabama Democratic Conference — an assembly of African-Americans within the party — also endorsed Clinton in the race for the White House.

Noreen's match

Sam Graham-Felsen — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:49:29 EDT

Noreen, a 62-year-old grandmother from Massachusetts, just made the first political contribution of her life. But this isn't the first time she's ever been involved in politics. In fact, she got her first taste of political work volunteering on John F. Kennedy's campaign for President while she was still in high school.

"We all wanted Jack to win, so we did what we could," says Noreen. "I worked at the polls handing out cards, and before that, I held signs out at crowded intersections. I’ll always remember how bitter cold it was. A truck came around delivering donuts and hot chocolate to the poll workers. I felt like, I may not be able to vote for this person, but there are things I can do to help out. I was in the tenth grade and that’s how I got started."

Today, Noreen and her partner Bob run a non-profit that raises money for children with cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. One afternoon, she and Bob were watching television and saw Barack speak. "Bob said to me, 'This man can change the country. We need to get involved and help him.' And I couldn't have agreed more. We were both so upset about all of the young men and women dying in Iraq, and we knew that Obama was the one to do something to end the war."

So first, Noreen went online and matched a previous donor to double her impact. "It was so much fun," she says, "that I decided to make another contribution and encourage a new person to donate."

Noreen, who first got involved in politics at such a young age, was pleased to see that she was matched by a 19-year-old college student from Alabama.

Joey, Noreen's matchee, wrote this note to her:

Hey Noreen, I think that it is really great that you are matching my donation. I am only donating $10 because I am a college student (19), but I was motivated to donate because of your effort. I have been leaning to donate for a few months now because I support Barack so much, but your match kind of pushed me to do it... Barack is a special person that our nation needs right now. It takes people like you and I to get him into office!

"It was wonderful to see that I had helped inspire a young person to get involved," says Noreen. "For so long, too many young people haven't realized how important their votes are and what an impact they can have as individuals. It's great to see that people like Joey are stepping up and taking part in the process."

It's not too late to inspire someone to get involved for the first time. It's not too late to get involved for the first time. Take part in our match program and double your impact on the campaign.

Campaign Strategy: More than the First Four states

V, aka VCubed/Virginia V — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 06:18:32 EDT

This is why your help calling New Yorkers to get them to the rally Sept. 27th is absolutely critical. This is why you can double your donation if you donate now, when there are matching donors to meet your donation. This is why you would make a difference just making Obama support more visible, with window signs, buttons and bumper stickers ready to share with friends, neighbors, and neighborhood businesses. Fired Up! Ready to go!

Dan Balz's Take

Democrats Gearing Up For Delegate Fight

Obama working the crowd in New Hampshire on Labor Day. (Getty).

Barack Obama sent out an e-mail to supporters on Tuesday announcing plans for a big rally in New York's Washington Square Park on Sept. 27. The invitation was evidence of a campaign planning for a potentially extended battle against Hillary Clinton.

The idea of a protracted contest runs contrary to widespread assumptions about how the 2008 Democratic race may play out. But some analysts, who have studied the new calendar, the rules for allocating convention delegates and the financial resources of the leading candidates, believe that a lengthy contest extending into the megaprimary day of Feb. 5 and beyond may be just as likely.

EVERY City and State for Barack Obama!!

Homeboy — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:12:13 EDT

It's been a crazy month for me. I've spent countless all nighters trying to improve my grassroots Barack Obama website that I hope will make a difference in the younger voters out there. There are still a few glitches to fix, but for the most part, the new site is online and ready to help promote Obama as best as it can.

Probably the biggest difference is that there is now a page for every US city and state where people can leave comments and quickly interact. I chose the simple comment system because I know that many younger voters won't take the time to sign up for Barackobama.com but still want their voices to be heard, so this is their chance to be heard.

The most time consuming part of the whole website redesign was the creation and upload of over 30,000 images people can get on t-shirts. Like I mentioned earlier, there are a few problems with a few cities and states, but basically, EVERY CITY has its own Barack Obama t-shirt.

Let me say that again... EVERY US CITY has it's own t-shirt design!

I'm an artist and web designer, and this is how I'm supporting Obama. It doesn't matter what you're good at.. there's definitely something you can do to help him get noticed.

Goodluck!

-Homeboy

PS... here's links to the state pages...

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:46:03 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Attendees will learn more about the campaign's vision for America and how best to get organized. After the training you will be asked to support campaign efforts in South Carolina, as well as build up grassroots efforts in your home state.

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:38:54 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:16:16 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:03:28 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:50:31 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:39:04 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:27:09 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:15:55 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Camp Obama Training in Atlanta, Georgia

Trista, Southern Field Director — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:57:14 EDT

"In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."
~Senator Barack Obama~

Are you tired of politics as usual in Washington DC today?

Are you ready to make a change to bring back America's great reputation in the world?

Then become a part of the national grassroots movement that's changing our politics and transforming our country--Join CAMP OBAMA!

Message from a supporter named Charles

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:14:18 EDT

Charles is an Obama supporter who is retired and living in Scottsdale, Arizona. He also happens to be one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history.

We caught up with Mr. Barkley at the Birmingham, Alabama kickoff. Here's what he had to say about Barack:

Obama Wins Hearts and Minds in Alabama

V, aka VCubed/Virginia V — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 09:19:39 EDT

A more positive review of his first fundraising visit to Alabama couldn't have been written! The writer focused on Obama's tremendous capacity to connect with everyone, including those supporters who didn't pay to hear him speak and those who were just checking him out. Send this awesome reporter a nice note if you get a chance:
patricia.mccarter@htimes.com
http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/118405891714840.xml&coll=1

Pookies List 2

Cousin Pookie — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:07:21 EDT

Cuz Pookie bringing you intersting stuff from here..

Obama's poker playing Link

Fightin poverty Link

and

support in BAMA! Link

Boxes Arrive in 'Bama

Sam Graham-Felsen — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:08:22 EDT

People all across the country are receiving their Walk for Change boxes. Today, I caught up with a few supporters who just opened up their boxes and are getting organized to take part in one of the largest grassroots mobilizations at this stage in political campaign history.

One of the supporters I spoke to was Charmaine S. of Montgomery, Alabama.

"I turned 60 years old in April, and in my entire life," says Charmaine, "I have never been involved in a campaign before, never been excited about a candidate."

Charmaine grew up in the segregated South and attended an all-white high school, and became actively involved in the Civil Rights movement in college. She attended the marches in Selma, Alabama, and months ago, watched Barack commemorate those marches in Selma.

This Saturday, Charmaine is leading a diverse group of at least fifteen people to canvass in Montgomery. She feels that the work she's doing on this campaign is bringing her back full circle to her earlier grassroots activism. "I was very much an activist in the 60's," she says, "and at age 60, I'm getting that feeling back. I have that same energy and enthusiasm for change."

"People are starting to ask questions..."

Sam Graham-Felsen — Mon, 07 May 2007 18:01:27 EDT

We only need sixteen votes to end this war. President Bush stubbornly refuses to bring our troops home, flouting the will of the American people. Now the power is in Congress' hands. Will they stand by Bush or the American people, the great majority of whom oppose this war? Ty C., a supporter from Huntsville, Alabama is one of these people. Like Barack, he opposed the war from the beginning and strongly opposes it now.

Ty C., a chef from Huntsville, Alabama, spent a lot of his youth traveling around the world because his father was in the military.

“I’ve lived in Germany, Guam, England, Korea, Japan, other places,” says Ty. “And that experience has just cemented the idea for me that we are only as good as we behave. It’s so much easier to make friends with someone when you try to help somebody rather than when you try to knock down the door with a baseball bat. I just believe that we’re here to help each other.”

Ty’s grandmother, who he says “was a very devout Christian and a very wise person” also strongly influenced his ideas on foreign policy.

She used to tell me that if someone wronged you, you don’t pick up a stick whack someone on the head with it. If you felt slighted by someone, you did what you could do to make things work out for everybody. I was raised in that old Southern tradition which is not to just turn the cheek all the time but to be generally gracious.

In conversations with his neighbors, Ty has noticed that people are starting to seriously question the war and Bush’s general foreign policy approach.

People where I’m from are very proud to be American. I’m very proud to be American. Southerners have always been the first people to send our kids off to war. That’s just what we do. But now people are starting to realize something is wrong here. You’re starting to see it in the churches; people are starting to ask questions. We wanna know: ‘what are we doing?’ We Southerners have a long history of being stubborn-minded but once we asking questions, we apply that same stubbornness to getting answers. We wanna know why our kids are getting shot.

Ty donated ten dollars to the campaign. “I’m 35 years old and this is the first time I’ve donated,” says Ty. “As somebody who works hard for a living, I can tell you I’ve had about all I can take of this. I know it sounds corny but it’s time for a change.”

“People in the South,” says Ty, “want somebody to stand up.”

Barack Obama Visits Selma, AL

Jon Jones — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:12:36 EST

Ealier today, Barack Obama visited Selma, Alabama to take part in the Selma Voting Rights March Commemoration.

Click here to watch part of Barack's speech courtesy of CNN.

Below is a short excerpt of his speech at Brown Chapel A.M.E Church. Click here to read the entire speech.

Keep in your heart the prayer of that journey, the prayer that God gave to Joshua. Be strong and have courage in the face of injustice. Be strong and have courage in the face of prejudice and hatred, in the face of joblessness and helplessness and hopelessness. Be strong and have courage, brothers and sisters, those who are gathered here today, in the face of our doubts and fears, in the face of skepticism, in the face of cynicism, in the face of a mighty river. Be strong and have courage and let us cross over that Promised Land together.

I have to send a special thanks to Monty Marsh for getting us photos from Selma so quickly.

Baracks speech in Selma today..........

'Wale — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:44:36 EST

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I could go on and analyze the speech Barack gave today in Selma. However I wouldn't do it justice. I think you need to see it for yourself. It brought me to tears. I've never cried EVER for any political speech in my life, I just had this feeling that this man IS going to be the next President of the United States. It was the best speech he's given since the 2004 DNC speech (which remains the standard in my eyes). It was fluid, substantive and had a lot of flair. Try to watch it.

Clinton bringing out the BIG GUN this weekend (in Selma)

'Wale — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:58:38 EST

Hehehehe, so are they this scared? Hillary Clinton is bringing Bill Clinton down to Selma, Alabama this weekend to counter Sen. Obama for the "Black" vote. wow. How is this going to play out? Bill's prob. the most talented politician in modern history, Obama's no slouch either though.

Hillary might be making a mistake bringing Bill out because he's going to over-shadow her as he always does. But this show's that Barack is instilling real fear into the Clinton's. I bet she never planned to bring Bill out this early. In fact she wasn't even meant to attend initially. It wasnt' until she learned that Barack was attending that she agreed to also attend.

Link

CLINTON JOINS OBAMA???

America 4 Obama — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:44:44 EST

I was doing my daily "News Hits" for Barack Obama, when I noticed that Mrs. Clinton will be joining Barack Obama in Selma on Sunday. Is Clinton Chasing Obama?

From FOX TEN:

SELMA Two major Democratic presidential candidates will be in Alabama this weekend.

Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York will both attend the annual bridge crossing ceremony in Selma on Sunday. It's held in commemoration of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march.

Obama was the first to publicly accept an invitation to the event. He will speak at the historic Brown Chapel A-M-E Chapel church.

Now officials say Clinton will also attend the commemoration. And she will speak at another Selma church at the same time Obama is speaking.

Both are expected to join civil rights veterans in a walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where marchers led by Martin Luther King were confronted by state police in 1965.

Obama and Clinton are hoping to win the support of minority voters across the Deep South. The Alabama ceremony is expected to be the first time they appear at dueling events so close together.

HERES THE LINK: